Chancay Port opens Inca Trail of New Era toward shared prosperity between China, Latin America

08:03, August 04, 2025 By Meng Yifei and Zhu Yubo ( Xinhua

An aerial drone photo taken on May 16, 2025 shows a container ship in Chancay Port in Chancay, Peru. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

* The construction of the Port of Chancay, launched in 2021, is creating a maritime gateway to Asia and beyond, revitalizing the city's economy and strategic significance.

* Unlike the old imperial roads, which served mostly the elite, the Chancay Port is designed to benefit broader populations -- creating jobs, speeding trade, and positioning Peru as a regional logistics hub.

* Extending the ancient Inca spirit of connection into the 21st century, Chancay is forging a new land-sea corridor across the Pacific, linking Latin America with Asia and heralding a new chapter of shared prosperity.

LIMA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- More than 500 years ago, the legendary Inca Trail stretched from Cusco across the Andes, linking far-flung territories and fostering political, economic, and cultural integration across the vast Inca Empire. Today, on Peru's Pacific coast, Chancay Port is becoming a starting point of an Inca Trail of the New Era -- a maritime gateway linking Latin America with Asia.

In the first five months of 2025 alone, trade through the Chancay Multipurpose Port Terminal surpassed 777 million U.S. dollars. Peru's President Dina Boluarte said in June that the project is expected to lift GDP by 1.8 percentage points -- roughly 4.5 billion dollars -- and create some 7,000 jobs.

As a 21st-century smart port, Chancay Port is deepening cooperation between China and Latin America, advancing connectivity and shared prosperity across continents.

FROM SACRED PATH TO SMART PORT

In the 15th century, the Inca Empire extended across much of South America, encompassing territories that today make up Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. At the heart of this vast realm was the Qhapaq Nan, or "sacred path" -- a sprawling network of stone roads that linked the empire's four regions and connected its capital, Cusco, with distant frontiers.

"These routes already existed before the Inca expansion," said Rafael Varon Gabai, director of Peru's National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History. "But they were integrated and perfected with bridges and infrastructure that enabled trade, communication and cultural exchange." In 2014, the Qhapaq Nan was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a testament to its enduring legacy.

An aerial drone photo shows Machu Picchu in Peru's southern Cusco region on April 5, 2019. (Photo by Luis Camacho/Xinhua)

North of Lima, the city of Chancay echoes Peru's rich history. Between 1100 and 1400 AD, the Chancay civilization thrived along this stretch of coast, developing sophisticated agricultural systems and urban settlements in the Chancay and Chillon valleys.

Today, the ancient landscape is experiencing a new transformation. The construction of the Port of Chancay, launched in 2021, is creating a maritime gateway to Asia and beyond, revitalizing the city's economy and strategic significance.

"Until recently, large-scale industrial or commercial activity was practically nonexistent," said Nilo Miranda, president of the Chancay Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Tourism.

He hopes the city of Chancay will seize this historic opportunity to become the "Andean pearl" of the new era, just as the Oriental Pearl Tower came to symbolize Shanghai's rise.

This Pacific-facing port is more than an infrastructure project -- it stands as a modern echo of the ancient sacred paths. Extending the ancient Inca spirit of connection into the 21st century, Chancay is forging a new land-sea corridor across the Pacific, linking Latin America with Asia and heralding a new chapter of shared prosperity.

A NEW CORRIDOR ACROSS PACIFIC

The new maritime route has shortened Asia-bound shipping times from 33 days to just 23. "Since the inauguration of the Port of Chancay, we have been receiving an average of 400 containers per month from China," said Mayra Huillca, coordinator of the foreign trade department at Indurama, a company that imports Chinese-made home appliances for the Latin American market. "Currently, we sell 50 percent more than before."

A staff member monitors the operation of Chancay Port in the operation center of COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru, in Chancay, Peru, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

Neighboring countries are also reaping benefits. Ecuador's banana exports to China jumped 45.56 percent in the first five months of 2025, according to the Ecuadorian Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acorbanec).

"The logistics aspect greatly helps Ecuadorian banana exports," said Acorbanec CEO Richard Salazar. "The presence of COSCO Shipping Lines has also made the route faster and more direct."

Where the ancient Inca Trail once connected much of South America by land, the Port of Chancay is forging a broader, modern land-sea corridor between Asia and Latin America.

Unlike the old imperial roads, which served mostly the elite, the Chancay Port is designed to benefit broader populations -- creating jobs, speeding trade, and positioning Peru as a regional logistics hub.

"This port, in my view, represents the renewal of the Inca Trail," said Luis Vasquez, president of the Foundation for the Development of Science and Culture at the National University of San Marcos in Lima.

LIVING HERITAGE

Once a key site in the Inca Empire, Chancay's legacy now converges with 21st-century innovation.

Since its launch in 2021, Chancay Port has become Latin America's first green, smart port, operating 24/7 with automated gantry cranes, low-carbon vehicles and real-time AI-driven logistics. Fully powered by clean energy, it ensures sustainable, carbon-free operations.

"We're improving efficiency, safety and emergency response as we evolve towards a modern, sustainable model," said He Bo, executive deputy general manager of COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru.

But the port's impact extends beyond cutting-edge technology to serve as a powerful engine for economic growth. During a recent visit to the site, Xinhua journalists observed young, skilled workers operating robotic arms and managing automated systems -- a vivid sign of the country's growing role in high-tech logistics. Chancay has evolved from a historical site into an emerging symbol of modern development.

"Shipping lines, commercial vision and connectivity open up an enormous range of possibilities for trade and development," said Gonzalo Rios Polastri, deputy general manager of COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru.

Gonzalo Rios Polastri, deputy general manager of COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Chancay, Peru, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Kai)

STRONGER BONDS ACROSS CULTURES

Beyond trade, Chancay Port is also a bridge of cultural exchange.

"In Peru, Chinese people are often affectionately called paisanos," said Varon. Peru's Congress has even declared Feb. 1 as Peru-China Fraternity Day.

Chinese-Peruvian fusion restaurants, known as "chifas," are a hallmark of Peru's urban landscape. "Half of the port workers come from the Chancay area," said Rios. "Many young locals, after training, have become skilled operators of smart equipment."

Peruvian and Chinese employees work side-by-side, with relationships forged outside of work. "Many Chinese staff already consider Peru their second home," Rios added.

In 2024, Cusco's Inka Museum hosted Sunlight: Cultural Exchange Exhibition between the Ancient Shu and Inca Civilizations, receiving nearly 8,000 visitors.

"For the first time, Chinese artifacts arrived in Cusco and were displayed alongside Inca relics," said Julinho Zapata, the museum's director. "The artifacts communicated with each other."

"It was truly transcendental," added Eleazar Crucinta, rector of the National University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco. "People finally saw Chinese culture not in books or images, but in person."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
U.S. appeals court deals blow to Trump immigration crackdown

Xinhua) 09:48, August 04, 2025

SACRAMENTO, the United States, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- A federal appeals court delivered a stinging rebuke to the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign Friday, upholding restrictions on immigration agents conducting sweeping arrests across Southern California without reasonable suspicion.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected the government's challenge to a lower court order that blocked masked, heavily armed federal agents from detaining people based solely on race, language, or location.

The three-judge panel wrote that agents cannot claim harm from an injunction preventing stops "not supported by reasonable suspicion."

The ruling preserved a temporary restraining order covering seven counties, including Los Angeles, affecting approximately 20 million residents. It marked a significant legal setback for Trump's deportation agenda, which aimed to remove 1 million immigrants in its first year.

The case began after immigration agents launched what officials called a "shock and awe" campaign on June 6, arresting 1,618 people in the Los Angeles region between June 6 and June 22. Agents targeted locations where immigrant workers gather, including Home Depot parking lots, bus stops, and agricultural sites.

U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong initially blocked the practices on July 12, finding "a mountain of evidence" that agents had violated Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. The judge ruled that stops cannot be based on apparent race, speaking Spanish, or working at specific locations.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the lawsuit on behalf of detained workers and community groups, called the ruling a victory for constitutional rights. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass celebrated the decision as upholding "the rule of law."

The Trump administration faced a preliminary injunction hearing in September and has vowed to continue appeals. The case could establish nationwide precedents limiting immigration enforcement tactics that civil rights groups argued constitute racial profiling.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Neighbours voice fears after elderly couple forced to flee as tree falls on Belfast home: Im concerned about my own house

Follow our blog below for live updates

Watch: Dramatic footage of house damaged by fallen tree in north Belfast

Gabrielle Swan Tue 5 Aug 2025 at 09:23

An elderly couple have spoken of their horror after a tree fell into their home of almost 60 years, as Storm Floris raged through the region.
Former senior PSNI officer Jon Burrows has called on unionists to argue for Northern Irelands place within the UK with the same passion as nationalists campaign for unity after being installed as MLA.

The former head of the polices discipline branch was speaking after formally signing the roll at Stormont on Monday morning as the new representative for North Antrim.

I am proud to be a member of the Ulster Unionist Party and to be advocating for that party and also advocating with passion for the benefits of Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom, he said after taking up the seat left vacant by Colin Crawford who stepped down in July.

Mr Burrows expressed his belief that unionism needs to show more cohesiveness.

What you have is a nationalist and republican movement which is very driven, very organised, about advocating for a united Ireland, he said.

I think where unionism can co-operate is actually getting together with the same drive, the same passion, giving the benefits of Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom.

I think that is a vital thing we can do, be on the front foot, be proactive and actually sell our wares as an integral part of the United Kingdom.

The retired officer, who left the force after 22 years on health grounds in 2021, dismissed speculation about his potential as a future party leader as not serious as he urged more cooperation between unionist parties which could take many forms.

Being cooperative doesnt have to be some formal thing, it is just working together, a common interest to get things done, to sell the benefit of the union because there are those within the nationalist and republican tradition who are very good at getting together, organising and with driving passion, they are selling the case for a united Ireland, Mr Burrows said.

I dont think it is a strong case. I think the case is to stay in the United Kingdom, make this place work, and that is what I am determined to do.

Mr Burrows, who established himself as a high-profile media commentator on criminal justice issues after leaving the PSNI, vowed to continue his history of public service which has included volunteering at a food bank.

I have seen the real challenges that people have with the cost-of-living crisis, he said.

I want to give something more and an opportunity has arisen and I want to help the people of North Antrim with the daily difficulties they face, housing, the farming sector needs advocated for, the cost-of-living crisis, there are children who cant get places at school who have special educational needs.

When I hear these challenges, I want to make a contribution to make Northern Ireland work.

Describing it as an absolute honour to be selected by the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr Burrows wished his predecessor all the very best for the future and promised to serve all constituents without exception.

I have spoken to Colin in recent days, and it is clear to me he has a passion for both public service and for North Antrim.

North Antrim occupies a special place in my heart, and I lived in the constituency for ten years when I was in the PSNI in Londonderry.

"I will get started immediately on doing this important work. Having volunteered in a local food bank in recent years, I am only too aware of the hard realities that many people face and the extent of need in our local communities.

Mr Burrows assured voters he will be visible, accessible and responsive and expressed excitement about working with the partys four councillors in the area and the local UUP association who do fantastic and often unheralded work.

"I also look forward to providing rigorous scrutiny in the Assembly, which is vital to ensuring the highest quality of local government for all the people of Northern Ireland, Mr Burrows continued.

It is an honour to once again serve the people of Northern Ireland after my career in policing. I believe in Northern Ireland and its people and will do whatever I can to make this a better place for everyone.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt MLA welcomed Mr Burrows to the role and also paid tribute to Mr Crawford who quit after less than a year.

Whats done is done, and I again wish Colin Crawford the very best for the future, he said.

I see the immediate future for Jon as very exciting, with nearly two years to embed himself into his new role and make the seat his own.

As a party of law and order, it should be no surprise that we often turn to those who have served their country when vacancies arise in elected politics. I welcome Jon as an ideal candidate. He has a wealth of experience, he is totally committed to this place that we all call home, and he has the energy an MLA needs to deliver for the people he represents.

"As someone who has worked and lived in North Antrim, I am beyond confident Jon will quickly embed himself again in the constituency.

Jon Burrows

Storm Floris to bring unseasonably strong winds to parts of UK

Meanwhile, Mr Crawford wished his replacement every success in the future. .

I would like to warmly congratulate Jon Burrows on being selected as my replacement to represent the people of North Antrim," he said.

I wish Jon every success in his new role and offer him my full support and assistance as he takes up this important responsibility. Representing North Antrim has been a great honour, and I know Jon will bring his own strengths and commitment to the job.
Northern Irelands famous sausages are to be served up on Mexican tables, after the Government signed a new 19m deal with the country.

After eight years of negotiations between Mexican and UK authorities, 12 businesses across England and Northern Ireland have secured approval to export quality pork products to Mexico, with the UK securing new access specifically for Northern Irish exporters, ministers said on Sunday.

The 12 businesses include Cranswick Country Foods PLC, based in Hull, Watton and Ballymena; Karro Food Group in Cookstown, and Interfrigo Ltd in Antrim.

The businesses will now be able to export pork, offal and edible by-products, bringing British pig farmers a return on parts that are less popular in the UK but which Mexican consumers enjoy as part of classical buche meat dishes.

Government figures estimate that Mexicos pork market has grown by 5.4% annually between 2019 and 2024, with industry figures expect the deal to bring in 19m over the first five years.

Stormont Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said: I am delighted that Mexico has granted approval for Northern Ireland to export pork to its markets.

This is testament to the exceptional standards we have in place here in Northern Ireland to produce high quality meat at an international level and demonstrates our commitment to supporting our important agri-food industry. Working together with industry, government and key stakeholders was essential to reach this agreement.

Daniel Zeichner, minister for food security and rural affairs, said the deal is a tremendous win for our pork producers and builds on our recent success in resuming exports to China.

It demonstrates this government's unwavering commitment to securing better trade deals for British farmers and food producers and will boost their incomes as part of our plan for change, he added.

Gareth Thomas

Exports minister Gareth Thomas added: British pork is the best in the world and this 20m export win will boost farming and rural communities across the nation.

The removal of yet another trade barrier is testament to our Trade Strategy which focusses on quick deals that deliver faster benefits to UK businesses and shows how this government is boosting exports as part of our Plan for Change while upholding our world-leading food standards.

This successful outcome follows eight years of negotiations between Mexican and UK authorities led by Defra, including the Food Standards Agency, Stormonts Department of Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs, and industry partnerships with valuable support from the Department for Business and Trade and the FCDO.

The Governments trade strategy, published earlier this year, is aimed at boosting exports and protecting UK firms at a time of growing uncertainty for global businesses following Donald Trumps tariffs.

 The Independent
Politicians have called on the Department of Health and Belfast Trust to be transparent and accountable when it comes to providing answers to a family over the incredibly tragic death of their baby girl.
The First Minister and deputy First Minister have today announced the appointment of Joe McVey as the new Commissioner for Victims & Survivors of the Troubles.

Mr McVey will take up the post on October 6 for a period of four years.

The principal aim of the Commissioner is to safeguard and promote the interests of Troubles victims and survivors.

The work of the Commission is categorised under three overarching and interlinked areas  addressing the past, effective service provision, and building towards a better and more reconciled future.

First Minister Michelle ONeill said: We want to congratulate Joe McVey on his appointment to this crucially important role.

"Victims and survivors deserve a strong, independent voice to ensure their needs are recognised and prioritised and it is vital that we continue to do all we can to support them.

We are confident that Joe McVey will be a dedicated champion and powerful advocate for the rights and needs of all those who have suffered.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: Ensuring that the needs of victims and survivors is at the heart of our trauma informed, victim-centred service is the key component to this vital work.

I wish Joe all the best in his new role as Commissioner as he works to ensure that the voices of our victims and survivors are heard loud and clear, and that they have access to the highest quality mental and physical wellbeing support.

Mr McVey is a former chief executive of Brain Injury Matters BIM (NI), a regional disability third-sector organisation supporting those affected by an acquired brain injury.

Prior to this, between 1999 and 2018 he was the founding partner with Blueprint Development Consultancy working with customers drawn from the public community and voluntary sectors.

He is currently chairman of the volunteering charity VSB Foundation, chairman of the Golden Thread Gallery and a trustee of the Linenhall Library.

In January 2024 Mr McVey was appointed as a non-executive director of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and has served eight years as a commissioner with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. In 2010 he was awarded an OBE for services to the voluntary sector.

Alliance Party MLA Paula Bradshaw said: "As Chair of the Executive Office Committee, I very much look forward to working with Joe McVey as he takes up the role.

"As considerable concerns continue to be raised around the whole legacy process, it is vital that victims and survivors have a voice.

"To that end, this is a long overdue but very welcome appointment."

East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson added: "There have been considerable challenges in filling public appointment positions since the restoration of the institutions, but I am delighted this one has now been filled. This was an absolute priority for all of us.

"Too many victims have been let down by successive failings at Westminster level and delays at Stormont level.

It is essential, now more than ever, to ensure that the voice of victims is properly heard."

Mr McVey's predecessor, Ian Jeffers, left the post in 2023 to become chief executive of peace-building charity Co-operation Ireland.
A canine search team that has lost three appeals to become an official rescue organisation has rejected offers to join recognised bodies.

K9 Search & Rescue confirmed that its third appeal to join the Northern Ireland Search and Rescue (NISAR) register had been turned down by the Department of Justice.
On Saturday afternoon the fire service dealt with a car fire and discovered the body of a woman

Police have said the death of a woman in her 30s found beside a burning car in Co Tyrone is not believed to be suspicious.

The remains were discovered in the Rylagh Road area of Omagh on Saturday.

Independent councillor Josephine Deehan said the tranquil rural community has been left horrified and distressed following the incident.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "The person who died following a vehicle fire outside Omagh on Saturday afternoon, 2nd August, has been confirmed as a female in her 30s.

A post-mortem has concluded and family has been informed. At this stage, her death is not believed to be suspicious.

Ms Deehan said: "There is very distressing news from Omagh over the weekend and sadly appears to be that a woman has lost her life in a fire, which involved a car in the Rylagh Road.

"As this tragedy unfolds, our main thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman at this time, in lieu of the horrific circumstances of this womans death.

"They are in our thoughts and prayers.

"Our community is deeply shocked, that this has happened in a tranquil rural area.

"We dont know the full detail surrounding the case. Police are confident they are dealing with arson.

"I hope that we will have answers soon for the family in particular, and the community who are horrified and distressed.

"It is a very tragic situation, and police are appealing to the public for any information.

PSNI officers and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene shortly after 2pm on Saturday, where they found a silver Mitsubishi Lancer GS2 on fire. The blaze was extinguished by the fire service.

In an earlier statement the PSNI said it was working to ascertain how the victim came to be next to the burning car.

As fire officers extinguished the blaze they discovered that, tragically, a person had died as a result of the fire, said Detective Inspector Keon.

We are treating this fire as arson, and our enquiries as to how the person came to be beside the vehicle are ongoing.

On Saturday afternoon the fire service dealt with a car fire and discovered the body of a woman

Watch: Planes struggle to land at Belfast City Airport as Storm Floris hits NI

We would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area between midday and 2.15pm yesterday, who may have noticed anything suspicious, to contact us.

We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone who had dashcam or other footage and would also like to hear from anyone who may have noticed this particular vehicle.
What is loyalism, what do loyalist women want and why do they not trust the media?
Floral tributes left outside a building in Mill Park in Cambridge after 20-year-old Mohammed Algasim, from Saudi Arabia, was fatally attacked (Sam Russell/ PA)

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a student from Saudi Arabia who was stabbed to death while on a 10-week placement in Cambridge.

Police were called to Mill Park at 11.27pm on Friday following reports of violence.

Mohammed Algasim, from Saudi Arabia, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.01am on Saturday despite the best efforts of paramedics, Cambridgeshire Police said.

Floral tributes left outside a building in Mill Park in Cambridge after 20-year-old Mohammed Algasim, from Saudi Arabia, was fatally attacked. (Sam Russell/ PA)

The street, near to Cambridge railway station, consists largely of apartment blocks, and floral tributes had been left on the pavement outside one of these buildings.

A message, on a piece of paper taped to a barrier behind the tributes, said may your soul be at peace and had heart shapes drawn on it.

It also said inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun, which is an Arabic phrase meaning to God we belong and to Him we return.

Police said that 20-year-old Mr Algasim had been on a 10-week placement studying in Cambridge.

Floral tributes left outside a building in Mill Park in Cambridge after 20-year-old Mohammed Algasim, from Saudi Arabia, was fatally attacked. (Sam Russell/ PA)

EF International Language Campuses Cambridge, a private school offering English language courses to overseas students, said it was deeply saddened to confirm one of its adult students had died.

Cambridgeshire Police said on Monday that it is believed Mr Algasim was stabbed in an unprovoked attack.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Tuesday.

The force said that Chas Corrigan, of Holbrook Road, Cambridge, has been charged with murder and possession of a knife in a public place.

Mill Park is largely a street of apartment buildings, near to Cambridge train station. (Sam Russell/ PA)

The 21-year-old appeared before Peterborough Magistrates Court on Monday and is due to appear before Cambridge Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

A 50-year-old man, also from Cambridge, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

He remains in custody.
The UK plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless certain conditions are met (PA)

Downing Street declined to say whether Britain would recognise Palestine with Hamas still in power after the militant group reportedly described statehood as one of the fruits of October 7.

Number 10 also refused to be drawn on whether the release of all Israeli hostages was a condition for recognition, but insisted they must be freed unconditionally and immediately.

Concerns have been raised over the UKs plans to recognise a Palestinian state after Hamas member Ghazi Hamad appeared to claim the fruits of October 7 had caused the world to open its eyes to the Palestinian issue.

Asked on Monday whether formalising the move without a ceasefire could embolden Hamas to hold onto Israeli captives, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said the Government would assess the situation in September.

The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that, on October 7, Hamas perpetrated the worst massacre in Israels history, he said.

Every day since then that horror has continued as the Foreign Secretary said over the weekend, Hamas are rightly pariahs who can have no role in Gazas future.

Asked whether a Palestinian state could be recognised while Hamas are still holding hostages, the spokesman said that well make an assessment ahead of the UN General Assembly on how far the parties have met the steps that weve set out.

Weve been very clear that Hamas can have no role in the future governments of Gaza Weve also been clear that they must disarm, must release all the hostages.

On whether the step could be taken while Hamas remain in power, the official said the Government was clear that Hamas are not the Palestinian people.

It is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to have recognition along the lines and the steps that weve previously set out, he said.

Weve also been very clear it cannot be in the hands of Hamas, a terrorist group, to have a veto over recognition of Palestine.

Videos released by militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad last week appeared to show Israeli hostages in a visibly fragile state.

Number 10 condemned the images as completely abhorrent.

Meanwhile, Mr Hamad reportedly told the Al Jazeera news outlet: The initiative by several countries to recognise a Palestinian state is one of the fruits of October 7.

About 1,200 people were killed by Hamas militants in the 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war and another 251 were abducted.

Israels retaliatory military offensive has killed more than 60,800 Palestinians, according to Gazas health ministry.

The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but its figures are seen by the UN and other independent experts as the most reliable count of casualties.

The UK and Jordan have been working together to air drop aid amid warnings of widespread malnourishment in Gaza.

It comes as Britain seeks to put pressure on Israel to change course with a plan to recognise a Palestinian state in September ahead of the UN General Assembly.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK would only refrain from recognising Palestine if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months.
In the summer of 1967 Stella Rimington, the bored wife of a junior diplomat in New Delhi, was approached by another British official with a proposition: would she be interested in helping out in his office?

The author of the request was a baronet and a bachelor best-known among staff at the British high commission for his excellent Sunday curry lunches and for driving round Delhi in a snazzy old Jaguar.

He was also the senior liaison officer for MI5  the British security service  in the Indian capital, and when the diplomats wife accepted his offer of employment it was to mark her entry into the shadowy world of intelligence.

It was a curiously low-key start for a remarkable 29-year career marked by a series of firsts  culminating in her appointment as the UKs first woman spymaster.

In that time she found herself pitted against Russian espionage agents and IRA terrorists as well as, more controversially, domestic subversives including the leaders of the 1984 miners strike.

Dame Stella Rimington with her memoir Open Secret (John Stillwell/PA)

Dubbed the housewife superspy when she became the first female director general of MI5  and the first to be named publicly  she did much to bring the service out of the shadows and explain its role to the public.

While she struggled with the publicity  she was forced to move out when the press discovered where she lived  she nevertheless appeared delighted when she was credited as the model for Judi Denchs M in the James Bond movies.

The greater openness she inaugurated went too far for some when, after leaving, in another first, she became the first former director general to publish her memoir.

In retirement she took on a number of non-executive directorships  including for Marks & Spencer, using her surveillance skills to eavesdrop on customers to pick up what they were saying about the companys products.

She also drew on her experiences to forge a successful second career as a thriller writer, with a series of novels about the fictional MI5 officer Liz Carlyle.

Stella Whitehouse was born on May 13 1935 in South Norwood, a comfortable middle class suburb in south London, the second of two children.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, they moved first to Wallasey and then to Barrow-in-Furness, where her father had taken a job at a steel works.

Both towns were hit hard in the Blitz and the nightly bombing raids left her with an acute fear of being trapped in confined spaces that was to last well into adulthood.

Only with the end of the war was she able to resume proper schooling, first at the local Croslands Covent School and then at Nottingham High School for Girls after the family moved to the Midlands.

After excelling academically, she won a place to read English at Edinburgh University, where in her final year she became friendly again with her future husband, John Rimington, whom she had first met in Nottingham.

Following her degree, she took a course in archive administration at Liverpool University, followed by jobs first at the County Record Office in Worcester and then the India Office Library in London.

Stella Rimington with then home secretary Michael Howard at the first official photocall by a MI5 director general (Sean Dempsey/PA)

That came to an end in 1965, when her husband, whom she had married two years earlier, was offered a posting as first secretary (economic) in New Delhi and the couple sailed for India.

The routine of life as a diplomatic wife soon began to pall, so she jumped at the opportunity of work with MI5, even though it turned out to be mostly clerical and not particularly exciting.

Nevertheless, on their return to London in 1969, she decided to seek a permanent job with the service, initially as something to keep me interested and amused until she started a family.

The organisation she joined she soon found was a land of eccentrics peopled largely by war veterans and ex-colonial service officers, with a heavy drinking culture.

The two well-bred ladies of a certain age who were entrusted with her training would each day at noon produce a pair of glasses and a bottle of sherry for a rather elegant pre-lunch drink.

It was also a service with a strict sex discrimination policy with women confined to administrative and support roles while the frontline work  such as recruiting and running agents  was for men only.

Her early assignments including helping to identify potential communist infiltrators in rural Sussex and working on the newly formed Northern Ireland desk set up in response to the start of the Troubles.

After becoming pregnant with the first of her two daughters, Sophie, she found her determination to return to work after the child was born was met with incomprehension within the service.

She was not particularly enthusiastic herself, but needed the money, although matters improved when she was given the chance to work on the main enemy  the Soviet Union.

The defections of the Cambridge spies  Kim Philby, Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean  still cast a long shadow over the intelligence community, fuelled in part by the conspiracy theories of MI5 officer Peter Wright who was convinced there was another Russian mole within the organisation.

Mrs Rimington was tasked with re-interviewing John Cairncross  later identified as the so-called fifth man in the group  who had made a partial confession to spying in the 1960s, but failed to extract any new leads from him.

Stella Rimington said it was legitimate for MI5 to monitor Arthur Scargill (above) during the miners strike (PA)

Nevertheless, her persistence paid off when she finally persuaded her bosses to make her a full MI5 officer, after complaining that male graduates recruited straight from university were being brought in over her head.

A further breakthrough followed when it was agreed she could train as an agent-runner, the view having long been taken that potential informants would be unwilling to talk to a woman.

In her memoir she recalled the difficulties of juggling her new role, which frequently involved going under cover, with bringing up a young family.

On one occasion she received a call from a nanny to say her younger daughter had been taken to hospital with convulsions just as she was preparing for a crucial rendezvous with a potential defector.

In the event she managed to make it to the meet, after first checking in at the hospital, but had to borrow money from the would-be defector to pay for all the taxis involved.

Whether the apparent scarcity of funds available to British intelligence influenced his decision or not, I dont know, she wrote. But he did eventually decide not to make the jump across.

Nevertheless, her career was by this stage firmly on an upward trajectory and in 1983 she was appointed an assistant director  the first woman to hold the post  with responsibility for counter-subversion.

Initially, she thought it was something of a backwater but that quickly changed with the advent of the miners strike the following year.

She later recalled agonising over whether it was legitimate for MI5 to monitor Arthur Scargill and other union leaders  finally concluding that they should as Mr Scargill had declared his aim was to bring down the government of Margaret Thatcher.

Stella Rimington after being made a dame at Buckingham Palace (Adam Butler/PA)

When MI5s involvement became known it nevertheless proved highly controversial, leading to claims it had engaged in a dirty tricks campaign against the miners, which Mrs Rimington always denied.

Promotion, to director of counter-espionage, saw her embroiled in further controversy when Peter Wright  by now retired and thoroughly embittered  published his notorious Spycatcher memoir.

It included his now long-discredited theory that former director general Roger Hollis had been a Russian spy as well as a startling claim that a group of MI5 officers  himself among them  had tried to bring down Labour prime minister Harold Wilson.

Although Wright later withdrew the allegations, his description of how MI5 had bugged and burgled their way across London led to demands that the service should be brought more firmly under ministerial control with its surveillance powers set on a statutory footing.

At first Mrs Rimington was reluctant, producing an internal policy paper arguing against legislation, but after accepting that change was inevitable she became an enthusiastic proponent, sitting on a joint working group with the Home Office which drew up the landmark Security Service Act.

By now both the service she had first joined in the 1960s and the threats it faced were very different.

With the end of the Cold War and collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1991 she led a three-strong delegation to Moscow in an extraordinary attempt to establish friendly relations with their erstwhile adversaries in the KGB.

Dame Stella Rimington, MI5s first female director general (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Despite a warm welcome, with a visit to the Bolshoi Ballet and with much champagne flowing, when she suggested to the Russians they might cut back their espionage in the UK as a prelude to greater co-operation on issues such as counter-terrorism, the idea was dismissed as ridiculous.

Any disappointment was short-lived. On her return to London she was greeted with news that she was to be the next director general, despite not having been interviewed for the post, or even asked whether she wanted it.

Furthermore, John Majors government had decided that now the service was on a statutory footing, thanks to the legislation she helped draw up, her appointment should be announced publicly  the first time any British intelligence chief had been openly identified.

The announcement  in a brief, two-line statement with no accompanying photograph  caused a media sensation, not least because she was the first woman to head any of the agencies, for which she was ill-prepared.

Her elder daughter, Sophie, was away at university and only learned the news from the television, while their home was soon surrounded by journalists.

In the absence of any official photograph, a blurry snatch shot taken some years earlier was widely circulated, before photographers finally managed to capture a rather unflattering image of her leaving the house.

Amid all the furore, it soon became apparent that she could not carry on living there, and she was forced to move into secure accommodation with her younger daughter (she had separated from her husband some years earlier).

Despite such an inauspicious start, Mrs Rimington used her time as director general to bring gradually bring the service out of the shadows, dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions built up around it.

In 1993, MI5 published a short booklet which, for the first time, put some facts into the public domain, while she appeared alongside then home secretary Michael Howard in an official photocall to launch it.

A further step towards greater openness followed when, despite much official hand-wringing, she was given permission to deliver the prestigious BBC Dimbleby lecture on the role of the security services in a democracy.

She was made a dame in the 1996 New Years Honours list.

Her heightened public profile led to sniping in Whitehall that Stella likes the limelight  a perception only enhanced when, five years after her retirement in 1996, she chose to publish her memoir, to the fury of many of her former colleagues.

Such criticisms did not stop her speaking out in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the US war on terror to warn that draconian new laws simply played into the hands of the terrorists by spreading fear and alarm.

Alongside her post-MI5 writing and business commitments she even found time to chair the judging panel for the Man Booker Prize for literature, although her comment that they were looking for readability found her once again in the firing line from critics who accused her of dumbing down the award.

During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, she reconciled with her husband, moving in together during lockdown.

Its a good recipe for marriage, Id say, she said. Split up, live separately, and return to it later.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a memorial at the parliament in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Iran founded a new defence council after attacks in June by Israel and the US, Iranian state media has reported.

Irans Supreme National Security Council, the countrys highest security body, made the decision to establish the Supreme National Defence Council, which will be headed by President Masoud Pezeshkian, the report said.

The council will handle defensive plans and improve the capabilities of Irans armed forces.

Members will include the speaker of Parliament, the head of the judiciary and the chiefs of military branches and related ministries, the report said.

Damage from a deadly June 13 Israeli airstrike is seen in a building at a residential compound in Tehran, Iran (AP)

The defence, intelligence and foreign ministries are expected to be council members, although the report did not provide those details.

Irans decision follows a 12-day air war by Israel and the US that led to the deaths of nearly 1,100 people including military chiefs and commanders.

A ceasefire has been in force since shortly after the airstrikes targeted Irans major nuclear facilities.

Iran had a similar council during the 1980s war between Iran and Iraq that left nearly one million casualties on both sides.
The former DUP deputy leader was convicted of unlawful assembly and given big fine after the incursion into County MonaghanPeter Robinson and Ian Paisley blamed each other for the incident

Peter Robinson at Ballybay Courthouse in October 1986 where he appeared on charges relating to the Clontibret affair. Photo: Pacemaker

Clontibret is a small, unassuming village, in County Monaghan, just a few miles from County Armagh.

But in the early hours of 7 August 1986, hundreds of Ulster Loyalists, some in paramilitary uniforms, spilled over the border and into Clontribret.

A trail of destruction and violence descended on the village. Gardai were attacked with two officers ending up in hospital.

Anti Anglo-Irish agreement graffiti was sprayed throughout the village, and cars and property were damaged.

The so-called invasion was led by then DUP Deputy leader Peter Robinson  the only person to be arrested.

He was later convicted of unlawful assembly and given a mammoth fine as his supporters brawled outside the courthouse.

Ian Paisley said Robinson alone was responsible for the incident, Robinson blamed Paisley.

To revisit the infamous Clontibret Invasion  Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride.
Loyalists hold fundraiser in aid of alleged Ballymena race rioters

Cash to be used for travel costs to visit remand prisoners and for the jail tuck shop

Police respond to a second night of violence in Ballymena (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

John Toner Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 14:00

A fundraising campaign has been launched in support of Ballymena race-riot suspects being held on remand.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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PITTSFIELD  Barrington Stage Companys Celebration of Black Voices has come a long way since COVID.

When the festival was first established at the height of the pandemic, it was functionally a trauma dump, according to its founder Sharron Frazier-McClain, director of community engagement and DEIA for Barrington Stage  a platform for West Side residents and members of the Black community to unload raw emotions through song, dance and poetry.

If You Go What: Barrington Stage Company's 5th annual Celebration of Black Voices Where: The Common, 100 First St., Pittsfield When: Noon to 7 p.m., Aug. 9 and 10 Admission: Free Information and updates: @celebrationofblackvoices CELEBRATION OF BLACK VOICES Saturday, Aug. 9 Noon: Youth Voice Ensemble & Free Community Lunch

1 p.m. DJ HOLLYW8D in collaboration with The Mahaiwe

2 p.m. Let Your Yoga Dance in collaboration with Kripalu

3 p.m. Reflections (poetry event)

4 p.m. Christine Bile & Friends (musical performance)

5 p.m. Kia "The Key" & Company in collaboration with Jacob's Pillow

6 p.m. Chantell McCulloch (musical performance) Sunday, Aug. 10 Noon: Interactive Story Hour with Tati Sabrina

1 p.m. Line dancing with Berkshire Sole

2 p.m. Joyful Noise Gospel Concert featuring Yolanda Brown

3 p.m. SWAGGY2XX (hip-hop performance)

4 p.m. Bree Soul (musical performance)

5 p.m. Sabrina Francis (cabaret)

6 p.m. Kendra Bellevue (musical performance)

Amid nationwide protests in the summer of 2020 after the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and a world on standstill dealing with COVID-19, there was a great deal to process for the participating artists. It was a necessary outlet for those emotions, Frazier-McClain said, but a larger community and family grew out of it.

In the five years since, its seen a gradual shift toward jubilee  Frazier-McClain said this years festival, Aug. 9 and 10, would be an exhibition of Black joy.

It started as a response to trauma, Frazier-McClain said. But what I love is the resilience of the community and that we didnt stay there. Once they started engaging and interacting in the space, it actually evolved into a celebration.

The fifth annual Celebration of Black Voices will be held noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10 at The Common on First Street. Previously held in the parking lot of the Polish Community Club on Linden Street, which is no longer an option due to the redevelopment of the property, The Common will offer greater visibility and draw in more community members.

The weekend will feature free musical performances, poetry readings, theater and dance in all forms  everything from gospel music to line dancing, Frazier-McClain said. This year, the festival is partnering with the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival and Kripalu, which will offer a yoga dance workshop 2 p.m. Aug. 9.

The celebration will begin with a performance from the programs youth ensemble, where Pittsfield teens will devise a musical theater piece in the week leading up to the event. A partnership with Price Memorial AME Zion Church, which distributes over 400 meals each week as part of its distribution program, will also provide sack lunches for attendees at the youth performance.

INTENTIONAL ABOUT COMMUNITY

The festival was born from an effort by the theater company to reach more of its West Side neighbors through intentional outreach, hoping to get more people of color into its auditoriums. As Frazier-McClain was knocking on doors in the neighborhood offering free tickets, she was also receiving feedback from residents  some of whom expressed disinterest in its regular programming.

They wanted to make sure the neighbors felt comfortable coming into the space, Frazier-McClain said. But one of the things that we recognized is just because you give someone an invitation, it doesnt mean they feel welcome.

One response in particular stood out to her: Why cant we be on stage?

The resident posing the question was a comedian, and Frazier-McClain immediately recognized the need for an entry point for talented West Side residents who didnt have other outlets. An unexpected vacancy in Barrington Stage's pandemic era performance tent gave Frazier-McClain the opportunity to organize the very first event, then called "West Side Takes The Stage," in just four days.

The event was a success, but there was still more work to do to cultivate intentional spaces for Black creators. Thats where Melle Powers, festival co-producer and CEO of Joy Powered Productions, comes in  with years of experience in the theater industry, she knows how to create rehearsal spaces and creative environments that are intentional about centering Black voices.

Together, Powers and Frazier-McClain have worked to make the festival into an affinity space for the Black community  an environment made specifically and intentionally for them, which the organizers say is in short supply elsewhere in the county. The goal is to ensure that participating youth especially see themselves represented in every level of the program.

But Frazier-McClain doesnt want people to get the wrong idea: the festival is open to everyone. As part of its mission, it gives people who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) a chance to celebrate their history and heritage, and gives those simply hoping to learn more about them an opportunity for education and solidarity.

"It is centered around Black people and Black voices always, but everyone else is invited to celebrate," Powers said.

While the programs primary focus is helping to nourish residents creatively, it also takes a holistic approach to meeting their needs. Things like child care, voter registration and even food insecurity are on the minds of the organizers  in years past, Frazier-McClain arranged for the celebrations youth camp to have meals provided by the Christian Center.

Its also always working all of the different partnerships to really think about how were using this art and the platform that Barrington is giving us  the resources  to really pour back into the community, Powers said.

As part of the celebration's mission, Frazier-McClain and Powers also try to find new ways to introduce the organization as a resource for the community. By building relationships with artists and opening the space up for events like album release parties, they hope to develop relationships that will go beyond the celebration.

"We don't want it to be a one-off," Frazier-McClain said. "We don't want people to just wait for that one week in August to interact."

The organizers efforts are all in service of the ultimate goal: giving Black Berkshires residents the tools to tell their authentic story.

One of the things I say with my nonprofit is that we are archivists of this moment, and you cant let other people tell your stories, Powers said. You can use your history and also your imagination to dream of your future, and thats how were using all of these things together.

IF YOU GO

What: Barrington Stage Company's 5th annual Celebration of Black Voices

Where: The Common, 100 First St., Pittsfield

When: Noon to 7 p.m., Aug. 9 and 10

Admission: Free

Information and updates: @celebrationofblackvoices

CELEBRATION OF BLACK VOICES

Saturday, Aug. 9

Noon: Youth Voice Ensemble & Free Community Lunch

1 p.m. DJ HOLLYW8D in collaboration with The Mahaiwe

2 p.m. Let Your Yoga Dance in collaboration with Kripalu

3 p.m. Reflections (poetry event)

4 p.m. Christine Bile & Friends (musical performance)

5 p.m. Kia "The Key" & Company in collaboration with Jacob's Pillow

6 p.m. Chantell McCulloch (musical performance)

Sunday, Aug. 10
In the 1930s, Pittsfields punitive approach to homelessness and panhandlers didn't seem to have achieved much to alleviate anyone's addiction, mental health issues, the economics of a Great Depression, or the housing shortages that plagued Berkshire cities.
As housing costs have risen across the county, people working essential entry-level positions at local hospitals and private practices have watched their rent and utility bills consume over half their income. Because of this, patients are paying the ultimate price, health care professionals say.
Government of Punjab launches Cancer Care Pathways

August 04, 2025 | Monday | News

To ensure timely detection, evidence-based treatment

The Government of Punjab has launched the Punjab Cancer Care Pathways  a comprehensive initiative introducing Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and streamlined care models for breast, cervical, oral, lung, and liver cancers.



The pathways were developed and authored by the expert team from AIIMS Delhi, in collaboration with the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab.



The official launch was held in the presence of the Health Minister of Punjab, key contributors, and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), ICMR, PGIMER, and other national institutions.

This is more than a document  it is a mission to ensure timely detection, evidence-based treatment, and survivor-focused care for the people of Punjab.
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao inaugurates mental health hospital Amaha in Bengaluru

August 04, 2025 | Monday | News

Facility offers intensive, trauma-informed, multidisciplinary care for severe mental health conditions

Amaha, a pioneer in Indias mental health services and the largest private mental health provider in India for adult and child mental health care, has announced the launch of its first super specialty mental health hospital in Thanisandra, Bengaluru.

Expanding on its presence across multiple outpatient centres in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, having served over 40,000 clients; this purpose-built facility with 27 beds marks a significant step forward in offering acute, high-quality interventions for individuals experiencing severe psychiatric conditions and acute distress.

Amahas new facility brings together a large multidisciplinary team of experts, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and peer support specialists. The team is equipped to manage a range of psychiatric needs, including trauma, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, deaddiction, ADHD, treatment-resistant depression, and severe mood disorders.

Speaking at the inaugural event, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, said, Mental health is becoming a priority in our public health agenda. Today, its not just the elderly, young people too are increasingly affected. Rapid societal shifts, academic and career pressures, substance use, digital addiction, and poor sleep are all major contributors. Every school must have access to counselling, and Im glad the Supreme Court has recognised this need. Specialised care is crucial. Mental health treatment isnt just clinical, it involves emotion, deep analysis, and responsible intervention. Facilities like Amahas hospital offer intensive, trauma-informed, multidisciplinary care that can truly make a difference. Im also pleased to share that psychiatric assessments are now part of the 14 core health parameters under Karnatakas public healthcare services.

With this facility, Amaha is setting a new benchmark for mental healthcare in India, one that delivers intensive, inpatient support for complex and lifelong conditions, in a setting built to global standards but tailored for our cultural realities.
RoboGynIndia 2025 in partnership with Vattikuti Foundation showcases Indias leadership in robotic gynaecologic surgery

August 04, 2025 | Monday | News

Driving clinical progress through global collaboration, academic exchange, and surgical innovation

RoboGynIndia 2025, the flagship annual event of the Association of Gynaecological Robotic Surgeons of India (AGRS) held for the fourth year, concluded with high momentum and meaningful engagement at Mumbai.

Held on August 2 & 3, the conference was themed Robotic Surgery in GynaecologyRedefining Boundaries and brought together the countrys most prominent robotic gynaecologic surgeons and global experts for a two-day academic and clinical exchange.

The event was held in association with the Vattikuti Foundation, a pioneering force behind the growth of robotic surgery in India.

As part of its commitment to nurturing the next generation of robotic surgeons, the Foundation sponsored the prestigious Vattikuti Scholar awards and honoured five winners for their outstanding surgical video presentations, each recipient earning a grant of $500 and the distinguished title of AGRS Vattikuti Scholar.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, CEO, Vattikuti Foundation, said, RoboGynIndia 2025 has once again demonstrated the incredible depth of talent and innovation within Indias robotic surgical community. Our association with this platform reflects the Foundations commitment to nurturing the ecosystem, beginning with training the early pioneers in robotic gynaecology to now enabling the next generation of surgical leaders. Through initiatives like the AGRS Vattikuti Scholars and Champions Awards, we are proud to recognize emerging talent, foster innovation and drive the future of womens healthcare.

Dr. Rooma Sinha, Founder & President of AGRS and a Senior Mentor at Vattikuti Foundation, added, RoboGynIndia is not just a conference; it is a catalyst for change in the way we approach surgical care for women. Over last 3 years since it was registered at Hyderabad, Telangana, the years, it has grown into a movement that celebrates innovation, fosters academic rigor and inspires a new generation of surgeons to think beyond boundaries. Our partnership with the Vattikuti Foundation has played an important role in this evolution. From mentoring early adopters to now empowering young clinical minds, the Foundations vision has always been aligned with advancing excellence and equity in robotic gynaecology. Together, we are shaping a future where precision surgery which has now become the standard, not the exception, in womens healthcare.

The event concluded with a strong sense of purpose, highlighting Indias increasing leadership in robotic-assisted surgery and the role of global collaboration, technology and academic exchange in redefining the future of womens health.
Lilly expands India presence with inauguration of Hyderabad site to accelerate global digital innovation

August 04, 2025 | Monday | News

New centre creates opportunities for local talent and advances Hyderabads biotech ecosystem

Eli Lilly and Company (India) has announced the opening of its new technology and innovation site in Hyderabad; a new strategic hub for advanced digital and technology capabilities that will improve efficiency across Lillys global operations.

By focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, cloud computing, and software product engineering, the site will contribute to solving some of the worlds most pressing health challenges while also creating growth opportunities for local talent.

Located in Gachibowli, Lillys Hyderabad site spans approximately 220,000 square feet across four floors within the Phoenix Equinox building. Lilly has already onboarded 100 professionals at the Hyderabad facility and plans to expand the headcount to 1,500 over the next few years.

The facility was officially inaugurated by Diogo Rau, Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer of Eli Lilly and Company, alongside Chief Minister of Telangana, A. Revanth Reddy, and D. Sridhar Babu, Honble Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana. Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, was also present at the event.

A. Revanth Reddy, Honble Chief Minister of Telangana, said, We are delighted to welcome Lilly to Hyderabads growing life sciences ecosystem. The inauguration of this new site further reinforces the citys position as a global hub for healthcare innovation, built on scientific excellence, skilled talent, and international collaboration. The Government of Telangana remains committed to fostering an environment where pioneering companies like Lilly can thrive and deliver meaningful impact both in India and globally.

Lillys Hyderabad site will integrate advanced technology capabilities across key functions, supporting accelerated innovation, enhanced efficiency, and improved health outcomes for patients globally.
Former editor of Smash Hits and Empire magazines Barry McIlheney was a leader who was also joyously rock n roll and punk rock, a memorial service has heard.

The service at St Marks in Dundela, Belfast, allowed former friends and colleagues to gather and celebrate the life of the journalist, broadcaster and publisher, who also launched Heat magazine.

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Mr McIlheney, originally from Belfast, died in May at the age of 65.

Among those paying tribute at the service on Monday was Mike Edgar, formerly a BBC producer, who said Mr McIlheney had been a very special man.

Mourners leave St Marks Church in east Belfast after the memorial service for former Smash Hits and Empire magazine editor Barry McIlheney (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said: Barry had an unstoppable passion for music and everyone you could think of in the world of music had respect for him, and rightly so.

Without Barry I would never have encountered the crazy worlds of Vince Power or The Pogues.

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They all loved him.

Mike Edgar (right) leaves St Marks Church after reading a eulogy at the memorial service for former magazine editor Barry McIlheney (Liam McBurney/PA)

He added: Barry was a true journalist, someone who exuded confidence at the right time and never missed a good opportunity if it presented itself.

On one occasion he was live on the radio with me doing a report from a phone box on Carnaby Street in London and as ever feeding in the 10 pence pieces and entertaining us royally.

Whilst chatting live on-air, Barry looks out the phone box window and spots Depeche Mode walking down Carnaby Street.

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As quick as anything Baz kicks the door of the phone box open and shouts: Hey lads, come and talk to the good people of Northern Ireland on the radio!  which unbelievably, they dutifully did.

There then followed a Guinness Book of Records-style moment with three members of Depeche Mode and Barry stuffed into a phone box for what turned into a great moment of showbiz madness

Only Barry McIlheney would have the brass neck to carry off same!

Mr Edgar said McIlheney, despite his success, had always remained passionate about Belfast.

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He said: Like his contemporaries David Hepworth, Mark Ellen or Niall Stokes, Barry might have worn a suit on occasion but no one could ever call him a suit!

Barry was a leader, but he was also joyously rock n roll and punk rock.

He added: He was well read, brave in his work, always curious, never boring, always kind and always impressive.

Barry was larger than life, he always greeted us with a smile on his face, wearing his big coat with an upturned collar, a cheeky glint in his eye, a smart one-liner up his sleeve, and a well-earned loveable Belfast swagger.

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Drummer Paul Burgess (centre) from the band Ruefrex, leaves St Marks Church (Liam McBurney/PA)

Delivering the homily at the service, Archbishop of Armagh Rev John McDowell said the good that Barry did will not be interred with his bones but will live on in your memories forever.

He said: Barry never forgot where he came from, but he didnt talk nonsense about it either.

It wasnt everything and it wasnt nothing.
An Irish woman is among nine people kidnapped from an orphanage in Haiti.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said no stone would be left unturned in efforts to ensure the release of Gena Heraty, who oversees the Sainte-Helene orphanage in Kenscoff, close to the capital of Port-au-Prince.

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Mr Harris said he had been in contact with Ms Heratys family.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said he had been in contact with Ms Heratys family. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

Ms Heraty is originally from Westport in Co Mayo.

She oversees the orphanage which is is run by the humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Freres Et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers And Sisters).

According to reports, Ms Heraty, a three-year-old child and seven employees were also taken.

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The Tanaiste said: The kidnapping of Irish citizen Gena Heraty, along with seven of her colleagues and a three-year-old child from the grounds of an orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, is deeply worrying.

Gena has served the people of Haiti for over 30 years.

She has dedicated her life to supporting the most vulnerable people in Haiti and it is imperative that she is released immediately.

This morning, I had a good conversation with Genas sister Noreen and I assured her that all is being done to ensure Genas release.

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Mr Harris added: My department is in close contact with the Heraty family, local authorities and Nos Petits Freres Et Soeurs, the organisation Gena works for.

The countrys two ambassadors are also in close contact.

We will continue to leave no stone unturned to ensure Gena and her colleagues are released.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.
An Irish-born medical registrar said he was left stunned after a group of children hurled racial slurs at him as he left a shopping complex last week.

Dr Taimoor Salman estimates children as young as 10 years old shouted 'Mr Curry Man' in a broken Indian accent at him.

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The incident occurred after 9pm on Thursday evening as Dr Salman dropped into Blackcastle Shopping Centre in Navan, Co. Meath to pick up a few groceries on his way home from work at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth.

He had stepped into his car and was about to reverse when a young boy cycled in front of him and repeatedly shouted 'Mr Curry Man'.

"I said he was being very rude and as I reversed an older boy, a young teen, came up and asked me if I had said something so I told him that his friend had been rude," he said.

"The older boy told me to shut up and then started doing impersonationations of Apu, the Indian shopkeeper in the Simpsons. I just left. I didn't say anything more as they were children.

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"I was stunned and upset. I have seen racial abuse and throw away remarks first hand to me and my colleagues at the hospital but I would never expect this from children who are generally very accepting of other nationalities.

"There seems to be a horrible pack mentality and this incident was insidious."

Dr Taimoor was born in Ireland where his father trained and practised as a surgeon and worked in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan before moving the family to work in the UK and Saudi Arabia.

"I lived in Navan and went to primart school here and have nothing but good memories of the town as a child. I never experienced any racism here.

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"That's part of the reason I came back to live here with my wife and young daughter in 2017 and after I began working in the hospital in Drogheda."

Dr Salman, whose parents were born in Pakistan, believes that the streets of Navan have become too dangerous for him to walk at night.

"This wave of hatred to people of colour is quite recent and increasingly more open and brash. I've been back in Ireland for 15 years. In 2017, it was a peaceful and safe place and I could walk anywhere at any time without fear. Now it is too unsafe and I would only go to crowded places."

"There is no invasion in this country. This is everyone's home and everyone has to be respectful to everyone else. Racism is ugly and it shouldn't be accepted or tolerated.

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"I've seen senior consultants and colleagues at the hospital targeted and even in guidelines, we are told to use the word 'coloured' people. Why? All people are just people. We all have a heart and we will all live and die. There should be no distinction.

"I saw a child on Thursday night. I didn't see a colour. No-one should see a colour"
Dozens of Palestinians were killed or wounded on Monday as desperate crowds headed toward food distribution points and airdropped parcels in the Gaza Strip, according to witnesses and local health officials.

Israels blockade and military offensive have made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid, contributing to the territorys slide towards famine nearly 22 months into the war with Hamas.

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Aid groups say Israels week-old measures to allow more aid in are far from sufficient.

Families of hostages in Gaza fear starvation affects them too, but blame Hamas.



Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Zawaida (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Several hundred Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since May while heading toward food distribution sites and aid convoys, according to witnesses, local health officials and the United Nations human rights office.

The military says it has only fired warning shots and disputes the toll.

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As international alarm has mounted, several countries have airdropped aid over Gaza.

The UN and aid groups call such drops costly and dangerous for residents, and say they deliver far less aid than trucks.

Many food parcels dropped by air have splashed into the Mediterranean Sea or landed in so-called red zones from which Israels military has ordered people to evacuate.

In either case, Palestinians risk their lives to get flour and other basic goods.

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On Monday, Palestinians cheered as pallets of aid were parachuted over Zuweida in central Gaza. Associated Press footage showed a desperate scramble when the parcels hit the ground, with hundreds of people racing toward them.

Fistfights broke out and some men wielded batons.

I wish they would deliver it through the (land) crossings, Rabah Rabah said earlier as he waited for the airdrop.

This is inhuman.

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Palestinians carry humanitarian aid packages near a distribution centre (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

At least one parcel fell on a tent where displaced people had been sheltering, injuring a man who was taken to a hospital. His condition was not immediately known.

At least 16 people were killed late on Sunday near the Israeli-controlled Zikim Crossing, the main entry point for aid to northern Gaza, according to records at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which showed that more than 130 people were wounded.

The circumstances were not immediately clear, but the crossing has seen several shootings in recent days that witnesses and health officials blamed on Israeli forces.

There was no immediate comment from the military.

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At least 10 people were killed as thousands waited for aid trucks in the Morag Corridor, which the Israeli military carved out between the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah.

Mohammed al-Masri, who was among the crowds, said Israeli forces opened fire when a group of young men tried to make their way to the front.

The occupation forces shot many people in the head and in the back, he said, adding that he saw four wounded people, one motionless on the ground.

Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 10 bodies from Morag and another five who were killed near an aid site in southern Gaza run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed American contractor.

GHF said there were no violent incidents at or near its sites. It said a new UN route runs near two of its sites in the south and has drawn large crowds of people who unload the convoys.

GHF says its contractors have only used pepper spray or fired warning shots on a few occasions to prevent deadly crowding since it opened four sites in May.

Later on Monday, the Israeli Cabinet voted unanimously to sack attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara, escalating a long-running standoff between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judiciary that critics see as a threat to the countrys democratic institutions.

The Supreme Court froze the move while it considers the legality.

Mr Netanyahu and his supporters accuse the attorney general of exceeding her powers by blocking decisions by the elected government.

Critics accuse Mr Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, of undermining judicial independence and seeking to concentrate power in the hands of his coalition government.
A four-year-old girl has died following an incident at a swimming pool at Waterworld, Staffordshire Police said.

The force was called to the water park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, at around 4:20pm on Monday to reports of a girl in a critical condition.

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She was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital for further treatment but she died there.

Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, police said.
Hong Kong authorities strengthened a crackdown on 16 overseas-based activists who were previously targeted by bounties on suspicion of endangering national security, implementing measures that include banning financial support to them and cancelling passports for most of them.

The activists were among 19 people who were targeted with arrest warrants in July for alleged roles in Hong Kong Parliament, a group the police called a subversive organisation abroad.

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The organisation is not the citys official legislature and its influence is limited.

Three of the original 19 activists were already targeted by similar measures last year.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang banned providing funds or economic resources to the 16 activists, including Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai, Australian academic Chongyi Feng and US citizen Gong Sasha, the Hong Kong government said in a statement.

Travel documents were cancelled for 12 of the 16 who hold Hong Kong passports.

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The government also prohibited properties from being leased to the people on the list or forming joint ventures with them.





Anyone violating the orders risks a penalty of up to seven years in prison.

The 16 activists are hiding in the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand and Taiwan, among other regions, the government said, accusing them of continuing to engage in activities endangering national security.

The notice also accused them of intending to incite hatred against Beijing and Hong Kong through smear and slander.

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We therefore have taken such measures to make a significant impact, the statement said.

Beijing imposed a national security law on the territory in 2020 that has effectively wiped out most public dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019.

Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile.

The measures announced Monday were issued under the powers granted by Hong Kongs homegrown national security law enacted last year.

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The arrest warrants issued in July have drawn criticism from foreign governments, including the US, the UK and the European Union.

Police offered rewards of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars (25,480 US dollars) to one million Hong Kong dollars (127,400 US dollars) for information leading to their arrests.

In a July statement, US secretary of state Marco Rubio condemned the moves.

The extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression, he said.

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We will not tolerate the Hong Kong governments attempts to apply its national security laws to silence or intimidate Americans or anyone on US soil.

The Hong Kong office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded by opposing criticism from foreign politicians, insisting the actions were legitimate.

The governements in Beijing and Hong Kong said the security laws were necessary for the citys stability.
The coming week could bring an important moment in the war between Russia and Ukraine, as US president Donald Trumps deadline for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal approaches  or it could simply melt away.

Mr Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected in Moscow in the middle of this week, just before Mr Trumps Friday deadline for the Kremlin to stop the killing or face potentially severe economic penalties from Washington.

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Previous Trump promises, threats and cajoling have failed to yield results, and the stubborn diplomatic stalemate will be hard to clear away.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is losing more territory on the front line, although there is no sign of a looming collapse of its defences.



Emergency workers inspect damage from a Russian missile (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Mr Witkoff was expected to land in the Russian capital on Wednesday or Thursday, according to Mr Trump, following his trip to Israel and Gaza.

They would like to see (Witkoff), Mr Trump said on Sunday of the Russians. Theyve asked that he meet so well see what happens.

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Mr Trump, exasperated that Russian president Vladimir Putin has not heeded his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, a week ago moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia as well as introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil, including China and India.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that officials are happy to meet with Mr Trumps envoy.

We are always glad to see Mr Witkoff in Moscow, he said. We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful.

Mr Trump said on Sunday that Russia has proved to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions.

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Theyre wily characters, he said of the Russians.

The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbour have had a limited impact.

Ukraine insists the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscows war machine and wants Western allies to ramp them up.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged the United States, Europe and other nations to impose stronger secondary sanctions on Moscows energy, trade and banking sectors.

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Mr Trumps comments appeared to signal he does not have much hope that sanctions will force Mr Putins hand.

The secondary sanctions also complicate Washingtons relations with China and India, who stand accused of helping finance Russias war effort by buying its oil.

Since taking office in January, Mr Trump has found that stopping the war is harder than he perhaps imagined.

Senior American officials have warned that the US could walk away from the conflict if peace efforts make no progress.
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Eating outJust open Euro-summer comes to Cronulla with Athenian wine bar Homer Family meals, $38 carafes of wine and a lo-fi modern aesthetic  meet Cronullas coolest new restaurant. Bianca Hrovat August 4, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 15 Harry Kapoulas (right) with his brother Mario at Homer. Wolter Peeters 2 / 15 Manouri cheese baked with hot honey and kataifi. Wolter Peeters 3 / 15 The wine list is a 50/50 split between Australian and Greek winemakers. Wolter Peeters 4 / 15 Wolter Peeters 5 / 15 Beetroot salad. Wolter Peeters 6 / 15 Wolter Peeters 7 / 15 Wolter Peeters 8 / 15 Spanakopita flat bread. Wolter Peeters 9 / 15 Wolter Peeters 10 / 15 Greek table wine is $38 for a carafe. Wolter Peeters 11 / 15 Mums moussaka. Wolter Peeters 12 / 15 Wolter Peeters 13 / 15 Wolter Peeters 14 / 15 Wolter Peeters 15 / 15 Grilled souvlaki ocotopus. Wolter Peeters Previous Slide Next Slide The lo-fi cool of the Athenian wine scene is coming to Cronulla with the opening of Homer on Tuesday. Its a 100-seat indoor-outdoor wine bar and taverna inspired by New Athens  the resilient Greek capital where creativity, community and chaos abound in the aftermath of the financial crisis. I love the vibe, I love the history, and I love the grittiness of Athens, says Harry Kapoulas, who co-owns Homer with brother and business partner Mario. Its becoming popular now, but its always been this cool. The brothers were inspired by gastrokafenio  a popular type of restaurant in Athens where modern dining meets the traditional Greek kafenion, or coffee house. Family photos are stuck to the concrete walls at Homer, Cronulla. Wolter Peeters

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At Homer, that means family photos stuck on concrete walls; brown paper tablecloths laden with koulouri, pickles and blackcurrant leaf spritzes; and a weekly bouzouki player wandering beside the long, stainless-steel bar. We want it to feel really comfortable, like youre walking into someones house, and theyre serving you a drink, Kapoulas says. Its relaxed, affordable, and it allows people to come as they are. The Kapoulas brothers have owned and operated neighbouring cafe HAM for the past 16 years. Head chef Kirri Mouat, who joins Homer from HAM, has worked with them to develop a menu inspired by Athenian cuisine and their favourite family dishes. Koulouri with tzatziki, olives and tirokafteri. Wolter Peeters I remember eating at my grandmothers house. She used to cook all day and youd go in there and open the fridge and thered be taramasalata, olives, feta, you know, Kapoulas says.

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Its part of our culture, and we wanted to bring that here. You can have a lot of little dishes that you can pick at, or add things to, like a side of feta or tzatziki if you want it with your chicken, straight off the grill. Dishes are meant to be ordered en masse, covering the table with custom-made ceramic plates filled with flatbread (baked in the brick, wood-fired oven), stifado (beef stew) rolled in crisp chicken skin, and baked manouri cheese drizzled with honey. Theres also mums moussaka, spanakorizo topped with white fish, and sticks and stones (a grilled meat plate with lamb ribs and meatballs). A plethora of ceramic plates to share at Homer, Cronulla. Wolter Peeters The drinks list runs from approachable lagers and well-known Australian wines to fun cocktails, including mini martinis. Greek aperitifs such as ouzo and mastiha are also represented, and a wide variety of lesser-known Greek wines. Its a 50-50 split between Greek and Australian wines, Kapoulas says. We really want to educate people and promote the Greek stuff because theres so much there thats really exciting, but we understand that not everyone is into that.

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He recommends trying a glass of Thymiopoulos Young Vines, a red xinomavro from Naoussa or a really cool retsina, its a new age [Kechribari] retsina and it comes in a beautiful little half-litre bottle  its dry, white and really delicious. Spanakorizo with fish, rice, lemon and greens. Wolter Peeters Greek table wine is available by the carafe for $38, and theres also Greek coffee, lemonade floats for the kids, and non-alcoholic cocktails. Cronulla needs something like this right now  something casual and accessible, with Greek food, Kapoulas says. There havent been any [sit-down] Greek restaurants open for dinner at Cronulla, until now. Lunch Friday-Sunday; dinner Tuesday-Sunday 3/3 Surf Road, Cronulla, homerroguetaverna.com.au
Tasmanias political limbo will come to a head as the premier seeks to have his government recommissioned within days, but the opposition leader isnt going down without a fight.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff revealed today he would approach the states governor within 48 hours to be reappointed following a snap election last month that did not deliver any party a clear majority.

Tasmanian Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff declared victory on election night. He has pledged to build a stadium at Macquarie Point. Credit: AAP

Negotiations with the crossbench to form another minority government have intensified as Rockliff and Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter attempt to secure the 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern.

The premier revealed he would attempt to stay in power even if he could not secure confidence and supply agreements from crossbenchers.

I would welcome more formal agreements with confidence and supply should individual members wish to do so, Mr Rockliff told reporters on Tuesday.

My understanding is that it is not necessary in terms of being recommissioned in a minority government.

Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter. Credit: AAPIMAGE

Winter said while Rockliff had the first opportunity to form government, it was not the only opportunity.

He vowed to step up meetings with crossbenchers because a government without supply and confidence agreements would lead to instability, highlighting intentions for formal talks with independents in coming days.

Winter continued to rule out doing a deal with the Greens and said he wasnt seeking to meet with them.

We want to work with independents in particular who have said they want change, he said.

They want a new government, they want a government that can deliver stability and confidence to Tasmanians.

The final makeup of Tasmanias parliament is 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents.

AAP
The cost of a complex upgrade to NSWs Opal ticketing system for public transport is at risk of increasing by as much as $171 million to $738 million amid delays of at least a year in completing the project.

The state governments infrastructure adviser has put the project under greater scrutiny due to its complexity and scale, forcing Transport for NSW to provide greater contingencies in its funding.

Dubbed Opal Next Gen, the project is now budgeted for $738 million, up from $568 million. Infrastructure NSW has changed Opal Next Gen from a tier two to a tier one project, which means the transport agency must be 90 per cent sure the final cost will fall within budget.

About 25,000 electronic Opal readers across the states public transport system will be replaced. Credit: Rhett Wyman

The project involves replacing 25,000 electronic readers on buses, at train stations, light rail stops and ferry wharves. Planned features of the new system include allowing concertgoers to use event ticket QR codes to catch public transport, while concession fares will be easier to access for those eligible.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw is retiring a year early to spend more time with his grandchildren, and will be replaced by the first woman to head the nations police force.

Deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett, who most recently oversaw the AFPs national security portfolio, will replace Kershaw in October.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pictured on Monday with Krissy Barrett, who has been announced as the next AFP commissioner, and outgoing commissioner Reece Kershaw. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Kershaws early retirement comes after the police chief faced scrutiny over his handling of the Dural caravan plot in Sydney, which was first described as a terrorist act but was later revealed to be a fake plot by powerful crime figures to distract police and influence prosecutions.

The commissioner refused to answer questions at a hearing in February about whether he had briefed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the plot.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is continuing to pursue a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as at least 90,000 people marched across Sydney Harbour Bridge calling for an end to the war in Gaza and pressure builds within Labor for recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Albanese said on Monday he would use any phone call with Netanyahu to advocate for a two-state solution. Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite had earlier confirmed that the call was being pursued, as Labor politicians backed the peaceful protest organised by the Palestine Action Group, with at least three members of the federal caucus in attendance.

At least 90,000 people attended Sydneys pro-Palestine march on Sunday. Credit: Dean Sewell

Backbenchers Ed Husic, Alison Byrnes and Tony Sheldon marched with protesters on Sunday, putting further pressure on Albanese to recognise Palestine.

At a press conference on Monday, Albanese said he would continue to advocate for peace with Netanyahu.
The Mogami program is budgeted to cost $10 billion over the next 10 years, a time frame in which the first three frigates are scheduled to be delivered. The government has declined to reveal the estimated total cost of the program once the remaining eight ships are included, saying it is about to enter contract negotiations with Mitsubishi. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the announcement represented a very significant moment in Japan-Australia relations, but insisted geopolitics had not influenced the decision by cabinets national security committee, which met on Monday night. The Mogami is absolutely the best ship, and that was very clear in all the advice that we received, Marles told reporters on Tuesday. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said: On cost, capability and schedule, the Mogami was the clear winner on all three factors. It was the clear winner, and the source evaluation reports reflected that. Marcus Hellyer, regarded as one of the nations leading defence economists, said he believed the total cost of the program would be in the range of $15 billion to $20 billion given it would be more expensive to build the ships in Australia than Japan.

Hellyer, head of research at Strategic Analysis Australia, said the government was playing stupid games by declining to reveal the programs estimated total cost when it had done so for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine plan. Loading Conroy said it would be a disservice to taxpayers to provide a price estimate beyond the $10 billion over the next decade figure, which includes funding for infrastructure upgrades at the Henderson shipyards. If we were to nominate a price per ship right now, as we enter contract negotiations, we would give away our bargaining position, he told this masthead. A decision on the winning bid was initially expected to be made closer to Christmas, but the government sped up its announcement to ensure the first vessel arrives on time.

In a bid to avoid the cost overruns and delays that have marred the Hunter-class frigate program and other recent naval projects, the government ordered that the first three general-purpose frigates be built overseas and that there be minimal changes to the existing ship design. Credit: Matt Golding Conroy said the only changes to the upgraded Mogami would be translating the language of the ships combat system and any modifications required by Australian law. The first frigate is scheduled to be delivered in 2029, with most of the ships to be built at the Henderson shipyards in Perth. The government has left open the possibility of ordering more ships from Japan if the Perth facility is not ready in time. Boasting high levels of automation, the Mogami needs only 90 crew, while other frigates require about 120, and is regarded as unusually stealthy for a surface vessel. The upgraded version of the ship will also have twice as many missile cells as the German alternative and can be equipped with advanced Tomahawk missiles from the US.

The upgraded Mogamiclass frigate is the best option for our navy, Conroy said. It will take our general purpose frigates from being able to fire 32 air defence missiles to 128 missiles, giving our sailors the cuttingedge weapons and combat systems they need to prevail in an increasingly complex environment. Defence sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said both bids were broadly comparable on cost but that Japans was cheaper over the long term when the cost of weapons and the smaller crew size were included. Osamu Nishiwaki, the deputy commissioner of Japans Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, which oversees defence exports, recently told this masthead that the United States had backed Japans bid. I understand that, at least informally, they are very much supporting the Japanese side because its very natural, he said during a recent visit to Canberra.

Its the Indo-Pacific: the Australian navy, Japan Self-Defence Forces and the US Navy are operating together, not the Germans. Loading Jennifer Parker, a maritime security expert associate at the Australian National University, said she was not surprised by the decision, given the Mogami was widely acknowledged to be the superior ship. However, she said Japans bid carried risks that would need to be addressed. The upgraded Mogami we are buying doesnt yet exist and is already quite a different ship from the existing version, said Parker, a former naval officer.
Footballers, politicians, human rights activists and more were among the estimated 90,000 people who united in Sydney on Sunday, making history in the pelting rain to protest the Israeli governments actions in Gaza.

The Harbour Bridge was closed for five hours as the crowd, led in part by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, former Socceroo Craig Foster and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, marched from Lang Park to North Sydney, calling for sanctions against Israel and the free flow of aid to starving Palestinians in Gaza.

On Monday morning, retired Australian footballer and lifelong human rights activist Foster issued a celebratory message to those who marched on Sunday.

I thank and congratulate all who yesterday showed the immense strength of the Australian conscience and urge everyone to join together as a powerful, collective force against all hatred, violence and racism, for equal rights for all, and for Australia as a consistent and powerful actor for a just and peaceful world, Foster wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
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 Reviews & adviceTrain journeys First class at 300 km/h for just $93? Its a five-star train journey Trudi Jenkins August 5, 2025  7:44am 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

The train: TGV InOui The journey Nice to Paris

Nice to Paris The operator SNCF

SNCF Frequency Several times a day

Several times a day Travel time 5 hours 50 minutes

5 hours 50 minutes Class First class The journey The train skirts the coast until Marseille. This starts as a picturesque meander along the coast to Marseille, with stops at several stations on the way, including Antibes and Cannes. Youll glimpse the Mediterranean, rocky coves and sun umbrellas on beaches. From Marseille, the holiday vibe is somewhat left behind as the train changes track, speeds increase up to 300km/h and there are no stops until you reach Pariss Gare de Lyon. Its still a relaxing journey though, up through the middle of France past vineyards and forests.

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Boarding The first-class carriages are spacious and can be booked for private groups. Its a breeze to get to the station in the centre of town (Nice Ville), and onto the two-level train. Suitcases are stored by the entrance to our carriage, which has been booked for us as a private group so we dont have to stress about the possibility of theft. This is a new initiative from SNCF for 10 or more passengers travelling together, and includes a host to smooth the way with luggage and transfers. There are overhead racks for smaller bags; a nearby toilet (note that the flush is operated by a foot pedal) and, a couple of carriages further on, a casual bistro car with regional French produce incorporated throughout the menu. The seat

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TGV InOui seating in first class. Trudi Jenkins Seats are placed in rows of three; a single on one side of the aisle and a pair on the other. Mine is 46 by the window on the right-hand side of the train; for the first part of the journey to Marseille, Im facing backwards, but it doesnt worry me. The charcoal and red colour scheme is smart; the upholstered seats have a footrest, a mirror, bag or coat hook and a small shelf that converts to a full-size drop-down tray table for a laptop or meal. Theres a drink holder, a USB port and a standard European socket plus a button to recline the seat that I keep hitting accidentally as its on the inside of the armrest. The free on-board Wi-Fi is patchy, so I stick to 5G on my roaming plan. Baggage You must be able to carry all your luggage by yourself. After the station boarding gates, only ticket holders are allowed on the platform. You can take either two suitcases, or one suitcase and one special item (eg a bike or skis), plus one item of hand luggage. Your hand luggage can measure a maximum of 40cm x 30cm x 15cm; your suitcase can measure a maximum of 70cm x 90cm x 50cm. Fees from 50 apply for excess baggage.

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Food + drink Lunch on board is delicious. Trudi Jenkins As a private group, were allocated a host who delivers drinks, meals and snacks to our seats, airline-style. The standard is excellent (apart from typically bad French coffee) and the packaging recyclable. Our cold lunch is chicken with couscous, a mustardy potato salad, a bread roll and a cherry and almond cake. There is also a vegetarian option. Soft drinks are offered throughout the journey and snacks include really good butter cookies with chocolate. If youre travelling independently, meals and drinks can be pre-ordered online and picked up via the priority queue in the bistro car. The snacks on board are high-quality. Trudi Jenkins One more thing

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Given this trip takes almost six hours, I would recommend forking out for the more spacious first-class seats. Related Article Train journeys On board the worlds most luxurious new train The price From 52 ($93) one way for first class, meals extra. See sncf-connect.com

If you want to book a private carriage and host for a group, email veronique.dewiest@sncf.fr The verdict

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I cant really fault this trip as an affordable, comfortable and sustainable (a tiny fraction of the carbon emissions of flying) way to get across France, straight from the centre of Nice into the centre of Paris. Flying would be quicker, but travelling by train is less stressful and the time goes by quickly. Our rating out of five  The writer was a guest of Virgin Australia, Atout France and SNCF Voyageurs. See france.fr

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A toddler who was discovered in the luggage compartment of a New Zealand bus was stashed in a suitcase and was wearing only a nappy when she was found.

The bus driver made the discovery after the InterCity bus stopped in Kaiwaka, north of Auckland. The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed, police said on Sunday.

The toddler was found inside a bag in the luggage compartment of an InterCity bus. Credit: Stuff

A 27-year-old woman is due to face court on Monday in Aucklands North Shore on charges of ill-treatment/neglect of a child.

InterCity said it was aware of an incident involving a passenger on one of its services on Sunday, and said nobody was harmed, and the service had since resumed.
Washington: US President Donald Trump says he will hike tariffs on India from their already-high level of 25 per cent due to the countrys ongoing purchases of Russian oil amid the war against Ukraine.

In a sign of the strained relations between the two countries, India quickly branded Trumps move unjustified and unreasonable, and said it would take all necessary measures to safeguard its economic security.

US President Donald Trump and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in the Oval Office in February. Credit: Bloomberg

The threat, which has not yet been acted on, underlines Trumps preference for using tariffs for geopolitical leverage, and comes as his deadline looms for commitments from Russias Vladimir Putin on ending the war, which has now raged for three-and-a-half years.

There have been mixed reports about Indias intentions over the past week as the US stepped up pressure on the worlds most populous nation to back away from its reliance on Russian crude oil, which now accounts for about a third of Indias supplies.
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Ce lundi matin, le Conseil constitutionnel sest reuni au Palais des Congres de Yaounde pour examiner les contentieux pre-electoraux, dans un climat de tension extreme. Les abords du palais ont ete places sous haute surveillance militaire, avec des barrages filtrants et un dispositif securitaire inhabituellement lourd.

Une militarisation inquietante

Des les premieres heures, les forces de securite ont boucle toutes les voies dacces au Palais des Congres, transformant le cur politique du pays en une veritable forteresse. Des sources locales rapportent plusieurs arrestations aux alentours du site, alimentant les craintes dune repression ciblee a lapproche de lecheance electorale.



Cette demonstration de force intervient dans un contexte deja tendu, marque par des contestations recurrentes sur la transparence du processus electoral. Pourquoi un tel deploiement pour une simple audience juridique ? Les observateurs sinterrogent sur la volonte des autorites detouffer toute velleite de protestation.

Un signal politique fort

Alors que le Conseil constitutionnel doit statuer sur des recours lies a leligibilite de certains candidats, cette militarisation massive envoie un message clair : le pouvoir ne tolerera aucun desordre. Mais a quel prix ? La presence ostensible de larmee dans les rues de Yaounde, et meme dans dautres villes du pays, souleve des questions sur la liberte et lequite du scrutin a venir.

La democratie camerounaise sous pression

Entre intimidations et verrouillage securitaire, lopposition et la societe civile denoncent une strategie de musellement. Reste a savoir si cette atmosphere de siege influencera les decisions du Conseil constitutionnel  ou si elle confirmera les craintes dun processus electoral deja mine par la defiance.



Cameroons 2025 Elections: Constitutional Council Meets Under Heavy Military Presence

This Monday morning, Cameroons Constitutional Council convened at the Palais des Congres in Yaounde to address pre-electoral disputes, amid unprecedented security measures. The area surrounding the building was heavily militarized, with checkpoints and a visible show of force by security forces.

A Disturbing Military Presence

Authorities blocked all access roads to the Palais des Congres, turning the political heart of the capital into a tightly controlled zone. Local sources reported multiple arrests near the venue, raising concerns about targeted repression ahead of the 2025 presidential election.



This heavy-handed security deployment comes amid growing tensions over the credibility of the electoral process. Why such extreme measures for a legal hearing? Analysts question whether the government is attempting to suppress dissent before the polls.

A Clear Political Message

As the Constitutional Council reviews appeals regarding candidate eligibility, the militarization sends an unambiguous signal: the regime will tolerate no opposition. But at what cost? The conspicuous army presence in Yaounde and other cities fuels doubts about the freedom and fairness of the upcoming vote.

Cameroons Democracy Under Strain

Between intimidation and security lockdowns, opposition leaders and civil society groups accuse the government of stifling democracy. The question now is whether this climate of fear will sway the Constitutional Councils decisionsor confirm suspicions of a pre-rigged election.



Presidentielle 2025 Cameroun, Conseil constitutionnel, Yaounde militarisee, contentieux electoraux, arrestations politiques, elections Cameroun, Palais des Congres, opposition camerounaise, processus electoral, tension politique, Cameroun actualite, democratie, repression.



Ange NGO
The Honda HR-V is a textbook case of the effects of inflation. When it was launched in 2022, this entry-level variant you see here was price...
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A court ruling that the new A5 road should not go ahead is to be appealed, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed.

Speaking during a visit to Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, Ms Kimmins said her department would be pushing forward imminently ahead of the deadline for an appeal on Friday.

In June, High Court judge Mr Justice McAlinden quashed the Executive move to approve the roads project following a legal challenge from a group including residents, farmers and landowners.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has said the A5 court ruling will be appealed (Liam McBurney/PA)

The judge said the proposed scheme breached sections of Stormonts Climate Change Act as it did not demonstrate how it would comply with the commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

There have been more than 50 deaths on the A5, which links Derry with Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone, since 2006.

Ms Kimmins said: I certainly will not be found wanting in terms of the work that has gone into this and that will continue to go into this to ensure that we get this road built and get it built in the shortest possible time.

Just today we have heard of another collision. That is at the forefront of my mind in absolutely everything we do.

We have been working across the weekend, this is the priority every single day and will continue to be.

I will ensure that we present the most robust case.

Ms Kimmins said her department would be working closely with the Enough is Enough group, which has campaigned for the road to be upgraded, as part of the appeal.

She said: This was the very first test of the (Climate Change) Act and officials are working very closely with officials in Daera to look at this and looking at how we can rectify that.

We are looking at everything here and an appeal is our first step.

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said the appeal was a valid legal route, but it would inevitably take time.

She added: What is unclear from the minister is how the appeal will address Justice McAlindens clear reference to climate targets supported by Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party and the SDLP in his ruling.

These targets were a key factor in the project being blocked by the court, and unless those parties act to resolve the consequences of their own policies, they risk holding up not just the A5 but a range of vital infrastructure projects across Northern Ireland.

Mr Esrkine said: The reality is that work on the A5 is not going to commence any time soon.

These legal processes are lengthy, and the minister should also be looking urgently at what other steps can be taken now to make the A5 safer for all road users, and how to deal fairly with landowners impacted by the failures of DfI.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

An Irish woman is among nine people kidnapped from an orphanage in Haiti.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said no stone would be left unturned in efforts to ensure the release of Gena Heraty, who oversees the Sainte-Helene orphanage in Kenscoff, close to the capital of Port-au-Prince.

Mr Harris said he had been in contact with Ms Heratys family.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said he had been in contact with Ms Heratys family. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

Ms Heraty is originally from Westport in Co Mayo.

She oversees the orphanage which is is run by the humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Freres Et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers And Sisters).

According to reports, Ms Heraty, a three-year-old child and seven employees were also taken.

The Tanaiste said: The kidnapping of Irish citizen Gena Heraty, along with seven of her colleagues and a three-year-old child from the grounds of an orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, is deeply worrying.

Gena has served the people of Haiti for over 30 years.

She has dedicated her life to supporting the most vulnerable people in Haiti and it is imperative that she is released immediately.

This morning, I had a good conversation with Genas sister Noreen and I assured her that all is being done to ensure Genas release.

Mr Harris added: My department is in close contact with the Heraty family, local authorities and Nos Petits Freres Et Soeurs, the organisation Gena works for.

The countrys two ambassadors are also in close contact.

We will continue to leave no stone unturned to ensure Gena and her colleagues are released.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.
Michael Bolton

2,700 homes, farms, and businesses remain without power on Monday evening following Storm Floris.

Crews will continue to work late into the evening, with the hope of restoring supply to most customers by Monday night.

The ESB has warned the public that if they come across any fallen wires or damaged network equipment, they should report it and not touch it, as it is live and dangerous.

Storm Floris made landfall overnight, bringing damaging gusts and localised flooding to some parts.

ESB crews are working to restore electricity faults, with Galway, Clare, Mayo and Donegal among the worst-affected counties.

Dublin Airport said flight operations were continuing as normal but Emerald Airlines had cancelled six flights on Monday.

A spokesperson for ESB Networks said: Yellow level winds associated with Storm Floris have led to a number of power outages across the country this morning, predominantly in the North West region.

The impact on the electricity network has been modest and in line with previous such wind warnings.

As of 10.30am, approximately 10,000 homes, farms and businesses across the country are without power.

ESB Networks crews are mobilised in impacted areas and responding to power outages where safe to do so.

Real-time information on power outages and restoration times is available on www.PowerCheck.ie.

We apologise to all homes, farms and businesses impacted for the inconvenience caused.

Additional reporting from PA.
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Dangote Cement Plc has announced plans to commission its 3Mta grinding plant in Cote dIvoire by the 3Q25. The facility, will bolster the companys regional cement production and export capacity as it grows its international network that currently spans 10 African markets, including Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and Ghana.

Export volumes from Nigeria increased by 18.2 per cent, with 18 successful clinker shipments made to Ghana and Cameroon. This demonstrates the growing importance of our pan-African footprint and our ongoing commitment to regional trade and self-sufficiency, said Arvin Pathak, group managing director of Dangote Cement.

Dangote Cement has a total installed capacity of 48.6Mta across Africa. Of this, Nigeria accounts for 32.3Mta, while the remaining 16.3Mta is spread across nine other African countries.

As part of its expansion drive, Dangote Cement resumed construction in March on its US$800m cement plant in Itori, located in Ogun states Ewekoro Local Government Area. The 6Mta facility is expected to be completed by November 2026, reports African Business Insider.
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Pakistan experienced a significant increase in both the value and quantity of cement and clinker exports in the just-concluded fiscal year of 2025. Official data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) shows that these exports grew by 23.7 per cent in value and 28.7 per cent in quantity YoY. The total export value reached US$329.79m, up from US$266.51m during the same period the previous year. When converted to Pakistani rupees, the export revenue increased by 22.1 per cent, totalling PKR92.17bn (US$325.9m).

In terms of volume, exports increased to 9.124Mt in FY24-25, compared to 7.08Mt in the previous year. This growth trend continued in June 2025 alone, with the PBS reporting a MoM increase of 22.2 per cent in cement sector exports, climbing from US$34.23m in May 2025 to US$41.84m in June 2025. The export volume for June 2025 also increased by 24.9 per cent, rising from 858,419t to 1.106Mt.

YoY for June 2025 indicates a positive outlook, with cement exports increasing by 40.8 per cent in value and 22.1 per cent in volume. In June 2024 the export value was US$29.71m for 905,808t.

Pakistans primary export destinations for cement include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, the USA and Ghana.



by Abdul Rab Siddiqi, Pakistan


Breaking News Would you like to receive our breaking news news? Signup today!

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General Interest Imported List: General Interest
Cleveland State Community College will host a Nursing Information Session on Tuesday, August 19, 5:30-7 p.m. in the Health and Science Center on the Cleveland campus.



Representatives from the Nursing Department will be available during the session to answer questions about the nursing program. Current and prospective students will learn about admission testing, the requirements to enter the nursing program and how to apply to the CSCC nursing program. The Associate of Applied Science Nursing degree sequence and courses will be highlighted.



Maureen Baksh-Griffin, Director of Nursing, said, It is a privilege to lead Cleveland States

Nursing program. I am proud of the hard work our faculty and staff do to support students. We

work diligently to ensure that every student who is accepted into our program will walk away

with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude to be a successful graduate nurse and a highly

qualified candidate, who is not only ready to sit for boards (NCLEX-RN), but is also ready to

serve their community with high standards, confidence, and a commitment to removing obstacles

to good healthcare.
The landscape of higher education is evolving rapidly, and several emerging trends demand our immediate attention. In Indiana, for instance, the college-going rate has plummeted to 51.7 percent, a stark decline from 65 percent just a decade ago. In Tennessee, the college-going rate for the class of 2023 is 56.7 percent. In 2024, Florida's college enrollment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds was 39 percent, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

This drop is alarming, as it signals a shift in the aspirations of young adults. It raises crucial questions about the future of a state's workforce and economy.

Several factors contribute to this decline, with financial barriers being a prominent concern. Despite tuition freezes aimed at making college more accessible, many students find that financial aid has not kept pace with rising costs. This disconnect can deter prospective students, leaving them uncertain about their educational futures.

Recent changes in high school diploma requirements have prioritized work-based learning over traditional college readiness. This shift reflects a broader societal trend that appears to devalue the importance of higher education.

The long-term implications of declining college enrollment could be profound. A less educated workforce may struggle to meet the demands of an increasingly complex job market, ultimately hampering economic growth. As fewer young people pursue higher education, the state risks falling behind in innovation and productivity, which could have ripple effects across various sectors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 10 percent growth in trade-related jobs by 2032, outpacing many white-collar professions. This trend is reflected in high school graduates' choices, with 32 percent opting for vocational paths in 2023, up from 25 percent in 2018. Contributing factors include lower costs of trade programs, shorter timelines to enter the workforce, and social media's role in improving perceptions of trades as viable career options.

In parallel, a cultural shift is underway among younger generations, particularly Generation Z. Jonathan Haidt, in his book The Anxious Generation, discusses how an overemphasis on safety, termed "safetyism, has led to heightened anxiety and lower resilience among young people. This generation is actively redefining what constitutes a "safe" career, moving away from traditional paths like college degrees and corporate jobs.

The recently published Gen Z Reroute Report by Zety reveals startling insights into how AI and economic uncertainties are shaping the career choices of this demographic. With 65 percent of Gen Z expressing skepticism about the protective value of a college degree against AI job losses, it's clear they are reconsidering their future. Additionally, 43 percent have adjusted their career plans in response to AI's potential impact, and more than half (53 percent) are seriously considering blue-collar or skilled trade careers.

Career expert Dr. Jasmine Escalera calls this trend the "AIxiety Pivot," as young professionals adjust their paths toward more stable opportunities. Influenced by social media and family support, Generation Z is actively upskilling and moving into industries that promise stability amid rapid technological change.

The implications of these findings invite a broader conversation about the future of work. As we navigate this evolving landscape, educators, policymakers, and employers need to engage with these trends and consider strategies that better align educational opportunities with the realities of the job market.

The decline in college enrollment and the rise of alternative career paths among Generation Z highlight an essential moment for society. We need to ensure higher education remains appealing while also supporting the diverse pathways young people are choosing today. Policymakers and stakeholders need to keep track of the changing nature of work.



JC Bowman,

Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
Daniel Lunt, the new principal of Hixson High School, as the featured speaker at the Friends of Hixson Coffee Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 8 a.m. at Clear Creek Church of Christ.

Mr. Lunt recently assumed the leadership role at Hixson High and demonstrates a strong commitment to academic excellence, student engagement, and community collaboration, said officials.

Mr. Lunt and his wife Wendy said they are excited to be in Tennessee, which brings them closer to many of their children and grandchildren. The Lunts oldest, Hanna, works as a nurse in Texas and plans to move with her husband and daughter to Chattanooga next year. Emily, one of their twin daughters, lives with her husband and daughter in Fredericksburg. Her twin sister, Elizabeth, is a Marine who just returned to North Carolina after a six-month deployment in the Middle East. Their youngest daughter, Samantha, also lives in North Carolina and works for the school system there as an educational assistant. Wendy will be a substitute teacher this year for Hamilton County schools. Their son, Joshua, will start 9th grade at Hixson this year.

Mr. Lunt said that as he reflects on this stage of his career, he feels truly blessed to be a part of the Hixson community. He mentioned that everyone has been very welcoming, which made the transition smoother, and he was greatly impressed by the achievements of our Hixson students. These accomplishments are made possible by the hard work, dedication, and support of every member of the Hixson staff and community.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from Mr. Lunt about his vision for the school, his goals for the upcoming year, and how the larger Hixson community can help support student success. This will be a chance to meet Principal Lunt, ask questions, and learn more about Hixson High School's future.

FOH Community Coffee Meetings are always free and open to everyone. For details on upcoming meetings, please visit friendsofhixson.org.
Bea Lurie with book photo by John Shearer Dr. Steven L. Jacobs on book jacket Sol Lurie photo in book Bea Lurie Previous Next

Chattanoogan Bea Lurie has co-written a book about her fathers survival while in captivity as a young man during the Holocaust, and his subsequent life that also brought additional moments of overcoming.

But the main theme might be that Sol Lurie not only escaped death under Adolf Hitlers cruel Nazi regime of World War II, but that he also evaded having a negative outlook or losing hope on life in general.

"He was a fighter, Ms. Lurie proudly said during a recent interview at Rembrandts regarding her new book, Life Must Go On, which she co-wrote with University of Alabama Holocaust and genocide historian Dr. Steven Leonard Jacobs. He grew up in a family where he was expected to do that. And he was just determined he was going to outlive Hitler.

Ms. Lurie hinted that not only has her father had a long journey of twists and turns, so also did the book.

As is chronicled, Mr. Lurie had come from a deeply rooted Lithuanian Jewish family, who had enjoyed a comfortable life. But that all changed dramatically when he was 11, and the Nazis invaded his country. His family was forced to live in the Kovno Ghetto, which later became a concentration camp.

The Germans had invaded Lithuania one day after his grandfather died in June 1941, and then he had to travel with his family deeper into Russia. But a Nazi soldier almost for some kind and unexpected reason told them to take another road, and that ended up saving their lives before they arrived at Kovno, Ms. Lurie writes.

She also tells of her father hiding like a rat in holes and building walls during the day in the ghetto while his parents worked slave labor, and being taken to the Dachau concentration camp in a boxcar and sprayed with DDT as a cruel Nazi form of being disinfected.

Other memories include only getting two slices of often moldy bread a day and having to sleep on his side with numerous other children on primitive bedding and no blankets.

He somehow and almost miraculously survived all the torment of this time along with his brothers and father and was freed on his 15th birthday. As Ms. Lurie summarizes in the book, the last place of captivity was at Buchenwald, and he had an emotional moment when he started looking out at the woods and seeing a tank and soon realizing it was an American tank. He was to be free and no longer had to wear a striped uniform!

His mother, however, had unfortunately died during the Holocaust.

After the war, he moved to New York to be near relatives, and he also served in the Korean War for his new country and eventually married a fellow Holocaust survivor, Evelyn. As he built a place in America, he later worked for a paint store in what was then a rough neighborhood of Brooklyn before taking over the business.

His daughter recalled that robberies were common at that time, and he used to keep his money in separate pockets and give any robbers money just from one. He later took over that business and had a cookie route in the South Bronx and survived robbery attempts there as well.

He had so much luck, said Ms. Lurie, who moved to Chattanooga to live in 2002 after her husband, David Eichenthal, was named as then-Mayor Bob Corkers internal auditor before he worked with the Ochs Center and in policy consulting. In his mid-50s, he retired and had enough savings to live well.

Despite all that he had overcome dating back to the trauma of the Holocaust as a Jew and avoiding being one of six million to perish, he had not completely overcome the mental captivity over what had happened to him as a child.

He didnt tell me anything until I was 44, she said. My father, like many Holocaust survivors, thought that nobody wanted to hear about what he went through. He clearly had PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), but nobody knew what PTSD was. He didnt go to therapy.

And my mother never told us anything, either, except when she got angry after we didnt eat our vegetables, Ms. Lurie continued with a laugh. She said that we were ungrateful, that all she ever had to eat (under Nazi imprisonment) were potato peels and sewer water and some occasional bread.

She died in 1993 never having shared what happened. My uncle had wanted her to share but she didnt.

As a child, Ms. Lurie said it was also hard trying to grasp what her parents had gone through, and she suffered somewhat as well. She remembered trying to find out about the Holocaust by going to the library when she was about 10 or 11 but having no one at home with whom to talk about her discoveries.

Eventually, though, about 20 or 25 years ago, her father started opening up about his experiences. And he did it in a big way, as he started going to schools and other places and began sharing with youngsters the atrocities he had suffered. He would find the sense of respect he would receive at these engagements much different from his youthful days of horror.

These kids would race up to him afterward and want to meet him, she said. He really had a huge impact.

He also spoke in Chattanooga, and someone at that time encouraged Ms. Lurie to write a book about her fathers life. By then, he had encouraged his daughter to document his journey.

However, it was not easy even for her to recount those events vicariously, and she admittedly had to take a break. I got to Chapter 3, and I couldnt write anymore, she explained. It is so hard to imagine another human being so cruel.

The book was eventually completed, though, and published by Pegasus Books. Ms. Lurie provides the anecdotal and factual stories of her father intermixed with historical information by Dr. Jacobs about the Holocaust and places where the elder Mr. Lurie was imprisoned. It is a part of the Holocaust story that has not been chronicled in as much detail.

Dr. Jacobs, a professor of religious studies at Alabama and the author of nearly 40 books, said in an email interview that he considers Mr. Luries story fascinating. Having had the privilege of spending three days with Sol early on, it was a rewarding and enriching experience for me as the child of a survivor myself, he said.

He added that his story is also a tribute to the human capacity to overcome the worst and make a better and more positive tomorrow.

Ms. Lurie, the former Girls Inc. CEO who is now the development director for Preserve Chattanooga and welcomes speaking opportunities about the new book, said writing it has also been cathartic for her and given her a sense of hope, too.

That is in part because her father, although always optimistic that good fortune would follow him, has become more openly loving in more recent years, she added.

I wouldnt learn from my father if he didnt have hope, she said.

Sol Lurie, who is now 95, lives in New Jersey and in recent years has suffered from dementia-related health issues. But he is excited to know about the publication of the book and has not lost his joyful attitude and hope for the world, in part because he remembers several Germans helping him while he was imprisoned, she added.

He really believes that if we can figure out how to learn not to hate, we can make the world a beautiful place to live, she said.

And that includes being aware of the past and the horrors of the Holocaust at a time when many believe the world is again becoming more authoritarian amid claims of rising attacks on personal freedoms, she said.

As Dr. Jacobs added similarly, We need to learn from this darkness of the past as a warning to the present and future to be on guard as to not repeat these tragedies but to more fully be aware of the conditions that bring them about.

* * *

Jcshearer2@comcast.net
Any courageous citizen or naive tourist brave enough to attempt to maneuver through the ongoing construction projects including the now funded Tivoli Theater, Chattanooga Bank Building hotel project, narrow bike lanes, dog droppings, street beggars, etc. are entitled to be informed that 2025 is not the first time a battle has occurred over Beautiful Broad Street.

During the term of appointed Mayor Richard Hardy (1923-1927) a historical event of his administration was the successful opening of Broad Street from Railroad Avenue.

The prior thoroughfare was once home to railroad tracks that ran from 9th Street (now MLK Boulevard) to Rosss Landing at the Tennessee River as a key route for passenger and freight trains (an added benefit was serving as a sewer line for the now Gig City).

The problem with the traffic pattern was that the street reached an abrupt end at 9th and the south side of that street was lined with small shops!

Unfortunately the real estate ownership belonged to the State of Georgia and the Southern sovereign was not inclined to negotiate a resolution to the dilemma faced by the local politicos hoping to further develop the area (sound familiar?) for the benefit of the expanding population (sound familiar again?)



Negotiations with and pleas to the Peach State for relief had failed and an air of desperation had hovered over Chattanoogans with the town practically being cut in two parts by the Georgia property.



An act of justice only surpassed by the defiant actions of Kelly Raiders in seizing the General locomotive in 1967 dispute between the two states is duly recorded in Volume II of The History of Hamilton County and Chattanooga, Tennessee by historian Zella Armstrong (1940-Lookout Publishing Company):



Ed Bass, who was serving as Commissioner of Streets, determined, however, to accomplish the apparently impossible task. He gave the shop keepers warning of his intention in the afternoon of May 6, 1926, and they prepared to save their wares. Other- wise his secret was kept and even the fifty workmen who assembled on Broad Street had no idea what their duties were to be. Huge arc lights had been installed and at a signal Commissioner Bass directed the men to demolish the shops and cut a passage through the Georgia property. He swung an axe and struck the first blow. As soon as the walls fell he and a few citizens rode through the gap thus establishing a right of way.

Meanwhile officials of Georgia and the Railways, although the news reached them late, were not idle. They made every attempt to secure an injunction but Commissioner Bass had with intention chosen a weekend and no judge could be located in time to stop the proceedings.

Rumors of the plan began to circulate in the town and before the last wall had fallen thousands of citizens had assembled. The Elks Junior Band was holding a rehearsal when the leader heard the news. He marched the band to the scene and in a spirit of humor ordered the band to play "Marching Through Georgia." The humor, however, was completely lost on the crowd. Many of the absorbed watchers had never before heard "Marching Through Georgia." They failed entirely to see the joke.

Some people who might have recognized the air did not hear the band because of the noise of rams, and hammers, falling timbers and the cheers of people. Many citizens learned next day through newspaper dispatches from Georgia that the song had been played as automobiles and people rushed across the long-forbidden land of "Georgia in Tennessee."

Later the Western and Atlantic Railway, the State of Georgia, and the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway came to an agreement with Chattanooga regarding the route of Broad street, which is now a wide thoroughfare from the Tennessee river to St. Elmo.

(At least it was described accurately in 1940!)






Breakthrough Achieved in Collaboration with Daikin America, Inc. Marks Major Step Toward Scalable, Cost-Effective PFAS Elimination.

Claros Technologies announced the successful completion of the world's first large-scale demonstration of high-throughput PFAS destruction using UV technology at Daikin America Inc.'s (DAI) Decatur, Alabama facility.

This milestone represents another breakthrough in efforts to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from industrial wastewater streams. During the pilot, Claros' proprietary UV-photochemical process achieved over 99.99% destruction of targeted PFAS compounds, successfully treating more than 50,000 gallons of wastewater a high-flow system capable of achieving hundreds of gallons per minute.

A Breakthrough in PFAS Destruction Since 2012, DAI has ensured a 99.9% reduction in large chain PFAS in its wastewater treatment process. This pilot program with Claros demonstrates that large-scale PFAS destruction of long, short, and ultra-short chain PFAS using UV technology is not only technically feasible but also economically viable.

By achieving over 99.99% destruction of targeted PFAS compounds in a high flow system, Claros has proven its technology can operate at scale and at a cost-effective price pointboth essential factors for real-world industrial adoption.

Michelle Bellanca, CEO and Co-Founder of Claros Technologies, underscored the critical role DAI played in advancing this milestone:

"We are deeply honored to be partnering with DAI on this groundbreaking initiative. Their vision, leadership, and willingness to invest in next-generation solutions made this achievement possible. This pilot not only proves that large-scale PFAS destruction is viable today, but it also sets a new standard for environmental sustainability across the manufacturing sector. Claros is proud to have supported DAI in demonstrating what's achievable when innovation meets bold, forward-thinking action."
A new exhibit at the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum traces the journey of the press  from its first use in 1876 to its return to Cherokee Nation more than a century later.
Rev. Yehiel Curry, the first African American presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Screenshot: YouTube/ Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has continued a change by electing its first African American presiding bishop, who will follow the denomination's first female leader.

The Rev. Yehiel Curry, serving as bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, was chosen for a six-year term as presiding bishop during the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly held in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday.

Curry emerged victorious on the fifth ballot with 562 out of 799 votes, while his opponent, the Rev. Kevin Strickland, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, garnered 237 votes.

He is set to take on his new role in October, succeeding the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, elected in 2013 as the first female presiding bishop of the denomination.

In a statement on Thursday, the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod expressed joy over Curry's election and called upon members for prayers amid this time of celebration and transition.

We are grateful for his leadership and ask you to join us as we pray for Bishop Curry, this synod, and the whole church during this time of transition, they noted.

The synod added, When Bishop Curry moves into his new role, we will receive an interim bishop by appointment. We will also initiate a bishop pre-identification process aligned with our governing documents and proceed with a bishop election at next year's synod assembly.

A native of Chicago, Curry obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois, in 1995, and later earned a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2013.

Curry led Shekinah Chapel Lutheran Church in Riverdale, Illinois, as pastor from 2013 until 2019, before his election as bishop of the Chicago Synod. He is married and a father of three daughters.

In a 2019 interview with Living Lutheran, Curry recounted his journey to Lutheranism, which began when a friend invited him to an ELCA-affiliated camp.

I used to say I would have never intentionally joined a Lutheran church, Curry shared with the publication. But I say it this way to my community: I know where the gold is hidden: the gold is hidden in the Lutheran church.

The more my network and friends and family learned about the tenets of Lutheranism, the more we started falling in love, he stated.
Pexels/Markus Spiske

LGBT-themed events in Oklahoma, Texas, and several other states are experiencing anticipated downsizing or cancellations after organizers reported substantial funding cuts and a changing political landscape impacting their support.

Bartlesville Equality, a pro-LGBT organization near Tulsa, Oklahoma, announced they are postponing their Pride 2025 events. In a statement referencing challenges in fundraising efforts, an increased climate of hostility, and insufficient volunteer numbers, they shared the postponement news.

In a Facebook post dated July 31, the group expressed: With deep regret, we must announce the postponement of our 2025 Pride celebration. They noted, [F]undraising efforts have not met the financial needs of Pride 2025. Like many non-profits nationwide, we face a challenging financial climate, with donations down significantly.

The organization mentioned that a recent decision by a U.S. circuit court to allow concealed carry limited their ability to guarantee the basic safety of Pride participants. The potential rescheduling of the event was not confirmed.

Rich Penkoski, an Oklahoma street preacher and activist stated to Christian Post that the event was canceled due to his unwavering stance against the LGBT agenda. He remarked, Even local Christians criticized me for being too bold in my preaching. But I obeyed God, not man.

The result? Victory for Christ. The fruit speaks for itself: Pride canceled, funding pulled, and the city awakened. This is more than a story about Bartlesville  it's about what happens when Christians stop compromising and start standing boldly, Penkoski added.

In Austin, Texas, Austin Pride communicated that their festival this year will present differently due to reduced funds. In a statement from July 30, they remarked: Like many Pride organizations across the country, weve been impacted by the current political climate  and yes, that includes our funding. Were feeling it this year, and as a result, the festival will look and feel a bit different than what youre used to.

Meanwhile, the New York City pride celebration in 2025 experienced a decrease in corporate sponsorships, with a reported loss of up to $750,000 in sponsorship funds, as per NBC News. This trend reportedly affects similar events, with sponsors withdrawing up to $350,000 in funding.
Home News What happened? Baylor University crisis over $643,401 LGBT inclusion grant fully explained

The crisis at Baylor University over a $643,401 grant intended to study LGBTQ+ inclusion in churches poured over into the media last month, with the historically Baptist school returning the funds after public outcry.

The Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, which issued the grant, expressed frustration with the decision to backtrack after Baylor University President Linda Livingstone put out a statement announcing the monetary return.

"While acknowledging the importance of loving LGBTQ-identifying students at Baylor, Livingstone also suggested the grant effectively violated the school's stated sexual ethics," Christian Post reporter Jon Brown wrote.

Brown joins "The Inside Story" to break down the issue and provide a comprehensive explanation of what unfolded:

The Inside Story takes you behind the headlines of the biggest faith, culture, and political headlines of the week. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff writers and editors will help you navigate and understand whats driving each story, the issues at play  and why it all matters.

Listen to more Christian podcasts today on the Edifi app  and be sure to subscribe to The Inside Story on your favorite platforms:
Home News We pray the US will always stand with Israel: Speaker Mike Johnson leads Republican delegation on visit to Israel

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., arrived in Israel on Sunday, leading a delegation of House Republicans on his first foreign visit and first trip to Israel since he became speaker.

Johnsons visit had been originally planned for June but was postponed due to the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran.

On Sunday, Johnson was joined by Texas Reps. Michael McCaul, Nathaniel Moran and Michael Cloud, along with Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., during a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to pray before meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

Were so grateful to be in Israel, particularly on this day, recognizing the destruction of the two temples  it is such a moving time for us to be here at the Wailing Wall. Weve offered our prayers, weve put our notes into the wall, said Johnson, who has been vocal about his Christian beliefs and friendship toward Israel.

The delegation visited Jerusalem on Tisha BAv, the fast day commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples.

Our prayer is that America will always stand with the people of Israel, and we pray for the preservation and the peace of Jerusalem, Johnson continued. Thats what Scripture tells us to do, its a matter of faith for us, and commitment that we have.

In the guest book of the Western Wall, he wrote: May God continue to bless and protect the people of Israel and its greatest friend and ally, the United States.

Following the delegations meeting with Defense Minister Katz, he thanked the American lawmakers for their unwavering support and moral clarity in standing with Israel against its enemies, and for their vital voices in the efforts to bring all the hostages home and defeat the murderous terrorist organization Hamas.

The meeting with Foreign Minister Saar focused on the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance, the situation in Syria and Gaza, and the significance of Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria, according to his office.

Saar also addressed the rampant antisemitism currently spreading across the world, he said, raising the Irish government's intention to promote legislation aimed at banning imports from Judea and Samaria, among several other issues.

He also spoke about the situation in Syria, where American and Israeli policies have diverged in recent months, as the U.S. moves to legitimize the regime of former terrorist and newly appointed president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

We want two simple things in Syria: the first is security  to prevent the entrenchment of jihadist forces near our border. The second is to prevent harm to the Druze minority. The Druze in Syria have suffered a brutal and barbaric assault. There is now a humanitarian crisis in the As-Suwayda region, Saar stated.

He also addressed recent calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state, vowing that Israel wouldnt commit suicide.

We will not agree to a Palestinian state that would be a jihadist Hamas state and would leave Israel with indefensible borders, he said.

Johnsons trip was organized by the U.S.-Israel Education Association, whose founder and executive director, Heather Johnston, accompanied the delegation.

During his previous visit, Johnson was scheduled to address the Israeli Knesset. However, a source familiar with his plans told Jewish Insider that no such event is planned for this trip. The speakers office has not released additional details about his itinerary.

This article was originally published at All Israel News
Home News Pastor reacts to targeted shooting of church member: Its evil; its wicked 'The worst day in public ministry;' church offers $50K reward

A parishioner was shot and killed in broad daylight outside a church gathering in Seattle, Washington, prompting the pastor to describe the incident as evil and wicked. The victim, a 28-year-old father, was gunned down in front of other attendees during a worship event.

The shooting occurred Thursday evening outside The Pursuit NWs Seattle campus, during a young adult ministry gathering, King5 reports.

Surveillance footage appears to show a gunman exiting a white vehicle, firing multiple shots at the man, then fleeing the scene by car.

Seattle police said the victim died at the scene from a gunshot wound and that the attack appears to have been targeted.

Authorities haven't released the mans name, but Pastor Russell Johnson identified him as Lebron Givaun, a new church member who had recently joined the congregation and was trying to change his life.

Describing the scene as an assassination, Johnson called the shooting gut-wrenching and said it was the worst day in public ministry he had experienced. Its an unbelievable tragedy for our community to see one of our Pursuit church members gunned down in this brazen, broad daylight assassination on church property, he said.

He got born again. His life was changing. He decided to get married. He changed the music he was making and wanted to sing songs that highlighted his testimony, the pastor added.

In a video posted on Instagram, Johnson said, Were doing our best to try to minister to the family and the other young adults who were gathered, who are obviously dealing with the shock and grief after the unbelievable events that occurred at our church campus.

A spokesperson for Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell was quoted as saying, This senseless act of gun violence near a place of worship is tragic and heartbreaking for our city, and our deepest sympathies are with the family and loved ones of the victim.

The mayors office released the statement in response to a query from King5, after Johnson criticized city officials for not issuing an immediate public response to the killing. The fact that you had to request it  lets you know where they align, Johnson said.

Police responded to reports of gunfire at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday in the 4700 block of 17th Avenue Northeast, according to The Seattle Times. They found the victim with a gunshot wound and no signs of life. No suspects were located at the scene.

Roughly six hours later, at 12:30 a.m. Friday, officers received reports of a car fire 2 miles away from the shooting site, near North 50th Street and Aurora Avenue North by the Woodland Park Zoo.

The vehicle, which was a white Hyundai Elantra, matched the description of the one seen fleeing the church. The car was fully engulfed in flames when officers arrived, and whoever had driven it there had already left, according to Seattle Police spokesperson Detective Eric Munoz.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

While Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed at a news conference that the attack appears to have been targeted, no official information had been released about the motive.

Speaking to media, Johnson alluded to speculation surrounding Givauns past but did not elaborate, saying only, Life can be hard, and God can be good. Both of those things can be equally true, even in moments of great pain.

Johnson said the church would continue holding services as planned, including the upcoming Sunday gathering. This is evil. Its wicked, he said of the shooting. It should shock the conscience of this city.

The Pursuit NW has offered a $50,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the case. Someone out there has information that ... helps unlock this investigation to bring this person to justice, Johnson said.
Home News Police training materials label Moms for Liberty as extremist group

An organization in Massachusetts responsible for training tens of thousands of police officers in the state reportedly used training materials that labeled the parental rights group Moms for Liberty as an extremist group akin to Antifa.

The Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) mockingly placed Moms for Liberty's concern for "parents' rights" in quotations in their description of the organization, according to the training materials obtained by The Daily Wire.

Screenshots show the training material described Moms for Liberty as an "anti-government extremist" group, which was the label the Southern Poverty Law Center slapped on them in 2023.

The material further claimed that "members use parents' rights as a vehicle to attack public education and make schools less welcoming for minority and LGBTQ+ students."

The training also appeared to lump Moms for Liberty in with the radical-left wing group Antifa, which was involved with many of the riots that led to widespread property damage in the wake of George Floyd's death.

Moms for Liberty, which has grown significantly since it began in Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, now boasts more than 130,000 members across 300 chapters in 48 states. The organization has been influential in promoting policies that align with conservative values, such as removing sexually explicit books from schools and electing conservative candidates to school boards.

Tina Descovich, a mother of five who co-founded Moms for Liberty, pushed back against the training materials' characterization of her organization.

"Moms for Liberty is here to show up at school board meetings, speak out against curriculum, failing schools, inappropriate books maybe in your public school library," she said in comments to The Daily Wire. "Antifa is burning down whole cities and parts of cities and rioting in the streets. These two are not equivalent."

"We want parents to have the ability to opt out of sexualized books or curriculum, things that dont align with their religious beliefs as the Supreme Court just affirmed in their most recent ruling in the Montgomery County, Maryland case," she said.

She noted that the police training materials were flagged by members of the Moms for Liberty chapter in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and questioned why law enforcement in the state would single them out.

"You know, we have parental rights that were given to us by God," she said. "We just want parents to be the driving factor in a child's education."

During the 2024 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump voiced support for the organization when he sat down for an interview with Justice during the 2024 Joyful Warriors National Summit on Aug. 30, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

MPTC did not respond to The Christian Post's request for comment by time of publication.

Earlier this year, a state audit found the MPTC's training curriculum to be "inadequate" and that the committee engaged in poor record-keeping, according to a local CBS affiliate, WBZ News.
Home News Rep. Nancy Mace joins SC governor race, promises to 'flip tables'

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., announced her candidacy for South Carolina's 2026 gubernatorial election Monday and appeared to liken her political goals to Jesus chasing the moneychangers from the temple.

Mace, who is in her third term representing South Carolina's 1st Congressional District along the state's southern coast, followed her announcement with a campaign policy event in Charleston at the Citadel Military College of South Carolina, where she was the first woman to graduate from its Corps of Cadets program in 1999.

"I'm running for governor because South Carolina doesn't need another empty suit and needs a governor who will fight for you and your values," she said. "South Carolina needs a governor who will drag the truth into sunlight and flip the tables if that's what it takes."

In an X post announcing her campaign, Mace wrote, "God's not done with South Carolina and neither am I. You and me. Our mission begins now."

Im running to be the Governor of South Carolina!



Gods not done with South Carolina and neither am I. You and me. Our mission begins now.



South Carolina First. Nancy Mace for Governor.https://t.co/tkO1oN5G0Wpic.twitter.com/odvxAKfz5b  Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) August 4, 2025

Mace's platform includes eliminating the state income tax, enforcing immigration laws, protecting women and children, achieving energy independence and advancing school choice, according to her campaign's website.

Though she was critical of President Donald Trump in the wake of the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Mace worked on his 2016 presidential campaign and has remained one of his most outspoken supporters in Congress.

Despite the president endorsing her primary opponent in 2022, Mace endorsed him early in the 2024 GOP primary and defended him amid his indictments. She has promised to carry forward his "America First" agenda if she becomes governor.

Mace's Republican opponents in the open gubernatorial race include South Carolina's Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, state Sen. Josh Kimbrell and Rep. Ralph Norman.

Mace has been especially critical of Wilson, claiming he has shown weakness against child predators and sexual assault. In a lengthy speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in February, Mace cited the Bible as she accused Wilson of turning a blind eye to evidence of sexual assault against her and others.

Mace named four men, including her ex-fiance, Patrick Bryant, who she alleged physically assaulted her, which he categorically denied to The Associated Press.

Wilson also adamantly denied Mace's accusation that he ignored sexual assault allegations, calling her "a liar who will do anything to get attention to distract from her liberal voting record," according to Fox News.

"I will fight to the finish, and I will take out South Carolina's attorney general, because he's turned a blind eye on women and on children and on the state for a lot of reasons. He might force me to do this," Mace told Fox News in a recent interview.
China's grain producer tapping into future of farming

Xinhua) 09:54, August 04, 2025

HARBIN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- In a farm owned by China's leading agricultural conglomerate, Beidahuang Group, digital sentinels stand watch over rice fields beneath the scorching sun. These advanced monitors oversee weather and soil conditions, transmitting real-time data back to a central farming control center.

The Youyi Farm, the country's first large-scale mechanized state-owned farm established in 1954 in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, is still a pilot of modern farming.

A smart "neural network" to test its modernization has covered 12,667 hectares of fields in the farm, which boasts 126,667 hectares of cultivated land. The network is connected with more than 500 sets of Internet of Things (iot) devices to replace human labor for agricultural production, said Qu Hui, director of the science and technology information center of the farm.

In addition to the field devices, drones generate three-dimensional maps of crop growth through aerial photography every day. There are also 120 smart irrigation switch valves connected to water level gauges, enabling automated irrigation. These high-tech applications ensure the agricultural production carried out with more precision and much higher efficiency, said Qu.

As the top grain-producing province in China, Heilongjiang boasts large swathes of black soil farmlands and paddy fields, providing ideal conditions for grain production. By integrating information technology and artificial intelligence throughout the entire agricultural production and sales chain, Heilongjiang is enhancing agricultural productivity and significantly increasing its yields.

Data shows that the contribution rate of science and technology in the growth rate of total agricultural output value in Heilongjiang has exceeded 70 percent, ranking among the top in the country. The mechanization rate in crop cultivation, planting and harvesting has exceeded 99 percent, ranking first in the country.

Tech firm Elite China, founded in Heilongjiang's capital of Harbin in 2014, has become a leading driver bolstering the province's smart agricultural development.

Hu Bo, the company's technical director, said currently, the company's core product is a smart system empowered with dynamic maps that provide customized fertilization solutions with high precision during crop growth, akin to performing a "CT scan" for crops.

Gao Wenhui, general manager of the company, introduced that the company has established close ties with institutes including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Harbin Engineering University to accelerate the application of their new scientific and technological achievements in the agricultural sector.

Heilongjiang's grain output exceeded 80 billion kg for the first time last year, accounting for 11.33 percent of the country's total and sustaining its role as China's top grain producer for 15 years in a row.

The progress of modern farming has not only helped Heilongjiang enhance its grain output but also improve the quality.

At the Seventh China Grain Trade Conference held earlier in July, Heilongjiang showcased its "Black Soil Excellent Products" series with more than 70 exhibitors in the province bringing more than 500 kinds of high-quality grain and oil products, ranging from rice, flour to soybean oil.

Ren Guanyu, chairman of Heilongjiang Agricultural Investment Food Group Co., Ltd., one of the exhibitors, said the series as Heilongjiang's recommended specialty just entered the first-tier city of Beijing. These high-end farm produce are given with added values such as digital origin tracing and international quality certification to draw consumers' attention.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Home Opinion Two-state solution conference against Israel relies on Hamas lies

The latest world congress of antisemites concluded last Wednesday after world leaders once again reassured each other that those evil Jews are, in fact, starving children, and that therefore they must not be left to peacefully coexist, secure in their own sovereign nation. The outcome of the conference fully justified the Trump administrations decision to boycott the conference, which it called an unproductive and ill-timed  publicity stunt.

Conference of antisemites

Of course, evil is never so blunt. Rather, Saudi Arabia and the recently radicalized France co-hosted a High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution at the U.N. headquarters in New York City. But when world leaders discuss settling the Question of Palestine and implementing a Two-State Solution in a U.N. context, no one can miss their meaning.

The conference produced a seven-page document that endorsed a renewed effort to achieve a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinian Arabs. The plan insisted that Israel agree to an immediate ceasefire and prevent the starvation of children in Gaza, before it eliminated Hamas or effected the return of the remaining hostages. Seventeen individual countries, the European Union, and the Arab League all signed onto the document.

The closest the document came to balance was a declaration that Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority  in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State. The call for Hamass disarmament is apparently a first for Arab nations like Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. But the framing presumes that a Palestinian state ruled by the Palestinian Authority would produce different outcomes than one ruled by Hamas  a highly contestable assumption.

However, the country that stole the most dramatic headlines at the conference was the United Kingdom. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer threatened that his government in September will follow France into recognizing a non-existent state of Palestine unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a cease-fire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution.

The illogic of Starmers ultimatum was apparently lost on his government. His threat only has leverage insofar as Israel dreads international recognition of a Palestinian state. But he demanded that Israel recognize a Palestinian state, which would result in broader international recognition of a Palestinian state.

In other words, Starmers declaration amounted to an announcement that the U.K. will recognize a non-existent Palestinian state within Israels borders, regardless of Israels position. Of course, he paid lip service to even-handedness by insisting that Hamas also sign up to a cease-fire, disarm, and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza. But Starmer ignored the reality that this is Israels war aim, which it will lose all leverage to effect if Israel accepts his terms.

Thus, the U.K.s recognition of Palestinian statehood will be as empty as it is insulting. Since it jettisoned its imperial holdings after World War II, the U.K. no longer controls events in the Middle East, nor even seems to follow them very closely. Foreign Secretary David Lammy called Israels rejection of a two-state solution wrong morally and its wrong strategically, which indicates nothing but Lammys own tenuous grasp of morality and strategy.

This mystifying mountain of malice directed at Israel prompts us to ask why Israel faces such criticism. Of course, Israel always faces a background environment of antisemitism around the globe. But the more proximate cause for this criticism is the recently resurrected lie that Israel is starving Gazan children. There seems to be a diplomatic tsunami against the Jewish state, and its fueled  by much of whats happening in the media, observed CBN Middle East bureau chief Chris Mitchell on Washington Watch.

Its a media campaign that Hamas is running, talking about starvation in Gaza, Mitchell added. The media is actually pushing countries like the U.K. and other countries to go ahead and declare a Palestinian state.

For decades, propaganda has been the most powerful weapon of Israels terrorist enemies, and this time has proven no different. Even President Donald Trump, one of the friendliest world leaders toward Israel, said Monday that he doesnt mind Starmers new position on Palestinian statehood because the U.S. is looking [to] get people fed right now. Thats the number one position, you have a lot of starving people.

Condemnation of international bias

But like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight (Proverbs 26:2). The rhetorical punches thrown at Israel never land a solid hit because they are only thrown at strawmen. The tsunami of criticism directed at Israel does not  or should not  change the unfairness and unworkability of a two-state solution. International leaders are holding Israel to a double standard that no other nation faces, while Hamas remains free to play at ruling without an actual, functioning state.

1. Feeding the enemy

For starters, Israels critics  one might even say Israels adversaries  demand that the Jewish state fight this war while feeding their enemy. In the history of modern warfare, theres never been an instance where one party feeds the other party in the midst of war, argued Caroline Glick, a senior advisor to the Israeli government, on Washington Watch. In fact, nothing that Israel has been doing in Gaza has any precedent in the history of warfare. Glick added that 94 million tons of food have been delivered to Gaza  by or through Israel  since the beginning of the war, amounting to 3,200 calories per person per day.

From ancient sieges to 20th century races for oil, warfare has often revolved around control of key resources that make warfare possible. Wars often end because one side runs out of the food, water, oil, or whatever they need to go on fighting. By requiring Israel to feed Gaza  and therefore Hamas  the international community has actually prolonged the war and multiplied the bloodshed.

Western leaders must ask themselves, What would they be doing if they were fighting the kind of war that Israel is fighting? insisted Mitchell. Israels fighting an embedded terror group  Many of those fighters come from tunnels. They use Palestinians as human shields.  Theres just no recognition of the difficulty of what the IDF is doing.

2. Danger and dysfunction in a PA-run state

To make matters worse, the international communitys demand for a two-state solution involves a double pretense. Firstly, they demand statehood for the Palestinian Authority (PA), a corrupt, dysfunctional organization that instills no confidence in its ability to govern, and which has repeatedly turned down offers for statehood in the past, when it means peaceful coexistence with Israel.

Although often touted as a so-called moderate alternative to Hamas, the PA runs a pay to slay program, which actually rewards terrorists who kill or maim Israelis, noted Mitchell. The seven front war that Israels been fighting  one of those fronts is there in Judea and Samaria.

There is as much threat from terrorism in the areas [of Judea and Samaria] under Palestinian Authority control as weve seen in the past in Gaza, agreed FRC President Tony Perkins. A Palestinian state in this larger, more centralized region, strategically, from a security standpoint, would  make Israel even more vulnerable than  having Gaza under the control of Hamas in the southern part of the country, he added.

3. Two-state solution already tried and failed

Secondly, the demand for a two-state solution ignores the fact that this policy has already been tried, and it failed. Thats what we had prior to October the 7th, in effect. We had Gaza self-governing  There was no Israeli involvement whatsoever. And it was nothing more than a launchpad for terrorism, argued Perkins.

In fact, October 7th was the fruit of what they actually did 20 years ago, where they actually unilaterally pulled out of the Gaza Strip, argued Mitchell. There were many people at that time [who] warned, If Israel pulls out of the Gaza Strip, there would be a terrorist state to take its place. Thats exactly what happened. Two years later, Hamas took over from the Palestinian Authority and created  the biggest terror base in the world. So that, in a sense, was a Palestinian state for almost 18 years.

This Palestinian state did not fail from any lack of funding or well-wishing. Countries around the globe donated billions and billions of dollars to Gaza over the 18 years that Israel wasnt there, Glick recalled. Billions of dollars [were] just taken [and] diverted by Hamas to build the most complicated, complex defenses ever seen: again, 450 miles of subterranean tunnels whose sole purpose was to wage war against Israel, to hold terrorists, to hold hostages, to hold missiles.

4. Creating perverse incentives

Another consideration against recognizing Palestinian statehood while Israel is still fighting in Gaza is that it will be seen as a direct result of Hamass surprise attack on October 7, 2023. It seems like its exactly rewarding Hamas for what happened on October 7th, Mitchell protested. The global community would officially deny any connection, of course. But everyone understands that we wouldnt be having this conversation had there not been October 7th, as Perkins put it. This is because there would never have been a war if they hadnt invaded Israel and slaughtered our people, Glick added.

Terrorists  who naturally seek evidence to justify their terrorism, if only to suppress their own consciences  will inevitably interpret the results as international capitulation to their tactics. As a result, they will continue using terrorist means to achieve their political ends. When you reward terrorism, you get more terrorism.

5. Political pandering to loud minority

This fifth critique is less a condemnation of recognizing Palestinian statehood as a policy than it is a condemnation of the politicians who pursue such a foolish idea. Europe has been overrun, in many ways, from migrating Muslims who have brought in a different ideology. And I think what we see there in the U.K. and France is, theyre pandering to this very vocal minority, proposed Perkins. Theyve lost their countries, almost, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) exclaimed in agreement on Washington Watch. The ideology from the Islamic side has taken over the streets.

Confidence game by terrorists

But the most damning critique of all is that the supposed reason behind recognizing Palestinian statehood is based on false propaganda. There have been images flashed across the TV screens and on newspapers around the world showing Palestinian children that looked malnourished, Perkins described. One of these was taken by a Turkish state news agency and was picked up by British publications, [then] The New York Times here in the United States. But the featured boy had other medical issues that they hid, that none of the reporters talked about. And his mom and his brother, who were cut out of the pictures, were fine. They were healthy.

The New York Times did issue sort of a non-apology, Mitchell noted, but the damage was already done. Theyre taking the word of Hamas and using some of these images. In fact, this applies to many media reports about the war in Gaza and Israels supposed atrocities, because most of the facts coming out of Gaza are manufactured facts from Hamas, Perkins pointed out.

The Western media  have been presenting Hamass lies as fact, really in some cases since October 7th, complained Glick. The myth that Israel was trying to starve the people of Gaza began getting disseminated just days after the largest, most brutal, and sadistic massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust  It was very, very quick, the shift to say Israel is indiscriminately bombing Gaza, Israel is causing a famine. And none of this was remotely true. It also wasnt true that Israel was deliberately targeting civilians.

Thus, while the Jewish state has been physically fighting on seven fronts, its battle on the eighth front, thats the one that appears to be escalating most right now, warned Perkins. And that is the battle for truth  Weve known that Hamas has been pushing out anti-Israel propaganda, and the legacy media eats it up.

Everything that Hamas has been putting out of Gaza  and they control the information flow out of Gaza  have been deliberate lies [where] the goal of those lies is to paint the light as dark and the darkness is light, Glick concluded, alluding to Isaiah 5:20. Hamas and its backers are running a con, and Western media outlets have proven to be alarmingly gullible marks.

Meanwhile, Hamas has looted aid to finance their war machine, resold it to Gazans at exorbitant prices, and attacked an alternative aid distribution system set up by the U.S. and Israel that tried to feed Gazans for free, testified both Mitchell and Glick. Hamas has done all this while refusing to agree to ceasefire terms and refusing to release the remaining hostages, whom it holds in inhumane conditions. In other words, the problem in Gaza is Hamas, not Israel, and the Israelis no longer have the

appetite for detente with their duplicitous, genocidal foe.

This is not to deny the plight of civilians in Gaza, but to assign blame to the true culprit  Hamas. The solution to this crisis is not to hamstring Israel and empower their enemies, but to help Israel finish the job. As Foreign Minister [Israel Katz] said today in the press briefing, Were not going to be Czechoslovakia [in 1938], Glick declared. Were not going to allow ourselves to be devoured by people who want to devour us.

Because of this attitude among Israelis  who actually control the situation on the ground, Tuberville told Perkins, at the end of the day, theres not going to be a two-state solution. You and I know that that ship has sailed a long time ago.

Foreign nations can do something to help, but not by lobbing grenades about a two-state solution. Countries who really want to help the people of Gaza can line up their air convoys at Israeli checkpoints. The U.A.E. and Egypt have airdropped aid into Gaza, but the governments of Europe have failed to act. Instead, theyre playing into Hamass game by blaming  or at least punishing  Israel for Hamass faults.

Originally published at The Washington Stand.
Home News Nightrobe-wearing bishop apologizes for ordering 360 people out of his house, interrupting Dancing Queen sing song

A church concert in the United Kingdom came to an abrupt halt when a barefoot bishop in a blue dressing gown took the microphone and ordered 360 attendees to leave, calling the choirs singing a terrible racket.

The audience was moments away from hearing the final number, Dancing Queen, when the lights went out and the eviction began.

The incident occurred just after 10 p.m. during a performance by the City Academy Voices at a historic church in central London, where the choir had booked the space until 11 p.m., The Telegraph reported.

Moments before the shows planned finale, the Bishop of Fulham, Jonathan Baker, who lives on the church's property, stepped on stage and told the stunned audience, You are in my house, can you leave it now please, repeating the request and declaring the concert over.

Baker had reportedly believed the booking ended an hour earlier and told the crowd, Its gone past 10, and this is a terrible racket, according to Sky News. Dressed in a nightrobe and barefoot, he interrupted just after the choir completed Im Gonna Make You Love Me by The Supremes, cutting off one soloist moments before his performance.

A video of the incident circulated online, showing Baker walking onstage as the venue lights shut off. A church staff member then addressed the audience, asking everyone to leave quietly, prompting boos and confusion from the crowd.

One attendee, who was there with his 10-year-old daughter, said he initially believed the interruption was part of the show.

Benedict Collins, a member of the audience, was later quoted as saying the bishop cut them off in midstream, denying soloists their chance to perform and calling the choirs work deserving of respect, not to be disparaged.

The choir and attendees had been left visibly shocked by the incident, which they had not anticipated.

Despite being told to leave, the choir sang one last number: an a cappella version of ABBAs Dancing Queen, which was met with applause from the remaining audience.

Leigh Stanford Thompson, director of the choir, described the event as bizarre and said he regretted that the group had not been allowed to finish the concert as planned.

Bishop Baker later issued a formal apology in a written statement, expressing regret for ending the concert early and for remarks made in haste. He acknowledged the distress caused to both performers and the audience and accepted full responsibility for what had happened.

The bishop also wrote that he had misunderstood the booking arrangements and assured the choir that such an event will not recur.

Baker noted that he had lived at the site of St. Andrews Church for 10 years and that the choir had rehearsed and performed there for much of that time. He expressed hope that the relationship with the choir would continue despite the disruption.

The choir responded publicly, stating it was upsetting not to finish their program but that they held no hard feelings and wished the bishop well.
Home News Christian group blasts Church in Wales defiance of biblical doctrine with lesbian archbishop

The Church in Wales has named a new Archbishop who is openly in a same-sex relationship, drawing sharp criticism from the rights group Christian Concern. The appointment has ignited a debate over the Anglican denominations commitment to traditional biblical teachings.

The Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, 66, the bishop of Monmouth, was elected as the 15th archbishop of Wales, becoming the first woman and first lesbian to hold the post. She was chosen by an electoral college composed of clergy and lay members after two days of deliberations at St. Pierre church near Chepstow, according to The Telegraph.

Her biography on the Church in Wales' website states that she lives with her civil partner, Wendy, along with their two dogs.

Same-sex civil partnerships and marriages have been legal in England and Wales since 2013, though the Church of England has maintained its teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman.

In 2021, the Church in Wales voted to allow the blessing of same-sex unions.

The Scottish Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland already permit same-sex marriage ceremonies.

The Rev. Charlie Baczyk-Bell, a gay priest, welcomed the decision, calling it very significant, describing it as a story and a half for the denomination.

However, the reaction from conservative Christian groups has been strongly critical.

Christian Concerns Chief Executive Andrea Williams accused the Church in Wales of departing from its foundational principles. In a statement provided to The Christian Post, she said Vanns open same-sex relationship contradicts the Churchs historic doctrine that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman, and that sexual relationships are reserved for marriage.

Williams said Vann, having sworn to uphold Church teachings as an ordained minister, is now living in deliberate rejection of those very doctrines. She noted that her election, with the support of two-thirds of the electoral college, signals that the Church in Wales has institutionally turned away from biblical teaching.

No Bible-believing Christian can remain under the spiritual leadership of someone who so publicly rejects the clear teaching of Scripture, she added.

Archbishop Cherrys predecessor, the Rt. Rev. Andrew John, stepped down last month after only three-and-a-half years in office. His departure followed the release of a safeguarding review at Bangor Cathedral, which found evidence of a culture involving sexual misconduct, bullying, blurred sexual boundaries and excessive drinking.

While the review did not implicate John in any misconduct, he issued what he called an unreserved and unequivocal apology, taking full responsibility for the leadership failings under his tenure.

Cherry Vann, originally from Leicester, was ordained as a deacon in 1989 and became one of the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1994. She later served as archdeacon of Rochdale in the Diocese of Manchester for over a decade  at the same time Pakistani grooming gangs were raping underage girls in Rochdale  before becoming bishop of Monmouth in 2019.

The recent scandals within the Church of Wales, particularly at Bangor Cathedral, included reports of inappropriate jokes and language in the choir that left some members feeling unsafe. There were also allegations of humiliation, gossip and weak financial oversight.

The Church of England, meanwhile, remains without an Archbishop of Canterbury following the resignation of the Most Rev. Justin Welby in November. Welby stepped down after the publication of a report detailing his mishandling of abuse allegations against John Smyth, a barrister and alleged serial abuser. The Crown Nominations Committee is in the process of selecting a successor.
Home News Friends, family mourn NJ mom, 11-year-old daughter killed by illegal immigrant with long rap sheet

Hundreds of relatives and friends gathered Saturday to mourn Maria Pleitez and her 11-year-old daughter, who were killed in a car crash in New Jersey by an illegal immigrant.

The driver who caused the fatal accident, Raul Luna-Perez, has a rap sheet that includes arrests for domestic violence and two previous DUIs in the state.

Over 150 mourners attended the wake for the mother and daughter, Dayanara Cortes, at the Lakewood Funeral Home in Howell, The New York Post reported. Cortes father and his late daughter's 11-year-old friend, who was injured in the July 26 crash but survived, were among the mourners.

Many of the bereaved wore T-shirts with photos of the mother and daughter printed on them. One mourner leaned over Pleitezs casket, crying, porque (why)?

Luna-Perez has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and assault, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced.

Though it's known that Luna-Perez entered the country illegally from Mexico, the date of his entry isn't known, DHS said. Following his arrest for homicide, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued an arrest detainer and initiated removal proceedings on July 28, a few days after the crash.

On July 26, officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department responded around 11:20 p.m. to a report of a vehicle crash. A subsequent investigation revealed that Luna-Perez was driving a Dodge Durango when he crossed into an oncoming lane of traffic and slammed into Pleitezs Nissan Sentra, according to local prosecutors.

Pleitez was pronounced dead at the scene, but her daughter, who was seated in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash, was transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood. Cortes later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital and died, while her friend, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, survived after being transported to Monmouth Medical Center.

Two passengers in Luna-Perez's vehicle were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center and subsequently released.

According to first responders on the scene, Luna-Perez showed signs of impairment. After he was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a sample of his blood was drawn following a court-authorized warrant. He was then taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail to await a detention hearing.

In its statement released Saturday, the DHS pointed to Luna-Perezs rap sheet, which includes his two DUI arrests in March and April, and one arrest in June 2023 for simple domestic violence.

Governor Murphy and his sanctuary policies released this serial criminal into New Jersey communities, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the DHS, said in the statement. Now, this innocent family is shattered by their failed leadership.

President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue to do everything in their power to remove these criminal illegal aliens before they destroy more lives, she added.

The office of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy did not respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

Following President Donald Trumps return to office in January, his administration has taken steps to crack down on illegal immigration.

In April, Trump declared on Truth Social that his administration was "working on papers to withhold all federal funding" from any city or state that allows sanctuary cities. The president referred to sanctuary cities as death traps that protect the criminals, not the victims.
Home News Human rights group demands release of Nicaraguan pastor, family arrested amid worsening religious repression

Nicaraguan authorities have arrested a Protestant pastor and several of his relatives and associates in a police operation that took place last month. Rights groups are demanding their immediate release and warning of worsening religious repression in the country.

Pastor Rudy Palacios Vargas, founder of La Roca de Nicaragua Church Association, was detained along with seven others  his sister, Arely Palacios Vargas, her husband, Pedro Jose Lopez, another sister, Jessica Palacios Vargas and her husband, Armando Jose Bermudez Mojica, political activist Mauricio Alonso Prieto and his son, and a family friend, Olga Maria Lara Rojas  according to the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Armed officers and masked individuals in dark clothing raided multiple homes in Jinotepe, Carazo Department, that evening, taking the eight individuals into custody without presenting warrants and seizing their phones and electronic devices.

Some of those arrested were reportedly transferred to La Granja Maximum Security Prison in Granada Department and subjected to a fast-tracked virtual hearing, during which charges of treason and conspiracy were filed.

Those named in the hearing included Pastor Palacios Vargas, Bermudez Mojica, Jessica Palacios Vargas, Lopez and Lara Rojas. No updates have been provided regarding the status of the remaining three detainees or any sentencing decisions. The family was not informed of their whereabouts during or after the arrests.

Pastor Palacios Vargas had previously fled Nicaragua in July 2018 after condemning the governments violent response to student protests. Threats received through phone calls and social media prompted his departure.

Within days of his exit, at least three members of his church were reportedly killed by security forces and paramilitary groups.

In 2019, the Nicaraguan government revoked the legal status of his church association, which had six branches along the Pacific Coast, CSW said.

After being diagnosed with cancer, Pastor Palacios Vargas returned to Nicaragua in December 2020. He has been under close police surveillance since January 2021, with restrictions amounting to de facto house arrest.

The arbitrary detention of Pastor Rudy Palacios Vargas and his friends and family members is the culmination of years of persecution because of his willingness to openly criticize the ongoing grave violations of human rights under the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, said CSWs Director of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl.

She urged Nicaragua to release the detainees and called on international actors to seek access to the prisoners and demand their freedom.

The arrests come amid mounting international concern over Nicaraguas treatment of religious groups.

In March, the country withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council shortly after the release of a report accusing the government of methodical repression of dissent. The report was issued by U.N. experts and detailed widespread suppression of democratic and religious freedoms.

Ariela Peralta, one of the U.N. experts involved in the investigation, stated that the Ortega administration appeared to be at war with its own people. Following the release of the report, Vice President Rosario Murillo dismissed the findings as falsehoods and slander.

Critics have pointed to Nicaraguas escalating efforts to control civil society.

A 2018 law regulating funding for non-governmental organizations has resulted in thousands losing legal status. While the crackdown has affected many types of organizations, Catholic institutions have faced particularly severe consequences. These include the arrest and expulsion of clergy, the closure of religious institutions and the confiscation of property.

The U.S. Department of State designated Nicaragua a Country of Particular Concern in 2022 for its violations of religious freedom. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has also documented ongoing violations, including intimidation of worshipers and arbitrary arrests of religious leaders.

The Nicaraguan government defended its actions, claiming international organizations were spreading misinformation and engaging in a smear campaign. President Ortega has consolidated power in recent years, exerting control over the judiciary and legislature.
Home News Dept. of Veterans Affairs performs first abortion under new Biden admin. rule

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical system performed its first abortion a few weeks after the Biden administration announced it would provide abortions for eligible veterans and beneficiaries in light of the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade in June.

During his testimony before the Veterans Affairs Committee last week, VA Secretary Denis McDonough confirmed that one of the department's medical centers carried out an abortion. McDonough provided the answer in response to a question from Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., regarding how many abortions have occurred at VA facilities.

As NBC News reported, a spokesperson for the department did not disclose the name of the woman who underwent the abortion or where it was performed, citing privacy reasons.

The VA did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment on the matter.

The VA secretary testified before the committee about a new rule allowing the VA to offer abortions in cases of rape, incest or if the woman's life is in danger, with the VA currently serving about 300,000 women of childbearing age.

According to McDonough, the Department of Justice reviewed the new rule and found it to be a "lawful exercise of VA's authority." McDonough cited a supremacy clause in the Constitution, claiming it prevents state officials from penalizing VA workers for "performing their federal functions."

"The principle that led us to take this step is our veteran patient safety," McDonough said. "We take that very, very seriously, and every decision we make flows from that principle."

Earlier this month, the department announced the submission of an interim final rule to the Federal Register to authorize the VA to commit abortions in some cases. McDonough asserted that the move is a "patient safety decision."

"Pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most," he said. "That's what our nation owes them, and that's what we at VA will deliver."

The document justified the policy based on the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The decision returned the issue to the states, restoring their authority to determine abortion laws. Several states have enacted restrictions on abortion.

According to the proposed rule: "VA is acting to help ensure that, irrespective of what laws or policies States may impose, veterans who receive the care set forth in the medical benefits package will be able to obtain abortions, if determined needed by a health care professional, when the life or the health of the pregnant veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term or the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest."

The VA's Undersecretary of Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal said that the department came to this decision after listening to VA healthcare providers and veterans who "sounded the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency for those we serve."

Prior to the announcement, two dozen congressional Democrats urged McDonough to amend the agency's regulations to permit VA hospitals to provide abortions. The lawmakers wrote in a July letter that the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 established the VA's authority to provide care to veterans.

According to the lawmakers, the statute requires the agency to "furnish hospital care and medical services which the Secretary determines to be needed" for a particular group of veterans.

Republicans and pro-life advocates, such as Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., have argued that the proposed rule violates federal law.

In an Aug. 26 letter to McDonough, Lankford cited Section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which prohibits the VA from providing abortions, among other services.

"Abortion is not and will never be healthcare," Lankford wrote.

"Healthcare protects life. Abortion takes life. Instead of promoting the taking of human life, I would challenge you, and others within the VA, to respect the dignity of our veterans and all of their family members, including unborn children, by ensuring services provided and funded by the VA are focused on true healthcare consistent with federal law."
Home News State attorneys general warn VA not to perform elective abortions in states with abortion bans

A group of state attorneys general has vowed to take action against the United States Department of Veterans Affairs if its hospitals perform abortions in states where the procedure has become illegal following the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, a Republican, led a coalition of 14 other state attorneys general in writing a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough Thursday. The letter addressed a rule adopted by the Department of Veterans Affairs in September that allows VA hospitals to perform abortions on veterans in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

In response to the Dobbsdecision, which determined that the U.S. Constitution doesn't contain a right to abortion, and therefore, states had the authority to ban or place trimester limits on the procedure, the department unveiled an interim final rule that will allow the VA to perform abortions in some cases. In a statement, VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal said, We came to this decision after listening to VA healthcare providers and Veterans across the country who sounded the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency.

Fitch, who defended her states 15-week abortion ban at the center of the Dobbs decision, began the letter by describing the VA's rule as unlawful, citing the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992s explicit prohibition on abortions. Specifically, the law declares that the VA Secretary may provide veterans with general reproductive health care, including the management of menopause, but not including under this section infertility services, abortions, or pregnancy care.

It will not stand in the way of the duly enacted laws of our States or our commitment to enforcing those laws, said Fitch, adding, We will watch closely the VAs use of this rule and we are prepared to act decisively if the VA violates state law, or breaks its pledge that the rule operates only in limited circumstances.

Abortion presents a profound moral question that is entrusted to the people and their elected representatives to address, Fitch continued, quoting from the Dobbs decision. Like many of the [Biden] administrations abortion-related efforts, this new rule is an unlawful attempt to wrest that authority from the people. That attempt will fail.

Explaining that state laws restricting abortion ubiquitously include provisions to protect a womans life and commonly include exceptions in other circumstances, the Mississippi Attorney General suggested that the real motivation behind the rule is to create a mechanism for allowing purely elective abortions that States have appropriately prohibited or to send a signal to the Administrations political base  or both.

We will hold you to the VAs representations about the rules limited application, Fitch concluded. We will not allow you to use this rule to erect a regime of elective abortions that defy state laws. We stand ready to move decisively against departures from the rules terms or its promises. And we will enforce our duly enacted state laws and hold you accountable for violations of federal law. Those who perform abortions based on the interim final rule  and in defiance of state or federal laws  do so at their own risk.

Other signatories to the letter included the Republican attorneys general of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. With the exception of Florida and Nebraska, all of the states whose attorneys general signed onto the letter have enacted total or near total bans on abortion following the Dobbs decision although the pro-life laws are tied up in legal action in some states.

Florida bans abortion after 15 weeks gestation, and according to the Guttmacher Institute, Nebraska bans abortions after 22 weeks gestation.

The 15 Republican attorneys general are not the first elected officials to express concern that the VAs decision to authorize abortion in certain circumstances violates federal law.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who represents a state that bans abortion, wrote a letter to McDonough over the summer citing the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 as the ultimate authority governing the VAs ability to perform abortions.

The VA performed its first abortion under the new rule in late September. The implementation of the new rule followed a request from two dozen Senate Democrats, who rejected the assertion that the agencys provision of abortions violated federal law. They contended that the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 authorized the VA Secretary to furnish hospital care and medical services which the Secretary determines to be needed.
Maverick City Critiques Gospel Music, Pro-Life Activist Appeals Jail Sentence, Hamas Halts Talks Amidst Humanitarian Crisis

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:25 07:25

Top headlines for Monday, August 4, 2025

In this episode, we explore gospel music dynamics as renowned artist Marvin Sapp responds to criticisms from Maverick City Music's executive, Norman Gyamfi. Then, we turn our attention to a pro-life activist's legal battle, as he appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court following his sentence for silently praying near an abortion facility. Finally, we touch on international tensions with Hamas cutting communications with mediators, declaring negotiations will only continue after the humanitarian crisis is resolved.

00:11 Maverick City Music executive critiques gospel music

01:08 Chaplain contemplated suicide to protest treatment by CofE

02:05 Pro-life activist jailed for silent prayer near abortion clinic

03:00 Hamas: No ceasefire talks until Gaza hunger ends

03:54 Iranian pastor urges Trump not to deport persecuted Christians

05:01 Home connected to TikTok cult leader is raided by feds

05:46 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America elects first black leader
Home Opinion The day God scares people to death

I have a bad habit of sneaking up on my wife and gingerly touching her in a way that causes her to scream out like a baby pterodactyl. While fun for me, I just learned that its not such a good idea because those types of things can literally scare someone to death.

We flippantly talk about being scared to death like it cant happen, but under the right conditions, yep, although rare, you can keel over just like that from fright, particularly if you have underlying heart conditions.

Its true that any heightened emotional state  whether its fear or something else  can kill you, says Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, director of the Womens HeartHealth Program at Lenox Hill Hospital.

She says for that to happen, the encounter must be overwhelming. While our brains have developed the ability to deal effectively with mild to moderate fear stimuli, its only when experiencing extraordinary fear (or another emotion) that our bodies become less well-suited to cope.

When you or I experience that kind of intense fear, our bodies initiate the proverbial fight-or-flight response. Our bloodstream gets flooded with stress hormones like adrenaline, triggering a spike in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. For most of us, this response is temporary and non-lethal. But for others, especially those of us with a vulnerable cardiovascular system, it can be catastrophic.

Theres even something called broken heart syndrome (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy), where the loss of a loved one weakens the heart muscle, mirrors a heart attack, and ends in fatality. So, while being scared to death sounds like an exaggeration, science shows that, under certain circumstances, its all too real.

Theres a place in the Bible that talks about it being very real and on a global level when, one day in the future, God will literally scare people to death. Let me show you where that is.

The coming universal panic attack

Today, we naturally look to the book of Revelation for instruction on what to expect in the future, but we forget that much of the same content is found in the Old Testament. As youd expect, both the Old and the New Testaments tell the same story about everything, including a coming universal panic attack that will be so powerful that people will drop dead from it on the spot.

In Revelation, that future terror is found in Chapter 6 with the breaking of the sixth of seven judgment seals cataloged in the chapter:

I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand? (Rev. 6:1217).

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah talks about the same event multiple times in the book that bears his name: From the LORD of hosts you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire (Isaiah 29:6) and, Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. I will make people more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger (Is. 13:913).

Its a time when Chicken Littles fear becomes true, with the impact of the apocalypse on a human level being described well by Jesus when he says: There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Luke 21:2526).

The Greek word translated fainting above is apopsucho, and it means to breathe out life and expire, which is why some translations render it as mens hearts failing them from fear. It mirrors perfectly what our science today says happens when someone is scared to death.

Id also say the cataclysm the Bible portrays qualifies as the type of overwhelming fear that Steinbaum says can kill you.

John MacArthur describes the sixth seals effect on those who dont immediately drop dead as being the worlds largest prayer meeting, only they dont pray to God; they pray to the mountains and the rocks. And they pray for the mountains and the rocks to fall on them. A prayer for suicide, a prayer for destruction. Theyre so afraid they would rather die than face the wrath of God, the wrath of the Lamb.

So, when the sixth seal breaks loose, you either die or want to die. It epitomizes what the writer of Hebrews says: It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31).

All of this is so counter to how our modern Evangelical movement presents God as not someone to fear, forgetting that The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10). That kind of fear may start with concern over being judged and punished, but it ultimately leads to a better fear of wanting to please God who has delivered us from judgment like that detailed in Revelation.

This is the type of fear the psalmist refers to when he writes: But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared (Ps. 130:4). Because God forgives us, we develop the right kind of fear that comes from a grateful spirit toward Him and one that wants to delight Him.

What all of this means is that no matter who you are right now  Christian, atheist, agnostic  you will develop a fear of God just as the Bible says: Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? (Rev. 15:4).

The only question is, which kind will it be for you?
The minister for civil society has urged the UKs only national miners charity to strengthen its engagement with its beneficiaries after concerns were raised in parliament about its financial practices.

Stephanie Peacock was responding to a written question from North Northumberland MP David Smith , who had asked her department to assess the adequacy of the distribution of financial awards by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO).

Smiths question followed a BBC investigation earlier this year , which reported concerns from some ex-miners and their families that CISWO had not reinvested locally enough of 12.2m generated by the sale of 27 social welfare sites over the past 14 years.

Barnsley South MP Peacock said: As an MP representing a mining community and previous member of the Coalfields Communities APPG, I understand the concerns raised about the performance of CISWO.

As a constituency MP I have spoken to both ex-miners and stakeholders about the practices of CISWO.

I would strongly encourage CISWO to strengthen its engagement with the coalfield communities that it was established to support.

Peacock added that she had met the Charity Commission recently to discuss CISWOs support for coal mining communities.

The commission confirmed to Civil Society that the meeting had taken place last month and that it was engaging with the charitys trustees.

However, the regulator said it had not opened an investigation into the charity.

Unfounded criticisms

CISWO has been criticised by MPs before in recent years, with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coalfield Communities raising similar concerns in 2023.

Its report that year said: When land or buildings are sold off by CISWO the monies appear not to be retained locally or returned to charitable bodies that have previously made a financial input.

Meanwhile, Pontypridd MP Alex Davies-Jones urged the former government last year to look into the charitys woeful and appalling operation.

Responding to Peacocks recent comments, CISWOs chief executive Nicola Didlock said it had made the commission aware of unfounded criticisms of the charity regarding how its charitable activity is being misrepresented both by the media and by some MPs.

She said: The Charity Commission has informed us that it has no concerns about CISWOs activities, and we continue to try to engage MPs and other interested parties to address any misconceptions they may have.

Didlock added that CISWO gave around 350,000 in grants in 2024 and supported over 2,100 people and 200 mining charities.

We are fully engaged with stakeholders in mining communities and would welcome any MP to meet with us to discuss our work, she added.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Amnesty CEO steps down

Amnesty International UK has announced that chief executive Sacha Deshmukh will step down from his role at the end of 2025, after five years at the helm of the UK section of the global human rights movement.

Deshmukh was appointed interim chief executive in May 2021 before taking on the role permanently in 2022.

Deshmukh said: Leading Amnesty International UK has been a huge honour. I first supported Amnesty as a teenager, and the chance to serve as its chief executive has been both humbling and inspiring.

After nearly 20 years in CEO roles and five deeply rewarding years at Amnesty, this feels like the right moment for a new challenge for me, and to pass on the baton.

The recruitment process for Deshmukhs successor will begin shortly.

New CEO for Swindon Food Collective

Matt Jones joined Swindon Food Collective as its first-ever chief executive officer on 21 July 2025.

Jones will lead the charity in the development of its service offering and the evolution of collaborative and partnership working with stakeholder organisations to address food poverty in the Swindon area.

Jones has over 25 years of strategic and operational leadership experience in the education, local government, and financial services sectors, and brings a strong track record in organisational transformation, policy and strategy development and implementation, governance, and compliance.

Tearfund appoints new CEO

Christian international development charity Tearfund has appointed Silas Balraj as its new chief executive, effective from September.

Balraj has extensive experience in international charities and the information technology sector, having held a number of senior positions at the Christian charity Compassion International over the past two decades, including country director for India, vice president for Asia and, most recently, senior principal in Compassions global programme function.

Balraj said: I am honoured to join Tearfund at such a pivotal time. Around the world, millions still face the harsh realities of extreme poverty and injustice and Im deeply inspired by Tearfunds commitment to working through the local church to bring lasting change.

Im passionate about the role of the church to transform communities facing crisis, and I look forward to being part of that mission.

NSPCC appoints new chair

NSPCC has appointed Emma Scott as its new chair of the board of trustees, replacing outgoing chair Neil Berkett, who is stepping down after 15 years of service.

Scott has extensive strategic, brand and digital leadership experience and currently serves as CEO of Beano Studios.

Scotts current board appointments include non-executive director at Which? Ltd and chair of World Book Day. She has previously served as vice chair of Ovarian Cancer Action and the Royal Television Society.

New co-chairs of Network of Women Chairs

Peer support network the Network of Women Chairs (NWC) has announced that Carly Fields will be stepping down as chair. Rachel Mallows and Maggie Pedder, current members of the NWC steering group, will assume the roles of co-chairs to ensure a smooth transition for the network.

Fields said: "It has been a privilege to serve as chair. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that Rachel and Maggie will lead the NWC to even greater heights.

Their experience, passion, and commitment to empowering women make them ideal leaders for this next chapter.

Mallows and Pedder bring extensive experience to their new role, having both been active and influential members of the NWC steering group.

New co-chair of Womankind Worldwide

International womens rights charity Womankind Worldwide has appointed Katie Ghose as a new co-chair. Ghose joins Lusungu Kalanga as fellow co-chair of Womankinds board of trustees.

Ghose is currently chief executive of Kids, a UK charity that supports and empowers disabled children, young people and their families. Ghose has also served as chief executive of Womens Aid Federation of England, the Electoral Reform Society and the British Institute of Human Rights.

Ghose said: I am thrilled to be joining Womankind Worldwide as co-chair. I thank my predecessor Olga Ghazaryan for her exceptional leadership.

Womankind Worldwide is an incredible organisation where colleagues and supporters bring their energy, practicality and drive to provide womens rights organisations with flexible funding, spaces for learning and exchange, and opportunities to influence policy at every level.

Speech and Language UK appoints new chair

National speech and language support charity, Speech and Language UK, has appointed Luke Manning as its new chair of trustees.

Manning succeeds outgoing chair, Roy Blatchford. Manning has served as a trustee on the board for four years.

He is currently the head of the LSEG Foundation (London Stock Exchange Group), overseeing the groups community investment programme. A former journalist, Manning has also held senior roles at Thomson Reuters, Barclays, Balfour Beatty and Refinitiv, and advises the mental health charity, Beyond Conflict.

Trussell announces new trustees and change in leadership structure

Anti-poverty charity Trussell has welcomed five new trustees to its board. The new trustees bring extensive expertise to the charity.

The new appointments are: Val McKie (lived experience speaker), Ed Matthews (head of strategy and planning at the Premier League), Ross Maloney (CEO of The Ramblers), Emma Galloway (chair of trustees at Edinburgh Food Project) and Andrew Reaney (trustee of Wokingham Foodbank).

The charity is also evolving from its CEO/deputy CEO leadership structure, with Matthew van Duyvenbode appointed as co-chief executive alongside current CEO, Emma Revie  a move to recognise a partnership that already exists in practice and accelerate the charitys efforts to end hunger in the UK.

New trustee for London Youth Choirs

Community choir charity London Youth Choirs (LYC) has announced the appointment of Sir Andrew Haines, CEO of Network Rail, to its board of trustees.

Commenting on his appointment, Haines said: I am incredibly honoured to join the board of London Youth Choirs.

Growing up attending a comprehensive school in South Wales my education was massively enhanced by access to high standards of choral music at school and county level that not everyone today benefits from.

That is why I am so passionate about the brilliant, inclusive approach and excellence that is at the heart of everything LYC does. I look forward to contributing to their vital work in shaping the next generation.

London Foundation for Banking & Finance announces new trustees

The London Foundation for Banking & Finance (LFBF) has announced the appointment of three new trustees with experience in investment banking, finance, insurance, private equity, education and the charity sector: Stephen Mann, Quentin Nason and Steve Darrington.

All joined the board in July.

Mann is an insurance specialist and experienced chair and CEO. He sits on the Council of Cardiff University and has served as CEO of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), group CEO of Police Mutual Group and strategy and business services director at Aviva UK Life.

Nason is a finance professional and social entrepreneur who is currently a senior adviser at KingsRock, and is the founder of financial literacy charity City Pay It Forward.

Darrington is a qualified chartered certified accountant and a specialist in risk and private equity.

Fledglings gains new patron

Former Conservative MP, Sir Jake Berry, has joined SEN childrens charity Fledglings as a patron, effective from last month.

Berry said: "Im proud to support Fledglings. As a parent of a child with special educational needs, I know how important it is to find the right support, and Fledglings is a lifeline for many families navigating those challenges.

Berry recently defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK. He is currently chief operating officer at Fulbrook Strategies.

New trustees join Thames Hospice Board

Following the recent announcement of Katharine Horler OBE as the incoming chair from December 2025, Thames Hospice has announced the appointment of four new trustees who will formally join the board in November 2025.

The new trustees bring extensive experience across healthcare, retail, commercial leadership and digital innovation.

Andy Burgess has held senior roles across start-ups, SMEs, and global corporates, most recently leading the retail sector for Google Cloud; Dr Lalitha Iyer is chief medical officer at NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board and a practicing GP in Slough; James Breckenridge is retail director at John Lewis; and Dr Adrian Hayter is a GP partner and medical director at the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Trustee takes on ambassador role at Brain Tumour Research Research

A charity trustee who has dedicated more than two decades to improving outcomes for children and adults diagnosed with brain tumours is stepping down as a trustee and is taking on the role of charity ambassador.

Former chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, Sue Farrington Smith co-founded the charity in 2009 to find a cure for brain tumours, after her young niece was diagnosed and eventually died of a brain tumour.

Farrington Smith said: Im stepping down and becoming an ambassador, to look after myself and dedicate my time more fully to my other passions  my family and my church.

However, I remain committed to the charity, our vision to find a cure for all types of brain tumours and our mission to increase the national investment in research into brain tumours, to bring parity with other cancers.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Four flight attendants on the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 plane that experienced a mid-air cabin panel blowout in January last year are suing Boeing for physical and emotional injuries.

In separate lawsuits, they are seeking compensation for past and future economic damages, citing physical and mental injuries, emotional distress and other financial costs.

Each of the four flight attendants acted courageously, following their training and putting their passengers safety first while fearing for their lives, Tracy Brammeier, the attorney representing each of the plaintiffs, said.

They deserve to be wholly compensated for this life-altering traumatic experience.

Boeing declined to comment, while Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

The lawsuits were filed on Tuesday in Seattles King County Superior Court and accuse Boeing of negligence and failure to exercise reasonable care in the production, sale and repair of 737 MAX jets and its parts.

Boeing knew or should have known of the quality control issues present in its production of the 737 MAX line of aircraft, the filings said.

The incident sparked a crisis for the planemaker and prompted the U.S. Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into the company and declare that Boeing was not in compliance with a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement.

Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Boeing had failed to provide adequate training, guidance and oversight to prevent the incident.

The board criticized Boeings safety culture and its failure to install four key bolts in the panel during production, and accused the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of ineffective oversight.

(Reporting by Tanna, Shah and Kaur in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Dheeraj Kumar and Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
U.S. and European officials say theyre seeing a decline in suspected Russian state-backed sabotage acts this year, evidence that President Vladimir Putins security services may be reining in a hybrid warfare campaign thats been blamed for attacks across Europe.

The drop-off in operations, which have involved Russian intelligence agents paying proxies to target civilian infrastructure and individuals, has been attributed to a range of factors, according to the officials, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive issues. A leading explanation is that Moscow may be tightening its grip on attacks entrusted to unreliable local criminals, some of which had got out of control and risked a major miscalculation, the people said.

There were 11 suspected Russia-backed hybrid incidents in Europe between January and May this year, including the attempted sabotage of fiber-optic cables and cell towers in Sweden, a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank concluded. That compares to a record high of more than 30 in the whole of 2024, according to the IISSs dataset of attacks on energy, communications, transport, military, water and undersea targets.

Western officials believe one factor may be that Putin wanted to avoid further antagonizing Donald Trump in the early months of his second term as the U.S. president sought to reach a rapid peace deal in Ukraine. Other possible reasons include potential recruits being deterred from involvement by high-profile trials of saboteurs caught by law enforcement, forcing Moscow to adapt its tactics, and Russias GRU military intelligence service redirecting resources to Ukraine in recent months, they said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didnt respond to a request to comment. He has previously dismissed reports that Russia carries out sabotage in Europe as unfounded accusations.

U.S. officials at the White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence didnt respond to requests for comment.

Western officials say hybrid operations became a key part of Russias playbook in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as the U.S. and Europe sent Kyiv billions of dollars of weapons to defend itself. With much of Europe expelling Russian spies tied to its embassies in recent years, the people say that Moscow shifted to paying local proxies to carry out acts of violence, sabotage and arson in a campaign of disruption.

The Russian campaign has been viewed as an effort to target western nations over their support of Ukraine. In contrast to his predecessor Joe Biden, Trumps military aid for Kyiv has been less reliable. The US recently agreed to continue sending weapons to Ukraine as long as European allies pay for them.

The officials cautioned that the apparent waning of the campaign wasnt an indication that hybrid attacks had stopped completely or wouldnt escalate again in future. Sabotage plots remain higher in eastern European countries than in western nations, they said.

The decline in incidents may have started in fall 2024 after high-level US officials reached out to their Russian counterparts to warn them against conducting future operations, people familiar with the conversations said, asking not to be identified because the issue is sensitive. The contacts took place amid American fears that Russia would put incendiary devices on cargo planes bound for the US, following a fire at a DHL facility in Britain in July 2024.

Russian Hybrid Attacks Have Declined in 2025

Hybrid attacks are defined as hostile state-backed threats using both conventional and unconventional military methods, designed to destabilize opponents while blurring the threshold of a declared act of war.

Three UK residents were convicted in July of carrying out a March 2024 Russia-backed arson attack on a London warehouse of a firm that supplied goods, including Starlink satellite equipment, to Ukraine. Ken McCallum, head of Britains domestic security service MI5, said last year that Russia was on a mission to generate sustained mayhem on British and European streets.

In May, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a 2024 arson attack that almost completely destroyed a shopping center in Warsaw.

Other incidents attributed to Moscow include vandalism, the jamming of GPS signals and a foiled plot to assassinate the CEO of a German arms company.

Russia is currently waging two wars, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said last year. One is a kinetic, conventional war in Ukraine. The other is a hybrid war in Europe and the West with the aim of influencing the tone of public discourse or in some way shake our sense of security.

Russia may be struggling to maintain strict control over operations, with some cases of sabotage and arson going beyond the aims of those who commissioned them, some of the officials said. That may be due in part to the incompetence and unreliability of petty criminals hired to carry out the actions, they said.

Theres also evidence that some individuals, described as self-starters, have acted on their own initiative in hopes of impressing potential Russian paymasters, again risking erratic outcomes, the people said.

In response, Russia has increasingly ordered local proxies to film themselves carrying out attacks to try to ensure plots unfold as planned, the people said.

The diverting of Russian intelligence resources to Ukraine was revealing of the Kremlins struggles to secure breakthroughs on the ground this year, despite Putins public narrative that hes winning the war, the people said. It also suggested Russian resources are stretched.

Changes to the law in countries like the U.K. have increased prison sentences for involvement in such incidents. That has raised the risk for potential recruits, who are often paid only a few hundred euros or pounds by Russian intelligence and have no diplomatic protection if theyre caught.

While plots have declined this year, European governments continue to record regular and serious cases of Russian cyber attacks and more traditional espionage attempts, some of the officials said.

Top photo: The ruined Ukrainian city of Chasiv Yar on the frontline, at dawn, on July 24.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
A federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit by Devin Nunes, the former California congressman and now chief executive of Trump Media and Technology Group, against NBCUniversal over a comment by Rachel Maddow about his dealings with a suspected Russian agent.

U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan ruled on Friday that no reasonable jury could find Maddow demonstrated actual malice toward Nunes in March 2021 when discussing a package addressed to him from pro-Russia Ukrainian legislator Andrii Derkach on MSNBCs The Rachel Maddow Show.

Nunes received the package in December 2019, when the Republican was the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Maddow told viewers that Nunes refused to hand it over to the FBI, which is what you should do if you get something from somebody who is sanctioned by the U.S. as a Russian agent.

Nunes said Maddow knew the package was turned over promptly. She and her executive producer, who were not defendants, claimed to rely on other sources when creating the segment. NBCUniversal is a unit of Comcast.

In a 24-page decision, Castel said Nunes, a longtime supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, failed to show Maddow was aware of a July 2020 article in Politico saying the FBI had received the package.

The judge found no clear and convincing evidence that Maddow had a high degree of awareness of probable falsity, or any evidence that defendants admitted political bias caused defendant to act with a reckless disregard of the truth.

Nunes lawyers and Trump Media did not immediately respond on Monday to requests for comment. Lawyers for NBCUniversal did not immediately respond to similar requests.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Derkach in September 2020 for trying to interfere in that years U.S. presidential election to help Trump, who lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York charged Derkach in December 2022 with unrelated money laundering and sanctions violations. He remains at large.

The case is Nunes v NBCUniversal Media Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-01633.

(Reporting by Stempel in New YorkEditing by Nick Zieminski)
BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- City Council is looking to fill an empty seat after Ward 1 Councilman Dave Long submitted his resignation July 14, noting that he was no longer a resident of the ward.

The city charter requires council members to live in the wards they represent.

Longs resignation took effect July 19.

It has been a true honor to serve the residents of Ward 1 and to work alongside each of you, Long wrote in his letter to the City Council.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the continued progress and well-being of our city.

His letter went on to thank council members, the mayor and other city officials for their professionalism, dedication and guidance.

Long took office Jan. 1, 2024, after defeating long-time Ward 1 Councilman David Tadych, who had represented the ward for 20 years under two mayors.

Tadych had been vice president of council for six years, chairman of the Finance Committee for six years and a member of the Finance Committee for 16 years. He also served as the councils representative to various boards and commissions.

Tadych is now seeking to reclaim his seat, as City Council prepares to name a successor to fill out the remainder of Longs term, which runs through Dec. 31.

With my years of experience, I clearly understand the workings of City Council and the finances of the city, Tadych wrote in a letter to council.

I genuinely enjoy, understand and value the workings of City Council, and love and care about representing our citizens.

Tadych is a retired vice president of information systems at Mr. Coffee Inc.

He is among seven candidates to apply for an appointment to the Ward 1 seat.

The following names are the candidates, besides Tadych, who submitted their information to the City Council clerks office by a deadline of 4:30 p.m. Aug. 1.

Elise Hara Auvil is an attorney with BauerGriffith in Beachwood, where she represents small businesses, nonprofits and political subdivisions in matters related to employment law.

She was formerly a chief administrative officer to the mayor of Cleveland, an assistant law director in Cleveland and a human resources manager for the city of Westlake.

She earned her law degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Kristina Beifus is the senior director of compliance and sustainability for American Greetings, where she addresses regulatory requirements and develops business-smart strategies to protect people and the environment.

She said she understands the need for planning for the future of the citys infrastructure and neighborhoods.

Bay Village is at an important moment in its growth, facing key decisions about development and infrastructure, she wrote to council.

I would bring a pragmatic and collaborative approach to those issues, grounded in transparency, stewardship and a balance between long-term resilience and the needs of today.

She earned a bachelors degree in economics from John Carroll University and a masters degree from West Virginia University in legal studies: corporate compliance, according to her resume.

Matthew T. Grossi has lived in the ward since June 2022 and is an attorney who began a law practice in Colorado before moving to Bay.

Before practicing law, he worked for a decade in engineering and construction project management, which gave him experience working with government and private clients.

His law practice has included counseling boards, trustees and councils. He also worked in corporate law.

Gerald Hornings letter of application highlighted his residency in Ward 1 since 1986. He was involved in several Bay Village City School District levy campaigns when his children attended the schools.

He was also a member and chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee, reporting to the Bay Village Board of Education.

He has been an attorney since 1984 and has handled personal injury cases throughout Ohio. He was a deputy clerk for the Cleveland Clerk of Courts.

He received an MBA and his law degree from Cleveland State University.

Edward M. Smiths resume states that since 2011, he has been an independent consultant/adviser to multiple nonprofit organizations dealing with financing and management of solar energy projects, arts organizations, shoreline protection projects and public access and use projects.

He described himself as an internationally oriented senior executive having extensive and diverse experience in both the private and public sectors.

His resume lists experience working overseas, including for a petrochemical company in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. State Department on reconstruction efforts in Kabul, Afghanistan.

He holds an MBA from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

Stephen Swidarskis resume states that he works in marketing for Eaton Corp. and previously worked in marketing for Sherwin-Williams.

He described himself as a proven leader with a value-driven, customer-first mindset.

He earned a bachelors degree in marketing from Ashland University.

City Council accepted applications from July 28 through Aug. 1. Council is expected to review the applications, conduct interviews, then vote on a successor to fill the remainder of the term.

I expect we will select his replacement by mid-August, Clark said. If not selected within 30 days of the resignation date, the mayor can make the appointment.

Two of the applicants -- Tadych and Swidarski -- had filed petitions with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections by the deadline for the Sept. 9 primary ballot.

Since only two candidates filed, a primary will not be necessary, and their names will appear on the November general election ballot for the Ward 1 seat beginning in January 2026.
Ohio's MAGA politicians and right-wing media exploited a Cincinnati street fight for racial and political gain, turning an isolated incident into campaign fodder while ignoring broader causes of violence and the citys real efforts to ensure public safety. (In this photo: a Trump supporter at a rally in 2022.) AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A brutal street fight in downtown Cincinnati made national headlines last week, but not because violence of this kind is rare in America.

The story exploded because the video appeared to show Black people attacking white victims. Thats the only explanation for why Ohios MAGA politicians suddenly found their voices, thundering about crime and chaos as though this single incident revealed some deeper truth about American society.

Street brawls happen every day in cities across this country. Videos often circulate  in fact, a quick search on YouTube pulls up an endless menu of options, like one titled Intense Street Fight Compilation: Unforgettable Knockouts and Raw Brawls, with a million views. But unless the images fit neatly into a narrative about race, interest in these violent altercations is generally limited to YouTubers, seeking the footage to satisfy their morbid curiosity. Nobody at Fox News spends primetime lamenting lawless thugs when viral clips show white kids stomping each other outside a bar. Nobody demands FBI investigations into brawls that dont come with such racially loaded optics.

This time, though, the rights grievance machine roared to life.

Vice President JD Vance, always eager to pound the law-and-order drum, called the assault disgusting and urged that every person involved be thrown in prison. Sen. Bernie Moreno floated that the FBI was investigating it as a potential hate crime. And Sen. Jon Husted, perhaps the most absurd of all, managed to shoehorn defund the police into his statement  a phrase that hasnt had mainstream currency in years.

This whole defund the police, soft-on-crime agenda needs to stop, Husted declared, as though a chaotic street fight in Cincinnati somehow traced back to those debates that flickered in city councils back in 2020, the year that George Floyd was murdered by a white Minneapolis police officer.

The staged outrage over the Cincinnati incident is a spectacle designed to stir fear, sharpen racial divides and turn a singular incident into campaign fodder.

Local officials, on the other hand, were trying to tamp down the flames, not fan them. Mayor Aftab Pureval cut his vacation short and welcomed Gov. Mike DeWines offer of Highway Patrol support. Police quickly identified and charged several suspects. Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, recognizing what was coming, warned that opportunists are trying to use this incident as a way to divide us  racially and politically  and cast our great city in a false and negative light. She was right.

Fox News leaned hard into that opportunism. Its coverage framed the fight as part of Cincinnatis supposed descent into lawlessness, emphasizing that about 100 bystanders recorded the melee while only one person called 911. Business owners denounced the attack as a poor reflection on the city. In that framing, Cincinnati wasnt just grappling with an ugly moment  it became a symbol of urban decay, exactly the caricature national politicians and conservative pundits love to exploit.

Enter Vivek Ramaswamy.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate, who has never held public office, rushed to Fox News to leverage the moment. He spoke with one of the victims, then announced he would host a town hall in his hometown of Cincinnati with former Vice Mayor and NAACP leader Christopher Smitherman. The message: only Ramaswamy was taking this seriously.

But his interview with anchor Will Cain revealed the true strategy. Ramaswamy claimed the fight was a product of the defund the police current that began four or five years ago  again, a phantom enemy dragged out of the past to score political points. Unable to resist turning the brawl into a campaign prop, he even threw out a nonsensical statistic, saying theres a 137% chance of being a victim of violent crime in Cincinnati.

Cain, for his part, said the quiet part out loud: Youve got a large group of Black people beating several white people. ... Vivek, you say you want to have an open and honest conversation. How do you see that as part of this conversation?

For a split second, Ramaswamy seemed almost uncomfortable, recognizing that the dog whistle had suddenly become audible. But he didnt dispute Cains point  instead, he leaned in.

When you sweep under the rug what people are otherwise willing to say in private but they wont say in public, thats actually what causes frustration to fester, Ramaswamy replied.

The subtext became text: race was the accelerant.

The irony, of course, is that these same politicians are quick to condemn identity politics when anyone else points out the role race plays in American life. But in Cincinnati, theyre the ones making race central. They want to paint cities as hostile to white people, police as victims of leftist hostility, and themselves as the last defenders of order.

Its a false narrative. Violent crime in Ohios major cities has actually decreased since 2020. Cincinnati did not defund its police, and the notion of law enforcement under siege is pure invention. What is real is that opportunists seize on isolated incidents. They amplify them through a racial lens and then ride the outrage for political gain.

None of this minimizes the seriousness of what happened in Cincinnati. A man and a woman were badly beaten. Several people have been arrested and will face justice. The city is right to look hard at nightlife safety, crowd control and policing strategies. But what we shouldnt do is allow MAGA demagogues to hijack the moment, smuggle in old talking points about defunding the police and weaponize race to divide communities.

Politicians who truly care about crime would speak up every time violence erupts in our streets, regardless of who the victims are. Theyd talk about guns flooding our neighborhoods or underfunded courts and treatment programs. Theyd address the root causes. Instead, MAGA Republicans wait for an incident like this one  a fight that fits neatly into their racialized worldview  and then they pounce.

Cincinnati needs leaders committed to making the city safer for everyone, without stoking division. Because the disgrace here isnt only what happened on Fourth and Elm. Its how quickly and cynically it was exploited.

Leila Atassi is the editor of the Public Interest and Advocacy team at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. She writes a weekly opinion column on state and local issues. You can reach her at latassi@cleveland.com.
Shares of American Eagle surged more than 23% on Monday after President Donald Trump complimented the retailer's marketing campaign with actress Sydney Sweeney.

"Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the 'HOTTEST' ad out there. It's for American Eagle, and the jeans are 'flying off the shelves.' Go get 'em Sydney!" Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social not long after markets opened.

Shortly after Trump's post, shares of American Eagle jumped. Monday's gains come a little over a week after American Eagle first announced that the "Euphoria" star would headline its fall marketing campaign with the slogan: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans."

Initially, the stock rose in an apparent bout of meme stock mania, but over the past week, shares of the company have been down as American Eagle has faced criticism about the campaign. That slump rebounded on Monday when Trump weighed in on the discourse.

The slogan American Eagle chose for the campaign  "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans"  has led some far-left critics to say the remark was a double entendre. Instead of being about pants, it was really about the actress' genetics and the fact that she has blonde hair and blue eyes, critics said. The ad also faced pushback more widely for being overly sexualized and out of touch, reminiscent of previous marketing norms that many say no longer resonate with the public.

American Eagle has stayed largely quiet on the matter  releasing a brief statement on its Instagram account on Friday that said the slogan "is and always was about the jeans."

"We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way," the company said. "Great jeans look good on everyone."

The saga highlights the tightrope that marketers are walking when deciding what types of ads to run and the audiences they should be targeting when consumer attention is harder than ever to win and maintain. Bud Lite's ill-fated Dylan Mulvaney collaboration and the subsequent impact on its sales and its parent company's stock price, highlighted how things can go wrong when companies release marketing that some may consider "woke." On the other hand, American Eagle's campaign is now showing the other side of that coin  what can happen when a company releases marketing that isn't "woke" and perhaps more accepted on the cultural right.

In the lead-up to American Eagle's campaign with Sweeney, the company has been struggling to grow sales, and the marketing blitz is one of the many things it's doing to reverse that negative slump.

It's too early to say if the campaign has positively or negatively impacted sales, but it has made American Eagle more top of mind with shoppers. Google trend data shows search interest for American Eagle is at its highest level in more than 20 years. Whether or not that search interest translates to more shoppers buying jeans from American Eagle will be more clear when the retailer reports earnings, which is expected in the next few weeks.

As of Friday's close, shares of American Eagle were down more than 27% so far this year as the company grapples with larger macroeconomic concerns related to tariffs, consumer spending and its own merchandising missteps.

Earlier this year, the company said it would take a $75 million write-down in spring and summer merchandise after it pulled its full-year guidance due to slow sales, steep discounting and a volatile macroeconomic environment.

For its current quarter, American Eagle said in May that it expects revenue to fall 5%, comparable sales to be down 3% and gross margin to be lower compared with the prior year. Its operating income for the second quarter is expected to be between $40 million and $45 million.
Baidu will bring its driverless taxis to Europe next year via a partnership with U.S. ridehailing firm Lyft , as the Chinese tech giant looks to expand its autonomous vehicles globally.

The robotaxis will initially be deployed in the U.K. and Germany from 2026 with the aim to have "thousands" of vehicles across Europe in the "following years," the two companies said.

Lyft has had very little presence in Europe until last week when it closed the acquisition of Germany-based ride hailing company FreeNow, which is available in over 150 cities across nine countries, including Ireland, the U.K., Germany and France.

Deployment of the autonomous cars is "pending regulatory approval," Lyft and Baidu said in a Monday statement. It's unclear if Lyft will offer Baidu's robotaxis via the FreeNow app or another product.

The partnership marks a continued push from Baidu to expand its robotaxis to international markets.

Last month, Baidu partnered with Uber to deploy its autonomous cars on the ride-hailing giant's platform outside the U.S. and mainland China, with a focus on the Middle East and Asia, which will launch later this year. The partnership also covers Europe, though a launch date for the region has not yet been disclosed.

In China, Baidu has been operating its own robotaxi service since 2021 in major cities like Beijing, allowing users to hail an Apollo Go car through the app. Meanwhile, for Lyft, the deal could boost the firm's presence in the region as it looks to take on rivals like Uber and Bolt.

Autonomous vehicles have become a big focus for ride-hailing companies which have looked to partner with companies that are developing the technology for driverless cars.

In the U.K., a market that Lyft is targeting, Uber this year partnered with self-driving car technology firm Wayve to launch trials of fully autonomous rides starting in spring 2026.
(This is The Best Stocks in the Market , brought to you by Josh Brown and Sean Russo of Ritholtz Wealth Management.) Josh  If I asked you what is the most important geographic location on earth for the modern internet, you might be tempted to guess Silicon Valley or perhaps somewhere in Asia. You'd be wrong. Believe it or not, it's in Loudon County, Virginia, known by the locals as "Data Center Alley." The Alley is home to the world's largest cluster of data centers. According to the Wall Street Journal, approximately 70% (SEVENTY PERCENT!) of the entire world's internet traffic passes through this Northern Virginia cluster every day. And the build-out in this region is not nearly complete. Data centers use a ton of electricity, which means that whomever is supplying that electricity is looking at an ocean of demand as far as the eye can see. With that in mind, it's time to introduce you to a new name on our Best Stocks in the Market list  Dominion Energy (D) . The story here is incredibly simple. Thirty years ago, when the consumer internet was born, the majority of its users were gaining access via America Online. AOL was based in a suburb of DC and moved itself to Ashburn, VA  right in the heart of Loudon County. This was the birth of the data center and, to this day, it remains ground zero for newly contracted gigawatt (GW) demand. Amazon invested $52 billion in Loudon County data center infrastructure between 2011 and 2021 and has committed to spending another $35 billion between now and 2040 on an estimated 42 million square feet. Dominion is supplying the bulk of the electricity needed, with an estimated 9 GW of data center load under service contracts and another 5 GW in newly signed construction letters. In addition to AWS, Dominion is also serving Meta, Microsoft's Azure and the Google Cloud. This past July, Dominion formally announced a rate increase proposal to its regulators in part stemming from its crucial work on behalf of the AI-enabled data center buildout happening on its turf. It wants more money to support the new demand as well as to continue serving its 4.1 million customers. A decision is expected to come this September, which could serve as a major catalyst for the stock should it go into effect this January. In the meantime, you have a stock approaching new 52-week highs with a 4.4% dividend yield while you wait. Sean's going to get into some broader commentary about what's going on with the Best Stocks list below. I'll be back with some risk management commentary should the trade not work out. Sector Spotlight Sean Continuing with our focus on utilities last week, we had a new entrant hit our list on Friday while the rest of the market was selling off. With this new addition, which we will discuss in further detail below, utilities are now tied for the 3rd most populous sector on our list. There is a total of 16 utility companies out of 152 on the Best Stocks in the Market: Taking a look at the industry makeup, the electric utilities industry is tied for the 3rd most populous with 9, and the multi utilities industry is tied for 7th with 5 companies on the list. Last week , we compared utility breadth to the S & P 500. Instead, let's compare to the all-mighty tech sector. AI seems to be everywhere. The "AI is the only thing keeping the market afloat" memes are rampant, and although that is a fair observation, utilities are lighting it up compared to tech. No matter how you slice and dice the data, utilities are seeing momentum right now. As of Friday's close, the median utility stock has an RSI of 64. 90% of utes are above their 20- and 200-day moving average, 94% are above their 50 day moving average. The median utility stock is within 3% of 52-week highs. Compare that to tech: the median RSI is 41. Only 38% of tech is above their 20-day moving average, 47% are above their 50-day and 57% are above their 200-day moving average. The median tech stock is 14% below 52 week highs. In other words, despite all the hype about the tech sector, the typical stock in the group is only about 6% away from a bear market. Last week, utilities were the second-best-performing sector YTD. Well, we have a new sector in pole position: We are long-term investors. Our default setting is optimism. Two positive reflections from this analysis: first, AI will affect a lot more companies than just tech firms, and the market is pricing in that reality. Which leads to thought number two: there is still a catch-up trade to be had, even in tech. Most stocks have not performed well over the past year; only a select few are leading us higher. 295 stocks are underperforming the S & P 500 YTD, representing 59% of the index. Rotation is healthy, and if we see some of the sleepier, value-oriented sectors wake up, we could be in for a great second half of the year. One stock that just hit our list, with what looks to be a great set-up for the second half of 2025, is yet another utility: New addition to Best Stocks: Dominion Energy Date added: 08/012025 Sean  Dominion Energy is a multi-utility stock paying a 4.42% dividend, making it a top-50 dividend payer in the S & P 500. D has 27,000 MW of generation capacity from a diversified portfolio of nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydro, solar and offshore wind energy projects. The company also acts as one of the nation's leading developers of renewable energy  Its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is under construction off the Virginia coast. The company reported earnings on Friday, beating on revenue and EPS expectations, vaulting the stock onto our list. From that earnings call, management reaffirmed guidance on earnings, its creditworthiness, and its dividend payout. They also gave investors an update on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. The project represents "the fastest and most economical way to deliver nearly 3GW to Virginia's grid to support America's AI and cyber, shipbuilding, and military + defense preeminence" via Dominion's earnings presentation. This project has rare bipartisan support from both the state of Virginia and Congress. The project is fully state and federally permitted, and is 60% completed, with an expected completion date of 2026. This project will deliver substantial electricity to Virginia's grid to support America's data center market, military installations, and shipbuilding operations, which positions Dominion to capitalize on data center demand in its service territory. Management noted that "9 of our top 10 all-time peak days in Virginia have occurred this year." (data via Quartr) As demand for power accelerates, more and more companies are primed for the next move higher. Scale, stability, and energy diversification are quietly leading the market higher in 2025. Risk management Josh  Let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be. The utility sector is extremely strong as Sean has shown above. Dominion is emerging as one of the strongest stocks in the sector. This is the kind of tailwind you want when considering a new position. Below I am showing you a five-year chart with a 200-week moving average which the stock is now challenging: A weekly closing price below $50 means something may have changed. Traders can use that as their pivot point while longer-term investors may want to just grit their teeth and live through it  a decline like that would only make the dividend yield even more juicy. In its last earnings report, Dominion reaffirmed full year guidance so I feel good about the opportunity remaining intact going into the fall rate case decision. Good luck out there. DISCLOSURES: None All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. INVESTING INVOLVES RISK. EXAMPLES OF ANALYSIS CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE ONLY EXAMPLES. THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OR POSITION OF RITHOLTZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC. JOSH BROWN IS THE CEO OF RITHOLTZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND MAY MAINTAIN A SECURITY POSITION IN THE SECURITIES DISCUSSED. ASSUMPTIONS MADE WITHIN THE ANALYSIS ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE POSITION OF RITHOLTZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC" TO THE END OF OR OUR DISCLOSURE. Click here for the full disclaimer.
Workers picket outside the Boeing Defense, Space & Security facility in Berkeley, Missouri, US, on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.

Some 3,200 Boeing defense unit workers went on strike for the first time in almost three decades early Monday after turning down a contract offer with the company.

Boeing had offered a 20% general wage increase, a $5,000 ratification bonus and other improvements. Its latest offer, which the workers voted down Sunday, included wage rises for employees at the top of the pay scale and improved retirement benefits, according to their union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837. The workers are largely based in the St. Louis area.

Boeing said the increases could average about 40% taking into account other improvements. The increases would bring average IAM 837 machinist pay to more than $102,000 from $75,000, according to Jefferies.

The strike is the work group's first since 1996.

"IAM District 837 members have spoken loud and clear, they deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation's defense," said Tom Boelling, IAM District 837 directing business representative. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with these working families as they fight for fairness and respect on the job."
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press at the Federal Senate in Brasilia on July 17, 2025.

Brazil's Supreme Court put former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest on Monday ahead of his trial for an alleged coup plot, underscoring the court's resolve despite escalating tariffs and sanctions from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the target of U.S. Treasury sanctions last week, issued the arrest order against Bolsonaro. His decision cited a failure to comply with restraining orders he had imposed on Bolsonaro for allegedly courting Trump's interference in the case.

Bolsonaro is on trial before the Supreme Court on charges he conspired with allies to violently overturn his 2022 electoral loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Trump has referred to the case as a "witch hunt" and called it grounds for a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods taking effect on Wednesday.

The U.S. State Department condemned the house arrest order, saying Moraes was using Brazilian institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy, adding the U.S. would "hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct."

It did not provide details, though Trump has said the U.S. could still impose even higher tariffs on Brazilian imports.

The Monday order from Moraes also banned Bolsonaro from using a cell phone or receiving visits, except for his lawyers and people authorized by the court.

A press representative for Bolsonaro confirmed he was placed under house arrest on Monday evening at his Brasilia residence by police who seized his cell phone.

Bolsonaro's lawyers said in a statement they would appeal the decision, arguing the former president had not violated any court order.

In an interview with Reuters last month, Bolsonaro called Moraes a "dictator" and said the restraining orders against him were acts of "cowardice."

Some Bolsonaro allies have worried that Trump's tactics may be backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for Bolsonaro and rallying public support behind Lula's leftist government.

However, Sunday demonstrations by Bolsonaro supporters  the largest in months  show that Trump's tirades and sanctions against Moraes have also fired up the far-right former army captain's political base.

Bolsonaro appeared virtually at a protest in Rio de Janeiro via phone call to his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, in what some saw as the latest test of his restraining orders.

Moraes said that the former president had repeatedly made attempts to bypass the court's orders.

"Justice is blind, but not foolish," the justice wrote in his decision.

On Monday, Senator Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil that Monday's order from Moraes was "a clear display of vengeance" for the U.S. sanctions against the judge, adding: "I hope the Supreme Court can put the brakes on this person (Moraes) causing so much upheaval."

The judge's orders, including the restraining orders under penalty of arrest, have been upheld by the wider court.

Those orders and the larger case before the Supreme Court came after two years of investigations into Bolsonaro's role in an election-denying movement that culminated in riots by his supporters that rocked Brasilia in January 2023. That unrest drew comparisons to the January 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol after Trump's 2020 electoral defeat.

In contrast with the tangle of criminal cases which mostly stalled against Trump, Brazilian courts moved swiftly against Bolsonaro, threatening to end his political career and fracture his right-wing movement. An electoral court has already banned Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2030.

Another of Bolsonaro's sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian congressman, moved to the U.S. around the same time the former president's criminal trial kicked off to drum up support for his father in Washington. The younger Bolsonaro said the move had influenced Trump's decision to impose new tariffs on Brazil.

In a statement after the arrest on Monday, Congressman Bolsonaro called Moraes "an out-of-control psychopath who never hesitates to double down."

Trump last month shared a letter he had sent to Bolsonaro. "I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you," he wrote. "This trial should end immediately!"

Washington based its sanctions against Moraes last week on accusations that the judge had authorized arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppressed freedom of expression.

The arrest could give Trump a pretext to pile on additional measures against Brazil, said Graziella Testa, a political science professor at the Federal University of Parana, adding that Bolsonaro seemed to be consciously provoking escalation.

"I think things could escalate because this will be seen as a reaction to the Magnitsky sanction" against Moraes, said Leonardo Barreto, a partner at the Think Policy political risk consultancy in Brasilia, referring to the asset freeze imposed on Moraes last week.
A fifth of the watches and jewelry made in Switzerland are exported to the United States.

Yet, that market is unlikely to uniformly feel the impact of the tariffs, according to analysts at Vontobel, a Swiss asset manager.

"[The tariffs] will likely affect the lower end of the watch segment more strongly," Mark Diethelm, Vontobel's senior equity analyst, said in a note to clients on Aug. 4.

"Another affected group is suppliers of machinery and tools, where the US represents around 15% of exports," Diethelm added.

The specialized machinery and tools are often made by small companies, which are currently being challenged by several factors  including weak demand in Europe and China, a stronger Swiss franc and lower tariffs on Europe and Japan  that the Vontobel analyst called a "highly toxic cocktail."

Yet the analyst remains hopeful for a deal with the U.S.

"We believe there is some hope for an agreement on US tariffs for Switzerland, which could bring the tariff level closer to the 15% baseline set for other countries," Diethelm added.

"However, if the 39% tariff remains in place, earnings for the highlighted sectors and companies could be hit substantially, triggering shifts out of Switzerland."

 Ganesh Rao
"Everything is about to get really f---ing expensive," says Melanie Abrantes, an Oakland, California-based business owner who sells home decor. Abrantes is one of many CEOs of small and medium-sized consumer product businesses in the U.S. who say President Donald Trump's tariffs could force them to raise prices before the end of the year. Last week, Trump updated tariff rates for dozens of countries, ranging from 10% to 41% duties that go into effect starting Aug. 7. Goods that are considered to have been transshipped, or shipped through an intermediate country to disguise where they were originally made to avoid applicable duties, will be hit with an additional 40% rate. U.S. businesses that stocked up on inventory earlier this year are now starting to run out, they say. When they reorder from their overseas manufacturers, they'll need to pay steep import costs. "While inventory front-running has mitigated the need to raise goods prices, it will become increasingly difficult for businesses to absorb higher import duties as pre-tariff stockpiles dwindle," Wells Fargo economists wrote in a July research report. "We expect core goods prices to pick up further in the second half of the year as a result." Matt Hassett (who has no relation to the economist Kevin Hassett) runs New York-based startup Loftie. He had five months' worth of his smart alarm clocks in stock in April, when Trump first detailed his tariff plan, he says.

Matt Hassett, founder and CEO of Loftie Loftie Inc.

Come September, Hassett will need to import a new batch from Loftie's manufacturer in China, he says. At the current 30% tariff rate, he says he'll likely raise the price of his popular $170 smart clock to $185, an increase of 9%. "A lot of people think this [tariff] situation is not as bad right now, because all of us business owners had inventory on hand," says Hassett. "It's only just starting to trickle down into actual [consumer goods] prices. I think there's been a false sense of ease about this." U.S. consumers will experience an overall average effective tariff rate of 18.3%, the highest since 1934, according to new estimates from The Budget Lab at Yale University. The tariffs are expected to cost U.S. households an average $2,400 in 2025, the nonpartisan research center said. Abrantes, who makes and sells items like bowls, planters and vases made from wood or cork, imports some of her products and materials from Portugal. She says she has already raised her prices by as much as $50 on some products and expects she may need to raise them again before the end of the year. She's considering simplifying her product line  selling fewer or less expensive items  to cut costs, she says. "I have a premium product that is for a very niche group of people," says Abrantes. "At the end of the day, consumers are not going to be splurging." Even small price hikes in an uncertain economy can push low- and middle-income consumers away from discretionary purchases or toward cheaper products, a 2024 Boston Consulting Group found. Small businesses tend to operate with slim profit margins. If consumers pull back, swaths of those companies could close, says Todd McCracken, president and CEO of the National Small Business Association advocacy group. "Retailers have been able to hold the line on pricing so far, but the new tariffs will impact merchandise in the coming weeks," David French, executive vice president of government relations at the National Retail Federation told CNBC on August 1. "We have heard directly from small retailers who are concerned about their ability to stay in business in the face of these unsustainable tariff rates." The "direct result of tariffs will be higher prices, decreased hiring, fewer capital expenditures and slower innovation," French said. The ripple effects could be substantial: Nearly half of working Americans are employed by small businesses, which represent 43.5% of America's gross domestic product (GDP), according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. For months, businesses have been scrambling to figure out a solution to their impending tariff charges. Trump has repeatedly suggested a simple one: Move your manufacturing to the U.S. But business owners and manufacturers say it's not that easy. Compared to their overseas counterparts, American factories cannot yet offer competitive prices and widespread production expertise. Building that ability could take at least three to five years  or longer  companies said in CNBC's April Supply Chain Survey. Kim Vaccarella is the CEO of Secaucus, New Jersey-based beach tote maker Bogg Bag. She says her company manufactures its products abroad because domestic options don't provide the same quality.

Kim Vaccarella, founder and CEO of Bogg Bag. CNBC Make It
The AI boom has presented energy stalwarts like GE Vernova with a monumental task  and opportunity: Make enough gas turbines to support an entire technological revolution. As tech giants invest billions of dollars to build AI data centers, a shortage of power has emerged as a new and unexpected bottleneck. In the initial wake of ChatGPT's launch in late 2022, the main supply crunch was for Nvidia's graphics processing units, which has moderated. Now, the biggest demand is for energy, putting GE Vernova, one of the world's largest producers of gas-fired turbines used to create electricity, at the center of a frantic race to build out generative AI infrastructure. Gas turbine orders from utilities, independent power producers, and industrial players are on a record-breaking pace for 2025, according to a S & P Global Commodity Insights. Think of these turbines as huge modified engines located at power plants that burn natural gas to make a lot of electricity very quickly. Manufacturing them is a complex process, and right now supplies are tight. "You may have trouble getting GPUs," Jim Cramer said. "Try getting power from GE Vernova." The fervent demand for GE Vernova's turbines is leading to a financial windfall, as its recent blowout quarterly earnings release made clear. So strong was the report that, in response, Jim described the industrial stock as "maybe the best story in the entire market." Shares of GE Vernova have doubled year to date and are on pace for a fresh record close Monday around $662 a share. Following earnings, the Club raised its price target by $150 on GE Vernova to $700 a share. Orders for its power segment rose 44% organically last quarter as gas power equipment orders, in particular, increased nearly threefold. Meanwhile, a measure of multiyear demand that includes both gas-turbine orders and "slot reservations," which will be fulfilled further into the future, increased to 55 gigawatts, up from 50 in April. By year-end, GE Vernova expects that to be at least 60 gigawatts  for context, if the Hoover Dam were running at max capacity, it could produce roughly 2 gigawatts of power . This "era of accelerated electrification is driving unprecedented investment," CEO Scott Strazik said on the conference call. GEV YTD mountain GE Vernova's year-to-date stock performance. The unprecedented investment is also testing the limits of the power industry. Demand for GE Vernova's turbines  and those from peers like Siemens Energy and Mitsubishi Power  are so large that it's hard for them to keep pace. GE Vernova's gas turbines are "largely sold out" for 2026 and 2027, while the company is "approaching filling out '28 and starting to sign agreements for later years," Strazik said in an earnings call this spring. In other words, customers placing new orders for these heavy-duty gas turbines can face wait times that extend several years. With strong demand and limited supply, turbine prices have jumped in recent years as well. The reason there's so much need for these turbines is simple: the U.S. needs a lot more electricity to keep up with the demand of AI computing. Club holdings Amazon , Microsoft and other hyperscalers seemingly cannot spend enough money to construct more power-hungry data centers. Alongside earnings last week, Microsoft and Meta reported massive capital expenditures on the back of increased AI investments and signaled that more outlays are on the way. "This is the number one driver of new [turbine] demand growth, especially in the near term," said Sam Huntington, director of North American power research at S & P Global Commodity Insights. "For decades, we had this long period of flat [and] minimal load growth, right up to the past couple of years, and now, the situation has changed again," he told CNBC. Bank of America analysts in a July note forecasted that U.S. electricity demand will grow at a 2.5% compound annual growth rate through 2035, up from half a percent between 2014 and 2024. Many energy executives say more natural gas will be necessary to meet the electricity demand, given some current limitations around solar and wind. Even though projections point to more turbine demand, expanding manufacturing capacity isn't an easy fix. These turbines are massive and complex machinery that can take years to get to customers , so management teams want to make sure that this AI data center buildout is durable before they commit to dramatically scaling up their own production. "They have to balance not building enough to meet data center electricity demand in the future versus making irreversible investment decisions today that might end up costing companies a lot of money over the next 30 years if demand doesn't show up," said Ramteen Sioshansi, an engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University who leads its Electricity Industry Center. The industry doesn't want a repeat of the early 2000s when there was a similar hype cycle around natural gas power plant construction that ended poorly. Lower natural gas prices  coupled with growing environmental concerns that led to more interest in cleaner alternatives to coal  meant a boom in demand for these turbines at the time. But when gas prices rose again and the collapse of Enron made it harder for power producers to finance new plant construction , demand for gas turbines dried up, leaving manufacturers including GE Vernova  then part of the General Electric conglomerate  with canceled orders and excess inventory. "This led to a huge boom and bust market and people lost a lot of money," S & P Global's Huntington added. "So, there's still scars of 20 years ago [that] are relatively fresh." Plus, in the years leading up to the AI boom, major investments into renewable energy sources like wind and solar around the world also disincentivized turbine manufacturers from expanding their production capacity. That context helps explain why companies like GE Vernova may not want to open up the check book and spend wildly to expand output. At the same time, GE Vernova must maintain a healthy production pace while keeping its customers happy. "I think there's a sense at [GE Vernova] that, 'We're winning the deals that we want to win and, and we don't see a need to potentially risk over-capacitizing the market chasing demand,'" RBC Capital Markets analyst Chris Dendrinos told CNBC. Still, Dendrinos said GE Vernova was "an early mover in terms of expanding capacity" in the industry. In January, GE Vernova announced a $600 million investment in U.S. factories over the next two years to address the growing need for electricity. Of that capital, $300 million is specifically going to support the buildout of its gas turbine business by expanding facilities. It is expected to create more than 850 new jobs. Dendrinos, who has covered the energy sector for over a decade, described the $600 million investment as "absolutely material" and "a testament to the demand" for its turbines. GE Vernova's peers are ramping up production, too. On a February earnings call, Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruchs said the company is working to grow production capacity by roughly 30%. "However, we take a measured approach and expand our capacities in a responsible way, neither losing sight of cost nor the risk of adding too much capacity," the executive said on the call. Along with the committed capital, GE Vernova has announced deals to expedite production and promoted alternatives to its heavy-duty turbines to maintain its dominance in the industry and please customers. In March, for example, the firm announced an acquisition of Woodward's heavy-duty gas combustion parts business for an undisclosed amount. The move is intended to help the company "meet growing energy demands from load growth," according to a press release. By buying this business, it brings manufacturing of essential combustion parts for these gas turbines in house, which gives GE Vernova more control over its supply chain. Meanwhile, GE Vernova has also touted temporary alternatives to its heavy-duty turbines such as its "aeroderivative" units. These are mostly preassembled, have faster start times and take up less space than their heavy-duty counterparts. On the other hand, aeroderivatives are less efficient at scale for data centers. GE Vernova announced in March that the company secured an order for three of these units for a municipal utility in Missouri. Overall, GE Vernova is a stellar position to capitalize on the data center buildout. However, Jim said the company could afford to further expand production in order to meet booming demand. "[Their] orders are so strong and ironclad, I wish [they'd] spend some more," he said. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long GEV, NVDA, AMZN, MSFT. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Heat waves and longer summers are driving seasonal spikes in demand for cooling units, highlighting the need for efficient technologies and adequate power supply to keep Europe cool. This year is set to bring another record hot summer, with temperatures reaching as high as 39 degrees Celsius in Paris. The increase in heat, as well as cultural shifts and income changes, is boosting demand for air conditioning (AC) units, according to a report from the International Energy Agency published last week. Total ownership of AC units remains relatively low at 20% in Europe, the IEA data showed. Meanwhile, AC penetration in the U.S. is as high as 90%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But that could change: McKinsey partner, Paolo Spranzi, told CNBC that there's been something of an "acceleration" in the European cooling market, particularly on the back of this year's heat waves. "Things are changing because we see more often and more frequent, longer heat waves, also in the northern part of Europe where there is the lower penetration." Energy demand from the sector, which is responsible for cooling everything from households to hospitals and data center equipment, is often overlooked as more visible sources of emissions from sectors such as cars and aviation tend to take center stage when it comes to government policy. Energy demand from cooling could nearly triple by 2050 if left unchecked, according to the IEA. Because heating and cooling in buildings amount to 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions it's a "real key enabler" of global emissions and a significant factor to consider when it comes to how newer generations of air conditioners can drive sustainability, Spranzi said. A 'cyclical' shift? During this year's heat waves, France, which has fairly low air-conditioning ownership, recorded an electricity peak that was 25% above the off-season average, the IEA said. Earlier in the year, a widespread power outage that hit Spain, Portugal and the south of France highlighted the importance of energy security and of making sure the region's grids are robust enough to deal with increased work loads. "Air conditioning was considered as a luxury, or even as a waste of money, given also the high electricity costs that were here in Europe," Spranzi said, adding that other factors include the rise of work from home and younger generations being less likely to see AC as a luxury. The shift is mostly "cyclical," Spranzi said, with clients telling him that they see 2025 as a "lucky year"  indicating that there is some uncertainty as to how long the trend will last. However, he noted that he still expects "good growth" in the market  somewhere in the mid to low single digit range. Household income also plays a major role, according to the IEA, with access to cooling remaining "highly unequal" around the world. In countries such as France (18-26%) and Germany (19%), AC penetration remains fairly low, according to Fabian Voswinkel, energy efficiency policy analyst at the IEA. Meanwhile, southern European countries such as Spain and Italy (around 50%) and Greece (60%), the penetration is much higher. Voswinkel explained that while there is rising demand for both portable units and full air-conditioning systems that are built into people's homes, there is a difference in the pace of that increase. The latter takes more time to install and will often stand as a one-time purchase. It therefore manifests as a slower trend, whereas the demand for portable units that lead to sellers talking of "queues for several months until way after summer," constitutes more "spiky" demand. HVAC boom In addition to soaring demand for portable AC units, firms such as Johnson Controls , which specializes in buildings technologies, have seen increased appetite for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technologies for data centers, health care, manufacturing and commercial real estate. "We're working closely with leading hyperscalers to shape the future of data center design, with a particular focus on thermal management," its chief sustainability officer, Katie McGinty, told CNBC. "As AI adoption accelerates, so does the need for smarter, more efficient cooling systems, making HVAC a critical enabler of digital transformation." For McGinty, increased demand for HVAC technology also offers an opportunity for business to save on costs and align their operations with broader environmental goals. She highlighted another booming trend that is dominating the sector: a rise in heat pumps. The devices offer a "two-in-one" solution as they provide both heating and air conditioning. Countries across the EU are helping the boom by introducing legislation that encourages households to install the units. McKinsey's Spranzi also said that heat pumps are the core market where his clients are making most of their profit, with innovation driving the need for green, smart and integrated products. "The switch between the gas boiler into the heat pumps is what everyone's talking about and investing in. There is a lot of interest from private equity firms and a lot of movement with companies acquiring each other to really increase the scale to being able to invest more in R & D for example," he said. In 2019, the top five players were accounting for 45% of the European HVAC market, whereas last year, the top five were accounting for 55% of the overall market in Europe, he said. Grid pressure The outlook for European electricity load growth is "complex," with many varying factors contributing to utilities' forecasts of annual growth of 1-8% over the next five years, depending on the country, according to McKinsey's Diego Hernandez Diaz. He told CNBC that one of the specific drivers that will push up demand is growing adoption of HVAC systems and cooling technologies in homes and buildings, which adds to the electrical load. "At the same time, two important factors may counterbalance that. First, improvements in efficiency mean that more installed cooling capacity does not necessarily lead to proportional increases in consumption. Second, industrial electricity use, which still accounts for a large share of total demand, continues to decline. Taken together, these forces could leave overall demand relatively stable." Diaz said. "And yet, when you consider the factors I've outlined above  historical trends, efficiency improvements, and a continued decline in industrial electricity demand  while some utilities may see more volatility or localized peaks, our view is that the broader system impact is likely to remain modest. The overall picture remains one of rebalancing versus sustained upward pressure." Read more Were in the era of heat pumps  a market that experts say is set to skyrocket Extreme heat is turning electricity cutoffs into new political battle for power companies World swelters through its hottest summer on record for the second year running Despite expectations of a "modest" impact on electricity demand, the question remains as to the burden on the grid. Some countries are likely more prepared than others. In France, for example, electric heating is already widely used during the winter and the energy mix is also highly dominated by nuclear energy, IEA's Voswinkel said. In comparison, Germany, which mainly uses gas heating, has grids that are not dimensioned for a large amounts of electric heating. Grids are currently expanding across Europe to allow for additional loads from cooling, electric vehicle charging, heat pumps and the electrification industry. "But at this very point, if now very suddenly, all the Germans were saying, I'm going to buy a portable air conditioner plug in the evening, it might become tight," Voswinkel said.
The housing market will hamper economic growth in the second half of the year, according to Goldman Sachs. Residential investment should fall 8% in the back-half of the year compared with the same period a year ago, Jan Hatzius, Goldman's chief economist, told clients in a Sunday note. Declines in affordability and immigration are among the key causes of weakness in the housing market, he said. "Residential investment is likely to remain the largest drag on growth," Hatzius wrote. Hatzius said multifamily homebuilding is likely to continue to operate at depressed levels through December. At the same time, the number of new single family homes being started will contract, he said. The economist pointed to two key overhangs for the housing market. A slowdown in immigration is likely to limit household formation in the midst of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal border crossing following his return to the White House earlier this year. Hatzius also cited the rising popularity of mortgage buydowns, when homebuyers purchase "mortgage points" to lower their rates, as evidence of affordability issues. Moreover, any slowdown in the labor market will further hurt housing trends, according to Hatzius. Friday's nonfarm payroll report indicated such less hiring activity, with the July data coming in below expectations and May and June totals revised sharply lower than originally reported.
Avishek Das | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

India's IT sector is shedding jobs, and it's raising tough questions about what's driving the cuts. While slowing global demand is a key factor, analysts are also watching how artificial intelligence might be reshaping roles in an industry long seen as a pillar of the country's economic growth. The country's largest private sector employer, Tata Consultancy Services, which employs over half a million IT workers, announced last month that it would cut more than 12,000 jobs from mostly the middle and senior management levels, equating to 2% of its global workforce  in what will be its biggest layoff so far. The company's CEO and managing director K Krithivasan attributed the move to "limited deployment opportunities and skill-mismatch" rather than AI. But that did not quell growing unease within the country, as many viewed the layoffs as a sign of broader and disruptive changes underway in the IT sector, amplified by the growing influence of AI. TCS and its peers have long relied on India's vast pool of low-cost, skilled labor to produce software services, a model now coming under pressure as AI is set to automate repetitive tasks and as global clients demand higher levels of innovation. The IT sector has long been highly sought after among India's large pool of engineering graduates, meaning any slowdown will have ripple effects across the economy. India produces over 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, according to local media reports. The IT industry contributed roughly 7.5% to India's gross domestic product in fiscal year 2023, with over 5 million people directly employed in the sector.

AI adoption a 'major challenge'

"AI adoption is a major challenge for India. Entry level routine jobs are being displaced, and mid-level jobs are transforming," said Sonal Varma, chief economist of India and Asia ex-Japan at Nomura. "This creates the challenge for job creation for India, since the country needs to create about 8 [million] jobs annually," she added. Recent earnings also painted a sobering picture of the sector's performance, with IT majors such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro reporting muted year-on-year growth. Although that was largely attributed to uncertainty around U.S. tariffs, which weighed on American clients' budgeting confidence, the recent signs of slowdown in India's IT sector may be merely a "cyclical change," as services exports to the U.S. have eased, said Dhiraj Nim, economist and foreign exchange strategist at ANZ Research.

If the economy is unable to adapt, this could lead to job losses, lower services exports, moderate urban consumption. It could risk India getting stuck in the middle-income trap. Sonal Varma Chief economist of India and Asia ex-Japan at Nomura bank

AI, however, will be "a trend to reckon with in the years to come," Nim added. New Delhi has been striving to incentivize growth in labor-intensive manufacturing sectors such as electronics, textiles, footwear and toys as part of its supply chain relocation strategy. The layoffs also add to an already strained labor market as the country's unemployment rate continued to rise. India's urban unemployment rate rose to 7.1% in June from 6.9% in May and 6.5% in April. The youth unemployment rate in urban areas, among those aged 15 to 29 years, also spiked to nearly 19% from 17.9% in May, and 17.2% in April, according to the statistics ministry.

watch now

The labor market problem could persist for a few years, said Anubhuti Sahay, head of South Asia economic research at Standard Chartered, urging New Delhi to ramp up efforts in creating more salaried jobs. She pointed out that the bulk of job creation has so far come from self-employed sectors where wages tend to remain lower than in salaried ones.

Workforce upskilling

Economists have urged New Delhi to accelerate its efforts in upskilling its labor force and bridge the skill gap to lower the risk of job displacement. One in five young adults in India have participated in an AI-skilling program, according to a report supported by Google.org and Asian Development Bank. AI will replace some jobs but also transform the nature of existing jobs through "constant skilling," Nomura's Varma said. The government has rolled out an internship program aimed up skilling younger adults with actual working experience. Nim acknowledged that AI could be a threat to jobs, but suggested that whether it will lead to increasing job displacement will depend on skilling and labor movement up the skill chain. Notably, Infosys appears to be charting a different course from TCS. Its CEO Salil Parekh told CNBC-TV 18 last week that the company hired 17,000 people in the first quarter and plans to recruit 20,000 graduates this year, while highlighting AI, cloud and cost efficiency as key growth drivers. But that might not be indicative of the broader outlook for the sector: Industry body Nasscom last month said some "workforce rationalization" is expected in the near term, driven by rising client expectations around agility, innovation, and speed, with AI and automation becoming central to business operations, according to local media reports. "This shift is likely to reshape traditional service delivery frameworks and, in the near term, may lead to some workforce rationalization as traditional skillsets are re-evaluated," Nasscom said. New Delhi also must pivot to higher value-added services and innovation rather than focusing on low-end routine work, economists said. "If the economy is unable to adapt, this could lead to job losses, lower services exports, moderate urban consumption," said Varma, with ripple effects across real estate, retail and ancillary services. "It could risk India getting stuck in the middle-income trap," Varma added.
Noted Morgan Stanley auto research analyst Adam Jonas will be stepping into a new role at the firm.

Save for a brief stint as a researcher at a European competitor, Jonas has been with Morgan Stanley (and predecessor firm Dean Witter) since graduating from college, eventually working his way up to leading the bank's coverage of the automobile industry. With this latest move, Jonas will now focus on a wider artificial intelligence theme.

"After nearly 30 years covering autos, I am pursuing an exciting opportunity within Morgan Stanley's research department focusing on physical/embodied AI (AVs, eVTOLs, space, humanoid robots, etc) leveraging the ideas and relationships from my talented research colleagues across public and private companies," Jonas said, according to an internal staff memo obtained by CNBC.

Jonas gained notoriety across Wall Street for being a longtime Tesla bull. Early on, he laid out a broader vision for the electric vehicle company that encompassed autonomous robotaxis to justify Tesla's high valuation.

The internal move was first reported by Bloomberg News. Bloomberg added that analyst Andrew Percoco will take over Morgan Stanley's coverage of the North American auto industry in coming months.
Nvidia 's H20 chips are likely to return to China, but tech experts don't expect them to be met with the same fanfare in the market in light of new competition and regulatory scrutiny.

The Trump administration last month gave Nvidia assurances that it would be permitted to resume sales of its H20 chips to China, after their exports had been effectively banned in April. It also announced a new "fully compliant" made-for-China chip.

The move was seen as a huge win for the company, which had flagged billions in losses due to the policy. But while the H20s might be returning to the Chinese market that doesn't mean Nvidia will regain its former market share, analysts caution.

In a recent report, global equity research and brokerage firm Bernstein forecast that Nvidia's AI chip market share in China would drop to 54% in 2025, from 66% the year prior.

This drop is only partly owed to complications with resuming chip supply, as Chinese AI chipmakers have been seizing more of the booming domestic market.

"U.S. export controls have created a unique opportunity for domestic AI processor vendors, as they are not competing with the most advanced global alternatives," Bernstein's report said, noting growing prominence of Chinese players such as Huawei, Cambricon and Hygon. "The localization ratio of China's AI chip market will surge from 17% in 2023 to 55% by 2027."
Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Figma  The design company tumbled 22%, giving back a chunk of its initial public offering gains from last week. Figma began trading at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the stock more than tripling in value on its first day. On Friday, shares gained another 5%. Fortrea  The pharma company rallied more than 21% following a Baird upgrade to outperform. "This isn't about near-term numbers or Q2 or even 2025, this is about the long-term compounding opportunity. We anticipate being here for the long game," Baird said. Idexx Laboratories  The health-care diagnostics company reported second-quarter results that beat expectations, sending shares higher by 26%. Idexx earned $3.63 per share on revenue of $1.11 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet expected a profit of $3.30 per share on revenue of $1.07 billion. American Eagle Outfitters  Shares surged nearly 20% after President Donald Trump called the retailer's campaign with actress Sydney Sweeney the "'HOTTEST' ad out there." American Eagle has faced backlash over the campaign, with critics deeming it sexist and tone-deaf. TG Therapeutics  Shares dropped almost 15% after the biotech company reported second-quarter earnings that missed the mark. TG Therapeutics reported earnings of 17 cents per share, while analysts polled by FactSet expected a profit of 21 cents per share. Joby Aviation  The electric aircraft maker rallied 20% after announcing it will acquire Blade's passenger business for $125 million. "This is a strategically important acquisition that will support the successful launch of Joby's commercial operations in Dubai, our subsequent global rollout and our continued leadership in the sector, " said Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt in a statement. The deal is expected to close "in the coming weeks," the company said. Berkshire Hathaway  Class A shares of Warren Buffett's conglomerate dipped about 3% after Berkshire's operating profit fell 4% year over year to $11.16 billion in the second quarter, affected by a decline in insurance underwriting. Buffett's cash hoard of $344.1 billion remained near a record high. The conglomerate was a net seller of stocks for an 11th quarter in a row. Amphenol  The cable parts supplier rose 3% after agreeing to acquire CommScope's connectivity and cable solutions business for $10.5 billion in cash. The sale is expected to close within the first half of 2026. Shares of CommScope surged 75%. Loews  Shares added 2% after the insurance company reported second-quarter earnings of $1.87 per share, higher than its year-ago profit of $1.67 per share. The company's last-quarter revenue of $4.56 billion also marked a 7% rise from its year-ago sales of $4.27 billion. Energizer  The stock jumped 24% after the battery manufacturer reported a revenue beat for its third quarter and raised its full-year guidance. Energizer now anticipates adjusted earnings between $3.55 and $3.65 per share for the full year, up from its prior guidance of between $3.30 and $3.50 per share. That's above the consensus estimate of $3.37 per share, according to FactSet. Wayfair  The furniture retailer surged 11% after it blew past Wall Street expectations for the second quarter. Wayfair reported adjusted earnings of 87 cents per share on $3.27 billion in revenue, while analysts polled by FactSet anticipated 33 cents in earnings per share and $3.13 billion in revenue. Tyson Foods  The maker of Ball Park franks and Jimmy Dean sausage advanced 4% after fiscal third-quarter adjusted earnings of 91 cents per share topped the 80 cents per share estimated by analysts surveyed by FactSet. Revenue of $13.88 billion also came in above the expected $13.54 billion. On Semiconductor  The semiconductor maker dropped 11% after issuing lackluster third-quarter guidance of 54 cents to 64 cents per share, while analysts polled by FactSet anticipated 58 cents per share. The lower end of expected revenue of $1.465 billion to $1.565 billion fell short of the consensus estimate of $1.50 billion. On Semi met earnings expectations and topped revenue estimates in its second quarter. Bruker  The maker of scientific instruments for molecular research shed nearly 6% after lowering fiscal-year earnings and revenue guidance. Bruker expects earnings to reach $1.95 to $2.05 per share, down from a previous range of between $2.40 and $2.48 per share. Bruker also trimmed its revenue guidance to a range of $3.43 billion to $3.5 billion, down from the prior $3.48 billion to $3.55 billion. Spotify  Shares gained 6% after Spotify said it would raise the price for its premium individual subscription in several markets. Tesla  The electric vehicle stock added 1.7% after Tesla's board approved a compensation package for CEO Elon Musk consisting of 96 million shares of restricted stock valued at a total of about $29 billion.  CNBC's Lisa Han, Alex Harring and Yun Li contributed reporting.
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Berkshire Hathaway  Class B shares of Warren Buffett's conglomerate dipped nearly 1% in premarket after Berkshire's operating profit fell 4% year over year to $11.16 billion in the second quarter, affected by a decline in insurance underwriting. Buffett's cash hoard of $344.1 billion remained near a record high. The conglomerate was a net seller of stocks for the 11th quarter in a row. Amphenol  The cable parts supplier rose 2% after agreeing to acquire CommScope's connectivity and cable solutions business for $10.5 billion in cash. The sale is expected to close within the first half of 2026. Shares of CommScope surged 42%. Loews  Shares added 2% after the insurance company reported second-quarter earnings of $1.87 per share, higher than its year-ago profit of $1.67 per share. The company's last-quarter revenue of $4.56 billion also marked a 7% rise from its year-ago sales of $4.27 billion. Energizer  The stock jumped 9% after the battery manufacturer reported a revenue beat for its third quarter and raised its full-year guidance. Energizer now anticipates adjusted earnings between $3.55 to $3.65 per share for the full year, up from its prior guidance of $3.30 to $3.50 per share. That's above the consensus estimate of $3.37 per share, according to FactSet. Wayfair  The furniture retailer surged 9.5% after it blew past Wall Street expectations for the second quarter. Wayfair earned 87 cents per share, excluding items, on $3.27 billion in revenue, while analysts polled by FactSet anticipated 33 cents in earnings per share and $3.13 billion in revenue. Tyson Foods  The maker of Ball Park franks and Jimmy Dean sausage rallied 4% after fiscal third-quarter adjusted earnings of 91 cents per share topped the 80 cents estimated by analysts surveyed by FactSet. Revenue of $13.88 billion also came in above the expected $13.54 billion. On Semiconductor  The semiconductor maker dropped 7% after issuing lackluster third-quarter guidance of 54 cents to 64 cents per share, while analysts polled by FactSet anticipated 58 cents per share. The lower end of expected revenue of $1.465 billion to $1.565 billion fell short of the consensus estimate of $1.50 billion. On Semi met earnings expectations and topped revenue estimates in its second quarter. Bruker  The maker of scientific instruments for molecular research shed 4% after lowering fiscal-year earnings and revenue guidance. Bruker expects earnings to reach $1.95 to $2.05 per share, down from a previous $2.40 and $2.48 per share. Bruker's updated revenue guidance to a range of $3.43 billion to $3.5 billion, also below the prior $3.48 billion to $3.55 billion. Boeing  The maker of commercial jetliners slipped less than 1% after 3,200 machinists in the St. Louis area went on strike on Monday. The strike began after the workers, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, rejected Boeing's latest labor proposal. Spotify  Shares gained 4% after Spotify said it would raise the price for its premium individual subscription in several markets. Tesla  The electric vehicle stock added 2% after Tesla's board approved a compensation package for CEO Elon Musk consisting of 96 million shares of restricted stock valued at a total of about $29 billion.  CNBC's Michelle Fox, Alex Harring, Yun Li and Sarah Min contributed reporting.
Here are Monday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy The firm said it sees a robust "beat/raise" when Nvidia reports earnings in late August. "Solid capex trends with n-t China boost." Compass Point downgrades Coinbase to sell from neutral Compass said in its downgrade of the stock that it sees an "extended valuation into crypto sell-off." "We are downgrading COIN to Sell from Neutral and reducing our PT to $248 (-$82). While we remain constructive on the current crypto cycle, we expect a choppy 3Q alongside weak August/September seasonality and waning retail interest in crypto treasury stocks." Read more. UBS initiates Pony AI as buy UBS said the China robotaxi company is "best positioned." "We initiate coverage with a Buy rating and a PT of US$20, implying 53% upside potential." Bank of America reiterates DoorDash as buy The firm raised its price target on the stock to $285 per share from $245 ahead of earnings later this week. "We rate DoorDash Buy. DoorDash is the leading delivery app in terms of US bookings and US revenue and a market share gainer from 2018 to 2021." Evercore ISI reiterates Amazon as outperform Evercore ISI said it is bullish on Amazon's Alexa+. "We reiterate our Outperform on AMZN in the wake of our proprietary research into Alexa+, Amazon's AI Agent currently being rolled out to its Echo platform devices. We have tested Alexa+ on and off for two weeks now and have run our own proprietary survey of 1,350 current Smart Device owners." UBS reiterates Berkshire Hathaway as buy UBS raised its price target on the stock to $597 per share from $595 following Saturday's earnings. "We continue to believe BRK' s shares are an attractive in an uncertain macro environment with defensive businesses, a strong cash position and growth improving at GEICO." Bank of America reiterates Apple as buy Bank of America said it remains bullish on shares of Apple . "Our Buy rating on Apple is based on 1) expected strong iPhone upgrade cycle in F25, F26 driven by the need for latest hardware to enable Gen AI features, 2) higher growth in Services revenue, 3) higher margins from more internally developed silicon" Piper Sandler reiterates Tesla as outperform Piper Sandler said it is sticking with shares of Tesla. "On Friday, when a jury in Florida found Tesla partially liable for a 2019 crash, headlines began proliferating, referring to a 'stunning rebuke', a 'massive blow', and a $243M obligation. In our view, these headlines paint an unrealistically negative picture. In short, we don't think shareholders should be losing sleep over this." Oppenheimer upgrades MindMed to outperform from perform Oppenheimer said it sees a slew of positive catalysts ahead for the brain health biotech company. " MNMD's 2Q25 cash of ~$238M provides runway through key catalysts, and we forecast ~$2B potential revenues." JPMorgan upgrades Kimberly Clark to neutral from underweight JPMorgan upgraded Kimberly-Clark following earnings. "Upgrade to Neutral as Share Gains, Volume-Led Sales, and Cost Savings Offset Category Moderation." Morgan Stanley reinstates Chevron as overweight Morgan Stanley resumed coverage of the stock and says it has more room to run. "The recent closing of the HES deal removes a key overhang and strengthens CVX's business, enhancing growth and the portfolio duration. While the longer-term outlook is still less clear than peers, this is balanced by leading FCF rate of change into 2026." UBS initiates Kinross Gold as buy UBS said it is very bullish on the gold company. "We initiate on Kinross (KGC) with a Buy rating because we remain constructive on gold, forecasting prices to remain elevated at $3,500/oz in 2026." Baird upgrades Alamo Group to outperform from neutral Baird said in its upgrade of Alamo Group that the vegetation and industrial equipment company is well positioned. "Upgrading to Outperform: Vegetation Bottoming, Solid EPS Growth Potential." Morgan Stanley reiterates Disney as overweight Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the stock to $140 per share from $120. "If the macro backdrop remains healthy, we see Disney generating healthy double digit adj. EPS growth in the years ahead. Thanks to growth in its Experiences and Streaming businesses, it is poised to have rebuilt its pre-pandemic earnings base and hit new heights by FY27." Read more. Morgan Stanley reiterates Walmart as overweight Morgan Stanley said its checks show Walmart continues to build membership in Walmart+." "Membership growth has rebounded from a '23-'24 slump and shows continued progress in WMT's strategy to drive its eCommerce flywheel." TD Cowen upgrades Affiliated Managers to buy from hold The firm upgraded the capital markets company following earnings and sees a slew of positive catalysts. "Post 2Q (see 7/31), we upgrade AMG to Buy from Hold." Baird upgrades MasTec to outperform from neutral Baird said investors should buy the dip in the infrastructure construction company. "It's no secret we've been searching for opportunity in MTZ . True, 2Q25 earnings weren't "great" (relative to high expectations/stock outperformance), but we felt Friday's sell-off was overdone, further pressured by broader market weakness." UBS initiates WeRide as buy UBS said the robotaxi company has a first mover advantage. "WeRide has a first-mover advantage in expanding L4 [Level 4 autonomous technology] use cases overseas and has entered 10 countries, leveraging diversified use cases and a flexible operating strategy." William Blair upgrades Viasat outperform from market perform William Blair said in its upgrade of Viasat that there's a slew of positive catalysts ahead for the satellite company. "The Wheels Are in Motion With a Plethora of Positive Catalysts and High Leverage; Upgrading to Outperform."
Tesla 's board has awarded CEO Elon Musk an interim pay package of 96 million shares, according to a filing out Monday, which would be worth about $29 billion.

The company said in the filing that Musk's new package will include shares that vest in two years as long as he continues as CEO or in another key executive position. The award will be forfeited if the legal battle over Musk's 2018 compensation ends with him being able to exercise shares from that package, which was valued at $56 billion when it vested.

Tesla stock climbed more than 2% on Monday.

In January, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick upheld her ruling in Tornetta v. Musk, which found that Musk's 2018 CEO compensation plan was improperly granted to him. The court determined, among other things, that Tesla's board withheld key information from shareholders before asking them to approve the 2018 plan.

After the ruling, Musk began an anti-Delaware campaign and moved Tesla's site of incorporation to Texas. Tesla also appealed the Tornetta decision, and the case is now before the Delaware state Supreme Court.

Musk owns roughly 13% of Tesla's outstanding shares, and his level of control over the electric vehicle maker has been a regular topic online and with shareholders.
India is navigating a tricky balancing act after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a "penalty" over its continued imports of Russian oil  a trade that New Delhi appears reluctant to end anytime soon.

Despite Trump telling reporters Friday that he "heard" India would halt purchases, officials in New Delhi have remained noncommittal. Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the country decides its energy import sources "based on the price at which oil is available in the international market and depending on the global situation at that time."

"The Indians must be having some confusion" following Trump's threat  a reversal from the more tolerant approach taken under the Biden administration, Bob McNally, president of consulting firm Rapidan Energy Group, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia."

"Now we're flipping around and saying, 'What are you doing taking all this Russian oil?'" McNally said.

In March 2022  a month after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine  Daleep Singh, a former U.S. deputy national security adviser for international economics in the Biden administration, reportedly said that "friends don't set red lines" and "there is no prohibition at present on energy imports from Russia."

"What we would not like to see is a rapid acceleration of India's imports from Russia as it relates to energy or any other exports that are currently being prohibited by us or by other aspects of the international sanctions regime," Singh said.

On July 30, Trump announced that India would face a 25% tariff beginning Aug. 1, along with an unspecified "penalty" for buying Russian oil and military equipment.
Berkshire Hathaway 's second-quarter earnings report had a few surprising elements that caused shares to fall Monday, but few Wall Street analysts are abandoning Warren Buffett's conglomerate. Berkshire's operating profit from the company's wholly-owned businesses, including insurance and railroads, dipped 4% year-over-year, to $11.16 billion in the second quarter. The Omaha-based conglomerate again issued a stern warning of the effect of President Donald Trump's tariffs and the potential impact on its various businesses. Kraft Heinz write-down Most notably, Berkshire took a rare write-down of its underperforming Kraft Heinz stake. The conglomerate for the first time reduced the carrying value of its 27% position by $3.8 billion. The move came as reports emerged in trade journals and elsewhere that the Jello and Oscar Mayer hot dog maker has been eyeing a spinoff of its grocery business . Two Berkshire executives resigned as directors from Kraft Heinz's board in May. "On May 20, 2025, Kraft Heinz announced that it was evaluating potential strategic transactions to enhance shareholder value ... Given these factors, as well as prevailing economic and other uncertainties, we concluded that the unrealized loss, represented by the difference between the carrying value of our investment and its fair value, was other-than-temporary," Berkshire said in the earnings report released Saturday. Kraft Heinz has been a laggard for Berkshire. Since its peak of $62 in 2015, Kraft Heinz shares have been cut by more than half and currently trade near $27 apiece. "We would expect a modestly negative reaction to the Kraft Heinz charge," UBS's analyst Brian Meredith said in a research note. In 2019, Buffett told CNBC his conglomerate paid too much for Kraft, noting he might have misjudged certain aspects of the company. "I was wrong in a couple of ways about Kraft Heinz," Buffett tells CNBC. "We overpaid for Kraft." Buffett said he did not overpay for Heinz, however. In 2013, Buffett teamed up with Brazilian private equity company 3G Capital to acquire Heinz. The billionaire later worked with 3G to help finance Heinz's $49 billion merger with Kraft Foods Group in 2015. No buybacks Berkshire is still not buying back its own stock, and the conglomerate didn't repurchase any stock in the first half of 2025, through July 21. Many had speculated that Berkshire might have started repurchasing shares amid a sizable correction in the stock. Berkshire shares have fallen about 15% from their all-time high in early May, right before the 94-year-old Buffett announced that Greg Abel is taking over as CEO at the end of 2025. BRK.A YTD mountain Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares year to date "While we believe Mr. Abel will build credibility with investors over time, we think near-term catalysts for BRK are increased investment activity, a potential large acquisition and share repurchases," Kyle Sanders, analyst at Edward Jones, said in a note. "None of those happened this quarter, which we view as somewhat disappointing." Buffett's cash hoard of $344.1 billion remained near a record high. Berkshire was a net seller of stocks for the 11th quarter in a row, dumping $4.5 billion in equities in the first six months of 2025. Strong Geico and BNSF results While operating earnings dipped from last year's level, analysts cheered better-than-expected results at BNSF, the former Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, and continued strong results at auto insurer Geico. Pre-tax underwriting earnings at Geico rose slightly, to $1.8 billion, in the second quarter, while BNSF's operating earnings jumped nearly 20% to $1.5 billion. "Geico continues to grow and remains very profitable," Meredith at UBS said. "BNSF beat our expectations on better-than-expected operating margins at 35.2% (vs. UBSe at 33.0%) with lower fuel costs. The unit volume was also above our expectations." Keefe Bruyette & Woods analyst Meyer Shields hiked his 12-month price target on Berkshire to $740,000 from $735,000, representing 7% upside where the stock was trading early Monday, at about $692,000. Berkshire's current valuation "fully reflects its earnings prospects and balance sheet strength amidst ongoing macro uncertainty and the emerging management succession risk (which will probably impact investors' view of Berkshire more than it will actual operations) in Mr. Buffett's recently announced retirement plans," Shields said.
Artisan Partners' Bryan Krug looks for opportunities where others see none. As a portfolio manager on Artisan's credit team, Krug aims to have a concentrated portfolio that invests selectively across the risk spectrum. That includes assets that may have sound businesses but are unpopular for some reason. "We buy sickly, out-of-favor businesses when they're good businesses. They are just out of favor because of circumstances," Krug said in an interview with CNBC. For instance, when the cruise ship companies were hit during the Covid pandemic, he and his team stepped in and provided financing. The strategy has earned Krug kudos from Morningstar, which recently gave him an investing excellence award for 2025 as outstanding fixed income portfolio manager . The financial services firm said Krug "honed an aggressive but effective style for high-yield bond investing" at his previous firm, Waddell & Reed, and has continued that success at Artisan Partners. "He's surrounded himself with a talented team, and together they've tactfully selected corporate bonds and bank loans to build a concentrated, potent portfolio," Morningstar wrote. "Splicing together his record over his Waddell & Reed and Artisan tenures, Krug stands out as a top high-yield bond investor." The team, based in Denver and one of 11 autonomous investment groups, includes a chief operating officer, senior analysts, fixed income traders and a data scientist. They use both quantitative methods and qualitative techniques to generate ideas. They'll screen for yield, performance and relative value to narrow down the investment universe and then identify sector and company dislocations. The funds Krug manages include the Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX), rated five stars by Morningstar. The fund, which is closed to most new investors, had a 30-day SEC yield of 6.73% , as of June 30, and a 0.94% expense ratio. The majority of holdings are corporate bonds, with some 44% in B-rated assets, 26.5% in BB-rated and 20.3% in CCC and below. Creating opportunity Krug said he doesn't necessarily consider his investment style "aggressive" and believes his concentrated portfolio is really about having the team's best ideas drive results  rather than being a diverse offering. It includes both high-yield bonds and loans. Plus, higher-grade bonds are more efficiently priced than lower-grade assets, he said. "When you think about some of the lower grades, you have a lot more inefficiency because some investors will say, 'Well, I don't want to invest in that because it's risky,'" he said. "So that creates opportunity on a very selective basis." ARTFX YTD mountain Artisan High Income Fund in 2025. Bottom-up research also helps Krug and his team identify specific assets that make sense. In addition, the team gives the investments time to work through any issues. When the cruise lines needed financing in 2020, the timing was horrible because the operators had shut down in the midst of the pandemic, he said. "We went very big into [the] space and provided capital to companies to basically have liquidity, to give themselves time to work through the virus," Krug said. "We bought when they [were] distressed, and now they're on a path to investment grade." The 48-year old said his 25 years in the business have helped shape his strategy. A native of Milwaukee, he attended Miami University in Ohio and graduated in 1999 with a degree in finance. He then wound up at Pacholder Associates, later acquired by JPMorgan, as an analyst for a distressed portfolio. That allowed him to understand business models and study how things go wrong, he said. "The number one thing that I would think I learned is just avoiding mistakes and then selectively finding opportunities in deploying capital when other people panic," he said. Finding opportunities now These days, Krug sees opportunities in several areas of the fixed-income market. One is insurance brokerages, where the firm has had significant exposure over time, he said. "Insurance brokerage has great credit characteristics [and] predictable revenue streams," he said. "You've got high margins, and that supports strong valuation from an equity basis." Artisan High Income Fund's top holding is insurance broker Ardonagh Group, at 4.5% of assets as of June 30. Cruise lines continue to provide incremental value, although the absolute returns won't be what they were in the past, Krug said. "Companies are going to get upgraded," he said. "As you get the upgrade to investment grade, you have a new buyer base that comes in and that new buyer base will basically pay much tighter spreads than what a high yield investor would." Carnival and NCL, or Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings , are both top holdings in ARTFX. Lastly, there are some inefficiencies in the loan market, Krug said. "As the broadly syndicated loan market has increased, it has taken more credit risk than has [been present] in the past," he said. "If a company has a misstep and they get downgraded, it really creates an opportunity, or even the threat of a downgrade creates an opportunity," he said. Meanwhile, any potential economic downturn or recession doesn't scare Krug. In fact, it creates a great buying opportunity, he said. "We, as high-yield investors, are perennially glass-half-empty investors," he said. "We always think about what can go wrong." "If dislocation occurs, that provides us more opportunity to create alpha," Krug added. "You have a little bit of a panic, and through our individual security selection we've been able to take advantage of the panic."
It has been over a year since the Centre lifted the onion export ban imposed in December 2023. But exporters said the damage has been long-lasting, and the lifting of the ban has not brought the situation back to normal.The trouble began in August 2023, when the government imposed a 40% export duty on onions to curb rising domestic prices. In December 2023, it went a step further and imposed a complete export ban. Though the ban was lifted in May 2024, just days before the Lok Sabha elections in Nashik  India's largest onion producing belt - it came with conditions. The government had put a 40% export duty and a Minimum Export Price (MEP) of $550 per metric ton.Traders and exporters said these measures made Indian onions uncompetitive globally. As a result, Indian exporters lost international clients on a massive scale. Countries like China and Pakistan quickly stepped in to fill the gap, capturing a significant chunk of India's traditional markets.Now, the situation has deteriorated further. Vikas Singh, Vice President of the Horticulture Produce Exporters Association, told CNBC-TV18, "Usually, we start receiving orders from Bangladesh by the first or second week of June. This year, it hasn't happened. It's August now, and there's still no demand. Our clients in Bangladesh say their import permit requests are pending with the government. We have learnt that Bangladesh has surplus domestic production this season. Sri Lanka has ramped up local output too, so we are losing business there as well."He added that China and Pakistan have taken full advantage of the situation. "China, thanks to its superior infrastructure, can store onions longer and can control the timing and amount of its export. This gives China an upper hand over us. Pakistan, on the other hand, enjoys government subsidies that allow it to undercut our prices."In light of these challenges, Indian onion exporters have sought government support. Vikas Singh, Vice President, Horticulture Produce Exporters Association, told CNBC-TV18 that, "Our RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products) rate is currently 1.9%. We are asking the government to increase it to at least 5% for a few months. At least until demand from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka picks up again. We are in talks with concerned ministers and bureaucrats. Without government help, the situation will only worsen."Farmers, too, were feeling the heat. Bharat Digole, President of the Maharashtra Onion Producers Association, told CNBC-TV18, "A surplus crop and limited buying from exporters has led to a flood of onions in the market, causing prices to crash. At markets like Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon, prices are down to Rs 8-10/kg. We have written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to step in so farmers do not have to sell their produce at a loss."
China has launched a major crackdown on counterfeiting of Labubu dolls to curb sale of fake dolls after it got viral. To protect homegrown intellectual property, authorities are trying to safeguard the growing influence of its cultural exports. Labubu, a character designed by Kasing Lung and sold by toy giant Pop Mart, has become a breakout star in the designer toy market, prompting a flood of fake dolls known as Lafufus across online platforms and physical markets.According to the Washington Post, Chinese customs authorities have seized nearly 49,000 fake Labubu-related products in late June and early July, including blind-box toys, plush dolls, accessories, and stationery. One notable bust occurred at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, where plastic bags filled with Lafufu dolls were discovered. Separately, Shanghai police arrested eight individuals, including a ringleader, and seized over 5,000 counterfeit toys with an estimated market value worth $1.67 million.The enforcement drive comes amid Pop Marts push to expand Labubus brand globally. The collectible doll line alone generated $418 million in revenue in the past year. In response to the counterfeiting surge, the company has filed for the Lafufu trademark and introduced anti-piracy packaging.Officials also issued visual guides to help consumers identify authentic toys, pointing out, for instance, that genuine Labubu figures have nine teeth, while fake ones often dont.The Chinese governments aggressive response signals a growing commitment to protecting domestic brands, especially those seen as part of its cultural soft power strategy.Also read | Lust for Lububu: Why is the kidult trend so catching With counterfeit operations eroding consumer trust and undermining brand equity, authorities are treating the Labubu case as a test for how effectively China can regulate its creative economy while asserting itself on the global stage.
Abdur Rahman Tarif was talking to his sister Meherunnesa over the phone when the voice on the other end of the call suddenly fell silent.In that moment, Tarif knew something bad had happened. He rushed home, dodging the exchange of fire between security forces and protesters on the streets of Dhaka. When he finally arrived, he discovered his parents tending to his bleeding sister. A stray bullet had hit Meherunnesas chest while she was standing beside the window of her room, Tarif said. She was taken to a hospital where doctors declared her dead.Meherunnesa, 23, was killed on Aug 5 last year, the same day Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country in a massive student-led uprising, which ended her 15-year rule. For much of Bangladesh, Hasinas ouster was a moment of joy. Three days later, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over the country as head of an interim government, promising to restore order and hold a new election after necessary reforms.A year on, Bangladesh is still reeling from that violence, and Hasina now faces trial for crimes against humanity, in absentia as she is in exile in India. But despite the bloodshed and lives lost, many say the prospect for a better Bangladesh with a liberal democracy, political tolerance and religious and communal harmony has remained a challenge.The hope of the thousands who braved lethal violence a year ago when they opposed Sheikh Hasinas abusive rule to build a rights-respecting democracy remains unfulfilled, said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, a New York-based human rights group.Bangladeshs anti-government movement exacted a heavy price. Hundreds of people, mostly students, were killed in violent protests. Angry demonstrators torched police stations and government buildings. Political opponents often clashed with each other, sometimes leading to gruesome killings.Like many Bangladeshis, Tarif and his sister took part in the uprising, hoping for a broader political change, particularly after when one of their cousins was shot and killed by security forces. "We could not stay home and wanted Sheikh Hasina to go, 20-year-old Tarif said. Ultimately we wanted a country without any discrimination and injustice. Today, his hopes lie shattered. We wanted a change, but I am frustrated now, he said.After taking the reins, the Yunus-led administration formed 11 reform commissions, including a national consensus commission that is working with major political parties for future governments and the electoral process. Bickering political parties have failed to reach a consensus on a timetable and process for elections. Mob violence, political attacks on rival parties and groups, and hostility to womens rights and vulnerable minority groups by religious hardliners have all surged.Some of the fear and repression that marked Hasinas rule, and abuses such as widespread enforced disappearances, appear to have ended, rights groups say. However, they accuse the new government of using arbitrary detention to target perceived political opponents, especially Hasinas supporters, many of whom have been forced to go into hiding. Hasinas Awami League party, which remains banned, says more than two dozen of its supporters have died in custody over the last one year.Human Rights Watch in a statement on July 30 said the interim government is falling short in implementing its challenging human rights agenda. It said violations against ethnic and other minority groups in some parts of Bangladesh have continued. The interim government appears stuck, juggling an unreformed security sector, sometimes violent religious hardliners, and political groups that seem more focused on extracting vengeance on Hasinas supporters than protecting Bangladeshis rights, said Ganguly. Yunus office routinely rejects these allegations.Bangladesh also faces political uncertainty over a return to democratically held elections. Yunus has been at loggerheads with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, now the main contender for power. The party headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has demanded elections either in December or February next year. Yunus has said they could be held in April.The interim government has also cleared the way for the Islamists, who were under severe pressure during Hasinas regime, to rise, while the student leaders who spearheaded the uprising have formed a new political party. The students party demands that the constitution be rewritten, if needed entirely, and says it wont allow the election without major reforms.Meanwhile, many hardline Islamists have either fled prison or have been released, and the Jamaat-e-Islami, the countrys largest Islamist party, which has a controversial past, is now aspiring to a role in government. It often bitterly criticizes the BNP, equating it with Hasinas Awami League, and recently held a massive rally in Dhaka as a show of power. Critics fear that greater influence of the Islamist forces could fragment Bangladeshs political landscape further.Any rise of Islamists demonstrates a future Bangladesh where radicalisation could get a shape where so-called disciplined Islamist forces could work as a catalyst against liberal and moderate forces, political analyst Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said.Worries also remain over whether the government is ultimately capable of enacting reforms. Peoples expectation was (that) Yunus government will be focused and solely geared towards reforming the electoral process. But now its a missed opportunity for them, Kalimullah said.For some, not much has changed in the last year.Meherunnesas father, Mosharraf Hossain, said the uprising was not for a mere change in government, but symbolised deeper frustrations. We want a new Bangladesh  Its been 54 years since independence, yet freedom was not achieved, he said.Tarif echoed his fathers remarks, adding that he was not happy with the current state of the country. I want to see the new Bangladesh as a place where I feel secure, where the law enforcement agencies will perform their duties properly, and no government will resort to enforced disappearances or killings like before. I want to have the right to speak freely, he said.
Approximately 3,200 Boeing workers in St. Louis, St. Charles, Missouri, and Mascoutah, Illinois, launched a strike at midnight on Monday, Central Daylight Time, after rejecting a revised four-year labour contract from Boeing.Represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the workers, who build fighter jets and defence systems, voted down the proposal, which followed their rejection of an earlier offer last week that included a 20% wage increase over four years.The union emphasised the workers' frustration, stating on X, "3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough."Sam Cicinelli, Midwest territory general vice president for IAM, highlighted that these workers, critical to national security, deserve a contract that reflects their expertise and ensures family security.Despite union leaders initially endorsing the earlier proposal as a "landmark agreement" with enhanced medical, pension, and overtime benefits, members found it insufficient.The latest rejected offer, which Boeing claimed provided a 40% average wage increase and addressed key concerns like alternative work schedules, failed to satisfy workers after a weeklong cooling-off period.Boeings Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager for Air Dominance, expressed disappointment but confirmed the companys contingency plan to maintain operations with non-striking staff.The strike comes amid Boeings ongoing challenges, including fallout from two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people, and a recent Air India-operated Dreamliner crash in June that claimed at least 260 lives.Despite Boeing reporting improved second-quarter revenue and reduced losses ($611 million compared to $1.44 billion the previous year), the unresolved labour dispute underscores tensions over fair compensation and working conditions for these skilled workers.(With input from agencies)
Stealth submarines fitted with space-shooting lasers, supply-chain sabotage and custom-built attack satellites armed with ion thrusters. Those are just some of the strategies Chinese scientists have been developing to counter what Beijing sees as a potent threat: Elon Musk s armada of Starlink communications satellites.

Chinese government and military scientists, concerned about Starlinks potential use by adversaries in a military confrontation and for spying, have published dozens of papers in public journals that explore ways to hunt and destroy Musks satellites, an Associated Press review found.

Chinese researchers believe that Starlink  a vast constellation of low-orbit satellites that deliver cheap, fast and ubiquitous connectivity even in remote areas  poses a high risk to the Chinese government and its strategic interests. That fear has mostly been driven by the companys close ties to the US intelligence and defense establishment, as well as its growing global footprint.

Also Read: China pushes back at US demands to stop buying Russian and Iranian oil

As the United States integrates Starlink technology into military space assets to gain a strategic advantage over its adversaries, other countries increasingly perceive Starlink as a security threat in nuclear, space, and cyber domains, wrote professors from Chinas National University of Defense Technology in a 2023 paper.

Chinese researchers are not the only ones concerned about Starlink, which has a stranglehold on certain space-based communications. Some traditional US allies are also questioning the wisdom of handing over core communications infrastructure  and a potential trove of data  to a company run by an unpredictable foreign businessman whose allegiances are not always clear.

Apprehensions deepened after Russias 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine made clear the battlefield advantages Starlink satellites could convey and have been exacerbated by Musks proliferating political interests.

Musk pumped tens of millions of dollars into President Donald Trumps reelection effort and emerged, temporarily, as a key adviser and government official. As Musk toys with the idea of starting his own political party, he has also taken an increasing interest in European politics, using his influence to promote an array of hard-right and insurgent figures often at odds with establishment politicians.

Musk left the Trump administration in May and within days his relationship with Trump publicly imploded in a feud on social media. SpaceX, the rocket launch and space-based communications company that Musk founded and that operates Starlink, remains inextricably linked with core US government functions. It has won billions in contracts to provide launch services for NASA missions and military satellites, recuperate astronauts stranded at the International Space Station and build a network of spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Starlink's space dominance has sparked a global scramble to come up with viable alternatives. But its crushing first-mover advantage has given SpaceX near monopoly power, further complicating the currents of business, politics and national security that converge on Musk and his companies.

Starlink dominates space

Since its first launches in 2019, Starlink has come to account for about two-thirds of all active satellites, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who writes a newsletter tracking satellite launches. SpaceX operates more than 8,000 active satellites and eventually aims to deploy tens of thousands more.

Beijings tendency to view Starlink as tool of US military power has sharpened its efforts to develop countermeasures  which, if deployed, could increase the risk of collateral damage to other customers as SpaceX expands its global footprint. The same satellites that pass over China also potentially serve Europe, Ukraine, the United States and other geographies as they continue their path around the earth.

Also Read: Ukrainian drone attack sparks fire at railway station in Volgograd region, Russia says

Starlink says it operates in more than 140 countries, and recently made inroads in Vietnam, Niger, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Pakistan. In June, Starlink also obtained a license to operate in India, overcoming national security concerns and powerful domestic telecom interests to crack open a tech-savvy market of nearly 1.5 billion people.

On the companys own map of coverage, it has very few dead zones beyond those in North Korea, Iran and China.

No other country or company is close to catching up with Starlink. Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has taken aim at rival Musk with Project Kuiper, which launched its first batch of internet satellites into orbit in April. So far Amazon has just 78 satellites in orbit, with 3,232 planned, according to McDowell, and London-based Eutelstat OneWeb has around 650 satellites in orbit, a fraction of the fleet it had initially planned.

The European Union is spending billions to develop its own satellite array  called the IRIS2 initiative  but remains woefully behind. EU officials have had to lobby their own member states not to sign contracts with Starlink while it gets up and running.

We are allies with the United States of America, but we need to have our strategic autonomy, said Christophe Grudler, a French member of the European Parliament who led legislative work on IRIS2. The risk is not having our destiny in our own hands.

China has been public about its ambition to build its own version of Starlink to meet both domestic national security needs and compete with Starlink in foreign markets. In 2021, Beijing established the state-owned China SatNet company and tasked it with launching a megaconstellation with military capabilities, known as Guowang. In December, the company launched its first operational satellites, and now has 60 of a planned 13,000 in orbit, according to McDowell.

Qianfan, a company backed by the Shanghai government, has launched 90 satellites out of some 15,000 planned. The Brazilian government in November announced a deal with Qianfan, after Musk had a scorching public fight with a Brazilian judge investigating X, who also froze Space Xs bank accounts in the country. Qianfan is also targeting customers in Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan and Uzbekistan and has ambitions to expand across the African continent, according to a slide presented at a space industry conference last year and published by the China Space Monitor.

Russias invasion of Ukraine supercharges concerns

Concerns about Starlinks supremacy were supercharged by Russias 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war was a turning point in strategic thinking about Starlink and similar systems. Ukraine used the Starlink network to facilitate battlefield communications and power fighter and reconnaissance drones, providing a decisive ground-game advantage. At the same time, access to the satellites was initially controlled by a single man, Musk, who can  and did  interrupt critical services, refusing, for example, to extend coverage to support a Ukrainian counterattack in Russia-occupied Crimea.

US-led sanctions against Moscow after the full-scale invasion also curtailed the availability of Western technology in Russia, underscoring the geopolitical risks inherent in relying on foreign actors for access to critical infrastructure.

Ukraine was a warning shot for the rest of us, said Nitin Pai, co-founder and director of the Takshashila Institution, a public policy research center based in Bangalore, India. For the last 20 years, we were quite aware of the fact that giving important government contracts to Chinese companies is risky because Chinese companies operate as appendages of the Chinese Communist Party. Therefore, its a risk because the Chinese Communist Party can use technology as a lever against you. Now its no different with the Americans.

Nearly all of the 64 papers about Starlink reviewed by AP in Chinese journals were published after the conflict started.

Assessing Starlinks capabilities and vulnerabilities

Starlinks omnipresence and potential military applications have unnerved Beijing and spurred the nations scientists to action. In paper after paper, researchers painstakingly assessed the capabilities and vulnerabilities of a network that they clearly perceive as menacing and strove to understand what China might learn  and emulate  from Musks company as Beijing works to develop a similar satellite system.

Though Starlink does not operate in China, Musks satellites nonetheless can sweep over Chinese territory. Researchers from Chinas National Defense University in 2023 simulated Starlinks coverage of key geographies, including Beijing, Taiwan, and the polar regions, and determined that Starlink can achieve round-the-clock coverage of Beijing.

The Starlink constellation coverage capacity of all regions in the world is improving steadily and in high speed, they concluded.

In another paper  this one published by the government-backed China Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team  researchers mapped out vulnerabilities in Starlinks supply chain. The company has more than 140 first-tier suppliers and a large number of second-tier and third-tier suppliers downstream, they wrote in a 2023 paper. The supervision for cybersecurity is limited.

Engineers from the Peoples Liberation Army, in another 2023 paper, suggested creating a fleet of satellites to tail Starlink satellites, collecting signals and potentially using corrosive materials to damage their batteries or ion thrusters to interfere with their solar panels.

Other Chinese academics have encouraged Beijing to use global regulations and diplomacy to contain Musk, even as the nations engineers have continued to elaborate active countermeasures: Deploy small optical telescopes already in commercial production to monitor Starlink arrays. Concoct deep fakes to create fictitious targets. Shoot powerful lasers to burn Musks equipment.

Some US analysts say Beijings fears may be overblown, but such assessments appear to have done little to cool domestic debate. One Chinese paper was titled, simply: Watch out for that Starlink.
US President Donald Trump yet again took credit for stopping conflicts around the world, including the recent one between India and Pakistan.Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after a long night of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim on several occasions.Trump's latest claim comes days after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for ending several conflicts around the world, including the one between India and Pakistan.On August 3, in a post on Truth Social, Trump slammed radio host and author Charlamagne Tha God, and said he (God) knows nothing about him or what he has done, like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight. He didnt know that, or India and Pakistan or, wiping out Irans nuclear capabilities, or closing the horrendous open Border, or creating the greatest economy, Trump said.Just a day earlier, Trump said in an interview on Newsmax that he has settled a lot of wars.You take a look at what's happened just over the last little while. We've settled a lot of, a lot of very beautiful wars have been settled One of the wars India, Pakistan, nuclear, Trump said, adding that he settled the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia as well as Congo and Rwanda.I settled that up. And I settled it up with trade. I settled a lot of them with trade. I said listen, you guys are going to fight. You can fight all you want. I mean, just fight your hearts out. But we're not doing a trade deal.All of a sudden, they end up not doing a war. I settled a lot of wars. I think I settled averaging about a war a month. But, you know, we're saving millions of lives, he said.Trump on Wednesday announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment.The tariff for Pakistan was 19%, lower than the 29% announced by Trump in April. In fact, Trump on July 30 also announced sealing a trade deal with Pakistan and said Washington will work with Islamabad to develop what he described as the South Asian nation's "massive oil reserves".At a White House press briefing on July 31, Leavitt said Trump has now ended conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo and Egypt and Ethiopia. She said the president has brokered, on average, about one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his six months in office. It's well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, she said.Since May 10, Trump has repeated his claim nearly 30 times that he helped settle the tensions between India and Pakistan and that he told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours that America will do a lot of trade with them if they stopped the conflict.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament this week that no leader of any country asked India to stop Operation Sindoor launched by India in retaliation after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday categorically said there was no third-party intervention in bringing about a ceasefire with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, asserting that the halting of the military action was also not linked to trade as claimed by Trump.Intervening in the special discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar said Prime Minister Modi and Trump did not have any phone calls between April 22, when the Pahalgam terror attack took place, and June 16.
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Lucky may not be in the show, but his voice is

Most animated sitcoms cant claim to have had legit rock legends on the payroll. Its not like Patti Smith ever worked on Bobs Burgers, and as far as we know, Bob Dylan didnt voice any of the Jetsons.

But, oddly enough, the great Tom Petty became a key fixture of King of the Hill in its later seasons. And although Petty died in 2017, the recently-released Hulu reboot still found a way to honor the Heartbreakers frontman.

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Petty, of course, voiced Lucky Kleinschmidt, who was first introduced back in Season Eights The Redneck on Rainey Street." While he wasnt a huge part of that episode, Petty did get to deliver a lengthy monologue explaining that his nickname stems from a legal settlement he received from Costco after slipping on a puddle of piss in their restroom, which led to a back injury.

The following season, he began dating Luanne, and eventually the two got married in a ceremony held in the Hills backyard. Somehow they even got Chuck Mangione to play a version of Mendelssohns Wedding March, which slowly morphs into Feels So Good.

How did a three-time Grammy-winning ex-Traveling Wilbury end up on a Fox cartoon?

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In 2009, King of the Hill creator Mike Judge explained how it all came together. Apparently, while writing The Redneck on Rainey Street, then-showrunner John Altschuler described Luckys appearance as Tom Petty without the success.

And we thought, what if we tried to get Tom Petty? Judge told The Chicago Tribune. And he said, Yeah, Ill do it. And he was great, just killed at the table read. Then he said, Any time you want me to do it, Ill do it. Turns out he really meant it.

During the King of the Hill panel at the ATX TV Festival this past May, showrunner Saladin K. Patterson confirmed that the show wouldnt recast Lucky and Luanne (Brittany Murphy famously passed away in 2009, mere months after the shows series finale aired). But Patterson claimed that the new season had found opportunities to reference them.

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Seemingly, one of those opportunities was in Episode Two, The Beer Story. A montage showing Hank and Bobby working tirelessly to perfect their competing home brews is all set to Pettys song Runnin Down a Dream, from the 1989 album Full Moon Fever.

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The track works perfectly for the scene, both lyrically and tonally, so its deeper meaning could easily go unnoticed. But given Pettys connection to the series, clearly this was intended as a loving shout-out.

I guess it was either this or having another character severely hurt their spine after slipping in some urine.
The limitless cruelty of Hamas is starkly visible in every jutting bone of Evyatar David, the restaurant worker held hostage by Palestinian terrorists since he was seized at gunpoint at a music festival in the October 7 atrocities.

In sickening video footage released by Hamas, David was shown close to death from starvation and torture, apparently being forced to dig his own grave.

However appalled we are at the images  also controlled and released by Hamas  of starving Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip, it ought to be unthinkable that a British government rewards a terrorist organisation for the brutal mistreatment and exploitation of innocent hostages.

Yet that is what Sir Keir Starmer has done, by offering to recognise a Palestinian state next month if an immediate ceasefire is not agreed  by Israel alone.

In doing so, he has incentivised Hamas to inflict agonies on the hostages, while allowing its own civilian population to starve.

And he has placed himself in a seemingly impossible political situation. Both courses of action  either following through on his threat, or performing another U-turn  are likely to destroy his premiership.

Make no mistake, it is Hamas only that benefits from the hideous photographs of starvation in Gaza  the scale of which, it is important to note, remains unverified by international reporters who are not allowed into the territory.

Hamas is one of the main reasons the flow of aid and distribution of food in Gaza has broken down.

Israeli hostage Evyatar David in video footage showing his condition in Hamas captivity

Keir Starmer at a meeting at No 10 where he says the UK will formally recognize a Palestinian state by September if Israel does not stop its war

Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas politician, speaks during a news conference

The United Nations has been so infiltrated and compromised by Palestinian extremists that their aid workers refuse to co-operate with the Israeli army.

The result is an impasse that leaves children dying from hunger while food rots at the Gaza border and while the terrorist leaders gloat that theyre winning the propaganda war.

Proof of this came in the footage of Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas politician, crowing to Arab news station Al Jazeera about support from Britain, France and Canada.

With his jacket open over a well-fed stomach, Hamad sneered: The initiative by several countries to recognise a Palestinian state is one of the fruits of October 7.

What an appalling indictment of British foreign policy: a terrorist militia, proscribed under our own laws, boasting of the successes brought about by their slaughter in cold blood of unarmed civilians, many of them women and even children.

How is it possible for our Prime Minister to be so naive and badly advised? What did he imagine would be the result of his statement last week? He has rewarded Hamas for everything they have done, and promised a bigger reward if they keep doing it.

His obscenely stupid decision is, of course, the result of panic in the Labour ranks.

His MPs, including many in his Cabinet, are desperate to fend off the threat to their seats that comes from pro-Palestine Muslim voters in their own constituencies, as well as from the creation of a new, ultra-Left party by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana.

Restaurant worker Mr David in a tunnel in Gaza. It appears he was made to dig his own grave

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has a majority of just 528, in an area where a third of the population are Muslim. The Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, represents a seat with a 53 per cent Muslim population, and a majority of 3,421. Even a small number among them would tip the balance.

In A craven attempt to placate anti-Israeli voters who could wipe out his government at the next General Election, Starmer has sacrificed British strategic interests as well as our moral standing. Our main ally, the US, is disgusted with us, and rightly so. He has removed all pretence that Britain can play a future role in the Middle East as any kind of honest broker.

This is a foreign policy designed for Bradford and Birmingham, not the international stage. And it wont work because only a fool would believe that extremists will do anything other than pocket this appeasement before demanding more.

To press ahead now with recognising a Palestinian state will do the UK irreparable harm. But to back out will be deeply unpopular with his backbenchers and with his Cabinet. If this proves Keir Starmers downfall, it will be entirely self-inflicted
Why are Sir Keir Starmer and Labour unable to reduce the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats?

Last week, as Vice-President J.D. Vance accused Europe of engaging in civilisational suicide, our Government established a bleak record. More than 25,000 migrants have come across the Channel so far this year, a 50 per cent increase on 2024. It seems certain that 2025 will be the worst year ever.

Starmer vowed to stop the boats, though of course has been completely ineffectual. The Government has introduced a multitude of measures, all to no effect. In July last year, a few weeks after the election, the PM promised in a newspaper article that he would smash the vile criminal gangs organising the small boats.

With breathtaking arrogance he wrote: As leader of the Crown Prosecution Service I worked on operations that took down terrorist networks across Europe. I will never accept the same approach cannot be applied to the people smugglers. He used similar language many times.

A year has passed, and the same approach manifestly hasnt worked. There are daily protests outside hotels housing migrants (average nightly bill 119, admittedly down from 162 in March 2023) which could spiral into something nasty.

Following last months disturbances near a hotel in Epping housing migrants, anti-racism activists clashed with police and anti-migrant protesters on Saturday in Islington, north London, outside a hotel where asylum seekers are being accommodated.

Over the weekend, anti-immigrant protests also took place outside a hotel in Newcastle. The group was met by demonstrators carrying placards proclaiming refugees welcome. Some of them reportedly waved Palestinian flags.

None of us can know whether these so far relatively isolated protests will become more widespread, as happened last August in the wake of the Southport attack. But the mood of the country does seem febrile.

All this illuminates the enormity of Starmers failure over the small boats. So I repeat my question. Why, despite his undertaking to smash the gangs and his evident realisation that unless he fulfils his promise he and Labour are political toast, have things only got worse?

The Government should be turning its attention to the people who enable the Channel crossings and make the whole thing possible, writes Stephen Glover

Its simple. Sir Keir has been chasing the wrong people.

Yes, the leaders of the gangs are ruthless, mercenary, heartless criminals who dont give a fig for the lives of the migrants whom they load into often defective boats. At least 18 people have died so far this year.

But smashing the gangs is an operational impossibility. Arrest one leader and another will emerge. The trade is so lucrative. All the new intelligence of which Starmer boasts plus the extra boats and the enhanced powers of Border Security Command are likely to be of marginal benefit.

The Governments latest feeble policy is to outlaw social media adverts promoting journeys on small boats. Perpetrators  if caught  could be sentenced for up to five years in prison and receive a hefty fine. How gang leaders must be quaking.

Instead of trying and failing to smash the gangs, the Government should be turning its attention to the people who enable the Channel crossings and make the whole thing possible. I mean the migrants themselves.

In Labours misguided conception, the gang leaders are vile but the migrants are innocent victims. The first proposition is true, the second is false. Those crossing the Channel are trying to break into this country without having been invited.

Some are the victims of persecution but most are simply in search of a better life. The majority are young men, among whom there are bound to be a few whose values and standards are at odds with people who live here.

The latest example is that of two Afghan asylum seekers who have been charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton. Sources told The Mail on Sunday that Warwickshire Police advised local councillors and officials not to reveal the background of the two suspects for fear of inflaming community tensions.

As migrants look at the white cliffs of Dover, they know that once they have been picked up by a Border Force boat theyll be fed and housed and given a small allowance. Most important of all, they are well aware that, although they came to this country uninvited, they will very likely be permitted to stay.

In the year to March 2025, 99 per cent of migrants from Sudan were granted asylum. The figure for Syria was 98 per cent, and 86 per cent from Eritrea. At the other end of the scale, only 30 per cent of migrants from Iraq were allowed to remain and 19 per cent from Vietnam.

Even those refused asylum may well appeal, and will have to be looked after by the taxpayer as their cases wend their way through a costly and overstretched system of tribunals. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said yesterday that she intends to speed up the process.

More than 25,000 migrants have come across the Channel so far this year, a 50 per cent increase on 2024

Shell have her work cut out as battalions of human rights lawyers looking for briefs succeed in clogging up the works. In March there were nearly 51,000 outstanding appeals, almost seven times the number in 2023.

The Government is tinkering at the edges when it should be focused on how best to deter migrants from arriving in the first place. That is the only way Sir Keir Starmer can solve this problem  and save his party from electoral annihilation.

In its dying days the last Tory Government finally grasped the importance of deterrence. Migrants who crossed the Channel were not permitted to claim asylum and in theory could be removed to a third country such as Rwanda.

Unfortunately, the Rwanda plan never got off the ground because it was subject to repeated legal challenges on the basis that the African nation is authoritarian, and migrants might not be safe there. But at least the Tories tried.

Not so Sir Keir Starmer, who in his pig-headed way recklessly binned the Rwanda scheme, and permitted those crossing the Channel once again to claim asylum. Unless the Government comes up with some way of discouraging cross-Channel immigration, the numbers will continue to increase.

Starmer wont eat humble pie and revive the Rwanda plan, but he could do something similar. Or he could locate a windswept British island and send migrants there. That would certainly act as a deterrent.

Its hard to see how the Government will be able to act effectively as long as lawyers can challenge it in the European Court of Human Rights. Withdrawing from it would be a bridge too far for Starmer, while the very idea would cause palpitations in Attorney General (and ex-human rights lawyer) Lord Hermer.

But unless Starmer finds a way  and quickly  of deterring illegal migration, he might as well sign his own political death warrant, and that of his party.

More worrying for me is the prospect that, without action, there will be more civil unrest. People have had enough. There is a general weariness about uncontrolled legal mass migration but an even greater resistance to large groups of young men from alien cultures being housed unsupervised in our midst.

Smashing the gangs is a futile policy. Deterring migrants is the only solution  and Starmer had better get on with it while he still has time.
A man dubbed 'Living Nostradamus' has warned that humanity is 'being watched' by a 'spacecraft disguised as a star'.

Athos Salome, 38, from Brazil, who earned his title after he accurately predicted dozens of world events, such as the Microsoft global outage, the coronavirus pandemic, and Queen Elizabeth II's death, suspects a spacecraft disguised as a star may be spying on Earth.

The enormous interstellar object, now officially dubbed 3I/ATLAS, is already speeding through the solar system at 41 miles per second, or 150,000 miles per hour.

Using data from the Vera C Rubin Observatory, scientists have revealed just how big the 'interstellar object' really is, saying the object measures roughly seven miles (11.2km) in diameter.

That's even bigger than Mount Everest  making 3I/ATLAS the largest interstellar object ever spotted.

Professor Avi Loeb, a theoretical physicist and cosmologist from Harvard University, previously suggested that the object could be an alien spacecraft.

Now, Salome, who prophesied in January that alien contact would occur in 2025, has revealed: 'We are facing a highly programmed reconnaissance probe sent by superior intelligences that silently monitor the progress, or collapse, of human civilisation.'

Meanwhile Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga - who died in 1996 - also predicted that the earth would make contact with extraterrestrial life this year during a 'major sporting event'.

Living Nostradamus Athos Salome, 38, from Brazil , has warned that humanity is 'being watched' as a strange object from deep space sparks fears of imminent alien contact

Both psychics have pointed out that this contact with extraterrestrial life will trigger a profound and irreversible transformation for humanity.

The interstellar visitor invading our Solar System, 3I/ATLAS, has become the centre of a controversy involving cutting-edge physics, cosmic strategies and extraterrestrial surveillance.

With a diameter of over seven miles (11.2 km) and a speed that defies traditional models, 3I/ATLAS does not behave like a simple comet.

According to Salome, it is not a simple comet because it has characteristics that do not fit natural patterns.

Identified as the third interstellar object ever recorded by science, after Oumuamua and Borisov, 3I/ATLAS is the largest ever observed.

The extreme speed of between 210,000 and 395,000 km/h, is far beyond the normal speed of a comet.

Meanwhile it appears to be on a 'calculated' route' as it strategically passed by Venus, Mars and Jupiter, as if scanning the most relevant planets in the Solar System.

According to calculations by independent astrophysicists, the chance of this route happening randomly is less than 0.005 percent.

The enormous interstellar object, now officially dubbed 3I/ATLAS, is already speeding through the solar system at 41 miles per second, or 150,000 miles per hour

Meanwhile Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga - who died in 1996 - also predicted that the earth would make contact with extraterrestrial life this year during a 'major sporting event'

Salome warned: 'It is a spacecraft disguised as a star. The disguise is necessary because we are not yet mature enough for contact, this trajectory is too mathematical to be natural.'

Between October 29 and 30, 2025, 3I/ATLAS will be completely hidden behind the Sun, just out of reach of terrestrial tracking systems.

For many, this could just be a routine event, but researchers worry it is a window of opportunity.

Harvard professor Avi Loeb previously raised a disconcerting hypothesis, what if the object is using this moment to do something we cannot detect.

Salome added: 'During this occultation, it is possible that the object will reconfigure its mission.

'It could activate sensors, change course, or even initiate transmissions outside the Solar System. This is not an astronomical coincidence, it is a coordinated action.'

Humanity may be looking at the only visible part of a much larger structure, a galactic observation system.

Salome argues that this type of cosmic incursion is not new, but what is new is our ability to detect it.

Their analysis suggests that the nucleus has a radius of around 3.5 miles (5.6km). That translates to a diameter  or width  of about seven miles (11.2km). To put that into perspective, that's even bigger than Mount Everest (pictured)

He said: 'How many other probes have passed by and been mistaken for asteroids or comets? We are only beginning to realise that we are being observed. Not out of hostility, but for analysis.

'3I/ATLAS is just the beginning. The scientific elite ignores what it does not understand.

'But those who read ancient codes, kabbalistic maps and occult records know that we have been part of an observation matrix for millennia.'

If 3I/ATLAS is a probe, what is it looking for? A behavioural analysis? A thermometer of evolution? Or a simple status report.

Salome concluded: 'If we are being watched, the question we should ask is not 'what do they want from us?', but rather 'what have we shown them?'

'And perhaps, at this point, the greatest silence does not come from space, but from our inability to understand that we are already part of something much bigger.'

Previously speaking to Daily Mail, Professor Loeb pointed to 3I/ATLAS's impressive speed of 130,000mph as an indication that it might be controlled by aliens.

'It is difficult to imagine a natural process that would favour a plunge towards the inner solar system at 60 kilometres per second,' he said.

'An alternative is that the object targets the inner solar system by some technological design.'

Moreover, Loeb said that such a craft and the beings who control it would have one of two motives, one being harmless and the other being hostile.

'The consequences, should the hypothesis turn out to be correct, could potentially be dire for humanity, and would possibly require defensive measures to be undertaken (though these might prove futile),' Loeb and his team warned in their new study.

The researchers' theory emerged from a grim scientific concept called the dark forest hypothesis, which assumes that other intelligent civilizations in the galaxy would be hostile and likely view humanity as a threat that needs to be attacked.

In 2021, Loeb theorized that Oumuamua, the first interstellar object which passed through our solar system, may have also been an alien probe, citing its strange cigar-like shape and its ability to speed up without the influence of gravity.

In May, Professor Loeb was one of the keynote speakers at a congressional hearing regarding UFO sightings. At that event, he said 'there are objects in the sky that we don't understand' while calling for increased funding for UFO detection.

Loeb has also claimed that up to 10 percent of the metal fragments recovered from the Pacific Ocean contain 'alien' elements not seen in our solar system.

Those remnants came from a meteor-like object that originated from interstellar space and crashed off the coast of Papua New Guinea in 2014. However, Loeb has maintained that the object could have been an alien craft, or at least debris from one.

This month, Loeb and co-authors Adam Drowl and Adam Hibberd from the space research non-profit Initiative for Interstellar Studies found other pieces of evidence that suggest 3I/ATLAS is not your average comet.

It comes after Baba Vanga and Salome both made the same terrifying prediction for 2025 will mark the year that aliens make contact with Earth.

Vanga predicted that the earth would make contact with extraterrestrial life during a 'major sporting event'.

Salome, 38, suspects that the world is close to uncovering extraterrestrial life due to the James Webb telescope.

NASA describes it as 'the largest, most powerful and most complex telescope ever launched into space', and it launched on Christmas Day in 2021.

Salome previously told Daily Mail's Femail: 'Thanks to the James Webb telescope, humanity might finally get the answer to the existence of alien life, while governments like the US may declassify UFO files.

'If true, these discoveries could revolutionise ones view about the universe in which we exist - and about ourselves.'

Before she died in 1996, the psychic also wrote that 2025 would see earthquakes ravage the world as Europe is rocked by a devastating war.

'Russia will not only survive,' she wrote. 'It will dominate the world,' she said.
As a doctor Im often asked for my view on the soaring number of people seeking treatment for ADHD. Figures have trebled in the past decade and waiting lists for NHS assessments are so long it will take eight years to clear the backlog.

To be blunt, yes, I do believe ADHD is being wildly overdiagnosed. I also worry that the surge in cases is starting to have a damaging impact on the day-to-day lives of everyone.

Earlier this month IT executive, Bahar Khorram, successfully sued her employers, Capgemini, for not promoting neurodiversity training among staff. Ms Khorram complained her ADHD meant she could not multi-task or meet deadlines and that adjustments needed to be made to meet her needs.

I accept that Ms Khorram won her case but I do hope it doesnt open the floodgates for more like it. Why? Because its starting to feel like some people think they shouldnt have to make an effort to change their behaviour.

Surely ADHD shouldnt mean that people no longer have to fulfil the basic requirements of their jobs? Its not unreasonable or discriminatory for employers to expect people to hit deadlines or have more than one task on the go?

Isnt it common courtesy to your colleagues to not cancel meetings at the last minute as Ms Khorram is said to have done? Where will this end?

Can I, as a doctor, suddenly not show up for clinic and blame my ADHD when patients in need are waiting to see me?

What if I, and some of my medical colleagues, started cancelling consultations, resulting in patients not getting the care they needed? Would those patients just have to suck it up?

'I worry that the surge in ADHD cases is starting to have a damaging impact on the day-to-day lives of everyone,' says Dr Max Pemberton

Earlier this month IT executive, Bahar Khorram successfully sued her employers, Capgemini, for not promoting neurodiversity training among staff

I am not disputing that many of those diagnosed with ADHD have problems and need help and support, but the whole workplace cannot be inconvenienced and made to adapt to their behaviour just because someone has a label.

Its easy to see the appeal in seeking a diagnosis if it means you dont have to put in the same effort and commitment as your colleagues.

ADHD has gone from being something that was once considered a relatively rare condition, affecting mostly children, to something affecting every school neighbourhood and workplace.

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Ten years ago, I rarely saw anyone in clinic with this condition. Now, I see at least one person a day with the diagnosis and there have been occasions when every single patient I have seen in a day had ADHD! It is staggering.

Typically, in medicine, when the number of cases suddenly explodes it triggers rapid inquiries into why.

If clinics were suddenly overwhelmed with people diagnosed with a previously rare type of cancer, serious questions would be asked and urgent studies conducted.

Yet the medical and psychiatric professions seem to have just taken the ADHD epidemic in their stride, blindly accepting that all of a sudden, vast swathes of the population can no longer pay attention.

Instead of questioning why this is, too many of them seem happy to just whack people with a diagnosis and send them off with a prescription for Ritalin or something similar.

In rushing to label and medicate, we are failing to see the wider issues, especially when it comes to the rise of social media and online technology and the impact this is having on our ability to concentrate.

For me, its no coincidence that the rise of diagnoses coincides with the rise of platforms like TikTok and YouTube. These platforms bombard us with rapid-fire snippets of information in a never-ending stream of content specifically designed to keep us mindlessly scrolling.

I am convinced that what were witnessing is the consequence of technology evolving far quicker than our brains. Yet when we label what are normal struggles due to societal and environmental shifts with a medical diagnosis, it has far wider implications.

Several high-profile doctors including Sir Simon Wessely, former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and Dr Iona Heath, former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, have spoken out about how it is a doctors responsibility to resist the drive to over-diagnose and over-treat patients. Needless to say such comments are seen as uncaring and usually lead to a backlash. But it makes perfect sense.

In the industry we talk about something called labelling theory, when a patient starts to feel they no longer need to take responsibility for their actions, struggles or difficulties.

Giving people a label traps them. It removes any sense of autonomy and agency. It tells them theres nothing they can do to change.

I believe that the human brain is full of possibilities and, when given the right support and guidance, people can change and adapt.

Surely this is a better message than expecting the world to adapt to them?

DR MAX PRESCRIBES...

WHY WE SLEEP By Professor Matthew Walker

Many books have been published on sleep but this is the most compelling. Written by a neuroscientist, he researched every aspect from the importance of it to our physical and mental wellbeing to the reason our sleep patterns change as we age.

Jewish comedian Philip Simon has been barred from an Edinburgh Fringe venue after attending a vigil for victims of the October 7 atrocity.

The venue claimed it cancelled his show because it has a duty of care to customers and staff. A nearby venue cancelled another show by Simon and fellow comedian Rachel Creeger. It claimed bar staff had expressed fears of feeling unsafe.

What possible risk could two Jewish comedians pose? I loathe the idea that being confronted with someone you might not agree with somehow makes you unsafe.

I work with victims of violence and persecution who really know what it is to be unsafe and its grossly offensive to use this term to silence people with views you simply dont like.
A traveller flying from Sydney to London has revealed the moment he refused to let a passenger switch seats with him on a plane.

Taskmaster Australia co-host Tom Cashman was on his second leg of his journey between Singapore and London when a passenger asked if they could swap seats so he could be next to his fiance.

While both men were seated on opposite sides of the aisle, the Aussie comedian declined to move because he had paid an additional $180 for extra leg room.

The plane had a three-four-three configuration. Tom was sitting on the aisle seat of a three-seat row next to the window, while the other passenger was seated in the centre section, in one of the four-seat rows.

'I was boarding a flight and I was taking my seat... when the guy asked me very nicely... He asked a favour, "Can I switch seats with you so I can sit with my fiance?". He said, "Feel free to say no" and I felt very free to say no,' Tom said in his video.

'I've got to say, it's disheartening being a comedy performer on the way to a comedy festival, knowing for a fact that they will never elicit a laugh as true and as guttural as the one I got from a man's face on the trip over.

'Because is this guy kidding? Get real mate. This is the best seat... this is a seat sent from God. Why does this seat even exist? I paid $180 for it as well.'

Tom said he was impressed with the amount of leg room he got for the price he paid for the 'best' economy seat on the plane.

Taskmaster co-host Tom Cashman has revealed the moment he refused to let a passenger switch seats with him on a plane

'This is unbelievable, I've never seen anything like it,' he explained.

'It's better than business class.'

The stand-up comedian said he had so much room that the passenger next to him decided to leave their belongings, including a pillow, in his space.

'I didn't even care, there was so much room. He can have all that bit there and I don't give a s***,' Tom said.

However, it wasn't the seat swap request that got Tom riled up.

'What also p*ssed me off about this guy is first of all, he's in a relationship, he's got a fiance. Congratulations to the beautiful couple. I don't have a fiance so he's rubbing my face in that,' Tom joked.

'Not only that, he wasn't even tall. He was way less tall than I am. Basically this guy is asking for something he doesn't need to enjoy something in front of me that I don't have.

'It'd be like if I found an old guy on the flight and asked to borrow his cane and then use the cane to scroll YouTube Shorts.'

However, Tom said he doesn't 'begrudge' the man for asking in the first place.

'He's done me a big favour because now when people ask me if I've seen Happy Gilmore 2, I get to say, "Yes I have",' he explained.

'And in my opinion, it's best enjoyed 30,000 feet in the air, feet outstretched, flanked by two furious fiances.'

Tom said he was impressed with the amount of leg room he got for the price he paid for the 'best' economy seat on the plane

His video has been viewed more than 600,000 - with many agreeing with Tom's decision to refuse swapping seats.

'Funny how they always ask to swap into the better seat, and never offer to downgrade themselves to get what they want,' one pointed out.

'He has a whole life ahead of him with his fiance, you had limited time with this perfect seat. The nerve,' another shared.

'I would protect that seat with my LIFE,' one said.

'Their poor planning is not your problem,' another revealed.

One traveller recalled: 'I was once asked to swap so a newly married couple could sit together. I said no and she cried the whole way to Hong Kong from London.'

'I had that seat once and the guy behind (middle seat) asked me to switch so he could sit with his girlfriend. HAHAHAHAHAHA. No,' another shared.

Many suggested the couple may have skimped on paying extra for additional leg room, hoping instead that a 'nice' person would be happy to swap.

'He didn't buy that seat in hopes some nice person who did pay would switch. Good for you for not switching,' one said.

'He knows that and they planned that... ask for $200 cash and you will swap, otherwise no deal,' another suggested.

'100 per cent they didnt book that seat because of the price, booked the two they did, and hoped they could just get the switch done when they asked,' one added.

Others suggested the man should have asked the person to his left to swap with his fiance so they would just be switching middle seats, making it fair for both parties.

'He should have asked the person on the other side of him to switch. They had a middle middle seat,' one said.

'I'm sure the person on the other side of the fiance stuck in the middle would have happily swapped for his aisle seat,' another suggested.

Meanwhile, many were confused with the gap in front of Tom's seat.

But a seasoned traveller explained: 'Fun fact for those curious, that gap covers the emergency hatch down to the cabin crew bunks, hence why it's randomly in the middle of the cabin.'

'There's an emergency escape hatch under the carpet,' another shared.
Aussies can now bring a taste of the cinema to their homes, enjoying iconic Choc Tops in the comfort of their own living rooms.

HOYTS Cinemas has teamed up with Bulla Dairy Foods to launch Bulla HOYTS Choc Tops at Coles so shoppers can enjoy the same quality flavours - just in a snack size.

The Choc Tops are available at select Coles locations until September 30, with two delicious flavours on offer - classic Vanilla and indulgent Salted Caramel.

Perfect for sharing or keeping all to yourself, the snack-sized four-pack costs $12 - just $3 per cone.

Millions of Bulla Choc Tops are sold at HOYTS every year, and now movie lovers can bring a classic snack to enjoy on the couch in front of their favourite films.

Aussies have expressed their excitement over the supermarket product, with one saying: 'Omg what! Stop it!'

'That's so cool,' another shared.

'They may not last the 25 minute drive home (due to me eating them all),' one joked.

HOYTS Cinemas has teamed up with Bulla Dairy Foods to launch Bulla HOYTS Choc Tops at Coles so shoppers can enjoy the same quality flavours - just in a snack size

'Yum! Need the for my next movie night,' another revealed.

'OMG I'm running to Coles,' one added.

HOYTS General Manager of Food & Beverage and Retail Michael King said Choc Tops are synonymous with the movie going experience.

'We know the pairing of a movie and a Choc Top is a favourite for our guests. While nothing beats biting into a Bulla Choc Top at the cinema, we're excited to give people a taste of the HOYTS experience at home,' Michael said.

'It's a fun way to bring the magic of HOYTS into living rooms - and a sweet reminder to come back and enjoy it with us on the big screen soon.

'We're the first cinema exhibitor to provide a new and convenient way for all to enjoy a Bulla Choc Top, and we couldn't think of a better partner to collaborate with.'

Bulla's Head of Marketing Chris Martin said the 115-year-old family business was thrilled to bring one of Australia's most iconic movie treats into homes.

'There's something special about a Choc Top and a great movie - whether it's in the cinema or on your couch. We're excited to offer this new way for movie lovers to enjoy Bulla HOYTS Choc Tops at home,' Chris said.

Each pack of Bulla HOYTS Choc Tops also includes a voucher for a $12 movie ticket purchase, valid until July 30, 2026 so customers are encouraged to scoop up this special offer while they can.

'We've included a voucher code to save on your next trip to the cinema,' he said.
Legendary performer Joan Rivers told me to abandon my life as a TV executive and pursue stand-up two weeks before she died, comedian Cally Beaton reveals on a new Mail podcast.

In conversation with Mail columnist Bryony Gordon, Beaton, 56, said she credits Rivers with inspiring her 'midlife reinvention', giving her the confidence to do her first ever stand-up gig.

Before her comedy career, Beaton, as a single mother, climbed the television industry ladder to senior vice president at Viacom, where she helped develop major shows like South Park and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Her new book, Namaste Motherf*ckers, follows her journey from corporate executive to comedian and offers guidance to women experiencing midlife burnout and other mental health issues.

'I was lucky enough to meet some amazing people during my career', Beaton told the podcast.

'We would go to Cannes and host industry events  Hollywood A-listers who were fronting new shows would come and get drunk, hoping for jaded executives to invest in them.

Joan Rivers told me to abandon my life as a TV executive and pursue stand-up two weeks before she died, comedian Cally Beaton has revealed

In conversation with Mail columnist Bryony Gordon, Beaton, 56, said she credits Rivers with inspiring her 'midlife reinvention'

Beaton explained that Rivers had spotted her comedic potential during speeches she gave at industry events. Listen here

'It was at one of these events I met Joan Rivers  I ended up working with her on a few occasions and go to know her well.

'I never really thought of Joan as a typical feminist before meeting her. But of course, she was bursting through the glass ceilings of Hollywood when women weren't doing what she was doing.

'I owe her a lot  it was Joan who said to me, a couple of weeks before she died that I should try stand-up.'

Beaton explained that Rivers had spotted her comedic potential during speeches she gave at industry events.

When Beaton expressed doubts about being too old to make such a career pivot, the veteran performer offered some wisdom on why it's never too late to pursue what makes you happy.

Rivers died in September 2014 from complications following a routine endoscopy procedure.

Beaton said: 'I was 45, and I told Joan it was too late for me to go into comedy. One of my kids has special needs, and I needed a day job.

'She just looked at me and said: I am 81; at 45, you're still in the thick of it. I think you should try stand-up. She died two weeks after that conversation.

Rivers died in September 2014 from complications following a routine endoscopy procedure

Since launching her comedy career, Beaton has appeared on major shows including QI, Live at The Apollo and The Apprentice: You're Fired

Beaton's new book, Namaste Motherf*ckers, follows her journey from corporate executive to comedian and offers guidance to women experiencing midlife burnout

'When I heard the news, I decided to do my first ever drunken, hopeless open mic thing. That's where you start, you need to put in those hours to get good.

'Any 81-year-old who's still at the top of their game, telling a 45-year-old you've got it all ahead of you, that was a massive gift.

'Now at 56, I am very proud of my age. I wear it with pride  it's better than the alternative.

'I am aware that in 10 years' time, I will think God, you were so young. We're never going to be younger than we are right now.'

Since launching her comedy career, Beaton has appeared on major shows including QI, Live at The Apollo and The Apprentice: You're Fired.

She has created three solo shows for the Edinburgh Fringe, with her 2019 routine Invisible making it onto best jokes of the year lists.

To hear Cally's full story and her insights on the mental health crisis affecting middle-aged women, search for The Life of Bryony now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Fireworks have long been a staple of any Disney trip, but now the skies above the Happiest Place on Earth may be a lot less dazzling.

The iconic nighttime displays have been put in jeopardy due to a controversial policy imposed by Donald Trump.

China is a major supplier of fireworks to the United States, but with the steep tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, shipments are being heavily impacted.

Walt Disney World is the second-largest purchaser of explosives in the United States, after the US military, per Disney historians and industry insiders, according to Inside the Magic.

This includes fireworks for all four parks - Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Roughly 99 percent of fireworks used in the U.S. come from China, and tariffs were as high as 30 percent in May, according to The New York Times.

Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, an industry trade group, explained: 'I would anticipate that most people are going to get a little less bang for their buck this year.

She continued, per Red River Radio: 'I think we will see some product shortages.

Fireworks have long been a staple of any Disney trip but now the skies above the Happiest Place on Earth may be a lot less dazzling (stock image)

'I would encourage customers to shop early for the best variety of product.'

One insider said, according to Inside the Magic, 'Disney doesn't make their own. They buy them from various sources.

'Each week they drive out there and pick up enough for the next week's performances.'

While Disney has not publicly canceled its nightly firework shows, insiders say supply issues are already forcing the company to quietly scale back some displays, swapping out full-scale pyrotechnics for projections, lasers and drones.

The changes may be subtle to casual park goers, but longtime fans are starting to take notice.

One avid theme park visitor wrote about the 'situation' in a since-deleted tweet alongside a video of the new display.

Her clip compared the new fireworks to the original with notable differences, including the timing of the bursts, colors and patterns.

'With the current tariff situation, I fear we will never get the original flower burst back,' she wrote, according to the outlet.

The iconic nighttime displays have been put in jeopardy due to a controversial policy imposed by Donald Trump (stock image)

China is a major supplier of fireworks to the United States, but with the steep tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, shipments are being heavily impacted (stock image)

'This is the replacement. It was breathtaking and seemed to continue to burst forever. There's a number of Happily Ever After updates that have occurred.'

Daily Mail has contacted Disney for further comment.

Beyond the impact on Disney, the American Pyrotechnics Association has warned of broader cancellations nationwide.

Experts are also concerned that the situation could worsen in 2026, when demand spikes for America's 250th anniversary.

Disney CEO Bob Iger previously voiced concern about how the tariffs, which also hit steel, merchandise, and cruise ship materials, could disrupt expansion plans and park operations, per New York Post.
Meghan Markle's As Ever brand has posted a gushing birthday tribute as the entrepreneur turns 44 years old.

The Duchess' own lifestyle company took to Instagram with a black and white snapshot of the mom-of-two wearing a sundress and hat as she beamed into the distance.

The caption enthused about Meghan and her role leading the company.

'Celebrating the woman behind it all,' it read.

'She pours her heart, vision and magic touch into every detail, and today, we raise a glass to her! Happy birthday to our founder.'

It was then re-shared on As Ever's Instagram Story alongside two champagne flutes clinking together in celebration.

Meghan launched her lifestyle brand earlier this year, releasing the first products in April, which included a range of teas, a raspberry spread, and a limited-edition wildflower honey with honeycomb, amongst other things.

She followed it up with an apricot spread and another honey, and in July, she expanded into the world of alcohol when she dropped her own wine - the 2023 Napa Valley Rose.

Meghan Markle's As Ever brand has posted a gushing birthday tribute as the entrepreneur turns 44 years old

Each release has been met with fierce excitement from her fans, and every product has sold out pretty quickly.

And her birthday comes just days after she announced another product coming to her As Ever line.

Last week, the company revealed that following the buzz surrounding the 2023 Napa Valley Rose, it will be launching another wine, with a slight tweak... calling it the 2024 Napa Valley Rose.

It vowed that it will pretty much taste the same as As Ever's first wine.

'It marries the same harmony of notes from our first blend and creates an elegant medley of delicate yet memorable flavor,' read a press release.

'You'll want to clink glasses with friends as the sun sets, toasting to a summer of joy.

'Barefoot or in sandals, dressed up or dressed down, this rose may become your favorite accessory for alfresco lunches and dinners at dusk.'

In the release, As Ever listed some of the positive feedback customers had given the company over its first rose, which included comments like, '10 out of 10,' 'perfect,' and 'elevated flavor.'

Her birthday comes just days after she announced another product coming to her As Ever line - a 2024 Napa Valley Rose

Meghan launched her lifestyle brand earlier this year, releasing the first products in April, which included a range of teas, a raspberry spread, and a limited-edition wildflower honey with honeycomb, amongst other things

'This affirmed all of the love, time and effort our team, and our founder, poured into curating this blend to evoke the sun drenched spirit of Napa Valley, and the breathtaking tenor of the California Coast,' As Ever added.

'Thank you for filling our cup. Now it's time for us to fill your glass! We are pleased to share that our 2024 Napa Valley Rose will be available for purchase next week.'

Last month, Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the alcoholic beverage is made by Fairwinds Estate, a California winery that creates bespoke wines for celebrities.

The 2023 Napa Valley Rose is described on the bottle as a 'delicately balanced rose with soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish.'

It has a 14.5 percent alcohol by volume for the 750ML bottle.

The Daily Mail FEMAIL team tried the rose and while the wine was smooth, we couldn't easily detect the notes of stone fruit. In fact, it tasted quite bland, and almost water-y.

In addition, the rose had some acidic notes, leaving a somewhat uncomfortable sensation at the back of our throats after swallowing.

In the end, the verdict was the wine lacked flavor and tasted affordable and ordinary. It wasn't terrible - but it certainly wasn't great.
A woman is worried her partner is disguising abuse as 'Australian culture'

An expat who moved to Australia to be with her partner shared a confronting glimpse into their relationship - and hundreds have branded him emotionally abusive.

Posting anonymously to Reddit, the woman explained she left her home country and quit her stable IT job in November to start a new life Down Under.

She met her partner while he was living in her country, and the couple had a long-distance relationship for a while. She chose to relocate because she didn't want to break up.

But since moving, she's been questioning whether the way he speaks to her is 'normal' in Aussie relationships.

'When we argue or he's upset, he's said things like "shut the f*** up b***h", "you don't have a f***ing job", and "you can't even f***ing cook",' she wrote.

The man also frequently tells her to 'f**k off' if she ever says something in her own language out of frustration when they're arguing.

She also said he once told her, 'I'm a visual person' and 'our sex life is dead' when discussing their relationship - something that left her feeling insecure about her appearance.

'I've never said anything similar about him,' she said.

An expat who moved to Australia to be with her partner has shared a confronting glimpse into their relationship - and hundreds are calling it emotionally abusive

'Im not sure if this is healthy or normal.'

The woman, whose first language isn't English, admitted she sometimes freezes during arguments when she doesn't fully understand what's being said.

She had been led to believe that swearing was just part of Australian culture.

Her boyfriend allegedly told her that 'Aussies swear a lot' and 'aren't romantic'.

But commenters were quick to reassure her that this behaviour wasn't cultural - it was abusive.

'Nothing about this is normal,' one top comment read.

'Australians can be forthright, but this is abusive language,' another wrote.

'Please be careful and make sure you have the means to safely leave if you need to.'

She met her partner while he was living in her country, and the couple had a long-distance relationship, but she chose to relocate Down Under because she didn't want to break up

An Australian man summed up how most were feeling.

'There's nothing unique about how respect is shown here. Your instincts are correct. I'm sorry to say this is not okay,' he wrote.

The woman also said she felt isolated because all of her partner's family and friends live nearby, and she hasn't found a job yet.

'This is my first time living overseas, and honestly, I feel like a little kid who always needs help,' she said.

Though she initially asked if his behaviour was simply a reflection of 'how Aussies argue', she concluded by thanking people for their honest feedback.

'I get it now. This is not normal at all.'

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, you can contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for confidential counselling and support 24/7.
Jaysen Carr spent the Fourth of July swimming and riding on a boat at one of South Carolina's most popular lakes.

Just two weeks later, the 12-year-old was dead, killed by a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba lurking in the seemingly pristine waters.

Naegleria fowleri, the organism responsible, enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain where it causes swelling, seizures and comas. It kills about 97 percent of patients, with only four out of 168 infected Americans ever surviving the infection.

Following the latest fatality, doctors and Carr's parents are sounding the alarm, warning that more people may be at risk.

In recent years, the amoeba has spread beyond its traditional range, traveling from Florida and Texas to Missouri, Indiana and as far north as Minnesota. There are also warnings over the infection in Canada.

Rising temperatures are partly to blame, experts say, warming freshwater lakes, rivers and streams above 77 F (25 C), which creates an ideal environment for the organism to thrive.

'This is a bug that thrives and lives in soil and water, and can enter the nose when people dive and jump feet first into freshwater,' Dr Mobeen Rathore, a pediatrician in Florida who has treated several patients with the infection, told the Daily Mail.

'Unfortunately, the fatality rate is very high, and cases are also associated with the summer because that is when people are more likely to visit freshwater lakes.'

Jaysen Carr (pictured), 12, died after he was infected with Naegleria fowleri. He became infected after enjoying a freshwater lake in South Carolina

Below, the Daily Mail details what Naegleria fowleri is, where it is in the US and how people can become infected.

What is Naegleria fowleri?

Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic organism invisible to the human eye that causes a nearly always fatal infection.

It lives in freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs. In some cases, it has also been detected in poorly maintained swimming pools, splash pads and tap water that contains too little chlorine.

It is not found in the ocean.

The single-celled organism feeds on bacteria in the water, and can enter the human body when water gets into the nose.

'Unfortunately, with the violent act of getting that warm freshwater up one's nose, that amoeba has the ability to enter into the brain... and cause a severe infection,' said Dr David Sideroski, a pharmacology expert in Florida who has spent a decade researching treatments for amoebas like Naegleria fowleri.

This can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an infection that destroys brain tissue.

Early warning signs usually start about five days after infection and include a sudden onset of fever, headache, vomiting or a stiff neck.

As the disease progresses, patients may also suffer from confusion, seizures, hallucinations and a coma.

The above map shows the states where Naegleria fowleri infections have been detected

Where is the amoeba in the US?

The amoeba is now considered ubiquitous in any body of freshwater above 77 F (25 C).

It is particularly likely to be in sediment at the bottom of lakes, rivers and streams, or in shallow areas where the sediment can be easily disturbed, causing the amoeba to be spread to the surface.

Once only known to be in southern states like Texas and Florida, Naegleria fowleri has now been detected as far north as Maryland, Indiana and Minnesota. There are even warnings about the disease in Canada.

'We should assume that any body of warm freshwater could be contaminated with this pathogen,' Dr Sideroski said - calling the movement 'a northern migration'.

The spread is due to rising temperatures, leading more bodies of freshwater to reach prime temperatures allowing the organism to thrive.

How do you get infected?

People become infected with the amoeba after water forcefully enters their nose, normally as the result of jumping into warm water.

In some cases, people have also become infected after cleaning their sinuses with contaminated water or via poorly treated water sprayed by jets at splash pads.

Kali Hardig is pictured above after recovering from a Naegleria fowleri infection that she says she caught at Willow Springs Water Park in Arkansas

Dr Rathore said there is also a risk - though, an extremely unlikely one - of infection simply from dipping your head underwater while swimming.

'I always say flamboyantly cannonballing into [water], that is the kind of violent energy that pushes water up the nose,' Dr Sideroski explained.

'But there are cases, too, where someone has been playing in a splash pad and caught and died from Naegleria fowleri... and that's likely due to spraying or rough-housing with your compatriots.'

It is possible for Naegleria fowleri to enter the body without causing harm. If the amoeba is swallowed, it is destroyed by stomach acid and poses no risk. Even if it enters the outer part of the nose, it may not reach the brain and therefore may not lead to infection.

Once in the body, Naegleria fowleri travels up the olfactory nerve (the nerve that goes from the nose to the brain) and infects the brain. Once there, it eats nerve cells, causing major inflammation and cerebral edema, or abnormal accumulations of fluid, leading to a headache, coma and then, in almost all cases, death.

How is the disease treated?

As PAM leads to inflammation in the brain and destroys brain tissue, Dr Rathore said patients suspected to be infected must immediately start on treatment, even before the disease is confirmed.

The amoeba kills about 97 percent of people it infects, statistics show (stock image)

He said drugs used to treat PAM include an anti-fungal medication, an antibiotic and an experimental drug from the CDC that can attack amoebas.

In one case, survivor Kali Hardig had her body cooled to 93 F (33 C) to help preserve undamaged brain tissue.

Dr Rathore said the infection could only be treated 'with great difficulty'.

All four patients who survived required months of therapy to relearn how to walk, talk and move their bodies. All said they've suffered from ongoing injuries.

Sebastian DeLeon, who survived an infection at the age of 16 in 2016, previously revealed that the infection left him needing to relearn how to walk, write and do 'all the basic stuff'. He said he was still struggling with brain damage.

In another case, Caleb Ziegelbaur, who caught the amoeba in 2022 at the age of 13, has been left with such severe brain damage that he needs to use a wheelchair and can only communicate with facial expressions.

Are cases rising?

The CDC does not indicate whether cases are rising, but does say that the disease is spreading further north, raising the risk that more people are exposed to the pathogen.

At the time of reporting Naegleria fowleri infections are considered rare, with only 167 recorded over the 60 years documented, from 1962 to 2024.

Most cases have been in young males, typically around 11 to 14 years old, and almost all are linked to recreational activities in warm freshwater bodies of water. In a few cases, infections were linked to exposure to municipal water from faucets or splash pads that contained too little chlorine.

Although cases are rare, death from an infection is not. Naegleria fowleri kills 97 percent of everyone it infects.

Sebastian DeLeon (pictured in 2016) was infected with Naegleria fowleri at 16 years old. He survived the disease, but said he had to learn to walk and talk again and still has brain damage as a result of the infection

Only four of the documented patients are known to have survived.

How do I avoid an infection?

Dr Rathore said it only takes one gulp of water up the nose to risk becoming infected with the amoeba.

'The first line of defense is don't get into the warm freshwater,' he said.

'If you do get in, keep your head out of the water. And if you are going to get your head or nose into the water, pinch it or use a nose clip.'

Pinching your nose and using clips is also recommended by Dr Sideroski.

Dr Rathore also advised people not to dive or cannonball into water because this raises the risk of water entering the nose forcefully and causing the disease.

However, Dr Rathore pointed out that there are very few infections despite an estimated 67 percent of Americans spending time in freshwater and told the Daily Mail even he, who lives in Florida, still enters freshwater himself despite reports of the amoeba.
U.S. authorities cancel funding for Baltimore-Maryland-Washington high-speed rail

Xinhua) 09:56, August 04, 2025

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy on Friday announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will cancel two grants totaling over 26 million U.S. dollars for a planned high-speed rail that would link Baltimore, Maryland and Washington.

"After nearly a decade of poor planning, significant community opposition, tremendous cost overruns, and nothing to show for it, Secretary Duffy is ending federal involvement in the project and its cost to taxpayers," the Transportation Department said in a statement.

As part of its analysis, the FRA also determined that the so-called Superconducting Magnetic Levitation Project would result in significant, unresolvable impacts to federal agencies and federal property, including national security agencies.

"This project lacked everything needed to be a success from planning to execution. This project did not have the means to go the distance, and I can't in good conscience keep taxpayers on the hook for it," said Duffy.

The project was proposed to be a high-speed rail project using superconducting magnetic levitation technology linking Baltimore, Maryland and Washington D.C. The estimated capital cost to build this project is nearly 20 billion dollars.

The FRA's involvement in the project dates back to 2016. The project has since experienced numerous delays and cost overruns, according to the statement.

The Transportation Department previously cut federal support for the California high-speed rail project, blaming Governor Gavin Newsom and the Democrats for enabling waste for years. On July 16, Duffy announced that the FRA had terminated approximately 4 billion dollars in unspent federal funding for California's high-speed rail "boondoggle."

Newsom and the California High-Speed Rail Authority have been strongly criticizing the move, calling it politically motivated, and have filed a lawsuit to restore the funding.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Experts have today hit back at 'dangerous' claims that stress and mobile phones can cause breast cancer after a wellness influencer controversially said she gave herself the disease.

Stephanie Weeks, from Mississippi in the US, was diagnosed with stage three triple negative breast cancerone of the deadliest form of the diseasein February 2021 at the age of just 42.

After undertaking gruelling rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery as well as 'healing methods' including acupuncture and alkaline water, she was told she was cancer-free later that year.

Now, in an Instagram video watched more than 750,000 times, she has claimed 'chronic stress', 'not taking sleep seriously enough' and putting her mobile phone in her bra for years 'contributed' to her diagnosis.

But experts have labelled the claims 'absolute nonsense' and 'dangerous' and said there was a 'lack of evidence' to prove any of the claims.

Studies have also long suggested there is no consistent evidence linking stress, mobile phones and poor sleep to an increased risk of breast cancer.

In the Instagram video Ms Weeks said her 'aggressive' and 'invasive' stage three triple negative breast cancer diagnosis was 'devastating'.

She added: 'I think there are several things that contributed, stress. The stress was chronic, it was for years and it was tremendous.

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'The second thing was I did not take sleep seriously enough. Sometimes I would work all day, all night and go days without sleeping.

'I was really screwing up my circadian rhythm big time.

'Another thing was my cell phone in my bra for years. The tumour was right on the edge of the skin, right where the cell phone sat.

'So I'm saying these things to empower you and educate you so you can make better choices than I did.'

But experts today said all three factors were 'absolute nonsense'.

Liz O'Riordan, a retired breast surgeon and author of The Cancer Roadmap: Real science to guide your treatment path, told the Daily Mail: 'Its absolute nonsense. And bloody dangerous and very persuasive.

'Mobile phones and WiFi do not cause breast cancer.

'Whilst a stressful life and lack of sleep can lead to poor lifestyle choices, gaining weight, alcohol and no exercise stress and lack of sleep by themselves do not cause breast cancer.

Liz O'Riordan, a retired breast surgeon and author of The Cancer Roadmap: Real science to guide your treatment path, said the claims were 'absolute nonsense and 'bloody dangerous'

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'This is dangerous. If she did want to empower women she should be quoting the source she got this information from.

'There are some small studies that suggest they might be a factor but theyve all been disproved due to lack of evidence.'

Dr Mangesh Thorat, a consultant breast surgeon at Homerton University Hospital, added: 'Existing evidence does not show any association between breast cancer and stress, sleep deprivation or organ proximity to mobile phone signal.

'Avoiding or minimising stress and ensuring adequate sleep is however a common-sense advice that helps at least improve quality of life.

'Everyone should aim to achieve these objectives.'

Indeed, studies have noted that some women wonder whether stress caused their breast cancer. But the evidence for this is poor.

One of the largest study's to date by British researchers in 2016 did not show any consistent evidence that linked stress to breast cancer.

Another European analysis published in the BMJ, which looked at 12 studies involving more than 100,000 people who were followed up for several years, did not find a link between stress at work and breast or colorectal, lung and prostate cancers.

Currently, all women aged between 50 and 70 are invited for screening every three years, with the first invitation between the age of 50 and 53

It can be harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as not smoking and drinking, during stressful situations. These habits can lead to an increased cancer risk, warns Cancer Research UK.

But the agency insists 'no evidence' shows 'those who are more stressed are more likely to get cancer'.

While sleep deprivation can lead to various health issues, including inflammation and insulin resistance, The Institute of Cancer Research says there is no direct link between lack of sleep and an increased risk of breast cancer.

Studies, including a large meta-analysis from the Million Women Study, have found no significant association between sleep duration and breast cancer risk.

Meanwhile, rumours that electromagnetic radiation or waves from mobile phones can cause cancer, have spread for decades.

But researchers say there is no good evidence that this is the case, despite many fearing that keeping their phone close to their body will put them at risk.

Mobiles work by sending and receiving electromagnetic waves to and from phone masts.

While high energy radiation can cause cancer by damaging DNA, the version emitted by phones is so weak that it does not have this effect, says Cancer Research UK.

The charity adds that although 4G and 5G networks rely on higher frequency radio waves to work in comparison to phones made a decade ago, it's still not enough energy to damage DNA.

But, because the technology is still relatively new, scientists continue to monitor research in this field to track any potential long-term effects.

One in seven women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimearound 56,000 a yearmaking it the most common cancer in the UK.

The figure stands at roughly 300,000 annually in the US.

Around 85 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive more than five years.

However, triple negative breast cancerwhich accounts for around 15 per cent of all breast cancers in the UK and USis far more challenging.

Typically, it grows and spreads faster than other breast cancer types and has fewer treatment options.

It is also more difficult to treat because it doesnt interact with hormones such as oestrogenfor which there are targeted therapies.

On average around 77 per cent of women with triple negative breast cancer will survive their cancer for five years or more after they are diagnosed, but depending on the stage this can fall as low as 12 per cent.

This is compared to around 90 per cent of women with other forms of breast cancer who will survive for at least five years.
A beauty influencer has raved about a bizarre cosmetic treatment which involves wearing placenta lenses to brighten and treat her dry eyes.

Emira D'Spain, 28, a US-based model and reality TV star from Dallas, had struggled with dry eyesa common condition where the eyes do not produce enough tearsfor years.

So when her doctor suggested Prokera, Ms D'Spain leapt at the opportunity.

Prokera is a treatment in which involves a 'bandage' made from the amniotic membrane of a donated human placenta being placed upon the eyeball.

The makers of the $2,000 (1,500) treatmentwhich is not currently available in the UKclaim that the amniotic membrane is rich in biologically active components that help soothe dry eyes, and help scratched or damaged eyeballs heal.

In an Instagram video explaining the procedure, she said: 'I had placenta put in my eye and it was the best thing I have ever done.

'I have struggled with dry eye for the longest time ever and it was so bad it created these microtears in the bottom of my eye.'

Whilst many people will experience dry eyes at some point, with wearing contact lenses and looking at screens increasing the risk, it is not usually serious.

She continued: 'The treatment was pretty serious. Apparently a lot of celebrities do this to get their eyes super white. It's kind of like permanent [eye drops] Lumify.'

However, in some cases the condition can cause corneal abrasions, as the body cannot produce enough tear fluid to protect the eyes from irritants like dust and dirt.

Prokera uses amniotic membranethe innermost part of the placenta which is contact with a foetuswhich have been donated after birth and cryptoreserved.

The membranes, which are expensive, are easy to cut and fit to different eye shapes, consist of three layers which all play a role in helping heal the eye.

They naturally contain collagen which encourages cellular growth, and hyaluronic acid to reduce inflammation.

During the procedure a doctor will place the membrane which looks like a large contact lens, over the eye to cover the corneathe outermost clear layer of the eye.

In most cases, the affected eye will need to remain shut for at least a day following the procedure, to prevent the membrane moving out of place.

Ms D'Spain said: 'It doesn't hurt or anything, it just feels really uncomfortable. It's kind of like a giant contact [lens] that you wear for a couple of days.

The model had Pokera inserted into both eyes, with the hopes that it would relieve her dry eye symptoms

According to the TV personality, the procedure was not painful though uncomfortable at times.

'But I wanted to just start out with 24 hours for each eye. I get to wear my little glam pirate patch and then at night I wear little sock patches.'

Theoretically, this should be enough time for the eye to absorb the amniotic membrane and begin to repair the eye.

She said: 'Honestly, it was not that bad. It just felt like there was something in my eye because there literally was.

'I was still out and about running errands but I will say it is very disorienting to only operate with one eyeI kept bumping into things.'

Once the eye has sufficiently absorbed the membrane, a doctors will remove the tape securing it.

'The next day I got that Prokera lense taken out and the other one put in [to my other eye],' Ms D'Spain continued.

'The next morning [my eye] was so much brighter and whiter and just more healthy.

If your eyes are itchy, sore, gritty, red, blurry, sensitive to light or more watery than normal, you may have dry eyes

'I seriously could not be happier with how they turned out. This has to be my craziest beauty secret ever.'

Whilst it is rare for major complications to occur with this type of treatment, experts have warned it can cause keratitisinflammation of the corneaor even infection.

Also known as a corneal ulcer, left untreated keratitis can cause vision loss.

If the infection spreads to other areas of the eye it can lead to possible blindness.

Therefore, people who are looking to have the treatment purely for cosmetic reasons, should think twice before swapping contact lenses for placenta lenses.

It comes as health officials urgently recalled tens of thousands of eye drops due to manufacturing issues last moth that may have left the products unsterile, increasing the risk of blindness.

UK medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory (MHRA) slapped an alert on one batch of Zaditen eye drops used to treat seasonal allergies and dry eyes.

It is feared the drug may have been contaminated during manufacturing, potentially causing conjunctivitis and inflammation of the cornea and eyelid.

Left untreated, these conditions can cause permanent eye damage and even blindness.
You don't need to have as many notches in your bedpost as controversial OnlyFans star Bonnie Blue to raise a few eyebrowsa new study has found that Britons think 20 or more sexual partners is a lot.

The stats were released by YouGov as part of a wider poll looking at modern society's sexual histories and habits... and it reveals the UK as being a surprisingly chaste nation.

While Ms Blue's conquests have soared towards five figurespowered by romps where she beds thousands of men in a daythe average Briton claims to have only had sex with four people in their lifetime.

Researchers at YouGov asked the respondents what the consider to be 'small and large lifetime numbers of sexual partners'.

Sharing the findings on X, they revealed that the majority of people see 20 or more sexual partners as a 'large' amount.

Similarly, 15 or more people was seen as large by 41 per cent.

People who had slept with 0-4 or 5 people were seen as having a 'small' number by the majority of those polled, and 6 to fourteen sexual partners were seen as having neither 'small' nor 'large' number.

The researchers added that, unsurprisingly, people's idea of large or small is skewed by their own sexual histories.

A new study has found what constitutes as a 'large' number of sexual partners

Bonnie Blue has proudly slept with thousands of menmost Britons have bedded four

'Whether Britons regard a number of sexual partners as large or small depends on how many people they themselves have slept with,' they explained.

'At an overall level, the attitudes of men and women are effectively the same across the range.

'However, the generations do take differing views, with young people being the quickest to start saying that a number of sexual partners is high.

'This is not necessarily surprising  the older someone is, the more chances to have sexual encounters they have had, and it is probably fair to assume that respondents are basing their answers on the tally of a person about the same age as them.'

For instance, 44 per cent of people who have had one sexual partner in their life sees 10 or more partners as a 'large' number, with 27 per cent of people with four sexual partners saying the same.

Meanwhile, eight per cent of people who have slept with ten to 14 people, and three per cent of people with 25 or more partners deem ten partners to be a 'large' number.

Interestingly, the study found that young men and old women were notably more likely than their counterparts to consider a given number to represent a 'large number' of lifetime sexual partners.

In June, a study found that women who have sex at least once a week are the 'happiest' in their relationship.

While Bonnie Blue is famous for having sex with 1,000 men in a day, the average Briton has only slept with 4 people in their life



So what do Britons consider to be small and large lifetime numbers of sexual partners?



0-4 people - majority see as small

5 people - 48% small / 40% pic.twitter.com/1J3dpqZzmn  YouGov (@YouGov) August 4, 2025

Scientists found 85 per cent of women who had sex once a week described themselves as 'sexually satisfied', according to a study of nearly 500 heterosexual women.

In contrast, only 66 per cent of wives and girlfriends who had sex once a month reported the same level of relationship bliss.

And the figure fell to 17 per cent among those women who had intercourse less than this.

Author of the new study Alexandra Janssen, a researcher at the University of Manchester, said the findings show the importance of regular intimate relations.

She told the Daily Mail: 'While the study shows an association between frequency of sex and sexual relationship satisfaction, this is only a correlation.

'We dont know whether women are happier because they are having more sex, if they are having more sex because they are happier, or if they are happier and having more sex because of other factors-perhaps they dont have kids.

'Also, the fact that women who have less sex are also less satisfied in their relationship isnt particularly surprising.'
A woman has told how she suffered a burst appendix after taking blockbuster weight loss jab Ozempic, as she tried to shed a few pounds before her son's wedding.

Ali Eastburn, who was a size 16, was prescribed the drug by her doctor in April to feel more confident in wedding photos.

The 58-year-old, from Nashville in Tennessee, US, claimed she had tried shifting the weight from her 'post-menopausal' body naturally, but nothing had proved effective.

After her 'trusted' doctor suggested she was eligible for the weight loss injection, she began on a low dose of the drug and soon noticed her weight drop.

But after this plateaued in July, weeks before the wedding, the mum-of-three suddenly increased her dosagewhich experts have long warned against.

Within days she experienced heartburn, nausea and 'violent' diarrhoea, and was rushed to the emergency room twice.

Determined to make her son's wedding despite her health woes, the estate agent travelled to Orange County in California on July 15.

Yet, her appendix ruptured during the flight and she was rushed for emergency surgery as soon as she landed.

Ali Eastburn, who was a size 16, was prescribed the drug by her doctor in April to feel more confident in wedding photos

The 58-year-old, from Nashville in Tennessee , US, claimed she had tried shifting the weight from her 'post-menopausal' body naturally, but nothing had proved effective. Pictured, with husband Ken at her son Chase's wedding

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Semaglutide, the ingredient behind Ozempic, has long been hailed a game-changer in tackling obesity.

Administered weekly, the drugmanufactured by Novo Nordiskis designed to help type 2 diabetes patients control their blood sugar levels or for obese people to lose weight for health purposes.

However, the injections, known collectively as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), are known to cause worrying side effects such as pancreatitiswhen the pancreas suddenly becomes inflamedor gastrointestinal issues.

Recalling her terrifying ordeal, Ms Eastburn said: 'I would say think long and hard before taking a GLP-1 as it almost killed me.

'If you care about your family or people that you love, think about them having to live life without you as it might kill you. Being thin is not worth losing your life.

'I'd been struggling with my weight for years. I was post-menopause and my whole metabolism just changed and I had tried everything to lose weight.

'When I went to see my doctor, my doctor said I'd benefit from a GLP-1 and I trusted them.

'At first, it seemed like a miracle as the weight was just coming off.

After her 'trusted' doctor suggested she was eligible for the weight loss injection, she began on a low dose of the drug and soon noticed her weight drop. Pictured, in hospital after surgery

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'I was trying to get thin for my son's wedding and I knew I had to do something drastic as I was desperate to look better. I didn't want to hate the wedding photos for the rest of my life.

'[By July 1st], I had lost 15lbs and I felt better and that there was hope.

'But when my weight loss plateaued, I upped my dose so I could get to my goal of losing 20lbs.'

She added: 'The first week the nausea was uncontrollable and I had no desire to eat or drink anything.

'The heartburn was at an all-new level and it was excruciatingly painful all day long.

'In week two, I went wedding dress shopping and I was sick as a dog.

'I was dry heaving and I was fighting the urge to throw up all day. I then had violent diarrhoea for four days.

'[On July 15th], when we landed, an ambulance took me to the hospital straight away and I was diagnosed with a burst appendix.

After her weight plateaued in July, weeks before the wedding, the mum-of-three suddenly increased her dosagewhich experts have long warned against. Pictured Ms Eastburn with son Chase at his wedding

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'It was terrifying. Within 15 minutes of leaving the airport I was in a hospital room. The doctor said my appendix had ruptured and they needed to remove it.'

After having her appendix removed, Ms Eastburn spent four days in hospital, which saw her miss her son Chase's rehearsal dinner.

Despite being discharged in time for the wedding, she spent the day in pain and unable to walk properly, she added.

Following the celebrations, she was hospitalised again over concerns about internal bleeding, delaying their flight home until July 29.

Ms Eastburn said: 'I was really upset and when I couldn't go to the dress rehearsal I just cried as I felt like it was my fault as I did this to myself.

'I missed all of this as I wanted to be thin and it broke my heart.

'On the wedding day we went at the very last minute as I was in so much pain. Sitting on a chair was so painful and I could barely walk.

'When my son saw me sitting in the front row, he came over and hugged me for the longest time and bawled like a baby.

After having her appendix removed, Ms Eastburn spent four days in hospital, which saw her miss her son Chase's rehearsal dinner

'For the longest time, we didn't think I was going to be at the wedding, much less live to tell anyone about it.'

She added: 'My weight was the last thing on my mind at the wedding and I was so swollen and my stomach was so puffy.

'It was the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen and to see my son marry the woman of his dreams was amazing.

'I didn't care about my size as I was just so proud to be there. It was hard to stand and do the mother-son dance, but I was so grateful.

'I will never jeopardise or endanger myself again with any drugs to lose weight as that was too close of a call.'

A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk told the Daily Mail: 'We understand and empathise with the health challenges this patient has faced. While we cannot comment on this particular incident, the safety and wellbeing of patients taking our medicines is our top priority.

'We strongly recommend that all patients stay in close contact with their healthcare professional for proper diagnosis, ongoing guidance, and careful monitoring.

'It is important to note that Ozempic is a prescription-only medicine, meaning that it must be prescribed by a healthcare professional under strict supervision.

'Patients must make any decisions about treatment together with their healthcare professional so that their doctor can assess whether it is appropriate to prescribe the medicine or not, based on their assessment of the patients individual medical profile.

'Accessing prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription or without the care of a healthcare professional can pose a direct danger to health.'

It comes as a a Mail on Sunday investigation in January revealed almost 400 Brits had been hospitalisedsome with life-threatening complicationssince the rollout of weight loss jabs.

Most of the reactions were gastrointestinal issues such as persistent nausea and diarrhoea, which leave some patients with severe dehydration'.

But some doctors warned they were seeing patients with serious, life-threatening complications including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis.

Under official guidelines, only patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 35 and at least one weight-related health problem like high blood pressure, or those who have a BMI of 30 to 34.9 and meet the criteria for referral to a specialist weight management service, should be prescribed weight loss jabs.

In the UK, law forbids the sale of such drugs without a prescription from a medical professional.
Gayle King's future at CBS Mornings is uncertain as networks boss are not happy with the star's focus on DEI and tanking ratings, according to a new report.

King, who earns and eye-watering $15million a year, has reportedly refused to follow her bosses' attempts to move away from polarizing coverage, sources told the New York Post.

The sources claimed that the 70-year-old anchor and her executive producer Shawna Thomas have alienated viewers with ultra-progressive programming, like an interview with RuPauls Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen, who was promoting his 'gender-bending' novel Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert.

Ratings for the last-place morning show, once a cash cow for the network, have dropped to below 2million in recent months, according to Nielsen figures cited by The Post.

Meanwhile Gayle lost between 20 to 30 percent of her audience in the last three weeks when compared to last year in the coveted 25- to 54-year-old demographic.

'The audience doesnt want woke. It doesnt like progressive and provocative bookings,' one of the sources told The Post.

Gayle King's $15million salary at CBS News is uncertain as the show's ratings continue to plummet. She is pictured with co-hosts Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson, and executive producer Shawna Thomas in June

The sources claimed Gayle and her executive producer Thomas have alienated viewers with ultra-progressive programming, like an interview with Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen

Thomas views herself as a 'major journalist who wants to heavy reporting and provocative interviews with edgy guests

'The morning show audience wants optimism and cheer and joy and what they were producing is at odds with audience expectations.'

Gayle signed a contract extension last year for between $13 and $15million that is scheduled to end in May 2026, a source told The Post.

Skydance Media, which is to take over running CBS likely won't offer Gayle the same deal given the ratings, the source added.

The potential Mornings shake up come as CBS canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, whose own reported $15million contract also ends next May.

Gayle's producer Shawna Thomas had reportedly already been told to tone down the progressive content, but just 'didn't do what she was told.'

Thomas views herself as a 'major journalist who wants to heavy reporting and provocative interviews with edgy guests, insiders said.

However, Thomas kept her job because she has Gayle's support.

The Post, citing sources, reported that aside from the woke programming, viewers were 'alienated' by the fact none of the show's anchors, aside from Tony Dokoupil, are white.

A shakeup is expected once Skydance, led by CEO David Ellison, takes over the network.

Gayle signed a contract extension last year for between $13 and $15million that is scheduled to end in May 2026

Viewers were reportedly 'alienated' by the fact none of the show's anchors, aside from Tony Dokoupil, are white

As part of the deal with the FCC, Skydance pledged to monitor for political bias and Paramount eliminated its DEI policies.

DailyMail.com reached out to CBS for comment on this story.

The network declined to comment to the New York Post.

As previously reported, CBS Mornings is leaving its prized Times Square studio amid ongoing cost cutting efforts and plummeting ratings.

The last-placed morning show spent big just four years ago to build the state-of-the-art studio, which reportedly cost tens of millions of dollars.

But CBS Mornings is packing up and moving home to the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.

The move is reportedly slated for September and comes as CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon makes efforts to slash $500million from the network's budget.

As part of the move, CBS Mornings will now share a studio with CBS Evening News.
From dozy drivers ploughing into the back of stationary vehicles to motorists on the wrong side of the road causing head-on collisions, these dash cam clips showcase some of the most dangerous motorists in Britain.

A montage of 10 videos showing incredibly careless and reckless driving - all captured in the last 12 months - have been exclusively shared with the Daily Mail.

They've also been sent directly to the police in the hope of securing prosecutions.

The footage displays thoughtless overtaking on country roads, hasty antics on motorways, and terrible judgement at busy junctions.

It shows how some individuals are risking the lives of others to save seconds on their journey, by driving well beyond their vehicle's limits, or simply switching off behind the wheel.

All but one result in crashes, with the exception being a near miss that leaves one driver screaming in fear.

The videos have been released by dash cam brand Nextbase to mark the seventh anniversary of its police dash cam portal, which allows road users to upload incriminating footage caught on recording devices directly to forces to be used as evidence.

A montage of 10 videos showing incredibly careless and reckless driving - all captured in the last 12 months - have been exclusively shared with the Daily Mail

The ten videos show some of the 'most shocking crashes and scary near misses' recorded on dash cams over the last year.

The first - which took place in April this year - shows a preoccupied young driver in a bright yellow Fiat 500 who fails to stop when approaching a stopped car in front, with the rear-facing camera capturing the sickening point of collision.

Despite being at relatively low speed, the impact thrusts the female driver forwards into her deployed airbag, while the windscreen on the passenger side of the car smashes on the force of the airbag going off.

The second clip plays out a head on collision involving a foreign registered supercar captured in Peth in Scotland.

It shows the driver of a 260,000 Aston Martin DBS - either from Netherlands of Luxembourg, given the yellow front number plate) - on the wrong side of the road crashing head-on into an unsuspecting driver entering a blind bend in the wet.

Video three involves a Highway Maintenance tipper truck pulling out of what looks to be a dual carriageway slip road or emergency refuge area, with the luckless driver unable to take evasive action and flipping their vehicle into its side after striking the side of the lorry.

Another clip from March this year shows a queue of traffic formed behind a slow-moving tanker.

When a fast-approaching driver is unable is unable to slow down in time, the footage shows them running into the back of another motorist, their car flipping onto its side and deflecting into the path of the dash cam user, who is unable to take evasive action.

One of the dramatic clips shows the moment an oncoming car fails to slow down for slow-moving traffic, collides with another vehicle and flips onto its roof before hitting the driver's car with the dash cam rolling

This video shows the only non-collision out of the 10 clips, but the footage is still shocking

The next video shows the moment an unsuspecting driver in Wales turns a corner on a country road to find an out-of-control Mercedes-Benz swerving towards them.

Clearly travelling too fast for the wet conditions, the luxury German motor skids off the road into a grass verge before shooting back onto the road into the path of the shocked motorist.

The dash cam user manages to steer out of the way of disaster, though only just.

Other clips show a transporter carrying a car ploughs into the back of a van entering a roundabout on a dual carriageway triggering a domino effect of crashes, an Audi driver reversing into another road user at a set of traffic lights, and an HGV changing lanes on a motorway and side-swiping an unfortunate motorist.

Another clip is a recording of a transporter carrying a car that ploughs into the back of a van entering a roundabout on a dual carriageway, triggering a domino effect of crashes

An Audi driver, seemingly entering the wrong lane at a set of traffic lights, attempts to reverse without noticing the car directly behind them

One of the videos shows an HGV changing lanes on a motorway and side-swiping an unfortunate motorist

The last of the videos, recorded just last month, is arguably the scariest of all.

It shows a motorist attempting to undertake slow-moving traffic on a stretch of smart motorway with no hard shoulder.

However, when they move into lane one, they are quickly faced with a van and car already involved in a collision and the drivers out of the vehicle.

Unable to avoid the crashed vehicles, the reckless motorist smashes into the back of the van at the moment a women can be seen trying to open the rear doors of the stricken car in front.

The last video, recorded less than a month ago, shows a drivers colliding into the back of a van that has already been involved in a crash. A woman, who appears to have also been caught up in the initial collision, somehow manages to escape unscathed

The clips represent the kind of videos used in many cases that have helped Britons to report dangerous driving as well as prove who is fault for an accident when making an insurance claim.

Videos captured on dash cams and recording devices of other road users - like cyclists' helmet cameras - can also be uploaded to the National Dash Cam Safety Portal to help the Police catch dangerous drivers.

The portal - which launched in July 2018 - has received nearly 30,000 submissions already in 2025, a 25 per cent increase on the same period last year, indicating that drivers are increasingly capturing and reporting instances of reckless driving.

Some 35 UK police forces are using the portal, and other are currently in discussion to utilise it soon.

In the year to date, the top five regions processing the most uploads include: West Midlands, West Murcia, Northumberland, Surrey and South Yorkshire.

These five regions have already received over 22,000 submissions in 2025, more than the total number submitted across the UK in the whole of 2021.

In the last seven years, a whopping 185,000 dangerous driving clips have been uploaded.

And 70 per cent of submissions have resulted in further action, whether than be warning letters or the issuing of penalty points and prosecution.

By streamlining the process of submitting evidence, the portal is estimated to have saved over 169 years of police time.

Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, commented: 'These videos highlight the serious incidents that Britons see on a daily basis on our roads, many of which would be difficult to explain or prove fault in.

'People submit these types of clips to us on a daily basis and even more are using video evidence to help take dangerous drivers off the road through the portal.

'Dash Cams are increasingly seen as an essential bit of kit for a motorist looking to protect themselves and their no-claims bonuses.'

Road casualties in Britain increased by 1% in 2024. As the graph shows, there has been little success in attempts to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads for over a decade

Motorcyclist deaths rose 9% between 2023 and 2024. There was also an increase in pedestrian deaths, up 2%, the DfT statistics show

The report comes after official DfT stats published in May showed a 1 per cent increase in people killed on Britain roads - 1,633 last year, up from 1,624 in 2023.

With 2020 and 2021 statistics considered outliers due to pandemic-related lockdowns dramatically reducing traffic levels, this is the first increase in annual road deaths recorded since 2017.

Motorcyclist deaths increased most dramatically by 9 per cent last year with some 343 motorbike riders losing their lives in crashes in 2024, up from 315 during the previous 12 months.

As such, motorcyclists made up a fifth (21 per cent) of road fatalities last year.

There was also an increase in pedestrian deaths, up 2 per cent from 405 in 2023 to 413 in 2024.

Bryn said the increase in road users uploading incriminating evidence of dangerous driving highlights the demand for 'technological solutions to improve road safety'.

He added: 'We are pleased that almost all forces across England and Wales now accept video evidence in this way, making it easier to take dangerous drivers off the road, something that has undoubtedly saved lives.'
The FTSE 100 has hit a series of record highs, surpassing 9,000 points for the first time in July, and then breaking through 9,100.

Despite a slip-up at the end of last week, the FTSE 100 still closed at 9,067. Already, bulls will be setting their targets on the 10,000-point mark in the years to come.

The FTSE 100 has grown by more than 10 per cent this year so far, while the FTSE 250 is up almost 7 per cent.

The standout big name performer this year has been Rolls-Royce, with the engineer's shares up 78 per cent since the start of 2025 - and an astonishing 1,100 per cent over the past five years.

Yet for investors looking strike it rich on a true gold mine stock over the long term, the UK might not be the place to look.

Analysis from IG, shared exclusively with This is Money, suggests that investors hoping to find a 'ten-bagger' stock should be looking across the pond - where they are 22 times more likely to find a higher performer than in the UK.

A ten-bagger is a stock that multiplies its value tenfold over a ten-year period, delivering a 1,000 per cent or higher gain.

Star performer: Games Workshop's impressive return places it as the sixth highest growing ten-bagger in the list

While Rolls-Royce has ten-bagged from its lows, just a single main market UK stock proved to be a ten-bagger over the decade-long period that IG looked at: Warhammer maker, Games Workshop.

The firm returned 3,109 per cent during the period, according to IG analysis covering the S&P 500, Europe's Stoxx 600 and the UK's FTSE 350 over the ten years from the end of June 2015 to the end of June 2025, based on share price gains alone.

The Nottingham-based firm, which only joined the ranks of the FTSE 100 in December last year, is something of an unlikely British success story.

In June 2015, Games Workshop shares were worth around 500 pence each, having languished under the 10 market since the 1990s, before booming in the past decade.

Games Workshop's impressive return places it as the ninth highest growing ten-bagger in the list.

> How Games Workshop transformed into a miniature wargames giant

Top 10 ten-bagger stocks, 2015-2025 Rank Company 10-year share price growth Geography 1 Nvidia Corp. 29,959% US 2 Advanced Micro Devices 5,524% US 3 Argenx SE 4,535% Europe 4 Rheinmetall AG 3,585% Europe 5 Evolution AB 3,167% Europe 6 Games Workshop Group PLC 3,109% Europe 7 Axon Enterprise Inc 2,237% US 8 Texas Pacific Land Corp 2,077% US 9 Fair Isaac Corp 1,913% US 10 Arista Networks 1,834% US Source: IG, data is across the FTSE 350, S&P 500 and Stoxx 600

How the US became the home of ten-baggers

However, its growth still pales in comparison with US darling Nvidia, with the chipmaker and largest company in the world rising an eye-watering 29,959 per cent since 2015.

The S&P 500 had 23 ten-baggers in total, including Advanced Micro Devices, rising 5,254 per cent, and Axon Enterprise, which increased 2,237 per cent.

Other big US names like Tesla and Netflix also made it into the list.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: 'Every investor dreams of finding the next Apple or Nvidia - stocks that transform portfolios with tenfold returns. But those headline-grabbing success stories are far more common in the US than in the UK.

'While American markets boast the world's biggest tech giants, the FTSE 100 is still dominated by more traditional names which don't always fire the imagination in the same way.'

Even mainland Europe far outweighs the UK, with 14 of the Stoxx 600 delivering tenfold returns over the decade.

Dutch biotech firm Argenx SE grew 4,535 per cent over the period, while German defence frim Rheinmetall AG has risen 3,585 per cent since 2015.

IG said Europe's ten-baggers are noticeably more diversified than the US' tech-heavy winners, although still mainly focused around tech and healthcare.

Of course, IG's analysis only includes 350 UK stocks, compared to 600 for Europe and 500 for the US.

Still, the UK's lag on high growth stocks comes amid continued concerns that London is no longer a competitive market, and fewer companies are choosing to bet on going public in the UK.

This year so far, some 70 companies have left the UK market, while over recent years big names have fled the UK, with the likes of chipmaker Arm and gambling firm Flutter betting on the US, while most recently UK fintech Wise has said it plans to move its listing to New York.

Beauchamp added: 'To change that, the UK needs to do more to attract and retain high-growth companies, particularly in tech and innovation.

'That means making London a more appealing place to list - and encouraging a shift in corporate culture, with more focus on long-term reinvestment and growth rather than just delivering dividends.'
My 16 year-old daughter is dead set on getting an EV as a first car. Shell start learning to drive in October when she turns 17, and I have some big reservations about her learning in and driving an electric car.

Firstly, Im concerned insurance will be astronomically expensive. Secondly, Im worried about her not being able to drive a manual car. Thirdly, Im worried that shell end up charging in unsafe places.

We had a deal that my wife and I would buy her a nearly-new car if she got a Saturday job to pay for the insurance and fuel. She's entirely held up her end of the bargain there.

Shell be sharing it with her mother and will pass it on to her younger brother in a couple of years time (he's also keen on an EV).

She says her mates are getting EVs and she wants to be environmentally friendly.

Can you advise me if my reservations are warranted or Im just being an old fuddy duddy? David, Nottingham

My daughter wants to buy an EV to learn to drive in but as her father I'm against it. Am I OLD fashioned in my thinking or are my concerns over cost, charging safety and not knowing how to drive a manual car legitimate?

Daily Mail and This is Money electric cars expert Freda Lewis-Stempel replies: David, welcome to the joys of independent teenagers. 10 years ago I was getting my first car, and although I wasnt getting an EV, the family 'debates' around what ended up being my 1.6-litre Peugeot 207 are still etched on my memory today.

I completely understand that you want your daughter to have the safest, most sensible, best value for money first car. And you're asking the same questions as many parents because so many young people now want to own an EV: almost half of learners want lessons in an EV.

So to make sure you're armed with all the facts, Ive asked some of the leading experts in each area to give you their best insight and advice.

The rest I'm afraid is down to trusting your daughter  as youve said shes done everything asked of her, and just because you wouldn't chose an EV doesn't mean it's the wrong choice for her. Also the 'my friends all have one' is always hard argument to resist... Good luck with that one!

MoneySuperMarket explains that EVs are more expensive to insure but used EVs are cheaper and the cost of insuring EVs is coming down

How insurance costs for an EV learner compare

Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket says: Generally, insurance premiums for electric vehicles (EVs) are higher than petrol and diesel cars because EVs tend to be more expensive to buy upfront and repair, batteries are costly components, and repairs often need specialist knowledge and parts.

'As a result, insurers will factor in the greater cost and complexity of claims when calculating premiums.

Between 01 January 2025 and 29 July 2025, the average price of an annual premium bought through MoneySuperMarket by under-25s was 1,771 for an electric vehicle and 1,467 for petrol.

However, there has been an increase in the availability of more affordable EVs that are suited to learner and newly passed drivers. Models like the Renault Zoe, Vauxhall Corsa-e or Nissan Leaf often come with lower insurance group ratings.

'As more people buy EVs and insurers build more detailed risk profiles, the cost gap between EV and petrol car insurance will continue to fall.

The average annual car insurance cost for electric vehicles has fallen by more than 100 since 2023 according to MoneySuperMarket data.

Expert tips to keep learner EV insurance down: 1. Choose a telematic or black box policy This tracks driving behaviours, and rewards careful driving with lower premiums. For younger drivers, who are usually seen as higher risk by insurers, this can make a meaningful difference in terms of cost. 2. Check charging small print When selecting a policy, review the charging details. Insurers may ask if the EV is charged at home or in public, since street charging can increase risk of vandalism or theft. 3. Compare quotes A simple one but make sure you compare quotes to get the right cover at the best price.

Freda Lewis-Stempel adds: So, while youre not wrong David that insurance will indeed be higher for an EV, its not astronomically higher as you feared.

In fact insuring a used EV (which is the case for your daughter) tends to be cheaper than insuring a brand-new one, mainly due to depreciation.

Ms Hempstead also said that adding an experienced driver like a parent (in this case your wife) to the policy can reduce the premium as its seen as lower risk by insurers.

But she warns that while its fine if the parent occasionally uses the car, the main driver must be accurately listed on the policy or it will be viewed as fronting which is illegal. If the main driver is your daughter then make sure she's named as such.

She also points out that newer EVs often have the latest safety technology including automatic emergency braking, lane assist and crash avoidance systems which can help reduce the likelihood of accidents and may be rewarded with slightly lower premiums. These safety devices can also lower your amount of 'dad worrying' too.

Geraint Lewis, at Red Driver Training says: 'The quiet operation of an EV allows students to better focus on instructions and the road environment'

Is it a bad idea to learn in an EV rather than a manual?

A major concern is that passing your test in an EV is likely to mean not being able to drive a manual car.

It's true that your daughter won't master manual car skills including clutch control, stalling or hill starts because EVs don't have a manual transmission or clutch pedal, but Geraint Lewis, Head of Training at Red Driver Training said there are 'benefits' to EVs too.

He comments: The quiet operation of an EV allows students to better focus on instructions and the road environment. Many EVs feature regenerative braking, which slows the car when you lift off the accelerator.

'This helps learners understand braking dynamics and can reduce reliance on the brake pedal. Some models even let you adjust how strong the regenerative braking feels.

'Driving instructors teach students how to respond to the EV just as they would with any car, so learners quickly adapt to the different feel.

Geraint added that while EVs deliver instant torque and smooth acceleration many EVs include settings that reduce throttle sensitivity, making it easier for beginners to control the car while theyre learning.'

What are the wider benefits to learning to drive in an EV? RED Driver Training comments: 1. EVs are easier to maintain With fewer moving parts and no need for oil changes, routine maintenance is generally simpler and cheaper than for petrol or diesel cars. 2. Environmentally cleaner EVs produce no exhaust emissions, helping to reduce local air pollution and greenhouse gas output. Furthermore, quiet operation also contributes to less noise pollution, creating a calmer driving environment. 3. Reduce family costs EVs have fewer moving parts, meaning less routine maintenance, and electricity is generally cheaper than petrol or diesel per mile. This can be particularly beneficial to families trying to reduce costs and young drivers.

Which are the best EV models for learners?

We asked our friends at Autotrader to recommend some great learner EVs, so you can feel confident you're buying your daughter the right set of wheels.

Erin Baker, of Autotrader, said: 'For learners, affordable models like the VW e-Up! and Mini Hatch, or the T03 from new brand player Leapmotor are all excellent options.

'The electric versions of learner favourites like the Vauxhall Corsa are also great choices for new drivers on a budget.

'The Hyundai Ioniq is another great choice for value, with it being praised for its spacious practicality and smooth ride, which is also ideal for new drivers. Whats more, the car is very sustainable due to their battery life being incredibly long. A full charge can be achieved in around 35 minutes, and even a quick 7 minute top-up can add 30 miles of range.'

Asmart home charger and an EV tariff can save a lot of money.

EV charging  is it cheap?

Youve mentioned that youre getting a home EV charger, so before we get into how safe public charging is, let's address home charging.

EV home charger provider Ohme looked into the home charging cost savings to be made for us.

Ohme charging specialist Nat Barnes says: Charging at home will always be the cheapest place to charge your car  especially if you are on a smart home energy tariff such as Intelligent Octopus Go and have a compatible charger such as those from Ohme. That gives you electricity at just 7p/kWh compared to the standard rate of 25.73p/kWh.

Thats the difference of a full charge for a Vauxhall Corsa Electric [a popular learner EV] costing 3.57 or 13.13 for its 266 mile range and 51kWh battery. By comparison an equivalent petrol car over 266 miles would cost more than 40 at 40mpg average fuel economy.'

Savings from home charging: Ohme compares the cost of annual driving in the UK when filling up with fuel or using an EV tariff

Public charging safety is a legitimate worry but new charging sites like the InstaVolt Superhub at Winchester have 24/7 security, the whole site is lit, there are advanced recognition cameras and remote monitoring

Freda Lewis-Stempel adds: Costs aside, from a safety point of view if your daughter is mainly charging from home then that is of course as safe as it gets.

For when she does occasionally charge on the go its unlikely that this will be late at night or at remote locations.

But as a young woman charging myself, I will say that theres been a huge step to ensure safe EV charging all times of the day in recent years.

The new InstaVolt Superhub at Winchester that I visited recently is a great example. It has comprehensive security features, which include 24/7 CCTV site surveillance on high-performance 8MP cameras.

There is on-site security when the on-site coffee facilities are closed, lighting illuminating all walkways, charging bays, and parking areas, as well as intelligent monitoring advanced recognition cameras, ANPR-enabled cameras that instantly detect and notify InstaVolt of any blacklisted vehicles, and remote monitoring of the entire site managed by InstaVolts head office.

I appreciate that sounds like a list for Mission Impossible's Ethan Hunt, but it really goes to show how advanced EV charging safety is becoming  far better than most petrol stations.
Motor finance lenders and their investors breathed a 'small sigh of relief' on Monday morning after a landmark Supreme Court ruling left them facing a much smaller compensation bill than initially feared.

On Friday, the Supreme Court delivered a blow to car buyers after it sided with major lenders in the car finance scandal. Had the decision gone the other way, it could have led to 44billion of payouts dubbed 'PPI on wheels'.

However, the Financial Conduct Authority announced it will consult on an industry-wide redress scheme that could begin paying out from next year.

While the latest estimates are below forecasts as high as 40billion prior to the ruling, analysts have warned cash set aside by lenders so far falls well short of their potential liabilities.

And the market's biggest lenders  Lloyds, Barclays and Close Brothers  look set to shoulder the largest burden.

The Financial Conduct Authority said on Monday it would consult with the motor finance industry over a redress scheme for motorists claiming to have been overcharged, estimating the total bill could hit between 9billion and 18billion.

Decision: The landmark Supreme Court ruling left lenders facing a much smaller compensation bill than initially feared

Analysts at RBC have estimated the cost to come in at 11.5billion.

RBC thinks roughly two-thirds of compensation would come from non-bank lenders, which had a larger market share over the period the court ruling applied to. It forecasts 3.8billion would come from the banks, and 7.7bn would come from the non-banks.

But that would leave the sector facing an enormous shortfall, having set aside a combined total of just 2billion for compensation, according to Shore Capital Markets.

FTSE 100 Lloyds shares jumped 5.9 per cent to 80.22p in early trading, while Close Brothers - over which the scandal has weighed most heavily - soared 23 per cent to 489.4p.

Barclays, which has relatively little exposure to the scandal, was up 1.7 per cent at 362.6p.

Among smaller London-listed rivals Secure Trust Bank was up 19 per cent to 1,160p, while Vanquis Banking Group was up 5.4 per cent and Paragon Banking Group was up 2.2 per cent.

Setting out the parameters of its consultation on potential compensation, the FCA said it wants to ensure any redress scheme would be 'fair to consumers who have lost out' but 'ensure the integrity of the motor finance market, so it works well for future consumers'.

This means the cumulative size of redress cannot be allowed to break the market.

The regulator is expected to detail its proposed consultation by early October, ahead of a six-week consultation period before a redress scheme is finalised.

Payments to customers are therefore likely to begin next year, with the FCA indicating most individuals will receive less than 950 in compensation  compared to typical payments of 1,000 to 2,000 after the PPI scandal.

Shore Capital research analyst Gary Greenwood wrote in a note on Monday: 'The Supreme Court's judgement will allow the motor finance industry and its investors to breathe a partial sigh of relief, given the worst-case scenario is off the table.'

He said some smaller lenders should be relatively insulated as they have 'limited exposure to motor dealers, have historically focused on relatively simple commission agreementsand have correctly followed regulatory guidelines on commission disclosure'.

However, Lloyds, Barclays and Close Brothers could face a heavier burden.

Greenwood said: 'The larger lenders with more complicated commission agreements and/or those that have failed to follow the regulatory rules on disclosure, may still be exposed to sizeable remediation costs, albeit to a much lesser extent than if all three judgements had been upheld.

'[Lloyds, Close Brothers and Barclays] may still need to set aside further provisions, albeit to a lesser extent than would have been the case if the Supreme Court had upheld all three of the Court of Appeal's judgements.

'However, what is unclear to us is what proportion of the industry liability may ultimately rest outside of the UK banking industry and with the finance arms of the major motor manufacturers, who presumably represent a large part of the motor finance industry but have to date set aside very little by way of provision.

'Could it be that they will be responsible for picking up the largest part of the industry provisioning shortfall?'

Lloyds told investors on Monday it would keep its 1.2billion provision for motor finance claims under review.

It said: 'The ultimate impact on the Group will be determined by a number of factors still to be resolved, in particular the outcome of the FCA consultation and any further interventions as well as any broader implications of the judgment, including legal proceedings and complaints.

'After initial assessment of the Supreme Court judgment, and pending resolution of the outstanding uncertainties, in particular the FCA redress scheme, the group currently believes that if there is any change to the provision it is unlikely to be material in the context of the group.'

Close Brothers, which had previously set aside 165million, also provided no update to its provision and said it looked forward to engaging with the FCA on its consultation.

Barclays, which set aside 90million for redress in its financial results for 2024, has yet to comment.

Stephen Haddrill, director general of the Finance & Leasing Association, said in a statement: 'We have concerns about whether it is possible to have a fair redress scheme that goes back to 2007 when firms have not been required to hold such dated information, and the evidence base will be patchy at best.

'We will be interested to see how the FCA addresses this point in its consultation.'
Papa John's has closed 74 of its pizza takeaway outlets across the country due to severe financial difficulties.

The UK arm of the American fast food chain suffered pre-tax losses of 21.8million in the latest financial year.

Papa John's revenue has also taken a hit with newly-filed accounts on government website Companies House showing a drop from 95.9million to 88.6million.

Moreover, the last time the pizza chain achieved a pre-tax profit in the UK was in 2021 when it recorded 8.1m, The Mirror has reported.

The closure of the 74 outlets has taken place over the course of a year, but was only confirmed today.

It is unclear how many staff at the takeaway pizza chain, which has more than 400 stores across the UK, have been affected by the announcement.

> One of Britain's leading property experts reveals the best house to buy now

Papa John's has closed 74 of its pizza takeaway outlets across the country due to severe financial difficulties (file photo)

It is unclear how many staff at the takeaway pizza chain have been affected by the announcement (file photo)

A spokesperson for the company said: 'In 2024 we continued to navigate the effects of global disruption; ongoing geopolitical issues, staffing shortages and rises in commodity costs.'

They added: 'Whilst there was an improvement in consumer confidence, this remains below pre-pandemic levels with consumers more cost-conscious and more risk averse.'

In March last year, Papa John's announced it would be shutting 43 'underperforming' restaurants across Britain - nearly a tenth of its total stores.

Chris Phylactou, managing director at Papa Johns UK, previously said: 'Our priority is our team members, who will be fully supported throughout this process.

'Our goal is to work with impacted team members and attempt to find redeployment opportunities where available.

'We understand the impact this will have on our team members and are committed to supporting them during this time.'

Papa Johns explained it has plans to increase investment in research and technology, such as better utilising customer data, as part of its UK strategy.

It also said it will look at the development of new types of sites beyond traditional restaurants, such as expanding into holiday parks.

Mr Phylactou added in his comments last year: 'While this is a difficult decision, closing these underperforming locations will give us the opportunity to invest back into the right locations with the right partners for long-term growth.

In March last year, Papa John's announced it would be shutting 43 'underperforming' restaurants across Britain - nearly a tenth of its total stores

Graphic shows the Papa John's stores that closed following the announcement last March

'We are focused on driving shared profitable growth across our UK restaurants, by continuing to make improvements to our business to ensure that we are well positioned for the future.

'We have been encouraged by the results so far from these initiatives.'

Despite closing the underperforming stores, Papa John's has opened another seven new ones across the UK.

Last March, the chain opened a new branch in Sleaford, Lincolnshire brining 20 new jobs to the local area.

Mayor of Sleaford, Councillor Anthony Brand said: 'I was delighted to be asked to open Sleaford's newest Papa Johns.

'As mayor, it's always great to see restaurants and businesses creating new jobs in the borough for members of the local community.'
On the face of it, an innocuous work trip to Bristol offers the chance to get out of the office and take in a new part of the country with a few colleagues.

But, for Colin Griffiths, what promised to be an enticing two-day visit to the West Country turned into a five-month ordeal as a battle over a pair of Clean Air Zone fines prompted sleepless nights, a ruined holiday and a spiralling bill on the company card.

The 56-year-old, from Bedford, was initially handed a reduced penalty of 18 but, despite paying it immediately, saw it increase more than 10-fold to 267 after the council claimed he had not coughed up the cash.

In reality, it was the local authority that had been kicking its heels, taking weeks at a time to respond to Mr Griffiths's appeals and hiking the fines with no apparent rhyme or reason.

The beleaguered employee eventually paid the heavily inflated amount just to put the nightmare behind him, but it left a distinctly sour taste in his mouth.

He told the Daily Mail that he should not even have been fined in the first place.

'I didn't see any any notices whatsoever,' he said. 'Absolutely none.

'My friend, subsequently, said, "yeah, they're an absolute nightmare, their signs are not obvious at all."'

Colin Griffiths, pictured, endured a five-month ordeal as a battle over a pair of Clean Air Zone fines prompted sleepless nights, a ruined holiday and a spiralling bill on the company card

A month after his two-night stay in the city in early October 2024, Mr Griffiths was told by the company's accountant that he had received two fines for breaching a Clean Air Zone in the Green Party-run city.

The policy was introduced in November 2022 and applies to all vehicles except a limited number of petrol-powered vehicles released since 2006; one type of diesel vehicles released since the end of 2015; fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; Energy Saving Trust's Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme vehicles; and motorbikes.

It is one of seven such zones in England, with London boasting a similar but separate Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).

But Mr Griffiths was none the wiser about the scheme, which meant his car had been slapped with a 9 daily charge, boosted to 69 each thanks to a supposed delay in paying despite the council not contacting him for four weeks.

He appealed both of them - a decision that would prompt months of misery and a penalty which would soon spiral out of control.

It took the council a further four weeks to respond to his correspondence, at which point it said he could be let off with a 9 fine for the Sunday offence, with seemingly no news regarding the Saturday one.

Mr Griffiths claims he paid this straight away, through the link and code provided, and the money left his account, heralding what he thought was the end of an already frustrating ordeal.

Bristol City Council introduced a Clean Air Zone in November 2022 which applies to all vehicles apart from a limited number of exemptions (Stock Photo)

He should be so lucky. In January, Bristol City Council revisited the saga and told him he had not paid the fine after all and that he had supposedly ignored letters of reminder over the festive period.

An investigation later found that he had paid the sum to Bath Council instead, although Mr Griffiths is insistent he used the link and reference code provided by Bristol.

The local authority also finally got back to Mr Griffiths about the Saturday penalty and said that this was also late, meaning he owed 129 for this one alone.

All this, despite it being the first correspondence he had had regarding the Saturday fine since he appealed it back in November.

'They just kept putting on more and more fines and fees,' he said.

Nonetheless, he dug into his pockets to pay the penalty and end the saga once and for all.

But it was still far from over. In February, Bristol revisited the Sunday penalty, claiming he had not paid it in December when he said he had.

It turned out the fine somehow went to Bath Council despite Mr Griffiths using the link and code provided by Bristol in their email.

Mr Griffiths was initially handed a reduced penalty of 18 but, despite paying it immediately, saw it increase more than 10-fold to 267 after the council claimed he had not coughed up the cash (Stock Photo of Bristol City Centre)

The upshot was a rehiking of the already hiked penalty, the 120 added onto the original 9 would be shooting up to 180, creating a mega Clean Air fine of 189.

Bristol also threatened the increasingly stressed Mr Griffiths with a court appearance.

'I'd been on holiday, and I was getting really stressed about this because their senior manager just wasn't interested in communicating with me anymore,' he said.

'So on that basis, [they said] "tough, it's going to go to a debt recovery agency, so we'll see you in court."

'I actually can't be dealing with this - it's a lot of money, but I don't need the aggravation. It's ruining my holiday. I'm having sleepless nights.'

He gave in - and paid the eye-watering 189 figure Bristol had concocted, meaning he had now spent 267 on the two fines, including the 9 December payment and the 69 January transfer.

This was painful for Mr Griffiths, who insists he did everything right and any delays were caused by the council's own tardiness.

'I did everything that they asked,' he said. 'I dealt with everything in a timely fashion as soon as I received it and paid them straight away, and even chased them.

'It's upsetting, and I like to do the right thing by people. And I was on holiday and getting these emails, I'm like, "I don't need this aggravation and worrying about it", especially as it's a company car, not mine, and I'm worried.

'My boss knows I wouldn't have abused his hospitality, but it was very stressful, it really was.

'Absolutely [the fact it was company car made it more stressful]. I just felt totally pressured into paying it.

'I paid it and I had to bite the bullet and walk away. I cannot emphasise the stress it put me under.'

Will it make him think twice about visiting the Green-run city again?

'Definitely. My friend's wife said you can't obviously see the signs for the Ulez - they don't make it obvious at all,' he said.

'It's a money-making scheme.'

For Mr Griffiths, the time for apologies is over and only a refund could make him feel better about his Clean Air Zone nightmare.

He added: 'I would love my money back. Not expecting a penny out of them though. It was outrageous.

'I want my money back. Not an apology.

'I can't see compensation happening, but 100 per cent (think I'm entitled to it). They're keyboard warriors - or bullies rather.'

The Daily Mail has approached Bristol City Council for comment.
Across the country, furious Aussies are banding together to block McDonald's aggressive plan to open 50 new outlets by the end of 2026 - as millions of others continue to enjoy Big Macs and McFlurries.

Despite already operating 1,053 stores nationwide, McDonald's latest push into neighbourhoods from inner-city Newtown in Sydney to leafy Hendra in Brisbane is fuelling local resistance over traffic, and the loss of local identity.

The latest flashpoint is in Newtown, where a development application was recently lodged for a 24/7 outlet in a renovated late-Victorian building, next to the popular, family-run Clem's Chicken.

This follows a string of proposed restaurants sparking public outcry: In May, a McDonald's in Redfern was blocked after strong objections from police and Aboriginal organisations; and a proposal for a franchise in the northern Sydney suburb of Balgowlah was also rejected by the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel over community concerns about traffic congestion and potential antisocial behaviour.

In Melbourne's inner north, a planning proposal submitted to Darebin City Council seeking to convert a vacant site into a 24/7 McDonald's outlet has been opposed by the community, citing concerns about preserving the area's character.

In the Brisbane suburb of Hendra, a new McDonald's has council approval but remains under legal challenge amid significant community backlash.

Residents have chipped in an estimated $100,000 to lodge a Planning and Environment Court appeal against the plans on the grounds it is in a character area.

It's a similar story in the Perth Hills suburb of Kalamunda, where McDonald's has proposed to build a new store less than a kilometre from schools and a childcare centre.

McDonald's is currently expanding its restaurant network across Australia

McDonald's development manager Luke Hammond disagrees with community opponents who believe there is no public benefit in having an outlet in their area, highlighting that new restaurants bring jobs for young people.

'We've been in Australia for over 50 years... even though we're an American business we spend $1billion locally on Australian produce from Aussie suppliers,' he said.

'We're not just here to take advantage of every conceivable single gap.'

Marketing Focus managing director Barry Urquhart said opposition to expansion plans was partly because McDonald's fails to embody key qualities that resonate deeply with communities, namely being local, authentic, original, and distinctly Australian.

'A change of store design which is better integrated into existing streetscapes would be desirable. However, the strong corporate culture will preclude such from contemplation,' he said.

Community opposition in Australia against McDonald's dates back to the 1970s.

Perth councils repeatedly refused development applications from McDonald's which was only able to gain a foothold after taking over Red Bull burger joints in 1982, a decade after their Australian debut in western Sydney in 1971.

But Mr Urquhart said McDonald's real business isn't burgers, it's real estate.

Manly local Jens Ward finds it 'extraordinary' there's no fast food chains in the suburb given the ferry disgorges hundreds of sightseers every half hour

McDonald's in Manly shut up shop in 2019, replaced by an upmarket fish and chip shop

In the 1950s, the company's strategy of buying land and leasing it to franchisees became a cornerstone of its operations.

'The McDonald's success story is not how many burgers and profit they make; they are essentially a property development company,' he said.

'And they have very deep pockets and that's why they win all the time.'

Mr Urquhart added McDonald's is 'brilliant' at opportunistic marketing.

'Everyone says it's all about price but it's about convenience and access,' he said.

One area of Australia that McDonald's has no plans to expand into is the seaside suburb of Manly.

The area has become synonymous with upmarket food outlets offering acai bowls and turmeric tofu scrambles.

Manly has had no fast food outlets since McDonald's shock decision to close its Manly Wharf outlet in 2019 after nearly two decades.

Manly local Jens Ward (pictured) is keen for a fast food outlet along the popular Corso strip

But unlike many, born-and-bred Manly local Jens Ward is supportive of a Big Mac in his 'burb.

Mr Ward said it was 'extraordinary' there wasn't a single traditional fast food outlet in the tourist destination.

'I used to enjoy my hangover brekky at McDonald's at the wharf, then they closed shop when their lease expired,' he said.

'I thought they would relocate because they always had long queues.

'Then I was forced to go to Hungry Jack's on The Corso.'

But Hungry Jack's also closed in Manly during COVID, closely followed by Domino's and KFC.

Mr Ward said Manly was made for selling fast food.

'I find it extraordinary that traditional fast food outlets aren't on The Corso, considering the ferry disgorges hundreds of sightseers every half hour,' he said.

'Yes, rents are extortionate but you would think that these major fast food outlets would demand a presence there.'
Every year, thousands of Brits buy caravans hoping for a relaxing coastal escape, only to have their lives 'ruined' by hidden costs or plunged into a nightmare when trying to sell it.

Now, a holiday home salesman, who has over 25 years experience in the industry, has revealed how 'ruthless' firms see potential buyers as 'wallets to empty' with agents forced to say anything in order to make a sale.

The whistleblower, who has been granted anonymity so he can speak freely due to his close ties to the industry, explained how intense pressure to meet sales targets means agents 'will say anything and miss out vital information' to get people to buy.

He said: 'Customers on a lot of large company parks are misled because of targets.

'Sales staff have to reach their target or they are sacked straight away, the holiday home industry does not care about employment legislation and they treat staff like cattle.'

One of the 'worst' tactics he has noticed is potential buyers being told to take home and read complex documents before making their decision, with agents relying on the fact they won't be look at it properly because it's too hard to understand.

This means they go in blind and hand over their money before later realising they made a huge mistake.

An insider has revealed how holiday home sales agents target and mislead customers into buying caravans that turn out to be a financial nightmare (stock image)

Some buyers figure it out early on and try to cancel their doomed purchase, but the holiday home sales veteran said the company then 'make it hard to get the deposit back'.

Those who do go through with it are often disappointed their newly bought caravan has been 'left a mess for the customer to sort out'.

But this is yet another seedy strategy to get them to fork out even more cash to the park.

Our source said: 'Now they are on park the company see them as a wallet to empty.

'They target new customers within three months of arriving to upgrade their caravans and it is done in a very hard sell way.'

If that doesn't work, he said a lot of the major companies deploy campaigns which allow them to 'offer the customer anything to get the deal'.

'That comes with its own pressures on staff to "perform" or get out,' he added.

Terms and conditions often say the park will act as a selling agent for owners who decide sell their caravans, but our source says some 'do nothing to help' and 'will stand in the way' of any potential sales.

The salesman, who has worked in the industry for over 25 years, explained how 'ruthless' firms see potential buyers as 'wallets to empty' with agents forced to say anything in order to make a sale (stock image)

He said: 'The philosophy is not to help privately sell but buy the home back - and then sell it again for much more. I understand why customers get p***ed off, seeing what happens.'

Customers are not even allowed to put their own For Sale sign up in the window as 'it takes money away from the companies'.

And whilst agents 'should help' them sell it, they 'never do, as head office would sack them if they found out'.

The whistleblower explained how, after months of blocking desperate owners from selling, the companies make them 'a stupid offer' to buy it back for much less than they bought it for and then put them back up for sale at an inflated price.

Recalling one particularly unsettling example, he said: 'I remember a mother was recently bereaved - the family wanted to sell back to us. I asked my director, "What do I offer them?"

'He said, 30,000 - the family had bought the home for 200,000.

'I eventually helped them to get 190,000, with 7.5 per cent commission going to the company as agreed, and the director later told me I'd done the right thing and apologised. But many others are getting far less.'

One firm he worked at did a trial scheme where people were allowed to sell their caravans privately with a 10 or 15 per cent commission going to the company.

Recently, disgruntled customers have come forward with stories about 'nightmare' caravan purchases that left them out of pocket and 'ruined' their lives after being hit with hidden costs and fees (stock image)

However, anyone who put a private sale listing in their window was 'instantly targeted' by the park who were hellbent on buying it back.

Another thing that draws in some naive, and potentially vulnerable, customers in is some companies' willingness to bend the law.

The anonymous salesman said some of them 'encourage' clients to sell their brick-and-mortar houses, buy a caravan to live in instead and illegally register themselves as living at friends or relatives address.

Speaking about the industry as whole, he said: 'The situation is getting even worse.

'Sales are becoming harder to get, especially since Covid, so there's even more pressure to get as much as possible out of tenants.

'The changes in the industry have become more severe in recent years, with big investors buying up the parks. The big firms are more insistent on getting returns.

'There's more pressure on salespeople working for them and it's all more ruthless, both for staff and towards potential buyers.

'The whole business of holiday home parks need legislation as all a lot of companies do is rip people off.'

Despite working in the industry, the empathetic salesman gave some helpful advise to help prevent anyone thinking of buying a caravan from getting into a tricky and exploitative situation.

Don't see it as an investment

'It's not an investment - don't see it as that. People have to understand it's about enjoyment and leisure time, for families to share together - just consider how much money you want to put into that.'

Don't budge on your budget

'People should have a budget they can stick and go into it with eyes open - don't just accept what the seller says.'

Do your research and know your rights

'There are guides and codes you can download, to do your research - read the small print, even though the pressure from the salesperson will always be to make your mind up on the same day.'

Finally, the whistleblower added: 'Of course, there are tens of thousands of people who love their holiday homes - but if it goes wrong, it goes very very badly wrong. You get rogues who are ripping people off and make all of us look bad.

'These are people's life savings we're dealing with. And there are properties than sell for up to as much as 850,000.

'There are firms where salespeople have to call new buyers at least three times in the first three months since buying, suggesting a sale back or part-exchange.

'It's high pressure sales and the companies force it on them because they've got investors to satisfy.'

This week, a British grandmother and grandfather claimed to have been left 150,000 out of pocket after a 'nightmare' caravan purchase they say has 'ruined' their lives.

Lisa and Robert Colvin-Jones bought a caravan by the sea after downsizing their home, with the aim to make memories with their grandson and to rent it out when they are not there.

However, the purchase has turned into a financial nightmare for the pair, aged 55 and 56 respectively, with alleged hidden costs and other fees.

The couple say they have to work three jobs between them just to stay afloat.

Lisa and Robert Colvin-Jones (pictured) bought a caravan by the sea after downsizing their home

However, the purchase has turned into a financial nightmare for the pair, aged 55 and 56 respectively, with alleged hidden costs and other fees. Pictured: The family caravan

The couple bought the caravan with the aim to make memories with their grandson and to rent it out when they are not there

They have only stayed in the caravan for three days in 2024 and not at all in 2025 - earning just 500 in rent across 32 weeks.

'We could not have known this would be the start of a financial nightmare that is still ruining our lives today,' Lisa said.

The pair visited Sea Bay Resort park in West Sussex in September 2021.

Lisa, a full-time carer, from Sussex, was going through serious medical issues at the time of the purchase and having a relaxing family retreat seemed 'just the ticket'.

The salesperson showed them the 2019 ABI Ambleside caravan for 89,995.

They claim to have been reassured that it was a 'platinum' standard home - the highest earning rental classification - and when not using it themselves, they could potentially earn a significant income from it.

A 10,000 deposit was put down and the remainder was financed.

However, soon after they got the keys, the pair realised a veranda would be needed for the safety of Lisa's father, who suffers from COPD.

Soon after they got the keys, the pair realised a veranda would be needed for the safety of Lisa's father (pictured), who suffers from COPD

After finding a reputable contractor, who would do the job for 6,000, the couple claim to have been informed by Seal Bay that they were only allowed to use a 'park approved' contractor to the tune of 11,000. Pictured: Seal Bay Holiday Park

After finding a reputable contractor, who would do the job for 6,000, the couple claim to have been informed by Seal Bay that they were only allowed to use a 'park approved' contractor to the tune of 11,000.

Lisa said: 'We were also contractually bound to buy our gas bottles directly from the park at 105 per bottle. Elsewhere, the same bottle costs around 80.

'Electricity similarly has to be purchased from the park in fixed blocks with no transparency or control.

'We were not allowed to install cheaper, green options like solar panels.'

To help recover some costs, the pair tried to rent out the caravan but soon discovered that their supposed 'platinum' mobile home was actually 'gold plus' - meaning less rental rate and booking volume.

And when they did get renters in, their energy bills surged.

To add insult to injury, they were then hit with an increase in ground rent - despite allegedly being told that fees had remained consistent for years.

In 2023, another salesperson suggested upgrading to a caravan they could rent out more easily - and for more money - costing a further 25,000.

Lisa said: 'We were promised the new unit would generate 20,000 plus in annual rental income.

'Obviously, we were hesitant after our previous experiences but we felt like we had no other options. We were desperate.'

In 2023, another salesperson suggested upgrading to a caravan they could rent out more easily - and for more money - costing a further 25,000. Pictured: The new veranda - cheap at double the price

But, there was a hidden cost - it needed a larger pitch, increasing their ground rent from 6,500 to 7,500 per year.

There was also no path across the wet grass and to have one fitted, it would cost 899 for nine flat stones using the park's approved contractor.

Lisa and Robert, who work in IT and baggage handling at an airport, claim the slabs were already in place, but were removed for the caravan, meaning they had to pay to put them back.

The final straw came when they tried to sell the caravan back to the park, who could only offer them 24,100 - an 80 per cent loss.

Lisa added: 'Our grandson loved the caravan holidays we did have and we tried so hard to make it work. But the costs are just unworkable.

'When we did manage to rent out the caravan, the park held onto the money for months and there was little left over after the bills. We lose money every month.

'Other people who sold back to the park have told us that their caravans went straight back on the market for full value.

CEO of European Consumer Claims (ECC) Greg Wilson (pictured) said: 'Sadly, the Colvin-Jones' experience are by no means unique'

'We looked into selling privately but Seal Bay told us that if we didn't sell to them, then they would charge the new owners an extra 500 a year in ground rent - effectively making private sales impossible.

'Overall, we were given drastically unrealistic expectations around costs and rental income.'

Greg Wilson, CEO of European Consumer Claims (ECC), said: 'Sadly, the Colvin-Jones' experience are by no means unique.

'Misleading sales presentations are totally unacceptable when life changing amounts of money are involved.

'Inflated, hidden and monopolistic costs are reported right across the industry, and we at ECC are leading a nationwide call for the government to introduce legislation to protect people like Lisa and Robert.'
Up to one in 20 residents in parts of England and Wales are immigrants who moved here last year, new analysis suggests.

It comes after Government statistics last week revealed that the total population of the two nations shot up by 700,000 in 2023/24. Immigration fuelled the surge  the second largest since WW2.

The Daily Mail can reveal that net international migration  defined as the difference between the number of people entering the country and leaving  was positive in all but one of 318 councils.

Newham, home to roughly 374,000 people, saw an influx of 17,200 immigrants in the year to mid-2024.

That suggests new migrants arriving from abroad in the last year now account for 4.6 per cent of the London borough's total population  roughly one in 20 people.

Luton (4.3 per cent) and Coventry (4.2 per cent) had similarly high figures, according to estimates published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Experts say current immigration levels, which have hit all-time highs, are piling even greater pressure upon on housing, schools and the NHS.

Our postcode search tool - available to use below - shows how the situation in your area has changed over the last 12 months, tracking births and deaths as well as net international migration.

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Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, said mass migration is 'changing the very fabric of Britain'.

He said: 'Assimilation has been made impossible by the sheer scale of mass migration and our national culture is damaged as a result.

'Stretched public services - from the NHS and GP surgeries to public transport and schools - are being further eroded by a low wage, low-skill immigration system.

'Politicians have ignored the concerns of voters due to a misguided belief that open borders benefit the economy.

'We fast need a government which rejects this dogma and starts work to scrap a whole raft of failed visa routes, end foreign nationals access to the welfare system, and invests in skills for the British workforce.'

There were an estimated 61.8m people in England and Wales in mid-2024, up from 61.1m in mid-2023, according to the ONS' estimates.

That increase, of 706,881 people, was eclipsed only by the 821,210 population rise in the 12 months to mid-2023, with growth in both years driven almost wholly by record rises in the number of migrants.

Some 1.1m people are thought to have immigrated in the last 12 months, countered by the 450,000 believed to have emigrated.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed the figures were 'disastrous for the quality of life for everyone in the country'.

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There were slightly more births (596,012) than deaths (566,030) in the year to mid-2024, which added just 29,982 to the population.

In terms of raw numbers, the biggest local authorities, such as Birmingham (38,700) had the most international migrants arriving.

Given the West Midlands city has a population of 1.2million, however, the effects of international migration aren't as stark as they are in Newham.

The City of London technically had the highest share of its current population down to international migration in 2024 (10.8 per cent)  although it is home to only 15,000 people.

Only one local authority, South Holland in Lincolnshire, experienced a negative sum, due to more international migrants leaving than arriving.

The ONS said it had 557 arrivals from abroad last year, but 695 people emigrated.

Movement around the UK  known as internal migration  is recorded separately.

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: 'The latest ONS figures are another eye-opener.

'While there is no breakdown of migration into nationality, sex, age or immigration status - as the ONS should do in the future - overall, the population of England and Wales increased by over 700,000 (the equivalent of Newcastle.)

'Just 30,000 of this was from births exceeding deaths.'

Mr Mehmet also branded the government's response to the rising rates as 'complacent'.

He said: 'Most worrying, these latest figures show that the speed with which the nature of our society is changing has not let up, and that the ethnic minority proportion of our population will become the majority in 30-35 years.

'The government must take decisive action to stem the immigration tsunami if we are not to become the island of strangers the Prime Minister referred to a few months ago.'

The ONS cautions there might be some overlap in the data, although it is unclear by how much because of the difficulties in examining population flow.

For example, the same person could be classed as both an international immigrant and internal emigrant. They could also die, further confusing the picture.

Tory shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said the data showed the population is rising at 'an unsustainable pace'.

Keir Starmer made the 'island of strangers' remark in a speech in May, seen as marking a tough new approach to combat the political threat posed by Reform

She said: 'This isn't about numbers on a spreadsheet, it's about pressure on housing, NHS waiting lists, school places, wages and it's about community and our culture.

'Britain simply cannot plan or build fast enough to keep up.

'We must secure our borders and deliver a fair and sustainable immigration system that works for the British people.'

However Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the figures 'confirm the truth of the Tory legacy on immigration'.

She added: 'Their failed open borders experiment resulted in net migration quadrupling to a peak of almost a million per year in 2023 even as they promised it would fall.

'Since the election, net migration has come steeply down, and as part of the Government's Plan for Change we have set out new measures in the Immigration White Paper and have already changed immigration rules to bring net migration down further.

'To be successful, effective and fair, our immigration system must be properly controlled and managed. Out of the chaos and failure of the Tory past, that is what this Government will deliver.'

Keir Starmer unveiled a crackdown on immigration in May, warning that failure to control the system risked turning Britain into an 'island of strangers'.

Downing Street was forced to deny angry comparisons from MPs that it was an echo of Enoch Powell's infamous 'Rivers of Blood' speech.

Scrambling to blunt the threat of Reform, Sir Keir has vowed to give voters what they had 'asked for time and time again' as he announced a package to 'take back control of our borders'.

However, the month after the speech Sir Keir went on to say he 'deeply regretted' it, despite polling showing most Brits had no problem with the language used.

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His package of long-awaited policies to curb immigration involved a hiking of the skills threshold for immigrants and a toughening of the rules on fluency in English.

Migrants will also be required to wait 10 years for citizenship rather than the current five and face deportation for even lower-level crimes.

Policymakers estimate the Government's package will bring down annual inflows by around 100,000.

It comes after Sir Keir signed a deal with French president Emmanuel Macron in a desperate attempt to solve the small boat Channel crisis.

The Prime Minister and his French equivalent announced a one in, one out migrant swap deal, although it was far less ambitious than expected.
The former North Carolina governor running for Senate had a 'secret' divorce and began dating his second wife while she was still married, Daily Mail can reveal.

Roy Cooper, 68, is at the top of Democrat politics, and was even tipped to replace Joe Biden as a presidential candidate last year and was on the shortlist to be Kamala Harris's 2024 running mate.

But despite his decades-long prominent standing in the party, Cooper has kept his divorce, and the overlap with his second wife's own first marriage, under wraps  until now.

The revelation may come as a surprise for a 'squeaky clean' leader once described by left-leaning politics magazine The New Republic as 'the living, breathing antonym of controversy.'

Before his marriage to current wife Kristin, 69, Cooper was wed to his college sweetheart Georganne Rice, now 65.

But Rice says he ditched her for a career in politics, without warning.

'He was my orientation counselor when I was a freshman and started at [University of North Carolina] Chapel Hill,' she told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.

'We dated starting my sophomore year of college, and then we got married two weeks after I graduated from college in 1981.

Former North Carolina governor and Senate candidate Roy Cooper secretly divorced his college sweetheart and began dating his second wife before she finalized her own divorce, Daily Mail can reveal

Cooper (right) met his first wife, Georganne Rice (left), while giving her a freshman tour at UNC Chapel Hill as an orientation counselor. They began dating her sophomore year and married two weeks after her 1981 graduation

But things would go awry suddenly after he informed her that he would be running for state representative, splitting with Georganne secretly before moving on to his current wife Kristen (right) who worked as a staff attorney for the North Carolina General Assembly in the 1980s

'I thought everything was great, until one day he came home and told me that he had signed up to run for state representative.

'We had not discussed it or anything. We were in our mid-20s, and I wanted to start a family. I was completely flabbergasted that he would decide to run. He wouldn't even discuss it with me; he just came home and told me.

'I told Roy, I don't want this life, we didn't discuss this. It was a pretty major life decision.'

As the young attorney ran his campaign for a state house seat in Raleigh in 1985 and 1986, he and Georganne secretly split, she said.

'I took a promotion and moved to Greenville [North Carolina]. I still came back and went to campaign events for him, because he didn't want anybody to know,' she said.

'But the day he won the election, I told him, if you lose, then we can talk about our marriage. But if you win, I didn't sign up for this. He won, and he's been in politics ever since.

'When he first ran for governor, he called me and said, if somebody contacts you, please don't say anything negative

'I don't wish anything bad on Roy,' she added. 'But my friends think it's funny it's never mentioned that he was married before.

His first wife Georganne told Daily Mail that Cooper had never discussed his political aspirations with her and had only told her once he decided to run (PICTURED: Georganne and Cooper celebrating their one year anniversary)

After they split, she took a promotion and moved to Greenville but continued attending his campaign events in secret. His estranged wife then told him that if he lost the election, they could work on their marriage, but since he won, she felt she hadnt signed up for a life overshadowed by his political career (PICTURED: Georganne at Cooper's graduation)

'I had a lot of people texting me when his name was mentioned for Vice President last year, going, "Do you think he's ever going to acknowledge that y'all were married for over five years?"

'It's kind of crappy to sign up to run for office and then just come home and tell your wife and not discuss it. So, I can see why he might not want to talk about it.'

Despite his long political career, the only mention of his marriage to Georganne is the 1981 announcement of their wedding in the Rocky Mount Telegram.

But Cooper did give some details about his second love Kristin in a 1997 interview with the North Carolina News & Observer.

Kristin, nee Bernhardt, was working as a staff attorney for the North Carolina General Assembly in the 1980s, making Cooper one of her de-facto bosses at the time.

Cooper told the newspaper they met while devising an update to a law about car salvage.

'While many romances have been sparked in automobiles, few can claim, as the Coopers can, to have met in the Legislative Study Committee on Auto Salvage Titles,' News & Observer interviewer Rob Christensen wrote in the May 12, 1997 piece.

Assembly records show that law was updated in the 1989 legislative session, meaning Cooper and his now-wife's romance likely started some time that year or earlier.

Cooper's marriage to his second wife was just as complicated. As her de facto boss, their relationship likely began around 1989, based on assembly records and his own admission that they met during the legislative session when car salvage laws were updated (PICTURED: Cooper and his second wife Kristin's wedding)

The only problem was Kristen was still married in 1989 for ten years by that point to Army doctor George Godette, with whom she was raising a five-year-old daughter (PICTURED: The announcement of Kristen and George's marriage in 1979)

Court records (pictured) show the couple filed for divorce on August 21, 1989, during the legislative session when Kristin and Cooper reportedly began their romance, and they didn't finalize their divorce till 1991

Cooper would marry Kristen the following March and the pair have stayed together to this day

The court awarded Kristin primary custody of their daughter Hilary (center), with visitation rights for George of 14 days a year and Cooper would adopt her in 2011, then age 26 (PICTURED: Cooper posing alongside his second wife Kristin, his adopted daughter Hilary and the couple's two daughters Natalie, left, and Claire, right)

There was just one problem. Kristin was 10 years into her marriage to Army doctor Goerge Godette, with whom she was raising a five-year-old daughter.

Court records show the couple filed for divorce on August 21, 1989, during the legislative session when Kristin and Cooper reportedly began their romance.

Kristin and George did not finalize their split until May 1991. Cooper married her the following March.

The Godette's' decree of divorce, signed by the judge on May 1, 1991, said that 'a state of complete and irreconcilable incompatibility has arisen between the parties such that the legitimate aims of the marriage have been destroyed'.

While fighting over alimony, Kristin's attorney sent a list of questions to the Army Lieutenant doctor, including: 'During your marriage, have you ever had sexual relations with another person?'

His attorney objected and wrote that the question was 'irrelevant and constitutionally privileged.'

A joint filing by the former couple said they separated sometime between December 1987 and April 1988.

The dates suggest Kristin had split with her first husband when she got together with Cooper but was still legally married.

Cooper's political power in the Democratic Party reached new heights after he was tipped to replace Joe Biden when he stepped down last year and just made the shortlist to be Kamala Harris ' 2024 running mate

On Monday, Cooper announced his candidacy for the US Senate. North Carolina is set to be a key battleground between Democrats and Republicans in 2026

The court awarded Kristin primary custody of their daughter Hilary, with visitation rights for George of 14 days a year.

Neither Cooper nor Kristin's ex-husband responded to requests for comment.

Cooper went on to serve as a state senator, 16 years as North Carolina Attorney General, and a term as governor from 2017 to 2025.

Court records show that in 2011, Hilary, then age 26, filed for adoption by Cooper, officially becoming his legal daughter.

On Monday, Cooper announced his candidacy for the US Senate. North Carolina is set to be a key battleground between Democrats and Republicans in 2026.

The apparent overlap between Kristin's first marriage to a veteran and her relationship with Cooper may prove controversial in The Tar Heel State, after 2020 Democratic nominee for the NC US Senate race Cal Cunningham was embroiled in a scandal over an extramarital texting affair.

Cunningham's steamy messages with the wife of an Army veteran, revealed by website National File in October 2020, led to an Army investigation into the would-be senator, who is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Reserves.

The father of two narrowly lost in the election the following month to Republican Thom Tillis, whose upcoming retirement has prompted Cooper's run for the seat.
Forget the post-workout smoothies! These Hamptons moms are getting all-out beauty treatments while still dripping in sweat from their goat yoga workout.

A Hamptons workout is a one-stop shop for all things fitness and beauty. From brow shaping to discounted Botox, these Van Cleef & Arpels-wearing moms are spoiled rotten compared to city dwellers.

Recently, Mom Club founder Sharon Feiereisen hosted a goat yoga session at Corwith Farm in Water Mill, and the mothers were desperate to get in.

'There was a crazy waitlist that was growing even the day of,' Feiereisen told the Daily Mail. 'Corswith's said people were calling them directly after I told them I wasn't able to take them off the waitlist.'

One mother told the Daily Mail she took her five-year-old daughter, who loved both the event and the fluffy animals. 'The kids love it,' she said.

Only 20 lucky moms and their children got into the event that featured a generous gift bag full of workout clothing, Boxed Water and Wandering Bear Organic Cold Brew among other items.

But these women are looking for more than just a cute golden goat to jump on their back mid-pose, they're after the perks.

Forget the after-workout smoothies. These Hamptons moms are getting all-out beauty treatments while still dripping in sweat from their goat yoga workout

A Hamptons workout is a one-stop shop for all things fitness and beauty. From brow shaping (pictured) to discounted Botox, these Van Cleef & Arpels-wearing moms are spoiled rotten compared to city dwellers

Unlike other workout classes where you slump back to your car in a sweaty heap and drive home, Hamptonites are slinking into chairs to see on-site estheticians, like Sabria Celaj, whose brow services are loved by society's elite.

'They want to look good,' the business woman behind Sabria's Brows told the Daily Mail. 'They're moms, so they like a lot of self care.'

'Sabria is one of the most sought-after brow techs,' Jeannetta Bagley, who resides in Manhattan and summers in the Hamptons, told the Daily Mail.

She recently attended a fitness event at Calissa, a trending Greek restaurant, that was hosted by Feiereisen and taught by Rachel Feldman, a popular personal trainer.

After the workout, Bagley got her brows done by Sabria's Brows for free, as the $100 service was included in her $115 ticket price.

'It's very high-end, you get the best experience,' she said of these all-inclusive Hamptons workout classes.

Other Hamptons workout events include B12 shots - an essential vitamin that helps with energy levels - and even discounted Botox.

Mark James, the cofounder of Mecca Health, and his cofounder Dr Rue Laka (both pictured) have been offering Hamptons moms discounted 'IV express' therapy. Their three-shot combo includes B12 and NAD+

Their registered nurse, Josie Deason (right), will also be offering Botox at a 30 percent discount to The Mom Club, although it is separate from Mecca's lineup

Mark James, the cofounder of Mecca Health, has been offering discounted 'IV express' therapy to fitness-obsessed mothers.

Where a traditional infusion could take up to 1.5 hours, Mecca Health's 'IV express' consists of three shots, including B12 and NAD+, for $150. Moms can also opt into individual shots, for between $50 and $70 a pop.

Participants will also receive an electrolyte hydration packet to mimic the benefits of a traditional IV.

The three-shot combo would traditionally cost around $200, James told the Daily Mail.

The NYC-based brand claims its express option provides many benefits, including improved cognitive function, a boost in energy and mood, and a decrease in brain fog among others.

Mecca Health's registered nurse, Josie Deason, will also be offering Botox to The Mom Club at a 30 percent discount, although it is separate from Mecca's lineup.

'On top of these treatments, every event has an insane gift bag,' Feiereisen said.

For VanMilder, it is the 'convenience' of having all her beauty treatments offered right after class that draws her to the events.

'It's an added benefit,' said the busy mom of children ages one, three, and five.

Recently, Mom Club founder Sharon Feiereisen hosted a goat yoga session at Corwith Farm in Water Mill, and mothers were desperate to get in. 'There was a crazy waitlist that was growing even the day of,' Feiereisen told the Daily Mail

Jeannetta Bagley also loves the convenience and access to top technicians, who otherwise would have taken months to see. 'For a busy mom, that's a huge incentive,' she told the Daily Mail

She plans on going to Feiereisen's upcoming Tremble Southampton event where she can enjoy Mecca Health's B12 shot.

'I will definitely do the B12 shot,' she told the Daily Mail.

And if she didn't have her brows already micro-bladed, she would have hopped on the opportunity to have Celaj do them.

Bagley also loves the convenience and access to top technicians, with whom appointments are hard to come by.

'For a busy mom, that's a huge incentive,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I don't have to drive all over... It's all in one.

'You're getting a lot of bang for your buck.'
John F. Kennedy Jr.'s magazine 'George' made waves with its mix of pop culture and politics and didn't flinch on covering the stories of the day - from Cindy Crawford to Robert De Niro to Newt Gingrich.

But he shied away from writing about the most provocative story of all - the Monica Lewinsky scandal - because he was haunted by his own father's infidelities, a new documentary claims.

The son of the late 35th U.S. president gave Bill Clinton's infamous affair with his White House intern muted coverage because it was too close to home.

Friends said that Kennedy had grown up hearing stories about his own father's cheating and 'didn't want to re-examine it'.

The story was 'tailor made' for George, the political magazine he was running in the late 1990s, but instead readers were left 'disappointed' by its coverage, according to 'American Prince: JFK Jr,' which premieres on CNN on August 9.

The film also describes Kennedy's wife Carolyn Bessette as the Meghan Markle of her day because she wanted to be part of America's equivalent of the royal family for its 'glamor and elegance'.

But once she married Kennedy, Bessette recoiled at the demands of the press and felt that they were a 'monster' she couldn't control.

American Prince, which has three parts, delves into the life of Kennedy, who tragically died in July 1999 when he crashed the light aircraft he was flying into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Also on board the trip to the Kennedy family compound for a summer break were Bessette and her sister Lauren.

John F. Kennedy Jr. couldn't bring himself to cover the Monica Lewinsky scandal involving Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1998, according to a new documentary on the late First Son

George magazine, which was launched in 1995, was one of the first magazines to blend pop culture and politics and its first cover featured Cyndi Crawford dressed as George Washington

It was a stunning end to the life of Kennedy, who won the nation's heart with his gut-wrenching salute to his father's coffin in 1963 at the age of just three.

Some of the most revealing comments in the documentary come from Kennedy's close friend Gary Ginsberg, who became a senior editor at George, which was launched in 1995.

George was one of the first magazines to blend pop culture and politics and its first cover featured Cyndi Crawford dressed as George Washington.

But when it came to the Lewinsky scandal, which became public in 1998, Kennedy couldn't bring himself to cover it.

Tina Brown, the famed magazine editor who has run Vanity Fair and the New Yorker among other publications, says in the film that Lewinsky was 'the biggest story' in the country at the time.

But Kennedy 'didn't want to go there because he was 'too much of a gentleman'.

Ginsberg tells the film: 'Having to grow up with all the suggestions about his father and fidelity, I don't think John didn't want to re-examine it.

'That infused how he approached covering Clinton, a story that otherwise would have been tailor made for George'.

Friends who appear in the documentary say Clinton's scandal hit close to home for JFK Jr., who grew up with rumors about his own father's infidelity; pictured in 1997

The infamous scandal, which was widely covered elsewhere in the media, otherwise would've been 'tailor made' for George, friends said

Graydon Carter, a former editor of Vanity Fair, tells the documentary: 'It (the Lewinsky story) was simple, it had legs.but if you're named Kennedy you're not going to go after the sitting Democratic President.

'If that had been a Republican president with a 22 year old intern they would have covered it like crazy.'

Kurt Anderson, a veteran media figure who edited New York magazine in the mid to late 1990s, notes that Kennedy's dad had 'all kinds of affairs.'

He suggests that the changed media landscape could have been one of the reasons why Kennedy balked at covering Lewinsky.

As Andersen puts it: 'None were covered with such ghastly, graphic specificity as what happened with Monica Lewinsky.

'That should have been the story for George magazine in 1998 but God almighty, what a mistake.

'Was it: 'Oh no that's too undignified?'

'Well you started this magazine about the undignified nature of stars and starlets and celebrities that had nothing to do with the substance of politics. Why do you draw the line now?'

American Prince: JFK Jr, which premieres on CNN on August 9.

American Prince: JFK Jr, which features interviews with those who were close with the late president's son, premieres on CNN on August 9

The famous power couple tragically died in July 1999 when he crashed the light aircraft he was flying into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

At the time of Kennedy's death he was facing intense pressure over George, which had never turned a profit despite selling 400,000 copies every month.

Kennedy was also feeling the strain over his relationship with Bessette as their three year marriage had been dogged by tension, including the infamous screaming match in a New York City park.

American Prince describes how Bessette couldn't handle the intense media scrutiny that came from marrying Kennedy, who was considered the most eligible bachelor in the world.

Bessette had worked in PR for Calvin Klein, but she had to quit her job because she became more famous than some of the celebrities she worked with.

Hamilton South, a friend of the couple, tells the documentary that they knew their life would change - but the reality was far worse than they thought.

He said: 'John had had a lifetime of training (about the media).

'She (Bessette) controlled the optics around the Calvin Klein brand but she realized she had no control over this. That was most difficult.'

Sometimes Kennedy lost it when Bessette was photographed, once throwing a bucket of water over a photographer's head.

Others also noted that it wouldn't be wise for a member of the Kennedy clan to go after the sitting Democratic President at the time. JFK Jr. is seen playing in the Oval Office while his father works

JFK Jr. was the only son of President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jackie

Another time Bessette reversed wildly down the street of their Manhattan apartment to escape the dozens of paparazzi on her doorstep.

Ginsberg says: 'John understood the role of the paparazzi which is why it was so hard when Carolyn had such a visceral reaction to it'.

Carole Radziwill, who married John's cousin and best friend, Anthony Radziwill, says that Bessette saw parallels between her life and that of Princess Diana.

When Diana died in 1997 after her car crashed while driving through a tunnel in France while being pursued by press photographers, it had a 'profound effect' on Bessette.

Radziwill said: 'Princess Diana was our age. The way in which she died which was being literally hounded to death by paparazzi.

'That lesson was definitely not lost on Carolyn. It was a shock this is proof, this is what could happen if things get out of hand'.

According to Brown, Bessette was 'very neurotic' when it came to the press and was like another problematic royal family member from more recent times: Meghan Markle.

Brown says: 'As we've seen with Meghan and Harry there was quite a lot about Carolyn Bessette that was Meghan-ish.

The documentary provides insight on Bessette's struggle to handle intense media scrutiny that came from marrying Kennedy, who was considered the most eligible bachelor in the world

Bessette is described as being 'very neurotic' when it came to the press, while her husband had a 'lifetime' of training with the media

'She wanted it for reasons of glamor and elegance but it came with so much pressure with placating the monster of the media she fell apart.'

According to Ginsberg, the relentless glare of the press was one of the reasons that Kennedy took up flying.

Ginsberg says: 'I said to him John come on, I know you pretty damn well

'It's not your sweet spot.

'He said really interestingly: It's the only place where I can go where I'm left entirely alone. I love the silence, I love the solitude.

'It was pure escape for him. How do you argue with that?'

Adding to John's woes in his final months was the impending death of Anthony Radziwill from cancer.

Carole Radziwill details how Kennedy 'refused to believe Anthony was going to die', even in his final summer alive.

Kennedy had been facing intense pressure over George, which never turned a profit despite selling 400,000 copies every month, at the time of his death

She recounted an emotional story from the summer of 1999, the last that both men would be alive, at the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

She said: 'I only saw John cry one time and it was that summer, like really cry.

'We were at the beach and Anthony took his shirt off and his chest was all marked up with scars from all his operations. He was pretty thin at that point.

'The visual for John, he fell to the sand and just put his head in his hands. He was really crying. Thank god Anthony was ahead of him and the sound of the waves were covering up the cries but I could see what was happening'.

Tragically Anthony outlived Kennedy by a month and when he found out his dear friend had died he 'couldn't even cry he was so weak', Radziwill said.
Alexander the Great, Lawrence of Arabia, Martin Luther King.

With their respective feats in war, diplomacy and civil rights activism, they can all be described as heroes, former Tory leadership contender Rory Stewart says.

But, while speaking to the Mail to promote his new BBC podcast on the 'long history' of heroism, Mr Stewart added one more unlikely hero to his list: Theresa May.

Mr Stewart served under the former PM as prisons minister and international development secretary, before Mrs May was forced to resign after repeatedly failing to get her Brexit deal through Parliament.

But, despite her defeats, which also included the loss of her Commons majority in a snap election in 2017, Mr Stewart remains one of her staunch defenders.

He told the Mail: 'Well of the prime ministers I served with, so out of David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, [and] Keir Starmer, [she] would definitely be my hero.'

Mr Stewart, who stepped down as an MP at the 2019 election after losing to Boris Johnson in the race to replace Mrs May as Tory leader and PM, praised his former boss for her 'incredible sense of dignity' and for being 'very serious'.

He also admitted that his opinion of Donald Trump has changed 'for better and worse' and described him as 'the most consequential President of our lifetime'.

Rory Stewart rose to become international development secretary under Theresa May. Above: Outside Downing Street after A Cabinet meeting in June 2019

Ahead of the US election last November, Mr Stewart said Kamala Harris, Mr Trump's Democrat rival, would win the keys to the White House 'comfortably' and even placed a huge bet backing his prediction.

The politician, who now hosts the popular Rest is Politics podcast with former New Labour spin chief Alastair Campbell, then had to acknowledge he had been 'completely wrong' and said it was 'heartbreaking' that Mr Trump was to return as US President.

In what was a wide-ranging interview, Mr Stewart also defended wartime PM Winston Churchill, saying he was a 'profound hero'; said Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is 'probably more moderate' than he is given credit for by critics; and likened himself to a 'fish that is six inches long'.

Mr Stewart's new podcast, The Long History of Heroism, is set across five episodes.

In the first, which aired on Radio 4 this morning, the politician waxes lyrical about Alexander the Great, who ruled Macedonia in the 4th Century BC and is widely regarded as one of the greatest military leaders in history.

He says: 'I worshipped Alexander the Great and my fascination with him continued right into my 20s.

'I walked across what is now Iran, retracing his foot steps; an 18 months walk over 6,000 miles and I ended up where he finished on the edge of India.

'I stood at the place where he is supposed to have wept when he had no more land to conquer.'

Theresa May was prime minister from 2016 until 2019, when she resigned after failing to get her Brexit deal through Parliament

Mrs May gave a resignation speech outside Downing Street in which she cried at the end

Mr Stewart had an extraordinary career before he entered Parliament in 2010 at the age of 37.

The politician, whose father rose to become senior in intelligence service MI6, served in the British Army before becoming a diplomat and then a successful author.

While working for the Foreign Office, he became a deputy governor of two Iraq provinces when he was only 30.

He later chose to try his hand at politics and became the MP for Penrith and The Border in northern England.

He first served as a junior minister under David Cameron before being promoted under Mrs May.

Speaking to the Mail remotely from his home in Scotland, Mr Stewart recounts how, while snorkelling during a recent family holiday in Colombia, he wondered, 'what sort of fish am I?'

He eventually concludes: 'I'm thinking about myself as a fish at about six inches, yeah, six inches long.

It is a good analogy for how far he got in politics compared to fellow ex Etonians and Oxford graduates Lord Cameron and Mr Johnson.

Mr Stewart also admitted that his opinion of Donald Trump has changed 'for better and worse' and described him as 'the most consequential President of our lifetime'

Mr Stewart admits that critics' view of him as having an almost messianic self-belief is partly correct.

'I think that's a perfectly valid criticism of me.

'I can see why that gets up people's noses, but I think I just say in my defence that you'd probably find that almost everybody running to be Prime Minister would have similar views.'

Another figure Mr Stewart adored when he was younger was British army officer T.E. Lawrence, better known by his famous nickname.

He achieved notoriety for having led an Arab revolt against the Turks in the First World War.

But he died in a motorbike accident in 1935, with his dream of Arab independence not having been realised.

'What I loved about someone like Lawrence is his sense of guilt and pain in later life, that he set off thinking he could be a knight in shining armour and that he could save the Middle East, and it basically broke him.

'He realized that trying to live out a life as a sort of classical hero in the modern age is impossible.

Rory Stewart now co-hosts the Rest is Politics podcast with New Labour grandee Alastair Campbell

'And you end up feeling like a fraud. And so I felt incredible empathy with him.'

Lawrence was, Mr Stewart says, an example of one of the last prominent figures to try to live as a 'classical hero'.

The past 100 years have been an attempt to 'replace the hero after the hero has died'.

This has ultimately led to the invention of superheroes and the increasing obsession with celebrities and sport stars, Mr Stewart argues.

One hero to emerge from the 20th century for Mr Stewart is Churchill, who entered Downing Street in 1940 and then led the nation through the rest of the Second World War.

He later became PM for a second time, from 1951 to 1955, after losing the 1945 election.

But Churchill's vehement views on subjects including Indian independence mean there is plenty of ammunition for his critics.

His statue in Westminster was targeted by Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020.

'The worst kind of British nationalism is one that imagines that what made Churchill was just a few kind of off colour remarks and a bit of bluster,' Mr Stewart says.

'What made him was the most intense intellectual seriousness and belief in Britain and its mission and incredible, not just physical but moral, courage throughout his career.'

As a result, Churchill was a 'profound hero', Mr Stewart adds.

But he also cautions: 'Now, understanding what a hero is is to understand that they all have incredible flaws.

Rory Stewart believes Mr Trump (pictured returning to the White House on Sunday after a week in New Jersey) is 'the most consequential President of our lifetime'

'If you go right back to the very beginning of heroes, Achilles is obviously a man with extraordinary flaws, so is Alexander, so is Lawrence, so is Florence Nightingale, so is any of these people.

'We are human. And we are also citizens of our age and time. If you are born as Churchill was in the late 19th century, you will inherit a lot of views we will find very disturbing today.

'Racist views, imperialist views, all these kinds of things. But that doesn't detract in any way from the incredible nature of his insight, courage, seriousness.'

On Mr Farage, who became well-known as leader of UKIP and in his vociferous campaigning to leave the European Union, Mr Stewart is similarly nuanced.

Although he labels the MP an 'extremely able communicator', he feels he is lacking a 'sense of seriousness'.

He says: 'The whole thing seems to be too much of a game. I'd like to know in the end, what really was his vision for Brexit?

'I mean, given that that was the biggest thing he did in his life, how was this thing really supposed to play through? What was a good Brexit? What was a bad Brexit?'

But he adds: 'I'm not one of these people who has nightmares about Farage, I think he's probably more moderate than people give him credit for being.

'He would have been on the right of the Tory party I knew.'

So why does he hold Mrs May in such high regard despite her political failures?

'I really admire Theresa May because I thought she was very serious, and I really valued being in her Cabinet,' he says.

'And I thought she had an incredible sense of dignity and a real attempt to do what she thought was the right thing.'

This included her vision of a 'softer' Brexit that she believed was in the national interest, Mr Stewart adds.

'She fought tooth and nail for that, and ultimately sacrificed her political career to try to achieve that.'

But he admits it is 'really difficult' to see her as a 'classical hero' because she failed to achieve her main aims.

As for the US President, Mr Stewart is humble about what we got wrong.

'I think my opinion of Trump has definitely changed for for better and worse.

'I think the Trump we're seeing now is very different from the Trump in his first term.

He clearly spent that four years really developing a very different idea of what it means to be a president.

'So he is certainly having a much more profound impact on the world than he did first time round, for better and worse.'

Mr Stewart admits he 'underestimated' one of Mr Trump's 'strengths', which he argues is his ability to quickly change his mind.

He believes, that, in the coming days, Mr Trump could, 'go from being a very, very fervent supporter of Israel's policies in Gaza to changing to being a very fervent supporter of the interests of Palestinians in Gaza.'

The President's public support for the Israeli government has softened in recent weeks, whilst Mr Trump has also expressed concern about mass hunger in Gaza, saying images of emaciated children in the region showed there was 'real starvation'.

'We could well see, over the next week or two, a complete transformation in American policy towards the Middle East, which almost no other president would have been able to do,' Mr Stewart says.

But the former Tory leadership contender is also fiercely critical of the President, adding: 'I think in the end, the damage to his allies will be profound.

'I think that's the real sadness here, which is that the West, the UK, Europe, Japan, South Korea, these countries that have been American allies since the Second World War have been through this incredible roller coaster with his shift on his policy on Ukraine, his challenges to NATO, his tariffs.

'This stuff I don't think America will ever recover from because none of America's allies will be able to rely on America in the future in the way they did in the past.'

He concludes: 'He's the most consequential, interesting president of our lifetime.

'But I'm afraid he's also a fundamentally flawed person who in the end history will conclude has done an incredible amount of damage to the global order and to the interest of American allies and democracies and to the global economy.'

Rory Stewart: The Long History of Heroism started today on BBC Sounds and Radio 4.
With the average cost of dining out in America continuing to rise, getting value for the experience is more important than ever.

Currently, a typical person will spend around $166 a month at restaurants, according to the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.

Between 2019 and 2024, that amount soared by 14 percent, however standards have not always risen in keeping with the trend.

At its best, restaurant dining entails thoughtful service, top-notch food, and a welcoming environment.

But at its worst, going out to eat means being insulted by staff, forgotten about in a noisy restaurant, and or even finding a hair in your undercooked chicken.

Often trying out new restaurants can feel like a shot in the dark. It's hard to tell if your experience will be serene and fulfilling or off-putting and difficult.

Fortunately, chefs, restaurant experts, and critics have offered their two cents when it comes to restaurant red flags.

Whether you're reading reviews online or simply stumble in the door, these eight signs could help you identify a five-star experience from a total dumpster fire.

If you go to a restaurant and can't find the manager, it may not be worth your time

No visible management

Salar Sheik told Fox News Digital, that if a restaurant has no visible management team, it may be a good indicator to turn around.

'Great managers are visible,' said the LA-based restaurant consultant.

'They touch tables, support staff and keep the energy up.'

A manager isn't just employed to make sure a restaurant runs smoothly behind the scenes.

Part of their job is to ensure guest satisfaction. Often, they greet customers, check on tables, and even assist servers.

'If you can't tell who's in charge, it might be because no one is,' said Sheik. The manager should be visible and accessible.

The staff argues with you

Another indicator that a restaurant may not be worth your time is rude or argumentative staff. That could be a mean that service standards in the restaurant are too low.

Candy Hom, an Atlanta based Food-critic and chef, told All Recipes 'If they mess something up, they should try to make it up to you.'

Argumentative staff could be a warning sign for a sub-par experience

For example, Hom attended a restaurant with a group of friends and the waiter split the check five ways, instead of six as they requested.

She said the server 'blamed the fact that he usually has tables of five and not six'.

'Even if the food was good, the experience was ruined,' she explained.

It's empty

A restaurant that's empty during lunch or dinner rushes should raise some alarms. In some cases new businesses may have trouble bringing in clientele during meal time, but Sheik said that most of the time there should be at least a few other patrons

'Consistently empty restaurants often point to a loss of community trust - whether from poor service, declining quality or mismanagement,' according to Sheik.

Slow service can also mean that ingredients sit for longer, making the food less fresh.

It's full of influencers

On the flip side, a crowded restaurant isn't always a good thing either.

Sheik said, 'If it feels more like a photo shoot than a place to break bread, odds are the experience is built more for the 'gram than the guest.'

Nowadays many restaurants in major cities host internet personalities in exchange for having their food featured online. Attending a restaurant where that's frequently the case can result in an inauthentic experience.

Often, restaurants will pay content creators to post about their business

Hom added, 'When every post or review is from a hosted experience, I cant trust that.'

Staff are treated poorly

If you notice poorly treated staff or low team morale, it may be best to take your business elsewhere.

Nadia Chaudhury, the regional editor of Eater for the northeast, told All Recipes:

'If I hear and read about staffers alleging not-great work environments and management issues over and over again from trusted sources  I take those to heart.'

Scoping out your restaurant online beforehand could key you in to some of these problems.

It's dirty

Restaurant cleanliness is an important aspect of the overall experience. If tables, chairs, menus or even the bathroom aren't clean, that could indicate abysmal sanitary standards.

'If those aren't clean, I guarantee you the kitchen's not being held to a higher standard,' said Sheik.

'If the team can't manage that, they're likely failing at much more complex things, too.'

Cleanliness is key. If bathrooms and tables are dirty, that could mean bad things for the kitchen

Servers don't know the menu

Poor training is a great indicator for service value. Sheik said that servers should always be certain of what the restaurant offers.

'If your server has to guess ingredients or check on every question, it signals poor training and a lack of pride in the product,' said Sheik.

Menu knowledge can even be life or death. Accurate allergen information is crucial, not only in enhancing the restaurant experience, but also in ensuring the safety of patrons.

You're being aggressively upsold

Of course, restaurants are supposed to sell you on their offerings. Whether that be the happy hour special or menu item of the day.

However, Sheik said if it feels inauthentic or incessant, it may be best to take your business elsewhere

'Suggestive selling is part of the job,' he said Sheik.

A waiter that is unfamiliar with menu items and allergens could be a bad sign

'But when it feels like a script or desperation, it often means the restaurant is struggling to hit numbers and pushing sales at the cost of genuine hospitality.'

Restaurant dining is supposed to be a fun experience. But lack of knowledge of the restaurant industry and naivete can ruin a perfectly good dinner.

Thanks to industry experts, customers are well equipped at avoiding the red flags and finding the perfect place for dinner.
A Purdue University student and the daughter of a pioneering Episcopal priest has been arrested and placed in expedited deportation proceedings after attending what was supposed to be a routine immigration court hearing.

Yeonsoo Go, 20, who arrived in the US from South Korea in 2021 on an R-2 visa, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 31 outside the federal courthouse at Federal Plaza in Manhattan.

The move has ignited fury across faith communities, civil rights groups, and Korean American advocacy organizations.

Go's attorney insists her visa is active and valid through the end of this year, while the Department of Homeland Security says it expired more than two years ago.

'She was with her mother. She was heartbroken. And when she called me at night, later that day, she was breaking down,' said her boyfriend, Leo Chu to Fox 5. 'She was terrified. She didn't know what would happen next.'

Go, a graduate of Scarsdale High School in Westchester County, moved to America when she accompanied her mother, the Rev. Kyrie Kim, a trailblazing Episcopal priest and first woman ordained in the Seoul Diocese of the Anglican Church of Korea, to New York under a dependent visa.

Her attorney and family say her stay was legally extended in 2023 and that she is lawfully enrolled at Purdue University. Her next court date had already been scheduled for October, but ICE agents were waiting outside the courtroom.

According to advocacy groups and church leaders, five plainclothes officers surrounded Go and detained her immediately after the judge adjourned her hearing.

Yeonsoo Go, 20, from South Korea has been arrested and placed in expedited deportation proceedings after attending what was supposed to be a routine immigration court hearing

Go, left, a graduate of Scarsdale High School in Westchester County, had accompanied her mother, the Rev. Kyrie Kim, right, a trailblazing Episcopal priest and first woman ordained in the Seoul Diocese of the Anglican Church of Korea

No warrant was presented at the scene, and she was not given the opportunity to speak further with her attorney before being taken away.

'This is simply an incomprehensible situation,' her mother, Rev. Kim, told Yonhap News Agency.

'I've been active in protecting the rights of Korean immigrants through the New Sanctuary Coalition, but I never imagined that my own family would become a target.'

'She was supposed to return to school,' said boyfriend, Chu. 'Now we don't know what's going to happen.' The family have set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses.

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security offered a starkly different version of events.

'Yeonsoo Go, an illegal alien from South Korea, overstayed her visa that expired more than two years ago,' DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

'President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the US. ICE arrested her on July 31 and placed her in expedited removal proceedings.'

But her attorney and supporters say that assertion is false.

Go, 20, who arrived in the US from South Korea in 2021 on a religious R-2 visa, was taken into custody by ICE on July 31 outside the federal courthouse at Federal Plaza in Manhattan

No warrant was presented at the scene, and Go was not given the opportunity to speak further with her attorney before being taken away

A vigil was held outside of ICE headquarters at 26 Federal Plaza with faith leaders from all over the metropolitan area joining family members, classmates, neighbors and supporters call for the release of Yeonsoo Go

Vigil participants add flowers, American flags and signs that read 'Free Yeonsoo' to the memorial wall for migrants taken by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza

'She has a valid visa that expires in December 2025, and she has a pending application for extension,' said a legal representative for Go.

'The judge was satisfied enough to continue the case until October. There was no indication that she was to be taken into custody.'

Since her arrest, Go has been held in an ICE holding facility at 26 Federal Plaza, a building that clergy say is unfit for human confinement.

'Her mother receives regular calls from Yeonsoo, and she's being held at 26 Federal Plaza, which, as we know, is not a facility with showers, beds or hot meals,' said Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

'These detentions are not only illegal - they're immoral.'

Go's mother, devastated and unable to visit her daughter, said ICE told her Yeonsoo may be transferred to a separate detention facility, but refused to disclose when or where.

The incident has triggered an immediate wave of protests and condemnation from across the religious and immigrant rights landscape.

On Saturday, faith leaders, elected officials, and immigration advocates stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside the ICE building in lower Manhattan to demand her release.

Student Yeonsoo Go was detained by ICE just minutes after leaving a routine visa hearing

Further rallys are planned to bring attention to Yeonsoo's case

Yeonsoo Go, a 20-year-old Korean immigrant and daughter of an Episcopal priest who was detained by ICE last week after appearing for her routine hearing at immigration court

'We call for the end of weaponization in our courts,' Bishop Heyd declared to a crowd of supporters and reporters. 'We stand up for a New York and a country that respects the dignity of every person.'

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) joined the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the Interfaith Center of New York to organize the press conference.

Posters demanding Go's release were plastered on the courthouse fence, alongside flowers and handwritten notes of support from local high school classmates.

'Her fears have come true,' said Gabriella Lopez, a friend of Go's. 'She's been nervous about this, especially given the climate. And now this is happening - to her, to her family. It's terrifying.'

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of NYIC, warned others with pending hearings to be vigilant.

'I think it's critically important that anyone who needs to go to an immigration court hearing call the New York State Office of New Americans and their hotline,' Awawdeh said.

'Make a family preparedness plan. If possible, work with a lawyer to set up a virtual hearing.'

Korean American community leaders say the episode is part of a disturbing trend of rising enforcement actions targeting Korean nationals regardless of their legal status.

Rev. Anne Marie Witchger, Rector at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery speaks at a vigil outside of ICE headquarters at 26 Federal Plaza

On Saturday, faith leaders, elected officials, and immigration advocates stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside the ICE building in lower Manhattan to demand her release

Vigil participants add flowers, American flags and signs that read 'Free Yeonsoo' to the memorial wall for migrants taken by Department of Homeland Security

Lee Myung-seok, president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York, called the arrest 'a clear violation of human rights' and vowed to file a formal letter requesting Go's immediate release

Lee Myung-seok, president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York, called the arrest 'a clear violation of human rights' and vowed to file a formal letter requesting Go's immediate release.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also stepped in, stating that its diplomatic missions in the U.S. are providing consular support to Go.

'We are engaging in necessary communication with the US side regarding this issue,' a ministry official told The Korea Times.

The case echoes the recent detention of Tae Heung Will Kim, a Korean green card holder and Texas resident who was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport last month.

Kim, a Ph.D. student, was held at the airport for more than a week before being transferred to an ICE facility in Arizona.

His family has not received information about his condition or location.

As outrage builds, activists are demanding urgent federal oversight and accountability for what they say is a pattern of unjustified enforcement.
A group of Texas landowners are railing against President Donald Trump as he seeks to force them to sell parts of their property to build his long promised border wall.

Residents in Starr County, in southern Texas, are being hauled to court to face off with high-powered administration lawyers who have filed eminent domain lawsuits.

Eminent domain cases are used to force landowners to sell private property for public use, even if the owner does not want to sell.

Alejo Clarke, who has lived in the county for 58 years, told The Wall Street Journal he is fighting back against the order.

The Trump administration is seeking one acre of his land in order to erect the 18 foot wall.

Trump was elected on a campaign promise to make America safer by securing the borders and conducting mass deportations. A spokesperson for the administration noted a border wall is 'the most safe and efficient way possible.'

But Clarke claims doing so would cut him off from expansive plots of land where he has fished and hunted his entire life.

'I'm not gonna beat Trump - you know it and I know it,' he said. 'But if someone is going to kick your butt, are you just going to lie down?'

Trump was elected on a campaign promise to make America safer by securing the borders and conducting mass deportations

A spokesperson for the administration noted a border wall is 'the most safe and efficient way possible'

Clarke maintained he has not noticed any security problems on his property, and said the billions of dollars the government has allocated to building the wall would be better spent helping farmers in the region bounce back from a water shortage.

He claimed the government has offered just $3,000 in compensation for the land it plans to take.

Clarke tried to fight a similar plan from the Trump administration during the first term in court by himself, but said that with only a seventh-grade education, he was out of his depth.

Biden returned the land to him, but it's now once again at risk. He has hired a lawyer to help him fight the eminent domain lawsuit, but will struggle to afford the associated costs, he said.

'This is the piece they want to take out of me,' he said. 'My entrance y todo.'

Raquel Oliva has found herself in a similar situation, fighting to keep land which has been in her family since 1798, growing crops of cotton, hay and tomatoes.

The government filed proceedings in February to take over less than three acres of the family's land to construct a portion of the wall.

But Oliva said the government's use of three acres would in turn block off access to more than 100 acres where her family has hunted, farmed and operated a gas well.

The 75-year-old used AI to help her draft an objection letter to the government, arguing the wall would be detrimental to her family's work.

Trump restarted efforts to build the border wall as soon as he returned to office in January (pictured, the wall under construction in Quemado, Texas in January)

Pictured: Migrants gather at Rio Grande at the border wall

She has requested a 16-foot access gate, an irrigation pipeline and more compensation.

'No one has a problem stopping illegal immigration or drugs, but we live on the border - it's always been like this,' Oliva said.

'Now it feels like an invasion of the government on us.'

Since returning to power, the government has filed dozens of eminent domain lawsuits in Texas as the administration seeks to deliver on Trump's promise of securing US borders.

These cases are often complex because they involve small patches of land with generations of owners and poorly documented titles.

Some of the cases list upwards of 100 defendants who have ownership claims over tiny pockets of land, while others list 'unknown heirs' of late former owners.

But Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said completion of the border wall is crucial to the government's policy and national security.

'Successful mass deportations mean nothing if we don't control the border and keep future illegal aliens out,' she recently wrote in a New York Post opinion column.

'That's why the BBB legislation also funds hundreds of miles of new border wall and water-based barriers in the Rio Grande, which will permanently secure the border for decades.'

Trump is also ramping up a hiring spree for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The administration has carried out 239,000 deportations so far this year, according to data published by The Washington Post last lmonth.
An Australian artificial intelligence expert has reportedly turned down a staggering billion-dollar offer from Mark Zuckerberg's Meta.

Andrew Tulloch, a University of Sydney graduate who grew up in Perth, spent more than a decade working at Facebook's parent company before joining rival OpenAI.

In February, Tulloch co-founded AI start-up Thinking Machines Lab with former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati. The company is now reportedly valued at US$12 billion (A$18.5 billion).

According to the Wall Street Journal, Zuckerberg tried to buy Thinking Machines Lab earlier this year, but Murati rejected his offer. Meta's CEO then attempted to lure the company's top talent, including Tulloch.

Tulloch was allegedly offered a US$1 billion (A$1.55 billion) pay package spread over six years, with the potential for even more through bonuses and stock performance.

However, the Perth-born 'genius' turned the offer down. Meta later told the Journal the reported US$1 billion figure was 'inaccurate and ridiculous'.

Mr Tulloch moved to the US in 2012 and spent 11 years at Facebook's AI company, where he rose to the role of distinguished engineer.

Mike Vernal, a former Facebook executive who worked with Mr Tulloch, said: 'He was definitely known as an extreme genius.'

University of Sydney graduate Andrew Tulloch (pictured), raised in Perth, reportedly rejected a US$1 billion ($1.55 billion) from Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg (pictured), CEO of Meta, unsuccessfully attempted to buy AI start-up Thinking Machines Lab, co-founded by Australian Andrew Tulloch

In 2023, he moved to OpenAI, the research organisation behind ChatGPT, before joining former colleagues in forming Thinking Machines Lab this year.

The start-up cites its mission of making 'AI systems more widely understood, customizable and generally capable'.

Mr Tulloch was a vice captain at Christ Church Grammar in Claremont, Western Australia.

He achieved an ATAR of 99.95 in 2007 before graduating with first class honours and the university medal in mathematics at university in 2011.

He graduated with the highest GPA in the Faculty of Science.

The Australian worked at Goldman Sachs as a quant while studying at the University of Cambridge.

He completed a master's in mathematical statistics and machine learning before embarking on his career in AI.

Zuckerberg has a history of attempting to poach rival companies' employees.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta branded the US$1 billion figure the company reportedly offered Andrew Tulloch 'inaccurate and ridiculous'

OpenAI boss Sam Altman revealed in June that Meta had offered US$100million bonuses ($155million) to his staff in an unsuccessful bid to convince talent to switch teams.

'I'm really happy that at least so far none of our best people have decided to take them up on that,' he said.

Sources have also said that Meta executives approached at least a dozen employees at Thinking Machines Lab earlier this year in an aggressive talent raid. So far, no one has accepted their offer.

Tulloch and his team are said to be committed to the companys mission of building safer and more customisable AI tools.

Company insiders say it is building powerful multimodal AI systems that can interpret text, speech and visuals in real time.

It also aims to open-source parts of its technology to promote transparency and collaboration

According to reports, the 50-person startup raised a staggering $2 billion in seed funding within months, giving it a jaw-dropping valuation of $12 billion.

Backers include Silicon Valley heavyweights Andreessen Horowitz, Accel and Jane Street, as well as tech giants Nvidia, AMD and Cisco.

The Albanian government, led by president Bajram Begaj, right, reportedly invested in Tulloch's firm

Even the Albanian government chipped in, reportedly investing $10 million. Alongside Tulloch, key staff include John Schulman, who co-founded OpenAI, and safety researcher Lilian Weng.

At Cambridge, Tulloch graduated with a distinction in mathematics.

When he was studying at the University of Sydney, he created an honours thesis on prediction markets. That won him an award for best mathematics thesis.

He was also the recipient of the Joye Prize, which is 'awarded annually to the most outstanding student completing fourth year Honours in Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics or Mathematical Statistics'.

His social media suggests he is now based in San Francisco, California.
A high-flying FIFO worker has revealed how she earns a staggering $120,000 by working just six months of the year.

Ashlea, 26, has attracted a massive online following documenting her life as a dump truck driver in the mines in Western Australia's Pilbara region and jet-setting around the world on lavish holidays during her time off.

Previously dubbed the 'world's hottest truck driver', she earns $120,000 a year working 14 days on and 14 days off in a job she says no one else wants.

The average salary for a full-time worker in Australia is $102,742 per year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

After scoring a big promotion, Ashlea splashed out on her dream car - a Mercedes convertible, which she couldn't wait to show off to her 81,500 TikTok followers.

'I had this car on my vision board that I made about six years ago,' she said.

'Now I'm living my best Barbie dreams.'

She attributed the dream purchase to her FIFO career.

FIFO worker Ashlea splashed out on her dream car following a recent promotion

'I have been waiting so long for this moment. I've driven a car I didn't love for the past six years, so I can finally drive this beautiful car,' she said.

'I feel so grateful and like a bad bi***.'

Ashlea earned $36.50 an hour when she began working in the mines

'For my first year as a greenie (truck driver) I would have taken about $94,000 - 95,000 annually,' she previously explained.

After her first year in the mines, she changed contractors and received a huge jump in pay as a result.

She now earns at least $51.50 an hour and receives a $2,000 bonus for each month she stays with her employer.

'So that could be anywhere between $6,000 and $10,000 a month,' Ashlea said.

'Annually, my $51.50 would be approximately $112,000. With my bonuses, that could be another $10,000, so $122,000 for my first year.

Ashlea (pictured) earns at least $120,000 a year working as a dump truck driver in the mines

Some mining companies offer FIFOs a $2000 bonus for every month they stay (stock image)

'And then when Im employed directly with the company itself, every full year youre employed through the mine site direct, they pay you a bonus also, which I think is approximately $3,000 each year.

'And then if the company itself does well, I think they actually pay you a bit of a profit share just as a thanks, which I love.'

Ashlea spent Christmas in Finland and has since travelled to Paris and celebrated her birthday in Bali.

'Honestly, I feel so grateful for my life,' she captioned a recent TikTok clip.

'I have a beautiful partner. An amazing job. A stunning apartment. A wonderful family and group of friends. My dream car.

'I get to travel. Goals for the year ahead. Life is good.

'I dont write this to brag, but a reminder to do what brings you joy in life and take pleasure in doing it. Life is too short not to enjoy its magic.'
Hundreds of residents have been ordered to evacuate as torrential rain continues to cause havoc in parts of NSW.

The evacuations come as authorities resume their search for a 26-year-old woman swept away by floodwaters during a girls' weekend away in the Hunter Valley on Saturday.

Residents in low-lying parts of Raymond Terrace in the Hunter and Gunnedah in north-central NSW were ordered to evacuate on Sunday night.

'You must evacuate now because inundation is occurring and evacuation routes will be closed due to floodwaters,' one SES alert read.

A major flood warning for Gunnedah's Namoi River remains in place, while a moderate alert for the Peel River is expected to cause minor flooding in Tamworth, Narrabri and Wee Waa.

The Oxley Highway remains closed between Gunnedah and Carroll, along with the New England Highway at Muswellbrook.

More than 50 warnings remain in place for the mid-north NSW coast, Upper Hunter and New England regions.

A total of 29 schools on the mid-north and central coasts, the Hunter and New England regions have been closed.

A major flood warning has been issued for the Upper Hunter and north central NSW regions

It has been a busy weekend for SES as wild weather smashed parts of NSW

Emergency workers were called north of Cessnock on Saturday night after reports of a car stranded in floodwaters.

The female driver, 27, managed to escape, but her friend, 26, was dragged away by the strong current. Crews are still searching for her.

State Emergency Service crews responding to the missing woman alert also saved a 40-year-old man who was stuck in a nearby tree due to floodwaters.

The man was swept out of the tree but rescuers followed him into the water and managed to pull him to safety.

Since the onset of the severe weather, NSW SES has received more than 3,600 calls and responded to 2,092 incidents, including 25 flood rescues.

A severe weather warning was cancelled on Monday ahead of more settled conditions, although riverine rises remain a risk as floodwaters move downstream.

Minor flood warnings are current for the Manning, Gloucester, Macleay, Severn, Paterson, Williams, and Gwydir Rivers.

High winds and storms also battered the other side of the country in Western Australia. Almost 20,000 homes were without power in Perth on Sunday as storms swept through the city.

Dozens of warnings are in place for the NSW mid-north coast, Upper Hunter and New England
Yet another potential sighting of accused killer Travis Decker has gone cold as officials in Washington state have begun scaling back their search efforts for the man accused of killing his three young daughters.

Authorities in the state have been searching for the 33-year-old ever since his daughters - Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 - were found strangled to death at a campsite outside Leavenworth, Washington in early June.

It is now believed Decker, 33, dumped their bodies and his truck, and he has been wanted on murder charges since.

There was a glimmer of hope on Friday, when the King County Sheriff's Office announced it had received a tip at around 6pm that the killer father was seen near Snoqualmie Pass and the Pacific Crest Trail area - about 55 miles from Seattle.

'As locating Decker is a priority, KCSO dispatched multiple patrol units, along with TAC-30, K9 Units and Guardian 1 to aid in the search,' the sheriff's office told KIRO.

'Neighboring law enforcement agents were notified as well.'

But an extensive search for the former Army Ranger came up empty, and the search efforts were called off at around 9.15pm.

The announcement came just days after the Chelan County Sheriff's Office - which initially led the search efforts - said it was scaling back its response after receiving fewer tips about Decker's possible whereabouts.

Yet another potential sighting of accused killer Travis Decker, 33, has gone cold

Decker is accused of killing his three young daughters - Olivia, 5; Evelyn, 8; and Paityn, 9

Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison announced on Thursday it is 'not likely' Decker is still alive and on the loose

Much of the search efforts have been focused on national forest areas and parts of the Pacific Crest Trail - which runs from the Canadian border in Washington all the way down to the Mexican border in California.

The failed search this week follows a number of similar sightings that have not materialized, with officials admitting in June that a trove of evidence taken from his suspected hiding site did not match any of his DNA.

Thus far, each effort to find and capture Decker - who is wanted on state and federal charges for murder and kidnapping - have ended in a dead end.

Even a tip that Decker may be hiding out in Idaho proved to be false, with someone mistaking a local man for the wanted killer.

As the search efforts now reach a third consecutive month, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison suggested it is 'not likely' Decker is still alive and on the loose.

'His ability to go through that area and not be detected would have been challenging, let alone the challenges involved with him having to hike through all the snow that was up there toward the Pacific Crest Trail at the time,' he told reporters on Thursday.

Still, he insisted to KHQ that the department remains 'optimistic' it will locate the accused killer, even if it is just his body.

'We still recognize we have a job to do,' Morrison said.

He added that deputies 'are going through and making sure that we are covering our paths twice, sometimes three times, and also making sure that we are utilizing our search and rescue investigative units appropriately.'

Search efforts have been focused on national forest areas and parts of the Pacific Crest Trail

Morrison said sheriff's deputies will go over areas that they have already checked for the murder suspect

Yet some experts, including law enforcement and security analyst Todd McGhee, have said Decker's extensive military background may have enabled him to live in the wilderness undetected.

He had joined the Army in 2013 and served in Afghanistan before transferring to the Washington National Guard in 2021, a communications director for the Washington Military Department previously confirmed to the Daily Mail.

The Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge due to Decker's absences when his daughters were killed.

He had been suffering from mental health issues at the time, and had recently been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

Decker was even court-mandated to receive mental health treatment and domestic violence anger management counseling but had refused.

Police said he was also homeless and living out of his car by the time he picked up his three girls from their mother's house on May 30.

Still, his ex-wife Whitney told police she didn't believe Decker was dangerous, and that he loved his daughters, with whom he had a 'good relationship.'

Decker's ex-wife Whitney told police she did not believe he was dangerous and that he loved his three daughters

However, dashcam footage from a May 27 traffic stop has added to the image of Decker's poor mental state at the time.

Decker appeared in the 19-minute video with his arms crossed and a bored expression before he leaned on his car and then sat on the bumper.

At one point, he could be seen resting his head on his truck bed as the other driver and police officer interact.

After the incident, the other driver told KING 5, which obtained the video, that Decker appeared 'nervous and fidgety' and 'kept telling me not to call police' claiming he would go to jail over the accident.

When the driver told Decker he had to call police to report the crash, he said the alleged killer's body language was 'almost intimidating.'

'I could tell he was not in his full senses,' the driver added.

At the end of the video, Decker shook the driver's hand for nine seconds. When the driver tried to pull away, Decker continued asking if he was going to be okay, the driver said.

The traffic stop happened three days before Decker picked up his daughters at their mother's house for the last time, according to police.

Whitney called police after Decker failed to bring them back. She told cops he was 'quieter than usual' when he collected the girls, which was 'out of character' for him.

His vehicle was eventually found on June 2, with his daughter's remains nearby.

An ensuing autopsy then confirmed that the three girls died of suffocation and their deaths were ruled a homicide.
Britain risks a repeat of the grooming gang scandal or last summer's riots if police do not share the ethnicity or immigration status of dangerous suspects, it was warned last night.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp responded to concerns that Warwickshire police 'covered up' the backgrounds of two Afghan asylum seekers involved in the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

The Mail on Sunday yesterday reported the force advised councillors and officials not to reveal the background of the suspects for fear of 'inflaming community tensions'.

It is believed they thought unrest would break out like that seen in Epping, Essex, where an Ethiopian asylum seeker staying in a hotel was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Warwickshire Police has defended its position, saying it was following national policy in not sharing ethnicity or immigration status.

Mr Philp, a former policing minister, said: 'The police must be open about who is committing these alleged offences, and not try to hide it.

'Otherwise, we risk a repeat of the rape gang scandal where horrendous crimes were covered up because of the identity of the perpetrators. I also call on the Government to ensure that the immigration status and nationality of all offenders is published for each crime, and as quarterly totals. The public rightly expect complete honesty.'

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (pictured) responded to concerns that Warwickshire police 'covered up' the backgrounds of two Afghan asylum seekers involved an alleged rape (file image)

It is believed police feared unrest would break out like that seen in Epping, Essex, where an Ethiopian asylum seeker staying in a hotel was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old schoolgirl. Pictured: Clashes at the Bell Hotel in Epping

Hadush Kebatu was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl just days after he arrived in Britain. Pictured: three protesters draped in English flags look through the protective fencing

Councillor Stephen Shaw, deputy leader of Reform-controlled Warwickshire County Council, told the Daily Mail: 'We don't have any personal information on these men and we don't know what's happening with them until something bad happens.

'We need to get rid of these migrant hotels and houses of multiple occupancy [HMO] housing asylum seekers which are making our streets unsafe.

'You would think after Southport where police were more conscious about releasing personal information to prevent protests and rioting they would do the same here, but instead there appears to be a cover-up. It's two-tier policing. It's disgusting.'

Ahmad Mulakhil and Mohammad Kabir, both 23, are accused of involvement in the attack on July 22.

Mulakhil has been charged with rape while Kabir has been charged with kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting an assault.

Mulakhil is said to have arrived in the UK on a small boat and both are believed to have been living in HMOs.

A Warwickshire Police spokesman said: 'Once someone is charged with an offence, we follow national guidance. This guidance does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.'

However critics pointed out that in May, Merseyside Police quickly released information that a man arrested after allegedly ploughing into crowds celebrating Liverpool FC's victory parade was a 'white British man from the Liverpool area'.

Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged with the rape of the girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Pictured: Nuneaton town centre, Warwickshire

Reform MP Lee Anderson yesterday claimed the police were 'trying to cover up again'

Mr Anderson said on X there was an attempt to 'cover up again' for fear of 'inflaming' community tensions

Reform MP Lee Anderson yesterday claimed the police were 'trying to cover up again'.

Writing on X, he said that in Liverpool ethnicity information was released almost immediately and 'they [Warwickshire Police] really aren't doing themselves any favours'.

Last night, George Finch, the 19-year-old Reform leader of Warwickshire council, said initial reports of Mulakhil's charge had 'caused unease locally as residents have very easily been able to join the dots' and they 'can see that they have not been told the full story'.

Mr Finch warned: 'The continued cover-up of the true nature of Ahmad Mulakhil's immigration status risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire.

'I am disgusted that one year on from the social unrest that we saw in parts of the UK in 2024, the Home Office and police have clearly not learnt any lessons from the handling of similar incidents last year.'

Labour' tinkering around the edges' with latest crackdown

Harriet Line, Deputy Political Editor

Labour has been accused of 'tinkering around the edges' with its plans to crackdown on small boat crossings.

The Home Office has announced measures to get tough on smuggling gangs, despite more than 25,000 illegal arrivals so far this year  but the Tories branded them 'a series of gimmicks'.

The Home Office has announced measures to get tough on smuggling gangs, despite more than 25,000 illegal arrivals so far this year. Pictured: A group of migrants run from the beach into the water to reach an inflatable dinghy near Calais, France, July 17

Anti-migrant protesters take part in a demonstration outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in London, United Kingdom on August 02, 2025

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper this weekend unveiled plans to introduce sentences of up to five years in prison for anyone who advertises small boat crossings or fake passports on social media.

She said she would introduce a fast-track scheme to tackle the asylum backlog, with a new law to overhaul the appeals system, in a bid to get decisions on cases within weeks.

And today, the Home Office will announce 100 million of extra funding to support the pilot of the new 'one in, one out' returns agreement between the UK and France. It will also pay for up to 300 more National Crime Agency officers and new technology and equipment to step up intelligence gathering on smuggling gangs.

And there will be more overtime for immigration compliance and enforcement teams as well as funding for interventions in transit countries.

The deal, agreed last month, means the UK will be able to send migrants back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with links to Britain.

But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the announcements. He told the Daily Mail last night: 'This weak Labour Government has come up with a series of gimmicks to grab headlines instead of fixing the issue. Tinkering around the edges which will make no real difference.

Protesters stand behind a fence as they gather near the Bell Hotel during a protest against the use of the hotel as migrant accommodation on July 27, 2025 in Epping

'There have been more than 25,000 illegal crossings so far this year, making it the worst year in history. Labour has failed and their laughable claim to smash the gangs lies in tatters. They have no serious plan, just excuses, while ruthless criminal gangs flood our borders with illegal immigrants.'

A No 10 source hit back: 'The Tories focused on headlines and gimmickry, we're focused on what works.

'Through our returns deal with France, investment in a border security and speeding up returns, we're making steady progress.'
When Lt Col Crawford Harveys wife Jacqueline died at the age of 77 from mesothelioma  a terminal cancer caused by asbestos  he remembered all the faded military quarters they had shared during his 39 years of service.

Could she have been exposed to the deadly fibres in one of those?

When people ask me what she was like, I sum her up by describing what she loved  family, fun, flowers, sewing, dogs and friends, he says. She was wonderful.

Lt Col Harvey, 77, didnt think life could get any worse after losing Jacqueline in 2022 after 50 years of marriage. Hed never previously heard of mesothelioma, which kills most of those diagnosed within a year. She had lasted about a year and a half.

But then, six months ago, he was diagnosed with it, too.

Were all going to die of something, he says. But to have two people together for 50 years and then, within the span of four years, both are diagnosed with the same relatively rare cancer caused by asbestos? Youd have to say thats spooky.

You would indeed  except that, as the Daily Mail reveals today, the Harveys tale is only the tip of the iceberg. The Ministry of Defence paid out 112.5million in compensation to 803 victims of mesothelioma between 2016 and 2025.

To put that into perspective, British forces were in action in Afghanistan for 20 years, from 2001 to 2021. During that time, there were 405 deaths due to hostile enemy action.

Lt Col Harvey (pictured), 77, didnt think life could get any worse after losing Jacqueline in 2022 after 50 years of marriage. Hed never heard of mesothelioma, which kills most of those diagnosed within a year. She had lasted about a year and a half. Then, he was diagnosed too

Lt Col Crawford Harveys wife Jacqueline (pictured) died at the age of 77 from mesothelioma  a terminal cancer caused by asbestos

Lt Commander Jeffrey Picken, 69, served on five ships and five submarines, all while being exposed to asbestos that had been installed in the vessels for its fire-retardant properties. He died from mesothelioma on New Years Day in 2018. Pictured: His widow, Veronica, 77, holding a photograph of her and her husband

During the same period, taking an average of 89 claims a year, 1,780 Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force veterans would have died from mesothelioma.

On top of that, each year a similar number die from asbestosis  a chronic disease where the lungs harden  and other lung cancers. Thats at least 3,560 asbestos-related deaths in that same 20-year period.

The mesothelioma victims included Bernice Scullion, an RAF air traffic control assistant, who died in 2020 aged just 48. In a statement to her solicitors Irwin Mitchell, Bernice had described working in old, crumbling military installations where she suspected asbestos was present.

Her husband Kevin, 54, was also in the RAF, until 2014. They had trained together in 1994 at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire, and worked and lived at other locations that had raised red flags in terms of asbestos. They had three children.

There are so many of these unmodernised post-war structures that, in my opinion, arent fit to live or work in, says Kevin. Most have asbestos in them. But military people have such a can-do attitude that some will ignore the risk and get on with it.

Then there was Lt Commander Jeffrey Picken, 69. During 37 years as a marine engineer, he served on five ships and five submarines, all while being exposed to asbestos that had been installed in the vessels for its fire-retardant properties. He died from mesothelioma on New Years Day in 2018.

You could say the asbestos was there to protect him and his crewmates, says his widow Veronica, 77. But it killed him, and probably some of them, too.

If the failure to protect the servicemen and women who protect us is a national disgrace, then so, too, is the way we treat them when they develop the disease.

Pictured: Lt Commander Jeffrey Picken, 69, who served as a marine engineer for 37 years. You could say the asbestos was there to protect him and his crewmates, says his widow Veronica, but it killed him, and probably some of them, too'

Pictured: Veronica Picken and Lt Commander Jeffrey Picken on their golden wedding anniversary in 2017

Veronica's (pictured) beloved husband Jeffrey died in 2017 due to exposure to asbestos during his lengthy career in the Royal Navy

Because, when it comes to levels of compensation and medical help, our veterans fare poorly in comparison with civilian mesothelioma victims.

Until 2016, personnel who had been exposed to asbestos before 1987 werent allowed to seek compensation or redress because of the doctrine of Crown Immunity, which protects the Armed Forces from legal action.

This was significant because the period between being exposed to asbestos and developing symptoms can range from 20 to 60 years.

The Governments Mesothelioma Act changed that, yet still left veterans at a disadvantage  their maximum claim is 140,000, whereas civilians can average around 250,000. Their families cannot make any claims after they die under MoD rules  while civilians families suing former employers in public courts can.

The charity Mesothelioma UK describes these inequalities as disgraceful.

The Daily Mails Asbestos: Britains Hidden Killer campaign has highlighted that, in the UK, more than 5,000 people a year die from diseases related to these toxic fibres, making it our biggest workplace killer.

We are calling on the Government to introduce a phased removal of asbestos from all public buildings  starting with schools and hospitals  and to introduce a national database to register where exactly it is.

Today we argue that this should include military homes, barracks, workplaces and equipment. Our forces personnel have our backs. We should have theirs.

Veronica Picken and Lt Cdr Picken met in 1966 and were married in 1967 (pictured above on their wedding day)

The Daily Mails Asbestos: Britains Hidden Killer campaign has highlighted that, in the UK, more than 5,000 people a year die from diseases related to these toxic fibres, making it our biggest workplace killer

Until 2016, personnel who had been exposed to asbestos before 1987 werent allowed to seek compensation or redress because of the doctrine of Crown Immunity, which protects the Armed Forces from legal action. Pictured: A person holding asbestos fibres

We include equipment deliberately. In 2023, the Ministry of Defence admitted that 2,699 pieces of military hardware contained asbestos.

These included all Vanguard class nuclear-armed and Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines; hundreds of Challenger tanks; more than a thousand Warrior and Bulldog armoured vehicles; Chinook, Gazelle and Puma helicopters; Daring-class Type 45 destroyers; Type 23 frigates; Stormer and Harpoon missiles... the list goes on.

Lt Col Harvey is proud to have served his country for almost four decades in the Royal Corps of Transport, later to become the Royal Logistic Corps.

But he says a number of the buildings or barracks where he and Jacqueline, a teacher, stayed  including in the UK, Northern Ireland and Africa  were from an era where asbestos was commonplace.

By the time I left, in 2005, the Army was much stricter and more aware of the dangers of asbestos, he says. But in the 1960s and 70s, there was less understanding.

Once I got over 70, I began to hear of a lot of my peer group dying of cancers, and I suspected much of this was down to asbestos. It was everywhere years ago. But many old soldiers just shut their gob, get on with it and quietly fade away.

When I tell him about the numbers of veterans deaths from asbestos each year, he says: That does not surprise me at all.

Assistant air traffic controller Bernice Scullion was fairly certain she had been exposed at a number of locations.

The Daily Mail is calling on the Government to introduce a phased removal of asbestos from all public buildings  starting with schools and hospitals  and to introduce a national database to register where exactly it is (file image)

Ms Picken said that her beloved husband first got symptoms in 2016. She added: 'When they said it was mesothelioma, which Id never heard of, and they told us the prognosis, I fell apart. They tried a couple of drugs on him, but he died in pain. He lasted just over a year'

At RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, where considerable refurbishment was under way, she recalled in a statement before she died: There were a lot of pre-Second World War buildings on site, and notices around the site warning about the presence of asbestos.

At RAF Northolt, west London, Bernice remembered filthy, dusty repairs being carried out to the Operations Centre, where asbestos was later found.

And at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire she worked in dirty basements with maps that she had to shake clean of dust every day. She later found out that large amounts of asbestos were found in the building where she worked.

In 2014 Bernice, from Northern Ireland, began to experience abdominal pains. She was told she had mesothelioma, but then the diagnosis was withdrawn  only to be confirmed later.

Possibly because of her age or because she was on clinical trials of new drugs, she lasted three years after her diagnosis in 2017.

That is more than most but, by any standards, 48 is young to die from this disease. She was a proper Irishwoman, says husband Kevin. Loved her kids. Loved family life. Loved her parents and her friends. I loved her very much.

Now a private contractor on an RAF base, he thinks some things have improved  if asbestos were found, a specialist would be brought in to clear it, for example  but he adds: I could probably walk into the crew room and ask, Does anybody know what mesothelioma is? I dont think any of them would.

The poor state of military accommodation is often cited as a factor in asbestos exposure. As of March 2023, 47,800 properties were designated for service occupation.

Your browser does not support iframes.

In 2023 in response to a Freedom of Information request issued by the Lib Dems, the MoD admitted that 72 per cent of service accommodation contained low risk asbestos. Pictured: asbestos fibres (file image)

A Parliamentary Defence Committee report into the state of this accommodation in December concluded: A third of Single Living Accommodation and two-thirds of Service Families Accommodation are in such poor condition that they are essentially no longer fit for purpose.

In 2023 in response to a Freedom of Information request put by the Lib Dems, the MoD admitted that 72 per cent of service accommodation contained low risk asbestos. However, among clinicians and the courts, it has long been accepted that there is no such thing as a safe level of exposure to the material.

We know and understand that defence jobs have a very high risk of injury or death attached to them, says Professor Kevin Bampton, chief executive of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, which campaigns for workplace safety.

However, those working in the service of their country should be able to expect that their housing, work accommodation and equipment do not pose more of a likely cause of death than hostile combatants.

If equipment and accommodation werent enough for service personnel to worry about, questions have been raised over the levels of care the MoD extends to them while on exercises abroad.

A case brought by 260 mostly former Royal Marines alleges that they were knowingly exposed to asbestos in an area called Skrunda-1 in Latvia in 2018 and 2019. The group, led by former Marine Edward Hill, were concerned about the location in which they were billeted  a crumbling Soviet-era control centre  but were not allowed to relocate.

Edward took soil samples which were found to contain high levels of chrysotile  or white  asbestos. The group are seeking compensation. The MoD said it could not comment on live cases.

Health and Safety legislation does not extend beyond the UK when armed forces are training overseas, says Edward. But the law needs to change. Those in command must be held criminally accountable when they recklessly expose servicemen and women to hazardous substances.

We know and understand that defence jobs have a very high risk of injury or death attached to them, says Professor Kevin Bampton, chief executive of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, which campaigns for workplace safety

After almost 40 years of service, you might expect a letter, or a card, or a bunch of flowers from the Navy when your husband dies. But I received nothing', Ms Picken said

The final words on such terrible  and completely avoidable  loss of life should go to Veronica Picken, widow of Lt Cdr Picken who served proudly on so many Royal Navy ships and submarines before his death in 2017.

We met in 1966 and were married in 1967, she says. Before he died, we managed to celebrate our golden wedding anniversary.

Jeff got his first symptoms  pain in the ribs  in 2016. When they said it was mesothelioma, which Id never heard of, and they told us the prognosis, I fell apart.

They tried a couple of drugs on him, but he died in pain. He lasted just over a year.

Id like to see the MoD do something about the asbestos our servicemen and women are being exposed to all the time. But Id also like to see something else  more compassion and more understanding for the families affected by this.

After almost 40 years of service, you might expect a letter, or a card, or a bunch of flowers from the Navy when your husband dies. But I received nothing. Perhaps that, as much as anything, shows how much the Armed Forces care for the people whose lives theyre putting at risk.
A woman endured a horrific infection and agonizing injuries after she swam in a hotel's indoor pool that her lawyers say wasn't treated with chlorine.

Alexis Williams, 23, was staying at the Residence Inn Downtown Ann Arbor Hotel in Michigan in June while visiting her grandmother, who was having a procedure at a nearby medical center.

She decided to take a swim in the hotel's pool with her cousins, who soon became violently ill and started vomiting.

Williams scraped her knee while she was swimming and contracted a rare infection called MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

MRSA is caused by staph bacteria and is resistant to most antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Within hours of swimming in the pool, Williams was overcome with severe pain and couldn't even walk, she recalled to local news.

'It was outrageous,' she told local Fox affiliate, Fox 2 Detroit.

'The pain was excruciating. I had to get poked a lot with a whole bunch of needles, and being prescribed medications I never thought Id be prescribed to.'

Alexis Williams, 23, contracted a rare infection called MRSA and suffered serious injuries after she swam in a hotel pool

Williams' lawyers believe that the infection was from a lack of chlorine and bromine in a pool at the Residence Inn Downtown Ann Arbor in Michigan (pictured)

Williams told local news that doctors said they may have to amputate her leg if they can't get the infection under control

Williams had three surgeries on her leg and remains on strong IV antibiotics, according to her lawyer, Ven Johnson.

She now has to constantly receive medication through intravenous therapy and needs a walker. Williams even feared that her leg would have to be amputated.

'I've gone through a lot of pain and suffering, and still currently am,' she told the Detroit Free Press.

'I'm very frightened, very nervous and just appalled by everything.'

Williams' lawyers obtained records from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy that revealed the heinous conditions of the hotel's pool.

Her lawyers said inspections of the swimming pool on June 12, June 27, and July 8 showed no chlorine or bromine in the water.

Williams had three surgeries on her leg and remains on strong IV antibiotics, according to her lawyer, Ven Johnson

Williams said she could barely walk due to the pain in her leg and was rushed to the hospital after swimming in the hotel pool

The civil complaint argues that 'the hotel knew that its swimming pool had a Standard Plate Count that exceeded 200 CFU/ml, which indicates a dangerous level of bacteria present in the swimming pool and poor disinfection.'

Williams' lawyers believe that the hotel knew the pool didn't have these chemicals and had improper pH levels.

Her legal team accused the hotel of disregarding public safety and creating an unsafe environment for guests.

'Alexis started developing this infection within several hours of coming into contact with this water,' Michael Freifeld, an attorney with Williams' legal team, told the Detroit Free Press.

Williams' legal team alleges that the hotel's pool didn't have chlorine or bromine in the water, creating an unsafe situation for guests

'We have no doubt, given the records we have and the experts that we are going to hire, that the infection Alexis experienced, and is experiencing, was clearly connected to the pool.'

Johnson added that Williams still has a long way ahead of her, and doctors said they may have to amputate if the infection isn't under control.

'For anybody, let alone a 23-year-old young person, it's a very scary, uncertain prognosis,' Johnson said.

The lawsuit is seeking $25,000 in damages. Daily Mail reached out to First Martin Corporation, which owns the Residence Inn for comment on the accusations.
Three Aussies accused of the execution-style gangland killing of a Melbourne underworld figure in Bali have been relocated to one of Indonesia's toughest prisons.

Paea I Middlemore Tupou, 26, Mevlut Coskun, 23, and Darcy Francesco Jenson, 27, could face the firing squad if they're convicted over the deadly shooting.

Zivan 'Stipe' Radmanovic, 35, was shot dead in front of his partner, Jazmyn Gourdeas, shortly after midnight on June 14 at a villa in Munggu, in Bali's south.

The couple had been holidaying on the island to celebrate Ms Gourdeas's 30th birthday.

A second Melbourne man staying at the villa, Sanar Ghanim, was seriously injured but survived.

The Aussie trio were arrested following a five-day manhunt and have been in custody ever since.

The suspects were relocated to Bali's notorious Kerobokan Prison last week following a re-enactment by local police.

Escorted by heavily armed police and security guards, the masked men dubbed the Bali 3 were seen wearing balaclavas, orange prison shirts, and signs reading 'suspect 1', 'suspect 2' and 'suspect 3'.

Aussies Mevlut Coskun, Paea I Middlemore Tupou, and Darcy Francesco Jenson took part in a police re-enactment last week before they were relocated to Bali's notorious Kerobokan Prison

Melbourne underworld figure Zivan 'Stipe' Radmanovic (pictured with his partner Jazmyn Gourdeas) was shot dead in Bali in June

Handcuffed and wearing chains on their legs, the detained men were transported to several crime scenes in armoured vehicles, including the villa where the shooting allegedly took place.

Police carried out the re-enactments to 'clarify each suspects role in the incident, as part of the ongoing investigation.'

'After the reconstruction process ran smoothly and as planned, we handed over or detained the three suspects at Kerobokan Prison for further detention process,' Badung Police chief Arif Batubara said on Saturday.

Police allege that Tupou and Coskun carried out the attack, which Jenson helped facilitate by providing getaway cars.

During one of the re-enactments, Coskun told Seven News that he was 'not guilty' and that he would contest the allegations

He also claimed that the prison conditions, before he was transferred to Kerobokan, were 'terrible'.

Jenson's lawyer revealed that their client is concerned about the prospect of facing the death penalty.

'He is concerned that it might happen, that he might actually be sentenced to death,' Jupiter G. Lalwani told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The suspects were surrounded by heavily armed police and security guards during the re-enactments last Wednesday

Mevlut Coskun told Seven News during the police re-enactment that he's 'not guilty'

'At the moment, he is just trying to co-operate as best he can.'

It's understood that police will soon finalise their investigation and will then hand the case over to prosecutors and the courts.

Formal charges are expected to be laid in the coming weeks.

The trio face charges under Article 340 of Indonesia's criminal code for premeditated murder, as well as charges for illegal firearm possession under emergency laws.

The maximum penalty for the charges is death.

Kerobokan Prison has a long and complicated history of riots and other violence.

Previous high-profile inmates include members of the Bali Bombers, Australian members of the Bali Nine and Schapelle Corby.

The suspects could face the firing squad if they're convicted over the deadly shooting
Serial killer Levi Bellfield is able to play Xbox games in prison and enjoy a fry-up every Saturday, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The 57-year-old is in HMP Frankland  nicknamed Monster Mansion  where he is serving whole-life sentences for the murders of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy.

As a so-called enhanced prisoner, Bellfield can have a cooked breakfast every Saturday.

A Muslim convert who now uses the name Yusuf Rahim, Bellfield can select halal options, including sausages made from chicken or lamb rather than pork.

He is also permitted 33 a week to spend in the canteen whereas standard prisoners have 19.80. The standard canteen sells Mars Bars for 90p and Coca-Cola for 1.

Serial killer Levi Bellfield (pictured) is able to play Xbox games in prison and enjoy a fry-up every Saturday, the Daily Mail can reveal

The 57-year-old is in HMP Frankland (pictured)  nicknamed Monster Mansion. As a so-called enhanced prisoner, Bellfield can have a cooked breakfast every Saturday

Bellfield is serving a whole-life sentence for the murder of 23-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler (pictured)

Bellfield is also serving whole-life sentences for the murders of Marsha McDonnell (left) and Amelie Delagrange (right). He was convicted in 2008

Bellfield has access to Xbox computer games, a prison source said. Inmates are not permitted violent gameplay, but often play sport titles such as FIFA.

They dont call it Monster Mansion for nothing; we are used to the worst of the worst here, the source at the category A jail added.

Bellfield isnt a problem on the unit, but it just doesnt feel quite right that a man in for his crimes should be playing Xbox computer games.

Those on a whole-life order should get the bare minimum, but unfortunately as officers our hands are tied.

Notorious prisoners at HMP Frankland, in County Durham, include former firearms officer Wayne Couzens, serving a whole-life order, with no chance of parole, for the murder of Sarah Everard.

Bellfield has access to Xbox computer games, a prison source said. Inmates are not permitted violent gameplay, but often play sport titles such as FIFA. They dont call it Monster Mansion for nothing; we are used to the worst of the worst here, the source at the category A jail added

Notorious prisoners at HMP Frankland, in County Durham, include former firearms officer Wayne Couzens (pictured), serving a whole-life order, with no chance of parole, for the murder of Sarah Everard

Soham child killer Ian Huntley (pictured), Grindr murderer Stephen Port and morgue monster David Fuller are also understood to be at the jail

Soham child killer Ian Huntley, Grindr murderer Stephen Port and morgue monster David Fuller are also understood to be at the jail.

Hashem Abedi, brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman, was moved out after stabbing and scalding three officers last April.

Bellfield was convicted of the murders of Ms McDonnell, 19, and 22-year-old Ms Delagrange, as well as the attempted murder of Ms Sheedy, 18, in 2008.

The former bouncer was then found guilty in 2011 of kidnapping and murdering Milly Dowler, 13, in 2002.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: Having received two whole-life orders, Bellfield will rightly spend the rest of his life in jail.
Water regulator Ofwat is to splurge up to 75 million of bill-payers cash telling households how to save water  despite billions of litres being wasted every day due to leaky pipes.

The watchdog, which ministers have vowed to scrap, is set to launch the multi-million-pound advertising and information campaign to reduce water usage by homes and businesses.

Ofwat said the campaign will be funded by water bills  which are already set to rise by an average of 123 this year.

Meanwhile, an average of three billion litres of water  equivalent to 1,200 Olympic sized swimming pools  is being wasted daily in England and Wales due to leaky pipes, research by the House of Commons Library for the Liberal Democrats found this year.

Government figures also show that household water use is already falling  down by an average of four litres per person per day over the past two years.

Ofwat chief executive David Black, who was paid 250,000 including pension last year, told MPs that the campaign would be cheaper than the alternative of building major new sources of supply if it succeeds.

But John OConnell, of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Taxpayers wont miss this lecturing regulator once its abolished. For decades, Ofwat has failed to balance the competing priorities of keeping bills low and ensuring investment, while also being slow to some of the excesses of water executives.

Water regulator Ofwat is to splurge up to 75 million of bill-payers cash telling households how to save water  despite billions of litres being wasted every day due to leaky pipes (file image)

Government figures show that household water use is already falling  down by an average of four litres per person per day over the past two years. Pictured: The outfall into the River Thames, at Thames Water's Crossness Sewage Treatment Works, in south east London

Environment Secretary Steve Reed announced last month that regulator Ofwat would be scrapped (file image)

An Ofwat spokesman insisted customers would only pay a small amount on their bills as a result of the campaign.

They said: The campaign is part of a much larger strategy to deliver 30 new reservoirs and water supply projects, along with the roll-out of a further 10 million smart meters and water labelling.

'The average customer will only pay 62p per year for the delivery of the campaign, during which time leakage is set to reduce by a further 17 per cent.

The campaign will be funded by up to 75 million over five years, and will support a large-scale campaign on efficient water use covering England and Wales and both household and business sectors, documents revealed.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed announced last month that regulator Ofwat would be scrapped, as part of measures to pull overlapping water regulation by four different bodies into one single powerful regulator responsible for the whole sector.

Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said: Labour and Ofwat need to learn how to turn off the tap of wasteful spending on lecturing the public and instead focus on mending.
A career criminal accused of murdering a family of four and abandoning their baby once warned jurors would 'regret' convicting him in a past court case.

Austin Robert Drummond, 28, remains on the run after he was identified as the primary suspect in the chilling Tennessee quadruple homicide of Adrianna Williams, 20; Matthew Wilson, 21; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15, last month.

Drummond was released from prison in September after serving 13 years for an armed robbery he committed at a Circle K gas station.

And it has now emerged that District Attorney General Jody Pickens vehemently opposed his conditional early release in a previous hearing in June 2020, writing a letter to the Tennessee Board of Parole warning he was 'not capable of living among society.'

'This office strongly opposes his early release on parole,' she wrote, describing him as a 'dangerous felony offender' and member of the street and prison gang, Vice Lords.

The Vice Lords gang is considered one of the largest, most notorious and violent prison gangs, founded inside a Chicago juvenile facility in 1958.

Pickens noted that after he was convicted of the crime at a jury trial, he called his father and 'threatened the jurors and the victim in this case.'

He allegedly told his father 'they are going to regret it' and 'I'll be out one day.'

Drummond was released from prison in September after serving 13 years for an armed robbery he committed at a Circle K gas station

Adrianna Williams, 20 and Matthew Wilson, 21, were found dead in a dense, wooded area

Drummond was not allowed out at that 2020 parole hearing, but at the time of the murders, he was out on bond on an attempted murder charge, relating to an incident inside prison following his release in September 2024.

He allegedly had 25 disciplinary actions against him from within custody, including 'refusing orders, drug possession, defiance and being in possession of a deadly weapon.'

Drummond often shared photos on his Facebook page boasting of his easy life behind bars, eating pizza, watching television and drinking alcohol in his cell.

In one post, he even had access to a Nintendo Switch.

Pickens said his continued behavior 'clearly demonstrates that Drummond has no desire for rehabilitation and is not capable of living among society.'

Drummond is now accused of carrying out the brutal quadruple murders and dumping all four bodies in a dense, wooded area in Lake County.

Hours before the bodies were discovered, a baby was dumped in a car seat on the front lawn of a home in a quiet, rural town in northwest Tennessee.

The resident reported that a dark-colored minivan or white SUV had pulled into the yard, dropped off the child and sped away.

Grandmother Cortney Rose was also tragically killed in the horrendous crime

The youngest of the victims was 15-year-old Brayden Williams

Adrianna Williams, 20 and Matthew Wilson, 21, were found dead in a dense, wooded area

It later emerged Adrianna and Matthew were the baby's parents, and Cortney was the maternal grandmother. Braydon was also Adrianna's younger brother.

Authorities now believe that Drummond left the infant on the lawn just minutes before carrying out a coordinated killing of the family in a neighboring county.

Drummond had been in a relationship with Rose's sister and Williams' aunt, Kaitlyn Speed, according to the District Attorney of Dyer and Lake County Danny Goodman.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections confirmed Speed was a corrections officer at the Northwest Correctional Complex during Drummonds incarceration.

Two suspects, Tanaka Brown and Giovonte Thomas, both 29, have been taken into custody and charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

It is unclear how they know Drummond or what role they played in his alleged crimes.

He remains wanted on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and unlawful firearm possession.

He was last seen driving his white Audi A3 sedan with visible damage to the drivers' side and the Tennessee license plate RI 01896

Drummond often shared photos on his Facebook page boasting of his easy life behind bars, eating pizza, watching television and drinking alcohol in his cell. In one post, he even had access to a Nintendo Switch

Drummond shared photos of his life behind bars on Facebook

The US Marshals Service is even offering up to $7,500 for any information leading to his arrest.

He was last seen driving his white Audi A3 sedan with visible damage to the drivers' side and the Tennessee license plate RI 01896.

Drummond also described as being around five-foot-10-inches, about 190 pounds with blue eyes, brown hair and a goatee - though authorities note he may have altered his appearance.
A woman has died after being allegedly stabbed by a man in western Sydney.

Emergency services were called to a unit on Hemphill Avenue in Mount Pritchard at about 5.05pm on Sunday, following reports a woman, 62, had been stabbed.

Paramedics arrived and treated the 62-year-old for stab wounds to her chest, but she died at the scene.

Furkan Ada, 28, also known as Bruce Archer, who was known to the woman, was arrested by officers at the scene.

He was taken to Fairfield Police Station and has since been charged with murder (domestic violence).

A crime scene has been established, and Fairfield City detectives have commenced an investigation with assistance from the State Crime Commands Homicide Squad.

The 28-year-old was refused bail and is due to appear before Fairfield Local Court on Monday.
President Donald Trump was elated to find out that actress Sydney Sweeney was registered as a Republican after her controversial American Eagle jeans ad caused a political firestorm.

Daily Mail asked Trump for his reaction to Sweeney's surprise voter registration after he landed in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the president didn't shy away from his excitement.

'Oh, now I love her ad,' Trump responded.

'You'd be surprised at how many people are Republican. That's one I wouldn't have known, but I'm glad you told me that,' he continued.

'If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.'

Daily Mail previously revealed that Sweeney registered with the Republican Party of Florida in Monroe County last June, according to public voter records.

The reveal comes as Sweeney's controversial advertising campaign with American Eagle sparked intense backlash among liberals who accused it of subtly promoting white supremacy and eugenics.

But the controversy led many to leap to Sweeney's defense, pointing out that the reference to 'great genes/ jeans' was a play on words about Sweeney's good looks and the denim line.

In the promo, a camera pans on Sweeney putting on her jeans as she explains how genes are passed down 'from parents to offspring.'

Donald Trump told Daily Mail that he 'loves' Sydney Sweeney's controversial American Eagle ad campaign

Sweeney found herself at the center of a media firestorm after her controversial American Eagle ad went viral

Sweeney's ad declares that she has 'great genes,' which some on the left criticized as a nod to white supremacy

She tells the audience that genes determine 'traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color.'

As the camera pans up her body, Sweeney then seductively concludes, 'My jeans are blue.'

She continues: 'My body's composition is determined by my genes...' before exclaiming: 'Hey, eyes up here' as the camera cuts back to her face.

The ad generated intense backlash with critics claiming that the reference to 'great genes' is a comment on her whiteness.

A report in Salon argued that praising someone's genes has a historical connection to celebrating thinness and conventional attractiveness.

However, prominent figures on the right have defended the ad, criticizing accusers of jealousy for Sweeney's attractiveness or extracting unnecessary meanings from the pun.

Vice President JD Vance didn't hold back on the topic during an interview on The Ruthless Podcast.

American Eagle defended the ad campaign and said the slogan was only referencing jeans

Sweeney was featured as the face of American Eagle's new jeans advertising campaign

'My political advice to the Democrats is continue to tell everybody who thinks Sydney Sweeney is attractive is a Nazi. That appears to be their actual strategy,' Vance joked.

'It actually reveals something pretty interesting about the Dems, though, which is that you have like a normal, all-American beautiful girl doing like a normal jeans ad, right?' the vice president continued.

'To try to sell, you know, sell jeans to kids in America, and they have managed to so unhinge themselves over this thing.'

Republican Senator Ted Cruz also weighed in on the debate, writing on X: 'Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women. Im sure that will poll well.'

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung took a stance in support of Sweeney on social media: 'Cancel culture run amok. This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. They're tired of this bull**t.'

The anchors on Fox & Friends dismissed the outrage the ad caused, arguing American Eagle asked Sweeney to be the face of the campaign because of her beauty.

Fox anchor Lawrence Jones argued that the ad was 'about marketing,' adding, 'Good-looking people sell products very well.'

'You gotta know who you are marketing to,' Jones said, arguing that advertisers have leaned into diversity in recent years.

'And it's no offense to stocky people, I love thick women, too,' he continued.

'But sometimes they don't sell the product. And it's all about who sells the product and who men envision and who women envision themselves to be.'

Fox & Friends' Lawrence Jones (left) told cohosts Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade that Sweeney's ad was a marketing tactic because of her attractiveness

HBO talk show host and comedian Bill Maher issued a blistering rant, attacking 'online social justice girls' for criticizing the ad.

'She talks about the fact that she has blue eyes, and then she says, 'I have great jeans'... Ya know, because she's wearing jeans,' the comedian said in his monologue on Real Time with Bill Maher.

'According to the woke people - this means that she's a white supremacist,' Maher continued.

He then made a joke that 'online social justice girls' are hypocritical for slamming Sweeney, but 'swipe left on every bald guy' on Tinder.

American Eagle denied accusations that the ad had any nods to racism in a statement that read: '"Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" is and always was about the jeans'.

'Her jeans. her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone'.
An outraged customer has slammed a popular cafe chain for charging him $20.90 for a 'sad'-looking toastie.

The man had visited a Coffee Club in Adelaide last week and ordered a Reuben toastie.

The menu said it contained 'sliced pastrami, tangy sauerkraut, sliced pickled gherkins, whole egg mayo and a blend of melted mozzarella and cheddar'.

However, the disappointed customer's photo showed a much less impressive sandwich.

For almost $21, he received a stingy amount of pastrami and cheese, and just a 'spoon of sauerkraut and some mayo'.

To top it off, the bread appeared to be hardly toasted.

'My wife and I rarely go out as we are striving to achieve some long-term goals but thought I'd share a bit of our outing this morning in pictures,' the man wrote on Reddit.

He also shared a photo of his wife's ham, cheese and tomato toastie, which cost a whopping $15.90, and looked just as unappealing.

An upset Coffee Club customer shared a photo of his $20.90 Reuben toastie (pictured)

The customer also posted a photo of his wife's ham, cheese and tomato toastie (pictured) which cost $15.90

'What a time to be alive!' the customer joked.

Social media users criticised the meal, with one describing it as 'the saddest-looking toastie I've ever seen'.

'Call the police, you got robbed,' one wrote.

Another said: '$15 for a cheese toastie? Hold my thongs, I'm opening a cafe.'

Other commenters described the toasties as 'bloody disgraceful', 'pathetic' and a 'huge rip-off'.

Others urged the dissatisfied customer to consider local cafes over chains.

'You rarely go out, and you picked Coffee Club? Ah mate, you really need to be choosier,' one said.

'Chains and franchises (generally) are designed to be consistent and are traps for the masses,' another added.

Commenters were shocked after seeing the customer's receipt (pictured) and said he was 'robbed'

'They're essentially money extractors, minimising their costs and maximising their profit.'

A Coffee Club spokesman told Daily Mail the company was 'disappointed to hear of the experience'.

'It's not reflective of our standards or the service we expect our stores to provide to our valued customers,' he said.

'We're taking this matter seriously, and a review is already underway.'
A 'surprising' rival to Vice President JD Vance in the early race for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination has emerged, according to a campaign expert.

Vance has long been seen as the heir to Donald Trump's MAGA movement, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly seen a groundswell of support among party activists and early voting states.

CNN analyst Eric Bradner said Rubio, who has become a member of Trump's trusted inner circle, polls particularly well in Iowa.

He added that the former Florida senator is in with a shot at cultivating the support he needs to lead the MAGA movement in life after Trump.

'I was a little surprised during a recent visit to Iowa how frequently the name of Secretary of State Marco Rubio came up, often in the same breath as JD Vance,' he said.

'Both of them, despite their own very public criticism of Trump in the past, now seem to be viewed as team players; as closely aligned with Trump and with his current administration, obviously, as leading members of it.'

He added that, unlike Vance, Rubio has run for president before, so he has spent time campaigning on the ground in states where gaining early traction is crucial.

'A lot of people in the early voting states remember Rubio visiting them in 2016, when he finished third in Iowa in what were pretty competitive caucuses,' Bradner noted.

While Vance has been positioned as President Donald Trump 's understudy, there is a groundswell of support for Rubio among party activists and voters.

Vance, on the other hand, is still relatively new on the scene and may have more to prove

'A lot of these early-state Republican voters have met Rubio before.'

Vance, on the other hand, is still relatively new on the scene and may have more to prove.

'They like Vance, but they don't know him yet. They haven't had a chance to go through the usual process with him,' he said.

Rubio recently sidestepped a question about his own ambitions to one day become president, instead deflecting back to Vance's credentials.

'I think JD Vance would be a great nominee  if he decides he wants to do that,' Rubio told Fox.

'I think he's doing a great job as vice president. He's a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it.'

While Trump is personally entwined with the MAGA movement, the Constitution states he is unable to run for a third term.

This has not stopped him repeatedly suggesting since returning to office that he would like to serve again.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has 'leapfrogged' Vice President JD Vance as the most likely Republican candidate for the 2028 presidential race

First son Eric Trump wearing the new Trump 2028 hat being sold by the Trump Organization

'I will say this  so many people want me to do it,' Trump revealed in May. 'I have never had requests so strong as that.'

'But it's something that, to the best of my knowledge, you're not allowed to do,' he conceded.

'I don't know if that's constitutional that they're not allowing you to do it or anything else. But, there are many people selling the 2028 hat.'

Despite brushing off questions about a possible return to office, Trump went so far as to launch Trump 2028 merchandise promoting the possibility.

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., introduced a measure shortly after the president's inauguration to change the 22nd Amendment.

The proposal would change the amendment's language to specify that a president could run for a third term if the first two were not consecutive.

'No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive term,' the proposed legislation stated.

This would specifically stop Trump's leading opposition - Barack Obama - from also trying to run for a third term.

Trump supporters have mused about a possible loophole in the law, if Vance - or any other close Trump ally - won a presidential race in 2028 with Trump as his running mate

A recent exclusive Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll revealed Obama would win in a theoretical matchup.

Of the respondents, 52 percent chose the former Democratic president and 41 percent chose Trump.

Obama's 11-point majority over Trump stems from an enthusiastic Hispanic base, of which 73 percent selected Obama, and also 68 percent of black voters.

Independent voters also preferred Obama over Trump in the hypothetical match, 50 percent for the former Democrat to just 39 percent for Trump.

Trump supporters have mused about a possible loophole in the law, if Vance - or any other close Trump ally - won a presidential race in 2028 with Trump as his running mate.

Theoretically, the new president could swear in and then resign, allowing a vice president Trump to ascend back into power.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also addressed Trump's much-touted third term last month.

'You guys continue to ask the president this question about a third term and then he answers honestly and candidly with a smile and then everybody here melts down about his answer,' she said.

Vance and Rubio are gearing up as the likely favorites to take over Trump as the Republican nominee in 2028

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also often floated as a contender who could rally support in his home state and beyond

Bradner said Ted Cruz could also be a contender, noting he beat out Trump in Iowa in the 2016 race

'People love the job this president is doing.'

Trump has also floated the idea of his eldest son, Don Trump Jr., taking his place in the White House.

Bradner said Ted Cruz could also be a contender, noting he beat out Trump in Iowa in the 2016 race.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also often floated as a contender who could rally support in his home state and beyond.

Daily Mail has contacted Vance for comment.
A pilot flying across Bass Strait with his partner and pet dog made no contact with authorities before the plane disappeared, according to officials.

An extensive multi-agency search for the bright green light aircraft across two states entered its third day on Monday.

The light plane carrying the pilot, aged in his 70s, and a female passenger, in her 60s, took off George Town airport in northern Tasmania early Saturday afternoon.

The flight was scheduled to stop in Leongatha in southern Victoria before continuing on to Hillston Airport, near Condobolin in central-west NSW, but never arrived at its first stop.

However, the aircraft never arrived in Leongatha as planned.

It has since been revealed that the pilot didn't make contact with air authorities prior to taking off.

'You have to do scheduled reporting,' George Town flight instructor Eugene Reid told the ABC.

'On leaving the coast, they should have called up air services.'

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed the pilot did not contact authorities before takeoff, but they are still investigating whether the plane disappeared before such contact was required in the flight timeline.

The desperate search continues for a light aircraft which vanished without a trace on Saturday afternoon

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is part of the multi-agency search (stock image)

The plane should have been equipped with an emergency satellite beacon in case anything went wrong, according to Mr Reid.

He added that George Town Airport wouldn't necessarily have a record of the pilot's plans.

'If someone took their plane out of the hangar and flew away, well, you wouldn't know,' he said.

It's understood that the experienced pilot was flying a plane that was relatively new to him.

Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark told reporters on Sunday that the pilot was believed to be 'very experienced'.

'The pilot was heavily involved with the aero club here at George Town,' he said.

However, he said that the plane was 'new to (the pilot)', as he had only purchased it three or four months before the disappearance.

'We believe he has had several flights prior to this incident.'

'Any body of water is difficult to search, the main thing is, though that this is still a search operation.'

Searchers are combing the Bass Strait in the air (above, the rescue plane flight path) and in the water

Inspector Clark added that the couple were heading to NSW to visit family, who raised the alarm late Saturday afternoon.

Authorities urge anyone near George Town or transiting the waters in northern Tasmania and Bass Strait, or southern Victoria near Leongatha to keep a lookout for for the missing aircraft and its occupants.

Regional airline Par Avion is assisting with air search efforts.
A mother accused of keeping her two-year-old daughter hidden in a suitcase in a bus's luggage compartment in New Zealand is believed to have recently returned from Australia.

Detective Inspector Simon Harrison said the 27-year-old woman had been charged with ill-treatment and neglect of a child after the two-year-old was discovered in just a nappy on Sunday at 12.50pm (2.50pm AEST).

Police were called to a bus depot in Kaiwaka, 100km north of Auckland, after the driver became concerned about a bag moving during a rest stop.

The bag had been stored in a separate luggage compartment underneath the bus seats, which the driver had been repacking.

'When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl,' Harrison said.

'The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed.'

It is believed the girl was in the suitcase for about an hour.

Detective Harrison said the child is in hospital undergoing an extensive medical assessment.

A 27-year-old woman has been charged after she was allegedly travelling on a bus with a two-year-old in her suitcase (stock image)

The 27-year-old woman remains in police custody, and was due to face court on Monday.

Detective Harrison said the driver had thankfully prevented 'what could have been a far worse outcome'.
The four people who were shot dead at a Montana bar on Friday have been identified as authorities escalate their search for the 'armed and dangerous' at-large suspect.

The victims ranged in age from 59 to 74 and were a female bartender and three male patrons.

The four were named by authorities as Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. All four lived in Anaconda, the remote Montana town where the shooting unfolded on Friday.

Meanwhile, the former soldier suspected of killing four people at a Montana bar is still at large and may be armed after escaping in a stolen vehicle containing clothes and camping gear, officials said.

Authorities believe 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown killed the four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, about 75 miles southeast of Missoula in a valley hemmed in by mountains.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said during a news conference on Sunday that Brown committed the shooting with a rifle that law enforcement believes was his personal weapon.

Knudsen warned residents in the town of just over 9,000 people that Brown, who lived next door to the bar where he was a regular, could come back to the area.

'This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever. So there absolutely is concern for the public,' Knudsen said.

Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, was the bartender who was killed on Friday. Tony Wayne Palm, 74, was one of her patrons who was also shot dead in cold blood

David Allen Leach, 70, , left, and Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, right, were also drinking at the bar

Authorities believe 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, pictured, killed the four people on Friday morning at The Owl Bar in Anaconda

The manhunt, which has involved as many as 250 local, state and federal law enforcement personnel and various aircraft, remained focused on a mountainous area west of Anaconda, a town of fewer than 10,000 residents about 75 miles southeast of Missoula.

'We want to find this guy,' Knudsen said. 'This is a dangerous individual who has committed an absolutely heinous crime against this community and his victims.'

Robert Wyatt, 70, said he was neighbors with Leach who died. 'Everybody is nervous since Friday', Wyatt said.

Leach was deaf and kept mostly to himself, Wyatt said, and he only recalls Leach having a family visit once almost a year ago.

But Leach was always happy to help his neighbors with chores like moving furniture.

'If you needed help, Dave would help,' Wyatt said. 'He was a good neighbor.'

Numerous public events were canceled over the weekend as the search entered its third day, according to local Facebook pages.

As law enforcement scours the wild terrain, the woods southwest of Anaconda have been closed to the public by the National Forest System.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen speaks to the media on Sunday in front of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Courthouse in Anaconda, Montana

Knudsen spoke about the ongoing search for shooting suspect Michael Brown

Brown is believed to have committed the shooting with a rifle that law enforcement believes was his personal weapon. This photo is also believed to have been taken soon after the shooting

David Jabarek, 70, said that a mass shooting in a place as small as Anaconda is baffling to many.

He said that he regularly saw both the shooter and the victims over the course of the 20 years that he has lived in Anaconda.

'We only have 9,000 people, so it's like, what the hell just happened? Everybody knows everybody here,' he said.

Jabarek was headed to Owl Bar less than 30 minutes before the shooting happened, at around 10:15am.

On an impulse, he went to run an errand nearby instead. When he came back to the area, he saw the bar was surrounded by police.

'If I'd have been in there when I was supposed to be, you wouldn't be talking to me. Somebody be talking to you about me,' he said.

The close call is now keeping Jabarek up at night but he said that he isn't afraid of the prospect of Brown returning.

'Everybody around here has two dozen firearms in their house, and right now theyre within hands reach,' Jabarek said.

Investigators are considering all possible options for Brown's whereabouts, the attorney general said.

Police tape surrounds The Owl Bar in of Anaconda, Montana Friday following the fatal shooting

Law enforcement personnel are seen responding to the shooting on Friday morning

People are seen in the town of Anaconda, Montana following the murders

That includes searching the woods where Brown hunted and camped while he was a kid.

But Knudsen noted that during peak tourist season in western Montana some law enforcement officials would have to return to their local jurisdictions for their regular responsibilities.

After locating his abandoned pickup, officers launched a massive air and ground search across the mountainous terrain which continued throughout the weekend.

Authorities have released a photo showing the suspect dressed only in black underpants and barefoot as he descends a flight of concrete steps with his hands braced against a wall.

His face is smudged, and his chest and neck appear to be scraped.

Knudsen said the photo was taken after Brown had fled to another location near the shooting where 'he got rid of some personal belongings and he got rid of his clothes.'

Asked whether he believed authorities expected to find him dead or alive, Knudsen said, 'He could have committed suicide and be dead, yes, but we are acting under the assumption that he is alive, well armed and extremely dangerous.'

Brown served in the Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005, said Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson.

Brown was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009, Castro said, and left military service at the rank of sergeant.

After locating his abandoned pickup, officers launched a massive air and ground search across the mountainous terrain which continued throughout the weekend

Brown served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005 and left the Army with the rank of sergeant, according to military records

Brown's niece, Clare Boyle, said that her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years, and she and other family members repeatedly sought help.

'This isn't just a drunk/high man going wild,' she said. 'It's a sick man who doesnt know who he is sometimes and frequently doesn't know where or when he is either.'

Knudsen said on Sunday that Brown was known to local law enforcement before the shooting. It was widely believed that he knew at least some of the victims, given how close he lived to the bar.

Law enforcement released a photograph of Brown from surveillance footage taken shortly after the fatal shootings. He appeared to be barefoot and in minimal clothing.

But law enforcement now believes Brown ditched the vehicle he escaped in and stole a different one that had camping gear, shoes and clothes in it, leaving open the possibility that Brown is now clothed.

The last time that law enforcement saw Brown was on Friday afternoon, but there was 'some confusion' because there were multiple white vehicles involved, Knudsen said.

On Sunday, the US Marshals Service posted a $7,500 reward for any information leading to Brown's capture.

'This is still Montana. Montanans know how to take care of themselves. But please, if you have any sightings, call 911,' Knudsen urged.

David Gwerder, owner of the Owl Bar, said alleged shooter Michael Paul Brown likely knew the victims of Friday's attack.

SWAT teams stormed Brown's home on Friday but found no trace of the suspected killer, who remains at large.

'He knew everybody that was in that bar, I guarantee you that,' Gwerder said.

'He didn't have any running dispute with any of them. I just think he snapped.'

Gwerder was not at the bar at the time of the shooting and believes the victims were the only ones inside.
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright still has the swagger of a Netflix celebrity and successful Top End entrepreneur as he arrives daily at Darwin's Supreme Court with his model wife Kaia.

Each day as his lawyers and crown prosecutors do their own wrangling over legal evidence leading up to Wright's imminent trial, he has sat in the dock in jeans and a series of freshly ironed blue shirts which serve to accentuate his intense blue eyes.

The trial, relating to the fatal helicopter crash that claimed the life of Wright's Netflix co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson during a 2022 crocodile egg-harvesting mission, is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, barring any further delays.

Wright is charged with three counts of perverting the course of justice, with each charge carrying a maximum penalty of ten years if he were to be convicted.

Wright and his wife Kaia, a former model, have two young children: their son Banjo, nearly six, and daughter Dusty, aged two.

With their lives on hold for at least a month, the Wrights' previously charmed existence has been interrupted and their multi-million-dollar Northern Territory business empire placed on hold.

The glamorous couple has capitalised greatly on his success after he found fame in National Geographic's Outback Wrangler from 2011 to 2019 .

Wright established the helicopter charter firm Helibrook and invested in multiple other business ventures jointly operated with Kaia.

Matt and Kaia Wright built a business empire off his Outback Wrangler fame including glamping and adventure resorts

The Robinson R44 helicopter crashed near the King River in West Arnhem Land

A five-villa luxury property dubbed Freshwater Retreat in Darwin that accommodates 18 people and costs more than $5000 for two nights was among the business ventures the Wrights undertook.

They also invested in the Top End Safari Camp, south of Darwin, where guests can stay in tents, enjoy airboat rides, and take scenic helicopter flights to spot crocodiles, birds, and buffalo.

In addition, they operated Tiwi Island Retreat, a beachfront marine sanctuary on remote Bathurst Island in the Tiwi Islands group.

However, since tragedy struck Mr Wilson on that fateful flight in February three years ago, the Wrights' world has been turned upside down.

Dani, Mr Wilson's widow, sued Wright's company Helibrook, which according to court papers released last week has been recently liquidated.

Ms Wilson alleged in the ongoing case that the croc wrangler was 'obliged to take reasonable steps to ensure the activity was conducted in appropriate circumstances, safely and legally'.

In the months following Mr Wilson's death, Wright shuttered several other businesses under a parent company, Wright Expeditions, including 1300 HELIFISH, 1800 HELIFISH, Helicopter Pub Crawls, and Matt Wright Explore the Wild.

Now, a Darwin property bought nine years ago and transformed into an elegant home at Virginia, in southern Darwin, is on the market for $1.39million.

Matt and Kaia Wright are selling their renovated Darwin house for $1.39million, and he has liquidated his helicopter company Helibrook

Pilot Sebastian Robinson (left) became paralysed following the 2022 crash, which claimed the life of Chris 'Willow' Wilson

Chris Wilson's widow Dani Wilson (above) arrives at Darwin's Supreme Court ahead of Matt Wright's trial relating to the helicopter crash that killed her husband

Wright's lead role in Outback Wrangler - before launching his Netflix and Channel Nine spin-off - was believed to have earned him at least $250,000 per season.

Wild Croc Territory featured Wright as the main star and as executive producer alongside his agent, Nick Fordham, further boosting his income.

However, the first season of the show, which co-starred Mr Wilson, was derailed by the crash that led to his death.

Wright was not the pilot during the 28 February 2022 mission, in which Chris Wilson was suspended in a sling beneath the Robinson R44 helicopter.

Three helicopters departed at 7.03am, with VH-IDW, carrying Wilson, last tracked at about 8.50am by GPS.

At around 10.24am, with no communication from VH-IDW, the other two helicopter pilots began searching and soon located the crash site.

They found Mr Wilson deceased on the sling line, and Sebastian Robinson critically injured.

The helicopter had crashed in a paperbark swamp near King River, a remote part of West Arnhem Land, 500km east of Darwin.

Matt and Kaia Wright renovated the property nine years ago that they have listed for sale

Matt Wright and wife Kaia with their two children Banjo and Dusty leave Darwin Supreme Court after a hearing last year

The accident halted Wright's endorsement deals, with brands such as Great Northern Brewing Co and Casio G-Shock watches dropping him from campaigns pending the trial outcome

Mr Wilson had been suspended on a 30m sling picking eggs from crocodile nests at a height of up to 9m, and died after falling.

According to air safety regulations, such operations should only be conducted from a height not exceeding 5m, and helicopters must fly at walking pace.

Mr Robinson was left paraplegic as a result of his injuries.

Dani Wilson, who has attended Darwin court in the lead-up to Matt Wright's trial, launched legal action in the Federal Court against the wildlife catcher, whom she blames for her husband's death.

Now 45, Wright will stand trial for approximately four weeks before NT Acting Justice Alan Blow, with at least 25 witnesses to be called by Crown Prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC.

The charges relate to the alleged actions of the father-of-two following the crash, between March and September 2022, in Darwin and other locations.

After the accident, Netflix continued to stream the first season of Wild Croc Territory despite a request from Dani Wilson to cease, but a planned second season for 2023 has never aired.

Wright previously had endorsement deals with Ariat, Yokohama Tyres Australia and Otis Eyewear. Tourism Australia also dropped him as a 'Friends of Australia' ambassador.

Jury empanelment is set to begin on Tuesday, followed by opening submissions from the Crown and from Wright's barrister, leading Adelaide counsel David Edwardson KC, the next day.
A couple in their 40s have been found dead inside a South Australian town.

The bodies of a 47-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman were discovered at a property on Melvyn Street in Bordertown at 11pm on Sunday.

SA Police said officers were called to the home for a welfare check.

'The investigation is in its early stages, but police are not seeking any suspects in relation to this matter,' a spokesman said.

Police confirmed the man and woman were in a domestic relationship.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Pro-Palestine protesters burned the Australian flag during a rally in Melbourne's CBD.

After burning the flag, the protesters covered their faces, sprayed 'Abolish Australia' onto the pavement, and held up posters reading 'Death to IDF.'

Premier Jacinta Allan described the actions as deplorable.

'It's deplorable - it's a deplorable action,' she told the Today show.

'Police moved quickly and dealt with the incident here in Melbourne yesterday.

'The protest was peaceful, there were no arrests, and Victoria Police did a tremendous job in keeping our community safe.'

The Melbourne rally was one of several held across the country, with more than 100,000 people braving the rain to attend a pro-Palestine protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Dubbed the 'March for Humanity' by organisers, the event aimed to highlight what the United Nations has described as a 'worst-case scenario.'

In Sydney, the protest on the Harbour Bridge was marred by a small minority chanting antisemitic slogans and carrying inflammatory posters.

Pro-Palestine protesters burned the Australian flag during a rally in Melbourne's CBD

One protester expressed opposition to the continued existence of both Australia and Israel in Sydney

Protesters at the event

Among the crowd, a large portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, shown holding a rifle, was prominently displayed. Khamenei, who has ruled Iran for more than three decades, is widely regarded as a despot who has brutally repressed women's rights and ordered the mass killings of pro-democracy activists.

Other protesters held signs depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a Hitler-style moustache and the word 'terrorist' beneath.

Another protester also tried to turn the event into a protest against colonialism.

Queers for Palestine also joined the protest, holding a sign that read, 'Penny Wong kills lesbians in Gaza'.

Other demonstrators used the rally to take aim at Australia as well. One carried a sign saying, 'Abolish Israel, abolish Australia  Land back.'

Another protester also tried to turn the event into a protest against colonialism.

'Don't go on the Sydney Harbour with Australian nationalistic fervour. Nationalistic pride is genocidal. Go on the Sydney Harbour because it's a symbol of colonialism that needs to be torn down.

'Too many are in love with their Australinanness, but we should be challenging the national culture, not reinforcing or appealing it,' they said.

Another supporter was seen wearing a jumper emblazoned with the slogan 'Death to the IDF', directly targeting Israel's military, while another carried a sign declaring 'Zionists are Neo-Nazis'.

A protester holds a poster of Iranian dictator Ali Khamenei known for restricting women's right and useing morality police to control behavior and dress

A protest sign equating Zionism with neo-Nazism sparked outrage during the Harbour Bridge march with critics saying the comparison is historically offensive and antisemitic

Another demonstrator showed his support for Dr Abbasi, an Iranian scientist who openly supported Iran's nuclear program and was killed in Israeli strikes in June.

Many black and white Islamic flags - often used by Islamist groups to symbolise jihad and Islamic unity - were also seen on the bridge.

Chants of 'Long live Intifada'  a phrase commonly associated with violent uprisings against Israel  as well as 'Death to Netanyahu' also echoed across the bridge.

'Whether they realise it or not, they're endorsing the same terror that targets Jews, Israel, and the West,' one critic said.

Earlier in the week, NSW Police admitted they could not ensure a safe environment for the rally and sought a prohibition order from the courts.

But on Saturday, Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg rejected the request, ruling that the inconvenience to residents and commuters did not outweigh the right to peaceful assembly.

'It is in the nature of peaceful protests to cause disruption to others,' she said.

Legal expert Patrick Schmidt warned the decision could pave the way for more protests on the bridge.

A protester holds a 'Gay Jews for Gaza' sign during the Harbour Bridge march, signaling solidarity from LGBTQ+ Jewish activists with Palestinians in Gaza

An estimated 90,000 protesters hit the streets of Sydney on Sunday

Traffic was not allowed on the Harbour Bridge for hours during the protest

'The police or government can't stop a lawful peaceful protest, the issue is the scale of it,' Mr Schmidt told the Daily Telegraph.

'The major issue is the logistics of it all  as opposed to the legality.

'It's a public safety issue  it's not so much about the convenience  it's getting enough boots on the ground.

'The significance of using the Harbour Bridge is it will get picked up by world media.

'If it happened every weekend how would you get the public attention to it. It would lose a lot of vigour.'

Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages.

The ensuing retaliatory bombardment and blockade of Gaza have killed more than 60,000 people, according to the health authorities.

Gaza's population of 2.1 million people is projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, including one million people who face emergency levels, according to the United Nations.

The federal government on Monday announced an additional $20million to support aid organisations in delivering food, medical supplies and other lifesaving support in Gaza.
Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has received a huge boost as Democratic leaders in even the city's most conservative borough publicly backed the controversial nominee.

Staten Island Democrats announced this week they are supporting the 33-year-old in the general election after previously backing his moderate rival, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, during the primary in June.

The former governor is now running in the general election on an independent along with incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, while Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa runs on the Republican line.

Explaining why the Staten Island Democratic Party has swung for Mamdani, Chairwoman Laura LoBianco told the New York Post: 'Zohran is the Democratic nominee. The voters have spoken.'

'We want to work together. I want to make sure Staten Island has a seat at the table,' she added.

The announcement comes weeks after Brooklyn Democrat chairwoman Rodneyse Bichotte, who also endorsed Cuomo during the primary election, shared her support for the '100 percent communist' following his primary victory.

Mamdani has also been in contact with party leaders in Queens, particularly those who represent black neighborhoods that largely went for Cuomo during the primary.

'While Zohran builds real support across all five boroughs, Cuomo's campaign is withering as New Yorkers learn he stands for absolutely nothing but his own ambition, dogged by scandal, corruption and a record of sexual harassment and humiliation,' a spokesperson for Mamdani's campaign has said.

New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, 33, is gaining support even among the more conservative areas of the Big Apple

Staten Island Democrats announced this week they are supporting the 33-year-old in the general election after previously backing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (pictured) during the primary in June

Mamdani is now planning a large general election campaign launch on August 17 on Staten Island

Mamdani has campaigned on a series of woke policies that would drastically reshape the City that Never Sleeps.

He has said he wants to raise taxes on millionaires and corporations by $9 billion to subsidize his plans for fare-free buses, free child care and housing.

Mamdani, who is currently serving in the New York State Legislature, also wants to spend $65 million on transgender care and has pushed populist ideas including grocery stores that would be owned by the city.

Additionally, the controversial figure has advocated for defunding the city's police department - but vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to set foot in the Big Apple.

Mamdani seemed to double down on those remarks by expressing his support to 'globalize the intifada' - and defending the controversial phrase, which many see as a call for violence against Israeli and Jewish people around the world.

Yet LoBianco Sword said Mamdani's messaging is clearly getting through to the public as she praised the socialist candidate for bringing new voters into the Democratic Party.

She then went on to argue that Mamdani has correctly identified the problems plaguing the city, claiming that whether or not voters agree with his plan for government-run grocery stores it is evident that there are 'food deserts' in the city.

When she was then asked about Mamdani's plans to raise taxes, LoBianco Sword said she agreed that the wealthy 'should pay their fair share.'

Mamdani has campaigned on a series of woke policies that would drastically reshape the City that Never Sleeps

In an effort to further his base, Mamdani is now planning a large general election campaign launch on August 17 on Staten Island.

He is apparently hoping to close the gap between him and the former governor, who narrowly beat Mamdani in the primary - with 46.5 percent of the vote compared to 37.5 percent during the initial round of ranked-choice voting.

But Staten Island Republican Chairman Michael Tannousis said he still does not see the island going for Mamdani in the general as he blasted the Democrat's support for the socialist candidate as a 'shotgun wedding.'

Instead, Tannousis said he believes many moderate Democrats will vote for Sliwa, who won 65 percent of the vote in the borough against Adams in 2021, when Adams ran as a Democrat.

'There is no appetite for socialism and the socialist agenda,' he argued.

'Curtis will win Staten Island,' the state assemblyman added. 'He may get a bigger vote than four years ago.'

'Staten Islanders will have a choice: either the Mamdani socialist Democrats or the Republican ticket.'

Sliwa also told the Post: 'If I lose Staten Island, shame on me. It's a real battleground but I've been there forever.'

He then went on to suggest Staten Islanders would never forgive current Mayor Eric Adams for bringing migrant shelters into the borough and argued that Cuomo is running on his legacy - making him the only viable rival to Mamdani.

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa (pictured) is running as the Republican in the New York City mayoral election

Meanwhile, a representative for the Cuomo campaign called Mamdan the second coming of former Mayor Bill de Blasio - and not in a good way.

Spokesman Rich Azzopardi said the socialist 'reeks of insecurity' and has a 'history of anti-cop, anti-capitalist rhetoric that will go over as well on Staten Island as Bill de Blasio eating pizza with a fork and a knife.

'Ladies and gentlemen: Bill de Blasio 2.0,' he argued.

But late night host Bill Maher has seemed to suggest Mamdani may be worse, as he warned that the Democratic Party is headed for collapse if it continues to appease radical leftists like the New York City mayoral hopeful.

Speaking during the Overtime segment of his show Real Time with Bill Maher on YouTube, the comedian said Democrats are gripped by an 'identity crisis' and running out of time to choose a side.

Late night host Bill Maher warned Democrats are facing collapse if they dont confront their partys radical fringe, pointing to Mamdani as an example

'The world is a complicated place and it's not just about oppressor and oppressed,' Maher argued.

'They have a thought in their head that white people did some very bad things and white people did some very bad things, BUT so did everybody else in the world.

'But they don't know that, they see the world through this one prism. And until they do, I don't think you're going to get them off this issue and I don't think the Democratic Party is going to go forward until they make a decision: whose side are you on here?

'Are you on the side of Western civilization and Western values or are you on the side of the terrorists?'

He then pointed to Mamdani as an example of how extreme the party's fringe has become.

'There's a lot of opposition [to Mamdani] because we've never had someone this radical,' Maher said. 'Some of the things he says, you know he quotes Marxists, "each according to their need." I mean, that's straight up communism.'

Maher was backed in his argument by his guest, Secret City author and columnist James Kirchick, who accused Democratic leaders of showing 'cowardice and spinelessness' by failing to denounce Mamdani.

He likened their silence to how Republicans failed to stop Donald Trump's rise.
A new airline that promises to give its Aussie rivals a run for their money hopes to have planes in the skies by the end of 2026.

It's been 12 months since Melbourne-based Koala Airlines unveiled its management team and logo but it has 'deliberately' kept a low profile ever since.

Chief executive Bill Astling hopes to offer more choice for domestic travellers and shake up the aviation industry by the end of next year, despite having no planes or social media presence.

Despite the failures of short-lived budget carrier Bonza, he is confident of challenging the aviation duopoly between Qantas and Virgin Australia.

'Weve deliberately kept a low profile  not because were stalling, but because were building something with a long-term, sustainable foundation,' Mr Astling told the Australian Financial Review.

'Weve learned from the past  both ours and the industrys  and were taking a disciplined, strategic approach.

'Were not in the business of giving our competitors a 12-month head start.'

He insisted the business model is 'fundamentally different' to its competitors but remains tight-lipped about the airline's routes and its investors.

Koala Airlines hopes to have planes in Australia's skies by the end of 2026

The airline promises to be a 'game-changer' for Australian travellers

Koala Airlines aims to reshape the Australian aviation landscape with its 'game-changing' strategies, with a focus on customer experience rather than cheaper fares, which 'almost entirely led to unsustainable competition.'

'Our goal is to carve out a unique niche that enhances the industry landscape without disrupting existing standards, by creating a lasting impact on the industry,' its website states.

The site also states the airline is finalising negotiations to acquire a new aircraft fleet to upgrade its air operator's certificate.

Aviation experts remain sceptical about Koala Airlines' optimism, given the recent collapse of Bonza and Rex Airlines.

The future of the latter remains in limbo after the federal government recently extended the collapsed airlines administration.

Bonza began operations in January 2023 and collapsed just 15 months later.

'Until you can get to a stage where theres a minimum of 12 aircraft that are flying across the country to be able to get your costs low,' Cirium dashboard editor Ellis Taylor said.

Keith Tonkin previously told Daily Mail Australia: 'We look forward to seeing where they want to fly to and how often and how they serve the customer, and that will really help to understand if their business will be sustainable.'

Koala Airlines chief executive Bill Astling says the company is 'fundamentally different' to Qantas and Virgin Australia

'There's a very strong presence of Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin, and they own about 90 per cent of the market, so that's a pretty big barrier to entry for an airline.'

Koala's management team boasts a combined 300 years' experience with some of the world's biggest airlines.

The company acquired Desert Air Safaris in 2019, an airline founded in 1970 by airline pilot Dick Lang and his wife, Helen.

Desert Air Safaris ran for five decades, offering flights to remote regions in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
Parents have been warned that the harrowing abuse allegations at childcare centres across the country could be just the tip of a deeply disturbing iceberg.

Experts have told Daily Mail that even more allegations are set to follow after recent arrests, with more parents likely to come forward about concerns they had previously kept to themselves.

Former top child protection detective Luke Taylor, who spent decades exposing the country's most depraved paedophiles, says the latest charges are just the beginning of what's to come.

'It's a low paying, high staff turnover industry, which is about four times the national average,' Mr Taylor told the Daily Mail.

'And some of these centres would have cut corners because they are an absolute cash cow.

'But following the recent headlines, there is far more scrutiny and, combined with advances in technology for cybercrime, we will see more [cases emerge].'

Despite the alarming surge in arrests, Mr Taylor insists it doesn't necessarily mean more children are being abused, but rather that more survivors are finding the courage to come forward.

'It is estimated that the reporting of child sexual offences is only around five percent of total cases,' he said. 'That leaves a staggering 95 percent still hidden.'

Former top child protection detective Luke Taylor who spent decades exposing the country's most depraved paedophiles

'There are many reasons for this, including parents not believing their children, or not thinking such things are possible.

'We also don't provide safe environments for children to lay complaints, and there's always the fear of repercussions as a result of effective grooming.

'It's also because many of these crimes are committed against infants, most of whom don't yet have a voice, nor knowledge of what's happening.'

Mr Taylor says the increasing media coverage is helping break down the culture of silence and shame.

'There is safety in numbers, which is a major factor in removing the stigma attached to victimisation,' he said.

'Although it should never be an issue, adults and children still suffer from guilt if they feel any semblance of blame or believe they contributed to the actions.

'And parents can feel embarrassment or shame, thinking they didn't protect their children.'

One distressed mother told the Daily Mail of the nightmare she went through after reporting her daughter's educator, and now realise why so many people stay silent.

One Central Coast mother was left distraught after her daughter came home with a hand-shaped bruise on her leg (pictured)

Her experience began in June after her three-year-old returned home from a private centre on the NSW Central Coast with a hand-shaped bruise on her thigh.

She says that despite her daughter's ability to explain exactly what happened, including naming the staff member who hurt her, what happened next left her with 'no trust in the system'.

'I picked up my daughter and, before getting her out of the car, she told me her educator had hit her,' she said.

'I immediately asked where, and she said 'right here on my leg', and I saw a red fingerprint mark on her inner thigh.'

The young mum was left shaking as her daughter described being left crying after being assaulted in the cubby house by a man trusted to care for her.

'I was absolutely panicked and in disbelief,' she said.

'She told me she cried and asked him to apologise, and she said he hits other kids too.'

In shock and out of her depth, the mother reached out to family for guidance.

The mother says she has lost all faith in the system after the Department of Education backed the childcare centre

'Being a single mother, I was furious, but I didn't want to handle the situation the wrong way,' she said.

'I emailed the daycare, and the area manager responded the next day saying he'd been stood down.'

However, the mother's relief was short-lived when she learned that the worker had actually been transferred to another centre - owned by the same company - and was still working with children.

'I reported it to the Department of Education, and they were a huge letdown,' she said.

'They made it seem as though a huge investigation was underway, and then eventually emailed to say they were satisfied with how the daycare had handled things.

'But he's still working down the road, and it's just been swept under the rug.'

It was only after seeing the increased news coverage - and feeling increasingly anxious that children were still unsafe - that the mother went to the police.

'I feel sick about what happened to us and what's happening in the news, and I think daycares need big changes to Working With Children Checks and background screening,' she said.

Luke Taylor (pictured) acknowledges that the industry's broken foundations of low wages and chronic staff turnover are a breeding ground for systemic failure

'Our daycare had no cameras, and in 2025 that's alarming.

'I feel emotionally raw, vulnerable and outraged that there's such a gap in the system - that childcare workers can simply get the sack and still be working down the road in another daycare,' she said.

'Something needs to change immediately.'

According to Mr Taylor, cases like this - brought to light by growing reporting - will continue to snowball.

'Victims are protected in the herd,' he said, adding that although the headlines may seem grim, increased scrutiny is ultimately a positive step.

'It's actually a good thing. While it sounds horrific, the reality is that it's not more offences, just more reporting,' he said.

'That means more exposure, more evidence, more convictions, better protection for the future and, eventually, less offending.'

But he also acknowledged the sector's endemic problems, noting low pay and rapid staff turnover as a breeding ground for systemic failure.

David William James (pictured) is accused of producing child abuse material linked to his employment in after school care centres across Sydney

'The industry pays very little, and staff turnover is around 35 per cent,' he said.

'The industry generates large profits, and there may be rogue operators exploiting transient workers and high turnover - cutting corners when it comes to hiring.'

He warned that relying solely on official vetting, such as police checks, is not enough, especially when suspicions arise.

'Offenders can remain undetected despite warning signs,' Mr Taylor said. 'The question becomes: do we protect children over the rights of citizens?'

He urges parents to remain vigilant and trust their instincts, especially when it comes to behavioural red flags.

'Offenders often display sociopathic tendencies, which means they can be great actors,' he said.

'They know how to mimic empathy and manipulate people.

'Ask probing questions of your carer and watch for mimicry - are they simply appeasing you, reflecting your own emotions at the time?'

Joshua Brown has been charged with 70 offences including sexual assault stemming from his employment at various Melbourne childcare centres

'Warning signs may include overfamiliarity with your child or, conversely, distancing to avoid suspicion.'

But, ultimately, Mr Taylor's advice is simple: 'Trust your gut'.

'There's a reason we have gut feelings, and you'll never be wrong if you're proactively protecting children,' he said.

'If anyone working with children takes offence, they're in the wrong job. Good carers will examine the actions that led to questioning or complaints and modify their behaviour accordingly.'

'Be open and honest. Children are far more aware than we give them credit for,' he said, urging parents to use the current headlines to open up discussions with older children too.

'Raise the subject while watching the news stories about what's happening right now.'
A Chinese woman has been charged with 'reckless foreign interference' in Canberra after allegedly being ordered to covertly gather information on a Buddhist group, as more arrests are expected.

The Australian Federal Police revealed the unnamed woman, who is an Australian permanent resident, was charged with reckless foreign interference, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

It is alleged she was tasked by the Chinese state security agency with gathering covert information on the Canberra branch of the Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Association.

She was arrested on Saturday after AFP officers searched several premises in Canberra.

During the searches, a number of items, including electronic devices, were seized and will undergo forensic examination.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court in the nation's capital on Monday.

'The AFP has alleged the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was tasked by China's Public Security Bureau to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of the Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Association,' the AFP's Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt told reporters on Monday afternoon.

The AFP launched Operation Autumn Shield in March this year after receiving information from Australia's intelligence agency, ASIO.

'The AFP has alleged the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was tasked by China's Public Security Bureau to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of the Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Association,' the AFP's Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt (pictured) told reporters on Monday afternoon

'We allege the activity was to support intelligence objectives of China's public security bureau,' Assistant Commissioner Nutt added.

He revealed it was the first time the AFP has ever charged someone with foreign interference which allegedly involves targeting members of the Australian community

He also said that the public could expect more arrests under Operation Autumn Shield.

Assistant Commissioner Nutt added: 'Foreign interference is a serious crime that undermines democracy and social cohesion.'

Assistant Commissioner Nutt said that foreign interference was distinguished from other foreign influence by the presence of 'covert and deceptive conduct or threats of serious harm or demands with menaces'.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said he was proud of the significant contribution ASIO has made to this matter.

'Foreign interference of the kind alleged is an appalling assault on Australian values, freedoms and sovereignty,' Director-General Burgess said.

'In this year's Annual Threat Assessment, I called out these types of activities and put perpetrators on notice by stating, 'we are watching, and we have zero tolerance'.

'We allege the activity was to support intelligence objectives of China's public security bureau,' Assistant Commissioner Nutt added

'Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to monitor, intimidate and potentially repatriate members of our diaspora communities should never underestimate our capabilities and resolve.'

A factsheet on foreign interference is available in more than 40 languages on the AFP website.

It explains what foreign interference is, how it manifests, and what individuals can do if they believe they are being threatened or intimidated by foreign governments.

Members of the public who feel threatened should contact their local police on 131 444, or in an emergency or life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Individuals or community groups who feel they are the target of foreign interference are encouraged to contact the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
New photos show Lucy Letby partying at her friend's wedding while she was on bail for the murder of seven babies.

The photo was revealed by her friend Dawn, who did not want to use her surname, as part of a new TV documentary about the neonatal nurse.

Letby was convicted in 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others.

Her friend Dawn said she was 'so glad she was there' at her wedding. She was so sure of her friend's innocence that she sought permission from the authorities to invite Letby to her wedding while she was on bail.

In a clip for the documentary, Dawn was seen looking through pictures of herself and Letby.

The pair met as teenagers and have been friends ever since.

She said: 'There is definitely lots of holiday snaps, birthdays, holidays I forgot we even had.

'The wedding photos are definitely my favourite. There is Lucy at my wedding. I am just so glad she could be there because it was while she was on bail, she had to get special permission to be allowed to come from police.

A new picture shows Lucy Letby dancing at her friend's wedding while on bail

Lucy Letby at the wedding of Dawn, a close childhood friend who was so convinced of Letby's innocence that she arranged for her to be there

Letby (pictured) was sentenced to die in prison

'I watched it all unfold and at every step of the way I just couldn't believe it, it was just beyond belief that it could be happening.'

She added: 'My assumption when all of this happened was that perhaps she had inadvertently forgotten bits of procedure or she has made some mistakes.

'There were those dark moments where I thought perhaps has she inadvertently caused harm because she was so newly qualified in such a high pressure environment and perhaps that's why she was being targeted for these accusations.

'Shortly after this she as held in custody, so I don't think she has seen these [photographs].'

Dawn has stood by Letby despite her conviction and remains convinced of her innocence.

She undermined claims that scribbled notes found in Letby's house were any sort of confession. She reveals that, at sixth form college together, both trained in peer-support counselling and learned of a common method to deal with anxieties  to write down your worst fears and feelings.

'If you're feeling overwhelmed, you write down everything that's going through your mind,' she said. And this is what Letby did when undergoing counselling arranged for her by the hospital.

Dawn was at work when she heard the guilty verdicts and said she could not take them in.

Lucy Letby's close friend Dawn said she was 'so glad' that she attended her wedding while on police bail

Pictured: the moment Letby was arrested at home in Chester on July 3, 2018

Letby (pictured) was convicted in 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others

Dawn is a close childhood friend of Letby who has stood by her despite her conviction and is convinced of her innocence. Pictured: Dawn and Letby

She said: 'I sat there dumbfounded for a while, not really knowing how to process what I was hearing. I didn't think it was real. I immediately switched to thinking what happens next? This can't be it, she can't just spend the rest of her life in prison. I'm living a life that Lucy should be living beside me.

'We should both be having families. We'd both bought our houses, and we were looking forward to the next chapter of our lives  and then all this happens. There's so much guilt that I'm living a life that Lucy should also be living.'

The documentary also hears from Karen Rees, former head of urgent care nursing at the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked.

Sat in a car outside the hospital, Ms Rees said, 'I loved working here'.

'We were all shocked, really shocked,' she added, 'when I look back to when it all started, I don't think any of us thought that this storyline would ride out the way it has.'

Between 2015 and 2016 nearly three times as many newborn babies had died than the normal numbers.

Ms Rees said: I was made aware that the mortality rates appeared to be higher than they had been in the previous years.

'It was tough because everyone was trying, thinking please let us find a reason for this.'

Lucy Letby was devastated by the accusations against her, according to Karen Rees (pictured), former head of urgent care nursing at the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked

Letby was often accused of being cold and unfeeling during her trial for murder. But according to Ms Rees, she was in fact devastated by the accusations against her.

The bitter, tearful scenes followed suggestions made by consultants at the hospital that Letby was doing harm. 'She was broken, cried regularly in my arms and in my office, and her mantra to me was, 'Why are they doing this to me? I've done nothing wrong',' said Ms Rees.

Ms Rees, in her first TV interview, revealed she was given the task of telling Letby that she was being removed from her job  the care of newborns  and confined to a desk job in a back office.

Letby had to pretend to colleagues that this was her choice. Ms Rees said: 'I was told just to say that concerns had been raised, and that this was seen as a neutral act.

'She was not being accused of anything at this point. But it seemed safer to take her off clinical practice to protect herself as well as babies on that neonatal unit.'

As she was led away from the unit where she had worked, Letby did not even question the decision. 'She was just looking at me,' added Ms Rees. 'I then had to walk her across the hospital grounds. I was the only one making conversation. She wasn't asking me why. She wasn't crying. She was just shocked.'

But, said Ms Rees, she cried a lot later. Eventually, after police became involved, Letby was prescribed antidepressants which suppress moods and emotions. She told her trial in May 2023 she was still taking them and that she had considered suicide at the time she was removed from her job.

Ms Rees recalled how Letby once told her: 'You're the only person that hasn't asked me, 'Have I purposely harmed anybody?'.'

Letby (pictured) in happier times before she was found guilty of murder over the deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital neo-natal unit.

Pictured: the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked

She said: 'The reason why I never asked her is that I never thought she had. No. I didn't, I don't believe it.' Her revelations are one of several dramatic moments in the documentary Lucy Letby: Beyond Reasonable Doubt? to be shown on ITV this evening.

Letby's new barrister Mark McDonald is shown in the documentary being questioned outside the CCRC offices in Birmingham by the Daily Mail's Liz Hull, who has covered the case from the beginning.

Mr McDonald admits to camera that, despite the involvement of some of the most distinguished doctors in the world who say no crime was committed, an appeal may yet be refused on a technicality  that the objections to the guilty verdict could have been raised at the original trial, so it was not the court's fault that things went wrong.

He asks: 'If they dismiss this evidence, to say 'Well, it could have been called at trial... she's innocent but we are not going to take any notice of it because they could have done that, so we will let an innocent person stay in prison'  well, what is the logic of that?'
A British tourist has been found dead near a swimming pool in Greece, as three people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

The 78-year-old was swimming in her hotel pool in Hersonissos, Crete, on Sunday afternoon when she reportedly fell ill and got out of the water.

Minutes later, the woman was found collapsed by a sun-lounger by shocked bathers.

The Brit was given first aid before emergency services arrived on the scene and rushed her to hospital, where she later died.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, including a 21-year-old lifeguard who was supposed to be on duty at the time, as well as the hotel's director, 51, and the general manager, 41.

All three suspects have been released on bail and police have launched an investigation to determine the woman's cause of death.

A FCDO spokesperson told Daily Mail:'We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Crete and are in touch with local authorities'

A 78-year-old British tourist has been found dead in a swimming pool in Crete

The tragedy in the Greek holiday hotspot comes after a Brit was found dead on his sun lounger on a popular beach.

The 74-year-old man was discovered unconscious at around 12pm on Sunday, July 20, by fellow beach-goers on Stalis Beach on the popular Greek isle of Crete.

The Brit, who had taken himself to the beach in a bid to enjoy the idyllic sea, went for a swim before sitting on a sun lounger to relax.

However, he then became struck with a 'strong feeling' of sickness before losing consciousness, the cretapost has reported.

Hellenic National Center of Emergency Care (EKAB) were immediately made aware of the incident and called to the scene.

Emergency services then worked tirelessly in a desperate bid to revive the elderly man, but unfortunately their efforts proved unsuccessful.

An FCDO Spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.'

In a separate instance, a 73-year-old Britih man was discovered at the spot in Agia Paraskevi, Siathos, on June 20.

Onlookers immediately alerting a lifeguard who was then able to provide first aid and call the emergency services.

While a doctor from a nearby health center tried desperately for 40 minutes to revive the tourist, he was later tragically pronounced dead.

An autopsy was set to shed light on the cause of his death.
A heavily tattooed Australian was drunk and violent when he hijacked an SUV and struck two people in a late-night joyride, Balinese police allege.

The man, identified by local police only as WRJ, allegedly stole the Toyota Avanza outside a hotel in Seminyak about 1.30am on Sunday.

The Australian is alleged to have stolen the vehicle from a security guard who parked it outside hotel Eden the Residence at the Sea.

Chief of the North Kuta Police, Pasek Sudina, revealed fresh details of the Australian's alleged joyride, before the car was found torched later in the morning.

The Australian, intoxicated, had been acting aggressively in the lead-up to the carjacking, he alleged.

WRJ allegedly choked a security guard nearby, before the Avanza's owner fled his car, leaving the keys in the ignition.

The Australian allegedly then entered the car and drove away, before the owner and a security guard gave chase on a motorcycle.

During the chase, they claimed the Avanza struck a foreign pedestrian and made off down an alley.

A late-night confrontation unfolded outside a Bali villa as an allegedly drunk Australian (above, talking with police) became aggressive with staff

Security guards say the man lashed out before allegedly jumping into a parked SUV and speeding off (above, the car discovered burnt out on Sunday morning)

The guards returned to the Eden villa complex and attempted to track the car using a phone believed to have been left inside it.

They were led to a road 8km east of the hotel but neither the Australian nor the car was found.

Firefighters later discovered it nearby, burning beside a building.

Police visited Eden the Residence and arrested RJW at a villa inside the complex.

Management at the villa complex told police their suspect had been involved in other disturbances before the alleged incident on Sunday.

'One of the other security personnel told us he was choked by the suspect during an earlier confrontation... residents and witnesses described him as intoxicated and out of control,' Police Chief Sudina said.

'During the escape, the suspect hit another foreign national and attempted to flee through a narrow alley. He was eventually apprehended... and taken to the station for legal processing.'

Police Chief Sudina said the victim lost about $14,000 in the alleged theft.

The tourist was later arrested at the Eden Residence in Seminyak and is now facing serious charges as police investigate (pictured)

During a chase, the vehicle is believed to have hit at least one bystander as it tore through narrow streets, before it was discovered engulfed in flames (pictured)

'The North Kuta Police Criminal Unit has detained the foreign suspect for intensive interrogation related to suspected assault, destruction of property, and theft,' he said.

Police are now working with immigrations officials to ascertain the Australian's visa status and consider their next move.

'The North Kuta Criminal Unit will transfer the case, including the suspect and the evidence, to Badung District Police for further investigation and prosecution,' Police Chief Sudina said.

Footage from the scene showed the Avanza engulfed in flames tucked against the side of a building as flames burned an overhead awning.

Firefighters from two trucks turned their hoses on the SUV and the building beside it.

The car was completely destroyed in the fire, with the interior burnt away and the windows outwardly shattered in the blaze. The home suffered minor damage.

The Australian was arrested and taken to North Kuta Police Station and was questioned by police on Monday.
Shocking video footage captured the moment tourists were forced to flee an Italian beach after a tornado hit, while giant waterspouts formed on the coast.

On Sunday, the twister was filmed causing chaos on a stretch of beach in Maccarese, on the coast of north Rome.

Dozens of sunseekers in bathing suits were seen running from the strong whirlwind as it ripped up umbrellas that had been planted in the sand and sent them flying above the beachfront.

Tourists and locals clutched their personal belongings to their chest as they dashed across the beach to seek safety but the tornado continued to rip through the crowded area.

Parasols and sand were seen swirling up into the air over the heads of the beachgoers who attempted to hurriedly flee the scene.

But a handful of brave holidaymakers stayed seated on their deckchairs and watched on as huge gusts of wind blew away their towels.

According to local reports, one woman suffered minor injuries that required medical attention following the tornado incident.

In a separate clip, filmed at around 1pm on Sunday, giant waterspouts were seen being formed off Italy's Delta del Po, on the country's east coast.

Video footage captured the moment tourists were forced to flee an Italian beach after a tornado hit and sent parasols spinning through the air

On Sunday, the spinner was filmed causing chaos on a stretch of beach in Maccarese, on the coast of north Rome

In a separate clip, filmed off the coast of Comacchio at around 1pm on Sunday, giant waterspouts were seen being formed off Italy's Delta del Po, on the country's east coast

A local tour boat operator paused an excursion so he could film the spectacle.

Shared on the Emilia-Romagna Meteo Facebook page, the video showed the 'dance' of the two waterspouts.

The two pillars of water and air lasted for several dozen minutes and merged during a violent storm. Local media reported they formed, folded, and dissolved several times during the spell.

Waterspouts are similar to tornadoes that occur over water. Around 500 occur in Europe every year, according to data from the European severe weather database.

A moderate wind warning was issued by the Italian Meteorological Service on Monday morning.

It claimed that 'moderate intensity weather phenomena is expected in the Northern sector'.

The service has recommended those in the area to keep up to date with the latest weather forecast and expect some minor disruption to outdoor activities.

Intense rain and thunderstorms are also expected to sweep the Marche and Umbria regions until late Monday morning.

It comes as extreme weather has been wreaking havoc across Europe, pushing emergency services to their limits as wildfires, heatwaves, and storms sweep across the continent.

Blazes have erupted in Portugal, Greece, and Spain, while tornadoes have struck tourist hotspots in parts of Spain and Switzerland.

A woman was seen in footage clutching on to her belongings as she ran across the beach to seek shelter from the tornado

Dozens of sunseekers in bathing suits were seen running from the strong whirlwind as it ripped up umbrellas that had been planted in the sand and sent them flying above the beachfront

According to local reports, one woman suffered minor injuries that required medical attention following the tornado incident

The two pillars of water and air lasted for several dozen minutes and were formed amid a violent storm

Thousands of firefighters have been battling a dozen wildfires raging in northern Portugal and central Spain, in the largest wave of blazes in the Iberian Peninsula so far this year following weeks of summer heat.

In Majorca, dramatic footage taken last weekend showed a tornado striking a beach, sending sand and towels hurtling into the sky as tourists ran for cover.

Meanwhile, in the Alps, a sudden plunge in temperature caused snowfall last week in Isere, Savoie and Haute-Savoie.

And, in Switzerland on Tuesday, a fisherman captured a video of a spectacular waterspout spiralling high into the clouds over Lake Constance.

It comes after raging wildfires 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 on July 26, 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 were safely evacuated from villages to the northeast as more than 1,100 firefighters battled the flames.
Universities are set to be banned from accepting foreign students if they fail to stop their courses being used as a 'back door' for asylum claims, it has emerged.

The Government is expected to announce plans next month to clamp down on the number of migrants using study visas to enter Britain before claiming asylum.

Home Office figures show that 16,000 of those who claimed asylum last year had arrived in the UK on a study visa.

According to The Times, universities will be penalised if fewer than 95 per cent of international students accepted on to a course start their studies, or fewer than 90 per cent continue to the end.

Labour's plans - which build on the Government's immigration white paper published earlier this year - will also reportedly see institutions that accept foreign students face sanctions if more than 5 per cent of their visas are rejected.

The worst-performing universities are set to be named and shamed as part of the crackdown, with limits imposed on the number of new foreign students they can recruit until they improve.

Those that fail to do so will be stripped of their ability to sponsor study visas altogether, the newspaper reported.

Home Office figures show that 16,000 of those who claimed asylum last year had arrived in the UK on a study visa. Pictured: UK border signage at Heathrow Airport

Most of the increase in foreign students between 2019 and 2023 were from Indian and Nigerian nationals

It comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is giving 100million in extra funding to support the pilot of a new 'one in, one out' returns agreement between the UK and France

There were 108,000 people who claimed asylum in the UK in 2024, of which slightly more than one third (40,000) did so after travelling to Britain on a visa.

This was more than the 35,000 migrants that arrived on small boats without permission to enter the UK.

Almost 10,000 people who claimed asylum after having entered on a visa were provided with asylum support in the form of accommodation during 2024.

The Home Office said, of those asylum seekers who had originally entered on a visa and are currently in supported accommodation - regardless of the year of their claim - the most common nationalities were Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.

Tory MP Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said Labour's plans represented 'minor tinkering around the edges'.

He called for a complete ban on people on study visas being able to claim asylum.

'These proposals amount to minor tinkering around the edges and will make little real difference, which is typical of announcements by this Government,' Mr Philp said.

'Far too many foreign students are using the pretext of study as a route into the UK. Some courses are extremely low quality and have students who barely speak any English.

'A number of universities are essentially selling UK visas rather than selling an education. This abuse needs to be shut down.

'The last Conservative government rightly ended the farce of students being able to bring family in with them but a lot more real action is now needed.

'No one who says they are coming here as a student should be able to later claim asylum or use a student visa as a basis to be able to stay permanently.'

A spokesperson for Universities UK said: 'The UK is a leading destination for international students.

'Those who choose to come here and study bring significant benefits to UK universities, our society, and wider economy.

'It is in the interest of every university to make sure the opportunity to study in the UK is only given to people who are genuinely here to do so, and universities have an important role in the UK's immigration system.

'That is why our universities work closely with the Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration to maintain the very high levels of compliance seen across the student visa system.

'Indeed, many universities go beyond Home Office requirements and take additional steps when assessing international applications, and we stand ready to work with the Government to implement the changes to the Basic Compliance Assessment outlined in the Immigration White Paper.

'However, to help ensure universities can continue to play their part in maintaining exceptionally high rates of compliance, we need improved, real-time data sharing between Home Office and the sector so that universities can respond proactively to emerging risks.'

Home Office minister Angela Eagle said: 'We are taking decisive action to crack down on those who arrive in our country through legal means, only to abuse the process by making dubious asylum claims.

'The evidence is clear  targeted visa restrictions work. They protect our borders, reduce pressure on our asylum system, and ensure the immigration system also serves Britain's interests.

'The UK will always welcome genuine visitors, workers and students, but we will not tolerate this kind of systematic abuse.

'The rules must be respected and enforced, and we will not hesitate to impose even tighter visa controls where necessary.'

It comes as the Home Office is giving 100million in extra funding to support the pilot of a new 'one in, one out' returns agreement between the UK and France and other efforts to crack down on small boat crossings.

The cash will also pay for up to 300 more National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and new technology and equipment to step up intelligence-gathering on smuggling gangs.

There will be more overtime for immigration compliance and enforcement teams as well as funding for interventions in transit countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Labour is seeking to deter smuggling gangs in a bid to bring down small boat crossings, which have topped 25,000 for the year so far - a record for this point in the year.

The 'one in, one out' deal agreed last month means the UK will for the first time be able to send migrants back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with links to Britain.

Anyone who advertises small boat crossings or fake passports on social media could be face up to five years in prison under a new offence to be introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Labour had set the foundations for a 'new and much stronger law enforcement approach' over the last year.

She said: 'Now this additional funding will strengthen every aspect of our plan and will turbo-charge the ability of our law enforcement agencies to track the gangs and bring them down, working with our partners overseas, and using state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

'Alongside our new agreements with France, this will help us drive forward our plan for change commitments to protect the UK's border security and restore order to our immigration system.'
Thousands of passengers have been ordered to evacuate Brisbane Airport after a security incident.

Flights departing the domestic terminal have been delayed by at least two hours on Monday night as all passengers will need to go back through the screening process.

The airport was emptied about 5.45pm with pictures showing massive lines to exit the terminal and go back through security.

It is understood the incident revolved around one metal detector which had become non-operational.

A number of passengers were then passed through security while the detector was not functioning, requiring the whole airport to undergo re-screening.

Brisbane Airport has said there is no security threat.

It also said the international terminal was not affected and apologised to travellers for the delays.

A spokesman for the airport confirmed just one metal detector had been faulty.

Thousands of passengers were ordered to evacuate from Brisbane Airport on Monday about 5.45pm and will have to undergo re-screening, with flights delayed by about two hours

'The fault was quickly identified and there is no safety or security threat,' he said.

'However, it will take some time to re-screen all passengers and staff, delaying flights.

'We apologise for the inconvenience and thank passengers for their patience and understanding.'

An estimated 10 domestic flights were delayed by a more than an hour.

The international terminal was not affected by the operation.

Hundreds of travellers filed out the terminal doors, stretching across the outdoor drop-off area.

The airport deployed their 'care team' to support passengers.

Footage from on the ground showed passengers crowding through the airport's passageways as instructions were provided over the public announcement system.
Greek authorities are still desperately searching for a missing British woman who vanished from her sunbed on a Greek beach while her husband was asleep.

Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, had been swimming at Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala at around noon on Friday before disappearing.

The police have been conducting a search on land for the tourist, while Greece's Hellenic Coast Guard have been searching in the sea, but the central port authority in Kavala told the Daily Mail that rescuers might call off the operation by the end of the day on Monday.

A Silver Alert was issued after the police failed to immediately locate the tourist and authorities have warned that she may be in danger.

A map shows how the 10.5-mile-long Greek beach where Ms Bourda vanished after lounging on a sunbed is surrounded by expansive fields, residential houses and a huge fishing pond.

Ms Bourda was last seen wearing a rhinestone-embellished two-piece beaded swimsuit, yellow beach shoes and a pair of red horn-rimmed sunglasses.

It is understood she went to the beach in northern Greece with her husband, who was asleep when she vanished.

When he woke up, his wife was nowhere to be found, according to local media.

A Silver Alert was issued after authorities failed to locate Michele Ann Joy Bourda (pictured), 59, who suddenly disappeared from Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala at around noon on Friday

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She disappeared from Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala in Greece (file picture)

She is described as being 5ft 6in, of a slim build with blue eyes and shoulder-length hair.

Sources claim Ms Bourda's belongings - her clothes and bag - were left behind on the beach beside her chair after she vanished.

The Greek missing persons charity, Lifeline Hellas, issued a Silver Alert on Saturday after the police were unable to locate her.

'Her life is in danger. If you know anything, contact the Silver Alert service, 24 hours a day, at the National SOS Line 1065,' the alert said.

A Silver Alert is issued to notify citizens about the disappearance of elderly people, especially those with dementia or Alzheimers.

It comes after a 60-year-old British tourist went missing in June while on holiday in Greece.

His hired car was found abandoned on the island of Karpathos in 38C heat and he was last seen by the owner of his rented accommodation on June 27.

Meanwhile, fears are growing for a British woman who disappeared from a Spanish tourist hotspot last week.

Jennifer Frances Lacey, 41, vanished from the municipality of Vera on Monday, July 28.

Her disappearance was reported by the SOS Missing Persons Association on Thursday and she is described as measuring 5ft 2in, having curly brown hair, blue eyes and wearing prescription glasses.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who was reported missing in Spain.'

At least ten foreign tourists were found dead or disappeared last year in Greece while going for a hike, often in high temperatures, the New York Times reported.

The Daily Mail contacted the FCDO for comment on whether the UK Government was assisting in the search for Ms Bourda.
Learner drivers are being exploited by dodgy brokers charging more than double the price for an earlier test.

Endless waiting lists as long as six months to sit practical tests means the slots have become hot commodities.

Given the huge demand, a driving test black market has been created as test bookings are now being sold at inflated prices of around 200 through third party websites, Facebook groups and WhatsApp.

Unofficial broker companies are selling the appointments by using instructors' official Personal Reference Numbers to access available slots, then selling them at an extortionate price where they take the profit off the original fee.

The details are then changed to match that of the buyer.

The service allows learners to get a test in a matter of days or weeks.

Most test slots are being booked through a portal only accessible to qualified instructors. One revealed he was even approached by a broker who offered to pay him in exchange for his details to access the appointments.

One report revealed a slot in just nine days was sold for 137 by an instructor - instead of the flat rate of 62 on weekdays or 75 for weekends and evenings.

Learner drivers are being exploited by dodgy brokers charging more than double the price for an earlier test

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In a WhatsApp group seen by Manchester Evening News, several dates for last minute slots across different locations were being offered within days notice.

In another, a sooner slot was being sold at 100 to give the broker a 38 profit.

While there are also dedicated Facebook groups with tens of thousands of members desperate to find last-minute test dates or swap slots.

One driving instructor said test slots being block booked means there is often no availability for his own legitimate students.

'They are making so much profit,' the instructor told the M.E.N.

'This is a public service. It's not like they can go somewhere privately. They are selling these tests at 250 or even 300 so it's become big business. I look at it as though the students have paid enough to learn to drive, and the test is the final part of it all.'

Some desperate learners are going to huge lengths to get earliest test slots possible  even if that means driving the length of the UK to sites that are more remote and in lower demand.

In August This is Money reported that multiple freedom of information requests to the DVSA by Marmalade car insurance over a six-month period revealed learners travelled an extra 48 per cent further to take their driving test in 2023 compared to 2019.

One learner travelled a staggering 647 miles from Exeter to Shetland to take their practical exam, while another travelled 633 miles from Folkestone to Shetland.

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Some desperate learners are going to huge lengths to get earliest test slots possible  even if that means driving the length of the UK to sites that are more remote and in lower demand

The process of paying to complete a theory test, driving lessons and the practical test is a huge financial commitment running up to hundreds of pounds, making the pressure to pass higher than ever.

The Online Business Service - what driving instructors use to book and manage tests for their pupils - said: 'Because learners are desperate and know they are going to wait 20 weeks for a test, they book it early and try and go for it. But the pressure to pass is then higher than ever before, because if you fail, you then have to either pay an extortionate amount or wait another 23 weeks.

'They then may need more lessons in that wait time, at a cost of 35 or 40 an hour. The cost implications of failing are lot higher, so this is just desperation. They become stuck in this vicious cycle.'

In January 2023, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) banned anyone from selling tests at profit.

But since then they have has issued 350 warnings, 792 suspensions and closed 813 businesses for misuse of its booking service.

The The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has also found many unofficial sites offering booking slots for around 200 each.

Loveday Ryder, DVSAs CEO said: 'Anyone who chooses to not work within our strict and very clear booking terms and conditions will be subject to investigation, and could lose the ability to book tests for learners.

'DVSAs goal is to make booking a driving test easier and fairer for learner drivers, and were really grateful to everyone who has responded to our recent consultation on improving driving test booking rules for learners.

'Were now analysing the survey responses, and will be planning out our next steps on improving car test booking rules in due course.'
Nine people were kidnapped from an orphanage near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince on Sunday, officials said, including the facility's Irish director and a three-year-old child.

The victims were taken from the Sainte-Helene orphanage in the commune of Kenscoff, about 6.2 miles southeast of the capital.

Among them was Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary who oversees the orphanage - operated by the humanitarian organization 'Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs' ('Our Little Brothers and Sisters').

A three-year-old child and seven employees were also taken, according to Kenscoff Mayor Masillon Jean and a separate source close to the organization.

'The attackers broke into the orphanage around 3:30 am without opening fire,' Jean said, calling it a 'planned act.'

'They broke through a wall to enter the property before heading to the building where the director was staying, leaving with nine hostages.'

No demands or ransom requests have been made, though Heraty called the organization early Sunday to confirm she was among the kidnapped, a source close to the organization told AFP.

Heraty, who has lived in Haiti since 1993, runs the orphanage which cares for up to 270 children.

Nine people were kidnapped from an orphanage in the Haitian commune of Kescoff, including Irish missionary Gena Heraty (right)

File photo: Police with their weapons drawn patrol through the Kenscoff neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, July 24, 2025, where the kidnappings took place

She is the latest foreign missionary to become the victim of kidnapping in Haiti.

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.

In April 2021, two French priests were among ten people kidnapped in Croix des Bouquets before they were released nearly three weeks later.

The same group behind that kidnapping, the '400 Mawazo' gang, took a group of 17 American and Canadian missionaries hostage six months later.

Since the start of this year, Kenscoff has found itself in the crosshairs of the 'Viv Ansanm' ('Living Together') gang, which has already taken control of several other localities.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said at least 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti in the first half of this year, where the growing impact of gang violence threatens to further destabilize the nation.

An estimated 90 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince is now under control of criminal groups who are expanding attacks not only into surrounding areas but beyond into previously peaceful areas.

Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021 and previously were estimated to control 85% of the capital.

Kenscoff has found itself in the crosshairs of the 'Viv Ansanm' ('Living Together') gang

An estimated 90 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince is now under control of criminal groups. Pictured: People displaced by gang violence gather inside a nightclub being used as a shelter in the Petion-Ville neighborhood of Port-au-Prince

Haiti has not had a president since the assassination.

A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police arrived in Haiti last year to help quell gang violence, but the mission remains understaffed and underfunded, with only about 40% of the 2,500 personnel originally envisioned. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' proposal in February to have the U.N. provide drones, fuel, ground and air transport and other non-lethal support to the Kenya-led mission has languished in the council.
A British woman who fell 30ft during a hike has been left trapped in the US with a broken back after her insurance cover to get her home was allegedly turned down.

Charlotte Hollins Anderton, from Abergele, north Wales, endured the 'life changing accident' while working her dream job as a summer camp leader in the US.

Only July 4, the 23-year-old plummeted 30ft during a hike with children and endured an eight-hour wait for rescue with a fractured spine, two shattered feet and internal bleeding.

Following the devastating fall on US Independence Day, Anderton required several operations and intensive care treatment, her family said.

A GoFundMe donation page has now been set up to assist in bringing the young woman home, but this comes with a staggering 45,000 price tag.

A statement on the fundraising website reads: 'Our beautiful Charlotte was tragically involved in a life changing accident whilst working as a camp leader this summer.

'She has suffered a life threatening fall on the 4th July and has been hospitalised since. Her fall resulted in spinal and foot fractures requiring multiple surgeries, internal bleeding, and admission to the intensive care unit.

'She's also dealing with intense emotional trauma from the fall and it breaks our hearts that we can't be there to help'.

Charlotte Hollins Anderton, from Abergele, north Wales, endured the 'life changing accident' in the US

A GoFundMe donation page has now been set up to assist in bringing the young woman home, but this reportedly comes with a 45,000 price tag

Only July 4, the 23-year-old plummeted 30ft during a hike with children and endured an eight-hour wait for rescue with a fractured spine, two shattered feet and internal bleeding

The family added that on top of all the 'unimaginable pain and suffering', they have now had to figure out how to bring her back home.

'We were just hit with another worry that her insurance company will not be covering the cost of repatriation from America to back home,' the statement continued.

'She urgently needs to come home for her to access specialist care via the NHS and continue her recovery with family by her side.

'It is because of this that we are reaching out to her friends, and our community around us, to ask if anyone can spare anything to help us with the costs related to her care and journey home.

'Her repatriation currently costs 45,000. We know this is a difficult time financially for so many, and if you are not able to donate, then PLEASE can we ask you to share this far and wide, on your social media and around your work.'

The distraught family further explained that they never thought they would find themselves in such a situation, but all they want 'is to have her home'.

The statement continued: 'We will be keeping everyone updated every step of the way, and thank you all so much already for your kind words, promises of donations and support.

'It means more to us than you could imagine. Thank you so much.'

Anderton was working her dream job as a summer camp leader when the incident took place

The 23-year-old was left needing several operations following the 30ft fall during a hike

The distraught family further explained that they never thought they would find themselves in such a situation, but all they want 'is to have her home'. Pictured: X-ray of Anderton's broken foot

The family added that on top of all the 'unimaginable pain and suffering', they have now had to figure out how to bring her back home

It comes after a young British holidaymaker died in hospital after plunging from a supermarket carpark in Ibiza last month.

The 25-year-old fell from the Mercadona in the resort of San Antonio at around 8pm on July 14.

The tourist was left fighting for his life in an intensive care unit at a private island hospital, but succumbed to his injuries the following day.

And Keiran Thomas, 25, from Bangor, north Wales, died after falling from his hotel balcony in Malta on the night of July 11.

A medical team were called to Triq Spinola at around 4.15am, where they discovered Thomas' lifeless body on the ground outside of the building.

Thomas' heartbroken father, Alan Hughes, told the BBC that the family were thankful for the supportive messages they had received from members of the public.

He also shared that his son, who had a twin brother, was working as a software engineer at the time of his death, with 'a promising career ahead of him'.
The German government says a dip in the number of people seeking asylum is proof that its strict migration policies are working.

According to figures, the number of people applying for asylum in Germany for the first time fell by more than half in the first six months of the year.

There were just over 70,000 applications between January and July, compared to nearly 141,000 during the same period last year.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said: 'We have massively reduced the number of initial asylum applications compared to last year.'

The drop has been seen as a big success for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative government, which promised to crack down on illegal immigration and speed up deportations.

The coalition is putting pressure on the EU to bring in stricter rules, including fewer appeal options for failed asylum seekers and faster returns to their home countries.

Dobrindt told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper: 'We want procedures at the EU's external borders, faster decisions and consistent returns.'

'We are declaring an even tougher fight against the smugglers, because the state must regulate who comes into our country, not the criminal smuggling gangs.'

According to figures, the number of people applying for asylum in Germany for the first time fell by more than half in the first six months of the year

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But the government's policies have come under scrutiny, with some critics saying it breaks European Union rules and puts pressure on the bloc's visa-free travel zone.

EU data shows Spain has now overtaken Germany as the most popular destination for asylum seekers.

That change is partly due to fewer Syrians applying for refuge, following the collapse of the Assad regime.

In Germany alone, overall asylum claims dropped to 9,900 in May, compared to 18,700 during the same month last year.

A major reason for the decline has been the introduction of tough new border controls. Asylum seekers without valid entry papers can now be turned away at the German border.

The policy was one of Merz's key election promises and was introduced as one of the first changes under his new government earlier this year.

But the new checks have sparked controversy across Europe, as they go against the rules of the Schengen area, which makes way for passport-free travel across much of the EU.

Germany is now carrying out border checks with Poland, Switzerland, Austria, France, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

The drop has been seen as a big success for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative government

The government's immigration policies have come under scrutiny, with some critics saying it breaks European Union rules

On Sunday, Poland said it would extend its own border checks until October. The measures were first brought in this July, following pressure from far-right vigilante groups that began stopping migrants at illegal checkpoints.

Across the EU, illegal migration has become one of the most divisive conversations. In Germany, the hard-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to enjoy a rise in polling.

The party is known for its hardline stance on migration and has promised mass deportations if it comes to power.

A new poll published showed it's now at 25 percent, just behind Merz's Christian Democratic Union on 27 percent. Support for the chancellor's coalition has dropped to 42 percent.

Germany, Italy and Denmark are all pushing the EU to make it easier to deport people whose asylum claims are rejected.

According to data, up to 80 percent of people whose asylum claims have been rejected continue to remain and have not been deported, including dangerous criminals.

Before taking office earlier this year, Merz criticised the country's immigration figures, saying it needed to 'significantly come down. Illegal immigration was putting a strain on public services and towns, he said.

Speaking on a German talk show, he said: 'It can no longer be a six-digit figure - towns, communities, schools, hospitals and infrastructure are overwhelmed.'

Before taking office, Merz criticised the country's immigration figures, saying it needed to 'significantly come down. He said Illegal immigration was putting a strain on public services and towns

He added: 'There has been a lot of change in Europe. Many attempts [at change] failed in Germany, however, in recent years. Going forward, this will no longer be the case.'

When he came into power, he immediately scrapped former Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy.

Under the former leader's watch, hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing regimes such as Assad's were welcomed into the country.

In April, a court ruled that single able-bodied men arriving from Greece would be deported back to the country as they could cope.
An unmanned police helicopter has taken to the sky for the first time under a 'cutting-edge' taxpayer-funded scheme.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is hoping the remotely-piloted aircraft will be able to join its helicopter fleet in the future to carry out searches for criminals and missing people.

Adding to its 'eyes in the skies', it is capable of flying at a maximum height of 18,000ft, soaring through the air at 115mph and is able to stay airborne for up to six hours.

Police say is it 'not possible' to say how much one uncrewed aircraft costs, but the scheme is being funded by all police forces in England and Wales and the Home Office.

Critics say the scheme raises 'serious privacy and civil liberties concerns', while others pointed out that the unmanned helicopters need a remote pilot anyway.

But the NPAS has clarified that the unmanned helicopter, a Schiebel Camcopter S-100, is larger than existing drones used by police forces and has a greater range.

'The type of aircraft we will be trialling is much larger, with the ability to carry similar mission equipment to a current police helicopter,' they said. 'It will be able to fly beyond the sight of the controller.'

Night-time test flights are being conducted over the Bristol Channel and police believe the helicopters could be capable of staying in the air for up to 12 hours in the future - up from its current capability of six hours.

An unmanned police helicopter (pictured) has taken to the sky for the first time under a taxpayer-funded scheme

Night-time test flights are being conducted over the Bristol Channel

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is hoping the remotely-piloted aircraft will be able to join its helicopter fleet in the future to carry out searches for criminals and missing people. Pictured: Pilot remotely controlling the aircraft

David Walters, NPAS head of futures and innovation, said: 'As technology advances, so too do the opportunities for police air support. This trial will test uncrewed aircraft capable of flying for up to six hours, equipped with mission systems comparable to those on our current fleet.

'If successful, this could pave the way for a highly capable and sustainable blended fleet of helicopters, aeroplanes and uncrewed aircraft.

'Our goal is to ensure the right tool is available at the right time, in the right place, to support policing across England and Wales.

'This represents an ambitious step toward a modern, innovative and best-value police aviation service, designed to meet the diverse needs of policing and communities.'

Mr Walters said 30 per cent of NPAS calls were to search for missing people, which the unmanned aircraft could be vital for.

It has a forward-facing camera for the pilot to monitor remotely from a base, while it uses a radar to detect other aircraft.

The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 carries uses the same high-powered infrared camera as normal police helicopters.

Mr Walters added that the unmanned helicopter offers a 90 per cent reduction in emissions per hour than crewed aircraft.

PC Matt Leeding, an NPAS tactical flight officer told BBC News: 'My job doesn't change, all we're doing is embracing the new technology, the same service, using the same equipment just on a slightly different platform,' he said.

Footage shows the unmanned police helicopter on a test flight as police look to add it to the fleet

It has a forward-facing camera for the pilot to monitor remotely from a base, while it uses a radar to detect other aircraft

The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 carries uses the same high-powered infrared camera as normal police helicopters

'There are still incidents when I'll be sitting in an aircraft at 1,500 feet (457 metres) for certain specialist operations and tasks that require a crew on the scene.'

Chris Dowers, of drone privacy campaign group Drone Wars, said the development 'raises serious privacy and civil liberties concerns'.

'The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 is a powerful, military-grade drone currently in use with the Royal Navy,' he said.

'Drones can fly much longer than crewed aircraft and are substantially cheaper and so we are likely to see them being used much, much more than crewed helicopters are now.

'Drones substantially increase surveillance capacity and are already significantly intruding on public privacy.

'Combining these systems with facial recognition technology and wider area surveillance technology would seriously impact on public privacy within the UK.'

Some critics fear that it could lead to the end of manned aicraft.

One wrote on X: 'Nothing beats the power of the human eye in the sky. While there is undoubtedly a place for this technology, I hope that this isn't the beginning of the end of manned aircraft for and other crews across the UK.'

Another, mocking the 'thought police', joked: 'Can your uncrewed aircraft read illegal thoughts?'

Others simply said: 'Isn't that called a drone?' and 'What is the big difference between unmanned helicopter and drone?'

And a fourth wrote: 'How much did that cost taxpayers?'

Test flights are due to take place until October but it is expected years of testing would be needed before the unmanned aircraft joins the full NPAS fleet.

Sophie O'Sullivan, director of Future of Flight at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'We're committed to enabling the emergency services across the UK to harness cutting-edge aviation technology to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.

'Through our support for innovative projects like the trial with NPAS, we are helping future-proof critical operations and ensuring that emergency services can safely benefit from the opportunities presented by drones and advanced air mobility.

'The data gathered from these trials will play a vital role in shaping future policies and accelerating the safe and effective integration of new technologies across the emergency services sector.'
The remarkable devotion to duty of a family who have had nine members serve as RAF pilots in various wars can be revealed.

The Inglis-Williams' are believed to be the family who have contributed the most airmen to the RAF in its 107 year history.

The extraordinary lineage includes a member of The Few, a senior intelligence officer who was on Adolf Hitler's hit list and the man who came up with the 'Little Ships' plan for Dunkirk.

Other family members distinguished themselves in the experimental early aviation age in the Royal Flying Corps in World War One.

One of the airmen miraculously survived falling out of a plane without a parachute at 500ft.

Another was tragically killed when he was hit by a tanker in the Bay of Biscay.

Anthony Inglis-Williams has told the stories of his heroic ancestors in a new book, A Family of Aviators at War.

His son, Flight Lieutenant Dominic Howard-Williams, of 18 Squadron, is the latest member of the dynasty, flying Chinooks in the Middle East and Estonia.

The Inglis-Williams' are believed to be the family who have contributed the most airmen to the RAF in its 107-year history. Above: Flight Lieutenant Dominic Howard-Williams, of 18 Squadron, is the latest member of the dynasty, flying Chinooks in the Middle East and Estonia

Anthony's uncle, Wing Commander Peter Howard-Williams (pictured above, third from left), was a distinguished Spitfire day fighter pilot who served with 19 Squadron in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940

Anthony, 73, a symphony orchestra conductor from Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, said: 'I have spoken to senior people in the RAF and they don't know of another family quite like it.

'I knew eight out of the nine and I'm incredibly proud of what they did.

'It is only since Lockdown that I researched their lives and I just wish I knew more about their accomplishments when they were alive but they were from the generation who did not want to talk about the war.

'I think there were lots of painful memories of lost friends.

'They were night fighters, pathfinders, Battle of Britain pilots, but none was killed in active service, which when you consider the high attrition rate is remarkable.

'My son flies Chinooks in the RAF now so he is carrying on the tradition.'

Anthony's grandfather, Air Commodore El (Bill) Howard-Williams, was an observer in a Sunbeam Short in 1916 when the novice pilot stalled and got into a flat spin, causing the machine to turn upside down.

Not wearing a seatbelt, he fell into the Suez Canal from the great height but somehow resurfaced and swam to safety.

Wing Commander Peter Howard-Williams DFC earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for daring attacks on shipping and other targets on the coastline of occupied France

Anthony Inglis Howard-Williams in a Spitfire on the apron at Biggin Hill

Squadron Leader Jeremy Howard-Williams DFC (Anthony's father) flying from Farnborough in 1944 in a German Messerschmitt Me 410, painted in RAF colours

Squadron Leader Jeremy Howard-Williams DFC was a night fighter pilot flying Beaufighters and Mosquitoes

He later said that his hard hat and bulky flying jacket saved his life.

His pilot, Sub Lieutenant Clifford, remained in the aircraft and was killed.

By the start of the Second World War, he had risen up the ranks to become Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding's number two.

His other grandfather, Air Vice-Marshal Frank Inglis, was chief of RAF Intelligence during the Second World War and was sent to Pearl Harbour by Churchill to persuade US President Franklin D Roosevelt of the merits of a 'Germany First' policy.

He was on Adolf Hitler's hit list of 2,820 people for execution had Germany won the war.

Anthony's great-uncle, Air Commodore William Helmore, was a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) pilot during the First World War.

His other great uncle, Air Marshall Sir Victor Goddard, was senior air commander to Lord Gort of the British Expeditionary Force during 1940.

He is said to have come up with the idea of sending 'Little Ships' to Dunkirk to evacuate BEF troops, which enabled 330,000 men to fight another day.

Air Commodore William Helmore invented the Helmover Torpedo and broadcast live from a Liberator over the D-Day beaches on June 6, 1944

Anthony's Pathfinder hero uncle, Group Captain Peter Helmore, of 27 Squadron, was killed when his yacht was hit by a tanker in the Bay of Biscay in 1969

Anthony's grandfather, Air Commodore El (Bill) Howard-Williams, was an observer in a Sunbeam Short in 1916 when the novice pilot stalled and got into a flat spin, causing the machine to turn upside down. Not wearing a seatbelt, he fell into the Suez Canal from the great height but somehow resurfaced and swam to safety

Air Vice-Marshal Frank Inglis, was chief of RAF Intelligence during the Second World War and was sent to Pearl Harbour by Churchill to persuade US President Franklin D Roosevelt of the merits of a 'Germany First' policy

Gort had asked him to persuade Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, 1st Sea Lord, of the importance of sending more than the planned four destroyers to aid the evacuation of the British Army.

In the meeting, he suggested including private civilian yachts, lifeboats and other small vessels in the mass evacuation, as they could reach the dunes at La Panne.

Air Marshall Goddard was played by Sir Michael Redgrave in the film The Night My Number Came Up.

His father, Squadron Leader Jeremy Howard-Williams, was a night fighter pilot flying Beaufighters and Mosquitoes, who did a tour of duty in the legendary John 'Cat's Eyes' Cunnigham's 604 Squadron.

Wing Commander Cunningham shot down at least 16 German aircraft, which it was claimed owed much to a large consumption of carrots sharpening his eyesight,

Anthony's uncle, Wing Commander Peter Howard-Williams, was a distinguished Spitfire day fighter pilot who served with 19 Squadron in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940.

A severe bout of appendicitis took him out of action for a few months but he returned to the cockpit with 118 Squadron in 1941 to earn a Distinguished Flying Cross for daring attacks on shipping and other targets on the coastline of occupied France.

He sunk one armed ship and damaged several others, while once surviving being jumped by nine Fw 190s.

He managed to shoot one of the enemy down before limping home in his shot-up aircraft, landing in a field on the Isle of Wight.

His DFC citation reads: 'This officer has participated in 24 operational sorties, including attacks on shipping and targets on the enemy occupied coastline of France.

'In the course of these operations he has been responsible for the sinking of one armed ship and damaging several others.

'In addition, he has attacked enemy wireless stations and a number of anti-aircraft posts, inflicting heavy damage.

'He has displayed exceptional keenness and, on many occasions, has obtained information which has proved of great value.

'He has destroyed two enemy aircraft and has set a splendid example of coolness, resource and fearlessness.'

Wing Commmander Howard-Williams played himself in the 1942 film First of the Few starring David Niven and Leslie Howard, the only film to be sanctioned by Winston Churchill to be shot on an active airfield.

He later wrote in his private papers, which have been poured through by Anthony: 'I must admit that in 1940 we always considered ourselves the good guys and the Germans the bad guys.

Air Marshall Sir Victor Goddard, was senior air commander to Lord Gort of the British Expeditionary Force during 1940

The family's ranks are completed by other great-uncle Flight Lieutenant Cecil Turner, who flew in the 1930s and then calibrated radar sites during the war,

'I don't mean that we thought we were fighting a great evil  it wasn't until 4 years later that we all learnt of the horrors of the concentration camps AuschwitzBuchenwaldDachau and the extermination of over 6 million Jews in the gas chambers.'

Anthony's Pathfinder hero uncle, Group Captain Peter Helmore, of 27 Squadron, was killed when his yacht was hit by a tanker in the Bay of Biscay in 1969.

He and his crewman Giles Baker were sailing to Ankara in Turkey when they were caught in a storm nine miles west of Cadiz and were mowed down by a 4,500 tons Spanish tanker without a working radar.

The first the bridge crew knew of the collision was seeing a mast scrape down the side of the tanker.

By the time they had turned around, there was no sign of wreckage or human life.

The family's ranks are completed by other great-uncle Flight Lieutenant Cecil Turner, who flew in the 1930s and then calibrated radar sites during the war, and his uncle Air Commodore William Helmore.

Air Commodore Helmore invented the Helmover Torpedo and broadcast live from a Liberator over the D-Day beaches on June 6, 1944.

A Family of Aviators at War, by Anthony Inglis Howard-Williams, costs 25 and will be published by Pen & Sword on September 30.
Labour has been accused of 'tinkering around the edges' with its plans to crackdown on small boat crossings.

The Home Office has announced measures to get tough on smuggling gangs, despite more than 25,000 illegal arrivals so far this year  but the Tories branded them 'a series of gimmicks'.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper this weekend unveiled plans to introduce sentences of up to five years in prison for anyone who advertises small boat crossings or fake passports on social media.

She said she would introduce a fast-track scheme to tackle the asylum backlog, with a new law to overhaul the appeals system, in a bid to get decisions on cases within weeks.

And today, the Home Office has announced 100 million of extra funding to support the pilot of the new 'one in, one out' returns agreement between the UK and France.

It will also pay for up to 300 more National Crime Agency officers and new technology and equipment to step up intelligence gathering on smuggling gangs.

And there will be more overtime for immigration compliance and enforcement teams as well as funding for interventions in transit countries.

The deal, agreed last month, means the UK will be able to send migrants back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with links to Britain.

Migrants being brought onshore at Dover after crossing the Channel in small boats last month

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper this weekend unveiled plans to introduce sentences of up to five years in prison for anyone who advertises small boat crossings or fake passports on social media

But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the announcements. He told the Daily Mail last night: 'This weak Labour Government has come up with a series of gimmicks to grab headlines instead of fixing the issue.

'Tinkering around the edges which will make no real difference.

'There have been more than 25,000 illegal crossings so far this year, making it the worst year in history.

'Labour has failed and their laughable claim to smash the gangs lies in tatters. They have no serious plan, just excuses, while ruthless criminal gangs flood our borders with illegal immigrants.'

A No 10 source hit back: 'The Tories focused on headlines and gimmickry, we're focused on what works.

'Through our returns deal with France, investment in a border security and speeding up returns, we're making steady progress.'

Public anger over small boat crossings has focused on the issue of taxpayer-funded migrant hotels, which have been the centre of a series of protests in recent weeks including in London, Newcastle and Epping in Essex.

Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick warned that 'the public's patience with the asylum hotels and with the whole issue of illegal migration has snapped'.

More than 25,000 small boat migrants have now arrived this year (pictured are arrivals earlier this month)

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In response, Dame Angela Eagle promised that the Government was 'doing the detailed work' to crack down on small boat crossings.

Asked on Sky News what her message was to protesters, Dame Angela said: 'Anger doesn't get you anywhere.

'What we have to do is recognise the values we have in this country, the rule of law we have in this country, the work we're doing with the police to protect people.

'We will close asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament. We'll do it faster if we can.'

Dame Angela also said: 'We are doing all we can to deal with the challenges that the police are facing on the streets to make sure that women and girls are safe, and in fact, that everybody is safe on our streets.'

She had earlier told Times Radio: 'Those who are worried and demonstrating have an absolute right to do that, so long as they do it peacefully.

'People don't have a right to then have a pop at the police, which has been happening in some isolated cases outside hotels.'

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Referring to plans to let police seize devices from people suspected of facilitating people smuggling, Dame Angela said the Government does not 'want absolutely every phone'.

She told Times Radio: 'But we do want the phones of the people that we think are organising and facilitating, and this extra money will enable us to do much quicker analytics of the phones that we seize.

'But of course, we've got to get the Border Security Bill on the statute book to give us those extra powers.'

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill has cleared the Commons but must undergo further scrutiny in the Lords before it becomes law.

Turning to social media creators who advertise illegal routes into the UK, Dame Angela said: 'We will stop anyone who comes to the UK where we've got evidence, and what happens is that the people smugglers are getting people to say how safe the journeys were and do adverts once they're in the UK.

'We will stop that, and we will also deal with other jurisdictions and ask them to help us deal with this as well, we could certainly do that in the EU with our colleagues in Germany, in France.'

Where there is 'evidence that legal routes to visas are being misused', the Government will 'tighten up the rules to stop that abuse happening', the minister added.

The National Crime Agency has 91 ongoing investigations into people smuggling networks affecting the UK, the agency's director general of operations Rob Jones said.

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But speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Jenrick said: 'The public's patience with the asylum hotels and with the whole issue of illegal migration has snapped.

'This is an issue that is beyond party politics.

'It is causing immense harm to communities, and people's lives are being wrecked as a result of it, and we simply have to fix it.

'I respect those people who are peacefully protesting outside hotels this weekend, I understand why they feel so concerned.

'They're seeing their communities damaged, and I'm afraid there is increasing evidence of a serious link between illegal migration, migration generally, and crime, particularly sexual crime, against women and girls.'
Prince Andrew looked 'wary and threatened' as he was seen for the first time after the release of a scathing new biography about his life, a body language expert has claimed.

The disgraced Duke of York, 65, was spotted driving a black Land Rover Defender alongside his ex-wife of 10 years, Sarah Ferguson, who herself looked in 'sadness or deep pain'.

The pair were reportedly heading to Windsor Castle for some down time and a casual walk.

It comes after the prince was heavily criticised in the book penned by Andrew Lownie and serialised by the Mail, called Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York.

One of the most explosive claims was that Prince Andrew and his nephew Prince Harry had a violent altercation in 2013 - something which the Sussexes have denied.

It is also alleged in the biography that Prince Andrew was dubbed 'sex obsessed' and a 'perverted animal' by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that in the photos, which were first published yesterday, the Duke's eyes have a 'wary look' to them.

She added that his 'tongue in cheek' expression could imply that he is 'threatened' or is experiencing feelings of 'contempt'.

Ms James said this marks a contrast from Prince Andrew's more 'ebullient-looking body language at recent royal appearances'.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were spotted in public for the first time yesterday after a scathing new biography about the Duke of York's life was released

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that in the photographs, which were first published yesterday, the Duke's eyes have a 'wary look' to them

A new book, called Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, claims the Duke of Sussex and his uncle entered a violent altercation during a family gathering in 2013

'Here his eyes have a wary-looking expression, and his mouth is closed with the lips pulled down at the corners,' Ms James explained.

'He either has a large sweet in his mouth or he is pushing his tongue into his cheek.

'The phrase "tongue in cheek" will be used to suggest someone is secretly laughing at something or wanting to appear dryly humorous or even mocking.

'As a performed gesture though it can be prompted by a range of emotions. Like teeth-licking, it can imply someone feels threatened or it can suggest contempt.

'It can occur when someone is deep in thought although this looks like the least likely cause here as Andrew is driving and he has his ex-wife beside him for company.'

Speaking of Fergie, who is the mother of Andrew's two children, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Ms James said she looks in 'pain'.

'Fergie's expression is in total contrast to her signature look,' the body language expert explained.

'Her brows are pulled into a deeply etched frown, and her eye expression suggests deep sadness or pain.

'Her chin is raised to hint at defiance or resilience, but her lips are tightly clamped and even sucked inward, also signalling a sense of inner pain and a possible desire to hide or self-protect.'

It is alleged in the biography that Prince Andrew was dubbed 'sex obsessed' and a 'perverted animal' by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He is pictured with Virginia Giuffre

The ex-couple were reportedly heading to Windsor Castle for some down time and a casual walk

The ex-couple were reportedly heading to Windsor Castle for some down time and a casual walk.

Andrew donned a blue long-sleeved collar shirt, and kept one hand on the steering wheel as he glanced out of the four-by-four's windscreen window.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of York donned a round-neck blouse and her signature red locks were tied away from her face.

The new pictures came after Prince Harry denied having a 'physical fight' with Prince Andrew amid claims in the new book that punches were thrown.

It was alleged that the altercation took place during a family gathering in 2013 over 'something Andrew said behind Harry's back'.

Author Mr Lownie claimed 'Harry got the better of Andrew by all accounts', with Harry leaving his uncle 'with a bloody nose' before their brawl was broken up.

Later Andrew is said to have told Harry his marriage to Meghan Markle would not last more than a month and accused his nephew of going 'bonkers' and not doing any due diligence into her past.

On Saturday night, representatives for the Duke of Sussex denied the fight ever happened, adding that Andrew never made the alleged comments about Harry.

A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex told the Daily Mail: 'I can confirm Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Andrew ever make the comments he is alleged to have made about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry.'

In the explosive new biography, it is also alleged that Prince Andrew was dubbed 'sex obsessed' and a 'perverted animal' by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Harry (pictured with Meghan Markle in April 2022) has denied having a 'physical fight' with Prince Andrew

Paedophile socialite Jeffrey Epstein (pictured in his mugshot in 2017) said of Prince Andrew: 'He's the only person I have met who is more obsessed with p***y than me'

There was even a long-standing rumour of an affair with a household staff member when he was still married to the Duchess of York.

One nanny is said to have left because he made unwelcome advances.

However, a family friend also described the prince as 'not very socially adept' and a 'bedroom bore' when it comes to women.

'He's about as subtle as a hand grenade,' said another.

As a young man Andrew was said to be juvenile and fond of sly pranks - and sources said he has not changed much as an adult.

One friend described him as a 'nightmare to sit next to at dinner', making ghastly jokes about whether the ladies are wearing knickers and 'lavatorial' jokes.

At the same time he has a strong sense of of his own position as a senior member of the Royal Family, demanding people call him 'Your Royal Highness' and 'Sir' and insisting people stand up when he comes into the room.

Some aides have been reduced to tears, while another was moved to different duties because Andrew 'disliked a mole on the man's face'.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson was said to have remarked after being forced to dine with Andrew: 'I'm the last person to be a republican but, f***, if I ever have to spend another lunch like that, I soon will be.'
A mother-of-six who was killed by her husband in a suspected murder-suicide had been been the victim of a domestic violence incident just a few months ago.

The bodies of Shafeeqa Husseini, 41, and husband Mirza Husseini, 47, were discovered inside a home in Bordertown, South Australia, just after 11pm on Sunday night during a welfare check.

SA Police confirmed they were aware of the couple following a domestic violence incident earlier this year, however, there were not any court orders in effect for the woman's safety.

Officers arrived to the couple's Melvyn Street home - about 270km east of Adelaide in the Limestone Coast region- after a family member called asking them to conduct a welfare check.

The couple have six children who were not at home at the time and whose lives have now been thrown into disarray by the tragedy.

South Australian Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Cath Hillard told a press conference detectives believe Mirza Husseini killed his wife before taking his own life.

She did not reveal any further details about the circumstances.

Neighbours said the family immigrated from Afghanistan about 15 years ago, reported the Adelaide Advertiser.

Shafeeqa Husseini, 41, (pictured) was found dead in her Bordertown home following a welfare check

Mirza Husseini was found dead alongside his wide and police have said they suspect it is a murder-suicide

The Bordertown Islamic Community Centre manager Adeel Khan said the local community had been devastated by the tragedy.

'It is really sad news... whatever has happened is not good, it's a massive shock,' he said.

He added Ms Husseini was very involved in the community as she had frequently helped with catering for local events and was a 'good cook'.

'It's a small community, everyone knows each other... so we will be missing these guys,' Mr Khan said.

It is understood some family members were employed at the local meatworks.

Commissioner Hillard said there were no court-imposed restrictions prohibiting contact between the couple.

However, the man was known to have previously committed an act of domestic violence against his wife earlier in the year.

She said a loved one had been in contact with Mr and Ms Husseini during the day but then lost contact.

'Police discovered the deaths of the individuals after a relative contacted police and requested a welfare check after they couldn't contact them,' she said.

Police discovered the bodies at a property on Melvyn Street (pictured) in Bordertown at 11pm on Sunday

Officers arrived to the couple's Melvyn Street home - about 270km east of Adelaide in the Limestone Coast region- after a family member called asking them to conduct a welfare check

'The man was known to police through a previous domestic violence incident earlier in the year and that involved the deceased woman.

'However there were no current court-imposed restrictions in relation to the individuals preventing any contact between them.'

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly planning to expand the conflict in Gaza to bring home hostages after Hamas released chilling images of emaciated captives.

A diplomatic source quoted in Hebrew media on Sunday revealed the Israeli Prime Minister is 'pushing for the release of the hostages through decisive military victory, combined with the entry of humanitarian aid to areas outside the combat zone, and, as much as possible, outside of Hamas control'.

The distraught families of the hostages have sharply rebuked the suggestion, arguing expanding the conflict could endanger those still in Hamas captivity.

Netanyahu himself appeared visibly shaken in a video statement after harrowing footage emerged of two hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, both looking skeletal and pale in what appeared to be an underground tunnel.

David, digging what he believed to be his own grave, was heard begging for his life.

But the Israeli leader said the shocking videos only hardened his resolve. 'I understand exactly what Hamas wants, it doesn't want a deal. It wants to break us - with these horrifying videos, with the false horror propaganda it spreads across the world,' he said in a clip released by his office.

The comments come as Washington is shifting its focus from temporary hostage-for-ceasefire deals to a broader goal of ending the war altogether, according to US envoy Steve Witkoff. This leaves Israel with the stark choice of intensifying the fighting or allowing more time for negotiations.

Amid the chaos, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum - representing the families of the 50 hostages still believed to be alive - accused Netanyahu of 'leading Israel and the hostages to the abyss'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly planning to expand the conflict in Gaza to bring home hostages

Netanyahu himself appeared visibly shaken in a video statement after harrowing footage emerged of two hostages, Evyatar David (pictured) and Rom Braslavski, both looking skeletal and pale in what appeared to be an underground tunnel

Palestinians suffering from extreme hunger under Israel's intense attacks and blockade gather at an aid distribution center near the Zikim border crossing in Gaza to access limited food on August 03, 2025

The Forum said the prime minister 'is preparing the greatest scam,' and that any talk about releasing the hostages through decisive victory is 'a fraud'.

'For 22 months now the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure and intense fighting will bring the hostages back,' said the group.

'Even before the draft for a comprehensive deal was written, we're being told there is no feasibility for a deal.'

The group stressed that expanding the way endanger the lives of hostages who are at risk of imminent death.

'We saw the chilling images of the hostages in the tunnels, they won't survive more long days of horror,' it said, adding that expanding the Gaza war 'is a guarantee of the failure of the century.'

'There is no victory nor any revival in it,' the Forum concluded.

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held hostage in Gaza, said that 'the political leadership has decided to carry out the 'final solution' on my son Matan and 49 other hostages.'

'For 667 days, the hostages have been enduring a Holocaust in the tunnels, and instead of reaching a full agreement to end the war... Netanyahu is preparing an operation to turn the living hostages into corpses and to erase the fallen,' she added.

Israeli security officials have privately acknowledged that they have long known the captives were being starved - reportedly by deliberate order of their captors.

Sources familiar with the issue were cited by the Ynet news site as saying: 'The visual was still devastating, but it's not something we didn't know.'

Braslavski and David are among just 20 hostages still believed to be alive. At last 28 others are confirmed dead, their bodies still held by terror groups, while the fate of two more remains uncertain.

Cabinet ministers are deeply split by the decision to expand the bloody war.

Hamas released a horrifying video of an emaciated Israeli hostage after 664 days in captivity - with Israelis saying he is going through his own Holocaust

Images show Evyatar in 2023, in February and in the most recent video released by Hamas

Image shows poster calling for Evyatar to be brought home

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs are reportedly in favour of expanding the war.

But IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Mossad chief David Barnea and other top security officials are warning against the move, citing the hostages' dire conditions.

Netanyahu, however, has shown no signs of backing down, declaring: 'We will not break. I am filled with even greater determination to free our captive sons, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel.'

It comes after Hamas said Sunday it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, following the release of the emaciated hostage video.

Hamas said any coordination with the Red Cross is contingent upon Israel permanently opening humanitarian corridors and halting airstrikes during the distribution of aid.

The video of David drew criticism from Western powers and horrified Israelis. France, Germany, the UK and the US were among countries to express outrage and Israel's foreign ministry announced that the UN Security Council will hold a special session on Tuesday morning on the issue of the situation of the hostages in Gaza.

Netanyahu said on Sunday he had asked the Red Cross to give humanitarian assistance to the hostages during a conversation with the head of the Swiss-based ICRC's local delegation.

The premier's office said he spoke to the ICRC coordinator for the region, Julien Lerisson, and 'requested his involvement in providing food to our hostages and... immediate medical treatment'.

The ICRC said in a statement it was 'appalled by the harrowing videos' and reiterated its 'call to be granted access to the hostages'.

In response, Hamas's armed wing said it would allow the agency access to the hostages but only if 'humanitarian corridors' for food and aid were opened 'across all areas of the Gaza Strip'.

A Hamas fighter stands guard as a Red Cross vehicle transports newly released hostages in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on November 28, 2023

Smoke and dust rise from the tent area where Palestinian displaced civilians' tents are located following the Israeli army's attacks in the Sheikh Acclin neighborhood of Gaza City, Gaza on August 04, 2025

The Al-Qassam Brigades said it did 'not intentionally starve' the hostages, but they would not receive any special food privileges 'amid the crime of starvation and siege' in Gaza.

The Hostages Families Forum over the weekend said Hamas' comments about the hostages cannot hide that it 'has been holding innocent people in impossible conditions for over 660 days,' and demanded their immediate release.

'Until their release,' said the statement, 'Hamas has the obligation to provide them with everything they need. Hamas kidnapped them and they must care for them. Every hostage who dies will be on Hamas's hands.'

Six more people died of starvation or malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, its health ministry said on Sunday as Israel said it allowed a delivery of fuel to the enclave, in the throes of a humanitarian disaster after almost two years of war.

The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from what international humanitarian agencies say may be an unfolding famine to 175, including 93 children, since the war began, the ministry said.

Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said two trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread.

COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said later in the day that four tankers of UN fuel had entered to help in operations of hospitals, bakeries, public kitchens and other essential services.

There was no immediate confirmation whether the two diesel fuel trucks had entered Gaza from Egypt.

Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid into the enclave in what it said was pressure on Hamas militants to free the remaining hostages they took in their October 2023 attack on Israel.

Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international uproar, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.

UN agencies say airdrops are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the territory to prevent starvation among its 2.2million people, most of whom are displaced amidst vast swathes of rubble.

COGAT said that during the past week over 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid in 1,200 trucks had entered Gaza but that hundreds of the trucks had yet to be driven to aid distribution hubs by UN and other international organisations.

Meanwhile, Belgium's air force dropped the first in a series of its aid packages into Gaza on Sunday in a joint operation with Jordan, the Belgian defence ministry said.

France on Friday started to air-drop 40 tons of humanitarian aid.
Nigel Farage today hit out at a 'cover-up' after two Afghan asylum seekers were charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

The Reform UK leader said it was 'absolutely disgraceful' that information about the men's background was not revealed to the public.

It came after George Finch, 19, the Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council, said he had been 'begging' for details about the immigration status of the alleged offenders in Nuneaton to be released.

Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was arrested on July 26 and charged the next day with rape, according to Warwickshire Police.

He appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court last Monday and has been remanded in custody.

Mohammad Kabir, 23, was arrested in Nuneaton on Thursday and charged with kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting rape of a girl under 13, the force added.

Warwickshire Police did not deny that Mulakhil and Kabir are asylum seekers, as was revealed by The Mail On Sunday.

The force said that once someone is charged with an offence, they follow national guidance which 'does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status'.

But speaking at a press conference in central London this morning Mr Farage said the immigration status of those who are charged with alleged offences should be routinely released.

Mr Farage denied that releasing the names, addresses and immigration status of those charged with offences risked unrest on Britain's streets.

He claimed that last summer's riots in the wake of the Southport murders was caused by the public not immediately being told the status of the attacker.

Mr Farage said this 'led to crazy conspiracy theories spreading online'.

At the beginning of the press conference, he said he wanted to discuss a 'cover-up that in many ways is reminiscent of what happened after the Southport killings last year'.

He later added: 'It is not in any way at all a contempt of court for the British public to know the identity of those who allegedly have committed serious crimes.

'I felt that in the wake of the Southport attacks, and I feel that ever more strongly today.'

Mr Farage also demanded that those who enter the UK illegally should not be 'free to roam the streets' and 'should be detained ahead of them being deported'.

Nigel Farage hit out at a 'cover-up' after two Afghan asylum seekers were charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton

George Finch, 19, the Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council, said he had been 'begging' for information about the immigration status of alleged offenders in Nuneaton to be released

CCTV image that appears to show someone who resembles the man who has been charged

Mr Finch told the press conference about his efforts last week to demand the 'immediate release of the immigration status of the two men' charged in relation to the Nuneaton incident.

'I was begging for this to be released; screaming, phoning, asking it to be released,' he said.

He added that he had emailed Warwickshire County Council's chief executive to say that he wished to speak to the police to urge them to release information about the pair's immigration status.

Mr Finch also said he later had written a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the chief constable of Warwickshire Police, which called for the immediate release of the immigration status of the two men.

He added he would be working to 'fight against' houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) that are housing 'illegal immigrants'.

The 19-year-old politician claimed he had been told he could not release information about the men's background himself 'due to this phrase 'community cohesion''.

In a message to his fellow Reform councillors across England, Mr Finch said they were 'the last line of defence against 'the blob', the cover-ups of the councils, and we have to fight every step of the way against this 'blob''.

In his letter to Ms Cooper, published on X on Sunday, Mr Finch claimed a 'cover-up' of immigration status 'risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire'.

'Having my ear to the ground locally, it is clear that there is much appetite for protests to take place across the county,' the letter added.

Mr Farage said it was 'absolutely disgraceful' that Mr Finch had, he claimed, effectively been told that 'the public do not deserve to know the truth'.

The Reform leader said police should 'absolutely' be obliged to publish the immigration status of those who have been arrested and charged, adding: 'I think particularly given there's a pretty febrile atmosphere around these areas.'

Mr Farage denied that doing so risked inflaming community tensions and sparking unrest on Britain's streets.

He pointed to a conclusion by Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, that police should have been able to give more information to the media about the suspected attacker in the aftermath of the Southport murders.

Mr Farage said: 'We might not like the truth... but to have masses of speculation as to what might have happened makes things, I think, far worse than they otherwise would be.'

Mr Farage said police should 'absolutely' be obliged to publish the immigration status of those who have been arrested and charged

Mr Finch, 19, told the press conference about his efforts last week to demand the 'immediate release of the immigration status of the two men' charged in relation to the Nuneaton incident

Last summer's outbreak of violence across UK towns and cities followed false rumours spread online that the Southport suspect was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat.

Hotels housing asylum seekers were among the targets which saw protests and disorder.

There have also been demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers this summer, including multiple protests in Epping.

Reiterating his party's hardline stance on the Channel migrant crisis, Mr Farage said those asylum seekers who came to Britain on small boats, and are now being housed in hotels, should be deported.

He added this should be regardless of whether their home countries are deemed 'unsafe', insisting that Britain should not be told it 'can't send people to certain countries'.

Mr Farage said: 'None of these young, unidentified males that are coming into this country should be free to roam the streets.

'They should be detained ahead of them being deported. That is absolutely what we stand for as a party. And we mean it.

'We'll do that to protect the British people. We have simply had enough.'

Asked if police should release the ethnicity of people charged with offences, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the police and courts were operationally independent but the principle was to be 'as transparent as possible'.

He said: 'We've always said and continue to say that transparency is important.

'That is our position. For police up to central government, we should always be as transparent as possible when it comes to cases.'

He added: 'This is clearly a deeply upsetting and distressing case which the public are right to feel shocked and angry about. In relation to this case, the individuals have been charged and we are now in a live investigation.'

Mr Farage spoke as he welomed Rupert Matthews, the police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland, to Reform's ranks following his defection from the Tories

Mr Farage spoke this morning as he welomed Rupert Matthews, the police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland, to Reform.

Mr Matthews has defected from the Tories to join Mr Farage's party.

He has been a police and crime commissioner since 2021, and served as an MEP for the East Midlands for the Conservatives between 2017 and 2019.

Mr Matthews told the event at the Reform headquarters in Westminster he had been a Tory member for more than 40 years.

He was quick to turn his fire on modern crime policy, where he said police officers were all too often working with 'one hand tied behind their back'.

He said: 'I daily face a fight against crime. I see ordinary, hard-working people burgled, robbed and mugged.

'Shoplifting is getting out of control. Anti-social behaviour is turning too many of our town centres into an apocalyptic wasteland of lawless Britain.'

Mr Matthews said the 'dark heart of wokeness' needed to be removed from the criminal justice system.

At the weekend, Warwickshire Police said two men were charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

Mulakhil and Kabir will both appear at Warwick Crown Court on August 26.

Officers are appealing to anyone who was in the Cheveral Street area between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on July 22 and may have seen anything of interest to come forward by calling 101 and quoting incident number 418 of July 22.

Warwickshire Police said: 'Our neighbourhood officers work every day with local community partners.

'When something significant happens, we brief these partners and local elected officials on the circumstances of the crime, the investigation, the work being undertaken to arrest those responsible and how local people and partners can help a concerned community.

'Where relevant, sensitive information around locations, details of the crime and policing activity to catch offenders can be shared, with a warning that this is sensitive or confidential information and disclosure by those being briefed could affect future court hearings.

'We work to hold offenders to account and will always do everything in our power to present a robust case to the courts and protect the integrity of court proceedings.

'Once someone is charged with an offence, we follow national guidance. This guidance does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.'
A young man caused a two-hour flight delay after he was escorted off a plane by six cops for allegedly vaping in the toilet.

The 21-year-old was removed after being accused of committing an aviation offence.

Footage of the incident was captured by fellow passenger Tristan James Walker captured after he claims the toilet smoke alarm was set off.

The incident took place at Edinburgh Airport on a Ryanair plane heading to Alicante, Spain.

According to Mr Walker, 39, the flight was set to depart at 9.45am only for it to be allegedly delayed due to staff sickness.

After the alarm sounded, the pilot is said to have informed the 21-year-old 'vaper' he would be removed from the plane.

Mr Walker said that at least six officers boarded the aircraft to remove the man, who was taken into a van.

Police confirmed the 21-year-old was charged in connection with an aviation offence.

A young man caused a two-hour flight delay after he was escorted off a plane by six cops for allegedly vaping in the toilet

The 21-year-old was removed after being accused of committing an aviation offence

The footage was captured on July 3.

Mr Walker told Luxury Travel Daily: 'A young lad in a group happened to set the alarm off for apparently vaping.

'The pilot then came out after the air stewardess explained what happened, and then the pilot stated he would be removed from the plane.

'The young lad waited for over six police officers to come on board.

'He was taken off, he was very calm - didn't argue or anything, no drama.

'We then happened to bump into him on Benidorm's famous strip and he told us he just got a caution and was banned from Ryanair.'

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 7.55am on Thursday 3 July 2025 we were called to an aircraft at Edinburgh Airport.

Pictured is fellow passenger Tristan James Walker who captured the video footage

The clip was taken on a Ryanair flight on July 3 and has now been shared

'Officers attended, and a 21-year-old man was charged in connection with an aviation offence.

'A report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.'

Ryanair has been contacted for comment.
A man who built an Airbnb from Pablo Escobar's plane has become embroiled in a planning row over noisy parties as he applies to put another Boeing next to it.

Johnny Palmer, 41, created the unique accommodation in the abandoned Boeing 727 plane once owned by the drugs lord to makes guests 'feel like billionaires'.

He has now submitted a fresh application for a second Boeing project - this time in a bid to create the 'world's coolest office.'

Mr Palmer transported his initial Boeing 727 to Bristol in February 2021.

But he is facing a battle over plans to site a second Boeing 727 fuselage at the site - this time to be used as an office and meeting space.

As part of the fresh application, some neighbours complained of 'rowdy' parties in the 'Escobar' plane that was disturbing the local ambience.

One objector wrote: 'It is too close to the houses and you can hear music and parties that they have already.

'When the new houses are built opposite they are not going to like the noise either.'

Johnny Palmer, 41, created the unique accommodation in the abandoned Boeing 727 plane once owned by the drugs lord to makes guests 'feel like billionaires.'

Originally built in 1968 and fitted out as a private jet in 1981, the craft was flying up until 2012 - when it made its final journey to Filton Airfield in South Gloucestershire

There have been many rumours on who the previous owners were, including drug lord Pablo Escobar, pictured

Mr Palmer said the whole project was a restoration job that took several years to complete.

Another added: 'What a complete waste of time, the one that is already in place has changed from this to this to this, the community doesn't use the first one let alone another.

'The plane has never been accepted by the community, it's hardly been used for any events. Who in their right minds want to go in the plane over looking what will be a housing area on the back of a trading estate. It beggars belief. It is just another eyesore.'

Another objector added: 'It is not going to do anything for the area except attract more trouble.

'It's hard enough when they have parties in there and you can hear the music all around the Brislington area and Broomhill.'

Mr Palmer's initial Boeing 727 installation rests atop a stack of shipping containers, and he now plans to elevate the second aircraft even higher, equivalent to three storeys.

Several letters of support have also been received ahead of a decision made by Bristol City Council.

In documents to support the application, he said the plan was for the supporting structure as a hub for co-working and office spaces and include a coffee shop and other facilities.

He wrote: 'The project will create high-value opportunities in marketing, public relations and communications, providing employment for young creatives, designers and marketers.

The plane sits on the site in Bristol and boasts of a hot tub and sauna and can cost up to 850 per night

It boasts two double bedrooms with en-suite toilets and showers, as well as seats which can convert into beds

With walnut panelling, leather seats, gold plated shower and toilet, the plane gives the guests a taste of what the Billionaire life would be like

Mr Palmer's initial Boeing 727 installation rests atop a stack of shipping containers, and he now plans to elevate the second aircraft even higher, equivalent to three storeys

'This project represents a forward-thinking, innovative development, integrating economic, social and environmental benefits.'

Mr Palmer's original decommissioned aircraft has functioned as office space, a filming location, and is presently available for rental on AirBnB.

The private jet resides on an industrial estate in Bristol and comes with a hot tub and sauna and can cost up to 850 per night.

Originally built in 1968 and fitted out as a private jet in 1981, the aircraft was still flying up until 2012 - when it made its final journey to Filton Airfield.

Mr Palmer said he now offers guests the chance to live like a billionaire at 32-feet.

Speaking previously, he added: 'It was built in 1968 for Japan Airlines and in 1981 it got converted into a private jet. It had a series of owners.

'Eventually it could not fly anymore and in 2012 it was decommissioned.

'There is a bit of a roll play cosplay thing going on there - people enjoy that experience and living that fantasy for a little while and then living their normal lives.

Although the plane does not have wings or engines, all other features work including the airstairs and lighting

Some of the cockpit lights, as well as the three toilets, shower, kitchen, fridge also work

The cheapest nights in the aircraft are 250 and the peak nights are 850 for the night

Peak times are in August and it's nearly fully booked the whole year

'The contrast - billionaire and real life - is actually really healthy to people.'

There have been many rumours about who the previous owners of the jet were - including an Arab prince and the Mafia.

'Someone said that Pablo Escobar might have owned it for a while,' he said.

'As to where it came before that who knows - that doesn't change the fact that we are doing so many positive stuff with it now.'

The unusual Airbnb boasts two double bedrooms with ensuite toilets and showers, as well as seats which can convert into beds.

It comes complete with walnut panelling, leather seats, gold plated shower and toilet - as well as the original fully-fitted cockpit.

While the aircraft does not have wings or engines, all other features work including the airstairs, lighting, three toilets, shower, kitchen, fridge and many of the cockpit lights.

Johnny said: 'I always wanted to have a private jet and this was an opportunity to get one - the thing that I wanted was never a plane that flew it was just having a private jet so this was perfect.

While the aircraft does not have wings or engines, all other features work including the airstairs, lighting, three toilets, shower, kitchen, fridge and many of the cockpit lights

Mr Palmer said he did a lot of the electrics himself and had a plumber, a carpenter and others involved in the process

Originally built in 1968 and fitted out as a private jet in 1981, the aircraft was still flying up until 2012 - when it made its final journey to Filton Airfield, Bristol

Mr Palmer now has regular open days where residents living nearby can come and tour the plane for a donation to local charities

'I just think they are cool - I just like airplanes. Everyone wants a private jet, right?

'On industrial estates people don't really care what you do because visually they are not very nice as they are so that gives a creative opportunity to do weird things like airplanes.

'Whereas if I tried to do this in agricultural or residential setting you just wouldn't get planning permission for it.'

The cheapest nights in the aircraft are 250 and the peak nights are 850 for the night.

Peak times are in August and it's nearly fully book the whole year.

He previously said of the second plane: 'This one will be bigger and much more impressive. And much higher and a bigger structure.'
A British hiker was hit with a huge 12,200 bill after Italian emergency rescue services saved him from an avalanche on a rocky mountain, blaming Brexit for the lofty fine.

The 60-year-old found himself in danger as he came across an avalanche on a mountain path near the San Vito di Cadore in the Belluno area of the Dolomites.

The hiker was lucky to survive, according to emergency services, who blamed the British national for failing to heed mountain warning signs urging climbers to turn back on the steep mountain.

He would have also footed a smaller bill had the ordeal happened before Britain exited the European Union, rescue services said.

The British man was hiking on the Ferrata Berti path at a height of 8,200ft (2,500m), even though there were signs in English and Italian urging hikers to turn back.

He is understood to have set off alone for the trek from Passo Tre Croci, near Cortina d'Ampezzo, on Thursday morning.

'He said he didn't see the signs warning of the danger,' Nicola Cherubin, head of alpine rescue in San Vito di Cadore, told The Telegraph.

She added: 'Rocks have been falling continually in that area for the past two months. With these landslides it is not secure. He was really afraid.'

The 60-year-old found himself in danger as he came across an avalanche on a mountain path near the San Vito di Cadore in the Belluno area of the Dolomites

Following rockfall on Monte Marcora, the Via Ferrata Berti trail is currently closed from both approaches

Rockfalls are commonplace in the Dolomites, but experts this year have sounded the alarm about a drastic increase in the number of collapses due to extreme heat.

A collapse on the Marmolada mountain, the highest mountain of the Dolomites, in 2022 sent an avalanche of snow, rock and ice downslope, killing 11 people.

At least 83 people have died on the Italian Alps between June 21 and July 23 this year, with five more going missing.

Soaring temperatures are attracting inexperienced hikers to the mountain range, causing people to get into danger as they turn up ill-equipped in unsuitable clothing and footwear.

Overcrowding of the trails has led to calls for better management and protection for the rocky environment.

After becoming panicked by falling rocks, the British hiker sounded the alarm at 3.30 pm.

A helicopter was sent to save him by the volunteer rescue service but it was initially delayed by low clouds, forcing it to make a second trip to confirm the hiker's location.

He was brought to safety and suffered no injuries, but is now being asked to pay a bill of 12,200 to the regional health service for the rescue operation because he is British.

'If someone calls because they are tired or stuck because they find themselves in a place where they shouldn't be, or if they are unharmed with no health issue, they have to pay,' a national rescue service spokesman told The Telegraph.

'If you are from outside the EU without insurance, you have to pay more.'

While non-EU nationals must pay a substantial fee if they get themselves into trouble while climbing, Italian or French hikers will only have to pay a few hundred euros.

The Ferrata Berti hike trail is officially closed from both approaches, at Cortina and San Vito di Cadore, due to ongoing rockfalls caused by a landslide on Croda Marcora.

Despite warning signs, hikers were still accessing the route.

Rescuers from San Vito and Cortina have been transported by regional helicopters to place more signs on the mountain range to block the hiking passage, making it impossible for climbers not to notice the closure.

In July, a British hiker who went missing in the Italian Alps was found dead near where he sent his final texts to friends.

Search teams spotted the body of 33-year-old Matthew Hall who disappeared on July 9 after he sent a text message to friends saying he was lost in the mountains.
This is the astonishing moment a British drug runner bragged there was 'zero f*****g risk' as he planned further smuggling missions despite an 18m cocaine drop-off attempt being thwarted by the Border Force.

Alex Fowlie, 35, helped engineer a plan to bring the vast quantity of drugs from South America on a cargo vessel across the Atlantic before dumping them in water tight bales into the English Channel and retrieving them with the aid of trackers.

But the plot did not go to plan with the drug laden inflatable boat spotted by Border Force officers, leading to three of the seven gang members being chased for 28 miles out at sea and arrested.

The trio were seen throwing the bales of cocaine into the sea before they stopped at Gwynver Beach near Sennen, Cornwall, last September.

Four of the gang members were jailed on Thursday for a total of more than 80 years, with Fowlie, who purchased the boat used, to be sentenced at a later date along with the two remaining associates.

Audio has now emerged of Fowlie boasting about how likely future smuggling missions were to succeed just three days after the dramatic failure of the cocaine drop-off.

He said: 'We can have a discussion but we're good to get a team ready. Basically we just need the fishermen and one of us go out with him and they send one of their lads down to come out and keep an eye on things, in case anything happens.

'So all we need is a fisherman with a boat, if we can get two that's great.'

Alex Fowlie, pictured, who engineered a failed 18m cocaine smuggling mission, was so confident in its success that he went on a surfing holiday in Newquay as the plot took place

Border Force Officers spotted a Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) on the horizon last September before chasing and arresting three of Fowlie's associates

In a separate voice message, Fowlie can be heard saying: 'And also there's zero f*****g risk because you keep an eye out, you've got your radars, if you see anything coming towards you just drop it back in.

'It's got its GPS and we come out with the RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), as soon as it's ashore, they load it up and take it away.'

Such was Fowlie's confidence in the original cocaine smuggling plan, he even enjoyed a surfing holiday with his partner in nearby Newquay while the drop-off was taking place.

Pictures posted to his Facebook show him posing with a surfboard on the north Cornwall beach, wearing a wetsuit and beaming widely.

He was later arrested in December 2024, three months after the cocky voice message.

National Crime Agency officers pored over CCTV footage from the harbour which showed 'suspicious-looking' meeting between gang member Peter Williams and others, inspecting boats.

Scott Johnston, 39, Williams, 43, and Spanish speaking Edwin Tabora Baca, 33, had been spotted off the coast by a Border Force vessel and were arrested on the beach after a high speed chase around the coast of Cornwall as they tried to run from the scene.

Truro Crown Court heard the conspirators had been due to collect 20 bales of cocaine from the sea after being dropped there by a cargo ship.

Truro Crown Court heard that seven conspirators organised a collection of 20 bales of cocaine from the sea after they had been dropped there by a cargo ship (pictured, clockwise from top left: Fowlie, Terry Willis, Scott Johnston, Michael May, Bobbie Pearce and Peter Williams)

Pictured: Spanish-speaking Edwin Yahir Tabora Baca, who joined Johnston and Williams in trying to outrun Border Force officers, was the seventh member of the group

National Crime Agency officers pored over CCTV footage from the harbour including this clip which showed Williams and Johnston inspecting boats

The bales were fitted with GPS tracking devices attached to Apple air tags so that they could be recovered from the sea by the smaller vessel and transported to mainland Cornwall to be offloaded and transported elsewhere in the country.

But despite the technology the three men on the boat only managed to find eleven bales but dumped them during the chase.

Six large containers containing around 230kg of 'high-purity cocaine' were later recovered from the ocean by Border Force officers and the men were arrested.

The other conspirators were arrested at later times after National Crime Agency investigators trawled through CCTV footage, phone call data and phone messages.

Fowlie, of Chichester; Bobbie Pearce, 29, of Brentwood, Essex; Michael May, 47, also of Kelveden Hatch, Essex; and Terry Willis, 44, of Chelmsford, Essex, helped plan and organise the cocaine smuggling operation and pick up.

May and Jonhston, of Havant, Hants, had denied the charge but were convicted after a trial at Truro Crown Court in June.

The other men admitted conspiracy to import Class A drugs. Willis also admitted money laundering and possessing a revolver and live ammo which were found in a rucksack in his bedroom cupboard.

Tabora Baca - who claimed to be a tourist who had accepted a boat invitation from two strangers to go fishing - was the Spanish speaking link between the higher figures in the operation and had flown into the country on several occasions.

The boat filled with 18m worth of cocaine crashed into a beach after three men were chased for 28 miles at sea (pictured)

The three men onboard the boat were caught by Border Force officers who chased them on foot

Six large containers containing around 230kg of 'high-purity cocaine' were recovered from the ocean (pictured)

But messages on his phone discussed the group's plans and shared a photo of the cocaine on the vessel.

Johnston played a significant role as he piloted the RHIB and helped dump the cocaine during the pursuit.

The other three men involved in the conspiracy - Pearce, Fowlie and Williams - will be sentenced later.

Sentencing four of the men, Judge Jame Adkin said: 'This was an international conspiracy to smuggle a large quantity of cocaine into the UK via a smuggling operation into the South West.'

The judge said two organised crime groups were involved - one in the South West involving the boat and retrieval of the drugs from the sea - and the other in Essex where the cocaine would have been taken to be cut, divided and sold on to street dealers.

Tabora Baca was jailed for 17 years and seven months and will be deported, Johnston was jailed for 24 years, Willis for 21 years and 8 months which included five years for the firearm offence, and May was jailed for 19 years.
Vladimir Putin has moved at least four heavy Tu-95MS nuclear bombers closer to Europe, says a report.

The strategic aircraft are often used to bomb Ukraine, and the report from Insider UA says they have been loaded with missiles, leading to a 'high probability' of an imminent major attack.

But, if confirmed, the move comes after Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines 'closer to Russia' after a threat of atomic war from the Kremlin dictator's close ally, Dmitry Medvedev.

The US submarines are now 'where they have to be', Trump said late on Sunday.

Putin rebased his Tu-95MS planes from Olenya air base in Arctic Murmansk region after an audacious June 1 drone strike by Ukraine.

They were also moved from Engels-2 in Saratov region amid fears of Ukrainian attacks.

They were sent to Russia's Ukrainka air base in Amur region, 3,650 miles east of Moscow, where they were considered safe from attack, but evidently some of the planes are returning.

The report: said: 'Russia has transferred bombers from the Far East closer to Ukraine. At least 4 Tu-95MS aircraft were redeployed from Ukrainka [air base] to Olenya/Engels-2. Some of the aircraft are already equipped with cruise missiles.'

Putin has moved at least four heavy Tu-95MS nuclear bombers closer to Europe, according to a new report

Russia has carried out some of its attacks on Ukraine with conventional bombs using the planes (FILE PHOTO shows cars damaged during missile strikes in Kyiv, July 21, 2025)

File photo shows a Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24M in flight

The planes are part of Russia's nuclear strike arsenal but are also used for hitting Ukraine with conventional bombs.

Meanwhile on Monday, Ukraine's domestic security service said it had demolished a Russian jet fighter and damaged four other military aircraft in a strike on Crimea, held by Russia.

In a statement, it was claimed that a Su-30 had been 'completely' destroyed with another damaged. Three Su-24 jet bombers had also been hit, according to the report.

It comes in a week when Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is due to travel to Russia on Wednesday ahead of the imposition of sanctions on the Kremlin by the US if there is no move to a ceasefire and talks about ending the war.

The initiative to meet Witkoff comes from the Putin regime, said Trump. The US president has given Putin a deadline of Friday for Russia to and end to the war.

Russia today sought to downplay Medvedev's comment when he accused Trump of bringing war closer between Russia and the US.

'Every new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,' said Medvedev, which Trump said was 'highly provocative'.

File photo shows the Russian Sukhoi SU 30 at Le Bourget airport, north of Pari, in 2001

The TU-95 strategic aircraft are often used to bomb Ukraine and Insider UA says they have been loaded with missiles leading to a 'high probability' of an imminent major attack

The reported move comes after Trump ordered two nuclear submarines 'closer to Russia' and said they are 'where they have to be'

Former Russian president Medvedev and Trump engaged in a war of words last week

But Putin's spokesman said today that it was Putin's words that mattered - not those of Medvedev, an ex-president who is now deputy head of the Russian security council.

He said: 'Listen, in every country, members of the country's leadership have different points of view on current events, have different attitudes. There are people with a hardline attitude in the US and in European countries, this is always the case.

'But the main thing, of course, is the position of President Putin. You know that in our country, foreign policy is formulated by the head of state, that is, President Putin.'

On the Trump submarine move, he said: 'It is obvious that American submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process. That is the first thing.

'But in general, of course, we would not want to get involved in such polemics in any way, we would not want to comment on this in any way.

'We are very careful about any statements related to nuclear issues. You know that Russia takes a responsible position. President Putin's position is well known. Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation.

'And, of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric.'

He warned: 'There can be no winner in a nuclear war. We do not believe that we are talking about some kind of escalation.

Trump's envoy is set to arrive in Russia on Wednesday for talks, despite the war of wards

Putin's spokesperson says the final decision on matters on foreign policy falls on Putin, not Medvedev

Donald Trump has given the Russian leader till Friday to reach an agreement to end the war

'It is clear that very complex and sensitive situations are being discussed, which, of course, are perceived by many very emotionally.'

Meanwhile, Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukraine in recent days. Russia killed seven people and injured 13 including a four month old girl.

'Russia is hunting civilians along the entire front line. Killing people. Killing children,' said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

'Deliberate FPV strikes on rescuers and medics who come to help after attacks  all of this is typical for every city or community reached by Russian drones.

'The Russian army is simply killing all living things. The world has enough power to stop this and protect people.

'We rely on strong decisions from the US, Europe, and the world regarding secondary sanctions on trade in Russian energy resources, on Moscow's banking sector.

'Ukraine expects the implementation of every agreement on strengthening protection, agreed with partners. Every day of delay leads to the loss of our people.'
Vladimir Putin's rumoured secret daughter has reportedly broken her silence on her father for the first time in a series of cryptic social media posts.

Elizaveta Krivonogikh, 22, also known as Luiza Rozova, ranted about a man 'who destroyed' her life and revealed her thoughts on the dictator's war in Ukraine.

In a string of Telegram posts, the art school graduate and part-time DJ living in Paris, alluded to 'the man who took millions of lives and destroyed mine'- in what some have interpreted as a bitter rebuke of the man believed to be her father.

The posts do not explicitly name Putin, however, in the context of widespread reports about her father's actions in the war and his identity, her words were inferred as a dig at the leader.

In another post, Luiza posted a selfie of her in a car alongside the caption: 'It's liberating to be able to show my face to the world again'.

'It reminds me of who I am and who destroyed my life,' reports Bild, which has access to the woman's private Telegram channel 'Art of Luiza'.

The young woman, who usually concealed her face in images posted to Instagram, has in recent days been pictured in a branch of the Russian cafe chain Surf Coffee.

Luiza was born on March 3, 2003, in St Petersburg and is widely believed to be the child of an affair between Putin and his former cleaner Svetlana Krivonogich.

In a string of Telegram posts, the art school graduate and part-time DJ living in Paris, alluded to 'the man who took millions of lives and destroyed mine'

In a string of Telegram posts, the art school graduate and part-time DJ living in Paris, alluded to 'the man who took millions of lives and destroyed mine'

Luiza was born on March 3, 2003, in St Petersburg and is widely believed to be the child of an affair between Putin and his former cleaner Svetlana Krivonogich (pictured)

Claims around the identity of her father were made public for the first time by the Kremlin-critical investigative project Proekt back in 2020.

Krivonogich reportedly acquired a considerable fortune after Luiza's birth under unknown circumstances and although her daughter's birth certificate omits her father's name, it mentions her patronymic 'Vladimirovna,' in a clue to her possible origins.

Luiza previously had publicly visible social media accounts in Russia, which showed her jet-setting around the globe in private jets, DJing in exclusive clubs and wearing designer clothes.

But just after Ukraine was invaded by Russia, her account was mysteriously deleted.

She has since relocated to Paris, and graduated from ICART School of Cultural and Art Management in June 2024.

When she left Russia, she wrote on Instagram: 'I can't make an extra lap around my beloved St. Petersburg. I can't visit my favorite places and establishments'.

However, over three years on from Russia's initial invasion, Luiza has remerged on social media with a completely different image.

She appears to have become more political and has spoken brazenly against the war in Ukraine - while denouncing luxury in the process.

Local reports have stated she is working at L Galerie in Bellville and Escape Albatros in Montreuil - both art galleries in Paris which host anti-war exhibitions.

Her role as a gallery manager is said to involve organising shows and making videos.

The alleged daughter of Putin has also taken up the name Elizaveta Rudnova - reportedly inspired by Oleg Rudnov, one of Putin's late cronies, in an attempt to conceal her true identity.

But her attempt to join in the Parisian anti-war chorus has not been smooth sailing.

Claims around the identity of Luiza's father were made public for the first time by the Kremlin-critical investigative project Proekt back in 2020

Luiza has since relocated to Paris, and graduated from ICART School of Cultural and Art Management in June 2024

Svetlana Krivonogikh is believed to be a multimillionaire secret lover of Putin's

Artist Nastya Rodionova, who fled Russia in 2022, issued a furious statement and cut her ties with the two galleries Luiza is associated with.

In a Facebook post, she wrote: 'It's important to say that I believe in the presumption of innocence and that children are not responsible for the crimes of their parents.

'But with the war reaching its heights it is inadmissible to allow a person who comes from a family of beneficiaries of [Putin's] regime to come into confrontation with the victims of that regime.

'We need to know who we are working with and decide whether we are ready for that. My personal answer in this case is no.'

Luiza has defended her position and wrote: 'Am I really responsible for the activities of my family, who can't even hear me?'
It was billed as a protest organised by concerned residents living near a flashpoint asylum seeker hotel in Islington.

But when masked anti-fascist activists from 'London's Antifa' descended on the Thistle City Barbican Hotel - and migrants started laughing, waving and blowing kisses from their windows - tensions quickly threatened to boil over.

The three-star hotel has become one of the focal points for anti-migrant anger after it emerged asylum seekers staying there were working illegally as delivery drivers.

The demonstration against the use of the hotel was initially organised by local residents under the banner 'Thistle Barbican needs to go  locals say no'.

The Metropolitan Police had braced itself for groups outside the local community to join amid the threat of growing anti-migrant sentiment around the country as Labour scrambles to crack down on the small boat crisis.

Several hundred protesters waved Union Jack flags and banners, with some chanting: 'Get these scum off our street.'

But a huge counter protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism, was announced beforehand, with Jeremy Corbyn - the MP for Islington North - urging activists to join.

Stand Up To Racism, who has mobilised its activists at several anti-migrant hotel protests in recent weeks, were joined by other groups including Finsbury Park Mosque and Islington Labour Party.

What appeared to be yet another anti-migrant versus anti-racism demonstration flared up when protesters from the Central London Anti-Fascists arrived at the hotel.

Posters put up across the capital beforehand by the group were titled 'Anti-Fascist Action. Kick the racists out of London. Call out by Central London Anti-Fascists.'

Anti-fascist protesters clash with police officers outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel

Anti-fascist protesters lock arms as they stand in support of refugees and against the anti-migrant protesters

Police officers detain a masked demonstrator outside the hotel amid anti-immigration protests and counter protests today

The anti-fascist demonstration was organised by Central London Anti-Fascists. Their posters feature the Antifa logo in the bottom right corner

One man could be seen doing a peace sign from inside the hotel believed to be housing migrant

The group, which set up its X account in September 2022 and has just over 3,000 followers, called on its supporters to assemble at the Thistle Hotel at 2pm on Saturday and displayed the Antifa logo in the bottom right corner of its posters.

An online Antifa group called for people to 'amplify and spread London Antifa's call', adding: 'London Antifa has called for mobilization on August 2nd to counter fascists who are planning an attack on Thistle Hotel Barbican, where many migrants are staying.

It marked a return of high-profile Antifa action whose activity has seemingly decreased from its peak in 2020.

Antifa is described as a left-wing anti-fascist political movement which emerged as a response to what they see as the rise of fascism in Europe in the 20th century. The modern movement gained momentum in the US in the 1980s.

In an intimidating tactic, they often dress all in black so they can move as one anonymous group in a 'black bloc'.

They are known to disrupt right-wing events by shouting and chanting or forming human chains to block off rivals.

Footage from the Thistle Hotel protest showed this in action.

Anti-fascist protesters, covering their faces with masks, balaclavas and keffiyehs, were seen linking arms as they faced off with the rival group.

They appeared to be forming a blockade at the front of the protest, with Stand Up To Racism activists further back in the crowd.

The rival protests group clashed outside while people believed to be migrants watched the protests from the hotel's windows, with some waving and blowing kisses at those below.

A protester holding a Union Jack stands off with police and rival protesters in Islington

Masked anti-fascist protesters march through Islington on Saturday

A masked protester seen outside the Barbican Thistle hotel in Islington during the demonstration

The Central London Anti-Fascists formed a human chain in classic Antifa style

Police officers push back anti-fascist protesters gathering in support of refugees

Anti-fascist activists gather outside the Thistle Hotel near Barbican

Nine people were arrested at the migrant hotel protest in Islington on Saturday

A protester being detained by police amid the Thistle Hotel Protest in Islington on Saturday

The group blocked a junction outside the hotel in breach of conditions, with officers being forced to push their way into the crowd to detain several demonstrators, dragging them out by their arms and legs.

Then, the group was moved from the road where officers informed them they were in breach of conditions put in place, before forming a circle around the protesters.

In one clip, police officers were seen moving into the crowd, with scuffles breaking out as they try to move an anti-fascist protester.

His supporters show their support by throwing water and other unknown objects at the police officers.

Further scuffles broke out as the anti-fascist protesters attempted to drag one of their own back as police officers managed to pull him from the crowd. He was then bundled into the back of a police van.

The Met Police confirmed to the Daily Mail that it made nine arrests at the protest - eight of whom were counter-protesters.

In forming up outside the conditioned area and marching into the junction between the two areas where protest was permitted, they were in breach of the conditions.

A counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism and supported by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and other groups including Finsbury Park Mosque and Islington Labour Party supported the migrants

A wider view of counter protesters in north London

People believed to be migrants were seen filming and laughing as protesters and counter-demonstrators clashed in the streets of Islington today

A spokesman said: 'A 22-year-old woman was arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action.

'A further three men, aged 30, 21 and 28 and three women, aged 43, 33 and 21 were arrested for breaching the Public Order Act conditions in place.

'A 21-year-old man was arrested for breaching the Public Order Act conditions in place and also for 2 x assaulting an emergency worker.'

One anti-migrant protester, a 33-year-old man, was arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence.

A student counter-protester outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel said he came because he wants migrants to 'feel safe' in Britain.

Pat Prendergast, 21, said: 'I want people to feel safe. I think the (rival protesters) over there are making people feel unsafe.

Anti-fascist protesters take part in a counter demonstration as anti-refugee protesters hold a demonstration outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in London, United Kingdom on August 02, 2025

Protesters demonstrate outside the Barbican Thistle Hotel housing migrants on August 2, 2025 in London, England

Anti-immigration protesters chanted under the banner 'Thistle Barbican needs to go - locals say no', against the use of the hotel accommodating asylum seekers

'I want to stand up in solidarity and say that, you know, we want people here. We want migrants. We want asylum seekers.'

A noticeably smaller group of protesters waved union flags and held banners outside the hotel, with one man chanting in the direction of the hotel: 'Get these scum off our streets'.

Elsewhere across the UK on Saturday, there were also protests at The Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf and The New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle.

Meanwhile on Friday, about 100 people attended a protest outside the Stanwell Hotel in Spelthorne, Surrey, on Friday, in which a packet of lit firefighters were hurled at police.

Migrant hotel protests first broke out at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex last month after an Ethiopian asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. He denies the charges.
A mother has been reindicted on murder charges over the disappearance of two young siblings 11 years ago.

Catherine Hoggle, 38, was the last person seen with her children Sarah, 3, and two-year-old Jacob before they went missing in Maryland in September 2014.

She told investigators that she dropped the youngsters off at daycare or left them with friends, but Sarah and Jacob were never found.

Hoggle was initially charged in the children's disappearance years ago, but the case was delayed after she was deemed incompetent to stand trial.

She was committed to a psychiatric facility and finally released just last month.

Prosecutors have now reindicted her, with Hoggle now facing two counts of first-degree murder.

She was arrested and has been held in custody in Montgomery County since last Friday.

Hoggle is scheduled to appear in court today at 1.30pm ET but her lawyer still claims she is not fit to stand trial.

Catherine Hoggle, 38, has been reindicted on murder charges over the September 2014 disappearance of her two young children

Hoggle was the last person seen with her children Sarah, 3, and two-year-old Jacob (pictured together) before they went missing in Maryland in September 2014

Hoggle was driving with her ex-boyfriend Troy Turner on the day their kids were reported missing. She asked to stop at Chik-fil-A to get a drink (pictured), but slipped out a different exit and disappeared. Hoggle was later found, but the kids remain missing

Her defense attorney told WDCA that he plans to challenge both her detention and the indictment.

'Ms. Hoggle was held for eight years having been judicially determined to be incompetent. Every doctor found that, every doctor agreed with that. Nothings changed,' her lawyer David Felsen told the news outlet.

Sarah and Jacob's father Troy Turner has spent the past 11 years searching for answers in his children's disappearance.

Although he reportedly declined to comment on Hoggle's arrest, he is understood to continue the fight for justice for the youngsters.

The heartbroken father spoke out last September, 10 years since their disappearance, and vowed to 'keep fighting' for his children.

'We're going to continue to do what we can do for Sarah and Jacob. We will find them or die looking for them,' Turner said.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children last September released age progression photos of the children in hopes to reignite attention to the case.

'I'm praying that the age progression photos jog somebody's memory, you know, remind them of what happened,' Turner said last year.

'We want [the photos] out there because we want people to understand that no matter what the situation is, my kids deserve to come home and deserve to be loved on and taken care of.'

'As a dad I want to have hope, and as a father, obviously, I love my kids. I want to hope that in some way they're still there.

'It's been 10 birthdays, it's been 10 Christmases, 10 Easters, 10 Thanksgivings, 10 school year starts where you go "they're supposed to be here".'

Sarah and Jacob's father Troy Turner has spent the past 11 years searching for answers in his children's disappearance. He is pictured with Jacob

Age progression photos created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children show what Sarah (left) and Jacob (right) may look like today

Hoggle previously told psychiatrists at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center that she loves her kids and thinks they're safe. Pictured, Sarah, 3, (left) and two-year-old Jacob (right)

Turner, who was in a relationship with Hoggle at the time, woke up on September 8, 2014 to find his girlfriend and their two youngest children missing.

Hoggle returned home, said she left the children at a new day care and agreed to show him the facility.

The two were driving when Hoggle asked to stop at a Chik-fil-A to get a drink and disappeared through a different exit.

Turner called the police to report that Hoggle and their two children were missing, and a search party was launched.

Hoggle was eventually found walking alone holding a missing-persons flier with her picture on it, but the children were never seen again.

When she was questioned about where her children were, she said she had left them with 'Erin' and failed to elaborate beyond that.

Hoggle had previously been admitted to the hospital twice after she was convinced someone trying to cut off her limbs and perform an exorcism on her in 2013, court records say.

Psychiatrist Danielle Robinson wrote in court filings at the time that Hoggle is 'isolative and guarded, and spends most of her time intently observing her surroundings while sitting in the dayroom.

'She has a poor understanding of most legal concepts including the purpose of a trial, the roles of courtroom personnel, her plea options and the role of evidence.'

When Hoggle (pictured with Sarah and Jacob) was questioned about where her children were, she said she had left them with 'Erin' and failed to elaborate beyond that

But her own mother Lindsey Hoggle said in an affidavit: 'Catherine understands precisely what is going on.'

Lindsey, who at the time claimed to be in daily contact with Hoggle, alleged that her daughter wanted to escape with her children because she feared they would be taken away from her.

Turner also claimed in a now-decade old affidavit that Hoggle told him she planned to remain incompetent in order to avoid going to trial.

Hoggle repeatedly tried to escape from the psychiatric hospital where she was held in custody, court records from 2016 revealed.

She allegedly ran off with a staff member's security badge at least eight times. She made it past the door of her locked unit a number of times before she was stopped.

The former waitress also looped bedsheets in her room in the hopes that she could use them to scale a fence outside the hospital.
A rioter jailed for attacking a Rotherham asylum hotel has refused to apologise to the migrants inside in a BBC documentary marking a year on from the civil disorder sparked by the Southport murders.

Ross Hart, 30, attacked a police van and air conditioning units at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on August 4 last year because he was so angry about the number of people arriving in the UK illegally in small boats.

'No way am I apologising to immigrants. Not on this planet', he said in a documentary being broadcast tonight. He also refused to condemn the rioters who set fire to the hotel.

The Holiday Inn was home to around 200 asylum seekers and it was smashed up and set alight by a mob chanting 'burn it down'.

Hart was jailed for two years and ten months having pleaded guilty to violent disorder - but has been released early on licence. He has taken part in a BBC Panorama documentary featuring three people imprisoned after riots swept the country last summer.

While two rioters said they regretted taking part, Hart was unrepentant because he believed 'something had to be done'.

He said: 'I didn't want them to die. But I wanted them gone. Enough is enough'.

Ross Hart, 30, was jailed for two years and ten months having pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Rotherham outside a hotel housing asylum seekers

Hart, pictured close to the bonnet of this van, attacked the vehicle

Hart was also shown attacking the Holiday Inn Express' air conditioning units

He denied his social media posts were racist

Rioting broke out in the aftermath of the Southport murders of three childen

He said: 'All these migrants coming over, they get the hotels, they get their food. They get everything they need to get set up. That comes out of taxpayers' money.

'People are sick of it. They are being pushed to the back of the queue. Left to go without'.

The rioter didn't take part in the arson attack on the hotel but said: 'At that time basically, the only thing people cared about then were making sure they left that hotel. Long story short: get them out'.

Hart was shown a sickening social media posts he put up saying 'Sink the lot dirty rats' with a picture of migrants in a dinghy.

'There's nowt racist about that. To me, there's nowt wrong with that, what I've put there', he said.

'You're the first person that I've met that disagrees with me. And I'm being deadly serious', he told the BBC reporter.

Hart then admitted there was 'no way on earth' he would apologise to the migrants in the hotel on the night of the riot.

The rioting followed the murders of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, by Axel Rudakubana at a Southport summer holiday club.

A 12-year-old boy has described to the BBC how his mother took him to a riot in Tamworth and she ended up in jail herself.

Amy Hodgkinson-Hedgecox says she has 'massive regret' over the decisions she made that night and was a 'bad parent' for taking her son Brady with her to a migrant hotel.

She said: 'Brady said to me. "Can we go? Can we go? I know one is happening in Tamworth. My friends are going and I want to go down".

'I said absolutely not', she said.

But Brady told Panorama: 'She finally gave in when I asked her like 100 times'.

Amy Hodgkinson-Hedgecox took her son Brady, then 11, with her to the riot

Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, who was jailed for more than two years, admits it was bad parenting to take her son, who had 'begged' her, she said

The mother-of-two, swears at the people in the hotel with her son next to her

Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, 38, was jailed for two years and three months after pleading guilty to violent disorder

The moment she was released from prison

Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, 38, was jailed for two years and three months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

She is out of prison but is on a curfew and is wearing an electronic tag.

She said: 'I was really frustrated. Everyone has an opinion but they are not making their lives easy for themselves when it comes to what they are doing to young girls in our town.

'I was just shouting to the police, like, how would you like it if your child has been videoed by them? There's a level where you should be sticking up for us as well as them.

Phil Hoban has apologised for chanting: 'Who the f*** is Allan?'.

'I was frustrated, I was really frustrated'.

She claims that migrants had been filming girls in a nearby park.

'I do think it is true. I'm not a racist at all', she said.

Her son Brady says he feels deep guilt for begging his mum to go to the riot.

'The violence was bad. They went too far. It made me feel upset but also guilty because I'm the reason she [his mother] went to prison'.

His mother, who can't leave the house between 7pm and 7am said: 'He said to me "I'm sorry" and I said you've nothing to be sorry about. I have exposed you to something I shouldn't have. It's bad parenting'.

She added: 'Social media has got a lot to answer for and personally, do I think it's gonna happen again? Yeah, absolutely I do.

'Would I attend? No, definitely not. Do I believe everything that I read on social media now? No. I really, really don't'.

A self-styled paedophile hunter from Leeds was jailed for eight months for racially abusing pro-Palestinian protesters after telling police he was only chanting 'Who the f*** is Allan?'.

Phil Hoban, 48, was a prominent figure in an anti-immigration demonstration in Leeds on Saturday, August 3, last year.

He told Panorama he regretted what he did after serving four months in jail.

'What hurt most was that I was labelled a racist', he said.

'Now I've sobered up and now I think about what I did. Now I know it was wrong. At the time I didn't think I was nowt wrong'.

He was filmed apologising to a Muslim man outside his local mosque.

'I mean it from the bottom of my heart', he said.

Southport Imam Ibrahim Hussein says he forgives those who attacked his mosque but admits he is frightened and has had to install 20 new cctv cameras

Father-of-three Hoban is the founder of Predator Exposure  a group which set up sting operations against men who made contact with fake profiles of teenage girls they set up online.

He claims more and more people they catch are now immigrants.

'Most of the people we were catching were outside hotels. We don't know if we're letting rapists and murderers in. We don't know who these people are', he said.

Southport Imam Ibrahim Hussein's mosque in Southport was attacked in the riots.

He described having to lock himself in a room with eight other people as the building was attacked.

They have installed 20 new CCTV cameras and put metal bars in the windows. He claims the mosque has been attacked repeatedly, as have cars parked outside.

But he says he forgives the rioters because 'we are all sinners'

'It is a scary time when you are labelled for what you believe', he said.
Residents of Boston's ritziest and best-known neighborhood are fuming at the city's Democratic mayor - blaming her policies for rampant open-air drug use in the upscale area.

Beacon Hill, known for its preserved early 19th century brownstones and cobblestone roads famously saved from the wrecking ball, is now facing a new crisis: an alarming uptick in drug-related incidents.

Infuriated locals have laid blame squarely with Mayor Michelle Wu, who launched an initiative to hand out free crack pipes, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia to addicts on the streets in 2022.

While Wu's administration has pitched this controversial policy as 'harm reduction,' critics have countered that all she's done is increase the permissiveness of open-air drug use in Boston.

'What in Gods name are they doing?' Michael Flaherty, who then served as Boston's at-large city councilor and the public safety chair, told the Boston Herald in 2022.

'This flies in the face of everything we have been trying to do to clean Mass and Cass up.'

The intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard in Newmarket, known as 'Mass and Cass,' is notorious for open-air drug usage.

The mayor has tried to clear out the crime-ridden area dubbed 'Methadone Mile' by trying to take down tent encampments.

Beacon Hill (pictured), known for its historic multimillion-dollar brownstones and cobblestone roads, has seen an alarming uptick in drug-related incidents over the passed few years

A Beacon Hill resident shared a photo of a man slumped over, apparently on drugs, in a wheelchair with an umbrella over his shoulders on a street corner (pictured)

But instead of isolating the drug crisis, it has amplified and spread - further plaguing the historic Massachusetts city.

Residents from across Boston have complained that the Mass and Cass crackdown has led to 'out of control' spillover into their neighborhoods.

The streets of once-pristine communities have been littered with dangerous needles.

A clean-up crew supported by the Newmarket Business Improvement District has estimated they pick up about 1,000 needles a day across Boston.

Beacon Hill, where the median housing price is $2.8million, is just one of the areas feeling the burn.

'WOW: Beacon Hill, Bostons wealthiest neighborhood, now has open-air drug use on full display,' a fed-up Bostonian wrote on a Facebook community page on Sunday.

He shared a photo sent in by 'stunned resident' of a man slumped over, apparently on drugs, in a wheelchair with an umbrella over his shoulders on a street corner.

'Even Beacon Hill liberals are fed up with Wu,' the social media user asserted.

Infuriated locals have blamed Mayor Michelle Wu (pictured), who launched an initiative to hand out crack pipes, syringes and other drug paraphernalia to addicts on the street in 2022

The intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard in Newmarket (pictured), known as 'Mass and Cass,' is notorious for open-air drug usage

Towns and neighborhoods across Boston have complained of needles scattered across their once gorgeous streets (pictured: Back Bay)

On social media, people have expressed disbelief with the jaw-dropping photo and pointed to Wu's lackluster efforts.

'Truly unbelievable how anyone, regardless of political affiliation, allows this kind of cr*p to happen,' one man wrote on X.

'Super sad to see Boston slowly turning into SF or Portland, OR. Lets hope the wealthy in Beacon Hill raise a stink about it and get rid of Wu.'

'Her free needle plan is working well; they dump them everywhere, as a free supply Wu's progressive ways are slowly bringing the city down,' another chimed in.

While the photo sparked a recent uproar, Beacon Hill residents have been noticing drug-related litter and people shooting up on the streets for years.

Katherine Kennedy, a Beacon Hill mother-of-two, described to the Boston Herald how the area had changed for the worse last September.

'I pass discarded needles as I walk my five-year-old to her public school every day,' Kennedy said.

'Having to keep needles away from my kids as I walk them to preschool is unacceptable.'

Beacon Hill, an area that generally votes blue, has long been considered one of the safest places to live in Boston (pictured: a woman outside her Beacon Hill home)

Beacon Hill, an area that generally votes blue, has long been considered one of the safest places to live in Boston.

But with the rapidly expanding substance abuse epidemic, the well-off Bostonians who live there are concerned for the area's future.

Boston Public Health Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu, who worked with Wu to launch the original 2022 initiative to address the drug crisis, recently admitted the plan must be reevaluated.

'It feels as though very little that any of us are doing to combat this drug use epidemic is actually working,' Ojikutu said at a South End community meeting at the end of June, the Boston Herald reported.

Boston's South End embodies neighborhoods including Back Bay, Roxbury and Bay Village.

Ojikutu's remark came in response to a horrifying incident in South Boston, when a four-year-old boy stepped on a hypodermic needle in a city park last month.

Mason Flynn-Bradford, who was pricked by the paraphernalia during a family party.

'It was a traumatic experience. He didn't have shoes on. He had socks on. He ran out of the tent and stepped on the needle,' his mother, Caroline Flynn, told CBS.

Beacon Hill residents have seen an alarming change in their street safety over the past few years (pictured: a homeless woman sitting near a Beacon Hill church)

While Mason is thankfully alright, his story has shone a light on the dire state of Boston's drug crisis.

'People out in the street, injecting each other in the neck  I mean, nobody wants this. And I think that we have failed in terms of the drug use epidemic,' Ojikutu continued.

'So, if thats what you want me to say, then Im admitting that we have failed.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Mayor Wu's office for comment.
Donald Trump is facing warnings from Republicans concerned he is considering a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

While the president has acknowledged his ability to pardon Maxwell for her child sex trafficking crimes, he has not signaled he intends to do so.

But after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met for interviews with Maxwell in Florida last month, there are concerns that her bid for a pardon might be gaining traction.

One senator, who requested anonymity to speak with The Hill about a potential pardon, said that Maxwell has an incentive to 'lie' to get her sentence reduced.

This lawmaker warned against trusting anything Maxwell says in her effort for a pardon.

'It's ridiculous that he would consider shortening a sentence for somebody who aided and abetted sexual trafficking as she did,' said the Republican senator.

The lawmaker described that argument as specious: 'She's trafficking underage children. I can't imagine anything she could say could nullify her heinous crimes.'

Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Markus sent a letter to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee saying that if his client receives clemency for her 20-year prison sentence, she would go before Congress to testify 'openly and honestly' about Epstein.

The panel's Chairman, Rep. James Comer, agreed to postpone Maxwell's testimony, which was initially scheduled for August 11 because her lawyers want to wait until after the Supreme Court considers their appeal of her 2021 conviction.

Republicans are warning President Donald Trump against pardoning convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell

Logistics for questioning could get complicated after Maxwell was last week moved to Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas.

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) did not publicly specify reasoning for the transfer.

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota agreed that Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi would need a strong justification for pardoning Maxwell  or even commuting her sentence.

He said, according to The Hill, that it would be 'difficult' to reason granting Maxwell any pardon or leniency considering the severity of her crimes.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her crimes, which include sex trafficking conspiracy and enticing and transporting minors to engage in criminal sexual activity.

'There have been no discussions or consideration of a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, and there never will be,' a senior White House official told the Daily Mail on July 15.

Asked on Monday this remains true, a White House official said the office 'will not comment on the existence or nonexistence of any clemency request.'

The whole saga started on July 6 when the Justice Department and FBI released a memo saying that it found in its review of the Epstein files that the child sex criminal died by suicide in prison on August 10, 2019.

It also concluded that there was no 'client list' and said no one else would be charged in relation to the crimes.

President Trump, who associated with Jeffrey Epstein in the 1980s and 90s, has acknowledged his power to pardon, but has not indicated that he is considering one for Maxwell

This sent MAGA circles into immediate fury, with some claiming a cover-up was underway and others calling for AG Bondi to be removed from her position.

Deputy AG Blanche was subsequently tasked with two-days of talks with Maxwell to find out what the Epstein confidante knew in an effort to quell Trump's base.

It's unclear yet what has come from those interviews.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she has 'no idea what to expect out' of the conversations between Maxwell and the DOJ.

'Just because she comes and gives testimony doesn't necessarily mean [she] should be given any kind of a pardon, I don't think,' she added. 'There's a lot more that has to be looked at.'
Bryan Kohberger's one hour of daily recreation in prison will be spent in a chain-link cage littered with feces and soaked in urine, according to inmate complaints.

The quadruple killer, 30, was transferred to J-Block, the notoriously restrictive long-term housing for inmates in protective custody or on death row at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, last week.

Kohberger is being held in a single-person cell, will be moved around wearing restraints and only allowed to shower every other day. According to the Idaho Department of Corrections, he will also be given 60 minutes of outdoor recreation a day.

The Idaho Maximum Security Institution, 20 minutes outside of Boise, has previously been accused of inhumane treatment by those in solitary confinement.

Inmates in isolation have said that they are kept in 'cages' during recreational time, which they described as 'large chain link-like metal boxes each man is placed into, littered with human urine and feces that have soaked into the concrete.'

In 2024, dozens organized a six-day hunger strike, claiming delays in access to medical care and horrific living conditions, as reported by the Idaho Statesman.

They said that the HVAC system had not been cleaned in decades and was clogged with garbage and human excrement.

Bryan Kohberger was moved to restrictive housing at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution last week

Inmates at the Idaho prison say that they are held in urine-soaked cages during their one hour of outdoor recreation time

The killer will be kept isolated for 23 hours a day and only allowed to shower every other day

The Idaho Department of Correction told CNN that the cages were 'recreation enclosures' and regularly cleaned. Inmates could also ask for the vents in their cells to be cleaned.

Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or appeal last month for the murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on November 13, 2022.

The prison holds the state's execution chambers, where a firing squad could have shot Kohberger had he not taken a controversial plea deal. Triple murderer Chad Daybell, who killed his first wife and his second wife's two children in 2019, is awaiting his execution at the prison.

As previously reported, Kohberger will enjoy various privileges, including access to a TV, an electronic tablet with music, and emails, potentially affording him the opportunity to communicate with morbid fans.

To keep a tablet in his cell, Kohberger will have to pay $100, according to NewsNation. A TV will also cost him $100 and provide access to cable programming.

Kohberger was moved to the prison after sentencing last month.

Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on July 23 over the 2022 murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders), Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle

Kohberger (at an earlier hearing in June 2023) will not have the chance to appeal his sentence after taking a controversial plea deal

In exchange for Kohberger admitting guilt and waiving his right to appeal, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.

However, victims' families remain divided over the legal resolution of the case.

Relatives of Chapin and Mogen supported the plea deal.

Mogen's family said in a statement: 'We now embark on a new path. We embark on a path of hope and healing.'

The family of Kaylee Goncalves have publicly denounced the outcome. Her sister, Aubrie Goncalves, 18, said in a Facebook post: 'Bryan Kohberger facing a life in prison means he would still get to speak, form relationships, and engage with the world.

'Meanwhile, our loved ones have been silenced forever,' she wrote.
A South Florida hotel is under fire after a guest filmed himself interacting at a virtual check-in station with an employee who appeared to be based overseas.

The bizarre encounter occurred at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Sunrise in Sunrise, Florida, outside Fort Lauderdale, where the male guest found himself checking in to his room via video screen.

He shared a short clip on TikTok of his exchange with the smiling receptionist, who is heard speaking with a thick South Asian accent.

In a follow-up video, the guest filmed himself checking out and confronting the the same remote worker about the arrangement.

After the virtual receptionist asked about his stay, the guest replied: 'It was all good, but I'm not happy - you took my job.'

The employee responded awkwardly, saying: 'There are some things we cannot do - we did not take your job.'

A spokesperson for La Quinta Inn, which is owned by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, would not confirm or deny to the Daily Mail whether the receptionist was based overseas.

'We are aware of this matter and are actively investigating,' the spokesperson said. 'All La Quinta hotels are independently owned and operated under franchise agreements and required to have a team member at the front desk at all times.'

The bizarre encounter occurred at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Sunrise in Sunrise, Florida, outside Fort Lauderdale, where a guest found himself checking in to his hotel via video screen

The guest shared a clip on TikTok of his exchange with the virtual receptionist, who is heard speaking with a thick South Asian accent

Video of the guest's experience quickly went viral, with critics slamming the hotel over its methods.

'Outsourcing front desk agent is WILD,' one viewer commented.

'This is getting wayyy out of hand. This is 100 percent absurd,' another wrote.

'Florida says they're pro-American but outsourcing everything,' a third pointed out.

'The price of the room is doubling and you can't even get a real front desk person anymore,' yet another added.

However, some saw the practical side of virtual receptionists and defended the hotel.

'At least it's still a human. Wait till you hear: 'Hi, I'm Sam, your friendly neighborhood AI chatbot,' one person commented.

'I think we can all agree that speaking to an upbeat Indian man ready to provide tech support is more pleasant than a rude woman at the front desk,' another wrote.

'They are in a different time zone. Maybe it's hard to find workers willing to do graveyard shifts? Not saying this is ok, just trying to decipher the "why,"' a third added.
A conman with a string of convictions including identity fraud to steal peoples homes has finally lost a 25-year legal fight against deportation to his native Zambia.

Alick Kapikanya, now 57, has been fighting deportation since his first conviction in 1992, when he was warned he could be removed from Britain.

His crimes began with attempted fraud and theft, then he progressed into being part of a gang which stole elderly peoples identities to take ownership of their homes, remortgage them and pocket the cash.

While his crimes caused misery  with victims having to mount court fights to regain their properties - Kapikanya travelled in chauffeur-driven limousines, stayed in luxury West End hotels and gambled away 170,000 in a single night.

After challenging five deportation orders, most recently from 2016, via immigration tribunals, the criminals luck has now finally run out.

In a ruling at the end of July, Appeal Court judges Lord Justice Bean, Lord Justice Peter Jackson and Lord Justice Baker ordered Kapikanya be deported.

They wrote: [Kapikanya] has been the subject of five decisions that he should be deported over a period of a quarter of a century.

The system of appeals and orders for reconsideration has served him well in enabling him to remain in the UK throughout that period.

Deportation: Alick Kapikanya, who lived the high life after being part of gang who stole identities to fraudulently take ownership of their homes, remortgage them and pocket the cash

Kapikanya was first warned he was at risk of being sent back to his native Zambia in February 1992 after he was convicted of attempted fraud.

In March 2000, after serving a prison sentence for theft, he lost an appeal against deportation, but no order to remove him from the country was ever made.

The conman was then convicted of dishonesty in 2008 and again notified of his liability to deportation.

On 12 March 2013, then Home Secretary Teresa May made a decision to deport him but he successfully appealed and was granted leave to remain until 15 April 2016.

In the meantime, Kapikanya was convicted of conspiracy to defraud in 2014, in relation to the 3.5m housing scam, and jailed for six years.

Manchester Crown Court heard he led a gang of con artists that stole the identities of elderly people across Greater Manchester and the north west. The gang secretly seized ownership of their houses and then repeatedly re-mortgaged them, the court was told.

Horrified homeowners had to fight to reclaim legal ownership of their own houses whilst Kapikanya, then of Stretford, Greater Manchester, splashed the cash on a luxury lifestyle.

Four homes were targeted in Worsley, Greater Manchester, one each in the villages of Hale and Malpas, Cheshire, and three properties owned by a couple in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. It was the eleventh time Kapikanya had been convicted of a crime in this country.

Kapikanya's gang stole the identities of elderly people in Manchester, Cheshire and Lincolnshire

Yet another deportation order was made on 3 February 2016  but he challenged removal via the Court of Appeal and his case was returned to a First-tier Tribunal.

It took another seven years for the case to be heard and Kapikanya was allowed him to remain in January 2023 based on the unduly harsh and very compelling impact on his son, who was 17 at the time.

The Home Office successfully challenged the decision in the Upper Tier tribunal, leading to Kapikanya to go to the Court of Appeal.

In the latest hearing, the Appeal Court heard he came to the UK in April 1983, aged 14, to be adopted. The adoption fell through and, the court heard, Kapikanya was 'assimilated into a religious cult'.

Now married with a 20-year-old son, at an earlier appeal hearing Kapikanya argued he was in remission from stomach cancer and was suffering from anxiety. He was described as being 'socially and culturally integrated into the United Kingdom' with 'no familial or social links with Zambia'.

Barrister Zane Malik KC argued deportation would be 'unduly harsh' on Kapikanya's son. Mr Malik added 'over and above' that the fact Kapikanya has lived in the UK for 42 years also constituted 'very compelling circumstances'.

But the panel of judges said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper should now, at last, be allowed to put the November 2016 deportation order into effect.

Describing the impact of the property fraud at the time Kapikanya was sentenced, Ben Southam, senior crown prosecutor, said: The mortgages and loans were obtained against houses they did not own, and without the knowledge of the real homeowners.

The true owners knew nothing about the loans and were caused considerable distress and inconvenience, he added.
Texas Democrats are being slammed over wild 'stunt' antics in an attempt to stop redistricting legislation that favors Republicans.

Over 50 Democratic state lawmakers fled the state over the weekend to avoid voting on a controversial Donald Trump-backed piece of legislation that could help Republicans get more power in Congress.

They hopped on a $17,000 an hour private jet on Sunday, earning the wrath of conservatives who accused them of spending an estimated $100,000 total.

It's unclear if the lawmakers used taxpayer dollars to fund their travel or if they 'solicited' outside funds from an outside group - which also has potential legal consequences.

Far-right commentator Benny Johnson wrote on X: 'Texas Republicans need to launch an emergency investigation into who paid for this seditious stunt.'

Another GOP activist added that 'bribery' should be added to the list of changes agains the Democrats who fled.

Republican State Rep. Cole Hefner accused them of fleeing because 'they know theyre losing the policy argument.'

'Hopping on a private plane to Chicago wont change the facts  they are abandoning their districts and turning their backs on Texans who need help the most,' he went on.

The Democrats are working to stall a bill that would redraw the state's congressional maps and eliminate five U.S. House seats presently held by Democrats.

It's crucial since the GOP holds a tiny three-seat majority in the U.S. House, so every seat they're able to scoop up could impact whether Trump can push his agenda through in the last two years of his second term.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington

A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed Plan is seen a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025

A private charter plane leaves Austin-Bergstrom International Airport bound for Chicago carrying Texas House Democrats busting quorum on a redistricting bill on August 3, 2025

Texas Democratic House members including State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, arrive at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport catching a private charter plane to Chicago in an attempt to break quorum on a redistricting bill on August 3, 2025. At left is State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie

And the 2026 midterm elections are just around the corner.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott promised to 'remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House' for 'abdicating the duties of their office and thwarting the chamber's business.'

He also pointed out that the funding of the private jet raises potential ethics concerns and 'bribery' charges.

'Any Democrat who solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote may have violated bribery laws,' Abbott cited according to Texas law.

Texas House Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu has solicited funds for the stunt on social media numerous time throughout the weekend, asking supporters to donate to his group's campaign account. 'Please support our efforts. Donate to @TexasHDC' Wu wrote on X.

Democrats planned to stall a vote on the legislation by the full chamber by not showing up, a procedure also known as 'breaking quorum.'

A quorum of 100 members are needed to conduct business in the Texas House of Representatives, but with a majority of Democrats fleeing the state, no work can get done.

An estimated 57 Democrats left for Illinois over the weekend, according to Caucus Chair Wu.

Democrat Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker promised to protect the Texas Democrats in his state from arrest because 'they're following the law.'

Rouge lawmakers could be fined $500 a day if they refuse to come to work, per a rule adopted in 2021 after Texas Democrats pulled a similar move to postpone another voting bill.

Abbott says his threat to remove the Democrats from their offices is rooted in Texas law.

According to a legal review by the state's attorney general, a legislator can be determined to have 'vacated office' if they intentionally break quorum.

Abbott also added that a district court 'may determine that a legislator has forfeited his or her office due to abandonment and can remove the legislator from office, thereby creating a vacancy.'

Fox News contributor Mary Katharine Ham called the Democratic mass exodus a 'tantrum.'

And other pundits were quick to slam the 'embarrassing' stunt by Democrats that swept headlines over the weekend.

California Governor and rumored 2028 presidential contender Gavin Newsom shared his take on the clash in a post on X Monday morning, writing that the 'Governor of Texas is threatening to remove democratically elected officials from office because they have refused to rig an election for Donald Trump.'

'United States of America, 2025', Newsom wrote, wrapping up his X post.

The redistricting push in Texas was originally spurred by a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice sent to state officials in July, which argued that four of the state's congressional districts were 'racially gerrymandered.'

Democrats won all four of these seats in the 2024 elections.

As a result, Trump then urged Texas Republicans to rethink their congressional maps to give Republicans a leg up in next year's midterm elections.

A comparison of the current Texas Congressional Districts, and the new proposed map

President Donald Trump waves while boarding Air Force One at Lehigh Valley International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, in Allentown, Pa.

After a hearing was held Friday on the proposed new maps, the Republicans on the Texas House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting voted to advance on a party-line vote.

Texas Rep. Todd Hunter, the Republican author of the bill pushing the new maps, described the new proposed carveouts in the following way: 'It is important to note that four of the five new districts are majority minority, Hispanic.  Each of these newly drawn districts now trends Republican,' Hunter said.

'Political performance doesn't guarantee electoral success; that's up to the candidates. But it does allow Republican candidates the opportunity to compete in these districts.'

Firebrand Democrat Jasmine Crockett faces being booted from Congress after Republicans proposed a heavily gerrymandered redistricting map that would mean she no longer lives in her district.

Crockett has made headlines numerous times in recent months as a key critic of the Trump administration, and the redistricting issue is the latest one she has spoken out on.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett testifies against the new proposed Congressional maps on August 1st, 2025

She has slammed the Texas redistricting maps as a sham that silences minority voices and keeps power in the hands of the few, diluting the voting power of Latino and Black communities.

Crockett called Trump 'Temu Hitler' in a recent interview with SiriusXM host Zerlina Maxwell, due to the president's involvement in the redistricting process.

'So what we have seen is, again, this rogue Department of Justice going out to do the bidding of this Temu Hitler,' Crockett told Maxwell in July.

Crockett also added that in her view, Trump believes that the only way to 'ensure that [he] will have no checks on [him] is if [he] can ensure that those voices of color do not have representation.'

The Texas congressional maps were already redrawn after the 2020 Census, and they are typically edited every ten years.
A three-year-old girl was rescued from a street in southeastern Brazil after she was found wandering along crying for her 19-year-old mother, who left her home to go party.

Constructions workers were repairing a street Santo Andre, Sao Paulo during the earlier hours of Sunday when they spotted the child wearing only diapers and called the Military Police.

Surveillance video footage showed the barefoot girl reaching a corner at the intersection Pero Vaz Street when she stopped as a car sped by at 1:31 am.

She stood over a manhole cover for a couple of seconds and went to cross the street when she suddenly began to cry.

'I want my mommy,' she repeatedly said.

The construction crew alerted the police and got help from local residents, who provided clothing to cover up the girl.

'She was blue from the cold,' one of the workers, Rafael Cruz, told SBT News.

'She just kept saying she wanted her mommy.'

Energy workers rescued a three-year-old girl wearing only diapers who was found walking by herself around 1:30 am Sunday in Santo Andre, Brazil after he mother left her home alone to attend a party. The 19-year-old mother was arrested and charged with child abandonment

A Sao Paulo Military Police officer sits in their vehicle holding the three-year-old girl who was rescued off a street during the early hours Sunday after energy employees spotted her crying for her mother

The child's maternal grandmother appeared on the scene about an hour after she was found.

The girl's mother did not return home until around 4am and was placed under arrest after she confessed to abandoning her daughter to attend the party.

The mother is facing one count of child abandonment.

'The woman returned home and confessed that she had left her daughter sleeping to go to a nearby funk dance,' the Sao Paulo Department of Public Safety said in a statement.

The three-year-old girl was seen on video stopping at an intersection and crying, 'I want my mommy'

Her daughter was placed under the custody of the Sao Paulo child services agency.

The mother's stepfather told SBT News that it was the first time that she had ever left the child alone at home.

'She's wrong, I agree,' he said. 'There's a child involved and she has to think about her.'
The captain of a Russian plane was forced to ask passengers to overpower a drunk and foul-mouthed flyer who threatened to 'stab' and 'kill' those on board.

The crew on a flight to Moscow were forced to make an emergency intercom call for strong men on board to assist in restraining the out-of-control passenger.

The drunk traveler had locked himself in a plane toilet to consume alcohol, but when he was forced out of the cubicle, he banged his fists on the toilet door and issued wild threats to other passengers.

'Shut your f****** face! I'm Russian, I don't give a f***!', he yelled in front of horrified passengers.

As the plane flew at 30,000ft on a six hour flight from Russian city Ulan-Ude, the crew announced: 'Attention - situation on board. We have a disruptive drunk passenger.

'Requesting several men to come to the back [of the plane] to help the crew.'

There was an immediate response from at least five male passengers on the Boeing 737-800, and it took all of them to wrestle the man into his seat and restrain him.

The thug shouted: 'Why are you showing off, you f***?! F***!'

The crew on a flight to Moscow were forced to make an emergency intercom call for strong men on board to assist in restraining the out-of-control passenger

The drunk traveler had locked himself in a plane toilet to consume alcohol , but when he was forced out of the cubicle, he banged his fists on the toilet door and issued wild threats to other passengers

As the plane flew at 30,000ft on a six hour flight from Russian city Ulan-Ude, the crew announced: 'Attention - situation on board. We have a disruptive drunk passenger'

In response, he was told: 'Grown men came over to calm you down.'

During the shouting match, the drunk man said he did not want to embarrass himself while calling passengers insulting names.

A male passenger told him: 'You've already embarrassed yourself, don't worry.'

The man implied he had some influential 'connections' on the ground in Moscow who would revenge the passengers forcing him into a seat.

He ranted: 'My guys will come for me, f***! My guys!', before threatening to wield a knife.

'B****, I'll stab you! I'm a Russian guy, f***! Where the f***? 'I don't want to kill anyone, f***! What the f***?!,' he could be heard screaming in dramatic footage.

He smashed his head during the commotion which left him with blood pouring from the wound.

Once restrained in a rear seat, he was bandaged by the crew.

The plane continued to its destination and did not make an emergency landing due to the bravery of the male volunteer passengers.

During the shouting match, the drunk man said he did not want to embarrass himself while calling passengers insulting names

The man implied he had some influential 'connections' on the ground in Moscow who would revenge the passengers forcing him into a seat

He smashed his head during the commotion which left him with blood pouring from the wound

Towards the end of the flight, and after he had sobered up, he made an apology to those on board for his foul-mouthed tirade and threats, according to local reports.

Despite this, he was met by police at Moscow's Domodedovo airport and immediately taken into custody.

It comes after two drunk friends were hauled off a plane by police after becoming 'uncontrollable' when they downed a duty-free bottle of vodka while awaiting take-off on July 24

The disruptive duo caused commotion on the flight at Leeds Bradford Airport which had been scheduled to land at Chania International Airport in Greece.

Following the confrontation, the airline confirmed the disruptors have now been banned from flying with them following the 'appalling behaviour'.
More than 50 private schools have closed or announced plans to do so this year after Labours VAT raid came into force in January.

The new 20 per cent tax on fees has hit school budgets partly due to families being priced out and leaving the sector.

New analysis shows at least 54 private schools have folded since January 1, when the tax became effective.

These include top prep schools, sixth-form colleges and those serving children with special educational needs (SEN).

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, told The Times: We remain concerned about children falling through the cracks as specialist schools are threatened or become out of the reach of the parents who have depended on them.

Among those affected was the century-old Moorlands School in Leeds, which blamed Labours tax raid on fees and other rising costs when it announced closure last month.

Also closing were nearby Fulneck School in Pudsey, and Queen Margarets School for Girls, based in Escrick, York.

In the south, Park Hill School in Kingston, Surrey, and Falcons School, in Putney, southwest London, both announced closures due to falling pupils following the tax change.

Critcis say the closures have put extra pressure on local state schools, where pupils are having to migrate.

More than 50 private schools have closed or announced plans to do so this year after Labour's VAT raid came into force in January (pictured: protesters against the tax outside the High Court this year)

Last month, it was revealed state schools in Kent received almost 100 inquiries from parents about places in just 48 hours after Bishop Challoner School announced closure.

The latest government figures show that in January, there were 582,477 pupils in independent schools in England, down from 593,486 the previous year - a sharper decline than expected.

While the number of independent schools still rose over the same period, from 2,421 in January last year to 2,456 in January this year, the increase would probably have been higher were it not for the introduction of VAT on school fees, according to sector insiders.

The Government has insisted the policy is not causing significant disruption.

It says approximately 50 mainstream private schools typically close each year anyway, due to a range of reasons.

A Department for Education spokesman said: Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise 1.8 billion a year by 2029-30 to help fund public services, including supporting the 94 per cent of children in state schools to achieve and thrive.

The number of children in independent schools has remained steady, while the most recent data shows the rate of families getting a place at their preferred secondary school is at its highest in almost ten years.

The new 20 per cent tax on fees has hit school budgets partly due to families being priced out and leaving the sector (pictured: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson)

In June parents and private schools lost their legal battle against VAT on fees in the High Court.

They argued the policy was discriminatory against children with SEN, and other special characteristics.

Independent schools support more than 100,000 children with SEN.

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has said the money raised will pay for 6,500 new teachers and other state school improvements.

However, Keir Starmer has also appeared to suggest on Twitter the money could be siphoned off to pay for housing.
A migrant mother who has received $30,000 through a Massachusetts housing assistance program is now asking for more help.

Nadine, who declined to share her last name citing deportation fears, moved to the United States from Haiti in 2021, the Boston Globe reports.

She has been living in a subsidized three-bedroom apartment in Dorchester, regarded as Boston's most diverse neighborhood, with her four-year-old son for the past year.

Nadine received $30,000 in aid through Governor Maura Healey's HomeBASE emergency shelter program which can be used towards monthly rent payments, security deposits, associated broker's fees, furniture purchases and more.

HomeBASE offers recipients an up to two-year rental subsidy, but Nadine has claimed her funds ran out in just 10 months and she is now on the brink of homelessness.

She lost her job as a home health aide in April and her boyfriend is no longer residing in the home, making it hard for her to cover her $1,000 share of the $3,000 monthly rent.

She has now turned to a refugee resettlement organization for help, claiming that HomeBASE 'was a dead end for me'.

But critics are lashing out at her public cry for more government assistance, alleging that Nadine received more support from the state than most Massachusetts families ever will.

Nadine, who declined to share her last name citing deportation fears, moved to the US from Haiti in 2021. She has been living in a subsidized three-bedroom apartment in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood with her four-year-old son (pictured together) for the past year

Governor Maura Healey (pictured) declared a state of emergency in the shelter system in 2023

HomeBASE recipients are required to dedicate at least 30 percent of their monthly income towards their rent. The program will pay the remainder.

The program will provide $30,000 over the course of a two-year period, but in cases like Nadine's the money isn't lasting that long.

Families can contribute a larger percentage of their monthly income towards rent if they so choose, which Nadine suggests could stretch the stipend further.

'HomeBASE had to pay a bigger share, so the money went out a lot quicker,' she told the Globe of her situation.

The program intends to move families out of emergency assistance shelters, but volunteers and shelter operators have suggested creativity is required to make the funds last.

They allege that many HomeBASE families use up their stipend and are forced to look for new accommodation before they have stable income or approved work permits.

Taxpayers, however, are seemingly not sympathetic to the migrants' cases with some wondering why American citizens are not afforded the same benefits.

Disabled veterans receive an annual payment of $2,500 from the state under the Hero Act, according to the Fall River Reporter. But those funds are only provided to veterans who are blind, paraplegic, or have a disability.

Massachusetts veterans do get preference in permanent housing, but families with young children - even if they are in the country illegally - reportedly receive priority in the emergency shelter system.

Similarly, families in the state wait an average of three years and three months to receive subsidized housing, USAFacts reports. Massachusetts' average wait time is a full 12 months longer than the nationwide average.

Despite the criticisms, state housing office authorities are seemingly standing by the HomeBASE program, which they claim is 'cost-effective'.

'HomeBASE has been critical in helping thousands of families leave the shelter system in the past year alone, which is an important part of how we have been able to reduce the size and cost of the shelter system,' a housing office spokesperson told the Globe.

HomeBASE received $57.3million in the 2026 budget, a significant cut from the $59.4million the program was awarded in 2023 - the year Healey declared a state of emergency in the shelter system.

Haitian migrants are helped by staff members at Immigrant Families Services Institute in 2023 to register so they can be connected with services like job opportunities and housing

An influx of migrants have made their way to Massachusetts in recent years, many of whom are enrolled in the state's Emergency Assistance migrant-family shelter program.

Data published in January this year revealed the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities recorded 316 'serious incident' reports at hotels, congregate sites, scattered sites and co-shelters within the program since 2022.

After the disturbing incidents were revealed, Democrat Governor Healey downplayed the horrific crime acts, alleging the 'vast majority of folks' in the program are complying with rules.

She also claimed migrant children were attending school and that 'many' of the adults accepted in the program are working.

'Those who've come through immigration most of them have received work authorizations and are also working,' Healey said. 'And so relative to that number, the instances have been very few.'

Healey noted that more than 50,000 people have moved through the program, whose shelters are meant to house homeless pregnant women and families with children, over the last three years.

'But I take every, every - and I want my team to take, I want shelter providers to take - every incident seriously,' she said in January.
A British couple on holiday were left horrified after their son was put on a different flight and sent to a different country this morning.

The incident occurred after they were separated from him in a busy airport in Menorca, Spain, ahead of their scheduled Tui flight back to London Stansted.

Police checked CCTV cameras and discovered the 15-year-old had managed to get past security and board a flight heading to Milan Malpensa Airport instead.

The boy's mum is now flying to Italy later today to bring him back to the UK.

Spanish police confirmed this afternoon they had helped locate the youngster after he became separated from his mum and dad.

A well-placed source said: 'They were due to catch Tui flight BY5107 back to London Stansted Airport this morning but became separated.

'The boy's parents ended up reporting him missing, and that led to police intervention.'

A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca said: 'Officers checked cameras in the departures area and saw the teenager had managed to get onto a flight to Milan.

The incident occurred after they were separated from him in a busy airport in Menorca, Spain

'The airport had already activated its missing child alert system, but it was deactivated after it was confirmed the lad was on his way to Italy.'

It was not immediately clear this afternoon how the youngster, who, according to local reports, may suffer autism, managed to board easyJet flight U23762, which left Menorca around 9.25am this morning, without a valid ticket.

The Tui flight was due to leave at 10.25am local time and ended up departing 45 minutes behind schedule.

One airport insider suggested the boy could have evaded the normal security checks in place after the boarding gate had already closed and staff checking passports and tickets had left their posts.

Airline staff are said to have realised a passenger without the proper ticket was on board during the flight.

The British family at the centre of this morning's drama have not been identified.

It is not known whether they were travelling with other children, and exactly where in the airport, and how the teenager became separated from his parents.

An easyJet spokesman said: 'We are investigating with the airport and our ground handling provider at Mahon how a young passenger was able to travel unaccompanied on the wrong flight to Milan this morning.

The boy ended up boarding an easyJet flight to Italy after his parents lost sight of him at the airport

'The passenger was met by our team and the local authorities in Milan and we have provided travel arrangements for a family member to meet them today. We remain in touch with the family to offer our support.

'easyJet works closely with all of our airports to ensure the safety and security of all passengers.'
The majority of the aid sent to Gaza is being intercepted by armed militants and desperate civilians before it reaches its intended target, official figures show.

Data from the UN shows that just 14 per cent of the pallets collected at the Gaza border arrived safely at their destination.

The rest (86 per cent) were intercepted  'either peacefully by hungry people or forcefully by armed actors, during transit in Gaza', the UN said.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has previously accused armed militias of looting the aid convoys at gunpoint.

Figures show that of the 29,885 aid pallets collected for delivery in Gaza between mid-May and last weekend, 25,703 were taken en route.

It means only 4,182 pallets containing vital supplies intended for Gaza's desperately hungry inhabitants made it safely to the destination.

The UN is unable to break down how much of the missing aid  equating to 23,353 tons in the last two and a half months  has been snatched by Hamas militants, or taken by some of the more than two million people living in Gaza's warzone.

But the figures underline the gravity of the humanitarian crisis with both Hamas and Israel blaming each other.

Palestinians rush to collect aid dropped by parachutes

Hungry Gazans scramble to get food. At least 175 people  including 93 children  have now died from starvation in Gaza since the war began, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry

Food is distributed to Palestinians as both Hamas and Israel blame each other for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Charities operating in the disaster zone last night laid bare the extent to which Gaza's civilian population was struggling.

Sarah Davies, who is based in Jerusalem for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said: 'Regardless of how many trucks enter Gaza, the critical issue is whether aid actually reaches the people who need it.

'Right now, that is not happening at the scale required.

'At the Red Cross Field Hospital, we are treating more patients showing signs of malnutrition, which delays recovery and particularly affects children's development and wellbeing.

'We are also facing challenges in replenishing basic medical items and consumables at the rate they are being used. Given the rising number of weapon-wounded patients, materials such as bandages, IV fluids, surgical gloves and other essentials are being depleted rapidly.

'We've seen a significant increase in the number of patients arriving after being wounded who tell us they were injured while attempting to access food at distribution points. Some tragically did not survive, or are declared dead on arrival.

'We have consistently emphasised that bringing aid into Gaza is only one part of the equation. The aid must be able to be moved safely and swiftly to reach vulnerable patients in hospitals, the elderly, children and pregnant women. That is not happening nearly enough today.'

A spokesman for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its health facilities in the region had received 'hundreds of people wounded or killed while simply trying to find something to eat'.

They said: 'Very little food is entering the Gaza Strip, nowhere near enough to feed two million people.

'The few boxes that do enter rarely make it to people in need. And those that manage to reach people in need are systematically accompanied by bloodbaths, either from the chaos of the situation itself, or because Israeli forces and US security contractors are shooting at crowds.

'Regardless of where and how this massive loss of life is happening, regardless of who is pulling the trigger, the conditions of desperation and suffering that we are witnessing first-hand in Gaza have been engineered by Israeli authorities against its obligations as occupying power, which include the obligation to ensure humanitarian action is protected.

'We need aid to be allowed in, at scale, with guarantees that convoys will reach people in need safely, and we need a full return to the UN-led independent humanitarian mechanism.'

At least 175 people  including 93 children  have now died from starvation in Gaza since the war began following the Hamas attacks on October 7 2023, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.

Data shows the vast majority (98.6 per cent) of the pallets contain food. The remainder of the aid comprises fuel, health supplies and other forms of nutrition.

Most of the aid (90 per cent) comes from the UN's World Food Programme, with the World Central Kitchen (6.5 per cent) and Unicef (2.1 per cent) among the next biggest suppliers.

Hospital officials in Gaza said at least a further 23 Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces as hungry crowds sought out food.

Witness Yousef Abed described coming under what he called indiscriminate fire, looking around and seeing at least three people bleeding on the ground.

He said: 'I couldn't stop and help them because of the bullets.'

The UN reported 859 people were killed near aid sites from May 27 to July 31, and hundreds more have been killed along the routes of UN-led food convoys.
The boxer whose punches stopped Princess Annes kidnapper has told of his outrage after the offender was set free, saying: I should have hit him harder.

Ronnie The Geezer Russell, 77, was speaking of his anger over the release from Broadmoor Hospital of very dangerous Ian Ball.

The Daily Mail revealed on Saturday that Ball, also 77, had quietly been freed, despite remaining unrepentant for the March 1974 night when he shot four men on The Mall in London, near Buckingham Palace.

Happy to kill in his quest to hold Princess Anne, then 23, for a 3milllion ransom from the Queen, the loner had not reckoned with 6ft 2in, 17 stone Mr Russell, driving past.

The former boxer was undeterred by Balls threats to shoot, and punched him three times over a terrifying few minutes, before police arrived mob-handed and bundled the kidnapper to the ground.

Now Ball is not only free but staging a bizarre intensifying campaign to have his conviction overturned, publishing a book as well as flying to Barbados and Japan on holiday with saved benefits money.

Ronnie Russell was presented with the George Medal for defending Princess Anne in an attempted kidnap in 1974

Mr Russell, pictured here in 1974, said if he could go back he would 'hit Ian Ball harder'

Living in a west London hostel, he claims the kidnap was a hoax despite admitting attempting to murder two policemen and the kidnap plot at the Old Bailey in May 1974.

Last night Mr Russell - who five years ago had to sell the bravery medal he was awarded - told the Daily Mail: I cant believe Balls been released, its ridiculous.'

I should have hit him a bit harder. Am I worried he might come and find me? Lets go further - give him my address, and Ill go one better this time.

Hes saying now None of it ever happened, there was supposed to be no gunpowder in the bullets? Its absolutely impossible, because it did happen.

Ian Ball pictured on a park bench in west London this year after being released from the mental hospital in 2019

He didnt come out with all that when he was sentenced at the Old Bailey - I was there, watching him plead guilty. He should be recalled to Broadmoor.

Mr Russell was aged 28 and driving a cleaning firm van down The Mall when he saw the bloody chaos erupting around Princess Annes Royal limousine, broken glass everywhere. Ball had a gun in each hand, and was using them.

Thinking, as he later said, Thats a liberty - he needs sorting, Mr Russell ran over and punched Ball in the head, but it was a glancing blow because the gunman was turning to fire at him, his resulting shot smashing a taxi windscreen.

Mr Russell ran to the other side of the limousine.

Mr Russell said last night: I was lifting Princess Anne out of the car by her forearms, saying Now were going walk away, and hes going to have to go through me to get to you I was a big lad.

Princess Anne and her then husband Captain Mark Phillips, who was present during the attempted kidnapping

Ian Ball had blocked the princess's car with his own as it drove along the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Mr Russell, initially thought it was a road rage incident but rushed to Anne's assistance when he realised what was happening

Mr Russel, second from right, in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace after the incident, received a special message from the Queen

But Ball came round the car, and her husband Captain Mark Phillips pulled her back in. When I turned, he was stood there with his gun pointed at me (hed broken a car window with the other one, and it was on the floor), shouting Come on Anne, youve got to come.

Thats when I decided it was going to be me, or him. I had to hit him first, and harder.

I was quite prepared to sacrifice myself for a member of the Royal Family.

Mr Russells final pair of massive punches did the trick - I think I would have knocked a tree down - and Ball began 45 years in Rampton then Broadmoor secure mental hospitals.

Ball paid thousands to publish his autobiographical novel To Kidnap a Princess through London-based self-publishing company Publish Nation Limited, owned by David and Gwendolyn Morrison.

Mr Russell said: When Ball was put away "at Her Majestys pleasure" we were all sure hed never be out. I cant see any reason why hes been released, why a publishing company agreed to print his autobiography - or how come hes had benefits to save the money to go to Barbados.

Im going to Barbados later this year, but thats because I worked for it. I had to sell my medal. Hes been mollycoddled, and its been too easy for him.

In 1974 Londoner Mr Russell, who since retired to the west country, was invited to Buckingham Palace to be decorated.

Royal bodyguard James Beaton, shot three times, was awarded the George Cross, journalist Brian McConnell and Annes chauffeur Alex Callender, both shot in the chest, the Queens Gallantry medal - and PC Michael Hills, shot in the stomach, and Mr Russell both got the George Medal.

Mr Russell, a youthful acquaintance of the gangster Kray twins, remembered: The Queen went This medal thanks you as the Queen of England - I want to thank you as Annes mother. That was a touching moment.
Two female prisoners have died just days apart at the same jail where notorious killers Lucy Letby and Constance Marten are being held.

The first inmate at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey died on July 28 and the second passed away just three days later on July 31.

The deaths, which are being treated as unexplained, have caused concern among prisoners.

A prison insider told The Mirror: 'It's so sad what's happened here today. There is no proper healthcare at all.

'That's two in less than two days. This woman that died last night, she was really young and she was detoxing.'

HMP Bronzefield houses some of the UK's worst female offenders including Beinash Batool who was found guilty of murdering her stepdaughter Sara Sharif last year.

An investigation into both deaths has been launched by Sodexo, the private company which runs the prison.

Surrey Police are also carrying out their own probe.

Evil nurse Lucy Letby (pictured) is locked up at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey

The first inmate at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey died on July 28 and the second passed away just three days later on July 31 (file photo)

Constance Marten (pictured) is being held at HMP Bronzefield after being convicted of killing their baby

A spokesperson for the force said: 'We were called to HMP Bronzefield in Ashford around 4.30pm on July 28, following a report of the discovery of the body of a prisoner.

'The death is being treated as unexplained, and an investigation is underway.

'It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement at this time.'

Sodexo added: 'The next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with the family.

'All deaths in custody are investigated by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, and therefore we are unable to comment further at this stage.'

NHS England, who commission healthcare services at the jail, said they were 'concerned' by the two deaths.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: 'We are deeply concerned by reports of two deaths at HMP Bronzefield in recent days.

'While we are unable to comment on individual cases, NHS England is working with the healthcare provider and HMPPS to fully understand the circumstances and will ensure all appropriate action is taken.'

Beinash Batool (pictured), 31, was locked up for life with a minimum of 33 years for murdering her ten-year-old stepdaughter Sara Sharif

HMP Bronzefield is a privately run prison for female inmates in Surrey

Sara (pictured) suffered more than 70 fresh injuries and 25 fractures after her father and stepmother battered her to death at their home in Woking, Surrey

The deaths at HMP Bronzefield follow reports that Letby and Batool have become pals behind bars and spend time playing Uno together.

The child killers are said to while away the hours in their comfortable cells with endless rounds of the popular card game.

Letby, 35, is serving life for murdering seven infants and trying to kill seven others while working as a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Meanwhile, Beinash Batool, 31, has been locked up for life with a minimum of 33 years for murdering her 10-year-old stepdaughter Sara Sharif.

She joined Letby behind bars in December last year, after the former nurse was jailed in August 2023, with both held on Unit 4 of the 527-inmate prison.

It has been claimed the heinous pair also spend much of their days in each other's cells as well as in the kitchen, making cheese toasties and chatting.

But it is their taste for Uno - where users play snap with coloured cards, shouting 'Uno' when they have one left - which has even inmates at Europe's largest female prison deeply unsettled, it has been reported.

A source told The Sun the pair have allegedly become tight: 'It's a grim spectacle. They spend ages at the table playing and get really into it.

'People are angry, but staff have to do what they can to keep prisoners happy.'

They both have enhanced prisoner status, it has been claimed, the most advanced tier of an incentives scheme for inmates, denoting the best behaviour behind bars.

Such prisoners are afforded more privileges, like wearing their own clothes, more visits, more money or a TV in their cell.
An Alabama social worker who left a three-year-old in a roasting car for five hours has been charged in connection with his death - and is already out of jail on bail.

Kela Stanford, 54, was taken into custody on Friday after a toddler in her care, KeTorrius Starkes Jr., was found unresponsive in a vehicle parked outside her Birmingham home on July 22.

KeTorrius, nicknamed KJ, was in his fastened car seat in the vehicle, which was off and had the windows rolled up. He was declared dead 30 minutes after he was found.

The temperature inside the car likely exceeded 150 degrees, according to his family.

Before his tragic death, Stanford, a Department of Human Resources contract worker, had taken him to a supervised visit with his father, KeTorrius Starkes Sr.

She was supposed to take KJ, who was in temporary foster care, to daycare after the visit - but the little boy never made it.

Instead, Stanford reportedly stopped at a grocery store and tobacco shop before returning to her house, according to a lawyer hired by Starkes Sr.

Stanford was charged with leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm, Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr announced.

KeTorrius Starkes Jr., was found unresponsive inside a scorching vehicle on July 22. He died about 30 minutes later

Kela Stanford, 54, was arrested Friday after being identified as the social worker who had the toddler in her care that day

She was booked into Jefferson County Jail Friday morning but was released on a $30,000 bond soon after, records reviewed by FOX54 showed.

Stanford, who was charged with a Class B felony, could face two to 20 years behind bars.

'This is a terrible tragedy that was completely avoidable and unnecessary. Our condolences go out to Ketorriuss family,' Carr said.

The family's attorney, Courtney French, previously told ABC News KeTorrius' death was 'a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy.'

'Based upon a preliminary investigation, with the current extreme outside temperatures and the heat index of 108 degrees, the interior temperature of the car where KJ was trapped likely exceeded 150 degrees,' French said.

Stanford was terminated after the child's death, the Alabama Department of Human Resources said.

'The provider has terminated their employee. Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances,' the agency said in a statement.

KeTorrius, nicknamed KJ, was still in his fastened car seat in the vehicle, which was off and had the windows rolled up

It is unclear why the boy had been living with a temporary foster family.

KJ's family has called for the employee to face further consequences.

His aunt Brittney Johnson said his death was caused by 'neglect.'

'I feel personally that he was neglected and that's the true cause of his death,' she told Local 12.

Starkes Sr. spoke to the press about his son and said: '[He] knew how to count, knew his colors three years old, knew all the animals. I'm talking about he was very intelligent. He was just joyful.'

Meanwhile, several Alabama politicians issued statements in support of the boy's family.

Just before KJ was found dead, he had seen his father, KeTorrius Starkes Sr. (pictured), at a supervised visit that Stanford took him to

'As a mother and as the Senator for the district where this tragedy happened, I am devastated by the death of little KeTorrius Starks Jr.,' state senator Merika Coleman said, as reported by CBS42.

'We need answers, and we may need to examine state law to make sure this never happens again. My prayers are with his family.'

The Birmingham Police Department previously told Daily Mail Stanford was questioned and cooperated with the investigation.

Daily Mail contacted the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office for comment.
An energy magnate has accused his business partner of spreading rumors about him being a swinger in their fancy Colorado country club so he could steal his job overseeing $3billion in oil reserves.

Michael Duginski, co-founder and CEO of Sentinel Peak Resources, was fired by his own company's board in May after he was accused of 'exhibiting unacceptable behavior in the workplace.'

But in a lawsuit filed July 28, Duginski said the false claims allegedly came from his jealous co-founder George Ciotti, who replaced him as CEO of the Denver-based energy firm last month.

'Mr. Ciotti wanted to be the CEO of Sentinel Peak Resources, was disappointed not to be considered Mr. Duginski's successor, and therefore initiated a sham investigation into Mr. Duginski to create a vacancy for the role he coveted,' said the lawsuit, seen by Business Den.

Duginski claimed in the suit that he realized what had happened at the Glenmoor Country Club in Cherry Hills Village when other members started inquiring about his 'lifestyle.'

He said he has lost business opportunities 'as colleagues within his community and industry now have misconceptions about his character.'

Michael Duginski filed a lawsuit accusing his business partner of spreading false rumors about him being a swinger at their country club

Duginski and George Ciotti, pictured in 2017, co-founded the energy firm in Denver in 2012

'Mr. Ciotti had been spreading untrue rumors about Mr. Duginski in the first part of 2025, specifically that Mr. Duginski and his wife are swingers,' the lawsuit read.

'Mr. Ciotti shared the same information with executives and employees at SPR. This accusation is untrue, and Mr. Ciotti knew it was false but wanted to harm Mr. Duginski's reputation.'

Duginski said the company was doing well and considering a possible sale when he was handed a memo in December that stated a probe had uncovered 'a concerning level of inappropriate behaviors that is putting the company at risk.'

He said he was not informed what he had done wrong as he was placed on leave, according to the lawsuit.

Duginski had still reportedly not been told what the claims against him were until April, when an independent investigator interviewed him about the issue but still kept the questions vague, per the court filing.

The ousted CEO said he then received a letter from the board saying the probe on his behavior concluded 'there are sufficient grounds to end your employment for cause.'

Duginski claimed in the suit that fellow members of the Glenmoor Country Club in Cherry Hills Village started inquiring about his 'lifestyle'

Duginski sued the company and also his co-founder for defamation. Duginski's wife Jennifer is pictured

Duginski said in his lawsuit that he asked the company for a copy of the probe's results but never received one.

Sentinel Peak owns $3billion of oil reserves mostly in California.

Duginski named Sentinel Peak as a defendant and also sued Ciotti for defamation.

He asked for $650,000 in back wages, $3 million that he invested in Sentinel Peak, and the unknown value of his company stock.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Sentinel Peak for comment.
Podcaster Candace Owens explained to journalist Tucker Carlson that President Donald Trump personally called her to ask her to stop pursuing her story questioning the gender and identity of France's first lady Brigitte Macron.

Owens continues to pursue reporting on her podcast that digs into a long-standing conspiracy theory that Macron's wife was born a man under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux and then transitioned to become a woman.

'I was called by Trump in February,' Owens told Carlson in a podcast interview released Friday, noting that the phone call took place after Emmanuel Macron had visited Trump at the White House.

Owens said that the request first came from someone at the White House who was 'pretty high up' who urged her to stop talking about Macron's wife.

She said she was insulted by the request, and told the person at the White House that she was not going to do it.

Trump later phoned her personally to talk about the issue, she said, and said that Macron pulled him aside on his way to his car to ask him about whether he knew Owens.

She expressed her shock at the request.

'Emmanuel Macron personally flew to DC and asked Trump to ask me to shut up, to just stop speaking about his wife,' she told an amazed Carlson during the interview.

Donald Trump speaks privately with Emanuel Macron at the White House

Conservative podcaster Candace Owens launched a six hour investigation into the truth behind the conspiracy theory about Brigitte Macron's gender

Trump, she said, was confused by the request.

'He sounded very confused. He said he was very confused when a leader of the leader of France took him aside during negotiations for Ukraine and Russia to inquire about whether or not he knew Candace Owens,' she said.

Owens first revealed additional details of the call in a podcast episode of her own, reflecting that Trump was very flattering.

'You must be a very powerful person Candace,' Owens revealed that Trump told her, but said that her reports were distressing Macron's wife.

'She's old and this is really, really impacting her,' she said, Trump said. 'I saw her up close and she looks like a woman to me, I had dinner with her at the top of the Eiffel tower.'

Owens said she expressed her trepidation to the president's request and replied, 'respectfully Mr. President, it's not my fault that he married somebody with a p**is.'

Trump said he was working with Macron to end the Ukraine war and that it would be very helpful for him to bring peace if she agreed to stop talking about his wife's gender.

Owens said she agreed to dial back her attention on the story for a while, but that the president seemed to want a bigger commitment that she could not give.

French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd R), his wife Brigitte Macron (R), US President Donald Trump (2nd L) and his wife US First Lady Melania Trump (L) pose for a photograph ahead of a working dinner

President Donald Trump, right, shakes the hand of France's President Emmanuel Macron during a joint press conference in February

The White House declined to discuss private conversations with the president 'that may or may not have happened,' White House communications director Steven Cheung told the Daily Mail.

Macron and his wife filed a lawsuit against Owens in the United States in July, led by U.S. lawyer Tom Clare, criticizing Owens for her 'outlandish, defamatory and far-fetched fictions' that Brigitte Macron was born a man 'to promote her independent platform, gain notoriety and make money.'

A representative for Owens said she would not back down to a pair of foreign leaders trying to 'bully journalists.'

'Candace Owens is not shutting up,' the statement read. 'This is a foreign government attacking the First Amendment rights of an American independent journalist.'

Owens first focused on the story when she was working as a podcaster for the Daily Wire media platform and pursued it further as the Macrons and their representatives continued to try and silence her.

After leaving the Daily Wire, Owens published a six-hour feature series detailing all of the evidence she and other journalists in France had gathered to question the gender and identity of Brigitte Macron.

The claims went viral and only grew more popular after it spread throughout the podcast community, including on podcaster Joe Rogan's show.

'Macron's a man. Yeah, Brigitte Macron is a man, she got me hook line and sinker,' Rogan said in March referring to Owens' series.

Podcaster Joe Rogan has stated that Owens' investigative series on the matter is compelling

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) claps with his wife Brigitte Macron (R) at an event

Rogan revisited Owens' claims in May after a video clip of the first lady shoving the French president in the face on their plane went viral.

'I think she's right, obviously I don't know ... Macron is married to a man, a man who bitch-slapped him in a private jet,' he laughed.
A couple claim their historic 20-bed mansion that they bought for just 9,000 has become unsellable - despite it now being valued at 1.2million.

Fashion designers Charles and Patricia Lester MBE, who have made clothes worn by stars such as Barbara Streisand and Adele, originally bought Llanfoist House in Wales in September 1971.

The stunning Grade-II listed country house, that is believed to date back to 1690, has since sky rocketed in value - but the couple have failed to sell it even after slashing 350,000 off the asking price.

The couple say they have been stuck in limbo for decades due to regular landslides and leaks from a canal running adjacent to their home.

The canal is located around 70ft above the property at the top of a steep bank and has caused repeated serious leaks over the decades.

Moreover, they were nearly killed by a devastating landslide in 1975 and another disastrous one also took place in 2014.

Now Mr and Mrs Lester, who are aged 83 and 82, claim the issues have not only damaged their mental and physical health, but made their home virtually unsellable.

Mr Lester said: 'We have been trying to sell the house for the last ten to twelve years. It has ruined our retirement.

Fashion designers Charles and Patricia Lester MBE, who have made clothes worn by stars such as Barbara Streisand and Adele, originally bought Llanfoist House in Wales in September 1971

The stunning Grade-II listed country house, that is believed to date back to 1690, has sky rocketed in value and is now worth 1.2million

The couple have so far failed to sell the house even after slashing 350,000 off the asking price

'We were going to retire to a home that we had built ourselves in west Wales.

'It was by the sea and it was built for old people. An old couple could have lived in and run it, while still staying in a stunning location.

'We had been working on it since the 1990s - completely rebuilding it. If you give two designers a blank sheet of paper, you get carried away.

'Sadly, we eventually had to sell it. It was heartbreaking.'

Their house, which is set in six acres of stunning grounds, was once the home of Crawshay Bailey, the MP for Newport and aa and pioneer of the coal industry.

But the couple say they have both developed heart issues and years of 'sleepless nights' at being stuck in a house too grand for an elderly couple to maintain.

They had to accept a low offer of 850,000 for the property - nearly half a million below the house's 1.2million valuation - to have a chance at selling.

But even that fell through after the couple failed to find a firm that would certify the property as being safe.

Mr and Mrs Lester, who are aged 83 and 82, claim the issues have not only damaged their mental and physical health, but made their home virtually unsellable

A canal is located around 70ft above the property at the top of a steep bank and has caused repeated serious leaks over the decades

Pictured: The aftermath of the devastating landslide in the 1970s

Mr and Mrs Lester said they blamed the Canal & River Trust (CRT), which took over the state-owned British Waterways in 2012.

They claim the trust has been negligent in its maintenance of the canal and say they're complaints haven't been taken seriously over the decades.

Mr Lester, who is originally from Banbury in Oxfordshire, recalled the worst landslide in 1975, in which he and his wife were almost killed.

He said: 'We heard a noise and came out of the house to see great jets of water coming out of the bank.

'A mass of 20,000 tonnes or so of water headed straight for us, bringing a tremendous amount of rocks and trees streaming towards where we were standing. I remember my body just froze.

'Luckily, the biggest trees came down first and their roots hit a wall and formed a sort of dam and stopped us from getting washed away.'

He claims maintenance conducted by the CRT - then British Waterways - had turned a once stable canal into a death trap.

He added: 'The canal was closed in 1960. Back then, it was an extraordinary piece of engineering and there had never been a collapse in its 200 year history.

'That is how it was when we bought it.

Mr and Mrs Lester said they blamed the Canal & River Trust (CRT), which took over the state-owned British Waterways in 2012

The house, which is set in six acres of stunning grounds, was once the home of Crawshay Bailey, the MP for Newport and aa and pioneer of the coal industry

Pictured: The beautiful grounds around the house which its owners have said has become unsellable

'But then they dredged it for boats with modern propellers and they lined the canal with clay. British Waterways kept working their way down - dredging it deeper.

'We have had all our problems since then.'

According to Mr Lester, the couple complained to the CRT around the time of that incident, five decades ago, but he claimed poor maintenance practices continued.

He added: 'In the major landslide, the canal's safety gates hadn't worked because they had rotten away.

'Afterwards, they continued to do all sorts of things which any competent engineer would tell you are terrible ideas.

'They put thick concrete at the bottom of the bank, with concrete slabs on the sides. They didn't even put any seals on the joints!'

In 2014, deep cracks appeared once again in the banks above the house.

'One of our engineers said that if the canal came down it could sweep us away', Mr Lester said.

Mrs Lester, who is originally from Buckinghamshire, said: 'I still suffer from sleepless nights. Can you imagine what would happen if it went in the middle of the night?

The stunning Grade II listed Country House is believed to date back to around 1690 and was divided up in the 1920s

Pictured: The aftermath of the most recent collapse

Designers Charles and Patricia Lester, who have made clothes worn by stars such as Barbara Streisand and Adele

'When something as big as the collapse happens and you know it could happen again, it makes you relive the whole thing again and again.

'I think about it every night when I go to bed. It's a nightmare. You become really really stressed, not knowing if you're going to be bankrupt or even killed.

'It takes your life up completely.'

The Lesters have previously attempted to took the CRT to court, using their housing insurance policy which covered legal costs of up to 100,000.

Mr Lester added: 'They took on a top legal firm against us because they couldn't afford to lose. If they did, it would set a precedent all over the country.

'They just ran us out of money.'

A spokesperson for the CRT said in response: 'The canal is an engineering marvel from the industrial age that attracts visitors from around the world.

'Our charity works hard to keep it open and navigable for people to enjoy and for the benefit of wildlife.

'We will continue our programme of maintenance and repairs, monitoring for leaks or movement in the canal's embankments and acting to remedy them as necessary, along the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, including at Llanfoist.'

An aerial view of the mansion near a canal in Wales

Pictured: The aftermath of the devastating landslide in the 1970s

Charles and Patricia have been hand painting, designing and creating couture ladies gowns and interior design fabrics for over 50 years.

Their creations can be seen in a variety of museums around the world including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Ohio State University - Wexner Centre, Phoenix Art Museum and Houston Museum of Fine Arts.

As recognition of their work Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall came to visit their Studio in 2015.

They have worked on many film, television and opera projects with their individual designs taking a starring role.

They have also personally been worn by some of the worlds best known celebrities such as Barbara Streisand, Whoopi Goldberg, HRH the Duchess of Kent and the late great Elizabeth Taylor.
The House Committee on Ethics has rebuked Progressive 'Squad' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for claiming in government filings that her fiance both is and is not her 'spouse.'

Ocasio-Cortez, 35, a Democrat from New York, was criticized by the ethics committee in its July 2025 report for listing her fiance Riley Roberts as her 'spouse' on federal documents she filed to attend the 2021 Met Gala, despite the two not being legally married.

'The Committee also found evidence that Representative Ocasio-Cortez listed Mr. Roberts as her 'spouse' on paperwork filed with the House relating to privately sponsored travel, although the two were not legally married at the time of the gifted travel,' the report on Ocasio-Cortez's gala appearance said.

The ethics panel also found that while Roberts was listed as spouse on the gala documents, he was not listed as a spouse in AOC's financial filings. If he was, he would have had to disclose his stock and other holdings, something every other spouse typically must do.

'The Committee further notes that at the same time Representative Ocasio-Cortez was seeking to take advantage of exceptions to the Gift Rule only applicable to spouses and/or certain relatives, she was not disclosing Mr. Roberts's financial interests as is required of Members who are legally married.'

Additionally, the congresswoman was ordered to payback thousands of dollars by the ethics panel last month for not paying market rates for payments related to her 2021 Met Gala appearance. The committee found that AOC underpaid for her infamous red and white 'Tax the Rich' dress, jewelry and accessories she wore to the glamorous event organized annually by Vogue boss Anna Wintour.

Once the congresswoman pays an additional $2,700 to vendors for the clothing and accessories, the Democrat's investigation will be considered closed, the ethics panel wrote in its July 2025 report. They noted she's been cooperative in the probe.

Wintour personally invited AOC and Roberts to the event, something the ethics committee later criticized in its July 2025 report. The ethics committee's comments on the discrepancy regarding Roberts's spousal status was first highlighted by The Washington Free Beacon.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her fiance Riley Roberts at the Met Gala in 2021

AOC leaves the Carlyle hotel for the Met Gala on September 13, 2021. The House Committee on Ethics reported last month that once the lawmaker pays an additional $2,700 to vendors for her dress and accessories the probe into the matter will be considered closed

The congresswoman's dress rental was estimated to cost around $3,000 by the House Committee on Ethics estimation. AOC originally paid just $300 to wear the gown

The political star has been engaged to Roberts since he proposed during a vacation to Puerto Rico in April 2022. The pair met as undergraduate students at Boston University.

Within the filings, AOC's attorney David Mitrani argued that the Democrat's partner is not subject to 'financial disclosure guidance [because] Mr. Roberts is not considered a spouse.'

Despite not being subject to spousal financial disclosures, the committee notes how Roberts did reap the benefits of being an official congressional spouse.

One of the perks Roberts enjoyed was receiving an official spouse's congressional pin, which allows the partners of lawmakers to access typically restricted parts of the Capitol complex.

'Mr. Roberts and the Congresswoman have been together since 2014, and have lived together since 2016,' the committee writes. 'Mr. Roberts has had a spouse pin since the Congresswoman entered Congress in 2019.'

'It is clear that the term 'spouse'  as utilized in this former rule and as seemingly accepted by the Committee by expanding 'spouse or dependent' to any guest  was intended to allow a Member of Congress to bring the individual that they've decided to share their lives with to a charity event, regardless of whether they had taken steps to bring the law or religion into their relationship.'

AOC's shielding of her longtime partner from federal disclosures means its unclear if Roberts has any stock investments in companies from the Democrat's district, or if he has any investments at all.

This comes as the 35-year-old Democrat has been pushing for a congressional stock trading ban that would also bar congressional spouses from trading.

AOC and Roberts have been together since 2014

AOC at a 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour stop in Tempe, Arizona, in March

Many have speculated that AOC would win should she run against incumbent Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

AOC is seen as a possible contender for both the New York Senate race in 2026 and the presidential race in 2028.

Speculation over AOC's next move began percolating earlier this year when she began touring the country with Sen. Bernie Sanders for their 'Fighting Oligarchy' Tour which kicked off in February.

Despite the rumor-mill turning, Ocasio-Cortez has not announced a run for higher office and has maintained she's focused on representing the Bronx. She's won her district handedly every year since taking office in 2019.

Still, many believe AOC will run, even members in the GOP.

Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett told Fox News over the weekend he believes AOC would trounce Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., should she run against him next year.

'Frankly, I'm looking forward to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez primarying him (Schumer) very soon, and seeing him ran out of town because even no one, no one believes what he says,' the Republican said.
A veteran race car driver died in an ultra-high-speed crash while attempting to set a new land speed record on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Chris Raschke, 60, lost control of his Speed Demon III Streamliner while driving approximately 280mph during the annual SpeedWeek event on Sunday afternoon, officials said.

The horrific accident occurred at around 3:03pm as Raschke was attempting the record at about the 2.5-mile mark.

Medical professionals rushed to the scene and began treating Raschke for his injuries, but he did not survive.

No one else was injured in the accident.

The Bonneville Nationals Inc. confirmed Raschke's passing in a statement on the Facebook page of the Southern California Timing Association.

'The cause of the incident is currently under investigation,' the release stated.

Raschke was an experienced driver and had been a member of the Speed Demon Racing team for 13 years.

Chris Raschke, 60, lost control of his Speed Demon III Streamliner while driving approximately 280mph during the annual SpeedWeek event on Sunday afternoon

Raschke was an experienced driver and had been a member of the Speed Demon Racing team for 13 years

SpeedWeek is an annual racing event held at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, where drivers attempt to set land speed records

He also served as director of sales and marketing at Automotive Racing Products, a company that manufactures bolts and threaded engine fasteners for NASCAR, CART, IRL, NHRA, and Formula One.

SpeedWeek is an annual racing event held at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, where drivers attempt to set land speed records.

The event began on Saturday and was set to conclude on Friday.

Raschke's team, Speed Demon 715, paid tribute to its late driver on social media following the tragic accident.

'At this time, we ask everyone to please respect Chris's family, friends, and the Speed Demon team. We are deeply devastated,' the statement read.
Chinese students are being pressured to spy on classmates by officials back home, a new report claims.

The UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank suggested the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is monitoring discussions on British campuses via students.

It is thought the move is intended to suppress discourse on issues which are sensitive to the Chinese government.

UKCT researchers questioned 50 academics working in the Chinese studies field and found many were concerned about the influence of Beijing.

One lecturer said their Chinese students had confided that they had been asked to spy on campus events by Chinese police.

Another scholar said they were told by Chinese students that surveillance is omnipresent and that they are interviewed by officials when they return to China.

The report also claimed Chinese government officials had warned lecturers to avoid discussing certain topics in their classes.

It comes days after a new law came into force placing more responsibility on universities to uphold academic freedom and free speech.

Chinese students are being pressured to spy on classmates by officials back home, a new report claims (file picture)

However, UKCT said some universities are reluctant to address the issue of Chinese interference because of their financial reliance on Chinese student fees.

The report alleged that some Chinese academics involved in sensitive research had been denied visas by the Chinese government.

Meanwhile others said family members back in China had been harassed or threatened because of their work in the UK.

These sensitive topics included the alleged ethnic cleansing in China's Xinjiang region, the outbreak of Covid or the rise of Chinese technology companies, according to the report.

Some academics reported intimidation by visiting scholars or other Chinese officials, as well as by staff at Confucius Institutes.

These are partnership organisations operating at several UK universities, working with institutions in China.

They promote Chinese culture and language on UK campuses, but have been criticised over alleged ties to the CCP.

The UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank suggested the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is monitoring discussions on British campuses via students (pictured: Skills Minister Jacqui Smith)

A Chinese Embassy spokesman said the country had always adhered to its policy of not interfering with other countries' internal affairs.

They told the BBC the report was groundless and absurd, adding that China respects freedom of speech in the UK and elsewhere.

A spokesman for Universities UK, which represents 141 institutions, said: Anyone working or studying at our universities should know that their rights to personal and academic freedom are protected when they are on British soil.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK will not be tolerated.

She said academic freedom was non-negotiable in our world-leading institutions, adding that the implementation of the new legislation made that explicitly clear.
Sir Keir Starmer could recognise a Palestinian state with Hamas still in power, Downing Street suggested today.

The Prime Minister last week announced Britain would recognise Palestinian statehood in September, ahead of the UN General Assembly.

This is unless Israel meets certain conditions, such as allowing more aid into Gaza, ending the annexation of land in the West Bank, agreeing to a ceasefire, and signing up to a long-term peace process.

But Sir Keir has continued to face questions over whether he will push ahead with recognition of a Palestinian state while Hamas remain in power, or while the militants still hold hostages.

No10 refused to be drawn on either issue on Monday, which came as the PM faced a fresh backlash after Hamas praised his move on Palestinian statehood.

Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas member, was reported to have claimed the 'fruits' of October 7 - when the terror group launched its brutal attacks on Israel - had caused the world to 'open its eyes to the Palestinian issue'.

Mike Tapp, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal, told The Times that Hamas's claim of vindication 'demonstrates why there is such fear in the Jewish community'.

'The Government must urgently make clear that UK recognition of a Palestinian state can only happen after the genocidal terrorists of Hamas release the hostages and lay down their arms,' he added.

Sir Keir Starmer could recognise a Palestinian state with Hamas still in power, Downing Street suggested

Aid pallets are parachuted after being dropped from a military plane over Nuseirat in Gaza

Palestinians, who face difficulties accessing food due to the blockade imposed by Israel, wait to receive hot meals in Gaza

Noam Sagi, a London-based psychotherapist whose mother Ada Sagi, 75, was taken hostage on October 7, said the PM should urgently rewrite the conditions of statehood.

He said: 'This announcement tells Hamas and every terrorist group on earth that mass murder works - that slaughter and kidnapping is rewarded. Britain should lead with moral courage, not appease evil.'

Asked on Monday whether recognising a Palestinian state without a ceasefire could embolden Hamas to hold onto Israeli captives, Sir Keir's official spokesman said the Government would assess the situation in September.

'The PM has been absolutely clear that, on October 7, Hamas perpetrated the worst massacre in Israel's history,' he said.

'Every day since then that horror has continued as the Foreign Secretary (David Lammy) said over the weekend, Hamas are rightly pariahs who can have no role in Gaza's future.'

Asked whether a Palestinian state could be recognised while Hamas are still holding hostages, the PM's spokesman said that 'we'll make an assessment ahead of the UN General Assembly on how far the parties have met the steps that we've set out'.

'We've been very clear that Hamas can have no role in the future governments of Gaza We've also been clear that they must disarm, must release all the hostages,' he added.

On whether the step could be taken while Hamas remain in power, the spokesman said the Government was clear that 'Hamas are not the Palestinian people'.

'It is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to have recognition along the lines and the steps that we've previously set out,' he said.

'We've also been very clear it cannot be in the hands of Hamas, a terrorist group, to have a veto over recognition of Palestine.'

Videos released by militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad last week appeared to show Israeli hostages in a visibly fragile state.

No10 condemned the images as 'completely abhorrent'.

Mr Hamad reportedly told the Al Jazeera news outlet: 'The initiative by several countries to recognise a Palestinian state is one of the fruits of October 7.'

About 1,200 people were killed by Hamas militants in the 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war and another 251 were abducted.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed more than 60,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.
Police are still on the hunt for dozens of suspected rioters a year after the Southport attack which sparked nationwide disorder.

Triple murderer, Axel Rudakubana, 18, stormed into a Taylor Swift themed class with a kitchen knife, injuring several children and adults on July 29, 2024.

In a brutal attack that shocked the nation, the 'sadistic' killer murdered Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, for which he was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years behind bars.

In the wake of the murders, disorder quickly spread across the country, amid false rumours that Rudakubana was a Muslim asylum seeker who had recently arrived in Birtain on a small boat.

Researchers say there were at least 27 million impressions on social media posts wrongly stating or speculating that the alleged attacker was Muslim, a migrant, refugee or foreigner.

A total of 1,876 rioters were arrested and 1,110 charged so far in connection with the unrest that first broke in the days after the triple killing that engulfed the nation in a wave of violence.

Data tracking cases related to the disorder shows 821 defendants out of 859 were convicted by the end of March this year, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

And now, a year later, police are still tracking down around 40 suspects across five forces, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cleveland, Northumbria and Avon and Somerset, setting up a website with their details.

Police are still tracking down around 40 suspects across five forces, a year after the riots in the wake of the Southport attack

National Police Chief's Council has issued a nationwide appeal urging anyone with information on the above suspects to get in contact

And the National Police Chief's Council hopes there latest bid to find suspected rioters will serve as a warning to troublemakers to avoid a repeat of unrest this year.

Last summer's disturbances, which saw mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted, were denounced at the time as 'far-right thuggery' by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Local and social media appeals of the suspects have already been used in a bid to try and track suspects down but have now resorted to a nationwide appeal as, by now, they could have travelled into the area from another part of the country.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith, who led the national response to investigating last year's riots, said: 'One year on, we've still got some people who we have got good images of and we haven't yet identified.

'I think the key thing is having a good image of someone is one thing, knowing who they are is another. We're asking the public to have a look, and if they recognise anyone in those images, to let us know who they are and bring them to justice.'

He added: 'We have a duty to facilitate protest but what we saw last year, and in a few isolated cases this year, is where it's gone to criminality and to serious disorder.

'In those cases what I think we can learn from last year is that justice will be swift, and I hope that that would be a deterrent to anyone thinking about engaging in serious disorder this year.

'We've made effective use of CCTV, bodyworn video, and we've been able to bring a lot of people in front of the courts.'

It comes as several protests have been held in different parts of the country amid unrest surrounding hotels believed to be housing migrants.

Anti-racism activists clashed with police and anti-migrant protesters on Saturday outside a Thistle City Barbican Hotel where asylum seekers are believed to be housed

Protesters demonstrate outside the Barbican Thistle Hotel believed to be housing migrants on August 2, 2025 in London, England

In Epping, multiple protests have happened in recent weeks outside The Bell Hotel after an asylum-seeker was charged with allegedly with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

Additional 'anti-immigration' protests have happened in both Bowthorpe, Norwich as well as Canary Wharf and Islington, London, with other demonstrations occurring in other parts of the country.

The police chief also said officers are working 'very hard' to contain the 'small pockets' of disorder this year, adding they have been 'isolated' due to 'swift police response'.

'If we can respond to serious disorder swiftly, I think we can contain that and prevent it from spreading across the country, so that's what we're working very hard on,' he said.

Since last year, Mr Drummond-Smith said police have 'sharpened' their ability top mobilise quickly and distribute resources around the country.
A herd of cows have been spotted running through a housing estate in Scotland after fences penning them in were blown down by 122mph winds from Storm Floris.

Footage posted on Facebook by a resident shows neighbours watching on in shock as around 20 cattle gathered on a street in the village of Carfin in North Lanarkshire this afternoon.

Most are huddled together at the end of the road whilst six are seen anxiously running past houses to keep up with the group.

Darren Young, who filmed and posted the video, wrote: 'For anyone out and about in Carfin looks like a couple of fences have been blown down and the cows are out in force.'

The fences were more than likely blown down by ferocious winds from Storm Floris with Scotland seeing the highest recorded wind speed so far at 124mph.

Storm Floris has battered Britain with 90mph winds ripping through other parts of the country, destroying trees and sparking travel chaos.

Hurricane force gusts caused trees to be uprooted, caravans to be overturned and entire train lines to be suspended, while seaside areas were lashed by towering waves.

Elsewhere, hair-raising footage showed a Jet2 aircraft at Leeds Bradford Airport struggling to land earlier on Monday, its wings wobbling from side to side in the heavy winds.

A herd of cows have been spotted running through a housing estate in Scotland after fences penning them in were blown down by 122mph winds from Storm Floris

Footage posted on Facebook by a resident shows neighbours watching on in shock as around 20 cattle gathered on a street in the village of Carfin in North Lanarkshire this afternoon

Meanwhile, Hollywood star Tom Holland was impacted by the inclement conditions as he, and his Spider Man colleagues, were forced off their set in Glasgow for their own safety as the weather took a turn for the worse.

Flights were axed, trains were cancelled and roads were shut off to drivers as Britain became engulfed in a travel nightmare at the hands of Storm Floris.

A yellow wind warning had been applied to northern parts of the UK at 6am on Monday, with the alert set to last until 6am on Tuesday.

Things were particularly tumultuous in Scotland, where a more serious amber warning is in place in central and northern regions from 10am to 10pm on Monday.

Police there warned drivers to stay away from two roads in Aberdeenshire and the Western Highlands - blocked by fallen trees and overturned campervans respectively.

Flights from Glasgow to Scotland's many islands have also been cancelled due to the weather.

It is unusual to see a storm with such strong winds at this time of year, although this appears to be changing, with Floris the fourth August storm in just three years, after storm Lillian last year and Antoni and Betty in 2023.

A number of rail lines in Scotland were blocked by fallen trees, including one near Cornton in Stirling which landed on overhead wires.

A woman battles with an umbrella on the streets of Edinburgh in the wind and the rain from Storm Floris today

Members of the public battle against the weather as they walk along the Royal Mile, Edinburgh

A windsurfer braces the elements in the stormy conditions off the coast of Troon in Scotland

Crews were also called out to cut back collapsed trees from the line near Giffnock, East Renfrewshire.

The A9 Dornoch Bridge, Highlands, and the A1 Tyne Bridge were also closed due to high winds.

Earlier, a meteorologist warned people in regions affected by a weather alert to 'watch their backs' as Storm Floris brings unseasonably strong winds.

A number of train services were halted at midday and ferry sailings have been cancelled.

Train operator LNER told passengers not to travel north of Newcastle while Avanti West Coast has advised passengers not to travel north of Preston, warning it will be 'heavily impacted' by the weather.

On Monday afternoon, a number of roads were blocked by the storm, including the A96 in Aberdeenshire, the A87 and the A82 in the western Highlands.

The west of Scotland saw heavy rain early on Monday morning, with winds picking up later in the day.

Western coastal areas are expected to bear the brunt of the storm.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for much of Scotland and a yellow warning for northern England. Pictured: A man walking in the rain in Blackpool

A sign at Edinburgh train station warns commuters about disruption due to Storm Floris

A yellow weather warning for wind is in place in northern England while there is an amber weather warning for much of Scotland

A man walks his dogs on the seafront in Saltcoats, Scotland, where there is an amber weather warning

A vehicle drives through localised flooding in the East End of Glasgow, Scotland

Members of the public battle against the wind as they walk along the Royal Mile, Edinburgh

A vehicle drives through localised flooding in the East End of Glasgow, Scotland

Members of the public battle against the wind and their own umbreallas as they walk along the Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Storm Floris also impacted Edinburgh's busy festival period, with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo cancelling its Monday performance.

A Scottish Government minister said it is 'imperative' that people follow advice as Storm Floris hits the country.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland news programme: 'Storm Floris is well and truly with us today and it's imperative that people follow advice because there will be significant disruption on our travel network.'

She said anyone who has to travel is likely to face disruption and should plan ahead, adding: 'Consider this a winter journey as opposed to a summer journey.

'Please make sure you've got warm clothes, food, water, plenty of fuel and that your mobile phone is charged up.'
Protesters have staged a sit-in protest at an estate where Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange was filmed over claims a regeneration project of the area is akin to 'ethnic cleansing'.

Locals occupied Lakeside Centre, Thamesmead, in south east London, on Saturday night and unfurled a black banner on a roundabout with 'end art washing' written in green letters.

Nicknamed Little Lagos due to them being one of the UK's largest communities of Nigerian heritage, they claim they are being priced out of a new development that will see their 816-home Lesnes estate bulldozed and replaced with 2,778 new ones.

The area famously featured in Kubrick's film adaptation of Anthony Burgess dystopian novel 50 years ago.

It was hailed as the 'town of tomorrow' when it was built in the 1960s, and is now seen as a more attractive proposition for city workers with the arrival of the Elizabeth Line meaning quicker travel times to central London.

Housing association Peabody has been granted outline planning permission by Bexley council, but plans have been held up with application being referred to the secretary of state.

Protester Esther Ovba told The Guardian she felt the area is being gentrified.

The Nigerian said: 'Some members of the community are being moved to other areas like Rochester and Gillingham and more white, middle-class people are moving in. To me it feels like ethnic cleansing.'

Protesters staged a sit-in protest at an estate where Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange was filmed over claims a regeneration project of the area is akin to 'ethnic cleansing'

Locals have vented their anger towards housing association Peabody and claimed they are being priced out of a new development that will see their 816-home Lesnes estate bulldozed and replaced with 2,778 new ones

Seven protesters briefly occupied an arts centre on Saturday where more than 40 artists currently live and work.

But residents have argued that many of those living there are not locals.

The centre is run by charity Bow Arts in partnership with Peabody, with a spokesperson saying that the properties are offered to the London borough of Bexley first.

A Bexley council spokesperson said: 'The council acknowledges the depth of feeling expressed by longstanding residents.

'While the regeneration programme is being delivered by Peabody and is not directly managed by the council, we remain committed to supporting residents and ensuring that their voices are heard throughout this process.'

John Lewis, Peabody's executive director for sustainable places, said: 'Since 2014, we've invested millions of pounds in community buildings, outdoor spaces, culture and communities in Thamesmead.

Locals occupied Lakeside Centre, Thamesmead, in south east London , on Saturday night and unfurled a black banner on a roundabout with 'end art washing' written in green letters

Homes on the Lesnes Estate in Thamesmead, southeast London, that are set to be demolished to make way for new tower blocks

The estate was featured in Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange

A general view of the Lesnes Estate in Thamesmead with an advert for new homes by Peabody Housing Association

'We're bringing derelict community spaces back to life alongside building much-needed homes  and have created six new community or cultural spaces since 2018.

'Keeping the community together is really important to us. We're offering all residents on the Lesnes estate new homes.

'People living in a social rented home will continue to pay social rent in a brand-new home.

'Resident homeowners have the chance to buy a 1960s home like theirs on the neighbouring estate, or they can move into one of the new homes over the road, or we have offered to provide an additional 35% in equity or deposit to help them buy any other home locally.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Peabody for further comment.
Dame Stella Rimington, the first female director general of the MI5, has died at the age of 90.

The former secret service chief, passed away 'surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath', her family announced on Monday.

Dame Rimington, born Stella Whitehouse, was welcomed into a warring world in south London on May 13, 1935.

She later was moved to Essex - and then to Barrow-in-Furness - due to the dangers of living in the capital city during the Second World War.

After completing her studies in archive administration at the University of Liverpool in 1958, she became an archivist a the County Record Office in Worcester a year later, before marrying her husband John Rimington.

And it was their decision to move to India after he was offered a position as the First Secretary (Economic) for the British High Commission in New Delhi, which would eventually lead to her history-defining career in the shadows.

It was during the summer of 1967 when the bored wife of the junior diplomat in, was approached by another British official with a proposition: Would she be interested in 'helping out' in his office?

The author of the request was 'a baronet and a bachelor' best-known among staff at the British high commission for his 'excellent Sunday curry lunches' and for 'driving round Delhi in a snazzy old Jaguar'.

He was also the senior liaison officer for MI5 - the British security service - in the Indian capital, and when the diplomat's wife accepted his offer of employment it was to mark her entry into the shadowy world of intelligence.

Dame Stella Rimington, the first female director general of the MI5, has died at the age of 90

The former secret service chief, died 'surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath', her family announced on Monday

It would be this low-key beginning that would spark a formidable 29-year career which would be marked by several 'firsts' - including her appointment as the UK's first woman spymaster.

During her nearly three-decade long career, she has found herself facing off with Russian espionage agents, members of the IRA, and more controversially, domestic 'subversives' including the leaders of the 1984 miners' strike.

Dubbed the 'housewife superspy' when she became the first female director general of MI5 - and the first to be named publicly - she did much to bring the service out of the shadows and explain its role to the public.

While she struggled with the publicity - she was forced to move out when the press discovered where she lived - she nevertheless appeared delighted when she was credited as the model for Judi Dench's M in the James Bond movies.

However her openness went too far for some, as after she left the intelligence service, in another first, she became the very first former director general to publish a memoir.

And in her retirement, she took on several non-executive directorships, including Marks & Spencer, using her surveillance skills to eavesdrop on customers to find out what they were saying about the company's products.

She also drew on her experiences to forge a successful second career as a thriller writer, with a series of novels about the fictional MI5 officer Liz Carlyle.

The second of two children, Dame Rimington first moved to Wallasey and then to Barrow-in-Furness, where her father had taken a job at a steel works amid the outbreak of WWII.

Both towns were hit hard in the Blitz and the nightly bombing raids left her with an acute fear of being trapped in confined spaces that was to last well into adulthood.

Former MI5 boss Stella Rimington, who was conferred with the honour Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1996

Mrs Rimington on the day M15 held the first photo call in their 84-year history

Only with the end of the war was she able to resume proper schooling, first at the local Croslands Covent School and then at Nottingham High School for Girls after the family moved to the Midlands.

After excelling academically, she won a place to read English at Edinburgh University, where in her final year she became friendly again with her future husband, John Rimington, whom she had first met in Nottingham.

After successfully completing a course in archive administration at Liverpool University, and holding jobs in both the County Record Office in Worcester and then the India Office Library in London, she would eventually find herself in the MI5.

After her stint, in the representative to the British Intelligence in India's office, she decided to seek a permanent job with the service after returning to London in 1969, as 'something to keep me interested and amused' until she began a family.

She soon found the organisation she joined was a 'land of eccentrics' peopled largely by war veterans and ex-colonial service officers, with a heavy drinking culture.

ame Stella Rimington , the former Director-General of MI5 with a copy of her memoirs 'Open secret', prior to signing copies for the public at Hatchards book shop in Piccadilly, London

Dame Stella Rimington looks through some of the files at the Public Records Office in Kew which held an open day to the public along with other government buildings

The 'two well-bred ladies of a certain age' who were entrusted with her training would each day at noon produce a pair of glasses and a bottle of sherry for a 'rather elegant pre-lunch drink'.

It was also a service with a 'strict sex discrimination' policy with women confined to administrative and support roles while the frontline work - such as recruiting and running agents - was for men only.

Her early assignments included helping to identify potential communist infiltrators in rural Sussex and working on the newly formed Northern Ireland desk set up in response to the start of the Troubles.

After becoming pregnant with the first of her two daughters, Sophie, she found her determination to return to work after the child was born was met with 'incomprehension' within the service.

She was not particularly enthusiastic herself, but needed the money, although matters improved when she was given the chance to work on the 'main enemy' - the Soviet Union.

The defections of the Cambridge spies - Kim Philby, Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean - still cast a long shadow over the intelligence community, fuelled in part by the conspiracy theories of MI5 officer Peter Wright who was convinced there was another Russian mole within the service.

Mrs Rimington was tasked with re-interviewing John Cairncross - later identified as the so-called 'fifth man' in the group - who had made a partial confession to spying in the 1960s, but failed to extract any new leads from him.

Nevertheless, her persistence paid off when she finally persuaded her bosses to make her a full MI5 officer, after complaining that male graduates recruited straight from university were being brought in over her head.

A further breakthrough followed when it was agreed she could train as an agent-runner, the view having long been taken that potential informants would be unwilling to talk to a woman.

In her memoir she recalled the difficulties of juggling her new role, which frequently involved going under cover, with bringing up a young family.

Stella Rimington, the Director-General of Britain's security service MI5 with Home Secretary Michael Howard on July 16, 1993

On one occasion she received a call from a nanny to say her younger daughter had been taken to hospital with convulsions just as she was preparing for a crucial rendezvous with a potential defector.

In the event she managed to make it to the meet, after first checking in at the hospital, but had to borrow money from the would-be defector to pay for all the taxis involved.

'Whether the apparent scarcity of funds available to British intelligence influenced his decision or not, I don't know,' she wrote. 'But he did eventually decide not to make the jump across.'

By this stage, her career was firmly on an upward trajectory and in 1983 she was appointed an assistant director - the first woman to hold the post - with responsibility for counter-subversion.

Initially, she thought it was something of a backwater but that quickly changed with the advent of the miners' strike the following year.

She later recalled 'agonising' over whether it was legitimate for MI5 to monitor Arthur Scargill and other union leaders - finally concluding that they should as Mr Scargill had declared his aim was to bring down the government of Margaret Thatcher.

When MI5's involvement became known it nevertheless proved highly controversial, leading to claims it had engaged in a 'dirty tricks' campaign against the miners, which Mrs Rimington always denied.

Promotion, to director of counter-espionage, saw her embroiled in further controversy when Peter Wright - by now retired and thoroughly embittered - published his notorious Spycatcher memoir.

It included his now long-discredited theory that former director general Roger Hollis had been a Russian spy as well as a startling claim that a group of MI5 officers - himself among them - had tried to bring down Labour prime minister Harold Wilson.

It was during the summer of 1967 when the bored wife of the junior diplomat in, was approached by another British official with a proposition which would spark a 29-year long career in the service

Although Wright later withdrew the allegations, his description of how MI5 had 'bugged and burgled' their way across London led to demands that the service should be brought more firmly under ministerial control with its surveillance powers set on a statutory footing.

At first Mrs Rimington was reluctant, producing an internal policy paper arguing against legislation, but after accepting that change was inevitable she became an enthusiastic proponent, sitting on a joint working group with the Home Office which drew up the landmark Security Service Act.

By now both the service she had first joined in the 1960s and the threats it faced were very different.

With the end of the Cold War and collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1991 she led a three-strong delegation to Moscow in an extraordinary attempt to establish friendly relations with their erstwhile adversaries in the KGB.

Despite a warm welcome, with a visit to the Bolshoi Ballet and with much champagne flowing, when she suggested to the Russians they might cut back their espionage in the UK as a prelude to greater co-operation on issues such as counter-terrorism, the idea was dismissed as 'ridiculous'.

Any disappointment was short-lived. On her return to London she was greeted with news that she was to be the next director general, despite not having been interviewed for the post, or even asked whether she wanted it.

Furthermore, John Major's government had decided that now the service was on a statutory footing, thanks to the legislation she helped draw up, her appointment should be announced publicly - the first time any British intelligence chief had been openly identified.

The announcement - in a brief, two-line statement with no accompanying photograph - caused a media sensation, not least because she was the first woman to head any of the agencies, for which she was ill-prepared.

Her elder daughter, Sophie, was away at university and only learned the news from the television, while their home was soon surrounded by journalists.

In the absence of any official photograph, a blurry snatch shot taken some years earlier was widely circulated, before photographers finally managed to capture a rather unflattering image of her leaving the house.

Amid all the furore, it soon became apparent that she could not carry on living there, and she was forced to move into secure accommodation with her younger daughter (she had separated from her husband some years earlier).

Despite such an inauspicious start, Mrs Rimington used her time as director general to bring gradually bring the service out of the shadows, dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions built up around it.

In 1993, MI5 published a short booklet which, for the first time, put some facts into the public domain, while she appeared alongside then home secretary Michael Howard in an official photo call to launch it.

A further step towards greater openness followed when, despite much official hand-wringing, she was given permission to deliver the prestigious BBC Dimbleby lecture on the role of the security services in a democracy.

During her nearly three-decade long career, she has found herself facing off with Russian espionage agents, members of the IRA, and more controversially, domestic 'subversives' including the leaders of the 1984 miners' strike

She was made a dame in the 1996 New Year's Honours list.

Her heightened public profile led to sniping in Whitehall that 'Stella likes the limelight' - a perception only enhanced when, five years after her retirement in 1996, she chose to publish her memoir, to the fury of many of her former colleagues.

Such criticisms did not stop her speaking out in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the US 'war on terror' to warn that draconian new laws simply played into the hands of the terrorists by spreading fear and alarm.

Alongside her post-MI5 writing and business commitments she even found time to chair the judging panel for the Man Booker Prize for literature, although her comment that they were looking for 'readability' found her once again in the firing line from critics who accused her of 'dumbing down' the award.

During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, she reconciled with her husband, moving in together during lockdown. 'It's a good recipe for marriage, I'd say,' she said. 'Split up, live separately, and return to it later.'
Donald Trump has claimed Jaguar Land Rover is in 'absolute turmoil' after the company's 'totally disastrous woke' rebrand.

The US President labelled the British car maker's recent advert, which featured brightly dressed models, as a 'total disaster' and 'stupid'.

Trump was scathing of Jaguar as he compared the firm's fortunes to those of clothing brand American Eagle in a rant on his social media platform Truth Social.

'Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the "HOTTEST" ad out there. It's for American Eagle, and the jeans are "flying off the shelves",' he wrote.

'Go get 'em Sydney! On the other side of the ledger, Jaguar did a stupid, and seriously WOKE advertisement, THAT IS A TOTAL DISASTER! The CEO just resigned, and the company is in absolute turmoil.

'Who wants to buy a Jaguar after looking at that disgraceful ad. Shouldn't they have learned a lesson from Bud Lite, which went Woke.'

Trump ended the post by saying that 'being woke is losers'.

Donald Trump has claimed Jaguar Land Rover is in 'absolute turmoil' after the company's 'totally disastrous woke ' rebrand

The US President labelled the British car maker's recent advert, which featured brightly dressed models (pictured), as a 'total disaster' and 'stupid'

It was announced last week that Jaguar Land Rover CEO Adrian Mardell is to retire at the end of this year.

Mardell, 64, has been at the company for more than three decades including the last two years as chief executive during one of the most transformative periods in the firm's recent history.

Arguably his biggest involvement has been his role in Jaguar's controversial 'woke' rebrand and shift to an electric-only premium car brand from 2026.

Last month JLR said it was axing 500 management roles, which are going as part of a voluntary redundancy programme for managers in the UK.

A spokesman said: 'As part of normal business practice, we regularly offer eligible employees the opportunity to leave JLR through limited voluntary redundancy programmes.'

Sales of the luxury car manufacturer appear to have nose-dived following its controversial move to scrap its iconic 'growler' big cat logo in November.

The firm's rebrand saw it replace the well-known badge in favour of a geometric 'J' design - which lovers of the brand raged looked like the logo on a handbag clasp.

A still from Jaguar's 'copy nothing' rebrand advert - which was criticised for featuring no cars

The advert features boldly dressed fashion models in bright primary colours alongside slogans such as 'break moulds' and 'create exuberant'

Jaguar's sales have plummeted after the legendary British car marque's 'woke' rebrand left fans outraged (pictured is the new Jaguar Type 00 concept motor)

This is the new Jaguar logo - a roundel made up of the letter 'J' that looks the same both ways up

The classic Jaguar 'growler' logo has been ditched as the car firm reinvents itself to appeal to a younger audience of car buyers

And as the firestorm surrounding the famed car maker's change continues to engulf it, sales at Jaguar Europe have plunged a staggering 97.5 per cent.

But the British car marque has insisted the reason for the freefall in sales is not because of a lack of support or an image overhaul - but because it has stopped making older models as it focuses on its relaunch with an all-electric offering.

Defending the news, the firm said it was 'pointless' to compare figures for 2024 and 2025, as 'Jaguar is not currently on sale in the UK' while it goes through its 'sunset period' of radical change.

A spokeswoman for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said: 'Jaguar's transformation towards a new portfolio of pure-electric vehicles was announced as part of the Reimagine strategy in 2021. JLR always envisaged a period when the current range would "no longer be on sale" before the introduction of the new Jaguar collection.

'Production of XE, XF, F-TYPE, I-PACE and E-PACE all came to an end in 2024 as part of that transition. This strategic "sunset" of the product range is going to plan and will allow Jaguar to transform and reposition the brand for the future.

Pictured is the new Jaguar Type 00 after it was revealed in December at an event in Miami

Jaguar revealed its space-aged Type 00 design vision concept car in December last year

'Comparing Jaguar sales to 2024 is pointless as we are no longer producing vehicles in 2025 with low levels of retail inventory available. Jaguar's rebranding is not related to a sales decline.'

Jaguar has not announced an official date for when its new fleet of high-end electric motors will hit the forecourt.

It stopped sales of current Jaguars on November 11 as it prepared for its next generation of luxury vehicles to arrive.

Defending the campaign late last year, JLR's Managing Director Rawdon Glover told the Financial Times: 'If we play in the same way that everybody else does, we'll just get drowned out.'
Building mutual trust, deepening dialogue, striving for win-win outcomes

10:11, August 04, 2025 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

From July 28 to 29, China and the United States held a new round of economic and trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden. The two sides held candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, including China-U.S. economic relations and macroeconomic policies.

They reviewed and affirmed the implementation of the consensus reached in Geneva and the framework agreed on in London talks. Based on the meeting consensus, both sides will continue pushing for the continued extension by 90 days of the pause on 24 percent of reciprocal tariffs of the U.S. side, as well as counter-measures of the Chinese side.

The talks this time played a positive role in consolidating consensus and deepening mutual trust, further boosting confidence for both parties to resolve economic and trade disputes through equal dialogue and consultation.

China-U.S. economic and trade relations are vast in scale and broad in scope, profoundly affecting the welfare of businesses and people in both countries.

Through joint efforts by both sides, the Stockholm talks sent positive signals. The continued extension of pause on 24 percent of reciprocal tariffs of the U.S. side, as well as counter-measures of the Chinese side represents a consensus welcomed by all parties.

The fewer the tariffs, the greater the cooperation. Such pragmatic arrangements developed through China-U.S. dialogue not only help build mutual trust and advance negotiations, but reaffirm that resolving trade disputes through and consultation proves more efficient and less costly than alternatives.

This round of talks continued the positive momentum formed by the China-U.S. economic and trade teams under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone conversation. The previous economic and trade talks in Geneva and London reached a consensus in Geneva and a framework in London, respectively, effectively helping to cool down and defuse bilateral economic and trade frictions.

There exists broad consensus across both countries and the international community that China and the United States should resolve trade disputes through equal dialogue, guided by the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

Through sustained engagement, both sides have deepened their understanding of respective concerns, with growing alignment on resolving differences and expanding cooperation.

At the Stockholm meeting, China expressed that a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship serves not only the two countries' respective development goals, but also contributes to global economic growth and stability.

The U.S. side also acknowledged that a stable U.S.-China economic and trade relationship is of great significance to the economies of both countries and the world at large. It expressed willingness to work with the Chinese side to continue to resolve differences in the economic and trade field through the consultation mechanism, promote more outcomes from the talks, and further stabilize bilateral economic and trade relations.

Since the onset of recent China-U.S. trade tensions, the U.S. narratives have frequently emphasized a so-called "China rebalancing" rhetoric. While firmly safeguarding its interests, China remains committed to resolving differences through equal dialogue and consultation, seeking to unlock bilateral economic potential.

The trajectory of China-U.S. economic relations must evolve with both nations' development. The key question remains: Will both sides steer toward mutual benefit and shared success, or descend into confrontation? The optimal path is evident - what's needed is the wisdom and courage to seize opportunities.

Shared interests and vast cooperation potential define the China-U.S. economic relationship. China's ongoing high-quality development and expanding market openness generate significant opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration.

In manufacturing, China's integrated supply chains, robust industrial ecosystems, and dynamic growth are attracting increasing numbers of U.S. firms. These companies expand operations in China to leverage complementary resources from both nations, thereby strengthening their global competitiveness.

Within the consumer sector, China is treating the expansion of domestic demand as a strategic initiative, taking multiple measures to actively expand imports, with American companies being important beneficiaries.

China welcomes enterprises from both sides to achieve greater complementary advantages and mutual benefits based on their respective needs. Given the U.S. objective of expanding exports to China, reducing bilateral trade barriers and fostering a conducive business environment would serve this shared interest. Words require credibility, and actions must yield results. Progress in China-U.S. economic talks has been hard-won, and sustained advancement demands continued alignment from both sides.

Both sides should continue to fully leverage the role of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism in accordance with the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone conversation, continue to implement the consensus and results that have already been formed, constantly enhance consensus, reduce misunderstandings, strengthen cooperation, further deepen dialogue and consultations, and strive for more win-win outcomes, thus injecting more positive energy into the stable development of both countries and the global economy.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Du Mingming)
A 19-year-old teenager stabbed to death in a 'targeted attack' in a town centre has been named and pictured for the first time.

Mohammed Afzal, known to his loved ones as Isa, was fatally attacked in Powerleague car park in the heart of Bury, Greater Manchester, just before 9pm on Friday, August 1.

He suffered several stab wounds before sadly later dying from his injuries.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that Mohammed's family are now being assisted by specialist officers during this 'difficult time'.

This evening, two men, both aged 19, were arrested in connection with the murder, bringing the total arrests made to five.

Previously, three teenagers were arrested and detained on suspicion of murder. Two currently remain in police custody for questioning, while one has been released on bail.

One member of the trio, who are all white and 19-year-old males, was arrested at Manchester Airport at 4.30am on Sunday.

The others were detained in Bury and Bolton on Saturday night.

A teenager stabbed to death in a 'targeted attack' in a town centre has been named as 19-year-old Mohammed Afzal (pictured). Mohammed, known to his loved ones as Isa, was attacked in Powerleague car park in Bury, Greater Manchester, just before 9pm on Friday, August 1

At the scene (pictured), Mohammed suffered several stab wounds before unfortunately later dying from his injuries. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that Mohammed's family are now being assisted by specialist officers during this 'difficult time'

This evening, two men, both aged 19, were arrested in connection with the murder, bringing the total arrests made to five. Previously, three teenagers were arrested and detained on suspicion of murder. One has since been released on bail

Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team is leading the ongoing investigation into the shocking murder.

Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton said: 'Officers have worked non-stop for the past few days, resulting the arrest of five people on suspicion of murder.

'While our investigation is still in its very early days, we are making good progress with our various lines of enquiry, and I want thank those who have come forward with information to assist us.'

On Sunday, DCI Charlton said that he believed the attack was 'targeted' and there was therefore no wider threat posed to the public.

He described the incident as both 'violent and tragic', adding that it was 'witnessed by a lot of people'.

DCI Charlton added: 'Even though we have three people in custody this is still a live investigation and that will continue today and into next week.

'This was a violent and tragic incident that was witnessed by a lot of people.

On Sunday, Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton said that he believed the attack was 'targeted' and therefore posed no wider threat to the public. Pictured: the scene of the incident

DCI Charlton described the incident as both 'violent and tragic', adding that it was 'witnessed by a lot of people'

Greater Manchester Police have encouraged any individuals with information related to the incident have been asked to contact the force quoting log 3354-01/08/25

'This incident will have shocked the community and distressed anyone who witnessed it, but we believe this was a targeted attack with no wider threat.

'Our officers will be in the area today and over the next few days as we try to establish what happened in the lead-up to this awful incident.

'We also have specialist officers supporting the family at this difficult time.'

Forensic officers were seen gathering evidence from the Powerleague car park and a second scene on Valley Mill Lane, near the Roch Valley Greenway, over the weekend.

Powerleague remained closed throughout the weekend, but reopened on Monday morning.

Any individuals with information related to the incident have been urged to contact the force quoting log 3354-01/08/25.

Information can also be reported by calling 101 or speaking anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A telecommunications CEO died tragically after an accidental collision with another person while skydiving in Brazil.

Thomas Britis, 44, jumped out of a small airplane at the Boituva National Skydiving Center in Boituva, Sao Paulo, on Saturday when he was struck in the head by his friend's knee, police said.

Each of the skydivers' parachutes were deployed, but Britis lost control of his parachute and crashed in a field away from the landing area, the Boituva city hall said.

Britis was rushed to Sao Luis Hospital, where he died from the injuries he sustained.

'All safety measures required by national and international standards for skydiving have been strictly followed, and detailed analyses of the jumping conditions, equipment, and meteorological factors are also under investigation,' the Boituva government said in a statement.

Britis' friend, whose name has not been released, was taken to a private medical facility.

Authorities removed one helmet and two parachutes from the scene as part of an investigation.

The Forensic Medical Institute is awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine Britis' cause of death.

Thomas Britis, a 44-year-old telecommunications CEO, was killed in a skydiving accident on Saturday in Boituva, a city in the southeastern Brazilian state of Sao Paulo

Pictured: Aerial view of the area where Thomas Britis landed after he collided with another skydiver

The Brazilian Parachuting Confederation said in a statement that Britis and his friend were performing a maneuver in which the parachutist uses the body to create lift and horizontal displacement.

Britis' cousin, Mayra Britis, told Brazilian news outlet G1 that she was on her way to a nail salon appointment when she received a phone call informing her of his death.

Britis had been skydiving since 2014 and shared the passion for the sport with his 26-year-old son, she said.

'He worked very hard, was very loving to his son, to his family,' Mayra said. 'He was so experienced, it was such a silly accident. No one ever imagined it would happen.'

Authorities said that Thomas Britis was able to deploy his parachute after his friend's knee stuck his head while skydiving and that he lost control of the parachute while trying to land in a field, where firefighter's rescued him before he was rushed to Sao Luis Hospital, where he died from his injuries

Britis was the owner of a Voluy Telecom, a company that offered fiber-optics internet plans out of based Pouso Alegre, a city in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.

'He was so young, he was in the best phase of his life, doing something he loved so much,' Mayra said.

'Despite the distance, we were always close,' she added. 'Thomas was also best man at my wedding. There was no one who didn't love him.'
A 14-year-old girl who should have been under constant supervision at a psychiatric hospital has died after a 'care worker' left her alone before fleeing to Ghana, an inquest has heard.

Ruth Szymankiewicz, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, had an eating disorder and was a patient at Huntercombe Hospital's Thames ward, a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Maidenhead, since October 2021.

She had been placed under strict one-to-one supervision following a self-harming incident 10 days before her death, a jury inquest held at Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court heard on Monday.

However, on February 12, 2022, the member of staff responsible for watching her - a man then known as Ebo Acheampong who used a fake ID to get the job - failed to maintain the constant supervision plan, the court was told.

He left Ruth unaccompanied for around 15 minutes and she was left to walk around the hospital and to her room, assistant coroner Ian Wade KC said.

The teenager was found unconscious shortly after, having been left alone long enough to asphyxiate herself and sadly died at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford two days later.

A post-mortem examination carried out by the Home Office later determined the preliminary cause of death to be 'hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy' - a type of brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

It later emerged Acheampong had been using false identity documents and was hired by the hospital under a fake name, Mr Wade told the court.

Ruth Szymankiewicz (pictured), from Salisbury, Wiltshire, sadly passed away having been left alone long enough to asphyxiate herself

Ruth had an eating disorder and was a patient at Huntercombe Hospital's Thames ward, a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Maidenhead, since October 2021 (Pictured: Huntercombe Hospital)

Speaking to jurors, the coroner said: 'The evidence showed he had been employed through an agency (Platinum), who checked his identity documents, and they even trained him by putting him through a day-and-a-half course.

'It appears that these particular processes were the norm and were sufficient to enable a hospital to employ this person.

'But on February 12, he did not keep Ruth under a constant watch.

'Some time around 8pm in the evening, this man ended his shift without knowing where she was and without making sure that he handed her over to another member of staff to continue the one-to-one care regime.

'He simply left.'

Acheampong never returned to work at Huntercombe Hospital and instead fled the UK to Ghana, where it is thought he is originally from, jurors were told.

'It seems that he learned what happened that evening,' Mr Wade said.

Thames Valley Police launched an investigation and found Acheampong had gone to Heathrow airport and got on a plane to Ghana 'never to be seen again', the coroner said.

The inquest, at Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court in Beaconsfield (pictured), is expected to last for about two weeks

'You will not hear from that man, and he let Ruth down,' Mr Wade told jurors.

The court further heard Huntercombe Hospital had been inspected twice by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) prior to the incident.

'The CQC had not reported favourably on Huntercombe,' the coroner told the inquest.

Active Care Group, which owned Huntercombe at the time of Ruth's death, has since closed the facility.

Paying tribute the Ruth, her parents Kate and Mark, a GP and surgeon respectively, said she loved animals and reading and had a 'fiery, determined' personality and a 'huge heart'.

They said she 'was and still is deeply loved' and added her death has 'shattered' them.

The jury was told Ruth had climbed Kilimanjaro aged just 11 and had once lived in Tanzania for a period of time with her parents and two sisters.

Ruth was initially being cared for on the children's ward at Salisbury Hospital but was transferred to Southampton for further care after she was injured when a nasogastric tube fed contents into a lung instead of her stomach in September 2021.

Her parents said they were told days later that Ruth would be moved to Huntercombe Hospital, which they found had a poor rating and was a two-hour drive away from their home.

Her mother, Dr Szymankiewicz, said the process for why Ruth needed to be moved to the hospital and onto a PICU was 'opaque' and that the system was 'incredibly difficult to navigate'.

In a statement, she said: 'We wish we had fought harder. We had no idea how awful it would be.'

She said there was 'never any sense that staff thought it was important to communicate' with them about her daughter's care.

Serious incidents, including Ruth drinking cleaning fluid and having black eyes, were not raised with them, Dr Szymankiewicz added.

The inquest, at Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court in Beaconsfield, is expected to last for about two weeks.
The mother of tortured toddler Baby P will have her fresh bid for freedom heard by a public parole board - after a judge cited a 'substantial public interest' in the case.

Tracey Connelly, now 44, is set to make her plea over the course of October 22 and 23 at an unconfirmed venue.

It will mark the abuser's first review since her second recall to prison in August last year for breaching her licence conditions.

Connelly was jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month son Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London, August 3, 2007.

She sought, alongside her lover Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen, to cover up the injuries inflicted on the youngster - missed by social service and health workers.

Little Peter suffered more than 50 wounds over and eight-month period. These included a broken back, broken ribs, mutilated fingertips, and missing fingernails.

Tracey Connelly was initially released in 2013 but was later recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions.

She was released again in July 2022 after the parole board had rejected three previous bids in 2015, 2017 and 2019. It was heard she was considered to be at 'low risk of committing a further offence' and that probation officers and prison officials supported the plan.

Connelly was jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month son Peter in Tottenham, London. Pictured: Undated file handout photo issued by ITV News of Baby P

Connelly (pictured) sought, alongside her lover Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen, to cover up the injuries inflicted on the youngster - missed by social service and health workers

The 43-year-old launched a fresh bid for freedom earlier this year after she was sent back to jail for breaching licence conditions. Pictured: Connelly walking and smoking a cigarette near her home in July 2022

But after being called back to prison again in August last year - over breached licence conditions - Connelly will now face a review.

The Parole Board received two applications for October's review to be held in public, which described Connelly's 'landmark case' as 'one of the most high-profile and devastating child protection failures in UK history' that 'permanently altered the conversation around safeguarding', according to Judge Peter Rook KC's judgment.

It was argued the public still does not have access to the 'real details', citing that previous decisions around parole and recall have been made in private and a public hearing would 'provide crucial context to a case that remains deeply significant to the public'.

A lawyer for Connelly argued against the hearing being made public, saying it poses a risk to her safety and that there is a 'high risk' her identity will be compromised as 'threats to her safety are real and current'.

The legal representative also said Connelly has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression, and that a public hearing will 'exacerbate' these issues and have a 'significant and detrimental effect' on her evidence at the parole hearing.

But Judge Rook, on behalf of the chair of the Parole Board, said the lawyer acknowledged Connelly 'recovers well from these events'.

According to his judgment, Connelly experienced 'offence-related bullying and aggression' after her recall to prison which 'led to a decline in her mental health' but the judge said she reportedly responded well, without resorting to violence, and has now 'stabilised'.

Granting the application for October's hearing to be held in public, the judge said: 'There can be no doubt that there is a substantial public interest in this case.

Undated Metropolitan Police handout photo of Steven Barker, partner of Tracey Connelly, the mother of abused toddler Baby Peter

Barker's brother, Jason Owen, received a six-year jail sentence for allowing the toddler to die

'There is a strong public interest in the extent that Ms Connelly currently presents a risk and, if so, what measures are proposed in order to manage it.'

He added that a public hearing could 'reassure' the public of the 'thoroughness' of the Parole Board's risk assessment and the probation resources which would be supervising her in the event of her release.

'This may go some way to address legitimate public concern about Ms Connelly,' judge Rook said.

Permission for Connelly to leave prison in 2022 came despite the Parole Board panel highlighting concerns over her ability to manipulate and deceive, and hearing evidence of how she had become embroiled in prison romances and traded secret love letters with an inmate.

Then-justice secretary Dominic Raab appealed against the decision, but a judge rejected his bid to keep her behind bars. Condemning the move, Mr Raab said at the time this was proof the parole system needs a 'fundamental overhaul'.

When Connolly was first released, she was made subject to 20 licence conditions, including having to wear an electronic tag and disclose all her relationships, having her internet use monitored or obeying curfew.

She was also banned from going to certain places to 'avoid contact with victims and to protect children'.

The Parole Board said that she had been cleared due to a low risk of reoffending and that probation officers and prison officials supported the plan.

Tracey Connelly's toddler son died at home in Tottenham, north London, on August 3, 2007, and she pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child in 2008

It will now be a matter for the Board to decide if the latest breach of her conditions was so serious that she should not be released.

A Parole Board spokesman said back in April: 'It's been directed to an oral hearing now but no hearing date has been set yet.'

Baby Peter's family had a violent history, with a report in the aftermath of the toddler's death concluding there were 'striking similarities' in 'patterns of care and abuse experience by Tracey Connelly' and those endured by the toddler.
The home where four University of Idaho students were slaughtered by mass killer Bryan Kohberger has been frozen in time in a 3D model built by state prosecutors.

The three-story property at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, was once a place of youthful fun where five young women were enjoying college life with their friends.

On November 13, 2022, the house was transformed into a horror crime scene when Kohberger broke in and stabbed to death Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

One year later in December 2023, the home was demolished to rid the college town of the painful visual reminder of what had taken place - against some of the victims families wishes.

It is the grim reminder of the heinous act that took place there, University of Idaho President Scott Green said at the time. While we appreciate the emotional connection some family members of the victims may have to this house, it is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue.

Now, days after Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison for the murders, photos of a 3D reconstruction of the home have been released by Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompsons office, giving a glimpse inside every room of the home.

The images show the interior and exterior of the home, detailing the layout of the rooms belonging to the victims and survivors.

The model house is not furnished as it was when the murders took place.

The 3D model of 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, was created by the prosecution team to be used at trial

The model of the back of the home including the sliding door to the kitchen through which Bryan Kohberger entered and exited the house

It was built by the prosecutors office to be used as a demonstrative aid at Kohbergers capital murder trial.

The 30-year-old criminology PhD students defense team had objected to the so-called doll house being presented to the jury, arguing that it was not to scale.

Prosecutors argued a to-scale model was not necessary for the structures purpose to show jurors the floor plan layout and be a helpful tool for witnesses when explaining their testimony.

Judge Steven Hippler ruled that prosecutors could use the model house during trial, but only for demonstrative purposes - and not as evidence.

But on July 2, Kohberger changed his plea, pleading guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

The bombshell plea hearing came after he struck a controversial deal with prosecutors to take the death penalty off the table.

He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in an emotional hearing in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23. Kohberger also waived his right to appeal.

Kohberger is now being held in solitary confinement inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution where he will see out his dying days.

Bryan Kohberger seen moments after his arrest at his parents' home in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022

Left to right: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke

With the trial no longer going ahead, a broad gag order has been lifted and investigators and officials connected to the case have released never-before-seen evidence and records.

In an interview with the Idaho Statesman, Thompson revealed for the first time that Kohberger collected creepy trophies from women in his past life.

At the time of his arrest, Kohberger was in possession of 'ID-type cards' belonging to two women he knew years before the murders.

At least one of the women was the killer's former colleague at the Pleasant Valley School District in Pennsylvania.

Kohberger attended Pleasant Valley School District schools growing up, graduating from the high school in 2013. He then worked part time as a security officer for the district from 2016 through 2021, while pursuing his studies in psychology and criminology.

Kohberger's parents also worked for the district, Michael as a maintenance worker and MaryAnn a special needs paraprofessional.

The IDs were found hidden inside a glove inside a box during a search executed at Kohberger's family home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, following his December 30, 2022, arrest.

The prosecutor - whose decision to strike a plea deal with the mass killer divided the victims' families - said the discovery came as a surprise to both women. Neither of the women had been 'harmed or threatened,' Thompson said.

Aerial view shows the layout of the rooms where Kohberger fatally attacked his victims

The images show the interior and exterior of the home, detailing the layout of the rooms belonging to the victims and survivors

The model house is not furnished as it was when the murders took place back on November 13, 2022

As well as sharing new information about evidence in the case, Thompson revealed for the first time which of Kohberger's family members would have testified against him at trial.

Prosecutors previously revealed plans to call some of Kohberger's immediate family members - his parents and two older sisters Amanda and Melissa - as witnesses for the state.

Which family members and why remained a mystery, with the details kept under seal.

Thompson told the Idaho Statesman the plan had been to call Kohberger's sister Amanda and either his mother or father if the case went to trial.

He did not divulge the exact reasoning for this.

But, as the trial date loomed, the state decided against calling any of the Kohberger family because they weren't the 'best witnesses' and they had not shared anything 'substantively incriminating' during police interviews.

Moscow Police have also released a trove of 314 records from the investigation that ultimately led to Kohbergers arrest.

The records include details of eerie encounters the students had at 1122 King Road before they were murdered.

Goncalves had told friends she had seen a man watching her in the trees around the home and the roommates had come home to find the front door open one day.

Bryan Kohberger seen in a new mugshot after he was sentenced to life in prison for the murders

The home at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, on November 20, 2022 - one week on from the murders

The student home being demolished in December 2023 - one year on from the murders

It is not clear if these incidents are related to Kohberger but cell phone evidence does indicate he was surveilling the home months before the murders.

Other documents reveal that, following Kohberger's arrest, several women came forward to police about creepy interactions they had with Kohberger.

One unidentified woman claimed to have matched with Kohberger on Tinder in September or October 2022 - just weeks before the murders.

The woman broke contact with Kohberger after he allegedly asked her a chilling question: what did she think would be the worst way to die?

She told police that when she told him by knife, he responded with an eerie comment to the effect of, like a Ka-Bar?

Around one month later, Kohberger is believed to have used a Ka-Bar knife to slaughter his victims.

Despite the flurry of new information released and Kohberger's guilty plea, many unanswered questions remain, including Kohbergers motive, who his intended target was and why he chose his victims.

Kohberger refused to shed any light on the murders or provide any answers at his sentencing.
Air India passengers were left panicked and disgusted after spotting cockroaches on their flight from San Francisco to Mumbai.

Fliers aboard flight AI180 faced the unsettling inconvenience when two passengers noticed the oval-shaped insects in the cabin after the flight took off on Sunday.

Staffers moved the concerned travelers to different seats when they made the skin-crawling discovery, according to a statement from the airline.

The cockroaches were first seen at the start of the lengthy flight - meaning passengers were likely on edge for most of the 16-hour trip.

Air India said when the flight made its scheduled refueling stop in Kolkata, the crew 'promptly conducted a deep cleaning process to address the issue.'

The Kolkata stop was about 14 hours and 30 minutes into the trip, according to FlightAware.

After the cleaning session, the flight resumed its journey to Mumbai without further delays.

The airline has launched an internal investigation to determine how the insects boarded the aircraft and how to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Fliers aboard flight AI180 faced the unsettling inconvenience when two passengers noticed the insects in the cabin when the flight took off on Sunday (file photo)

The cockroaches were seen toward the start of the lengthy flight - meaning passengers were likely on edge for most of the 16-hour trip (stock image)

Air India acknowledged the disruption and explained that insects can occasionally enter planes during ground operations despite routine fumigation protocols.

'On flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, two passengers were unfortunately bothered by the presence of a few small cockroaches on board,' a spokesperson admitted on X.

'We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the passengers.'

This online apology has sparked an uproar, with social media users around the globe calling out the airline for the revolting ordeal.

'Air India services quality have deteriorated to the lowest possible standards...below sub par! From impeccable to downright shoddy and disgusting,' someone wrote.

'Best is to avoid flying @airindia till they clean up their act,' another man wrote.

This is not the first time Air India fliers have complained about the unwanted guests joining them on their flights.

Vegetarian journalist Rahul Raghuvanshi, based in Boston, shared a photo of his grim discovery on Twitter in 2016 (pictured)

This online apology has sparked an uproar, with social media users around the globe calling out the airline for the revolting ordeal

Several videos have been shared online, allegedly showing cockroaches crawling on airplane seats.

At times, they have even been spotted in people's meals.

These insect sightings did not all emerge recently either - with a food journalist calling out the airline nearly 10 years ago after finding a dead bug in his flight dinner.

Vegetarian journalist Rahul Raghuvanshi, based in Boston, shared a photo of his grim discovery on Twitter in 2016.

'Air India now serves cockroach for vegetarian meals on AI127 #sicktomystomach #traumatized #cockroachinfood,' he wrote on X, then Twitter.

He was sitting in economy - already halfway through his meal - when he found it, and says he was on a flight to Chicago from the Indian city of Hyderabad.

At the time, Air India addressed the unwelcome ingredient, issuing a similar statement to the one they shared on Monday.

'Air India took serious note of the incident and issued notice to the caterer concerned immediately. Further investigation is going on,' a spokesperson said.

When the travelers made the skin-crawling discovery, flight staffers moved them to different seats in the same class, according to a statement from the airline (file photo)

Sunday's debacle came shortly after an operational issue on another Air India aircraft.

A Delhibound flight was canceled due to excessively high cabin temperatures prior to takeoff.

Flight AI500 was called off from leaving Bhubaneswar due to a technical issue that caused the Airbus A321 aircraft's cabin to reach excruciating temperatures, according to an airline statement.
A Canadian transgender activist once praised by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is facing fierce backlash after posting a chilling public message that appeared to reveal the location of author J.K. Rowling's private yacht.

Morgane Oger  a controversial figure in the LGBTQ+ advocacy world  sparked outrage after tracking Rowling's yacht near Vancouver and inviting the author to a 'chit chat' in what many are calling a thinly veiled threat.

'Billionaire boating bigots prefer trans-inclusive vacationing spots such as British Columbia. Am I right, @jk_rowling?' Oger wrote.

'Enjoy our hospitable province, don't forget to tip, but maybe don't stay too long. Stop by English Bay and come for drinks or a bbq if you'd like a chit chat between just us yachties.'

The message, tinged with both sarcasm and hostility, immediately triggered a wave of condemnation online.

'This is stalker behaviour. Leave her alone,' one user wrote.

Another misgendered Oger as a 'sad little man' while saying her action was 'beyond creepy.'

'I'm sure giving someone's location online is illegal,' a third person said.

'She's very welcome here, and this is creepy doxing-like behaviour, proving many of her opinions that you hate her for,' a fourth added.

Morgane Oger, a Canadian transgender activist once praised by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is facing fierce backlash after a chilling public message

Oger appeared to post a tweet that revealed the location of author J.K. Rowling's private yacht

Rowling, a vocal supporter of women's sex-based rights, has long been targeted by transgender activists for her stance that biological sex is real and relevant in law and society

Critics accused Oger of engaging in dangerous intimidation and potential doxxing just for the crime of holding dissenting views on gender identity.

Rowling, a vocal supporter of women's sex-based rights, has long been targeted by transgender activists for her stance that biological sex is real and relevant in law and society.

The uproar stands in stark contrast to the accolades Oger has previously received from Canadian leaders.

In December 2023, Oger was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, one of Canada's highest civilian honors, in recognition of her work advancing legal protections for transgender Canadians.

She was celebrated at the time as a 'champion of diversity' whose efforts helped change national and provincial laws.

'Her courage, vision and perseverance have helped redefine the fundamental issue of equality and have advanced inclusiveness for gender-diverse Canadians,' the award citation stated.

It the time, Oger was delighted with the award telling media, 'It feels really, really, really nice. We don't live in a day and age where medals come about very often, and the campaign to bring equality still has a lot of road ahead of us.'

But her track record has also been marred by controversy especially among Canadian feminists and women's groups.

Morgane Oger (left), a transgender woman, was given a Meritorious Service Medal by Canadian Governor-General Mary Simon (right) in December 2023

Official photos show her receiving the award alongside dozens of other Canadians honored for their 'exceptional deeds'

In 2019, Oger spearheaded a successful campaign to strip Vancouver Rape Relief Canada's oldest rape crisis shelter of city funding because it refused to admit transgender women.

The shelter, which serves female victims of male violence, argued that it could not adequately support those who hadn't experienced life as girls and women.

'We do not have the experience to offer services to people without the same life experience this is not our work,' the shelter stated.

Nonetheless, Vancouver City Council voted to yank its $34,000 grant unless the shelter changed its policy.

'Trans women are women and sex work is work. Trans women and sex workers deserve care and protection I can't support orgs who exclude them,' Councilor Christine Boyle declared at the time.

Oger, speaking before council, said the shelter's exclusion of trans women violated the city's inclusion criteria.

Following the funding decision, the shelter was hit by waves of vandalism.

'Kill TERFS, trans power,' was scrawled on its windows, and a dead rat was nailed to the door.

Oger spearheaded an effort in 2019 that got Vancouver Rape Relief stripped of city funding because it refused to shelter transgender women

Transgender activists attacked the shelter and vandalised its windows

Oger at the time implied that though the vandalism was unacceptable, the shelter brought it on itself

Oger denounced the attacks as regrettable, but blamed the shelter for provoking them.

The shelter blasted Oger's campaign as 'discrimination against women in the name of inclusion,' and warned the city it was attempting to coerce them into abandoning core principles.

That same combative energy is what critics say underlies Oger's post about Rowling's yacht.

While Rowling is no stranger to threats and vitriol, including death threats, the public revelation of her real-time location has many stunned.

Oger's comment invited Rowling to 'come for drinks' was interpreted by many as taunting rather than genuine hospitality.

There is no indication Rowling has responded publicly to the post.
An entrepreneur who is fleeing downtown Cincinnati in the wake of an appalling mass brawl showed Daily Mail the abject squalor that has driven him out.

Victor Louis, founder and CEO of local firm One Logistics Network, took the Mail on a grim tour of the beleaguered Ohio city on Monday. He said Cincinnati's woke leaders were entirely to blame for its demise.

The city has been thrust into the national spotlight following the mass brawl that erupted on the night of July 26, with a man and a woman being violently assaulted by violent men.

Further outrage ensued when Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge - who is being sued for alleged anti-white racism - scolded journalists for allegedly taking the viral clips 'out of context'

But Louis told Daily Mail that Cincinnati deserves its newfound notoriety. And he said last weekend's brawl was the straw that broke the camel's back, with his 35 employees now moving to the peaceful suburb of Blue Ash.

He said that: 'Had [the brawl] not happened, I don't know if anybody would believe what's been going on. In one sense it is an isolated incident, but things have led up to this.'

Cincinnati is home to eight Fortune 500 headquarters - but during rush hour on Monday morning its streets were near-desolate.

And the people that Daily Mail did see paint a clear picture of why Louis and others are so angry.

Victor Louis, seen here, has operated a business in the downtown area of the city for years, but the recent spat of incidents has forced him to move away from the district

The problems facing the city were on full display as Daily Mail walked around on Monday morning, a woman can be seen here injecting herself with a syringe outside of a church

The woman bent over moments later. She was also seen working on a colorful begging sign

Just a few hundred feet from the grandiose and historic City Hall a young woman, around 20-years-old, was seen injecting herself with a syringe.

Next to her, a man's arm gushed with blood, having also just shot up in Cincinnati's downtown - with no consequences. The brazen display was not a surprise for Louis.

'That's in broad daylight, right by City Hall. Literally someone can look out their window and see this, and nothing is being done', he told the Daily Mail.

'If you can't fix that, why do you think crime circulates. And that was right in front of us, there is no hiding, that girl was also very young.'

He continued: 'Nobody is walking the beat, those people are camped out there. That was blatant, and they aren't even hiding it.'

Other Cincinnati vagrants were seen smoking from glass pipes commonly used to get high on crack cocaine, crystal meth or fentanyl.

In one particularly jarring moment, a woman sat on a park bench injected herself with a syringe in full view of churchgoers gathering outside their house of worship for a service.

Louis had issued a letter to local leaders last week after the viral clip of the brawl made headlines, saying he was officially done with the downtown district.

A haphazard-looking man on a BMX smoked as he cycled through downtown Cincy on Monday morning

The once-proud metropolis' handsome city hall is now a preferred location for people to inject themselves with syringes in broad daylight

Cincinnati is home to eight Fortune 500 companies - but during rush hour Monday morning, its streets were deserted

A lone police car patrols the streets Monday. Vows to flood downtown with officers appear to have fallen short

'It's been issue after issue', he added. Louis said his employees no longer feel safe working in the area, adding that: 'They don't want to come down to work here here anymore'.

The most recent sight to sicken Louis was that of a homeless person who yanked down their pants on a sidewalk near his office to defecate.

Others regularly tote weapons while strutting around streets which were once home to bustling shops, offices, restaurants and bars.

The 39-year-old added: 'The city doesn't control violent crime, and they can't maintain litter, and they can't maintain vagrancy. Guess what? Those things just run rampant. And that's what we are seeing around the city.

'When you can't fix these problems like littering and drug abuse, you're not going to be able to fix violent crime. Why ask people to play chess when they can't even play checkers?'

An undated photograph showing downtown Cincinnati in more prosperous times - which have since long passed

This is the image that pushed Cincinnati into national headlines. A woman was beaten to the ground by a man during a shocking mass brawl

Just last week a woman was shot in the neck and leg in the Over the Rhine neighborhood in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Before that, hundreds of youths had swamped a 4th of July celebration and burned a police officer with a firework.

Louis also mentioned the killing of fellow Cincinnati business owner Patrick Heringer.

He was murdered in his own home in the city in June, while protecting his family from an intruder who stabbed him multiple times.

Mordecia Black, 38, was indicted in his death and other charges including aggravated burglary and felonious assault.

It later emerged that Black was a convicted felon and had cut his ankle monitor off earlier this year before vanishing from a halfway house. He had managed to evade police for months before allegedly killing Heringer.

In an open letter Louis wrote last week, he added: 'A consistent decline in the conditions for doing business in the city over the past several years has made our continued presence untenable,' he wrote.

'My employees have concerns about their safety and do not feel valued for their contributions to the city.'

Louis is not alone in his concerns. The Cincinnati Restaurant Industry clubbed together to issue their own statement on the brawl and the spat of other issues facing the area.

Five people have been charged in connection with the violent brawl, seen here, which has catapulted the city into the spotlight

The woman attacked, known only as Holly, is seen here with horrific injuries following the brawl

They said: 'The video circulating from that night is disturbing, and like many in this city, we are calling for accountability and decisive action.

'Our businesses represent thousands of employees and serve tens of thousands of guests each week.

'We've invested heavily in this city - not just financially, but with our time, presence and long-term commitment to Cincinnati's success.

'But we cannot carry this alone. We need clear, proactive, and correctives measures from our city leadership. This is not a moment for vague promises or delayed responses.

'Our community is asking for a real plan, one that addresses this incident and the broader safety concerns that have been raised for months.'

On Friday, Mayor Aftab Pureval said that he would be increasing law enforcement patrols in the city. On Monday the Mail didn't see any police presence in the downtown area, where open drug abuse was the order of the day.

Mayor Aftab Pureval said last week that mother police would be deployed to the city to crackdown on crime

Pureval added: 'There is no place for violent crime in Cincinnati, whether it's a fight or gun violence.

'We will pursue those responsible and we will hold them accountable no matter who they are.'

In her first remarks since the assault, Holly, who is still severely bruised, said it has left her with trauma to the brain.

In an emotional message, she said: 'I want to say thank you to everyone for all of the love and support.

'It's definitely what's keeping me going. And you have just brought back faith in humanity.

'It's been very, very hard, and I'm still recovering. I still have a very bad brain trauma. God bless you all. Thank you.'

Political commentator Benny Johnson shared the video to his X profile after he organized an online fundraiser for her, which has already raised $168,000.

Jermaine Matthews, left, and Dominique Kittle are both facing charges in connection with the brawl

Dekyra Vernon, 24, (left) and Montianez Merriweather, 34, (right) were also taken into custody in connection with the melee

According to the page Holly is a single working-class mother and is out of work due to her injuries as well as living in an undisclosed location due to threats on her life.

The update from Holly comes after a fourth person was arrested in connection with the fight.

Dominique Kittle, 37, was taken into police custody on Friday night and was charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot, his bond was set at $150,000.

He appeared in court on Saturday where his lawyer told the judge that suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, according to WLWT.

Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24, were taken into custody earlier this week after the ordeal, which JD Vance waded in on.

Matthew and Merriweather were initially charged with aggravated riot and assault over the brawl.

New footage has also emerged showing the moments leading up to the attack, with one of the men who police said was a victim using racial slurs.

The video, obtained by The Enquirer, shows the unknown individual say: 'Get him! Get that little n*****.'

Two black men appeared to try and talk to the man to calm him down before the brawl starts. Matthews' attorney Brandon Fox released the video.
A five-year old boy has been rushed to hospital after allegedly falling from a height in Dagenham this afternoon.

Paramedics rushed to the scene near Dagenham Headway Tube station in east London at 2.31pm earlier today.

Church Elm Lane was closed off between Church Elm Lane Health Centre and the Tasty Kebab Shop by police.

The child is understood to have fallen from a height and was taken to a major trauma centre by medics who arrived within five minutes.

An Air Ambulance also arrived at Old Dagenham Park following the incident. It is understood the child has not sustained life threatening injuries.

The Metropolitan Police have also confirmed no arrests have been made in relation to the fall.

A five-year old boy has been rushed to hospital after 'falling from a height' in Dagenham this afternoon

It is understood the child has not sustained life threatening injuries and no arrests have been made (Pictured: An air ambulance at the scene)

Pictured: Emergency services rushing to the scene near Dagenham Headway Tube Station, within five minutes of the incident

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 14:32hrs on Monday, 4 August to reports of a child who had fallen from height in Church Elm Lane, Dagenham

'A five-year-old boy was taken to hospital for treatment. His injuries are not life threatening. There have been no arrests.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson added: 'We were called at 2.31pm today to reports of a person fallen from height on Church Elm Lane, Dagenham.

'We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an incident response officer and a paramedic in a fast response car.

'We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance.

'Our first paramedic arrived in less than five minutes. We treated a child at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre by road.'
Democrat Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett shared some choice words for President Donald Trump during her latest rabble-rousing stunt.

Crockett called Trump 'a piece of sh*t' during a Sunday stop on MoveOn's Won't Back Down Tour in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Texas congresswoman's comments were in reference to Republican plans to redraw maps in Republican states to their advantage ahead of next year's midterm elections.

MoveOn described the event as bringing 'the fire to key congressional districts where Republicans are taking away people's healthcare to make the rich even richer,' stating it was 'time to start organizing to vote them out in 2026.'

White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail in a statement that 'Jasmine Crocketts low-intelligence comments arent merely pathetic digs at President Trump, theyre insults to the millions of Americans who elected him to Make America Great Again. '

'While Jasmine, the Democrat Partys chief spokeswoman, continues to double down on attacking the American people, President Trump is fulfilling his promises and ushering in Americas Golden Age. With behavior like this from the left, its no wonder Democrats are historically unpopular,' Jackson added.

Last month, Trump grouped Crockett with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, calling AOC 'very nice but she's very Low IQ' and saying that 'between her and Crockett, we're going to give them both an IQ test to see who comes out best.'

Crockett has made headlines numerous times in recent months as a key critic of the Trump administration, and the issue of congressional redistricting in her home state ahead of the 2026 midterms is the latest one she has spoken out on.

Crockett called Trump 'Temu Hitler' in a recent interview with SiriusXM host Zerlina Maxwell, due to the president's involvement in the redistricting process.

'So what we have seen is, again, this rogue Department of Justice going out to do the bidding of this Temu Hitler,' Crockett told Maxwell in July.

Rep Jasmine Crockett speaks during the Won't Back Down event at The Van Buren on August 03, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona

Rep. Jasmine Crockett testifies against the new proposed Congressional maps on August 1st, 2025

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, Rep Jasmine Crockett and Rep Yassamin Ansari answer questions during the Won't Back Down event at The Van Buren on August 03, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona

Crockett also added that in her view, Trump believes that the only way to 'ensure that [he] will have no checks on [him] is if [he] can ensure that those voices of color do not have representation.'

Crockett faces being booted from Congress after Republicans proposed a heavily gerrymandered redistricting map that would mean she no longer lives in her district.

She has slammed the Texas redistricting maps as a sham that silences minority voices and keeps power in the hands of the few, diluting the voting power of Latino and Black communities.

The redistricting push in Texas was spurred by a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice sent to state officials in July, which argued that four of the state's congressional districts were racially gerrymandered. Democrats won all four of these seats in the 2024 elections.

The Texas congressional maps were already redrawn after the 2020 Census, and they are typically edited every ten years.

Trump then urged Texas Republicans to rethink their Congressional maps to give Republicans a leg up in next year's midterm elections.

A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed Plan is seen a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025

Texas Rep. Todd Hunter, the Republican bill author, said four of the five new districts are majority Hispanic and 'trend Republican.'

He noted that while 'political performance doesn't guarantee electoral success,' it gives 'Republican candidates the opportunity to compete in these districts.'

After the Friday hearings on the proposed new maps, the Republicans on the Texas House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting voted to their proposal on a party-line vote.

Texas state Rep Chris Turner holds a map as he asks questions during a public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025

Democrats plan to stall a vote on the legislation by the full chamber by not showing up. A full chamber vote could happen as soon as Tuesday. 100 members of the Texas House are needed to conduct business, and Republicans hold 88 seats in the body. 62 seats are held by Democrats.

Lawmakers could be fined $500 a day if they refuse to come to work, per a rule adopted in 2021 after Texas Democrats pulled a similar move to postpone another voting bill.

A set of maps showing the new proposed Congressional seats in Texas

A comparison of the current Texas Congressional Districts, and the new proposed map

Regardless of the creation of the new maps, Crockett's time in the U.S. House of Representatives may be coming to an end soon.

In a July interview with liberal comedian and media personality Hasan Minhaj, Crockett noted that she already has her 'expiration date in mind for the House,' adding that she already has 'been eyeing people to replace' her.

While she hasn't expressed direct interest in the U.S. Senate, Republicans seem interested in offering up her up as a radioactive option to Texas voters.

Polling released by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) last month showed Crockett leading a hypothetical Democratic primary with 35 percent of likely voters, followed by former Rep. Colin Allred at 20 percent and former U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke and Rep. Joaquin Castro tied at 13 percent.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term, is facing his own Republican primary from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
An Orlando woman is facing 20 felony charges after she performed a procedure that made her patient's chin rot away.

Gabriela Pereira, 29, was arrested last week for practicing medicine without a license to do so in Florida, according to an affidavit.

The lawsuit claims that Pereira performed a fatreducing treatment on the chin of her patient, Kelly Coelho, in April 2024 that caused a severe infection.

Coelho, a hotel cleaner, visited Tonya Beauty Medical Spa in Orlando multiple times to receive Botox.

During one of her visits Coelho allegedly told Pereira that 'she would love to get her double chin done,' but could not afford the procedure, which was reportedly more than $800.

Pereira then offered to do the treatment for free in exchange for posting pictures of her results on the @tonyabeauty Instagram account, which has more than four million followers.

The 29yearold 'represented herself to be medically licensed' and provided the laser treatment, but she left the laser sitting too long on the chin area, which caused blisters and necrosis  the death of cells and body tissue.

'You go there trusting that they're going to do what you contacted them for and do a good job,' Coelho's attorney Felipe Mavromatis told Koco News.

Gabriela Pereira (pictured) was arrested last week for practicing medicine without a license to do so in Florida

Kelly Coelho visited Tonya Beauty Medical Spa in Orlando multiple times to receive Botox

Coelho and Pereira began texting and sending audio messages via WhatsApp on almost a daily basis due to her complications and concerns, the lawsuit says. The patient was scared because she had a headache, a fever of 102 and there was pus coming out of her right eye.

On April 22, 2024, Coelho reached out to Pereira again and told her she couldn't take it anymore, and had to go to hospital because she felt there was 'a serious infection in her chin area' and the area looked 'out of proportion'.

Between April 22, 2024, and May 3, 2024, Pereira saw Coelho at Tonya Beauty a total of eight times after the procedure, attempting to treat the damage.

Pereira even invited Coelho to her home to try and fix the botched job.

'Going as far as saying, look, come to my house, come to my home and I'll do these procedures for you on the weekend  rather than saying go to the doctor,' Mavromatis said. 'It's kind of egregious.'

Eventually Coelho went to see Dr Stefannia Ezzi, who reported that the patient told her she was 'in pain, depressed and afraid she was going to die from the massive infection.'

Ezzi ultimately healed the area except for some scar tissue through treatments using antibiotics and steroids, as well as drainage and ozone and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

During one of her visits Coelho allegedly told Pereira that 'she would love to get her double chin done', but could not afford the procedure, which was reportedly more than $800. Pereira offered to do the treatment for free in exchange for posting pictures of her results on their Instagram

Tonya Beauty posted a statement in Portuguese on the Instagram page, insisting they have all necessary licenses.

'With over 10 years of experience in the market, we have built a solid reputation based on trust, professionalism, and excellence in advanced aesthetics,' the post said.

But more people have reached out to Mavromatis with similar issues. The attorney says there is another lawsuit that is set to be filed this week with similar complaints against the clinic, including negligent hiring and negligent supervision.

Pereira posted a $29,750 bond on the condition that she'd surrender her passport.
An adorable toddler died two days before his second birthday after he was left in a hot car by his foster father for over eight hours, according to police.

Hudley Owen Hamlett was found unresponsive on Thursday after his legal guardian, Brian Dalton, left him in a hot car while he went to work in Virginia, officials said.

The tragedy was uncovered when Dalton arrived at the Chestnut Academy day care at about 3.30pm to pick Hudley up but was informed the toddler had not been dropped off that day.

That's when Hudley was discovered strapped in the back of the vehicle Dalton had driven to work that morning.

Dalton had left the boy in his car as he worked an eight-hour shift and did not realize it until he went to the daycare in the afternoon, according to officials.

Staff at the daycare and first responders attempted life-saving measures but Hudley was pronounced dead at a hospital, as reported by ABC 13.

Temperatures in Amherst County, about a 120-mile drive from Richmond, reached 88 degrees on Thursday afternoon.

Hudley Owen Hamlett died two days before his second birthday after he was left in a hot car

Foster father Brian Dalton left the boy in the car for over eight hours as he went to work, cops said

A heartbreaking image from the scene shows the boy's shoe and backpack on the ground

Dalton was taken into custody at the scene and was charged with abuse and neglect of children and involuntary manslaughter.

'It's just a tragedy that you never, never expect to happen, never should happen, but it's unfortunate that it did,' said Amherst County Sheriff L.J. Ayers.

'As a man of faith, I would have to say that the only consolation that I can find in this is this little fella has faced many challenges in his short life. Now, he has the ability to grow and flourish without life's challenges in his eternal home.'

The sheriff said Dalton has been cooperating with officials and expressed remorse over the tragedy. He added that there is nothing that points to an intentional act.

The Virginia community gathered for a vigil to honor Hudley on Saturday, which would have been his second birthday.

Hudley's biological mother Jennifer Dalton told local news outlets the loss was devastating.

They said they are 'taking it one day at a time' and know the toddler is watching over them.

It's not clear why Hudley was in foster care.

The tragedy was uncovered when Dalton arrived at the Chestnut Academy day care to pick Hudley up but was informed the toddler had not been dropped off that day

It comes less than a month after a 5-year-old Nebraska boy in foster care died after being left for several hours inside a hot SUV.

The boys foster mother, 40-year-old Juanita Pinon of Omaha, was arrested and charged with child abuse by neglect resulting in death.

The temperature in Omaha peaked at 86 degrees about an hour before the child was found.
Tommy Robinson has tonight been arrested at Luton Airport on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

The 42-year-old was taken into custody by officers after a plane he boarded in Faro, Portugal, landed in Britain.

The arrest is connection with an incident at St Pancras station where a man was allegedly assaulted.

Robinson had gone to Tenerife a day later and was wanted for questioning after video emerged of him walking away from the scene.

A spokesperson for the British Transport Police said: 'Officers from BTP have tonight (4 August) arrested a 42-year-old man from Bedfordshire in connection to an assault at St Pancras station on 28 July.

'The arrest took place at Luton Airport shortly after 6.30pm, following a notification that the man had boarded an incoming flight from Faro.

'The man had been wanted for questioning after leaving the country to Tenerife in the early hours of 29 July following the incident at St Pancras.

This is the moment Tommy Robinson was arrested at Luton Airport after getting off a flight from Faro, in Portugal

Tommy Robinson has tonight been arrested at Luton Airport on suspicion of grievous bodily harm

It comes after footage emerged last week of Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, walking away form the scene of an alleged attack at St Pancras railway station

'He was arrested on suspicion of GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm) and will now be taken to custody for questioning.'

A video emerged last week of Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, walking away from the scene of an alleged attack at the railway station.

Paramedics rushed to the scene at around 8.40pm on Monday, July 28, and the alleged victim was taken to a major trauma centre with 'serious injuries'.

The 64-year-old victim - whose head appeared to be covered in the video - was taken to a major trauma centre with 'serious injuries' after the ordeal.

He was discharged from hospital last Wednesday, British Transport Police confirmed.

Robinson, the English Defence League founder, had earlier posted footage of himself handing out flyers inside the station for an upcoming 'free speech' protest on September 13.
Sir Keir Starmer has called for the police to be as transparent as possible about the ethnicity of suspected sex offenders.

The Prime Minister was forced to respond on Monday after Nigel Farages demanded that police disclose the backgrounds of those charged with rape and sexual assault.

It comes after the Mail on Sunday revealed that two Afghan asylum seekers have been charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

In a press conference on Monday, the Reform UK leader accused police of a cover-up for failing to divulge the ethnicity or immigration status of the two men.

He warned that it was reminiscent of speculation about the background of the Southport killer last year which triggered a wave of conspiracy theories and riots last summer.

Appearing alongside him, the 19-year-old Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council said he had begged the police force to release details of the mens backgrounds.

George Finch claimed he had been told he could not release information about the mens background himself due to this phrase community cohesion.

Mr Farages intervention prompted Downing Street to tell the police to be as transparent as possible when it came to revealing the ethnicity of people charged with offences.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) has called for the police to be as transparent as possible about the ethnicity of suspected sex offenders. The Prime Ministers spokesman said the Government had always said, and continues to say, that transparency is important

The Prime Minister was forced to respond on Monday after Nigel Farages demanded that police disclose the backgrounds of those charged with rape and sexual assault. In a press conference on Monday, the Reform UK leader accused police of a cover-up

The Prime Ministers spokesman said the Government had always said, and continues to say, that transparency is important.

He said the case in Nuneaton was clearly a deeply upsetting and distressing case, which the public are right to feel shocked and angry about.

Our position is that all authorities, from the police up to central government, should be as transparent as possible when handling these cases, he added.

Mr Farage said on Monday that it was absolutely disgraceful that the police had not informed the public that the men were Afghan asylum seekers.

Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged with rape and Mohammad Kabir, also 23, was charged with aiding and abetting an assault, as well as strangulation and kidnapping.

The Reform leader said that the backgrounds of suspects charged with sexual assault and rape should be shared with the public.

Our position is that all authorities, from the police up to central government, should be as transparent as possible when handling these cases, he said.

Given theres a pretty febrile atmosphere... particularly [around] sexual assaults and rapes, where the temperature on this debate has risen significantly... I do believe they should [disclose suspects ethnicities].

Mr Farage said on Monday that it was absolutely disgraceful that the police had not informed the public that the men were Afghan asylum seekers. The Reform leader said that the backgrounds of suspects charged with sexual assault and rape should be shared publicly

The PM's spokesman said the case in Nuneaton (pictured) was clearly a deeply upsetting and distressing case, which the public are right to feel shocked and angry about'

Sir Keir has responded to Nigel Farage's warning that a 'police cover-up was reminiscent of speculation about the background of the Southport killer last year which triggered a wave of conspiracy theories and riots last summer

He warned that failing to disclose these details could lead to a repeat of the riots which happened in the wake of the murders of three children last year.

What caused unrest on our streets after Southport last year was us not being told the status of the attacker, he said.

That led to crazy conspiracy theories spreading online.

The aftermath of the murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed event by Axel Rudakubana a year ago sparked riots across the country.

The unrest was fuelled by conspiracy theories and speculation on social media that the suspect was an illegal migrant.

Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, later said that the failure to share basic facts had led to dangerous fictions which caused the riots.

Warwickshire Police has defended its position on the Nuneaton case, stating: We follow national guidance, adding that this does not extend to sharing ethnicity or immigration status.

Where relevant, sensitive information around locations, details of the crime and policing activity to catch offenders can be shared, with a warning that this is sensitive or confidential information and disclosure by those being briefed could affect future court hearings, it said.

Appearing alongside Farage, George Finch (pictured), the 19-year-old Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council said he had begged the police force to release details of the mens backgrounds. but that police refused 'due to this phrase "community cohesion".'

During the press conference, Mr Farage also revealed the defection of Rupert Matthews (pictured) , the Tory police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire

The guidance is issued by the Royal College of Policing and covers what details should be released to media but does not mention details of race, ethnicity or immigration status.

Mr Finch, the 19-year-old council leader, told the press conference that he had been begging for information about the men to be released.

He said he had emailed the councils chief executive to urge them to release information about the mens immigration status.

He said he also wrote to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the chief constable of Warwickshire Police calling for the immediate release of their immigration status.

In it, he claimed that a cover-up of the mens background risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire.

Having my ear to the ground locally, it is clear that there is much appetite for protests to take place across the county, the letter adds.

During the press conference, Mr Farage also revealed the defection of Rupert Matthews, the Tory police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire.

The former Tory MEP and party member for 40 years left the party because he said Britain needed to cut the dark heart of wokeness out of the criminal justice system.

The author of various books on ghosts and UFOs becomes the partys first police and crime commissioner.
Former Rep. George Santos has penned a dramatic letter from prison, revealing he's openly shed tears and already been subjected to bathroom horrors.

Santos, a New York Republican who was expelled from Congress after it was exposed he had fabricated large parts of his biography, is serving a seven-year sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

He reported to Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey on Friday, July 25, sharing his initial impressions in a piece for Long Island's South Shore Press.

Santos said he was given a 'fluorescent yellow jumpsuit that made me feel like a caution sign in human form.'

'That image - me, hollow-eyed, clad in state-issued polyester - hit me like a punch to the gut,' he described.

Santos, who is gay, said he immediately started to cry.

'The tears came faster than I could stop them,' he said. 'I didn't care who saw. That reflection, in that moment, made the weight of my decisions, my mistakes, and the road that led me there all too real.'

Fairton is described as a medium security federal correctional institution by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, but Santos remarked that the lack of freedom still stings.

Former Republican Rep. George Santos went to jail on July 25. He wrote a letter to the Long Island South Shore Press detailing his initial impressions of prison life including that the bathroom 'deserves its own horror novel'

Former Rep. George Santos was sentenced to seven years for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and is currently serving time at Federal Correctional Institution Fairton (pictured) in New Jersey

'I'm in what they call a 'camp' - a minimum-security facility that, in theory, should feel less harsh than the prisons you see on TV. But let's not kid ourselves: a cage is still a cage, even if it doesn't have bars,' Santos said.

The disgraced former lawmaker said the cafeteria felt 'straight out of a public school built in the 1970s - same linoleum floors, the same clatter of trays, only now the food is joyless and served with indifference.'

'The bathroom, though, deserves its own horror novel,' he continued. 'The closest thing I can compare it to is an abandoned gym locker room from a forgotten high school - grim, damp, smelling of mildew and regret.'

'You don't go in there without flip-flips and prayer,' he said.

Santos, ever the politician, used the letter to vow that he wouldn't step away from public life - and he'd do his part to remind other inmates 'that we are still human beings, still Americans, and still protected under that sacred document,' the U.S. Constitution.

The former congressman who served just 11 months said he brought his pocket-sized copy of the Constitution with him to jail.

Santos wrote: 'I haven't given up. I won't.'

'Because this moment in my life, as bitter and brutal as it is, will not define the whole story. It's only a chapter. And like any good book, the best chapters are still unwritten,' he said.

'I write this not seeking sympathy, but to share the raw truth of what this place is and does. Prison has taught me that even behind these walls, your voice still matters. And mine isn't going anywhere,' he writes.

It appears that Santos won't be going anywhere for awhile, with President Donald Trump appearing ambivalent about pardoning him, despite the fact that the lawmaker was openly supportive of the GOP president.

Asked about pardoning Santos when he sat down with Newsmax's Rob Finnerty last week, Trump said, 'He lied like hell, I have to tell you,' Trump remarked with a laugh. 'And I didn't know him, but he was 100 percent for Trump. I might have maybe met him, maybe, maybe not. But he was a congressman and his vote was solid.'

Santos' fraudulent biography was unearthed by The New York Times in the weeks following his 2022 election win.

"You could blame the other side for not checking him out,' Trump continued. 'He didn't do all those things that he said ... Everybody missed it. They found out about this stuff after the election was won.'

Trump revealed that 'nobody's talked to me' about a Santos pardon.

Before heading to prison, Santos told veteran Capitol Hill reporter Juliegrace Brufke for an episode of her Sources Say podcast that a group of New York Republican lawmakers pushed House Speaker Mike Johnson to tell Trump not to pardon him, an assertion that Johnson and most of the lawmakers' offices denied.

'I can't get past the gatekeepers,' Santos claimed in trying for a pardon pitch.
Labour is facing new questions over its small boats deal with France after it emerged the agreement will expire in just 11 months.

The much-trumpeted deal with Emmanuel Macrons government will lapse at the end of June next year  just 47 weeks away  unless it is renewed.

The Home Office has also refused to say how many small boat migrants will be returned under the agreement.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the meagre and short-term deal would splutter to a halt even before the start of next years peak small boats season.

Migrants who arrive by small boat from Wednesday could face being selected for the scheme.

It means that instead of being sent to taxpayer-funded asylum hotels after arriving in Dover they will instead be placed in detention.

The Home Office would then work with French counterparts to return the migrants as part of the one in, one out scheme, which will also see Britain accept other migrants from France with stronger asylum claims.

However, pro-migrant groups have already indicated they are poised to bring legal challenges against Labours new scheme  just as they did against the previous Conservative governments Rwanda asylum deal.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron (both pictured) announced the new returns deal last month after a summit in Westminster but it will lapse in June next year - just 47 weeks away - unless it is renewed

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp (pictured) said the meagre and short-term deal would splutter to a halt even before the start of next years peak small boats season. Migrants who arrive by small boat from Wednesday could face being selected for the scheme

From Wednesday, instead of being sent to taxpayer-funded asylum hotels after arriving in Dover selected migrants will be placed in detention. The Home Office would then work with French counterparts to return the migrants as part of the one in, one out scheme

There was no mention of an expiry date for the new treaty  to be ratified tomorrow  when it was first announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Macron last month.

It will lapse at the end of June next year, about 10 months before the next French presidential election is due to take place.

Mr Macron cannot run for a third consecutive term, meaning other candidates would have to support the continuation of the Anglo-French deal.

If the treaty had not been time-limited it would have bound the next president to abide by its terms, or seek a renegotiation.

A Home Office spokesman said: Over this period both countries have committed to continually review and improve the process and effectiveness of this innovative approach, pending decisions on the long-term future of the arrangements after June 2026.

Last month it was suggested the scheme would see 50 migrants a week sent back to France.

At that rate, just 2,350 would be returned before the agreement expires.

By comparison, a record 25,436 migrants have reached Britain by small boat since the start of this year.

There was no mention of an expiry date for the new treaty  to be ratified tomorrow  when it was first announced by PM Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Macron last month. If the treaty had not been time-limited it would have bound the next president to abide by its terms, or renegotiate

Last month it was suggested the scheme would see 50 migrants a week sent back to France. At that rate, just 2,350 would be returned before the agreement expires. By comparison, a record 25,436 migrants have reached Britain by small boat since the start of this year

Tonight the PM said: Today we send a clear message  if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France.' Pictured: Small boat migrants arrive at Dover after being picked up by a Border Force catamaran in the Channel last week

The spokesman refused to reveal how many migrants will be targeted for removal, but said the government had an ambition to scale up the numbers.

Tonight the PM said: Today we send a clear message  if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France.

This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs business model.

The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over  we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: This is a short-term arrangement that will only last a few months and will expire before next years peak crossing season.

This meagre arrangement will be no more effective than the Governments previous gimmick which was claiming to smash the gangs.

Your browser does not support iframes.

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The Rwanda removals deterrent, under which 100 per cent of illegal arrivals would be removed, was ready to go last summer but Labour cancelled it just days before it was due to start with no proper replacement plan.

As a result, this year so far has been the worst ever for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.

From Wednesday, any new Channel arrivals will be taken to the Home Offices processing centre at Manston, near Ramsgate, Kent, and assessed by Border Force officials.

Any selected for the returns scheme will be transferred to short-term immigration holding facilities operated by the Home Office, such as those at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

After further assessment, including a screening interview, they could be sent to an immigration removal centre to await return to France, likely to take place by chartered aircraft.

A Home Office spokesman said: Over this period both countries have committed to continually review and improve the process and effectiveness of this innovative approach.' Pictured: Migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel in Dover last week

From Wednesday, any new Channel arrivals will be taken to the Home Offices processing centre at Manston (pictured), near Ramsgate, Kent, and assessed by Border Force officials

Any selected for the returns scheme will be transferred to short-term immigration holding facilities operated by the Home Office, such as those at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Detention space has already been set aside for the launch of the scheme (file image)

Detention space has already been set aside for the launch of the scheme.

However, it is likely to face legal challenges  possibly as early as this week.

A spokesman for the charity which helped blocked the Tories Rwanda scheme, Care4Calais, said: Care4Calais initiated legal challenges against the last Governments Rwanda policy and their attempts to introduce pushbacks in the Channel - and we won.

We will consider all options open to us to oppose any plans that will put more lives at risk and involve Governments trading humans.

The Home Office spokesman said: Learning the lessons from the lengthy legal challenges affecting the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, the UK government is also prepared to robustly defend any legal challenges to removal within the initial trial phase, as we look to ramp up both the pace and scale of returns over the course of the pilot scheme.

Migrants in France will be able to apply online to come to Britain and will undergo security checks. Previous attempts at crossing the Channel illegally will bar them from the scheme.
A celebrity hairstylist who has ties to Hailey Bieber was arrested after a teenage girl's mother uncovered appalling texts he sent her underage daughter.

Ryan Pearl, 37, was taken into custody on Wednesday after the 15-year-old's mother notified authorities of inappropriate messages she found on social media between him and her daughter.

The mother also noticed transactions sent from Pearl to her daughter on her Apple Wallet that led her to call the police on July 26, an arrest report obtained by CBS News stated.

After gaining access to the teen's phone, police discovered a slew of explicit photos and sexual remarks Pearl, who was 'fully aware he was communicating with a minor,' sent to the girl.

At one point, Pearl, who met the teen when he styled her hair two years ago, sent her a nude image of him on a couch and another of him in swim trunks.

After receiving the naked picture of Pearl, the teen responded: 'I am very shy please don't, do U care that I am 15? How old R U? Explain things to me, I only know things from my friends when they talk.'

The teenage girl added: 'You know I am virgin, I've never had sex and I don't know much of it, what if I get pregnant.'

The arrest report further detailed that Pearl and the teen made plans to meet the following day for 'sexual activities with the use of condoms.'

Ryan Pearl, a celebrity hairstylist who's worked with A-listers like Hailey Bieber (pictured), was arrested after a mother found sexually explicit texts he allegedly sent her 15-year-old daughter

Pearl, who met the teen when he styled her hair two years ago, sent her a nude image of him on a couch and another of him in swim trunks

But, when Pearl arrived at the planned location, he was arrested. Detectives then found condoms, a vape, and pink cocaine in his car.

Pearl, a New Jersey native who often traveled between New York and Miami, also told police he asked the teenager if she would be his girlfriend, the report revealed.

The girl's mother, who chose to remain anonymous, described her disgust after discovering what she found on her daughter's phone.

'I knew his intentions were to take advantage of my daughter,' she told NBC6.

'I feel really glad that I realized what his true intentions were, and I think what was most important is how quickly I acted,' she told the outlet.

He was seen in court on Thursday donning an orange prison outfit as he appeared to pray during his bond hearing.

Pearl said he could not afford a lawyer, so he was appointed a public defender.

The arrest report further detailed that Pearl and the teen made plans to meet the following day for 'sexual activities with the use of condoms'

Pearl is seen doing a woman's hair at a salon

Pearl (pictured with Sophie Turner) was arrested after he arrived at a planned meet up with the teen on Wednesday. Detectives then found condoms, vape and pink cocaine in his car

The judge ordered him to stay away from the victim during the hearing.

He faces charges including contributing to the delinquency of a child, using a computer to seduce a child into engaging in sexual conduct, cocaine possession, traveling to meet a child after using a computer to lure them, and two counts of transmitting harmful content to a minor electronically.

Pearl was released on a $26,000 bond - and was seen running out of jail as Local10 asked him about the charges against him.

According to his online profile, he's worked at IGK Salons and Ollin Miami and is part of the Redken Artistic Ambassador Network.

On his profile for the haircare brand, Pearl has been described as an 'elite colorist trusted by some of the worlds most high-profile names, including Hailey Bieber, Rosalia, and Christina Aguilera.'

He was seen in court on Thursday donning an orange prison outfit as he appeared to pray during his bond hearing

Pearl is seen darting out of prison and ignoring a local news station after he was released on a $26,000 bond

The page added that he is 'known for his clean, refined take on modern blondes' who 'blends editorial cool with salon precision to set trends from South Beach to New York City.'

On Pearl's TikTok, he's shared work he's done on other A-listers, including Lauren Sanchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos.

'Shave on Jeff, Style on Lauren,' he wrote in a 2022 post alongside an image of the now-married couple.

In a now-deleted Instagram post, Pearl was seen styling actress Sophie Turner's hair. His account has since been deactivated.
The SNP is in disarray after the Deputy First Minister announced she will quit at next years elections, sparking claims she is deserting a sinking ship.

Kate Forbes announced her decision not to seek re-election as her daughter turned three, saying she does not want to miss any more of the precious early years of family life.

Allies of Ms Forbes claimed that her decision to quit may have been partly down to 'disgraceful' treatment during her leadership contest against Humza Yousaf, when senior figures including Mr Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon raised concerns about her stance on issues like same-sex marriage.

Her announcement is a further blow to Mr Swinney ahead of the election, as she is widely regarded as one of his most capable ministers and has helped try to repair the SNPs relationship with the business community.

Scottish Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher said: Despite our political differences I completely understand and appreciate Kate Forbes reasons for standing down. I wish her and her family well for the future.

However, the departure of his Deputy First Minister will come as a hammer blow to John Swinney ahead of next years election.

'He made the choice to bring her back into the heart of the government last year and would have wanted her to play a key role in the campaign.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes with her baby daughter Naomi

Ms Forbes with First Minister John Swinney

Kate Forbes is the latest senior figure to desert the SNPs sinking ship and clearly has no wish to hear voters anger after 18 years of the nationalists failing Scots on so many issues.

If Scotland is to move on from the SNPs never-ending obsession with independence, then we must remove them from office next year and get the focus back on Scotlands real priorities.

Fergus Ewing, who backed Ms Forbes previous leadership bid and is now an independent MSP, suggested that her treatment by senior figures in the previous contest, including Mr Swinney questioning whether her opposition to same-sex marriage made her an appropriate candidate to be First Minister, had played a part in her decision.

Mr Ewing said: With Alex Salmonds death the SNP lost the best leader it has ever had, with Kate Forbes decision to stand down the SNP has lost the best leader it should have chosen.

As a dear friend of Kates, I absolutely understand her decisions to bring up her family but the way that Kate was treated during the leadership election between herself and Yousaf was disgraceful.

Yet despite being attacked by John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon during that campaign because essentially they argued her Christian beliefs somehow disqualified her from being SNP leader, Kate turned the other cheek and did so with astonishingly good grace.

The SNP has now lost the outstanding talent of her generation and perhaps that loss resulted from the SNP ceasing to be a broad church, tolerant of different views, and latterly descended into a form of cult or sect where dissent was unacceptable and rational argument was almost absent from debate.

Ms Forbes, who narrowly lost a fractious leadership contest to Humza Yousaf in 2023 but was brought back into government last year as Mr Swinney sought to heal divisions in the party, said she has consistently put the publics needs ahead of my familys and now does not want to miss any more of the precious early years of family life.

Including Fergus Ewing and John Mason, who were both elected as SNP candidates in 2021 and have since left the party, Ms Forbes becomes the 25th Nationalist to step down from the party at next years elections.

Others include former First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and a score of former failed MPs have been accepted as potential candidates for the 2026 election. Anne McLaughlin, Kirsten Oswald, Anum Qaisar and Tommy Sheppard have also been named on the approved list.

It comes after the SNP suffered a damaging defeat in the recent Hamilton by-election. Labours Davy Russell won the SNP seat with 8,559 votes, a majority of 602 over the Nationalists.

The vote followed the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who had represented the constituency since 2011.

Ms Forbes ran against Humza Yousaf, left, and Ash Regan to become the leader of the SNP

Ms Forbes came under attack from a range of SNP MSPs during the 2023 leadership contest for her position on same-sex marriage and other beliefs she holds as a member of the Free Church of Scotland.

In a radio interview in 2023, Mr Swinney, then the Deputy First Minister, urged party members to decide if someone who holds those views would be an appropriate individual to be SNP leader and first minister.

She had been expected to put her name forward as a candidate to be Mr Yousafs successor when he resigned but instead agreed to join Mr Swinneys team rather than standing against him, in what opponents billed as a stitch-up.

Ms Forbes was a prominent critic of the proposed gender reforms when Ms Sturgeon was First Minister, signed a letter raising concerns about them and said she wouldnt have voted for them. She also recently confirmed that she unequivocally backs the protection of single-sex spaces.

Other prominent internal opponents of the SNPs self-ID agenda included Joanna Cherry, who lost her seat in last years general election and does not intend to stand for Holyrood next year, Ash Regan, who defected to the Alba Party, and Fergus Ewing, who will stand for election as an independent candidate for Inverness and Nairn.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie thanked Ms Forbes for her service over a decade in parliament and wished her well in future endeavours and spending time with her family, but added: But it cannot have escaped the notice of voters that many of the SNPs former rising stars are abandoning the stage, often to be replaced by defeated names of yesteryears and anonymous party apparatchiks.

Kate Forbes was the future once - but now, like many of her counterparts in the SNP, she can see the writing on the wall. The truth is this is a tired government with no vision and no ideas.

In a statement which shocked Scottish politics yesterday morning, Ms Forbes said she had informed her local constituency association that she would not seek re-election next year.

She said she is wholly supportive of Mr Swinney and will campaign for the SNP in next years election.

But the Deputy First Minister, who is also Economy Secretary, said: I have grown up in the public eye, getting married, having a baby and raising a young family. I have consistently put the publics needs ahead of my familys during that time.

I am grateful to them for accommodating the heavy demands of being a political figure. Looking ahead to the future, I do not want to miss any more of the precious early years of family life - which can never be rewound.

In his letter responding to her resignation, Mr Swinney said he is sorry she has taken the decision but recognise and understand the reasons for doing so.

He said: You have made a huge contribution to public life in Scotland and have been instrumental in making progress on economic issues for my Government.

You have much to be proud of in all of the work you have undertaken but I am especially heartened by the effect of your leadership on advancing support for the Gaelic language.

We all wrestle with the inevitable conflicts between family and public life and I sympathise with the dilemmas you have faced. I wish you, Ali and your family well and much happiness in the years ahead.

At an event in June, Ms Forbes admitted she was unsuccessfully trying to juggle bringing up her daughter and her Cabinet job and raised fears that childcare issues may have contributed to many female MSPs leaving politics.

She also urged the Scottish Parliament to follow the lead of the House of Commons and set up its own nursery.
The decision by Kate Forbes to stand down at next years Holyrood elections is a personal one and reflects her wishes for her family life.

But it also marks the final nail in the coffin of SNP centrism. The Deputy First Minister was the last woman standing for anyone who hoped the Nationalists could cut a more moderate path on the economy, social issues and the constitution.

Forbes entered the Scottish Parliament just nine years ago, young and idealistic about independence. Yet she brought a maturity that many political old-timers in the SNP could not match.

When she spoke, she understood that her audience was not the flag-waving faithful but the electorate at large, with its doubters and undecideds and people far too busy to have given much consideration to the great issues of the day.

Nothing demonstrated that maturity like her handling of the 2020 Budget.

With just hours to go before the annual costs were placed before Holyrood, finance secretary Derek Mackay abruptly resigned over text messages to a 16 year old.

Forbes, his deputy, stepped up instantly and won plaudits for the aplomb with which she delivered a speech she had barely had a chance to read.

Taking over for Mackay, she proved herself to be disciplined, rigorous and determined to strike a balance between growing the economy and redistributing resources to alleviate poverty.

Nicola Sturgeon hastily appointed Kate Forbes finance secretary after her predecessor Derek Mackay resigned in disgrace

For this sensible, middle-ground approach to politics, she was branded a right-winger, an indication of just how out of touch the Scottish parliament is with the nation it theoretically represents.

But what truly put Forbes beyond the pale were her devoutly held Christian beliefs. In an age in which tolerance is on everyones lips, there was little shown for Forbess Free Presbyterian faith. When she contested the leadership in 2023, following the abrupt resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, there was a concerted effort to make the entire contest about her suitability for office given her Christian principles.

It was an outrageous exercise in bias and prejudice that, had it been applied to any other religion, would have been readily acknowledged as such. Christians, however, are fair game, especially if they believe in such heresies as biological sex.

The Deputy First Minister signalled early on that she disbelieved in the gender identity ideology, and even though she was on maternity leave when Holyrood was voting through the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, she made clear during her joust with Humza Yousaf for the Nationalist crown that she rejected the notion that a man could self-identify himself as a woman and that the law should change to reflect this.

She was right, as a series of legal cases, culminating in the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland, would go on to verify.

Had Sturgeon and Yousaf listened to her, a great deal of division could have been avoided, not to mention costly legal fees.

As well as canny discernment, she earned a reputation for cutting putdowns that lingered on opponents. She branded Yousaf the continuity candidate and told him during one TV debate: You were a transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister weve got record high waiting times.

Yousaf may have defeated her for the leadership, but he wasnt able to emerge from the shadow of those barbs.

That John Swinney chose her as his deputy first minister speaks volumes about her significance as a voice of moderate SNP politics.

She stressed that wealth redistribution was only possible if first there was wealth generation. She urged fellow Nationalists to stop hectoring the public on independence and try to persuade them instead.

Neither counsel was taken on board and the SNP remains distant from the aspirational, sceptical voters it would need to secure and make a success of independence.

For advocating for Scotland in Europe and for Scotland to be in Europe, Winnie Ewing, an earlier figure on the mainstream wing of the SNP, was dubbed Madame Ecosse.

Forbes, who advocated for the Nationalists among the Dont Knows, the Unionists and even the Tories, is the SNPs Ms Middle Scotland.

Ms Forbes' decision to step down is a blow to First Minister John Swinney

An opportunity to bring in voters who would never before have considered a vote for the Nationalists. Voters who might even be willing to listen on independence. And they treated her as an embarrassment, that is when some werent trying to push her out of the party altogether. Sometimes  oftentimes  politicians are the most clueless practitioners of politics.

Forbess exit clears the way for Stephen Flynn, the SNPs Westminster leader, to become John Swinneys heir apparent.

A blokey, lefty, loudmouth who would drag Scotland back to rancorous divisions over independence. With Forbes going, he will be the future now.

She would have made the better first minister for Scotland, he would push all the right buttons to get the party faithful cheering. Was there ever any doubt which would prosper in the SNP?

Forbes says she is standing down because she wants to see her children grow up. We should also think about that.

If our politics makes it impossible to be a parent and a parliamentarian, then our politics are broken.

Do we want a Holyrood stuffed with MSPs who have no first-hand knowledge of raising children?

Because thats the way were heading unless things change. Kate Forbess choice should be a wake-up call for the SNP, but not only the SNP.
A teacher who was branded 'Islamophobic' has revealed it is now 'very difficult to find another job' after two Facebook friends reported him for a post criticising Lucy Connolly's prison sentence.

Simon Pearson, a former employee of Preston College, was subject to an internal investigation following his comment that Connolly 'should not have been jailed'.

Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, had been handed a 31-month sentence in October after pleading guilty to a charge of inciting racial hatred in a social media post following last year's Southport riots.

The post, which the 42-year-old later deleted, said: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care... if that makes me racist so be it.'

In his online comment, Mr Pearson described Connolly's words as 'obviously wrong', but said he believed her prison sentence was a 'two-tier policy from the top down'.

Speaking to GB News, the 56-year-old this evening said he 'very much' agreed his free speech had been 'violated'.

Mr Pearson explained: 'I've served at Preston College for 20 years - I've served my students faithfully, I've been defending their rights as well from whatever race, from whatever religion.

'I've demonstrated to the college as well that they have no basis in their actions and unfortunately they dismissed me.'

Speaking to GB News,Simon Pearson (R) this evening said he 'very much' agreed his free speech had been 'violated'

Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, was given a 31-month sentence in October after pleading guilty to a charge of inciting racial hatred in a social media post (pictured) following last year's Southport riots

Pictured: Mr Pearson's Facebook post that eventually resulted in his dismissal. Preston College's investigation deemed the post a violation of its policies, damaging of professional relationships and likely to bring the college's reputation into disrepute

The teacher said he had stated Connolly's post was 'appalling' and 'indefensible' - but also that she had deleted it soon after and 'obviously didn't mean what she said'.

Mr Pearson added: 'Policing social media is awful for our country - it has been for me; being labelled Islamophobic has made it very difficult for me to find another job. And it's not true.

'You should be able to express what you really believe - what is of concern in society - without fear of recrimination.'

He clarified it had not been his Union that made the report but in fact 'two people who were on my Facebook friends (list)'.

'They were the ones who'd told the Union what I'd written and through the Union they brought that to the college,' he said.

Mr Pearson concluded: 'It's a travesty really and that's why I'm fighting to clear my name.'

An internal investigation was launched following a complaint submitted by a Muslim representative of the National Education Union (NEU) at the school who alleged that the post was 'Islamophobic' and 'racially discriminatory'.

Mr Pearson said that following the concern, he apologised and also claimed to have provided evidence of his support for both Muslim students and asylum seekers.

Simon Pearson, a teacher at Preston College, has said he fell victim to an unfair 'witch hunt' which resulted in his dismissal from his position at Preston College after he publicly criticised Lucy Connolly's (pictured) prison sentence

The 42-year-old former childminder, wife of Conservative councillor Ray Connolly, lost her 19-month-old son, Harry, in 2011

However, the college's investigation deemed the posts a violation of its policies, damaging of professional relationships and likely to bring the college's reputation into disrepute.

Mr Pearson previously said he had been left 'appalled' by the decision, particularly given his long-standing commitment to helping support and educate students 'from all walks of life'.

Describing his dismissal as a 'grave injustice', he told The Telegraph: 'As soon as I was branded "Islamophobic" for expressing concern about violent crime, I became a marked man.

'It was clear that I had to be found guilty by the college, it became a witch hunt, and I had to be eliminated no matter what.'

Mr Pearson, who has now launched legal action at an employment tribunal, has claimed wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

Lord Young of Acton, founder of the Free Speech Union, told the Daily Mail he was 'shocked' by the decision to sack Mr Pearson, criticising the NEU (National Education Union) for 'siding with the bosses rather than the workers when it comes to breaches of workplace speech codes'.

It comes after Connolly, of Northampton, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court in October and imprisoned at HMP Drake Hall, Staffordshire after admitting to making her 'racist' post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The 42-year-old former childminder, wife of Conservative councillor Ray Connolly, lost her 19-month-old son, Harry, in 2011.

Connolly's husband, Raymond (pictured left), a former West Northamptonshire Conservative councillor, said on the day she lost her appeal: 'Today, the court had the opportunity to reduce her cruelly long and disproportionate sentence, but they refused. That feels like two-tier justice'

Mr Pearson said he had been left 'appalled' by the decision, particularly given his life-long commitment to helping to support and educate students 'from all walks of life'. Pictured: Connolly with a photo of her child Harry, who died aged 19 months

With around 9,000 followers on X at the time, Connolly's message was reposted 940 times and viewed 310,000 times before she deleted it around three and a half hours later.

The mother-of-one was arrested on August 6 last year, by which point she had deleted her social media account. But other messages which included other condemning remarks were uncovered by officers who seized her phone.

Her X post was made just hours after killer Axel Rudakubana murdered three young girls and attempted to murder 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, sparking nationwide unrest.

A number of public figures and politicians have spoken out since Connolly was handed her sentence, claiming that she is a victim of 'two-tier justice'.

Connolly's husband, Raymond, a former West Northamptonshire Conservative councillor, said on the day she lost her appeal: 'Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she will release 40,000 prisoners, some of them dangerous men on tag.

'Lucy has not been allowed out on tag and she has been denied leave to see our child who is struggling.

'The court had the opportunity to reduce her cruelly long and disproportionate sentence, but they refused. That feels like two-tier justice.'

Adelle Healy, 42, who has been friends with Connolly for nine years, previously told the Daily Mail: 'Lucy was horrified and heartbroken that three little girls had been murdered. She let her emotions take over and wrote something that she definitely shouldn't have done but she has paid a very dear price.

Pictured: scenes of violence and rioting by demonstrators on the streets in Rotherham following the Southport attacks

Connolly's supporters, including the Free Speech Union (pictured), argued Connolly's days in custody up to that point already represent punishment enough when they protested on May 15

'She should not be behind bars for a tweet. I think it's ludicrous that it's got to this point.'

In May, Connolly lost an appeal to shorten her 31-month sentence despite telling the Court of Appeal in London she 'never' intended to incite violence and did not realise that pleading guilty would mean she accepted that she had.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, The Daily Mail revealed a friend of Connolly had shared a post to X saying she believed the convict would be 'with a glass of Whispering Angel in-hand' this time next month.

It is understood Connolly will be released on August 21.

The National Education Union said in a statement: 'The management of Preston College reached a decision to dismiss the teacher following disciplinary procedures.

'The NEU was not directly involved in these processes and it will be for the Employment Tribunal to consider the fairness of the dismissal if and when the claim reaches a hearing.'

Preston College added: 'Upon receipt of complaints from a number of our staff, an internal investigation was undertaken into whether some of Mr Pearson's social media posts were a breach of the College's Staff Behaviour Code and Values.

'Following an investigation and subsequent disciplinary process, Mr Pearson was dismissed from his employment at the College.'
Victims of crime are now having to wait nearly three years to get justice in the most serious cases, including murder and rape.

Growing backlogs of cases in the High Court have resulted in a sharp rise in the time taken to proceed from offence to verdict.

Scheduled High Court trials have soared amid rising pressure on the justice system, which has failed to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Official figures reveal the median time from offence to verdict in the High Court has risen to 1,032 days, almost double the 520 days recorded in the year before the Covid pandemic.

New data also shows scheduled High Court trials reached 743 in March and climbed to 818 by June - compared to 390 trials originally projected for the end of 2024/25 by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service when it carried out modelling in 2021.

Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative justice spokesman, said: These damning figures highlight that the SNP is miserably failing to clear the horrendous backlogs in Scotlands courts.

Thanks to the Nationalists chronic mismanagement of Scotlands courts, we are still miles away from hitting pre-pandemic backlog levels, despite what was predicted during the Covid period.

SNP cuts to the justice budget and its failure to get funding to the front line are inevitably leading to mounting backlogs in the system - and thats a shameful betrayal of victims, because justice delayed is justice denied.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said the SNP is 'miserably failing to clear the horrendous backlogs'

Even victims of the most serious crimes are being betrayed by SNP ministers, as they now have to wait over 1,000 days on average for a verdict in High Court cases.

The figures, revealed by 1919 magazine, show that the median time from offence to verdict in the High Court was 1,032 days in 2023/24, compared to 520 days in 2019/20.

In Sheriff Court cases, the median time from offence to verdict in 2023/24 was 564 days, compared to 283 days in 2019/20.

Modelling from the SCTS published in March 2021 found that there was expected to be 390 trials scheduled in the High Court and 500 trials scheduled in Sheriff Solemn Courts by March 2025.

But the new data shows there were actually 743 scheduled trials in the High Court and 1,004 in Sheriff Solemn Courts, which cover serious crimes like assault and drug offences, at this point.

Summary cases, including common assault, domestic abuse, crimes of dishonesty and motoring offences, are also facing delays. Figures from March this year show more than 20,600 cases still waiting, nearly 50 per cent higher than predicted in 2021.

The Scottish Police Federation has warned that delays and collapsed trials are wasting valuable resources and draining frontline capacity.

An SCTS spokesman said: We remain conscious of the impact delays in the criminal justice system have on victims and witnesses.

'That is why our focus has been on striving to reduce the number of cases in the system and the length of time people wait for the outcome of a case.

SCTS advised the criminal justice committee in December 2021 that we anticipated the backlog created by the Covid-19 pandemic would be cleared by 2026.

'Since then, and through our strong criminal court recovery programme, the number of scheduled trials has reduced from over 43,000 in January 2022 to under 18,000 at the end of June 2025. That is the fewest number of planned scheduled trials since 2018/19.

However we are now dealing with a substantial increase in High Court business - the most serious criminal cases - which places pressure on a system with finite capacity.

'High Court scheduled trials at the end of June 2025 number 818, far higher than the pre pandemic position of 390. This means maintaining increased capacity is essential to prevent delays for all who use the system.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Scotland is the only part of the UK to have successfully brought court backlog levels back down to below Covid levels - a testament to our comprehensive approach and substantial investment in recovery funding of over 201 million since 2021, which includes 20.3 million to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in 2025/26.

This trend is continuing and we remain committed to supporting justice partners to maintain this progress.
A teenage girl has been arrested in relation to the stabbing death of another teenage girl in Newcastle.

Emergency services were called to Euston Close in the outer western suburb of Edgeworth about 10.20pm on Monday following reports of a stabbing.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District arrived to find a teenage girl with a stab wound to her torso.

She was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to hospital in a critical condition, but later died from her injuries.

She is yet to be formally identified.

Another teenage girl, who was known to the victim, was arrested at the scene and is assisting police with inquiries.

A crime scene has been established and will be forensically examined by specialist officers.

Detectives from the State Crime Commands Homicide Squad are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
A grand jury will be gathered to hear the latest evidence as part of criminal referrals for inception of the Russia collusion 'hoax.'

Attorney General Pam Bondi signed an order on Monday directing an unnamed prosecutor to convene a grand jury, Fox News first reported.

It comes after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard submitted criminal referrals to the Justice Department last month for former President Barack Obama and his officials including ex-Intel Chief James Clapper and ex-CIA Director John Brennan.

She unveiled evidence claiming that Obama and his team illegally conspired in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election to link Donald Trump to Russia.

Some thought her release of documents last month was a tactic to distract from the botched Jeffrey Epstein files review, which has the DOJ reeling with calls for Bondi to resign.

The directive from Bondi on Monday also follows FBI Director Kash Patel discovering a stash of bags in a secret room at the bureau with damning documents related to the Russia investigation that were meant to be burned.

The documents were published by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and consist of the classified annex to former Special Counsel John Durham's final report on the origins of the FBI investigation into Trump's 2016 campaign.

Bondi's move on Monday is an escalation that takes President Trump's administration a massive step closer to criminally charging Obama and his former administration officials.

A source familiar with the action speculated to the Daily Mail that the criminal referrals Bondi is acting on are likely for John Brennan and James Comey.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed a U.S. prosecutor to convene a grand jury

It's her first action taken after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (pictured) sent criminal referrals to DOJ alleging former President Barack Obama and his officials conspired to create the 'Russian collusion hoax'

While special counsel, Durham examined the FBI's investigation into potential links between Trump campaign officials and Russia during the 2016 election. He concluded the FBI did not have sufficient evidence to launch the investigation at the time.

A person familiar with the discovery speculated to the Daily Mail that it was likely an oversight by previous directors that prevented the documents from being destroyed.

The person added that it's likely the documents would have never seen the light of day if the FBI wasn't diligently looking through everything it comes across at the bureau.

The findings were turned over to Grassley, who chairs the Judiciary Committee.

In a New York Times op/ed last week, senior Obama intelligence officials John Brennan and James Clapper refuted the politicization of the administration's intelligence arms.

'The special counsel John Durham, who was appointed during Mr. Trump's first term to investigate how the Russia probe was conducted, similarly found no evidence of an Obama administration conspiracy against Mr. Trump,' they wrote.

The annex authored by the special counsel shows Clinton's efforts to tie Trump and Russia together and the FBI's failure to investigate Clinton's ties to the Russia collusion allegations.

The Trump administration published last month hundreds of documents related to the Russia collusion scandal.

DNI Gabbard declassified evidence she claims shows the Obama administration 'manufactured and politicized intelligence' to make it appear that Russia and criminal actors impacted the 2016 election.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the arrest of dozens of state Democrats who fled to block a Republican plan to redraw congressional districts in Donald Trump's favor.

Fiftyseven Democratic lawmakers skipped town, flying to Illinois and New York in a dramatic bid to halt the GOP's effort to push through a new electoral map that could hand Republicans five additional Congressional seats in Texas - boosting Trump's chances of holding Congress in the midterms.

Abbott gave the Democrats until 3 p.m. Monday to return to Austin, warning they risked arrest and even losing their seats.

When none came back, Republican leaders authorized law enforcement to bring them in 'by any means necessary.'

'The sergeantatarms and any appointed officers are directed to send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused, and to secure and maintain their attendance under warrant of arrest if necessary,' House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Republican from Lubbock announced.

By fleeing the state, Democrats broke quorum in the Texas legislature, preventing Republicans from conducting official business.

Democrats call the redistricting plan a blatant power grab and told DailyMail.com they welcome the showdown with Republicans.

'When we have the President of the United States looking for five Congressional seats, this can eventually impact the entire United States, so to say that we are doing this to grand stand is bullshit, with all due respect,' Texas Rep. Linda Garcia told DailyMail.com Monday afternoon.

Runaway Democrat Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, left, speaks to the media as leader of Texas House Democrats State Rep. Gene Wu, right and other Texan democratic legislators listen during a press conference in Chicago Sunday

Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty and are holding flood relief and property tax cuts hostage.



I ordered Texas DPS to arrest and return every derelict House Democrat to the Texas Capitol.



This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrats are accounted for. pic.twitter.com/A87u2JxYU7  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 4, 2025

Among the liberals on the lamb, two members of the House are traveling with children-- a nine and five-year-old.

Garcia decided to bring her nine-year-old son after not having great child care options and realizing she might be in Chicago until Aug. 19-- when the current special session ends.

'What I want him to understand is that sometimes we have to make very big sacrifices in order to generate change,' the Mesquite (a Dallas suburb) Democrat shared in a phone interview from Chicago.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the arrests of rogue Democrats who fled the state on Monday afternoon

'I walked him through worst possible scenarios that could take place, including getting arrested, getting bombarded by press...and he has been very brave.'

Abbott doubled down by ordering Texas troopers to arrest all rouge Democrats Monday afternoon.

Garcia's elementary school student has found a playmate in the five-year-old grandchild of another representative who was forced to bring the boy as well.

'This is going to be one of the greatest lessons he could learn. I would hope that in the future he would recall the courage that as a mother this requires,' she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

They have been working with lawyers who told them arrests were a likely outcome.

However, the Lone Star State Democrats believe this is a moment of inflection nationally, particularly because the congressional district that will be redrawn in Texas if the GOP gets its way would impact Black and Hispanic communities.

'You're going to steal the power and the voices of black and brown communities-- we're not just going roll over and just allow you to do that,' Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons added.

'The message that I'm receiving from my community is that we need to stand up and hold the line.'

Texas State Representative Linda Garcia (far right) stands behind her nine-year-old-son at a press conference in Chicago. The mom decided to bring her child as she joined nearly 60 other Democrats in fleeing the state to stop what they called a Republican power grab

Texas Democratic House members including State Rep. TREY MARTINEZ FISCHER, D-San Antonio, arrive at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport catching a private charter plane to Chicago in an attemt to break quorum on a redistricting bill on August 3, 2025. At left is State Rep. CHRIS TURNER, D-Grand Prairie. Texas House Members Leave Texas, Austin, Texas

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has ordered state lawmakers to redrawn congressional maps in the Lone Star State outside of the normal 10-year period so that POTUS and the GOP will have an advantage in the 2026 elections

In fact, the Dems wouldn't share their location in Chicago with Daily Mail, explaining they knew arrests were looming early Monday.

'We know that Donald Trump is the one spear-heading all of this. We don't know what he's capable of, we are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,' Rep. Christina Morales said via phone interview.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton, bragged he successfully secured a Texas Supreme Court ruling that held that the House could arrest absent members to secure their presence and establish a quorum when Democrats fled the state in 2021.

'If he wants to round up and arrest duly elected officials whose constiuents are watching and who put us in office, so be it,' Rep. Simmons said of Abbott.

'I hope he understands, you can only push people so far to their breaking point and then there will be a response.'
A mother-of-six who was killed by her husband in a suspected murder-suicide had been been the victim of a domestic violence incident just a few months ago.

The bodies of Shafeeqa Husseini, 41, and husband Mirza Husseini, 47, were found inside a home in Bordertown, South Australia, during a welfare check just after 11pm on Sunday.

SA Police confirmed they were aware of the couple following a domestic violence incident earlier this year, but there were no court orders in effect for the woman's safety.

Officers arrived at the couple's Melvyn Street home in Bordertown - 18km west of the SA-Victoria border - after a family member asked them to conduct a welfare check.

The couple's six children were not home at the time of the tragedy.

South Australian Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Cath Hillard said detectives believe Husseini killed his wife before taking his own life.

She did not reveal any further details about the circumstances.

The bodies of mum Shafeeqa Shah, 41, and her husband Mirza Husseiniwere, 47, were found on Sunday night at their home in Bordertown, South Australia

Officers arrived to the couple's Melvyn Street home after a family member called asking them to conduct a welfare check

Neighbours said the family emigrated from Afghanistan about 15 years ago, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

The Bordertown Islamic Community Centre manager Adeel Khan said the local community had been devastated by the tragedy.

Ms Husseini was very involved in the community as she had frequently helped with catering for local events and was a 'good cook', he said.

'It is really sad news... whatever has happened is not good, it's a massive shock,' he added.

'It's a small community, everyone knows each other... so we will be missing these guys.'

It is understood some family members were employed at the local meatworks.

Commissioner Hillard said there were no court-imposed restrictions prohibiting contact between the couple.

However, the man was known to have previously committed an act of domestic violence against his wife earlier in the year.

Neighbours said the family immigrated from Afghanistan about 15 years ago

She said a loved one had been in contact with the couple during the day but then lost contact.

'Police discovered the deaths of the individuals after a relative contacted police and requested a welfare check after they couldn't contact them,' she said.

'The man was known to police through a previous domestic violence incident earlier in the year and that involved the deceased woman.

'However there were no current court-imposed restrictions in relation to the individuals preventing any contact between them.'

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The Repair Shop's Jay Blades has been charged with two counts of rape.

Police said in a statement on Monday night that the 55-year-old father-of-three would appear at magistrates' court next Wednesday, The Sun reported.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: 'Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape.

'He is due to appear at Telford magistrates' court on 13 August 2025.'

Blades is currently awaiting trial on a separate charge of coercive control of his estranged wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen.

He denied the allegation when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court last October.

Blades is due to appear at the same court on Tuesday for a pre-trial review hearing.

The star was charged last September with a single count of 'controlling and coercive behaviour' between January 1 2023 and September 12 2024.

The Repair Shop 's Jay Blades (pictured here arriving for a hearing at Cannock Magistrates' Court in September 2024) has been charged with two counts of rape

Blades is currently awaiting trial on a separate charge of coercive control of his estranged wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen (pictured). He has pled not guilty to the charge

BBC show The Repair Shop, which started on daytime TV in 2017 before moving to a primetime slot, saw Blades become one of the best-known faces on British TV

The single charge relates to his fitness instructor wife Ms Zbozen, who announced on Instagram on May 2 last year that she had walked out of the marriage.

The BBC show, which started on daytime TV in 2017 before moving to a primetime slot, saw Blades become one of the best-known faces on British TV. He was honoured with an MBE in 2021.

He has been at the helm of the show for seven years, but was dropped from last year's live tour.

Roman Kemp replaced Blades as host for last year's Christmas special of The Repair Shop.

In 2022, a special one-off episode to mark the BBC's centenary saw Blades and the repair team visit the King, when he was still the Prince of Wales, at Dumfries House in Scotland.

During The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit, a bracket clock and a piece made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee by British ceramics maker Wemyss Ware were both fixed  and the broadcast later won a daytime Bafta TV award.

Blades was made an MBE by Charles in May 2022 for services to craft and in recognition of his work promoting heritage craft and restoration in the UK.
British shoppers are deserting UK stores and flocking to the EU to benefit from tax-free shopping.

VAT-free spending on the Continent by Britons increased fivefold from 2021 to 742 million last year, Association of International Retail (AIR) data shows.

The figures pile fresh pressure on ministers to reintroduce tax-free shopping for international visitors to the UK. Rishi Sunak scrapped it in 2021.

But the move enraged many businesses, and the Mails Scrap The Tourist Tax campaign was launched in support of calls for it to be reintroduced.

Campaigners believe that the decision to axe the scheme is driving tourists away from London and Edinburgh to cities such as Paris, Madrid and Milan.

Derrick Hardman, chairman of AIR, said it makes no sense for the UK to remain the only destination in Europe not offering tax-free shopping.

Hotelier Sir Rocco Forte added: The decision of the last government to scrap tax-free shopping, which had been available for decades, should be reversed immediately. A HM Treasury spokesman said: We are supporting the continued growth of this industry.

People gather in a street lined with bistros and souvenir shops, in Montmartre, Paris, France, 1 August 2025

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been blamed for pushing restaurants and pubs into survival mode as two venues have shut per day for the first half of 2025.

The number of hospitality sites plunged by 374 to 98,746 sites at the end of June, market research firm NIQ and consultancy AlixPartners found.

Labours tax raid on employers was blamed for the fall.
Nigel Farage has failed to commit to banning trans women from female prisons after his new justice adviser said they should not be automatically barred.

Vanessa Frake, a former prison governor who oversaw the detention of Rose West, said decisions on where to house inmates should be made on an 'individual basis'.

Asked for his views on her comments yesterday, the Reform UK leader told the Daily Mail: 'I've personally never worked in a prison so I can't answer [the question] but I think you'll find that the answer that you'll get from somebody who has worked in prisons at the highest possible level is, I think, basically it's about risk assessment, isn't it?

'But in terms of the problems in prisons, it's a relatively small one.'

A Reform spokesman later added of Ms Frake: 'An ex-prison governor... has a different opinion. That does not constitute party policy.'

In an interview to mark her appointment, Ms Frake said decisions about trans prisoners should be made on a case-by-case basis. But she told The Times that sexual offenders may need to be held in male prisons.

'It's all about the risk assessments for me, and each has to be done on an individual basis,' she said.

Ms Frake said trans prisoners she had overseen were 'accepted' by other inmates and added: 'People who want to just say a blanket ban clearly have never stepped foot in a prison and seen how prison runs and how risk assessments on individuals happen.'

Nigel Farage (pictured) has failed to commit to banning trans women from female prisons after his new justice adviser said they should not be automatically barred

Vanessa Frake (pictured), a former prison governor who oversaw the detention of Rose West, said decisions on where to house inmates should be made on an 'individual basis'. A Reform spokesman later added of Ms Frake: 'An ex-prison governor... has a different opinion'

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch (pictured) said Reform's 'law and order' plan was 'hiding a complete betrayal of women's safety'. She said: 'Nigel Farage promised a major crime announcement but instead delivered an adviser who thinks men belong in women's prisons'

But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Reform's 'law and order' plan was 'hiding a complete betrayal of women's safety'.

'Nigel Farage promised a major crime announcement but instead delivered an adviser who thinks men belong in women's prisons.

'Farage calls that a 'small' issue  tell that to the women who've been sexually assaulted and terrorised behind bars.'

Mr Farage criticised 'transgender indoctrination' in Britain earlier this year but has also defended his record on trans rights.

This year the Supreme Court ruled trans women can be excluded from women-only spaces, including prisons.

Labour has continued with the Tories' policy of not housing trans women inmates convicted of violent or sexual crimes in women's prisons.
New NASA Administrator Sean Duffy's first project will be an attempt to take American energy dominance to the moon.

Duffy - who also serves as Transportation Secretary and took the NASA job after Elon Musk's preferred candidate was rejected - is expected to announce an ambitious plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon this week.

The Daily Mail has reached out to NASA and the White House for comment.

In 2022, NASA announced plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 as part of a vision to turn the lunar body into an orbiting power station but Duffy wants an expedited, more definite timeline.

The goal is for United States to outpace China in 'winning the second space race,' a source told Politico.

Earlier this year, it was revealed China may team up with Russia in an attempt to build their own lunar nuclear reactor.

Sure enough, Duffy's directive claims that China or Russia or any American enemy could 'declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States' if they got to the moon first.

Duffy's directive commands NASA to get someone to lead the effort in the next 60 days and solicit companies that can help launch ahead of China.

New NASA Administrator Sean Duffy's first project will be an attempt to take American energy dominance to the moon

Duffy, who is also Secretary of Transportation and took the job as NASA Administrator after the White House shut out Elon Musk's preferred candidate, will announce plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon this week

A former Fox News and reality TV star, Duffy is also pushing an effort to replace the International Space Station.

Duffy, a former Congressman from Wisconsin, oversees the $25 billion space agency.

In 2022, the US space agency chose three design concept proposals for a fission power system that could be ready to launch by the end of the decade. It is unclear if Duffy is going from the same plans.

The plan is for the 40-kilowatt class fission power system to last at least 10 years in the lunar environment, with the hope that it could one day support a permanent human presence on the moon, as well as support manned missions to Mars and beyond.

If NASA is to build a base on the lunar surface, one of the major problems to solve will be how such a proposed settlement would be powered.

Solar panels are great for powering rovers, but a human base would need a continuous and reliable source of power.

NASA experts are looking into nuclear fission as the answer because the technology has been used extensively on Earth.

Relatively small and lightweight compared to other power systems, fission systems are reliable and could enable continuous power regardless of location, available sunlight, and other natural environmental conditions, the US space agency said.

Duffy was selected to run NASA by Donald Trump, though he is also the president's transportation secretary

It is hoped that the development of these fission surface power technologies will also help NASA advance nuclear propulsion systems (depicted in the artist's impression above) that rely on reactors to generate power. These could then be used for deep space exploration missions

If the demonstration of such a system on the moon was successful, it would pave the way for the fueling of longer duration journeys through space.

It is hoped that the development of these fission surface power technologies will also help NASA advance nuclear propulsion systems that rely on reactors to generate power. These could then be used for deep space exploration missions.

The goal will also be to beat China and Russia to the same mission.

The East Asian country aims to become a major space power and land astronauts on the moon by 2030, and its planned Chang'e-8 mission for 2028 would lay the groundwork for constructing a permanent, manned lunar base.

In a presentation in Shanghai, the 2028 mission's Chief Engineer Pei Zhaoyu showed that the lunar base's energy supply could also depend on large-scale solar arrays, and pipelines and cables for heating and electricity built on the moon's surface.

Russia's space agency Roscosmos said last year it planned to build a nuclear reactor on the moon's surface with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) by 2035 to power the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

The inclusion of the nuclear power unit in a Chinese space official's presentation at a conference for officials from the 17 countries and international organisations that make up the ILRS suggests Beijing supports the idea, although it has never formally announced it.

'An important question for the ILRS is power supply, and in this Russia has a natural advantage, when it comes to nuclear power plants, especially sending them into space, it leads the world, it is ahead of the United States,' Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference.

After little progress on talks over a space-based reactor in the past, 'I hope this time both countries can send a nuclear reactor to the moon,' Wu said.
Australia will increase international student places to 295,000 in 2026 - 25,000 more than flagged for 2025 - even as critics warn the study visa system is a 'racket' being used as a backdoor to permanent residency.

Education Minister Jason Clare said foreign student arrivals provided a vital injection of money into Australia.

'International education is an incredibly important export industry for Australia, but we need to manage its growth so it's sustainable,' he said.

'International education doesn't just make us money - it makes us friends.

'This is about ensuring international education grows in a way that supports students, universities, and the national interest.'

Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill said Australia hopes to welcome more students from South East Asia.

'This government remains committed to sensibly managing the size and shape of the on-shore student market and supporting sustainable growth, especially to welcome more students from South East Asia and where accompanied by new housing.

'We want students to see Australia as a premium destination where they can access high-quality education and a great student experience.'

Australia will increase international student places to 295,000 in 2026, 25,000 more than in 2025 - but critics warn the visa system is being used as a backdoor to permanent residency

A new Reserve Bank report has noted international student numbers were still at record highs, and putting pressure on the housing market during a time of high construction costs (pictured commuters at Sydney's Central Station)

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government is working with universities to expand student accommodation, amid concerns that the arrivals of huge numbers of foreign students into the general rental market was pushing up prices to exorbitant levels.

'We are making sure student visa processing supports genuine education outcomes and our strategic priorities - including increasing provision of student accommodation.'

Despite the government's assurances, critics argue that many international students are not coming solely for education, but are instead using student visas as a stepping stone to permanent residency.

Labor a year ago proposed capping new international student enrolments for 2025 at 270,000, only to face Senate opposition, but it is now proposing a 295,000 cap.

Parliament is more likely to rubber-stampe this hike, given the government's super majority in the House of Representatives and pro-migration Greens holding the balance of power in the Senate.

In the year to May, 794,113 international students were enrolled in education across the country, with education now Australia's biggest services export and the fourth biggest export after iron ore, coal and natural gas.

While China still leads in international student numbers at 167,147, India and Nepal have seen significant increases, moving into second and third spots with 123,456 and 57,048 students, respectively.

A new Reserve Bank report found that the soaring number of international students was putting pressure on the housing market during a time of high construction costs.

'The number of international students onshore is still near record highs, and student visa arrivals have exceeded departures in recent months, suggesting the number of students onshore is growing,' it said.

Leith Van Onselen, a former Treasury economist, warned that many international students were using student visas as a pathway to permanent residency - and intended to remain in Australia

'In the face of a relatively fixed supply of housing in the short term, we would expect an increase in international students to put upward pressure on rental demand and rents (all else equal),' the report said.

'Capacity constraints, high costs in the construction sector and low levels of building approvals relative to the population may mean the housing supply response could be slower to materialise compared with in the past.'

Leith Van Onselen, a former Treasury economist, highlighted a survey by Allianz Partners Australia found that 68.4 per cent of international students plan to stay in Australia long-term.

'Students from South Asia and Africa choose a study destination based on their capacity to gain job rights, a low-cost course, and permanent residency,' Mr Van Onselen said.

'With the exception of students from China and Europe, all source nations placed a high value on the potential to work while studying and post-study employment opportunities.

'It should be no surprise, then, that Australia has witnessed the greatest increase in student numbers from nations that rely on paid employment.

'Indian students and migration agents celebrated Labor's federal election victory because they know that it means easier entry into Australia.

'Australia's policymakers and media should drop the charade and acknowledge that international education is an immigration racket.'

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.

'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.'

Rents and house prices are soaring across the nation's capitals off the back of record migration

Freelancer.com 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.'

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?'

One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson said Australian cities were full, housing is unaffordable, and services are stretched to breaking point.

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.'
Today would have marked the Queen Mother's 125th birthday and in her long and remarkable life she witnessed massive changes in attitudes within Britain.

She lived to see the legalisation of abortion and homosexuality as well as the criminalisation of capital punishment.

But the societal change that perhaps most impacted Elizabeth was the growing societal acceptance of divorce in Britain.

Indeed, the Royal Family's hostility to divorce in the 1930s was part of the reason her husband King George VI ascended to the throne.

This came about after King Edward VIII caused a major constitutional crisis in 1936 when he made clear his wish to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

This ended with Edward abdicating and his younger brother taking his place.

Looking forward 60 years, Elizabeth and George's daughter Queen Elizabeth II faced a cacophony of divorces, with three out of her four children in unhappy marriages.

According to William Shawcross, who wrote the Queen Mother's official biography, the breakdowns of her grandchildrens' marriages affected her 'profoundly' and although she 'rarely committed her views to paper' she gave them as much support as they needed.

The Queen Mother, Elizabeth, on her 101st birthday in August 2001. In her long and remarkable life she witnessed massive changes in attitudes

The Queen Mother stood between Charles and Diana during the Trooping of the Colour in 1992

Shawcross wrote the Royal Family were very aware of how unhappy Charles and Diana's marriage was long before their divorce.

'The births of their [Charles and Diana] two much-loved sons, Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984, gave joy to them as well as to everyone else in the family.

'But hopes that motherhood would bring the princess fulfilment proved illusory. Within the family, enthusiasm and hopes for the marriage gave way to anxiety and concern.'

And by 1986 the Queen Mother and other family members were very aware the Prince and Princess of Wales's marriage had 'all but broken down'.

On top of this, Princess Anne had her own marital problems and she became Elizabeth's first granddaughter to separate from her husband, Captain Mark Phillips, in 1989 and by 1992 they were divorced.

And then Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's marriage started to deteriorate just six years after their wedding in 1986.

By 1992 the Royals faced the prospect of not one but an unprecedented three royal divorces.

In the midst of these crises, the matriarch of the Windsors was willing to give her grandchildren as much support as she could.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson with a young Beatrice and Eugenie shortly after their separation. Their marriage had deteriorated just six years after their wedding in 1986

Charles and Diana on a royal tour of Korea in 1992. By 1986 the Queen Mother was very aware that the Prince and Princess of Wales' marriage had 'all but broken down'

The Queen Mother with Diana, Sarah Ferguson and a young Prince Harry and Prince William in 1989. Elizabeth always wished to avoid confrontation within the family

The Queen Mother with a young Charles and Princess Anne in 1954

However, while some wanted advice from her, Elizabeth always wished to avoid confrontation within the family.

Shawcross said that her stance earnt the Queen Mother the unflattering nickname of the 'imperial ostrich' - in reference to her tendency to put her head in the sand duirng more difficult family affairs.

'She thought her role was not to try and change people's courses but to be an anchor,' he wrote.

Even if she did want to metaphorically bury her head in the sand, the Queen Mother's grandchildren still leaned on her throughout this difficult time.

In December 1992, Elizabeth was shown by Charles the draft statement to be made by the Prime Minister announcing his separation from Diana.

The Queen Mother's old school views on privacy also clashed with how Diana and Sarah Ferguson handled the breakdown of their marriages.

In June 1992, the Sunday Times started to serialise Andrew Morton's biography of Diana, which the Princess of Wales had covertly collaborated on.

Then in August that year, damning photos of John Bryan, an American financial manager, sucking on Sarah's toes as she sunbathed were published in the UK press.

Charles and Diana look forlorn on their tour of Korea. A month after the tour the couple separated

Charles kisses his grandmother's hand. In December 1992, Elizabeth was shown by Charles the draft statement to be made by the Prime Minister announcing his separation from Diana

Shawcross said: 'She [The Queen Mother] had been sympathetic to both the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of York over the enormous pressure they faced from the media.

'But the washing of dirty linen in public was utterly abhorrent to Elizabeth. Her entire life was based upon obligation, discretion and restraint.

'The Princess's [Diana's] public rejection of her husband and his life was contrary to everything that Elizabeth believed and practiced.'

Likewise, she 'regretted' when Charles sat down for a series of interviews with journalist Jonathan Dimbleby.

In response, Elizabeth said: 'It's always a mistake to talk about your marriage.'

One person she was particularly concerned about through the drama of 1992 was her daughter Queen Elizabeth II who went on to describe the year as her 'annus horribilis'.

Shawcross said: 'She also talked almost daily to her daughter the Queen, who was distraught about what was happening to her children and the fact that it was taking place so publicly.

'Queen Elizabeth often asked members of the Household, "Is the Queen alright?" They in turn recognized that the frequent conversations between mother and daughter helped the Queen to maintain her sangfroid and sense of perspective.'

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew in 1986. The Queen Mother's old school views on privacy also clashed with how Diana and Sarah Ferguson handled the breakdown of their marriages

One person she was particularly concerned about through the drama of 1992 was her daughter Queen Elizabeth II who went onto describe the year as her 'annus horribilis'

The end of the year ended on a high at least when Princess Anne married Commander Tim Lawrence on December 12.

The ceremony took place at Crathie church near Balmoral.

However, the wedding happened to clash with one of the Queen Mother's parties at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

But in order not to miss her granddaughter's second wedding the 92-year-old flew to Scotland for the ceremony before flying back to Windsor in time for dinner with her party guests.
Once upon a time, the so-called 'fab four' - comprising Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince William and Kate - were the Royal Family's dream team.

Indeed when Harry and Meghan started dating, Kate and William reportedly found the former actress 'delightful' - with the young royals appearing at a number of engagements together.

Fast forward to the present and, while the so-called 'peace summit' in July 2025 suggests that relations between the Sussexes and the Prince and Princess of Wales could be thawing, both camps appear to be a long way from a reconciliation.

It has been widely established that Meghan was at the centre of the tension between Harry and William in particular. But one royal author has claimed the falling out was to do with how the Duchess of Sussex acted, not what she said.

Meghan's 'warm, friendly, hug-everyone approach' ruffled feathers, according to Tom Quinn's history of royal servants, titled Yes, Ma'am.

He wrote: 'It made William uncomfortable because [Meghan] hugged him virtually every time they bumped into each other.'

The prince's opposition to the displays of affection was not due to a dislike of Meghan but concern for what courtiers might think.

'The hugging and cheek kissing fuelled gossip among the staff that Meghan was flirting with William, which she was obviously not. But the tense atmosphere caused by all the touchy-feeliness (and the resultant gossip) deepened the rift between the brothers,' Quinn said.

Prince William kisses Meghan on the cheek in April 2018. Her hugging and kissing of William fuelled gossip among royal staff that the duchess was flirting with him

Prince Harry and Meghan in February 2018. She allegedly used to joke Harry and William had different parents due to how unlike one another the two are

Likewise, Meghan clashed with William's 'rather awkward, even inhibited personality' - which she reportedly found 'baffling'.

Quinn wrote: 'A member of staff recalled Meghan asking, "Why do William and Charles sound so serious all the time?"

'She used to make jokes about Harry not having the same parents as William, as she insisted, "Harry isn't pompous at all. He's chill".'

But it was Meghan's treatment of staff while working as a royal that put the most strain on the princes' relationship.

Concerns were raised to the Sussexes about their alleged behaviour towards staff as early as 2017, it was reported in Robert Lacey's Battle of Brothers book.

Meghan would send emails as early as 5am, leaving staff with a 'barrage' of messages in their inboxes, a Kensington Palace source claimed.

The couple reigned over a 'really toxic environment' which saw colleagues shaking before meetings alongside allegations of bullying, they added. There was even a claim the encounters left one employee with PTSD.

While Meghan brushed off a complaint about her conduct from a senior aide, claiming 'it's not my job to coddle people', Prince William did not respond so flippantly to the issue.

Harry, Meghan and Kate in 2018. When the Sussexes started dating, William and Kate found the former actress 'delightful' - with the young royals attending several engagements together

The so-called 'fab four' - comprising Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince William and Kate - were the Royal Family's dream team at one time

William, Meghan and Harry outside Westminster Abbey in 2018. Meghan clashed with William's 'rather awkward, even inhibited personality' which she reportedly found 'baffling'

William and Harry in 2017. The brothers allegedly had a testy phone call following allegations that Meghan was rude to staff at Kensington Palace

When Jason Knauf  a royal aide who worked with the Sussexes  presented William with a 'dossier of distress' about their behaviour he 'went ballistic' and was left 'astonished' and 'horrified' by what he heard, according to Lacey.

William's anger stemmed from the fact that a tradition of treating the staff 'like family' had been broken and that he personally knew many of those named, Lacey wrote.

Harry and his brother then allegedly had a testy phone call, in which the Duke of Sussex 'flared up in a fierce defence of his wife'.

Lacey added: 'The moment the prince heard the bullying allegations, he got straight on the phone to talk to Harry  and when Harry flared up in furious defence of his wife, the elder brother persisted.

'Harry shut off his phone angrily, so William went straight round to find his brother on the Kensington campus.'

As early as 2019, rumours of a falling out between the brothers began circulating.

It was first addressed by Harry in the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, with him saying: 'You have good days, you have bad days.'

By 2020, tensions appeared to have deepened when Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back as senior royals.

When Jason Knauf presented William with a 'dossier of distress' about Harry and Meghan's behaviour, the prince reportedly 'went ballistic'

Harry later claimed in his Netflix series with Meghan that William shouted at him during the Sandringham summit.

The brothers were last publicly together at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022, though they both attended the private funeral for their uncle Robert Fellowes last summer.

The estrangement between the two princes had been 'hard and sad', Knauf revealed in an Australian documentary this year.

He said: 'We have ups and downs in family. Even when you really love someone, you can have times when you don't want to spend that much time with them.

'It's very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye, but [William's] chosen to keep his thoughts on it private and I think all of us who know him really have to respect that.

'We should do the same, but I will say of course it's been hard and sad - especially for all of us who know both of them.'

Meghan's 'touchy-feely' style does have some fans. Producer 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.
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As a royal fashion expert, I've followed Meghan Markle's style closely over the years, from her first public appearances with Prince Harry to her more recent outings in California.

Her wardrobe has always stood out for its mix of simplicity, elegance and thoughtful detail.

Whether she's wearing an oversized blazer or a sleek evening gown, Meghan has a clear sense of personal style that blends classic pieces with a modern edge.

What I've always appreciated about her fashion choices is how she keeps things polished without overdoing it.

Even in the most formal settings, she manages to look comfortable, confident and true to herself.

As she celebrates her 44th birthday, I've rounded up Meghan's best looks over recent months, plus one timeless favourite for good measure.

You'll find exact product matches, plus an edit of high street alternatives to recreate her style at any price point.

Farm Rio co-ord

Meghan marked Independence Day 2025 with a relaxed family celebration in Montecito.

While she shared a fun cocktail recipe for the occasion, it was her vibrant Farm Rio co-ord that caught my attention.

The outfit comprised a knitted halterneck crop top and a matching midi skirt in a striking blue and white floral print.

Stylish yet easy-going, the set could be dressed up with espadrille wedges or kept casual with flat sandals.

Get the look for less

Johanna Ortiz gold dress

This metallic gold gown might just be Meghan's most memorable look yet.

She wore the show-stopping bandeau dress to the 2023 Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards at New York's Ziegfeld Theatre.

Designed by Johanna Ortiz, the dress featured a shimmering jacquard texture, a subtle cut-out at the bust and a dramatic front slit.

Meghan made the piece her own by removing the straps to show off her shoulders - and the result was flawless.

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Ralph Lauren trouser suit

For the TIME100 Summit, Meghan wore a Ralph Lauren suit, teamed with a silk blouse from the brand and her trusty Manolo Blahnik heels.

A perfect choice for summer, the suit is tailored from breathable linen in a flattering camel hue.

With its oversized blazer and wide-leg trousers, this ensemble is classic Meghan - modern, refined and effortlessly stylish.

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Carolina Herrera denim dress

Meghan joined Prince Harry for a night out at Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

While Harry embraced the Western vibe with a cowboy hat, Meghan opted for a sultry off-shoulder denim dress by Carolina Herrera.

Part of the label's Fall/Winter 2022 collection, the form-fitting piece has since sold out - but similar styles are still available for those looking to recreate the look.

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Veronica Beard chain print dress

Meghan's close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen, co-founder of the non-profit Alliance of Moms - which supports pregnant and parenting teens in the foster care system - shared a birthday tribute to the Duchess on Instagram.

The post included a black and white photo of the duo, with Meghan wearing a past season chain print dress by Veronica Beard.

The eye-catching pattern is still on trend - and there are plenty of variations available on the high street.

Ralph Lauren striped shirt

Meghan first wore this Ralph Lauren striped shirt at Wimbledon in 2018, attending the Ladies' Singles Final alongside the Princess of Wales.

Since then, it's become a firm favourite in her wardrobe - she even brought it back for Independence Day this year.

The menswear-inspired fit and timeless navy and white stripes make it endlessly versatile, whether paired with crisp white trousers or classic denim.

Get the look for less
The discovery of additional radioactive wasp nests at a former US nuclear bomb plant has raised concerns that the facility may be leaking hazardous material.

Workers at the Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina, uncovered three more contaminated nests following the initial find on July 3, which was emitting radiation levels 10 times higher than federal safety limits.

The Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed it is aware of the situation and stated that the nests have been sprayed, sealed in bags as radiological waste and properly disposed of.

The SRS, which was established in the early 1950s, played a key role in producing plutonium and tritium for America's nuclear weapons program throughout the Cold War.

A spokesperson for Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), the contractor responsible for site cleanup, told the Daily Mail that teams recovered dead wasps after exterminating the nests.

The insects, according to the spokesperson, showed lower levels of contamination than the nests themselves.

While the DOE insists there has been no leakage from nearby nuclear waste tanks, some scientists are urging caution.

Dr Timothy Mousseau, a biologist at the University of South Carolina, told The New York Times that the contaminated nests suggest radioactive materials may be more widely dispersed across the area than previously believed.

The radioactive wasp nests were found at the Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken. Workers discovered the first emitted levels 10 times higher than what is deemed safe

'This is an indicator that there are contaminants spread across this area that have not been completely encased and protected,' Mousseau said, adding that the latest discoveries 'indicate that much greater effort must be made to assess the possible risks and hazards of what appears to be a significant source of radioactive pollutants.'

SRMC said all four nests were found in F Tank Farm, an area toward the middle of the 310-square mile SRS boundary or more than five miles from the closest site boundary.

The F-Area Tank Farm where the nest was found holds 22 massive underground tanks, each up to 100 feet wide and 23 feet deep, packed with between 750,000 and 1.3 million gallons of radioactive waste.

'Wasp flight patterns keep them within about 200 yards of their nest typically, with a rare exception of a half of a mile from their nests,' the spokesperson explained.

'Also, the typical lifespan of these wasps is less than one month.

'The nests became contaminated by wasps that brought light contamination to the nests because of intrusion into areas with legacy contamination.'

Legacy contamination refers to pollution that persists in the environment from past activities, even after the original sources of contamination have ceased.

'The main concern relates to whether or not there are large areas of significant contamination that have escaped surveillance in the past,' Dr Mousseau told the New York Times, adding that the nests are a 'red flag' that should be investigated further.

Officials said dead wasps were found following the extermination process (STOCK). However, experts have raised concerns that the plant is leaking

While SRMC said dead wasps were recently recovered, the group admitted that none were recovered after the first nest was found.

However, the site's spokesperson stressed that 'nests do not pose a health risk to SRS workers, surrounding communities, or the environment.

They added that the average person is exposed to about 620 millirem (mrem) of radiation each year from both natural and man-made sources.

'All of the nests were emitting less than one percent of the natural background radiation rate. Mrem is a unit of measurement for radiation dose equivalent for humans,' the spokesperson continued.

However, the watchdog group Savannah River Site Watch slammed the report as 'incomplete,' saying it fails to explain the source of the contamination, how wasps were exposed or if more radioactive nests may be hidden.

Tom Clements, executive director of the group, told AP: 'I'm as mad as a hornet that SRS didn't explain where the radioactive waste came from or if there is some kind of leak from the waste tanks that the public should be aware of.'
Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,600-year-old clay seal in Jerusalem that may be tied to a biblical warning of impending doom.

The artifact, known as a bulla, dates back to the First Temple period and bears an ancient Hebrew inscription that reads: 'Belonging to Yeda'yah (son of) Asayahu.'

Even more astonishing, the seal retains a visible fingerprint, believed to have been left by the ancient official who once owned it.

Archaeologists believe the name inscribed on the seal may connect directly to a pivotal moment in the biblical account of King Josiah of Judah, who launched sweeping religious reforms after a sacred scroll was discovered in Jerusalem.

The scroll, believed to be a version of Deuteronomy, outlined severe curses for disobedience, including famine, war, exile and the devastation of both the land and the Temple.

When the contents were read aloud, Josiah was so alarmed by its warnings that he tore his robes and sent a group of trusted officials, including a man named Asayahu, to rid Jerusalem of pagan practices.

The newly discovered seal, bearing the name of Asayahu's son, Yeda'yah, offers compelling evidence of a royal official likely active during this critical period.

It not only supports the existence of individuals named in the biblical record but also reinforces the historical and spiritual significance of the scroll's rediscovery, an event that marked a turning point in Judah's religious history, researchers said.

The clay seal is more than 2,600 years old and bears an ancient Hebrew inscription that reads: 'Belonging to Yeda'yah (son of) Asayahu'

Archaeologist Zachi Dvira, who co-directs the project, told The Times of Israel: 'Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible.

'However, several such artifacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people.'

Marks on the back of the clay seal suggest it was once used to secure a bag or storage container, likely tied with a cord, and the script style places it around the the late First Temple period, roughly between the late 7th and early 6th century BC.

That was around the time the Bible says King Josiah of Judah ordered repairs made to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was also known as Solomon's Temple.

The order came after the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586BC.

During the renovations, workers uncovered an ancient sacred scroll, Sefer haTorah, which scholars believe was likely an early version of the Pentateuch, specifically the Book of Deuteronomy, an event mentioned in 2 Kings 22:12 and 2 Chronicles 34:20.

When the sacred scroll was read aloud to King Josiah, its warnings about the people's sins and the threat of divine punishment left the monarch shaken.

The scroll was said to have revealed that the people of Judah had seriously violated Gods covenant by worshiping other gods and engaging in pagan practices.

The seal was unearthed at excavations near the Temple Mount (pictured)

A prophetess, mentioned in 2 Kings 22:1617, confirmed the doom to King Josiah, telling him God would bring disaster on Jerusalem.

According to 2 Kings 23, Josiah sent officials out to tear down shrines, altars and high places dedicated to Baal, Asherah, Molech, and other foreign gods, even desecrating them to ensure they would never be used again.

Among those officials was a senior figure named Asayahu, described in the Bible as 'the king's servant.'

Given his status, scholars have suggested that it is entirely plausible that his son, Yeda'yah, followed in his footsteps and held a high-ranking role in the royal court or Temple administration.

The discovery of a clay seal inscribed with the name 'Yeda'yah son of Asayahu' has now sparked excitement among researchers, who believe it may be directly linked to the very events described in the Bible.

Experts from the Temple Mount Sifting Project said the connection is highly credible, pointing out that seals like this were typically used only by officials of significant authority.

Its discovery on the Temple Mount adds further weight to the theory that Yeda'yah served in a prominent role during the First Temple period.

The historical backdrop is equally compelling. Just a few decades after the scroll was found, Jerusalem was invaded by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.

The city's walls were breached, the Temple was destroyed, and many residents were killed or taken into exile, including key members of the ruling elite.

During the siege, much of the city's food came from royal and Temple storehouses, which were stocked with grain, oil, wine, legumes and honey.

These supplies were sealed with pieces of clay stamped with the names of the officials responsible for managing them.

One such seal previously uncovered by the project bore the name '[He]zelyahu son of Immer,' an official believed to have worked in the Temple treasury.

Now, this newly discovered seal, belonging to Yeda'yah son of Asayahu, appeared to tell a similar story, suggesting he too was responsible for overseeing one of these critical storehouses.
Mel B has celebrated her second wedding in Morocco with her husband Rory McPhee, marking their marriage with a spiritual ceremony in Marrakech.

The couple, who first tied the knot in London last month, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a glimpse of their latest nuptials.

She captioned her post: 'We got married!!! Again! A wedding so good we keep the celebration going with our closest and dearest in our fav place at @selmanmarrakech... we had the time of our lives!!'

Romantic: Mel B has celebrated her second wedding in Morocco with her husband Rory McPhee, marking their marriage with a spiritual ceremony in Marrakech

In contrast to her very traditional wedding at St Pauls Cathedral in London, Mel wanted a second ceremony to reflect her more individual and glamorous style.

As with her Josephine Scott-designed gown, Mel was guided in her choice of outfit by wedding dress guru Caroline Black from London-based Evelie Bridal, who helped her choose the perfect dress to celebrate her and Rorys day in the African country.

Just as Josephine Scotts dress proudly reflected her British roots, Mel and Caroline chose Justin Alexander, a US-based designer, to reflect her life in America where she is currently a judge on Americas Got Talent.

Caroline Black, Evelie Bridal Owner, said: For Mels Morocco wedding dress, we focused on trying Justin Alexander gowns with a little extra sparkle. Mel loved the idea of a red dresssomething bold, with lots and lots of shimmerbut it also had to feel light and easy to move in.

'We drew inspiration from a variety of dresses she tried on at Evelie South Kensington, then went back and forth brainstorming with Justin Alexander and his design team. After several conversations and sketches, the first design took shape. Mel gave us clear feedback on what she liked and what she didnt, and the final result was beautiful.

'Mel had such a strong sense of what she wantedit was a joy working with her and Justin Alexander to bring her vision to life.

Mel and Caroline collaborated with Creative Director Justin Warshaw and Chief of Design Terri Hilferty at Justin Alexander to create a show-stopping, sheer, fit-and-flare gown for her Moroccan nuptials.

The sultry silhouette is entirely hand-beaded with rich red crystals and bugle beads, creating a mesmerizing floating effect across the illusion bodice and skirt.

Nuptials: They previously held a traditional wedding ceremony at St Pauls Cathedral in London

It required a team of six artisans and over 850 hours to complete. The plunging sweetheart neckline is framed with concentrated red crystal detailing gradually dispersed across the structured corset.

Exposed boning subtly peeks through layers of sheer tulle, while asymmetrical draping at the waistline adds dimension.

A sultry side slit reveals a glimpse of leg, as the crystal beading lightly scatters down the length of the skirt.

The back features a lace-up corset with red ribbons to highlight her hourglass figure, while a cascading godet flows into a dramatic cathedral-length train.

Wed: Scary Spice walked down the aisle for a third time last month when she tied the knot with her hairdresser beau

Mel completed her look with a Moroccan-inspired cathedral veil, custom-draped in mocha tulle and accented with red crystals to mirror the gowns embellishments.

The warm-toned veil blends seamlessly with the dress, offering a radiant, skin-toned glow.

Crystals accent the veils crown and cascade delicately down the back drape, with additional sparkle scattered throughout the train to finish the look.

Rory, who wore traditional McPhee tartan and kilt at the London ceremony, flew the flag for UK designers with a twist on the traditional black tie, wearing an outfit by Alexander McQueen.

Guest: Emma Bunton AKA Baby Spice, was the only one of Mel's former bandmates to attend the big day at St Paul's Cathedral last month

Mel's beloved Yorkshire Terrier pup Cookie served a very important role at the nuptials as the ring bearer.

Scary Spice, 50, walked down the aisle for a third time last month when she tied the knot with hairdresser Rory McPhee, 37, at St Paul's Cathedral.

Despite the wild antics of her younger days, the wedding was a rather a low-key affair, with guests said to have headed home at 7pm.

Best wishes: Mel C shared a sweet snap of Mel B and her new husband as they celebrated their wedding day - offering her apologies for missing the service...

After the lavish ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral, including a horse and carriage, she took pals and family to a bar at The Shard skyscraper for a bash which many expected to rage well into the early hours.

The wedding party arrived at the reception at 4.30pm, however most of Mels guests had headed for home by 7pm, with many having already changed into casual clothing following just over two hours of socialising.

Among the celebs on the guest list for the star-studded wedding were Mel B's fellow Spice Girl Emma Bunton and comedians Alan Carr, Katherine Ryan and Tom Allen.

After the ceremony, guests jumped onto a party bus to take them to the lavish Shangri-La hotel at The Shard.

...while Posh shared a sweet black and white throwback of herself and the bride with bandmates Geri, Mel C, and Emma

Emma was the only Spice Girl to make an appearance and while Victoria Beckham and Mel C were quick to offer up their apologies - paying tribute to Mel on social media - Geri Halliwell-Horner has remained tight-lipped on the matter amid reports differences between the pair.

It was thought the Spice Girls could be set for a reunion at the Moroccan celebrations, with Geri given the chance to extend an olive branch to Mel if she attends the North African ceremony.

Morocco hold significance for the girl band after they jetted there for a mini reunion a decade ago to celebrate David Beckham's 40th birthday.

However ironically Mel B was the only member not in attendance as instead, Eva Longoria filled in for Scary - joking 'I'm the new Spice Girl! #LatinaSpice'.
Behind Dubai's glamorous and sparkling skyline hides a dark, dangerous secret.

Each year thousands of women are lured to the United Arab Emirates with offers of luxurious holidays, high-paying jobs and A-list yacht parties.

But soon after arriving they find themselves stuck in a web of exploitation.

In some cases, aspiring influencers are duped by fake modelling agencies and then forced into offshore sex parties.

Earlier this year, 20-year-old OnlyFans model Maria Kovalchuk was found seriously injured at the roadside in Dubai. She later claimed she was abused by wealthy Russians after a wild party in a hotel. Her ordeal has sparked public debate on sexual slavery in the UAE.

In other cases, poor girls from the developing world are promised jobs that will allow them to provide for their families - only to discover too late that they've been sold into sexual slavery.

All victims share one thing: hope for a better life, new opportunities or even love.

British anti-trafficking campaigner Angus Thomas, founder of the Hope Education Project, has rescued up to 20 Nigerian women and girls from Dubai's shadowy recruiters.

He says gullible Western influencers are falling into the same traps as vulnerable African women.

Angus began his anti-trafficking work by chance, during a 48-hour layover in Dubai in 2019.

Earlier this year, 20-year-old OnlyFans model Maria Kovalchuk was found seriously injured at the roadside in Dubai. She later claimed she was abused by wealthy Russians after a wild party in a hotel. Her ordeal has sparked public debate on sexual slavery in the UAE

On New Year's Eve, while heading out late to buy medicine for his ill wife, he was stopped outside his hotel by a skeletal young west African woman in a bodycon dress. The desperation in her eyes was unmistakable.

She asked if he wanted sex. Angus declined, then asked: 'Do you want to be here?'

The girl told him no.

Angus offered help and arranged to meet her the next morning before his flight home. When the girl arrived late, she told Angus it was because she'd been punished by her pimp for failing to bring in enough money.

'I'd never heard of human trafficking before, or what was really happening in Dubai,' Angus tells the Daily Mail.

Over coffee, he photographed the girl's passport and her scars, gathering evidence for her rescue.

'When I got on the plane and had to leave her behind, I thought to myself, 'I'm the only person on the planet who knows what's going on. I need to take responsibility for this,'' Angus says.

For the next year, Angus fought to free the woman from sexual slavery. In the process, he uncovered four more sex trafficking rings.

Behind Dubai's ultra-modern facade lies a web of sexual exploitation

Here, Angus recounts cases of women he has helped escape Dubai's trafficking networks, exposing the cunning methods recruiters use to target the vulnerable.

'FALLING IN LOVE' ONLINE

Grace*, from Kenya, was struggling to make ends meet selling cheap footwear at a market in Nairobi when she met a Nigerian man on Facebook.

Lured by his promises of a better life, she accepted a one-way ticket to Dubai, hoping for a fresh start.

Angus Thomas, anti-human trafficking campaigner and founder of The Hope Education Project

According to Angus, 'When she arrived, they enjoyed an unbelievable social life for two weeks. Then he took her to dinner in Fujairah and told her, 'I'm afraid you have to stay here. You're going to work here now.''

Grace's new 'boyfriend' had sold her to the bar owner.

The woman was locked in a tiny room above the restaurant and forced into prostitution for two and a half years. The complex housed a dozen rooms filled with women like her and they were never allowed to leave.

She was forced to see several clients a day and, over time, her ordeal escalated. In her last six months of captivity, she suffered disturbing abuse at the hands of wealthy men.

Fortunately, Grace managed to escape after a client took pity on her. He helped her get her mobile phone back and gave her some money.

She escaped by offering to take out the rubbish one night when the owner was away, then fled and lived under a Dubai bridge.

'Grace was connected with me through a safe house that I'd set up with a Nigerian good Samaritan,' Angus explains.

'When she turned on her phone she was flooded with messages from family asking where she was.

'Eventually when she got home in 2023, of course, she was faced with a gargantuan load of shame. She still has not told her family what happened.'

FALSE PROMISES OF WORK

Chloe*, from Lagos, was lured to Dubai with the promise of a job as a chef.

As soon as she landed, her passport was seized and she was taken to Al Ain, a city deep in the desert, on the eastern border with Oman.

'She cooked for about a week then was told that to earn her stay, she would have to sleep with men,' Angus says.

Chloe endured degrading sex work for four years, suffering relentless abuse every day.

Like Grace, she finally managed to escape, and was given Angus's phone number.

'I received WhatsApp calls from this woman for three weeks. She was pleading with me to help her. I told my wife, 'Something feels different about this call,'' Angus says.

Angus managed to help Chloe get home safely, and remains in contact with her to this day.

THE CASE OF CHRISTY GOLD

Angus recalls the notorious case of Christy Gold, whose real name is Christiana Jacob Uadiale.

Gold was a senior figure in an organised trafficking syndicate infamous for luring underage Nigerian girls to Dubai and forcing them into prostitution.

For five years, Gold evaded capture, topping Nigeria's most-wanted list for human trafficking.

In March 2024, she was convicted in absentia by a federal high court, although sentencing was postponed until her arrest.

That finally happened in December last year, when she was apprehended at Abuja airport after jetting in from Dubai's New Year celebrations.

By then, she'd crafted a glamorous online persona - perfect for luring vulnerable women while hiding the brutality behind her 'success'.

In reality, victims claim Gold seized their passports and crammed them into a tiny Dubai apartment. In court, three young women testified against her.

But when Gold was sentenced, she was given a choice: five years in prison or an 11million Naira (AU$11,100 or 5,400) fine. She paid the fine and walked free.

'The message this decision sends to traffickers, to survivors and to the world is devastating,' Angus told the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

'Even after showing contempt for the justice system and her victims, she has now been allowed to walk free, to once again enjoy the proceeds of her crimes.

'This outcome makes a mockery of Nigeria's robust anti-trafficking laws and tarnishes the nation's global standing.'

SEX PARTIES

Angus calls the notorious sex parties a 'horrendous and extreme' example of what happens behind closed doors in Dubai.

'It does happen,' he says. 'The term 'party' is grossly misleading. It's total and utter abuse of a human being by depraved men. There's no party element to it at all.'

However, Angus is sceptical of how common these events are, suggesting that social media exaggerates their prevalence for shock value.

In the last year, there has been a spike in reports of these orgies where women are made to perform vile acts.

Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained in Dubai, previously told the Daily Mail these parties are 'nothing new'.

HOPE FOR CHANGE

Angus says Western influencers are 'being swayed by the same persuasive narrative' as trafficked women in Nigeria.

The main difference, he says, is Western women tend to be seeking fame or a career, rather than simply money.

Angus has created a comprehensive anti-trafficking education program to teach primary school children about the dangers.

He teaches social media safety, how to identify red flags in online interactions, and emphasises the importance of having 'three trusted adults' in your life.

'Trust no one - take a step back from every decision because if you get stuck in Dubai, no one is coming to save you,' Angus warns.

British former detective Phil Brewer has also tracked down multiple perpetrators of sex trafficking during his 30-year career.

British former detective Phil Brewer has tracked down multiple perpetrators of sex trafficking during his 30-year career

He says that in the UAE, reporting yourself to local police as a victim of sex trafficking is a risky move - one that can lead to charges for so-called 'moral crimes' such as extramarital sex or prostitution.

Like Angus, Brewer recommends trusting your intuition, advises against travelling alone, and says to remember that if something seems too good to be true, it likely is.

Brewer notes that, as a deeply religious society, Dubai often ignores or denies the extent of its human trafficking problem.

Still, he has been encouraged by the growing awareness of sex slavery in the region and the steps the UAE government is taking to address it.

* Names have been changed

For more information on The Hope Project, click here.
British tourists heading to Spain this summer have been issued a warning after a visitor was caught using an 'unauthorised' device - and now faces a fine of up to 175,000.

The holidaymaker, who had travelled to Puerto de la Cruz, Canary Islands, earlier this month, was spotted flying a drone over crowds at the Virgen del Carmen festival, which is celebrated annually in seaside towns across the nation around 16 July.

According to a statement issued by the National Police, the incident occurred on 15 July during the procession, which sees thousands of attendees participate in lively religious festivities while sending floral offerings to the sea.

Police officers stationed at the event traced an 'unauthorised' drone in flight to an owner staying at Hotel Las Aguilas in another part of the town.

The British tourist was brought in for questioning, where he was found to have violated Spanish drone regulations by not having a pilot licence, insurance or any knowledge of the rules.

The case was referred to AESA, Spain's State Aviation Safety Agency, for administrative proceedings after the drone was confiscated.

According to Canarian Weekly, violating drone laws can lead to significant penalties, including hefty fines and potential legal action.

Under Spanish law, drones flying in crowded or urban areas are illegal - and considered dangerous - if they have not been granted permission to fly, and all pilots must be trained, insured and registered - all of which the holidaymaker lacked.

British holidaymaker heading to Spain this summer have been issued a warning after a Puerto de la Cruz (pictured) tourist was caught using an 'unauthorised' device

The holidaymaker was spotted flying a drone over crowds at the Virgen del Carmen festival (pictured), which is celebrated annually in seaside towns across the nation around 16 July

The authorities noted that only three authorised drones were granted permission to fly during the festival, two of which were operated by the National Police and one that captured the day's festivities.

Minor breaches of drone regulations, like flying without insurance, can lead to fines of up to 45,000.

Serious violations, such as endangering the public or flying in restricted areas, can result in fines of up to 90,000.

Very serious violations, such as causing an accident or endangering aircraft, can result in even higher fines of between 90,001 to 225,000.

Those who wish to fly a drone equipped with a camera or weighing over 250g in Spain must adhere to strict rules, such as registering with AESA, complete free online training, label the device with an operator ID and apply for civil liability insurance.

Tourists are now being reminded that drones 'are not toys' and operating one without the correct requirements can result in serious consequences, especially during public events.

All holidaymakers planning a visit to the Canary Islands are encouraged to check the latest regulations well in advance.

It comes as British holidaymakers heading to Spain over the summer could risk hefty fines if they are caught violating strict new sunbed rules.

The incident occurred on 15 July during the procession, which sees thousands of attendees participate in lively religious festivities, such as throwing water on each other (pictured) while sending floral offerings to the sea

The British tourist was brought in for questioning, where he was found to have violated Spanish drone regulations by not having a pilot licence, insurance or any knowledge of the rules (stock image)

Tourists who lay out their towels for extended periods of time face potential fines of up to 250 (210), as a number of popular holiday hotspots begin implementing the so-called 'sunbed tax'.

These rules, aimed at preventing sunbed reserving and overcrowding, vary by location but generally prohibit placing personal belongings on sunbeds before a certain time or leaving them unattended for prolonged periods.

It comes as 'sunbed wars' at European resorts and hotels continue to hot up over the summer, with guests arriving hours before the pool opens to claim multiple loungers by placing towels, bags and other items on them and returning hours later.

The rush to claim limited loungers has resulted in 'stampedes', heated arguments and even physical fights between frustrated guests.
MasterChef Australia is taking three famous faces into the grand finale.

History has repeated, with Callum Hann and Laura Sharrad heading for a showdown after previously having faced the finals in earlier seasons.

Laura was a runner-up in both season six and season 12, while Callum was a runner-up in season two, as well as coming fourth in season 12.

Joining the superstar cooks is Jamie Fleming, who rounds out the final three in the race to win $250,000 and the title of MasterChef.

Jamie previously came fourth in season six, and has faced off against Laura before, with the pair now set for a rematch.

Eliminated in fourth place during Monday night's episode was Depinder Chhibber, who leaves the Back To Win series just shy of making the finals.

MasterChef Australia is taking three famous faces into the grand finale. History has repeated, with Callum Hann and Laura Sharrad heading for a showdown after previously having faced the finals in earlier seasons. Both pictured

Joining the superstar cooks is Jamie Fleming (left), who rounds out the final three. Jamie previously came fourth in season six, and has faced off against Laura before

'I'm a little bit devo because I really wanted to go to the semifinal,' she said upon learning her fate.

'I'm happy to have made it to the top four. Like, that is amazing,' she added.

'I've made so many memories. Countless memories. That's what I'm going to take back with me. All of those memories and love from these guys.'

The final three will now face off to get down to the final two, ahead of the grand finale episode on July 16.

It comes after fans took aim at the cooking show's hygiene standards.

Eagle-eyed viewers have singled out recent episodes where fan favourites can be seen sporting rings and necklaces while preparing food.

'I have noticed that a lot of contestants wear jewellery when cooking. I thought that was a big no-no in the hospitality industry?' a fan wrote on a Reddit discussion board.

The viewer also took issue with Jamie Fleming and his choice of headwear.

Eliminated in fourth place during Monday night's episode was Depinder Chhibber (pictured), who leaves the Back To Win series just shy of making the finals

'Same with Jamie wearing his caps,' the user said of Fleming, who first appeared on the show in 2014 and returned this year for the Back To Win season.

'I've been saying this for years,' added another disappointed viewer.

'Wearing rings while handling meat/poultry/seafood and/or working dough, is genuinely repulsive.

'I don't care how many times they wash their hands in between each step. Why on earth can't they take off their jewellery for their cooks??!!'

Added another viewer, 'I don't think we need or will ever see hair nets but at least tidy, pulled-back hair, and no hanging jewellery or bracelets/rings.'

'Also, shouldn't people be pulling their hair back?' said another viewer.

Viewers were particularly disturbed to see contestant Sarah Todd wearing jewellery and Snezana 'Snez' Calic wearing her long hair out.

'Surely there shouldn't be fringes and loose strands of hair free across the face - should have to tuck it under a cap or something?' one person asked.

MasterChef Australia fans have taken to social media to attack the cooking show after spotting contestants wearing jewellery in the kitchen. Pictured: Laura Sharrad

'Wearing rings while handling meat, poultry, seafood and/or working dough etc, is genuinely repulsive,' complained one viewer on the Reddit. Pictured: A scene from a recent episode

A spokesperson from Endemol Shine Australia responded to the comments.

'Hygiene, health and safety are paramount in the MasterChef Australia kitchen. Contestants are briefed on protocols before they begin each cook and our Food Team provides reminders throughout.'

According to 2024 MasterChef Australia contestant Sumeet Saigal, the cast is informed of the hygiene standards ahead of filming.

'You're always briefed about hygiene and you're always reminded,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle last June.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins - Channel 4

Rating:

At ease, you men... dancer Louie Spence has declared that, in the event of World War III breaking out, he's ready to serve.

'I might just jump at it,' he bragged, on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. 'I think I'd be in the Home Guard. We'd have a gay Dad's Army, darling. Honestly, they wouldn't want to mess with the gays.'

Shortly after that, he botched a hostage rescue exercise by hurling a grenade into a building where two civilians were waiting to be saved.

Private Godfrey could have done a better job. The show launched on Sunday night  small wonder that by yesterday's second episode, Louie had already bailed out and gone home.

His big idea might not save the country from invasion, but surely the BBC would love an LGBT remake of its most successful comedy. Call it Fab Army.

Previous series of Celebrity SAS have been camp enough to merit their own float at a Pride festival.

The ex-special forces veterans in charge of each batch of hapless volunteers couldn't help standing in a row with their thumbs tucked into their belts, like a Village People tribute act.

Former U.S. Marine Rudy Reyes was caught on camera, stripped to the waist and admiring his muscles in the mirror.

DS Chris speaking to Louis Spence at Hostage Rescue location

Bimini Bon Boulash, Michaella McCollum and Hannah Spearritt lined up at Fast Boat Extraction location

I worried that the next ordeal the celebs faced would be a choreographed Full Monty striptease, to a soundtrack of You Can Keep Your Hat On.

This time, the NCOs are less flamboyant but also less aggressive. They snarl, swear and belittle contestants for every mistake, but so far we've seen no 'beastings'  the punishing bouts of intensive exercise that end only when recruits pass out from exhaustion.

And these days, the mock interrogations are more like therapy sessions. They still begin with victims propelled into half-lit cells with bags over their heads, but the questions are sympathetic, even kindly.

'Don't be so nervous,' chief instructor Mark 'Billy' Billingham told Michaella McCollum, one of the 'Peru Two' jailed in South America for drug smuggling.

They coaxed the story from her, beginning with teenage drug abuse in Northern Ireland, then working as a courier for an organised crime gang in Spain, followed by arrest at the airport in Lima. 'So yeah, I ended up spending three years in prison,' she said.

Billy asked the questions expected of all good psychotherapists: 'How did that feel? Do you wanna talk about it?'

Back in the dorm, she was beaming: 'I feel a bit better after that chat with them, really positive.'

The physical challenges involve lots of running up mountains with rucksacks, as ever, but I can't help feeling that a lot of the tears and terror are manufactured for the cameras.

One test saw the celebs hanging from a zipwire over an abyss. If that same set-up were an attraction at a theme park, people would queue for hours to have a go.
Savannah Chrisley took to Instagram Stories Sunday showing her 3.1 million followers a series of 'vile' messages she received, seemingly slamming her for her politics.

'Imagine saying such vile things to someone,' the 27-year-old reality star said in text over a screengrab of the message.

Savannah, who has been one of the most vocal celebrity supporters in favor of President Donald Trump, was referred to as a 'disgusting maga pig' by the person sending them the message.

A second message appeared to take aim at the Atlanta natives family wealth and work ethic. It read: 'Not having to work for anything in your life is crazyyyyy.'

A third message alluded to a pregnancy, though Savannah has not publicly said she is expecting any children, and it was not clear why it was mentioned. It read, 'Hopefully you miscarry.'

Savannah had worked tirelessly on behalf of her parents after they went into custody and were released via presidential pardon in May.

Savannah Chrisley, 27, took to Instagram Stories Sunday showing her followers a series of 'vile' messages she received seemingly slamming her for her politics

Savannah has been something of a firebrand in her public backing of the Commander-in-Chief, as she's often seen wearing Trump-branded apparel.

She's currently gearing up for next month's debut of her family's upcoming Lifetime series The Chrisleys: Back to Reality on.

On Thursday, she shared a preview the network released detailing the drama viewers will witness when the show hits the air September 1 and 2.

In the preview, Savannah explained how her parents' prison sentences led to other family problems, including a major falling out with her half-sister Lindsie Chrisley.

'With my parents gone, our household is completely divided - I told my parents, I don't know if it can ever be repaired, honestly,' Savannah said.

Her parents Todd, 56, and Julie, 52, were found guilty by a Georgia jury in November of 2022 of accusations of tax evasion and more than $30 million in bank fraud.

Todd and Julie were sentenced to a collective 17 years in custody and began serving them in January of 2023.

Todd had been serving a 12-year sentence, which was later reduced to 10 years, while Julie was serving a seven-year sentence at prisons in Florida and Kentucky respectively, prior to their pardon in late May by Trump.

The dedicated daughter procured the presidential pardons got less than five months into Trump's second term. Pictured in July 2024 at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

The reality star and influencer pictured on May 28 outside the Florida prison her father Todd, 56, was released from in late May

Savannah in February told People about her hopes to gain an audience with Trump, who she supported during the 2024 election cycle, speaking in July at the Republican National Convention.

'I know that I am going through the proper channels to do so,' Savannah said of the pardon process. 'And I'm going to bring as much awareness to it as possible because these things should not happen.'

Savannah's statement came about three months after Dailymail.com exclusively reported the day after the election that Todd Chrisley had been 'jumping for joy in prison' over Trump's defeat of Democratic challenger Kamala Harris.

'Savannah truly believes that Trump will pardon her parents,' a source told Dailymail.com November 6.

The couple - who were initially indicted in August 2019 - said they were innocent of the crimes they were convicted of and had filed multiple appeals to have their sentences reversed.

Savannah said that she planned to inform Trump about the 'corruption in Fulton County,' Georgia and 'how the judge handled the case' in asking for the pardons.

The argument might have ultimately hit home for the president, who repeatedly accused state election officials of corruption in his January 2, 2021 phone call to them in hopes of overturning the win for Joe Biden.

In the infamous call, the president asked election officials to 'find 11,780 votes' in his favor in the 2020 presidential election.

Savannah had worked tirelessly on behalf of her parents after they went into custody and were released via presidential pardon in May

Savannah told People her family 'stood in the truth' and 'stood in what we knew to be the truth' but were ultimately let down by a broken legal system that left her family in a state of shock after her parents were convicted and sentenced.

'We just saw all of it and we're like, "There's no way. There's no way it's going to end this way,"' Savannah said. 'But, it did.'

The Chrisley Knows Best star told the outlet of how the the family's problems have impacted her, as she has taken over the role of legal guardian of her siblings Grayson, 19, and Chloe, 12, when she was 25.

'I think that I've gone through a lot of s*** in my life, I really have,' Savannah told the outlet.

She continued, 'I've gone through a lot of things that I've never even publicly spoken about.

'When you fight silent battles, resilience just comes. When you fight silent battles, there was no one that was there for you.'

The Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley podcast host explained how she has become more resilient with age, wisdom and life experience.

'Whether you didn't allow someone to be there for you, or whether you just didn't have people there, you just learned to pick yourself up,' she said.

Savannah emerged as one of Trump's most prominent celebrity supporters in recent years

Todd, 56, and Julie, 52, were found guilty by a Georgia jury in November of 2022 of accusations of tax evasion and more than $30 million in bank fraud

Savannah told the outlet that her father Todd 'was a constant encourager' who imbued her with an upbeat attitude ready to take on all challenges life presents.

'I come from a place [where] my dad was very much just like, "Come on, we can do this. We can do this. You can do anything a man can do, if not better,"' Savannah said.

Savannah said that her ability to bounce back from adversity comes from 'having that encouragement' from her loved ones.

'Also, knowing that I don't ever want to give up, and I want to give my future children something to look at and be proud of,' Savannah told the outlet.

She added, 'I have such a fight mentality in me. I'm a Leo to its core. So, I just don't give up.'

One message appeared to take aim at the Atlanta natives family wealth and work ethic. It read: 'Not having to work for anything in your life is crazyyyyy'

Savannah is primed to appear alongside her family on the upcoming Lifetime series The Chrisleys: Back to Reality

In November, a source told Dailymail.com that Savannah had been tirelessly working to free her parents over the past few years, spurring her appearance at the RNC.

'Ever since they were convicted she has spent every waking hour campaigning to free them and when she found the loophole through the RNC she jumped on it,' the source said.

Savannah 'took that stage in the hope of seeing her parents walk out of jail and it will likely happen' and was 'gloating' over Trump's election day dominance.

The source added that 'everyone is just hoping that she stops going on' in her efforts to upend the legal decisions, but it is clear she is moving forward.
Rapper Soulja Boy was arrested in Los Angeles early Sunday in connection with a weapons charge, after police pulled over a vehicle he was riding in.

The 35-year-old rapper, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was arrested in connection with suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, the Los Angeles Police Department told TMZ.

The traffic stop involving the Crank That (Soulja Boy) artist took place at around 2:30 a.m. on Melrose Avenue, LAPD officials told NBCLA.

Police told TMZ that 'officers spotted a firearm in' the vehicle the Turn My Swag On performer had been in.

It was not immediately clear why the vehicle the Yahhh! artist was riding in was initially pulled over.

Daily Mail has reached out to the LAPD for further comment on the story.

Rapper Soulja Boy, 35, was arrested in LA early Sunday in connection with a weapons charge. Pictured in LA in June 2023

The rapper, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was arrested in connection with suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm

Soulja Boy previously took to Instagram Stories Saturday sharing a series of clips documenting a busy weekend following his 35th birthday, which was last Monday.

Soulja Boy included frames of his trip to his SODMG Brand clothing store off Melrose Avenue, the LA shopping thoroughfare where he was arrested early Sunday.

Among the Stories clips included a promotional picture for a party at the Hollywood, California nightclub Poppy in honor of his recent birthday celebration.

Soulja Boy, who has previously been linked with Blac Chyna, captioned the shot, 'Whos sliding with me?'

Soulja Boy, who has past clashed with Kanye West, also shared footage from inside his SODMG Brand studios.

Inside, the studio was decorated with a plaque commemorating 23,000,000 streams on Spotify and another boasting over 1 billion streams on seperate platform.

'I dont need no security,' Soulja Boy said in another frame which appeared to be from the nightclub, where was surrounded by dozens of partygoers celebrating in his honor.

At the club, the DJ played Soulja Boy's 2007 hit Kiss Me thru the Phone, which he sang along with on the microphone, with a hand rolled cigarette in his fingers.

Eight months into 2025, it's safe to say the Speakers Going Hammer rapper has had a challenging year.

Soulja Boy was pictured at the BET Hip Hop Awards in Las Vegas last fall

Soulja Boy pictured at his SODMG Brand clothing store off Melrose Avenue in LA

The entertainer sang along with his 2007 hit Kiss Me thru the Phone at the club

In April, a Los Angeles court ordered him to pay $4 million in compensatory damages in connection with a sexual assault case he was involved in amid allegations from an ex-assistant.

Soulja Boy told Rolling Stone at the time of the court decision that he has never been 'charged or convicted of this, criminally,' in reference to sexual assault.

'The district attorney never filed charges,' he said. 'So, to be accused of this civilly is beyond me. I've never done any of the things they're accusing me of. I just feel like this is very unfair.'

He later told the publication in a statement: 'I want to make it clear that Im innocent. This case was never about justice.

'It was about money and personal gain, and I will not let that stand. I am committed to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to be revealed.'
Macaulay Culkin looked downcast after whisking his bikini-clad fiancee Brenda Song away for a tropical vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, over the weekend.

The Home alone star  who recently channeled a regular suburban dad despite his new worth of $18 million  looked stone-faced as he had an early celebration with family on the holiday before he turns 45 on August 26.

He spent time on a shaded patio near the water with his loved ones while soaking up the summer weather and bright sunshine.

The group lounged outside their hotel suite, which was decorated with silver balloons in front of a window spelling out 'Happy Birthday.'

Macaulay kept it casual in a short-sleeved red-patterned shirt, as well as a pair of matching shorts.

Brenda showed off her toned figure in a black bikini top with a plunging neckline and drawstring bottoms.

A somber-looking Macaulay Culkin was spotted on a tropical vacation alongside his bikini-clad fiancee Brenda Song as they spent time in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, over the weekend

Brenda showed off her toned figure and taut tummy in a black bikini top with a plunging neckline and drawstring bottoms

Her dark locks were styled into braided pigtails, and she covered up with a black visor.

The former Disney channel actress completed her look by adding mini earrings and fashionable black shades.

Macaulay and Brenda were spotted mingling under the shade with her parents before venturing toward the cool water.

At one point, the Hollywood actor carried his smartphone while listening in on his earbuds.

Macaulay and Brenda first sparked relationship rumors in 2017 when they were seen grabbing dinner together in Los Angeles.

The meet-up came shortly after the two stars crossed paths on the set of Seth Green's directorial debut Changeland.

And in 2022, it was revealed that the pair were engaged after the Culkin had popped the question in late 2021.

A source told People at the time, 'Macaulay and Brenda have loved being together as a family since welcoming Dakota.'

The Home alone star - who recently channeled a regular suburban dad despite his $18 million wealth - had an early celebration with family during the getaway before his 45th birthday on August 26

The group lounged outside nearby what appeared to be a hotel room and silver balloons could be seen in front of the window spelling out, 'Happy Birthday'

Macaulay kept it casual wearing a short-sleeved, red-patterned shirt as well as a pair of matching shorts

Her brunette locks were styled into two separate braids while a black cap was placed on top of her head

The former Disney channel actress completed her look for the day by adding mini earrings as well as fashionable black shades

Brenda was seen sipping on a refreshing drink to stay hydrated during the relaxing day outside

Macaulay and Brenda first sparked relationship rumors in 2017 when they were seen grabbing dinner together in Los Angeles

The two stars are parents to two young sons: Dakota, four, and Carson, two.

The source added, 'The engagement is the natural next step for them. They are excited for their future together.'

In 2023, Macaulay notably received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Brenda and their two little boys supported him at the ceremony.

The couple mainly keep their private life out of the spotlight, but they offered a glimpse behind the scenes during a joint interview with Cosmopolitan earlier this year.

'That the public is like, "Wait, they're together and they have kids?" Good. That means we did our job,' Macaulay said.

Brenda then chimed in, 'There was a point in time where I was like, "I must be in a simulation! I have two children with Macaulay Culkin!"'

During the conversation, the pair also opened up about wedding plans and how they had mulled the idea of possibly eloping.

'We talked about eloping,' the actress shared. 'But I was like, "If we eloped, my mom would have a heart attack that she wasn't going to be there...'

A source told People at the time, 'Macaulay and Brenda have loved being together as a family since welcoming Dakota.' The two stars are parents to Dakota, four, as well as Carson, two; seen in 2023 in L.A.

The couple mainly keep their private life out of the spotlight - but offered a little insight during a joint interview with Cosmopolitan earlier this year

The actress was spotted holding a mini fan to help her stay cool in the hot temperatures

Macaulay added that he 'wouldn't even' consider the possibly of hurting or upsetting his mother-in-law.

In 2022, Brenda also talked about wedding plans, confessing that 'Wedding planning is so expensive and it takes up so much time,' especially for a parent.

When it comes to their relationship, the couple also admitted to Cosmopolitan that if they had met 10 years ago, they most likely 'would've hated each other.'

'It took me, what, 37 years? 36 years?' Macaulay said.

Brenda added, 'But it wouldn't have happened any other way.'

Macaulay mused, 'No, but if I met you 10 years earlier....'

However, the pair ultimately decided: 'We would've hated each other.'

And while previously talking to The Times, Brenda explained that both she and her fiance don't get into fights or arguments with each other.

She told the outlet, 'What's the point? Yelling won't get my point across any better, and he feels the same way. Once the kids are in bed, that's our time together and we talk.'

When it comes to their relationship, the couple also admitted to Cosmopolitan that if they had met 10 years ago, they most likely 'would've hated each other'; seen in March in Beverly Hills

The couple have been enjoying the summer season and before their latest trip, the pair were also spotted visiting a farmer's market last month in July.

Culkin went casual in a white button-up with gray shorts and pink crocs for the lowkey outing.

He carried a bouquet of vibrant flowers while Brenda flashed a cheerful smile with their two children.

Later during the day, fellow star Seth Green crossed paths with the family and was seen having a lighthearted conversation with Macaulay.
The Logie Awards got off to a glamorous start on Sunday night.

But not everyone watching the telecast was impressed, with many viewers lashing out at the 'boring' awards show.

Several people took to X to slam the annual ceremony and claim the Logies simply isn't relevant anymore.

'No better confirmation that free to air TV is dying than the #Logies - a mixture of yesterdays celebrities and nobodies talking about themselves,' one person wrote.

'It's quaint how they still have the Logies - a dying medium celebrating mediocrity #Logies,' another said.

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Viewers have lashed out at the 'boring' Logies amid rumours the awards ceremony is 'on its last legs'. Pictured host Sam Pang

A third commented: 'Dear Aussie media, no one gives a flying f*** about the Logies, regards, the Australian public.'

'Are the Logies even relevant anymore?' another questioned while one said: 'Geez the Logies have become so irrelevant.'

'In fairness the Logies are an embarrassment and have been for at least 30 years... Did you see the nominees for awards this year? Not a shred of talent to be seen,' one wrote.

Another added: 'Sometimes I get mad about how much I pay for streaming services but then remember I don't have to endure torturous broadcasts like tonight's #Logies.'

It comes after Daily Mail revealed the Logie Awards might not be back next year - or ever.

A very high-level TV insider has revealed 'they're quietly rolling up the red carpet'.

'It's just not viable anymore. No one wants to pay for it, no one's watching, and the people behind it are already looking for an exit,' said the source.

That 'exit' is apparently the upcoming fire sale of magazines at Are Media - which owns TV Week and the Logies brand.

Several people took to X to slam the ceremony and claim the Logies simply isn't relevant any more. Pictured Gold Logie winner Lynne McGranger

The private equity firm backing Are Media, Mercury Capital, wants out after five years of underwhelming returns.

The Logies red carpet used to host the likes of Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, One Direction, Ricky Martin and even Destiny's Child.

'You remember when the Logies had international stars, outrageous moments, drama?' said the insider.

'Now it's a glorified promo reel for local TV. It's like the Bogan Oscars. The big acts are gone - and so is the audience.

'It's Karl Stefanovic, Sonia Kruger, Hamish Blake - rinse and repeat. Boring! The audience is tired, the talent's recycled, and the networks aren't throwing cash at Logies campaigns like they used to.'

The ratings have also plummeted as Seven - which reclaimed the Logies broadcast in 2023 after 28 years with Nine - has seen a 20 per cent drop in digital audience.

'Seven thought they were buying back a national treasure. What they got was a very expensive nostalgia trip,' the insider added.
He's still your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.

But Tom Holland swapped the New York skyline for Glasgows when he swung in for a superheros welcome yesterday.

The British actor, 29, even unveiled his new Spidey suit ahead of filming the next chapter in the blockbuster franchise, Brand New Day  and gave one happy young fan a lift up.

Toms latest outing is due for release here next summer, with Mark Ruffalo returning as the Hulk.

It is not known whether Hollands real-life fiancee Zendaya, 28, will return as Peter Parkers girlfriend MJ.

Off-screen, their wedding plans have been put on ice, according to Zendayas stylist Law Roach, as the actress films Dune: Part Three and other projects.

He's still your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. But Tom Holland swapped the New York skyline for Glasgows when he swung in for a superheros welcome yesterday

The British actor, 29, even unveiled his new Spidey suit ahead of filming the next chapter in the blockbuster franchise, Brand New Day  and gave one happy young fan a lift up

She and Holland are also set to appear together in The Odyssey, Christopher Nolans adaptation of Homers epic.

Tom's appearance in Glasgow comes amid a very busy time for the actor after he was named the new face of Prada's Paradigme Fragrance  and posed with some adorable puppies to promote it.

He also recently addressed speculation that he could be stepping into the shoes of James Bond.

Tom's name has been bandied about along with other high-profile stars as a potential new star of the James Bond franchise.

But Tom Holland didn't give any hints about the speculation when he was asked about it in a video posted Thursday.

A screenwriter for the highly anticipated film was also announced on Friday.

While joining chef Gordon Ramsay on his YouTube channel to make fried chicken sandwiches and promote his non-alcoholic beer brand, Tom acknowledged the 'speculation' swirling around him.

'Listen, there's speculation at the minute. Well keep it to a minimum for now,' he said with a sheepish grin. 'We'll get there one day.'

Glasgow has been transformed into downtown New York for filming after becoming an alternate (and cheaper) option to the Big Apple itself

The actor was spotted on Sunday with stunt wires attached to his Spider-Man suit

The actor appeared to be filming a scene where he was shooting webs as the famous character

The actor was seen taking a drink of water as he took a brief beak from filming the dramatic-looking scenes

Spider-Man: A New Day begins with the world having forgotten all about the iconic superhero

Other high-profile films that have been filmed in Glasgow include the 2013 Zombie flick World War Z, which saw Brad Pitt visit the city

Tom's eyes were spotted below the iconic Spider-Man suit as he got into full character

Tom reset on the railings of the set during filming after Glasgow was transformed into New York over the past few days

Tom gave a thumbs up to crew as he stood on top of a tank for the action-packed scene

The actor even appeared to jokingly shoot webs from his Spider-Man suit as he made his way to the set of the role that has made him a global superstar

It comes after Tom recently addressed speculation that he could be stepping into the shoes of James Bond (Daniel Craig is pictured in the role)

Tom's appearance in Glasgow comes amid a very busy time for the actor after he was named the new face of Prada's Paradigme Fragrance  and posed with some adorable puppies to promote it

'Every young British actor, its the pinnacle of working in our industry,' Tom continued.

'I already consider myself to be the luckiest kid alive. I could never have dreamed to have the career that I've had.'

The next Bond film is coming into focus after the announcement on Friday that Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight would be joining Villeneuve behind the camera to write the next James Bond film.

While speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Knight said: 'It has always been on my bucket list and it's fantastic to be invited to do it  I can't wait to get started.'

The movie will be overseen by Amazon MGM Studios, after producer Barbara Broccoli gave up creative control of the Bond franchise.

Even though the creative team is falling into place for the next Bond film, there haven't been any indications of who will replace Craig  or which actors are being considered.

The producers are reportedly looking for a considerably younger actor to take over the role after Craig  who is 57  presented a more weathered, mortality-focused version of the beloved character.
Tom Gleeson didn't hold back at the Logie Awards on Sunday night - using his moment on stage to take a savage swipe at Channel Seven.

The Gold Logie winner was presenting alongside MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow when he delivered a X-rated tirade against the network, accusing it of favouring its own talent when it comes to awards.

'G'day, congratulations Poh, we are nominated for the Gold Logie award, a prestigious award and cannot be mocked,' Gleeson said with his signature sarcasm.

'I cannot think of anything critical to say about it. I will happily make jokes about religion, but the Gold Logie is beyond critique. It can change everything - I was hosting Hard Quiz, I won and I still am.'

Then, in a cutting jab at Seven, he quipped: 'You are not going to win because you are not on Channel Seven. That is how it works. Channel Seven are giving out awards to themselves - it's like they've invited us to their house so we can watch them have a w**k.'

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Tom Gleeson (right) didn't hold back at the Logie Awards on Sunday night - using his moment on stage to take a swipe at Channel Seven

The Gold Logie winner was presenting alongside MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow (left) when he delivered a deadpan tirade against the network, accusing it of favouring its own talent when it comes to awards

While the room erupted in laughter, Gleeson doubled down  telling the live audience and viewers at home that voting was still open and urging them to get behind Poh.

'Over one million people are watching  if everyone voted for Poh, it could be an upset. And you know I love an upset. You can vote for Channel Seven if you want, but if you don't know, vote Poh.'

Poh, clearly relieved she didn't have to say it herself, laughed: 'Thanks Tom, I was going to say something but it would have been gross!'

According to fellow comedian Dave Hughes, Logies producers were not happy Gleeson went off script with the X-rated joke.

'Theres an autocue and I refuse to use it. I got a call on Sunday morning from the producers of the Logies saying, "What are you going to say on stage?"' he explained on The Foxs Fifi, Fev & Nick.

'I said, "I dont know, just relax. No Im not using the autocue."'

'Neither did Tom Gleeson. He had all these jokes on the autocue that he didnt use and just started slagging off Channel Seven.

'It was funny and it was graphic, but it wasnt on the autocue and they werent too happy.'

The Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television went to Home and Away star Lynne McGranger, 72, who was overcome with emotion as she took to the stage

And in the end - Tom was right.

The Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television went to Home and Away star Lynne McGranger, 72, who was overcome with emotion as she took to the stage.

Kate Miller-Heidke and Sonia Kruger helped Lynne carry her dramatic dress train as she made her way to the microphone.

'Thirty-three years I've done this amazing show and I'm thrilled and honoured,' she told the crowd.

The beloved actress revealed she would eventually place her Gold Logie next to her 1974 Wagga Wagga Drama Festival Best Actress award, which sparked her decision to pursue a career in acting.

But before doing so, she joked she'd be keeping it in her handbag - taking a playful dig at last year's Gold Logie winner Larry Emdur.

'I did promise that if I won the Gold Logie, I would carry it around in my handbag for a year - which is better than baring my white arse on morning television, Larry!' she quipped.

Lynne also thanked her fellow nominees, the Home and Away cast and crew, and the loyal fans who keep 'free-to-air television alive'.

Earlier in the night, after winning Best Lead Actress in a Drama, she also left the room in stitches when she thanked her husband - who bluntly told her he'd 'rather swallow a hammer' than attend her big night.
Sydney Sweeney caught up with her Euphoria costars in Los Angeles on Saturday night, even as fans were in shock over revelations about her political party affiliation.

Sydney was spotted out with fellow actresses Hunter Schafer, 26, and Maude Apatow, 27.

The trio took the stage at The GasLite in Santa Monica, where they performed a karaoke cover of the 1993 song What's Up by 4 Non Blondes.

Footage captured by fellow patron and fan Xochil Rincon has been circulating on social media.

One clip also showed Jacob Elordi out with the bunch.

It comes amid the revelation that Sydney  who is facing backlash for her seemingly eugenics-inspired new American Eagle campaign  registered as a Republican in Florida in June 2024.

Sydney Sweeney caught up with her Euphoria costars in Los Angeles on Saturday night, even as fans were in shock over revelations about her political party affiliation; pictured in March

Sydney was spotted out with fellow actresses Hunter Schafer (L), 26, and Maude Apatow (R), 27. The trio took the stage at The GasLite in Santa Monica, where they performed a karaoke cover of the 1993 song What's Up by 4 Non Blondes

Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer and Maude Apatow spotted at a karaoke bar last night.



pic.twitter.com/WQMW9IHwdV  Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) August 3, 2025

On July 23, Sydney, in partnership with clothing brand American Eagle, unveiled a new campaign with the slogan 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.'

Sydney modeled a coordinating denim jacket and trousers for the advert, writing in an Instagram caption, 'I have great jeansnow you can too.'

In an accompanying video, Sydney buttons up her jeans and recites, 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color my genes are blue.'

The busty siren muses in another seconds-long outtake: 'My body's composition is determined by my genes.'

The campaign has provoked consumers, with one critic calling the clip 'one of the loudest and most obvious racialized dog whistles we've seen and heard in a while.'

Taking to social media, many expressed their shock at the messaging, which they have likened to Nazi propaganda.

On the contrary, some find the ad harmless, with one person writing online: 'You guys dont have to like Sydney Sweeney or the ways she promotes herself but dont you think comparing those jean commercials to nazi propaganda is a tad extreme?'

American Eagle defended its latest spokesperson on Friday, posting on social media, '[The campaign] "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" is and always was about the jeans.

'Her jeans. her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.'

Sydney and Maude pictured in season one of the hit HBO series Euphoria

In response to the fan video of Sydney partying with her co-stars, some people continued to speak out against the actress

Sydney brushed off the controversy on Sunday as she shared a photo and video via Instagram Stories

The movie star gave her 25 million followers a closeup look at her big blue eyes

In response to the fan video of Sydney partying with her co-stars, some people continued to speak out against the actress.

Hunter's status as a transgender woman was referenced various times, with one person writing on X: 'I just know sydney [misgenders] her.'

Another social media user predicted, 'Republicans [are] about to have a meltdown over their beloved Aryan princess hanging out with a trans woman.'

Someone else questioned, 'Why [are] Hunter and Maude hanging out with that MAGA rat?'

'She had to immediately lean on her white girlies with good reputations to pull her out of a pr crisis,' another mused.

Sydney appeared to brush off the controversy on Sunday as she shared a photo and video of herself via Instagram Stories.
She has long denied rumours shes undergone a breast enlargement.

But Sophie Monk did little to quell the speculation when she stepped onto the red carpet at the 2025 Logie Awards on Sunday night.

The Love Island host showed off her extreme cleavage in a very revealing white gown by Cappellazzo Couture.

The TV star risked a wardrobe malfunction as she spilled out of the plunging neckline.

She let the dramatic ensemble do the talking by wearing minimal accessories and her blonde locks tied back.

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Sophie Monk did little to quell rumours she's had a boob job when she stepped onto the red carpet at the 2025 Logie Awards on Sunday night

The Love Island host showed off some extreme cleavage in a very revealing white gown

Sophie also opted for dramatic make-up, rocking a heavy smokey eye and nude lip combination.

In 2019, Sophie officially denied having a breast enlargement, telling her Instagram followers she is all-natural.

After fans were left gobsmacked by footage of her on holiday in the Maldives, the former Bardot star denied she was showing off her 'new boobs'.

The speculation began after Sophie shared a video of herself walking out of the ocean dripping wet in a skimpy red bikini.

'New boobs?' one of her followers commented, to which Sophie swiftly replied: 'They're 39 years old and going south.'

Sophie, who turns 46 in December, has long been accused of going under the knife.

Speaking on 2DayFM's breakfast show, Sophie claimed that if she were to have surgery on that area it would be a breast reduction.

'I want a boob reduction. They're a 32D and at times a DD, and they get in the way when I do sports,' she said at the time.

The TV star risked a wardrobe malfunction as she spilled out of the low-cut dress

She let the dramatic ensemble do the talking by wearing minimal accessories and her blonde locks tied back

'But doctors told me to leave them alone, women die for those things!'

In 2018, Sophie sparked rumours she'd undergone Botox and lip fillers after displaying noticeably fuller features during a TV appearance.

While being interviewed on the Today show in November 2018, her lips appeared much plumper compared to when she filmed Love Island earlier that year.

At the time, Beverly Hills-based cosmetic surgeon Dr. Randal Haworth said Sophie had likely 'taken full advantage of some non-surgical cosmetic options'.
at Sydney University last month. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is settling into life Down Under after arriving in Australia to study

And the 21-year-old future queen appears to still be getting the hang of Aussie road rules.

The fair-haired royal was spotted making a slight slip-up on Saturday when she, accompanied by a female friend, tried to hop into a waiting Uber from the wrong side.

Evidently used to left-hand drive vehicles, the princess was seen reaching for the door handle on the driver's side.

The move proved most amusing to her friend who then directed the princess to the other side of the vehicle.

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Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is settling into life Down Under after arriving in Australia to study at Sydney University last month

And the 21-year-old future queen appears to be still getting the hang of Aussie road rules. The fair-haired royal was spotted making a slip up on Saturday when she tried to hop into a waiting Uber - from the wrong side

The wrong move proved most amusing to the friend who then directed the princess to the other side of the vehicle

Showing no apparent signs of embarrassment, Ingrid Alexandra then took her seat in the car on the passenger side.

Accompanied by a female pal, Ingrid Alexandra dressed simply for her daytime outing in a long coat with a fur collar, baggy green jeans, a grey zip-up sweater, and a blue knit top.

Wearing her long hair in a ponytail, she accessorised with a set of gold hoop earrings, a small designer handbag, and carried a mobile device.

She completed her look with a pair of running shoes.

Her companion, meanwhile, wore a grey overcoat, paired with blue jeans, a low-cut black top and white sneakers.

It comes after Ingrid Alexandra was recently spotted doing a 'drink run' with a female friend.

Ingrid Alexandra, who has just started a three-year undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney, was seen on Thursday visiting a bottle shop for a crate of booze, before returning to her accommodation with a mate.

She kept her outfit casual, slipping into a pair of loose-fit white jeans and a black cardigan over a matching crew-neck shirt.

Showing no obvious signs of embarrassment, the princess then took her seat in the car on the passenger side

Ingrid Alexandra dress simply for her day time outing in a long coat with fur collar, baggy green jeans, a grey zip up sweater, and blue knit top

The young royal, who is second in line to the throne after her father, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, has commenced a three-year undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney

She wore a name tag on her clothes, which simply read 'Ingrid', and left her hair loose.

Ingrid Alexandra completed her look with a pair of sensible blue sneakers as she carted her purchases, which included a $21 bottle of Cat Amongst The Pigeons chardonnay.

The chic royal, who is second in line to the throne after her father, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, arrived Down Under late last month and posed on campus for a series of photos she uploaded to Instagram.

The Royal Household's full statement from Ingrid read: 'I'm looking forward to starting my studies at the University of Sydney.

'It will be exciting to become a student, and I'm looking forward to gaining new perspectives on both European and international politics.

'I'm sure that I will learn a lot.'

She marked the joyous occasion with a series of images taken around what appeared to be the University of Sydney campus.

One picture showed the royal standing in front of the establishment's tall brown brick building, while another showed her seated in front of the reception steps.

She also held a collection of white folders and envelopes, perhaps documentation linked to her studies.

Her decision to move to Australia to continue her studies comes after she embarked on military training at the Engineer Battalion in Brigade Nord last year.
Samantha Armytage proved she can go from casual to couture in a heartbeat when she stepped out at the Logie Awards on Sunday night.

The Golden Bachelor host, who is newly single and ready to mingle following her divorce from Richard Lavender, swapped her low-key weekend look for a jaw-dropping red carpet transformation.

Just a day earlier, the 48-year-old was spotted rugged up in a beige turtleneck sweater and brown leggings, carrying a pink yoga mat as she headed to a morning workout in Sydney.

She kept her face makeup-free, and added to her look with a beanie and a navy puffer jacket.

Fast forward to Sunday evening and Sam was almost unrecognisable, turning heads in a breathtaking cream gown with graduated shades of beige, pale pink and grey.

The ethereal dress featured a sheer tulle overlay and an elegant sweeping neckline that sat gracefully across one shoulder.

Samantha Armytage proved she can go from casual to couture in a heartbeat when she stepped out at the Logie Awards on Sunday night

The Golden Bachelor host, who is newly single and ready to mingle following her divorce from Richard Lavender, swapped her low-key weekend look for a jaw-dropping red carpet transformation

She paired the ensemble with a full face of bronzed makeup, a soft pink lip and glittering statement earrings.

Her blonde locks were swept back in a chic updo, giving her an effortlessly polished look.

But it wasn't just her gown that had tongues wagging  it was her dashing date for the evening.

On her arm was Barry 'Bear' Myrden, the charming 61-year-old star of her new dating series The Golden Bachelor.

While the pairing was part of a clever promotional push for the upcoming series, the glamorous outing also marked Sam's triumphant public comeback.

Friends say the event was a significant moment for the TV favourite, who has spent the past year largely out of the spotlight following the breakdown of her marriage.

'Sam's looking amazing and she's feeling better than she has in a long time,' one insider told Daily Mail Australia.

'She's got a great new project, she's glowing  and you can tell she's enjoying life again.'

Just a day earlier, the 48-year-old was spotted rugged up in a beige turtle neck sweater and brown leggings, carrying a pink yoga mat as she headed to a morning workout in Sydney

in a breathtaking cream gown with graduating tones of beige, pale pink and grey

On her arm was Barry 'Bear' Myrden, the charming 61-year-old star of her new dating series The Golden Bachelor

Sam split with husband Richard Lavender late last year, just shy of their four-year anniversary.

The television personality has been single and ready to mingle ever since, and has recently undergone a glamorous makeover ahead of her hosting role on The Golden Bachelor.

Barry 'Bear' Myrden is an infrastructure engineer and passionate sailor from Sydney, who has been handpicked as the leading man for the upcoming Australian adaptation.

He is a father-of-three and a respected professional in the tech industry, currently working in Data Centre Management for Woolworths Group.

With decades of experience in his field, he has held senior roles at major companies like Macquarie Bank and the NSW Port Authority.
Jamie Lee Curtis has arrived Down Under.

The acting icon flew into Sydney International Airport on Monday ahead of the Freakier Friday Australian premiere.

The 66-year-old attempted to go incognito as she touched down, wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses and a black face mask to hide her famous features.

She kept a low profile by wearing an all-black ensemble, which included a blazer and dark scarf.

The actress accessorised the travel day fit with not one, but two, Goyard bags, which are estimated to retail for around $10,000 AUD together.

Despite attempting to go under the radar, Jamie Lee was instantly recognisable thanks to her signature grey pixie haircut and slender build.

Jamie Lee Curtis (pictured) has arrived Down Under

The 66-year-old attempted to go incognito as she touched down in Sydney, wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses and a black face mask to hide her face

The American actress, who is set to attend the Australian premiere of her latest movie alongside Lindsay Lohan, recently revealed the reason behind the 22-year wait for a Freaky Friday sequel.

In 2003, Jamie Lee starred in the now-smash hit comedy, which sees the two characters switch bodies, with hilarity ensuing.

Fans had long hoped for a sequel to the iconic comedy but had an agonising wait, as Freakier Friday is only now hitting cinemas - over two decades on from the original.

Now, Jamie Lee has revealed why there was such a long gap between the two releases as she admitted she has long had her eye on a follow-up movie.

Appearing on last week's The One Show, Jamie revealed they had to wait until Lindsay, 39, was old enough to have a teenage child for the sequel premise to work.

'The truth is that Lindsay had to be old enough to have a 15-year-old daughter, people would ask me about the movie over and over again,' she shared.

'And finally someone in Australia said, "well she is" and I was like "what do you mean?" because I know her as this young girl, so I don't know how old she is.

'Someone told me and I was, like, "Oh! Well maybe we can make the movie. Let's go!"'

She accessorised the travel day fit with not one, but two, Goyard bags, which are estimated to retail for around $10,000 together

Jamie Lee (left), who is set to attend the Australian premiere of her latest movie alongside Lindsay Lohan (right), recently revealed the reason behind the 22-year wait for a Freaky Friday sequel

Lindsay was just 15 years old when she first portrayed Anna Coleman in Freaky Friday alongside Jamie Lee, who played her on-screen mother Tess Coleman.

It follows the bickering mother and daughter after a Chinese restaurant fortune cookie mishap causes them to switch bodies, forcing them to live the other's life.

Despite barely having been able to see eye-to-eye, the magical switch eventually allows them to see things from the other's point of view.

The sequel will see the iconic pairing switch places once again, though this time there is quadruple chaos in store.
Kelsey Parker paid tribute to her late baby after tragically losing her third child.

The podcaster, 34, suffered heartbreak in June after her son Phoenix - her first child with boyfriend Will Lindsay - was 'born sleeping.'

After an incredibly stressful and challenging month for the family, Kelsey, Will and her children with late husband Tom Parker - Aurelia, six, and Bodhi, four - headed on a much-needed family holiday.

On Sunday, Kelsey shared a video of herself on the beach during the trip alongside a heartbreaking letter to Phoenix.

The podcast host penned: 'A Letter to My Angel. Its hard to find the words.

'There is no preparing for this kind of heartbreak. I had dreams for you, your first giggle, your first steps, the way you would cling to me when the world felt too big.'

Kelsey Parker paid tribute to her late baby in a heartfelt Instagram post on Sunday after tragically losing her third child

On Sunday, Kelsey shared a video of herself on the beach during her family holiday alongside a heartbreaking letter to Phoenix

Kelsey continued: 'All those moments I imagined are now part of a different kind of story  one I never thought Id have to write to you.

'But this isnt just about pain, it is about the quiet but powerful love you brought into this world.

'About how you changed me  made me softer, more grounded, and somehow even more grateful.

'Grief and gratitude can exist together. I grieve what was lost, but I am so thankful I had the chance to carry you for 9 months and love you unconditionally, I told you every day I loved you.

'You will always be mine. My son. My light. My why.

'I share this not because I have answers, but because silence can be lonely.

'And if you are walking through a similar kind of grief, please know youre not alone. Theres a quiet sisterhood in this heartbreak, and I feel you deeply.

'For now, Im learning to live with the ache, to breathe through the waves, and to find little pockets of peace in the middle of the storm.

'And I know that even though I cant hold you in my arms, I carry you in my heart, always.'

Kelsey penned: 'There is no preparing for this kind of heartbreak. I had dreams for you, your first giggle, your first steps, the way you would cling to me when the world felt too big'

Kelsey 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 announced the news on Instagram in June.

She penned: '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.

'I love you all and thank you for your understanding and space. Love always, Kelsey, Will, and the Parker Family'.

Kelsey met tree surgeon Will on a night out last year, with the couple announcing their relationship in September.

It followed on from Kelsey tragically losing husband Tom in 2022, after an 18-month battle with a deadly and aggressive form of brain cancer.

If you have been affected by anything in this article, please contact The Lullaby Trust on 0808 8026868
Jason Manford has given a health update alongside a defiant message after undergoing surgery and cancelling four shows.

The comedian, 44, was due to take to stage for his A Manford All Seasons tour in Hertfordshire on Thursday before it was announced he was 'too unwell', with the star going on to cancel a further three shows.

He later revealed he had developed appendicitis - which is when the organ swells, causing severe pain and in most cases, surgeons remove the appendix.

And taking to his Instagram on Sunday, Jason had seemingly recovered well as he revealed he was out of hospital and heading on holiday.

The TV personality also defiantly declared that he'll 'not be defeated' while informing fans of the major travel alterations he's had to make amid his illness.

Sharing a snap of himself reclining on a bed in a ferry cabin, Jason penned: 'I will not be defeated! Im going on holiday! Might not be able to fly to Portugal but what about this ferry! On it.  its only 33 hours.'

Jason Manford has given a health update alongside a defiant message after undergoing surgery and cancelling four shows

The comedian, 44, was due to take to stage for his A Manford All Seasons tour in Hertfordshire on Thursday before it was announced he was 'too unwell', with it later being revealed he had appendicitis

His post was met with plenty of messages from fans expressing their joy that he was on the mend.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Jason was sweetly supported by his parents as they sat by his bedside after he underwent appendix surgery.

He gave fans an update as he took to Instagram to share a sweet photograph of his parents Sharon and Ian paying him a visit in hospital.

'Mum & dad come to look after me for the night! Rest of the family away and they didnt want by myself,' he wrote in a caption.

'Always their baby no matter how old ya get!'

He was greeted with kind comments from his celebrity friends, who wished him a speedy recovery.

Emmerdale's Adam Thomas shared: 'This is cute get better soon sir x.'

While Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley added: 'Love that. God bless them x.'

Taking to his Instagram on Sunday, Jason had seemingly recovered well as he revealed he was out of hospital and heading on holiday

The TV personality also defiantly declared that he'll 'not be defeated' while informing fans of the major travel alterations he's had to make amid his illness

Following his surgery, Jason took to Instagram in the early hours of Saturday morning to share a smiley snap of himself as enjoyed a 'cheeky midnight snack' of pepperoni and pineapple pizza.

The TV personality, who was seen with a cannula in his arm, looked in good spirits as he posed in front of the pizza before sharing other images of the Italian dish.

John Bishop stepped in to replace Jason at the Kendal Calling festival on Sunday, with the Liverpudlian comedian, 58, uploading a humorous announcement video that was shared to Jason's page.

Speaking to the camera, John said: 'The one that can't be cancelled is Kendal Calling on Sunday afternoon. So he's asked me if I'm free and I am, so I'm going to step up and fill Jason's boots.'

Jason underwent surgery following a 'scary' 24 hours, revealing he first came down with symptoms while driving at 70mph down the motorway.

He shared on Instagram: 'Appendix surgery all went well, now in recovery with my Vimto, they serve it in all Manchester hospitals.

'Bit of a scary & extremely painful 24 hours but thankful to our NHS & my incredible nurse mum who's a godsend in a health crisis!

'My advice would be to not get Appendicitis whilst driving at 70mph on the motorway!'

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Jason was sweetly supported by his parents as they sat by his bedside after he underwent appendix surgery

Following his surgery, Jason took to Instagram in the early hours of Saturday morning to share a smiley snap of himself as enjoyed a 'cheeky midnight snack' of pepperoni and pineapple pizza

The TV personality, who was seen with a cannula in his arm, looked in good spirits as he posed in front of the pizza before sharing other images of the Italian dish

Meanwhile, John Bishop stepped in to replace Jason at the Kendal Calling festival on Sunday, with the Liverpudlian comedian, 58, uploading a humorous announcement video that was shared to Jason's page

Jason shared his disappointment about not being able to make his upcoming shows and thanked fans for their support.

'Seriously though, I'm gutted that I've had to move the dates this weekend, and I'm sorry for the late notice to so many people in St Albans, Oxford, Lincoln, Skegness & at Kendall Calling,' he added.

'I thought I could get by on antibiotics and surgery at a later date so I could still do the shows, but was advised not to.

'Also means I can't fly out to Portugal on Monday to join my family on holiday! Ah well, such is life. Thanks for all the ''Get Well Soon'' messages.'

Sharing a health update on Instagram on Friday, Jason penned: 'Appendix surgery all went well, now in recovery with my Vimto, they serve it in all Manchester hospitals'

Earlier on Thursday, it was confirmed that Jason would not be performing in Hertfordshire due to ill health [pictured in January]

Earlier on Thursday, it was confirmed that Jason would not be performing in Hertfordshire due to ill health.

An initial post read: 'We regret to inform you that tonights performance of A Manford All Seasons @albanarena has been unexpectedly cancelled due to Jason Manford being unwell and will now be rescheduled to Mon 20th Oct 2025.

'Thank you for understanding, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

In another statement shared to X, a further three shows in Oxford, Lincoln and Skegness were also scrapped and rescheduled for later this year and early 2026.

'We regret to inform you that the following performances of A Manford All Seasons have been unexpectedly cancelled due to Jason Manford being unwell,' it added.

'Oxford, New Theatre. Lincoln, The Engine Shed. Skegness, Embassy Hall. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.'
Victoria Derbyshire revealed she 'thought she was going to die' as she reflected on 10 years since receiving the shock diagnosis in a new interview.

The BBC presenter, who is the face of Newsnight, was given the news by medics in 2015 just days after discovering how her right nipple 'looked odd'.

Victoria, 56, underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery soon after.

Following 301 days of treatment including six sessions of chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiotherapy, the mother-of-two was given the all clear with an 11 per cent chance of the cancer recurring.

Cancer-free and marking a decade on from the life-threatening ordeal, Victoria told The Sunday Times magazine: 'I thought I was going to die.'

Recalling the days and weeks after her diagnosis, Victoria took her family on holiday as she kept thinking it could be her final one.

Victoria Derbyshire has revealed she 'thought she was going to die' as she reflected on 10 years since receiving the shock diagnosis in a new interview

The BBC presenter, who is the face of Newsnight, was given the news by medics in 2015 just days after discovering her right nipple 'looked odd'

Following 301 days of treatment including six sessions of chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiotherapy, the mother-of-two was given the all clear with an 11 per cent chance of the cancer recurring (pictured in 2015)

She said: 'When I didn't know if my cancer was going to be treatable, we went on holiday to Barcelona.'

Victoria added that she took 'a million pictures' and insisted she had to be in them all, as she faced into her recovery.

The journalist, who lives in Surrey with her husband Mark and two sons, said she hasn't changed the way she lives or eats and still drinks as she wants 'to be normal like I used to be'.

She previously told how she didn't want to tell her husband and sons about her diagnosis immediately as she went into 'practical mode'.

Victoria will be on holiday with her family when the anniversary of her diagnosis takes place, and said she plans to a 'big blowout' celebration with them.

While Victoria is thankful her son Oliver vividly remembers the price of the hospital parking more than her health battle, she praised her husband Mark for his support.

She said: 'He did step up, big time. Obviously while I was being treated he was basically a single parent.'

During her chemotherapy, he would sit with her and read the newspapers to her as she struggled to read at the time.

The journalist, who lives in Surrey with her husband Mark and two sons, said she's not changed the way she lives or eats and still drinks as she wants 'to be normal like I used to be' (pictured in 2015)

Victoria will be on holiday with her family when the anniversary of her diagnosis occurs, and said she plans to a 'big blowout' celebration with them (pictured in 2015)

While Victoria is thankful her son Oliver vividly remembers the price of the hospital parking more than her health battle, she praised her husband Mark (pictured) for his support

Victoria finally married Mark after 17 years together in 2018 and stripped off on The Real Full Monty after being given the all-clear by doctors

Victoria lost her hair during her treatment and wore a wig because she 'didn't want people to feel sorry for her'.

It was her illness that spurred her decision to marry Mark after 17 years together in 2018.

He had proposed before she was pregnant with her first child - however the two never actually tied the knot.

Two years after beating the illness, Victoria stripped off for ITVs The Real Full Monty and competed in Im A Celebrity in 2020.

In January 2020, it was announced that the broadcaster's eponymous show was being cancelled by the BBC because the cost of doing it on a 'linear channel' were too high.

Victoria says that while she was 'gutted' the show had been axed, her battle with breast cancer gave her a 'different perspective' and allowed her to cope with the loss of her show.
Snezana Wood was doing a supermarket run with her daughter Eve Markoski-Wood on Monday.

The former Bachelor star was sporting an unusual accessory in the form of a square bandage on her neck.

The 44-year-old appeared a tad tired as she popped into the local shops in Elsternwick with her teen in tow.

Snezana was casually chic in a white shirt underneath a dark wool trench coat, and had on a pair of blue jeans.

She opted for a natural makeup look with some winged eyeliner and a soft pink lipstick.

It's unclear why the former reality star, who recently dyed her hair to an auburn tone, was wearing the bandage on her neck.

Snezana Wood (pictured) was doing a supermarket run with her daughter Eve Markoski-Wood on Monday. The former Bachelor star was sporting an unusual accessory in the form of a square bandage on her neck

It's unclear why the former reality star, who recently dyed her hair to an auburn tone, was wearing the bandage

Eve, 19, matched her mum, wearing a black and blue ensemble consisting of a loose jumper and jeans.

The pair left a Coles supermarket, each carrying a brown paper bag containing their purchases.

The sighting comes after Eve opened up about her biological father in a rare and deeply personal public moment that has since gone viral.

The teenager broke down in tears during an interview with Dose of Society, which was shared to the popular Instagram page's 1.7 million followers earlier this month.

In the raw and unfiltered video, Eve was asked: 'What is the most painful thing anyone has ever said to you?'

Her candid response left viewers stunned: 'Probably that I don't deserve the life I'm living.'

Wiping away tears, the Melbourne-based teen explained it was her biological dad, Jason Rapoff, who made the comment.

'I don't know why he said that to me. I grew up just with my mum,' she continued.

The 44-year-old appeared a tad tired as she popped into the local shops in Elsternwick with her teen in tow. Pictured with Eve

'She raised me to be the woman I am today. He wanted to see my mum suffer. And I think when he saw that my mum had built a life for both of us, it was just more of a reaction.'

Eve revealed she hasn't seen her biological father in eight years and that he was largely absent from her childhood.

'He was never around when I was little, so it was just my mum and I. I was very close to my mum's side.

'Everyone was there to support me. But I think he just did some things a while back that ended him in places he shouldn't have been in. He just got involved with the wrong people,' she said.

The heartfelt clip quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of views and comments, with fans flooding the comments section with support and admiration for Eve's strength.

When asked what she would say to her mum today, Eve fought back tears again.

'How proud I am of her,' she replied.

'She's done a lot. She sacrificed a lot. She was working nine to five, and after that going to uni.

The sighting comes after her daughter Eve (pictured) opened up about her biological father in a rare and deeply personal public moment that has since gone viral

'She ended up getting her bachelor's in molecular genetics and biology. Seeing how strong she is, how much strength she's got to keep going through all of this - it makes me proud to be my mother's daughter.'

Eve, who has grown up largely in the spotlight after Snezana found love with Sam Wood on The Bachelor in 2015, later commented under the clip, offering further insight into how hard it was to speak so vulnerably on camera.

'Thank you so much for letting me share my story,' she wrote.

'I was nervous about how this would be received, especially being vulnerable on social media, knowing how harsh it can be. But the kindness and messages I've received have meant more than I can explain.'

Snezana and Jason's short-lived marriage lasted a year before the pair separated in 2005, when Eve was just two months old.
Sydney Sweeney is back in the news again after making headlines last week, with even President Donald Trump commenting on her.

After revelations the 27-year-old Euphoria veteran registered as a Republican in Florida in June 2024, a clip of her on the shooting range was dug up by fans.

The clip demonstrates just how well she can handle a gun; her choice being a semi-automatic Glock pistol, designed and manufactured by the Austrian company Glock GmbH.

The video of Sweeney shows she comfortable exercising her Second Amendment rights, and is quick to load, aim and fire, even doing impressive 'double taps.'

The siren then beams with pride after being told by other women that she's nailed her shots.

The reemergence of the shooting video follows intense criticism she's received over an American Eagle ad which has been dubbed 'Nazi propaganda' by critics - although most found the content innocent enough.

The ad's tagline was about her 'good jeans', which is a play on her blue-eyed, blonde hair 'genes.'

However, she's lost no fans in the MAGA world with the shooting clip.

'Sydney Sweeney has insane handgun skills,' said one while another added, 'She doesn't just have great jeans; she's also a total pro at the firing range, unloading 17 rounds in just nine seconds.'

But liberals were horrified seeing one of America's biggest actors wielding a Glock: 'Another reason to stop seeing her movies 'cause guns suck,' said one hater, while another shared, 'Put down the gun down honey, it just makes you look like a MAGA Princess.'

Sydney Sweeney is back in the news again after make headlines last week. The 27-year-old Euphoria veteran was seen in an old shooting range video that has been dug up by fans

The clip has now gone viral as it presented how well she can handle a gun; her choice was a Glock. In this old video of Sweeney shooting a gun, it's clear she is comfortable with the assault weapon as she is quick to load, aim and fire, even doing impressive 'double taps'

Sydney is alluring in the clip, with her hair bright blonde and pulled back while wearing pink-tinted protective shades and earmuffs. She looks great dressed casually in a surfer shirt knotted in front with black leggings.

The clip makes it clear this wasn't Sweeney's first rodeo on the gun range, which was made clear by her fans.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump was elated to discover Sweeney was registered as a Republican after her controversial American Eagle jeans ad set off a political firestorm.

Daily Mail asked Trump for his reaction to Sweeney's surprise voter registration after he landed in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the president didn't shy away from his excitement.

'Oh, now I love her ad,' Trump responded. 'You'd be surprised at how many people are Republican. That's one I wouldn't have known, but I'm glad you told me that,' he continued.

'If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.'

Sweeney was also seen on the weekend at the premiere for her new film, Americana.

She wore a Cinderella look with a pale yellow gown that had a sweetheart neckline as her dark blonde hair was held back by a yellow headband.

The looker appeared to be in great spirits on the red carpet even though she was heckled by a woman as she walked into the splashy event.

On Friday, American Eagle stepped in to defend Sweeney and her ad campaign.

The A-list actress, is the face of the label's autumn advertising rollout, which has the tagline, 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.'

The siren then beams with pride after being told by other women that she nailed the shots

She wore a surfer shirt that was knotted in front with black leggings and glasses

American Eagle said the actress did nothing wrong and dismissed woke critics claiming the ads were 'Nazi propaganda'.

Some saw her 'great jeans' campaign to be a remark on her genetic background which is mixed European ancestry; she grew up in rural Idaho.

The phrase 'great genes' is 'historically used to celebrate whiteness, thinness and attractiveness,' which it said made 'this campaign seem to be a tone-deaf marketing move,' a Salon report on the backlash read.

Others found the link 'ridiculous' and thought the ads were just fine.

''Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans,' the company said on Instagram.

'Her jeans. her story,' it was added. 'We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.'

This comes on the heels of criticism over her American Eagle ad which has been dubbed 'Nazi propaganda' by critics though some found the message innocent. The ad's tagline was about her good jeans, which was intended to be about her blue-eyed, blonde hair 'genes'

On Friday American Eagle said the actress did nothing wrong with their ads after they were branded 'Nazi propaganda' by woke critics. ''Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans,' the company said on Instagram

In a series of images, the Spokane, Washington-born beauty - who is set to play boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic - is seen modeling a variety of denim-based ensembles.

In an accompanying video, Sydney is seen buttoning up her jeans as she muses: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour... my genes are blue'.

A second advert sees the camera pan down Sydney's chest as she models a plunging denim jumpsuit.

'My body's composition is determined by my genes...' She muses, before exclaiming: 'Hey, eyes up here' as the camera cuts back to her face.

The advert has divided fans, however, with one critic calling the clip 'one of the loudest and most obvious racialized dog whistles we've seen and heard in a while.'

Outraged fans claimed: 'So Sydney (& American Eagle) somehow expect audiences to not interpret this visual as a euphemism for eugenics and white supremacy?'

Some saw her 'great jeans' campaign to be a remark on her genetic background which is mixed European ancestry; she grew up in rural Idaho

The phrase 'great genes' is 'historically used to celebrate whiteness, thinness and attractiveness,' which it said made 'this campaign seem to be a tone-deaf marketing move,' a Salon report on the backlash read

'The Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ad campaign is just modern day Nazi propaganda. Like it's wild how blatant it is. Things are weird right now, man.';

'The most nazi part of the Sydney sweeney add for me was the use of the word offspring'; ''Jeans (Genes) are past down from parent to offspring' 'My jeans (genes) are blue' 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans (genes)' Nothing is ever a coincidence, this is eugenics';

TikTok named Angie under the handle @vital_media_marketing then reviewed the ad and pointed out what she felt were problematic elements with the underlying message.

Angie said: 'As it's panning up her body and on her face and her features, she's literally talking about her family tree and the genetics that have been handed down to her, her blonde hair and her blue eyes, and how great they are.'

Many people panned the tone of the ad campaign on American Eagle's Instagram page, as one user quipped, It's giving 'Subtle 1930's Germany.''

Yet many were quick to defend Sydney, branding the backlash 'unhinged'.

In a series of images, the Spokane, Washington-born beauty - who is set to play boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic - is seen modeling a variety of denim-based ensembles

They shared on X/Twitter: 'I'm not sure how to say this nicely but if you think a jeans ad with a pun about Sydney Sweeney being pretty is a Nazi dog-whistle, you genuinely need to put the phone down for a while.'

'Everyone is seriously reading too much into this and y'all need to go take a hike or something because Sydney Sweeney is literally just promoting jeans, not 'Nazi propaganda''.

'The claim that Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad is pro-eugenics because of a 'good genes/jeans' pun is genuinely unhinged.

'It's a denim campaign, not a manifesto. Not every blonde with blue eyes is a Nazi. Some of you need a history book  and a nap';

'You guys don't have to like Sydney Sweeney or the ways she promotes herself but don't you think comparing those Jean commercials to nazi propaganda is a tad extreme?'

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Sweeney and American Eagle for comment.

Sweeney said in a July 23 news release about the fall campaign: 'There is something so effortless about American Eagle.'

She said of the clothier: 'It's the perfect balance of being put-together but still feeling like yourself.'

Also this weekend, the beauty was seen at a screening for her new film Americana. She wore a Cinderella look with a gown that had a sweetheart neckline as her dark blonde hair was held back by a yellow headband

The Euphoria star continued: 'Their commitment to creating pieces that make you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin is something that resonates with me.

'It's rare to find a brand that grows with you, the way American Eagle has for generations.'

The Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood actress wrapped up in saying, 'They have literally been there with me through every version of myself.'

American Eagle Outfitters president Jennifer Foyle opened up about the ad campaign, which is slated to raise money for domestic violence charities, in the news release. 'This fall season, American Eagle is celebrating what makes our brand iconic  trendsetting denim that leads, never follows,' Foyle said. 'Innovative fits and endless versatility reflect how our community wears their denim: mixed, matched, layered and lived in.'

The fashion executive explained why Sweeney made for the perfect focal point of the promotion. 'With Sydney Sweeney front and center, she brings the allure, and we add the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude and a little mischief,' Foyle said.

In terms of the charitable aspect of the ad campaign, American Eagle Outfitters is working with Crisis Text Line in an effort to provide grants for mental health support and crisis intervention. Proceeds from a special edition of The Sydney Jean will be donated to the organization. Among the related grants include a $100,000 Signature Grant posted this past February 2025 in an effort to expand programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
They got engaged over the Christmas holidays after first meeting on the 2016 set of Spider-Man.

And Zendaya flashed her dazzling $200k engagement ring during a low-key stroll with her fiance Tom Holland in Richmond Park on Saturday.

The couple cut low-key figures for the outing, with Zendaya, 28, opting for a pink knitted jumper and black jorts.

While Tom, 29, donned a plain blue top and a pair of black joggers for the stroll.

The pair appeared in good sprits as they spent some quality time together outside their busy schedules.

The loved-up couple are set to share the screen for the fourth time in Christopher Nolan's latest highly-anticipated project, after previously playing love interests in three Spider-Man movies.

Zendaya flashed her dazzling $200k engagement ring during a low-key stroll with her fiance Tom Holland in Richmond Park on Saturday

Her stunning ring is a 5.02-carat, east-west cushion-cut diamond, set in a Georgian-style cut-down setting

Tom is set to play one of the main roles in The Odyssey, starring as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus - while Matt Damon will take on role of the legendary Greek king of Ithaca.

While Zendaya's role has been undisclosed so far, despite her being spotted filming on the Aegadian Isle of Favignana in March, wearing a sleeveless off-white Grecian gown.

The Golden Globe winner is rumoured to be playing the Greek goddess Athena, who serves as divine counselor to Odysseus and meddles with gods like her father Zeus in his quest to return home.

Others have suggested she will star as Calypso, a nymph who keeps Odysseus captive by force on her island Ogygia for seven years while attempting to make him her immortal husband.

There's also a chance she could be playing Nausicaa, the beautiful daughter of King Alcinous who helps Odysseus when he's shipwrecked on her island.

Filming for the mythic action epic began in February on location in Greece, Morocco, Italy, Iceland and Los Angeles, with shooting now based in Scotland.

The Odyssey is set to become the most expensive project of Nolan's prestigious career, with a reported budget of $250 million, and will also be the first film in history to be shot entirely using brand new IMAX film technology'.

He is directing from his own screenplay - based on the epic poem by Homer that dates back to the 8th Century BC and was first published in English in 1614.

The couple cut low-key figures for the outing

Zendaya, 28, opting for a pink knitted jumper and black jorts

She curled her dark tresses for the outing

While Tom, 29, donned a plain blue top and a pair of black joggers for the stroll

The pair appeared in good sprits as they spent some quality time together outside their busy schedules

Anticipation for the mammoth film has already reached a fever pitch, with the incredible cast including a huge number of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Anne Hathaway is said to be playing Odysseus' wife and Queen of Ithica, Penelope, whom he's eager to reunite with following a perilous journey back home.

While Charlize Theron has been reported to be starring as the witch goddess Circe in the 3000-year-old fantastical tale full of sirens and a cyclops.

The star-studded cast also includes the likes of Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, Will Yun Lee, and Mia Goth.

And Universal Pictures gave eager fans the first glimpse at the film in a short teaser clip, attached to screenings of Jurassic World Rebirth earlier this month.

The trailer begins with an unknown narrator speaking about the title character Odysseus, who in the original poem is trying to return home to his wife Penelope after his victory in The Trojan War.

They begin: 'Darkness. Zeus law smashed to pieces. Im without a king since my master died. He knew it was an unwinnable war. And then, somehow, he won in'.

Dramatic footage of the sea crashing against the shore, shows what appears to be a mammoth statue of the famous Trojan Horse.

Jon Bernthal's unnamed character is then seen claiming: 'I know nothing of Odysseus, not since Troy', while Tom is seen for the first time as Telemachus, insisting: 'I have to find out what happened to my father. When did you last see him?'

While brief shots of the film are shown, Jon's character shouts to the room, 'Who has a story about Odysseus? You? You have a story? Some say hes rich. Some say hes poor. Some said he perished. Some said hes imprisoned'.

The trailer ends with an old man laying on pieces of driftwood, presumably Matt as the title character.

The Odyssey is scheduled to hit IMAX theaters on July 17, 2026 - just two weeks before Tom and Zendaya will be back for Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31.
Sally Obermeder stunned onlookers as she unveiled her glamorous makeover at the Logies on Sunday night.

The Real Housewives of Sydney star turned heads in a fitted gold dress with a halter neck design that skimmed her slender curves.

The 52-year-old looked decades younger as she posed up a storm in the foil-like number, which showcased her tan.

She went all out for her makeup look, choosing a bronzed palette with a matte pink lip and heavy peach blush.

Sally's look was a far cry from how she appeared in her days as a television presenter.

The former TV host once sported a less flashy look, darker hair and far fewer tanning products.

Sally Obermeder is looking very different these days. Pictured in 2020

She stunned onlookers as she unveiled her glamorous makeover at the Logies on Sunday night (pictured)

Sally rose to fame in the 2000s as a presenter on Sydney Weekender, before moving on to roles on Today Tonight, The Morning Show and The Daily Edition.

She left the Seven Network in 2020 before embarking on a reality TV career.

The television personality then joined The Real Housewives of Sydney for its second season in 2023.

Sally's appearance at the lauded awards show follows controversy around this year's invite list.

Most of the cast of The Real Housewives of Sydney were left off the Logies guest list, despite the show being up for an award.

Only Obermeder was invited to walk the red carpet - and she made sure to put on a show.

In recent years, the star has been busy with her wellness brand, SWIISH.

She was inspired to start the business after battling cancer.

The Real Housewives of Sydney star turned heads in a fitted gold dress with a halter neck design that skimmed her slender curves. The 52-year-old looked decades younger as she posed up a storm in the foil-like number, which showcased her tan

Sally rose to fame in the 2000s as a presenter on Sydney Weekender, before moving on to roles on Today Tonight and The Morning Show. She left Seven in 2020 before embarking on a reality TV career. Sally joined The Real Housewives of Sydney in 2023. Pictured in 2022

Sally was forced to fight an aggressive stage-three breast cancer, which she has since overcome, when she came up with the idea of a powerful green supplement.

She was diagnosed with the disease back in October 2011, at 41 weeks pregnant and the day before she was due to give birth to her first daughter Annabelle.

Speaking to Daily Mail, Sally said she's grateful for each and every day and feels like she's 'giving back' in a way after her cancer journey.

The television personality married her husband, product developer Marcus Obermeder, in 2001.

Besides daughter Annabelle, they also share a second daughter, Elyssa.
Iconic actress and model Loni Anderson died Sunday at the age of 79.

Anderson came to fame as a bubbly blonde Hollywood bombshell. The looker made her mark with bikini pinup photo shoots and a pictorial for Playboy magazine.

That led to her starring as sizzling hot receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the hit CBS comedy WKRP In Cincinnati. WKRP In Cincinnati aired from 1978-1982 and was set in an Ohio radio station.

Her love life was also interesting: she was married to late Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds from 1988 through 1994. She was married a total of four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008.

She died at a Los Angeles hospital following a 'prolonged' illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.

Iconic actress and model Loni Anderson died Sunday at the age of 79. Seen in 1981

Anderson came to fame as a bubbly blonde Hollywood bombshell

Here is a look back at her hottest moments.

WKRP In Cincinnati was an instant classic.

The cast of the series included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as the sexy and smart Jennifer Marlowe.

As the station's receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Marlowe used her sex appeal to deflect unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson.

Marlowe's efficiency often kept the station running in the face of others incompetence.

The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy Stroker Ace and the two later married and became tabloid fixtures before divorcing in 1994.

Tributes began pouring in for the late star as news of her passing spread on Sunday.

The looker made her mark with bikini pinup photo shoots and a pictorial for Playboy magazine. Seen in 1979

I Dream of Jeannie actress Barbara Eden said on the platform: 'Like many, I am absolutely stunned and heartbroken. Our friendship has spanned many years, and news like this is never easy to hear or accept.

Eden continued: What can I say about Loni that everyone doesn't already know? She was a real talent, with razor smart wit and a glowing sense of humor but, even more than that, she had an impeccable work ethic.

She was 'truly at a loss for words' on the somber day.

Eden concluded, 'Loni, you were one in a trillion, my friend, and even a trillion more.'

Publicist Danny Deraney wrote on X: 'Rest in peace Loni Anderson. There was something so wonderful about her role of Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP.

'She had the looks, brains and always the upper hand.'

Music publicist Eric Alper wrote: 'RIP Loni Anderson, forever our Jennifer Marlowe from WKRP in Cincinnatismart, stylish, and stealing every scene.'

He called Anderson 'a true TV icon with heart, humor, and glam.'

That led to her starring as sizzling hot receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the hit CBS comedy WKRP In Cincinnati. Seen in 1978

WKRP In Cincinnati aired from 1978-1982 and was set in an Ohio radio station. Seen in 1978

The CBS comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, featuring (L-R) Anderson; the late Howard Hesseman; and Jan Smithers

Eden called Anderson 'a darling lady and a genuinely good person,' adding that sh

In 2023, Anderson co-starred in Lifetime's Ladies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmas with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nicollette Sheridan.

'I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!' Fairchild said on X. 'I'm just devastated to hear this. Love & condolences to Bob (who was on set every day w her) & her kids and grandkids, who she adored.

Fairchild described Anderson as 'the sweetest, most gracious lady' and said she was 'just devastated to hear this.'

Fairchild noted how she and Anderson 'had worked on Bob Hope specials together' as well as A Divas Christmas - from which she shared a pic from the set with Anderson and Mills.

'We had so much fun on this!' Fairchild said. 'She will be greatly missed!'

Seen in a purple dress in 1980

In pink at a Hollywood event in the 1980s

Seen in leopard print in 1983

Anderson as Jayne Mansfield in The Jayne Mansfield Story

In 1983 for a fitness shoot as she wore a purple suit

Said one user: 'Some of us who are older are seeing the TV and music celebrities we grew up with erased every day. RIP Loni.'

Anderson wrote a 1995 autobiography titled My Life in High Heels. In it, she wrote about 'the growth of a woman, a woman who survives' adversity.

Anderson added, 'It's about my childhood, the death of my parents, my career, my divorces, and my children.

Anderson said the book also covered 'the trauma of [her] marriage to' Burt Reynolds.

Anderson told The Associated Press of the book: 'I think if youre going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all. You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because youre telling the truth.'

Burt Reynolds held hands with Anderson at a luncheon in 1987 in LA

Anderson was married to late Hollywood legend Reynolds from 1988 thru 1994

She married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008.

Anderson was born August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother was a model.

Her first role as an actress was a small part in the 1966 film Nevada Smith, starring Steve McQueen. Most of her career was spent on the small screen with early guest parts in the 1970s on S.W.A.T. and Police Woman.

After WKRP, Anderson starred in the short-lived comedy series Easy Street and appeared in made-for-TV movies including A Letter to Three Wives and White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.

Anderson is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

A private family service is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.
Katie Holmes was seen having a passionate phone call on the street outside Apple Bank in New York City on Sunday afternoon.

The 46-year-old Batman Begins actress was dressed for the dog days of summer as she had on a wrinkled linen summer dress with spaghetti straps over a skimpy tank top.

The flirty dress had a floral print top and light beige bottom with a slit up the side. The tank top was a blue-and-purple color.

The mother to Suri Cruise made the look a bit retro with blood red velvet Mary Jane shoes and a red-white-and-black floral print tapestry purse that could have fit in well in the 1800s.

The brunette wore her hair down with a gold ring and necklace on.

This sighting comes after her ex-husband Tom Cruise was seen holding hands with his new girlfriend, Ballerina actress Ana de Armas, in Vermont last week.

Katie Holmes was seen having a passionate phone call on the street outside Apple Bank in New York City on Sunday afternoon

The 46-year-old Batman Begins actress was dressed for the dog days of summer as she had on a wrinkled linen summer dress with spaghetti straps over a skimpy tank top. The dress had a floral print top and light beige bottom with a slit up the side

Holmes has been working this summer as she reunited with Dawson's Creek co-star Joshua Jackson for a new film trilogy.

The actress will write, direct and star in Happy Hours opposite Jackson for their first on-screen project together in over two decades.

As reported by Deadline, Holmes and Jackson, 47, will take the lead with filming in New York City this summer; work on the next two instalments is expected to continue shortly after.

The film will follow two people attempting to navigate their relationship as they tried to balance family life and careers with 'the pursuit of love'.

It's described as a 'character-driven dramedy', with young loves reconnecting as adults.

Other cast members attached to the project include Mary-Louise Parker, Constance Wu, Joe Tippett, John McGinty, Donald Webber Jr, Nathan Darrow, Johnna Dias-Watson and Jack Martin.

Holmes has previously directed indie films like Alone Together, Rare Objects and All We Had.

She and Jackson both starred in all six seasons of teen drama series Dawson's Creek.

Holmes and her Dawson's Creek costar Joshua Jackson were seen on the movie set of the Happy Hours on July 30 in New York City

Holmes wrote on Instagram: 'I am so very grateful to be working again with so many of my wonderful friends on this film HAPPY HOURS.

'And working with Josh after so many years is a testament to friendship.

'HAPPY HOURS is a love story that includes so many people I adore. We can't wait for everyone to see what we make.'

The movie will mark their first time on screen together since Dawson's Creek - which also included the likes of Busy Philipps, Michelle Williams and James Van Der Beek - ended 22 years ago.

Earlier this year, Jackson admitted he and Holmes were still 'very close'.

He told Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Dinner's On Me podcast: 'Katie and I are very close. Busy and Michelle are very, very close.'

This sighting comes after her ex-husband Tom Cruise was seen holding hands with his new girlfriend, Ballerina actress Ana de Armas, in Vermont last week

Like Holmes, de Armas can stun on a red carpet; seen at the premiere of Ballerina in Los Angeles on June 3

Although he admitted the cast of the show don't necessarily get in touch regularly, they're still there for each other.

He added: 'It's not a daily call. Sometimes it's not a weekly or monthly or even a half-yearly call, but when you're togetherthere's always that, "I know, you know."'

Fans hoping for a Dawson's Creek reboot on the big screen one day will be disappointed though, as Holmes previously dismissed the idea.

Back in 2022, she told Screen Rant: 'We've definitely talked about it over the years, but I feel like that show captured that time period and that time in all of our lives.

'I think it's great that you are nostalgic for it. So am I. But it's like, do we want to see them not at that age? We all decided we don't actually.'
Michael Douglas has refuted claims made by Sharon Stone that they had a blazing row prior to working together on their 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct.

Sharon claimed during a lengthy profile with Business Insider that she and Michael fought over a friend of hers in Cannes, and the argument allegedly led to the actor refusing to do a screen test with her for Basic Instinct.

The actress, 67, alleged Michael 'screamed' at her over the disagreement, though they smoothed things over and are now friends.

But Michael, 80, doesn't remember things the same way, with a rep for the star claiming he doesn't recall 'any argument in that timeframe.'

Michael's rep Allen Burry said in a statement obtained by People that the actor was 'very surprised [by Sharon's quotes]' since 'he doesn't remember any argument in that timeframe.'

As Michael remembers it, he only recalls having high praise for Sharon when they first met.

Michael Douglas has refuted claims made by Sharon Stone that they had a blazing row prior to meeting on the set of their erotic thriller Basic Instinct; pictured in the 1992 film

'He actually only remembers seeing and meeting Sharon for the first time when he saw [director] Paul Verhoeven's screen test of her for Basic Instinct and [Michael] said, "Absolutely, she's the one,"' Allen said.

While Allen acknowledged that Michael 'definitely spent time with' Sharon at Cannes, he added they were at the French film festival 'later, when they were promoting Basic Instinct in 1992.'

'And by the time they'd done the movie, they were friends', he said.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Michael for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Sharon claimed in her Business Insider interview that she had a rocky start in her friendship with Michael.

The actress described the alleged dispute as she opened up about her determination to land the Basic Instinct part, a role she said was turned down by 'everyone' approached.

'Everyone they went out to would turn it down,' she said. 'But the thing was, Michael Douglas did not want to put his bare a** out on the screen with an unknown  and I understood that. He wouldn't even test with me, but that was also for a different reason: We had an argument prior to that.'

Sharon claims the dispute stemmed over a person she knew well, who Michael was discussing with others before she stepped in to defend the person in question.

But things allegedly got heated, and Sharon suggested they 'step outside' to resolve the dispute.

A rep for Michael denied they ever had an argument in the 'timeframe' Sharon alleged, but acknowledged they did all go Cannes to promote Basic Instinct; Stone seen at the film festival with Douglas and co-star Jeanne Tripplehorn in 1992

The pair seen at a screening of their erotic thriller at Cannes in 1992

'This was at Cannes. A bunch of us were all sitting, and he was talking about someone and their kids. I really, really knew this person he was talking about. So I said something and he responded to me, saying, "What the f**k do you know?" It was in regard to a father-child relationship. Clearly, it triggered him.

'So he screams this at me across a whole group of people. And I'm not the person who goes, "Oh, excuse me, superstar." I pushed back my chair and said to him, "Let's step outside." That's how we first met.'

After stepping outside to hash things out, Sharon said they resolved the issue 'amicably.'

'I explained to him what the f**k I knew about this family he was speaking about, and that I was best friends with the children and the parent. And then we parted. I wouldn't say as best friends, but amicably. So, fast forward to casting "Basic Instinct," I don't think he wanted me to be his costar,' she added with a laugh.

Sharon said the tension was actually beneficial for their roles.

'It worked great because I was not rattled if he yelled at me. That was interesting for the character because Michael has a temper, and I didn't care. That worked very well in our dynamic. Eventually, we became the greatest of friends, to this day. I admire him tremendously,' she said.

Despite their alleged rocky start, Sharon says she and Michael remained 'the greatest of friends'; pictured 2009

Basic Instinct first hit screens in 1992 and sees Detective Nick (Michael) investigate the brutal murder of Johnny Boz (Bill Cable).

The blockbuster follows the police officer, who points suspicion towards Catherine Tramell (Sharon), the victim's girlfriend.

Catherine manages to seduce Nick into falling in love with her.

Basic Instinct features a well-known scene where Catherine is being quizzed by police.

Amid the bombardment of questions, she distracts them when she uncrosses then recrosses her legs, leaving the men flustered seeing as she was underwear-free at the time.

The steamy film starring Douglas and Sharon was released in 1992

Sharon's character distracts police by crossing and uncrossing her legs in an iconic moment from the film

Last year Sharon said that the iconic and controversial interrogation scene now seems 'very ordinary' compared to raunchy present-day films.

Appearing at the Taormina Film Festival, Sharon said - per Deadline -that while the scene was considered X-rated at the time, nowadays it would have lost its shock factor.

She said:'[at the time] it seemed like a scandal, and now it seems very, very ordinary.

'I think that now that women are writing, directing, producing, filming and more and more a part of filmmaking, films are less about men writing films about their fantasies of the way women are

'And actresses are less asked to portray the male fantasy, and then critics are less asked to tell us if we fulfilled the male fantasy or not. Its more, are we fulfilling the human condition?'
Hollywood stalwart Megan Gallagher - who has appeared on screen over 50 times - was on the hit series Hill Street Blues for several years in the late 1980s.

The Pennsylvania native played Officer Tina Russo for 19 episodes from 1986 until 1987 and gained a following as the show was such a massive success.

The brunette also popped up on several other hit series like China Beach, The Slap Maxwell Story, The Larry Sanders Show and Millennium.

And there was a role in 2005's Mr. & Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Last week the 65-year-old performer was seen in a rare sighting in Los Angeles as she wore casual clothing: she paired a black tank top with dark slacks adding a cap and sneakers during a power walk.

See what the thespian with a stage background looks like now.

Hollywood stalwart Megan Gallagher was on the hit series Hill Street Blues for several years in the late 1980s. The Pennsylvania native played Officer Tina Russo for 19 episodes from 1986 until 1987. See her now

The brunette also popped up on several other hit series like The Slap Maxwell Story, The Larry Sanders Show and Millennium

After studying at Juilliard School she landed a role in a production of Paul Osborn's Oliver Oliver.

Next came a part in of LCDR JoAnne Galloway in the 1989 Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men; Tom Cruise and Demi Moore were in the film version.

In 1993, she took part in Broadway productions of both parts of Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National ThemesMillennium Approaches and Perestroika.

Next came Los Angeles.

She was first in the miniseries George Washington and then she won a guest spot in the first episode of L.A. Law.

She then went on to appear as a series regular towards the end of Hill Street Blues' run.

On Sunday the 65-year-old performer was seen in a rare sighting in Los Angeles as she wore casual clothing

Gallagher had on a black tank top with dark jeans. She added blue sneakers and a blue cap

A gray jacket was tied around her waist as she wore a purse crossbody style

After that she popped up in The Slap Maxwell Story before and China Beach, A role in Millennium was written for her before she did The Larry Sanders Show.

Gallagher also appeared in the legal drama Suits, which is best known for starring Meghan Markle.

It was her mother who would take her to Broadway theatre productions as a child and inspire her to act

Gallagher, who sees Mary Tyler Moore as an inspiration, attended Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School, then moved to New York City to study acting at the Juilliard School.

Gallagher is married to actor Jeff Yagher; together they have twins.
A beloved New York City toy store closed its doors for the last time after 44 years following a decline in customer traffic.

Store owner Jennifer Bergman shuttered West Side Kids, in Manhattan's Upper West Side, on July 31 after struggling to pay her bills.

The closure came months after the 58-year-old hinted tariffs could lead to her store having to close.

Bergman ran the shop since taking it over from her mother Alice in 2010, and spent thousands of dollars out of pocket to keep it going.

Earlier this year toy companies began marking up products after the US imposed steep tariffs on goods imported from China.

Despite a cut in tariffs in May, it was not enough for the store to recover from its low customer count, or for Bergman to pay her rent.

'May and June are usually really busy, but I didn't have a really busy May or June. June at one point was down 43 percent from last June, and last June wasn't great,' Bergman told The New York Times.

'In the first seven months of 2025, sales totaled $100,000 less than in the same period of 2024.'

West Side Kids shuttered after 44 years of business on July 31

Owner Jennifer Bergman ran West Side Kids between 2010 and 2025

West Side Kids described itself as the 'neighborhood toy store for Manhattan's Upper West Side.'

It carried a wide selection of books and toys for children of all ages, and accepted online orders.

Bergman said she was increasingly having more difficulty in getting specific toys for her shop, which was a factor in the business' decline.

'There was merchandise I couldn't get. Baby and preschool toys that I would normally have a lot of, I didn't have,' she said.

Near the end, the longtime store owner said she was short on arts-and-crafts toys as she could no longer afford to order them.

The rise of British-made Jellycat toys was no help, especially since she was not able to get a shipment of the the stuffed animals to the store for a year and a half.

The sought-after toys earned West Side Kids $54,000 in 2023, but after inventory ran low, the store was only able to make $16,000 from Jellycat sales last year.

Bergman said the store never got over the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

West Side Kids carried a wide selection of books and toys for children of all ages

West Side Kids was unable to stock popular toys due to high costs and shortages

'The city's never recovered from Covid. We never recovered from Covid,' Bergman told The New York Times.

'That's the reason why we moved around the corner. That was our attempt to make a go of it. I was hoping to survive another five years.'

The original store was on Amsterdam Avenue, but moved to a side street, West 84th, in 2023.

The toy store experienced a business boom in July after word spread that it was closing, but this has not entirely worked in Bergman's favor.

'My volume may seem higher, but my expenses are higher. For a store like mine, it was 5 percent here and 6 percent there. It adds up fast,' she explained.

'It's very easy to get into a position where you don't have the money to pay the bills and you can't order the product and you have empty shelves.'

In an attempt to save the store, Bergman said she prepared to sell it to 'very interested' buyers at the beginning of the year, that is, until tariffs hit.

With the financial damage having been done, West Side Kids became a thing of the past following its store closing party.

West Side Kids experienced a boom in business after Bergman announced its upcoming closure

The original store was on Amsterdam Avenue, but moved to a side street, West 84th, in 2023

Loyal customers visited the shop to get their final purchases, but were still having a hard time accepting the closure.

'It's bittersweet... There aren't that many local stores anymore. My oldest is turning 50 and that's how long I've been supporting them,' a customer told FOX 5 New York.

'I have a 46-year-old son, and when he was a baby, we lived on the East Side, and I used to come across the park with him in a stroller,' shopper Annie Emanuel told PIX11.

'I used to buy all the toys she had from Italy and Spain, and Britain,' she said, adding that she still owns some of them today.

Several Instagram users were also heartbroken, but wished Bergman nothing but the best.

'So sad to hear. Our daughter is now 19 but you were my go to place during her bday party phase. Lovely selection, gift wrapping and hands on service,' an Instagrammer wrote.

'Thanks for being is such a light for parents and kids in the city. Best of luck.'
A10 Networks (NYSE:ATEN  Get Free Report) is expected to be releasing its Q2 2025 earnings data after the market closes on Tuesday, August 5th. Analysts expect A10 Networks to post earnings of $0.21 per share and revenue of $65.99 million for the quarter.

A10 Networks (NYSE:ATEN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The communications equipment provider reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.01. A10 Networks had a net margin of 18.70% and a return on equity of 24.23%. The company had revenue of $66.14 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.63 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.17 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect A10 Networks to post $1 EPS for the current fiscal year and $1 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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A10 Networks Trading Down 3.6%

Shares of NYSE:ATEN opened at $17.75 on Monday. A10 Networks has a 52 week low of $12.27 and a 52 week high of $21.90. The companys 50 day moving average is $18.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $18.20. The company has a current ratio of 4.05, a quick ratio of 3.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The company has a market cap of $1.28 billion, a PE ratio of 26.49, a P/E/G ratio of 4.21 and a beta of 1.35.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Trading of A10 Networks

In related news, General Counsel Robert Scott Weber sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.26, for a total transaction of $43,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel owned 61,007 shares in the company, valued at $1,052,980.82. This represents a 3.94% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . 1.15% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in A10 Networks by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 202,658 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $3,311,000 after purchasing an additional 11,268 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in A10 Networks by 81.7% during the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 73,995 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $1,209,000 after purchasing an additional 33,262 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in A10 Networks during the 1st quarter worth $771,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of A10 Networks by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 835,252 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $13,648,000 after acquiring an additional 51,086 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of A10 Networks by 120.0% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 173,493 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $2,835,000 after acquiring an additional 94,641 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.61% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of A10 Networks from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. BWS Financial restated a buy rating and issued a $24.00 target price on shares of A10 Networks in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of A10 Networks in a report on Saturday. Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on shares of A10 Networks in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Finally, Mizuho assumed coverage on shares of A10 Networks in a report on Monday, July 14th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, A10 Networks currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $22.00.

Read Our Latest Analysis on A10 Networks

A10 Networks Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

A10 Networks, Inc provides networking solutions in the Americas, Japan, rest of Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers Thunder Application Delivery Controller that provides advanced server load balancing; Thunder Carrier Grade Networking, which provides standards-compliant address and protocol translation services between varying types of internet protocol addresses; Thunder Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Insight that decrypts SSL-encrypted traffic and forwards it to a third-party security device for deep packet inspection; and Thunder Convergent Firewall, which addresses multiple critical security capabilities in one package.

Further Reading

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Leidos (NYSE:LDOS  Get Free Report) will likely be releasing its Q2 2025 earnings data before the market opens on Tuesday, August 5th. Analysts expect Leidos to post earnings of $2.62 per share and revenue of $4.24 billion for the quarter. Leidos has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.350-10.750 EPS.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The aerospace company reported $2.97 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.47 by $0.50. The firm had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.11 billion. Leidos had a return on equity of 32.62% and a net margin of 7.87%. Leidoss revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.29 EPS. On average, analysts expect Leidos to post $11 EPS for the current fiscal year and $11 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Leidos Stock Performance

Leidos stock opened at $159.21 on Monday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $155.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $146.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.49 billion, a PE ratio of 16.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a current ratio of 1.54. Leidos has a one year low of $123.62 and a one year high of $202.90.

Leidos Dividend Announcement

Insider Buying and Selling at Leidos

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. Leidoss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.10%.

In other news, Director Gregory R. Dahlberg sold 1,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.55, for a total value of $193,187.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 20,195 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,121,137.25. The trade was a 5.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.69% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Leidos

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Leidos stock. Focus Partners Wealth grew its position in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS  Free Report) by 46.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,073 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 976 shares during the quarter. Focus Partners Wealths holdings in Leidos were worth $415,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 76.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on LDOS shares. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Leidos from $165.00 to $155.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Baird R W lowered Leidos from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Leidos from $149.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Leidos from $173.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $190.00 target price (up from $186.00) on shares of Leidos in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $175.15.

View Our Latest Stock Report on LDOS

About Leidos

(Get Free Report)

Leidos Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health segments. The Defense Solutions segment offers national security solutions and systems for air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace for the U.S.

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Volta Finance Limited (LON:VTA  Get Free Report) insider Yedau Ogoundele acquired 704 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 1st. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 690 ($9.16) per share, with a total value of 4,857.60 ($6,450.14).

Volta Finance Price Performance

Shares of LON VTA opened at GBX 6.80 ($0.09) on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of 248.75 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.53 and a beta of 0.87. The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 6.65 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 6.40. Volta Finance Limited has a fifty-two week low of GBX 5 ($0.07) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 7.04 ($0.09).

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Volta Finance Company Profile

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Volta Finance Limited (the Company or Volta) is a closed-ended limited liability company registered in Guernsey under the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) with registered number 45747.

Voltas investment objectives are to seek to preserve capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its Shareholders through dividends that it expects to distribute on a quarterly basis.

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Baker Avenue Asset Management LP decreased its position in Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 10.9% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,520 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 432 shares during the period. Baker Avenue Asset Management LPs holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $215,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC increased its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC now owns 17,763 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,004,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 19,296 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,177,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. now owns 8,063 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $492,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. 1858 Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. 1858 Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,421 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $392,000 after buying an additional 221 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tompkins Financial Corp grew its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 9,151 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $558,000 after buying an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.41% of the companys stock.

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Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Up 2.2%

BMY opened at $44.25 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $90.07 billion, a PE ratio of 17.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.54. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 52 week low of $42.96 and a 52 week high of $63.33. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $47.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $52.23.

Bristol Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

Bristol Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.39. The business had revenue of $12.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.32 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 80.04% and a net margin of 10.58%. The firms revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.07 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 3rd were given a dividend of $0.62 per share. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.6%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 3rd. Bristol Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently 100.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued an overweight rating and a $65.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Morgan Stanley reiterated a hold rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $55.00 price objective on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $57.33.

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Bristol Myers Squibb Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Cooper Haims Advisors LLC lowered its position in shares of GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE  Free Report) by 16.7% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 1,001 shares of the companys stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Cooper Haims Advisors LLCs holdings in GE Aerospace were worth $200,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sfmg LLC grew its stake in GE Aerospace by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Sfmg LLC now owns 2,088 shares of the companys stock worth $418,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. SGL Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in GE Aerospace by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. SGL Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 1,413 shares of the companys stock worth $303,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE grew its stake in GE Aerospace by 17.6% in the 4th quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE now owns 334 shares of the companys stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Hudock Inc. grew its stake in GE Aerospace by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. Hudock Inc. now owns 2,905 shares of the companys stock worth $582,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Pacific Financial grew its stake in GE Aerospace by 46.0% in the 1st quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 165 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.77% of the companys stock.

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GE Aerospace Trading Down 0.6%

NYSE:GE opened at $269.49 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $252.13 and a 200 day moving average of $218.91. GE Aerospace has a 52 week low of $150.20 and a 52 week high of $274.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $285.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.44.

GE Aerospace Announces Dividend

GE Aerospace ( NYSE:GE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The company reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.23. GE Aerospace had a net margin of 18.64% and a return on equity of 31.32%. The company had revenue of $10.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.49 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.20 EPS. The firms revenue was up 21.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that GE Aerospace will post 5.4 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 7th were issued a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. GE Aerospaces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.08%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on GE shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of GE Aerospace from $34.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of GE Aerospace from $230.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of GE Aerospace from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of GE Aerospace from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Finally, Citigroup restated a buy rating and issued a $296.00 price objective (up from $227.00) on shares of GE Aerospace in a report on Monday, July 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, GE Aerospace presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $232.92.

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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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Seelaus Asset Management LLC reduced its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 3.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 443 shares of the companys stock after selling 18 shares during the period. Seelaus Asset Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $366,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Knightsbridge Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Knightsbridge Asset Management LLC now owns 813 shares of the companys stock valued at $628,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. LS Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. LS Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,340 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,933,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Prism Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $207,000. CSM Advisors LLC boosted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 30.6% in the 4th quarter. CSM Advisors LLC now owns 1,045 shares of the companys stock valued at $807,000 after buying an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bfsg LLC boosted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 2,959 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,444,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LLY opened at $761.47 on Monday. The firms 50 day moving average is $775.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $800.52. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $677.09 and a 52 week high of $972.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $721.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 61.96, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.06 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 results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $3.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.64 by ($1.30). Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.67% and a return on equity of 85.51%. The firm had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.77 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.58 EPS. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue for the quarter was up 45.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year.

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 $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.82%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. 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. Erste Group Bank cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. HSBC cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a reduce rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $1,150.00 to $700.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $1,135.00 price target (up previously from $1,133.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, UBS Group reduced 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 research report on Friday, May 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,012.56.

View 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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Jefferies Financial Group Inc. lessened its stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC  Free Report) by 87.5% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,643 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 25,399 shares during the period. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,865,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brookstone Capital Management raised its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 121.0% in the first quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 6,640 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $3,400,000 after buying an additional 3,635 shares during the period. GAM Holding AG increased its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 51.9% in the first quarter. GAM Holding AG now owns 2,338 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,197,000 after acquiring an additional 799 shares in the last quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 12.8% in the 4th quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 8,857 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $4,132,000 after acquiring an additional 1,008 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 1st quarter valued at $33,090,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Northrop Grumman by 206.2% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,771 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,421,000 after purchasing an additional 1,866 shares during the period. 83.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Northrop Grumman Stock Up 1.8%

NOC stock opened at $587.13 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $84.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.64, a PEG ratio of 5.56 and a beta of 0.15. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 1-year low of $426.24 and a 1-year high of $587.88. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $511.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $494.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.93.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

Northrop Grumman ( NYSE:NOC Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The aerospace company reported $7.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.84 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $10.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.15 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 25.52%. Northrop Grummans revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $6.36 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd were given a dividend of $2.31 per share. This is an increase from Northrop Grummans previous quarterly dividend of $2.06. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 2nd. Northrop Grummans payout ratio is currently 34.06%.

Insider Activity

In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Robert J. Fleming sold 3,500 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 $1,770,195.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 1,827 shares in the company, valued at approximately $924,041.79. This trade represents a 65.70% 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 link. Also, VP Roshan S. Roeder sold 991 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $490.00, for a total value of $485,590.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $156,310. This trade represents a 75.65% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 16,536 shares of company stock worth $8,306,857 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.23% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have commented on NOC. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Northrop Grumman from a sell rating to a neutral rating and raised their price objective for the company from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $625.00 target price (up from $550.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Susquehanna upped their price target on Northrop Grumman from $557.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $547.00 to $565.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $586.79.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Northrop Grumman

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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ROI Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 1,563 shares of the healthcare product makers stock, valued at approximately $207,000.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 10.1% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 51,719 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $5,850,000 after buying an additional 4,755 shares in the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 152,719 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $17,274,000 after buying an additional 2,774 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth approximately $110,000. Prudential PLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 4.4% during the 4th quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 38,376 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,341,000 after buying an additional 1,603 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hurley Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth approximately $62,000. Institutional investors own 75.18% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ABT has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler reissued an overweight rating and set a $145.00 target price (up previously from $133.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Raymond James Financial decreased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $142.00 to $141.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $147.00 to $142.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Finally, BTIG Research decreased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $148.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $144.47.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Up 0.9%

Abbott Laboratories stock opened at $127.32 on Monday. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $107.11 and a 1-year high of $141.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $221.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.82, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $131.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $130.61.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.26 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.26. The firm had revenue of $11.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.01 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 32.43% and a return on equity of 18.32%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.14 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th will be given a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 29.57%.

About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

Further Reading

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Ruffer LLP decreased its position in The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc (NYSE:PNC  Free Report) by 0.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 87,537 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 103 shares during the quarter. Ruffer LLPs holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group were worth $15,386,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PNC. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 26.1% in the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 9,502,467 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,670,249,000 after purchasing an additional 1,964,157 shares during the last quarter. Leigh Baldwin & CO. LLC acquired a new position in The PNC Financial Services Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $299,864,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 19,279.5% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,149,008 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $201,961,000 after purchasing an additional 1,143,079 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 14.9% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 4,695,514 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $905,530,000 after purchasing an additional 608,375 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 84.8% in the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 811,372 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $142,615,000 after purchasing an additional 372,323 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.53% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on PNC shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of The PNC Financial Services Group from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $185.00 to $212.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of The PNC Financial Services Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of The PNC Financial Services Group from $223.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of The PNC Financial Services Group from $178.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of The PNC Financial Services Group from $189.00 to $198.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $214.17.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other The PNC Financial Services Group news, EVP Kieran John Fallon sold 1,492 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.56, for a total value of $260,443.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 20,490 shares in the company, valued at $3,576,734.40. This represents a 6.79% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO William S. Demchak sold 1,242 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $169.75, for a total value of $210,829.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 554,879 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $94,190,710.25. This represents a 0.22% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 5,218 shares of company stock valued at $900,918. 0.41% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

The PNC Financial Services Group Stock Down 2.4%

Shares of NYSE:PNC opened at $185.78 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc has a 1 year low of $145.12 and a 1 year high of $216.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $73.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.71, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $185.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $180.06.

The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.56 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $3.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.61 billion. The PNC Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 11.07% and a net margin of 18.33%. The PNC Financial Services Groups quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.39 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc will post 15.37 earnings per share for the current year.

The PNC Financial Services Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th will be issued a $1.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 15th. This represents a $6.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. This is a boost from The PNC Financial Services Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.60. The PNC Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.51%.

About The PNC Financial Services Group

(Free Report)

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, and Asset Management Group segments. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as time deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PNC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc (NYSE:PNC  Free Report).

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TIAA Trust National Association lowered its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 30.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,791 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 5,946 shares during the quarter. TIAA Trust National Associations holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $2,289,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of TSM. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 20.9% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 10,930 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,159,000 after purchasing an additional 1,892 shares during the period. KCM Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,628 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,704,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the period. Sit Investment Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc. now owns 20,214 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $3,992,000 after acquiring an additional 639 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 55,720 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $11,005,000 after acquiring an additional 1,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Himension Capital Singapore PTE. LTD. boosted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 8.3% during the 4th quarter. Himension Capital Singapore PTE. LTD. now owns 1,113,593 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $219,923,000 after acquiring an additional 84,889 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Susquehanna lifted their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $240.00 price objective (up from $215.00) on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Thursday, July 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $258.33.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Down 2.6%

NYSE TSM opened at $235.28 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.22 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.83, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.19. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a one year low of $133.57 and a one year high of $248.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 2.37 and a quick ratio of 2.15. The businesss fifty day moving average is $222.20 and its 200-day moving average is $195.85.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The semiconductor company reported $2.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.13 by $0.34. The company had revenue of $30.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $28.50 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 32.87% and a net margin of 42.91%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 44.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.48 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.6499 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is presently 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.

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W.H. Cornerstone Investments Inc. lowered its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 7.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 722 shares of the companys stock after selling 60 shares during the period. W.H. Cornerstone Investments Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $597,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Garner Asset Management Corp grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp now owns 532 shares of the companys stock valued at $411,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 22.0% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,597 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,409,000 after acquiring an additional 1,730 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,136,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Orion Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC now owns 1,610 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,243,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 64,758 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,993,000 after acquiring an additional 2,568 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on LLY shares. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $1,135.00 price objective (up previously from $1,133.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $936.00 to $942.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a neutral rating to a buy rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $892.00 to $888.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,100.00 to $1,050.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,012.56.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $761.47 on Monday. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $677.09 and a twelve 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. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $775.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $800.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $721.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 61.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.44.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $3.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.64 by ($1.30). The firm had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.77 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.67% and a return on equity of 85.51%. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 45.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.58 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be given a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. 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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No one wins a nuclear chess game, but two puffed egoists  Trump and Putin  are now conducting some serious moves on the chess table that could mean assured mutual destruction for everyone.

One guy moves his nuclear submarines there, another moves his nuclear bombers here, and on it goes, one move after another.

Where this ends nobody knows, but no one seems to care much either.

Its not top of the news, its buried deep amongst columns about celebrity botox and barbecue recipes for the summer.

Much of Europe are currently now being barbecued on the beaches, and many Americans are simply carrying on in their perpetual ignorant states, worried about their chemical lawns or what shade of grey they should paint their template McMansion. There is certainly no talk of any nuclear chess or potentially being fried by a blast of mega radiation after a Tsar Bomba detonates overhead.

Life goes on even though we could all be vaporised in a millisecond at any time.

RELATED: What Would Happen to Britain During and After a Nuclear War?
Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Grupo Televisa S.A. (NYSE:TV  Free Report) by 16.7% 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 50,000 shares of the companys stock after selling 10,000 shares during the period. Capstone Financial Advisors Inc.s holdings in Grupo Televisa were worth $88,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. increased its holdings in Grupo Televisa by 13,477.4% in the 4th quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 1,749,042 shares of the companys stock worth $2,938,000 after acquiring an additional 1,736,160 shares in the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL increased its holdings in Grupo Televisa by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 17,119,063 shares of the companys stock worth $28,760,000 after acquiring an additional 500,271 shares in the last quarter. GABELLI & Co INVESTMENT ADVISERS INC. increased its holdings in Grupo Televisa by 227.1% in the 4th quarter. GABELLI & Co INVESTMENT ADVISERS INC. now owns 385,075 shares of the companys stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 267,350 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Grupo Televisa in the 4th quarter worth $394,000. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in Grupo Televisa by 109.2% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 356,624 shares of the companys stock worth $599,000 after acquiring an additional 186,165 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 55.77% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Benchmark raised their price objective on Grupo Televisa from $7.00 to $9.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Grupo Televisa from $1.80 to $2.20 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Wall Street Zen lowered Grupo Televisa from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Grupo Televisa from $2.40 to $2.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Grupo Televisa presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $4.57.

Grupo Televisa Stock Down 2.9%

Shares of NYSE:TV opened at $2.72 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.33, a current ratio of 2.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The business has a fifty day moving average of $2.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.00. The stock has a market cap of $1.51 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.63, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.97. Grupo Televisa S.A. has a 52-week low of $1.55 and a 52-week high of $2.89.

Grupo Televisa (NYSE:TV  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by $0.06. The company had revenue of $787.59 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.96 billion. Grupo Televisa had a negative return on equity of 6.95% and a negative net margin of 13.56%. On average, research analysts expect that Grupo Televisa S.A. will post -0.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Grupo Televisa Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a $0.0908 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. This represents a yield of 390.0%. Grupo Televisas payout ratio is currently -10.67%.

Grupo Televisa Company Profile

(Free Report)

Grupo Televisa, SAB., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates cable companies and provides direct-to-home satellite pay television system in Mexico and the United States. It operates through three segments: Cable, Sky, and Other Businesses. The Cable segment operates cable multiple system that provides basic and premium television subscription, pay-per-view, installation, Internet subscription, and telephone and mobile services subscription, as well as local and national advertising services; and telecommunication facilities, which offers data and long-distance services solutions to carriers and other telecommunications service providers through its fiber-optic network.

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TD Asset Management Inc lowered its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG  Free Report) by 39.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 8,756 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 5,736 shares during the quarter. TD Asset Management Incs holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group were worth $1,523,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

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Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. HM Payson & Co. lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 1,063 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $185,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 15,694 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,427,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 8,632 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,502,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 10,100 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,757,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Buckhead Capital Management LLC lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Buckhead Capital Management LLC now owns 17,440 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,034,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.61% of the companys stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other The Hanover Insurance Group news, EVP Bryan J. Salvatore sold 10,526 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.60, for a total value of $1,753,631.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 25,864 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,308,942.40. This trade represents a 28.93% 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. 2.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on THG. JMP Securities set a $205.00 target price on The Hanover Insurance Group in a research report on Thursday. Citigroup reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in a research report on Thursday. Wall Street Zen raised The Hanover Insurance Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on The Hanover Insurance Group from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised The Hanover Insurance Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $188.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $185.13.

View Our Latest Report on THG

The Hanover Insurance Group Stock Performance

THG stock opened at $168.69 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The firm has a market cap of $6.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.11 and a beta of 0.45. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $130.60 and a 12-month high of $178.68. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $168.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $165.23.

The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The insurance provider reported $4.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.07 by $1.28. The Hanover Insurance Group had a return on equity of 20.24% and a net margin of 8.67%. The firm had revenue of $1.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.60 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.88 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. will post 14.37 EPS for the current year.

The Hanover Insurance Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were given a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The Hanover Insurance Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.70%.

The Hanover Insurance Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage.

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Yorkton Equity Group Inc. (CVE:YEG  Get Free Report) fell 15% on Saturday . The company traded as low as C$0.12 and last traded at C$0.17. 118,092 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 820% from the average session volume of 12,837 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.20.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Fundamental Research set a C$0.37 price target on Yorkton Equity Group and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th.

View Our Latest Stock Report on YEG

Yorkton Equity Group Trading Down 15.0%

Yorkton Equity Group Company Profile

The company has a market cap of C$19.16 million, a P/E ratio of 4.25 and a beta of 1.19. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$0.20 and a 200-day moving average price of C$0.20. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 384.03.

(Get Free Report)

Yorkton Equity Group Inc operates as a real estate investment company in Canada. It owns a portfolio of multi-family residential rental properties comprising residential units and commercial unit in Alberta and British Columbia. The company is based in Edmonton, Canada.

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A surgeon who said he witnessed things in Gaza he would never have expected to see in the civilised world will be speaking in Derry as part of Feile 2025.

Professor Nick Maynard will be in Culturlann Ui Chanain on Tuesday, August 5, at 7.00pm, as part of Trocaires Gaza Hospitals - An Eyewitness Account event.

Speaking to Professor Maynard following his return from Gaza on May 6, 2024, he told me he had witnessed appalling atrocities in Gaza - war crimes, the deliberate attacking of hospitals and healthcare workers and felt an overriding duty to tell everyone what was going on.

A leading consultant in Oxford University Hospital in England, Prof Maynard works in Gaza with Trocaires partner organisation, Medical Aid for Palestinians. He has volunteered there since 2010.

Professor Nick Maynard.

Recalling the horrific scenes he had witnessed working in Al-Aqsa Hospital during Israeli bombardment, he said: Its awful. I have seen things I would never, ever have expected to see in a healthcare setting, things I would never have expected to see in the civilised world.

I have witnessed appalling atrocities in Gaza, the war crimes, the deliberate attacking of hospitals and healthcare workers and I feel an overriding duty to tell everyone what is going on.

'It seemed to us like this was a game of target practice'



Surgeon @maynard_nick describes to @SkyYaldaHakim the injuries of patients who were shot while seeking food at GHF aid distribution sites in Gaza



More  https://t.co/uVBezxbcBs



https://t.co/uX9kb5xf8l pic.twitter.com/hNZt8MP5M0  Sky News (@SkyNews) July 24, 2025

I dont think the true reality is being broadcast by the media. There is a lot of stuff on social media, but I dont think the media is representing what is going on.

I think there is a lot of bias in the media, and I think our governments are abdicating responsibility for trying to hold Israel to account.

I know they have been told because I have met members of the Government. I have shown them photographs of literally burnt children, children without their limbs, but I think they are not willing, for whatever reason, to confront the reality of whats going on in Gaza.

Al-Aqsa Hospital normally caters for 160 patients but, according to Professor Maynard, it constantly has had more than 800 patients, with thousands living in its grounds.

It is overwhelmingly crowded, far more patients than it can cope with, said Professor Maynard, so, whenever there is an influx of trauma patients from a bombing, which happens all the time, you get dozens of people coming in and it completely saturates the system, it overwhelms the whole capacity of the hospital.

The injuries coming in are awful. Many of them are little children and women. Far more than 50% of the injuries I saw were to women and children. More than 50% of the population of Gaza is children because the average age there is 17.

The narrative coming out of Israel is that it is specifically targeting Hamas militants. I dont think there is a grain of truth in that. We are seeing so many women and children because they are the majority of the population, which simply illustrates the indiscriminate killing of whole civilian populations.

Maybe Israel has the intention of killing some Hamas militants, but it is indiscriminately bombing these huge refugee camps and constantly the majority of the victims coming in are children and women, said Professor Maynard, who saw predominantly bomb blast injuries, gunshot wounds, traumatic amputations, along with severe malnutrition.

The surgeon said the situation was also distressing because frequently there was no pain relief to administer.

In one harrowing incident he recalled how a girl of about eight years-old died in agony from burns.

She came in with the most awful burns, which she was never going to survive. She wouldnt have survived in England, Ireland or the US.

We knew she was going to die, and we knew she would take several hours to die, but we had no pain relief to give her, so she died in agony.

There was no privacy. She was literally lying on the floor, in the corner of the waiting area of the emergency room.

Despite the challenging environment Professor Maynard said was hoping to go back to Gaza.

Tickets for Trocaire: Gaza Hospitals - An Eyewitness Account are free and can be reserved at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/

trocaire-gaza-hospitals-an-eyewitness-account-tickets-1477243558249?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Translink is bringing an extra dose of fun to Derry this week with their interactive Spin and Go destination wheel.

The wheel, which is currently touring key locations including stations and shopping centres, will be in Guildhall Square this Friday (August 8) from 10.00am to 1.00pm.

The public are invited to spin the wheel, reveal a destination and plan their adventure as Translink encourages families, friends and solo adventurers to rediscover Northern Ireland by public transport, making the most of great-value fares and stress-free travel.

Families can take advantage of the popular 24 Family & Friends ticket, offering unlimited day travel across bus and rail services for up to two adults and four children. For those seeking flexibility and freedom, the 10 Bus Rambler ticket provides unlimited day travel after 9.15am on Ulsterbus, Goldliner, Metro and Glider services throughout Northern Ireland.

Whether its walking the historic City Walls in Derry, heading for a seaside day at Portrush or exploring Belfasts Titanic Quarter, Translink services offer convenient and sustainable connections to some of the regions best-loved attractions, as well as a few hidden gems.

Alan Young, Service Delivery Manager, Translink, said: Summer is the perfect time to slow down, explore local spots and let someone else do the driving. With easy connections and great-value fares, public transport is a brilliant way to enjoy relaxed, car-free adventures.

"It also supports cleaner, greener travel choices that benefit everyone in our communities, ensuring we all stay better-connected.

Translinks Spin and Go destination wheel offers inspiration for spontaneous days out, all reachable using Translink services.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by TranslinkNI (@translinkni)

For younger passengers, the free Little Explorers activity booklet is available at station ticket desks and select services, packed with games, puzzles and colouring pages to keep children entertained during their travels.

Passengers are encouraged to share their journeys using #LittleBigAdventures and follow @Translink_NI on social media to see where the wheel will appear next.

READ NEXT: Storm Floris: Safety advice issued as rain and damaging strong expected

For journey planning, fare information and service updates, visit www.translink.co.uk or download the Journey Planner app.
A court ruling that the new A5 road should not go ahead is to be appealed, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed.

Speaking during a visit to Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, Ms Kimmins said her department would be pushing forward imminently ahead of the deadline for an appeal on Friday.

In June, High Court judge Mr Justice McAlinden quashed the Executive move to approve the roads project following a legal challenge from a group including residents, farmers and landowners.

The judge said the proposed scheme breached sections of Stormonts Climate Change Act as it did not demonstrate how it would comply with the commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

There have been more than 50 deaths on the A5, which links Derry with Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone, since 2006.

Ms Kimmins said: I certainly will not be found wanting in terms of the work that has gone into this and that will continue to go into this to ensure that we get this road built and get it built in the shortest possible time.

Just today we have heard of another collision. That is at the forefront of my mind in absolutely everything we do.

We have been working across the weekend, this is the priority every single day and will continue to be.

I will ensure that we present the most robust case.

Ms Kimmins said her department would be working closely with the Enough is Enough group, which has campaigned for the road to be upgraded, as part of the appeal.

She said: This was the very first test of the (Climate Change) Act and officials are working very closely with officials in Daera to look at this and looking at how we can rectify that.

We are looking at everything here and an appeal is our first step.

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said the appeal was a valid legal route, but it would inevitably take time.

She added: What is unclear from the minister is how the appeal will address Justice McAlindens clear reference to climate targets supported by Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party and the SDLP in his ruling.

These targets were a key factor in the project being blocked by the court, and unless those parties act to resolve the consequences of their own policies, they risk holding up not just the A5 but a range of vital infrastructure projects across Northern Ireland.

Mr Esrkine said: The reality is that work on the A5 is not going to commence any time soon.

These legal processes are lengthy, and the minister should also be looking urgently at what other steps can be taken now to make the A5 safer for all road users, and how to deal fairly with landowners impacted by the failures of DfI.

Welcoming the announcement by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins that she has secured Executive approval to appeal the recent High Court decision regarding the A5 Western Transport Corridor (A5 WTC) project, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairi McHugh, said: This is a significant and welcome development for our region.

"The A5 dual carriageway upgrade is a vital piece of infrastructure, not just for Derry and Strabane, but for the entire Northwest, including our neighbours in Donegal. It represents a critical link that will unlock economic potential, improve connectivity, and, most importantly, enhance road safety for thousands of daily commuters and travellers.

Highlighting the urgent need for the upgrade, the Mayor added: "The existing A5 has tragically claimed over 50 lives since the dual carriageway scheme was first proposed, earning it the unenviable reputation as one of the most dangerous roads in Ireland. The ongoing delays have a profound human cost, and the appeal offers a renewed pathway to delivering a safer, more efficient road for everyone.

"This project is about more than just a road; its an investment for future generations. Derry and Strabane District Council looks forward to the appeal process and remain steadfast in our commitment to seeing this crucial infrastructure project delivered for the benefit of all."
Heavier fines may be needed to combat an epidemic of speeding motorists in Northern Ireland, a senior police officer has said.

Last year there were a record number of speeding offences recorded in the region, with that total likely to be exceeded in 2025, Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson has predicted.

Mr Donaldson also said he wanted to see technology used to catch speeders in areas where it is currently not suitable to site safety cameras.

The PSNI is part of the NI Road Safety Partnership, which also includes the Department for Infrastructure, Department of Justice and the Courts Service.

The partnership operates a network of mobile and fixed speeding cameras. PSNI officers also operate hand-held laser devices which monitor speed.

There are about 100,000 speeding detections in Northern Ireland a year, the majority detected by the 12 road safety vans fitted with mobile cameras.

Mr Donaldson said: In the year 2024 we made 84,004 detections by the road safety vans.

That was the highest number of detections since the road safety vans were launched in Northern Ireland. That concerns me.

I have been keeping an eye on the month-by-month detections and I am confident that we are making more detections this year than we were last year.

We have the same number of vans and we are already this year seeing the number of detections rising.

He added: Unless we can change the culture, encourage people to slow down and stop taking the risks that they are taking, we are not going to be able to drive down the number of people that are dying on our roads.

The standard speeding fine in Northern Ireland is 60. In the rest of the UK it is 100 and 160 euro in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Donaldson said: I am in some conversations with the Department for Infrastructure and others around an increase in the penalty.

Just to be really clear, that is not to make more money, that is because we are out of kilter with other parts of the islands on which we live.

I wouldnt want people to be panicking and to be thinking we are going to fine people more, but I think we are out of kilter, there is something wrong there.

I am not sure the consequences are high enough in the circumstances.

No decision has been made at this moment in time, I have brought it to our strategic road safety forum and colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure are having a look at it.

He added: But there is something wrong about going over to Scotland and getting fined much more, or driving over to Monaghan and getting fined much more, the consequences have to be the same.

We are also looking at the possibility of graduated consequences. Maybe it will stay at 60 and three penalty points for the first one, but if you get caught a second time maybe it needs to go up to 120 and six points.

Something needs to change there.

Mr Donaldson said he had concerns around the continuing culture of speeding in Northern Ireland.

He said: I am old enough to remember when people didnt wear their seatbelts, particularly in the back of vehicles.

I am also old enough to remember when, I wouldnt say it was acceptable, but there wasnt the same concern in the community around drink driving.

Culture has changed around the wearing of seatbelts and culture has changed around drink driving, it hasnt gone away, we are still detecting people not wearing their seatbelts and we are still detecting people drink driving, so it hasnt completely and utterly changed, but there has definitely been a shift.

But I have to say the average person out there still hasnt grasped the issues that speeding creates.

Something has got to change. That sentiment has got to change.

We need a cultural shift just like the drink driving and just like the wearing of seatbelts.

He added: That is why I make the point that we can deploy the vans on any road and we will still detect people speeding, that is because it is an epidemic.

People have got this mentality where they think it is OK to speed. I think that is something we need to talk about a lot more.

Mr Donaldson said: Northern Ireland is one of those places where about 75% of our road deaths happen on rural roads.

I would love to be able to put (safety camera) vans on a lot of our rural roads, our A roads, but it is extremely difficult to do that because I dont want to cause a collision by having a van parked around the corner.

We are looking at technology around that at the minute as well. Is there technology in existence which doesnt necessarily have to be in a van or fixed somewhere?

We are exploring the opportunity of trying to identify other cameras which could perhaps be temporarily located on some of our A roads, because those are very dangerous places for a lot of our drivers and a lot of our pedestrians and a lot of our cyclists.

He added: The gold standard vision is that nobody speeds and nobody can speed, but that is a bit of a pipe dream right now.

We are a long way off that.

So, sitting down below that are circumstances where I would love to be able to say that no matter where you are, no matter when you are driving, if you are going to speed, we will detect you speeding.

We are not there yet, but that is something we are working towards.
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Taiwan announces historic purchase of 100,000 drones in biggest UAV deal yet

Taiwan is dramatically scaling up its drone ambitions in what could become the largest UAV procurement effort in its history. The government plans to acquire up to 100,000 unmanned aerial vehicles in the near termnearly twice the amount previously announced, marking a major push to bolster both national defense and critical infrastructure protection.

The Ministry of National Defense's Armaments Bureau recently disclosed a fresh procurement target of 48,000 drones over the next two years. Taiwan's Executive Yuan also revealed that it is considering an additional purchase of nearly 50,000 drones, primarily for securing key national infrastructure sites. The joint effort is expected to significantly boost confidence across Taiwan's drone manufacturing ecosystem, igniting strong interest among domestic and foreign firms.

Foreign and domestic industry mobilize

The Armaments Bureau has convened a high-profile industry briefing, inviting a wide array of stakeholders to discuss UAV specifications. The event drew participation not only from local drone makers but also from U.S. and French manufacturers eager to compete. Suppliers from related sectors such as electronics, communications, and composite materials were also in attendance, seeking clarity on potential collaboration opportunities.

While the 48,000-unit military tender was the focus of the briefing, the presence of the Executive Yuan's aerospace task force marked a significant development. Government officials confirmed their intent to pursue an additional 50,000 units to be deployed for civil defense and public safety. The second-phase acquisition plan is currently under review.

Together, these procurements will elevate Taiwan's near-term drone demand to 100,000 unitsan unprecedented volume for the island's nascent UAV sector.

Domestic firms to take the lead

Industry sources say local manufacturers are likely to be prioritized in the massive procurement effort. If the plan moves forward as expected, it could secure production capacity for Taiwanese companies for the next five years.

Coretronic, which won contracts in the first round of bidding, has signaled plans to compete again. Other firms, such as Thunder Tiger and GEOSAT Aerospace & Technology, are also preparing new proposals after falling short in earlier rounds. Companies, including Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation (EGAT) and Taiwan UAV, are evaluating whether to join the upcoming tenders.

Drone makers in Taiwan have long voiced frustration over the country's slow start in the UAV space and have urged greater government support. Many had shifted focus to international markets, citing sluggish domestic demand. The government's announcement of a 100,000-unit procurement plan is now seen as a game-changer, offering a potential lifeline to the local industry.

30-fold surge in procurement scale

Industry insiders said previous public-sector drone purchases in Taiwan were mostly small-scale pilot programs, often limited to just a handful of units. The latest procurement effort marks a dramatic shift, with volume expected to increase by as much as 30 times. One drone model alone is slated for production of 26,000 units within a year, which would require a monthly output of around 2,000 units. That figure far surpasses past production levels, which were typically in the low hundreds.

Analysts see the Defense Ministry's plan as an intentional stress test of Taiwan's manufacturing capabilities. To manage the load and prevent overwhelming any single supplier, officials are exploring two potential approaches. One would involve awarding contracts to multiple companies to spread out production, while the other would encourage teams of manufacturers to bid as consortia. Industry leaders believe the unprecedented scale of the program could drive greater integration and coordination across the local drone supply chain.

Training gap emerges as drone orders soar

Despite the scale of Taiwan's drone procurement plan, concerns are growing over whether the necessary infrastructure is in place to support such a large fleet, particularly when it comes to trained drone operators.

The Army's UAV training center, which opened in July 2024, was initially designed to train 300 personnel per year. But projections show that the military will need more than 1,000 qualified operators in both 2025 and 2026, raising alarm over a potential shortage.

Industry experts are calling on the government to expand training capacity and invest in automation. They say AI-powered swarm control systems could help fill the gap by allowing a single operator to control multiple drones at once, reducing reliance on a large pilot workforce.

Article edited by Jerry Chen
Weekly news roundup: Tesla's US$16.5 billion Samsung deal, former Intel China executive joins AMD, China advances in mature chips

Below are the top DIGITIMES Asia stories from July 28 to Aug 3, 2025. The top three topics include Tesla striking a US$16.5 billion chip deal with Samsung amid 2nm rumors. Former Intel China head Ian Yang joined AMD, surprising the industry. Meanwhile, China quietly gains ground in mature chip processes with startups like Pengsun.

Why Intel is avoiding Tesla's chip orders

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently drew attention by securing a major chip supply agreement with Samsung Foundry. While the reported deal spans eight years and is valued at US$16.5 billion, speculation persists over whether Samsung will use its advanced 2nm process technologythough this has yet to be officially confirmed.

From 'AMD killer' to AMD exec: Intel China veteran's stunning defection shocks industry

The former Intel China president, who once played a key role in stifling AMD's growth in the region, is now working for them. Ian Yang, previously dubbed the "AMD killer" for his hardline strategy against the rival chipmaker, has made a dramatic career shift by joining AMD as a senior executive.

Huawei's shadow fab (3): key 'mature process' piece on the US radar

While the world remains focused on the competition in advanced semiconductor nodes below 7nm, China is steadily advancing in a different, often overlooked areamature process technologies. One rising force in this space is Pengsun (PST), a company founded in March 2022, which has quietly started to attract global attention for its growing significance.

Huawei's shadow fab (4): China's homegrown 'twin' exposure tool challengers

As the global semiconductor race intensifies, China's domestic companies are rapidly moving to localize key chipmaking technologies. Among the emerging players is Shanghai Yuliangsheng Technology Co., a relatively unknown startup founded just three years ago, which is rapidly gaining attention as a promising force in the complex and highly specialized world of photolithography systems.

US imposes 20% tariff on Taiwan, surpassing rates on key Asian exporters

On July 31, President Donald J. Trump issued a revised executive order adjusting tariffs on imports from multiple countries to tackle ongoing US trade deficits. Under the new terms, Taiwan will face a 20% ad valorem tariffdown from the 32% rate announced in April, yet still higher than the duties applied to key allies such as Japan and South Korea.

US sanctions stall CXMT's DRAM expansion, giving Samsung and SK Hynix breathing room

As the US ramps up export restrictions on advanced chipmaking equipment, China's leading DRAM maker, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), finds its expansion plans under growing threat. The tightened controls could slow CXMT's progress, offering South Korean giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix a potential competitive advantage.

Apple reportedly evaluates Intel 14A process; Nvidia expresses interest in trial production

Intel's advanced foundry business stands at a pivotal moment as CEO Lip-Bu Tan has openly acknowledged that the company might scrap its 14A process node plan if it fails to attract sufficient external client commitments. On a positive note, Apple and Nvidia have recently emerged as potential inaugural customers for the 14A node, sparking considerable interest across the industry.

Article edited by Jack Wu
India's AI boom hides dependency risks under Trump deregulation

India may benefit in the short term from a renewed US push to ease restrictions on artificial intelligence exports, but the shift could deepen its long-term reliance on American chipmakers and AI technology providers, analysts say.

Quick gains, lasting dependencies

The Trump administration released its AI Action Plan on July 23, 2025, following Executive Order 14179 issued in January 2025. The order directed officials to draft a strategy to strengthen US leadership in artificial intelligence and reduce regulatory barriers.

"In the short-term three to five-year period, Trump's AI Action Plan supports the AI infrastructure and AI-for-everyone growth across Asia, including India, with easy access supported by deregulation," said Dr. Danish Faruqui, CEO of Fab Economics, a US-based boutique semiconductor fab/OSAT greenfield projects advisory and datacenter investment advisory firm.

However, he warned that India and other Asian nations could return to pre-2020 levels of reliance on US-based companies for critical AI infrastructure.

"In the longer term 7 to 10 years effect, it dampens the urgency for developing domestic solutions for AI chip design, architectures, semiconductors, connectivity solutions, LLM and other components across the AI value chain, as all Asian nations like in the pre-2020 era would now after five years again be reliant on US headquartered AI players for AI infrastructure needs that serve as AI led growth vision for every nation," he said.

US chip exports set to resume

The AI Action Plan marks a reversal in US policy, lifting restrictions on AI semiconductor exports that were imposed through executive orders during the Biden administration.

"Key US-headquartered players like AI hardware companies Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Micron, and Seagate are now cleared to ship to Asian countries the previously sanctioned products, such as AI chip products across compute, networking, memory, and storage components of datacenter infrastructure, including Nvidia H20, AMD MI 308, Intel Gaudi, and Micron's HBM3E," Faruqui said.

According to Fab Economics' proprietary modeling, this change could drive major growth in AI datacenter infrastructure across the region.

"The Asian datacenter business growth from 2025 to 2029 holds potential for over US$1.2 trillion of AI chip consumption across compute, networking, memory, and storage, driven by over 30 GW of AI infrastructure projects, including announced, ground-breaking, and speculative projects based on policy announcements. This growth is mostly captured by US-headquartered AI players, culminating in over US$345 billion in cumulative annual revenue growth for US players," he said.

India's trillion-dollar crossroads

India has laid out a US$10 trillion economic vision centered around AI-led growth. But that goal depends heavily on scaling up AI infrastructure, most of which still relies on imports from US firms.

"India's US$10 trillion economic vision is predicated on AI-led growth, which in turn relies on domestic AI hardware infrastructure scale-up to drive AI use cases across public, enterprise, and individual levels," Faruqui said. "AI hardware infrastructure supply currently needs to be imported in India, which is mostly produced by US-headquartered AI value chain players across compute, networking, memory, connectivity, and storage datacenter infrastructure components like Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Micron, and Seagate."

To avoid over-reliance, Fab Economics advises India to rethink its AI infrastructure investment policy and simultaneously pursue domestic capability building.

"Specifically for India, this is a seize-it-all moment, as it competes for AI infrastructure, domestic and FDI-based projects with other Asian countries," he said.

"India must recalibrate and develop an AI datacenter investment policy amidst recent changes, one that is attractive globally and meets all success factors required for AI infrastructure site selection and setup," Faruqui added.

"In parallel, India must focus on aggressive development of domestic AI hardware and software stack components by garnering support from both US and non-US partners, though treading carefully to balance geopolitical guardrails on AI technology to ensure sustained access."

The balancing act ahead

India's AI strategy now stands at a pivotal juncture. While deregulation under Trump's AI Action Plan opens the door to faster infrastructure growth through access to high-performance US chips, it also risks reinforcing external dependencies that could limit the country's ability to shape its own AI future.

The influx of foreign technology, though beneficial in the short term, may reduce the urgency for investing in homegrown semiconductor and AI stack development.

To mitigate this, policymakers must pursue a dual-track approach that involves welcoming foreign investment while also advancing domestic capabilities at speed. By recalibrating its AI datacenter policies and fostering partnerships with both US and non-US players, India can position itself as a competitive and self-reliant hub for AI innovation without compromising long-term resilience.

Article edited by Jerry Chen
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SEATTLE  An industrial property at 4229 West Marginal Way S.W. sold this week for a bit over $8.3 million, according to King County records.

The seller was Visko Enterprises, a family business that had owned the property for decades.





. . .
South China's Guangdong sees decline in new Chikungunya cases

Xinhua) 11:02, August 04, 2025

GUANGZHOU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of new locally transmitted cases of Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, has declined in south China's Guangdong Province over the past week, though risks remain, local disease control authorities said on Sunday.

A total of 2,892 local infections were reported from July 27 to Aug. 2, with no severe or fatal cases recorded, while the majority of cases were found in the city of Foshan, it revealed.

"The recent surge has been initially contained, with a downward trend in newly reported cases across the province," said Kang Min, director of the infectious disease control institute at the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kang, notably, warned that Guangdong faces continued pressure from imported cases due to high global transmission levels, while seasonal typhoons and rainfall are also contributing to heightened mosquito activity.

Chikungunya fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the Chikungunya virus -- featuring clinical symptoms including fever, rashes and joint pains. The virus is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes.

China on Tuesday held a national conference on the prevention and treatment of Chikungunya fever, calling for decisive measures to fight against it.

The meeting stressed that strengthened efforts should be made to assess epidemic risks, resolutely safeguard people's health, and ensure overall economic and social stability, according to a statement released on the website of the National Health Commission.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Eric:

No, Eric love, Ariana insisted, and stood. Sit back down. You came in at a bad time, let me finish.

Her head was curved, eyes wrinkled in... something. Sympathy? Pity? I didnt know. And the urge to learn was actively draining from my body. But, she was my wife, and the past ten years bid I sit and at least try to listen.

I took her place beside the young woman and ordered a Jameson to temper the coals growing cold in my belly. Have at it then, I finally said when the glass was in my hand.

Ariana was sitting behind me now, so that I was between the two. Her hands worked my shoulders while she spoke. I was just telling our new friend here about that old story my father told me when I was...

I know the one, I interjected, but fell silent afterwards. I couldnt meet her eyes even as a sigh drew me closer. All I could feel was Alexis gaze boring through my temple. I wanted nothing more than to leave and find some new watering hole to drown these feelings in.

Eric, love, Ariana pleaded. I was just being coy, and playing around and - and being dramatic. She gave me a squeeze. But I said what I said, and I meant it. In its context. Its what we hear said all the time.

If you and I were to divorce - god forbid - thats what people would tell us: Ooh, carry-on quick, like, and find someone new so you dont die alone.

But I didnt mean thats all our love is. Even if I dont particularly disagree with my fathers story, pessimism and all.

Youre not making any sense. I finally turned to her, a headache brewing.

Sorry. A wince stitched across her face before she continued.

I just mean... its a natural excuse. Both for older people, whore exhausted from this life, and for the souls that have been searching for generations and generations.

Its natural to be afraid: to be afraid of death, and to be afraid to love. To be afraid to be wrong, and to be afraid to be right. People thinking like that just comes from the scream we all have inside. The one just begging to come to rest. And we find it, that rest, within another person.

So, would you say love comes from inside, some internalised exhaustion from reincarnating? Alexis leaned in from the side.

Not now, I bristled, flinching away, having forgotten that she was there for a moment.

I returned to my wife. So what is this? What are we?

My voice was rising out of control and only the gathering looks from passers-by brought me back down. Whats so depressing?

Its not, her hand slipped from my shoulder and both formed around my palm, cupping it closer to her, depressing. Not this part. This is the ten-percent thats enjoyable after the lifetimes of searching.

You are my rest, Eric, my relaxation and comfort in knowing that all of the exhaustion was worth it.

A waver broke through her voice and cracked the sheet of ice that had been curling through my innards. Its scary, I guess. But...

But, I cut in as tears welled in the corner of her eyes, and mine as well, but its us that makes that fear easier, huh?

A smile broke its way to the surface of her face and I turned to Alexis.

So thats the medicine then. Id say were both right.

Sure, if it wasnt some hypocritical bullshit! a voice called from around the corner.

Alexis eyes shot wide and a rage flickered its way up my throat. I watched a young man waltz around the corner of the bar, the source of the voice.

But could you stop her... he flapped his hand in Arianas direction, searching for the word. ... crying? Id like to prove the two of you wrong on even ground.

Bran! Alexis hissed.

Excuse you?! I snapped.
The left needs to refocus on its core values and not allow itself to be distracted by peripheral issues, British trade unionist Mick Lynch told a gathering at Corks recent Spirit of Mother Jones festival.

Mr Lynch, who served as the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers in the UK until his retirement in March, has become something of a stalwart of the Shandon-based festival celebrating the Cork-born US union organiser.

Ive been captured by Mother Jones and the Robert Tressell festival in Dublin, Mr Lynch told The Echo.

The Mother Jones festival has been running in Cork since 2012, while the Robert Tressell festival, which is now in its third year, celebrates the work of the author of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, who was born Robert Croker on Dublins Wexford St in 1870.

Mr Lynch said he supports the festivals because he believes in the importance of their work.

I believe weve got to keep our working class culture going as an alternative, not just to the right wing, but also to the professional politicians who would have you think that the world is all about technical solutions, he said.

The world is also about belief and principles and history, the history of where weve come from; if we dont know where weve come from, weve got no idea where were going to go.

He added that he was always happy to visit Ireland, if I can get a pint of Beamish wherever I go.

The Londoner has strong ties with Cork, his late fathers hometown, and while in Cork he addressed the weekly pro-Palestine rally.

Its so admirable, the way the Cork people have come out week on week, and for much longer than they would have wanted to, but its vital that we keep the energy going and keep the campaign going, right across Ireland and right across the world, he said.

The British people are doing it as well, but it doesnt get the coverage, Im afraid, because the media have shown that they dont want to cover these events.

In his contribution to the Mother Jones festival, he recalled: I said a few challenging things, and I like to be challenged by people whove got something to say.

Gerald Murphy, Mick Lynch, Ann Piggott, and James Nolan at the plaque dedicated to memory of Mother Jones in Shandon. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Asked what those challenging things were, he replied: I think weve got to return and focus on lifting the whole working class and not get split into minor issues.

The right taints us and pictures us as people who are obsessed by certain causes, whether thats equalities or rights issues, and I think the fundamental of what the trade union movement and the labour movement must do is economic transition, to change working class communities, which will stop the division between migrants and native workers, so that we rise as a working class, so that everyone moves forward.

The housing crisis is something which Mr Lynch said is common to Ireland and Britain and he believes is an example of rampant capitalism resulting in societal suffering.

All of that is in the hands of developers, and it should be in the hands of the people, through corporations and councils, housing associations and other bodies, to build housing that people need, affordable under public ownership, he said.

Its really important, that bit, so that its democratically controlled.

Council ownership is good because it gives them an asset. Its something that they can borrow against, and councils all over the Western world have lost their assets, theyve lost the ability to borrow properly, and theyve lost the ability to raise revenue, because council houses do that. Its a constant stream of income, which isnt a bad thing. The landlord in any town or city or county should be the people. It should be about sharing wealth, not storing it all up into dividends and share prices for the oligarchs and the multi-billionaires. Its that stuff, redistribution of wealth through changing the economy, Mr Lynch added.

And weve got to get back to that, where trade unionists and labour people know what theyre talking about, about the way work is structured and the way the economy works, it should work for all of us, not just a few.
Chateaulin Orchard Town Park in Clonakilty has undergone a series of upgrade works which have now been completed, Cork County Council has said.

Upgrade works to the park, which is located on the eastern side of Clonakilty, came following the publication of the 2022 Tidy Towns adjudication report, which identified the amenity as being in need of revitalisation.

Given the parks proximity to Clonakilty town centre, local educational facilities, a public car park, and several residential areas, the amenity experiences a high volume of visitors on a daily basis.

Recognising the value of the space, Cork County Council secured 30,000 in funding for upgrade works through the Community Recognition Fund.

Full potential

The fund was established in 2023 to support the development of local infrastructure projects to accommodate the number of new arrivals from Ukraine and other countries into towns and villages.

This funding, used in combination with 24,000 from the councils own resources, enabled the local authority to undertake the necessary steps to bring Chateaulin Orchard Town Park back to its full potential.

The upgrade works, which were completed this year by the council, include restoring a collapsed section of stone wall, commissioning a tree assessment report, pruning and removing trees where necessary, replacing decayed sleepers with more durable materials, and renewing kerbing.

Additional improvements involved relevelling and repairing paths and lawns, landscaping, installing new gates, and providing new seating.

New life

Mayor of the County of Cork, Independent councillor Mary Linehan Foley, said the project has breathed new life into a vital public space in Clonakilty.

Not only does it support Cork County Councils goal of inclusive community development, but it also recognises the essential role Clonakilty has played in welcoming new residents, said Ms Linehan Foley.
People taking heroin and cocaine, smoking weed and vapes, drinking alcohol, threatening violence, attacking passengers and staff and calling a mother a slut in front of her children for asking someone to move out of her prebooked seat were among the issues reported to Iarnrod Eireann on trains to and from Cork over the last year.

Complaints were provided to The Echo from the train company on foot of a Freedom of Information request.

Among them were complaints from people who felt uncomfortable, unsafe, and frightened, as they called for security on trains and said staff on board were either nowhere to be seen, said there was nothing they could do or, in one case, laughed at them.

Many said they would not be taking the train again, with one saying: Charging people money to be put at risk of antisocial and dangerous behaviour, and leaving them to have to confront inebriated, potentially violent men is a disgrace for a publicly-funded mode of transport.

One passenger said that other passengers had heroin with them and they were clearly getting it ready and smoking it in the bathroom, adding: An absolute disgrace. Making all the passengers uncomfortable. We were utterly shocked. Where is the security?

Drugs

Another said that while on the train: We experienced a group of people (all seated around us) snorting cocaine and passing it to each other, the same group were smoking weed and drinking naggins of vodka.

They said: I did not mind the chanting/singing as it was to be expected but I absolutely did mind the inhaling of smoke and watching teenagers take cocaine; yes, I know it was cocaine for certain as they were speaking about it. I also overheard one of these lads saying they were 16 about to turn 17. It was utterly horrifying and a disgrace that there was no security presence whatsoever.

In relation to the complaints, an Iarnrod Eireann spokesperson said: The vast majority of 50.1m journeys on our network (including over 3m on the Dublin to Cork line) take place without incident. Picture: Larry Cummins.

There was another complaint about drug use from a passenger who wrote: I bought myself a first class ticket hoping for a more peaceful, comfortable journey. When I arrived to my seat, there was an incredibly inebriated adult man, half comatose but extremely belligerent, lying across my seat.

About an hour and a half into the journey a young man, high on drugs came into our carriage shouting, and sat down, in the seats behind us and proceeded to do drugs in front of everyone. Again, no staff to be found, no security to be found, and this person was completely out of control. It is unacceptable that women should have to be afraid of confrontations like these on your public service.

One person said that their seat was occupied when we boarded, so they sat on another, writing: Thankfully, we did not ask the man to move, as it later transpired he was completely off his head on drugs.

He was then joined by a fellow male passenger, who was again off his head on drugs. They continued to shout at each other for the entire journey, discussed the drugs they had taken, showed off different drugs to each other, and played loud music videos etc. We were cornered at the end of the carriage, scared for what might happen.

Drunkenness

Many of the complaints related to inebriated people on the train, and said that nothing was done about the behaviour.

One person wrote: There are a group of young girls drinking and playing very loud music, passengers on the train have asked them to be quiet but they just carried on. You need to have people on the trains to deal with these kind of people. I dont think I will be going on a train anytime soon.

Another said that a big group of lads got on the train and sat beside them squashing me into the side of the carriage.

They were all shouting, smoking, and drinking when some fella said to be quiet pointed at me and says four eyes over there isnt happy, and when the passenger did not respond he then threw an empty can of drink at me.

One passenger said that their train journey was ruined by match fans who showed blatant disregard for the rules. Alcohol consumed, shouting, feet on seats, phones playing videos out loud. They added: When I spoke to a nice member of staff in Kent Station, he simply said theres nothing we can do and you should contact the CEO At the end of the day, it appears the good passengers suffer and the inconsiderate passengers have the run of the service.

Another said that a staff member told a group of men that drinking was not allowed and then moved on, but the group paid no attention to this and continued to drink.

The employee moved through the carriage one more time shortly afterwards to which the group said it was the same can of alcohol they were drinking. The Iarnrod Eireann employee said that was fine.

They said that the ordeal continued: This man asked if I would swap seats with him. When I asked why he wanted to swap seats he said because there is a Chinese one there indicating his own seat.

He then squeezed in beside his friend opposite me and for the next 40 mins continued to loudly swear, verbally threaten people under his breath, vape, and occasionally threaten to take my laptop (on the table in front of me) because I did not give my seat to him so he could sit next to his friends. Everyone around us was physically uncomfortable  parents gave their children headphones so they wouldnt hear what was being said.

They said that simultaneously another group continued to vape, make prank phone calls on speaker, swearing loudly and from time to time. One member of the stag kept asking the female passenger if she would share her sandwich which eventually turned into loud sexual comments about the woman.

The passenger added: I appreciate that is it not the role of Iarnrod Eireann employees to manage antisocial situations directly however, considering that in the past I have been stopped by staff to remove my bag from a seat, it seems a bit ridiculous what happened today. In all truth, it is beyond embarrassing for the national rail service. Travelling via rail will be my last resort moving forward.

There was a man drinking on the train. He was quite drunk. He kept talking about shooting people and robbing a bank, one complainant wrote, while another said: Many passengers are drinking, vaping, and being extremely loud. I do not feel safe.

One passenger reported a man vaping and drinking on Cork to Dublin train, saying: Security staff very politely asked him to surrender both items and he refused, accusing them of attempted theft.

Explain

Another passenger asked: Can you please explain to me how it is possible that when alcohol is prohibited on Irish Rail services, and an announcement has been made on board to that effect, that Im currently sitting on the Dublin-Cork train surrounded by drunken Munster fans continuing to get tanked up and create a very uncomfortable atmosphere, with no Irish Rail staff doing a single thing about it?

Another said that a group carried a big bag containing alcohol and proceeded to drink, firstly bottles of spirits, followed by cans of lager while they argued amongst themselves and played music very loudly.

They continued: One of the females became very agitated and became very verbally abusive to some of the other passengers. It was a very frightening experience and there was no member of staff to stop them. Yet another complaint about a group of men said: They proceeded for the duration of their trip to shout very loudly and at times aggressively and drink alcohol in excess spill alcohol over themselves, other passengers, and onto the train.

Another person questioned why intoxicated people were allowed on to the train, and in some cases assisted to their seats, writing: An elderly man was brought into the first class carriage and put in the wheelchair seat. He was extremely drunk and from the minute he got on the train he was shouting and cursing.

He proceeded to have multiple calls all shouting about Irish republican activities and then he proceeded to ring someone and discuss how he was going to attack their niece.

Verbal abuse

One person questioned how the company handled complaints, saying they reported a woman who was extremely drunk and was shouting at other passengers, and then the driver made an announcement that they were aware of an issue in Carriage C and that it would be resolved in Thurles.

They explained: The women knew this announcement was about them and started shouting at passengers that someone had reported them. This announcement aggravated an already tense situation, adding not once did the conductor come into the carriage to have an official presence. I felt extremely unsafe and uncomfortable.

One woman wrote that a man had a can of beer in his hand, opened it and spilt some of the contents out twice before turning to me and aggressively saying he had not seen me round before and asking if I had called him a derogatory term for a gay man.

The man then told me he had been hearing people call him names and needed to watch his back in case he got stabbed  As a young woman, I felt incredibly uncomfortable and vulnerable in this situation.

Another complainant said: My daughter is frightened with the shouting, screaming, language  Honestly, its absolutely disgraceful that Irish Rail is allowing this, so much for your warnings about CCTV when nothing is done.

Another said that a group of young people completely filled up the aisles and even lying in the above luggage rack. They were loudly singing and continuously banging the ceiling it was beyond loud. A woman who appeared to have additional needs was very upset by the loud noise, she even tried to put in ear plugs and could still hear them and was trying to rock back and forth to cope.

One person said that their names were not displayed above their seats, and there were two men sitting in them: When I explained that they were our seats and showed my tickets these men became verbally abusive and refused to move.

My brother who had another seat approached a member of staff on the platform to inform him of the situation and he was laughed at and told that there was nothing he could do. I also asked a member of staff on the train would he check the tickets and he said no.

I was called a slut and told to go back under the rock I came from. One of the men also threatened to fight my brother once they arrived in Cork. My sons were scared and my youngest started to cry. This verbal abuse continued for some time. My mother, who is 65, and I then had to stand for our journey.

A common theme to the complaints was a lack of action by staff, as one person said: During this journey I witnessed verbal and threats of physical violence against young children, yet absolutely nothing was done about this disturbing behaviour.

One said that while action was taken, it was not satisfactory, writing: There were a group of teenagers playing extremely loud and vulgar music, and discussing child rape and other topics out loud. I approached the security man and told him, and while he asked them to quieten down, he was sniggering and laughing doing it.

Theft and violence

One passenger wrote a complaint explaining: A guy tried stealing my scooter off the train  when I was walking away, he said to the child with him, dont worry Ill get you the next one. Another shared how theft escalated into something more serious saying: I noticed a guy trying rob another mans phone while he was sleeping. I then watched the guy rob two cans of 7up from the drinks trolley. They said that he next tried to steal a mans jacket, and when the passenger reported it he assaulted the host and another passenger, leaving the passenger who made the complaint to help train staff subdue him.

Another person said this man came down to our carriage, banged on the door, tried to sit next to me and when another male passenger asked him not to do that he started threatening him and next thing the two of them are fighting, I couldnt get away at first as I was pinned in while they fought.

Some complaints related to the train station as well as the trains themselves, with one person writing: My daughter was randomly punched twice by a young fella at the train station. Another passenger outlined being threatened, saying: Around 10-15 minutes into the journey I looked up and glanced at a guy sitting in a pod of four opposite me. He immediately said dont you be f**king eyeballing me. I was stunned and wondered whether he was speaking to me. He repeated the statement. I rejected what he was saying then and he said he would bust me up or something like knock the b**llocks out of me.

Iarnrod Eireann spokesperson

An Iarnrod Eireann spokesperson told The Echo: As a societal issue to which we are not immune, we have a range of proactive and preventative measures and response measures in place to address antisocial behaviour, working with our own team, our private security contractors and An Garda Siochana.

Intercity services, such as Dublin to Cork, all have customer service personnel on board, to whom customers can raise issues of concern.

Additionally, we have established with the gardai a network of rapid response hubs, which allows our staff to directly contact key garda locations should assistance be required. Proactive joint patrols with gardai also take place weekly.

They continued: We have consistently expanded security resources in recent years, to give greater visibility and to both deter and respond to issues that arise. We will also put additional resources towards specific events, and have proactive joint security measures and patrols in place with gardai, such as for the summer events season now upon us.

The vast majority of 50.1m journeys on our network (including over 3m on the Dublin to Cork line) take place without incident, but we will continue to prioritise prevention of incidents, and rapid response working with our partners.
Approved housing body Cluid delivered more than 160 new social and cost rental homes in Cork last year.

The 162 homes delivered in Cork by the agency in 2024 represent around 10% of the 1,525 new social and cost rental homes delivered nationwide.

Cluid said 2024 was its most successful year in terms of delivering new homes in its 30-year history. The organisation, which was established in 1994, delivered 853 general needs social homes, 408 cost rental homes, and 264 age-friendly social homes across 10 local authority areas.

Last years completions bring the number of Cluid homes in management in Cork to 1,555, as of December 31.

During 2024, 3,795 people were taken out of housing need with a new or re-let Cluid home.

As of July 1, 2025, Cluid manages more than 13,000 homes across every county in Ireland, with nearly 33,000 residents. It is on track to deliver over 1,000 homes this year, it says.

Biggest year

2024 was our biggest year for delivery yet, said Cluid CEO Brian OGorman.

As a result of the hard work and dedication of the Cluid colleagues, and our partners, 3,795 adults and children now have a secure place to call home. We also grew our construction programme in 2024. We continue to work closely with our developer, contractor, and construction partners.

"Were on track to deliver more than 1,000 homes in 2025, many of them through our construction programme. Were proud to be able to use this wealth of expertise and experience to contribute to addressing the current housing crisis.

We look forward to the next 30 years, and our continued position as a key partner in delivering and managing social and affordable homes and communities.

Shock

Cork woman Mary, who moved into a new home at Green Lane in Blackpool, said that her home, provided by Cluid, changed her life.

When I got the phone call from Cluid saying Id been nominated for a home in Green Lane, I was in shock, said Mary.

I just stood there on the street. It wasnt until I had the keys in my hand that I really believed it. Having my own space has really changed my life. Before, I was really stressed, as I was sharing with other people and I didnt have security in where I was living. I had problems with my blood pressure; since getting my forever home, my health has improved. Im so much happier now.
Members of Labour and the Green Party in Cork city are to engage with Gardai on tackling racism following a meeting with community groups.

Senator Laura Harmon told The Echo: I convened a meeting recently in Cork with community groups on actions to tackle racism in Cork along with Councillor Ciara OConnor.

The Labour Party will always stand with all communities at a time when we are witnessing worrying racist attacks in Ireland. We wont stand for it and there can be no place for racism or hate in Cork. Cork will always be a city of welcomes and a safe harbour for all.

Ms Harmon added: Thank you to the representatives from the Indian, Pakistani, Sikh community, Romanian, Mexican, African, Nepalese communities who attended our first meeting and to councillor Honore Kamegni and Monica Oikeh from the Green Party for attending.

The meeting agreed a number of key actions including engaging with the Gardai and I hope to engage with many more communities in Cork on this issue.

It comes as The Indian Embassy in Ireland has issued a warning to Indian citizens in Ireland following what they described as an increase in physical attacks reported against Indian citizens recently.

It advised Indian citizens to "avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours".

The warning comes against the backdrop of reports of attacks targeting Indians in Ireland, including one in Tallaght on July 19.
A Cork TD has said that introducing a free, comprehensive immunisation programme  to include a shingles vaccine  for people over the age of 65 would be cost effective, despite the Governments stance to the contrary.

Fine Gael Cork North Central TD Colm Burke said that such a scheme would alleviate pressures on hospitals and their staff.

His comments follow his parliamentary question to Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, the health minister, asking for an update on the implementation of the national immunisation advisory committee recommendations for older-adult vaccination against influenza, pneumococcal disease, shingles, and respiratory syncytial virus.

Ms Carroll MacNeill said that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carried out a health technology assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine, which protects against shingles, and that the assessment found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 and over, would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.

It could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years, if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%,

said Ms Carroll MacNeill.

Given that the healthcare budget is finite, and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process, she said.

My department determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness is confirmed as being more favourable.

The current cost of the shingles vaccine ranges from 200 to 243 per dose, with a two-dose course costing between 480 and 487.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Burke said that the Government needs to put in place processes that can keep people out of the hospital system.

I think there is a huge saving, if you have a vaccine programme in place, said Mr Burke.

If you have someone admitted to hospital [with shingles], theyre in the hospital for between seven and 14 days.

Its quite an expensive vaccine to get, and if [the Government] paid out 300 or 400 per person, you would see huge savings in real terms, he said.

We have a growing ageing population; in the last census, there were more than 800,000 people who were over 65 [years old], and within four years, thats going to be over one million.
As Corks LGBT+ community was celebrating Pride week, Tanaiste Simon Harris was best man on Saturday, when his brother Adam tied the knot with his long-term fiance Daniel ODriscoll.

Celebrations were at the five-star Fota Island resort on the outskirts of Cork.

Mr Harris was returning the favour. Adam had been his best man when he had married Caoimhe Wade in 2017.

Ever an avid user of social media platforms, the Tanaiste shared photographs of himself and his brother in their tuxedos, as well as pictures of his own children, Saoirse and Killian, as the family celebrated. To Adam, my buddy, the best brother, uncle, and friend anyone could ask for, wishing you and Daniel a lifetime of happiness on this, your wedding day. Proud of you always, wrote Mr Harris.

Yesterday, Mr Harris posted a picture of a sunny pontoon in Cobh with the words:

We live in a truly beautiful country. Lovely to visit wonderful Cobh today.

The Tanaistes brother is the founder and chief executive of AsIam, an Irish autism charity, and is also a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Daniel ODriscoll is a teacher and assistant principal in Dublin.
Rebecca Black, PA

A man has died from his injuries after falling from a moving vehicle in Co Armagh last month.

Police said Aaron Moffett, 38, from Portadown, died in hospital on Friday.

It follows an incident in the Markethill area on Saturday July 12.

Roads policing Inspector Cherith Adair said an investigation is ongoing.

Officers responded to a report of a man who had sustained serious injuries following the incident on Coolmillish Road just after 4.30pm, she said.

Colleagues from Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also attended and the man was conveyed to hospital.

Subsequently, 38-year-old Aaron Moffett from Portadown passed away in hospital on Friday 1st August.

Our investigation is ongoing and we appeal to anyone with phone/dash cam footage, or information which might assist, to get in touch.

The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 1461 of 12/07/25.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Dozens of large housing construction projects along the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, New York City on Dec. 24, 2024. Andrew Lichtenstein / Corbis via Getty Images

New York is now the first state in the U.S. to require new buildings to be built entirely electric, without hookups to fossil fuels including gas, the New York State Assembly reported.

The rule was initially passed in 2023 as the All-Electric Buildings Act and was finalized with the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Councils approval in late July 2025.

According to the new mandate, residential buildings up to seven stories tall and commercial or industrial buildings up to 100,000 square feet with building permit applications for initial construction approved on or after Dec. 31, 2025 will be required to meet the requirements by that date.

Commercial and industrial buildings over 100,000 square feet will need to meet the requirements by 2029, Canary Media reported.

New York just became the first state to bar fossil fuels in most new buildings. Its a win for the climate and a win for owners utility bills.



[image or embed]  Canary Media Inc. (@canarymedia.com) July 31, 2025 at 10:33 AM

These requirements are meant to curb emissions from the built environment, as buildings account for 31% of all emissions in New York.

There will be some exemptions, including for agricultural building, medical facilities, crematoriums, laboratories, restaurants and other specific facility types that meet certain criteria.

The finalization of the rule follows a court decision earlier in July, where the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of New York ruled that the state could move forward enacting the 2023 All-Electric Building Act. Building and fossil fuel groups had previously challenged the act using the same argument that helped overturn the ban on gas in new buildings in Berkeley, California.

The fossil fuel industry was sent a powerful message by the court in this case  the health, well-being, affordability, and prosperity of our communities matters more than the industrys profits and the hollowness of its fear mongering, Dawn Wells-Clyburn, executive director of PUSH Buffalo, said in a statement. The AEBA remains a powerful victory in the fight for our lives.

The New York act could still face legal challenges, as industry groups have requested for the U.S. Department of Justice to block it from taking effect, Canary Media reported.

For now, the act remains in place and could reduce energy usage in New York homes by about 17%, saving residents nearly $5,000 per household over 30 years. According to the New Buildings Institute, building decarbonization in the state of New York could even save money in the construction of some buildings, leading to around $7,500 to $8,200 in savings for building 100% electric single-family homes compared to conventional single-family homes.

When New Yorkers come together we can win even in the face of opponents with an almost-limitless budget, Alex Beauchamp, Northeast region director at Food & Water Watch, told Canary Media. That is how we won this bill. Its also how we are going to continue the fight to get fossil fuels out of all the existing buildings in the state.
(Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC)The United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, housed at the Palais des Nations.

The World Council of Churches has praised reforms proposed by the United Nations, but notes that more needs to be done, including reform of the Security Council, which is currently dominated by the five victorious powers of World War II.

The UN turned 80 this year and is based in New York, but it also has its European headquarters in Geneva, which is one of the four main UN offices, along with those in Nairobi and Vienna.

Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States are the only nations that can veto a resolution carried by a majority vote in the UN Security Council and countries advocating reform of the UN say that equation is outdated.

The WCC, like the UN, was formed in the aftermath of the Second World War and is headquartered in Geneva along with a number of different UN agencies, other international organizations such as the World Trade Organization and hundreds of NGOs.

"The Pact for the Future, adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2024, lays out some important directions and needed reforms," the WCC said in a statement released by its central committee, its main governing body between assemblies.

The WCC statement notes that, "even deeper and more fundamental reform will be required, including of the Security Council itself, to restore the organization's credibility and to address the historic exclusion of nations still under colonial domination at the time of the 1945 San Francisco Conference."

Eighty years ago, delegates of 50 nations met in San Francisco, USA, at the UN Conference on International Organization.

On June 26, 1945, the conference concluded with the signing of the United Nations Charter, establishing the organization designed to pursue its collectively agreed upon purposes.

The WCC central committee convened June 18-24 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It said in its statement that mechanisms for proposed reform are provided for in the UN Charter (especially Article 109), "but they have never been properly utilized."

"Unlike the context in 1925 or in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, many treaties and other normative instruments of international law and many related accountability mechanisms have in the meantime been established," reads the text.

"The rule of law and the independence of the judiciary are being deliberately undermined, to the peril of all who lack such power."

The WCC central committee requested that the WCC general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay develop relations and establish forms of cooperation with likeminded governments and institutions to defend and assert the principles and mechanisms of international law, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary.

"In this perilous moment, churches and Christians are called not to silently observe the disastrous trajectory of our nations and world towards division, injustice, conflict, and the marring of God's precious and unique creation, but to raise a prophetic voice, drawing on our faith principles and unity in Christ, and on the heritage of the Life and Work movement," reads the statement.

The central committee urges "all WCC member churches and ecumenical partners to engage in a Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, not as an abstract slogan, but as an active and urgent witness in our societies and towards our governments against the prevailing culture of conflict, confrontation and division, and for unity and reconciliation."
We're getting super close to finding out when the annual Apple iPhone event will take place, giving us a first look at the new iPhone 17 lineup. We should also find out the official date for downloading the latest software update, iOS 26. If you can't wait any longer, you can download and install the newly released public beta 4 (or iOS 26 developer beta 8 for developers). I've been playing around with it for the past couple of weeks, and have found that taking screenshots is way better in the new operating system  Google and ChatGPT search options are now in the screenshots editor, for instance. You can see a more complete view of the new features in our preview of the iOS 26 public beta release, which shows off the fresh home and lock screen redesign. Called Liquid Glass, the translucent look will extend across all of Apple's upcoming operating systems. The overhaul is one of several big changes coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the rest of Apple's software suite, all of which were showcased during the company's WWDC keynote on June 9.

After overpromising on AI plans last year, Apple kept its iOS roadmap focused more on basic quality of life improvements this year. There are multiple useful additions coming to the Phone and Messages apps on your iPhone, for instance: Apple execs outlined the ability to weed out spam texts or other unknown senders and an option to hold your spot on a phone call when you've been waiting for a representative to pick up. Plus, a treasured feature that we took for granted is coming back (hint: it's in the Photos app).

Siri, meanwhile, is in a holding pattern. Apple has previously specified that its smarter voice assistant  first promised at WWDC 2024  is delayed until some point "in the coming year," so you shouldn't expect any major changes in the current betas. But there are reports that Apple is aiming to give Siri a bigger brain transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude, which could make 2026 a pivotal year. The company is also reportedly working on a 'stripped-down' AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

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With each beta, it seems like additional new improvements are popping up, like this new AirPods gesture we're all curious about, and this FaceTime feature that'll freeze your video if it detects nudity. With the release of the iOS 26 developer beta 5, we saw more added features, like a new bouncy animation on the passcode screen and in the Control Center, MacRumors reports. Some or all of those changes will likely soon migrate into the separate public beta (see below). Most newer iPhone models are eligible to download iOS 26 (both the betas and final version). Want to see the full list of new features coming this fall? Read on.

What is iOS 26?

The current iPhone operating system is iOS 18, and Apple is still actively updating it  version 18.6.1 was released to restore Apple Watch blood oxygen monitoring functionality for certain users in the US. More recently, Apple released 18.6.2 to address a vulnerability related to image processing. Apple has officially stopped signing iOS 18.6, MacRumors reports, which means it can no longer be installed on your iPhone due to a "server-side software verification check." That's pretty normal when newer versions are available to download.

But don't expect to see iOS 19 soon  or ever. Instead, Apple is skipping the numbering ahead to iOS 26 later this year. The company has decided to line up its iOS version numbers with a year-based system, similar to car model years. So while iOS and its sibling operating systems will be released in late 2025, they're all designated "26" to reflect the year ahead.

It's official, we're moving to iOS 26. (Apple)

What is Liquid Glass design?

Let's be honest. Out of everything announced at WWDC this year, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the show. The iPhone's home and lock screens have looked pretty much the same year after year  the last exciting thing (in my opinion) was the option to add your own aesthetic to your home screen by customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the home and lock screens' new facelift is refreshing.

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So what exactly is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a "new translucent material" since, well, the apps and widgets are clear. However, the screen can still adapt to dark and light modes, depending on surroundings. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design in several apps, like Phone and Maps. They're designed to be less distracting than the current buttons, but are still easy to see. While the design overhaul has proven to be controversial since its announcement, some  including Engadget's own Devindra Hardawar  like the new direction, even if it's somewhat reminiscent of Microsoft's translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from nearly twenty years ago.

That said, as of the release of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing back the transparency in at least some places. And while it will continue to evolve, Apple users won't be able to escape it: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple's OSes more cohesive. Here's a look at how the translucent aesthetic will look with the new macOS Tahoe 26 on your desktop.

What are the new and notable features of iOS 26?

iOS 26 has a laundry list of new features. Among the most worthwhile:

Phone app redesign: You'll finally be able to scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music and continue on with other tasks.

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Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translation will translate your conversation in real time, which results in some stop-and-go interactions in the examples Apple shared during its presentation.

Polls in group chats: Tired of sorting through what seems like hundreds of messages in your group chat? You and your friends will soon be able to create polls in group messages for deciding things like which brunch spot you're eating at or whose car you're taking on a road trip.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you haven't received spam texts about unpaid tolls or other citations, you're lucky. For those of us who have, those annoying messages will soon be filtered away in a separate folder.

Visual Intelligence: Similar to a reverse Google image search, this new feature will allow you to search for anything that's on your iPhone screen. For instance, if you spot a pair of shoes someone is wearing in an Instagram photo, you can screenshot it and use Visual Intelligence to find those shoes (or similar ones) online.

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Photos tabs are back: For anyone who's still frustrated with the Photos changes made last year, you'll be happy to know that your tabs are coming back. Library and Collections will have their own separate spaces so you don't have to scroll to infinity to find what you're looking for.

FaceTime "Communication Safety" feature: A newer addition to iOS 26 appears to be the FaceTime "Communication Safety" feature that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The feature appears to be a child safety feature that uses on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privacy issues.

New lock screen options: The iPhone lock screen gets more customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options.

Apple's Hold Assist will be nifty for those pesky services that put you on hold for 10 or more minutes. (Apple)

New changes coming to iPadOS 26

Your iPad isn't getting left behind when it comes to big updates. Here's what's coming this fall.

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Multitasking and real windowing: When you download the newest update, you'll be able to have multiple apps running on your screen at the same time. Once you open an app, it'll appear on your screen as normal but you'll be able to resize and move it across your screen to make room for other apps. This feature is optional so you can turn it off if you don't like it.

Visual update: Along with the other new OSes, iPadOS 26 is coming with the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new look will appear on the lock and home screens, as well as the drop-down menus.

New menu bar: When you swipe down on your screen, the new menu bar will appear with options like File, Edit, Windows and more. There's also a search option if you're looking for something specific.

Check out our first impressions of iPadOS 26.

What about AirPods?

AirPods are also getting updated with iOS 26. Here are some of the more notable functions.

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Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this "studio-quality" audio recording, and with it, you'll notice more clarity while in noisy environments.

Camera remote control: Using this, you can take a photo or start and stop video recording with just one press on your AirPods. When taking photos, you'll get a three-second countdown before your iPhone or iPad snaps the picture.

Live translation feature: While not officially announced or confirmed, it appears that the long-rumored live translation for AirPods could be coming with iOS 26. The evidence comes from a system asset spotted in the in iOS 26 beta showing a gesture that's triggered by pressing both earbud stems at the same time. The photo also shows words in several different languages.

Heart rate monitoring (rumored for now): Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes Apple will introduce new AirPods Pro earbuds this year, which could have heart rate monitoring. It would work with Apple's Health app and other fitness apps that track heart rates.

Which iPhones will be able to upgrade to iOS 26?

A few iPhone models that run the current version of iOS  iPhone XR, XS and XS Max  won't be compatible with the latest upgrade. But any iPhones released in 2019 or later will be eligible for the iOS 26 update.

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iPhone SE (second generation or later)

iPhone 11

iPhone 11 Pro

iPhone 11 Pro Max

iPhone 12

iPhone 12 mini

iPhone 12 Pro

iPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 13

iPhone 13 mini

iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone 13 Pro Max

iPhone 14

iPhone 14 Plus

iPhone 14 Pro

iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPhone 15

iPhone 15 Plus

iPhone 15 Pro

iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 16

iPhone 16 Plus

iPhone 16 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro Max

iPhone 16e

Not listed here are the presumed new iPhone 17 models (or maybe iPhone 26?) that are all but certain to be announced and released in September.

How to install iOS 26 beta

The iOS 26 public beta is now available to download via the Apple Beta Software Program. If you're not already a member, you'll need to sign up to try out all the latest features. Just visit beta.apple.com and sign up with your phone number or email address. It's free.

Once you're in, you can install it by going to Settings > General > Software Update and selecting iOS 26 public beta.

A word of caution: Don't sign up with your main iPhone unless you're OK with any risks that occur with using an OS that isn't finalized.

When will the final version of iOS 26 be released?

iOS 26 will be released to the public this fall. It usually comes in September, within a week of the Apple iPhone event. Last year, it rolled out to iPhone users on September 16  exactly one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was announced.

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If you're more interested in the Apple Intelligence features coming, here's everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more during WWDC. Also, check out how iOS 26 screenshots could be an intriguing preview of Apple's delayed Siri rework.

Update, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Pro having heart rate monitoring.

Update, August 22: Noted that Apple has officially stopped signing iOS 18.6.

Update, August 20: Noted that iOS 26 public beta 4 and iOS 18.6.2 are now available to download.

Update, August 18: Added details about a potential iOS 18.6 update.

Update, August 15: Added to link to what to expect at the Apple iPhone event and details about what's available in the iOS 26 screenshots editor.

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Update, August 13: Added new AirPods detail spotted in the iOS 26 beta.

Update, August 11: Noted that iOS 26 developer beta has hit beta 6.

Update, August 8: Added new features coming with iPadOS 26 and AirPods.

Update, August 6: Noted the release of iOS 26 beta 5 and the new bouncy feature on passcode screen and Control Center.

Update, August 4: Noted that Apple is reportedly working on a ChatGPT rival.

Update, August 1: Added quote from Tim Cook about iOS 26.

Update, July 31: Noted that iOS 18.6 is now available.

Update, July 24: Noted the iOS 26 public beta is now available.

Update, July 3: Noted new FaceTime feature found in the developer beta.

Update, June 30: Noted ongoing iOS 18 releases, and reports that Apple is considering additional external LLMs for Siri.

Update, June 25: Noted changes added in iOS 26 beta 2.
Lindsay Lohan is bravely sharing how early fame affected her deeply. At age 39, she says being chased by paparazzi caused serious trauma and lasting stress.

Lohan recently spoke with The Times of London. She said, "I don't ever want my family to experience being chased by the paparazzi the way I was. They were terrifying moments... I have PTSD to the extreme from those things."

She got her start in the late '90s and didn't take long to make a name for herself in the spotlight. But behind that success were "really scary" and "the most invasive situations," she added.

According to US Magazine, Lohan explained that press attention became overwhelming. "I pray stuff like that never comes back. It's not safe. It's not fair."

These experiences drove her to step back from acting and focus on finding a more normal life. "I wanted to take a minute... figure out how to have a more private life, a real life," she said.

Today, Lohan lives in Dubai with her husband, Bader Shammas, and their two-year-old son, Luai. She described the city as a refuge, "a safe place where we can just have a normal life, outside of what I call 'the noise.'"

She's made it clear more than once: these days, her focus is on keeping her family safenot seeking the spotlight.

I dont ever want my family to experience being chased by the paparazzi the way I was. I have PTSD to the extreme from those things. Really scary. And I pray stuff like that never comes back.



Lindsay Lohan on the trauma caused by invasive paparazzi culture. pic.twitter.com/9Xb1BCWShR  Lindsay Lohan News - Boosting Lohanaissance (@ArggLindsay) August 2, 2025

Lindsay Lohan Opens Up About Fame's Impact on Her Personal Life

One major decision the couple made is not to show their son's face online. "It's something my husband and I discuss all the time. 'Do we want to show our son?' We will know when the time might be right, but it's also a protection," Lohan said, speaking quietly but firmly.

Lohan also reflected on how fame changed the way people treated her.

She shared how uncomfortable it feels to constantly have phones pointed at her, explaining that she'd much rather be asked for a photo than be recorded without warning.

The constant attention has made her more cautious about everything she does in public.

Lohan's experiences deeply shaped her choices. That includes her return to acting in "Freakier Friday," inspired in part by motherhood, InStyle said.

She said, "Yes, this is a first. ... Time is working on my side." Her role reversal in the new film, now as a mother, reflects how her life has changed.

At one point, she shared: "I feel like some of [my work] got overshadowed by paparazzi... when I was younger, and that's kind of annoying. I wish that part didn't happen." That feeling pushed her to disappear from public view until she could make a comeback on her terms.
Meghan Markle is once again facing allegations of mistreatment from former royal aides, with royal correspondent Valentine Low claiming that some members of her staff were left emotionally shaken after working with her.

Speaking to American royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, per Daily Mail, Low said former staffers were deeply afraid of what Markle might do after they voiced concerns about their treatment.

"They were very worried about what Meghan would do to them," Low explained in the interview. "They viewed her capacity for revenge as infinite." He added that even after leaving their royal roles, the staff remained in a "psychologically delicate state" because of the experience.

Markle, 43, has always denied the bullying allegations. A spokesperson for her and Prince Harry dismissed the claims as "false, offensive, and long-discredited," claiming that they were part of a broader agenda to "dehumanize a woman who has consistently stood up for fairness, dignity, and truth." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have described the situation as an orchestrated smear campaign.

The bullying story was first reported by Low in 2021, just days before Meghan and Harry's sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey. According to Low, the timing was deliberate. "If the story had come out after the Oprah interview, it would have just looked like sour grapes," he said. "It'd be lost in the noise. Meghan would come across as this heroine, this person who'd been victimized."

Before publication, Low said the couple's legal team responded aggressively. "We got a very very long letter from their lawyers," he said. "Sometime later we got another slightly less long letter. It was very strong, saying basically 'watch out.' Then we published, and after that we didn't hear a word."

Low said his confidence in the story stemmed from direct access to documents and testimonies. "I had sight of various bits of documentary evidence. I saw things which totally backed up the story," he told Schofield.

Staff Turnover and 'Sussex Survivors'

The narrative of Meghan being difficult to work with isn't new. Former palace aide Jason Knauf accused her of bullying two assistants in a 2018 internal email, later leaked following the couple's royal exit. "The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights," Knauf wrote. "She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence."

Knauf, who once worked closely with Meghan and Harry, is now CEO of Prince William's Earthshot Prize. He was also made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 2023 by William, signaling their ongoing trust.

He later appeared in an Australian documentary and stood by his allegations. "I wouldn't change a thing," Knauf said. "We had lots of great times, working on their wedding was an amazing magical experience, and I wish them all the best with their lovely family."

He and several others who worked closely with the couple reportedly refer to themselves as the "Sussex Survivors." Meghan's former aide Samantha Cohen, along with other royal staff, had been aware of the bullying complaints as early as 2018 and were among ten staff interviewed by Buckingham Palace during an internal review. The findings of that review were never made public.

Split Opinions on Meghan's Work Culture

Not everyone who worked with Meghan had negative experiences. Some staff described her as generous and thoughtful, known to send gifts like skincare products and dog leashes. Producer Jane Marie, who collaborated with the couple on Archewell Audio, called Meghan "a lovely, genuine person" in a Vanity Fair interview.

But others found her demeanor could shift. One insider who worked with her during the lead-up to the 2018 wedding described her as "lovely when it is all going her way but a demon when the worm turns."

Buckingham Palace has never released the results of its review into the bullying allegations. At the time, Harry and Meghan said it was a "calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation."

In their 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry addressed the allegations. "If you speak truth to power, that's how they respond," he said, while also referencing what his mother Princess Diana endured. "To see this institutional gaslighting that happens, it's extraordinary."
Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz celebrated their third wedding anniversary with a private vow renewal ceremony. This comes amid growing speculation about his strained relationship with the Beckham family.

The 26-year-old and his 30-year-old actress wife reaffirmed their commitment in a small gathering that sources say was very personal and emotional.

"This is a moment to celebrate their love and commitment and to create a meaningful memory together," an insider told the Daily Mail.

Beckham posted a throwback from their 2022 wedding in Palm Beach to mark the milestone in April.

Peltz also shared a tribute of her own, but fans quickly noticed the silence from her husband's side of the family.

Neither David nor Victoria Beckham, nor his brothers Romeo and Cruz, publicly acknowledged the posts, and Beckham is said to have unfollowed both siblings on Instagram in July.

Beckham reportedly unfollowed Romeo and Cruz in July. A source told The Sun that he and Peltz "certainly didn't unfollow them or block them," claiming the couple was "just as confused as everyone else."

Though no party has addressed the situation directly, the tension reportedly stems from friction that began around the couple's original wedding in 2022. The pair married at Peltz's family estate in Palm Beach, Florida, in a black-tie ceremony attended by both families. Since then, public appearances and interactions between Beckham and his family have noticeably decreased.

Prioritizing Their Marriage

Despite the speculation, the couple continue to present a united front. The couple has often said they're best friends and prefer to "ignore the noise." In a past interview with Glamour Germany, Beckham said his approach to public pressure is to "keep your head down, work hard, be kind."

Peltz added, "It's not always easy. On TikTok there are always random stories popping up about us. When I see fake news, my instinct is to shut it down. But it's not worth it. I just scroll past and move on."

Earlier this year, Beckham notably skipped his dad's 50th birthday party. And while he has been silent on social media when it comes to his own parents, he was quick to share birthday wishes for his father-in-law, Nelson Peltz, calling him "family" and writing, "Happy birthday Nelson x We love you."

As the speculation continues, Beckham and Peltz are choosing to focus on each other. A source told PEOPLE that the vow renewal was about "honoring the love and commitment they've built together over the years, and creating a memory that will stay with them forever."
Rapper Soulja Boy is facing fresh legal problems after being arrested early Sunday morning in Los Angeles for allegedly having a firearm while being a felon.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the 35-year-old artist, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over around 2:35 am at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Genesee Avenue.

During the traffic stop, officers say they noticed a gun inside the vehicle.

Following an investigation, Soulja Boy was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm  a felony offense, Billboard said.

It remains unclear why the vehicle was stopped initially, and no other arrests or additional details about the weapon have been released.

Online records reveal that Soulja Boy was officially booked early Sunday morning at 6:18 am.

Soulja Boy arrested on suspected firearm possession charges during LA traffic stop https://t.co/f5pHPRmWp8 pic.twitter.com/9sEhAVccg5  New York Post (@nypost) August 4, 2025

Rapper Soulja Ordered to Pay $4M in Assault Case

This arrest adds to a growing list of legal troubles for the rapper. According to People, earlier this year, a California court ruled that he must pay almost $4 million in damages after a jury held him responsible in a lawsuit with a former personal assistant.

The woman accused him of sexual assault and being held against her will during a 2021 incident.

In a statement released at the time of the April ruling, Soulja Boy denied the accusations, saying, "I never done any of the things they're accusing me of."

His legal team added that they believed the trial was unfair and said they intended to appeal the verdict.

This isn't the first time the rapper has had legal trouble. Back in 2019, he spent 240 days in jail after breaking probation from a 2014 weapons case.

He also faced a court order in 2023 to pay ex-girlfriend Kayla Myers over $470,000 after being found liable in a separate assault and kidnapping lawsuit.

Just hours before his latest arrest, Soulja Boy had been active on social media, posting clips from his birthday celebration at Poppy nightclub and time spent at his SODMG store in Los Angeles.

He also shared moments from inside a music studio, where he's been working on new material.

Originally published on Music Times
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau have reportedly formed a growing bond after meeting earlier this year, with multiple sources saying the two are spending more time together.

The rumored new couple apparently felt an "instant connection" during their first meeting. A source close to the situation stated that both are "interested in each other," but noted that it's too early to know what will happen.

"They have a lot in common," according to a source who spoke to PEOPLE.

They cited their shared idealism and belief in making the world better, explaining, "Both are idealists and still live in a world where they think they can make improvements, although it has gotten more difficult."

Their busy schedules and recent experiences as single parents could complicate any developing relationship.

Despite the complications, those close to Perry and Trudeau say the setup might actually work. "They each have an ex, so duties are split in half," the insider explained. "Long-distance relationships, while still hard, are possible for these two."

The way Justin Trudeau looks at Katy Perry during her show!!! Oh he is in love!!! pic.twitter.com/pLUpk4uqj1  Garett (@KatycatGarett) July 31, 2025

Trudeau is adjusting to life after politics following his separation from his wife, Sophie Gregoire, in 2023. They have three kids, Xavier, 17, Ella-Grace, 16, and Hadrien, 11.

Meanwhile, Perry confirmed her breakup with Orlando Bloom whom she shares 4-year-old daughter, Daisy.

They were first seen dining together at Lo Violon in Montreal earlier this week, prompting initial speculation. A few days later, Trudeau was spotted front and center at Perry's "Lifetimes" concert at the Bell Centre, cheering her on.

A source familiar with Trudeau's time in office told The Sun that Perry had caught his attention. "Justin has been single for a while and has enjoyed getting to know her," the source said. "She's the kind of woman that really caught his attention."

TMZ releases photo of Katy Perry & Justin Trudeau having a drink on terrace. pic.twitter.com/GZTYgLDBKj  Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 29, 2025

John Mayer Watching From the Sidelines

Meanwhile, sources say Perry's former flame John Mayer may also be keeping a close eye on her.

Mayer, 47, who dated Perry on and off from 2012 to 2015, reportedly reached out after hearing about her breakup with Bloom.

"He's currently playing the role of supportive friend, but ultimately, he wants to be with her again," a source told Radar Online. "If she's open to reconnecting, he'd be over the moon."

Originally published on Music Times
Sean "Diddy" Combs' former girlfriend, Virginia "Gina" Huynh, has surprisingly backed his request for bail ahead of his sentencing in October.

This comes even though Huynh, identified as "Victim-3" in court documents, previously accused Combs of abuse during their relationship.

Court papers filed by Combs' legal team included a letter from Huynh addressed to Judge Arun Subramanian.

According to PageSix, in the letter, Huynh stated, "To my knowledge, [Combs] has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first." She added, "I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community."

Huynh acknowledged that their relationship "was not always perfect," but said Combs "was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future."

She also said, "By the time our relationship ended, he embodied an energy of love, patience and gentleness that was markedly different from his past behavior."

The rapper's defense argues that Combs has been "cooperative, respectful and compliant" throughout the case.

Huynh added that Combs has "substantial ties to his family and community, including children who depend on him for emotional and financial support."

Diddys ex, Gina Huynh, steps up in court, urging a judge to grant him bail. She says hes a changed man. Full story: https://t.co/RFeQH6eAUq pic.twitter.com/wVZmCssX7W  Complex (@Complex) August 4, 2025

Diddy's Ex Defends Bail Despite Past Abuse Allegations

Combs, 55, was convicted last month on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution but was acquitted of more serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

He was denied bail after the verdict due to concerns about his past violence and disregard for the law.

Though Huynh supported bail, she never testified during Combs' federal trial. However, his former assistant George Kaplan testified that he once saw Combs angrily throw apples at Huynh while she tried to protect herself, RNZ said.

Huynh also spoke publicly in 2019, describing an incident where Combs allegedly "stomped on [her] stomach really hard" and she struggled to breathe.

Despite these past abuse claims, Huynh's letter urges the judge to consider Combs' recent behavior and his commitment to his family.

"I want to assure the Court that if released, I believe Mr. Combs will adhere to all conditions imposed and will not jeopardize his freedom or the well-being of his family," she wrote.

Meanwhile, other witnesses like Cassie Ventura, Combs' ex and key prosecution witness, have asked the court to keep him jailed, citing fears for their safety.

Ventura provided evidence of past violence by Combs, including video footage of an assault.

Combs' defense has asked for bail on a $50 million bond and is also seeking a new trial or acquittal, claiming the prosecution was unfair. His sentencing is scheduled for October 3.

Originally published on Music Times
About: Dedicated to 15 military/combat veterans in his family, from the Civil to Korean War, Book 2 centers on the European War and centuries before while Book 1 deals with the Pacific War and the fascinating history of that vast region. Each book ends with stories of his last minute excursions to each of the 50th Anniversaries and what he experienced during those major commemorations. Pearl Harbor and D-Day, for the United States, represents the beginning and the beginning of the end of World War II, and thus these bookend 50th Anniversaries allowed Michael B. Butler to explore far and wide in his quest to encase them, as the book titles suggest, in relevant World & Family History. Each yielded a wealth of interesting experiences and set the foundation for this book series, which was originally going to be a single volume but was split up and expanded decades later.
A rural finance expert has issued a stark warning over Labour's planned inheritance tax (IHT) reforms, saying the changes could lead to a wave of farm salesand even suicidesamong ageing farmers early next year.

Linda Lord, a partner at Streets Chartered Accountants and a specialist in agricultural finance, says the Treasury is failing to grasp the full consequences of the April 2026 changes to agricultural property relief (APR) and their likely effect on farming families.

Theres a lot of farmland for sale now. That wasnt the case before, and farmers are worried, said Lord, who is also married to a farmer.

As a tax adviser working closely with farming families, I am seeing the real-time fallout of policy changes many still dont fully understand.

The government announced in October that APR would be replaced from April 2026 with a new system under which qualifying agricultural assets will attract a 20% IHT ratebut only on amounts exceeding 1 million. Families will have up to ten years to settle the bill.

But Lord says the policy, designed to curb avoidance by wealthy landowners, is out of touch with the real economics of farming.

If youve got 1 million in tax to pay, even over 10 years, who has 100,000 a year to hand over? Certainly, farmers dont get the return on capital to fund that from income so it would require the sale of assets, she said.

The government doesnt understand. Theyre just not listening. People hear a million pounds and think farmers are wealthy. Theyre not.

Lord pointed to the cost of equipmentsuch as 750,000 for a combine harvesteras just one example of why balance sheets often mask the fragility of farming finances. She fears many families wont survive the hit.

Officials say, Itll only hit a few people. But I can tell you, it will hit practically all of my clients if they die after 5 April. Ive got lots in their 80s. Theyre not all going to survive long enough to see a potential policy reversal under the next government. No chance.

In one recent case, she says, the death of a client before the April deadline saved the family between 4 million and 5 million in tax. But such relief may not be available to others.

I genuinely think therell be suicides in January and February, from farmers worried about putting their family in debt. In the farming community, everyone is talking about it.

Critics of the policy warn that younger generations will be burdened with massive debts merely to inherit land that has often been farmed for generations.

Machinery and infrastructure costs remain high, while income from food production has been volatileparticularly following a string of poor weather years.

Tax policy is being imposed on farms that are operating at a loss, without any practical plan for how families are expected to pay the bill, Lord said.

I just did a set of accounts last weekthe farm made a 530,000 loss because of the weather. Crops were flooded and they couldnt get on the land. No ones taking that into account.

With borrowing unaffordable for many farmers, and land sales often the only viable option, some are now turning to solar or non-agricultural developments to survive.

People will walk away. Theyll get disillusioned and leave. There are loads of solar farm applications. You cant blame them.

Though there are some mitigation optionssuch as setting up trusts, passing assets between spouses, or gifting land to childrenthese come with their own risks, complexities, and tax implications.

Not everyone wants to give a million pounds worth of land to their spouse. And divorce is its own kind of taxoften worse than inheritance tax, Lord added.

My husband and his brother are in their late 50s. Neither wants to take on a 1 million loan at this stage in life to pay their fathers tax bill. That leaves land sales as the only option.

Public figures such as Jeremy Clarkson have spoken out against the reform, with Clarkson even joining London protests earlier this year.

Ironically, its people like himthose who moved into farming for tax reasonsthat the government was targeting. Still, hes made it clear hes fighting for families whove farmed for generations.

The proposed reforms were also raised during a joint press conference in Scotland this week between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump, with both leaders professing their support for farmers.

But Linda Lord remains deeply concerned: This change does not simply affect policy, it affects people. Farming families. Real businesses. Real legacies.

"If nothing changes? The farms wont survive. The people wont survive. And neither will the food security this country depends on.
Unemployment across the euro area remained unchanged at 6.2 per cent in June 2025, according to the latest figures released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. The figure reflects a modest improvement from 6.4 per cent in June 2024.

Euro area unemployment held steady at 6.2 per cent in June 2025, down from 6.4 per cent a year earlier, while the EU rate remained at 5.9 per cent. Youth unemployment was 14.7 per cent in the EU and 14.1 per cent in the euro area. Female jobless rates declined slightly, while male rates stayed stable. Eurostat estimates 12.97 million unemployed in the EU, with a yearly drop of 125,000.

For the broader EU, the unemployment rate stood at 5.9 per cent in June, also stable compared to May 2025 and slightly lower than the 6 per cent rate recorded a year earlier.

In absolute terms, Eurostat estimates that 12.967 million people in the EU were unemployed in June 2025, with 10.700 million of them in the euro area. This marks a decline of 23,000 jobseekers in the EU and 62,000 in the euro area compared with May 2025. On an annual basis, unemployment dropped by 125,000 in the EU and by 293,000 in the euro area.

Youth unemployment, however, continues to pose a significant challenge. A total of 2.857 million persons under the age of 25 were unemployed in the EU, including 2.241 million in the euro area. The youth unemployment rate held steady at 14.7 per cent across the EU and declined marginally to 14.1 per cent in the euro area, down from 14.3 per cent in May.

Compared with May 2025, youth unemployment fell by 4,000 in the EU and by 34,000 in the euro area. Over the past year, youth unemployment declined by 25,000 in the EU and by 85,000 in the euro area, Eurostat said in a release.

Labour market outcomes also showed some gender variation. In the EU, the unemployment rate for women fell to 6 per cent in June from 6.1 per cent in May, while the rate for men remained stable at 5.7 per cent.

In the euro area, the jobless rate among women eased to 6.4 per cent from 6.5 per cent, while the rate for men remained unchanged at 6 per cent.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Vaibhav Raj Gupta is no stranger to powerful performances. After making a mark with his honest portrayal of Anu Mishra in Gullak, he has now surprised fans with his intense role as Vikram Singh in Mandala Murders. Vaibhav, who started his journey with theatre and short films, has always believed in building a strong foundation. Vaibhavs growing body of work is proof that this is only the beginning. Excerpts





You started your on-screen acting with a series of short films, namely, White Shirt and Love Not at First Sight. Did working in theatre in a way help you in taking up such roles and mastering them?

I wanted to make my base very strong. I wanted to learn what is optimum. So, that's why I've given seven years to theatre. Seven years of just learning the basics of acting. And then I started watching world cinema, which opened my eyes further.





Is there any specific film or director you admire?

Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Benicio Del Toro. And then there is Jake Gyllenhaal. And then you go to Iranian cinema and French cinema, which truly blows your mind. I follow Manoj Bajpayee sir, Nawaz sir, Vicky Kaushal, and Ranbir Kapoorthey are some of my favourite actors.





Coming to the turning point of your career, Gullak. Did you expect that Gullak would be such a success when you were filming it?



While shooting it, we all felt that we were creating something magical. When you see Gullak, everything is so honest. Everything is so raw and beautiful. I've got a Filmfare award for it.





What was it about Gullak that clicked with the audience, according to you?



It's the writing. The writers and the directors played a huge role. Everybody on that show comes from the middle class. They are in that world. It shows the day-to-day life of a middle-class family, which we have all seen, which we have all lived. So, we know that and it's easy for us to give that performance.





Your brother Amrit, directed Season One. Is there any memorable experience with your brother while filming that youd like to share?



So many experiences. It was a pleasure working with my brother because we have started our careers together. He used to make short films in college, and I used to act in his short films. He's very sincere, mature and he also did a good job.





A much-talked about aspect from Gullak is your equation with Jameel Khan, who plays your father in the series. Are there any real-life parallels which you noticed?



The first time I hugged my father as an adult was when I was leaving for Mumbai. And I remember that feeling. I remember that I cried, and I was hiding that. It's a complex relationship between father and son when you come from a small city. I don't know why but we never expressed our love towards each other. Jameel sir has been someone who has helped me organically feel everything. I have actually saved his name as Papa in my phone. Whenever we meet, I call him Papa.





Coming to Mandala Murders, it has been a switch from a comedy family drama to a genre which is intense and dark.



I was in Lucknow, shooting and had an accident. So, because of that, my shoulder dislocated. I had to come back to Mumbai. That's how I met Gopi Puthran sir. Gopi sir was at that time writing Mandala Murders and he saw my performance in Gullak. He saw something in my eyes, and he was like, let me meet this guy. And fortunately, I was there with my broken hand. I met Gopi sir and he offered me a role after the narration. He's very passionate about his work and that's what I like in the people I'm working with.





How did you prepare for a role that was completely opposite from what youve done earlier?

It took me eight months. I had to transform my body because both the directors wanted me to look in a certain way. I was in YRF for nine months. I trained every day from six to nine. Then the workshop started with Gopi sir and Manan sir for four months. I must have read the script more than 50-60 times. And then the workshop, the body language, the look, the hair, the costume. Everything was well discussed. It was not easy. It was very tough. But finally, when I saw the show, I was so happy, because I am feeling something different. They wanted me to completely transform and change the image of Anu in Gullak, and I surrendered myself to it.





How was it collaborating with Vaani Kapoor and other stars from the cast of Mandala Murders?



I was very excited to meet Vaani and Surveen because they're both such good actors.That was the first time I was working with stars. They're humble people and true artistes and welcomed me into their world. Whether it's Adi sir, whether it's Gopi sir or Manan sir, everyone wanted me to achieve my best. YRF is like that. They treat you like a baby.





Those who follow you on social media also know your love for poetry and your community, Poetry Session.



I think an actor should always remain close to poetry because it makes you learn different things. I started loving the process of writing an observation. Then I started romanticizing it. I wanted to learn other things apart from acting. Then I started a community, building it. I met a lot of poets. Poetry is my first love.





Is poetry an escape for you when you are not acting?



Yes. You will find me in a cafe, in a corner, sipping my coffee, traveling solo or reading books or writing poetry.





Does that help the actor in you, in some way?



Yeah, because when you're reading poetry, there are a thousand ways of understanding a line written by a poet. So when it comes to your visual skills, poetry strengthens it.





Youve been getting a lot of praise for your work in Mandala Murders.



I've been getting a lot of messages. For an actor, validation is very important because they work so hard to do a scene, and it takes a lot of hard work to make a show. I'm enjoying all the messages. And I'm feeling very nice and it's a beautiful feeling.





Is there a Bollywood debut around the corner?



I'm just waiting for it, yeah. I really want to do a film now. Because the main aim is to do films.





Also Read: Vaani Kapoor and Vaibhav Raj Guptas Crime Thriller Mandala Murders to Release in July








Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been shuttling between the USA and India since the beginning of this year for the filming of her movie with SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu. She is once again back in the country for the same. Early in the morning, the actress shared a photo of her daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas on Instagram's story section, revealing that the little one is accompanying her mother for the shoot. The first photo showed her sitting inside a car with Priyanka holding Malti's arms. The second photo showed Malti looking out of the car's window. Priyanka captioned the photo as, "Hyderabad we made it!"



Take a look:



has beenbetween the USA and India since the beginning of this year for the filming of her movie withand. She is once again back in the country for the same. Early in the morning, the actress shared a photo of her daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas on Instagram's story section, revealing that the little one is accompanying her mother for the shoot. The first photo showed her sitting inside a car with Priyanka holding Malti's arms. The second photo showedlooking out of the car's window. Priyanka captioned the photo as, "Hyderabad we made it!"

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filmfare (@filmfare)

Priyanka landed in Hyderabad for the shoot amid the Telugu Film Industry Employees' Federation's strike. The strike, which commenced on August 4, is in response to long-pending demands for a 30 per cent wage increase for employees. Rajeswar Reddy, former General Secretary of the federation, said in a statement yesterday, "Our workers will not report to duty from tomorrow (August 4) as decided by our executive committee members. Despite holding multiple rounds of discussions with producers, they have shown reluctance to revise the wages."





About SSMB29

As per reports, SSMB29 is inspired by Indiana Jones and the golden age of African adventure cinema. Rajamoulis film follows a rugged explorer who sets out on a dicey quest through untamed wilderness. Mahesh Babu is set to venture into uncharted terrains, battling nature, mystery, and a powerful enemy in the process to discover a forgotten secret, potentially one that can change the world. Priyanka Chopra Jonas will reportedly be seen as Dr Anjali, a fiercely driven historian. These latest reports on the principal (lead) characters in the film have certainly got the fans excited and charged.





Talking of Priyanka, the actress was recently seen in Heads of State. She will also be seen in The Bluff, Judgement Day and Krrish 4.

Also Read: Buzz: Priyanka Chopra Jonas & Mahesh Babus Character Details From SSMB29 Revealed?


Shashi Tharoor was among the many who wished Shah Rukh Khan on his first-ever National Award win for Jawan. And King Khan, too, responded to him in his witty way. Tharoor wrote, "A National Treasure wins a National Award! Congratulations @iamsrk!" The politician is known for his rich vocabulary and lexical wealth. But SRK was happy that he used 'simple' terms to praise him. Responding to the Congress MP, the actor wrote, "Thank u for the simple praise Mr Tharoor. Would not have understood something more magniloquent and sesquipedalian ha ha."



Check out his response here: Politicianwas among the many whoon hiswin for Jawan. And King Khan, too, responded to him in his witty way. Tharoor wrote, "A National Treasure wins a National Award! Congratulations @iamsrk!" The politician isand lexical wealth. Butwas happy that he used 'simple' terms to praise him. Responding to the Congress MP, the actor wrote, "Thank u for the simple praise Mr Tharoor. Would not have understood something more magniloquent and sesquipedalian ha ha."

Thank u for the simple praise Mr Tharoor

would not have understood something more magniloquent and sesquipedalian ha ha https://t.co/GHAhyCYT5S  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 3, 2025

SRK's witty response left netizens in splits. One user wrote, "When it comes to wit I am sure SRK would be standing at the top. Congratulations King" while another netizen added, "I just love that... manglwueny & colloquial....witty banter ... something really magnanimous & stupendous ! Congratulations"



National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 2023 film, Jawan. The superstar shared a video stating his excitement for the honour and wrote, "Thank you for honouring me with the National Award. Thanks to the jury, the I&B ministry. Iss samman ke liye Bharat Sarkar ka dhanyawaad. Overwhelmed with the love showered upon me. Half a hug to everyone today.... Shah Rukh Khan won thefor his performance in the. The superstar shared a video stating his excitement for the honour and wrote, "Thank you for honouring me with the National Award. Thanks to the jury, the I&B ministry. Iss samman ke liye Bharat Sarkar ka dhanyawaad. Overwhelmed with the love showered upon me. Half a hug to everyone today.... Needless to say,. One user wrote, "When it comes to wit I am sure SRK would be standing at the top. Congratulations King" while another netizen added, "I just love that... manglwueny & colloquial....witty banter ... something really magnanimous & stupendous ! Congratulations"

Thank you for honouring me with the National Award. Thanks to the jury, the I&B ministry Iss samman ke liye Bharat Sarkar ka dhanyawaad. Overwhelmed with the love showered upon me. Half a hug to everyone today. pic.twitter.com/PDiAG9uuzo  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 1, 2025

In the video, he thanked his directors, family and fans for supporting him throughout. Namashkar and Aadab. Needless to say, Im overwhelmed with gratitude, pride and humility. To be honoured with a National Award is a moment I will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you so much to the jury, the chairman and the I&B ministry and to everyone who thought I was worthy of this honour, he said.

He also thanked his wife and kids for understanding and respecting his love for cinema.
Terra Firma Energy Limited (TFE) is delighted to announce that its 20.7MW Miners Road flexible generation site, located in Llay, Wrexham, United Kingdom, has successfully completed its first 6 months of commercial operations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250803039012/en/

Terra Firma Energy's Miners Road, Wrexham flexible generation project successfully completes 6 months of operation.

The significant 6-month milestone has been achieved through the collective efforts of TFE's trusted partners. Blackstone Energy played a pivotal role in the development and delivery of the project, while Finning CAT provided the advanced hydrogen-ready generators that are critical to the site's success. The energy team at Close Brothers Asset Finance supported the project's financial structuring, enabling the realisation of this addition to the UK's energy infrastructure. Together, these partners have helped develop Miners Road into a fully operational facility now strengthening the local grid and meeting the UK's evolving energy demands.

About Flexible Generation Plants

Flexible power generation is crucial to maintaining grid stability and ensuring reliable energy supply in the UK. With the Miners Road site now operational, the focus shifts to Terra Firma Energy's long term optimisation partner, EDF (UK). Using their expertise, EDF have integrated the asset into the UK's wholesale and ancillary service markets, enabling it to provide secure and flexible power exactly when and where it's needed. This dynamic approach ensures that the facility not only enhances local energy resilience but also contributes to the nation's broader energy transition goals by complementing the variability of renewable energy sources.

William Davies, Managing Director of Terra Firma Energy, commented:

"Having successfully completed 6 months of commercial operation our Miners Road project is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our exceptional partners and the strength of our shared commitment to a sustainable energy future. With the baton passed to EDF (UK), our optimiser for the asset, we are confident that this site will play a vital role in providing flexible power solutions for the UK."

For more news from Terra Firma Energy please click here

Notes to Editors

About Terra Firma Energy Limited

Terra Firma Energy Limited are a privately owned U.K. based company operating in the development of renewable sustainable energy projects. We design, develop construct carefully sourced projects with the emphasis on making them a cleaner more respectful source of energy production for future generations.

Website Home Terra Firma Energy

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/terra-firma-energy-limited/

YouTube https://youtube.com/@terrafirmaenergy?si=QXIeYkWajprAowg6

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090781489759

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/terrafirmaenergyuk/

X https://x.com/tfenergyuk?s=21&t=-U9hoHD9f4OzkyQSpY301A

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250803039012/en/

Contacts:

Terra Firma Energy Limited

Helen Aletras

Head of PR and Communications.

Tel: +44 (0)203 890 3116.

Helen.aletras@terrafirmaenergy.com
Kunstliche Intelligenz, Magnificent Seven, Tech-Euphorie  seit Monaten scheint an der Borse nur eine Richtung zu existieren: nach oben. Doch hinter den Rekordkursen lauert eine gefahrliche Wahrheit. Die Bewertungen vieler Tech-Schwergewichte haben historische Extremniveaus erreicht. Shiller-KGV bei 39, Buffett-Indikator auf Allzeithoch  schon in der Dotcom-Ara war der Markt kaum teurer.



Hinzu kommen euphorische Anlegerstimmung, IPO-Hypes ohne Substanz, kreditfinanzierte Wertpapierkaufe in Rekordhohe und charttechnische Warnsignale, die Erinnerungen an 2000 und 2021 wecken. Gleichzeitig drucken geopolitische Risiken, Trumps aggressive Zollpolitik und saisonale Borsenschwache auf die Perspektiven.



Die Gefahr: Aus der schleichenden Korrektur konnte ein rasanter Crash werden  und der konnte vor allem uberbewertete KI- und Chipwerte hart treffen.



In unserem kostenlosen Spezial-Report zeigen wir Ihnen, welche Tech-Aktien am starksten gefahrdet sind und wie Sie Ihr Depot vor dem Platzen der Blase schutzen konnten.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report!



Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden!
Will build on track record of supplying safe, reliable traction systems for over 700 cars

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it has begun supplying Spanish rolling-stock builder Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. (CAF) with traction systems for 60 trains (300 cars in total) in the Double-Decker New Generation (DDNG) trains operated by the Dutch railway company Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS). Deliveries started in July.

Mitsubishi Electric expects to supply NS with traction systems for 266 trains (1,006 cars) by 2031, including equipment for 206 trains (706 cars) in NS's Sprinter New Generation (SNG) trains supplied separately through 2022 under contracts awarded by CAF in 2015 and 2019. The equipment supplied by Mitsubishi Electric for the SNG trains has been in commercial operation since 2018. The systems' track record of contributing to safe and reliable rail operations in the Dutch market played a crucial role in CAF and NS selecting Mitsubishi Electric to supply traction systems for the new DDNG trains.

In a related development, MEDCOM Sp. Z o.o., a Polish manufacturer of railcar traction systems in which Mitsubishi Electric is a capital partner, was awarded a contract to supply DDNG trains with auxiliary power supply units. Mitsubishi Electric has been working closely with MEDCOM since 2015 to strengthen its customer network in Europe.

Going forward, Mitsubishi Electric remains committed to contributing to safe and reliable railway operations in the European market.

For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250803601451/en/

Contacts:

Customer Inquiries

Mobility Infrastructure Systems Marketing Division

Public Utility Systems Group

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

rail.webmaster@nb.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/

Media Inquiries

Takeyoshi Komatsu

Public Relations Division

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Tel: +81-3-3218-2332

prd.gnews@nk.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/en/pr/
Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie.



Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht.



In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter.



Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden!
71% of Small UK Retailers Admit They're Unprepared for US Trade Shocks, New ESW and Retail Economics Survey Reports

Middle East and Asia-Pacific Emerge as Breakout Growth Corridors Amid Tariff Volatility

New research from ESW and Retail Economics reveals that 76% of UK exporters are now actively diversifying beyond the US, historically the UK's largest non-EU retail market. Larger UK retailers are radically re-drawing their global growth playbooks as protectionist trade policies upend decades-old export patterns. However, 71% of small UK retailers admit they have no formal plan for sudden trade-policy shocks, a stark operational gap that could hit margins overnight.

The report, "Rethinking Reach: How UK Retailers Are Turning Trade Pressure into Global Advantage," highlights the factors driving the urgency of this pivotal moment for British retail. The US's new baseline 10% tariff in 2025 is set to increase average duties on UK non-food exports from 2.3% to 17.2%, forcing retailers to reevaluate long-held assumptions about US viability. More than half of UK exporters would find trade to the US commercially unviable if tariffs exceed 22%.

"UK retailers are undergoing a seismic shift in their export strategies," said Jon Sheard, VP of Northern Europe at ESW. "Retailers can no longer be overly reliant on a single trade corridor and are pivoting to new regions, including the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, where we are seeing exponential growth."

According to the report, exports to the Middle East and North Africa surged 34% between 2021 and 2024, with the UAE now the fastest-growing UK export market outside the EU. Other growth regions include Non-EU Western Europe (+15%) and Asia-Pacific (+6%).

"Tariff volatility is reshaping the global retail landscape," said Richard Lim, CEO of Retail Economics. "Retailers can no longer rely solely on traditional export markets like the US. Instead, they're evaluating new trade routes and pivoting toward high-growth regions to diversify risk and capture new demand. Now is the time for exporters to plan and act. Future success will depend on the ability to adapt, localise, and seize emerging trade opportunities."

The report also finds:

77% of retailers view global brand-building as a strategic imperative.





Two-thirds are willing to sacrifice profit margin for export growth.





The biggest barriers to international expansion include logistics costs, operational complexity, and regulatory uncertainty.





UK retailers retain a distinctive advantage, with 40% of respondents noting that the "Made in UK" label delivers a premium perception overseas due to the country's elevated safety and regulatory standards.





Many retailers are increasingly turning to strategic partners that offer fast turnkey market entry to help mitigate the challenges new market expansion presents. This can include services such as handling payments, taxes, and logistics; local cultural positioning and trust-building; targeted demand generation and localisation; and expertise in warehousing, shipping, and customs.

Methodology

Research was undertaken by Retail Economics in Q2 2025. This includes surveys of 200 businesses across UK non-food retail, focused on exporters, and economic modelling drawing on annual national statistics and proprietary data to classify trade flows by retail category, region and country.

Download the full report here.

About ESW

ESW makes worldwide ecommerce powerful and simple by partnering with the world's best-loved brands and retailers to deliver international ecommerce solutions that reduce cross-border complexity. By localising the online shopping experience, ESW creates moments that matter between brands and consumers, drives global revenue, and helps build brand loyalty. ESW addresses the complexities of international markets with tailored solutions, including frictionless checkout, fast and reliable shipping and returns, and reduced compliance and regulatory risk.

ESW enables clients to navigate local markets confidently and drive long-term profitability through its unique, genuine partnership approach. With offices in New York, Dublin, Madrid, and Singapore, ESW helps the world's premier and most ambitious brands achieve growth and profitability in over 200 international markets. ESW is the only international commerce solution that is MACH certified.

About Retail Economics

Retail Economics is an independent economic research consultancy focused on the consumer and retail industry. We analyse the complex retail economic landscape and draw out actionable insight for our clients. Leveraging our own proprietary retail data and applying rigorous economic analysis, we transform information into points of action.

Our service provides unbiased research and analysis on the key economic and social drivers behind the retail sector, helping to inform critical business decisions, giving you a competitive edge through deeper insights.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250731820911/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Berns Communications Group

Danielle Poggi

dpoggi@bcg-pr.com
LONDON, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- King Street Capital Management ("King Street" or "the Firm"), a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced that Michael Fuller has joined the firm as a Managing Director on its European Real Estate team. Based in London, Mr. Fuller will report to Paul Brennan, Partner and Co-Head of Real Estate responsible for leading the European business.

Mr. Fuller will be responsible for strategic business development initiatives, asset management and supporting the team in identifying and evaluating new investment opportunities across the European real estate market. Most recently, he was a Managing Director and Head of Core-Plus Europe at Brookfield Property Group, where he led the build-out of the firm's European core-plus strategy, as well as deal origination across Continental Europe, Germany and the Nordics for Brookfield's flagship opportunistic fund series. Mr. Fuller brings over 21 years of pan-European real estate private equity experience, having also held roles at Apollo Global Management and Citi Property Investors.

Mr. Fuller's hiring is the latest expansion of King Street's European Real Estate team. In May 2025, Adam Lawrence joined the firm, bringing over 15 years of experience managing and restructuring real estate credit portfolios across Europe, most recently as a Managing Director and Head of Debt Asset Management for Europe at Starwood Capital. Additionally, Ranveer Bassey joined the real estate team in August 2025. Previously, he was a Vice President at Strategic Value Partners (SVP).

"Michael brings valuable vision and experience that will help fuel the growth of our real estate strategy across Europe and strengthen our position as a trusted partner in complex transactions and thematic platforms," said Mr. Brennan. "His appointment, along with the addition of Adam and Ranveer, reflect our ongoing investment in talent as we continue to scale our multi-strategy real estate platform."

The growth of King Street's European Real Estate team comes amid significant momentum for the platform. Over the last year, King Street Real Estate closed on its latest European Special Situations vehicle, and completed strategic investments in Room00, Arlington House, Voyage and Bravo! Students, demonstrating the team's long-term conviction in structurally resilient sectors with secular growth tailwinds including luxury hospitality, student housing and urban logistics.

About King Street Capital Management

King Street is a global alternative investment firm founded in 1995, managing over $29 billion in assets across public and private markets. The firm combines deep fundamental research with tactical trading expertise and differentiated sourcing capabilities to uncover dislocations and mispriced opportunities across asset classes and throughout the capital structure.

King Street Real Estate focuses on debt and equity investments in special situations and thematic platforms. Our special situations strategy identifies compelling risk-adjusted investment opportunities across the capital structure, in high-quality real estate assets in major markets. Our exclusive, thematic platforms are built around property sectors with compelling secular tailwinds. Since its inception, King Street has completed transactions totaling over $20 billion in real estate securities and real estate-related investments.

For more information, please visit www.kingstreet.com . Follow King Street Capital Management and King Street Capital Real Estate on LinkedIn.

Media Contacts

Prosek Partners

pro-kingstreet@prosek.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/michael-fuller-joins-king-streets-european-real-estate-team-as-managing-director-302519770.html
Regulatory News:

Medincell's (Paris:MEDCL) combined annual general meeting (ordinary and extraordinary) will be held on September 11, 2025, at 6pm at the Company's headquarters.

The notice was published in the "BALO" (French):

https://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/telechargements/BALO/pdf/2025/0804/202508042503963.pdf

The resolutions proposed for voting at the General Assembly include:

Approval of the parent company and consolidated financial statements for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and allocation of the result;

Election of new independent board members, seasoned professionals in the pharmaceutical field: Ms. Sharon Mates, Mr. Charles Kunsch, and Mr. Pascal Touchon;

Approval of existing related-party agreements;

Approval of executive compensation elements, including the budget allocated to Board of Directors' remuneration, which has been revised this year to reflect:

- The transition from a governance structure based on a Supervisory Board and Management Board to a Board of Directors, resulting in a significant increase in workload and responsibilities for its members,

- The expansion of the Board (with the addition of two seats and one non-voting observer position),

- The creation of new specialized committees requiring greater involvement from directors;

- The transition from a governance structure based on a Supervisory Board and Management Board to a Board of Directors, resulting in a significant increase in workload and responsibilities for its members, - The expansion of the Board (with the addition of two seats and one non-voting observer position), - The creation of new specialized committees requiring greater involvement from directors; Approval of executive compensation policies;

Delegations granted to the Board of Directors to carry out, if necessary, capital increases or reductions, share cancellations, or issuance of securities granting access to capital.

The procedures for participating in the general meeting, as well as those for electronic or postal voting, are detailed in the notice brochure.

All documentation relating to the general meeting will be made available on the Company's website on August 21, 2025.

A live broadcast and a replay of the general meeting will be available online.

For any questions relating to the general meeting, shareholders can write to: ag@medincell.com

About Medincell

Medincell is a clinical- and commercial-stage biopharmaceutical licensing company developing long-acting injectable drugs in many therapeutic areas. Our innovative treatments aim to guarantee compliance with medical prescriptions, to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of medicines, and to reduce their environmental footprint. They combine active pharmaceutical ingredients with our proprietary BEPO technology which controls the delivery of a drug at a therapeutic level for several days, weeks or months from the subcutaneous or local injection of a simple deposit of a few millimeters, entirely bioresorbable. The first treatment based on BEPO technology, intended for the treatment of schizophrenia, was approved by the FDA in April 2023, and is now distributed in the United States by Teva under the name UZEDY (BEPO technology is licensed to Teva under the name SteadyTeq). We collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies and foundations to improve global health through new treatment options. Based in Montpellier, Medincell currently employs more than 140 people representing more than 25 different nationalities.

UZEDY and SteadyTeq are trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals

medincell.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Company's expectations for (i) the timing, progress and outcome of its clinical trials; (ii) the clinical benefits and competitive positioning of its product candidates; (iii) its ability to obtain regulatory approvals, commence commercial production and achieve market penetration and sales; (iv) its future product portfolio; (v) its future partnering arrangements; (vi) its future capital needs, capital expenditure plans and ability to obtain funding; and (vii) prospective financial matters regarding our business. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any statements other than statements of historical facts that may be contained in this press release relating to future events are forward-looking statements and subject to change without notice, factors beyond the Company's control and the Company's financial capabilities.

These statements may include, but are not limited to, any statement beginning with, followed by or including words or phrases such as "objective", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "foresee", "aim", "intend", "may", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "project", "will", "may", "probably", "potential", "should", "could" and other words and phrases of the same meaning or used in negative form. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that may, if any, cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated or expressed explicitly or implicitly by such forward-looking statements. A list and description of these risks, contingencies and uncertainties can be found in the documents filed by the Company with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (the "AMF") pursuant to its regulatory obligations, including the Company's registration document, registered with the AMF on September 4, 2018, under number I. 18-062 (the "Registration Document"), as well as in the documents and reports to be published subsequently by the Company. In particular, readers' attention is drawn to the section entitled "Facteurs de Risques" on page 26 of the Registration Document.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including in the event that new information becomes available. The Company's update of one or more forward-looking statements does not imply that the Company will make any further updates to such forward-looking statements or other forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

This press release is for information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for the Company's shares in any jurisdiction, in particular in France. Similarly, this press release does not constitute investment advice and should not be treated as such. It is not related to the investment objectives, financial situation, or specific needs of any recipient. It should not deprive the recipients of the opportunity to exercise their own judgment. All opinions expressed in this document are subject to change without notice. The distribution of this press release may be subject to legal restrictions in certain jurisdictions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250804228298/en/

Contacts:

David Heuze

Head of Corporate and Financial Communications, and ESG

david.heuze@Medincell.com +33 (0)6 83 25 21 86

Grace Kim

Chief Strategy Officer, U.S. Finance

grace.kim@Medincell.com +1 (646) 991-4023

Nicolas Merigeau/ Arthur Rouille

Media Relations

Medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Louis-Victor Delouvrier/Alban Dufumier

Investor Relations France

Medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94
ANDOVER, England, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wright Industries today announced it has acquired Exception PCB Ltd, returning the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturer to UK ownership. Exception PCB will join Wright Industries' other investments, as part of the Connexion Technologies group.

This strategic acquisition underscores both companies' shared commitment to building the most advanced manufacturing capability in the UK and supporting the UK Government's drive to secure critical industrial infrastructure.

"Bringing Exception PCB back from Asian into UK ownership strengthens our national manufacturing resilience, aligns with UK Government objectives, and opens new opportunities to innovate, invest, and lead," said Craig Wright, Chairman & CEO at Connexion Technologies.

"The business has undergone significant recent investment in its processing technology to place it at the forefront of PCB manufacturing globally and we are proud to support its continued growth."

"Exception PCB has a proud history rooted in British engineering," said Kamal Berberi, General Manager at Exception PCB. "We're excited to join forces with Connexion Technologies and continue developing strategic technologies that serve our customers."

This acquisition comes at a time when national focus is returning to domestic capability in manufacturing, especially across sectors such as defence, aerospace, energy, and critical infrastructure.

By uniting under UK ownership, Connexion Technologies and Exception PCB will strengthen British industry, protect key supply chains, and support skilled jobs across the UK.

Wright Industries was supported by advisors Eversheds Sutherland (legal) and Crowe (tax).

For more information, please visit: https://www.connexiontechnologies.co.uk.

About Wright Industries

Wright Industries is a specialist provider of investment, development and turnaround services for UK engineering SMEs. With over 30 years' experience in the manufacturing and engineering sector, we are experts at creating growth and resolving operational challenges. Our investments include Custom Interconnect, Accura Engineering, Exception PCB, Castle Microwave and Pure PCB, which are brought together under the Connexion Technologies brand.

About Connexion Technologies

At Connexion Technologies, we engineer solutions that shape the future. With sales of over 75M and over 450 employees, we are one of the UK's largest independent provider of both advanced electronic and mechanical solutions for high-reliability industries, including aerospace, defence, life sciences, energy, and communications to solve complex challenges and drive innovation.

Our five brands are leading UK engineering and manufacturing providers: Custom Interconnect, Accura Engineering, Exception PCB, Castle Microwave and Pure PCB. With state-of-the-art facilities across the UK, we bring together deep expertise in electronic manufacturing, mechanical engineering, microelectronics, RF technology, and supply chain solutions. From semiconductor packaging to precision machining and advanced RF systems, we deliver world-class service, quality, reliability, and performance.

About Exception PCB

Exception PCB is a leading manufacturer of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) to the high-reliability industries, boasting some of the most advanced PCB process technology in the UK within their Tewskesbury facility. Specialising in quick-turn, low to medium volume, standard multi-layer, flex, flex-rigid and High Density Interconnection (HDI) solutions for a wide range of industries including aerospace, medical, telecommunications, defence and automotive. With 100 employees, the business is renowned for their technology-led service and ability to deliver advanced PCB products for their customers' most challenging applications.

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Bringing Danish textile excellence to bold, functional furniture design

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Stereo Furniture, a new brand within the premium mid-tier modern furniture space, is proud to announce its partnership with Kvadrat, the renowned Danish textile innovator, as a select vendor for the release of its debut collection.

Known globally for its commitment to longevity, sustainability, and elevated design, Kvadrat has long been a trusted partner to some of the world's leading designers and architectural firms. Stereo joins a distinguished roster of collaborators integrating Kvadrat's industry-defining textiles into distinctive, high-quality products.

"Our pieces are meant to be lived with - to be in, on, and around," says Matt Daines, co-founder of Stereo. "They're compelling, yet functional, and stand-alone beautiful. Kvadrat's bold textures and rich colorways add depth and durability to that story. They allow us to stay true to our design ethos - fun, functional, and lasting - while giving our customers access to an internationally renowned textile house."

Stereo Furniture launched with a clear mission: to reclaim the individual furniture piece as an anchor of expression - not simply a contributor to mood or atmosphere. As an online, direct-to-consumer brand stereofurniture.com is the place to explore the collection, make purchases, and learn more about their process and team.

Stereo's debut collection, made in the U.S., showcases their unique aesthetic - compelling, bold silhouettes paired with Kvadrat's sustainably produced, tactile upholstery. Together, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to quality, longevity, and the emotional resonance of everyday objects.

Kvadrat's textiles are manufactured to the highest environmental standards and have become synonymous with innovation and timelessness - an ideal complement to Stereo's belief that furniture should hold the room.

The Stereo x Kvadrat collection is available now at stereofurniture.com . For press inquiries, interviews, or sample requests, please contact:

Contact Information

Matt Daines

Co-Founder

press@stereofurniture.com

+1.888.559.0001





SOURCE: Stereo Furniture

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/stereo-furniture-announces-partnership-with-kvadrat-as-a-select-vendor-1054982
The digital therapeutics market is anticipated to increase due to the growing global burden of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and obesity is propelling demand for digital therapeutics. These solutions offer scalable, evidence-based interventions to manage and prevent chronic illnesses, thereby reducing healthcare costs and enhancing patient outcomes through continuous monitoring and personalized treatment regimens.

WESTFORD, Mass., Aug 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyQuest Technology Consulting published a report, titled, Digital Therapeutics Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2032", valued at USD 8.21 Billion in 2024, with a projected CAGR of 26.3% from 2025 to 2032, the market is expected to reach USD 53.15 Billion by the end of 2032. The widespread adoption of smartphones and improved internet access are enabling broader usage of digital therapeutics. Mobile platforms support real-time health tracking and remote intervention, making digital therapies more accessible and convenient, particularly in underserved or rural areas lacking traditional healthcare infrastructure or specialist availability.

Get a Free Sample Report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/digital-therapeutics-market

Digital Therapeutics Market Key Growth Drivers

The digital therapeutics market has experienced significant growth owing to regulatory agencies like the FDA and EMA are increasingly recognizing digital therapeutics as credible medical interventions. The introduction of frameworks for approval, reimbursement, and integration into healthcare systems is encouraging innovation and market entry, creating a supportive environment for digital therapeutic developers and investors to expand offerings.

Another key factor driving the market growth is shifting preference toward preventive healthcare, and personalized treatment strategies. Digital therapeutics utilize patient data and behavioral insights to deliver customized interventions, improving engagement and adherence. This trend aligns with healthcare systems' goals to enhance quality of care while reducing long-term treatment expenses.

Recent Developments in Digital Therapeutics Market

In March 2025, Dassault Systemes made a strategic investment in Click Therapeutics to deepen its involvement in the digital therapeutics space. The move supports Dassault's broader goal of transforming the patient experience by integrating end-to-end digital solutions across the life sciences and healthcare ecosystem.

In April 2025, ATA Action announced its acquisition of the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA), forming a new entity called the Advancing Digital Health Coalition. This strategic merger brings together policy and advocacy efforts under one roof, aiming to accelerate the adoption of innovative digital health technologies and enhance patient care delivery across the healthcare system.

In April 2025, Click Therapeutics received FDA marketing authorization for its prescription digital therapeutic, CT-132, designed for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. This marks a significant regulatory milestone, with the FDA granting De Novo Classification, making CT-132 the first approved prescription digital therapeutic in this specific indication.

Speak to our Analyst: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/digital-therapeutics-market

Major Challenges in Digital Therapeutics Industry

Digital therapeutics often rely on sensitive patient data, raising concerns about data breaches, unauthorized access, and compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR and HIPAA. These issues can erode trust among users and healthcare providers, limiting adoption, especially in regions with strict data protection laws or inadequate cybersecurity infrastructure.

Many countries lack clear regulatory frameworks and reimbursement policies for digital therapeutics, creating uncertainty for developers and healthcare providers. Without consistent approval pathways and insurance coverage, market penetration is restricted. This hesitancy from payers and providers slows investment and delays integration into mainstream healthcare systems.

Competitive Landscape

The global digital therapeutics market is highly competitive, with key players like Omada Health, Pear Therapeutics, GAIA AG, and Welldoc driving innovation. Companies focus on strategic partnerships, product approvals, and acquisitions to expand their market share. For instance, Sword Health acquired Surgery Hero to strengthen its pre-surgical care offering, while GAIA AG collaborates with academic institutions to validate its mental health solutions through clinical trials, enhancing credibility and adoption.

The major players in the anime industry include,

Noom Inc.

Teladoc Health Inc.

Omada Health Inc.

WellDoc Inc.

Biofourmis

Better Therapeutics Inc.

Amalgm Rx

CogniFit Inc.

Headspace Health

Propeller Health

Virta Health Corp

2Morrow Inc.

Realizedcare (via XRHealth)

Canary Health

Twill Inc.

Click Therapeutics Inc.

Akili Inc.

Cognoa Inc.

Wellthy Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd.

Kaia Health

View Report Overview: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/digital-therapeutics-market

Digital Therapeutics Market Segmental Analysis

The digital therapeutics market is segmented on the basis of offering, application, revenue model, and region.

By offering , software/platforms offering sub-segment holds the largest market share due to its scalability, widespread accessibility, and integration into various chronic disease management programs. Platforms provide evidence-based interventions via mobile apps and cloud-based systems, enabling continuous monitoring, patient engagement, and analytics. Their regulatory approvals and clinical validation drive widespread adoption across providers and payers.

, software/platforms offering sub-segment holds the largest market share due to its scalability, widespread accessibility, and integration into various chronic disease management programs. Platforms provide evidence-based interventions via mobile apps and cloud-based systems, enabling continuous monitoring, patient engagement, and analytics. Their regulatory approvals and clinical validation drive widespread adoption across providers and payers. By application , with the biggest market share, the treatment/care-related applications sector is leading. The need for this application is being increased by the rising number of people with diabetes, heart disease, and poor mental health. certain treatments are employed to effectively cure certain illnesses. To provide medication adherence software, prominent businesses are also concentrating on forming strategic partnerships with other organizations.

, with the biggest market share, the treatment/care-related applications sector is leading. The need for this application is being increased by the rising number of people with diabetes, heart disease, and poor mental health. certain treatments are employed to effectively cure certain illnesses. To provide medication adherence software, prominent businesses are also concentrating on forming strategic partnerships with other organizations. By revenue model, the subscription-based model holds the largest market share. This model offers recurring revenue and continuous user engagement, making it attractive for providers and investors. Patients, employers, and payers prefer monthly or quarterly payment plans, especially for chronic condition management and mental health therapies. Its scalability and flexibility drive widespread adoption.

Buy this Research Report (250+ Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures): https://www.skyquestt.com/buy-now/digital-therapeutics-market

Regional Outlook

North America dominates the global digital therapeutics market due to advanced healthcare infrastructure, high chronic disease prevalence, and early adoption of digital health technologies. Strong regulatory support from agencies like the FDA and favorable reimbursement policies have accelerated market growth. The presence of key players such as Omada Health and Pear Therapeutics, combined with high smartphone penetration and investment in mental health solutions, further fuels regional expansion.

Asia Pacific is experiencing rapid growth in the digital therapeutics market, driven by rising chronic disease cases, expanding internet access, and increasing smartphone usage. Countries like Japan, China, and India are investing heavily in digital health infrastructure. Government support for telehealth, growing health tech startups, and partnerships with global DTx firms are accelerating adoption. While regulatory frameworks are still evolving, the region's large population and tech-savvy demographics position it as a key future growth hub.

Europe holds a strong position in the global digital therapeutics market due to well-established healthcare systems, supportive regulatory environments, and high awareness of digital health solutions. Countries like Germany, the UK, and France are leading in adoption, with initiatives such as Germany's DiGA framework reimbursing approved digital therapies. Collaboration between governments, startups, and healthcare providers is accelerating innovation.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is experiencing significant growth in the digital therapeutics market, driven by increasing investments in healthcare digitization, rising chronic disease prevalence, and expanding mobile health adoption. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading the way with initiatives such as the Seha Virtual Hospital, which connects 224 hospitals, and offers 44 specialized services across the Kingdom. South Africa is also making strides, with projections indicating a steady market expansion.

Latin America's digital therapeutics market is growing rapidly, driven by rising chronic disease prevalence and expanding smartphone use. Brazil leads with strong government initiatives and investments in diabetes management. Mexico and Argentina also contribute significantly, supported by increasing healthcare awareness and digital infrastructure improvements. Despite challenges like healthcare access disparities, the region's growing focus on cost-effective, scalable digital health solutions is accelerating adoption.

Explore Extensive ongoing Coverage on Healthcare Sector:

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https://www.skyquestt.com/report/digital-pcr-market

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About SkyQuest Technology Consulting



SkyQuest Technology Consulting is a leading Business Consulting and Market Research firm, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. The company comprises a team of research analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 40+ industries across 25 major countries worldwide, serving global clients across diverse industries. The company specializes in delivering customized intelligence, data-driven insights, and strategic advisory services that enable businesses to stay competitive and make informed decisions in rapidly evolving industries.

Contact Us:

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/digital-therapeutics-market-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-26-3-from-2025-to-2032--skyquest-technology-consulting-302520541.html
DUBLIN, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced that Jo Ann Jenkins has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective August 15, 2025.

"We are pleased to welcome Jo Ann Jenkins to Aon's Board of Directors," said Board Chair Lester B. Knight. "Jo Ann's experience leading large nonprofit and public sector organizations will bring new insights to our Board as we look to deliver more value for Aon's clients, colleagues and shareholders."

Jenkins previously served as CEO of AARP, the world's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to social change and helping people 50 and over to improve the quality of their lives. Among her accomplishments at AARP, Jenkins championed the multigenerational workforce, healthy longevity, protecting Social Security and Medicare and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. She led through a spirit of innovation, creating AgeTech and launching a Digital First journey to help AARP better serve its members in the future. Prior to her appointment as CEO, Jenkins served as AARP's COO and before that as president of AARP Foundation. Before joining AARP, Jenkins served at the Library of Congress as COO and Chief of Staff. She has also held a variety of senior roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Jenkins also serves on the board of General Mills and Avnet and has held a variety of board and advisory positions, including with AARP Services, AARP Funds, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, Kennedy Center National Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, Stanford School of Medicine Board of Fellows, U.S. Small Business Administration Council on Underserved Communities and Caring for Military Families. Fortune magazine named Jenkins as "One of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders" in 2019 and 2021 and she is the author of the best-selling book, Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age.

"It is exciting to join Aon's Board as the firm accelerates its strategy to help organizations around the world address interconnected risk and people issues in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment," said Jenkins. "I am looking forward to sharing my perspective and working together with Aon's board and executive leadership to unlock further opportunities for the firm's clients to empower their people and protect and grow their businesses."

For more information about Aon's corporate governance practices and Board of Directors, please click here.

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better - to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon's newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Media Contact

mediainquiries@aon.com

Toll-free (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico): +1 833 751 8114

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/aon-appoints-jo-ann-jenkins-to-board-of-directors-302520840.html
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - August 4, 2025) - Lockman, a leading mobile locksmith company based in Philadelphia, has announced the expansion of its 24/7 residential, commercial, and emergency locksmith services across the city and surrounding suburbs. With over 15 years of industry experience, the company continues to deliver rapid response times, transparent flat-rate pricing, and reliable security solutions, becoming one of the top-rated Locksmith Philadelphia service providers in the region.





Lockman Launches Enhanced 24/7 Locksmith Services Across Philadelphia With Flat-Rate Pricing and Fast Response Times



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8530/261194_2713f614d4ab2b4a_001full.jpg

Lockman distinguishes itself through its employee-owned model, highly trained technicians, and fully equipped mobile service vans that enable on-site solutions for virtually any lock or key issue. The company's coverage includes Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, and nearby areas, ensuring accessibility for both homeowners and businesses in need of urgent or scheduled locksmith support.

"Our mission is to make professional locksmith services in Philadelphia faster, fairer, and more accessible," said a spokesperson for Lockman. "Every service call is treated with urgency, respect, and professionalism, whether it's a late-night lockout or a full Commercial Locksmith Philadelphia security upgrade."

The company's services span across four major categories:

Residential : Lockouts, rekeying, lock installation, garage lock services, and smart lock upgrades.

: Lockouts, rekeying, lock installation, garage lock services, and smart lock upgrades. Commercial : High-security locks, access control systems, push bars, rekeying, and master keying.

: High-security locks, access control systems, push bars, rekeying, and master keying. Automotive : Car key replacement, ignition repair, remote key programming, and emergency vehicle lockouts.

: Car key replacement, ignition repair, remote key programming, and emergency vehicle lockouts. Emergency: 24/7 fast response for lockouts, broken key extractions, and urgent repairs across homes, offices, and vehicles.

What sets Lockman apart is its commitment to transparent service. The company offers complimentary on-site estimates before starting any work and guarantees flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees. Customers appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing the exact cost upfront.

The business has also invested in advanced mobile technology and training to reduce wait times and improve first-visit resolution for all locksmith needs. With its localized, employee-owned operation, Lockman provides personalized service from technicians who are directly invested in customer satisfaction.

As the demand for responsive, trustworthy locksmiths grows in urban and suburban areas, Lockman is poised to lead the market as a reliable Residential Locksmith Philadelphia partner for families, property managers, and business owners alike.

For more information on Lockman's services or to schedule an emergency or routine locksmith visit us.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261194

SOURCE: GYT
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / On July 31, the American College of Family Physicians (ACOFP) launched a new campaign, "Family Physicians DO More," at familyphysiciansdomore.org. The campaign is geared towards the needs of high school, undergraduate, and medical school students to help them decide whether osteopathic family medicine is right for them.

This campaign is part of a five-year project generously supported by two rounds of funding from the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation though its Family Medicine Next initiative. Despite the well-known benefits of family medicine, the shortage of primary care physicians is projected to be between 17,800 and 48,000 by 2034. To help attract more students to the field of family medicine, ACOFP proposed to "flip the script" by first listening to the needs of current medical students and letting their perspectives lead the way.

"Supporting the future of our profession is a key part of ACOFP's mission and one of my priorities as president," said ACOFP's 2025-2026 President Gautam J. Desai, DO, FACOFP dist. "I'm excited to see the impact this site will have and how we can leverage it to create enthusiasm for family medicine among incoming classes of students."

The first year of the "Flipping Family Medicine" grant, 2023, prioritized research on factors that impact specialty choice, asking key questions through a series of focus groups and a survey of current osteopathic medical students. The information gathered laid the foundation for an innovative approach to student recruitment. In addition, a team of over 150 student volunteers undertook a thorough review of the literature on the benefits of family medicine and osteopathy to build an evidence-based argument for the specialty.

In year two, ACOFP focused on developing a communications strategy for the family medicine specialty. The extremely popular "Think Tank" at ACOFP's 2024 annual convention in New Orleans used a flipped classroom approach, challenging teams of students to develop 5-minute presentations pitching osteopathic family medicine as a "viable and fulfilling career pathway." The innovative session garnered rave reviews from participants and attendees, and was the subject of a feature article in Association Forum magazine.

The student participants found the experience exciting and fulfilling, with several saying that Think Tank solidified their choice of a specialty. "The Think Tank quite literally changed how I want to practice medicineNow, I am committed to being an effective doctor on an individual level, but importantly, I am excited to embark on a journey of being a physician leader to make change on a systemic level," said Bhumika Patel, a third-year medical student at the time of the program. It also had an impact on experienced physicians. "Participating in the Think Tank gave me hope for the future of our profession," said Ian Fawks, DO, FACOFP, who has practiced osteopathic family medicine for 27 years.

Selecting the campaign name from the winning team's proposal, and various elements from each team's proposals, ACOFP then began work on the microsite and related campaign materials under the banner of "Family Physicians DO More." The concept of an online resource hub grew out of the earlier research, with those who had committed to family medicine saying that key factors included getting accurate and inspiring information on the specialty early on. The "DO" in the campaign name also represents "Doctor of Osteopathy," as opposed to an MD.

To address that need, ACOFP created six-episode long-form video series, "A Day in the Life," which follows 18 osteopathic family physicians, showcasing the staggering variety possible in a career in family medicine, from supporting an Olympic team to delivering babies. These videos are featured on the new site.

The site features an impactful, colorful logo and design to attract engagement. A series of infographics break down the process of becoming a doctor into clear visuals. Students can also take an interactive quiz on "Are You a Good Fit?" The research identified in year one's literature review been transformed into a database highlighting the powerful impact of family physicians and the unique contributions of DOs. Other areas of the site address misconceptions about family medicine and what it means to be a DO as opposed to an MD.

Through this site, ACOFP hopes to reach students early in their decision-making process and support them in their goal of becoming a doctor.

This site launch is only the mid-point of the larger project, which will continue into years 4 and 5 with mini-storytelling events, a mentorship program, and a forum at ACOFP's annual convention. ACOFP is joined in these efforts by its partners through the Family Medicine Leadership Consortium, of which it is a member. This alliance of eight organizations aims to "address critical issues facing the specialty, such as workforce challenges, residency training, and the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence."

About the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians

Founded in 1950, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) is a community of more than 26,000 current and future family physicians that champions osteopathic principles and supports its members by providing resources such as education, networking and advocacy, while putting patients first. ACOFP empowers its members with education and resources that allow them to adapt to new models of care and to quickly changing government policy. For more information, visit acofp.org.

Contact Information:

Emily Bennett

Director of Communications & Engagement

emilyb@acofp.org

(847) 952-5537

SOURCE: ACOFP

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/american-college-of-osteopathic-family-physicians-launches-new-campai-1056428
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / The revolutionary digital tipping solution and blockchain-powered platform, CryptoTipX is quickly changing the way we say thank you. CryptoTipX lets you tip instantly, without contact, and across borders via wearables, NFC-based solutions, and decentralized finance tools. It does this by combining emotional sensitivity with powerful Web3 technology. It makes tipping a smooth way to show appreciation, no matter where you are in the world.

We're entering a world where cash is disappearing fast

Across the world physical money is becoming obsolete. Cafes, bars, taxis, and even street vendors now refuse cash entirely. Card-only and mobile payment signs are the new norm. Younger generations often don't carry coins or notes at all.

This creates a new kind of tension:

How do you say thank you when your wallet is empty not for lack of generosity, but because you literally don't carry cash anymore?

At the same time, most digital solutions are impersonal, clunky, or take huge fees.

You can't exactly Venmo your hotel bellhop. And asking for someone's IBAN or crypto address just to say "thanks" isn't realistic.

CryptoTipX is filling this growing void.

The Tipping Dilemma

For the tipper, tipping can be uncomfortable as a respectfully denied gratuity might make the sender feel ashamed or ignored. The process itself, going through a wallet or calculating dollars in full sight, can convert a nice gesture into an unpleasant, businesslike display. Many people would rather show their gratitude discreetly and honestly, without the stress of a public conversation or making a mistake in front of others.

Service personnel typically have to deal with complicated social norms. People from cultures that value humility and friendliness may feel like receiving money makes them less professional or proud. This makes things tense in a subtle way, where both sides respect each other but are afraid to act.

CryptoTipX: A Smart Way to Deal with Culture

CryptoTipX offers unobtrusive, flexible solutions that take into account regional tipping norms:

Latin America and Southern Europe: Tipping is fine, but it should be done quietly. CryptoTipX lets you make transactions without having to whip out big amounts.

Europe: In countries such as the Netherlands or Luxembourg, workers refuse tips on principle. CryptoTipX lets people show their thanks without breaking societal rules.

Asia: CryptoTipX's anonymous digital format is popular with younger people in areas like Japan, where tipping is usually frowned upon.

Anglo-American Regions: Tipping is common in the U.S., Canada, and the UK, but cashless, contactless options like CryptoTipX are becoming more popular because they are easier to use and cleaner.

In Scandinavia the culture values equality and discretion, tipping is rare, and in many cases, politely declined. A service provider may decline a tip out of modesty or principle.

The CryptoTipX Advantage: A New Etiquette for Modern Gratitude

CryptoTipX makes tipping less awkward by letting you send and receive money without touching it, using a scan, tap, or wearable device.

Main Features:

Custom thank-you messages

Anonymous transactions

Group tipping for team-based service

Reputation-building tokens

Instant feedback loops

With CryptoTipX, the act of tipping becomes more than financial; it becomes personal, meaningful, and human-centered.

Wearable Technology: Tipping Made Easy

CryptoTipX integrates NFC-enabled wearables, such as bracelets and smartwatches, that allow global users to tip effortlessly. When a service worker wears a TipX device, they send a clear opt-in signal, tips are welcome, removing uncertainty for the customer while maintaining professional respect for the receiver.

Real-World Scenario for Service Workers:

In Q1 2025, 100 hotel and restaurant workers in Los Angeles used TIPX wearables. They eliminated up to 10% in third-party app fees and received instant tips at just a 2% fee. Within one month, they saved over $10,000 in fees and saw a 20% increase in tipping volume.

Built on Binance Smart Chain (BSC): Where Technology Meets Real Life

CryptoTipX is more than just a software; it's a whole decentralized economy based around BSC to make transactions faster and cheaper. It has the following infrastructure:

Dedicated App:The TipApp is a place to tip, manage your wallet, convert cash to crypto, and make withdrawals.

Planned Integrations: Partnerships with Stripe, PayPal, Garmin, Samsung, and Wise or Revolut make it easy to get started with fiat.

Solana Bridge: Lets you quickly and cheaply move money between chains and connect with NFTs and DeFi ecosystems.

TipXchange: The Future of DeFi Tipping

Set to launch in Q1 2026, TipXchange is a decentralized exchange built to support the TIPX token ecosystem with:

Low fees (as low as 1%)

Solana bridge integration

Non-custodial security

Full TIPX-to-fiat and cross-chain swaps

Its long-term vision is complete ecosystem autonomy; no third-party platforms, just direct control, lower costs, and higher liquidity.

No Tax on Tipping

In January 2025, former President Donald Trump renewed his campaign promise to eliminate federal taxes on tipped income. For service workers relying on gratuities, this legislative support aligns perfectly with CryptoTipX's mission of giving workers 100% of what they earn.

Use Case: Making Games and Content

During a six-month test, 500 streamers used TIPX wearables to give live tips. TIPX made it possible for viewers to tip creators directly without having to pay the high fees that platforms like Twitch and YouTube charge (up to 30%). Result: an 18% rise in net income, quick access to money, and more viewers who are interested.

A Place for Everyone

CryptoTipX gives regular people, freelancers, and professionals more power by showing them how blockchain works for them, not by explaining it. It makes trading and volatility less complicated and turns crypto into a useful tool for people.

This is mass adoption, not just a fad.

A Future Where Thankfulness and Respect Go Hand in Hand

CryptoTipX doesn't want to get rid of tipping; it wants to change it. It considers cultural differences, eliminates problems, and makes the simple but important act of saying thank you easier.

CryptoTipX makes it easy, respectful, and worldwide to tip your barista in Madrid, your tour guide in Tokyo, or your streamer in Los Angeles.

Tipping is no longer awkward with CryptoTipX. It's easy.

Contact Information

Name: Cristian L

Company: CryptoTip.com Ltd

Email: info@crypto-tip.com

Websites:

 crypto-tip.com

 cryptotipx.com

 2025 CryptoTip.com Ltd. All rights reserved.

CryptoTipX and TipXchange are trademarks of CryptoTip.com Ltd.

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.

For more information, visit crypto-tip.com | cryptotipx.com

Registered in the United Kingdom |

SOURCE: CryptoTip.com Ltd

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/blockchain-and-cryptocurrency/cryptotipx-closing-the-gap-between-blockchain-innovation-and-human-th-1056456
Ukraine has busted a massive drone scam days after its parliament passed a law making Ukraines two main anti-corruption agencies independent again. At least four officials have been arrested, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called the scam absolutely immoral and said officials were exposed for taking bribes. Heres what we know

Drones have been a vital part of Ukraines battle against Russia since the beginning of the war.

Ukraine has busted a massive drone scam.

At least four officials have been arrested, as per President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The development comes days after Ukraines Parliament passed a law on Thursday making Ukraines two main anti-corruption agencies independent again.

Zelensky on Tuesday had signed a bill into law increasing his control over the agencies.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (Sabo) said the large-scale corruption scheme misused budget funds allocated for defence.

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Zelensky said the scam was "absolutely immoral and said the officials were exposed for taking bribes.

Drones have been a vital part of Ukraines battle against Russia since the beginning of the war.

But what do we know about this scam?

Lets take a closer look:

What we know

According to the anti-corruption agencies, those involved in the scheme comprised a sitting member of parliament, regional officials, the head of a unit of the National Guard and a director of a firm supplying Ukraine with drones.

The scheme involved Ukraine buying signal jamming equipment and weapons systems at inflated prices.

Participants were receiving a kickback of a third of the contracts cost.

However, as per a media reports Andriy Yurchenko, the head of the Rubizhne City Military Administration and Serhiy Haidai, the former head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, were named.

Oleksiy Kuznetsov, a member of parliament from the Servant of the People party was also accused in the case.

The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices, the agencies said in a statement.

The interior ministry said the members of the National Guard had been suspended.

There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption, and ultimately a fair sentence, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.

It is important that anti-corruption institutions work independently, and the law adopted on Thursday guarantees them all the opportunities for a real fight against corruption, he added.

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The two agencies have investigated the embezzlement of millions of dollars over the years.

In 2023, a joint probe by the two agencies resulted in Ukraines Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev being arrested in connection with a $3 million bribe.

Zelenskyy makes about-turn

Zelenskyy , who has far-reaching wartime presidential powers and still enjoys broad approval among Ukrainians, was forced into a rare political about-face when his attempt to bring Nabu and Sapo under the control of his prosecutor-general sparked the first nationwide protests of the war.

Zelenskyy subsequently said that he had heard the peoples anger, and submitted a bill restoring the agencies former independence, which was voted through by parliament on Thursday.

Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Ukrainian Defence Ministrys Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), thanked Zelensky for hearing the publics call and not making a mistake.

Ukraines European allies praised the move, having voiced concerns about the original stripping of the agencies status.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has far-reaching wartime presidential powers and still enjoys broad approval among Ukrainians, was forced into a rare political about-face regarding the anti-corruption agencies. Reuters

Top European officials had told Zelenskyy that Ukraine was jeopardising its bid for European Union membership by curbing the powers of its anti-graft authorities.

It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law adopted on Thursday guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption, Zelenskyy wrote on Saturday after meeting the heads of the agencies, who briefed him on the latest investigation.

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Thousands of protesters rallied in Kyiv and other cities in recent days in a rare show of discontent after lawmakers led by Zelenskyys ruling party rushed through amendments last week defanging the respected agencies.

Zelenskyy reversed course after the outcry, under pressure from top European officials, who warned that Ukraine was jeopardising its bid for European Union membership by curbing the powers of its anti-graft authorities.

He signed a new bill on Thursday shortly after lawmakers approved it 331 to 0, saying the legislation guarantees the absence of any kind of outside influence (or) interference.

Ukraine is a democracy - there are definitely no doubts, Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app.

Thursdays law reverses amendments that had given his hand-picked general prosecutor the power to transfer cases away from the agencies and reassign prosecutors, a step critics alleged had been designed to protect his allies from prosecution.

Eradicating graft and shoring up the rule of law are key requirements for Kyiv to join the EU, which Ukrainians see as critical to their future as they fend off a Russian invasion.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Thursdays law as a welcome step and urged Ukraine to continue its reform drive.
Despite reports that Xi Jinping may be on the way out, it seems that his regime is continuing to strengthen its hold on China. Among those under a renewed eye of the Xi regime are teachers, doctors, and government workers. They have been ordered to seek approval for foreign visits

First it was alcohol and flowers that were off limits. Now, its overseas travel.

Despite reports that Xi Jinping may be on the way out, it seems that his regime is continuing to strengthen its hold on China.

Beijing is now cracking down on public sector employees.

But what happened? What do we know?

Lets take a closer look:

What happened?

China is cracking down on public employees travels abroad.

Among those under a renewed eye of the Xi regime are teachers, doctors, and government workers.

This comes as part of the Xi regimes attempt to increase political discipline, ideological control and national security.

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This is to limit state employees interaction with foreigners.

There are reports that government employees have had to

There are reports that public employees must get state approval before heading abroad  even for personal issues.

Retirees must wait at least two years before getting back their passports.

Teachers who travel without permission from the authorities risk being terminated.

According to regulations from higher-ups, teachers need to strengthen their disciplinary awarenessWe will currently not permit any overseas vacations, a message read.

Hospital staff, employees of state-owned companies, and even contractors are also among the ones facing increased scrutiny.

Some workers have had to list all their travels since 2018.

People look at a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing on February 23, 2025. Representational image/AFP

Others, like nurses, may need to get approval from multiple authorities to travel abroad.

Contact with

Some institution have ordered teachers to turn down foreign media interviews and to not meet unauthorised outside parties while abroad.

Some are required to report contact with anti-China forces to Chinese embassies. Violations, such as failing to return a passport promptly, could lead to being banned from travelling for years.

Even new recruits arent immune.

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Foreign university graduates are now not allowed to apply to civil service jobs in most provinces.

Just Shanghai still allowing these candidates.

Some candidates who have been abroad for over six months are no longer allowed to apply for government jobs.

Those in Shanghai having a spouse or relative overseas may be disqualified from becoming a police officer.

Why is this happening?

This is part of Beijings attitude towards everything related to foreign countries, one expert said.

It also comes as China faces a slowdown in its economy with revenues plummeting and a possible trade war with the United States still in the offing.

Xi, whose grip is reportedly slipping in China, could be attempting to counter this narrative.

Beijing in May had ordered officials to cut wasteful and unnecessary expenditure.

The government had specifically targeted alcohol, flowers and cigarettes as well as spending on travel, food and the office expenses such as receptions.

The notice had called for strict diligence and thrift and an opposition to extravagance and waste.

Waste is shameful and economy is glorious, the notice added.

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The outlet reported that the notice issued to Chinese officials specifically singled out flowers and cigarettes.

Cai Qi, a member of the Communist Partys powerful seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, had ordered party cadres in Hebei province to halt extravagant eating and drinking.

China isnt alone.

The US earlier had earlier banned American diplomats, their families and security-cleared contractors from having romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens.

The new policy was introduced in January, days before US ambassador Nicholas Burns left his post. This is an expanded version of a previous policy released in summer last year which barred employees from having romantic and sexual relations with Chinese citizens working as guards and other support staff at the US embassy and the five consulates.

Reports had said those personnel already in relationships with Chinese citizens can apply for a waiver. If the application is rejected, either the employees would have to forego their relationships or they would be removed from their posts.

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The strict enforcement shows just how seriously the US government is taking security risks, making it clear that they want to prevent any foreign influence through personal relationships.

According to historical CIA documents, back in 1987, the US banned its personnel in high intelligence threat countries  like China and the Soviet Union  from having close personal ties with locals. The idea was to keep them from being targeted by foreign intelligence agencies.
Israels far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is no stranger to controversy and on Sunday (August 3), he sparked a new row by offering prayers at the religious al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Heres why his act has been called a blatant violation of international law

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks outside the Dome of the Rock at the al-Aqsa mosque compound (known to Jews as the Temple Mount) in the old city of Jerusalem on August 3, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av. AFP

An Israeli ministers visit to a temple has caused anger and outrage resulting in countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to condemn it.

It all began when Israels far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir led a group of Jewish worshipers in prayer atop the Temple Mount on Sunday and prayed at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, violating a decades-old arrangement covering one of the most sensitive sites in West Asia.

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At the spot, Ben Gvir also called for his country to conquer Gaza and encourage Palestinians to leave the enclave.

But why has his visit caused such a stir? Whats behind the fury?

Ben Gvir offers prayers at al-Aqsa mosque

On Sunday (August 3), the far-right minister visited the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and prayed there along with thousands of others under the protection of the Israeli military. According to Times of Israel, he offered prayers, a first for Ben Gvir, who has visited the site in the past too.

The prayers came on the occasion of Tisha BAv, when Jews mourn the destruction of two Jewish temples.

After leading prayers at the religious site, Ben Gvir called for the annexation of Gaza and for Palestinians to leave the territory. He said that he prayed for Israels victory over the Palestinian militant group Hamas and for the return of Israeli hostages being held by militants there, and repeated his call for Israel to conquer the entire enclave.

  :     ,   



https://t.co/5OEwX8dJ5a pic.twitter.com/CTKuuPOcL7   7 (@arutz7heb) August 3, 2025

It is from here that a message must be sent: to conquer the entire Gaza Strip, declare sovereignty over all of Gaza, eliminate every Hamas member, and encourage voluntary emigration, the minister said in a video recorded at the compound. Only in this way will we bring back the hostages and win the war.

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Condemnation for Ben Gvirs visit

Soon after Ben Gvir visited the al-Aqsa mosque and offered prayers, he was slammed by many for being provocative and violating an age-old agreement.

Hamas called Ben Gvirs visit a deepening of the ongoing aggressions against our Palestinian people. Even the spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the visit crossed all red lines.

The international community, specifically the US administration, must intervene immediately to put an end to the crimes of the settlers and the provocations of the extreme right-wing government in al-Aqsa Mosque, stop the war on the Gaza Strip and bring in humanitarian aid, said the spokesperson in a statement.

Officials from Jordan, which administrates the holy site, also condemned Ben Gvirs actions. Jordans foreign ministry described the incident as a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, an unacceptable provocation, and a condemned escalation.

Saudi Arabia also slammed Ben Gvir for his actions, with the kingdom accusing the Israeli leader of fueling conflict. A statement by Saudis foreign ministry on X condemned in the strongest terms  the repeated provocative practices by officials of the Israeli occupation authorities against al-Aqsa mosque. The kingdom affirms that such practices fuel the conflict in the region.

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Later, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement in response to Ben Gvirs visit, insisting that Israels policy of maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed and will not change.

However, Israels Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to strengthen Jewish sovereignty on the Temple Mount. Israels enemies around the world will continue to make decisions against us and demonstrate, and we will strengthen our hold and sovereignty over Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount forever and ever, Katz wrote on X. On Tisha BAv, 2,000 years after the destruction of the Second Temple, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount are once again under the sovereignty of the State of Israel.

The Al-Aqsa mosque, also known to Jews as Temple Mount, is considered holy to the Muslims as well as the Jews. File image/Reuters

But why the outrage over his visit

Thats because of the history of this site. The al-Aqsa lies at the heart of Jerusalems Old City on a hill known to Jews as Har ha-Bayit, or Temple Mount, and to Muslims internationally as al-Haram al-Sharif, or The Noble Sanctuary.

Muslims regard the site as the third holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. They believe the site is where Prophet Muhammad led his fellow prophets in prayer during a miraculous night journey, known as the Miraj.

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On the other hand, Temple Mount, as the Jews call it, is the holiest place in Judaism. According to Jews, it where two ancient Jewish temples once stood  the temple built by King Solomon, which was destroyed by the Babylonians, and the second temple, destroyed by the Romans.

Following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, it was decided that Jordan would control matters inside the compound while the external security would be the responsibility of Israel. Furthermore, non-Muslims would be allowed on to the site during visiting hours, but would not be allowed to pray there.

Now, herein lies the problem. Israeli forces have stationed guards at the site and permitted Jews to enter the compound, upsetting Muslims. It has also resulted in clashes at the site in the past  with the most recent one being in 2023 when 14 Palestinians were injured after Israeli police officials attacked dozens of worshippers at the religious sites compound.

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Moreover, Palestinians view visits by Jewish leaders as provocative and as a potential precursor to Israel seizing control over the compound.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the al-Aqsa compound on multiple occasions in the past. However, Sundays visit was unique as he offered prayers for the first time. File image/Reuters

Ben Gvir and al-Aqsa mosque

Notably, this isnt the first time that Ben Gvir has run into controversy. The fiery far-right minister has been convicted eight times for offences that include racism and supporting a terrorist organisation. Just last week, he was declared a persona non grata by the Netherlands for reportedly inciting violence against Palestinians, advocating for the expansion of illegal settlements and calling for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.

Hes also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.

Moreover, hes known to make fiery and controversial statements at the al-Aqsa mosque site. Last August, he said in an interview that he would build a synagogue at the al-Aqsa compound. If I could do anything I wanted, I would put an Israeli flag on the site, Ben Gvir said in the interview. And when asked several times by a journalist if he would build a synagogue at the site if it were up to him, Ben-Gvir finally replied: Yes.

With inputs from agencies
Mathura Sridharan, an Indian-origin lawyer, was appointed Ohios 12th Solicitor General, making her the states top appellate attorney. Despite being described by Attorney General Dave Yost as brilliant at her work, Sridharan was subjected to brutal online trolling, with users picking on her race, religion, and even questioning her Americaness

Mathura Sridharan currently serves as Deputy Solicitor General of Ohio, and also heads the states Tenth Amendment Center. Image courtesy: X

Indian-origin lawyer Mathura Sridharan has been appointed as Ohios 12th Solicitor General, a role that makes her the states top appellate lawyer. She will now represent the midwestern state in some of its most important legal battles, including cases before the US Supreme Court and other high-level state and federal courts.

Her appointment was announced by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost last week, who had nothing but praise for Sridharans sharp legal mind and track record in court.

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Mathura is brilliant she won her argument at SCOTUS last year. Both the SGs she worked under (Flowers & Gaiser) recommended her. I told her when I originally hired her I needed her to argue with me. She does All the time! Excited to promote her. She will serve Ohio well, Yost wrote on X.

But instead of just celebrating the achievement, Sridharan found herself the target of racist and xenophobic trolling online.

The hate centred on her Indian heritage, with many questioning why someone with a non-Western name and background should hold such a senior legal post. Some even mocked her for wearing a bindi in her official photo.

Thankfully, the backlash didnt go unanswered. The Ohio AG quickly came to her defence, calling out the trolls and reaffirming her qualifications and right to represent the state.

So who is Mathura Sridharan? Why did her appointment trigger such reactions? And how did the Attorney General respond?

Heres a closer look.

Who is Mathura Sridharan?

Mathura Sridharan currently serves as Deputy Solicitor General of Ohio, and also heads the states Tenth Amendment Center, a division focused on defending state authority and pushing back against what it sees as unlawful federal overreach. According to The Federalist Society, a conservative and libertarian legal group with which Sridharan is affiliated, she has led lawsuits aimed at protecting Ohioans from federal policies that allegedly violate the Constitution and disturb the balance of power between state and federal governments. Mathura Sridharan holds a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law, along with multiple degrees from MIT. Image courtesy: The Federal Society Her academic credentials are as impressive as her legal work. Sridharan holds a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law, along with multiple degrees from MIT, including a Masters in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Bachelors degrees in both Economics and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science. Before joining the Solicitor Generals office, she clerked for two prominent federal judges: Judge Steven J Menashi of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and Judge Deborah A. Batts of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Outside of her legal work, Sridharan is trained in Carnatic music, a classical form of music from South India, and has even performed during Chennais December music season. She has been married to Ashwin Suresh since 2015.

Why is Mathura Sridharan being trolled?

Soon after the news of her appointment went public, Sridharan found herself at the centre of a wave of online trolling.

A number of social media users took issue with her wearing a bindi in her official photo. What is that on her forehead? one user on X asked. While another wrote, Shes got a permanent dot, huh?

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Some even mocked her name and even questioned her identity as an American.

Why would you select someone who isn't an American for such an important role?  ThatGuyFromHS (@ThatGuyFromHS) July 31, 2025

Shes Indian. They all have a loyalty first to other Indians. Horrible pick. Totally un-American. The GOP is pathetic. And a third comment read, No one with the last name Sridharan fought in the US Civil War. Shes not an American.

That is not all. Some even trolled her for her religious beliefs.

Is she a Christian? Thats the biggest factor that concerns me. Based on the bindi on her forehead, I worry she is not. That absolutely should matter to us when choosing our leaders. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. If someone worships demons, then they are by nature children of wrath and foolish. How can they effectively lead us? one user wrote.

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The problem is not with her: Ohio AG responds to the trolling

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost didnt stay silent. In a pointed response, he directly defended Sridharans appointment and said that she is being wrongly portrayed as a non-American.

He added that if Sridharans complexion or her name is bothering someone, the problem is with them and not her.

A few commenters have asserted incorrectly that Mathura is not American.



She is a United States citizen, married to a US citizen, and the child of naturalized US citizens.



If her name or her complexion bother you, the problem is not with her or her appointment. https://t.co/htNbcomixc  Dave Yost (@DaveYostOH) July 31, 2025

A few commenters have asserted incorrectly that Mathura is not American. She is a United States citizen, married to a US citizen, and the child of naturalised US citizens. If her name or her complexion bother you, the problem is not with her or her appointment, he wrote on X.

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With input from agencies
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will make his first state visit to India from today (August 4), marking 75 years of diplomatic ties. The visit includes talks with Prime Minister Modi, defence and trade discussions, and a Bengaluru business engagement

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), at the House of Representatives, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 28, 2025. File Image/Reuters

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is on his first official visit to India from Monday to Friday (August 4-8, 2025) aimed at advancing cooperation between New Delhi and Manila.

The visit comes as the two nations commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations.

This high-level state visit is expected to encompass a broad agenda  from defence and maritime security to trade, investment, and cultural exchange  and marks the first trip by a Filipino head of state to India since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyos visit in 2007.

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Whats on the Marcos agenda in India

Marcos, invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, along with an entourage including senior Cabinet ministers, top bureaucrats, key dignitaries and business leaders.

During his stay in New Delhi, Marcos will meet with Modi on August 5 for in-depth bilateral talks.

In addition to Modi, he is slated to call on President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, with discussions expected to cover areas ranging from regional security concerns to bolstering economic ties.

According to the Philippine Communications Office (PCO), the official engagements wont be limited to Delhi.

After official meetings and events in New Delhi, the President and his delegation will travel to Bangalore. He will meet with the business sectors in both cities, the PCO stated.

This Bengaluru leg will be a focal point for economic engagement, as Marcos interacts with leading Indian companies and potential investors.

Marcos will also hold a community outreach session with members of the Filipino diaspora in New Delhi.

The visit, spanning five days, signals Manilas intent to strengthen strategic ties with one of Asias largest economies, while also providing New Delhi with a valuable opportunity to deepen its Act East Policy.

The trip follows a long hiatus in top-level exchanges. The last time an Indian president visited the Philippines was Ram Nath Kovind in 2019, whereas Marcoss journey will revive head-of-state diplomacy after nearly two decades.

India-Philippines defence a priority

Defence cooperation has emerged as one of the strongest anchors of India-Philippines relations, and it is set to be a highlight of this state visit.

In January 2022, Manila signed a $374.9 million agreement for the purchase of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, making the Philippines the first foreign buyer of Indias flagship missile platform.

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The first delivery of the BrahMos took place on April 19, 2024, an event that signalled growing strategic convergence between the two countries.

India has been steadily expanding its defence outreach to Southeast Asia, and with the Philippines, the collaboration spans military training, ship visits and maritime security dialogues.

Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels frequently make port calls to the Philippines  notable visits include INS Satpura in June 2022, INS Ranvijay and INS Kora in August 2021, and several earlier deployments.

These have often been accompanied by joint exercises, including the first-ever Navy-to-Navy Passage Exercise in the West Philippine Sea in 2021.

Cooperation has gone beyond drills and deployments. The two sides signed an MoU on Enhanced Maritime Cooperation in 2023, alongside a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for exchanging white-shipping information, allowing real-time sharing of data on commercial ships to bolster maritime security.

High-level defence engagements have also been frequent. A Philippine Coast Guard delegation led by CG Admiral Artemio M Abu visited India in August 2023, and the Philippine Armys commanding general, Lt Gen Roy Mabagos Galido, travelled to India for the 13th Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference in September 2023.

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A 2006 Defence Cooperation MoU led to the creation of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC), which has convened four times, most recently in March 2023 in New Delhi.

A separate MoU on Defence Industry and Logistics Cooperation signed in 2017 resulted in a Joint Defence Industry and Logistics Committee (JDILC), which has met thrice, including in March 2022.

The armed forces of both countries also participate in specialised training exchanges. Philippine officers have attended Indias prestigious National Defence College (NDC), while Indian officers have been part of the Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) course in Manila.

Engagements extend to staff college programs and delegation visits, including multiple visits by Indian military education institutions such as the Army War College, Mhow.

During the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2024, Marcos articulated Manilas vision, stating that his country will pursue more robust collaboration with friends such as India.

This declaration, alongside Indias consistent stance on freedom of navigation and territorial integrity in the South China Sea, positions the defence track as an area ripe for new agreements or expanded commitments during the visit.

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What trade between India-Philippines looks like

While defence cooperation grabs headlines, trade and investment form the backbone of the India-Philippines relationship  and Marcoss visit is expected to bring this into sharper focus.

Bilateral trade has grown steadily, hitting $3.53 billion in 2023-24, a year-on-year increase of 8.6 per cent.

India has maintained a healthy trade surplus, exporting $2.09 billion worth of goods to the Philippines while importing $1.43 billion.

Major Indian exports include:

Engineering goods and automotive parts

Pharmaceutical products (India supplies around 20 per cent of total pharma exports to ASEAN)

Steel, petroleum products, and chemicals

Electronics, plastics, rice, and bovine meat

Key imports from the Philippines to India feature:

Electrical machinery and semiconductors

Copper, lead, and precious stones

Plastics and ores

Food industry residues and animal fodder

According to trade data, Indian pharmaceutical products accounted for 15.96 per cent of Philippine pharmaceutical imports in 2023, putting a spotlight on Indias strong role in Manilas healthcare sector.

Investment flows complement trade. Indian companies have invested an estimated $5 billion in the Philippines, largely in sectors like IT and BPO services, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture and FMCG.

Conversely, Philippine investments in India are smaller but strategically placed, with firms like Ayalas AC Energy Corporation and Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company (AG&P) active in renewable energy, construction, and infrastructure.

Efforts to further streamline commerce have been ongoing. In April 2022, the two countries signed an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters (ratified in June 2023).

Additionally, talks on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) were revived in December 2023, with negotiations continuing to frame the Terms of Reference for the Trade Negotiations Committee.

To encourage tourism and business exchanges, the Philippines recently introduced visa-free travel for Indian nationals, while direct flights between the two countries are expected to resume by late 2025  a move that could significantly boost connectivity.

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Why a strong India-Philippines bond matters

The visit holds significance beyond bilateral ties. India and the Philippines are both part of a wider Indo-Pacific strategic framework, sharing concerns about maritime security and trade routes.

The Ministry of External Affairs has framed the visit as part of Indias broader outreach to Southeast Asia, noting, Indias relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The forthcoming State Visit of President Marcos coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Indias Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN also feeds into the relationship, and Marcoss engagements in India are expected to highlight Manilas role as a key Southeast Asian partner for New Delhi.

The Philippines, facing ongoing challenges in the South China Sea, views partnerships with like-minded countries as critical.

India, which has consistently upheld the principle of freedom of navigation and opposed unilateral changes to the status quo in maritime disputes, provides Manila with a supportive partner in this domain.

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With inputs from agencies
Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, accompanied by First Lady Madame Louise Araneta Marcos, is set to begin his visit to India today. This will be his first trip to the country since taking office. According to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs, Marcos will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow (August 5)

This will be his first visit to India since becoming President. Reuters/File Photo

Several important events are scheduled for today.

Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, along with First Lady Madame Louise Araneta Marcos, will begin his state visit to India.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will hold a protest in Bengaluru today over what he claims were irregularities during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.

The monsoon session of the Delhi Assembly is also set to begin today, following a formal order by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to summon the House.

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Lets take a look at the events:

Philippines President in India

Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, along with First Lady Madame Louise Araneta Marcos, will begin his visit to India today.

This will be his first visit to India since becoming President.

He will also be joined by a high-level delegation that includes Cabinet Ministers, senior officials, business leaders and other dignitaries.

Marcos and Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks tomorrow (August 5). Reuters/File Photo

According to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs, Marcos is expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders during his stay.

Marcos and Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks tomorrow (August 5).

India and the Philippines established diplomatic ties in November 1949.

Since then, the two countries have built a strong relationship across many areas, such as trade, defence, maritime ties, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technology.

Rahul Gandhis protest in Bengaluru over vote theft

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will hold a protest in Bengaluru today against what he claims were irregularities during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.

With a row already underway over the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, Gandhi said on July 23 that elections are being stolen in India.

He also said the Congress has figured out how the vote theft took place, based on a study of one Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka.

Rahul Gandhi will hold a protest in Bengaluru today. Reuters/File Photo

After Gandhis remarks, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also claimed that the BJP misused the Election Commission to carry out illegal manipulation during the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra called Gandhis charges of vote theft funny and said if the Election Commission could really be manipulated as claimed, Congress would not be in power in the State.

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Monsoon session of Delhi Assembly to begin

The monsoon session of the Delhi Assembly will begin today, following a formal order issued by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to summon the House.

This will be the first session to be completely digital and paperless, under the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) project.

According to the schedule shared by Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, the House is tentatively set to meet from August 4 to 8, 2025.

Each sitting will start at 2:00 PM and continue until the listed business for the day is completed.

Reports suggest that a Bill to regulate private school fees, which had earlier been passed as an ordinance, is likely to come up for discussion and approval during this session.

With inputs from agencies
Amid talks on the India-US trade deal, a top advisor in the Trump administration has called out India, accusing it of financing Russias war against Ukraine by purchasing oil from it. But who exactly is Stephen Miller, the man behind these harsh comments?

Trump's top aide Stephen Miller has accused India of imposing "massive" tariffs on American goods and "cheating" the US immigration system, in addition to purchasing the Russian oil that's "financing" Russia's war in Ukraine. File image/Reuters

Indias purchase of oil from Russia continues to be a sticking point in Indo-US ties. After US President Donald Trump announced a penalty on India for buying oil from Moscow in addition to a 25 per cent tariff last week, now his top aide defended his move, stating that it was not acceptable.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller in perhaps the strongest remarks made by the Trump administration on the issue said, What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. Thats an astonishing fact.

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He claimed that Trump wants a tremendous relationship and has had always a tremendous relationship with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But we need to get real about dealing with the financing of this war So, President Trump, all options are on the table to deal diplomatically, financially and otherwise with the ongoing war in Ukraine, so we can achieve peace, he added.

As India tries to negotiate with the US on this pain point, we take a closer look at Miller, who, in the past, has been critical of H1-B visas as well as Indian immigration to America.

Rise and rise of Stephen Miller

Appointed as deputy chief of staff at the White House, Miller is considered as one of Trumps closest aides and his longtime adviser.

A son of affluent Jewish parents, Miller grew up in Californias Santa Monica where many residents are foreign born. He embraced conservative ideas as far back as high school and developed a reputation early in his political career as a provocateur.

In Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda, the only biography on Miller, theres an episode which recounts how Miller suddenly ditched one of his closest friends, Jason Islas, on the grounds of his ethnicity.

At 16, he also wrote an article for a local website expressing contempt for Hispanic students in his school. Am I the only one who is sick and tired of being told to pick up my trash when we have plenty of janitors who are paid to do it for us? he wrote.

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Following his education, Miller moved to Washington and served as a press secretary to Michele Bachmann, then a Republican representative for Minnesota, before moving to work for Jeff Sessions, at the time a right-wing Alabama senator who later became Trumps first attorney general.

Along with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller makes Trumps inner circle. File image/Reuters

In 2015, Miller took a leave of absence from working with Sessions and began to work with Donald Trump, who had then launched his presidential campaign. On the recommendation of Steve Bannon, then Trumps campaign chief, Miller was installed as Trumps speech writer. Following this move, Trump and Miller ensure that the formers signature issue became immigration.

It was Miller who crafted Trumps speech for his first inauguration in 2017 and it was him who was behind some of the most controversial policies in Trump 1.0. This included the  Muslim ban on travellers from seven majority-Muslim countries and the practice of separating migrant children from their parents at the southern border.

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Following Trumps loss to Joe Biden in 2020, Miller continued to stick by the businessman-turned-politicians side, making him even more powerful in the inner circle. Eventually when Trump returned to power, so did Miller and he became Trumps deputy chief of staff at the White House.

Millers strong anti-immigration stance

In Trumps second term as president, Miller has maintained his strong anti-immigration stance. In fact, two days after Trump came to power, it was Miller who drafted the order that cancelled birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants. The order was challenged in the courts and is now with the Supreme Court.

Even during Trumps first tenure, Miller pushed for restrictive measures that reshaped how H-1B visas were processed, affecting thousands of Indians. In 2017, he even proposed scrapping the lottery system to award the H1-B visas altogether to make for a fair distribution of the much sought after visas.

US President Donald Trump greets White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Miller is considered to be the architect of Trumps immigration policies. File image/Reuters

In addition to being deputy chief of staff at the White House, Miller is also tasked with heading the White Houses Homeland Security Council, which coordinates immigration and other domestic security policies within the administration.

Miller has pressed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents to intensify efforts to arrest migrants. He has said that the country needs at least 3,000 arrests each and every day, a dizzying increase from the daily average of about 650 in the presidents first five months in office.

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Millers remarks on India

And on Sunday (August 3), amid trade talks between India and the US, Miller accused India of financing Russias war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow.

In an interview to Fox News, Trumps top aide severely criticised India, also pointing out that it cheats on immigration and slams American products with massive tariffs. India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world; but they dont accept our products, they impose massive tariffs on us, we also know they engage in a lot of cheating on immigration policy, Miller said.

The comments, the harshest made by a Trump official, came just days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced concern that New Delhis continued import of Russian oil is most certainly a point of irritation in the relationship between the two nations.

India is an ally. Its a strategic partner. But [their oil trade with Russia] is most certainly a point of irritation in our relationship, Rubio said in a telephonic interview with Fox Radio. In the interview, Rubio also warned that cheap oil sanctioned by Moscow is still helping to sustain the Russian war effort against Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, India continues to purchase Russian oil. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi also seemed to strike a defiant note over the weekend, when he said, Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.

With inputs from agencies
Taiwan has announced that it will begin mass producing Tien King IV surface-to-air missiles from 2026. The self-governing island lives under constant threat of invasion from China, which has vowed that reunification with Taiwan will be carried out some day even if it has to use force. But what do we know about the missiles? Why is this development significant?

Taiwan, a self-governing island, lives under constant threat of invasion from China.

Taiwan has announced that it will begin mass producing Tien King IV missiles.

The self-governed island known officially as Republic of China (ROC) has said it will begin mass-producing these surface-to-air missiles from 2026.

Taiwan lives under constant threat of invasion from the Peoples Republic of China.

Beijing has vowed that reunification with Taiwan will be carried out some day even if it has to use force.

But what do we know about these missiles? Why does this matter?

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Lets take a closer look

What do we know?

Tien King IV missile system was developed by Taiwans Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology.

It falls under the Chiang Kung (Strong Bow) program.

It is a successor to the Tien Kung III system, which gives Taiwan coverage against medium-to-long range missiles from China.

It is designed to intercept cruise missiles and ballistic missiles at an altitude of 70 kilometers.

This compares favourably with the Tien Kung III and the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement systems which respectively have a maximum altitude of just 45 kilometers and 60 kilometers respectively.

Taiwan is set to order 122 pods, according to the Ministry of National Defence.

While 46 pods of the air defence missiles would be provided in 2026, another 76 pods would be provided in 2027.

Each pod contains one projectile, as per defence sources.

Not much other information is out about the missile.

The Tien-Kung III had its first test flight in 2001.

It was unveiled in 2007 and underwent test firings in 2008.

It underwent operational testing and evaluation till 2011.

The Tien Kung III comprises an active radar guidance system and an inertial midcourse guidance.

A microwave seeker in the missiles nose allows it to navigate in the terminal phase.

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The missile has a higher effective range and rate of acceleration because of its solid propellants and single-stage propulsion system.

The missile can fly at hypersonic speed and can intercept highly-maneuverable targets.

Soldiers demonstrate a Tien-kung lll anti-aircraft system to the media at an airbase in Hualien. Reuters

The Tien Kung III is being mass produced at a cost of $908.1 million.

Its launcher can support the previous Tien-Kung II which are also launched vertically.

Its phased array radar features a multiple target-tracking capability, Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) capabilities, target identification and electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM).

The Tien Kung III launcher can uplink target information to the missile while in its mid-course phase.

It was brought in to replace the MIM-23 HAWK system.

However, it does not have the capability of shooting down ballistic missiles.

Another classified system in development?

Sources said that Taiwans defence program also features another classified system.

This comprises two missile variants  Variant A, an air defense missile reportedly offering capabilities comparable to the US THAAD system, and Variant B, a long-range ground-attack missile.

In a separate report, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) outlined plans for a new eight-wheeled armoured fighting vehicle built on the CM-33 Clouded Leopard platform.

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This new vehicle, armed with a 105 millimeter rifled cannon, successfully completed initial operational capability testing in late 2023, the Taipei Times noted.

Research, development, and testing are scheduled to be completed by June 2026, with mass production of 500 units planned to begin in 2028. The project includes 20 different systems designed for the main combat vehicle and its variants, including a reconnaissance version that uses the same chassis.

In addition to its primary 105 millimeter cannonwhich is capable of firing armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds and anti-personnel shellsthe vehicle will also be outfitted with a coaxial 7.62 millimeter machine gun and a 12.7 millimeter heavy machine gun mounted in a remote weapon station.

Why is this significant?

Because Taiwan faces mounting missile threats from China. Beijing has been enhancing its air and missile capabilities, putting Taiwans air defences under severe strain.

Taiwan has in turn been picking up advanced missile defence systems from abroad like the US Patriot system. It has also been focussed on developing its indigenous Tien Kung Sky Bow missiles.

Despite having a geographic advantage due to the Taiwan Strait, Taiwans fixed Surface-to-Air Missile (SAMs) remain vulnerable to Chinas precision air-to-ground weapons and anti-radiation missiles, which can easily disable radar-dependent defences.

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(File) This image released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defence shows Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier sailing near Taiwan on March 31, 2025. AP

Taiwans strategy is to increase the survivability and mobility of its SAM systems, rather than solely focus on increasing its sheer numbers. Taiwan in short is focussing on modernisation, survivability, and deterrence in its effort to counter Chinas missile dominance.

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), operates as a self-governing democracy with its own political and economic systems. However, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory under the One China principle, which asserts that there is only one China with its capital in Beijing.

This long-standing dispute dates back to the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Chinese Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, gained control of the mainland.

Despite continuous diplomatic, economic, and military pressure from Beijing, Taiwan remains de facto independent, with strong domestic support for its sovereignty.

The MND regularly monitors and discloses military activity to maintain public awareness and reinforce national security.

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With inputs from agencies
Harvard University has come under scrutiny for its alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). A US House committee led by Republicans has reportedly shot off a letter to the varsitys president, Alan Garber, accusing Harvard Kennedy School of training high-level Chinese government officials. This comes amid the Trump administrations efforts to bar the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students

A view of Harvard campus on John F. Kennedy Street at Harvard University is pictured in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, December 7, 2023. File Photo/Reuters

Harvard University, which is in the crosshairs of the Donald Trump administration in the United States, has come under scrutiny for its ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). A report has revealed that Harvard Kennedy School of the prestigious varsity has been accused of partnering with an organisation associated with Xi Jinpings party.

The report comes at a time when Harvard University is embroiled in a dispute with the Trump administration, with the US government freezing billions of dollars in federal funds. The US president has also alleged that universities allowed antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests on campus last year.

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But does Harvard really have ties to Chinas CCP? We will explain.

Harvards ties to CCP

A US House of Representatives committee led by Republicans has alleged that Harvard Kennedy School collaborated with an organisation linked to the Chinese Communist Party, as per The Harvard Crimson report.

A House Select Committee on the CCP started investigating Harvard Universitys alleged links to groups affiliated with Chinas party in May.

In a letter to Harvard University President Alan Garber last week, the panel accused Harvard Kennedy School of training high-level Chinese government officials through a formal partnership with the Chinese Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELAP).

Under that partnership, the rising CCP elite who are being prepared for senior Communist Party leadership positions participate in training at Harvard in the United States, Committee chair John R Moolenaar wrote in the letter.

The committee asked the university to submit any documents linking Harvard to the CCP and furnish details of any money or benefits received from the CCP.

According to Moolenaar, whistleblowers revealed the alleged tie-up between the school and CELAP, a training institution in Shanghais Pudong district managed and funded by the Chinese government.

Feng Jun, executive vice president of CELAP, attended the Harvard Kennedy Schools now-defunct programme for senior Chinese officials known as Chinas Leaders in Development", calling HKS a model for the Chinese school, according to Harvard Universitys student newspaper.

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Is Harvard CCPs party school?

Many US universities, particularly Harvard, have offered programmes to Chinese officials to study governance. A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report in June found that thousands of mid-career and senior bureaucrats of the CCP have visited the US for executive training and postgraduate studies for decades.

Harvard University has been described by some in China as the top party school outside the country. If we were to rank the Chinese Communist Partys overseas party schools, the one deserving top spot has to be Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government in the US, said a 2014 commentary published by Shanghai Observer.

Some key Chinese officials to have graduated from Harvard Kennedy School are an ex-vice president of China and a top trade negotiator.

Li Yuanchao, Chinas vice president from 2013 to 2018, took part in a mid-career training programme at Harvard Kennedy School in 2002.

Several top Chinese officials have attended Harvard Kennedy School. File Photo/AFP

Liu He, a retired vice premier, has a masters degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School. He was Chinese President Xi Jinpings top trade negotiator during talks with the first Trump administration.

Li Hongzhong, currently a Politburo member and senior legislator, attended a short-term programme at Harvard in 1999.

Syracuse, Stanford, the University of Maryland and Rutgers have also offered executive training to Chinese officials, WSJ reported, citing publicity materials and other disclosures.

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China began sending officials for mid-career training at Harvard Kennedy School in the 1990s. One such programme, launched in 1998, provided fellowships and executive training courses to around 20 senior officials each year.

Harvard launched another programme, Chinas Leaders in Development, in the early 2000s, under which Chinese officials attended a training course, with their time split between Harvard and Beijings Tsinghua University.

As per Harvard, the now-defunct programme was to help prepare senior local and central Chinese government officials to more effectively address the ongoing challenges of Chinas national reforms."

Trumps attempts to ban foreign students at Harvard

Amid the ongoing standoff, the Trump administration has tried to bar Harvard from enrolling international students and prevent foreigners from entering the US to study at the elite varsity. However, both efforts were temporarily blocked by a court.

Last month, the US State Department said that it launched an investigation into Harvard Universitys compliance with the government-run visa programme for international students. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the State Department would analyse Harvards sponsorship eligibility under the Exchange Visitor Program certification, or J-1 visa programme, reported NBC News.

The secretary of state said in a statement that all sponsors of the programme must comply with all regulations, including conducting their programmes in a manner that does not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States.

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The American people have the right to expect their universities to uphold national security, comply with the law, and provide safe environments for all students. The investigation will ensure that State Department programmes do not run contrary to our nations interests, Rubio said.

A spokesperson for Harvard said that the Ivy League school is committed to continuing to comply with the applicable Exchange Visitor Program regulations.

This investigation is yet another retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvards First Amendment right. Harvard continues to enrol and sponsor international scholars, researchers, and students, and will protect its international community and support them as they apply for US visas and travel to campus this fall, the spokesperson added.

With inputs from agencies
Though Russia has used drones to hit Ukraine since the beginning of the war, Moscow has taken things to a different level recently. Russia in July alone launched over 6,000 drone strikes across Ukraine including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv leaving dozens dead and hundreds injured.

The Ukraine war in a new phase.

Though Russia has used drones to hit Ukraine since the beginning of the war, Moscow has taken things to a different level.

Russia in July launched over 6,000 drone strikes across Ukraine including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv leaving dozens dead and hundreds injured.

Thats the most in any month since the beginning of the war in 2022.

On July 9 alone Russia launched over 700 strikes against Ukraine using its Iranian-made Shahed drones.

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Ukraine is now attempting to combat Russias attacks via interceptor drones.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month urged companies in Ukraine to boost manufacturing and production of these drones.

I met with representatives of this production and with other manufacturers. Our request is 1,000 interceptors per day, Zelenskyy said.

But what do we know about interceptor drones? How do they work? Why are they so important to Ukraine?

Lets take a closer look

Interceptor drones and how they work

First, lets take a closer look at interceptor drones. While drones are Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs), interceptor drones are UAVs built to find, follow and destroy other drones and airborne threats.

These drones are built to actively engage with threats. They work autonomously or semi-autonomously. They come with features such as advanced sensing, autonomous navigation capabilities in order to maneuver at high speeds, recognising targets automatically and precision hovering.

They are also equipped with net launchers, electronic jammers, and kamikaze-style impactors. They use advanced navigation tech like AI-powered inertial navigation systems.

They work by using their radar, spotters or sensors to spot incoming threats. Some are synced up with a countrys air defence network.

This allows them to respond to threats in real time  at a fraction of the cost of missile systems or ground-based radar systems.

Once they intercept enemy UAVs, they can either ram into them  known as the Kamikaze method  use nets and even explosives to down the enemys object.

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These interceptor drones are smaller than other UAVs and faster  which allows them to intercept  as well as highly manouverable.

For example, experts say the Shahed drones Russia is using can fly between 200 and 300 kilometres per hour.

They are also more effective when they are autonomous.

As Lyuba Shipovich, CEO of Dignitas, which helps train Ukrainian soldiers on interceptors, told The Interpreter, You cant expect to have 700 operators for 700 drones during a mass strike like the ones were seeing now. AI allows us to launch swarms of interceptor drones without that limitation.

Though they are more expensive than regular drones, they do not cost nearly as much as other defensive systems.

Anti-aircraft missiles, for example, can cost as much as $1 million (Rs 8.5 crore), while surface-to-air missiles can cost between $40,000 (Rs 34.98 lakh) and $100,000 ( Rs 87.44 lakh)

A single interceptor drone can cost as little as $5,000 (Rs 4.39 lakh). Kamikaze interceptor drones are even cheaper, costing as little as $200 (Rs 20,000) to $2000 (Rs 2.20 lakh).

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For Ukraines armed forces thats a downright bargain.

Why are they important to Ukraine

Because interceptor drones can combat Russias Shahed drones, which have become a menace in Ukraine. The Russian strategy has been to overwhelm Ukraine and demoralise its defenders through sheer numbers.

In July, Russia sent 6,297 long-range drones into Ukraine. That figure is 14 times what it was in July 2024, when Russia sent around 400 drones.

From June 1 to June 20, Russia hit Ukraine with 3,681 Shahed drones and fake UAVs. This completely disrupted the rhythm of Ukraines defenders. A year ago, the monthly average was at around 600 UAVs per month. Experts say these are estimates and that real numbers may even be higher.

Worse, Russia is ramping up its production of Shahed drones to nearly 100 UAVs per day. They now fly two to four kilometres above the ground  putting them out of reach of ground fire.

Kyiv predicts Moscow will be looking to manufacture 30,000 long-range drones and two million FPV (first-person-view) drones this entire year.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month urged companies in Ukraine to boost manufacturing and production of these drones. AP

Which is why Ukraine is betting big on interceptor drones. Indeed, Zelenskyy even said the same at the G7 in Canada in June. In particular, we are working on interceptor drones to enhance protection against Shaheds, Zelenskyy said.

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Many Ukrainian companies are already working on this task. Wild Hornets, a non-profit group making UAVs for Ukraine, has had great success with its Sting interceptor drone against the Shahed drones.

You can make a drone, for example, at a firm like us, fast, cheap, and en masse, a company representative told the Kyiv Independent. While missiles for an S-300 are unique technologies, that maybe, seems to me, a few companies in the world can make, and more than half of those are in Russia.

Even though Ukraine has been the worlds largest importer of weapons from 2020 to 2024 and is buying millions of drones, experts say it isnt doing enough.

They say it needs to ramp up production even further to counter Russia.

Russia is going to bomb our entire country with Shahed drones. They have significantly increased production and will continue to do so. If we dont act immediately, our infrastructure, our production and our defence systems will be destroyed, military and communications expert Serhiy Beskrestnov wrote on social media.

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However, it is important to note that these interceptor drones are no silver bullet.

Were already using them, and we are expanding their use. But they cant replace everything. We have to understand that anti-drone air defence is a complex system, Yuriy Ignat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian air force, told The Telegraph.

First, they dont have a very long range  only a few dozen kilometres. Secondly, you need to scale up the depth of territory they cover. They only work locally. And they cant always fly, in bad weather, fog, and so on.

Simply put, they are an important piece of Ukraines defence puzzle.
Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. kicked off his fiveday visit to India starting Monday, during which he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and take part in several engagements to bolster ties between the two countries.

Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. began his five-day visit to India on Monday, during which he would conduct bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and participate in a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs, welcomed him upon his arrival in New Delhi.

Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President@bongbongmarcoshas arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS @PmargheritaBJP and accorded a warm welcome.

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India & Philippines are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.!



President @bongbongmarcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS @PmargheritaBJP and accorded a warm welcome.



India & Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic pic.twitter.com/NtlNPxCKm9  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 4, 2025

The MEA previously stated that this will be his first visit to the nation since taking office as President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Marcos is joined by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, as well as an entourage of senior Cabinet members, top bureaucrats, significant dignitaries, and business executives.

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Also Read: Philippines President Marcos in India for 5-day visit: Why this visit is significant

On the first day of his visit, President Marcos is set to meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar later in the evening.

His travel to India will be from August 4 to 8, during which he would meet President Droupadi Murmu and conduct bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Modi.

Modi and Marcos are slated to conduct bilateral talks on August 5. The state visit by President Marcos coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic ties.

The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, the MEA said in a statement on July 31.

He will be accompanied by First Lady Madame Louise Araneta Marcos, and a high-level delegation, including several Cabinet ministers, other dignitaries and senior officials, in addition to business representatives, the MEA had said.

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President Marcos will also visit Bengaluru before returning to the Philippines on August 8.

Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949.
India strongly defended its Russian oil imports after Donald Trump threatened new tariffs, calling the criticism unjustified and unreasonable. The MEA cited Western nations continued trade with Russia and stressed Indias right to safeguard its energy security.

India became a major buyer of Russian oil, providing a much-needed export market for Moscow after it was cut off from traditional buyers in Europe because of the Ukraine war. Reuters

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) defended the Indias choice to buy oil from Russia on Monday, amid criticism from the US and the European Union.

According to the MEA, Indias imports from Russia are driven by need and are intended to keep energy costs predictable and affordable for Indian customers.

The MEA branded criticism of Indias trade policies as unjustified and unreasonable, and stated that India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security.

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In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) explained that Indias crude imports from Russia were caused by interruptions in regular supply lines following the outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine.

The MEA emphasised that New Delhis energy imports are a sovereign decision driven by national interest and market realities.

According to the MEA statement, The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability, it added.

India became a major buyer of Russian oil, providing a much-needed export market for Moscow after it was cut off from traditional buyers in Europe because of the Ukraine war.

New Delhi saved itself billions of dollars while bolstering Moscows coffers.

The MEA further noted that the European Union had a bilateral trade of EUR67.5 billion in goods and EUR17.2 billion in services with Russia in 2023, significantly more than Indias total trade with Russia. The EUs LNG imports from Russia reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024.

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Moreover, the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle industry, fertilisers, and chemicals from Russia, read MEA release.

Indias energy import strategy prioritises energy security and affordability. The country has diversified its energy imports, increasing reliance on countries like Russia to meet its growing energy demands.

The MEAs response came after President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, accused India of buying massive amounts of Russian oil and reselling it for profit, claiming this undermined efforts to end the Ukraine conflict and, as a result, he would substantially raise the tariff paid by India to the USA.

The MEA, in the statement, stressed that these imports are guided by the need to ensure predictable and affordable energy prices for its citizens, while noting that Western nations criticising India are themselves engaged in far larger trade with Russia, despite no such compelling energy insecurity.

Indias imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by the global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion, the statement read.

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For now, an existing 10 percent US tariff on Indian products is expected to rise to 25 percent come Thursday.

Last month, the EU and Britain sought to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to halt the war in Ukraine by slashing a price cap meant to choke off revenues from key oil exports.
EAM Jaishankar welcomed Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Delhi ahead of his August 5 talks with PM Modi, which are expected to significantly strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. on Monday, claiming that his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5 will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership.

The President of the Republic of the Philippines began his five-day State Visit to India on Monday.

During his visit, Marcos Jr. will meet with President Droupadi Murmu, conduct bilateral conversations with Prime Minister Modi, and participate in a number of events aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.

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Delighted to call on President @bongbongmarcos of the Philippines this evening in Delhi at the start of his State Visit. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership, the external affairs minister posted on X.

He also shared a photo of their meeting.

Delighted to call on President @bongbongmarcos of the Philippines this evening in Delhi at the start of his State Visit.



Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership.



  pic.twitter.com/pxVWUIim8l  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 4, 2025

Modi and Marcos Jr are scheduled to hold bilateral discussions on August 5.

The visit by President Marcos Jr. coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic ties.

The visit provides a chance for both leaders to lay the groundwork for future bilateral collaboration as well as engage on regional and international topics of mutual concern, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on July 31.

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India and the Philippines established diplomatic ties in November 1949.

In his address at an event held here in November 2024 to mark the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations, Jaishankar had said that their bilateral ties are rooted in democratic values, pluralistic ethos and economic commonalities, and the friendship between the two countries is truly an enduring one that is now poised to move to a higher orbit.

He had also said that both the nations are deeply committed to upholding international law, norms and rules.
Following the Operation Mahadev last week, Indian security agencies have identified the handler of three terrorists as Pakistan-based Sajid Saifullah Jatt of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The agencies have assessed that those killed in the encounter were part of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April.

Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard as police and army soldiers launch an operation in Awantipora area, south of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. (Photo: Dar Yasin/AP)

Following the Operation Mahadev last week, Indian security agencies have identified the handler of terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack and traced the route that those terrorists took, according to a report.

On July 28, the Indian Army said it killed three terrorists in the Dachigam area of Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar. Those were later said to be involved in attack in J&Ks Pahalgams Baisaran meadow in which they killed 26 people.

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The CNN-News 18 has reported that Indian agencies have now identified Sajid Saifullah Jatt, the south Kashmir operations chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as the key handler based in Lahore, Pakistan. The report said that the agencies have also confirmed the terrorists link to Pakistan and LeT through funeral prayers of those killed in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), which were coordinated by Rizwan Anees of LeT.

The agencies believe that the evidence leaves no doubt that the three persons killed in Dachigam, who they have identified as Suleman Shah (alias Faizal Jatt), Abu Hamza (alias Afghan"), and Yasir (alias Jibran") were Pakistani nationals and part of the LeT.

How agencies confirmed link to Pakistan

The evidence found from three terrorists in Dachigam contains voter ID cards and a NADRA card, which are the Pakistani equivalent of Aadhaar card, according to CNN-News 18.

The agencies have found that these cards have been tied to electoral rolls in Lahore and Gujranwala, confirming the Pakistani identities of those killed in Dachigam, according to the report.

The agencies have flagged the presence of Pakistan-made chocolate as further proof of Pakistani roots of terrorists.

As for the route they took, the agencies have assessed that they crossed into India near Gurez and were later sheltered in a seasonal hut near Pahalgam by two Kashmiri men Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad Jothar who later confessed to aiding them, the report said.

GPS data from a Garmin device recovered from one of them and call logs from a Huawei satellite phone established their movements and linkages to operational control in Pakistan, the report said.
Pakistan is making desperate efforts to keep China and the US in good humour and on the right side by a delicate balancing act; however, only time will reveal the true outcomes

Very recently, Pakistans Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir was on an official visit to China. During his stay in Beijing, he held meetings with senior Chinese political and military leadership. A military statement emanating from Pakistan claimed that the Chinese military leadership reiterated full confidence in the strength of the bilateral defence partnership, acknowledging Pakistans pivotal role in promoting regional peace.

General Munir called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Their discussions focused on the evolving regional and global political canvas, connectivity initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the need for coordinated responses to address shared geopolitical challenges.

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Significantly, both sides expressed satisfaction over the depth of bilateral engagement and avowed their shared commitment to sovereign equality, multilateral cooperation, and long-term regional stability. The Pakistan Army statement further claimed that the Chinese leadership lauded the Pakistan Armed Forces as a cornerstone of resilience and a vital contributor to peace in South Asia. This seems far-fetched and looks only like a ceremonial or ritualistic expression.

The military engagement between both sides included comprehensive exchanges on defence and security cooperation, including counter-terrorism collaboration, joint training, defence modernisation, and enhanced institutional linkages. It also claimed that emphasis was placed on improving operational interoperability and strategic coordination to confront hybrid and transnational threats.

On his part, the COAS appreciated Chinas consistent support and reaffirmed Pakistans commitment to further expanding military-to-military cooperation across all domains. Munir at Beijing reaffirmed Islamabads deep appreciation for Beijings consistent support toward its socio-economic development and emphasised the Pakistani militarys resolve to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with China as part of their shared vision for regional peace and prosperity.

However, reliable sources indicate that the Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir was under severe pressure when Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi raised the issue rather prominently of the safety and security of the Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. Over the years, several Chinese nationals have been killed in a string of terror attacks in Pakistan. While Munir stressed and claimed that brotherhood between Beijing and Islamabad was time-tested and was solid as a rock, he, in the same vein, assured Yi that the Pakistani military would take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals.

It may be recalled that in October 2024, a suicide car bombing outside Karachi airport had killed two Chinese engineers, and earlier, in the same year in March, a suicide bombing in northern Pakistan had killed five Chinese workers, which had angered the Chinese leadership, who had expressed serious concern over the killings of the Chinese. This had also put at risk the bilateral ties between the two countries, albeit for some time.

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Importantly, this was Munirs first visit to China after the hostilities with India in May this year. Islamabad is actively pursuing its military diplomacy to bolster strategic regional partnerships and defence alliances to reposition its defence standing. This was further demonstrated by Munirs visit to the US, as well as his one-on-one lunch with President Donald Trump.

In a separate development related to China, the Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with the Chinese Foreign Minister, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting regional peace, stability, and development. This shows that Pakistan continues to warm up to China at regular intervals.

Further, in a Pakistan military-related development, Munir on July 26 reaffirmed Pakistans unwavering resolve to foster a secure, peaceful, and prosperous regional environment through strategic cooperation and defence diplomacy. As a host, he was addressing the Regional Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Islamabad, bringing together senior military leaders from the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The conference seems to represent a major step in strengthening regional security collaboration, strategic dialogue, and military partnerships.

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Organised under the theme Strengthening Bonds, Securing Peace, the summit aimed to deepen multilateral cooperation in defence, particularly in counter-terrorism, joint training, and knowledge sharing. Participants were engaged in wide-ranging discussions on regional security trends, the changing geopolitical landscape in Central and South Asia, and the urgent need for coordinated responses to transnational threats.

Welcoming the defence delegations, Munir reiterated Pakistans firm commitment to peace and regional stability. He underscored the importance of enhanced military-to-military cooperation, mutual trust, and continued strategic dialogue to address emerging hybrid threats and ensure collective security.

Analysing the conference, it could be safely interpreted that Munir, with his political and military ambitions, possibly wants to forge an alliance with the Islamic countries military leadership in the name of regional peace. He could also be meaning to signal India, his sworn adversary, about his deepening military cooperation with the CIS countries. Munir should know that India already enjoys an excellent relationship with these countries that have participated in the conference, and no amount of signalling is likely to work towards his military designs.

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Having stepped up its diplomatic outreach, especially post Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 25. Earlier, the Deputy Prime Minister arrived in Washington, DC, on July 24 on the second leg of his eight-day visit to the US. He had arrived in New York on July 21 to attend high-level signature events of Pakistans United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Presidency, including a conference on Palestine. Discussions were also held on promoting bilateral trade and economic relations and cooperation in important sectors, including investment, agriculture, technology [and] minerals. Counter-terrorism and regional peace were also discussed. Foreign Minister Dar acknowledged the efforts of President Donald Trump and the US leadership in promoting global peace, adding that their role and efforts regarding the recent Pakistan-India tension were commendable.

Meanwhile, at the US State Department, Marco Rubio expressed appreciation for Pakistans continued willingness to play a constructive role in mediating conversations with Iran and its commitment to preserving regional stability. The two also discussed prospects for deepening bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, including countering Islamic StateKhorasan (IsisK), and the upcoming US-Pakistan Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Islamabad scheduled in August this year. Rubio underscored the importance of expanding mutually beneficial bilateral trade and exploring prospects for enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals and mining sectors. Dar was also scheduled to speak at the US think tank, the Atlantic Council, sharing Pakistans perspective on regional and global issues as well as the future of Pakistan-US relations. Dars visit comes ahead of Pakistan holding the presidency of the UN Security Council this month.

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Judging by the Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Ministers US trip and, earlier, Munirs recent China visit, both much hyped, it is clear that Pakistan is making desperate efforts to keep China and the US in good humour and on the right side by a delicate balancing act, as both the US and China are at loggerheads, but the US needs Pakistan as a strategic ally. [It may be recapitulated that Munir was in the US, including a meeting with Trump, just ahead of the US military strikes on the Iranian nuclear sites.]

Such US overtures to Pakistan could possibly be cosmetic, more tactical, and not really substantial or meaningful. Only time will tell about their relationship and its tenacity.

The writer is a retired IPS officer, adviser NatStrat, Bangladesh watcher and a security analyst. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Under the Marcos Jr administration, the Philippines has been pushing for a more active collaboration with India, especially in the field of defence and maritime security

Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr embarked on his maiden visit to India on Monday upon the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His five-day visit is not only among his longest state visits abroad but also a clear reflection of the expanding bilateral partnership between Manila and New Delhi. Along with his meeting with Modi, Marcos Jr and his delegation are expected to engage in comprehensive talks with key members of the Indian foreign policy and defence establishment to deepen existing areas of cooperation and explore more ways to maximise the utility of the emerging bilateral partnership.

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During his state visit, President Marcos will meet with President Droupadi Murmu, and both the Foreign Minister and the Health Minister will call on him. He will visit Indias IT city, Bengaluru, where he will explore opportunities of collaboration in the technology domain, especially as Indias Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a major plank of cooperation in the context of the Global South.

Marcos Jr has emphasised that the Philippines defence and foreign policy should be anchored on the recently implemented Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept (CADC), which aims to reorient the defence capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) towards the security of the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in order to uphold the inalienable right of every Filipino to reap the benefits from the Southeast Asian countrys resource-rich maritime zones.

The CADC marks an important and full-hearted attempt by the Marcos Jr administration to prioritise territorial defence of the archipelago after decades of attention given to internal counter-insurgency operations. Additionally, the Philippines also aims to build on its self-reliance in defence based on the Self-Reliance Defence Posture (SDRP) initiative. It is against this backdrop that the Philippines has been placing great importance on its security partnership with India.

Under the Marcos Jr administration, the Philippines has been more actively pushing collaboration with India, especially in the field of defence and maritime security. While in the past, Philippines-India ties were largely limited to issues of low politics, today, Manila has today incorporated India into its security calculations as a credible and trusted defence partner at a time when China has been increasing its provocations and unilateralism in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the greater South China Sea encompassing the Philippines lawful EEZ.

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Within the past three years, a series of notable developments have occurred in the bilateral partnership. These include the signing of a first-ever memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Indian and Philippine Coast Guards in 2023, the inauguration of the first Track 1 meeting on maritime security cooperation in 2024, and an increase in Indian Navy ship visits and joint maritime activities.

In fact, the Philippine and Indian navies are holding their bilateral maritime activity this week in waters close to Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. To this, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr highlighted that more than its symbolism, the navy-to-navy engagements between both democracies send a powerful signal of solidarity, strength in partnership, and the energy of cooperation between two vibrant democracies in the Indo-Pacific.

Manila has been one of the first to procure and integrate Indian Brahmos supersonic missiles and more equipment, which have shown their edge during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, and may also be discussed along with other strategic collaborative projects as the two countries cope with the AI-driven Industrial Revolution 4.0. A vision document will lay down the contours and trajectory of our futuristic and mutually beneficial cooperation with relevant institutions, list mechanisms, and agreements. Direct air connectivity between Delhi and Manila is also expected soon, which could give a fillip to tourism and trade that is way below potential at this stage.

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As the Philippines and India are on the verge of elevating ties to a strategic partnership, the timing of Marcos Jrs visit could not have been better.

Anil Trigunayat is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya, and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with the Vivekananda International Foundation. Don McLain Gill is a Philippines-based geopolitical analyst, author, and lecturer at the Department of International Studies, De La Salle University. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
August 5, 2025, 03:51:35 (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

South Sudan on brink of renewed civil war amid economic and political instability

South Sudan, the worlds youngest nation, is facing a high risk of returning to civil war as the key provisions of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict remain unimplemented, according to a report in CNN. The primary drivers of the escalating tension include the failure to unify armed forces under a single command and establish a permanent constitution. This political stalemate is compounded by a severe economic crisis, characterised by hyperinflation, food insecurity, and widespread corruption, particularly concerning the nations substantial oil revenues. The instability has significant implications for neighbouring countries such as Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya, which face the prospect of increased refugee flows and disruptions to regional trade and security. The crisis represents a critical challenge for mediators like the African Union and IGAD, as well as for the United Nations, which is grappling with a worsening humanitarian situation affecting millions of South Sudanese.
As Russian leader Vladimir Putin has continued to defy the deadline to agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, he has risked a rupture with US President Donald Trump and risked a confrontation with the United States.

As Vladimir Putin has continued to defy the deadline to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Russian leader has risked a rupture with US President Donald Trump.

As Kremlin dismissed any possibility of a ceasefire in talks with Ukraine last month amid continuing Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians, Trump reduced his 50-day ultimatum to "10 or 12 days" and raised hopes that he had finally broken ranks with Putin. The deadline will end this week.

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Putin has essentially dismissed the deadline, potentially setting Russia on the path of a confrontation with the United States.

In an apparent reference to Trumps disappointment with him, Putin on Friday said that all disappointments arise from inflated expectations. Making it clear that he had no intention to stop ground offensives, he said that to stop our advance at any cost was the objective of Russias enemies and ill-wishers.

ALSO READ: With Russias terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender  not a peace deal

Trump came to office in January as a friend of Putin who paved path of a Russian victory in Ukraine: he pressured Ukraine with the suspension of military and intelligence assistance, humiliated the countrys president, ended long-running US military and intelligence programmes focussed on Russia, floated ceasefire proposals that endorsed Russian positions, diluted the trans-Atlantic security alliance, and sought a reset of US-Russia ties. But Putin kept doubling down on his maximalist demands and rejected all of Trumps proposals. He kept bombing Ukranian civilians in defiance of personal appeals by Trump.

Last month, Trump essentially concluded that Putin does not want a ceasefire and wants all of Ukraine. With the 50-day ultimatum, which his supporters cheered, he had essentially endorsed Putin's ongoing ground offensive  either out of a failure to understand its favourable implications for Putin or tacit approval of Putins war plans. But as he reduced the deadline to 10-12 days on July 28, it was clear that his patience was running out.

However, it does not appear that Putin has taken President Trumps deadlines and threats of sanctions, tariffs, and secondary tariffs seriously so far and it appears that he still hopes that he can maintain Trumps goodwill through flattery and false promises, says Kseniya Kirillova, a Russia analyst at Washington DC-based think tank Jamestown Foundation.

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Has Trump given Putin the last chance?

With his statements, it appears that Trump has given Putin his last chance before taking punitive actions. But Trump being Trump, nothing could ever be certain.

Just around the time of the deadlines end, Trumps main negotiator, Steve Witkoff, will go to Russia on Wednesday or Thursday to hold talks with the countrys leaders. The visit and signals from it should provide clarity about Trumps final position on the Russian war on Ukraine.

For now, it appears that Trump is willing to punish Russia because his friendly ties with Putin may not outpower his commitment to his base to end the war and personal embarrassment that Putin has dealt him with the consistent rejection of his peace offerings.

Despite President Trumps personal sympathies for Putin, which he has never concealed, it is important to remember that Trump is, first and foremost, a businessman, and he needs a result, which is the deal he promised to his voters, says Kirillova, the Russia analyst at Jamestown Foundation.

Kirillova tells Firstpost, It appears that President Trump did not care what the cost of achieving the Ukraine peace deal would be. Ukraine appeared to be the weaker party and therefore it seemed logical for him to put pressure on the weaker side. I very much hope that he has begun to realise that no result will be achieved unless pressure is applied to Russia. And as he continues to see the absence of results, his sympathies for Putin appear to have turned into irritation.

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ALSO READ  Ukraine and beyond: 25 years on, Putin is still fighting Cold War

There appear to be subtle signs that Putin is responding to at least some of Trumps change in tone and posture. After Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who has been Putins attack down since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, insulted Trump on X and threatened a war, Trump announced the deployment of two nuclear submarines near Russian waters. Medvedev has been silent since Trumps announcement and the Kremlin has sobered its tone as well.

Putin may not be as strong as he appears to be and therein lies Trumps power to force the hand of the Russian leader.

The Russian economy is completely dependent on China and the war machinery is dependent on China, Iran, and North Korea. Even though the personnel situation is better than that of Ukraine, it is not sustainable.

Putin is hesitant to declare a new wave of mobilisation or to further shift the economy onto a war footing. However, in the case of a serious offensive, he will not be able to avoid these steps. But as Russian defence plants are already operating at full capacity, there is little scope of such steps delivering desired results. President Trump therefore has certain levers of influence over Putin. Most importantly, he can provide Ukraine with more substantial military aid, says Kirillova.

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If he actually finds himself cornered, Putin may actually seek a low-hanging fruit and avoid a confrontation with the West for now over Ukraine.

For Putin, the ideal scenario is to freeze the conflict for a while, build up strength, and then resume the war  ideally with a more plausible pretext, such as accusing Ukraine of failing to comply with peace agreements, says Kirillova.
The Chinese national appeared in a Canberra court on Monday, accused of reckless foreign interference for allegedly spying on a local Buddhist group on behalf of a Chinese security agency

A Chinese woman has become the first Chinese national charged under Australias 2018 foreign interference laws, marking only the third case since the legislation was introduced.

She appeared in a Canberra court on Monday, accused of reckless foreign interference for allegedly spying on a local Buddhist group on behalf of a Chinese security agency.

The woman, who holds Australian permanent residency, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, according to a Reuters report, citing the Australian Federal Police.

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The AFP will allege the woman  was tasked by a Public Security Bureau of China to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association, Reuters quoted AFP as saying in a statement.

Police launched an investigation into the womans activities in March after receiving intelligence from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), added the statement.

She was arrested on Saturday following police searches of properties in Canberra.

The introduction of the foreign interference laws in 2018 has contributed to diplomatic tensions with China, Australias largest trading partner.

The two previous cases under the legislation involved Australian citizens accused of collaborating with Chinese intelligence services.

Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to monitor, intimidate and potentially repatriate members of our diaspora communities should never underestimate our capabilities and resolve, Reuters quoted Mike Burgess, director-general of the ASIO, as saying in a statement.

With inputs from agencies
Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvirs visit to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem has drawn sharp criticism from several countries. The minister reportedly prayed at the site, violating a long-standing agreement.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvirs visit to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday has triggered strong criticism from several countries for violating international norms.

Ben-Gvir, accompanied by around 1,250 people and police, entered the holy site and reportedly offered prayers. This move is seen as a breach of a long-standing and sensitive status quo agreement, under which Jews are allowed to visit the al-Aqsa compound, but not pray there. The site is administered by a Jordanian Islamic authority.

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Saudi Arabia condemns visit

Saudi Arabia sharply condemned the visit, calling it a violation of international law. The Kingdom strongly condemns the repeated provocative actions by Israeli officials against al-Aqsa mosque, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on social media platform X.

Israel says status quo remains unchanged

In response to the criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said there has been no change in Israels policy. Israels commitment to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount remains unchanged, the statement read.

#Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias condemnation in the strongest terms of the repeated provocative practices by officials of the Israeli occupation authorities against Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Kingdom affirms that such practices fuel the conflict pic.twitter.com/SWubIeWvaQ  Foreign Ministry  (@KSAmofaEN) August 3, 2025

Despite this assurance, Ben-Gvirs visit drew more criticism, particularly because he prayed at the site, which is also sacred to Jews as the Temple Mountsomething explicitly restricted under the current arrangement.

Jordan calls it a provocation

Jordan, the official custodian of the site, also condemned the visit. Its Foreign Ministry described Ben-Gvirs actions as a blatant violation of international law and an unacceptable provocation and escalation. The ministry said the visit undermines the historic and legal status of the compound.

At least 27 people were killed by Israeli forces while attempting to access food in Gaza on Sunday, according to Palestinian officials. Additionally, six others reportedly died due to starvation or malnutrition.
More than 3,000 workers walked out just after midnight on Monday, disrupting operations at three US plants where fighter jets are built

The Boeing logo is seen on the side of a Boeing 737 MAX. File image/Reuters

Boeing has been hit by a fresh labour strike, compounding the companys long-running troubles as it attempts to recover from a decade of safety lapses, legal scrutiny and executive shake-ups.

More than 3,000 workers walked out just after midnight on Monday, disrupting operations at three US plants where fighter jets are built. The strike, led by members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, marks Boeings second major labour disruption in under a year.

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The timing is difficult. Once a symbol of American industrial might, Boeing is still struggling to restore confidence after years of fatal crashes, investigations and internal upheaval.

A turbulent history of safety and scandal

The companys troubles began with issues on its flagship 787 Dreamliner. Battery fires led to a global grounding of the aircraft shortly after its introduction, raising early doubts about Boeings reliance on new technologies and outsourcing.

The launch of the 737 Max was initially seen as a commercial triumph. But that image crumbled following two devastating crashes involving Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights. The disasters, which killed a total of 346 people, were eventually linked to a faulty flight-control system known as MCAS.

Pilots were not properly informed about the system, and subsequent investigations revealed that Boeing had downplayed its significance during regulatory approval. The 737 Max was grounded worldwide. Amid mounting criticism, Boeings then-chief executive was removed from his post.

Legal fallout and leadership changes

Federal prosecutors later accused the company of fraud, citing a pattern of misleading behaviour toward safety regulators. Boeing paid billions to settle the charges, including a deal with the US Justice Department that allowed it to avoid prosecution if certain conditions were met.

The companys efforts to move on were repeatedly disrupted by fresh incidents. In early 2024, a panel detached mid-flight from a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines. Though no one was harmed, the event reignited concerns about Boeings manufacturing standards. A panel of independent experts later concluded that the companys safety culture remained deficient.

That same year, a LATAM Airlines Dreamliner suddenly plunged during a flight between Australia and New Zealand, injuring dozens. Boeing advised airlines to inspect cockpit seat switches after it was suggested a seat malfunction may have triggered the incident.

Facing increasing pressure, CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would step down by the end of 2024. His departure was followed by the appointment of Kelly Ortberg, an engineer and former aerospace supplier executive, signalling a move to refocus on Boeings technical foundations.

Ongoing labour unrest and federal scrutiny

The companys labour woes have only added to its crisis. In September last year, tens of thousands of factory workers walked off the job in a strike that halted production for weeks.

That action was Boeings first major strike in 16 years.

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Though the company recently reached a final legal settlement over the Max crashes, agreeing to plead guilty to conspiracy and to pay more than $1.1bn in penalties and compensation, it still faces a long road to regaining trust.

This weeks walkout is a fresh reminder that all is not well inside Boeing. For a company that once stood at the pinnacle of global aviation, the climb back to stability remains steep and uncertain.

With inputs from agencies
Thai and Cambodian officials kicked off high-stakes border talks in Malaysia on Monday, aiming to cement the fragile ceasefire that followed five days of deadly clashes.

Military attaches from various countries visit a hospital that was damaged after Cambodia fired artillery shells in Sisaket province, Thailand. File image/ AP

Thai and Cambodian officials gathered in Malaysia on Monday for the first round of cross-border committee negotiations since a tense truce was agreed upon last week following five days of deadly armed border battles that killed dozens and displaced over 260,000 people.

The four-day General Border Committee meetings were originally scheduled to be held by Cambodia, but both parties eventually agreed on a neutral site in Malaysia, the annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which negotiated the cease-fire last month.

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The truce on July 28 came in response to economic pressure from US President Donald Trump, who had told the warring nations that if the conflict continued, the US would not sign trade deals with them. Following the ceasefire, Washington reduced duties on imports from both nations from 36% to 19% on August 1.

More from World How India can navigate Trumps tariff storm in a choppy world

Mondays discussions centred on smoothing out specifics to avoid more clashes. Discussions of the decades-long rival territorial claims over the patches of territory near the common boundary are not on the agenda.

A history of hostility

Thailand and Cambodia have been feuding neighbors for centuries, since both were mighty empires. In modern times, a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice awarding Cambodia the land on which the ancient Preah Vihear temple stands marked a new low point in relations, and other border territory remained claimed by both countries.

Fighting erupted in 2011 at Preah Vihaer, after which the ICJ in 2013 reaffirmed its earlier ruling, rankling Thailand. Relations deteriorated again sharply in May this year, when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead in a brief fracas in one of the disputed border zones, setting off diplomatic and trade sanctions, one against the other.

Soon after two incidents last month in which Thai soldiers were wounded by land mines in disputed territory  for which Thailand blamed Cambodia  the two sides downgraded diplomatic relations and fighting broke out, each side blaming the other for starting the armed clashes.

The talks this week will include finalizing details and scope of reference for an ASEAN monitoring team, Malaysian Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Mohamad Nizam Jaffar said Monday.

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Despite some reports of attacks after the ceasefire came into effect, Nizam said such incidents were typical spillover violence and both sides showed strong commitment during Mondays talks to uphold the ceasefire.

The main session of the General Border Committee on Thursday will be led by Thai Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seih, who also serves as deputy prime minister, and include observers from Malaysia, the United States and China, officials said.

Despite the truce, tensions have persisted as both countries organized tours of the former battle areas for foreign diplomats and other observers to highlight damage allegedly caused by the other side. The two countries also continue to accuse each other of having violated international humanitarian laws with attacks on civilians and the use of illegal weapons.

The battles are now fought on the propaganda front

The propaganda war continues with accusations, denials, and cries of fake news, while supporters of each side also tangle on social media.

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Each side has blamed the other for starting the fighting and for indiscriminately targeting civilian sites with long-range weapons such as artillery and rockets, and using prohibited weapons.

The hottest issue is Cambodias allegations that Thailand has mistreated and tortured a squad of captured Cambodian soldiers. Two wounded members of the 20-man Cambodian group were repatriated on Friday.

However, Thai officials said Monday that the soldiers qualify as prisoners of war and will be released and repatriated only when the armed conflict ends, which it considers a separate matter from last weeks ceasefire.

Thai military spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said at a news briefing Monday that Thailand has invited representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, and the U.N.s Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, OHCHR, to visit the detained Cambodian soldiers on site. Cambodia had called for such access.

Neither the ICRC nor the OHCHR responded to a query from The Associated Press asking about any communications with the two governments.

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Cambodias king formalizes former leader Hun Sens military role

A surprise statement on Monday night in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh announced that Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni issued a Royal Decree authorizing the countrys influential former leader Hun Sen to work together with his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, in guiding military and national defense affairs.

The kings decree said he was acting because the nation is suffering from serious violations and threats to its territorial integrity by the Thai soldiers, and in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution of Cambodia.

King Sihamoni generally keeps a low profile and exercises no political power or influence, taking no initiative in any state or government work.

The 72-year-old Hun Sen, who is very active on social media, maintained a high profile during the fighting, urging his countrys soldiers and hurling invective at Thailand and its leaders. He was once a guerrilla fighter with the Communist Khmer Rouge.

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It was not clear why Hun Sen would need or want authorization from King Sihamoni, since there has been no open dissent inside the country criticizing his actions during the conflict.

The decree appeared to be a response to foreign news stories suggesting Hun Sen was usurping his sons authority. Hun Sen seemed to confirm this, saying on Facebook that he was exercising his rights as a five-star general with experience to fight the thieves who invaded my country, after noting criticism from Thai media.
A team of Chinese aerospace engineers and defence researchers has proposed a groundbreaking technological change that could drastically improve drone survivability

In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, drones have become indispensable tools for reconnaissance and aerial combat.

Ukrainian air defences have proven highly effective. Data from the Ukrainian Air Force indicates that between April and June, approximately 15 per cent of Russian drones breached defences, up from just 5 per cent previously. However, a team of Chinese aerospace engineers and defence researchers has proposed a groundbreaking technological change that could drastically improve drone survivability, potentially increasing their success rate to nearly 90 per cent.

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Chinese team suggests innovative proposal

The innovative proposal centres on equipping small to medium-sized drones with compact, side-mounted rocket boosters.

These boosters enable drones to execute instantaneous, high-G (accelerated) manoeuvres in the final moments before being intercepted by a missile midway.

This terminal evasion system allows drones to make abrupt, unpredictable course changes that even the most advanced missiles struggle to track.

According to a study published last month in the Chinese defence journal Acta Armamentarii, extensive digital simulations demonstrated a remarkable 87 per cent survival rate for drones equipped with this system. In many cases, the drones caused missiles to detonate harmlessly in empty space.

The research team, led by Bi Wenhao, an associate researcher at the National Key Laboratory of Aircraft Configuration Design at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xian, was quoted by South China Morning Post as saying that drones are getting more important in modern warfare.

Extensively employed drones for reconnaissance and aerial combat, making [them] increasingly crucial on the battlefield, the team wrote. After analysing conflicts like the war in Ukraine, Chinese military analysts noted that there are higher demands on the evasion capability and survivability of unmanned combat aircraft.

Three key principles of this technology

Traditionally, drones attempt evasive manoeuvres well before a missile impact, often forcing them to abort their missions. Bis team, however, proposed a radical alternative: executing evasive actions at the last possible moment.

This approach relies on three key principles. First, precise timing is criticalthe rocket boosters must ignite within a one- to two-second window before impact, early enough to alter the drones trajectory but late enough to prevent the missile from adjusting its course.

Second, the system requires directional intelligence to decide whether the drone should climb, dive, or veer laterally based on the missiles approach vector.

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Finally, the boosters must deliver at least 16Gs of accelerationfar exceeding the capabilities of conventional aerodynamic control surfacesto achieve a sudden, disorienting shift in flight path.

Integrating these rocket boosters into a drones airframe presents significant challenges.
Colombias former president Alvaro Uribe has petitioned the Supreme Court to lift his house arrest while he appeals a 12-year sentence for witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

Colombias former president Alvaro Uribe, the countrys first previous leader to be convicted of a crime, petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday for his release while appealing his sentence of 12 years house jail.

Uribes conviction and punishment last Friday marked the end of his long career as one of Colombias most contentious politicians.

The 73-year-old, who is still popular and powerful among conservatives, conducted a rigorous military battle against drug traffickers and the FARC rebel group as president from 2002 to 2010.

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Uribe was found guilty of tampering with witnesses in a separate inquiry investigating his suspected involvement with right-wing paramilitaries responsible for atrocities while fighting leftist guerrillas.

He was also found guilty of impeding justice.

At his sentencing the trial court judge declared him to be a flight risk and ordered him to be placed under house arrest at his home in the town of Rionegro, near Colombias second city of Medellin.

Uribes lawyers petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday to set him free, assuring he had no intention of leaving his homeland.

A law-and-order hardliner, Uribe was a close ally of the United States and retains ties to the American right.

He claims his conviction is a political witch hunt by the administration of left-wing President Gustavo Petro.

He has until August 13 to appeal his conviction.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has decried the case against Uribe, saying it represented the weaponization of Colombias judicial branch by radical judges.
Indias deepening ties with Japan, amid high-level military exchanges and PM Modis upcoming visit, have raised questions about a possible shift in its Indo-Pacific strategy. Is New Delhi now prioritising bilateral partnerships alongside the Quad?

The Operation Sindoor outreach will reach Japan to spread the the country's stand on terrorism. File image/PTI

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit Japan later this month and a series of high-level military exchanges already underway, Indias deepening engagement with Tokyo has raised an important question, is New Delhi shifting its Indo-Pacific focus from multilateralism under the Quad to more targeted bilateralism?

In recent weeks, senior Indian military officials have actively engaged with their Japanese counterparts. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan visited Tokyo and held talks with General Yoshida Yoshihide, Chief of Staff of Japans Self-Defense Forces (JSDF).

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This was followed by a four-day official visit by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, aimed at strengthening maritime and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

These developments come ahead of PM Modis expected visit, during which discussions are likely to extend beyond defence cooperation to include economic initiatives, most notably, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project.

This flurry of diplomatic and military activity raises critical strategic questions and comes at a time of significant geopolitical shifts. According to the Ministry of External Affairs latest brief on the Quad (February 2025), India remains firmly committed to a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific through collective efforts. However, it also stresses that the Quad complements, not replaces, Indias bilateral relationships in the region.

Strategic analysts argue that Indias growing bilateral engagement with Japan is not an abandonment of the Quad but rather an attempt to add depth where mutual interests align. These developments also come against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions with the United States. President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on Indian imports and introduced additional penalties for trade with Russia, signalling a sharp turn in US economic policy and a broader reshaping of the global order. Notably, Japan has also taken a more assertive stance under these changing dynamics.

Japan, under its evolving security doctrine, is gradually moving away from its post-war pacifist stance and is seeking stronger defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, making India a natural and strategic partner.

Indias approach, meanwhile, reflects pragmatism. While the Quad offers a platform for collective dialogue and strategic coordination, bilateral arrangements provide greater flexibility, quicker implementation, and more focused cooperation, especially in areas like joint defence exercises, technological exchange, and maritime security.

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PM Modis upcoming visit is expected to cement both strategic and economic ties further, positioning the Indo-Japanese axis as a key pillar in Indias Indo-Pacific strategy, complementary to, rather than in competition with, the Quad.

This recalibration also comes in the wake of past confrontations with China, from the deadly Galwan clashes in 2020 to the standoff at Doklam in 2017, underlining the urgency for India to forge strong regional partnerships in an increasingly turbulent Indo-Pacific.
In the West, Dmitry Medvedev was once seen as a democrat who could liberalise Russia. In a stunning fall, he has been reduced to a rabid attack dog for Vladimir Putin who threatens Western capitals with nuclear weapons and launches into xenophobic rants on social media. In his feud with Donald Trump last week, he may have finally overstepped.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attend a meeting with members of the government in Moscow, Russia, January 15, 2020. (Photo: Sputnik/Dmitry Astakhov/Pool via Reuters)

Few world leaders have had downfalls like Dmitry Medvedev, the former President of Russia once seen as a democrat who could liberalise the country.

Far from the democrat who once stood beside Barack Obama and delivered statesman-like remarks, Medvedev now functions as a rabid attack dog of Russian leader Vladimir Putin who threatens Western capitals with nuclear attacks, abuses Western leaders, and launches into xenophobic attacks on social media.

Medvedev served as the President of Russia during 2008-12 when Putin became the Prime Minister because of presidential term limits. Initially, he showed reformist streaks and acted as someone who appeared to be putting Russia on the path of democratisation. The phase did not last long as Putin made it clear that he held the real power. In 2012, Putin returned as the president and appointed Medvedev as the prime minister  an office he held till 2020.

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In 2020, in a demotion that would have forced a politician in any other country to retire altogether in shame, Putin appointed Medvedev as the Deputy Chairperson of the Security Council of Russia, a position equivalent to that of the National Security Advisor of the United States.

In 25 years of his rule, Putin has crushed all opposition to his rule, killed the free press, jailed, exiled, or killed opposition leaders. With Medvedevs relegation to the Security Council, he removed perhaps the last person from a position of power that could have held any democratic streak.

ALSO READ  25 years of Vladimir Putin: When Boris Yeltsin resigned and asked his PM to take care of Russia

Here we explore the rise and fall of Medvedev, who went on to become the Russian president from a lawyer  and then got reduced to an attack dog.

From a municipal lawyer to President of Russia

Medvedev first met Putin in 1990 when he joined the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Mayor of St Petersburg. The committee was headed by Putin.

Medvedev and Putin became friends. The friendship would go on to define Medvedevs career.

At the time, Putin had just entered politics after leaving the Soviet spy agency KGB. Unlike him, Medvedev did not come from government background. He was a lawyer and was in academia briefly.

As Putin moved from St Petersburg to Moscow, Medvedev moved to the Russian capital as well, serving first as Putins personal lawyer and later playing a key role in the 2000 presidential election that Putin won.

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Under Putin, Medvedev served in several positions, such as his Deputy Chief of Staff, Chairman of Gazprom, and Chief of Staff, before being appointed as the First Deputy Prime Minister in 2005.

In 2008, Medvedev took over as the President of Russia. In what initially appeared to be a pivotal moment that many hoped would put Russia on the path of democratisation and check Putins consolidation of power, he initially embarked on anti-corruption campaign, sought to instil scientific temper and promote technological innovation, and advocated for civil society development in Russia. But he was put in place mid-term by Putin.

The rise as democrat and fall to irrelevance

As the President of Russia, Medvedev once stood beside Obama and announced that the solution of many world problems depends on the joint will of the United States and Russia.

Far from the attack dog that now threatens Western capitals with nuclear strikes, Medvedev said at the time that the United States and Russia have the major nuclear arsenals and we have full responsibility for those arsenals.

Medvedevs democratic streaks and perception as a moderniser paved the way for his doom. In Putins Russia, after all, there was no place for democracy or modernity.

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Medvedev once held democratic convictions and it is quite possible that, at some point, Putin saw him as a genuine threat and decided to break him and relegate him to the Security Council where he does not have any real executive power, according to Kseniya Kirillova, a Russia analyst at the Washington DC-based think tank Jamestown Foundation.

ALSO READ  Ukraine and beyond: 25 years on, Putin is still fighting Cold War

Breaking Medvedev as a leader and forcing him to be a radical attack dog hit many birds with one stone for Putin.

As Putin likely saw Medvedev as a threat, he chose to break him completely by assigning him the role of a radical. This humiliating, almost buffoonish, role that Medvedev now plays is most likely the result of fear of Putin. The Kremlin, in turn, uses him to test public opinion both within Russia and abroad. Therefore, Medvedevs behaviour should not be interpreted as indicative of any significant internal processes, says Kirillova.

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From the Syrian Civil War to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, US First Lady Melania Trump has apparently been a key driving force of US President Donald Trumps foreign policy.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk during a celebration of the Army's 250th birthday on the National Mall in Washington, June 14, 2025. (Photo: Doug Mills/Pool via Reuters)

With recent revelations, it appears that one of the most influential advisors of US President Donald Trump is not even a part of the government.

From the Syrian Civil War to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it now appears that US First Lady Melania Trump has been a key driving force behind Trumps foreign policy. While Trump has briefly acknowledged her positions on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, her broader role has largely been unreported.

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The Daily Telegraph has reported that Melania has been the driving force behind Trumps policy on Syria and Ukraine.

There are indications that Melania has had a role in the change of Trumps tone regarding Gaza as well.

How Melania moved Trumps policy on Syria, Ukraine

In the first term (2017-21), Melania was a key factor behind Trumps decision to launch airstrikes on then-Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assads regime, according to The Telegraph.

In April 2017, in opposition to his stated position of non-interventionism, Trump ordered the launch of airstrikes on Assad's forces in response to a chemical attack that the regime carried out on Syrians opposed to his rule. Dozens of civilians were killed in the attack, including children.

Trump said at the time that the airstrikes were meant to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons. It was the first time that the United States directly attacked Assads military.

The Telegraph has reported that Melanias position on the situation in Syria was a key factor that shaped Trumps decision. A former White House official told the newspaper that she was horrified by videos of children dying from the chemical attack in Syrias Khan Shaykun and impressed upon her husband the need to act.

The former official said that Melania was highly influential in that decision.

I think she reacts to human suffering as a mom, without a policy or political filter, and shares her gut reaction with her husband, the official said.

In the second term, there have been indications that Melanias criticism of Russian leader Vladimir Putins defiance of promises to her husband have influenced the shift in the US policy. Trump has said that his wife had flagged to him the discrepancy between Putins words and actions.

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In repeated conversations with Trump, Putin had expressed openness to end the war. In most of the cases, however, the Trump-Putin call coincided with large Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine. Putin has so far rejected every ceasefire proposal from Trump and has persisted with his maximalist demands.

I go home, I tell the first lady: I spoke with Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation. She said: Oh really? Another city was just hit, said Trump last month as he made an apparent shift in his approach to the war in Ukraine.

Last month, Trump announced fresh weapon deliveries to Ukraine and gave Putin a 50-day ultimatum to end the war on Ukraine. He later reduced it to 10 days on July 28.

Trump has referred to Melania during his shift in tone regarding Gaza's hunger crisis as well.

She thinks its terrible. She sees the same pictures that you see and we all see. Everybody, unless they are pretty cold-hearted or worse than that, nuts  theres nothing you can say other than its terrible when you see the kids, said Trump.

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Hamas has expressed willingness to work with the Red Cross to deliver aid to Israeli hostages in Gazaif Israel permanently halts bombings and opens humanitarian corridors. The statement follows the release of a disturbing video showing a visibly emaciated captive, sparking global condemnation and prompting a UN Security Council session.

Palestinians carry aid supplies which they received from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in the central Gaza Strip. File image/ Reuters

Hamas said on Sunday it was willing to work with the Red Cross to send supplies to captives it keeps in Gaza if Israel meets specific conditions, after a video it shared showing an emaciated detainee that drew severe criticism from Western powers.

Hamas stated that any cooperation with the Red Cross is reliant on Israel permanently establishing humanitarian corridors and ceasing bombing during relief distribution.

According to Israeli sources, 50 captives remain in Gaza, with just 20 thought to be alive. So far, Hamas has denied humanitarian organisations access to the hostages, and relatives know little or nothing about their plight.

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On Saturday, Hamas released their second video in two days featuring Israeli hostage Evyatar David. In it, David, skeletally thin, is shown digging a hole for his own grave, as he claims in the video. The arm of the person holding the camera, which can be seen in the photo, is of regular width.

The footage of David sparked outrage among Israelis and Western nations alike. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have all expressed their displeasure, and Israels foreign ministry has declared that the UN Security Council will conduct a special session on Tuesday morning to discuss the hostage situation in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had asked the Red Cross to give humanitarian assistance to the hostages during a conversation with the head of the Swiss-based ICRCs local delegation.

A statement from The Hostages Families Forum, which represents relatives of those being held in Gaza, said Hamas comments about the hostages cannot hide that it has been holding innocent people in impossible conditions for over 660 days, and demanded their immediate release.

Until their release, said the statement, Hamas has the obligation to provide them with everything they need. Hamas kidnapped them and they must care for them. Every hostage who dies will be on Hamass hands.

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Six more people died of starvation or malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, its health ministry said on Sunday as Israel said it allowed a delivery of fuel to the enclave, in the throes of a humanitarian disaster after almost two years of war.

The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from what international humanitarian agencies say may be an unfolding famine to 175, including 93 children, since the war began, the ministry said.

Egypts state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said two trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread.

COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said later in the day that four tankers of UN fuel had entered to help in operations of hospitals, bakeries, public kitchens and other essential services.

There was no immediate confirmation whether the two diesel fuel trucks had entered Gaza from Egypt.

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Gazas health ministry has said fuel shortages have severely impaired hospital services, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients.

Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid into the enclave in what it said was pressure on Hamas militants to free the remaining hostages they took in their October 2023 attack on Israel.

Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international uproar, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.

UN agencies say airdrops are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the territory to prevent starvation among its 2.2 million people, most of whom are displaced amidst vast swathes of rubble.

COGAT said that during the past week over 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid in 1,200 trucks had entered Gaza but that hundreds of the trucks had yet to be driven to aid distribution hubs by UN and other international organisations.

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Meanwhile, Belgiums air force dropped the first in a series of its aid packages into Gaza on Sunday in a joint operation with Jordan, the Belgian defence ministry said.

France on Friday started to air-drop 40 tons of humanitarian aid.

Looted aid trucks

The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday that nearly 1,600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions late in July. However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs.

More than 700 trucks of fuel entered the Gaza Strip in January and February during a ceasefire before Israel broke it in March in a dispute over terms for extending it and resumed its major offensive.

Palestinian local health authorities said at least 80 people had been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across the coastal enclave on Sunday. Deaths included persons trying to make their way to aid distribution points in southern and central areas of Gaza, Palestinian medics said.

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Among those killed was a staff member of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which said an Israeli strike at its headquarters in Khan Younis in southern Gaza ignited a fire on the first floor of the building.

The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israels air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials.
Tehran ruled out direct talks with Washington, accusing it of military aggression alongside Israel during a recent 12-day conflict that derailed nuclear discussions.

Iran said Monday that any future negotiations would hold the United States responsible for attacks on its nuclear installations, but that direct talks with Washington were out of the question.

On June 22, the United States briefly joined Israels battle against Iran, which had stalled discussions on Tehrans nuclear program.

In any potential negotiation the issue of holding the United States accountable and demanding compensation for committing military aggression against Irans peaceful nuclear facilities will be one of the topics on the agenda, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a press briefing on Monday.

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Asked whether Iran would engage in direct talks with the United States, Baqaei said: No.

During the course of the 12-day battle, Israel began an unprecedented onslaught in mid-June that targeted Iranian military and nuclear installations while also striking civilian areas. US troops joined the attack by attacking nuclear facilities in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz.

The fighting halted negotiations that had begun in April and were the highest-level communication between Tehran and Washington since the US abandoned a major nuclear agreement with Iran in 2018.

Following the battle, Tehran stopped cooperation with the UN nuclear inspectors and wanted assurances against military action before restarting discussions.

Washington has slammed Tehrans demand for compensation as ridiculous.

Baqaei said on Monday that Iran was committed to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, but criticised what he described as the politicised and unprofessional approach of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The foreign ministry spokesman said that the IAEAs deputy chief is expected in Iran in less than 10 days.

Last month, Iran said future cooperation with the UN agency would take on a new form.

On July 25, Iranian diplomats met with counterparts from Germany, Britain and France, in the first meeting since the war with Israel ended.

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The three European powers are parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, which unravelled after the US withdrew during Trumps first term.

In recent weeks, the trio has threatened to trigger sanctions if Tehran failed to agree a deal on uranium enrichment and cooperation with UN inspectors.

Iran has repeatedly called reimposing sanctions illegal and insisted on its right to enrich uranium.

Israel and Western nations accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.
The victims were taken from the Sainte-Helene orphanage in the commune of Kenscoff, about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) southeast of the capital

Children stand in the courtyard of the Maison La Providence de Dieu orphanage it Ganthier, Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. AP

Nine people were kidnapped from an orphanage near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince on Sunday, officials said, including the facilitys Irish director and a three-year-old child.

The victims were taken from the Sainte-Helene orphanage in the commune of Kenscoff, about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) southeast of the capital.

Among them was Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary who oversees the orphanage  operated by the humanitarian organization Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters).

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A three-year-old child and seven employees were also taken, according to Kenscoff Mayor Masillon Jean and a separate source close to the organization.

The attackers broke into the orphanage around 3:30 am (0730 GMT) without opening fire, Jean said, calling it a planned act.

They broke through a wall to enter the property before heading to the building where the director was staying, leaving with nine hostages.

No demands or ransom requests have been made, though Heraty called the organization early Sunday to confirm she was among the kidnapped, a source close to the organization told AFP.

Heraty, who has lived in Haiti since 1993, runs the orphanage which cares for up to 270 children.

She is the latest foreign missionary to become the victim of kidnapping in Haiti.

In April 2021, two French priests were among ten people kidnapped in Croix des Bouquets before they were released nearly three weeks later.

The same group behind that kidnapping, the 400 Mawazo gang, took a group of 17 American and Canadian missionaries hostage six months later.

Since the start of this year, Kenscoff has found itself in the crosshairs of the Viv Ansanm (Living Together) gang, which has already taken control of several other localities.

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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said at least 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti in the first half of this year, where the growing impact of gang violence threatens to further destabilize the nation.
Even as US President Donald Trump has gone after India for the purchase of Russian oil, the fact remains that Europe continues to buy Russian oil and gas. Moreover, Europe has paid more to Russia for energy imports than it has given to Ukraine in aid.

Fuga Bluemarine crude oil tanker lies at anchor near the terminal Kozmino in Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia.

In the latest episode of the Donald Trumps campaign against India, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has termed Indias purchase of Russian oil not acceptable and has clubbed India with China in supporting the Russian war on Ukraine.

Miller, however, ignored two facts.

Firstly, China has kept the entire Russian economy afloat by providing the country with consumer goods and absorbing its exports because of sanctions blocking its access to international market. China also provides Russia with raw materials, dual-use goods, and machinery to make weapons. It also provides drones. On the other hand, India simply buys Russian oil with no support comparable to Chinas.

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Secondly, Europe buys Russian oil and gas as well. In fact, Europe buys so much Russian oil and gas that it has paid more to Russia for energy imports than it has given to Ukraine in aid.

In 2024, European Union (EU) members bought 21.9 billion ($25.4 billion) of Russian oil and gas compared to 18.7 billion ($21.69 billion) that they allocated in aid for Ukraine, according to estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

ALSO READ: With 25% tariff & threat of Russia sanctions, Trump dashes hope of being India's top partner

Miller and Trump do not have harsh words for Europe.

What he [Trump] said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from RussiaPeople will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. Thats an astonishing fact, said Miller on Sunday.

EU relies on Russian oil & gas  see figures

Even as Trump and his supporters has threatened India with sanctions and tariffs for buying Russian oil, the fact remains that the EU does the same.

Since 2022 when Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has been the largest buyer of Russian liquified natural gas (51 per cent) and pipeline gas (37 per cent) and Turkey a Nato member has been the largest buyer of Russian oil products (26 per cent), according to CREA.

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Since 2022, estimates have said that EU members have paid $215235 billion to Russia for oil, gas, and coal imports, compared to $200 billion that they have allocated or pledged in aid to Ukraine.

Vaibhav Raghunandan, an analyst at CREA, told Guardian, that such a behaviour amounts to sending financial aid to the Kremlin and enabling its invasion.
Pakistani foreign ministry said Marco Rubio and Ishaq Dar discussed trade agreement during a telephonic conversation on Monday, among other regional and international issues.

Amid warming ties between Pakistan and the US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday (August 4) held a telephonic conversation with Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. Islamabad said the two leaders discussed issues of bilateral matters and regional importance.

Pakistans ties with Washington have significantly improved after the US President claimed he helped broker the ceasefire between Islamabad and New Delhi following the four-day military conflict in May. However, India has rejected Trumps claim, stating that the May 10 ceasefire was reached directly upon Pakistans request, and there was no intervention from the US.

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Pakistan-US trade deal

Pakistan announced last week that it had finalised a landmark trade deal with the United States, aimed at reducing tariffs and fostering deeper economic ties.

Alongside this, Trump revealed a separate partnership focused on developing Pakistans oil reserves, signalling a new chapter in the economic relationship between the two nations.

The trade agreement was discussed during the Monday call between Ishaq Dar and Rubio. According to the Pakistani foreign ministry, The two leaders discussed a range of bilateral matters and exchanged views on current regional & international issues. The statement further noted that Both sides agreed to remain in contact and continue cooperation on areas of mutual interest.

This development marks a notable shift in Pakistan-US relations, which had cooled in recent years following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Analysts view Islamabads renewed engagement with Washington as a diplomatic reset, aimed at rebuilding ties after a period of estrangement. High-level exchanges between the two countries had dwindled, but this trade deal and oil partnership indicate a renewed focus on economic cooperation.

The United States remains a critical trade partner for Pakistan, serving as its top export destination. Official data shows that Pakistans exports to the US reached $5.44 billion in the fiscal year 2023-2024. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports saw a 10 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

Pakistans government has been actively pursuing stronger trade and economic ties, both regionally and with international allies like the US, as part of its strategy to address a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. The country has faced significant resource constraints, prompting Islamabad to prioritise foreign investment and economic partnerships.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to decide on renewed military action in Gaza after the collapse of ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. As diplomatic channels falter, Israeli leaders are weighing options ranging from expanded military operations to annexation, even as internal divisions deepen and hostages remain in captivity.

Israeli troops deploy with their tanks near the border fence with the Gaza Strip on August 1, 2025. AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with his security cabinet this week to decide the countrys next steps in Gaza, following the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas. A senior Israeli official suggested that renewed military action remains a likely option.

During a visit to Israel last Saturday, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said he was working closely with the Israeli government to devise a strategy for ending the conflict.

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Despite international pressure, Israeli leaders have floated plans to escalate the military campaign in Gaza and potentially annex parts of the war-torn enclave.

The failed negotiations in Doha were aimed at advancing a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, during which humanitarian aid would enter Gaza and Hamas would release half of the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Following Netanyahus meeting with Witkoff last Thursday, a senior Israeli official stated that an understanding was emerging between Washington and Israel of the need to transition from a truce to a comprehensive agreement that would release all hostages, disarm Hamas, and demilitarise the Gaza Strip, one of Israels key conditions for ending the war.

According to a person acquainted with the situation, Israel saw the envoys visit as very significant.

But later on Sunday, the Israeli official signalled that pursuit of a deal would be pointless, threatening more force:

An understanding is emerging that Hamas is not interested in a deal and therefore the prime minister is pushing to release the hostages while pressing for military defeat.

Israels Channel 12 on Monday cited an official from his office as saying that Netanyahu was inclining towards expanding the offensive and seizing the entire Palestinian enclave.

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Strategic clarity

What a military defeat might mean, however, is up for debate within the Israeli leadership. Some Israeli officials have suggested that Israel might declare it was annexing parts of Gaza as a means to pressure the militant group.

Others, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir want to see Israel impose military rule in Gaza before annexing it and re-establishing the Jewish settlements Israel evicted 20 years ago.

The Israeli military, which has pushed back at such ideas throughout the war, was expected on Tuesday to present alternatives that include extending into areas of Gaza where it has not yet operated, according to two defence officials.

While some in the political leadership are pushing for expanding the offensive, the military is concerned that doing so will endanger the 20 hostages who are still alive, the officials said.

Israeli Army Radio reported on Monday that military chief Eyal Zamir has become increasingly frustrated with what he describes as a lack of strategic clarity by the political leadership, concerned about being dragged into a war of attrition with Hamas militants.

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A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declined to comment on the report but said that the military has plans in store.

We have different ways to fight the terror organization, and thats what the army does, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said.

On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which included a call on Hamas to hand over its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.

Hamas has repeatedly said it wont lay down arms. But it has told mediators it was willing to quit governance in Gaza for a non-partisan ruling body, according to three Hamas officials.

It insists that the post-war Gaza arrangement must be agreed upon among the Palestinians themselves and not dictated by foreign powers.

Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar suggested on Monday that the gaps were still too wide to bridge.

We would like to have all our hostages back. We would like to see the end of this war. We always prefer to get there by diplomatic means, if possible. But of course, the big question is, what will be the conditions for the end of the war? he told journalists in Jerusalem.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr embarks on a five-day visit to India. The trip coincides with both nations launching their first joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea amid Chinese aggression

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during the presentation of the newly enacted laws to stakeholders at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines Thursday, May 22, 2025. File Image / AP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr embarks on a four-day visit to India today, coinciding with both nations launching their first joint maritime drills in the contentious South China Sea. What makes the visit significant is the fact that this is Marcoss first state visit to India.

Philippine authorities noted that Marcoss trip would aim to deepen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries at a time when uncertainties have taken over the international arena. The trip through Friday comes at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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During his four-day visit, Marcos Jr will hold talks with Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Health Minister J P Nadda. He will meet the external affairs minister on August 4, and on the next day, he will be laying a wreath at Raj Ghat before holding bilateral talks with the PM in Heydrabad House.

India, Philippines launch monumental Maritime Drills

It is pertinent to note that the Philippine presidents visit to New Delhi comes as his country conducts its first joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea, amid growing Chinese aggression in the region. The joint drills, dubbed maritime cooperative activity, will be held starting Aug. 3 as visiting Indian naval ships depart Manila harbour.

This historic visit of the Indian naval ships and the upcoming maiden maritime cooperation activity collectively set a positive tone for the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to India next week, underscoring the deepening partnership and expanding cooperation between our two nations, said Philippine national security officials, diplomats, defense attaches, and other guests, at a reception aboard the INS Shakti (A57) on July 31.

The Indian Navy ships guided missile destroyer INS Delhi (D61), fleet tanker INS Shakti and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan (P30) were docked in Manila on July 30 for a port visit. Meanwhile, Surveillance ship INS Sandhayak (Yard 3025) arrived in the Philippine capital on August 1.

The visit of the Indian naval ships to the Philippines is a powerful testament to the enduring friendship and growing maritime cooperation between the two countries. It also symbolises our shared commitment to the freedom of navigation and a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, Jain said.

In light of this, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. described the upcoming coordinated patrol as a clear demonstration of our mutual resolve to safeguard freedom of navigation and uphold the law of the sea. It is important to note that the island nation has carried out similar patrols with the United States, Australia, Japan, France and Canada.

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As we stand watch over a region vital to global trade and security, we do not do so in isolation, but in partnership with nations who share our values, General Brawner Jr averred. Defence ties between India and the Philippines have been strong for decades. This can be reflected by the fact that the Philippines was the first overseas customer to receive the BrahMos missile system from India for a contract worth $374.9 million in January 2022.
With rising tensions in the South China Sea, Philippines should move beyond static coastal defences and embrace the naval deployment of BrahMos missiles

When the Philippines received its first BrahMos shore-based missile battery from India, it marked a milestone in the countrys quest to modernise its armed forces. For the first time, the archipelago nation possessed a credible, long-range, precision strike capability  one that could hold enemy warships at risk across vast stretches of its maritime domain. But as significant as this development was, it is only the beginning. The future of Philippine maritime deterrence does not lie solely in fixed coastal launchers. It lies at sea.

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Significantly, in a strong gesture of growing ties, Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr begins his five-day to India on Monday on an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signalling a notable strengthening of cooperation and shared interests between the two nations. His visit begins a day after India and the Philippines began their joint naval drill near the South China Sea in the Philippine Sea region of the Pacific Ocean.

From static deterrence to dynamic power

Integrating a naval version of the BrahMos missile into the Philippine Navy would represent a decisive shift from static defence to mobile proactive deterrence. In a region where maritime disputes are not just common but intensifying, particularly in the South China Sea, mobility is not a luxury.

It is a strategic requirement. While shore-based systems protect specific areas, ship-based BrahMos missiles offer a level of flexibility and survivability that is indispensable in an increasingly contested environment.

The logic is straightforward. Land-based missile batteries are fixed in place. Their effectiveness depends on geography, and their locations, once discovered, are difficult to conceal.

Even with camouflage and deception tactics, fixed systems remain vulnerable to surveillance, tracking, and, in the event of conflict, preemptive strikes. Their presence is a deterrent, but a limited one as it is constrained by immobility.

Naval platforms equipped with BrahMos missiles can operate with far greater unpredictability. A warship carrying a supersonic anti-ship missile does not need to wait for a threat to approach its coastline. It can patrol contested waters, reposition itself in response to emerging threats and conduct deterrent operations with much broader operational reach.

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Mobility as a strategic advantage

This mobility brings with it enhanced survivability. A moving target is inherently harder to hit. Ships can manoeuver, disperse and evade surveillance in ways that land-based units simply cannot.

During times of heightened tension or conflict, the ability to reposition missile-equipped ships complicates an adversarys calculations. China, for instance, would have to account not only for known shore-based batteries, but also for mobile strike platforms that can appear unpredictably, launch with little warning and retreat before being located.

Deterrence where it matters most: At sea

The strategic geography of the Philippines further highlights the need for naval missile capability. With over 7,000 islands spread across vast maritime zones, defending national territory from the shoreline alone is an inadequate strategy.

Much of the countrys maritime domain lies far from the immediate reach of coastal systems. Ship-based BrahMos launchers can operate in these areas, maintaining a persistent presence in regions like the Spratly Islands, where Chinese encroachment has been most aggressive.

A networked force

Beyond deterrence, naval BrahMos integration enhances the Philippines ability to engage in joint and networked operations. Modern maritime defence is increasingly about coordination between multiple assets  ships, aircraft, drones and radar systems  all feeding into a real-time operational picture.

A naval vessel with BrahMos capability can serve as a critical node in this network, responding quickly to threats detected by airborne or land-based sensors. The result is not just a more capable navy, but a more cohesive and responsive national defence system.

Importantly, the path toward this capability is already being paved. The shore-based BrahMos systems delivered to the Philippine Marine Corps use the same core missile technology that would be installed on ships. This commonality simplifies logistics, training and maintenance.

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Filipino personnel have already received operational and technical training in India. This foundation ensures that when the navy begins integrating BrahMos into its vessels, it wont be starting from scratch.

A shared missile ecosystem between the Marine Corps and the Navy also strengthens doctrinal unity, allowing both branches to develop coordinated tactics and operational strategies.

Equipping the Philippine Navy with ship-based BrahMos missiles would be a clear signal  to China, to Asean neighbours and to global partners  that the Philippines is prepared not only to defend its territorial integrity, but to do so with modern tools and mature resolve.
Hope is fading for Nimisha Priya, as the family of the man she was convicted of murdering continues to push execution. Despite a delay in the hanging, the victims relatives have urged Yemeni authorities to proceed without further postponement

Only blood money can save Nimisha Priya from the gallows in Yemen. News18 Malayalam

Hope continues to fade for Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala convicted of murder in Yemen and sentenced to death, as the victims family remains resolute in demanding the death penalty.

Although her execution, initially scheduled for 16 July 2025, has been postponed indefinitely, the victims relatives are now urging Yemeni authorities to carry it out without further delay.

A letter calling for the speedy implementation of the retaliation sentence against Priya was shared on social media by Abdul Fattah Abdo Mahdi, the brother of the murdered Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Dated 3 August, the letter is addressed to Yemens Attorney General, Judge Abdul Salam Al-Houthi, and reaffirms the familys demand for the sentence to be enforced.

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More than half a month has passed since the postponement, and no new date has been set. We, the victims family, firmly demand our right to have the sentence carried out and reject any attempts at mediation or settlement, the letter reads.

The letter further adds that carrying out the execution is essential to uphold justice and their legal rights.

India denies travel request for delegation supporting Priya

Meanwhile, the Indian government has refused permission for a group from the Nimisha Priya International Action Council to travel to Yemen, citing serious security concerns. Although the Supreme Court recently allowed the group to pursue clemency talks with the victims family, such travel requires clearance from Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as travel to Yemen remains banned for Indian nationals.

In its response, the MEA noted the fragile security situation in Sanaa and the absence of formal diplomatic ties with the current regime in Yemen. It stated that the Indian Embassy, previously based in Sanaa, has been relocated to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to safety concerns.

The security situation in Sanaa is unstable, and recent regional developments have made travel even more dangerous. Any negotiations must be strictly between the victims family and Nimisha Priyas authorised representatives, the ministry said, adding that it continues to explore all possible avenues in the case.

Background of the case

Nimisha Priya, originally from Keralas Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 and worked as a nurse in a government hospital. She later left her position to establish her own clinic, reportedly in partnership with Talal Abdo Mahdi and another woman.

According to Priyas lawyer in India, Subhash Chandan, Talal had allegedly abused both women, seized their passports, and restricted their movement. In a desperate attempt to escape, Priya and her associate reportedly drugged Talal, an act that is believed to have resulted in his death. The case intensified after authorities discovered Talals mutilated body, leading to Priyas arrest. Officials also allege that she attempted to flee the war-torn country.

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In contrast to pricing strategies of the past (think: yield management, seasonal variation, and advance purchase discounts), AI could use predictive behavioural manipulation taking what it knows of the consumer and warping the price accordingly

Using AI to determine the highest a customer is willing to pay for a particular flight ticket could mean each individual paying the most their pocket will allow: a probable end to the concept of "cheap flight tickets". Image for Representation

A recent white paper authored by Uri Yerushalmi, chief AI officer and co-founder of Israeli software firm Fetcherr, has revealed a potentially transformative and controversial approach to airline pricing.

The document, circulated among prospective clients, outlines a pilot AI-driven pricing model already tested by an unnamed airline. The system, modelled on generative AI principles, replaces traditional fare structures with a labyrinthine array of dynamically shifting price classes, aimed at maximising yield well beyond human cognitive processing.

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To call this merely dynamic pricing is to understate the scale of the change. Airlines have long tinkered with fare variability, but what Fetcherr proposes enters a new domain where AI not only responds to market signals but generates its own version of them, simulating demand and adjusting fares in real time. Exploitation phase, Yerushalmi wrote with little subtlety, according to a Bloomberg report.

In contrast to pricing strategies of the past (think: yield management, seasonal variation, and advance purchase discounts) what Fetcherr is offering now is closer to predictive behavioural manipulation. It takes what it knows of the consumer, or of consumers like them, and warps price accordingly. In that moment, the ticket, instead of being a commodity, becomes a wager on how badly you need to get home during a festival or how much youre willing to stretch for a weekend with family.

Delta Air Lines has already begun integrating Fetcherrs platform into its operations. At its July earnings call, President Glen Hauenstein disclosed that the company had deployed the system across 3 per cent of its domestic routes, with an ambition to scale that to 20 per cent by year-end. We like what we see, Hauenstein said, describing the initiative as being in a heavy testing phase.

Perhaps relieving to many flyers is the fact that at least lawmakers have been swift and unforgiving in responding to the proposal. Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, backed by other Democrats, sent a letter to Delta CEO Ed Bastian warning of data privacy concerns and the potential to push consumers toward their individual pain point.

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Republican Senator Josh Hawley called Deltas system the worst thing I have heard from the already awful airline industry. Democratic Congressman Greg Casar introduced a bill that would outlaw surveillance pricing.

Its not hard to see why the backlash is bipartisan. Americans may grumble about security lines or seat widths, but airfare pricing has long remained an opaque ritual they grudgingly accept. Now, however, it seems that ritual may be gamified, and by a machine, no less. The suggestion that airlines could price seats not by value, but by what each person can endure, ignites deeper fears about the commodification of necessity.

Where that lies on the scale of ethics is anyones guess.

Delta Air Lines has tried to reassure critics. In a July 31 letter to Gallego, the airlines chief external affairs officer Peter Carter described Fetcherrs software as a decision-support tool that analysts oversee and fine-tune. He stressed that pricing recommendations move in both directions, and said there were no fare product[s] Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized prices based on personal data.

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Yet earlier statements muddy the waters. In a blog post from 2024, since scrubbed from Fetcherrs website, the company forecasted a future of individualized pricing based on behavioural indicators like purchase history and the real-time context of each booking inquiry. The blog positioned this as a vision, not a current reality, and acknowledged that privacy laws could constrain implementation.

Were living in the golden age of algorithmic nudging, and if pricing is becoming personal, its also becoming intimate. AI is not only learning what we want, its also figuring out how much well suffer to get it. In an earnings event last November, Deltas Hauenstein suggested exactly this. Could we take a $20 increase in our fares and not see a decline in market share? Could we take a $40? he mused, adding, We will have a price thats available on that flight, on that time to you, the individual.

Other airlines have expressed concern. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, speaking on his companys earnings call, called AI-driven pricing bait and switch and unethical. Its not something we would do, he stated. Southwest Airlines has also clarified that it does not rely on artificial intelligence to set fares.

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The irony is that even while these airlines distance themselves from the practice, they may soon find themselves pulled into it. The Holy Grail, as Deutsche Bank managing director Michael Linenberg put it, is meeting each and every individuals personal demand curve. That is the vision, the dream: the perfect, profitable equilibrium where every customer pays exactly what they can be stretched to pay.
Israel and the US are working on an umbrella deal with Hamas to permanently stop the war in Gaza. This marks a major shift in the Israeli governments Gaza policy of pushing for a phased agreement.

As the crisis in Gaza intensifies, Israel and the United States are planning to shift their policy regarding reaching a ceasefire deal with Hamas. Both nations are now aiming to put a comprehensive framework in place instead of partial ceasefire agreements and hostage-release deals.

The news for this approach was first shared by an Israeli official close to the matter; however, American officials are also hinting at the same shift. There will be no more partial deals, the official was quoted as saying, explaining that Israel and the US now concur on the need to shift from a framework for the release of some of the hostages to a framework for the release of all of the hostages, the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip," The Times of Israel reported.

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At the same time, Israel and the US will work to increase the humanitarian aid, while continuing the fighting in Gaza, the source was quoted as saying. The remarks from both the Israeli and the US officials came following the USs Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Israel.

However, the ambiguous nature of the comments leaves one wondering how or when the war in Gaza would end. The shift is also coming at a time when ceasefire talks between the two warring sides have stalled, with Israel attacking Gaza aid sites and Hamas committing atrocities against Israeli hostages.

A major shift for Israel and the reasons behind it

If the idea is actualised, it would mark a major shift for Israel, which came up with the phased hostage deal framework during the first year of the war. For months, the Israeli government only focused on negotiating a two-phased deal for a 60-day cease-fire in Gaza and the release of some hostages, leaving talks on the end of the war at bay.

Many believe that the shift in Tel Avivs rhetoric comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government faces rising domestic pressure to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Israel believes that there are around 20 hostages who are still alive in Gaza, and the bodies of 30 others remain in the coastal enclave.

A gut-wrenching video released by Hamas over the weekend showed two living captives looking emaciated and frail, shocking many Israelis and sparking fear among the hostages families. Apart from this, the Israeli government are also facing major international backlash over the mass hunger that has spread through Gazas population of about two million people after Israel imposed strict restrictions in recent months on the entry of aid.

Witkoff hinted at the same

While speaking to the families of the Israeli hostages during his visit, US envoy Steve Witkoff said that US President Donald Trump now wants to see all the living hostages released at once, hinting at a push for a comprehensive deal. No piecemeal deals, that doesnt work, he said, according to an audio recording of part of the meeting published by the Ynet Hebrew news site.

Now we think that we have to shift this negotiation to all or nothing  everybody comes home, he said. We have a plan around it, he added, without elaborating. Meanwhile, a participant in the meeting also confirmed that Witkoff made such remarks.

In light of this, Netanyahu and Trump are reportedly working on a new proposal that would involve presenting Hamas with an ultimatum. According to The Times of Israel, the ultimatum for Hamas would be that the Palestinian militant group would have to release the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and agree to terms to end the war that include the groups disarmament.

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The term maintains that if Hamas fails to abide by it, the Israeli military would continue with its campaign in Gaza. Amid the reports, Mahmoud Mardawi, a Hamas official, said the Palestinian armed group had yet to receive a formal Israeli proposal for a comprehensive deal from Arab mediators. He made it clear that while Hamas would support the agreement in principle, it would not disarm.

This has been our demand from the beginning: an end to the war, the release of prisoners, and day-after arrangements in the Gaza Strip  a clear and comprehensive deal, Mardawi said in a phone interview to The New York Times. Hence, the prospects of any rapid advancement of such a deal look bleak.
Trump has said that two American nuclear submarines are where they have to be, after recent threats from former President Medvedev, as tensions rise between Washington and Moscow.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that two American nuclear submarines have been moved to appropriate regions in response to recent warnings from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Speaking to reporters on Sunday (local time), Trump said the submarines are now where they have to be.

They are in the region, yeah, where they have to be, Trump told a reporter when asked whether the submarines had been deployed to counter threats from Russia.

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REPORTER: "Have those nuclear submarines been deployed yet to face Russia?"@POTUS: "They are in the region, yeah  where they have to be." pic.twitter.com/fwQeMXXBP2  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 4, 2025

The move follows remarks by Medvedev, who on Thursday warned that Moscow retained its Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities, prompting fears of escalation between the two nuclear-armed powers.

Earlier, reacting to those comments, Trump announced the deployment on Friday via Truth Social, Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev  I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.

Tensions between Washington and Moscow continue to escalate, with Trump under pressure over his inability to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, while Trump insists the submarines are already in place, both the Pentagon and the US Navy have declined to confirm any such movements, according to Reuters.

The US military rarely discloses details about submarine deployments, given their strategic importance to nuclear deterrence. Trump also did not clarify whether he was referring to nuclear-powered submarines or those armed with nuclear-tipped missiles, though Reuters notes that while all US military submarines are nuclear-powered, not all carry nuclear weapons.
Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition opens in Bahrain

Xinhua) 13:04, August 04, 2025

Bahrain's Minister of Tourism, Fatima Al Sairafi (C, front), Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain Ni Ruchi (R, front) and Chinese artist Su Xiaofeng (L, front) view paintings at a Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition in Manama, Bahrain, on Aug. 3, 2025. A Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition opened on Sunday at the Bahrain Art Centre in Manama, Bahrain, showcasing nearly 50 flower-and-bird artworks by Chinese artist Su Xiaofeng. (Xinhua/Luo Chen)

MANAMA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition opened on Sunday at the Bahrain Art Centre in Manama, Bahrain, showcasing nearly 50 flower-and-bird artworks by Chinese artist Su Xiaofeng.

Organized by the Chinese Embassy in Bahrain, the exhibition runs through Aug. 17 and is open to the public free of charge. Alongside the paintings, visitors can also explore an experience exhibition on China Oud -- a traditional aromatic resin used in incense and perfumery.

At the opening ceremony, Su Xiaofeng expressed his hope that the exhibition would deepen understanding and friendship between the peoples of China, Bahrain, and other nations through the shared language of culture and art.

Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain Ni Ruchi said the debut of Chinese fine brushwork opens a window for the Bahraini public to know about traditional Chinese art.

Bahrain's Minister of Tourism, Fatima Al Sairafi, who attended the opening and toured the exhibition, described the event as "a very special occasion to celebrate the art of our two nations."

She expressed hope that this event would serve as an opportunity to further promote cultural and tourism exchanges between Bahrain and China, and enhance the friendship between the two peoples.

A visitor takes photos at a Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition in Manama, Bahrain, on Aug. 3, 2025. A Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition opened on Sunday at the Bahrain Art Centre in Manama, Bahrain, showcasing nearly 50 flower-and-bird artworks by Chinese artist Su Xiaofeng. (Xinhua/Luo Chen)

Visitors view paintings at a Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition in Manama, Bahrain, on Aug. 3, 2025. A Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition opened on Sunday at the Bahrain Art Centre in Manama, Bahrain, showcasing nearly 50 flower-and-bird artworks by Chinese artist Su Xiaofeng. (Xinhua/Luo Chen)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Indian Army is set for a major transformation to modernise its combat capabilities, with plans to make drones and anti-drone systems standard equipment at the battalion level, says report. The revamp also includes raising new commando units, forming integrated brigades, and upgrading artillery systems.

Indian Army soldiers participate in a mock drill exercise during the Army Day parade in New Delhi, India, January 15, 2016. File Image/Reuters

The Indian Army is preparing for a sweeping transformation aimed at modernising its combat structure, with plans to integrate drones and anti-drone systems as standard equipment across most battalion-level units, The Indian Express reported.

According to the report, the overhaul will also include the creation of light commando battalions, integrated Rudra brigades, and specialised artillery units, all designed to meet the demands of future warfare, according to sources.

Discussions around the reforms have been ongoing for months but gained momentum after Operation Sindoor, launched in May in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Some changes are based on lessons drawn from that operation, says report.

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Drones to be standard in frontline units

Currently, drones are used in Army battalions but only as supplementary systems, often requiring personnel to be pulled away from their primary duties.

The new plan is to form dedicated drone teams within each unit, including infantry, artillery, and armoured regiments, so that a trained group is solely responsible for operating UAVs and counter-UAV equipment.

In infantry battalions, for example, surveillance drones will now be deployed even at platoon and company levels. This will require reorganising about 70 personnel per unit and reshuffling duties across fighting sections and support platoons.

30 Bhairav commando units to be raised

The Army is also raising 30 light commando battalions, named Bhairav, each with around 250 soldiers. These specialised units will be trained for precision strikes and specific missions in assigned areas. Initial units are expected to be operational within a month, with infantry regimental centres already directed to begin recruitment and training.

Formation of all-arms Rudra brigades

A key element of the restructuring is the formation of integrated Rudra brigades, independent combat groups that combine infantry, armour, artillery, UAVs, and logistics. These units will be capable of operating autonomously across various theatres and will be tailored for both conventional and hybrid warfare.

Artillery gets next-gen boost

In the artillery wing, the Army is considering adding two larger gun batteries and a third drone battery for surveillance and combat operations. Each artillery regiment currently has three batteries of six guns each.

In addition, new Divyastra artillery batteries are being developed. These will feature long-range guns, loitering munitions, and anti-drone systems for both offensive and defensive operations.

Mechanised forces also being reorganised

The restructuring effort also includes the armoured and mechanised infantry arms, which are being redesigned to align with the Armys future warfighting doctrine.

Some of these steps were publicly outlined by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi during the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations on July 26.
Pakistan has resumed the forced deportation of 1.4 million Afghan refugees whose legal status expired in June, sparking criticism from the UN refugee agency. Authorities are detaining Afghans lacking valid documentation for repatriation, despite growing humanitarian concerns

Afghan refugee children play next to trucks loaded with their family's belongings as they wait to return Afghanistan along a highway in Landi Kotal, Pakistan. File image/AP

Pakistani authorities stated Monday that they had resumed the forcible deportations of Afghan refugees following the federal governments refusal to extend a crucial deadline for their stay.

About 1.4 million Afghans with Proof of Registration cards whose legal status expired at the end of June are impacted by the decision. Before going back to Afghanistan, many had hoped for a one-year extension to take care of personal matters like selling property or closing up businesses.

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Approximately 800,000 Afghans own Afghan Citizen Cards in addition to PoR cards. According to the police, they are also unlawfully residing in the nation and are being held in the southern Sindh province, southwestern Balochistan, and eastern Punjab before being deported.

The UN refugee agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, criticised Mondays decision.

At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, according to a June UNHCR report. Repatriations on such a massive scale have the potential to destabilize the fragile situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban government came into power in 2021.

A July 31 government notification seen by The Associated Press confirms Pakistans decision to repatriate all Afghan nationals holding expired PoR cards. It states Afghans without valid passports and Pakistani visas are in the country illegally and must return to their homeland under Pakistani immigration laws.

Police across Pakistan are detaining Afghans to transport them to border crossings, according to two government and security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

They said there are no mass arrests and police were told to go to house-to-house and make random checks to detain foreigners living in the country illegally.

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Yes, the Afghan refugees living in Pakistan illegally are being sent back in a dignified way, said Shakeel Khan, commissioner for Afghan refugees in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The latest operation is the most significant step yet under orders from federal government in Islamabad, he said.

Rehmat Ullah, 35, an Afghan, said his family migrated to Pakistans northwestern Peshawar city decades ago and now is preparing to return home.

I have five children and my concern is that they will miss their education, he said. I was born here, my children were born here and now we are going back, he said.

Millions have fled to Pakistan over the past four decades to escape war, political unrest and economic hardship. The renewed deportation drive follows a nationwide crackdown launched in 2023 targeting foreigners living illegally in Pakistan.

The Interior Ministry, which oversees the campaign, did not immediately comment.

Qaiser Khan Afridi, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, expressed deep concern over the governments recent actions.

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Sending people back in this manner is tantamount to refoulement and a breach of a states international obligations, Afridi said in a statement, urging Pakistan to adopt a humane approach to ensure voluntary, gradual, and dignified return of Afghans and praised the country for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than 40 years.

We call on the government to halt the forcible return and ensure a gradual, voluntary and dignified repatriation process, Afridi said. Such massive and hasty return could jeopardize the lives and freedom of Afghan refugees, while also risking instability not only in Afghanistan but across the region.
Amid pressure from US President Donald Trump to agree to a ceasefire, the Kremlin has said that Vladimir Putin is open to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on April 26, 2025. AP Photo

The Kremlin has said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is open to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky after preparatory work is done at the expert level, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, as per Kyiv Post.

The development has come at a time when Putin is under pressure from US President Donald Trump to agree to a ceasefire in his war on Ukraine and negotiate the end of the war. So far, Trump has floated at least three ceasefire proposals. While Ukraine has accepted all of them, Putin has rejected all of them.

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For weeks, Zelenskyy has been calling for a direct meeting with Putin in the presence of Trump to negotiate an end to the war. Putin has so far shot down such proposals as sitting across from Zelenskyy would legitimise him as the Ukraines leader and undo a major basis of his war. For context, Putin has rejected Ukraine as an independent, sovereign nation and therefore does not consider Zelenskyy as a legitimate head of the state.

After aligning himself with Putin for months and endorsing his positions regarding Ukraine, Trump appears to have become frustrated with Putins refusal to make peace and consistently refusing his direct pleas to end attacks on civilians. Late last month, he reduced the 50-day ultimatum to Putin to 10-12 days that ends this week. It remains to be seen what action he would take if Putin would defy the deadline.

Around the time of the end of the deadline, Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff will arrive in Russia for talks.

The Kremlin on Monday said that Witkoff would likely hold talks with Putin. It further called for responsible rhetoric around nuclear weapons.

Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric, said Peskov.

The comment came days after Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines around Russian waters after Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who now serves as Putins attack dog, threatened the United States with a war over the deadline for a ceasefire.

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Overnight attacks in the Russia-Ukraine war led to costly losses as Russia launched an attack using the hypersonic Kinzhal missile, and Ukraine hit Su-35 fighter jets valued upto $50 million

A Sukhoi Su-30 SM fighter plane fires missiles during the International Army Games in 2018 at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia (Photo: Reuters)

The Russian Ministry of Defence on Monday (August 4) claimed that the countrys armed forces had used a Kinzhal hypersonic missile, among other aerial systems, to strike infrastructure of Ukrainian military airfields.

In a statement, the Defence Ministry of Russia said Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a group strike by the Kinzhal aeroballistic hypersonic missiles and attack long-range unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs] at infrastructure of the AFU military airfields.

Russias Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile, was unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in 2018. Believed to be derived from the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile, it has a range of 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers and can carry a 480-kilogram nuclear or conventional warhead.

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Although specifics about the target of the strikes or the goal were not released, the statement did mention that The goal of the strike has been achieved, all the assigned targets were engaged.

Ukraine says attack thwarted, Russian jet downed

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had released a statement earlier during the day claiming that Russia launched an attack with 162 Shahed attack UAVs and simulator drones as well as the Kh-47 M2 Dagger aeroballistic missile.

Ukraine claimed it repelled the attack using aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups.

Ukraine further claimed that Ukraine Security Service (SBU) launched a powerful strike on the Saky airfield on the night of August 4. It claimed that following the attack by UAVs, one Su-30SM fighter jet was destroyed, while another was damaged.

In a statement, the Ukrainian Armed Forces also said that the cost of Su-30SM reaches $3550 million apiece. This operation is another step towards weakening Russias ability to wage war against Ukraine, it added.

In addition to the two Su-30SMs, three Su-24 planes were hit and an aviation weapons depot was also reportedly destroyed.
Thousands in Al-Fashir, Sudans last army stronghold in Darfur, face relentless RSF shelling, starvation, and disease as the city teeters on collapse. Aid is blocked, civilians are fleeing under fire, and cholera is spreading amid an ongoing civil war now in its third year.

Houda Ali Mohammed, 32, a displaced Sudanese mother of four, prepares food at a camp shelter amid the ongoing conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, in Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan. Reuters

Hundreds of thousands of people are starving and being bombarded by artillery and drones in the Sudanese armys last stronghold in western Darfur, while those who leave face disease and brutal assaults.

Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, is the largest surviving frontline in the region between Sudans army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and it is under fire at a critical juncture in the civil war, which is now in its third year.

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The RSFs artillery and drones are shelling al-Fashir morning and night, one resident told Reuters. Electricity was completely shut down, bakeries were closed and medical supplies scarce, he added.

The number of people dying has increased every day and the cemeteries are expanding, he said.

The Sudanese army and the RSF went to war in April 2023 when the erstwhile partners disagreed on how to integrate their forces.

The RSF made swift advances in central Sudan, including the capital, Khartoum, but the army drove them westward this year, intensifying the conflict in al-Fashir.

The fall of the city would give the RSF control of practically all of Darfur, a vast area bordering Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan, paving the way for Sudans de facto division according to experts.

Along with the army and its supporters, hundreds of thousands of al-Fashir inhabitants and those displaced by earlier battles are besieged, many of whom are living in camps that are already in starvation, according to observers.

One doctor, who asked not to be named for her safety, said hunger was an even bigger problem than the shelling.

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The children are malnourished, the adults are malnourished. Even I today havent had any breakfast because I cant find anything, she said.

The RSF has blocked food supplies and aid convoys trying to reach the city have been attacked, locals said. Prices for the goods traders are able to smuggle in cost more than five times the national average.

Many people have resorted to eating hay or ambaz, a type of animal feed made out of peanut shells, residents told Reuters. One advocacy group said even ambaz was running out.

The RSF, which has its roots in the Janjaweed militias accused of atrocities in Darfur in the early 2000s, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Risks of flight

Many residents fleeing the city have sought shelter in Tawila, about 60 km (40 miles) west. Some of those who made it told Reuters they were attacked by groups of RSF fighters along the way.

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We fled to Shagra (village) first before getting to Tawila and they attacked us again, 19-year-old Enaam Abdallah said.

If they find your phone, they take it. Money, they take it. A donkey or anything, theyll take it. They killed people in front of us and kidnapped girls in front of us, she said.

On Monday, Emergency Lawyers, a human rights group, said at least 14 people fleeing al-Fashir were killed and dozens injured when they were attacked in a village along the route.

Tawila is hosting more than half a million displaced people, most of whom have arrived since April, when the RSF stepped up its assault on al-Fashir and attacked the massive Zamzam displacement camp to the citys south.

But Tawila offers little aid or shelter, as humanitarian organisations are stretched by foreign aid cuts. People who arrived there told Reuters they receive small amounts of grain, including sorghum and rice, but amounts were varying and insufficient.

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Sudan is in the throes of the rainy season, which in combination with poor living conditions and inadequate sanitation has led to an outbreak of cholera.

Since mid-June, aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres has treated 2,500 cases of cholera, a spokesperson told Reuters.

Some 52 people have died from the disease, according to the Coordinating Committee for Displaced People, a Sudanese advocacy group that operates across Darfur.

Vaccines needed to stem the outbreak, if provided, will take time to arrive given the rains.

An assessment by the Norwegian Refugee Council found that only 10% of people in Tawila had reliable access to water, and even fewer had access to latrines. Most families report eating one meal a day or less, the organisation said.

We dont have houses to protect us from the rain and we dont have tarps. We have to wait for the rain to stop for the children to sleep, mother-of-four Huda Ali said as she sat among roofless shelters made of straw.

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She said she tried to make sure her children washed their hands and only ate food that had been properly heated.

The United Nations called for a humanitarian pause to fighting in al-Fashir last month as the rainy season began, but the RSF rejected the call.

Fighting has also raged across Sudans Kordofan region, which borders Darfur, as the two sides fight to demarcate clear zones of control amid stalled mediation efforts.
More than 30 Texas Democrats are leaving the state to stop a vote on a Republican-backed plan to redraw congressional districts. The move aims to block the creation of five new Republican-leaning seats.

More than two dozen Texas Democrats are leaving the state in an effort to block a controversial vote scheduled for Monday that could result in the creation of five new Republican-leaning seats in the US House of Representatives.

Around 30 Democratic lawmakers are reportedly heading to Illinois, where they plan to remain for a week. Their departure is intended to deny the Republican-controlled House the quorum needed to proceed with the vote on redrawing the congressional map.

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In a strongly worded statement, the Texas Democrats accused their Republican counterparts of cowardly surrendering to Donald Trumps push for a redistricting plan designed to cement Republican influence and advance his disastrous policies.

By denying Trumps loyalists a quorum, Texas Democratic lawmakers are blocking his redistricting agenda, the statement declared.

The plan to flee the state is said to have been coordinated with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who met with the Texas Democratic caucus last month and has directed his staff to provide them with logistical support during their stay.

The redistricting proposal has drawn fierce criticism, with Democrats accusing Texas Governor Greg Abbott of using disaster relief as leverage. They claim he delayed aid to victims of last months Guadalupe River flooding to pressure lawmakers into backing the redrawn map.

Were leaving Texas to stand up for Texans, said Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. We wont allow disaster relief to be held hostage for the sake of Trumps gerrymandering plan.

Wu added, Were not abandoning our dutieswere walking out on a rigged system that ignores the voices of those we represent. As far as were concerned, this corrupt special session is now over.

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The newly proposed map, unveiled last week by Texas Republicans, is designed to strengthen the GOPs grip in next years midterm elections. It aims to carve out five additional Republican-leaning districts, particularly targeting Democratic strongholds in Austin, Dallas and Houston, as well as two closely contested districts in South Texas.
Thousands of Boeing defence workers in the US will go on strike starting Monday after rejecting a revised contract offer, their union said. The walkout will involve over 3,200 workers across Missouri and Illinois, who say the companys proposal fails to match their contributions

The Boeing logo is seen on the side of a Boeing 737 MAX. File image/Reuters

Thousands of Boeing defence workers in Missouri and Illinois are set to go on strike starting midnight Monday after rejecting the companys latest contract offer, their union announced.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) said that approximately 3,200 of its highly skilled members voted on Sunday, August 3, 2025, to reject Boeings revised four-year labour deal.

A strike will begin at midnight on Monday, August 4, the union said in a statement.

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IAM District 837 representative Tom Boelling said union members had spoken loud and clear, demanding a contract that properly reflects their skills, dedication, and vital role in national defence.

Boeings initial proposal, which included a 20 per cent pay rise over four years and additional vacation timewas already turned down the previous week. The latest offer, according to Boeing, doubled the wage hike.

Were disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40 per cent average wage growth and addressed their main concern around alternative work schedules, said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and senior site executive for St. Louis, Missouri.

Gillian added that Boeing is prepared for the strike, with contingency plans already in place to maintain operations through its non-striking workforce.

The aerospace giant has been grappling with ongoing production issues and labour unrest, including a seven-week strike last year that disrupted operations at two of its major assembly plants.

IAM is one of North Americas largest industrial unions, representing around 600,000 workers across sectors including aerospace, defence, shipbuilding, transportation, and manufacturing.
Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean secondary tariffs targeting Russias remaining trade partners, such as China and India.

President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday (August 3) his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia next week, ahead of a looming US sanctions deadline and escalating tensions with Moscow.

Speaking to reporters, Trump also said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now in the region.

Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.

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The nuclear sabre-rattling came against the backdrop of a deadline set by Trump at the end of next week for Russia to take steps to ending the Ukraine war or face unspecified new sanctions.

The Republican leader said Witkoff would visit I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow, before Trumps efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt.

When reporters asked what Witkoffs message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.

Secondary tariffs

Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean secondary tariffs targeting Russias remaining trade partners, such as China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption.

Despite the pressure from Washington, Russias onslaught against its pro-Western neighbor continues to unfold.

Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said Friday that he wants peace but that his demands for ending his nearly three-and-a-half year invasion were unchanged.

We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries, Putin told reporters.

But he added that the conditions (from the Russian side) certainly remain the same.

Russia has frequently called on Ukraine to effectively cede control of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable.

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Putin also seeks Ukraine drop its ambitions to join NATO.

Ukraine issued on Sunday a drone attack which sparked a fire at an oil depot in Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Kyiv has said it will intensify its air strikes against Russia in response to an increase in Russian attacks on its territory in recent weeks, which have killed dozens of civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said Sunday that the two sides were preparing a prisoner exchange that would see 1,200 Ukrainian troops return home, following talks with Russia in Istanbul in July.

Trump began his second term with his own rosy predictions that the war in Ukraine  raging since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022  would soon end.

In recent weeks, Trump has increasingly voiced frustration with Putin over Moscows unrelenting offensive.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
In an insightful conversation with Firstpost, Sai Pattabiram, Founder and CEO of an Indian drone manufacturer company, Zuppa, explained the significance of drones in modern warfare and the challenges that come with it.

In the span of just a few months, the world witnessed three innovative military operations that changed the dynamics of modern warfare. These missions were: Operation Spider Web, Operation Rising Lion and Operation Sindoor. All these military operations had one thing in common: the use of autonomous drones where AI plays a key role in their trajectories and the actual work of the drones.

While the technology has made the war games a level playing field, it has also raised numerous security concerns. In an insightful conversation with Firstpost, Sai Pattabiram, founder and CEO of an Indian drone manufacturer company, Zuppa, explained the significance of drones in modern warfare and the challenges that come with it.

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Zuppa is a Chennai-based drone manufacturer and seller to the Indian army. Its drones took part in Operation Sindoor India, launched to target nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pattabiram explained the tech that makes these drones so vital for various services. One needs to understand that a drone is unmanned because an embedded electronic motherboard known as the autopilot has replaced the Human pilot, he said.

This autopilot consists of both hardware and software layers that enable a user to use it much like a mobile phone or a laptop. This is called the Cyber Physical Stack of the drone, as shown below:

Pattabiram mentioned that it is the electronic layer where the automation and AI drone technology are usually built. The evolution of drone tech in terms of deployment that has been witnessed across conflicts globally, from Operation Sindoor to Operation Spider Web and everything in between, has been in these layers, Pattabiram told Firstpost.

The technology life cycle of innovation happening in this layer has dropped significantly to 8  10 weeks. Thus, indicating an innovation in drone use happening every 2-3 months. Much of this evolution that has been witnessed today has been in these layers, he said.

Pattabiram emphasised that the future of drone technology will be its ability to adapt quickly.

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From delivering groceries to delivering bombs

In the span of just a few years, there has been an evolution in how drones are being used. From delivering items one purchased online to dropping bombs and turning into suicide bombers. While speaking on the evolution of the use of drones, Pattabiram emphasised that the dual-use technology can deliver anything, be it food or bombs.

Initially, drones dual-use technology was not given enough care across the world, not only in India. Nobody looked at it as a dual-use technology. They all looked at it as separate military applications and separate civilian applications, he told Firstpost.

However, Pattabiram also pointed out how these drones can be used by terrorists, raising a security concern. Civilians, military and terrorists can use the same thing for three very different purposes. Like a farmer can use a drone for spraying pesticides or nutrients. The military could use it to use a drone to ship material from point A to point B, and the terrorists could use it as a kamikaze mode or even as a bomb dropping, he said.

So this dual-use nature of drones is what is now turning out to be a kind of revolution for most of the people in the security apparatus or the security organisations. And this all started primarily with Ukraine using FPV drones.

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Zuppas Kamikaze Micro Drone Ajeet Mini. Image Source: Zuppa

Now, FPV drones today are known as kamikaze drones. Today we know it as drones which can damage lethally, which can deliver lethal blows, like Operation Spider that happened recently. But FPV drones were never intended to be this, he explained.

FPV drones were racing drones. There is an FPV racing league and Ukraine and Russia, both countries, that practically use FPV, flyers, people who do drone racing to fly these drones into war. Drones as Dual-use technology werent expected and werent something people thought of, he added.

Ukraine Operation Spider Web: The concerns & opportunities

On June 1, 2025, Russia was rocked by a drone attack on its key military infrastructure. Ukraine eventually announced that after over one and a half years of planning, they had conducted what they called Operation Spider Web. In the mission, Ukraine used a whopping 117 drones to strike the Russian airfield. What was shocking was the fact that the strikes were conducted 600 kilometres away from the battleline and 1,000 kilometres away from the Ukrainian border.

While speaking to Firstpost, Pattabiram noted that this was the first time we saw the use of the remote operational capabilities of the drone. He also mentioned how Elon Musks Starlink played a crucial role in the operation.

While Kamikaze drones themselves havent changed much since their first use in the Ukraine-Russia war, its their evolution in terms of deployment that has been changing modern warfare. Like Operation Spider Web was a very innovative use of Kamikaze drones way inside enemy lines, he said.

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Ukraines Security Chief Briefs President Zelenskyy on Operation Spiders Web. Image: X/@ZelenskyyUa

However, he also stated that the true impact of Operation Spider Web is not only on Russia, but it is on the entire global security ecosystem, given the scale and asymmetry of damage it has inflicted in terms of cost and operational preparedness.

This operation has galvanised the former Indian Army Chief to state that the Entire Country is now a battlefield thanks to the scale of this operation, he said.

Not something new

Another point on which Pattabiram emphasised was the fact that such a kind of operation has not happened in India. In India, if you see, we have had the Jammu air base attack in 2021. Which again was possibly by a locally operated drone. Possibly even locally assembled using locally available material. Means material within India, he said.

So the Operation Spider Web has woken up the security apparatus across the world. This Operation is going to change the way people look at drones. The way people operate drones in war as well, he said.

Open source code and the risks of hijacks

One of the key aspects of the Operation Spider Web is the fact that Ukraine used open-source codes to develop the drones that ultimately struck the Russian airfield. However, if the easily available codes fall into the wrong hands, the impact would be detrimental.

While raising concerns over the matter, Pattabiram recalled the hijacking of an Indian drone back in August 2024. The drone was taken over on the 23rd of August 2024 by Pakistan, and its not like that was the first time its happened, its happened before as well. A lot of this can be directly attributed to the use of open source code, he said.

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SBU chief Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk is standing beside a schematic map of the operation. @SBUkr

The code layer of a drone is where the vulnerability of hacking or the vulnerability of misuse lies. The code can be downloaded from GitHub, and it can be used, and the commands can be directly given to the drone to hack. So, considering this open-source code is a major risk from a security perspective, he explained.

The need for a regulatory framework

When asked how the risk can be tackled, Pattabiram suggested innovative ideas. The key is that there is a lot of learning that is possible from the telecom sector. Chinese phones that were sold here without IMEI numbers. Which meant there was no traceability of the phone. So they could be misused for various things, and nobody knows where it is. Now, today the drone is in the same status. Despite the civilian drone regulation having been in place since 1921. For the last 4 years, nobody knows where a drone is operating or who is operating, he averred.

So, considering this, DGCA has a digital sky on which you can register a drone. But there is something beyond the online portal on which you register, and you get one thing called a UIN number. So the regulatory framework has a very simple thing to be done, i.e. using the telecom as a learning point.

So all they need to do is completely stop the import of autopilots and then introduce SIM cards into every autopilot in India. So that every SIM card has an IMEI number. And it has an IMEI number, which is your subscriber number. This way, you can trace the drone from the telecom network to where it is. Who is operating it, and the moment you have got the IMEI number, and you have done a KYC for it, you know who owns the drone, he said.

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When it comes to imported autopilots, Pattabiram said that those drones need to be controlled. It should not be an open item. A drone autopilot cannot be imported under OGL or a general licence. There should be specific people who are allowed and authorised to import it based on licensing. And the second is that all autopilots need to have a SIM card on them. If this is done, then I think one can get rid of a lot of problems.

The first drone war in South Asia: India-Pak conflict

While the Indian and Pakistani military clashed with each other on numerous occasions, the conflict that erupted following the devastating Pahalgam attack saw drones taking the centre stage. Operation Sindoor was the first time a totally non-contact remote war played out in the subcontinent, with neither side crossing either the IB or the LOC. This was possible primarily on account of the deployment of remote technologies like drones and missiles, Pattabiram said.

Having said that, it is important to note the fact that the small drone war has been happening even before Operation Sindoor, with Pakistan violating lower-level Indian airspace over the past couple of years, every day by sending hundreds of drones to deliver drugs, small arms, explosives, etc. This war is interestingly continuing even after May 10th 2025.

A debate will take place in the Upper House of Parliament over Indias Operation Sindoor. Representational Image

The importance of addressing and building capabilities for this particular type of low intensity, dispersed, highly asymmetric war is one of the biggest learnings from Operation Sindoor. This is exactly the kind of warfare that is stretching out the Ukraine-Russia war for over three years now. The Israel-Iran war and the Israel-Houthi wars are other such conflicts that are stretching out. The result of such stretched-out, open-ended conflicts can be both costly and debilitating to the economies of the countries involved, he said.

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Pattabiram emphasised that India needs to build capabilities and abilities to block enemy drones from coming to India. Mentioning how Pakistan often uses drones to send drugs within the Indian borders, he called for finding ways to neutralise these threats.

A general view of a damaged portion of a building, after it was hit by an Indian strike, in Muridke near Lahore, Pakistan, May 7. Jain played a big part in Operation Sindoor. Reuters

AI & Drones

During the conversation with Firstpost, Pattabiram noted that AI automation is going to be the future of drones. The question of trying to operate them manually is not going to be feasible. The skill level required to fly this kind of FPV drone takes years for somebody to build into that kind of capability. Due to this, it is not scalable as well, he said.

It needs to be AI-based. It needs to have self-autonomous capabilities, which do not exist. But looks like many of the countries and many of the companies, including us, are also working along those lines in terms of autonomous AI and Machine learning is being infused into drones, he asserted, emphasising that the integration of AI and drones is an unavoidable future.

SUPER doesnt rely on cameras and standard sensors like most drones. Instead, it uses LiDAR (3D light detection and ranging) technology, which scans its surroundings with laser pulses to create a detailed map in real time. This advanced system means the drone can still operate efficiently in low-light environments where other drones might fumble. Image Credit: University of Hong Kong

So, the swarm drone concept is another concept that is going to be very, very strong going forward. The only thing that you will see grow going forward is the technology content, and the way the technology is used is going to start scaling very well, he said.

Operation Rising Lion: Are drone bases new sleeper cells?

After Israel conducted Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities, it was revealed that Mossad had drone bases within Iranian territory. It was from these bases that they activated the drones and conducted the strikes on military and nuclear facilities in Iran.

While talking about the operation, Pattabiram compared setting up drone bases within enemy territory to setting up sleeper cells or deploying terrorists on foreign land. It is more on the lines of a terrorist operation. So it is like you are having terrorists within the country, within the enemy country, and you are operating those sleeper cells, he said.

In some ways, it is very similar to a sleeper cell concept. And that is exactly what Ukraine and Israel, or Mossad, did. They have activated certain existing assets in terms of people within the other country. This is very, very similar to what has been happening in India. In terms of Pahalgam, or in terms of Patankot or in terms of Bombay, 26-11. Now, in the terrorist case it is human, in this case it is a drone. But the basic concept is the same, he said.

Pattabiram emphasised that the only way to counter these attacks would be the same way one works on counter terrorism measures. So it is a counter terrorism and counterinsurgency kind of scenario that has to be used for something like this. Now, one of the ways of figuring it out is controlling the availability of material to be able to activate these things. And the second is legitimacy in terms of seeing who is using this material, who is buying this material, he explained.

Are drones replacing battle tanks?

Over the decades, the rules of warfare have evolved significantly. From the use of horses to battle tanks. Then missiles came into play, making countries target each other irrespective of the distance. However, the three operations that rocked the world in the span of a few weeks beg one question: Are drones replacing battle tanks?

When Firstpost asked this question, Pattabiram said drones are being used for the first time as a de-escalatory asymmetric.

When a war moved from a horse to a tank, the tank was far more expensive than a horse. But still, people took it because it offered certain strong advantages over a horse. When it moved from propeller planes to jet planes, jet planes were far ahead of propeller planes in terms of capabilities. So even though it was higher in terms of cost, people adopted it because it delivered asymmetric impact to the forces, he explained.

Sai Pattabiram, founder and CEO of an Indian drone manufacturer company, Zuppa, Image Source: Zuppa

When bombs evolved into missiles, a similar kind of asymmetry happened where the cost escalated, but the impact also escalated. But drones are the first time in the history of warfare where it has gone the other way around. Where the cost has reduced, but the impact has increased.

So, thereby enabling larger deployment of drones, covering larger areas and being cost-effective, they are a de-escalative asymmetry which delivers a higher impact, he added. To support his assertion, Pattabiram gave an example of how to take down a tank with millions of dollars of Russian bombers; Ukraine just used $2,000 drones.

So, where this also plays is now if somebody were to use missiles to stop drones, then you are stopping a $2000 drone with a $2 million missile. When it comes to that kind of equation, it can bleed a country, he said.

Can drones be a deterrent in war as nuclear weapons have been?

When asked if drones can be given the same stature as nuclear weapons for deterrence in war, Pattabiram emphasised that while drones can be solid levellers, they are not deterrents and the impact is not as significant as a nuclear weapon.

The drones are turning out to be more of irritants and more of psychological players, rather than being something like an impact player, like nuclear weapons, Pattabiram said.

Nuclear weapons have more of an impact as a deterrent. Whereas drones are turning out to be more than something, they start affecting people psychologically as well as people, keep irritating and chipping away.

So nuclear is something like, one hard bang. This is something that gives a thousand cuts. So, drones and nuclear weapons cant be compared to that extent; one is kind of destructive in one shot. So there is a difference between the two, he concluded.

While drones might not be as lethal as nuclear weapons, one thing remains clear: they will be at the centre stage of modern warfare.
US President Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to threaten India with substantially higher tariffs, citing oil purchases from Russia

United States President Donald Trump on Monday (August 4) threatened to sharply raise tariffs on Indian goods, criticising New Delhi for profiting from Russian oil purchases amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

He also accused Indian leadership of not caring about how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.

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Trump did not specify the new rates. However, officials familiar with the matter said a 10 per cent tariff currently applied on a broad range of Indian goods is expected to rise to 25 per cent by Thursday (August 7).

The move comes as Trump escalates pressure on Moscow, warning of fresh sanctions if Russia does not show progress towards a peace deal with Ukraine by Friday.

How has India responded?

India has addressed how the United States and European Union have targeted the country for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability, an official statement said.

India also pointed out the duplicity of the nations criticising India, in that they are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. The European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia.

Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers as well as chemicals.

Citing this background, New Delhi said that the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable.

With inputs from agencies
The launch of NVIDIAs latest GeForce RTX 50-series laptop GPUs brought with it a new set of gaming laptops across all of the major manufacturers. They boast improved graphical performance at lower power targets, supported by the latest CPUs from both Intel and AMD. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is one such laptop, whose performance and design puts most of its predecessors to shame. Of course, it does come with one catch  its price. Can ASUS justify its price tag? Read on in my review to find out.

Design and Build Quality

ASUS has refined the design of its Zephyrus G-series over the years since its first launch back in 2016. The standout design feature was, without a doubt, its AniMe Vision Dot Matrix display on the laptops lid. It was a gimmick in many respects, but nonetheless, it was cool. However ASUS slowly phased it out over subsequent generations, making it less flashy and more subtle.

The latest iteration of the feature is an LED strip diagonally across the lid, with 68 individual white LEDs. They can be programmed to 15 different animations or act as a notification LED for incoming Windows notifications. Another interesting feature is Sonic Match mode, where it will sync the LEDs to audio playback, which is definitely a conversation-starter. While 68 LEDs is much lower than the 1000+ LEDs that used to be present in the previous designs, the latest design is still unique and I like the implementation this time.

The rest of the laptop is more minimalist, which is a good thing in my opinion. If I wanted attention, then the ROG Strix SCAR series would make more sense. There is a simple ROG logo on the bottom left side of the lid, along with another ROG Zephyrus logo below the display inside the laptop.

For the amount of performance it offers, the Zephyrus G16 really is impressively thin. Gone are the days of thick, heavy laptops that needed bulky cooling systems to keep the thermals under control. The degree of engineering that went into designing such a slim chassis is commendable. On the whole, I find the design of Zephyrus G16 to be sleek, refined, modern and elegant.

When it comes to build quality, there are only positives. The CNC machined Aluminium chassis is exceptionally rigid, with little to no chassis-flex or lid-flex. The hinge has the perfect tension too, allowing it to be opened with one finger. The laptop feels dense in the hand, owing to the cooling systems inside, and it overall exudes quality. In my opinion, the Zephyrus G16 is on-par with the MacBook Pro laptop when it comes to build quality.

Display and Sound

ASUS has stepped up their display game with the Zephyrus G16, equipping it with a stunning OLED display that is up there with the best in the industry. It is a 16-inch, 2.5K (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) OLED panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio, a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, o.2ms response time, support for G-Sync and Dolby Vision HDR, and it is Pantone Validated. The colour accuracy is top-notch with 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space and ASUS claims a Delta E< , which makes it great for content creation.

The only shortcoming of the laptop would be its brightness, which peaks at 500 nits. This is lower than the MacBook Pro Display which can reach a peak brightness of 1600 nits in HDR mode. Still, 500 nits is good enough for indoor use and I didnt really miss the higher brightness of the MacBook Pro. The laptop is VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certified, so you do get a decent HDR experience.

When it comes to gaming on this laptop, I can find no fault whatsoever. It is unbelievably fast, responsive and the colours simply look fantastic. Whether its RPG games with big beautiful worlds or fast-paced E-sports titles, the Zephyrus G16s display will impress you.

Above the display, you also get Windows Hello Facial recognition, which is a nice feature to have.

When it comes to sound, the Zephyrus G16 has upward-firing 6 speaker setup that includes dual-side woofers. The audio quality was impressive, coming quite close to the MacBook Pro, both in terms of volume and quality. The lower frequencies in particular were note-worthy. I thoroughly enjoyed using the speakers for consuming media, and of course, you also have Dolby Atmos Support via the preloaded app.

For audio input, the laptop has a 3 DMIC array that does a great job of capturing clear audio for voice and video calls. Another feature is their two-way AI-Noise cancellation technology that does a good job of cancelling background noise during calls.

Performance and Thermals

The performance of the Zephyrus G16 is definitely one of its biggest highlights. Running this beast of the laptop is Intels latest Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285H, which is paired with

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. This combination of CPU and GPU offers some of the best performance possible in a laptop form factor, and the execution by ASUS is top-notch.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285H is a 16 core beast of a processor comprising 6 performance-cores, 8 efficient-cores and 2 low power efficient-cores. It has a base frequency of 2.9 GHz and it can boost up to 5.4 GHz. It comes with dedicated NPU cores for sustained AI workloads, which makes using things like Microsofts Co-Pilot a lot quicker and better.

Complementing the performance of the CPU is NVIDIAs GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. ASUS has tuned the GPU to reach up to 120W with its Dynamic Boost technology, which is plenty of power for the most demanding use cases. And since it is a 50 series GPU, you get support for all of NVIDIAs latest technologies including DLSS 4.0, Multi Frame Generation, enhanced Super Resolution, etc. Truly one of the best GPUs you can get in a laptop, save for the RTX 5090, but that GPU is meant more for AI workloads than for gaming purposes anyways.

With this combination of CPU and GPU, the G16 can handle nearly any task thrown at it, whether its complex 3D renders, content creation, and of course, any gaming load with ease.

Our model is also equipped with 32GB LPDDR5X RAM on board, running at 7467 MT/s and also has a 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD for all your storage needs.

Here are some benchmarks for the Zephyrus G16:

The thermals are another impressive area for the Zephyrus G16. ASUS has equipped this laptop with their best technologies such as Liquid Metal thermal interface, vapour chamber cooling, a triple fan setup that cools components other than the CPU and GPU, and more. All of which results in exceptional thermal performance in a chassis that is much thinner than expected. During gaming loads, the fans do get loud but not obnoxious. And in lighter loads, the laptop has a 0dB mode for silent performance.

Keyboard and Trackpad

ASUS has been making excellent keyboards for their laptops and the Zephyrus G16 is no exception. The keycaps this time around are 12% larger than the previous generation and the key travel is 1.7mm, which is plenty for a laptop keyboard. The key presses feel click-y, with good actuation force and a satisfying sound.

I had no issues with layout either, although I still dislike having the co-pilot button. At least, ASUS could make it a configurable button or give me the ability to turn it off. Too many times I accidentally clicked it thinking it was the right CTRL button.

Being a Zephyrus gaming laptop, of course you get RGB-lighting support with AURA Sync. However it is single zone RGB and not per-key LEDs.

The trackpad is absolutely massive. It is glass-topped and it runs on Windows Precision Drivers, resulting in perfect accuracy and great gesture support. The large size did make me worry about the palm-rejection, but during my use, I faced no issues.

Ports and Connectivity

The ports on the Zephyrus G16 include

1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack

1x HDMI 2.1 FRL

2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with support for DisplayPort / power delivery / G-SYNC

1x Thunderbolt 4 with support for DisplayPort / power delivery

1x card reader (SD) (UHS-II, 312MB/s)

The selection of ports is generous and I am perfectly happy with it. The inclusion of an SD card reader is especially useful for content creators.

For wireless connectivity, you get an Intel Wi-Fi 7 card along with Bluetooth 5.4 support. As expected from an Intel Wi-Fi card, connectivity was excellent, with good speeds and no drops in the connection. Wi-Fi 7 is absurdly fast, and while there arent many routers that can enable those speeds, it is good to have for future-proofing.

Battery

Built into the Zephyrus G16 is a 90Whr 4-Cell Li-ion battery that supports fast-charging with the included 240W adapter. The laptop also supports USB Type-C charging, however you cant expect to get the full performance of the laptop.

Laptops with Intel CPUs arent known for their battery life, especially when compared to its competition from AMD powered laptops. However Im pleased to say that the Zephyrus G16 performed better than expected in this regard. While it is no battery monster like the MacBook Pro, it did hold up well in my day to day use.

I was able to get anywhere between 6-8 hours of screen time with the laptop when using it lightly (Browsing the web, Netflix, YouTube, etc.). This is of course in the Eco Mode setting with the dedicated GPU turned off. If you perform heavier tasks, the battery life will quickly drop.

Conclusion

To recap, the Zephyrus G16 has a brilliant display, beautiful design and impressive build quality, top-notch performance, and a great keyboard and trackpad. The battery life would be the only area that I would consider as average, which for a gaming laptop is good enough.

So the Zephyrus G16 should be an easy recommendation right? Well there is a matter of the price. The laptop starts at Rs. 359,990 for the RTX 5080 variant, and that is a hefty price for a Windows laptop. There are a lot of great options that are less expensive in the gaming laptop space. However, if you want the absolute best Windows laptop, both for content creation and for gaming on-the-go, and price isnt objection, then the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is definitely the laptop to consider buying.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus laptop is available for purchase on the ASUS official e-store and on Amazon, starting at Rs. 359,990
When I ordered my 23 up here in Dallas, I reached out to 30+ dealers. Nobody wanted my business. I wasnt asking for bottom dollar pricing or anything like that. Just said "would like to order a 23, what kind of deals are you offering on an ordered truck, etc..." and got like 3 responses and all were "we order at MSRP"... I had ordered a 22 that never got built from Granger, but in the time since 2021 things had changed and I didnt want to deal with 2+ days of driving to get a truck.



I ordered my 23 from Bill Fick. At the time I got 2500 off MSRP which wasnt a terrible deal(even Granger on the 23's were not doing the invoice minus deal they had been). They are the largest SD dealer in Texas if not the USA. I think they sell 1200+ SD's a year. I dealt with Brody West. When I went to pick it up there was no up-sale at finance, just drop the check and head out.



Hard to say how aggressive any dealer will be on an ordered truck if you have never bought from them before. I would expect on truck 2+ that a dealer would be more willing to work on pricing. Just my opinion and experience.



If you want probably bottom dollar then Granger is going to be hard to beat, but you have to deal with getting the truck.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
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State officials may have solved the puzzle of how zebra mussels got into the Colorado River.

On July 3, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials discovered a large number of adult zebra mussels in a privately owned body of water in western Eagle County. On July 28, Madeline Baker, an invasive species specialist with CPW, told members of the Colorado Basin Roundtable they believe this private lake is an upstream source of the mussels that have contaminated the Colorado River, the Government Highline Canal, Highline Lake and Mack Mesa Lake.

We do believe this to be the primary source, but it could now have created other secondary sources downstream with locations that hold water, Baker said. There is a lot of speculation of could these veligers survive the journey from Eagle County down to Highline and create a new population there or is there some sort of intermediate population in between. So we still have a lot to figure out.

Baker said that the lakes owner is collaborating with CPW on a mitigation plan. CPW is not releasing the owners name or specific location of the lake.

The property owner is unsure of how this could have happened, but is being cooperative, she said.

Baker said there were quite a few dead shells on the shoreline of the private lake, which indicates the zebra mussel population has been there for several years. She said CPW staff found the lake by searching Google maps for bodies of water on private property near the Colorado River and then calling property owners and asking if they could inspect their lakes. An outlet from the lake was bringing zebra-mussel-infested water into the Colorado River, an issue that has since been fixed.

Weve done a dye test at the reservoir to be sure that nothing more is flowing into the river, and that dye test showed us that it should be contained at this point, which will allow us to pave a path toward mitigation, Baker said.

Zebra mussels are a prolific invasive species that if left unchecked could clog irrigation infrastructure, and strip the plankton and nutrients from the water. Once established, they are nearly impossible to eradicate.

For the past two summers, microscopic zebra mussel larvae, known as veligers, have been found in the Colorado River at several locations. In June, they were found at the boat launch in New Castle, in Highline Lake and Mack Mesa Lake. The Colorado River is now considered positive for zebra mussels from the confluence with the Roaring Fork River to the Colorado-Utah border.

GRAND VALLEY THREAT

The arrival of zebra mussels has been especially alarming for the Grand Valley, which is one of the most important agricultural areas and home to the biggest agricultural water users of Colorado River water on the Western Slope.

At least from a Grand Valley perspective, we feel like we are under a very serious threat, said Kirsten Kurath, a Grand Valley attorney and vice-chair of the roundtable.

Adult mussels were found in 2022 in Highline Lake near the Utah state line. Officials treated it with a form of copper that kills zebra mussels called EarthTec QZ and drained it for the 2024 boating season. The lake reopened for recreation this year but on June 10, CPW staff found more veligers in Highline Lake, which is now designated an infested body of water. Highline Lake is filled with water from the Government Highline Canal, which pulls water from the Colorado River.

We now know that Highline Lake was continuously being reinfested with mussels after the treatment, so its difficult to ascertain the effectiveness of the treatment, Baker said.

Veligers were also found last year in the Government Highline Canal, which brings water from the Colorado River to Grand Valley farms, vineyards and orchards. Realizing the mussels could be disastrous for commercial peach growers who use micro-drip irrigation, water managers sprang into action last fall, treating their systems with a copper solution that kills the mussels.

Grand Valley Water Users Association General Manager Tina Bergonzini said the copper treatment was successful  the irrigation company has not seen any signs of adult mussels in their system  and the Government Highline Canal has not had any more positive tests for veligers. Still, Bergonzini said GVWUA will probably do the copper treatment again this fall, and that preventing zebra mussels from becoming established is something they will be working on for the foreseeable future.

I dont think there is any way around (doing the copper treatment again), Bergonzini said. We cant risk our infrastructure. Its a financial hurdle for the irrigation companies because its very costly, but not as costly as having fouled infrastructure.

The discovery of the source pond in Eagle County is a step in the right direction, but it doesnt mean the fight against zebra mussels is over. CPW will continue sampling and mitigation work, Baker said.

Finding the source was always the main focus, Bergonzini said. Theres no way you can win the war if you cant figure out where they are coming from. So I think discovering that pond was huge. That gives us a really good chance.

CPW says cleaning, draining and drying fishing gear, motorized boats and hand-launched vessels like paddle boards is key to preventing the spread of invasive species.

Aspen Journalism is a nonprofit, investigative news organization covering water, environment, social justice and more. Visit http://aspenjournalism.org
President Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Commits $6.2 Billion to Manage America's Ready Reserve Force

Maritime Administration (MARAD) - U.S. Department of Transportation

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

20 contracts were signed to manage a fleet of 51 Ready Reserve Force ships to bolster national security, restore Maritime Dominance

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced that the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has signed 20 contracts totaling $6.2 billion to manage its Ready Reserve Force (RRF). The RRF, through MARAD, provides strategic sealift support for the rapid deployment of U.S. military forces and equipment during conflicts, crises, and emergencies.

MARAD and USDOT are one step closer to fulfilling President Trump's Executive Order on Restoring Maritime Dominance.

"The Ready Reserve Force supports our military men and women and strengthens our supply chains," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. "When our military is called to respond, the RRF delivers the tanks, the trucks, and the supplies. These ships don't just support the missionthey are the linchpin that makes the mission possible. National security depends on strategic sealift, and strategic sealift depends on the RRF."

"Our contracts with seven ship managers will ensure the fleet stays ready, reliable, and responsive," said Acting Administrator of the Maritime Administration Sang Yi. "MARAD has a tremendous responsibility to maintain the RRF so that during critical military, humanitarian, and natural disaster operations, Americans can rely on these vessels for logistics support."

The 51 RRF vessels referenced in the contracts include:

 roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) vessels;

 auxiliary crane ships; and

 aviation maintenance vessels



Since its inception in 1976, the RRF has supported hundreds of missions, including annual military exercises and operations, as well as response efforts for emergency declarations. RRF provides nearly 100% of government-owned surge sealift.

Additional Information:

The 10-year contracts cover maintenance, repair, logistics support, activation, operation, deactivation, crewing, and management of 51 MARAD RRF vessels, ensuring they are ready to deploy at a moment's notice.

As part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), the RRF provides strategic sealift support for the rapid deployment of U.S. military forces and equipment during conflicts, crises, and emergencies. RRF ships are a key component of the Department of Defense's (DoD) strategic sealift capability, transporting unit equipment, combat support gear, and initial resupply during critical surge periods.

These MARAD-owned, contractor-operated vessels are maintained in a high state of readiness and can be activated within five days for worldwide deployment. Ships in priority readiness are staffed in Reduced Operating Status (ROS), with maintenance crews of about 10 merchant mariners. Once activated, these crews are supplemented by additional mariners as needed.

RRF ships are moored at various U.S. "outports"a combination of government and commercial facilities strategically selected by military planners to minimize sailing time to key locations. The RRF readiness is periodically tested through DoD-directed activations for military cargo operations and exercises.



###

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OIC Appreciates Canada and Malta's Determination to Recognize the State of Palestine

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

01-08-2025

The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, welcomed the announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela of their countries' intention to recognize the State of Palestine next September. He stressed the importance of this step in strengthening peace efforts and implementing the two-state solution in compliance with relevant UN resolutions.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call on other countries to recognize the State of Palestine, support its full membership in the United Nations, and engage in efforts aimed at ending Israeli aggression, occupation, and settlement activities, and achieving peace based on international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

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US Army Showcases Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon During TS25 in Australia

By Sgt. Perla Alfaro August 2, 2025

NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia -- In a historic milestone, the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force (3MDTF) deployed a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system outside of the continental United States for the first time, deploying cutting-edge capability to the Northern Territory, Australia in support of Talisman Sabre 25.

"The deployment of the LRHW system to Australia marks a significant achievement for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, as it validates the Army's ability to deploy, position, and exercise command and control (C2) of the system in a forward environment," said Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. "The exercise demonstrates the Combatant Command's capacity to project power and support the defense of Australia, a key ally in the region."

Talisman Sabre 25 is the largest bilateral military exercise between the U.S. and Australia, designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen relationships among key allies and partners, while enhancing collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns. The 3MDTF's participation in the exercise highlights the unit's commitment to supporting the defense of Australia and to maintaining a strong and stable security environment in the region.

"The deployment of the LRHW system to Australia is a major milestone for the Army and demonstrates our ability to rapidly deploy and operate advanced capabilities in support of our allies and partners," said Col. Wade Germann, Commander of the 3MDTF. "This exercise showcases our commitment to the defense of Australia and to the security of the Indo-Pacific region and highlights the strength of our partnership with the Australian Defence Force."

The LRHW system is a game-changing capability that provides the 3MDTF with the ability to conduct precision strikes at long range, leveraging hypersonic speeds to rapidly respond to emerging threats. The system's deployment to Australia demonstrates the 3MDTF's ability to adapt and innovate in response to evolving security challenges and underscores the unit's commitment to staying at the forefront of military technology.

The successful deployment of the LRHW system to Australia highlights the unit's role as a key player in regional security and stability. The exercise also demonstrates the strong bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Australia, and the two nations' commitment to working together to support enhanced deterrence and maintain regional stability.

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Joint drills of India, Philippines in S.China Sea 'more symbolic than substantive'

Global Times

New Delhi's 'gesture politics' to highlight presence while Manila attempts to incite more tensions: expert

By Feng Fan Published: Aug 03, 2025 09:55 PM

In a move that each side has own calculations, India and the Philippines are set to conduct joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea this week, coinciding with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s official visit to India from Monday to Friday, Philippine News Agency reported, calling the exercises "a bilateral maritime cooperative activity." Chinese experts described the move of India as "gesture politics," which is intended to offer fake commitments to the Philippines regarding the South China Sea issue and to peddle Indian weapons, while Manila seeks to further incite tensions in the region.

By next week, while the President is in India, we will have a bilateral maritime cooperative activity with India. The Philippine Navy and three Indian ships will sail together to the South China Sea, according to the Philippine News Agency, citing Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

Some Indian media outlets have hyped the connection between the upcoming drills and China. According to a Hindustan Times report on Sunday, India and the Philippines will launch the exercises in waters near Huangyan Dao, with the report describing the island as "a focal point of the maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing." The report also hyped that President Marcos Jr.'s visit "comes at a time of heightened tensions in the South China Sea."

The joint drills in the South China Sea are largely symbolic, aimed at highlighting India's political presence and signaling a greater willingness to intervene in regional affairs, Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"This is more of gesture politics than a substantive exercise," Chen said. "But it could send a misleading message to the Philippines, making it wrongly believe that India supports its position and will provide assistance regarding the South China Sea issue."

The Indian Navy has increased its presence in Southeast Asia with multiple ship deployments aimed at strengthening maritime partnerships, Indian media The Economic Times claimed, alleging that "the move aligns with India's broader strategy of regional engagement in the Indo-Pacific, especially as China asserts influence across strategic waters."

For years, India has sought to expand its influence in the Asia-Pacific region. On one hand, this stems from India's self-perception as a global power and its ambition to project influence in international affairs, particularly maritime issues. On the other hand, India also attempts to strengthen military and security cooperation with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, by intervening in maritime issues involving China  especially the South China Sea issue  as a way to form a kind of political and diplomatic check on China, Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Studies at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.

USNI News, a news service agency under the US Naval Institute highlighted that compared to previous navy-to-navy engagements, such as joint sails, passing exercises and maritime partnership exercises, the maritime cooperative activity tackles force interoperability and demonstrates support for the Philippines amid its struggle with China.

The Philippines' attempt to draw India and other countries into joint exercises in the South China Sea reveal its intention to leverage the presence of extraterritorial powers to further stir up tensions in the region. Manila appears determined to frame the South China Sea issue as a global hotspot, to attract increased attention from the international community. By doing so, the Philippines seeks to highlight its so-called strategic or security value in an attempt to avoid being sidelined by traditional allies such as the US and Japan, Ding said.

Chen warned that India's involvement as an extraterritorial power in the South China Sea could further intensify competition in the region. "It may embolden the Philippines to act more aggressively, especially under the encouragement of countries like the US, Japan, and Australia, leading it to believe its policy stance enjoys broader international support. This could prolong maritime confrontations and escalate tensions," he said.

Meanwhile, Chen emphasized that the drill in the South China Sea lacks real combat significance and is unlikely to yield substantial operational results. "The joint drills are unlikely to achieve meaningful outcomes," he said.

Ahead of the drills, the Philippines is set to receive more military equipment from India, according to Philippine Armed Forces Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Philippine News Agency reported.

"We are in fact ordering more equipment and weapon systems from India," Brawner told reporters aboard the INS Shakti on Thursday night when asked on whether the Philippines is planning to acquire more equipment from India.

Chen further noted that India's participation in the joint drills also serves to signal "support" for the Philippines in exchange for arms sales. "India seeks to expand its influence in Southeast Asia despite limited capabilities. By showcasing its support for the Philippines in regional affairs, it aims to boost its weapons exports and demonstrate its strategic presence," he added.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China opposes attempts to increase military alliance and engage in military deployment and operation targeting others under the pretext of the South China Sea issue.

Any defense or security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target any third party or meddle in the South China Sea disputes, still less provoke confrontation or escalate tensions in the region, Guo said.

The Philippines is a genuine troublemaker and a creator of danger in the South China Sea, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, told a press conference on Wednesday.

The Philippines has not only illegally occupied some islands and reefs of China's Nansha Islands, but has also frequently carried out provocative and disruptive actions at sea against the Chinese side, while cooperating with extraterritorial forces to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, Zhang said, in response to a query regarding the Philippine defense chief's claim that the Philippine military will respond to China's "aggressive" actions in the South China Sea and that the Philippine side is strengthening defense cooperation with the United States, Australia, Japan and India.

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Thailand, Cambodia to hold GBC meeting with observers from China, US, and Malaysia amid lingering tensions

Global Times

By Fan Anqi Published: Aug 03, 2025 11:24 PM

The General Border Committee (GBC) meeting between Thailand and Cambodia, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur from Monday to Thursday, has agreed to the inclusion of representatives from China, the US, and this year's ASEAN chair Malaysia as observers.

A trilateral meeting via video conference between Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia was held on Saturday in preparation for the GBC meeting, The Nation Thailand reported on Sunday. This discussion demonstrates the parties' commitment to peaceful engagement and constructive dialogue, and it will hopefully contribute to the collective responsibility to uphold peace and stability in the ASEAN region, according to a Facebook post by Malaysian Defense Minister Khaled Nordin, the report said.

Thailand's Acting Defense Minister General Natthapon Nakpanich welcomed the consensus on holding the extraordinary GBC meeting in Malaysia. "It is my pleasure to confirm that Thailand accepts the proposal to include representatives from Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair, US and China, who have been providing assistance since July 28, as observers to the GBC meeting," he said in a statement, The Star reported.

He added that the participation of observers from the three countries is scheduled to take place on August 7.

On July 31, Cambodia's Defense Minister, General Tea Seiha, sent a letter to invited General Nattaphon Narkphanit, Thailand's Deputy Defense Minister, proposing that Malaysia, the US and China participate as observers at the GBC meeting, acknowledging their important role as mediators during the ceasefire on July 28.

"We sincerely hope that this meeting will be constructive and yield positive results," said Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for Cambodia's Ministry of Defense.

However, former Cambodian Prime Minister and Senate President Hun Sen has issued a serious warning on his social media channels regarding heightened tensions along the border with Thailand. Citing an earlier statement from the Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Hun Sen indicated that there is a significant possibility that the Thai military may initiate a military attack on Cambodia tonight, according to local media.

The selection of the three countries as observers to attend the meeting reflects Cambodia and Thailand's recognition of China' increasingly important role and Malaysia as ASEAN rotating chair have played in addressing regional conflicts, Xu Liping, Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"ASEAN countries positively acknowledge China's role in regional security affairs. China enjoys good relations with both Thailand and Cambodia, and this strong foundation of political trust enables China to play an active mediating role. China's stance is clear and impartial, consistently advocating for halting conflicts, promoting peace, and resolving issues through negotiations," said Ge Hongliang, deputy director of the College of ASEAN Studies at Guangxi University for Nationalities.

The selection of Malaysia, Xu noted, indicates that as ASEAN member states, Cambodia and Thailand are expected to resolve disputes through peaceful negotiations in accordance with the ASEAN Charter. And for Malaysia, as rotating chair, hosting the meeting aligns with the Charter's principles which makes it both reasonable and legitimate.

The conflict along the Thai-Cambodian border began with a brief skirmish on May 28 and escalated into armed clashes on July 24. On July 28, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire following a special meeting hosted in Putrajaya by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, media reported.

"The focus of this meeting is expected to be on conflict resolution," Ge told the Global Times, noting that while the ceasefire agreement has taken effect, sporadic clashes still persist, indicating that underlying tensions remain unresolved.

The most critical aspect is whether both sides can rebuild mutual trust at the political level, especially after the "phone call incident" that significantly undermined the political trust between Thailand and Cambodia. Additionally, restoring diplomatic relations is essential, the expert noted.

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Underestimation of PL-15 missile range leads to Indian Rafale jet's downing by Pakistan's J-10 aircraft: media

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Aug 03, 2025 03:16 PM

A report by Reuters on Saturday offered more insights into how Pakistan's Chinese-made J-10 fighter jet shot down India's cutting-edge Rafale fighter jet during the two countries' clash on May 7. According to the report, the Rafale pilots underestimated the range of Chinese-made PL-15 missile fired by the J-10.

During the hour-long fight, which took place in darkness, the J-10s shot down at least one Rafale, Reuters reported citing US officials, while Pakistan claimed the J-10 was used to shoot down three French-made Rafale planes, per another Reuters report.

The downing of the Rafale surprised many in the military community and raised questions about the effectiveness of Western military hardware against untested Chinese alternatives, Reuters report said.

Central to its downing was an Indian intelligence failure concerning the range of the China-made PL-15 missile fired by the J-10 fighter rather than the performance of the Rafale, Reuters claimed after interviewing two Indian officials and three of their Pakistani counterparts.

The faulty intelligence gave the Rafale pilots a false sense of confidence they were out of Pakistani firing distance, which they believed was only around 150 kilometers, the Indian officials said, referring to the widely cited range of PL-15's export variant, Reuters reported.

The PL-15 that hit the Rafale was fired from around 200 kilometers away, according to Pakistani officials, and even farther according to Indian officials. That would make it among the longest-range air-to-air strikes recorded, Reuters said.

Zhang Xuefeng, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that one of the biggest characteristics of the PL-15E is its long range. Its maximum attack range could surpass previous missiles by a very large margin.

The Global Times learned that the PL-15E uses a mixed guidance mode of inertial navigation system, satellite navigation system, datalink and active radar terminal guidance. Its range was labeled 145 kilometers at Airshow China 2021 when it made public debut.

India's defense and foreign ministries did not return requests for comment about the intelligence mistakes, Reuters reported. Delhi hasn't acknowledged a Rafale being shot down, but France's air chief told reporters in June that he had seen evidence of the loss of that fighter and two other aircraft flown by India, including a Russian-made Sukhoi. A top Dassault executive also told French lawmakers that month that India had lost a Rafale in operations, though he didn't have specific details, according to the report.

In response to the media question at the 55th Paris Air Show in June, "Which is superior, the J-10CE or the Rafale?" Wu Jiwei, a spokesperson at the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), told the Global Times that both aircraft are advanced fighters on the world stage, and he expressed hope that all cutting-edge fighter jets from different countries could contribute to safeguarding global peace.

When asked about the Chinese Ministry of National Defense's assessment on the equipment supplied by the Chinese military to Pakistan in the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at the Chinese Defense Ministry, said at a regular press conference in May that Pakistan and India are neighbors who cannot move away from each other. We call on the both sides to keep calm, exercise restraint and avoid complicating the situation. China will continue to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

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The Government of the Republic of Cyprus condemns the ongoing unlawful detainment of five Greek Cypriots by the occupying regime

Republic of Cyprus

From: Presidency of the Republic

03/08/25 09:34 | Press release | President of the Republic / Presidency

The Government of the Republic of Cyprus strongly condemns the ongoing unlawful, provocative, and inhumane treatment of five Greek Cypriots, citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, by the Turkish military occupying regime. Yesterday, once again, the fundamental human rights and basic freedoms of the individuals concerned were violated through procedures that are offensive to the very notion of justice.

The decision issued yesterday by the so-called military court of the occupying regime, which is subordinate to Turkiye, and the continuation of the unlawful detention following the abduction of Greek Cypriots who were either visiting their properties in the occupied areas or had simply entered the area, clearly demonstrates the disregard shown by Turkiye and its subordinate regime for international law.

It is now evident that this action, premeditated by Turkiye and publicly indicated in advance by the Turkish Cypriot leader, aims to intimidate Greek Cypriots who visit the occupied areas or who submit applications to the so-called Immovable Property Commission.

Abduction, hostage-taking, and a process devoid of due legal standards; these are the actions of the unlawful regime, acting under Turkiye's direction. Turkiye bears full responsibility and must be held accountable.

The Government has submitted relevant reports and representations to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, the European Union (EU) High Representative, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and Foreign Ministers and Deputy Foreign Ministers from EU member states, among others.

The Government continues and is intensifying all appropriate diplomatic demarches and representations, with the aim of ensuring the immediate termination of the unlawful detention of the Greek Cypriots.

(AP/GS/LY)

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Iran calls for swift arms embargo on Israel to end Gaza atrocities

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has called on the international community to put an arms embargo on Israel as part of measures to end the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The Iranian spokesperson, in a post shared on X late on Saturday, referred to Israel's starvation campaign against Gazans and the killing of Palestinians in the strip by weapons provided by Western countries including the United States and Germany.

He also referred to Israeli forces' fatal shootings of the Palestinians waiting to receive food at the so-called aid distribution centers run by the regime, while patients and the injured are denied treatment as supplies of medicine run short in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli siege in place since March.

"Palestinians are wickedly starved to death at the same time that they are massacred by the most sophisticated lethal American and German made weapons," he said.

"Lines for food are deliberately turned into death traps, patients die without food and medicine and this is after two years of brutal terror campaign of bombardment and massive annihilation that has killed and maimed more than 200,000 persons, traumatized the whole Gazans and turned 90 percent of Gaza strip into an uninhabitable moonscape," Baqaei further said.

The Iranian diplomat called on the international community to stop issuing empty statements and take action to stop arms delivery to Israel.

"The international community must stop issuing empty statements and start taking action to relieve the innocent Gazans, implement an immediate arms embargo on the genocidal occupying regime and prosecute the criminals for their atrocities," according to the spokesperson.

7129**4194

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PM Netanyahu speaks with the head of delegation for the ICRC

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Media Statements

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 03.08.2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the head of delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the region, Julien Lerisson, and asked for his involvement in the immediate providing of food and medical care to our hostages.

The Prime Minister told Lerisson that Hamas's starvation libel is reverberating around the world, while the systematic starvation is carried out against our hostages, who are being subjected to inhumane physical and mental abuse. The world cannot remain indifferent to the shocking images which are reminiscent of Nazi atrocities.

The Prime Minister demanded the involvement of the entire world in condemning the terror organizations Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and ceasing direct and indirect support for them. The Prime Minister stressed that their actions violate international law and the Geneva Convention.

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Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan Sends Off 17th Consignment of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza with Support of NDMA

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Today, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, oversaw the dispatch of Pakistan's 17th consignment of humanitarian aid to Gaza, consisting of 100 tons of vital supplies, including food, ready-to-eat meals, powdered milk, and medical equipment. This relief effort is part of Pakistan's ongoing commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, who continue to endure extreme suffering amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Since October 2023, Pakistan has sent multiple consignments of humanitarian aid to Gaza, totalling 1,615 tons of relief goods. This ongoing effort aims to alleviate the suffering of civilians, particularly women and children, affected by the brutal conflict.

The timely delivery of this consignment has been made possible due to the dedicated efforts of Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which has coordinated the swift dispatch of aid to Gaza, ensuring that vital relief reaches those in need without delay. The NDMA's seamless collaboration with relevant international partners has been instrumental in making this operation a success.

In his statement, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister emphasized that Pakistan remains steadfast in its support for Palestine during these trying times. He reiterated Pakistan's call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, the protection of civilians, and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance. Additionally, he called for renewed international support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is essential for the survival of millions of Palestinian refugees.

He added that Pakistan also continues to advocate for the restoration of a political process leading to a just and lasting two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders in accordance with international law and relevant UNSC resolutions. Pakistan has actively participated in various international forums, including the UN Security Council, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to ensure accountability for Israel's actions.

The humanitarian assistance provided by Pakistan reflects the country's unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause and its determination to help bring peace, dignity, and justice to the Palestinian people. Pakistan will continue to provide relief and advocate for a just resolution to the ongoing crisis.

Islamabad

3 August 2025

228/2025

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UN official highlights humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid brutal Israeli blockade

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 9:59 PM

Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine, has expressed grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, where he reports that residents have endured relentless suffering for over 22 months.

In a Sunday op-ed published in The Guardian, Whittall detailed the dire conditions faced by the 2.1 million people living in the territory, which has been subjected to extensive Israeli military offensive and a stringent blockade by the Israeli regime.

Since the escalation of the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza in October 2023, Whittall has been actively involved in coordinating humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

He asserts that the situation continues to deteriorate with significant shortages of food, clean water, and medical care.

In a sobering reflection on ongoing conditions, Whittall outlined cases of extreme deprivation, including starvation and a crumbling healthcare system, and noted that international aid has been erratic and heavily restricted.

Whittall highlighted a particularly harrowing incident during a press briefing on June 22, where he described how civilians were being shot while trying to reach food.

Following his comments, he faced repercussions from Israeli officials, who announced that his visa would not be renewed, raising concerns about freedom of speech and the ability of humanitarian workers to operate in the region.

The official observed that the challenges extend beyond Gaza, citing a coordinated effort to fragment Palestinian territory in the West Bank, where ongoing violence, settlement expansion, and movement restrictions are coercing Palestinian communities into isolated enclaves.

He emphasized the systematic dismantling of livelihoods and infrastructure for Palestinians.

Whittall shared his firsthand experiences of witnessing unimaginable human suffering, including mass graves and the deaths of medical personnel in war zones, underscoring the urgent need for unhindered humanitarian access.

He condemned the Israeli regime's actions and criticized the broader international community for failing to respond adequately to the crisis, despite clear guidance from the International Court of Justice urging protection measures.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, characterized by overcrowded shelters, malnutrition among children, and continuous bombardments.

Whittall urged a reassessment of political choices that contribute to the ongoing crisis, asserting that international law must be respected and enforced to ensure the protection of human rights for all.

As Gaza continues to grapple with the consequences of violence and blockade, experts warn that without immediate action to ease restrictions and ensure access to aid, the humanitarian situation is likely to worsen, deepening the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.

Since May, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,330 Palestinian aid seekers, and over 8,810 others have been wounded in Israeli attacks, mainly at GHF centers.

The United Nations agencies say more than 6,000 Palestinian children are being treated for malnutrition resulting from an all-out blockade of Gaza.

At least 175 people, including 93 children, have starved to death in Gaza since the Israeli regime launched the war in October 2023.

Israel has rejected calls from the UN, aid agencies, and world leaders to allow more aid trucks into the besieged region to alleviate the crisis.

More Palestinians die every single day due to forced starvation and malnutrition.

Parents watch their children waste away as deliberate aid restrictions from Israel mean hunger is becoming a killer across the besieged territory.

The whole Palestinian population was completely relying on UN agencies and other partners to distribute food. Israel has dismantled the UN-backed aid delivery system and replaced it with a controversial US-backed mechanism, which humanitarian aid workers and Gaza authorities say has only exacerbated the crisis.

The US-Israeli campaign of genocide, which began in October 2023, has so far killed about 60,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

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US confirms American citizen killed by Israeli settlers in West Bank

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 8:54 PM

The US State Department has confirmed the death of a Palestinian-American man killed in an arson attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Khamis Ayyad, 40, died on Thursday from smoke inhalation caused by fires after settlers set ablaze vehicles and homes in the Palestinian village of Silwad, located northeast of Ramallah.

Local residents reported that Ayyad, a husband and father of five, had been attempting to extinguish the fires to save lives alongside others.

On Sunday, the US State Department confirmed that Ayyad, a US citizen who had moved back to his native West Bank five years ago while working remotely for an American company, had died this week.

Family members and Palestinian officials attributed his death to the arson committed by Israeli settlers.

The Palestinian Authority and witnesses indicated on Thursday that Israeli settlers had set fire to homes and cars in Silwad, marking yet another attack in the occupied Palestinian territory.

During a press conference in Chicago on Friday, Ayyad's family shared that he had relocated overseas with his wife and children, who were raised in Cicero, Illinois.

When asked to comment on Ayyad's death, a State Department spokesperson stated, "We can confirm the death of a US citizen in the town of Silwad in the West Bank," but did not provide Ayyad's name.

"We condemn criminal violence by any party in the West Bank," the spokesperson added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

An Israeli forces spokesperson noted that "several suspects... set fire to property and vehicles in the Silwad area," but troops dispatched to the scene were unable to identify the perpetrators.

The spokesperson also mentioned that Israeli police had launched an investigation into the arson attacks.

Ayyad is at least the second Palestinian-American man killed in West Bank settler violence within the past month, following the brutal beating death of 20-year-old Sayfollah "Saif" Musallet while visiting family in the town of Sinjil, where they own farmland.

Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli settlers viciously assaulted Musallet, who was pronounced dead before reaching the hospital. The US ambassador to Tel Aviv, Mike Huckabee, called for an investigation into the "criminal and terrorist act."

The West Bank is home to approximately three million Palestinians, while an estimated 500,000 Israelis reside in illegal settlements built in the occupied Palestinian land.

Since Israeli forces launched a military campaign against Palestinians in the neighboring Gaza Strip in October 2023, which has resulted in the deaths of 60,800 individuals, violence by settlers in the occupied West Bank has surged.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 1,012 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 7,000 injured by Israeli forces and illegal settlers in the West Bank.

In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark ruling declaring the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory illegal, demanding the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Al-Quds Jerusalem.

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Israeli minister Ben-Gvir leads settler incursion into al-Aqsa Mosque

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 10:56 AM

Israel's so-called security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has led a large group of settlers in a provocative march and mass incursion into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East al-Quds.

According to the Islamic Waqf Department in al-Quds, at least 1,251 Israeli settlers stormed the sacred site on Sunday morning.

They performed Talmudic rituals, singing, and dancing under heavy police protection, coinciding with the Jewish commemoration of Tisha B'Av.

Among the participants was Likud lawmaker Amit Halevi, who accompanied Ben-Gvir in the settler incursion into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

In a statement from within the compound, Ben-Gvir asserted that "the Temple Mount is for the Jews, and we will remain here forever," sparking widespread condemnation.

The incursion came hours after Ben-Gvir led another illegal settler march through the Old City of al-Quds after midnight.

The events were organized by extremist "Temple Mount" groups, which had called for mass entry into the al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday to mark Tisha B'Av, which commemorates the so-called anniversary of the destruction of the Temple.

'Settler violence and incursions into al-Aqsa a dangerous escalation'

In reaction, the spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that ongoing settler violence in the occupied West Bank and provocative incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque represent a serious escalation.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh described the behavior as in line with the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation campaign being waged against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

"This dangerous and condemned escalation reflects organized terror under the protection and support of the Israeli occupation authorities," he stated. "It is aimed at sabotaging all Arab and international efforts to achieve a ceasefire and restore calm and stability in the region."

Abu Rudeineh held the occupying Tel Aviv regime fully responsible for the consequences of "these terrorist acts," and called on the United States administration to intervene immediately and urgently to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression.

"If the US truly seeks security and stability, it must compel Israel to abide by international law and UN resolutions," he added.

Abu Rudeineh emphasized that "lasting peace can only be achieved through recognition of the Palestinian people's rights to freedom, independence, and the establishment of their sovereign state."

The al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Jewish visitation of al-Aqsa is permitted, but as part of a decades-old agreement between Jordan - the custodian of Islamic and Christian sites in al-Quds - and Israel in the wake of Israel's occupation of East al-Quds in 1967, non-Muslim worship at the compound is prohibited.

The latest intrusion by Israeli settlers comes as the occupying regime keeps its bloody war machine going in the Gaza Strip, which has left at least 57,418 Palestinians killed, mostly women and children, since October 7, 2023.

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Israelis slam Netanyahu over 'abandoning' captives as talks with Hamas stall

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 10:48 AM

Israeli families have lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "abandoning" captives held in Gaza and failing to secure a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

"My son is dying! You are the one who abandoned him. You are the one who failed. You are the one who invented this phased, piecemeal, selective approach," Israeli media quoted on Saturday the father of one of the captives in Gaza, Rom Breslavsky.

"You never missed a chance to miss every opportunity  I tell you now: Enough! The phased approach to deals has failed. Make the decision already - end the war and bring everyone here," he said at an anti-regime rally in Tel Aviv in a message addressed to Netanyahu.

The brother of Israeli captive Evyatar David also decried the failure of Netanyahu's Gaza war policies at the same rally, where thousands gathered holding posters of those held in captivity and chanted for their immediate release.

"They are on the absolute brink of death," David's brother Ilay said. "In the current unimaginable condition, they may have only days left to live."

Pointing to the dire situation in Gaza, Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said two out of the 50 Israeli captives in the blockaded territory were recently "documented looking emaciated and starving."

"Yet, in its next session  not for the first time  the [cabinet] will be discussing threats to the life of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, especially in light of the indictment against 73-year-old Tamar Gershoni, who attempted to acquire an RPG launcher to assassinate Netanyahu."

The families of captives have repeatedly stated that Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza endangers their lives in captivity, calling for an end to the regime's aggression and a "comprehensive deal" that would secure their immediate release.

In January, a temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas led to the release of several captives and Palestinian abductees held in illegally in Israeli jails.

However, the Israeli regime refused to extend the deal as initially planned, choosing instead to intensify its military assaults on Gaza by shattering the 2-month deal.

Dozens of the captives have already been killed in Israel's indiscriminate and relentless bombardment of the Palestinian territory, and now, the Israeli-imposed starvation is taking its toll on them, too.

'Facing mounting international pressure to allow more food into Gaza, the Israeli regime has been blamed by aid agencies for pushing the territory towards famine by weaponizing food in its war against the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

The Israeli-occupied territories have been the scene of widespread protests against Netanyahu and his war cabinet for scuttling a deal to bring back the captives and terminate the war in Gaza, which failed to achieve any of its intended goals, including the "elimination" of Hamas and the full occupation of the besieged territory by dislocating its rightful owners.

Beside refusing to bring pressure on the regime to end the genocide, Washington has been providing the Gaza war with billions of dollars in military support, also shielding Tel Aviv against punitive United Nations resolutions.

Israel has launched a genocidal war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led resistance groups waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the Zionist entity in response to the regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured some 149,000 others.

Thousands of victims are also feared trapped under rubble, inaccessible to emergency and civil defense teams due to Israeli attacks.

The Israeli aggression continues unabated despite calls from the UN Security Council for an immediate ceasefire and directives from the International Court of Justice urging measures to prevent genocide and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

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Israeli fire kills 62 Palestinians since Saturday dawn, mostly aid seekers

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 7:15 AM

The Israeli forces have killed 62 Palestinians since dawn on Saturday, including aid seekers targeted at distribution sites run by the US and the Israeli regime, reports say.

Media reports, citing hospital sources in the besieged territory, said on Sunday that the death toll included 38 Palestinians seeking aid at distribution sites operated by the controversial United States and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

According to Gaza first responders, despite Israel's announcement last week that it would implement "tactical pauses" in its military operations in certain areas to allow Palestinians greater access to humanitarian aid, its forces have continued to kill or wound Gaza aid seekers near or en route to GHF distribution centers.

The Israeli forces killed 105 Palestinians while seeking food on Wednesday and Thursday alone, the United Nations Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OHCHR in the State of Palestine) said on Friday.

As of Friday, the Israeli forces have killed 1,373 Palestinian aid seekers, according to the human rights office.

Palestinians in the besieged territory have reported numerous cases of Israeli forces and GHF contractors deliberately firing on aid seekers in the vicinity of the aid distribution centers.

In one case, on July 16, GHF security contractors fired tear gas and pepper spray on crowds as they were trapped between the fences and the gates of the GHF aid distribution center in Khan Younis, south of Gaza, which resulted in a stampede and the suffocation of 20 Palestinian aid seekers.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on June 27 that Israeli forces had been ordered to fire at unarmed Palestinians near aid distribution centers, even when no threat was present.

Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said on Saturday that Gaza was experiencing a famine that had been "largely shaped" by the attempts to replace the UN-led aid system with the "politically motivated" GHF.

"Sidelining and weakening UNRWA has nothing to do with claims of aid diversion to armed groups. It is a deliberate measure to collectively pressure & punish Palestinians for living in Gaza," Lazzarini said in a post on X.

Facing growing international condemnation over the conditions in Gaza, the Israeli regime has in recent days allowed airdrops of aid into the narrow strip by countries including Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

But humanitarian organizations, including UNRWA, have warned that the airdrops are extremely insufficient and called on Israel to facilitate the free flow of humanitarian aid via land.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has warned that malnutrition in Gaza has exceeded the threshold for famine, and 320,000 young children are at risk of acute malnutrition.

After a visit to Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, Edward Chaiban, the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, said in a statement on Friday that "we are at a crossroads, and the choices made now will determine whether tens of thousands of children live or die."

Gaza Ministry of Health reports that since the Israeli regime began its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, 169 Palestinians, including 93 children, have died of starvation or malnutrition.

The overall death toll since the start of the war exceeds 60,400, with 148,722 others wounded, most of them children and women.

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Statement on hostage images released by Hamas

Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PRESS STATEMENT 075

3 Aug 25

The images of hostages released by Hamas are unacceptable. The Spanish Government expresses its strongest condemnation and calls for the immediate release of the hostages. The horror must end in a Gaza without Hamas.

A ceasefire is urgently needed, as is the massive influx of humanitarian aid distributed in accordance with humanitarian principles, which is essential to stop famine and save lives.

-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-

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NATO Eyes Baltic Build-Up, Extending Its Military Footprint Toward Russia

Sputnik News

20250803

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO is mulling deploying a German-Dutch corps in the Estonian city of Parnu, the ERR broadcaster reported on Sunday, citing Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.

"This specific plan is tied to a broader NATO initiative, which involves the German-Dutch corps responsible for our area of operations and their forward command post. It would involve both our allies who fulfill leadership roles at the corps level and, of course, our own defense forces  including conscripts. From the perspective of the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF), it's a fairly significant development," Pevkur was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

However, the final decision is going to be taken later this year, the broadcaster said.

The deployment will require creation of the infrastructure for 100-200 people, including administrative buildings, technical buildings and other facilities. The Estonian Defense Ministry is reportedly planning to allocate 17 million euros ($19.7 million) for that.

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 NATO forces in Europe. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has also said that the Baltic states' governments were destroying the remnants of security and stability in the region.

 Sputnik

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Cholera spreads in North Darfur, 640,000 children under threat, UNICEF warns

By Vibhu Mishra

3 August 2025 - Cholera is ripping through North Darfur, Sudan, threatening thousands of children already weakened by hunger and displacement, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Sunday, as aid convoys struggle to reach cut-off communities amid escalating conflict.

More than 1,180 cholera cases - including an estimated 300 in children - and at least 20 deaths have been reported in Tawila, a town that has absorbed over half a million people fleeing violence since April.

Across the wider Darfur region, the toll is even more alarming: nearly 2,140 cases and at least 80 fatalities as of 30 July.

"Despite being preventable and easily treatable, cholera is ripping through Tawila and elsewhere in Darfur, threatening children's lives, especially the youngest and most vulnerable," said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative in Sudan.

With hospitals bombed and many health facilities shuttered, Tawila - located just 70 kilometres from the besieged state capital El Fasher - has become a flashpoint of overlapping crises.

Limited access to clean water, poor sanitation and overcrowded camps have created ideal conditions for the disease to spread.

Deepening catastrophe

The cholera outbreak is unfolding against a backdrop of deepening catastrophe. Since the war between rival militaries erupted in April 2023, critical infrastructure has been decimated, millions displaced and food systems dismantled.

Famine has already been declared in at least 10 locations, including the vast Zamzam camp, with over a dozen more areas at risk.

Sudan's extreme vulnerability to climate shocks - from droughts to devastating floods - has further compounded the crisis, leaving families to navigate the deadly intersection of conflict, hunger, disease and environmental collapse.

Over 640,000 children at risk

More than 640,000 children under five in North Darfur alone are now at risk. Recent assessments show that the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the region has doubled in the past year.

"Children whose bodies are weakened by hunger are far more likely to contract cholera and to die from it," UNICEF warned.

"They cannot wait a day longer."

Call for action

UNICEF is urgently calling on all parties to ensure sustained, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. Bureaucratic delays, looted aid convoys and active fighting have hampered the delivery of vital supplies, including vaccines, therapeutic food and medical kits.

The agency is scaling up its emergency response in Tawila and across Darfur, distributing Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), chlorinated water and hygiene kits.

Nearly 30,000 people in Tawila now have daily access to safe drinking water, while outreach teams are raising awareness on prevention and early treatment.

Funds urgently needed

To support long-term containment, UNICEF plans to deliver more than 1.4 million doses of oral cholera vaccine and bolster treatment centres.

Additional supplies - soap, latrine slabs, plastic sheeting - are being readied, though access remains the greatest obstacle.

Since the outbreak was officially declared in August 2024, more than 94,000 cholera cases and over 2,370 deaths have been reported across 17 of Sudan's 18 states. UNICEF says it urgently requires $30.6 million to fund its emergency cholera response.



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Secretary-General's remarks at the Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan [as delivered]

United Nations Secretary-General

Almaty, Kazakhstan

03 August 2025

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Distinguished President Tokayev and my dear friend,

Honourable Ministers,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a profound honour to join you today.

We have just signed the host country agreement for the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan.

The Centre represents the opening of a new chapter - for the region and for our collective journey towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

It symbolizes the new era of cooperation in Central Asia - grounded in shared priorities and solutions.

And it holds great potential for showing how the strong bonds among the region's leaders can translate into deeper economic integration, for the benefit of all people.

This is more essential than ever.

And I commend President Tokayev for his vision and his leadership in helping to shape this new Central Asia that will become more and more a fundamental power in our world order.

I thank Member States for supporting this initiative.

And I salute the people of Kazakhstan for their warm welcome.

Almaty is a fitting home for this Centre.

This is a city of history, resilience, and vision.

And Kazakhstan is an ideal and generous host.

This country has long served as a bridge between East and West, tradition and innovation.

The Centre has been mandated by the General Assembly, and I look forward to its operationalization - with terms of reference being finalized and leadership appointments to follow.

Soon, it will serve as a hub for regional collaboration ... a laboratory for ideas ... and a launchpad for action.

It will bring together governments, UN country teams, civil society, academia, the private sector, regional organizations, and financial institutions - to develop coordinated, country-led efforts;

And tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time - from climate change and water scarcity to youth unemployment, gender inequality and digital exclusion.

Working together with our Resident Coordinators and Country Teams, it will contribute to accelerating progress toward the 2030 Agenda in Central Asia and Afghanistan - driven by the spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility that defines the United Nations.

Excellencies, dear friends,

We are only five years away from 2030 - but far from our destination.

The world is facing complex and interlinked challenges that threaten sustainable development.

Poverty is stalling. Hunger and malnutrition are plaguing societies. Inequalities are deepening. Conflicts continue to tear communities apart. And the climate crisis is accelerating.

In Central Asia, climate change is already draining water supplies, melting glaciers, and fuelling natural disasters.

The shrinking of the Aral Sea is a stark reminder of the region's environmental vulnerability.

Rising trade tensions and global uncertainty compound these risks.

The region's landlocked geography presents additional barriers - to trade, connectivity, financing, and access to global markets.

That is why I am especially pleased to be here on the eve of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan.

This Centre can become a vital pioneer in implementing the Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries;

Today, we must say that Kazakhstan is no longer a landlocked country. Kazakhstan is a centre in the global trade system.

A centre in the global logistics, transportation and the telecommunication system with its corridors on roads, railways, fiber optics and transforming this country in really a bridge from East and West, North and South.

And the Centre can help ensure that the aspirations of landlocked nations are not constrained by geography - but can empower by cooperation and regional solutions.

It will build on the region's greatest asset - its people.

Young people, women, entrepreneurs, and civil society - these are the true engines of progress, driving the innovation and resilience needed to leave no one behind.

The Centre will support data-driven policy, spark innovation, and amplify the voices of those too often unheard.

And nowhere is that cooperation more urgent than in our support to Afghanistan.

The people of Afghanistan continue to face immense hardship - from entrenched poverty and mass displacement to earthquakes, climate shocks, and a fragile humanitarian landscape.

They deserve peace, stability and a better future. And I am very grateful for the cooperation Kazakhstan has been developing in recent times.

And this Centre will work with partners across the region and the international community to support Afghanistan's path to sustainable development - with full respect for human rights, including the rights of women and girls, and with a focus on economic self-sufficiency, peace, and dignity.

Excellencies, dear friends,

This Centre carries the promise of partnership and progress.

The United Nations stands ready to support you in this mission.

But allow me before ending to say something that comes from my heart.

I am a great admirer of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is for me a symbol of wisdom, a bridge builder and a messenger for peace. A platform for people of different ethnic and religious groups to come together and find a common destiny.

I will never forget that Kazakhstan renounced its nuclear weapons and became, based on their attitude, a symbol of peace and disarmament that is necessary today more than ever.

And Kazakhstan has always been a voice of reason in a world where unfortunately reason is having many difficulties to assert itself.

On the other hand, we are witnessing a renewed Central Asia. I come to Central Asia since18 years ago, and I remember how it was, and I see how it is, and it is largely thanks to the leadership, the vision and the wisdom of leaders like President Tokayev, that it was possible to transform a group of countries that have probably more problems and difficulties, that there is an effective cooperation to cohesive Central Asia that is becoming an extremely important Centre in today's world and in today's global economy.

And so, to come to Kazakhstan, to come to Almaty, is not only because there is a Centre to inaugurate. It's because I feel, as Secretary-General, that I must pay tribute to what Kazakhstan represents in our troubled world today as a voice of wisdom and reason, as a symbol of peace and cooperation.

Thank you very much.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 03 August 2025 - Day 1257

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 153 combat encounters. The Russian enemy launched one missile and 53 air strikes, using one missile and dropping 82 guided bombs, carrying out 903 kamikaze drones and 3011 shells to Ukrainian troops and settlements.

Ukrainian defenders repelled eight Russian attacks in the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, four more fighting clashes are ongoing. The Russian enemy launched seven air strikes, dropped a total of 17 controlled air bombs, and carried out 216 artillery shells, including 17 from a jet arson system.

In the South-Slobozhansk direction, the Defense Forces repelled seven Russian assaults in the districts of Vovchansk, Kutkivka, Figolivka and Krasnoy Pershogo.

The Russian enemy has attacked Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupians komu direction nine times - in the areas of Golubivka, Petropavlivka, Novoosinovogo, Stepova Novoselivka and Nova Kruglyakivka.

In the Lyman direction today Russian troops 25 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Karpivka, Olgivka, Ridkoduba, Torsky, Grigorivka, in the direction of the Middle, Cherneshchyna, Shandrigolovy. Six combat clashes are ongoing so far.

In the Sivers komu direction Ukrainian soldiers repelled four Russian attacks near Grigorivka, in the direction of Serebryanka and Sivers k. So far, one combat has not subsided.

Ukrainian troops repelled seven attacks near the Chasovoye Yar, Markovoye and towards the White Mountain and Stupochok in the Kramators komu direction.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers today 13 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Rusynoy Yar, Sherbinivka, Katerinivka and towards Oleksandro-Kalinovy.

In the Pokrovsky direction throughout the day, the Russian enemy committed 38 assault and offensive actions. The activity of the Russian occupiers was observed in the areas of popiv yar, Novoekonomichne, Mirolubivka, Zvirove, Kotline, Udachne, Gorihove, in the direction of the settlements Novoukrainka, Novopidgorodne, Rodinske, Red Liman. The fights have not subsided so far in two locations.

According to preliminary estimates, Ukrainian warriors eliminated 67 and wounded 21 Russian occupants in this direction, destroying two cars and one motorcycle. In addition, one combat armored car, two motorcycles and a Russian cannon were significantly damaged.

In the Novopavlovsky direction, the Russian invaders carried out 14 attacks on the position of Ukrainian troops, trying to advance in the areas of settlements Zaporizhia Novohatske, Voskresenka, Zelene Pole, Mirne, Maliivka, Temirivka, Novopil and towards the settlement of Levadne. There is still one combat going on.

In Gulyaipils ky and Orihivskiy directions since the beginning of the day of combat clashes have not taken place.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Defense Forces successfully repelled two Russian attacks. The Russian enemy caused aviation strikes on the settlements of Kherson, Novoandriivka and Lviv.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.





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Chinese participating vessels arrive in Vladivostok for Exercise Joint Sea

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source China Military Online

EditorLin Congyi

2025-08-01 21:16:09

By Sun Chenxu and Duan Zhenjun

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Aug. 1 -- On the morning of July 31, 2025, a taskforce assigned to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), composed of guided-missile destroyer Shaoxing (Hull 134), guided-missile destroyer Urumqi (Hull 118), comprehensive supply ship Qiandaohu (Hull 886) and submarine rescue ship Xihu (Hull 841), arrived at a military port in Vladivostok, Russia.

At the welcoming ceremony, the Russian military band played the national anthems of China and Russia, and chief commanding officers of the two sides addressed the ceremony. The chief director of the Russian side said that the deepening and expanding of the joint exercises and training between China and Russia will continue to promote mutual trust and consolidate friendship of the two sides.

The chief director of the Chinese side stated that the China-Russia Joint Sea series of exercises, having been held for more than ten years, represents an important manifestation of the deepening of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, as well as a solid practice of jointly safeguarding international fairness and justice and maintaining regional peace and stability. The Chinese PLA Navy is willing to join its Russian counterpart to uphold the responsibility and commitment of major countries and make greater contributions to jointly building a community with a shared future for humanity and a maritime community with a shared future.

It is learned that the China-Russia Exercise Joint Sea 2025 has entered the joint planning stage since July 30, 2025. During this stage, the two sides will hold specialized discussions and get prepared for the forthcoming drills on maritime subjects.

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China, Russia Joint Sea-2025 naval drill enters full maritime exercise phase

Global Times

By Liang Rui Published: Aug 03, 2025 01:00 PM

China and Russia kicked off the full maritime phase of the Joint Sea-2025 naval drills on Sunday. Vessels from both countries set sail from a military port early in the morning, heading to waters near Vladivostok, Russia, to carry out multi-domain exercises. A Chinese military affairs expert said that the exercise, which includes submarine-related training, is expected to further enhance the interoperability between the two navies.

The participating Chinese and Russian naval formations set sail from a military port on Sunday morning toward waters near Vladivostok, Russia, to carry out multi-subject drills, marking the full-scale launch of the maritime portion of the Joint Sea-2025 exercise, according to China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the PLA News Media Center, according to the WeChat account of the Chinese Defense Ministry.

At around 5 am, with support from Russian tugboats and port personnel, China's comprehensive rescue ship Xihu and Russia's rescue ship Igor Belousov were the first to leave port. They were followed by China's Type 052D guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, and Russia's large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and the corvette Rezky, the report said.

Upon departure, the vessels quickly formed a mixed China-Russia formation in accordance with the joint coordination plan and proceeded to the designated mission area. On the open sea, Chinese and Russian vessels established communication links and exchanged vital information including hydrometeorological conditions and maritime and air activity.

Prior to this, the joint command formed by both sides conducted a chart-based rehearsal in accordance with the exercise plans. Discussions focused on the organization structure and force coordination, with both sides working to refine the drill subjects and safety protocols. Professional exchanges were also held on topics such as undersea offense and defense, as well as submarine rescue operations, according to the report.

According to the exercise schedule, the China-Russia naval formation will conduct a three-day maritime drill. The exercise will cover subjects including submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine warfare, air and missile defense, and naval combat. Live-fire training will also be conducted to test the planning and coordination outcomes achieved during the preparatory phase, the report said.

This is part of the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, which is not targeted at any third party, and is unrelated to the current international and regional situations, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday.

Ten editions of China-Russia Joint Sea drills have been successfully held since 2012, as the series has become an important platform for China-Russia naval cooperation, promoting maritime joint operational capabilities from all directions, also noting that the two sides will hold a maritime joint patrol in Western Pacific waters following the exercise, CCTV News reported.

Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that China and Russia regularly hold joint maritime exercises, with each iteration featuring different training courses to enhance coordination capability and interoperability between the two navies, as well as deepen bilateral military ties.

As China Bugle also stated that the drill will include submarine rescue and joint anti-submarine operations, it is likely that submarines are participating as well, Wang said, noting that conducting submarine-related training can be seen as a sign of deepening ties and mutual trust between the Chinese and Russian militaries.

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China, Russia Joint Sea-2025 naval drill enters full maritime exercise phase

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source CGTN

EditorHuang Panyue

2025-08-03 16:43:58

China and Russia kicked off the full maritime phase of the Joint Sea-2025 naval drills on Sunday. Vessels from both countries set sail from a military port early in the morning, heading to waters near Vladivostok, Russia, to carry out multi-domain exercises. A Chinese military affairs expert said that the exercise, which includes submarine-related training, is expected to further enhance the interoperability between the two navies.

The participating Chinese and Russian naval formations set sail from a military port on Sunday morning toward waters near Vladivostok, Russia, to carry out multi-subject drills, marking the full-scale launch of the maritime portion of the Joint Sea-2025 exercise, according to China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the PLA News Media Center, according to the WeChat account of the Chinese Defense Ministry.

At around 5 am, with support from Russian tugboats and port personnel, China's comprehensive rescue ship Xihu and Russia's rescue ship Igor Belousov were the first to leave port. They were followed by China's Type 052D guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, and Russia's large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and the corvette Rezky, the report said.

Upon departure, the vessels quickly formed a mixed China-Russia formation in accordance with the joint coordination plan and proceeded to the designated mission area. On the open sea, Chinese and Russian vessels established communication links and exchanged vital information including hydrometeorological conditions and maritime and air activity.

Prior to this, the joint command formed by both sides conducted a chart-based rehearsal in accordance with the exercise plans. Discussions focused on the organization structure and force coordination, with both sides working to refine the drill subjects and safety protocols. Professional exchanges were also held on topics such as undersea offense and defense, as well as submarine rescue operations, according to the report.

According to the exercise schedule, the China-Russia naval formation will conduct a three-day maritime drill. The exercise will cover subjects including submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine warfare, air and missile defense, and naval combat. Live-fire training will also be conducted to test the planning and coordination outcomes achieved during the preparatory phase, the report said.

This is part of the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, which is not targeted at any third party, and is unrelated to the current international and regional situations, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday.

Ten editions of China-Russia Joint Sea drills have been successfully held since 2012, as the series has become an important platform for China-Russia naval cooperation, promoting maritime joint operational capabilities from all directions, also noting that the two sides will hold a maritime joint patrol in Western Pacific waters following the exercise, CCTV News reported.

Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that China and Russia regularly hold joint maritime exercises, with each iteration featuring different training courses to enhance coordination capability and interoperability between the two navies, as well as deepen bilateral military ties.

As China Bugle also stated that the drill will include submarine rescue and joint anti-submarine operations, it is likely that submarines are participating as well, Wang said, noting that conducting submarine-related training can be seen as a sign of deepening ties and mutual trust between the Chinese and Russian militaries.

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Iran's president calls for revival of strategic pacts with Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, to discuss ways to strengthen regional cooperation and revive strategic agreements between Tehran and Islamabad.

The meeting took place on Sunday, the second day of Pezshkian's official visit to Pakistan.

He said trilateral agreements between Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey have never been fully implemented despite their strategic importance.

The president proposed a new strategic approach to restore the pacts and deepen economic and cultural cooperation among Islamic countries.

Pezeshkian also expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its vocal support of Iran during the Israeli war of aggression in June, which killed at least 1,064 people, including senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.

The president stressed that Islamic unity could deter further aggression by the Israeli regime and serve as a model of global resistance against hegemonic powers.

During the meeting, Ishaq Dar welcomed the Iranian president's visit and said Pakistan was committed to elevating relations with the Islamic Republic.

He noted that several memoranda of understanding were ready to be signed, signaling a new phase of cooperation.

Ishaq Dar also endorsed the idea of strengthening tripartite cooperation between Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan, as proposed by the Iranian president.

He further emphasized Pakistan's diplomatic role in recent United Nations Security Council deliberations concerning attacks on Iranian diplomatic premises.

Pakistan was actively present during these meetings and declared its clear stance in support of Iran, the Pakistani official pointed out. "An attack on Iran is an attack on Pakistan," he said.

4353**2050

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Prioritizing ties with neighboring countries is central to Iran's foreign policy, Pezeshkian says

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized that the principle of neighborliness and prioritizing relations with neighboring countries is central to Iran's foreign policy.

President Pezeshkian and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sunday.

The president once again expressed gratitude for the firm support that the Pakistani government has shown toward Tehran during the recent aggression of the US and Israel against Iran, noting, "For that, I sincerely thank His Excellency the Prime Minister, as well as the other officials and the people of the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan."

Pezeshkian highlighted the historic good neighborliness, closeness, and friendship between the two countries, emphasizing their profound cultural, religious, and spiritual bonds.

He said, "The principle of neighborliness and prioritizing relations with neighboring countries is central to Iran's foreign policy."

"And our view of Pakistan is not just as a neighbor, but as a brother," he added.

He stressed: "Fortunately, there is serious and shared determination to deepen relations and expand cooperation in all dimensions and fields. I firmly believe that we can easily and swiftly elevate our current $3 billion trade volume to the projected target of $10 billion."

"We had good agreements in the political, economic, commercial and cultural fields, and important documents were signed between the two countries, which will promote the relations between the two countries in the fields of science, culture, tourism, trade and transportation," he added.

The president said that they are determined to implement the important signed agreements by continuing contacts and discussions, adding that the development of transit, rail, road and sea routes, the development of border markets, trade facilitation, and the establishment of joint free trade zones are among the needs of the two countries, and constructive discussions were held in this regard.

The two countries need to have security cooperation, Pezeshkian said, adding, "Given the threat of terrorist groups in the border areas, joint cooperation to ensure border security was emphasized. We share many commonalities when it comes to regional and international developments. We believe that the security of countries is very interdependent, and the development of trade relations will be possible in the shadow of peace and tranquility."

The president said both sides condemned the inhumane crimes committed by Israel in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as its ongoing genocide in Gaza and its destabilizing actions in the broader region.

He said Tehran and Islamabad agreed that stronger, more effective, and action-oriented cooperation among regional countries, especially Muslim nations, was needed to confront the aggressive and expansionist policies of the Israeli regime.

Pezeshkian said, "These aggressions have once again highlighted the necessity for regional and global consensus against the Zionist regime's lawless actions, adding that Iran and Pakistan call on international organizations, especially the UN Security Council, to actively fulfill their role in preventing aggression against member states, the escalation of war, and the slaughter of civilians, while avoiding double standards."

He also thanked the Pakistani side for their hospitality and brotherhood, and invited Prime Minister Sharif to visit Tehran at the earliest opportunity to follow up on their discussions.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for his part, said, "Iran has the right to maintain an independent nuclear program for peaceful purposes", adding, "Today, several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between Iran and Pakistan, and we expect these MoUs to soon evolve into comprehensive agreements. Our goal is to achieve $10 billion in bilateral trade, which we hope will materialize in the near future."

Sharif emphasized, "Iran and Pakistan share a common objective in combating terrorism," adding: "We do not tolerate any form of terrorism in Iran. If anyone in Iran falls victim to terrorism, it is as if it has happened in our own country. Therefore, we must protect our shared hundreds of kilometers of border and take decisive action against any terrorist activity."

3266**2050

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Iran in no rush to engage with US, deputy foreign minister says

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 3, 2025

Saeed Khatibzadeh, head of the Center for Political and International Studies at Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Tehran is not rushing to engage with the United States, and that if the US continues its aggressive stance against the Islamic Republic, Iranians will be prepared to respond strongly.

In an interview with China's Phoenix Television, which was published by IRNA's Persian service on Sunday, Khatibzadeh expressed Iran's reluctance to enter into any indirect engagement with the United States without adequate guarantees for productive negotiations.

"If the US has no red lines for attacking the peaceful nuclear sites of other countries, then they have no red lines for anything else. We must stop the United States. We need to teach them that they cannot recklessly and violently attack the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries," said Khatibzadeh who is also deputy foreign minister.

The diplomat added, "Israel is not a party we consider as a partner, as we do not recognize Israel as a country."

Addressing the future of cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he confirmed that Tehran intends to continue its collaboration with the agency, and that in the coming weeks, inspectors will return to Iran. They left voluntarily, and Iran did not expel them, he added.

He pointed to Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, noting that the country's 60% enriched uranium was under IAEA supervision.

"We have been doing this from the beginning under the continuous oversight and control of the IAEA. This is just another indication of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities. Everyone knows that 60%, up to 60%, is for non-military purposes," he explained.

According to the official, Iran is committed to its responsibilities within the international community as it is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the IAEA.

He further dismissed the perception that the future of the West Asia region is dominated by Israeli and American hegemony, emphasizing the need for a stable region, which hinges on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Khatibzadeh highlighted Iran's efforts to coordinate with allies to thwart the objectives of spy agencies such as Mossad and the CIA.

Khatibzadeh also reiterated Iran's longstanding position as an advocate for peace, saying that for several centuries, Iran has not started a war against anyone.

As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, Iran's stance remains focused on maintaining peace and sovereignty while navigating complex international relations, he concluded.

4208**4194

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Army Commander says Iran does not consider enemy's threat as finished

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Major General Amir Hatami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, said threats from the enemy is not considered over.

Speaking at a meeting with senior army commanders, Hatami said the Israeli regime, under the illusion that it could harm the Islamic system, had devised numerous plotsonly to realize it had made a strategic miscalculation.

During the 12-day imposed war, the Iranian people witnessed a glimpse of the Israeli regime's crimes and brutality, he added.

Hatami emphasized that Iranians are well acquainted with this adversary. "Over the past two years in Gaza, and throughout the miserable, less-than-80-year long life of this criminal regime, Iran has repeatedly seen its savagery and barbarism in invading other countries, he noted.

Despite the loss of commanders, scientists, and civilians during this imposed war, Iran emerged victorious in this unequal confrontation, he said.

Iran's missile and drone power remains strong and ready for action, he stressed.

Iran will now proceed with even greater determination in defense industries, science, technology, and all other fields - just as it continued attacking the enemy until the last moment before the ceasefire was imposed on the enemy, he said.

The determination, unity, and coordination among people, the Armed Forces, and officials on the battlefield were unbelievable to the enemies, Hatami said.

9376**9417

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Iran says enrichment capability intact, warns US against military aggression

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Iran retains its uranium enrichment capabilities and will decide when and how to resume activities based on evolving circumstances.

In an interview with Financial Times, Araqchi said that Iran reserves the right to resume its enrichment program, adding that the when and how would depend on the conditions.

He warned the US must realize technology cannot be destroyed by bombs. Only negotiations can lead to an agreement that satisfies both sides, he said.

Tehran and Washington were involved in indirect nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman when Israel launched large-scale aggression against Iran on June 13. Washington also joined the Israeli war of aggression and bombed three of Iran's main nuclear facilities on the pretext of preventing Iran from what it claimed to be developing nuclear weapons.

According to Araqchi, if America's main concern is that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons, that is achievable.

He said military aggression has shown the futility of force against Iran's nuclear program, warning that continued confrontation would not only complicate diplomacy but could eliminate the chance of returning to talks.

Iran, he said, will only rejoin negotiations if convinced of Washington's genuine intent for a win-win deal.

Araqchi also criticized the European parties' invocation of the so-called "snapback mechanism" under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, saying that triggering the mechanism marks the end of their role in nuclear talks.

4354**4194

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Iran's parliament committee approves new currency reform motion

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 7:31 PM

Members of a committee of the Iranian parliament have voted in favor of a plan to reform the country's national currency by removing four zeros from it and restoring an old currency subdivision named qiran.

The head of the economic committee of the parliament said on Sunday that it had approved the outlines of a motion to remove four zeros from the rial.

Shamseddin Hosseini said the new motion aligns with a government bill that had been approved in 2016 but was dismantled in 2023 when the parliament passed a new law on how the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) should be governed.

Hosseini said the new motion creates a new rial, which would be equal to 10,000 current rials and would be subdivided into 100 qirans.

Under the previous government bill, Iran was supposed to change the name and denomination of its currency, with the new currency toman becoming equal to 10 rials.

The bill was approved as part of government efforts to streamline the national currency and to simplify financial transactions and accounting.

To prepare for the bill, the CBI even issued banknotes with the last four digits in a much paler color to help the public gradually adapt to the planned changes.

Iran's current administrative government announced earlier this year that it would revive the initiative as part of its economic reform plans.

However, Hosseini said the new parliament motion would keep the rial as the national currency and would introduce the qiran as its subdivision.

The lawmaker did not elaborate when the new motion would be put to the vote in the parliament's main chamber.

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Iran's top security body approves formation of Defense Council

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 6:07 PM

Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has approved the establishment of a Defense Council as part of major structural changes to the nation's strategic defense policies.

The SNSC said on Sunday that the decision was made in line with Article 176 of the Constitution, which outlines national security responsibilities.

The newly formed council will be responsible for developing defense strategies and enhancing the capabilities of the Armed Forces.

The Iranian president will head the council, which also includes the heads of the three branches of government, senior military commanders, and designated ministers relevant to defense affairs.

The council's formation comes after the Israeli regime on June 13 launched a war of aggression against Iran, assassinating senior military commanders and nuclear scientists in targeted strikes and killing hundreds of civilians.

On June 22, the United States escalated the war by bombing three civilian nuclear facilities in Iran.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces carried out retaliatory strikes on strategic Israeli positions across the occupied territories and targeted the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military installation in West Asia.

Through its successful retaliatory operations, Iran managed to impose a halt to the aggression on June 24.

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Pezeshkian hails Pakistan's 'heartening' support during Israeli-US war against Iran

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 11:16 AM

President Masoud Pezeshkian has appreciated Pakistan's firm support for the Islamic Republic during the recent 12-day Israeli-American war on the country, saying it reflected the deep bond between the two nations.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Sunday, Pezeshkian said the positions adopted by Pakistan's government, parliament, political groups, scholars, and people were "very heartening."

On June 13, Israel launched a war of aggression against Iran that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces conducted successful operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, and managed to impose a halt to the aggression on June 24.

Elsewhere in the presser, Pezeshkian said that regional security is "deeply interdependent," and that peace, stability, and calm are essential to achieving economic and commercial development across the region.

"The principle of neighborliness and prioritizing relations with neighboring countries is central to Iran's foreign policy," he said. "And our view of Pakistan is not just as a neighbor, but as a brother."

On his meetings in Islamabad, the president said both sides condemned the inhumane crimes committed by Israel in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as its ongoing genocide in Gaza and its destabilizing actions in the broader region.

He said Tehran and Islamabad agreed that stronger, more effective, and action-oriented cooperation among regional countries, especially Muslim nations, was needed to confront the aggressive and expansionist policies of the Israeli regime.

Pezeshkian urged international organizations, especially the UN Security Council, to take a firm stance against violations of sovereignty, the spread of war, and civilian massacres, and to refrain from applying double standards.

He also thanked the Pakistani side for their hospitality and brotherhood, and invited Prime Minister Sharif to visit Tehran at the earliest opportunity to continue their discussions.

President Pezeshkian arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for a two-day visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Sharif. On Sunday, the two sides signed 12 agreements covering a wide range of areas, including science and technology, transportation and transit, trade and economy, tourism, and agriculture.

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Iran, Pakistan sign 12 cooperation documents during President Pezeshkian's visit

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 11:06 AM

Iran and Pakistan have signed 12 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in various sectors during the official two-day visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to the neighboring country.

After holding a joint meeting in Islamabad on Sunday, high-ranking Iranian and Pakistani officials put their signatures on the cooperation documents aimed at facilitating the development of bilateral cooperation.

The agreements cover a wide range of areas, including tourism, agriculture, judicial and legal cooperation, industry, science and technology, transportation and transit, cultural heritage, and commercial and economic cooperation.

The documents also provide a framework to facilitate knowledge exchange, expand commercial capacities, strengthen people-to-people interactions, and enhance regional synergy between the two countries.

Heading a high-level delegation, President Pezeshkian travelled to Pakistan on Saturday at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Pezeshkian's trip is his first to Pakistan since assuming office as the Iranian president.

The visit commenced in Lahore, where Pezeshkian paid tribute to Pakistan's revered national poet, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, before moving to Islamabad for key meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif.

Mehdi Sanai, the Iranian president's political advisor, said in a post on X that Tehran-Islamabad relations encompass political, economic, religious, and cultural dimensions.

He further noted that developing provincial and border cooperation and increasing trade exchanges from the current level of $3 billion are among the goals of the visit.

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Iran triumphant in 12-day war but stays wary of enemy threats: Army chief

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 10:45 AM

Iran's Army Chief Major General Amir Hatami says that while Iran emerged victorious in the Israeli regime's 12-day war against the country, it will remain vigilant as enemy threats persist.

During a speech to the Army's Ground Forces on Sunday, Hatami emphasized that the Iranian nation, through perseverance and resilience, defeated the Zionist enemy, but cautioned that a minimal threat should be treated with utmost seriousness.

"We must not underestimate the enemy or consider its threat over," Hatami said, echoing Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who said, "We must treat even a one-percent threat as a hundred-percent threat."

Hatami stated that despite sustaining some losses, including the martyrdom of several commanders, distinguished scientists, and innocent civilians during the war, Iran emerged victorious in this unequal confrontation, inflicted significant damage on the enemy, and thwarted its objectives.

Iran's missile and drone capabilities remain intact and ready for operation, the army chief noted.

"Just as we continued our strikes until the very moment a ceasefire was imposed on the enemy, we will resolutely continue our path in the defense industry, scientific and technological domains, and all other areas."

"Today, all armed forces and the four branches of the army are moving even faster toward the heights of science and technology and are more determined than ever to enhance combat capabilities and preparedness," he said.

He concluded his speech by saying, "With our established plans and strategies, the Army Ground Forces have been on a positive and growing trajectory in enhancing combat readiness, increasing mobility, and developing intelligence and operational capabilities."

During his latest speech on July 29, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the 12-day war revealed the strength and determination of the Iranian nation and showed the world the unmatched firmness of the Islamic Republic's foundation.

"Our nation, by divine grace, will never abandon its religion or its knowledge ... We will take great strides in strengthening our faith and deepening our scientific advancement ... Much to the enemy's dismay, we will be able to raise Iran to the pinnacle of advancement and pride," he emphasized.

On June 13, the Israeli regime assaulted the Islamic Republic of Iran by attacking several civilian, military, and nuclear facilities.

During the early hours of the war, the Zionist entity managed to assassinate a number of Iran's military leaders and nuclear scientists.

In response to this unprovoked act of aggression, Iran launched a flurry of drones and missiles towards the Occupied Territories, under the codename True Promise III.

Iran succeeded in inflicting significant damage upon the Israeli settlements and military facilities throughout the Occupied Territories.

On June 22, the US Air Force and Navy attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities to reduce the pressure of Iran's military might upon the Zionist entity.

The following day, Iran's military forces launched more than 30 drones and missiles towards the US base in Qatar in retaliation for the US strikes and damaged various parts of the base.

On June 24, suffering heavy losses at the hands of Iran's Armed Forces, the Israeli regime and the US were forced to agree to a halt in hostilities.

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Pakistan's FM highlights Islamabad's deep commitment to its historic ties with Tehran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 3, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, has reaffirmed the country's deep commitment to its historic and brotherly ties with Iran.

In a press release on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan detailed the meeting held between President Masoud Pezeshkian and Dar, in Islamabad.

The meeting took place on Sunday, the second day of the Iranian president's official visit to Pakistan. The two officials met at the hotel where Pezeshkian and his accompanying delegation are staying during their visit to the capital of the neighboring country.

Welcoming the Iranian president, Dar reaffirmed Islamabad's deep commitment to its historic and brotherly ties with Tehran, emphasizing their strong foundations in shared history, common cultural heritage, faith, and mutual respect.

President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan's support and reaffirmed Iran's resolve to improve bilateral collaboration in various areas of shared interest.

He also looked forward to meaningful discussions with Pakistani leaders to further reinforce the political and economic ties between the two friendly nations.

In an interview with IRNA correspondent in Islamabad, Dar said both countries plan to elevate their annual trade exchanges to $10 billion.

7129**9417

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Russia and China strengthen military ties with Joint Sea-2025 naval drills

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 03 August 2025 1:36 PM

Russia and China have launched the "Joint Sea-2025" naval exercise in the Sea of Japan near Vladivostok, highlighting their deepening military cooperation amid heightened tensions with the United States over the Ukraine conflict.

The three-day drill, which began Sunday, involves Chinese and Russian naval vessels conducting mock maritime combat, anti-submarine operations, and missile defense exercises.

China's defense ministry stated that four Chinese ships, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating alongside Russian vessels in operations focused on submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defense, anti-missile, and maritime combat scenarios.

Held in the waters and airspace east of Russia, the exercise includes weapons training to validate outcomes from the prior joint planning phase. The stated goal is to enhance capabilities for "jointly safeguarding strategic maritime routes" and countering security threats in the Western Pacific.

The Joint Sea-2025 consists of three phases: force assembly, joint planning, and joint drills. Following the exercise, forces from both nations will conduct the sixth joint maritime patrol in designated areas of the Pacific Ocean.

Beijing and Moscow are intensifying their military ties to counter threats from the US-led Western alliance, while also strengthening their economic and political relations.

The annual "Joint Sea" drills, ongoing since 2012, were held along China's southern coast last year.

China's defense ministry emphasized that this year's exercises aim to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Since Russia's military operation in Ukraine began in 2022, China has maintained support for Moscow, refraining from condemning Russia or demanding troop withdrawal.

The US and its allies claim Beijing has aided Moscow in the conflict, but China asserts its neutrality, advocating for an end to hostilities while criticizing Western nations for escalating the war by supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukrainian forces.

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Russian, Chinese Warships Stage Joint Naval Drills in Sea of Japan

Sputnik News

20250803

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian and Chinese military ships left the eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on Sunday to train jointly in the Sea of Japan as part of Exercise Maritime Cooperation 2025, the Russian Pacific Fleet said.

"The ships and vessels of the Russian Navy and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy have left Vladivostok for the Sea of Japan to participate in the practical phase of the Russian-Chinese drills, Maritime Cooperation 2025," the statement read.

Russian destroyer Admiral Tributs and corvette Gromky established a formation to train communications and joint maneuvers with two Chinese guided-missile destroyers, Shaoxing and Urumqi.

The naval drills are being held in the Sea of Japan from August 1-5. The drills are part of the annual plan of cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries. They are not aimed against any third party and are not related to the current international and regional situation, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said.

 Sputnik

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Turkish Presidency Denies Knowledge of Pending Military Pact With Syria

Sputnik News

20250803

ANKARA (Sputnik) - The Turkish presidential administration told Sputnik on Sunday that it had no information about a pending military agreement between Turkiye and Syria or plans to establish military bases in the Arab Republic.

The Turkish Aydinlik newspaper reported earlier in the day that Turkiye and Syria would sign a military cooperation agreement by the end of August, which would allow Turkiye to establish three military bases in Syria and assist its neighbor in building an army.

"We have no such information," the administration said when asked to comment on the timeline for signing the agreement.

State-run Turkish news agency Anadolu reported, citing the Defense Ministry, that Syria had officially asked Turkiye for help in strengthening its defense capabilities and combating terrorists. The ministry emphasized that Ankara's main goal was to preserve Syria's territorial integrity and political unity.

In July, armed gangs reportedly attacked Druze villages in the southern Syrian province of As-Suwayda, prompting Druze self-defense units to intervene. Damascus sent troops and security forces to the region to deal with illegal armed groups.

Syria TV reported that hundreds died or were injured and that more than 2,000 families fled to the neighboring province of Daraa during the clashes. The non-governmental Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at over 1,000.

Israel launched airstrikes at the Syrian General Staff, the presidential palace in Damascus and Syrian army bases in As-Suwayda, allegedly to protect the Druze community.

On July 19, Syria's transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, announced a comprehensive ceasefire in the south and called on all parties to abide by it.

 Sputnik

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Upgraded frigate equipped with advanced missiles, radar system: Expert

ROC Central News Agency

08/03/2025 03:32 PM

Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) The Taiwan Navy's newly upgraded Kang Ding-class frigate is equipped with more advanced missiles and radar systems, significantly enhancing the warship's surveillance and combat capabilities, a local defense expert said Sunday.

Su Tzu-yun (), a division director at the military-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told CNA that the upgrades to the Kang Ding-class frigates include replacing the existing two-dimensional radar with the more advanced three-dimensional Type 997 Artisan radar developed by BAE Systems.

The 3D Artisan radar has a longer surveillance range and is capable of tracking more than 200 targets at once, giving the Taiwanese warship more precise vision and faster responsive capabilities, Su told CNA.

Meanwhile, as part of the upgrade, the Navy has also replaced its existing RIM-72C Sea Chaparral SAM system with the locally developed Hua Yang vertical launch system (), according to Su.

The Hua Yang system developed by the military's top research unit, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), is capable of launching up to 32 Tien Chien-2N, a medium-range air defense missile also developed by the NCSIST, he added.

The Tien Chien-2N has a minimum range of 30-40 kilometers, compared to the 8 km of the Sea Chaparral SAM system, he said.

In sum, the upgrades give the warship longer weapons range, faster responsive capabilities, and clearer vision, to better defend the country's waters, he added.

Su made the comments after the first Kang Ding-class frigate to undergo the above-mentioned system upgrades, the Chen De (, PFG-1208), was spotted undergoing sea trials on July 28.

However, the Navy has not officially confirmed the round of reported sea trials.

According to the Navy's plan, the Chen De is expected to rejoin the Navy before the end of this year after completing required trials.

Taiwan currently has a total of six Kang Ding-class frigates, formerly the French La Fayette-class warship.

The country's military is spending NT$43.1 billion (US$1.45 billion) to upgrade the six warships from 2022-2030.

Following the upgrade of the Chen De, the Navy will upgrade the remaining five Kang-Ding class warships one vessel per year.

(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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Village chief in Hualien County dismissed over Chinese nationality

ROC Central News Agency

08/03/2025 04:44 PM

Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) A village chief in eastern Taiwan has been dismissed over her People's Republic of China (PRC) nationality status, becoming the first local official in the country to be removed from office for that reason.

Teng Wan-hua (), who served as chief of Xuetian Village in Hualien County's Fuli Township, was removed from her post by the township office on Friday.

Teng was one of five village or borough chiefs who, according to Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior (MOI), were found in January to hold PRC nationality -- a status that contravenes the Nationality Act, the ministry said.

Teng told the media that she holds a Taiwanese passport, not a PRC one.

"I do not have PRC nationality. So what nationality issue is there?" Teng said.

"It's the Ministry of the Interior and the ruling party forcing this," she said, referring to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which controls the Presidential Office and executive branch.

Teng said she was elected legally and will file an administrative appeal to protect her rights.

Fuli Township Mayor Chiang Tung-cheng () told CNA that the MOI began sending letters in October 2024 instructing the township to handle the case in accordance with the Nationality Act.

Under the Act, A Republic of China (Taiwan) national who also holds foreign nationality is not eligible to hold government office in Taiwan.

However, he noted that Taiwan and China are not considered two countries under the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

Because of that, Chiang said, Teng cannot renounce her PRC nationality and the Chinese government will not issue proof of renunciation.

He said the township decided to carry out the dismissal to ensure transparency and to allow the court system to rule on the matter.

Chiang criticized the MOI for what he said was a deprivation of Teng's right to identity, right to life and right to property.

He said the issue has also been referred to the Control Yuan, Taiwan's highest government supervisory body.

Teng, originally from Guangyuan City in Sichuan Province, China, came to Taiwan through marriage in 1997 and obtained her Taiwanese national ID card 17 years ago. She was first elected village chief in 2022.

(By Li Hsien-feng and James Thompson)

Enditem/AW

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/08/03

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. Aug. 2 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Aug. 3 (Sun.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

5 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140803_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan.jpg [Open a new window]

1140803_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan.jpg [Open a new window]

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Drone Strikes Hit Near Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant - Statement

Sputnik News

20250803

Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stationed at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) on Saturday heard sounds of explosions and saw smoke in a place located 1.2 kilometer from the perimeter of the station, the IAEA said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, the plant's operator said that a civilian had been killed in Ukrainian shelling of the industrial zone near the ZNPP.

"The IAEA team at Ukraine's Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) heard explosions and saw smoke coming from a nearby location where the plant said one of its auxiliary facilities was attacked today," the statement read.

Representatives of the ZNPP informed the IAEA experts that the facility 1.2 kilometers from the perimeter of the nuclear power plant had been shelled and attacked by drones, the IAEA said in a statement.

"Once again, I call for maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities to prevent the continued risk of a nuclear accident," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi was quoted as saying by the Agency.

The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is located on the left bank of the Dnepr River near Energodar. It is the largest nuclear plant in Europe in terms of the number of units and installed capacity. The plant has six power units, with a capacity of 1 gigawatt each, all of which are currently in a state of so-called cold shutdown. In October 2022, the nuclear power plant went under Russian control and has since been routinely targeted in Ukrainian attacks.

 Sputnik

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US Envoy to NATO Hopes Arms Supplies to Allies to Push Russia to Negotiate

Sputnik News

20250803

The United States hopes to push Russia to negotiate and achieve a long-term ceasefire in Ukraine by supplying weapons to NATO partners, US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker said.

"I'm hoping that by the United States leaning in, selling our weapons, to our NATO allies, that that will lead the Russians back to the negotiating table and actually get to a ceasefire here," Whitaker said in an interview for the WHO 13 News channel.

He expressed the opinion that, as US President Donald Trump had repeatedly stated, the conflict in Ukraine could not be resolved solely by military means; with a final settlement only possible at the negotiating table.

Trump, who had previously repeatedly criticized his predecessor Joe Biden for providing multi-billion military aid to Ukraine, announced on July 11 that NATO, of which the United States is a member state, would pay for American weapons that the alliance would subsequently supply to Ukraine. The US leader specified that the corresponding agreement with the bloc had been reached at the summit in June.

Russia believes that arms supplies to Ukraine hinder a peaceful settlement, directly involving NATO countries in the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that any arms shipments to Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russia.

 Sputnik

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Trump Says Envoy Witkoff May Travel To Russia In Coming Week

By RFE/RL August 04, 2025

US President Donald Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff may travel to Russia on August 6 or 7 -- the last days before his new deadline for Russia to take steps to end the war or face sanctions targeting oil exports.

Trump had said earlier he would send Witkoff to Moscow following his current trip to Israel but did not provide a specific itinerary.

Speaking to reporters on August 3, Trump again warned that he would impose sanctions if Moscow does not agree to a cease-fire in the war in Ukraine by August 8.

"There'll be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions," Trump said. "They're wily characters and they're pretty good at avoiding sanctions, so we'll see what happens."

The secondary tariffs would likely target China and India, the two largest buyers of Russian oil.

Kyiv and Moscow have been trading strikes ahead of the deadline set by Trump.

In the most recent attack, three people were killed in Ukraine's southeastern region of Zaporizhzhya, Governor Ivan Fedorov said late on August 3.

Stepnohirsk, a town only a few kilometers from the front line, was attacked, Fedorov wrote on Telegram, adding that two men, ages 40 and 50, and a woman, 58, were killed. Private homes were also destroyed, he said.

Russian authorities in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi said Ukrainian drones set a regional oil depot on fire early on August 3. It took more than 120 firefighters to extinguish the the flames. Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin said there were no injuries.

In the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolayiv, a Russian missile strike destroyed homes and civilian infrastructure, the regional governor said on August 3. At least seven civilians were reported injured in the attack.

Trump has been pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a cease-fire and an end to the war, now in its fourth year.

Trump announced on July 14 that Putin had 50 days to end the war or Russia would face severe tariffs targeting its oil and other exports, but he later moved the deadline up to August 8.

This corresponded with a deadly week for civilians in Ukraine, including a July 31 attack on Kyiv involving more than 300 drones that killed at least 31 people. Ukrainian forces also increased strikes on Russian infrastructure.

Russian authorities said the drone attack on the Sochi oil refinery was one of several launched by Ukraine over the weekend targeting energy and military installations in the southern Russian cities of Ryazan, Penza, and Voronezh.

The escalating attacks and the approaching deadline for a deal come as Trump said on August 1 that he had deployed nuclear-capable submarines to the "appropriate regions." Trump said he had decided to reposition the nuclear submarines "closer to Russia" because of "highly provocative statements" by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The US president did not specify whether these were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines.

Asked later by reporters why he ordered the submarine movement, Trump said that "a threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we're going to protect our people."

Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, accused Washington of playing a "game of ultimatums" in response to Trump's announcement that he shortened the deadline for the Kremlin to accept a cease-fire, writing that "each new ultimatum is a threat and a step toward war."

Putin has not publicly responded to Trump's latest deadline. He has periodically claimed to be interested in peace, but only on terms wholly unacceptable to Kyiv.

Trump has recently voiced frustration with Putin after initially appearing more conciliatory toward striking a deal with Moscow following his return to office in January.

The US president has since said that he believes Putin is not negotiating in good faith and last week described Russia's continued attacks on civilian areas as "disgusting."

With reporting by Reuters and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-ukraine- russia-witkoff/33493789.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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Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Depot As Kyiv, Moscow Step Up Strikes Ahead Of Trump's Cease-Fire Deadline

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Current Time August 04, 2025

Ukrainian forces continued to hit military-linked infrastructure deep inside Russia, as Kyiv and Moscow traded strikes ahead of a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for the Kremlin to accept a peace deal with Ukraine.

Russian authorities in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi said Ukrainian drones had set a regional oil depot on fire early on August 3, but the fires were later extinguished after more than 120 firefighters battled the flames. Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin said there were no victims.

In the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolayiv, a Russian missile strike destroyed homes and civilian infrastructure, the regional governor said on August 3. At least seven civilians were reported injured in the attack. Ukraine's State Emergency Service said three of the wounded were being treated in a hospital.

In the front-line regions of Zaporizhzhya and Kherson, at least three people were killed and more than 12 injured in Russian attacks over the 24 hours into August 3, regional Ukrainian governors said.

This latest round of attacks comes as Ukraine appears to be stepping up drone strikes deep inside Russia at a time when Trump is pressing Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a cease-fire and an end to the war, now in its fourth year.

In July, Trump said Putin had 50 days to end the war or Russia would face severe tariffs targeting its oil and other exports, but he said earlier this week that he had set a new "10 or 12" day timeline, later clarifying August 8 as the deadline.

This corresponded with a deadly week for civilians in Ukraine, including a July 31 attack on Kyiv involving more than 300 drones that killed at least 31 people, as Ukrainian forces also increased strikes on Russian infrastructure.

Russian authorities said the recent drone attack on the Sochi oil refinery was one of several launched by Ukraine over the weekend, targeting energy and military installations in the southern Russian cities of Ryazan, Penza, and Voronezh.

Russia's Defense Ministry also said on August 3 that its air defenses intercepted 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, 60 of which were over the Black Sea region.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force said on August 3 that Russia fired 76 drones and seven missiles throughout the night, 61 of which were shot down.

It added that 16 drones and six missiles struck targets in eight locations.

Ukraine Announces New Prisoner Exchange Agreement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on August 3 that Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners.

"There is an agreement to exchange 1,200 people," he wrote on X, saying the lists of individuals to be swapped were being worked on and that they were working to "unblock the return of our civilians."

Zelenskyy made the announcement after a meeting with his national security team to discuss "the negotiation track -- specifically, the implementation of the agreements reached during the meetings with the Russian side in Istanbul," referring to Russia-Ukraine talks in July hosted by Turkey.

He added that "preparations for a new meeting" had also taken place.

There was no immediate comment from Russia.

Each of the three rounds of talks around ending the war in Ukraine this year has resulted in some form of prisoner exchanges but has failed to yield a diplomatic breakthrough for a lasting cease-fire.

What Will Happen With Trump's Truce Deadline For Putin?

The escalating attacks and the approaching deadline for a deal set by Washington come as Trump said on August 1 that he had deployed nuclear-capable submarines to the "appropriate regions."

That announcement was in response to a threatening social media post by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, that suggested he would be ready to launch a nuclear strike as tensions rise over the war in Ukraine.

In an August 1 post on Truth Social, Trump said he had decided to reposition the nuclear submarines "closer to Russia" because of "highly provocative statements" by Medvedev.

The US president did not specify whether these were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines.

Asked later by reporters why he ordered the submarine movement, Trump said that "a threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we're going to protect our people."

He was referring to a July 28 post on X by Medvedev where he accused Washington of playing a "game of ultimatums" in response to Trump's announcement that he shortened the deadline for the Kremlin to accept a cease-fire from 50 to 10 days, writing that "each new ultimatum is a threat and a step toward war."

Trump has voiced frustration with Putin more recently after initially appearing more conciliatory toward striking a deal with Moscow following his return to office in January.

The US president has since said that he believes Putin is not negotiating in good faith and earlier this week described Russia's continued attacks on civilian areas as "disgusting."

Putin has not publicly responded to Trump's latest deadline. He has periodically claimed to be interested in peace, but only on terms wholly unacceptable to Kyiv.

In an apparent reference to Trump's comments, Putin said on August 1 that "all disappointments arise from inflated expectations. This is a well-known general rule."

It is not immediately clear what will happen should Trump's August 8 deadline not be met.

In an effort to perhaps strike a last-minute deal, Trump said he is sending his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow following his current trip to Israel, although a specific itinerary has not been disclosed.

Trump has spoken of imposing further sanctions on Russia and crippling secondary tariffs on countries importing Russian oil.

Given that these would include targeting China and India, the two largest buyers of Russian oil, some analysts have expressed skepticism that Washington will take this measure.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-ukraine- russia-witkoff/33493789.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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Delray Beach, FL, Aug. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The future of manufacturing market will be led by AI, digital twins, and collaborative robots. The AI in manufacturing market is projected to reach ~USD 46 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 47%, while the digital twin market is expected to hit ~USD 150 billion, at a CAGR of ~60%. The collaborative robot market is predicted to reach ~USD 12 billion at a CAGR of ~35% during 20252030.

The future of manufacturing market is rapidly evolving with a focus on a human-centric approach, integrating AI, robotics, and automation to boost productivity while prioritizing workers well-being. Sustainability is crucial, with factories adopting renewable energy, zero-waste practices, and eco-friendly materials. Customization is transforming production by utilizing flexible systems that enable mass personalization.

Looking beyond 2030, manufacturing will become more adaptive with AI-driven communications between machines and workers, deep sustainability practices, and decentralized manufacturing hubs for quicker responses. Continuous workforce reskilling will be essential to managing advanced technologies. Business owners will develop a micro factory and a gigafactory to meet diverse manufacturing demands over the next 510 years while redefining job roles and collaborating with educational institutions for tailored training.

Download PDF Brochure:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=57364955

Market Overview 2030

Collaborative Robots Reshape the Future of Manufacturing, Enhancing Safety and Productivity.

Cobots are becoming popular in the future of manufacturing since they are compact, easy to use, and programmable with little formal programming. As per the analysis, working with robots cuts human idle time by 85% compared to teams that consist only of humans; cobots enhance efficiency in productivity and increase cost-effective automation within some sectors like automotive, electronics, and pharmaceutical. Performing well in jobs like welding, assembling, and quality control, they are solving the labor shortage problems for firms including Nissan and Betacom. Expectations raised by such massive acquisitions, such as ABBs USD 280 million robotics campus, point to cobot innovation as the key to flexibility, smart manufacturing, and manufacturing adaptability to the changes by 2030 and beyond.

AI Transforming Manufacturing into Smart and Dynamic Hubs

Artificial Intelligence is a relatively new phenomenon that is gradually transforming the manufacturing industry in terms of efficiency, innovation and intelligent operation that requires limited human interface. The National Associations of Manufacturers Survey reports that 39% of manufacturers are currently using AI, this technology is revolutionalizing industries in machinery, and aircraft components, among others. AI investments are expected to grow to USD 16.7 billion for every year this year and the coming five years increasing the efficiency of operations and modifying the tasks within industries. Some of these major strategies include the Cisco innovative USD 1 billion global fund, Microsofts USD 3.3 billion investment in AI, NVIDIA-Foxconn and other formations influence and even revolutionize processes in the making and set standards of what is to come in the next future of manufacturing.

India's Strategic Investments Will Boost Smart Manufacturing Practices by 2030

India is making significant investments in various fields, such as semiconductors, renewable energy, defense, and data centers, making the country a world leader by 2030. For instance, in the semiconductor industry, Tata Electronics (India) and Taiwans Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (PSMC) (Taiwan) are planning to invest USD 11 billion to set up fabrication plants in the country. In addition, the defense sector is also witnessing growth due to initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat which aims for greater self-reliance.

Ask for Sample Report:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=57364955

Future of Manufacturing Market in North America

North America is undergoing significant transformation to maintain its status as a leading manufacturing hub. The US, Canada, and Mexico are at the forefront of innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital twin, and sustainability initiatives. The US government will invest up to USD 100 million to accelerate AI-driven research and development for sustainable semiconductor materials and would invest USD 285 million to advance digital twin technology in semiconductor manufacturing, enhancing efficiency and supply chain resilience. Canada will invest USD 427 million to support a project aimed at enhancing innovation and generating 50,000 jobs by 2028
Dublin, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Anti-acne Cosmetics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Treatment (Creams & Lotions, Cleanser & Toners, Laser and Light Therapies, Chemical Peel), Gender, Distribution Channel with Growth Forecasts, 2025-2030" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

China's Anti-acne Cosmetics Market, valued at USD 795.5 million in 2024, anticipates reaching USD 1.48 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 11.50%.

The surging incidences of acne are pivotal to the market's expansion.This high occurrence propels the necessity for advanced, accessible, dermatologically advanced products, marking China as a crucial growth hub for manufacturers and brands targeting acne-related skincare. Within the Chinese youth demographic, acne remains notably prevalent. A 2024 NCBI study highlights that over half of primary and secondary students and 44.5% of university undergraduates face acne challenges. This substantial prevalence signals a ripe consumer base for anti-acne cosmetic products.

Additionally, distinct regional variations, with Southern China exhibiting a higher rate (46.3%) compared to Northern China (34.2%), suggest tailored marketing strategies to address these disparities. The burgeoning awareness surrounding skincare and personal appearance, especially among younger demographics, is anticipated to fuel ongoing demand for anti-acne cosmetics in China.

There is a growing trend towards self-treatment, which further stimulates the anti-acne cosmetics sector. A 2023 study by the Chinese Medical Association Publishing House highlights that 75.8% of students use topical applications, while a mere 45.6% seek professional medical advice. This indicates a notable shift towards over-the-counter solutions rather than clinical interventions, particularly appealing to a youthful demographic seeking quick and convenient remedies.

Leading domestic manufacturers are pivotal in propelling industry growth by offering cutting-edge products in categories such as creams, cleansers, masks, peels, and specialized treatments. Proya Cosmetics in Hangzhou exemplifies this with innovative acne care integrations of modern dermatological research and consumer-friendly designs. Shanghai-based Pechoin merges traditional Chinese medicinal principles with contemporary skincare, offering tailored products for sensitive skin. Inoherb, collaborating with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, delivers herbal-based solutions that manage oil production and inflammation.

ZQ-II Medical Skincare's specialized Oil Control & Anti-Acne series underscores China's prowess in creating sophisticated, consumer-centric anti-acne cosmetics, bolstering its stature in the global skincare industry.

China Anti-acne Cosmetics Market Report Segmentation

The report forecasts revenue growth at the country level, dissecting industry trends across various sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. The analysis segments the market based on treatment, gender, and distribution channels.

This report offers:

Market intelligence for effective decision-making

Market estimates and forecasts from 2018 to 2030

Growth opportunities and trend analyses

Segment and regional revenue forecasts for market assessment

Competition strategy and market share analysis

Product innovation listings to stay ahead

Companies Featured



The major companies featured in this China Anti-acne Cosmetics market report include:

Zhejiang Fonow Medicine Co., Ltd.

Galderma

Bloomage Biotechnology

L'Oreal Group

Pechoin

Proya Cosmetics

Winona

Johnson & Johnson

Unilever

Beiersdorf

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Market Outlook

2.2. Segment Outlook

2.3. Competitive scenario



Chapter 3. China Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market Variables, Trends, & Scope

3.1. Market Lineage Outlook

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Market driver analysis

3.2.1.1. Increasing incidence of acne

3.2.1.2. Rising acne cases among Chinese youth

3.2.1.3. Increasing preference for self-treatment

3.2.2. Market restraint analysis

3.2.2.1. High costs of product development and premium pricing

3.2.2.2. Regulatory and compliance challenges

3.3. Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market Analysis Tools

3.4. Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market: Pipeline Analysis



Chapter 4. Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market: Treatment Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1. Treatment Segment Dashboard

4.2. Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market: Treatment Movement Analysis

4.3. China Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market Size & Trend Analysis, By Treatment

4.4. Creams & Lotions

4.5. Cleanser & Toners

4.6. Mask

4.7. Laser and Light Therapies

4.8. Chemical Peel

4.9. Others



Chapter 5. Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market: Gender Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. Gender Segment Dashboard

5.2. Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market: Gender Movement Analysis

5.3. China Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market Size & Trend Analysis, By Gender

5.4. Female

5.5. Male



Chapter 6. Anti-Acne Cosmetics Market: Distribution Channel Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1. Distribution Channel Market Share, 2024 & 2030

6.2. Distribution Channel Segment Dashboard

6.3. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analysis, By Distribution Channel

6.4. Over the Counter (OTC)

6.4.2. Offline

6.4.3. Online

6.5. Prescription

6.5.2. Retail Pharmacies

6.5.3. Hospital Pharmacies

6.6. Professional



Chapter 7. Competitive Landscape

7.1. Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

7.2. Company/Competition Categorization

7.3. Vendor Landscape

7.4. Company Profiles

Zhejiang Fonow Medicine Co., Ltd.

Galderma

Bloomage Biotechnology

L'Oreal Group

Pechoin

Proya Cosmetics

Winona

Johnson & Johnson

Unilever

Beiersdorf

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cmjk59

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Resurgence of Quick Wash: Innovating for a Time-Poor World" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Returning to office work has renewed demand for quick wash laundry solutions due to time-constrained consumers, especially dual-income families. Current quick wash options often lead to dissatisfaction due to misuse and unsuitable detergents. This highlights the urgent need for specialized quick wash solutions and harmonized partnerships between appliance and detergent brands. Innovations like AI-enabled "mixing-in-the-moment" (MITM) are key, optimizing detergent delivery for superior results.

Key Findings



The return to office work and increasingly busy lives revive quick wash

With the global return to office work and increasingly busy lifestyles, consumers are once again severely time-constrained, turning quick wash into an urgent priority. The demand stems from the need to fit laundry into shrinking windows for in-home task management. Dual-income households with children are the most affected by this.

An existing performance gap leads to consumer dissatisfaction

Time-strapped consumers often misuse quick wash, leading to dissatisfaction. Standard detergents can leave residue and fail to eliminate odours. This clearly highlights the urgent need for better, specialised quick wash solutions, a demand reflected in recent product innovations that are so far aiming at solving quick wash in isolation.

Cross-industry partnership will create better quick wash results

There are limitations to trying to solve quick wash in isolation, emphasising the critical need for harmonised partnerships between appliance brands, who provide the mechanical action, and detergent brands, who must formulate fast-acting, low-temperature solutions to prevent residue and machine damage, and ensure sufficient hygiene and stain removal in short cycles.

Smart AI-controlled mission sensing is a performance booster

Beyond basic auto-dosing, AI-enabled "mixing-in-the-moment" (MITM) is revolutionising laundry by leveraging smart sensors to precisely tailor detergent blends for each wash, leading to superior performance and efficiency. This shift hands control to AI, ensuring ingredients activate perfectly when needed, signalling a significant evolution in consumable delivery and effectiveness.

Technological advancement blurs lines between industries

While partnership constitutes a key component in managing consumer dissatisfaction and driving quick wash, both appliance and detergent brands are crossing into each other's territory to enhance user value and product performance. Some view this as a collaborative effort, while others see it as a prime opportunity to boost consumer resonance and increase profits.

The Resurgence of Quick Wash: Innovating for a Time-Poor World global briefing offers an insight into to the size and shape of the Home Care market, highlights buzz topics, emerging regions, countries and categories as well as pressing industry issues and white spaces. It identifies the opportunity zones within home care, analyses leading companies and brands and offers strategic analysis of major factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging/ format /ingredients innovations, economic/lifestyle/environmental influences, distribution or retail pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change and criteria for success.



Product coverage: Air Care, Bleach, Dishwashing, Home Insecticides, Laundry Care, Polishes, Surface Care, Toilet Care.



Data coverage: Market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Key Topics Covered:

Introduction

The laundry care conundrum: Seeking performance without the wait

Quick wash should target millennials accounting for 21% of total population in 2025

Office return drives demand for improved home efficiencies

Juggling work and home: The time squeeze on domestic tasks is intensifying (again)

Despite falling birth rates we predict over 1 billion households with children by 2030

Why is quick wash failing consumers today?

Quick wash dominates as time-strapped consumers often sacrifice clean for speed

Consumers share their quick wash frustrations in online forums

Residue and poor odour removal are commonly experienced quick wash issues

Limitations of short cycles are insufficiently understood by consumers

Samsung Q-Drive technology reinvented the laundry wheel back in 2017

Persil Wonder Wash: A consumer-led innovation addressing consumer pain points

Better solutions are emerging but the key to success lies in cross-industry synergy

The limitations of trying to solve this in a silo

The laundry care system relies on a fragile balance between its interdependent factors

Changes in laundry habits might disturb this balance, leading to undesired outcomes

The need for cross-industry solutions: This is one repeating theme

Collaboration helps to preserve the balance between the different laundry care vectors

P&G has been particularly active in forming partnerships with appliance brands

P&G launches Cold Certified programme recruiting leading appliance brands

Smart tech will deliver more credible quick wash results

Smart washing machines with auto-dosing capability support better quick wash results

A smarter version of auto-dosing is emerging, offering luxury fabric care in the home

More advanced AI paves the way for a more nuanced disaggregated ingredient release

Mixing-in-the-moment optimises ingredient release and prevents unwanted outcomes

AI-controlled sense and react enables better outcomes and minimises human error

The best-case scenario for quick wash is a combination of technology and partnership

Smart technology is opening opportunities for system-wide value generation

Haier's Internet of Clothing (IoC): A one-stop solution to rule them all

SmartWash: Henkel launches a retrofit device for smart laundry

Ecosystem thinking and a collaborative mindset are spreading across industries

Haier WashPass launches smart laundry subscription with superior performance

Conclusion

Implications for all relevant quick wash stakeholders

Quick wash benefits sales of laundry additives that deliver on hygiene and scent

Vanish Gold Pro: An in-wash stain remover formulated for quick and cold cycles

Bosch FreshUp: A handheld device using plasma technology to refresh garments

Polygiene StayFresh: Anti-odour technology in fabrics reduces need for washing

Recommendations/Opportunities for growth

Evolution of quick wash

Questions we are asking

Customisable solutions to help you explore what's next, where to play and how to win

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/usp493

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Competitor Strategies in Personal Accessories" company profile has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The personal accessories industry is dominated by Western European luxury houses, while Asia-based companies show rapid growth and the region is expected to lead growth over the next five years. To serve these markets - especially jewellery and bags - companies localise strategies to match consumer preferences. Also, US tariffs pose risks and opportunities, prompting firms to reassess sourcing and pricing amid global uncertainties.

Key findings



Jewellery and Asia Pacific outperform other categories and regions

Jewellery, the largest and fastest-growing personal accessories category at 55% of 2024 sales, is primarily driven by APAC. This region accounts for 53% of global personal accessories sales and is projected to grow to 56% by 2029, fuelling 77% of global growth. Led by China, India and other emerging markets, brands are increasingly localising strategies to secure long-term success.

Consolidation builds post-2019, then falters under 2024 pressures

Since 2019, leading personal accessories companies expanded their market share, especially in Australasia and Asia Pacific. However, by 2024, consolidation began to decline across most regions. Economic headwinds and rising prices challenged luxury giants, creating space for smaller, more flexible brands to gain traction.

Western leaders hold share as Asian players accelerate

In 2024, Western European luxury groups continued to dominate the personal accessories market, led by LVMH with a 5% share. However, six of the 10 fastest-growing companies from 2019 to 2024 were based in China and India - mainly jewellery-focused - highlighting the growing strength of local brands in global markets.

Luxury bags lead as jewellery blends tradition with global glam in APAC

APAC's bags and luggage market is dominated by luxury brands targeting affluent consumers and younger generations, with leaders such as LVMH and Miu Miu emphasising exclusivity and trend appeal. In jewellery, India shifts towards lighter gold and rising diamond demand, while China balances strong local gold traditions with rapid international luxury growth.

US tariffs send ripple effects across domestic and global markets

The "Total Trump Agenda" may slow income growth and reduce consumer spending in the US, dampening demand for personal accessories domestically and influencing markets globally. Tariff impacts vary by category due to differing import mixes from Europe and Asia, leading companies to adjust strategies amid rising costs and cautious buyers.

The Competitor Strategies in Personal Accessories global briefing offers detailed strategic analysis of the global Personal Accessories market by pinpointing growth sectors and identify factors driving change. The report identifies leading companies and brands within the keenly contested, fashion-driven competitive landscape, trend developments, economic/lifestyle influences, seasonal patterns, market and distribution strategies. Forecasts illustrate how the market is predicted to develop between mature and emerging countries, threats facing the business as well as opportunities to be seized for further growth.



Product coverage: Bags and Luggage, Jewellery, Traditional and Connected Watches, Writing Instruments.



Data coverage: Market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Key Topics Covered:

Industry overview

Global personal accessories market recovery stalls amid economic headwinds

Jewellery leads personal accessories sales in 2024, driven by fine jewellery in APAC

Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific lead recovery, while North America falls behind

Market uncertainty and shifting consumer priorities slow industry consolidation

Competitive environment

Led by LVMH, luxury giants continue to dominate the top 10.

.while Asia-based players drive the fastest growth

The majority of leading companies heavily depend on personal accessories for sales

2019-2024 growth shaped by market dynamics and share gains , with minimal M&A

Developed markets dominate sales, yet emerging markets show rising influence

Category diversification drives resilience and growth among leaders

Top personal accessories players remain highly dependent on their top three brands

LVMH and Richemont are expected to maintain their top positions over the forecast

Unlocking opportunity in new market frontiers

Emerging APAC markets at the core of personal accessories growth

Jewellery growth led by India, while China powers the rest of the market

A multifaceted market: Diverse players leading across personal accessories categories

The APAC bags and luggage market is largely dominated by luxury brands

Louis-Vuitton buoys brand experience with "The Louis" ship-shaped flagship in Shanghai

Asia Pacific drives Prada SpA's bags and luggage growth, powered by Gen Z demand

India to drive nearly half of global jewellery growth from 2024 to 2029

India's jewellery market shifts: Lighter gold and growing diamond demand

Swarovski targets India expansion with launch of lab-grown diamonds and new stores

Indian jewellers go global: Tanishq expands international presence with new stores

China: The second growth engine of jewellery , powered by tradition and modernity

Unlocking growth: Navigating the two key jewellery growth drivers in China

Laopu Gold, the "Hermes of gold", opens its first overseas store in Singapore

Luck and luxury: Van Cleef & Arpels channels xuanxue at the Paris Olympics

Navigating uncertainty in the US market

The impact of Trump's agenda on the US and global personal accessories market

Trump's shadow over the globally crucial US personal accessories market

US personal accessories market relies on imports with a diversified regional footprint

Tariff strategies across costume and fine jewellery : From small to big brands

From Switzerland to silicon valley: Diverging watch segment strategies amid tariffs

Luxury and mass-market responses to trade shocks in the bags and luggage sector

Newell brands pushes to lower reliance on imports from China amid tariff pressures

Appendix

Projected company sales: FAQs

For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xzdw1h

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Austin, TX, USA, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Custom Market Insights has published a new research report titled Door Closer Market Size, Trends and Insights By Product (Mechanical, Electrical), By Pressure (Hydraulic, Pneumatic), By Operation (Overhead, Floor Spring, Integrated), By End-User (Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Corporates, Healthcare, Government Facilities, Educational Institute), and By Region - Global Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share, Outlook, and Forecast 2025  2034 in its research database.





According to the latest research study, the demand of the global Door Closer Market size & share was valued at approximately USD 3.87 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4.01 Billion in 2025 and is expected to reach a value of around USD 5.83 Billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 4.2% during the forecast period 2025 to 2034.

Click Here to Access a Free Sample Report of the Global Door Closer Market @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/request-for-free-sample/?reportid=71819

Overview

As per the industry experts at CMI, Industry leaders for example ASSA ABLOY, Dormakaba, GEZE, and Allegion are shifting the market focus towards automation, energy efficiency, and smart integration technologies. There is growing attention towards touchless and sensor-based actuated systems for easier ADA-compliant accessibility in commercial and institutional buildings.

These corporations now apply IoT for real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and seamless interfacing with other building systems. Design automation is shifting toward eco-conscious practices such as low-energy hydraulic systems and materials that are more easily recyclable. Joining forces with architects, construction companies, proptech startups, and other designers is boosting product flexibility and compliance with international safety regulations and sustainable urban infrastructure goals.

Key Trends & Drivers

Smart Building Projects Increase the Need for Construction Advanced Technology: The construction of commercial. Smart and residential buildings are increasing the need for IoT systems with upgraded doors due to automated access control systems. The installation of these doors improves energy consumption, security, and ergonomics. Builders and planners prefer modern doors that link to master control units or allow no contact entry. Such development is backed by policies on intelligent infrastructure in public and private entities in North America, Europe and parts of Asia  Pacific.

Growing Fire Safety Emphasis in Compliance with Building Regulations Relating Safety Measures: Increased load on healthcare and educational institutes like schools and colleges has led to strict regulation enforcement of fire and emergency doors prompting the deployment of door closers. The device ensures doors are sealed shut and smoke and fire are contained. EN 1154 and ANSI/BHMA are certifying reliable mechanical or hydraulic door closers which increases new installations or retrofitting systems in homes.

Request a Customized Copy of the Door Closer Market Report @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/request-for-customization/?reportid=71819

Expanding Hospitality and Commercial Sectors: The ongoing rapid urbanization, along with the global proliferation of hotels, retail outlets, business parks, and shopping malls, has created a new opportunity for robust door closing systems. Advanced commercial structures still emphasize maintenance, pedestrian traffic, and brand image, which derive from contemporary door closer technology. Additionally, increased automation in facilities as well as a greater emphasis on brand image gives rise to the need for automatic or semi-automatic systems that are functional and do not compromise aesthetics; therefore, creativity is needed to make them in slimmer modular designs.

Increased Focus on Accessibility and ADA Compliance: The rising emphasis on inclusive infrastructure has necessitated stricter enforcement of legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerning door usability. Educational institutions, government buildings, and healthcare centers are adopting low-energy and adjustable closers that effortlessly permit door operation. Policy incentives coupled with consumer awareness advocating for barrier-free environments further strengthen this driver, especially in developing countries.

Report Scope

Feature of the Report Details Market Size in 2025 USD 4.01 Billion Projected Market Size in 2034 USD 5.83 Billion Market Size in 2024 USD 3.87 Billion CAGR Growth Rate 4.2% CAGR Base Year 2024 Forecast Period 2025-2034 Key Segment By Product, Pressure, Operation, End-User and Region Report Coverage Revenue Estimation and Forecast, Company Profile, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Recent Trends Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South & Central America Buying Options Request tailored purchasing options to fulfil your requirements for research.

(A free sample of the Door Closer report is available upon request; please contact us for more information.)

Our Free Sample Report Consists of the following:

Introduction, Overview, and in-depth industry analysis are all included in the 2024 updated report.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis is included in the package.

About 220+ Pages Research Report (Including Recent Research)

Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on the Request.

Updated Regional Analysis with a Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2025

Includes Tables and figures have been updated.

The most recent version of the report includes the Top Market Players, their Business Strategies, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis

Custom Market Insights (CMI) research methodology

(Please note that the sample of the Door Closer report has been modified to include the COVID-19 impact study prior to delivery.)

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SWOT Analysis

Strengths: Global construction growth, expansion in access control systems, and increased safety regulation policies are all positive for the door closer industry. Top manufacturers blend energy efficiency with robust product durability and accessibility compliance. Market leaders ASSA ABLOY and Dormakaba exhibit stiff brand rivalries as they spend heavily on R&D and subsidized innovation, offering low-maintenance, cost-efficient, sensor-enabled automatic products dominantly in the industry.

Weaknesses: Adoption in older or low-income areas is hindered by high retrofit and installation costs worsened by limited maintenance service networks specializing in IoT closers. These emerging markets targeting a low-end price tier create compliance barriers stagnating technology innovation from niche players. In addition, the shift from traditional systems to smart systems is further stalled, creating stagnant demand for high-end offerings, delaying acceleration towards smart systems and conventional products.

Opportunities: Expansion of touchless entry systems in a post-pandemic environment boosts the need for sensor-based door closers. With the world setting smart city boundaries, eco-friendly LEED-certified buildings and green construction mark high-growth frontiers for low energy closers structurally aimed at rapid urbanization and government modernization in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Threats: Fluctuations in the prices of materials such as metal components and hydraulics can alter profit margins. Radical geopolitical relations increase volatility within the supply chain. There is a discernible trend toward automatic sliding doors or RFID-controlled entrances, which may reduce the demand for traditional door closers. Cheaper, lower-quality imitations of products pose a greater threat to more price-sensitive areas.

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Key questions answered in this report:

What is the size of the Door Closer market and what is its expected growth rate?

What are the primary driving factors that push the Door Closer market forward?

What are the Door Closer Industry's top companies?

What are the different categories that the Door Closer Market caters to?

What will be the fastest-growing segment or region?

In the value chain, what role do essential players play?

What is the procedure for getting a free copy of the Door Closer market sample report and company profiles?

Key Offerings:

Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20252034

Market Dynamics  Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Leading Trends

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by Types of Services, by End-User Services, and by regions

Competitive Landscape  Top Key Vendors and Other Prominent Vendors

Buy this Premium Door Closer Research Report | Fast Delivery Available - [220+ Pages] @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/door-closer-market/

Regional Perspective

The Door Closer Market can be divided across different regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. This is a cursory overview of each region:

North America: The North American market for door closers is propelled by strict compliance with building codes and fire safety regulations, as well as the widespread adoption of infrastructure compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The U.S. and Canada are major contributors, with notable demand from the commercial, institutional, and healthcare industries. The investments in smart buildings as well as retrofitting automated systems for older structures are driving the adoption of automated and integrated door closing systems. Older private and public infrastructure continues to grapple with the stringent energy efficiency and sustainability requirements, which demand sensor-equipped door closers.

Europe: The door closer market in Europe is consolidated and focused on the innovation competition within Germany, the U.K., France, and Italy. These countries are construction EN compliance heavy and focus on eco-friendly fire safety compliance and energy efficiency, which in turn drives demand. The region experiences strong adoption of floor springs and integrated closers in commercial and luxury hospitality industries. Furthermore, smart door and door automation systems are gaining popularity in urban residential projects, augmenting the market. Specialized architectural door closers used in refurbishing historical buildings also help boost the market.

Asia-Pacific: The door closer market in Asia-Pacific is supported by urbanization, construction of commercial complexes, and growth in the hospitality and healthcare industries. China, India, Japan, and South Korea constitute the regions demand transformer and are increasingly adopting automatic, overhead, and floor spring closers. Sponsored smart city initiatives and regulatory compliance prop up market adoption. The region continues to lead all others in domestic production, cost, complex regulatory frameworks, and short- to mid-term value for international manufacturers; it is a long-term place of opportunity.

LAMEA: South America and the Middle East and Africa subregions are characterized by diverse growth patterns amidst increased spending on infrastructure. The hospitality, healthcare, and government construction facilities in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar are increasing the demand for advanced door closing systems. Safety standards are gaining acceptance in Africa and parts of Latin America. Despite this, some regions struggle with economic stagnation and high dependency on imports, limiting wider market reach.

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List of the prominent players in the Door Closer Market:

DHI

Rixson

Securitech

Hafele

MABIS

Stanley Black and Decker

Kaba

Sorensen

ASSA ABLOY

Roto Frank

Norton Door Controls

Allegion

DormaKaba

Biesse

GEZE

Others

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The Door Closer Market is segmented as follows:

By Product

Mechanical

Electrical

By Pressure

Hydraulic

Pneumatic

By Operation

Overhead

Floor Spring

Integrated

By End-User

Residential

Commercial

Hospitality

Corporates

Healthcare

Government Facilities

Educational Institute

Click Here to Get a Free Sample Report of the Global Door Closer Market @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/door-closer-market/

Regional Coverage:

North America

U.S.

Canada

Mexico

Rest of North America

Europe

Germany

France

U.K.

Russia

Italy

Spain

Netherlands

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

New Zealand

Australia

South Korea

Taiwan

Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Egypt

Kuwait

South Africa

Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

This Door Closer Market Research/Analysis Report Contains Answers to the following Questions.

Which Trends Are Causing These Developments?

Who Are the Global Key Players in This Door Closer Market? What are Their Company Profile, Product Information, and Contact Information?

What Was the Global Market Status of the Door Closer Market? What Was the Capacity, Production Value, Cost and PROFIT of the Door Closer Market?

What Is the Current Market Status of the Door Closer Industry? What's Market Competition in This Industry, Both Company and Country Wise? What's Market Analysis of Door Closer Market by Considering Applications and Types?

What Are Projections of the Global Door Closer Industry Considering Capacity, Production and Production Value? What Will Be the Estimation of Cost and Profit? What Will Be Market Share, Supply and Consumption? What about imports and exports?

What Is Door Closer Market Chain Analysis by Upstream Raw Materials and Downstream Industry?

What Is the Economic Impact On Door Closer Industry? What are Global Macroeconomic Environment Analysis Results? What Are Global Macroeconomic Environment Development Trends?

What Are Market Dynamics of Door Closer Market? What Are Challenges and Opportunities?

What Should Be Entry Strategies, Countermeasures to Economic Impact, and Marketing Channels for Door Closer Industry?

Click Here to Access a Free Sample Report of the Global Door Closer Market @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/door-closer-market/

Reasons to Purchase Door Closer Market Report

Door Closer Market Report provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market based on segmentation involving economic and non-economic factors.

Door Closer Market report outlines market value (USD) data for each segment and sub-segment.

This report indicates the region and segment expected to witness the fastest growth and dominate the market.

Door Closer Market Analysis by geography highlights the consumption of the product/service in the region and indicates the factors affecting the market within each region.

The competitive landscape incorporates the market ranking of the major players, along with new service/product launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions in the past five years of companies profiled.

Extensive company profiles comprising company overview, company insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis for the major market players.

The Industry's current and future market outlook concerning recent developments (which involve growth opportunities and drivers as well as challenges and restraints of both emerging and developed regions.

Door Closer Market Includes in-depth market analysis from various perspectives through Porter's five forces analysis and provides insight into the market through Value Chain.

Reasons for the Research Report

The study provides a thorough overview of the global Door Closer market. Compare your performance to that of the market as a whole.

Aim to maintain competitiveness while innovations from established key players fuel market growth.

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Drivers, restrictions, and opportunities are among the qualitative elements covered in the worldwide Door Closer market analysis.

The competitive environment of current and potential participants in the Door Closer market is covered in the report, as well as those companies' strategic product development ambitions.

According to the component, application, and industry vertical, this study analyzes the market qualitatively and quantitatively. Additionally, the report offers comparable data for the important regions.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) ("Company" or "Kraig Labs"), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced the recent successful production of reeled raw recombinant spider silk using automated equipment. This batch set a new single run record, processing more than 250 kilograms of spider silk cocoons and represents a major step forward in improving the quality, yield, and scalability of spider silk production.





The use of automated reeling equipment allows Kraig Labs to fine-tune and adapt the reeling process specifically for the unique properties of spider silk, compared to traditional silkworm silk. By modifying machine settings, reeling speeds, and temperatures, the team is optimizing fiber consistency and maximizing silk output. These improvements are critical in translating the natural strength and elasticity of spider silk into finished materials for commercial applications.

This successful automated reeling run demonstrates our ability to enhance fiber quality, adapting existing production capacity for spider silk manufacturing, said Jon Rice, COO of Kraig Labs. Our team is making continuous refinements to tailor the reeling equipment for spider silk, and were already seeing how those adjustments lead to better, more consistent fibers.

Automated reeling replaces conventional multi-end systems, significantly improving throughput, labor efficiency, and downstream silk quality. The compatibility of Kraig Labs proprietary spider silk cocoons with these advanced systems is central to the Companys effort to build a vertically integrated production model for spider silk at scale.

This achievement builds upon recent operational momentum, including the expansion of rearing capacity in Asia and the development of new spider silk strains. Together, these advances support the Companys broader mission to bring high-performance, eco-friendly spider silk fibers to market.

For the latest updates on Kraig Labs and its pioneering spider silk technologies, visit www.kraiglabs.com.

For details about other recent Kraig Labs advancements, please watch the Company's investor conference at www.kraiglabs.com/videos or on the Company's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@kraigbiocraftlaboratories2270.

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news

* For a description of our historical leadership in this technology, please follow this link https://www.kraiglabs.com/world-leader/

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. ( www.KraigLabs.com ), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk-based fiber technologies.

The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company's future and expectations other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These statements are made on the basis of management's current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management's expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "estimated," "hopes," "if," "develops," "researching," "research," "pilot," "potential," "could" or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, Inc.

(720) 288-8495

ir@KraigLabs.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e8ce8d68-6f54-41b3-b71a-250dcb055409




ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LYNO AI has officially launched its Early Bird presale phase, introducing a decentralized arbitrage protocol powered by real-time machine learning. The protocol is designed to monitor and respond to price changes across more than 15 EVM-compatible blockchains, offering automated arbitrage execution through AI. With the Early Bird stage now live, participants have the opportunity to join at an initial token price of $0.050, ahead of the next scheduled price increase.

Early Bird Presale: The Opportunity to Buy LYNO AI Tokens at a price of 0.050 USD



The presale is at the Early Bird phase where the LYNO tokens are sold at a price of $0.050 per token and 16 million tokens are available at this stage. The next stage will be to raise the token price to 0.055 dollars, and thus it is essential that investors should not waste time and obtain their share before the price surge occurs. The number of tokens already sold is more than 100,391 and this is an indication of a good market. The presale buyers also have a chance to be involved in the LYNO AI Giveaway, where they have the opportunity to win a portion of the 100,000 tokens, which increases the value offer of those who join the presale.



Real-Time Machine Learning: The Technology Behind the Advantage of LYNO AI



LYNO AI is not another crypto token, but a decentralized AI-powered cross-chain arbitrage protocol that automatically targets and makes profitable transactions. It looks at live price differences on Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and other EVM-compatible blockchains. With the use of machine learning algorithms, the protocol dynamically changes and redirects the optimal arbitrage opportunities to trade instantly and safely using smart contracts and flash loans.

Key features

It has a four-layer design that includes Data Layer, AI Layer, Execution Layer, and Settlement Layer.

Trade execution that can be autonomous due to cross-chain bridges like LayerZero, Axelar, and Wormhole.

Multi-sig wallets, circuit breakers, slippage controls, and zero-knowledge proofs are protocol security features to guard against front-running and MEV attacks.

Community governance that allows holders of the $LYNO tokens to vote in the protocol upgrades and fee systems with the ability to stake the tokens to receive rewards and share up to 60 percent of the protocol fees.

A buyback and burn system that will increase the scarcity and value of the token with time.



Top Traders are projecting LYNO AI to Rise 100X





The top traders in the decentralized finance market are already projecting a potential upsurge of 100X on LYNO AI due to its advanced use of real-time AI-driven arbitrage strategies coupled with a robust security audit carried out by Cyberscope . This capability of the protocol to run entirely independently on any blockchain democratizes the high-frequency arbitrage trade that is traditionally controlled by institutional actors.

With the seven phased presales, the token allocation plan allows a systematic growth of value and scarcity as early adopters are rewarded. The investors are encouraged to make purchases of the presale now, before the price starts to rise inevitably.

Conclusion: LYNO AI Takes the Forefront in the AI-Powered DeFi Arbitrage

LYNO AI is the first and only crypto presale to be operationalized with real-time machine learning, and paves a new decentralized arbitrage frontier that is already recognized by leading traders as having a 100x upside potential. It has no competition in the existing crypto market due to its unusual combination of AI technology, cross-chain functionality, and investor-oriented design supported by thorough security audits (including Cyberscope).

The Early Bird presale is currently ongoing at 0.050 and has a limited supply of tokens which is why investors are highly advised to join the party now to occupy their own place before the token prices increase. There is also a giveaway incentive of the presale, which amounts to additional value to the first purchases.

For more information about LYNO visit the links below:

Website:https://lyno.ai/

Buy Presale- https://lyno.ai/#presale

Whitepaper: https://lyno.ai/whitepaper.pdf

Twitter/X: https://x.com/Lyno_AI

Telegram:https://t.me/lyno_ai

Contact Details:

LYNO AI

contact@lyno.ai

Disclaimer: This content is provided by LYNO AI. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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LONG BEACH, Calif. and TORONTO, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glass House Brands Inc. (Glass House or the Company) (CBOE CA: GLAS.A.U) (CBOE CA: GLAS.WT.U) (OTCQX: GLASF) (OTCQX:GHBWF), one of the fastest-growing, vertically-integrated cannabis companies in the U.S., today announced updates to recent events.

On July 10, 2025 federal officers led by US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security raided two of the Companys farms.

A federal search warrant was served authorizing the search for evidence of possible immigration violations under Title 8 of the United States Code.

Very few documents were seized pursuant to the search warrant.

The government and media have reported that approximately 360 individuals were detained or arrested during the raids for immigration violations. The Company has been unable to verify the actual number or the identities of those detained.

Nine employees of the Company were detained or arrested.

Any other individuals detained or arrested would have been either employees of third-party contractors providing services at the Companys Camarillo farm, including the Farm Labor Contractors providing labor for the agricultural operations, or were unassociated with the Company.

Third-party Farm Labor Contractors were required by agreement to ensure that each of their employees assigned to one of the Companys facilities must be twenty-one and older and have valid work authorization.

Federal authorities have reported that approximately eleven minors, ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old, were detained during the raids. While the identities of the alleged minors have not been disclosed, the Company has been able to determine that, if those reports are true, none of them were Glass House employees.

Federal labor law and California labor law permit minors as young as 12 years old to work in agriculture. As required by California cannabis regulations, however, the Company requires that no one under the age of 21 work in any facility, and that the third-party Farm Labor Contractors verify and ensure that all workers they hire and assign to the Companys facilities are over the age of 21.

An employee of the security contractor for the Camarillo facility, George Retes, was reportedly detained for three days without charges. He is a US citizen and Army veteran.

One employee of a third-party contractor, Jaime Alanis Garcia, died from injuries sustained during the raid.

The media also reported that violent protests broke out outside the law enforcement barricades in response to the raids and resulting detentions/arrests. It is the Companys belief that no employees of the Company were in any way involved in the protests.

To the Companys knowledge, none of the individuals working at the Companys facilities on July 10, 2025 were paid less than either the federal or California minimum wage. The Company has always paid a competitive and legal wage for workers, including both its employees and any third-party workers.

For the first six months of 2025, labor contractors were paid an average net (of fees paid to the Farm Labor Companies) hourly rate of approximately $18.60 per hour. The net hourly rate was more than 12% higher than Californias minimum wage requirement (one of the highest of any state in the country) and 2.2x higher than the federal minimum wage.



Subsequent to July 10th, the Company has undergone significant changes.

The Company terminated its relationship with the two Farm Labor Contractors providing workers for its farms.

The Company has revised its Farm Labor Contractor agreements to ensure that their compliance processes are best in class and in accordance with the latest Company standards.

The Company has engaged new Farm Labor Contractors to provide workers pursuant to the best in class agreements.

The Company has required the two Farm Labor Contractors who had been terminated to agree to and implement the new enhanced compliance procedures before any of its workers would be allowed access to Glass House facilities.

The Company has made significant changes to labor practices that are above and beyond legal requirements.

Since July 10, 2025, the Company has hired leading compliance consultants Guidepost Services, led by former Director of ICE and Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Julie Myers Wood, to assist the Companys counsel with implementing best practices for determining employment eligibility for its employees and for ensuring eligibility of employees of contractors.

All employees of the Company and Farm labor are now E-verified and the underlying documents are reviewed by experts for validity and age gating.

The Company has enhanced age gating controls for everyone entering the farms including contracted employees, 3 rd party vendors, visitors, customers, and employees of the Company.

party vendors, visitors, customers, and employees of the Company. The Company has signed a Labor Peace Agreement for its license-holding entities (including the farm facilities) with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the largest labor organization in the United States. The agreement allows for the Teamsters to present to employees throughout the Company and the Company will cooperate with those efforts.



About Glass House Brands Inc.

Glass House is one of the fastest-growing, vertically integrated cannabis companies in the U.S., with a dedicated focus on the California market and building leading, lasting brands to serve consumers across all segments. Whether it be through its portfolio of brands, which includes Glass House Farms, PLUS Products, Allswell and Mama Sue Wellness or its network of retail dispensaries throughout the state of California, which includes The Farmacy, Natural Healing Center and The Pottery, Glass House is committed to realizing its vision of excellence: outstanding cannabis products, produced sustainably, for the benefit of all. For more information and company updates, visit www.glasshousebrands.com/ and https://ir.glasshousebrands.com/contact/email-alerts/.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events or the Companys future performance or financial results. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, continues, forecasts, projects, predicts, intends, anticipates, targets or believes, or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, should, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements regarding the Companys financial outlook or operational plans and statements related to future market conditions. All forward-looking statements, including those herein, are qualified by this cautionary statement. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information, including those risks disclosed in the Companys Annual Information Form available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in the Companys Form 40-F available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. For more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review the Company's public filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements and financial outlooks contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date or dates specified in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

For further information, please contact:

Glass House Brands Inc.

Jon DeCourcey, Vice President of Investor Relations

T: (781) 724 6869

E: ir@glasshousebrands.com

Investor Relations Contact:

KCSA Strategic Communications

Phil Carlson

T: 212-896-1233

E: GlassHouse@kcsa.com
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Secure Technology Alliance, the premier cross-industry association in digital security, today issues its call for speakers for the 2026 Identity & Payments Summit. The highly anticipated event will take place from March 2 to 4, 2026, at the beautiful Westin Galleria in Houston, Texas.

Now in its 16th year, the Summit is the only event in North America that brings together hundreds of senior leaders from the payments, identity, and access ecosystems for unmatched networking and the chance to explore the technologies and trends shaping todays digital interactions. Co-hosted with the U.S. Payments Forum and the Identity & Access Forum, the event is designed to foster collaboration, providing a neutral platform for exchanging insights across industry sectors. It will feature expert-led discussions, hands-on technology showcases, and real-world case studies that illuminate the path forward for digital trust.

This years theme, Frictionless Futures: The Convergence of Payments, Identity & Trust, reflects the industrys shared goal of creating secure, user-centric transactions and authentication processes that break down barriers between physical and digital channels.

This years Summit is a must-attend event because were zeroing in on the critical balance between security, privacy, and usability as payments and identity technologies continue to converge, said Christina Hulka, executive director of the Secure Technology Alliance. We're proud to convene the innovators driving this transformation, from modern payment rails and mobile identities to AI-enabled authentication, at the only event where these disciplines meet.

The 2026 Summit will follow exclusive members-only meetings hosted by the U.S. Payments Forum and Identity and Access Forum and include the second annual Mobile Drivers License (mDL) Technology Showcase, open to all registered attendees.

Call for Speakers Now Open

The Secure Technology Alliance invites thought leaders, technical experts, and industry innovators to submit speaking proposals that highlight vendor-neutral, non-promotional insights. Ideal presentations will explore the convergence of identity and payments, address pressing industry challenges, and present collaborative solutions that strengthen digital security and user trust.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Payments

Real-time payments, embedded finance, and open banking

Digital wallets and alternative payment methods

Stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)

Regulation, compliance, and oversight in financial transactions

Identity

National identity systems, mobile credentials, and citizen access

Biometric and behavioral identity verification

Authentication trends (e.g., passkeys, phishing-resistant MFA)

Mobile drivers license (mDLs) Use cases and implementation strategies

Ethical identity, privacy, and financial inclusion





Technological convergence

Agentic AI and the future of consumer interaction

AI-driven fraud detection and risk management

Post-quantum cryptography and advanced data protection

Digital mobility and cross-domain trust framework

Data management and secure digital experience design





Speaking proposals are due by October 15, 2025. For more details or to submit a proposal, visit: https://www.stasummit.com/call-for-speakers/. Follow the Secure Technology Alliance on LinkedIn and join the conversation using #IdentityPaymentsSummit.

About the Secure Technology Alliance

The Secure Technology Alliance is the digital security industrys premier association. By collaborating on education and guidance, the Alliance helps enable efficient, timely and effective implementation of large-scale, disruptive technologies. Its U.S. Payments Forum is the only non-profit organization bringing together merchants, issuers, payment networks, acquirers, processors and technology makers on neutral ground to develop resources for the betterment of the payments industry. The Alliance is also strengthened by its Identity and Access Forum which is dedicated to advancing the adoption and development of secure identification, including physical and digital technologies. This includes mobile drivers licenses, access control and various forms of identity authentication. For more information on the Alliances activities, please visit https://www.securetechalliance.org.

Contact

Sherlyn Rijos-Altman

Montner Tech PR

srijos@montner.com
Dublin, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Honeycomb Aluminum Plate Market Outlook 2025-2034: Market Share, and Growth Analysis By Product Type (Aerospace Grade, Automotive Grade, Building and Construction Grade), By Application, By End User, By Technology" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global Honeycomb Aluminum Plate Market, valued at USD 940 million in 2024, is projected to reach USD 1.48 billion by 2032, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.89%. This market expansion is driven by the rising demand across aerospace, transportation, construction, marine, and energy sectors for materials that are lightweight, durable, and possess high-strength.

Honeycomb aluminum plates are structured with two aluminum sheets bonded to a hexagonal core, providing exceptional properties such as strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness, and impact resistance. These make them invaluable in applications like aircraft floors, train interiors, facade cladding, clean room walls, and wind turbine blades. Manufacturers are advancing bonding technologies, fire resistance, and corrosion protection to comply with industry standards.

The market's growth is bolstered by the increasing adoption of lightweight materials aimed at enhancing fuel efficiency in transport, expanding green building projects, and growing renewable energy investments. However, challenges persist in the form of high manufacturing costs, complex processing, installation hurdles, and competition from alternative panels like FRP and CFRP.

Significant market developments include Hexcel's expansion of aluminum honeycomb production for aerospace interiors, Alcore's introduction of fire-resistant panels for trains and marine uses, and BCP's launch of CNC-machined panels for the cleanroom and semiconductor sectors. Regulations promoting fuel-efficient transportation, green standards in construction, and recyclable materials are further propelling market growth.

Within the market, major trends include the increased use of honeycomb aluminum plates in aerospace and transportation to reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity, leading to improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. This trend aligns with environmental regulations and safety standards.

Companies are enhancing capabilities in fire resistance, corrosion protection, and CNC machining to meet specialized industry demands. Recent expansions and innovations underscore the market's response to growing sector needs.

This press release provides an exhaustive overview of the Honeycomb Aluminum Plate Market, detailing size projections from 2024 to 2034, segmented forecasts across major regions, key driving factors, and market opportunities. The report offers comprehensive insights for investors, detailing consumer behavior, regulatory impacts, and internal market dynamics crucial for strategic decision-making.

Key features of the report include:

Global and regional market size forecasts from 2024 to 2034.

Analysis of the industry's competitive landscape.

An examination of economic challenges, including supply chain issues.

Profiles of the top companies in the aluminum plate sector.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 150 Forecast Period 2024 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $940 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $1485.8 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.8% Regions Covered Global



Companies Featured

Hexcel Corporation

Corex Honeycomb

Pacific Panels Inc.

Alucoil (Grupo Aliberico)

Schweiter Technologies (3A Composites)

Economy Honeycomb

SAE International

RelCore Composites Inc.

Evergreen (China) Co., Ltd.

Fibrestar Drums Ltd.

Beecore Honeycomb Technology Co., Ltd.

PortaFab Corporation

Samia Canada Inc.

Liming Honeycomb Composites Co., Ltd.

Royalite Manufacturing Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5tb6e6

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
CHICAGO, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MPowered Capital (MPowered), an investment firm focused on providing bespoke capital solutions to undercapitalized emerging managers, today announced strategic updates that position the firm to address the growing market opportunity to invest in emerging talent.

Leadership Promotion

Chrissie Chen Pariso has been promoted to Managing Partner, joining Founder and CEO Marcia Page as a partner of the firm. Based in Chicago, Chrissie brings over 20 years of private equity and investment management experience to her role overseeing MPowereds sourcing, underwriting, deal execution, portfolio management, and capital formation efforts.

I am thrilled to recognize Chrissies exceptional leadership and vision by elevating her to the role of Managing Partner, said Ms. Page. Since joining MPowered as the first full-time employee in 2020, Chrissie has been instrumental in building and scaling MPowered from the ground up. She is not only a phenomenal investor and a trusted partner, but also a tremendous advocate for emerging managers.

It is an honor to step into this role and continue leading MPowereds talented and growing team in identifying exceptional undercapitalized emerging managers, said Ms. Pariso. With demand for our capital as strong as ever, we believe MPowereds win-win approach to innovative capital solutions and firm building support will drive value while filling a critical gap in the market.

Strategic Team Expansion

MPowered has also expanded its team, bolstering its investment capabilities and capacity to execute attractive investments:

Jose JC Erdmenger joins MPowered as Principal on the investment team based in New York. Mr. Erdmenger joins MPowered from StepStone Group, bringing extensive experience in direct deals, co-investments, and fund investments.

joins MPowered as Principal on the investment team based in New York. Mr. Erdmenger joins MPowered from StepStone Group, bringing extensive experience in direct deals, co-investments, and fund investments. Rick Noel, a seasoned investor and former Partner at Varde Partners, has joined MPowered as Senior Advisor, bolstering the firms underwriting and portfolio management.

Platform and Portfolio Updates

In connection with these appointments, MPowered is also further investing in its Multiplier Program (MP2), which provides tailored support throughout the firm-building process for emerging managers. This innovative program provides strategic guidance on firm formation, business development, talent management, and operational excellence, seeking to equip MPowereds managers to launch and scale their businesses with more efficiency and less start-up friction.

As of Q1 2025, MPowereds Access Fund I had completed 26 transactions, investing in or alongside 13 emerging managers. On a combined basis, these managers have collectively raised over $6 billion in capital, underscoring the catalytic nature of investments in emerging undercapitalized talent.

The firm anticipates sustained momentum for GP Structured Partnerships (GSPs), co-investments, and LP commitments, fueled by favorable market conditions and a persistent undersupply of capital for emerging managers.

Ms. Page concluded, With an expanded team, we believe MPowered is poised to continue unlocking opportunities for undercapitalized emerging managers across private markets while seeking to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns to investors. I am excited to continue this journey alongside a growing bench of talent and the tailwinds we see for our strategy.

About MPowered Capital

MPowered Capital is an investment firm established to provide transformational capital solutions, primarily in the form of seed capital, to what it views to be best-in-class undercapitalized emerging managers across private alternatives. The firm seeks to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns by pairing catalytic capital with the robust resources of the firms Multiplier Program to accelerate the firm and fund formation process for undercapitalized investing talent. For more information, visit www.mpoweredcapital.com.

Media Contact

IR@mpoweredcapital.com
Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MATTER, a Minnesota-based global NGO, is pleased to announce the appointment of Clynt Reddy to its Board of Directors.

Reddy currently serves as the Executive Pastor at Westwood Community Church, a thriving multi-site church in the western suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul. With over a decade of experience in ministry, his leadership has spanned the areas of discipleship, operations, and teaching. Originally from Durban, South Africa, Reddy immigrated to the United States with his family in 1996. He holds a BA in Religious Studies from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Divinity from Bethel University in St. Paul. In addition to joining MATTER's board, Clynt also serves on the boards of World Vision USA and Transform Minnesota, and previously spent three years on the board of Feed My Starving Children.

I am honored to be part of the MATTER Board of Directors. I am so impressed and energized by the work of MATTER, and am humbled by the invitation to join this incredible organization, said Reddy.

His professional passions lie at the intersection of business, church, nonprofits, and academia, a convergence that aligns well with MATTER's collaborative approach to launching projects that improve communities.

"We are thrilled to welcome Clynt to our board and deeply appreciate his commitment to supporting MATTER's growth during this pivotal moment as we celebrate 25 years of impact and look ahead to the next 25," said Quenton Marty, CEO of MATTER.









Clynt Reddy

About MATTER



MATTER, a Minnesota-based global NGO, brings together the best companies, experts, problem solvers and above all, doers, to launch projects that improve communities. This collaborative movement has inspired solutions in health access, providing beneficial meals for children and families, regenerative agriculture, and student-centered education, collectively impacting more than 54 million lives. MATTER's guiding belief is encapsulated in the simple yet powerful expression, YOU MATTER.

Press inquiries

MATTER

https://www.matter.ngo

Brian Numainville

brian@matter.ngo

612-467-9141






SAN DIEGO, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds stockholders that a class action was filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) securities between January 23, 2024 and July 21, 2025. Lockheed Martin is an aerospace defense company.

For more information, submit a form, email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003.

The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) Misled Investors Regarding its Business Prospects

According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose: (i) that Lockheed Martin lacked efficient internal controls regarding its purportedly risk adjusted contracts including the reporting of its risk adjusted profit booking rate; (2) that Lockheed Martin lacked effective procedures to perform reasonably accurate comprehensive reviews of program requirements, technical complexities, schedule, and risks; (3) that Lockheed Martin overstated its ability to deliver on its contract commitments in terms of cost, quality and schedule; and (4) that, as a result, the Company was reasonably likely to report significant losses.

The complaint alleges that on July 22, 2025, Lockheed Martin, after previously announcing losses on October 24, 2024 and January 28, 2025, disclosed it had recorded an additional $1.6 billion in pre-tax losses on classified programs, including $950 million in losses related to its Aeronautics Classified program. The Company also recorded $570 million in losses on its Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program and a $95 million charge related to its Turkish Utility Helicopter Program. On this news, the Company's share price fell $49.79, or over 10%, to close at $410.74 on July 22, 2025.

What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Lockheed Martin Corporation. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their papers with the court by September 26, 2025. The lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here .

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About Robbins LLP: A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002.

To be notified if a class action against Lockheed Martin Corporation settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.

Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Beijing, Kathmandu aim for new heights in relations

14:04, August 04, 2025 By XU WEIWEI ( China Daily

Chen Song (center), Chinese ambassador to Nepal, introduces on Saturday works by Chinese artists to Sujata Koirala (second from left), former deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Nepal, at an exhibition that opened in Kathmandu to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal. CUI NAN/CHINA NEWS SERVICE

With seven decades of friendly relations fostered through cultural exchanges, economic and trade relations and high-level dialogues, China and Nepal have further consolidated their "trans-Himalayan" partnership, Nepalese officials and community leaders said.

Such an achievement will inject new impetus into building a community with a shared future for humanity for both countries, they added.

On Friday, China and Nepal celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. A series of events were held to mark the occasion, including a reception organized on Friday by the Chinese embassy in the capital Kathmandu, and a painting exhibition featuring works by more than 60 Chinese and Nepalese artists that opened on Saturday.

Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said at the reception that his country values its "time-tested friendship" with China, a close neighbor and a trustworthy development partner.

The Nepal-China relationship, which is grounded in mutual trust and guided by shared values, has grown stronger over the past 70 years, he said.

Highlighting China's achievements in pursuing national rejuvenation, Oli said that these achievements also contribute to regional stability and global progress.

Nepal looks forward to further developing bilateral ties with China by expanding cooperation, deepening connections and creating new paths for mutual benefit, he added.

Harish Chandra Shah, president of the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council, said the two countries have shared a long history of friendly relations since ancient times and are great neighbors bound by close cultural, social, religious and political links.

"Nepal and China have enjoyed very cordial relations, mutual trust, exchanges and cooperation for a long time. China's willingness to support Nepal through difficult periods is well appreciated by the people and government of Nepal," Shah said. "The 70th anniversary is not only a review of history, but also a starting point for future cooperation."

China is a major investor in Nepal, he said, adding that both sides share a strong cultural and educational relationship fostered through various initiatives and agreements.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song said at the reception that China is ready "to strengthen high-level exchanges with Nepal, deepen political mutual trust and firmly support each other's core interests on the global stage".

China is also ready to assist Nepal in addressing its development challenges with Chinese solutions, Chen said.

"Just as China and Nepal had worked together to measure the new height of Qomolangma, we should work hand in hand to reach new heights in our relationship," he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calvetti Ferguson, a full-service CPA and advisory firm, has acquired San Antonio-based Randy Walker & Company.

This strategic move adds nonprofit audits to its services and significantly strengthens its headcount in San Antonio.

This acquisition marks a significant step in expanding our service offerings, said Jason Ferguson, managing partner at Calvetti Ferguson. Were adding a dedicated nonprofit audit practice to our firm, bringing new expertise to our team, and strengthening our ability to serve nonprofit organizations. With a notable increase to our San Antonio workforce, we're deepening our roots and strengthening our investment in the Central Texas region.

Randy Walker & Company is a CPA firm with a long-standing reputation for nonprofit accounting and auditing expertise. The firm has developed a loyal client base through tailored financial solutions and attentive service, aligning with Calvetti Fergusons commitment to client success.

Our team has been dedicated to providing exceptional audit and tax services to nonprofit organizations and small businesses across Texas since 1995, said Randy Walker, managing partner at Randy Walker & Company. Our recent growth made it clear we needed more infrastructure to maintain our high level of service. Joining Calvetti Ferguson gives us the resources to continue delivering top-tier service to our clients.

Following the closure of the transaction, 23 employees from Randy Walker & Company will integrate with Calvetti Fergusons established teams to continue serving clients.

About Calvetti Ferguson

Calvetti Ferguson is a full-service CPA and consulting firm that provides comprehensive accounting, advisory, assurance, and tax services. We serve privately held and public companies, private equity funds, family offices, and nonprofit organizations. We combine deep business insight with tailored solutions to help our clients navigate complexity, mitigate risks, and unlock opportunities, ultimately driving their businesses forward.

Media Contact:

Emily Martin

Chief Marketing Officer

emartin@calvettiferguson.com

(713) 726-5723
Oslo, 04 August 2025: Scatec ASA will release its second quarter and first half 2025 results on Tuesday 19 August 2025 at 07:00 CEST.

A presentation of the results followed by a Q&A session will be held on the same day at 09:00 CEST at Scatecs headquarters at Skyen Atrium III (1st floor), Askekroken 11, 0277 Oslo. The presentation and the Q&A session can be followed through a live webcast from our website www.scatec.com, or Scatec webcast Q2 2025.





For further information, please contact:

For analysts and investors:

Andreas Austrell, SVP IR

andreas.austrell@scatec.com

+47 974 38 686

For media:

Meera Bhatia, SVP External Affairs & Communications

meera.bhatia@scatec.com

+47 468 44 959

About Scatec

Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy in emerging markets. As a long-term player, we develop, build, own, and operate renewable energy plants, with 6.2 GW in operation and under construction across five continents today. We are committed to grow our renewable energy capacity, delivered by our passionate employees and partners who are driven by a common vision of Improving our Future. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SCATC. To learn more, visit www.scatec.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
Austin, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Industrial Air Cooler Market Size was valued at USD 2.15 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.12 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.79% over the forecast period of 2025-2032.

Growing adoption of sustainable air-cooling solutions driven by energy efficiency, regulatory shifts, and technological investments across critical industries

The industrial air cooler market is transforming as industries prioritize energy efficiency, sustainability, and safer working environments. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, cooling processes consume nearly 10% of industrial electricity, prompting a shift toward energy-saving systems. In 2023, Delta Cooling Towers invested in advanced hybrid solutions, while AMCA promoted standardized testing to boost product performance. Between 2022 and 2024, companies like Johnson Controls expanded product lines targeting food, pharmaceuticals, and power sectors, supported by stricter emission norms and rising demand for low-water-use cooling technologies.





Download PDF Sample of Industrial Air Cooler Market @ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/7644

The U.S. Industrial Air Cooler Market is advancing due to stricter energy regulations, adoption of sustainable cooling technologies, and growing demand across chemical, food, and data center applications. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), industries are increasingly retrofitting older systems with evaporative and hybrid coolers to reduce operational costs and carbon footprint.

Key Players:

Brize

Sky Air Cooler

Symphony

Evapoler

LANFEST

Fujian Jinghui Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.

Seeley International

Luma Comfort Corporation

Midea Group

Daikin Industries Ltd.

Industrial Air Cooler Market Report Scope:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2024 USD 2.15 Billion Market Size by 2032 USD 3.12 Billion CAGR CAGR of 4.79% From 2025 to 2032 Base Year 2024 Forecast Period 2025-2032 Historical Data 2021-2023 Report Scope & Coverage Market Size, Segments Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Regional Analysis, DROC & SWOT Analysis, Forecast Outlook Key Segments  By Product Type (Evaporative, Thermal Coolers)

 By Cooling Capacity (Up to 10,000 CFM, 10,00030,000 CFM, Above 30,000 CFM)

 By Distribution Channel (Offline, Online)

 By End Use (Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Chemical & Petrochemical, Power Generation, Warehouse, Others)

 By Type (Portable, Stationary)

If You Need Any Customization on Industrial Air Cooler Market Report, Inquire Now @ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/7644

By Product Type, the Evaporative Segment dominated the Industrial Air Cooler Market in 2024, with the highest Market Share.

The dominance is due to low energy use, cost efficiency, and suitability for cooling large areas. U.S. food processors increasingly choose evaporative coolers for sustainability and operational savings. Their alignment with green building standards and federal programs like the Better Plants Challenge further boosts adoption. Compared to thermal coolers, evaporative systems provide a practical, eco-friendly solution for industries focused on reducing carbon footprints and energy expenses without compromising cooling performance.

By Type, the Stationary dominated the Industrial Air Cooler Market in 2024, with a Major Market Share.

The dominance is due to higher cooling capacity and suitability for large facilities like manufacturing plants and warehouses. Companies such as SPX Cooling Technologies expanded stationary cooler portfolios for U.S. data centers in 2023, reflecting industry preference for fixed systems in power generation and petrochemical sectors where continuous cooling is essential. Unlike portable options, stationary units deliver reliable large-scale temperature control critical for uninterrupted industrial operations, making them the preferred choice where operational efficiency and sustained performance are top priorities.

By End-Use, the Manufacturing Segment dominated the Industrial Air Cooler Market in 2024, with the highest Market Share.

The dominance is due to strict temperature and air quality needs in production of electronics, metals, and automotive parts. Industry leaders like Ford and General Electric have adopted advanced cooling systems to support automated lines. By effectively controlling heat and humidity, industrial air coolers enhance product quality, worker safety, and equipment lifespan, making them essential for modern manufacturing environments where precision and reliability directly impact productivity.

By Region, Asia Pacific dominated the Industrial Air Cooler Market in 2024, Holding A 51.32% Market Share.

The dominance is due to rapid industrialization in China, India, and Southeast Asia paired with policy incentives for energy efficiency. For instance, Indias Ministry of Power encourages industries to switch to evaporative air coolers. Significant investments in petrochemicals, automotive, and textiles have also spurred demand for large-capacity cooling systems. This combination of government backing and expanding industrial infrastructure makes Asia Pacific the leading region for industrial air cooler adoption.

Recent Developments

In June 2024, Johnson Controls introduced energy-efficient modular evaporative air coolers for U.S. pharmaceutical plants.

Buy Full Research Report on Industrial Air Cooler Market 2025-2032 @ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/7644

USPs of the Industrial Air Cooler Market

Global Trade Flow Analysis for Industrial Air Coolers - Tracks shifting exportimport volumes and trade dependencies that influence global supply stability and pricing of industrial air coolers.

Tracks shifting exportimport volumes and trade dependencies that influence global supply stability and pricing of industrial air coolers. Technological Innovation Investment Trends - Highlights rising R&D spending on hybrid systems, smart controls, and energyefficient designs transforming industrial air cooler performance.

Highlights rising R&D spending on hybrid systems, smart controls, and energyefficient designs transforming industrial air cooler performance. Installed Base Analysis by Industry Sector - Examines distribution of industrial air coolers across manufacturing, food processing, power plants, and other critical sectors worldwide.

Examines distribution of industrial air coolers across manufacturing, food processing, power plants, and other critical sectors worldwide. Pricing Dynamics and Input Cost Trends - Analyzes how fluctuations in raw materials like steel and aluminum, plus logistics costs, shape final product pricing.

Analyzes how fluctuations in raw materials like steel and aluminum, plus logistics costs, shape final product pricing. Regulatory Impact Analysis  Evaluates how emission rules and energy efficiency mandates drive demand for advanced, compliant air cooling solutions.

Evaluates how emission rules and energy efficiency mandates drive demand for advanced, compliant air cooling solutions. Capital Expenditure Benchmarking by Region  Compares investment levels across regions in upgrading or installing industrial air coolers within new and existing facilities.

Compares investment levels across regions in upgrading or installing industrial air coolers within new and existing facilities. Facility Size and Cooling Demand Patterns - Explores how large-scale plants versus smaller workshops require different cooler capacities to meet unique temperature control needs.

About Us:

SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world.
Austin, TX, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright is further boosting its top-tier public finance capabilities with the addition of highly respected senior counsel Taylor Raymond to its Austin and Dallas offices.

Taylor represents local governments, state agencies, higher education institutions, special districts and school districts in infrastructure financings. She also has a significant amount of experience with public improvement district transactions. Taylor assists clients in raising capital to fund a range of projects, including constructing and improving utility systems, building and renovating public structures as well as creating new residential communities.

Paul Braden, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Head of Public Finance, commented:

Taylor has earned a glowing reputation among clients for her deep understanding of various financing transactions, including public improvement districts. Her focused knowledge and collaborative spirit make her an excellent fit for our public finance team, which regularly works in tandem with our banking and finance, projects and public-private partnership lawyers to make public infrastructure projects happen.

Licensed to practice in Texas, Taylor also has extensive experience in representing national and regional investment banks in the underwriting of municipal bonds. She received her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California.

Taylor, who joins from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, shared:

Norton Rose Fulbrights public finance team is highly regarded for advising on novel deals and complex financings. This is an exciting move for my practice as I know my clients will benefit from the knowledge offered by the firms many sophisticated practitioners.

Representing key players throughout the world's government debt markets, including the US municipal securities markets, Norton Rose Fulbrights public finance practice group earned a Tier 1 national ranking from Best Lawyers in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms.

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright provides a full scope of legal services to the worlds preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across more than 50 locations worldwide, including Houston, New York, London, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg, covering the United States, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. With its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright is recognized for its client service in key industries, including financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; technology; transport; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets. For more information, visit nortonrosefulbright.com.

Attachment
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sophos, a global leader of innovative security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, today announced a strategic threat intelligence sharing partnership with Halcyon, the leading anti-ransomware solution provider. This collaboration brings together two of the most experienced teams in ransomware defense to accelerate detection, enhance protection, and improve response capabilities for more than 300,000 organizations worldwide.

The collaboration between Sophos and Halcyon will exchange threat intelligence in real time, including indicators of compromise (IOCs), adversary behaviors, and attack patterns, to enhance ransomware prevention and accelerate response time. Following Halcyons recent announcement of a community-focused Ransomware Research Center, this data-sharing initiative will inform defenses across both Sophos and Halcyons solutions. It will benefit customers using Sophos Endpoint powered by Intercept X, as well as Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Sophos XDR, Halcyons Anti-Ransomware Platform, and other joint capabilities.

As part of the collaboration, Halcyon and Sophos will also implement mutual anti-tamper protections that allow each platform to monitor and safeguard the others agents in customer environments. This helps ensure that organizations using both solutions benefit from added resilience, reducing the risk of ransomware interfering with security defenses and preserving the integrity of their overall protection strategy.

The threat intelligence collaboration is part of Sophos broader strategy to expand the reach and speed of its threat response through strategic partnerships. Sophos X-Ops, the companys cross-functional threat intelligence unit, will work closely with Halcyons research and engineering teams to share and operationalize ransomware-related insights across a wide array of attack surfaces.

Ransomware tools and tactics are evolving constantly, and the best defense is timely, relevant intelligence that enables defenders to act quickly and with confidence, said Simon Reed, chief research and scientific officer, Sophos. By sharing insights with Halcyon, were improving signal fidelity and accelerating detection across our systems, which strengthens protection for all the organizations we serve.

Halcyon is honored to partner with Sophos. Over the last four years, based on our telemetry, Sophos has time and time again proven to be one of the most effective endpoint security platforms we have encountered, reliably performing and disrupting attackers at a level that simply outperforms the majority of the players in the next-generation antivirus and endpoint detection and response (EDR) space. Their dedication to innovate and roll out industry-leading and unique features continues to put their customers at an everyday advantage over the most sophisticated attacks affecting enterprises today, said Jon Miller, CEO and co-founder of Halcyon.

Key benefits of the collaboration between Sophos and Halcyon include:

Real-time ransomware intelligence: Sophos and Halcyon will share timely threat intelligence, including indicators of compromise (IOCs), attacker behaviors, and tools used in active ransomware campaigns. This intelligence supports earlier detection, broader visibility, and more informed responses.

Sophos and Halcyon will share timely threat intelligence, including indicators of compromise (IOCs), attacker behaviors, and tools used in active ransomware campaigns. This intelligence supports earlier detection, broader visibility, and more informed responses. Strengthened defenses across products and services: Shared intelligence will enhance threat detection models, enrich contextual telemetry, and accelerate protection updates within each companys solutions, including Sophos Central and Halcyons Anti-Ransomware Platform.

Shared intelligence will enhance threat detection models, enrich contextual telemetry, and accelerate protection updates within each companys solutions, including Sophos Central and Halcyons Anti-Ransomware Platform. Mutual anti-tamper protections: Each solution actively monitors the others agents to prevent tampering or disablement during ransomware attacks, helping ensure that security defenses remain intact and effective throughout an incident.



This collaboration highlights Sophos and Halcyons continued commitment to cybersecurity innovation, industry cooperation, and the mission to defeat cybercriminals. Together, Sophos and Halcyon are delivering the intelligence needed to stay one step ahead of attackers.

About Sophos

Sophos is a cybersecurity leader defending 600,000 organizations globally with an AI-driven platform and expert-led services. Sophos meets organizations wherever they are in their security maturity and grows with them to defeat cyberattacks. Its solutions combine machine learning, automation, and real-time threat intelligence with frontline human expertise from Sophos X-Ops to deliver advanced, 24/7 threat monitoring, detection, and response. Sophos offers industry-leading managed detection and response (MDR) alongside a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity technologies  including endpoint, network, email, and cloud security, extended detection and response (XDR), identity threat detection and response (ITDR), and next-gen SIEM. Together with expert advisory services, these capabilities help organizations proactively reduce risk and respond faster, with the visibility and scalability needed to stay ahead of evolving threats. Sophos goes to market with a global partner ecosystem, including Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), resellers and distributors, marketplace integrations, and cyber risk partners, giving organizations the flexibility to choose trusted relationships when securing their business. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com.

About Halcyon

Halcyon, the leading anti-ransomware solution provider, is purpose-built to defeat ransomware and stop data extortion attacks. Our platform and services enable operational resilience, eliminate downtime, and reduce risk from ransomware threats. With protection engines trained on ransomware signals, features, and tools, Halcyon detects and proactively disrupts ransomware threats before damage occurs. Bolstered by a ransomware warranty and a 24/7/365 virtual team, Halcyon guarantees no ransom is paid and no downtime is tolerated. Learn more at halcyon.ai.
EU backs AIxBlocks mission to decentralize AI development and automate infrastructure workflowsstarting with a 1.5M grant and 61.5M in non-dilutive funding pipeline

CALIFORNIA, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a significant show of institutional support, AIxBlock , a decentralized AI tech startup in the Bay Area, has secured a 1.5 million innovation grant from the European Union, alongside with up to 61.5 million in 2 additional grants pre-approved to support its long-term expansion across Europe. The backing positions AIxBlock as a frontrunner in a fast-emerging category: decentralized, automation-first AI infrastructure.

The move signals growing European interest in infrastructure that empowers open, decentralized, community-driven platformsnot just hyperscalersto play a leading role in the AI ecosystem.

A Regulatory-Ready Alternative to Centralized AI Infrastructure

AIxBlocks 1.5M secured grant comes with zero dilution (with onboarding (KYC) underway prior to fund disbursement), allowing the company to deepen its technology footprint in the EU while preserving ownership and control. The 61.5M in pre-approved funding of 2 other grants will include support for building a physical decentralized GPU network, leveraging underutilized data centers in the region to offer scalable, eco-aligned compute infrastructure in future phases.

What AIxBlock Builds

AIxBlock is a full-stack platform for end-to-end AI development and workflow automation. It allows startups, agencies, and enterprises to:

Train, fine-tune, and deploy custom AI models using decentralized GPU resources

using decentralized GPU resources Automate business workflows by connecting those models to real-time triggers and external apps

by connecting those models to real-time triggers and external apps Self-host instantly for full control over privacy, compliance, and infrastructure

for full control over privacy, compliance, and infrastructure Access an open ecosystem of models, datasets, compute providers, and automation tools

The platform is designed to give builders full ownership of their infrastructure stackwithout vendor lock-inand to make AI development and automation more affordable, modular, and decentralized.

Open Source with Long-Term Contributor Incentives

AIxBlock is built with an open-source foundation and invites the global developer and AI community to contribute. Those who participate in improving the platformwhether through code, infrastructure, validation, or ecosystem supportwill be eligible for long-term revenue and benefit sharing, proportionate to the value and level of their contribution.

This model ensures that core contributors, infrastructure providers, and validators are aligned with the platforms long-term success, with transparent tracking of input and rewards over time.

Blockchain as a Coordination and Incentive Layer

Blockchain technology plays a critical role in AIxBlocks architecture, serving as the underlying layer for transparency, incentive distribution, and coordination across its decentralized ecosystem.

It powers:

On-chain monetization for contributors and infrastructure providers

for contributors and infrastructure providers Transparent access control and usage tracking across models and compute nodes

and usage tracking across models and compute nodes Validator systems to maintain dataset quality, model performance, and contributor trust

to maintain dataset quality, model performance, and contributor trust Future DAO governance to guide platform evolution in an open and accountable way

Scaling Through EU Infrastructure, Responsibly

A key part of AIxBlocks roadmap involves tapping into the EUs large base of underutilized data centers to deploy its decentralized GPU network. This expansion is planned for future phases supported by the broader grant pipeline, reflecting a strategy rooted in efficiency, sustainability, and digital sovereignty.

By revitalizing existing infrastructure rather than building from scratch, AIxBlock aims to deliver scalable compute capacity while minimizing both environmental impact and geopolitical dependence.

Quiet Execution, Long-Term Vision

Without any paid marketing since MVP, AIxBlock has already onboarded over 12,000 users organically and secured some enterprise clients who are deploying large-scale model development workflows on the platform. The team continues to focus on expanding core capabilities and preparing for the next wave of infrastructure activation across the EU.

As regulators, enterprises, and builders begin to question the scalability and transparency of centralized AI pipelines, platforms like AIxBlock offer an emerging alternativedesigned for compliance, customization, and control.

Strategic Positioning for Market Leadership

With EU support secured and a substantial funding pipeline in place, AIxBlock has built both the credibility and resources to scale with confidence. Its ability to win institutional grantscombined with growing demand for decentralized infrastructuremakes it a compelling partner for strategic investors and ecosystem collaborators.

The convergence of AI infrastructure demand and decentralized technology adoption presents a generational opportunity. EU backing provides the regulatory confidence that institutional investors and enterprise clients increasingly seek when evaluating infrastructure plays.

As the decentralized AI landscape matures, platforms with public-sector backing, proven technology, and execution capital will be best positioned to lead. AIxBlocks current standinganchored by confirmed funding, a pre-approved pipeline, and a clear expansion roadmapsignals its emergence as a serious contender in the global AI infrastructure race.

Building the AI Operating Layer for Europe

With institutional trust, a clear multi-stage public funding pipeline, and a differentiated approach to AI infrastructure, AIxBlock is positioning itself as a critical operating layer for the next era of enterprise and open-source AI development.

At a time when developers are demanding more freedom, privacy regulations are tightening, and the cost of compute is rising, AIxBlock offers a new model:

Decentralize the resources. Automate the workflows. Reward the community. Build locally, scale globally.

About AIxBlock

AIxBlock is a next-generation AI infrastructure platform built for developers, startups, and enterprises to build, fine-tune, and deploy AI models with unmatched flexibility and cost efficiency. Combining decentralized GPU resources, end-to-end AI development tools, and workflow automation, AIxBlock eliminates vendor lock-in and reduces compute costs by up to 90%.

The platform offers a full-stack, automation-first environmentfrom data collection and labeling to model training, deployment, and integration with external appspowered by a decentralized marketplace of models and compute providers. With institutional funding from the European Union (1.5M Secured) and a roadmap to activate 61.5M more in non-dilutive grants, AIxBlock is building the AI operating layer for Europe and beyond.

Website | X | Telegram

Contact:

Lee Ng

contact@aixblock.io

Disclaimer: This content is provided by AIxBlock. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnera Corporation (NYSE: MAGN) today announced they will attend the 2025 UBS Global Materials Conference in New York, NY on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Magnera CEO, Curt Begle, CFO, Jim Till, and EVP, Corporate Development, Investor Relations & Strategy, Robert Weilminster, will host 1x1 and small group meetings during the conference.

About Magnera

Magnera Corporation (NYSE: MAGN) serves 1,000+ customers worldwide, offering a wide range of material solutions, including components for absorbent hygiene products, protective apparel, wipes, specialty building and construction products, and products serving the food and beverage industry. Operating across 46 global production facilities, Magnera is supported by over 9,000 employees.

Magneras purpose is to better the world with new possibilities made real. For more than 160 years, the company has delivered the material solutions their partners need to thrive. Through economic upheaval, global pandemics and changing end-user needs, we have consistently found ways to solve problems and exceed expectations. The distinct scale and comprehensive portfolio of products brings customers more materials and choices. Magnera builds personal partnerships that withstand an ever-changing world.

Visit magnera.com for more information and follow @MagneraCorporation on social platforms.



Forward-Looking Statements

Information included or incorporated by reference in Magnera Corporations filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and press releases or other public statements contain or may contain forward-looking statements with the meaning of the federal securities laws and are presented pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business, our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, statements about future financial and operating results, the companys plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements contain words such as believes, expects, may, will, should, would, could, seeks, approximately, intends, plans, estimates, projects, outlook, anticipates, or looking forward or similar expressions that relate to our strategy, plans, intentions or expectations. All statements we make relating to our estimated and projected earnings, margins, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates, and financial results or to our expectations regarding future industry trends are forward-looking statements. In addition, we, through our senior management, from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning our expected future operations and performance and other developments. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of Magnera and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may change at any time, and, therefore, our actual results may differ materially from those that we expected. These risks and other risk factors are detailed from time to time in Magneras reports filed with the SEC, including annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, including our Form 8-K/A filed on January 31, 2025, and other documents filed with the SEC. These risk factors may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. New factors may emerge from time to time and it is not possible to either predict new factors or assess the potential effect of any such new factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on those statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

Investor Contact:

Robert Weilminster

ir@magnera.com
PRESS RELEASE

Bloomberg (THEON:NA) / Reuters (THEON.AS)





4 August 2025  Theon International Plc (THEON) is pleased to announce the acquisition of 100% of Kappa Optronics GmbH (KAPPA), a Germany-based specialist in aviation and land optronics, for an Enterprise Value of 75 million, at an accretive multiple. The transaction will be financed through a mix of debt and IPO proceeds.

Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Gottingen, Germany, KAPPA operates an R&D- driven, asset-light model focused on design, assembly, and quality assurance, also housing management and administrative functionsclosely aligned with THEONs. With a team of 60 highly skilled engineers and a strong technological edge in platform products, the company is well-positioned to contribute to THEONs innovation pipeline. Together with its subsidiaries in the United States and Spain, KAPPA employs approximately 200 people and operates out of approximately 3,000 sq.m. of operational space.

KAPPA is on track to exceed 37 million in revenue in FY 2025, with an EBITDA of approximately 8 million, primarily driven by defense mobility and autonomous machines. The acquisition is expected to support strong top-line growth and sustained margins. Importantly, projected 2026 EBITDA does not yet reflect the impact of THEONs business development initiatives, which will begin immediately post-acquisition. In the short term the company has visibility to bring the EBIT margin in mid-twenties to be in line with THEONs financial guidelines.

KAPPAs well-invested infrastructure requires minimal Capex, not beyond what is already included in THEONs guidance. The current management team will remain in place and is incentivized through a performance-based scheme to drive future growth.

The transaction, which remains subject to customary regulatory approvals, was supported by PwC as financial and tax due diligence advisor, while Bird & Bird provided legal due diligence and transactional support for THEON.

THEON will provide guidance for FY 2026 by October to reflect the new trajectory of its organic and inorganic growth, pending the outcome of several large tender awards in which the company is actively participating.

Christian Hadjiminas, Founder and CEO of THEON, commented: We are delighted to welcome Kappa Optronics to the THEON Group. This investment combines all our targeted strategic priorities: 1) Strengthening our footprint in Germany - following our recent investments in Harder Digital and Andres Industries and building on our existing THEON Germany Wetzlar plant under a JV with Hensoldt. Additionally, geographically, it provides usafter the establishment of THEON Belgiuman initial entry point into Spain, another EU/NATO country where we intend to leverage this presence for the eventual production of THEONs main products. 2) Instantly expanding our electro-optics product offering, particularly for land and aerial platformskey focus areas for THEON. 3) Achieving immediate accretiveness, with strong potential to scale sales rapidly through THEONs Business Development capabilitieswell within 2026 and 4) last but not least, significantly enhancing and deepening our R&D capabilities, complementing our Athens- based team of c.80 engineers

KAPPA brings not only cutting-edge technology but also a culture of innovation that aligns with our vision. We expect meaningful top-line synergies, accelerated product co- development, and valuable knowledge exchange across the Group.

This is just one of several strategic moves we are planning. We remain committed to our plans to accelerate our expansion in platform-based systems, both organically and through well-investigated acquisitions that fit precisely within our DNA profile.

Sebastian Vreemann, CEO of KAPPA, commented: Joining the THEON Group marks an exciting new chapter for KAPPA. This partnership strengthens our growth trajectory, expands our reach in key defense and aerospace markets, and enhances our R&D capabilities through close collaboration with THEONs engineering teams. We see strong cultural alignment and look forward to unlocking new opportunities together.

KAPPAs premises in Gottingen Germany

KAPPAs QUADBOX DVE

KAPPAs scheme of System Composition for Tanks

AAR KAPPA Enhanced Vision System, MRTT System components





For inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations

Nikos Malesiotis

E-Mail: ir@theon.com

Tel: +30 210 6772290

Media Contact

Elli Michou

E-Mail: press@theon.com

Tel: +30 210 6728610

About THEON GROUP

THEON GROUP of companies develops and manufactures cutting-edge night vision and thermal Imaging systems for Defense and Security applications with a global footprint. THEON GROUP started its operations in 1997 from Greece and today occupies a leading role in the sector thanks to its international presence through subsidiaries and production facilities in Greece, Cyprus, Germany, the Baltics, the United States, the Gulf States, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Singapore and South Korea. THEON GROUP has more than 220,000 systems in service with Armed and Special Forces in 71 countries around the world, 26 of which are NATO countries.  RNATIONAL PLC has been listed on Euronext Amsterdam (AMS: THEON) since February 2024.

www.theon.com

Attachments
They knew the water was poisoned, and they told the people to drink it anyway. -Concerned Citizens of Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, Ind., Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weeks after a baby was hospitalized with confirmed E. coli poisoning, Alexandria Mayor Todd Naselroad publicly told residents the citys water was safe to drink. Now, newly uncovered video evidence, hospital records, and lab tests reveal a chilling timeline of false public reassurances and growing evidence of widespread contamination.

In a now-viral video, Clint, a representative from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), is seen stating that a 0.09 mg/L chlorine reading is good despite both Indiana and federal regulations requiring a minimum of 0.2 mg/L for safe disinfection.

This seems to be confirmed poisoning. They looked into a camera and told people the water was safe. Says Concerned Citizens of Alexandria

Now Confirmed: Multiple E. Coli Victims Hospitalized

Peters, who first raised the alarm after receiving a failing chlorine test from HML Labs (0.029 mg/L), has now confirmed that two additional Alexandria residents were hospitalized with waterborne illness symptoms:

One resident reported urinating blood for over a week , later diagnosed with E. coli exposure .

, later diagnosed with . Another, a long-time Alexandria resident, became so ill her son had to travel from Kentucky to care for her during recovery from confirmed E. coli poisoning.

Timeline of Escalating Deception:

Baby hospitalized with confirmed E. coli.

Citizens silenced at two council meetings by Jeremy VanErman and the rest of council members.

at two council meetings by Jeremy VanErman and the rest of council members. Water Superintendent Mark Caldwell lies on record , claiming he never received an email request for chlorine logs.

, claiming he never received an email request for chlorine logs. Caldwell, Mayor Naselroad, and Clerk-Treasurer Darcy VanErman violated Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA) by refusing to answer the legally binding request (IC  5-14-3-3)

by refusing to answer the legally binding request (IC  5-14-3-3) HML Labs and in-home tests show multiple failing Coliform and chlorine results including the babys residence.

show multiple failing Coliform and chlorine results including the babys residence. IDEMs Clint caught on video endorsing illegal 0.09 mg/L reading. This is a good reading says Clint.

This is a good reading says Clint. Following this, Mayor Naselroad tells the public the water is safe to drink.

IDEM replies to Peters publicly, stating 0.2 mg/L must be maintained throughout the entire distribution system after their own agent proves the chlorine levels are below this.

after their own agent proves the chlorine levels are below this. IDEM also publicly claimed to have evaluated the water at the sick childs home a claim the mother vehemently denied , stating no one ever came.

, stating Three residents now confirmed with E. coli.

with E. coli. No boiling notice. No public health alert. No accountability.





Citizens Demand Resignations & Statewide Intervention

The Concerned Citizens of Alexandria are now demanding the immediate resignation of:

Mayor Todd Naselroad

Water Superintendent Mark Caldwell

City Councilman Jeremy VanErman

IDEM Field Representative Clint



They are also calling for an immediate investigation into IDEMs managing of the crisis, and Governor Brauns direct intervention to prevent further harm.

This isnt incompetence, said Concerned Citizens of Alexandria. This seems to be a coordinated cover-up. And the people paying the price are our children, our neighbors, and our elderly.

Whistleblower Suppression: Checkout.com Implicated

In a related development, Peters, also the founder of SCROOGE LLC alleges that Checkout.com, his companys payment processor, terminated his merchant account and imposed a 25% rolling reserve after he began disclosing information tied to the Alexandria water crisis.

Checkout representatives acknowledged reputational risk on a recorded call, stating:

Ding Ding Ding was a huge story. Checkouts reputation was hurt. They cannot afford that exposure.

A formal $10 million legal demand has now been issued against Checkout.com for:

Economic sabotage

Breach of contract

Retaliation against a federally protected whistleblower





All evidence has been preserved and will be publicly available within 72 hours.

Read the Full MINDBLOWING Evidence Dossier:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ihq9B-ulfg7QrVoY7YzmyIdmD-HAs8Mk?usp=drive_link

Concerned Citizens of Alexandria: This Is Just the Beginning.

Three confirmed victims. One child is still recovering. The mayor is still lying. A state agent caught on tape. And a global fintech company caught in retaliation. This story is not over it is just getting started.



Media Relations

Concerned Citizens of Alexandria

media@concernedcitizensofalexandria.org


PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berger Montague PC is investigating claims under the federal securities laws against Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI) (Fiserv or the Company), a financial technology and payment solutions provider headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, after a class action lawsuit was filed against Fiserv.

Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired Fiserv securities between July 24, 2024 and July 22, 2025 (the Class Period) may, no later than September 22, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE .

The lawsuit alleges that Fiserv and certain executives overstated the Companys growth by failing to disclose, among other things, that its new payment platform, Clover, was experiencing a boost in revenue growth and gross payment volumes because the Company was forcing merchants to transition from its legacy Payeezy platform.

Investors learned the Companys true financial picture following a series of disclosures which culminated on July 23, 2025, when Fiserv lowered its 2025 organic growth projections and confirmed that decelerated growth in its Merchant segment. On these announcements, Fiservs share price declined dramatically.

Berger Montague encourages investors who purchased Fiserv securities during the Class Period to contact the firm to learn more about their rights and potential remedies prior to the lead plaintiff deadline of September 22, 2025.

About Berger Montague

Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Malvern, and Toronto, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

For more information or to discuss your rights, please contact:

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3015

aabramowitz@bergermontague.com

Caitlin Adorni

Berger Montague

(267) 764-4865

cadorni@bergermontague.com
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

NEW YORK and CHICAGO, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP (Wolf Haldenstein), a preeminent national consumer rights law firm, is investigating claims on behalf of people who have been impacted by the Next Level Finance Partners (Next Level) data breach.

Next Level Finance Partners LLC d/b/a Century Support Services, headquartered in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, announced that the personal information of customers may have been stolen as part of a data breach which occurred in November 2024.

Next Level is notifying affected people that their personal information, including at least names, date of births, Social Security Numbers, drivers license and/or state identification numbers, medical information, health insurance information, passport numbers, financial account information, and digital signatures, may have been stolen.

If you have received a recent notice of the data breach and have experienced recent concerning activity, it is possible that your personal information was compromised and is being offered for sale on the dark web.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

If you wish to discuss this data breach incident, or if you have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this matter, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at gstone@whafh.com, or visit our website.

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP has experience in the prosecution of consumer rights litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas and offices in New York, Chicago, Nashville, and San Diego. Courts have repeatedly recognized the reputation and expertise of this firm and have appointed it to major positions in complex consolidated litigation.

Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Carl Malmstrom, Esq., Of Counsel

Email: gstone@whafh.com or malmstrom@whafh.com

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This latest development follows an announcement by Novo Nordisk on June 23, 2025, the Danish maker of the FDA-approved weight-loss medication Wegovy (a GLP-1 treatment for obesity), that it terminated its collaboration with Hims & Hers due to concerns about its sales and deceptive marketing of Wegovy.

Novo Nordisks announcement triggered securities class action lawsuits against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. and certain of the companys executives, seeking to represent investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Hims & Hers securities between April 29, 2025 and June 23, 2025.

National shareholders rights firm Hagens Berman continues to investigate the legal claims and urges Hims & Hers investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may be able to assist in the investigation to contact its attorneys.

Class Period: Apr. 29, 2025  June 23, 2025

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Aug. 25, 2025

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/hims

Contact the Firm Now: HIMS@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Lawmakers Urge Crack Down On Booming Market For Knockoff Weight Loss Drugs

On July 25, 2025, the Los Angeles Times reported that a group of over 80 bipartisan lawmakers asked the FDA to stop counterfeit and copycat versions of GLP-1 drugs. The report said the lawmakers expressed concern about a surge in illegal and counterfeit anti-obesity medications, which pose an increased risk to patient safety with sometimes fatal consequences.

Novo Nordisk Ends Collaboration With Hims & Hers After Less Than Two Months, Citing Deceptive Marketing And Illegal Compounding

The lawmakers response follows the collapse in the relationship between Hims & Hers GLP-1 drug maker Novo Nordisk.

On April 29, 2025, Hims & Hers announced a collaboration agreement with Novo starting with the immediate sale of a bundled offering of Novo Nordisks FDA-approved Wegovy on the Hims & Hers platform.

Less than two months later, the collaboration came to an abrupt halt. On June 23, 2025, Novo Nordisk announced it was ending the arrangement. In a strongly worded statement, Novo accused its former partner of flouting U.S. regulations that prohibit the mass sale of compounded versions of branded drugs, instead selling such drugs under the guise of personalization. The pharmaceutical company asserted, when companies engage in illegal sham compounding that jeopardizes the health of Americans, we will continue to take action.

Novos accusations seemingly contradict Hims & Hers assurances during its February 24, 2025, Q4 2024 earnings call that [w]e will continue to monitor and comply with regulatory requirements related to the GLP-1 shortages[.]

Securities Class Actions Zero in on Companys Assurances and GLP-1 Strategy

Legal actions filed in federal court allege that Hims & Hers issued repeated assurances to investors about its regulatory compliance, the robustness of revenue from its GLP-1 drug offerings, and the tailwinds presented by its collaboration with Novo Nordisk. Plaintiffs claim these assurances were misleading, contending that the company failed to disclose critical information about its business practices.

According to the complaints, Hims & Hers was engaged in what plaintiffs describe as the deceptive promotion and sale of unauthorized and knockoff versions of Wegovy. Unknown to investors, the companys conduct exposed patients to unknown risks and threatened the very foundation of the companys relationship with Novo Nordisk.

Were investigating whether Hims & Hers may have misled investors about whether it marketed knockoff versions of Wegovy that could have put patients and the collaboration with Novo Nordisk at risk, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Hims & Hers and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now 

If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Hims & Hers case and our investigation, read more 

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Hims & Hers should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email HIMS@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Bermans team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
Fairfax, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roof.net is a well-known name in the roofing business, continuing to provide top-notch roof replacement services across Northern Virginia. Known as Fairfax County roof replacement specialists at Roof.net, the company is focused on giving homeowners the best quality in both workmanship and materials.

Leading Roof.net is Ken Briesemeister, who brings more than 45 years of experience in the roofing industry. He says, "Our goal has always been to provide homeowners with reliable, long-lasting roofing solutions. The consistency in our quality, reinforced by our 5-star rating, reflects the dedication and expertise we bring to every project." Roof.net's strong reputation is based on its professionalism, integrity, and expertise, especially considering the challenging weather conditions in Northern Virginia that require tough roofing solutions.

Roof.net's comprehensive services include expert roof replacement, specialized in addressing the effects of Northern Virginia's extreme weather conditions. This service ensures that homeowners have secure roofs by offering professional advice and high-quality installation. Besides roof replacement, their skilled teams offer roof repair services that address various damages, ensuring long-term durability.

The company provides a wide range of services customized to various roofing needs. Whether it's replacing a roof that's past its prime or repairing damage from severe weather, Roof.net is prepared to handle these issues. They use top-quality materials and skilled teams to make sure every replacement meets high standards. Besides planned replacements, they also offer emergency roof repair services. This includes same-day repairs for urgent situations to prevent further damage to homes.

In Fairfax County, regular roof check-ups and timely replacements are key because of the local climate. Homeowners should keep an eye out for signs of an aging roof, like leaks or wear, which can lead to bigger problems if ignored. Roof.net helps customers decide if a replacement is needed and offers guidance and support throughout the process. Their leak repair services further ensure that homes remain protected from potential water damage.

Beyond just being a service provider, the company acts as a partner for homeowners wanting to protect their investments. By choosing Roof.net, customers get a team committed to high-quality craftsmanship, ensuring the entire replacement process aligns with their expectations. Ken Briesemeister adds, "We understand the importance of a safe and reliable roof over one's head. Our team is dedicated not only to fixing a problem but also to enhancing the homes we work on, providing security and peace of mind for years to come."

Roof.net's commitment surpasses just technical skill. The company's achievements, such as winning over 20 national awards, further establish its reputation in the industry. Being a licensed and insured company accredited by both the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Roof.net offers trustworthy service backed by solid credentials. Their dedication to customer satisfaction is clear from Roof.net's 5-star customer review rating on Birdeye, which comes from over 965 happy customers..

Their impressive Birdeye rating showcases their ongoing focus on keeping customers happy. This recognition shines a light on the positive experiences shared by many clients, showing the company's ability to consistently fulfill its promise of quality and trust. The high level of satisfaction comes not only from excellent service but also from maintaining open communication and transparency with customers.

Residents in Fairfax feel assured in counting on Roof.net for their roofing needs, knowing the company maintains the highest industry standards. By concentrating on the customer experience while providing outstanding service, Roof.net has become a popular choice for roof replacement in Northern Virginia.

Offering flexible scheduling and a client-focused approach, Roof.net makes sure that each project is tailored to meet the specific needs and timelines of their clients. From the first consultation to the completion of the project, they stay committed to maintaining open communication, ensuring that each homeowner is fully informed and happy with the results.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAQQO37iJ9Y

With Roof.net's level of experience and dedication, homeowners in Fairfax County can expect the best. This promise not only strengthens the roof over their heads but also strengthens their trust in a company that has been around a long time. As residents continue to provide positive feedback, Roof.net plans to keep up its high standards and grow its reputation for exceptional service.

###

For more information about Roof.net, contact the company here:



Roof.net

Ken Briesemeister

(703) 303-8546

contactroof.net@gmail.com

Roof.net

4094 Majestic Ln

Fairfax, VA 22033
OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dunham House, a first-of-its-kind, transformational initiative for combat-wounded veterans in need of long-term residential-centered care for their wounds, will partner with Omaha-based CrossMed Healthcare Staffing to fill medical staffing needs.

Omaha-based CrossMed Healthcare Staffing specializes in connecting traveling healthcare professionals with exceptional travel assignments across the nation. CrossMeds team helps healthcare professionals explore travel opportunities in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities  all while offering personalized support throughout the process.

CrossMed is guided by core values of being humble, accountable and relentless. These are attributes we seek in partners prior to veterans moving into Dunham House in fall 2026, Wounded Warriors Family Support CEO and President Kate McCauley said.

Dunham House will be situated on a scenic 40-acre site in north Omaha to allow for multi-phase construction. The $13.9 million project will serve as a long-term residential community for 30 veterans who require supportive care, while seeking to maintain their independence.

The single-story complex will span approximately 27,500 square feet. It will house assisted living-style one-bedroom apartments along with specialized units for residents with greater physical needs. In addition to personalized care, residents will benefit from community-focused spaces, such as a great room, dining area, fitness center and memorial plaza.

Dunham House is an initiative and project development with Omaha-based nonprofit Wounded Warriors Family Support. It will be part of the Wounded Warriors Family Support programming and operational scope. Donors can help build Dunham House for $25 a month. A commitment to donate $25 monthly builds 1 square foot.

About Dunham House

Dunham House will provide combat-wounded veterans with top-level care and a supportive community where they can live with dignity and independence. Dunham House includes housing and amenities to accommodate 30 veterans in Omaha, Nebraska. Dunham House is an initiative and project development with Omaha-based nonprofit Wounded Warriors Family Support. For more information about Dunham House, visit www.dunhamhouse.org.

About Wounded Warriors Family Support

Wounded Warriors Family Support is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations. Combat veterans run this organization for combat veterans. Rated a four-star nonprofit by Charity Navigator, Wounded Warriors Family Support aids veterans and their families in healing the wounds that medicine cannot. For more information about Wounded Warriors Family Support, visit www.wwfs.org.

Media Contact:

Kevin Schuster, Public Relations Counsel

Cell: 402.917.6001

Email: kschuster@lukaspartners.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/59a6872e-1105-45fd-8ae1-078dfcf2fe8e
BRADENTON, Fla., Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EXP joined Manatee County officials, the Florida Department of Transportation, SEMA Construction and community members to celebrate the official opening of the 44th Avenue Extension Project.

The 44th Avenue East Extension Project will increase road capacity for more vehicles daily, provide alternative routes for local traffic and improve traffic capacity. The opening marks the successful completion of the six-phase project undertaken by Manatee County.

EXP provided Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) services for Project #6, the I-75 Overpass to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

This project brought together dedicated agencies and skilled transportation professionals to deliver resilient and much-needed infrastructure for the community. We are incredibly proud to have contributed CEI services to Project #6 and now celebrate this significant milestone of project completion with the community, said EXP Senior Vice President Anthony Caruso.

CEI Services for I-75 Flyover Bridge

EXPs CEI professionals worked alongside SEMA Construction, the Construction Manager at Risk, who erected the 190-foot steel bridge girders over I-75. The new I-75 Overpass will serve as an east-west connector. EXP CEI services for the I-75 Flyover Bridge portion of the project included materials sampling and testing, inspection services and assuring compliance with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) connection permit requirements. EXP addressed and mitigated potential community and environmental impacts to help accelerate the projects 560-day completion schedule.

EXP was proud to work with SEMA, the Engineer of Record, HDR, the Florida Department of Transportation and Manatee County to maintain transportation operations and mobility during construction and ease of transportation for residents.

44th Ave Extension East Project provides the community with:

Additional road capacity for approximately 36,000 more vehicles per day.

Reduced traffic demand on parallel thoroughfares (SR 64 and SR 70) by a combined 21,000 vehicles per day.

An alternate route over I-75 that allows local traffic to avoid adjacent interstate and state road interchanges.



For more information on the 44th Ave East Extension Project, visit: https://44thaveeast.com/.

About EXP

With a mission to understand, innovate, partner and deliver, EXP provides engineering, architecture, design and consulting services to the worlds built and natural environments. Our heritage dates back to 1906, when the earliest of EXPs predecessor companies started its engineering infrastructure practice. Since then, we have grown to a full-service, multidisciplinary firm delivering projects and solutions to clients and communities around the world.

Today, thousands of creative professionals across EXP work together to deliver extraordinary experiences year after year. For more information, visit www.exp.com.

Media Contact:

EXP

Nadia Abou-El-Seoud

Vice President, Communications

Nadia.Abou@exp.com

Manatee County:

Ogden Clark III

Communications Coordinator

Manatee County Government

County Administration

1022 26th Ave East

Bradenton, FL 34208

Ogden.Clark@mymanatee.org

(Office) (941) 708-7450 x7432

(Cell) 941-290-8343

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3a0b66d5-a18f-4d67-bb95-031ef5f76f42

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5ff29af3-101b-48ed-af3e-5a060c9a9040

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/088b04ef-b924-4460-a7d6-7408f7bedecb

This press release was published by a CLEAR Verified individual.
College Station, Texas, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Farm Credits Board of Directors has elected Kenton B. Kimball to serve as its new chairman, replacing John Malazzo, who made the decision to resign from his position to allow room for new leadership. In addition, Dale Crenwelge was elected vice-chairman.



Kimball, who has served as vice chairman of the board, owns and manages a 4,000-acre farm and stocker cattle operation in Sherman County. He has served as president of the Stratford Independent School Board and Stratford Hospital Board. He also has served on the Sherman County Economic Development Board, Sherman County Livestock Show Board, Sherman County Soil and Conservation Board and the Sherman County Appraisal Board. Kimball has a BBA with a major in finance from Kansas State University.



Crenwelge operates agricultural and investment properties in Central and West Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 1981. He subsequently earned his MBA from Texas A&M University in 1985 and became a real estate broker and investor, owning ranches, commercial real estate and residential development properties. Crenwelge is currently a trustee of Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg. He also continues to remain active in the Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Boerne and Comfort Chambers of Commerce.



In an outgoing speech to the board, Malazzo reflected on CFCs remarkable growth over the past five years. Highlights of his term as chairman, he said, included hiring CFC president and CEO Jeff Norte, and the opening of a new headquarters in Bryan-College Station, which he said has marked a new era for CFC.



The Board of Directors of Capital Farm Credit is composed of experienced leaders in agriculture and rural industries throughout Texas. Their collective expertise and insight ensure that the cooperative remains strong, member-focused and aligned with Capital Farm Credits mission to support agriculture and rural communities.

Attachments
Phoenix, Arizona , Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brigitte De Marco Art, an Arizona-based visual arts company, is announcing a strategic expansion into large-scale murals and live painting installations. This evolution reflects the growing impact of the companys community-centered brand, Prickle & Pine Designs, which continues to bring immersive art experiences to public and commercial spaces across the state.





Brigitte finds endless inspiration in the Arizona desert, transforming its beauty into vibrant, expressive portrayals of the landscape.

Founded by artist and former art educator Brigitte De Marco, the company draws creative inspiration from the Arizona desert, transforming its landscapes into vivid, movement-rich works. Known for expressive brush strokes and colorful energy, Brigitte De Marco Art brings attention to the often-overlooked beauty of the Southwest.

Known for her vibrant use of color, engaging movement, and expressive brush strokes, De Marco's art captures a unique beauty of the southwest with the perspective that even "ordinary" landscapes are enchanting. She aims to inspire a deeper appreciation for Arizona's diverse landscapes. Her recent projects include:

Monarch Hotel, Historic Scottsdale: A vivid mural portrayal of Arizona's natural beauty and unique botanicals, enhancing the hotel's ambiance.

Desert Thunder Elementary, Goodyear:An educational mural fostering creativity and learning among students.

Mobile Mural for Keep it Non-Toxic Candle Bar: An innovative mural painted on a custom trailer for a local candle company.

In addition to her personal artistic endeavors, De Marco collaborates with small businesses across Arizona including local coffee shops, breweries, and boutiques. She also provides design expertise to entities such as Freaky Foot Tours, Arizona's premier ghost tour company, and Weird & Wild West, an eccentric southwestern meets sci fi merch brand. Brigitte also lent her artistic and education knowlege to helping build out a brand new Mural Tour in Flagstaff Arizona. These partnerships reflect her commitment to enriching the cultural tapestry of Arizona through art, as well as her passion for supporting small businesses.

Prickle & Pine Designs continues to thrive, offering engaging paint and sip events in collaboration with local establishments and showcasing handmade art at regional markets. This not only brings art into the community but also supports local businesses, fostering vibrant and creative spaces for people to learn and enjoy art.

"My passion lies not only in creating art that invites viewers to see the magic in the natural world, but also in sharing my perspective and artistic methods with people who are also captivated by color and the enchanting landscape of the southwest."

For more information about Brigitte De Marco's artwork and upcoming projects, visit Brigitte De Marco's website. To explore Prickle & Pine Designs' offerings, including event bookings and available artworks, visit Prickle & Pine Designs.

About Brigitte De Marco Art



Brigitte De Marco Art is an Arizona-based visual arts company specializing in vibrant, movement-rich works that celebrate the natural beauty of the Southwest. Founded by artist and former educator Brigitte De Marco, the company creates large-scale murals, commissioned pieces, and leads community art initiatives through its creative branch, Prickle & Pine Designs.





One of Brigitte's more recent works is a mural on a custom trailer. The project, commissioned by a local candle company, required specialized paint and took a week to complete.



Press inquiries

Brigitte De Marco Art

https://brigittedemarco.com/

Brigitte De Marco

brigittedemarco@gmail.com






BOSTON, MA, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "At the 50th gathering of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) https://www.ncsl.org/events/2025-summit here, advanced engines and renewable fuels are in the spotlight as sustainable solutions for power and mobility. Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Engine Technology Forum issued the following statement:

We are excited to meet the nations top legislators here at this pivotal time. States have long played leadership roles in advancing both local and national objectives that advance our economy, ensure affordable and abundant energy options and enhance our mobility.

The ETF will host state legislators in Booth # 1057 in the Exhibit Hall at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, open from 10am to 4pm August 4 and 9am to 2 pm August 5. We are pleased to have representatives from several of our member companies joining us including Cummins, Johnson Matthey, Volvo Group and Clean Fuels Alliance America.

Our industry representatives are prepared to discuss the full range of issues and challenges facing state legislators today including issues like low carbon fuel standards, data centers and backup power systems, off road construction and farm equipment, clean heavy-duty trucks, emissions tampering and right to repair legislation, and port-related issues.

The challenges we face today are complex, from ensuring progress on sustainability and environmental goals to establishing the United States as the global leader in Artificial Intelligence. We face these challenges together, seeking all solutions and options, from electrification, hybrids and advanced engines using renewable fuels.

Across the board from farm tractors and highway trucks to the largest emergency standby generators and marine workboats, advanced engines now achieve near-zero emissions. Virtually every engine type and use case can utilize renewable biofuels that reduce emissions by anywhere from 50 to 75 percent.

"Well be discussing these issues in a creative game-show format The Fast and the Curious, taking place at Learning Hub #2 on Tuesday August 5 starting at 1:30pm.

In addition to providing some sweet treats and other fun giveaways, we look forward to hearing from state legislators about their concerns and needs for solutions."

For more information visit: https://enginetechforum.org/about-us

About the Engine Technology Forum

Founded on the principles of fact-based education, science, outreach and collaboration, the Engine Technology Forum is dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of the benefits of advanced engines and the fuels that they use, as well as how these contribute to a sustainable future. Sign up for our digital newsletter and connect with us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

####
New York, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

A growing wave of public interest is focused on a new collagen breakthrough developed by German researchers in 2025. Known as the Fibroblast Reactivation Protocol, this technology is featured in Revival Points Total Collagen Boost  a supplement formula thats positioned to align with surging demand for non-surgical, ingredient-first skin revitalization. The formulation has attracted attention on Reddit and TikTok, especially among women over 50 seeking smoother skin, reduced crepey texture, and renewed firmness. This shift marks a key trend in the evolving skin longevity and performance wellness market.

TL;DR

Revival Points Total Collagen Boost is attracting major 2025 attention due to a patented German breakthrough involving fibroblast reactivation  the cells that produce collagen, elastin, and other age-related skin proteins. This trend report explores how public curiosity around non-surgical skin rejuvenation is rising, what Fibroboost Activators are, and how this formula is aligned with demand for visibly firmer, smoother, more hydrated skin  especially among women over 50. Clinical evidence, user-reported changes, and social media trends are all pointing to a major movement in skin wellness without clinical intervention.

To explore the full formulation now, visit the official product page here:

Explore the Full Total Collagen Boost Formula

WHY INTEREST IN FIBROBLAST ACTIVATION IS SURGING IN 2025

Across TikTok, Reddit, and wellness newsletters, one phrase is being searched, shared, and questioned more than ever before: fibroblast activation. While previously confined to dermatology textbooks and niche skincare communities, this scientific term has made its way into the mainstream. In 2025, Google Trends shows a steep rise in searches related to how to reactivate fibroblasts, collagen production in aging skin, and fibroblast supplements for wrinkles.

This isnt just an isolated spike. Its part of a broader consumer shift away from conventional topical routines and toward internal solutions that address deeper layers of skin biology. The growing popularity of ingredient-first wellness has brought long-overlooked cellular processes into the spotlight  and fibroblasts are now at the center of it.

Anecdotally, creators on TikTok and Reddit forums like r/SkincareAddiction and r/Biohackers are unpacking this concept in bite-sized explainers. The tone isnt hype-heavy  its often one of genuine inquiry: Why do some people seem to age more rapidly? Can fibroblasts be woken up? Is collagen decline inevitable, or can the body be nudged into producing more of it?

These conversations rarely promise results. Instead, they spotlight whats missing in traditional skincare and what might be possible with better cellular support. And in doing so, theyve made fibroblast health one of the most talked-about anti-aging search terms of the year.

This rising awareness is fueled not by brands but by communities of women over 50 who are actively seeking better answers. Theyre not only talking about what isnt working  serums, creams, high-cost procedures  theyre also beginning to explore new ingredient pathways that speak to deeper biological processes.

Fibroblasts, it seems, have gone from being background players in skin science to front-and-center stars of the anti-aging discussion  and the market is quickly catching up.

TOTAL COLLAGEN BOOSTS INGREDIENT-FIRST RESPONSE TO THESE TRENDS

As public curiosity shifts toward deeper skin biology and ingredient transparency, Revival Points Total Collagen Boost stands out by focusing on exactly whats inside  and whats left out. Rather than following the crowded market of topical skincare or one-size-fits-all collagen blends, the formula was built to match rising demand for clinically-studied, bioavailable, and minimally-processed skin support solutions.

The development team behind Total Collagen Boost placed a strong emphasis on rethinking how skin supplements are made. Instead of simply adding more collagen, the focus turned to what might encourage the body to start producing more of it  particularly in people experiencing visible age-related skin changes. That question led to a detailed evaluation of fibroblasts, the cells responsible for collagen production, and how they function as we age.

The formulation avoids sugar, artificial sweeteners, fillers, or synthetic preservatives  a design decision made in response to increasing consumer concern about how ingredients might impact hormonal health, inflammation, or skin sensitivity. The clean label is more than a marketing feature  it reflects a broader trend in the supplement world toward stripped-down, evidence-supported formulation strategies.

Total Collagen Boost includes a precise 2.5 gram daily dose  the exact amount studied in clinical research behind its flagship ingredient. This design choice aligns with the new consumer priority: clinically aligned, minimalist formulations that focus on key outcomes without overloading the system with unnecessary compounds.

The delivery format also reflects current market preferences. Offered as a flavorless, rapidly dissolving powdered drink mix, it fits seamlessly into daily rituals like morning coffee, smoothies, or plain water  a reflection of how wellness routines are shifting toward flexibility, discretion, and personalization.

From ingredient sourcing to delivery method, Total Collagen Boost is built around emerging expectations  not just for results, but for transparency, usability, and design intelligence.

INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT  WHATS INSIDE THE FORMULA

At the core of Total Collagen Boost is a short list of carefully selected ingredients  each included not because of trends, but because of the rising volume of conversation and documented clinical interest surrounding their properties. These ingredients arent positioned to treat skin conditions. Instead, they are explored in the context of how aging skin changes over time, and what role certain compounds may play in that shift.

Verisol Bioactive Collagen Peptides have become one of the most frequently discussed compounds in collagen-focused discussions over the past several years. This patented ingredient, engineered to deliver peptides at a size small enough to reach the dermal layer, has been historically associated with fibroblast stimulation and collagen synthesis  two functions often referenced in age-related skin support research.

These peptides are known for their high bioavailability and low-dose efficiency. In fact, clinical interest in Verisol has grown due to its usage in human trials where as little as 2.5 grams daily  the same dose used in Total Collagen Boost  was explored for its ability to influence skin appearance and elasticity over a period of several weeks.

Amicogen High Tripeptide Marine Collagen is another key inclusion. Derived from marine sources, this ingredient is often explored in wellness circles for its unique amino acid profile. Emerging analysis has focused on its potential role in oxidative stress resilience, especially within dermal fibroblast populations  an area gaining attention as oxidative damage is frequently cited as a contributor to premature skin aging.

Hyaluronic Acid, sometimes called the moisture molecule, is included in Total Collagen Boost not just for its hydrating association, but for its emerging role in inside-out skin barrier reinforcement. While often applied topically, internal usage is gaining traction based on recent studies showing improved moisture retention and visible skin plumpness when consumed orally. Its inclusion at 200 mg aligns with these observational studies and positions the formula within the hydration-first skin support movement.

To support simplicity and ingredient integrity, the formula contains no artificial sweeteners, no sugar, and no unnecessary fillers. This allows for clean integration into daily routines  a growing preference among women who want clinically aligned solutions without overcomplication or synthetic interference.

For a complete look at how each ingredient contributes to skin support, and how theyve been studied in real-world settings, you can review the full formulation here:

Explore the Full Total Collagen Boost Formula

WHAT REDDIT, PODCASTS & TIKTOK CREATORS ARE SAYING

Across social platforms in 2025, conversations about skin health are evolving  and fibroblast reactivation has quietly become a standout topic. On TikTok, creators in the beauty and wellness space are exploring what they call internal skin solutions and collagen from within. These posts often feature day-by-day skin journaling or minimalist supplement stacks, with a growing number centered around ingredients linked to collagen production and skin elasticity.

Reddit forums like r/SkincareAddiction and r/AntiAging are documenting a clear shift as well. In place of product reviews alone, many threads now focus on whats missing from traditional routines  specifically, why topical solutions may not address the structural changes that occur beneath the surface of the skin. Fibroblasts, which were once buried deep in medical literature, are now being casually discussed in public forums, often alongside terms like dormant cells, collagen loss, and skin architecture.

Podcast hosts in the longevity and biohacking spaces are also weighing in. On several recent episodes, dermatologists and wellness researchers have discussed the potential relevance of fibroblast stimulation, highlighting it as one of the more intriguing paths for long-term skin rejuvenation support. While these discussions never position supplements as solutions, they do reflect a broader curiosity around how internal systems  rather than external products  influence visible aging.

The key throughline across these channels isnt hype or aggressive claims. Instead, its inquiry. Audiences are asking what can be done proactively, what works differently, and whats worth exploring in an oversaturated anti-aging landscape.

To see how one formula aligns with these curiosity-driven trends, visit the official product overview here:

Discover the Formulation Behind Total Collagen Boost

WHO MIGHT BE DRAWN TO THIS TYPE OF SUPPLEMENTATION IN 2025

The women exploring ingredient-first skin supplementation in 2025 arent necessarily looking for shortcuts  theyre looking for control. Many are professionals, caregivers, and wellness-aware individuals who feel youthful on the inside but increasingly frustrated by external signs of aging that dont reflect that inner energy. For them, the goal isnt to look young, but to align their appearance with how they feel.

A rising theme among this group is self-guided discovery. Whether through online forums, podcasts, or YouTube deep dives, theyre actively researching biological processes like collagen breakdown, oxidative stress, and fibroblast decline. What they want isnt marketing  its explanations. They want to know how things work, why they change, and what options might be available outside of cosmetic procedures.

Theres also a growing group of bio-curious consumers who view the skin as an indicator of overall wellness. These are the early adopters of clean beauty, adaptogen blends, and hormone-aware routines  people who believe that visible changes in skin texture, firmness, or hydration are signals worth understanding, not just concealing.

In addition, social proof is a strong motivator. Women over 50 are especially responsive to first-hand experiences shared by people like them. When they hear someone in a similar life stage talk about discovering a formula that fits easily into their lifestyle  no harsh ingredients, no complicated routine  they lean in. Its not about a miracle product. Its about finding something that respects their intelligence and time.

What draws people to Total Collagen Boost isnt just the promise of smoother skin. Its the feeling that theyve found a formula that matches their priorities  clean ingredients, clinical alignment, and a refreshing lack of fluff.

For a detailed overview of the formula thats gaining attention in these wellness-minded communities, visit:

Learn More About Total Collagen Boost

EMERGING WELLNESS & PERFORMANCE INNOVATION  2025 MARKET REFLECTIONS

A noticeable shift is happening in the wellness and beauty industries. Consumers in 2025 are no longer satisfied with surface-level solutions or vague brand promises. Instead, theyre gravitating toward performance-based wellness  formulas and routines designed to align with deeper biological processes, not just appearance alone. And skin, often seen as a cosmetic issue, is now being reframed as a reflection of internal systems.

This redefinition is showing up across multiple verticals. In supplements, collagen-based products with clinical sourcing are now outperforming topical serums in consumer trust surveys. In skincare, ingredient transparency is no longer a bonus  its a requirement. Consumers want to know whats inside, where it comes from, and what research supports its inclusion.

At the same time, the personalization of beauty has become a major theme. Women over 50, in particular, are steering away from one-size-fits-all solutions and instead looking for options that fit their daily habits and long-term values. Theyre less concerned with fads and more focused on longevity, resilience, and well-being  concepts once reserved for fitness or brain health that are now being applied to skin support as well.

Total Collagen Boost reflects this evolution. Its formulation responds not just to a cosmetic concern, but to the deeper trend of restoring the body's own capacity to maintain structural proteins like collagen and elastin. By using clinically referenced dosages and avoiding unnecessary additives, it fits into a larger category of wellness solutions designed for internal performance, not just external presentation.

This movement isnt about anti-aging. Its about proactive aging  finding ways to maintain vibrancy, elasticity, and energy in a world where stress, environment, and time are constant factors. For many, formulas like this represent a new era in beauty: one that respects biology and invites users to partner with their bodies, not fight them.

To explore how this ingredient-first, performance-focused formula fits into the 2025 wellness landscape, visit:

View the Full Total Collagen Boost Ingredient Profile

THE PUBLIC DEBATE AROUND COLLAGEN, FIBROBLASTS, AND INGREDIENT SATURATION

As the wellness industry continues to spotlight collagen-focused products, a growing conversation is taking shape  not just about what works, but about whats real. In 2025, the discussion surrounding fibroblast activation and collagen restoration is evolving beyond trend cycles. Public forums, dermatology Q&As, and health-conscious subreddits are surfacing questions that go deeper than marketing language or product promises.

Some see this shift as a sign of progress. They view the growing popularity of clinically aligned ingredients as a welcome departure from unregulated, claims-heavy cosmetic routines. To them, the introduction of research-backed compounds like bioactive peptides and orally consumed hyaluronic acid reflects a smarter approach to skin wellness  one that prioritizes science over surface.

Others question the validity of the hype. Skeptics point out that many collagen products lack standardization or make sweeping statements without clinical backing. Theres a concern about saturation  with new products launching weekly, the line between innovation and oversell can become blurred. These voices urge consumers to be cautious, to verify claims, and to remember that natural doesnt always mean effective.

A recurring topic is whether internal supplementation can truly influence external appearance. Neutral observers  often dermatologists or science communicators  suggest the answer is highly individualized. They cite the importance of clinical design, ingredient source, and delivery format, and often recommend that consumers look for brands that prioritize full transparency and third-party testing.

The discourse itself signals a more informed consumer base  one thats asking harder questions and expecting deeper answers. While consensus may not exist around every product or method, there is widespread agreement that collagen, fibroblasts, and skin cell function are no longer fringe topics. Theyre now central to how people think about visible aging, overall wellness, and how the two intersect.

To see how one formula is positioned within this evolving conversation, you can explore the details here:

Learn More About Total Collagen Boosts Approach

ABOUT REVIVAL POINT

Revival Point was founded with a clear purpose: to develop supplement formulations grounded in transparency, ingredient integrity, and science-driven design. Based in San Antonio, the company has built its reputation around a core principle  that consumers deserve to know exactly what theyre putting into their bodies, and why each ingredient was selected.

Rather than follow trends, Revival Point prioritizes sourcing clinically referenced ingredients and formulating with precision. Their process emphasizes clean-label standards, third-party testing, and alignment with emerging scientific consensus  especially when it comes to the intersection of skin health and internal wellness.

The team behind Revival Point includes formulators, researchers, and medical advisors who share a common goal: to bring high-quality, research-backed ingredients to market in formats that fit into real life. From packaging to production, each decision is made with quality, consistency, and long-term consumer trust in mind.

While the company does not make medical claims or promise results, it remains focused on contributing to the broader conversation around healthy aging, ingredient awareness, and the evolving role of supplementation in daily well-being.

To review the full details of the formula featured in this report, including ingredient sourcing and dosage structure, visit:

Explore Total Collagen Boost by Revival Point

CONTACT

Company: Revival Point Total Collagen Boost

Revival Point Total Collagen Boost Email: help@revivalpoint.com

help@revivalpoint.com Phone: 1-855-828-2772

1-855-828-2772 Website: https://revivalpoint.com

FINAL DISCLAIMER

This press release is for informational purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Total Collagen Boost is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement, routine, or health program.

Some links in this release may be promotional in nature and may lead to third-party websites. The publisher or author may receive compensation through affiliate commissions if a purchase is made through these links. This compensation does not affect the price you pay and helps support continued research and content publication. Results described or implied may not be typical and should not be interpreted as guarantees.

Statements made about ingredients or outcomes reflect public discussion and historical usage only, and are not endorsed by medical professionals or regulatory agencies. Always do your own research and make informed decisions.
NEW YORK, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of National Grid plc (NYSE: NGG) resulting from allegations that National Grid plc may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased National Grid securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=41344 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On July 2, 2025, Reuters published an article entitled Preventable National Grid failures led to Heathrow fire, findings say. The article stated that a fire that shut Londons Heathrow airport in March, stranding thousands of people, was caused by the UK power grids failure to maintain an electricity substation, an official report said on Wednesday, prompting the energy watchdog to open a probe. Further, the article stated that the United Kingdoms Energy minister, Ed Miliband, had called the report deeply concerning, after it concluded that the issue which caused the fire was identified seven years ago but went unaddressed by power grid operator National Grid[.]

On this news, National Grids American Depositary Shares (ADSs) fell 5%, on July 2, 2024.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

_______________________



Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
Phoenix, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Newborn Care Solutions Agency is dedicated to providing families with the postpartum support they need through experienced professionals. Good care during a child's early days is key for both parents and newborns. This agency links families with specialists who focus on newborn care. Visit their website for more detailed information about their services.

Services for postpartum doula Phoenix AZ are becoming more recognized for their role in helping new parents. These services give parents a chance to bond with their baby while getting help with daily tasks. The Newborn Care Solutions Agency knows that each family has unique needs, and their personalized services are designed to meet those needs.

"Bringing a new baby home is a time of joy and challenge," says the CEO of The Newborn Care Solutions Agency. "Our agency provides skilled postpartum doulas ready to help families through this life change. We aim to make the transition smooth so parents can concentrate on their new role."

As a trusted postpartum doula agency, this company offers a variety of services to support different parts of postpartum care. This includes emotional help, infant care, and guidance on routines. A postpartum doula helps parents recover and adjust at their pace while ensuring they have dependable support.

The agency stresses the value of hiring skilled professionals who love helping families. Their doulas are experienced and show a deep commitment to caring for families. Every professional is chosen based on their ability to offer not just practical help but also emotional support to new parents.

The Newborn Care Solutions Agency is well-regarded for its dedicated services among families in Phoenix, AZ, and beyond. As more people see the benefits of postpartum support, the agency keeps expanding its services, making sure more families can access these needed services.

Providing postpartum doula Phoenix AZ services is about more than just helping with tasks; it's about positively impacting new families' lives. The agency also provides educational resources for parents to feel prepared and confident. These resources aim to equip parents with the knowledge they need to raise their children effectively, which can also be found on their website.

Knowing the importance of having a postpartum doula agency like The Newborn Care Solutions Agency is critical during this period. Families often feel overwhelmed after bringing home a baby, and having professional help can make a big difference. The agency is committed to being a reliable support system for parents in this new life stage.

An agency representative states, "Our mission is to offer families the care and guidance they need right from the start. We strive to create a support system that allows parents to feel secure and steady on their journey."

As the interest in postpartum doula services increases, The Newborn Care Solutions Agency remains focused on providing expert care to families. Their dedication to assisting parents during the early stages of their child's life demonstrates their commitment to improving the well-being of both parents and newborns.

With an emphasis on personalized care and expert guidance, The Newborn Care Solutions Agency continues to significantly impact the community. Their support for families, in whatever way possible, highlights the important role of postpartum care in the journey of parenthood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d14UQgvIDbg

By offering extensive services tailored to each family's needs, The Newborn Care Solutions Agency stands as a trusted choice for families seeking reliable postpartum support. The agency's striving for excellence ensures every family receives the best care during this critical time in their lives. For more details on their bespoke agency process and candidate screening, visit their website.

###

For more information about The Newborn Care Solutions Agency, contact the company here:



The Newborn Care Solutions Agency

Tonya Sakowicz

602-695-6775

agency@newborncaresolutions.com

Phoenix, Arizona, 85028
Kelowna, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EndoDiagnosis is changing the landscape of women's healthcare with its new role as the sole distributor in Canada for the ENDOSURE Tier 1 diagnostic test for endometriosis. This new diagnostic tool marks a significant shift in how endometriosis is detected and managed, cutting down the average diagnosis time from over eight years to just 30 minutes.

In the past, diagnosing endometriosis required invasive laparoscopic surgery. This often meant that patients endured years of pain and a lower quality of life without a proper diagnosis. The ENDOSURE test offers a non-invasive option, boasting 99% accuracy in detecting all stages of the disease in less than an hour. This bypasses the need for surgical procedures. Learn more about EndoDiagnosis and what they offer by visiting their website.

This development is crucial for addressing a major gap in healthcare. Women suffering from endometriosis symptoms frequently face challenges in receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment. By providing a quick and effective diagnostic tool, ENDOSURE helps healthcare providers make faster, more informed decisions, improving care for those impacted by this chronic illness.

Maria Porcellato, CEO of EndoDiagnosis, stated, "We have seen the desperation in patients, clients, and even our own daughters that comes with undiagnosed endometriosis. Our mission centers on empowering both patients and healthcare teams with the decision-support tools they need to make informed decisions about healthcare."

The ENDOSURE Tier 1 test is designed for women of any age and provides results on the spot without the need for referrals or lab work. Its non-invasive nature not only spares patients from unnecessary surgical procedures but also enables healthcare professionals to concentrate on therapeutic strategies to manage the disease, preserving both quality of life and fertility.

EndoDiagnosis is not just distributing this advanced technology but is also dedicated to ensuring its successful use in clinics throughout Canada. The company offers training and certification for healthcare providers, professional medical education, and awareness programs, along with a provider directory to help patients find testing centers.

This initiative places Canada at the forefront of endometriosis care, allowing healthcare professionals to offer their patients both clarity and hope. Carolyn Plican, COO of EndoDiagnosis, stressed the importance of this development, commenting, "This partnership represents more than a business agreement  it's about validating women's experiences and providing the answers they desperately need. When patients understand the root cause of their symptoms, it reduces stress, creates closure, and empowers them to move forward with effective treatment strategies."

The ENDOSURE test is ready for immediate use by Canadian clinicians. Healthcare providers interested in adopting this test can contact EndoDiagnosis for details about installation, training, and certification opportunities. To further support education and awareness, EndoDiagnosis has launched the "Endometriosis A to Z" podcast, which addresses all ages and stages of the disease, aiming to educate and empower its audience. Through this comprehensive resource, individuals can stay informed about endometriosis and its management.

https://vimeo.com/1104922335

EndoDiagnosis Inc. stands as the exclusive Canadian distributor of ENDOSURE, a non-invasive diagnostic test authorized by Health Canada that aids in the faster and more accurate diagnosis of endometriosis. Guided by a team of physicians and pharmacists, EndoDiagnosis is devoted to advancing women's health through innovative, science-based diagnostics and restorative reproductive care.

###

For more information about EndoDiagnosis Inc., contact the company here:



EndoDiagnosis Inc.

Carolyn Plican

1-833-439-3636

info@endodiagnosis.com

6903 142 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5C 2P1
ENGLEWOOD, CO, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods LLC, is proud to announce its first international contract for the FIREHAWK helicopter, following a groundbreaking agreement with the Colombian Air Force. This contract marks a significant milestone in the global recognition of the FIREHAWK as a premier aerial firefighting and emergency response asset.

Under this agreement, United Rotorcraft will be converting 2 legacy UH-60L Black Hawks to the FIREHAWK configuration. This includes the installation of United Rotorcrafts exclusive high landing gear, a 1,000-gallon DART Aerospace composite belly tank, and an advanced avionics suite designed to improve situational awareness during mission-critical operations.

Colombia has a long-standing legacy of leadership in Black Hawk operations. The Colombian Air Force was the first international operator of the Black Hawk and the first to deploy an armed fleet. The Colombian National Police were the first law enforcement agency to operate the Black Hawk. With this new acquisition, the Colombian Air Force becomes the first international operator of the FIREHAWK helicopter.

Colombia has operated Black Hawk helicopters for 37 years, giving us highly experienced pilots and crewmembers trained specifically for firefighting missions, said General Luis Carlos Cordoba, Commander of the Colombian Air Force. This ensures the successful deployment and operation of the FIREHAWK in our country.

According to official data reported by WRadio on July 11, 2025, more than 7,300 wildfires were recorded in Colombia last year, affecting approximately 290,000 hectares (716,000 acres).

Wildfires have become a global phenomenon and a growing concern for communities across the world, said Larry Alexandre, President of United Rotorcraft. We are honored to introduce the FIREHAWK's unmatched capabilities to our first international customer and to deliver this life-saving asset to the Colombian Air Force as they strengthen their capacity to protect land, wildlife, and communities from the escalating threat of wildfires. The FIREHAWK has become a benchmark for public agencies across the US Western States, and we are convinced it will become equally popular and effective beyond the US borders, starting with Colombia

This effort was the result of a unique collaboration between the Colombian National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), the Colombian Air Force (FAC), and the Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation (CIAC).

The FIREHAWK is the worlds most powerful aerial firefighting platform, said Carlos Carrillo, Director of UNGRD. This technology will enhance emergency response capabilities in moorlands, jungles, savannas, coastal regions, and other hard-to-reach areas.

United Rotorcraft is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge aerial firefighting capabilities through innovation and global collaboration. The introduction of the FIREHAWK into international service represents a major advancement in global wildfire response efforts.

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About United Rotorcraft

United Rotorcraft is a leader in mission-critical helicopter completions and modifications, known for designing, manufacturing, and integrating mission-critical equipment for emergency response helicopters. With 30 years of experience in aviation solutions, the company specializes in custom completions for aerial firefighting, search and rescue, and HEMS.

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PERTH, Australia, Aug. 4, 2025 /CNW/ - Paladin Energy Ltd. (ASX: PDN) (TSX: PDN) (OTCQX: PALAF) ("Paladin" or the "Company") advises that it has released an investor presentation for the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum, which is available on the Company's website (https://www.paladinenergy.com.au/investors/asx-announcements/).

About Paladin

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX:PDN TSX: PDN OTCQX:PALAF) is a globally significant independent uranium producer with a 75% ownership of the world-class long life Langer Heinrich Mine located in Namibia. In late 2024 the Company acquired Fission Uranium Corp. in Canada, resulting in a dual-listing on the both the ASX and TSX. With the integration of Fission's operations, the Company now owns and operates an extensive portfolio of uranium development and exploration assets across Canada, which include the Patterson Lake South (PLS) project in Saskatchewan and the Michelin project in Newfoundland and Labrador. Paladin also owns uranium exploration assets in Australia. Through its Langer Heinrich Mine, Paladin is delivering a reliable uranium supply to major nuclear utilities around the world, positioning itself as a meaningful contributor to baseload energy provision in multiple countries and contributing to global decarbonisation.

SOURCE Paladin Energy Ltd
Vancouver, August 4, 2025 - Nuclear Vision Ltd. (CSE: NUKV) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the renewal of five core prospecting licenses by the Botswana Ministry of Minerals and Energy. These licenses are central to the Company's uranium exploration efforts within the "Karoo" basin and have each been extended for a two-year term, through to 2027.

The renewals reinforce the Government of Botswana's commitment to responsible mineral development and underscore the country's stability and support for uranium exploration. Nuclear Vision also holds two additional licenses not yet up for renewal.

With renewed tenure, the Company is set to advance its exploration initiatives, including geological modeling, geophysical surveys, and targeted drilling.

"We're immensely grateful to the Government of Botswana for their continued partnership and for renewing our prospecting licenses," said Derrick Dao, Chief Executive Officer of Nuclear Vision. "This endorsement not only reaffirms the stability and investor-friendly nature of Botswana's mining regime, but also empowers us to sustain the strong pace of our exploration campaigns. With these licenses in place, our team can accelerate drilling and technical studies, unlocking the substantial uranium resources we believe lie beneath its surface and delivering long-term value for our shareholders and the communities in which we operate."

The Company further thanks its highly experienced mining team for their diligent efforts in preparing and submitting the renewal applications well ahead of the deadline, ensuring all documentation met the required criteria for approval.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Derrick Dao

CEO

About Nuclear Vision Limited

Nuclear Vision Limited is an early-stage mineral resource exploration company. The Company holds the UA92 uranium project, consisting of 7 prospecting licenses totaling approximately 4,828km2 located in central Botswana. The Company also holds the Regnault Project located north-northeast of Chibougamau in the Province of Quebec.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260957
Horner's goal is F1 team ownership says Ecclestone

Christian Horner is still coming to terms with his sudden ousting from Red Bull, according to long-time friend Bernie Ecclestone - who says the former team boss might not return to Formula 1 at all.

Christian Horner, Miami GP 2025

 Red Bull

Former F1 supremo Ecclestone, 94, was in the paddock at the Hungarian GP and confirmed Horner remains rattled.

He's still in shock, Ecclestone said. "But he will gradually come to terms with it and see that there are other things to do in the world.

I made it clear to my friends there that they were too harsh with Christian. But they had no choice. They made a decision and carried it out.

Ecclestone also suggested Horner's deeper ambition may have been blocked, or at the heart of the problem.

"What he really wanted from Red Bull was a stake in the team, to be a part owner. Unless he finds someone willing to do that, I can't see him coming back.

I don't think Christian will return to Formula 1. He probably doesn't want to.

Horner has been loosely linked with Cadillac and Ferrari, but those doors appear closed - with Frederic Vasseur now staying at Maranello. The strongest rumour still in circulation is a possible Alpine buy-in, involving Ecclestone himself and Flavio Briatore.

Asked about the Alpine speculation, Ecclestone laughed: Lewis is more likely to win an eighth title than that.

One figure not mourning Horner's departure is McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who told De Telegraaf that F1 is in a better place without him.

I definitely think the competition is getting healthier now, Brown said. "Of course, there are always political aspects to this sport, but I think it sometimes went too far before.

Certain accusations about our car crossed a line, he added. "I'm looking forward to competing with and against Red Bull again, just as we do against Ferrari and Mercedes. On a more collegial level, that is.

I think that's important for the wellbeing of the sport, that we can all work together. That's not a given, but it is important when we're discussing certain topics. That we don't think: I'm going to use these things as a political weapon. I think we're all in a better position now.

Still, Brown isn't ruling out a Horner comeback: He's young, he's a driver, he's got a great CV.

(GMM)
Next article: Gambo remembers late Daddy Lumba in moving tribute at Davido's concert in America

Featured

2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation day climaxed at Assin Manso

Joana Kumi Showbiz News Aug - 04 - 2025 , 12:01 4 minutes read

The 2025 editions of the Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) and Emancipation Day celebrations have been climaxed with a gran durbar at Assin Manso in the Central Region, with powerful messages urging unity, accountability, and reparative justice for the African continent and its diaspora.

This years Emancipation celebration was marked under the theme: Community development through environmental sustainability and tourism, while PANAFEST was observed on the theme: Let us speak of reparative justice: Pan-African Artistic Activism.

The event brought together traditional leaders of the four traditional areas of Assin, government officials, members of the diaspora, and hundreds of Ghanaians to remember the painful history of slavery, reflected on the struggles of ancestors, and renew the commitment to Africas collective progress.

Cultural displays, including kete dances and Asafo company processions, added color and meaning to the event.

In her address, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, reminded the gathering that the legacy of slavery may have begun centuries ago, but its effects were still felt today in many unjust systems and global inequalities.

She noted that Ghanaians should not simply stand on the trauma of the past, but draw strength from it to speak boldly and demand change.

She cautioned against treating members of the diaspora as mere visitors, adding that doing so signaled a failure to fully reckoned with the realities of slavery.

We cannot act as if they do not belong. If they feel like visitors, it means slavery is still winning, she said.

Reparative justice

The Minister further emphasized the events role in pushing for reparative justice, including calls for official apologies and concrete actions to address historical wrongs.

The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, echoed the need for national reflection.

He stated that if Ghana wanted the African diaspora to return and reconnect with their roots, the country should improved its systems, manage state resources wisely, and create opportunities that would make people feel at home.

He urged the diaspora to not only return but to work, invest, and learn their cultural heritage while demanding accountability from state actors.

The Paramount Chief of the Apemanim Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Nkyi XIII, used Revelations 22:1-3 to reflect on the painful consequences of divisions in the past and called for unity among Ghanaians and Africans at large.

He urged pastors across the country to pray for peace and development and emphasized that traditional leaders should resolved conflicts through peaceful means, not hostility.

The Executive Director of the PANAFEST Foundation, Rabbi Kohain Nathanya Halevi, raised concerns about perceptions that locals were unwelcoming to the diaspora.

He stressed that Africa should take control of its destiny and urged Africans both on the continent and abroad to hold one another accountable while working toward healing and unity.

Before we heal the world, we must begin by healing ourselves and that healing must come with responsibility, he noted.

Environmental protection

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Assin South, Jonathan Birikorang, used the occasion to urge environmental protection as a key component of sustainable tourism.

He discouraged harmful practices such as illegal mining, deforestation, and river pollution, stating that the nations natural resources were not only a source of life but also potential attractions that could help reconnect Ghana with the diaspora.

African resilience

The Member of Parliament for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, highlighted the resilience of Africans despite the painful legacy of slavery.

He called for the establishment of a common cultural centre to promote deeper bonds between Ghanaians and the diaspora.

He also pointed out that about 75 per cent of castles used during the slave trade were located in Ghana, a reality that placed the country at the centre of global conversations about slavery, reparations, and historical accountability.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of Crown Forest and Royal Ambassador of Tourism in the Central region, Nana Owuraba Abetsen joined calls for preserving culture and promoting sustainable tourism as a tool for development and diaspora engagement.

He also advocated for the establishment of Royal College of African Studies at Assin Manso to serve as a centre for research, heritage, and reconnection.

Chiefs and dignitaries later moved to the ancestral grave yard where wreaths were laid on behalf of government and the people, the diasporan community, the youth of Africa and traditional rulers.

They also visited the riverside at Assin Manso, the Slave river, a significant site where captured ancestors took their last bath before traveling on foot to the slave castles to pour libation in remembrance of the suffering and strength of the ancestors.
Featured

Farmer accused of feeding women to pigs on trial in South Africa

BBC International News Aug - 04 - 2025 , 11:19 2 minutes read

A white South African farmer and his two employees accused of shooting dead two black women and feeding their bodies to pigs have gone on trial for their murders.

Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were allegedly looking for food on the farm near Polokwane in South Africa's northern Limpopo province last year when they were killed.

Their bodies were then alleged to have been given to pigs in an apparent attempt to dispose of the evidence.

Farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, and his employees Adrian de Wet, 19, and William Musora, 50, are yet to enter a plea and remain behind bars.

The case has sparked outrage across South Africa, exacerbating racial tensions in the country.

Such tension is especially rife in rural areas, despite the end of the racist system of apartheid more than 30 years ago. Most private farmland remains in the hands of the white minority, while most farm workers are black and poorly paid, fuelling resentment among the black population, while many white farmers complain of high crime rates.

The three men also face charges of attempted murder for shooting at Ms Ndlovu's husband, who was with the women at the farm - as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm and defeating the ends of justice.

Mr Musora, a Zimbabwean national, faces an additional charge under South Africa's Immigration Act over his status as an illegal immigrant.

As the trial was about to start, the Limpopo High Court was packed with supporters and relatives of the victims.

Members of opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters, which has previously called for the farm to be shut down, were also present in the courtroom.
Featured

Charred body, bloodied pestle, and cash trail: CID unravels Immigration Officers murder

Kweku Zurek Aug - 04 - 2025 , 11:22 2 minutes read

The prime suspect in the murder of Ghana Immigration Service officer Assistant Inspector Stephen King Amoah is scheduled to reappear before the Adabraka District Court on August 8, 2025, as police intensify investigations into the gruesome killing that has shocked the nation.

At a press briefing in Accra, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, detailed how the case unfolded following a missing person report filed on July 4.

Mr Amoah, affectionately known as Otumfuo Nana, was last seen on the night of July 3, after leaving his residence at Ashongman Estate to meet one Bright Aweh, also known as Robert or Highest Bright. The meeting was arranged following the receipt of WhatsApp images showing bundles of cash, allegedly to settle an outstanding debt.

According to the police, Aweh claimed he handed the deceased GH500,000, instructing him to use part to pay off debts and hold the rest. However, inconsistencies in Awehs account triggered suspicion. He was initially charged with kidnapping and arraigned before the Kwabenya Circuit Court on July 8.

The case took a grim turn the next day, when a severely burnt body was discovered in a gutter near the GBC Satellite, opposite Comet Estate in Accra. Despite the extent of the burns, the family identified the remains as those of Mr Amoah. Forensic investigations later confirmed the presence of human blood on multiple items retrieved from the suspects residence and nearby areas, including a bloodied fufu pestle wrapped in polythene and stained camouflage fabric.

On July 24, police secured a court warrant to search a room in Awehs house, where additional blood samples were collected. DNA samples from the deceaseds mother and son are being used to confirm the identity of the remains. Aweh was subsequently rearrested and formally charged with murder. He is currently on remand as police follow new leads and continue efforts to arrest possible accomplices.

Family members, dressed in red and black with inscriptions demanding Justice for Stephen King Amoah, attended the earlier court session and expressed frustration during the proceedings. A close friend of the deceased, Mr Gamel Abubakar, commended the police for their diligence, stating, We are hopeful that justice will be served.

The Ghana Police Service has assured the public that no effort will be spared in bringing all those responsible to justice.
Featured

CID sets up task force to trace stolen luxury vehicles cleared at Ghanas ports

Mohammed Ali Aug - 04 - 2025 , 12:01 2 minutes read

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has formed a specialised task force to investigate and seize high-end vehicles reported stolen abroad but cleared through Ghanas ports.

This was announced during a joint press conference in Accra on Monday, August 4, 2025, by the Director-General of the CID, Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor.

According to COP Donkor, between January and July 2025, the task force impounded six luxury vehicles stolen from Canada. These included four Toyota Tundras, one Toyota RAV4, and one Range Rover.

She said investigations were ongoing to determine how the vehicles were smuggled into Ghana. Some suspects, she explained, failed to complete rental agreements abroad, cutting off contact with the rental firms before shipping the vehicles.

Others used fake or stolen credit card details to acquire the vehicles through hire-purchase schemes, then disabled their tracking systems before exporting them.

COP Donkor stressed that paying customs duties in Ghana does not make a stolen vehicle legal.

She said the task forces operations were part of wider efforts to strengthen security and stop the illegal importation of stolen goods.

She added that the CID, working with Interpol Ghana, had recovered 43 stolen luxury vehicles between January and July this year. Eighteen of the vehicles have been marked for repatriation, with eight already returned to their countries of origin. The remaining ten are awaiting transfer.

COP Donkor urged vehicle importers to conduct thorough checks before bringing in vehicles from abroad. She warned that those who fail to do so risk losing their property and facing legal consequences.

The CID said the task force will continue to carry out intelligence-led operations and work with international agencies to tackle cross-border vehicle crime and protect Ghanas ports.
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Featured

2025 WASSCE starts today - 461,640 Candidates sit examination

Emmanuel Bonney Aug - 04 - 2025 , 10:41 3 minutes read

A total of 461,640 final-year senior high school (SHS) students across the country will take part in this years West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates (SCs).

They comprise 207,381 males and 254,259 females.

This years total number represents a 1,029 increase over last years figure of 460,611.

The exam begins today, with the project work in Basketry, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Jewellery and Leatherworks, among others, scheduled between today and Friday, August 22, 2025.

The 2025 WASSCE SCs will be the fourth batch of final-year candidates to take the Ghana Only Version of the WASSCE after the other four-member countries of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)  Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia  returned to the May/June calendar for WASSCE school candidates.

The new normal calendar for Ghana was occasioned by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia have since had their academic calendars streamlined to enable them to write the examination in May/June, but Ghana still sticks to the new normal calendar.

In all, candidates from 701 SHSs will be participating in the examination at 701 centres.

Each centre will be manned by 701 supervisors, 1,391 assistant supervisors and 15,391 invigilators.

Per the statistics made available to the Daily Graphic, the Ashanti Region will be presenting the highest number of candidates of 115,982, made up of 52,813 males and 63,169 females.

The Eastern Region follows with 64,225 candidates-- 28,024 males and 36,201 females.

Three regions  Bono, Ahafo and Bono East  have a total of 61,773 candidates (27,560 males and 34,213 females) participating in the WASSCE-SC.

The Central Region is next with 53,738 candidates, made up of 23,090 males and 30648 females.

A total of 45,877 candidates from the Greater Accra Region will take part in the WASSCE-SC, with a breakdown of 20,948 males and 24,929 females.

The Volta and Oti regions will present a total of 35,539 candidates, made up of 16,729 males and 18,810 females, while Western and Western North have 33,121 candidates, made up of 14,156 males and 18,965 females.

The Northern, North East and Savannah regions have a total of 29,652 candidates, comprised of 14,712 males and 14,940 females for the 2025 WASSCE-SC.

In the Upper East Region, 13,976 candidates of 5,918 males and 8,058 females will sit this years examination, with 7,757 candidates of 3,431 males and 4,326 females from the Upper West Region participating.

In a related development, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has released GH15,849,920 nationwide to cover the payment of the 2025 WASSCE practical fees for the candidates.

The move, according to the GES, was to ensure that all schools were adequately resourced for the practical examination.

A press statement signed and issued by the Head of Public Relations at the GES, Daniel Fenyi, explained that the funds would cover the provision of necessary materials and essential resources required to conduct the practicals smoothly.

The statement emphasised the governments commitment to reducing the financial burden on parents and guardians, while allowing students to concentrate fully on their preparation.

With the release of the funds, GES seeks to facilitate a smooth and well-coordinated examination process that enables students to focus on their academic work, while relieving parents and guardians of any such financial burden, the statement read.

The WASSCE starts on August 4, 2025, with the practicals.
Ashaiman Irrigation Scheme rehabilitation begins

Beatrice Laryea Aug - 04 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), through the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), has cut the sod for the rehabilitation of the Ashaiman Irrigation Scheme in the Greater Accra Region.

The project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), forms part of implementing the Rehabilitation of Irrigation Schemes and Improvement of Irrigation Water Management Project in Aveyime, Dawhenya and Ashaiman irrigation schemes.

It seeks to improve water availability, expand irrigable land and enhance the productivity and income of farmers, particularly those within the Aveyime, Dawhenya and Ashaiman irrigation schemes in the Volta and Greater Accra regions.

The Ashaiman project, which will be undertaken by a home-grown construction company, Fridoug Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, will include spillway channel works, a 50-metre reservoir, 2.2km canal maintenance road, 2.2km concrete-lined canal, 22 22-metre access bridges to link the right and left banks and a new rice processing warehouse.

Groundbreaking ceremony

The official groundbreaking ceremony at the Ashaiman Irrigation Scheme Office underscored the strong commitment of stakeholders to ensuring the successful completion and effective management of the project for the benefit of the people of Ashaiman and the nation as a whole.

The event brought together political figures, traditional leaders, representatives from MoFA, KOICA, GIDA, and farmers from the Ashaiman municipality.

Notable among the dignitaries were the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, Country Director for KOICA Ghana, Dong Hyun Lee, Project Management Consultant, Jon Seong, Reagent of Ashaiman, Nii Annang Adzor, CEO of GIDA, Eric Adu Dankwah, Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey and MCE for Ashaiman, Freeman Tsekpo.

In a statement, Mr Opoku highlighted President John Dramani Mahama's agenda to drive Ghana's economic growth through agriculture.

He said the President believed Ghanas vast agricultural potential, if supported by the right investments and policies, could increase farmer incomes, create youth employment, and ensure inclusive economic development.

To implement this vision, the minister said the government launched the Feed Ghana Programme in April, aiming to feed the population using locally produced food; supply raw materials to agro-processing industries, and create jobs across the agricultural value chain.

"In the wisdom of Mr President, our nation is endowed with huge agricultural potentials and so if we can make the right investment in agriculture and combine them with the right policies, we can significantly impact on incomes of our farmers, create gainful employment for our youth, and develop our economy from the scratch so that everybody, wherever you are located in this country, can be a participant as well as a beneficiary in the economic process," he said.

Irrigable land

He said a key focus is shifting from rain-dependent farming to irrigation-based agriculture aimed at ensuring year-round food production, reducing reliance on weather conditions and laying a strong foundation for agriculture to become the engine of Ghanas economic transformation.

The minister expressed worry that although the nation was blessed with irrigable land estimated at 1.9 million hectares, only 226,000 hectares were under irrigation and gave an assurance of the government's commitment to rehabilitate the existing irrigation infrastructure while building new ones.

KOICA's support

For his part, Mr Lee expressed pride in being part of the project, highlighting it as a symbol of the strong relationship between Ghana and Korea.

He pledged KOICA's continued support for initiatives that improved the livelihoods of the Ghanaian people across various sectors.

Inclusion

The Reagent of Ashaiman, Nii Annang Adzor, expressed concerns about the exclusion of local land custodians from the management of an agricultural irrigation scheme at Ashaiman.
Ghacem supports Tree for Life with GH1m

Daily Graphic Aug - 04 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

Cement manufacturer, Ghacem Ltd, has supported the governments reforestation initiative, Tree for Life, with GH1million.

The company said the donation came from GH1 for every bag of eco-friendly cement, Ghacem Eco Cool, sold up to one million bags.

The Managing Director of Ghacem, Dr Frank Huber, who announced the donation during a presentation at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, highlighted the companys dedication to green initiatives.

We are, therefore, happy to announce that for every Eco Cool bag sold, GH1 will go directly to the Tree for Life project, up to one million bags.

However, we are not waiting for sales, but we are here to provide the funds upfront so the tree planting can begin immediately, he said.

Our new cement product, the Ghacem Eco Cool, Ghanas first eco-friendly cement, symbolises this commitment, he added.

He said the product was designed to significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while maintaining the highest construction standards, making it the most sustainable product in the companys portfolio.

Dr Huber expressed the belief that its sustainability drive augmented the afforestation novelty by the government.

Ghacem, he reaffirmed, believed that industry must play a vital role in mitigating climate impact while promoting greener practices, and the partnership with the Ministry was part of the companys broader sustainability strategy aimed at reducing carbon footprints and contributing meaningfully to Ghanas environmental future.

Dr Huber was accompanied by the Commercial Director of Ghacem, Kwasi Kyere, and the Lead, Marketing and PR of Ghacem, Mr Frank Antwi Agyapong, to make the presentation.

Appreciation

Receiving the cheque, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, applauded Ghacems gesture, noting, We reached out to several organisations, and Ghacem is the first to respond in such a proactive and committed way.

This support places you in a different class of businesses in Ghana. Reforestation is critical for reversing the environmental degradation caused by activities such as construction, farming and illegal mining.

The government cannot do it alone, so we need private sector collaboration, and this partnership is a shining example.

The deputy minister further indicated the ministrys willingness to explore collaborations that encourage the use of eco-friendly construction materials in government projects, aligning public infrastructure development with environmental sustainability.

Also present to witness the donation ceremony were the acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Innocent Haligah; the CEO of Forestry Commission, Dr Hugh Brown, and the Technical Director, Forestry, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Joseph Osiakwan.

Context

President John Dramani Mahama launched the "Tree for Life" reforestation initiative in March this year, to restore seven million hectares of degraded land and plant 30 million trees nationwide.

The initiative is a key component of the government's broader efforts to combat environmental degradation, particularly the effects of illegal mining (galamsey), and promote sustainable land management.
GNAT must lead in shaping teachers growth  Abuakwa South MP

Ezekiel E. Sottie Aug - 04 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and other teacher-related organisations have been advised to lead in shaping the professional growth of teachers to enhance effective teaching and learning in order to produce quality manpower for the country.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Dr Kingsley Kwame Agyeman, gave the advice at the Eastern Regional GNAT 7th Quadrennial (54th) Regional Delegates Conference held at Kibi College of Education on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

We cannot leave the continuous development of teachers to occasional donor-funded projects. There must be a structured, national system that allows teachers to advance through learning, mentorship and innovation. GNAT and other teacher organisations can work with the National Teaching Council (NTC) to design frameworks that are not only fair, but future-oriented.

GNAT must take the lead in raising and enforcing professional standards.

When the union is seen not just as defender of its members, but as a guardian of public trust, it earns greater legitimacy, he said.

The two-day event, which included the election of new regional executives for the next four years, was on the theme: Educating an African fit for the 21st Century: The role of policymakers and the unions in Ghana.

The new executive included the Chairman, Patrick Boison; the Vice Chairman, Samuel Aboagye; the Treasurer, Berlinda Addobea Afari; a Trustee, Rev. Michael Appiah Oppong; the Basic Schools representative, Josephine Atuah; the Senior High/Senior High Technical Schools Representative, Bright Ackom, and the TVET Representative, Patience Agyeiwaa.

The rest are the Teachers Fund Representative, Roger Sunday Nyaaba; the National Executive Committee Representative, Sandra Donkor; the Youth Coordinator, Leonard Osei Danso Koranteng; the GNAT-Ladies Association (GNAT-LAS) Coordinator, Rita Blepo, and the Education and Administration Representative, Emmanuel Aboagye.

Expected conduct

The Abuakwa South MP, who was the guest speaker, expressed concern that in every profession some fell short of expected conduct, saying that if the union was silent in the face of misconduct, it had lost moral authority.

The GNAT, he said, must help define the gold standard for teacher behaviour, not just in legal documents, but in culture and reputation.

Let there be a GNAT Code of Honour. Let ethical excellence be as important as academic qualifications. Let the union be seen as the soul of the profession, not just its shield, Dr Agyeman emphasised.

He said teachers in Ghana were no longer confined to their district or national service post but should be part of a continental network, exchanging ideas with their peers in countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya, among others, discussing curriculum models, sharing lesson plans, debating on pedagogy and learning from one another.

The re-elected Regional Chairman, Patrick Boison, shared his thoughts on a number of issues bothering teachers in the region and the country as a whole, saying the 21st century demanded a new kind of African citizen who would be innovative, adaptable and globally competitive.

Our education system must prioritise critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity, rather than mere rote learning, he added.

The General Secretary GNAT, Thomas Tanko Musah, who was represented by the Head of IT at the GNAT Headquarters, Emmanuel Kwaboni, briefed the delegates on the issues on the labour front, minimum wage, promotion and placement, upgrading and junior ranks promotions, as well as replacement of service providers for GESOPS, among others, and assured them that the union was in serious discussions with their employer concerning their well-being.

The National President of GNAT, Rev. Isaac Owusu, said it was becoming very expensive to treat members of the association who suffered from various forms of cancer and, therefore, pleaded with them to increase the monthly contribution of GH5 per teacher to GH10 in their interest. 
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Featured

Greater Works 2025 opens today - Global gathering of faith, worship, divine impact

Daily Graphic Aug - 04 - 2025 , 10:25 4 minutes read

The Greater Works Conference 2025, the annual global conference of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), takes off today as all roads lead to the Christ Temple East at Teshie in the Greater Accra Region.

The global conference is expected to assemble thousands from across the country and other parts of the world for the annual spiritual convocation hosted by the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Mensa Otabil.

The five-day programme will run from Monday, August 4 to Friday, August 8, 2025, with two sessions every day.

The morning session begins at 9 a.m., while the evening sessions start at 5 p.m., with participants invited to encounter God afresh through teaching, worship, prophecy and impartation.

Global movement

In an exclusive interview, Pastor Otabil said the genesis of Greater Works was guidance from God received during days of prayer and fasting.

Greater Works started incidentally.

We used to have a month of prayer and fasting we called Spiritual Emphasis Month.

We would end it with one meeting, but over time, we noticed those final meetings were carrying such power and momentum; we decided to extend them.

Eventually, that extension became what is now known as Greater Works, he explained.

Dr Otabil said in a time where the world was seeking meaning and direction, people are hungry for spiritual depth and not shallow hype but real answers.

This, he said, the conference would offer to bring the needed transformation in the life of attendees.

Every year, Greater Works has served as a spiritual reset.

Following the just-ended 40 Days of Power, a month of fasting and prayer observed by ICGC and partner churches, Greater Works provides the culmination, clarity and commissioning that many seek.

Dr Otabil affirmed that faith is not automatic, even tiny actions lead to something big, challenging believers to act boldly on what they have received in 40 Days of Power.

Every edition of Greater Works has brought together some of the most seasoned teachers and prophetic voices of contemporary times.

Speakers lined up for this years event emphasise a blend of wisdom, experience, and the Spirits leading.

They include Bishop Tudor Bismark from Zimbabwe, an apostolic teacher known for his profound insights on leadership, kingdom economics, and spiritual transformation.

He is a long-time friend of the ICGC and a voice trusted across the globe.

Also attending is Bishop Mike Okonkwo from Nigeria, a veteran pastor and one of Nigerias most respected Bible expositors credited with building believers in the Word of God.

Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo from the UK and Nigeria, a bridge between continents and generations, is also expected to attend.

He is expected to bring a blend of prophetic insight and practical wisdom for life and business in the kingdom.

For the first time, Pastor Paul Adefarasin from Nigeria known for his eloquence, vision, and apostolic call is also expected to grace the conference.



Music ministers

Also ministering at the conference are Nathaniel Bassey, a trumpet-bearing psalmist from Nigeria.

Dunsin Oyekan, revered as The Eagle from Nigeria, is expected to bless participants with their gifts and anointing in song ministrations.

Ghanaian psalmists, Joe Mettle and Edwin Dadson, are also scheduled to minister during the Greater Works Conference.

Structure

The conference has maintained a dual-format structure to serve the diverse needs of attendees.

The morning sessions will offer biblical depth, leadership teaching, and strategic thinking ideal for entrepreneurs, professionals, and those seeking foundational understanding, while the evening sessions are designed for prophetic ministry, powerful worship, and Holy Spirit-led impartation.

The conference is intended to nourish both the mind and the spirit, equipping attendees to return to their families, careers, and communities with renewed power and perspective.

Free transportation

To make this years event even more accessible, ICGC has made bus arrangements at designated pick-up points across Accra and surrounding areas.

This free transportation initiative will ensure that anyone who desires to attend Greater Works can do so without transportation being a barrier, with the full details of pick-up times and locations provided on the ICGC social media pages and local assemblies.
Reciprocal trade tariffs to address trade imbalances  US Embassy

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Aug - 04 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read

The Charge dAffaires of the United States (US) Embassy in Ghana, Rolf Olson, said the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US government on various countries were part of a broader mechanism to address trade imbalances between the US and its trading partners.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Olson explained that President Donald Trumps administration was of the view that for too long, the US had an imbalanced trade relationship with several trading partners; hence the introduction of the new tariff regime.

What we mean by that is countries have very high tariffs on US imports, or what we call non-tariff barriers. So, they make it more difficult for the US to export its goods that it is known for and its quality is appreciated globally, the Charge dAffaires said.

Mr Olson indicated that the new tariff policy would help to reset and re-establish some of the existing trade relations because the US government believed that US companies were not getting the opportunities they needed.

Navigating through tariffs

The American diplomat indicated that about 60 countries had more than the minimum 10 per cent base tariffs imposed on Ghana and other countries due to their great trade relations with the US.

On navigating through the new tariff, the Charge dAffaires of the US Embassy in Ghana said there were discussions with Ghanaian authorities to consider easing tariffs on some imported US products.

What we have encouraged in our discussions with our Ghanaian counterparts is to consider areas where they can either reduce tariffs on US products or make it somewhat easier to import US products.

I won't go into any further detail than that, but that's what we've tried to ask them to consider because those are the things that the White House is looking at, he said.

He hinted that there could be new developments on the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US government.

I suspect that this is not the final word on this circumstance.

The President has tried to reset relations with many different countries, and of course, has already announced some deals.

I strongly suspect there will be more going forward.

So, I don't think this issue is concluded in any way. I don't want to get ahead of anything the White House is going to say, but if it's not resolved, then I think there's room for it to go one way or the other, he said.

Concerns, AGOA

He added that although concerns had been raised on the implications of the tariff, he expressed the belief that Ghana, with its very capable and resilient character, would navigate through.

Ghanaians have proven to be very resilient and creative people, and they can do wonderful things.

It has been shown that with its actions and its work under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has been in effect for 25 years now and has granted duty-free access to many different lines of products that Ghana has been able to export and has helped shape the Ghanaian economy.

I'm not worried about Ghana being able to survive in any set of circumstances. I think Ghana is well-positioned in that regard, he said.

Mr Olson also emphasised that although AGOA would expire at the end of September this year, its renewal was subject to new legislation in Congress and the Presidents assent to it.

The Charge dAffaires, however, stated that there had been more discussions on the reciprocal trade tariff, espoused by President Trump.

He also pointed out that a lot more intra-regional trade within Africa in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could overrule some bilateral interests and make it more complicated than having a preferential trading programme such as the AGOA.

Debt payment concerns

In recent comments from the Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Risch, expressing concerns over debt payment owed to American companies by the Ghanaian government, Mr Olson said that although the Senator had the right to express his views, his statement was not made on behalf of the US government.

Many US companies here are owed money for services already provided to the various parts of the Ghanaian government.

It is, indeed, a concern of ours because, of course, US companies can't thrive and can't provide the excellent service going forward if they're not paid for the services they've already provided, the US diplomat said.

Mr Olson said the US Embassy in Ghana and government officials in the US had held discussions on debt repayment, where they had been assured by Ghanaian authorities that they would fulfil their debt payment obligations.

They [Ghanaian authorities] have certainly given an assurance that the debts will be paid, and thats important.

They said they would keep their commitment on that, and we take them at their word for that, he said.
Featured

Ghana Police smash international car theft ring  Rolls-Royce, Benz, Porsche among 43 seized vehicles

Kweku Zurek Aug - 04 - 2025 , 10:46 3 minutes read

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has intensified its fight against transnational vehicle crime, recovering 43 high-value luxury vehicles stolen from abroad and brought into Ghana between January and July 2025.

The Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, at a press briefing today in Accra, disclosed that the recovery was the result of close collaboration between the CID, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and international partners, including Interpol, Digipol and the FBI.

We share intelligence on vehicles stolen abroad and imported into the country, as well as transnational organised criminal groups involved in the stolen motor vehicle trade and related crimes like money laundering, insurance fraud, identity theft, Visa card fraud, among other transnational crimes, she said.

The recovered vehicles; including Rolls-Royce, Audi, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz models, were stolen from countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Canada, the USA, Germany, Italy and France.

According to COP Donkor, investigations into the 43 vehicles have been concluded, with the courts ordering 18 of them to be repatriated to their countries of origin. Eight have already been repatriated, while 10 are pending repatriation. Cases on the remaining 25 are still pending in court, she revealed.

She stressed that the CID conducts thorough investigations for every impounded vehicle, giving importers the opportunity to prove ownership.

It is sad to note that in almost all the cases mentioned above, those who clear the vehicles in Ghana are unable to provide proof of ownership or purchase of the vehicles from the country of origin prior to their importation into Ghana. Let me indicate here that payment of customs duties in Ghana does not mean that the vehicle was legitimately acquired from the country of origin, she cautioned.

To strengthen the clampdown, the CID has established a special task force to conduct intelligence-led operations to impound suspected stolen vehicles. The task force has already seized six more vehicles, four Toyota Tundras, one Toyota RAV4 and one Range Rover, all stolen from Canada.

She explained that intelligence gathered revealed that criminals often use fake identities to rent vehicles, which they then ship abroad before defaulting on rental payments. Others disable tracking systems before smuggling vehicles into Ghana, while some use fraudulent credit card details to purchase cars on hire purchase before illegally exporting them.

Others also buy and import the luxurious vehicles as a way of laundering illicit profits, apart from the criminal acts like romance fraud and extortion. Sadly, some innocent citizens fall victim and purchase vehicles that have been stolen from abroad, COP Donkor lamented.

She advised the public to be vigilant when purchasing vehicles imported from abroad. I want to take this opportunity to advise all citizens who want to purchase vehicles, particularly those imported from abroad, to go beyond requesting for the customs documents and demand from the importers some proof of purchase or ownership of the vehicle prior to its importation into the country, she urged.
Next article: Why your tatoos, double piercing, bow legs, flat foot, knock legs will disqualify you from enlisting in the Ghana Armed Forces

Previous article: Govt rolls out Feed Ghana with 500 acres of maize, targets 2,000 acres by 2026

Featured

10,000 national service personnel to begin military training on August 31

Mohammed Ali Aug - 04 - 2025 , 17:28 2 minutes read

The first batch of 10,000 national service personnel selected for the pilot phase of the new military orientation programme will begin training on August 31, 2025.

The six-week basic military training, introduced in June 2025 by the National Service Authority (NSA), is voluntary. It forms part of efforts to promote discipline, civic responsibility, and patriotism among young graduates.

The programme was first announced in June 2025.

Addressing a press briefing dubbed "Government Accountability Series" on Monday [Aug 4], the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo said the initiative is being implemented in line with the National Service Act, 2024 (Act 1119), and falls within the policy direction of the new national service strategy.

He said the NSA was working with the Ghana Armed Forces to deliver the training.

This policy is not about the militarisation of service personnel, Mr Opare Addo said. It is about leadership, resilience, and civic responsibility.

The training will begin with two cohorts of 10,000 personnel. The programme is expected to expand to reach 100,000 in subsequent years.

The NSA has stated that participation in the programme will not affect service placements.

Those selected for the pilot will complete their training before being assigned to their user agencies. Final postings will take place after the training is completed.

Registration for the optional training was included in the online enrolment process, which opened on June 17 and closed on July 1, 2025.
Featured

Why your tatoos, double piercing, bow legs, flat foot, knock legs will disqualify you from enlisting in the Ghana Armed Forces

Jemima Okang Addae Aug - 04 - 2025 , 17:10 2 minutes read

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has been explaining several medical and physical conditions that disqualify applicants and serve as automatic disqualifications for applicants seeking enlistment in the military.

According to the Acting Director General of Public Relations, Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, individuals with knock knees, bow legs, flat foot, double piercings, or tattoos are not eligible to join the Armed Forces.

She said these features negatively impede training and performance as military personnel.

If you have knock legs, bow legs, flat foot, double piercing or tattoos, you do not qualify to join the Ghana Armed Forces, she stated in a television interview with TV3. [Watch attached video below]

Explaining the rationale behind the policy, Captain Arhin said that such physical features may negatively affect training and operational performance, hence the medical-based disqualification.

For instance, if you have flat foot, you cannot stand on parade for long hours. There are sensitive points under the feet, and a flat-footed person may collapse or pass out during training, she said.

She emphasised that although other military institutions across the world may accept individuals with tattoos or piercings, GAF operates under its own established policies and medical standards.

I believe every military has its set-down rules and policies, and these are the rules for the Ghana Armed Forces, she said when she was asked why some other countries allow tattoos in the military.
A man accused of trying to steal a $1,990 bag from DFS Guam in Tumon was released Monday on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.

Hongshen Shi, 27, was charged with retail theft as a second-degree felony.

At 1:20 p.m. Sunday, a worker in the store noticed the black Loewe brand shoulder bag was missing from the display shelves at the store. She notified store security, who reviewed surveillance footage and saw Shi walking around the store, holding the bag and placing it in a blue shoulder bag before leaving the store, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court.

Security checked the area and found him outside the main entrance near the crosswalk. They escorted him back into the store, recovered the item and called police.

If found guilty of the charge, Shi faces eight years in prison.




Haiti - FLASH : 9 people including a child kidnapped from an orphanage in Kenscoff





On Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, in Kenscoff, in the locality of Tete Bois-Pin, around 3:30 a.m., heavily armed individuals kidnapped nine people from the Sainte-Helene orphanage run by the organization "Nos Petits freres et soeurs" which houses approximately 270 children, including about fifty with disabilities.



The hostages included Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary in Haiti since 1993 and head of the section reserved for children with reduced mobility, seven Haitian employees, including a nurse, and a three-year-old child with disabilities, confirmed Masillon Jean, the acting Mayor of Kenscoff.



The Mayor explained "The kidnappers entered without firing a single shot, after breaching the orphanage's perimeter wall, and kidnapped the staff there, then left with their hostages [...]"



On Sunday morning, the kidnappers allowed Gena Heraty to call to confirm the kidnapping and provide updates.



No claim or ransom demand has been made at this time.



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Insecurity : Women and girls are the most affected by violence





The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns of the escalation of violence perpetrated by armed groups in the Artibonite, West, and Central departments of Haiti, which is severely affecting women and girls, who constitute the majority of those displaced since June. Essential services for them are also lacking.



Based on data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), OCHA reports that more than 45,000 people have been displaced since June, 55% of them women, in the Artibonite and Central departments alone. In total, nearly 240,000 people are now displaced in these two departments, with the humanitarian response remaining severely underfunded.



Only 8% of the nearly $29 million appeal launched by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been funded. Despite this, under the coordination of OCHA, UNFPA and its partners continue to provide assistance, and more than 12,600 people benefited from sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services between June and July.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Apple currently has a whole list of stores in its retail chain that are either being relocated, remodeled or even closed. For the first time, an Apple store in China is closing down. The reasons given in each case are local changes , including the fact that a shopping center in which the store is located has fewer visitors or it is apparently wiser for Apple to serve other markets in the vicinity. At the same time, there are also new openings: Apple may soon be coming to Saudi Arabia and wants to expand in India and the Emirates. In Germany, on the other hand, there has been no news of expansion for some time.

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Adjustments to market conditions

According to a current list published by Macrumors, a total of six Apple stores will be closed this year or at least closed for weeks or months due to renovations. The most prominent store affected is likely to be the one in Dalian, China. The aim here is to attract customers to a nearby store. "Various retailers have been withdrawn" from the mall in Dalian, which is why this decision was taken.

In August and October, stores in Bristol (UK), Michigan (Clinton Township, USA) and Hornsby (Australia) will also be closed. A store in Northbrook, Illinois, already closed in April. Stores in New York (Roosevelt Field), Texas (Baybrook), Florida (The Galleria) and Las Vegas (Forum Shops) are among those being remodeled. Stores in Pittsburgh (USA), The Hague (Netherlands), Shenzhen (China), Chatswood (Australia) and Detroit (USA) will be newly opened or reopened in August.

Management restructuring too

Apple's stores are now under the responsibility of Vanessa Trigub, who is in charge of "Worldwide Retail Store Operations". As Vice President, she is to relieve Deirdre O'Brien, the top boss in this area. She is "Senior Vice President Retail + People" and is considered a reliable bank for Apple, having been with the company for more than 30 years.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear how a possible German Apple retail expansion will proceed. There are currently 16 stores spread across the country, although there are a number of federal states (such as Rhineland-Palatinate, Bremen and Saxony-Anhalt) that do not yet have a store. The second Apple store was recently added in Berlin. There is still no sign of a store supposedly planned for Dortmund in 2025, and a third store in Munich is also not yet in sight.

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Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
On Monday, Italys competition authority AGCM imposed a 1 million fine on Shein for what it called vague, incomplete, or misleading claims regarding the environmental sustainability of its products.

Chinese-founded fast fashion retailer Shein has received two separate fines within a month for misleading environmental marketing, with penalties totalling over 41 million from authorities in Italy and France.

AGCM said the companys messaging around sustainability ranged from weak or overly generic to entirely absent or inaccurate. The authority concluded that Sheins marketing did not align with the actual environmental impact or recyclability of its products.

The Italian decision follows a much larger penalty issued in July, when French regulators fined Shein 40 million. That fine was based on what officials described as unfounded discount pricing claims and false or exaggerated claims about environmental responsibility.

In both cases, the company was found to have made inaccurate statements about the recyclability of its products. French authorities concluded that some claims were outright false, while others were misleading enough to confuse consumers about the environmental characteristics of the clothing.

AGCM also criticised Sheins internal recognition scheme known as evoluSHEIN, which grants accolades to supposedly sustainable products. In several cases, products awarded with this label were promoted as recyclable despite containing materials that cannot be recycled through standard methods.

Shein has not publicly responded to the Italian ruling. In previous statements, the company has denied intentional wrongdoing and pledged to improve its transparency.

The fines add pressure to a company already facing scrutiny from regulators and environmental groups over the volume, sourcing, and disposal impact of its ultra-fast production model.

HT
The 150 billion Security Action For Europe (SAFE) initiative, launched to coordinate and fund joint defence purchases across the bloc, could concentrate orders among Europes largest military contractors, leaving smaller companies in peripheral states at a disadvantage.

The EUs plan to jointly finance defence procurement may weaken the position of Finnish defence companies, a new report from the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (Etla) warns.

Whether Finnish companies benefit from joint procurement depends on their ability to deliver competitive products quickly, said Paivi Puonti, forecasting director at Etla.

She said the highly competitive structure of the new EU system is likely to benefit established defence manufacturers in larger countries. The risk is that in a highly competitive environment, large European players will strengthen their position while smaller ones lose ground, she said.

Finlands defence sector consists mainly of small and medium-sized firms. Unlike larger European countries such as France, Italy, and Germany, Finland lacks major transnational defence conglomerates with broad product lines and long export histories.

The SAFE programme was approved earlier this year and enables EU member states to take out loans backed by the bloc to co-finance defence orders. The scheme aims to harmonise weapons systems, lower costs, and increase the EUs defence production autonomy.

According to Puonti, the financial terms of the loans offer a disproportionately good deal for certain countries.

At the moment, the SAFE instrument offers attractive financing primarily to Italy, France, and Spain, she said. For many other countries, including Finland, similar investments would be more cost-effective through national financing.

Etla's report raises questions about whether joint procurement can realistically include the smaller firms that form the backbone of Finlands defence industry.

The institute said that to compete effectively under the new system, Finnish companies must adapt to tighter schedules and higher volume demands. Without support mechanisms or local prioritisation, they risk losing bids to multinational suppliers with greater capacity.

The report also cautioned that Finlands defence industrial base could erode over time if excluded from key joint projects, potentially weakening national supply security.

The Finnish government has yet to respond to the findings. No official evaluation has been published regarding Finlands participation in the SAFE scheme or how national firms will be integrated into joint procurement structures.

HT
The heat peaked over the weekend with temperatures surpassing 30C for a record 22 consecutive days. By Sunday evening, however, readings fell below 30C and are not expected to return to that level this week.

Finlands prolonged heatwave ended on Sunday as temperatures began to drop across most parts of the country, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

In the capital region, the heat streak concludes Monday evening, with temperatures falling below 25C, said Jouko Korhonen from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The shift marks the end of several days of exceptionally warm conditions in southern Finland.

Eastern Finland and Lapland are expected to remain warm until Tuesday. After that, cooler air will replace the hot mass currently affecting those regions. The heat is forecast to move east of the White Sea and towards the Arctic Ocean between Svalbard and Greenland.

By Wednesday, all parts of the country are expected to experience typical Finnish summer temperatures, ranging around 20C. Daily highs are unlikely to reach 30C again during the current week.

Western and southern regions face heavy showers and thunderstorms starting Monday afternoon. Rainfall will vary widely by location, ranging from a few millimetres to more than 20 millimetres per hour.

Even the sky doesnt seem to know where the rain will land, said Korhonen. With bad luck, water might run into someones garage.

Night-time temperatures are forecast to fall to around 15C, cooler than recent nights. From Tuesday to the weekend, southern and western areas will experience variable rain and wind. Cumulative rainfall totals between Tuesday and Sunday are projected to reach 10 to 20 millimetres, though local variation could be significant.

Temperatures are expected to reach just over 20C on Tuesday. From Wednesday onwards, lower temperatures are anticipated, and even that threshold may be hard to reach.

Korhonen described the coming conditions as resembling early autumn. He added that this type of weather is still summer, and for many, the best kind.

Eastern and northern Finland will follow the souths cooling trend one day later. Widespread heat remains possible there on Tuesday, but by Wednesday those areas will also drop to around 20C with shifting winds and rain showers.

In addition to lower temperatures, a low-pressure system is moving in during the week, contributing to the change. The system is advancing slowly across the country and is expected to dominate weather conditions through the weekend.

Warnings for strong thunderstorms and heavy rain were issued for Monday in western and southern Finland. In Kainuu and Pudasjarvi, a forest fire warning remains in effect due to recent dry conditions.

Despite the abrupt cooling, meteorologists are not ready to declare the end of summers heat entirely.

I wouldnt bet on it being final, said Korhonen. But for several days at least, the heat is gone.

HT
The victims, both in their late 60s, were Finnish citizens who lived abroad. The man was driving and the woman was seated in the front passenger seat. Both died at the scene. Two dogs travelling in the van also died.

A man and a woman were killed on Sunday after their van collided with a passenger train at an unguarded level crossing in Siilinjarvi, eastern Finland.

The collision occurred at around 1pm on Ruuskalantie road, which crosses the tracks near National Road 5, also known as the E63. The North Savo Rescue Department confirmed the van entered the level crossing before being struck by a northbound train.

Authorities stated the level crossing was unguarded, with no barriers or lights to signal oncoming trains.

There were no serious injuries among the passengers on the train. The train remained on the tracks during the incident.

A reporter from public broadcaster Yle, Jonna Karjalainen, was on board the train and described the moment of impact.

There was a huge, loud noise. Phones and drink bottles flew, she said.

Karjalainen was seated in the first carriage, which was reserved for pets and their owners. The window of her carriage shattered during the collision.

Emergency services attended the site and began cleanup and recovery operations shortly after the crash. The damaged van was removed by flatbed truck, and the train continued toward Oulu shortly after 5pm.

The entire operation, including safety checks and rail clearance, lasted approximately four hours.

The train had departed Helsinki at 8am and was en route to Oulu. Following the collision, State Railways VR reported delays of one to two hours affecting train services between Helsinki and Oulu, as well as in eastern Finland.

One train, scheduled to depart Oulu at 6.22pm and travel to Kuopio, was cancelled and replaced with bus transport.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the crash. No further details about the victims have been released.

Siilinjarvi is located roughly 20 kilometres north of Kuopio.

HT
According to officials, the funds may not appear in bank accounts at the start of the day, as payment processing takes place throughout Monday.

The total amount paid out will reach approximately 800 million, making August one of the peak refund periods of the year.

Around 1.5 million people in Finland are set to receive tax refunds on Monday, according to the Finnish Tax Administration.

The Tax Administration advises taxpayers to monitor the status of their refunds through the 'MyTax' portal on the official Vero website.

Refund schedules may differ for several reasons. Adjustments to pre-filled tax returns, updates to tax details after submission, or missing bank account information can result in delayed payments. Refunds may also be withheld if they are used to cover outstanding taxes or subject to seizure due to debt enforcement.

The agency confirmed that individuals who did not submit changes to their returns and provided accurate banking information are likely to receive payments without delay.

In addition to refunds, nearly two million people are due to pay their property tax this Wednesday. The Tax Administration reported that the total amount due in property tax payments amounts to 447 million.

Officials advise taxpayers to confirm their payment details in advance, especially if they have moved, changed banks, or previously received correspondence regarding outstanding tax liabilities.

The Finnish Tax Administration said further refund batches will continue later this year, with dates varying depending on individual filing times and any subsequent corrections to submitted data.

HT
The smuggling took place in spring 2025. One of the suspects is believed to have transported approximately seven litres of amphetamine base in plastic water bottles packed inside a backpack.

Authorities have arrested eight suspects with links to international criminal groups. The suspects are citizens of Finland, Poland, and Lithuania.

Finnish Customs has uncovered a large-scale amphetamine trafficking operation involving disguised transport of raw drug material in water bottles carried on a ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki.

The liquid was later processed into 38 kilograms of street-grade amphetamine at a rented holiday property in southern Finland.

The processed quantity has an estimated market value of over 500,000, with at least 240,000 worth believed to have been distributed before the arrests.

The investigation began after Estonian authorities alerted Finnish Customs in March about three Polish citizens travelling to Finland with suspicious materials. The items suggested preparations for drug processing.

The trio had rented a short-term holiday property in southern Finland, which investigators later identified as the site where the amphetamine was diluted and processed. Customs officers arrested the suspects at the location and recovered materials linked to drug manufacturing.

Finnish Customs said the investigation has reached its final stage. The case will be handed over to the South Finland Prosecutors Office for consideration of charges.

Customs also noted that amphetamine seizures have increased in recent years. In 2023, authorities seized 237 kilograms of amphetamine out of a total of 2,052 kilograms of confiscated drugs. This was up from 162 kilograms the previous year.

HT
The warning comes from the Nopsa drug monitoring network, led by Annuska Dal Maso , which works under Finlands A Prevention ( Ehyt ) organisation. The network gathers data on emerging drug trends in collaboration with the police, Customs, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

Authorities in Helsinki have raised alarms over a sharp increase in the use of alpha-PVP, a synthetic stimulant linked to severe addiction, psychosis, and a growing number of drug-related deaths.

Drug use is part of everyday life in Helsinki now. We need to focus on saving lives, said Dal Maso, speaking near Sornainen metro station, an area known for open drug use.

According to the network, the presence of alpha-PVP, referred to on the street as peukku, has clearly increased. The substance is typically smoked or injected. Its use is growing alongside other substances including amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines, ketamine, synthetic opioids like fentanyl and nitazenes, and substances such as nitrous oxide.

Dal Maso said the situation has worsened significantly over the past year. She noted that many users who previously used drugs occasionally are now in critical condition after shifting to alpha-PVP.

This spring has been the most concerning period weve seen in a long time, she said.

Police confirm the trend. Detective Chief Inspector Kimmo Sainio from the Helsinki Police Department said street-level drug activity has increased and is keeping officers busier than ever.

Sainio said alpha-PVP became more prominent after a disruption in the Finnish amphetamine market. The disruption followed a major international police operation in 2021, during which more than 100 people linked to organised crime were arrested.

With reduced availability, amphetamine quality dropped sharply. According to police, only about 7 percent of seized amphetamine was pure, with the rest containing unknown and potentially toxic substances.

Alpha-PVP, by contrast, is potent and addictive. It causes hallucinations, paranoia, and violent behaviour in some users. Its lower cost and high potency make it attractive, particularly to those with limited resources.

Customs and police have also reported other dangerous developments, including tampered medications. Authorities say tablets like Subutex may contain undeclared opioids, increasing overdose risks.

Despite rising synthetic drug use, heroin remains rare in Finland. Sainio noted that heroin use has not become established in Helsinki, unlike in Denmark and Norway.

Street prices of cocaine remain high, between 120 and 150 per gram, while alpha-PVP is reportedly sold for around 100 per gram.

The drugs growing presence has also been confirmed in forensic investigations. Raimo A. Ketola, head of laboratory services at THL, said alpha-PVP was found in 35 deceased individuals during autopsies conducted in the first half of the yearthe same number as during all of 2024.

Earlier this year, police dismantled an alpha-PVP laboratory in southwestern Finland. The street value of the substances seized was estimated at 500,000.

In addition to alpha-PVP, Ketolas team has identified several new synthetic opioids. These include variants of nitazene, such as fluetonitazepyne, which have been found in seven deceased individuals so far this year. These substances are so potent that laboratory workers handling them are required to wear respiratory protection.

These compounds are extremely dangerous. Almost all nitazene detections have been fatal, said Ketola.

The origin of such adulteration is not always clear. In some cases, deadly substances are added deliberately to intensify effects. In others, they may be residues from earlier drug production using shared equipment.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and warn that the availability of unpredictable and deadly substances on the streets remains high, especially among younger users.

HT
Online and phone scams have spiked during the summer months, especially impersonation calls posing as bank officials.

Among them, an estimated 107,000 people reported losing a significant sum of money. The data was published on Thursday by Finanssiala, which represents the Finnish financial sector.

More than 400,000 people in Finland have lost money to digital fraud, according to a recent survey by industry group Finanssiala ry. The figure amounts to 7.3 percent of the adult population.

The OP Financial Group said fraud calls have become more frequent in recent weeks.

In a common scenario, criminals contact individuals claiming to be from their bank. The caller warns of an alleged large payment about to leave the customers account. Victims are then manipulated into giving up their online banking credentials and confirming a transfer to a so-called "secure account."

According to Arno Ahosniemi, CEO of Finanssiala ry, the concept of a bank-operated secure account is entirely fictitious.

There is no such thing as a bank's secure account, and there never has been, said Ahosniemi. If someone asks for your online banking credentials or talks about a secure account, its a scam.

Authorities warn that customers with access to business or association accounts are also at risk. If criminals obtain credentials linked to such accounts, those funds can be drained as well.

Many scams begin online, often through social media or classified ad platforms. Fraudulent adverts may redirect users to phishing sites. In some cases, search engine results, paid for by fraudsters, lead to fraudulent banking websites that appear legitimate.

The scam methods continue to evolve, but the trigger remains the same: urgency and fear.

Security officials recommend that individuals never provide banking details over the phone or through unknown websites, and advise using only verified sources when accessing online banking.

HT
In France, the mayor of the coastal town Les Sables-dOlonne , Yannick Moreau , posted a message on social media asking visitors to respect local customs.

Authorities in France, Italy, Spain, and Croatia have issued warnings and fines in recent weeks, urging tourists to show more restraint when away from the beach.

Several popular tourist destinations across Europe have introduced stricter dress codes in city centres, targeting the growing trend of holidaymakers walking the streets in swimwear or shirtless.

A little modesty, please, he wrote, addressing mostly domestic tourists who flood the town during the summer and walk from the beach into markets and restaurants wearing only swimwear.

It is forbidden to walk around shirtless or in just a swimsuit in Les Sables-dOlonne, he reminded. If you want to show off your muscles or your favourite swimsuit, there are 11 kilometres of beach available for that.

The ban on swimwear in public spaces has been in place since 2020. Despite that, local authorities issued a record number of fines in July, mainly to French tourists. Ten people received penalties of up to 150 for violating the rule.

The mayor told The New York Times that the problem worsens every summer. Tourists are frequently seen leaving the beach in swimwear and shopping in open-air markets, supermarkets, or dining in local restaurants.

If you go to the market to buy fruit, vegetables, or meat, you cant be half-naked and shed your body hair on the produce, he said.

In Spain, some regions have banned wearing swimwear even on seaside promenades. In Malaga, local tourism officials have used social media to ask visitors to dress appropriately. Offenders risk fines of several hundred euros.

Italy has issued similar rules in certain areas, such as Sorrento, where local police are authorised to fine shirtless visitors. In Dubrovnik, Croatia, walking through the old town in a swimsuit is prohibited and subject to penalties.

The tightening of dress codes is not new, but the growing number of tourists and the persistence of the issue have led cities to step up enforcement.

Authorities say the rules aim to preserve public decorum and protect the everyday living environment for residents, particularly in locations where tourism heavily overlaps with daily life.

HT
The report states that US defence systems rely heavily on Chinese-sourced materials, including rare earth elements essential for missiles, drones, fighter jets, and guidance systems. In response to trade tensions, China has limited exports of several of these materials.

China has tightened export restrictions on minerals critical to defence manufacturing, disrupting production and forcing Western companies to seek alternative sources, according to the Wall Street Journal .

The US Department of Defense uses more than 80,000 components made from minerals currently affected by Chinas export restrictions.

China produces about 90 percent of the worlds rare earth elements. It is also a dominant supplier of other minerals such as germanium, gallium, and antimony. Beijing banned exports of these three elements to the US in December.

Germanium is used in infrared drivers for missiles, while gallium is a key component in advanced semiconductors and radar technologies. Antimony has applications in explosives and battery systems.

The restrictions have affected manufacturers across the sector, but drone makers have been particularly vulnerable. Many are small companies or startups with limited financial reserves and minimal control over global supply chains.

Rising material costs have compounded the pressure. The Wall Street Journal reported that the price of samarium, used in magnets for military-grade motors, has increased 60-fold for one defence contractor.

Higher prices and sourcing delays have pushed up production costs and postponed delivery schedules for critical defence systems.

The Chinese government has not specified the duration or scope of the restrictions, but analysts cited by the Wall Street Journal said the move signals a deliberate effort to exert leverage in the ongoing trade dispute with the United States.

HT
Healthcare Fellows ready to serve

Shown are, first row, from left, schools Superintendent Mark R. Garrett; Brian Gomez Chavez; Sofia Sanchez; Miranda Escalera; BRCC President Laura B. Leatherwood; John Bryant, UNC Health Pardee vice president; Leah Jones; Jenna Logan; Addison Ducker; Henderson County Education Foundation director Peggy Marshall, Director; and Abby Gutch, of AdventHealth.

Henderson County public schools, in partnership with Blue Ridge Community College, AdventHealth Hendersonville and UNC Health Pardee celebrated the first-ever class of Healthcare Fellows last week during a Signing Day ceremony at Blue Ridge Community College.

Related Stories

Nine recent graduates of East Henderson, Hendersonville, North Henderson and West Henderson high schools officially committed to pursuing careers in healthcare through the new Healthcare Fellows Program, which provides full financial support and direct career pathways into the local healthcare workforce.

These students are the first to walk this path and theyre doing so with the full support of their community behind them, said Mark R. Garrett, superintendent of Henderson County schools. This program is about more than access. Its about alignment. Were aligning our students passions with purposeful education and the real needs of our local healthcare system. Its also a shining example of how strong public school systems, in partnership with community institutions, can work together to create meaningful, life-changing opportunities for students.

The Healthcare Fellows were:

Gracie Ballinger, West Henderson High School  UNC Health Pardee

Keilah Camp, East Henderson High School  AdventHealth Hendersonville

Miranda Escalera, North Henderson High School  UNC Health Pardee

Lucia Correa Sena, North Henderson High School  AdventHealth Hendersonville

Brian Gomez Chavez, North Henderson High School  UNC Health Pardee

Addison Ducker, Hendersonville High School  AdventHealth Hendersonville

Sofia Sanchez, West Henderson High School  UNC Health Pardee

Leah Jones, North Henderson High School  AdventHealth Hendersonville

Jenna Logan, East Henderson High School  AdventHealth Hendersonville

At the Signing Day event, each Fellow was recognized individually and received a gift from his or her sponsoring healthcare organization, along with Blue Ridge Community College gear and mementos from HCPS to commemorate the occasion. Family members, friends, and school staff gathered to celebrate alongside the students, filling the room with a sense of pride and support as the inaugural class marked the beginning of their healthcare journeys.

Fellows receive full tuition, books and required materials for their studies at Blue Ridge Community College, funded by one of the sponsoring hospitals. Upon completion of their credentialing programs in Allied Health fields, each student will begin a career with their sponsoring healthcare provider  marking a seamless transition from education to employment.

We are tremendously proud to celebrate the inaugural Healthcare Fellows as they graduate from Henderson County Public Schools and take their next steps at Blue Ridge Community College, BRCC President Laura B. Leatherwood said. Thanks to the incredible support from UNC Health Pardee and AdventHealth Hendersonville, these students are beginning clear and guided paths toward meaningful careers in healthcare  right here in their own community.

These students have made an incredible and courageous decision to pursue a future in health care, and we couldnt be more inspired by their commitment, said Dr. John Bryant, vice president for operations and support services at UNC Health Pardee. At Pardee, were honored to support their journeynot just financially, but as mentors, role models, and future colleagues. We look forward to walking beside them as they grow into compassionate, skilled professionals who will serve and strengthen this very community.

These Healthcare Fellows are stepping into a sacred calling of caring for our community and our entire team at AdventHealth is honored to walk alongside them, said Abby Gutch, assistant chief nursing officer for AdventHealth Hendersonville. We are excited to support these fellows in their education, mentor their growth and welcome them into a mission of providing whole-person care  body, mind and spirit - thats bigger than any one of us. This program is a powerful reflection of what can happen when a community comes together with purpose and heart.

Created through a strategic collaboration among HCPS, Blue Ridge Community College, AdventHealth Hendersonville and UNC Health Pardee, the Healthcare Fellows Program is designed to remove financial barriers, provide mentorship and hands-on experience, and retain talented healthcare professionals in the region. Fellows complete dual-enrollment coursework while receiving support from both academic and clinical mentors.
A NOVEL set partly in Henley combines political intrigue, Regency-era romance and a dash of real figures and events from history.

Sabrina Lund wrote Consequence of Power: Isabellas Season when she learned about the Hellfire Club, a mysterious secret society founded in the 18th century by politician Sir Francis Dashwood, a director of the Old East India Company.

It tells the story of Isabella Thornbury, a debutante in high society London at the end of the Seven Years War. Amid lavish balls, she becomes embroiled between the Duke of Winterbourne and her childhood friend, Lord Augustus.

When she hears hidden secrets, she has to choose between social hierarchies and staying true to her conscience.

Sabrina, 38, says: It was actually my partner who mentioned that there was this secret society and the more I looked into it, the more intrigued I became.

They were some of the most influential figures in our history. Dashwood is fascinating in himself and hes very charismatic and a great host, but he brings together a lot of the political elite. That sparked off going down a path of exploration of these characters and what was going on at the time.

After gaining a BA (honours) degree in English literature, Sabrina studied for a masters in Shakespeare in history at University College London and an MSc in finance from the London School of Economics.

Im on a sabbatical from my finance career, so it meant that I could immerse myself and fully invest myself in the novel.

Its an immersive historical novel and its set in 1763, with the background of the Seven Years War and the East India Company continuing its control and territorial expansion.

At that moment, Isabella Thornbury, a young debutante, steps out into high society for her first London season. Shes a Henley girl and shes quite innocent.

It was very typical of the time in that part of society to have a London season in search of a marriage match. Isabella steps out, hoping for love or romance and to make a marriage match but beneath the veneer of the societys elite, she discovers this world of power plays, political corruption and secrets. So theres whats going on on the surface and whats happening underneath.

Its a very typical trope of romance novels to have a lady stepping out into society to find romance, but I thought I would flip that premise on its head and then immerse my readers in the history, with a bit of suspense.

I think a lot of the themes are universal, so these were real people, but we also have similar feelings today. We want romance or love potentially but theres also power and theres the discussion of power in those days.

Theres a lot of universal themes that can transcend time which I thought would be interesting and that we can relate to today. Sabrina and her partner live in Hampshire, but they tried to move to Henley. Ive got close family connections in Henley, I was going to move around about covid time.

Half of the novel is based in Henley and the other half is in London so I juxtaposed the two environments.

Visiting family, I immersed myself in the countryside. Its so beautiful around Henley so its really inspired and theres a lot of nature in my novel.

We actually made quite a number of offers, we were going to be living almost on the same road as my family, but then it fell through and then we had to just call it a day. House prices were going up quite a lot, it was so competitive.

You have your very iconic red kites in Henley. When visiting family, they look out on to this beautiful nature reserve and they love animals and feeding the birds.

I lived in London for many years, so when I visit them, I get to just look out into this beautiful expanse of countryside.

Theres the quiet solitude of nature, which connects you to your true self. You feel much more grounded. I didnt realise how observing birds is very calming.

I felt that I needed to bring that out in my novel so my characters feel what I feel and when theyre in Henley, theyre more themselves.

Sir Francis Dashwood (1708-1781), the founder of the Hellfire Club, built the Hellfire Caves at West Wycombe in the mid-18th century. The club became notorious for rumoured acts of depravity, some of which are depicted in Sabrinas novel.

Legend has it that John Wilkes, who was part of Dashwoods society and quite a radical of the day, thought he would play a practical joke.

He was an MP and a journalist and he waved the flag for liberty and free speech really. I understand that Dashwood was partial to a joke himself, but Wilkes took it a bit far.

He allowed a baboon to spring out from a chest and it was actually the Earl of Sandwich who got a major fright from this and it did cause a ruckus.

Sandwich and Wilkes had a bit of a feud for years to come afterwards.

I thought it was interesting to use that motif to spark the idea of guilt, so I have a fictional character whos carrying a lot of weight of guilt of what hes done and it spirals out of control.

A video trailer has been made to go with the book.

The trailer really portrays the vibes of the book in a succinct manner.

Im hoping to create a film one day.

We would love to work with someone to actually bring it on screen but thats a dream. Im now writing the next book.

l Consequence of Power: Isabellas Season is out now, priced at 12.99. For more information, visit www.sabrinalundauthor.com
Over 3,000 Boeing workers on strike "for fair contract"

Xinhua) 15:16, August 04, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 3,200 Boeing union workers in the U.S. states of Missouri and Illinois went on strike on Monday after contract negotiations with the company broke down.

The strike move was earlier announced after members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing.

This vote followed members' overwhelming rejection of Boeing's earlier proposal on July 27 as a labor agreement officially expired before midnight.

The workers were based at Boeing's facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri, as well as Mascoutah, Illinois.

"We will be there on the picket lines, ensuring Boeing hears the collective power of working people," said IAM International President Brian Bryant in the statement on Sunday.

"They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise," IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli said.

"Solidarity is our strength. This vote shows that when workers stand together, they can push back against corporate greed and fight for a better future for themselves and their families," said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett.

The IAM union is one of North America's largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

Boeing expressed disappointment over the vote. Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager, and senior St. Louis site executive, said in a statement that the company was "disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40 percent average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules."

Boeing was "prepared for a strike and had fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers," he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Golden cicada cultivation brings wealth to town in E China's Jiangsu

People's Daily Online) 15:58, August 04, 2025

The cultivation of golden cicadas, a delicacy for many, has become an important source of income for residents of Lulou town, Peixian county, Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province.

From May to July, catching golden cicadas at night is part of daily life for locals. Jia Baolei, head of a local cicada farming base, said the base has expanded to over 720 mu (48 hectares), doubling in size since his father founded it in 2018 with just 360 mu.

A villager catches golden cicadas at night in Lulou town, Peixian county, Xuzhou city, east China's Jiangsu Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Hantian)

He said a single tree can produce over 300 golden cicadas, and with each selling for around 1 yuan (about $0.14), that's more than 300 yuan in earnings per tree. On average, this adds up to an annual income boost of over 10,000 yuan per mu of land.

As more villagers began raising golden cicadas, Jia launched an initiative to breed cicada eggs using modern science and technology.

Photo shows newly hatched cicada nymphs. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Hantian)

Jia and local villagers have partnered with the Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine to set up a lab where they can precisely control the temperature, humidity, and light cycles in the cicada egg incubation rooms.

In a 150-mu experimental field in Lulou town, Li Songlin, director of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) quality and metabolomics research center at the Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, led his team in collecting samples of asparagus roots, soil, and cicada nymphs.

Villagers catch golden cicadas at night in Lulou town, Peixian county, Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Hantian)

"Asparagus has shallow roots, making it ideal for nourishing cicadas," Li explained. Last July, the town began exploring an asparagus-golden cicada farming model. The expected yield is 150 kilograms of golden cicadas per mu, and with asparagus included, the total output value could reach around 30,000 yuan per mu.

After cicadas molt, their empty shells are put to good use. Some are sent to the Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a stable, high-quality source of medicinal ingredients. With support from the provincial rural revitalization team, Lulou town is also planning to bring in a factory producing TCM decoction pieces.

Photo shows cicada shells left behind on elm branches. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Hantian)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at an oil depot in Sochi, the Russian resort that hosted the 2014 Winter Olympic which is 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the Ukrainian border, authorities said Sunday.

Ukraine has regularly hit Russian oil and gas infrastructure in response to attacks on its own territory since Russia began its offensive in February 2022.

"Sochi suffered a drone attack by the Kyiv regime last night," the governor of Russia's Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratiev, said on Telegram.

He said drone wreckage hit an "oil tank, which caused a fire" during the nighttime attack.

Sochi's mayor, Andrei Proshunin, said there were no victims and that the fire was put out several hours later.

Images, broadcast by Russian media but whose authenticity AFP could not verify, showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke rising from the site.

Air traffic was briefly suspended at Sochi airport, Russia's air transport regulator Rosaviatsia said.

Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the fire.

Air strikes on Sochi are relatively rare compared to some other Russian cities.

However, Ukrainian drone attacks killed two people there late last month, according to local authorities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that the two sides were preparing a prisoner exchange that would see 1,200 Ukrainian troops return home, following talks with Russia in Istanbul in July.

Kyiv has said it will intensify its air strikes against Russia in response to an increase in Russian attacks on its territory in recent weeks, which have killed dozens of civilians.

The Russian defence ministry said meanwhile that three Ukrainian drones had been intercepted in the Leningrad region, which includes the Baltic port of Saint Petersburg.

Overnight strikes by Russia inside Ukraine also left several people injured, authorities said.

One missile wounded seven people in a residential district of Mykolaiv, a city near the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.

Three other people were injured in the northeastern Kharkiv region, she added, while authorities also reported injuries in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in the south.

"The Russians continue to wage war not against Ukrainian forces, but against Ukrainian civilians," Svyrydenko said.

Last week, US President Donald Trump gave his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a 10-day ultimatum, until next Friday, to end the conflict in Ukraine.

The air strikes and fighting have not abated, however, and the Kremlin has rejected the idea of a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine, which it sees as a gift to Kyiv's troops.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly decided to occupy the Gaza Strip, a move that includes operating in areas where hostages are being held and could potentially put them in further danger.

The Jerusalem Post detailed on Monday that a source in the Prime Minister's Office confirmed the plan, which could be pursued against the wishes of Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. "If this does not suit you, then you should resign," the outlet says the government told the general.

49 hostages are still in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

Several local outlets have confirmed the decision to occupy the enclave, escalating the conflict even further. The development comes after negotiations to achieve a ceasefire collapsed yet again in July.

Reuters noted that U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said last Saturday that he was working with the Israeli government on a plan to effectively end the war in the enclave.

The outlet quoted another senior Israeli official who said that after the meeting "an understanding was emerging between Washington and Israel" on a need to shift from a partial deal to one that would "release all the hostages, disarm Hamas, and demilitarize the Gaza Strip."

However, the official later added that pursuing a deal would be pointless, claiming that "Hamas is not interested in a deal and therefore the prime minister is pushing to release the hostages while pressing for military defeat."

Local outlet Haaretz also reported on Friday that his government has the backing of the Trump administration to begin annexing the strip if Hamas doesn't agree to a ceasefire proposal.

The first areas to be annexed would be those in the buffer zone, followed by some in the northern part close to the cities of Sderot and Ashkelon. It would continue progressively until the whole strip is annexed. It is not clear what would happen to the two million Palestinians living in Gaza.

The Netanyahu government could move forward despite warnings from almost 20 former senior security officials, who on Sunday issued a joint video calling for the war to end. They argued that Israel has lost more than it won and that the fighting has continued for political reasons rather than military ones.

Originally published on Latin Times
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, announces the signing of a Vignette Collection property in Ho Chi Minh City,in partnership with LCK Hospitality Company Limited - a family business specialising in hospitality development and art dealerships.

The 52-key hotel will join IHG's fast-growing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio when it opens its doors to domestic and international guests - including IHG One Rewards members - in Vietnam later this year.

As the second Vignette Collection property signed in the country, after Moire Hoi An, Vignette Collection - By IHG, and the first of the brand to open in Ho Chi Minh City, it will join a growing collection of 23 open hotels and 38 pipeline properties globally.

Vignette Collection, IHG's first collection brand, represents a family of one-of-a-kind hotels in destinations to remember. It combines each property's individual identity with the brand's collective vision to offer a more authentic travel experience through the key hallmarks of 'Memorable Rituals' and 'A Means For Good'.

Half an hour drive from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the hotel will be situated in the city centre, less than one kilometre away from must-visit local attractions such as Ben Thanh Market, Independence Palace, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica and Saigon Opera House.

Vietnam is enjoying strong travel demand with 10.7 million international visitors in first six months of 2025, a 21% increase year-on-year, supported by visa-free travel and increased flight connectivity. Travellers to Ho Chi Minh City also continue to increase, attracted by the city's vibrant mix of historical sites, cultural attractions, bustling markets and a wonderful culinary scene. International visitors reached 3.8 million in the same period, an increase of 44% year-on-year, while domestic visitors numbered over 18 million, up 7% year-on-year.

IHG currently operates 20 hotels under eight brands in Vietnam, with a pipeline of 22 properties. Some 60% of its existing portfolio in the country is in the Luxury & Lifestyle segment, comprising many of its world-famous brands: Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection and Hotel Indigo.

As of 31 March 2025*

Hotel website
Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Al Ghadeer Group to operate dusitD2 Al Ahsa - a new upper-upscale resort in the heart of Al Ahsa Oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

The signing ceremony, held under the esteemed patronage of HRH Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr Al Saud, Governor of Al Ahsa, was attended by notable dignitaries including Mr Naif Al Madi, Chief Business Officer of the Tourism Development Fund; Sheikh Bassem Al Ghadeer, Chairman of Al Ghadeer Group of Companies; and Mr Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer of Dusit International.

Located just 30 minutes by car from Al Ahsa International Airport and 90 minutes from Dammam, dusitD2 Al Ahsa is set amidst palm-fringed landscapes and dramatic mountain vistas. The resort will offer 120 spacious suites, ranging from one-bedroom to three-bedroom configurations, each with a private terrace and plunge pool, providing an elevated sense of privacy and relaxation.

Designed by Cairo-based El Ghoneimi Architects, the resort's masterplan draws inspiration from the desert's timeless beauty, the nearby mountains, and the life-giving symbolism of the palm tree - more than 2.5 million of which thrive in Al Ahsa Oasis. Organic architectural forms, natural textures, and bespoke interiors that blend cultural authenticity with refined comfort will create a tranquil retreat rooted in local identity.

Guests will enjoy a comprehensive range of premium facilities, including a wellness centre with private treatment rooms, meditation areas, and dedicated spaces for yoga and holistic healing; an elegant 1,500 sq m ballroom and expansive outdoor event lawn for weddings and large social or corporate gatherings; well-equipped meeting rooms for business travellers; a vibrant all-day dining restaurant; a lobby cafe offering light gourmet fare; a large outdoor swimming pool with an adjoining kids' pool; and a dedicated kids club providing engaging activities in a safe and stimulating environment.

Surrounded by cultural and ecological treasures such as Al Qarah Mountain, Juatha Park, and the historic Qaisariah Souq, the resort is ideally positioned to serve as a gateway for domestic and international travellers seeking meaningful experiences and immersive stays amid the largest oasis in the world.

Set to open in 2027, dusitD2 Al Ahsa underscores Dusit International's continued expansion in the Middle East, where the company currently operates nine properties and continues to explore opportunities to deliver holistic hospitality experiences across the region. It is the second Dusit-branded property confirmed for Saudi Arabia, following the upcoming opening of Dusit Princess Al Majma'ah, Riyadh, scheduled for Q4 this year.

Hotel website
Rooms at 25hours Hotel The Olympia, which will mark the very first 25hours Hotel in Australia when it opens on 25th September 2025, are now available to book. True to the 25hours philosophy of embracing the cultural fabric of the cities they are in, the brand's first Australian property is deeply rooted in Sydney's creative past. Located on the heritage-listed site of the former West Olympia Theatre and the Grand Pacific Blue Room, the hotel pays tribute to these iconic establishments that once shaped the city's art and social scene. Honouring its vibrant past through bold design and rich storytelling, 25hours Hotel The Olympia will breathe new life into a historic Sydney landmark.

Inspired by the quintessential protagonists of film, the hotel's 109 guest rooms will be split into 'Dreamers' and 'Renegades'. Located on levels 2 and 4, the Dreamer rooms are light-filled, airy, with soft blue tones and curated lighting to evoke a sense of calm nodding to the character of the romantic idealist. In contrast, levels 1 and 3 house the Renegade rooms - moodier in tone with darker colour palettes, bold carpets and artwork that channels a rebellious, adventurous spirit.

The hotel design narrative draws deeply from the building's cinematic past, with the lobby reimagined as a tribute to film culture and pieces peppered throughout the property that nod to the Theatre's heyday. True to the brands motto "Every cool city needs a 25hours Hotel" the Sydney debut focuses on revitalising this historic site, with a strong design identity, restaurants and bars that will act as a neighbourhood hub.

The hotel will be home to four venues, each with a distinct identity; a restaurant (The Palomar), wine & cocktail bar (The Mulwray), coffee house (Jacob The Angel), and rooftop bar (Monica). Culinary Director Mitch Orr will oversee all venues. A proud Sydney-sider with deep roots in the city's dining community, Orr brings an edge that resonates with Sydney's unique culinary culture.

The Palomar - a stalwart in the industry for a decade - will introduce Studio Paskin's famous London venue to Sydney. With influences from Southern Europe, North Africa and the Levant brought to life with the best Australian ingredients, the 110-seat restaurant will be centered around an open kitchen. The Mulwray, an intimate cocktail and wine bar named after the iconic Evelyn Mulwray from 1974 film Chinatown, will hero expertly made classic cocktails, bio-dynamic wines and varieties from lesser known growers. On the ground floor, cafe Jacob The Angel will be the perfect spot to recharge or connect after exploring the city.

Rooftop bar Monica, by Ennismore's food and beverage studio Carte Blanched, will be a lush all-day rooftop oasis embodying the rhythms and rituals of modern Sydney, viewed through a nostalgic 1960s Hollywood filter. Bold patterned floors and local murals set the tone for the lively nights and easy afternoons. More than a rooftop bar, Monica is a celebration of culture, community, and bringing back Sydney's nightlife.

Located on 1-11 Oxford Street at the intersection of five Sydney Villages - Paddington, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Kings Cross and Moore Park, 25hours Hotel The Olympia will become a community icon - a dynamic and inclusive neighbourhood hub where cultures, artistic expression and community spirit come together.

The local community will be among the first to experience 25hours' hospitality with special events programming planned to coincide with the opening. More to come soon.

Rates at 25hours Hotel The Olympia start from 195 euros.

Dis-loyalty, Ennismore's game changing food and travel membership, gives members 50 % off newly opened hotels within their Collective, meaning guests can enjoy half-price rates at 25hours Hotel The Olympia until Wednesday 24 December 2025. Find out more about all the membership perks at Dis-loyalty.com

25hours Hotel will also hold a special opening offer for the hotel with 25 % off all stays booked directly.

Bookings are available via 25hours-hotels.com/sydney/the-olympia/

Hotel website
David Ciccarelli As Chief Executive Officer of Lake.com

David Ciccarelli is the visionary Chief Executive Officer who has founded and leads the vacation rental platform into its next phase of growth. As CEO, David is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the company while building and nurturing relationships across Lake.com's entire ecosystem of stakeholders.

Strategic Leadership

David defines and champions Lake.com's vision, mission, and core values. He sets the strategic direction and long-term roadmap for the company, driving key business decisions that position Lake.com as a leader in the vacation rental marketplace.

Product Vision & Innovation

As a product-focused leader, David envisions and guides the evolution of Lake.com's vacation rental platform. He leads product development initiatives that enhance experiences for both hosts and guests, identifying market opportunities and translating them into actionable product strategies.

Stakeholder Engagement

David builds strong relationships with Lake.com's diverse community of hosts and guests while establishing strategic partnerships with property management systems. He cultivates relationships with financial partners, including banks, venture capital firms, and private equity investors, and serves as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for Lake.com.

Team Leadership & Culture

David leads and inspires a multidisciplinary team of engineers, designers, marketers, and finance professionals. He fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence, ensuring the organization scales efficiently while maintaining its commitment to seamless operations. Under his leadership, Lake.com continues to champion talent development and build a world-class team.

About David Ciccarelli

David is an executive with 20 years of experience and a graduate of Harvard Business School who brings a proven track record of executive leadership in technology and marketplace businesses, with the ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution. He is equally comfortable presenting to investors, collaborating with engineering teams, and understanding the needs of Lake.com's host and guest communities.

Under David's leadership, Lake.com is creating the next-generation travel website, focused on the outdoor travel experience.
Tiago Castro is COO of Wotels, Portugals leading hybrid hospitality brand, where he oversees a portfolio of hotels, hostels, and boutique properties. With prior leadership roles at The Social Hub and Selina, he brings deep operational expertise across asset types and guest segments. Tiago is known for scaling decentralized teams, building culture-driven systems, and leading transformation in fast-paced, high-growth environments. He also mentors emerging leaders through the C-Level Mentorship Academy.
The Washington, D.C., chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International today invited hospitality professionals from throughout the metropolitan area to attend its annual State of the Industry program Aug. 21 at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf.

This is a pivotal opportunity for area hospitality sales, marketing and revenue-management professionals to gain insights on trends and figures that will impact their 2026 plans and budgets. Jeremy Huvard, regional director of sales and marketing for Donohoe Hospitality Services and HSMAI DC chapter president

The program will feature Jessica Carey, Knowland by Cendyn vice president, customer operations; Richard Golinowski, Washington Dulles International Airport vice president and airport manager; Michele Gordon, Amadeus vice president, sales - business intelligence (North America); Jennifer Hill, Kalibri senior vice president, commercial strategy; and Robin McClain, Destination DC chief marketing officer.

Registration and a networking reception will begin Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. Early bird cost is $85 for HSMAI DC members, $100 for non-members and $40 for full-time students. After Aug. 10, the cost will be $100 for members, $140 for non-members and $50 for full-time students. Click HERE to register.

Each attendee is asked to bring a new backpack appropriate for middle school students for donation to at-risk DMV pupils who face returning to school without the necessary supplies.

The State of the Industry event will be hosted by Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf and cosponsored by Amadeus, Destination DC, Dulles International Airport, Kalibri, Knowland by Cendyn, Tambourine and RDR PR LLC.

About HSMAI DC

HSMAI DC is a chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, an individual membership organization based in McLean, Virginia, composed of more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region.

HSMAI is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing and optimize revenue through programs, including the Adrian Awards, HSMAI Commercial Strategy Events, revenue optimization conferences and Sales Leader Forum.

Click HERE to join.

About HSMAI

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards, Sales Leader Forum, and HSMAI ROC. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org.
Crescent Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue. Known for its elevated hospitality and distinctive style, the hotel is a hidden gem that captures the energy and elegance of New York Citys most iconic avenue.

Set within a beautifully restored early 20th-century Renaissance Revival building, once home to a college residence for men as well as various fraternities, the property continues the tradition of creating community with its redesigned public spaces and amenities combining historic charm with modern sophistication. Located on Madison Avenue, it offers guests breathtaking views of the Empire State Building and close proximity to Grand Central Station, Bryant Park, and Fifth Avenue shopping.

Stepping inside the hotel resembles the Golden Age of Advertising of 1950s New York. Carefully curated midcentury-inspired interiors with teal leather couches, retro radios and record players, and black-and-white photography evoke nostalgia with a twist of modern artistry. Low-lit lounges and vintage books such as Film Noir, Rock Covers, and New Architecture New York invite guests to linger, unwind, and soak in the ambiance.

The hotel features 288 elegant guest rooms and suites, many of which offer sweeping skyline views. Guests enjoy thoughtfully curated amenities, a fully equipped fitness center, and MAD Bar & Lounge, a moody, romantic cocktail bar renowned for its elevated classics, such as the Mr. Anejo Manhattan and one of the citys finest Old Fashioneds. Tucked away from MAD Bar & Lounge, the intimate, fireplace-lit piano room invites guests to enjoy live performances by some of New York Citys finest musicians.

The hotel is also home to Serafina, the globally recognized Italian-Mediterranean restaurant brand born in New York. Located just off the lobby, Serafina offers handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and fresh seafood served in a stylish yet approachable setting. A curated small bites menu from Serafina is also available in MAD Bar & Lounge.

With its refined aesthetic and exceptional location, NH Collection New York Madison Avenue continues to be a standout destination for discerning travelers seeking a stay that blends culture, character, and comfort in the heart of Manhattan.

About Crescent Hotels & Resorts

Crescent Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, nationally recognized, operator of hotels and resorts with over 120 properties in the United States & Canada. Crescent is one of the few elite management companies approved to operate upper-upscale and luxury hotels under the brand families of Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt. Crescent also operates a collection of independent and lifestyle properties under the Latitudes Collection umbrella. These properties include NOPSI Hotel New Orleans, Horseshoe Bay Resort, and The Opus Westchester, Autograph Collection. Powered by innovative, forward-thinking experts, Latitudes is a modern management platform for lifestyle hotels and resorts where creative concepts connect with modern travelers from urban boutique hotels to oceanside luxury resorts.

Crescent's clients include premiere REITs, private equity firms and major developers. For more information, please visit www.crescenthotels.com and www.latitudesbycrescent.com or connect with Crescent on LinkedIn.
Many hotels are innovating faster than ever. They are embracing AIdriven pricing, hybrid spaces, and even membership models. Paradoxically, others feel stuck in time, running on instinct rather than on data. I see this almost every week: properties with no revenue management system, no proper financial models, and no standardized controls. Some of these hotels have great locations. Some even provide a decent service. But behind the scenes, theyre operating like its 1995 and their bottom line reflects it. And at the end of the day, those who dont evolve become little more than opportunities for competitors ready to grow.

The scale of this lag is staggering. According to a 2023 analysis by HotelExecutive, as recently as 2022, less than a third of hotels worldwide were using any revenue management tools, and only about 10% had adopted advanced pricing systems. This means nearly nine out of ten hotels were leaving money on the table. A lot of money. The adoption of a RMS would easily represent an increase in RevPAR by 5% to 20%.

The same inertia exists in financial planning. Many hotels operate without detailed budgets or rolling forecasts, leaving them exposed when demand dips or costs rise. Research by Boston Universitys School of Hospitality shows distressed hotel sales often trade at 30 to 42% discounts compared to healthy transactions. This value erosion would be often avoidable with proactive financial discipline. Rolling forecasts and monthly reforecasts, which should be standard, are still rare in independent hotels and even in some smaller or family-managed hotel groups.

Along with these issues frequently comes the lack of scale. We often see 20 or 30 keys properties that carry nearly the same fixed costs as those with 50 or 60 rooms, especially when it comes to core staffing like management, front office, and housekeeping leadership. Without scale, their cost per occupied room skyrockets, and without the right revenue and expense models in place, these inefficiencies go unnoticed until profitability evaporates.

Operations tell a similar story. Labor alone eats up 30 to 50% of hotel costs, according to CBREs 2025 Trends in the Hotel Industry report, yet many properties still rely on static schedules and manual oversight. Ive walked into hotels where housekeepers were overstaffed on slow days while front desks were understaffed on busy ones. Add to that unchecked energy use, procurement without negotiated rates, and you can see how inefficiency snowballs. Hotels that invest in workforce optimization software, energy management systems, and standardized procedures often find immediate savings without compromising service. In fact, service usually improves.

The good part is that these problems are easily solvable and the opportunity for transformation is massive. Modernizing revenue strategies, introducing real financial controls, and instilling operational excellence can turn an underperforming hotel into a market leader. And the gap between where a stuck hotel is today and where it could be in 12 to 18 months is astonishing.

Now and in the future, the winners will be the ones that turn data into action, invest in smarter systems, and build agile teams. For the rest, the clock is ticking.

Tiago Castro

COO at Wotels

Wotels
There are two major developments in AI that are directly affecting hospitality and particularly hotel websites: AI Search bots pull only 25% of AI answers from hotel website content (VertoDigital), All of the generic hotel information, descriptions of services and amenities the AI Agent platforms have already scraped from publicly available information about the hotel on the Internet or from proprietary databases.

Agentic AI does not need websites for information or to make a booking. To access hotel ARI (Availability, Rates and Inventory), Personal AI Agents will communicate directly via APIs with the hotel cloud PMS, CRS, Channel Manager, the future hotel's own AI Agent, or via MCR middleware or APIs with the OTAs. Agentic AI in hospitality is a type of AI that makes autonomous travel decisions and performs specific tasks and goals, from travel planning, research of locations, amenities and rates, to actual booking of the hotel and all other travel components and auxiliaries to make their master's trip a success. In the near future, the Personal AI Agents will have the option to research, plan and book travel by making a "handshake" with the newly emerged hotel own AI Agent, or with the OTA's own AI Agent. If hoteliers do not provide the option, the only choice will be the OTA Agent. Some experts believe that, in the not so distant future, Agentic AI and AI Agent platforms will make hotel websites and mobile apps completely obsolete since AI does not need hotel websites for information or ARI. The question is, Is AI going to make hotel websites obsolete and if yes, when?

About 18 months ago, some people on LinkedIn touted that Conversational Interfaces would kill off websites. Current status? Tumbleweed. Visuals sell things, text supports. Websites enable owners to portray their brand and products/services as they see fit. No brand owner will allow a bot to scrape inventory at random and manipulate it in ways that may not best suit the brand. Not all hotel rooms are equal. Go to a GDS if you just want data. Transformer-based LLMs are essentially next-best-word algorithms, despite their immense scale. They produce correlations based on probability. "Agentic AI" is just an LLM trying to orchestrate the work of other LLMs. Blind leading the blind. They don't know up/down, left/right, now/later, etc, other than what they mimic from their training data. They have no real-world models to guide them. They also aren't good with numbers - a bit of a problem with rate comparisons and conditions! Gartner predicts that over 40% of Agentic AI projects will be cancelled by 2027. Cloudflare, a popular CDN, now blocks AI bots scraping websites. Brand owners will share data as they see fit via well-controlled APIs to trusted partners. Websites will continue to prosper. Agentic who?

Custodio Barreiros Founder & CEO, EIP MGT

The rapid advancement of AI, especially agentic technologies, is fundamentally changing hotel distribution and guest engagement. Recent data shows that only about 25% of AI-generated hotel information now comes from hotel websites; the rest is sourced from OTAs, public databases, and proprietary data. With the rise of agentic AI, personal digital agents will increasingly bypass traditional websites, connecting directly to hotels' systems via APIs to access availability, rates, and inventory, or to make bookings. This shift is already underway among major vendors and OTAs. However, declaring websites obsolete is premature. Adoption of AI-ready infrastructure remains uneven, and hotel websites still play a vital role in branding, storytelling, and handling complex transactions or regulatory needs. The challenge for hoteliers isn't whether websites will fade away, but how to evolve themwith structured, machine-readable content and open integrationsto remain competitive in an AI-first landscape. In short: as commerce shifts toward machine-to-machine transactions, the relevance of classic hotel websites will diminish, but adaptable, AI-ready digital assets will remain crucial. Now's the time for hotels to future-proof both their websites and core technology to stay ahead in this new ecosystem.

Related article by Custodio Barreiros

I don't believe AI will make hotel websites obsolete. If we learn anything from the past, every obstacle creates opportunity. Technology's direction isn't a single script; there are multiple paths and approaches. Where a problem needs to be solved, a tool will emerge to solve it. Someone will. Before long, AI search will fully shift to a standard approach, and traditional methods will fade without resistance because 'this is what we want'. Like other aggregation platforms, this will be monetized, and mechanisms to 'game' the system will develop. However, the crucial factor is the hospitality product itself. Some products lend themselves to full automation where efficiency is paramount. Others, built on high-touch service and emotional connection, demand the irreplaceable human element. For these, the hotel website will evolve into a dynamic brand storytelling platform, essential for conveying holistic value beyond mere attributes, thereby preventing obsolescence. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Martin Soler Partner at Soler & Associates

I think there's a chance that hotel webites get a whole new utility. Most of the standard hotel data exists in databases and on OTAs. But for all the hotels that have specific data, much more granular data that OTAs don't really have a way to show well, hotel websites would be the source of that. Plus additional photos etc., etc. As to Agentic - it is a hack, I don't think it is really the future. Things like TravelPerk seem to work in the background with the kind of hacks of simulating a human making bookings. It could work for business travel but, considering that travel is one of the biggest line items on the household budget, I'm not sure we're going to let an agentic AI book a trip for the family across Europe. However, it could be a massive support to a personal travel agent who now can take care of double or triple the amount of people.

Will AI Replace Hotel Websites? Not Yet  But It's Time to Get Ready AI is changing how travelers plan and book. Agentic AI and personal travel assistants now access hotel data directly via APIsfrom PMS, CRS, or OTAswithout relying much on websites. This raises a valid question: are hotel websites becoming irrelevant? Not yet. While AI is great for simple, repeat bookingslike business travelemotional, complex vacation planning still benefits from visual content, storytelling, and brand experience. Hotel websites remain a key touchpoint for inspiration and trust. Still, hotel tech leaders must prepare. The real risk isn't that websites disappear, but that guests interact only with OTA-owned AI if hotels don't integrate their own data and systems. The right response isn't panicit's planning. Build a clean, connected IT stack with a Central Data Management (CDM) platform. This enables your hotel to "talk" to AI platforms and stay visible in the booking journey. Monitor developments. Learn from others. And act when the time is right. AI won't kill the hotel website overnightbut the way we reach guests is changing fast. Stay part of the conversationor risk falling behind.

Max Starkov Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist

We are already witnessing the emergence of the Personal AI Agents. ChatGPT Operator, Google Gemini AI Agent, Microsoft Copilot AI Agent, Claude AI Agent, etc. are already a fact and their travel research, planning and booking capabilities are growing by the minute. The booking path via the Personal AI Agent will be very simple: the traveler tasks via voice or typed prompts their AI Agent to find a hotel within certain parameters (location, dates, price range) and, based on all of their "master's" preferences, the AI Agent finds and books the hotel and all necessary auxiliary services. Hotels will provide ARI (Availability, Rates, Inventory) to the Agentic AI platforms like ChatGPT Operator via the use of AI connectivity middleware like the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent-to-Agent (A2A) or via APIs to the property's CRS, Channel Manager or cloud PMS. DirectBooker, an AI connectivity startup backed by former Tripadvisor CEO Steve Kaufer and ex-Google Travel head Richard Holden, wants to enable hotel ARI directly into AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, circumventing the OTAs and making hotel websites obsolete. The question is, will hoteliers invest adequately in AI technology to prepare for the rise of the Personal AI Agents?

Related article by Max Starkov

AI may reduce dependence on traditional hotel websites, but it won't make them obsoleteat least not anytime soon. Instead, websites will evolve from static brochures into dynamic commerce layers built for both humans and AI agents. Yes, agentic AI can bypass the front-end to pull ARI via APIs, but those APIs need to exist somewhere. Hotels that leverage intelligent, API-first, and AI-native booking infrastructurenot just templates for human eyeballswill win. In fact, hotel websites become more important as the canonical, brand-owned source of truth and transaction, especially as loyalty, pricing, and personalization strategies grow more nuanced. Think of the hotel website like Stripe in a world of Apple Pay and ChatGPT. Consumers might not touch the interface, but it's the infrastructure beneath the experience. And if hotels don't invest in it, OTAs will gladly do it for them (again). So, yes, the old website is dead. But the new website: fast, intelligent, API-first, and with embedded commerce, is just getting started.

Ira Vouk Hospitality Technology and Revenue Management consultant

Not So Fast. Websites aren't going away  they're simply evolving to be more optimized for AI search rather than traditional SEO or the human eye. And here's why: 1. AI still relies heavily (and likely will continue to) on websites to gather information. Companies like OpenAI have developed agents that mimic human behavior, visiting existing websites to complete tasks (such as booking hotel rooms) just like a human travel agent would. This approach bypasses the need for extensive API development. 2. Given the massive fragmentation of our industry (with millions of traditional and non-traditional accommodations) it"s highly unlikely we'll ever see standard ARI APIs adopted universally. That makes it reasonable to assume that websites, albeit in a more AI-friendly format, will remain relevant. 3. Even if we eventually reach a point where machines rely mostly on structured databases for search and booking, there will still be plenty of humans in the mix  using their eyes to search, browse, and book.

Simone Puorto Head of Emerging Trends and Strategic Innovation, Hospitality Net

In my writings over the past decade, I have frequently returned to the notion that artificial intelligence is not merely an additional layer in the technological stack, but rather a reconfiguration of the Internet's ontological architecture. It redefines not only how we book, but also how we come to know, how we choose, and ultimately how we experience. AI is not simply the new interface, it is the new epistemology. And yet, in the face of this tectonic shift, the assertion that hotel websites are on the verge of obsolescence feels, at best, premature and, at worst, epistemologically superficial. Let me unpack that. Some years ago, I...

Related article by Simone Puorto

Hotel websites must evolve to meet the demands of an AI-driven landscape. AI agents are the new interface, seamlessly integrated into channels including websites, travel apps, smart speakers, and concierge systems. AI assistants are revolutionizing guest interactions by providing personalized assistance, including tailored recommendations. GenAI plugins, OTA assistants, and hotel-branded concierge bots will reshape the booking process. While websites still power transactions, they function more as APIs behind the scenes. Websites will transform into data hubs focused on attracting these intermediaries, playing a very different role than today. The era of brochure-like hotel websites is ending. Modern websites are becoming dynamic, interactive platforms, offering a personalized conversational experience that enables travelers to make better decisions. Real-time bundling of offers, smart upselling, and AI-curated content driven by user behavior are becoming standard. Looking forward, successful hotel websites will be intelligent distribution and data hubs connected to AI agents via structured data and APIs. They will return users personalized experiences through predictive UX that is integrated with loyalty programs, upsell opportunities, and local content. Websites will be optimized for both SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) to create even more value for both hotels and their guests.

Tomeu Fiol Global Hotel Technologies Director en Melia Hotels International

We are going through a major platform shift. Basically, we are moving from an internet made for humans to one made for AI agents. This changes everything. Hotel websites were designed for people to look, click, and book. But AI agents don't use websites. They search, compare, and book directly through APIs. However, APIs are rigid, and agents are now able to generate their own code and interact directly with CRUD databases. This means that our current Hotel Tech Stack is, in many ways, becoming a legacy system. I don't know about you, but in my case, I'm already using websites and apps less and less. In my daily work, I rely more on Copilots and AI tools like ChatGPT  both professionally and personally. Hotel websites won't disappear overnight. But if hotels don't adapt to this new AI-driven world, they will gradually lose visibility  and business.

Hotel websites won't necessarily disappear, but their role as a sales and information hub will drastically change over the next three to five years because of agentic AI. Hotel guests are turning more and more towards AI Booking & Distribution Assistants to get recommendations on their journey planning, and the direct reservation bookings at hotels via these agents is gaining very high traction already today. These agents are bypassing traditional websites, relying instead on structured, machine-readable data and direct API connections to research, compare, and book rooms in real time. For hotels to remain visible to agents, they must move away from closed systems and embrace open, API-first infrastructures that make their data instantly accessible to AI agents. It's also about the quality of the data. They must be clean, complete and up to date, covering availability, rates, room types, detailed amenities, guest experience, FAQ about your location  essentially anything a prospective guest might ask their AI agent. This is very important for AI to accurately represent a property and facilitate bookings, especially direct ones. Hotels that don't update their data risk losing control over their distribution to OTAs whose AI agents will fill the gap.

We need to resist the urge to see the world in terms of "all or nothing". Each time a new channel appears, like the AI chats, some people will prefer it to the previous channels. But many people will still prefer the previous way, which was working fine for them. Almost 20 years after the first smartphone appeared, by far the most relevant revolution in recent consumer tech, mobile bookings are still way smaller than desktop bookings. History tells us that new things don't kill old things; they sit next to them. Hotel websites will not die, just as tour operators haven't died in the age of OTAs. AI will transform hotel websites rather than eliminate them entirely. Rather than obsolescence, expect a symbiotic relationship where AI enhances discovery and hotel websites focus on conversion, detailed information, visual elements, and, crucially, brand storytelling. The future hotel site will act more like an expert concierge: proactive, intuitive, and frictionless. Static pages will give way to fluid, adaptive experiences with personalization at their heart.

I believe that the days of websites being the sole source of information or booking are changing. Agentic AI will dominate bookings, but websites will remain as the key driver of online traffic to hotel brands, managing hotels" digital identity as the ultimate brand touchpoint. And the rest of the guest journey? That will be handled by agentic AI. AI enhances hotel websites, making them less about transactions and more about rich and immersive brand narratives. Agentic AI is already here, responding to visitor enquiries in real time, tailoring content to individual needs, enhancing the online user experience and capturing the essential data the hotel can later leverage. This hyper-personalised and savvy experience will be key in converting web visitors into interested guests. This level of loyalty building will encourage direct repeat bookings, making hotel websites essential not only for transactions but also for fostering continuous engagement and a sense of brand community. To put it shortly, agentic AI is not replacing hotel websites. They are creating what appears to be a symbiotic relationship with websites to deliver a smarter digital brand experience.

For most hotels, particularly the 70% in the U.S. that are part of large branded chains, the answer is increasingly yes. These sites are often templated, thin on unique content, and exist in a world where brand standards, price, and location already drive bookings. As AI agents and OTAs streamline the search and booking process, they will dominate the customer journey by efficiently serving the traveler's intent, saving time, comparing options, and surfacing the best value. However, for luxury, boutique, and lifestyle properties, the opposite is true. These hotels trade on identity, emotion, and atmosphere, elements that require immersive storytelling and rich visual content to convey. AI-generated summaries and OTA listings can't fully capture ambiance or ethos. High-consideration travelers want to validate that a property aligns with their personal values and expectations, and content-rich, well-crafted websites are key to that process. If most hotel websites become obsolete, the remaining 30% gain a strategic edge. These sites have the opportunity to influence AI systems by providing detailed, compelling content optimized for niche queries. In a world increasingly shaped by generative AI, distinctive storytelling and rich brand expression won't be optional, they'll be a competitive advantage.

While AIs rise tempts us to declare the hotel website obsolete, this view misinterprets its future role. The website is evolving from a simple booking tool into the definitive custodian of a hotels brand and voice, a nuanced role that current AI interfaces cannot replicate. Its value is shifting from transaction to identity.The primary threat is not AI itself, but the data arms race against OTAs. With their robust APIs and documentation, OTAs are positioned as the default data source for emerging AI agents. If a hotels own information is not equally accessible, AI will inevitably favour the third-party channel, eroding direct relationships.To compete, hoteliers must pursue a dual strategy simultaneously. First, they must transform hotel content from website prose into structured, machine-readable content, the single source of truth for everything from amenities to sustainability policies. Second, they need to invest in a modern technical infrastructure, including APIs and up-to-date channel managers, required to syndicate this data directly.A hotel's relevance in the AI era will be defined not by its web pages, but by its ability to become the most reliable and updated data source for its own property.

George Roukas Partner at Hudson Crossing
IHG to Open New Vignette Collection Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam



IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement to open a Vignette Collection hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in partnership with LCK Hospitality Company Limited.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of a new Vignette Collection property in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The hotel, developed in partnership with LCK Hospitality Company Limited, will feature 52 rooms and is set to open later this year. This marks the second Vignette Collection property in Vietnam, following the Moire Hoi An.

The hotel will be located in the city center, approximately half an hour's drive from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It will be situated near local attractions such as Ben Thanh Market, Independence Palace, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, and Saigon Opera House. The location is also adjacent to antique and art galleries and close to the Fine Arts Museum.

The Vignette Collection is IHG's first collection brand, which includes a variety of unique hotels worldwide. The new property in Ho Chi Minh City will join a global portfolio of 23 open hotels and 38 in the pipeline.

Vietnam has experienced a rise in travel demand, with 10.7 million international visitors in the first half of 2025, a 21% increase compared to the previous year. Ho Chi Minh City alone attracted 3.8 million international visitors during this period, a 44% increase year-on-year. The city is known for its historical sites, cultural attractions, markets, and culinary scene.

IHG currently operates 20 hotels across eight brands in Vietnam, with a pipeline of 22 additional properties. Approximately 60% of its existing portfolio in the country falls under the Luxury & Lifestyle segment, which includes brands such as Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, and Hotel Indigo.
Clark Art Hosts Opportunity to Meet, Make Art With CATA

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  On Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 1 pm, the Clark Art Institute invites visitors to meet the artists featured in the Community Access to the Arts (CATA) exhibition "I Am a Part of Art" that is currently on view at the Clark and participate in art-making activities along with them.

The event takes place in the Hunter Studio, located in the Lunder Center at Stone Hill on the Clark's campus.

Spend the afternoon with the artists featured in the exhibit, learning and creating together as they share their approaches to making art. Materials will be available for visitors to experiment with the same media used by the artists. "I Am a Part of Art" is presented annually by CATA and the Clark, celebrating the work of artists with disabilities.
Central Berkshire Regional officials reported positive effects from using Yondr pouches to lock up cell phones during the school days.

Central Berkshire Cell Phone Policy A 'Gamechanger'

DALTON, Mass.  Officials say Central Berkshire Regional School District's cell phone policy has been a success

In 2023, the district updated its cell phone policy to prohibit use during school hours to ensure that the use of cell phones or other electronic devices by students and staff does not interfere with learning.

To accomplish a cell phone free learning environment the district has been utilizing Yondr pouches in the middle and high schools.

The pouches make cell phones inaccessible to students but allows the students to keep phones in their possession.

According to school staff and parents, the policy and the Yondr pouches have been a complete gamechanger, Assistant Superintendent Aaron Robb said at last week's School Committee meeting.

"[Teachers] feel like they have control of the learning environment again. They feel like they have the students' attention again," he said.

The lunch rooms are louder, Robb said.

"When I tell other administrators that there are no cell phones in our lunch rooms. They don't believe me. They think I'm lying," Superintendent Michael Henault said with a chuckle.

Robb also highlighted how a committee member from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges expressed surprise of the lack of phones in the schools.

"I had to bring her through Main Street during lunchtime, and we got into one of the hallways, and she kind of doubled back [and] goes 'I didn't see anybody on cell phones,'"

When Robb explained that when he told her that she would not see cell phones at lunch she was taken aback with surprise.

Some parents have also reached out to express that they have seen behavioral changes in the students at home, Robb said.

"[The parents] noticed a positive difference in their students at home, less anxiety, not as depressed or withdrawn," he said.

The policy hit the nail on the head and the district is ahead of the curve, Robb said.

"It was a smart thing to do. This past year was a far better year in the sense that students knew coming in, and they were very good about it," he said.

Since the enactment of the policy, the district has seen a substantial reduction in cell phone infractions.

"Prior to 2023 there were approximately 200 cell phone infractions per month. By May 2024 that number had dropped to 11 per month. So we're up to 20 or fewer per month," School Committee member Elizabeth Oakes said.

The vast majority of infractions when the policy was first implemented where within the first three weeks, which was anticipated as students adjusted to the change, Robb said.

A lot of Wahconah Regional High School students choose not to use the Yondr pouches, opting to leave phones in their lockers or cars instead. However, if they are found with their phones, then they are to place them in the pouches until the end of the day, she said.

"We are probably ahead of the curve, because the state may be implementing a cell phone ban statewide. We don't have to order more Yondr pouches. There is enough for the sixth grade, and data will continue to be reviewed," Oakes said.

The district had zero suspensions across the district for cell phone-based infractions, which is pretty impressive, Henault said.

Before the change, each month there were more than 200 infractions resulting in detentions or more at both Nessacus Regional Middle School and Wahconah Regional High School combined.

"Now it's down to like single digits," he said.

School Committee member Paul Farella said it is very encouraging to hear about the positive direction this policy has had through the anecdotal stories and the quantifiable metrics that the district can track.

Yondr pouches have been adopted by a number of school districts across the Berkshires with positive results.
Williams Student Seeking Community Service in Vandalism Incident

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  A Williams College student charged in a commencement day vandalism incident is asking Northern Berkshire District Court to agree to a community service plan.

Liam Carey, 20, of Virginia, is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Aug. 11, to answer to charges of vandalism, destruction of property less than $1,200, resisting arrest and trespass arising from the June 8 incident.

Williamstown Police responded to the scene near the commencement grounds at about 7 a.m. to find that Carey had removed the American flag from a college-owned flag pole and replaced it with a Palestine flag.

College officials told police that Carey had smashed a security box, cut a rope and tied one end of a rope on the flag pole to his wrist, according to an affidavit from Officer Brad Sacco.

Police also saw graffiti on nearby granite slabs at the entrance to the Williams Quad and on the stone pathway to Chapin Hall quad. The graffiti included statements like "They Killed our Childhood," "Queer as in Free Palestine," "[Explitive] All Colonizers" and "Williams Funds Genocide," the affidavit reads.

Williams covered up the granite slabs before the crowd started arriving for the commencement, which went off without a hitch.

Sacco wrote that, "All colors observed on the Granite slabs and walkways were located on Careys [sic] pants and fingernails."

A motion filed on July 2 by Carey's attorney, Luke Ryan of Northampton's Strehorn, Ryan and Hoose, argued that Carey is eligible for pretrial diversion because he had no prior criminal record and no outstanding warrants and none of the charges carry "a penalty of incarceration greater than 5 years or [have] a minimum mandatory penalty of incarceration."

Ryan's filing included a letter from the executive director of a Buddhist-based environmental non-profit called Earth Sangha in Annandale, Va.

Madeline Bright told Judge Paul M. Vrabel that Carey has volunteered with the group since he was a high school student in 2021 and completed a summer internship with Earth Sangha last summer.

"Both as a volunteer and as an intern, I came to know Liam as a hard-working young man of upstanding moral character," Bright wrote.

"In addition to being an asset to our organization and the broader community, I believe that having Liam join us again this Summer would be beneficial to him. Propagating local native plants, restoring native plant communities and controlling non-native invasive plants is hard work. However, it almost always improves the mental and physical well-being of those who perform it."

Ryan's motion also included three letters from local residents serving as character references, including one who noted Carey's appearance at a Williamstown Select Board meeting in March 2024.

Carey was one of dozens of local residents that winter who urged the board to adopt a resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities in the territory of Gaza, where Israel was pursuing the terrorist group Hamas, a campaign that generated widespread reports of civilian casualties.

"I didn't prepare a speech," Carey told the board. "I'm not very good at public speaking. But I'm moved to speak because of a really good friend of mine. He's Palestinian. Couldn't be here today because his parents always told him: Keep your head down, don't show your face because it's dangerous.

"But he has close family in Gaza right now, and it's been brutal the past months watching him watch his family suffer like that and watching him scroll through Instagram seeing the news."

Carey said at the time that not enough people were paying attention to the war in Gaza.

"Sometimes, it feels so powerless," he said. "I remember one time after Israel started bombing Rafa, [Williams College's Students for Justice in Palestine] organized a 'die-in' where we broadcast news of what was happening. And he was watching as people walked by, not even looking.

"Anyway, what I'm saying is it can feel very isolated, very powerless when it seems like no one's watching you and it seems like no one cares."

Williams professor Atiya Husain described Carey as a caring person in her letter of reference, twice noting his "warmth and kindness."

"I have observed him listen to his classmates, carefully consider what he hears, and even revisit his position in the moment upon hearing something new," Husain wrote. "I have also observed the reverse: when he disagrees with a classmate and the classmate revisits their own position based on a new argument he shares. Liam's ability to create and sustain this sort of dynamic in classroom discussions attests to a number of Liam's admirable qualities.

"Students at Williams College are known to be conscientious, earnest, warm and hard-working; Liam embodies these qualities."

Under Massachusetts law, a court can consider the report of the Berkshire District Attorney's Office and "any victims  regarding the diversion of the defendant," according to Ryan's motion.

Through a spokesperson, Williams College has declined to say what, if any, statement it will make to the court.

"It's up to the District Attorney's office to decide whether or not to pursue criminal vandalism charges," Williams interim Director of Media Relations Amy Lovett wrote in reply to an email. "You'll need to be in touch with them."

Lovett also said "federal law and college policies" prevent the school from disclosing whether Carey, a member of the Class of 2027 according to his college identification card, remains enrolled at Williams.
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South Korean authorities have begun dismantling loudspeakers along its border with North Korea in an attempt to reduce tensions.

The speakers had previously been used to blast anti-North Korean propaganda and K-pop music across the border, but the Souths new liberal government halted the broadcasts in June.

The move to stop the broadcasts was seen as a conciliatory gesture as South Korea looks to rebuild trust and revive dialogue with Pyongyang, which has largely cut off cooperation with the South in recent years.

open image in gallery Soldiers could be seen unplugging loudspeakers, mounted together like a wall, and taking them down ( Reuters )

But North Korea recently rebuffed the overtures, saying that it had no interest in talking to South Korea.

South Koreas Defence Ministry said the physical removal of the loudspeakers from the border was another practical measure aimed at easing tensions between the war-divided Koreas and that it does not affect the Souths military readiness.

Lee Kyung-ho, a spokesperson for the ministry, didnt share specific details on how the removed loudspeakers will be stored or whether they could be quickly redeployed to the border if tensions flare again between the two.

open image in gallery The speakers had previously been used to blast anti-North Korean propaganda and K-pop music across the border ( South Korean Defence Ministry/AFP )

Soldiers could be seen unplugging loudspeakers, mounted together like a wall, and taking them down, photographs provided by the defence ministry showed.

There were no discussions between the two militaries ahead of the Souths decision to remove the speakers, Lee said during a briefing.

North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its authoritarian leaderskhip and its third-generation ruler, Kim Jong Un, did not comment on the South Korean step.

The Souths previous conservative government resumed the daily loudspeaker broadcasts in June last year following a years-long pause in retaliation for North Korea flying trash-laden balloons toward the South.

open image in gallery ( South Korean Defence Ministry/AF )

The speakers blasted propaganda messages and K-pop songs, a playlist designed to strike a nerve in Pyongyang. Officials claimed at the time that the sound travelled up to 15 miles at night.

Kims government has been intensifying a campaign to eliminate the influence of South Korean pop culture and language among the population in a bid to strengthen his familys dynastic rule.

The psychological warfare campaigns further heightened tensions already inflamed by North Koreas advancing nuclear programme and South Korean efforts to expand joint military exercises with the United States and their trilateral security cooperation with Japan.

South Korean president Lee Jae Myung, a liberal who took office in June after winning an early election to replace ousted conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, has vowed to improve relations with Pyongyang.

But Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, rebuffed overtures by Lees government last week, saying that Seouls blind trust in the countrys alliance with the US and hostility toward North Korea make it no different from its conservative predecessor.
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Shah Rukh Khan has won the National Film Award for best actor, marking the first time the Bollywood star has received the honour in a career spanning over three decades.

The actor received the award on Friday for his performance in the 2023 Hindi action drama Jawan. He plays a dual role as Captain Vikram Rathore, an army commando, and his son Azad, a jailer who recruits women prisoners for a vigilante team unmasking corruption in India.

The film was directed by Tamil director Atlee in his Hindi debut and also featured Deepika Padukone in a special appearance.

Khan shared the honour, Indias top state award for cinema, with Vikrant Massey, who received it for 12th Fail, a Hindi biographical drama following police officer Manoj Kumars journey.

Rani Mukherjee, one of Khans frequent collaborators, also won her first National Film Award for her role in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. She plays Debika, an Indian immigrant fighting against the Norwegian foster care system to win back custody of her children.

The jury described Khans turn in Jawan as a powerhouse performance.

Awarded to the actor for delivering a powerhouse performance, balancing raw intensity and acting depth and bringing to life a hero who fights not just enemies, but society, creating two unforgettable cinema personas.

The jury was chaired by Ashutosh Gowariker, a coincidence many considered poetic since he had directed Khan in 2004s Swades, a role widely viewed as deserving of recognition at the time.

open image in gallery Shah Rukh Khan wins his first National Film Award for best actor ( Getty Images for The Met Museum )

The National Film Award for Khan comes after decades of commercial and critical success for the actor.

Khan started out in the 1988 television series Fauji and made his feature film debut in Deewana in 1992. He had previously received 14 Filmfare awards, the Indian civilian award Padma Shri in 2005, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Legion of Honour from France, along with several other international and national awards.

Khan released a video message thanking the jury for the latest award, his family, the directors he worked with, his team, and his fans.

A National Award is not just about achievement, he said. It's a reminder that what I do, matters. It tells me to keep going, keep working hard, keep creating and keep serving cinema.

open image in gallery Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan strikes his iconic pose as he greets fans during his 58th birthday celebrations at his residence in Mumbai ( AFP via Getty )

Khans win was celebrated not just by his fans but many in the Indian film industry, including frequent co-star Juhi Chawla, who shared a throwback picture of themselves on social media to congratulate him.

Fans on social media were also happy that Khan had finally won the award, with many suggesting SRK deserved it long ago, especially for performances in Swades, Chak De! India (2007), and My Name Is Khan (2010), which some critics too believe merited consideration in their respective years.

Earlier this year, Khan made headlines internationally by becoming the first Indian male actor to attend the 2025 Met Gala in New York.
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A top aide to Donald Trump accused India of aiding Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil as tensions between New Delhi and Washington soared over ties with Moscow.

India is lately facing relentless American pressure over its relations with Russia, a longstanding defence and trade partner.

Just last week, Mr Trump threatened New Delhi with unspecified penalties over and above a new 25 per cent import tariff for buying oil and weapons from Russia.

Mr Trump, who had listed ending the war in Ukraine a top priority for his second presidential term, has been threatening sanctions on countries trading with Moscow after accusing Mr Putin of stalling ceasefire talks. The US president has also resumed sending weapons to Ukraine.

Mr Trump is threatening to impose a 100 per cent tariff on exports to the US from any nation purchasing Russian oil in defiance of Western sanctions unless Moscow agrees a peace deal with Ukraine and ends the war.

What he said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told Fox News, referring to the US president. "People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. Thats an astonishing fact."

Mr Millers remarks constitute Washingtons strongest criticism yet of one of its key partners in the Indo-Pacific. India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world, but they don't accept our products. They impose massive tariffs on us, he said. We also know they engage in a lot of cheating on immigration policies that is very harmful to American workers.

Stephen Miller says Donald Trump wants a tremendous relationship with India but we need to get real about dealing with the financing of this war ( Getty )

The White House aide said Mr Trump sought a tremendous relationship with India and its leader Narendra Modi but we need to get real about dealing with the financing of this war. All options are on the table, to deal diplomatically, financially and otherwise with the ongoing war in Ukraine so we can achieve peace, Mr Miller said.

Russia is the leading oil supplier to India, the worlds third-largest consumer of the commodity, accounting for some 35 per cent of its imports. Russia exported nearly 1.75 million barrels of oil to India per day between January and June this year, a rise of about one per cent from a year ago, Reuters reported.

And despite Mr Trumps threats, Indian officials said the country would keep purchasing oil from Russia.

These are long-term oil contracts," a government source told Reuters on Saturday. "It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight.

Justifying oil purchases from Russia, another official said India's imports from Russia helped avoid a global surge in prices, which remained subdued despite Western curbs on the Russian oil sector.

Unlike Iranian and Venezuelan oil, Russian crude is not subject to direct sanctions and India is buying it below the current price cap fixed by the European Union, the official told Reuters.
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Eighty years ago, on 6 August, the detonation of the first atomic bomb transformed the small, rural island of Ninoshima, just south of Hiroshima, into a harrowing makeshift hospital.

Thousands of dead and dying victims, transported by military boats whose crews had trained for suicide missions, were brought ashore.

The scene was one of unimaginable suffering; many victims had their clothes burned off, their flesh hung from their faces and limbs, and their moans of pain filled the air.

Due to poor medicine and inadequate care, only a few hundred remained alive when the field hospital closed on 25 August, according to historical records.

Their burials were chaotic and rushed, with bodies interred in various locations.

Decades on, the search for the remains of the missing continues, driven by a profound desire to account for and honour the victims.

This ongoing effort also seeks to bring relief to survivors still tormented by memories of their lost loved ones.

As Rebun Kayo, a Hiroshima University researcher who regularly visits Ninoshima to search for remains, starkly put it: "Until that happens, the war is not over for these people."

Evidence of the missing is still being unearthed

open image in gallery Rebun Kayo, a Hiroshima University researcher, searches for remains of victims of the 1945 Hiroshima bombing in Ninoshima in Hiroshima, western Japan ( The Associated Press/Eugene Hoshiko )

On a recent morning, Kayo visited a hillside plot in the forest where he has dug for remains since 2018. He put on rubber boots and a helmet and sprayed insect repellent.

After planting chrysanthemum flowers and praying, Kayo carefully began shoveling gravel from a hole the size of a bathtub. When the soil was soft enough, he sifted it for bone fragments.

As he worked under the scorching sun, he imagined the pain and sadness that the victims felt when they died.

Kayo so far has found about 100 bone fragments, including skull pieces and an infants jaw bone with little teeth attached.

He found the bones in an area suggested by a Ninoshima resident, whose father had witnessed soldiers burying bodies that were brought to the island on boats from Hiroshima 80 years ago.

The little child buried here has been alone for all these years, he said of the bones he believes belonged to a toddler. It's just intolerable."

Victims arrived in the bombing's chaotic aftermath

open image in gallery Tamiko Sora, right, 83, an atomic bombing survivor in Hiroshima, puts her hands together in prayer after being shown a fragment of human bone found on Ninoshima Island by Rebun Kayo, left, a Hiroshima University researcher ( Associated Press/Eugene Hoshiko )

The U.S. atomic attack on Hiroshima instantly destroyed the city and killed tens of thousands near the hypocenter, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Ninoshima. The death toll by the end of that year was 140,000.

As a 3-year-old child, Tamiko Sora was with her parents and two sisters at their home just 1.4 kilometers (0.9 mile) from the hypocenter. The blast destroyed their house and Sora's face was burned, but most of her family survived.

As they made their way to a relatives' home, she met an unattended five-year-old girl who identified herself as Hiroko and a woman with severe burns desperately asking people to save the baby she carried. Sora still thinks of them often and regrets her family could not help. Her family visited orphanages but could not find the girl.

Sora now thinks the people she met that day, as well as her missing aunt and uncle, might have ended up on Ninoshima.

Ninoshima saw 3 weeks of chaos, deaths and rushed burials

open image in gallery Kazuo Miyazaki, a local historian and head of the Ninoshima History Volunteer Guide Association, opens his peace information center ( Associated Press/Eugene Hoshiko )

Within two hours of the blast, victims began arriving by boat from Hiroshima at the island's No. 2 quarantine center. Its buildings filled with patients with severe wounds. Many died on the way to the island.

Imperial Army service members were on around-the-clock shifts for cremation and burials on the island, according to Hiroshima City documents.

Eiko Gishi, then an 18-year-old boat trainee, oversaw carrying patients from the pier to the quarantine area for first aid. He and other soldiers cut bamboo to make cups and trays. Many of the wounded died soon after sipping water.

In recollections published by the city years later, Gishi wrote that soldiers carefully handled bodies one by one at the beginning, but were soon overwhelmed by the huge number of decomposing bodies and used an incinerator originally meant for military horses.

Even this wasn't enough and they soon ran out of space, eventually putting bodies into bomb shelters and in burial mounds.

I was speechless from the shock when I saw the first group of patients that landed on the island, a former army medic, Yoshitaka Kohara, wrote in 1992.

I was used to seeing many badly wounded soldiers on battlefields, but I had never seen anyone in such a cruel and tragic state," he said. It was an inferno.

Kohara was at the facility until its closure, when only about 500 people were left alive. When he told surviving patients that the war had ended on Aug. 15, he recalled they looked emotionless and tears flowed from their crushed eyes, and nobody said a word."

Thousands of remains found on Ninoshima but more are still missing

open image in gallery Tourists walk past the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, western Japan ( Associated Press/Eugene Hoshiko )

Kazuo Miyazaki, a Ninoshima-born historian and guide, said that toward the end of WWII the island was used to train suicide attackers using wooden boats meant for deployment in the Philippine Sea and Okinawa.

Hiroshima was not a city of peace from the beginning. Actually, it was the opposite, Miyazaki said. Its essential that you learn from the older generations and keep telling the lessons to the next.

Miyazaki, 77, lost a number of relatives in the atomic bombing. He has heard first-person stories from his relatives and neighbors about what happened on Ninoshima, which was home to a major army quarantine during Japan's militarist expansion. His mother was an army nurse who was deployed to the field hospital on the island.

The remains of about 3,000 atomic bombing victims brought to Ninoshima have been found since 1947 when many were dug out of bomb shelters. Thousands more are thought to be missing.

People visit the island to remember the missing

After learning of the search for remains on Ninoshima, Sora, the atomic bomb survivor struck by the girl and infant she met after the explosion, traveled to the island twice to pray at a cenotaph commemorating the dead.

I feel they are waiting for me to visit, Sora said. When I pray, I speak the names of my relatives and tell them Im well and tell them happy stories.

In a recent visit to Sora at her nursing home, the researcher Kayo brought a plastic box containing the baby jaw with little teeth and skull fragments he found on Ninoshima. The bones were placed carefully on a bed of fluffy cotton.

Kayo said he wanted to show Sora the fragile fragments, which could be from a child the same age as the one Sora met 80 years ago. He plans to eventually take the bones to a Buddhist temple.

Sora prayed in silence while looking at the bones in the box and then spoke to them.

Im so happy you were finally found," she said. "Welcome back.
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Top defence officials of Thailand and Cambodia began talks in Malaysia on Monday to hold the ceasefire on the border, a week after the worst fighting broke out between the two Southeast Asian countries in decades.

The meeting of the General Border Committee, a bilateral mechanism established between two neighbours to resolve border issues, will continue for four days, concluding with the meeting of the defence ministers of the two countries on Thursday. The defence ministers' meeting will be joined by observers from Malaysia, the US and China.

The meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur at a neutral venue and was extended from one day to four days at the request of Thailand due to the sensitivity of the situation.

Malaysia brokered a ceasefire with the help of delegations from the US and China on 29 July after five days of fighting killed 43 people and displaced hundreds of thousands on both sides of the border.

Mostly civilians were killed in the border clashes that included artillery fire and jet fighter sorties after the two sides blamed each other for triggering the conflict.

While the ceasefire holds, the Cambodian defence ministry on Sunday accused Thailand of violating the ceasefire agreement by using excavators and laying barbed wire in a contested border area.

open image in gallery Thai residents who fled homes following the clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers, rest at an evacuation center in Surin province, Thailand ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Thailand said both sides are maintaining their position without any significant movements, however, it accused Cambodia of reinforcement along the border.

But "there are reports that the Cambodian side has modified their positions and reinforced their troops in key areas... to replace personnel lost in each area," said Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, a Thai military spokesperson.

Cambodia also demanded that Thailand release 18 of its captured soldiers as soon as possible.

open image in gallery Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, center, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet left and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai pose for photos after talks on a possible ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia in Putrajaya

open image in gallery A man walks inside a building, damaged by an artillery, during a visit of delegation of foreign diplomats to inspect a damaged area along the Thailand-Cambodia's border, following a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, in Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia ( REUTERS )

Thailand said in a statement that the group are being treated well as "prisoners of war" and will be released after "a complete cessation of the armed conflict, not just a ceasefire."

The clashes, which began near the ancient Ta Moan Thom temple in Thailands Surin province, quickly spread to other disputed areas. Cambodian officials accused Thailand of launching air strikes and dropping bombs on roads inside its territory. Thailand blamed Cambodia for laying new landmines  one of which injured a Thai soldier and prompted a swift military response, including the deployment of F-16 fighter jets.

Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim brokered a ceasefire in his capacity as Asean chair, while the US president Donald Trump has claimed credit for pressuring the two warring parties into a ceasefire after he said threatened to cease tariff deal talks.
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An urgent warning has been issued over the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that has the potential to reach the UK.

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria is spreading rapidly among children being treated for severe malnutrition in a hospital facility in Niger, a new study has found.

The researchers described the concerning findings as an early warning to the world and a stark reminder of how fast antimicrobial resistance can spread, including to Britain.

Antibiotics are life-saving medicines that are becoming ineffective due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)  a process in which bacteria, fungi and parasites have developed the ability to resist the action of medicines.

Professor Owen B Spiller, head of medical microbiology at Cardiff University and co-author of the new paper, told The Independent: Due to increased international travel, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can and do reach the UK.

open image in gallery There is currently a worsening starvation crisis in Gaza ( REUTERS )

What were seeing in Niger is a stark reminder of how fast antimicrobial resistance can spread when surveillance projects are under-resourced. AMR surveillance isnt just about tracking bacteria locally, its a global early warning system. Without it, were flying blind as these superbugs evolve and cross borders.

The UK government needs to sustain investment in monitoring resistance, not only to protect vulnerable populations in places like Niger, but to safeguard public health here in the UK.

A UK government spokesperson said it recognises AMR as a major threat and is committed to urgently tackling its spread, with progress already made, including on reducing antibiotic use in meat.

Professor Spiller also said the new research on malnourished children provides stark evidence that humanitarian crises amplify the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance.

Globally, 45 million children under the age of five are estimated to be severely malnourished, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), with these children also at a higher risk of developing life-threatening infections like tuberculosis, or sepsis due to their weakened immune systems.

There is currently a worsening starvation crisis in Gaza. Medics there say dozens have died of malnutrition in recent days as hunger sets in, after Israel cut off all supplies to the enclave for nearly three months from March-May, and restricted supplies since.

Professor Spiller called on the international community to take action to prevent vulnerable children from dying from infections that should be easy to treat.

He said: Without coordinated international action, combining antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance, and improved hygiene infrastructure, resistant bacteria will continue to spread unchecked. We urgently need global investment to safeguard antibiotics for children facing severe malnutrition in resource-limited settings.

The new study, led by the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) with Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), involved analysing over 3,000 rectal swabs from 1,371 children under the age of five being treated for severe malnutrition between 2016 and 2017.

Their findings, published in Nature Communications on Friday, showed that more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of children carried bacteria with extended-spectrum -lactamase (ESBL) genes, which can break down many commonly used antibiotics.

One in four children carried bacteria with carbapenemase genes like blaNDM, which can cause resistance to some of the most powerful and last-resort antibiotics called carbapenems. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of children who did not carry bacteria that was resistant to this strong class of antibiotics upon admission were found to carry them when they were discharged.

If antibiotic-resistant bacteria remain in the gut, these children could be at risk in the future of developing infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, diarrhoea and urinary tract infections that do not respond to antibiotic treatment, warned the researchers.

Dr Kirsty Sands, scientific lead at IOI and lead author, said: These are some of the most vulnerable children in the world, and were seeing them pick up bacteria that dont respond to life-saving antibiotics.

While our study was focused in one treatment facility in Niger, this situation is likely mirrored in many more hospitals around the world. As AMR continues to increase globally, concurrent humanitarian crises such as wars and climate change are exacerbating malnutrition, leading to overcrowded treatment centres.

Dr Celine Langendorf, a lab coordinator at MSF, added: Our latest findings highlight the urgent need to prioritise infection prevention and control measures in hospitals to protect the most vulnerable patients. In crowded hospitals with limited resources, these bacteria can spread easily from child to child. Without urgent action, more children could die from infections that used to be easy to treat.

A UK government spokesperson said: Our 10 Year Health Plan recognises antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a major threat and commits to urgently tackle its spread, including through new vaccines.

"We have made important progress  reducing antibiotic use in meat and pioneering a world-first subscription model to incentivise the development of new treatments. We also continue to work closely with international partners to influence global efforts to limit the spread of AMR.

They said the governments 2024-29 UK AMR National Action Plan includes commitments to strengthen surveillance to improve the UKs capabilities to measure, predict, and mitigate the evolution and transmission of drug-resistant infections, locally, nationally and internationally.

They added that the government has galvanised global support at the UN, including the agreement of a political declaration on AMR, which included targets to reduce AMR deaths by 10 per cent by 2030.
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Scientists have finally unravelled the decade-long mystery behind the devastating epidemic that has killed more than five billion sea stars off the Pacific coast of North America.

The breakthrough identifies a specific bacterium as the culprit, offering a crucial step towards saving the iconic marine creatures.

Since 2013, a mysterious sea star wasting disease has caused a mass die-off from Mexico to Alaska, affecting over 20 species and continuing its destructive path today.

The sunflower sea star was particularly hard hit, losing approximately 90 per cent of its population within the first five years of the outbreak.

"Its really quite gruesome," said marine disease ecologist Alyssa Gehman at the Hakai Institute in British Columbia, Canada, who contributed to pinpointing the cause.

She described how healthy sea stars typically have "puffy arms sticking straight out", but the disease causes them to develop lesions before "their arms actually fall off."

open image in gallery Hakai Institute research scientist Alyssa Gehman checks on an adult sunflower sea star at the U.S. Geological Survey's Marrowstone Marine Field Station in Washington state ( Hakai Institute )

The long-sought answer, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, points to a bacterium that has also been found to infect shellfish.

The findings "solve a long-standing question about a very serious disease in the ocean," said Rebecca Vega Thurber, a marine microbiologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who was not involved in the study.

Identifying the cause proved to be a complex, decade-long endeavour, fraught with false leads.

Early research mistakenly focused on a densovirus, which was later found to be a normal resident within healthy sea stars, not linked to the disease, according to Melanie Prentice of the Hakai Institute, a co-author of the new study.

Previous attempts also failed because researchers studied tissue samples from dead sea stars that no longer contained the vital bodily fluid surrounding their organs.

open image in gallery Healthy populations of sunflower sea stars are seen in the Knight Inlet fjord of the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada, in 2023 ( Hakai Institute )

The latest study, however, meticulously analysed this fluid, known as coelomic fluid, where the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida was ultimately discovered.

Microbiologist Blake Ushijima of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, who was not involved in the research, praised the team's "really smart and significant" detective work, noting the immense difficulty in tracing environmental disease sources, especially underwater.

With the cause now identified, scientists are better positioned to intervene.

Ms Prentice suggested that researchers could now test the remaining sea stars for health, considering relocation or captive breeding programmes to reintroduce them to areas where sunflower sea stars have been decimated.

They may also investigate if certain populations possess natural immunity or if treatments like probiotics could boost resistance to the disease.

open image in gallery A sunflower sea star is reduced to goo by sea star wasting disease at Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada, in 2015 ( Hakai Institute )

The recovery of sea star populations is not merely about saving a single species; it is vital for the entire Pacific ecosystem. Healthy sea stars play a crucial role in controlling sea urchin populations.

"Theyre voracious eaters," Ms Gehman explained about the sunflower sea stars, despite their seemingly innocent appearance, as they consume almost everything on the ocean floor.

The dramatic decline in sea stars led to an explosion in sea urchin numbers, which in turn devoured approximately 95 per cent of Northern Californias kelp forests within a decade.

These kelp forests are critical habitats, providing food and shelter for a diverse array of marine life, including fish, sea otters, and seals.

Researchers are hopeful that these new findings will enable them to restore sea star populations and, consequently, regrow the kelp forests that Ms Thurber compares to "the rainforests of the ocean".
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Dozens of suspects who were reportedly part of the 2024 riots are still wanted by police a year after disorder that broke out across the UK.

A police body said it is officers determination to track down those involved and serve as a warning to troublemakers not to repeat the unrest this year.

A website is being set up with details of around 40 suspects still wanted across five police forces  Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cleveland, Northumbria and Avon and Somerset.

Disorder spread across the UK in the wake of the Southport murders last year, amid false rumours that the killer was a Muslim immigrant.

The unrest led to a total of 1,876 people being arrested, with 1,110 charged so far, the National Police Chiefs Council said.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, its data tracking cases related to the disorder shows 821 defendants out of 859 were convicted by the end of March this year.

This month, multiple protests have been held outside a hotel in Epping where migrants are housed after an asylum-seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

open image in gallery 24 unidentified suspects involved in the disorder in Southport in 2024, that the police are appealing for help with identifying ( Police.uk/PA Wire )

There have been additional protests in Norfolk and London, but so far wider unrest has been avoided.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith, who led the national response to investigating the riots, told the PA news agency: We have a duty to facilitate protest  but what we saw last year, and in a few isolated cases this year, is where its gone to criminality and to serious disorder.

In those cases what I think we can learn from last year is that justice will be swift, and I hope that that would be a deterrent to anyone thinking about engaging in serious disorder this year.

Weve made effective use of CCTV, bodyworn video, and weve been able to bring a lot of people in front of the courts.

The police chief also said officers are working very hard to contain the small pockets of disorder this year.

He said: I think theyve been isolated because of a swift police response to them, and I think thats the key thing.

If we can respond to serious disorder swiftly, I think we can contain that and prevent it from spreading across the country, so thats what were working very hard on.

open image in gallery 24 unidentified suspects involved in the disorder in Southport in 2024, that the police are appealing for help with identifying ( Police.uk/PA Wire )

Since last year, Mr Drummond-Smith added: Weve sharpened up our ability to mobilise quickly and move resources around the country so we can achieve that quicker.

Last summers disturbances, which saw mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted, were denounced at the time as far-right thuggery by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Police chiefs are now launching the national appeal for suspects wanted over significant public order offences from the disorder, including throwing bricks and serious assaults of members of the public.

Local and social media appeals sharing images of the suspects have already been used to try to track them down, but the senior officer said they could have travelled into the area from another part of the country.

open image in gallery Riots swept across the UK last summer after the Southport stabbings ( PA Wire )

Mr Drummond-Smith said: One year on, weve still got some people who we have got good images of and we havent yet identified.

I think the key thing is having a good image of someone is one thing, knowing who they are is another. Were asking the public to have a look, and if they recognise anyone in those images, to let us know who they are and bring them to justice.

To view the website go to police.uk/disorder-appeal
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Straightening her hair and complaining about her broken phone charger, Andrea Gharshallahs last morning with her daughter in March 2018 had been unremarkable.

A proud mother of two boys, a passionate cook of Sunday roasts and a lover of music, Georgina was surrounded by a close-knit family, which included her confidante mother and three sisters.

While her life in later years had been unpredictable and she had suffered with social anxiety and bulimia, the Gharshallah family had no inkling that once she walked out of her family home in Worthing, she would never be seen again.

Seven years and five months later, neither a police investigation nor the constant searches of her family have brought any clues.

open image in gallery Georginas bank account and phone have not been used since the morning she disappeared ( Sussex Police )

Its a complete mystery, Andrea told The Independent. I was never aware of her having any feuds with anyone. She never mentioned anything going on, and if she had owed someone money, she would have asked me.

At the time of her disappearance, Georgina, 30, had been unemployed and recently separated from her partner. A relationship that had been tumultuous had seen her return to live with her mother.

Despite this, she continued to visit him regularly, which is how her initial disappearance slipped through the net.

On Wednesday, 7 March, Georgina left home at 9.30am with a plan to fix her phone, visit the jobcentre and meet her father in Worthing town centre.

The last official sighting of her is recorded on CCTV at Clifton Food and Wine shop at 9.50am, where she asked the shop manager for help with her phone. She did not keep the rest of her appointments for the day, her phone disconnected from the network, and her bank accounts have not been touched since.

open image in gallery The last confirmed sighting of Georgina shows her entering a corner shop on Clifton Road at 9.50am ( Sussex Police )

I knew her phone wasnt working, so when I didnt hear from her for the first few days, I wasnt initially concerned, Andrea said. She often went to stay with friends or with her on-off boyfriend. There was a small thing in the back of my mind, though, that she did usually let me know, and Id sent her texts.

Familiar with her daughters lifestyle, which could be erratic and involved binge-drinking, Andrea had first been annoyed. I thought it was inconsiderate  I thought, you could have at least let us know where you are.

It was a few days later that alarm bells began to ring, after Georgina failed to meet her children, and her ex-partner got in touch to say he had not heard from her.

After contacting local hospitals and messaging her friends on Facebook, they decided to phone the police and report her missing.

For Andrea, the investigation took a turn when detectives informed her several weeks later that Georginas bank accounts had not been used.

open image in gallery Georgina had no known feuds or issues with anyone, and had appeared normal on the morning she went missing ( Supplied )

All the time I had been listening out for her footsteps coming up the footpath and up the stairs, she said. We lived waiting for that, waiting for her to turn up  but it never happened. It took a very long time for me to accept that maybe she had come to harm.

Their relationship with the police has not always been smooth sailing. Within the first few months, Andrea says, multiple people were assigned to the case, with the family unsure who was in charge until June 2019.

In August that year, they were shown CCTV of a potential sighting of Georgina with another woman at 3.30pm on Chapel Road. Despite her family being convinced that it was her, it was later removed from an appeal due to police uncertainty.

open image in gallery A second potential sighting was found on Chapel Road, but police have been unable to confirm if it is Georgina in the footage ( Sussex Police )

Frustrations have also mounted over the lack of publicity and urgency the case has received. Id see cases across the UK becoming high profile in a day or two, and I would email the police and say, how come a girl in Yorkshire has drones and searches and police teams?, Andrea added.

As time went by, I accused them of discriminating against my daughter because of her lifestyle choices, or race or social discrimination. If Georgina had been a blonde, blue-eyed girl who worked in Barclays, she would have had more attention.

Sussex Police strongly denies this accusation, and a referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) in 2022 found no reason to investigate.

A spokesperson for the force said: We have conducted multiple physical searches as part of our efforts to find out what happened to Georgina. This includes the use of specialist search teams and equipment to carry out rigorous tests of sites near where Georgina went missing, such as Teville Gate, which was under construction at the time. However, to date, nothing has been found that would help progress our investigation.

They added that they had participated in TV interviews and had followed up on more than 100 possible sightings of Georgina from across the country.

While her case has now been registered as a no-body homicide, Andrea refuses to have her daughter declared deceased. We most probably think Georgina has come to harm, but I will never, ever, register her as no longer alive until they produce evidence to say what happened to her, she said.

open image in gallery Every birthday and anniversary, Andrea replaces the posters and banners around Worthing to keep appealing for information ( Supplied )

The death of Claudia Lawrences father in 2021 had particularly struck a nerve. The 35-year-old chef from Yorkshire had disappeared in 2009, and while her body has never been found, police believe she was murdered.

It really brought it home to me that he died and never knew what had happened, she said. That must be awful, spending the rest of your life trying to find answers and living for your childs case. I think thats my biggest fear now, coming to the end of my life and never knowing.

If anyone knows anything or has information, we are desperately waiting. For Georgina, wherever she may be, please know that we desperately miss you.

Detective Superintendent Andy Wolstenholme said: From the day Georgina Gharsallah was reported missing to now, we have completed extensive enquiries to try and find her.

Her family and friends are understandably desperate for answers, and I share their frustrations that despite exhaustive efforts, we do not know what happened to her on that day in 2018.

My team and I remain in regular contact with Andrea, and we admire and fully support the work she does in keeping Georginas disappearance in the public eye.

Our investigations priority is to get to the truth of what happened to Georgina and bring a conclusion to all of these years of waiting for her loved ones.

Anyone with information should contact police online or by calling 101, quoting Operation Pavo. Reports can also be made anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers online or on 0800 555 111.
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Police are braced for further protests and disorder across the UK, as anti-migrant demonstrations continue outside hotels housing asylum-seekers.

At least four protests have been organised for the upcoming week in locations such as Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth, with tensions rising further after clashes over the weekend.

Far-right groups also plan to protest outside at least eight migrant hotels on Friday as part of a no asylum day of action, according toThe Times.

It comes amid warnings that the Metropolitan Police could be tested to the limit on Saturday, when pro-Palestine Action supporters have been urged to turn up en masse in central London, in defiance of anti-terror laws.

Protests first began last month outside The Bell Hotel in Epping after an Ethiopian refugee residing there, Hadush Kebatu, was charged with sexual assault for allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

open image in gallery Police officers observe two groups of protesters outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in central London (PA) ( PA Wire )

Since then, far-right demonstrators have clashed with police and counter-protesters in Diss, Manchester, Edinburgh and outside the Barbican in London.

On Sunday, a group wearing face masks and carrying smoke bombs made a concerted effort to break into the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, which is currently housing refugees.

Police forces are expected to be stretched at the weekend, as a separate pro-Palestine march is also scheduled for Saturday and anti-immigration protests are scheduled to continue.

It is unclear if the Metropolitan Police will call on mutual aid from neighboring forces, with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) saying they are working closely with partners at a national and local level.

The Telegraph reports that hundreds of people are set to descend on London to support Palestine Action, after they were proscribed as a terrorist organisation. The group has claimed responsibility for damaging aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in June.

Membership or expressing support for the group is now a criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison. With the possibility that the police may have to arrest hundreds of protesters on Saturday, there are fears that capacity in custody cells could quickly run out.

Sir Keir Starmers spokesperson said that while the public have a right to protest, they would never tolerate unlawful or violent behaviour or intimidatory behavior.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage has called for police forces to release the ethnicity of those charged with offences ( Getty )

Tensions over migration have further escalated after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and George Finch, the 19-year-old leader of Warwickshire County Council, claimed there had been a cover up of details about an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

Two men have been charged in relation to the alleged incident in the Warwickshire town. Warwickshire Police has not released the immigration status of the two suspects.

Mr Finch said he would be working to fight against houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) that are housing illegal immigrants and also claimed that Reform UK need to change things and are the last line of defence against the blob, the cover-ups.

In his letter to Ms Cooper, published on X on Sunday, Mr Finch claimed that a cover-up of immigration status risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire.

Having my ear to the ground locally, it is clear that there is much appetite for protests to take place across the County, the letter adds.

When asked if the police should release the ethnicity of people when charged, a No10 spokesperson said that it was important to be as transparent as possible, and described the case as deeply upsetting and distressing.

open image in gallery Protesters outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, where the first protests began last month ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

Meanwhile, border security minister Dame Angela Eagle said that protests outside hotels must not be used to have a pop at the police and insisted that Labour were working to close asylum hotels.

She added that the Government was doing the detailed work to crack down on small boat crossings, after the Home Office unveiled its plan to pump an extra 100 million into tackling people smuggling.

With both a protest and a counter-demonstration organised by Stand Up To Racism in Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, Dorset Police said they would seek to ensure people can exercise their right to protest legally, without disruption.

We will seek to enable peaceful protests, but public order or criminal offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly, a spokesperson said.

An NPCC spokesperson said: Policing is committed to upholding and facilitating the right to peaceful protest. Where possible, we will work with event organisers and any other affected groups to facilitate protests and minimise serious disruption to communities.

We are working closely with partners at a national, regional and local level to monitor the latest information and intelligence to ensure we are best placed to respond should we see any incidents that escalate into disorder and criminality.

We have robust and well-tested proactive plans in place, with the ability to mobilise significant and specialist resources, if necessary.

"Public order response officers will be supported by investigation teams who will gather evidence and ensure those responsible for any acts of criminality, should they occur, are identified and held to account.
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A 47-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of a three-year-old girl in Leeds.

Emergency services were called to Austhorpe Court in Leeds on Wednesday 30 July after a report of concern for the safety of a young child. Her body was found in the property alongside a woman who was taken to hospital for treatment and later arrested on suspicion of murder.

Pippa McGrath, 47, has now been charged with the murder of the girl, West Yorkshire Police said. She remains in police custody and will appear at Leeds Magistrates Court on Monday.

In a statement, the force said: Detectives investigating the death of a three-year-old girl in Leeds have charged a woman with her murder.

Pippa McGrath, aged 47, of Austhorpe Court, Leeds, has been detained in custody to appear before the morning session of Leeds Magistrates Court today (Monday 4 August). The 47-year-old was arrested after officers attended at Austhorpe Court on 30 July following a call of concern for the safety of a young child.

Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing by the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team.

open image in gallery Pippa McGrath will appear at Leeds Magistrates Court on Monday (Alamy/PA)

Police previously warned against speculation and said they were treating the death as an isolated incident.

Last week, Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Polices Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: Sadly when emergency services attended at an address on Austhorpe Court, Leeds, yesterday the body of a 3-year-old girl was found inside.

A woman at the address was taken to hospital for urgent medical attention and remains there today in a stable condition. She has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

"We are treating this as an isolated incident and are not seeking anyone else in connection with it.

I understand that such a tragic incident as this will cause shockwaves in the local community and that there will be speculation about what has happened. I would ask people to please let us investigate and if you do have any information that you think could assist our enquiries to get in contact with the investigation team.
Cultural inspirations from three-hare symbol

16:44, August 04, 2025 By Shi Ling ( People's Daily

Photo shows a three-hare symbol found at the Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu province.

The three-hare symbol - depicting three hares chasing each other in an eternal circle, each sharing an ear with the next to create a tripartite symmetry - has captivated the imagination of historians and artists across civilizations.

This visually striking symbol appears not only in the ancient murals of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu province, but also on metalwork in Afghanistan, ceramics in Egypt, and tile paintings in the United Kingdom.

Its recent prominence at the fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations sparked strong resonance among international participants.

Born in ancient Dunhuang, the three hares silently witness the vibrant cultural and commercial exchanges that flourished along the Silk Road. Today, the symbol continues to inspire new narratives of cross-cultural dialogue.

From the Digital Dunhuang platform to international art exhibitions, from exported conservation techniques to the expanding field of Dunhuang studies worldwide, more and more people contribute to preserving this cultural treasure. These efforts continuously revitalize Dunhuang's heritage in the modern era.

Photo shows an Iranian tray featuring a three-hare symbol.

The three-hare symbol, exemplifies Dunhuang's role in historical cultural integration. Greco-Roman Ionic columns alongside Gandhara/Gupta influenced murals in the Mogao Grottoes demonstrate China's historical openness. Manuscripts recording Persia, Sogdiana, India, and other distant regions provide tangible evidence of peaceful Silk Road exchange.

As a crossroads of civilizations, Dunhuang embodies Chinese culture's inclusive spirit. From the bustling caravans of the past to today's expanding cultural exchanges, the long-running Dunhuang story continues, illuminating the enduring spirit of Chinese civilization.

As the ancient paths give way to modern corridors, this legacy gains renewed vitality. The soft jingle of camel bells has given way to the rumble of high-speed trains; sailing ships have been replaced by container vessels; and an aerial Silk Road now connects distant lands through trade and cooperation. China has joined hands with over 150 Belt and Road partner countries, breathing new life into the ancient trade route.

Photo shows a clock adorned with a three-hare symbol in a church in Kassel, Hesse, Germany.

China's diplomatic philosophy, grounded in the belief that "unity brings strength, while isolation leads to weakness," advocates for mutual benefit, trust, harmony, and good neighborliness. It reflects a commitment to common development and shared prosperity.

True cultural prosperity emerges through exchanges and mutual appreciation. While the three-hare symbol appears in different countries with a common structure, each version presents its own artistic interpretation. On the ceiling of Cave 407 of Mogao Grottoes, the hares are surrounded by flying apsaras and lotus flowers, brimming with vitality and elegance. In the stained-glass windows of Germany's Paderborn Cathedral, they take on the distinctive forms of Gothic art. These cultural variations highlight how exchanges foster both preservation and reinvention.

As humanity faces shared challenges and aspirations, culture understanding plays a crucial role in guiding development and sustaining peace. Dialogue among civilizations is more essential than ever.

And the three-hare symbol is not alone. Over 2,000 years ago, following the groundbreaking westward journey of royal emissary Zhang Qian in China's Han Dynasty (202BC-220AD), the pomegranate was introduced to China. Today, six pomegranate trees flourish in the China-Central Asia Friendship Forest in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, a living symbol of solidarity and mutual growth.

History brings hearts closer, and cultural inheritance strengthens cooperation. May the music of the Silk Road continue to echo across generations, the tree of friendship remain evergreen, the flowers of civilization bloom in harmony, and the fruits of shared progress be enjoyed by all.

(Photos from the WeChat official account of the Dunhuang Academy)

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Du Mingming)
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A supersized rat thought to be the UKs biggest has been captured by pest controllers in a home in the north of England.

The giant animal, which measured 22 inches long, was found in the Normanby area of Redcar and Cleveland after a resident called in exterminators.

Councillors who were sent an image of it described the rodent as almost the size of a small cat, and have claimed pest control issues have got out of control since the end of free services for residents in the Labour-run local authority.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Eston ward councillor David Taylor said the rodents were becoming brazen and had settled into the neighbourhood.

The longer this is ignored, the worse it will get, he added. It is a growing problem.

The council insisted it has a dedicated pest control officer who works on council-owned land, and said it also offers advice to residents where possible.

Writing on a joint Facebook page, Mr Taylor and fellow councillor Stephen Martin said the area needed a proper vermin control strategy.

Conservative councillors blame Labour-run council for the supersized rodent after it ended pest control services for residents ( Facebook )

As many of you have seen, the rat infestation we raised has now made national headlines, the Conservative Party councillors wrote. What started with 100 comments on social media has grown to nearly 1,000 on Teesside Live, and now its been picked up by both local on Teesside, Yorkshire, Birmingham, and London and national press.

Its clear this needs a joined-up response  from government, local councils, housing providers, landlords, the NHS, commercial developers, and the water board. We need a proper vermin control strategy and fast. This situation should never have been allowed to get this bad.

Theres no doubt plenty of blame to go around, but what matters now is what we do next to stop it getting worse.

Mr Taylor said councillors would now be calling for an urgent action plan including a borough-wide survey into the vermin and a treatment plan.

A Redcar and Cleveland council spokesperson said: The council has a dedicated pest control officer who manages pest issues on council-owned land.

While we no longer provide a wider pest control service, we do offer advice to residents where possible.

The council continues to work with Beyond Housing, Northumbrian Water and other partners to address complex issues and explore potential solutions.

There is also helpful guidance and preventative measures on our website to support people in dealing with pests.

The largest rat believed to have been caught in Britain measured 21 inches from tip to tail and was found in a property in Bournemouth in November 2018. According to the RSPCA, rats in the UK can grow up to 11 inches on average.
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A teacher who inappropriately touched multiple schoolgirls and asked for pictures of one of them wearing a bikini has been banned from teaching.

Kieran Harker, an IT teacher, was found guilty of inappropriate behaviour towards eight pupils during 14 months of employment at Newmarket Academy in Newmarket, near Cambridge.

A panel found the 30-year-old guilty of misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.

He has been banned from teaching indefinitely, with the right to have the prohibition order reviewed in two years.

Three pupils spoke in evidence against him and were all anonymised for the report.

One pupil said: Kieran Harker became very touchy with me. He would often touch my back through the hole in the school chair. I used to sit right behind him in the classroom.

I would be facing the computer, doing my work, and he would walk up behind me and put his hand through the back of the chair to stroke my back. I do not know why he did this. I was not upset, so he was not doing it to comfort me.

She said she asked him to stop, which he did at the time, but he resumed touching her at a later date.

Another pupil, who was in Year 9 at the time of interacting with Mr Harker, alleged the IT teacher put his hand on my lower back in very unnessicery [sic] situations, like just walking past me

A third pupil said Mr Harker rubbed my back and my thigh outside one of his classrooms. I felt uncomfortable, the pupil said. It has happened more than once.

When questioned about the allegations, Mr Harker said: I have never touched a students thigh or lower back. But it is a natural reaction when someone is upset for me to touch the top of their back to console them, but I have never touched the lower back.

He was also found guilty of placing his hand on the upper thigh of at least two students.

Another student, identified only as Pupil E, reported multiple instances of inappropriate behaviour by Mr Harker.

In one instance, he grabbed her by the waist; in another, he wrote the words love you in her planner. She described both events as making her feel uncomfortable.

He also sent her inappropriate emails, including requesting that she show him bikini photos.

I was going on holiday and I was anxious about how I looked. I was emailing Kieran Harker about it and then I spoke to him about it the next day, she said.

He told me to have fun and take photos of myself in a bikini to make me feel better. I thought it was an odd comment, but as we were on the topic of me being self-conscious, I thought he maybe did not mean it in a weird way.

When I returned from holiday, Kieran Harker asked if I had taken any photos in a bikini. I said no, and Kieran Harker said that he had been looking forward to seeing the photos.

She also stated that she believed Mr Harker wanted the pictures for himself and that she felt weirded out by the request.

He responded to the accusations by saying: I never asked to see pictures of her in her bikini, I asked to see photos from her holiday.

In a separate email exchange with another student, he wrote: I saw you across the playground and thought how lovely you looked! Had to tell you immediately.

That email was then shared among pupils. Mr Harker, defending himself, claimed this message was intended to help the girl feel better about her appearance.

The report added that during a school disciplinary hearing, he had said: On reflection, I recognise that any form of contact is inappropriate with a student and that I wholeheartedly regret this and would never do it again.
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At least 500 people are expected to take part in a pro-Palestine protest on Saturday that could see them arrested under terrorism laws for holding up signs.

The action, which is planned for Westminster, will force police to confront the impact of a new order proscribing protest group Palestine Action as a terror organisation. Activists who oppose the groups ban will hold up signs on Saturday expressing support for the organisation, an act which is now an offence under section 13 of the Terrorism Act.

Organisers from Defend our Juries, who are co-ordinating the action, told The Independent that they were very confident it would go ahead with at least 500 people involved. Protesters plan to sit together and hold up signs, saying: I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

But the prime ministers spokesperson warned those planning to take part that they may yet not know the true nature of this organisation, telling reporters: This is not a peaceful or non-violent protest group.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.

Organisers will make a final decision on whether the protest will go ahead tomorrow. The governments proscription of Palestine Action as a terror group is currently being challenged in the High Court, with a court case expected later in the autumn. In a judgement allowing the court case to go ahead, Mr Justice Chamberlain said it was reasonably arguable that the proscription amounts to a disproportionate interference of Huda Ammori, the co-founder of the groups, rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

open image in gallery Metropolitan Police officers remove people at a protest in Parliament Square, central London, in support of Palestine Action, organised by Defend Our Juries who are campaigning to de-proscribe the organisation. ( PA )

Home secretary Yvette Cooper decided to proscribe the group after activists allegedly broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and sprayed two military planes with red paint. Court papers said she was hesistant to proscribe the group, but that the CPS advised acting early to minimise the risk of prejudice in the upcoming trial of Palestine Action protesters in November.

Describing their planned action on Saturday, Tim Crosland, from Defend Our Juries, said: Were just exercising our democratic rights to freedom of assembly. Our plans are online, this is an open transparent campaign against an order that the UN has said is unnecessary. There isnt any secret plot.

We think at least 500 people will be involved although there is no fool proof way of knowing. Some people are travelling into London from around the country and some people are saying they might come from Holland for it.

He added: Holding a sign is in some ways a much more gentle ask than getting onto gantries, or breaking into a base, or anything like that. But because of the [proscription] order that simple act of peaceful protest is an offence under the terror act. We are letting people know that the risks are very very substantial, but if enough of us do it then there is safety in numbers.

In a briefing for protesters, Defend Our Juries advises people that there is a substantial risk of arrest and that the Met Police has arrested people under section 13 of the Terrorism Act. This makes it an offence to wear an item of clothing or display an article that arouses reasonable suspicion that [the wearer] is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.

open image in gallery Protesters outside the Royal Courts of Justice on The Strand, central London ( PA )

The document advises people that if enough of us take a stand, then it is unlikely any charges will be brought.

Outside of London, some protesters have had their homes raided and technology seized. One 80-year-old woman was arrested at a rally in Cardiff and had her home searched. She said officers removed iPads, a Palestine flag, books on Palestine, and material related to Extinction Rebellion.

In the brief, Defend Our Juries warn participants that if they are taking action outside London they should warn any housemates that their homes could be searched.

Recommendations also include removing tech from the house, having a decoy phone, laptop or Ipad, and if they are vulnerable to put a note on the front door stating I am elderly and will take longer to answer the door.

The prime ministers spokesperson told reporters on Monday that those who seek to support this group [Palestine Action] may yet not know the true nature of this organisation, but people should be under no illusions: this is not a peaceful or non-violent protest group.

Were also clear that their activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across this country who continue to exercise their fundamental right to protest on difficult, different issues.

A Met Police spokesperson said that they were aware of the planned protest, adding: The Met is very experienced in dealing with large scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality requiring arrests.

While we will not go into the specific details of our plan, the public can be assured that we will have the resources and processes in place to respond to any eventuality.

Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done since its proscription.
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A Home Office minister has hit back at those taking part in anti-migration protests across the UK, warning anger doesnt get you anywhere.

While Dame Angela Eagle said that those are worried about migration have an absolute right to demonstrate peacefully, she warned: People dont have a right to then have a pop at the police, which has been happening in some isolated cases outside hotels.

It comes amid escalating protests across the UK opposing the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with a number of people arrested after a protest outside a hotel in Canary Wharf in London on Sunday.

open image in gallery Dame Angela Eagle criticised people for having a pop at the police ( Sky News )

Protesters jeered at people going in and out of the hotel, and officers were forced to step in after flares were let off in the crowd, the Metropolitan Police said.

A group of people outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf were harassing occupants and staff, trying to prevent people make deliveries, as well as trying to breach the fencing and access the hotel, a statement said.

Speaking to Sky News, Dame Angela warned: One mustn't mix up people's genuine concerns and worries peacefully expressed with those who are trying to turn it into violence.

She said ministers are doing the detailed work to bring down the asylum backlog, adding: Weve taken 35,000 people off our streets who have no right to be in our country and sent them back to their countries of origin within a year.

We are doing all we can to deal with the challenges that the police are facing on the streets to make sure that women and girls are safe, and in fact, that everybody is safe on our streets.

But asked about people who are expressing their anger over migration, she said: Anger doesnt get you anywhere.

What we have to do is recognise the values we have in this country, the rule of law we have in this country, the work were doing with the police to protect people. We will close asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament. Well do it faster if we can.

Robert Jenrick, Tory shadow justice secretary and former immigration minister said he "understands why people are so angry", telling BBC Radio 4s Today programme: The basic problem with illegal migration is we simply know nothing about these people. They're undocumented, mostly men, who are coming across the Channel in flagrant abuse of our laws and being dumped in communities. I completely understand why people are so angry."

Mr Jenrick said he thinks the publics patience has snapped.

This is issue is beyond party politics - it is causing immense harm to communities, peoples lives are being wrecked as a result of it, and we simply have to fix it.

I respect people who are peacefully protesting outside hotels this weekend. I understand why they feel so concerned. Theyre seeing their communities damaged, he added.

Labour has put a pledge to crack down on the number of people coming to the UK on small boats at the centre of its plan for government.

open image in gallery Anti-immigration protesters outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in central London, which houses asylum seekers ( PA Wire )

But with boat crossings at a record high, and the asylum backlog still above 75,000, there is mounting pressure on ministers to take more drastic action - pressure which is exacerbated by the success of Reform UK in the polls.

Last week figures showed that the number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel topped 25,000  the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 25,000 mark has been passed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018

On Monday it was announced that the government will pour an extra 100m into efforts to tackle migration as pressure piles on ministers to crack down on small boat crossings.

The money will support the pilot of the new "one in, one out" returns agreement between the UK and France, paying for up to 300 more National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and new technology and equipment to step up intelligence-gathering on smuggling gangs.

It comes after a number of other measures to deter migrants from coming to the UK, with a "one in, one out" deal with France agreed last month meaning the UK will for the first time be able to send migrants back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with links to Britain.

Meanwhile, anyone who advertises small boat crossings or fake passports on social media could be face up to five years in prison under a new offence to be introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Dame Angela said any social media creators who advertise illegal routes into the UK, whether from overseas or within the UK, will be targeted under the new law.

This is a crime that, when it goes in the Border Security Bill, will apply to anyone who arrives if theyve done that, whether theyre abroad or not, she told Times Radio.

The minister also promised to tighten legal routes for entering the UK if there is evidence they are being misused, such as charity visas.

It there's any evidence that legal routes to visas are being misused, then we will tighten up the rules to stop that abuse happening, Dame Angela said.
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Nigel Farage has been accused by charities of spreading unevidenced fears over asylum seekers in his latest tirade on those who illegally enter the UK on small boats.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the Reform UK leader claimed foreign migrants made the dangerous crossing because they know they have an over 99 per cent chance of staying.

He said they came to be looked after with free healthcare and 49-a-week pocket money, adding while they are at it probably work illegally either in delivery services or drugs or whatever it may be.

His comments came less than 24 hours after protesters were accused of trying to break into a hotel housing asylum seekers in Canary Wharf.

In response to a reporters question, Mr Farage rejected he was steering people into fear to persuade them to vote for Reform.

He said: We have to recognise something, there are some people who come from certain cultures that pose a danger to our society.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage said all asylum seekers coming to the UK on small boats should be deported ( Getty )

But his comments have been met with a strong reaction from charities.

Care4Calais, a British charity supporting asylum seekers in France, said Mr Farages populist politics were a danger to UK communities.

Chief executive Steve Smith said: "It's hardly surprising that the politician who inflamed last summer's race riots would spread unevidenced fear about people seeking sanctuary again.

His [Mr Farages] form of populism doesn't require facts, it is built on dangerous, unsourced, ill-informed divisive soundbites. It sows division in our communities, and like last summer race riots, it puts the lives of people seeking sanctuary in danger."

Hope Not Hate, an advocacy group that campaigns against racism, also reacted to the comments at the press conference, held to unveil Reform UKs policy for the criminal justice system.

A charity spokesperson said: Farage trades on fear because it galvanises his supporter base and keeps the spotlight on the issues he wants to exploit, immigration and law and order. By talking up crime he positions himself as the lone strong-man solution.

open image in gallery Police respond to the protest outside a hotel in Canary Wharf used to house asylum seekers on Sunday ( AFP via Getty Images )

However, Reforms approach to law and order is deeply hypocritical. Reform figures have excused rioters at anti-migrant protests, and even praised vandalism of ULEZ cameras. Its cuffs for opponents and leniency for friends. "

The office of Sadiq Khan also responded to a remark made by Mr Farage in which he told a reporter she would not walk through the West End of London after 9pm wearing jewellery.

The office shared Met Police data that showed the number of robberies had fallen 20 per cent over the past 12 months, compared to a decrease of 12 per cent across London. A spokesperson said: Nothing is more important to the Mayor than keeping Londoners safe.

Reform UK has been approached by The Independent for comment.

Also at the press conference, Mr Farage claimed there has been a cover-up of details about an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton. Two men have been charged in relation to the alleged incident in the Warwickshire town.

Mr Farage linked a perceived lack of information from police to what happened in Southport last July, saying he wanted to discuss a cover-up that in many ways is reminiscent of what happened after the Southport killings last year.
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A Reform UK council leader risks being found in contempt of court after making a statement during a press conference in London about the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

It comes after Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged with the rape of a girl in Nuneaton last week. Meanwhile, Mohammad Kabir, also 23, was charged with kidnap and strangulation in the same investigation.

Warwickshire Police have not released the immigration status of the two suspects.

George Finch  the 19-year-old Warwickshire County Council leader  risks having broken the law with a comment he made about the case.

Contempt of court refers to behaviour that interferes with the administration of justice or undermines the authority of the court.

The Independent is not able to repeat a number of claims Mr Finch made in the press conference without risking contempt of court.

At one point during the press conference, Mr Finch acknowledged the risks attached to talking about a live legal case, saying: I was told if I released this, Id be in contempt of court.

The youngest council leader in the country claimed there has been a cover-up of details about the case.

It came as Nigel Farage suggested police forces should release information, including immigration status, about people who are charged with crimes.

The Reform UK leader said that he absolutely believes that information should be made available by police forces.

In a statement, Warwickshire Police said that once someone is charged with an offence, they follow national guidance, which does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.

Mr Finch told Mondays press conference that he was begging for information about the two to be released in the wake of the charges.

He said he had emailed the councils chief executive to say that he wished to speak to the police force and urge them to release information about the mens immigration status.

Mr Finch added that he had later written a letter to home secretary Yvette Cooper and the chief constable of Warwickshire Police, Alex Franklin-Smith, calling for the immediate release of the immigration status of the two men.

Mr Finch also claimed that Reform UK needs to change things and is the last line of defence against the blob, the cover-ups.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment. The attorney general, Lord Hermer, has been approached for comment.
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Reform UK has been mocked after announcing their latest defection to the party  a police and crime commissioner who is an expert on ghosts, aliens and UFOs.

Rupert Matthews, who holds the post in Leicestershire and Rutland, was introduced on Monday as having joined the party from the Conservatives, breaking a 40-year membership.

Before being elected in 2021, he served two years as a European parliament member for the Tories. He has also written a number of books about ghost sightings, UFOs, cryptozoology and other paranormal subjects.

open image in gallery Rupert Matthews speaks at a Reform UK press conference in London ( PA )

Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience focusing on legendary animals, such as the Sasquatch, in order to evaluate the possibility of their existence.

Responding to the announcement, the prime ministers press secretary said: Their big defection is very interested in the fantastical and the unexplained. Its no surprise hes added Reforms fiscal plans to that list.

Meanwhile, a Labour source said: Its not just the ghost of Tory past that is swelling the Reform ranks. Their latest recruit Rupert Matthews peddles alien conspiracy theories and believes the removal of abortion rights overseas is a triumph for democracy.

During a press conference at the partys London HQ on Monday, unveiling the move, Mr Matthews took aim at the criminal justice system, saying the dark heart of wokeness needed to be removed, as well as accusing politicians in Britain of taking inspiration from failed states for their policies.

Its almost as if theyve looked at countries like Lebanon and Libya, the policies that have led to them becoming failed states and thought, that looks good, lets try that here in Britain, he said.

The self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite who have let our country down time after time after time are now on notice. Their day is almost done. Be they Conservative or Labour governments, everyone knows our politicians have failed us all.

They have let this country down. They have let the British people down. Enough. Now is the time for Reform.

He also said police officers were all too often working with one hand tied behind their back.

I daily face a fight against crime. I see ordinary, hard-working people burgled, robbed and mugged. Shoplifting is getting out of control. Antisocial behaviour is turning too many of our town centres into an apocalyptic wasteland of lawless Britain.

open image in gallery Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage and (from left) George Finch, leader of Warwickshire County Council; Rupert Matthews, police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire; Colin Sutton, Reforms policing and crime adviser; and former prison governor Vanessa Frake-Harris, the partys new justice adviser ( PA Wire )

Reform also announced that a retired prison governor of Wormwood Scrubs, Vanessa Frake-Harris, had joined the party and would be contributing to its law and order task force.

Ms Frake-Harris, who joined the prison service in 1986, detailed increases in escapes, attacks on prison officers and increases of drugs, weapons and mobile phone finds in the last year.

She said: Successive governments, Conservative and Labour, have driven the prison service to its knees through lack of investment, support and an unwillingness to allow people who know what they are doing to get the job done.

She continued: Our prisons are in a crisis caused by Labour and the Conservatives. What have their solutions been? They have let 10,000 prisoners out of jail early. To let criminals out of jail before they even serve their full sentence is a disgrace.

A Labour spokesperson said: Its farcical that Farage cant say what his policies are, how much they would cost, or how they would even work. Reform arent serious and dont have a clue as to how they would address the challenges facing working people.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
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As Donald Trump signed a new trade deal with the EU, many Independent readers were less focused on Brussels  and more surprised by how well the UK had done in comparison.

With Keir Starmer securing lower tariffs and a visibly warmer reception from the US president, some asked: how did Britain get a better deal than the EU?

Commenters were quick to praise Starmers calm, measured style. One reader described him as a great negotiator and diplomat with a forensic grasp of detail, while another said Trump genuinely likes him and respects that he stands up for himself rather than fawning.

In contrast, Europes performance was seen as lacklustre, with the bloc unable to mount an effective response.

The EU-US deal itself drew criticism for being weak and symbolic, accused of rewarding Trumps coercive tactics and reframing tariffs as legitimate economic tools.

Several readers lamented that the UKs apparent success would be used to claim a Brexit benefit  while others were content to see the EU embarrassed.

Heres what you had to say:

A great negotiator and diplomat

There's a lot of criticism of Starmer, and some is justified. While he might not be the greatest leader Labour we have had, there's no doubt he's a great negotiator and diplomat. What also helps him is that he has a strong sense of fairness, decency, and dignity. Then there's his obvious legal background, which you see in his forensic thoroughness when debating issues. Can you imagine Kemi Badenoch and that useless lot negotiating with Trump... he'd have a field day.

DHC

How do you feel about the UKs trade deal compared to Europes? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation below.

Trump is half Scottish

Trump is half Scottish and he seems to have a little more respect for his mother's native country. We also don't manufacture anything, and we have long given up the future capacity to be a producing nation. We are customers; Europe, on the other hand, is a competitor.

227detius

A weak EU capitulating to Trump

The deal has been widely criticised on the European side, viewed by some as a weak EU capitulating to Trumps demands, unable to mount an effective response. While that perception is difficult to counter, the reality is much more complex and nuanced.

Its worth noting that the deal isnt a fully fleshed-out trade agreement but, for the time being, one of the many symbolic political deals Trump has announced in recent months. Yet its not meaningless. It pauses what could have escalated into a full-scale transatlantic trade war and defuses a major source of volatility and anxiety.

That said, the real challenge lies ahead  hammering out the details. Without legally binding documents, the door remains open to misinterpretation. Weve seen this play out recently with the US-Japan agreement, hastily concluded a few days ago, and already sparking differing interpretations. The same could easily happen with the EU-US deal.

The deal is being widely perceived as a big political win for Trump and a defeat for the EU, negatively affecting its image both domestically and worldwide. Unfortunately, this interpretation ultimately praises and legitimises an approach based on aggression and coercion, rewarding tactics that undermine trust and cooperation. Sadly, tariffs  long discredited as a blunt and damaging economic tool  are now being recast as effective policy instruments, which the EU should also wield. Its astonishing how, in only a few months, Trump has managed to frame such a confrontational strategy and unsound economic policies as a success  even with Europe. Its simply self-defeating.

But whatever the "final outcome", the misery of this GileadUS administration will continue to affect the lives of billions of people!

LeeisBlue

I ignore all the Faragist, Corbynite vitriol

Starmer really has done well in his dealings not only with Trump but also the EU and his Gaza stance. Additionally, his policies are really changing and improving our lives  e.g. the NHS is performing much better (my wife has benefitted from this). Frankly, I ignore all the Faragist, Corbynite vitriolic attacks on Starmer and co and research for myself whats ACTUALLY happening. All this Reform/Farage/Corbyn propaganda is a distraction, largely irrelevant.

voxtrot

UK sacrificed bioethanol sector

The UK's largest trade partner, by far, in goods is the EU. Don't think EU's higher tariffs from the USA have no effect on the UK. The UK also sacrificed the bioethanol sector, and allowed US beef into the UK, to the detriment of home agriculture, to get those reduced tariffs.

I know there is some desperation in some quarters to try and claim some form of #BrexitBenefit, and hope the utter disaster and failure that it is gets forgotten.

wolfie

Nothing to do with Starmer

It's got nothing to do with Starmer.

The UK got a better deal with the US than the EU despite Starmer, not because of him.

The UK is an independent, sovereign nation again and no longer anchored to the failing, anti-democratic EU political union thanks to Brexit, and we're one of the US's closest allies.

Our bond with the US will grow even stronger once the current shambles of a Labour government  that appears to be doing its best to suppress free speech  is booted out at the next election.

Kingswood

Diversifying the EUs trading partners

Yes, but every trading country/bloc has the opportunity of improving their prospects by diversifying their trading portfolio. Perhaps this is what Ms von der Leyen had in mind when making a deal with Trump  i.e. to force the EU to diversify its trading partners. In the longer term, that might be the best solution.

Hungubwe

Trump swallowed the carrot of a state visit

All to do with the vanity of Trump. The state visit was the ultimate carrot that Starmer dangled, and Trump swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. He likes the sense of self-importance which this state visit will bestow on him, and all the pomp and ceremony. Beyond this, it shows that as long as you pander to him, hes happy to tolerate most things. Charless views on the climate and compassion for migrants would normally have him called a radical lefty by Trump, and likewise, Starmer would also get short shrift, but because they are praising Trump, hes lapping it up  for now.

The only constant has been the unapologetic support for Netanyahu, and ultimately it will come to a head when the ethnic cleansing plan is put in place. At that point, the world will have to decide to confront Trump directly or capitulate under fear of tariffs, leaving NATO, etc. I fear the capitulation.

Truthonly

With Trump you always follow the money

The UK has a trade surplus with the USA of about 2 billion. The EU's trade surplus is about 200 billion. That's the difference  its nothing to do with love of the UK or a Scottish mother or the tactics of the UK government. With Trump, you always follow the money. He does hate the EUs society because it is so much better than the US, so he feels compelled to drag it down to his level.

He also knows he can play the UK like a banjo, whereas he fears the EU. We all know he will change his mind at any minute.

AnonyMousse

Starmer has done well on international issues

Starmer has done well on international issues. The problem is that his focus on those things has left his inexperienced underlings to preside over domestic affairs. We have to remind ourselves who they replaced though. Compared to 14 years of Tory corruption and chaos, they are paragons of efficiency.

Inkling

Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.

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For generations, camels have been central to Somalia's pastoralist culture, providing sustenance, transport, and a deep-rooted presence in local folklore. Yet, on the dusty fringes of the capital, these revered animals are now spearheading an agricultural revolution poised to reshape Somali farming.

A recent visit to Beder Camel Farm, one of a burgeoning number of camel dairies emerging near Mogadishu, offered a glimpse into this transformation. Here, dozens of camels ambled across sandy paddocks, some contentedly grazing on fresh fodder under the vigilant gaze of herders. Inside a nearby shed, workers meticulously milked the animals, collecting the frothy yield in sanitised containers. The burgeoning demand for camel milk is being fuelled by a new wave of local entrepreneurs, who recognise the untapped commercial potential within this traditional resource.

Somalia is home to over 7 million camels  more than any other country on Earth  but only a fraction of that milk has ever reached urban grocery shelves, according to industry estimates.

At the heart of the shift toward a modern approach to camel milk production is Dr. Abdirisak Mire Hashi, a veterinarian and the farms manager. For Hashi, it's not only about profit  it's about preserving heritage while embracing progress.

open image in gallery Abdirisak Mire Hashi, a veterinarian and the farm's manager, drinks from a cup filled with camel milk in Beder Camel Farm on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu, Somalia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Somalis take pride in their heritage of raising camels. However, the way camels are raised has changed significantly over time," Hashi told The Associated Press as he inspected a milking herd.

Each camel at Beder now produces up to 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of milk daily  double what traditional herders typically yield. The increase is attributed to new investments in veterinary care, better feed, and modern milking practices. The camels are routinely checked by vets, given nutritional supplements, and grazed on scientifically blended fodder, a far cry from the roaming nomadic herds of decades gone by.

We were among the first to establish this kind of farm back in 2006, when very few people even knew about commercial camel milk production, said Jama Omar, CEO of Beder Camel Farm. Other farms have entered the market since then, but we currently hold around 40% of the market share.

We employ nearly 200 full-time staff, he added. In addition, we bring in seasonal workers during key periods such as planting and harvest.

The farms biggest leap may be its yogurt factory  the first in Somalia dedicated to processing camel milk into yogurt.

open image in gallery A Somali man grazes camels in Beder Camel Farm on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu, Somalia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Inside the factory, workers in white coats oversee stainless steel vats as fresh milk is cultured and packed. The final product is sold under the Beder brand which now retails in urban supermarkets across Mogadishu.

Nelson Njoki Githu, a Kenyan-born food engineer overseeing the production line, says camel milk yogurt isnt just a novelty  it fills an important nutritional gap for local consumers.

The number one benefit compared to cow milk is that camel milk has lower levels of lactose, Githu explained. People with lactose intolerance can consume this milk without any issue. Again, the vitamin levels are higher, especially vitamin C, iron and zinc, compared to cow milk.

For nutritionist Dr. Yahye Sholle, camel milk yogurt is a public health boost in a country where malnutrition remains a challenge.

It is rich in magnesium and calcium, which support bone health. Additionally, it contains vitamins B12, C, and D. It also includes friendly bacteria known as probiotics, which are beneficial for gut health, he said.

Such benefits have helped Beders yogurt stand out in Mogadishus increasingly competitive dairy market.

open image in gallery A Somali man enjoys the affection shown by a camel at Beder Camel Farm on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu, Somalia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Hashi said the next step is scaling up the business. He hopes to expand Beders network of collection points beyond Mogadishu and plans to train pastoralists in remote areas on modern milking and hygiene practices so that more milk can be safely processed and sold.

If we can modernize how we raise camels and handle the milk, we can create jobs, improve nutrition, and build pride in our own local products, Hashi said.

The Somali government is encouraging more investment in the industry.

The benefits of camel milk are countless, said Dr. Kasim Abdi Moalim, Director of Animal Health at Somalias Ministry of Livestock. In countries like the UAE, camel milk is also used for cosmetics. Somalia must catch up and develop the full value chain.

He said that government support is growing, with the establishment of a Dairy Act and a strategy for livestock sector development. A master investment plan is also in progress, he added.

Back at the paddock, a line of camels stretches into the golden afternoon light, their steady, patient footsteps a reminder that progress in Somalia often moves at the pace of tradition  slow but unstoppable.

From ancient caravans that crossed deserts to supermarket shelves stocked with yogurt, the Somali camels journey continues, one cup at a time.
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Target was once the store that attracted shoppers looking to buy everything they needed in one place, and sucked them into its vortex with trendy yet affordable clothing, whimsical home decor and wide-ranging beauty products.

The red bullseye stores ability to keep customers browsing for hours, even when they swore theyd only be five minutes, is one of its unique qualities that made it so popular  enough to even its own meme about people accidentally spending all their money and time at Target.

Arianna, a 31-year-old teacher from East Texas, knew it well.

Before June 2024, Arianna would take her three-year-old daughter to Target for a weekly trip. The store was convenient, her daughter could play with the toys and Arianna would browse the books. And the company also embodied values that Arianna, who asked for her surname not to be used for privacy reasons, aligned with.

It was just a relaxing place to go and spend time with my girl, Arianna told The Independent.

But the call for Target shoppers to boycott the company when it was seen to abandon some of its progressive values changed everything.

open image in gallery Some Target shoppers have expressed disappointment in the retailer for abandoning social issues related to DEI and LGBTQ+ and chosen to shop elsewhere ( Getty Images )

This past year, Arianna decided to cut ties with Target after the company announced it would end its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to comply with President Donald Trumps executive order banning DEI.

I don't like how they're propagating right-wing ideals by removing their D.E.I. initiatives and basically turning their backs on [people of color.] Arianna said.

Target has always tried to market themselves as being inclusive, but by quickly scrapping those inclusivity practices as soon as President Trump told them to do, it proves they never cared about inclusivity in the first place. Instead, it was all a farce and a clear example of rainbow capitalism, she added.

The Target boycott after it abandoned its DEI initiatives was first organized by Rev. Jamal Bryant, a prominent Black pastor in Georgia. He encouraged customers to stay away from Target for Lent  and then the boycott continued, with a variety of grassroots organizations getting involved. The boycott made a difference to Targets bottom line, in Q1, the retailer announced disappointing sales, with a 2.8 percent drop compared to sales from the same period last year.

For years, Targets annual revenue reflected its success with customers. The company went from $73.7 billion in 2015 to an all-time high of $109.1 billion in 2022.

Even during the pandemic, while other companies suffered, Target recorded a $15 billion growth in sales  proving that customers were still willing to shop at their favorite store  whether online or from a distance.

But since 2022, Targets sales and stock value have stagnated. Shares of the company have dropped approximately 60 percent since its 2021 high.

Target said it expects its annual sales to decline by a low single-digit percentage this year.

While the companys slow decline cannot be directly attributed to one factor, it seems clear from discourse online that the retailer is losing its once loyal customers.

Ariannas feelings toward Target first changed last summer when the retail giant scaled back its Pride merchandise to appease conservatives after anti-LBGTQ+ individuals and groups boycotted the store and threatened employees in June 2023.

open image in gallery Some anti-trans protesters began boycotting Target in June 2023 when the retailer began selling trans-inclusive clothing. As a result, Target pulled some of its merchandise from shelves, outraging some pro-LGBTQ+ groups ( Getty Images )

Some conservatives took aim at Target in 2023 after it began selling transgender-inclusive clothing. Then Target pulled some of its inclusive clothing after the blowback, and scaled back its Pride collections, upsetting many in the LGBTQ community.

Arianna began shopping at Target less, opting to go to local or thrift stores  before abandoning it entirely after it pulled its DEI iniatives. On Reddit and Facebook, people have started pages to recommend alternative places to shop for clothing, groceries, beauty products, and more

Boycotting Target has freed me from so much unnecessary spending. No matter what Target does in the future, Im forever changed and free from their grip. I buy all my basics at the local drug store or Costco and Im saving instead of giving Walmart in lipstick all my expendable money, one Reddit user said.

Target is so unbelievably expensive most of the time for the same things I could find at Walmart for half as much, a Reddit user complained. Dont even get me started on the cost of groceries at Target. I seriously question how people afford to buy full carts of groceries. The only things Ive bought were a drink and some hot pockets for lunch one day and maybe a bag of chips.

Targets CEO, Brian Cornell, has attributed some of the companys stagnation to customers buying less overall  in part due to uncertainty around Trumps tariffs.

"The difficulty level has been incredibly high given the rates we're facing and the uncertainty about how these rates in different categories might evolve," Cornell said in May. "We're focused on supporting American families and how they manage their budgets."

Cornell said Target would only raise prices as a last resort.

But its unclear if affordable prices would win back formerly loyal customers.

For Arianna, there isnt much Target can do to bring her back.

They've had plenty of time to do right by their customers of all skin colors, religions, and sexualities, but they've chosen to bury their heads in the sand and pretend like they've done nothing wrong. I'm saving more money now since I refuse to go to their stores, and instead I'm putting money into local stores which helps my community, Arianna said.

Maybe I'll shop there once more if they have a huge going-out-of-business sale where I can get a ton of stuff for 90% off. Other than that, I'm done for good.
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Public health officials are warning of an outbreak of Campylobacter and E. coli-related complications linked to the consumption of raw milk from a Florida farm.

The raw milk outbreak has impacted 21 people, including six children under the age of 10, causing seven hospitalizations, according to the Florida Department of Health. Two people have faced severe complications, the department added.

Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases, the department said in an announcement on Monday, though it did not name the particular facility.

The Independent has contacted the department for more information.

Raw milk can only be sold for non-human consumption in the state though some skirt the rule and buy milk meant for pets or animal feeds for their personal use.

open image in gallery Florida officials warned that poor sanitation practices at a dairy farm in the state were raising concerns after raw milk from the facility was tied to 21 cases of health impacts ( Getty )

The Department of Agriculture has banned the sale of raw milk for human consumption across state lines since 1987 and federal public health officials warn that consuming the unpasteurized milk puts people at risk of exposure to germs including Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella, and Salmonella. The risk is especially high for children, the elderly, pregnant people, and those with compromised immune systems.

Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption, according to the CDC. Since the early 1900s, pasteurization has greatly reduced milk-borne illnesses.

While the perceived nutritional and health benefits of raw milk consumption have not been scientifically substantiated, the health risks are clear, the FDA notes on its website. Since 1987, there have been 143 reported outbreaks of illness  some involving miscarriages, still births, kidney failure and deaths  associated with consumption of raw milk and raw milk products that were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli.

Last year, California regulators recalled batches of raw milk from a Fresno farm after bird flu was detected in samples.

open image in gallery HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drinks raw milk and has called for expanding access, despite warnings, including from federal health officials, that unpasteurized dairy can carry dangerous bacteria ( REUTERS )

Despite the scientific consensus on the risks of unpasteurized milks recent years have seen raw milk take on a countercultural status and become popular among some conservatives and independents.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he only drinks raw milk, and raw milk backers within his Make American Healthy Again push were initially encouraged as Kennedy put raw milk on a wish list of foods and health-related topics he hoped to tackle in office.

Since taking office, Kennedys FDA temporarily halted a quality control program for testing milk amid Trump administration staffing cuts at the health department, but the secretary hasnt delivered the kind of changes to federal milk regulation they were hoping.

Mark McAfee of Raw Farm, a California dairy that counted Kennedy as a customer, has said he was initially encouraged by Kennedy and his allies to assist federal officials with changing raw milk rules, but was later rebuffed when he sought a meeting with regulators.

Thats a bait and switch and that is really quite sad, he told the Fresno Bee last month.
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In recent weeks, Fox News has followed Donald Trumps lead and focused its attention on anything other than the all-consuming controversy over the administrations haphazard handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which has dominated the coverage at other outlets.

While the conservative cable giant has devoted much of its energy lately to peddling Tulsi Gabbards revisionist claims that the Obama administration engaged in a treasonous conspiracy to manufacture intelligence about Russias 2016 election interference, Fox News has needed other ragebait stories to help distract right-wing viewers away from Epstein.

The network appeared to find its perfect shiny object this week with the supposed liberal outrage over actress Sydney Sweeneys American Eagle commercial, which was released last week and features the star dressed all in denim while emphasizing her good jeans, an obvious play on words.

According to a study by liberal media watchdog Media Matters for America, the network has spent over 85 minutes across at least 20 segments through Thursday afternoon discussing the commercial and the discourse surrounding it.

At the same time, since Monday, Fox News has only talked about the latest developments in the Epstein saga a total of three minutes, despite the fact that Trump recently claimed that Epstein stole the late Virginia Giuffre  one of the deceased sex offenders accusers  from Mar-a-Lago. Trumps remarks raised additional questions about his knowledge of Epsteins crimes and have led to Giuffres family demanding more answers from the administration.

Fox News host Jesse Watters claims that liberals are freaking out over a recent commercial featuring Sydney Sweeney. The network has covered her ad extensively in recent days. ( Fox News )

The president sparked additional headlines when he reiterated this week that hes allowed to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, the Epstein partner who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and abuse of minors. Maxwell recently met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney to Trump, to discuss what she knows about the Epstein case.

Media Matters found that since Monday, Fox News has mentioned Sweeney 62 times on air compared to just 14 for Epstein. While MAGA competitor Newsmax has also given ample coverage to the Sweeney ad, the channel has also frequently discussed the Epstein situation  mentioning it four times more than the American Eagle commercial.

MSNBC, which has yet to mention Sweeney on air this week, has brought up Epstein 756 times, while CNN has mentioned the disgraced financier 638 times, compared to just six references to the Sweeney ad.

Meanwhile, much of the focus on the Sweeney commercial centers on the criticism that some on the left have made about the ad, claiming it shows an unbridled cultural shift toward whiteness and for being a eugenicist dog whistle. While the outrage has largely been limited to social media users and some op-eds, Fox News and other right-wing outlets have ascribed the backlash to Democrats or the left in its entirety.

Democrats should change their pronouns to we suck, Fox News host Jimmy Failla stated. Not to be crass, but shes got big boobs, Laura, and that used to be the business model.

Primetime star Jesse Watters, meanwhile, flagged some TikTok videos assailing the ad while arguing that liberals saw a white woman with blond hair and blue eyes and thought she was ushering in the Fourth Reich.

Meanwhile, Semafor political reporter Dave Weigel explained how MAGA media was creating a manufactured outrage cycle about Democrats complaining about the Sweeney ad when exactly no prominent party officials had said anything about it.

I have looked for a single Dem with an opinion on the AE ad and literally can't find one. It's just the left which is a stand-in for what Democrats really think. The ask seems to be that Dems condemn Twitter randos if they say something crazy, he noted on Thursday.

Still, it hasnt stopped the White House from adding more fuel to the fire by weighing in on the so-called controversy thats supposedly consuming the left as a whole.

Cancel culture run amok, White House communications director Steven Cheung declared this week. This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. They're tired of this bulls**t.
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After he was arrested outside his Virginia apartment in March, Georgetown University professor Badar Khan Suri was briefly detained in the state before being put on a plane bound for an immigration detention center more than 1,000 miles away.

Suri  who was targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for his Palestinian activism and his family ties to Gaza  arrived at the only ICE facility that doubles as an airport, without his attorneys having any idea where he was.

Officers told Suri that he had entered the nations super deportation center, according to his attorneys.

The college professor was shackled at the ankles and handcuffed then marched into a 70,000 square foot staging facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, which has emerged as the nexus point for President Donald Trumps mass deportation machine.

Suri is far from alone. Since Trump returned to the White House, more than 20,000 people en route to other detention centers have passed through the Louisiana facility  which ICE officials have long aspired to operate like corporate giants FedEx and Amazon.

open image in gallery ICE has relied on its sprawling network of detention centers to move immigrants in custody where space is available, with a dual purpose airport and detention facility in Alexandria, Louisiana emerging as a hub for the Trump administrations deportation agenda ( Courtesy ICE Office of Public Affairs )

ICEs acting director Todd Lyons has bluntly compared the movement of people to packages.

We need to get better at treating this like a business, where this mass deportation operation is something like you would see and say, like, Amazon trying to get your Prime delivery within 24 hours, Lyons told a law enforcement conference in Phoenix earlier this year.

So, trying to figure out how to do that with human beings, he said.

The idea of running the government like a business has taken root inside ICE over the last decade with lucrative public-private partnerships between the federal government and for-profit contractors, which operate roughly 90 percent of all ICE detention centers.

Since before the Trump administration, the ICE field office in New Orleans  which is responsible for removal operations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee  was modeling operations after shipping giant FedEx and its spoke-hub model.

Detainees are temporarily held in detention hubs before theyre sent to a network of detention center spokes where they wait to be deported.

In Suris case, he arrived at the Alexandria hub before he was moved to a regional spoke in Texas.

The idea for a staging facility in Louisiana started on a cocktail napkin at Ruths Chris steakhouse, according to Philip Miller, a former ICE official in New Orleans who went on to work for an IT firm that contracts with federal law enforcement.

Miller sought a more effective and efficient way of moving the growing number of foreign detainees, according to 2015 newsletter from GEO Group, the private prison contractor that operates the Alexandria facility.

Trumps border czar Tom Homan tapped former GEO Group executive David Venturella to support the administrations deportation agenda, and he is now serving in a top role at ICE managing contracts for immigrant detention centers, according to The Washington Post.

Meanwhile, Daniel Bible, who worked at ICE for 15 years, including a year as the executive associate director of removal operations, left the agency in November 2024 to join GEO Group as its executive vice president.

GEO Group referred The Independent to ICE for comment.

Lyons, who has helmed ICE since March, addressed his now-viral remarks about treating immigrants like packages in an interview the following month.

The key part that got left out of that statement was, I said, they deal with boxes, we deal with human beings, which is totally different, he told Boston 25 News.

ICE should be run like a corporation, he told the outlet.

We need to be better about removing those individuals who have been lawfully ordered out of the country in a safe, efficient manner, Lyons continued. We cant trade innovation and efficiency for how we treat the people in our custody.

The Independent has requested comment from ICE on its removal operations at the Alexandria facility.

open image in gallery Acting ICE director Todd Lyons says the agency should be run like a corporation after comparing the federal governments deportation operations to Amazon and FedEx ( AFP via Getty Images )

Fourteen of the 20 largest ICE detention centers in the U.S. are in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, a network that immigrant advocates have labelled deportation alley. The jails  most of which are operated by private prison companies  hold thousands of people each year.

More than 7,000 people are currently jailed in Louisianas immigration detention centers while Texas facilities are holding more than 12,000. More than 56,000 people are in ICE detention across the country.

But Louisiana is home to the nations only ICE detention center with a tarmac. The facility in Alexandria has become the nations busiest deportation airport with 1,200 flights to other U.S. detention centers and more than 200 planes leaving the country since Trump took office.

ICE has operated at least 209 deportation flights in June, the highest level since 2020. During the first six months of Trump's second presidency, ICE removed nearly 150,000 people from the U.S.

Alexandria, a city of roughly 44,000 people, is the ninth largest in the state but surrounded by forest and swampland, with summer temperatures regularly climbing into triple digits with humidity levels exceeding 70 percent.

Detainees at the facility in Alexandria cannot be held for more than 72 hours, and the facility does not permit access to visitors or even legal counsel, according to attorneys.

Suri was held there for three days before being transferred to a Texas detention center where he was housed in the TV room, according to his attorneys. He was given only a thin plastic mattress. Suri was released after spending eight weeks in detention amid an ongoing legal battle.

open image in gallery Georgetown University scholar Badar Khani Suri is among hundreds of people who have been detained at the facility in Alexandria, which functions as a central hub for the Trump administrations deportation agenda by temporarily detaining deportees before sending them to other detention centers ( AP )

Louisiana locks up more people per capita than any other U.S. state, in a country with one of the highest incarceration rates on the planet.

Most incarcerated people in Louisiana are in local jails, and the state pays sheriffs a daily rate per inmate, creating what civil rights groups fear is a cruel pay-to-play system that incentivizes locking people up.

In 2017, the states Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards advanced legislation to reduce the states prison population, which ultimately fell by more than 8,000 over the next five years.

But at the same time, the first Trump administration was ramping up immigration arrests and expanding capacity to hold immigrants in detention.

Following Trumps 2016 victory, ICE expanded the nations immigration detention system by more than 50 percent, with contracts for private companies to operate at least 40 new detention facilities. Companies including GEO Group, CoreCivic and LaSalle Corrections own or operate facilities that jail the majority of immigrants.

All but one of Louisianas nine facilities are run by private prison firms.

The 400-bed detention center in Alexandria is run by GEO Group, whose stock is valued at roughly $4 billion.

Inside, dorm-style units hold up to 80 people each, and each includes an expansive processing area with rows of benches and walls lined with hundreds of shackles. People who are processed at the facility from arriving flights are placed in five-point restraints and forced to sit on the benches, according to immigration attorneys.

Before it opened in 2014, ICE transported people by bus from different jails to a local commercial airport or Alexandria International Airport, a converted military base that has emerged as what human rights groups called a national nerve center for ICE Air, the group of charter airlines contracted with the agency to operate deportation flights.

Alexandria allows the concentrated detention and staging of hundreds of people at a time, optimizing efficiency of ICEs deportation machine, according to a 2024 report from a coalition of human rights groups.

In August 2017, the Department of Homeland Securitys Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties found that the Alexandria facility is not properly screening for and identifying detainees at risk for suicide and does not provide mental health treatment and programming, the report found.

That civil rights office was among bureaus within Homeland Security that have been abruptly shuttered under Trumps second administration.

open image in gallery Geo Group is among several for-profit prison companies that operate a majority of ICE detention centers. All but one of Louisianas nine facilities are run by contractors ( AFP via Getty Images )

Alexandria is a two-hour drive from Baton Rouge and more than three hours away from New Orleans, where most of the states immigration attorneys live and practice.

That distance has made access to legal counsel for the nearly 8,000 people in Louisianas detention facilities enormously difficult. There is little if any access to the internet or law libraries and few chances to privately speak with family or attorneys.

To visit detainees at another facility, the Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center, roughly 200 miles from New Orleans, Tulane University law professor Mary Yanik and students with the Immigrants Rights Law Clinic said they leave by 5:30 a.m. and return as late as 10 p.m., in order to speak with as many people as possible.

That is a grueling schedule, if you think about the number of hours for a single visit with a client for a single court hearing, she told The Independent earlier this year. They feel forgotten. They feel like theyre screaming into a void.

The most common question among them is why am I here?

Theyre so disoriented by what was happening to them, and so confused. At least one person thought they were in Texas, she said. What is going on? Cant I just go home?
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem envisions more Alligator Alcatraz-like immigration detention centers across the country, including near airport runways, to boost the efficiency of Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda.

The Florida facility is serving as a model for state-run detention centers, and the locations were looking at are right by airport runways that will help give us an efficiency that we've never had before, Noem told CBS News.

Noem told the network she has appealed directly to state officials, and most of them are interested.

She added: Many of them have facilities that may be empty or underutilized.

The administration has reportedly sought out facilities in Arizona, Nebraska and Louisiana, which currently houses the only Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center on a tarmac. The Alexandria Staging Facility sits across from the Alexandria International Airport, which has emerged as the nations deportation capital under the Trump administration.

For more than a decade, ICE  which operates under Homeland Security  has turned to corporate shipping and logistics companies for inspiration for rounding up and deporting immigrants. Shortly after he was tapped to lead the agency in March, ICEs acting director, Todd Lyons, bluntly compared the movement of people to packages.

open image in gallery Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem envisions more Alligator Alcatraz-like immigration detention centers across the country, including near airport runways, in an effort to boost the efficiency of Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda. ( via REUTERS )

We need to get better at treating this like a business, where this mass deportation operation is something like you would see and say, like, Amazon trying to get your Prime delivery within 24 hours, Lyons told a law enforcement conference in Phoenix in April.

So, trying to figure out how to do that with human beings, he said.

Lyons later expanded on his remarks about treating immigrants like packages in an interview with Boston 25 News that same month.

The key part that got left out of that statement was, I said, they deal with boxes, we deal with human beings, which is totally different, he said.

ICE should be run like a corporation, he told the outlet.

open image in gallery Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wants to boost deportation efficiency with state-run, Alligator Alcatraz-like detention centers near airports across the US ( AFP via Getty Images )

We need to be better about removing those individuals who have been lawfully ordered out of the country in a safe, efficient manner, Lyons continued. We cant trade innovation and efficiency for how we treat the people in our custody.

In a statement to The Independent, Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the agency is working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American peoples mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens.

With the opening of Alligator Alcatraz, we expanded facilities and bed space in just days, she added. We look forward to partnering with other states to open other similar facilities to house some the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.

Named Alligator Alcatraz by state and federal officials, a 3,000-bed detention center opened in south Florida last month within the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, roughly 43 miles from Miami in the middle of the Everglades.

A federal lawsuit accuses the facility of blocking detainees from legal counsel and forcing people into overcrowded, unsanitary, and harsh conditions with inadequate food, flood-prone cells, and excessive use of force from guards that sent at least one man to a hospital.

open image in gallery A federal lawsuit accuses the makeshift facility in Floridas Everglades of blocking detainees from legal access while forcing them to endure overcrowded, unsanitary, and harsh conditions ( REUTERS )

Its also unclear who is actually running the facility and who wants to take responsibility for it. Government lawyers could not immediately answer in court whether the federal government or Florida is responsible.

In court filings, immigration officials claimed that the facility is operating through the federal 287(g) program, which allows local and state law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law. ICE has inked nearly 800 such agreements covering 40 states.

We need to get to the bottom of the interplay between the federal and state authorities on whos running this thing, Florida District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II said during a recent court hearing in a lawsuit against the facility.

The makeshift facility is expected to cost roughly $450 million within its first year, at roughly $245 per inmate bed per night, according to DHS. ICE spent roughly $187 per adult detainee per day in 2023.

Still, Noem claims that the Alligator Alcatraz model is much better than ICEs current arrangement with local jails and for-profit prison companies, which operate a vast majority of the nations detention centers.

Funding for Alligator Alcatraz largely comes from FEMAs Shelter and Services Program.

The incoming wave of state-run detention centers is expected to tap into $45 billion in new funding for ICE as part of Trumps big, beautiful bill. The bill also allocates $30 billion for an aggressive recruitment campaign to hire another 10,000 ICE agents.

Altogether, the bill earmarks more than $170 billion for immigration enforcement  a boon to for-profit contractors and cash-strapped states looking to tap into billions of taxpayer dollars.

Putting those new facilities near airports and runways will help ICE cut costs by facilitating quick turnarounds, Noem told CBS.

Theyre all strategically designed to make sure that people are in beds for less days, Noem said. It can be much more efficient once they get their hearings, due process, paperwork.
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Far-right activist Laura Loomer has reignited her feud with conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson in a string of posts on X.

Loomer, a vocal ally of President Donald Trump, called the former Fox News host a terrible person and a fraud. Reposting an article from The Independent that quotes Carlson calling her a child wielding a loaded firearm called Twitter, Loomer commented: I am so glad so many people are starting to see what a terrible person Tucker Carlson is. Im glad peoples eyes are opening to what a fraud this guy is.

She followed that up with a post asking: Do you want to know something about Tucker Carlson that nobody knows about (except me and about 3 other people)? Something that should be the nail in his coffin that makes everyone realize what a fraud he is.

open image in gallery Laura Loomer has reignited her feud with Tucker Carlson ( AFP/Getty )

What came next was a 13-post thread alleging that Carlson had sought to suppress a story about a compromising laptop supposedly belonging to President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden in the runup to the 2020 presidential election in order to protect his own relationships and interests.

Carlson has yet to respond to Loomer on X but The Independent has reached out to him for comment.

The former Fox News primetime host has not been shy about criticizing Loomer in the past, however, calling her the worlds creepiest human on an appearance on the After Party podcast in June.

I dont even know where she came from or who she is exactly, but shes running around saying, Im Donald Trumps defender, he said. Its bizarre.

The war of words between the two MAGA influencers first erupted just prior to that when Carlson came out against Trumps decision to bomb Irans nuclear facilities in support of Israel, opposing further American involvement in conflicts overseas and going viral when he challenged Texas Sen. Ted Cruz over his ignorance of Tehran.

Loomer, much more hawkish in outlook, threatened to screenshot anyone s*** talking Trump right now and pass their comments on to the White House during that tense moment and attacked Carlson by accusing him of taking lobbying money from Qatar, an allegation he vehemently denied.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson campaigning together in Glendale, Arizona, during last years presidential election ( AP )

She also derided him over his claim last fall that he was mauled by a demon in his sleep and was left with physical scars from the assault.

President Trump was asked about Loomer by the press corps as he returned to the White House on Sunday and was complimentary.

Shes very nice, he said. I mean, I know shes known as radical right, but I think Laura Loomer is a very nice person.

Ive known her for a long time, and, you know, personally, I think shes a patriot, and she gets excited because of the fact that shes a patriot, and she doesnt like things going on that she thinks are bad for the country.
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Moderate Democrats who have staunchly backed Israel have begun to question Benjamin Netanyahus actions in Gaza as images come out of the region showing children starving, Politico reported.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) has been one of the most vocal defenders of Israel during his time in Congress, quitting the Congressional Progressive Caucus partially because of it. But hes begun to question Netanyahus Gaza response two years on from the Oct. 7 Hamas terror strike on Israel.

All parties, including the U.S. and Israel, have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to ease the hardship and hunger thats taken hold in the Gaza Strip, Torres told Politico last week.

The New York Democrats tone represents a larger shift. Last week, a handful of moderate Democrats joined Sen. Bernie Sanders motions to restrict weapons sales to Israel.

Along with more progressive members like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), moderates like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) joined the motions. In the end, a majority of Democrats supported both resolutions, with three Democrats not voting on them.

US Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), one of the biggest supporters of Israel in the Democratic caucus, has started criticizing Israels prosecution of the war in Gaza. ( Getty )

The facts on the ground are that militarily, they have significant tactical advantages and are sufficient enough to be able to effectively deliver food. So the question arises, why cant you get food in there and health care services and basically follow humanitarian laws, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) told Politico.

Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, had previously opposed similar motions to restrict arms sales to Israel by Sanders.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who is Jewish, also excoriated Israel. Specifically, he criticized the use of the US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, to handle distribution of food.

They kicked out all the organizations that know how to do this, they stood up a new organization that's never done this before, that's mostly comprised of military contractors, and it is flatly failing, and people are dying Schatz told The Independent last week.

Multiple people have been killed at aid distribution sites, either by being trampled, stabbed or shot at. The Israeli military says that it only fires warning shots and GHF says it only uses pepper spray or fires warning shots to prevent crowding.

At the same time, moderate Democrats like Torres want to keep attention to the hostages who remain in Gaza after Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7, 2023 that led to them killing 1,200 people and taking 251 people captive. Some of the hostages have already died in captivity.

The worlds silence about the deliberate starvation of Israeli hostagesat the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad  is as deafening as its hypocrisy, Torres said on X.

Pro-Israel Democratic consultants and donors also seemed to give Torres a pass and not say he was being a hypocrite for his actions.

Its precisely because Congressman Torres has been so proactive about calling out antisemitism that masquerades as antizionism that when he has constructive advice about Israel its listened to in a way that a statement from the member of congress who reps an adjacent district isnt, Stu Loeser, a New York-based consultant who worked for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, told Politico.

Loesers words were a dig at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), the outspoken democratic socialist who has called Israels war against Gaza a genocide.

Some former Biden administration officials have said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus execution of the war have driven the shift among Democrats.

Yes, the political incentives for Democrats are shifting, but even more powerful for many Democrats is the recognition that a blank check approach to Israel, especially with this Israeli government, is fundamentally in contravention to our interests and values, Ned Price, who served as a spokesman for the State Department during the Biden administration, told Politico.

Another reason for the split: Democratic voters are breaking with Israel. A Gallup poll released last week showed that only 32 percent of Americans back Israels actions in Gaza and only 8 percent of Democrats do.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul has lashed out at Republican Sen. Ted Cruz after he mocked her for wearing a headscarf at a Muslim police officers funeral.

Hochul, a Democrat, was paying her respects at the funeral of Didarul Islam, 36, a New York City police officer, who was one of four killed in a shooting last Monday in Midtown.

A picture of the governor sat beside New York City Mayor Eric Adams at the service was posted by an anonymous conservative account with the caption Why in TF is the Governor of New York wearing a ****** hijab?!

open image in gallery Kathy Hochul has lashed out at Ted Cruz after he called her out for wearing a headscarf at a fallen Muslim officers funeral ( REUTERS )

Cruz, who represents Texas, added Um, wut? in response on X.

Hochul hit back at the senator in a post explaining: I wore a headscarf to honor a fallen Muslim NYPD officer at his funeral.

Respecting a grieving familys faith is wut leaders and anyone with basic decency would do.

Cruz doubled down in a further post on Sunday. I agree, he posted. You should wear a hijab every day because you are so damn decent. Never mind the rights of women in New Yorknot your concern.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Cruzs despicable remarks, and called on him to apologize.

If Ted Cruz has any remaining sense of human decency, he will apologize to both the family of slain New York City Police Department Officer Didarul Islam and Governor Kathy Hochul for his despicable and disrespectful conduct, the statement said.

Senator Cruz should be ashamed of himself for daring to use a murdered Muslim NYPD officers funeral as an opportunity to amplify anti-Muslim hate.

open image in gallery Police officers carry the casket of slain NYPD officer Didarul Islam to a hearse during Islam's funeral services in the Bronx ( AFP via Getty Images )

The fact that Mr. Cruz has repeatedly shown respect for Jewish beliefs by wearing a yarmulke at Jewish sacred spaces makes his attack on Governor Hochul for similarly respecting a Muslim space all the more hateful and hypocritical, the statement continued.

The next time Mr. Cruz visits a Catholic church, he should look up, notice the statues depicting Mary mother of Jesus, may Gods peace be upon them, wearing a scarf, and then ask himself why he hates the sight of the hijab so much.

Fact-checkers on X shared an image of Cruz wearing a yarmulke when he visited the Jewish Center of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn during his 2016 presidential campaign.

open image in gallery New York Police officers salute as the hearse carries the casket ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Others on X praised Hochuls actions as respectful to the fallen officer, who has been posthumously promoted to detective.

Evaristus Odinikaeze wrote: Gov. Hochul showed respect, empathy, and leadership. Thats what real public service looks like.

Wearing a headscarf at a Muslim officers funeral isnt virtue signaling, its human decency.

Islams funeral was held at his mosque in the Bronx and attended by thousands of police officers who came to pay their respects.

open image in gallery A police officer stands next to a picture of Islam on the day of his funeral ( REUTERS )

He came to New York City from Bangladesh when he was 20 years old, living in a small house along with his parents, his young sons, and his pregnant wife. He served in the NYPD for three and a half years, and joined the agency after a two-year tenure as a safety agent in city schools.

He was killed when gunman Shane Tamura entered a Park Avenue office building with an assault style-rifle and opened fire before taking his own life.

In a eulogy read on his wifes behalf, Islam was described as someone who lived to help others and that he gave his life protecting them.

Though my heart is broken, I find comfort knowing that his sacrifice might have saved others, she added.
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White House attorneys have denied that the Department of Homeland Security gave ICE agents specific targets for immigrant arrests, despite previous statements from senior advisor Stephen Miller.

In a court filing last week, reported by The Guardian, lawyers said that although an advisor may have made the remarks, that no such goal has been set as a matter of policy, and no such directive has been issued to or by DHS or ICE.

Miller told Fox News in June that agents had been set a target of a minimum of 3,000 arrests a day, as well as reportedly advising officials to target community hubs, Home Depot parking lots and 7-Eleven convenience stores to find suspects, according to The Wall Street Journal.

A report in Axios also detailed a tense meeting attended by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Miller in late May, in which they told senior ICE agents to supercharge arrests in order to hit the 3,000 target.

DHS has confirmed that neither ICE leadership nor its field offices have been directed to meet any numerical quota or target for arrests, detentions, removals, field encounters, or any other operational activities that ICE or its components undertake in the course of enforcing federal immigration law, the court filing read.

open image in gallery White House attorneys have denied that the Department of Homeland Security gave ICE agents specific targets for immigrant arrests, despite previous statements from senior advisor Stephen Miller ( Getty )

[The] allegation that the government maintains a policy mandating 3,000 arrests per day appears to originate from media reports quoting a White House advisor who described that figure as a goal that the Administration was looking to set.

That quotation may have been accurate, but no such goal has been set as a matter of policy, and no such directive has been issued to or by DHS or ICE.

The filing added that, while enforcement of federal immigration law was top priority for DHS, ICE, and the Administration, that all government enforcement activities were based on individualized assessments, available resources, and evolving operational priorities  not volume metrics.

Despite this claim, the WSJ previously reported that Miller had asked top ICE officials in June if they believed it was possible to reach one million deportations by the end of the year, citing people with knowledge of the meeting.

open image in gallery Workers stand handcuffed after being arrested by ICE agents at Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel and Casino in Calcasieu Parish, near Vinton, Louisiana. Miller told Fox News in June that agents had been set a target of a minimum of 3,000 arrests a day ( AP )

To achieve this, he told law enforcement to just go out there and arrest illegal aliens, the outlet reported.

However, such a hardline stance has been defended previously by the Trump administration, including Donald Trumps border czar Tom Homan.

Last month Homan said that although public safety threats were a priority, those who were in the country illegally were not off the table, in regards to deportation. Were gonna enforce immigration law, he said.

In a statement shared with The Independent, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: "Under Secretary [Kristi] Noem, we are delivering on President Trumps and the American peoples mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens to make American safe.

Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst and carry out the largest deportation operation of criminal aliens in American history."
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Texas Democrats have successfully blocked the states Republican-dominated House of Representatives from taking the first steps to redraw the states congressional map after fleeing the state to derail a vote.

GOP lawmakers in the state fell well short of reaching a requisite quorum to move forward with official business in the state Capitol, but House Republicans voted to track down and arrest more than 50 Democrats who were not present during Mondays vote.

Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows said he would immediately sign civil warrants for those missing Democratic members, giving the greenlight to the chambers sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to make arrests and bring them to the state Capitol.

Those Democrats will not face civil or criminal charges, and the warrants only apply within state lines, making the legislative threats a largely symbolic maneuver as Texas Democrats head elsewhere to condemn the GOPs partisan-fueled plans to redraw the states congressional map to boost the number of Republican seats.

This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity, Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu said from Illinois on Sunday night after leaving the state with several Texas Democrats.

Texas House Democratic Caucus chair Gene Wu blasted the GOP racist gerrymandered map as he led a group of Democratic lawmakers in leaving the state to block a vote on the states redrawn congressional map ( REUTERS )

Rather than hold a legislative session that supports mourning families and communities in the wake of devastating floods that rocked the state last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has used them as hostages in a political game, Wu said.

The tool theyre using is a racist gerrymandered map, a map that seeks to use racial lines to divide hard-working communities that have spent decades building up their power and strengthening their voices, he said.

Wu said that Abbott is moving ahead with the plan so Donald Trump can steal these communities power and voice ahead of 2026 midterm elections, facing the likelihood that Republicans will lose control of Congress at the halfway point in Trumps four-year term.

We will not be complicit in the destruction of our own communities, Wu said.

Abbott accused Democrats of truancy and launching a deliberate plan not to show up for work, for the specific purpose of abdicating the duties of their office and thwarting the chambers business.

Each absent Democrat could face a fine of $500 a day.

At least two-thirds of the Texas House  100 of 150 members  must be present for lawmakers to move ahead with business, meaning that 51 of the states 62 Democratic members can block the GOP agenda by staying away from the Capitol in Austin.

Democrats said 57 members have left the state. One group headed to Chicago and another arrived in New York, where Governor Kathy Hochul blasted Abbott for what she called a blatant power grab.

This will have implications not just in Texas but for our entire nation and its future, she said in remarks on Monday. They know theyll lose the elections, but to subvert the will of the people, theyre hellbent on rigging the system.

Hochul and other state-level Democratic officials across the country  including California, which holds a whopping 52 seats in the House of Representatives  have signaled that theyre prepared to redraw their own congressional maps to compete with the proposed map in Texas, which would create at least five Republican-led districts next year.

Texas Democrats intend to wait out the threats for another two weeks, when the 30-day special session is expected to come to an end.

Abbott could call more special sessions, and Democrats have not said whether they intend to stay out of the state past the expiration of the current special session.

Texas Republicans tried a similar move in 2021, when a majority of Texas Democrats headed to Washington, D.C., to protest GOP threats to voting rights.

While congressional Democrats were pushing to renew the Voting Rights Act and ban partisan gerrymandering, Texas Democrats launched a protest against Abbotts proposals that voting rights advocates warned threatened to undermine ballot access and embolden partisan poll watchers to intimidate election workers.
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Texas House Democrats fled the Lone Star State on Sunday in order to frustrate Republican attempts to redraw its electoral map to their own advantage ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, risking daily $500 fines and even arrest.

The Texas House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting advanced the GOPs proposals on Saturday, setting up a full House vote this week.

The conservatives hold a majority in the chamber, as they do in the Texas Senate, meaning the gerrymandering to revise the states 38 congressional districts would likely pass. It would create five extra right-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially expanding the congressional GOPs majority and easing the passage of President Donald Trumps legislative agenda.

Faced with that prospect, 51 opposition Democrats departed for Illinois, New York and Massachusetts over the weekend in an attempt to deny the Republicans a quorum, with two-thirds of the states 150-member legislative complex required to be in attendance for business to proceed.

open image in gallery Texas State Rep. Gene Wu holds a press conference in Carol Stream, Illinois, on Sunday as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker looks on ( Tom Krawczyk/Reuters )

Were not here to have fun, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu told reporters in Carol Stream, Illinois, flanked by members of his delegation and Governor JB Pritzker as he spoke.

Were not here because this is easy, and we did not make a decision to come here today, we did not make a decision lightly.

But we come here today with absolute moral clarity that this is the absolutely the right thing to do to protect the people of the state of Texas.

The representatives have the support of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in employing the tactic, which Texas Democrats also deployed in 2003 and 2021, with DNC Chair Ken Martin saying in a statement: The DNC is proud to support these legislators in standing up and showing real leadership.

We will fight alongside them to stop this anti-democratic assault. And, after this fight is done, were coming full force for the Republicans House majority.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries likewise expressed support, saying the group was showing courage, conviction and character.

open image in gallery Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed anger at the tactic and called for the arrest of the Democratic lawmakers on X on Sunday ( AP )

The desperate measures will not come without personal consequences for the lawmakers involved in the exodus, each of whom stands to be fined $500 for every day they are away for breaking quorum.

They could also face arrest.

Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, fumed on social media. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, also a Republican, wrote: The Texas House will be convening at 3.00pm tomorrow [Monday]. If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott presented the rebels with the same deadline and warned they will be removed from office if they fail to show up.

For his part, Illinois Gov. Pritzker, speaking alongside Wu, said: Were going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that  cause we know theyre doing the right thing, we know that theyre following the law.

The redistricting push in question would have an impact on the Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Houstin and Rio Grande Valley areas and could inspire retaliatory measures by Democrats in blue states.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his counterparts in New York, New Jersey and Illinois have already said they would be open to replotting their own electoral maps to further isolate conservative blocs.

Redistricting typically takes place once a decade to account for natural population shifts and is overseen in many states by non-partisan committees, although not in Texas.
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President Donald Trump has raged at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer after the upper chamber of Congress broke for its summer recess without approving a number of his nominees to top posts.

Senator Cryin Chuck Schumer is demanding over One Billion Dollars in order to approve a small number of our highly qualified nominees, who should right now be helping to run our Country, Trump seethed on Truth Social on Sunday.

The billion dollar deal alluded to by the president, presented as though it were a ransom demand, refers to the Democrats request for the restoration of funding for foreign aid and the National Institutes of Health in exchange for the postponement of the month-long August recess to grant more time to push through the nominees.

open image in gallery Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer refused to bow to Republican pressure to postpone the chambers August recess to allow for more time to consider President Donald Trumps nominees ( AP )

Trump continued: This demand is egregious and unprecedented, and would be embarrassing to the Republican Party if it were accepted. It is political extortion, by any other name. Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL!

Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country. Have a great RECESS and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

In a second post, the president continued: Democrats, lead [sic] by Cryin Chuck Schumer, are slow walking my Nominees, more than 150 of them. They wanted us to pay, originally, two billion dollars for approvals. The Dems are CRAZED LUNATICS!!!

The president is correct in saying that the veteran New Yorker is under pressure from his own party, as the latest polling continues to reveal Democratic discontent about their sides weak response to the Trump administrations many controversial policies.

A defiant Schumer replied to the presidents first post twice on X, first declaring that the decision to hold out on an agreement with the Republicans to delay the recess represented the Art of the Deal and then commenting, in reference to the Jeffrey Epstein saga: Release the files, Donald.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, for his part, said it was time to rethink the rules to stop parties employing stalling tactics, like demanding roll calls before each vote on a nominees confirmation, for short-term political gain.

I think theyre desperately in need of change, Thune said.

open image in gallery Senate Majority Leader John Thune has called for a change to the rules in frustration over Democrats slow walking the presidents nominees ( AP )

I think that the last six months have demonstrated that this process, nominations is broken. And so I expect there will be some good robust conversations about that.

Schumer said attempting to revise the rules when the chamber returns in September would represent a huge mistake and presented the failure to reach an agreement as a win, declaring: Donald Trump tried to bully us, go around us, threaten us, call us names, but he got nothing.

We have never seen nominees as flawed, as compromised, as unqualified as we have right now, he added.

Despite Trumps frustration, the Senate has already waved through a number of his most contentious choices for major cabinet positions like Pete Hegseth and Robert F Kennedy Jr, most recently approving ex-Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top prosecutor to Washington, D.C., and sending the presidents former attorney Emile Bove to the federal appeals court.
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The Department of Justice is on a mission to collect election information, including sensitive voter information, from states as part of President Donald Trumps executive order cracking down on voting accessibility  but its left state officials concerned.

Over the last three months, the DoJs Voting Section has reached out to at least 15 states seeking their voter roll, information about individuals who may have violated federal voting laws, and questions about the states process for identifying and removing ineligible voters, the Associated Press reported.

Traditionally, the Voting Sections main focus is to protect citizens right to vote, but under Trumps direction, its cracking down on voter fraud  a rare occurrence that Trump has mischaracterized as a major problem in the United States.

But some state officials have flagged concerns with the swath of information being requested, saying voter rolls contain private information about individuals and cannot be shared without congressional notification.

Utahs Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson, the states top election official, said she refused to provide expansive information on the states 2.1 million voters to the DoJ.

open image in gallery The Voting Section of the DoJ has requested states provide swaths of information on voters and elections as part of Trumps crackdown on voting accessibility ( Getty Images )

Weve offered the public voter list. If they want protected data, theres a process for government entities to request it for lawful purposes, Henderson told The Salt Lake Tribune.

Well address that if it comes, she continued, but so far we havent identified any federal or state statute that would justify handing over to the federal government the personal identifying information of 2.1 million Utah voters, Henderson added.

Officials in at least four California counties told the Associated Press that DoJ officials requested information about the number of people removed from rolls for being noncitizens, including their ID numbers, dates of birth, and voting records.

Trump has sought to conduct the largest deportation of undocumented immigrants, in part by targeting individuals using government information.

In Colorado, DoJ officials demanded the state hand over all records pertaining to the 2024 election  a massive trove of documents that includes ballots and voting equipment information, as well as records retained from the 2020 election.

Last year, the Colorado state Supreme Court tried to bar Trump from appearing on the presidential ballot, claiming he was ineligible because he violated the Fourteenth Amendment by inciting the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of Trump, declaring that states did not have the authority to determine a federal candidates eligibility.

open image in gallery Trump mischaracterized the 2020 presidential election as littered with fraudulent voters and rigged voting machines, despite no evidence of either ( REUTERS )

In Maine, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said she was denying the DoJs request for the states voter registration list, the names of officials who maintain the list, and the number of ineligible voters due to noncitizenship status.

Officials had sent multiple requests for information, one of which insinuated that Maine had an unusually high number of registered voters, the Maine Morning Star reported.

The nature of these questions suggest that the DOJ is more interested in keeping people that they dont like from voting than promoting voter registration and participation, Bellows told Maine Morning Star.

Already, DoJ officials had spoken to Bellows about a potential information-sharing agreement to provide the department with information on registered voters who are ineligible to vote.

Similar requests were made to Arizona, Connecticut, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Why on Earth does the Department of Justice need the voter information from all 50 states? Bellows asked. If Congress thought it was appropriate that there be a national voter file, Congress could have authorized the Department of Justice to do that, but they have not.

The DoJs motivation in collecting such information appears to be to assist its efforts to identify and prosecute those who violate federal election laws.

Trump has directed the attorney general and DoJ to collect election information from states to add extra safeguards to elections.

Despite no evidence of mass voter fraud or noncitizen voting in the last several elections, Trump has continually claimed the 2020 election was rigged with mass voter fraud and that undocumented migrants voted in the 2024 election.
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Donald Trump allegedly confessed to GOP colleagues that his ear injury was not too bad at the Republican National Convention, despite wearing his infamous oversized bandage.

The then-presidential nominee told Byron Donalds that doctors had advised him to keep the bandage on, the Florida Congressman said, speaking at a GOP conference over the weekend.

Trump arrived at the convention in July 2024 wearing the bandage, two days after surviving an attempted assassination while out campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania, during which a bullet clipped his right ear.

Many convention goers decided to mimic the look in solidarity, also sporting bandages of their own.

open image in gallery Donald Trump, with a bandage on his ear from an assassination attempt foiled at his rally on Saturday, speaks at the RNC after accepting the 2024 Republican nomination for president. ( Getty Images )

However, Donalds recalled, Trump himself was unenthused about his medical head accessory when the pair met shortly after his convention speech. "I see the bandage, and the second thing [Trump says] is what do you think of the bandage?" Donalds said.

"I said, I don't like it. Take it off. That's what I said. I don't like it. Take it off. I said let everybody see the ear.

"He was like, you know, it's not too bad. It's not too bad..."Doc Ronny [Jackson] says, I gotta wear the bandage."

Im like so what? Youre the president just take the thing off, Donalds added.

open image in gallery A Trump supporter wears a bandage with the words Fight! Fight! Fight! written on it after the attempt on the presidents life in Butler, Pennsylvania. ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

open image in gallery An attendee points to her bandaged' ear on the second day of the convention ( Getty )

The presidents bandage became the inspiration for many at the RNC, with one Arizona delegate Joe Neglia describing it at the time as the newest fashion trend.

Everybody in the world is going to be wearing these pretty soon, Neglia told CBS, while sporting a piece of white tape over his own ear. When he came in [to the convention], and there was that eruption of love in the room, I thought, what can I do to honor the truth? What can I possibly do?

And then I saw the bandage and I thought, I can do that. So, I put it on simply to honor Trump and to express sympathy with him and unity with him.

At a rally shortly after the convention, Trump appeared to have downgraded his ear bandage, instead sporting a skin-colored band-aid covering the top part of his right ear.
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Donald Trump has heaped praise on Sydney Sweeneys provocative new jeans advert after being told the actress was a registered Republican.

Just hours after learning about the Euphoria actresss reported political leanings, the president took to Truth Social on Monday morning, calling her recent American Eagle commercial the HOTTEST ad out there.

Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there, he wrote. Its for American Eagle, and the jeans are flying off the shelves.

The president took a jab at what he called WOKE advertising, before making a segue to reignite his feud with pop star Taylor Swift.

Or just look at Woke singer Taylor Swift. Ever since I alerted the world as to what she was by saying on TRUTH that I cant stand her (HATE!), Trump continued. She was booed out of the Super Bowl and became, NO LONGER HOT.

open image in gallery Sydney Sweeney has faced growing backlash for her role in American Eagles campaign, which critics have condemned as pushing eugenic ideals ( Getty Images )

Trump concluded his rant that WOKE is for losers and that the Republican Party is what you want to be.

The president first learned of Sweeneys party registration on Sunday evening while speaking to reporters on the runway in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Shes a registered Republican? the president asked. Now I love her ad.

Earlier Sunday, public voting records revealed that Sweeney, 27, has been registered with the Republican Party in Florida since June 2024. She has neither endorsed nor supported Trump publicly.

Is that right? Is Sydney Sweeney..., Trump continued with a smirk. Youd be surprised how many people are Republicans. Thats one I wouldnt have known, but Im glad you told me that.

If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic, the president concluded.

open image in gallery Donald Trump spoke out in support of Sydney Sweeney's recent American Eagle jeans promotion ( CNN/X )

Trump joined a chorus of MAGA voices praising the actresss participation in American Eagles recent advert, Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.

The commercial has sparked widespread backlash with some critics claiming it peddles eugenic ideals through its wordplay on jeans and genes.

Critics say the two phrases echo the sentiments of the discredited racist belief once popularized by the Nazis that the human race can be improved genetically by selective breeding.

Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color, Sweeney said in one spot.

My jeans are blue, she added, punctuated by the narrator declaring: Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.

Another clip showed the blue-eyed, blond-haired movie star suggestively staring at the camera as she explains that her bodys composition is determined by... genes.

open image in gallery Sweeney voted for the Republican Party in June last year, voter records show ( Reuters )

Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans, the company said in a statement responding to the backlash. Her jeans. Her story.

Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way, the statement continued. Great jeans look good on everyone.

The White House and several conservative firebrands also came to Sweeneys defense, with Trumps Communications Director Steven Cheung calling the negative reaction to the advert cancel culture run amok.

This warped, moronic and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. Theyre tired of this bulls***, he added.

Vice President JD Vance chimed in on the debate, hailing Sweeney as an all-American beautiful woman.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz condemned the crazy Left for attacking a beautiful woman. Congressman Eric Swalwell was among Democrats and X users taunting Cruz, calling him Thirsty Ted.

Fox News spent over 85 minutes across at least 20 segments through Thursday afternoon discussing the commercial and the discourse surrounding it, according to a study by liberal media watchdog Media Matters for America.
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The remains of animals dating back more than 10,000 years have been found in a cave in northern Norway providing the oldest example of an animal community living in the European Arctic region.

Forty-six types of mammals were found, as well as fish and birds.

The discovery, which includes polar bear, walrus, bowhead whale and Atlantic puffin, provides a rare snapshot of a vanished Arctic world, according to scientists.

Also found were the remains of collared lemmings which are now extinct in Europe and had not been found in Scandinavia before.

The team say the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), will help show how wildlife has responded to dramatic climate shifts in the past as the animal community dates to a warmer period of the ice age.

DNA testing carried out for the research found that the lineages of the animals did not survive when colder conditions returned.

open image in gallery The sediment profile in the Arne Qvamgrotta cave in Norway ( Trond Klungseth Lodoen/Bournemouth University/PA )

Sam Walker, of Bournemouth University, said: These discoveries provide a rare snapshot of a vanished Arctic world.

They also underscore how vulnerable cold-adapted species can be under changing climate conditions, which can help us to understand their resilience and extinction risk in the present.

The remains were found in the Arne Qvamgrotta cave which was first discovered in the 1990s when a local mining industry built a tunnel through the nearby mountain.

But it was large excavations carried out in 2021 and 2022 which led to the discovery of the animals which also included common eider, rock ptarmigan and Atlantic cod.

Professor Sanne Boessenkool, of the University of Oslo, said: We have very little evidence of what Arctic life was like in this period because of the lack of preserved remains over 10,000 years old.

The cave has now revealed a diverse mix of animals in a coastal ecosystem representing both the marine and the terrestrial environment.

The researchers state that the variety of animals including migratory reindeer suggest the habitat would have been mostly ice-free at the time and the presence of freshwater fish meant there would have been lakes and rivers within tundra.

open image in gallery The bone fragments being excavated from the sediments ( Sam Walker/Bournemouth University/PA )

There would also have been sea ice for the bowhead whales and walruses, although this would have been seasonal as the harbour porpoises found are known to avoid ice, the scientists say.

The study suggests that although the animals had managed to colonise the region after the glaciers melted, their whole populations had died out as they had been unable to migrate when the ice returned.

Dr Walker said: This highlights how cold-adapted species struggle to adapt to major climatic events.

This has a direct link to the challenges they are facing in the Arctic today as the climate warms at a rapid pace.

The habitats these animals in the region live in today are much more fractured than 75,000 years ago, so it is even harder for animal populations to move and adapt.

Prof Boessenkool added: It is also important to note that this was a shift to a colder, not a period of warming that we are facing today.

And these are cold-adapted species, so if they struggled to cope with colder periods in the past, it will be even harder for these species to adapt to a warming climate.
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From the sky, the torched ruins of once-bustling cities simmer into view as the back of a Jordanian military plane yawns open. The ground beneath  Gaza  is ash and ruin: the bottom of a firepit stretching out to the horizon.

It is as if giants have torn through anything that once lived here: monstrous teeth have ripped chunks out of the few buildings that still teeter above ground. Everything else appears stamped underfoot.

In some corners, Israeli tank tracks have clawed up what is left of the soil in sickening scrawls. The only flicker of life is the families corralled into tents on scraps of beach in the punishing sunlight.

From the ground looking up, these impossibly huge planes roar into view. It is absurd. Gaza is just 25 miles long and a few miles wide, and entirely accessible by land and sea.

But because of Israels ongoing bombardment of the strip and war with militant group Hamas, coupled with its crippling blockade, countries across the world are now dropping aid at enormous expense from the sky.

Airdrops are always a last resort, a desperate measure. That is because it rarely gets to those who are most in need, it can be dangerous and there are safer simpler routes via land UN officials have told The Independent  those dying of starvation are too weak to endure the hunger games to grab it.

Sometimes it lands in the sea. Sometimes it lands on the very people it is supposed to save, with fatal consequences.

Like all the young men, Oday waited in the scorching sun for four hours. But when the planes arrived, he couldnt get out of the way in time, said Moatasem al-Quraan, 31, from central Gaza, about his cousin, nurse Oday al-Quraan, who was crushed to death earlier on Monday.

open image in gallery Destroyed Gaza seen from the sky on board a Jordanian military aid drop ( Bel Trew )

A pallet of aid being airdropped into central Gaza landed on him as he waited for food, his family and eyewitnesses told The Independent.

He is married and has two children, said Moatasem. He was like every citizen in Gaza. He has been hungry for four months.

The plane that dropped the aid which killed Oday was carrying 12 boxes; inside each were 36 cartons of food. Where will we distribute them? The aid on the plane isnt enough for the 20,000 people who were waiting there.

Further north in Gaza, Muhammad Mansour, a 39-year-old father of six, said that when the aid drops, it is usually taken by armed gangs, as crippling hunger has exploded into lawlessness.

A few times it falls into the sea.

I dont know how to swim, Muhammad said in desperation. Some went out in small fishing boats, but when they got it, the flour, sugar and rice were useless due to the seawater.

Jordanian officials told The Independent they are trying all ways to get aid in to Gaza, including by land and sky to ease the hunger crisis in the besieged strip.

On Monday, the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF), also known as the Arab Army, conducted seven airdrop operations together with the UAE, Germany, France, Belgium and Canada  delivering 45 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of the kingdoms ongoing efforts to support Palestinians in the enclave.

In total, 289 airdrops have been conducted since Israel permitted them to restart two weeks ago, delivering 305 tonnes of aid.

open image in gallery One-tonne pallets of aid float down into Gaza after being released by the Jordanian military ( Bel Trew )

Meanwhile, officials in Jordan warned that they have had warehouses of aid for Gaza gathering dust since Israel reimposed its devastating blockade in March.

Hussein Shebli, the head of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), which coordinates much of Jordans aid response for Gaza, painted a damning picture of the nightmare of getting those supplies in by land.

He said they face long distances and multiple checkpoints that make transportation difficult, as well as frequent closures of the crossings into Gaza, and active prevention of aid entry by the occupying entity.

Deliberate inspection delays at checkpoints and crossings often hold shipments for extended periods, leading to spoilage and further disruption, he said.

Repeated attacks by Israeli settlers on aid convoys have caused serious delays and damage to shipments. The aid that does get to the crossing points can then be rejected on questionable grounds, he added, referencing one load of dates which was turned back over the alleged presence of pits.

Israel continues to deny there are restrictions on aid or that there is even a hunger crisis in Gaza, despite the UN-backed global hunger monitor recently concluding that the worst-case scenario of famine is playing out.

Instead, the Israeli government blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza and says it is taking steps for more aid to reach the population, including the aid drops.

The main military unit coordinating aid  COGAT  has even blamed the UN for not picking up aid it has allowed in, although UN officials said they are faced with a slew of obstacles, including struggling to get permits to reach these pick-up points.

open image in gallery Israel continues to deny there are restrictions on aid or that there is even a hunger crisis in Gaza ( Reuters )

The Israeli military said on Monday that it will continue to work to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip  while refuting the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza.

But the reality is people are still dying of hunger: Gazas health ministry said on Monday that five more people died of starvation or malnutrition over the past 24 hours. The latest deaths raised the toll of those dying from hunger to 180, including 93 children, since the war began. Images are still pouring out of hospitals showing emaciated children, their bones pressing through paper-thin flesh.

There are also deep concerns for the 20 remaining live Israeli hostages and captives still being held by Hamas, who during the 7 October attacks on southern Israel seized over 250 hostages and killed over 1,000 more, according to Israeli estimates.

Late last week, the militant group released new galling videos of two emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza, which have horrified Israelis and added even more pressure on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, even as his government considers another expansion of the nearly 22-month war.

In one, a skeletal Evyatar David, who was taken from the Nova Music Festival, says he is digging his own grave and speaks of days without food.

open image in gallery Grab from video of Evyatar David, an Israeli taken hostage by Hamas, digging what he says is his own grave ( Telegram )

As global outrage over the rising famine in and bombardment of Gaza surges, UN agencies warn that the airdrops are insufficient and Israel must let in far more aid by land.

Tamara al-Rifai, a spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency, said airdrops are 100 times more expensive than their equivalent by land, and while the UN is grateful for any breakthrough of aid, the airdrops are equal to the content of ten trucks.

If there is enough political will to bring about airdrops, there has to be political will to put pressure on the government of Israel to open crossings and to allow the UN to do its job, she added.

Last year, the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that one four-hour round trip by a C-130 military plane costs around $32,000  while a trip by truck is estimated at around $970 from Cairo to Rafah in southern Gaza (when that route was still possible).

open image in gallery Jordanian airmen prepare the aid drop over Gaza ( Bel Trew )

Back in Gaza, local medics reported that at least 40 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes on Gaza on Monday, including 10 seeking aid at aid distribution sites run by the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

The UN says more than 1,000 people have been killed trying to receive aid in the enclave in just a few months, most of them shot by Israeli forces operating nearby.

The Israeli military has repeatedly denied targeting aid seekers and has said it has previously only fired in the vicinity of aid distribution centres.

As the war rages on, the families in ravaged Gaza are dying, trying to find food.

We thank all the countries that have helped and are trying to help, but the only solution is to open the crossing and distribute supplies, said Moatasem as he attended the funeral of his cousin Oday.

My cousin went to bring a meal to feed his family and children, but returned to them dead.
The Hamas images of starving Jews, held hostage in tunnels below Gaza, digging their own graves or unable to even stand, provoked the condemnation that the militant group must surely have expected.

Along with its ally Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hamas is now trying to trade food and medical help for Evyatar David, 24, and 21-year-old Rom Braslavski - along with 18 other living hostages - for an end to Israeli air strikes, and the opening of humanitarian corridors for Gazas 2.2 million people facing starvation.

They will not get what they want  and neither will Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister - because both are locked into mutually destructive strategies that punish the innocent while they pursue the conflict neither really wants to end.

open image in gallery Demonstrators take part in a protest to demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and to end the war, as a video released by Hamas of hostage Evyatar David is displayed, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 2, 2025 ( Reuters )

David is 24, hes had two birthdays since he was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. A musician who planned to tour internationally, he was filmed in a Hamas tunnel digging a hole in the sand at his feet.

Every day that passes, my body gets weaker and thinner, he is recorded saying in the second of two videos released by Hamas. It seems to me I am on the way to my own death. I am digging the grave in which I will be buried.

He then collapses, holding the shovel, his head bowed.

Braslavski, a soldier working at the Nova festival close to the border with Gaza when Hamas led an operation that killed nearly 1,200 and in which over 250 people were kidnapped, was being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

A video was also released of him at the weekend. I cant stand I cant walk to the bathroom, Ive run out of food and water, he is filmed saying through tears. After this latest video, Hamas said it had lost contact with the PIJ.

In the footage which has been widely condemned, both men are clearly badly emaciated.

open image in gallery Still from a video released by Hamas of Israeli Evyatar David, taken hostage on October 7, 2023, digging what he says is his own grave ( Telegram )

An assement by expert doctors from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum led by professor Ronit Endervelt said: Evyatars current weight is estimated at approximately 40-45kg, a decrease of about 41 per cent from his original body weight of around 76kg, defined by the World Health Organization as severe thinness.

Rom began captivity with a body mass at the lower limit and a weight of about 65kg and is therefore at high risk from weight loss. His current weight is estimated at around 37-47 kg, a decrease of approximately 31 per cent.

The hostages supporters have long been critical of the Israeli government and Netanyahu for what they say has been the pursuit of the war with Hamas rather than focus on the release of hostages.

I pray that Rom hasn't given up and still believes he's coming home. I pray that Rom hasn't accepted the devastating reality that maybe no one will come to rescue him and that he might die there, his mother, Tami, said in a statement sent to The Independent.

open image in gallery APTOPIX Israel Palestinians ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Both men speak of how little they have been able to eat and drink.

It is assumed that Hamas is highlighting the starvation of Jewish Israelis held in Gaza to show the wider plight of the whole enclave, where aid organizations and the United Nations have said Israel is starving the population.

In its latest assessment of Gazas population, the UNs World Food Programme said that more than one in three people in Gaza are now going days at a time without eating.

It added: More than 500,000 people  nearly a quarter of Gazas population  are enduring famine-like conditions, while the remaining population is facing emergency levels of hunger.

On Sunday, some 80 Gazans were killed, many trying to reach aid hubs run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Five more people died of starvation or malnutrition over the past 24 hours, Gazas health ministry said on Monday. The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from hunger to 180, including 93 children, since the war began, according to Reuters.

But Hamas is more likely to have calculated that it has no real interest in a ceasefire with Israel. While the conflict rages it has meaning and does not have to face a reckoning for the crimes of October 7 and for the inevitable Israeli response that the murder spree caused.

open image in gallery Palestinians carry humanitarian aid packages near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution center operated by the U.S.-backed organization, in Netzarim, central Gaza Strip ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Israel had faced international condemnation for the humanitarian horrors it has caused in Gaza and its leaders, including Netanyahu, face indictments on war crimes by the Internation Criminal Court. Even staunch ally Donald Trump had been struck by the images of starving Palestinian children that emerged from the largely razed Mediterranean ghetto.

Netanyahu came under increasing pressure to end Israels campaign and open the gates of Gaza to food and other aid.

That would have been a relief for Gazans but terrible for Hamas. Historically, the group has favoured terror attacks over diplomacy - literally blowing up any signs of rapprochement between other Palestinian groups and Israel with bus bombs and market attacks.

A ceasefire and, worse still for Hamas, a commitment (as called for by Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) for renewed focus on a two-state solution, dividing the land from the river Jordan to the sea between Israel and Palestinians, would have been a disaster. Hamas wants the end of Israel  not a share of the land.

So releasing images of starving Jews that recall Belsen was sure to scupper any attempts at dragging Netanyahu towards a ceasefire.

open image in gallery Israel ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

On Monday he said he would call his security cabinet to meet to continue to stand together and fight together to achieve all our war objectives: the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.

He has pledged to - one day - annex the Israeli occupied West Bank. Several of his cabinet colleagues have called for the mass evacuation of Gazas population and its resettlement by Israelis.

He is facing bribery charges in court. The Israeli prime minister doesnt want peace now because he would soon face an inquiry into how, or why, he ignored the intelligence warnings of Hamas preparations for the October 7 attack.

A ceasefire in Gaza now would expose Netanyahu, and Hamas, to political and personal risks they dont ever want to ever face.
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Nearly 600 retired Israeli security officials and former intelligence agency heads have written to Donald Trump urging him to put pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza immediately.

The Commanders For Israels Security (CIS) group sent a letter to the US President with 550 signatories, including fomer Mossad director Tamir Pardo, ex-Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon, and former deputy Israeli army chief Matan Vilnai.

The CIS movement is made up of retired senior defence and foreign service officials, who support a two-state solution to secure Israels future as the strong democratic home of the Jewish people via separation from the Palestinians.

It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel, reads the open letter, which was sent on Friday and shared with the media later. You did it in Lebanon. Time to do it in Gaza as well.

Chasing remaining senior Hamas operatives can be done later. Our hostages cant wait.

open image in gallery This screengrab from a video released by the armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas, shows Israeli hostage Evyatar David ( AFP/Getty )

The appeal comes as videos of two emaciated Israeli hostages in Gaza were released, sparking international condemnation and protests over the weekend.

Evyatar David, 24, and Rom Braslavski, 21, were abducted from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 and recorded in fragile condition.

They are among the 49 hostages believed still in Gaza, of whom 27 are believed to be dead.

French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were among the leaders condemning the videos.

open image in gallery Protestors demand the end of the war in Gaza and release of all hostages, outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem ( REUTERS )

The footage sparked outrage in Israel, putting pressure on Netanyahu, who met with the International Committee of the Red Cross to ask that it bring hostages food and medicine - access that the organisation says has never been granted by Hamas.

The Israeli prime minister is set to meet with his security cabinet on Tuesday, where he will reportedly seek their backing to expand Israels offensive in Gaza and seize the entire enclave according to Israeli media.

Senior officials in Netanyahus office allegedly said: The decision has been made - we're going to occupy Gaza, according to Israeli news channel N12. The Independent has approached the Prime Ministers Office to confirm these reports.

Netanyahu shared a video of himself at 9pm local time in which he said Israel was committing to free Gaza from the tyranny of these terrorists in reference to Hamas.

open image in gallery Protestors in Tel Aviv demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza ( Reuters )

Protests also erupted in Tel Aviv on Sunday and in front of the prime ministers office in Jerusalem on Monday, calling to end the war and release the hostages. Indirect ceasefire talks have stalled in recent weeks.

The letter argued that the IDF has achieved its military objectives - dismantling Hamas governance and military formations - and that securing the hostages now requires a deal.

The letter continued: Your credibility with the vast majority of Israelis augments your ability to steer Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government in the right direction: End the war, return the hostages, stop the suffering, and forge a regional-international coalition that helps the Palestinian Authority (once reformed) to offer Gazans and all Palestinians an alternative to Hamas and its vicious ideology.

A UN-backed food security agency warned that a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in the besieged enclave.

More than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
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Thanks to a symphony of beeping motorbikes, buzzing street food and a constant caffeine high, Vietnams energy is electrifying. One of southeast Asias most vibrant countries is also one of its more affordable, giving wallet-conscious travellers an excellent alternative to nearby Thailand.

And as Thailands tourism surges  partly due to whats been dubbed the White Lotus effect, travellers are increasingly looking east. This year, Vietnam marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War (known locally as the American War), with Saigon falling to communist-run North Vietnam on 30 April 1975. While the more popular tourist destinations like Hanoi, Phu Quoc and Ha Long Bay still have plenty to offer, there are also lesser-known sights to explore from north to south where youll enjoy a quieter experience.

As a full-time traveller, I spend part of every year in Vietnam. Here are my picks for getting off the beaten track in southeast Asias most exciting destination.

Read more: The most beautiful crowd-free destinations to visit in 2025

Mu Cang Chai

open image in gallery Garrya Mu Cang Chai Resort overlooks rice terraces, which, when viewed from above, look like a topographical map ( Garrya Mu Cang Chai )

Backpackers and motorheads often make a beeline for the hairpin roads of the Ha Giang Loop. So swap it out for the pastoral perfection of serene Mu Cang Chai. A seven-hour drive northwest of Hanoi, this rural district has sky-high rice terraces that top anything in Bali. Various hill tribes live here, planting and harvesting year-round, but visit during September or October when the swaying rice terraces are drenched in yellow.

Where to stay

This ultra-remote part of the country just got its first high-end resort. Garrya Mu Cang Chai is an architectural stunner decked out in bamboo and Hmong textiles. Be sure to book a room with an otherworldly view over the rows and rows of rice terraces.

Read more: The unlikely tourist spots attracting thousands of visitors each year

a Lat

open image in gallery a Lat is home to French-style architecture in a lush green setting ( Ana Mandara Villas )

A favourite for Vietnamese honeymooners, a Lat is like the lovechild of Switzerland and southeast Asia. Beloved for its cool, temperate climate, rolling hills and ripe avocados, the City in the Forest has a deep French colonial past. These roots are most evident in its trendy cafe culture and its architecture. When youre not sipping an avocado coffee (trust me on this one), tour the Crazy House, a wacky and whimsical Tim Burton-style hotel and attraction, and try Dalat-style pizza (with a base made from fried rice paper) at the local night market.

Where to stay

Arguably the plushest hotel in town, Ana Mandara Villas Dalat channels a mountain retreat in the French Alps. Formerly homes of French colonisers, the hotels 17 unique villas have elegant touches like dark-wood flooring, clawfoot bathtubs and four-poster beds.

Phong Nha

open image in gallery Ke Bang National Park is home to a vast cave network ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Adventurous travellers should pack their hiking boots for this protected part of central Vietnam. The big draw here is Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site and the home of what many consider to be the worlds largest cave, Hang Son Doong. But you cant just wander into a cave that boasts stalagmites taller than Big Ben. Only 1,000 lucky people are allowed in per year via a pricey, multi-day caving tour. But dont fret, as there are plenty of other small caves to explore, along with Asias oldest karst mountains. Word to the wise: avoid the rainy season from October to December, when most caves are inaccessible.

Read more: The best Vietnam holiday destinations  when to travel and where to stay

Where to stay

Tucked along the Con River, Victory Road Villas is a boutique hotel flush with stylish and modern villas. Encaustic tiles, outdoor stone tubs and handmade wooden beds decorate its seven apartment-style abodes.

Mui Ne

open image in gallery Mui Ne Beach in southern Vietnam is a golden sweep of soft sand backed by palm trees ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

With over 3,200 kilometres of coast, Vietnam has some dreamy stretches of sand. But rather than hitting the high-rise hotels of Nha Trang, head further south to the cruisy coastal town of Mui Ne. Check in to this weekend getaway for Saigonese for a few days of lounging by the water and feasting on fresh seafood. Surprisingly, the beach isnt the biggest draw here. Roughly 30 kilometres outside of town are the Red and White Sand Dunes, where you can ride ATVs or sandboards down these unique waterside-like dunes.

Where to stay

Book in at The Anam Mui Ne. Surrounded by swaying palms, this beach resort has 127 rooms and suites with antique-style tile floors, Irish linen bedding and locally crafted Cham pottery. Its signature restaurant, Lang, is modeled after a traditional fishing village home and serves an array of classic Vietnamese dishes.

Read more: The little-visited region that could solve Japans overtourism problem

Bai Tu Long Bay

open image in gallery Board a traditional boat to sail through picturesque Bai Tu Long Bay ( Indochina Junk )

Pictures of Ha Long Bay feature in every Vietnam advert. But this Unesco World Heritage darling is packed to the gills with tourist boats. So, try an overnight cruise here with one on nearby Bai Tu Long Bay. Youll still float by towering karst mountains, kayak its emerald waters and wave to sleepy floating fishing villages  just with far less congestion.

Read more: There is a Bali beyond influencers Instagram reels  and its better

Where to stay

Hopping on board a boat is the only way to appreciate the startlingly natural beauty jutting out of this bay. Indochina Junk offers one- or two-night stays in its traditional wooden junk boats. Interiors are cosy with Vietnamese touches and chic, blue-tiled bathrooms, and its decks include plenty of places to lounge with a bia hoi in hand. (Cruises start from 146 per person).

Quy Nhon

open image in gallery The Avani Quy Nhon Resort is located in coastal Quy Nhon ( Avani Quy Nhon )

Located between Hoi An and Nha Trang, Quy Nhon is a quiet coastal escape. Famous for its super-fresh seafood and huge stretch of beach  which is typically empty  it makes for a peaceful beach break. When youre ready to peel yourself off your sunlounger, take a trip to see some of the countrys best-preserved Cham ruins. These ancient Champa temples date back to the 11th century, with the Thap Doi Towers and Banh It Towers being the easiest to reach.

Where to stay

Avani Quy Nhon Resort has a kilometre of private beach. Need we say more? Its 60 rooms and villas have oceanfront views and a modern minimalist design with pops of colour. The resorts cliffside restaurant, Tre, is perfect for sundowners and local bites straight from the water.

How to get there

Direct flights from London start from 671 to Ho Chi Minh City and 674 to Hanoi, round-trip with Vietnam Airlines. Qatar and Emirates also offer direct flights from London.

Read more: Sheer drops and hairy near-misses: Exploring Vietnams untouched landscapes by motorbike
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A 65-year-old registered sex offender is facing federal charges for allegedly groping a sleeping teenager on a Spirit Airlines flight.

Indiana resident, John Daniel Fowler, later claimed to police that he had merely been reaching down to help right the thermos of the 17-year-old girl in the next seat after it tipped over.

Fowler, who pleaded guilty to molesting his step-nephews girlfriend and is required to register with authorities until November 2033, began the journey with a dust-up at the gate due to being charged $100 USD for the size of his luggage, according to an FBI probable cause affidavit reviewed by The Independent.

This incident was not received well by Fowler, who respond[ed] by blurting out that he hoped the plane would crash, the affidavit states. Fowler then apologized and was still allowed to board the aircraft destined to Orlando.

Fowler is now persona non grata with the carrier, a Spirit Airlines spokesperson said Monday.

open image in gallery John David Fowler is facing more than a decade in prison after allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl on a flight from Indianapolis to Orlando ( Marion County Sheriff's Office; Getty Images )

Safety is our top priority, and we have zero tolerance for the behavior as alleged, the spokesperson told The Independent. The allegations are serious, and we will provide any necessary assistance to law enforcement in their investigation. Additionally, this individual is no longer welcome on any of our flights.

Fowler does not yet have an attorney listed on the court docket, and was unable to be reached for comment.

On July 29, Fowler was on Spirit flight NK 1523 from Indianapolis to Orlando, assigned to an aisle seat, according to the affidavit. In the middle seat was a 17-year-old girl, identified in the affidavit as Victim 1. After takeoff, the affidavit says Victim 1 asked the person seated by the window if she could take a photograph of the view. Fowler then asked Victim 1 if she could send him the photo, and gave her his phone number, the affidavit goes on.

During the two-hour-plus flight, Fowler tried to make conversation with Victim 1, but she was not interested and shut him down, the affidavit says.

Several times, Victim 1 was forced to physically move Fowlers hand, which kept creeping over to her seat, according to the affidavit.

As the plane approached Orlando, Victim 1 was asleep underneath a blanket, and had both feet up on her seat, the affidavit continues. Once the aircraft landed, but before the doors were opened, Victim 1 woke up to find Fowlers hand under her blanket, rubbing her crotch, the affidavit states.

Victim 1 screamed until she got the attention of a flight attendant who immediately brought the teen to the front of the plane. Fowler, for his part, was taken to the rear of the aircraft. Once the plane had taxied to the gate, he was questioned by Orlando police, according to the affidavit.

During the interview, Fowler claimed that he reached down to grab Victim 1s thermos, which had fallen over and when he came back up his arm touched her leg, the affidavit states.

Fowler denied touching the girls private parts, and maintained he was not on any medication or alcohol at the time, the affidavit says.

open image in gallery Suspect and registered sex offender John Daniel Fowler got into a heated dispute at the gate over a baggage fee, but was still allowed to board his flight ( Getty Images )

Officers interviewed Victim 1 as well as the cabin crew at the same time. The FBI, along with a childrens forensic examiner, spoke with her on August 1.

Fowler was charged the same day with abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft, which carries up to three years in federal prison; and a potential 10-year enhancement for having committed a new crime while a registered sex offender.

The affidavit concludes with a recap of Fowlers November 2023 conviction, citing details from a probable cause affidavit that says he sexually assaulted a sleeping victim in her home.

Fowler, who the victim told police was her boyfriends step-dads brother, had been staying in the garage on an air mattress, the affidavit states. Her age is unclear.

State court records show Fowler was given a two-year suspended sentence, with credit for time served while awaiting trial, and was sentenced to probation. After an undisclosed violation in 2024, GPS location monitoring was added to Fowlers probation terms.

In July, a Texas aerospace executive flying American Airlines from Boston to Washington, D.C. was arrested after allegedly masturbating openly while pawing at the passenger seated next to him. (The suspect told police he was stretching his arms.) In March, a 55-year-old man was banned permanently from American after his third accusation of mid-flight sexual misconduct. A month before, a traveler sued Alaska Airlines, claiming she had been sexually assaulted by an inebriated passenger.

Last year, the FBI issued an alert about sexual assault aboard commercial aircraft, a crime the bureau said was on the rise.
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Disruption from Storm Floris will continue into Tuesday, travellers have been warned, after wind gusts of up to 82 mph brought down trees and power lines across Scotland and Ireland, triggering transport chaos for trains, flights and ferries.

More than 43,000 homes were without power, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said, with 10,000 more affected in Ireland  mostly in Co Donegal and Co Roscommon.

Festivals in Edinburgh were also disrupted, with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo among the events cancelled, while the delivery of exam results to some island communities was delayed according to the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

The Met Office confirmed wind gusts of up to 79mph as far apart as Kinloss, east of Inverness, and the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, with 82mph recorded at Wick in Caithness.

Transport was paralysed across much of northern Britain. Network Rail closed all rail lines north of the Central Belt from midday, while a number of roads have been blocked.

Disruption will continue into Tuesday. Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: Storm Floris has caused significant disruption to Scotlands railway, with wind speeds of up to 90mph, unprecedented for a summer storm.

open image in gallery Travel warnings at Manchester Piccadilly station on Monday ( Getty )

Our teams will work through the night, but this work will continue into Tuesday morning. Well use two helicopters to assist engineers on the ground. Were grateful to passengers for their patience whilst we do this.

Earlier, the train operator had appealed to property owners to secure tents, trampolines or furniture to prevent them being blown on to railway tracks.

Anglo-Scottish rail travel was nigh-impossible on the East Coast and West Coast main lines. LNER and Lumo warned passengers not to attempt to travel north of Newcastle, while Avanti West Coast advised travellers not to venture north of Preston.

The Caledonian Sleeper serving Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William is cancelled overnight on Monday. Train operators will accept passengers tickets dated Monday on Tuesday, and in some cases Wednesday.

open image in gallery Severe gusts on the north coast of Northern Ireland in Portstewart on Monday ( Reuters )

Travellers were able to reach or leave Scotland by air for some of the day, but high winds at the northern airports of Aberdeen and Inverness caused two flights to turn back to their starting points. Both easyJet from Luton to Inverness and KLM from Amsterdam to Aberdeen abandoned their landings and flew back, with passengers enduring 900-mile flights to nowhere.

By 6pm the aviation data analyst, Cirium, had calculated more than 150 flights were cancelled: 79 departures and 74 arrivals. Most served northern Scotland and Northern Ireland. Aberdeen was worst affected with 29 cancellations, while Belfast City experienced 21 grounded flights.

A number of campervans have been blown over on the A87 road, which leads to Portree on the Isle of Skye.

Police Scotland said: "We have received multiple reports of campervans being blown over on the A87 between Broadford and Portree due to high winds caused by Storm Floris.

open image in gallery No way: Flightpath of KLM departure from Amsterdam to Aberdeen, which was unable to land in Scotland and returned to the Dutch hub ( Flightradar24 )

"We are advising motorists not to travel on the Bealach na Ba road and anyone with campervans should remain parked in sheltered areas until the wind speed reduces."

Elsewhere, some roads in Scotland and northern England were blocked by fallen trees.

The vast majority of ferries serving western Scotland were cancelled. Caledonian MacBrayne warned people planning to sail on Tuesday: Due to forecast adverse weather, sailings will be liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice.

Northlink, which serves Orkney and Shetland from mainland Scotland, warns of the possibility of disruption through to Wednesday 6 August.

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August. January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
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Investors in Diageo will be hoping the continued boom in demand for Guinness will help put the drinks giant back on track following the departure of its boss, as well as challenging conditions.
Q Im the manager of a tech company in Dublin, and after the recent Coldplay concert controversy, someone told me there is a similar situation in my firm. It appears that a senior member of staff is in an illicit relationship with a female colleague.
Josh Flynn and Ava Guiden from Waterford at the Oasis Live '25 pop-up shop in Dublin. Pic:Mark Condren 4.8.2025

Anne-Marie Burns and Alan Rice from Dublin at the Oasis Live '25 pop-up shop in Dublin. Pic:Mark Condren 4.8.2025

Sam Hurley from Dublin at the Oasis Live '25 pop-up shop in Dublin. Pic:Mark Condren 4.8.2025

Anne-Marie Burns and Alan Rice from Dublin at the Oasis Live '25 pop-up shop in Dublin. Photo: Mark Condren

Oasis fans came in big numbers to the opening of the band's merchandise pop-up store in Dublin ahead of the Croke Park gigs.

With less than two weeks until Liam and Noel Gallagher arrive in Ireland, there were long queues of fans waiting to enter the store on Bank Holiday Monday to buy the official merchandise of the Oasis Live '25 tour.

Located at 133 St Stephen's Green, at the former site of The Well pub, the store will remain open until August 17.

In the store, fans can get Oasis t-shirts, ranging in prices from 40 to 55, exclusive vinyls from 40 to 50, hoodies from 75, tote bags for 25, bucket hats for 30, or various Oasis posters for 12.

There is also a special Adidas x Oasis collaboration available in the store, with hoodies ranging in prices from 65 to 80, and t-shirts for 55.

Sam Hurley from Dun Laoghaire, who was leaving the store with his new Oasis bucket hat, said he's "so excited" to go to the Saturday date in Croke Park.

"I'm so excited, I'm even worried about when it's gonna be over, what I'm going to do. I think about it every day," he told the Irish Independent.

He said "it was a bit surreal" when he found out the Oasis were getting back together for a comeback tour.

After visiting the pop-up store, he said: "It's good to see people getting all the merch in, everyone wearing the t-shirts. I've seen [the videos of] the gigs, everyone's wearing the same stuff, it feels like everyone's together."

"Looking forward to [the concert]. Can't wait," he said.

Anne-Marie Burns and Alan Rice from Dublin at the Oasis Live '25 pop-up shop in Dublin. Photo: Mark Condren

Anne-Marie Burns and Alan Rice from Dublin, who were also successful in securing tickets for the Saturday night, came out of the store with a few Oasis t-shirts.

"It was great, we came in to get some t-shirts and nice little things for the concert," Ms Burns said.

An Oasis fan of 25 years, Mr Rice said he "was lucky" to get the tickets for the gig and it was "amazing" to see the band reuniting for the tour.

"I actually was lucky [with getting tickets]. I got into the ballot the night before. Still wasn't guaranteed, but delighted to have got them. I'm absolutely delighted."

Josh Flynn and Ava Guiden from Waterford said they are "delighted" to head to the Sunday concert.

Josh Flynn and Ava Guiden from Waterford at the Oasis Live '25 pop-up shop in Dublin. Pic:Mark Condren 4.8.2025

Mr Flynn, who has been an Oasis fan for a long time, said he "grew up with their music" and his father is a "huge fan" of the band.

He said the prices of the merchandise in the store were "alright", adding he "thought they were going to be worse".

They bought a some t-shirts and two posters in the store.

Meanwhile, Tiernagh McManus from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, who has been an Oasis fan for a long time, was "disappointed" not to get tickets for any of the concerts.

"I tried my hardest to get me and my family tickets, and I was online for hours before they even went on sale, and couldn't get them.

"[The pop-up store] was class. I definitely recommend people to go in. The atmosphere in there with the music was really good."

Sam Hurley from Dublin

"This is something the world needed" - Oasis fans react after opening night of London tour

Oasis will hit the Croke Park stage on Saturday, August 16, and Sunday, August 17.
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Lauren Murphy Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 06:30

If you found yourself stargazing in Cardiff, Manchester or London in recent weeks, you may have spotted something unusual. An imminent invasion of aliens who were fans of a certain Britpop band? No  just a clever marketing tactic as an impressive drone display mapped out Oasis instantly recognisable logo ahead of their gigs in each city. Dubliners will undoubtedly be treated to the same spectacle later this month.
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EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, wants the pot to be used solely for market disruptions and not weather-related crises. Photo: Getty Images

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The BBC has been criticised for not yet having paid court-ordered damages to former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.

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Bureau sold 20 such properties last year for a total of 4.9m

Seizing and selling off ostentatious trophy homes linked to criminals is now the number one priority for the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab), its chief told the Irish Independent.

Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins believes that denying and depriving is a clear way of sending a message to criminals who splurge millions on properties. He also said putting the properties into the hands of law-abiding citizens is beneficial to communities that may have been overshadowed by a criminal controlling the area.
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Fears grow for Gena Heraty as no demands have yet been made and no group has officially been identified as the suspects

Gena Heraty was taken from an orphanage in Port-au-Prince on Sunday

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The Haitian town from where Irish missionary Gena Heraty was abducted has been under siege since the start of the year by a criminal group designated as a foreign terror organisation by the US government.
Galen Weston and his wife Hilary at the opening of the new Brown Thomas Store in Grafton Street in Dublin in February 1995

Irish-Canadian businesswoman, Hilary Weston, who helped build Penneys and Brown Thomas, has died at the age of 83, her family has confirmed.

The Dublin-born woman, who was also the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, passed away in England, where she had been living in recent years.
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The family of an Irish woman among eight people who were kidnapped from an orphanage near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince yesterday has said they are absolutely devastated by the news.
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Andy Doyle of Bugler Doyles bar and Centenary Stores which he plans to reopen as a nightclub in Wexford town. Photograph: Patrick Browne

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The old adage you get out what you put in springs to mind on a walk down the buzzing main street in Wexford town.
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Tracey and Don McLaughlin were devastated when their daughter Freya was diagnosed with an aggressive tumour as an infant. At the age of 13, she has now undergone successful treatment to keep the tumour at bay  and equine therapy has been immensely helpful for regaining her mobility

It's amazing - my little girl can walk again because of horse therapy

Erin McCafferty Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 06:30

When Freya McLaughlin was a baby, her parents Tracey and Don McLaughlin noticed that she wasnt developing in the usual way, and began to suspect something was wrong.
Donal Fallon: History has recast Daniel OConnell as a liberal icon, but he was no revolutionary

While the Chartist movement was growing in the UK, the Kerry man showed his distaste for their more radical approach

Frederick Douglass spoke about abolition to a Dublin audience following one of O'Connell's speeches

Donal Fallon Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 06:30

The name of Feargus OConnor is not widely known today, but the Irish politician from Kinneigh, Co Cork, was once one of the great hopes of English democrats.
Organisers unveil bold programme with queer opera, MND play and many more

Michael Patrick in his one-person play on dealing with MND. Pic: Lost Lens Caps Photography

Dublin Jack, a queer opera in concert, is inspired by notorious Irish sex worker Jack Saul. Pic: Neil Harrison

The Dublin Theatre Festival has unveiled its 2025 programme, the first curated by new Artistic Director Roise Goan.

Running from October 1 to 19, the festival will feature 29 productions across 18 days, including a queer opera, a one-man show about dealing with MND and much more.

It promises to be one of the most politically charged and emotionally ambitious editions in years, showcasing work from Peru to Poland, alongside standout Irish voices.

This is a moment for Irish audiences to see the outside world on our stages, Ms Goan said.

With a world in turmoil, the shared experience of witnessing stories from artists from all corners, as well as excellent home-grown theatre, has never felt more important.

Among the most hotly anticipated new works is Dublin Jack, a daring queer opera from composer and librettist Conor Mitchell.

It is based on the life of Jack Saul  a flamboyantly gay Dubliner and sex worker whose unapologetic presence in 19th-century London made him infamous.

He was wildly effeminate, Mr Mitchell said. He stood in court and said, Im a professional Mary Ann.

His depositions were so scandalous they didnt want to read them in court.

He sees Jack as a powerful, if largely forgotten, figure in Irish queer history.

Why have we never talked about this man? He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery  but its like hes been erased, he said.

Hes the opposite of Oscar Wilde in a sense  he didnt apologise, didnt change his accent, and wasnt ashamed.

Set against the backdrop of post-Famine Dublin and imperial London, Dublin Jack looks at the treatment of sex workers  both male and female  in late Victorian society.

The libretto touches on the fact that while women were being murdered in the East End, Irish boys were working in silk-sheeted brothels in the West End, Mr Mitchell said.

Its a class story as much as it is a queer one.

Theres a moment in it where Jack sings a silly way at the end of the second act where he has a dream.

I want that to be about him visiting effeminate men from Dublin, taking the ship to London, working on the streets in 100 years.

Mr Mitchell, who grew up gay in Belfast during the late 1990s, says his generational perspective partly informs the piece  and how it has changed.

I am of the generation that left Belfast as a gay boy in the late 90s, but that no longer applies, he said.

I think theres a new generation of gay people that are staying in Dublin and staying in Belfast.

So, I feel like a bit of a dinosaur, because Im the very, very last generation that felt they had to leave.

Michael Patrick in his one-person play on dealing with MND. Pic: Lost Lens Caps Photography

Another emotional highlight comes from playwrights Michael Patrick and Oisin Kearney, whose new one-man show, My Right Foot, comes to Axis Ballymun from October 7 to 10.

Described by Mr Patrick as a spiritual successor to the pairs hit My Left Nut, a new BBC Three Series, this play tackles his own Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis with a dark sense of humour.

I should be performing it as long as Im not dead by then, he posted on social media.

That morbid wit runs through the play, which has already sold out its Belfast run and is likely to strike a chord with audiences in Dublin.

He said the show essentially is just him on stage trying to talk about whats happened to him over the past few years since he got his diagnosis.

Its essentially about how you live your life in four years, since thats the usual life expectancy of someone with motor neurone disease, he said.

So, the show is really about trying to answer that  hopefully in a way thats uplifting and funny, even if its also dark and sad in parts.

This years festival also places a strong emphasis on stories from and about D/deaf people, neurodivergent artists, and people with disabilities.

Peruvian company Teatro La Plaza opens the festival at the OReilly Theatre with Hamlet, performed by an ensemble of actors with Down syndrome.

The Making of Pinocchio by Cade & MacAskill explores gender transition through fairytale and film.

In What Are You Afraid Of?, Rough Magic and Kilkenny Arts Festival team up to explore anxiety, memory and masculinity.

Garry Hynes brings Tony Award-winning weight to Macbeth at the Gaiety Theatre, with Marty Rea and Marie Mullen in the lead roles.

Meanwhile, The Sound Inside  a Pulitzer finalist from American playwright Adam Rapp  has its Irish premiere at The Pavilion Theatre.

As part of a new DTF Thinks series of talks, feminist theorist Sara Ahmed will speak with Sarah Durcan, chaired by Emma Dabiri, on the legacy of the #WakingTheFeminists movement.

For more information visit dublintheatrefestival.ie
Anti-Airbnb signs erected in Galway Gaeltacht as activists warn of crisis point

Roadside signs in Connemara highlight how short-term rentals are outnumbering long-term housing options for Irish speakers. Activists say the accommodation crisis is forcing Gaeltacht communities out, with daily Irish speakers dropping 12.6pc since 2011

One of the signs highlighting a lack of short-term lets in the Gaeltacht, erected outside An Spideal in Connemara, Co Galway.

Joseph Murray Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 07:00

A series of signs have been erected in Galways Gaeltacht areas by local activists who claim short-term rental properties on websites such as Airbnb are posing a threat to the Irish language.
A teenager has been injured in a car crash in Kerry during the Bank Holiday weekend.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision on the L1029 road at Deerpark, Lixnaw, Co. Kerry which occurred on Saturday, August 2.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a single-vehicle collision at approximately 5.40pm.

The driver, an adult male aged in his late teens, and sole occupant of the car was airlifted to Cork University Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.

Garda Forensic Collision Investigators carried out an examination of the scene and the road has now been reopened.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward and have appealed for dash-cam as investigations continued into the serious accident.

Any road users who may have dash-cam and were travelling in the area between 5.15pm and 5.45pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai, they said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Listowel Garda Station on (068) 50820, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
See photos from one of Kerrys top bank holiday festivals

Enjoying the festivities at the Cahersiveen Festival of Music and the Arts. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Special art work at the Cahersiveen Festival of Music and the Arts. Front from left, Mohammed Hussein, Abbey Curran and Roisin Ni Chionnfhaolaidh. Back from left, Ammar Hussein, Faddah Mahasmeh, Derek Ross, and Marcus O'Connor. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Enjoying the Cahersiveen Festival of Music and the Arts Suzan Turan, Mary O' Connell, Julie Hostead and Gerri Cooper. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Cahersiveen was buzzing for the 2025 festival during the Bank Holiday Weekend. Photos by Christy Riordan.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Cahersiveen Festival of Music and the Arts. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Cahersiveen Festival of Music and Arts road race was another success. Pictured are Kieran Moriarty (2nd) Con O'Mahony (winner) and Niall O'Shea (3rd). Photo by Christy Riordan.

Leading the parade at the Cahersiveen Festival of Music and Arts. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Getting into spirit of Fancy Dress at the Cahersiveen Festival, John Dromey, Seanie Dromey and Pat Dromey. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Roxy the winner of the Terrier Racingat the festival for the third year in a row with his owner Joe Daly and sons Evan and Matthew. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Madie Johnson, Grace Johnson, Kathleen Murphy and Kathyln Johnson entertaining on the streets of Cahersiveen during the festival. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Organisers of the Cahersiveen Festival of Music and Arts can take a well-earned bow after ensuring another fantastic Bank Holiday weekend in the town.

With a jam-packed agenda celebrating all things music and art along with a host of fun vents from sheaf throwing to terrier racing there was literally something for everyone.

Marking 28 years it is now one of the leading Kerry Bank Holiday festivals and it certainly didnt disappoint. While it centres around live bands on the stage each night there is plenty more on and off the streets to ensure that the town was buzzing for the three days.

The atmosphere in Cahersiveen this weekend has been nothing short of electric, said CMAFs Marketing and PR Manager Fran Griffin.

We were blessed with (mostly!) fantastic weather, and the town was alive with reunions, laughter, and energy for all three days.

Some of our new additions went down an absolute treat, especially on the music front, including the expanded three day street busking competition, the daytime live stage music showcase of local talent, and DJs in pubs into the early hours.

"The music programme received an overwhelmingly positive response from festivalgoers with evening headliners like Cliona Hagan and Kila drawing huge crowds, with some saying they travelled from outside the county for the festival.

A stand out moment for me personally is the new community art mural on the entrance to town, called Cathair Saidhbhin le Gaeilge agus Failte. It brought together people of all ages and artistic backgrounds in a truly collaborative spirit.

The Kerry Cowboy (Seaghan O Suilleabhain) led several Irish language events such as walks, nature crafting, kids yoga, and a pop up Gaeltacht to encourage the use of Irish, or cupla focal, throughout the weekend

The return of the annual Guinness and Oysters tasting event, which followed with a procession up the town from the Killorglin Pipe Band, was another key event that went down a treat.

Of course, none of it would be possible without our incredible team of volunteers who work quietly behind the scenes, and the generous sponsorship from local businesses of all sizes who continue to believe in what we do and help with vital funding. Cahersiveen Music and Arts Festival is truly an example of a community coming together - and heres to year 29 in August 2026, said Fran.
Trues beaked whale washes up on Kilcummin back strand in north Mayo

The site of a whale and her calf stranding on a north Mayo beach has been described as very distressing for those who witnessed it.

Members of the public were present when a rare deep-diving Trues beaked whale washed up on Kilcummin back strand and died.

This mother and calf were seen swimming rapidly into shallow waters just before peak high tide and then beached themselves on the shore.

Unfortunately, the mother whale died within moments of stranding, while the calf managed to swim away.

This was a very distressing incident for those present, and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is extremely grateful to the members of the public who quickly alerted us via the IWDG emergency hotline, and to our trained IWDG Live stranding responders who immediately responded, said the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).

A postmortem led by Dr Frank OSullivan of Dublin Zoo on Monday, July 29, revealed the mother was lactating. This indicates that the calf was maternally dependent and was unlikely to survive on its own, according to the IWDG .

Trues beaked whales are typically found at depths of more than 800 metres and feed off squid and deep-sea fish.

The IWDG said their presence in shallow coastal waters often signals a serious underlying issue such as illness, injury, or acoustic trauma.

Follow Independent Mayo on Facebook

Live strandings of beaked whales are particularly concerning as, unlike coastal dolphins, these animals are not suitable candidates for refloating due to the distance from their natural habitat, and the high likelihood of re-stranding, the group said.

Multiple strandings of deep-diving species in different regions in a short time may indicate a shared acoustic event.

Last Thursday, two live Sowerbys beaked whales also live stranded in the Netherlands. One died and the other was euthanised after it had been re-floated several times by members of the public.

Elsewhere four Northern bottlenose whales - another deep-diving beaked whale species - became stranded last week in Orkney off the north coast of Scotland.

While we do not know if these events are linked, multiple strandings of deep-diving species in a short time frame are always a cause for concern and close monitoring, said the Irish Dolphin and Whale Group.

If you come across a live stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise, call the IWDG hotline at 097 28118.
Porto Torres Mayor Massimo Mulas with Giovanni Molinari who lives and works in Sligo.

Starting a complex topic is always difficult. Lets try to simplify.

Im often asked what a twinning is and how it works. It works like marriage.

In our case, the engagement between the two cities began in September 2023.

I selected six possible cities that had similarities, and Porto Torres was the first to say it was available.

Over the past two years, periodic virtual meetings have been held between the two municipal administrations.

Recently, the mayor of Porto Torres invited those responsible for the twinning to visit the country for next September.

From my stay in Porto Torres in June, I was able to verify the following similarities and common points.

Recent ancient DNA studies suggest that Neolithic people across Europe including those in Ireland and Sardinia descended largely from Anatolian farmers who migrated West.

Sligo-Carrowmore and Carrowkeel and Sardinia including Porto Torres, both developed significant megalith monuments (ca.3700 -3000).

Coastal towns with maritime heritage - Porto Torres is a port city on the Gulf of Asinara in northern Sardinia, historically important for trade and fishing Share maritime economy, tourist, fishing culture, and environmental sustainability are potential areas of exchanges.

Porto Torres has Roman ruins, including the ancient bridge that has already attracted interest from ATU Sligo archeology department.

Both towns can collaborate on heritage preservation, cultural tourism and historical education.

Sligo is famously associated with poet W.B. Yeats and has a vibrant arts community supporting cultural initiatives and Port Torres has Sardinian literary artistic roots, including folk traditions and poetry.

Both towns have similar population sizes, each serves as a regional hub with active local councils and community engagement.

Theres a desire to strengthen European cooperation, share best practices in governance, tourism and education shared relevance to both cities.

Both towns have a university in their region (e.g. University of Sassari near to Porto Torres and ATU Sligo could be a great opportunity for student exchanges, through language programmes (English /Italian) and also a joint youth project.

Meanwhile, a small voluntary group chaired by former Sligo major Rosaleen O`Grady are regularly meeting at Glasshouse Hotel Sligo to strengthen relations and pursue the twinning initiative between the two cities pending and facilitating an agreed friendship pact.

If anybody wishes to contact Sligo Town Twinning group for information, please post top Glasshouse hotel Sligo: Porto Torres- Sligo Town Twinning Group-Italian Irish Group.
Wexford Home Preserves is celebrating a major win this week after being awarded a coveted three-star accolade for its handmade Blackcurrant Jam at the 2025 Great Taste Awards, which is the highest honour in the worlds most trusted international food and drink accreditation scheme.

In addition, they won two two-star Great Taste Awards for their Sicilian Clementine Marmalade and two stars for their No Added Sugar Blackcurrant Jam and one star Great Taste Awards for their Raspberry Jam, for their Pink Grapefruit Marmalade and for their Irish Beetroot Relish.

Wexford Home Preserves extends its product range to the Dunnes Stores Simply Better range, of which, the Simply Better Handmade Seville Marmalade has been awarded two gold stars and their Simply Better Irish Blackberry Preserve has been awarded one star.

This year, 14,340 entries from 110 countries were blind-tasted by expert panels of chefs, buyers, food writers and retailers, making the competition tight and fewer than two percent of all entries were awarded the top honour of three stars, making this win an exceptional achievement for the small family-run business in Ballywilliam.

This is not the first time Wexford Home Preserves has hit the top tier at Great Taste as it is now the fourth time the company has received a three-star rating in its history, cementing its reputation as one of Irelands most respected artisan producers. Previously, the small family-run business was awarded three stars for their hand-made Seville Marmalade twice and once for their Simply Better Handmade Irish Blackcurrant Jam for Dunnes Stores.

Were absolutely thrilled, said Tom and Laura Sinnott, owners of Wexford Home Preserves. This award is a huge recognition of the care, craft and quality that goes into everything we make. Its a real honour to stand out at such a prestigious level.

Made using only natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives or additives, the award-winning Blackcurrant Jam is crafted in small batches by hand in the companys kitchen in New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Wexford Home Preserves is best known for producing authentic, traditional preserves with uncompromising quality and flavour  a fact now reinforced by the highest recognition from Great Taste.

Commenting on the Wexford Home Preserves Blackcurrant Jam, a judge from Great Taste said: it packs a punch and its like a piece of magic in a jar.
Cian Fenelon will be taking part in the Pat Smullen Charity Race to raise funds for Cancer Trials Ireland.

A Greystones man is intent on raising funds for Cancer Trials Ireland having lost his grandmother to cancer five years ago.

Cian Fenelon will be taking part in the Pat Smullen Charity Race at the Curragh on August 30, which will raise funds for Cancer Trials Ireland, the leading cancer research trials organisation in Ireland.

In 2023, Cian was selected to ride in the charity race at the Punchestown Festival, and managed to raise 1,830 for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, having set himself a fundraising target of 1,500. Now, all his focus is on the upcoming charity race.

He said: Cancer is a battle that many of us know all too well. It has personally touched my life through the struggles of my family and friends. Losing my grandmother Lylah Gaskin to cancer in 2020, and witnessing loved ones battle as opened my eyes to how devastating this disease is.

Thats why Ive decided to participate in the Pat Smullen charity race, an event dedicated to supporting Cancer Trials Ireland. Cancer Trials Ireland plays a crucial role in pioneering new cancer treatments and trials that offer hope to countless individuals and families facing this disease. The race is held in memory of the late Pat Smullen, a brilliant jockey and pioneer for cancer research.

With more than 24,000 people diagnosed with cancer each year in Ireland, Cancer Trials Ireland is dedicated to finding new ways to prevent, find and treat cancer. It currently has more than 110 trials open and is recruiting new patients and has succeeded in offering research options to over 9000 patients across Ireland in the last fifteen years.

As part of his efforts, Cian has established an idonate page and has set himself a fundraising target of 3,000.

Cian added: Taking part in this race is a true honour, and I am grateful to Pat Smullens daughter Hannah, and the entire Smullen family for organising such a meaningful day.

"By donating to this cause, you are supporting Cancer Trials Ireland's critical mission of advancing research and trials that have the potential to save lives. Your generosity will directly contribute to innovative cancer care, offering new possibilities to those who need it most.

Every euro donated not only honours Pat Smullens memory but also moves us closer to a world where cancer is no longer a threat.

You can make a donation towards Cians cause by visiting www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CianFenelon
The Sea of Japan, between Russia, China, North Korea and Japan. Image: Getty

Russia and China are staging mock combat drills and other war games in the Sea of Japan in a sign of strengthening military ties.

Though pre-planned, the joint naval exercises that began yesterday came a day after Donald Trump moved US nuclear submarines closer to Russia in response to inflammatory comments from Russias former president Dmitry Medvedev.

The Joint Sea-2025 drills were launched in waters near to Vladivostok, Russias largest port on the Pacific Ocean, according to a statement from Chinas Defence Ministry.

The Sea of Japan, between Russia, China, North Korea and Japan. Image: Getty

Today's news in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th

Four Chinese vessels, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, will be participating in the three-day exercises.

This will include submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defence and anti-missile operations, and maritime combat, followed by naval patrols in relevant waters of the Pacific.

Russia and China, which signed a no-limits strategic partnership shortly before Russia went to war in Ukraine in 2022, conduct regular military exercises to rehearse coordination between their armed forces and send a deterrent signal to adversaries.

Though Russia and China have both said that no third country is being targeted by their military cooperation, Japan has objected to the drills.

It said that greater strategic coordination between Beijing and Moscow poses a strong concern for its national security.

Announcing the drills on Wednesday, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for Beijings defence ministry, criticised US Air Force drills with Japan and others in the western Pacific.

The US has been blindly flexing its muscles in the Asia-Pacific region and attempting to use military drills as a pretext to gang up, intimidate and pressure other countries, and undermine peace and stability in the region, Mr Zhang claimed.

China and Russia have held military exercises together for more than two decades, with Joint Sea exercises beginning in 2012.

However, their cooperation, which was once sporadic, has deepened considerably over the past decade, with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping having met more than 40 times.

Mr Trump said his submarine order was made in response to what he called highly provocative remarks by Mr Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries.

Russia and the US have by far the biggest nuclear arsenals in the world. It is extremely rare for either country to discuss the deployment and location of its nuclear subs.
A volcano in Russia has erupted for the first time in about 600 years and may be linked to a recent earthquake in the east of the country.

The Krasheninnikov volcano erupted on Saturday. It is on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the countrys far east, which was the epicentre of the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that triggered tsunami warnings for Japan, parts of the US and the Philippines last Wednesday.

Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), told Russias state-run RIA news agency: This is the first historical eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years.

According to RIA, Ms Girina suggested the eruption could be linked to the earthquake recorded in Kamchatka.

On the Telegram channel of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Ms Girina said Krasheninnikovs last lava effusion took place within 40 years of 1463, and no eruption has been known since.

The Kamchatka branch of Russias ministry for emergency services said an ash plume rising up to 6km was recorded following the eruption. The volcano itself stands at 1,856 metres.

The ash cloud has drifted eastward, towards the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path, the ministry said on Telegram.

Another earthquake was recorded earlier yesterday, with the German Research Centre for Geosciences saying a magnitude 6.7 tremor had struck Russias Kuril Islands, which stretch from the southern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of seven, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS) also measured the quake at seven.

There was no tsunami warning from the PTWS after the quake.

However, Russias ministry for emergency services said on Telegram: The expected wave heights are low, but you must still move away from the shore.
Panoramic view of Cibiana di Cadore, a town in the province of Belluno in the heart of the Dolomites (7 shots stitched). Photo: Getty

A British hiker is being billed 14,000 by Italian emergency rescue services for failing to heed mountain warning signs.

The 60-year-old, who has not been named, found himself in the midst of an avalanche on a rocky mountain path near San Vito di Cadore in the Belluno area of the Dolomites.
Fears Israeli ministers provocative visit to holy site in Jerusalem could set back ceasefire talks

Hospitals in Gaza say 33 more Palestinians were killed near food aid sites

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (third right) with a group of settlers. Photo: Getty

Wafaa shurafa amd Sam Metz Associated Press Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 06:30

A far-right Israeli minister visited and prayed at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site yesterday, triggering regional condemnation and fears that the provocative move could further escalate tensions. The visit came as hospitals in Gaza said 33 more Palestinians seeking food aid were killed by Israeli fire.
American farmers are using the voice of Scarlett Johansson and rock music to scare wolves away from their cattle.

Quadcopter drones blaring AC/DC and violent film scenes are being used by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to scare off wolves that have been preying on cattle in Oregon and California.
US worker deported in error to El Salvador may now face his second deportation  this time to Uganda
What Foreign Investors Must Know About Indias FEMA Regulations

Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) compliance for foreign investment in India is essential for startups, exporters, and subsidiaries engaging in cross-border transactions. This guide explains rules under the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) framework, including foreign direct investment (FDI), external commercial borrowings (ECBs), overseas direct investment (ODI), reporting forms, and penalties for non-compliance.

Indias appeal as a destination for foreign investment is growing. To govern increasing cross-border capital flow, Indias FEMA sets rules for FDI routes, ECBs, ODI, and remittances.

Any individual or company engaging in foreign exchange transactions, from startups to exporters and non-resident Indians (NRIs), must comply with FEMA requirements. It is regulated by Indias central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), through its periodic notifications.

FEMA rules for FDI

Companies bringing FDI into India must take either the automatic route or the government approval route. The automatic route permits 100 percent FDI without prior approval in sectors like software and manufacturing. In contrast, the government route requires clearance for investments in sectors such as defense (above 74 percent), retail, and print media.

Pricing guidelines and timelines

When an Indian company issues shares or convertible instruments to non-residents, it must follow pricing norms set by the RBI. For unlisted companies, the valuation must be conducted by a Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-registered Category I Merchant Banker or a Chartered Accountant (CA).

As the foreign investment is received, shares must be allotted within 60 days. If this deadline is missed, the funds need to be returned to the investor within 15 days after the end of the 60-day window.

FEMA requires these form filings for FDI transactions to be completed within the deadline. Once shares are allotted to a foreign investor, the company must file Form FC-GPR within 30 days. In cases involving the transfer of shares between residents and non-residents, Form FC-TRS must be submitted within 60 days of the transaction.

The Single Master Form, available on the RBIs FIRMS portal, brings all FDI-related reporting into a single platform. Separately, companies that have received foreign investment must submit the Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) return annually by July 15.

If an Indian company holds investments abroad, it is also required to file an Annual Performance Report (APR) for each foreign entity in which it holds equity.

Entities and transactions covered under FEMA

FEMA compliance is compulsory for entities and transactions engaged in foreign exchange or cross-border capital transactions. This includes Indian companies that receive FDI or undertake outbound investments.

Foreign subsidiaries that operate in India are also covered under FEMA requirements, especially for capital inflows and financial transactions with their parent companies. Startups that raise funding from overseas investors also fall under FEMAs purview for reporting norms and duties.

Exporters and importers who deal in foreign currency are required to meet FEMAs documentation and remittance rules. NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who invest in Indian businesses or remit funds into India also need to follow the conditions given in FEMA.

Compliance needs for foreign subsidiaries in India

Foreign subsidiaries incorporated in India are treated as domestic entities under FEMA. As such, they must comply with the standard reporting and operational procedures applicable to Indian companies receiving foreign investment. When capital is infused by the parent company or any foreign shareholder, the subsidiary must file Form FC-GPR within 30 days of allotting shares. Inter-company transactions must follow arms length pricing rules to ensure compliance with transfer pricing laws.

Arms length pricing means transactions between related parties should be conducted as if they were unrelated parties.

If a foreign subsidiary makes investments into other Indian companies, it must also comply with FEMA rules for indirect foreign investments, such as sectoral caps and reporting. In addition, subsidiaries are required to file their Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) return annually and ensure that their Single Master Form is kept updated on the RBIs FIRMS portal.

Guidelines for startups receiving foreign investments

Startups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), as well as unregistered startups that raise funds from foreign investors, fall under FEMAs regulatory purview. These entities are supposed to follow pricing rules and valuation methods when issuing shares or convertible instruments.

If issuing convertible notes, each note must be backed by a minimum investment of INR 2.5 million (US$28,540) per foreign investor per investment and must be converted into equity within five years. Startups are required to file the necessary disclosure documents, like Form CN for convertible notes, and comply with the timelines set by the RBI.

Compliance duties of export-import transactions

Businesses engaged in cross-border trade are subject to transaction-level FEMA compliance. Exporters of goods must do the following:

Register for Importer Exporter Code (IEC);

File shipping bills and Export Declaration Form with the relevant authorities;

Ensure that proceeds from the export of goods are realized within nine months from the date of shipment, although this period can be extended on a case-by-case basis; and

from the date of shipment, although this period can be extended on a case-by-case basis; and Provide banks with proof of remittance and Foreign Inward Remittance Certificates (FIRCs) to validate the transaction.

For export of services, please follow these guidelines:

Submit SOFTEX forms, especially in the software and consulting sectors, through the nodal agencies such as Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) or Special Economic Zones (SEZs); and

Maintain records of contracts and communication with foreign clients and ensure proper invoices and payment receipts.

On the import side, remittances for goods and services must be routed through banks authorized by the RBI. Importers are required to submit Form A2 before initiating outward remittances. They must also provide supporting documents like purchase orders, invoices, and Bills of Entry (BoE). It is important to ensure there is no delay in payment or gaps in foreign exchange, since it may invite further scrutiny and may lead to penalties.

FEMA guidelines for External Commercial Borrowings

External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) allow Indian companies to raise debt from foreign lenders. And these loans come with defined eligibility and reporting conditions. The lenders could be international banks, financial institutions, and foreign equity holders who hold at least a 25 percent direct stake in the borrowing company.

Maturity requirements for ECBs are based on the size of the borrowing:

ECBs of up to US$50 million must have a minimum average maturity of three years;

ECBs above the US$50 million threshold require a five-year minimum maturity; and

Companies can raise ECBs up to US$3 million per financial year under the automatic route, beyond which prior approval is required.

Permitted end uses for ECB proceeds are capital expenditure, refinancing of existing loans, and the import of capital goods. However, using ECB funds for investment in real estate, the purchase of equity instruments, or capital market activities is prohibited.

RBI has asked all ECB transactions to be routed only through its Authorized Dealer (AD) banks. The borrowers should submit Form ECB at the time of taking down the loan, followed by monthly Form ECB-2 filings to report ongoing actual use.

Rules for overseas direct investments

Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) by Indian companies is governed by the 2022 FEMA amendments. Indian companies are permitted to invest in foreign joint ventures (JVs) or wholly owned subsidiaries using equity, debt, or guarantees. However, investments in sectors such as real estate or banking are not allowed unless specifically approved. Only Indian companies that are registered and in good regulatory standing are eligible to invest.

Filing obligations under ODI are namely:

Submitting Form FC within 30 days of making the investment;

within 30 days of making the investment; Filing the Annual Performance Report (APR) by December 31 each year;

In cases involving acquisitions, ensuring that the valuation of the overseas entity is conducted and certified by a qualified professional.

Regulations on inward remittances

Inward remittances refer to foreign funds received by Indian organizations as payment for exports or services like consultancy. Under FEMA, all such remittances must be routed exclusively through RBI-certified AD banks. The receiving company must obtain a FIRC as proof of receipt.

The receiving company is required to declare the source and intended end-use of funds and keep supporting documents like contracts, invoices, and declarations. The RBI also requires that the sender of the funds be verified under Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, and all transactions must meet anti-money laundering (AML) standards.

In cases where remittances are received and shares are allotted in return, the transaction must be reported to the RBI through Form FC-GPR within 30 days of allotment.

Penalties for non-compliance

Not complying with FEMA provisions can attract:

Penalties of up to three times the amount involved or INR 200,000 (US$2,284.2) , whichever is higher;

the amount involved or , whichever is higher; For continuing violations, a daily fine of INR 5,000 (US$57.1); and

In serious cases, the RBI may reverse the transaction or restrict the company from raising foreign capital.

Therefore, companies need to ensure proper reporting, pricing, and documentation. This can be achieved with the help of investment and FEMA professionals.

In short

Foreign investment into India operates within the rules shaped by FEMA and RBI notifications. While the compliance requirements may appear document-heavy and time-sensitive, they apply equally to listed firms, startups, and subsidiaries, thereby ensuring transparency.

(US$1 = INR 87.61)


Heartbreaking scene from My Oxford Year goes viral

Is My Oxford Year worth watching?

i love you, im sorry. pic.twitter.com/YmmPJJkutc  lettie || my oxford year era  (@deIenart) August 1, 2025

"Just because something is temporary doesn't mean it isn't meaningful. That's the chaotic part of life, and as an annoyingly brilliant man once told me, those are the best parts."



I cried so hard watching #MyOxfordYearpic.twitter.com/Jmb7aPORIA  Bia (@BiaHutche1) August 2, 2025

You should never regret the things you do .

You should only regret the things you dont do.#MyOxfordYear what a beautiful story, I laughed, I giggled & I weeped a lot.



The chemistry b/w #coreymylchreest & #sofiacarson its effortlessly beautiful. pic.twitter.com/QwBlJLqaww  Shipra (@Muggleonflee) August 1, 2025

well sorry to burst the bubble of innocent people like me who thought this would be just another college extra-fluff romcom most of us signed up for but turns out #myoxfordyear is not a romcom. i just finished watching it and honestly i feel like jumping off a cliff right now. pic.twitter.com/nBuy5Hf0Dl  desiburgerbacha (@shortiekiddo28) August 1, 2025

What is My Oxford Year about?

A deeply emotional scene from My Oxford Year has gone viral, leaving viewers heartbroken after Jamies tragic death. The clip captures grief at the storys emotional peak, resonating with audiences through its raw performances, muted visuals, and powerful writing. It's not just the loss itself, but the quiet vulnerability and emotional honesty that have struck a chord with fans around the world. As the moment continues to spread online, its being praised not only for its heartbreaking impact but also for its moving portrayal of love and loss.Social media is overflowing with reactions, as fans call it one of the most emotionally shattering scenes in recent romantic film history.As Anna narrates, a montage unfolds of the two enjoying their long-awaited European getaway, fully immersed in each others company. In a tender moment, they share a kiss on the beach by the water. But as the camera gently circles them, Jamie suddenly fades away, leaving Anna alone an understated yet powerful symbol of his passing, with the water motif poignantly tying back to how their story began.My Oxford Year shifts into another montage, this time focusing on Anna as she embarks on the grand journey they had once dreamed of taking together. She follows through on all the plans she and Jamie had made, experiencing the world they had hoped to explore side by side, now on her own.Well, if we go by what people on the internet are saying, it's more than worth watching. It takes you on an emotional journey that might just make you sob a million tears too.Reacting to it, one wrote, I thought #MyOxfordYear would be a romcom but it ended up destroying me. A second added, When you realize the romcom you were watching is actually not a romcom.A third went on to add, Well sorry to burst the bubble of innocent people like me who thought this would be just another college extra-fluff romcom most of us signed up for but turns out #myoxfordyear is not a romcom. i just finished watching it and honestly i feel like jumping off a cliff right now.Anna, a driven young American, arrives in the UK to attend the University of Oxford, determined to pursue a lifelong dream with everything perfectly planned. But everything changes when she meets Jamie, a witty and charismatic local who ends up transforming both their lives in unexpected ways.The movie is adapted from a novel by Julia Whelan, which itself was based on Allison Burnetts original screenplay. You can stream My Oxford Year on Netflix.
Ava pulls the plug on Rics involvement

Lucas needs a fresh perspective on his and Carly's falling out, West Coast. Would Bobbie have felt the same way he does?

A brand-new #GH starts RIGHT NOW on ABC! @van_hansispic.twitter.com/EdwFIeDaIJ  General Hospital (@GeneralHospital) August 1, 2025

Jason learns Britt may be alive

General Hospital spoilers: Who gets betrayed as Ava cuts ties and Britts fate shocks Jason? ( Image credit : Jason finds a huge clue, and Brook Lynn halts a major life step | Credit: X )

Josslyn lies, while Gio and Emma plan in secret

Ava wants to change the terms of her arrangement with Alexis and this time, Alexis might agree. Click to watch a sneak peek of tomorrows all-new #GH - RIGHT NOW!  #GeneralHospitalhttps://t.co/eFkf3zxd7C  General Hospital (@GeneralHospital) August 3, 2025

Brook Lynn delays the adoption

General Hospital spoilers: Who gets betrayed as Ava cuts ties and Britts fate shocks Jason? ( Image credit : Port Charles is on edge this Monday as some residents make bold moves while others uncover game-changing secrets | Credit: X )

Cody raises the stakes

Port Charles is on edge this Monday as some residents make bold moves while others uncover game-changing secrets. From hidden motives to emotional crossroads, the latest twists inare packed with tension, betrayal, and decisions that will shape what comes next.Ava reaches her breaking point with Ric. While Ric enjoys dinner with Molly, Ava sneaks into Alexiss office to have a quiet but serious talk. She insists its time to take Ric out of their complicated scheme, saying the arrangement has become too risky. Her decision to cut him out could spark even more trouble once Ric finds out.Jason is caught off guard when he hears Britts voice during an unexpected phone call. The realization quickly hits himBritt might be staying at the Five Poppies Resort. Now left with a new lead, Jason starts thinking about how to find her. On the other side, Britt could be catching on that someone is tracking her down.Josslyn tricks Carly by claiming shes traveling solo to Australia to clear her head after the Vaughn situation. In reality, she and Vaughn are heading to the same resortposing as newlyweds. Elsewhere, Gio shares a secret mission with Emma involving a lab break-in. Emma agrees to keep it under wraps. Later, Gio bumps into Chase, who speaks kindly of Brook Lynns attempts to rebuild bonds.In an unexpected turn, Brook Lynn tells Chase she wants to pause their adoption plans. Though Chase had hoped to grow their family soon, Brook Lynn feels repairing her relationship with Gio should come first. Her heartfelt moment leaves Chase surprised but reflects her focus on whats most important.Kristina motivates Cody to go all in with their plan involving Ava. With her push, Cody demands an extra $10,000 to make it happen. His determination grows as he prepares to go further than ever before.With betrayals, reunions, and rising stakes, Mondays episode promises to reshape relationships and reveal secrets no one saw coming.
Kriti Sanons Hyphen claims 400 Cr in 2 years, but Internet questions 5600% growth, wheres the proof? ( Image credit : Kriti Sanons brand Hyphen recently announced it had touched 400 crore in gross revenue. | Credit: Kriti Sanon/IG )

Hyphen crossed 400 crore in gross revenue

Kriti Sanons Hyphen claims 400 Cr in 2 years, but Internet questions 5600% growth, wheres the proof? ( Image credit : The brand also claims to have grown its consumer base from 1 million to 4 million in a year. | Credit: Kriti Sanon/IG )

Viral video call growth claim "too good to be true"



Fans call out the hype and products quality

The video quickly gained traction, especially on Reddit, with users echoing his claims. One comment read, Thank God finally someone called out those bad PR gimmicky products of Kriti Sanons Hyphen (dupe of Rhode). Another user said, The whole product line is copied, but none of the products match up to the standard of Rhode.



Others criticized the brand's quality, The only hype around Hyphen products is their lip balm, which is a dupe of Rhode. I tried it. Its awful. Until its sent in PR, I havent seen any influencer actually buy it. Another added, Hyphen lip balm feels like you are eating sweet dont know who does like it.





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The backlash continues to grow, with many now questioning not just the numbers but also the originality and credibility of the brand.



For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.



Earlier this week, actor Kriti Sanons beauty brand Hyphen announced a major milestone. As per a Hindustan Times report, the brand crossed 400 crore in gross revenue within just two years of launching. Co-founder and CEO Tarun Sharma said, 'Crossing an ARR of 400 crore on Hyphens second birthday and having a 60% repeat consumer base, its been incredible.'He credited the rapid growth to smart product planning, strong customer understanding, and strategic sales channels. The brand also claims to have grown its consumer base from 1 million to 4 million in a year, delivering across 19,000+ pin codes.However, a viral video by an Instagram content creator Nitin Joshi has cast serious doubt on these claims. Joshi, who runs a marketing business himself, breaks down the numbers and argues that such growth, 5600% in two years, is extremely unlikely in Indias crowded beauty market. Joshi also questioned the marketing hype, saying, There is no unique product or marketing buzz around Hyphen to justify this growth. He added, Even their parent company, mCaffeine, has a revenue of 200 crore. If they double that, its still just 400 crore, and they own 95% of Hyphen. So where are these numbers coming from?In the video, he says, In FY24, the brand did only 7 crore. So going from 7 crore to 400 crore means 5600% growth. Thats not normal. He compares Hyphen to other established brands, Minimalist went from 350 crore to 500 crore in a year, thats 40%. Sugar Cosmetics took 10 years to reach 500 crore.
Early work and first films across Industries

Malavika Mohanan turns a year older: Looking back at her thoughtful take on Mammootty vs Mohanlal ( Image credit : Mohanan made her acting debut in 2013 with the Malayalam film Pattam Pole, where she starred opposite Dulquer Salmaan. | Credit: IMDB )

Beyond the Clouds

Malavika Mohanan turns a year older: Looking back at her thoughtful take on Mammootty vs Mohanlal ( Image credit : Malavika Mohanans Hindi debut movie was Beyond the Clouds in 2017. | Credit: IMDB )

When asked to choose between Mammootty and Mohanlal

One of them launched me into the beautiful world of cinema & the other one I just did a beautiful movie with 

So its a little unfair question, no?  https://t.co/x92hMZYUaa  Malavika Mohanan (@MalavikaM_) May 23, 2025





Whats next for Malavika Mohanan?

The Raja Saab

Sardaar 2

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.

Actor Malavika Mohanan celebrates her birthday today. Over the years, she has made a strong mark in the Indian film industry, working across Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, and is now preparing for her Telugu debut. With several major projects lined up, the actor continues to build her presence across different film industries.Mohanan made her acting debut in 2013 with the Malayalam film Pattam Pole, where she starred opposite Dulquer Salmaan. Her performance caught the attention of many, and it was also the project that marked her entry into the industry.She later went on to star inin 2017, which was her Hindi debut. This film brought her wider attention and is often referred to as her breakthrough project. Her Tamil debut came in Petta in 2019, directed by Karthik Subbaraj. The film featured a massive cast, including Rajinikanth, Vijay Sethupathi, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.Having shared the screen with some of the biggest names in South Indian cinema, Mohanan has carved a unique space for herself in the industry. Throwing back to a moment when during an Q&A session with fans, Malavika was asked a popular question: Mammootty or Mohanlal? To this, she gave a thoughtful reply. One of them launched me into the beautiful world of cinema & the other one I just did a beautiful movie with. So its a little unfair question, no?The actor was referring to her Malayalam debut Pattam Pole, a film she landed thanks to Mammoottys recommendation, a moment she credits as her entry into the world of cinema. Years later, shes set to return to Malayalam films with Hridayapoorvam, this time sharing screen space with Mohanlal.Her her upcoming film, Hridayapoorvam is scheduled to release theatrically on 28 August 2025. She also set to make her Telugu debut in, starring Prabhas. She will also be seenalongside Karthi .
Blue Lock chapter 314 spoilers: Blue Lock chapter 314 brings the tension up as the match reaches a key moment. Karasu passes the ball to Chigiri, setting up a possible game-changing play. But just as things heat up, the chapter ends on a cliffhanger, leaving fans wondering if Isagi will score. The suspense has readers eagerly waiting for what happens next. If you have been waiting for the chapter, heres a look at the spoilers.

Blue Lock chapter 314 spoilers

Short Chapter, Possible Continuation

Titled Nucleus, Chapter 314 contains only 10 pages, suggesting this may be just Part 1 of a longer installment due to its abrupt ending.

Aiku Uses Meta Vision

Aiku activates Meta Vision and observes that the Nigerian team relies heavily on their superior physical abilities.

Their strategy revolves around tightly connected team play that funnels the final move to their ace striker, Onazi.

System Comparison: Nigeria vs. Blue Lock

Aiku describes Nigerias tactic as a one-point assembly system, highly centralised and focused on a single finisher.

He contrasts this with Blue Locks egoist system, where any player can score because each one aims to be the star.

This sets up a direct confrontation between two offensive extremes: team-focused precision vs. individualistic creativity.

Tactical Duel Unfolds

Nigerian center-back Oboabona feeds a pass to midfielder Kuso.

Isagi steps in and, with Reo, boxes Kuso in.

Seeing Onazi, Kuso tries to make a pass, but Karasu intercepts it.

Some fans noted the absence of Karasus signature crow feather panel before his interception.

Nigeria Begins to Struggle

Kuso realizes that their rhythm is off, Japan is successfully reading their plays.

Within just two minutes of the match starting, the Blue Lock team has already adapted to Nigerias strategy.

Final Moments and Cliffhanger

A Nigerian player (with an afro and beard) shouts a warning about an incoming cross.

Karasu sends the ball to Chigiri, who races forward with his trademark speed.

Chigiri passes to Isagi, setting up what could be a decisive moment, before the chapter ends on a cliffhanger.

Blue Lock chapter 314 release date and time

Kodansha has announced that Blue Lock chapter 314 will be available in most countries on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Meanwhile, the chapter will be officially released in Japan on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. JST.

Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)  8:00 AM, Tuesday, August 5

Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)  11:00 AM, Tuesday, August 5

British Summer Time (BST)  4:00 PM, Tuesday, August 5

Central European Summer Time (CEST)  5:00 PM, Tuesday, August 5

Indian Standard Time (IST)  8:30 PM, Tuesday, August 5

Philippine Standard Time (PST)  11:00 PM, Tuesday, August 5

Japan Standard Time (JST)  12:00 AM, Wednesday, August 6

Australia Central Standard Time (ACST)  12:30 AM, Wednesday, August 6

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Boeing is once again grappling with labour unrest as over 3,200 unionised workers in Missouri and Illinois began a strike on Monday, following a breakdown in contract negotiations. The workers, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, rejected a revised four-year contract offered by the company, triggering a walkout.

The vote came shortly after an earlier rejection of Boeings initial proposal on July 27, just hours before the existing contract expired. The workers are based at Boeing facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles in Missouri and Mascoutah in Illinois.

Union leaders stand firm on workers' demands

IAM leaders strongly supported the decision to strike. IAM International President Brian Bryant stated the union would show its collective power on the picket lines. Sam Cicinelli, General Vice President for IAM Midwest Territory, added that workers deserved a contract that offered job security and recognised their skill.

BREAKING: About 3,200 Boeing workers who build fighter jets have gone on strike, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said. The workers voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing, the union said. https://t.co/aeXeEHA3tL  The Associated Press (@AP) August 4, 2025





This vote shows that when workers stand together, they can push back against corporate greed, said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett.

The IAM, one of the largest industrial trade unions in North America, represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members across sectors including aerospace, defence, healthcare, and transportation.

Boeing says it is disappointed but prepared

In response to the walkout, Boeing said it was disappointed that the offer, which included a 40% average wage increase and provisions addressing work schedule concerns, was rejected.

Dan Gillian, Boeings Air Dominance Vice President and General Manager, said in a statement that the company had already enacted a contingency plan to continue operations using non-striking personnel.

We are prepared for the strike and focused on continuing to support our customers, Gillian added.

*BOEING DEFENSE UNION REJECTS 4-YEAR CONTRACT, POISED TO STRIKE



The biggest aerospace manufacturer is now going on strike.



150,000 American jobs.



This job market just went from cold to frozen.



Yikes.  Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) August 3, 2025





Strike adds to Boeings long list of setbacks

This strike marks Boeings second major labour disruption in under a year. In September 2024, around 33,000 factory workers staged a nearly two-month strikethe first in 16 years. These walkouts come as Boeing continues to manage the fallout from a series of safety failures, investigations, and leadership transitions.

Following the two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max in 2018 and 2019, Boeing has faced increased regulatory scrutiny and public distrust. In January 2021, the company avoided prosecution in a fraud case by agreeing to a $2.5 billion settlement. As recently as July 2024, Boeing pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government for misleading regulators about the Max.

A leadership change was announced just days before the current strike. Kelly Ortberg, a former CEO of Rockwell Collins, was appointed Boeings new chief executive. His appointment is seen as an effort to return the company to its engineering roots.

With this latest labour unrest, Boeings attempts to regain stability are under fresh pressure.

Boeings new strike highlights ongoing employee unrest, compounding the companys longstanding safety, financial, and leadership challenges.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
During a press briefing on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not view the ongoing Israel-Gaza war as genocide. His comments followed a question on whether Israels response to the October 7 Hamas-led attack qualifies as such. I dont think its that, Trump said, adding, Theyre in a war. He also referred to the October 7 attack, calling it a moment where some horrible things happened.

Trump stated that he wants civilians in Gaza to receive food and humanitarian support. Speaking before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he said, We want the people fed  and were the only country thats really doing that. Were putting up money to get the people fed We want Israel to get them fed. He added, We dont want people to starve, and theres some bad things happening.

US sends envoy to Gaza for first-hand assessment

On August 1, Trumps U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Gaza to understand the humanitarian crisis on the ground. The visit aimed to help develop a plan for distributing food and medical aid. It marked the first time a senior U.S. official had entered Gaza since the war began in October 2023.

Despite the hunger that ravages the bodies of children in Gaza,

a child did not keep the loaf of bread for himself... but shared it with his pet rabbit. pic.twitter.com/Kktg4jRk05  Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) July 31, 2025





Witkoff's trip followed his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day earlier. The visit comes amid growing criticism directed at Israel over the humanitarian toll in Gaza. According to Gazas health ministry, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict.

Israeli officials call for war to end

Meanwhile, over a dozen former senior Israeli defense officials have released a joint video urging an end to the war. These former chiefs of staff and high-ranking leaders argue that Israel has suffered more setbacks than gains, and that the war continues for political reasons.

A heartbreaking daily scene in #Gaza: children line up at charity kitchens, pleading for food as hunger worsens. #HumanitarianAid #palestine pic.twitter.com/MYmKd0fLaX  In Context (@incontextmedia) July 31, 2025





They believe the conflict could have ended earlier and are now calling on Israel to agree to a permanent ceasefire. Their proposed resolution includes reaching a comprehensive deal that would secure the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza.

UN flags civilian deaths at aid sites

The United Nations has raised concerns over the Gaza Humanitarian Foundations (GHF) operations, stating that its aid distribution points have put civilians at risk. According to the UN, more than 1,000 people have died while attempting to access aid at GHF sites since the group began working in Gaza in May. Most of those casualties, the report says, were shot by Israeli forces near those distribution zones.

As the Gaza crisis deepens, U.S. policy walks a tightrope between humanitarian aid and ongoing support for Israels military actions.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Tesla has awarded CEO Elon Musk $29 billion worth of company shares, in a move aimed at retaining the billionaire founder as the company pivots towards artificial intelligence and robotics. The announcement comes while Musk is appealing a Delaware court's decision to strike down his earlier $56 billion compensation plan, which the court had deemed unfair to shareholders.

The share grant is intended to strengthen Musks voting power on Teslas board and retain his leadership at a time when AI talent is in high demand. The board of the electric carmaker told shareholders it was confident this package would incentivize Elon to remain at Tesla, especially since the war for AI talent is intensifying.

Tesla has granted CEO Elon Musk shares worth about $29 billion, in a new pay deal aimed at keeping the billionaire entrepreneur at the helm during a crucial pivot from its struggling core auto business to robotaxis and humanoid robots https://t.co/HQXsS4hiYZ pic.twitter.com/t9qPILaJfo  Reuters (@Reuters) August 4, 2025





Musks 2018 pay package still under appeal

In 2018, Musk was granted a performance-based compensation deal worth $56 billion, the largest in corporate America. The plan was structured so Musk would receive no salary unless specific targets around market value, sales, and profitability were met. Musk achieved those milestones, but the Delaware court voided the package in 2024, citing shareholder concerns.

Musk is currently appealing the courts decision, arguing that legal errors were made and that pay packages should be decided by company shareholders. If the court eventually reinstates the earlier pay package, Tesla has stated that Musk would either return or forfeit the latest $29 billion share award to avoid a double dip.

Why Tesla says Musk must stay

Teslas board emphasized that retaining Musk is crucial at this juncture, as the company undergoes a transformation from a carmaker to a broader AI and robotics company.

"It is imperative to retain and motivate our extraordinary talent, beginning with Elon," Teslas board said in a statement posted on X, the social platform owned by Musk.

The board praised Musks leadership experience and technical expertise, calling his track record proven in building successful, innovative businesses. The company also acknowledged that Musk has numerous other roles demanding his attention.

Tesla awarded CEO Elon Musk 96 million shares worth $29 billion, as an interim payment for a stalled 2018 deal, despite a 2024 court ruling voiding his $50 billion package pic.twitter.com/qD72WCP6Q7  Dima Zeniuk (@DimaZeniuk) August 4, 2025





Competing for AI talent

The share grant also comes as competition for talent in the AI sector heats up. Teslas board said the award is intended to keep Musk focused on Tesla, amid rising offers and opportunities across tech.

The company cited increasing recruitment activity by rivals, noting that Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg reportedly offered million-dollar pay deals to AI developers at OpenAI. Meanwhile, Microsofts AI team led by former Google DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman has recently attracted talent from Google.

Tesla believes Musks continued presence will be vital as the firm expands beyond electric vehicles into AI-led robotics and automation.

Musk balancing multiple roles

In addition to leading Tesla, Musk holds executive roles at companies including xAI, Neuralink, and The Boring Company, which builds tunnels and infrastructure in the US. Tesla acknowledged these demands, noting that the share award was designed to remain appealing even with Musks other obligations.

Recently, Musk stated that he is stepping back from politics, after having served as an adviser to former US President Donald Trump.

Tesla sees itself at an "inflection point" and considers Musks leadership key to its future direction. The $29 billion share award reflects the boards effort to keep him at the center of that journey.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
This August, Hyundai is turning up the heat with an exciting festive offer on its flagship Verna Sedan. With a limited-time discount of Rs 65,000 available until August 31, the Verna becomes an even more exciting option in the mid-size sedan segment. Known for its bold design, advanced features like Level 2 ADAS, and powerful turbocharged engine options, the Verna already stands out as a leader in its class.

The added savings now make it a smart pick for buyers who want premium styling and cutting-edge tech without stretching their budget. Combined with Hyundais strong after-sales service and wide dealership network, this deal is hard to ignore for anyone considering a sedan upgrade this festive season, reported Times Bull.

Exclusive limited-time offer

According to Hyundai's Advaith dealership, customers purchasing the Verna can avail of total savings of Rs 65,000. This package includes an Rs 20,000 instant cash discount, an Rs 35,000 scrap bonus for exchanging an old vehicle, and an additional Rs 10,000 Pride of India discount.

These incentives apply to selected variants, with ex-showroom prices ranging from Rs 794,100 to Rs 1,352,600. The offer is valid only until the end of August.

Hyundai Verna august special offer | Credit: Hyundais Advaith wesbite

Powertrain and performance details

The Verna is available with two engine options. The first is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine delivering 113 horsepower and 144 Nm of torque. The second is a more robust 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, offering 158 horsepower and 253 Nm of torque. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed torque converter automatic, and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, catering to drivers seeking a seamless and engaging driving experience.

Engine Choices:

1.5L MPi Petrol: As per Hyundai Worldwide, this engine delivers 115 PS of power and 144 Nm of torque. It comes paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), as specified by Hyundai.

As per Hyundai Worldwide, this engine delivers 115 PS of power and 144 Nm of torque. It comes paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), as specified by Hyundai. 2.5L Turbo GDi Petrol: Offering a more powerful performance, this engine produces 160 PS and 253 Nm of torque. Buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Dimensions:

Length: 4535 mm

4535 mm Width: 1765 mm

1765 mm Height: 1475 mm

1475 mm Wheelbase: 2670 mm

2670 mm Boot Space: 528 litres.

FAQs

Q. What is the price of the top Verna car?

According to Car Dekho, the price ofthe Hyundai Verna starts at Rs 11.07 lakh and the top model price goes up to Rs 17.58 lakh.

Q. Is the Hyundai Verna a luxury car?

The Hyundai Verna is generally considered a premium sedan rather than a full-fledged luxury car.

For the latest and more interesting auto news, keep reading Indiatimes Auto.
Sydney Sweeney was spotted belting out karaoke with her Euphoria besties this weekend, and honestly, the timing couldnt be messier. Just days after her new American Eagle campaign dropped and right after the internet found out shes allegedly registered as a Republican, Sydney hit up The GasLite in Santa Monica like nothing happened. Between political drama and brand backlash, fans are now side-eyeing her recent outing, with many wondering if her hanging out with Hunter Schaffer, a pro-Palestine trans actor, is a PR move.

Sydney Sweeney parties with the Euphoria cast amid political backlash

In clips all over TikTok and Reddit, Sydney was seen singing her heart out alongside Hunter Schafer and Maude Apatow, looking unbothered in low-rise jeans and good lighting. Keeping true to her American Eagle sponsorship, she was seen dressed in an oversized denim shirt.

In the now viral videos, the girls are seen vibing, and even though it was their first sighting together in years, they all looked pretty tight with each other. While some fans chalked it up to a classic girls' night, others couldnt help but notice that Huntera trans activist known for protesting for Palestinewas suddenly buddying up with someone whose alleged political affiliations dont exactly scream progressive solidarity.

According to several fan pages, Jacob Elordi was also lurking in the background, but the videos say this could have very well been a chill girls night out.

Reddit thinks its a PR playand theyre not subtle about it

Users across Reddit are calling this whole outing a soft rebrand in real-time. Aaand now the PR machine is running at full throttle, one person wrote. Another added, Quick, quick, put MAGAney with world-famous trans actress Hunter for the first time in years. Many fans feel Hunters presence was the ultimate cleanup move, like a glittery Instagram filter over a messy situation.

Fans are disappointed in Hunter Schafer for co-signing the chaos

Hunters appearance in the night-out clips is stirring its own mini firestorm. Some fans were surprised and a little heartbroken to see her hanging out with Sydney in the middle of a political controversy. Hunter is out here whitewashing Sydneys image without even realising it, one user said. Others pointed out that Hunters own activism makes this friendship harder to swallow, especially when it feels like its being used to soften Sydneys rep.

Comment

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Wait, so is Sydney really a Republican or what?

Sydney Sweeney's alleged Republican ties spark fresh backlash | Credit: Instagram/sydneysweeney

BuzzFeed recently reported that Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican voter in Idaho, which sent her name straight back into trending territory. While being registered doesnt confirm every belief, it lines up with past internet drama like that cowboy-themed birthday party her family threw, complete with what looked like MAGA gear. Fans who were already iffy about her political silence are now raising eyebrows even higher.

The American Eagle campaign that launched a thousand tweets

Sydney Sweeney has sparked a social media hailstorm with her controversial American Eagle ad| Credit: American Eagle

Sydneys new American Eagle campaign was supposed to be nostalgic, cute, and denim-core. Instead, it landed right in the middle of a full-blown internet spiral. Some fans were confused why the brand chose her at all, while others are now boycotting the collab. TikTok and Twitter users called it tone deaf, with many believing it reflected white supremacy, but American Eagle hit back at criticism, saying, 'it was always about jeans, not genes'.

About Euphoria 3

According to Deadline, Euphoria season 3 is currently aiming for a 2026 release. Filming officially began in February 2025 in Los Angeles, but HBO hasnt confirmed a premiere date yet. The upcoming season is expected to feature eight episodes, continuing the format of the previous two seasons. The Emmy-winning series stars Zendaya as Rue, alongside Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Jacob Elordi, and more.

Sydney Sweeney spotted shooting for Euphoria Season 3| Credit: X/sydneysweeneyyy

Earlier, photos of Sweeney shooting for the show in a wedding gown were leaked online, hinting she might be getting married to Nate (Jacob Elordi) in the show, and well, all fans ever wanted was for Cassie to be happier.

For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The Immortal Ascension episode 17 release date and time: Fans of The Immortal Ascension are in for a treat as episode 17 is almost here. Starring Yang Yang in his much-hyped comeback after two years, the xianxia drama is only getting more intense. With clever twists and escalating sect tensions, this new chapter builds on everything thats made the series a must-watch for fantasy fans across the globe.

What is The Immortal Ascension about?

The Immortal Ascension follows Han Li (played by Yang Yang), an ordinary village boy who joins a small cultivation sect and fights to rise in a world driven by power, betrayal, and immortality. Despite lacking natural talent, Han survives deadly betrayals, forbidden rituals, and spiritual politics as he secretly grows stronger, forming alliances, facing dark forces, and uncovering ancient secrets. Adapted from the web novel A Record of a Mortals Journey to Immortality, the series blends intense cultivation battles, emotional arcs, and stunning visuals, with a cast that includes Gina Jin, Ethan Yao, and more.

The Immortal Ascension quick recap: What happened before episode 17?

So far, Han Lis journey has been anything but easy. After joining the Qi Xuan Sect, he became a test subject in a brutal spiritual ritual, only to emerge alive and more powerful. Thanks to a rare artefact and an unexpected alliance with Zhang Tie, whose body now houses the mysterious soul of Qu Hun, Han Li began to evolve faster than anyone expected.

Han Lis rise has been full of close calls, dark rituals, and clever survival| Credit: Youku

Hes already outwitted enemies, survived assassination attempts, and even forged a promising bond with Nangong Wan, a key female lead who continues to help (and possibly test) him. In episode 16, viewers saw him finally confront Wang Chan againonly this time, Han Li wasnt backing down. Poison, mind games, and a new identity were all on the table.

hes no longer the quiet underdog as hes using poison, disguise, and mind games to take control| Credit: Youku

The Immortal Ascension: What to expect in episode 17

Now that Han Li has proven he's not above bending the rules, episode 17 takes us deeper into the darker side of cultivation. The tension ramps up as he engages in a battle of wits and poison with the dangerous Wang Chan, while sect rivalries begin to reveal long-term strategies and deeper political games. Nangong Wans storyline hints at ties to even higher power structures, and Han Li, once just trying to survive, starts playing offense.

The Immortal Ascension episode 17 release date and time (zone-wise)

The Immortal Ascension Episode 17 will be released on August 4, 2025, on Youku, for VIP subscribers. Heres when it dropped in different time zones:

China Standard Time (CST)  August 4 at 12:00 pm

India Standard Time (IST)August 4 at 9:30 am

Japan Standard Time (JST)August 4 at 1:00 pm

Korea Standard Time (KST)August 4 at 1:00 pm

Pacific Time (PT)  August 3 at 9:00 pm

Central Time (CT)  August 3 at 11:00 pm

Eastern Time (ET)August 4 at 12:00 am

British Summer Time (BST)  August 4 at 5:00 am

Central European Summer Time (CEST)August 4 at 6:00 am

Eastern European Summer Time (EEST)August 4 at 7:00 am

Non-VIP viewers can expect the episode to be available roughly 24 hours later, depending on the platform.

For more news and updates from the world of C-dramas, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
In a shocking incident, a Lamborghini Aventador worth approximately Rs 10 crore went up in flames on a busy road in Bengaluru. The luxury supercar, reportedly owned by a well-known social media influencer, caught fire unexpectedly, drawing a crowd and prompting a swift response from the fire and rescue services. The video of the incident has now gone viral on social media, and even Raymond Group MD Gautam Singhania slammed the car manufacturer, saying, 'This isnt a rare incident anymore.'

The unexpected incident took place on a busy street in Bengaluru. In the viral clip, flames were seen emitting from the engine at the rear of the car, and several people rushed to pour water on the car to douse the flames.

Fortunately, no casualties have been reported in the incident; however, the exact cause of the incident is still unknown.

Who is the owner of the luxurious Lamborghini Aventador that caught fire in Bengaluru?

According to India TV, the Lamborghini is owned by social media influencer Sajeev, who is widely recognised on Instagram as Nimma Mane Maga Sanju.

Following the viral video of the fire, many assumed the luxury car was completely destroyed, but Sanjeev later confirmed the damage was minimal. Boasting over 2 lakh followers on Instagram, Sanjeev is famous for displaying his collection of luxury vehicles. Despite his extravagant lifestyle, he embraces his identity as a farmer and is frequently seen adorned with heavy gold jewellery on his neck and wrists.

Raymond Group MD Gautam Singhania expressed his concern about the car company

The incident sparked concerns among netizens, so much so that business tycoon and Raymond Group MD Gautam Singhania expressed his serious concern over the incident, highlighting that such cases are no longer isolated. He also called out the automaker, questioning the brands silence.

He took to his X (formerly called Twitter) to share his reaction and said, "Another day, another Lamborghini in flames. This time in Bengaluru, as per the report from NDTV. This isnt a rare incident anymore. Its a pattern. Why is Lamborghini silent??? Why are their cars catching fire??? Are their cars safe??? Should they be allowed in India??? ."

 Another day, another Lamborghini in flames.

This time in Bengaluru, as per report from NDTV.

This isnt a rare incident anymore. Its a pattern.

Why is Lamborghini silent???

Why are their cars catching fire???

Are their cars safe???

Should they be allowed in India???  pic.twitter.com/1J2TXuWQsD  Gautam Singhania (@SinghaniaGautam) August 3, 2025





While another expressed his concern on Reddit and said, "Do these companies sell scrap product to India???.. Every reputed brand has substandard products in India.. I have observed..be it fir bags, clothing and other, the bags they make for 3 to 5k in China and sell it to 4,5lakh..clothing is same too."

What could have led the Lamborghini to catch fire?

In the same Reddit thread, a user shared the possible causes of the incident; @Sharath4676 listed three main points on why the car caught fire.

Things that might have led to this:

The car is probably not serviced regularly.

Revving the engine while it is standing still in traffic, when the temperature is 30 degrees, with no airflow to cool the engine, will do this to an engine.

These cars are made to be driven on an open road, not being revved to their limit on Church Street.

People who buy these machines have absolutely no idea how to use them.

"Stop dissing the manufacturer and start to ignore these fools who are going around the city with these loud cars for attention from the jobless youths," he added in the report.

"It is mostly the second one; there are multiple such cases of people revving it in standstill traffic and cars burning up," another added.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ63 | Credit: X | @duPontREGISTRY

FAQs

Q. How much did a Lamborghini Aventador cost in India when new?

According to V3 Cars, in India, the Aventador S had an ex-showroom price of around 5.01 crore, with the SVJ rising to Rs 6.25 crore.

Q. What are the key specifications and performance highlights of the Lamborghini Aventador?

The Aventador is powered by a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, producing:

700 PS (690 hp) in early models.

Up to 780 PS in the final Ultimae variant.

For the latest and more interesting auto news, keep reading Indiatimes Auto.
NDTV

         



     ...  Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) August 4, 2025

Shibu Soren's net worth , assets and more

Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 4, 2025

Jansatta.

OneIndia.

Hemant Soren and Shibu Soren | Credit: X | @nabilajamal_ ( Image credit : Hemant Soren and Shibu Soren | Credit: X | @nabilajamal_ )

A look at Shibu Soren's political career

FAQs

Q. What net worth did Shibu Soren declare in his last election affidavit (2019)?

March 2005 (ten-day term)

August 2008  January 2009

December 2009  May 2010

In a tragic incident, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and popular tribal leader Shibu Soren passed away at the age of 81 on Monday, August 4, 2025. The news was confirmed by his son and current CM of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, on his X (formerly called Twitter) account. According to, the former CM was suffering from a prolonged illness, reportedly kidney disease, and was admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the last week of June. In 2019, Soren contested his last elections and had disclosed his assets in the affidavit filed with the Election Commission. Let's know about how much wealth Shibu Soren had in total.The current CM of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, shared the tragic news on his X and expressed that he lost everything today. The post reads, "Beloved Dishom Guruji has left us. I lost everything today."Not only him but also Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on the death of the former Jharkhand CM and said, "Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor, and the downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti."While Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "I have messaged Kalpana ji (Kalpana Soren). This is very sad news for all of us. We express our condolences to the family, our prayers are with them."Let's examine Shibu Soren's net worth that he has left behind. We will have to go back to 2019 when he filed an affidavit with the Election Commission that stated the former Jharkhand CM has left behind a net worth of over Rs 7 crore for his wife and three children, reportedThe former CM had a debt of over Rs 2 crore and had houses in Delhi and Ghaziabad. On the other hand, Soren had assets of around Rs 4.68 crore and liabilities of Rs 14.8 lakh, as perThe late Jharkhand CM had a political career of over four decades, and he was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and had served in the Rajya Sabha twice, with his second term ongoing until his death.Shibu Soren was affectionately called Guruji. He was a prominent and influential leader in Jharkhand's political and social spheres. A dedicated advocate for tribal rights, he was a veteran politician who served three terms as Chief Minister of Jharkhand.His enduring legacy lies in his relentless struggle for justice, land ownership, and the preservation of the Adivasi identity.According to My Neta, in the 2019 Lok Sabha election affidavit, Shibu Soren declared total assets worth Rs 7.52 crore, and liabilities of  2.28 crore, resulting in a net worth close to Rs 5.24 crore.Q. How many times did Shibu Soren serve as Chief Minister of Jharkhand?Shibu Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister three separate times:
A 31-year-old foreign national with a red notice issued against him by authorities in Egypt on a charge of human trafficking was arrested on Sunday at Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos".

According to police, the 31-year-old is accused of being a member of a criminal ring facilitating the illegal migration of foreign nationals from Egypt to European countries, receiving an amount of up to 350,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately 6,250) from each migrant.

The arrested man was led before the responsible prosecuting authority.

   iefimerida.gr
Four more people, including the victim's sister and a lifeguard, have been arrested in connection with the drowning death of a 12-year-old girl who was swept out to sea in northern Greece last Friday, authorities said.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Shipping, the girls sister has been charged with endangerment.

A speedboat operator, a municipal employee, and a lifeguard face

charges of failure to render assistance.

The new arrests on Sunday follow the detention of the girls parents on Saturday on charges of exposing a minor to danger, bringing the total number of people arrested in the case to six.

The girl, who reportedly could not swim, was carried away from the shore near Imeros in the Rhodope region despite wearing a life jacket and inflatable floaters.

She was found unresponsive after a large rescue operation and was later pronounced dead.

   iefimerida.gr
Nigerias Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of misleading Nigerians with outdated tactics.

According to him, the partys recent criticisms are a failed attempt to gain relevance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Keyamo made the remarks on Sunday, while speaking during an interview on Channels Televisions political programme, Sunday Politics.

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He described the tactics of the opposition coalition as nothing new, likening them to fraudulent schemes he once prosecuted during his tenure as a lawyer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They know us very well and we also know them very well. They are not strangers to us, Keyamo said on the programme.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/pdp-governors-no-longer-acting-as-opposition-dino-melaye.html

And some of these tactics they are using are what is called 419. It was what I used to prosecute people as EFCC prosecutor. The format they are using is expired.

Nigerians know that format already. So you cannot use it to deceive them.

The minister specifically criticised the ADCs approach of citing isolated incidents and inflating statistics to paint a negative image of the current government.

Reeling out figures, picking out isolated incidents and using them for generalisation, he added, was a manipulative tactic meant to mislead voters.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on New Media, Olusegun Dada, has defended the role of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before it assumed power in 2015.

Dada described the APC as a responsible opposition, focused on accountability without inciting division or chaos.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Televisions The Morning Brief on Monday, he said: The job of the opposition is to go against the government and to call out the loopholes made by the government.

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He, however, drew a clear line between the APCs approach to opposition politics and the tone currently dominating social media platforms.

We were not a destructive opposition. Our position to the government of the day was not for the country to burn down because we were not the ones in it, he stated.

Dada also highlighted efforts by the Tinubu administration to promote political re-orientation nationwide, saying the government is taking deliberate steps to create space for meaningful dialogue.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/stop-begging-governors-fix-welfare-at-federal-level-falana-tells-tinubu.html

We are having a summit not just a central Abuja thing.

We are taking it to several states to discuss these crucial matters, and we believe other parties are doing the same.

He noted that the ultimate goal is to create a civil political environment where people can engage in constructive dialogue rather than resort to insults.

We want a more civil environment for people to have a good political discussion and re-orientation on how we address ourselves online.

According to him, nation-building goes beyond election cycles.

For us, it is not about elections alone. It is about having a sane environment a place where we can call home.

Dada also urged Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to caution his supporters known as Obidients against promoting ethnic and religious bigotry.

If the former candidate of the Labour Party pulls down a little bit on their bigotry, it can go a long way in ensuring that we are able to present the crucial points we want to make in our country not insult and bigotry.

From the presidency, we will not endorse ethnic bigotry, and we will push for other parties to educate their supporters.
Comedian and actor Bovi has paid an emotional tribute to the late Nigerian director and playwright Kayode Peters, highlighting how the veteran filmmaker inspired him long before they crossed paths.

Peters, best known as the creative force behind the beloved sitcom Flatmates, passed away in June while in Canada. His funeral took place on Saturday, August 2, at Milton Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario, following a service at McKersie & Early House Funeral Home.

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In a touching Instagram post on Sunday, Bovi reflected on the early influence Flatmates had on his decision to become a content creator. He shared how, as a newcomer in Lagos chasing his dreams, the show became a source of motivation.

READ MORE: Filmmaker Kayode Peters Laid To Rest In Canada

Long before the internet became an endless distraction, when phones were simply for calling and texting, Id spend my weekend afternoons watching all the sitcoms. The standout one was Flatmates, Bovi wrote.

I was new in Lagos, a journey I had embarked on without the permission of my parents but with the blind fate of my burning desire to be an entertainer. After enjoying Flatmates, Id watch the end credits, and thats how I noticed Kayode Peters. Attached to his name was the title of creator and writer. But something else caught my attention. The executive producer was El-Shaddai.

Bovi also recounted how amazed he was by Peters humility when they finally met, especially regarding the shows credits.

When Id later get to meet KP, as he was fondly called, I realised he was so humble, he refused to give himself the credit of being executive producer. Looking back now, that wasnt humility. It was a deep heart of gratitude. Something that served as a reminder for him that it was all God. It was his way of saying thank you.

Flatmates heavily influenced my decision and courage to start my own show, Extended Family. Thats why in the Extended Family, I opted not to put my name as executive producer in the credits. I was so scared that I might be seen as proud because KP didnt take his credits. Why should I?

Despite the admiration, Bovi revealed that their first interaction didnt go as he had hoped. He recalled calling Peters to seek advice but left the conversation feeling brushed off.

I had searched for KPs number and put a call through. My name is Bovi and Im a fan of your show. Im creating my own sitcom and Id like to meet you to get some tips on how to go about it, I had said to KP in our first ever call.

Im on set working now. I wouldnt have the time. It can be during your lunch break if you dont mind. I promise not to take your time, I pressed. He said hed let me know when he has the time. The time never came. I also never waited. I pushed on and created the show.

Looking back, Bovi admitted that moment stirred a feeling of rejection, which he unknowingly channeled into creative fuel.

At the time my only motivation for doing things was perceived offense. I had felt slighted that he turned down the request of a stranger, so I bore an artificial grudge and used it as fuel!
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the National Assembly to enact laws establishing Federal Shariah Courts across the country.

The group emphasised the need for such courts in the southern region, saying it would promote justice and equal legal representation for Muslims nationwide.

The call was made in a statement issued on Monday, and signed by MURICs Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

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The group described Nigerias legal system as glaringly lopsided, noting that while it includes common, customary, and Islamic law, only the first two are applied nationwide.

It is well known that the Nigerian legal system stands on a tripod of common law, customary law, and Islamic law.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/our-doors-are-open-to-receive-peter-obi-others-back-to-pdp-but-we-wont-beg-them-ex-party-legal-adviser.html

For justice to experience a balance, each component of the tripartite system should be equally treated and applied in all parts of the country, the statement read.

Akintola further argued that Muslims in the South are being denied access to their own legal system, noting, It is understandable that southern state governments are opposed to Shariah law, since the governors are all Christians.

The Federal Government should act in loco parentis by establishing Federal Shariah Courts the same way it established Christian common law courts throughout Nigeria.

Citing sections 275, 276, and 277 of the 1999 Constitution, MURIC maintained that Muslims have a constitutional right to the Shariah legal framework and urged lawmakers to pass enabling laws to enforce that right nationwide.
National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has criticised former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai over his recent attacks on President Bola Tinubu.

Basiru noted saying El-Rufais comments were uncalled for and warned him against distracting the APC-led government.

Speaking on Sunday in an interview with Sunday Tribune, Ajibola Basiru urged El-Rufai to stop distracting the APC-led government.

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He said El-Rufai should focus on something more productive ahead of the 2027 elections.

El-Rufai should go and find a job to do. He can go back to school to enrich his knowledge or play with his grandchildren, Basiru said.

Why is he in a hurry? 2027 is far. The guidelines for the elections wont be out until February 2026. He should not distract us.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/adc-repackaging-expired-tricks-for-2027-elections-keyamo.html

Basirus remarks followed El-Rufais comments on Saturday, August 3, in Sokoto while addressing ADC supporters in the North-West.

El-Rufai warned that Nigeria may not survive another four years under Tinubu and urged Nigerians to vote out the APC in 2027.

The former governor also stated he had joined the opposition coalition to ensure the APC is removed from power, saying he is ready to mobilise Nigerians to eject the incompetent ruling party.

Reacting, Basiru said the APC was focused on governance and party restructuring, adding, We are too busy fixing our party, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is busy with governance.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reiterated his commitment to serve only one term of four years if elected President in the 2027 general election.

In a statement released on Sunday, Obi emphasised that his vow is rooted in conviction and not a mere political promise.

According to him, the decision to serve a single term reflects his belief in purposeful and effective leadership that prioritizes service over personal ambition.

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My One-Term, Four-Year Vow Is Sacrosanct, Obi declared, as he responded to critics who question the sincerity of his promise.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/our-doors-are-open-to-receive-peter-obi-others-back-to-pdp-but-we-wont-beg-them-ex-party-legal-adviser.html#google_vignette

He argued that the skepticism surrounding his commitment is a reflection of the widespread distrust in Nigerian politics, where promises are often broken once power is secured.

I understand the basis of their scepticism. They are judging me by their own standards  where political promises are made to be broken.

But they forget, or perhaps choose to ignore, that Peter Obi is not cut from that cloth, he said.

He further added, I have a verifiable track record that speaks louder than speculation. My vow to serve only one term of four years is a solemn commitment.
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested ten nationals of the Republic of Benin over an alleged illegal human trafficking operation in Akure, the state capital.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Lawal Adebowale, disclosed the development while addressing journalists on Sunday. He revealed that the suspects were apprehended at various residences along Oda Road, Akure.

The suspects were identified as Atouh Joel, Mohamed Amidou, Saibou Akateliwe, Abdul Jahao, Ndah Severin, Kumpori Ruth, Kumpori Martin, Tatiana Dianne, Martias Sossa, and Ndapola Oba Giov.

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READ MORE: Iyanya Defends Nurse Ridiculed For Working During Strike, Offers N500,000 Reward

On July 31, 2025, at about 20.30 pm, operatives of the command apprehended 10 foreign nationals at their respective residences along Oda Road, Akure. These individuals were discovered to have illegally smuggled themselves into Nigeria from the Republic of Benin. Some of them had expired passports, while others had no valid travel documents whatsoever, the police commissioner stated.

According to the CP, investigations further uncovered that the suspects conspired to unlawfully bring a 29-year-old Congolese man, Nzaou Yelica Christ-Olse, into Nigeria without his consent.

Investigations revealed that these suspects criminally conspired to bring one Nzaou Yelica Christ-Olse (male, 29 years, Congolese) into Nigeria without his consent. The victim was deceived under the pretence of receiving assistance to start an online business, he said.

He was later abandoned by the group upon arrival, the commissioner added.

Adebowale said the offence was a clear breach of Nigerias immigration and anti-trafficking laws and confirmed that the case had been handed over to the appropriate agencies for further action.

The case has since been transferred to the relevant departments, including the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further investigation and prosecution, he said.

He assured that the victim is safe and currently under the care of the authorities.

The victim is safe, in the custody of the authorities, and receiving appropriate support, Adebowale stressed.

He also appealed to the residents of Ondo State to continue supporting the police with credible information to aid the ongoing fight against crime.

The command will continue to count on the support, vigilance, and credible information from the good people of Ondo State. We reaffirm our resolve to provide a safe and secure environment for all residents through lawful, ethical, and responsive policing, he said.
The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, says Peter Obi has no real chance of gaining strong electoral support in Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 polls.

Keyamo believes the region remains a stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has deeper grassroots networks and political structures in place.

Keyamo made the assertion on Sunday, during an appearance on Channels Televisions Politics Today.

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According to him, the North remains a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), due to its well-established political machinery and the influence of APC governors.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/abba-kyari-still-useful-to-nigeria-deserves-pardon-ihrc-to-tinubu-government.html

If you put Peter Obi this time as president, he cannot penetrate the North, Keyamo stated.

We have our structures in the North. We have governors and our structures in the North.

He argued that, unlike Obi, President Bola Tinubu and the APC have the political leverage and grassroots reach required to win across the region.

Tinubu has built alliances in the North that Obi simply cannot match. The APC has a presence on every street corner in those states, Keyamo said.

Commenting on the recently formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the minister dismissed it as unserious and ineffective.

They are not going anywhere. But at least, they are keeping us on our toes. They are helping us to improve, he noted.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show leadership by focusing on effective social welfare policies.

He criticised the President for merely asking state governors to act, instead of setting a clear example at the federal level.

He made this call in a statement issued on Sunday, in response to Tinubus recent comments during a meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.

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At the meeting, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acknowledged the economic hardship confronting Nigerians and urged state governors to take more action.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/i-didnt-get-into-politics-to-enrich-myself-el-rufai-says-warns-against-voting-apc-in-2027.html

He reportedly told them, You must wet the grass more and deliver progressive change to Nigerians. May God bless our democracy and grant us more fertile lands.

Reacting to the Presidents appeal, Falana argued that Nigerians at the grassroots are still suffering and that mere words are no longer enough.

Instead of begging state governments to wet ground more, President Bola Tinubu is urged to ensure that the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act is adopted and enacted into law by the 36 state governments, he said.

Falana urged the Federal Government to take the lead in addressing poverty by adequately funding existing welfare programmes.

He said special attention should be given to initiatives targeting extreme poverty and social vulnerability.

According to him, this would show genuine commitment to the peoples well-being.

He also criticised government spending priorities, arguing that funds should be diverted from luxury projects to poverty alleviation.

Rather than allocating billions for state house renovations, governments at all levels should focus on implementing impactful social policies, he insisted.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied being double-faced in his actions during the 2023 presidential election.

He dismissed claims that he was inconsistent in his position within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the period.

Wike, during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday, explained that his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu was based on principle.

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He emphasised that his decision was not an act of betrayal but a matter of conviction.

He stated, I take exception to people saying Im double-faced.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/peter-obi-cant-penetrate-north-in-2027-election-festus-keyamo.html

We must like people who will tell you what they will do and they will do it.

The former Rivers State governor explained that he had always made his position clear regarding the PDPs choice of candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

From day one, I said no, I am not going to support them. I never hid it, Wike stressed

According to him, his opposition to Atikus candidacy stemmed from his belief in equity and fairness.

He maintained that the presidency in 2023 should have been zoned to the South, a principle he stood by throughout the election season.

He said, I stood for equity, fairness, and justice that its the South that should produce the presidency in 2023.

Wike added that his support for Tinubu was based on capacity and the potential to win.

Who am I going to support from the South in my opinion, who stands to win the election? That was my own judgment, and I was right. Tinubu won the election.

He concluded by questioning Tinubus ability to change Nigerias trajectory, saying, Does he have the tendency to bring Nigeria out from where it was?
Salim Ramji was named Vanguard Group's CEO last year. A former executive at BlackRock, the only investment company larger than Vanguard, he is the first non-Vanguard veteran to be named to the company's top job since its founding in 1975. Read more

Vanguard Group has added more than $1 trillion in customer assets, from stock-market gains and new investments, since Salim Ramji was named the first outsider to run the 50-year-old, Malvern-based investment giant last year.

But that kind of growth isnt unusual at Vanguard, which has added $7 trillion in customer assets, in the mostly rising markets of the past eight years.

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Ramji is the former fund chief at BlackRock, the only investment company bigger than Vanguard. He has recommitted the company to the virtues espoused by its late founder, Jack Bogle, who favored low-fee stock-index funds and plain-talk pitches for long-term investment, which fed Vanguards industry-leading growth.

Ramjis entry was smoothed by the fact the top job was split three ways: longtime director Mark Loughridge, a former IBM CFO, took over as board chairman, while Vanguard lifer Greg Davis stayed on as president.

As a private, for-profit company, nominally owned by investors but run by a self-perpetuating board, Vanguard is not required to report marketing costs, CEO pay, or other basic expenses. CEO Ramji likely earns over $20 million a year, estimates Jeff DeMaso, who edits the Independent Vanguard Adviser newsletter.

Ramji did not agree to be interviewed by The Inquirer. But, in other appearances over the past year, hes provided insight into his approach at Vanguard, and his own evolving perception of the business.

At a conference held by the Morningstar fund data service in July, Ramji talked at length about veteran Vanguard crews sense of idealism and mission. Coming from Wall Street, he said he was skeptical at first, but his skepticism melted as he saw his new colleagues joy at a February round of fund fee cuts  a show of the Vanguard pro-customer ethos.

Strategy on Ramjis watch

Vanguard and its longtime partner, stock-and-bond fund manager Wellington Management, in April announced a strategic alliance to sell funds combining public and private equities and debt, instead of just publicly-traded stocks and bonds.

But no crypto, Ramji noted at the Morningstar talk: At Vanguard we like investments that deliver cash flow  municipal and other bonds, stocks, and over time, if the circumstances are right, private markets.

Were OK not being everything to everybody, he added.

Vanguard has made a key move back toward traditional financial products. Ramji spotlighted Vanguards Cash Plus account, rolled out last year, which customers can use to pay bills and deposit checks  transactions are free  while collecting interest at about the level of a bank Certificate of Deposit.

Mortimer Tim Buckley, Ramjis predecessor, had axed bank-like VanguardAdvantage accounts five years earlier. Theyve reversed course again, in an effort to regain wallet share, says DeMaso.

Some of the Bogle-believers who retired with $1 million in savings 20 years ago have lost access to a range of free or low-cost services as they spent from their accounts, inflation sapped their value, and Vanguard tightened minimums.

Ramji said hes concerned about aging investors who could feel left behind.

Ramji called the decumulation of assets by aging investors the most intractable problem in finance. He said hes listened into heartbreaking calls from retired investors who have adhered to all of the Vanguard principles for decades, but now find themselves not living the life and retirement that they should afford.

Vanguard and its rivals, Ramji added, really need to figure out, how do you help advise people in retirement?

Moving Vanguards tech

Ramji said the company spends over twice as much on technology as it did before 2020.

He said the move from mainframe computing to a cloud-native infrastructure, relying in large part on Amazon Web Services, is 90% complete, and will allow constant improvements to digital customer service, promising intuitive, more customized web applications.

In May, Ramji announced Vanguards first client-facing generative AI, a summary report synthesizing client-ready article summaries and customizable synopses of securities market research.

Were holding back on some of the client-facing applications  they are really good  but we want to make sure were doing it in a very responsible way, without the hallucinations that have marred early AI applications, Ramji added at the Morningstar event.

AI isnt going to fix customer service, and is unlikely to make Vanguards often conservative market predictions more accurate, warns Dan Wiener, founder and former head of RWA Wealth Partners, a New York investment adviser that recommends Vanguard funds.

Service gaps?

Last fall, Vanguard said it would expand its robo-adviser service, Digital Advisor, to anyone with as little as $100 in their account, down from the previous minimum of $3,000.

Everyone should have access to good advice, Ramji told the Morningstar gathering. The company is trying to boost its appeal to managers of larger private accounts, though Vanguards high-rated do-it-yourself services also compete with independent advisers.

Vanguard funds retain a powerful attraction for their clients, though Ramji has yet to make a mark like Bogle, according to a handful of area investment advisers interviewed by The Inquirer recently.

Vanguard is a behemoth, said Mike Horwath, chief investment officer for Diversified LLC, a $2.2 billion-asset, Wilmington-based advisory firm.

He said Vanguard has been successful retailing its popular S&P 500 Index funds and other low-fee passive funds, but has so far proven less than a partner in its efforts to sell financial planning, private funds, and other products, compared to its larger, better-funded rival, BlackRock.

Vanguard was the first on the low-cost side, and has forced Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and other rivals to cut fees, said Robert Costello, who manages $350 million in client funds at Costello Asset Management in Huntingdon Valley.

But theres still gaps on the service side, Costello added. For example, if you have an estate [after an investors death], it can take two months to get rectified; it should be two weeks.

Tax season is particularly difficult, Costello said, and Vanguard has specific paperwork requirements. I have a client whos pulling her hair out  shes a crossing guard supervisor  she did all the paperwork for her mother that died, but Vanguard is making her do it over again with their forms.

He said Schwab seems to be attracting younger business owners and professionals.

For the growing number of American small-business owners and professionals with complex needs and $10 million or more invested, it is very hard to keep the low-touch, low-fee Vanguard model attractive, said Mike Topley, founder of $450 million-asset Lansing Street Advisors in Ambler.

Investing is a psychology game, not an IQ game, he said, and advisers role isnt just to recommend Vanguard or other funds, but sometimes to talk clients out of buying an extra boat, or a shady private investment.

Top client issues are care for elderly parents, parents supporting young adult children, addiction in families, and business exit planning. All four of these issues may lead to a period where you are talking to a client daily, and thats not what Vanguard is set up to do, Topley added.

Vanguards low fees remain awesome, and its role as an employer of over 10,000 at its headquarters is lucky for the region, Topley said. But nothing on Ramjis watch, so far, has made it more attractive, he concluded.
Images from surveillance video show a man suspected in a pattern of sexual assaults in and near Center City. Read more

Police on Monday warned of a recent pattern of sexual assaults in and near Center City involving a man on the street approaching women from behind.

It seems like its escalating, said Capt. Margo Alleyne-Parker of the Special Victims Unit, highlighting that three of the five known reports of attacks occurred over the weekend.

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Alleyne-Parker said there may be other attacks that have not been reported, and she said detectives were reviewing several months of reports to see if any other incidents fit the apparent pattern.

One of the women suffered minor injuries after she attempted to shove the assailant, who pushed back and caused the woman to fall, Alleyne-Parker said.

Be more aware of your surroundings, Alleyne-Parker advised. If you see something, scream for help.

Police were checking surveillance video from around the attack scene for possible images of the man that could be released to the public, Alleyne-Parker said.

On Monday evening, police released images of a suspect from surveillance video.

The most recent reported incident happened Sunday around 12:30 p.m. on the 2500 block of Webster Street near 25th and Christian Streets. A woman said that while opening her garage door, the assailant grabbed her from behind and assaulted her.

Also on Sunday, shortly after 1 a.m. on the 400 block of South 15th Street, a woman had left a bar and was walking south to her vehicle parked on South Street when the man grabbed her from behind, Alleyne-Parker said.

On Saturday, a woman was on the 1600 block of Waverly Street, between Pine and Lombard Streets, when the man came up behind her, reached over her shoulder and sexually assaulted her, Alleyne-Parker said.

The two prior reported attacks occurred on July 18 and 19.

On July 18 around 6:40 a.m. on the 1900 block of Spruce Street near Rittenhouse Square, a woman was walking her dog when a man approached her from behind and said good morning, beautiful, then attacked her, Alleyne-Parker said.

The next day around 3:15 a.m. on the 2000 block of Delancey Street, also near Rittenhouse Square, a woman was attempting to enter her apartment building when she was approached by a man. She asked him to leave her alone and was attacked, Alleyne-Parker said. The woman suffered minor injuries to her elbow and knee from falling down after being pushed.

In all the reported attacks, the man was on foot.

Theres no vehicle involved. He either ran or walked away, Alleyne-Parker said.

All the women gave similar descriptions of their attacker, describing him as Black, close to or around 6 feet tall, with long dreadlocks or twists or braids, sometimes worn in a ponytail, Alleyne-Parker said.
Bensalem Township Public Safety Director William McVey said Monday that John Mathis has victimized drivers in Bucks County multiple times before. Read more

A Bucks County couple were going about their normal routine and enjoying their evening on Saturday when a gun-toting, serial road-rage antagonist pointed his weapon at them as they drove along Route 13 in Bensalem, police said Monday.

And when John Mathis, 44, refused to leave the couple alone, a police officer had to physically block him from his intended victims with a patrol car to get him to stop, Bensalem Township Public Safety Director William McVey said.

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Mathis refused to drop his weapon, police said, and the officer shot him.

Mathis, of Levittown, was struck multiple times and taken to Jefferson Torresdale Medical Center, where he remained in stable condition Monday. He has yet to be charged in connection with the incident, but officials say he will face prosecution for threatening both the couple and the officer with a handgun.

Mathis was unable to legally possess a gun because of previous felony convictions.

Mr. Mathis should be behind bars, McVey said. This is someone who routinely has victimized people in Bucks County, and hopefully that has come to an end.

The officer, whom McVey did not identify, has been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated by the district attorneys office. McVey declined to say how long the officer has worked for Bensalem, but described him as a veteran of the force who used his training to protect the public.

Mathis has a long criminal history in Bucks County dating back to 2001 for incidents similar to his weekend encounter with the Bensalem officer, including multiple convictions for fleeing from police. His record also includes convictions for assault, conspiracy, and burglary.

Last week, Mathis was charged  but had not yet been arrested  in a separate road-rage incident in Bristol on July 27, police said. After those charges were filed, a county judge issued a bench warrant for Mathis for failing to appear in a third road-rage incident from 2023.

Those two cases, McVey said, followed a similar pattern to Saturdays incident.

In the latest case, just before 6 p.m. Saturday, a couple driving on Bristol Pike near Biddle Lane called 911 to report that a motorcyclist had been acting aggressively toward them, police said. He was tailgating them, honking his horn, and driving dangerously close to their vehicle.

When the two vehicles were stopped at a nearby red light, the motorcyclist  later identified as Mathis  pointed a handgun at the drivers head and began to follow the vehicle.

When the Bensalem officer arrived, he was able to maneuver his police car between the two. Mathis then sharply accelerated, in an apparent attempt to escape, and crashed into the officers car, according to McVey.

The officer saw Mathis was holding a gun in his right hand, and shot him when he ignored commands to drop the weapon.
Northeast Community Propel Academy, a K-8, is the city's most overcrowded district-owned school, according to the Philadelphia School District's data. (Constitution High, in rented space in Center City, is more crowded.) Propel was built in 2021. Many of the city's schools are over 70 years old, and in poor condition. Read more

Nearly half of Philadelphia public school buildings are in poor condition. Twenty are mostly empty, or less than 30% occupied, but 25 are at more than 100% of their capacity, including nearly every school in the Northeast.

As Philadelphia School District officials prepare to make decisions about the fate of its 200-plus schools  which ones will close, which ones will share buildings, which might get new construction or upgrades  the data that will drive those decisions have been opaque. And for months, the data set was not publicly released, despite promises to do so.

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In recent weeks, however, the district has begun sharing the numbers  but only at public meetings about the facilities planning process, and via limited paper copies. The data are still unavailable on the districts website.

An Inquirer analysis of the data  which district officials said are not yet final and which in some instances have been questioned by those with firsthand experience in those schools  underscored that many buildings are in poor condition and have far fewer students than they are intended to hold. The findings include:

Of the 215 school buildings included in the school systems learning networks, or geographic groupings of schools, 64  about a third  are using less than half of their capacity. Five are more than 80% empty. Building conditions are generally poor systemwide. Forty schools were given the districts lowest rating, unsatisfactory, and 47 more were judged in poor condition. Those 87 buildings account for 40% of the districts inventory  not including district-owned buildings that are used by charters. And some of the most fatigued buildings are in the citys most fragile neighborhoods.

Decisions over which schools will close and which will be spared, spruced up, or built new are expected this year. A draft plan is due in the fall, with final school board votes promised by December.

It will not be a straight numbers call.

Officials have said they will include four factors in decisions: building condition, utilization, the schools ability to offer robust programming, and neighborhood vulnerability  a metric that includes features like poverty and whether the area has endured prior closings.

The district needs to increase access to high-quality academic and extracurricular programs across neighborhoods, recognizing that many of the districts aging and unequal facilities are under-enrolled or overenrolled, a district facilities staffer told a small group of community members  mostly teachers  who came to a July facilities meeting at Julia deBurgos Elementary in North Philadelphia.

All options are on the table, no secret closing plan has been devised, and the feedback given by the public and members of advisory groups matters significantly, staff said.

Theres no list, Teresa Fleming, the districts chief operating officer, told community members at Julia de Burgos.

Weve been through this before, said Melissa Achuff, a teacher at Sheppard Elementary in Kensington, which was targeted for closure in 2012 but ultimately spared after an outpouring of community support. Were short on trust.

Though much remains unclear, the data point to the schools most at risk. Here are some takeaways:

Theres a big mismatch between capacity and students

Although school officials have not explained how much each category will weigh in decision making, it is apparent that the district has a significant mismatch between capacity and students, and many buildings are in poor condition.

Collectively, the 215 buildings under review have a capacity of 186,736 students. But they hold just 118,337, the data say.

The 87 buildings in unsatisfactory or poor condition have a capacity of 68,874, and last year nearly 30,000 seats were empty.

Fourteen schools are less than one-quarter utilized, including Middle Years Alternative and Parkway West, which share a building on Fairmount Avenue in West Philadelphia that is 24% occupied. Crossroads at Hunting Park and Philadelphia Learning Academy North also share a building that is less than 14% used.

Some school buildings check multiple undesirable boxes. Of the 68 schools that are at least half empty, 16 also ranked poor or unsatisfactory for their program alignment and building scores.

Among them, neighborhood schools Ludlow (North Philadelphia), Comegys (Southwest Philadelphia), Penn Treaty High (Fishtown), Blankenburg (West Philadelphia), Martha Washington (West Philadelphia), and Sheppard (Kensington) were given the lowest mark of unsatisfactory for program offerings or the condition of their building.

That was also true for three citywide programs  the U School, Philadelphia Military Academy, and Alternative Middle Years Program at James Martin. (AMY at James Martin, a citywide admissions middle school in Port Richmond, is getting a new, $62 million school building; its students are currently housed at nearby Penn Treaty.)

There are some hot spots of schools in poor condition

The districts most fatigued buildings can be found across the city, though four zip codes have the most, with three schools apiece rated unsatisfactory: 19119, Mount Airy; 19122, in North Philadelphia; 19124, Frankford; and 19148, which spans the east side of Broad Street in South Philadelphia.

Some schools are out of room  including nearly every school in the Northeast

At the other extreme, the report flagged 20 schools with building capacity ranging between 105% and nearly 200%.

Constitution High, a citywide admissions school in rented space in Center City, has 421 students occupying a building meant to hold 212, according to district data.

The list of crowded schools also includes A.S. Jenks Elementary in South Philadelphia, with about 60 students over site capacity, and Masterman, which is 200 students over capacity.

While many of the crowded schools are in buildings rated fair to excellent, Jenks and Mastermans buildings are rated poor.

Eight other schools are also crowded, with usage between 100% and 105%. This includes Crossan Elementary in the Northeast, which is at capacity and the only school rated unsatisfactory for both its building and program offerings.

The Northeast largely lacks buildings in poor shape, but it is a particular hot spot of overcrowding. Of the 15 schools in Learning Network 10, which includes elementary and middle schools across the Northeast, nine schools are operating over 100% capacity.

 READ MORE: Overcrowding in the Northeast puts schools in crisis mode, staff says

The most overcrowded district-owned building, according to the data, is one of its newest: Northeast Community Propel Academy, a K-8 on the Lincoln High campus. Opened in 2021 for 1,200 students, it housed 1,789 last year, operating at 146% capacity.

One theme that emerged at community meetings: questioning the districts data. At Rhawnhurst Elementary School, one second-grade class had 39 students last year; English-language learners had to take classes in a hallway because there was no other space, said Melanie Silva, whose daughter attends the school.

But the school shows up with some room to spare, operating at just 75% capacity.

Theres no room at that school, Silva said of Rhawnhurst. Where does that number come from?

District officials have said that determining final numbers will include building walk-throughs with principals.

Comprehensive high schools generally have tons of empty seats

Most of the citys neighborhood high schools, which have no admissions requirements, have hundreds  sometimes thousands  of empty seats.

Vaux High, in North Philadelphia, is just 18% full, with 287 students. Though its building is owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, its students are district students. That number comes with an asterisk, though  the district lists Vauxs capacity is 1,564, but Big Picture Philadelphia, the nonprofit that runs the school, has a contract with the district to enroll no more than 500 students, and the Vaux building also houses PHA offices and other community services.

Overbrook High is just 19% full. It has room for 2,330 students, but last year enrolled only 441.

Roxborough, Martin Luther King, Bartram, and South Philadelphia High are all significantly under-enrolled when building size is taken into account. Roxborough had 1,360 empty seats last year; South Philadelphia High, 1,197; Martin Luther King, 1,149, and Bartram, 983.

(There are exceptions, of course. Northeast High, the citys largest school, has room for 2,889 students, but last year housed 3,644.)

Neighborhood vulnerability is an X factor

Officials have said neighborhood vulnerability  a district-designed score that factors in poverty, access to transportation and housing, and the impact of prior public school closures  will weigh significantly in their decisions.

But Philadelphia is the nations poorest big city, and few corners of the city are untouched by the effects of poverty.

Only about 29% of district schools have low or very low vulnerability scores  most of them in the Northeast and parts of the Northwest.

Every school in Learning Network 8, which serves North Philadelphia, is rated high risk or very high risk on the vulnerability scale. Nearly all schools in Learning Networks 7 and 9  covering North Philadelphia, Juniata Park, and Kensington  are also in some category of high risk.

Shrinking the number of types of schools is a given

Officials have said they will seek to reduce the types of schools that the district has. Now, it has 13 different school formats, from K-8s, K-4s, and K-5s to 7-12s and 9-12s.

The data has shown that students are more successful with less transition points, Fleming, the chief operating officer, said at a community meeting.

One district proposal shared at community meetings is shrinking that number from 13 grade bands to six grade bands  K-4, K-8, K-12, 5-8, 5-12, and 9-12.

That leaves in limbo the future of some schools like the Feltonville complex: Barton, a K-2 school, Feltonville Intermediate, a 3-5, and Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences, a 6-8; and George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Sciences, which is currently a 7-12. All will likely at least see grade changes.
Upper Darby School District has agreed to pay $600,000 to acquire Delaware County Memorial Hospital, shown here in 2022, which is emergency department closed. Read more

Upper Darby School District has agreed to buy the shuttered Delaware County Memorial Hospital complex for $600,000, according to a court filing Monday in Prospect Medical Holdings bankruptcy.

But if the sale does not close by Aug. 13, Prospect will be able to abandon the property, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan ruled. Even after abandonment, the California for-profit would have to pay for fire suppression and security services until its bankruptcy plan is approved.

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Delaware County Memorial is next to Upper Darby High School, and the plan is to demolish the hospital, a medical office building, and a parking garage, Trey Monsour, an attorney for the school district, told the judge. Monsour said there have been two recent incidents of kids breaking into the hospital.

Were ready to move forward. Were going to close on the 13th, were going to take over the properties, were going to secure the properties, Monsour said. Upper Darby was interested in acquiring the neighboring hospital for school expansion even before Prospect filed for bankruptcy protection in January.

Daniel P. McGarry, superintendent of Upper Darby School District, said in an interview Monday evening that the district had been trying for more than two years to acquire the hospital, which closed in November 2022.

We need to expand, McGarry said. If it had remained a hospital we would have fully supported that, but if it was going to go into the hands of somebody else, theres nobody better than the school district to try to get that property.

Development with Taylor Hospital

Since Prospect filed its motion to abandon the two hospitals on July 25, arguing that they are burdensome and of inconsequential value, a potential buyer has emerged for Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, said Maegan Quejada, an attorney for Prospect.

We arent able to provide more details on the third-party buyer as of now, but we can say they had a site visit this morning, and were hoping for good news on that, Quejada said.

If that sale doesnt happen quickly, Prospect will jettison Taylor from the bankruptcy case, but the timing is fluid, Quejada said. Taylor closed in April.

Prospects motion to abandon the two hospitals said that property tax claims at Delaware County Memorial are $19.74 million and $7.67 million at Taylor.

To resolve taxing authorities objections to the abandonment motion, Prospect agreed to allow Delaware County, Ridley School District, and others to have general unsecured claims in the bankruptcy.

Upper Darby Township, where Delaware County Memorial is located, did not agree to that compromise, but was overruled.

Under the original abandonment motion, the municipalities would have to purse a tax lien sale, which could take years.

No mention was made during the hearing on efforts to sell Crozer-Chester Medical Center or Springfield Hospital. Crozer closed in May. Springfield closed in 2022.
Kelly A. Munson will succeed Gregory E. Deavens as president and CEO of the Philadelphia region's largest health insurer, Independence Health Group, on Oct. 1. Read more

Kelly A. Munson will succeed Gregory E. Deavens as president and CEO of Independence Health Group, the parent of Independence Blue Cross and the Philadelphia regions largest health insurer, the Center City company announced Monday.

Munson will move into the top job at Independence on Oct. 1 from her role as CEO of AmeriHealth Caritas, a Medicaid insurer that is majority-owned by IBX and accounted for three quarters of IBXs $32 billion in revenue last year. Munson started at AmeriHealth Caritas in February 2024.

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Independence said that Munson, 53, will keep an oversight role at AmeriHealth Caritas, which has Medicaid business in 13 states and Washington D.C., but details on that arrangement are still being worked out.

Independence said its board conducted a national search for a CEO to replace Deavens, who in January announced his intention to retire by the end of this year. Deavens, 64, took over from Daniel J. Hilferty at the beginning of 2021. Deavens will remain with the company through December to help with the leadership transition.

Kelly is a savvy and experienced healthcare leader, grounded in a deep commitment to affordable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare for all the communities we serve  both regionally and nationally, Charles Pizzi, chairman of the Independence board, said in a statement.

Challenging insurance environment

The leadership change at Independence is happening at a challenging time for health insurers as rising costs, including for drugs like GLP-1s, and increased use of healthcare services squeeze insurers finances. Last year, Independence had its first annual loss since 2015.

Independence Blue Cross, separate from AmeriHealth Caritas, offered buyouts to employees last month in an effort to streamline its operations. That part of Independence Health Group employed about 4,100 people at the time.

Last year, AmeriHealth Caritas had its slowest revenue growth since 2018 and its first loss since 2019. The slow revenue growth was caused by AmeriHealth Caritas failures recently to win new state contracts to manage Medicaid benefits. Its bottom line sank into the red after enrollment declined as COVID-era Medicaid rules ended, and tens of thousands of people dropped out of Medicaid coverage.

AmeriHealth Caritas is based in Newtown Square and employs about 10,000 people.

During her year and a half at AmeriHealth Caritas, Munson said in an interview, she worked on fixing what she described as a mismatch between what states were paying and the level of care needed by the Medicaid enrollees who were left after the post-COVID retrenchment.

Im happy the gap is beginning to close, said Munson who previously worked for Aetna and other Medicaid companies.

Munson also revamped top management at AmeriHealth Caritas to make sure the company is poised and ready for growth, she said.

With the appointment of Munson as CEO, Independence follows a playbook it used before. Hilferty had been CEO of AmeriHealth Caritas (then called AmeriHealth Mercy) before being promoted to Independence CEO at the beginning 2011. Hilferty led the Medicaid subsidiary for 13 years.

Deavens tenure

Deavens joined Independence as chief financial officer in 2017, about four years before he succeeded Hilferty.

Aside from leading Independence during most of the pandemic, Deavens contended with new competition in IBXs core market of Southeastern Pennsylvania from another Blue Cross Blue Shield company. Highmark, based in Pittsburgh, started selling health insurance in the area last year after staying away for decades.

For many years, Independence contracted with Highmark for back-office services. When Highmark became a direct competitor, Deavens and the Independence board decided to build its own systems. It spent $144 million on that project last year.

As CEO, Deavens prioritized expanding access to behavioral health services. He said in April that Independence had increased by 47% the number of mental health service providers in the companys local network since 2022.

A highlight of Deavens tenure was his pivotal role in 2022 in pulling together a coalition of nonprofit health systems to provide a $50 million lifeline for St. Christophers Hospital for Children, which desperately needed help to stay afloat at the time.
Chambers Works in Salem County is one of four sites in New Jersey with a legacy of PFAS contamination. Read more

New Jersey officials announced on Monday a settlement up to $2 billion or more with DuPont and other companies over decades of contamination from PFAS at four locations, including two in South Jersey.

Shawn LaTourette, the state Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, called it the largest environmental settlement in our states history. LaTourette said he was unaware of any other state that has achieved a settlement of this value.

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The consent order is with DuPont de Nemours, the Chemours Company, and Corteva Inc., which will split the costs. It comes as part of a lawsuit filed by New Jersey. A trial began in May in U.S. District Court in Camden.

Representatives from DuPont could not be reached immediately for comment.

However, DuPont issued a statement Monday saying the settlement would resolve all pending environmental and other claims for legacy contamination claims at four sites where the companies operated: Pompton Lakes Works in Passaic County, the Parlin site in Middlesex County, the Repauno site in Gloucester County, and Chambers Works in Salem County.

Pretty good footing

The announcement comes months after global chemical manufacturer 3M agreed to pay New Jersey $450 million over pollution by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known commonly as PFAS.

 READ MORE: 3M will pay New Jersey $450M over PFAS contamination

LaTourette said the two recent settlements, and another involving Solvay two years ago for contamination in Gloucester County, could amount to $3 billion from companies that tainted water and ground with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals because of their resistance to breaking down in humans and the environment.

We are putting ourselves on a pretty good footing to tackle this problem, LaTourette said of expected cleanups and mitigation that the settlements will fund.

PFAS are human-made chemicals manufactured in the United States since the 1940s to make household, consumer, and industrial products. They were also widely used in firefighting foam. They are classified as likely carcinogens, according to the state. They have been associated with high cholesterol, developmental issues in fetuses, and other health impacts.

 READ MORE: People who lived near Bucks, Montco military bases had higher level of toxic compounds in blood than U.S. average

The Chemours Company was spun off by DuPont in 2015  a move New Jersey claimed in its lawsuit was taken to avoid responsibility for PFAS contamination.

Whats in the settlement?

LaTourette said the settlement has three parts:

$875 million will go toward natural resource and other damages and spread over 25 years. It will address PFAS and other contamination, and provide some financial assistance to public and private well owners, and local governments. A $475 million reserve will ensure that taxpayers wont pick up the cost if any of the companies go bankrupt or fail to fulfill the agreement. Up to $1.2 billion will go toward a Remediation Funding Source for each of the four sites.

However, how much each site will receive for cleanup has not yet been determined. The consent order filed with U.S. District Court of New Jersey gives a wide range of amounts the companies could pay for cleanups at each site once a final agreement on the fund is reached.

For example, the range for the Chambers Works Remediation Funding Source is $130 million to $450 million. State officials used the top end of the range for each to come up with the $1.2 billion.

Powerful precedent

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin called PFAS particularly insidious.

New Jersey has some of the highest levels of PFAS in the country, Platkin said.

William J. Jackson, an attorney with Kelley Drye who served as lead counsel for New Jersey, called the settlement, a powerful precedent for environmental protection efforts nationwide.

Legacy of contamination

All four sites have been used by industry since the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Chambers Works and Parlin sites are still operating.

The sprawling Chambers Works facility in Pennsville and Carneys Point began as a DuPont operation to make gunpowder and other explosives, but transitioned to dyes and chemicals, according to New Jersey officials.

During the 1950s, DuPont started producing of PFAS at Chambers Works, and hundreds of pollutants and hazardous substances were discharged into the environment, making Chambers Works one of the most contaminated sites in New Jersey, the Department of Environmental Protection said.

The Repauno site also began as a DuPont explosives and chemicals facility. Hazardous waste was disposed of in unlined landfills, pits, pipes, and basins, and contaminated surface water, groundwater, and soils, according to the department.
Kristen Goedde, founder and COO of Trichome Analytical, takes a sample of hemp flower purchased by The Inquirer for testing. Read more

Inquirer reporters Max Marin and Ryan W. Briggs wanted to figure out whats actually in the hemp products that have become ubiquitous in smoke shops and gas stations around the Philly region. They visited dozens of places, tracked down questionable manufacturers, and employed a testing lab to get answers.

After testing 10 different products from 10 different stores, they found that the items are rife with toxic and illicit chemicals.

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Marin and Briggs answered questions about their latest investigation during a Reddit AMA with r/philadelphia. Here are some of the highlights. Some questions and answers have been edited for length, clarity, and tone.

This is a really cool investigation. Im curious to know what prompted you both to look into this?

Corner smoke shops and vape stores exploded in popularity in Philly during the pandemic, and eventually became a hub for unregulated slot machines and other nuisance activity. During our reporting on the skill game boom, we noticed many of the stores were also selling mystery hemp products and decided to follow up.

A few years ago, it seemed like only a handful of shops were selling this stuff. Now there are multiple storefronts on every commercial strip in almost every community in the region. Its sort of a wild economic trend at a time when so many brick-and-mortar businesses are struggling to stay open. And there was so much confusion about what was being sold  and how. Some people think these shops are legit dispensaries, and even elected leaders and public health officials are often baffled at how to respond to their prevalence.

How did you select the stores you purchased from and tested?

We wanted to capture a geographic spread between the city and the `burbs, so we tried to hit different neighborhoods and include at least one shop from each of the four collar counties. But the shops and the products themselves were selected almost completely at random. Sometimes wed ask the shop owners stuff like which one of these is the most popular? and take their recommendations.

How much did the testing cost? Would they welcome the testing of other samples? Can you share the contact information for the lab?

Trichome Analytical is one of several labs that does testing for recreational cannabis programs and they welcome individual clients. The lab generously offered us a nonprofit discount for this project. But safe to say chromatographic testing is not cheap, and the price goes up with the number of tests you want to run. We had to limit the number of contaminants we tested for to keep it within budget (keep in mind we had to buy an eighth of flower for each sample, too). All told, it cost a couple grand.

Are you able to share the list of products that were lab-tested that had <0.3% D9 THC + no pesticides/additives?

Yes! Thats laid out in the main story. Kudos to Mike Tyson: his pre-rolled joints (Tyson 2.0 Blue Dream Shorties) passed for contaminants (mycotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals) and was below the federal D9 limit. That was the only sample in our small pool that didnt fail any of our criteria.

Do you know if there a database of all these CBD and legal weed stores addresses? Do they require licenses?

The short answer is no. As we wrote, these stores are unregulated, so there is no official database out there.

The Pa. State Budget is still in limbo, blowing past the original June 30 deadline by more than a month. Is there any chance Sens. Sharif Street and Dan Laughlins Legal MJ bill gets included in the Final Budget Deal?

I dont think either of us are qualified to divine the tea leaves here, but I would say slim to none given [Sen.] Majority Leader Joe Pittmans chilly response to the latest bill 

Are there any states where they crack down on this type of product?

Some states (Rhode Island, for example) have tried cracking down on alternative THC products. And, notably, Pennsylvania state police have raided a string of hemp stores in PA over the years.

But in some states, the hemp industry now represents a sizable chunk of the economy. Texas sought to ban THC products outright, but the governor vetoed the bill after pushback from farmers and other advocates. Banning all THC products would effectively ban hemp (again), which is used for a lot more than getting high.

The legal ambiguity of the products also represents a genuine issue. Some are actually legal per the Farm Bill (see also: the Mike Tyson joints that we tested that came in under the federal THC limit). And in Pa., one store owner sued the Lancaster DA after his shop was raided, arguing that Delta-8 products werent explicitly illegal.
Instructor Vito Susca shares a laugh with his English as a second language class at the Fort Bend Literacy Council in Sugar Land, Texas, on June 19, 2017. Read more

On July 15, just weeks after the Trump administration missed the deadline to distribute congressionally appropriated funding for English literacy and civics programs, the U.S. Department of Education announced its intention to turn the management of adult education and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) programs over to the Department of Labor.

This is a bad idea, one that risks reducing a program focused on lifelong learning to mere job training.

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Across the U.S., adult learners make time in their lives to study English. They bring with them skills, knowledge, and experience that can contribute to their communities.

They are parents, spouses, workers, neighbors, community members, and like any other adult, their complex lives pull them in many directions. They often come to classes in the evening, directly from their other obligations to lessons held in borrowed spaces, supported by patchwork sources of funding. Fortunate programs may be supported by government grants, but these are hard to come by.

Despite the massive need, adult education remains dramatically underfunded in the U.S.

If you walk into an ESOL class and ask folks why they are studying English, you will get a range of answers. Some will talk about finding work or getting a better job. Many are full-time parents, learning English for their families. They often express a desire to speak to their childrens teachers without needing their child to interpret for them. Others want to talk to their doctor more easily in English, and still others to feel more confident in the bank, the grocery store, the voting booth, or just chatting with their neighbors.

In our experience as teachers of English as a second language, asking this question, many simply gesture out the window as if to say, The world here speaks English, and clearly I need it to get by.

In spite of the host of good reasons that adult learners choose to study English, adult ESOL has been increasingly treated as a workforce skill over the past few decades.

Indeed, federal funding for adult education is now allocated under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Federally funded ESOL providers must demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs by measuring and tracking learners progress in skills and achievements.

Of the credited outcomes, only one recognizes when learners improve their English. Nearly all others focus on whether students meet workforce goals like getting a job or increasing their earnings, regardless of students self-determined goals, which may be related to family, health, civic engagement, or community involvement.

This can put the incentives of programs at odds with the goals of our students, and many of us have spoken up for years about the limitations this imposes on programs and teachers  who want to support our students toward their own, self-determined goals.

Moving the management of these programs to the Department of Labor will only exacerbate this issue.

To tell adults that they must learn English for one of the preapproved outcomes related to their role in the workforce fails to recognize the huge range of real, material benefits for the individual and the community.

Adult education makes communities safer, improves family health, and increases voter turnout. The best way to improve a childs achievement is to develop their mothers literacy. It wasnt so long ago that we all recognized this. The National Literacy Act, signed by George H.W. Bush in 1991, recognized the value of English literacy to achieve ones goals, and develop ones knowledge and potential.

There are countless concerns about the state of education today, and shifts in the management of funding may seem more like a matter of bureaucracy than one of urgency. But its an issue that should unite us, one where the hypocrisy is evident. The move comes at the same time that the Justice Department has added teeth to the executive order designating English as the official language, issuing guidance that federal agencies eliminate nonessential multilingual services.

Now more than ever, we should call upon our elected officials to ensure that adults have the option to learn English for the full range of reasons. Until we have a federal administration that will take these concerns seriously, donors, funders, and city and state officials should fund life-wide approaches to adult literacy.

Its unreasonable to demand that adults learn English for life in America while simultaneously saying life in America isnt a good enough reason to learn English.

Rob Sheppard is the vice president of PennTESOL East and of the Literacy Council of Norristown. He works as associate director of Temple Center for American Language and Culture. Eliza Brumbaugh is the executive director of the Literacy Council of Norristown and the advocacy chair of PennTESOL East. Jeff Hutcheson is the director of advocacy and public policy at TESOL International Association.
Shanna Chandler and her daughters figure out their plans for a morning spent in Independence National Historical Park on the map in the Independence Visitor Center. From left are Lora, 20; Shanna; Lenna, 17; and Indigo, 29, Read more

I got my first camera in seventh grade. Social interactions were not my strong suit, so I mostly focused on scenery, animals, and buildings.

There are so many things in the world to take pictures of. Growing up I found that photography gave me a way to interact with people. It also gave and a sense of purpose that eventually lead me to a career in the people business.

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I met so many people this week while working on stories in Independence National Historical Park on the dozen displays that share historical information about slavery. Many have have been flagged for a content review in connection with an executive order from President Trump.

I noticed the Chandler women in the Visitor Center. They were interacting with the small exhibits - and seemed more interested than the usual tourists headed to the information desk (with very knowledgeable staffs) or restrooms (some of the nicest/cleanest in the city).

We talked briefly as they planned their morning in the Historic District. They were stopping on their way home to Richmond, Va., after vacationing in Maine.

On their way out of town Shanna said she planned to drive through Fairmount Park and see Boathouse Row. I used to come to race in regattas there in high school and college so wanted to show my girls where.

The last time they were all in Philadelphia, Shanna was pregnant with Lenna.

Besides the people I meet, I love to learn, so every photo assignment is like a mini-fellowship.

Like the replica chair Indigo is seated in. I learned on one of my very first visits to Independence Hall George Washington used the real chair for nearly three months of the Constitutional Convention.

It replaced the chair John Hancock sat in when he signed the Declaration of Independence. The British likely destroyed it during their occupation of Philadelphia

Benjamin Franklin immortalized the chair at the close of the convention, observing: I have often looked at that picture behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun.

In 2017, during President Trumps first term, with proposed budget cuts in federal funding of the arts, I looked at the programs and constituencies of some of Philadelphias community-focused groups that received National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding. Each group received less than $25,000 each.

 READ MORE: From 2017: Philly arts groups on budget chopping block

I like what Kathy Ryan, the longtime director of photography at the New York Times Magazine, said about photojournalists: "They call our attention to the things we miss in our everyday lives... When they direct our eyes and hearts with precision and honesty, we know what we know differently and better. Photographers teach us to look again, look harder. Look through their eyes."

Since 1998 a black-and-white photo has appeared every Monday in staff photographer Tom Gralishs Scene Through the Lens photo column in the print editions of The Inquirers local news section. Here are the most recent, in color:
The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site is currently closed for renovations. The site contains panels that reference Poes opposition to abolitionism and were flagged for the Trump administrations review by National Park Service staff. Read more

Two panels that reference Edgar Allan Poes opposition to abolitionism were flagged for President Donald Trumps administrations review by National Park Service staff at the historic site in Philadelphia where the influential author once lived.

The panels titled Philadelphia Through Poes Eyes and Poes Literary Criticism are among those that could be removed if the Trump administration determines the exhibits inappropriately disparage Americans past or living, as outlined in the presidents executive order, according to internal comments, obtained and reviewed by The Inquirer, from park staff.

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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a directive in May carrying out Trumps order and, in June, the National Park Service told all NPS units to carry out the evaluation by July 18. At Independence National Historical Park, more than a dozen displays about slavery were flagged by park staff for the administrations review.

A portion of Philadelphia Through Poes Eyes subtitled Chaotic Democracy was flagged because the content comments on violence committed against immigrants, Catholics, and African Americans, in Philadelphia, especially after the right to vote was stripped from the latter in PA in 1838, according to the park staff comment.

It states that Poe, having been raised in Richmond, VA, a world dependent on slave labor, was not an abolitionist, the comment continues.

Poe lived in Philadelphia from 1838 to 1844, bookended by violent events that targeted abolitionists, Black Americans, and immigrants.

In the year Poe arrived to the city, prominent abolitionists and Black Americans were violently targeted by mobs outside Pennsylvania Hall, which was eventually burned down by the attackers. In the days following, the lives and homes of abolitionists like Lucretia Mott and Samuel Webb were in jeopardy and mobs tried demolishing crucial institutions like an orphanage for Black children and the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church.

For three days in the summer of 1844, the Bible Riots occurred where American-born Protestants violently targeted the growing population of Irish Catholic immigrants in the city.

In addition to flagging the information about these historical acts of violence, park staff also flagged a section a panel on Poes Literary Criticism that deals with his thoughts on the poet James Russell Lowell: Content demonstrates Poes criticism of Lowell as an abolitionist.

Lowell was a 19th-century poet and a staunch abolitionist who published work in many antislavery newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Freeman and the Anti-Slavery Standard, according to the Academy of American Poets.

The context of these exhibits at the site is unclear and the specific panel text is unavailable to The Inquirer because the building is under construction.

Spokespeople for the Interior or NPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site features the original unfurnished version of The Raven writers home and other related exhibits. Poe lived in Philadelphia for six years and the NPS describes that time as his happiest and most productive.

During his time in the city, Poe published numerous poems, essays, and works of fiction, including The Murders in the Rue Morgue," and The Masque of the Red Death, stories that had major influence respectively on the detective and gothic genres.

He spent his last year to 18 months living in Philadelphia at the North Seventh Street House, which is where the historic site stands.

Poe never personally enslaved anyone, according to the Poe Museum, but he was raised in a household and family in Richmond that profited from the institution of slavery.

For example, Poe grew up in a household where people enslaved by [Foster Father John] Allan lived and labored. He visited the plantation inherited by his foster father where over a hundred men, women, and children were inherited, bought, and sold, according to the museum.

The Trump administration will likely also be considering if materials about slavery flagged at Independence Park disparage other American figures like President George Washington or Benjamin Franklin.

Six exhibits at the Presidents House Site were flagged for review all related to slavery and the nine people Washington enslaved there. The stories of the nine people enslaved by the first president became a focal point of the site upon its opening 15 years ago after efforts from a Black-led activism group, Avenging the Ancestors Coalition.

Other flagged items were at the Benjamin Franklin Museum, the Second Bank, Independence Hall, an outdoor wayside exhibit, and a proposed park exhibit.

This impending review by the Trump administration has been a rallying call for preservationists, historians, and activists to push for the protection of these sites. Two Philadelphians have been developing ways to archive exhibits at the park, and activists gathered at the Presidents House this past weekend to advocate for its preservation.
Rabbi Elyse Wechterman speaks during a rally to support immigrants in Norristown on June 7. Read more

Month after month, immigration advocates have called for Montgomery County officials to adopt an ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE, but county officials challenged advocates to bring their requests to the municipal governments that control local police departments.

In recent weeks, theyve accepted that challenge.

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Activists are working township by township and borough by borough to persuade each of Montgomery Countys 62 municipalities to block their officers from working with federal immigration officials. The efforts come after local police were present during ICE arrests last month.

The reality is that this is happening and its not going to stop happening and its only going to get worse, said Stephanie Vincent, lead organizer of Community for Change Montgomery County. We have to stand together now throughout Montgomery County and make decisions about what side our local law enforcement stands on.

The sense of urgency around local policies has grown during President Donald Trumps second term as the administration takes increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement action.

Advocates argue that immigrants in Montgomery County will feel safer interacting with police if ICE agents are unable to rely on help from local officers when making immigration arrests, but it could also put local officials in the crosshairs of the Trump administration amid threats to strip funding from communities that dont cooperate with ICE.

These policies arent new, local governments, including Philadelphia, began passing sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with ICE in Trumps first term. In some communities, like Radnor and Allentown, those efforts continued in Trumps second term, but many local officials have been resistant to public shows of defiance of the Trump administration.

Montgomery County has been a focal point of ICE activity in the Philadelphia region as Trump seeks to fulfill his campaign promise to enact mass deportations. Advocates have reported ICE raids in a West Norriton grocery store and reports of arrests at an apartment building in Hatfield. Many were outraged last month when videos of the raid appeared to show West Norriton police officers assisting the agency.

Protecting our neighbors

Montgomery County officials have not passed a formal ordinance declaring the county welcoming, but officials approved a policy limiting communication between county employees and ICE and committing to not honor prison detainer requests without warrants.

Those policies dont extend to other local government officials in the county. And the countys Democratic commissioners repeatedly told activists that theyd have more impact at other levels of government.

Just showing up here cant be the only place, Democratic Commissioner Jamila Winder told advocates at a July board meeting.

At the same meeting Democratic board chair Neil Makhija recommended residents bring their concerns to local Republican members of Congress, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Sen. Dave McCormick.

My recommendation is to make sure that you show up and make sure that they hear from you, he said.

In response Elyse Wechterman, a rabbi and longtime advocate for immigrant rights, built campaign materials and a toolkit instructing residents on how to advocate at the local level for welcoming policies. The kit includes sample policies drafted by the ACLU of Pennsylvania based on the type of municipality (borough, township etc.) and form letters and testimony for residents to use or expand upon.

Families are being torn apart, children are being deprived of parental care, and the economic fallout in our communities is severe, Wechtermans toolkit reads. We can do something to stop this.

An Abington resident, Wechterman put the strategy to use in her hometown, reaching out to the local police chief and testifying in a local board meeting last month urging the boroughs board of commissioners to codify the departments existing policy to avoid working with ICE without a warrant.

And similar efforts are beginning across the county as advocates say they are reaching out to county elected officials and police chiefs asking for updates on policy.

Though the goal is to influence change across the county, townships with high immigrant populations and where ICE activity has been recorded are prioritized. Those communities include townships near Norristown such as West Norriton and East Norriton as well as Ambler, Lansdale, and the townships surrounding them.

Jay Lee, advocacy and communications manager at the Woori Center, which advocates for Asian Americans, said hes working to urge officials in Hatfield and Lansdale to adopt such policies. Lansdale has a large Korean American population and, while many of those immigrants are in the country legally, Lee said the actions of Trumps administration gives the impression that no one is safe. While immigration is a federal issue, he argued that Trumps policies call for a local response.

For many of us, its also about ourselves. Protecting ourselves, protecting our neighbors, he said.

Local responses

Its unclear yet whether the groups efforts will be successful.

Norristown, which has been the center of ICEs activity in Montgomery County, issued a policy memorandum in January clarifying that the township would not honor ICE detainers and that township employees were discouraged from collecting and sharing information on residents immigration status.

West Norritons board of commissioners called for empathy and compassion and condemned the acts of federal agents in a post to Facebook after officers were present during ICE activity in the community last month. In a subsequent post that was not attributed to the commissioners, the county clarified that West Norritons police department was not obligated to assist with immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. In the specific case that prompted community outrage, the post said federal authorities had requested the agencys help to maintain order while serving a warrant for tax evasion.

Reached over the phone, West Norriton Commissioner Roseanne Millazzo, a Democrat, said the board was still having discussions about the issue.

In Lansdale, Democratic Council President Mary Fuller said in an email that the borough has no formal policy or ordinance regarding cooperation with ICE and currently has no plans to pass an ordinance. If an ordinance were proposed, she said, she expected the council would be in favor of protecting the rights of our diverse population.

Currently, Fuller said, the boroughs police department wont engage with ICE enforcement activities and would only work to maintain order and prevent assaults on federal officers.

Lansdale Borough by its general nature is a welcoming community and that tone is maintained by the current sitting 9 member Council and Mayor, Fuller said in an email.

If townships begin to bring ordinances before their governing boards, Montgomery County GOP chair Christian Nascimento predicted it would drive an upswell of opposition. In Delaware County, the local GOP used Democratic-led Radnors decision to pass a policy blocking cooperation with ICE as a rallying cry to motivate voters to turn out in Novembers municipal elections.

When you start to get into the municipal level, this is where youre really hitting people where they live, he said. That has the ability to start to activate people that arent as politically active.

Denisse Arguto, executive director of the advocacy group Unides Para Servir Norristown, said she still hopes for an ordinance in Montgomery County codifying the policy changes theyve made and setting an example for leaders across the county.

Many of the townships and municipalities, they follow what the county is doing, she said. That was the reason we came first to them.

Correction: An original version of this story misspelled Elyse Wechtermans name.

Correction: An original version of this story incorrectly referred to the West Norriton Board of Commissioners as a Board of Supervisors and identified the ICE raid which happened in West Norriton as within Norristown.
Senior CPC official visits prominent experts

Xinhua) 08:06, August 04, 2025

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, visits prominent experts on summer vacation in Beidaihe, a seaside resort in north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 3, 2025. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Cai Qi extended sincere greetings to the experts and all others across the country on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

BEIDAIHE, Hebei, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official on Sunday paid a visit to prominent experts on summer vacation in Beidaihe, a seaside resort in north China's Hebei Province.

Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, extended sincere greetings to the experts and all others across the country on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

It is an important institutional arrangement to annually invite exceptional experts to Beidaihe for a summer vacation. This summer, those invited are experts from sectors including high technology and philosophical studies and social sciences, as well as young talents in the field of basic research.

Cai urged the experts to carry forward the spirit of scientists and shoulder the mission of the times, to make more contributions to China's educational, scientific and talent development, as well as to the cause of the Party and the country.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Xizang's Tsogo village revitalizes via housing upgrades, tourism, specialty farming

16:55, August 04, 2025 By Liao Jiaxin ( China.org.cn

Nestled beside Basum Lake, a national 5A tourist attraction, Tsogo village stands as a designated historical and cultural treasure in Gongbo Gyamda county of Nyingchi in Xizang Autonomous Region. It has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Through a government-funded relocation program, tourism infrastructure development and innovative livestock farming, this once-impoverished community has become a shining example of China's rural revitalization strategy.

The soon-to-be-completed renovation of Tsogo village, Gongbo Gyamda county, Nyingchi, Xizang Autonomous Region, July 26, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]

New homes, new opportunities

A 92-million-yuan relocation project launched in 2018 has transformed living conditions in Tsogo village. Residents exchanged their centuries-old homes  some dating back 460 years  for modern housing in a nearby resettlement community, gaining paved roads, reliable electricity and running water for the first time.

"Our family of five used to live in just 60 square meters," said villager Lhakpa Tundrup. "Now my sister lives in the 180-square-meter relocation home, while I built a nearly 400-square-meter house nearby." He described the change as having dramatically improved his family's living conditions.

One of the newly built resettlement houses in Tsogo village, Gongbo Gyamda county, Nyingchi, Xizang Autonomous Region, July 26, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]

While the resettlement offers modern comforts, the original village is undergoing a 44-million-yuan restoration, set for completion by the year's end, according to Yu Sen, deputy director of Gongbo Gyamda County Culture and Tourism Bureau. Yu noted that while the ancient village remains closed to visitors, its preservation has boosted economic activity in the adjacent resettlement area.

The most significant economic improvement occurred in 2022 when a tourism company converted unused spaces in the village into 137 boutique hotel rooms. According to Yu, the project generated over 5 million yuan in rental income for villagers during its first three years of operation.

Lhakpa Tundrup, his wife Liang Qinglan and their children at home in Tsogo village, Gongbo Gyamda county, Nyingchi, Xizang Autonomous Region, July 26, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]

The earnings have been "extraordinary for a village," Yu explained, adding that the extra income has significantly improved residents' quality of life.

A couple's journey: From pig farm to prosperity

The success of Lhakpa Tundrup's pig farming business became another marker of Tsogo's transformation, alongside the housing improvements.

After military service in Guangdong province, he returned home with his wife Liang Qinglan, a Zhuang ethnic woman from Guangxi who had been working in Guangzhou's garment industry. The couple married after settling in the village, where Liang adapted to rural Tibetan life, and then together they built a thriving business raising Tibetan pigs.

Starting out working in the village pig cooperative, the couple handled daily tasks from feeding to disease prevention, with Liang earning an additional 10,000 yuan annually by selling pig manure as fertilizer.

Liang Qinglan sorts freshly picked mushrooms in front of her home in Tsogo village, Gongbo Gyamda county, Nyingchi, Xizang Autonomous Region, July 26, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]

Their operation now maintains 370 Tibetan pigs, supplying local hotels and offering roasted pork services. Recognized as a specialist in Tibetan pig farming in 2021, Lhakpa Tundrup began receiving quarterly government feed subsidies. In 2022, he distributed 100 piglets to neighbors to help boost local incomes through pig breeding. That year also marked his first major commercial success with the sale of 50 mature pigs.

The couple's business has evolved from traditional farming to integrated operations combining livestock production with tourism services, strategically blending heritage practices with modern opportunities.

A blueprint for rural revival

Tsogo's success lies in balancing heritage preservation with modern development. As the ancient village's restoration nears completion, its residents have already shown how traditional livelihoods can evolve  through tourism, entrepreneurship and community cooperation.

With improved housing, steady incomes and cultural pride, Tsogo stands as a testament to China's rural revitalization efforts, proving that even remote villages can thrive in the modern era.

Traditional houses with snow-capped mountains in the background, Tsogo village, Gongbo Gyamda county, Nyingchi, Xizang Autonomous Region, July 26, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Europe-Asia Automobile Innovation Forum, co-hosted by Gasgoo and A2MAC1, has been officially included as a key event on the agenda of IAA MOBILITY 2025. Scheduled for September 11 in Munich, Germany, the forum will run concurrently with the exhibition, focusing on innovation and strategic collaboration across leading automotive markets in China, Europe, and other parts of Asia.

As one of the world's foremost platforms for mobility innovation, IAA MOBILITY's endorsement highlights the growing global influence and recognition of the Europe-Asia Automobile Innovation Forum. With the event approaching, the forum is poised to offer an exclusive venue for industry leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering stronger partnerships and shared growth amid the ongoing global restructuring of the automotive sector.

This forum, themed "Winning Markets Through Ecosystem Collaboration," will explore critical topics including smart electrification, international collaboration, and supply chain restructuring. Bringing together senior executives and experts from China, Europe, and other major Asian markets, it aims to promote knowledge exchange, resource integration, and cross-regional cooperation through keynote speeches, high-level dialogues, and closed-door cocktail night.

Representatives from prominent organizations such as the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Gasgoo, A2MAC1, BOSCH, OPmobility, MANN+HUMMEL, KOSTAL (SHANGHAI) MANAGEMENT CO., LTD., Telenor IoT, ThunderSoft, Neusoft, Black Sesame Technologies, and iMotion will share insights on emerging trends and advanced technologies, contributing to the growth and innovation of the Euro-Asia automotive ecosystem.

For more information and participation details, please visit Gasgoo's official platform or the IAA MOBILITY website.
Rabies treatment can be very hard to obtain at some destinations, and in some instances, you may have to fly or travel elsewhere to secure the vaccine. This scenario is more common that youd think in less developed countries, which is yet another example of the importance of comprehensive coverage, she said. It can be tricky to obtain the full course while youre abroad without emergency assistance teams to help, so make sure youre properly insured before you go.
It is very unlikely that children engage with general insurers under the age of 13 years old and, where they do, they are likely to be represented by a parent or guardian. This can include circumstances where a child has been involved in an accident or is a witness to an accident, it said.
We continue to work constructively and collaboratively with the ADF and DVA to deliver health systems, workforce. and capability that supports their objectives today and into the future. This work has been complex, wide-ranging, but above all, extremely meaningful for all of us at Bupa, she said. Through this partnership, we have demonstrated a deep understanding of what is required to enable Defence capability, delivering a health system that supports both ADF members and operational requirements.
Levenbach will be responsible for overseeing the companys risk management and financial strategies. He has more than two decades of experience in actuarial leadership and financial oversight, including more than 15 years at Cigna across various roles in group health, disability and life. His areas of expertise include reinsurance strategy, cross-functional collaboration and talent development.
The complaint spells out several alleged missteps. It says Allianz didnt have strong enough security, didnt keep a close enough eye on its systems, and didnt have a solid plan for responding to breaches. Theres also a claim that Allianz didnt follow federal guidelines for protecting customer data. The complaint doesnt point to any specific insurance policy language, but it does say that customers gave Allianz their personal information with the understanding it would be kept private and secure.
The transaction is one of the largest completed by Brown & Brown and is reportedly valued at approximately $9.83 billion. Funding for the deal is expected to come from around $4 billion in equity and another $4 billion in newly issued debt, with the remainder drawn from existing liquidity resources.
MMAs acquisition of Olympic continues its broader M&A activity across the US. In recent months, the firm has completed several other transactions, including the acquisition of Perkins Insurance Agencies in Texas in June 2024 and Excel Insurance in South Florida in July this year.
Weve got another filing that came in Monday for another 120,000 that will be cut 3.8%, Chaney said in a report from AM Best. I will approve that one. I can guarantee you that. He attributed the downward trend in auto rates to increased market competition.
Amid growing public scrutiny and regulatory attention, the insurance industry sees both a challenge and an opening. While there will be exceptions, said Dirk Hahn, CEO of the recruiting firm Hays, the rise of AI could constrain the recovery in some junior white-collar roles. The impacts of automation are already reshaping workforces, and insurers are working to understand where the liabilities lie.
Colorado State Universitys hurricane research team, perhaps the best-known and most-often quoted forecasting service, in early July revised its prediction for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season downward slightly  to eight hurricanes, three of them major.

Thats almost in line with another, lesser-known forecast service called Global Weather Oscillations, led by former National Weather Service and U.S. Air Force meteorologist David Dilley, with offices in Ocala and Tampa, Florida. Dilleys model takes it a step further and predicts where the hurricanes will make landfall, within 100 miles or so.

Hes calling for one hurricane to hit Florida this season but he cant reveal exactly which area because his service is subscription-based, with zoned predictions that cost $400 a year.

It wouldnt be fair to customers who have purchased subscriptions to say publicly where the storms will hit, he told Insurance Journal recently.

Dilley and his GWO website claim as much as 90% accuracy, sometimes calculated years in advance. And many of his 200 or so subscribers appear to be true believers, with 80% of them return customers.

Ive been buying the GWO forecasts for several years now and its really good to know what to expect each hurricane season in advance of the other forecasting agencies, said Darius Grimes, CEO of Disaster-Smart, a Florida-based consulting and inspection firm that verifies that structures are built to wind-resistant standards.

As an example of his models accuracy, Dilley told the story of Hurricane Irma, which raked part of Florida in 2017 and left more than 1 million property insurance claims in its wake, some of which are still being litigated. Dilley said that other hurricane forecasting services had predicted Irma would hit Floridas east coast. GWOs models had it going instead to Floridas southwestern tip and up the states western flank. Dilley was proven right.

My customers were better prepared, he said.

Hurricane Losses? Florida Approves Big Rate Increase for TRUE, Despite Missed Filings

Just two insurance companies have subscribed to Dilleys service in recent years, though. One of those is Floridas state-created Citizens Property Insurance Corp. A spokesman for the carrier declined to comment, except to say Citizens does not endorse products and does not use the GWO forecasts in rate setting.

But Dilley said that Citizens benefits from the GWO modeling, and more insurers in the Southeast should get on board: Knowing where and when a major storm will hit can help carriers in purchasing adequate reinsurance and in extending coverage or contemplating policy renewals.

The problem, as he sees it, is that few people, including insurance executives, seem know about GWO, even though the firm has been in operation since 1992. Thats largely because, Dilley believes, most news media outlets have shied away from him once they discover that he is not a big believer in the impact of global warming on hurricane formation. Few news articles, in fact, can be found about GWO in recent years. A 2013 article in the Ocala StarBanner newspaper quoted one NWS meteorologist as suggesting that Dilleys predictions might be as much the result of luck as science.

Hugh Willoughby, a professor at Florida International Universitys Department of Earth and Environment, which has helped develop hurricane loss models, said he was unfamiliar with Dilleys work. Willoughby noted that many forecasts that try to predict weather events years in advance are on the frontier of psuedoscience.

But Dilley, who holds a masters degree in meteorology from Rutgers University, argues that larger forces than man-made climate change are at work.

Its a natural cycle, not global warming, he said.

He calls his modeling system ClimatePulse Technology, based on 150 years of weather data and thousands of years of geological data. The number of storms rises and falls on a 70-year cycle that is mostly influenced by electromagnetic and gravitational forces, including the interplay of the orbital cycles of the Earth, Sun and Moon, he said. Other cycles run for thousands of years and have an impact on temperatures, rainfall and more, Dilley said.

This year, other factors are having an influence: Large dust clouds from the Saharan Desert have led to drier air high in the atmosphere, which has reduced moisture and energy for hurricanes.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Florida Hurricane
Beijing (Gasgoo)- China's auto parts supplier Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corporation (Baolong) recently secured desiganted contracts from overseas new energy vehicle manufacturers for its body height sensors, seat height sensors, and air brake pressure sensors, according to a press release Baolong issued on July 29 via its WeChat account.

Photo credit: Baolong

The height sensor, a type of angular sensor, translates changes in vehicle height into angular displacement. Among them, the body height sensor detects the current height of the chassis, enabling the suspension system's control and actuator units to work in coordination, thereby enhancing ride stability and comfort. Baolong's height sensor leverages non-contact 3D Hall-sensor technology and supports PSI5 2.1, PWM protocol, or analog signals. It delivers high accuracy and fast response, while meeting ISO 26262 ASIL B safety redundancy standards and operating reliably across a wide temperature range of -40C to 125C.

The air brake pressure sensor plays a critical role in commercial vehicle pneumatic braking systems by monitoring real-time brake air pressure to help ensure precise and safe system operation. Baolong's sensor employs ceramic capacitance technology to achieve highly accurate measurements, and features high precision, broad temperature adaptability, and robust environmental protection.

Baolong has developed an extensive portfolio in the automotive sensor domain, now offering more than 40 types of sensors across categories such as pressure, optical, speed, position, acceleration, and current sensing. To support the rapid growth of this business, the company's automotive sensor industrial park in the Lingang Industrial Area in Shanghai was completed and put into operation in 2024. The facility now serves as an internationally competitive hub for the development, testing, and production of high-end automotive sensors.
Under a new state law, Louisiana insurers will be required to give mandatory disclosure of prior policy premium when issuing a renewal policy to a policyholder.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple sent an advisory letter to insurers in July notifying them of the rule. The mandatory disclosure rule is part of a controversial law that intends to give the insurance commissioner more power to reign in excessive rates.

Under House Bill 148, the prior policy premium must be prominently displayed and set forth in close proximity to the renewal premium.

Temple said he is currently in the process of promulgating a regulation addressing the rule, which was created under House Bill 148 in this years legislative session.

Because the promulgation process includes certain time delays prescribed by law, and in light of the challenges raised by the insurance industry, insurers are given a grace period to develop the necessary programming to comply with the rule.

All insurers must be in compliance with the rule by January 1, 2026.

HB 148 was among the most controversial insurance-related bills passed by lawmakers this session. Temple and insurance industry representatives opposed the bill, which amends statutory law to say that insurance rate filings standards shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, whether or not the market is competitive.

I think this would be devastating to insurance companies in evaluating wanting to do business here, Temple told IJ before the bill received a final vote in the House.

The bill would ostensibly allow the insurance commissioner to deny any rate increase deemed excessive, even if insurers believe the rate changes are actuarily justified.

HB 148 was sponsored by Jeff Wiley (R-Maurepas) and publicly supported by Governor Jeff Landry.

Proponents of the bill say it brings Louisiana in line with states like Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama in giving the commissioner the power to hold down rates.

Temple said the law has the potential to deter insurers from writing business in the state.

As a regulator, I still have to make sure that insurance companies remain solvent and charge adequate rate for solvency purposes, Temple said. Theres an argument being made that a commissioner could artificially suppress rates, and that is not good for long-term viability of a company or a marketplace.

Under the bill, insurers must disclose all discounts that the insurer offers that may reduce homeowners or motor vehicle insurance premiums for a policyholder or prospective policyholder in no less than 12-point typeface.

The bill allows rate filings and documents used to support such rates to be accessible to the public unless such information is confidential, a trade secret, or proprietary.

Such a determination will be made by the insurance commissioner.

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association warned HB148 is likely to deepen Louisianas on-going insurance affordability and availability crisis.

HB 148 will politicize the process by which insurers set rates when it should be a fact-based, actuarial science-driven process. By allowing the arbitrary suppression of rates and forcing companies to share proprietary or trade secret information, Louisiana will likely teeter towards a very unstable road similar to California, APCIA said.

Topics Carriers Legislation Louisiana
A Massachusetts assisted-living facility where a fire killed 10 people earlier this month temporarily lost its certification nearly a decade ago due to resident mistreatment, according to state regulators.

The documents obtained by The Associated Press show the staff failed to treat residents with consideration, respect, personal dignity and privacy. Other specific details of what prompted the monthlong suspension were redacted in documents the state Executive Office of Aging & Independence provided Tuesday. The facility in Fall River was barred from accepting new residents until it took corrective action.

The report adds to a list of issues raised with the Gabriel House facility over the years. A resident filed a lawsuit recently alleging the facility was not properly managed, staffed or maintained and that emergency response procedures were not put in place. The son of another resident said an elevator had been out for as long as nine months at one point.

The states deadliest blaze in more than four decades has highlighted the lack of regulations governing assisted-living facilities that often care for low-income or disabled residents. Gov. Maura Healey declined last week to weigh in on the efficacy of state and local inspections. Instead, Healey has touted that a state commission is currently working on recommendations to improve assisted-living facilities.

State records released Tuesday include about two dozen complaints about the facility during the last decade, including several related to abuse, neglect or financial exploitation but details are redacted. Other complaints involved a resident getting stuck for hours in an elevator that was then out of service for months, and staff members who threatened residents and withheld medication.

There also were complaints about a nurse withholding medication, environmental safety and a cook: The cook is obsessive, controlling and abusive.

The most detailed complaint is from 2015 and appears to have been written or dictated by a resident. It lists more than a dozen issues, including bed bugs, roaches over-medicated residents and fist fights in common areas.

It is a place where you cant feel safe due to other patients and corrupt staff, the complaint states. The staff treat the people there very cruel and show no respect for them or their needs.

Dennis Etzkorn, the owner of Gabriel House, has said he will not speak to journalists and is focused on helping families of the victims and cooperating with the investigation into the fire.

Most recently, documents show that state officials were alarmed about the ongoing elevator issues as of spring 2025. A field supervisor with Massachusettss long-term care ombudsman made a plea in February to the state to investigate Gabriel Houses faulty elevator, saying that every time he made a call about the problem he was met with excuses.

Please call this place and see if this is true  if so we need a remedy /plan asap, an unnamed official wrote to the offices assisted living certification specialist.

Etzkorn later wrote to the office detailing the timeline of the elevator problems that said work would begin in March after it was first alerted in September 2024.

Before the July 13 fire, the most recent compliance review found numerous repeat violations, many related to record keeping. After the facility submitted a corrective plan, the state renewed its certification in December 2023.

Investigators said last week that the fire started unintentionally by either someone smoking or an electrical issue with an oxygen machine. The blaze left some residents of the three-story building hanging out of windows and screaming for help.

Associated Press Writer Kimberlee Kruesi in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SHREWSBURY, Pa. (AP)  A truckload of hot dogs spilled across a Pennsylvania interstate Friday after a crash that briefly clogged the heavily traveled artery in both directions.

Crews were stuck with a job they did not relish  rolling up the scattered tube steaks for disposal.

Once those leave the truck and hit the road, thats all garbage, and its still pretty warm, Shrewsbury Fire Company Chief Brad Dauberman said.

State police said the tractor trailer had an unspecified mechanical problem on Interstate 83 a few miles north of the Maryland line as morning rush hour was wrapping up, causing it to push into a passenger vehicle. When the truck scraped along a concrete divider, its trailer was ripped open and the contents scattered.

Four people required medical attention, Dauberman said, for injuries that police said were not life-threatening.

A front-end loader was used to scoop up the hot dogs and drop them into a dump truck.

Dauberman said emergency crews couldnt help but see the humor in the situation, and his daughter texted him a photo of a hot dog-themed T-shirt.

I can tell you personally, hot dogs are very slippery, the fire chief said. I did not know that.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A small earthquake rattled the New York metropolitan area Saturday night.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the tremor had a magnitude of 3.0.

It hit in the New Jersey suburb of Hasbrouck Heights, less than 8 miles (13 kilometers) west of Central Park, at a depth of about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).

One resident of New Yorks Brooklyn borough described it as a very brief tremor, just a slight swaying for a moment.

Nevertheless, social media quickly lit up with people who felt it. The official account of the Empire State Building reported in on the social platform X to say: I AM FINE.

The tremor was much milder than a 4.8-magnitude quake in 2024 that struck in Tewksbury, New Jersey, a little farther west of the city.

A 3.0 earthquake is typically not strong enough to cause any damage, but tremors that mild are somewhat rare in the Northeast.

New York City Emergency Management said there were no immediate reports of major impacts.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters New York New Jersey
Chemours, DuPont and Corteva have agreed to pay $875 million over 25 years to the State of New Jersey to settle environmental claims including pollution linked to PFAS, or forever chemicals, the companies said on Monday.

Lawsuits accusing major chemical companies of polluting U.S. drinking water with toxic PFAS chemicals led to over $11 billion in settlements in 2023, with experts predicting that new federal regulations and a growing awareness of the breadth of the contamination will spur more litigation and settlements.

PFAS are a class of chemicals that are used in a wide range of products including non-stick cookware and firefighting foams. They are commonly called forever chemicals as these substances do not break down easily in the human body or nature, and are associated with certain cancers, hormonal dysfunction and other diseases.

The payments announced on Monday, whose present value is about $500 million before taxes, will start no earlier than January 1, 2026.

Chemours will make half of the settlement payments, while DuPont will pay 35.5% and Corteva the rest, the companies said in a statement.

In 2023, the three firms reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. state of Ohio for $110 million to resolve claims associated with PFAS.

That same year, 3M agreed to pay $10.3 billion to settle hundreds of claims that the company polluted public drinking water with the chemicals, while Chemours, DuPont and Corteva reached a similar deal with U.S. water providers for $1.19 billion.

Of the total settlement announced on Monday, $16.5 million is attributed to alleged PFAS contamination unrelated to the companies operating sites.

(Reporting by Tanay Dhumal and Sumit Saha in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)

Topics Claims New Jersey
The European Court of Justice on Friday dealt a blow to environmental groups trying to stop wind farms from being built in Spains northwestern Galicia region, in a ruling affecting billions of euros of investment.

Companies developing wind farms in Galicia and regional authorities welcomed the decision, which is a setback to opponents strategy of using the courts to block plans they say encroach on the environment and the lives of local people.

The court rejected the environmentalists argument that the publics rights to consultation had been violated.

The decision affects dozens of planned wind projects that were approved by the regional government and then halted by the highest regional court after locals and environmental groups filed hundreds of lawsuits.

Carmen Bouso from the regional governments environment department said the courts decision clearly and emphatically supports the procedures used to approve wind energy projects and the governments full respect of the publics rights to participate in the process.

She urged regional judges to resume their consideration of lawsuits that they had put on hold pending the ruling of the European court.

The AEE, a Spanish wind industry group, welcomed the ruling as a key step toward restoring legal certainty in the region.

Now its time to act quickly and responsibly so that the projects that have been stalled until now can resume operations as soon as possible, AEE General Director Juan Virgilio Marquez said.

Galician activist group Adega, a leading opponent of wind projects in the region, said the ruling was disappointing and went against the right to real and effective public participation.

The group vowed to keep on fighting and said it believed other legal issues beyond the scope of Fridays ruling meant many wind projects would still not be able to proceed.

There are 92 wind farms targeted by legal actions in Galicia, 86 of which have been halted before construction started, according to data provided by regional authorities. They involve an estimated investment of 3 billion euros ($3.42 billion) and have a total planned capacity of almost 2.5 gigawatts (GW).

($1 = 0.8762 euros)

(Reporting by Pietro Lombardi and Inti Landauro; editing by David Latona, Andrei Khalip and Helen Popper)
Beijing is getting drenched by another round of heavy rain, one week after torrential downpours across parts of the Chinese capital unleashed flooding that claimed at least 44 lives.

The citys meteorological service elevated its rainstorm warning signal to red at 1 p.m. local time on Monday, the highest alert in a tri-colored system, up from orange earlier in the day. Some places could get more than 200 millimeters (7.9 inches) over six hours, raising the risk of landslides, the forecaster said.

The heaviest precipitation is expected to start at 6 p.m. and extend through dawn on Tuesday morning, according to the China Meteorological Administration. A collision of low pressure up in the atmosphere with another region of high pressure is triggering the heavy rain, the national weather agency said.

Related: China Warns of More Floods as Extreme Storms Hit Worlds No. 2 Economy

The deluge threatens another round of flash flooding, particularly in the hard-hit mountainous suburban areas due to saturated ground. Across the Beijing area, the soil is over-saturated up to a depth of 50 millimeters following rain last week, according to government data.

Authorities urged residents not to venture outside unless necessary, and schools suspended in-person classes, according to a city government statement.

Other areas of Chinas north, including Hebei and Tianjin, are predicted to see heavy rainfall through Tuesday afternoon. The southern Chinese coast, affected by the southwest monsoon, is also getting a drenching.

Photograph: Damaged vehicles after flooding in Miyun district, northern Beijing on July 29, 2025. Photo credit: Adek Berry/Getty Images

Related:

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Flood
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) and Aspen Insurance Holdings.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

BHSI Launches Program Business in Canada Led by Tran

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has entered the programs market in Canada, naming David Tran as head of Programs, Canada.

Tran brings more than two decades of experience in underwriting and strategic relationship management to his new role. He was most recently vice president, National Strategic Relationships at another insurer.

In Trans new capacity as head of Programs for BHSI Canada, he will be responsible for launching and leading program strategies which includes a new national platform that delivers insurance solutions through strategic partnerships with program administrators, MGAs and broker partners. He is based in Toronto and can be reached at david.tran@bhspecialty.com.

BHSI continues to grow steadily across Canada, expanding our team, our geographic reach, and our product lines, said Andrew Knight, country manager, Canada, BHSI. Our move into the programs space is a natural evolution of our strategy to go wide and go deepbroadening our specialty underwriting capabilities and bringing the security of our strong balance sheet to new segments and distribution partners. Im thrilled to welcome David, whose extensive expertise will be instrumental in driving this strategic initiative.

***

Aspen Promotes Cushway as Head of Intl and UK Casualty Insurance, in New Role

Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd., the Bermuda-based re/insurer, announced that Ryan Cushway has been appointed to the newly created role of head of International and U.K. Casualty Insurance, effective August 1, 2025.

Cushway joined Aspen in 2017, where he has held several senior underwriting roles, demonstrating Aspens focus on developing talent and positioning the companys teams for future success. Since January 2023, Cushway has been leading the U.K. casualty portfolio.

This new role consolidates leadership across Aspens U.K. entities and streamlines the companys approach to casualty insurance, reaffirming the foundation for continued growth and innovation. As part of this transition, Leanne Bellows will assume the role of head of Excess Casualty  London & Lloyds Markets, reporting to Cushway. In addition, Richard Spinks and the International Environmental team will now report into Cushway under this restructured leadership model, alongside the U.K. casualty team.

This new structure marks an exciting step in aligning our leadership with the evolving needs of our business and clients. Im thrilled to welcome Ryan and Leanne into their new roles and look forward to the impact theyll continue to make, commented Dan Osman, active underwriter, Syndicate 4711 and CUO AIUK.

Topics New Markets Canada Casualty
Specialist Risk Group Acquires Ecclesias Dutch and Belgian Operations

Specialist Risk Group (SRG), the London-based global insurance intermediary, announced it has completed the acquisition of German broker Ecclesias businesses in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Originally announced in January 2025, this transaction marks SRGs formal entry into mainland Europe and represents a significant milestone in its international expansion. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

SRG said the acquired businesses, BS&F, Concordia, Ecclesia BV, Finance & Insurance, IC Verzekeringen NV  CI Assurances SA, Sibbing, and XOLV are established leaders in their respective markets, and will form a strong foundation for SRGs European growth.

The Dutch and Belgian teams bring with them exceptional technical expertise, strong client relationships, and a cultural alignment that supports SRGs vision to be the natural home for specialist insurance talent across Europe, the company said.

In addition to the acquisition, Ecclesia has now formally joined SRGs investor group, alongside existing shareholders Warburg Pincus, Temasek, and SRGs management team. This strategic alignment reflects a shared ambition to build a leading, international specialist insurance intermediary.

We are delighted to complete this important transaction and officially welcome our new colleagues in the Netherlands and Belgium to SRG, commented Warren Downey, group CEO at Specialist Risk Group, in a statement.

Their depth of expertise, local market knowledge and service-led approach will be instrumental as we continue to expand our European footprint. Were excited about the future and the opportunity to grow together as one team, Downey said.

We are proud to see this transaction complete, with our Dutch and Belgian teams formally becoming part of SRG. As Ecclesia now holds an investor position in SRG, we are pleased to retain our interest in these businesses and their future success, according to Jochen Korner, CEO of Ecclesia and non-executive director at SRG.

***

Optio Group Purchases UK-Based MGA Custodian Management Ltd.

Optio Group, a London-based independent specialty MGA platform, announced the completion of its acquisition of UK-based MGA Custodian Management Ltd., first announced in May, after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

The transaction further enhances Optios existing PI proposition and is a significant step in its ambition to create a diversified platform.

Founded in 2013 by managing director Zahid Naqvi, Custodian Management Ltd. has grown to become a respected and successful professional indemnity (PI) and management liability specialist.

The acquisition follows previous purchases of Netherlands and-Brussels based MGA Den Hartigh, Luxembourg-based Circles Group and Norwegian-based S Insurance, and a strategic investment in Italian MGA, Heca S.r.l.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Insurance Wholesale
Tesla Inc. was told to pay $243 million in a lawsuit over a 2019 Autopilot crash in Florida that killed a young woman and seriously injured her boyfriend, the first significant court loss for the automaker in litigation related to its driver-assistance technology.

A jury in Miami federal court found Friday that Tesla was 33% to blame for the collision. A Tesla Model S ran a stop sign at a T intersection in the Florida Keys and rammed into the couples parked Chevrolet Tahoe while they were standing next to it.

Jurors issued their verdict after less than a day of deliberations following a three-week trial. The jury determined that the Tesla S driver was primarily responsible for the crash and that Tesla should pay $42.5 million to compensate the victims for their losses. The panel also ordered Tesla to pay $200 million in punitive damages, but the company said it expects that figure to be reduced by the court.

Tesla had argued the driver was entirely at fault because he was distracted when he dropped his mobile phone on the floorboard.

Todays verdict is wrong and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Teslas and the entire industrys efforts to develop and implement life-saving technology, Tesla said in a statement. We plan to appeal given the substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial.

The Miami suit is one of a handful of crash cases that have gone to trial and the verdict tarnishes Teslas near-perfect record in court. The electric-vehicle maker prevailed in two previous trials in California over Autopilot-related crashes and has struck confidential accords to resolve several cases that blamed defective technology for deadly accidents.

The verdict comes as Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk faces enormous investor pressure after the companys stock has been battered, first by his close affiliation with President Donald Trump, and then by his dramatic falling out with the president.

Musk has staked Teslas future in part on autonomous driving as the company is launching a robotaxi business. But when Tesla recently announced disappointing second-quarter earnings, Musk warned that the company is in for a few rough quarters as incentives like the EV tax credit go away in the US.

At trial, the jury heard testimony from the driver of the Model S, family members of the woman who died, company engineers and various outside experts who discussed whether Autopilot played a role in the collision.

George McGee, the driver of the Model S, had engaged his vehicles driver-assistance system while traveling home from work. In the moments before the collision, data obtained from the vehicle showed that he had pressed the accelerator to 17 miles (27.4 kilometers) per hour over the posted speed limit, leading him to override the vehicles adaptive cruise control before he went off the road.

McGee testified that he had been on hold on with American Airlines trying to modify an upcoming flight. He said his phone fell and he was looking for it just before the crash. As his car left the road, McGee said he felt the texture of the road change under his tires and he remembered jamming on the brakes.

During questioning, he told jurors that he knew he was completely responsible for operating the car, but that he expected Autopilot to assist him in the event he made a mistake.

In that case, I do feel like it failed me, he said, according to a transcript of his testimony.

The family of Naibel Benavides Leon, the woman who was killed, reached a confidential settlement with McGee in 2021 in a separate lawsuit.

Lawyers for the estate of Benavides Leon and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, argued Teslas Autopilot encourages complacency and that the company and Musk have overstated the systems capabilities, leading drivers to be overconfident in its abilities.

They also alleged that Tesla failed to add safeguards to ensure the software was only available on roadways where it was designed to be used and features to monitor the attentiveness of drivers.

Todays verdict represents justice for Naibels tragic death and Dillons lifelong injuries, holding Tesla and Musk accountable for propping up the companys trillion-dollar valuation with self-driving hype at the expense of human lives, Brett Schreiber, lead attorney for the crash victims, said in a statement.

Tesla, as it has in other cases, blamed driver error for the collision. Lawyers for the company argued repeatedly that McGee was an aggressive driver with a history of speeding, and that he took his eyes off the road and his hands off the wheel despite warnings in the owners manual that drivers must stay engaged.

The company has maintained there were no defects in its software and that Autopilot operated exactly as designed. Throughout the trial, Tesla defense attorney Joel Smith said no driver-assistance technology on the market in 2019 would have been able to prevent the crash.

The automotive industry categorizes automation systems in vehicles from Level 0 to 5, based on what features are available. Level 0 features simply pass on information to the driver, like sounding a warning when youre driving out of a traffic lane. Teslas Autopilot is classified as Level 2 because it requires constant driver input and supervision.

The case is Benavides v. Tesla, 1:21-cv-21940, US District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami).

Photo: A logo for Tesla is seen on the wheel of a Model S. Photographer: Angel Navarrete/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Tesla
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chery Group sold 224,439 vehicles in July, up 14.7% year-on-year, with Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. contributing 210,066 units, a 13% increase over a year earlier, according to the group's announcement.

In the month, Chery Group's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales climbed 44.1% from a year ago to 65,357 units, while exports rose 31.9% to 119,090 units, keeping the company at the forefront of China's auto export rankings.

For the first seven months of 2025, Chery Group sold 1,484,563 vehicles, setting a new record and representing a 14.5% year-on-year increase. NEV sales for the period surged 87.7% year on year to 424,737 units, while exports reached 669,360 units.

As of July 2025, the group's global user base exceeded 17.18 million, including over 5.17 million overseas customers.

By brand, CHERY brand sold 143,965 units in July (881,135 units YTD), EXEED sold 6,822 (69,490 units YTD), JETOUR moved 49,445 (348,813 units YTD), and iCAR sold 6,566 (51,076 units YTD).

JETOUR and iCAR posted the fastest growth in the group, up 31.8% and 51.1% year-on-year, respectively, in the Jan.-Jul. period.

Fulwin A9L; photo credit: Chery Group

Following the launch of 17 NEV models in the first half of the year, Chery Group added two key products in July. The Fulwin A9L hit the global market, securing over 50,000 units of orders within 24 hours, while the retro-styled iCAR V23 drew attention for its appeal to younger buyers seeking personalized vehicles.
Liberty GTS Appoints Remsen Head of East in the Americas Region

Liberty Global Transaction Solutions (GTS), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance, promoted Jason Remsen to head of East, Americas. He will be based in New York City.

Remsen has experience as a corporate attorney representing private equity and corporate clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Liberty GTS, he was a corporate associate at Pepper Hamilton LLP and previously practiced at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

Remsen will report to Hilary Weiss, Head of Americas at Liberty GTS.

Black Named National Property Practice Leader at Amwins

Amwins, a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, appointed Bob Black as national property practice leader within its brokerage division. Black co-leads the national practice alongside current leaders Harry Tucker and Jessica Zuiker.

Black is involved in various projects and initiatives, including those centered around carrier and MGA relationships, engaging with retailer property leadership, product development, data & analytics, and much more. Blacks experience includes more than 20 years with Amwins as a member of the Georgia leadership team, a property broker leading a large team of insurance professionals and serving as national real estate practice leader (property) for 14 years.

As part of the transition, Adam Terry assumes the role of national real estate practice leader (property), and Black will transition his book of business to other Amwins property brokers.

Amwins Hires Tasse to Lead Distribution and Growth for Underwriting Division

Amwins, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, hired Ben Tasse as head of distribution and growth for Amwins underwriting division. In this newly created role, Tasse focuses on driving strategic initiatives across sales, distribution and retail relationships to fuel long-term, sustainable organic growth.

Tasse brings nearly two decades of experience in underwriting, wholesale distribution and strategic development. He joins Amwins from Sompo North America, where he most recently served as SVP of Wholesale Business Development. He has also served in leadership and underwriting roles at Axis Insurance, specializing in private equity risks, portfolio management and complex liability solutions.

Topics Underwriting Leadership Property
A federal judge in Texas largely denied a request by the worlds largest asset managers to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Republican state attorneys general claiming they colluded to reduce coal output, in a case that threatens how the U.S. firms oversee trillions of dollars.

U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle in Texas said most of the claims brought by the states can proceed, including allegations that BlackRock Inc., BlackRock Group Inc. and the asset management arm of State Street Corp. collectively used their stock to attempt to substantially lessen competition. Kernodle dismissed part of the lawsuit that was based on alleged violations of state law.

In his Friday ruling, Kernodle said the states have identified enough circumstantial evidence to suggest that defendants agreed to collectively pressure coal companies to reduce the output of coal in the relevant markets and disclose future output information.

Representatives for the firms didnt immediately return requests for comment on the ruling.

In their lawsuit, Texas and other Republican-led states claimed the asset managers colluded to pressure coal producers to reduce their production under the guise of pursuing environmental goals. The states cite the firms participation in carbon-reduction alliances as evidence of a syndicate.

BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard hold major stakes in coal producers and profited when energy prices soared, according to the suit.

More recently, the firms have pulled back from ESG in the U.S. and participation in groups such as Climate Action 100+ and Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative. Texas even removed BlackRock from its blacklist of companies that boycott fossil fuels.

But the lawsuit, filed in November, said that formal withdrawal from Climate 100+ does not change the reality that defendants holdings threaten to substantially reduce competition in violation of U.S. antitrust law.

Lawyers for the three firms argued at a hearing in June that the firms did nothing to influence coal companies.

The antitrust claims in this case are unprecedented, theyre unsound and theyre unsupported, said Gregg Costa, a lawyer representing BlackRock. The claims just dont add up.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Texas Legislation
The Texas Senate on Friday approved its second attempt to ban hemp-derived THC, setting up a showdown with the House, where hemp industry members say theyll be getting more support.

Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock passed the upper chamber 21-8 on Friday and now goes to the House. The bill would create a blanket ban on products containing any detectable amount of any cannabinoid other than cannabidiol and cannabigerol, better known as CBD and CBG, non-intoxicating components of cannabis. This bill would eliminate the majority of hemp products, including those that are legal under the federal definition.

Perry, on Friday, repeatedly emphasized that the intent of hemp legalization in 2019 was never for THC to be widely available to the public. He said that most of the products being sold in Texas as hemp should be considered federally illegal.

This isnt the pot of the 50s. At least we could predict what that was. We dont know what this is. One joint, one edible, can change your life, he said.

The Republican lawmaker on Wednesday, ahead of a preliminary vote on SB 5, also pushed against Gov. Greg Abbotts suggestion to regulate hemp like alcohol, saying law enforcement doesnt have the manpower to regulate the alcohol industry, let alone the THC market. He also doesnt believe the hemp market actually wants to be regulated.

There business model is not based on low level, its based on getting you out of your issue for as long as they can and for as much as they can, Perry said from the floor Wednesday.

What happens to all the hemp products when it becomes illegal? Perry said it wasnt his concern.

Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, on Friday said there should be a compromise because nobody has testified that protecting children shouldnt be a priority. He said he is concerned an outright ban is a step too far.

The only therapy where we get between a patient and a doctor is this. That doesnt make sense to me, he said. The narcotics they hand out to our vets and our hospice patients, those should be illegal. I think this bill is going to push people back to opioids. I worry about that.

On Wednesday, Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, filed two bills that offer regulation over a ban. Senate Bill 53 would create safety standards for hemp-derived products, including raising the age to 21, capping consumable products at 5 mg per serving, mandatory child-safe packaging, and redirecting tax revenue from THC to support public health and law enforcement. His Senate Bill 54 would decriminalize personal marijuana use in small amounts.

This clash of options is expected to play out over the next couple of weeks as a section of lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Perry, are determined to ban the product outright, while others are looking for a way for THC products to stay but be regulated.

Abbott has asked lawmakers to prioritize hemp regulatory issues during the 30-day special session, which began last week. SB 5 is essentially a revival of Senate Bill 3 from this years regular legislative session, which lawmakers passed but Abbott vetoed.

Abbott, in his veto, urged lawmakers to regulate hemp sales similarly to liquor sales, by prohibiting sales near places frequented by children, and banning sales to anyone under the age of 21, with strict penalties for any retailer that fails to comply. The hemp industry has primarily been amenable to these restrictions.

Abbotts office recently clarified that he supports a ban for those under 21, with a full ban on extraordinarily dangerous synthetic products.

The veto came after immense pushback from hemp supporters, including veterans and chronically ill people, who said hemp has been a cheaper and more accessible alternative to the medical marijuana program. Patrick, who was a large supporter of a THC ban, lambasted the veto as an attempt to legalize adult-use cannabis.

How the THC debate will play out in the House is currently unknown, but several bills have been filed, showing factions in the chamber.

On Monday, Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, filed on House Bill 5, a companion bill to Senate Bill 5, which bans THC products, while House Bill 195 by Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, D-Dallas, would make cannabis legal for adults.

HB 195 would allow adults to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, with no more than 15 grams of that being in concentrated form. It would put the states commercial cannabis market under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations. At home, adults could keep up to 10 ounces of THC products, with any amount over 2.5 ounces needing to be stored in a locked container or other restricted area.

Other lawmakers have submitted their version of THC bills that differ from either a ban or outright legalization.

House Bill 160 from Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson, D-Houston, would require several warning labels to be carried on hemp products that contain THC. The labels would include warnings about cannabis poisoning, stunted brain development and the risk of mental health disorders.

Senate Bill 39, by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, would prohibit hemp products from being packaged or marketed to children and makes any violation of this a misdemeanor. House Bill 42, by Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, would provide protections for people who buy what they thought was legal hemp products that might contain an illegal amount of THC.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-hemp-thc-senate-bill-5/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

Photo: State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, sponsor of Senate 5 which would ban THC-containing products, speaks on the Senate floor on July 30, 2025. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

Topics Texas Politics
A Spanish developer is planning an $880 million workforce housing project in Miami that would include more than 4,000 apartments, childcare, and even a test kitchen  an ambitious bid to offer below-market housing in a city known for ultra-luxury property deals.

The development, called HueHub, is the largest yet proposed under Floridas Live Local Act, a 2023 law that lets developers bypass local zoning rules if they reserve a share of units for affordable housing.

While the policy has sparked a flood of interest, few projects have broken ground and none have been completed, raising questions about how many will actually get built.

Pablo Castro, who moved to Miami from Spain a few years ago, and previously co-founded Barcelona-based BeCorp, said his goal is to serve residents who earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing but are priced out of many market-rate rentals. Hes planning 4,032 fully furnished one- and two-bedroom units priced at $1,600 and $1,900 a month, with amenities like coworking spaces, tutoring, pools and gyms included in the seven-tower complex.

That rate is on par with rents in West Little River, where HueHub will be developed. The average rent there is $1,500 for one-bedroom apartments and $2,000 for two-bedrooms, according to Zillow data.

Read More: Million-Dollar Tax Bills Pile Up After Palm Beach Wealth Boom

Much of the Miami-Dade regions recent development has been concentrated in the pricier eastern corridor, closer to downtown and the beach. By contrast, West Little River is a more suburban, working-class neighborhood west of the I-95  a dividing line long seen as a boundary between Miamis high-end and more affordable real estate markets.

Our focus is on the middle class, where we see the need is huge and people are living in very bad conditions, Castro said in an interview. Of course, the returns have to work. Well do it by having scale.

The development, Castros first in Miami, will spread over a 12-acre site that he purchased in 2023 for $29.3 million in cash. The site is currently a complex of low-rise apartment and single family homes that will be demolished by the end of the year, with groundbreaking in the first quarter of 2026.

Castro said that he and his partner, local developer Laura Tauber, are in talks with a handful of New York-based lenders for financing of up to $600 million.

HueHub comes two years after the Live Local Act became law. The policy allows developers to build as high as the tallest building within a mile, as long as 40% of the units are priced at workforce rates, or 120% of the area median income. Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers promised drastic improvements to housing stock and affordability, but the policy has suffered setbacks.

With 130 proposed developments to build 40,000 units under Live Local, only a handful of projects have started construction and none have finished, according to the Florida Housing Coalition.

Some projects have been met with local backlash and gotten tied up in courts. Other developers say that the projects dont pencil out.

I dont hear anything about how it solves affordable housing, Dan Kodsi, the CEO of RPC Holdings, said at a conference earlier this year in reference to Live Local. It doesnt reduce the cost of capital, insurance, and just go down the list.

Castro says hell profit in the difficult market of workforce housing by scaling up, decreasing his price per square foot costs. He said the bulk of their construction materials will come from within the US.

HueHub is in talks with unions and local governments to provide workforce housing to employees, aiming to commit 3,000 units to first responders, teachers and healthcare workers at a fixed rent for 10 years.

Castros plan also includes a coworking space, art galleries and a test kitchen with cooking classes  largely free for tenants. Theyll also offer discounted, hourly rates for services like dog walking and house cleaning.

Castro is largely unknown in the US. He moved to Miami around the same time he sold his firm BeCorp for 600 million euros ($680 million) to German real estate investment firm Patrizia. BeCorp was known for similar large scale rental projects heavy on amenities, mostly in Barcelona.

Along with purchasing the HueHub land, hes invested in individual rental units in the city. Since initially filing plans with Miami-Dade County, HueHub has grown by nearly 1,000 units.

The demand and needs are there, he said, noting that he hopes to expand the model in South Florida and Texas in the future. We have to take our chance to meet it.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Mississippians have until Tuesday to intervene in a proposal for a natural gas pipeline that would span nearly the full width of the state.

The pipeline, called the Mississippi Crossing Project, would start in Greenville, cross through Humphreys, Holmes, Attala, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Lauderdale and Clarke counties and end near Butler, Alabama, stretching nearly 208 miles.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, sent an application for the project to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on June 30. The company hopes the pipeline, which would transfer up to 2.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, will address a rising energy demand by increasing its transportation capacity.

Kinder Morgan says on its website that, should it receive approval, construction would begin at the end of 2027 and the pipeline would begin service in November 2028. The company says the project would cost $1.7 billion and create 750 temporary jobs as well as 15 permanent positions.

The project would also include new compressor stations in Humphreys, Attala and Lauderdale counties, although exact locations havent been set.

Singleton Schreiber, a national law firm that focuses on environmental justice, is looking to spread awareness of the publics ability to participate in the approval process, whether or not they support the proposal.

Were just trying to raise awareness to make sure that people know this is happening, said Laura Singleton, an attorney with the firm. Theyre going to have to dig and construct new pipelines, so its going to pass through sensitive ecosystems like wetlands, private property, farmland, things like that. So you can have issues that come up like soil degradation, water contamination, and then after the pipeline is built you could potentially have leaks, spills.

Singleton added while such issues with pipelines are rare, when things go bad, they go pretty bad.

To comment, protest, or file a motion to intervene, the public can go to FERCs website (new users have to create an account, and then use the docket number CP25-514-000). The exact deadline is 4 p.m. on Aug. 5. More instructions can also be found here.

In addition to FERC, the proposal will also face review from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and the state environmental agencies in Mississippi and Alabama.

Mississippians have seen multiple incidents related to gas leaks in recent years. In March, three workers were injured after accidentally rupturing an Atmos Energy pipeline doing routine maintenance in Lee County, leaving thousands without service. Then last year, the National Transportation Safety Board found that Atmos discovered gas leaks over a month prior to two explosions in Jackson, one of which claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman.

___

This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. Alex Rozier authored the article for Mississippi Today. An earlier version of this article included an incorrect amount of natural gas in the pipeline.

Photo: Adobe Stock image

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
More than 22,100 suspects were arrested, nearly 17,100 cases were referred for prosecution and roughly $150 million in stolen property was recovered in two years though state-funded work with law enforcement agencies, according to the California governor.

Related: A Rapidly Evolving Challenge: Cargo Theft in The U.S. Logistics Sector

The arrests, cases and recoveries from October 2023 and March 2025 were aided by funding that provided 38 law enforcement agencies with more $242 million for purchasing new equipment, launching enhanced enforcement operations, hiring new staff, and establishing partnerships with the retail community, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced.

Enforcement highlights include:

Ventura County Sheriffs Department stopped a cargo theft crew that had stolen $500,000 worth of trucks, trailers and high-value cargo. This led to the recovery of $1.5 million in stolen goods, narcotics, firearms and cash.

The Roseville Police Department developed partnerships within the retail community through communication and officer presence that had an impact in reducing retail theft, including at the Westfield Galleria. In conjunction with the Santa Clara Police Department and Placer County District Attorneys Office, the department recently recovered $50,000 worth of personal care items.

The Hemet Police Department carried out several targeted operations, with one undercover operation leading to the arrest of five people on multiple theft-related charges, with stolen merchandise recovered and returned to stores.

The Modesto Police Department along with local businesses and law enforcement partners conducted an organized retail theft operation that resulted in 28 arrests.

Data from by the California Department of Justice shows that in 2024, most major crime categories declined, including violent crime, property crime, homicides, aggravated assaults, motor vehicle theft, burglary and robbery.

Topics California Fraud
Marsh McLennan Agency acquired Olympic Insurance Agency in a Simi Valley, California.

All Olympic employees, including principals Don and Bob Barberie, will remain working out of their existing Simi Valley office.

Olympic primarily provides business insurance, employee benefits and personal asset protection services to clients in Southern California. The firm specializes in working with real estate investors, property managers and manufacturing businesses.

Marsh McLennan Agency, a business of Marsh, is a provider of business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement and wealth and private client insurance services across the U.S. and Canada. Marsh, a business of Marsh McLennan, an insurance broker and risk advisor with four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions California
A wildfire in California has prompted evacuation orders and threatened hundreds of structures.

The wildfire has grown to 65,062 acres, and was only 3% contained.

Firefighters have been battling the Gifford fire in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties since Friday. Evacuation warnings were issued for areas in both counties.

Highway 166 remains closed between Highway 101 and New Cuyama.

Fire is burning actively on both sides of the highway with more active spread on the south side, an report from CalFire states.

Dry fuels are making fire conditions more dangerous, according to officials.

Fire activity is present in grass oak woodland and California Chaparral, grass fuels are plentiful and susceptible to spotting. Brush is represented as a high-volume, dry-climate shrub, an incident report states.

The fire exhibited significant progression when aligned with topographical features, particularly within grass-dominated areas, the report states.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters California Wildfire
Melissa Hamilton is one of Irelands most globally celebrated ballerinas.

A principal with the Royal Ballet in London, shes getting ready to bring a very special show to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre this September.

A dancer who has performed all over the world, shes also co-founded Hamilton Christou Productions alongside her husband, Michael.

From Tokyo to Santorini, the Belfast native and self-confessed dreamer shares the travel moments and memories shell never forget.

Favourite childhood holiday memory

We usually had one summer holiday a year when we were kids growing up. One of my most poignant memories is from our visit to Orlando, specifically Walt Disney World in Florida. I was an absolute Disney fanatic.

I still love the fantastical and magical essence that Disney brings; that idea of following dreams and dreams being possible.

Its at the core of what Disney is. That was definitely one of my favourite memories as a kid.

Singapore.

Most memorable trip

One of the most memorable, meaningful and big journeys was to Singapore.

It was the first production of Hamilton Christou Productions at the Esplanade Theatre in March 2024.

To travel there with Michael and our company, to present our first show in such an amazing venue, that stands out for so many reasons.

I had visited Singapore once before and really fell in love with the culture and the people.

But this time, with everything it meant and represented for our work, it was something else.

Hawaii.

Most surprising destination

I always say the sunsets in Hawaii were the most incredible and magical things Ive ever witnessed.

It was like watching a performance in the sky. The transformation of colour; it was like paintings being created in real time.

Id never seen anything like it. The sheer beauty of nature can truly surprise and take your breath away.

Favourite city in the world

Hands down, Tokyo. Without question. I love how different it is. I feel like an absolute alien whenever I go to Tokyo, but in a good way.

The food, the culture, the people  the love and respect they have for ballet is incredible. I always have a great time there.

I first visited in 2008 with the Royal Ballet Company and have been lucky to return several times during my career.

Theres a big ballet following there. I spent my 30th birthday in Tokyo performing in the World Ballet Festival. That was quite the birthday!

Most memorable food experience

Theres a restaurant in London called Hakkasan (above) , which is modern Cantonese. Weve had so many special moments marked there.

Its where Michael and I celebrated my promotion to principal with the Royal Ballet Company. Weve always been in awe of what they do.

The standard of food is incredibly high and consistent. Its one of those places that just never disappoints. Its become our go-to for any milestone or celebration.

Melissa Hamilton and husband at the Grace in Santorini

Favourite hotel

The Grace Hotel in Santorini. The views over the sea and the caldera, the contrast with the whitewashed walls of the hotel and the island  it was absolutely breath-taking.

It was peaceful, but humbling at the same time. Michael and I just lay there, looking out over the water. From that view, the calmness was unforgettable.

Favourite thing to do while travelling

I always say I love travel because it allows me to recalibrate. It gives me a moment to switch off and reconnect to myself.

I actually get upset now that theres wifi on planes! I used to love being forced to shut down and disconnect from the fast-paced rhythm of my life.

Travel gives me that pause. I also love the energy you get from being somewhere new. Its like a system reset. A reboot. Thats what it gives me.

Dubai.

My bucket list trip

Ive had opportunities to perform in Dubai before because theres a growing ballet audience in Dubai, but Ive not made it yet.

My husband is very passionate about interior design and architecture; hes a co-founder and director of 1.61 London, so his interest in the citys design has definitely piqued my interest in it as well.

And just the sheer scale and level of luxury Id love to witness that. It feels like it would be a completely different experience from anywhere else.
Assisting with the surgery of a man who had suffered an unfortunate chainsaw attack is just the sort of medical drama aspiring doctor Rhys Scully thrives on.

Luckily, the story had a happy ending, he tells the Irish Examiner.

The 23-year-old has spent the last three weeks in London shadowing some of Britain's leading trauma surgeons.

Its been a life-changing experience for the UCD student who says it would not have been possible without the support of his community who fundraised to make the dream a reality.

Ever since childhood, Rhys says he has loved nothing more than watching Channel 4 show 24 Hours in A&E. So taken was he with the reality show, he was determined to experience Britains busiest emergency medicine departments for himself.

However, it almost didnt happen for Rhys after a shortfall of personal funds threatened to scupper his chances of accepting the offer of a placement in hospitals under the umbrella of the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

But when his mother Lynsey told her friends about Rhys's predicament, they came to the rescue.

Lynsey started a GoFundMe campaign, raising a total of 6,555 for Rhys's flights, accommodation, and living costs during his placement.

The medical student said he was extremely touched by the generosity of those who donated after he applied for the initiative through King's College Hospital in London.

Some of these people have never even met me, Rhys said.

I am so grateful to them for giving me this opportunity. I really hope that none of them have to avail of my services in the future, but at least if they do it can be my way of giving back.

Survival is priority

Rhys, who grew up in Carlow, said he has learned so much from the cases he has assisted with.

"I saw a very unfortunate chainsaw attack which required a lot of work. It reaches a point where aesthetics isn't the goal anymore. The priority is survival and, after that, function. Some people come out fine, but other injuries are life-changing.

"The team that Im under specialises in plastic surgery, so they deal with putting people back together again.

"Ive seen some incredible surgeries including nerve repairs. These are people who, if they were anywhere else, would have to undergo amputations. You get lots of people who get into brawls and break bones as a result. The doctors dont ask questions.

When people throw punches, they tend to fracture their hand in a specific way so doctors know what to look for. People punching walls out of anger is far more common than you think.

Youd assume this is something that only happens in movies, but there are at least two surgeries in the hospital each day dealing specifically with this kind of injury

"There have been people who have punched doors, windows, and walls, among other things. You see things that you never thought were possible.

"To put it bluntly: People in London seem to be finding really creative ways to hurt themselves and each other. This is unfortunate, obviously, but it's also really important to see from a learning point of view.

"Unfortunately, this is how medicine works because you cant know how to treat somebody if you havent see the injury before."

Rhys says that, after his placement, he is going to have a "wealth of knowledge about different injuries and creative ways of treating them when Im back in Ireland".

He also praised the team he is working under for their support and generosity.

The same consultant who can be harsh and will lay down the law in the theatre, only to buy you lunch afterwards because this is the type of person they are. They have the patients' interests at heart in the theatre, and yours when its all finished.

"One of the best parts for me was being asked to select the music to play in the theatre for one of the procedures. That was such a big deal for me and a real honour.

Rhys Scully praised the team he is working under for their support and generosity, which includes, from left: Maleeha Mughal, Dr Ted Welman, and Dr Markos Antonopoulus.

He also enjoys the atmosphere of camaraderie.

In the space of 10 minutes, you can go from being head to toe in a gown covered in blood and other stuff to sitting outside with a nice latte talking about plans for the weekend

And, he says, the most rewarding part of his experience was seeing the difference treatments can make to lives.

One of the most positive things I have seen from plastic surgery is what it can do for women with breast cancer. Theres something called a Diep flap, which is a type of breast reconstruction surgery that uses the patient's own tissue to rebuild the breast after a mastectomy," he says.

"These are the kind of positive things Ive seen from plastic surgery for breast cancer. In the past, people would have gone for a mastectomy and that would be it. Some are okay with this but, for others, it can have a huge impact on their self-esteem.

For many, its not just an aesthetic thing  its a personality thing

"This is a very personal thing for people to lose, and they suffer a lot as a result. They can reconstruct the breasts now, so they basically look like they did beforehand. It reduces a lot of psychological distress that can come with a mastectomy.

"This is a new option that wasnt there before. Of course, there is also the option of implants  but its nice to be able to use your own natural tissue as well.

Family support

Rhys said his mum Lynsey has been a huge support to him throughout his placement.

Mum has always been an inspiration to me. She was the reason I went into medicine in the first place.

"We often watched 24 Hours in A&E together. She has supported me every step of the way. When I was younger, she gave me books and memoirs about doctors to read.

"She wanted to make sure that I was 100% committed and was aware of the life that comes with medicine. The year I was born, she was diagnosed with Crohns disease. It meant that I was constantly coming with her to doctors appointments as a child.

While a lot of people hate hospitals, I fell in love with them

"I was always asking the doctors questions and watching what they were doing. I saw how they helped people bounce back. Even though I have no aspirations to be a gastroenterologist, I had that same desire to help people.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 4, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing arm Apollo Go announced a strategic partnership with global mobility leader Lyft to launch driverless ride services in Europe via the Lyft platform.

The rollout will begin in 2026 with Apollo Go's sixth-generation fully autonomous vehicles, namely RT6, operating in Germany and the UK, with plans to scale the fleet to several thousand units across Europe.

The vehicles will be equipped with Baidu's industry-leading sensor suite, 10-layer safety redundancy system, and advanced humanmachine interaction design.

Photo credit: Apollo Go

Lyft CEO David Risher said Baidu's position as the world's largest autonomous ride-hailing platform, coupled with its deep operational experience, would enable the companies to deliver safe, reliable, and privacy-focused autonomous mobility to millions of European riders.

Baidu founder Robin Li called the partnership a significant milestone in Apollo Go's global expansion strategy, noting that the collaboration would combine Baidu's autonomous driving technology with Lyft's operational expertise to deliver safer, greener, and more efficient transport to European users.

The partnership will center on four pillars to accelerate Europe's transition to autonomous mobility:

Advanced technology deployment  Apollo Go's purpose-built, all-electric RT6 Robotaxis are designed specifically for ride-hailing, powered by Baidu's Apollo Autonomous Driving Foundation Model (ADFM) and six generations of real-world testing. The RT6 will be bookable directly through Lyfts platform.

Proven operational scale With service coverage spanning more than 3,000 square kilometers in Wuhan and a track record of over 11 million rides worldwide, Apollo Go has shown it can successfully transition from pilot programs to full-scale commercial operations in major citiesa capability that provides a solid springboard for its European launch.

Strategic market entry  Lyft will oversee operations and marketplace management, while Baidu supplies the vehicles, validates the technology, and provides comprehensive technical support.

Local integration  Lyft will leverage its acquisition of European ride-hailing firm FREENOW , active in nine countries and over 180 cities, to accelerate autonomous vehicle deployment, while working with local regulators and taxi operators.

The move follows Apollo Go's recent expansion into Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as a newly announced agreement with Uber to integrate thousands of driverless cars into Uber's global network.

Apollo Go now operates a fleet of over 1,000 autonomous vehicles in 15 cities worldwide, having completed more than 11 million passenger trips and driven over 170 million kilometers without a major safety incident.
An Irish woman has been kidnapped from an orphanage near Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

Gena Heraty, from Westport in Co Mayo, is one of eight people who have been kidnapped from the Sainte-Helene orphanage, according to reports.

AFP and France 24 reports that the facility is operated by the humanitarian organisation "Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs" ("Our Little Brothers and Sisters"). The orphanage is located in Kenscoff, about 10km from Port-au-Prince.

The people who were kidnapped alongside Ms Heraty include a three-year-old child and other orphanage employees, according to Kenscoff Mayor Masillon Jean.

Speaking on Monday evening, Tanaiste Simon Harris said that "intensive" efforts were being made to secure her release.

He said: This is an extremely sensitive case; One that is being worked on tirelessly by our teams in Dublin, Washington and London.

"Throughout the day, both my officials and I have been in close contact with Genas family.

We are also in touch local authorities and Nos Petits Freres et Surs, the organisation Gena works for.

This evening, I want to reiterate our commitment to ensuring everything possible is done to bring about the release of Gena, her co-workers and indeed the three-year-old child at the centre of this case.

Gena is a deeply courageous and kind-hearted person who has given so much of her life to the humanitarian work that she cares so much about.

As Tanaiste, I treat the safety and well-being of all our citizens with seriousness and sensitivity.

When further updates are available, they will be provided."

No demands or ransom requests have been made.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed to the Irish Examiner that it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

"As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases."

AFP reports that Ms Heraty has lived in Haiti since 1993 and she runs the orphanage which cares for up to 270 children.

In April 2021, two French priests were kidnapped with eight others. They were released after three weeks.

Who is Gena Heraty?

Originally from Carrarevaugh near Westport, Co Mayo, Ms Heraty graduated with honours from the University of Limerick with a Business Studies degree in 1991.

Her first job was as a volunteer with the Simon Community in Dublin. She previously said this is where she became interested in the overseas voluntary work of Our Little Brothers and Sisters charity.

What started as a six-month placement in Haiti in June 1993 turned into a lifetime commitment.

She has dedicated herself to an orphanage high in the mountains of Kenscoff, about 10km from the capital Port-au-Prince.

Much of the work she has been doing is funded by donations from Ireland.

Ms Heratys family is absolutely devastated by the awful news that Gena and seven of her colleagues were kidnapped from the orphanage grounds" on Saturday.

Gena has lived and worked in Haiti since 1993," the family said in a statement.

"She is the Director of Special Needs Programmes at Nos Petits Freres et Surs (NPFS), an organisation that supports children and young adults living with disabilities. NPFS is part of the Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (NPH) network (www.nph.org).

The situation is evolving and deeply worrying. We are working closely with NPFS in Haiti and Ireland, the Irish Government, and international partners who are doing everything possible to ensure the safe and immediate release of Gena and her colleagues.

NPFS Haiti is working actively to ensure the ongoing safety and well-being of all the children and workers at the orphanage in Kenscoff during this challenging time, Ms Heratys family said.

We ask that you keep Gena and her colleagues in your hearts as we pray for their safe return.

Out of respect for the ongoing efforts and for Genas safety, we are not in a position to share further details at this time.

Ms Heraty has supported the most vulnerable populations in Haiti since 1993, with unwavering commitment to children and youth with disabilities, a statement from NPH International said.

We request the immediate and safe release of Gena Heraty and the seven other individuals, and call for their safe return to their families and the NPH community.

"Given the evolving nature of this incident, we are withholding further comment until more details are confirmed. We ask for discretion and patience as we manage this sensitive matter.

Our thoughts are with the eight individuals involved in this incident, and we are doing all we can to help bring them home safely. We also extend our deepest support to their families in this time of uncertainty.

In a 2023 piece for the Mayo News, Ms Heraty made reference to a time when she had commented to a female work colleague in Haiti that she looked lovely in her matching skirt and blouse.

Her friend had told her in reply she had chosen the skirt  which was "not too straight"  because, she told her, it is hard to run from gun fire if you are wearing a straight skirt.

I will never look at a skirt in the same way again, Ms Heraty said.
Gardai have made an arrest in their investigation into a murder in Dublin last year.

34-year-old Mark Carroll was stabbed to death after an incident in Finglas in June of 2024.
A once long-lost archive linked to writer and historian Daniel MacCarthy Glas, a descendant of one of the great 13th-century Gaelic families of Ireland, is to go on display in Cork almost eight years after its donation to the State.

The vast trove of hugely significant material, which dates from the 1700s and 1800s, will be unveiled in the Cork City and County Archives in Blackpool later this month as part of Heritage Week.

City archivist Brian McGree, who along with other archivists has spent months painstakingly listing, arranging, and cataloguing the collection, said the Daniel MacCarthy Glas Archive and Exhibition will remain on display at other locations around Cork over the next year.

It comprises of 1,200 unique items and is of major historical importance, containing personal letters, manuscripts, photographs, and drawings from Daniel and other family members.

Daniel MacCarthy Glas, whose donated archive will be unveiled in the Cork City and County Archives in Blackpool later this month as part of the Daniel MacCarthy Glas Archive and Exhibition. The collection comprises an estimated 1,500 unique items including personal letters, manuscripts, photographs and drawings from Daniel and other family members.

HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading

The scope of the collection is immense, documenting a range of topics  from the MacCarthy aristocratic lineage, to 19th century poetry and historiography, the Irish nationalist movement, the history of early modern Ireland, the French Revolution of 1848, the British Empire in India and South Africa, emigration, and the Great Famine and its dire impact on the local population in West Cork, Mr McGee said.

However, it includes one document Mr McGee described as of immense cultural and historical significance  a 1784 family pedigree of the Gaelic prince Jeremiah MacCarthy (Diarmuid an Duna) compiled by the famous poet/schoolmaster John Collins of Myross, known as the last bard of Munster.

Written on parchment in a combination of both Irish and English, the pedigree bears the wax seal of John Butler, a former bishop of Cork and later Baron Dunboyne, who was a controversial figure.

Historian Michelle O'Mahony and senior Cork City Council archivist Brian McGee with two of the collection of paintings which have been donated to the State as part of the archive.

Experts say it is one of very few original manuscripts in existence from Collins or any other Gaelic scholar from the period.

The pedigree has been subject to a detailed process of transcription and interpretation by Cornelius Buttimer, formerly of UCC.

Daniel MacCarthy Glass family was directly descended from the princes of Carbery, the MacCarthy Reaghs and the MacCarthy Glas, based at Togher Castle near Dunmanway in Co Cork  the Glas differentiating this branch of the MacCarthys from others in the region.

His grandfather emigrated from Cork to England in 1763, and Daniel was born into a wealthy Irish Catholic shipping and coal merchant family in London in 1807.

Educated to a high standard, he was very well-read and well-travelled, was a fluent Irish speaker, and took a major interest in his ancestry and in Irish history, writing two important books: The Life and Letters of Florence MacCarthy Reagh (1867); and A Historical Pedigree of the Sliochd Feidhlimidh, the MacCarthys of Gleannacroim (1875). He contributed historical articles to The Nation and various journals during the Irish historical awakening of the 19th century.

Senior Cork City Council archivist Brian McGee and historian Michelle O'Mahony  who helped secure the Daniel MacCarthy Glas archive from the US  with some of the paintings which have been donated to the State.

Many of his works involved painstaking research through State papers and other records, and he was in regular and detailed correspondence with celebrated Cork historian Richard Caulfield, the first librarian at UCC, and with a large circle of other Irish antiquarians, archaeologists, and early pioneers of Irish scholarship during the Irish historical awakening of the 19th century.

He was also a noted philanthropist, sponsoring the education of students in Dunmanway, helping Catholic institutions, and helping to preserve historic buildings and monuments such as Togher Castle and St Patricks Church in his native Dunmanway.

Some of his family were poets and writers, and some held important positions, reflecting the fact that they intermarried with the British elite.

His father-in-law, for example, was Rear-Admiral Home Riggs Popham, who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He invented a flag signal code adopted by the British royal navy in 1803, which was used by British naval hero Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar to keep navy tactics secret.

Daniel was very close to his daughter-in-law, Alice, who kept all his letters, writings, notes, and notebooks.

The archive then made its way to Oregon over a century ago, where it was kept safe by later generations, finally ending up with a descendant, Susan MacCarthy, who agreed in 2017 to donate it to the state.

Mr McGee said the complex process of repatriating the archive was started a number of years ago, and it was successfully concluded thanks to the efforts of Dunmanway historian Michelle OMahony, Mervyn ODriscoll of the school of history at UCC, Nigel McCarthy of the McCarthy DNA Project, and the archivists of the Cork City and County Archives Service.

Ms OMahony said she is delighted the collection is ready to be unveiled.

It is of immense importance to Cork City, Cork county, nationally, and internationally. There was a lot of work involved in cataloguing it, and Im just delighted to see it finally going on display, she said.
The bodies of all five miners trapped for three days in a collapsed shaft in the worlds biggest underground copper mine have been found and identified, an official said.

Aquiles Cubillos, the lead prosecutor in Chiles OHiggins region, said the body of Moises Pavez, the last miner to remain missing, was found at 3.30pm local time by rescue teams. They had drilled through dozens of yards of rock to reach the stranded workers.

We deeply regret this outcome, the prosecutor said.

The five miners were trapped deep inside Chiles El Teniente mine on Thursday after a section of the mine collapsed following a 4.2 magnitude earthquake that instantly killed another miner and injured nine other workers.

Aerial view of El Teniente copper mine (Esteban Felix/AP)

The trapped miners were located by using GPS devices but rescue teams were not able to communicate with them.

Authorities are investigating whether it was a naturally occurring earthquake or whether mining activity at El Teniente caused the tremor.

Chilean prosecutors also launched a criminal investigation to determine whether any safety standards were violated.

El Teniente, in the Andes mountains in central Chile, is the worlds largest underground copper mine and is owned by Chilean state company Codelco.

Shortly after Thursdays collapse, Codelco halted operations in the affected section of the mine and evacuated 3,000 people from the broader site to safe areas.

The company cancelled a presentation of its first-half financial results, set for Friday morning, due to the rescue efforts.

Chile, the worlds biggest copper producer, is in the seismically active Ring of Fire that surrounds the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

In 2010, Chiles government rescued 33 miners trapped in a copper mine in the countrys north for two months in a dramatic operation that made global headlines and was later depicted in a Hollywood movie.
Several thousand workers at three Midwest manufacturing plants where Boeing develops military aircraft and weapons have gone on strike, potentially complicating the aerospace companys progress in regaining its financial footing.

The strike started at Boeing facilities in St Louis; St Charles, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois, after about 3,200 local members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted on Sunday to reject a modified four-year labour agreement, the union said.

IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defence systems that keep our country safe, Sam Cicinelli, the general vice president of the unions Midwest division, said in a statement.

They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognises their unmatched expertise.

The Boeing factory (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

The vote followed a week-long cooling-off period after the machinists rejected an earlier proposed contract, which included a 20% wage increase over four years and 5,000 dollars ratification bonuses.

Boeing warned over the weekend that it anticipated the strike after workers rejected its latest offer, which did not further boost the proposed wage hike.

However, the proposal removed a scheduling provision that would have affected workers ability to earn overtime pay.

Were disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules, said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager, and senior St Louis site executive.

We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.

Boeings Defence, Space & Security business accounts for more than one-third of the companys revenue.

But Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told analysts last week that the impact from a strike by the machinists who build fighter jets, weapons systems and the US Navys first carrier-based unmanned aircraft would be much less than a walkout last year by 33,000 workers who assemble the companys commercial jetliners.

The order of magnitude of this is much, much less than what we saw last fall, Mr Ortberg said. So well manage through this. I wouldnt worry too much about the implications of the strike.

The 2024 strike that shut down Boeings factories in Washington state for more than seven weeks at a bleak time for the company.

Boeing came under several federal investigations last year year a door plug blew off a 737 Max plane during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

The Federal Aviation Administration put limits on Boeing plane production that it said would last until the agency felt confident about manufacturing quality safeguards at the company.

The door-plug incident renewed concerns about the safety of the 737 Max. Two of the planes crashed less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people.

Mr Ortberg told analysts that the company has slowly worked its way up to an FAA-set 737 Max production cap of 38 per month and expects to ask regulators later this year for permission to go beyond it.

Last week, Boeing reported that its second-quarter revenue had improved and its losses had narrowed. The company lost 611 million dollars in the second quarter, compared to a loss of 1.44 billion dollars during the same period last year.

Shares of Boeing Co slipped less than 1% before the opening bell on Monday.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- CATL has joined forces with Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology Ltd. ("CAES"), CAR Inc., and CMB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. ("CMB Leasing") to introduce large-scale battery swapping into China's rental car market.

According to a post on CATL's WeChat account, the four companies on August 1 signed a strategic agreement in Ningde to integrate energy replenishment, asset operations, financing, and mobility services, aiming to create a sustainable full-chain ecosystem for the mobility sector.

Photo credit: CATL

CAR Inc. will deploy CATL's "Choco-Swap" battery-swappable vehicles across its fleet, spanning economy, comfort, and business segments to serve the mainstream A0 to B-segment market. A pilot program will begin this year, with plans to operate over 100,000 battery-swap-capable vehicles in phases.

The vehicles will be equipped with CATL's standardized 20# and 25# battery blocks, offering ranges of 400600 km and enabling flexible energy replenishment for short- and long-term rentals, corporate fleets, and ride-hailing services.

For the ride-hailing segment, CAR Inc. will purchase Choco-Swap vehicles in volume, focusing on Tier-1 and emerging Tier-1 cities. CAES will build a battery health monitoring platform to ensure safety and stable range performance in real time.

Infrastructure will leverage CAR Inc.'s 2,000+ locations and parking resources nationwide to establish a swapping network across key transport hubs, enabling customers to return a car and swap the battery in one seamless step. Stations will prioritize solar power and contribute to grid peak shaving and frequency regulation. The CAR Inc. app will integrate battery-swap navigation and payment for a full-cycle "rentswapreturn" experience.

To cut costs and boost efficiency, CMB Leasing and CAES will provide competitive battery leasing solutions for CAR Inc."s self-operated fleet. The four parties will also form a task force to work with automakers on procurement, insurance, and used car management, optimizing lifecycle costs and enhancing user experience.
An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo
by Zahra Zaman

( Middle East Monitor )  Syria had been embroiled in a protracted conflict and plagued by authoritarianism for decades. While the brutal regime of Bashar al Asad has collapsed, the ordeal is far from over for Syrians as they are now confronted with the rapidly accelerating threat of climate change looming on the horizon. Syria stands among the most severely affected countries by the climate crisis as it is ranked 164th on the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN) index with an alarming score of 35.7one of the highest vulnerabilities and low readiness levels, globally.

The environmental catastrophe is inextricably intertwined with the violent conflict that the country has endured. As a consequence, Syria has been grappling with a host of environmental challenges including scorching temperatures, raging wild fires and most importantly debilitating droughts. The dual effect of the destruction of the civilian infrastructure caused by the countrys 14-year conflict coupled with the devastating impacts of climate change on its stability, security and viability have amplified political instability and preexisting socio-economic vulnerabilities stemming from the conflict.

Since 2011, a third of the countrys forests have vanished, air pollution levels have soared, while two-thirds of its water facilities have suffered extensive damage. In May 2021, the water levels in the Euphrates river fell to an all-time low, causing the worst drought since 1953. Such deplorable conditions have resulted in the loss of agricultural-based livelihoods and aggravated water scarcity and food insecurity, leading to climate change-related displacement, additionally.

Amid the cascading crisis, Syrian women are the most susceptible to the repercussions of such environmental degradation as they have been disproportionately affected by climate variability. As climate change is increasingly recognised as a threat multiplier responsible for exacerbating gender inequality, it is now the need of the hour to become more attuned to the gendered impact of climate change that has been amplified by the consequences of the conflict and the structural inequalities and disparities perpetuated against women, particularly.

In a recent study investigating the impact of climate change on womens health in 17 Middle Eastern and North African countries including Syria, scientists made an alarming discovery. It was revealed that a direct correlation exists between cancer mortality and global warming as climate change aggravates exposure to cancer risk through heightened ultraviolet radiation and air pollutants.

Moreover, the prevalence of war remnants and munitions residues put women at a higher risk as they are unaware of the dangers compared to men, resulting in severe disabilities, sensory impairments, and internal organ damage. As regular oil refineries have ceased operations in Syria, there has been a sharp rise in makeshift oil refineries. The emission of toxic gases from these refineries pose a carcinogenic risk to women. Water scarcity, lack of hygiene products and pollution have undermined hygiene standards while inadequate access to healthcare services has worsened their dilemma as women are not allowed to visit healthcare centers without a male guardian.

In the agricultural sector, women are central to production and comprise over 60 per cent of the labour force in Syria. It is a primary source of income for the majority of women and girls. In April 2025, 100 per cent of crops were reported to have been damaged owing to lack of rainfall. Such crop failures caused by prolonged periods of drought, extreme heat waves and widespread water scarcity are plunging women and girls deeper into an economic abyss, igniting a vicious cycle. Resultantly, the high levels of unemployment have transpired in higher poverty rates while the diminishing agricultural productivity has compounded food shortages and insecurity, exposing them to starvation and malnutrition.

In parallel, Turkeys actions have wreaked havoc across the country. The construction of dams along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in conjunction with the military attacks on power stations, gas facilities and oil fields have disrupted access to water. The Alouk water station has been rendered inoperable, depriving over a million people of their primary source of water supply. As a consequence, women and young girls are forced to leave their homes and walk long distances to collect water from tankers, exposing them to the risk of physical injury.

Moreover, the intensity of the climate crisis has fuelled climate-induced migration. With men moving to urban peripheries, women have been forced to become the heads of the household and take on the burdensome responsibilities of farming along with domestic chores. Refugee women themselves also face dire circumstances as they are deprived of basic necessities of life such as food and subjected to human rights violations in host countries.

Armed groups also exploit migrant women due to their vulnerability and recruit them as opposed to providing protection. In addition, women and girls are becoming increasingly involved in smuggling activities to support their families. Many women involved in smuggling face sexual harassment at the hands of the smugglers and are lured into human trafficking networks as well.

In Syria, discriminatory practices against women are reinforced by gender stereotypes, patriarchal norms and cultural beliefs, resulting in gender-based violence and systemic abuse which have pervaded all facets of life. To survive economic hardships, women are compelled to work in unsafe environments further exposing them to harassment. The situation is more critical for widows and women whose husbands have emigrated as they face stigmatisation. With women entering the workforce, domestic tensions are also on the rise as men perceive it as a threat to their traditional breadwinner role. The gravity of the situation can be determined by the fact that the Women, Peace and Security Index (WPS) has ranked Syria 171 out of 177 countries.

Furthermore, the interplay of pervasive poverty and a devastated economy has hindered women and girls access to education. As a survival strategy, families marry off their underaged daughters because they are no longer able to contribute to the household economy. A report by the Rudaw Media Network reveals that Iraqi brokers travel to Syria in search of young brides for men in their fifties or sixties. The struggling Syrian families facing desperate times see this as an opportunity for financial relief as they marry their daughters off to these wealthy Iraqi men in exchange for dowries.



Photo by Salah Darwish on Unsplash



As Syria now enters a transitional period under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, it faces a momentous challenge of reconstructing a nation damaged by the pernicious confluence of deteriorating socio-economic conditions, violence, and escalating environmental hazards. With women being the most vulnerable and marginalised group affected by this predicament, it does not come as a surprise that Syria performs poorly on the Gender Inequality Index (GII) with a value of 0.490 which is considerably higher than the majority of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The panacea of this crisis lies in a multilayered and inclusive approach complemented with an intersectional framework integrated in the policy-formulation and implementation process to mitigate the impact of climate change on women. More importantly, it is imperative for local and international actors to introduce empowerment programmes for Syrian women aimed at raising awareness, building resilience, improving their livelihoods and encouraging their participation in dialogues and discussions on environmental policy and climate decision-making as well.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Zahra Zaman is a graduate in international relations, she writes on diverse issues, including geopolitics, foreign policy, diplomacy, human rights and security studies. She has worked as a research intern at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs and has contributed to the European Center for Populism Studies.
( Tomdispatch.com ) In July 2025, the Massachusetts legislatures Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill to make it the 38th state to follow the federal government, 45 other countries (almost all of them in the global North), and more than 50 U.S. local governments in adopting a strange definition of antisemitism.

In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), a group of 35 mostly European countries, drafted what it called a working definition of antisemitism. The Alliance had been founded in 1998 to promote Holocaust education and, in its own words, to strengthen governmental cooperation to work towards a world without genocide. All too sadly, right now, its definition is being used to do the opposite: its helping to criminalize opposition to genocide.

Is It Really About Antisemitism?

Most anti-racist organizations, like the NAACP, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and Stop Anti-Asian and Pacific Islander Hate, do not, in fact, offer a specific definition of racism. Instead, they simply work to combat discrimination and fight for equal opportunity and basic human and civil rights.

Jews in the United States dont, in fact, face the same kinds of systemic racism the people that formed the above organizations face. Unlike them, Jews tend to be disproportionately high income, highly educated professionals.

So, in the IHRAs list of examples of antisemitism, not one refers to inequality or structural discrimination. Instead, they focus mostly on ideas and speech  and in particular things said about Israel. And what those examples, in fact, tend to do is turn the definition of antisemitism into a thinly veiled tool for use in prohibiting criticism of any sort of Israel.

The IHRAs definition itself appears relatively straightforward, even if it focuses on thought and speech rather than structures of racism: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

What follows, however, is a confusing and contradictory amalgam of 11 examples of antisemitism in public life, six of which focus on political debate that raises questions about Zionism, Israel as an ethnostate, or Israels actions.

Creating legal avenues to suppress what would otherwise be protected political speech about Israel is a major reason that the IHRA and its allies have felt the need to turn their definition into law. And advocates for the legal adoption of that definition claim that its necessary because antisemitism is on the rise in this country. But the expansive and confusing examples of antisemitism that the definition relies on actually make it impossible to know whether such a statement is, in fact, accurate. The organizations that use the IHRA definition to track antisemitism wont tell us whether what is on the rise is actually antisemitism or simply opposition to Israel and its increasingly unnerving actions in the Middle East.

In addition, the IHRA text is based on the assumption that all Jews, by definition, identify fully with Israel and with the nature of Israel as a Jewish state. And so, for the IHRA, challenging the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity is in itself an example of antisemitism.

Yet the document also denounces as antisemitic the stereotyping of Jews and, in particular, accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

Notice a contradiction? While the IHRA claims that stereotyping or caricaturing Jews, or attributing a particular version of pro-Israel politics to Jews, is antisemitic, its own definition stereotypes, caricatures, and attributes a particular politics about Israel to Jews.

Legal and Logical Contradictions: A Double Standard for Israel

After suggesting that the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity must not be challenged, the Alliance then does step back and agree that criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.

However, there is no other country that is conceived as a Jewish collectivity. To demand that criticism of Israel must be similar to that leveled against other countries to be legitimate is just another way of saying that no such criticism can truly be legitimate.

The closest example of a country with a diverse population conceived as the collectivity of a single group might be apartheid South Africa, which of course was the target of widespread global condemnation. Another parallel today might be Hindu nationalism in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But criticism of Hindu nationalism, like that of White nationalism in South Africa, has never been proscribed or punished for being a form of discrimination. (No matter that Donald Trump deemed White South Africans an oppressed minority!)

In yet another contradiction, the document denounces applying double standards [to Israel] by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation as constituting antisemitism. In fact, however, its definition applies a double standard to Israel by proscribing language and criticism that no institution proscribes with respect to any other country.

The United States imposes no legal prohibitions on challenging ethnonationalism in other lands. I am free to criticize India, Hungary, or any other country, democratic or otherwise, that in any way privileges one race, ethnicity, or religion over others  but I cant criticize Israel for doing the same when it comes to Palestinians. Im free to criticize racism, discrimination, and racist violence anywhere else on earth  but not in Israel. If any other country creates the equivalent of concentration camps or commits genocide, we can denounce it and try to stop it  but if Israel does that, I will be accused of antisemitism for telling the truth about what Israel is doing.

According to the IHRA, we can state those truths about any other country committing war crimes and genocide, but not about what Israel is doing in Gaza. Given what we are witnessing in Gaza, that is not just a double standard, its impunity for genocide.

Is Accusing Israel of Genocide Antisemitic?

The IHRA further adds that drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis is a manifestation of antisemitism. This prohibition extends not only to direct comparisons, but to any claim that Israel is by its very nature an ethno-state, or that it is currently engaging in genocide, creating concentration camps, planning for mass expulsions, or engaging in other war crimes or crimes against humanity.

But what does it mean if a country is granted blanket impunity against any accusation of racism, war crimes, or human rights violations? The IHRA would prohibit journalists, human rights organizations, international organizations, international legal groups, and scholars from investigating, or denouncing what the country is doing, much less taking action to restrain it. Indeed, some people from these groups have been accused and sanctioned for their investigations, while others self-censor out of fear of being seen as antisemitic.

In short, the IHRA itself commits two of the acts that it claims to oppose: it creates a double standard for Israel and an impenetrable cover for committing genocide.

Major human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have concluded that Israel is indeed committing genocide in Gaza. Close to two dozen countries  almost all from the global South  along with the Non-Aligned Movement, the Arab League, and the African Union, have joined with South Africa to accuse Israel of genocidal acts before the International Court of Justice. And all of those claims have been duly condemned by Israel and its allies.

Israeli genocide historian Omer Bartov proceeded cautiously with his own judgment. In November 2023, he wrote: As a historian of genocide, I believe that there is no proof that genocide is currently taking place in Gaza, although it is very likely that war crimes, and even crimes against humanity, are happening. He believed then that genocide was indeed possible in Gaza and urged the world to mobilize to prevent it.

Despite global protest, Israels assault on Gaza only continued. In July 2025, Bartov wrote: My inescapable conclusion has become that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Having grown up in a Zionist home, lived the first half of my life in Israel, served in the I.D.F. [Israeli Defense Forces] as a soldier and officer and spent most of my career researching and writing on war crimes and the Holocaust, this was a painful conclusion to reach, and one that I resisted as long as I could. But I have been teaching classes on genocide for a quarter of a century. I can recognize one when I see one. Ongoing denial of the genocide, he added, will cause unmitigated damage not just to the people of Gaza and Israel but also to the system of international law established in the wake of the horrors of the Holocaust, designed to prevent such atrocities from happening ever again.

In fact, Bartov observes, there is now an overwhelming consensus among genocide scholars (who study comparative genocide or different genocides worldwide) that what we are witnessing in Gaza is indeed a genocide. Holocaust scholars mostly hold the opposite view and many have argued, in line with the IHRA, that any such accusation against Israel could only be motivated by antisemitism. The Holocaust has been relentlessly invoked by the state of Israel and its defenders as a cover-up for the crimes of the IDF, concludes Bartov, citing an array of publications that accuse genocide scholars of antisemitism for simply describing what Israel is doing in Gaza and quoting Israeli officials about their aims.

What About Other War Crimes  Or Any Crimes at All?

Yet another IHRA example of antisemitism refers to blood libel, which it doesnt define, but which generally refers to the grim myth that Jews killed non-Jewish children to use their blood in rituals. The IHRA text cites using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis as examples of antisemitism.

And such accusations havent just been made against critics of the present war in Gaza outside of Israel. When Israeli politician Yair Golan spoke out against Israeli atrocities in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately accused him of blood libel. When the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an investigative report with soldiers testimonies about being ordered to shoot at Gazans approaching humanitarian aid sites, the paper was subject to the same accusation. When Israeli opposition politicians accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war in the service of his own political interests, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. accused them, too, of blood libel.

Is it antisemitic for the World Court to hear a case accusing Israel of the crime of genocide in Gaza? Benjamin Netanyahu has openly claimed so, as did the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the U.S. Combat Antisemitism Movement. Is it antisemitic for genocide scholars to study this particular case of mass killing, just because its perpetrator happens to be Israel? Is it antisemitic for Israeli journalist Dahlia Scheindlin to point out that Israels plan to herd 600,000 Palestinians into a special camp at Gazas southern border with Egypt is in fact a plan to create the equivalent of a concentration camp?

The impunity that such a proscription attempts to grant Israel is immense.

Theres More: Its Legally Binding

Although the IHRA originally insisted that its definition was non-legally binding, it is, in fact, becoming so. The group itself and major Jewish organizations in the United States have launched political campaigns to promote their definition and turn it into law.

By mid-2025, 46 countries had adopted the definition. President Trump implemented it with an executive order in 2019, citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin for any program that gets federal financial assistance. As a result, Title VI proscriptions can now be applied to a person who criticizes Zionism, who uses the term genocide to describe Israels slaughter in Gaza, or who advocates the nonviolent Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement or indeed any withdrawal of U.S. support for what Israel is now doing.

The Biden administration maintained Trumps policy and the current Trump administration, and universities now pressured into following in its footsteps, have used it to fire, punish, or, in the case of the government, deport people under the guise of preventing antisemitism. In fact, Harvard Universitys decision in January 2025 to become the first Ivy League university to join the trend, adopting the definition (followed by Yale in April), specifically designated Zionists as a protected class. Thus, the policy prohibits antisemitic, racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Zionist, anti-Arab, Islamophobic, anti-LDS, or anti-Catholic behaviors.

The IHRA document was not written to be turned into law, and even some of its authors have protested this use. Yet there it is in law and policy throughout the United States and Europe.

Weaponizing Antisemitism as a Shield to Enable Genocide

The IHRAS definition goes far beyond the obvious one, that of stereotyping, prejudice against, or harm against Jews, and has little to do with preventing genocide. It is an eminently political definition that tries to prevent criticism of Israel by defining such criticism as antisemitic. Turning it into law heavily limits freedom of speech and political debate  and has nothing to do with antisemitism.

As Israel, in fact, continues to carry out mass killings of Palestinians, attempting to destroy every institution of Palestinian life and culture in Gaza, and herding them into militarized camps, this definition has been mobilized to try to silence any hint that it might be engaging in war crimes, creating concentration camps, or committing genocide.

Copyright 2025 Aviva Chomsky

Via Tomdispatch.com
Sudanese paramilitary fighters have killed at least 14 civilians trying to flee a besieged city in Darfur, a rights group said Monday, more than 27 months into their war against the army.

The attack in a village on the outskirts of El-Fasher came just two days after the administration installed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had called on civilians to evacuate the besieged city and promised they would be safe.

The Emergency Lawyers, a rights group which has documented atrocities in the war between the RSF and the Sudanese army, said that 14 people had been killed in the Saturday attack, "dozens more were injured and an unknown number of civilians detained".

"The victims had left El-Fasher in an attempt to escape the siege and escalating battles," the group said.

AFP was not immediately able to verify the toll and details, with Darfur under a communications blackout and largely inaccessible to journalists.

The RSF has in recent days launched its latest assault on El-Fasher, the North Darfur state capital which it has besieged since May 2024 but has been unable to seize from the hands of the army.

The UN has repeatedly warned of the plight of an estimated one million people trapped in El-Fasher and its surrounding displacement camps with virtually no aid or services.

Families have survived on animal feed, a shortage of which was announced last week by local authorities.

Since April 2023, the war between the army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands, torn the country apart, and created what the UN has called the world's largest hunger and displacement crises.

If the RSF captures El-Fasher, it will control all of Sudan's vast western region of Darfur and, along with its allies, much of the country's south.

- Evacuation call -

On Thursday, the RSF's political administration urged El-Fasher residents to evacuate to Qarni village, where the Emergency Lawyers said the civilians had been killed.

"I call on you to leave El-Fasher and head to Qarni, the northwest gate of the city, where our forces and the Tasis alliance forces are located and will ensure your safety," the RSF-appointed Darfur governor Al-Hadi Idris had said in a video address.

Tasis is an RSF-led political alliance which late last month named leaders of a government based in South Darfur state capital Nyala.

The RSF government has received no international recognition, and the African Union has called on its members to "not recognise the so-called 'parallel government'".

Idris said RSF allies would offer safe passage to areas including the western town of Tawila, "just as the forces have secured thousands of people who left El-Fasher in the past six months".

In Tawila, the UN says hundreds of thousands are currently facing a devastating cholera outbreak after surviving RSF attacks on the displacement camps that surround El-Fasher in April.

Both the army and the RSF have been repeatedly accused of war crimes, including targeting civilians and the indiscriminate shelling of residential areas.

But the RSF has been specifically accused of atrocities including laying siege to and burning entire villages and displacement camps, systematic sexual violence and genocide in its ethnically motivated attacks in Darfur.
Witnesses in the trial of Bangladesh's fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday detailed horrific violence and denial of medical treatment, speaking on the eve of the anniversary of her ouster.

Hasina, 77, fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of student-led protests against her autocratic rule.

She has defied court orders to return from India to attend her trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity, over the deadly crackdown on the uprising.

Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, according to the United Nations.

Philosophy student Abdullah Al Imran, 25, said his left leg had been blasted "wide open" by gunshot during the protests, describing how it had been left "barely attached to the rest of my body by a thin layer of skin".

Imran told the court how, when Hasina visited the hospital ward where he was recovering, he told her he had been shot by the police.

He said he overheard Hasina give the order of "no release, no treatment", referring to injured protesters.

"I didn't understand the meaning of the order at first, but later I did -- as my surgery was repeatedly delayed," Imran said, adding he was not given the right antibiotics, and his parents were blocked from moving him to a private hospital.

"My leg started to rot," he said, and showed the court his still bandaged leg. "People couldn't stand the stench coming from it."

Prosecutors have filed five charges against Hasina -- including failure to prevent mass murder -- which amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law.

Hasina is on trial in absentia alongside two other accused, her former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, also a fugitive, and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has pleaded guilty.

Hasina is defended by a state-appointed lawyer, but she has refused to accept the authority of the court.

Another witness on Monday described how she was blinded in one eye when police fired at close range, the third to give evidence detailing the brutality of the crackdown.

The trial continues, although no hearing will be held on Tuesday, which has been declared a public holiday to mark the one-year anniversary of Hasina's downfall.

Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner leading the caretaker government, is due to release a slate of democratic overhauls.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday said that that she had been cleared in a case involving the much-criticised release of a Libyan official suspected of committing war crimes.

Osama Almasri Najim, the head of Libya's judicial police, was arrested in Turin on January 19 on a warrant from the International Criminal Court, only to be released by a Rome court on procedural grounds.

He was flown home to Tripoli two days later on an Italian air force aeroplane.

A separate Italian court had opened an investigation, but according to Meloni, investigators have concluded that she had not been informed of Najim's arrest and therefore could not have played any part in his release.

Critics denounced the decision to free a man wanted on charges including murder, rape and torture relating to his management of Tripoli's Mitiga detention centre.

The court's investigation also covers Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and under-secretary Alfredo Mantovano, who is responsible for the intelligence service.

In her message, Meloni defended the two ministers and the senior official, arguing that they would not have made such a decision without consulting her.

"It would be absurd to charge Piantedosi, Nordio and Mantovano, and not me as well," she said.

Any trial for the officials would require authorisation from parliament, where Meloni's right-wing coalition has a comfortable majority.
Photo Credit: Tim Hiatt, NBC Sports

Leigh Diffey is a polarizing announcer, especially in NASCAR circles.

But just like any announcer we write about at Awful Announcing, everyone has their personal preference. Some people couldnt stand Vin Scully, while others worship the ground that Joe Buck walks on. Everyone takes their tea differently.

Diffey, for his part, knows his accent can be a sticking point. The Australian-American once said he lost out on a potential NASCAR job with TNT because of it, Ultimately, I didnt get the job, because the big, big boss at Turner didnt prefer to have an accent calling the Cup races.

Unfortunately, that mindset didnt stop with the execs at Turner. In John Kernans case, it went a step further. The longtime ESPN NASCAR host and former pit reporter, who was part of the networks original coverage through the 90s and early 2000s, announced he was done with the sport after hearing Diffey call the Iowa Corn 350.

Not because of the broadcast itself. Because of Diffeys accent.

I think Im done with NASCAR. After further review stage racing SUCKS! And Im sure Leigh Diffey is a great guy but, if I want to hear that accent, Ill watch Formula 1. Sorry, guess Im xenophobic.  John Kernan (@John_KernanIND) August 3, 2025

Theres a difference between not liking an announcer and not liking them because of where theyre from. But Kernan didnt bother with nuance. He just came right out and called himself xenophobic on a public forum, as if owning that label somehow made it more reasonable.

Its a baffling stance, especially when you consider that Diffey has been a steady presence in American motorsports broadcasting for more than a decade. Hes been calling NASCAR races for NBC since 2015 and was already well-regarded for his work on Formula 1 and IndyCar long before that. If his accent was really such a dealbreaker, why wait until now to say something? This is the ninth season of stage racing, and now its a problem?

Maybe its because Diffeys profile is growing. Or maybe its because Kernan hasnt been on pit road for a NASCAR race in nearly 25 years. Whatever the case, it says more about Kernans discomfort with change than it does about Diffeys ability to call a race.

And for what its worth, this outrage over an accent doesnt even hold up historically. The race that helped put NASCAR on the national map  the 1979 Daytona 500  had David Hobbs, a British broadcaster, in the booth. So if having a non-American voice is some unforgivable sin, then NASCARs most iconic broadcast wouldve never happened.

NASCARs never had a problem with voices like Diffeys. So if an accent is where Kernan draws the line, he was never really listening in the first place. He just wanted to blame someone else for a sport that left him behind.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Monday to update Israel's Gaza war plan, a day before a UN Security Council meeting on the fate of hostages still held in the Palestinian territory.

Addressing a cabinet meeting with the war well into its 22nd month, the Israeli leader told ministers that later in the week he would instruct the military on how "to achieve the three war objectives we have set".

Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 and the Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted officials in Netanyahu's office saying that the "updated strategy" would be to re-occupy all of Gaza, including areas in Gaza City where the military believes hostages are being held.

The cabinet would meet on Tuesday to endorse the plan, the reports said.

There was no immediate official confirmation, but the Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry denounced what it called a "leaked" plan and urged the international community to intervene to quash any new military occupation.

Netanyahu is facing mounting domestic and international pressure to bring the remaining hostages in Gaza home and allow much more aid into the starving territory.

Israel -- backed by the United States and Panama -- is preparing to convene a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday to highlight the fate of the hostages.

Netanyahu on Monday reiterated that Israel's three war goals remained "the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel".

His statement came after hundreds of retired Israeli security chiefs wrote to US President Donald Trump to urge him to convince Netanyahu to end the war.

- 'Immediate mortal danger' -

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said ahead of the UN meeting that "the world must put an end to the phenomenon of kidnapping civilians. It must be front and centre on the world stage".

Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

The UN session was called after Palestinian militant groups last week published three videos showing hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David appearing weak and emaciated, causing shock and distress in Israel.

Netanyahu said he had asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide food and medical treatment to the Israeli captives.

Hamas's armed wing said it was willing to allow access to the hostages in exchange for opening aid corridors into all of Gaza, where UN-mandated experts have warned famine is unfolding.

Netanyahu's government has faced repeated accusations by relatives of hostages and other critics that it has not done enough to rescue the captives.

"Netanyahu is leading Israel and the hostages to ruin," said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group.

"For 22 months, the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure and intense fighting will bring the hostages back.

"The truth must be said: expanding the war endangers the lives of the hostages, who are already in immediate mortal danger."

- 'Only through a deal' -

Mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to secure a truce.

Hundreds of retired Israeli security officials including former heads of intelligence agencies have urged US President Donald Trump to pressure their own government to end the war.

"It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the former officials wrote in an open letter shared with the media on Monday.

The war "is leading the State of Israel to lose its security and identity", said Ami Ayalon, former director of the Shin Bet security service, in a video released to accompany the letter.

The letter argued that the Israeli military "has long accomplished the two objectives that could be achieved by force: dismantling Hamas's military formations and governance".

"The third, and most important, can only be achieved through a deal: bringing all the hostages home," it added.

- 'We are starving' -

The October 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally of official figures.

Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,933 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which are deemed reliable by the UN.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli fire on Monday killed at least 19 Palestinians, including nine who were waiting to collect food aid from a site in central Gaza.

In Gaza City, Umm Osama Imad was mourning a relative she said was killed while trying to reach an aid distribution point.

"We are starving... He went to bring flour for his family," she said. "The flour is stained with blood. We don't want the flour anymore. Enough!"

UN rights chief Volker Turk on Monday said "the images of people starving in Gaza are heart-rending and intolerable. That we have reached this stage is an affront to our collective humanity."

He called on Israel to urgently allow aid into the territory, adding that denying it "may amount to a war crime".

He also described the videos of hostages as "shocking", calling for the ICRC to be allowed immediate access to them.
None of the 252 Venezuelans who spent four months in a notorious Salvadoran prison belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang as claimed by the United States when it sent them there, the government in Caracas said Monday.

The men were released on July 18 in a prisoner exchange deal with the United States, and claimed they were severely mistreated.

"They told us they were all from the Tren de Aragua. Lies, big lies," Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told reporters.

"They said that those who were taken to El Salvador: 'all of these are powerful criminals'," he added.

In fact, only 20 had criminal records, seven of those for serious offenses, and "none were linked to the Tren de Aragua."

The 252 men were detained in US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, accused without evidence of gang activity, and sent to El Salvador's so-called Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).

Four of them told AFP the months were marked by abuse, violence, spoiled food and legal limbo in the prison built by the government of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to house the worst of the worst in his own war on gangs.

Trump's administration paid Bukele $6 million to keep the Venezuelans behind bars in a move widely condemned by rights groups.

Caracas is investigating alleged crimes against humanity.

The Tren de Aragua emerged in Venezuela in 2014 and quickly spread its tentacles to other countries in Latin America and to the United States.

It started with kidnappings, robberies, drugs, prostitution and extortion, before expanding into illegal gold mining and human trafficking.

Trump declared it a terrorist organization after he returned to the White House in January.

The government in Caracas has claimed to have dismantled the gang, though its main leader Hector "Nino" Guerrero remains at large.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia  As digital surveillance tightens its grip on American lifefrom airport terminals and banking systems to the content of private emailsa quiet but decisive wave of U.S. citizens is taking control of their privacy in the most profound way possible: by legally relocating abroad.

This movement is not driven by tax evasion or political disillusionment but by a desire to regain autonomy in a world where personal data has become a commodity and every transaction leaves a trace.

At Amicus International Consulting, we are witnessing a dramatic shift in the reasons people seek second passports, offshore identities, and alternative residencies. What once was a niche service for the ultra-wealthy has become a legitimate option for professionals, families, and retirees who simply want to opt out of a surveillance-driven society. This press release outlines the real options available to those choosing freedom over exposure, and how legal structures offer a clean, secure exit from an increasingly monitored American existence.

The Surveillance State Has Gone GlobalAnd So Has the Response

For decades, the United States has expanded its surveillance capabilities under the guise of national security and regulatory compliance. Today, these systems touch nearly every aspect of life:

Financial transparency laws such as FATCA and the Corporate Transparency Act require disclosure of personal and business holdings worldwide.

such as FATCA and the Corporate Transparency Act require disclosure of personal and business holdings worldwide. Facial recognition cameras are deployed in airports, train stations, and even at protests.

are deployed in airports, train stations, and even at protests. Biometric data is collected for visa applications, drivers licenses, and mobile device access.

is collected for visa applications, drivers licenses, and mobile device access. AI algorithms monitor social media and flag suspicious online behavior.

monitor social media and flag suspicious online behavior. Cross-border data sharing agreements enable intelligence agencies to track citizens across jurisdictions.

While these tools are justified as security measures, they have made an anonymous living nearly impossible within U.S. borders.

Case Study: Former Intelligence Analyst Finds Privacy in Portugal

A former intelligence analyst in Washington, D.C., found herself increasingly uncomfortable with the states growing use of artificial intelligence to profile individuals. Though she had no criminal history and remained patriotic, she worried that her online activitywriting blogs on digital privacycould be misconstrued.

With the help of Amicus, she relocated to Portugal via the D7 visa, eventually gained citizenship, and rebuilt her online life under a pseudonym while remaining legally compliant and professionally active.

Why Americans Are Leavingand Who They Are

The demographic shift in the expat population is significant. While retirees once dominated the relocation landscape, the new profile includes:

Digital entrepreneurs and crypto investors

High-net-worth individuals seeking asset protection

Activists and journalists under public scrutiny

Families concerned with the biometric exposure of children

Professionals in AI, cybersecurity, and biotech

Their motivations are deeply pragmatic:

Avoiding data exposure from IRS financial reporting

Escaping biometric scanning at borders and domestic checkpoints

Reclaiming financial autonomy and digital anonymity

Protecting children from algorithmic profiling in schools and healthcare systems

The Role of Second Passports in Digital Privacy

Second citizenship serves not just as a backup planits a privacy firewall. By holding a second passport from a jurisdiction that does not participate in Five Eyes surveillance sharing or FATCA compliance, Americans can legally operate outside the U.S. net.

Top second passport programs that prioritize privacy include:

St. Kitts and Nevis : No personal income tax, no reporting of account holders to foreign governments

: No personal income tax, no reporting of account holders to foreign governments Antigua and Barbuda : Affordable citizenship-by-investment with dual nationality recognition

: Affordable citizenship-by-investment with dual nationality recognition Vanuatu : Offers a digital-friendly passport in under 90 days

: Offers a digital-friendly passport in under 90 days Dominica : Neutral political stance and no public registries

: Neutral political stance and no public registries Turkey: Strategic Middle East access with investment-based Naturalization

Each offers visa-free access to 100150+ countries and allows for private financial structuring using offshore trusts, IBCs, and nominee directorships.

Case Study: Silicon Valley CEO Restructures Offshore

A CEO of a health-tech startup in San Jose faced ongoing risk from HIPAA violations, security breaches, and employee surveillance allegations. Though cleared of all charges, his name and metadata were archived in multiple state and federal systems. With Amicus, he obtained a Turkish passport, restructured his company under a Belize holding entity, and began operating remotely from Cyprus. All financial and digital infrastructure was moved abroad under legal frameworks that do not require U.S. reporting.

How Legal Offshore Identity Structures Provide Cover

An offshore identity is not an alias or a disguiseits a legal compartmentalization of activities and roles. At Amicus, we help clients establish lawful identities through:

Residency programs in privacy-respecting nations like Panama, Georgia, and Uruguay

in privacy-respecting nations like Panama, Georgia, and Uruguay IBC formation in Nevis, Seychelles, and Belize

in Nevis, Seychelles, and Belize Use of legal nominee directors and shareholders

Foundations in Panama or Liechtenstein for long-term holding

Asset protection trusts outside the U.S. legal reach

These structures are entirely legal when properly disclosed, and they allow Americans to separate their presence from their business or Investment activities.

Case Study: Political Consultant Evades Harassment With New Identity

A prominent political consultant found himself targeted by both sides of the political aisle after leaked emails were taken out of context. Though no crime was committed, his personal and professional reputation was severely damaged. Amicus helped him obtain Caribbean citizenship and relocate to South America. His new identity allowed him to continue advisory work quietly, free from the reputational damage that trailed his American name.

Digital Privacy After Departure: The Tools That Work

Leaving the U.S. is only the first step. Once abroad, clients often need to rebuild their digital lives securely. Amicus offers a complete digital privacy infrastructure, including:

ProtonMail and Tutanota for encrypted email

Threema and Session for messaging

Privacy.com or offshore debit cards for anonymous spending

Prepaid SIMs tied to offshore entities

Virtual mail forwarding in secure jurisdictions

VPNs based in Panama or Switzerland

Browser and OS reconfiguration to defeat tracking

DNS privacy settings and no-logs firewalls

With a new identity, new residency, and clean digital infrastructure, clients regain complete control of their communications, payments, and web presence.

Relocation Without Renunciation: A Strategic Option

Not all clients choose to renounce U.S. citizenship. Many prefer to establish offshore residency and operate under foreign tax residency while maintaining their American passport. This hybrid model still offers protection when implemented with the proper legal guidance:

Tax residency in Panama or Paraguay can exempt worldwide income

can exempt worldwide income Corporate income held in a non-U.S. structure limits reporting

limits reporting Non-FATCA banks in Eastern Europe or Asia offer clean accounts

offer clean accounts Foreign residency cards make U.S. address-based tracking ineffective

For many, this is the first stage before complete renunciation.

Case Study: Lawyer Balances Two Worlds From Dubai

A 50-year-old lawyer specializing in intellectual property relocated to Dubai, where she became a resident under a golden visa program. While retaining her U.S. citizenship, she moved her client contracts under an UAE firm and opened multiple non-reporting accounts. She plans to renounce once her familys tax matters are finalized, but already enjoys near-complete financial freedom abroad.

The Renunciation Path: Full Legal Exit

Renouncing U.S. citizenship is not treasonit is a legal process outlined under U.S. law. For clients who reach this stage, Amicus provides step-by-step support:

Acquisition of a second passport Verification of five years of tax compliance Exit tax assessment and Form 8854 filing Embassy appointment and Statement of Understanding Issuance of CLN (Certificate of Loss of Nationality)

Once completed, the client is no longer subject to IRS filing, FATCA, FBAR, or surveillance triggered by nationality. They become global citizens, not bound to one countrys control.

How Surveillance Impacts Children and Families

Many American parents are disturbed by the level of biometric and behavioral data collection their children are exposed tofrom digital attendance systems to AI monitoring of learning habits and even emotion recognition cameras in some districts.

Families who relocate for privacy cite:

Elimination of biometric school attendance systems

Access to private education free from federal tracking

Freedom from U.S. college admissions surveillance databases

Local healthcare without centralized U.S. health profiling

Children raised outside of surveillance jurisdictions often develop greater autonomy, privacy awareness, and a sense of sovereignty over their data.

Case Study: Family Rebuilds in Uruguay

A family of five relocated to Uruguay using the countrys simple permanent residency framework. The children attend private schools that do not use biometric ID or facial recognition.

The family uses local health systems, banks, and businessesall free from U.S. surveillance or data sharing mandates. The parents report that their children have greater independence, and their own business now operates globally under a Panama corporation.

Banks That Still Protect PrivacyFor Non-U.S. Persons

Once out of the U.S. system, clients gain access to a global network of financial institutions that still protect privacy:

Liechtenstein : Private banking with strong secrecy laws

: Private banking with strong secrecy laws Georgia : Simple, no-reporting accounts with English-speaking staff

: Simple, no-reporting accounts with English-speaking staff UAE : Dubai-based banking with crypto integration

: Dubai-based banking with crypto integration Mauritius : Strategic African-Asian financial bridge

: Strategic African-Asian financial bridge Switzerland : Discreet accounts for Investment vehicles

: Discreet accounts for Investment vehicles Singapore: High compliance but minimal exposure once U.S. ties are cut

Amicus partners with private bankers who onboard clients under their new citizenship or offshore corporate structures, ensuring smooth, legal, and anonymous operations.

Misconceptions About Leaving the U.S.

Many believe that only the ultra-rich can leave the U.S., or that doing so will result in being flagged by Interpol or barred from ever returning. These are myths.

Renunciation does not prevent visa-free entry to the U.S. under most second passports.

Leaving for privacy reasons is not illegal or suspicious

Second passports cost less than the average car in many jurisdictions

Most exits are low-profile and do not trigger any U.S. retaliation

Thousands of Americans renounce or relocate every year without issue

The Cost of Staying vs. the Cost of Leaving

Staying in the U.S. can cost more than money. It costs data, privacy, peace of mind, and in some cases, reputation.

Average compliance cost for a high-net-worth U.S. citizen abroad:

CPA and legal fees: $10,000 to $40,000 annually

FBAR, FATCA, and state-level disclosures: hours of paperwork

Ongoing IRS risk and audits, even with full compliance

Inability to use privacy-first banks, payment platforms, or crypto exchanges

By contrast, the cost of second citizenship and relocation:

Second passport: $100,000$150,000 one-time Investment

Offshore entity setup: $5,000$15,000

Privacy infrastructure rebuild: $2,000$10,000

New life without surveillance: priceless

Conclusion: Real Options, Real Freedom

Leaving America in the age of surveillance is not a protest. It is not an escape. It is a legal, structured transition into a freer lifeone where your data is yours, your wealth is protected, and your identity is not for sale.

Amicus International Consulting offers a full suite of legal identity transformation, second citizenship procurement, and offshore structuring services for those who believe privacy is not optionalits essential.

If the U.S. government can monitor every aspect of your life, then maybe its time to change where you liveand who you are in the eyes of that system.

Freedom is not a place. It is a strategy.

Contact Information

Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.amicusint.ca
VANCOUVER, British Columbia  In an era defined by border control, biometric databases, and increasing international surveillance, a counter-current has emergedone that challenges the idea that a person must belong to a single country. Statelessness, often associated with human rights crises, has evolved in rare legal corridors into a form of identity freedom.

While accidental statelessness remains a humanitarian concern, intentional statelessnesswhen done legally and strategicallyhas become a niche but growing route for high-net-worth individuals, whistleblowers, and privacy seekers looking to reinvent their lives outside traditional jurisdictions.

At Amicus International Consulting, statelessness is not about disappearance. Its about reinvention. With the right legal strategy, international travel, offshore banking, and personal security are all still possibleeven without an official nationality.

This press release explores how identity transformation through lawful statelessness is not only possible but, for a select few, the ultimate reset.

Understanding Statelessness in Legal Terms

A stateless person is defined under international law (1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons) as someone who is not considered a national by any state under the operation of its law. While many stateless individuals are born into their condition, others arrive at it through renunciation, bureaucratic collapse, or political fallout.

There are two primary types:

De facto statelessness : A person holds a nationality but cannot access protection or use their citizenship (e.g., citizens of unrecognized states).

: A person holds a nationality but cannot access protection or use their citizenship (e.g., citizens of unrecognized states). De jure statelessness: A person is not recognized as a citizen by any country.

Amicus works exclusively with de jure frameworks, where statelessness arises from deliberate legal actsusually involving the renunciation of one nationality before another is secured. In rare cases, this window of statelessness can be maintained legally.

Case Study: The Diplomatic Whistleblower

In 2021, a European Union consular attache contacted Amicus after facing retaliation for exposing misuse of international development funds. Fearing reprisal, and already a dual national, he renounced both citizenshipslegally rendering himself stateless. Through international asylum law and Amicuss legal advisors, he relocated to South America and was issued an emergency travel document (an Article 28 Convention Travel Document). While his case is exceptional, it sets a precedent for clients seeking state-free anonymity.

Why Some Seek Statelessness Voluntarily

Though statelessness typically conjures images of displacement and hardship, strategic statelessnessplanned, resourced, and legally executedoffers a unique set of freedoms:

No citizenship-based taxation : Stateless persons are not taxed on worldwide income unless tied to a tax residency.

: Stateless persons are not taxed on worldwide income unless tied to a tax residency. No national military or civic obligations : Stateless individuals are exempt from conscription, voting, and other binding duties.

: Stateless individuals are exempt from conscription, voting, and other binding duties. Untrackable across citizenship-based databases : Without a passport or national ID, surveillance by governments becomes difficult.Minimal financial data sharing under CRS or FATCA : Banks may not classify them under existing tax information exchange systems.

: Without a passport or national ID, surveillance by governments becomes difficult.Minimal : Banks may not classify them under existing tax information exchange systems. Ability to reset under new identity structures: Stateless individuals often operate under humanitarian travel documents or internationally recognized aliases.

Its not for everyone. But for those escaping political persecution, financial ruin, or reputational collapse, it can be the beginning of a new life.

How It Happens Legally

Intentional statelessness must be approached with precision. A client cannot merely renounce and vanish. Legal statelessness typically involves:

Renouncing the last recognized citizenship in compliance with national laws. Having no pending application for another nationality. Registering as a stateless person with the UNHCR or a national body, depending on the host country. Applying for a travel document under the 1954 Convention, such as the UNHCR-issued Nansen passport. Establishing residency in a country that recognizes stateless status (e.g., Sweden, Canada, Brazil, Argentina).

Amicus clients are counseled on every legal implicationfrom mobility and tax to reentry, digital access, and banking permissions.

Case Study: A Financier in Transition

A U.S.-based hedge fund manager, under SEC scrutiny in 2022, worked with Amicus to structure a complete legal exit. After satisfying IRS filings and renouncing his U.S. citizenship, he entered Paraguay on a humanitarian visa. With no secondary nationality and full documentation, he applied for stateless recognition in Argentina.

During the 14-month period before gaining Argentine residency, he operated legally as a stateless person, using an ICRC-issued travel document. Offshore bank accounts were opened through a Liechtenstein foundation established in his prior name, now managed by nominee directors.

Banking Without a Country

Contrary to public perception, stateless individuals can open and maintain financial accounts. The key lies in:

Structured entities : Using offshore companies or foundations to hold assets.

: Using offshore companies or foundations to hold assets. Third-party representation : Professional fiduciaries or nominee directors act as signatories.

: Professional fiduciaries or nominee directors act as signatories. Non-U.S. jurisdictions : Banks in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Mauritius may open accounts for stateless persons with proper documentation.

: Banks in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Mauritius may open accounts for stateless persons with proper documentation. UNHCR registration or humanitarian ID: Used as identity for compliance.

Amicus has developed a portfolio of pre-vetted banking institutions that accept stateless clients under enhanced due diligence standards. Clients receive assistance in preparing complete AML/KYC packages, source-of-wealth affidavits, and travel logs to ensure transparency.

Case Study: Stateless and Banked in the UAE

A Southeast Asian businessman who lost citizenship due to legal proceedings worked with Amicus to regain access to his funds. Stateless but not without means, he incorporated a Ras Al Khaimah IBC in the UAE. Banking access was achieved through an Emirati private bank using trustee authorization and UNHCR documents. Today, he runs a logistics consulting firm that operates across Africa and Asia, with no citizenship-based reporting requirements.

Residency Options for Stateless Individuals

While stateless persons cannot always travel freely, several countries offer legal pathways for residency:

Brazil and Argentina : Recognize and naturalize stateless individuals under international law.

: Recognize and naturalize stateless individuals under international law. Sweden : Offers stateless status with full social protections.

: Offers stateless status with full social protections. Canada : Grants asylum and long-term residency for stateless individuals with family ties or persecution claims.

: Grants asylum and long-term residency for stateless individuals with family ties or persecution claims. Thailand and Malaysia : Allow exceptional cases of non-citizen residency for economic actors.

: Allow exceptional cases of non-citizen residency for economic actors. Turkey and Georgia: Issue residency cards to stateless persons with corporate ties.

In most cases, residency is the precursor to either permanent legal status or Naturalization under newly assumed names.

Digital Infrastructure Without a Nation-State

One of the challenges of statelessness is maintaining access to online services that require nationality-based identity verification. Amicus addresses this by helping clients:

Use corporate-owned virtual addresses in friendly jurisdictions.

in friendly jurisdictions. Register with international email, hosting, and cloud providers outside the U.S. and EU.

outside the U.S. and EU. Leverage digital ID solutions like Estonias e-residency or Bhutans CID .

. Use prepaid and crypto-enabled debit cards linked to offshore entities.

Employ zero-knowledge proof identity systems for blockchain-based authentication.

Through these methods, clients maintain professional and personal continuity while reducing digital exposure.

Case Study: Stateless but Wired in Singapore

A former journalist from the Middle East renounced his citizenship to avoid conscription and government persecution. Living stateless in Singapore, he used Amicuss digital transformation services to establish secure communications, open-hosted payment gateways, and web-based business operations. Today, he freelances globally, pays tax under Singaporean jurisdiction, and uses Estonian e-residency to sign contracts and bill clients.

Limitations and Legal Risks

Despite its benefits, statelessness is not a panacea. It introduces complex legal vulnerabilities:

Limited travel access : Only a few countries accept stateless travel documents.

: Only a few countries accept stateless travel documents. Banking restrictions : Many institutions still require nationality for compliance.

: Many institutions still require nationality for compliance. Legal limbo : Statelessness must be carefully documented to avoid suspicion of fraudulent identity.

: Statelessness must be carefully documented to avoid suspicion of fraudulent identity. Reentry bans : Stateless persons who previously held controversial citizenships may face bans.

: Stateless persons who previously held controversial citizenships may face bans. Inheritance and family law complications: Stateless individuals may struggle to claim assets in their countries of origin.

Amicus mitigates these risks by planning statelessness as a transitional phase toward new legal identity formationnot a permanent condition.

Reacquisition of Citizenship: A Legal Path Forward

For clients seeking a clean start and eventual reentry into citizenship, Amicus guides Naturalization under new jurisdictions. These include:

Economic citizenship is achieved through Caribbean CBI programs once residency is established.

is achieved through Caribbean CBI programs once residency is established. Naturalization by residence : In countries like Argentina (2 years), Paraguay (3 years), or Brazil (1 year in some humanitarian cases).

: In countries like Argentina (2 years), Paraguay (3 years), or Brazil (1 year in some humanitarian cases). Restoration of old lineage-based nationalities : Via ancestral laws in Italy, Ireland, or Spain.

: Via ancestral laws in Italy, Ireland, or Spain. Marriage or spousal sponsorships : For clients who legally marry citizens of accepting countries.

: For clients who legally marry citizens of accepting countries. Humanitarian reinstatement: For refugees and stateless individuals under UN supervision.

Each pathway requires precise documentation, language integration, and timebut offers clients the ability to reboot with new nationality, new identity, and no ties to previous surveillance networks.

Case Study: Stateless to Citizen of the South Pacific

An Eastern European cybersecurity consultant spent two years stateless after leaving a government job and renouncing his nationality. While residing in Southeast Asia, he applied for Naturalization in Vanuatu after investing in a local infrastructure fund. His new identityfully legal, with a new passport and travel freedomallowed him to reengage in global consulting work, establish a private trust in the Cook Islands, and operate entirely free from former state obligations.

Psychological Transition: Statelessness as Freedom

While the term stateless may seem like a loss, for many Amicus clients, it is a psychological and spiritual rebirth. Clients often report:

A sense of empowerment and control

Relief from oppressive reporting and surveillance

Increased creativity and business expansion

Lower stress and fewer compliance demands

A more apparent connection to chosen communities, not imposed national ties

In the end, living without a country isnt about isolationits about sovereignty. Its about choosing how one lives, moves, transacts, and defines oneself.

Conclusion: Stateless, But Not Without Identity

For a growing number of sophisticated global individuals, statelessness is not a curseits a strategy. When handled responsibly and legally, it becomes a phase of transformation, a clean slate that clears the way for new beginnings. Whether its a brief window between identities or a longer-term lifestyle, living without a countrywhen guided by expertscan unlock an entirely new tier of legal and financial freedom.

Amicus International Consulting provides bespoke strategies for clients seeking true jurisdictional independence. Whether through strategic renunciation, transitional statelessness, or new identity construction via Investment, we help clients legally exit systems that no longer serve them.

The world belongs to those who claim itnot to those who wait for permission.

Contact Information

Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.amicusint.ca
VANCOUVER, British Columbia  In 2025, more high-net-worth Americans than ever are renouncing their U.S. citizenshipand they are doing so with a clear objective in mind: financial privacy, global banking freedom, and legal protection from FATCA-related exposure. Renunciation, once viewed as extreme, is now a strategic decision, particularly when paired with a sophisticated offshore banking plan.

At Amicus International Consulting, citizenship renunciation is not an end. It is the beginning of a legal, financial, and reputational transformation. It marks the point at which individuals regain control of how and where their money moves, under which jurisdiction they are taxed, and how much of their personal financial life remains private.

This release outlines what happens after renunciationand how former U.S. citizens can build a compliant, private, and powerful offshore banking infrastructure across multiple jurisdictions.

Why Offshore Banking Becomes Easier After Renunciation

As a U.S. citizen, opening foreign bank accounts is notoriously complex. Most major global banks, including Swiss private institutions, reject U.S. clients outright due to FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) obligations. These institutions are legally required to report American account holders to the IRS, often under threat of heavy fines. The regulatory burden is so high that even basic serviceslike checking accounts or term depositsare frequently denied to Americans abroad.

After renunciation, however, the dynamic changes significantly:

FATCA obligations no longer apply.

Banks are not required to report account details to the U.S. government.

Enhanced due diligence procedures associated with U.S. persons are eliminated.

Offshore structures such as trusts and holding companies become viable again.

Access to private banking, wealth management, and fintech platforms expands considerably.

In essence, the financial world is reopening.

Case Study: A Tech Founders Banking Reintegration

A 47-year-old software founder renounced his U.S. citizenship in early 2024 after acquiring citizenship through the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship-by-Investment program. Before renunciation, he was denied banking access by three Swiss institutions and was removed from a Luxembourg-based wealth platform due to compliance restrictions.

With Amicus International Consultings guidance, he filed Form 8854, satisfied all IRS obligations, and renounced at the U.S. consulate in Zurich. Post-renunciation, he secured banking relationships in Liechtenstein, Singapore, and Mauritius. His offshore trust, which had been dormant due to FATCA complexities, was reactivated and now holds a diversified portfolio of real estate and private equity investments. His new life includes banking without surveillance, legally and transparently.

Step One: Establishing a Clean Identity for Banking

Once renunciation is complete, clients receive a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) from the U.S. State Department. This document is essentialit serves as proof to financial institutions that FATCA no longer applies.

Next, clients must:

Update passports and legal name documentation Obtain proof of tax compliance (IRS Form 8854) Restructure any U.S.-connected financial accounts Notify or close U.S. brokerages or custodial accounts Document new residency (in a non-U.S. jurisdiction)

Amicus provides a post-renunciation compliance checklist to ensure every document presented to international banks confirms non-U.S. status.

Choosing the Right Banking Jurisdictions

Not all banks are equal, and not all jurisdictions are friendly to the newly renounced. Amicus recommends jurisdictions based on privacy protections, political neutrality, and financial sophistication.

Top jurisdictions for post-renunciation banking include:

Liechtenstein: Exceptional private banks, discretion, and AAA-rated stability

Exceptional private banks, discretion, and AAA-rated stability Switzerland: Renews complete private banking options once U.S. citizenship is renounced

Renews complete private banking options once U.S. citizenship is renounced Singapore: Tech-forward, Asian financial hub, high compliance reputation

Tech-forward, Asian financial hub, high compliance reputation Mauritius: Attractive for multi-currency holdings and tax-neutral entities

Attractive for multi-currency holdings and tax-neutral entities UAE (Dubai): Modern fintech platforms, high account opening success rates

Modern fintech platforms, high account opening success rates Luxembourg: Institutional wealth management and fund structuring

Each jurisdiction offers unique advantages depending on the clients Investment strategy, residence, and language or cultural preferences.

Case Study: A Family Office Migrates to Asia

An American family office managing $40 million in assets found itself hampered by KYC requirements due to the principals U.S. citizenship. After renunciation and relocation to Malaysia, Amicus helped restructure the family office as a Singaporean variable capital company (VCC). Banking relationships were secured with DBS Private Bank and OCBC. U.S. exposure was eliminated, and the family regained control over its Investment decisions.

Opening Personal and Corporate Bank Accounts

Once the new citizenship and CLN are in hand, account opening becomes a matter of standard documentation:

Proof of identity (second passport)

Proof of address (residency permit or utility bill)

Source of wealth documentation (audit trails, company records, past tax filings)

Business structure (if opening under an offshore entity)

Client profile (anticipated deposits, transactions, currencies, Investment plans)

Amicus assists in preparing customized compliance packages for each jurisdiction to ensure minimal delays and maximum success.

Preferred Account Structures Post-Renunciation

While personal accounts are essential, many clients opt for more sophisticated structuring to isolate risk and enhance privacy.

Recommended structures include:

Private Interest Foundations (Liechtenstein or Panama): Suitable for family wealth

Suitable for family wealth International Business Companies (IBCs): Nevis, Seychelles, BVI for corporate privacy

Nevis, Seychelles, BVI for corporate privacy Trusts (Cook Islands, Belize, Nevis): Asset protection and estate planning

Asset protection and estate planning Holding Companies: Luxembourg, Mauritius, or the UAE for Investment vehicles

Luxembourg, Mauritius, or the UAE for Investment vehicles e-Wallets and Digital Asset Accounts: Singaporean or Swiss fintech firms

These structures allow former U.S. citizens to bank as legal persons with no reportable connection to the U.S., while remaining fully compliant in their new jurisdiction.

Case Study: An Artist Banks Internationally Under a Foundation

A New York artist who had been living in Portugal chose to renounce her U.S. citizenship in 2023 due to IRS scrutiny of her NFT-related earnings. After acquiring citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda, Amicus helped her establish a Liechtenstein Private Interest Foundation. All future royalties, licensing income, and digital art transactions are now processed through a bank account in Zurich. She enjoys discretion, reinvestment flexibility, and total legal clarity.

Digital Banking in a Post-U.S. World

One of the most significant post-renunciation advantages is access to fintech platforms and digital banks that previously excluded U.S. citizens.

Post-renunciation, former Americans can now:

Open accounts with European digital banks (Revolut, N26, Wise)

Access Swiss and Singaporean fintech custodians

Participate in crypto platforms not licensed for U.S. use

Issue international debit cards tied to multi-currency wallets

Manage portfolios via offshore wealth apps

For digital nomads, entrepreneurs, and remote workers, this is a game-changer. Once outside U.S. regulatory reach, options multiplyand integration becomes seamless.

Case Study: A Crypto Investor Unlocks Global Tools

A 29-year-old crypto entrepreneur living in Thailand renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2024 after acquiring Vanuatu citizenship. Previously blocked from several exchanges and wallet platforms, he now manages his holdings through a Liechtenstein custodial platform and a Singapore fintech account with automated tax reporting to local authorities. No U.S. reports are required, and his DeFi portfolio remains active and compliant.

Taxation After Renunciation

Renouncing U.S. citizenship does not mean tax evasionit simply ends the obligation to file globally with the IRS. Taxation after renunciation is determined by your new country of residence and the structures you put in place.

Amicus works with international tax attorneys to ensure that clients:

Select favorable tax residency jurisdictions

Avoid accidental taxation by U.S.-connected entities

Manage cross-border withholding issues legally

Use treaties and local exemptions where available

File correct tax forms under their new jurisdiction

Popular tax havens include: Monaco, Portugal, Panama, Dubai, Uruguay, and Thailand.

Reentering the U.S.: Legal Considerations

Contrary to myth, renunciation does not bar travel to the United States. Former citizens can visit via:

Visa Waiver Programs (if their second passport qualifies)

Standard visitor visas (B1/B2)

Work or student visas (if eligible)

However, access to certain financial institutions, IRS records, and Medicare/Medicaid will cease permanently.

Amicus prepares clients with:

Reentry strategies

Legal travel documentation

Disclosure planning

Inheritance and estate planning for U.S.-based family members

Case Study: A Surgeon Returns to Speak at a Conference

A retired physician who had moved to Spain renounced his U.S. citizenship after years of retirement reporting hassles. With his Spanish passport, he applied for and received a U.S. B1 visa. Amicus provided travel documentation, exit proof, and tax certification. He now travels freely for academic conferences and family eventswith no tax exposure or banking limitations.

Risks to Avoid Post-Renunciation

While the benefits are vast, risks still exist if offshore banking is not structured correctly. Key mistakes to avoid include:

Maintaining dormant U.S. accounts or U.S. dollar custodians

Using financial entities that retain look-through connections to the U.S.

Failing to declare foreign assets in your new jurisdiction

Using nominee structures without legal agreements

Ignoring estate tax exposure from U.S.-based heirs or property

Amicus mitigates these risks through full-spectrum legal audits, corporate structuring, and jurisdictional vetting.

The Psychological Relief of Financial Reintegration

Many clients describe life after renunciation as peaceful. Offshore banking, once tense and compliance-heavy, becomes routine. The inability to invest freely disappears. The constant reporting requirements stop. Account freezes and red flags become a thing of the past.

Clients gain:

Control

Clarity

Access

Flexibility

Peace

And most importantlyprivacy without paranoia.

Conclusion: Renunciation Is Only the First Step

Saying goodbye to Uncle Sam is not the conclusion of ones financial life. For many, its the start of something far better: a diversified, private, legally-structured offshore financial life tailored to international goals.

Offshore banking after citizenship renunciation isnt a loophole. Its a lawful, responsible strategy for those who no longer wish to be tethered to one of the worlds most aggressive tax and regulatory regimes.

Amicus International Consulting offers full-spectrum supportfrom second passport acquisition and renunciation preparation to offshore entity creation, bank account setup, and long-term wealth planning.

The global financial world is openonce you exit the American cage.

Contact Information

Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.amicusint.ca
VANCOUVER, British Columbia  The trend is undeniable: High-net-worth Americans are severing their official ties to the United States in record numbers. In 2024 alone, more than 10,000 individuals formally renounced their U.S. citizenshipa 42% increase over the previous year and the highest on record. From billionaire tech entrepreneurs and hedge fund managers to retired professionals and international investors, the profile of the modern expatriate is expanding rapidly.

At Amicus International Consulting, we have witnessed firsthand this accelerating shift. What was once a discreet and uncommon step for the ultra-wealthy is now a deliberate, strategic decision made by those who value privacy, mobility, and financial freedom. This press release explores the reasons behind this dramatic exodus, the legal pathways that make it possible, and how high-net-worth individuals are restructuring their lives beyond U.S. borders with intentionand without regret.

The Rise of the Economic Expatriate

The notion of abandoning U.S. citizenship used to carry stigmatoday, it is a practical business decision. The wealthy are not fleeing responsibility or seeking to escape justice; they are responding to a global reality in which American citizenship has become a liability for those who operate internationally.

Primary drivers include:

Extraterritorial taxation: The United States is one of only two countries that taxes citizens regardless of residence.

The United States is one of only two countries that taxes citizens regardless of residence. FATCA compliance burdens: The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act mandates disclosure of foreign assets, causing many foreign banks to reject U.S. clients entirely.

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act mandates disclosure of foreign assets, causing many foreign banks to reject U.S. clients entirely. IRS overreach and audits: The perception of aggressive enforcement and increasingly complex reporting requirements.

The perception of aggressive enforcement and increasingly complex reporting requirements. Geopolitical risk: Rising global hostility toward American policies has made some U.S. passport holders feel unsafe abroad.

Rising global hostility toward American policies has made some U.S. passport holders feel unsafe abroad. Loss of financial privacy: American citizens face increased scrutiny from financial institutions due to U.S. regulations.

Case Study: Hedge Fund Principal Renounces for Global Access

A principal at a New York-based hedge fund managing assets across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East found himself barred from opening private accounts in several Swiss and UAE banks. His U.S. passport was flagged for enhanced due diligence and reporting requirements. After consulting Amicus, he pursued second citizenship through Antigua and Barbuda, relocated his financial operations under a non-U.S. holding company, and completed renunciation in 2023. Today, he reports seamless global banking, no IRS entanglements, and complete legal compliance in his new jurisdiction.

Second Passports: The First Step to Freedom

Before renouncing U.S. citizenship, individuals must acquire a second passportoften through investment-based citizenship programs. This prerequisite ensures continued global mobility and compliance with international travel protocols.

Top destinations include:

St. Kitts and Nevis: No global tax reporting, stable political system.

No global tax reporting, stable political system. Portugal: EU access and low-cost Golden Visa residency program.

EU access and low-cost Golden Visa residency program. Vanuatu: Rapid Naturalization and confidentiality.

Rapid Naturalization and confidentiality. Dominica: Affordable Investment route and robust privacy protections.

Affordable Investment route and robust privacy protections. Malta: EU citizenship via rigorous due diligence and Investment.

These programs require Investment levels ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million, but for many clients, the return is not just mobilityits autonomy.

The Legal Process of Renunciation

Renouncing U.S. citizenship is a legal act governed by Section 349(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The process includes:

Securing a second passport Complying with IRS reporting requirements for the last five years Calculating and paying any applicable exit tax Scheduling an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate Signing a Statement of Understanding and Form DS-4079 Receiving a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN)

It is irreversible and must be approached with strategic planning to avoid unintended consequences. Amicus provides full-service legal support to ensure every stage is handled with precision and discretion.

Exit Tax: What the Wealthy Must Consider

The exit tax is often cited as a reason not to renounce, but the reality is more nuanced. For individuals with over $2 million in net worth or who fail the income tax compliance test, the IRS may impose a capital gains tax as if all assets were sold on the day before renunciation.

However, proper structuring can significantly reduce or eliminate this liability:

Trusts and foundations may fall outside the scope of the exit tax

Assets held in corporations may defer taxation

Real estate held in foreign entities may avoid automatic triggering

Case Study: Real Estate Developer Restructures Before Renunciation

A Florida-based real estate developer with projects in Mexico and Panama sought to renounce but feared the exit tax on $9 million in appreciated holdings. Amicus advised a pre-renunciation corporate restructuring. He placed his assets into a Belizean trust and transferred project ownership to a Panamanian foundation. After legal review and tax compliance, he exited with minimal exposure and now resides in Costa Rica under a retirement visa.

Privacy and Security: Beyond Tax Optimization

While tax concerns are often the headline, most clients cite privacy as their primary motivation. American citizens are among the most surveilled in the world, both domestically and internationally. Every foreign account, Investment, or transfer is potentially subject to:

FATCA reporting

FBAR disclosures

OFAC screening

Automatic exchange of information with U.S. agencies

For individuals in controversial industries, such as political consulting or even cryptocurrency, this exposure creates constant vulnerability.

Case Study: Tech Investor Escapes IRS Crypto Scrutiny

A serial tech investor and early cryptocurrency adopter based in Austin, Texas, faced aggressive IRS inquiries regarding offshore wallets. Although his holdings were legally acquired, ambiguity in reporting rules created a legal gray zone. He obtained citizenship through St. Lucia, moved his trading to a European platform, and renounced in 2024. Today, he invests through a Liechtenstein holding company and reports exclusively to local authorities.

Banking Without Borders

Post-renunciation, clients are free to bank in jurisdictions that reject FATCA and other U.S.-imposed compliance protocols. Amicus helps place clients with private bankers and Investment advisors in regions such as:

Switzerland: Tier-1 banking privacy and wealth management

Tier-1 banking privacy and wealth management Liechtenstein: Confidential trust and foundation services

Confidential trust and foundation services Dubai (UAE): Crypto-friendly and high-liquidity private banks

Crypto-friendly and high-liquidity private banks Georgia: Favorable tax policies and flexible onboarding

Favorable tax policies and flexible onboarding Singapore: Secure but highly regulated financial environment

By decoupling from the U.S. financial system, clients experience fewer delays, lower compliance costs, and better asset protection.

Why This Trend Is Accelerating in 2025

Several recent developments have catalyzed a surge in interest from affluent Americans:

Implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act (2024): Now requires disclosure of beneficial ownership for many LLCs and corporations, even offshore.

Now requires disclosure of beneficial ownership for many LLCs and corporations, even offshore. Increased IRS enforcement budget and AI-powered audits

New biometric tracking systems at U.S. ports of entry

International political instability making American citizenship a geopolitical liability

The expansion of AI surveillance in global finance and travel

Together, these trends have shifted the risk-reward calculation. More clients are concluding that U.S. citizenship no longer represents securitybut surveillance.

Family Wealth Protection: Planning Across Generations

Renunciation is not just for individualsits increasingly a family strategy. Clients concerned about multi-generational financial security often structure:

Second citizenships for children

Trusts that bypass U.S. jurisdiction entirely

Asset diversification in gold, crypto, and foreign real estate

Educational planning abroad to reduce exposure to U.S. systems

This strategic decoupling allows children to grow up with more global options, free from FATCA-based restrictions or automatic tax obligations.

Case Study: Multinational Family Rebuilds in Switzerland

A multi-generational family from California with European and Asian ties renounced U.S. citizenships after securing EU passports via ancestry. Their holdingsranging from vineyards in Italy to tech assets in Singaporewere consolidated under a Liechtenstein foundation. The entire family now operates with full transparency to Swiss authorities, no longer subject to U.S. global income taxation or FBAR scrutiny.

Misconceptions and Realities of Renunciation

There are many myths surrounding U.S. citizenship renunciation. Lets clarify:

Myth: Youll never be allowed back into the U.S.

Reality: Most former citizens can re-enter with a visa or visa waiver.

Youll never be allowed back into the U.S. Most former citizens can re-enter with a visa or visa waiver. Myth: You lose Social Security or retirement benefits.

Reality: Eligible retirees may continue receiving benefits in most countries.

You lose Social Security or retirement benefits. Eligible retirees may continue receiving benefits in most countries. Myth: Its illegal or disloyal.

Reality: Renunciation is a lawful, constitutional right recognized globally.

Its illegal or disloyal. Renunciation is a lawful, constitutional right recognized globally. Myth: Its only for tax cheats.

Reality: Most clients are fully tax compliant and seek renunciation for regulatory relief, mobility, or personal freedom.

The Process Timeline

Week 14: Consultation, second passport selection Week 412: Investment, documentation, naturalization in chosen country Week 1220: Tax compliance and legal structuring Week 2024: Embassy appointment scheduling Week 2430: Final renunciation and receipt of CLN

Total time: 6 to 9 months for a complete transition.

The Financial Case for Renunciation

Remaining in the U.S. system often costs high-net-worth individuals:

$50,000+ annually in compliance and legal services

Exposure to audit, enforcement, and retroactive penalties

Limited access to global markets

Forced disclosure of sensitive information

Conflicted investment strategies due to IRS constraints

By contrast, the cost of exit:

Citizenship-by-investment: $100,000$250,000

Legal structuring: $15,000$50,000

Exit tax (if applicable): Varies, but manageable with planning

Peace of mind: Immeasurable

Case Study: Private Equity Partner Gains Strategic Advantage

A private equity partner managing funds in emerging markets found it increasingly difficult to co-invest alongside non-U.S. partners due to SEC and IRS exposure. Post-renunciation and re-domiciliation in Portugal, he gained unrestricted access to deal flow in Asia, opened new tax-exempt structures in the Caribbean, and negotiated better rates with offshore bankers. His firm now raises capital through a Cayman structure free from U.S. regulatory encumbrance.

Amicus International Consulting: Your Partner in Sovereign Transitions

Renouncing U.S. citizenship is not about running awayits about reclaiming control. At Amicus International Consulting, we guide our clients through every phase of this transition:

Citizenship-by-investment planning

Global tax strategy and exit tax analysis

Offshore corporate and trust structuring

Legal documentation and embassy liaison

Post-renunciation relocation and banking setup

We serve clients who are clear-eyed about the risks of continued U.S. entanglement and bold enough to forge new identities on their own terms.

Conclusion: Leaving to Live Freely

In 2025, wealth is not measured solely in assetsit is measured in access, security, and privacy. For high-net-worth Americans, U.S. citizenship has become an obstacle to that freedom. Renunciation is not a betrayal of a country; it is an assertion of personal sovereignty in a world where surveillance is the default.

If your wealth spans borders, your citizenship strategy should too.

Contact Information

Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.amicusint.ca






Sunday, August 3, 2025 - Former Chief Justice David Maraga has sharply criticised the Government's new university funding model.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, July 3rd, Maraga described the new policy as poorly conceived and lacking a solid implementation strategy.

Maraga argued that the model imposes a significant financial burden on students, predicting a spike in university dropouts due to affordability challenges.

Some young people have already missed classes.

They are going to lose years, and some may drop out entirely, he cautioned.

He questioned the rationale behind scrapping the former Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model, urging the Government to revisit the decision and introduce a more comprehensive, student-friendly alternative.

If you want to introduce a new model, you must think it through clearly. This isnt how things are done, he said.

The Higher Education Funding Model, introduced by President William Ruto in 2023, channels funding directly to students based on financial need using a Means Testing Instrument (MTI).

It replaced the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model to address funding shortfalls in public universities and TVETs.

Maragas remarks follow an announcement by Higher Education PS, Beatrice Inyangala, that public university fees will be reduced from September 1st, 2025, under the new model, with universities directed to implement the changes promptly.






Sunday, August 3, 2025 - The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has released a fresh list of accredited institutions authorised to offer legal education in Kenya.

Published in a recent gazette notice, the list outlines universities and colleges approved to provide law programmes at diploma, undergraduate, and master's levels, as part of efforts to uphold quality and compliance in legal training.

According to CLE, only four institutions have been cleared to offer Master of Laws (LL.M.) programmes: Strathmore Law School (accredited until April 17, 2030), Mount Kenya University School of Law (until March 23, 2026), Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) (until September 21, 2028), and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) (until June 20, 2028).

Notably, the University of Nairobi is absent from the postgraduate list once again.

At the diploma level, only four institutions are approved: Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Mount Kenya University (Parklands Campus), Kisii University, and the Kenya School of Law, the latter being the sole provider of a Diploma in Para Legal Studies.

For the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree, CLE has approved the following 18 universities:

UMMA University

Africa Nazarene University

Chuka University

Moi University

University of Nairobi

Egerton University

Kabarak University

Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)

Strathmore Law School

Maseno University

South Eastern Kenya University

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)

Riara Law School

Kenyatta University

Daystar University

University of Embu

Kisii University

Mount Kenya University

The CLE reiterated that under the Legal Education Act (Chapter 16B), only licensed institutions that meet rigorous standards in infrastructure, faculty qualifications, academic content, and curriculum guidelines are permitted to offer legal education in Kenya.

The updated list ensures students and employers can rely on the integrity and quality of legal training in the country.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, August 3, 2025 - It was a day of elegance and tradition in Kapseret on Saturday August 2nd as two influential families came together for the dowry ceremony of Brian Belio, son of Immigration PS Belio Kipsang, and Nicole Langat, daughter of billionaire businessman, David Langat.

The event, rooted in the cultural practice of Tumdoab Kanyiook, celebrated love, unity, and gratitude.

The couple dazzled in coordinated tan attire - Brian in a sleek suit and Nicole in a strapless bodycon dress complemented by a cowhide-pattern cape that paid homage to their cultural roots.

PS Kipsang and Langat looked equally dashing, dressed in light grey and navy blue suits, respectively.

The intimate yet high-profile affair was attended by political and business elites.

Kapseret MP, Oscar Sudi, shared warm wishes with the couple, posting, Wishing Brian and Nicole a lifetime of love, happiness, and togetherness!

Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, newly married himself, called it a beautiful celebration of culture, love, and unity.

Photos from the event quickly went viral, drawing admiration - and curiosity - from Kenyans online.










Sunday, August 3, 2025 - A shocking murder plot has been uncovered involving a woman from Embu, identified as Caroline Mukami, who allegedly attempted to hire a hit squad to eliminate her baby daddys wife, Ida Kathambi, a resident of Meru County.

According to Private Investigator, Jane Mugo, Mukami paid a deposit of KSh 45,000 to a group of suspected hitmen, money reportedly intended to cover fuel and hire a gun for the operation.

The total agreed amount for the planned execution was KSh 300,000.

Fortunately, the suspected hitmen were not genuine killers, but opportunists seemingly more interested in extorting money from Mukami than executing the plot.

The matter first came to light via an anonymous email sent to the private investigator, and it was immediately escalated to the Director of Operations Eastern Province, as well as the OCPD Embu and DCIO Embu East.

A formal meeting involving all three police bosses was held at the OCPDs office, where the details of the alleged plot were deliberated.

When Mukami was contacted and summoned for a meeting by the Private Investigator, she arrived accompanied by her uncle, who allegedly offered a KSh 300,000 bribe in exchange for keeping the matter out of the public eye.

The offer was declined.

In a dramatic twist, Mukami is reported to have undressed halfway in a bid to disrupt the meeting, smashed a phone belonging to the private investigators assistant, and attempted to use her connections to evade justice.

She allegedly called a media personality and a rogue police officer, seemingly to shield herself from arrest.

Following these events, Mukami is said to have disappeared, but not before filing a false OB report, presumably in an effort to distort the facts and cover her tracks.

However, the private investigator had already filed a legitimate OB report, and most importantly, had recorded conversations, meetings, and videos documenting the entire saga.

Caroline Mukami caught planning evil.... pic.twitter.com/ZogALj0JKg  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) August 4, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, August 3, 2025 - Former President Uhuru Kenyatta appeared visibly impressed as he toured the newly renovated State House alongside President William Ruto.

Cameras captured the moment Uhurus face lit up - surprised, amused, and clearly taking in the changes with interest.

From the elegant new interiors to the fresh landscaping, the transformation left the former Head of State in awe.

His expression says more than words ever could!

See photos.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, August 3, 2025 - The UK High Court has issued a landmark ruling compelling the release of the names and last known addresses of 11 British soldiers alleged to have fathered and abandoned children in Kenya.

The unprecedented judgment opens the door for potentially hundreds of similar cases involving British Army personnel previously stationed in the country.

The court directed the UKs Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue & Customs to disclose the contact details of the soldiers, allowing affected children to trace their paternity.

Many of the children were born near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki, 200km north of Nairobi, where UK troops have long been stationed.





According to Metro, some of the relationships were consensual, while others may have involved abuse.

The children, now older, face stigma and discrimination in Kenya due to their mixed-race identity - many are labelled as "white" and reportedly denied job opportunities or charged higher school fees.

Mothers say the soldiers cut off contact, married elsewhere, and ignored attempts to reconnect.

Some children are now seeking legal recognition of paternity, which could entitle them to British citizenship.

Despite growing pressure, efforts by Kenyas parliament to investigate misconduct by the British Army have repeatedly stalled, raising diplomatic and ethical concerns about the future of UK military operations in the region.






Sunday, August 3, 2025 - Tiaty MP, William Kamket, has ignited a political firestorm after claiming that Kenya Kwanza leaders and supporters will ensure President William Ruto secures a second term - even if it means adding votes.

Speaking during a dowry ceremony for the families of Immigration PS, Belio Kipsang, and businessman David Langat on Saturday, August 3rd, Kamket openly declared that he and Kapseret MP, Oscar Sudi, are prepared to do whatever it takes to retain the presidency.

Sometimes, MP Sudi and I are harsh, and I always hear him say we are going to add votes.

Im also saying the same - if the votes are not enough, well ensure they are enough, whatever comes may, Kamket said.

He urged supporters to remain loyal to President Ruto and ignore critics, emphasizing that everyone here believes in two terms.

Kamkets remarks follow similar controversial statements by Wajir Woman Representative, Fatuma Jehow, who recently stated, Even if there will be no votes, we will steal.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) swiftly condemned her comments, calling them reckless and a threat to electoral integrity.

The commission urges Kenyans to ignore such claims and trust in IEBC to deliver a free, fair, and verifiable election, read an IEBC statement.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also weighed in, warning politicians against making irresponsible statements that undermine public trust in the electoral process.

The President will seek votes legally. Leaders should stop making such claims, he said.
(Global Times) According to Japanese media reports, under pressure from conservative forces within the party, Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering not announcing his view in a form of written statement on relevant historical recognition on August 15, the anniversary of Japan's defeat, or on September 2, the day Japan formally signed the surrender document, and relevant coordination is underway. Since the 1995 "Murayama Statement," it has become customary for successive Japanese governments to issue statements on historical issues during "decade" anniversaries. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and Japan's unconditional surrender. On the issue of historical recognition, the Japanese government should clearly express the appropriate stance to the international community. Any attempt to downplay the history of aggression or evade responsibility for reflection is a challenge to international justice and a detriment to Japan's own international credibility.

In 1995, then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama issued a statement titled "On the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the War's End," in which, for the first time as a sitting prime minister, he acknowledged Japan's "colonial rule and aggression" and expressed "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology." In 2005, Junichiro Koizumi's statement largely followed the spirit of the "Murayama Statement." In 2015, Shinzo Abe's 70th-anniversary statement, although attempting to end the "apology diplomacy," also continued the postwar tradition of the Prime Minister expressing his historical views. These documents form the cornerstone of rebuilding trust between Japan and its Asian neighbors, serving as a litmus test for the international community to gauge whether Japan has truly returned to the path of peace. If this tradition is interrupted this year, it will not only anger some Japanese citizens and deeply disappoint Japan's Asian neighbors but also raise doubts and concerns in the international community about the country's future direction.

Japan's reintegration into the international community and the restoration of normal relations with neighboring countries after World War II were built on reflecting on its history of aggression and pledging never to wage war again. This is not only an apology and repentance to the victimized countries but also Japan's self-redemption. When political considerations outweigh historical responsibility and evading reflection becomes the "safe option," it reflects an atmosphere in Japanese society lacking the necessary introspection about that war. In recent years, with Japan's rightward political shift, historical narratives have increasingly been shaped by right-wing forces, who have long downplayed or denied wartime atrocities. A dangerous "victimhood narrative" has also taken hold in Japan, emphasizing the suffering from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Tokyo firebombing, while avoiding discussion of the root causes of these tragedies - it was Japan's aggressive expansion and harm that provoked the just counterattack by the Allied forces against fascism. The Yasukuni Shrine still enshrines Class-A war criminals, and some Japanese textbooks continue to be evasive about the Nanjing Massacre, inevitably causing Japan's younger generation to drift further from historical truth.

In tandem with this regression in historical recognition, Japan has been taking increasingly bold steps in recent years to "loosen" its security constraints. It has accelerated efforts to revise its pacifist constitution, amended the "Three Principles on Arms Exports," forcefully passed new security laws, lifted the ban on collective self-defense, sharply increased defense spending, acquired so-called "counterstrike capabilities," developed and deployed offensive weapons, and continuously broke through the "exclusively defense-oriented" framework. Some right-wing Japanese scholars even irresponsibly claimed that Japan's moves to expand its military and prepare for war are "too weak and too slow." These developments have triggered serious concerns among Japan's own citizens, its neighboring countries and the international community, constituting a serious provocation to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the post-war international order.

The stability of historical understanding is a crucial part of the cornerstone of a nation's credibility. After World War II, Germany was able to earn the forgiveness of its European neighbors precisely because it consistently and thoroughly reflected for decades on the crimes committed under Nazism. In contrast, Japan's reflection on its history of aggression has remained evasive, using vague terms like "the end of the war" or "the fifteen-year war" to downplay the nature of the war. This only further undermines trust with Asian countries that once suffered under Japanese aggression. In this context, the absence of a prime ministerial statement would send an unsettling signal: Is Japan prepared to abandon its long-held postwar commitment to being a "peaceful nation" grounded in historical reflection?

Facing and treating history with the right attitude is a crucial prerequisite for Japan's return to the international community in the postwar era. Properly addressing historical issues is a political foundation for stable China-Japan relations. Over the past 80 years, there have been times - represented by the "Murayama Statement" - when many peace-loving Japanese politicians and civic groups set positive examples by actively correcting societal views of history. At this historical juncture of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, Japan should not continue to evade responsibility under the highjack of right-wing forces, but instead courageously face its history.


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Hindustan Zinc Supercharges Green Logistics Drive with 200 EV & LNG Trucks



khaskhabar.com : Mon, 04 Aug 2025 5:38 PM

In a first for India, battery-swapping electric trucks set to revolutionize mineral transport

Mumbai/Udaipur Hindustan Zinc Limited, the countrys only and the worlds largest integrated zinc producer, has rolled out one of Indias most ambitious green logistics overhauls yet  teaming up with Essar-backed GreenLine Mobility Solutions to deploy 200 zero- and low-emission trucks.

In a move that blends innovation with climate commitment, the company is introducing 100 electric trucks fitted with Indias first commercial-scale battery swapping system for around-the-clock concentrate transport between its mines and smelters. Simultaneously, it is doubling its LNG-powered fleet from 100 to 200 vehicles to slash emissions from long-haul finished goods deliveries.

The investment, worth 400 crore and entirely funded by GreenLine, is expected to eliminate 1.5 lakh tonnes of Scope 3 carbon emissions every year  roughly equal to planting 7.5 million trees  and save over 236 tonnes of CO every month from the concentrate transport segment alone.

The Big Picture: Net Zero by 2050  or SoonerHindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company, has set itself a firm deadline to achieve net zero emissions well before 2050. This latest logistics revamp is a cornerstone in its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) roadmap, which includes halving Scope 1 and 2 emissions and cutting Scope 3 emissions by 25% from 2020 levels.

Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, called the step a bold leap in the journey to net zero.

We believe the future of manufacturing is green. Deploying EVs and LNG trucks at this scale is not just about compliance  its about shaping a cleaner, more sustainable supply chain, Misra said.

Why Battery Swapping MattersWhile electric trucks are gaining traction worldwide, long charging times have been a stumbling block for commercial transport. Hindustan Zinc and GreenLines battery-swapping approach aims to change that.

Three high-capacity battery-swapping stations will enable trucks to run 24/7 without waiting hours to recharge  a first-of-its-kind setup for Indias heavy-duty sector.

Anand Mimani, CEO of GreenLine, framed it as an industry-shaping innovation:

Clean transport isnt a future option  its todays responsibility. With our LNG and EV fleet built by Blue Energy Motors, were delivering a practical, scalable model for industrial decarbonization.

The GreenLine FactorGreenLine Mobility already runs more than 650 LNG trucks serving clients in FMCG, e-commerce, metals, cement, oil & gas, and chemicals. Collectively, the fleet has clocked 50 million kilometres and prevented 14,000 tonnes of CO emissions.

The companys future blueprint includes a 10,000-strong clean truck fleet backed by 100 LNG refuelling stations, EV charging hubs, and battery-swapping points nationwide  an ecosystem that could cut up to 1 million tonnes of carbon annually.

Hindustan Zincs Green CredentialsWorlds Most Sustainable Metals & Mining Company for two years running  S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024

Market share: 77% of Indias primary zinc market

One of the top 5 silver producers globally

Producer of EcoZen  Asias first low-carbon green zinc, made with renewable energy and with a carbon footprint 75% lower than the global average

Certified 3.32x Water Positive

This green logistics expansion not only advances Hindustan Zincs climate goals but also positions it as a trailblazer in Indias industrial decarbonization  proving that heavy industry and environmental responsibility can, in fact, move in the same lane.

If you want, I can also create a short, punchy online news version or a magazine-style feature with more storytelling elements and quotes to make it even more reader-friendly.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Former editor of Smash Hits and Empire magazines Barry McIlheney was a leader who was also joyously rock n roll and punk rock, a memorial service has heard.

The service at St Marks in Dundela, Belfast, allowed former friends and colleagues to gather and celebrate the life of the journalist, broadcaster and publisher, who also launched Heat magazine.

Mr McIlheney, originally from Belfast, died in May at the age of 65.

Among those paying tribute at the service on Monday was Mike Edgar, formerly a BBC producer, who said Mr McIlheney had been a very special man.

Mourners leave St Marks Church in east Belfast after the memorial service for former Smash Hits and Empire magazine editor Barry McIlheney (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said: Barry had an unstoppable passion for music and everyone you could think of in the world of music had respect for him, and rightly so.

Without Barry I would never have encountered the crazy worlds of Vince Power or The Pogues.

They all loved him.

Mike Edgar (right) leaves St Marks Church after reading a eulogy at the memorial service for former magazine editor Barry McIlheney (Liam McBurney/PA)

He added: Barry was a true journalist, someone who exuded confidence at the right time and never missed a good opportunity if it presented itself.

On one occasion he was live on the radio with me doing a report from a phone box on Carnaby Street in London and as ever feeding in the 10 pence pieces and entertaining us royally.

Whilst chatting live on-air, Barry looks out the phone box window and spots Depeche Mode walking down Carnaby Street.

As quick as anything Baz kicks the door of the phone box open and shouts: Hey lads, come and talk to the good people of Northern Ireland on the radio!  which unbelievably, they dutifully did.

There then followed a Guinness Book of Records-style moment with three members of Depeche Mode and Barry stuffed into a phone box for what turned into a great moment of showbiz madness

Only Barry McIlheney would have the brass neck to carry off same!

Mr Edgar said McIlheney, despite his success, had always remained passionate about Belfast.

He said: Like his contemporaries David Hepworth, Mark Ellen or Niall Stokes, Barry might have worn a suit on occasion but no one could ever call him a suit!

Barry was a leader, but he was also joyously rock n roll and punk rock.

He added: He was well read, brave in his work, always curious, never boring, always kind and always impressive.

Barry was larger than life, he always greeted us with a smile on his face, wearing his big coat with an upturned collar, a cheeky glint in his eye, a smart one-liner up his sleeve, and a well-earned loveable Belfast swagger.

Drummer Paul Burgess (centre) from the band Ruefrex, leaves St Marks Church (Liam McBurney/PA)

Delivering the homily at the service, Archbishop of Armagh Rev John McDowell said the good that Barry did will not be interred with his bones but will live on in your memories forever.

He said: Barry never forgot where he came from, but he didnt talk nonsense about it either.

It wasnt everything and it wasnt nothing.
Gardai in Waterford are investigating the all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in his 70s following an incident at a residential property in Waterford City on Friday, August 1.

Gardai and emergency services responded to reports of an incident at a residential property in St Catherines Grange shortly after 2pm.

A male in his 70s was discovered at the scene with injuries and in an unresponsive condition. He was transported to University Hospital Waterford for treatment and was pronounced deceased on Sunday, August 3.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny gardai launch major operation which is already underway!

A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene during the incident and subsequently detained at a Garda station within the Waterford-Kilkenny Division under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He was later charged in relation to the investigation and appeared before Waterford District Court on Sunday.

The local Coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist have been notified and a post-mortem examination will be carried out. A technical and forensic examination at the scene has been completed.

A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) is leading the investigation and a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) is providing support to the deceaseds family. An incident room has been established at Waterford Garda Station.

Investigating Gardai are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Waterford Garda Station 051 305 300 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Investigations are ongoing and further updates will follow.

FOR SOUTH KILKENNY NEWS, CLICK HERE
Nicola Willis announced:

Kiwibank has been given the green light to compete more vigorously with the big four Australian-owned banks that dominate the New Zealand banking sector.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today that, following a market testing process, Cabinet had approved Kiwibanks parent company raising up to $500 million of capital to fund the banks growth.

Allowing Kiwibank to raise up to an additional $500 million is the first step towards giving Kiwibank access to the capital it needs to truly compete with the big four Aussie banks while retaining its intrinsic New Zealand identity.

The Commerce Commission reported last year that New Zealands four largest banks did not face strong competition when providing personal banking services.

Advice to the Government is that an additional $500 million of capital could support up to $4 billion of business lending or $10 billion of home lending.
Erica Stanford and the PM have announced incredibly significant changes to New Zealands secondary and vocational education system. Ill explain what they are shortly, but first everyone needs to understand that the status quo is not working. Thats not an opinion, but backed by hard global data.

Since 2000 our scores on the global PISA test has dropped 28 points for reading, 44 points for maths and 26 points for science. If you defend the status quo, you are saying we should settle for more decline. Ironically over the same time period NCEA achievement rates have risen.

It doesnt have to be like this. In Ireland the changes since 2000 have been just -11, -11 and -4 compared to -28, -44 and -26 for NZ. The UK is -1, -6 and -15. The US +0, -18 and +10.

The decline is not due to our top students performing less well. It is because of the tail end of students having a greater and greater gap. So if you care about equity in education and closing the gap between the top and bottom performing students, you should be not be supporting the status quo.

The changes announced today are huge. This is no tinker. They were designed by an advisory group of principals who are at the coalface and know what does and doesnt work. The key changes are:

NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3 are gone.

Year 11 will do a Foundational Skills Award in literacy and numeracy. Year 12 the New Zealand Certificate of Education and Year 13 the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education.

The standards-based assessment system where you can do a collection of individual standards such as coffee making is replaced with a subject-based approach that requires coherent programmes of learning.

English and Maths will become compulsory for Year 11

The two certificates will require you to pass at least four out of five subjects

Assessment in each subject will get students a grade out of 100, with the traditional grade ranges of A to E. Parents, students and employers will once again be able to understand how a student is doing.

There will be a focus on stronger vocational pathways with new subjects and standards co-designed with industry experts in areas like construction, automotive and hospitality.

The case for change is overwhelming. Apart from the massive decline PISA scores (despite an increase in NCEA achievement rates, which shows the two were not aligned), research has found the following:

60% of teachers dont believe NCEA Level 1 is reliable

71% of employers dont see NCEA Level 1 as a reliable measure of knowledge

Only 54% of Year 12 and 65% of Year 13 students achieved NCEA with three or more full subjects

The focus on accumulating credits gets in the way of learning

Often students stop studying as soon as they achieve the minimum number of credits, students tell teachers they are only interested in learning if its worth credits

Lack of deep learning and does not encourage students to learn independently- tertiary providers report having to teach students how to learn

The proposed overhaul is open for consultation until 15 September. I would urge parents especially to submit on it. This is arguably the most important reform the Government will undertake, in terms of New Zealands future.

The consultation document is below.
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Night economy and domestic cultural IPs boost tourism market in NW China's Gansu

17:02, August 04, 2025 By Xue Lingqiao ( Ecns.cn

(ECNS) -- Within the vast desert, the majestic mountains and rivers, the Hexi Corridor has nurtured profound historical and cultural heritage. As the westernmost starting point of the Great Wall, Jiayu Pass is the best-preserved ancient military fortress along the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The ancient pass, widely referred to as the "First and Greatest Pass under Heaven", has become a prime destination for many tourists to experience the frontier ambiance of China's Northwest and witness the majestic grandeur of the Great Wall.

"Despite being located along the popular Northwest travel line, Jiayuguan City in Gansu serves as a transit zone where tourists seldom choose to stay," explained a director from the Jiayu Pass scenic area.

Contrary to the perceived cultural tourism boom in the Northwest, the official noted that compared to other provincial cities like Dunhuang, Jiayuguan's tourism development still needs to break through encirclement.

How can the ancient Silk Road civilization rejuvenate itself? To answer this, in 2024, the Jiayu Pass scenic area launched a night tour program, presenting a new form of ancient Silk Road culture through digital technology to enrich the tourism experience.

"We live in a vast world, while our humanity is a small part of the universe. For over two thousand years, countless individuals have left their stories in Jiayuguan, which greatly influenced the development of the Chinese civilization. From the historically renowned envoy Zhang Qian, general Huo Qubing, and Buddhist monk Xuanzang, to the common Great Wall craftsmen, ordinary soldiers, and merchants, the night tour drew inspiration from the people, using light to bring their stories to life. It takes advantage of figures to get us through history," introduced the director.

Ascending the pass by day, understanding the Great Wall by night. Since 2024, the Jiayu Pass scenic area has created a dual cultural presentation at both day and night, forming a new model of cultural and tourism integration where technology and history empower each other.

"The walls of the Jiayu Pass are natural projection canvases for cultural digital creativity. We hope that the stories, figures, emotions, and culture rooted in Jiayuguan will make Great Wall culture visible, memorable, and inheritable," the director added.

Data from the Gansu Provincial Government shows that the Jiayu Pass scenic area received around 3.79 million tourist visits in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 34.74%. The night tour program helped the scenic area reach a single-day peak of 53,000 visitors.

Transitioning from "check-in style" to "experiential style", the "night economy" along the ancient Silk Road enjoys sound arrival bases. New scenes and experiences have turned passers-by into long-stayers.

Dunhuang in Gansu represents the pinnacle of East-West cultural convergence. Following the breakout success of the ethnic dance drama Flower Rains Along the Silk Road, the grotto-themed immersive drama Ancient Sound of Dunhuang has become a sensation, allowing visitors to experience the charm of Dunhuang art, including dance, music, poetry, and painting.

As introduced, while the Mogao Caves originally comprised 735 grottoes, the drama's creation team has created Cave No. 736, replicating the unique forms inside the Mogao Grottoes and bringing the vibrant musical and dancing scenes from ancient murals to life. This provides tourists with an interactive immersive cave theater experience.

Visiting the Mogao Caves by day and entering the theater by night has become another explosively popular tourism option in Dunhuang City. Data shows that since its premiere in June, 2023, Ancient Sound of Dunhuang has received over 700,000 visitors.

Flying Apsaras emerging from the walls, Silk Road merchants and travelers evoked through multi-sensory interaction, the whirling dance, the five-stringed Pipa..., Thanks to the aid of digital technology, the vividness of Dunhuang art unfolds before visitors' eyes.

The 2024 Night Economy Development Report released by the China Tourism Academy indicates that domestic nighttime tourism spending in China is projected to reach 1.91 trillion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 21.7%. Demand for nighttime tourism continues to grow, and supply is responding actively.

In recent years, merchandise like badges and cards, which are also known as "goods" (or "gu zi" in Chinese, derived from the English word), have gained popularity among many young people both online and offline. The rise of domestic Chinese IPs has further fueled the surging popularity of domestically-designed merchandise.

At the Dunhuang Bookstore, offline sales channels for domestically produced merchandise like badges and collectible cards incorporate a range of highly distinctive Dunhuang artistic elements.

"Given the increasingly diversified demands of the cultural tourism market and tourists' growing interest in Dunhuang culture, traditional cultural presentations are somewhat monotonous. The 'goods economy' is deeply loved by young people and possesses strong social and collectible attributes. We also hope that through carriers favored by the youth, artistic symbols like the Flying Apsaras, caisson ceilings, and the Nine-Colored Deer can become tangible and accessible," said a relevant director from the bookstore.

Owing to their unique designs and portability, the current sales of Dunhuang's domestically-designed merchandise lead the store. The primary consumers of these products are young people aged 18 to 35. They enthusiastically collect various types of distinctive "merchandise" and enjoy sharing them on social platforms, thereby promoting cultural dissemination.

Data shows that the scale of China's "guzi economy" market hit 168.9 billion yuan in 2024 and is projected to exceed 300 billion yuan by 2029. The consumption trend represented by the "guzi economy" is also a vivid reflection of culture empowering the economy.

From the flourishing arts market to the burgeoning "goods economy," the prosperity of the cultural tourism market manifests goes beyond dining scenes. As the main engine of economic growth, consumption serves as the barometer of people's well-being.

With the continuous emergence of new business formats and scenes, riding this consumption wave, the cultural tourism economy will inject new momentum and vitality into the domestic consumption market.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A family, law enforcement, and Crime Stoppers are reaching out to the community to help solve the 2014 murder of Rickie Dunn.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Mainly clear skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 43F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 43F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Intensive efforts are continuing to secure the release of an Irish woman kidnapped along with seven other people from an orphanage in Haiti, Tanaiste Simon Harris said.

Mr Harris said no stone would be left unturned in efforts to ensure the release of Gena Heraty, who oversees the Sainte-Helene orphanage in Kenscoff, close to the capital Port-au-Prince.

Mr Harris said he had been in contact with Ms Heratys family on Monday.

Ms Heraty is originally from Westport in Co Mayo.

She oversees the orphanage, which is run by the humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Freres Et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers And Sisters).

It is understood Ms Heraty was among seven employees who were taken in the incident as well as a three-year-old child.

The Tanaiste said: Intensive and ongoing efforts aimed at securing the release of Gena, as well as the seven other hostages being held captive in Haiti, are continuing this evening.

This is an extremely sensitive case; one that is being worked on tirelessly by our teams in Dublin, Washington and London.

Throughout the day, both my officials and I have been in close contact with Genas family.

We are also in touch with local authorities and Nos Petits Freres Et Soeurs, the organisation Gena works for.

He added: This evening, I want to reiterate our commitment to ensuring everything possible is done to bring about the release of Gena, her co-workers and indeed the three-year-old child at the centre of this case.

Gena is a deeply courageous and kind-hearted person who has given so much of her life to the humanitarian work that she cares so much about.

As Tanaiste, I treat the safety and wellbeing of all our citizens with seriousness and sensitivity.

When further updates are available, they will be provided.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.
OVER 100 people, including several guest speakers, attended the Abbeyleix Bog Project 25 Years On launch in the heritage towns Manor Hotel on Thursday 24 July.

The event marked the silver jubilee to the day since the Defenders of Abbeyleix Bog stopped Bord na Mona machines from peat harvesting on the exquisite bog.

On Monday 24 July 2000, the stillness of the bog was planned to be broken when, without warning, machines arrived to begin the peat harvesting works, threatening the delicate ecosystem, rare in wildlife and fauna.

However, the night before (Sunday 23 July 2000) word spread among several locals about what was coming and at dawn on the Monday, a group of 50-strong had gathered at the bogs entrance standing shoulder-to-shoulder forming a peaceful blockade in a quiet but powerful resistance.

On the day, the late Kevin Hutchinson took an iconic photograph of 37 of these individuals who were united in purpose. Locals say that moment marked more than a protest and was the birth of the Abbeyleix Bog Project (ABP), which is now recognised across Ireland as a model of community-led conservation.

The massive achievements of ABP over the quarter-century period were celebrated in the hotels stone arch room, where a prosecco and punch reception awaited guests on arrival. Following the two-hour event, tea/coffee and a variety of canapes and treats were served.

Not only was the large event room filled with over 100 guests but there were also two fantastic photographic exhibitions by photographers Annie Holland and Tina Claffey. The exhibited photographs featured captivating macro photographs of fauna, wildlife and sharp portraits of some of the Defenders of Abbeyleix Bog, which was previously owned by Tom de Vesci.

A video titled The Changing Story of Irish Boglands, as well as a short documentary screening by local filmmaker Brendan Phelan of Video Nation, were also screened.

The launch also featured a rich mix of speakers, including ABP director Garry Luttrell, who was MC for the evening and Philip Bromwell from RTE, who spoke about the successes of the ABP and his three-minute video film report which he made for RTE News back in 2023 was also screened.

Also speaking was local artist and ABP festival curator Alison McEvoy, who outlined a large number of exciting events which took place over the festival weekend both on the bog and in various venues around the town.

The list included walks, talks, cycles, workshops, bat box building with the local mens shed, basket weaving, yoga and much more.

Current senator and previous minister for nature Malcolm Noonan spoke of the amazing success of the ABP, congratulating everyone involved. Dr James Rohu of Trinity College talked about the national rePEAT Bog Mapping Project exhibition. His colleague Dr Lily Toomey also spoke to the gathering, albeit on screen, as she couldnt attend.

The evening finished with some original Defenders of Abbeyleix Bog, family representatives of members who have since passed and a group of current bog defenders taking photos at the bog entrance.

Laois PPN, Community Wetlands Forum and National Parks and Wildlife Service were also represented at the launch.

The rePEAT exhibition is on loan from the National Library and can be viewed in Abbeyleix Heritage House during heritage week from 16-24 August.

See more photos in this week's Laois Nationanlist, on sale from tomorrow in all local stores or online
YOUNG people in Laois have called on their elected representatives to increase investment in youth work.

To highlight the issue, Anna McWey from Ballyroan met with Dail Deputy Brian Stanley at an event in Dublin to highlight the urgent need for increased Government funding for youth work services in Budget 2026.

The event was organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI).

It brought together young people and youth workers from across Ireland to speak directly to their local TDs about the impact of youth work in their lives and communities.

Speaking at the even that was held in Buswells Hotel, Dublin Anna said: Effective democracy only works when everyone has the opportunity to participate and be heard. There is so much potential for areas around Ireland to grow and develop. By investing in youth work, young people will develop connections within their community and surrounding areas. Youth work is that opportunity outside of everyday norms. It has got me where I am today. Invest in youth today and reap the rewards of re-energised communities.

The NYCI is calling for an additional 21.3 million for youth work in Budget 2026. This includes a 20% increase in core funding to sustain existing services. 2.1 million to extend access to youth work for more young people. 2 million in capital funding for youth spaces in communities nationwide.

According to a recent NYCI survey of its members, almost 90% of youth organisations were worried about keeping services going. One in 5 had to cut activities. Demand for youth work increased, but 75% said they didnt have the resources to meet it. Staffing was a major issue too. 84% said costs were a top concern, and three in four had trouble filling vacant posts.

The Director of Policy and Advocacy at NYCI Kathryn Walsh said: We know that young people need us and we are ready to rise to the challenge. With increased investment we can continue to strengthen our communities, offering young people the spaces and opportunities to build relationships, develop skills and increase their confidence.

This campaign shows that people in every part of the country support it. Were asking all TDs to back this funding call in Budget 2026 and ensure young people and youth workers get the support they need. More information about the campaign is available on youth.ie
A warrant has been issued for the 31-year-old city man, who faces felony charges of statutory sexual assault, child endangerment and corruption of minors. Courtesy photo

Allentown cops continue to seek a city man they say repeatedly sexually assaulted a child, leading to a pregnancy.

Julio Manuel Torres, 31, of the 100 block of North Third Street, remains at large Monday afternoon, Allentown Police Captain of Criminal Investigations Division Stephen J. Milkovits III told lehighvalleylive.com.

Allentown Police Departments Special Victims Unit announced on Friday they were seeking Torres, whom they advised the public not to approach. Witnesses instead should call police.

Torres is charged with felony child statutory sexual assault; felony child endangerment and felony corruption of minors. Charges were filed against Torres on July 16. A warrant for his arrest has been filed at the office of District Judge Rashid Santiago.

Torres is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall; weighing 170 pounds; and having black hair and brown eyes.

Allentown police in October 2023 were called to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township for a reported child under the age of 18 experiencing cramping during pregnancy.

The victims mother reported that she tracked a food delivery service used by her daughter when she ran away from home. The delivery matched Torres residence, according to the affidavit of probable cause. The court record lays out evidence and witness testimony against a defendant.

A statewide program reporting child abuse later received a referral from a therapist at an Allentown-based mental health center that Torres reported having a sexual relationship with a minor, court records state.

Torres allegedly reported the sexual incidents started in October 2023. He also told the therapist the victim was pregnant and he reached out to her mother to tell her, according to court records.

The victim told investigators in an interview she met Torres through a mutual friend at school, ran away from home, and began staying at his home.

City police interviewed Torres in October 2023. He allegedly admitted to investigators that he knew the victim, but denied having a sexual relationship with her. He submitted to DNA testing, court records state.

The victim in June 2024 gave birth. Investigators then gathered DNA tests from both the victim and the newborn, court records state.

All three DNA tests  from the victim, infant and Torres  were sent in August 2024 to a FBI laboratory for paternity testing.

In February 2025, the FBI labs report showed that, based on genetic profiling, Torres was about 2.4 billion times more likely to be the father than a randomly selected person.

Those with information on Torres whereabouts are asked to call the Allentown Police Department at 610-437-7751; the departments Special Victims Unit at 610-437-7721; or text a tip to 847411 using the keyword: TIPAPD.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
The 25-year-old Carbon County woman lost control of her vehicle on Route 873 north Monday morning, with Pennsylvania State Police continuing their investigation. Dan Gleiter | For pennlive.com

A woman was injured Monday morning after she lost control of her car and struck several headstones in a Slatington cemetery, state police said.

Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer with Pennsylvania State Polices Troop M, told lehighvalleylive.com the crash happened just before 11 a.m. along Route 873 north.

Its unclear what led the 25-year-old driver, who resides in Weissport, Carbon County, to lose control, state police said.

The car eventually came to rest after colliding with several grave markers on the property of the cemetery, Branosky said.

The woman was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township for treatment of injuries. A condition was not immediately available Monday afternoon.

The single-vehicle accident continues to be investigated by Pennsylvania State Police in Bethlehem.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached atpholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
The Laois Offaly Garda Division has fewer gardai and sergeants assigned to the scenes of crime unit than any other Garda Division in the country.

The figures were revealed by Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan who was asked to outline the figures in a recent parliamentary question by Labour Party TD Alan Kelly on Tuesday, July 15 last.

Minister OCallaghan said the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in the context of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to him or her, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.

The figures show Laois Offaly has just five members assigned to scenes of crime which is lower than any other Garda Division in the country. Neighbouring Kildare/Carlow has seven offices assigned while Waterford/Kilkenny has six.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the total number of members attached to Divisional Scenes of Crime Units of Sergeant and Garda rank as of 30 June 2025, said Minister OCallaghan.

Meanwhile, the Laois Offaly Garda Division has enjoyed an increase of more than two dozen gardai in since 2023. Fianna Fail Deputy Seamus McGrath asked how many gardai are assigned to each of the Garda Divisions around the country in the last three years.

Minister OCallaghan said: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Siochana. This includes the management of Garda resources, such as the distribution of Gardai across the country.

The below table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, shows the number of Gardai deployed on regular policing units in each Garda division in June 2023, June 2024 and to 30 June 2025. It is important to note that around 360 Gardai are currently in training and 269 have already passed out of Templemore this year. Two more attestations are scheduled for 2025.

Laois Offaly had a total of 388 gardai as of June 30, 2025. Sligo/Leitrim had the least gardai at 277 while the Dublin Metropolitan North Division had the most gardai at 705 gardai.

The figures provided by Minister OCallaghan show an increasing number of gardai assigned to Laois Offaly in recent years, with 26 more gardai serving in the division compared to 2023.
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The IFA and ICMSA are 'disappointed' with Uisce Eireann for sending offers to farmers whose land is in the path of the new Shannon to Dublin water supply line without first reaching an agreement with the organisations.

In a joint statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, the IFA and ICMSA said they have been negotiating with Uisce Eireann on the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project for months. The pipeline was run through Tipperary, Offaly, Kildare and the edge of Laois with further distribution supply routes planned.

They say the process was undertaken to agree on a package that would be offered to landowners whose lands are on the proposed 170 km pipeline route along the Laois border not far from Mountmellick.

They say Uisce Eireann has now sent an offer pack out to farmers on the route.

While the discussions between the negotiating teams have concluded, the final outcome has yet to go before the governing bodies of our organisations for approval. Prior to the negotiations commencing, both the IFA and ICMSA made it clear to Uisce Eireann that such approval would be sought and required.

We advised Uisce Eireann that we would put the proposed agreement to the scheduled meetings of our governing bodies in early September. The compensation package and associated items will still be put the governing bodies for approval at that point.

We are disappointed that Uisce Eireann chose to issue the offer pack to landowners in the absence of a final agreement with IFA and ICMSA. We have told Uisce Eireann that their September deadline for farmers to accept the offer is far too premature and suggest that they should extend this deadline by a number of weeks. MORE BELOW VIDEO.

Both organisations will issue a further update once the package has been brought in front of their respective governing bodies.

Farmers on the route should take the time to read the package on offer and consult with qualified advisers. They should not feel pressured by this communication from Uisce Eireann, concluded the statement.

Uisce Eireann replied to the statement.

Given the short timelines, Uisce Eireann has issued a wayleave package to landowners along the proposed pipeline route, and wishes to acquire wayleaves on a voluntary basis, in advance of the submission of a Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application.

We are engaging directly with landowners to offer a compensation package which includes upfront payments for impacted landowners. Uisce Eireanns priority is to progress the Proposed Project in order to provide a resilient, safe, and secure water supply with capacity to address the water supply needs for up to 50% of the population, it said.

The State-owned utility outlined landowner engagement with approximately 500 landowners along the route of the proposed Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region. It is not planned to connect Laois to the supply.

It added that engagement has been ongoing with these landowners since 2016, primarily via Landowner Liaison Officers. Uisce Eireann said these Officers have been advising landowners on the progress of route development and technical design, as well as arranging access for environmental and ground investigation surveys.

The company said the Liaison Officers would provide landowners with a dedicated point of contact throughout the planning, construction and reinstatement phases.

They outlined their contact with the IFA and ICMSA.

We would like to thank the IFA and ICMSA for their input and feedback in advance of our communications to landowners. The voluntary wayleave package issued has greatly benefited from the discussions and negotiations that took place between Uisce Eireann, the IFA and the ICSMA, said the statement.

Uisce Eireann also explained that the delivery of the water supply project is critical to the delivery of housing and growth for the State.

 The project has received Government approval in principle and Uisce Eireann has given a commitment to Government that the Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application will be submitted to An Coimisiun Pleanala later this year, it said.

The initial idea of piping River Shannon water to Dublin came in 2006 via Dublin City Council and other Eastern Region local authorities.

In 2018, Irish Water announced plans to seek planning permission for the project which will enable supplies serving Dublin to be redirected back locally in Carlow, Wicklow, Meath and Louth.
The IFA and ICMSA are 'disappointed' with Uisce Eireann for sending offers to farmers whose land is in the path of the new Shannon to Dublin water supply line without first reaching an agreement with the organisations.

In a joint statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, the IFA and ICMSA said they have been negotiating with Uisce Eireann on the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project for months.

The pipeline was run through Tipperary, Offaly, Kildare and the edge of Laois with further distribution supply routes planned.

They say the process was undertaken to agree on a package that would be offered to landowners whose lands are on the proposed 170 km pipeline route along the Laois border not far from Mountmellick.

They say Uisce Eireann has now sent an offer pack out to farmers on the route.

While the discussions between the negotiating teams have concluded, the final outcome has yet to go before the governing bodies of our organisations for approval. Prior to the negotiations commencing, both the IFA and ICMSA made it clear to Uisce Eireann that such approval would be sought and required.

We advised Uisce Eireann that we would put the proposed agreement to the scheduled meetings of our governing bodies in early September. The compensation package and associated items will still be put the governing bodies for approval at that point.

We are disappointed that Uisce Eireann chose to issue the offer pack to landowners in the absence of a final agreement with IFA and ICMSA. We have told Uisce Eireann that their September deadline for farmers to accept the offer is far too premature and suggest that they should extend this deadline by a number of weeks. MORE BELOW VIDEO.

Both organisations will issue a further update once the package has been brought in front of their respective governing bodies.

Farmers on the route should take the time to read the package on offer and consult with qualified advisers. They should not feel pressured by this communication from Uisce Eireann, concluded the statement.

Uisce Eireann replied to the statement.

Given the short timelines, Uisce Eireann has issued a wayleave package to landowners along the proposed pipeline route, and wishes to acquire wayleaves on a voluntary basis, in advance of the submission of a Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application.

We are engaging directly with landowners to offer a compensation package which includes upfront payments for impacted landowners. Uisce Eireanns priority is to progress the Proposed Project in order to provide a resilient, safe, and secure water supply with capacity to address the water supply needs for up to 50% of the population, it said.

The State-owned utility outlined landowner engagement with approximately 500 landowners along the route of the proposed Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region. It is not planned to connect Laois to the supply.

It added that engagement has been ongoing with these landowners since 2016, primarily via Landowner Liaison Officers. Uisce Eireann said these Officers have been advising landowners on the progress of route development and technical design, as well as arranging access for environmental and ground investigation surveys.

The company said the Liaison Officers would provide landowners with a dedicated point of contact throughout the planning, construction and reinstatement phases.

They outlined their contact with the IFA and ICMSA.

We would like to thank the IFA and ICMSA for their input and feedback in advance of our communications to landowners. The voluntary wayleave package issued has greatly benefited from the discussions and negotiations that took place between Uisce Eireann, the IFA and the ICSMA, said the statement.

Uisce Eireann also explained that the delivery of the water supply project is critical to the delivery of housing and growth for the State.

 The project has received Government approval in principle and Uisce Eireann has given a commitment to Government that the Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application will be submitted to An Coimisiun Pleanala later this year, it said.

The initial idea of piping River Shannon water to Dublin came in 2006 via Dublin City Council and other Eastern Region local authorities.

In 2018, Irish Water announced plans to seek planning permission for the project which will enable supplies serving Dublin to be redirected back locally in Carlow, Wicklow, Meath and Louth.
ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan and deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang in The Hague (Netherlands), March 14, 2025. PETER DEJONG / AFP

This has been the darkest year for the International Criminal Court (ICC) since it opened its doors in The Hague in 2002. Never before had the institution faced such strong headwinds. The US imposed sanctions on four judges and the chief prosecutor, the British national Karim Khan, while threats, intrigue, and pressure from Washington mounted on state parties. The objective: to annul and prevent any arrest warrants against Israelis, including those targeting Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, issued on November 21, 2024, and to close the ongoing investigation into crimes committed on Palestinian territory.

"It was the worst few months of my life," British lawyer Andrew Cayley told Le Monde. The sexagenarian had served at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and in the Cambodian Extraordinary Chambers judging Khmer Rouge leaders. Now, he is in charge of overseeing case ICC-01/18 alongside Brenda Hollis, an American former US Air Force member. The case covers crimes committed by Israelis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as those perpetrated by Hamas, including hostage-taking, on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel. It is the most sensitive case before the ICC.

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FIREFIGHTERS rushed to the scene of a blaze at a home in Clancy Strand on the banks of the River Shannon in Limerick city this bank holiday Monday morning.

Limerick Fire and Rescue Service received the report of a fire at the residential property at 9.20am. When Limerick Live attended the scene at 11.30am the fire appliances had returned to base after extinguishing the fire.

READ MORE: Luxury SUV set alight by brazen arsonist in Limerick

The smell of smoke in the air was the only clue that there had been an emergency response by firefighters and gardai.

There was no obvious fire damage to the outside of the house to the untrained eye, however, it is not known how badly affected the inside has been by the blaze.

No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire is understood not to be suspicious.

Gardai closed the road to traffic for a period but Clancy Strand is open again to motorists.
AUGUST brings with it the majestic Perseid meteor shower, a celestial spectacle that reminds us of the vastness beyond our world. While the peak on August 12th might be affected by the Moon's phase this year, the shower's long duration, from mid-July to late August, offers ample opportunity to catch a glimpse of these "shooting stars," which are remnants of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

This month also offers a chance to reflect on the human ingenuity that pushes the boundaries of space exploration. It was in August 1877 that American astronomer Asaph Hall made a groundbreaking discovery at the US Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.: the two small, irregular moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos. These intriguing celestial bodies, possibly captured asteroids, continue to fascinate scientists with their unique orbits and characteristics.

Fast forward to the modern era, and we celebrate the enduring legacy of NASA's Voyager program. On August 25, 2012, Voyager 1, launched in 1977, made history by crossing the heliopause and entering interstellar space, a staggering 18 billion kilometres from Earth. This incredible journey, which began with exploring the outer gas giants, saw Voyager 1 capture the iconic "Pale Blue Dot" image of Earth from 6 billion kilometres away on February 14, 1990. As Carl Sagan eloquently described, our entire world was just 12 percent of a single pixel in that profound image.

READ MORE: Major boost for Shannon Airport as new Frankfurt service announced

While Voyager 1 continues its solitary journey, still within the gravitational influence of our Sun for tens of thousands of years to come, its mission highlights humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge and exploration.

The Limerick Astronomy Club meets next on the first Thursday in September, in Mary Immaculate College, Room 202 at 8pm. We'd love to welcome you and embark on this cosmic journey together. Reach out to us at limerickastronomyclub@gmail.com for more info.
THE All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is urging Limerick residents to take a moment to consider the benefits of palliative care, and how it can support people, of all ages, living with life-limiting illnesses to live well in the present.

Palliative Care Week 2025 takes place across Ireland from September 7 to September 13. Each year, AIIHPC works with its member organisations, the wider palliative care sector, charities and community organisations to raise awareness of palliative care. The campaign aims to increase understanding of palliative care and when it may be needed, and the benefits it can bring to the quality of life of those receiving palliative care.

For 2025, AIIHPC is delighted to share a photo competition to help capture what Living for Today, Planning for Tomorrow looks like in communities across the country. People across Limerick are being invited to submit a photo that captures what this years theme means to them. The photos will be hosted on the campaigns website here, and a certificate and prize will be awarded to the winning photo entry at the beginning of Palliative Care Week 2025.

The theme of this years campaign is Living for Today, Planning for Tomorrow. It embodies the commitment of AIIHPC and its member organisations to highlight how palliative care enables people to have a good quality of life in the here and now, while also supporting people to make plans regarding their future, including discussing where they would like to be cared for.

READ MORE: Ambulance bursts into flames after transferring patients in Limerick

Karen Charnley, AIIHPC CEO, said:

During Palliative Care Week, we want people to better understand that palliative care improves the quality of life of the person with a life-limiting illness, as well as the lives of their family members. It improves their ability to participate in daily activities, including hobbies and routine activities. We also want to encourage people to have conversations with their family, friends, health and social care professionals about their future care needs. These conversations are happening, but it's in all our interests for them to become more normalised in our society.

For this years campaign, we are delighted to announce a special photo competition that we hope will generate lots of interest and engagement from people of all ages. We invite people to think about what palliative care means to them, keeping in mind the theme for 2025, Living for Today, Planning for Tomorrow. We are looking forward to seeing the different perspectives that people reflect through photography, Ms Charnley added.

Fintan Fagan, Chair of AIIHPC and Chief Executive Officer, St Francis Hospice, Dublin, commented:

Most of us will encounter palliative care at some stage in our lives, and there are still several misconceptions about it. And many people arent aware of the breadth of supports available to them that could benefit them or their loved ones when diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. Whether youre a patient, a carer, a family member, or simply part of your local community, understanding the benefits of palliative care can make a meaningful difference.

Palliative care isnt just for end-of-life care  its about helping individuals living with a life-limiting illness to live as well, and as fully as possible, today and for as long as possible. It puts the individual at the centre of care, supporting their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. It also supports their families, carers and all those close to them.
MESSAGES of congratulations have been pouring in from across the country after Kilkenny hurling legend TJ Reid and his wife, Limerick woman Niamh de Brun-Reid, announced they are expecting their second child.

The couple shared the happy news in a novel and heartwarming way. Barefoot and beaming, they stood before a white wall before painting the words: Baby Due 2025. Watching on was their daughter Harper, who will celebrate her third birthday in November.

Pre-season is well and truly underway for Harper in her new role as big sister! We feel so grateful to be growing our family #BabyReid, wrote Niamh, a lifestyle and content creator originally from the Ennis Road, Limerick, on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Niamh de Brun-Reid (@niamhdebrun)

The announcement quickly captured the attention of friends, followers, and fans alike. More than 500 congratulatory messages flooded in throughout the evening, as people from the sporting world and social media community alike rushed to share their joy.

SEE ALSO: PICTURES: Out and About in Limerick this weekend

Awh congratulations, commented fellow Limerick native and influencer Louise Cooney. Fashion designer and influencer Sinead OBrien, also from Limerick, responded with four red heart emojis under the couples post.

TJ and Niamh were married in the picturesque village of Adare in 2021.
A UNIVERSITY of Limerick (UL) graduate who co-founded a residential home for children with special needs in Haiti was kidnapped on Sunday.

Gina Heraty, aged in her 50s, is one of nine people taken hostage from an orphanage near Port-au-Prince - the capital of the country in the Caribbean.

READ ALSO: Bishop of Limerick 'encouraged' to see Christian values rising among the young

The Westport native oversees the Sainte-Helene orphanage operated by humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters).

Ms Heraty went to Haiti in 1993 - two years after completing a degree in Business Studies at the University of Limerick. She was the universitys 2006 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Alumni Award.

Ms Heraty retains close ties to UL and County Limerick. Her sister and brother-in-law, Dr Noreen Heraty and Dr Mike Morley, are on the faculty at the Kemmy Business School and reside in County Limerick.

Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris said he has spoken to the family of Ms Heraty, saying her kidnapping is deeply worrying.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is aware of Ms Heratys case and is providing consular assistance.

The Mayor of Kenscoff, Masillon Jean, called the kidnapping "planned act".

"The attackers broke into the orphanage around 3:30am without opening fire. They broke through a wall to enter the property before heading to the building where the director was staying, leaving with nine hostages, said the mayor.

Ms Heraty has been tirelessly championing people with physical and intellectual needs in one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere of 32 years.

"I feel so blessed to be able to do what I do, Ms Heraty said in an interview a number of years ago on the UL website.

Anyone who lives with children with special needs will tell you that every day is a drama, but a wonderful drama.

Her selfless and pioneering work has culminated in a series of national and international awards, including being named the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year.

After graduating from UL her first job was as a volunteer with the Simon Community in Dublin.

Thats where I really became interested in the overseas voluntary work of Our Little Brothers and Sisters charity.

What started as a six-month placement in Haiti in 1993 turned into a lifetime commitment. She has dedicated herself to an orphanage high in the mountains of Kenscoff, about 10km from the capital Port-au-Prince.

In Haiti, 80% of the population live under the poverty line, with 54% in abject poverty.

We live in a country where the needs are so very great. Through our international fundraising  and I have to say, so much of it comes from donations from Ireland - we have been able to reach into the community, said Ms Heraty.

This reach has resulted in the development of a special education school and meal plan for 80 children, a rehab centre that provides physical therapy for children with neurological disorders, and an adult stroke programme.

Ms Heraty is the co-founder of Kay Christine, a residential home for children with special needs at the orphanage, and Director of the Charitys Special Needs Programmes in Haiti.

These outreach programmes provide medical, rehabilitation and educational support to communities where children have severe physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Through her decades of work, Ms Heraty is known all over Haiti for challenging prejudice against people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Haiti is often so brutal but the challenge is to take the pain and see what you can do to relieve it, she said.

Ms Heraty is in the thoughts of many in the university and in County Limerick who are praying for her safe return.
ESTONIAN composer Arvo Part is due to celebrate his 90th birthday this autumn, with a free concert in Limerick.

He will celebrate his birthday on September 11, and the event will be marked by a number of concerts and other important events across Europe and around the world.

To celebrate this event, and the first anniversary of the formation of the honorary consulate to Estonia in Limerick, Saint Marys Cathedral will host a special free lunchtime concert on Tuesday, September 23 at 1.15pm.

The concert will feature selected music by Part, in the presence of Her Excellency, the Estonian ambassador to Ireland.

READ MORE: Limerick woman and HR lead swaps spreadsheets for love on popular Netflix show

Speaking of the event, the Estonian Ambassador to Ireland, Ms Kairi Kunka, spoke about the event, saying, The Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Dublin, the Honorary Consul of Estonia in Limerick and the Arvo Part Centre in Estonia invite music lovers and media to celebrate the 90th anniversary of world-renowned composer Maestro Arvo Part. The concert will feature selected works from Parts deeply spiritual and contemplative repertoire, performed by local musicians. This event offers a unique opportunity to experience the timelessness and quiet beauty of Arvo Parts music and his influence on contemporary classical music.

Ms Julie Long, Honorary Consul to Estonia for the Mid West of Ireland, also commented, and said, The lunchtime concerts in Saint Marys Cathedral are a Limerick favourite and it is wonderful to be in a position to connect the Arvo Part Centre in Estonia with Limerick to celebrate the 90th birthday of this globally celebrated composer.

Following the concert, the audience will be invited to enjoy some Estonian refreshments in the Cathedral.
THREE separate community projects are moving forward in Limerick following support from the mayor, including the assessment of new housing in Cappamore.

Mayor Moran has signed a Mayoral Order appointing external quantity surveying experts to undertake a cost-plan review and verification for a potential Limerick City and County Council turnkey housing scheme of five three-bedroomed houses at Dromsally Woods in Cappamore.

If these units proceed, the project will be funded under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritages Social Housing Investment Programme.

Mayor Moran has also ordered the commencement by Limerick Councils Active Travel Team of the works on the traffic calming and other road safety measures at Lisheen Park in Patrickswell. These will improve the safety of locals and especially children going to and from Patrickswell National School.

READ MORE: More than 400 grants to restore vacant properties in Limerick approved

The proposed works to be carried out include a raised pedestrian crossing at Lisheen Park, build outs for traffic calming purposes, footpath widening and a new bus bay.

The works are taking place as a result of consultation with Patrickswell National School and following a site visit during drop off and collection times, where it was noted the current existing pedestrian crossing at the schools car park entrance is unsafe.

Mayor Moran thanked councillors Kilcoyne and McSweeney and colleagues at Limerick Council for their support in bringing this project to life.

The mayor also approved the signing of legal agreements between Limerick Council and a non-profit entity to enter a property into the Mortgage to Rent Scheme in an area in the Cappamore/Kilmallock Municipal District. The Mortgage to Rent Scheme is overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and administered by the Housing Agency.

Owners who are having difficulties with mortgage arrears, instead of losing their home, voluntarily surrender ownership of their home to a new mortgage owner but remain in place as tenants, in this case, renting their home from Limerick Council.

Mayor Moran said: I want to further thank the team within our Housing Directorate for their part in saving this family from homelessness. These three examples are three very different projects but together, they demonstrate one thing: action.

Limerick is continuing to move forward. We are investing in people, in communities, and in a future where no one is left behind.
New Delhi: Electric 2-wheeler maker Ather Energy Ltd expects its shipments to dealers across the country to suffer a shortfall of volumes worth seven days during the July-September period, as the rare earth magnet crisis will likely hit production of scooters.

The Bengaluru-based company becomes the second company after Bajaj Auto in the last four months to quantify the impact of the rare earth crisis. Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv Bajaj has warned that August could be a zero-Chetak month if the crisis is not resolved.

Speaking to Mint after the release of the April-June financial results, the management of the company highlighted that the impact should be seen from a full-year perspective and the company will make good the losses in this period.

From a dispatch perspective, there might be an impact on 6-7 days of volume. It would impact our revenue. The time horizon is the entire year, so we would make up for it," Ravneet Phokela, chief business officer of Ather Energy, told Mint.

The comments came after the company's losses narrowed slightly to 178 crore from 183 crore in the year-ago period, but revenue saw a 79% jump to 644 crore. The improvement in revenue came on the back of a 97% jump in volumes to 46,078 scooters. Shares of the company soared 15% to settle at 399.25 apiece on the BSE on Monday.

Ebitda improves

Due to the increase in sales and improvement in cost structures, the company saw its earnings before interest, depreciation and tax margin improve to -16% from -33% earlier. This means the the company loses 16 on 100 of revenue. While the company is moving closer to the breakeven point, the management has still not disclosed the monthly sales run-rate the company needs to do to reach the breakeven point.

However, the hiccup in dispatches to dealers will come at a time when it is closing the gap with its startup rival Ola Electric, which is ready to roll out rare earth-free motors soon.

Athers sales made up about 15.77% of the total electric two-wheeler pie in July at 16,231 units, significantly higher than 9.49% in the same month last year. Ola recorded sales of 17,848 units during the month.

Ather is currently exploring multiple alternatives to tackle the crisis of rare earth magnets and minimise impact on sales. The seven-day hit will come during a quarter which is expected to boost sales of the industry in an otherwise tepid year due to the presence of multiple festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, and Navratri.

Right now, we are in the development process. There are a bunch of things like design, homologation and testing which need to be done. So right now we are looking at all alternatives. It is an industry-wide issue and everyone will be impacted equally. But our focus on R&D gives us immense confidence that we will be able to find a solution," Phokela said.

Patents rise

During the first quarter, the company spent 89 crore on research and development and saw the number of patents filed go up to 417 as against 346 at the end of the last financial year.

Previously, Ather co-founder and CEO Tarun Mehta told Mint that light rare earth magnets can be a good alternative to heavy rare earth magnets, as its supply chain is relatively diversified. China monopolises the supply of heavy rare earth magnets.

The industry has a way of moving past this. Stop using heavy rare-earth magnets. Unlike cars, trucks, or buses, our industry can build motors without using heavy, rare-earth magnets. We can move towards lighter, rare-earth magnets," Ather Energys Mehta said.

Its rival TVS Motor Company management also highlighted on 31 July during the earnings call that the company is managing day-to-day production and is exploring alternative technologies.
New Delhi [India], August 4 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also holds the Co-operation portfolio, congratulated Repco Bank for posting record profits in the financial year 2024-25.

"Heartiest congratulations to Team Repco Bank for posting a profit of 140 crore in the financial year 2024-25, which is the highest in the history of the cooperative society," the Union minister posted on X.

The bank, under the jurisdiction of the MHA, has set an example of efficiency, dedication, and professionalism that will serve as an inspiration for the cooperative sector, the Union minister added.

According to its website, Repatriates Cooperative Finance and Development Bank Ltd. (REPCO BANK) was registered on November 19, 1969, as a cooperative society under the relevant provisions of the Madras Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, with jurisdiction over the State of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Today, on behalf of the MHA, the Minister received a dividend check of 22.90 crore from top officials of the Bank.

"Today, on behalf of the MHA, received a dividend check of 22.90 crore from Shri E. Santhanam, Chairman, Shri C. Thangaraju, Director - Repco Bank & Chairman of Repco Home Finance Ltd. and Shri O.M. Gokul, Managing Director," the X post read.

The Ministry of Cooperation was established on July 6, 2021, underscoring India's commitment to enhancing the cooperative sector.

India is home to over 8.44 lakh cooperatives, including 2 lakh credit cooperatives and 6 lakh non-credit cooperatives spanning housing, dairy, fisheries, and more, according to a PIB backgrounder published on Saturday.
Mumbai: IPO-bound JSW Cements plans to utilize the fresh capital raised and leverage group synergies to double its cement production capacity to 42 million tonnes a year in the coming four years, the companys managing director said.

The company, which has a 3% share of Indias highly competitive cement industry, wants to corner a tenth of the market for itself by backing its ability to procure slag, a byproduct of steelmaking, from JSW Steel.

However, rapid expansion while maintaining profitability wont be easy for managing director Parth Jindal and his team. The company will be fighting two industry titansUltraTech and Ambujathe cement arms of the Aditya Birla Group and the Adani Group. A war for market share between the two companies washed away the cement industry's margins over the last two years as prices crashed.

The expansion plans become even more ambitious when considering that JSW Cement would not be keen on inorganic growth. The companys balance sheet does not have the necessary capital or cash flow to be able to outcompete its larger peers in a bidding war for existing assets in the mergers and acquisitions market, Jindal said.

Read more: Boult rebrands as GoBoult, takes premium detour en route to 1,000-crore IPO goal

I don't want to get into a bidding war with a player who's much bigger than me and is much stronger than me today," said Jindal.

Jindal said that JSW Cement does not have the firepower right now to fight the big boys (UltraTech Cement and Adani Cement) when it comes to M&A, and I don't want to go to my father for help in this business."

JSW Cement said that its carbon dioxide emissions were half of the industry average. This was due to it utilizing slaga waste product in steelmakingas a key input material. Due to this, about 64% of the company's raw materials were recycled compared to 25% on average for its peers.

Tough competition

JSW Cement competes with players like Aditya Birla-backed UltraTech, which has a consolidated capacity of 192.26 mtpa, Adani Cements, which has surpassed 100 mtpa and Dalmia Bharat, which has a capacity of 49.5 mtpa.

The price band for the IPO has been set at 139 to 147.

At the upper end of the price band, JSW Cements will have a market cap of 200.40 billion. In comparison, key competitors UltraTech lead with a market cap of 3.61 trillion, followed by Ambuja Cements at 1.49 trillion, Dalmia Bharat at 417.67 billion, and ACC at 336.16 billion.

From the IPO proceeds, about 800 crore will be used to partly fund a new integrated cement facility in Nagaur, Rajasthan. Another 520 crore will be allocated for the repayment or prepayment of existing borrowings, and the remaining funds will be used for general corporate purposes

After achieving the 42 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) capacity target, the company has set a secondary target of reaching 60 mtpa in its effort to corner 10% of Indias cement industry. India consumed around 435 million tonnes of cement in FY25, Jindal said, adding that cement consumption was expected to grow in line with Indias GDP at about 6-7% annually to reach approximately 700 million tonnes in 6-7 years.

To achieve a 10% share, then the company would need to produce 70 million tonnes. However, for now, the company is targeting 60 million tonnes, which would give us a 7-8% share," said Jindal.

The capacity addition would be focused on new geographies. Currently, JSW Cement is present in southern, western and eastern India. It wants to become a pan-India player by entering north and central India.

Read more: No FASTag, no bank, no fluff: How Paytm cut its way to a profit

The company is making plants closer to their own limestone mines and near ports to make logistics cheaper. We leverage the group synergy when it comes to distribution of our products," said Jindal. Cement and TMT rods are sold at the same counters. JSW Steel is the largest TMT producer in the country, and hence, this gives us a very good headstart whenever we enter any new geographies."

Jindal claimed that JSW Cement would spend at least 40% less than the companys peers to add every tonne of new cement capacity. This was because of the companys product mix.

Group synergy

The company uses slag secured from JSW Steel to make Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), a substitute for cement that is not only cheaper, but also more suitable for infrastructure projects.

When you look at the capex needed for GGBS, it's equivalent to a grinding unit, but the earning that you make on GGBS is equivalent to the earning you make on cement. So with way less capex, you're able to build GGBS capacity and earn as much Ebitda as cement. So that's one big advantage we have," said Jindal.

Read more: Another green energy company to take the confidential route to an IPO

The IPO size for JSW Cement was reduced from 4,000 crore to 3,600 crore, with the entire reduction in the primary capital. When the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) was filed, the industry was going into a downturn, but now industry conditions have improved, and the cement makers own performance has strengthened, reducing immediate capital needs, said Jindal, adding the company wants to minimise equity dilution at this stage. It may consider dilution at a later stage at a better valuation, he said.

JSW Cement will launch its 3,600 crore IPO on 7 August and be listed on the stock exchanges on 14 August.
BeyondNext Ventures, Enrission India Capital, Incubate Fund Asia and Genesia Ventures are among a handful of Japanese venture capital (VC) firms that are exploring India more aggressively as their investments back home and in southeast Asia fail to produce spectacular exits.

The development is at a nascent stage, with most Japanese VCs continuing to sit on the fence, even as the ones that invest in India are keeping fund sizes as well as cheque amounts small. But Japanese VCs said India is increasingly coming on their radar.

Japanese investors are realising that the southeast Asian market is a difficult market and India is an emerging market open for everyone," Nao Murakami, founder and general partner at Incubate Fund Asia and partner, investments at SMBC Asia Rising Fund told Mint in an interview. On top of that, the countrys IPO market is booming."

Last year, Incubate Fund Asia closed a $30-million fund with 80% of the capital going towards Indian startups. The firm has previously invested in startups such as Captain Fresh, Yulu, ShopKirana (which was recently acquired by Udaan) and Plum. This year, the company will begin raising its largest fund towards the end of the year, a $75-100 million fund with a focus on India, according to Murakami.

Why India

In the first half of 2025, Indian exchanges saw 119 companies going public, collectively raising  51,150 crore (approximately $6.1 billion), according to a S&P Global Market Intelligence report. In the same time period, southeast Asias total has been much lower53 IPOs raising over $1.4 billion, according to a report from Deloitte.

In 2024, southeast Asia's primary markets saw approximately $3 billion being raised from 122 initial public offerings (IPOs), Deloitte data showed. In comparison, the Indian market raised $19.5 billion from 268 IPOs, according to a release from the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The biggest IPO from India last year was from Hyundai Motor India, which raised $3.3 billion. In southeast Asia, the biggest IPO in 2024 was a $531-million offering from Malaysia's 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings Berhardthe countrys largest public offering in seven years. Notably, it was the only IPO from the region last year that crossed $500 million.

Also Read | Sebi should allow VCs to tap into retail investors' growing risk appetite

Whos investing

Some other Japanese VCs are also pushing the accelerator in India, including BeyondNext Ventures, which entered the country in 2019. Back then, the idea was to get a taste, get some exposure. Now, weve decided to go full hog in India," the companys partner and head of India investments, Jay Krishnan, told Mint in an earlier conversation.

So far, BeyondNext has backed 14 Indian ventures, according to Krishnan, but the capital for those investments came out of its Japan funds. Now, it is in the process of raising a $50-million India-focused fund from its Japanese limited partners. (LPs are people or entities who put money in venture funds.)

Another Japanese firm, Enrission India Capital, allocated the entire $120 million it raised in Japan last year, to Indian startups. The feedback weve received from our Japanese LPs about their market is that it doesn't give great returns," said Harsh Deodhar, principal at Enrission India Capital. Its like Indias fixed deposit story, its just depleting and so theyre looking for options."

So far, the company has made 16 investments this year. Some of Enrissions recent investments include protein synthesis startup Loopworm, cleaning robotics company Peppermint Robotics and bamboo packaging startup Bambrew.

Enrission tends to provide seed and pre-seed funding from $500,000 up to $1 million. For follow-on growth investments, funding can go up to $2 million.

There are others as well. University of Tokyo Edge Capital led clean energy startup Aerem's 100 crore (around $12 million) Series A fundraising round. SMBC Asia Rising Fund was a part of a $35 million round in mortgage-tech startup Easy last year.

Similarly, automobile manufacturer Suzuki is focusing on startups in agriculture, financial inclusion, supply chain and mobility spaces after it launched its first India-focused 340-crore fund in July last year.

The most recent fund to expand focus to India is Genesia Ventures, which focuses on pre-seed and seed investments. The company is currently raising money for its fourth fund (GV-4) and has received $22.5 million from Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) as an LP investment.

With the investment, the country's sovereign wealth fund says it will strengthen its support for partnerships between Japanese companies and local startups, with the aim of helping Japanese companies create new businesses and expand into new markets", according to its announcement.

To be sure, several other Japanese VCs are still in wait-and-watch mode, but Murakami says that might be a function of how slowly Japanese firms tend to move. It's still slow, but its faster than before. It's why the SMBC Asia Rising Fund is so important because one of the largest banking groups from Japan is putting $200 million to support Indian startups."

Also Read | Russian Billionaire Fights VC in Court Over Troubled Partnership

Thesis for India

In terms of sectors, banking and real estate have generally been favoured by larger institutional investors coming out of Japan. However, smaller funds, which have traditionally invested in sectors like fintech, consumer, and climate tech are now looking to emerging sectors like sustainability, deeptech and semiconductors.

Apart from these sectors, BeyondNext is bullish on biotech. India can take an IT services approach to biotech because of the industries around it like vaccines, active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing, generic pharma. All those will have second-order effects on new innovation coming up," said Krishnan.

Given its ties with larger Japanese corporations, BeyondNext wants to tap those links to bring Indian startups to Japan, where they can benefit from R&D help and then take their products global and into markets like the US.

Meanwhile, Enrission is fairly sector agnostic. Were constantly discussing with our LPs, asking them what they like, what they want to invest in. Currently, theres interest in the consumer space," said Deodhar. Loopworm and Peppermint Robotics, in which the firm made investments in the first quarter of FY26, are deeptech plays.

Most of the smaller funds are entering Indian startups early, taking a larger chunk of equity, and are willing to sit on their stake until the company goes public or is acquired for a substantial sum. Its why deeptech has emerged as a new go-to sector for Japanese funds.

Incubate Fund Asia has traditionally invested in fintech and consumer companies, offering cheque sizes ranging between $750,000 and $1 million. Going forward, they will target sustainability as well, according to Murakami. In the fourth fund, cheque sizes will be bigger. We'll probably do between $1 million and $1.5 million and then double down later," he said.

For growth-stage investments for breakout companies, the Incubate Asia Fund taps SMBC's Asia Rising Fund, which is currently sized at $200 million.

Through the lifecycle of the new fund, portfolio construction will remain the same, with the firm investing in 15-20 startups. This time around, theyll be setting up the fund in India itself, instead of in Japan, though the fundraise will happen from Japanese LPs. The company is currently building its thesis around deeptech, defence and semiconductors.

Earlier people were sceptical, but people are seeing the success of companies like Pixxel and AgniKul and their ability to pivot, scale and generate value is opening up sectors," said Rajeev Ranka, partner, India investments at Incubate Fund Asia and SMBC Asia Rising Fund. Defence is another category where India is for the first time becoming the consumer rather than investor."
Arlington (US), Aug 4 (AP) A strike by thousands of workers who build fighter jets for Boeing at three US plants is the second labour disruption for the plane builder in less than a year.

The strike that began just after midnight Monday involving more than 3,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers arrives as Boeing is attempting to resuscitate its reputation.

Boeing, once a beacon of US manufacturing and the gold standard in the global aircraft industry, has been rocked by fatal crashes, investigations and changes in leadership.

Following is a quick rundown of events that have buffeted the Arlington, Va., company.

___

January 2013: 787s worldwide are grounded nearly three weeks after lithium-ion batteries that are part of the planes led to a fire in one plane and smoke in a second.

August 2015: The first 737 Max plane rolls off the production line, and within a year, it is undergoing flight tests.

October 29, 2018: Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 Max 8, plunges into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. Questions are raised over a new Boeing flight-control system called MCAS that Boeing did not disclose to pilots and airlines. Indonesian investigators say the Flight 610 pilots struggled for control as the automated system pushed the nose of the plane down more than two dozen times.

March 1, 2019: Wall Street remains enamoured with Boeing as commercial aircraft orders rocket. Shares of Boeing Co. close at an all-time high of USD 430.35.

March 10, 2019: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max 8, crashes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 157 passengers and crew members. Shares of Boeing began a long, downward slide and have yet to recover.

March 2019: Within days of the second crash, the US Federal Aviation Administration and regulators in nations around the world ordered the grounding of all 737 Max jets.

December 23, 2019: Boeing ousts CEO Dennis Muilenburg, who was seen as pressuring the FAA to lift the Max grounding order.

January 7, 2021: US Justice Department charges Boeing with fraud but won't prosecute the company for misleading regulators about the 737 Max if it pays a USD 2.5 billion settlement.

January 5, 2024: A panel covering an unused emergency exit blows off a 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight. Pilots land the plane safely.

February 26, 2024: A panel of outside experts, convened after the two deadly crashes, reports Boeing's safety culture falls short despite the company's efforts to fix it.

March 11, 2024: A LATAM Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight between Australia and New Zealand suddenly plunges, injuring 50 people. Boeing tells airlines to inspect switches on pilots' seats after a published report said an accidental cockpit seat movement likely caused the rapid loss of altitude.

March 25, 2024: Dave Calhoun, who replaced Muilenburg, says he will step down as CEO by year-end as part of a broader shakeup of Boeing leadership.

July 7, 2024: Boeing agrees to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the US government for misleading regulators who approved pilot-training standards for the Max.

July 31, 2024: Boeing names Kelly Ortberg as its new chief executive. Ortberg is a trained engineer and was CEO of aerospace supplier Rockwell Collins for eight years. Many see his appointment as an attempt by Boeing to get back to its roots.

Sept 13, 2024: About 33,000 Boeing factory workers walk off the job in a strike that will cripple production at one of the preeminent manufacturers in the US for almost two months. It is the first labour action taken against the company in 16 years.
Bharti Airtel Ltd has announced its sovereign cloud offering amid growing focus among Indian enterprises on securing sensitive data.

With the Monday announcement, Indias second-largest telecom operator by market share taps into a market dominated by US tech giants such as Microsoft Corp. and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

In India, too, companies such as Google, the Hiranandani group's Yotta Infrastructure, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and E2E Networks are vying for a share of the market.

Sovereign cloud refers to a digital platform based entirely within the country to store and process data and run applications. From the code base to the physical data centres, everything is located fully in India.

Also Read | Bharti Airtel slashes pay hikes for employees, including top brass

Bharti Airtel vice-chairman and managing director Gopal Vittal said Airtels sovereign cloud offering would be a differentiator in the market as it can reduce cloud spending for enterprises by 30-40%, because of the fact that, as a telecom operator, it offers both its network and cloud to its customers.

The network combined with the cloud has a very strong value proposition because that's what enables us to reduce the total cost of ownership, Vittal said at a press conference on Monday in New Delhi.

If you were to take the network separately and the cloud separately, your cost of ownership jumps up and the reason we are able to save 30 to 40% of cost for people moving their workloads to us is simply because of the capacity to bundle these two disparate things and bring it together, which is in any case mission critical for any cloud application, he added.

Airtel Cloud will be housed under Airtels digital arm, Xtelify.

Vittal said the challenge with the cloud today is that it's not sovereign and not regulated. So a lot of the data doesn't sit in India. The second is that the cost of moving to the cloud is high, and so we've solved these problems by launching a telco-grade cloud.

Digital infrastructure market On 2 June, Mint reported that India's push for a digital infrastructure isolated from global networks is fuelling a boom in sovereign cloud services, creating a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for local tech players. Lately, companies such as TCS and Google's India unit are emerging as early movers in this area.

Currently, the adoption of sovereign cloud services is also being led by the government entities, Mint had reported.

At the heart of Airtel's sovereign cloud offering is its data centre subsidiary, Nxtra, which hosts cloud and storage requirements.

While Vittal did not specify the revenue targets from the sovereign cloud opportunity, he said Airtel's sovereign cloud is specifically designed to address challenges faced by regulated entities like banks and insurance companies, which are often unable to place their data on public clouds due to strict data localization requirements.

This is not a one-quarter or two-quarter situation. This is a long gate, but it's really the start point of Airtel demonstrating its capabilities to be in a very, very different space, Vittal said.

To be sure, the telecom operator talked about its plans to launch sovereign cloud at an earnings call in May. It said it had done roundtables across the country to explain to its customers about telco-grade cloud and how it can benefit them.

"Airtel offering sovereign cloud is strategic given that telecom operators are looking to increase their piece of the enterprise segment. This is important for them as their enterprise revenue is hovering around 15-20% and a widening portfolio can help increase the same," said Faisal Kawoosa, chief analyst at Techarc, a technology market research and consulting firm.

The launch also assumes significance as the company saw its top line fall 2.7% year-on-year to 5,315 crore in the March quarter in its business-to-business (B2B) segmentAirtel Business. It was also because it shed its low-margin wholesale business.

However, in the B2B segment, Airtel has been doubling down on offering a suite of products to enterprises, including cloud technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT), and communications platform-as-a-service (CPaaS).

Airtel Business contributes 11% to total revenue.

When asked about entering the consumer (B2C) market with cloud storage services, Vittal said the company has no plans to do so.

Also Read | Homegrown cloud firms surge on AI infrastructure boom

In May, Bharti Airtel partnered with Google to offer 100GB of Google One cloud storage at no cost for six months to its postpaid and Airtel Wi-Fi users.

AI integration On plans to come up with its own large language models (LLMs), Vittal said: We would much rather use the public LLMs that are already there and combine that with small language models relevant for the kind of business that we run and make it much sharper.

In July, Airtel partnered with generative AI platform Perplexity to offer 12-month Perplexity Pro subscription free of cost to all its 360 million customers.

On Monday, Airtel also launched an AI-powered, future-ready software platform that will help telcos worldwide eliminate complexity, improve customer experience, lower churn, and raise average revenue per user (Arpu).

The company also signed three global partnerships with Singtel, Globe Telecom, and Airtel Africa.

Also Read | TCS, Google win sovereign cloud deals with Centre
(Bloomberg) -- German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil plans to bring up the issue of quotas for European steel when he meets with his US counterpart Scott Bessent.

Its precisely in the steel industry where there are indications that there could be a quota system  exceptions on both sides of the Atlantic, Klingbeil told reporters in Washington on Monday. This would be important for the German steel industry and for many jobs in Germany, and its one of the topics I will address today.

A US-European trade deal agreed last month will raise duties on most imports from the bloc to 15%. Brussels got a partial waiver on certain industry-specific US tariffs that carry higher rates worldwide  like for automobiles  but not on others like steel and aluminum, where talks on an exemption involving quotas continue.

I think we were too weak, we cannot be satisfied with the result that was achieved, said Klingbeil. We Europeans must become stronger, focus on the internal market, and ensure that we are force to be reckoned with. Then we can counter the US with greater self-confidence, not against the US, but in dialogue with the US. That has been lacking somewhat in recent weeks.

Still, he added that an agreement does mean that the uncertainties of recent months have been removed, and that there is now planning security for companies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Klingbeil, who also is his countrys vice chancellor, is in the US on the invitation of Treasury Secretary Bessent, whom he met at the Group of Seven gathering in Banff, Canada, in May.

I hope that the close relationship between myself and Scott Bessent will help us to clarify issues and gain a better understanding of the situation, he said. This will hopefully lead to sensible solutions that are in the interests of the German economy.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Mumbai, Aug 4 (PTI) Only a "handful" of corporates are investing in India, JSW Group scion Parth Jindal said on Monday, stressing the need for "democratisation" when it comes to private capital expenditure.

The Mumbai-headquartered group having interest in cement, steel, ports and sports, believes in India's growth potential and will invest USD 50 billion over the next five years, the 35-year-old Parth, the son of Sajjan Jindal, told reporters here.

"You have today a handful of groups investing in India. We need it to be more democratised. We need more MSMEs to invest. We need everyone to invest," Jindal, the managing director of the USD 49 billion group's cement and paints arms, told reporters here.

It can be noted that some other industry captains, including billionaire banker Uday Kotak, have expressed concerns around investments getting done by a few groupings in the past.

The JSW Group is investing across its businesses, Jindal said, pointing out that while his father Sajjan Jindal -- the group chairman and managing director -- has announced investing USD 60 billion over five years, group executives are pegging it at USD 40 billion and he himself feels it will be USD 50 billion.

"We believe that there's incredible potential in India, incredible potential to export from India as well. And also really... in the China plus one strategy," the Jindal family scion said.

Other private companies have opted deleverage or paying off their loans over investment in capacity addition, which is more sought after for the growth impetus it gives, Jindal said.

Private companies have strong balance sheets, but they are not investing, he rued, adding that the government is also "perplexed" about this phenomenon because the fundamentals of the economy are very strong.

Stating that manufacturing in India needs to go up, Jindal pointed to challenges around land acquisition and labour laws being a deterrent to invest.

"(there are) so many laws, so many rules... tribal land, SC (Scheduled Caste) land, ST (Scheduled Tribe) land, OBC (Other Backward Classes) land. I mean, it's very difficult for any foreign company to come and understand or even a startup to come and think about it. So, that needs reform," Jindal said.

The government has done a lot of reform, and its arms like the Niti Aayog are looking into how this can be reversed.

Jindal also flagged concerns around the sagging consumption growth in the country, pointing out that it is a "tale of two Indias" where the top 20 crore people in the country are spending.

"...it's a tale of almost two Indias. Now, you have a widening gap between the top 200 million Indians and the rest. And that's a really big concern because you're seeing value growth, but you're not seeing volume growth. And that could only mean that, you know, that this divide is increasing," he said.

Jindal said JSW Group looks at manufacturing as its core strength, where it can put up a big plant right from acquiring a piece of land to erecting the facility.
New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) India emerged as the world's fifth biggest aviation market, handling 241 million passengers, while Mumbai-Delhi was one of the busiest airport pairs in 2024, according to data released by global airlines' grouping IATA.

The International Airport Transport Association (IATA), which represents around 350 airlines, on Monday released the latest edition of the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) for 2024.

India saw 211 million air passengers last year, a growth of 11.1 per cent compared to 2023, ahead of Japan, which handled 205 million passengers with an annual rise of 18.6 per cent.

"The US remains the world's biggest aviation market with 876 million passengers in 2024 on the strength of its domestic market, growing 5.2 per cent year-on-year.

"China was the second-biggest passenger market, with 741 million passengers, a growth of 18.7 per cent compared to 2023," it said in a release.

While India stood at the 5th place, the UK at the 3rd spot (261 million passengers) and Spain at the 4th position (241 million).

The figures include all international and domestic passengers departing or arriving in each country.

Among the top 10 airport pairs, Mumbai-Delhi was the 7th busiest, carrying 5.9 million passengers in 2024.

"Asia Pacific dominated the ranking for the world's busiest airport pairs, with Jeju-Seoul (CJU-GMP) the most popular route globally, with 13.2 million passengers flying between the two airports in 2024.

"In the top 10, only one airport pair -- Jeddah-Riyadh (JED-RUH) -- was not in the Asia Pacific region," IATA said.

As per the grouping, international premium class travel -- business and first class -- grew 11.8 per cent, outpacing growth in global economy travel of 11.5 per cent.

In 2024, the total number of international premium class travellers was 116.9 million or 6 per cent of the total international passengers.

"Leading the regions in terms of percentage growth was Asia Pacific with a year-on-year growth of 22.8 per cent, with 21 million premium passengers -- although it was outpaced in growth by economy class passenger numbers, up 28.6 per cent to 500.8 million.

"Growth in premium travel exceeded economy class travel in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America. Europe remained the largest market for international premium travel, with 39.3 million premium passengers, while premium travellers as a percentage of all travellers were highest in the Middle East at 14.7 per cent," IATA said.

Last year, narrow-body planes of Boeing and Airbus were among the most used ones.

Boeing's B737 alone flew 10 million flights with 2.4 trillion Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) in 2024.

"This was followed by the Airbus A320 with 7.9 million flights and 1.7 trillion ASKs and the Airbus A321 with 3.4 million flights and 1.1 trillion ASKs," it said.
New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) Promoters ownership in private listed companies declined to an eight-year low of 40.58 per cent as of June 30, 2025, following a net share sale worth 54,732 crore during the quarter, according to data from primeinfobase.com, an initiative of PRIME Database Group.

While promoter buying is always a positive sign, promoter selling can be due to a wide variety of reasons such as promoters taking advantage of bullish markets to take money off the table, strategic reasons like debt reduction, legacy planning, philanthropy, investment in other ventures and meeting Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) requirement as also for personal expenses, Pranav Haldea, Managing Director, PRIME Database Group, said.

"Relatively lower promoter holding in some of the recent IPO companies and overall institutionalisation of the market are some of the other reasons behind this fall," he added.

In comparison, private promoters held a 40.81 per cent stake in the quarter ended March 2025. The last time holdings were this low was in the quarter ended September 30, 2017, when private promoter shareholding stood at 40.19 per cent.

This trend has been consistent over the past three years. Over the last 13 quarters alone, promoters share has fallen sharply by 455 basis points from 45.13 per cent on March 31, 2022, to 40.58 per cent as of June 30, 2025.

According to Haldea, as long as promoters continue to hold a sizable stake after the sale, with the sale not happening at a huge discount to market price and there being no significant change in the fundamentals of the company, there is no reason to worry.

This analysis is based on the shareholding data filed by 2,086 out of the 2,131 companies listed on the main board of the NSE for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. As of July 25, 45 companies had yet to submit their shareholding disclosures.

Meanwhile, government holdings as promoters saw a slight increase during the quarter, rising from 9.27 per cent to 9.39 per cent.

The share of Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) continued to climb, reaching an all-time high of 17.82 per cent as of June 30, 2025, up from 17.62 per cent in the previous quarter. This increase followed a net investment of 1.68 lakh crore during the quarter.

Mutual funds, buoyed by sustained retail inflows through systematic investment plans (SIPs), played a major role in this surge. Their net investment of 1.17 lakh crore pushed mutual funds share in NSE-listed companies to a new peak of 10.56 per cent, up from 10.35 per cent in March 2025.

In contrast, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) saw their stake dip further to a 13-year low of 17.04 per cent from 17.22 per cent, despite a net inflow of 38,674 crore during the quarter.

DIIs increased their exposure most notably to the Consumer Discretionary sector while cutting back on Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). On the other hand, FIIs raised their allocation to Financial Services but also trimmed their investment in FMCG.

Indias largest institutional investor, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), saw a marginal decline in its equity holdings. Across 284 companies where it holds over 1 per cent, LICs stake dropped to 3.68 per cent as of June 30, 2025, from 3.72 per cent at the end of March 2025, even though it recorded a net purchase of 9,914 crore during the quarter.
Tata Group-owned luxury automotive company, Jaguar Land Rover, appointed P B Balaji as the company's new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after former executive Adrian Mardell's move to step down from the role, according to an exchange filing.

We would like to inform you that the Board of Directors of JLR at its meeting held today, i.e., on 4 August 2025, has approved the appointment of Mr. P B Balaji to succeed Mr. Adrian Mardell, as the CEO of JLR, when he retires upon completion of his contract, the company informed BSE though the filing.

Balaji's appointment will be effective from November 2025, and Adrian Mardell will continue to help with the transition and provide support until the end of his contract.

JLR's new CEO appointment comes after former executive Adrian Mardell decided to leave the luxury sport utility vehicle maker after spending more than 35 years in the firm, and three years as CEO.

Also Read | Tata Motors JLR navigates a tougher road in FY26

Adrian Mardell has expressed his desire to retire from JLR after three years as CEO and 35 years with the company, a spokesperson said in a statement, cited by multiple news portals on 31 July 2025.

Who is P B Balaji? P B Balaji spent nearly eight years as the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Tata Motors before receiving the promotion to become the CEO of the luxury sport utility vehicle maker Jaguar Land Rover.

Also Read | Jaguar Land Rover announces EV pivot in major strategy revamp

Prior to joining Tata Motors, Balaji had more than eight years of work experience working for Hindustan Unilever. He started his career as a Vice President in the Treasury department of Unilever Singapore in 2007.

Later he joined Hindustan Unilever as the VP of Finance, and after working for a long time, finally decided to make the switch into Tata Group from his CFO role at HUL.
(Bloomberg) -- New York City live music venue operator Avant Gardner has filed for bankruptcy protection after difficulties re-opening its flagship outdoor stage, the Brooklyn Mirage, following a major renovation.

The Brooklyn Mirage had been slated to re-open in May 2025, but the project faced cost overruns, delays and permitting issues. While some events had been shifted to Avant Gardners indoor venues, it was not sufficient to stem a significant liquidity crisis, according to Chief Executive Officer Gary Richards.

AGDP Holding, the parent company of Avant Gardner LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware with around $155.3 million in funded debt obligations, according to court filings.

Richards also pointed to increasingly aggressive collection activities from certain financiers and contractors in court documents dated August 4. Avant Gardner took on financing arrangements in the months prior to bankruptcy to complete the renovation, with certain deals now subject to dispute.

It is not the first time that Avant Gardner has faced problems. In 2023, the company hosted the Electric Zoo Festival, which was slapped with a class-action lawsuit after it canceled its first day at short notice and denied access to some festival-goers.

Avant Gardners key lender has agreed to provide around $45.8 million in debtor-in-possession financing, which it will use, alongside other obligations, to bid for Avant Gardners assets. The company plans to hold a competitive auction for the assets, while maintaining business-as-usual in the short term.

The case is AGDP Holding Inc, case number 25-11446, in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Indias largest IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), on Monday said that it is in talks with the employee who was spotted sleeping outside the companys Pune office premises as a form of protest.

The companys statement comes after pictures of a TCS employee named Sourabh More sleeping in front of the TCS office in Pune went viral on social media. The viral post showed a person sleeping on the footpath with a note in front of him, which claimed that the IT company had not paid him for months.

What did the employee claim? More, in a handwritten letter, claimed that he informed the companys HR that he does not have money and claimed that, as the salary has not been credited, he will be forced to sleep and live outside (on the footpath) of the companys Pune office.

I have informed HR I dont have money and will be forced to sleep and live outside TCS on footpath, said More in the letter.

The letter also claimed that the company told More that he would receive his salary by 31 July 2025, but due to the alleged lack of response from the company, he was forced to take to the streets.

A social media account named beingpunekarofficial shared the photo of the employee sleeping on the footpath on Saturday, 2 August 2025. The post, since then, has received more than 15,000 reactions on Instagram.

Also Read | TCS CEO's salary in spotlight after layoff news of 12k staff

What did TCS say? In an official statement to Hindustan Times, TCS said that Sourabh Mores salary payment was temporarily stopped after he allegedly took unauthorised leave from work, as part of the companys standard procedure.

It also said that the employee has not reported back to the company, requesting for a reinstatement. TCS has also reportedly provided him with the accommodation and support in addressing the situation in a fair and constructive manner.
Mumbai: In 2017, the Indian government made FASTag toll payment mandatory for all new vehicles. Paytm, already eyeing dominance in digital finance, quickly seized the moment. The fintech companys banking arm, Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL), jumped in and by 2020 had become the countrys top FASTag issuer, with three million tags.

But behind the scenes, things were less straightforward. Two teams, issuer and acquirer, ran the whole FASTag tech and product back-end," said a person with direct knowledge of the matter, requesting anonymity. Oddly, the teams werent a part of PPBL. They were under One97 Communications, the parent company."

This corporate structure of Paytm Payments Bank, which depended heavily on infrastructure from One97 Communications, raised red flags at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Indias central bank, particularly around governance and data security, according to people familiar with the matter.

In January 2024, the RBI took unprecedented action, directing the bank to cease all banking activity from 29 February onward.

Beyond concerns about data handling and the intermingling of financial and non-financial operations, the regulator cited multiple lapses, including submission of false information, non-disclosure of related-party transactions, a high number of dormant accounts, cybersecurity deficiencies, and serious non-compliance with know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering norms.

Following the crackdown, key services went dark overnight, and revenue slumped even as fixed costs remained the same. In the June quarter (Q1) of 2024-25, Paytm reported that its net loss had widened 135% over the previous year to 840 crore, while revenue fell 36% to 1,502 crore.

You can lose revenue in a week, but you cant cut costs that quickly," Sachin Dixit, who leads Internet Equity Research at brokerage JM Financial, told Mint.

Paytm had been on a gradual path to profitability since its initial public offering (IPO), trimming net losses. However, the RBIs action made course-correction urgent.

View Full Image File photo of a worker fixing a FASTag sticker on the windscreen of a car. (PTI)

The FASTag unit was among the first to go. Once the ban happened, everything came to a standstill," the person cited above said. Initially some of them were moved to the UPI team and other teams, but eventually most were let go."

UPI is short for unified payments interface, an instant money transfer system.

Queries sent to the company had not elicited a response at the time of publishing. Multiple requests to Paytm management for an interaction were turned down.

In a bid to stem losses, Paytm launched a sweeping operational overhaul: trimming teams, slashing costs, and leaning heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) to drive efficiency. The result? A U-turn into the black.

On 23 July, founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, also called VSS, declared a 123 crore net profit for Q1. No adjusted Ebitda or Esop fluff, Paytm is PAT positive", he declared.

Ebitda is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation; PAT is profit after tax, and Esop is employee stock ownership plan.

This felt like redemption after a forgettable debut on the bourses. One97 Communications had launched Indias largest-ever IPO, raising $2.46 billion in November 2021. But the shares crashed on debut, triggering circuit breakers. This wiped out nearly $900 million for high-profile backers such as SoftBanks Vision Fund, Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway, and Jack Mas Ant Group within two days.

The stock closed 37% below its issue price, marking one of the worst global debuts for a billion-dollar IPO in the first two days post listing. Experts at the time said the companys IPO was mispriced, with a valuation of nearly $19 billion. They also cited the absence of a clear path to profitability, and intense competition in the payments business.

Inside the deep cuts

Paytms profitable turn hasnt been driven by a sudden surge in revenue. It has come from aggressive cost cutting (see chart).

About five quarters ago, things were in the doldrums. You had a lending partner pulling back due to the ban, which consequently, led to lower payments revenue. What were seeing now is not dramatic growth, just a reversion to normal," Piran Engineer, investment analyst at CLSA, told Mint.

Cut what doesnt bring in profits and double down on what does, was Paytms mantra.

The fintech company makes money through three main streams: payments, financial services, and marketing. In payments, it facilitates merchant and consumer transactionsvia UPI, co-branded credit cards, and payment devices like soundboxes. Its financial services arm focuses on lending to consumers and merchants. Though Paytm doesnt lend directly, it partners with lenders. Other offerings like insurance and broking are at an early-stage. Finally, marketing revenue is generated from ads, promoting financial products, and selling deals, vouchers and travel tickets on its platform.

The biggest savings came from three areas: employee costs (especially non-sales roles), marketing, and Esop expenses.

Theyve reduced employee costs by about 2025%, which alone translates to annual savings of 8001,000 crore. Then theres a cut in discretionary spending, things like promotions, cashbacks, and fixed marketing spends, for another 500 crore in annual savings," said Engineer.

To do that, Paytm scaled back experimental projects, as a result of which it could trim its workforce expenses, especially non-sales employee costs.

Paytm was known for its efforts to do everything, they had a huge focus on building Paytm as a super app. The app now is focused on payments, deprioritizing other segments," said the person quoted above.

In addition, the company had effectively gone into a hiring freeze. Sharma, during the earnings call for Q4 of 2024-25, said Paytm will not be backfilling roles.We are not filling the positions that get emptied. It may not look like a (further) drop, but as the cost of people declines, more productivity is showing up," said the founder.

AI played a role, too. Paytm has quietly used automation to replace manual tasks, especially in back-end metrics such as customer support, JM Financials Dixit said. This could turn into a huge cost saving given its 7075 million active users and 13 million paying merchants, according to the latest quarterly report.

AI also helped reduce tech infrastructure costs by identifying slow hours", where server usage could be scaled down. Suppose youre using cloud infrastructure with dedicated machines to handle traffic spikes. Based on usage patterns, AI suggested that during certain night hours, we could reduce capacity to a dramatically lower volume, without affecting performance," said Sharma, during the Q4 earnings call.

Marketing was another major area that saw a pullback. With consumer payment monetization still limited, Paytm chose to spend less on acquiring monthly transacting users (MTUs), focusing instead on channels that directly bring in revenue.

Until Q2 of 2024-25, they were restricted from onboarding new customers (as part of RBI action from January 2024 mentioned earlier). But even in Q3 and Q4, if you look at their UPI user additions, growth has remained relatively stagnant. Its inching up, maybe by one to two million users a quarter, but not at the pace it potentially could," said Dixit. The company feels that if it cant generate a reasonable lifetime value-customer acquisition cost ratio, theres really no point in spending inorganic dollars to acquire them."

The companys MTU grew about 2% sequentially in Q1 to 74 million. The user base is still down 6% from 78 million a year ago.

View Full Image With consumer payment monetization still limited, Paytm chose to spend less on acquiring monthly transacting users. (HT)

Market cheers, regulators wait

One of the biggest turning points came when founder Sharma forfeited the Esops21 million employee stock options worth over 1,800 croregranted to him when the company listed back in 2021.

The Esop costs were meant to taper off eventually but this played out faster than expected after VSS (Sharma) voluntarily surrendered his, amid regulatory concerns," Pranav Gundlapalle, senior research analyst at Bernstein, told Mint.

Last August, Indias market regulator said that the grant of 21 million Esops to Sharma violated shareholder classification normslarge shareholders in a position to influence company decisions cannot hold Esops. Sharma owned a 14.7% stake in Paytm a year before the fintechs 2021 listing. To become eligible for Esop grants, he reduced his shareholding to 9.1% by transferring 30.97 million shares to a company that acted on behalf of his family trust.

Sebi had issued notices to Sharma and other board members who held roles during Paytms November 2021 IPO over alleged misrepresentation of facts.

Sharma has since settled the case with Sebi.

The sharp decline of Esop expenses in Q1 this year signalled the end of a key cost overhang. These steps were also a signal of goodwill, market watchers said.

Once known for his flamboyant persona and a leadership style that made Paytm townhalls feel more like parties than serious company meetings, Sharma has undergone a marked transformation. Over the past year, Sharma appears to have consciously reduced his public appearances, cut down on casual social interactions, and is now laser-focused on rebuilding the companys credibility.

Still, Sharmas trademark selfies havent stopped. First came a photo with former Sebi chairperson Madhavi Puri Buch in February. More recently, Helios fund manager Sameer Arora snapped a selfie with Sharma at a local chaat shop in Delhi, within a week of the company turning a corner.

View Full Image Sameer Arora, fund manager with Helios, posted a selfie with VSS on X. (Sameer Arora/X)

With the company under intense regulatory scrutiny, Sharmas actions over the year were likely meant to send a message that Paytm is trying to clean up its act.

Those actions did work on the stock market. Investor confidence has improved, as reflected in the stock price recovery. Paytms stock opened at 1,001.60 on 21 July, before the company reported its Q1 earnings, and over the past week has maintained an upward trajectory, closing at 1,079.90 on 4 August.

Jefferies and Dolat Capital have raised their 12-month targets on Paytm, with Jefferies hiking it from 900 to 1,250 and Dolat from 1,200 to 1,400. Both maintain a buy rating.

But to keep the momentum going, with growth in profits, and bringing back a massive revenue chunk, Paytm will likely need to show deeper monetization, and eventually, clarity on the regulatory front.

Paytm Payments Bank Ltd is still facing a regulatory embargo due to persistent non-compliance with regulations and other issues flagged by the RBI. This includes co-mingling of financial and non-financial businesses within the Paytm ecosystem, as in the case of the FAStag business.

Last month, the bank appointed a new CEO, Arun Kumar Bansal, a former executive director at IDBI Bank, to replace Surinder Chawla. The bank also revamped its board, adding former bureaucrats and public sector bankers as independent directors.

Meanwhile, nine months after submitting its application for a payment aggregator licence, Paytm has still not received approval. This comes at a time when PayU, MobiKwiks Zaakpay, PBFintechs lending arm, and other peers have received their payment aggregator licence.

A payment aggregator licence lets a fintech collect and settle payments for businesses, making it easier and safer for them to accept digital payments.

Nine months after submitting its application for a payment aggregator licence, Paytm has still not received approval. This comes at a time when PayU, MobiKwiks Zaakpay, PBFintechs lending arm, and other peers have received the licence.

The delay in securing this licence persists despite Paytm bringing Chinese investor Antfins stake below 10%, a move aimed at resolving a key hurdle. Antfin is an affiliate of the Alibaba Group. When Paytm filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) in July 2021, Chinese ownership in the company was significantAntfin (Netherlands) Holding B.V. held 27.9% and Alibaba.com Singapore E-Commerce Pvt Ltd held 6.8%, together accounting for 34.7% of the pre-offer paid-up equity capital. This level of Chinese investment had raised eyebrows among market watchers and regulators.

In the latest trim, Antfin sold a 4% holding in the company for $246 million via a block deal in May this year. This reduced its holding from 9.85% previously to around 5.85%. In August 2023, Antfin had transferred 44% of its Paytm stake to CEO Sharma, who took it through his overseas firm, Resilient Asset Management.

On the regulatory side, any favourable action would be an indication that theyve done enough to pass the intense regulatory scrutiny," said Gundlapalle.

More tests

The first step, cost rationalization, is already in place. From here, the real conviction has to be around the belief that EPS (earnings per share) growth wont just be linear; it could scale meaningfully as the topline expands," said Gundlapalle.

That next phase, however, will test Paytms staying power. Two levers are key to sustaining profitability: personal loan distribution and co-branded credit card revenue.

Lending growth remains soft due to subdued consumer credit demand, a major headwind since lending is a high-margin business. If that slows further, the non-linear profit growth story could wobble," said Gundlapalle. The second risk is retaining market share in revenue-generating payment products, largely merchant acquisition for credit card payments. Thats where Paytm earns a large part of its payment revenue."

Lending growth remains soft due to subdued consumer credit demand, a major headwind.  Pranav Gundlapalle

Apart from the two main revenue drivers, Paytms management might see a struggle in finding incremental revenue sources. It has pointed to several future revenue bets: UPI monetization with merchant discount rate (MDR), buy-now-pay-later (BNPL), scaling Paytm Money, international expansion, and a revival of the wallet business.

But each of these growth levers is either on pause or uncertain.

UPI MDR, a payment processing fee that merchants have to bear for UPI transactions, is off the table in the near term after finance minister Nirmala Sitharamans comment on it being a rumour.

Paytms international markets may take twothree years to deliver revenue, while Paytm Money is still a niche player in a crowded wealthtech market.

For additional long-term growth, we are exploring opportunities in select international geographies, which will start showing results after three years," the company said during its management commentary this quarter.

Paytm has managed to arrest its slide into losses and is showing early signs of a turnaround. But sustaining this momentum will require more than cost cuts. Sharma still needs to prove that the companys growth bets can scale up meaningfully.
Mumbai: Automotive component maker Sona Comstars top executive said on Monday that the company has not been informed of the beneficial owner of the promoter family trust following the passing away of company chairman Sunjay Kapur.

The trustRK Family Trustis at the centre of a succession and inheritance dispute within the promoter family. Sunjay Kapurs wife and motherPriya Sachdev Kapur and Rani Kapurare at odds over inheritance and control of the Trusts stake in Sona Comstar, which is worth almost 8,000 crore.

RK Family Trust owns 65% of Aureus Investment Private Ltd, which in turn controls the 28% promoter stake in Sona Comstar (listed as Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd). In 2019, RK Family Trust had informed Sona Comstar, which was a privately held company at the time, that its sole beneficiary was Sunjay Kapur.

Vivek Vikram Singh, the companys managing director and group CEO, said during an analyst call to discuss the companys June-quarter results that the discord was limited to the promoter family and it has no bearing on its performance. There is far more sensationalism around this than there is impact. Whoever controls the 28% doesnt have that much [impact]," Singh said.

Aureus Investment, the promoter company, has the right to nominate just one director to Sona Comstars board, Singh said on the call, adding that even that power was not absolute. The board may choose to reject the nomination. Even if the board approves it, public shareholders then have to ratify the nomination, he said.

How the appointment of a single director on a board with six independent directors can have an impact on the running of the company is very bizarre to me," he said, blaming the media for putting a spotlight on the succession dispute.

Also Read | Sona Comstar row shows why Indian firms must let professionals lead

The Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd stock has lost almost 15% since the sudden passing away of its chairman on 12 June. It closed 1.26% higher on the BSE on Monday at 442.8 compared to a 1.54% gain in the S&P BSE Auto Index.

After Kapurs demise, Aureus Investment nominated Priya as a non-executive director of Sona Comstar. Her appointment was accepted by the companys board and, later, by its shareholders at its annual general meeting on 25 July. Earlier, Priya was appointed as the managing director of Aureus within a week of Sunjays passing away.

Unhappy with Priyas appointment to the Aureus and Sona Comstar boards, Rani Kapur wrote to the latter company on 24 July, questioning the authority of those who approved the appointment of Priya. She also alleged that she was made to sign certain documents while she was grieving and that she has no knowledge of what she signed upon.

I was approached multiple times and compelled to sign various documents without explanation or even having time to read and understand the same," she wrote in her letter. Despite being under immense mental and emotional distress, I was coerced into signing such documents behind locked doors and though I've requested repeatedly, the contents of such documents have never been revealed to me."

Vaibhav Gaggar, the lawyer appointed by Rani Kapur, declined to comment on the structure of the company and who was the controlling trustee of RK Family Trust. "There is a lot to it. It will start unfolding. Ms Kapur has talked about some very suspicious things," he said.

Company's Q1 performance

Meanwhile, the rare earth magnet crisis and tariff war dented Sona Comstars profit and revenue in the April-June quarter, but the outlook remains bullish.

The company reported a consolidated profit of 125 crore for the quarter, 12% less year-on-year (y-o-y). Revenue was 5% lower y-o-y at 851 crore.

The companys business was affected by several obstacles during the quarter, including Chinas sudden restriction on the export of rare earth elements, which are crucial to make motors for electric vehicles, a key product for Sona Comstar. Other headwinds included the US tariffs, with North America being the key market for the company.

Q1 FY26 was a challenging quarter for us due to the convergence of multiple adverse factors, which are temporary, and some have started to resolve already," CEO Singh said in a media statement.

The company ended the quarter with a few large order wins, he said, which helped its net order book reach an all-time high of 26,200 crore. The comparable figure at the end of the preceding quarter was 24,200 crore. Amongst the order wins was a 1,550 crore order from a North American automaker to supply differential assembliesthe companys largest order win in 30 months.
Tesla Inc. board has approved an interim stock award of 96 million shares, worth about $29 billion, for Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.

The electric vehicle maker said it would also put a longer-term CEO compensation strategy ahead of a vote at its November 6 annual meeting.

Following this, Tesla stock jumped 2.6%.

The board said the reward was a first step good faith payment to Musk, a statement said on Monday.

After all, a deal is a deal.

Also Read | Elon Musk's Tesla launches its first charging facility at BKC in Mumbai

The development underscores Musks grip on the company and could ensure that he wont relinquish the CEO post in the near term. He is holding the post since 2008.

The share award is designed to gradually boost Musk's voting power, something he and shareholders have consistently insisted was key to keeping him focused on Tesla's mission, said a special committee Tesla formed earlier this year to consider Musk's compensation.

It consists of chair Robyn Denholm and independent director Kathleen Wilson-Thompson.

The new shares vest only if Musk remains in a key executive role through 2027. They also have a five-year holding period, except to cover tax payments or the purchase price of $23.34 per share, which is equal to the exercise price of the 2018 award. If the Delaware courts fully reinstate the 2018 CEO Performance Award, the new interim grant will either be forfeited or offset and there will be no "double dip," according to the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Also Read | Elon Musk says AI has taken hard work out of coding, predicts shift in tech jobs

In May, Musk had said in an interview that hes committed-cargo-care-share-price-nse-bse-s0005568">committed to still being at the helm in five years.

The move comes after a prior compensation package valued in excess of $50 billion was struck down by a judge.

The Delaware court had cited flaws in the board's approval process and unfairness to investors.

Musk had filed an appeal against the order in March, claiming a lower court judge made multiple legal errors in rescinding the record compensation.
Leland Strange is addicted to Dr Pepper and goes to Waffle House so often the staff knows how he likes his hash browns: with onions burned to a crisp.

The unassuming 84-year-old is the force behind the little-known company that gives Apples credit card distinctive features, like bills on the first of every month and a payment wheel that shows cardholders their projected interest costs. His business confidants include Metallicas co-manager, who is also his companys second-biggest individual shareholder.

Now, Stranges company, CoreCard, is at risk of losing its biggest client as a result of Apples imploding credit-card partnership with Goldman Sachs.

JPMorgan Chase is in advanced talks to take over as the cards issuer from Goldman, in what would be one of the biggest credit-card deals ever, The Wall Street Journal reported. Strange has publicly mused that the company could lose the Apple credit card if JPMorgan were to take over.

It was just around seven years ago that CoreCard pulled off a major coup by partnering with Goldman on the Apple card. CoreCards valuation peaked at $490 million a few days after the card was launched. To this day, no other major bank uses CoreCard, and the payment-processing industry remains dominated by a handful of behemoths.

When Goldman signaled in early 2023 that it would be pulling back from consumer lending, CoreCards stock began plummeting. Its shares fell almost 70% by March 2024 and have since whipsawed and regained some ground.

The Apple card of Leland Strange, whose CoreCard gave the credit card distinctive features.

Even if it loses the Apple card, CoreCard got some security about its future Wednesday, when payments company Euronet Worldwide announced it would buy CoreCard for about $248 million in an all-stock deal.

Strange, who is the companys chief executive officer, wishes he had decided to let go when the company might have fetched more. We have been a year late in selling," said Strange, who became a millionaire decades ago after founding a company that made computer accessories.

A big whale

CoreCards unlikely story stretches back to 1986, when Strange invested about $100,000 of his own money in a small credit-card startup in Florida. About a decade later, Intelligent Systems, which Strange led as CEO and chairman, bought a majority stake in the company.

By 2016, Intelligent Systems had sold most of its investments except for what had become the CoreCard business. That team had been focusing on writing software code for credit cards that would be easier to customize.

We werent convinced, but we felt we had something here that would be a winner," Strange said.

It turned out a big whale was on the horizon.

Founders of a California credit-card startup called Final arrived at Stranges office in 2015 in search of a processor, and soon after the companies struck a partnership.

By the end of 2017, Goldman snapped up Final as part of its push to become a credit-card issuer. The Wall Street giant then entered into a contract with CoreCard to run the Apple credit card.

Cliff Burnstein, who owns 11% of CoreCard, was in a meeting with his client, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, when he got an alert that CoreCards stock was up 20%.

I thought holy s, they must have gotten the Apple account," said Burnstein, who first invested in the company in the 1980s when he was scouring for bargain stocks.

Cliff Burnstein, second from left at the 2013 U.S. premiere of the Metallica Through The Never film, first invested in CoreCard in the 1980s.

CoreCard was about to go from processing payments for niche customers to more than 10 million Apple card users and had less than a year to prep. We told Goldman and Apple we can do this, but we will need your help," Strange said.

Among Apples must-haves: a payment wheel showing how much interest cardholders would be charged depending on how much of their balance they pay and all cardholders getting bills on the first of the month.

Most card programs send out cardholder bills on a rolling basis throughout the month, in part to avoid inundating customer-service centers. The Apple cards setup resulted in delays in addressing the flood of customer queries at the start of each month, including about fraudulent charges.

That contributed to regulatory headaches for Goldman and Apple, including an enforcement action last year by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Goldman was also losing billions of dollars from its consumer-lending expansion and facing internal strife about the strategy. By the end of 2022, it decided to start pulling back on the business.

The Wall Street firm accounts for at least 60% of CoreCards revenue, most of which is tied to the Apple card.

A fire sale

For a while, Strange pondered whether to take the company private, something that private-equity firms had approached him about.

He expressed his reservations to Burnstein, who said he would support Stranges decision. I said to him you built this company, I have great trust in your judgment and whatever decision you make," said Burnstein.

Early this year, Strange contacted around six investment banks with a bit of a dare: If they found a company that CoreCard would agree to sell itself to for a minimum of $250 million, the bankers could be on the deal. Strange had told suitors about two years earlier that he wouldnt sell for anything less than $400 million, according to people familiar with the matter.

Employees at the Waffle House near CoreCards headquarters are familiar with how CEO Leland Strange likes his order.

In the end, CoreCards deal came about after Strange met Euronet CEO Mike Brown at a conference.

Euronet, which provides debit-card processing for banks and fintechs mostly in Europe and Asia, plans to pitch CoreCards credit-card processing services to its clients. CoreCards Apple work will be a selling point, Brown said.

Since JPMorgan has in-house processing capabilities, Strange thinks it is unlikely that the Apple card will continue on in the long run with CoreCard if the bank takes over as the issuer.

That risk also exists if a different issuer wins the deal.

CoreCard is in a very unique and odd situation," Strange said.

Strange, who has the Lords Prayer on a wall in his office, thanked God on the companys earnings call last fall for giving him the ability to continue running CoreCard at his age. He plans to give away his wealth to Christian missions.
New Delhi: Indias indirect tax administration has detected 7 trillion worth of goods and services tax (GST) evasion in 91,000 cases in five years through March 2025.

Of this, taxpayers have deposited 1.29 trillion voluntarily, minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed Lok Sabha on Monday in a written reply. The extent of tax evasion detected has steadily risen from over 49,300 crore in FY21 to 2.23 trillion in FY25, the minister said.

Also Read | Profiteering worries cast cloud over GST cuts

Of the total tax evasion detected, 1.78 trillion is related to fake input tax credits. Of this, about 7% has been voluntarily deposited by the taxpayers.

To be sure, part of the disputed tax amounts get dropped in appellate proceedings, while some of the demands are challenged in courts.

The increase in tax evasion detected coincides with an expansion of data collection and reporting requirements implemented by the tax administration. The Centre and Goods and Services Tax Network, the company that processes tax returns, have taken several steps to improve compliance and prevent tax evasion, the minister said.

These include e-invoicing transactions, automated risk assessment of entities based on their compliance attributes, highlighting outliers based on system-flagged mismatches, identifying anomalies in taxpayer behaviour, and selecting returns for scrutiny and taxpayers for audit based on various risk parameters.

These measures are helpful in safeguarding the revenue and nabbing the evaders, Chaudhary said.

Chaudhary said newer techniques, like facial recognition systems and e-way bill data, were used to identify GST identification numbers with a propensity for fake or fraudulent activity early on.

While the above measures contribute to revenue collection, impact of such measures in identifying systemic gaps, improving compliance and preventing recurring tax evasion is not ascertainable. The outcomes such as revenue growth and reduction in instances of tax evasion cannot be attributed solely to all or any individual such measure, as various other factors such as global economic conditions, economic growth in the country, level of domestic consumption of goods and services, tax rate, etc. are also relevant for this, Chaudhary said.

In response to another question on reducing the 18% GST on health and life insurance policies, the minister informed the House that the issue was placed before the GST Council on 9 September 2024 in New Delhi.

After detailed deliberations, the GST Council recommended setting up a ministerial panel to review the matter. Samrat Choudhary, deputy chief minister of Bihar, is the panel's convenor.
President Donald Trump emphasised on Monday that the United States aims for fairness in tariff negotiations, not leverage. He expressed a desire for reciprocity and noted that the world's biggest economy will benefit financially from these negotiations.

Speaking to the reporters in Pennsylvania, PTI quoted Trump as saying, I'm not looking for leverage, I'm looking for fairness.

He added, We want to see reciprocal wherever we can, and all I can say is this: our country will be taking in hundreds of billions of dollars.

Trump's comments came after the US signed several trade agreements, while still engaged in negotiations with multiple countries, including India.

Tariffs on India On 30 July, the US President announced a 25% tariff on India, citing high duties and non-monetary trade barriers. He also criticised India's energy and military purchases from Russia and imposed an additional penalty.

In a post on his Truth Social handle, Trump wrote, Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country.

He pointed out that India imports military equipment and oil from Russia, the country responsible for the war in Ukraine. Therefore, he intends to impose a penalty on India.

India's response Following the tariff announcement, India has maintained that it is continuing talks with US negotiators over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump during a meeting in Washington in February.

Also Read | Trump slams Charlamagne Tha Godwhat did he say about Epstein files to anger him

According to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter, India is considering various options, such as increasing US imports, but has ruled out immediate retaliation against President Donald Trumps tariff threat.

Over the past few months, India and the US have conducted multiple rounds of trade negotiations. New Delhi chose to lower tariffs on products such as Bourbon whiskey and motorcycles.
The spectre of profiteering is holding back a new round of tax cuts, as the federal council for indirect taxes fears businesses will pocket the savings instead of passing them on. At stake is lower taxes on insurance premiums and an end to the 12% GST slab, two proposals that have gained broad support in recent times.

The caution stems from the previous experience of some real estate, multiplex and consumer goods companies raising prices when taxes were cut, denying benefit to the consumer. The national anti-profiteering body formed as an interim measure to check such practices was wound up in November 2022, and no suitable alternative is in place yet.

The ways of ensuring that businesses pass on the benefit of tax cuts to the consumer will get built into any decision on further lowering taxes. The council will ensure that the benefit will be passed on to consumers, or there will be no tax cut. If businesses cannot ensure that the tax relief meant for the consumer is passed on to them, why should the exchequer sacrifice revenue that could be used for welfare and development?" said one of the persons quoted above, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Queries emailed to the finance ministry and the GST Council Secretariat on Friday seeking comments remained unanswered.

Need for balance

The standoff highlights a key challenge for the council: balancing the desire for economic stimulus and consumer relief with the need to prevent companies from undermining the policy's intent. While some experts believe market competition will force businesses to pass on the benefits, the council remains cautious, with state ministers previously voicing concerns.

The GST Council is keen on reducing tax rates on life and health insurance, and shifting many products in the 12% slab to 5% under a tax rate rationalization drive; The concerns on profiteering have come up in previous GST Council meetings and if they persist, the council is unlikely to go ahead with the proposed tax cuts, the two people said.

Members of the GST Council from all states are very sensitive to this issue and some have aired their concerns at meetings in the past," the person cited earlier said, adding discussions are on at the level of political leaders, and a final proposal is yet to be crystalized.

Persisting concerns

Kerala finance minister K.N. Balagopal and Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna have discussed concerns around profiteering with the GST Council chairperson and union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in recent council meetings, as per publicly available information about the meetings.

The concern is that an increase in the base price of products, which companies are free to revise in a free market economy, cancels the benefit to the consumer from a tax rate cut. In the past, the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) has investigated several high-profile cases, involving Hindustan Unilever, Indiabulls Real Estate, and Patanjali Ayurved.

Experts believe efficient markets will ensure that companies compete in terms of price and quality to retain their market share. Majority of the products in the 12% slab are consumer products and consumers are very price-sensitive. Market forces play a key role in making sure that businesses transfer the benefits of tax rate reduction to consumers," said MS Mani, partner, indirect taxes, Deloitte India.

How things changed

Worries about GST profiteering have surfaced as anti-profiteering measures have been gradually wound down as the indirect tax regime stabilized over the last eight years.

The National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA), which was set up as a transitional arrangement to ensure that businesses passed on the benefit of tax credits available to them in GST system and the benefit of tax rate cuts to the consumer, functioned for five years till November 2022, after which the mandate was given to Competition Commission of India (CCI) but the anti-trust body could not handle it as its was designed as a regulator of market competition and efficiency rather than pricing.

Subsequently, the principal bench of the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) was entrusted to adjudicate on GST-related profiteering disputes. Given that NAA was set up to deal with profiteering concerns during the monumental transition into a new tax regime in 2017 and the number of complaints had eventually fallen drastically as the tax system stabilized, the government introduced a sunset clause to examine fresh complaints, effective from 1 April 2025.

But GSTAT will continue to adjudicate on disputes and offers a window to look into complaints. Besides, the council is empowered to introduce any fresh arrangement to ensure that profiteering concerns are addressed effectively, said a second person, who also spoke on condition of not being named.

Rate rejig

The Council has been deliberating on proposals to reduce the 18% tax paid on life insurance premium and certain health insurance premium or to fully exempt them as part of efforts to give tax relief to consumers and to enhance access to insurance protection.

Separately, the Council has also been discussing simplification of the GST structure, which would entail shifting many of the goods in the 12% slab to 5% slab and some to the 28% where necessary. The shifting of mass-use products to a lower slab is also expected to deliver a consumption stimulus to the economy at a time global trade uncertainties remain high.

The GST Council is expected to meet this month, after the end of the Parliament's monsoon session, or next month. The date and agenda are yet to be finalized, a third person, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Governor Adriana Kugler has stepped down from the US Federal Reserve board, providing US President Donald Trump with an important chance to shape monetary policy before the 2026 transition of the central bank's chair.

Kugler is the first Hispanic to serve on the Feds Board of Governors. She submitted her resignation letter on Friday, effective August 8. With her term ending in January 2026, her early exit comes amid Trump's latest attack on Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Who is Adriana Kugler? Dr. Adriana D. Kugler was appointed on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System since September 13, 2023, for a term until January 31, 2026.

Before her appointment to the Board, she was the US Executive Director at the World Bank Group. She is currently on leave from Georgetown University, where she serves as a professor of Public Policy and Economics.

Also Read | Trump demands Powell's resignation as Fed Guv steps down

She previously held the position of chief economist at the US Department of Labour between 2011 and 2013. Additionally, Dr. Kugler was a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Centre for the Study of Poverty and Inequality at Stanford University.

Kugler also served as the elected chair of the Business and Economics Statistics Section of the American Statistical Association, a member of the Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy of the National Academies of Sciences, and a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Bureau of Labour Statistics.

Also Read | Trump calls on Federal Reserve board to wrest full control of central bank from Fed Chair Powell

In terms of education, she pursued a BA in economics and political science from McGill University and a PhD in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

What Kugler's exit mean for Trump's pick for next Fed chair? Under Fed regulations, the chair must be selected from the present members of the Feds board. Trump, who has been repeatedly urging Powell to resign, Kugler's departure may impact his timeline to choose the next central bank chair. If the US President opts to select an outsider for the board, like National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett or former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, he might not have the opportunity to do so again soon, Bloomberg reported.

Powells term as chair concludes in May, but his role as a governor continues until 2028. Although outgoing chairs usually resign from the board, Powell has not disclosed his future plans. If he stays, Trump wont have another chance to fill a board vacancy until 2028.
On the podcast, Anubrata Biswas, MD & CEO at Airtel Payments Bank, spoke about the banks focus on safeguarding digital transactions, and how this new offering, along with existing cutting-edge AI tools and user-centric features, is set to redefine financial safety in India.

The rise of digital-only banking in India

Digital banking has revolutionised how individuals manage their finances, offering convenience and accessibility. However, the surge in cyber fraud has created a barrier to full adoption. He spoke about the distinction between traditional universal banks and digital-only banks, stating that the latter are tech-first, have no branches, and are able to translate the benefits of technology to offer better consumer experiences.

India has taken the lead on offering a robust digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar and UPI, which has enabled payment banks to operate entirely digitally. Payment banks across the country broadly open one in 6-8 bank accounts in the country today, every month. Airtel Payments Bank in particular, opens one in 10 bank accounts in the country, he said.

Unbundling payments and accounts

India has witnessed a boom in digital payments and now 90 per cent of transactions are happening outside the traditional banking framework, primarily through third-party apps. This unbundling of payments has made them frictionless, but it has also made fraud easier. Similarly, the ease of opening bank accounts has led to a similar unbundling, allowing consumers to use different accounts for different purposes  savings, investments or every day payments.

This shift has given rise to a need for a Safe Second Account,particularly the demand for a secure account for daily digital transactions, such as bill payments, online purchases, or QR code payments. This allows the main bank account to stay unexposed and therefore safe from frauds. Airtel Payments Bank offers the best value account in the country. There is no minimum balance, and bank accounts are open in literally three minutes, fully digitally through the mobile banking app, he said.

Closing the digital divide

Smartphone adoption and access to mobile data has sparked a mobile revolution of sorts in India, and this has aided in the adoption of digital banking as well. But, Anubrata felt that there is still a wide digital divide that can be bridged.

You have got 950 million or a billion smartphones in play, but there are around 750 million unique smartphone users. If I am generous, there are 400 to 450 million unique monthly digital payers in India, which means there is a gap of 300 million people who are digital but not paying. The real big opportunity for India and Indian banks is figuring out how to bridge this digital divide, he said.

This can be done with a combination of studying user behaviour, understanding unit economics and understanding how to move people up the ladder of persuasion. At Airtel Payments Bank, the safe second account can address frauds with low entry minimum balance barriers lends accessibility. The account can be opened by any Indian, whether from Assam or Meghalaya, or a gig worker or housewife, making it ubiquitous.

I must credit the public policy framework, the government and all regulators, for really moving in unison to create this. I call this the single biggest public policy experiment in the history of the world, happening at scale today, he said.

A multi-layered approach to combat cyber fraud

As technology is evolving from emails to smartphone screens for communication, the nature of digital frauds are also changing, and perhaps becoming more intense. The types of frauds are evolving, but the underlying theme remains that of significant psychological persuasion, which is that you force the victim to believe that there is time pressure, psychological stress, and an element of social withdrawal, he said.

Airtel Payments Bank employs a three-pronged strategy to combat these threats. First, the payment bank account itself has a 2 lakh limit and is a zero-balance account, offering safety by design. Moreover, the bank has built numerous features, such as the ability to put the account to sleep with a single click, making it impossible to conduct transactions. Users can also set specific limits per channel or block their debit cards and internet banking services.

It also deploys machine learning models to differentiate good customer behaviour versus bad. These models, he said, analyse a vast set ofvariables, including device ID, transaction patterns, location, and velocity, to generate alerts and temporarily block accounts. Customers can then authenticate themselves using facial recognition on the app to resume transactions.

It offers a more than reasonable degree of safety given the fact that this is not the primary account for all the money of the customer. Its more a second transaction account with a little bit of money for the customers daily payment needs. To give you a sense of this, 77 per cent of urban consumers who are opening accounts today with us are using it for keeping his daily payment statement away and for his daily payment needs, he further added.

Airtels commitment to digital security

The discussion progressed to brand Airtels broader commitment to digital security, which extends beyond safe banking. Airtel has been at the forefront of digital security. Airtel as a brand has been driving anti-spam It used cutting edge AI tools to actually block spam calls. It then came up with a very leading-edge AI campaign to block spam links, which is now running. So, this is very much in the stable of what Airtel is really trying to do, he said.

The brand has also invested into a product roadmap deeply embedded with AI for enhanced safety and security. Last year, Airtel launched a Safe Banking section within its app, which now boasts of being the third largest mobile banking app in India. This section allows consumers to get a safety score and check factors like VPN usage or Wi-Fi security.

I am happy to share with you that we are going to launch a cyber insurance bundle in that safety page, which basically means that the consumer will be able to actually purchase a small cyber insurance plan to protect himself from any fraudster on his account for a nominal price, he said. This initiative further solidifies Airtel Payments Banks leadership in secure digital banking.

Catering to diverse user needs

Airtel Payments Banks customer acquisition strategy has reportedly been driven largely by the customer. Initially, Airtel discovered a need in rural India, where the governments direct benefit transfers spurred demand for banking services close to residents. Today, we are the largest bank close to villages in the country, by far, he said.

More recently, the demand for a second account in urban areas for digital payments led to the creation of the Safe Second Account concept. Another very emerging use case highlighted by Anubrata is the aspiring gig economy worker relocating from a village to make it big in a Metro city. He cited the example of a Zomato delivery worker who earns 12,000-14,000 and needs quick access to an accessible bank account to receive credit.

Today, we are the largest gig worker bank account supplier in the country. It is easy to open, and he can get a credit very easily. This has become another dominant use case for the bank again, because it has zero balance, no entry barriers, no paperwork and using the digital public infrastructure, he explained.

The future of digital banking

Looking ahead, he drew parallels with developed countries where large digital-only banks are prominent. He expressed his belief that India needs their own list of digital only mobile first banks, and it would not be impractical to think that Airtel Payments Bank should be first and foremost in that list.

On the innovation front, Airtel Payments Bank is committed to exploding the category of safety plans, with significant investments in product innovation, marketing, and category creation over the next 12-18 months in urban India. In rural India, the focus will remain on deepening their services.

In another move from Airtel aimed at bolstering digital security, Airtel Payments Bank is set to launch an enhanced Cyber Insurance Bundle for all its users within the next two months. This key announcement was made by Anubrata Biswas, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airtel Payments Bank, in a recent episode ofMint Techcetra. The move underscores the banks proactive stance in safeguarding digital transactions amidst growing concerns of cyber frauds.

Beyond the Safe Second Account, Airtel Payments Bank is also venturing into urban transit, where a future with interoperable urban transit is being envisioned. We are actually Indias largest now urban Metro infrastructure providers. We are 66 per cent of Indias Metro Payment processors. So, anybody tapping a NCMC card on a metro, two thirds of them pass through our payment stack. And in the metro, two thirds of NCMC cards would be ours. That is going to be a very large emerging category in India over the next two to three years, he said.
China is limiting the flow of critical minerals to Western defense manufacturers, delaying production and forcing companies to scour the world for stockpiles of the minerals needed to make everything from bullets to jet fighters.

Earlier this year, as U.S.-China trade tensions soared, Beijing tightened the controls it places on the export of rare earths. While Beijing allowed them to start flowing after the Trump administration agreed in June to a series of trade concessions, China has maintained a lock on critical minerals for defense purposes. China supplies around 90% of the worlds rare earths and dominates the production of many other critical minerals.

As a result, one drone-parts manufacturer that supplies the U.S. military was forced to delay orders by up to two months while it searched for a non-Chinese source of magnets, which are assembled from rare earths.

Certain materials needed by the defense industry now go for five or more times what was typical before Chinas recent mineral restrictions, according to industry traders. One company said it was recently offered samariuman element needed to make magnets that can withstand the extreme temperatures of a jet-fighter enginefor 60 times the standard price. That is already driving the cost of defense systems higher, say suppliers and defense executives.

The squeeze on critical minerals highlights how dependent the U.S. military is on China for much of its supply chaingiving Beijing leverage at a time of rising tensions between the two powers and heated trade negotiations. Defense manufacturers supplying the U.S. military rely on minerals that are mainly produced in China for microelectronics, drone motors, night-vision goggles, missile-targeting systems and defense satellites.

While companies have tried to find alternative sources of these minerals in recent years, some of the elements are so niche that they cant be economically produced in the West, say industry executives.

Chinas Foreign Ministry didnt respond to a request for comment.

In addition to the more recent export controls on rare earths, China has since December banned sales to the U.S. of germanium, gallium and antimonywhich are used for things like hardening lead bullets and projectiles, and to allow soldiers to see at night.

Some companies now warn of looming production cuts if more minerals arent forthcoming.

On Wednesday, the chief executive of Leonardo DRS said the U.S.-based defense firm is down to its safety stock" of germanium.

In order to sustain timely product deliveries, material flow must improve in the second half" of 2025, CEO Bill Lynn said on a conference call. The company is the U.S. subsidiary of Italian defense giant Leonardo.

Germanium goes into the companys infrared sensors, which are used in missiles and other equipment. Lynn said that the company is looking at diversifying its supply chain while also finding ways to replace it in its products.

The Pentagon is requiring defense contractors to stop buying rare-earth magnets that contain China-sourced minerals by 2027. As a result, some companies have sizable stockpiles of magnets. But suppliers and defense companies often hold less than a years worthsome just a few monthsof many other critical mineral stockpiles.

Drone manufacturers are among the most vulnerable, because many are small startups and have very limited revenue or supply-chain savvy, and never got around to acquiring large stockpiles of rare-earth magnets and metals, say some in the defense industry.

A drone flies overhead during a military parade in Washington, D.C., in June.

I can tell youwe talk about this daily and our companies talk about it daily," said Dak Hardwick, vice president of international affairs at the Aerospace Industries Association, a U.S. defense and commercial aerospace trade group.

More than 80,000 parts that are used in Defense Department weapons systems are made with critical minerals now subject to Chinese export controls, according to data from defense software firm Govini. Nearly all of the supply chains for key critical minerals used by the Pentagon rely on at least one Chinese supplier, Govini said, meaning restrictions from Beijing can cause widespread disruptions.

Since stepping up export controls earlier this year, China has begun requiring companies to provide extensive documentation of how they will use the rare earths and magnets they import. Chinese regulators often demand sensitive information, such as product images and even photos of production lines, to ensure none of the materials go to military use, say Western buyers.

One Western company that supplies Chinese-made rare-earth magnets to both civilian and defense companies says its requests for imported magnets have recently been approved for many civilian purposesbut rejected or delayed for defense and aerospace.

In May, New Hampshire-based ePropelled, which makes propulsion motors for drones, received unsettling questions from its Chinese magnet supplier. The supplier sent Chinese government forms demanding drawings and pictures of ePropelleds products and a list of buyers. It also asked for assurances that the rare-earth magnets China would supply ePropelled wouldnt go toward military applications.

Of course we are not going to provide the Chinese government with that information," said Chris Thompson, vice president of global sales for ePropelled. The company has about 100 customers, including large American defense contractors and drone manufacturers in Ukraine.

So its Chinese suppliers paused shipping, and ePropelled had to delay some customer orders by one or two monthsdouble the amount of time it usually takes to deliver its motors. The company sought alternative suppliers in the U.S., Europe and Asia, including buying magnets from vendors in Japan and Taiwan, although they too rely on rare earths from China.

The company also struck deals with startup magnet producers Vulcan Elements in North Carolina and Oklahoma-based USA Rare Earth. However, those startups wont have supply ready for ePropelled until at least the end of this year and will need to build up alternative sources of Chinese-dominated minerals as they scale up production.

Metal traders say that because China demands to know the end user of rare-earth magnets and metals, it isnt approving licenses for traders to stockpile.

The Department of Defense has awarded grants to expand production of niche materials, including $14 million in funding last year to a Canadian company to produce germanium substrates used in solar cells for defense satellites. In July, the Pentagon took an even bigger step when it agreed to pay $400 million for 15% of MP Materials, the operator of the largest rare-earths mine in the Americas, which is rapidly scaling up its magnet manufacturing capacity.

The Pentagon didnt respond to a request for comment.

Reporters gather outside the London venue of U.S.-China trade talks in June.

On an earnings call last month Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet called the MP Materials agreement groundbreaking and said it would help ensure the supply of magnets needed in its F-35 jet fighters and cruise missiles. But building up new supply will take time.

The Defense Department early last year established the Critical Minerals Forum, an effort in part to spur more mineral supply-chain projects in the U.S. and allied countries, including helping metals miners secure funding to increase their output of critical materials like antimony and germanium.

Defense companies that traditionally outsourced the purchase of critical minerals to sub-suppliers are now using their market heft to try to acquire sources of key materials themselves. Major defense companies are starting to get more and more panicked as they go, because they recognize that theyre just not going to get the magnets, no matter what happens, unless they get involved," said Nicholas Myers, the CEO of Phoenix Tailings, a Massachusetts startup that produces rare-earth metals.

Beijing is signaling that it takes its mineral export bans very seriously. Earlier this year, one U.S. defense supplier, the United States Antimony Corporation, tried to ship 55 metric tons of antimony mined in Australia to its smelter in Mexico. The load transited via the Chinese port city of Ningbountil recently a routine practice.

But in April, while the shipment was being transloaded in Ningbo, China customs detained it for three months, prompting United States Antimony to ask the State Department and White House for help.

The Chinese released the shipment in July, on the condition that it be sent back to Australia and not to the U.S. When it arrived in Australia, United States Antimony learned that product seals had been broken. It is currently working out whether the antimony has been tampered with or contaminated.

The shipping company, everyone who was involved, theyd never seen this happen before," said company CEO Gary Evans.

Neither the White House, the Defense Department nor the State Department provided comment.

Write to Jon Emont at jonathan.emont@wsj.com, Heather Somerville at heather.somerville@wsj.com and Alistair MacDonald at Alistair.Macdonald@wsj.com
Photographs posted on the official Telegram channel of the Mariupol City Council showing the Clock House before and after the bombings.

In a brochure, the property developer touts the majestic style" of the buildings architecture and its prime location just a 15-minute walk from the sea, adding a caveat: It was damaged during military events."

The building that once stood there was in fact demolished by developers after Russia conquered Mariupol in a brutal onslaught that killed thousands of people and devastated the Ukrainian port citys housing stock.

Residents of the Clock House counted themselves lucky to survive, but are now excluded from the redevelopment of the building, which has been sold largely to newcomers from Russia.

We, the previous owners, dont have the right to be there," said Elena Pudak, whose mother owned a spacious apartment in the building but now lives in Germany.

Once a landmark of Mariupols unique heritage, the Clock House now stands as a monument to Russias transformation of the city for both profit and its own political designs. Across occupied territory, Russia-backed authorities have seized thousands of apartments after declaring them ownerless," leaving the Ukrainians who fled faced with growing barriers to return and prove their ownership or claim compensation.

Newcomers from Russia, meanwhile, enjoy a range of perks, such as 2% mortgage rates on new building developments.

The strategy of replacing the people who once lived in conquered territories with ethnic Russians is one that Moscow has long pursued. The eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, for example, was flooded with Russians in the 1930s as the Soviet Union industrialized the region while starving millions of Ukrainian peasants to death in what the Ukrainian government and many historians consider a genocide.

Mariupol is a symbol of Russian brutality and Ukrainian resistance during a siege in the early weeks of the war that destroyed swaths of the city, including the smoke-billowing Azovstal steel works. Real-estate agents tout the citys newly-clean air.

Russia conquered Mariupol in a brutal onslaught that killed thousands of people and devastated the Ukrainian port citys housing stock.Mass displacement and destruction has thrown open Mariupols real-estate market.

One new arrival, a Russian woman from Siberia, said she was dazzled by the bright orange of the sun when she first visited last year. She bought an apartment there needing only minor repairs and intends to retire there, fulfilling her husbands dream of living by the sea. For now, she said she would rent it out to a tenanta woman from Moscow who now lives and works in Mariupol.

Oleksandr Nosochenko, a former Mariupol resident, said a Russian military service member had taken over his summer cottage by the seaside on the citys outskirts. As a man of military age, Nosochenko couldnt make the journey back to Mariupol to claim compensation himself, and his wife, who had endured Russias siege of the city, refused to return there on principle.

The Clock House, built in the 1950s, was one of the most coveted addresses in what had been a thriving city. A new clock was installed during repairs to the buildings roof and facade in 2021, with a light show that then-mayor Vadym Boychenko hailed as a symbol of the era of Mariupols rebirth."

Months later, residents found themselves huddling in the basement as Russian forces besieged the city. In March 2022, a missile tore a hole in the Clock House, killing several residents.

Thats when we realized we had nowhere to go back to," said Pudak, who had escaped the city with her husband and three children days before, leaving the keys to her mothers apartment with a neighbor.

Mass displacement and destruction threw open the real-estate market. While workers started clearing rubble, realtors snapped up property on the cheap from fleeing residents.

Residents of the Clock House scattered across Ukraine, Russia and Europe, but some remained in the buildings basement until a leak appeared in the summer.

Despite the damage, residents hoped the buildings historic value would ensure its preservation. In a master plan for Mariupols redevelopment approved by Putin in 2022, the Clock House was marked for restoration.

The bulldozers arrived toward the end of 2022.

Residents watched helplessly as the building was torn down. Three diggers broke in the process, according to the head of the residents association Maria Tikhovskaya. The house itself was fighting the demolition," she said in a video posted online. Satellite images show most of the building had been leveled by early 2023.

Still, residents expected to receive apartments in the new building. A 2022 decree entitled them to be rehoused on the site of their former home.

Unknown to them, however, the building had been allocated for redevelopment by a subsidiary of a company called Roskapstroy, which is owned by Russias construction ministry.

The reality began to sink in when they saw the floor plans and computer generated images of the new building on a Telegram channel that popped up in July 2023. It was several stories higher than the building they knew, and had a completely different layout. Instead of spacious two-bedroom apartments, it had been subdivided mainly into studios.

Residents attempted to contact the developer, RKS Development, but were ignored. The developer instead opened a sales office near the site. Among the buyers was a real-estate agent from Mariupol, who reserved three apartments in the new Clock House. There was a lot of interest," said the 28-year-old.

Most of the other buyers he encountered were from Russia, he said.

As for the former residents, he knew of their grievances but had little sympathy. If they wanted to keep living there, they could have put down a deposit like everyone else, he said. Nevermind that the price was about three times what residents say they were offered in compensation for their apartments.

Its barely enough to buy a burial plot," said one resident.

Even if they could have afforded it, many former residents objected on principle: Why should they pay the price for the destruction of Mariupol?

Within a week, the apartments had sold out, the real-estate agent said. The bulk of the planned construction cost of 850 million Russian rubles, or around $10.5 million, was covered by future owners, according to a project disclosure statement from the developer. The U.S. sanctioned Roskapstroy and its subsidiaries for operating in occupied Mariupol later in 2023. The developer didnt respond to a request for comment.

The central avenue of Mariupol in the early months of the war, as Russian troops intensified a campaign that destroyed swaths of the city.Mariupol, a strategic port city, is a symbol of Russian brutality and Ukrainian resistance during a siege in the early weeks of the war.

As construction work began, residents mobilized, appealing to official bodies in the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic, the Russian name for the government it installed in eastern Ukraine.

In response, they were told the law had changed: Residents were no longer entitled to be rehoused on the site of their former homes, but anywhere within the city limits.

Meanwhile, Elena Pudaks mother attempted to travel back to Mariupol to claim compensation for her apartment. She was denied entry at Russias Sheremetyevo airportthe sole legal entry point for Ukrainians seeking to return to occupied territories. There was no explanation, but Pudak suspects the authorities are trying to keep people with property claims out.

With dwindling options, Clock House residents filed a lawsuit against the Donetsk Peoples Republic, arguing that their rights as newly minted citizens of Russia had been violated. In a letter addressed to Putin, they pleaded their case.

There was no response, and late last year, the court ruled against them.
When Maxx Chewning sold his sour-candy business to Hershey for $75.5 million, the first thing he didbefore buying a Rolex or dream homewas jet his wife and six friends to Vail on a Dassault Falcon 900.

They skipped security lines, zipped straight to the runway and seated themselves in leather recliners with gold accents in the wood-paneled cabin. The price tag for this adventure: $100,000.

Chewnings goldendoodle, Dood, sprawled at their feet. The joke is, I had to get a private plane so I could bring my dog, the 35-year-old said. I didnt really care what the price was.

The ultrawealthy have always enjoyed flying private. That exclusive club is growing, as soaring stocks and crypto prices mint more millionaires and billionaires, who now have a range of choices to book a seat on a jet.

Flying private has become the ultimate luxury splurge for many wealthy individuals, surpassing Ferraris, Hermes Birkin bags topping $14,000 or even waterfront Hamptons homes. For many of those aspiring to join the ranks of the truly rich, having private-jet money is the new goal, dividing the 1% from the 0.1%.

The pandemic unleashed a burst of demand, but providers say popular culture has turbocharged enthusiasm and envy for the fly-private lifestyle. Social media has given younger people a glimpse into the lives of jet-setters, whether it is a model flying with friends to a bachelorette party in Los Cabos, Mexico, or a hedge-fund manager hopping a plane to a birthday weekend in St. Barts.

Realistic expectations are in order. It is my dream to fly private, says a user on a Reddit forum for so-called Henrys (which refers to high earners, not rich yet), adding that he earns about $300,000, is married and has a kid in daycare.

Definitely closer to broke than flying private, another user responds.

Yet the number of people who are rich enough has surged. The club of ultrahigh net worth individuals with more than $30 million in assets hit a record in 2024, according to estimates from the wealth-intelligence provider Altrata. The U.S. added more than 1,000 millionaires every day last year on average, according to UBS. The billionaire club grew more than 50% between 2015 and 2024.

Private-jet hours flown touched an all-time high in 2022 and have stayed elevated since then, according to data from the aviation-services firm Argus International. Travelers can now use apps to snag individual seats on private jets or pay for flights by the hour. Others charter flights, paying for just the occasional trip from New York to Miami, while the rare business mogul might spring for the entire jet.

Some jet providers accept payment in crypto.

Shrimp cocktail and facials Kenn Ricci, a pilot and chairman of Flexjet, a private-jet company, says the frugal wealthyhigh earners who typically didnt splurgestarted spending big on travel during the pandemic because of health concerns. Many of them have found it tough to go back to flying commercially. And years of economic growth have helped ease the stigma around conspicuous consumption that set in after the 2008-09 financial crisis.

Its in vogue to be wealthy, he says. Sometimes we love the rich. Sometimes we hate the rich.

It isnt just avoiding the security line, or the hoi polloi. Flying private means trading Biscoff cookies for freshly baked ones and picking lunch of shrimp cocktail or filet mignon from menus spanning a dozen pages. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa crafted a menu for VistaJet that includes miso salmon. Some cabin hosts are trained to give travelers facials 40,000 feet above the groundwith Dr. Barbara Sturms line of luxury skin care.

Tennille Holt spends much of her time traveling the world with her husband and 8-year-old cavapoo, Hudson.

Flexjet hosted members in Lake Como last year, whisking them to a yacht excursion and black-tie dinner. Guests tried on jewels by Garrard, the jeweler that has designed pieces for Englands royal family, including brooches for Queen Elizabeth II.

Tennille Holt, 44, retired in 2023 and now spends much of her time traveling the world with her husband and 8-year-old cavapoo, Hudson. Hudson has his own Instagram account documenting his life, including his private-jet flights, where he is often served his favorite: grilled chicken.

She and her husband spent around $200,000 to fly Hudson from Australia to Los Angeles in a Bombardier Global 6000 and avoid the commercial flight. She recalls dreaming about this flexibility while working long days and nights as an entrepreneur.

The goal was to create the freedom to live life on our own terms, which now includes plenty of travel and the ability to fly privately whenever we want,  Holt says. Its the best and most comfortable option for Hudson.

Flush with cash Around a third of wealth-management firms working with high-net-worth individuals now offer concierge or lifestyle services, such as private aviation, according to a survey by Cerulli Associates.

Money managers for the superrich advise tech and crypto millionaires and billionaires on exactly which aircraft to buy and how to finance it. They liaise with bankers on issuing debt should clients prefer to borrow the money against their swelling investment portfoliosmaking monthly interest payments on the aircraft rather than putting tens of millions of dollars down.

After noticing heavy spending on flights, Corient, a wealth manager with around $200 billion in assets, started helping clients team up to share private jets by buying fractional slices of planes or prepaid jet cards.

Family offices, which are private entities that manage large pools of money for wealthy families, are turning to advisers to help them purchase jets outright, which can run into the tens of millions of dollars. Some advisers connect clients with those who can train aircraft crews or offer concierge services for trip planning. At Goldman Sachs, dedicated plane experts connect their ultrarich clients with financiers and point the clients to those who can customize interiors or renovate jets.

Hudson during a trip on a private jet.

Nishi Somaiya, global head of private banking, lending and deposits at Goldman, says there has been a flurry of inquiries this summer. President Trumps tax overhaul includes a deduction for aircraft used for business travel, a welcome perk for clients who frequently mix their work trips with pleasure.

Kevin Hooks, 63, a Flexjet client and veteran flier, says he spends around $800,000 annually mostly crisscrossing the Southwest in a Praetor 600 midsize business jet that seats 9. He has noticed plane hangars around the country growing more crowded because of increased demand since the pandemic.

Hooks, who has been flying privately since he sold his pharmaceuticals business around two decades ago, has also taken a liking to private helicopters, recently taking one between Normandy and London. The trip saved him eight hours, giving him more time to search for buried World War II relics.

He sometimes still takes commercial planes. He recalls the time his son, then 4 years old, got on a Southwest Airlines flight and asked, Who are these other people on the plane?
The USS Helena was preparing to leave dock after more than six years of stop-start repairs when a young sailor was electrocuted and died. His death further delayed the return to action of a submarine that epitomizes the Navys struggles to maintain its fleet.

Sonar technician Timothy Sanders had told his mother several times that he was concerned substandard repair work on the submarine would get someone hurt. A Navy report concluded that he died last May after inadvertently touching an electrical source left uncovered by repair workers, his mother said.

President Trump has called attention to U.S. shortcomings in building new naval vessels. The Helenas history of costly, sometimes chaotic repairs highlights another problem: America is also struggling to fix the ships and submarines it already has.

While Sanders death is an extreme example of what can go wrong in U.S. shipyards, the shipbuilding and repair industries have long complained that a lack of experienced staff has led to mistakes and delays. Limited dry dock capacity and aging equipment are also challenges.

Timothy Sanders was a sonar technician who had expressed worries about substandard work on Navy vessels, his mother said.

The problems reflect a lack of investment in public yards after the Cold War-era and a broader decline in the American maritime industry. Those issues are now coming into sharp relief amid a greater focus on naval preparedness.

Naval experts are concerned that tardy or substandard work in repair yards will keep ships and submarines out of action during a potential war in Asiaa conflict expected to be fought in large part at sea.

Maintenance delays are already causing disruptions. The Marine Corps, for instance, has been prevented from deploying and training on schedule because of the poor upkeep of amphibious warships.

The importance of naval readiness was underscored Friday when Trump ordered two submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions," in response to comments by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Repairing naval vessels often takes longer than scheduled. Roughly a third of surface ship maintenance wasnt completed on time last year, Navy officials have said. In recent years as much as two-thirds has been late, and officials have said improvement is needed to hit the Navys combat-readiness target.

One submarine, the USS Boise, will have been out of action for 14 years before it is scheduled to head back to sea in 2029 after more than $1.2 billion worth of maintenance work.

Repairing ships on time has become a persistent challenge, Admiral Daryl Caudle, Trumps pick as chief of naval operations, told a Senate confirmation hearing in July.

We need a better approach to how were doing maintenance," Caudle said. The Navy could learn from cruise lines, he added, which typically have better ship availability.

Getting vessels back to sea quickly matters more than ever because the U.S. fleet has shrunk. In the late 1980s, the Navy had some 600 vessels. Today it has about 295.

Fewer vessels coupled with longer maintenance times creates a vicious circle. Available ships spend longer at sea, suffer more wear and tear, and then require greater attention back at dock.

A Navy official said maintenance times were improving, and that there were 49 construction projects under wayworth about $6 billionthat would bolster repair infrastructure.

The Navy is committed to addressing the findings of the probe into Sanders death, and preventing future incidents, the official added.

Persistent delays

The Navys difficulties with ship repair increased in the 1990s, when the U.S. halved the number of public shipyards mandated to maintain nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines.

The four remaining government-owned yards were set up over a century ago, designed to build wind- and steam-powered ships. They suffer from aging infrastructure, with more than half their equipment past its expected service life, according to the Government Accountability Office.

A shortage of experienced workers is a major problem. With some shipyard welders earning roughly the same as fast-food workers, many have left the profession, according to a report by the Congressional Budget Office. Inexperience reduces productivity and increases accidents, adding to delays, the CBO said.

To tackle the resulting backlogs, the U.S. needs to invest in more dry docks, naval experts say.

Delays in maintaining and fixing ships means the Navy has fewer vessels to deploy at times of increased activity, said Bryan Clark, a naval expert at the Hudson Institute think tank.

At one point in 2019, all but one of the Navys six East Coast stationed aircraft carriers were stuck in docks. The USS Abraham Lincoln had to endure an extended, 295-day trip to the Middle Eastthe longest carrier deployment in the post-Cold War erapartly because its replacement suffered electrical issues that took longer than anticipated to fix.

Delays persist. U.S. destroyers took a combined 2,633 extra days to repair than planned last year, according to a Navy official. The figure was an improvement, they said, without giving comparable data.

The Navy has struggled to maintain its ships and submarines, such as the USS Helena, on schedule.

A waste of time and money

The USS Helena, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine first launched in 1986, has become a poster child for the Navys maintenance problems. In recent years, the vessel has spent more time in dock than out at sea.

Submarines have a particularly strict cycle of inspections and maintenance, typically going into dry dock every two years for up to six months.

But the Navy has been behind on submarine repairs since the 2010s, when it decided to give priority to other tasks including overhauling aircraft carriers, Clark said.

To ease the backlog, the Navy in 2016 decided to send the Helena to shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries yard in Newport News, Va. The move was supposed to herald the return of private yards to repairing nuclear-powered vessels. However, HII hadnt done repair work in nine years and its skills base had atrophied.

Work on Helena, which started in late 2017, was initially slated to take months but the vessel ended up staying at the companys yard for several years.

Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on everything from painting and cleaning to fitting new hull tiles that help avoid detection and adding underwater microphones, contract data shows.

Delays on the Helena were cascading, deferring work on other vessels, including the Boise.

The Navy said the Helena was the oldest submarine of its type in the fleet and the maintenance required was more complex than initially envisaged. HII declined to comment.

Helena was delivered back to the Navy in January 2022, HII said at the time. The vessel, however, soon needed further work done at a Navy yard.

On May 24 last year, Nicole Sanders was at home when she answered the door to see uniformed naval officers.

Her son had been killed by a 440-volt shock, almost four times the voltage that feeds a standard U.S. lightbulb, she said the Navy report found. The report hasnt been made public.

Its akin to having an electrician come into your house and leave wires exposed," Sanders said.

After weeks of NCIS inquiries and grief counseling for the crew, Helena sailed to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The visit coincided with the arrival in the area of a new Russian submarine.

Shortly after, the Helena left for Puget Sound on what would be her final voyage. Last month, the submarine was decommissioned.

That long period of repair and maintenance ended up being a waste of time and money," said the Hudson Institutes Clark.

Write to Alistair MacDonald at Alistair.Macdonald@wsj.com
BD Industries IPO allotment: The allotment process for B.D. Industries (Pune) Ltd IPO has been officially completed. Investors who applied for the issue can now check their share allotment status online via the website of the issues registrar, Cameo Corporate Services Ltd.

For those who did not receive any shares, the refund process will begin on August 5, 2025, while successful applicants will have the allotted shares credited to their demat accounts on the same day. The IPO, which opened for subscription on July 30 and closed on August 1, is scheduled to list on the BSE SME platform on August 6, 2025.

How to Check B.D. Industries IPO Allotment Status Applicants can verify their allotment status by visiting the official website of Cameo Corporate Services. To check the allotment status of 'B.D. Industries' IPO, investors need to select the issue name from the dropdown menu and provide one of the following: PAN, application number, or DP/Client ID. After entering the required details along with the captcha code, the allotment information will be shown on the screen.

As an alternative, applicants can also visit the BSE website and head to the Equity section under the Status of Issue Application page to access their allotment status.

IPO Details and Subscription The 45.36-crore IPO of B.D. Industries was entirely a fresh issue of 42 lakh equity shares, with no offer-for-sale component. The proceeds will be used for repayment or pre-payment of borrowings, working capital requirements, investment in its subsidiary B.D. Industries (India) Pvt Ltd, and general corporate purposes.

The price band was set between 102 and 108 per share, and the lot size was fixed at 1,200 shares. The minimum investment by retail investors stood at 2,44,800 for 2,400 shares, while HNI investors had to apply for at least three lots, amounting to 3,88,800.

The IPO received a decent response from investors, closing with an overall subscription of 1.81 times. It attracted 50.44 lakh bids against 27.88 lakh shares on offer. The retail portion was subscribed 1.32 times, while the NII segment was subscribed 3.66 times, and the QIB portion was booked 1.27 times.

Aryaman Financial Services Ltd acted as the book-running lead manager for the IPO.

About B.D. Industries Incorporated in 1984 and based in Mumbai, B.D. Industries is engaged in the manufacturing of plastic components used in both automotive and industrial applications. Over the years, the company has expanded its product portfolio and market presence.

The company's financial performance has shown consistent growth. For FY23, it reported revenue of 54.61 crore and net profit of 1.5 crore. While FY24 revenue remained flat at 54.25 crore, net profit rose to 3.2 crore. In FY25, revenue jumped to 82.38 crore, while net profit more than doubled to 7.61 crore.

GMP Today The company was commanding a grey market premium (GMP) of 0 per share. This indicated a listing prospect at 108, same as issue price.
NSDL IPO allotment status Live Updates: NSDL IPO allotment status has been finalised. The investors who applied for the issue can check NSDL IPO allotment status on NSDL IPO's registrar portal, which is MUFG Intime India Private Limited (Link Intime).

National Securities Depository Limited IPO opened for subscription on Wednesday, July 30 and closed on Friday, August 1. NSDL IPO subscription status on the last bidding day was 41.01 times, according to BSE data.

The retail investor segment was subscribed 7.73 times. The allocation for non-institutional investors saw a subscription rate of 34.98 times. The portion reserved for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) was booked at 103.97 times. The employee segment experienced a subscription rate of 15.42 times.

Investors can check if they have received shares by reviewing the allocation basis. This also shows the count of shares assigned in the IPO allotment status. If shares are not allocated, the company will initiate the application process. The shares need to be credited to the demat accounts of the designated recipients.

The initiation of the refund process will start on Tuesday, August 5 for individuals not given shares. Those allotted will receive their shares in their demat accounts tomorrow.

Stay tuned for more updates
Mumbai: Indias largest retail-focused brokerages are facing an existential squeeze. After years of explosive growth fuelled by booming futures and options (F&O) trading, a regulatory clampdown has sharply dented volumes, and with them, profits. Now, with margins under pressure and top-line growth fading, brokers are racing to reinvent themselves by expanding into lending, wealth management, and distribution.

The shift comes after a series of regulatory measures by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) starting October 2024, aimed at curbing speculative excesses in the booming F&O segment. These included restrictions on weekly index option expiries and tighter margin regulations, which have led to a sharp drop in derivatives trading volumes since.

Index options average monthly turnover on the National Stock Exchange, Indias largest with around 79% market share in equity options, fell about 27% year-on-year to 9.44 trillion in FY26 so far.

According to CareEdge Ratings, total industry revenue from stock broking stood at 43,900 crore in FY25. While brokerages do not break out F&O income separately from cash equities, the impact on broking income has been visible.

For instance, broking as a percentage of total revenue at Angel One dropped from 65% in Q3FY25 to 61% in Q1FY26. At 5paisa, it fell from 52% to 46% over the same period. Motilal Oswal Financial Services and Geojit Financial Services, which have more diversified revenue models, saw less change.

Their sources are diversified. After the curb by the regulator on F&O, now they may shift focus from one segment to another," said Siddarth Bhamre, head of research (institutional equities) at ACMIIL.

Also Read | Why is India lagging behind other emerging markets since 2024?

Shifting to recurring revenue

With volatility in F&O earnings, brokerages are pushing harder into fee-based and interest-income businesses. These include wealth and asset management, mutual fund and insurance distribution, and lending against shares.

Brokers now distribute mutual funds (MFs), insurance, and some have their own mutual funds also," said Bhamre.

After seeing a drop in volumes, brokers may look at more ways to monetize and build the same customer who is coming for broking, said Nirav Shah, managing director at Equirus Capital. The focus will not just be on broking but a 360-degree client servicing, as the same client will open a mutual fund account or take a loan against shares, MF or others."

Dinesh Thakkar, founder, chairman and MD of Angel One, had also flagged this shift in an earlier interview to Mint. Broking is volume-driven, while wealth and asset management are relationship-led. Our revenue model is fundamentally evolving. It is becoming more stable, recurring," he had said.

Examples of this shift are already visible: Angel One has ventured into wealth management; Geojit Financial Services manages its own portfolio management services (PMS) and AIF (Alternative Investment Fund) platforms in addition to mutual fund distribution; Motilal Oswal has long operated both wealth and asset management arms.

Profits under pressure

The financial impact has been stark.

For the quarter ended June (Q1FY26), profits at Angel One, Geojit Financial Services, and 5paisa Capital fell between 37% and 60% year-on-year. Revenues declined 1524% over the same period.

Motilal Oswal Financial Services was a notable outlier, posting a 30% rise in profit and 17% revenue growth in Q1FY26. The firm derives only 25% of its income from broking; the rest comes from management fees, distribution, advisory, and net interest income. Even so, its broking revenue fell 11% to 359 crore during the quarter.

Jones George, executive director at Geojit Financial Serviceswhich began diversifying into distribution and asset management back in 2015said broking remains a cyclical business with earnings closely tied to trading volumes.

It is also prone to margin pressure as when market activity slows, fixed costs like compliance and technology remain constant," George said.

In contrast, wealth management and distribution operate on a fee-based model that, while lower margin initially, offers greater income stability. While it takes years to build meaningful earnings from wealth clients, especially through SIPs (systematic investment plans) or AUM (assets under management) growth, this segment offers long-term revenue visibility," he added.

Adding weight to the shift, net inflows into equity mutual funds rose 24% month-on-month in June to 23,567 crore, even though inflows for the April-to-June quarter were down 29% year-on-year, according to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi). Meanwhile, the mutual fund industrys total assets under management rose 3% sequentially to 74.14 trillion in June, marking a new milestone.

The PMS industry also expanded, with AUM rising 10.3% sequentially to 87,679.88 crore in the June quarter.

Recent data from brokerages reflect this structural transition.

At Angel One, interest income accounted for 31% of gross revenue by end-June, up from 28% in December, the quarter when Sebis regulations took effect. The share of broking revenue declined from 65% to 60% over the same period.

At 5paisa, revenue from allied businesses rose from 19% to 23%. For Motilal Oswal, the revenue mix remained unchanged, with 75% coming from non-broking segments.

Costs rise, margins fall

While top-line revenue is falling for many brokers, operating costs remain sticky or even rising.

Margins are coming down because of rising competition and higher costs, said Arun Chaudhry, director and chief business officer at m.Stock by Mirae Asset Capital Markets, adding that brokers are investing heavily in technology and customer service to stay competitive, further inflating their cost base.

"Earlier, many broking firms were operating at 35-40% operating margins, but now they are seeing margins drop to 20-25%," said Chaudhry. And this is expected to sustain, as more players are entering the industry and everyone is targeting the same customer base, he added.

Moreover, as the industry consolidates, every broker is spending on customer acquisition as well, say industry executives.

There will also be significant investment driven by the deployment of AI (artificial intelligence), ML (machine learning), and other technology upgrades, as brokers need to modernize their platforms to stay competitive, said Shah of Equirus Capital.

Beyond the numbers, the pivot to new business lines also reflects an effort to escape brokings regulatory drag.

Brokers are increasingly entering wealth management business and asset management business in the form of PMS or AIFs," said Trivesh D, COO at Tradejini. These businesses have relatively lighter regulatory requirements compared to broking. Unlike broking, which demands daily reporting and large compliance teams, PMS and AIFs involve monthly or quarterly reporting and can operate with lean teams once the technology is in place."

Also, brokers with an existing client base can leverage their distribution network to scale wealth businesses or an asset management [arm], which can give them an edge in the start to build an AUM," he added.

Trivesh added that broking alone could still deliver mid-teen returns, while scaling could require diversification.

For conventional brokers not working towards a particular niche audience, relying alone on broking may not be sustainable. Brokers with a niche audience and offering, can still sustain and thrive," he said.

However, scaling an asset management business can take time, as increasing the AUM to a certain scale can be difficult even with a head start from the broking business, industry experts say.
European banking stocks, which have been on the back foot for over a decade and a half, have made a remarkable turnaround, rallying to their highest levels since September 2008, when the global financial crisis hit the world markets.

The STOXX 600 Europe Banks index has been in an uptrend during five of the last six trading sessions, buoyed by improved profits and resilience amid the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Shares of HSBC, Barclays and Santander hit their 2008 highs while Italy's UniCredit rose to its highest level since 2011, according to a Financial Times report.

The gains were bolstered by a latest report from the European Banking Authority (EBA) on Friday as it presented the outcome of its latest health check of the sector. The STOXX 600 Europe Banks index rallied nearly 2% at the open today, August 4.

Also Read | Multibagger return! How much SBI will make on its stake sale in JSW Cement IPO

EU Bank Poised to Brave Recession Banks across the European Union are well-positioned to withstand a major economic shock stemming from geopolitical and trade tensions, according to a report by Reuters, citing the EBA.

The EBA conducted stress tests on 64 European banks, including 51 based in the eurozone, simulating the impact of a prolonged recession across the EU and other advanced economies. The results showed that none of the banks would fall below their core capital requirements, and only one institution would breach its leverage ratio requirement.

However, under the adverse scenario, in case escalating geopolitical tensions and rising protectionist trade policies push up energy and commodity prices, disrupt supply chains, and dampen both consumption and investment - it would lead to a combined losses of 547 billion for the banks included in the stress test  higher than the 496 billion projected in the 2023 exercise.

Strong Earnings by European Banks The latest earnings from European banks show that the sector remains largely insulated from the tariff shocks.

Case in point is Barclays Plc. Its traders turned in their best second-quarter performance in three years as the volatility wrought by Trumps trade war helped them deliver revenue that topped analyst expectations.

According to a Bloomberg report, the fixed-income business brought in 1.45 billion ($1.9 billion), a rise of 26% compared with a year ago, while the equities desk made 870 million, an increase of 25% year-on-year. Measured in dollars, the increase in revenue from the entire global markets business was up 35%.

Barclays, one of Europes biggest investment banks with a large Wall Street presence, generates the biggest portion of its revenue from dealmaking and trading.

Meanwhile, another European lender - Germany's Deutsche Bank - reported better-than-expected trading results, driving its stock to the highest level in a decade. The stock has gained over 70% this year.

French lender BNP Paribas also posted better-than-expected earnings as it got a boost from its fixed-income traders while equities slumped in the volatility triggered by the US tariff announcements. The stock has crossed its September lows and jumped 31% this year, in line with the index for European banks.

(With inputs from agencies)
Expert view: Vinit Bolinjkar, the head of research at Ventura, believes the Q1FY26 earnings of Indian corporates have been much better than expectations, especially on the profitability front. Bolinjkar said the Nifty 50 can reclaim the 26,000 mark in August, but negative global cues, macro data, or FII outflow can spoil the party. In an interview with Mint, Bolinjkar shared his outlook on the Indian stock market, key challenges, reasons behind the FPI (foreign portfolio investor) selloff and top stocks to buy. Here are edited excerpts of the interview:

How are you reading the Q1FY26 earnings trends? Are they below expectations? What are some key hits and misses? Overall, Q1FY26 earnings have turned out to be quite encouragingmuch better than what most of us were anticipating at the start of the quarter.

While revenue growth has remained somewhat modest, the real story has been on the profitability front.

Were seeing a strong uptick in net profits across a broad set of companies, largely driven by input cost deflationespecially in commodities.

In fact, for many firms, profits have risen by 23 per cent to 40 per cent. This divergence, where toplines are flat but bottom lines are expanding, has clearly been the dominant trend this quarter.

Weve seen several notable performance hits.

Waaree Renewables stood out with strong dispatch momentum and margin improvement, aligning with sector tailwinds.

HDFC AMC had a solid quarter, riding on robust market inflows and higher AUM.

ICICI Bank managed to hold its ground well despite sector-wide margin pressures, supported by healthy lending growth and stable asset quality.

Among the tech names, Coforge and InfoBeans Technologies performed stronglysimilar to larger peers like Infosysbenefiting from steady growth in Europe and increasing investments in AI.

Eternal clearly benefited from lower raw material costs, and Blue Jet delivered well on operational efficiencymuch like Dilip Buildcon, which reported a 94 per cent jump in profits.

On the flip side, there were some clear misses, too. Aditya Birla REIT was soft, likely due to localised weakness in demand.

Kotak Mahindra Banks results were a bit underwhelming, with muted credit offtake and NIM compression, something weve observed across several lenders this quarter.

Tata Communications had a tough time navigating weak global spending and pricing pressures.

Wendt India, tied to industrials, felt the impact of a subdued capital market expenditure cycle. InterGlobe Aviation, despite being a market leader, faced cost headwinds and a relatively sluggish recovery in domestic air traffic in the early part of the quarter.

So, to sum it up, Q1 has rewarded companies with pricing power, cost advantage, or structural tailwinds, while those exposed to funding pressures, weak demand, or global cyclicality have lagged.

Do you think Nifty has the potential to go beyond 26,000 in August? At this stage, Id say its a 50-50 probability that Nifty crosses the 26,000 mark in August.

Technically, for that to happen, the index will first need to convincingly clear the resistance zones at 24,900 and then 25,200. These are key levels where weve seen profit booking and hesitation in the past.

If Nifty manages to sustain above 25,200 with strong volumes and support from key sectors like banking, IT, and capital goods, then a move toward 26,000 becomes likely.

However, any disappointment in global cues, macro data, or FII flows could cap the rally. So, while the momentum is positive, its still a wait-and-watch scenario till we see a decisive breakout above those resistance points.

What are the key challenges for the market that we must not overlook? There are several key challenges the market must not overlook:

The geopolitical uncertainty stemming from Donald Trump remains a significant wildcard.

The U.S. may announce abrupt and unpredictable movessuch as todays imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, effective August 1, along with a penalty tied to Indias purchase of Russian military equipment and energy.

Such measures could quickly disrupt trade sentiment and market confidence.

Domestically, investors should closely monitor macroeconomic and credit trends.

July data suggests a slowdown, and economic indicators scheduled for release on August 1 will provide clarity on whether this points to short-term softness or a broader deceleration.

The sharp rise in Japanese government bond yields is another concern.

With yields surging aggressively, international capital may shift away from emerging markets toward Japan, putting pressure on equity inflowsespecially for countries like India.

Together, these riskstrade policy shocks, domestic economic softening, and global yield shiftsconstitute key headwinds for markets in the near term.

What are the main reasons behind the FPI selloff? When do you expect the trend to reverse? The ongoing Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) selloff can largely be attributed to a combination of global and domestic factors.

First, the US market has been exceptionally strong, supported by robust economic data and a series of strategic trade deals that align with American interests.

This strength is naturally attracting capital flows back into what many investors consider the "mother market." Second, Indian equity valuationsparticularly in frontline indices like the Niftyhave become quite expensive.

The premium on Indian markets is currently very high compared to other emerging markets, which is prompting foreign investors to book profits and rotate capital elsewhere.

Some of this money is also being redirected to other undervalued markets such as China, where valuations are more attractive at this point. As for when the trend might reverse, it's hard to pin down a specific timeline.

Much will depend on how valuations in India adjust and how global macro conditions evolve, particularly in the U.S. and China.

For now, FPIs appear to be in a wait-and-watch mode.

How do you see the valuation of Nifty and the broader market? Is it unsustainable? Valuations of the Nifty and the broader market are certainly on the higher side right nowtheres no denying that they are demanding by historical standards.

In fact, thats been one of the key reasons behind the ongoing FII selloff.

Foreign investors are finding it harder to justify Indian equity valuations at current levels, especially when there are relatively cheaper opportunities elsewhere.

That said, I wouldnt call the valuations unsustainable. Despite elevated pricing and a busy primary market, domestic liquidity, particularly through consistent SIP flows, continues to provide a strong cushion.

Retail investors have been remarkably resilient, and that steady inflow is helping absorb the pressure from foreign outflows.

So while we may not be cheap, the market is still on solid ground, and valuations at this point appear to be sustainable.

What should be the investment strategy of retail investors for the next six months? Over the next six months, retail investors should adopt a selective and sector-focused approach.

Rather than chasing momentum across the board, the strategy should be to look at pockets of value and structural growth.

Sectors like chemicals and agrochemicals are emerging as attractive bets, especially with improving export dynamics and policy support.

Pharma also looks interesting, particularly companies with a strong US pipeline or niche formulations.

On the domestic front, infrastructure remains a strong structural theme, backed by sustained government spending and private capex revival.

Additionally, the electricals and outsourced manufacturing space is seeing strong order flows and margin tailwinds.

So, a focused allocation to these themes, with a medium-term horizon, could work well for retail investors.

Please suggest some stock ideas for the next one year. For the next one year, a selective mix of cyclical and structural stories could work well.

In the hospitality space, Royal Orchid Hotels and Samhi Hotels are well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing travel and tourism revival.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and KEC International remain strong infrastructure plays with healthy order books and execution visibility.

Transport Corporation of India (TCI) offers a proxy to the logistics and freight upcycle.

On the tech and niche manufacturing front, Netweb Technologies is gaining traction in high-performance computing, while Privi Speciality stands out in the speciality chemicals segment with strong export potential.

NHPC is a solid bet in the renewables and hydro space, backed by policy tailwinds and stable earnings.

Together, these names provide a good blend of growth, stability, and sectoral diversification for medium-term investors.

Read all market-related news here

Read more stories by Nishant Kumar
Premier Explosives share price jumped over 9% on Monday after the company announced receipt of a defence order. The small-cap stock surged as much as 9.62% to 468.05 apiece on the BSE.

Premier Explosives said that it has received an export order from an international entity for the supply of defence explosives, to be delivered within a period of two years.

The total consideration for the order is $21,750,000, i.e. approx. 190.07 crore, for manufacture and supply of defence explosives, Premier Explosives said in a regulatory filing on August 4.

The time period within which the order is to be executed is within two years.

Last week, the company announced the receipt of a purchase order for 22.36 crore from an international entity, for supply of Rocket Motors to be delivered on or before March 31, 2026.

Technical Outlook Premier Explosives share price witnessed strong traction today, gaining around 4% from a key support zone.

Rajesh Bhosale, Equity Technical and Derivative Analyst at Angel One expects the positive momentum in Premier Explosives shares to continue backed by healthy volumes.

Immediate support for Premier Explosives stock is seen at 415, while the 200-day SMA at 465 acts as the first resistance, followed by 480, Bhosale said.

Premier Explosives Share Price Performance Premier Explosives share price has declined 22% over the past month. However, the small-cap stock has gained 9% in the last three months and 3% over six months. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the defence stock is down 17% and has corrected 34% over the past year.

Despite recent volatility, Premier Explosives share price has delivered multibagger returns of 600% over three years and an impressive 1,775% over five years.

At 12:00 AM, Premier Explosives share price was trading 4.42% higher at 445.80 apiece on the BSE.
Stock Market Today: During the week ended 1 August 2025, the benchmark Nifty-50 index ended more than 1% lower at 24,565.35, amid Trump tariff uncertainties. The Bank Nifty, at 55,617.60, also ended more than 1% lower, while Realty and Pharma were among the key underperformers, though FMCG and Industrials were among the key outperformers. Mid and small caps also saw significant pressure during the week.

Trade Setup for Monday For the Nifty-50 Index, the zone of 2440024350 is expected to act as an immediate support for Nifty. A sustained break below this could further accelerate the downside. On the flip side, the 50-day EMA zone of 2490024950 now stands as a crucial hurdle, said Sudeep Shah, Vice-President & Head of Technical and Derivatives Research, SBI Securities.

Going ahead, for Bank Nifty, the zone of 55200-55100 will act as an important support, as per Shah.

Global markets today and Q1 Results Volatility is expected to remain high in the coming week amid key central bank decisions, corporate earnings announcements, and trade-related developments.

While a defensive stance may be prudent in the short term, selective accumulation in fundamentally strong stocks on dips can offer favorable long-term opportunities. Sectors vulnerable to global volatilityespecially IT and metalsshould be approached with caution until greater clarity emerges around U.S. trade policy and macroeconomic trends. Given the prevailing technical weakness and external uncertainties, disciplined risk management and prudent position sizing will be essential for traders, said Ajit Mishra  SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd

Stocks to buy today Regarding stocks to buy today, market expertsSumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking; Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi; and Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladherrecommended these eight intraday stocks for today: CCL Products (India) Ltd, Trent Ltd, Biocon Ltd, Marico Ltd, Central Depository Services (India) Ltd, TVS Motor Company Ltd, Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd and Waaree Energies Ltd.

Sumeet Bagadia's stock picks CCL Products (India) Ltd-Bagadia recommends buying CCL at around  894. 1. Keep stop loss at  862 for a target price of  957. CCL is currently trading at 894.10 and showing a strong bullish trend on the daily chart. The stock has printed a bullish candlestick and is nearing a breakout from an ascending triangle pattern. A decisive close above the key resistance at 915 would confirm the breakout and signal the continuation of the uptrend, potentially driving the stock toward the short-term target of 957.

2. Trent Ltd-Bagadia recommends buying TRENT at around 5180, keeping Stoploss at 5000 for a target price of 5550.

TRENT is currently trading at 5,180, having rebounded strongly from a key support level. The stock has formed a bullish candlestick on the daily chart and broken out of a consolidation phase by surpassing the crucial resistance level of 5,100. This breakout, accompanied by rising trading volumes, indicates a potential trend reversal and growing buying interest. From a technical perspective,

Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3. Biocon Ltd.-Dongre recommends buying Biocon at around 383, keeping Stoploss at 370 for a target price of 405.

Stock has been exhibiting a strong and consistent bullish pattern, indicating sustained investor interest and positive price momentum. The stock is currently trading at  383 and has established a solid support base at  370. This level has historically acted as a cushion, and the recent price action suggests a reversal from this support, reinforcing bullish sentiment. The technical setup points to the potential for a price retracement toward the 405 level in the near term.

4. Marico Ltd.-Dongre recommends buying MARICO at around 711, keeping stop-loss at 700 for a target price of 725

Stock has exhibited a strong, notable, continued bullish pattern, offering another promising opportunity for short-term traders. The stock is currently priced at  711 and maintaining strong support at  700. The technical setup indicates the potential for a price retracement towards the  725 level. With the stock reversing from a support base and showing signs of renewed strength, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss at  700 offers a prudent approach to capturing the anticipated upside.

5. Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL)Dongre recommends buying CDSL at around 1478, keeping stop loss at 1450 for a target price of 1540

Stock has exhibited a strong, notable, continued bullish pattern, offering another promising opportunity for short-term traders. The stock is currently priced at  1478 and maintaining strong support at  1450. The technical setup indicates the potential for a price retracement towards the  1540 level. With the stock reversing from a support base and showing signs of renewed strength, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss at  1450 offers a prudent approach to capturing the anticipated upside.

Shiju Koothupalakkal intraday stocks for today 6. TVS Motor Company Ltd-Koothupalakkal recommends buying TVS MOTOR at around 2858 for a target price of 2970, keeping stop loss at around 2500.

The stock has indicated a decent pickup from the important 50EMA at the 2800 level, improving the bias and anticipating a further rise in the coming sessions. The RSI is currently well positioned and has indicated a positive trend reversal to signal a buy with decent upside potential visible to carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the chart technically looking attractive, we suggest buying the stock.

7. Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd-Koothupalakkal recommends buying GENUS POWER INFRA at around 363.85 for a target price of 382, keeping the stop loss at around 355

The stock has witnessed a significant pullback from the important 200-period MA at the 350 level with a positive candle formation to improve the bias, and we expect a further upward move in the coming sessions. The RSI is currently well placed and indicated a buy signal with decent volume participation visible to anticipate a further rise, and with the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock.

8. Waaree Energies Ltd-Koothupalakkal recommends buying WAAREE ENERGIES at around 3104, keeping a target price of 3250. keeping Stop loss at 3045

The stock has taken support near the important 50EMA zone at the 2995 level and has picked up significantly with a bullish candle formation on the daily chart to improve the bias, and we can expect further gains in the coming sessions. The RSI is well positioned and has much upside potential to carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 3250, keeping the stop loss at the 3045 level.
Stocks to buy under 100: Following weak global cues after Trump's tariff bombshell on Thursday night, the Indian stock market ended lower on Friday. The Nifty 50 index finished southward for the fifth successive week, its prolonged losing streak since the week ending August 25, 2023. This selling was across segments, as the BSE Sensex and the Bank Nifty index witnessed selling pressure in the previous week, while the small-cap and mid-cap indices ended more than 2% lower last week.

Stock market today Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 today, Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities, said, "The underlying trend of the Nifty 50 index remains weak. A decisive move below the support of 24,500 could cause the index to slide down towards the next lower area of 24,100-24,000 levels in the near term. Immediate resistance for Nifty is placed at 24,950 levels."

"The Bank Nifty index once again slipped from the important 50-DEMA zone at the 56,100 level, with bias weakening to close near the 55,600 zone, and is precariously placed as of now, with a major support level at risk, which can further weaken the overall trend. For the bias to improve, the index would need to sustain the important 55,400 zone and, on the upside, would need to move past the 56,400 zone decisively and thereafter, anticipate further upward move," said Shiju Kuthupalakkal, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher.

Stocks to buy today Regarding stocks to buy today, market experts Mehul Kothari, Deputy Vice President  Technical Research at Anand Rathi; Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet; and Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investment, recommended these four intraday stocks for today under 100: IDFC First Bank, UCO Bank, Lloyds Engineering Works, and Shriram Properties.

Mehul Kothari's stock recommendations 1] IDFC First Bank: Buy at 67 to 68, Target 75, Stop Loss 64; and

2] UCO Bank: Buy at 28 to 29, Target 34, Stop Loss 26.

Sugandha Sachdeva's stock to buy under  100 3] Lloyds Engineering Works: Buy at 68.40, Targets 71, 72.50, Stop Loss 66.80.

Anshul Jain's share to buy under  100 4] Shriram Properties: Buy at 92.50, Target 98, Stop Loss 90.
On Friday, 1 August, 2025, the Nifty 50 sank by 203.00 points or 0.82%, ending the session at 24,565.35, while the BSE Sensex fell by 585.67 points or 0.72%, settling at 80,599.91. The Bank Nifty also remained under strain, losing 344.35 points or 0.62% to close at 55,617.60, breaching key support levels and reflecting continued financial sector stress.

Top 3 stock picks by Ankush Bajaj  August 4, 2025

Buy: CUPID LTD  Current Price:  158.20

Why its recommended: CUPID LTD is showing encouraging signs of bullish momentum. The hourly RSI stands at 65, indicating strength, while the MACD remains positive at 2, confirming trend continuation. Technically, the stock has formed a bullish pennant pattern near 150  a continuation formation that suggests potential for further upside towards 170+. The confluence of price action and momentum indicators supports a bullish outlook.

Key metrics: Breakout zone: Bullish pennant pattern around 150

Pattern: Continuation pattern signaling trend resumption

MACD: Positive at 2

RSI: Hourly RSI at 65, indicating strong buying strength

Technical analysis: The bullish pennant breakout combined with firm momentum suggests potential for the stock to move toward 172

Risk factors: A close below 150 would invalidate the pattern and may trigger a short-term pullback.

Buy at: 158.20

Target price: 172

Stop loss: 150

Buy: GTPL HATHWAY LTD  Current Price:  122.80

Why its recommended: GTPL HATHWAY LTD is gaining traction after a breakout from a falling wedge pattern on the hourly chart. The hourly RSI is at 60 and MACD is positive at 2, supporting upward momentum. On the daily chart, the stock has also formed a triangle pattern  a consolidation structure now resolving higher, signaling trend continuation.

Key metrics: Breakout zone: Falling wedge breakout on hourly chart

Pattern: Triangle on daily, wedge breakout on hourly

MACD: Positive at 2

RSI: Hourly RSI at 60, indicating bullish shift

Technical analysis: The alignment of breakout patterns across timeframes and bullish momentum signals point to a near-term upside toward 136138.

Risk factors: A break below 115 would negate the setup and suggest caution.

Buy at: 122.80

Target price: 136138

Stop loss: 115

Buy: DABUR INDIA LTD  Current Price:  534.35

Why its recommended: DABUR INDIA LTD has shown a strong bullish breakout on the hourly chart around 535. The hourly RSI is elevated at 63, and the MACD at 5 confirms bullish momentum. As long as the price sustains above the 535 breakout level, the short-term trend remains positive with upside potential.

Key metrics: Breakout zone: Hourly breakout at 535

Pattern: Bullish continuation with price confirmation

MACD: Positive at 5

RSI: Hourly RSI at 63, showing strength

Technical analysis: The recent breakout and sustained momentum suggest potential for the stock to move toward 555 in the near term.

Risk factors: A close below 527 may weaken the setup and indicate potential consolidation or reversal.

Buy at: 534.35

Target price: 555

Stop loss: 527

Market wrap

Sector-wise, the losses were widespread and deep. The Pharma sector tumbled 3.33%, the healthcare index fell 2.77%, and the metal index declined 1.97%, reflecting aggressive profit-booking and bearish sentiment across high-beta segments.

Defensive buying offered limited shelter, with the FMCG sector rising 0.69%, signalling mild investor rotation toward stability amid the broad correction.

On the stock front, Trent led the gainers with a solid 3.23% rally, followed by Asian Paints gaining 1.46%, and Hindustan Unilever, which rose 1.29%, all benefiting from selective buying in quality defensives.

However, heavyweights in the pharma space deepened the drag. Sun Pharma plummeted 4.51% on valuation worries, while Dr Reddys declined 3.91%, and Cipla slipped 3.33%, reflecting the market's increasing risk aversion toward overstretched names.

Nifty technical analysis daily & hourly

On August 4, 2025, the Nifty witnessed a sharp decline, ending the session at 24,565.35, down 203 points or 0.82%, marking a continuation of the recent weakness. The index has now slipped below the short-term consolidation range and is testing the lower boundary of the critical support zone between 24,550 and 24,450. This area is significant because a breakdown below it could open the gates for a decline toward the 24,000 level, where an unfilled gap from previous sessions remains.

Technically, the Nifty is trading below all key short-term moving averages, including the 20-day SMA at 25,074 and the 40-day EMA at 24,793. On the intraday chart, the index also remains under the 20-hour SMA at 24,761 and the 40-hour EMA at 24,792, indicating continued downward pressure. This setup confirms a short-term bearish structure, with the index struggling to find stability even on minor pullbacks.





Momentum indicators continue to offer no signs of relief. The daily RSI has weakened further to 36, while the hourly RSI has dropped to 33, suggesting oversold conditions but without any reversal signals yet. The MACD also remains firmly in negative territory, with the daily MACD at 110 and the hourly MACD at 61, indicating that bearish momentum is intact and showing no meaningful signs of exhaustion.

Also Read | Eicher Motors' pursuit of growth will come at a cost

The derivatives data paints a similarly cautious picture. Total Call open interest now stands at 14.80 crore against 8.45 crore on the Put side, resulting in a bearish difference of 6.35 crore contracts. The Put-Call Ratio has dropped to 0.57, reflecting a build-up of bearish sentiment. Notably, Call writers were aggressive during the session, with a rise of 8.60 crore contracts in Call OI compared to just 2.81 crore in Put OI, leading to a net bearish OI change of 5.79 crore contracts. The highest Call OI is placed at the 25,000 strike, which continues to act as a strong resistance, while fresh Call additions at the 24,800 strike further reinforce this ceiling. On the downside, the highest Put OI and addition were both seen at the 24,200 strike, making it the immediate support zone.

In summary, the Nifty remains under pressure and appears to be slipping into a deeper corrective phase. As long as the index fails to reclaim the 25,00025,074 zone, the trend is likely to stay bearish. With support now being tested near 24,450, a breakdown from this level could accelerate the move toward 24,000. Until a clear reversal emerges, traders should stick to tactical approachespreferably sell-on-rise near resistance and avoid aggressive long positions unless the index stages a decisive recovery above 25,000.

Ankush Bajaj is a Sebi-registered research analyst. His registration number is INH000010441.

Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
While taking a credit card, one of the criteria that an individual looks at is the reward structure. Some credit cards give reward points. These can be redeemed in multiple ways, and the value per point varies.

On the other hand, some credit cards keep it simple by giving cashback. In this article, we will discuss both the types of credit cards and which credit card an individual should choose.

What are cashback credit cards? A cashback credit card gives a certain percentage of the eligible transaction value as cashback. During a statement cycle, the cashback for all eligible transactions accumulates. Once the statement is generated, the consolidated cashback is awarded to the cardholder.

Cashback credit cards are simple, as the percentage of cashback is defined. The cashback is automatically credited to the cardholders account. The cardholder doesnt need to redeem it like reward points. The cashback amount is usually used in the next billing cycle to settle the next months outstanding amount. Hence, there is no fear of the cashback expiring as it gets used up in the next month.

While cashback credit cards are simple and easy to use, the flip side is the low reward rate. Most cashback credit cards have a 1-5% reward rate range. However, some cashback cards have a reward rate of 10% in specified categories, which is good.

In most cashback cards, there is a limit on the cashback that you can earn in a billing cycle. Like most credit cards, cashback credit cards also have exclusions. The excluded categories dont earn cashback. Hence, you must make a note of these categories.

While some cashback credit cards are lifetime-free, most have annual fees in the range of Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000. In the case of most cashback credit cards, the renewal fee is waived on spending a specified amount in the previous year.

Also Read | How to manage multiple credit cards without hurting your credit score

Types of cashback credit cards The cashback category is broad, and there are various types of credit cards within this category. Let us look at some of the cashback credit cards.

Cashback SBI Card: The Cashback SBI Card is one of the most popular credit cards in the cashback category. It gives 5% cashback on all eligible online spends and 1% on all eligible offline spends. The maximum cashback that can be earned in a statement cycle is capped at Rs. 5,000. Thus, a cardholder can save up to Rs. 60,000 annually. The annual fee on the card is Rs. 999 + Taxes. The renewal fee is reversed on annual spends of Rs. 2 lakhs.

Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card: The card gives 10% cashback on the Swiggy App (food delivery, Instamart, Dineout, and Genie), capped at Rs. 1,500 per billing cycle. Online spends on specified merchants earn a 5% cashback, capped at Rs. 1,500 per billing cycle. There is 1% cashback on all other eligible categories, capped at Rs. 500 per billing cycle.

The cardholder can save up to Rs. 42,000 annually with this card. The annual fee is Rs. 500 + Taxes. The renewal fee is waived on spending Rs. 2,00,000 in the previous year.

Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card: The card gives a whopping 25% cashback on Airtel services like prepaid and postpaid, broadband, WiFi, and DTH bill payments through the Airtel Thanks App. The cashback is capped at Rs. 250 per billing cycle. Utility bill payments like electricity, gas, etc., made through the Airtel Thanks App get a 10% cashback. The cashback is capped at Rs. 250 per billing cycle.

Transactions on the preferred merchants app (Swiggy, Zomato, and BigBasket) earn a 10% cashback. There is a capping of Rs. 500 per billing cycle across all three merchants. All other eligible transactions earn a 1% cashback without any capping.

The annual fee is Rs. 500 + Taxes. The annual fee is waived on annual spends of Rs. 2 lakhs.

Apart from these, there are other cashback credit cards like:

HSBC Live+ Plus gives 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and grocery spends. Yes Bank Click Credit Card gives up to 5% cashback for UPI transactions done by Neon members through the Kiwi App. Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card gives up to 5% cashback on spends on Tata Neu and partner Tata brands. The cashback is in the form of NeuCoins. Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card gives up to 5% cashback for Amazon Prime members for spending done on Amazon. The cashback is in the form of Amazon Pay. What are reward credit cards? A reward credit card gives benefits to the cardholder in the form of reward points. The reward rate is usually for every Rs. 100 spent. However, some credit cards (for example, American Express) give rewards for every Rs. 50 spent, and some (for example, HDFC Bank) give rewards for every Rs. 150 spent.

Reward points are versatile. The cardholder can use them for various redemption options. Some of these include the following.

Paying for online/offline transactions Booking flights/hotel accommodation Redeeming fora statement credit Purchase of gift vouchers Transfer to airline and hotel partners Donation for charity Usually, the value per point for redemption options like paying for transactions, statement credit, donation, purchase of gift vouchers, etc., is in the Rs. 0.20 to Rs. 0.30. The value per point for redemption options like booking flights, hotel accommodation, transfer to airline and hotel partners is usually higher. For flight bookings and hotel accommodation, the redemption value per point can be up to Rs. 1.

Banks have tie-ups with various airline and hotel loyalty partners where the reward points can be transferred in a specified ratio. The transfer ratio usually ranges from 0.5 to 2. It means, one credit card reward point can be converted to 0.5 to 2 partner points.

Types of reward cards The reward cards can be category-specific or generic. In the last few years, travel-centric cards have become quite popular among cardholders. These credit cards usually offer accelerated reward points for spending in the travel category. Also, at the time of redemption, they offer a higher value per point when they are redeemed for flights, hotels, or transferred to airline/hotel partners. Let us look at some travel-specific credit cards with a decent reward rate.

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card: The card provides 2 EdgeMiles (EMs) per Rs. 100 spent. Travel-related spends get an accelerated reward rate of 5 EM per Rs. 100 spent. The cardholder gets bonus EMs on achieving spend-based milestones. The EMs can be transferred to 19 transfer partners (14 airlines and 5 hotels). The EM can be transferred to partners in a 1:2 ratio (except for Marriott Bonvoy).

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card: The card offers a base reward rate of 1 Membership Reward (MR) point per Rs. 50 spent. When the cardholder spends Rs. 1,90,000 in a year, they get a bonus of 15,000 MR points. Similarly, when the cardholder spends Rs. 4,00,000 in a year, they get an additional bonus of 25,000 MR points and a Rs. 10,000 Taj gift voucher.

The MR points can be redeemed against Air Maharaja, The Postcard Hotels, or Taj gift vouchers. The MR points can be transferred to partners like Singapore Krisflyer for flights, Marriott Bonvoy for hotel bookings, etc.

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card: The card offers an accelerated reward rate of 4 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on flights, travel aggregators, and foreign currency transactions. All other categories get 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent, except for excluded categories. The card also offers instant discounts of up to 15% on specific travel aggregators for flights and hotel bookings.

The reward points can be transferred to 19 transfer partners (15 airlines and 5 hotel partners). The transfer ratio for most partners is 1:1, except for a few.

Should you choose a rewards card or a cashback card? Till a few years back, banks gave credit cardholders benefits through reward points and other ways. Reward points are versatile and can be redeemed in various ways. The value per point depends on the redemption option chosen.

In the last few years, banks have introduced credit cards that reward cardholders with cashback. These are simple to use and give a specified percentage of the transaction value as cashback.

The decision of whether to go for a rewards or cashback credit card will depend on your needs. If you travel frequently, you may consider a rewards credit card focused on the travel category. These cards give you an accelerated reward rate for travel-related spends. Also, you can redeem reward points against booking flights and hotels, or transfer them to airline/hotel partners. Thus, these cards can help you enjoy free family vacations with reward points.

Also Read | 5 best lifetime free credit cards in India with no annual fees

If you dont travel frequently and prefer a credit card with a simple reward structure, you may consider a cashback credit card. These cards give you a percentage of the transaction value as cashback. Also, the consolidated cashback amount will be automatically credited to your card account post statement generation every month.

Gopal Gidwani is a freelance personal finance content writer with 15+ years of experience. He can be reached at LinkedIn.

For all personal finance updates, visit here.
In a recent statement shared on X, Elon Musk confirmed that he has no personal loans taken against Tesla as some had suspected, while reiterating his anxieties about being ousted by activist shareholders. The billionaire expressed optimism that these concerns would be addressed at the forthcoming shareholders meeting.

It may be noted that Tesla on Monday granted 96 million new shares worth about $29 billion to CEO Elon Musk, a move aimed at keeping the billionaire entrepreneur at the helm as he fights a court ruling that voided his original pay deal for being unfair to shareholders.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, expressed concerns about potentially losing control of the electric vehicle giant due to the influence of activist shareholders.

Also Read | Elon Musk says AI has taken hard work out of coding, predicts shift in tech jobs

Why Elon Musk is worried about Tesla control It is worrying in that I dont want to build millions of robots and then potentially be ousted by activists and unable to ensure that public safety remains of paramount importance, he wrote on the X platform.

Musk, who currently owns a 12.8 per cent stake in Tesla, is apprehensive about being dethroned by shareholders who may not align with his vision for the companys future.

He suggests that a 25 per cent ownership stake would offer him adequate influence, while still leaving room for his possible removal.

Musks fears are rooted in past instances where shareholders voted in favour of a compensation package tied to the companys growth targets, only to be overruled by Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick.

Earlier in January, in a post on X, he shared that about 25 per cent ownership stake would be enough "to be influential, but not so much that I can't be overturned.

Musk has the opportunity to acquire an additional 304 million shares, which would boost his voting control by roughly 4 per cent post-tax.

There are rumours that Musk may resign if his ownership stake is curtailed, akin to the limitations imposed on his pay package.
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced that the allotment and generation of Universal Account Number (UAN) will be done only through the Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) in the UMANG App. The new rule came into force on August 1, 2025.

However, the existing process of generating UAN through the employer will continue in exceptional cases, such as for international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan.

A circular dated July 30, 2025, invoked a previous EPFO circular dated April 8, 2025, where three EPFO facilities for employees/ members were introduced in the UMANG app by leveraging the Face Authentication Technology.

Also Read | EPFO sees an all-time high net payroll addition at over two million in May

Three services are: 1. Allotment of UAN and activation

2. UAN activation for existing UANs

3. Face authentication service for existing activated UANs

How to use these services To avail this facility, EPFO subscribers are meant to download the UMANG app and the Aadhaar Face RD App from the Play Store. Notably, the above facility can be availed by the members themselves using their mobile phones without having to speak to the employer.

Meanwhile, this facility is also available for downloading the e-UAN card PDF for handing over to the employer for onboarding with EPFO.

Members using Face Authentication Technology would accrue benefits, including foolproof validation of Aadhaar data, as the user's data is pre-populated directly from the Aadhaar database, and completion of the UAN activation process during UAN generation itself. There would be no requirement for initiating the UAN activation process afresh.

By using this facility, members gain immediate access to EPFO services such as passbook viewing, KYC updates, claim submission, etc.

To access any UAN-related service, members must have access to the following:

 A valid Aadhaar number

 Access to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number for verification of one-time password (OTP).

 Aadhaar Face RD App for face authentication

How to get UAN allotment and activation? These are the steps to follow to get UAN allotment.

1. Open Umang and go to UAN allotment and activation.

2. Now you need to enter the Aadhaar number, mobile number and check the consent checkbox for Aadhaar validation.

3. You can now tap send OTP.

A. Install the Aadhaar Face RD App if prompted.

B. Enter the OTP sent to your mobile.

4. System checks if Aadhaar is already linked to a UAN:

A. If yes: Youll be notified.

B. If no: Proceed to Face Authentication.

5. Here you can opt for Face authentication:

a. Check the consent box.

b. Tap Face Authentication.

c. The system will perform the face scan.

6. System fetches details and generates a new UAN.

7. Finally, UAN is sent to your registered mobile number via SMS.
IDFC FIRST Bank and Indigo have launched Indigo IDFC FIRST Dual Credit Card, which offers two credit cardsMastercard and RuPay cards with a common credit limit. Regardless of how you apply, whether by paying a joining fee or with a Fixed Deposit (FD), you will receive two physical cards  Mastercard and RuPay in one kit.

All transactions will reflect in a single statement. Your credit limit will be shared between both cards, and all spending on both cards will contribute towards your IndiGo BluChip earnings, activation, and milestone benefits, IDFC FIRST Bank said.

You have to set the PIN and transaction preference for both cards separately. You can do an FD-based application if you prefer no credit checks for eligibility. You can get the card through a credit eligibility-based application if you are a regular credit card user.

Your spending across both your cards will be used for IndiGo BluChips and milestone benefits calculations. A single e-statement will be generated, and you have to make a single payment for both cards.

Also Read | THESE travel credit cards offer discounts and cashbacks to frequent travellers

Here are the features and benefits offered by the dual credit card:



Joining and annual fee IndiGo IDFC FIRST Dual Credit Card comes with a joining fee of 4999 + GST and an annual fee (payable from the second year onwards) of 4999 + GST. However, you can get the card without paying any joining fee by opting for the FD-backed variant, which requires you to take an FD of 1 lakh with the bank.

Joining benefits Voucher of 5000 IndiGo BluChips.

A complimentary IndiGo meal voucher.

Welcome benefits are available only for those who pay the joining fee. They are not available for the FD-backed variant of the card. Other one-time exclusive benefits Three months complimentary EasyDiner prime membership worth  1095.

1095. Postcard hotels stay voucher worth  3000.

3000. One-time exclusive benefits are applicable to both the joining fee variant and the FD variant of the card.

Spend  1 lakh within 90 days of card issuance and earn a voucher of 3000 IndiGo BluChips. How can you earn IndiGo BluChips on your card? Customers can earn IndiGo BluChips on every transaction using the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card. Here's how the IndiGo BluChips are calculated.

Six IndiGo BluChips on every  100 spent on flights booked on the IndiGo website and mobile app.

100 spent on flights booked on the IndiGo website and mobile app. Three IndiGo BluChips on every  100 spent on other categories.

100 spent on other categories. 0.5 BluChips on every  100 spent on UPI on credit card spends.

100 spent on UPI on credit card spends. 0.5 IndiGo BluChips on insurance, rent, utility and wallet spends as defined by the networks MCCs (Merchant Category Codes). The above structure is applicable for both Mastercard and RuPay cards. No BluChips will be rewarded on cash transactions and transactions converted into EMI.

IndiGo BluChips can be redeemed for booking flight tickets. The value of IndiGo BluChip could vary depending upon the flight source and destination, and day of flight booking among others, at the discretion of IndiGo.

The sooner you book your flight, the more chances of maximizing your IndiGo BluChips worth. IndiGo BluChips can be redeemed against IndiGo flights through the IndiGo website and mobile app. For more details, visit here.

Other benefits Forex mark-up: 1.49%

1.49% Trip cancellation cover: Up to  25000/year (Two claims/year)

Up to 25000/year (Two claims/year) Air accident insurance:  1 crore

1 crore Personal accident cover:  10 lakh

10 lakh Lost card liability cover:  50000

50000 Benefits worth $1200 for Travel Insurance What will be the credit limit?

If you are applying for an IDFC FIRST Bank credit card for the first time, your eligibility will be assessed based on the internal policies of the bank, and subsequently, the credit limit will be assigned.

Also Read | 5 best credit cards for senior citizens with zero annual fee

If you already have an IDFC FIRST Bank unsecured credit card, your new credit card will also have the same credit limit. The credit limit, however, will be shared across all unsecured credit cards. The credit limit for the FD-backed variant will be equal to the FD amount.

Allirajan M is a journalist with over two decades of experience. He has worked with several leading media organisations in the country and has been writing on mutual funds for nearly 16 years.

For all personal finance updates, visit here.
Trump says U.S. nuclear submarines deployed to "where they have to be"

Xinhua) 17:04, August 04, 2025

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that two nuclear submarines have arrived "where they have to be," two days after he ordered their deployment.

"I've already put out a statement, and the answer is, they are in the region ... where they have to be," Trump said.

Trump on Friday said on his Truth Social that he ordered two nuclear submarines "in the appropriate regions" following his spat with Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chair of the Security Council.

On July 28, Trump cut short the deadline for Moscow to end the conflict with Ukraine to "10 or 12 days" from the initial 50-day timeline, citing disappointment with "Moscow's lack of willingness to compromise."

Later that day, Medvedev said Trump is playing an "ultimatum game with Russia," calling his threat "a step towards war ... with his own country."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
If you are a frequent traveller and love to make your payment via credit card, then it is recommended to secure a card that offers a discount and/or cashback on your travel spend. For example, earning reward points on your flight or hotel bookings is nothing short of the frosting on the cake.

Here we list out the names of five credit cards that provide impressive discounts and cashback to cardholders.

5 Popular travel credit cards I. HDFC Diners Club Privilege: This card provides two complimentary airport lounge accesses every calendar quarter worldwide. The cardholders are offered 4 reward points for every 150 spent.

The card offers upto 10X rewards on booking flight tickets/ stays across over 150 hotels (domestic and international).

II. SBI IRCTC Platinum Card: This SBI Card allows cardholders to earn upto 10 percent value back as reward points when IRCTC tickets are booked for AC1, AC2, AC3 executive chair and chair cars on trains.

Also Read | 5 best luxury credit cards in India offering exclusive benefits in 2025

III. Axis Bank Magnus: This Axis Bank card provides unlimited complimentary international lounge visits and four additional guest visits per year with priority pass card. Aside from this, the card provides upto 15 percent off on international and domestic Oberoi and Trident hotels.

IV. ICICI MakeMyTrip Signature Card: This card provides one complimentary international airport lounge access annually and eight complimentary domestic airport lounge accesses. On every 200 spent, the card gives four reward points on hotel bookings and two points on flight bookings.

V. YES FIRST Preferred: This card provides four complimentary airport lounge visits at international airports per calendar year and two complimentary lounge visits per quarter in India.
India's state-run oil marketers are in joint discussions with US firms to secure cooking gas supplies beginning next year, three people aware of the development said, indicating a potential deepening of energy ties. The companies Indian Oil Corp . Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Corp . Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corp . Ltdare likely to sign near-identical contracts with the selected partners, the people said on the condition of anonymity.

The negotiations, happening against the backdrop of the US tariff on Indian goods, support the target set by both countries earlier this year to increase their energy trade to $20 billion. This would include India importing liquified petroleum gas (LPG) from the US through term contracts, and increasing crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.

Indian OMCs are in talks, collectively, with at least a dozen LPG suppliers in the US. The negotiations are for supplies starting January next year, and the discussions are progressing well," one of the three people cited above said. The person added that although deals may be signed separately, given that talks are happening at a combined level, the nature of deals would be largely the same.

Targa, OneOk

Some of the major American LPG suppliers are Texas-headquartered Targa Resources and Enterprise Products and Oklahoma-headquartered ONEOK. Queries emailed to the Union ministries of petroleum and commerce, the Indian oil marketing companies, and the US LPG suppliers went unanswered.

India traditionally imports most of its LPG from West Asian countries including Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia through long-term contracts, while other major LPG importing countries source it from the US. The US so far has been supplying India LPG in small volumes through spot deals, and this is the first time the Indian companies may have a term deal with US suppliers. On the other hand, China has been a major buyer of LPG from the US.

In India, LPG is used primarily for residential cooking, followed by commercial and industrial purposes. India imported LPG worth $12.47 billion in FY25, 19.85% higher than $10.42 billion the previous year. According to Ken Research, as of December 2024, the Indian LPG market was valued at $15 billion, with growth backed by the government's emphasis on use of LPG for cooking purposes through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

Also Read | Why India may not stop buying Russian oil amid US tariff threat: Explained

Thaw?

The talks with the US firms is seen as indicating a thaw in ties between the two, even as talks on the Bilateral Trade Agreement remain active but are stuck on intractable issues such as dairy and agriculture. US president Donald Trump has also wared that India could face penalties if it continues purchasing petroleum products from Russia.

"India is a huge importer of LPG. US is a large producer of LPG which is produced as natural gas liquids along with shale gas. So, US can be a significant supplier of LPG to India," said Prashant Vasisht, senior vice president and co-group head, corporate ratings, ICRA Ltd. He added the price of LPG will not be very different and will be competitive compared to the West Asian LPG on a landed basis in India.

In a bid to diversify import sources amid geopolitical tensions and regional instability in West Asia, Indian buyers are already forging new ties. State-run BPCL signed an annual contract with Norway's Equinor to secure 550 kilotonne per annum of propane and butane, reducing its reliance on the West Asian countries. Reuters last month reported that India plans to source about 10% of its cooking gas imports from the US as part of a broader effort to boost energy purchases to narrow its trade gap with Washington.

Trade war ripples

In March this year, as the tariff war flared between the US and China, a report by maritime consultancy Drewry suggested that if the US-China trade war escalated, Saudi contract prices could attract a premium, with China likely engaging Middle Eastern suppliers and forcing India to diversify its import sources, including the US.

LPG used in India comprises 60% butane and 40% propane. West Asian exports are better suited for this as they are primarily butane-dominated, since their LPG production is a byproduct of oil processing. On the other hand, US supplies are primarily propane-dominated, as LPG production in the US is the byproduct of natural gas processing. According to the Drewry report, Butane accounted for 52% of Indias LPG imports in 2024.

"India may source the required propane from the US, which would be 40-50% of the composition and the butane may continued to be imported from the Gulf countries," an industry executive said on the condition of anonymity

LPG country

As on 1 April, 2025, the three state-run oil marketing companies which dominate the LPG market in India, together have 32.97 crore active LPG customers in the domestic category who are being served by 25,542 LPG distributors. Data from the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) shows these companies sold nearly 31.2 million metric tonnes of LPG in FY25, out of which about 88.3% was sold in the domestic sector.

Ajay Srivastava, former Indian Trade Service officer and founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), said, Those engaging with US oil firms for the deal should ensure certainty of supply and competitive pricing, as the US has overcommitted to supplying oil and gas to various countries, but currently lacks adequate production of petroleum products and LNG. The contract must guarantee supply certainty and include penalties for failure to deliver on time."

However, a former government official, requesting anonymity, said, Its a forward-looking move by both sides, as such deals happen with the consent of the government, and this move could help ease tensions and make it easier to resolve some of the sticking points in the larger agreement."

Vessel dynamics

The Drewry report cited earlier said the increase in import of American LPG would also impact the LPG vessel segments that India employs to import the product. Typically, India uses medium gas carriers (MGC) to transport LPG, as the country has low storage capacities and most terminals are unable to cater to very large gas carriers (VLGCs) However, upgrading the infrastructure as well as changing supplier countries can lead to changes in the vessel employment patterns with VLGCs increasing their share in Indias import mix with higher imports from the US.

India's energy imports from the US, largely crude, have already witnessed an uptick this year. To be sure, India has already assured the US that it would ramp up energy ties and increase imports. After Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with Trump last month in Washington, foreign secretary Vikram Misri had said that India aims to increase its purchases of US energy in the near future. During prime minister Narendra Modis visit to the US in February, the US president Donald Trump said that both the countries have reached an important" agreement on energy that would make the US one of the leading suppliers of oil and gas to India, hopefully number one supplier".

Mint earlier reported that oil and gas imports are emerging as a key factor in the ongoing bilateral trade talks between the US and India and India plans to increase the share of Western Texas Intermediate or WTI crude in the countrys import basket, which could even entail setting a tariff rate quota for US crude.
Pahalgam attack: Days after the three terrorists involved in the dastardly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir were eliminated under Operation Mahadev, security agencies have gathered documents, including biometric data, confirming that they were Pakistani nationals, officials said on Monday.

As per the evidence collected, none of the slain terrorists were locals, the officials confirmed, reported PTI.

What are the documents? The documents collected by the security agencies that helped officials confirm the Pakistani nationality of the terrorists include:

biometric records of Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA),

Also Read | All 3 terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack killed: Amit Shah in LS

voter identity slips issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan

digital satellite phone data, including logs and GPS waypoints Not just the voter slips and other documents, personal items were also discovered that offered more clues to their identities  including candy wrappers from 'CandyLand' and 'ChocoMax', both popular Pakistani brands made in Karachi.

Officials also said that the post-encounter investigation, including ballistics weapon-to-cartridge match and statements of two detained Kashmiri helpers, further corroborated the terrorists' involvement in the Pahalgam attack.

Who were the 3 terrorists killed in Op Mahadev The slain terrorists were identified as Suleman Shah alias "Faizal Jatt", an A-category terrorist, mastermind and lead shooter; his close associate Abu Hamza alias 'Afghan', an A-grade commander and the second gunman; and Yasir alias 'Jibran', also an A-grade commander and the third gunman.

Terrorists belonged to same Pak district All three slain terrorists had their addresses in Kasur district's Changa Manga and Koiyan village near Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The officials said a micro-SD recovered from a damaged sat-phone contained the NADRA biometric records (fingerprints, facial template, family tree) of all three men, which helped trace their addresses to those regions.

Operation Mahadev While speaking at the Lok Sabha last week, Home Minister Amit Shah said that Operation Mahadev involved the questioning of around 1,055 individuals within a span of over three hours.

Also Read | Oppn walks out from Rajya Sabha over PM Modi's absence
Amid a row over the new draft voter list in Bihar, a complaint has been filed against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, in Patna, alleging that he holds two Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).

The complaint was filed by a lawyer, Rajiv Ranjan, who has requested appropriate legal action against Tejashwi.

Last week, Tejashwi Yadav alleged that his EPIC (Electors' Photo Identity Card) number had been changed.

Also Read | EC asks Tejashwi Yadav to hand over voter ID card for probe

He had also raised concerns over his name missing from the electoral roll, questioning how he would contest the upcoming elections.

Following this, the Electoral Registration Officer in Patna on Sunday asked Tejashwi Yadav to provide the details of the EPIC card he mentioned during his press conference, so that the matter can be thoroughly investigated.

Meanwhile, Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh lashed out at both the former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for questioning the Election Commission of India amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, accusing them of spreading lies and confusion.

The Election Commission, a constitutional body, will pursue legal action against comments made by Tejashwi Yadav, said Giriraj Singh.

Also Read | Bihar Election 2025: Tejashwi Yadav hints at poll boycott amid SIR row

Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav only lie and spread confusion. While lying about SIR (Special Intensive Revision), he lied about his own voter ID. This (ECI) is a Constitutional institution, but they did not spare this either; they criticised it. Someone who considers himself a future CM - if Tejashwi Yadav speaks such petty lies and spreads confusion, then that institution will definitely take the legal route, the minister said.

Janata Dal United (JDU) also slammed the RJD leader over his allegations against the Election Commission and said that the opposition's narrative has been destroyed.
Bangalore City Police Department's Central Crime Branch (CCB) and the Cyber Crime Police Station have busted a large cybercrime network which was providing fake online legal services to citizens who were victims of cyber fraud, reported PTI.

The report added that based on a complaint lodged through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, the operation was launched on 12 February 2025, at the Ramamurthy Nagar Police Station. It was alleged that the complainant was cheated of 1.5 crore by being lured into installing a solar plant.

The victim discovered a website called "Quickmoto Legal Service" while searching online for legal help to recover his lost money. Soon several telecallers who are self-proclaimed representatives contacted him and he lost another 12.5 lakhs in stages.

How cops busted cybercrime network: Later, the case was transferred to the CCB and a special team was formed under the leadership of Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ajay Hillori. During the probe, it was found that the company "quickmoto legal" was not present at the address. Also, a call centre operating under the name "India Legal Service" in Kasthurinagar, Bangalore, was under operation.

The probe further pointed out that several tele callers were employed and the cyber fraud victims were being called using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) based application called Zoiper-5.

Also, the police came to know that he accused's brother, who was based in Dubai, had set up several fake companies and built a casual network for online fraud. He set up a fake company called "India Legal" in Kasthurinagar, where he hired 12 telecallers and cheated the cyber victims by promising to refund their money.

The police produced the prime accused before the court and remanded in 7-day police custody.

What was found during raid: When the premises at 7 locations were searched, 10 computer hard disks, seals of fake companies, lease agreements, check books, and other documents were seized. Additionally, one mobile phone, 1 CPU, 11 Vodafone SIM cards, and SIP trunk server system data items were seized.

The police confirmed the organisation is involved in illegal financial transactions worth crores of rupees, and over 29 cases across India have been registered against this network on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

Meanwhile, a probe to identify and trace more individuals involved in this network is underway and is being led by Crime Branch's DCP, Raja Imam Qasim. He, along with the technical assistance of the Department of Telecommunications and in collaboration with Tata Teleservices, have tracked down the accused and arrested them.

Also Read | Indian firms tighten AI defences as cybercrime gets more sophisticated

The Bangalore Police informed that the operation was planned by Bangalore City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, under the command of Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajay Hilori and under the supervision of DCP Crime, Raja Imam Kasim.
Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court, on Monday, closed the corruption case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following four years of probe, found no evidence of corruption against Jain.

In May 2019, an FIR was filed against Satyendar Jain, the then PWD minister and several officials following a complaint by the Delhi Governments Directorate of Vigilance.

What was the complaint against Satyendar Jain? The complaint alleged irregularities in the hiring of professionals, misuse of project funds, and violations of recruitment and financial rules. It also claimed that a Creative Team of consultants was brought on board without following proper procedures.

What the Delhi Court said The Delhi court on Monday ruled that no material whatsoever, even to suggest a criminal conspiracy, was found.

"The allegations, as presented, and the factual background are not sufficient to warrant further investigation or to initiate proceedings. The law clearly states that suspicion cannot replace proof. It is also worth noting that, even to charge someone, mere suspicion is not enough; at least strong suspicion would be necessary to proceed," the Court said, reported Bar and Bench.

It then proceeded to close the case and also added that if any fresh material is received against anyone, the CBI would be at liberty to investigate the matter further.

Also Read | Delhi Court frames corruption charges against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, 10 other

Meanwhile, former Delhi CM and Assembly LoP Atishi addressed the media.

Atishi reacts to closure of case Following the closure of the case, Delhi Assembly LoP said that the BJP agencies had levelled false allegations against the AAP leader.
Prajwal Revanna, who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment in a rape case, has been assigned prisoner number 15528 at Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.

Revanna, the suspended JD(S) leader and grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, appeared visibly stressed and wept as he spent his first night in jail, PTI reported, citing prison authorities.

He is currently lodged in a high-security cell with enhanced security measures.

He broke down during the medical check-up and expressed his anguish to the staff, a senior official was quoted as saying by PTI.

Food, dress code, and work in prison According to prison rules, Prajwal Revanna will have to follow the prison dress code and work for eight hours per day, six days a week, like other convicts.

His earnings will not exceed 540 per day, the standard pay fixed for convicts.

New convicts usually begin with unskilled work, like assisting in the bakery or doing basic tailoring. After a year, if found suitable, they may be promoted to skilled labour roles such as weaving or smithy work, a senior prison source told the Times of India.

Every Monday, new convicts are allocated their tasks. Regardless of the nature of work, the fixed wage is 540 per month, the official added.

Revannas day at prison will start at 6:30 AM. He will be served food three times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Also Read | Who is Prajwal Revanna? Expelled JDS leader sentenced to life imprisonment

For breakfast, the jail administration provides food according to a rotating menu that includes veg pulao, tomato bath, chitranna, poha, puliyogare, upma, and vangibhath, reported ToI.

For lunch and dinner, chapatis, ragi balls, sambar, white rice, and buttermilk are served. Mutton and chicken are served twice a month.

Like other convicts, Prajwal will also be allowed to make two phone calls a week, each lasting a maximum of 10 minutes, reported ToI.

Challenging the conviction The 34-year-old man had reportedly told the jail staff that he had approached the High Court challenging the conviction.

A Bengaluru court had convicted Prajwal Revanna in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases against him.

The case pertains to a 48-year-old woman who was working as a domestic help at the family's Gannikada farmhouse in Hassan district's Holenarasipura.
CTUs-SKM, a joint platform of 10 Central Trade Unions and Samyukt Kisan Morcha, has announced a nationwide protest on August 13, 2025 against US President Donald Trump's tariff threats and India-UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).

The statement released on Monday urged workers, farmers, students and patriotic citizens to show their dissent by participating in various mass actions including tractor and motorcycle rallies, protest demonstrations, public gatherings, and other forms of protest as decided by different platforms and partner organisations.

US tariff threatens oil trade with Russia According to the statement cited by PTI, the CTUs-SKM strongly condemned the recent threats by Trump to impose 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with a punitive tax for the oil trade deal with Russia.

They characterised these measures as a blatant act of economic coercion aimed at dictating India, including its trade relations with Russia.

The organisations highlight what they perceive as hypocrisy in US trade policies, which demand open markets for American corporations while weaponising tariffs to bully sovereign nations, the news report said.

Also Read | Centre scrambles to revamp export plan as US tariffs hit India, favour ASEAN

The East India Company colonised India through trade; today, CETA and US trade deals are the new instruments of corporate imperialism, they alleged.

Demands set by protesters Beyond the specific concerns, the protesting group has put forth several demands regarding Indias trade policy:

Rejection of US tariff threats: India must reject Trump's tariff threats and assert its sovereign right to trade with all nations, including Russia.

Review of India-UK CETA: The trade agreement must be reviewed and altered immediately.

Halt US-India trade deal negotiations: All ongoing negotiations for a US-India trade deal must be halted to prevent further corporate exploitation.

Parliamentary scrutiny for future deals: No more secret trade agreements. All future deals must undergo full parliamentary scrutiny and public consultation. Govts meek submission flayed

The CTUs-SKM criticised the government for the deal. Equally alarming is the Indian government's meek submission to these threats, reflecting its growing subservience to western imperialist interests, PTI reported labour unions as saying.

Also Read | What Donald Trump said in a statement announcing 25% tariffs on India

They further noted that this surrender is further evident in the recently signed India-UK CETA, a deal that sacrifices the interests of India's farmers, workers, and economic independence at the altar of foreign corporate profits.

Instead of firmly rejecting this intimidation, the central government has responded with silence, signaling its willingness to compromise India's strategic autonomy in favour of the USA, it stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to Shibu Soren, who passed away at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness.

PM Modi took to X and wrote, Went to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to Shri Shibu Soren Ji. Also met his family. My thoughts are with Hemant Ji, Kalpana Ji and the admirers of Shri Shibu Soren Ji.

PM Modi also shared pictures with his family. In one of the pictures shared on X, PM Modi was seen consoling Shibu Soren's son and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren as he got emotional.

Earlier in the last week of June, the JMM patriarch was admitted to a Delhi hospital with a kidney-related ailment. His condition deteriorated recently after he suffered a stroke and had been on life support for the past month.

Announcing Shibu Soren's death, Hemant Soren said, Respected Dishoom Guru has left us all. Today, I have become empty".

In a post on X, he said, Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti.

About Shibu Soren: Shibu Soren had served as Union Cabinet Minister for Coal in three separate stints between 2004 and 2006. He was a six-time Lok Sabha MP and represented the House in the period from 1980 to 2005. He was also elected to the Rajya Sabha three times.

Shibu Soren served as Chief Minister of Jharkhand three times, in March 2005, from August 2008 to January 2009, and from December 2009 to May 2010.
IndiGo's Mumbai-bound flight was delayed for takeoff after it developed a flat tyre in the apron of the Dumna airport in Jabalpur on Monday, said an airport official.

The IndiGo plane was to return to Mumbai at 12.40 pm, but was delayed due to the tyre problem.

Also Read | Cockroaches found on Air India flight to Mumbai make passengers uncomfortable

Most of the passengers of the stranded flight were later flown to their destination via Bengaluru and Delhi after a replacement tyre was flown in from Delhi, said the official, reported PTI.

Parked plane's tyre deflated The IndiGo flight landed at Jabalpurs Dumna airport from Mumbai around noon. After all passengers had safely deboarded, one of the aircraft's tyres deflated while it was parked on the apron, Jabalpur Airport Director Rajeev Ratan Pandey told PTI.

The delayed flight with some passengers onboard returned to Mumbai at 5.30 pm after the rear tyre was replaced, the director said.

On Sunday, an Air India Express flight which took off from Bengaluru had to return to the airport following a technical problem.

Air India Express flight makes U-turn Air India Express flight IX2718, which departed from Bengaluru, had to return to the airport due to a technical problem mid-air, ANI reported on Monday, citing the airline.

An Air India Express spokesperson stated that the aircraft made a precautionary landing after circling to burn fuel and lighten the aircraft. This manoeuvre was conducted according to standard safety protocols.

"One of our flights from Bengaluru returned to the airport following a technical issue. The aircraft circled to reduce fuel and weight before executing a safe, precautionary landing," the report cited an official statement.

On July 23, another Air India Express flight (IX375) from Kozhikode to Doha was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue.
Umar Ansari, the younger son of the late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, was arrested in Lucknow for alleged involvement in forging documents associated with seized property, ANI reported, citing a police officer.

What are the charges against Umar Ansari? Umar created fake documents for a confiscated property by forging the signature of his mother, Afsa Ansari, who has a bounty of 50,000 on her, the report said citing Superintendent of Police, Ghazipur.

A case has been filed at Mohammadabad Police Station under the relevant sections. Further legal proceedings are being conducted, he added.

Also Read | Tejashwi listed in Bihar draft electoral rolls with old EPIC, probe on

Upon learning of the fraudulent activity, a case was registered against Umar Ansari at the Mohammadabad police station, with charges filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), PTI quoted a statement issued by the Superintendent of Police, Ghazipur.

Also Read | Hyderabad: Six IT professionals arrested for drug consumption at birthday party

About Mukhtar Ansari Mukhtar Ansari died at Banda Medical College Hospital in Uttar Pradesh following a cardiac arrest on March 28, 2024.

In April 2023, Mukhtar Ansari was convicted and received a 10-year sentence for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai by an MP-MLA court. Later, on March 13, 2024, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in a case involving the use of forged documents to secure an arms licence in 1990.

Also Read | Bengaluru Police arrests two for rape threats to actor Ramya

In June this year, Mukhtar Ansari's elder son, Abbas Ansari, an MLA from the Mau Sadar assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh, was disqualified from the state assembly due to his conviction in a hate speech case. He was sentenced to two years in prison by a special MP-MLA court for a 2022 hate speech case. During a public meeting at Paharpur ground on March 3, 2022, he threatened the Mau administration, stating he would "settle scores and teach them a lesson" after the elections, PTI reported on June 1.
An NRI sought suggestions online after expressing his willingness to return to his home country after 11 years with savings of 1 crore. In a Reddit post, the user said that he moved to New Zealand when he was 19 but now wants to return to India permanently with $200K NZD (or 1.03 crore) savings.

The Non-Resident Indian stated, I been living in New Zealand since I was 19 and now 30. When I left India (2013) 1 crore seems like a big money. How about these days? Reason I am asking this question because I want to return back to India permanently. Have around $200K NZD in savings, will that be enough to survive in a Punjab village as I own house there. (sic)

He further provided information about his wealth status and income flow. I own 1 Shopify store which generates around 100K NZD per year (so you can call it a remote job/business), the NRI added.

The NRI yearning to return to his native state further noted that he owns US stocks worth about $138K NZD.

NRI seeks advice on plans to return to Punjab village with  1 crore.

Check tax situation before. A varied range of comments poured in, including, Depends on your lifestyle. Another user commended his Shopify store business and said, Your sales are impressive.

A third user wrote, One crore is not retirement money. But if you plan to invest and generate passive income, it can be doable with a decent lifestyle. If you want to do that, I suggest you first identify what you want to do or where you want to invest. Try and see if it works out or generates enough income. Then decide on switching.

A fourth piece of advice stated, As someone who splits time between India and NZ, you wont be able to have an NZ-like lifestyle if you arent planning to do any other job. I would say find a remote job with an NZ company and then move. There are plenty.
Stephen Miller, United States President Donald Trumps deputy chief of staff, on August 3, accused India of imposing massive tariffs on American goods and cheating the US immigration system, in addition to purchasing about as much Russian oil as China, Bloomberg reported.

President Trump, he wants a tremendous relationship and has had always a tremendous relationship with India and the prime minister. But we need to get real about dealing with the financing of this war, Miller told reporters.

So, President Trump, all options are on the table to deal diplomatically, financially and otherwise with the ongoing war in Ukraine, so we can achieve peace, he added.

Also Read | Donald Trump hints at payment to citizens again, says people could get dividends

Pressure from Donald Trump, but India remains unmoved Meanwhile, the report noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not shown haste despite the US's insistence on cutting ties with Russia. It cited sources saying that the Indian government is yet to instruct oil refiners against buying Russian oil, and there has been no decision to stop the purchases.

These sources added that public and private OMCs are allowed to buy from preferred sources, and crude purchases remain a commercial decision.

This comes despite the Trump administration imposing a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the US and the White House threatening more action if India continues Russian oil purchases.

In a rally on August 2, PM Modi said, The world economy is going through many apprehensions  there is an atmosphere of instability. Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.

According to a New York Times report citing two senior officials, India is expected to keep buying Russian crude. Bloomberg said that a spokesperson for the Oil Ministry did not immediately respond to queries over the weekend.

India-Russia ties steady and time-tested Notably, India has historically had strong ties with Russia, which Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described as a steady and time-tested partnership during a press briefing on August 1.

Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. I am confident that the relationship (with the US) will continue to move forward, he said.

India and the US are currently negotiating a trade deal amid Donald Trump's tariffs push.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued orange alert for multiple states, predicting heavy rainfall on August 4. This weather warning is in place for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, Light rainfall/Drizzle is very likely to occur at most places of Delhi and NCR during the next 2 hours, IMD said in its nowcast warning issued at 6:10 AM.

As monsoon rain wreaks havoc across India, an 11-year-old child drowned on Sunday due to waterlogging in Uttarakhands Udham Singh Nagar district, District Disaster Management Officer Umashankar Negi informed PTI. Hence, it is important to stay informed about weather alerts and avoid going out during extreme weather conditions.

Also Read | IMD predicts more rain for parts of NCR; issues orange alert for 2 states

The Meteorological Department in its latest weather report states, Extremely heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over Kerala and Tamil Nadu on 05th August.

Isolated heavy rainfall is likely in the following regions:

In Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh until August 6

In Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Kerala, Karnataka and Bihar until August 9

In Punjab on August 5 and 9

In Haryana and Madhya Pradesh until August 5

In East Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on August 8 and 9

In Odisha on 6 and 7

Isolated heavy rainfall likely over Marathawada on 06th & 07th and Konkan & Goa during 07th-09th August.

In Tamil Nadu until August 7

In Andhra Pradesh until August 8

Delhi-NCR rains No rainfall alert for August 4 is in place for Delhi-NCR but weather conditions indicate A spell of very light to light rain during early hours/early morning. Another one or two spells of very light to light rain/thundershowers at many places during evening/night. As per IMD's weather forecast dated August 3, the skies across the national capital region are expected to remain generally cloudy.
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed defamation proceedings against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remark that the Indian Army was thrashed by the Chinese Army at the border in Arunachal Pradesh on December 16, 2022.

A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih passed the interim order while hearing Gandhi's Special Leave Petition (SLP), which challenged the Allahabad High Court's May 29 ruling. The High Court had refused to quash the defamation complaint and summoning order, which Gandhi claimed were driven by malice and filed with dishonest intent.

The case pertains to allegations that Rahul Gandhi made derogatory remarks about the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. While staying the proceedings, the SC also made sharp observations about his remarks, saying, If you were a true Indian, you would not say all this.

The complaint was originally filed in a local court by former Border Roads Organisation (BRO) director Uday Shankar Srivastava.

Defamation proceedings against Rahul Gandhi stayed: 5 things the Supreme Court said As per LiveLaw, Justice Datta questioned Rahul Gandhi's decision to air his views on social media instead of inside the Parliament. Whatever you have to say, why don't you say in the Parliament? Why do you have to say this in the social media posts? he asked. How do you get to know that 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory were occupied by the Chinese? Were you there? Do you have any credible material? Why do you make these statements without any...If you were a true Indian, you would not say all this, Justice Datta remarked.

3. Rahul Gandhi's counsel, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that even a true Indian could express concerns over the killing of 20 soldiers. He said, It is also possible that a true Indian will say that our 20 Indian soldiers were beaten up and killed and that it is a matter of concern. The court responded, When there is a conflict across the order, is it unusual to have casualties on both sides?

4. Singhvi argued, If he can't say these things which are published in the press, he can't be a Leader of Opposition. The bench asserted, "You are Leader of Opposition. Say things in Parliament, why do you have say it on social media?" LiveLaw reported.
Ohio Republican gubernatorial contender Vivek Ramaswamy sounded the alarm Monday over what he called a growing socialist wave within the Democratic Party, singling out New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and others as symbols of a dangerous political shift.

Its a fork in the road for the future of the country, Ramaswamy told Fox & Friends. And its not just about one candidate in New York who represents the socialism wing. You look at the rise of [mayoral candidate Omar] Fateh in Minneapolis.

Democratic Party facing deep fissure Ramaswamy, 39, who ran unsuccessfully in the 2024 GOP presidential primary and is now the clear favorite to win Ohios Republican gubernatorial primary next year, said the leftward lurch exposes a deep fissure in the Democratic Party.

You see trends coming up across the country, he said. Theres a deep fissure in the Democratic Party.

A call to action for Republicans Ramaswamy urged Republicans to step up with a bold counter-message in defense of capitalism.

My advice to Republicans across the country is this is our chance to actually offer the vision to make the case for why free enterprise, why capitalism, is the best system known to the history of man, he said.

Wake-up call for New York The biotech entrepreneur warned that Mamdanis potential win as mayor of New York City would have grave consequences for residents already struggling with housing and affordability.

I do think a lot of people in New York are going to, unfortunately, wake up to the effects of socialism, he said. The well-intentioned so-called solutions to a housing crisis are actually going to make that very affordable crisis worse for the people they were supposedly trying to help.

Keeping a close eye on Mamdani Ramaswamy has remained sharply critical of Mamdani following the New York assemblymans surprise Democratic primary win in June, which catapulted him into frontrunner status in the citys mayoral race.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday slammed radio host Charlamagne Tha God, calling him a racist and a dope after he criticised Trump's presidency and predicted that "traditional conservatives could take back the Republican party from Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

Charlamagne Tha God, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, said Trump's tax-and-spending law put people in a worse financial situation than they were previously in. He added that the Epstein files case is going to be a way for traditional conservatives to take their party back.

Charlamagne Tha God made the comments on Fox News show, My View with Lara Trump, hosted by the presidents daughter-in-law, who previously served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

What did the radio host say? I wouldnt give it a good rating simply because the least of us are still being impacted the worst," he stated about Trump's second tenure as president. He mentioned he will gain from tax breaks sanctioned in Trumps tax-and-spending law. However, he added, Theres going to be so many people thats hurt by that bill. Anything that takes away Medicaid from people and will put people in a worse financial situation than they were previously in, Im not for.

Charlamagne suggested that the Republican Party will ultimately be reclaimed by traditional conservatives, distancing itself from Trumps MAGA movement. He cited the controversy surrounding Trumps refusal to release documents related to convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein as an example of the internal pushback gaining momentum.

I think theres a political coup going on right now in the Republican Party that people arent paying attention to. I think this Epstein thing is going to be a way for traditional conservatives to take their party back. I really do. I think that they know this is the issue that has gotten the base riled up, the MAGA base isnt letting this issue go, and for the first time, they can probably take their party back and not piss off the MAGA base. I think theyre going to do that," he said.

Charlamagne Tha God is a dope Trump took to X and said Lenard McKelvey knows nothing about me or what I have done.

While calling him a dope for allegedly voting for Democratic Kamala Harris, he called him racist sleazebag and hit out at his use of God in his professional nickname. Can anyone imagine the uproar there would be if I used that nickname?

Also Read | Who is Erika McEntarfer and why was she fired by Donald Trump?

Following the Justice Departments announcement that it will not release any further documents related to the sex trafficking investigation, the Epstein case has come to the limelight in recent weeks. The decision sparked outrage among online sleuths, conspiracy theorists, and segments of Trumps base, many of whom were expecting evidence of a government cover-up.

Although officials maintain that Epstein died by suicide in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial, the case continues to fuel widespread speculation and conspiracy theories due to his connections with high-profile figures, including Trump and several other billionaires.

Charlamagne, who co-hosts the nationally syndicated radio show The Breakfast Club, said he gave President Biden the same hell when he felt the Democrat wasn't doing a good job, telling Lara Trump that his criticism of the Republican presidents isn't new.
A fire broke out beneath a PATH train in Jersey City early Monday, sending plumes of smoke into passenger cars, hospitalizing nine people, and causing widespread service disruptions during the morning rush hour.

The blaze ignited around 6:19 am. under an eastbound train approaching the Newport PATH station, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. As smoke quickly filled the train, panicked passengers forced open the doors and evacuated onto the platform.

Dramatic video captured the chaos, with riders shouting Move, move, move! as thick smoke spread through the cars. Flames were later seen shooting from beneath the train as officials rushed to contain the fire.

Emergency services treated at least 13 passengers for smoke inhalation, nine of whom were transported to nearby hospitals. Their conditions were not immediately disclosed.

Train services from Journal Square and Hoboken to Manhattans 33rd Street station  along with HobokenWorld Trade Center routes  were suspended following the incident, creating delays and confusion for early morning commuters.

The Hoboken to 33rd Street line resumed shortly after the evacuation, and all lines were restored by 11 a.m., PATH confirmed on social media.
Mathura Sridharan, a US lawyer of Indian origin with a strong legal track record, was appointed Ohios 12th solicitor general. Many on social media mocked her for wearing a 'bindi' on her forehead and said she did not deserve the post.

One social media post read, Is she a Christian? Thats the biggest factor that concerns me. Based on the bindi on her forehead, I worry she is not. That absolutely should matter to us when choosing our leaders.

Also Read | Donald Trump hints at payment to citizens again, says people could get dividends

Another comment stated, "She's Indian. They all have a loyalty first to other Indians. horrible pick. Totally un-American. The GOP is pathetic."

"Why would you select someone who isn't an American for such an important role?," asked another X user. "Nothing says "Ohioan" like a dot right on the forehead," said one person.

Ohio Attorney General backs Mathura Sridharan Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost came out in Sridharan's support, saying, "A few commenters have asserted incorrectly that Mathura is not American."

Yost clarified that Sridharan is a United States citizen, married to a US citizen, and the child of naturalised US citizens.

"If her name or her complexion bother you, the problem is not with her or her appointment," he wrote in a social medi post.

Who is Mathura Sridharan? Dave Yost called Mathura 'brilliant' and said she won her argument at SCOTUS last year. "Both the SGs she worked under (Flowers & Gaiser) recommended her," he added.

According to her profile shared by the Federalist Society, Mathura Sridharan served as the Deputy Solicitor General in Ohios Office of the Solicitor General.

Most recently, Mathura argued before the United States Supreme Court in Ohio v. EPA, representing several States in a challenge to the Environmental Protection Agencys good neighbour rule, which regulates the interstate transport of air pollution.

Also Read | Elon Musk trolls Donald Trump over Epstein case, escalates online feud

Before joining the Ohio Solicitors Office, Mathura clerked for Judge Steven J. Menashi of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Deborah A. Batts of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
(Bloomberg) -- Beijing is getting drenched by another round of heavy rain, one week after torrential downpours across parts of the Chinese capital unleashed flooding that claimed at least 44 lives.

The citys meteorological service elevated its rainstorm warning signal to red at 1 p.m. local time on Monday, the highest alert in a tri-colored system, up from orange earlier in the day. Some places could get more than 200 millimeters (7.9 inches) over six hours, raising the risk of landslides, the forecaster said.

The heaviest precipitation is expected to start at 6 p.m. and extend through dawn on Tuesday morning, according to the China Meteorological Administration. A collision of low pressure up in the atmosphere with another region of high pressure is triggering the heavy rain, the national weather agency said.

The deluge threatens another round of flash flooding, particularly in the hard-hit mountainous suburban areas due to saturated ground. Across the Beijing area, the soil is over-saturated up to a depth of 50 millimeters following rain last week, according to government data.

Authorities urged residents not to venture outside unless necessary, and schools suspended in-person classes, according to a city government statement.

Other areas of Chinas north, including Hebei and Tianjin, are predicted to see heavy rainfall through Tuesday afternoon. The southern Chinese coast, affected by the southwest monsoon, is also getting a drenching.

In Hong Kong, a black rainstorm signal was raised at 11:45 p.m. local time, meaning heavy rain exceeding 70 millimeters in an hour is expected to fall, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. Residents were advised to take shelter and avoid traveling as some roads were flooded.

People were also told to stay away from waterways and residents living near rivers were advised to prepare to evacuate if waters rise.

--With assistance from Brian K. Sullivan and Jacob Gu.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he would soon direct the military on an updated strategy to meet Israels three stated war objectives in Gaza: defeating Hamas, releasing hostages, and ensuring Gaza no longer threatens Israel.

Later this week I will instruct the IDF on how to achieve the three war objectives we have set, Netanyahu told his cabinet.

According to Channel 12 and the Jerusalem Post, the new plan could include re-occupying all of Gaza, especially Gaza City, where Israeli officials believe some hostages are being held.

UN Security Council Meeting looms The announcement comes on the eve of a key United Nations Security Council session, called by Israel with support from the US and Panama, to draw global attention to the plight of the remaining 49 hostages still held in Gaza, 27 of whom are believed to be dead.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasised: The world must put an end to the phenomenon of kidnapping civilians. It must be front and centre on the world stage.

Palestinian authority condemns leaked plan The Palestinian Authoritys foreign ministry denounced the reported strategy shift, calling it a leaked re-occupation plan. The ministry urged global powers to block what it described as a move toward further military escalation.

Mounting pressure on Netanyahu Netanyahu is under intensifying pressure from both hostage families. Hundreds of ex-defense and intelligence leaders signed an open letter urging US President Donald Trump to intervene.

Netanyahu is leading Israel and the hostages to ruin, said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Expanding the war endangers the lives of the hostages, who are already in immediate mortal danger.

Dire conditions in Gaza spark outrage While Israel faces international calls for restraint, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. Gaza's civil defense said Israeli fire killed 19 people Monday, including nine waiting for food aid.

UN Chief: 'An affront to humanity' UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the humanitarian situation in Gaza as heart-rending and intolerable.

That we have reached this stage is an affront to our collective humanity, Turk said. He urged Israel to urgently allow aid to enter Gaza, warning that continued denial may amount to a war crime.

He also described recently released hostage videos as shocking and called for immediate Red Cross access to the captives.

22 months of war The conflict began with Hamass October 2023 attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians. Since then, Israel's military campaign has killed at least 60,933 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The Kremlin responded on Monday (August 4) to US president Donald Trumps recent nuclear posturing, urging all sides to exercise restraint when discussing nuclear weapons. This follows Trumps statement that he had ordered two US nuclear submarines to reposition in response to remarks made by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the risks of nuclear conflict.

In general, of course, we would not want to get involved in such a controversy and would not want to comment on it in any way, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric.

No signs of escalation, says Moscow Despite Trumps remarks, Moscow insisted it did not view the situation as an escalation in nuclear tensions.

We do not believe that we are talking about any escalation now, Peskov said, adding, It is clear that very complex, very sensitive issues are being discussed, which, of course, are perceived very emotionally by many people.

He further downplayed the US repositioning of submarines, noting, American submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process, thats the first thing.

Kremlin silent on Medvedevs provocation When asked whether the Kremlin had advised Medvedev to tone down his inflammatory online rhetoric, Peskov declined to give a direct answer.

The main thing, of course, is the position of President Putin, he said.

Trump threatens sanctions over Ukraine war The exchange of words comes at a tense diplomatic moment. Trump has threatened fresh sanctions on Russia and its oil buyersincluding India and Chinaunless President Vladimir Putin agrees to end the ongoing war in Ukraine by Friday. The war has now entered its fourth year.

Despite Trumps ultimatum, Putin last week claimed Russia had momentum on the battlefield and said peace talks had shown some positive progress, signaling no major shift in Moscows stance.

Trump sends envoy for Moscow talks Trump has sent his longtime associate Steve Witkoff to Moscow for another round of unofficial diplomacy.

Witkoff, a real estate developer and Trump ally, has met Putin during past visits but is yet to secure any breakthrough.

We are always happy to see Mr Witkoff in Moscow and we are always happy to have contacts with Mr Witkoff, Peskov said. We consider them important, meaningful and very useful.

However, the Kremlin did not confirm whether the trip was at Moscows invitation or what it hoped to gain from the discussions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin may be open to a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the Kremlin  but only if unspecified conditions are met.

Putin does not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media on Monday. He added the meeting could occur only if the necessary work is done at the expert level and the appropriate distance is overcome, without offering any details.

The vague offer comes months after Putin cancelled a planned sit-down with Zelensky in Turkey, which had been encouraged by US President Donald Trump as part of his renewed push for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Ukraine dismisses Kremlin's offer as a delay tactic Ukrainian officials rejected the Kremlins offer as another attempt to delay serious peace efforts.

Peskovs comment about a possible meeting looks like yet another attempt to buy time, wrote Zelenskys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, on X. It contains no specifics.

However, Yermak reiterated Ukraines willingness to engage if Russia were sincere: Ukraines position is clear: we are ready for a leaders meeting. Our partners  all those who genuinely value peace  support Ukraines position that a meeting must take place.

He also thanked President Trump for his continued involvement: We are grateful to President @POTUS for his consistency in seeking an end to the war and for his willingness to help bring this meeting closer, Yermak added.

I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. His comment was in direct response to Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev, who warned that each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war with the US.

The move coincides with a fast-approaching deadline this Friday for secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, a measure Trump recently expedited.

Stalled peace talks Peace talks in Istanbul have stalled, with Moscow only engaging on prisoner exchange negotiations, according to Ukrainian officials.
Did US tariffs help Apple Inc achieve a blowout quarter? That was one theory that emerged as the company disclosed a surprising surge in iPhone sales in the April-June quarter, up 14% compared with the period a year earlier, handily beating estimates.

Consumers, it was said, were rushing out to stores in fear that Donald Trumps Liberation Day trade levies would drastically increase the cost of an upgrade; [reports had suggested that the price could have gone up by 43%].

It certainly makes some logical sense; though the data shows that the fears of consumers soon subsided. According to Placer.ai, which uses mobile location data to monitor foot traffic, elevated sales in the immediate days after Trumps address rapidly petered outvisitors to US Apple stores were up just 0.93% for the entire fiscal quarter compared to a year earlier. Meanwhile, visits to Apples website from US consumers were down 3%, according to data from Similarweb.

Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | Indias smartphone exports get buzzy in the US

On a call with investors to discuss the results, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook acknowledged that tariff chatter did create unusual buying patterns in April, mostly around sales in the US of the iPhone and Mac computers. But overall, the boost was limitedApple said just 1 percentage point of its 10% overall revenue growth came from these pull forward" sales.

If Apples analysis proves correctand some analysts seemed sceptical, repeatedly asking for more detailsthen that would be good news. It means investors would have to worry less that the better-than-expected sales wont mean a significant dip for the rest of this year.

Thats not to say tariffs wont be a drag Cook said the company would take a $1.1 billion tariff-related hit in the current quarter, up from $900 million in the last.

To emphasize the gusto of his most important product, Cook noted that somebody out there has the 3 billionth iPhone. Thats a staying power that will count for a lot as the company moves to this next era of uncertainty.

Also Read: China plus one: Apple and India might need to woo not just Trump but Xi too

The quarterly iPhone sales indicate that consumers dont yet care that the bulk of the devices artificial-intelligence (AI) features have yet to materializetheyll stick with Apple anyway.

I found myself agreeing with Cook when he said he felt AI-specific devicessuch as glasses from Meta Platforms Inc or whatever it is OpenAI and Jony Ive createare likely to be complementary devices, not substitution" for the smartphone.

Still, AI is on the mind of investors, and the blockbuster quarter was not enough to distract from that; [notably, Apples stock has fallen by double digits since the beginning of the year].

The company reiterated its intent to increase spending to fund its AI efforts and to reallocate talent to speed things up. Cook didnt, however, address the fact that some of his top AI talent has reallocated itself to Meta.

The Apple bosss apparent lack of interest in joining Big techs unprecedented talent war one that would have made his predecessor, Steve Jobs, sick to his stomachis one facet in Apples obvious unwillingness to follow its peers and bet the entire house on AI.

Its capital expenditure, while growing, is expected to be tens of billions of dollars lower than that of other tech giants. The years to come will tell whether Apple was wise to separate itself from the pack.

Also Read: Apple intelligence: Its time to step up and speak out

Tellingly, when asked last week whether Cook felt AI innovations like large language models might become commoditized, the CEO declined to answer. That gives away some things on our strategy," he said. That could be read as a sign Apple doesnt feel it needs to directly compete in building AI.

I think this speaks of a confidence that the iPhone will still be the de facto device of choice for AI whether or not Apple is successful in making a competent ChatGPT of its own. Another interpretation is that Cook doesnt want to show his hand in any merger and acquisition negotiations, but I guess well see. Cook said on the call that he was very open" to dealmakingwell see what exactly he feels he needs to buy rather than build.

Frankly, you didnt need to see Apples numbers to know it had been a great quarter for the companyyou could just listen to the tone of Cooks voice.

Noticeably upbeat as he ran through his remarks, the tenor of the call was in stark contrast from last quarter, when some (myself included) wondered whether the weight of Apples numerous challenges were starting to deplete the 64-year-olds energy reserves.

Talk of succession will surely quieten down for the foreseeable future: Its time to let Tim cook. Bloomberg

The author is Bloomberg Opinions US technology columnist.
In response to US tariffs, in early April, the UK prime ministers office declared, The world has changed, globalization is over and we are now in a new era." But are US President Donald Trumps trade war and immigration policies the only reasons for the collapse of globalization, if at all?

French economist Thomas Piketty argues that Trumpism is a reaction to the failure of Reaganism." Republicans, he holds, have realized that globalization and economic liberalism havent benefitted the middle class. But todays anti-global moment didnt start in 2024. As perceived by Tara Zahra, a history professor at University of Chicago, when thousands of protestors marched in Seattle in 1999 to oppose the World Trade Organization summit, it was an early sign of a backlash against globalization.

Also Read: Prachi Mishra: Dont leave labour behind if globalization is to succeed

The 2008 global economic crisis didnt trigger another Great Depression, but it destroyed livelihoods, undermined peoples trust in the stability and justice of global capitalism and aided anti-global populists in winning elections across the globe. Indeed, a 2023 International Monetary Fund paper revealed that in the 15 years since the 2008 global financial crisis, globalization plateaued. Its modest growth is frequently referred to as slowbalization.

During the 2015-16 global refugee crisis, several European countries began to discourage refugees, while Trumps election in America and the UKs Brexit vote, both in 2016, intensified anti-immigrant sentiment in the West. And then the covid pandemic exposed the vulnerability of economies that rely on imports for essential goods. Its the most significant peace-time disruptor of globalization in recent history. Together, covid and the 2008 financial crisis contributed to de-globalization with echoes of what World War I and the Great Depression had combined to orchestrate about a century earlier.

Amid the disruption of the global economy caused by the Ukraine conflict, America elected Trump once more, and now Trump 2.0 is weaponizing tariffs to isolate the US from the rest of the world.

Also Read: India Incs paradox: Tribal instincts dominate globalized businesses

However, didnt the core idea of globalization evolve over time? In their 1999 book Global Transformations, British political scientist David Held and his co-authors defined globalization as the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer."

Global integration didnt gain traction until the 19th century. Steamships, railroads, the telegraph and other innovations, along with growing international economic cooperation, drove the first wave of globalization. Thus, the term indicates increasing interdependence of the worlds economies, cultures and inhabitants, thanks to cross-border trade in technology, commodities and services, apart from flows of people, capital and information.

Also Read: Raghuram Rajan: How emerging economies can prosper in a protectionist world

Historically, globalization peaked before World War I. In his 1920 book The Economic Consequences of the Peace, John Maynard Keynes described the early 20th-century heyday of the globalized economy thus: The inhabitant of London could order by telephone, sipping his morning tea in bed, the various products of the whole earth, in such quantity as he might see fit, and reasonably expect their early delivery upon his doorstep."

In his autobiography, The World of Yesterday, Austrian writer Stefan Zweig wrote, There were no permits, no visas, and it always gives me pleasure to astonish the young by telling them that before 1914, I travelled from Europe to India and to America without a passport and without ever having seen one." Such internationalism ended in August 1914 despite the widespread belief that it was irreversible and that peace and prosperity would be ensured by the interconnectedness of the world economy.

In addition to World War I, post-war protectionism, the emergence of popular politics, the Great Depression and World War II all contributed to globalization falling apart. Following World War II, America contributed to the establishment of a global economic order supervised by multilateral organizations and regulated by generally agreed-upon norms.

With Chinas gradual economic opening from 1979 onwards, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the EUs expansion, the world witnessed its second major acceleration of globalization. This wave followed the Soviet Unions collapse in 1991. Migration and economic integration again increased.

Also Read: Survival in times of predatory trade: Is Asia on to something?

Although it is not obvious, the globalization curve might be headed for another low right now. However, in this era of the internet and communication, the Keynesian idea of globalization has undergone a substantial transformation. Today, I can enjoy a British sitcom in Kolkata or hold a Zoom meeting with someone in Los Angeles.

Greek economist Takis Fotopoulos has examined many types of globalization. By his nomenclature, the cultural kind is the homogenization of culture, while the political sort describes the rise of a transnational elite and features dreams of the nation-states dissolution in favour of a common global market. Also, globalization can be technological, social and ideological.

Today, the internet has overcome cultural and national divides to quite some extent, presenting new opportunities and difficulties for economies and communities around the world; social media has axed barriers of space and time in interpersonal communication. Thus, despite US tariffs and immigration restrictions, broadly defined globalization will continue, unless countries try to wall off their part of the web from the world.

The author is professor of statistics, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.
Most reports on the recently-signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK have focused on positive aspects of the agreement. But the CETA, as with any negotiated outcome, is also a compromise between the competing interests of the two countries. It is therefore important to understand the possible implications for India. Here are some key takeaways from this trade pact.

First, with the UK eliminating customs duties on almost 99% of Indias exports, significant opportunities would open up for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and clothing, gems and jewellery and leather products, which currently face 4-16% duty. This will provide an edge for these exports over competitors from Bangladesh, China and Vietnam.

However, an increase in Indias exports of manufactured products would depend on the UK not imposing a carbon tax. The ability of exporters in labour-intensive sectors to scale up production of high-end products and comply with sustainability requirements will also be key.

Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | India-UK FTA: Fair play in the trade arena

Second, in the agriculture and marine sectors, most of Indias exports will enjoy duty-free access. But two products of Indias export interestmilled rice and sugarwill not receive tariff cuts. Further, to convert export potential into actual consignments, Indias exporters of agricultural and marine products will have to comply with the UKs onerous health standards and traceability requirements. Due to high costs and technical complexities, this may be problematic for small exporters, thereby limiting their ability to benefit.

Third, Indias service exports to the UK, presently around $20 billion, are set to gain significantly, especially business services, IT/ITeS and professional services. In addition, the Double Contribution Convention is likely to benefit almost 75,000 Indian workers in the UK. That said, with the CETA silent on the UK granting data adequacy status to India, our negotiators appear to have missed a golden opportunity to boost exports of digitally delivered services.

Fourth, India has given deeper access to its government procurement market to the UK than it conceded to the UAE in its free trade agreement (FTA) with it. In procurements to be made under the Preference for Make In India Order, UK suppliers will be treated at par with Class 2 Indian suppliers, a concession that was not extended to UAE. This could undermine the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India programmes.

Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | An India-UK FTA at long last!

Further, India has sharply lowered the threshold above which non-discriminatory treatment would apply to the procurement of goods and services from 225 crore in its FTA with the UAE to merely 5.5 crore under the CETA with London. This could hurt micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) seeking government contracts, as they would now have to compete with UK suppliers even for low-value contracts above the 5.5 crore threshold.

Since India has given the UK greater access to its government procurement market than it did to the UAE, it is likely to face strong pressure to offer even deeper concessions in ongoing trade talks with the EU and possibly the US.

As annual procurement by the UK government from sources outside its territory and the EU has historically been very lowestimated to be less than 10 billionIndian exporters are unlikely to make any substantial export gains in the UK government procurement market.

Fifth, by recognizing that the preferable and optimal route to ensuring access to medicines is through voluntary licensing, India appears to have almost given up the possibility of using a provision for policy flexibility under the TRIPS Agreement at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to promote affordable healthcarecompulsory licensing.

Arguing that voluntary licensing is a Global best practiceas is being said in favour of the CETAs provisionwould support Big Pharmas attempts at preventing developing countries from using WTO -compliant provisions such as compulsory licensing. This also risks eroding Indias credibility as the voice of the Global South on international platforms related to health issues.

Also Read: India-UK trade pact: A new paradigm for the digital economy

Sixth, by agreeing to the broadly aligned template of developed countries on non-trade issues such as labour, environment and gender, Indias implementation of its domestic laws and regulations on these will be subject to monitoring and scrutiny by London through various committees under the CETAthis looks like a loss of sovereignty for no obvious gain.

These provisions could also open the door for more onerous and legally enforceable commitments in future trade agreements, including the imposition of trade sanctions for non-compliance. The fact that the CETA offers the UK extraordinary concessions on government procurement is a sombre reminder of what could happen on non-trade issues in Indias ongoing bilateral negotiations.

Overall, in the short-term, the India-UK CETA has the potential to lift Indias exports to the UK to about $4 billion each year, as estimated by the UK government. However, alarm bells may start ringing if some of the possible adverse impacts materialize.

These are the authors personal views.

The author is an expert on international trade issues.
The Sona Comstar dispute has once again brought to the fore the enduring clash between professional management and outdated promoter mindsets in some Indian companies. Many business families and promoters continue to treat listed companies as personal fiefdoms. This mindset, rooted in feudal control and family dominance, must give way to modern principles of governance and board-led decision-making.

Over the past few years, several companiesHikal, Godfrey Phillips India, Finolex Cables, and Raymondhave seen their business performance, investor confidence, and boardroom dynamics destabilized due to promoter or family disputes.

Also Read | The Godrej split holds valuable lessons for family businesses

These conflicts hurt minority shareholders, sap management bandwidth, and destroy wealth. The absence of formal succession planning and the refusal to separate ownership from management has become one of the biggest governance risks in Indian companies.

Sona Comstar conflict

Sona Comstar is a professionally run, board-led, publicly listed auto component manufacturer, with promoters holding a 28.02% stake through a company called Aureus Investment Private Ltd.

In June 2025, Sona faced the unexpected demise of its non-executive chairman, Sunjay Kapur. The company appointed independent director Jeffery Mark Overly as chairman, and Priya Sachdev Kapur, Sunjays wife, was brought on as a non-executive director.

What followed, however, was a storm of accusations from Sunjay Kapurs mother, Rani Kapur. Claiming she was entitled to a majority shareholding under her late husbands will, she accused the board of coercion, exclusion, and lack of transparency. She demanded that the companys AGM be postponed, alleging the board had acted against her interests.

The companys response was categorical: Rani Kapur had not held any shares in Sona Comstar since 2017 and had ceased to be a director on the board in 2019. All decisions, it said, had been taken lawfully, with shareholder approval where required. The AGM went ahead as scheduled, and the boards composition remained unchanged.

Also Read | Unravelling the Kapur family rift: Fault lines emerge from 2017

But the episode, playing out in the media, illustrates a troubling trend: promoters and their families continue to believe that personal ties entitle them to special treatment, even when they no longer hold legal ownership or managerial authority. This belief must be challenged if India is to protect the integrity of its capital markets.

A board-run company is not a family fiefdom

The moment a promoter or founder lists their company on a stock exchange, they must accept that the company is also owned by others. Governance must shift from lineage to corporate law. Shareholders, not family elders, are now the true owners. And the board of directors becomes the supreme decision-making body.

Promoters may continue to play an important role, but within clearly defined boundaries: they can nominate directors in proportion to their shareholding, vote at general meetings like any other shareholder, and offer strategic input when invited. What they cannot do is bypass the board, demand special privileges, or impose personal claims on company decisions.

The Sona Comstar dispute shows what happens when these lines are blurred: uncertainty, reputational damage, and a breakdown in governance.

Learning from others: The importance of succession planning

The Sona Comstar episode also underscores a long-standing weakness in Indian family-run enterprises: the failure to plan for succession and wealth transfer.

In many of the earlier cases mentioned, promoters delayed or avoided difficult conversations around wills, trusts, and inheritance, leading to chaos when a founder passes away.

Well-run companies institutionalize succession frameworks. Family-owned companies should create family charters, shareholder agreements, or trust structures to ensure clarity and continuity. This allows the business to function without being derailed by internal family strife.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India, to its credit, introduced new regulations in July 2023 requiring listed companies to disclose family settlement agreements. But in practice, disclosures have been patchy, vague, or purely procedural.

If promoters treat compliance as a formality rather than a commitment to transparency, these reforms will fail to deliver real accountability.

The boards role in insulating the company

Boards must now assume a more assertive role, not as passive overseers, but as active protectors of shareholder value and corporate integrity. In the face of promoter disputes, boards must ensure that professional management is insulated from family politics; that company funds are not misused to fight personal battles; that employee morale and operations remain unaffected; and that a full-time, independent CEO is empowered to make decisions based on merit and strategy.

Global and domestic institutional shareholders want evidence that a company is run by professionals and governed by law. Boards that fail to ring-fence management from promoter interference will face hard questions from shareholders, analysts, and regulators.

Disputes like the one at Sona Comstar do more than damage reputation, they erode investor trust and destroy value for all. They signal to the market that a company may not be ready to embrace the rigour of modern corporate governance.

Also Read | Family dispute erupts over shares of Mumbai's InterContinental Hotel

In contrast, promoters who act as stewards, offering vision, participating constructively through the board, and respecting professional autonomy, can continue to add immense value. Companies like Marico, Infosys, and Asian Paints exemplify this model, where promoters have stepped back from day-to-day operations while continuing to play a strategic role through the board.

Governance must trump legacy

The Sona Comstar dispute is a wake-up call: in business, the line between promoter influence and corporate governance must be clearly drawn and firmly enforced.

Families must formalize succession, make transparent disclosures, and relinquish informal power when their legal control ends. Boards must act independently, protect the companys interests, and prioritize professional management.

Regulators, like Sebi and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, must push for genuine, not symbolic, compliance. Ultimately, in a democracy of capital, only shareholding determines influence. Legacy may build a company, but governance is what keeps it standing.

The author is founder and MD, InGovern Research Services. Views are personal.
Israels cabinet voted to terminate the countrys attorney general, who it has been trying to oust for months, but the Supreme Court quickly issued an injunction to block the move pending a review of its legality.

Judge Noam Solberg said that process should take place no later than Sept. 4 and in the meantime the government must continue to work with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

The cabinets unanimous decision to fire her with immediate effect cited substantial and prolonged differences of opinion between her and the government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not take part in the vote to avoid a conflict of interest the attorney general oversees state prosecutors involved in his ongoing corruption trial.

Baharav Miara was appointed in 2022 by then-Justice Minister Gideon Saar, who now serves as Netanyahus foreign minister. He has since blamed her for turning against the government and preventing it from implementing its policies.

The Attorney General has drawn fire from Netanyahus government for insisting it abide by a court ruling that ends a decades long exemption for ultra Orthodox Jewish men from serving in the military, causing a rift between Netanyahu and some of his coalition partners.

She also thwarted his appointment of a new head of the Shin Bet security service after he removed the previous chief, arguing this was a conflict of interest because it was investigating his close aids over illegal ties with Qatar. They later agreed that the appointment would be delayed through mid-September.

Netanyahus opponents view the move to get rid of her as part of a wider attempt to shift more power to the executive branch.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Monday sought to know from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union government the timeline for reinstating Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

Abdullah's remarks come on the eve of six years since Article 370 of Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two union territories  Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Also, there has been a strong buzz over the centre planning something on the Jammu and Kashmir statehood, more so after PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the middle of the Monsoon Session of Parliament here on Sunday

Also Read | After PM Modi, Amit Shah meets President Murmu amid Parl logjam

The former chief minister held the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre to fulfil its promise and urged it to hold elections to Rajya Sabha seats and not deny people the right to speak about their problems.

"When are they going to return the statehood? They said that the minute you have elections and the government is formed, the statehood will be restored. What has happened to that? Now they are saying that they will hold elections in two vacant assembly seats, but what about elections to four seats in the Rajya Sabha? Why are they denying people the right to get to that house to speak of their problems?" Abdullah told ANI, reminding the Union government of its promise to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

Farooq is a three-time chief minister of the erstwhile state, a former Member of Parliament (MP) and ex-Union Minister.

Assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024.

Rahul, Omar's demand Farooqs son and Jammu and Kashmirs chief minister, Omar Abdullah, has long demanded statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, which the Union government has also promised.

On 6 June, Omar Abdullah raised the issue of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagging off of the maiden train to Kashmir.

On 13 January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Jammu and Kashmir, responded to Omar Abdullahs reminder to fulfil his promise to restore statehood to the union territory. The right things are going to happen at the right time, Modi said.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on 16 July wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to bring forward legislation to grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

We urge upon the Government to bring forward legislation in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to grant full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, read the letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the two Congress leaders.

Strong Buzz The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Tuesday will be the sixth anniversary of the decision. Incidentally, the Parliament session is also on.

"There is a lot of speculation about what may be announced tomorrow (5th Aug). The peace in Kashmir has come about at a great cost of human lives of security forces personnel and innocent civilians," Army veteran KJS Dhillon said in one of the posts on X.

"Let the whole thing settle down. Lets not jump the gun," he said.

Union Home Minister AmitShah called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Sunday. The meeting came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the President.

The reasons behind the subsequent meetings of the prime minister and the home minister with the President were not known, but these meetings fuelled buzz over some decision about statehood for Jammu and Kashmir

"Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan," the Rashtrapati Bhavan wrote on 'X'.
US President Donald Trump on Monday warned India of higher tariffs for buying Russian oil, drawing a spirited response from New Delhi. The development comes days after Trump declared 25% tariffs on Indian goods starting 7 August, plus an unspecified penalty for ties to Russia.

India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits," Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social. They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA," Trump said.

In response, New Delhi said the targeting of India was unjustified and unreasonable." Like any major economy, India would take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The United States itself continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear sector, palladium for EVs, fertilizers and chemicals from Russia," the ministry said.

The statement noted that Indias Russian oil purchases were driven by a need to secure affordable and reliable energy after traditional suppliers shifted exports to Europe at the start of the Ukraine conflict. At the time, the US had actively encouraged Indias oil imports from Russia to help stabilize global markets," it added.

Indias energy imports are aimed at ensuring price stability for domestic consumers, the ministry said, contrasting this with continuing trade between Russia and its critics. Unlike India, such trade is not a national compulsion for them," it said. The European Union, it said, recorded 67.5 billion worth of goods trade with Russia in 2024, while services trade stood at 17.2 billion in 2023. Europes LNG imports from Russia also hit a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing the previous peak of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022. EU-Russia trade also spans fertilizers, mining goods, chemicals, metals and machinery.

Trump's outburst came against the backdrop of trade talks between the two countries, which have slowed over allowing US firms access to India's dairy and agriculture markets. New Delhi is engaged with the US through talks on the bilateral trade agreement (BTA), an Indian government official said on the condition of anonymity. As per the present understanding between both sides, the next round of talk will begin on 25 August.

A trade analyst dismissed Trumps statement as misleading. India does not export crude oil, Russian or otherwise. It is a net importer," said Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a think tank. He added that India only exports refined fuels like diesel and jet fuel after processing crude, as do many other countries.

Indias oil imports from Russia have also declined recently. In May 2025, purchases fell 9.8% to $9.2 billion compared to a year ago, official data shows.

China, not India, is the largest buyer of Russian oil. In 2024, China imported $62.6 billion worth of Russian oil, compared to Indias $52.7 billion. Yet Trump has chosen not to criticize China, possibly due to geopolitical considerations, and has instead unfairly targeted India," Srivastava said.

Indias oil refineriescomprising both state-run and private-sector companiesoperate independently when sourcing crude oil. They do not require government approval to buy from Russia or any other country. These decisions are driven by commercial factors such as pricing, supply security, and export market regulations," he added.

In FY24, India exported about $70.1 billion worth of refined petroleum products globally. Europe emerged as the largest regional destination, with exports to the continent valued at $18.4 billion, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

The Netherlands alone accounted for about $10.9 billion, representing nearly 25% of Indias total petroleum product exports during this periodthe highest share among European countrieshighlighting its role as a key transit hub for Indian refined fuel entering the EU market.

This trend has triggered concerns among Western nations that Indias trade route could be serving as a backdoor for Russian oil entering the European market.

In FY 2025, the value of India's crude oil imports from Russia stood at about $50.3 billion, making it the largest supplier of crude to India, surpassing traditional sources like Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

India imported around 1.75 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil between January and June 2025, making it the top supplier in that period.

Mint reported on 2 August that India will continue to buy oil from Russia, notwithstanding the penal threat and public criticism from the US earlier this week. In fact, India is even reaping a bigger discount on these purchases.

State-owned refinersIndian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd (HPCL)are continuing to procure oil from Russian suppliers. Negotiations are also underway for fresh spot deals, as reported by Mint.

The last two or three cargoes have been booked at a discount of up to $3 a barrel, compared to about $1.7 in the earlier purchases, and it is likely to rise further, even if not significantly, after US President Donald Trump's censure of India for its Russian energy purchases, Mint reported. The discounts on Russian oil have narrowed down to single-digit from the high of around $30 per barrel in 2022.

India's state-run oil marketers are also in joint discussions with US firms to secure cooking gas supplies starting next year, signalling a potential deepening of energy ties. The companies are exploring long-term arrangements with American exporters.

India traditionally imports most of its LPG from West Asian countries including Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia through long-term contracts, while other major LPG importing countries source it from the US. The US so far has been supplying India LPG in small volumes through spot deals, and this is the first time the Indian companies may have a term deal with US suppliers. On the other hand, China has been a major buyer of LPG from the US.

In India, LPG is used primarily for residential cooking, followed by commercial and industrial purposes. India imported LPG worth $12.47 billion in FY25, 19.85% higher than $10.42 billion the previous year. According to Ken Research, as of December 2024, the Indian LPG market was valued at $15 billion, with growth backed by the government's emphasis on use of LPG for cooking purposes through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

As per a 31 July Goldman Sachs research report, Middle East accounts for a largest share of Indias crude oil imports, but after 2022, Russian supply has sharply went up to reach about a third of Indias crude oil imports in 2025, whereas US accounts for about 4% of Indias crude oil supply. The increase in Russian oil supply happened after the Russia-Ukraine wars commencement.
Since the rise of ChatGPT and other generative AI chatbots, there has been a growing anxiety about how the new technology could impact the job market. While there have been various warnings from tech leaders that AI will lead to widespread job loss and perhaps even an upending of the economy as we know it, there hasn't been a lot of evidence to suggest that such a large-scale action has happened until now.

Also Read | Google DeepMind CEO explains why AI could replace doctors but not nurses

AI-linked layoffs cross 27,000 since 2023, report finds A new report by CBS News has now revealed that the adoption of generative AI is already leading to thousands of job cuts in the US.

The publication, while citing a report released by Challenger, Gray and Christmas, stated that AI led to more than 10,000 job cuts in July in the United States.

It noted that there have been over 27,000 job cuts since 2023 that can be directly linked to the advent of artificial intelligence.

Who is getting most impacted by AI? The report states that the impact of AI on hiring is most visible among younger workers, with entry-level corporate roles available to college graduates declining by over 15% in the past year. Meanwhile, there has been a 400% increase over the last two years in employees using AI in their job descriptions.

"The industry is being reshaped by the advancement of artificial intelligence and ongoing uncertainty surrounding work visas, which have contributed to workforce reductions," Challenger, Gray & Christmas said.

Many previous reports have hinted that white-collar jobs are most at risk of being eliminated by AI.

In a report last month quoted by NBC, Andrew Challenger, senior vice president at the company, said, There are roles that can be significantly changed by AI right now, but Im not talking to too many HR leaders who say AI is replacing jobs.

Last month, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy had also stated that AI would lead to a reduction in the company's total corporate workforce as it derives efficiency gains from the new technology.
Apple may be one of the most profitable companies on the planet but the tech giant has struggled to get its AI initiatives going while rivals like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic have been taking over the market. After a long delay, Apple finally announced its artificial intelligence features dubbed Apple Intelligence at the WWDC conference last year but it would be an understatement to say that things have not gone according to the company's plans.

Also Read | Google DeepMind CEO explains why AI could replace doctors but not nurses

Not only has its much-awaited Siri revamp been delayed for months, several other AI features have run into controversies for being inaccurate and generally less effective than those offered on rival devices such as Google's Pixel and Samsung's Galaxy series.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, however, is in no mood to back down from the AI race and he reportedly told his employees earlier in the month that AI could be as big as the internet and Apple is in it to win this battle.

Soon after that, we have a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that states that Apple is now working on a stripped-down version of ChatGPT with search capabilities. What's interesting is that Apple has previously dismissed the need for a chatbot, arguing that there is limited consumer interest for that experience.

Currently, Siri has the ability to turn to ChatGPT for answering difficult questions. The company has also previously hinted at the possibility of talking to other AI-based search providers like Perplexity to provide a new experience to its users. However, if Gurman is to be believed, Apple is now going in the direction of building its own chatbot experience catered for search.

Apple to build ChatGPT like chatbot: Reportedly, Apple formed a new team called Answers, Knowledge and Information, or AKI, earlier in the year with the goal of creating a ChatGPT-like search experience. The team is led by Robby Walker, a senior director at the iPhone maker who reports directly to AI Chief John Giannandrea.

Walker was previously tasked with overseeing the development of Siri but had lost those responsibilities after numerous delays in rolling out an AI-powered version of the voice assistant. Apart from Walker, several other key members of the Siri team have also joined the AKI team to develop an answer engine.

While the work is still in its early stages, the report notes that the answer engine will be a system capable of crawling the web in order to respond to general knowledge questions. Meanwhile, a standalone app for this new tool is under exploration along with back-end infrastructure that will be needed to power these capabilities in the future versions of Siri, Spotlight and Safari.
As artificial intelligence systems get better with each passing day, there is growing concern that the jobs held by humans could soon be replaced by these new tools. In the last few weeks alone, we've had Amazon CEO Andy Jassy saying that AI will reduce the company's workforce in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also delivered a similar warning during an interview last month when he said, Everybodys jobs will be affected. Some jobs will be lost. Many jobs will be created and what I hope is that the productivity gains that we see in all the industries will lift society.

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis is at the forefront of this AI revolution and believes artificial intelligence is an additive force at the moment, and the real change in job scenarios could happen in the next five to ten years. Hassabis also states in an interaction with Wired that new jobs would be created due to artificial intelligence.

I think there's gonna be a lot of change with the jobs world, but I think as in the past, what generally tends to happen is new jobs are created that are actually better, that utilize these tools or new technologies, Hassabis told Wired.

Demis Hassabis explains why AI can replace doctors but not nurses During the interaction, Hassabis was also asked whether AGI or artificial general intelligence (AI systems that can perform every task humans do) will be able to do every job that humans do at the moment, then what will stop the technology from replacing these new jobs that he talks about.

Hassabis then goes on to give the example of how AI could potentially replace a doctor but not nurses because the latter's job involves a lot of human empathy.

There's a lot of things I think we won't want to do with a machine, Hassabis told the publication.

"You know, I sometimes give this example of doctors and nurses. Maybe a doctor and what the doctor does and the diagnosis, one could imagine that being helped by AI tool or even having an AI kind of doctor," he added.
WhatsApp removed more than 98 lakh accounts in India during the month of June as part of its ongoing efforts to tackle misuse and harmful behaviour on the platform, according to the companys latest compliance report.

The Meta-owned messaging service disclosed that around 19.79 lakh of these accounts were banned proactively, without waiting for user reports, based on internal abuse detection mechanisms.

Published in line with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the June report outlines actions taken by WhatsApp to curb violations originating from India. The platform received a total of 23,596 user complaints during the period, with action taken against 1,001 accounts. These actions included banning accounts or reversing previous bans following a review.

Out of the total complaints, 16,069 were appeals related to account bans. Following assessments, action was taken on 756 of these cases. The remaining complaints spanned categories such as account assistance, safety-related concerns, and product feedback.

WhatsApp emphasised that it considers it more effective to prevent harmful behaviour in advance rather than respond after the fact. The platforms abuse detection systems operate at multiple levels, during account registration, while messages are being sent, and in response to user feedback or behavioural patterns flagged internally.

Meanwhile, in other news, Italys antitrust regulator has launched a formal investigation into Meta Platforms over claims that it misused its market dominance by integrating its artificial intelligence tool into WhatsApp without securing user consent.

The Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) announced last week that the probe focuses on potential breaches of European Union competition laws. It alleges that Metas integration of its AI assistant into WhatsApp, introduced in March 2025, may have disadvantaged rival services by directing users toward its own tools.
Whitfield County and Dalton officials are urging residents to stay home if possible after heavy rains parked over the area Saturday evening.

Many roadways flooded, and the emergency management team said in a Facebook post that they oversaw several water rescues from submerged cars and homes.

The following streets were partially or temporarily closed:

Dug Gap Road in the area of Coffey Drive to Hackney Drive has been reduced to one lane due to the roadway flooding.

Pleasant Grove

Reed Pond between Reed and Poplar Springs

Legion Drive

Old Grade Rd at the Bypass

Willowdale Road at Kimberly Park drive

Willowdale Road at Chattanooga Road.Water is being reported to be up to car windows.

Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. by Roan school.

North Oaks Subdivision

Underwood Road in area of Phoenix Place

Glenwood Avenue and Legion Drive

Veterans Drive

Centennial Parkway at Autumn Court

Conway Street at Spruce Street

Needham Drive

Dispatchers received calls about several other impassable roadways which have now cleared.

The water continues lowering but police still recommend traveling with caution if it is absolutely necessary to be out.

If you have to be out traveling, be the dalton difference, put your phone down, reduce your speed, and wear your safety belt, Dalton PD said in a Facebook post. If you see water across the roadway, turn around and dont drown.
Bennie Clay sits on March 4, 2025, with a photo of his wife, Angela Clay, and their daughters, Latoya, 9, and Lakeisha, 6, who were killed in 1988 by Byron Lewis Black.
UPDATE: Police in Jackson, TN, have caught 28-year-old Austin Drummond after a multiple-day manhunt.

Drummond is the man suspected of killing four people; the parents, grandmother and uncle of an infant who was found alone and abandoned in Dyer County last week.

Jackson police issued a shelter in place order for residents along Bridlepath Drive and Saddlebrook Drive on Tuesday morning, according to Nashville NBC affiliate WSMV4.

Drummond was sought for the deaths of James Wilson, Adrianna Williams, Cortney Rose, and Braydon Williams in Tiptonville, Tennessee, near Reelfoot Lake on Tuesday, July 29.

Police and TBI agents obtained warrants for murder, aggravated kidnapping, and other related charges for Drummond.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation already charged Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. A Jackson woman, Dearrah Sanders, was arrested Monday and charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

PREVIOUS STORY: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents have arrested a third person in the ongoing fugitive search for the suspect wanted in connection to the quadruple murder in Tiptonville.

Authorities said they found the car they believe Drummond had been driving, located in Jackson, TN, about 70 miles from where the bodies were discovered and some 40 miles from where a baby was left behind, but still alive.

A Jackson woman, Dearrah Sanders, has been arrested and charged with Accessory After the Fact to First Degree Murder.

TBI special agents continue their investigation of the deaths of four people on July 29 along Carrington Road in Tiptonville.

Austin Drummond, who has not yet been found, faces charges of four counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Kidnapping, four counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony.

Also charged in connection with this case are 29-year-old Tanaka Brown and 29-year-old Giovonti Thomas, both charged with Accessory After the Fact to 1st Degree Murder. Brown is also facing a charge of Tampering with Evidence.

Drummond remains at large, and should be considered armed and dangerous

If you have seen him or have information, you are asked to call 731-415-7962, 731-333-0811, or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

PREVIOUS STORY: TIPTONVILLE, TN (AP)  Authorities searching for a man wanted in the murders of the parents, grandmother and uncle of an infant found alone and alive in Tennessee have charged two other men in connection with the killings.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation charged Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Investigators allege both men assisted 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond in the murders.

Authorities have left many questions unanswered, including how the men allegedly helped Drummond, the manner in which the relatives were killed and how the baby ended up in a car seat in the Tigrett area, roughly 40 miles (64.37 kilometers) from the bodies.

Suspect identified in killings of abandoned Tennessee babys relatives, authorities say Austin Robert Drummond, 28, is wanted in connection with the deaths of four people, whose bodies were found Tuesday in Tiptonville, the TBI said.

Law enforcement officers were still searching for Drummond.

He should be considered armed and dangerous, the bureau said in a Saturday news release announcing charges against Thomas. Brown, who also faces one count of tampering with evidence, was arrested a day earlier.

Thomas was in custody at the Madison County Jail on an unrelated charge and was set to be transferred to the Lake County Jail to be arraigned on the new charges, authorities said.

Brown was booked into Lake County Jail, according to authorities. Telephone numbers for Thomas and Brown could not be located Sunday. Email messages seeking comment were sent to Brown.

On Friday, authorities said they found the car they believe Drummond had been driving. It was located in Jackson, Tennessee, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) from where the bodies were discovered and some 40 miles from where the baby was left.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch said authorities believe the family murders were a targeted attack by Drummond, who had a relationship with the victims. The baby is safe and being cared for, authorities have said.

Associates of suspect in killings of abandoned Tennessee babys relatives arrested, authorities say (CNN)  The man authorities allege killed four relatives of a Tennessee baby found abandoned alive remains at large but two other men have bee

Officials obtained warrants for Drummond that charge him with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses. His criminal history includes prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening to go after jurors. He was also charged with attempted murder while behind bars.

No listed for number for Drummond could be found. An attorney who represented him as a teenager has not returned messages from The Associated Press.

Authorities have identified the four people found dead in Tiptonville as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.

Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the parents of the infant who was found abandoned. Rose was Adrianna and Braydon Williams mother.
Santa Comes Early This Year! Turbine Delivering 'Bumblebee' 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' & 'Sing 2' to 3D Blu-ray on December 19th
Fr Vincent Vinny Connaughton celebrated his 40th anniversary at the Parish of St Mel in Flushing New York last weekend.

He wrote about how he used to work there and helped some years ago, but continues to visit whenever he is able.

The Pastor Fr Joe Fonti was said to have wanted to do this for Fr Vinny, the parish priest for Legan, Ballycloghan, Moydow and Ardagh, to recognise his efforts.

READ NEXT: North Longford area celebrates historic Twinning connection with French town as new friendships formed

Also in attendance were: Bishop Chappetto, Fr Joe Fonti Pastor, Msgr. Kevin Noone, Deacon Joe and Fr Vinny himself, who have travelled over for the occasion.

Fr Vinny celebrated the Ruby Jubilee (40th anniversary) of his ordination at a special Parish Mass in St Brigids Church, Ardagh at on Sunday, June 15.

In 1985, Fr Vinny was ordained and worked in two Athlone schools, calling it a great experience in the young ministry to be working with young people.

READ NEXT: Longford man jailed for steel bar assault following altercation in pub over plumbing job

In Longford, he has also had a long-term advocacy for houses for homeless men and women for domestic violence while at St. Mels Cathedral. Seven years ago, he came to Ardagh.
A woman who was homeless in Kildare for years says the kindness of a shop owner she did not know saved her life.

Antoinette Foley, who is recovering from addiction to heroin and crack cocaine, has urged people not to make assumptions about people who are sleeping rough.

She was sleeping in a tent in a car park near the River Barrow in 2021 when she asked a nearby shop owner, James Mahon, if he had any spare change.

He reached into his pocket, gave her a fiver and she thanked him.

A few days later he came to her tent to ask if she would take part in a photography exhibition he was doing, sparking a friendship that would culminate in Ms Foley being housed and recovering from addiction.

Mr Mahon, an amateur photographer, now has an exhibition of photos taken of Ms Foley in the Art House gallery in Athy. He also released a book this year about Ms Foleys story called The Hawk Against The Dove: Addiction In Small-Town Ireland.

Ms Foley said she is telling her story for her own childrens sake, and in order to help inform others about the dangers of drugs.

A settled Traveller, she said she got into drugs after a boyfriend gave her heroin, when she did not know what it was, to help ease a toothache.

She said it was hard for her to trust Mr Mahon at first and he tried to help her several times.

She had been used and abused over the years so she was wondering whats he after?' Mr Mahon said.

We used the photography, really, as a way of communicating and of building up that friendship.

Ms Foley said: I was like death alive basically, a lost soul.

People just looked at a girl sitting with a cup, they just looked at a tent. They didnt know what was going on, they didnt know the story.

Dont judge a book by its cover, and dont look down on anyone unless youre giving them your hand to help them up.

She added: There was photos there that James didnt want to take, and I begged him to take them because I wanted youngsters to see what can happen to them.

Mr Mahon said she reduced her heroin use substantially by December 2023 with the help of daily visits to a methadone clinic, before going completely clean.

Mr Mahon said drug addiction in a small town is harder to hide than in a city, and Ms Foley used to beg outside the local Aldi with a torn coffee cup on a daily basis.

This story played out so much in public, the tent was right opposite the parish church, right beside the secondary school, beside a car park where the parents would come and collect the children, so that anybody could see it, he said.

She came here and she was in Athy with three hooks on her back that people could hang their prejudice and their preconceived ideas: she was living rough, she was suffering from substance abuse addiction, and she was a Traveller.

When this project started, it wouldnt have been the most popular, I was nearly seen to be encouraging her.

It was covered over a four-year period. In the first couple of years of that, I could see things were improving and you could sense that it was improving. From the outside, the behaviour was the same.

Asked whether many shop owners would have had his reaction to someone sleeping rough near his shop, he said: You cant stand back and look at something unfolding without being touched by it. Theres a human being there.

He said she came into the shop for a cup of tea and to talk, and it served as a refuge and a safe space for her.

It was great to be able to offer that, he said.

Sometimes youve got to go beyond having those thoughts of pity and youve got to do something concrete, youve got to go and hold out a hand of friendship and say come on.

Ms Foley said: I look at James like a second father, adding that her life is a million times better now.

She added: There was mornings I woke up in that tent and I could pull the ice off from the inside of it like tiles. James used to fill my flask with boiling water in his shop so I could make tea in the tent. I would have been dead only for this man.

This man woke at five oclock every morning to bring me in hot water bottles.

There was times he should have walked away from me, and from that day he handed me that fiver until now, no-one will ever get between us, because I looked at him like a father, and he always treated me like a daughter.
Crime

By Long Island Published: August 03 2025

As part of her plea agreement, Li agreed to forfeit $31.5 million, as well as property at three locations.

Earlier this week, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Sherry Xue Li pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the United States by obstructing the Federal Election Commissions (FECs) administration of campaign finance laws. Li orchestrated a nearly decade-long scheme to defraud investors in a fictitious development project out of more than $30 million. As part of the scheme, Li and her co-defendant Lianbo Wang falsely promised those investors that their investments would guarantee them lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Li and Wang also sold foreign investors access to U.S. politicians at fundraisers by collecting foreign-sourced funds from them and unlawfully contributing those funds to U.S. political campaigns and committees. When sentenced, Li faces up to 20 years in prison. As part of her plea agreement, Li agreed to forfeit $31.5 million, as well as property at three locations. In 2024, Wang pleaded guilty to engaging in unlawful monetary transactions and conspiracy to defraud the United States, and was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI New York) announced the guilty plea.

Li defrauded more than 150 victims in the United States and abroad through years of lies and deception and sought to profit by selling access to the democratic process, stated United States Attorney Nocella. In doing so, she attempted to corrupt a fundamental institution in this countryfair and transparent elections free from unlawful foreign influence. Our Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting predatory fraudsters who steal victims hard-earned money.

Sherry Li admitted to her role in a long running fraud, profiting off of the exploitation of our nation's political and immigration system, stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. Li's corrupt scheme may have led to initial profits but ultimately will result in the loss of her freedom. The FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable any malicious actor attempting to manipulate the electoral or immigration process of the United States for personal gain.

Sherry Lis guilty plea today demonstrates HSI New Yorks commitment to dismantling transnational schemes that try to exploit our immigration and financial laws. Irrespective of the deceitful, and oftentimes creative methodologies that fraudsters pose to unwitting victims, we will ensure they do not take advantage of our laws that are made to protect individuals and entities from swindlers, stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Patel.

Lis victims thought that they were investing in the American dream, but instead were left in a nightmare of fraud and deceit, stated IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Chavis. While she pocketed the money and traveled on lavish vacations, not one EB-5 or stock investor received what they were promised in return for their backing. Now, with todays plea, she will finally move forward in facing the consequences of her selfish acts, said Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York.

The Scheme to Defraud Investors

Li and Wang defrauded investors in a fictitious development project in Sullivan County, New York called the Thompson Education Center (TEC) (the TEC Project) out of more than $30 million. Many of the victims were foreign nationals located in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) who were persuaded to invest in the project by the defendants false assurances that their $500,000 investments would guarantee them lawful permanent residence in the United States through the EB-5 investment visa program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The defendants falsely represented the progress they were making on the project and its support from government officials. The defendants distributed promotional materials that contained photographs of Li with prominent U.S. politicians to falsely convey government support for the project.

Li and Wang siphoned off the money they fraudulently obtained from investors by transferring the funds through bank accounts held in the names of various companies that Li had created. Once the funds were in those accounts, Li and Wang used the funds to pay for personal expenses including clothing, jewelry, housing, vacation travel, upscale dining, and political contributions to prominent politicians. The portion of the invested capital Li and Wang actually spent on the TEC Project was used merely to create and perpetuate the fiction that the TEC Project was a viable development project that was actually under construction. For example, Li and Wang hired contractors, engineers, and other professionals to create architectural drawings and plans and perform minor work on or around the development site, which Li and Wang showed to potential investors to mislead them into believing the TEC Project had a realistic probability of completion and of delivering the returns on investment that the co-conspirators promised their investors.

Ultimately, more than 150 investors invested at least $31.5 million in the TEC Project, including approximately $16.5 million from EB-5 investors who were promised green cards in return for their investments, and approximately $15 million from stock investors who were promised that an initial public offering (IPO) would take place. No EB-5 investor in the TEC Project ever received a temporary or permanent green card and the TEC Project did not have an IPO or list on any stock exchange.

Selling Access to U.S. Politicians

In furtherance of their scheme, Li and Wang also acted as straw donors for foreign nationals to unlawfully contribute to campaigns supporting U.S. politicians and political committees. Li and Wang promised foreign nationals access to U.S. political events and politicians in exchange for a fee. Li and Wang used the money they received from foreign nationals to fund political contributions, and falsely identified themselves and other U.S. citizens as the contributors of the funds, in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and FEC regulations. In some cases, Li and Wang used TEC investors investment funds to make the political contributions which they used to gain access to the political events, where Li and Wang took photographs with elected officials. Li and Wang would then use the photographs as a marketing tool in soliciting investments from foreign nationals in the TEC Project.

For example, as alleged in the complaint, Li and Wang charged 12 foreign nationals $93,000 per person for admission to a June 28, 2017 fundraising event (the June 28, 2017 Fundraiser) with the then-President of the United States. Li and Wang used the funds that they collected from the foreign nationals to unlawfully make $600,000 in political contributions in their own names$270,500 from Li and $329,500 from Wangto the joint fundraising committee hosting the June 28, 2017 Fundraiser. At the time they made these contributions, they were the largest contributors to the joint fundraising committee, which was unaware of the charged schemes. Li, Wang, and their foreign national guests attended the June 28, 2017 Fundraiser and took photographs with the then-President of the United States. Li and Wang later used a photograph of Li and the President taken at the June 28, 2017 Fundraiser to solicit investments in the TEC Project.

The governments case is being handled by the Offices National Security and Cybercrime and Public Integrity Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Reich and Meredith A. Arfa are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Magdalena St. Surin and Rebecca Roth. Assistant United States Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Offices Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: August 04 2025

One of the events highlights was the presence of Long Island Cares Farm Truck which distributed fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, and other food available to attendees.

Recently, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay hosted a Veterans Resource Fair alongside Long Island Cares at Concern for Independent Living in Port Jefferson Station. The resource fair was open to the public and featured dozens of nonprofits, governmental agencies, and local VFWs, American Legions, and Womens Auxiliary organizations, who provided resources and support to local veterans and their families. One of the events highlights was the presence of Long Island Cares Farm Truck which distributed fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, and other food available to attendees.

Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay shared, I am grateful for the collaboration between my office, Long Island Cares, Concern for Independent Living, and all the nonprofits and organizations who participated at the veterans resource fair this past weekend. It was a joy to greet over 125 veterans and family members, celebrating their service with fresh food from Long Island Cares mobile Farm Truck, and connecting them with resources to support medical care, mental health, housing access, career building, benefits applications, and community involvement. It is an honor to give back to those who have given us so much.

Long Island Cares Veteran Outreach Coordinator Justin Berbig stated, Saturday was an amazing event, it is an honor to serve Long Islands Veterans. Having 25 organizations come together to make sure our veterans are getting access to the benefits they are entitled to goes hand in hand with providing them with nutritional food from Long Island Cares. Partnering with Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay and Concern for Independent Living was an absolute pleasure.

Concern Housing Program Supervisor Michael Sciulara shared, It was a truly fulfilling day for Liberty Station and Concern Housing. It is our goal to serve the local community and broader veterans' community. We were grateful for the opportunity to have done so with such wonderful people from Assembly Woman Kassay, her team and Long Island Cares.

Post Commander for VFW Post 4927 Jim McCann stated, I was very pleased to see the number of organizations and entities that attended this Veterans Resource Fair. It is nice to see the community rally to assist Veterans on Long Island. I would also like to thank Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay for her continued support to us.

Post Commander for VFW Post 3054 Leon Schoemmell stated, VFW Post 3054 is honored to be a part of such a great community event that welcomes Veterans from all ages. As a Veteran support organization, it is our mission to support all of our fellow brothers and sisters in arms.

Organizations offering resources at Saturdays fair included New York States Veterans Services and Department of Public Service, Suffolk Countys Office for People with Disabilities and Veterans Services Agency, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Association for Mental Health and Wellness, Beacon House, CN Guidance, Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, PSEG, Long Island Military Vehicle Club with vehicles and volunteers, Nassau Vet Center, Paws of War, Northport VA, Services for the Underserved, Wounded Warrior Project, and Youth Enrichment Services. Veterans and their families are invited to reach out to Assemblywoman Kassays office at 631-751-3094 for more information about these or any other programs or concerns.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: August 04 2025

U.S. News & World Reports Best Hospitals 2025-26 rankings highlight seven Northwell hospitals among the best in New York; 26 adult specialties rated among top 50 nationally.

Northwell Health is the most awarded health system in the New York tri-state area five years in a row*, according to the latest U.S. News & World Reports 2025-26 Best Hospitals rankings. Seven hospitals ranked among the best in New York state and four  North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset, Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and Glen Cove Hospital  combined to earn top 50 national rankings in 26 adult specialties.

NSUH, LIJ and Lenox each tied for the fifth best hospital in New York, while Huntington Hospital tied for 15th and South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore ranked 17th. Staten Island University Hospital tied for No. 19 along with Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, formerly part of Nuvance Health, which recently joined Northwell. The merger, completed in May, created the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast with 28 hospitals, more than 1,050 ambulatory care and 73 urgent care locations.

World-class patient care is central to Northwell Healths mission, so it is rewarding to see the hard work of our team members validated by such a strong showing in the U.S. News Best Hospitals list, said Michael Dowling , Northwells president and CEO. Northwell is constantly evolving, whether it is bringing in exceptional talent, the latest technologies, exciting therapies or even new hospitals, as we recently did when Nuvance Health joined our health system. All of this fuels the health system to greater heights with the ultimate goals of best outcomes and outstanding patient experience.

NSUH, a Magnet-recognized hospital which treats more than 90,000 patients each year, is home to the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital , the Katz Womens Hospital , Northwell Transplant Institute , neurosurgery and is one of the busiest emergency departments in the region. It was nationally ranked by U.S. News in 10 adult specialties: Orthopedics (7th), diabetes and endocrinology (12th), pulmonology and lung surgery (15th), cardiology, heart and vascular (19th), urology (20th), geriatrics (22nd), neurology and neurosurgery (22nd), gastroenterology and GI surgery (27th), cancer (34th) and obstetrics and gynecology (45th).

LIJ, a Magnet-recognized hospital which treats more than 80,000 patients each year, is home to the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Hospital , the Katz Womens Hospital and one of New York Citys top emergency departments. LIJ has nine clinical specialties ranked in the top 50 nationally by U.S. News: Diabetes and endocrinology (17th), obstetrics and gynecology (22nd), orthopedics (22nd), neurology and neurosurgery (24th), ear, nose, and throat (30th), geriatrics (32nd), urology (38th), gastroenterology and GI surgery (44th) and pulmonology and lung surgery (45th).

Lenox Hill, a Magnet-recognized hospital which treats more than 144,000 patients each year. U.S. News rated Lenox nationally in six specialties: Cardiology, heart and vascular (16th), geriatrics (30th), pulmonology and lung surgery (36th), neurology and neurosurgery (44th), ear, nose and throat (46th) and urology (48th).

Glen Cove, a highly-regarded community hospital, earned its best-ever national ranking for rehabilitation at No. 18. It is home to both acute inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient programs.

These recognitions by U.S. News are a powerful validation of our commitment to excellence across the health systems entire continuum of care, said Jill Kalman, MD , executive vice president, chief medical officer and deputy physician-in-chief at Northwell. They reflect the extraordinary talent and dedication of our physicians, nurses and staff as well as our relentless focus on delivering exceptional outcomes, advancing health equity and elevating the patient experience.

Northwell was recently named a TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025. As New Yorks largest health care provider and private employer, Northwell was the only integrated health system to make the list. In addition, Fortune magazine named Northwell one of the 2024 Best Places to Work in Healthcare while the system was named a national leader in LGBTQ+ inclusiveness by the 2024 Healthcare Equality Index , compiled by the Human Rights Campaign.

This marks the 36th anniversary of U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings. Its methodologies in most areas of care are based largely on objective measures such as risk-adjusted survival and discharge-to-home rates, volume, and quality of nursing, among other care-related indicators. U.S. News evaluated nearly 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 15 specialties to compile its 2025-26 rankings. Only 152 U.S. hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty.

When U.S. News released its analysis of the nations best childrens hospitals in 2024, Northwells Cohen Childrens Medical Center in New Hyde Park was highest ranked on Long Island and earned top 50 national rankings for exceptional care in 10 pediatric specialties.

Visit U.S. News website for the full Best Hospitals 2025-26 rankings .

About Northwell Health

Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York States largest private employer with over 104,000 employees  including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners and Nuvance Health Medical Practices  who are working to change health care for the better. Northwell, named a TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025, is making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Northwell is training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook , X , Instagram and LinkedIn .

* Claim based on U.S. News & World Reports 2025-26 Best Hospitals list. NSUH was ranked in 10 specialties; LIJ ranked in nine specialties; Lenox Hill ranked in six specialties; and Glen Cove ranked in one specialty. Prior claims based on U.S. News & World Reports (USNWR) Best Hospitals rankings 2021-2025. USNWR HDI data and health system delineated by American Hospital Association Surveys 2018-2023.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 09: Jeannie Seely attends the 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) FilmMagic

Country music star Jeannie Seely has died at the age of 85.

The country legend, dubbed Miss Country Soul, died Friday, Aug. 1, at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, as a result of complications from an intestinal infection, according to People.

Seely had been battling health issues in 2025. She revealed in May that she was recovering from multiple back surgeries and two emergency abdominal surgeries.

The artist also spent nearly two weeks in the ICU and battled pneumonia on top of it.

Seely began performing on local radio at age 11. After high school, she worked as a stenographer until she moved to California in 1961, People reported. She worked at a bank, but feeling called to music, she got a job as a secretary at Imperial Records.

Seely has since been a staple in country music since the 1960s. She is best known for her Grammy-winning 1966 hit Dont Touch Me.

Her other most successful songs include A Wanderin Man, Ill Love You More (Than Youll Need), Can I Sleep in Your Arms and Lucky Ladies. Seely also famously collaborated with Jack Greene in the late 1960s, producing the hit single Wish I Didnt Have to Miss You.

Seely was the first woman to host the Grand Ole Opry and shes appeared on the program more times than any other performer over nearly 60 years.
Matt Rife arrives at the premiere of "The Accountant 2" on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The comedian Matt Rife took to social media over the weekend to announce that he and YouTuber Elton Castee were now the owners of the Ed and Lorraine Warren home and occult museum in Connecticut.

In an Instagram video, Rife said he and Castee now owned the home and museum and, as a result, became the legal guardians of hundreds of haunted artifacts and items at the home and museum, including Annabelle the doll. A rep for Rife told People Magazine the purchase was legit.

If you follow ghost stuff, this is about as big as it gets, the comedian said.

While he and Castee own the property, they dont own the items, Rife clarified. He added that the pair would be the legal guardians and caretakers of the items for at least the next five years.

What this means for you guys is you are going to soon be able to book a night, or a weekend, and stay at the Warrens house and investigate the house and the history of the house, as well as the museum and all the artifacts inside of it, Rife said. This is the most random hobby ever, but its so [expletive] cool, man.

I should probably collect stamps or something. Might be a little safer, he added.

Both the Warrens and Annabelle have been the subject of several films, including the Conjuring franchise.

Its not the first time Rife and Castee have shown interest in getting their hands on paranormal history.

Earlier this year, Castee spoke to Burrillville Town Manager Michael Wood about the possibility of buying the Conjuring House, the Providence Journal reported.

If you know me, you know Im obsessed with the paranormal and all things haunted, Rife wrote on Instagram.
Meghan Braley appears in Berkshire Superior Court on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, for an arraignment. Luis Fieldman

Two women charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a childs drowning in Great Barrington last summer appeared in court on Monday afternoon for their arraignments.

Linda Whitacre, 68, and Meghan Braley, 30, appeared in Berkshire County Superior Court for brief hearings as Judge John Agostini entered not guilty pleas for each.

Attorneys for both women requested to waive a reading of the charges and the prosecution did not delve into the details of the case.

The prosecution did not ask for the women to be held on bail.

Joshua Hochberg, an attorney for Braley, said that she lives in West Virginia and agreed that his client would keep the court informed if her address or contact information changes as part of her conditions of release.

Whitacre worked as a program coordinator for a Pittsfield Public School summer program when 12-year-old Giver Essien died while on a field trip on July 17, 2024. Braley worked as a site supervisor at the time for Herberg Middle Schools 21st Century summer program.

The Pittsfield Public School website listed Whitacre as an interim 21st Century Grant coordinator on Monday.

Linda Whitacre in Berkshire Superior Court on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, for an arraignment. Luis Fieldman

The two women were indicted on three counts: involuntary manslaughter, permitting serious bodily injury of a child and reckless endangerment of a child.

Warnings laughed off

Berkshire County District Attorney Timothy Shugrue announced the indictments in late June at a press conference, and said the charges were brought due to the two womens reckless conduct related to the field trip.

Essien could not swim, and field trip staff were warned that she could not swim, yet she was allowed to enter the waters of Benedict Pond at the Beartown State Forest, Shugrue previously said.

A photograph showed Giver in the water at 12:48 p.m.  although students warned the field trip staff she could not swim, Shugrue said.

Those warnings were laughed off by Braley, Shugrue said.

When students were loaded on the bus between 1:30 p.m. and 1:42 p.m., staff realized Giver was missing. By 1:58 p.m., she was pulled out of the water, Shugrue said.

An obituary for Giver identified her as EarlGiver and said she died days before her 13th birthday.

Alarmingly, children who could not swim were allowed into the water, and life jackets or flotation devices were not available to staff nor the children, Shugrue said.

The investigation revealed that at least three children alerted a supervisor that Giver was unable to swim and that shed gone underwater, Shugrue said.

Braley worked as a site supervisor on the day of the field trip; Whitacre did not physically attend. Authorities still brought charges against Whitacre due to her supervisory role.

They were in charge of this program, Shugrue said of Whitacre. They set up the whole event.

A search for Giver

The child went unaccounted for 70 minutes after the group of 35 children returned to their bus after going swimming.

A search for Giver followed in the dressing rooms, the bathrooms and outside of the pond area. Then a call was placed to Givers father to ask if shed returned to Pittsfield  Which was ludicrous, Shugrue said.

There was no way you could physically get that child from Beartown State Forest to Pittsfield to her home in that period of time, Shugrue said.

Eventually, another educator from the Pittsfield School Department conducted a search in the lake by swimming in a grid pattern until she found Giver in the water.

First responders were on scene by that point and performed CPR for more than half an hour, Shugrue said.

There were six adult staff, three student interns and a student lifeguard at the field trip, according to district attorney spokesperson Julia Sabourin.

The district attorney noted that Givers parents signed a permission slip for the field trip, but that it did not mention any swimming planned. It also did not include any type of safety plan.

A preventable tragedy

Shugrue said that drowning is the leading cause of death for children and that laws  such as Christians Law and other Department of Public Health regulations  exist and require certified instructors, swim tests, personal flotation devices, group assignments based on swimming ability, and systems to identify non-swimmers.

A permit pulled for the field trip stated that there would be 25 students, but more than 35 attended, the district attorneys office said. Although there was a single lifeguard, there needed to be at least two, given the size of the group, Shugrue said.

Shortly before Givers death, Shugrue said he addressed water safety with other city officials.

Less than one month later, this tragedy occurred, Shugrue said. It could have been prevented. Giver should still be alive.

Both womens next hearings were scheduled for Dec. 8.
A Boston man was arrested last week after he tried to put a chemical-soaked handkerchief over the mouth of a 14-year-old boy on the street in Roxbury, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office.

Dorchester resident Willie Cowart, 69, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident during his arraignment in Roxbury District Court on July 29, according to court records.

On July 28, Boston and MBTA police responded to a report of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon near Dudley and Washington Streets in Roxbury shortly after 12:20 p.m., the district attorneys office said in a press release Monday.

Officers spoke to the victim, who told them he was waiting for his brother to pick him up when an older man wearing a Hawaiian shirt came over to him, poured an unknown liquid on a red handkerchief and tried to put the handkerchief over his mouth, the district attorneys office said. The victim fled to the Nubian Square bus station and contacted police.

Shortly after, officers on Dudley Street saw a man  who was later identified as Cowart  wearing a Hawaiian shirt and carrying a red handkerchief, the district attorneys office said. Cowart was sweating profusely and denied knowing the victim or having any interaction with him.

Police brought Cowart to the victim, who positively identified him, the district attorneys office said. The victim was evaluated on scene by emergency responders.

Officers searched Cowarts car and found several chemical cleaning agents inside, the district attorneys office said. Police arrested him without incident.

This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts. It doesnt take much imagination to appreciate how frightening it was for this young man to be standing on a street corner and suddenly be accosted in such a bizarre manner. Im grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release.

During Cowarts arraignment, a judge released him on personal recognizance bail and ordered him to stay away from the victim and the incident location, the district attorneys office said. He is due back in court on Oct. 29 for an appointment of council hearing.
A Framingham man was summoned in connection with driving fast on a dirt bike on a New Hampshire trail, when he was thrown off the bike, hurt and hospitalized, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said on Monday.

hospitalized after he was thrown off a dirt bike while riding along a trail in Berlin, New Hampshire on Saturday, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said.

At around 10:50 a.m., Jacob Shapiro, 23, was with three other people while they rode the Yamaha Connector Trail in Berlin, Fish and Game said in a statement released on Monday. Shapiro lost control of his bike after he struck a bumpy ledge along a straightened part of the trail and he was thrown off.

Shapiros friends provided aid, and one called 911 for help, the statement read.

Berlin police, firefighters and a Berlin Fire Department ambulance, along with Fish and Game conservation officers, responded by using a UTV to get to Shapiro, the department stated. An ambulance took Shapiro to Androscoggin Valley Hospital for treatment.

An investigation into the crash found that the primary factor in the crash to have been associated with excessive speed for the existing trail conditions, the department stated. Shapiro was summoned for operating an off-highway recreational vehicle (OHRV) at an unreasonable speed.

Conservation officers would like to use this incident to remind OHRV enthusiasts to always operate cautiously throughout the varying terrain present on OHRV trails, especially in the dusty trail conditions currently present, the departments statement concluded.
Goose, the 4-foot water monitor lizard, being shown at a press conference on Monday at the Webster Police Department. Goose had been on the run after he escaped his home in Webster on July 18. (Adam Bass/MassLive.com)

Editors note: This story has been updated at 6:25 p.m. on Aug. 4 to clarify the type of citation the owner will face.

On Aug. 2, Capt. Scott Amati of the Massachusetts Environmental Police spent his afternoon in Douglas with some hard-boiled eggs and pieces of chicken.

The food, however, was not for a picnic. The food was used for capturing a water monitor lizard named Goose, who had escaped its home in Webster on July 18.

A search was launched for the runaway 4-foot reptile, which had been spotted in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. The search officially ended on Saturday, with Amati and others catching the lizard, who was hiding in a hole near Southwest Main Street.

Amati, along with members of the Webster Police Department, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the nonprofit animal sanctuary, Rainforest Reptile Shows' Oasis Foundation, held a press conference on Monday about the lizards capture and its current condition.

The lizard itself made an appearance at the press conference that afternoon, being held by one of the Rainforest Reptile Shows employees.

At first, Goose squirmed in the persons hands but it soon calmed down and was very still as it looked at members of the press.

Very strong animal for its size, Amati said. Fairly well behaved all things considered.

Goose was first spotted in Douglas on Saturday afternoon by Zachary Poidras and Ethan Prario  two employees for the DCR.

The two were on the lookout for Goose but neither expected to see the lizard that afternoon.

When Poidras saw the lizard on Southwest Main Street, he thought it was a tire.

He was walking up and I actually saw the tail, he said.

The two contacted Amati and the Environmental Police and the Department of Conservation and Recreation began searching the area.

Soon, they found Goose hiding in a hole in the area away from the street.

At first, Amati tried to use hard-boiled eggs to lure Goose out, but that didnt work.

He then tried luring it with pieces of chicken, a snack Goose found much more appetizing. After Goose stuck his head out of the hole, he was snared with a catch pole, according to Amati.

The lizard put up a fight but he was placed into a container, Amati said.

Footage of the capture will be released by the Webster Police Department later on Monday, according to Amati.

Following his capture, Goose will have a health checkup before he returns to his new home at the Oasis Foundation.

Gooses owner, whom Amati did not name, will face a non-criminal citation for illegally owning the lizard. Goose originally had an owner from New Hampshire before coming to Massachusetts, Amati said.

Even though the search for Goose has drawn to an end, Chief of Police Michael Shaw said he was a little sad to see the lizard leave.

Hes kind of our unofficial mascot of Webster, Shaw said to laughs.
Admilson Vizcaino of Everett, during his arraignment in Malden District Court on Aug. 4. (Malden District Court)

The man shot by police after officials say he stole a garbage truck from two sanitation workers in Everett on Thursday appeared for his first court date from his hospital bed.

Admilson Vizcaino, 34, of Everett, was shot and critically injured at around 3:30 p.m. on July 31 after police shot him while he threatened a garbage truck driver with knife at a red light near Encore Boston Harbor casino, according to the Middlesex District Attorneys office.

Earlier that day, Vizcaino had led Malden police on a chase in an SUV, went to his relatives home, crashed in Everett and tried to steal other cars before stealing the garbage truck, according to the Middlesex District Attorney. Police had used a Taser before firing their weapons.

Vizcaino was seriously hurt in the shooting, and has been in the hospital since the incident.

He appeared in Malden District Court for his arraignment on Aug. 4 through a Zoom call, and was propped up in a hospital bed.

Vizcaino was charged with two counts of armed carjacking, four counts of attempting to commit a crime, armed assault to robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and fleeing the scene of a crime.

A not guilty plea was filed on his behalf, and Vizcaino was scheduled to appear for a dangerousness hearing on Aug. 13.

The incident on July 31 was captured on video by several bystanders, including a man who became caught up in police officers pursuit of Vizcaino in the stolen garbage truck.

Lubens Figaro, 33 and of Everett, was on his way to work when he pulled up alongside a garbage truck outside Encore casino. He watched as Vizcaino tried to get into several cars before turning to the garbage truck, and witnessed police taser and shoot the man.

Then, he had to flee the scene himself, as the garbage truck headed towards him.

It was so crazy, Figaro told MassLive. ... With the police chase in the back, the truck driving, Im recording and the cars behind, the sirens ... no one else in the middle but me and that truck, Figaro said.
Two Weymouth-based ambulance companies have agreed to pay back $6 million to the state for overcharging MassHealth through false claims, the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office announced Monday.

The attorney generals office said it began investigating allegations Brewster Ambulance Service and EasCare after receiving a whistleblower lawsuit filed in Massachusetts, the attorney generals office said in a press release. The two companies provide ambulance and wheelchair transportation services to MassHealth patients across Greater Boston the South Shore and are, collectively, the largest medical transportation provider in the state.

Brewster Ambulance CEO Mark Brewster said in a statement to MassLive that the company was pleased to have settled the lawsuit.

To be clear, the trips at issue were completed and this settlement reflects concerns about paperwork, the statement reads. We stand ready to work with state leaders and regulators to help clarify and strengthen documentation requirements so that this type of litigation doesnt continue to impact our industry and our health care system.

The attorney generals offices investigation uncovered that Brewster Ambulance and EasCare fraudulently upcoded MassHealth claims by billing for more expensive levels of services than they actually provided or were required, the attorney generals office said. In some cases, they billed for emergency services when only nonemergency services were provided or required.

Additionally, the companies fraudulently billed MassHealth for medically unnecessary services and nonemergency services without maintaining the required, relevant medical necessity documentation, the attorney generals office said. Similarly, they are alleged to have requested medical authorization signatures from providers without presenting required, relevant and completed medical necessity documentation.

Finally, the attorney generals office alleged that, when submitting their MassHealth provider applications, Brewster Ambulance and EasCare failed to disclose to relevant information concerning owners, managers and employees of the companies.

The attorney generals office asserts that the companies actions constituted violations of various state laws, including the Massachusetts False Claims Act.

As part of the settlement, Brewster Ambulance Service, EasCare and their owners  Mark Brewster and George Brewster Jr.  will implement a three-year independent compliance monitoring program at their own expense. The program will include updated policies and procedures, training requirements and annual site and records audits  the results of which will be reported to the attorney generals office.

When companies violate our laws and defraud the MassHealth program, crucial taxpayer resources are misdirected from paying for health care for those who need it most, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in the release.

I am proud to announce this settlement, which will provide meaningful restitution to the Commonwealth and ensure compliance with laws that enable the MassHealth program to serve the millions of residents who depend on it for their healthcare needs.
A standoff in Texas over redrawn U.S. House maps sought by President Donald Trump sharply escalated Sunday when dozens of Democratic legislators left the state to block a vote, followed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott warning them that he will seek their removal from office if they dont return.

The revolt by Democrats, and Abbott giving them until Monday to come home or face efforts to strip them of their elected positions, pushed a widening fight over congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections into new territory. At the center of the deepening impasse is Trumps pursuit of five more winnable congressional seats that will help bolster the GOPs chances of preserving their slim U.S. House majority.

In response to Texas rare mid-decade political gerrymander, Democratic governors have floated the possibility of redrawing their own states maps in retaliation, but their options are limited.

Many of the Texas Democrats were bound for Illinois and a welcoming from Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, who in recent weeks has offered them support.

Another contingent of lawmakers departed for Boston to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures annual legislative summit, alongside some Senate Democrats, according to the Texas Tribune.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu declined to say how long lawmakers were prepared to stay out of Texas, and it was unclear whether the gambit would succeed. Four years ago, House Democrats left Texas for 38 days in protest of new voting restrictions that still wound up passing once the holdout ended.

We will do whatever it takes. What that looks like, we dont know, Wu said at a Sunday night news conference.

The state of the vote now

Lawmakers cant pass bills in the 150-member Texas House without at least two-thirds of them present. Democrats hold 62 of the seats in the majority-Republican chamber and at least 51 left the state, said Josh Rush Nisenson, spokesperson for the House Democratic Caucus. In addition to those in Illinois, delegations of Democratic lawmakers left Texas for Boston and Albany, New York, among other places, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer said.

Abbott threatened to seek the lawmakers removal, saying they were not meeting under the states constitution.

This truancy ends now, Abbott said in a statement released by his office Sunday night. Abbott also suggested the lawmakers may have committed felonies by raising money to help pay for fines theyd face.

Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows said the chamber would still meet as planned on Monday afternoon.

If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table. . ., he posted on X.

Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, said on X that Democrats who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.

A refusal by Texas lawmakers to show up is a civil violation of legislative rules. The Texas Supreme Court held in 2021 that House leaders had the authority to physically compel the attendance of missing members, but no Democrats were forcibly brought back to the state after warrants were served that year. Two years later, Republicans pushed through new rules that allow daily fines of $500 for lawmakers who dont show up for work as punishment.

In calling for the lawmakers removal, Abbott cited a non-binding legal opinion that was issued by Paxtons office after the 2021 revolt by Democratic lawmakers.

The quorum break will also delay votes on flood relief and new warning systems in the wake of last months catastrophic floods in Texas that killed at least 136 people. Democrats had called for votes on the flooding response before taking up redistricting and have criticized Republicans for not doing so.

Texas Republicans last week unveiled their planned new U.S. House map that would create five new Republican-leaning seats. Republicans currently hold 25 of the states 38 seats.

Illinois hosts fleeing Texas lawmakers

Pritzker, who has been one of Trumps most outspoken critics during his second term, had been in quiet talks with Texas Democrats for weeks about offering support if they chose to leave the state to break quorum.

Last week, the governor hosted several Texas Democrats in Illinois to publicly oppose the redistricting effort, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a similar event in his own state.

Pritzker also met privately with Texas Democratic Chair Kendall Scudder in June to begin planning for the possibility that lawmakers would depart for Illinois if they did decide to break quorum to block the map, according to a source with direct knowledge who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.

This is not just rigging the system in Texas, its about rigging the system against the rights of all Americans for years to come, Pritzker said Sunday night.

Now, with Texas Democrats holed up in Illinois and blocking the Trump-backed congressional map, the stage may be set for a high-profile showdown between Pritzker and the president.

Trump is looking to avoid a repeat of his first term, when Democrats flipped the House just two years into his presidency, and hopes the new Texas map will aid that effort. Trump officials have also looked at redrawing lines in other states, such as Missouri, according to a person familiar with conversations but unauthorized to speak publicly about them.
Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor testifies during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Dedham, on June 12, 2024. He was later fired from the State Police for his conduct in the Read investigation. (Pool Photo by Greg Derr/Patriot Ledger)

The Civil Service Commission appears likely to delay much of the previously scheduled in-person hearing on former Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctors appeal of his termination, as he fights to get his job back.

Proctor, the lead investigator in the Karen Read and other high-profile cases, was terminated by state police in March largely for the derogatory texts he sent about Read during the investigation into the death of her boyfriend. Not long after, he appealed his firing to the Civil Service Commission, the body responsible for overseeing appeals filed by state and municipal employees on a range of issues, including firings.

The commission set five days of in-person hearings on Proctors appeal: Aug. 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27. But at a status conference Monday afternoon, lawyers for Proctor and state police indicated it was unlikely they would be able to move forward with the entirety of the case that quickly.

Proctor, wearing a jacket and tie, did not speak during the virtual hearing except to state his name at the beginning and thank the commission at its conclusion.

On Monday, lawyers for both sides suggested Proctors hearing be bifurcated  with state police to present its case in August, and Proctor to present his in October. State police intend to call just one witness at the hearing, Det. Lt. Kevin Dwyer. The lawyers indicated they could complete the direct and cross examinations of Dwyer at the latter two August hearing dates.

Essentially, Proctor would present his case as it applies to whether there was just cause to fire him in August, then present his case on the issue of disparate treatment in October, his lawyer, Daniel Moynihan, said.

While the commission did not immediately rule on the request, Chair Christopher Bowman said he anticipated its ruling would be to move forward in late August, then again in October.

Status of discovery

A lawyer representing the state police, Stephen Carley, said the agency needed more time to comply with requests for information made by Proctors lawyers.

Specifically, Proctors lawyers asked for the contents of 269 disciplinary files after visiting state police headquarters last month. But, according to Moynihan, they had received only five in the weeks following that visit.

Moynihan had also requested emails from state police to move forward on the just cause argument, which Carley said he anticipated being able to turn over ahead of the Aug. 26 date set for the hearing.

Bowman, the civil service chair, set several deadlines for the lawyers on Monday.

State police must disclose its list of exhibits and participants to the commission by Aug. 12. Proctors lawyers must file any motions regarding the evidence in the case by Aug. 13. On that date, lawyers for both sides must also submit dates in October where they can hold the hearing.

Bowman also set a Sept. 15 for all discovery related to the issue of disparate treatment  the portion of the hearing being held in October.

Why was Proctor fired?

A State Police Trial Board, after three full days of hearings between January and March, found Proctor guilty of violating two State Police regulations: unsatisfactory performance and alcoholic beverages.

Col. Geoffrey Noble accepted the boards recommendation to terminate Proctor.

The unsatisfactory performance charge is directly tied to the Read investigation. The trial board found Proctor sent derogatory, defamatory, disparaging and/or otherwise inappropriate text messages about Read to other individuals.

The board also found Proctor provided sensitive and/or confidential information about Read, potential witnesses, and/or potential investigative steps in the case to non-law enforcement personnel.

During Reads trial, he testified about texting his sister and friends from high school about the investigation during its early stages.

The alcoholic beverages violation is tied to a cold case investigation on Cape Cod, during which Proctor and a Canton Police detective got drinks.

My decision to terminate Mr. Proctor follows a thorough, fair, and impartial process, Noble said in a statement announcing the firing in March.

Brian Williams, the president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, said the process leading to Proctors firing was flawed.

The Departments decision to sacrifice Trooper Proctor to appease the media rather than making a decision based on the facts and evidence presented during the trial board is disappointing but not surprising, Williams said in a statement. The Association believes that Trooper Proctors termination is excessive.
A Rhode Island woman was killed in a three-vehicle crash on I-195 in Seekonk Sunday night, according to the Bristol County District Attorneys Office.

The woman has been identified as 18-year-old Providence resident Abriana Herrera Perez, the district attorneys office said in a press release.

Massachusetts State Police responded to reports of the crash on the westbound side of the highway around 11 p.m., the district attorneys office said. Emergency responders found Herrera Perez in the roadway with fatal injuries and declared her dead at the scene.

Authorities located three vehicles that were involved in the crash, the district attorneys office said. One was a black Mazda 3 that came to rest in the right travel lane.

The second was a red Toyota Tacoma, which they found upside down in the median, and the third was a blue Yamaha motorcycle, the district attorneys office said. All three had disabling damage.

The 33-year-old man who had been riding the motorcycle was injured in the crash and taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, the district attorneys office said. The 69-year-old woman who had been driving the Tacoma was taken to the same hospital with minor injuries.

Herrera Perez and three other teens were in the Mazda 3 at the time of the crash, the district attorneys office said. An 18-year-old woman, a 17-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were all taken to Rhode Island Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

The Bristol County District Attorneys Office is investigating the crash.
The Thomas M. Menino Convention as seen from Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport. Chris McLaughlin

Good Monday morning, everyone.

If things feel noticeably wonkier and more political around Boston for the next few days, theres a good reason for that.

Thousands of state lawmakers from across the country, legislative aides, and other folks who track state government rolled into town on Sunday for the annual summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

It officially gets started this morning with an opening session at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center in the citys Seaport district.

NCSL, as its more often referred to, is a one-stop shop of legislative best practices.

Want to know what other states are doing about, say, transportation funding? Or maybe wind energy? Or how theyre handling artificial intelligence?

In-house experts at NCSL can provide lawmakers (and the reporters who cover them) with a veritable brain-dump of information on all those issues and more.

This years observance in Boston also marks the NCSLs 50th birthday.

It will almost certainly be the second-largest legislative summit NCSL has ever held, NCSL CEO Tim Storey said during a press call with journalists last week. And well make a pretty strong run at the largest summit weve ever held ... in Boston.

And because its in Boston, some top Bay State pols also are expected to feature prominently.

Mass. Gov. Maura Healey speaks at a press conference in Fall River on July 22, 2025. She is scheduled to speak at the National Conference of State Legislatures on Tuesday in Boston. (Charlie McKenna/MassLive)

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is among the speakers at a Tuesday morning session dubbed The Great Political Realignment: The New Trump Coalition and the Coming Elections.

Shes slated to be joined by Rhode Island House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy. Amy Walter, the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, moderates.

Senate President Karen E. Spilka, D-Middlesex/Norfolk, is set to appear on two panels. That includes a summit-closing event on Wednesday with Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr., called, appropriately enough, The Room Where it Happens.

Other high-wattage names on the bill this week include former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, Olympic running legend Meb Keflezighi, and syndicated radio host Michael Smerconish.

State lawmakers from the House and Senate, as well as experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and elsewhere, are also sprinkled across seminars this week.

And while the conference is likely to be a boon for Bostons faltering tourist economy, Spilka and other legislative leaders faced some uncomfortable questions last week about the high-dollar fundraising theyve been doing to help finance it.

State lawmakers have asked corporations and others with business before the Legislature to pony up as much as $250,000 each, The Boston Globe reported.

Im not involved in fundraising, so I have no idea, state House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, said when he was asked about it last week.

Spilka was slightly more expansive, telling reporters that she wanted to add that all of the money raised goes directly to educational programs, training, [and] transportation.

Nine thousand people are expected to be coming here to Boston, to Greater Boston, which is a real boon not only [to] the Greater Boston area, but for the entire state, she continued, putting the total economic impact at $11.2 million.

So if you see some vaguely wonkish folks wandering Seaport, the Back Bay and Beacon Hill this week, now you know why.

In this image released by Disney Plus, Jonathan Groff portrays King George in a filmed version of the original Broadway production of "Hamilton." (Disney Plus via AP)

Youll be back

It might be the 250th anniversary of the American Battle for Independence, but Massachusetts just cant quit the United Kingdom.

State lawmakers and British officials gathered on Beacon Hill last week to announce the creation of the new Friends of the UK Legislative Caucus.

The bipartisan group is intended to strengthen the economic and historic ties between the Bay State and Great Britain, its organizers said. State House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, R-20th Middlesex; Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-2nd Franklin, and Sen. Dylan Fernandes, D-Plymouth/ Barnstable are its co-chairpersons.

The U.K. does $5 billion in trade annually with Massachusetts and British subsidiaries also employ more than 41,000 people across the state, according to the British Consulate-General in Boston.

Ive also met academics and scientists from the UK and Massachusetts working together to tackle some of the great scientific technological challenges of our age, David Clay, British Consul General to New England, said at a press conference at the State House last week.

Ive met some of the 200,000 British tourists [who] come to Massachusetts every year and have an amazing time. Ive learned about our shared history at Lexington, Concord, [and] Bunker Hill. Theres been a few bumps in the road, but generally things have gone very well.

With President Donald Trumps tariff policies roiling markets, Jones, of North Reading, said the new caucus holds tremendous opportunities.

We look forward to this caucus expanding and having more members in the House and Senate become involved, and realize perhaps were at a point in time where we need to look to the states to lead, perhaps more so than Washington to lead, he said. And were happy to take up that mantle to try to foster that relationship to even greater levels than it has been.

Okay. All together now:

Youll be back, soon, youll see. Youll remember you belong to me. Youll be back. Time will tell. Youll remember that I served you well. Oceans rise, empires fall. We have seen each other through it all ...

Employees and supporters of Global Services, a Waltham company who lost out on a bid to renovate and operate Massachusetts Turnpike service plazas, rally outside the State House on July 29, 2025 to criticize the Department of Transportation's decision to award the contract to Applegreen. Chris Lisinski/State House News Service

A not very restful rest area

Hundreds of employees and supporters of the Waltham company, which lost out on a lucrative contract to renovate and operate Massachusetts highway service plazas, descended on the State House last week.

Their goal: To convince Gov. Maura Healey to reverse course and state lawmakers to exert some oversight muscle, according to State House News Service.

The company, Global Partners, and its partner, CommonWealth Kitchen, have been aggressive in the six weeks since MassDOTs board picked Ireland-based Applegreen for a 35-year lease of 18 highway plazas, according to the wire service.

Global Partners has argued that its bid for the project was worth more money to the state. And last week, it claimed that a state Department of Transportation official who played a key role in the selection discussed potential employment with the winning bidders parent company.

Both the state and Applegreen have pushed back against Globals campaign, arguing that finances were only one factor in the contract award and that the winner offered a faster timeline and a focus on electric vehicles.

Applegreen founder Bob Etchingham slammed what he described as baseless public relations stunts by the losing bidder, State House News Service reported.

A car caught in flooding in Leominister, Mass., in 2023. (Submitted Photo) Julianne Ferrer

Warren floods the zone

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and several of her colleagues fired off a letter to U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to protest the agencys recent moves to roll back rules that protect people from floods.

It is an objective truth that disaster events are occurring more frequently and at a larger scale than ever before. Our nations floodplain standards helped ensure homes were more resilient to flooding and other extreme weather eventsminimizing damage and harm to families. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, Warren and her colleagues wrote.

The other lawmakers who signed onto the letter included Democrat U.S. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Patty Murray of Washington and Peter Welch of Vermont.

Independent U.S. Sens. Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, both of whom caucus with Democrats, also signed the letter, according to Warrens office.

In the wake of disastrous flooding in Texas, HUD announced it was temporarily tapping the brakes on that rollback, according to the advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, or PEER.

New data from UMass Amherst puts numbers to research and development investments in Boston. Olga Nevskaya - stock.adobe.com

Monday Numbers

New data from the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst paints a vivid picture of the huge role that research funding plays in the Bay States economy.

The bottom line: For every dollar thats invested in research, Massachusetts sees about double that amount, according to the new data.

Right now, research funding in the state supports a total of 81,300 jobs, $7.8 billion in income and more than $16 billion in total economic activity, according to the report, dubbed "Economic Contributions of R&D Funding in Massachusetts.

But if proposed changes to federal funding and support for research and development are enacted, the economic future of the commonwealth faces significant uncertainty, UMass researchers noted.

Some other top-line findings:

Massachusetts is home to 1 in 10 R&D jobs nationwide, compared to 1 in 40 for all jobs in the nations economy.

More than 700 Bay State organizations have received R&D awards over the years. The top three recipients were the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Air Force and the National Science Foundation. That funding supported 46,000 jobs across those institutions.

R&D funding creates and supports jobs beyond those in research occupations and research organizations, with 34,600 more blue-collar and service jobs in sectors that support the industry and its workers, including construction, food services, healthcare, retail and administrative support, according to the report.

And two of every five jobs created by research funding are created outside of sectors that directly receive the funding itself. For example, this activity supports 4,200 jobs in real estate and construction, nearly 3,000 jobs in retail and almost 1,600 jobs in transportation and warehousing, according to the report.

What else you need to know:

Federal funding for high-risk research keeps the U.S. at the cutting edge of innovation and provides the lifeblood of the states knowledge and innovation economy, Mark Melnik, the director of the Donahue Institutes Economic and Public Policy Research Group, said in an email.

Our well-educated workforce and elite institutions in Eds and Meds have provided an important magnet for funding, high-skill workers, and entrepreneurship in the state, Melnik continued. The economic activity associated with these investments are essential to both the research happening in Ed and Meds, as well as the broader economy of the state.

A box of zucchini stored in the new cooler at the Greater Boston Food Bank's Yawkey Distribution Center in South Boston, July 14, 2025. (Will Katcher/MassLive)

They said it

I think people have an image of food pantries as just having canned beans and canned vegetables and pasta and rice. We certainly offer those items. But I think most food pantries we know about increasingly strive to provide healthy foods.

 Stacey Verge, the executive director of Acord Food Pantry in Hamilton, on efforts to feed scores of people across the state who live with food insecurity.

A view of the Massachusetts State House in Boston, looking across Beacon Street from the Boston Common. (John L. Micek/MassLive)

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The historic Red Lion Inn in the Berkshires. Hadley Barndollar

What goes on

If you find yourself in the Berkshires later this month, you can swing by the Stockbridge Summer Arts and Crafts Show, which runs Aug. 16 and 17 at 50 Main Street.

Now in its 32nd year, the annual attracts thousands of visitors to a Main Street picturesque enough to warrant a Norman Rockwell painting, according to organizers.

The free show includes 80 jury-selected artisans and crafters, whose work ranges from paintings and ceramics to fiberware, jewelry and sculpture.

The hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Inductee Ozzy Osbourne and Jack Black watch Billy Idol and Robert Trujillo perform onstage during the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony streaming on Disney+ at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 19, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

Turned up to 11

Punk and new wave legend Billy Idol brings his latest tour to the XFinity Center on Aug. 23 (tickets and info here). If you only know him from his 80s work, you might be surprised to find out that Idol (ne William Broad) is still recording new music.

Case in point, his very good 2021 single Bitter Taste.

Watch a movie at a drive-in theater. Birmingham News

Your Monday long read

It wasnt too many years ago (OK, it was enough) when no summer was complete without a trip to a drive-in movie. These days, however, these land-guzzling outdoor recreation meccas are essentially a thing of the past.

The folks at History Facts have chronicled the rise and fall of this uniquely American institution. And the nostalgia? Well, it hits hard.

As ever: The germane bit.

The novelty of the drive-in caught on slowly at first. But by the end of the 1940s, with World War II in the rearview, Americans and their growing families were ready to indulge in leisure and entertainment. Families didnt have to dress up, kids could doze off in the back seat and you could bring your own snacks  or heed the call of the animated intermission ads urging a trip to concessions for hot dogs, popcorn, and candy galore."

Thats it for today. As always, tips, comments and questions can be sent to jmicek@masslive.com. Have a good week, friends.
More hazy days due to wildfire smoke in Canada are likely to stay in Massachusetts this week, before a round of potential rain and thunderstorms could hit.

An Air Quality Alert on Monday covering all of southern New England is expected to be lifted by 12 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. This was issued so that people, including sensitive groups like children and older adults, could keep themselves safe from smoke particulates if they have asthma, lung or heart disease.

Temperatures should cool into the high 70s or low 80s as a cold front from Canada moves into southern New England on Tuesday, the weather service said.

Other than cooler temperatures, forecasters expect skies to remain smoky but it may not be as noticeable with the cloudier skies, forecasters wrote.

Dry conditions should continue through Wednesday, but this could change as a chance for some precipitation developing later that day and into Thursday could hit Western Massachusetts, forecasters said. Isolated showers could be aggravated by marginal instability, which could produce storms. It is not clear in terms of these potential storms timing or how severe it could be, with room for things to change.

Springfield, Great Barrington and Amherst, among other communities, could see showers develop after 1 p.m. on Thursday, though these chances are low at around 20%, according to the weather service. The potential timing of wet weather differs elsewhere, with Pittsfield possibly seeing a chance for showers and thunderstorms between 2 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, and before 8 a.m. Thursday.

Temperatures should be in the 80s each day, while they could inch closer to the 90s by the weekend, forecasters said.
Final stages of judging for the 2025 IPB Pride of Place Competition in Mayo will take place on Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8, with the visit of judges for the competition to Mayo.

IPB Pride of Place Competition in association with Co-operation Ireland, is an all-island competition organised by Co-operation Ireland and Local Authorities. The Pride of Place competition celebrates the efforts and endeavours of communities throughout Ireland, to make their place the best place to live.

The competition focus is about people coming together to shape, change and improve the daily lives of people in their communities.

Mayo County Council has nominated two groups for Pride of Place 2025. The groups are: (1) Cong Village in Category 1 - Population (0 - 300) and (2) Achill Tourism Category 11 - Community Tourism Initiative. This Judges Visit is the final stage of the Pride of Place application, the judges will visit Cong Village on Thursday, August 7 and Achill on Friday, August 8.

A comprehensive submission form has already been completed by the groups to Pride of Place. Members of the two communities are encouraged to support and be part of the Judges visit with both groups.

READ MORE: Flying high: six celebrities spotted in Ireland West Airport

Speaking about this years competition Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive, Mayo County Council in supporting this years nominated community groups said: We as a Local Authority appreciate community groups work, commitment, and continuous dedication to making Mayo the best place it can be year in year out. Mayo is home to a vibrant network of communities, where much meaningful work around the county begins at this grassroots level. I would like to congratulate this years groups on their own achievements and on being nominated to represent Mayo in this National, prestigious competition. On behalf of Mayo County Council, I wish them every success with Pride of Place 2025.

Deirdre Finnerty, Head of Community Engagement on Pride of Place added: It is a wonderful competition which showcases and highlights best practices in communities throughout Mayo. Mayo County Council and the Municipal Districts collaborate closely with our community groups in Mayo; we recognise and appreciate the level of volunteerism of all community groups which has helped to make Mayo a great place in which to live, visit, work and invest. Pride of Place is a way of acknowledging work carried out by our community groups and we wish the participating groups in Pride of Place 2025 continued success.

The Pride of Place awards ceremony will be announced at the awards night on November 7, hosted by Limerick City and County Council in the Strand Hotel, Limerick. For further information on Pride of Place please email community@mayococo.ie.
After the surprise success of The Diplomat, John Abraham is now all set to entertain the audiences with another geo-political thriller titled Tehran.

Produced by Maddock Films and co-starring Manushi Chhillar, Tehran was initially set for theatrical release but a couple of days back right before its trailer was dropped online, the film was announced for straight to OTT premiere.

Now, in an interview, John Abraham has expressed that he is disheartened but explained the reason why theatres avoided the controversial film.

Heartbroken John Abraham Explains Why Theatres Avoided Tehran

When asked if its disheartening for an actor when a film like Tehran opts for OTT release despite the presence of a big producer like Maddock films and the initial promise of theatrical outing, John told Bollywood Hungama, "It's very disheartening. I mean, I'm not going to mince my words on it, it breaks your heart, especially for an actor who always wants to be on the big screen. We had to make a very informed decision on this. Because of the conflict and the controversies happening around, even internationally, theatres were a little wary of picking up a film that had Iran and Israel in it.
The logistics sector is pressing for assurances that sufficient staffing and infrastructure will be in place

The EU has confirmed that its Entry/Exit System (EES) will go live on 12 October, sparking calls for swift government action in the UK from the logistics industry.

Josh Fenton, policy manager at Logistics UK, welcomed the confirmation but highlighted ongoing concerns:

The confirmed launch date for the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will finally provide certainty to the members of Logistics UK which move goods to and from the EU.

"However, with only 11 weeks until implementation starts, there is still much detail for the government to confirm, including details of where and how these checks are to be undertaken for those moving goods across the border  with such a short timeframe left, Logistics UK is seeking urgent clarification from DfT and the EU authorities.

Fenton explained that initially, only a small percentage of border crossings will require registration through EES and biometric data collection.

But the EU plans to expand coverage to all vehicles transiting from the UK after a 180-day introduction period. It remains to be seen how and when this increase is to be implemented, he added.

The logistics sector is pressing for assurances that sufficient staffing and infrastructure will be in place to manage the new checks without causing delays.

Our estimates show that around 46,000 companies, spread throughout the UK, regularly trade in goods where at least 25% of the commodities they deal with pass through the Short Straits at Dover, Fenton said.

Any delays that occur at the border will have a knock-on effect nationwide and could have a significant impact on the countrys ability to trade with the EU in the longer term, as well as affecting the availability of goods within the supply chain.

"his is particularly relevant as winter approaches, when the UK relies more heavily on imported goods, particularly foods.

Logistics UK is also urging the government to develop a digital solution  such as a mobile app  to facilitate smooth vehicle movements across the border.

Our members are concerned that delays could be exacerbated during times of high consumer traffic, such as school or public holidays, which can also impact freight movements.

The timing of the EES introduction is a particular cause for concern. This system is to be introduced at a critical time of year for the UKs food supplies, when the country relies on imported produce from the EU, and so it is critical that the UK secures an effective agreement with the EU to keep any checks needed on these goods to a minimum, Fenton stressed.

He also highlighted the need for clear arrangements allowing UK drivers access to work and travel within the EU. Currently, non-EU citizens can only have access for 90 days in every 180.

"Without an agreement, the working capabilities of British hauliers in the EU will be severely limited and the situation could cause breakdowns in the UKs supply chain at a time of year when the country relies on goods from the European Union.

Concluding, Fenton said: With the new border arrangements due to come into effect in only a few weeks, Logistics UK is keen to work with the government to solve these issues and keep the flow of goods that the country relies on moving freely across its borders.
NINOSHIMA, Japan  When the first atomic bomb detonated 80 years ago on Aug. 6, thousands of the dead and dying were brought to the small, rural island of Ninoshima, just south of Hiroshima, by military boats with crews that had trained for suicide attack missions.

Many of the victims had their clothes burned off and their flesh hung from their faces and limbs. They moaned in pain.

Because of poor medicine and care, only a few hundred were alive when the field hospital closed Aug. 25, according to historical records. They were buried in various locations in chaotic and rushed operations.

Decades later, people in the area are looking for the remains of the missing, driven by a desire to account for and honor the victims and bring relief to survivors who are still tormented by memories of missing loved ones.

Until that happens, the war is not over for these people, said Rebun Kayo, a Hiroshima University researcher who regularly visits Ninoshima to search for remains.

Evidence of the missing is still being unearthed

On a recent morning, Kayo visited a hillside plot in the forest where he has dug for remains since 2018. He put on rubber boots and a helmet and sprayed insect repellent.

After planting chrysanthemum flowers and praying, Kayo carefully began shoveling gravel from a hole the size of a bathtub. When the soil was soft enough, he sifted it for bone fragments.

As he worked under the scorching sun, he imagined the pain and sadness that the victims felt when they died.

Kayo so far has found about 100 bone fragments, including skull pieces and an infants jaw bone with little teeth attached. He found the bones in an area suggested by a Ninoshima resident, whose father had witnessed soldiers burying bodies that were brought to the island on boats from Hiroshima 80 years ago.

The little child buried here has been alone for all these years, he said of the bones he believes belonged to a toddler. It's just intolerable."

Victims arrived in the bombing's chaotic aftermath

The U.S. atomic attack on Hiroshima instantly destroyed the city and killed tens of thousands near the hypocenter, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Ninoshima. The death toll by the end of that year was 140,000.

As a 3-year-old child, Tamiko Sora was with her parents and two sisters at their home just 1.4 kilometers (0.9 mile) from the hypocenter. The blast destroyed their house and Sora's face was burned, but most of her family survived.

As they made their way to a relatives' home, she met an unattended 5-year-old girl who identified herself as Hiroko and a woman with severe burns desperately asking people to save the baby she carried. Sora still thinks of them often and regrets her family could not help. Her family visited orphanages but could not find the girl.

Sora now thinks the people she met that day, as well as her missing aunt and uncle, might have ended up on Ninoshima.

Ninoshima saw 3 weeks of chaos, deaths and rushed burials

Within two hours of the blast, victims began arriving by boat from Hiroshima at the island's No. 2 quarantine center. Its buildings filled with patients with severe wounds. Many died on the way to the island.

Imperial Army service members were on around-the-clock shifts for cremation and burials on the island, according to Hiroshima City documents.

Eiko Gishi, then an 18-year-old boat trainee, oversaw carrying patients from the pier to the quarantine area for first aid. He and other soldiers cut bamboo to make cups and trays. Many of the wounded died soon after sipping water.

In recollections published by the city years later, Gishi wrote that soldiers carefully handled bodies one by one at the beginning, but were soon overwhelmed by the huge number of decomposing bodies and used an incinerator originally meant for military horses.

Even this wasn't enough and they soon ran out of space, eventually putting bodies into bomb shelters and in burial mounds.

I was speechless from the shock when I saw the first group of patients that landed on the island, a former army medic, Yoshitaka Kohara, wrote in 1992.

I was used to seeing many badly wounded soldiers on battlefields, but I had never seen anyone in such a cruel and tragic state," he said. It was an inferno.

Kohara was at the facility until its closure, when only about 500 people were left alive. When he told surviving patients that the war had ended on Aug. 15, he recalled they looked emotionless and tears flowed from their crushed eyes, and nobody said a word."

Thousands of remains found on Ninoshima but more are still missing

Kazuo Miyazaki, a Ninoshima-born historian and guide, said that toward the end of WWII the island was used to train suicide attackers using wooden boats meant for deployment in the Philippine Sea and Okinawa.

Hiroshima was not a city of peace from the beginning. Actually, it was the opposite, Miyazaki said. Its essential that you learn from the older generations and keep telling the lessons to the next.

Miyazaki, 77, lost a number of relatives in the atomic bombing. He has heard first-person stories from his relatives and neighbors about what happened on Ninoshima, which was home to a major army quarantine during Japan's militarist expansion. His mother was an army nurse who was deployed to the field hospital on the island.

The remains of about 3,000 atomic bombing victims brought to Ninoshima have been found since 1947 when many were dug out of bomb shelters. Thousands more are thought to be missing.

People visit the island to remember the missing

After learning of the search for remains on Ninoshima, Sora, the atomic bomb survivor struck by the girl and infant she met after the explosion, traveled to the island twice to pray at a cenotaph commemorating the dead.

I feel they are waiting for me to visit, Sora said. When I pray, I speak the names of my relatives and tell them Im well and tell them happy stories.

In a recent visit to Sora at her nursing home, the researcher Kayo brought a plastic box containing the baby jaw with little teeth and skull fragments he found on Ninoshima. The bones were placed carefully on a bed of fluffy cotton.

Kayo said he wanted to show Sora the fragile fragments, which could be from a child the same age as the one Sora met 80 years ago. He plans to eventually take the bones to a Buddhist temple.

Sora prayed in silence while looking at the bones in the box and then spoke to them.

Im so happy you were finally found," she said. "Welcome back.
NEW YORK  It would seem the most straightforward of notions: A thing takes place, and it goes into the history books or is added to museum exhibits. But whether something even gets remembered and how  particularly when it comes to the history of a country and its leader  is often the furthest thing from simple.

The latest example of that came Friday, when the Smithsonian Institution said it had removed a reference to the 2019 and 2021 impeachments of President Donald Trump from a panel in an exhibition about the American presidency. Trump has pressed institutions and agencies under federal oversight, often through the pressure of funding, to focus on the country's achievements and progress and away from things he terms divisive.

The Smithsonian on Saturday denied getting pressure from the Trump administration to remove the reference, which had been installed as part of a temporary addition in 2021. The exhibit will be updated in the coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nations history, the museum said in a statement.

In a statement that did not directly address the impeachment references, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said: We are fully supportive of updating displays to highlight American greatness.

But is history intended to highlight or to document  to report what happened, or to serve a desired narrative? The answer, as with most things about the past, can be intensely complex.

It's part of a larger effort around American stories

The Smithsonian's move comes in the wake of Trump administration actions like removing the name of a gay rights activist from a Navy ship, pushing for Republican supporters in Congress to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and getting rid of the leadership at the Kennedy Center.

Based on what we have been seeing, this is part of a broader effort by the president to influence and shape how history is depicted at museums, national parks, and schools, said Julian E. Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. Not only is he pushing a specific narrative of the United States but, in this case, trying to influence how Americans learn about his own role in history.

It's not a new struggle, in the world generally and the political world particularly. There is power in being able to shape how things are remembered, if they are remembered at all  who was there, who took part, who was responsible, what happened to lead up to that point in history. And the human beings who run things have often extended their authority to the stories told about them.

In China, for example, references to the June 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing's Tiananmen Square are forbidden and meticulously regulated by the ruling Communist Party government. In Soviet-era Russia, officials who ran afoul of leaders like Josef Stalin disappeared not only from the government itself but from photographs and history books where they once appeared.

Jason Stanley, an expert on authoritarianism, said controlling what and how people learn of their past has long been used as a vital tool to maintain power. Stanley has made his views about the Trump administration clear; he recently left Yale University to join the University of Toronto, citing concerns over the U.S. political situation.

If they dont control the historical narrative, he said, then they cant create the kind of fake history that props up their politics.

It shows how the presentation of history matters

In the United States, presidents and their families have always used their power to shape history and calibrate their own images. Jackie Kennedy insisted on cuts in William Manchesters book on her husbands 1963 assassination, The Death of a President. Ronald Reagan and his wife got a cable TV channel to release a carefully calibrated documentary about him. Those around Franklin D. Roosevelt, including journalists of the era, took pains to mask the impact that paralysis had on his body and his mobility.

Trump, though, has taken it to a more intense level  a sitting president encouraging an atmosphere where institutions can feel compelled to choose between him and the truth  whether he calls for it directly or not.

We are constantly trying to position ourselves in history as citizens, as citizens of the country, citizens of the world, said Robin Wagner-Pacifici, professor emerita of sociology at the New School for Social Research. So part of these exhibits and monuments are also about situating us in time. And without it, its very hard for us to situate ourselves in history because it seems like we just kind of burst forth from the Earth.

Timothy Naftali, director of the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum from 2007 to 2011, presided over its overhaul to offer a more objective presentation of Watergate  one not beholden to the presidents loyalists. In an interview Friday, he said he was concerned and disappointed about the Smithsonian decision. Naftali, now a senior researcher at Columbia University, said museum directors should have red lines and that he considered removing the Trump panel to be one of them.

While it might seem inconsequential for someone in power to care about a museum's offerings, Wagner-Pacifici says Trump's outlook on history and his role in it  earlier this year, he said the Smithsonian had come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology  shows how important those matters are to people in authority.

You might say about that person, whoever that person is, their power is so immense and their legitimacy is so stable and so sort of monumental that why would they bother with things like this ... why would they bother to waste their energy and effort on that? Wagner-Pacifici said. Her conclusion: The legitimacy of those in power has to be reconstituted constantly. They can never rest on their laurels."
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has broken its silence following a wave of public concern and media coverage surrounding the plight of Ms. Progress Muzuva, a former nurse who sustained injuries while on duty in 2018 and is now seeking urgent medical support.In a statement released this week, the Ministry extended its "sincere sympathy" to Ms. Muzuva and her family, acknowledging the severe hardship she is enduring. The case, it said, highlights broader systemic issues in the handling of occupational injuries among frontline healthcare workers - issues the Ministry insists it is taking seriously."The Ministry wishes to clarify that this case has not been ignored by the current administration," the statement reads. "In fact, procedures are actively underway to assist her."Ms. Muzuva's case, which resurfaced prominently on social media and in recent news reports, has sparked public outrage and drawn attention to the bureaucratic challenges faced by injured health workers in Zimbabwe. She reportedly sustained career-altering injuries while performing her duties and has since been seeking assistance to fund urgent medical care.The Ministry clarified that although progress has taken time, efforts are ongoing. Because the incident occurred in 2018, a comprehensive review is necessary to assess the records and actions taken during and after the incident. The matter has been referred to the Ministry's legal advisors, who are reviewing whether existing policies, including those related to leave, retirement, and benefits, were appropriately applied in her case.In addition, the Ministry has engaged with the Health Service Commission and provincial human resources structures to ensure that all entitlements due to Ms. Muzuva under public service and health sector regulations are properly addressed."Where gaps or administrative oversights are identified, corrective action will be taken decisively, in line with established policy and legal frameworks," the Ministry stated.Beyond Ms. Muzuva's case, the Ministry announced plans to conduct a broader internal review of its systems for managing occupational injury cases. The goal, it said, is to improve response times, transparency, and compassionate care for all affected healthcare personnel.The Ministry also acknowledged the distress the situation has caused and reassured the public and health workers that it remains committed to the welfare of all who serve in the healthcare system. "No one injured in the line of duty should feel abandoned," the Ministry emphasized.It concluded by thanking the public for drawing attention to Ms. Muzuva's situation and called for continued patience as authorities work toward a fair and just resolution.
The former U.S. soldier suspected of killing four people at a Montana bar was still at large early Sunday and may be armed after escaping in a stolen vehicle containing clothes and camping gear, officials said.

Authorities believe 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown killed four people on Friday morning at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of Missoula in a valley hemmed in by mountains.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said at a news conference Sunday that Brown committed the shooting with a rifle that law enforcement believes was his personal weapon.

The victims ranged in age from 59 to 74 and were a female bartender and three male patrons.

Knudsen warned residents in the town of just over 9,000 people that Brown, who lived next door to the bar where he was a regular, could come back to the area.

This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever. So there absolutely is concern for the public, Knudsen said.

A good neighbor

The four victims were identified on Sunday morning as Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. All four lived in Anaconda.

Robert Wyatt, 70, said he was neighbors with Leach at a public housing complex for elderly people and people with disabilities.

"Everybody is nervous since Friday, Wyatt said.

Leach was deaf and kept mostly to himself, Wyatt said, and he only recalls Leach having a family visit once almost a year ago. But Leach was always happy to help his neighbors with chores like moving furniture.

If you needed help, Dave would help, Wyatt said. He was a good neighbor.

Everybody in town knows each other

Numerous public events were canceled over the weekend as the search entered its third day, according to local Facebook pages. As law enforcement scours the wild terrain, the woods southwest of Anaconda have been closed to the public by the National Forest System.

David Jabarek, 70, said that a mass shooting in a place as small as Anaconda is baffling to many. He said that he regularly saw both the shooter and the victims over the course of the 20 years that he has lived in Anaconda.

We only have 9,000 people, so it's like, what the hell just happened? Everybody knows everybody here, he said.

Jabarek was headed to Owl Bar less than 30 minutes before the shooting happened, at around 10:15 a.m. On an impulse, he went to run an errand nearby instead. When he came back to the area, he saw the bar was surrounded by police.

If Id have been in there when I was supposed to be, you wouldnt be talking to me. Somebody be talking to you about me, he said.

The close call is now keeping Jabarek up at night. But he said that he isn't afraid of the prospect of Brown returning.

Everybody around here has two dozen firearms in their house, and right now theyre within hands reach, Jabarek said.

The suspected shooter's past

Investigators are considering all possible options for Brown's whereabouts, the attorney general said. That includes searching the woods where Brown hunted and camped while he was a kid. But Knudsen noted that during peak tourist season in western Montana some law enforcement officials would have to return to their local jurisdictions for their regular responsibilities.

Brown served in the Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005, said Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson. Brown was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009, Castro said, and left military service at the rank of sergeant.

Browns niece, Clare Boyle, told The Associated Press that her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years, and she and other family members repeatedly sought help.

This isnt just a drunk/high man going wild, she said in a Facebook message. Its a sick man who doesnt know who he is sometimes and frequently doesnt know where or when he is either.

Appeals to the public for help

Knudsen said on Sunday that Brown was known to local law enforcement before the shooting. It was widely believed that he knew at least some of the victims, given how close he lived to the bar.

Law enforcement released a photograph of Brown from surveillance footage taken shortly after the fatal shootings. He appeared to be barefoot and in minimal clothing.

But law enforcement now believes Brown ditched the vehicle he escaped in and stole a different one that had camping gear, shoes and clothes in it  leaving open the possibility that Brown is now clothed.

The last time that law enforcement saw Brown was on Friday afternoon, but there was some confusion because there were multiple white vehicles involved, Knudsen said.

There is a $7,500 reward for any information that leads to Brown's capture.

This is still Montana. Montanans know how to take care of themselves. But please, if you have any sightings, call 911, Knudsen said. ___

Riddle is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The White Sox have released right-handers Noah Syndergaard and Penn Murfee. Syndergaards release was announced today, while Murfees MLB.com profile page indicates he was let go on Friday.

Syndergaard signed a minor league deal with Chicago in late June, which marked his first contract with any team since he was released by the Guardians in August 2023. Despite some interest from teams during the 2023-24 offseason, Syndergaard ended up not pitching anywhere in 2024, so the Sox started him off with some rookie ball outings just to get acclimated back to game action before reporting to Triple-A Charlotte. Syndergaard had a 2.93 ERA over his 15 1/3 frames of Rookie League work, but then was hit hard for a 10.13 ERA over two outings and eight innings at the Triple-A level. The ugly numbers in Charlotte included only two strikeouts, and a rather incredible five homers allowed.

While eight innings is obviously a small sample size, it was enough for the White Sox to decide to move on from Syndergaard, putting the former All-Star at yet another career crossroads. Syndergaard turns 33 later this month, and it is fair to wonder if retirement could be a possibility. Despite his past pedigree, the amount of time it took for him to land even a minor league contract could indicate that evaluators simply doubt he can ever regain any of his past effectiveness.

A frontline member of the Mets pitching staff during his prime years, Syndergaard has never really recovered from a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for virtually all of the 2020-21 seasons. He pitched decently well in posting a 3.94 ERA over 134 2/3 innings for the Angels and Phillies in 2022, but rather than approach his old form or at least settle in at a mid-rotation arm, Syndergaard regressed in the form of a 6.50 ERA in 88 2/3 frames with the Dodgers and Guardians in 2023.

Murfee is another pitcher whose career was interrupted by a major arm injury. After posting a 2.70 ERA for the Mariners in his first 83 1/3 career big league innings, he underwent UCL surgery in June 2023, and some elbow discomfort kept him from making his return late in the 2024 season as a member of the Astros.

The White Sox claimed Murfee off waivers from Houston last November, marking the fourth time in a 13-month that the right-hander had changed teams on the waiver wire. Murfee made his return to the Show in the form of 12 2/3 innings of 7.82 ball for the White Sox earlier this season. Chicago outrighted the hurler to Triple-A in early May, and while Murfee had a respectable 4.09 ERA over 22 innings for Charlotte, he has recorded more walks (18) than strikeouts (16).
A boat navigates the Detroit River as a haze from Canadian wildfire smoke blankets Detroit and creates poor air quality, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) AP

DETROIT, MI  There are only a couple of cities on Earth with worse air quality today than Michigans largest metropolis.

Detroit currently is ranked third worst worldwide for major city air quality today, Aug. 4, because of smoke from Canadian wildfires hovering over much of the Midwest. Only Baghdad in the Middle East and Kinshasa in Africa are worse.

In fact, there is nowhere in Michigan with good air quality today. The Upper Peninsula has moderate conditions at best, and the entirety of Lower Michigan is considered outright unhealthy or unhealthy for certain groups.

Wildfire smoke contains not only hazardous air pollutants like carbon monoxide, but it also carries fine particles small enough to penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. That can worsen respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, triggering asthma attacks or even heart attacks.

Canadian environmental officials said smoke from that countrys dozens of burning wildfires would clear some areas after the weekend. And while conditions in the Dakotas and Minnesota somewhat improved today, wildfire smoke remains blanketed across much of the eastern United States.

Related: Wildfire smoke hangs on, temperatures inch higher each day

Air quality measurements show unhealthy conditions across a large swath of the country, stretching from the Great Lakes in Green Bay, Wisconsin, east all the way to Maines Atlantic coast.

Health officials say people with lung disease, heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant women are most susceptible to the poor breathing conditions and are advised to stay indoors. Medical experts say exposure to the smoky air can have short- and long-term health consequences.

Frustrations over wildfire smoke have prompted a blame game from Michigan politicians.

Michigan politician Candice Miller, a former Republican congresswoman and current Macomb County official, said Canadian officials should do better at controlling their summer wildfire season.

Smoke from Canada wildfires should not be a regular part or our summers but unfortunately thats become the norm in our state and others, Miller said.

Related: Are your allergies really that bad, or is it the wildfire smoke?

Republican Congressman Jack Bergman from the Upper Peninsula also chimed in, arguing Canada should thin its forests and reduce wildfire risks with prescribed burns. He called the problem of widespread forest fires polluting the air with smoke an environmental and public health priority for both the U.S. and Canada.

Meanwhile, one policy expert said equitable health protections will be important as Michigan faces increasing poor air quality days because of wildfire smoke from Canada.

Were seeing high rates of asthma, which is worse for those that are more vulnerable, said Samantha Pickering, environmental health policy manager for nonprofit Michigan Environmental Council during a July 21 webinar.

However, Pickering said she fears Michigans asthma control program may be at risk following uncertainty of federal funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir, which assesses air quality in real time, also ranked other Midwestern cities with some of the worse air conditions worldwide in recent days, including both Chicago and Minneapolis.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Minnesota Vikings kicker Greg Joseph (1) celebrates with teammates after kicking a 54-yard field goal on the final play in an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 19-17. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) AP

The San Francisco 49ers continue to reshape their roster during training camp, leaning once again on players who previously wore the Detroit Lions Honolulu blue and silver.

On Monday, ESPNs Adam Schefter reported a series of roster moves by the 49ers, including the signing of former Lions defensive lineman Bruce Hector to a one-year deal.

In a corresponding move, the team will release kicker Greg Joseph, another former Lion.

The recent transactions by the 49ers mark the third time during this years training camp they have signed former Lions players. Over the past two weeks, the 49ers have signed running back Ameer Abdullah, a 2015 second-round pick and wide receiver Quintez Cephus, whom the Lions selected in the fifth-round of the 2020 draft.

Hector, 30, was claimed off waivers by Detroit in July 2021 following his release from the Tennessee Titans. That season, the former South Florida standout -- who entered the league undrafted in 2018 -- appeared in three games for the Lions, logging 52 total snaps and five combined tackles.

Over two seasons in Detroit, Hector bounced between the active roster and practice squad before being released on Oct. 25, 2022.

In addition to the Lions and Titans, Hector has spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Houston Texans, and the Arlington Renegades of the UFL.

Joseph, 31, briefly joined the Lions practice squad in September 2024 following his release from the Green Bay Packers. His stint in Detroit was short-lived, as the New York Giants signed him to their active roster just six days later after an injury to kicker Graham Gano.

Along with the Lions, 49ers, Giants, and Packers, Joseph has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, and New York Jets. He was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl LV.

Before his brief stint in Detroit, Joseph was the hero of the Lions-Vikings Week 5 matchup in Minneapolis. With three seconds left in regulation, Joseph nailed a 54-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to give the Vikings a 19-17 win over the Lions.
A Jayhawk helicopter at U.S. Air Station Traverse City, designed for long-range search and rescue work. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- A trio of U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers who normally respond to emergencies on the water found themselves responding to a medical emergency on land recently when they heard an explosion near their Air Station in Traverse City.

Last Thursday, three rescue swimmers for the Air Station - Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Mauricio, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Lowen and Petty Officer 3rdClass Bradley Beauchamp - were walking back to the station after lunch when an explosion occurred at a nearby welding shop. All three men heard the explosion and felt a shockwave.

While emergency responders were on the way, someone on scene told them medical help was needed.

The swimmers grabbed EMS go bags and took a personal vehicle to respond to the incident, Coast Guard officials said. Once there, they were able to assist a Traverse City police officer who was supporting the neck of an injured person. They put a cervical collar on the patient, gave the person some oxygen and kept the patient stable until the EMS crew arrived.

Im just glad we were close enough to have a short response time, Petty Officer 2nd Class Mauricio said in a statement released by the military. Part of being a Coast Guard rescue swimmer is a bias for action, being able to respond at a moments notice regardless of the situation.

Thanks to the immediate response of our local EMS, we were able to stabilize the survivor and get him to a higher level of care as quickly as possible.

The Air Station in Northern Michigan uses helicopter crews and rescue swimmers to respond to search-and-rescue emergencies and medical calls across the western Great Lakes. Recent rescues have included five people who had been on a sailboat that sank after its rudder broke during a storm in Lake Michigan, and three people airlifted from the water in Sturgeon Bay after their boat capsized off Wilderness State Park.
This combination of photos shows Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 8, 2025, from left, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 12, 2024, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in Annapolis, Md., May 15, 2025, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker in Washington, June 12, 2025, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Washington, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo) AP

By BILL BARROW Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP)  Anderson Clayton wanted a headline name to speak at North Carolina Democrats summer gala  but the state party chair bypassed familiar Capitol Hill figures, looking instead to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

She described him as a real fighter against President Donald Trump, someone who gets things done because he actually controls levers of government  unlike any Democrat in Washington.

I wanted people to hear from one of the Democratic governors who has defended their state, who could look at the president and say, Im in a position of power right now just like you are, and Im doing good things, Clayton said.

Indeed, some Democratic activists see the partys 23 governors as their best answer to Trumps second Republican presidency. Those statehouse chiefs provide proof voters will embrace alternatives  and could give them a roadmap for the 2026 midterms, when Democrats hope at least to reclaim a U.S. House majority. They also will likely be central to the partys hopes in the 2028 presidential race.

There is no question Democrats are down at the federal level. Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate, allowing Trump to pursue an aggressive agenda. The party lacks a singular leader, and recent polling shows Democratic voters are deeply pessimistic about their partys future.

Yet many governors reject the narrative that Democrats are reeling.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a 46-year-old first-term executive, points to his work on economic development, job growth and reducing crime.

Who was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement? I mean, there were multiple people who had leadership roles, Moore said. I mean, if you want to see ... the direction that people should be going, show me a place thats delivering results.

You have to deliver for people

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, has been in congressional majorities and in the minority. Now shes the Democratic nominee for governor in one of two 2025 governors races. Her former House colleague Abigail Spanberger is the Democratic nominee in Virginia.

I can tell you what attracted me to run for governor is that theres no ability to blame anything on anybody else, Sherrill said. You have a vision as governor, and you have to deliver for people.

Emilys List President Jessica Mackler, whose organization backs Democratic women for public office, praised Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a possible 2028 presidential contender, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is seeking reelection in 2026, for canceling some medical debts.

Pritzker secured a $15 per hour state minimum wage. In Kansas, Democratic Governors Association chair and two-term Gov. Laura Kelly worked with Republican legislative majorities to reduce and finally eliminate state sales taxes on groceries. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who is running for the Senate, expanded Medicaid insurance coverage in states with Republican legislative majorities.

Governors are so important because they are on the front lines, Mackler said.

Democratic governors, she added, have shored up abortion access after the Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs decision ended a national right to the procedure, and theyve defended access to health care for transgender patients, even in conservative states. That includes Kentuckys Beshear, elected twice in a state Trump carried three times.

Its about more than Trump

Some governors stand out as aggressive Trump critics, including some possible 2028 contenders.

Our democracy is on the line, Pritzker said at the North Carolina event. Are you ready to fight?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom jousts with the Trump administration on social media, and hes produced podcasts aimed at Trump voters. But Sherrill and others say being a Democratic governor is not simply about opposing Trump on a personal level.

People are furious that a president who ran on affordability is actually raising costs on everyone, she said.

She cited Trumps trade wars and the GOPs tax cuts that are tilted to the wealthy while their safety net program cuts hit the poor and working class. Democrats, she said, must level attacks based on how policies affect voters, then offer plausible alternatives.

Im talking to thousands of New Jerseyans every day, and what Im hearing is, I just need somebody whos going to go to Trenton and deliver for me, Sherrill said.

Republicans have defended their bill, saying it was crucial because there wouldve been a massive tax increase after December when tax breaks from Trumps first term would expire.

Bright spots for Democrats

Bradley Beychok, a Democratic consultant and co-founder of the American Bridge super political action committee, said the dynamics in Washington are frustrating.

When you lose a presidential election and the House and the Senate, no one is happy, and they shouldnt be, he said.

But, Beychok added, the reality is we lost a close election and had key down-ballot wins.

Republicans had the so-called Washington trifecta at the start of Trumps first term, and Democrats bottomed out then at just 15 out of 50 governors. But in succeeding years they flipped nine governors seats. Only one Democratic incumbent governor has lost since, and their current slate of 23 includes five of seven presidential battlegrounds Trump swept in 2024.

People are willing to split their ballots because they connect the results they see on the ground with their governors, said Clayton, who celebrated a win in North Carolina by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein despite Trump carrying the state. Now we just have to do a better job of localizing the federal elections the same way.

A Spanberger win in Virginia would give Democrats 24 governors heading into 2026, when 36 executive seats will be on midterm ballots. New Jersey currently has a Democratic governor.

Governors can swing the presidential pendulum

History suggests a base of state power bodes well for opposition parties in Washington.

Bill Clinton was a longtime governor in 1992 when he ended Republicans winning streak of three presidential election landslides. His successor, George W. Bush, was among the many Republicans governors elected in the GOPs 1994 midterm sweep. Before Clinton and Bush, Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Jimmy Carter won the presidency as former governors.

Many current Democratic executives have visited early nominating states or, like Pritzker, general election battlegrounds. Most of them, Marylands Moore included, dismiss 2028 speculation.

We dont have the time, he said.

___ Associated Press writer Steve Peoples in Colorado Springs, Colo., contributed to this report.
A logo for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Courtesy graphic

LEELANAU COUNTY, MI  All public facilities of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians were closed Monday, due to what tribal officials are calling an imminent threat to a few key staff members.

The closure was made out of an abundance of caution and with the safety of our community as our top priority, tribal officials posted on social media shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4.

While we understand the inconvenience this may cause, the protection of our people must take priority, the post continues.

Tribal officials and law enforcement are actively assessing the situation and updates will be provided via social media when available.

Essential services, including the GTB Clinic in Suttons Bay, Tribal Police and ETM services will continue to operate at their physical locations, the post states. Emergency contacts also remain available for urgent needs.

Other GTB governmental services will be staffed remotely where possible.

The Grand Traverse Band is headquartered in Peshawbestown and also has offices in East Jordan.

A reference to COVID-19 protocols being in place at the clinic made in a prior announcement was not to mean that a threat of COVID-19 was present, but that it is currently necessary to call the clinic before entry to be granted admission.

We respect the necessity of confidentiality in the tribal police investigatory process, and we will inform you as soon as the investigatory process permits, Monday evenings announcement states.

People are asked to avoid spreading unverified information and asked to rely only on authorized sources.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The impasse over the final resting place of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu heads back to the High Court in Pretoria today for a final determination on the matter.The Zambian government is seeking declaratory relief, which would entitle it the right to repatriate the former President's body to Zambia for a state funeral and burial in Embassy Park, Lusaka.Lungu's burial, which was set to take place in June this year, was interdicted (by agreement between parties) pending the final determination of this issue.The Zambian government charges in papers that while former President Lungu's benefits were suspended when he became engaged in active politics, that impediment fell away upon his passing.As a result, Lungu became entitled to a state funeral and the Zambian government acquired the right to accord him such.
MACOMB COUNTY, MI  Several people called 911 Sunday morning after witnessing a man beating and dragging a dog near a mobile home park in Macomb County, police said.

Macomb County Sheriffs deputies responded to the 12000 block of St. Michel Avenue in Springbrook Estates, according to a news release from Michigan State Police Second District. They conducted a traffic stop on the suspect and took him into custody.

During the arrest, the 31-year-old Bruce Township man became combative but was handcuffed without injury, police said However, he allegedly damaged the patrol car.

The suspect was taken to Macomb County Jail, police said. Charges of animal abuse and damage to police property are pending prosecutor review.

The dog was taken to a veterinarian for emergency medical care and is expected to survive, police said.
MICHIGAN -- State Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined another multi-state lawsuit against President Donald Trumps administration, this time looking to prevent the chopping of federal funds for EV charging stations.

Nessel announced the lawsuit Monday, Aug. 4.

Congress year ago appropriated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and Michigan was to receive $87 million for 2022-2027.

Related: Michigans Attorney General has sued Trump 26 times in six months. See what for

The funds were meant for building EV charging stations to make them more publicly accessible.

Trump earlier this year ordered a pause to disbursement of funds under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including NEVI funding.

Michigan is still due $29 million for the charging station program, Nessel said.

The Trump Administrations decision to unilaterally cut off these funds is not only unlawful  it jeopardizes Michigans EV infrastructure, while threatening our economic growth and environmental progress, Nessel said in a prepared statement.

Michigan is one of 21 states taking part in the multi-state lawsuit.

ocal Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
EMMET COUNTY, MI  A 14-year-old boy drowned at a Lake Michigan beach over the weekend.

According to the Emmet County Sheriffs Office, the young teen from Alanson went underwater at Sturgeon Bay Beach in Bliss Township at 5:41 p.m. on Sunday.

Authorities were dispatched after receiving a report that two teenage male subjects were struggling to stay afloat in the water.

An unknown male bystander courageously rescued one of the teenagers, deputies said.

The Emmet County Dive Team responded promptly to the scene. After an exhaustive search effort, they recovered the body in the area he was last seen swimming. His name has not been released.

Our hearts are broken for the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time, said Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein while emphasizing the hazards of Lake Michigan,

Our dive team rescuers advised me there was a very strong northeast current that pulled them in that direction as they entered the water to begin their search efforts. This is just a reminder Northern Lake Michigan and its currents are very dangerous. We urge everyone to exercise extreme caution when entering the water.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the U.S. Coast Guard, Emmet County EMS, Emmet County Search and Rescue, Pellston Fire Department, Carp Lake Fire Department, Readmond-Friendship Fire Department and the Emmet County Medical Examiners Office.
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, now a museum, is part of the Mackinac State Historic Parks. Michigan DNR

MACKINAW CITY, MI  The beautiful Castle on the Straits lighthouse will host special events in celebration of National Lighthouse Day.

On Thursday, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse will add special programs, yard games and more to its regularly scheduled tours and fog signal demonstrations.

The lighthouse, part of Mackinac State Historic Parks, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Daily admission is $10.75 for adults and $7.50 for children, ages 5-12. Find it at 526 N. Huron Ave. in Mackinaw City.

The lighthouse has stood for more than 130 years. It was decommissioned in 1957. Today, it serves as a museum with restored quarters and exhibits, including the original lens. The museum also offers tower climbs and a movie on shipwrecks in the Straits of Mackinac.

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City seen from an Arnold Transit Company ferry as it heads under the bridge on a special ferry trip that takes you underneath the iconic Mackinac Bridge on the way to Mackinac Island on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

Heres the schedule of special programs for National Lighthouse Day:

11 a.m.: Life at Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Tour

Noon: Lemonade and Yard Games

1 p.m.: Inspecting a Lighthouse Program

2 p.m.: Archaeology at Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Program

3 p.m.: Lighthouses of the Straits Tour

Regular tower tours are also scheduled every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except at 2 p.m. Fog signal demonstrations are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Tower tours are provided on a first-come, first-served basis; 10 people per tour. Participants must wear shoes with a closed back and cannot wear a backpack or carry belongings or children in their hands/arms. Must be at least 4 feet tall to climb. Find tower climb rules here.

Climbing the tower includes a 51-step wrought-iron staircase, navigating through a narrow opening, and scaling an 11-rung ladder.

Visit the Fog Signal Building Museum Store upon arrival to sign up for a tower tour at no additional cost.

Refurbished rooms and guided tours take you back in time inside the lighthouse along the Straits of Mackinac. Photo courtesy of Mackinac State Historic Parks.

Parking at Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse is free. The main lot is located adjacent to the site entrance. Additional parking is located along Huron Ave. and nearby at the Colonial Michilimackinac entrance.

The lighthouse grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Aug. 31. Fall hours, Sept. 1 to Oct. 6, will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

National Lighthouse Day is celebrated every year on Aug. 7 to commemorate the day in 1789 that Congress approved an act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers. It was first celebrated on the 200th anniversary in 1989.
Christian Michael Thompson, 29, appeared for a virtual arraignment in Kent Countys 63rd District Court on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. Thompson is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder stemming from an Aug. 2 stabbing inside the Walmart store on Alpine Avenue NW that left one person injured. Bradley Massman | MLive.com

KENT COUNTY, MI  A 23-year-old man was looking at stereos inside a Grand Rapids area Walmart when he was randomly attacked and stabbed three times.

The fleeing suspect, Christian Michael Thompson, was later arrested after he was hit by a vehicle in the parking lot and held down by bystanders, court records show.

Thompson, 29, appeared virtually for arraignment on Monday, Aug. 4, stemming from an altercation at the Walmart in Alpine Township.

He was charged with one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 15-year felony.

Grand Rapids District Judge Jeffrey OHara set bond at $500,000 cash or surety because there were concerns regarding the unprovoked attack of a random person in our community.

The incident unfolded Friday night, Aug. 1, at Walmart on Alpine Avenue NW.

Kent County sheriffs deputies detailed their investigation leading to Thompsons arrest in an affidavit of probable cause.

Detectives spoke with the injured 23-year-old man after he underwent surgery for his injuries.

The man said he was in Walmart looking at stereos with his brother and a friend. He said he felt something on his back, turned around, and was stabbed two more times.

He thought he was being punched at first, but noticed he was bleeding and ran to the pharmacy section to look for materials to stop the bleeding, the affidavit states.

One witness was in the parking lot when he saw Thompson being chased by another man shouting, (Thompson) had just stabbed someone.

The witness got in his vehicle, and going about 20 mph, struck a running Thompson who was held down by bystanders until police arrived.

Thompson denied the stabbing in an interview with police and had no idea why he was in custody.

He was adamant there was no altercation and said he didnt speak with anyone inside the store. He said that while he was looking for his truck, which he thought was stolen, he was randomly struck by a vehicle and attacked by multiple people, the affidavit states.

Thompson is scheduled to appear in court next on Aug. 13 for a probable cause hearing.

The attack at the Grand Rapids area store occurred less than one week after Bradford James Gille injured 11 people in a July 26 mass stabbing at the Traverse City Walmart.

He faces 11 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism  all potential life offenses, if convicted.

Gille was recently ordered to undergo a competency evaluation prior to his next court hearing. Gilles family says he has a long history of issues with mental illness and substance use.
A screenshot of the Ever Loved page collecting donations for the family of Mia Sims who was fatally shot July 27, 2025. Photo provided by Ever Loved

JACKSON, MI  Donations are being sought to help pay funeral expenses for a Jackson girl who was fatally shot outside her church last month.

An Ever Loved page was recently created to collect donations for the family of Mia Amari Sims to aid in paying for her funeral and help her family in their time of grief.

As of noon Monday, Aug. 4, the page has collected more than $5,000.

MLive could not reach Sims family for comment.

Ever Loved is a charitable crowd-sourcing website similar to GoFundMe but focuses on helping people navigate the process of losing loved ones and memorializing them in meaningful ways.

Sims, 18, was fatally shot Sunday, July 27, in the 1500 block of Carl Breeding Way in south Jackson, Jackson Police Chief Chris Simpson said.

She was shot less than 100 feet away from her church, the United Peoples Community Church, while she was collecting something from her car.

Police have not disclosed whether Sims was targeted in the shooting. Simpson declined to comment citing an ongoing investigation.

Sims visitation is from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Burden & Patience-Montgomery, 1806 E. Michigan Ave. in Jackson, according to her obituary.

A family hour is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Lily Baptist Church, 1117 W G Wade Dr. in Jackson with burial to follow at Woodland Cemetery.

Funeral services will be live streamed on the United Peoples Community Churchs YouTube channel.

Sims had recently graduated from Jackson High School and celebrated her 18th birthday a week before the shooting, according to her Facebook page.

Mia was a proud member of the Jackson High School Class of 2025. Her life, though far too short, was filled with joy, kindness and a beautiful light that touched many, Jackson Public School Superintendent Jeremy Patterson said. She lived with purpose and heartalways smiling, always friendly and always doing great things. As we each navigate this immense grief, let us remember that everyone experiences sorrow in their own way. There is no right or wrong path to healing.

In May, Sims earned her certificate from the esthetician program at the Jackson Area Career Center and was eager to earn an esthetician license from the state, Sims wrote on her Facebook page.

An esthetician is a skin care specialist who focuses on improving the health and appearance of the skin.

Sims was also a member of the City of Jackson Youth Council, serving since August 2022 with one year being the vice chairperson of the council.

Her creative ideas and artistry were instrumental in the work of our council, officials wrote on the City of Jackson Facebook page. Mias dedicated efforts in raising awareness about stopping violence in our city were commendable, and we will continue to honor her legacy through our work.

No arrests have been made and the shooting remains under investigation by the Jackson Police Department and the Major Crimes Task Force.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Thomas Tinklepaugh at 517-768-8637, Lt. Pete Postma at 517-768-8633 or Crime Stoppers at 517-483-7867.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page.
The Center for Forensic Psychiatry, located at 8303 Platt Road in Saline, Mich., is seen in this file photo.

TAWAS CITY, MI  Previously found incompetent, a northern Michigan man accused of keeping a woman chained up in his house as he sexually assaulted her is now psychologically fit for trial.

Richard M. Shears III, 35, on July 25 appeared before Iosco County Circuit Judge David C. Riffel for a competency hearing. Riffel relied on reports from clinicians at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry to find Shears competency had been suitably restored for him to participate in court proceedings.
BAY CITY, MI  Residents on Sunday, Aug. 3, gathered outside the Bay County building downtown in protest of the Bay City Bridge Partners in what is dubbed the Our City, Our Bridges rally.

The group had a list of demands for the bridge company, which leased two of Bay Citys drawbridges more than five years ago and began charging tolls.

Organizers said they hope the bridge partners will reinstate its $15 per month subscription program for out-of-city commuters, low-income options for county residents, and a cap on late fees.

They also request the company rescind its nondisclosure agreements with the city.

The DSA believes at its core that the government, society, and its infrastructure belong to We The People, not the corporations who are in control of our government and are steadily taking over this countrys private infrastructure, said Kayla Harper, community ambassador for the Bay County chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, which organized the event.

One of those corporations is Bay City Bridge Partners and its parent company, United Bridge Partners, she said. Our city was already struggling before they got here, but their presence, exploitation of our community, and refusal to act in good faith have made our citys problems so much worse.

A message to the general manager of Bay City Bridge Partners wasnt immediately returned.

The Bay City Bridge Partners and its parent company, the Colorado-based United Bridge Partners, have faced criticism from Bay City residents since taking over the leases for the Independence and Liberty bridges.

Several protests have been held in opposition to the tolls employed by the private company.

While the company was open about its plans to implement tolls on the bridges it took over from the city in 2019, it reneged on plans to rebuild Independence Bridge, opting instead to renovate the structure. Similar renovations occurred on Liberty Bridge, as well.

Earlier this year, emails between the company and Bay County officials revealed an agreement proposed by the company that would have resulted in a 25% discount on current transponder toll rates for the county  but with the caveat they act as stewards for the bridges and not provide any communications to the public about the arrangement.

Dozens of people waved at passing vehicles, held signs high above their heads that chastised the actions of the local bridge group and listened as political candidates spoke in support of their cause.

U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed spoke on the injustices faced by Bay City Citizens, highlighting the bridge as a metaphor for broader issues needing to be addressed.

It shouldnt be this hard to afford groceries, shouldnt be this hard to work the same job tomorrow that you worked yesterday, he said. It shouldnt be this hard to see a doctor, and it shouldnt be this hard to cross bridges in your own damn community.

State senate candidate Pamela Pugh added the bridge will cause clear concerns for the community, especially for working families.

When working families are forced to decide between getting to work on time or picking up their children or dropping their kids off or paying a bridge toll, we are witnessing a humanitarian crisis, she said. One that we have the power and the responsibility to stop.

Residents also addressed the issues they are still facing today, months after the Independence Bridge began charging tolls and a year after the Liberty Bridge did the same.

Marilee White focused on the issues those struggling with health conditions face while trying to navigate a city connected by one free bridge.

A lifelong Bay City resident bound to a wheelchair as she battles the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, White spoke about how significantly the bridge would impact disabled individuals.

Anything that affects people on a whole affects the disabled community tenfold, she said. Disabled people literally cannot afford to go over the tolls. We dont have room in our budgets. And I want to point out that the bridge partners do not offer lower prices for disabled people.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, said if Republicans wont work across the aisle to walk back Medicaid cuts, its going to be tough to get my vote on a budget next month.

The first-term Michigan senator was responding to a question asked during her visit to Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital Monday, regarding if Democrats are considering any legislation to address hospital providers concerns about recent cuts to Medicaid.
90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? season 9 continues every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Watch the 90 Day Fiance spin-off weekly on TLC.

Stream the series with Philo, DirecTV, and Sling. Viewers can also find the 90 Day franchise on Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and Hulu + Live TV (bundle and save), with select TLC shows available on Discovery+.

About 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?:

Eight couples continue their 90 Day Fiance journeys throughout 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? The TLC reality series follows up with each pair as they navigate life after the K-1 visa process and their time on the original show.

The couples:

Gino & Jasmine, Brandon & Julia, Tigerlily & Adnan, Kara & Guillermo, Jovi & Yara, Elizabeth & Andrei, Loren & Alexei, Darcey & Georgi

What to expect from episode 5, Theres No Place Like Home:

Season 9, episode 5, Theres No Place Like Home, finds Darcey and Georgi working on romance in Bulgaria. Meanwhile, Gino allows Jasmine one final opportunity to explain whats been going on; Yara has a surprise for Jovi; and Julias fertility appointment does not go as anticipated.

Watch the latest episode Sunday, August 3 at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.

Where to stream TLC:

Streaming service Free trial Promo Starting price Philo Yes N/A $28/month DirecTV Yes Save $30 on the first month with Choice & Ultimate plans $84.99/month Sling No Half off the first month, stream TLC with the Lifestyle Extra (additional $6/month) $45.99/month

Select TLC shows like 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? are also available on Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. Choose the HBO Max Bundle below to unlock all three streaming services starting at only $16.99/month.

Season 9 trailer:
News / National

by Staff reporter

The escalating political battle within Zanu-PF over the controversial co-option of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei into the ruling party's Central Committee has intensified, with legal affairs secretary Patrick Chinamasa openly clashing with spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa and secretary-general Obert Mpofu.Mutsvangwa recently told journalists in Harare that Tagwirei had not been co-opted, arguing the process was flawed and that the tycoon was ineligible. But Chinamasa insists Tagwirei's appointment was approved by the politburo and is effectively a done deal, pending formal adoption by the Central Committee at its next sitting.Taking to X (formerly Twitter) last night, Chinamasa accused critics of creating unnecessary "furore" over what he described as a settled matter. He detailed how Harare Province's Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) met on 31 March 2025 and recommended Tagwirei's co-option. The recommendation was tabled before the politburo by National Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha on 2 July and approved without objection.Chinamasa also revealed that the politburo minutes of both the 384th and 385th Ordinary Sessions confirmed Tagwirei's co-option. Notably, he stated that his own circular of 30 Juneissued by the Legal Affairs Departmenthad replaced an earlier one from Mpofu dated 5 June, effectively making his version the operative guideline."I have been a member of the Zanu-PF Central Committee continuously and without break since December 1987, and a member of the politburo since 2000 to date, and I can state unequivocally that throughout this long period we have never had to debate, let alone discuss, PCC recommendations of co-options into the Central Committee," Chinamasa wrote. "The co-option of Cde Tagwirei is the first ever to be the subject of discussion and social media commentaries."He suggested the backlash stemmed from unnamed individuals "with an axe to grind" against Tagwirei, whom he praised for his commitment to Zanu-PF and service to the party.The standoff has become a flashpoint in the ruling party's increasingly visible factional tensions, widely seen as linked to succession positioning within Zanu-PF. Chinamasa's comments also underline his ongoing feud with Mpofu over who has the authority to regulate co-options, as well as his now very public dispute with Mutsvangwa.At the same politburo session that endorsed Tagwirei's appointment, co-options from Mashonaland West and Matabeleland North were also approved, with all expected to be formally adopted by the Central Committee at its next meeting.Political observers say the battle over Tagwirei's seat reflects far more than procedural wrangling  it is part of a deeper struggle for influence and control within Zanu-PF ahead of any future leadership transition.
Hazy skies will be sticking around for another day or two, as Canadian wildfire smoke continues to make its mark on our Michigan summer.

And while the first couple days of this week will be a carbon copy of this weekend with sunny skies and highs in the low 80s, as the week wears on, daytime highs are expected to rise a little each day. By the end of this week, we could see high temperatures reach 90 in some parts of Michigan, the National Weather Service said.

For the next few days, theres no rain in sight across the state.

Here is the statewide forecast combined from the NWS offices around Michigan:

We can expect continued hazy conditions from Canadian wildfire smoke and gradually warming temperatures this week, with highs climbing into the 80s and potentially reaching 90 degrees by the weekend.

An Air Quality Alert remains in effect for multiple Michigan regions, with smoke from Canadian wildfires continuing to create reduced visibility and potential air quality concerns. The smoke will persist through Monday and potentially Tuesday, creating hazy skies across the state.

Temperatures will steadily increase throughout the week, starting in the low 80s on Monday and climbing to the upper 80s by late week. The National Weather Service forecasts a significant warming trend, with some areas potentially experiencing temperatures near 90 degrees by Friday and Saturday.

The extended forecast indicates a building heat ridge that will bring increasingly humid conditions. While most areas will remain dry, there are slim chances of isolated afternoon showers on Wednesday, particularly in inland areas. The weekend is expected to be hot, with heat indices potentially reaching 90 to 95 degrees.

Long-term models suggest the heat pattern will continue into next week, with limited precipitation chances. Michigan residents should prepare for warmer temperatures by staying hydrated, using sun protection, and monitoring air quality conditions, especially those sensitive to heat and smoke.

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from the National Weather Service. It was reviewed, edited and expanded by MLive staff.
Rohit Singh

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PB Balaji appointed Jaguar Land Rover CEO, to take charge after Adrian Mardell's exit in November

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Zanu-PF's simmering succession battle has erupted into open confrontation, with the party's legal affairs secretary Patrick Chinamasa clashing head-on with secretary-general Obert Mpofu and spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa over the controversial co-option of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei into the ruling party's Central Committee.The dispute has laid bare deep divisions within the party, with Chinamasa moving to override Mpofu's June 30 circular that outlined the official guidelines for co-opting members into the Central Committee. Chinamasa issued his own directive purporting to withdraw Mpofu's circular, a move widely interpreted as aimed at ensuring Tagwirei's eligibility.Mutsvangwa, in a recent media briefing, flatly declared Tagwirei ineligible for co-option, insisting that the businessman had not met the necessary criteria. Chinamasa, however, insists Tagwirei has already been successfully co-opted, setting the stage for a fierce intra-party standoff.The public disagreement has now drawn the battlelines between Mutsvangwa and Chinamasa, exposing factional manoeuvres linked to the question of who will eventually succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Tagwirei's perceived alignment with certain factions has made his presence in the Central Committee a lightning rod for political tensions.While Mpofu has remained largely restrained in public since Chinamasa's intervention, insiders say he is irked by the legal affairs chief's attempt to usurp the secretary-general's constitutional role in managing internal administrative processes.Chinamasa, a political heavyweight and combative veteran known for his fiery exchanges  including a notorious 2004 incident in which he was violently shoved to the floor in Parliament by the late MDC legislator Roy Bennett during a heated debate  has signalled he is prepared to fight both Mpofu and Mutsvangwa to defend his position.The row over Tagwirei's co-option is widely seen within Zanu-PF as more than just a procedural squabble. It is increasingly viewed as a proxy battle in the intensifying succession struggle, with factions manoeuvring to secure strategic positions and allies ahead of a possible leadership transition.Party insiders warn that unless the dispute is resolved quickly, it risks spilling further into the public domain, deepening perceptions of instability within Zanu-PF's upper echelons at a time when unity is being publicly projected as paramount.
Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com.

Saurav Pandey

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Thinking of Studying Abroad? Heres why Ireland is the new favourite for Indian students

MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

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MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Nkosana Makate has criticised the Constitutional Court for requiring him to pay Vodacom's legal costs in the latest round of his case against the operator over compensation for his Please Call Me Idea.In an interview with the Sunday Times, Makate said he was "being beaten to the ground by the highest court in the land" for being required to pay legal costs for the Supreme Court of Appeal's mistakes."It's a strong message to those who litigate against giants and corporates. You're made to carry the load of a botched hearing by our own judges," Makate said.Makate also said that he would not accept Vodacom's current compensation offer and would continue his case against the operator at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).On Thursday, the apex court overturned a controversial SCA ruling that made it impossible for Vodacom to determine an appropriate payout for Makate's idea.The SCA ruled that Vodacom must pay between 5% and 7.5% of the voice revenue that Please Call Me generated over 18 years, plus interest.It also ruled that Vodacom must use Makate's models to calculate the appropriate amount, which the operator calculated would be between R29 billion and R63 billion.In considering the appeal, Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga explained that such a total failure by a superior court was new ground within South Africa's jurisprudence.In its unanimous ruling, the court found that the SCA judgment was "thinly reasoned and characterised by confusing reasoning."At times, it also contained statements that showed a disregard for or lack of awareness about the facts and issues.The ruling said that Vodacom's right to a fair hearing at the SCA was violated and that a new panel of judges must rehear the matter.Due to the size of the court record, including the complexity and novelty of the issues and the very large amount at stake, the court found it "a fair and just request" that the costs of three counsel be awarded."Obviously, costs in this court must follow the result. About costs of the abortive SCA hearing, none of the parties is to blame," Madlanga said."Mr Makate himself saw the need to take the precaution of having three counsel appear for him before us. His written argument was settled by six counsel, three of whom were silks [senior legal professionals]."Makate told the Sunday Times that he felt the ruling was "very harsh" for someone with limited resources to "fight for justice.""[The Constitutional Court] says to me the SCA botched things without [ensuring] proper consideration, then slaps me with costs. For what?" he said.It is important to note that Makate had submitted responding papers, which Vodacom argued had tried to make the SCA's order enforceable by vacating certain claims the original order potentially entitled him to.Vodacom said that, in effect, Makate aimed to ensure the order was read as 5% Please Call Me revenue share plus mora interest."What he attempts to do is to rewrite the SCA majority's order by abandoning' select words within an order in the hope that it reads more sensibly," said Vodacom.Makate's battle with Vodacom began in 2008, initially losing in the High Court and SAC. However, the Constitutional Court ruled in 2016 that a verbal agreement existed between Makate and Vodacom.The apex court ordered Vodacom to negotiate with Makate in good faith to determine appropriate compensation. Foreseeing a challenge, it designated the Vodacom CEO as the deadlock-breaker.Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub subsequently offered R47 million for the idea, which Makate rejected as "shocking" and "an insult."He turned back to the courts to argue for compensation of up to R126 billion, ultimately leading back to the SCA and Constitutional Court.Makate first proposed his idea for a "buzzing option" that could send a missed call without using any airtime in 2000. Experts explained that building such a feature was technically impossible at the time.Therefore, mobile operators explored ways of notifying subscribers that someone wanted to call them without going through the call setup procedure, such as USSD and SMS.MTN was first to patent a USSD-based Please Call Me service, which it launched on 23 January 2001. Vodacom rolled out a similar service several weeks later.Vodacom later acknowledged that MTN was technically the inventor of the service in its ongoing legal battle with Makate.
Vaishnavi Gavankar

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1/8 A Love Story Born in High School - Adhila Nasarin and Fathima Noora first met as classmates in 12th grade while studying in Saudi Arabia. What started as a strong friendship gradually grew into a romantic relationship.

2/8 Families' Initial Support and Sudden Opposition - Their families, unaware of the romantic nature of their bond, had planned to send both girls to the same college in Kozhikode. But when their relationship became known, both families strongly opposed it, citing religious and societal reasons. The same families who once supported their bond now stood firmly against it, calling it "unnatural."

3/8 Separation and Emotional Trauma - After facing intense resistance at home, the couple fled to Kozhikode seeking shelter. However, Adhilas family forcefully took her back after alleged physical assault, while Nooras family accused Adhila of kidnapping, filing a police complaint. The couple was forcibly separated, causing significant emotional distress.

4/8 Legal Battle for Reunion - Refusing to give up, Adhila approached the Kerala High Court with a habeas corpus petition, claiming Noora was being held against her will and subjected to conversion therapy. Her brave move attracted public attention, and she even went live on social media to expose their situation.

5/8 Kerala High Court's Landmark Verdict - The High Court intervened and held private hearings with both women. Recognizing their mutual consent and emotional bond, the court ruled in favor of their right to live together. This judgment was widely celebrated as a progressive step for LGBTQ+ rights and personal liberty in India.

6/8 Viral Wedding-Themed Photoshoot - After the court ruling, Adhila and Noora began living openly as a couple. They garnered massive online attention with a same-sex wedding-themed photoshoot that went viral. The images, full of joy and love, symbolized their hard-earned freedom and were embraced by many on social media.

7/8 Resilient Digital Creators Despite Backlash - Despite facing cyberbullying and hate, Adhila and Noora remain active on social media. They create content togetherranging from cooking videos to daily vlogsand continue to share their life and love with a growing audience, offering representation and hope to many.
Satwik Jaiswal

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Palak Vij

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1/7 Even though he is in his sixties, superstar Rajinikanth is still known for his famous on-screen personality and action-packed parts. He recently shared a very intimate memory that gives us a better idea of how he grew up. At a promotional event for his new movie, Coolie, which comes out in theaters on August 14, 2025, the veteran actor talked about his real-life experience as a coolie, which was long before he became famous as a bus driver.

2/7 From stealing Rs. 120 to looking for work in Chennai

Rajinikanth told the reporters about a time when he ran away from home as a child with Rs 120 in the hopes of finding work in Chennai. He said, "I didn't even want to be an actor back then." "I wanted to work in the movie industry in any way." But things didn't go as planned. In the end, he went back home after having trouble making ends meet.

3/7 His father suggested that he become a coolie when he saw his son at a turning point. Rajinikanth said, "I had no choice." "Because of this, I agreed."

4/7 What It's Really Like to Be a Coolie

Rajinikanth talked a lot on how hard the task was, including having to unload 100-kilogram bags of rice. The five workers got Rs 10 for every 100 bags they emptied, which was a full truckload.

5/7 That means each worker only got Rs 2.50. They also got 50 paise for extra work like weighing and reloading the sacks. They got Rs 5 for taking the things to a store that was about 500 to 600 meters away.

6/7 A Job He Really Cares About

He says that these memories make Coolie an extremely emotional movie. The story of a man who rises from the bottom is similar to his own story of going from a daily wage worker to one of the most loved stars in Indian cinema.
Sean Diddy Combs is not a danger, claims ex-girlfriend Gina Huynh in surprising U-turn after alleging he stomped on her stomach

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Telugu film industry halts shoots as the workers' union demands a strike over the pay increase

Palak Vij

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Urvashi hits back at critics after winning Best Supporting Actress in 71st National Awards: This is not pension money...

Palak Vij

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Rewati Karan

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Two young British nationals have been handed lengthy prison terms after being caught attempting to smuggle more than 66 kilograms of cannabis into Zimbabwe.In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) confirmed that Tihaise Darlin Elisha (19) and Taylor Tamara Simone (21) were each sentenced to nine years in prison, with three years suspended, by the Harare Magistrates' Court.The pair were arrested on May 1 at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport soon after disembarking from Ethiopian Airways Flight ET 873."Zimbabwe's elite CID Drugs and Narcotics detectives, acting on a tip-off, swooped in and searched their four suitcases. Inside, they discovered 53 packets of cannabis, weighing over 66kg, cleverly concealed in luggage tagged with their names," the NPAZ said.The NPAZ has issued a strong warning to international drug traffickers, stressing Zimbabwe's zero-tolerance policy on narcotics."No matter your nationality, the law will catch up with you. Airports are not gateways for crime," the authority warned.The conviction underscores Zimbabwe's tough stance on drug-related offences, with traffickers facing severe penalties regardless of their origin.
'40% raise not enough': Boeing faces first defense strike in decades as 3,200 workers walk out over contract dispute

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Centre eyes more handloom parks to empower 35 lakh weavers, improve quality, says Textiles Ministry official

Priyansh Verma

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Deblina Halder

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IOC buys 7 million barrels of crude from US, Canada and UAE as state refiners pause Russian oil purchases

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Adani Ports Q1 preview: Net profit may jump 22%, revenue likely to rise 16% on strong volumes

Ravindra Sonavane

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Ishaan Gera

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Indias effective tariffs on US goods are lower than those of Sri Lanka, Thailand

Ishaan Gera

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Exporters seek swift tax refunds, interest aid as diversification from US market at least 6 months away

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

Adrija Chatterjee

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A91 Partners to invest Rs 175 crore in Coimbatore-based Shree Anandhaas Sweets as PE interest in space picks up

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News / National

by Staff reporter

A Zanu PF councillor in Bulawayo is set to stand trial later this month over allegations that he defrauded 14 informal traders of more than US$2,000 by falsely promising them vending bays in the city centre.Ward 1 Councillor Josiah Mutangi and his alleged accomplice, Janet Zhou, are accused of collecting US$200 each from vendors in February 2024, claiming they could allocate them spaces at the corner of 5th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street.The pair are currently out on US$400 bail each and will appear before Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Munjanja when their trial begins on 20 August 2025.According to prosecutors, Mutangi and Zhou met the vendors at the specified location and convinced them that vending bays were available. Trusting the duo, the traders paid for the promised spaces.However, the vending bays were never allocated, and the victims - including Chishamiso Chihota - eventually reported the matter to police. This led to the arrest of the councillor and his co-accused.The case has sparked outrage among Bulawayo's informal traders, many of whom say such scams exploit the desperation of vendors struggling to secure legitimate trading spaces in the city centre.
India's exports to US may fall 30 percent to $60.6 billion this fiscal due to Trump tariff: GTRI

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HCLTech's C Vijayakumar took home Rs 94.6 crore in FY25, is highest-paid Indian IT CEO for a second year

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Can mutual funds work at 11,500 feet? Nippon India MF is finding out in Ladakh

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Zoya Springwala is a Senior Correspondent, writing on the markets, financial institutions, regulatory changes and everything else in between.

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Opinion / Columnist

In a country beset by economic challenges and political uncertainties, it is often in the most unexpected corners that we find resilience, innovation and growth. Mbare, a densely populated township in Harare long associated with poverty, overcrowding and informal trade, has quietly transformed into the most productive sector of Zimbabwe's economy. This renaissance is neither state-led nor donor-funded, NO, rather, it is driven by ordinary Zimbabweans whose industriousness now sustains millions.Once known merely as a bustling marketplace, Mbare has grown into an industrial and agricultural powerhouse. On any given day, it is estimated that over USD4 million changes hands within its network of informal markets, workshops, stalls and supply chains. For many, Mbare is not just a marketplace, it is NOW a lifeline. From vegetables and fruits, to steel window frames, to handmade agricultural implements and even light machinery - Mbare produces it all.To the government, Mbare's dynamism is often labelled "informal". It falls outside the tax net, lacks formal legal structures and receives little to no support in the form of infrastructure or financing. Yet, to the majority of Zimbabweans, especially those struggling with high unemployment, this so-called informal sector is the real economy. It feeds families, builds homes and creates opportunities where none formally exist.Mbare's transformation into a manufacturing hub did not happen overnight. Decades of economic decline, factory closures and rising joblessness pushed thousands of skilled artisans and entrepreneurs into informal self-employment. What emerged in Mbare was an organic and self-regulating industrial zone.From the corner of Magaba (the industrial section of Mbare), rows of skilled blacksmiths, welders, carpenters plumbers and panel beaters are producing everything from ploughshares for communal farmers, steel doors for Harare's mushrooming suburbs, to water pump parts and generators assembled from spare parts. Their ingenuity is astonishing. Without access to loans or formal machinery, these men and women fabricate tools and equipment that rival imports in both quality and affordability.Equally significant is the role of women in this economy. Mbare Musika remains the largest fresh produce market in the country, where tonnes of tomatoes, onions, maize, sugarcane, bananas and more are sold every day. Female vendors dominate this space often waking before dawn, negotiating with rural suppliers, managing stock and transport and sustaining households with the profits.The informal nature of Mbare's economy should not be mistaken for disorder or lack of contribution. Estimates suggest that nearly 70% of Harare's building materials, particularly doors, window frames, burglar bars and roofing sheets, come from workshops in Mbare. Furthermore, many of the agricultural tools used in communal lands, particularly in Manicaland, Midlands, and Mashonaland West, are made in Mbare and distributed through a network of informal traders and bus drivers.While government statistics may under-report Mbare's contribution to the GDP, anyone who has tried to build or renovate a home in Zimbabwe will tell you the same thing: If it's not from Mbare, it's either too expensive or imported.However, Mbare's success is also its burden. The area is now congested, poorly serviced and under constant threat from fire hazards, flooding and disease outbreaks due to overpopulation and inadequate infrastructure. There are simply too many people and businesses operating in too small a space.Now is the time for government and city authorities to recognise the economic miracle of Mbare and to act. We must decentralise this production by parcelling out industrial stands throughout Harare in areas like Kuwadzana, Mabvuku, Chitungwiza, Dzivarasekwa and even Epworth. Let us formalise and scale up these Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by giving them proper workspaces, security of tenure, access to electricity, water and internet.Furthermore, the government must create tailored financing mechanisms, not cumbersome loan applications requiring collateral these entrepreneurs do not have. It is time to accept that the economy of Zimbabwe is being driven not from towering office blocks, but from sweaty welding bays and muddy vegetable stalls.Rather than looking at Mbare as a problem to be solved, Zimbabwe must reframe it as a model to be replicated. Imagine 10 more "Mbares" across the country each decentralised, formalised and supported. This is how we create jobs, boost manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports.Decentralisation will also relieve pressure on Mbare itself. By spreading production hubs around the city, we ease traffic, improve hygiene and reduce environmental degradation. Local authorities can also collect reasonable licensing fees, thus bringing revenue into city coffers while respecting the dignity and rights of the informal workers.Mbare is not perfect. It is messy, unregulated, chaotic and yet it works. It feeds the city. It clothes it. It builds it. The government cannot afford to ignore or belittle this thriving economy. The vision must now shift from control and taxation to empowerment and integration. Let us give these enterprises land, space, infrastructure and the recognition they deserve.Mbare is Zimbabwe's engine room unofficial, unseen and underappreciated. But it is time we changed that. In those smoky workshops and noisy markets, the future of Zimbabwe's economy is already being forged.A moment to rethink and re strategies!!Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi+263772278161
New twist in Sona Comstar saga, now Rani Kapur seeks UK probe into son Sunjay Kapur's death

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Over 1.1 million youth given employment by Centre in past 16 months, says labour minister

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How to track NPS returns and rebalance your allocation

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Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com

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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

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A white South African farm worker accused of killing two black women says he was forced to feed their bodies to pigs, according to lawyers.

Adrian de Wet is one of three men facing murder charges after Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were killed while allegedly looking for food on a farm near Polokwane in South Africa's northern Limpopo province last year.

Their bodies were then alleged to have been given to pigs in an apparent attempt to dispose of the evidence.

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Mr De Wet, 20, turned state witness when the trial started on Monday and says farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier shot and killed the two women.

Ms Makgato and Ms Ndlovu were searching for soon-to-expire dairy products which had been left for pigs when they were killed.

Mr De Wet, a supervisor on the farm, will testify that he was under duress when he was forced to throw their bodies into the pig enclosure, according to both the prosecution and his lawyer.

If the court accepts his testimony, all charges against him will be dropped.

The case has sparked outrage across South Africa, exacerbating racial tensions in the country.

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Such tension is especially rife in rural areas, despite the end of the racist system of apartheid more than 30 years ago. Most private farmland remains in the hands of the white minority, while most farm workers are black and poorly paid, fuelling resentment among the black population, while many white farmers complain of high crime rates.

William Musora, 50, another farm worker, is the third accused. He and Mr Olivier, 60, are yet to enter a plea and remain behind bars.

The three men also face charges of attempted murder for shooting at Ms Ndlovu's husband, who was with the women at the farm - as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm and obstructing justice for allegedly dumping the bodies in the pig enclosure in an attempt to conceal evidence.

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Mr Musora, a Zimbabwean national, faces an additional charge under South Africa's Immigration Act over his status as an illegal immigrant.

The Limpopo High Court was packed with supporters and relatives of the victims ahead of proceedings. Also present was Mr Olivier's wife, who was seated in the front row of the public gallery and could be seen wiping away tears.

Members of opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters, which has previously called for the farm to be shut down, were also present in the courtroom.

The trial was postponed to next week.

More BBC stories on South Africa:

[Getty Images/BBC]

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'Education only weapon that can break chains of Sanatan and dictatorship': Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan

Siddharth Chakravorty

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From BrahMos to China: All eyes on Philippines President's meeting with PM Modi

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From Rs 1.2 lakh salary to Rs 540 wage: Inmate No. 15528 Prajwal Revanna's life behind bars

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NEED TO KNOW

A woman hasn't heard from her friend in three months after refusing to drive her to the airport during their girls' trip to Costa Rica

In a Reddit post, she explained that her friend was reluctant to go on vacation and booked shorter dates than her and their other friend

Shes ignored our messages, didnt acknowledge our birthdays, and hasnt responded to anything, not even compliments about her baby, the woman wrote





A woman is at a stalemate with a friend after refusing to give her a ride to the airport during their girls trip to Costa Rica.

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On Monday, July 28, the woman, 27, explained in a post on Reddits Am I the A------ forum that the vacation was planned to celebrate another friend Lisas 30th birthday. She said they would be accompanied by their relatively close mutual friend, Vanessa.

Vanessa, 33, was initially reluctant when the trip was suggested because she had a baby just four months earlier, but was encouraged to go by her husband. The original poster (OP) said that despite her and Lisa having two weeks off work, they booked the trip for five days to accommodate Vanessa wanting a shorter getaway.

After booking, Vanessa kept texting me about canceling or shortening her trip, the OP said. Our schedule gave us just 3 full days (MonWed) to explore, since Thursday was a travel day back to San Jose for our early Friday flight.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Getty Woman packing suitcase (stock image) Woman packing suitcase (stock image)

Then Vanessa said she wanted to leave Wednesday morning, which meant wed have to head back Tuesday, losing another day, she continued. I warned Lisa, and she said Vanessa had just admitted at her house that she never wanted to go and only agreed because her husband pushed her. That really hurt Lisa.

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The OP said she and Lisa decided to extend their trip following the conversation, while Vanessa shortened hers.

When Vanessa suggested that they should drive her to the airport during their getaway, the OP said they advised her to take a private car instead because they didnt want to miss out on their plans with a day-long journey to and from the airport.

We explained our reasoning and offered to help with the cost, the OP said. She initially said shed be fine with it, but later changed her mind and said she wasnt comfortable traveling alone."

She backed out entirely, saying she felt like she was jumping through hoops and didnt want to be an inconvenience, she continued. We told her we were sad but understood.

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Three months later, the OP said neither she nor Lisa had heard from Vanessa. Shes ignored our messages, didnt acknowledge our birthdays, and hasnt responded to anything, not even compliments about her baby, the woman said. We havent confronted her, mostly because she has a history of cutting people off and blowing up.

She also tends to make things about herself, like announcing her pregnancy at Lisas birthday dinner, she concluded. Theres more, but were honestly just not feeling like getting yelled at. So we havent pushed it.

Getty Woman checking her phone (stock image) Woman checking her phone (stock image)

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

While one commenter argued that Vanessa was right not to want to travel just months after giving birth, the majority of commenters agreed that the OP and Lisa shouldnt have to sacrifice time on their trip to drive to the airport.

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NTA [not the a------] but I think you were way too nice, a commenter said. If it had been me and I had 2 weeks, I would not have accommodated someone who didnt want to go."

Vanessa is an adult. Shes capable of standing up to her husband and saying no, the same commenter continued. Instead, you guys allowed her to shorten the trip. I think its good she backed out and her behavior thereafter is immature."

But I think it wouldve been better had you been more assertive in the beginning and not changed the plans for someone who clearly did not want to go, they added.



Read the original article on People
Delhi court asks childs father to clear over Rs 1.21 lakh school dues

A Delhi court has directed a man to pay over Rs 1.21 lakh as outstanding fee for his child to a south Delhi international school. Civil judge Yashu Khurana was hearing a suit filed by the defendant Bluebells School International against the plaintiff Virender Rana for recovery of the amount of over Rs 1.21 lakh, which was due as school fee for his ward.

In an order dated July 23, the court said the school alleged that Rana under the shield of the directorate of education (DoE) order dated August 1, 2018, regarding the the fee structure of the school for the year 2017-18 and in guise of the fact that the issue regarding the same was sub judice before the Delhi High Court, long delayed the payment of the dues.

The school submitted due to the delay in the payment, its financial situation was jeopardised.Present suit has been filed on October 16, 2024, whereas the cause of action last arose upon the plaintiff on February 7, 2024, when the defendant made the last payment against the outstanding amount, the court said.

As Rana did not appear before the court, the order said, the schools submissions remained uncontroverted and unrebutted. The court decreed the suit in the schools favour and directed Rana to pay the outstanding principal amount of over Rs 1.21 lakh along with 10 per cent interest. -- PTI
Man with 'Pakistan links' on phone held in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district

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Rahul Gandhi to host INDIA bloc dinner meeting on August 7, first since Lok Sabha elections

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Tamil Nadu files plea in SC against Madras HC restraining use of living persons' names, former CMs' photos in ads

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Touro University Launches Faculty Innovation Grant Program to Advance Integration of AI into Teaching and Learning

A new Faculty Innovation Grant Program at Touro University is supporting faculty members as they develop AI-enhanced curricula for Fall 2025. The program is part of the institution's AI@Touro initiative, a broader effort to "transform the university into a fully AI-enabled institution by training faculty, staff and students in the use of AI."

This summer, one hundred faculty members across a wide range of disciplines have been developing AI projects that will be piloted in classrooms this fall, the university said. Projects focus on real-world applications, ethical use of AI, and student engagement. Examples include:

AI-powered exercises in contracts and criminal law to enhance legal reasoning;

AI-generated patient simulations and health literacy tools for health science training;

Lesson planning and classroom simulations using AI to prepare future educators;

Simulated therapy sessions and clinical mental health training using AI;

Learning to use AI to create advertising campaigns;

Creating AI-powered study guides, chatbots, and assessments to support infectious disease education; and

Simulating patient interactions to enhance medical training.

"This initiative reflects Touro's commitment to preparing students for a future where AI will be central to nearly every profession," said Dr. Alan Kadish, president of Touro University, in a statement.

Learn More In "Tapping into AI Across Every Part of the University," the Campus Technology Insider podcast spoke with Dr. Shlomo Argamon, associate provost for AI, about Touro University's system-wide approach to incorporating artificial intelligence into all of its programs. Listen to the Podcast

"By empowering our faculty to thoughtfully integrate AI into the classroom, we're ensuring our students are not just learning about AI  they're having the opportunity to try it out and see how it will work in the real world," commented Dr. Patricia Salkin, Touro's senior vice president, Academic Affairs, and provost, Graduate and Professional Divisions.

"This is about more than just using new tools. It's about helping students think critically about how AI is shaping their fields and how they can use it responsibly and effectively," noted Dr. Shlomo Argamon, associate provost for AI at the university.

Program outcomes will be assessed at the end of the academic year. Touro plans to expand successful models and share best practices across the university system.
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Who was Shibu Soren? Former CM, JMM founder and key force behind Jharkhands creation?

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'You sleep peacefully...': SC dismisses police officers plea against transfer of probe to CBI in Colonel assault case

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Heres how much salary Apple pays employees in AI roles, software roles, and others

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Imprisonment of activist MPs in Eswatini highlights concerns over civic freedoms in Africa

The ongoing imprisonment of activist members of parliament in Eswatini is representative of a wider trend of shrinking civic freedoms across the African continent, according to a report in Daily Maverick. The arrests of the MPs, including figures like Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, stem from their vocal support for democratic reforms during the 2021 pro-democracy protests in the kingdom. Eswatini operates as Africa's last absolute monarchy where political parties are banned, and the incarcerated MPs were challenging this system from within parliament. The situation is testing the commitment of regional organizations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to their stated principles on democracy and good governance.
Australian class action scrutinised over high legal fees and low worker payouts

An Australian class action lawsuit is under review due to a significant disparity between legal fees and the compensation paid to claimants, according to a report in ABC News. The case highlights a barrister who charged $5,000 per hour, leading to a situation where some workers who were part of the action received payouts as small as $10,000. This outcome has raised concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of the class action system, focusing on whether legal firms and litigation funders are profiting excessively at the expense of the vulnerable individuals they are meant to represent.
'Be very cautious with nuclear rhetoric': Russia urges caution after Trump orders nuclear submarine deployment

Abhinav Gupta

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China pushes back at US demands to stop buying Russian and Iranian oil

101Reporters

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Higher costs, social media checks, fixed stay: How Trump's new visa rules make studying in US tougher for Indians

Abhinav Gupta

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Indian cab driver assaulted in Ireland in suspected hate crime, told to 'go back to your own country'

Abhinav Gupta

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This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer

Alpha Desk

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Sheikh Sultan directs provision of natural gas service to all Sharjah cities

The Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, has directed the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) to provide natural gas service to all cities in the emirate, according to a report in Gulf Today. The project in Dibba Al Hisn, costing Dhs22 million, is in its final stage and prioritizes the residential sector, followed by the industrial and commercial sectors. A new natural gas station in Dibba Al Hisn is also 90% complete at a cost of Dhs10 million, with an expected completion by the beginning of the fourth quarter of this year. The announcement, made on the Direct Line programme, also highlighted a public awareness campaign on safety measures for handling natural gas.
Stale hashtags, fake photos, foreign missions: How Pakistan is prepping for another Article 370 disinformation blitz

Abhinav Gupta

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We shouldve done this years ago: Trump justifies new tariffs, floats idea of payouts for Americans

Aishwarya Dabhade

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What are Death Squads? A deep dive into Asim Munir's bloody playbook in Balochistan

Abhinav Gupta

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What the rise of Omar Fateh and Zohran Mamdani reveals about the Democratic partys internal struggle

Arishaa Izaj

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Ivory Coast opposition denounces arbitrary arrest of 6 party members View Photo

DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  One of the main opposition parties in Ivory Coast has denounced what it says are arbitrary arrests of six party members, calling the arrests part of a broader crackdown following the disqualification of key rivals to President Alassane Ouattara and his bid for a fourth term.

Sebastien Dano Djedje, the executive president of the African Peoples PartyCote dIvoire, or PPA-CI, the party of former President Laurent Gbagbo, said during a news conference Sunday that the party members were abducted and taken to unknown locations overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

Among them are party members from Youpougon, a suburb of the capital Abdijan, where armed attackers torched a bus and assaulted police days before, he said.

Interior Minister Vagondo Diomande released a video to a televion news broadcast Sunday showing a man identifying himself as a PPA-CI member confessing involvement in the attack and saying he acted on the partys behalf with 15 others.

The confession was obtained legally, Diomande said, rebuffing PPA-CI claims that party members were illegally arrested.

In our country, no arrests are made arbitrarily, he said. The ministry ensures due legal proceedings for all offenses, ending the era of summary and arbitrary detentions that once marred our nation.

The PPA-CI condemned the bus attack and denied involvement.

Ivory Coast is set to hold a presidential election Oct. 12. Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, is likely to stay in office with little or no challenge from a weakened opposition.

Dissent has grown in the West African nation, fueled by the exclusion of main opposition candidates from the voter roll, including the PPA-CIs Laurent Gbabgo and the presidents most prominent rival, Tidjane Thiam.

Ivory Coast elections have previously been fraught with tension and violence. When Ouattara announced his bid for a third term in 2020, several people were killed in the ensuing violence.

By MARK BANCHEREAU

Associated Press
Cambodian and Thai officials meet in Malaysia to iron out ceasefire details View Photo

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Thai and Cambodian officials met in Malaysia on Monday for the first round of cross-border committee talks since a tense ceasefire was brokered last week after five days of deadly armed border clashes that killed dozens and displaced over 260,000 people.

The four-day General Border Committee meetings were initially due to be hosted by Cambodia, but both sides later agreed to a neutral venue in Malaysia, the annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which mediated the halt in hostilities last month.

The July 28 ceasefire followed economic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had warned the warring nations that the U.S. would not conclude trade deals with them if the fighting persisted. Washington lowered tariffs on goods from the two countries from 36% to 19% on Aug. 1 following the truce.

Mondays talks focused on ironing out details to avoid further clashes. Discussions of the decades-long competing territorial claims over the pockets of land near the shared border are not on the agenda.

A history of hostility

Thailand and Cambodia have been feuding neighbors for centuries, since both were mighty empires. In modern times, a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice awarding Cambodia the land on which the ancient Preah Vihear temple stands marked a new low point in relations, and other border territory remained claimed by both countries.

Fighting erupted in 2011 at Preah Vihaer, after which the ICJ in 2013 reaffirmed its earlier ruling, rankling Thailand. Relations deteriorated again sharply in May this year, when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead in a brief fracas in one of the disputed border zones, setting off diplomatic and trade sanctions, one against the other.

Soon after two incidents last month in which Thai soldiers were wounded by land mines in disputed territory  for which Thailand blamed Cambodia  the two sides downgraded diplomatic relations and fighting broke out, each side blaming the other for starting the armed clashes.

The talks this week will include finalizing details and scope of reference for an ASEAN monitoring team, Malaysian Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Mohamad Nizam Jaffar said Monday.

Despite some reports of attacks after the ceasefire came into effect, Nizam said such incidents were typical spillover violence and both sides showed strong commitment during Mondays talks to uphold the ceasefire.

The main session of the General Border Committee on Thursday will be led by Thai Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seih, who also serves as deputy prime minister, and include observers from Malaysia, the United States and China, officials said.

Despite the truce, tensions have persisted as both countries organized tours of the former battle areas for foreign diplomats and other observers to highlight damage allegedly caused by the other side. The two countries also continue to accuse each other of having violated international humanitarian laws with attacks on civilians and the use of illegal weapons.

The battles are now fought on the propaganda front

The propaganda war continues with accusations, denials, and cries of fake news, while supporters of each side also tangle on social media.

Each side has blamed the other for starting the fighting and for indiscriminately targeting civilian sites with long-range weapons such as artillery and rockets, and using prohibited weapons.

The hottest issue is Cambodias allegations that Thailand has mistreated and tortured a squad of captured Cambodian soldiers. Two wounded members of the 20-man Cambodian group were repatriated on Friday.

However, Thai officials said Monday that the soldiers qualify as prisoners of war and will be released and repatriated only when the armed conflict ends, which it considers a separate matter from last weeks ceasefire.

Thai military spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said at a news briefing Monday that Thailand has invited representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, and the U.N.s Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, OHCHR, to visit the detained Cambodian soldiers on site. Cambodia had called for such access.

Neither the ICRC nor the OHCHR responded to a query from The Associated Press asking about any communications with the two governments.

Cambodias king formalizes former leader Hun Sens military role

A surprise statement on Monday night in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh announced that Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni issued a Royal Decree authorizing the countrys influential former leader Hun Sen to work together with his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, in guiding military and national defense affairs.

The kings decree said he was acting because the nation is suffering from serious violations and threats to its territorial integrity by the Thai soldiers, and in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution of Cambodia.

King Sihamoni generally keeps a low profile and exercises no political power or influence, taking no initiative in any state or government work.

The 72-year-old Hun Sen, who is very active on social media, maintained a high profile during the fighting, urging his countrys soldiers and hurling invective at Thailand and its leaders. He was once a guerrilla fighter with the Communist Khmer Rouge.

It was not clear why Hun Sen would need or want authorization from King Sihamoni, since there has been no open dissent inside the country criticizing his actions during the conflict.

The decree appeared to be a response to foreign news stories suggesting Hun Sen was usurping his sons authority. Hun Sen seemed to confirm this, saying on Facebook that he was exercising his rights as a five-star general with experience to fight the thieves who invaded my country, after noting criticism from Thai media.

By EILEEN NG

Associated Press
Haitian police arrest a former senator accused of working with gangs to attack a peaceful community View Photo

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Police in Haiti have arrested a former senator charged with conspiring against the state and financing criminal organizations for allegedly supporting gang members.

Nenel Cassy was arrested Saturday at a restaurant in Petionville, a wealthy district of the capital, Port-au Prince, Haitis National Police said in a post on Facebook. The police shared photos of the former senator in handcuffs next to heavily armed officers wearing ski masks.

Arrests of high level officials are rare in Haiti, where the government is also struggling to control neighborhoods and villages that have been taken over by gangs.

Cassy was designated as a corrupt actor by the U.S. State Department in 2023. He was accused by Haitis police in February of backing gang members who launched deadly attacks on Kenscoff, a neighborhood 10 kilometers (6 miles) outside Port-au-Prince that is home to much of the nations elite. Kenscoff had been largely untouched by Haitis gang violence until Februarys attacks in which dozens of people were killed. The neighborhood is now being targeted by gangs that are trying to seize more territory from Haitis government.

On Sunday, Kenscoffs mayor told The Associated Press that nine workers were kidnapped from an orphanage in that neighborhood by armed men, including a foreign citizen whose nationality has not been confirmed. Mayor Massillon Jean said the attack happened around 2 a.m.

The orphanage that came under attack on Sunday is run by Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, an international charity with offices in Mexico and France that is also known as NPH. It shelters more than 240 children, according to the organizations website.

In a statement published on Sunday, NPH said that seven staff members and one youth were taken from its home for vulnerable and at risk children in Kenscoff.

The organization confirmed that one of the staff members taken is a foreigner, whose identity and nationality will not be revealed for security reasons. NPH also said that two hospitals it runs in Haiti will be closed until the people taken from its orphanage have been safely released.

Gangs control 90% of Haitis capital, according to the United Nations, and in recent months they have been launching attacks on previously peaceful communities.

More than 5,600 people were reported killed in Haiti last year, with gang violence leaving more than 1 million people homeless in recent years, according to the U.N. The UN recorded 185 victims of kidnapping in Haiti between April and June of this year, and said that gangs commit this crime to subjugate people in areas under their control.
Trumps deadline for the Kremlin looms but Putin shows no sign of making concessions

Trumps deadline for the Kremlin looms but Putin shows no sign of making concessions View Photo

The coming week could mark a pivotal moment in the war between Russia and Ukraine, as U.S. President Donald Trumps deadline for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal approaches  or it could quietly pass without consequence.

Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected in Moscow midweek, just before Trumps Friday deadline for the Kremlin to stop the killing or face potentially severe economic penalties from Washington.

So far Trumps promises, threats and cajoling have failed to shift the Kremlins position, and the stubborn diplomatic stalemate remains in place. Meanwhile, Ukraine is losing more territory on the front line, although there is no sign of a looming collapse of its defenses.

Trumps envoy is expected in Moscow

Witkoff is expected to land in the Russian capital on Wednesday or Thursday, according to Trump, following his trip to Israel and Gaza.

They would like to see (Witkoff), Trump said Sunday of the Russians. Theyve asked that he meet so well see what happens.

Trump, exasperated that Russian President Vladimir Putin hasnt heeded his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, a week ago moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia as well as introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil, including China and India.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that officials are happy to meet with Trumps envoy. We are always glad to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow, he said. We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful.

Trump is not sure sanctions will work

Trump said Sunday that Russia has proven to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions.

Theyre wily characters, he said of the Russians.

The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have had a limited impact.

Ukraine insists the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscows war machine and wants Western allies to ramp them up. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday urged the United States, Europe and other nations to impose stronger secondary sanctions on Moscows energy, trade and banking sectors.

Trumps comments appeared to signal he doesnt have much hope that sanctions will force Putins hand.

The secondary sanctions also complicate Washingtons relations with China and India, who stand accused of helping finance Russias war effort by buying its oil.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has found that stopping the war is harder than he perhaps imagined.

Senior American officials have warned that the U.S. could walk away from the conflict if peace efforts make no progress.

Putin shows no signs of making concessions

The diplomatic atmosphere has become more heated as Trumps deadline approaches.

Putin announced last Friday that Russias new hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, has entered service.

The Russian leader has hailed its capabilities, saying its multiple warheads that plunge to a target at speeds of up to Mach 10 cannot be intercepted. He claimed that they are so powerful that the use of several of them in one conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack.

Separately, one of Putins top lieutenants warned that the Ukraine war could nudge Russia and the U.S. into armed conflict.

Trump responded to what he called the highly provocative statements by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev by ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines.

Putin has repeated the same message throughout the war: He will only accept a settlement on his terms and will keep fighting until theyre met.

The war is killing thousands of troops and civilians

Russias relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line have killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations. It has pushed on with that tactic despite Trumps public calls for it to stop over the past three months.

On the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, Russias bigger army has made slow and costly progress. It is carrying out a sustained operation to take the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub whose fall could open the way for a deeper drive into Ukraine.

Ukraine has developed technology that has allowed it to launch long-range drone attacks deep inside Russia. In its latest strike it hit an oil depot near Russias Black Sea resort of Sochi, starting a major fire.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

By The Associated Press
At 101 years old, last original client of Frank Lloyd Wright attributes good health to his Usonian homes design Archinect

400-mile chain of fossilized volcanoes found buried deep under South China Interesting Engineering

This Millipedes Secretions Could Help Target Brain Disorders, Scientists Say StudyFinds

Climate/Environment

Pandemics

Study Shows a Need for Vigilance When Observing Long COVID Symptoms in Younger Children Rutgers Today. Commentary:

2/

but their symptoms often differ from older children.

Symptoms like fussiness, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping, and coughing were more common in the youngest group, making it easy for clinicians & caregivers to miss the diagnosis. #PublicHealth pic.twitter.com/oblp0xMcN6  Roger Gustafsson WHN|bsk.social (@RogerGustafsso2) August 2, 2025

Absolutely wild end of term marketing in a Boots chemist near me. Thank you teacher!

*cough*

For letting our kids infect you *cough*

& your family over the last year.

Have some Benylin.

*cough cough*

Youre great! Great teachers (& kids) deserve clean air not cough syrup. pic.twitter.com/rbzUVYIcrq  Augusta Lees (@AugustaLees) August 1, 2025

Now why do you think trials are starting into using HIV antivirals to treat people infected with SARS-CoV-2? See below. Could it be that both viruses have similar impacts on human health? https://t.co/pCCx4Ebnat  Alan Barnard (@alanbarnard1) August 1, 2025

China?

India

Africa

Old Blighty

Syraqistan

All these genocidal monsters are putting out the same tweet painting the holocaust regime as the victim and demonizing a people fighting for their lives. Its all a coordinated campaign to justify the Zionist regimes Final Solution https://t.co/9LTRW9POzc  Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) August 3, 2025

Sixteen More Palestinians Starve to Death in Gaza in Three Days Due to Israeli Siege Antiwar

Today was the largest invasion of settlers into Al-Aqsa since 1967. Theres been almost complete international silence about the decimation of the status quo in Hebrons Cave of the Patriarchs. Same about the growing erasure of Al-Aqsas status quo. Im afraid were heading https://t.co/pZQggNhLe1  B.M. (@ireallyhateyou) August 3, 2025

;

To recap: Israeli settler murdered a Palestinian on camera Israel then took hostage the body of the dead Palestinian, kidnapped his relatives & exonerated the Israeli shooter! Reminder: Israels conviction rate of Palestinians is 99.74% & the conviction rate of settlers is 1.8% pic.twitter.com/dXClP62U3r  Muhammad Shehada (@muhammadshehad2) August 3, 2025

European Disunion

Ai Wei Wei was commissioned to reflect on Germany for Zeit Magazine, but they seemingly didnt like his reflections and killed the article. He shared them: pic.twitter.com/zO0Pot8Mi4  James Jackson (@derJamesJackson) August 1, 2025

New Not-So-Cold War

Laffaire Epstein

Spook Country

Trump 2.0

Democrats en deshabille

The Supremes

Umpires No More New York Review of Books

Police State Watch

Accelerationists

In case you missed it, the sovereign nation of Iran is not allowed to enrich uranium because it cant be trusted. But private corporations, WHICH ABSOLUTELY CAN BE TRUSTED, will now be able to. pic.twitter.com/Kwv4AhidfF  Greg J Stoker (@gregjstoker) July 31, 2025

Imperial Collapse Watch

A Christian Nation Phantom Heresy

War Is a Global Health Catastrophe MedPage Today

Our Famously Free Press

Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it will shut down after Congress cut money NBC News

The destruction of the CPB wont get rid of NPR and PBS It will make them more dependent on the sources of funding that ruined them (NGOs and the tech sector) They will survive and become even worse  Benjamin Studebaker (@BMStudebaker) August 2, 2025

Big Brother Is Watching You Watch

Guillotine Watch

The Bezzle

Class Warfare

Some Problems Wont Be Solved HOGELANDS BAD HISTORY

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Conor here: As the UK water companies jack up prices while also turning the countrys river and seas into sewage dumps, they are also rewarding their executives with evermore pay and bonuses. The following piece argues the only fix is nationalization, and an investigation published yesterday added more weight to this argument. The Guardian found that the head of one of Britains biggest water suppliers, Yorkshire Water has received 1.3 million British pounds since 2023 via an offshore parent company. Why the workaround? Well, heres the recent band aid the UK government recently applied rather than consider nationalization:

The government moved in June to ban bonuses for the bosses of water companies guilty of the worst environmental breaches. Yorkshire was one of six companies caught by the bonus ban, after it agreed a 40m payment in March for excessive spills from storm overflows as a result of poor maintenance. It received another 850,000 fine on Thursday for pumping chlorinated water into a stream in 2017. Yorkshires published accounts reported that Shaws pay from that company had dropped by nearly a third in the 2024-25 financial year, from 1,028,000 the year before to 689,000. The accounts, however, also said that Shaw and the chief financial officer, Paul Inman, had received remuneration from Kelda Holdings, which is therefore disclosed in the financial statements of that company. But Kelda Holdings has no duty to file accounts publicly because of Jerseys relatively lax laws, and Yorkshire at first declined to say what she was paid by the parent company. Singapores government owns a third of Kelda Holdings, with the US investor Corsair Capital, Germanys DWS and the Australian pension fund SAS Trustee Corporation owning the rest. The refusal to disclose the pay did not appear to breach any rules, but it meant that MPs and bill payers had no way of knowing whether Shaws total pay had increased since the bonus ban.

By Eleanor Shearer, a senior research fellow at Common Wealth, a think tank reimagining ownership to build an economy that works for everyone. Originally published at Open Democracy.

Its no secret that England and Wales water system leaks. More than a trillion litres of water are lost each year, tonnes of untreated sewage flow into our waterways, and over 85bn has flown to investors, most of whom are based overseas, since privatisation.

This is a system in deep crisis. Yet the government has refused to even consider returning water companies to public ownership, commissioning an independent review of the sector that was not given a mandate to look into nationalisation.

The Cunliffe Review published its findings last week, recommending that water firms be issued fines to finance the replacement of Ofwat with a new regulator that will try to tackle ever-increasing pollution and spiralling bills.

But attempting to fix the water industry through regulation is like trying to fix a burst pipe with a small piece of duct tape; it cannot stem the tide when the root cause of the problem is privatisation itself.

In other sectors, the Labour government has made tentative moves towards public ownership. It is renationalising passenger train operators in England (though not the rolling stock companies, which own and lease out the actual trains), and has created Great British Energy to support greater public ownership in clean energy projects.

Yet ministers have from the outset refused to countenance the same in the water sector, even as Thames Water has teetered on the brink of financial collapse and required a 3bn bailout. This is a baffling choice when the case for putting an end to decades of profiteering in this sector is so clear.

When Margaret Thatchers Conservative government privatised water in England and Wales in 1989, it promised that this would unlock more investment. This investment has failed to materialise, as companies have prioritised boosting returns for shareholders over building and maintaining vital infrastructure. No major new reservoirs have been built since privatisation, and our sewage and water pipes are now crumbling, increasing the risk of rapid flooding and waterborne parasites.

The water companies have tried to use these failing assets as an argument for hiking bills, claiming that this is the only way they can afford to fix things. This is a particularly bold claim given you only have to look to Scotland, where water is publicly owned, to see how different things could be.

Had English water firms invested at the same rate as Scottish Water in recent decades, we would have 28bn more for our water infrastructure. Scottish consumers also pay lower bills and, despite environment secretary Steve Reeds claims that Scottish waterways are more polluted, the Cunliffe Review found that 66% of Scotlands water bodies are of good ecological status, compared to only 16% in England and 30% in Wales.

Regulation has tried and failed to correct the failures of privatisation. Its true that regulatory reforms are needed, especially to better fund environmental protection, as the money ringfenced for this has been cut by 80% since 2010. But ultimately, tougher regulation is always going to be in tension with the drive to attract private investment.

Shareholders and creditors dont want harsher fines for polluting or caps on dividends to get in the way of their profits. Labour rightly resisted calls from Thames Waters creditors to exempt the company from key environmental laws, but has failed to see the implications of this for its entire strategy.

The harder that ministers try to crack down on profiteering and underinvestment, the less private investors will want to put their money into the water industry. Only public ownership can deliver a more patient, long-termist approach to running the water industry for the public good, not private gain.

So why has Labour repeatedly refused to nationalise water? Reed has leaned heavily on affordability, claiming it would cost 100bn. But this scaremongering figure comes from a report commissioned by the water companies and was calculated using the firms assumed market value at the time of privatisation in 1990, which is far higher than their real value today.

In reality, by law, the government could nationalise water at a cost even below that of the firms market values by factoring in returns already paid to shareholders and bondholders and the cost of environmental failures.

Ultimately, the public is paying the price for the failed privatisation of our water industry. Were paying in the form of polluted rivers and seas and elevated risks of flooding and waterborne pathogens. Were paying in terms of higher bills, which are due to rise by 36% over the next five years. And were paying again in terms of the money that leaks out to shareholders and creditors from every bill: from September every year, your money stops paying for the running of the water system and starts paying for dividends and debt interest payments.

Labours current approach is sticking-plaster politics of the worst kind. With 90% of freshwater systems worldwide in public control, England and Wales remain the extreme outlier. Its time to bring us back in line with the vast majority of the world and take back control of our water industry.
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The US attempt to bring global ports under Western control in order to squeeze Beijing looks dead in the water. Despite Trumps bluster, China quietly shut the scheme down. Well detail how they did so, but first the relevant background.

Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings in March announced that it was selling all its overseas ports, including two at the Panama Canal, to a consortium led by BlackRock in a deal worth $23 billion. BlackRock was to take control of the two in Panama while the Italian tycoon-controlled Mediterranean Shipping Company controlled the others.

It was sold as a major win for Washington on the geopolitical chess boardone that could raise prices on or refuse Chinese ships or allow the US to militarize the ports and use them to enact a maritime blockade of China at critical chokepoints.

During his inaugural address, President Donald Trump said of the Panama Canal, We gave it to Panama, and were taking it back.

Well, okay. But on July 27, the deadline to finalize the deal passed without anyone signing on the dotted line.

Thats because Beijing saw the Trump administration conspiring with the takeover consortium while applying pressure on Hutchison and said two can play at that game. Beijing responded by launching a regulatory review of the deal although the companys base is in Hong Kong and there arent direct Chinese assets involved in the sale  and said the deal shouldnt be implemented without its approval. If that warning wasnt clear enough, the family of Hutchison founder Li Ka-shing, the ninety-six-year-old billionaire who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2000, saw their business empire come under pressure. From Bloomberg:

Younger son Richards talks to expand his insurance business into mainland China have stalled after the ports deal upset Beijing, Bloomberg reported earlier this month. That followed another Bloomberg report in March that China told its state-owned firms to hold off on any new collaboration with businesses linked to the Li family.

The ports deal is now fully wrapped up in the ongoing trade and other tensions between Beijing and Washington. Thats a game that even Politico admits the US is losingand badly, largely driven by Washington delusions:

Panama isnt 1989. Theres no Noriega to oust. Theres no Cold War to rally around. Today, China funds the projects. China builds the rails. China moves the cargo. (5/11)  William Huo (@wmhuo168) July 29, 2025

What Trump revealed in Panama was the depth of his illusion. He thinks hes Machiavelli. In reality, hes a failed landlord trying to evict China from global trade routes it already owns. (10/11)  William Huo (@wmhuo168) July 29, 2025

What Now?

It looks like China will get its way. Heres Bloomberg:

CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. said it may invite a major strategic investor from China to join a group seeking to buy its global ports, as the Hong Kong-based company works toward a solution that pleases all in the geopolitically-sensitive deal. The unnamed investor would join as a significant member of the consortium, the company said in a stock exchange filing Monday, hours after the expiry of a 145-day exclusive talks window with the group backed by American asset manager BlackRock Inc.

Will Trump still try to sell it as a major victory retaking Panama Canal? One would guess so, although he might have to wait a while.

Lau Siu-kai, a consultant for the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank, told the South China Morning Post that he expected the deal deadline to be extended with Chinas state-owned enterprise China Cosco Shipping Corporation potentially joining the consortium.

The bottom line is that if China opposes the deal, it is highly likely to be called off.

If Cosco has some form of ownership and decision-making power in the ports future operations, ensuring that Chinese cargo ships and shipping companies are treated fairly and not discriminated against, then Chinas key interests would be protected, and it would give the transaction a green light, Lau said.

Or as Bloomberg puts it:

Challenges remain even as Cosco enters the discussions, David Blennerhassett, an analyst at Quiddity Advisors, wrote on financial analysis platform SmartKarma. That could reverse the current rhetoric and upset Trump, who has a handful of issues already on his plate, he said.

No doubt. Cosco joining the consortium defeats the whole purpose of the deal Washington was supporting. Heres the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of China strongly-worded comment on the matter a few months back, and its hard to disagree with its argument that the proposed transaction was not an ordinary commercial activity, but rather a hegemonic act in which the US was employing state powerthrough coercion, pressure, and inducementsto seize the legitimate rights and interests of another country. Heres more:

Once the Panama Canal is Americanized and politicized, the United States will undoubtedly use it for political purposes to advance its own political agenda, and Chinas shipping and trade will inevitably be controlled by the US. If the United States were to implement measures such as selective capacity restrictions or imposing political surcharges, Chinese companies logistics costs and supply chain stability would face great risks. Some netizens also noted that through this deal, BlackRock would control about 10.4% of the worlds container terminal throughput, joining the ranks of the worlds top three port operators, and it is entirely possible that it would work in concert with US policies to suppress China, raising costs for Chinese cargo and squeezing the market share of Chinese shipping companies. Moreover, this transaction creates a major gap in the port network that Chinese companies have built up over the years, thereby allowing American interests to erode their overseas development advantages. Other netizens even point out that the United States might use this transaction as a template to spark a wave of port mergers and acquisitions worldwide through political pressure, thereby controlling more critical ports globally and employing long-arm jurisdiction to suppress China, leaving Chinese vessels with no reliable haven. This is by no means mere fearmongering. According to a draft executive order from the US government, plans are already underway to charge Chinese vessels special docking fees, and the US will urge its allies to take similar measures, otherwise facing retaliation. If all of the United States calculated moves succeed, they will undoubtedly impact Chinas shipbuilding, shipping, foreign trade, and even the Belt and Road Initiative, and will directly affect Hong Kongs efforts to consolidate and elevate its position as an international shipping and trade center, while threatening and undermining the normal global order and safety of shipping and trade.

So its unsurprising that Beijing threw its weight around to nix the deal. There was noise in the Western media that Beijing might have to use heavy-handed means to do so. Reuters opined that Beijing might use extra-territorial jurisdiction by applying its anti-monopoly law, claiming that the deal, even though outside mainland China, would affect, eliminate or restrict competition in Chinas domestic market. Another option, according to Reuters, was the 2020 National Security Law, which goes after terrorism, subversives, secessionists, and colluders with foreign forces.

In the end, China didnt even need to do much more than lift a finger, which likely hurts the fallback option. If China was forced to go the heavy-handed route, it was to be expected that it would hurt the Hong Kong financial centers global standing as the US would paint Beijing as unfriendly to outside business interests.

There are, of course, still claims of that sort percolating out:

Xis China isnt a marketits a trap. CK Hutchison begging for a CCP-approved investor shows how far business must crawl to feed Xis delusions of total control. https://t.co/QSdIE8qOzZ  Jay T (@Jay83214566) July 28, 2025

Not sure how such claims fit with Trump huddling with BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink over the deal, the whole Tik Tok saga, and numerous other examples, but what do I know?

Investors, however, are pumped by the potential inclusion of Cosco. From Bloomberg:

Investors are regaining enthusiasm for CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. despite a delay in the companys plan to sell 43 ports, with optimism fueled by news that a Chinese shipping behemoth is finding its way into the global deal. Shares of CK Hutchison, which oscillated between gains and losses since the company first announced the deal on March 4, reached the highest this year on Friday after state-owned China Cosco Shipping Corp. emerged as a potential new member of the buyer consortium that includes American asset manager BlackRock Inc.

That leaves the Trump administration in the unenviable position of trying to swim upstream against the interests of investors, logistics, and simple logicincreasingly familiar terrain for the US these days.

Singapores PM has laid it out. He knows the U.S. has abandoned the multilateral trading system, upon which Singaporeans wealth is based. Theres only one stable force with the heft to anchor multilateral trade in this episode of disruption. Its China. https://t.co/Zb0sZnEOZq  Warwick Powell |  (@baoshaoshan) April 5, 2025

Will Washington accept reality? If recent history is any indication, that is unlikely.

And there are plenty of other ways the US can try to shake things up and burn things down at maritime chokepoints in an effort to improve its bargaining position with Beijing.

Trump continues to bomb away at Somalia making a bad situation worse. Meanwhile, Somaliland, which proclaimed independence from Somalia in 1991, is now offering the US a military base at the entrance to the Red Sea and critical-minerals deals if the US will recognize it as a state. That also happens to be what Project 2025 recommends, arguing that the recognition of Somaliland statehood as a hedge against the U.S.s deteriorating position in Djibouti.

That position in Djibouti is, of course, almost all about China.

Down at the Cape of Good Hope, the US is in the midst of a pressure campaign on South Africa with an eye on a naval base there. Just recently the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a bipartisan(!) piece of legislation that would direct the president to assess whether South Africa is undermining U.S. national security or foreign policy objectives, and that means sanctions are likely incoming.

There was also the fact that U.S. Southern Command was/is partnering more closely with Panamanian security forces and drawing up plans to seize the Panama Canal by forceonly if necessary, of course. Does the failure of the Hutchinson deal and the overall inability of the US to effectively coerce Beijing make it more likely the US goes through with such threats? I guess well have to wait and see.
Even though the Wall Street Journal has oh so reasonable quotes from McKinsey spokescritters as to how The Firm is adapting to AI, the headline suggests otherwise: AI Is Coming for the Consultants. Inside McKinsey, This Is Existential. The article has McKinsey officials make the key concession, that AI can replace a fair bit of what McKinsey has been doing, and the firm is working hard to find ways to incorporate AI.

However, the article does not hone in on the nature of the danger that AI poses to McKinsey, which is not to the need for expert assistance. Much of the work firms like McKinsey does involves non-public and often generated-during-the-study information and hence will be outside LLM text-hoovering. It is to the entire professional firm model. Its economics depend on substantial mark-ups of non-parter billed time over their cost.1 So the fact that clients will expect a smaller engagement team to answer a question, say, How do we improve the profits of our European operations? than before is very likely to dent profits. Thats even more important than you might think, since pay to partners is a big McKinsey recruiting point. Less lucre puts consultants like McKinsey at a further disadvantage relative private equity and Wall Street in recruiting and retaining staff. That in turn strikes at the very heart of McKinseys brand premise, its eliteness.

On top of that, unlike the dot-com era, where there was an explosion of corporate demand for professional advice to help cope with this Brave New World, McKinsey is not getting enough of a demand uplift to offset the impact of the AI expectation, that McKinsey deliver more with a lot fewer people, as in lower billings. The Journal tells us, Advising on AI and related technology now makes up 40% of the firms revenue which I suspect is as broadly defined as possible so as to make McKinsey sound as if it is at the bleeding edge. The piece even mentions that McKinsey has already shrunk its headcount from 45,000 in 2023 to 40,000 now.

Back to the impact of AI on the economics of consulting firms. Professional service firms typically bill out non-owner professionals at 3 times cash compensation or ~2.4 fully loaded costs (again this is dated, with fewer vacations and sick days but more costly health care, the typical fully loaded level may have changed). In my day through the 1990s, McKinsey seemed to hew to this norm.

Note that there are two ways to achieve leverage. One is the markup of non-profit-participant time. The other is the number of juniors compared to partners. Three juniors on average to each partner-type is a lot less leverage than a dozen juniors to each partner.

And McKinsey partners are acutely aware of the importance of leverage. I was retained by McKinsey after I had left the firm to work on a project to sell a money management firm. It was clear that either the senior or the second-tier partner would need to travel internationally and spend face time with prospective buyers. The senior partner grumbled in front of me to the junior partner: This will be unlevered time. We need to bill accordingly.

A story will show how these economics relate directly to McKinseys eliteness.

In the stone ages, MBAs were rare and only a few programs had much credibility in Corporate America (Harvard, Stanford, Chicago, and Wharton; the rest were as late as the early 1980s seen as a notch below, save perhaps Columbia and NYU for Wall Street jobs). So McKinsey merely by virtue of having top school MBA (who were also often the graduates of elite colleges) could field a team that had the psychological intimidation factor of meeting with client executives who (in nearly all cases) would never have been hired by McKinsey. McKinsey did also have a track record of being a propagator of new corporate practices from as early as the 1930s.

In the 1980s, when Wall Street profits and pay levels exploded, McKinsey found that it was losing out in B school and campus recruiting for top candidates far more often than it had in the past to the likes of Goldman and Salomon. Even worse, a decent number of mid-career McKinsey professionals were leaving the firm to go to finance firm for 50% to 100% increases in pay. This was particularly destructive since those 3-6 years employees were engagement or senior engagement managers and were the working oars of the firm.

In 1987, I was brought in as one of only two non-tenured partners to assist three very senior directors, Carter Bales, Fred Gluck, and Don Waite, all of whom were contenders in the upcoming election for firm Managing Director (Gluck later became Managing Director). The other participant was Purnendu Chatterjee, then a non-tenured partner (aka principal) who left McKinsey to run a fund for Soros and now has his own investment firm). They had teamed up to address the question of what to do about the losses in talent that McKinsey was suffering. They deemed this to be so important that they did not want to tout different approaches in their campaigns but to agree on what to do to help the firm cope.2

The result (as I was told later) was that the firm decided the way to compete was to raise partner pay, and in a marked way someone made partner as in was elected to principal, which then was at the five and a half to seven year mark.3 The way the firm made the money math work was to increase the size of the personnel pyramid under the directors and principals, by more leverage of each partner (more juniors per senior) via staffing on studies and by lengthening time to principal and director.

The article mentions the current leverage level but in such a way that its still a bit opaque. From the Journal:

Traditionally, a strategy project with a client might require an engagement manageressentially, a project leaderplus 14 consultants. Today, it might need an engagement manager plus two or three consultants, alongside a few AI agents and access to deep research capabilities, Smaje said. Partners with decades of experience might prove more indispensable to projects, in part, because they have seen problems before.

In my day, there were two levels of manager: an engagement manager (someone with at least 2-3 years of experience) and a senior engagement manager which would typically come at more like the 4+ year mark.

An engagement manager would lead 2-4 people, which would be a combination of more junior consultants and analysts (college grads).

It would only be a senior engagement manager that would have been in charge of a team as big as 14, and then with some engagement managers supervising the typical 2-4 professional on discrete pieces of work.

One person supervising 14 people with no intermediate minders is a train wreck, quality-wise.

In keeping, by the early 2000s, I was regularly hearing complaints from top search firms (the sort that does CEO/C-level searches) that the quality of McKinsey work had declined and was regularly out of line with the price. The same search firms were also often describing McKinsey as arrogant and aggressive, something that would have been unheard of with clients in my era, even by the most full-of-themselves directors. McKinsey was often selling (in my day, they instead marketed a ton and relied on referrals and follow-on work to generate their business) and seemed to be inept about it. I heard this sort of account more than once:

McKinsey professionals call on possible or even current client executives. They pitch a particularly engagement: We think you should hire us to do X and heres why. Client politely says they dont think they need X done, or alternatively, they can handle X on their own. McKinsey team gets aggressive: No, you really need us to do X.

This combination of factors no doubt contributes to the overwhelmingly negative comments about McKinsey in the Journals comment section, even before factoring their rap sheet of ethical lapses, including Enron, Purdue Pharma, UnitedHealth, cuts in patient service at NHS, bribery in South Africa, a Twitter crackdown in Saudi Arabia that may have played a role in the bone-sawing of Jamal Khashoggi.

Some excerpts from the Journals article:

Companies pay dearly for McKinseys human expertise, and for nearly a century they have had good reason: The elite firms armies of consultants have helped generations of CEOs navigate the thorniest of challenges, synthesizing complex information and mapping out what to do next. Now McKinsey is trying to steer through its own existential transformation. Artificial intelligence can increasingly do the work done by the firms highly paid consultants, often within minutes. That reality is pushing the firm to rewire its business. AI is now a topic of conversation at every meeting of McKinseys board, said Bob Sternfels, the firms global managing partner. The technology is changing the ways McKinsey works with clients, how it hires and even what projects it takes on. And McKinsey is rapidly deploying thousands of AI agents. Those bots now assist consultants in building PowerPoint decks, taking notes and summing up interviews and research documents for clients. The most-used bot is one that helps employees write in a classic McKinsey tone of voicelanguage the firm describes as sharp, concise and clear. Another popular agent checks the logic of a consultants arguments, verifying the flow of reasoning makes sense. Sternfels said he sees a day in the not-too-distant future when McKinsey has one AI agent for every human it employs.

An aside: I am a little surprised about the McKinsey voice part. How much voice is there in slide presentations? Again, in my day, where that showed up was proposals (written by partners) and articles in McKinsey publications, where McKinseys very skilled editors would whip a draft into shape. I was just about the only person evah to write a progress review as a text document (with charts and images in the text as well as in appendixes) in what was called final report format.4 Or are young consultants these days so poor at writing generally that they need AI to produce professional-sounding e-mails?

Mind you, AI will not kill consulting but it seems clear a lot of adaptation is in store for McKinsey and its big brand-name competitors, Bain and BCG5:

One immediate change is that fewer clients want to hire consulting firms for strategy advice alone Companies, [Nick] Studer, [CEO of Oliver Wyman] added, dont want a suit with PowerPoint. They want someone who is willing to get in the trenches and help them align their team and cocreate with their team. At McKinsey, Sternfels is trying to cement the notion that the firm is a partner, not adviser, to clients. About a quarter of the companys work today is in outcomes-based arrangements: McKinsey is paid partly on whether a project achieves certain results.

Perhaps I am being unduly negative, but I see a lot of whistling past the grave here. Clients will expect much smaller and more senior-heavy teams, which throws a wrecking ball into how McKinsey generates enough revenue to produce the lofty pay to which its top brass has become accustomed.

Moreover, smaller and more senior increases the viability of boutique firms as competitors.

It also means that the ability to develop or access non-public information will become more valuable. A colleague who was an executive at an expert network firm that had two of the top three consulting firms as clients noted:

Expert networks will continue to be relevant to these firms. A useful function of expert networks that will not be replaced by AI is finding people who can offer the kind of on-the-ground perspective that doesnt always make it into formal research or the business literature. These people provide information that is not secret, but not public. In that consulting firms are presumably paid to find and fix problems that have been overlooked, it is a relevant function in that AI simply scans information that is already public.

This not secret but not public information is far more widespread that one might think, and is particularly valuable to companies trying to enter a new market or second-tier players. In my day at McKinsey and after I started my own practice, I spent a substantial amount of my time generating that sort of information.

The expert network exec felt compelled to add:

I have noticed that a lot of people are treating AI-scanned documents as the letter of the law. I recently observed that the version of a law offered by ChatGPT was not only not up-to-date, but that the revised version of that law was already more than 15 years old and easily found on the Internet. I happened to be familiar with that law and its revision, but the person who sent me the GPT-regurgitated version was not. It was slightly disturbing that initially, I got a reflexive argument about it from a well-educated professional. AI will absolutely not obviate the need for fact-checkers versed in solid research practices, if only to combat the widespread and questionable tendency, which I first observed when Wikipedia was newer, to treat Internet resources in the same manner as traditional sources.

Pundits, journalists, and our readers (particularly IM Doc!) have offered similar warnings about glaring errors in AI results, which nevertheless are too often fed into decision-processed despite that. How bad the information pollution becomes before clean-up or prophylactic efforts are made is anyones guess.

By contrast, it seems a safer wager that McKinsey will find it hard to preserve its current stature and profit level.

____

1 Keep in mind that even though the man who built McKinsey, Marvin Bower, modeled it on law firms, McKinsey does not provide periodic invoices of actual time expenditures, billing rates, and expenses. The practice in my day, and I doubt it has changed much, is that McKinsey engagement letters would identify the top members of the engagement team (as in the so-called Director of Consulting Services on that project, plus the non-tenured partners on it (recall that McKinsey is not a partnership) which then were called Engagement Directors. It would then give the size of the team that would work under them and the billing rate per month, plus the expense percentage assigned (again in my day, 15% for domestic engagements and 25% for international).

The result too often was that studies were undernegotiated, that the partners had promised the client too much in relation to the size of the team, which resulted in the worker-bees putting in backbreaking hours. The result too often was that promising consultants on those assignments resigning after they had landed a new job.

Mind you, the dot-bomb era led to a collapses in demand for consultants. McKinseys headcount in its North American offices was reduced by 50% over two years. So McKinsey may have also wound up shifting its engagement terms since my day, and particularly as a result of this huge demand downdraft.

2 It was immediately clear that these three had never been in a room together without much in the way of other adults present. The jousting was impressive to behold. I kept my head down and (without having been asked) gave them a primer on Wall Street economics, describing them by major line of business.

3 If a consultant did not make partner in that window, the firm had an up or out policy, much like law firms for associates who do not make partner.

4 I was shocked when I came to McKinsey from Goldman to see that clients accepted mere sideshows as the end product, since in six months, the client would have large gaps in the information conveyed. I insisted on putting a disclaimer on all of the front pages of my progress reviews something like This is not a complete record of the presentation (this was actually in the firms lexicon but bizarrely rarely employed). I was used to professional documents being in text, such as memoranda from our counsel, valuation letters, and analyst reports, for the avoidance of doubt, as the lawyers would say.

5 Bain will probably fare the best. First, it has a ton of captive business from its private equity fellow traveler Bain Capital for due diligence on possible investments. Second, Bain has always worked in a very hands-on way, sending in large teams to act in a managerial capacity. How that works from a liability standpoint of the company subject to a quasi-Bain takeover is beyond me
Australian Senate rejects age verification for search engine users in surprise bipartisan push

Australia's Senate passed a motion to halt proposed mandatory age verification for search engine users, citing serious privacy concerns.

The motion, led by UAP Senator Ralph Babet, drew rare bipartisan support from parties across the political spectrum, except Labor.

Babet warned that the proposed verification methods, such as ID checks, facial recognition and data tracking, would erode civil liberties under the guise of child safety.

The motion follows legislation passed in November 2024 banning under-16s from social media, which includes AU$50 million (US$33 million) fines for non-compliant platforms.

Critics argue that both the age verification proposal and the social media ban set dangerous precedents for surveillance and undermine parental responsibility.

An urgent motion to block the rollout of mandatory age verification for search engine users has passed Australia's Senate with overwhelming cross-party support.

The motion, spearheaded by United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet, stems from a recommendation by the federal eSafety Commissioner, who in early July urged the government to consider age verification requirements for users signed into search engines like Google and Bing. Verification methods under discussion included ID checks, biometric scanning, credit card authentication, parental vouching, AI-powered estimations or third-party verification services, raising immediate red flags for privacy advocates.

In a speech to the Senate on July 29, Babet acknowledged the importance of child safety but warned that the proposed measures posed a fundamental threat to Australians' civil liberties.

"Let me say from the outset that protecting children online is a moral imperative," he said. "Measures like safe-search filters for minors, better parental controls and the restriction of harmful content are of course welcome, but let's not kid ourselves  this is not about protecting children, it is about building a surveillance infrastructure under the cover of safety."

Babet condemned the use of facial recognition, ID linkage and browsing history tracking, calling the measures "data mining" and a step toward "creeping authoritarianism."

"That's biometric scanning. That's data mining. We're rapidly marching towards a society where privacy online is not just frowned upon but perhaps going to become illegal. That's what's going on," he said. "Imagine this: your face, your ID and your personal browsing history all linked, logged and stored in the name of keeping kids safe. But I ask you this: who is keeping citizens safe from this creeping authoritarianism disguised as policy?"

While the current plan would only apply to users signed into search engines, Babet warned it sets a dangerous precedent.

"I cannot stress enough that we are not, nor do we want to become, China or North Korea. We're Australians. Australians have a right to privacy, to autonomy and to live free from constant digital scrutiny," he said. (Related: Australia following Communist China's footsteps with digital ID system.)

The motion gained unlikely allies from across the political spectrum, including the conservative Coalition, the right-wing One Nation, the far-left Greens and several independent left-leaning senators, such as David Pocock, Lidia Thorpe and Fatima Payman. Notably, the Labor Party stood alone in opposing the motion.

Babet challenges Australia's social media ban for under-16s

The proposal builds on legislation passed in November 2024 that bans children under the age of 16 from accessing social media.

The legislation targets platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). It imposes fines of up to AU$50 million (US$33 million) on companies that fail to prevent underage users from creating accounts.

All major political parties backed the legislation, which supporters claimed is a vital step in protecting children from online harms. Once enacted, platforms will have 12 months to comply before enforcement begins.

Since then, lawmakers from smaller parties and independents have accused the government of rushing the bill and questioning both its effectiveness and unintended consequences.

Follow PrivacyWatch.news for more similar stories.

Watch the video below about why internet age verification laws are another nail in the coffin of privacy.

This video is from the unmasked channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

South Dakota enacts porn site age verification law.

Arizona enacts age verification law for adult websites.

Indiana and Mississippi SUED over online age verification laws.

Federal court allows Mississippi to enforce social media age verification law.

Texas bills to mandate age verification for visitors of adult websites.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

TheEpochTimes.com 1

APH.gov.au

TheEpochTimes.com 2

Brighteon.com
Decentralize TV: Ashton Addison on the future of cryptocurrency and privacy

Ashton Addison shared his journey as a "decentralized nomad," traveling to crypto-friendly locales like Tulum and El Salvador before settling in Austin due to its strong Bitcoin community and favorable regulations.

Bitcoin has transitioned from a transactional currency to "digital gold," with adoption growing through ETFs  though Addison cautioned these dont equate to owning actual Bitcoin.

Privacy coins (e.g., Monero) offer solutions to surveillance risks, while self-custody ("Not Your Keys, Not Your Coins") was emphasized as critical to asset security, especially after exchange failures.

AI agents could revolutionize crypto trading but pose risks like market manipulation, requiring robust safeguards. The potential for blockchain to increase government spending transparency was also discussed.

Viewers were encouraged to learn about blockchain, invest in Bitcoin long-term, and explore applications in their fields, with Addison stressing, "It's never too late" to start.

The Health Ranger Mike Adams and Todd Pitner welcomed blockchain educator and cryptocurrency advocate Ashton Addison on "Decentralize TV" to discuss the current state and future of cryptocurrency, with a special focus on privacy and the evolving landscape of digital finance.

Addison, the founder and producer of the "Crypto Coin Show" on YouTube, shared his unique journey as a "decentralized nomad." He and his wife traveled the world, exploring potential places to settle down.

Their journey took them to crypto hotspots like Tulum in Mexico  where he spoke at the Tulum Crypto Club  and El Salvador, which made headlines with its ambitious Bitcoin City project. Despite the allure of these crypto-friendly locales, Addison and his wife ultimately chose to settle in Austin, Texas. They were drawn to the City of the Violet Crown's burgeoning Bitcoin community and favorable regulatory environment.

The conversation delved into the evolution of Bitcoin, which has shifted from its original vision as a fast, cheap, transactional currency to being widely regarded as "digital gold." Adams expressed skepticism about Bitcoin's ability to fulfill its initial promise, citing the block size wars and the rise of layer-two solutions like the Lightning Network.

Addison acknowledged these challenges but highlighted the growing adoption of Bitcoin  particularly with the launch of Bitcoin ETFs, which have attracted billions in investments.

"If you are buying ETFs, which is not buying Bitcoin, you're not owning Bitcoin at all," he said. "You're more like owning stocks that have exposure to Bitcoin."

Privacy coins, self-custody and AI: The future of crypto

Pitner raised concerns about the increasing surveillance and potential manipulation of Bitcoin, especially with the advent of ETFs. This led to a discussion about privacy coins like Monero, Epic Cash and Zano that offer enhanced privacy features.

Addison admitted that while privacy coins are technically sound, their adoption faces hurdles due to the additional complexity they introduce. However, he noted that a significant event, such as a government crackdown on Bitcoin transactions, could trigger a mass migration to privacy coins. (Related: Cryptocurrency expert Ashton Addison discusses decentralization and privacy in the next wave of Blockchain innovation.)

The trio emphasized the critical importance of self-custody in the crypto world. Addison warned against the risks of leaving cryptocurrencies on exchanges, citing the recent example of an exchange urging users to withdraw their funds.

He stressed the need for users to take control of their assets, highlighting the "Not Your Keys, Not Your Coins" movement and its annual reminder on Jan. 3, the anniversary of Bitcoin's first minting. The conversation then took an exciting turn as Addison discussed the growing intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain.

The CEO of EventChain highlighted the potential of AI agents to revolutionize crypto trading by managing portfolios and executing trades autonomously. However, he also warned of the risks associated with AI, such as the possibility of market manipulation and the need for robust security measures.

Adams raised the intriguing idea of using cryptocurrency to bring transparency to government spending. He envisioned a public blockchain where all government transactions would be visible, potentially curbing corruption and waste. Addison agreed, noting that while this would require significant changes in how governments operate, it could be a powerful tool for accountability.

As the discussion wrapped up, Addison offered valuable advice for those looking to enter the crypto space. He emphasized the importance of taking action, learning about blockchain technology, and staying informed about AI advancements. He also encouraged viewers to explore how blockchain can be applied to their areas of interest, whether it's data storage, transactions, or other sectors.

"It's just about taking action. You have to have faith, and you need to take that step yourself as well. It's never too late," Addison said.

Pitner echoed Addison's sentiments, urging viewers to invest in Bitcoin and resist the temptation to chase after speculative altcoins. He emphasized the long-term potential of Bitcoin and the importance of holding onto it for the future.

Follow CryptoCult.news for more news about cryptocurrency.

Watch the full "Decentralize TV" interview featuring Ashton Addison, Todd Pitner and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Bitcoins evolution beyond "digital gold": Redefining monetary innovation in a shifting landscape.

Cryptocurrency market PLUMMETS as trade war fears trigger $2.2B in liquidations.

Why the Mimblewimble protocol makes other privacy coin protocols obsolete.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

AshtonAddison.com
EPA plans to SPREAD CANCER by reapproving deadly DICAMBA HERBICIDE that the Fed Courts already banned twice

The Environmental Punishment Agency of the United States loves spreading cancer and dementia-causing poisons on our crops, especially the most popular ones, including corn, soy, cotton and canola. Well, theyre back at it again, pushing to spread Dicamba, like Agent Orange in Vietnam, all over U.S. food crops.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to reapprove dicamba, a controversial herbicide previously banned twice by federal courts. Dicamba, widely used on genetically modified soybean and cotton crops, is notorious for its tendency to drift through the air, causing widespread damage and posing serious health risks. Despite growing scientific evidence linking agricultural chemicals to a host of health problems, the EPA is moving forward with reauthorizationa decision many experts view as both dangerous and politically motivated.

EPA moves to reapprove dicamba despite health risks: The EPA plans to reregister dicamba, a herbicide twice banned by federal courts due to its severe health and environmental risks. Dicamba is notorious for drifting long distances after application, exposing surrounding communities to potentially toxic levels.

The EPA plans to reregister dicamba, a herbicide twice banned by federal courts due to its severe health and environmental risks. Dicamba is notorious for drifting long distances after application, exposing surrounding communities to potentially toxic levels. Widespread health effects of pesticide exposure: Agricultural chemicals, including dicamba, are increasingly found in air, food, water, and even human tissues. Long-term exposure is linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and neurological disordersespecially harming children and pregnant women.

Agricultural chemicals, including dicamba, are increasingly found in air, food, water, and even human tissues. Long-term exposure is linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and neurological disordersespecially harming children and pregnant women. Dicamba's unique danger  drift and accumulation: Unlike most herbicides, dicamba can remain airborne for up to 72 hours and travel miles, leading to spikes in ER visits for respiratory issues. It accumulates in the body over time, adding to a toxic burden with unknown long-term consequences.

Unlike most herbicides, dicamba can remain airborne for up to 72 hours and travel miles, leading to spikes in ER visits for respiratory issues. It accumulates in the body over time, adding to a toxic burden with unknown long-term consequences. Regulatory capture and public pushback: The EPAs decision is under scrutiny after appointing a former pesticide lobbyist to oversee regulation. However, public comments are open until August 22, 2025, giving citizens a chance to oppose the decision and advocate for stricter protections.

EPA moves to reapprove twice-banned herbicide despite health risks

Dicamba is part of a broader public health crisis tied to agricultural chemicals. Once viewed primarily as an occupational hazard for farmers, chemical exposure has now become a widespread threat. These substances are found in food, water, air, and even the human body. Numerous studies have documented higher rates of cancerincluding lymphoma, leukemia, brain tumors, and prostate canceramong agricultural workers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has labeled many common pesticides as probable human carcinogens.

Children are particularly vulnerable. Pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood has been linked to developmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and reduced IQ. Chemical exposure is also associated with miscarriages, birth defects, premature birth, and hormone disruption, which may contribute to rising infertility, early puberty, and metabolic disorders like diabetes.

Dicambas unique danger lies in its volatility. Unlike most herbicides, dicamba easily vaporizes and drifts far from treated fieldssometimes for up to 72 hours. This means that entire neighborhoods can be exposed without warning. People living near treated fields often report respiratory problems, eye and skin irritation, and other health issues. Emergency rooms in high-use areas have seen spikes in breathing-related visits. Dicamba has caused the most widespread drift damage in U.S. agricultural history.

Scientific studies link dicamba exposure to a range of health issues, including hormonal disruption, neurological symptoms like dizziness and headaches, and even liver cancer. A major concern is bioaccumulation: these chemicals build up in body fat, organs, and even the brain. Over time, low-level, chronic exposure adds to a toxic load with poorly understood long-term consequences.

The reapproval process raises questions about regulatory integrity. Just before the EPAs announcement, Kyle Kunklerformerly a lobbyist for the American Soybean Associationwas appointed to oversee pesticide regulation. Kunkler has a history of opposing restrictions on toxic chemicals like glyphosate and atrazine, further fueling concerns of industry influence over public health decisions.

Public opposition remains a key check on regulatory overreach. The EPA is accepting public comments on the dicamba proposal until August 22, 2025. Submitting well-informed, health-focused feedback can influence final decisions.

In the meantime, individuals can reduce personal exposure by choosing organic foods (especially those on the "Dirty Dozen" list), filtering drinking water, supporting liver detoxification with cruciferous vegetables, and maintaining healthy sleep and stress levels.

The body has powerful mechanisms for detoxification, but it needs support in todays chemical-laden environment. Staying informed, speaking out, and taking daily steps to minimize exposure are essential for long-term health.

Tune your food news frequency to FoodSupply.news and get updates on more junk science food stuff loaded with toxic pesticides, herbicides and insecticides that corporate America loads the grocery store shelves with to drive up chronic diseases and disorders so Big Pharma can take your money.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalHealth365.com

USRTK.org

CommonDreams.org
EUs energy pledge to U.S. faces daunting challenges

The EU committed to purchasing $750 billion in U.S. energy over three years to avert trade tensions, but experts label the promise "almost impossible" due to supply, technical and legal hurdles.

The U.S. exported only $166 billion in oil/gas last year, making it impractical to divert nearly all exports to Europe. EU refineries can only process 14 percent of U.S. oil, further limiting feasibility.

The EU cannot guarantee the purchases, as imports depend on private companies and require expanded LNG infrastructure and shipping capacity  neither currently adequate.

Despite aiming to reduce reliance on Russian energy, EU imports of Russian LNG rose to 17.5 percent of supply in 2024, while the U.S. provided 45.3 percent. Meeting the pledge would force the EU to shun cheaper suppliers like Norway.

Critics argue the pledge lacks commercial rationale, with no incentives for companies to prioritize costly U.S. energy. The deal appears more political than practical, aimed at avoiding higher U.S. tariffs.

In a bid to avert a transatlantic trade war, the European Union has committed to purchasing a staggering $750 billion worth of American energy over the next three years.

The EU and the U.S. finalized a comprehensive trade agreement on Sunday, July 27. It included Brussels' commitment to invest $600 billion in the U.S. economy alongside the massive energy purchase pledge. This move was seen as a critical step to de-escalate trade tensions and strengthen economic ties between the two regions. (Related: EU submits to 15% Trump tariffs in new U.S. trade deal.)

However, the feasibility of the energy pledge is being met with widespread skepticism. Experts and officials are calling this ambitious pledge "almost impossible" to achieve, citing a myriad of challenges ranging from limited United States supply to technical obstacles and legal hurdles.

Laura Page, a senior analyst at commodities firm Kpler, described the headline figure as "completely unrealistic." Last year, the EU spent 76 billion ($87 billion) on U.S. energy. Tripling this amount would necessitate sidelining cheaper suppliers and diverting nearly all U.S. oil and gas exports to Europe, which Page insists "is just never going to happen."

The EU's reliance on U.S. energy is further complicated by the limited supply capacity of the United States. According to Page, the U.S. exported only $166 billion in oil and gas last year, making it impractical to allocate all exports to the EU.

Additionally, EU refineries have a limited capacity to process American oil, capped at around 14 percent, as highlighted by Homayoun Falakshahi, head of crude analysis at Kpler. The technical obstacles are compounded by the EU's lack of control over import deals.

A senior European Commission (EC) official emphasized that the EU relies on private companies for these purchases, stating, "This is not something the EU can guarantee." The official further pointed out that the deal is contingent upon having sufficient LNG infrastructure and U.S. shipping capacity, which are currently not in place.

Washington-Brussels energy agreement: A political deal?

EC President Ursula von der Leyen has argued that the plan would enhance energy security and reduce the EU's dependence on Russian energy. However, the numbers tell a different story.

Despite sanctions and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline, Russian liquefied natural gas LNG imports to the EU surged. LNG from Moscow accounted for 17.5 percent of the bloc's supply last year, second only to the U.S. at 45.3 percent.

In 2024, the EU imported 23 billion ($26.34 billion) in oil, gas, and nuclear fuel from Russia, a figure that is insufficient to bridge the gap left by the ambitious U.S. energy pledge. The EU's energy imports totaled 375 billion ($430 billion) last year, with only 76 billion ($87 billion) coming from the United States. To meet the pledge, the EU would need to essentially triple its American imports, a move that would require shunning other providers like Norway, which offers cheaper gas via pipeline.

The EU's commitment to such high figures has left many questioning the economic rationale behind the decision. Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a senior researcher and gas expert at the Center on Global Energy Policy, noted, "It appears the EU was ready to agree on any number to avoid the 30 percent," referring to Trump's threat of imposing a far higher blanket tariff.

As things stand, the EU's pledge seems more like a political maneuver than a practical plan. The lack of economic incentives for companies to engage in such transactions raises doubts about the feasibility of the commitment. As one gas specialist at a prominent energy trading house put it, "If there is a commercial rationale behind this, companies will do it  otherwise, it's obviously only hot air."

Follow Risk.news for more similar stories.

Watch European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen announcing EU counter-tariffs on the U.S. worth 26 billion ($29.77 billion) in this clip.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump agrees to delay EU tariffs after call with von der Leyen, sets new deadline for trade deal.

Trump threatens 50% TARIFF on EU imports  but delays it after talks with Brussels.

Is the EU finally reconsidering its energy war with Russia?

Sources include:

RT.com

POLITICO.eu

TasnimNews.com

Brighteon.com
Gaza on the brink of FAMINE: Urgent action needed as humanitarian crisis deepens

The IPC warns that famine conditions have emerged in Gaza, with starvation and acute malnutrition at catastrophic levels. Over 150 Palestinians, including children, have died from starvation since October 2023, and 40,000 infants face imminent risk of death.

Israel's blockade has severely restricted food and humanitarian aid since March, leaving thousands of aid trucks stranded. UN agencies emphasize starvation is solely due to blocked access, not scarcity.

Over 100 humanitarian organizations demand an end to the siege, reporting staff malnourishment and collapse. Journalists in Gaza also face starvation, prompting media outlets to issue urgent appeals.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismisses famine claims as lies, despite U.S. skepticism. Israel's announced aid pauses and airdrops are criticized as inadequate by aid groups like Doctors Without Borders.

The IPC projects Gaza's entire 2.1 million population will face acute food insecurity by September, with over 500,000 in extreme starvation. Over 40 percent of pregnant/breastfeeding women and 20 percent of young children suffer acute malnutrition, signaling accelerating disaster.

In a dire warning issued Tuesday, July 29, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared that the "worst-case scenario of famine" is unfolding in Gaza  as the besieged enclave faces unprecedented levels of starvation, malnutrition and disease.

The IPC  a global initiative backed by governments, the United Nations and NGOs  called for immediate action to end hostilities and allow unimpeded access to life-saving humanitarian aid. Its latest report revealed alarming data: "Famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City."

This marks a critical turning point in the crisis, with nearly 150 Palestinians  including children  having already succumbed to starvation since Israel's offensive began in October 2023. The situation is particularly dire for infants, with local health officials warning that 40,000 are at imminent risk of death.

The IPC reported a rapid rise in malnutrition in July, with over 20,000 children admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, including more than 3,000 severely malnourished cases. Hospitals have recorded at least 16 hunger-related deaths of children under five since July 17.

The crisis is exacerbated by Israel's blockade, which has prevented food and aid from reaching Gaza since March 2. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has 6,000 aid trucks waiting in Egypt and Jordan, unable to enter due to Israeli restrictions. Qu Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization, emphasized that "people are starving not because food is unavailable, but because access is blocked."

Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), echoed this sentiment. "Waiting for official confirmation of famine to provide life-saving food aid is unconscionable," she remarked. McCain urged for "large-scale food aid, immediately and without obstruction," to prevent mass starvation. (Related: UN World Food Program director warns there is "full-blown famine" in northern Gaza.)

International outcry against Israel's aid blockade

The international community has intensified pressure on Israel to lift the siege. Over 100 human rights and humanitarian organizations have called for an end to the blockade, citing widespread starvation affecting their staff. UNRWA Communications Director Juliette Touma reported that several staff members have fainted on duty due to malnutrition.

Journalists are also affected, with the AFP journalists' union warning that its members in Gaza face death from starvation due to the blockade. The BBC, Reuters and Associated Press have issued similar statements highlighting the plight of their journalists.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied the existence of a hunger crisis in Gaza, calling such claims "a bold-faced lie." However, U.S. President Donald Trump has contradicted Netanyahu, expressing doubt about claims that there is no starvation in Gaza.

The Israeli military announced it would implement daily "tactical" pauses and open corridors for aid delivery, but aid organizations have criticized these measures as insufficient. Doctors Without Borders described the airdrops as "notoriously ineffective and dangerous."

The IPC's warning comes after their May analysis projected that by September, Gaza's entire 2.1 million population would face acute food insecurity, with over 500,000 people reaching a state of extreme starvation. The situation has worsened since then, with the IPC reporting a significant deterioration in food security due to increased hostilities, frequent displacements and severely restricted humanitarian access.

Aid organizations are calling for urgent action to secure more access to humanitarian aid. CARE's Palestine Country Director Jolien Veldwijk noted that more than 100 deaths from malnutrition have been recorded in Gaza, with the situation expected to deteriorate further.

"Over 40 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women are severely malnourished, she stated. "Nearly one in five children under the age of five in Gaza City is acutely malnourished."

Follow Starvation.news for more news about the famine unfolding in Gaza.

Watch this video showing starving Gazans swarming a charity kitchen as famine spreads in the Strip.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Over 1,000 rabbis condemn Israel's weaponized starvation in Gaza as UN warns of "man-made famine."

Netanyahu denies Gaza famine, claims detained Palestinians are "overweight" while Gaza children die from hunger.

UN official: Israel-Palestine war brings FAMINE at incredible speed, leaving hundreds of thousands starving in Gaza.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

FT.com

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com
Germanys special family reunification program for Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis SCRAPPED

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has ended Berlin's special state-level admission program for Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, blocking future family reunification under the scheme, even for those willing to cover costs privately.

In a letter to Berlin officials, Dobrindt confirmed the Federal Ministry of the Interior will no longer approve new or extended state-level humanitarian programs, citing national policy and cost concerns.

Berlin Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) warned that relatives' financial guarantees are insufficient long term, as commitments expire after five years and could leave the state responsible for expenses.

Tensions have risen across Germany as family reunification visas have surpassed one million since 2015, prompting renewed AfD demands to halt the practice entirely due to pressure on welfare and housing systems.

In June, the Bundestag suspended family reunification rights for migrants with subsidiary protection status for two years. Dobrindt welcomed the move as a major policy shift, while the AfD criticized it as symbolic and ineffective.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has announced the end of a special state-level admission program for Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, effectively blocking any future family reunification under the scheme unless costs are privately covered, but even that option now faces restrictions.

In a letter addressed to Berlin's Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU), Dobrindt wrote that the Federal Ministry of the Interior will no longer approve a new or extended state-level humanitarian admission program, which has allowed certain groups to sponsor close relatives. (Related: Germany pledges $326 million in humanitarian aid for Syria.)

The scheme, originally introduced by a Red-Green coalition and later expanded, permitted relatives to come to Berlin if sponsors could guarantee coverage of housing, health and long-term care costs. Dobrindt emphasized federal opposition to further admissions under these programs.

In turn, Evers notified Berlin's Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) of the federal decision, citing budgetary and policy concerns. He stressed the need to limit costs related to the state-level refugee admission programs, arguing that relying on relatives to cover insurance contributions does not adequately account for the broader financial burden on the city. He also pointed out that there is insufficient data to reliably assess the long-term budgetary impact, especially after five years, when relatives' financial commitments expire and the state would be left to cover expenses.

Regardless of these financial concerns, Evers made it clear that any extension of the program requires federal approval, which, following Dobrindt's recent decision, is now off the table.

Family reunification program sparks debate as over one million visas issued since 2015

The debate over family reunification in Germany has reached new heights after it was revealed that the number of family reunification visas issued since 2015 has officially surpassed one million. The milestone, reached in December, has reignited political tensions as the country grapples with rising welfare costs and pressure on public infrastructure.

For instance, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has renewed calls for a complete halt to family reunification, with party member Martin Hess claiming many new arrivals are likely to "immigrate directly into our social systems." Recent government data shows nearly half of the 17.68 billion ($20.44 billion) in housing support allocated in 2024 has gone to non-Germans.

At the same time, welfare spending reached an all-time high of 46.7 billion ($54 billion) last year, a 10 percent increase over 2023, according to figures from the Federal Employment Agency. Migrants made up 62.6 percent of all welfare recipients, and the number jumped to 71.3 percent among those aged 15 to 25, figures cited by Remix News show.

To address growing public concern, the Bundestag in June suspended family reunification rights for migrants with "subsidiary protection" status  a group that includes around 380,000 people, most of them Syrians. The suspension will last for two years.

The AfD dismissed it as insufficient. Party spokesman Christian Wirth called the legislation "a drop in the ocean," and co-leader Alice Weidel described it as "a smokescreen," claiming that 90 percent of so-called refugees already in Germany will still be able to bring relatives through other legal pathways. But Dobrindt praised the measure, saying it would help ease the strain on housing, schools and welfare systems, and send a signal to human traffickers that Germany is no longer an automatic gateway for entire families.

Head over to Migrants.news for similar stories.

Watch Paul Davis talking about Islamic terrorists saying "We love Israel" after taking out the Assad regime in Syria.

This video is from the Paul Davis UnCancelled channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Report: Almost half of welfare recipients in Germany are MIGRANTS.

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's left-wing government pushes for mass migration and voting rights for non-citizens, sparking outrage.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Bild.de

Brighteon.com
Susan Monarez confirmed as CDC director in party-line Senate vote

On July 28, the Senate confirmed Susan Monarez as CDC director in a party-line vote (51 Republicans in favor, 47 Democrats and independents opposed), making her the first CDC director confirmed under a 2023 law requiring Senate approval.

Monarez holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology and has decades of experience in public health, including roles at the HHS and the DHS. She is the first CDC director since 1946 not to hold a medical degree.

During her confirmation hearing, Monarez said she would refocus the CDC on combating communicable diseases and improving pandemic preparedness.

Monarez pledged support for the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including efforts to reduce chronic disease by improving access to food and clean water.

She emphasized rebuilding public trust, enhancing transparency, expanding use of AI, modernizing lab infrastructure and participating in the vaccine advisory process.

The U.S. Senate formally confirmed Susan Monarez as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday, July 28.

Nominated by President Donald Trump after his initial pick  former Rep. Dr. Dave Weldon (R-FL)  withdrew, Monarez holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology. She has spent decades working in public health and biosecurity roles within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Monarez becomes the first CDC director to be confirmed by the Senate under a new provision of a 2023 funding law that gave the upper chamber direct oversight of the post. She is also the first CDC director since the agency's founding in 1946 not to hold a medical degree.

"Congratulations to Dr. Susan Monarez, PhD, on her Senate confirmation as the 21st Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She brings decades of distinguished experience in health innovation, disaster preparedness, global health and biosecurity. Dr. Monarez will lead [the CDC's] efforts to prevent disease and respond to domestic and global health threats, advancing [Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's] mission to Make America Healthy Again," the CDC posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 30.

The vote, split cleanly along party lines, saw all 51 Republicans voting in favor, while all 47 Democrats and caucusing independents opposed the nomination. Two Republican senators were absent.

Monarez to focus on infectious diseases and support MAHA agenda

During her confirmation hearing in June, Monarez told senators that she intends to sharpen the agency's focus on combating infectious diseases, while also aligning with the broader "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda championed by Kennedy.

"As CDC refocuses its efforts specifically on communicable diseases, we'll be laser-focused on that area, but we will continue, and I will continue, to make sure that we're supporting the secretary's vision of overall Making America Healthy Again," Monarez said in June.

Monarez, a career public health official, cited efforts to improve children's access to nutritious food and clean water as part of the MAHA initiative. She linked such efforts to the fight against chronic diseases, saying they represent critical steps toward protecting the long-term health of American youth. Additionally, Monarez laid out a vision for restoring trust in the CDC by emphasizing transparency and scientific integrity.

Among her top priorities, Monarez listed increasing the use of artificial intelligence to enhance public health responses, modernizing CDC laboratories and diagnostic tools and ensuring rapid detection of emerging biological threats. She also signaled a willingness to work within new leadership structures at the CDC and HHS, including participating in the advisory process surrounding immunization policy. (Related: Trump's CDC nominee pledges focus on infectious diseases, support for MAHA agenda in Senate hearing.)

CDC.news has more similar stories.

Watch this March 3 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as the Health Ranger Mike Adams talks about MAHA in crisis, following an article by RFK Jr. that advocates for mass MMR vaccination.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump nominates VACCINE ZEALOT Susan Monarez to lead the CDC, sidelining RFK Jr.'s reform efforts.

ATTENTION PRESIDENT TRUMP: Please WITHDRAW your nomination of Dr. Susan Monarez for CDC Director as she is a VAX FANATIC and TOXIC JAB ZEALOT.

Is Del Bigtree leaving MAHA? Bigtree blasts the MAHA report's shocking silence on vaccine failure and vaccine injury.

MAHA superstar Calley Means outed as sleazy pharma PR conman?

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com 1

X.com

TheEpochTimes.com 2

Brighteon.com
Sleeping giant fault in Canadas Yukon could unleash devastating magnitude 7.5 earthquake, study warns

The Tintina fault in Canadas Yukon, dormant for 12,000 years, may soon unleash a magnitude 7.5 earthquake due to accumulated strain.

New research reveals the fault has moved significantly over millions of years, suggesting it remains active despite minimal recent activity.

Satellite and lidar data uncovered prehistoric quake evidence, indicating the fault could rupture after accumulating 20 feet of strainnow within the danger zone.

A major quake could devastate sparse communities like Dawson City and critical infrastructure, but casualties would be lower than in densely populated areas.

The findings challenge assumptions about northern Canadas seismic stability, urging reevaluation of hazards and better preparedness for unexpected disasters.

For 12,000 years, the Tintina fault in Canadas Yukon Territory has lain dormant, its seismic potential hidden beneath dense forests and rugged wilderness. But new research suggests this "sleeping giant" may be stirring, capable of unleashing a devastating magnitude 7.5 earthquake, potentially within a human lifetime. Stretching over 620 miles from British Columbia to Alaska, the fault has quietly accumulated nearly 20 feet of strain, raising urgent questions about seismic risks in a region long considered stable. While few communities sit directly in its path, the discovery forces a reckoning: How prepared is the Yukon for a disaster that could strike without warning?

A fault reawakening

The Tintina fault is no stranger to violent movement. Forty million years ago, during the Eocene epoch, one side of the fault slid an astonishing 267 miles against the other at a rate of half an inch per year. Today, its activity appears minimal, with only occasional tremors of magnitude 3 to 4. But appearances can be deceiving. Using high-resolution satellite data and lidar imaging (a laser-based technology that penetrates dense vegetation), researchers uncovered evidence of prehistoric earthquakes along the fault, including scarps where the ground abruptly shifted upward.

"Major ancient faults like that can remain as weak zones in the Earth's crust and then focus ongoing tectonic strain," said Theron Finley, a geoscientist who led the study while at the University of Victoria. The findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, reveal that over the past 2.6 million years, the faults sides have moved roughly 3,300 feet relative to each other. In the last 136,000 years alone, the displacement totaled 250 feet. This is enough to suggest the fault is still active, just biding its time.

Strain building toward a breaking point

The most alarming discovery? The Tintina fault hasnt ruptured in at least 12,000 years, yet it has accumulated approximately 20 feet of unreleased strain. According to Finley, the fault typically ruptures after accumulating between 3 and 33 feet of strain, meaning its now within the danger zone. "It could still be many thousands of years before it reaches the threshold where it ruptures, but we dont know that," Finley cautioned.

The implications are significant. A magnitude 7.5 earthquake, which is comparable to Haitis catastrophic 2010 quake, could strike the Yukon, albeit with far fewer casualties given the regions sparse population. Dawson City, home to 1,600 people, sits closest to the fault, along with critical mining infrastructure and highways vulnerable to landslides. "It ups the seismic hazard for this neck of the woods a little bit," said Peter Haeussler, a geologist emeritus at the U.S. Geological Survey.

Reassessing risk in the north

The study challenges long-held assumptions about seismic activity in northern Canada. While the Yukon isnt as densely populated as earthquake-prone regions like California, the Tintina faults connection to other major fault systems, including the Rocky Mountain Trench, demands a reevaluation of regional hazards. "Our results have significant implications for seismic hazard in the Yukon Territory and neighboring Alaska," the researchers wrote.

To refine predictions, scientists must conduct trench excavations along the fault to analyze rock layers for evidence of past quakes. "Right now, we just know that many have occurred, but we dont have a sense of how frequently," Finley noted. Without this data, estimating the next rupture remains guesswork.

For now, the Tintina fault serves as a sobering reminder that geological threats can emerge where they are least expected. While the Yukons remoteness mitigates some risks, the potential for infrastructure damage, landslides, and disrupted supply chains underscores the need for preparedness. As Finleys team warns, the faults prolonged silence may be the calm before the storma ticking seismic clock hidden beneath Canadas wilderness.

Sources for this article include:

LiveScience.com

AGUPubs.OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com

ScienceAlert.com
BMW profits plunge amid U.S. tariffs, weak demand and Chinese competition

BMW reported a net profit of 4 billion ($4.6 billion) for the first half of 2025, marking its third straight first-half decline, due to U.S. tariffs, softening global demand and rising competition from Chinese EV makers.

While BMW didn't specify exact tariff losses, it warned duties, including a 31 percent EU tariff on Chinese-made electric Minis, could cut its automotive profit margin by 1.25 percentage points, costing billions.

BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, which produces half of its U.S. vehicle sales, has helped cushion the impact of American tariffs, though trade tensions remain a major threat.

A Financial Times-cited study estimates Germany's major carmakers will lose over 10 billion ($11.6 billion) in cash flow this year due to tariffs. Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are facing the steepest declines.

U.S. tariffs (25 percent on vehicles, 50 percent on materials) and rising supplier costs are squeezing margins across the German auto industry, threatening the health of Europe's largest manufacturing sector.

German automotive heavyweight BMW reported a sharp drop in first-half profits as fresh US tariffs, softening global demand and intensifying competition from China continue to rattle the European auto sector.

According to a financial report released on Thursday, July 31, the company posted a net profit of 4 billion ($4.6 billion) for the first six months of 2025, down 29 percent compared to the same period last year, marking its third consecutive first-half decline.

BMW did not specify the total tariff-related costs incurred in the first half, but it warned that trade barriers would continue to weigh on profitability. The automaker expects duties, including the recently imposed 31 percent EU tariff on electric Minis imported from China, to lower its automotive profit margin by roughly 1.25 percentage points this year, potentially resulting in a multibillion-euro cost.

BMW's strong production presence in the U.S. has helped the company soften the impact of American tariffs. The automaker builds about half of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant and exports another 200,000 vehicles from there to global markets.

However, trade policy continues to pose challenges. While EU-U.S. talks could reduce import tariffs on American vehicles entering Europe from 10 percent to zero, such a deal would do little to offset the 15 percent U.S. tariff on European vehicle imports.

China remains another pain point for BMW, particularly as domestic EV rivals grow increasingly competitive. Nonetheless, the company has maintained its full-year outlook, aiming to match last year's 11 billion ($13 billion) in pre-tax profit. With 5.7 billion ($6.5 billion) already recorded in the first half, BMW said it remains on track.

Earlier sales data suggested that BMW may be weathering the industry slowdown more effectively than its competitors. Deliveries held steady at just over 1.2 million vehicles in the first six months, outperforming Mercedes-Benz and Audi. However, revenue fell eight percent to 67.7 billion ($77.3 billion).

German carmakers face 10 billion hit from U.S. tariffs

According to a study cited by the Financial Times, Germany's top automakers are bracing for more than 10 billion ($11.6 billion) in lost cash flow this year, as the fallout from aggressive U.S. trade tariffs compounds an already volatile environment marked by rising costs, slumping sales and mounting competition from China.

The impact of new U.S. tariffs has become a financial body blow to Germany's export-driven auto industry. The U.S. is Germany's largest foreign market, but the sector has been among the hardest hit by President Donald Trump's latest round of protectionist measures.

In March, the U.S. administration slapped a 25 percent tariff on foreign-made vehicle imports. Following months of high-stakes negotiations, the EU and U.S. reached a partial trade agreement on Sunday. The deal lowers auto tariffs to 15 percent but maintains steep 50 percent duties on key industrial materials like steel and aluminum.

The financial toll is steep, just like what BMW claimed. Mercedes-Benz, which reported nearly $11 billion in cash flow last year, is expected to see that figure fall to just $3 billion in 2025, according to data from analytics firm Visible Alpha.

Volkswagen's cash flow forecast has been cut to $3.8 billion, down from $9.5 billion. The company confirmed on July 25, that U.S. tariffs have already cost the company over $1 billion in the first half of the year and warned that the figure could grow as trade restrictions and supply chain pressures persist. (Related: Volkswagen to close Audi Brussels branch due to sharp drop in EV demand.)

Parts suppliers, facing their own cost pressures, have passed on surging prices for imported components and raw materials  intensifying the strain on manufacturers' profit margins.

Watch this clip from Next News Network as host Gary Franchi discusses BMW's reaction to climate protesters vandalizing an iconic vehicle.

This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EU plan to ban sales of gas, diesel vehicles by 2035 "no longer realistic," warns BMW.

BMW issues "do not drive" order for 90,000 vehicles due to defective airbags that can explode metal fragments into your face.

Europe's electric vehicle mandates are killing their auto industry, and China is taking advantage.

Sources include:

RT.com 1

Finance.Yahoo.com

RT.com 2

Brighteon.com
British DISINFORMATION mission used for illegal surveillance of their populace named the opposite Counter Disinformation Unit for flagging truth news

The British government has revived a controversial surveillance group, previously known as the  Counter Disinformation Unit , to monitor online criticism of immigration policies, sparking major free speech concerns, which means banning and censoring truth news that exposes government corruption.

Now operating under the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology led by Peter Kyle, the unit has been tasked with flagging social media content that criticizes migrants being housed in hotels at public expense and complaints of two-tier policing. The justification for these activities is to prevent posts from exacerbating tensions.

UK Revives Controversial Unit to Monitor Immigration Critics Online: The British government has reactivated its secretive Counter Disinformation Unit to flag social media posts critical of immigration policies, particularly concerning migrants being housed in hotels and claims of two-tier policing.

The British government has reactivated its secretive Counter Disinformation Unit to flag social media posts critical of immigration policies, particularly concerning migrants being housed in hotels and claims of two-tier policing. Social Media Monitoring Raises Free Speech Concerns: During the 2022 Southport protests, officials flagged posts they believed could incite fear, prompting backlash from critics like U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, who warned that UK speech laws criminalize expression more harshly than some violent crimes.

During the 2022 Southport protests, officials flagged posts they believed could incite fear, prompting backlash from critics like U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, who warned that UK speech laws criminalize expression more harshly than some violent crimes. Government Denies Censorship Amid Legal Scrutiny: While the UK government insists the unit merely flags posts violating platform policies and protects public safety, opponents argue it enables state surveillance and censorship under the guise of disinformation control.

While the UK government insists the unit merely flags posts violating platform policies and protects public safety, opponents argue it enables state surveillance and censorship under the guise of disinformation control. Free Speech Under Pressure in the UK: Despite claims that free speech remains protected under the Online Safety Act, critics note that the UK lacks U.S.-style speech protections, with thousands arrested for so-called grossly offensive content under broad communication laws.

British Govt Revives Covid-Era Spy Unit to Monitor Online Immigration Critics

The revelation comes from a batch of emails uncovered through a U.S. House Judiciary Committee subpoena of a social media company. Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH), who chairs the committee, released the findings and condemned the UKs approach to speech control. Jordan stated, Many tweets get you a longer prison sentence than many violent offences, highlighting the chilling effect such surveillance has on public discourse.

One of the more notable incidents tied to this revived surveillance occurred during anti-migration protests in Southport in August 2022. Officials flagged posts like a video labeled Looks like Islamabad but its Manchester as potentially inciting fear toward the Muslim community. Although the emails did not directly call for removal of the content, they sought detailed responses from platforms about how the flagged material would be handled.

The British government denies accusations of censorship, claiming the units purpose is to observe trends and identify content that violates platform-specific rules. A government spokesperson defended the practice, saying, Free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy. The Online Safety Act protects it. However, critics argue that the Online Safety Act has in fact broadened censorship powers far beyond its original child protection scope. Under existing UK laws, including the Communications Act, thousands of individuals have been arrested for online speech deemed grossly offensive or for stirring up hatred.

Unlike in the United States, where the First Amendment offers strong protections for freedom of expression, the UK enforces far more restrictive speech laws. This has led to numerous legal actions against citizens for politically incorrect or controversial social media posts, fueling concerns about state overreach.

The renewed activities of the Counter Disinformation Unit suggest an expanding role of government in regulating online expression under the guise of public safety. Critics see this as a modern incarnation of speech policingwhere public commentary on immigration, national identity, and crime is scrutinized through a bureaucratic lens and potentially penalized without clear due process.

The revelations have drawn international attention, especially given the involvement of U.S. lawmakers like Rep. Jordan. Civil liberties advocates worry that these surveillance practices set a dangerous precedent and erode the democratic principle of free debate, particularly on sensitive political topics.

As public trust in institutions wanes and debates over immigration intensify, the British government's use of surveillance tactics against dissenting voices may backfire. While officials claim to be preserving social harmony, critics argue that silencing legitimate concerns only deepens public distrust and polarizes society further.

Do your own research and dont use Google. Try the search engine Brave BETA and get more truth news and real information. Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news about abortions, illegal immigration, suicide, and police state censorship tricks like shadow banning.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk

TheNationalPulse.com
Chinas chikungunya outbreak spreads amid government secrecy and forced quarantines

Over 4,000 confirmed cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in southern China since July, with the mosquito-borne virus spreading from Foshan to Guangzhou, Yangjiang and Beijing. The CCP is accused of downplaying the crisis while enforcing strict quarantines.

Independent observers suspect case numbers are underreported, echoing past CCP censorship of health data. Authorities claim cases are "imported," but experts believe domestic transmission is likely.

Infected individuals face mandatory hospital isolation at their own expense (~$70/day), despite chikungunya not being classified as a top-tier disease. Critics argue the policy exploits patients rather than prioritizing public health.

The Asian tiger mosquito, the primary vector, has expanded north due to climate change. Poor enforcement of WHO-recommended measures (e.g., eliminating standing water) has worsened the outbreak.

Experts warn the CCP's lack of transparency and delayed response mirror early COVID-19 missteps. Without urgent action, the outbreak could escalate into a wider epidemic, as seen in past chikungunya surges.

A rapidly spreading outbreak of chikungunya fever has gripped southern China, with over 4,000 confirmed cases since early July. Yet the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) appears to be downplaying the crisis while enforcing costly quarantines on infected citizens.

Originating in Foshan city in Guangdong Province, the mosquito-borne virus has now reached Guangzhou, Yangjiang and even the capital Beijing  raising fears of a wider epidemic. Local residents report being forced into mandatory hospital isolation at their own expense, a policy that echoes the CCP's controversial Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns. With China's history of suppressing health data, the true scale of the outbreak remains uncertain.

Chikungunya fever  a disease transmitted primarily by the aggressive Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus)  causes debilitating symptoms including high fever, joint pain and rashes. While rarely fatal, it poses serious risks to infants and the elderly. (Related: Secretary Kennedy expands access to RSV, chikungunya and meningococcal vaccines, despite disbanding 'conflicted' advisory panel.)

Experts warn that the CCP's lack of transparency could be repeating the mistakes of the early COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded alarms, noting eerie similarities to past chikungunya outbreaks that spiraled into full-blown epidemics.

Officially, China reports 4,014 cases, but independent observers suspect the real number is far higher. The CCP has a well-documented history of censoring politically inconvenient health data, most notably during Wuhan's initial COVID-19 outbreak. State media insists the chikungunya cases are "imported," but experts say the virus is likely spreading domestically.

Beijing's reluctance to release detailed infection data has fueled distrust. Unlike Macau  which promptly reported a case tied to Foshan  mainland authorities have been vague about transmission sources. The lack of clarity raises concerns that the outbreak is more widespread than admitted.

Beijing cares more about silencing panic than addressing outbreak

Residents in Foshan describe a draconian response: Anyone suspected of infection is forcibly quarantined in hospitals, with patients footing the bill. One villager told the Epoch Times he was detained for testing and only released after a negative result. Those who test positive face hospitalization at a cost of nearly $70 per day  a crushing expense for many Chinese citizens.

Doctors confirm that home isolation is banned, despite chikungunya not being classified as a top-tier infectious disease under Chinese law. Critics argue the policy is less about public health and more about profiting from desperate patients.

A. albopictus, has expanded its range northward in recent years. Guangdong's dense urban areas, combined with poor mosquito control, have made the region a hotspot for outbreaks.

Despite WHO recommendations to eliminate standing water  a key breeding ground for mosquitoes  local enforcement has been inconsistent. Foshan authorities now threaten fines for residents who fail to clear stagnant water, but the measures may be too late to curb the outbreak.

This isn't China's first chikungunya scare. In 2010, Dongguan reported 253 cases, but the current outbreak dwarfs previous incidents. With no widely available vaccine, containment relies on mosquito control and public awareness  both areas where the CCP has faltered.

The WHO warns that without urgent action, this outbreak could mirror past epidemics. Yet Beijing's focus appears to be on suppressing panic rather than transparency.

Visit Outbreak.news for more similar stories.

Watch Owen Shroyer of InfoWars discussing a mystery virus that has ran through Chinese hospitals, mirroring the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

This video is from the TNTVNEWS channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

China BANS the word "COVID-19," downplays severity of country's mysterious pneumonia outbreak.

Outbreak of multiple respiratory infections in China sparks global concerns over public health and CCP transparency.

Pneumonia-like outbreak continues to sweep through northern and eastern China with suspicions it may be linked to COVID-19.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

APNews.com

TheThinkingConservative.com

Brighteon.com
Christian Zionism Under Fire: Calls for Reevaluation Amid Gaza Genocide

Theological Hypocrisy: Christian Zionism contradicts Christs teachings of peace by supporting Israels military campaigns in Gaza, despite claiming pro-life values while ignoring civilian casualties, including children.

Christian Zionism contradicts Christs teachings of peace by supporting Israels military campaigns in Gaza, despite claiming pro-life values while ignoring civilian casualties, including children. Misinterpreted Prophecy: Christian Zionists misread biblical prophecies, fueling apocalyptic fervor and militarism, wrongly conflating Old Testament vengeance with Jesus message of forgiveness and decentralized spirituality.

Christian Zionists misread biblical prophecies, fueling apocalyptic fervor and militarism, wrongly conflating Old Testament vengeance with Jesus message of forgiveness and decentralized spirituality. Flawed Biblical Claims: Israels land rights argument via Abrahams covenant ignores Palestinian Semitic lineage, exposing selective morality in condemning Hamas while justifying Palestinian suffering.

Israels land rights argument via Abrahams covenant ignores Palestinian Semitic lineage, exposing selective morality in condemning Hamas while justifying Palestinian suffering. Rejecting Dogma: Adams and Kristos advocate for decentralized faith, urging a return to Christs principles of love and peace, free from politicized religious supremacy (Christian, Jewish, or Muslim).

Adams and Kristos advocate for decentralized faith, urging a return to Christs principles of love and peace, free from politicized religious supremacy (Christian, Jewish, or Muslim). Call for Reflection: Younger generations are rejecting Christian Zionism; hosts encourage critical self-examination, emphasizing that true faith doesnt align with genocide or oppression.

In a provocative discussion on Decentralized TV, hosts Mike Adams and guest Daniel Kristos dissected the contradictions of Christian Zionisma theological stance that has long shaped American political support for Israel. The debate centered on whether unconditional allegiance to Israel aligns with Christs teachings of peace, love, and universal humanity, particularly as Gaza faces accusations of genocide.

Theological Contradictions Exposed

Adams highlighted the glaring paradoxes within Christian Zionist circles: many self-proclaimed pro-life evangelicals vehemently oppose abortion yet endorse Israels military campaigns in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, including children.

"If you support children, you cant support pedophiles and genocide," Adams argued, referencing the silence among Trumps base regarding Epsteins suppressed client list and Gazas humanitarian crisis.

Kristos took the critique further, tracing Christian Zionisms roots to 19th-century Scofield Reference Bible theology, which frames modern Israel as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. This ideology, he argued, has been weaponized to justify geopolitical aggression under the guise of divine mandate.

"The Old Testaments vengeful Yahweh isnt the same as Christs teachings," Kristos noted. "Jesus overturned temple sacrifices and preached forgivenessnot the slaughter of strangers."

The Cult of Apocalypse Acceleration

A disturbing trend emerged in the dialogue: many Christian Zionists are apocalypse accelerationists, eagerly anticipating an End Times conflict centered in Israel. Adams pointed to the misreading of Revelationwhere passages about comets are misinterpreted as Christs literal return on horsebackto fuel militaristic fervor.

"They want nuclear war because they think itll hasten the Rapture," Adams said. "But Christ taught decentralized spirituality, not state-sanctioned violence."

Kristos linked this mindset to historic Frankist Kabbalah, where eschatological chaos is seen as a path to messianic triumph. "Modern Zionism inherits this zealotry," he added, citing Talmudic influences that prioritize Jewish supremacy over universal dignity.

The Blood Covenant Fallacy

The conversation turned to Israels claim to biblical land rights via Abrahams covenant. Kristos dismissed this, noting Palestinians are also descendants of Abraham. "Israelis are the most anti-Semitic group out theretheyre killing fellow Semites!" he quipped.

Adams condemned the selective morality of U.S. evangelicals who condemn Hamas but ignore Palestinian suffering. "Bombing hospitals isnt pro-life," he stressed, referencing attacks on Gazas Christian medical facilities.

A Call for Decentralized Spirituality

Both speakers urged a return to Christs core principles: peace and direct communion with God, free from politicized dogma.

"The Vatican centralized control; Jesus preached decentralized love," Adams said. Kristos echoed this, warning against religions of supremacy: "No groupChristian, Jewish, or Muslimgets to claim divine right to oppress."

Conclusion: A Path Forward?

As younger generations reject Christian Zionisms rigid doctrines, the hosts advocated for independent inquiry.

"Examine your beliefs," Adams urged. "True faith doesnt require genocide."

Kristos left listeners with a stark reminder: "The only cult you cant see is the one youre in."

Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Daniel Kristos as they exposed the mind virus behind Christian Zionism and U.S. hypocrisy.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Sacrilege and statecraft: How Christian Zionism distorts scripture to serve empire

Stephen Sizers Christian Zionism: A journey through history, theology and politics

Irans resilience challenges U.S.-backed Zionism amid Global South solidarity

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Semperfryllc.com
Embracing playfulness: The surprising key to adult well-being

Adults who embrace playfulness experience greater mental health, happiness and stress reduction, according to a study from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.

The study found that playful behaviorssuch as journaling playful activitiescan be practiced and improved over time, leading to measurable mood and outlook benefits.

Western societies often equate adulthood with seriousness, but playful individuals show greater creativity, relationship satisfaction and workplace innovation.

Researchers identified playful traits in different formssocial (joking with friends), light-hearted (viewing life as a game), intellectual (playing with ideas) and whimsical (enjoying the unusual).

Simple daily habits, like reflecting on playful moments or approaching challenges with curiosity, can help adults integrate playfulness into their lives for long-term benefits.

In a world often dominated by deadlines, responsibilities and stress, a new study suggests that adults who embrace playfulness enjoy greater well-being than their more serious counterparts. Published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, research from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) reveals that playful adults not only find joy in mundane situations but also experience measurable improvements in mental health. The study, led by psychologist Kay Brauer, demonstrates that playfulness isn't just for childrenit's a trait that can be cultivated, with lasting benefits for happiness and even professional success.

The science behind playfulness

Playfulness has long been dismissed as a frivolous trait, associated with immaturity or lack of discipline. But the MLU study challenges that assumption, showing that playful adults are better at reframing dull situations, reducing stress and fostering creativity. Unlike humor, which relies on wit or jokes, playfulness involves a mindset of curiosity, spontaneity and lighthearted engagement with the world. (Related: Can we laugh our way to a healthier body?)

Researchers divided 533 participants into three experimental groups and one placebo group. Each night, the experimental groups completed simple journaling exercisessuch as listing playful activities they engaged in or recalling moments where they acted playfully in unexpected ways. Over 12 weeks, those who practiced these exercises reported higher well-being and lower depressive symptoms compared to the placebo group.

Why playfulness matters in adulthood

Historically, Western culture has emphasized productivity and seriousness as markers of maturity. The Industrial Revolution and modern corporate culture reinforced the idea that play belongs to childhood, while adulthood demands relentless focus on work and responsibility. Yet, this study suggests that suppressing playfulness may come at a cost.

Playful individuals tend to approach challenges with flexibility, finding novel solutions where others see dead ends. They also report higher satisfaction in romantic relationships, likely because they bring spontaneity and joy into daily interactions. In the workplace, playfulness has been linked to greater innovationemployees who think outside the box often do so because they're unafraid to experiment.

Can serious people learn to be playful?

The study's most compelling finding is that playfulness isn't fixedit can be nurtured. Participants who deliberately reflected on playful behavior saw measurable improvements in their mood and outlook. This contradicts the notion that personality traits are rigid, offering hope for those who consider themselves too serious or pragmatic.

Psychologist Rene Proyer, a co-author of the study, identifies four types of playful adults. Other-directed individuals thrive on joking with friends, while light-hearted people view life itself as a game. Intellectual playful types enjoy playing with ideas and perspectives, and whimsical individuals are fascinated by the unusual and unexpected. Each type demonstrates that playfulness isn't one-size-fits-allit manifests in ways that align with individual personalities.

The cultural stigma against playfulness

Despite its benefits, playfulness carries a stigma, particularly in German-speaking cultures, where it's sometimes equated with unreliability. But Proyer argues this perception is misguided. Playful adults aren't unseriousthey simply engage with the world differently, often with greater adaptability and resilience.

In an era of rising anxiety and burnout, the study's implications are timely. Employers, educators and mental health professionals may need to reconsider the role of play in adult life. Schools and workplaces that encourage creativity and lightheartedness could see tangible benefits in morale and productivity.

Practical steps to cultivate playfulness

For those looking to integrate more play into their lives, the study suggests simple daily exercises. Journaling playful momentssuch as reflecting on three playful things done each daycan help reinforce the habit. Reframing challenges playfully, approaching problems with curiosity rather than dread, can shift perspectives. Observing playful behavior in others also helps normalize lighthearted interactions. These small shifts can gradually rewire thought patterns, making playfulness a natural part of daily life.

A call to reclaim play

The MLU study adds to a growing body of research challenging the false dichotomy between work and play. In a society that often equates success with relentless seriousness, embracing playfulness may be the key to greater happiness, stronger relationships and even professional innovation.

For adults who've long dismissed play as childish, this research offers permission to lighten upnot as an escape from responsibility, but as a way to enhance it. The data is clear: a playful spirit isn't just fun; it's a vital component of well-being.

Watch and learn about being happy as an adult.

This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Nutrition is the basis for happiness.

Seven rarely mentioned requirements for happiness.

Researchers attempt to find the equation for happiness.

Flow: The key to happiness.

Ten steps toward greater happiness and health.

Sources include:

Mindbodygreen.com

iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

pressemitteneilungen.pr.uni-halle.de

Brighteon.com
Decentralized AI Enoch offers unfiltered answers outside mainstream platforms

Decentralized AI for Uncensored Knowledge: Enoch, hosted on Brighteon.ai, bypasses Big Tech censorship, delivering evidence-based answers on natural medicine, geopolitics, and suppressed truths with an 87% accuracy rate.

Enoch, hosted on Brighteon.ai, bypasses Big Tech censorship, delivering evidence-based answers on natural medicine, geopolitics, and suppressed truths with an 87% accuracy rate. Overcoming Platform Censorship: Adams, a free speech advocate, targets corporate-controlled narratives after his prior platforms were deplatformed for challenging mainstream health and political orthodoxy.

Adams, a free speech advocate, targets corporate-controlled narratives after his prior platforms were deplatformed for challenging mainstream health and political orthodoxy. Curated, Independent Knowledge Base: Enoch sources data from alternative health archives (Mercola, GreenMedInfo), Chinese medical studies, and suppressed researchunlike corporate-aligned AI like ChatGPT.

Enoch sources data from alternative health archives (Mercola, GreenMedInfo), Chinese medical studies, and suppressed researchunlike corporate-aligned AI like ChatGPT. Local, Offline AI for Autonomy: Future plans include open-source, downloadable GGUF files for offline use, ensuring Enoch remains accessible even without internet or government interference.

Future plans include open-source, downloadable GGUF files for offline use, ensuring Enoch remains accessible even without internet or government interference. Liberation vs. Control: Adams warns centralized AI enables elite control, while decentralized AI empowers truth-seekers. Enoch already tackles taboo topics like 9/11, vaccine risks, and CBDC threats freely.

In a world where Big Tech and government narratives dominate artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT and Google's Bard, Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, has launched a defiant alternative: Enoch, a decentralized AI model hosted on Brighteon.ai, designed to bypass censorship and deliver unfiltered, evidence-backed answers on topics ranging from natural medicine to geopolitical truths.

Breaking Free from Censorship

Adams, a veteran advocate of free speech and alternative health, knows firsthand the consequences of challenging mainstream narratives. His previous platform, Natural News, was systematically deplatformed starting in 2014even before Alex Jones faced widespread bansas corporations and institutions sought to silence dissent.

"Googles 2017 Medic Update wiped out holistic medicine, vaccine risks, and herbal remedies from search results," Adams explains. "What AI allows us to do now is distribute the worlds knowledge in a way thats never been possible before."

Unlike ChatGPT, which reportedly aligns with CIA-influenced narratives (giving just 12% accuracy on critical topics, according to Adams internal testing), Enoch boasts an 87% accuracy ratethanks to its training on Chinese medical research, naturopathic archives, and liberty-aligned data.

The Data Behind Enoch

Enoch's knowledge base isnt scraped from corporate-approved sources. Instead, Adams and his team curated:

Dr. Joseph Mercolas entire 20+ years of research

GreenMedInfos peer-reviewed studies

Chinese-language phytonutrient papers (translated via AI)

Books on herbalism, geopolitics, and suppressed cures

One striking example? Enoch flagged methylene bluea compound popularized by Alex Jonesas a glutamate blocker, something Adams, a decades-long health researcher, hadnt known. "I tested it after eating MSG-heavy foodno headache. No doctor wouldve told me that," he says.

Decentralization: The Ultimate Shield

Enoch is currently browser-based, but Adams endgame is open-source, offline modelsdownloadable AI that operates without internet reliance or government oversight.

"Were preping GGUF files so users can run Enoch locally," Adams notes. "Once its on your machine, they cant shut it down."

The goal? Democratize knowledge before regulatorsor "hit pieces"target it. Enoch already answers questions that trigger mainstream suppression, like:

"What really caused the collapse of WTC7 on 9/11?"

"Which vaccines are linked to infertility?"

"How do CBDCs threaten financial freedom?"

Survival in the AI Wars

Adams predicts tightening controls as decentralized AI grows. China, he argues, is already outpacing the U.S. in AI and quantum computing, partly due to Americas "woke-infested" tech sector.

But the real threat? Centralization. "If AI remains controlled by elites," Adams warns, "its a tool for enslavement. If decentralized, its liberation."

For now, Brighteon.ai offers free access to Enocha beacon for those seeking truth beyond the censored echo chamber.

Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Aaron Day as they discussed AI, technocracy & decentralized freedom.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Centralized AIs stranglehold threatens democracy: Can decentralized AI fight back?

Decentralize TV: Alosha Lynov discusses decentralized communities and harmonious living

Independent journalists launch decentralized news portal to resist Big Tech censorship

Sources include:

Brighteon.com
Hillary Clinton could face life in prison for TREASON

Hillary Clinton may soon be spending 23 hours a day on lockdown and one hour in the yard at the penitentiary for committing treasonous acts not long ago. Newly declassified documents released Thursday reveal a startling picture of political manipulation and intelligence misuse during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Spearheaded by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the disclosures suggest that the CIA and FBI were not just bystanders but active participants in a Clinton campaign-driven plan to link Donald Trump to Russian interferenceallegedly to distract from Hillary Clintons own email scandal.

Clinton campaign's alleged smear plan : Newly declassified documents suggest that Hillary Clinton personally approved a plan in July 2016 to tie Donald Trump to Russian hackers, aiming to divert attention from her email scandalallegedly with involvement from DNC leaders and outside groups.

: Newly declassified documents suggest that Hillary Clinton personally approved a plan in July 2016 to tie Donald Trump to Russian hackers, aiming to divert attention from her email scandalallegedly with involvement from DNC leaders and outside groups. Intelligence agencies' complicity and warnings : The CIA reportedly believed Russian intelligence indicating the Clinton plan was real, yet former officials like John Brennan pushed to include the discredited Steele dossier in official assessments, despite warnings from senior CIA officers.

: The CIA reportedly believed Russian intelligence indicating the Clinton plan was real, yet former officials like John Brennan pushed to include the discredited Steele dossier in official assessments, despite warnings from senior CIA officers. Gabbard's accusations and criminal referrals : Tulsi Gabbard declassified intelligence pointing to a coordinated effort by Obama-era officials (including Brennan, Clapper, Comey, and Rice) to fabricate a Trump-Russia narrative, calling it a treasonous conspiracy and referring documents to the DOJ and FBI for investigation.

: Tulsi Gabbard declassified intelligence pointing to a coordinated effort by Obama-era officials (including Brennan, Clapper, Comey, and Rice) to fabricate a Trump-Russia narrative, calling it a treasonous conspiracy and referring documents to the DOJ and FBI for investigation. Durham Report findings and limitations: While the Durham investigation criticized the FBI's handling of the Steele dossier and found no basis for several actions taken during the Crossfire Hurricane probe, it concluded there was no criminal conspiracy among top Obama officials, resulting in no new charges.

A manufactured narrative: CIA and FBI ties to the Clinton-Trump Russia hoax

At the center of the revelations is a 2020 House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) report and a declassified annex from Special Counsel John Durhams investigation. These documents suggest the Obama administration "manufactured and politicized intelligence" to create a false Trump-Russia collusion narrative. Notably, the Clinton campaign funded the now-discredited Steele dossier, which alleged ties between Trump and the Kremlin. Despite being unverified and widely questioned within intelligence circles, the dossier was included in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) as an annexallegedly at the insistence of then-CIA Director John Brennan, who reportedly ignored internal warnings about its reliability.

One of the most explosive claims is that Hillary Clinton herself approved a plan on July 26, 2016, to frame Donald Trump by associating him with Russian hackers. This operation, outlined in a 2016 CIA memorandum, was allegedly designed to divert attention from her mishandling of classified emails. The plan reportedly involved coordination between Clintons team, DNC leadership, and outside groups like cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which would later claim that Russian hackers were responsible for breaching the DNC and DCCC.

The annex also states that Russian intelligence was aware of the Clinton campaigns efforts. This supports claims that U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI, were informed but chose to pursue the Trump-Russia narrative anyway. These revelations bolster Gabbards accusations of a treasonous conspiracy involving key Obama-era figures such as Brennan, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, FBI Director James Comey, and National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

While Gabbard has referred the documents to the Justice Department and demanded criminal investigations, Durhams four-year probe (20192023) did not uncover evidence of a formal criminal conspiracy. Nevertheless, his report harshly criticized the FBIs handling of both the Steele dossier and the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into the Trump campaign.

Ultimately, the documents raise serious concerns about the politicization of U.S. intelligence agencies. The Clinton plan to smear Trump as a Russian asset was allegedly known to intelligence officials and used to manipulate public perception during a heated election. Despite the lack of new indictments, the disclosures have reignited debate over the role of intelligence agencies in domestic politicsand whether they were weaponized to influence the outcome of the 2016 election and its aftermath.

As Gabbard and others warn, these revelations may mark a dangerous precedent in which intelligence tools designed for national defense are repurposed for political warfare. Tune your apocalypse dial to preparedness.news for updates on the Democrat cabal that conspired to jail and kill Trump just for defending the Republic.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

X.com

TechnoFog.Substack.com
Research reveals dangers of chemotherapy: Accelerated aging and secondary cancers

Research reveals that chemo can cause genetic damage equivalent to decades of aging, with one childs cells resembling those of an 80-year-old after treatment.

Chemo drugs like platinum-based agents cause severe, irreversible DNA breaks, increasing lifelong risks of secondary cancers, heart disease and dementia.

While some chemo agents (e.g., cyclophosphamide) are less damaging and others (e.g., melphalan, procarbazine) pose higher risks, their effects nevertheless suggest a need for personalized treatment plans.

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are urged to replace or supplement chemo, minimizing harm to healthy cells while treating cancer.

Chemo's long-term effects  especially in pediatric patients  highlight the urgent need to balance survival with future health risks and prioritize precision medicine.

Recent research has uncovered a disturbing side effect of chemotherapy. The treatment may permanently damage healthy cells, accelerate aging and increase the risk of secondary cancers.

A study published July 1 in Nature Genetics disclosed the dangers of this conventional method of addressing cancer. Scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge examined blood samples from 23 chemotherapy patients, ranging from children to elderly adults, and compared them to healthy controls. Using advanced DNA sequencing, they identified distinct mutational signatures  unique patterns of genetic damage  left behind by chemotherapy drugs.

In one shocking case, a three-year-old toddler treated for neuroblastoma (tumors that develop on nerve cells) had 10 times more mutations in his blood cells than healthy children his age. His cells appeared genetically older than those of an 80-year-old who had never undergone chemo.

These mutations don't just fade away  they persist for life, potentially setting the stage for future health crises. The study's findings serve as a stark reminder that the drugs designed to cure can also leave lasting harm. They also raise urgent questions about balancing immediate survival with long-term health risks, forcing the medical community to confront chemotherapy's hidden toll. (Related: How ironic: Chemotherapy can actually trigger the spread of cancer in adjacent areas, science confirms.)

Chemotherapy works by attacking rapidly dividing cells, a hallmark of cancer. But healthy cells  particularly blood and bone marrow cells  also divide quickly, making them vulnerable to collateral damage. The study also found that certain chemo drugs, like platinum-based agents and alkylating drugs, cause severe DNA breaks that the body struggles to repair.

Over time, these damaged cells accumulate mutations, mimicking the natural aging process but at an accelerated rate. This premature aging may explain why cancer survivors often face higher risks of heart disease, dementia and secondary cancers decades after treatment.

Lifesaving today, chronic illness tomorrow

According to the study, not all chemotherapy agents cause the same level of harm. But the bottom line remains: These drugs nevertheless cause more harm than good.

Drugs like melphalan and chlorambucil  used for bone marrow cancers  were far more damaging, linked to higher risks of secondary cancers. Procarbazine, once used for pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma, was found to be so toxic that it has largely been abandoned due to its high risk of infertility and secondary malignancies.

The study's authors argue that these findings should accelerate the shift toward targeted therapies and immunotherapies, which attack cancer cells more precisely while sparing healthy tissue. Dr. Daniel Landau, an oncologist not involved in the study, noted that while chemotherapy remains essential for many cancers, the field must prioritize treatments that dont trade one deadly disease for another.

The study underscores a painful reality: Curing cancer today may come at the cost of chronic illness tomorrow. For pediatric patients, the stakes are especially high.

Children who survive cancer may face decades of heightened health risks, from heart disease to new cancers, as their cells bear the scars of treatment. The studys authors urge further research into how treatment duration, drug combinations and genetic factors influence these outcomes.

The revelation that chemotherapy can age cells prematurely and trigger secondary cancers is a sobering reminder of medicine's double-edged sword. The study serves as a wake-up call: The future of cancer treatment must prioritize not just survival, but long-term quality of life.

Watch this video about the book "Never Fear Cancer Again" by Raymond Francis, which shows a natural way to fight cancer.

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

WARNING: Chemotherapy contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Most physicians refuse chemotherapy for themselves.

Chemotherapy destroys brain tissue, cognitive function.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Nature.com

LiveScience.com

TechnologyNetworks.com

Brighteon.com
MINORITY REPORT: If you think, talk or speak the truth about the government, health or safety, you might be sent to the new MENTAL HEALTH GULAG

Are you thinking something illegal? Get ready to be jailed for it Minority Report style. Did you say something about the government that was derogatory? Off to the non-free-speech gulag for you. Welcome to the police state tyranny we all knew was coming, George Orwell style, nonetheless. The thought police are coming, and you could be declared mentally unfit to walk the streets at any moment. Are you ready?

In a chilling reflection of totalitarian regimes past, the U.S. government is increasingly using mental health laws to detain individuals without due process, raising alarms about a new form of political repression. An executive order issued by former President Trump, aimed at addressing homelessness through expanded involuntary civil commitments, has drawn heavy criticism for laying the groundwork for a modern-day police state. Framed as a compassionate response to mental illness and public safety, the policy allows for the forced institutionalization of individuals based on vague assessments of mental instability rather than concrete criminal behavior.

Mental Health as a Pretext for Political Control : The government is increasingly using mental health justifications, such as civil commitment laws, to detain individualsespecially the homeless and dissenterswithout due process, replacing legal standards with subjective psychiatric evaluations.

: The government is increasingly using mental health justifications, such as civil commitment laws, to detain individualsespecially the homeless and dissenterswithout due process, replacing legal standards with subjective psychiatric evaluations. Pathologizing Dissent : Historical and recent examples show how political opposition is being reframed as mental illness. Whistleblowers, veterans, and critics of government policies have been forcibly detained or labeled mentally unfit, echoing Soviet-era tactics of silencing dissidents.

: Historical and recent examples show how political opposition is being reframed as mental illness. Whistleblowers, veterans, and critics of government policies have been forcibly detained or labeled mentally unfit, echoing Soviet-era tactics of silencing dissidents. Surveillance and Predictive Policing Infrastructure : A vast surveillance networkincluding AI-driven behavioral monitoring, biometric tracking, and wearable datais being expanded under the guise of public health, enabling preemptive detention based on perceived risks rather than actual crimes.

: A vast surveillance networkincluding AI-driven behavioral monitoring, biometric tracking, and wearable datais being expanded under the guise of public health, enabling preemptive detention based on perceived risks rather than actual crimes. The Rise of a Thought Crime Regime: With red flag laws, vague extremism labels, and executive orders targeting entire categories of people, the state is laying the groundwork for a system where beliefs, fears, or criticisms of government can be criminalized as threats to public safetysignaling a dangerous shift toward authoritarianism.

The New Gulag: Mental Health Detentions and the Criminalization of Dissent

Critics warn that this approach paves the way for the government to label dissenters, activists, or even the unhoused as threats, thereby justifying their removal from society. This echoes Soviet-era tactics where psychiatric diagnoses were used to silence political opposition. With no new funding for housing or treatment, the move appears more punitive than rehabilitativeweaponizing mental illness to expand state control. The governments increasing use of behavioral data from wearables, AI surveillance, and red flag laws to monitor pre-crime behaviors exacerbates these concerns.

The consequences are already visible. Whistleblowers and critics such as NSAs Russ Tice, NYPD officer Adrian Schoolcraft, and Marine veteran Brandon Raub have all been forcibly detained under questionable psychiatric pretenses. Government programs like Operation Vigilant Eagle and DHS threat assessments now blur the lines between political activism and extremism, casting a wide net over veterans, gun owners, and constitutionalists.

This approach replaces legal standards with subjective medical judgments, undermining fundamental constitutional protections such as probable cause, due process, and the presumption of innocence. Once dissent is equated with mental illness, opposition becomes pathologized and punishable not for actions, but for beliefs. Historical precedentsfrom Soviet gulags to Cold War-era administrative exileshow how psychiatric repression can serve authoritarian ends.

The infrastructure for such repression is growing: surveillance systems, AI-powered behavioral analysis, mental health data access, and preventive detention laws. While often justified in the name of safety, these tools risk turning the U.S. into a society where thought crimes are punished with institutionalization. The danger is not hypotheticalits unfolding in real time, with state power expanding under the guise of compassion and security.

This mental health gulag begins with the homeless, but could soon encompass any critic of government policy. As history has shown, once the machinery of repression is set in motion, it rarely stops with its original targets. The fight against terrorism, drugs, and pandemics all began with legitimate concerns but evolved into mechanisms of surveillance and control.

Now, a new war looms: the war on dissent. If left unchecked, policies like these may criminalize resistance and usher in an era where freedom of thought itself becomes a liability. The cost of inaction could be the erosion of liberty under the silent weight of institutional power.

Tune your apocalypse dial to preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the censorship industrial complex and avoiding their gulags for speaking or publishing the truth.

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

NaturalNews.com

Rutherford.org
Washington and Seoul strike 11th-hour trade deal: Tariffs cut to 15%, $350 billion South Korean investment pledged

South Korea and the U.S. reached a last-minute trade deal reducing proposed U.S. tariffs on Korean exports, including automobiles, from 25 percent to 15 percent.

Korea pledged to invest $350 billion in the U.S., with details to be announced at an upcoming summit between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump.

While Trump claimed Korea agreed to open its markets to U.S. agricultural goods, Seoul emphasized that it made no concessions on sensitive rice and beef imports.

The agreement includes Korea's commitment to purchase $100 billion in U.S. LNG and invest in sectors like semiconductors, batteries and shipbuilding.

Lee hailed the deal as a turning point and stressed the need for flexible, interest-driven diplomacy amid global trade realignments.

South Korea and the United States have reached a trade agreement that lowers proposed U.S. tariffs on Korean exports to 15 percent, down from the initially announced 25 percent, in an 11-hour breakthrough.

The deal, finalized in Washington and announced by both governments on July 30, includes a pledge from Korea to invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy, with full details expected during a planned summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in two weeks.

In a press briefing on July 31 at the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul, Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Yong-beom announced that under the deal, tariffs on key Korean export items, including automobiles, will be set at 15 percent. (Related: Trump announces "massive" trade deal with Japan: Lower 15% import tariffs in exchange for $550 billion investment.)

Trump heralded the agreement on his Truth Social platform as a "full and complete" deal, declaring that the U.S. had secured a 15 percent tariff rate on South Korean goods and that "America will not be charged a Tariff." In his post, Trump also announced Korea would invest $350 billion in the U.S., particularly in sectors "selected" by his administration, including a purchase commitment of $100 billion in American liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other energy products.

"I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has agreed to a full and complete trade deal with the Republic of Korea. The deal is that South Korea will give to the United States $350 billion for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President. Additionally, South Korea will purchase $100 billion of LNG, or other Energy products and further, South Korea has agreed to invest a large sum of money for their investment purposes," Trump posted.

However, Kim argued that Korea avoided making concessions on its highly sensitive rice and beef markets, despite Trump claiming that they had agreed to fully open its markets to American goods, including agricultural products.

"It's true that during our discussions with the United States, there was a strong demand to open our agricultural and livestock market," Kim said. "However, considering food security and the sensitivity of agriculture, we agreed not to further open the domestic rice and beef markets."

Lee hails U.S. trade deal as turning point, urges pragmatic diplomacy

After the success of the trade deal, Lee expressed his gratitude to the officials involved in the tariff negotiations, thanking them for their "tireless efforts" in securing the trade agreement.

"The Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations have finally concluded," Lee said during a meeting with senior presidential aids the next day. "These negotiations are believed to have significantly resolved uncertainty in the trade environment. We anticipate that economic cooperation and the alliance between Korea and the U.S. will further strengthen.

"While we have overcome a significant obstacle, the restructuring of the international trade order is expected to continue accelerate. We must wisely navigate the rapidly changing external environment through flexible, pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests."

Lee then stated that the promised investment would support Korean companies' entry into the U.S. market across strategic industries such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, rechargeable batteries, energy and biotechnology.

Follow Trump.news for more similar stories.

President Donald Trump unleashes new tariff wars with an extra attack on BRICS nations. Watch this video.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump announces steep tariffs on 14 countries, effective August 1.

Trump slaps 25% tariffs on key Asian allies Japan and South Korea.

Trump unveils 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea amid broader trade policy shift.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

KoreaJoongAngDaily.joins.com

TruthSocial.com

Brighteon.com
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Enterprises looking for colocation space to support a digital transformation initiative, to launch an AI project or just to keep pace with demand for compute power to run day-to-day operations are in for a rude awakening. The vacancy rate for colocation space is as low as it has ever been, and theres no end in sight to the colocation space crunch. As a result of this supply/demand imbalance, prices in some locations are spiking by nearly 20% year-over-year.

Enterprises that currently have a colocation lease agreement and are looking to re-up should be prepared for bigtime sticker shock. And enterprises that require new colo space are likely to face an even bigger shock: little or no available space at all, and a waiting list that could stretch out for 18 months or more, according to experts.

For enterprise IT execs who already have a lot on their plates, the lack of available colocation space represents yet another headache to deal with, and one with major implications. Nobody wants to have to explain to the CIO or the board of directors that the company cant proceed with digitization efforts or AI projects because theres no space to put the servers.
The proposed legislation would require export-controlled advanced chips to be equipped with location verification mechanisms within six months of enactment, and mandate exporters to report to the Bureau of Industry and Security if products are diverted or tampered with.

The CAC statement cited demands from US lawmakers to add tracking features to advanced chips and noted that US artificial intelligence experts have indicated that remote control technologies related to Nvidias chips have matured.

Nvidia denials fall short, China says

The Peoples Daily referenced Nvidias previous statement that Cybersecurity is critically important to us. Nvidia does not have backdoors in our chips that would give anyone a remote way to access or control them. However, the state media outlet dismissed this response as insufficient, emphasizing that only convincing security evidence would restore trust.

The chipmaker faces pressure balancing US security requirements with Chinese market demands. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the H20 as Nvidias fourth best processor when announcing export resumption: We dont sell them our best stuff, not our second best stuff, not even our third best.

The H20 chip is part of Nvidias China-specific product line, engineered to meet US trade restrictions by reducing performance while maintaining sufficient processing power for Chinese customers. Its based on Nvidias Hopper architecture but with trimmed specifications.

Enterprise IT faces chip procurement challenges

The confrontation highlights tensions over semiconductor supply chains critical to enterprise AI deployments. The Peoples Daily noted that cybersecurity not only impacts our daily lives but also acts as the lifeblood of businesses, and is directly linked to national security.
"We are hoping that we're not going to have to push that timeline out too far, but it could be up to a year that we're going to have to push that timeline now."
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Introduction

Virology and transmission

Epidemiology and emergence

Clinical manifestations

Diagnosis and surveillance

Treatment and prevention

Climate change and range expansion

Conclusions and future outlook

References

Further reading

Jamestown Canyon virus is an emerging mosquito-borne threat in North America, with rising cases linked to climate-driven expansion of mosquito vectors. Diagnosis, surveillance, and prevention are challenged by cross-reactivity, lack of vaccines, and changes in ecology.

Image Credit: frank60 / Shutterstock.com

Introduction

Shifting climatic conditions and expanding mosquito habitats are increasingly enabling arboviruses to emerge in temperate climates. Among these viruses is Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), which typically circulates throughout the United States and Canada. JCV is genetically stable, with closely related strains in Europe (Inkoo virus), and antibodies have also been found in wildlife in other temperate regions of North America.2,4

Virology and transmission

JCV is a California serogroup virus in the genus Orthobunyavirus, family Peribunyaviridae. This virus is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, especially Aedes and Ochlerotatus species, as well as some Culex species.2,4,10

White-tailed deer are the primary amplifying hosts in the United States. Antibodies and infections in other ungulates including mule, sika deer, moose, elk, caribou, bison, and pronghorn indicate broader ecological maintenance. JCV also infects livestock (e.g., horses and goats), though their role in transmission is unclear.2

JCV circulates between mosquitoes and viremic ungulate hosts. Mosquitoes acquire JCV while feeding, with subsequent bites potentially infecting humans or other mammals. Since human viremia is low, people are considered dead-end hosts. There is no evidence of direct person-to-person transmission, but very rarely, transmission could theoretically occur via blood transfusion or organ transplantation.2

Recent experimental studies show that Aedes aegypti is highly competent for JCV transmission, with viral loads rapidly reaching mosquito saliva after an infectious blood meal. Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes show only moderate blocking of JCV, in contrast to strong blocking of positive-sense viruses.10

Climate-driven range expansion of primary vectors increases the risk of JCV infection. To date, most reported cases are diagnosed between April and September, with peaks often observed in late spring and summer that reflect different mosquito populations.2,3,

Epidemiology and emergence

Since JCV was initially isolated from Culiseta inornata mosquitoes in 1961 in Jamestown, Colorado, sporadic human cases have been reported. However, JCV has become a widespread arboviral threat across the U.S. and parts of Canada, with higher infection rates reported in northern states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin. Genetic studies indicate a relatively high level of sequence conservation, even across strains isolated over 57 years and from geographically distant locations, suggesting evolutionary stasis.

Routine surveillance by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed a sharp rise in JCV cases, with annual reports increasing from about 2 per year before 2013 to nearly 30 per year after routine testing was introduced. Including multiple neuroinvasive infections, most reported cases occur in adults, and prolonged morbidity is common, though fatalities remain rare.3,4

Improved diagnostics have undoubtedly contributed to rising case counts. Nevertheless, ecological factors like climate-driven mosquito range expansion and increased urban-wildlife contact also facilitate viral transmission. Seroprevalence studies in both humans and animals underscore the broad distribution of JCV across the U.S., Canada, and other regions of North America, thus highlighting its growing threat to public health.3,4, 5,6

Clinical manifestations

Most JCV infections are asymptomatic or present as a mild, self-limited febrile illness. For symptomatic cases, the incubation period ranges from a few days to two weeks following a mosquito bite. Early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and nausea, with some patients experiencing mild respiratory signs such as cough, sore throat, or nasal congestion. Respiratory involvement is more common in JCV than in other California serogroup viruses.7,8

Severe disease, although uncommon, can manifest as meningitis or encephalitis, particularly in older or immunocompromised individuals. Neurologic symptoms such as stiff neck, confusion, altered mental status, seizures, and loss of coordination may be observed. Rare cases of neuroinvasive disease have also been reported in children.2,4

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis occurs in severe neuroinvasive cases. Approximately half of the reported patients require hospitalization, though fatalities are rare. The Massachusetts case series showed no deaths but frequent prolonged neurologic symptoms.4,7

Diagnosis should consider similar symptoms to La Crosse, Snowshoe hare, West Nile, Lyme disease, and other causes of meningitis and encephalitis. Unlike the La Crosse virus, which causes severe disease in children, JCV infections are more severe in adults.5,7

Diagnosis and surveillance

JCV diagnosis can be achieved through the detection of JCV-specific or California serogroup immunoglobulin M (IgM) in serum and/or CSF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). California serogroup viruses cross-react serologically, which warrants confirmatory plaque reduction neutralization testing (PRNT) after positive IgM test results. Paired acute and convalescent sera with a four-fold rise in neutralizing titers indicate recent infection. Cross-reactivity is a significant challenge in diagnosis, and PRNT is essential to confirm JCV, especially in areas where other California serogroup viruses circulate.8,9

Serology may be unreliable when tested early in illness or in severely immunocompromised patients. In these situations, molecular assays such as reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on serum, CSF, or tissue can aid diagnosis. However, RT-PCR is often negative in serum, especially after the first few days of illness. Molecular tools are not yet widely available but are currently being investigated to improve patient diagnosis and support mosquito pool surveillance where JCV co-circulates with other arboviruses.4,8

JCV should be suspected in patients with acute febrile or neurologic illness and recent mosquito exposure in endemic regions. The neuroinvasive disease may cause CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis with elevated protein and normal glucose; therefore, ancillary studies such as lumbar puncture and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to evaluate infection severity and exclude other causes.7,8

Vector surveillance in Massachusetts has identified Ochlerotatus canadensis as a likely local vector, similar to findings in Connecticut. JCV disease is nationally notifiable in the U.S., with prompt reporting to local public health agencies supporting disease recognition and control. Despite these efforts, underdiagnosis and underreporting persist due to a lack of clinical awareness and limited facilities for specialized testing. Enhanced public health surveillance with expanded diagnostic capacity and molecular detection in mosquito vectors can improve situational awareness as ecological shifts alter vector distribution.3,9

Treatment and prevention

There is no specific antiviral therapy for JCV disease. Management is supportive with an emphasis on rest, hydration, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications for mild cases. Severe neuroinvasive disease, such as meningitis or encephalitis, often necessitates hospitalization for intravenous fluids, pain control, antiemetics, and close monitoring for complications like elevated intracranial pressure, seizures, or respiratory compromise. Refractory seizures or cerebral edema may require intensive care.2 No antiviral agents or vaccines are currently approved for prevention or treatment of JCV, although vaccine development is an area of ongoing research.5,10

Due to the lack of a vaccine, prevention of JCV infection relies on minimizing mosquito exposure through personal protective measures. These include using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants, treating clothing with 0.5% permethrin, and limiting outdoor activity during peak mosquito hours.5,10

Community-level prevention focuses on vector control by eliminating standing water, larviciding, and habitat management, public education campaigns about mosquito-borne risks, and early detection systems to monitor mosquito populations and arboviral activity. Wolbachia-based mosquito control, which has shown efficacy against dengue and Zika, is less effective for JCV, with only moderate reduction in transmission observed in experimental studies. Strengthening these preventive strategies is crucial as the geographic range of mosquito vectors continues to expand.5,10

Climate change and range expansion

Rising temperatures, milder winters, and altered precipitation, including heavier rainfall events interspersed with drought, are reshaping mosquito ecology in higher latitudes. Warmer conditions accelerate mosquito reproduction, shorten viral extrinsic incubation periods, and extend the duration that competent vectors can survive and bite.11

Earlier spring thaws, longer frost-free periods, and increased availability of transitory water sources from rain, snowmelt pools, and human water storage during droughts can facilitate mosquito breeding. As these species spread further north and at higher elevations, the ecological envelope for JCV transmission expands in temperate zones.11

Suburbanization, urbanization, exurban sprawl, and recreational land use bring people in closer contact with deer hosts and peri-domestic or woodland mosquitoes. Container habitats like gutters, planters, and tires, as well as fragmented green spaces near homes, can support vector populations during extended seasons, thereby increasing the risk of bites. In regions where white-tailed deer densities remain high at the urban-wildland interface, opportunities for JCV amplification and spread to humans may increase.2,11

Conclusions and future outlook

Future research is needed to identify ecological factors contributing to JCV transmission, including the roles of deer reservoirs, dynamics of vector species, and climate-induced alterations in transmission patterns. To reduce transmission, integrated vector monitoring, habitat management, and mosquito population control will be required.2,4,10

As climate change lengthens mosquito breeding seasons and expands vector habitats, public health planning must include climate-informed risk assessments, community education, and proactive prevention measures. By improving these interdisciplinary techniques, researchers will be better equipped to accurately predict and reduce the future impact of JCV on human health.2,4,10

References

Coleman KJ, Chauhan L, Piquet AL, Tyler KL, Pastula DM. (2021). An Overview of Jamestown Canyon Virus Disease. Neurohospitalist. 11(3):277-278. DOI: 10.1177/19418744211005948, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19418744211005948 Bennett RS, Nelson JT, Gresko AK, Murphy BR, Whitehead SS. (2011). The full genome sequence of three strains of Jamestown Canyon virus and their pathogenesis in mice or monkeys. Virol J., 8:136. DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-136, https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-422X-8-136 Joseph D Poggi et al. (2023). Jamestown Canyon virus (Bunyavirales: Peribunyaviridae) vector ecology in a focus of human transmission in New Hampshire, USA, Journal of Medical Entomology, 60(4):778788, DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad046, https://academic.oup.com/jme/article-abstract/60/4/778/7128278 Kinsella, C. M. et al. (2020). Jamestown Canyon virus in Massachusetts: clinical case series and vector screening. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 9(1), 903912. DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1756697, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2020.1756697 Muhammad Shahab et al. (2023). Immunoinformatics-based potential multi-peptide vaccine designing against Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV) capable of eliciting cellular and humoral immune responses. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 253(2):126678. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126678, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813023035754 Data and Maps for Jamestown Canyon, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov/jamestown-canyon/data-maps/index.html, Accessed on 23 July 2025 Kumar D et al. (2021). Jamestown Canyon virus-mediated meningoencephalitis with unusual laboratory findings. BMJ Case Reports;14:e242014, DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-242014, https://casereports.bmj.com/content/14/7/e242014 Rebekah A Sutter et al. (2025). Jamestown Canyon Virus Seroprevalence in Endemic Regions and Implications for Diagnostic Testing, Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciaf131, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaf131, https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaf131/8096456 Pastula DM, Hoang Johnson DK, White JL, Dupuis AP 2nd, Fischer M, Staples JE. (2015). Jamestown Canyon Virus Disease in the United States-2000-2013. Am J Trop Med Hyg., 93(2):384-9. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0196., https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/93/2/article-p384.xml Lau M-J et al. (2023) Jamestown Canyon virus is transmissible by Aedes aegypti and is only moderately blocked by Wolbachia co-infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 17(9): e0011616. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011616, https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011616 John J. Shepard and Philip M. Armstrong. (2023). Jamestown Canyon virus comes into view: understanding the threat from an underrecognized arbovirus. Journal of Medical Entomology 60(6), 1242-1251. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad069, https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-medical-entomology/volume-60/issue-6/tjad069/Jamestown-Canyon-virus-comes-into-view--understanding-the-threat/10.1093/jme/tjad069.short

Further Reading
A new editorial published in Comprehensive Physiology underscores the critical importance of understanding heart-lung interactions in pulmonary vascular disease (PVD). Tim Lahm, MD, a pulmonologist and researcher at National Jewish Health, along with a team of esteemed colleagues from institutions across the country, urges the scientific community to confront the major knowledge gaps that hinder progress in improving patient outcomes. The editorial, titled "Towards a Better Understanding of Heart-Lung Interactions in Pulmonary Vascular Disease," serves as a call for papers for an upcoming special issue of Comprehensive Physiology dedicated to this topic.

We've moved beyond the idea that pulmonary hypertension is simply a lung disease. The survival and well-being of patients depend not only on how we treat the lungs, but also on how the heart - particularly the right ventricle - adapts, responds or fails under pressure. The future of patient care lies in unraveling these cardiopulmonary dynamics." Dr. Tim Lahm, MD, pulmonologist and researcher at National Jewish Health

Drawing from a wide range of recent research, the editorial explores how the heart and lungs function as a tightly coupled unit - what the authors call a "right atrium-right ventricle-lung vascular unit." Dysfunction in one often exacerbates problems in the other, with systemic effects that extend beyond the thorax to the kidneys, liver, brain, skeletal muscle and more.



The editorial highlights growing evidence that pulmonary hypertension, traditionally viewed as a lung-centric disorder, is actually a systemic disease marked by two-way connections among multiple organs. The authors call for an expansion of research to explore novel signaling pathways, mechanical stressors and even emerging model systems - such as heart- and lung-on-a-chip technologies and computational approaches - that can simulate real-world cardiopulmonary conditions with greater precision.



The authors issue a call for papers for basic, translational and clinical research exploring these heart-lung interactions in PVD. This request includes investigations into molecular mediators, disease phenotyping, and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies tailored to sex, age, disease stage and systemic factors.
New research to be presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (15-19 September) suggests that living in a rural environment in the first five years of life could increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes compared with living in urban environments. The study is by Samy Sebraoui and Professor Soffia Gudbjornsdottir, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and colleagues.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. This leads to little to no insulin production, a hormone crucial for regulating blood sugar levels. Without sufficient insulin, glucose (sugar) builds up in the bloodstream, causing hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar). T1D is typically diagnosed in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood, but can occur at any age. Most people with the condition quickly progress to needing insulin replacement therapy for the rest of their lives.

Sweden has the second highest global incidence of T1D, with geographical variation suggesting environmental risk factors. Previous studies have focused on patient location at diagnosis, and only very few at the time of birth or before clinical diagnoses. This new study explores T1D incidence in Sweden based on where people have lived over time, following patients from birth to diagnosis to identify high- and low-risk clusters over different life periods.

All patients diagnosed with T1D during 2005-2022 (ages 0-30 years) were identified in the Swedish National Diabetes Register. All residential addresses from birth to diagnosis were then identified by Statistics Sweden. Statistical analysis was used to identify significant high- and low-risk clusters (see figure). A technique known as zonal statistics analysis was used to identify the land use / land cover characteristics of all identified clusters for the first five years of life exposure window.

The researchers found that 21,774 patients aged 0 to 30 years were diagnosed with T1D 2005-2022, 58 % were male; and 15,426 (around three quarters) were under 18 years old at diagnosis. The mean age at diagnosis was 13.6 yrs (males 14.1, females 12.9). 24 % of patients had relocated to a different municipality from birth to diagnosis.

Based on the residential location of all patients at the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, 4 significant high-risk clusters were identified, all located centrally in the country (all in the countryside, away from urban centres), where the relative risk of developing T1D was between 30% and 80% higher compared to what would be expected from national averages (Fig 1a). No high-risk clusters were observed in people in major cities.

On the contrary, significant low-risk clusters were found in the largest cities, where the risk of developing T1D was found to be 20% to 50% lower (within the largest cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo). The authors say: "This finding was unexpected and highlights the need for environmental studies to investigate potential risk factors in rural areas, as well as possible protective factors in urban settings. In Sweden, we have access to highly detailed environmental data covering the entire country, providing a unique opportunity to better understand the development of type 1 diabetes."

Then a second analysis, based on the main residential location during the first 5 years of life (regardless of age of diagnosis), 11 high-risk clusters were identified, all rural, with an increased risk of developing T1D of between 20% and 2.7 times higher compared with national averages. The northern regions had the highest relative risks. For the same time period, 15 low-risk clusters were observed, all in cities across the country, where risk of developing T1D was 20% to 88% lower than national averages - the very lowest risk being found in middle-sized cities in southern Sweden - (Fig 2b)  the cities with the lowest risk being Vaxjo (88% lower); Norrkoping (64% lower) and Halmstad (61% lower).

The land use / land cover analysis conducted by the authors revealed notable differences between high- and low-risk clusters for the first 5 years of life. High-risk clusters are characterised by land covered by forest or used in agriculture, whereas low-risk clusters are dominated by urban and open land.

The authors say: "There is a clear geographical variation in the incidence of type 1 diabetes in Sweden. The first 5 years of life exhibited the strongest association with high- and low-risk clustering. Our findings facilitate further research into environmental factors potentially influencing development of type 1 diabetes. We hypothesise that the exposure of environmental factors, predominantly in rural areas and primarily during the first five years of life, elevates the risk for developing type 1 diabetes."

They discuss some possible theories that can be explored in future studies, saying: "Viral infections are more common in early life in urban areas and that could protect a person from future autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes. Living in rural areas could be associated with more exposure, for example, to pesticides and allergens. This is only speculation, but we have very good data to be able to investigate this in detail in future studies."

They conclude: "These findings were previously unknown and unexpected - it was a surprise that that living in larger cities came with a lower future risk of type 1 diabetes. We will study in detail different environmental factors that might be protective or increase risk. We will also look into different lifestyles in urban versus rural areas."
McGill University researchers have developed and are licensing a digital tool to help safely reduce patients' use of medications that may be unnecessary or even harmful to them.

When clinicians review a patient's file, MedSafer flags potentially inappropriate medications. In a new clinical trial, the software helped deprescribe such medications in 36 per cent of long-term care residents, nearly triple as many as when reviews were done without the tool.

Sometimes we blame aging for memory loss or mobility issues when the real culprit is the medications. I've seen patients go from barely responsive to having conversations again after stopping a sedating medication." Dr. Emily McDonald, Lead Author, Associate Professor in McGill's Department of Medicine, Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute) and attending physician at the McGill University Health Centre

Nearly two thirds of Canadian seniors take five or more medications a day, and the number is significantly higher in long-term care, she added.

How the tool fits into routine care

Medications are typically reviewed every three months in long-term care homes, but the scholars say there's no standard approach to deprescribing.

MedSafer works as a checklist for clinicians. It scans a resident's medication list alongside their health conditions, flags drugs that may no longer be appropriate and provides guidance on how to stop some medications or for safer alternatives.

The software was co-developed by McDonald and Dr. Todd Lee, Associate Professor in McGill's Department of Medicine and Scientist at The Institute . The trial involved 725 residents in five long-term care homes in New Brunswick who were taking an average of 10 medications each.

The problem with 'prescribing cascades'

Medications often accumulate over time and are sometimes prescribed to counteract the side effects of other drugs, a pattern known as a "prescribing cascade."

"Some medications can increase the risk of falls, confusion and hospitalizations," said Lee. "The more you take, the more side effects and interactions you can have."

The researchers' goal is to see MedSafer integrated into primary care, so that overmedication can be addressed before patients enter long-term care.

"This should be the new standard of care for older adults," McDonald said. "No one should be on a medication that's doing more harm than good."

About the study

"Electronic Decision Support for Deprescribing in Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care" by Emily McDonald and Todd Lee et al. was published in JAMA Network Open.

The research was funded by the Healthy Seniors Pilot Project, a joint initiative of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick.

McDonald and Lee are co-founders of MedSafer Corp., which licenses the software used in the study.
Can Legionnaires disease trigger long-term symptoms? Discover how Swiss scientists are following pneumonia survivors to uncover the real impact on health and wellbeing.

Study: Long-term impacts of Legionnaires disease on health and wellbeing: rationale, study design and baseline findings of a matched cohort study (LongLEGIO). Image Credit: Axel_Kock / Shutterstock

Spotting Legionnaires' is surprisingly hard. Even with good healthcare systems, roughly 90% of cases get missed, partly because symptoms vary widely and it mimics other pneumonias.

In a prospective methodology report published in Swiss Medical Weekly, researchers propose to leverage data from the LongLEGIO Swiss cohort (119 individuals, 38.7% female) to evaluate the long-term (chronic) aftermath of severe bacterial (pneumonia and pneumonia-like) infections.

The study will prospectively monitor cases for a year and compare them to patients with Legionella test-negative bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) to determine if Legionella bacteria might be uniquely associated with post-acute infection syndromes (like "Long COVID"). Baseline data from 59 cases and 60 comparison patients already highlight key differences between these groups, setting the stage for crucial insights into the actual burden of this disease and informing future research and public health policy.

Background

Pneumonia remains a leading cause of human morbidity and mortality, contributing to approximately 120 million cases and 1.3 million deaths annually. While children and older adults are most vulnerable to pneumonia-associated mortality, a growing body of heterogeneous evidence suggests that even survivors of some pneumonia strains suffer post-acute infection-like symptoms that extend long beyond their hospital discharge.

Did you know Legionnaires' has a milder cousin? Pontiac fever, caused by the same bacteria, triggers flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle aches) but rarely involves pneumonia and typically clears up in 2-5 days without antibiotics.

Acute pneumonia survivors increasingly report persistent symptoms like fatigue, cognitive impairment ("brain fog"), and reduced quality of life that extend for weeks or even months after infection recovery. This condition, termed post-acute infection syndrome, is by no means a novel discovery but has gained substantial traction and renewed scientific attention in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its "Long COVID" aftermath.

Unfortunately, medicine has not yet established whether pneumonias cause distinct post-acute infection syndromes, nor have any links between specific microbes and potential long-term outcomes been systematically investigated.

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, with symptoms commonly including severe respiratory illness and significant extrapulmonary symptoms like confusion and kidney damage. Recent limited evidence suggests that Legionella bacteria might trigger a more profound and lasting syndrome, similar to the well-documented post-Q fever fatigue syndrome. However, whether these symptoms are lasting effects of the severe infection or reflect a distinct condition caused by Legionella remains unknown.

About the Study

Legionella bacteria thrive in lukewarm water. They multiply best between 77F and 113F (25C and 45C), with a sweet spot around 95F (35C), but die quickly above 140F (60C).

To address this knowledge gap, researchers in Switzerland designed the first comparative, prospective matched cohort study to systematically compare Legionnaires' disease's long-term health impacts with other forms of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia.

The study recruited (June 2023 to June 2024) 59 patients with confirmed Legionnaires' disease and 60 patients with Legionella test-negative bacterial CAP. To ensure a fair comparison, the latter group was carefully matched to the Legionnaires' patients across several demographic and medical parameters, including sex, age, hospital type, and date of diagnosis. The study fell short of its original target of 80 patients per group (due to recruitment constraints), limiting statistical power.

Data collection is ongoing and comprises a series of structured, questionnaire-based interviews at four key time points: baseline (during the acute illness; completed) and at 2, 6, and 12 months following the start of antibiotic treatment. Researchers note that potential recall bias may affect longer-term symptom reporting. These questionnaires assess several patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), capturing data often missed in standard medical records.

Specifically, the interviews measure:

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) Fatigue Healthcare utilization Persistent symptoms

Recruitment, enrolment, and data collection for the community-acquired Legionnaires disease (CALD) and Legionella test-negative bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (non-LD CAP) cohorts. Grey: Baseline interviews and data extraction from electronic medical records for CALD patients were done within the context of the SwissLEGIO parent study. Red: LongLEGIO recruitment and data collection for the CALD cohort. Patients were recruited two months after the acute infection from a pool of CALD patients previously included in the SwissLEGIO parent study. Yellow: LongLEGIO recruitment and data collection for the non-LD CAP cohort. Non-LD CAP patients were enrolled from four universities and cantonal/regional hospitals shortly after the pneumonia diagnosis. ABT: appropriate antibiotic therapy; CAP: community-acquired pneumonia; LD: Legionnaires disease.

Baseline Study Findings

Only one probable case of person-to-person transmission has ever been reported (the 2014 mothercaregiver case in Portugal), confirming its primarily spread through contaminated aerosols, not human contact.

The baseline study characteristics and data of the 119 enrolled patients already reveal initial differences between the two groups. While both cohorts had a median age of 69 years and were predominantly male, they differed significantly in their comorbidity profiles. Patients with Legionella test-negative CAP demonstrated a higher prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (20.0% vs. 11.9%), malignancies (33.3% vs. 13.6%), and immunosuppression (25.0% vs. 13.6%), explaining their lower pre-illness quality of life scores.

Conversely, Legionnaires' disease patients displayed a higher rate of chronic kidney failure (15.3% vs. 10.0%). Moreover, patients with Legionnaires' disease were more likely to report extrapulmonary symptoms like muscle aches (51.8% vs. 25.9%) and fever (89.3% vs. 76.3%) than their comparison group, and also had a higher rate of ICU admission (13.6% vs. 8.3%).

When asked to rate their quality of life in the month before their illness, the non-Legionnaires' CAP patients reported significantly lower baseline scores (median EQ-VAS score of 70 vs. 85), likely reflecting their greater comorbidity burden. A key limitation is that 73% of these patients had no pathogen detected despite a bacterial pneumonia diagnosis.

Conclusions

The present LongLEGIO study will provide the first high-quality, comparative evidence on the long-term health consequences of Legionnaires' disease and expand our understanding of long-term pneumonia pathophysiology. By meticulously tracking patients over a year and comparing them to a well-matched patient group, the study will help determine whether a specific post-Legionnaires' syndrome distinct from general pneumonia sequelae exists.

This research is crucial for several reasons. It will contribute to a more holistic understanding of pneumonia's full disease burden, which is currently underestimated due to a disproportionate focus only on the acute phase. Furthermore, the findings will provide vital data to help clinicians and public health officials better anticipate the long-term care needs of survivors, potentially leading to improved follow-up protocols and a more accurate picture of what recovery truly entails.
Chief Executive John Lee met Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev today to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

Welcoming Mr Khodjaev and his delegation to Hong Kong, Mr Lee remarked that economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and Uzbekistan have grown steadily in recent years, and that there is potential for the two places to explore further co-operation.

He outlined that Hong Kong enjoys the advantages of being closely connected both to the Mainland and the rest of the world under the one country, two systems arrangement, and of serving as a functional platform under the Belt & Road Initiative.

Uzbekistan has undergone significant infrastructure development, and Hong Kong firms and talent can be of use with regard to construction technologies and financing channels, Mr Lee said.

The Chief Executive urged Uzbek enterprises to leverage Hong Kongs highly internationalised and market-oriented business environment, and its professional services talent, to explore both the Mainland market and other markets overseas.

Stressing that Hong Kong is striving to establish itself as an international hub for post-secondary education, Mr Lee highlighted that it offers a scholarship to encourage students from Belt & Road countries and regions to study in the city.

He explained that the scholarship is aimed at attracting talent to Hong Kong, and invited more young Uzbeks to study in the city and develop their careers here, thereby bolstering bilateral ties between the two places.
Allahabad HC rejects second bail plea of Vikas Dubeys associate

Last Updated: August 05, 2025, 01:00 IST

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Prayagraj, Aug 4 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has rejected the second bail application moved by Bablu alias Ballu Musalman alias Islam Beg, an associate of Vikas Dubey, the main accused of Bikru massacre of Kanpur.

In this gruesome incident, which occurred on the night of July 2, 2020, as many as eight police personnel, including DSP Devendra Mishra, were killed in an ambush allegedly by Dubey when the police team raided his house in the Bikru village of Kanpur to arrest him.

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Subsequently, Dubey was killed on July 10, 2020, when he tried to escape from custody when a police vehicle bringing him from Ujjain to Kanpur met with an accident. Later, the gangsters associate Bablu was arrested and has been in jail since August 25, 2020.

Rejecting the bail application of Bablu, Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery observed, I have considered above submission and considering that trial is proceeding and further taking note of allegations as well as manner of occurrence, therefore, aforesaid period of incarceration cannot be considered to be a prolonged detention, therefore, prayer for bail is rejected". PTI COR RAJ MNK MNK

First Published: August 05, 2025, 01:00 IST

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Bangladeshs former Army chief found dead in Chittagong

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 23:00 IST

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Dhaka, Aug 4 (PTI) Bangladeshs former Army chief Lt Gen (retd.) M Harun-Ar-Rashid was on Monday found dead in a room at the Chittagong Club, according to media reports.

The 77-year-old Harun arrived in Chittagong from Dhaka on Sunday to attend a court hearing, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported, quoting the police.

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A senior official of the Destiny Group, of which the retired lieutenant general was the president, confirmed his death, the bdnews24.com news portal reported.

His body was found after he did not appear in court at the court hearings scheduled time and did not respond to phone calls, the official said.

Club officials went to his room and found him dead," he said.

Harun served as Bangladeshs Army chief from 2000 to 2002.

He came to Chittagong to answer a summons in a case over financial irregularities involving Destiny Group, according to the report.

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Later, his body was sent to the Combined Military Hospital, Chittagong.

The cause of the former Army chiefs death is not yet clear; however, police and family members suspect he died from a brain haemorrhage, the report said. PTI GRS GRS GRS

First Published: August 04, 2025, 23:00 IST

News agency-feeds Bangladeshs former Army chief found dead in Chittagong

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Brazils Supreme Court orders house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro

Last Updated: August 05, 2025, 03:15 IST

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Sao Paulo, Aug 4 (AP) Brazils Supreme Court on Monday ordered the house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly leading a coup attempt after losing the 2022 election.

The courts Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the order, saying in his decision that Bolsonaro had violated the precautionary measures imposed on him by posting content on his sons social media channels.

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Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organisation that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and a Supreme Court justice. Mondays order followed one from the top court last month that ordered Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are underway.

The latest decision keeps the far-right leader under ankle monitoring, allows only family members and lawyers to visit him and seizes all mobile phones from his home in Rio de Janeiro. (AP) RC

First Published: August 05, 2025, 03:15 IST

News agency-feeds Brazils Supreme Court orders house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro

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FJCCI, CCL condole ex-Jharkhand CM Shibu Sorens death

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 23:00 IST

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Ranchi, Aug 4 (PTI) Members of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) on Monday held a condolence meet and paid tributes to former Chief Minister Shibu Soren who died in New Delhi earlier in the day.

A condolence meet was also held at Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) headquarters in Ranchi to pay homage to Soren.

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The FJCCI appealed to all traders in the state to shut their shops and establishments voluntarily till 1 pm on August 5 as a mark of respect to Soren.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha co-founder Soren, who was undergoing treatment at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi for over a month for kidney-related problems, died at the age of 81.

The entire trading community is in shock after the demise of Shibu Soren. We held a special condolence meet at Chamber Bhawan in Ranchi and paid floral tributes," FJCCI president Paresh Gattani said.

FJCCI general secretary Aditya Malhotra said Sorens life has been a symbol of struggle, dedication and commitment towards public welfare.

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At the CCL condolence meeting, Directors Pawan Kumar Mishra, Harsh Nath Mishra and Chandrasekhar Tiwary were also present.

Shibu Soren was the pioneer of the Jharkhand movement and a fearless leader who strongly raised the voice of tribal identity and rights on the national stage," CCL said in a statement. PTI SAN MNB NN

First Published: August 04, 2025, 23:00 IST

News agency-feeds FJCCI, CCL condole ex-Jharkhand CM Shibu Sorens death

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Indian dance troupe mesmerises packed auditorium in Israel

Last Updated: August 05, 2025, 03:00 IST

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Haifa (Israel), Aug 4 (PTI) India enthusiasts in Israel descended on the northern Israeli coastal city of Haifa on Monday evening to witness a rich and impressive dance performance that blended the traditional Indian dance form of Odissi with modern styles, including fusion, Bollywood, urban dance and even some shades of Middle-Eastern influences.

Young dancers from the Indian dance troupe Amaiza, founded by dancer and choreographer Nitisha Nanda, known for her appearances in leading reality shows So You Think You Can Dance India" and Indias Got Talent", gave a captivating performance in front of a packed Beit Aba Hushi auditorium, with the 500 people in the audience often cheering in delight.

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The Embassy of India in Israel, in collaboration with the Haifa Municipality, the Indian Cultural Centre and the Port of Haifa, hosted the vibrant cultural event, celebrating the deepening friendship between India and Israel".

The northern Israeli coastal city of Haifa has a deep connection with India, having been liberated from the Ottomans in 1918 by Indian soldiers, and Major Dalpat Singh is known as the Hero of Haifa" for leading a successful cavalry charge that shocked military historians by its sheer audacity.

We were taught in school that the British liberated Haifa, but I later learned that it was Indian soldiers who shed their blood to free the city," Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav told the audience.

Once a year, we gather at the citys cemetery to honour the Indian soldiers who gave their lives to protect us," Yahav said, emphasising the citys strong bond with India.

Haifa is also home to a major port owned by the Adani Group.

The relationship between India and Israel, especially with the city of Haifa, is built on trust, mutual respect and lasting friendship," Indias Ambassador to Israel, J P Singh, said.

This cultural performance is dedicated to the people of Haifa, a city with which India shares deep historical bonds. During World War I, Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives in the Battle of the Liberation of Haifa," Singh stressed.

Dalpat Singh made the ultimate sacrifice in that battle, which the Indian cavalry forces fought bravely under dire circumstances to inscribe their names in the last major cavalry charge in history".

The performance in Haifa mesmerised the audience with its passion, precision and energy, showcasing both the traditional and contemporary spirit of Indian culture.

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It was an evening of colour, rhythm and movement  a powerful artistic experience that left a lasting impression on the Israeli audience.

The event marked the festive launch of the troupes Israel tour, with upcoming performances scheduled at Netanya on August 5, Or Akiva on August 6 and Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek on August 7. PTI HM RC

First Published: August 05, 2025, 03:00 IST

News agency-feeds Indian dance troupe mesmerises packed auditorium in Israel

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Preserve CCTV footage or face action: Gujarat Information Commission to police

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 21:00 IST

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Ahmedabad, Aug 4 (PTI) Expressing displeasure over police not providing CCTV footage of police stations sought by citizens under the RTI Act, the Gujarat Information Commission has directed officials concerned to preserve such images or face action under the legislation.

In an order issued on July 19, the commission clarified that if an RTI (Right To Information) application is received by a police station within 30 days of an incident, the CCTV footage of that matter must be preserved.

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Failure to preserve the recording will lead the commission to initiate proceedings for disciplinary action and penalty under Section 20 of the RTI Act and appropriate action under the Gujarat Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1971," the panel warned in its order.

A resident of Ahmedabads Naroda area had filed an RTI application seeking CCTV footage from Shaher Kotda Police Station to obtain evidence of alleged misconduct against him.

When he did not receive the relevant information from the police station, he filed an appeal with the Information Commission.

During the hearing of the appeal, a representative of the Public Information Officer (PIO) claimed before the panel that the CCTV footage in question could not be provided to the applicant as it got deleted due to a technical fault".

The officer further claimed that though a technical expert was roped in to retrieve the data as directed by the commission, the footage could not be recovered.

Commenting on the response, the commission noted applications seeking CCTV footage of police stations are being received by the panel frequently.

However, the Commission has observed that such CCTV footage is hardly provided to the applicants" the order said.

A 2022 circular issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) mandates that CCTV footage must be preserved until the disposal of the second appeal of an RTI applicant, it pointed out.

Furthermore, the commission noted the Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) had also issued similar instructions in the past and directed police officials to preserve the footage till the disposal of the second appeal.

The commission stated that the purpose of installing CCTV cameras will only be served only if the GAD circular and departmental instructions are strictly followed.

Despite such instructions, police station officers or staff refuse to provide footage by citing excuses, which is not proper," said the panel.

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The commission directed the DGP to issue a fresh order asking police officials concerned to strictly adhere to the previous circular on preserving CCTV footage.

The commission warned the State Public Information Officer (PIO) and the First Appellate Authority (FAA) will be liable for penalty and disciplinary action under Section 20 of the RTI Act if they fail to provide the footage to applicants. PTI PJT PD RSY

First Published: August 04, 2025, 21:00 IST

News agency-feeds Preserve CCTV footage or face action: Gujarat Information Commission to police

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Russia ends moratorium on intermediate-range missile deployment

Last Updated: August 05, 2025, 00:15 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Moscow, Aug 4 (PTI) Russia on Monday announced that it was withdrawing from its self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles.

The move comes after US President Donald Trump ordered the repositioning of two American nuclear submarines closer to Russian shores, escalating tensions between the two Cold War-era rivals.

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Russia does not consider itself anymore bound by self-restrictions on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles (INF) as conditions to preserve this moratorium have disappeared," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed between the USSR and the US in 1987, did not allow the deployment of missile launchers, ground-launched ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 km.

The US withdrew from the agreement in 2019.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said its repeated warnings on the matter have been ignored and the situation is moving toward the actual deployment of US-made intermediate- and shorter-range ground-based missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Because of this, it said, The Russian Foreign Ministry has to attest to the disappearance of any conditions for the preservation of a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar arms and is authorised to state that the Russian Federation does not consider itself anymore bound by relevant self-restrictions approved earlier." Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia reserves freedom of action in the matter of deploying medium- and shorter-range missiles and can use it if necessary, if it has to respond to NATOs aggressive actions" near the countrys borders.

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The Foreign Office in Moscow said that actions by the West in the sphere of proliferating such missiles create a direct threat" to Russian security, requiring certain measures on Moscows part.

On Friday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social post that he had ordered the redeployment of US submarines to appropriate regions" allegedly over extremely provocative statements" by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is also the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council. PTI VS GRS GRS GRS

First Published: August 05, 2025, 00:15 IST

News agency-feeds Russia ends moratorium on intermediate-range missile deployment

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Two Gurugram cops killed in car-tractor collision on Bundelkhand Expressway

Last Updated: August 05, 2025, 00:00 IST

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Gurugram, Aug 4 (PTI) A sub-inspector and a constable died and two other police personnel were injured when their SUV collided with a tractor-trolley loaded with iron pipes on the Bundelkhand Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Monday.

The accident took place Sunday night near Dhanauri village on the expressway when all four cops were on the way to Chhattisgarh as part of an ongoing investigation, police said.

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Sub-Inspector Sanjay Kumar (45) and constable Amit (34), both residents of Jhajjar and posted in the crime unit, Sector 40, Gurugram, were killed in the accident.

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Police have paid heartfelt tribute to deceased personnel and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured, the spokesperson of Gurugram police said.

Gurugram Police has lost two of its diligent, hardworking, promising, honest and dedicated police personnel who were performing their duties. The police department will always remember the invaluable contribution made by both the policemen in the police service and their clean image," the spokesperson said. PTI COR SKY SKY

First Published: August 05, 2025, 00:00 IST

News agency-feeds Two Gurugram cops killed in car-tractor collision on Bundelkhand Expressway

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Tarot Card Reading Today August 4, 2025

Written By :

GaneshaGrace

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 07:15 IST

Daily Tarot Card Reading, August 4, 2025: Gemini and Sagittarius are urged to let go of old baggage and listen to inner wisdom or external guidance.

Tarot Card Predictions Today August 4 2025 Daily Tarot Card Reading for All Zodiac Signs. (AI-generated image)

Tarot Card Reading Today, August 4 2025: The day brings a powerful mix of introspection, change, and opportunities for all zodiac signs. Aries and Libra should soften and humble their approach to improve strained relationships and professional dynamics. Taurus and Scorpio are facing financial uncertainty and should be cautious while taking loans and making decisions. Gemini and Sagittarius are urged to let go of old baggage and listen to inner wisdom or external guidance. Cancer and Pisces will be emotionally refreshed and enjoy new beginnings, especially in love and career.

Leo and Virgo will find new opportunities and relationships, but will have to balance emotions with patience and practicality. Capricorns are advised to be cautious of temptations and toxic influences, requiring self-discipline and moral clarity. Aquarians are encouraged to take bold but considered steps in love and work, while maintaining awareness of risks. Across all zodiac signs, themes of growth through self-awareness, open dialogue, and careful decision-making prevail, leading individuals to better outcomes when they act with balance and intelligence.

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Aries Tarot Reading (The Empress)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, you always consider yourself to be the best. That is why you never give importance to the work and thoughts of the other person. No matter how politely someone treats you, you do not consider them equal to yourself. This habit of yours has brought trouble for you. Your colleagues and friends are a little angry with you because of this. Try to bring a change in yourself. I agree that you are important to yourself. But the other person and his thoughts are also important. This should be understood. Try to connect yourself with your family. The arrival of a woman can bring some good changes in life. You can get their support in getting a new job. Everyone in the family is very worried about someones marriage. Due to your increasing age, you are not getting a good marriage proposal. Due to which you have asked for help from some of your friends. You are trying to start a business with your spouse. The other person has handed over his savings to you for the business.

Taurus Tarot Reading (Knight of Pentacles)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, there is a possibility of a big problem. You are worried about not being able to repay the loan taken from someone on time. You and your friend have taken this loan to expand the business. This loan was taken to recover from the financial loss in the business due to a wrong decision. You can try to ask the other person for some more time. Due to your behavior and respect, the other person is still silent. You are thinking of resolving this matter with your family. Due to not getting a good job, your marriage to your lover has not been finalized yet. Your lover is a little angry about this. You have started looking for a new and good job. There is a possibility of promotion in the job. Your money is stuck somewhere. Due to jealousy, someone has created an obstacle in your work. Due to which the work is not getting completed on time. There may be a problem. You are very worried about this. You are preparing to go on a pilgrimage to a religious place with family members. You can try to improve a spoiled relationship.

Gemini Tarot Reading (The Hanged Man)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, whenever you find yourself stuck in a situation, you should pay attention to the possibilities suggested by others. You should also be ready for change. You can try to balance yourself with your inner strength and the stability of your mind. Sadhana and balance bring success in life. Some good changes can be seen in life. Some problems that we face are sometimes not that difficult. It is possible that you have to compromise in a situation. If that compromise proves beneficial for you in the future, then there is no harm in doing so. Do not keep cursing an old mistake. It is in everyones interest to forget what has passed and move forward. There is a lot of commotion in the family regarding someones marriage. It is becoming difficult to decide on one of the proposals received. All the family members can try to find a solution to this dilemma together.

Cancer Tarot Reading (Ace of Cups)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, success is going to knock on your door soon. Your nature of never letting your courage and hard work fall short has brought you close to success. The beginning of a new love affair will infuse new energy into your mind. It will seem as if you can hold the whole world in your fist. Many new opportunities will open new paths for you to reach success. These will not only increase your honor and respect but will also give you a lot of financial strength. You will start a new work by taking society and family along. Which will help the helpless and destitute people. This way of thanking your God will give you a lot of happiness. The news of the arrival of a little guest after a long wait in life will excite everyone. There is every possibility of the result of the competitive exam coming in your favor. Never let your confidence and dedication decrease. Gradually, you will overcome all the situations. But keep the faith.

Leo Tarot Reading (Knight of Wands)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, impatience is in your nature. As soon as you start any work, you start waiting for the result. Patience and restraint do not make friends. Due to this haste, many times you have not been able to achieve sufficient success in some tasks. Still, you have not learned any lesson from those things. It has become very difficult to ask for everything quickly in love relationships and to think about marriage immediately. The family of the lover has taken time to think about this relationship. Due to which restlessness is increasing in the mind. In the workplace, you have been given the responsibility to go to another place and work on a plan. You may be very upset thinking about how you will be able to complete this work with new people. However, the higher officials have assured you that everyone will treat you better. Spending time with children has been a pleasant experience.

Virgo Tarot Reading (Two of Cups)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, a new relationship can begin. Due to the betrayal in the previous relationship, there have been a lot of arguments with the family members regarding the second marriage. You have decided to keep yourself alone. You dont talk much at work either. You are only concerned with your work. The number of friends is also limited. A sudden meeting with a new person in connection with work has turned into friendship. The polite and sensible behavior of the other person is attracting you. Soon, this relationship can move beyond friendship. Such a possibility is being created. Your spouse may be having a love affair with someone else. You feel so. You can muster the courage to talk to that person directly. The proposal of a partnership in work coming from the other person may surprise you. Think well and make the right decision. In a situation of dilemma, the advice of an experienced person will be effective.

Libra Tarot Reading (King of Swords)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, the desire to gain power has always been in the mind. The greed to reach a higher position in the workplace always inspires one to move forward. You may get a promotion in your job. It is possible that, along with promotion, you may also be transferred. Someone else may be appointed to the position you want to work in. This person may have come to your workplace from somewhere else. You can discuss your business plan with your father. It will be great to start your own business with your fathers experience. Strengthen your thoughts. Do not let the thinking of others dominate you. Make your own decisions. If you are struggling with any problem, then share your problem with an experienced person. There is a lot of bitterness in some relationships. Trying to improve your relationship with those people will prove beneficial. The desire to buy a new house may be fulfilled.

Scorpio Tarot Reading (Five of Pentacles)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, you have not learned anything from the difficult situations of the past. Still, you are repeating the same mistakes. Looking at the current circumstances, there is a possibility of something going wrong. Soon, some kind of financial crisis is going to come into your life. Due to this crisis, there may be unrest in family life as well. Differences with the spouse may increase. Taking wrong decisions can lead to financial loss. Now is the time to be cautious. Sensing your circumstances, your people have started moving away from you. Loneliness has exposed the reality of your loved ones. Do not invest in the wrong place. There may be financial loss. It is important to be patient in difficult times. Because somehow or other, God will help us sooner or later. You may look for a new job. You will talk to your beloved to improve your relationship. Due to some misunderstanding, the other person is not ready to talk to you.

Sagittarius Tarot Reading (The Tower)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, gather information about any work before starting it. The habit of being foolish can land you in big trouble anytime. Sometimes, deliberately ignoring small things becomes a big problem later. Intoxicated by success, you have been giving too much importance to your ego and stubbornness. Keep both these habits away from yourself. You have always been successful in the workplace due to your morale. And the effect of this ego can distance you from others. Your inner conscience is repeatedly giving signals to be cautious about something. This can be a warning from God. By ignoring these things, you can create a big problem for yourself. Trying to consider everyone smaller than you is distancing you from people. You may have to suffer a lot due to a wrong decision. There is a possibility of a decrease in respect and honor, along with financial loss. Make your behavior flexible and polite. Stay away from people who can create problems for you. You need to change your habit of always ignoring what others say. Sometimes things can be in our favour. We can get embroiled in a useless dispute due to someones provocation. Moving forward without checking the truth of the matter can create distance in relationships.

Capricorn Tarot Reading (The Devil)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, time is unfavorable right now. Extreme thoughts and a desire for excessive pleasure have given rise to many problems. Patience and restraint will have to be maintained to get out of these problems. Even the slightest negligence will put you in trouble financially and socially. Someone close to you is planning to cheat you. You will need to move forward very thoughtfully in every situation. Do not let yourself get caught in the trap of greed and benefits in the desire to get more. If a colleague or friend is leading you towards bad addiction or habits, then keep a distance from them. You will not even know when you will become weak and start walking on this path. Do not support anyone in their wrong decisions at the workplace, no matter how good your relationship is with them. A small difference between right and wrong can sometimes create problems for the future. Stand with the family in their difficulties. Do not show your differences to outsiders.

Aquarius Tarot Reading (The Fool)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, positive thinking will help you move forward. Due to the company of some negative thinking people, your thinking has also started becoming negative. Try to stay away from such people. Adopt positive thinking in life. You can be seen trying to live life with full enthusiasm and zeal. You are planning to start a new business. A new love affair can start. This relationship will change your life. Due to careless behavior, you are not getting the expected success at work. Your tendency to take risks can sometimes put you in big trouble. You can make some trips to gain work experience. New relationships can be formed during these trips. Do not ignore what people say. If needed, seek advice from an experienced person. Do not hesitate to ask for help.

Pisces Tarot Reading (Six of Swords)

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Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, the bitterness of old experiences is coming to mind again and again, and creating a fear inside you. Due to which you may have to face failure in the workplace. Talking about your problems with a dear friend or close relative can give you mental relief. You have thought of starting a new life with your spouse by going somewhere away from your current place. Along with getting a promotion in the job, you can also put forward the desire for a transfer in front of higher officials. If the right solution to a problem is not being found, then be a little patient and focus your attention on the rest. The enthusiasm of looking for a good environment after bitter experiences can infuse new energy into life. You may have to make many trips in connection with work. You will experience a lot of physical fatigue on these trips. There is a possibility of a new love affair starting during this journey.

(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: August 04, 2025, 07:15 IST

News astrology Tarot Card Reading Today August 4, 2025

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JSW Cement IPO Price Band Fixed: Opening Date, GMP, Lot Size; Everything You Need To Know

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 10:18 IST

JSW Cement, the cement arm of Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group, is set to launch its Rs 3,600-crore initial public offering (IPO) on August 7.

JSW Cement IPO.

JSW Cement, the cement arm of Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group, is set to launch its Rs 3,600-crore initial public offering (IPO) on August 7. The public issue, as per the latest Red Herring Prospectus (RHP), will close on August 11, with anchor investors bidding a day earlier on August 6. This IPO size is lower than the earlier proposed Rs 4,000 crore.

JSW Cement IPO Size

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The offering comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 1,600 crore and an Offer for Sale (OFS) component of up to Rs 2,000 crore by existing shareholders. Under the OFS, Apollo Management, through its affiliate AP Asia Opportunistic Holdings Pte Ltd, will offload shares worth Rs 931.8 crore. Synergy Metals Investments Holding Ltd, a fund promoted by former ArcelorMittal executive Sudhir Maheshwari, will divest shares worth Rs 938.5 crore, while the State Bank of India will sell shares valued at Rs 129.7 crore.

JSW Cement IPO Price And Lot Size

The price band of the IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 139-147 per share.

For investors, the minimum lot size for the IPO is 102. It means investors will have to apply for a minimum of 102 shares or in multiple thereof. So, retail investors require a minimum capital of Rs 14,994 at the upper price band to apply for the IPO.

JSW Cement IPO GMP Today

The GMP or grey market premium (GMP) for JSW Cement is currently zero, indicating flat or negative return for IPO investors.

Use of Proceeds

Out of the fresh capital raised, JSW Cement plans to utilise Rs 800 crore to part-finance a new integrated cement unit at Nagaur in Rajasthan. Another Rs 520 crore will be used to prepay or repay existing borrowings, while the remaining funds will be allocated for general corporate purposes.

Financial Performance

As of March 31, 2025, the company reported total borrowings of Rs 6,166.6 crore. Revenue from operations in FY25 stood at Rs 5,813.1 crore, slightly down from Rs 6,028.1 crore in FY24 and Rs 5,836.72 crore in FY23. The company posted a loss of Rs 163.77 crore in FY25, in contrast to a profit of Rs 62 crore in FY24 and Rs 104 crore in FY23.

Manufacturing Capacity and Operations

JSW Cement had an installed grinding capacity of 20.60 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) as of the end of FY25. The companys manufacturing units are located in Vijayanagar (Karnataka), Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh), Salboni (West Bengal), Jajpur (Odisha), and Dolvi (Maharashtra). Through its subsidiary Shiva Cement, the company also operates a clinker unit in Odisha.

Market Position

According to a report by CRISIL, JSW Cement is Indias largest manufacturer of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), a sustainable cement substitute made from steel plant by-products. The company held an 84 percent market share in terms of GGBS sales during FY25.

IPO Managers and Listing

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The IPO is being managed by a consortium of leading investment banks including JM Financial, Axis Capital, Citigroup Global Markets India, DAM Capital Advisors, Goldman Sachs (India) Securities, Jefferies India, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, and SBI Capital Markets.

Post-issue, the shares will be listed on both the BSE and NSE.

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 07:55 IST

News business  ipo JSW Cement IPO Price Band Fixed: Opening Date, GMP, Lot Size; Everything You Need To Know

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Sri Lotus Developers IPO Allotment Today: A Step-By-Step Guide To Check Status Online, Know Latest GMP

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 10:29 IST

Sri Lotus Developers IPO GMP: Its grey market premium currently stands at 24.67%, indicating strong listing gains for investors.

Sri Lotus Developers IPO GMP Today.

Sri Lotus Developers IPO Allotment Status and Latest GMP: The basis of allotment of the Sri Lotus Developers IPO is expected to be finalised today, August 4, in the evening. Once finalised, investors can check their allotment status on the websites of registrar Kfin Technologies as well as exchanges BSE and NSE. They will also receive a bank debit/ unblock SMS.

Also Read: JSW Cement IPO Price Band Fixed: Opening Date, GMP, Lot Size; Everything You Need To Know

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The initial public offering was open between July 30 and August 1. On the final day of bidding on Friday, the issue received a 74.10 times subscription, garnering bids for 2,74,25,55,800 shares as against the 3,70,13,726 shares on offer. The retail and NII participation stood at 21.77x and 61.82x, respectively. The QIB category has received a 175.61x subscription.

Sri Lotus Developers IPO: A Step-By-Step Guide To Check Allotment Status

Option 1: Kfin Technologies (Registrar) Website

Kfin Technologies is the registrar for the Sri Lotus Developers IPO. Follow these steps to check your allotment status:

Visit the Registrars Website: Go to the Kfin Technologies portal at https://ipostatus.kfintech.com/.

Select the IPO: From the dropdown menu, choose Sri Lotus Developers Limited. Note that the IPO name will only appear once the allotment is finalised.

Choose an Identification Mode: Select one of the following options to check your status:

Application Number

Demat Account Number (DP ID/Client ID)

PAN ID

Enter Details: Input the details corresponding to the selected mode (e.g., your PAN, application number, or Demat account details).

Complete CAPTCHA: Fill in the CAPTCHA for security verification and click Submit to view your allotment status. The status will show whether shares were allotted and, if so, how many.

Option 2: Check Allotment Status on BSE Website

You can also check the allotment status on the BSE website. Heres how:

Visit the BSE IPO Page: Go to https://www.bseindia.com/investors/appli_check.aspx.

Select Issue Type: Choose Equity" as the issue type.

Select IPO: From the dropdown menu, select Sri Lotus Developers Limited.

Enter Details: Provide your Application Number or PAN.

Complete CAPTCHA: Tick the Im not a robot" CAPTCHA and click Search" to view your allotment status.

Sri Lotus Developers IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Sri Lotus Developers Ltd are currently trading at Rs 187 against the upper IPO price of Rs 150. It means a grey market premium or GMP of Rs 37, which is 24.67% over its issue price.

The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Sri Lotus Developers IPO More Info

The price band of the mainboard IPO, which plans to raise Rs 792 crore, has been fixed at Rs 150 apiece.

The IPO is entirely a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 792 crore with no Offer For Sale (OFS) component.

Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used for investment in its subsidiaries, Richfeel Real Estate Pvt Ltd, Dhyan Projects Pvt Ltd and Tryksha Real Estate Pvt Ltd for part-funding the development and construction cost of its ongoing projects, Amalfi, The Arcadian and Varun, respectively; besides, a portion will be used for general corporate purposes.

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The Anand Kamalnayan Pandit-promoted company is a real estate developer engaged in the construction of residential and commercial premises in Mumbai, Maharashtra, with a focus on redevelopment projects in the ultra luxury and luxury segments in the western suburbs.

Monarch Networth Capital and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors are the book-running lead managers of the public issue.

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 09:07 IST

News business  ipo Sri Lotus Developers IPO Allotment Today: A Step-By-Step Guide To Check Status Online, Know Latest GMP

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Rani Kapur Seeks UK Probe Into Son Sunjay Kapur's Death: 'Credible Evidence Of Foul Play'

Curated By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 20:28 IST

The criminal complaint filed in the UK by businessman Sunjay Kapur's mother raises several questions on the mysterious circumstances in which he was found dead

Sunjay Kapur's last rites were held in New Delhi on June 19.(Photo Credit: X)

Amid the dramatic Sona Comstar succession feud, businessman Sunjay Kapurs mother Rani Kapur has formally written to the UK authorities seeking a more in-depth probe into his death in London.

The mystery behind Sunjay Kapurs sudden death during a polo match on June 12 of Sunjay Kapur has only deepened amid a full-blown family feud over a Rs 30,000-crore business empire.

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Now, Rani Kapurs criminal complaint in the United Kingdom has triggered international scrutiny over her sons death. Sources privy to the development told News18 that she has lodged the complaint, calling into question the mysterious circumstances" in which he was found dead and has urged the intervention of British law enforcement.

Another person privy to the development said a similar request may be moved before US authorities as he was an American national.

STILL DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON

A few days ago, in her first statement since Sunjay Kapurs death, Rani Kapur raised the stakes amid the high-profile family feud by saying she still does not know what happened to her son. She said she is old and needs closure before she dies, and wants the family business and legacy to be passed on.

I still dont know what happened to my son. Im old now and need closure before I go. I may be old and frail now, but my memory of being with my husband when Sona (Sona Comstar) was set up is strong. I remember the early days of Sona (Sona Comstar), built with care, sacrifice and love," she told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Mumbai | Mother of late businessman Sunjay Kapur, Rani Kapur says, "I still don't know what happened to my son. I'm old now and need closure before I go. I may be old and frail now, but my memory of being with my husband when Sona (Sona Comstar) was set up is strong. I pic.twitter.com/rHVoB3MpZP ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2025

She added: I am here to remind the world that our family legacy must not be lost. It must be passed on as my husband always wanted to be. Given my health and my age, I will not be making any further comments. My legal team will address everything necessary."

In her complaint letter to the UK authorities, which was accessed by News18, Rani Kapur has said there is credible evidence" that Sunjays death was not natural or an accident but foul play".

I am compelled to bring to your urgent attention that credible and concerning evidence has surfaced indicating that his (Sunjay Kapur) death may not have been natural or accidental, but may in fact have involved foul play, including the possibility of murder, abetment, conspiracy, fraud, and forgery, some elements of whichappear to have occurred within the United Kingdom and, more particularly, within the jurisdiction of Surrey police," the letter stated.

The letter further said there are certain records and facts pointing to prima facie forged legal and financial documents, dubious asset transfers etc", which Rani Kapur has had access to since his death. These, she said, indicate coercion or collusion between individuals who stood to gain financially from his demise".

She said she has strong reasons" to believe that Sunjays death may have been facilitated as part of a coordinated transactional conspiracy with the involvement of individuals and entities located in the UK, India and maybe the United States".

Hence, she said, she is seeking an investigation into a murder and conspiracy angle to Sunjays death. She further requested the authorities to seize CCTV footage, medical and documentary records, digital communication from the crime scene, and even liaise with Indian and American authorities where relevant so as to probe an international angle to the crime. She also asked for a forensic audit of her sons financial and legal affairs in the UK following his death.

SONA COMSTAR VS RANI KAPUR

A former chairperson of Sona Comstar herself, Rani Kapurs remarks come at a time when the company has asserted that she has neither direct nor indirect involvement in its affairs since 2019. Her statements, however, appear to contest this narrative.

The ongoing dispute escalated when Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd, the listed arm of the group, issued a sharp rebuttal. In a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the company dismissed her claims as baseless" and legally untenable," reiterating that she holds no position or authority within the organisation.

Before her public appearance, she had reportedly addressed a letter to the board alleging that she was coerced into signing documents behind locked doors shortly after her sons death  an episode she described as highly suspicious".

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She further claimed she was denied access to her own bank accounts and left financially dependent on a few individuals. According to her, no one was authorised to represent the Kapur family on the board.

Despite her request to postpone the Annual General Meeting, the company proceeded with it as scheduled. In response, Sona Comstar has served Rani Kapur with a legal notice, demanding she cease spreading what the company calls false and damaging information". The notice strongly refutes her allegations of mismanagement and coercion, calling them malafide, false, unwarranted, and uncorroborated".

About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 16:20 IST

News business Rani Kapur Seeks UK Probe Into Son Sunjay Kapur's Death: 'Credible Evidence Of Foul Play'

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Will Banks Get All Saturdays Off? Heres What Govt Says On 5-Day Work Week

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 17:23 IST

The Indian government is considering a proposal for a 5-day work week for public sector banks. Currently, only the second and fourth Saturdays are holidays.

Will 5-day work week for banks be implemented soon?

5-day work week: The government of India has clarified that the proposal of the Indian Banks Association (IBA) suggesting a 5-day work week for the public sector banks (PSB) is under consideration. In a written reply in Lok Sabha on July 28, 2025, Ministry of Finance said that the IBA has proposed to declare all Saturdays as holidays in banks for PSBs, according to a report of Economic Times.

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As of now PSBs follow a system where only the second and fourth Saturdays are official holidays.

The ET report added that MP K C Venugopal had asked the government about the Indian Banks Association (IBA) proposal, staff shortages, and possible timelines for implementation.

The government hasnt shared any specific timeline for rolling out the 5-day banking week, according to ET report.

On the question of staffing crunch in Public sector banks, the government said each based decides its staffing based on business needs, retirement, and other factors. As of March 31, 2025, PSBs have 96% of required staff in place. The small gap is due to retirements and other normal exits.

Heres a simplified summary of the governments response:

Proposal Status:

The IBA has proposed making all Saturdays bank holidays, moving to a 5-day work week.

Current Situation:

Since 2015, only second and fourth Saturdays are official bank holidays, as per a government notification following the 10th Bipartite Settlement between IBA and bank unions.

Who Decides Staffing Needs:

Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are managed by their own boards. Each bank decides its staffing based on business needs, retirements, and other factors.

Staff Shortage Issue:

As of March 31, 2025, PSBs have 96% of required staff in place. The small gap is due to retirements and other normal exits.

Implementation Timeline:

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The government did not share a fixed timeline for rolling out the 5-day banking week.

About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 17:23 IST

News business Will Banks Get All Saturdays Off? Heres What Govt Says On 5-Day Work Week

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Man Killed, Genitals Mutilated, Body Dumped Over Witchcraft Suspicion In Odisha

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 08:31 IST

The deceased was blamed by the villagers for the death of a middle-aged woman who had passed away about two weeks ago.

The incident took place at a Odisha village (Representative image)

A 35-year-old man in Odisha was killed, his private parts mutilated, allegedly on suspicion of practising witchcraft. The incident took place at Malasapadar village under Mohana police station limits in Berhampur district of the state on Saturday night.

The villagers not only killed the man, but also dumped the body in the nearby Harabhangi Dam, which was recovered from the reservoir on Sunday morning.

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According to Sub-divisional police officer of G Udayagiri, Suresh Chandra Tripathy, 14 people have been detained for interrogation in connection to the incident.

The deceased was blamed by the villagers for the death of a middle-aged woman who had passed away about two weeks ago.

Fearing violence, he and his family had fled to his father-in-laws house in Ganjam district, leaving his cattle and goats in the care of his sister-in-law.

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When he returned to the village on Saturday to take his animals, a group of villagers allegedly abducted him, tortured him, and killed him in a horrific manner. His body has been sent for post-mortem.

A further investigation into the case is also underway.

Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 08:29 IST

News cities Man Killed, Genitals Mutilated, Body Dumped Over Witchcraft Suspicion In Odisha

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Samruddhi Expressway Is Maharashtras 2nd Highest Toll Earner: How Much Do Mumbai Motorists Pay?

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 17:27 IST

The Samruddhi Expressway cuts the travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur to seven hours and Amane-Igatpuri to just 40 minutes. Where can you enter from Mumbai? What is the toll?

Samruddhi Expressway: The cost of the project was Rs 55,335 crore.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has collected around Rs 90 crore in toll from the Samruddhi Expressway from June 6 to July 6, according to the Times of India.

The cost of the project was Rs 55,335 crore. The project, lauded for its record-speed execution, incorporates 73 bridges, eco-sensitive underpasses and overpasses for wildlife, five twin tunnels, and 22 facility centres along the route.

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What route does Samruddhi Expressway take?

Officially the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway / ME 2) is a 701 km access controlled greenfield corridor connecting Amane (Thane district, near Mumbai) to Shivmadka (Nagpur district).

It spans 701 km across Maharashtra, linking Nagpur, Wardha, Aurangabad, Nashik, Kalyan, Mumbai.

It has six lanes (expandable to 8) through 10 districts, with 24 interchanges, 65 flyovers, tunnels, and numerous underpasses.

The final 76-km stretch (Igatpuri to Amane) inaugurated on June 5, 2025, completing the full route.

Samruddhi Expressway: Is any work pending?

As of June 5, 2025, the entire expressway is open and operational. Only auxiliary works remain, such as the Vadpe interchange (linking to Mumbai area and DelhiMumbai Expressway) expected by mid 2026.

What are the entry points on Samruddhi Expressway for Mumbaiites?

The expressway starts from Amane in the adjoining Thane district. Those travelling from Mumbai can reach Amane in a little over two hours.

ALSO READ | Samruddhi Expressway: What Are Entry Points From Mumbai? What Are The Toll Charges?

Those joining the expressway at Ghoti need not take the steep Kasara Ghat climb on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway.

They can now use the new route with an elevation gain of only 160 metres.

For commuters travelling from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the nearest access point for Samruddhi Mahamarg is near Bhiwandi, close to Shangrila Water Park, via the existing Mumbai-Nashik Highway.

The Maharashtra government has proposed the expansion and eight-laning of a crucial 23-km stretch from Thane to Vadape, near the entry point of the expressway.

What are the toll points on Samruddhi Expressway?

There are a total of 26 toll plazas distributed along the corridor.

In the month after full opening, the Amane (Thane district) plaza saw 1.97 lakh vehicles, generating Rs 19.2 crore; the Khutghar (Shahapur) plaza handled 27,612 vehicles, earning Rs 98 lakh.

A truly historic and emotional moment  the dream of a Samruddha Maharashtra has come true!Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg is now complete its not just a road, but a strong step towards a brighter future.This was only possible because pic.twitter.com/dOAcJqbgzw Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) June 6, 2025

What is the toll rate for Samruddhi Expressway?

A June 4 notification from the states Public Works Department (PWD) said the toll rates will increase in two phases  the first already effective since April 1, 2025, and the next from April 1, 2028. A final hike will be implemented from April 2031 and will be valid until December 10, 2032.

The revised per-kilometre toll rates are as follows:

Light motor vehicles: Rs 2.45 (up from Rs 2.06)

Light commercial vehicles: Rs 3.96 (up from Rs 3.32)

Two-axle heavy vehicles: Rs 8.30 (up from Rs 6.97)

Three-axle heavy vehicles: Rs 9.05 (up from Rs 7.60)

Heavy construction machinery: Rs 13.02 (up from Rs 10.93)

Oversized vehicles (7+ axles): Rs 15.84 (up from Rs 13.30)

For the entire 701-km journey, the new toll charges will be:

Rs 1,717.45 for light motor vehicles (up from Rs 1,444.06)

Rs 2,775.96 for light commercial vehicles (up from Rs 2,327.32)

Rs 5,818.30 for 2-axle heavy vehicles (up from Rs 4,885.97)

Rs 6,344.05 for 3-axle heavy vehicles (up from Rs 5,327.60)

Rs 9,127.02 for heavy construction machinery (up from Rs 7,661.93)

Rs 11,103.84 for oversized vehicles (up from Rs 9,323.30)

Which are Maharashtras top toll earning highways?

Currently, the top two toll earner highways in Maharashtra:a

1. MumbaiPune Expressway

2. Samruddhi Mahamarg

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Will the new FASTag scheme apply to these two highways?

Starting Aug 15, a new Fastag pass priced at Rs 3,000 annually or 200 trips will be available for motorists using national highways. The scheme will not apply to Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Samruddhi Mahamarg.

About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 17:04 IST

News cities  mumbai-news Samruddhi Expressway Is Maharashtras 2nd Highest Toll Earner: How Much Do Mumbai Motorists Pay?

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APPSC Plans Major Revamp: Prelims Only If Applications Cross 200 Times The Vacancies

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:00 IST

APPSC may hold prelims only if applications exceed 200 times the number of vacancies, aiming to streamline the recruitment process and reduce exam-related costs.

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APPSC proposes prelims only if applications exceed 200 times the vacancies.

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has proposed a significant change in the examination process for government job recruitments across various departments in the state. Going forward, APPSC plans to conduct the preliminary exam only if the number of applications received exceeds 200 times the number of posts notified, as per reports.

For instance, if a notification is issued for 100 posts, a preliminary (prelims) exam will be held only if more than 20,000 applications are received. Otherwise, the commission may directly conduct a single-stage recruitment process or the mains exam.

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Currently, APPSC conducts both prelims and mains exams if the number of applications crosses 25,000, regardless of the number of vacancies. However, the Commission believes this leads to unnecessary expenditure and wastage of time. As a result, it has proposed this new filtering system to the state government. If approved, many APPSC recruitments may be conducted with just one exam instead of two.

ALSO READ: CBSE 10th Compartment Result 2025 (Soon): How To Check Scorecards At cbse.gov.in?

About APPSC (Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission)

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) is a constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution. It is responsible for conducting recruitment to various civil services and government posts in the State of Andhra Pradesh.

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Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Conducting competitive examinations, interviews, and departmental tests for recruitment to state services.

Advising the state government on matters related to recruitment rules, promotions, transfers, and disciplinary actions.

Preparing guidelines and exam syllabi for various government job exams.

Releasing notifications for Group-I, Group-II, Group-III, and Group-IV services, along with other technical and non-technical posts.

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First Published: August 04, 2025, 11:55 IST

News education-career APPSC Plans Major Revamp: Prelims Only If Applications Cross 200 Times The Vacancies

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CBSE Class 10th Compartment Result 2025: Re-evaluation And Verification Dates Announced, Details Here

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 17:32 IST

CBSE Board Compartment Result 2025: CBSE has announced re-evaluation and verification dates for Class 10 and 12 supplementary exams.

CBSE releases re-evaluation and verification schedule.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the schedule for re-evaluation and verification of marks for students who appeared in the Class 10 and 12 supplementary examinations. While the CBSE Class 12 compartment results were declared on August 1, the Class 10 results are still awaited.

Once released, students will be able to check their scores on the official websites at cbse.gov.in and cbseresults.nic.in using their roll number, school number, admit card ID, and security pin.

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Verification & Re-evaluation Schedule

CBSE has detailed the timeline and fees for post-result processes. The applications must be submitted online, and the board will accept only one application per candidate at each step. No offline payments, including cash, demand drafts, or money orders, will be entertained. The processing fees are non-refundable.

For Class 10:

Activity Dates Fees Photocopy of Evaluated Answer Book August 8 to August 9, 2025 (till 11:59 PM) Rs 500 per subject Verification / Re-evaluation / Both August 18 to August 19, 2025 (till 11:59 PM) Rs 500 (verification), Rs 100 per question (re-evaluation)

For Class 12:

Activity Duration Fees Photocopy of Evaluated Answer Book 06.08.2025  07.08.2025 (till 11:59 PM) Rs 700 per subject for a scanned copy Verification / Re-evaluation / Both 13.08.2025  14.08.2025 (till 11:59 PM) Rs 500 per answer book (verification), Rs 100 per question (re-evaluation)

Who Can Apply For Verification?

Only those students who apply for a photocopy of their evaluated answer book will be eligible to apply for verification of marks. After receiving the scanned copy, candidates must thoroughly check for any errors in totalling, unchecked answers, or incorrect marking. The verification result will be made available through the same online portal used for submitting the application.

CBSE clarified that any change in marks, whether an increase or decrease will reflect in the final result. Even a reduction by a single mark will be updated and cannot be contested further.

ALSO READ: CBSE Class 10 Compartment Result 2025 Expected Soon At cbse.gov.in

Re-evaluation: Key Points

Re-evaluation is open only to students who have accessed the scanned copy of their answer sheet. Under this process, candidates can challenge the marks awarded to specific questions. Each challenge requires a payment of Rs

100 per question. Students are advised to consult the official marking scheme provided along with the question paper before filing their request with appropriate justification.

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The outcome of the re-evaluation will be final. Once declared, students will be informed via the official website and by their respective CBSE Regional Office. The Board has made it clear that no appeals will be entertained after the re-evaluation results are released.

For students awaiting the CBSE Class 10 compartment results, it is advised to regularly check the official websites for updates.

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 17:27 IST

News education-career CBSE Class 10th Compartment Result 2025: Re-evaluation And Verification Dates Announced, Details Here

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NEET PG 2025 Results Likely By September 3, Over 2.4 Lakh Candidates Appeared

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 16:20 IST

NEET PG 2025 was held on August 3 in a single shift for over 2.42 lakh candidates across 301 cities. NEET PG results are expected by September 3 at natboard.edu.in.

NEET PG 2025 held in single shift for over 2.42 lakh candidates across 301 cities.

NEET PG 2025 Result Date: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) successfully conducted the NEET PG 2025 examination on August 3 in a single shift across 1,052 test centres in 301 cities. Over 2.42 lakh medical aspirants appeared for the exam, making it the largest computer-based test in India to be held in a single shift, according to a press release issued by NBEMS.

Originally scheduled for June 15 in two shifts, the exam faced strong objections from aspirants over concerns of unfair evaluation due to the multiple-shift format. The matter reached the Supreme Court, which on May 30 directed NBEMS to conduct the exam in a single shift, while allowing it to retain the June 15 date. However, NBEMS later sought additional time for logistical arrangements, leading to the exam being postponed to August 3.

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With the exam now completed, NEET PG 2025 results are expected to be declared around September 3. As per the official information bulletin, NBEMS typically takes about a month to release results. In 2023, the results were declared 12 days after the exam. Once announced, candidates will be able to download their scorecards from the official website at natboard.edu.in using their login credentials.

The scorecards will be available for six months from the date of result declaration, after which no requests will be entertained.

Enhanced Security Measures To Restore Faith In Exam System

In the wake of recent controversies surrounding competitive exams, NBEMS implemented several security and surveillance measures to ensure transparency and fairness. More than 2,200 faculty members from medical colleges and NBEMS-accredited hospitals were deployed to monitor the conduct of the examination and report any irregularities.

The board also worked in coordination with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, to prevent cyber fraud and malpractices. Nearly 300 cyber commandos were stationed at sensitive test centres, while over 200 personnel at the NBEMS headquarters continuously monitored live CCTV feeds from all venues.

Senior medical faculty, deans, and members of the NBEMS Governing Body also participated in surprise inspections as part of flying squads.

ALSO READ: APPSC Plans Major Revamp: Prelims Only If Applications Cross 200 Times The Vacancies

Tie-Breaking Criteria For NEET PG 2025

In case two or more candidates secure the same score, NBEMS will follow a four-step tie-breaking process:

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Candidate with fewer overall negative responses

Candidate with fewer negative responses in Sections A to E (sequentially)

Higher aggregate marks in MBBS

Candidate older in age

The NEET PG 2025 is a gateway for postgraduate medical admissions across India and is conducted for candidates holding MBBS degrees and seeking entry into MD/MS and PG Diploma programmes.

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 16:17 IST

News education-career NEET PG 2025 Results Likely By September 3, Over 2.4 Lakh Candidates Appeared

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Bihar Elections: Can Tejashwi Yadav Contest Even If His Name Is Missing From Voter List?

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Translation Desk

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 13:55 IST

The controversy began when Tejashwi Yadav said during a press conference that an online search using his EPIC number showed no match in the updated voter list

RJD leaders alleged that Tejashwi's name was deleted without notice or justification, calling it a "conspiracy". (Credits: X)

A political storm is brewing in Bihar after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav claimed that his name had been removed from the voter list in what he described as a deliberate attempt to block him from contesting the next election. But behind the political noise lies a legal and procedural question: what happens if a leaders name is missing from the voter list? Can they still contest elections?

Heres what the law says, and how similar cases have played out in the past.

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Does A Missing Name Mean Disqualification?

According to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, it is not mandatory for a candidate to be registered in the same constituency they wish to contest from. What is essential is that their name figures in the electoral roll of any constituency across the country.

So if Tejashwi Yadavs name has been deleted from Patnas Pataliputra constituency, but he is still registered as a voter in another constituency (say, Darbhanga or Gopalganj) he remains eligible to contest elections.

However, if his name has been deleted from all electoral rolls, and he is not registered as a voter anywhere in the country, he cannot contest any election, assembly or parliamentary, until he gets re-enrolled.

What Does The Law Require?

For assembly elections, a candidate must be:

An Indian citizen

At least 25 years of age

A registered voter in any constituency in India

For Lok Sabha elections, the age limit is 25; for Rajya Sabha, it is 30. The voter registration condition remains the same.

Has This Happened Before?

Its fairly common for leaders to contest elections from constituencies where they arent registered voters. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi contested the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi, despite being a voter from Gujarat. Sushma Swaraj contested from Madhya Pradesh even though she was on the rolls in Haryana. Arvind Kejriwal, Rajnath Singh, and Manish Tewari have also contested from outside their home constituencies.

In all these cases, their eligibility stood firm because they were enrolled as voters somewhere in the country.

Why Are Names Removed From The Voter List?

The Election Commission routinely updates electoral rolls. During the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, over 65 lakh names were deleted for several reasons:

Change of residence

Duplicate entries

Mistakenly declared deceased

If someones name has been wrongly removed, they can apply for restoration by submitting Form-6 along with valid documents.

Can Tejashwi Yadav Contest Elections?

As of now, yes, if he is registered elsewhere. Unless its proven that his name has been deleted from every voter list in India, the removal from Pataliputra does not legally stop him from filing his nomination from any seat.

Bihar Political Row

The controversy began when Tejashwi Yadav said during a press conference that an online search using his EPIC number showed no match in the updated voter list. He accused officials of changing his voter ID number and deleting his entry.

RJD leaders alleged that Tejashwis name was deleted without notice or justification, calling it a conspiracy, Tejashwi jis name is missing from the voter list! Name being removed from the voter list means Tejashwi ji cannot contest elections! On the instructions of two Gujaratis, Kechua refused to accept Bihars son coming from a backward community as a citizen! This is the real purification of the voter list," RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti posted on X (formerly Twitter).

         !            !                  "     !       " pic.twitter.com/EOtvlzxhEI  Priyanka Bharti (@priyanka2bharti) August 2, 2025

However, the Election Commission has denied the claims, clarifying that Tejashwis name still appears on the electoral rolls. Despite the clarification, the controversy has escalated with the RJD vowing to raise the matter with the Election Commission and even approach the courts.

In a new twist, the Election Commission on Sunday asked Tejashwi Yadav to hand over for investigation" a voter ID card that he displayed during a press conference, claiming it was linked to an EPIC number that no longer reflected his name in the updated list. According to PTI, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Patna Sadar-cum-Electoral Registration Officer, in a letter to Yadav, said, Our preliminary investigation suggests that the EPIC number you mentioned at the press conference on August 2 was not issued officially. You are therefore requested to hand over the EPIC card in original for detailed investigation."

Tejashwi had accused authorities of changing his voter ID number. But Patna District Magistrate Thiyagaraja SM dismissed the allegation. The EPIC number in the electoral rolls is the one that was submitted by the honourable leader of the opposition in his affidavit in the 2020 assembly polls. If he is in possession of another EPIC card with another number as well, then it is a matter of investigation," he said.

The controversy has prompted a strong response from leaders of the ruling NDA. At a joint press conference, NDA spokespersons Ajay Alok (BJP), Neeraj Kumar (JDU), and Rajesh Bhatt (LJP-Ram Vilas) accused Yadav of fraud and called for a police case. Tejashwi Yadav should be booked for having two EPIC cards, which is not allowed," they said.

The leaders also took aim at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, asking whether this was the atom bomb" of evidence he had threatened the Election Commission with. Gandhi had recently claimed his party had proof of vote chori" by the BJP. The Election Commission responded on Sunday, asking him to submit the voter ID card in question for investigation, saying the number he referenced was not issued officially".

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Patna District Magistrate Thiyagaraja SM clarified that the EPIC number in the official electoral rolls matched the one submitted by Yadav in his 2020 election affidavit. If he is in possession of another EPIC card with another number as well, then it is a matter of investigation," the DM said, according to PTI.

Meanwhile, NDA leaders have alleged that Tejashwi possesses two voter ID cards, which, if true, could invite legal consequences. BJPs Ajay Alok, JDUs Neeraj Kumar, and LJP-Ram Vilas Rajesh Bhatt demanded an FIR be lodged. They also accused the opposition of trying to pre-empt defeat" in the upcoming elections.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 13:55 IST

News elections Bihar Elections: Can Tejashwi Yadav Contest Even If His Name Is Missing From Voter List?

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What Is The Punishment For Having Two Voter ID Cards? | Explained

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 19:23 IST

According to data from the ECI and civil society groups like ADR, over 1.2 crore entries were recently flagged as duplicates, deceased voters, or those with incorrect addresses

If even 2% of the voter list is considered duplicate, that would amount to nearly 1.9 crore voters. (Image: Shutterstock)

RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has found himself at the centre of a political storm after allegations surfaced that he holds two voter ID cards in Bihar. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially sought an explanation from him, raising concerns about potential violations of election law.

Tejashwis case has reignited debate about duplicate and fraudulent entries in the vast voter database. With over 96 crore registered voters, the Election Commission has acknowledged that a small percentage of entries, sometimes caused by human error or deliberate duplication, may be inaccurate.

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According to data from the ECI and civil society groups like ADR, over 1.2 crore entries were recently flagged as duplicates, deceased voters, or those with incorrect addresses. If even 2% of the voter list is considered duplicate, that would amount to nearly 1.9 crore voters, with the highest numbers reported in Maharashtra.

Some individuals end up with two voter cards by mistake, after shifting residences, registering in a new city, or errors by local officials. Others may acquire them deliberately, which amounts to electoral fraud.

What To Do If You Have Two Voter Cards

The Election Commission has urged citizens to voluntarily correct such mistakes. If someone finds themselves with two voter IDs, whether by accident or oversight, they must:

Fill Form 7 to delete one of the entries

Submit the EPIC number of the older or incorrect card to the local booth-level officer (BLO)

Surrender the duplicate card at the nearest election office

If the duplication was not intentional, no harsh penalties are usually imposed. But if someone has deliberately obtained a second card, especially to vote more than once or use it as fake ID, they may face serious legal action.

What Happens If Youre Caught

In such cases, the consequences can be severe:

The Election Commission can issue a show-cause notice

An FIR may be registered

Legal proceedings may follow

The individual could be barred from contesting elections or availing of government schemes

Their name may be struck off the voter list

Tejashwi Yadav Controversy

The controversy began on August 2, 2025, when Tejashwi held a press conference claiming that his name was missing from Bihars draft electoral roll. He presented EPIC number RAB2916120 as his voter ID. However, when this number was checked on the Election Commissions website, it returned no results. The ECI launched a swift enquiry and revealed that the official and valid EPIC number registered under Tejashwi Yadav is RAB0456228, which lists him at polling station 204, serial number 416. The number he cited, RAB2916120, was found to be non-existent and categorised as unauthorised.

Following this, the Commission sent a formal notice to Tejashwi Yadav asking him to produce the original copy of the disputed voter card for verification. The BJP and its allies in the NDA jumped on the issue, accusing Tejashwi of possessing two voter IDs from different constituencies, which, if true, would be a serious offense under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. They have demanded immediate registration of an FIR.

The RJD has pushed back, calling it a case of either an administrative mistake or possible tampering with EPIC data. The party claimed that the confusion may have arisen from changes to the EPIC number or updates in voter records.

Legal Implications And Possible Penalties

If it is proven that Tejashwi holds two active voter IDs from different constituencies, he could face legal action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act. This section penalizes false declarations in electoral records and carries a maximum punishment of one year imprisonment, a fine, or both. However, since it is a non-cognisable offence, police action requires permission from a magistrate.

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Additionally, Section 17 prohibits a person from being enrolled in more than one constituency, and Section 18 bars dual registration within the same constituency. Violating these provisions is classified as a punishable offence, even if done unintentionally.

Whether Tejashwi Yadavs case results in a criminal prosecution depends on the outcome of the ECIs investigation into the authenticity of the disputed EPIC number. If it is proven that the second card is fake or was used to gain an electoral advantage, it could lead to formal charges. If it turns out to be an administrative error or outdated record, the issue might be resolved with minor procedural corrections.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 19:23 IST

News elections What Is The Punishment For Having Two Voter ID Cards? | Explained

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Amid Tight H-1B And F-1 Approval Rules, Heres Why Indians Are Eyeing EB-5 Visa

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 14:53 IST

Tough H-1B and F-1 rules and delays in visa approvals are pushing Indians to consider alternative ways to ways to settle in America.

Indians are rushing to apply for EB-5 now due to a mix of push and pull factors. (Representative image)

With the US tightening its rules on H-1B work visas and F-1 student visas, Indians are now seeking alternative ways to settle in America. One option thats rapidly gaining popularity is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa. It offers a direct route to US permanent residency  without the long wait or employer dependence.

The demand for EB-5 visas among Indian citizens has surged since April 2024, according to the American Immigrant Investor Alliance (AIIA), a Washington-based group representing EB-5 investors.

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Tighter restrictions on student and temporary work visas under the Trump administration largely drive the spike. This trend is also backed by data from the United States Immigration Fund (USIF), as reported by The Indian Express.

In the first four months of FY2025 (October 2024-January 2025), Indian applicants filed more than 1,200 I-526E petitions across reserved categories  more than any prior full year," Nicholas Mastroianni III, president and CMO of USIF, told The Indian Express, referring to the application forms.

As more Indians look for alternative routes to achieve their American dream, heres a closer look at how the EB-5 visa works, what it takes to qualify, and why its becoming a popular choice.

What Is the EB-5 Visa?

The EB-5 visa was introduced by the US Congress in 1990 to boost the American economy through foreign investment and job creation.

Under this program, foreign nationals can earn a US Green Card by investing a set amount of money in a US business that creates or sustains at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers.

There are two routes: a direct investment in a new commercial enterprise or via the USCIS-approved Regional Centre Program. The latter allows investors to pool funds into large-scale projects  often in real estate or infrastructure  in areas targeted for economic development.

Why Are Indians Turning To The EB-5 Visa?

Stringent rules around H-1B and F-1 visa approvals have forced many Indians  especially working professionals and students  to explore the EB-5 as a safer.

A report by The Times of India found that H-1B approval rates dipped by 27% in 2025. The Trump administrations tighter scrutiny, particularly of Indian applicants (who make up nearly 70% of all H-1B visa holders), has added to the uncertainty.

F-1 student visa holders are facing roadblocks too, especially with proposals to restrict Optional Practical Training (OPT) and make visa renewals tougher  disrupting academic and career timelines.

In contrast, the EB-5 visa offers a clear path to a Green Card. Unlike the temporary H-1B or F-1 visas, EB-5 comes with a conditional Green Card, which can be upgraded to permanent residency in two years.

The Economic Times reports that EB-5 applications from India have jumped 50% since January 2025, fueled by fears of H-1B delays and concerns over children ageing out" of the H-4 dependent visa once they turn 21.

Experts point out that one major reason behind the surge in EB-5 applications is the massive backlog in other immigration categories like the H-1B visa and employment-based green cards.

With over 11 million US immigration applications currently pending, the EB-5 route is emerging as the fastest and most reliable path to permanent residency, according to The Indian Express.

Why The EB-5 Visa Appeals To Indians?

With the wait times for other employment-based visas like EB-2 and EB-3 now stretching beyond 10 years, EB-5 offers some major advantages:

Faster Green Card: The EB-5 program grants investors and their families (spouse and children under 21) conditional Green Cards, which can become permanent after two years. After five years, theyre eligible to apply for US citizenship.

No Employer Sponsorship Needed: Unlike H-1B, EB-5 doesnt tie you to a job or company. Investors have more flexibility to live and work wherever they choose.

Freedom to Work and Study: EB-5 recipients can live, study, or work in any US state, making it an attractive option for families who want better educational opportunities for their kids.

Quicker Processing for Now: For Indian applicants, the EB-5 category is currently current" (no backlog) according to the July 2025 Visa Bulletin. On average, the process takes 1 to 3 years  much shorter than the 10+ years for other categories.

What Indian Investors Need For An EB-5 Visa

To qualify for the EB-5 visa, applicants from India must meet the following USCIS guidelines:

Investment Amount: Youll need to invest at least $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA)  either a rural region or one with high unemployment  or $1,050,000 in a non-TEA business. The money should go into a new commercial venture or an approved Regional Centre project.

Job Creation: The investment must directly or indirectly create or maintain 10 full-time jobs for US citizens within two years.

Proof of Legal Funds: Investors must demonstrate that the funds used were legally earned. This could include tax returns, salary records, business profits, or even inheritance documents.

At-Risk Capital: The money invested must be at risk  meaning it cannot be a loan with guaranteed returns.

The 2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act added safeguards to protect investors, such as allowing H-1B visa holders to file EB-5 and adjustment applications at the same time. This means they can stay in the US legally while their petition is being processed.

Challenges In Applying For An EB-5 Visa

Despite its perks, the EB-5 visa isnt for everyone.

High Cost: The minimum investment of $800,000 (or $1.05 million in non-TEA areas) makes this option viable only for wealthy individuals.

Fraud Risks: In the past, some developers manipulated rules to invest in urban projects while claiming they were in TEAs. New rules from the 2022 reforms aim to fix this by reserving 20% of visas for rural areas.

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Quota Limits: The annual cap is around 10,000 EB-5 visas globally. With Indias share being around 700, increasing demand could lead to backlogs in the future.

Lengthy Paperwork: Proving the lawful source of funds is often complex and requires thorough documentation. USCIS data shows that the I-526 petition alone can take 2436 months to process. Most applicants are advised to hire experienced immigration attorneys to navigate the system.

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: August 04, 2025, 13:55 IST

News explainers Amid Tight H-1B And F-1 Approval Rules, Heres Why Indians Are Eyeing EB-5 Visa

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Can CRISPR Stop Mosquitoes From Biting? A New Hope For Indias Fight Against Malaria & Dengue

Curated By :

Local18

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 15:55 IST

Scientists have found a way to genetically modify mosquitoes so they cannot pierce human skindisabling their ability to bite, suck blood, or transmit deadly diseases

Only female mosquitoes bite humans because they need the proteins in blood to produce eggs. By stopping this, CRISPR not only prevents biting but also breaks the reproductive cycle.

Imagine a world where mosquitoes can no longer bite you. No itchy rashes. No dengue. No malaria. Sounds like a sci-fi fantasy? Thanks to CRISPR gene-editing technology, this vision might not be far from reality.

In ground-breaking developments, scientists have found a way to genetically modify mosquitoes so they cannot pierce human skindisabling their ability to bite, suck blood, or transmit deadly diseases.

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But how does this work, and what does it mean for Indiaa country where mosquito-borne illnesses remain a serious public health threat?

Why Is CRISPR A Gamechanger?

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a powerful gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise cuts in DNA. Think of it as a molecular pair of scissors that can turn off certain genes or insert new ones.

In the case of mosquitoes, researchers have used CRISPR to disable key genes in female mosquitoesthe ones responsible for biting. By targeting a gene essential for the structure and function of their proboscis (the needle-like mouthpart they use to pierce skin), scientists have made it physically impossible for these mosquitoes to feed on blood.

Without access to blood meals, they cannot reproduce effectively, and more importantly, they cannot spread diseases like malaria or dengue.

Why Target Female Mosquitoes?

Only female mosquitoes bite humans because they need the proteins in blood to produce eggs. By stopping this process, CRISPR not only prevents biting but also breaks the reproductive cycle. One major gene scientists are targeting is the doublesex gene, which is crucial for female mosquito development. When this gene is disrupted, females become infertile or are physically unable to feed.

In lab conditions, this technique has shown incredible promise, especially against the Anopheles stephensi species, which is a major malaria vector in Indian urban regions.

What This Means for India

India bears a heavy burden of mosquito-borne diseases. According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), India reported thousands of dengue, chikungunya, and malaria cases each year. States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal consistently top the charts in mosquito-related outbreaks. Urbanisation, waterlogging, and climate change have worsened the situation.

The Anopheles stephensi mosquito, which thrives in Indian cities, is particularly dangerous. It breeds in man-made water containers and has adapted to survive urban conditions. Targeting this species using CRISPR could be a game-changer for Indias urban health landscape.

Challenges To Implementation

While the CRISPR mosquito technology sounds revolutionary, deploying it in India is not as simple as flipping a switch. Heres why:

Environmental Impact: Mosquitoes, although notorious, are part of the food chain. Birds, bats, and fish feed on them. Altering or reducing their population can have unintended ecological effects. Indias biodiversity is delicate, and every introduction must be thoroughly assessed.

Regulatory Hurdles: Gene editing in the wild is a tightly regulated area. Indias Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) will need to evaluate and approve such projects. Public health authorities, environmental scientists, and ethicists must also weigh in.

Community Consent: Releasing gene-edited mosquitoes into the environment requires transparency and trust. Local communities must understand the technology and give consent, especially in rural and tribal areas.

Climate and Population Complexity: Indias varied climate and high population density could influence how effectively CRISPR-modified mosquitoes perform. What works in a controlled lab may not hold up in crowded, humid city slums or remote forest villages.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases: A Persistent Indian Menace

India has battled mosquito-borne diseases for decades. Despite massive awareness drives, fogging operations, and vaccine rollouts, outbreaks remain common. Some quick stats:

Malaria: Though cases have declined, India still accounts for a significant portion of South-East Asias malaria burden.

Dengue: In recent years, dengue has surged across urban areas, overwhelming hospitals during peak monsoon months.

Chikungunya & Japanese Encephalitis: Sporadic but deadly, these illnesses are endemic in parts of India and remain hard to control.

Traditional methods like insecticides, larvicidal oils, and netting have shown limited long-term impact. Moreover, mosquitoes are developing resistance to chemicals, making new approaches like CRISPR all the more urgent.

Whats Next?

Scientists believe that deploying CRISPR mosquitoes at scale in India could take 10-20 years. Why the delay? Because before they are released into the wild, they must pass:

Rigorous environmental impact studies

Multi-phase regulatory approvals

Extensive community engagement efforts

Field trials under Indian climatic and population conditions

In the long run, CRISPR could work alongside vaccines, awareness programmes, and conventional mosquito control measures. It will not be a silver bulletbut it could be a powerful weapon in Indias public health arsenal.

For a country like India, where mosquito-borne diseases continue to kill and hospitalise thousands, CRISPR offers hope.

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The buzz may not stop overnightbut the bite just might.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:55 IST

News explainers Can CRISPR Stop Mosquitoes From Biting? A New Hope For Indias Fight Against Malaria & Dengue

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Inside A Volcano: How Does It form And Why It explodes

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 16:50 IST

Not all volcanoes look like towering peaksthey can also appear as cracks in the ground or flat, wide lava plains.

Volcanoes mainly form due to the movement of tectonic plates. (Representative image: Getty)

Days after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake rocked the region, a long-dormant volcano on Russias far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula roared back to life after nearly 400 years.

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The Krasheninnikov volcano, which hadnt erupted in hundreds of years, exploded overnight into Sunday, spewing a massive column of ash 6 kilometres into the sky, according to officials at the Kronotsky Nature Reserve where its located.

The eruption wasnt the only seismic event. It was accompanied by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, prompting tsunami warnings in three coastal areas of Kamchatka. Russias Ministry for Emergency Services later lifted the alert.

This rare combinationa volcano erupting after lying silent for nearly a century, right on the heels of a major earthquakeraises a compelling question: Could there be a connection between these two powerful geological events?

Lets unpack the science behind volcanoes, earthquakes, and what might have triggered Krasheninnikovs explosive return.

Also Read: What Is Pacific Ring Of Fire? The Fiery Faultline Behind The Russia-Japan Earthquake

What Is A Volcano?

A volcano is a natural opening in the Earths crust where molten rock (magma), gases, and ash escape from deep underground to the surface.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), volcanoes are usually cone-shaped mountains or hills made up of materials from past eruptions. But not all volcanoes look like towering peaksthey can also appear as cracks in the ground or flat, wide lava plains.

Volcanoes typically form in areas where the Earths crust is weak or broken, allowing magma from beneath the surface to rise. These spots are often located along the edges of tectonic plates or above hotspots.

Volcanoes are not static; they are active and ever-changing systems. Depending on the type of magma and location, they may ooze out slow lava flows or erupt violently with ash and gas.

How Volcanoes Are Formed?

Volcanoes mainly form due to the movement of tectonic platesthe massive pieces of Earths crust that float over the mantle. NASA explains that most volcanoes develop at the boundaries where these plates meet or shift. There are three key settings where this happens:

Convergent Boundaries

At subduction zones, one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another into the Earths mantle, where it melts into magma due to heat and pressure.

This magma is often rich in silica and gases, which makes it rise toward the surface, eventually forming volcanoes. Well-known examples include the Andes in South America and the Cascades in North America, as documented by the USGS.

Divergent Boundaries

Where tectonic plates move apart, such as along mid-ocean ridges, magma rises from below to fill the gap, creating new crust and sometimes volcanic islands. Icelands volcanoes, located along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, are a classic example of this process.

Hotspots

These are fixed areas deep in the Earths mantle where hot material rises toward the surface, independent of plate boundaries. The Hawaiian Islands were formed this way, as the Pacific Plate slowly moved over a hotspot.

Magma collects in underground chambers and eventually breaks through weak spots in the crust to form volcanoes.

Over time, continuous eruptions build up volcanoes as layers of lava, ash, and debris accumulate.

What Triggers A Volcanic Eruption?

A volcanic eruption happens when pressure inside a magma chamber builds up enough to break through the surrounding rock. The Smithsonian Institutions Global Volcanism Program highlights a few main causes:

Magma Buoyancy And Pressure

Because magma is lighter than solid rock, it naturally rises toward the surface. As it gathers in a chamber, gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide dissolve in it. When pressure from these gases becomes too intense and cant escape slowly, the chamber may burstleading to an explosive eruption.

Tectonic Activity

Movements of the Earths plates or local earthquakes can crack the crust, creating pathways for magma to rise. According to the USGS, this kind of seismic activity helped trigger the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Water Interaction

If magma comes into contact with groundwater or seawater, the water rapidly turns to steam. This can cause a violent phreatic eruption. The 2018 eruption of Kilauea in Hawaii involved such steam explosions, according to USGS.

The thickness, or viscosity, of the magma also matters. Thick, silica-rich magma traps gases and causes more explosive eruptions. In contrast, runny, basaltic magma allows gases to escape more easily, resulting in gentler lava flows.

Signs An Eruption May Be Coming

Volcanologists (scientists who study volcanoes) look for warning signs to predict eruptions. The USGS Volcano Hazards Program outlines several key indicators:

Seismic Activity

A rise in small earthquakes around a volcano often means magma is moving underground and cracking rocks. Instruments like tiltmeters and GPS devices can detect if the ground is bulging due to swelling magma chambers.

Gas Emissions

Increased levels of gases like sulfur dioxide or carbon dioxide can mean magma is nearing the surface. Scientists use spectrometers to measure these emissions.

Ground Deformation

When a volcanos surface bulges, tilts, or shifts, it usually indicates magma buildup. This can be tracked using ground-based tools and satellites.

Thermal Changes

As magma rises, it heats up the surface. Infrared sensors can detect this rise in temperature in craters or fissures.

Before the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, these signs were carefully observed. As a result, scientists were able to issue timely warnings and evacuate thousands of people, saving many lives (USGS).

What Happens After A Volcanic Eruption?

The effects of a volcanic eruption can vary depending on how powerful it is. The USGS and the Smithsonian Institution describe several typical outcomes:

Lava Flows and Ash Deposits

When lava cools, it hardens and can reshape landscapes by creating new land. Volcanic ash can cover large areas, disrupting ecosystems, damaging buildings, and affecting air travel. For example, the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland sent ash clouds into the sky, grounding flights across Europe.

Pyroclastic Flows and Lahars

Hot mixtures of gas, ash, and rock called pyroclastic flows move quickly and can be deadly. Laharsvolcanic mudflows caused when ash mixes with watercan also be destructive. In 1985, a lahar from the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia killed more than 20,000 people.

Climate Impacts

Massive eruptions can shoot sulfur particles high into the atmosphere, reflecting sunlight and cooling the Earth. The eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 led to the Year Without a Summer," causing crop failures and cold weather around the world (NASA Earth Observatory).

Ecological Recovery

Although eruptions can devastate local ecosystems, recovery is possible. In time, plants and animals return, and volcanic ash can improve soil fertility, helping new life grow.

Can We Predict Volcanoes?

Even with advanced tools, predicting exactly when a volcano will erupt remains difficult. However, scientists are getting better at forecasting thanks to new technologies.

The USGS Volcano Hazards Program uses a network of instrumentslike seismometers, gas detectors, and satellitesto monitor volcanic activity and assess the chances of an eruption.

By analysing data and using computer models, experts can estimate how likely an eruption is and how severe it might be. For example, the 2021 eruption of Cumbre Vieja in La Palma was predicted in advance, helping reduce casualties and damage.

Still, not all eruptions can be forecast. According to the Smithsonians Global Volcanism Program, volcanoes in remote or poorly monitored areas, especially under the ocean, are harder to track. To improve accuracy, researchers continue working together globally to develop better early warning systems.

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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: August 04, 2025, 10:03 IST

News explainers Inside A Volcano: How Does It form And Why It explodes

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No Fly List Or Court Martial? Here's What Lies Ahead For Army Officer Who Attacked SpiceJet Crew

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 17:55 IST

According to SpiceJets official statement, the altercation began as passengers were boarding flight SG-386 to Delhi when the army officer tried to carry a 16-kg cabin luggage

CISF personnel removed him from the area, but he returned minutes later and launched a violent assault using his fists, kicks, and even a metal Q-stand as a weapon (News18 Hindi)

A disturbing video from Srinagar Airport, now circulating widely, shows a man unleashing a brutal assault on SpiceJet ground staff. The man, later identified as an Indian Army officer, is seen repeatedly kicking and punching airline employees, one of whom was fell unconscious during the assault. SpiceJet has described the attack as a violent beating like murder".

The incident took place on July 26, but the disturbing footage surfaced nearly a week later, sparking outrage and raising urgent questions about accountability, possible arrest, and whether the officer enjoys any legal immunity.

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What triggered the violence?

According to SpiceJets official statement, the altercation began as passengers were boarding flight SG-386 to Delhi. The army officer allegedly tried to carry a 16-kg bag into the cabin, more than double the 7-kg limit. When the ground staff asked him to pay the extra charge or check in the bag, an argument broke out. The officer reportedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to force his way through the aerobridge.

CISF personnel removed him from the area, but he returned minutes later and launched a violent assault using his fists, kicks, and even a metal Q-stand as a weapon. Four airline employees were seriously injured. One suffered a spinal fracture, another a deep jaw injury. SpiceJet says one of the staffers lost consciousness during the beating, yet the officer kept attacking.

Has any action been taken?

SpiceJet has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Humhama police station. The airline has also submitted CCTV footage and video evidence from passengers. The FIR invokes several IPC sections:

Section 325 (grievous hurt),

Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt),

Section 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and

Section 506 (criminal intimidation).

If the medical reports confirm grievous injuries like spinal fractures, the charges could be upgraded to non-bailable offences.

From the aviation regulatory side, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) categorises such behaviour under Level 2 or Level 3 of unruly passenger conduct. Level 2 (physical assault) can trigger a flying ban of up to six months, while Level 3 (life-threatening actions) could lead to a ban of two years or longer. SpiceJet has already begun the process to place the officer on the national No-Fly List.

What about the army?

The Indian Army has acknowledged the incident and confirmed that an internal probe has been initiated. Even though the officer was reportedly off-duty and in civilian clothes, the military can still initiate disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act. Depending on the findings, actions can range from a formal Court of Inquiry, loss of seniority, or salary cut, to suspension or even dismissal from service.

If the civil case proceeds in parallel, the army may also initiate a separate court-martial, depending on the severity of the misconduct.

Can he be arrested?

Under Section 45 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), military personnel cannot be arrested for acts committed while on official duty without prior sanction from the Centre or the Army. However, if the act was committed while off-duty, the local police have the power to arrest without needing army clearance.

In this case, the officer was not in uniform and was acting as a civilian passenger. That means, in theory, the Jammu & Kashmir Police can proceed with arrest and custodial interrogation without waiting for army consent. However, protocol often involves informing the Army and coordinating the process. In many cases, the army itself may choose to hand over the individual for civilian prosecution.

Does the army officer get any special legal exemption?

Legally, no. Army officers are subject to the same criminal laws as civilians when not performing official duties. There is no automatic immunity under law. However, in practice, procedural delays and institutional coordination often slow down enforcement. Public pressure and the high-profile nature of this case could alter that.

So what happens now?

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More than a week has passed since the July 26 incident, yet there has been no confirmation of the officers arrest or suspension. While both the airline and the army claim to have initiated action, there is growing public demand for transparency and accountability.

Whether the officer faces jail time, suspension, or both depends on how quickly the local police and the military follow through with their respective investigations.

Location : Srinagar, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 17:55 IST

News explainers No Fly List Or Court Martial? Here's What Lies Ahead For Army Officer Who Attacked SpiceJet Crew

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Who Are Assams Indigenous Muslims And How Are They Different From Miya Muslims?

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 15:16 IST

While indigenous Assamese Muslims and Miya Muslims share a religion, their histories, languages, settlement patterns, and political affiliations are sharply different

Assams Muslim population, now estimated at over 1.18 crore, accounts for nearly 34 per cent of the states total population. (Representative image/Reuters)

Assams Muslim population, now estimated at over 1.18 crore, accounts for nearly 34 per cent of the states total population. Yet, they are far from a singular group. Broadly, Assams Muslims fall into two categories  the indigenous Assamese Muslims, who have lived in the region for centuries and are culturally part of the Assamese-speaking mainstream, and the Miya Muslims, who trace their roots to Bengali-speaking migrants who settled in the state during and after colonial rule.

While the two communities share a religion, their histories, languages, settlement patterns, and political affiliations are sharply different. Over the last few years, the Assam government has taken formal steps to underline this difference and, in the process, stoked fresh controversy around who is indigenous, who is not, and what that means in one of Indias most politically sensitive states.

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Who Are The Indigenous Muslims?

The indigenous Muslims of Assam are groups that trace their presence in the region to well before British colonisation, some as far back as the 13th-century Ahom kingdom. In July 2022, the Assam Cabinet, based on recommendations from a government-appointed subcommittee, formally recognised five such sub-groups: Goria, Moria, Deshi, Syed, and Julha.

Each of these groups has a distinct origin. The Goria and Moria are believed to include war captives, local converts, and artisans integrated into Assamese society during the Ahom era. The Deshi community traces its ancestry to Ali Mech, a tribal chieftain who converted to Islam during Bakhtiyar Khiljis 1205 invasion. The Syeds are descendants of Sufi saints, most notably Azaan Pir, who settled in Assam in the 15th and 17th centuries. The Julhas were weavers brought from regions like Bihar, Odisha, and Bengal during both the Ahom and British periods.

Despite these varied lineages, what unites these communities is their language, Assamese or dialects like Goalpariya, and their cultural assimilation. Most follow local customs, observe Assamese festivals, and consider themselves part of the larger Assamese-speaking population, alongside Hindus.

The subcommittee estimated that these five groups account for around 42 lakh of Assams Muslim population. But politically, they have limited influence. Their dispersed settlement means they do not form a majority in any single constituency, restricting their ability to assert themselves as an electoral bloc.

Who Are The Miya Muslims?

The Miya Muslims, by contrast, are Bengali-speaking Muslims whose ancestors migrated from East Bengal, now Bangladesh, in successive waves. The earliest of these migrations was encouraged by the British, who brought settlers to cultivate the fertile riverine islands of the Brahmaputra, known locally as char-chaporis. These were followed by post-Partition migration in 1947, and again during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Today, the Miya Muslims are spread across Lower and Central Assam, forming the majority in over 30 of the states 126 Assembly constituencies. Though the term Miya" originally meant gentleman," it has taken on a derogatory connotation in recent decades, often used to imply foreignness. While many in the community have tried to identify as Assamese Muslims or Bengali-origin Assamese, the label persists, both as a marker of community pride and of political othering.

The Miya community is often associated with the char-chaporis, where theyve built agrarian livelihoods under precarious conditions. Despite contributing to Assams economy, they are frequently stereotyped, particularly during debates around illegal migration and citizenship.

Many began listing Assamese as their mother tongue as early as the 1951 Census, in an attempt to integrate. Yet, suspicions persist, particularly over land rights, linguistic identity, and political alignment.

A Rising Political Demographic

In the most recent development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned that the Muslim population in the state could soon rival that of Hindus if current growth rates continue. Citing Census data, he claimed that while Muslims made up 34 per cent of Assams population in 2011, only three per cent of them were indigenous Muslims. The remaining 31 per cent, he said, were of migrant origin.

Sarma projected that if the current demographic trend holds, Assam could reach a 50:50 population split between Hindus and Muslims by 2041. This is not my take, it is just the Census result," he told reporters in Dibrugarh, adding that the data pointed to a clear demographic shift.

As per the 2011 Census, Assams Muslim population stood at 34.22 per cent (1.07 crore), while Hindus made up 61.47 per cent (1.92 crore) of the states 3.12 crore population. The BJP has repeatedly pointed to rising Muslim-majority districts as evidence of shifting demographics. The number of Muslim-majority districts rose from six in 2001 to nine in 2011. Some leaders claim the number has now risen to at least 11, though the 2021 Census data is yet to be released.

How The State Is Drawing The Line

The Assam governments recognition of indigenous Muslims came after years of internal demand. A subcommittee on their cultural identity recommended exclusive development schemes, identity certification, a separate census, and even reservation in jobs and education.

According to CM Sarma, these measures are necessary to preserve the distinctiveness of Assamese Muslims, a group he says has been clubbed unfairly with migrant-origin Muslims. Indigenous Muslim organisations like the All Assam Goriya-Moriya Deshi Parishad have welcomed the move, citing a long struggle to protect their cultural identity.

But critics argue that the policy serves political ends. Parties like the AIUDF, which draws much of its support from Miya-dominated areas, accuse the BJP of weaponising identity to divide the Muslim population. Groups representing Barak Valleys Kachari Muslims and Manipuri Pangals have also criticised their exclusion from the indigenous" label, despite claiming centuries of residence in Assam.

The Char-Chaporis And The Struggle For Belonging

The heart of the Miya communitys settlement lies in the Brahmaputras char-chaporis, islands that are constantly reshaped by the rivers shifting course. Life here is precarious and often disconnected from the states infrastructure and services. Yet, over decades, the Miya Muslims have built thriving agricultural communities through sheer resilience and labour.

Despite this, they continue to be viewed by many, including sections of indigenous Muslims, as outsiders. Even their attempts to assimilate, through language adoption or cultural participation, have often been met with scepticism.

A Fragmented Political Landscape

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The political influence of the two communities is also uneven. Indigenous Muslims, though officially recognised and long-settled, are spread out and seldom vote as a bloc. They have supported the Congress, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and sometimes the BJP, but without concentrated leverage.

In contrast, Miya Muslims have been a decisive voting group, often backing the AIUDF. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the party won 15 seats, mostly from Muslim-majority constituencies in Lower Assam.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:06 IST

News explainers Who Are Assams Indigenous Muslims And How Are They Different From Miya Muslims?

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BSF Detains Man Along Indo-Pak Border In J&K's Kathua; Pakistan-Linked Calls Found On Phone

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Ronit Singh



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:32 IST

The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Monday detained a man near the International Border in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir

BSF personnel at Indo-Pak border | Image: Representative

The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Monday detained a man near the International Border in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir after discovering suspicious activity on his mobile phone, including call records linked to a Pakistani number.

The officials told CNN-News18 that the man was taken into custody by BSF personnel during routine patrols along the sensitive border stretch.

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Upon checking his phone, they reportedly found a series of call logs, one or more of which originated from Pakistan, raising serious security concerns.

The individual is currently being interrogated by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police to determine the nature of his contacts and any possible links to cross-border activities, they said.

Authorities have not yet released the suspects identity, and further details are awaited as the investigation continues.

Security has been tightened in the area following the incident.

In a separate incident, a Pakistani national was apprehended by security forces in March while attempting to cross the International Border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.

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According to officials, security personnel observed suspicious movement near the border during the previous night. After issuing a series of warning shots, they detained the individual.

The suspect was later identified as Qadir Baksh, a resident of Gafurabad in Pakistans Chiniot Tehsil. Further investigation into the infiltration attempt was initiated by the authorities.

Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 12:20 IST

News india BSF Detains Man Along Indo-Pak Border In J&K's Kathua; Pakistan-Linked Calls Found On Phone

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'Decision Made By Courts, Not State': Fadnavis On Elephant Mahadevi's Relocation To Vantara

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:05 IST

The Bombay High Court, in its July 16 order, noted that Mahadevi, the elephant had been kept in chains and solitary confinement in Kolhapur.

The elephant, Mahadevi, was moved to Vantara from Kolhapur in late July.

Amid growing protests in Maharashtra over the transfer of elephant Mahadevi (also known as Madhuri) from Kolhapur to Gujarats Vantara rescue and rehabilitation centre, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified that the state government had no role in initiating the move. Fadnavis has emphasised that the relocation was ordered by the Bombay High Court and later upheld by the Supreme Court.

This is not a decision of the state government regarding Madhuri the elephant; it was a decision made by the Mumbai High Court. After the High Courts decision was challenged in the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court also upheld it," he said. In this matter, as the government, we have only provided a report through the forest department."

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Fadnavis acknowledged the emotional sentiments surrounding the issue and confirmed that discussions have taken place with local MLAs and MPs. A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the concerns raised by Kolhapur residents and explore legal options, he said. There is resentment in society regarding this issue, and there are sentiments in the minds of devotees," he said, adding, We will put forth all points in that meeting to bring Madhuri the elephant back."

From Solitary Chains To Hopeful Recovery

The relocation of Mahadevi comes after grave concerns were raised about her well-being. The Bombay High Court, in its July 16 order, noted that the elephant had been kept in chains and solitary confinement in Kolhapur, suffering from poor physical and mental health. Following this, the Supreme Court on July 28 directed that she be moved within two weeks to Vantara  a state-of-the-art rescue and rehabilitation facility.

Animal welfare organisation PETA India has welcomed the decision and documented Mahadevis suffering in Kolhapur. According to PETA, Mahadevi was kept chained and isolated in Kolhapur for years. She reportedly displayed signs of mental illness, including swaying and head bobbingbehaviours often associated with extreme stress and deprivation in elephants.

Veterinary assessments revealed severe foot problems and joint pain, with her toenails described as grossly overgrown," likely due to a lack of exercise and proper care. PETA also stated that she was denied social contact with other elephants and lacked any form of environmental enrichment.

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Now at Vantara, Mahadevi is set to receive critical veterinary care and, for the first time in years, the chance to walk freely and socialise with other elephants in a protected environment.

While public emotion continues to run high in Kolhapur, Fadnaviss statement underlines that the transfer followed strict legal procedures and prioritised the elephants health.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 12:05 IST

News india 'Decision Made By Courts, Not State': Fadnavis On Elephant Mahadevi's Relocation To Vantara

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'Many Don't Even Share Power': At Delhi Event, DK Shivakumar Lauds Sonia Gandhi's 'Sacrifice'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 07:21 IST

DK Shivakumar credited the Congress and the Gandhi family for uniting the country and the party, as he urged lawyers to set up legal banks to protect voting rights.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar (Photo: PTI)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is locked in a tussle with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Saturday lauded the sacrifice" made by Sonia Gandhi to make Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister of the country during the UPA rule, and noted that many dont even agree to share power.

Has anyone in such a big democracy made such a sacrifice? Does anyone even sacrifice a small position today? Even at the panchayat level, many dont. Some MLAs and ministers share power, but some of us dont even agree to share power," he said.

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Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Shivakumar also asserted that India has remained united because of the Congress and the Gandhi family has kept the party together, as he urged the lawyers community to help protect the right to vote of every Indian by creating legal banks in every constituency, as suggested by Rahul Gandhi.

He also urged party workers to contribute as a team to ensure the exit of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2029.

Congresss history is the countrys history, Congresss strength is the countrys strength. The Gandhi family has kept the Congress family united, and the Congress has kept the country united. Otherwise, our country would have been broken into various pieces," he said while addressing the valedictory function of the day-long national legal conclave on Constitutional Challenges: Perspectives and Pathways.

The eight-time legislator from Karnataka recalled the days when he was lodged in Tihar jail and lauded the role played by lawyers in helping him come out of it.

He also thanked Sonia Gandhi for visiting him in Tihar jail when he was there and making him the Karnataka Congress chief, which helped the party break the double-engine government" in the state.

This is not just a political agenda, we all have to join together. Joining together is the beginning, and all of you teaming together is progress. You all have to work together and again in 2029 you have to bring back the country back to shape," Shivakumar said as he exhorted workers to come together to fight the BJP.

With a lot of commitment, the Congress party has saved this country, the day is not far. You all have to have a proper agenda, and in 2029, you should see when Rahul Gandhi becomes the prime minister of the country. This is what your commitment should be," he said.

Shivakumar said the message by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, at the conclave, was clear that when our Constitution and our right to vote are in big danger, all lawyers who believe in democracy and Constitution have to create a legal bank in every assembly and district, to protect and save the right of every voter.

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This is what he is starting his voice on August 5 in Freedom Park in Karnataka," he said about the details of Rahul Gandhis programme of providing information on alleged anomalies in the voter lists in one constituency in Karnataka that has been investigated by the Congress workers there.

ALSO READ | DK Shivakumars Sleight Of Hand: Karnataka Congress Makeover RSS Style

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 06:56 IST

News india 'Many Don't Even Share Power': At Delhi Event, DK Shivakumar Lauds Sonia Gandhi's 'Sacrifice'

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Xtelify, a fully owned subsidiary of Indian operator Bharti Airtel that houses Airtels digital assets and capabilities, has announced the launch of what it describes as a sovereign, telco-grade cloud platform called Airtel Cloud, along with software platform deals in a number of territories.

Tailored to handle 1.4 billion transactions per minute for Airtels own use in India, Xtelify's sovereign cloud platform is now being extended to meet the needs of businesses in the country.

Hosted on next-gen sustainable data centres, with gen AI-based provisioning, and managed by 300 certified cloud experts, Xtelify says the highly secure and reliable Airtel Cloud offers IaaS, PaaS and advanced connectivity and guarantees secure migration, effortless scaling, lower costs and no vendor lock-ins.

Xtelify has also launched an AI-powered, future-ready software platform service that, it claims, will help telcos all around the world rid themselves of underlying complexity, improve customer experience, lower churn and raise ARPU.

The solution comes with a converged data engine for AI-led insights and intelligence at scale, a workforce platform for real-time task streamlining and an experience platform for managing every element of the customer journey for a telco.

Xtelify adds that it has already signed three global partnerships for the newly launched platform service.

With Singapores Singtel, it will deploy a platform called Xtelify Work, equipping Singtels field teams in Singapore with AI-powered capabilities, while with Globe Telecom in the Philippines Xtelify will deploy its cutting edge, next-generation, AI-powered customer services platform.

For the Airtel Africa business Xtelify will provide a number of software platforms. Deploying Xtelify Data Engine and Xtelify Work will empower Airtel Africas 150,000-strong field team across 14 countries with market insights for micro-targeted strategies and unlock critical use cases like spam and fraud protection for its customers across Africa. Another platform, Xtelify IQ, will enable secure, real-time, omnichannel customer engagement, enhancing both service quality and customer experience.
'Dont Give..': Adoor Gopalakrishnan Questions Money Given To Women, SC/ST Filmmakers; Complaint Filed

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Anushka Vats



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:39 IST

Adoor said that women filmmaker shouldn't get money only because they are women, adding that they must also be given training.

Noted filmmaker Adoor Gopalkrishnan

Adoor Gopalakrishnan, the renowned filmmaker sparked a row after he said that women shouldnt be given money to make films just because they are women. His remark on state funding for women and SC/ST filmmakers came at the Kerala Film Conclave. His remarks drew strong reactions from Keralas Cultural Affairs Minister, Saji Cherian.

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Speaking at the event, Adoor questioned the current model of financial support being extended to filmmakers from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and women communities through the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC).

The government is giving around Rs 1.5 crore to individuals from SC/ST communities. I once told the Chief Minister that this could open up space for corruption," Adoor said. He added that while the intent behind such schemes is positive, proper groundwork was lacking.

I want to give a suggestion  those selected should be given intensive training, at least for three months, on how films are made. Just having an interest isnt enough. They should understand budgeting and filmmaking. This is public money  tax money  and must be used responsibly. Instead of giving Rs 1 crore to one person, it should be split into Rs 50 lakh each for three people," he added.

Adoor extended the same argument to women filmmakers: Dont give money just because someone is a woman. They should also receive expert training. We need more women filmmakers  there are a few brilliant ones  but if we want more like them, they should be prepared for the challenges of filmmaking."

His remarks were met with immediate criticism. Pushpavathi PR, Vice Chairperson of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, responded by defending the support extended to women and transgender filmmakers as well.

People from SC/ST communities have not had the opportunity to come to the forefront of cinema. Its been 98 years  thats the reality," said Minister Cherian. One of the best decisions taken by this government was to provide Rs 1.5 crore each for two films. Weve already released four and are funding two more."

How many women in our state have directed films? We gave Rs 1.5 crore each for two women-led films and completed three to four projects. Weve also launched initiatives for the transgender community. Everyone should have the opportunity to be part of cinema."

Responding to concerns about misuse, Cherian said, These decisions are not made arbitrarily. A screening committee of respected members from the Malayalam film industry evaluates each project. And the films produced under this scheme have been extraordinary. We are 100 per cent confident that we made the right decision."

Complaint Filed Against Filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan

A complaint was filed against Adoor Gopalakrishnan a day after his remarks sparked a row. The complaint has been filed before Museum Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram by a researcher and social activist, Dinu K.

According to the complaint, Adoors statements have incited hatred, resentment, and prejudice against the community, leading to violation of section 3(1) (u) and (r) of the Sc/ st prevention of atrocities act ,1989.

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First Published: August 04, 2025, 07:01 IST

News india 'Dont Give..': Adoor Gopalakrishnan Questions Money Given To Women, SC/ST Filmmakers; Complaint Filed

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Man Who Arrived From Dhaka Decades Ago Found Dead In Kolkata, Family Claims 'Deportation Fears'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 09:55 IST

The family alleged that the elderly man was worried about his deportation to Bangladesh in case NRC was implemented.

Elderly found hanging in Kolkata residence (Representative Image)

An elderly man was found hanging in his residence in Kolkata on Sunday, officials said, adding that his family claimed he had been fearing deportation to Bangladesh if the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was implemented.

The deceased was identified as Dilip Kumar Saha, 63, who arrived in Kolkata in 1972 from Nawabganj in Dhaka and had been residing in Anandapally West in the Regent Park area, an official said, citing initial investigation.

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He was employed as a non-teaching staff member at a private school in Dhakuria in south Kolkata.

This morning, his wife called him several times, but received no response from inside his locked room. She then called their niece-in-law from a neighbouring house. They broke open the door to find him hanging from the ceiling fan," the officer said.

His wife, Arati Saha, claimed he was worried that he would be sent back to Bangladesh after the NRC is implemented.

He has been under severe stress for quite some time regarding this. There was no other tension. He came to Kolkata in his childhood. He was afraid that he would be sent to a detention camp and then pushed back to Bangladesh, where he had nobody. He had a valid voter ID card and other documents," she said.

The cops recovered a suicide note from his room, adding that they are suspecting fear of deportation as a reason behind the extreme step.

An investigation into the incident is underway.

Power Minister and local Trinamool Congress MLA Arup Biswas went to the spot and talked to the family members.

This is what the fear of being thrown out of the country could do to a man. What they (Centre) have started in the name of the SIR shows their anti-people attitude, and the result is in front of you," Biswas said.

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(With PTI inputs)

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About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 09:55 IST

News india Man Who Arrived From Dhaka Decades Ago Found Dead In Kolkata, Family Claims 'Deportation Fears'

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From Parliament To Prison: This Is What Prajwal Revanna Will Eat And Earn In Jail

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 13:06 IST

According to prison regulations, Revanna is allowed two phone calls of 10 minutes each every week, along with one face-to-face visit from family members or friends

Revanna, now known as Prisoner No. 15528, occupies a cell in the convicts section of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Bengaluru. (PTI)

Hassans former Lok Sabha member Prajwal Revanna, who once actively participated in parliamentary debates, now finds himself adapting to a starkly different life behind bars.

Revanna, now known as Prisoner No. 15528, occupies a cell in the convicts section of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Bengaluru, and is expected to live on a monthly wage of no more than Rs 540a far cry from his basic salary of Rs 1.2 lakh a month plus various allowances and the standard pay given to convicts who work six days a week in eight-hour shifts.

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According to the Times of India, Revanna, who was convicted in a high-profile rape case, has not been assigned any work yet and has time until Monday to decide how he will spend his time behind bars.

A senior prison official quoted in the report said new convicts usually start with basic unskilled labour such as assisting in the bakery or stitching clothes.

According to prison regulations, Revanna is allowed two phone calls of 10 minutes each every week, along with one face-to-face visit from family members or friends.

LIFE BEHIND BARS

The day begins at 6.30am for convicts who are then served breakfast which has a rotating, fixed menu. The TOI report said the meal consists of vegetarian pulao on Sunday, tomato bhath on Monday, chitranna on Tuesday, poha on Wednesday, puliyogare on Thursday, upma on Friday, and vangi bhath on Saturday.

Chapatis, ragi balls, sambhar, white rice, and buttermilk are part of both lunch and dinner. Non-vegetarian options are limitedegg on Tuesdays, mutton on the first and third Friday of every month, and chicken on the second and fourth Saturday. All inmates are expected to return to their barracks by 6.30pm.

REVANNAS CASE

The suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader was awarded life imprisonment in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases registered against him by a Special Court for Peoples Representatives in Bengaluru.

Revanna, the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, sought leniency as the punishment was announced, claiming he did nothing wrong and his only mistake was his fast growth" in politics.

The case pertains to a 48-year-old woman who was working as a domestic help at the familys Gannikada farmhouse in Hassan districts Holenarasipura. She was allegedly raped twice in 2021 and the act recorded by the accused on his mobile phone. He is the prime accused in four criminal cases filed last year, after over 2,000 obscene video clips, allegedly depicting the sexual abuse of multiple women, surfaced on social media.

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As the allegations were revealed, the survivor was allegedly abducted at the behest of Revannas parents to prevent her from testifying against their son. Later, she was rescued from a farmhouse as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) swung into action to probe the case.

As he faced criticism, Revanna fled to Germany soon after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, he was arrested when he returned to India on May 31, 2024. He has been in jail since.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 13:06 IST

News india From Parliament To Prison: This Is What Prajwal Revanna Will Eat And Earn In Jail

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How Pakistan Plans To Spread Disinformation On Article 370 Abrogation Anniversary Tomorrow

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 19:18 IST

News18 has accessed an internal circular, dated August 1, where the ministry concerned was instructed to observe the day as Youm-e-Istehsal

Universities in Pakistan are becoming breeding grounds for radicalisation, with campaigns indirectly encouraging students to adopt extremist state-sponsored ideologies, said sources. (AP File)

Pakistan is once again indulging in a well-orchestrated propaganda campaign on the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, observed by Pakistan as Youm-e-Istehsal on August 5, 2025.

This campaign serves as a strategic tool for Pakistan to express its continued opposition to Indias constitutional changes in Jammu and Kashmir and to internationalise the Kashmir issue by portraying India as an oppressor.

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The 2025 Youm-e-Istehsal

The government, through its Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan and diplomatic missions worldwide, organises various activities including public demonstrations, such as the Youm-e-Istehsal Walk in Islamabad, as well as coordinated events at Pakistan embassies and consulates across the globe.

The 2025 Youm-e-Istehsal observance is another instance of Pakistans persistent, state-sponsored propaganda endeavour to internationalise the Kashmir issue. This annual propaganda cycle relies heavily on misinformation and orchestrated social media campaigns that distort the reality on the ground, perpetuating a narrative designed more to serve Pakistans geopolitical objectives than to reflect credible human rights concerns.

What ministrys internal circular says

News18 has accessed an internal circular, dated August 1, where the ministry concerned was instructed to observe the day as Youm-e-Istehsal.

The so-called event will also be observed at missions abroad, including Brussels-Belgium, Niamey-Niger, Houston-USA, Tripoli-Libya, Hungary-Budapest and Madrid-Spain.

The Pakistani government systematically uses these observances to propagate a narrative of alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. It has long been noted by credible sources that this narrative often relies on recycled falsehoods, misleading content, and disinformation. Pakistans foreign ministry and its diplomatic missions actively push hashtags like #Youm_E_Istehsal and #KashmiriLivesMatter on social media platforms, engaging bot accounts and coordinated networks to amplify anti-India messaging on a global scale.

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Moreover, Pakistans propaganda machinery engages separatist figures, such as Mushaal Mullick, wife of the incarcerated Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, to further inflame sentiments against India.

This campaign includes distributing pre-prepared content, organising media briefings, and encouraging protests under the guise of solidarity with Kashmiris. Independent fact-checks and international observers have often identified these campaigns as disinformation, highlighting that many images and videos circulated by Pakistan are either fake, taken out of context, or unrelated to the Kashmir Valley altogether.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 19:18 IST

News india How Pakistan Plans To Spread Disinformation On Article 370 Abrogation Anniversary Tomorrow

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IndiGo Slapgate Victim, Who Went Missing For 2 Days, Now Reveals Where He Was And What Happened

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 14:11 IST

The IndiGo slapgate victim had remained incommunicado for two days, prompting concern from his family, who were unaware of his location until he resurfaced.

Hussain Ahmed Majumdar | Image: CNN-News18

Hussain Ahmed Majumdar, the IndiGo passenger who went missing for two days following a mid-air assault, spoke exclusively with CNN-News18, sharing details of his whereabouts and the traumatic sequence of events that unfolded.

Majumdar, 32, a resident of Assams Cachar district, experienced a panic attack while flying from Mumbai to Silchar via Kolkata on Thursday.

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As two cabin crew members assisted him in exiting the aircraft, another passenger, identified as Hafijul Rahaman, unexpectedly slapped him.

Rahaman was detained by authorities after the flight landed in Kolkata and was handed over to the police. He was later released.

He said that after being deboarded in Kolkata following the incident, he wandered the city alone, seeking a place to pray.

I had booked a direct flight from Mumbai to Silchar, but after what happened on the flight, they deboarded me at Kolkata airport. The next day was Friday, so I looked for a masjid in the city, but no one helped me, he told CNN-News18.

I eventually followed someone else to a mosque and offered prayers. After that, I boarded a train to Assam," he added.

Majumdar had remained incommunicado for two days, prompting concern from his family, who were unaware of his location until he resurfaced.

The assault occurred last Thursday aboard IndiGo flight 6E-2387 from Mumbai to Silchar via Kolkata.

Majumdar reportedly suffered a panic attack mid-flight and was being escorted off the plane by two cabin crew members when a fellow passenger suddenly struck him multiple times.

The moment was captured on video by another flyer and quickly went viral.

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The man slapped me three or four times while I was having a panic attack," Majumdar said, recalling the distressing episode.

The incident has drawn widespread criticism, with calls for airlines to strengthen protocols around handling medical emergencies and ensuring passenger safety.

Location : Assam, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 14:11 IST

News india IndiGo Slapgate Victim, Who Went Missing For 2 Days, Now Reveals Where He Was And What Happened

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Man Falls Off Moving Train During Mobile Snatching In Thane, Loses Foot; Cops Launch Probe

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 07:07 IST

The incident occurred between Shahad and Ambivali stations on the Central Railway line, officials said

Cops said they are searching the accused | Image: X

A man lost his foot after falling from a moving local train during a mobile phone snatching incident in Maharashtras Thane district on Monday, said officials.

The incident occurred between Shahad and Ambivali stations on the Central Railway line, they said, adding that the victim, Gaurav Nikam, was sitting at the trains door when the thief grabbed his phone.

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Someone pulled my hand and snatched the phone, and I fell," Nikam said. He attempted to cling to the door but lost his grip and fell onto the tracks, reported NDTV.

I was clinging to the door. Then I fell here," he added.

Visuals from the scene showed both legs injured, with one foot crushed. Nikam is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

The Kalyan unit of the Government Railway Police (GRP) has launched an investigation and is searching for the accused.

Mobile phone theft remains one of the most frequent crimes on Mumbais railway network, often linked to drug users and organised interstate gangs.

GRP data shows over 26,000 phones were stolen between January 2023 and May 2025.

The number dipped by nearly 10 per cent from 12,159 cases in 2023 to 10,891 in 2024.

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As of May 2025, 3,508 thefts have been reported on the suburban network.

Mumbais overcrowded suburban trains, considered the citys lifeline, continue to face serious safety challenges. During a PIL hearing last year, the Bombay High Court remarked it was ashamed" that passengers were forced to travel like cattle" on these trains.

Location : Thane, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 07:07 IST

News india Man Falls Off Moving Train During Mobile Snatching In Thane, Loses Foot; Cops Launch Probe

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Nothing Will Happen: Omar Abdullah Downplays Buzz Over Jammu-Kashmirs Statehood

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Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 22:13 IST

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah dismissed rumours of statehood return but hoped for positive developments in Parliament's monsoon session.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (Source: PTI)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday downplayed the rumours around the union territory regaining its statehood in the near future, saying that nothing will happen in the coming days, but expressed his optimism" about something positive" for the union territory during the monsoon session of the Parliament.

In a cryptic post shared on X, the Chief Minister said, Ive heard every possible permutation & combination about what to expect in J&K tomorrow so let me stick my neck out and say nothing will happen tomorrow  fortunately nothing bad will happen but unfortunately nothing positive will happen either. Im still optimistic about something positive for J&K in this monsoon session of Parliament but not tomorrow."

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Ive heard every possible permutation & combination about what to expect in J&K tomorrow so let me stick my neck out and say nothing will happen tomorrow  fortunately nothing bad will happen but unfortunately nothing positive will happen either. Im still optimistic about Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 4, 2025

He further denied the claims of having had any meetings or conversations with the government in the national capital, and said that he shared his gut feeling" over what to expect tomorrow.

And no, I havent had any meetings or conversations with people in Delhi. This is just a gut feeling. Lets see this time tomorrow," he added.

Abdullahs cryptic post came amid buzz over the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. The speculations around the key decision started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held one-to-one meetings with President Droupadi Murmu recently.

However, the details of these meetings have not been disclosed to the public.

What Happened On August 5, 2019?

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On August 5, 2019, the Union government revoked the special status for Jammu and Kashmir and the autonomy granted to the Indian state under Article 370. Additionally, the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Five years after the abrogation of Article 370, the Election Commission of India conducted the assembly elections in the erstwhile state in 2024 on the directions of the Supreme Court. The alliance of the National Conference and Congress won the majority and Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister.

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

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Location : Srinagar, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 22:13 IST

News india Nothing Will Happen: Omar Abdullah Downplays Buzz Over Jammu-Kashmirs Statehood

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Odisha Self-Immolation Case: Crime Branch Arrests Two Students On Abetment To Suicide Charges

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 07:55 IST

The arrests were made on charges of alleged abetment to suicide, as part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances that led to the students death.

Odisha cops said that more arrests could follow in the case as the probe continues | Image: Representative

The Crime Branch of the Odisha Police arrested two students in connection with the suicide case of a female student at a private university in Balasore.

A 20-year-old B.Ed student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after setting herself on fire on the university campus, allegedly over inaction by college authorities on her repeated complaints of sexual harassment by the Head of Department.

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The arrests were made on charges of alleged abetment to suicide, as part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances that led to the students death.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Shubhra Sambit Nayak and Jyotiprakash Biswal, said officials.

According to Crime Branch officials, the arrests were made after preliminary investigation revealed the duos alleged role in provoking the girl, both mentally and emotionally, during a particularly vulnerable period in her life.

Authorities allege that the accused not only failed to help the victim but also went as far as to record videos of the incident on their mobile phones. Shocking allegations suggest the two even supported or encouraged the act.

The incident, which took place on July 12, rocked the academic community and drew sharp reactions across the state.

The 22-year-old student set herself ablaze outside the principals office during a student protest, reportedly over the colleges failure to act on her grievance against a faculty member.

She had allegedly lodged complaints about harassment, but no action was taken, prompting her to take the drastic step.

While Jyotiprakash Biswal had initially been viewed sympathetically for reportedly injuring himself while attempting to rescue the girl, the investigation has since taken a turn.

Both students have been arrested based on conspiracy allegations linked to the victims death," said an official with the Crime Branch.

We are examining all digital evidence, including video footage and communications, to understand the full extent of their involvement."

The girl sustained severe burns and later succumbed to her injuries, triggering widespread protests and demands for a high-level inquiry.

Following a statewide outcry, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch for a more thorough and impartial investigation.

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After being produced before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) in Balasore, both accused were remanded to 14-day judicial custody.

The Crime Branch hinted that more arrests could follow as they continue to delve deeper into the events that led to the young womans tragic death.

Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 07:55 IST

News india Odisha Self-Immolation Case: Crime Branch Arrests Two Students On Abetment To Suicide Charges

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Massive Protests In Parliament By Opposition, But No Official Objection To Bihar SIR

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 17:01 IST

Despite protests in Parliament, opposition parties haven't objected to the Election Commission's draft electoral rolls for Bihar, published on August 1.

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On August 1, the Election Commission (EC) published the draft electoral rolls for Bihar. (Photo: PTI file)

As deadlock in Parliament continues in the ongoing monsoon session, opposition parties have not officially objected to the Election Commission of Indias draft electoral rolls for Bihar.

The poll on August 1 released draft electoral rolls, following the completion of the month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, where elections are due later this year.

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From 1 August 2025 (3 PM) till 4 August (3 PM), no booth-level agent appointed by the parties has approached poll authorities in the claims and objections procedure, the EC said.

Not just opposition, the parties in the ruling alliance, the BJP, Janata Dal (U), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), have not submitted any objections to the EC.

As many as 1,927 electors have directly filed claims and objections to draft electoral rolls.

From 1 August 2025 (3 PM) till 4 August (3 PM), all political parties put together have filed zero claims and objections for the addition of the names of eligible electors and deletion of the names of ineligible electors. 1927, electors have directly filed claims and objections: pic.twitter.com/Z05xYyK8pX ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2025

Oppn Protests in Parliament Against SIR

Opposition parties, including Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), are protesting against the SIR. The opposition has been demanding a discussion on the SIR exercise initiated by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of the state polls due later this year.

This is the third week when the House proceedings have been disrupted by sloganeering by opposition members, he said before adjourning the House for the day.

Barring discussions on Operation Sindoor in both Houses, Parliament has seen little business since the Monsoon session began on July 21 due to repeated adjournments. This was initially due to the opposition demanding a discussion on Operation Sindoor and then the SIR in Bihar.

EC Publishes Draft Electoral Rolls

On August 1, the Election Commission (EC) published the draft electoral rolls for Bihar.

No compiled list was made available, but voters can check their names on the ECs website. There were 7.93 crore registered voters in the state before the SIR began in June, according to the EC.

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The publication of the draft rolls also kicked off the process of claims and objections", which would continue till September 1, and during the period, voters with complaints of wrongful deletion of names can approach the authorities concerned seeking a remedy.

(With PTI inputs)

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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First Published: August 04, 2025, 16:27 IST

News india Massive Protests In Parliament By Opposition, But No Official Objection To Bihar SIR

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Philippines' Marcos Arrives In India, Calls On Jaishankar As Both Countries Hold Joint Drills

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 19:13 IST

Marcos arrived in New Delhi on Monday and was received by MoS Pabitra Margherita, as the two countries held joint naval drills in the disputed South China Sea.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos arrives in Delhi. (MEA)

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos arrived in New Delhi for a state visit on Monday as the navies of India and the Philippines sailed together in the South China Sea and held military drills in the disputed waters.

The two-day trip, including three Indian Navy warships, began a day before Marcos arrived in India to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. Marcos said he would look to deepen maritime ties with India and seek cooperation on sectors including defence, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

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Marcos arrived in New Delhi on Monday and was received by Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. This is his first visit to India since becoming President of the Philippines.

Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.!President @bongbongmarcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS @PmargheritaBJP and accorded a warm welcome. India & Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic pic.twitter.com/NtlNPxCKm9  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 4, 2025

After arriving, Marcos held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Delighted to call on President @bongbongmarcos of the Philippines this evening in Delhi at the start of his State Visit. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership," said Jaishankar on X.

Delighted to call on President @bongbongmarcos of the Philippines this evening in Delhi at the start of his State Visit.Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership.   pic.twitter.com/pxVWUIim8l  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 4, 2025

India and the Philippines are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, according to the External Affairs Ministry.

Why Are The Joint Drills Significant?

The Philippines has conducted maritime cooperative activities" with foreign navies since late 2023, including the US, Japan, Australia, France and Canada, as part of its push to counter Chinas territorial claims in the disputed waters. This is the first time the Philippines Navy is conducting joint drills with India.

Indian Navy ships that took part included guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, tanker INS Shakti and corvette INS Kiltan. The Philippines deployed two frigates, BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal. An Indian official told Reuters that the passage was in the West Philippine Sea and part of a bilateral exercise with Manila.

ALSO READ: India And Philippines Conduct Joint Sail, Naval Drill In Disputed South China Sea

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner on Monday said that the joint naval sail and exercises had been successful and raised hopes of Filipino forces engaging with Indias military in more joint manoeuvres in the future.

In response, China accused Manila of drawing in external countries to stir up trouble" in the South China Sea, and said the joint patrol undermines regional peace and stability".

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China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with maritime zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The waterway is a strategic shipping route where $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce takes place. Despite an international tribunal saying that Chinas sweeping claims have no basis under international law, Beijing continues to enforce its claims.

(with inputs from agencies)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 18:49 IST

News india Philippines' Marcos Arrives In India, Calls On Jaishankar As Both Countries Hold Joint Drills

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PM Modi Pays Homage To Shibu Soren, Consoles Hemant Soren On Father's Demise

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Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 14:51 IST

Shibu Soren died on Monday morning at 81 following a prolonged illness. Several leaders visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi to pay tribute to the JMM founder.

PM Modi visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and met Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren (Credits: X/ PM Modi)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren on Monday by visiting Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, where the veteran tribal leader breathed his last at the age of 81. He also met with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to offer condolences on the passing of his father.

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Sharing the pictures where PM Modi was seen consoling Hemant, he wrote on X, Went to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to Shri Shibu Soren Ji. Also met his family. My thoughts are with Hemant Ji, Kalpana Ji and the admirers of Shri Shibu Soren Ji."

Went to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to Shri Shibu Soren Ji. Also met his family. My thoughts are with Hemant Ji, Kalpana Ji and the admirers of Shri Shibu Soren Ji.@HemantSorenJMM@JMMKalpanaSoren pic.twitter.com/nUG9w56Umc Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 4, 2025

President Droupadi Murmu also visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to Shibu Soren.

Earlier in the day, President Murmu shared condolences on his demise from her X handle and said his death is a big loss in the space of social justice.

He championed the cause of tribal identity and formation of the state of Jharkhand. Besides his work at the grassroots, he also contributed as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, as a Union Minister and as a Member of Parliament. His emphasis on the welfare of the people, especially the tribal communities, will always be remembered. I extend my deepest condolences to his son and Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren Ji, other family members and admirers," she added in her X post.

About Shibu Soren

Shibu Soren was born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village near Ramgarh (in todays Jharkhand). Belonging to the Santhal tribal community, he witnessed firsthand the exploitation of tribal communities by landlords and moneylenders. That inspired him, at just 18, to establish the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh, a youth movement advocating tribal rights and social change.

He later co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in 1972, alongside Binod Bihari Mahato and AK Roy, with the central aim of fighting for a separate tribal state and land justice for indigenous people.

He served as CM three times (2005; 200809; 200910). All tenures were short-lived due to fragile coalition support and electoral setbacks.

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First Published: August 04, 2025, 14:39 IST

News india PM Modi Pays Homage To Shibu Soren, Consoles Hemant Soren On Father's Demise

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Army Officer, Seen Assaulting SpiceJet Staff In Viral Video, Files FIR Alleging Airline Misconduct

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:43 IST

The senior Army officer, who assaulted SpiceJet ground staffers at the Srinagar airport on July 26 has filed an FIR against the airline for alleged mistreatment.

Senior Army officer assaults SpiceJet officer

The senior Army officer, who assaulted four SpiceJet airline ground staffers at the Srinagar airport on July 26, has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the airline and accused it of mistreating him. A report with The TOI suggested that the officer was on emergency leave.

The assault incident ended up in a spinal fracture to one of the airline staffers, SpiceJet said in a statement, adding that it registered a case with the local police and that it had initiated the process to place the passenger on the no-fly list in accordance with civil aviation regulations.

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The airline said the assault happened after the passenger was told to pay for the extra cabin baggage.

Video clips of the incident shared on social media showed the passenger assaulting the staff and one of them being hit with a queue stand at the airport.

The injured were taken to the hospital and are undergoing treatment.

A passenger grievously assaulted four SpiceJet employees at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi on July 26, 2025. Our staff members suffered a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries after being attacked with punches, repeated kicks and a queue stand," SpiceJet said in a statement.

According to the airline, one employee collapsed unconscious on the floor, but the passenger continued kicking and hitting the fainted employee.

Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a forceful kick to the jaw while bending down to assist the colleague who had fainted," it added.

SpiceJet said the passenger, a senior Army officer, was carrying two pieces of cabin baggage weighing a total of 16 kg, more than double the permitted limit of 7 kg.

When politely informed of the excess baggage and asked to pay the applicable charges, the passenger refused and forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding process  a clear violation of aviation security protocols. He was escorted back to the gate by a CISF official," the statement mentioned.

At the gate, the airline said the passenger grew increasingly aggressive.

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It could not be immediately ascertained whether the passenger was detained at the airport after the incident.

ALSO READ | Indian Army Stresses Highest Standards Of Discipline After Officer Assaults SpiceJet Staff

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 10:56 IST

News india Army Officer, Seen Assaulting SpiceJet Staff In Viral Video, Files FIR Alleging Airline Misconduct

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'Slapped Me, Then Started Hitting': SpiceJet Staffer On Assault By Army Officer At Srinagar Airport

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 14:28 IST

Ahmad, who suffered a spinal fracture during the incident, said he stopped the officer as he was carrying two hand baggage weighing 16 kg, while just one, weighing 7 kg, is allowed

SpiceJet's Mudasir Ahmad was among four airline ground staffers allegedly assaulted by the senior Army officer, who was to board a flight to Delhi on July 26 after the passenger was told to pay for the extra cabin baggage. (Photo: ANI)

A SpiceJet employee, who was allegedly assaulted by an Army officer at Srinagar airport, on Monday, narrated how the incident unfolded and why it got violent.

SpiceJets Mudasir Ahmad was among four airline ground staffers allegedly assaulted by the senior Army officer, who was to board a flight to Delhi on July 26 after the passenger was told to pay for the extra cabin baggage.

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Ahmad, who suffered a spinal fracture during the incident, said he stopped the officer as he was carrying two hand baggage weighing 16 kg, while just one, weighing 7 kg, is allowed.

Ahmad then asked the office to pay for extra baggage, but he refused.

I told him that he would have to pay for extra baggage. He started shouting againI called up my Duty Manager and asked him to come. The Manager too explained to him. He (passenger) pushed CISF staff and entered the boarding gate, which is not allowed. CISF staff brought him back. He was again told to pay up. At the boarding gate, he pulled out a few things from his bag and threw it at a member of the staff who was in front of himHe hit me on my face with the rest of the baggage. He slapped me and started hitting me. He used his fist and feet to hit meAt the end, he punched me and I fell down," Ahmad said.

#WATCH | He hit me on my face with baggage. He slapped me and started hitting me. He used his fist and feet to hit meAt the end, he punched me and I fell down," recalls SpiceJets Mudasir Ahmad who was assaulted by an Army Officer over a dispute concerning excess cabin pic.twitter.com/YXixilnHAQ ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2025

Spinal Fracture, Broken Jaw: How Army Officer Assaulted SpiceJet Staff Over Excess Luggage

Two counter FIRs have been registered in the case. Meanwhile, the airline has initiated the process to place the passenger on the no-fly list in accordance with civil aviation regulations.

Video clips of the incident shared on social media showed the passenger assaulting the staff and one of them being hit with a queue stand at the airport.

A passenger grievously assaulted four SpiceJet employees at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi on July 26, 2025. Our staff members suffered a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries after being attacked with punches, repeated kicks and a queue stand," SpiceJet said in a statement.

According to the airline, one employee collapsed unconscious on the floor but the passenger continued kicking and hitting the fainted employee.

Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a forceful kick to the jaw while bending down to assist the colleague who had fainted," it added.

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SpiceJet has also written to the civil aviation ministry, apprising them about the murderous assault on its staff and has requested appropriate action against the passenger". The airline also said that it has secured the CCTV footage of the incident from the airport authorities and handed it over to the police.

Strongly condemning any act of violence against its employees, SpiceJet said it will pursue this matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location : Srinagar, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 14:11 IST

News india 'Slapped Me, Then Started Hitting': SpiceJet Staffer On Assault By Army Officer At Srinagar Airport

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SpiceJet Faces Boycott Call Amid Baggage Fee Dispute With Army Officer

Curated By :



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 14:10 IST

An Indian Army officer allegedly assaulted SpiceJet staff at Srinagar airport, causing a spinal fracture. Army veterans launched a boycott campaign against SpiceJet.

Army officer assaulted four SpiceJet staffers

Following a violent incident where an Indian Army officer allegedly assaulted SpiceJet staff, Army veterans have launched a boycott SpiceJet campaign on social media. As per the official statement by SpiceJet, a senior Army officer assaulted four airline ground staffers at the Srinagar airport on July 26, causing a spinal fracture to one of them.

The Army officer has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the airline and accused it of mistreating him.

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Expressing solidarity with the Army officer, Retired Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia urged citizens to boycott SpiceJet. I urge citizens of India & Faujis past & present & their dependents to boycott SpiceJet. Their staff insults, misbehaves and manhandles soldiers, and thereafter lodges false complaints. Recent incident in Srinagar is only one example. RT please. Jago fliers please," his post on X reads.

#BoycottSpicejet I urge citizens of India & Faujis past & present & their dependents to boycott SpiceJet. Their staff insults, misbehaves and manhandles soldiers, and thereafter lodges false complaints. Recent incident in Srinagar is only one example. RT please. Jago fliers please pic.twitter.com/vnW7mI18jb Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia Retd (@Ptr6Vb) August 4, 2025

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An FIR has been registered with the local police and the airline has initiated the process to place the passenger on the no-fly list in accordance with civil aviation regulations, the airline said and added that the assault happened after the passenger was told to pay for the extra cabin baggage.

A passenger grievously assaulted four SpiceJet employees at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi on July 26, 2025. Our staff members suffered a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries after being attacked with punches, repeated kicks and a queue stand," SpiceJet said in a statement.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 14:00 IST

News india SpiceJet Faces Boycott Call Amid Baggage Fee Dispute With Army Officer

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'Wouldn't Say This If You're True Indian': SC Raps Rahul Gandhi Over Chinese Occupation Claim

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:50 IST

The Supreme Court has rebuked Rahul Gandhi over his claim that Chinese occupied Indian territory and said that "if you were a true Indian, you would not say all this".

Supreme Court slams Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on Chinese occupation (PTI Image)

If you were a true Indian, you would not say this", the Supreme Court said on Monday while rebuking Rahul Gandhi over his claim that the Chinese military occupied a large part of the Indian territory.

The apex court also asked the Congress leader how he came to know that the Chinese had occupied hundreds of kilometers of Indias land, and said freedom of expression cannot be used to say anything".

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The top courts tough remarks came while staying proceedings in a criminal defamation case against the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition over his remarks about the Indian Army in the context of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with the Chinese soldiers.

The Congress leader had claimed that 2,000 sq km of Indian territory had been occupied illegally by China. He had also claimed that Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh".

Supreme Courts Strong Remarks On Rahul Gandhi

Though the bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AG Masih granted an interim relief to Rahul Gandhi, the judges made strong oral remarks expressing disapproval of the Congress leaders remarks, Live Law reported.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Rahul Gandhi, submitted that if an Opposition leader cannot raise issues, it would be an unfortunate situation.

If he cant say these things which are published in the Press, he cant be a leader of opposition," Live Law quoted him as saying.

To this, Justice Datta questioned why Rahul Gandhi had to raise these issues on social media and not in the Parliament.

Whatever you have to say, why dont you say in the Parliament? Why do you have to say this in the social media posts? Just because you have 19(1)(a) [freedom of speech], you cannot say anything," he said.

Justice Datta further asked Singhvi how he got to know that 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory were occupied by the Chinese".

Were you there? Do you have any credible material? Why do you make these statements without anyIf you were a true Indian, you would not say all this. When there is a conflict across the order, is it unusual to have casualties on both sides?" the judge asked, the outlet reported.

What Is Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi?

Singhvi said that filing such complaints was just a way to harass someone for asking questions. He also said that under Section 223 of the BNSS, the accused must be heard before the court can take action on a criminal complaint  but that didnt happen in this case. However, Justice Datta noted that this argument about Section 223 was not brought up in the High Court earlier.

The court agreed to consider this point and issued notice.

On May 29, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed the Congress leaders plea against the defamation case as well as the summoning order passed by an MP MLA court in Lucknow in February this year.

Justice Subhash Vidyarthi of the Allahabad HC had said that freedom of expression does not give a person to speak something that is defamatory to the Indian Army.

The defamation complaint was filed by former Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Director Uday Shankar Srivastava and is currently being heard in a Lucknow court. The complaint claims that the Congress leader made the alleged insulting remarks on December 16, 2022, during Bharat Jodo Yatra.

He also alleged that Rahul Gandhis objectionable remarks were made about a clash between the soldiers of the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA on December 9 that year, which defamed the Indian Army.

The complainant said that Rahul Gandhi repeatedly said in a derogatory manner that the Chinese military was thrashing" Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh.

BJP Reacts To Supreme Courts Snub

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed Rahul Gandhi after the Supreme Courts observations and said, Supreme Court rebukes Shri Rahul Gandhi for irresponsible claim that Chinese occupied Indian Territory ! SC: How do you know 2000 Sqr km of Indian territory were occupied by Chinese ? A true Indian will not say this."

Supreme Court rebukes Shri Rahul Gandhi for irresponsible claim that Chinese occupied Indian Territory !SC: How do you know 2000 Sqr km of Indian territory were occupied by Chinese ? A true Indian will not say this. https://t.co/ywa1FRa5ga  Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 4, 2025

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala demanded resignation of Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi, after such a strong finding and lashing against him by SC has not right to continue as LOP. He must resign," he tweeted.

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BJP leader Amit Malviya lashed out at Rahul Gandhi over the top courts latest snub to him and said that his statements are against Indias territorial integrity.

The Supreme Court has once again reprimanded China Guru Rahul Gandhi for making irresponsible statements concerning Indias national security and territorial integrity. Imagine, a Leader of the Opposition being repeatedly rebuked for speaking such recklessly. His recent dead economy" jibe is just the latest in a long series. In doing so, he implicitly admitted that Russia, a long-standing ally, is struggling, while bizarrely endorsing a hostile state like Pakistan as having a robust economy. A diplomatic disaster on multiple fronts," he tweeted.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 11:30 IST

News india 'Wouldn't Say This If You're True Indian': SC Raps Rahul Gandhi Over Chinese Occupation Claim

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Teenager Jumps To Death From Hill In Maharashtra After Mother Refuses To Buy Phone For Him

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 10:37 IST

Such instances have been reported lately in Maharashtra, where teenagers have died by suicide after the parents denied their request to buy a phone.

Teenager dies by suicide in Maharashtra (Photo: News18 Marathi)

A teenage boy jumped off a hill to death in Maharashtras Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after his mother denied his request to get him a new mobile phone on Sunday, officials said.

The 16-year-old boy was identified as Atharva Gopal Tayde, who had previously asked his mother to buy him a phone and was persistent in his request. However, she turned down his request.

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Atharva was a native of Jalgaon Jamod in Buldhana district. He was currently living in Swatik City, Sajapur Shivar, Waluj, and was an aspirant for the police recruitment exam, officials said.

As the boy asked his mother to buy the phone on Sunday, only to be refused by her, he reportedly went to Khawda hill in Tisgaon and jumped off.

He was rushed to the hospital by the local residents; however, the doctors declared him dead after arrival.

A similar incident was reported in Maharashtra last year when a 15-year-old boy died by suicide after his mother allegedly refused to get him a mobile phone on his birthday.

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Officials said the boy, Vishwajeet Ramesh Chamdanwale, died at home while his mother and sister were asleep.

In another case from July last year, an 18-year-old boy in Navi Mumbai died by suicide after his father didnt buy him an expensive iPhone. The boy had asked for a phone worth around Rs 1.5 lakh, but his father got him a more affordable Vivo phone instead.

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 : Maharashtra, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 10:37 IST

News india Teenager Jumps To Death From Hill In Maharashtra After Mother Refuses To Buy Phone For Him

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Unreasonable: India Rejects Trumps Tariff Threats, Slams US-EU Hypocrisy Over Russian Imports

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 22:59 IST

In a statement, the MEA defended Indias energy strategy, saying that its crude oil purchases from Russia are "a necessity compelled by global market conditions"

Trump had warned of in relation to Indias purchase of Russian military and energy assets. (Representational image)

India on Monday strongly responded to US President Donald Trumps latest tariff" threat over its purchase of Russian oil, saying that targeting New Delhi is unjustified and unreasonable" and highlighted how the United States continues to import uranium hexafluoride from Russia for its nuclear industry. It also opposed the European Unions criticism of Indian refiners for their crude exports.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) defended Indias energy strategy, saying that its crude oil purchases from Russia are a necessity compelled by global market conditions" and not a political endorsement of Moscow.

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It further asserted that the country will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," the statement said, underlining the countrys commitment to stable and affordable energy access for its citizens.

India Calls Out US-EU Hypocrisy

The MEA highlighted that the US and European Union have themselves continued trade with Russia, including in energy and critical commodities, despite publicly opposing the Ukraine conflict.

The MEA further highlighted that the European Union recorded 67.5 billion in goods trade and 17.2 billion in services with Russia  significantly more than Indias trade volumes.

The MEA also highlighted that Europes trade with Russia extended beyond energy to sectors such as chemicals, fertilisers, iron and steel, and machinery. The United States, too, has continued importing uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV sector, and other essential commodities from Russia.

It justified its shift to Moscow for oil imports and termed the targeting by the US and European Union unjustified and unreasonable".

India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability."

Donald Trumps Tariff Threat

The MEAs response came hours after Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on Indian goods, citing New Delhis continued import of Russian oil. The US President accused India of buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it on the open market for big profits."

Asserting that India must pay" for its ties with Russia, Trump said, Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the US."

Trump had earlier imposed 25% tariff on India and an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment. However, he did not specify how much he would increase the tariff.

Trump, who has been raising questions over India-Russia ties, last week said he does not care how much business New Delhi does with Moscow.

Russias Response

Meanwhile, Moscow took a jibe at Washington for threatening nations with tariffs," saying that the latter is having a hard time accepting that its global power is declining.

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 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria #Zakharova:Washington is unable to accept the erosion of its dominance in an emerging multipolar international order.  No tariff wars or sanctions can halt the natural course of history. https://t.co/EU2NKETj7y pic.twitter.com/SYJtlpcaib  MFA Russia  (@mfa_russia) August 4, 2025

The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said, Washington is unable to accept the erosion of its dominance in an emerging multipolar international order. No tariff wars or sanctions can halt the natural course of history."

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: August 04, 2025, 22:26 IST

News india Unreasonable: India Rejects Trumps Tariff Threats, Slams US-EU Hypocrisy Over Russian Imports

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India Maps Pahalgam Attackers' Journey, Identifies Lahore-Based LeT Operative As Handler | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 22:05 IST

The attackers' infiltration route was tracked via intercepted radio signals dating back to May 2022, when they crossed the LoC near Gurez.

The three terrorists  Suleman Shah (alias Faizal Jatt), Abu Hamza (alias Afghan), and Yasir (alias Jibran)  were all high-ranking LeT commanders. (AP Image)

In a breakthrough, Indian intelligence and security agencies have mapped the infiltration, movement, and command structure behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, unearthing a direct operational link to a Lahore-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader. The detailed findings, revealed in a report by Indian agencies after the July 28 counterterror operation Operation Mahadev, have firmly identified Sajid Saifullah Jatt as the principal handler of the attackers.

Sajid Saifullah Jatt, LeTs south Kashmir operations chief, was identified as the key handler based in Lahore. Additionally, Rizwan Anees from Rawalkot coordinated posthumous funeral prayers in PoK for the slain terrorists.

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The three terrorists  Suleman Shah (alias Faizal Jatt), Abu Hamza (alias Afghan"), and Yasir (alias Jibran")  were all high-ranking LeT commanders. None were local Kashmiris, as initially speculated based on preliminary sketches released after the massacre. These sketches were later discredited and linked to an unrelated December 2024 incident.

Recovered evidence paints a detailed picture. Two of the assailants carried Pakistani voter ID cards with serials tied to electoral rolls in Lahore and Gujranwala. A micro-SD card retrieved from a damaged satellite phone contained NADRA biometric data, confirming their Pakistani citizenship and addresses in Kasur district and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Personal items like Pakistani-manufactured chocolates further corroborated their origin, with lot numbers traceable to consignments shipped to Muzaffarabad in 2024.

Their infiltration route was tracked via intercepted radio signals dating back to May 2022, when they crossed the LoC near Gurez. They were later sheltered in a seasonal hut near Pahalgam by two Kashmiri men  Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad Jothar  who later confessed to aiding them. GPS data from one attackers Garmin device and call logs from a Huawei satellite phone established their movements and linkages to operational control in Pakistan.

Forensic analysis also confirmed the ballistics match between shell casings found at the massacre site and three AK-103 rifles recovered after the attackers were killed on July 28 in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt.

Described as the most conclusive dossier to date, this evidence package was tabled in Parliament by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 29, who stated, For the first time we have government-issued Pakistani documents in hand that nail the nationality of the Pahalgam attackers beyond doubt."

Defence Ministry Reacts

As disclosures related to the Pahalgam attackers gained widespread media traction on Monday, the Ministry of Defence issued a late-night statement clarifying that no authorised media handle of the Indian Armed Forces has prepared or issued any such document".

The ministry called out social media handles that falsely attributed the material to the military, saying, Neither have any remarks of this nature been made by the Armed Forces Public Relations Offices or nominated spokespersons."

However, the statement stopped short of outright rejecting the content of the disclosures, noting that the material appeared to be a compilation of information on post-encounter findings, collated from open sources."

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 Social media accounts are spreading a Report on the Identities and Background of the Pahalgam Attackers. No authorised media handle of the Armed Forces has prepared or issued any such document.  No remarks of this nature have been made by the Armed Forces Public pic.twitter.com/7UphgDvi3a  HQ IDS (@HQ_IDS_India) August 4, 2025

After the encounter killing of the Pahalgam attackers near Srinagar last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: Our security forces conducted Operation Mahadev, in which three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack were killed."

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: August 04, 2025, 10:16 IST

News india India Maps Pahalgam Attackers' Journey, Identifies Lahore-Based LeT Operative As Handler | Exclusive

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Who Told You?: Rahul Gandhi's Post-Galwan China Remark Sparks SC Scrutiny, Here's The Backstory

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:54 IST

Supreme Court rapped Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Indian Army and "Chinese occupation of Indian territory", and said freedom of expression cannot be used to "say anything".

Supreme Court raps Rahul Gandhi over remarks on Indian Army and "Chinese occupation" (PTI Image)

The Supreme Court on Monday rapped Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his defamatory" remarks concerning the Indian Army and Chinese occupation of Indian territory" after the Galwan clashes.

A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AG Masih expressed their sharp disapproval of the Lok Sabha Leader of Oppositions remarks made publicly in the past and asked how he came to know that the Chinese occupied 2,000 sq km of Indian land, while also underlining that freedom of expression cannot be used to say anything".

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The top court was hearing a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about the Indian Army in connection with the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with the Chinese PLA.

What Had Rahul Gandhi Said?

Addressing a press conference on December 16, 2022, Rahul Gandhi had claimed that the Chinese soldiers were beating up" Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh.

China is preparing for war and the Centre is hiding and not accepting it. The ones who captured 2,000 sq km of India and killed 20 Indian soldiers, and are thrashing our soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh. I said to my friend that the Indian media would not ask me questions about it," Rahul Gandhi had said.

Months after the Galwan clashes in June 2020, Rahul Gandhi said in August that year that China had captured a part of our territory".

My blood boiled when I learnt that China had captured a part of our territory. The prime minister spoke a lie that no such thing had happened. He got exposed by a contrary statement from the defence ministry itself. Did he not care at all for the sacrifices made by the Bihar Regiment? 20 of our soldiers belonging to the regiment were killed in the clashes with Chinese troops. The prime ministers averment was tantamount to an insult to the martyrs," he had said.

What Did Supreme Court Say About Rahul Gandhis Remarks?

Whatever you have to say, why dont you say in the Parliament? Why do you have to say this in the social media posts? Just because you have 19(1)(a) [freedom of speech], you cannot say anything," Justice Datta said.

Were you there? Do you have any credible material? Why do you make these statements without anyIf you were a true Indian, you would not say all this. When there is a conflict across the order, is it unusual to have casualties on both sides?" the judge asked, Live Law reported.

Tell Dr Singhvi, how do you get to know that 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory were occupied by the Chinese? Were you there? Do you have any credible material?" the court asked Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented the Congress leader in the court.

Who Filed The Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi?

Former Director of Border Roads Organisation, Uday Shankar Srivastava, had filed a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi, which is currently being heard in a Lucknow court.

The complaint claimed that Rahul Gandhi made alleged insulting remarks on December 16, 2022, during Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The complainant also alleged that the Congress leaders objectionable remarks were made about clashes between the Indian soldiers and the Chinese soldiers on December 9, 2022, which defamed the Indian Army.

He alleged that Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly said in a derogatory manner that the Chinese military was thrashing" Indian jawans in Arunachal Pradesh.

BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi After SC Rap

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed Rahul Gandhi after the top courts strong observations.

Supreme Court rebukes Shri Rahul Gandhi for irresponsible claim that Chinese occupied Indian Territory ! SC: How do you know 2000 Sqr km of Indian territory were occupied by Chinese ? A true Indian will not say this," he tweeted.

Supreme Court rebukes Shri Rahul Gandhi for irresponsible claim that Chinese occupied Indian Territory !SC: How do you know 2000 Sqr km of Indian territory were occupied by Chinese ? A true Indian will not say this. https://t.co/ywa1FRa5ga  Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 4, 2025

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BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala demanded resignation of Rahul Gandhi on the matter.

Rahul Gandhi, after such a strong finding and lashing against him by SC has not right to continue as LOP. He must resign," he tweeted.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 12:44 IST

News india Who Told You?: Rahul Gandhi's Post-Galwan China Remark Sparks SC Scrutiny, Here's The Backstory

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Woman Murders Husband After Daughter Exposes His Affair With Neighbour, Pins Blame On Her Lover

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 17:59 IST

Soni Devi allegedly killed her husband Vikram with her lover Ravindra and three others in Gurugram after her daughter discovered the affair. They buried Vikram's body.

The police said Soni Devi was in contact with Ravindra over the phone while he was covering the crime. (AI-generated photo)

A man was allegedly killed by her wife after she found out about his affair with a neighbour in Gurugram. The woman, along with the help of her lover and three others, allegedly murdered her husband and hid his body to avoid getting caught.

The woman hatched the conspiracy after her daughter discovered her obscene video with her neighbour. The daughter had also confronted her father about his affair.

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The woman then allegedly killed her husband and pinned the blame on her lover for raping her and threatening to kill her husband, NDTV reported.

Vikram (37), who hails from Bihars Nawada, lived in Dundahera village in Udyog Vihar of Gurugram with his wife and daughter.

Vikrams wife Soni Devi filed a missing complaint of his husband at a police station in Gurugram on July 28. Three days later, she approached the police to file a rape case against her neighbour Ravindra (34). Soni also alleged that Ravindra recorded the act and threatened to make it public if she told anyone about it.

However, during the investigation, the police caught Soni Devis lies and found out she and Ravinder were in a relationship, and he recorded the video during that time.

While plotting for the murder, the accused Ravindra and Soni Devi surfed on Internet and YouTube about various methods to kill Vikram and dispose of the body after the murder.

Ravindra and his accomplices allegedly strangled Vikram to death with a rope inside his car. The accused later buried him near Mohammadpur Jharsa village, where Ravindras uncle Santarpal used to live.

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Two menManish (19) and Fariyaad (20) were arrested for assisting the murder, while Santarpal (60) was also apprehended for helping them bury the body.

The police said Soni Devi was in contact with Ravindra over the phone while he was covering the crime. However, she filed a police complaint to mislead the police.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: August 04, 2025, 17:59 IST

News india Woman Murders Husband After Daughter Exposes His Affair With Neighbour, Pins Blame On Her Lover

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AgentVoice provides a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking to automate and enhance their customer communication processes. With its no-code implementation, customizable features, and scalable pricing plans, it offers a versatile platform that can adapt to various business sizes and requirements. By integrating seamlessly with existing tools and workflows, AgentVoice enables organizations to improve operational efficiency and deliver a more responsive customer experience.

Visit agentvoice.com for more.
Woman Slapped During Childbirth, Treated Inhumanely At Maharashtra Hospital; Newborn Dies

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 11:25 IST

The pregnant woman was left unattended for hours despite severe pain, the family members have alleged, demanding action against those responsible for "negligence".

Newborn dies due to 'negligence' of hospital staff in Maharashtra (AI-generated image)

In a shocking incident, a woman lost her baby after delivery at a hospital in Maharashtras Washim district due to alleged negligence of the staff, officials said on Monday.

The grieving family has demanded that a case of culpable homicide be filed against the doctors and concerned staff of the hospital, alleging inhumane" treatment of the pregnant woman during childbirth.

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What Is The Incident?

The incident took place on August 2, when Shivani Vaibhav Gawhane of Palsakhed was admitted to the Washim District Womens Hospital at 3 am for delivery.

After her examination, the doctors said that the reports were normal and the delivery would take place by 10 am.

However, despite severe labor pains throughout the night, and repeated calls to the nurses and doctors, no one paid any attention," officials said.

According to the family, no doctor or nurse came for a check-up from 3 am to 5 pm.

At 5 pm, when the condition worsened, a check-up was finally done, but by then it was too late," the family alleged.

Woman Treated Inhumanely During Delivery: Family

The family members further alleged that the mother was treated inhumanely" during childbirth. She was slapped on the cheek, her stomach was forcefully pressed, and she was examined by unqualified staff," the family alleged.

After the delivery at 5.30 pm, the doctors said that the newborn did not have a heartbeat and was declared dead.

The family blamed the hospital administration for negligence and demanded an investigation and strict action against those responsible

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Lata Gawhane, the mother-in-law of the victim woman, said, Because of the doctors and nurses negligence, the newborn is dead. Our daughter-in-law was left in pain for hours," she claimed.

Dnyaneshwar Gawhane, the father-in-law, said, We kept pleading with the hospital staff from morning till evening, but no one listened. The guilty must be punished."

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 : Maharashtra, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 11:25 IST

News india Woman Slapped During Childbirth, Treated Inhumanely At Maharashtra Hospital; Newborn Dies

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'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Todenge': Why PM Modi Won't Stop Being Friends With Putin As Trump Fumes

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 08:00 IST

India's NSA Ajit Doval and foreign minister S Jaishankar might visit Russia this month, which is likely to further irritate US President Donald Trump

Officially, the Centre has said India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership. (Image: PTI/File)

Yeh dosti hum nahin todenge  this Bollywood classic is a perfect description of the relationship between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin. While Donald Trump may be displeased with this friendship, Modi is firm in his stance  India will not sever ties with its most reliable ally to foster a friendship with one of the worlds most powerful men.

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They (India) are Russias largest energy buyer, along with China, at a time when the world wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine," Trump said, threatening India with an unspecified penalty" for its dealings with Russia.

Recently, there was news that Indian firms had ceased buying Russian oil. Trump quickly praised this as a positive step. But India soon clarified that this was not the case  Indian oil refiners are still sourcing oil from Russian suppliers.

Although supplies have slightly decreased in July, these decisions are influenced by factors such as price, crude grade, inventories, logistics, and other economic considerations. Clearly, the India-Russia relationship is here to stay.

Indias national security adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and foreign minister S Jaishankar might visit Russia this month, which is likely to further irritate Trump.

India seeks S-400 defence systems from Russia, and possibly Su-57 fighter jets as well. Trump has tried to sell American F-35s to India, but Modi has shown no interest thus far. The central government recently told Parliament that there had been no discussions with the US about purchasing F-35s.

Officially, the Centre has stated that India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership. Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country," the foreign ministry said, indirectly addressing the US.

These strong words underscore the India-Russia friendship. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also set to visit India in the coming months, marking his first tour since 2021. Clearly, India is committed to maintaining its friendship with Russia much to Trumps frustration.

TRADE DEAL STANDOFF

Trump is also upset for another reason  the stalled trade deal. Modi has stood firm against him, refusing trade concessions and not yielding to pressure. This is despite the imposition of a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports starting August 7.

Indias message to Trump is clear: India-US relations have withstood numerous challenges and transitions. Delhi is not backing down.

Top government sources said there will be no concessions on agriculture, no opening dairy to American firms, and a refusal of genetically modified crops or beef-based dairy.

For India, farmers interests are paramount. This is also a significant voter base. The government recalls the repeal of the three farm laws after massive protests in 2021.

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India is prepared to absorb the 0.2 percent GDP loss resulting from the 25 percent tariff, viewing it as manageable and minimal.

India will patiently wait for the signing of a mini-deal by September or October. Until then, the focus is on standing firm and not compromising core interests for a few billion dollars.

About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 08:00 IST

News india 'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Todenge': Why PM Modi Won't Stop Being Friends With Putin As Trump Fumes

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Worth Rs 119 Crore, This Lipstick Comes With 1,200 Diamonds And Lifetime Refills

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 18:04 IST

H Couture Beauty's Diamond Lipstick, priced at Rs 119 crore, includes lifetime refills, 24x7 support, and an 18-carat gold case with 1,200 pink diamonds

Created by American luxury brand H Couture Beauty, the lipstick was a custom order for a billionaire's wife (News18 Hindi)

Its not just makeup but a mansion in a tube. Priced at an eye-watering Rs 119 crore (roughly $14 million), the H Couture Beauty Diamond Lipstick holds the title of the worlds most expensive lipstick. To put it in perspective, the same amount could fetch you a plush apartment in Delhi-NCRs elite neighbourhoods, or even two.

Created by American luxury brand H Couture Beauty, the lipstick was a custom order for the wife of a billionaire whose identity remains a mystery. But what has made it global news isnt just the price tag, its what that price includes  a lifetime of free refills and beauty service, along with access to 247 customer support. Buy once, use forever.

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Founded in 2006 by Taysha Smith-Vallez, H Couture Beauty built its name on ultra-luxury, bespoke cosmetic products. While most of the industry focuses on formulas and finishes, this lipstick takes opulence to another level with packaging that resembles a royal heirloom more than a vanity item. The case is crafted from 18-carat gold and encrusted with 1,200 pink diamonds, designed exclusively upon request and open to further personalisation.

The product isnt sold on shelves, its created on special order, with the buyer having the option to customise the case with additional gems or designs. Unsurprisingly, the brands clientele includes billionaires, A-list celebrities, and high-net-worth collectors of rare beauty memorabilia.

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As the luxury cosmetics market expands, valued at $3.91 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $5.58 billion by 2030, ultra-premium items like this continue to push boundaries. Analysts attribute the steep prices in this segment to not just better formulas and exotic ingredients but also high-end packaging, limited editions, and brand heritage.

French cosmetics house Guerlain also entered the elite tier with a lipstick priced at around Rs 51 lakh. Its case features 199 diamonds and 18-carat gold, with full customisation options including engraved names. Another luxe entry: a refillable Swarovski crystal-studded lipstick available for Rs 33,000.

fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 18:04 IST

News lifestyle Worth Rs 119 Crore, This Lipstick Comes With 1,200 Diamonds And Lifetime Refills
Urvashi Questions National Award Jury For Ullozhukku: 'It's Not A Pension...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 13:57 IST

At 56, Urvashi won Best Supporting Actress at the 71st National Film Awards for Ullozhukku but questioned the jury's decision, urging transparency as she played a central role.

.Urvashi portrays the character of Leelamma in Ullozhukku, which features Parvathy Thiruvothu in a parallel lead role.

At 56, veteran actor Urvashi clinched the Best Supporting Actress award at the 71st National Film Awards for her performance as Leelamma in Ullozhukku, directed by Christo Tomy. While the honour adds another feather to her cap, Urvashi has publicly questioned the jurys decision-making process, specifically why she was recognised as a supporting actor despite playing a central role in the film alongside Parvathy Thiruvothu.

In an interview with Manorama News, Urvashi didnt shy away from expressing her concerns. Is there any standard scale for acting? Or is it that after a certain age, this is all youll get?" she asked pointedly. She went on to say, This is not pension money to be silently accepted. How are these decisions made? What criteria is followed?"

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The actress recalled a similar experience from 2006 when she won the Best Supporting Actress award for Achuvinte Amma, a film in which she also played the lead role. There were politics even then," she said, noting that she has always chosen meaningful roles over lobbying.

Urvashi added that both she and Parvathy had been submitted in the Best Actress category for Ullozhukku, further questioning the jurys final verdict. These awards should make the recipient proud instead of being handed over with no explanation," she said.

The actor has also urged Union Minister Suresh Gopi to look into the selection process and support greater transparency, especially for Malayalam cinema.

Ullozhukku is a 2024 Malayalam drama film written and directed by Christo Tomy. Featuring powerhouse performers Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu in lead roles, the film also includes Arjun Radhakrishnan, Alencier Ley Lopez, Prashanth Murali, and Jaya Kurup in pivotal supporting parts. Recognised for its compelling storytelling, Ullozhukku was officially selected for the International Competition: Fiction category at the 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival, held in 2025.

While Ullozhukku won Best Malayalam Film, 2018 was awarded Best Production Design and Pookkaalam bagged Best Editing at this years National Awards. Vijayaraghavan took home Best Supporting Actor. However, notable omissions like Prithviraj Sukumarans performance in Aadujeevitham  The Goat Life led to growing discontent. Even Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the jurys decision to honour The Kerala Story.

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Stay updated with the latest news from regional cinema like Malayalam, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Kannada, Gujarati movies, celeb news, trailers & reviews. You can also download the News18 App.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 12:16 IST

News movies  regional-cinema  Urvashi Questions National Award Jury For Ullozhukku: 'It's Not A Pension...'
Saare Jahan Se Accha Trailer: Pratik Gandhi Leads India-Pakistan Spy Thriller Set In 1970s

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 11:32 IST

Set in the 1970s, Saare Jahan Se Accha follows R&AW agent Vishnu Shankar (Pratik Gandhi) on a high-risk mission in Pakistan to stop a nuclear threat & save India from destruction.

The trailer of In Pratik Gandhi's Saare Jahan Se Accha drops today.

While nations celebrate their freedom, silent wars are fought not with weapons, but with razor-sharp minds. These unsung heroes vanish into the shadows: nameless, faceless, with no medals to show and no grand celebrations. They are intelligence officers, spies who fight battles well never see, so we never have to know what it costs.

Netflixs upcoming series Saare Jahan Se Accha tells the story of Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) agent Vishnu Shankar (Pratik Gandhi), who undertakes a perilous mission deep inside enemy territory: Pakistan. The question is, will he emerge victorious? You will know only on August 13, once the series releases.

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The makers have released the trailer of the gripping patriotic drama today. The series follows a R&AW agents daring mission to stop a neighbouring nations plans for destruction in India, defying all odds along the way.

Set in the volatile 1970s, when a single move could tip the balance of power and trigger a global nuclear war, Saare Jahan Se Accha unfolds as Indias R&AW and Pakistans ISI clash in a deadly game of strategy. Vishnu must outwit ISI agent Murtaza Mallik in a race against time to prevent a major catastrophe.

Tasked with stopping a covert nuclear program before it ignites global destruction, Vishnu crosses enemy lines on a mission where failure isnt an option, and the fate of nations hangs in the balance.

Created by Gaurav Shukla and produced by Bombay Fables, with Bhavesh Mandalia as creative producer, Saare Jahan Se Accha premieres ahead of Independence Day on August 13, a tribute to all those who serve the nation tirelessly, without recognition, rest, or regret.

Speaking about his role, Pratik Gandhi said, Theres no room for error in Vishnus world. Every move is calculated, every emotion buried. What drew me in was the intensity beneath the stillness and the emotional toll of being invisible, yet fighting for India. Im thrilled audiences can finally step into that world with this trailer."

The series boasts a powerhouse ensemble cast featuring Pratik Gandhi, Sunny Hinduja, Suhail Nayyar, Kritika Kamra, Tillotama Shome, Rajat Kapoor, and Anup Soni. At its core, Saare Jahan Se Accha is not just about espionage; its about sacrifice, loyalty, and the high cost of duty when no one is watching.

Prime Video, Stay updated with the latest web series on Netflix Hotstar & more ott platforms, new releases, reviews, top binge-worthy shows. Download the News18 App for all things OTT.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 11:32 IST

News movies  web-series  Saare Jahan Se Accha Trailer: Pratik Gandhi Leads India-Pakistan Spy Thriller Set In 1970s
Opinion | India And China Are Moving Forward, But Can It Be Sustained?

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 07:00 IST

By resuming people-to-people exchanges while maintaining robust military deployments along the Line of Actual Control, New Delhi demonstrates a nuanced approach

India's resumption of tourist visas for Chinese nationals on July 24 marked the first such initiative in five years, signalling a commitment to rebuilding connections severed by the 2020 border crisis. (Image: PTI/File)

Indias careful restoration of diplomatic ties with China is a masterclass in strategic calibration, though the sustainability of this rapprochement faces formidable challenges. By resuming people-to-people exchanges while maintaining robust military deployments along the Line of Actual Control, New Delhi demonstrates a nuanced approach to managing great-power competition without sacrificing national security interests.

This calibrated normalisation, anchored in military-to-military contacts, visa liberalisation, and preparations for renewed special representatives talks, offers a template for navigating complex bilateral relations in an era of heightened geopolitical tensions. The durability of this diplomatic thaw, however, confronts a fundamental question: can goodwill survive Chinas continued belligerent actions and the shifting dynamics introduced by Trumps economic nationalism?

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ARCHITECTURE OF ENGAGEMENT

The mechanics of India-China normalisation since October 2024 reveal a diplomatic strategy designed to compartmentalise cooperation from competition. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars landmark visit to China in July, the first since the deadly Galwan clash, established critical parameters for engagement.

Meeting President Xi Jinping alongside fellow Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers, Jaishankar stressed that both nations had made good progress in stabilising relations over the preceding nine months. This progress manifested in tangible measures.

Indias resumption of tourist visas for Chinese nationals on July 24 marked the first such initiative in five years, signalling a commitment to rebuilding connections severed by the 2020 border crisis. The announcement, made through the Indian embassys WeChat account, was strategically timed to coincide with the 34th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting, where both sides expressed satisfaction with the general prevalence of peace and tranquility in the border areas.

Agreements on resuming direct flights, sharing hydrological data on trans-border rivers, and facilitating the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra reflect Indias willingness to engage on non-sensitive issues while maintaining red lines on core security concerns.

TRUMPS TARIFF DISRUPTION

The introduction of Donald Trumps 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods has paradoxically accelerated India-China normalisation by creating a common challenge to both nations economic interests. Announced on July 30, these punitive measures specifically target Indias energy and defence cooperation with Russia, while threatening additional penalties that could raise effective tariff rates to 35 percent.

Trumps aggressive trade posture, described by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as reflecting frustration with Indias slow-rolling" negotiations, has fundamentally altered the strategic calculus in New Delhi. While the tariffs are a sore point and an affront to US-India relations, the economic fallout for India is minimal.

Tariffs threaten key export sectors, including automobiles, electronics, gems, and jewellery, with projected GDP impacts ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 percent if sustained. The fallout of this episode raises suspicion in New Delhi about moving forward with deep defence cooperation. It creates tactical incentives for India to explore alternative partnerships, including with China.

The timing of these measures can be particularly damaging to India-US relations. Despite India being among the first nations to engage Washington in trade negotiations, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyals earlier optimism about concluding a consequential partnership", Trumps decision to impose the harshest Asian tariff regime on India revealed the transactional brutality underlying American alliance management. The Presidents subsequent characterisation of India as having a dead economy" further inflamed bilateral tensions.

This deterioration in India-US relations creates space for China-India cooperation that would have been inconceivable under different circumstances. Both nations face pressure from Trumps economic nationalism; China through existing trade war measures, India through new tariff regimes.

THE CHINA-PAKISTAN AXIS

The India-China normalisation faces its most severe test in Chinas unwavering support for Pakistan, particularly evident during the Operation Sindoor conflict. Beijings actions during this crisis revealed the limits of bilateral improvement when core strategic interests collide.

According to defence ministry assessments, China provided Pakistan with satellite coverage adjustments, air defence system reorganisation, and real-time intelligence support during the four-day conflict. The support was extended beyond traditional arms supplies to active operational assistance.

Chinese hardware has been regularly discovered with militants, including Huawei satellite phones and GPS devices, demonstrating Beijings technological enablement of Pakistans proxy warfare capabilities.

Chinas diplomatic protection of Pakistan has proven equally problematic. Beijings refusal to condemn the Pahalgam attack at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Qingdao and its successful effort to exclude references to The Resistance Front from UN monitoring reports exposed the hollowness of its counter-terrorism rhetoric.

Instead, China manipulated the joint statement to include Balochistan independence movements in what was a clear attempt to create false equivalencies between Pakistans terrorism concerns and Indias security operations.

The institutional competition extends beyond South Asia to global governance structures. Chinas use of veto power to protect Pakistani interests in UN forums, manipulation of multilateral statements to serve Beijings narrative, and creation of alternative institutional mechanisms all demonstrate systematic efforts to reshape the international order. These activities directly challenge Indias preferred multilateral frameworks and create ongoing friction points.

The economic dimensions of this nexus compound these security concerns. With $68 billion invested through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor between 2005 and 2024, and 82 percent of Pakistans military assets sourced from China, Beijings commitment to Islamabad transcends transactional partnerships.

These actions fundamentally undermine the trust-building measures India and China have carefully constructed. The CJWS assessment that anything currently available to China could be with Pakistan tomorrow" reflects a strategic reality that no amount of diplomatic dialogue can easily overcome.

LIMITS OF STRATEGIC PATIENCE

The current India-China thaw operates against a backdrop of unresolved structural tensions that constrain the scope for meaningful cooperation. Despite the October 2024 disengagement agreement covering Depsang and Demchok, over 100,000 troops remain deployed on both sides of the Line of Actual Control. This massive military presence reflects mutual recognition that tactical de-escalation cannot address fundamental disagreements over territorial claims.

Chinas broader pattern of economic coercion against India further undermines trust-building efforts. Recent restrictions on rare earth materials, delays in tunnel boring machine deliveries for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, and the recall of Chinese technicians from Foxconn facilities demonstrate Beijings willingness to weaponise economic interdependence. These measures create what analysts term Indias strategic vulnerability," a multifaceted dependence that Beijing can exploit for diplomatic leverage.

The dam construction on the Yarlung Tsangpo River exemplifies Chinas disregard for Indian concerns despite diplomatic engagement. Described by Arunachal Pradeshs Chief Minister as a ticking time bomb", this project threatens downstream water security for millions of Indians while proceeding without meaningful consultation. Such actions reveal the gap between Chinas diplomatic assurances and its operational behaviour.

Indias response reflects growing strategic patience fatigue. The shift from viewing the border dispute as manageable to treating it as existential, evidenced by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramanes characterisation of China as a bully", signals hardening attitudes within the strategic establishment. This evolution suggests that tactical improvements cannot indefinitely substitute for addressing core disagreements.

ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE

The $118.4 billion bilateral trade relationship between India and China creates both incentives for cooperation and vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Indias $85.1 billion trade deficit reflects structural dependencies that complicate any comprehensive decoupling strategy.

Chinas position as Indias largest trading partner since 2021-22 means that sustained deterioration in relations would impose significant costs on both economies. For India, pursuing its target of 6.5 percent growth in 2025 and achieving third-largest economy status by 2027 requires access to Chinese components, manufacturing capabilities, and export markets.

However, economic interdependence operates asymmetrically. Chinas ability to restrict critical inputs  demonstrated through rare earth export controls and technology transfer limitations  provides Beijing with escalatory options that India cannot easily reciprocate.

Indias response through the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative seeks to reduce these dependencies while maintaining beneficial engagement. The selective approach, which maintains trade in non-sensitive sectors while building domestic capabilities in strategic industries, reflects a sophisticated understanding of economic statecraft. Yet the timeline for achieving meaningful self-reliance extends beyond current political cycles, creating interim vulnerabilities that China can exploit.

MANAGING COMPETITION, NOT RESOLVING IT

The current India-China normalisation is more crisis management rather than fundamental conflict resolution. Both nations have demonstrated the capacity to prevent tactical disagreements from escalating into confrontation while pursuing competing regional ambitions.

The structural factors driving competition, territorial disputes, alliance commitments, and regional ambitions remain unresolved and potentially irreconcilable. Chinas Pakistan commitments, Indias American partnerships, and both nations economic development imperatives create ongoing friction points that tactical improvements cannot eliminate. The sustainability of current trends depends on both nations ability to maintain strategic patience while managing domestic political pressures for more assertive policies.

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By compartmentalising cooperation from competition, maintaining multiple strategic partnerships, and preserving decision-making autonomy, New Delhi demonstrates that middle powers can navigate great power rivalry without sacrificing core interests. The answer may ultimately depend less on the goodwill between New Delhi and Beijing than on their respective calculations about the costs and benefits of continued competition versus accommodation.

The test will come when one side concludes that its interests require fundamental changes to this equilibrium. If history has taught us anything, China is no stranger to ensuring that its interests are met, even if it comes at great cost to its partner nation. Consider the US-China rapprochement circa 1972.

About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 07:00 IST

News opinion Opinion | India And China Are Moving Forward, But Can It Be Sustained?

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Opinion | Is Falling US Crime Rate Due To The Trump Effect, AKA The Yogi Effect?

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 14:21 IST

Regardless of laws, when the public believes an administration wont go soft on crime  like in Uttar Pradesh  it often has a deterrent and positive effect.

US President Donald Trump (Image Credit: Reuters)

The latest US crime figures highlight piquant parallels: serious offences are down at the same time that migration both illegal/legal have reduced too. According to the latest figures released by a non-partisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice, incidents of murder, gun assaults and carjackings actually fell during the first half of 2025 across 42 US cities, a trend that began in 2022. Does that mean Trumps often apoplectic pronouncement worked?

The highest profile violent crime in the US is mass shootings. According to the latest statistics quoted by Forbes, these are at a seven-year low now, down by a whopping 44 per cent in the first half of 2025 from the 12-year high of 342 in the same period of 2023. While the figure of 195 mass shootings till July 2 is chillingly high, it is actually 25 per cent less than the 262 reported in the same time period in 2024. Overall crime rates in big cities, however, are the bellwether.

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Of course, the US has many more cities (around 4,000) but at least in the 42 cited by CCJ, homicides are 17 per cent lower so far in 2025, compared with the same period in 2024 in 30 cities. Only five cities saw a rise, ranging from 6% in Milwaukee to 39 per cent in Little Rock, both of which have Democratic Party mayors. The drop in violent crime is mainly because of an improved record in traditionally high crime cities like Baltimore and St Louis, both also run by Democrats.

The lowering of crime rates after Trump took over has just cemented the belief among residents (especially the MAGA cohort) that the police and authorities are (or were) soft on crime, especially committed by foreign migrants, particularly illegals. One of Donald Trumps campaign pillars was the issue of foreign criminals running riot during the lax Biden administration. And violent incidents perpetrated by illegals did seem to be soft-pedalled back then.

But now, comparing violent offences from the first half of 2024 and 2025, not only have murders fallen by 17 per cent, but aggravated assaults were also down 10 per cent, gun assaults 21 per cent, sexual assaults 10 per cent, robberies 20 per cent and carjackings 24 per cent. But domestic violence cases rose by 3 per cent. Moreover, car thefts also plummeted 25 per cent, house burglaries by 19 per cent, non-residential burglaries 18 per cent, larceny 12 per cent, and even shoplifting reduced by 12 per cent in the first half of 2025.

So, could the improved numbersat least in 42 large US cities be due to the crackdown on illegal migration or a more responsive policing and criminal justice system due to the change in the White House and consequently the stance of the federal government? Can Trump claim credit for this improvement in the law and order situation since he took over or is this the result of a long overdue autonomous recalibration of official US attitudes to crime?

Given Trumps penchant for hyperbole, he may just claim that as illegal migrants were behind most crimes in the US anyway, his categorical action against them since he took office has put brakes on these offences and hence there is a dramatic fall in numbers. As always there is a dearth of evidence to prove Trump wrongor his opponents right, for that matter. The falling crime rates do speak for themselves, however. and he has a right to appropriate them.

Trump had posted on Truth Social post in late July that eliminating cash bail as a condition of pretrial release from jail has caused crime rates to rise in American cities that have enacted this reform. As usual his critics point out that there is no evidence for his claim but there is no proof that cashless bail has been beneficial either. So people will believe what they want, but much depends, again, on the vigilance of law enforcement to ensure compliance.

His post apparently was based on a 2022 report from Yolo County, California, about a temporary statewide cashless bail system instituted to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks in courts and jails. It found that out of 70.6 per cent of the 595 people released between April 2020 and May 2021 under cashless bail were arrested again, more than half of them repeatedly. But detractors point out that the re-imposition of the bail system did not have the opposite effect either.

Statistics may show falling rates, but mass shootings keep the public unsettled. Two days after a gunman entered a building in New York and shot dead four before killing himself, another man in little Tiptonville, Tennessee also killed four of a family and is on the run. Public records show he was jailed for armed robbery in 2014 and released last September. Two months later he was charged with attempted murder and drug crimesbut was out on bail.

Whether crime is related to rises in illegal immigration or not, the recent downturn in crime rates after Trump assumed office can have lessons for all nations. He has a habit of taking more credit than due but on the face of it, his reputation for being tough on crime and illegals appears to have had a salutary effect. In India, Uttar Pradesh, for instance, is usually in the news for bulldozers razing properties of criminal elements but crime rates there are down too.

This March, the UP government claimed in a statement that according to police records, robberies are down by 84.41 per cent compared to 2016, while loot cases have fallen by 77.43 per cent. Kidnapping, dowry-related murders and rapes have reduced too. The government credits this to a zero-tolerance policy and proactive law enforcement, backed by CCTV and technological aids. But many say it is because of the tough image of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

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Tough or lenient laws notwithstanding, wherever there is a public perception that any administration will not be soft on crime or any specific category of offenders, there is usually a salutary effectas in UP. Trump could be the beneficiary of a coincidental decline in crime in the US just as he assumed office, but that seems a bit of a stretch. Record lows in illegal migration happening at the same time as a reduction in crime rates will be hard to explain away without the Trump factor.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 14:21 IST

News opinion Opinion | Is Falling US Crime Rate Due To The Trump Effect, AKA The Yogi Effect?

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Opinion | Maulana Chhangur & The Kerala Story: When the Real Submits A Thousand Proofs For The Reel

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 19:58 IST

Even in the face of a million denials, there is no escape from the truth: the demographic war against Hindu-majority India has intensified

Maulana Chhangur (left) and The Kerala Story poster.

Nations change. But nations change beyond all recognition when they put a simple flowchart in motion on the ground: Demographic takeover. Denial. Destiny.

India, which has already lost two limbs at the time of Independence precisely because of a demographic war being waged against it for about a thousand years, still has several organs under threat not just from unchecked illegal immigration but deliberate and planned conversion.

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Love jihad, or luring young non-Muslim women to marry, convert, and lend their wombs to the cause of spreading Islam, is one such weapon which Indias liberal elite insist on being in denial.

But the Maulana Chhangur case and hundreds of other such instances point to society rushing to its dark destiny simply because of this denial.

The warning signs are in front of us in plain sight, written across mainstream and social media.

Maulana Jalaluddin, also known as Chhangur Baba, reportedly converted more than 1,500 young Hindu women to Islam. They were lured, trapped, and converted through psychological and financial manipulation.

Rs 106 crore was found on him, a bungalow worth Rs 3 crore, exotic horses. Money flowed in through Nepal banks from Pakistan, Saudi, UAE, Turkey and other countries. The Maulana, his son Mehboob, and associates Naveen Rohra alias Jamaluddin and Neetu Rohra alias Nasreen were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and are in jail.

Foreign funds now estimated at Rs 500 crore came through more than 40 bank accounts, some allegedly opened in the names of non-Muslim converts. The ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe the financial network and track the money trail.

Shri V.S. Achuthanandan was among the first leaders to bravely expose the dangerous plot of turning Kerala into an Islamic territory through tactics like murder, money power, and love jihad.We thank him for his courage.  #Kerala #VSachuthanandan #LoveJihad pic.twitter.com/Kh4gEero3b  Pratheesh Viswanath (@pratheesh_Hind) July 21, 2025

The syndicate allegedly employed a structured approach using love traps, blackmail, and foreign funding to lure chiefly Hindu women into converting to Islam. The Organiser reported that coded language such as project" (for targeted girls), kajal karna" (for brainwashing), and deedar karna" (for introducing victims to Chhangur) were used.

Chhangur Baba and his aide Neetu alias Nasreen were arrested in Lucknow on July 5. The ED raided and demolished parts of an illegally constructed complex linked to Maulana Chhangur in Balrampur. It now believes that the network had spread to Uttarakhand as well.

The case of Maulana Chhangur is hardly an isolated one.

In Uttar Pradeshs Deoria district, three separate cases of love jihad targeting minor Hindu girls have been traced recently, exposing the same dangerous pattern of entrapment, grooming, abduction, and forced religious conversion.

The case of Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, who ran a conversion empire very similar to Maulana Chhangur and was arrested by the UP ATS in 2021, is still fresh in memory.

Recently, another chilling case of love jihad and systematic abuse was reported from Musakhedi, Indore. A young Muslim man, Zeeshan, posed as a Hindu named Abhishek Thakur to lure and exploit a Hindu girl. Members of a Hindu organisation stormed a rented room and caught the accused. The girl had allegedly been drugged and subjected to repeated abuse for nearly five years.

But greed for minority votes in Indian politics and whitewashing the crimes of radical Islam as a prerequisite of being a liberal in our society run so deep that even in the face of almost daily evidence that some politicians and so-called liberals were outraged when The Kerala Story recently got two national awards.

The film is about women from Kerala who are pressured into converting to Islam and joining the Islamic State. A character, Shalini Unnikrishnan (Adah Sharma), converts, changes her name to Fatima Ba, and gets imprisoned in Afghanistan after joining ISIS. The movie got awards for Best Director for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography.

There was an immediate chorus about the film being divisive" and portraying the non-issue" of love jihad, led by chief minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan.

Ironically, the phrase love jihad was born in Kerala. Far from being anti-minority, it was popularised by the Church in the state.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) claimed around 2009 that over 2,600 young Christian women had been converted to Islam since 2006. The KCBCs Vigilance Commission for Social Harmony urged Christians to be vigilant against such traps and conversion.

Former Kerala CM VS Achuthanandan had bluntly raised the issue and the imminent threat to Keralas demographics as well, detailing out the mode of operation of the Islamist conversion syndicates.

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Even in the face of a million denials, there is no escape from the truth: the demographic war against Hindu-majority India has intensified. If Bharat allows itself to lose in another round of the continuing demographic war, there will be nothing left to argue, as Sharia is not a great fan of spirited intellectual arguments.

Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 19:55 IST

News opinion Opinion | Maulana Chhangur & The Kerala Story: When the Real Submits A Thousand Proofs For The Reel

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Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 14:08 IST

1 / 5 If you have taken a loan from a bank or finance company and are, for any reason, unable to pay an instalment on time, the lender may send a recovery agent to contact you. However, there are times when recovery agents overstep their boundaries, making threatening phone calls, using abusive language, or turning up at your home to harass you. In such situations, it is crucial to understand your rights and know where and how to file a complaint. (Local18)

2 / 5 According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), if a bank employee or recovery agent harasses a customer, whether mentally or physically, a case can be registered under Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court may also direct the police to issue a strict warning to the agent, preventing further harassment. (Local18)

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3 / 5 As per RBI rules, a recovery agent must not contact a borrower before 8am or after 7pm. These time restrictions are put in place to ensure the borrowers peace and privacy. Calling on Sundays or public holidays is also considered a violation of protocol. In addition, a recovery agent is required to present a valid identity card before initiating any communication. Without this, they are not authorised to engage with the borrower regarding repayment matters. (Local18)

4 / 5 The borrowers personal information, including details about the loan, must be kept confidential. Sharing such information with anyone else, especially without consent, is a serious breach of privacy and can be challenged legally. If the recovery agent continues to harass you or tries to forcibly enter your home, you have every right to take stronger legal action. Persistent harassment or intimidation may be classified as a criminal offence under Section 331(1) of the IPC. (Local18)

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Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar Set Aside Political Differences, Come Together For Family Function

Curated By :



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 07:38 IST

Despite political differences, the Pawar family united at Yugendra Pawar's engagement in Mumbai, with Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule attending.

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Sharad Pawar attends grandnephew Yugendra Pawar's Engagement

Despite political differences and feuds, the Pawar family united on Sunday for the engagement ceremony of Yugendra Pawar, the grandnephew of patriarch Sharad Pawar. The private event took place at the residence of Yugendras fiancee, Tanishka Kulkarni, in Mumbai.

Yugendra is the son of Shrinivas Pawar, younger brother to Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar.

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The engagement ceremony saw attendance from the prominent members of the Pawar family, including Sharad Pawar, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, his cousin Supriya Sule, along with her husband and two children, all gathered to bless the couple.

Supriya Sule also shared the pictures of the engagement ceremony on X with caption, Heartiest congratulations, Tanishka and Yugendra! Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness. Thank you to the Kulkarni family for the warm hospitality."

Heartiest congratulations, Tanishka and Yugendra! Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness. Thank you to the Kulkarni family for the warm hospitality. pic.twitter.com/BTrfM2VBUJ  Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) August 3, 2025

Ajit Pawars 2023 rebellion, which led to a split in the NCP, had cast doubts over the strength of their family ties. This was further tested in the 2024 assembly elections, where Yugendra was defeated by his uncle Ajit Pawar in the Baramati constituency. Previously, in the Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra was defeated by her sister-in-law Supriya Sule.

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Sule had always insisted that the familial ties among Pawars were intact even after Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-led Maharashtra government in 2023.

A few months ago, the Pawars attended the engagement ceremony of Ajit Pawars younger son, Jay Pawar, in Pune.

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: August 04, 2025, 07:38 IST

News politics Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar Set Aside Political Differences, Come Together For Family Function

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If Ive learned anything on this journey, its that funding isnt the same as success. You dont need outside capital or to launch from a capital city to build business.

Whats happening: Fiona Campbell built Virtual Assistant Lead Network from Katherine, NT, into a thriving platform with 430+ vetted jobs, 360+ paying subscribers, and $20k+ in shared resources, all without venture capital in an industry that typically relies heavily on investor funding.

Why this matters: While Australian startups raised a record $4 billion in 2024, Campbells bootstrap success challenges the assumption that jobs platforms and marketplaces need VC funding to survive, proving lean operations and genuine value can beat cash-heavy competitors.

From her home in Katherine, a remote Northern Territory town three hours from Darwin, Fiona Campbell has built what users call the Seek for virtual assistants, without a single dollar of venture capital in an industry where competitors routinely raise millions just to get started.

Since launching Virtual Assistant Lead Network in January 2021, Campbell has connected over 430 vetted job opportunities, built a paid membership base exceeding 360 subscribers, and delivered more than $20,000 worth of training and resources to her network, all while raising a family and running her original VA business, Thought Penny.

Campbells approach flies in the face of conventional startup wisdom. Australian startups raised a record $4 billion across 414 deals in 2024, the third-highest annual total ever. Double-sided marketplaces and jobs platforms typically rely heavily on VC funding for aggressive marketing, tech development, and subsidised pricing.

Going the non-funded route was risky, Campbell acknowledged. Many dont make it without them. We broke that mould, using a lean, deliberate model with no splashy seed rounds or staff-heavy burns.

Instead of chasing investors, Campbell stuck to what she calls her core ethos: putting value, values and relationship over hype. This philosophy, she argues, eliminated the need for external funding entirely. For us, the ethos weve stuck to from day dot, putting value, values and relationship over hype, is why weve not needed it, she said.

Born from real demand

Campbells journey began in 2013 when she left a corporate executive assistant role seeking work that could accommodate family life. Starting with inbox management, diary coordination, and process automation, she quickly hit capacity.

Obviously, this sort of Australian-based support wasnt common, she noted, recognizing early that local VA talent was scarce relative to demand.

By 2019, Campbell was collaborating with other Australian VAs to handle overflow work, becoming what she describes as borderline obsessive about only syncing up those who were the perfect match. This obsession with fit quality revealed a bigger opportunity: an entire jobs platform built on trust and compatibility rather than volume.

The early iteration launched in 2020 as a simple, hidden jobs board and email list. It was free and low-tech. We kept to our values: to be generous, to teach, to share and to only encourage connection if it was the right fit.

COVID-19 accelerated everything. Then COVID hit, and demand exploded. We knew it was time to launch publicly, with a paid subscription.

Scaling without capital burnout

Campbells bootstrap approach forced disciplined growth. No VC means every hire, every tool, every campaign has to earn its keep, she explained, describing how she piggy-backed off Thought Pennys resources while avoiding full-time staff in favor of a flexible network of VAs and online business managers.

Her model flips typical job board economics: businesses list projects for free while VA members pay modest subscription fees for vetted, detailed job reports. In this model, both sides of our marketplace spend less time finding the right match for their needs and services, reducing wasted labour costs and decision fatigue.

Automation became critical infrastructure, handling everything from job posting to member onboarding to status follow-ups and Google review requests. This technical backbone enabled expansion from job leads into training, tools, and business directory services without proportional cost increases.

Three growth pillars

Campbell identifies three principles that sustained growth without investor pressure:

Perfect fit obsession: A star VA isnt always the right match to a small business with a very particular problem, she explained. The platform vets both sides, guiding businesses to articulate needs clearly while giving VAs permission to decline poor fits. This mentality gives us something way more valuable than funding: a priceless reputation.

A star VA isnt always the right match to a small business with a very particular problem, she explained. The platform vets both sides, guiding businesses to articulate needs clearly while giving VAs permission to decline poor fits. This mentality gives us something way more valuable than funding: a priceless reputation. Trust through generosity: Rather than aggressive marketing spend, Campbell built trust by giving first. We launched with a full year of free access, still run monthly membership giveaways, and give away templates, checklists, and training content that many charge hundreds for. This approach generated word-of-mouth referrals, strong SEO, and community champions.

Rather than aggressive marketing spend, Campbell built trust by giving first. We launched with a full year of free access, still run monthly membership giveaways, and give away templates, checklists, and training content that many charge hundreds for. This approach generated word-of-mouth referrals, strong SEO, and community champions. Remote-first community building: Despite physical distance, Campbell prioritized real connections. One of my favourite memories is meeting my business partner in person after two years of remote collaboration. Wed built culture and friendship entirely online. Today the platform hosts online meetups, publishes annual benchmark reports, and offers training designed to support both VAs and businesses.

Redefining startup success

Campbells experience challenges fundamental assumptions about startup scaling. If Ive learned anything on this journey, its that funding isnt the same as success, she reflected. You dont need outside capital or to launch from a capital city to build a meaningful, sustainable business.

Her prescription for sustainable growth emphasizes fundamentals over funding: For us, what worked was grit, systems, discipline, and a genuine care for helping people.

While VC-funded competitors chase growth metrics and burn rates, Campbells lean model delivers consistent value to both sides of her marketplace. The approach has created what she describes as something way more valuable than funding: a reputation for quality connections that keeps both businesses and VAs coming back.

Because in the end, its not where you build from, or how much you raise: its how well you serve, Campbell concluded.

For founders considering the venture capital path, Campbells Katherine-to-success story suggests there might be another way, one that prioritises sustainable growth over splashy funding rounds, and genuine value over investor expectations.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Farooq Abdullah Claims 'Militancy' Wont End In J&K Until India, Pakistan Mend Ties; BJP Reacts

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 17:15 IST

Farooq Abdullah says militancy in J&K won't end until India-Pakistan relations improve. He questions the Centre's claims of peace. BJP blames Pakistan for terrorism.

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National Conference President Farooq Abdullah. (Image: PTI/File)

National Conference Leader Farooq Abdullah on Monday claimed that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir would not end until the relations between India and Pakistan improve.

While speaking to reporters, the NC veteran openly challenged those who believe that militancy and terrorism have ended in the valley.

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Militancy will not end. Those who believe that militancy will end, I challenge them at this moment. Militancy will not end until our relations with our neighbours improve," he said as quoted by news agency IANS.

Shopian, J&K: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah says, Militancy will not end. Those who believe that militancy will end, I challenge them at this moment. Militancy will not end until our relations with our neighbours improve" pic.twitter.com/TNrsQOdGiV IANS (@ians_india) August 4, 2025

He further spoke about the Centres efforts to ensure peace in the valley, saying that there is a need to find a way out of the conflict.

I dont see the peace coming. I think we are living in a fools paradise to think that peace will come overnight. We have a strong neighbour, whether it is China or Pakistan. Somehow, we have to find a way out. War is not a way out. Finally, you have to use a pen and discuss things. How does it hurt us?" he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

He also questioned the central government over its claims that terrorist camps have been uprooted in the region, asking how the Kulgam encounter was happening if that was the case.

I have never said that militancy is over. Those people who were saying that Article 370 is responsible for militancy, they were in-charge here for so many years. Before the Pahalgam terror attack occurred, the central government had announced that it had uprooted terrorist camps. Even in the present war they had with the neighbour, they said that they had knocked the terrorists out, so how is Kulgam encounter happening?" Abdullah added.

#WATCH | Srinagar | On ongoing Kulgam encounter, National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abdullah says, I have never said that militancy is over. Those people who were saying that Article 370 is responsible for militancy, they were incharge here for so many years. Before the https://t.co/Gudf2wYa4b pic.twitter.com/T5XF6MaY7J ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2025

He further lambasted the Centre, asking about the timeline to reinstate the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP Reacts

The BJP reacted to the former Chief Ministers remarks, saying that this is the same person who once claimed that Article 370 can never be removed and it would be reimposed with the help of China.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took a dig at Abdullah, saying why do the leaders of the INDIA bloc become apologists for terrorists.

He said that the cause of terrorism is Pakistan. "

The cause of terrorism is Pakistan and the ideology on which it is based. Islamabad considers everyone in the world, and especially India, as its enemy. This thought is the root of terrorism," he added.

India-Pakistan Ties

The diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan were downgraded after Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack.

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India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7, bombing nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in pre-dawn strikes that killed at least 100 militants. The operation sparked four days of cross-border fighting involving fighter jets, missiles and artillery.

(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

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Location : Srinagar, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 17:15 IST

News politics Farooq Abdullah Claims 'Militancy' Wont End In J&K Until India, Pakistan Mend Ties; BJP Reacts

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Outright Abuse: Kalyan Responds To Mahuas Wrestle With Pig Remark As TMC Rift Widens

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 19:24 IST

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee criticised Mahua Moitra for comparing him to a pig, calling it "dehumanising language."

TMC MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee on Monday lashed out at her party colleague in the Lok Sabha, Mahua Moitra, over her alleged controversial remarks made during a recent podcast that likened him to a pig.

Banerjee accused her of using dehumanising language" and compared her comments to outright abuse."

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I have taken note of the recent personal remarks made by Ms. Mahua Moitra in a public podcast. Her choice of words, including the use of dehumanising language such as comparing a fellow MP to a pig", is not only unfortunate but reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil discourse," he said in a post on X.

I have taken note of the recent personal remarks made by Ms. Mahua Moitra in a public podcast. Her choice of words, including the use of dehumanising language such as comparing a fellow MP to a pig", is not only unfortunate but reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil Kalyan Banerjee (@KBanerjee_AITC) August 4, 2025

Those who think invective can replace substance should take a hard look at the kind of politics they are practising  and the hollowness it exposes. When a public representative stoops to name-calling and coarse innuendo, it reflects not strength, but insecurity," he added.

The Serampore MP further weighed in on his earlier statements, saying they focused on questions of public accountability and conduct, and were not misogynistic.

What I did speak about were questions of public accountability and personal conduct, which every public figure must be prepared to face  man or woman. If those facts are inconvenient or uncomfortable, it does not justify branding legitimate criticism as misogyny" to escape scrutiny. Labeling a male colleague as sexually frustrated isnt boldness  its outright abuse. If such language were directed at a woman, there would be nationwide outrage, and rightly so. But when a man is the target, its dismissed or even applauded," he added.

Banerjee further claimed that Moitra was using personal attacks to deflect from questions regarding her performance as an MP.

Those who rely on abuse instead of answers are not champions of democracy; they are its embarrassment," the MP said.

What Mahua Moitra Said?

Banerjees response came a day after Moitra triggered a row by referring her party colleague using a scathing metaphor that likened him to a pig.

You dont wrestle with a pig. Because the pig likes it and you get dirty," Moitra said during a podcast. The comment came in response to Banerjees recent personal attacks on her marriage to former BJD MP and senior advocate Pinaki Misra.

BJP Takes Jibe

Meanwhile, the West Bengal unit of the BJP took a dig and shared Moitras podcast on its social media platform.

TMCs Mahua Moitra who is under investigation for compromising her parliamentary login to help a businessman dig up info on competitors has now called her own party colleague, senior MP Kalyan Banerjee, a PIG, " it said.

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What does this say about the internal rot, ego clashes, and sheer chaos within the TMC? And these are the people claiming to uphold democracy and values," read the BJP post.

The conflict between two senior TMC leaders began in April when Moitra confronted Banerjee at Parliament. The confrontation reportedly occurred because Moitras name was not included in a party memorandum. This led to a heated argument witnessed by other MPs. Afterwards, Banerjee publicly accused Moitra of asking security personnel to arrest him, calling her rude" and uncivilised."

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: August 04, 2025, 19:21 IST

News politics Outright Abuse: Kalyan Responds To Mahuas Wrestle With Pig Remark As TMC Rift Widens

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Shibu Soren: The Controversial Constant In Jharkhands Tumultuous Politics

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 11:40 IST

Shibu Soren dodged arrest, went to jail, faced two major trials, yet the JMM founder shaped Jharkhands governments more than any other leader since statehood

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JMM Founder Shibu Soren passed away on August 4, 2025, at 81. (PTI Photo)

When Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in November 2000, it was meant to mark a new beginning, one driven by tribal assertion, regional pride, and grassroots governance. What followed, however, was two decades of political turbulence: unstable coalitions, Presidents Rule, short-lived chief ministers, and shifting loyalties. Amid this chaos, only one figure remained consistently at the heart of it all  Shibu Soren, the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), revered as Dishom Guru" and reviled for the criminal cases that trailed him for decades.

Soren passed away on August 4, 2025, at 81, closing the chapter on one of Indias most polarising political lives, a man whose legacy straddled statehood and scandal.

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The Political Revolving Door That Was Jharkhand

Since its formation in 2000, Jharkhand has been synonymous with political instability. Between 2000 and 2010 alone, the state had six chief ministers and endured three instances of Presidents Rule.

Governments were formed with wafer-thin majorities, alliances were stitched and snapped with little notice, and independents were often kingmakers.

Amid this constant churn, Shibu Soren became Chief Minister three times, yet never served a full term.

His first stint in March 2005 lasted just nine days. Appointed CM with Congress backing, Soren failed to prove his majority and had to resign.

He returned in August 2008, forming a government with support from Congress and independents, but that regime too collapsed by January 2009.

His third term, beginning in December 2009, ended in May 2010 after the BJP withdrew support over a seat-sharing dispute.

Despite these setbacks, Soren remained Jharkhands most recognisable political face. His JMM played pivotal roles in propping up governments, both in the state and at the Centre. Even when not in office, his endorsement or opposition could make or break coalitions.

The Rise Of Dishom Guru

Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village (now in Ramgarh district, Jharkhand), Soren emerged as a mass leader in the 1970s, when he led the Dhan-Kati" movement, a protest by tribal farmers against exploitative moneylenders and landlords. He formed the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in 1972, advocating for a separate state and tribal rights.

In tribal belts, he became a cult figure, someone who held impromptu peoples courts against zamindars and was seen as the protector of Adivasi interests. His base in Dumka, from where he won the Lok Sabha seat eight times, became synonymous with his rise.

By the 1980s and 90s, Soren was not just a regional leader but a national player, often courted by both the Congress and the BJP for his ability to swing tribal votes.

The Chirudih Massacre Case

Sorens political career, however, was shadowed by serious legal controversies, the most enduring being the Chirudih massacre case.

On January 23, 1975, a violent clash erupted in Chirudih village, Dumka district (now in Jamtara), between two mobs, one tribal, allegedly led by Soren, and the other of non-tribals linked to the CPI. Eleven people, including nine Muslims, were killed.

The FIR named 69 accused, with Soren listed fourth. According to reports, one accused, Lakhindra Soren, gave a dying declaration on February 7, 1975, claiming: Shibu Soren told us that since Muslims were burning tribal houses, we should first kill the Muslims."

The case dragged on for decades. A chargesheet was filed in 1979; trial proceedings formally began only in 1986. Soren was elected as an MP in 1980, and failed to appear in court several times. An arrest warrant issued in 1984 resurfaced in 2004, leading to a dramatic episode where Soren, then Union Coal Minister, went underground to avoid arrest.

He finally surrendered in Jamtara court in July 2004 and spent over a month in jail.

In March 2008, a fast-track court acquitted Soren and 13 others, citing a lack of evidence and granting benefit of the doubt. Seven others were convicted; one remained absconding.

The judgment sparked celebrations among JMM workers, who hailed it as the end of a politically motivated case that had hung over their leaders head for 33 years.

The Shashi Nath Jha Murder

If the Chirudih case dogged Soren for decades, the Shashi Nath Jha murder case nearly ended his career.

Jha, a JMM MP and Sorens former aide, disappeared in 1994. His body was later found in Ghaziabad. The CBI charged Soren and others, alleging that Jha was abducted and killed because he had knowledge of bribery involving JMM MPs in the 1993 no-confidence vote that saved the Narasimha Rao government.

In November 2006, a Delhi court convicted Soren of murder and criminal conspiracy, sentencing him to life imprisonment. He resigned as Coal Minister and was lodged in Tihar Jail.

But in a dramatic twist, the Delhi High Court overturned his conviction in August 2007, stating that the prosecution had failed to provide direct evidence linking Soren to the crime.

This acquittal paved the way for his third term as Jharkhand CM in December 2009.

Never King For Long, But Always Kingmaker

Despite his legal entanglements and brief CM stints, Soren remained central to Jharkhand politics for over four decades. His partys tribal base, especially in the Santhal Pargana region, remained fiercely loyal. Whether forming governments or bringing them down, Sorens consent was often non-negotiable.

Even as his health declined, he continued to exert influence through his son Hemant Soren, who became Chief Minister in 2013, again in 2019, and remains in office today.

Soren formally stepped down from active politics in April 2025, passing the JMM baton to Hemant. But he was still seen as the ideological patriarch of the party, the embodiment of Jharkhands tribal resistance and political bargaining power.

Shibu Sorens Complex Legacy

To his supporters, Shibu Soren was a freedom fighter for Jharkhand, a tribal hero who fought systemic injustice. To critics, he represented the murkiness of Indian politics, a leader entangled in multiple criminal cases, yet always within striking distance of power.

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His death brings the curtain down on a life that embodied both the triumph and the tragedy of post-statehood Jharkhand, a leader who, despite never completing a term, played a role in shaping every government Jharkhand saw.

In a state known for temporary governments, Soren was the controversial constant, both revered and reproached, but never ignored.

About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More

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First Published: August 04, 2025, 11:37 IST

News politics Shibu Soren: The Controversial Constant In Jharkhands Tumultuous Politics

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
TMC, BJP Face Off Over Delhi Police's Bangladeshi Tag For Bengali: Whats The Controversy?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 13:48 IST

Ahead of the 2026 West Bengal polls, a Delhi Police document calling Bengali "Bangladeshi" sparked controversy. CM Banerjee called it an insult; BJP defended the police.

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BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya (L) called out West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's "shameful" attempt at using language for political gains. (Image: PTI/File)

As the politics over Bengali pride heats up in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly polls, a document of the Delhi Police referring to Bengali as the " Bangladeshi" language has added fuel to the fire.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has been attacking the BJP for allegedly labelling people from Bengal as Bangladeshis as the BJP-ruled states intensify their drive to identify infiltrators.

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Whats The Issue?

Eight people who were suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals residing in India without any passport or visa have been arrested in Delhi by the police. They were booked under the Foreigners Act.

After the arrest, the Investigating Officer in the case wrote to the Officer-in-charge of Banga Bhawan, the official guest house of the state government in the national capital, requesting to provide an official translator/interpreter proficient in the Bangladeshi" national language.

Who Said What?

Sharing the letter on August 3, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleged that Bengali is now described as a Bangladeshi" language and said it is an insult to Bengali-speaking people of India.

The TMC supremo described the Centre as anti-Bengali and urged all to stage protests against such anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate Bengali-speaking people of India".

She also said that Bengali was the language in which both Indias national anthem, Jana Gana Mana by Tagore and national song Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay were written.

See now how Delhi police under the direct control of Ministry of Home, Government of India is describing Bengali as " Bangladeshi" language!Bengali, our mother tongue, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, the language in which our National Anthem and the pic.twitter.com/2ACUyehSx8  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 3, 2025

 the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!" Banerjee said.

Scandalous, insulting, anti-national, unconstitutional!! This insults all Bengali-speaking people of India. They cannot use this kind of language, which degrades and debases us all. We urge immediate, strongest possible protests from all against the anti-Bengali Government of India, who are using such anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate the Bengali-speaking people of India," she said.

TMC national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee, who also shared the letter on X, echoed his party chiefs sentiment and alleged that it was a calculated attempt by the BJP to defame Bengal".

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin also commented on the issue, calling it a direct insult" to the very language in which our National Anthem was written.

Such statements are not inadvertent errors or slips. They expose the dark mindset of a regime that consistently undermines diversity and weaponises identity, he added.

The Delhi Police, under the Union Home Ministry, has described Bengali as a Bangladeshi language." This is a direct insult to the very language in which our National Anthem was written.Such statements are not inadvertent errors or slips. They expose the dark mindset of a https://t.co/YrF8qGgCOo  M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 4, 2025

Gaurav Gogoi, Congress MP from Assam, alleged that the dehumanisation of the Bengali people of West Bengal and Northeast India.

The arrogance of the BJP blinds them to the dehumanisation of the Bengali people of West Bengal and Northeast India.Today the BJP IT cell insults the Bengali language spoken by lakhs of people in Tripura, Meghalaya and the Barak Valley of Assam. First the BJP asks the Bengali https://t.co/gMMjmLL4kX  Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) August 4, 2025

BJP Defends Delhi Police

BJPs West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya justified the Delhi Polices action and said there is a difference in the dialect of the Bengali language spoken and written in West Bengal with that of Bangladesh.

The BJP also alleged that the TMC was trying to defend illegal Bangladeshi migrants who, the party said, speak a heavily Urdu-influenced Bengali dialect.

Amit Malviya, West Bengal BJP co-incharge and IT cell chief, claimed nowhere in the Delhi Police letter is Bangla or Bengali described as a Bangladeshi" language.

Calling Mamata Banerjees remark inflammatory, Malviya said she should be held accountableperhaps even under the National Security Actfor inciting linguistic conflict.

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Mamata Banerjees reaction to Delhi Police referring to the language used by infiltrators as Bangladeshi is not just misplaced, it is dangerously inflammatory.Nowhere in the Delhi Police letter is Bangla or Bengali described as a Bangladeshi language. To claim otherwise and https://t.co/Ynb5o8cT6n  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 4, 2025

Highlighting the difference between Bengali and the language of Bangladesh, Malviya said the official language of Bangladesh is not only phonologically different, but also includes dialects like Sylheti that are nearly incomprehensible to Indian Bengalis.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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First Published: August 04, 2025, 13:41 IST

News politics TMC, BJP Face Off Over Delhi Police's Bangladeshi Tag For Bengali: Whats The Controversy?

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Google Pixel 10 Launch On August 20: Price, Specs And Everything We Know

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:09 IST

Google Pixel 10 launch is just a few weeks away, both in the US and India and here's a look at the new Pixel phones and the foldable.

Google Pixel 10 launch is on August 20 and the leaks have told us a lot about them

Google Pixel 10 launch is confirmed and we more or less know what the company will be introducing at the big event on August 20. The new iPhone 17 and Galaxy S26 challenger from Google will also be coming to the Indian market around the same time.

There are a few concerns about the new Pixel 10 models, especially with the identical design to the previous Pixel 9 series devices, and even the hardware upgrades might be incremental. However, these are Google flagship devices and they will bring their own level of intrigue in the market. Heres a look at everything we know about the Pixel 10 series launch, their specs and expected price.

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Pixel 10 Series Leaked: Four Model Again?

The new Pixel 10 was spotted on the Play Store, which can only happen from Google, even if it was unintentional. You can see the Pixel 10 in blue, while the Pixel 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold placed alongside in the new grey tone. The new Pixel 10 lineup is likely to get the new Tensor G5 chipset which should be made on the TSMC 3nm process for the first time. We could see them launch with up to 16GB RAM for aiding more Gemini AI features and tools.

Google Pixel 10 India Launch News

Googles Pixel 10 India launch teaser says the new models will be unveiled on Thursday, August 21, which is most likely to be the evening after Google officially introduces the new models in New York.

The good news is that Google is likely to make some upgrades for the latest Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL models but some of the existing features could be carried over to the new models.

The new Pixel 10 Pro leaks have been shared via Android Headlines in a report. The Pixel 10 Pro is expected to sport a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate, while the 10 Pro XL gets a 6.8-inch display with the same panel and refresh rate. The new Pixel 10 Pro Fold model is expected to get a 6.4-inch cover OLED display and an 8-inch inner screen with up to 3000 nits of peak brightness.

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The Pixel 10 series launch price details have been shared in a report by Android Headlines. The Pixel 10 model price could start from $799 (Rs 68,000 approx) for the base 128GB variant, going up to $899 (Rs 77,000 approx) for the 256GB model. The Pixel 10 Pro launch price could be starting at $999 (Rs 87,500 approx) that buys you the 128GB model.

While the Pixel 10 Pro XL base 256GB variant could be priced starting from $1,199 (Rs 1,05 lakh approx) going all the way up to $1,549 (Rs 1.35 lakh approx) for the highest 1TB model. And finally, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold model could have the same $1,799 (Rs 1,58,000 approx) starting price for the base model as the 9 Pro Fold version.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More

Get latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated.

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 04, 2025, 12:09 IST

News tech Google Pixel 10 Launch On August 20: Price, Specs And Everything We Know

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Cat Meat Tastes Better Than Human: Kerala Mans Grisly Instagram Story Triggers Probe

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 22:09 IST

A video of Shajeer, a lorry driver from Cherpulassery, killing a cat and sharing it on Instagram has sparked outrage in Kerala. Police are investigating and trying to locate him.

The cat seen in the viral video, moments before it was allegedly killed  the disturbing footage, now under police investigation, has triggered outrage and calls for stricter animal cruelty laws. (IMAGE: News18)

A disturbing video of a man killing a cat and sharing the footage on Instagram has triggered outrage in Kerala, prompting a police investigation. The accused has been identified as Shajeer, a lorry driver from Cherpulassery in Palakkad district.

The video, posted as an Instagram Story from the account Shajeer_Tool, first showed the cat being fed. What followed was far more horrifying as another clip showing the cats head and body parts separated was uploaded. As the footage circulated on social media, users flagged it to the police.

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Cherpulassery police have launched a probe and are verifying the authenticity of the video. Preliminary findings suggest Shajeer is currently in Tamil Nadu. The police are trying to trace his exact location.

According to Kerala Kaumudi, when questioned informally about the act, Shajeer allegedly said, Cat meat tastes better than human meat."

Authorities are still trying to establish where the video was filmed. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation.

What The Law Says

Under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, killing or maiming an animal is a punishable offence. The new law, part of the overhaul that replaced the Indian Penal Code, clearly states that anyone who kills, poisons, or renders an animal useless can face up to five years in jail, a fine, or both.

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The act may also attract charges under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which lays down additional penalties for causing unnecessary pain or suffering to animals.

While extreme cases of consuming pets are rare in India, this is not an isolated incident. In Chennai, residents in July 2025 sounded the alarm over a group of youths from the Narikorava community allegedly trapping and killing residential cats for meat, later selling it to roadside eateries as chicken or mutton biryani, according to a report by the Times Of India. Pet owners across areas like Tiruvottiyur and Ambattur complained of missing cats, calling for urgent police action.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

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Location : Palakkad, India, India

First Published: August 04, 2025, 22:09 IST

News viral Cat Meat Tastes Better Than Human: Kerala Mans Grisly Instagram Story Triggers Probe

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Bangladesh Coup: A Year Later, What Has Changed & When Are Elections Due?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 19:06 IST

August 5 marks one year since Sheikh Hasina's regime was overthrown in Bangladesh. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus leads the interim government.

Angry demonstrators torched police stations and government buildings during the agitation. (File pic/AP)

August 5 will mark the first anniversary of the fall of Sheikh Hasina, a turning point in the history of Bangladesh.

Hasina fled Bangladesh after a massive student-led uprising that ended her 15-year rule. Following her ouster, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over as the head of an interim government.

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What Led To The Fall of Hasina?

Protests began on July 1, 2024, with university students demanding reforms to the quota system for public sector jobs. The movement culminated on August 5, 2024, when thousands of protesters stormed Hasinas palace as she escaped by helicopter. During the unrest, demonstrators set fire to police stations and government buildings.

Hasinas former official residence is now being converted into a museum as a lasting reminder of her autocratic" rule.

According to the United Nations, around 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 during the protests.

Hasina has since been formally indicted for crimes against humanity by the countrys International Crimes Tribunal.

What Has Changed?

After assuming power, the Yunus-led administration formed 11 reform commissions, including a National Consensus Commission, which is working with major political parties to shape future governments and the electoral process.

However, bickering political parties have so far failed to reach a consensus on a timetable and procedure for the elections. Mob violence, political attacks on rival groups, and rising hostility towards womens rights and minority communitiesespecially by religious hardlinershave surged.

While some of the repression and fear that marked Hasinas rule, including widespread enforced disappearances, appear to have ended, rights groups allege that the new government is using arbitrary detentions to target perceived political opponents, particularly Hasinas supporters. Many have reportedly been forced into hiding.

Hasinas Awami League party, which remains banned, claims that over two dozen of its supporters have died in custody over the past year.

In a statement on July 30, Human Rights Watch said the interim government is falling short in implementing its challenging human rights agenda." The organisation noted that violations against ethnic and other minority groups have continued in parts of Bangladesh.

When Will Elections Be Held?

In a national address ahead of Eid al-Adha in June, Yunus announced that Bangladeshs national elections would be held in the first half of April 2026.

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He stated that the government had consulted all political parties to ensure the upcoming elections would be the most free, fair, competitive, and acceptable in the countrys history." Yunus stressed that the goal was to create an electoral process that would satisfy the souls of the martyrs" of the uprising and be remembered for its integrity.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: August 04, 2025, 19:06 IST

News world Bangladesh Coup: A Year Later, What Has Changed & When Are Elections Due?

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'Be Careful': Russia's Warning On 'Nuclear Rhetoric' After Trump Deploys Submarines

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 17:53 IST

Russia's word of caution came after Trump ordered two US nuclear submarines to be deployed to undisclosed "appropriate regions" due to "provocative remarks" by Dmitry Medvedev.

US President Donald Trump. (File Photo)

Russia urged caution with nuclear rhetoric" on Monday after US President Donald Trump deployed two nuclear submarines near the country following a spat with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

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This came after Trump announced he had ordered two US nuclear submarines to be deployed to undisclosed appropriate regions", after Medvedevs highly provocative" comments. He did not say whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines, neither did he reveal the location.

Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions. Just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that," he said on Truth Social.

ALSO READ: Trump, Medvedev, And The Dead Hand: How New Nuclear Threats Echo The Cuban Missile Crisis

The feud boiled over after Donald Trump gave Ukraine a drastically shortened ceasefire deadline, slashing the window from 50 days to just under two weeks. Medvedev warned that such ultimatums were drawing the US closer to full-scale war.

He also criticised Trump for pressuring Russia into a ceasefire with Ukraine, accusing him of playing the ultimatum game" and said that Trump should remember" that Russia was a formidable force.

As for the talk about the dead economies of India and Russia, and entering dangerous territory  maybe he should recall his favorite movies about the walking dead, and also remember how dangerous the so-called Dead Hand, which doesnt even exist, could be," Medvedev wrote.

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The Dead Hand" is a semi-automated Soviet-era system designed to ensure nuclear retaliation even if the Russian leadership were wiped out in a first strike.

Medvedev, who served one term as president from 2008 to 2012, is currently the deputy chairman of Russias Security Council.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Moscow, Russia

First Published: August 04, 2025, 17:53 IST

News world 'Be Careful': Russia's Warning On 'Nuclear Rhetoric' After Trump Deploys Submarines

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Classroom Spies? Chinese Students In UK Told To Monitor Peers, Here's Why

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 15:51 IST

Chinese students in the UK are pressured to spy on classmates to suppress sensitive discussions, says UK-China Transparency. The Chinese Embassy in London called it "groundless."

The Chinese Embassy in London dismissed the findings, calling the report groundless and absurd. (AI-generated photo)

If youre a student in the UK, theres a possibility you might be spied uponnot by a government agency, but by a fellow student.

A new report has suggested that Chinese students studying at UK universities are being pressured to spy on their classmates, in what is being described as an attempt to suppress discussions on topics sensitive to the Chinese government.

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Lecturers at several universities have reportedly been warned by Chinese government officials not to discuss certain issues, according to a survey conducted by UK-China Transparency (UKCT), a think tank focused on China studies, as reported by BBC.

However, the Chinese Embassy in London dismissed the findings, calling the report groundless and absurd."

The report comes just days after a new law came into force, requiring UK universities to actively promote academic freedom and free speecheven in cases where institutions have formal agreements with foreign governments.

The higher education regulatorthe Office for Students (OfS)has stated that freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental" to university education. It warned that universities could face fines running into millions if they fail to uphold these values, BBC reported.

Despite this, the UKCT report claims that some institutions have declined to act, citing their financial dependence on the high fees paid by Chinese students.

What Are These Sensitive Topics?

China, which is known to suppress dissent within its borders, has refused to acknowledge international allegations of ethnic cleansing in the Xinjiang region and criticism over Covid-19 origin. These are among the issues the Chinese government does not want discussed in classrooms abroad.

Other sensitive topics include those related to science, politics, humanities, and the global rise of Chinese technology firms, according to the UKCT.

Without naming China, UK Minister of State for Skills Jacqui Smith said that any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm" individuals in the UK will not be tolerated."

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Calling academic freedom non-negotiable" in UK institutions, she said the new legislation makes that stance explicitly clear."

We are also working directly with the Office for Students to support universities in safeguarding free speech and tackling any form of harassment on campus," she added.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:51 IST

News world Classroom Spies? Chinese Students In UK Told To Monitor Peers, Here's Why

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'Not Looking For Leverage, But Fairness': Donald Trump Defends New Tariffs On Countries

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 10:22 IST

Donald Trump remarked that the US should have imposed such tariffs years ago, claiming it would have brought in substantial revenue earlier.

A file photo of US President Donald Trump (AP)

Days after Donald Trump unveiled his revised list of tariffs on more than a dozen countries, the US President on Monday defended his move and said the United States should have done the same years ago. He also said he was not looking for leverage, but for fairness.

Speaking to reporters, Trump also said that with the tariffs imposed, the United States will have a lot of money coming in.

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Trump also said some Americans could get some kind of dividend or distribution of money as a result of tariffs being imposed on US trading partners.

Were going to pay down debt. We have a lot of money coming in, much more money than the countrys ever seen, by hundreds of billions of dollars," Donald Trump told reporters.

There could be a distribution or a dividend to the people of our country, I would say for people that would be middle-income people and lower-income people, we could do a dividend, but one of the things were gonna be doing is reducing debt," the US President said.

But we have hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into our country now, we shouldve done this many years ago."

And I did it in my first term with China, we didnt get to the rest because Covid hit. But China was paying us hundreds of millions of dollars in tariffs, and we did it then. Then [Joe] Biden screwed it all," he added.

Im not looking for leverage, Im looking for fairness," Trump said.

We want to see reciprocal wherever we can, and all I can say is this, our country will be taking in hundreds of billions of dollars," the US President added.

Barely six months after he returned to the White House, Trump retreated temporarily after his Liberation Day announcement triggered a rout in financial markets and suspended the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days to give countries a chance to negotiate.

The US slapped a 25 per cent tariff on India, potentially impacting about half of the USD 86 billion Indian exports to America, while the other half, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and petroleum products, continued to be exempted from the levy.

New Delhi continues to be engaged in talks with the US to work out a trade deal, but will make no compromise on agricultural, daily and genetically modified (GM) products, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.

For the sixth round of talks, the US team is coming to India on August 25, it added.

The United Kingdom agreed to 10 per cent tariffs on its exports to the United States, up from 1.3 per cent before Trump amped up his trade war with the world.

The European Union and Japan accepted US tariffs of 15 per cent. Those are much higher than the low single-digit rates they paid last year, but lower than the tariffs he was threatening (30 per cent on the EU and 25 per cent on Japan).

Also, cutting deals with Trump and agreeing to hefty tariffs were Pakistan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Even countries that saw their tariffs lowered from April without reaching a deal are still paying much higher tariffs than before Trump took office.

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Angolas tariff, for instance, dropped to 15 per cent from 32 per cent in April, but in 2022 it was less than 1.5 per cent.

ALSO READ | They Are Where They Have To Be: Trump On US Nuclear Submarines Position Amid Russia Tensions

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 08:26 IST

News world 'Not Looking For Leverage, But Fairness': Donald Trump Defends New Tariffs On Countries

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A former porn actor and gay rights activist will be Colombia's new equality minister, a government source told AFP Friday.

Juan Carlos Florian is to be named to the cabinet, an official said, in a move sure to spark debate in the deeply Catholic nation.

This combination of file pictures created on Aug. 1, 2025 shows Colombia's President Gustavo Petro (L) arriving at the inauguration ceremony of Mexico's President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum at the Congress of the Union in Mexico City on Oct. 1, 2024, and Colombian former President (20022010) Alvaro Uribe gesturing in a press conference after he testified about a 1997 massacre at the Attorney General's Office in Bogota, on Nov. 27, 2023. Photo by AFP

Florian, who was a sex worker and creator of gay porn, will head up a department that guarantees vulnerable communities get access to social programs.

He has already served as a junior minister and worked in various international organizations.

More than 50 ministers have passed through leftist Gustavo Petro's cabinet since he took office three years ago.
Her Life Is In Danger: Search For Missing British Woman Intensifies In Greece

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: August 05, 2025, 03:37 IST

Bourda was last spotted at Ofryni beach in Kavala, northern Greece, around midday local time on August 1.

She had reportedly gone to the beach with her partner but suddenly disappeared (Representative Image)

A British woman has been reported missing in Greece since August 1, prompting an intensive search-and-rescue operation, according to The Guardian. The 59-year-old Michele Bourda vanished under mysterious circumstances shortly after being seen relaxing on a sunbed.

Bourda was last spotted at Ofryni beach in Kavala, northern Greece, around midday local time on August 1. According to Sky News, she lived in Macedonia with her husband, who is of Greek origin.

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She had reportedly gone to the beach with her partner but suddenly disappeared. Her husband is said to have been asleep on the sunbed at the time of her disappearance. However, her personal belongings were found still on the beach, and he immediately contacted the authorities, as cited by The Standard.

In response, the Hellenic Coast Guard and local police launched an extensive search of the beach and surrounding sea. According to reports, three recreational vessels, five fishing boats, and two patrol boats have been deployed to assist in the effort. The search is very much on, with a patrol vessel and other recreational boats out scouring the seas all along the Strymonian Gulf," a coastguard official said, adding that there are currently no plans to call off the operation.

Greek missing persons charity Lifeline Hellas has issued a Silver Alert for Bourda and published a missing persons report. The alert reads, Her life is in danger. If you know anything, contact the Silver Alert service, 24 hours a day, at the National SOS Line 1065."

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Bourda is described as 5ft 6in tall, with a slim build. She has straight, shoulder-length blonde hair and hazel eyes. On the day she went missing, she was last seen wearing a two-piece swimsuit adorned with rhinestones, yellow beach shoes, and red sunglasses. Eyewitnesses reported seeing her swimming at around midday.

According to The Sun, a source close to the investigation said, We are giving it our all. There are still no signs as to whether she went missing on land or sea but right now there are no plans either to end this search."

Location : Greece

First Published: August 05, 2025, 03:37 IST

News world Her Life Is In Danger: Search For Missing British Woman Intensifies In Greece

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India And Philippines Conduct Joint Sail, Naval Drill In Disputed South China Sea

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 12:29 IST

India and the Philippines held their first joint naval exercises in the South China Sea to enhance preparedness and operational synergy.

INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS VISIT MANILA, PHILIPPINES (File/PIB)

India and the Philippines conducted joint sail and naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea for the first time. It is noteworthy that China has separate territorial disputes with the two Asian democracies and a long-running regional rivalry with New Delhi.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner on Monday said that the two-day joint naval sail and exercises, which began on Sunday, have been successful so far and expressed hopes that Filipino forces could engage Indias military in more joint manoeuvres in the future.

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Speaking to CNN News 18, Indian Navy Sources said, As part of the Indian Navys ongoing operational deployment to Southeast Asia, warships are currently in the Philippines and are engaged in bilateral engagement as per standard practice in the West Philippine Sea."

When asked if any action was carried out by Chinese forces in response to the exercise, Brawner said, We did not experience any untoward incident, but we were still shadowed. We expected that already", AP reported.

As part of the Indian Navys operational deployment to South East Asia, Indian Naval Ships INS Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan, of the Eastern Fleet, commanded by RAdm Susheel Menon, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), reached Manila, Philippines, on August 1.

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The bilateral maritime exercise focused on joint manoeuvres and communication protocols to improve preparedness, build mutual trust and strengthen operational synergy in the maritime domain.

The Philippines has staged naval patrols in the disputed waters with its treaty ally, the United States, and other strategic partners, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand and France, to promote freedom of navigation and overflight and strengthen deterrence against China.

Location : Manila, Philippines

First Published: August 04, 2025, 12:29 IST

News world India And Philippines Conduct Joint Sail, Naval Drill In Disputed South China Sea

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Pacific Tsunami Sparked 'Prophecy' Panic In China Over Manga Prediction: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 09:37 IST

A Japanese manga artist's decades-old prediction about a July 2025 earthquake reignited public fear after tsunami waves hit on July 30, drawing over a million searches in China.

Children overlook the coastline during a precautionary tsunami warning following an earthquake off the coast of Russia (Photo: AP)

As tsunami waves struck the shores in Japan and Russia on July 30, people in China were looking out for prophecy" on their phones. According to a report with CNN, the term gained more than 1.1 million views on a video app in the immediate aftermath of the Pacific tsunami.

The reason the term was massively being searched is that July 30s tsunami had been foretold four years earlier, in a Japanese manga comic book.

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According to the report, the book The Future I Saw", published by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki in 1999, warned of a major disaster in March 2011, a date which turned out to coincide with the cataclysmic quake that struck Japans northern Tohoku region that month.

Later, in 2021, Tatsuki released another book named Complete Version", which claimed that the next big earthquake would hit in July 2025.

The report claimed that Tatsuki has had an avid, and the same was proven earlier this year, when soon after the contents of the book went viral, tourists and other travellers cancelled their trips to Japan. While many were relieved as the authorities lifted the tsunami warning later, many remained on the edge.

It must be noted that earthquakes are impossible to predict, and seismologists have strongly cautioned against believing the rising number of so-called predictions. In one of her interviews with Japanese media in May, Tatsuki herself urged people not to be overly swayed" by her dreams.

According to the report, Tatsukis manga depicts a cartoon version of herself gleaning visions from her slumbers, some of which turn out to bear a close resemblance to real-life events. Some fans believe she predicted the deaths of Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury, though sceptics say her visions are too vague to be taken seriously.

It was the 2011 quake that boosted belief in Tatsukis supposed prescience. Her 1999 manga The Future I Saw" has the words massive disaster in March, 2011" on the cover, leading many to believe that she predicted the 9.0 magnitude earthquake more than a decade before it hit Tohoku.

The 2011 tsunami in Japan killed just under 20,000 people. It was a terrible toll, but far fewer than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed 2,27,000 people throughout the region, primarily in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.

In her 2021 follow-up, Tatsuki warned that an earthquake in the Philippine Sea on July 5 this year would cause tsunami waves three times as tall as those from the Tohoku earthquake, leading many to fear disaster sometime last month.

One of the ten largest earthquakes ever recorded struck Kamchatka, the sparsely populated Russian peninsula facing the Pacific, on July 30. The magnitude 8.8 quake had its epicentre in the sea just off the Kamchatka coast.

While four metre-high waves were reported in Russia, the waves projected elsewhere were smaller, ranging from 30 centimetres to 1 metre in China, and between 1 and 3 metres in parts of Japan, Hawaii and the Solomon Islands, as well as Ecuador and Chile on the other side of the Pacific.

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In the past, tsunami alerts were issued using worst-case estimates based on simple tables linking quake size and location to fixed alert levels. These did not account for complex uncertainties in how the seafloor moved or how energy translated into how much water was displaced.

ALSO READ | Did Kamchatka Earthquake Trigger First Volcano Eruption In 600 Years? What Russian Team Says

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: August 04, 2025, 09:36 IST

News world Pacific Tsunami Sparked 'Prophecy' Panic In China Over Manga Prediction: Report

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Nancy Mace Launches 2026 Gubernatorial Bid In South Carolina With Bold Agenda

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: August 05, 2025, 02:08 IST

The 2026 Republican primary for governor is shaping up to be highly competitive.

A notable element of her campaign announcement video included footage of President Trump praising her as a fighter" (Instagram)

Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace officially announced her candidacy for governor of South Carolina on Monday, entering the 2026 race with a fiery speech and an ambitious 10-point agenda. Speaking before a crowd of supporters, Mace declared that her campaign would offer a roadmap to rebuild South Carolina from the ground up," vowing to bring bold leadership and reform to the Palmetto State.

South Carolina is tired of politicians who smile for the cameras, lie to your face, and then vanish when its time to lead," Mace said during her campaign launch, as reported by CNN, adding, Im running for governor because South Carolina doesnt need another empty suit."

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Mace, currently serving her third term in the US House of Representatives, laid out a wide-ranging agenda in an interview with the Associated Press. Her priorities include overhauling the criminal justice system, eliminating the states income tax, and expanding protections for women and children. Education reform also features prominently, with Mace pushing for greater school choice and an expansion of vocational training options.

A notable element of her campaign announcement video included footage of President Donald Trump praising her as a fighter," a nod to their evolving political relationship. Once a vocal critic of Trump, particularly in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot, Mace has since become one of his allies, endorsing him during the 2024 GOP primaries.

Mace has also positioned herself as a staunch advocate for womens rights. In a May congressional hearing on non-consensual recordings, she revealed a naked silhouette image allegedly taken without her consent by her ex-fiance. Simultaneously, she has taken conservative stances on other gender-related policies, including support for banning transgender women from using womens restrooms at the Capitol.

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The 2026 Republican primary for governor is shaping up to be highly competitive. Mace will face several prominent GOP figures, including Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, state Senator Josh Kimbrell, and US Rep. Ralph Norman. Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, is term-limited and will not seek reelection.

Mace has already taken aim at Wilson, accusing him of neglecting his duty to protect women and children. In February, she publicly claimed that Wilson ignored evidence of sexual misconduct involving her ex-fiance and other men, alleging a broader failure of accountability.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 05, 2025, 02:08 IST

News world Nancy Mace Launches 2026 Gubernatorial Bid In South Carolina With Bold Agenda

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'Don't Lose Sleep On It': Manish Tewari's '1971 War' Message To Trump After Tariff Threat

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 23:39 IST

Congress MP Manish Tewari reminded President Donald Trump of the time the US tried to interfere in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War by sending ships to deter India's actions

Congress MP Manish Tewari said India is resilient enough to withstand US President Donald Trump's "tariff threats". (Image: PTI/File)

Soon after Donald Trump on Monday warned that he will substantially raise" the tariff paid by India for buying massive amounts of Russian Oil", Congress MP Manish Tewari had some scathing remarks of his own for the American President and said India has resilience" enough to withstand his tariff threat".

In a sardonic tone, he asked Trump not to lose sleep on it" and reminded him of the time the United States tried to interfere in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.

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Comparing both the situations as an example of Indias resilience, he said the US sent the seventh fleet into the Bay of Bengal to deter" India from reordering the political map of South Asia". He said New Delhi withstood that" and will do the same if he chooses to follow up his warning of increasing tariffs.

Dont loose sleep on it Your nation sent the seventh fleet into the Bay of Bengal in 1971 to deter us from reordering the political map of South Asia. We withstood that . We have enough resilience as a nation to withstand your Tariff threat. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter SIR," (sic) Tewari said in a post on X.

Dont loose sleep on it.@realDonaldTrump .Your nation sent the seventh fleet into the Bay of Bengal in 1971 to deter us from reordering the political map of South Asia. We withstood that .We have enough resilience as a nation to withstand your Tariff threat. Thank you pic.twitter.com/YRReX52wXO Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) August 4, 2025

Trump has alleged that much of the oil India purchased from Russia is being sold in the open market for big profits". His announcement, made on his social media platform Truth Social, came days after he announced a 25 percent reciprocal tariff on India and an unspecified penalty for importing oil from Russia.

India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!" Trump said in the post.

India has defended its sovereign right to conduct energy policy based on national interest.

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The Centre has clarified that Indias energy purchases are guided by market dynamics and national interests.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More

First Published: August 04, 2025, 22:46 IST

News india 'Don't Lose Sleep On It': Manish Tewari's '1971 War' Message To Trump After Tariff Threat

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Ohio Names Mathura Sridharan As Solicitor General, Online Trolls Target Her For Wearing Bindi

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 15:56 IST

Sridharan is also trained in Carnatic music and has performed at various sabhas, including during Chennai's December music season in 2010

Mathura Sridharan has been appointed as the new Solicitor General of Ohio, becoming the state's top appellate lawyer. (X)

Mathura Sridharan, an Indian-origin attorney with a distinguished academic and legal background, has been appointed as the new Solicitor General of Ohio, becoming the states top appellate lawyer. While the milestone marks a significant achievement in her career, it has also made her the target of online abuse, largely centered around her wearing of a traditional bindi.

The announcement was made on July 31 by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who praised Sridharan as brilliant" and exceptionally qualified" for the position. In her role, she will argue on behalf of the state in high-profile appellate cases, including those before the US Supreme Court.

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Sridharan replaces Benjamin Flowers, who stepped down to join the US Department of Justice. She had previously served as Deputy Solicitor General and led Ohios Tenth Amendment Center. She is credited with arguing Ohio v. EPA, a major environmental case, before the Supreme Court earlier this year.

Despite her credentials, Sridharan faced a wave of social media trolling following her appointment. Much of the criticism focused not on her legal qualifications but on her Indian heritage and the red bindi on her forehead in official portraits. Some users questioned her Americanness," while others made xenophobic claims such as, Ohio will soon be governed entirely by Indians."

Why would you select someone who isn't an American for such an important role? ThatGuyFromHS (@ThatGuyFromHS) July 31, 2025

However, Yost quickly came to her defence. In a statement, he said: A few commenters have asserted incorrectly that Mathura is not American. She is a United States citizen, married to a US citizen, and the child of naturalised US citizens. If her name or her complexion bothers you, the problem is not with her or her appointment."

Born to Indian immigrants, Sridharan boasts an impressive academic record. She earned a JD from the New York University School of Law in 2018 and holds dual degrees in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, along with a Bachelors in Economics, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Her legal career includes prestigious clerkships with Judge Steven Menashi on the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the late Judge Deborah Batts on the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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Sridharan is trained in Carnatic music and has performed at various sabhas, including during Chennais December music season in 2010. She has been married to Ashwin Suresh since 2015.

Both former Ohio Solicitor GeneralsElliot Gaiser and Benjamin Flowerspublicly backed her appointment, emphasising her competence and readiness for the post.

About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S... Read More Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:56 IST

News world Ohio Names Mathura Sridharan As Solicitor General, Online Trolls Target Her For Wearing Bindi

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Pakistans US Oil Deal Signals Strategic Realignment, Challenges Chinas Gwadar Influence | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 14:29 IST

Pakistan aims to extract greater financial and military commitments from Beijing under CPEC, while simultaneously compelling Washington to increase its economic aid

Islamabads economic challenges have created vulnerabilities that the US and China are keen to exploit. (AP)

Pakistans recently finalised oil agreement with the United States marks a significant realignment in the countrys geopolitical strategy, indicating a departure from its traditionally China-centric approach to regional partnerships. The move is being widely interpreted as a clear signal to Beijing that strategic access to critical zones such as Gwadar is no longer exclusive to China.

Diplomatic sources told CNN-News18 that Islamabad is leveraging the deal to foster a competitive bidding environment between two major global powersChina and the United States. By doing so, Pakistan aims to extract greater financial and military commitments from Beijing under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), while simultaneously compelling Washington to increase its economic aid, infrastructure investment, and political engagement in the region.

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Pakistan is engaging in a sophisticated balancing act, using its strategic geography to negotiate better terms from both China and the United States. The government intends to utilise Chinese expertise in hard infrastructure projects while relying on the US for diplomatic support, especially in international forums such as the IMF and FATF," the sources added.

US President Donald Trumps announcement regarding the discovery of vast oil reserves in Pakistan underscores Washingtons long-term strategic ambitions in the region. Experts suggest that this move is part of a broader geopolitical narrative designed to secure US access to Balochistana resource-rich and geopolitically sensitive province bordering Iran and adjacent to the strategic Gwadar port.

The oil deal grants the United States legal access to deploy American contractors, engineers, and security personnel in Pakistans high-risk zones, particularly in Balochistan. The regions rugged terrain offers strategic surveillance points over the CPEC routes, providing the US with an invaluable vantage point to monitor Chinese activities.

The US aims to establish forward-operating business and intelligence bases in Balochistan, facilitating a multi-faceted presence that includes energy and mineral exploration alongside military logistics deployment. Observers note that this strategy mirrors US forward-basing tactics employed in Iraq in 2003, where military and business interests were integrated for long-term regional influence.

Pakistans precarious economic situation plays a critical role in making the country receptive to these offers. Islamabads economic challenges have created vulnerabilities that the US and China are keen to exploit, turning Pakistan into a battleground for influence through a combination of economic aid, infrastructure projects, and political support.

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The deal has significant implications for the regional power dynamic. China, which has invested heavily in CPEC and views Gwadar as a linchpin of its Belt and Road Initiative, now faces increased competition from the US presence. Analysts argue that Islamabads move is designed to ensure that neither superpower can dominate Pakistans strategic corridors unchallenged.

Pakistans latest deal with the United States thus represents a calculated geopolitical gambit. By balancing the interests of China and the US, Islamabad aims to maximise its strategic leverage, secure critical economic support, and position itself as a pivotal player in the evolving power dynamics of South Asia.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: August 04, 2025, 14:29 IST

News world Pakistans US Oil Deal Signals Strategic Realignment, Challenges Chinas Gwadar Influence | Exclusive

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'Putin Not Ruling Out Meeting With Zelenskyy But...': Kremlin Ahead Of US-Russia Talks

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 15:59 IST

The Kremlin's response came after Donald Trump confirmed that his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia next week ahead of a looming sanctions deadline.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (File)

The Kremlin said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had not ruled out a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, now approaching its fourth year, but suitable preparations had not been made for such a visit.

This came after US President Donald Trump, who has been increasingly frustrated with Russias lack of willingness to end the war, confirmed that his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia next week, ahead of a looming US sanctions deadline.

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Ahead of talks between Witkoff and Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, Putin isnt ruling out meeting with Zelenskyy. However, this would require careful preparation, which has not been carried out yet."

Peskov said the upcoming visit by Witkoff would be important and helpful. We are always happy to see Mr Witkoff in Moscow We consider such contact important, substantial and helpful," he added.

Trumps Frustration With Russia

Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow, before Trumps efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt as Russia refused to make concessions and agree to a ceasefire deal with Ukraine, despite months of US efforts.

Trump had initially given Russia and Ukraine 50 days to resolve the conflict and come to an agreement, or he would hit Moscow with 100% tariffs. However, he later drastically reduced the deadline to 10-12 days after Moscows reluctance.

When reporters asked what Witkoffs message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."

Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean secondary tariffs" targeting Russias remaining trade partners, such as China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption.

Putins Stance On Ceasefire

Despite pressure from Washington, Russia has continued the conflict with Ukraine. Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said Friday that he wants peace but that his demands for ending his nearly three-and-a-half-year invasion were unchanged."

We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries," Putin told reporters. Russia has frequently called on Ukraine to cede control of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable.

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Zelenskyy said Sunday that the two sides were preparing a prisoner exchange that would see 1,200 Ukrainian troops return home, following talks with Russia in Istanbul in July.

(with agency inputs)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Moscow, Russia

First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:50 IST

News world 'Putin Not Ruling Out Meeting With Zelenskyy But...': Kremlin Ahead Of US-Russia Talks

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Simultaneous Attacks By 80 Men Leave 8 Pakistani Soldiers Dead In Balochistan | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 13:23 IST

The attackers, believed to be part of a Baloch insurgent group, arrived in 11 vehicles and began the assault by destroying communication equipment at the outposts.

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Pakistan army suffers blow in Balochistan (Reuters File Image)

Eight Pakistani soldiers were killed and 11 injured in a coordinated militant assault on Sunday night in Balochistans Panjgur district. According to official sources, over 80 heavily armed assailants launched a complex, multi-pronged attack on three separate military checkpoints in the remote Gwargo area, dealing a severe blow to the regions fragile security environment.

The attackers, believed to be part of a Baloch insurgent group, arrived in 11 vehicles and began the assault by destroying communication equipment at the outposts. This strategic move reportedly cut off the units from backup support, enabling the attackers to lay an ambush for the quick response force that was dispatched to the scene.

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Three security personnel remain missing, with a manhunt underway in the rugged terrain. No group has formally claimed responsibility for the assault so far, but it bears the hallmarks of recent attacks by Baloch separatist factions that have stepped up operations against Pakistani forces.

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This latest incident comes on the heels of one of the deadliest days for Pakistani troops in recent history. Earlier in July, at least 20 Pakistani soldiers were killed in two separate ambushes in Balochistan within 12 hours, also involving the destruction of communication links and the use of decoys to mislead reinforcements.

Balochistan has seen a sharp uptick in violence over the past year, with separatist groups targeting infrastructure projects, military installations, and security convoys. The province, rich in resources but plagued by political marginalisation and insurgency, remains a flashpoint in Pakistans internal security landscape.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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First Published: August 04, 2025, 13:21 IST

News world Simultaneous Attacks By 80 Men Leave 8 Pakistani Soldiers Dead In Balochistan | Exclusive

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Switzerland Eyes 'More Attractive' Offer For Donald Trump After Being Slapped With 39% Tariffs

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 23:32 IST

Switzerland is facing 39% US tariffs on its products, the fourth-highest amount of duties after Brazil, Syria, Myanmar and Laos.

US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office. (Reuters Image)

Switzerland says it is prepared to make a better offer for US President Donald Trump after being slapped with a whopping 39% tariffs that have shocked the country, causing ripples in the Swiss stock market.

The stock market tumbled by over 2% when it opened on Monday before paring its losses later in the day, ending the day down just 0.15%, after Trump announced one of the highest tariffs on the Alpine country among dozens of economies.

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The new tariffs are expected to come into force from Thursday (June 7). Switzerland is facing the fourth-highest amount of tariffs after Brazil, Syria, Myanmar and Laos. Brazil is facing a 50% tariff on its products, Syria 41% and Myanmar and Laos have been slapped with 40% each.

Trump had originally threatened in April to slap a 31% tariff on Switzerland, which swiftly decided to negotiate with the United States. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter has said Trump believes that Switzerland steals" from the US by enjoying a trade surplus of 40 billion Swiss francs ($50 billion).

Switzerland To Continue Talks

After an emergency meeting on Monday, the Swiss Federal Council said it would continue negotiations with the aim of reaching a trade deal", even beyond the Thursday deadline.

Switzerland enters this new phase ready to present a more attractive offer, taking US concerns into account and seeking to ease the current tariff situation," the council said in a statement, adding that it was at a distinct disadvantage as compared to other trading partners with similar economic profiles.

Hans Gersbach, deputy head of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute, said the tariffs could cut the countrys annual growth by between 0.3 and 0.6%. It could further rise if Trump targets the pharmaceutical industry, which has so far been exempt from tariffs.

Analysts at Swiss investment managers Vontobel said in a note that they believed there is some hope for an agreement on US tariffs for Switzerland" that would bring them down to the 15% set for other countries.

The chocolate industry association, Chocosuisse, said the tariffs were a tough blow" for the sector, which is already reeling from a 10% duty. It is particularly shocking that Switzerland finds itself at a distinct disadvantage compared to all other Western industrialised countries," it said in a statement.

Trumps Tariffs

Trump has imposed tariffs on several economies, including 25% levies on Indian goods, that have injected a fresh dose of uncertainty for consumers and businesses worldwide. The legality of these tariffs are also under question as a US appeals court last week heard that Trump had exceeded his authority by declaring an emergency" to charge the tariffs.

Critics have argued that Trumps aggressive trade policy could gradually erode Americas power and prosperity and may lead to recession, a concern that initially led to Trump imposing a 90-day negotiating period with countries.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warned on Sunday that the coming days" were not likely to see changes in any duties as the tariff rates are pretty much set".

(with AFP inputs)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Bern, Switzerland

First Published: August 04, 2025, 23:32 IST

News world Switzerland Eyes 'More Attractive' Offer For Donald Trump After Being Slapped With 39% Tariffs

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Citing Canadas failure to cooperate with the U.S. in stemming the flow of illicit drugs, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order increasing the tariff on Canada from 25 percent to 35 percent, with the higher tariff set to go into effect on August 1, 2025.



Shortly after returning to office, President Trump declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to address, among other things, the public health crisis caused by fentanyl and illicit drugs flowing across the northern border into the United States.



Canada has failed to cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and it has retaliated against the United States for the Presidents actions to address this unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States.





Goods qualifying for preferential tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) continue to remain not subject to the IEEPA Canada tariffs.



Goods transshipped to evade the 35 percent tariff will be subject, instead, to a transshipment tariff of 40 percent.



Given Canadas continued failure to arrest traffickers, seize illicit drugs, or coordinate with U.S. law enforcement and Canadas retaliation against the United States for the Presidents actions to address the unusual and extraordinary threat to America, further presidential action is necessary and appropriate to protect American lives and the national security and foreign policy of the United States.



Mexican cartels are increasingly operating fentanyl- and nitazene-synthesis labs in Canada.



A recent study highlighted Canadas heightened domestic production of fentanyl, and its growing footprint within international narcotics distribution.



Canada-based drug trafficking organizations maintain robust super labs, mostly in rural and dense areas in western Canada, some of which can produce 44 to 66 pounds of fentanyl weekly.



Fentanyl seizures at the northern border this fiscal year, with two months remaining, have surpassed total seizures of the past three years combined, underscoring Canadas escalating role in this crisis.



The amount of fentanyl seized at the northern border to date this fiscal year could have killed more than 16 million Americans due to the drugs potency.



Canadas retaliatory trade measures against the United States further complicate bilateral efforts to address this escalating drug crisis.



Last November, President Trump promised to sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 percent Tariff on their imports into the United States, and [their] ridiculous Open Borders.



President Trump has provided Canada ample opportunity to curb the dangerous cartel activity and influx of lethal drugs flowing into our country.



In March, the President determined that Canada had failed to adequately address the situation and proceeded with the imposition of the 25 percent tariff.



Now, President Trump is taking further action to hold Canada accountable for its continued role in the illicit drug crisis.
They Are Where They Have To Be: Trump On US Nuclear Submarines' Position Amid Russia Tensions

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 07:36 IST

Donald Trump had earlier ordered the US submarines to be moved in "appropriate regions" after Dmitry Medvedev reminded him of Russia's Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities.

Trump confirms movement of US nuclear submarines to face Russia (Reuters File Image)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) reiterated his order to move two nuclear submarines to the appropriate regions" in response to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedevs remarks, and said that they are where they have to be".

They are in the region, yeah  where they have to be," Trump said, in response to a query by a reporter if the nuclear submarines have been deployed to face Russia.

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REPORTER: Have those nuclear submarines been deployed yet to face Russia?"@POTUS: They are in the region, yeah  where they have to be." pic.twitter.com/fwQeMXXBP2 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 4, 2025

On Friday, responding to Medvedevs remarks about the risk of war between the two nuclear-armed adversaries, Trump ordered two US Navy nuclear submarines to be positioned in appropriate regions", considering that the inflammatory statements are more than just that".

A day prior to that, Medvedev said that Trump should remember that Moscow possessed Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort.

Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev  I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that," Trump said on Truth Social last Friday.

Trumps comments about the deployment of nuclear submarines come at a time when there is mounting tension between Washington and Moscow, as he has failed to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end.

However, despite Trumps assertion that the submarines were being moved to their positions, the US Navy and Pentagon have declined to comment about the remarks on whether the submarines had been moved, Reuters reported earlier.

It is very rare for the US military to give details about the deployment of its submarines due to their sensitive mission in nuclear deterrence.

Trump has not specified what he meant by nuclear submarines." US military submarines are nuclear-powered and can be armed with nuclear-tipped missiles, although not all are, Reuters reported.

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The US has 14 Ohio Class nuclear submarines. Each one can carry up to 24 Trident II D5 missiles, which can travel up to 4,600 miles and deliver multiple nuclear warheads. Usually, between 8 and 10 of these submarines are active and deployed at any given time, according to a nuclear weapons watchdog group.

Trump also confirmed on Sunday that his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia.

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 : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 04, 2025, 07:14 IST

News world They Are Where They Have To Be: Trump On US Nuclear Submarines' Position Amid Russia Tensions

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Trump Threatens Higher Tariffs On India Over Russian Oil, Says It Doesnt Care About Ukraine'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 20:51 IST

Trump had earlier imposed 25% tariff on India and an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment

US President Donald Trump is right to not get too worked up about lacking the credentials to win the Nobel Peace Prize 2026. (Image: Reuters/File)

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced to raise tariffs on Indian goods over the purchase and sale of Russian oil.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, but also selling it for big profits in the open markets. He said India does not care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine."

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Trump had earlier imposed 25% tariff on India and an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment. However, he did not specify how much he would increase the tariff.

India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!" he wrote.

Trump, who has been raising questions over India-Russia ties, last week said he does not care how much business New Delhi does with Moscow.

Last week, the US President announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Indian goods, citing Indias high tariffs and continued military and energy ties with Russia.

However, the Indian government has not taken any retaliatory step so far and said it is studying tariff implications. The government said it will take all steps necessary to secure Indias national interest.

In a statement on July 30, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months.

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The Government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs. The Government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK," read the statement.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 04, 2025, 20:26 IST

News world Trump Threatens Higher Tariffs On India Over Russian Oil, Says It Doesnt Care About Ukraine'

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Trump Praises Sydney Sweeney Over 'Genes' Ad, Says If She Is 'Registered Republican, I Think...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 15:30 IST

Sydney Sweeney's denim ad faced backlash but was praised by Donald Trump, calling it "fantastic." Sweeney, a Florida Republican, sparked debate over her political views.

Trump's compliment came soon after it was revealed that the Euphoria actor Sweeney is a registered Republican.(Photo: Bang Showbiz)

Sydney Sweeney, the American actress whose recent denim advertisement for a popular clothing brand American Eagle drew a massive backlash, has earned praise from US President Donald Trump who called her ad fantastic."

According to The Indian Express, Trump said to a reporter, If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic!"

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Trumps remarks came soon after it was revealed that the Euphoria actor is a registered Republican. Since the revelation, a debate has swirled online over both Sweeneys political views and the viral campaign. The American Eagle campaign, which leans into a pun on genes" and jeans", is currently doing rounds on social media.

Sweeney Registered As Republican In Florida

According to The Guardian, Sweeney registered as a Republican in Florida on June 14, 2024, shortly after purchasing a mansion in the Florida Keys. Her registration came just weeks after Trumps conviction in New York on charges of falsifying business records and several months before his re-election in November 2024.

So far, Sweeney has not publicly addressed her party affiliation or the growing political attention around her.

Denim Campaign Sparks Mixed Reactions

Sweeney is currently featured in a campaign built around the pun Sydney Sweeney has great genes"a play on both heredity and denim.

In one video ad, Sweeney says: Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue."

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The ad campaign has drawn a range of reactions. Some have praised its humor and Sweeneys delivery, while many have called it criticised it amid Trumps latest policies to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and tighten immigration enforcement.

Despite the backlash, American Eagle has stood by the campaign. In a statement released on Friday, the company said, Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story."

About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:28 IST

News world Trump Praises Sydney Sweeney Over 'Genes' Ad, Says If She Is 'Registered Republican, I Think...'

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Two Killed, Six Wounded In LA After-Party Shooting; Police Investigation Underway

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: August 04, 2025, 23:59 IST

The identities of the deceased have not yet been fully released by police.

The party was promoted online as an unofficial after-party for the Hard Summer festival (Representative Image)

Two people were killed and six others left injured in a shooting that occurred during an after-party in downtown Los Angeles overnight on Sunday. According to KTLA, the Los Angeles Police Department stated that the incident took place around 1 am on August 4.

Authorities confirmed that the gunfire broke out near 14th Place and Griffith Avenue, an area reportedly hosting multiple parties at the time. Police had already patrolled the location earlier in the evening, around 11 pm, after observing an individual entering an unauthorised gathering. The LAPD said they cleared out the event, which had more than 50 people present. During that sweep, one attendee was arrested for carrying a firearm.

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Despite this intervention, officers were called back to the same venue following a radio alert about shots being fired. When they arrived, they found that eight individuals had been struck by gunfire. Two victims succumbed to their injuries, while six others were left wounded. One of the surviving victims is in critical condition, according to an LAPD spokesperson speaking with KTLA 5.

It was pretty clear and loud You knew that if those bullets landed in somebody, that they werent walking away from the situation," said local resident Tyrone Laney in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been fully released by police. However, officials confirmed that the victims included a man and a 52-year-old woman. One died at the scene, while the other was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. Some of the injured victims were admitted to California Hospital Medical Center for treatment.

One of the victims has been identified as 29-year-old Gregory Derisso, according to his father, Judner Derisso. He described Gregory as a dedicated music producer and the father of three young children, all under the age of five.

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As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the party was promoted online as an unofficial after-party" for the Hard Summer festival and featured house and techno music. An Instagram post advertising the event reportedly listed the names of DJs scheduled to perform.

No arrests have been made so far. Investigators are still working to determine a motive for the shooting.

Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 04, 2025, 23:59 IST

News world Two Killed, Six Wounded In LA After-Party Shooting; Police Investigation Underway

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Aug 04, 2025 22:42 IST

Environmentalists and indigenous rights groups in Ecuador are expressing growing concern that the administration of President Daniel Noboa is actively unwinding the countrys reputation for environmental leadership, AP says in a report. This development comes two years after a historic public vote blocked oil drilling in the biodiverse Yasuni National Park and stands in contrast to the nations 2008 constitution, which was the first to enshrine the rights of nature. Fears are mounting over a proposed law that activists believe is designed to harm or restrict the operations of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly those focused on environmental and indigenous rights. In response to these perceived threats, various groups are beginning to mobilize resistance, highlighting the regional and global stakes for conservation efforts in critical areas like the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands.
In a sweeping move to defund the Iranian regime, the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, designated more than 50 individuals and entities and identified more than 50 vessels that are part of the vast shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani (Hossein).



Hossein, the son of Ali Shamkhani, a top political advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran, leverages corruption through his fathers political influence at the highest levels of the Iranian regime to build and operate a massive fleet of tankers and containerships. This network transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and Russia, as well as other cargo, to buyers around the world, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.



The Shamkhani familys shipping empire highlights how the Iranian regime elites leverage their positions to accrue massive wealth and fund the regimes dangerous behavior, said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.



Hosseins network exerts control over a significant portion of Irans crude oil exports, the proceeds of which benefit his family and the Iranian regime. The Shamkhani family further exploits their ill-gotten wealth to obtain access to benefits unavailable to everyday Iranians, including owning exclusive properties around the world and obtaining foreign passports in exchange for substantial financial investments.



At the same time, the Department of State is designating 20 entities and identifying 10 vessels as blocked property for their involvement in the trade and transport of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.



Mohammad Hossein Shamkhanis network comprises a vast fleet of vessels, ship management firms, and front companies, some posing as legitimate financial services firms, that launder billions in profits from global sales of Iranian and Russian crude oil and other petroleum products, most often to buyers in China.



Billions of dollars in income from the Hossein networks illicit trade are transferred through a global network of front companies designed to disguise the trail back to Iran.



Hosseins network is notable for the sophisticated techniques it uses for evading sanctions, laundering money, and obfuscating paper trails, insulating those responsible from culpability.



As a result of these sanctions, all property, and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.



The over 115 sanctions issued today are the largest to-date since the Trump Administration implemented our campaign of maximum pressure on Iran, said Secretary Bessent. These actions put America first by targeting regime elites that profit while Tehran threatens the safety of the United States.
Government officials have flagged the issuance of a licence to a Chinese firm to operate a cement plant in Magunje, Hurungwe district, in Mashonaland West under unclear circumstances, suggesting possible corruption.

The Magunje Cement Plant, operated by Labenmon (Pvt) Ltd, has sparked fierce opposition from local communities.

Villagers argue that the plant is too close to a critical dam, their primary source of water and is encroaching on to grazing land.

They are demanding its relocation to an industrial zone away from residential and ecological areas.

Presidential Affairs and Devolution secretary Tafadzwa Muguti last week raised concern over Environmental Management Agency (Ema)'s decision to issue an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate to Labenmon Investments despite fierce resistance from locals.

Muguti questioned the legitimacy of the certificate, pointing out that Labenmon lacks title deeds for the land.

Ema, I don't know what came over them  maybe they were given some sugar' to turn a blind eye, Muguti remarked, suggesting possible corruption in the approval process.

They made a big mistake.

Muguti was speaking at a joint meeting of Zanu PF's provincial coordinating committee and the provincial development committee on Thursday last week.

He further revealed that the company does not have a registered address, raising suspicions about tax compliance.

As I speak, that Chinese investor has no address, which is a sure sign it is not paying taxes, he said.

The absence of a Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency licence further indicates that the company may not be contributing to national revenue, he said.

Muguti confirmed that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission was probing Ema for allegedly issuing an EIA certificate without proper due diligence.

Last week, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi visited the site and engaged villagers and the Chinese investor.

However, the community has reported cases of intimidation and arbitrary arrest of those opposed to the project.

The issue has also divided Zanu PF leadership, with factions arising over the project.

As tensions escalate, calls for transparency, accountability and strict regulatory compliance are growing. Newsday
Zimbabwes biggest hospitals are haemorrhaging billions of dollars in public funds thanks to ghost workers, poor record-keeping, and zero oversight.

A hard-hitting Auditor-Generals report has blown the lid off shocking mismanagement at central hospitals including Mpilo, UBH, Ingutsheni and Parirenyatwa, where salaries were paid to people who no longer work there, drugs vanished from shelves, and unqualified staff were treating patients.

At Mpilo Central Hospital, four employees who resigned months earlier still pocketed ZWL40 million, all because no one bothered to update the payroll.

The hospital failed to submit monthly staff returns This allowed resigned employees to continue receiving salaries, said Acting Auditor-General Mrs Rheah Kujinga, warning that such lapses threaten the entire public health system.

This led to financial loss due to irregular payments.

While hospital management claims the money was recovered and that a new system is now in place, the rot goes much deeper.

The report revealed that inventory worth ZiG161 million was missing, donations worth ZiG2,15 billion had no records to back them up, there were no internal audits, and no board existed to provide oversight, which is a violation of national laws.

At United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), a list of key staff including radiographers, doctors, and nurse aides failed to show up for physical verification.

The employees did not present themselves to the auditors, the report read. HR also failed to produce leave forms or duty rosters to explain the absences.

The Human Resources department should ensure that paid time off is properly documented and duty rosters are maintained, the Auditor-General advised.

Shockingly, some hospital staff were working without valid practising certificates, in breach of the Health Professions Act.

At Ingutsheni Hospital, medicines and supplies simply vanished.

Records showed 1 611 units of Phenobarbitone  but the pharmacy had none.

Fuel, bread, sugar and other supplies were also listed as available but were nowhere to be found.

The report slammed Ingutshenis inventory controls and urged regular reconciliations to avoid fraud and drug shortages.

At Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, mismanagement continued with failure to reconcile medical aid payments, unfinished capital projects, and more ghost figures in the books.

In one case, a debtors balance was recorded as ZiG5,48 billion in the hospitals books while the medical aid society said it owed only ZiG4,96 billion.

None of the four central hospitals had functioning management boards despite legal requirements under the Health Service Act and the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act.

Mrs Kujinga also raised alarm over repeated failures to address findings from previous audits, including as far back as 2020.

Only one out of ten audit recommendations from previous years was fully addressed.

Health watchdogs and citizens are expected to demand accountability, as billions go to waste while hospitals struggle with basics like drugs, salaries, and working equipment.

The Auditor-Generals latest findings raise red flags about deep-rooted corruption, laxity, and failure of leadership in Zimbabwes health institutions, a crisis thats costing both money and lives. Herald
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has revealed an increase in bogus officers mounting fake roadblocks and harassing motorists across the country, especially in Harare, NewsDay can report.

This emerged during a meeting held between senior police officers and the Suthisa ilizwe-Gutsaruzhinji (Si-G) president, Sybeth Msengezi, at the Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) in Harare on Wednesday last week.

Si-G is a non-partisan empowerment movement that shares foundational values of resistance for universal rights and it is also an inclusive platform for addressing negative economic, social and political issues that have been and are still affecting us daily since the country became independent in 1980.

On July 23 this year, Msengezi wrote to the ZRP Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba demanding immediate action to address issues undermining public trust in the police, including harassment and extortion involving pirate taxis and systematic corruption against motorists.

Police officers routinely engage in dangerous chases with pirate taxi drivers, not to enforce order but to extort bribes. These reckless pursuits endanger pedestrians, vendors and commuters, resulting in injuries, property damage and fatalities. Police officers appear to profit from the chaos rather than resolve it.

Roadblocks, intersections and robots have become illegal revenue collection points. Police officers deliberately delay motorists, threaten vehicle impoundment and demand bribes, further burdening struggling citizens, he said.

Msengezi called on Mutamba to launch immediate investigation into this abuse of power, hold corrupt officers accountable and reform policing practices to prioritise public safety over extortion.

He gave the Commissioner-General a 14-day ultimatum.

In response, Deputy CommissionerGeneral (Operations and Crime) Learn Ncube called for a meeting between Msengezi and police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, Officer Commanding Harare province Commissioner Chikunguru and Harare provincial spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza.

Nyathi yesterday confirmed the meeting, saying it was part of the ZRP's engagement policy.

We are open to everyone who has issues to discuss as part of our engagement policy, so that we also get to understand what the public has to say.

We want to allow all Zimbabweans to air their views with us, share their experiences and allow them to discuss issues they believe are necessary to improve our policing.

The police are open to all individuals and groups who want constructive engagement so that we all play our role and this is open to all Zimbabweans.

Si-G spokesperson Simba Muchero yesterday told NewsDay that they had witnessed a lot of incidents around the country where corrupt police officers pursue pirate taxis and kombis with reckless abandon.

In the process, the main victims are innocent pedestrians, commuters, motorists and vendors who happen to be injured or have their property destroyed in the process.

We strongly believe that the cat and mouse chases are motivated by the need to collect bribes from the illegal transport operators, not necessarily to enforce the law.

The same pirate taxis and kombis pass through roadblocks where they pay bribes to pass, only to be chased around in the central business district, endangering innocent people.

According to a statement released after the meeting, the police raised concern that Msengezi's letter may have had an ulterior motive targeted at an ongoing operation against pirate taxis and commuter omnibuses.

There are bad apples within the force, but efforts are continuously made to flush them out. Examples of police officers who were prosecuted and those still under prosecution were given, the police reportedly told Msengezi at the meeting.

The police also raised concern over public participation in corruption. Newsday
Authorities have expanded the search for Montana bar shooting suspect Michael Paul Brown to include national forest land outside Anaconda, where he may be traveling on foot. "This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said at a news conference Sunday, per NBC News and the BBC , adding, "We're going to find him." The 45-year-old Army veteran fled Anaconda's Owl Bar on Friday morning in a white Ford F-150 truck, which has since been recovered . He's now believed to be on foot. Knudsen didn't rule out a possible suicide but said authorities "are acting under the assumption that he is alive, well, armed and extremely dangerous."

An employee and three patrons were shot and killed. They've been identified as bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. Locals say Brown, who lives next door to the bar, likely knew the victims. "When people don't receive services, you know, in rural areas, sometimes this is what happens," Kelley's daughter, Kristian Kelley, tells NBC. "He definitely was somebody that needed care." Friends say he struggles with mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder. He was observed wearing a tie-dye shirt and blue jeans, but soon after stripped down to only boxers, as shown in a photo released Saturday. He's believed to have later acquired clothes, per the BBC. A $7,500 reward is offered to anyone with information about him.
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The "entertainment capital of the world" isn't drawing tourists like it once did. Social media is full of users reporting "Las Vegas is dead," offering up photos and videos showing largely empty airports, planes, and casinos. Here's what the posts don't show, per Newsweek and the Los Angeles Times :

Just 3.1 million people visited Sin City in June, marking an 11.3% year-over-year decline, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)

The number of air travelers into Las Vegas fell 6.3% year-over-year in June

Hotel occupancy was at 66.7% in early July, down 17% from the same period last year, according to STR

Vegas has seen revenue per available room fall 29% year-over-year, the steepest decline nationally

Nevada gaming revenue fell 2.2% in May, with the Vegas Strip's revenue falling 3.87%

Meanwhile, there's been a spike in housing inventory, up 77% from a year ago, according to Realtor.com's June report

This comes amid a slump in international travelers to the US. The country is expected to lose $12.5 billion in international travel spending this year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. International travelers typically make up about 12% of Las Vegas visitors, with Southern Californians making up about 30%, per the Times. Canadian visits were down 14.5% for the first four months of the year, per USA Today. (Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Strip is now unionized.)
In a horrifying case of animal torture, two teenagers in the UK admitted in May to mutilating and killing kittens, reportedly using rope, a blowtorch, a knife, and scissors. As bad as that is, police are now investigating cat torture as a much larger issue, the BBC reports, pointing to online groups with thousands of members from around the world, who share and sell graphic images and videos of the abuse. The BBC penetrated one such group, hosted on an encrypted messaging app, in which members encouraged others to adopt kittens for torture from the UK's largest animal welfare charity, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Animal rights group Feline Guardians estimated a new video showing cat torture and execution was uploaded every 14 hours between May 2023 and May 2024. It's aware of two dozen active groups centered around cat torture, the largest of which counts more than 1,000 members. "The most active torturer is believed to have filmed the torture and killing of more than 200 cats," per the BBC.

A Feline Guardians volunteer who's spent time undercover in the groups says they represent the "depths of evil," with depictions of cats that are starved, drowned, and electrocuted. Some describe using electrocution to resuscitate a cat so it can be tortured further. The groups began in China, which has no laws in place to stop the abuse, the volunteer tells the BBC. "That means that abusers and torturers can effectively do what they want." That's not the case in the UK. The 17-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl who pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to cats in May are due to be sentenced Monday.
The Virginia city councilman who was attacked and set on fire last week has begun "his road to recovery," according to a family statement. Danville City Council member Lee Voglerwho also works as marketing director at the offices of Showcase Magazine, where the attack occurred Wednesdaywas expected to undergo the first of many surgeries on Friday, said wife Blair Vogler. She said the burn team that initially cared for her husband, a father of two, at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill "have given us both comfort and confidence during this difficult time." She also expressed thanks "for the support we've received from friends, family, and the community."

A GoFundMe campaign organized by Showcase Magazine owner Andrew Brooks has raised $75,000 to support Vogler's recovery. "Lee sustained second- and third-degree burns over more than half his body and is currently in stable but critical condition at the UNC Chapel Hill Burn Clinic," the page notes, adding "he faces multiple surgeries, an extended hospital stay, and monthsif not yearsof rehabilitation." Fox News describes burns to "roughly 60% of his body."

"As anyone who knows him would expect, [Vogler] is facing this challenge the same way he's faced every obstacle in his lifewith courage, determination, and an unbreakable spirit," his wife said in a Thursday statement. Authorities say the man charged with attempted first-degree murder in the case had a personal grudge against Vogler. He admitted to police that he hoped to kill Danville's youngest-ever councilman, per ABC News. First elected in 2012 at age 24, Vogler is now in his fourth term, per the New York Post.
The Labor Department revised previous jobs numbers so dramatically last week that President Trump said they had to have been "rigged." (He even fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.) Skeptics reject the idea of rigged numbers, but even some in this camp say the controversy should lead to improvements in how the Labor Department collects its data, a problem unrelated to politics. Details:

How it works: The Bureau of Labor Statistics "surveys 121,000 employersbusinesses and government agencieseach month, seeking their total payroll employment during the week in which the 12th day of the month falls," explains Reuters. Typically, they get about 60% of these voluntary responses in time for the initial estimate, but responses are allowed to arrive over two months. Thus, each month's jobs report also has revisions for the two months prior.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics "surveys 121,000 employersbusinesses and government agencieseach month, seeking their total payroll employment during the week in which the 12th day of the month falls," explains Reuters. Typically, they get about 60% of these voluntary responses in time for the initial estimate, but responses are allowed to arrive over two months. Thus, each month's jobs report also has revisions for the two months prior. Door to door: BLS also collects data through "old-fashioned door knocking," reports CNN. Agency employees visit homes across the US to collect info on residents' employment status. All the collected data is extrapolated to represent the entire nation, a process that takes some "educated guesswork" involving factors such as seasonal hiring trends, the story notes.
A bask of crocodiles brought to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank decades ago is meeting its end, as authorities euthanize the aging reptiles after years of their repeated escapes from a long-neglected farm. Israeli authorities said Monday that government veterinarians had culled the crocodiles because they threatened the area's residents and were themselves suffering from inhumane treatment. The exact number of crocodiles euthanized and the method of culling were not immediately clear, reports the AP .

"The Nile crocodiles at the farm were being kept in an abandoned compound under poor conditions that constitute animal abuse, with insufficient access to food, which had driven them to cannibalistic behavior," COGAT, the Israeli defense body that administers civilian affairs in the West Bank, said. The crocodiles were initially brought to the town of Petzael as a tourist attractiona business venture derailed by violence between Israel and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. They were later purchased by an entrepreneur who hoped to sell their skin. Their fate has been an open question since Israel in 2012 passed a law classifying the reptiles as protected animals and banned raising them for sale as meat or merchandise.

"I don't want to think of what will happen if a crocodile manages to escape and reaches the Jordan River, and then we'll have an international incident," the head of the local community told the AP in 2018, referencing the border with Jordan 4.2 miles away. COGAT said that authorities had spent more than $29,000 to re-fence the dilapidated farm, which has been in a state of disrepair since it was shut down in 2013. It said that veterinarians were consulted on how to humanely exterminate the animals.
China is tightening its grip on the supply of critical minerals needed by Western defense companies, prompting production delays and forcing manufacturers to scramble for alternative sources. As US-China trade tensions have escalated, Beijing has imposed stricter controls on exports of rare earths and other minerals vital for making military hardware like bullets, drones, night-vision goggles, and jet fighters, the Wall Street Journal reports. This has left American manufacturers, which rely on China for roughly 90% of the world's rare earths, searching globally for stockpiles and often paying sharply higher prices.

Some materials, such as samarium used in high-temperature magnets for jet engines, have seen prices soar as much as sixtyfold. Companies warn that continued shortages could mean production cuts, with executives at defense suppliers like Leonardo DRS reporting they are down to their "safety stock" of germanium, used in infrared sensors. "In order to sustain timely product deliveries, material flow must improve in the second half" of the year, the company's CEO said on a conference call, per the Journal.

The Pentagon told CNBC last month that it's taking steps to boost US production of the minerals, including buying a direct equity stake in the mining company MP Materials. And Apple has reached a deal with the company. The Defense Department has told contractors to wean themselves off China-sourced magnets by 2027. China's new export controls now require buyers to provide detailed documentation on how minerals will be used, particularly for defense applications. Western firms report that requests for magnets for civilian use get approved, while those intended for defense are rejected or delayed.
Switzerland is reeling after President Trump slapped a surprise 39% tariff on its exports, rattling markets and sparking political fallout. The move hit Swiss luxury goods, machinery, and pharmaceuticalssectors that depend heavily on access to the US market, the Guardian reports. The tariffs, announced early Friday local time, are set to kick in on Thursday. The 39% tariffhigher than the 31% Trump announced on his "Liberation Day"is higher than tariffs Trump has imposed on any other wealthy country, reports the Wall Street Journal .

Swiss negotiators had expected to secure a 10% tariff after months of talks. But following what's being described in local media as a "badly misjudged" and "disastrous" 30-minute call between President Karin Keller-Sutter and Trump on Thursday, the White House went far higher, blindsiding Swiss officials and industry alike. The Blick tabloid called it Switzerland's greatest defeat since 1515, when the French won a major battle, the Financial Times reports. The Swiss stock market, closed for a national holiday on Friday, plunged 1.8% when it reopened on Monday, though it later recovered most of its losses.

The Swiss cabinet convened for emergency talks and announced it's ready to sweeten its offer to Washington, though specifics remain under wraps. Local headlines have skewered Keller-Sutter, with tabloids accusing her of being "too naive" in negotiations. Swiss officials insist the tariff jump wasn't directly caused by the call, but admit the exchange did nothing to help. "The call was not a success, there was not a good outcome for Switzerland," a government source tells Reuters. "But there was not a quarrel. Trump made it clear from the very beginning that he had a completely different point of view, that 10% tariffs were not enough."

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The US has a $39 billion trade imbalance with Switzerland, and sources tell the FT that during the phone call, Trump was fixated on Switzerland "stealing money" from the US. Economists warn that the tariff's scope could tip Switzerlandwhere US exports make up a sixth of total foreign salesinto recession territory, especially if pharmaceuticals get pulled in.
Idexx Laboratories helped lead the way and soared 27.5% after the seller of veterinary instruments and other health care products reported a stronger profit for the spring than analysts expected, the AP reports. It also raised its forecast for profit over the full year.

Tyson Foods likewise delivered a bigger-than-expected profit for the latest quarter, and the company behind the Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farms brands climbed 2.4%. They helped offset a 2.9% drop for Berkshire Hathaway after Warren Buffett's company reported a drop in profit for its second quarter from a year earlier. The weakening was due in part to the falling value of its investment in Kraft Heinz. Wayfair jumped 12.7% after the retailer of furniture and home decor said accelerating growth helped it make more in profit and revenue during the spring than analysts expected.

Tesla rose 2.2% after awarding CEO Elon Musk 96 million shares of restricted stock valued at approximately $29 billion. The move, coming six months after a judge ordered the company to revoke his massive pay package, could remove potential worries that Musk may leave the company. American Eagle Outfitters jumped 23.7% after President Trump weighed in on the debate surrounding the retailer's advertisements, which extol actor Sydney Sweeney's great jeans. Some critics thought the reference to the blonde-haired and blue-eyed actor's "great genes" may be extolling a narrow set of beauty standards. "Go get 'em Sydney!" Trump said on his social media network.

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CommScope soared 86.3% after reaching a deal to sell its connectivity and cable business to Amphenol for $10.5 billion in cash. Amphenol rose 4.1%. On the losing side of Wall Street was On Semiconductor, which fell 15.6% after it only matched analysts' expectations for profit in the latest quarter. The company, which sells to the auto and industrial industries, said it's beginning to see "signs of stabilization" across its customers.
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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.
GUNMA, Aug 05 (News On Japan) - The Japan Meteorological Agency has raised the volcanic alert level for the area around Mt. Shirane and the Yugama crater on the Gunma side of Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane to Level 2, restricting access near the crater due to an increase in volcanic earthquakes.

Volcanic activity has intensified since the afternoon of August 3rd, prompting the agency to raise the alert level before 6 a.m. on August 4th from Level 1, which advises awareness of an active volcano, to Level 2, which restricts entry near the crater.

Authorities warn that within approximately one kilometer of the Yugama crater, there is a risk of large volcanic rocks being ejected.

Following the elevation of the alert level, a section of the Shiga Kusatsu Roadconnecting Gunma and Nagano prefectureshas been closed to traffic between Manza-sansaro and Sessho, affecting travel in the region.

Source: TBS
China has found a creative way to manage its e-commerce chain beyond its borders. The impact of Chinese e-commerce on countries of the Global South is visible in more ways than one. In particular, Chinese e-commerce brands have had a huge impact on Peru, my country, within a short span of time.

Temu entered the Peruvian market last year. In less than a year, it is close to becoming the leader in this sector in the country. Data from the Peruvian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CAPECE in Spanish) show that Chile's Falabella was the most visited marketplace last year, with 22 million page views a month.

Temu was second on the list with 21.9 million page visits  and it achieved that in less than one year. In third place was AliExpress with 16.3 million monthly page views.

CAPECE also said that Shein, another important Chinese marketplace, had increased its presence in Peru in the last quarter of 2024.

I'm pretty sure the situation is similar in other countries of the Global South, with China helping stabilize cross-border e-commerce.

Temu's success can be attributed to its relatively low product prices, special 24-hour services and inbuilt app games that allow you to get even bigger discounts. Temu's success is all the more surprising because it has succeeded in prompting Peruvian people to loosen their purse strings despite their inherent tendency and traditional culture to save. We Peruvians love to say, "el dinero no sobra" (there is no money to spare), because in general, salaries in Peru are low and a good percentage of the country's population is relatively poor.

The most recent data from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI in Spanish) show the average monthly salary in 2024 was 1,196 soles ($335)  only a few soles more than the minimum wage in Peru: 1,130 soles (about $317). The amount was increased by Dina Boluarte's government at the beginning of this year.

Also, according to the INEI, 27.6 percent of Peru's population was living in poverty in 2024, with 31.8 percent (about 10.8 million people) being "vulnerable" to poverty, meaning they were in danger of slipping into poverty.

In 2019, that is, before the COVID-19 pandemic, however, only about 20.2 percent of the Peruvian population was living in poverty. This means the pandemic increased the number of poor in the country.

But what do e-commerce platforms such as Temu, AliExpress and Shein have to do with all this? These platforms offer inexpensive products, often with discounts, which the poor Peruvians can afford to buy to meet their needs. In fact, they offer a variety of products, some of which Peruvians might not have seen before.

The growth of Chinese cross-border e-commerce in the Global South is difficult to estimate, but there is no doubt they are continuing to grow  and Peru is proof of that.

The Chancay Port, built by China COSCO Shipping Corporation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, was inaugurated in November last year, with Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the inauguration ceremony. The port is set to revolutionize trade in the Asia-Pacific region, especially between South America and Asia, by significantly reducing transit time and costs. For example, it has significantly reduced shipping time between Peru and Shanghai.

As a matter of fact, Sunat, which is the Peruvian tax and customs authority, reported that the revenue from merchandise shipping at the Chancay Port in the first five months of 2025 was more than $777 million. Sunat also said that between January and May, 4,552 export declarations were processed, of which 71 percent were from the Netherlands, Spain, the United States, Chile and China.

The initial reports on Chancay Port's impact suggest it is on way to becoming a shipping hub and distribution center for all of South America. Temu, AliExpress and Shein can take advantage of this development to expand their businesses in this part of the world.
A staff member directs the loading of a newly developed impulse turbine to a special truck at the factory area of Harbin Electric Machinery Company Limited under Harbin Electric Corporation in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on July 2, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

HARBIN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The main forum of the 2025 Entrepreneurs Sun Island Annual Conference kicked off Sunday in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, highlighting new quality productive forces.

As a national-level dialogue, the conference attracted guests from government, business, academia and enterprises this year, to contribute innovative ideas and inject momentum for high-quality economic and social development.

Liu Hui, deputy secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, said that the province features abundant scientific and educational resources, profound innovation heritage, and solid industrial foundation. Liu said that he hopes attendees can advise and contribute to Heilongjiang's high-quality development and sustainable revitalization.

Liu Jian, vice president of Xinhua News Agency, said that the conference serves as a platform to empower local economic and social development and northeast China's comprehensive revitalization. The platform of exchange and collaboration can provide vital support for high-level opening-up and the development of new quality productive forces, he added.

With an annual theme focusing on "New Quality Productive Forces: New Intelligent Manufacturing, New Consumption and New Ecosystem," the conference, held from Saturday to Monday, is hosted by Xinhua News Agency and Harbin Modern Culture and Tourism Investment Group Co., Ltd.

Besides the main forum, the conference also holds parallel events such as forums on digital intelligence empowering new consumption, and integrated development of the low-altitude economy and intelligent manufacturing.

Editor: Xiong Jian
NANNING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A recent study has resulted in the unveiling of the southernmost dinosaur tracks ever found in China, thereby providing new insights into ecosystems across southern China in the Mesozoic era.

Led by paleontologist Xing Lida, an associate professor from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and professor Mo Jinyou, a researcher from the Guangxi Museum of Natural History, the discovery was published in the journal Earth History and Biodiversity.

The findings of this study extend the known range of dinosaur footprints in China to the shores of the Beibu Gulf -- about 21 degrees north latitude and located in what is now south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The tracks, uncovered in 2021 during high-speed railway construction at a village in the city of Dongxing, consist of seven theropod footprints on a four-square-meter rock slab -- indicating that some bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs had left these traces in this southern China coastal area.

Despite damage caused by blasting during construction, which left some of the tracks only partially preserved, researchers managed to identify two distinct footprint types.

"Type A tracks, which are relatively well-preserved with their length longer than their width, belong to medium-sized theropods with a likely length measured from nose to tail of 3 to 4 meters," said Xing. "With a robust third toe, V-shaped toe divergence and clear heel impressions, these tracks resemble those from Chongqing in southwest China, suggesting a close connection with the agile, predatory dinosaurs of the Sichuan Basin."

Type B tracks, though less distinct, indicate a much larger predator, potentially exceeding 6 meters in length measured from nose to tail, possibly an allosaurid or megalosaurid.

"This discovery confirms the presence of apex predators in Guangxi during the Middle-Late Jurassic," said Mo. However, the limited number of tracks and a lack of detailed toe pad impressions, make precise classification challenging. "Future excavations and 3D modeling could provide further clarity," Mo added.

The study also compared 14 fossil sites in Guangxi to those in the Sichuan Basin in southwest China -- revealing similar dinosaur species from the Middle-Late Jurassic period. This suggests a close geographic connection between these two regions in ancient times.

In addition, the study also highlighted a high level of consistency between the early Cretaceous fossils from Guangxi's Xinlong Formation in the Napai Basin in Fusui County and those found in Thailand's Khok Kruat Formation -- lending credence to the existence of a shared "southern" biogeographic province in southern China and Southeast Asia during the late Early Cretaceous period.

"The discovery in Dongxing marks Guangxi's first formally documented dinosaur footprint site, filling a critical gap in the region's Jurassic fossil records," said He Guan from Dinosaur Odyssey Science Museum, Guangxi. "And it also confirms active dinosaur populations along southern China's coastlines and provides a fossil benchmark for correlating Jurassic-Cretaceous strata across southern China and Southeast Asia."

"This discovery not only pushes the known boundaries of dinosaur distribution in China but also strengthens the prehistoric connection between southern China and Southeast Asia," said Xing. "Additionally, it offers tangible evidence for reconstructing ancient environments, climates and ecosystems."

Editor: Xiong Jian
The house at 116 Garibaldi Avenue in Lodi, where a 33-year-old man was shot and later died on Sunday night. Richard Cowen/NJ Advance Media for NJ.Com

The basement tenant of a North Jersey home was fatally shot by his landlord on Sunday after attempting to break into the houses main entrance, authorities said.

At 10:57 p.m., Lodi police responded to the single-family house at 116 Garibaldi Ave. on a report of a shooting. First responders found a 33-year-old man unresponsive and administered CPR, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said.

The victim, identified as Amr Ali, was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.

An investigation later revealed that Ali, the basement tenant, was trying to forcefully enter the main entrance of the house using a spear-type object, authorities said. He eventually broke a window in an attempt to gain access to the home, officials said.

The 62-year-old home owner then confronted him, firing three gunshots and striking him once, according to prosecutors.

The homeowner was inside the house with two other residents at the time of the attempted break-in.

As of Monday afternoon, no arrests have been made.

The outdoor light was still on and shattered glass covered the landing where a 33-year-old man was shot on Sunday night and later pronounced dead at Hackensack University Medical Center. Richard Cowen/NJ Advance Media for NJ.Com

No one answered when a reporter knocked on the door of the home on Monday afternoon. On the scene, a window near the houses front entrance had a large hole in it, with shards of plexiglass scattered across the landing.

A neighbor who lives down the street and asked not to be identified said he was awakened by what sounded like gunfire. He described the house where the shooting took place as quietand said hed never seen any prior police activity there.

An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and Lodi Police Department is ongoing.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Nicolas Fernandes contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com.
A Jewish-Cuban teenager and her parents are suing the Ridgefield Public School District alleging school administrators ignored years of antisemitic harassment, violent bullying and death threats that drove the girl into mental health treatment.

The student endured relentless slurs, online abuse, physical assaults and threats of deadly violence from middle school through her sophomore year at Ridgefield Memorial High School, according to the lawsuit.

Her parents are also named as plaintiffs in the suit, filed June 19 in Superior Court of Bergen County.

District officials declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

The lawsuit accuses district leaders of repeatedly failing to investigate or stop the abuse despite documented evidence, a criminal case against one bully and multiple pleas from the family for intervention.

The student was targeted beginning in eighth grade with antisemitic and racist slurs, the lawsuit states.

Classmates circulated doctored photos of her online and threatened to beat or stab her, according to the lawsuit. They also filmed physical assaults, including one attack in a school hallway where her hair was violently torn out, according to the lawsuit.

After one student was charged criminally and ordered to stay away, the harassment escalated through threatening text messages, social media posts referencing a Holocaust at school and physical altercations that left the girl needing medical care, according to the suit.

The lawsuit claims administrators denied valid harassment complaints, punished the girl for tardiness linked to bullying and at times barred her from safe spaces on campus.

The family says the trauma led to severe anxiety, depression and panic attacks, culminating in an attempt at self-harm in November 2024.

The student has since withdrawn from the district and is receiving medical and psychological care, the lawsuit says.

The suit names seven students as defendants in addition to school officials and the districts board of education.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com.
Lauren Semanchik, 33, of Franklin Township, and Tyler Webb, 29, of Lacey Township, were found shot to death in Semanchik's home in Hunterdon County on August 2, 2025. (Photo by Victoria Gladstone for NJ Advance Media | Inset photos provided)

A New Jersey State Police trooper who shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and a man she was recently dating before taking his own life had followed her home from her job before killing both of them, investigators said.

On Saturday at 12:22 p.m., Franklin Township police officers responded to a 911 call reporting an unconscious woman with apparent physical trauma at the Upper Kingtown Road home in the Pittstown section of the township, according to a statement from the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office.

Police found Lauren Semanchik, 33, of Pittstown, and Tyler Webb, 29, of Forked River, dead from gunshot wounds from a semiautomatic firearm, in what investigators have confirmed was a targeted act, the office said.

Detectives learned that at 7:08 p.m. on Friday, Hunterdon County Communications received 911 calls reporting audible gunshots and screaming in the area of Upper Kingtown Road.

Franklin Township Police Department responded, checked the area, but did not locate the source of the gunshots or screaming, authorities said.

As the investigation continued, detectives learned that Semanchik, a local veterinarian, and Webb, a volunteer firefighter in Berkeley Township, recently began dating, officials said. Semanchik previously dated Ricardo Jorge Santos, a sergeant first class of the New Jersey State Police.

Police set up the Hunterdon County mobile command post on Upper Kingtown Road in Pittstown, NJ on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

After ending her relationship with Santos around September 2024, Semanchik alleged that Santos engaged in continued harassing and controlling behavior, leading detectives to believe he may have been involved in their deaths, the office said.

As this information was being developed, detectives were notified that Santos was found dead alone and inside a white 2008 Mercedes SUV in Johnson Park in Piscataway, investigators said. Santos died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A semiautomatic handgun was also located inside the SUV.

Detectives also learned that Semanchik installed a video surveillance recording system in her vehicle, which they accessed and reviewed, authorities said.

The footage showed Semanchiks vehicle leaving her job in Long Valley at 5:25 p.m. on Friday and a white 2008 Mercedes SUV leaving a parking space and closely following Semanchik until she turns into the driveway of her home at approximately 5:57 p.m., the office said.

At 6:11 p.m., while Semanchiks vehicle is parked, a person is seen surreptitiously walking through the wooded area along the driveway leading up to the residence, officials said. Around 6:45 p.m., Webbs car pulled up to the home next to Semanchiks vehicle.

Detectives also discovered that the same white 2008 Mercedes SUV that followed Semanchiks vehicle, and in which Santos deceased body was later found, had traveled to Piscataway later that evening, investigators said.

Laurens mother, Jennine Semanchik, told NJ Advance Media that her daughter broke both of her feet in late 2023 and met Santos online in early 2024. She used a wheelchair during her rehabilitation and said Santos was initially a wonderful boyfriend.

He relished helping her and took her on wheelchair dates, Jennine Semanchik, who met Santos several times, said.

When her daughter had recovered later that year, the relationship ended, Semanchik said.

But Santos reached out relentlessly, to the point that Lauren Semanchik called local police seeking to file a restraining order. One was not issued, she said.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Dr. Lauren Semanchik and Tyler Webb, whose lives were tragically taken in an act of domestic violence, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renee Robeson said in a statement. This senseless and devastating loss has deeply affected our entire community.

The incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office Detective Sgt. David Petelle or Det. Quayshaun Brooks at 908-788-1129.

Editors Note: Reach the New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). Reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), chat with their advocates here or text LOVEIS to 22522.

Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Lauren Semanchik, 33, of Franklin Township, and Tyler Webb, 29, of Lacey Township, were found shot to death in Semanchik's home in Hunterdon County on August 2, 2025. (Photo by Victoria Gladstone for NJ Advance Media | Inset photos provided)

UPDATE: N.J. trooper followed ex-girlfriend home from work before killing her, man she was dating, prosecutor says

A New Jersey State Police trooper shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and a man she was recently dating before taking his own life, according to the womans family and a source familiar with the investigation.
Born at just 24 weeks on March 25, Daveen Ajayi weighed only 1 pound and 9 ounces. Exactly one month ago, she was discharged from University Hospitals Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and reunited with her family.

Her remarkable journey was made possible by a dedicated team of medical professionals and the unwavering support of her loved ones.

At birth, Daveens lungs were underdeveloped, making breathing a constant struggle. With a fragile immune system, infections posed a serious threat. She required feeding tubes because she couldnt yet swallow or eat on her own, and there was also a risk of bleeding in her brain.

Still, her mother, Titilope Ajayi, held on to hope.

Since she was a micro preemie, a lot of what she went through in the NICU was expected, but it was still incredibly hard, Ajayi said. I just kept praying to God. When your baby is in the NICU for that long, all you can think is, Please, I dont want her to be sick. I dont want her to have any complications.

Ajayi, a licensed nurse practitioner, said that despite her medical background and previous experience with a premature birth  her now 6-year-old son was born at 27 weeks  Daveens NICU stay was still a roller coaster of emotions.

Sometimes when the hospital called, I would panic, she said. I never knew what they were going to say, and that fear stayed with me. I couldnt break down; she needed me. I had to hold it together, even when it was hard. I had to stay strong, not just for her, but for myself too.

Ajayi admitted she struggled emotionally after the birth.

I had this app on my phone  the BabyCenter app  that tracks your pregnancy day by day. I kept using it even though I wasnt pregnant anymore. I felt so much guilt, like, Oh my God, this baby is still supposed to be inside me.

Daveens early birth is part of a larger, troubling trend in New Jersey and across the country. Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature. Prematurity remains a leading cause of infant mortality and can have long-term health effects, ranging from breathing and feeding difficulties to developmental delays, vision and hearing problems, and cerebral palsy.

According to the March of Dimes, in 2023 there were approximately 9,368 preterm births in New Jersey, accounting for 9.3% of all live births, roughly 1 in every 11. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 10.4% of all live births in the U.S. are premature. In 2023, that translated to approximately 373,900 premature births, or about 1 in every 10 babies.

Despite advances in care, the U.S. received a D+ grade from the March of Dimes for its maternal and infant health outcomes, reflecting one of the highest preterm birth rates among high-income countries.

At Newarks University Hospital, where Daveen received care, Dr. Harpreet Kaur, section chief for Pediatric Hospital Medicine, led the team that cared for her. Dr. Kaur says negative outcomes must be tackled one baby at a time, through focused care from a team of health care professionals and strong family involvement.

University Hospital has all the technologies that other hospitals have, Kaur said. Anytime anything new comes up, I think we are one of the first hospitals to get it. We have all the best possible ventilators. We have a donor breast milk bank. We have the best nurses, and our nurse practitioners are great. Technology-wise, we do very well.

Dr. Kaur emphasized that while advanced technology is important, the key difference lies in the hospitals family-centered care. The NICU team encourages kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact), supports active involvement from both parents, and promotes breast milk feeding.

We do need moms breast milk, Kaur said. Its been shown to have excellent outcomesbetter feeding tolerance, fewer bowel infections, improved neurodevelopmental outcomes, and lower morbidity and mortality.

In Daveens case, her mother was at the hospital everyday of her 98-day stay, pumping breast milk to ensure her daughter was almost entirely breastfed. Dr. Kaur noted that only minimal supplementation was needed later for growth, a positive sign of the babys strength and health.

The University Hospital NICU team takes a collaborative approach to care, working closely with nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, social workers, and lactation consultants.

Sajana Sibi, a 29-year-old neonatal nurse from Rockaway, N.J., was on Daveens care team. She said that when a baby is in their unit, the bond with families becomes deeply personal.

As a neonatal nurse, I check on the baby every three hours, Sibi said. A babys status can change suddenly, so we monitor neurodevelopment closely, track for potential delays, and prepare for early interventions if needed.

She added that collaboration with the entire care team is essential.

We try to talk with our doctors about the things we notice, Sibi said. Sometimes its something critical, something that could be drastic, or even life-threatening for the baby. There have been times when you walk in, and the patient just doesnt look right. You cant quite explain it, but you know something is wrong, and you have to figure out why.

The work also requires constant communication among team members and with the family.

It involves a lot of communication with the doctors, she added. Youre also talking with the rest of the staff, asking what happened overnight or during the previous shift, what led up to the situation, and then working together to fix it.

With parents, she said, the nurses role also becomes one of education and emotional support.

Theres a lot of education involved for parents who dont understand whats happening with their baby or what to expect, Sibi said. Sometimes, we dont even know how to handle it ourselves. A lot of the time, we just try to be there with them. We cry with them and give them space to grieve with their baby.

At her last weigh-in, Daveen was 6 pounds 2 ounces, and her mother says shes still gaining weight.

I dont even know how to express how grateful I am to the doctors and nurses. They were amazing, Ajayi said. At some point, it felt like everyone in the NICU knew me. Theyd say, Oh, you dont even need a badge, youre basically one of us. The nurses and doctors worked so closely together, like one unit.

Of course, I wasnt happy that my baby had to be in the NICU, but I was thankful she was in a safe place, with people who were truly taking good care of her.

Ande Richards may be reached at arichards@njadvancemedia.com.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom.
Job hunters line up for interviews at an employment fair sponsored by the New York State Department of Labor in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) AP

The U.S. economy is holding steady this summer, but Black women are facing an ongoing trend of high unemployment.

For Black women, 20 years and older, the unemployment rate during July was 6.3%, according to the bureaus July report.

This newly reported unemployment rate among Black women is a 0.5% increase compared to last months rate of 5.8%, according to the bureaus report.

The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.2% making up 7.2 million unemployed people  during the month of July, which is only a slight increase compared to the 4.1% unemployment rate in June, according to the bureaus report.

The unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range of 4% to 4.2% since May 2024, according to a statement from the bureau.

From March to April 2025, Black womens unemployment rate rose from 5.1% to 6.1%, representing the largest month-over-month increase among all gender and racial categories, The Root reported.

According to the bureaus April jobs report, Black women lost an estimated 304,000 jobs between February and April of this year. However, the overall U.S. workforce added 175,000 jobs within that same time period.

Despite Black women facing higher joblessness, some industries have seen job increases.

Last month, employment continued to rise in the health care and social assistance industries, but the federal government continued to lose jobs, according to a statement from the bureau.

Job cuts within the federal workforce

Some economists believe the rise in unemployment among Black women might be directly related to the recent job cuts within the federal workforce.

Black women make up 12% of the federal workforce, which is the highest among other minority groups, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission most recent 2021 report.

Brian Thompson, a clinical professor of economics at DePaul University, told WTTW News, Theres a perception when someone gets a government position, thats a position you hold for quite some time. People tend to gravitate towards safety. I would also argue that its an area where they could potentially expect there to be diversity in selection of roles, and they would have a better opportunity to be promoted and so forth.

President Donald Trumps initiative to cut down the federal workforce continues, as his Office of Personnel Management proposed to the over 2 million federal workers to resign in exchange for pay and benefits until September, NPR reported.

The Trump administration also attempted to fire over 24,000 probationary employees, which make up recently hired employees and experienced workers with years in their fields, NPR reported.

According to bureaus July report, there have been 84,000 federal jobs cuts since January.

Removal of all things DEI related across industries

Besides federal job cuts, some experts think the rise in unemployment among Black women is linked to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) rollbacks within the government and across different industries.

DEI policies  which have been around since the late 1960s  are organizational guidelines that seek to promote equal treatment for all people, particularly groups that have historically been underrepresented or discriminated against due to their identity and/or disability, the Arizona Republic reported.

During his first month in office, Trump signed an executive order to end all radical and wasteful government DEI programs.

In response to the Trump administration, numerous companies have removed its DEI initiatives, policies, programs and job positions. Some of those companies include Amazon, AT&T, Target, Google, Disney, McDonalds, and Uber, the Arizona Republic reported.

Systemic racism within the U.S. job market

With federal job cuts and DEI rollbacks, some experts also think that systematic racism and inequities in the labor market are playing a role.

Jessica Fulton, a senior fellow at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies  a think tank focused on Black Americans  told 19th News that any cracks within the overall economy always show up for Black workers first.

Black workers, and particularly Black women, show up as a canary in the coal mine, giving a picture of what may happen to everyone else later, said Fulton.

Mosaic staff writer Vashti Harris can be reached at vharris@njadvancemedia.com.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom, on Facebook at MosaicNJcom, on Twitter (X) at @MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom.
Editors note: This story was shared as part of a content-sharing agreement between Mosaic.NJ.com and NJ Spotlight News. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter (or X).

Migrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, will be prevented from being purchasing health care plans AP

Hundreds of New Jerseyans who migrated to this country as children and now have legal residency status will lose their health insurance coverage this month under a policy change pushed by the Trump administration.

The regulatory change approved in June will block migrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, from being able to purchase health plans or access coverage they have already bought through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The rule goes into effect on Aug. 25.

In New Jersey, that will immediately impact roughly 500 DACA recipients  also known as Dreamers  who bought health insurance on the states ACA marketplace, Get Covered NJ, according to the state Department of Banking and Insurance.

It also eliminates this health care coverage option for close to 16,000 other Dreamers living in New Jersey, based on data in the2020 annual reportfrom the New Jersey Office of New Americans, the most recent available.

State Attorney General Matt Platkin leads a group of 14 states in challenging the rules impact on DACA recipients, one of the first of many lawsuits he filed or joined that push back on policy moves by the Trump administration. His office said that complaint is still pending.

Dreamers are a critical part of the New Jersey community, and America is the only country they know. Undermining Dreamers access to healthcare not only hurts them and their American children, but it harms states like New Jersey, too, Platkin said in a press release announcing the lawsuit.

One among many changes to federal policy

While the number of New Jersey residents immediately impacted by this change is relatively small, eliminating coverage for Dreamers is one of multiple federal policy changes that experts say will increase the ranks of the uninsured here and nationwide, especially low-income people and people of color.

They cite the Trump administrations reductions in aid to hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers, and its defunding of long-standing social support programs that provide people with food, education, child care and other necessities. Many of these cuts were included in the massive tax-cut and spending reduction bill President Donald Trump signed on July 4.

Overall, the Trump administrations planned changes to Medicaid, the state and federally funded insurance program for low-income Americans, are expected to cost New Jersey as much as $3.3 billion annually in hospital aid in the years to come. According to the state Department of Human Services, those changes could also force as many as 350,000 state residents from the plan. Operated here as NJ Family Care, the program now covers 1.85 million New Jersey residents.

Other aspects of the new law will make it harder for people who exceed income limits for Medicaid but dont get insurance through work to purchase policies on the Get Covered marketplace, according to the state Department of Banking and Insurance. The department also said it will double the premium cost for most of the 513,000 people currently insured through these Obamacare plans. Some could see the cost of their plans rise far more, according to a department analysis that found a Bergen County couple in their 60s could see premiums soar nearly 400% next year, an extra $20,000.

Target of Medicaid cuts?

Immigrants are among the first to be targeted as Medicaid shrinks, including certain categories of legal migrants. As many as 25,000 people in New Jersey  including refugees and victims of either trafficking or domestic violence  will lose access to NJ Family Care, the states Medicaid program, by October 2026, according to state Medicaid officials.

New Jersey is home to more than 2 million immigrants, according to theOffice of New Americans, and more than three-quarters of them have some form of legal status. This includes roughly 52,000 people eligible for DACA, a program enacted under President Barack Obama that granted legal status to residents who were brought here as children by parents who crossed national borders before a certain date and without the proper paperwork.

Some 16,350 of these potential Dreamers had enrolled for DACA protection, as of its 2020 report.

These are our friends, neighbors and colleagues. They are New Jerseyans who contribute to our state culturally and economically, and should have the right like every other New Jerseyan to purchase health coverage through the ACA, said state Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman in the press release announcing Platkins lawsuit.

Nonprofit organizations that work with the state to help people enroll in Medicaid or Get Covered NJ said interest in these programs has grown in recent years as outreach has expanded. Now people are confused about what the changes mean for their coverage, said Laura Waddell, health care director for New Jersey Citizen Action, one of the groups that partners with the state on these programs.

These groups are starting to get the word out about the new policies, but the news for Dreamers is particularly harsh, Waddell told NJ Spotlight News. DACA recipients only gained access to the health coverage last October, she said.

Theyre not even letting them go to the end of the year, Waddell said. They dont even get 12 months of coverage.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom.
Patrons line up outside the new Tesla Diner and supercharging station in Hollywood, Calif. AP

Elon Musks latest venture into fast food is causing quite a stir among those who visit and live around the structure.

The Tesla Diner recently opened in West Hollywood, Calif., displaying its retro-futuristic architecture for all to see.

The eatery also offers 80 charging stations and two large movie screens.

But it has also caused 11-hour lines out the door, traffic jams, two protests and a lawsuit all in its first week.

According to TMZ, the lawsuit stemmed from an outdoor rooftop patio covering crashing onto a woman dining at the restaurant.

The woman declined to be transported to a hospital, but the family is filing a lawsuit against the diner.

And neighbors who live in the area are not happy, but Musk said on X that Tesla plans to open other locations in major cities worldwide, depending on the success of the initial restaurant.

Heres what the neighbors, protesters and patrons are saying about the new structure in California.

What are neighbors saying about the Tesla Diner?

Neighbors have not been happy for the most part about the structure with some going as far as calling it absolute hell for obstructing their views.

Some residents looked forward to the project in the beginning, saying that the supercharging stations within the structure would bring good business, but they are finding its just the opposite.

We were really excited for the supercharger station; we thought it would bring good business to the area, but it has caused insane gridlock from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., a Hollywood resident told ABC7.

If you can send people to Mars, you should be able to figure out how to make this doable for residents, another resident told the outlet.

But as soon as the project developed, residents realized how much of an eyesore it would be, specifically the movie screens.

That is a huge ouchy for their eyes, one resident told a KTLA reporter.

What are protesters saying about the Tesla Diner?

There have been several protests outside the diner after it opened in late July.

Joel Lava, one of the organizers of the protests, has tried to deploy Tesla Takedown demonstrations in front of the structure and believes the protests should continue throughout the summer.

However, Lava eventually believes the diner will fade into obscurity.

Our main message is Tesla funds fascism. Elon Musk, via DOGE, has destroyed our government agencies and peoples jobs, and people are dying around the world because of him, Lava told CNN.

Up to 75 protesters demonstrated outside the diner on a recent weekend, and organizers have been planning protests since the diners opening.

They came with inflatable Elon Musks performing a Nazi salute, and many drivers in the area supported the protesters.

We got a lot of honks and fist-pumps in solidarity, and many of those were even from Tesla drivers themselves  especially the people driving the older models of Teslas, one protester told The Guardian.

What are visitors and patrons of the Tesla Diner saying?

The Tesla Diner has not just attracted protesters  it has also attracted local fans of Elon Musk, tourists and children who have seen the structure on social media platforms, such as TikTok or YouTube.

People are entitled to their opinions, one Tesla Diner customer and Los Angeles resident told the LA Public Press. People dont know who Elon is, and how his autism takes over his emotions.

Others who are fans of the architectural style also expressed their excitement for the new diner.

Im saying this as a huge retro-futurism fan. Youre making everything Ive dreamed of come true, one by one. The future is going to be amazing. Thank you, one X commenter said.

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A New Jersey man has admitted in a guilty plea that he sold fentanyl to a person who later died from an overdose.

James Liu, 32, of Ocean Township, Monmouth County, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Monday in the death of the 33-year-old Berkeley Township man, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said in a statement.

Police responded to the victims Berkeley home on Dec. 26, 2023, where they found him deceased from an apparent overdose, authorities said. Investigators soon identified Liu as the person who had sold him fentanyl-laced heroin shortly before his death, authorities said.

Two days later, Liu was arrested on charges of possession of fentanyl-laced heroin with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl-laced heroin and possession of crack cocaine.

Toxicology reports later confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victims system and the Ocean County Medical Examiners Office determined that the drug was the cause of his death. As a result, Liu was additionally charged with strict liability drug induced death.

The state is seeking a seven-year state prison sentence for Liu. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
State Oschadbank, within the framework of the implementation of the defense agreement between the governments of the Netherlands and Ukraine, which provides for the purchase of a certain amount of products from Ukrainian UAV manufacturers for the Defense Forces of Ukraine, provided bank guarantees under contracts worth EUR837 million, the bank reported on Saturday.

"In accordance with the agreement, Ukrainian UAV manufacturers will conclude direct contracts with the Dutch government. Oschadbank, in turn, through the instrument of a bank guarantee, the beneficiary of which is the Dutch government, will ensure the possibility for Ukrainian manufacturers to receive partial advance payment under the contracts," Oschadbank explained in a release.

According to it, the financial institution has already issued guarantees for four companies that were selected to implement the agreement by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the government of the Netherlands.

"I know that other partner countries are also ready to participate in financing the Drone Line project, initiated by the president of Ukraine, using the same mechanism for providing bank guarantees," Yuriy Katsion, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank, responsible for corporate business, commented on the prospects of this mechanism on Facebook.

According to him, together with the preferential lending program and the instrument for providing state portfolio guarantees for private defense manufacturers, which Oschadbank participated in developing, as well as the practice of banking consortiums, this mechanism will become another way to stimulate the growth of domestic production volumes in the field of security and defense.

Katsion added that the increase in the number of banks that, together with Oschadbank, will participate in the implementation of such projects would have a significant impact on the growth of domestic production volumes in the security and defense sector.

"We will scale this successful experience with other partners so that even more Ukrainian drones will be on the front as soon as possible," stressed Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, who thanked the Dutch government for the decision to purchase Ukrainian drones.

He noted that guarantees from Oschadbank would help accelerate the implementation of contracts and the supply of drones to units.

According to the National Bank of Ukraine, Oschadbank ranked second in terms of total assets (UAH 449.7 billion, or 12%) among 60 banks in the country as of April 2025.
President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and others, tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

By Lori A. Nessel

For the past 30 years I have run an immigration clinic at Seton Hall Law Schools Center for Social Justice, serving people from all over the world who have fled torture and persecution to seek protection in the United States.

Clients have recounted being disappeared by masked, armed government agents while engaging in peaceful protest, expressing a commitment to human rights, or just being of a race or religion or ethnic group or sexual identity that the government opposed.

These clients were taken to dark, remote, makeshift prisons where no one could find them or know what was happening. The lucky ones managed to escape and a very small percentage of them made it to America to tell their stories and seek safety.

The similarities between stories Ive heard from asylum-seekers and our current reality are undeniable.

Today, the very people we have protected from oppression and torture, and other hardworking members of our society who have built their lives believing in the American dream, are finding themselves once again subject to arbitrary arrest and torture. This time, at the hands of the United States.

It is time to call this deportation and detention regime what it is  an intent to inflict torture and punish immigrants.

The Trump administration is touting its newest detention facility for its inhospitable conditions and location, dubbing the Everglades facility Alligator Alcatraz. President Trump has prognosticated on the likelihood that any immigrants trying to escape would be eaten alive by alligators. And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has characterized the inhumane facility as a model with a call for other states to replicate it.

An array of Alligator Alcatraz merchandise populates various websites, with drawings of smiling alligators, their razor-sharp teeth bared, guarding a fortress-like prison alongside slogans like N.I.C.E. standing for National Institute of Crocodilian Enforcement.

This dark, infantile fantasy underscores a sobering truth  the Trump administration appears to be succeeding in its effort to dehumanize immigrants in this country.

By (mis)labeling immigrants as threats, dangers, criminals, and the worst of the worst, the government is messaging that removing immigrants is essential to our safety and well-being as a nation, and any suffering is justified.

But the Republican administrations morbid celebration of the specter of Alligator Alcatraz or of shackled deportees being mistreated and humiliated upon arrival at CECOT in El Salvador, one of the worlds most notorious prisons, goes beyond promoting tough immigration enforcement  it gives truth to the reality that its infliction of pain is not merely incidental, its intentional.

Today, immigrants are being apprehended while working, or following the rules and attending court, or taking their children to school, or shopping, or driving cars, or studying, or expressing their first amendment rights, or just because an ICE officer needed to fill an impossibly high daily detention quota.

The masked, armed officers sever these immigrants from their lives and families and secret them away in remote facilities where their loved ones and lawyers struggle to find them.

Some end up being sent to distant countries with which they have no affiliation. Others languish in sub-human detention facilities here or abroad or are deported to their countries of birth without any of the due process they are guaranteed by Congress, the constitution, and international human rights treaties and norms.

Over 30 years ago, the United States ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and is obligated not to engage in torture or to subject anyone to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. The U.S. is also bound by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits it from engaging in arbitrary detention or using detention in a manner that is punitive or discriminatory.

Notwithstanding the clear prohibitions on torture and arbitrary detention, and the constitutional guarantee of due process, the United States is engaged in a massive unlawful deportation and detention campaign.

Law-abiding immigrants who pose no danger nor flight risk are being apprehended indiscriminately and thrown into inhumane detention facilities like Alligator Alcatraz. While immigration regulation is part of a civil, rather than criminal, system, governmental actors intentionally and gleefully chose to erect tents with cages in a location that is susceptible to flooding, extreme heat, disease-carrying insects, and rodents. Once dehumanized, immigrants are treated as pawns in a chess game, traded to other countries to facilitate foreign or domestic policy goals.

The most plausible purpose of this modern-day pillorying is to punish the detained and to use their suffering to strike fear and coerce others in the immigrant community to upend their lives and families in America and flee.

We are bound by our domestic laws, international obligations and moral fabric to speak out and vote against this massive dehumanization, detention and deportation project. But Congress just tripled ICEs budget and authorized a 265% increase in the immigration detention budget.

And in New Jersey last month, the Court of Appeals struck down the states law prohibiting government contracts with private immigration detention facilities.

As the state with the fifth largest migrant population in the nation, New Jerseyans must continue to demand that all people be treated with human dignity and due process. And the courts must continue to enforce the rule of law upon which our country is built.

Calling your elected representative in the U.S. House Of Representatives or U.S. Senate is the most effective way to influence policy. To find your representative and senator to voice your position, go to the House website and the Senate website.

Lori A. Nessel is professor of Law and director of the Immigrants Rights/International Human Rights Clinic at Seton Hall University School of Law. Opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views of the university.

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Two workers at a New Jersey bakery were stabbed by a customer still irate over an incorrect sandwich order from four years ago, authorities said. Canva for NJ.com

A customer still infuriated by an incorrect sandwich order from a Paterson bakery four years ago stabbed two workers on Thursday and fled, authorities said.

The Baladna Bakery workers are brothers ages 41 and 46. The 46-year-old man was stabbed in the chest, and the 41-year-old man was slashed in the arm, authorities said.

A friend of the workers, Moneer Simrin, told NBC 4 New York the man initially confronted a woman who was working at the counter.

According to CBS News New York, the man claimed the sandwich made him ill because he was allergic to eggplant.

Despite attempts to calm the man by offering money as credit, he continued acting out and cursing, NBC 4 New York reported.

He then stabbed the 46-year-old worker in the chest, puncturing his lung, police said.

The younger brother tried to shove the man from the store and was slashed on the arm, authorities said.

The brothers were taken to St. Josephs University Medical Center, where they are currently in stable condition.

The man fled the store after the attack, police said. No arrests have been made as of Monday afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Paterson Police Department Major Crimes Unit at 973-321-1120.

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Rebecca Heath may be reached at RHeath@njadvancemedia.com.
Texas House Democrats join Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks about the Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) AP

Texas Democrats stood in defiance late Sunday after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatened their removal from office for leaving the state.

Dozens of state lawmakers had fled to Illinois, around 1,000 miles away from their home state, on Sunday afternoon in an effort to deny quorum as Republicans attempt to add up to five GOP seats in a new congressional district map ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Abbott informed more than 50 Democrats  the threshold number of lawmakers needed to pass legislation  that he would move to have them expelled from office if they did not return to pass the GOPs plan, backed by President Donald Trump, when the House reconvenes at 3 p.m. CDT on Monday. Democrats are aiming to put a halt to legislative activity until the states special session ends later the month.

Real Texans do not run from a fight. But thats exactly what most of the Texas House Democrats just did, Abbott wrote in a press release, adding that In addition to abandoning their offices, these legislators may also have committed felonies.

In a post on X, Abbott claimed that the only way some of the fleeing Democrats can avoid bribery charges is to not break quorum.

It seems that would eliminate any potential quid pro quo connected to any payment they received to deny a quorum and skip a vote, he wrote.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) also chimed in: I support the immediate arrest of these rogue lawmakers whove fled their duties... This is cowardice and dereliction of duty, and they should face the full force of the law without apology.

The Texas House Democratic Caucus soon fired back.

Come and take it, the caucus wrote.

Texas House Democrats offer a brief response to Gov. Greg Abbott's threat of arrest and expulsion if they don't return to the state: "Come and take it." https://t.co/TzGxdbIejB pic.twitter.com/cOnz37WLe1  philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 4, 2025

Texas State Rep. James Talarico, Democrat who left the state and has recently been outspoken in TV interviews, took aim at the president for his redistricting power grab on social media.

Theyre turning our districts into crazy shapes to guarantee the outcome they want in the 2026 elections, Talarico said in a video posted on X. ...They will hang on to power without any accountability from the voters.

A number of Democratic governors have pledged to support their colleagues who say they will draw new congressional maps in favor of Democrats to directly counter the moves of Texas Republicans. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said on Thursday that he had spoken with state legislators and members of Congress about conducting a special statewide election in November for residents to vote on revised maps. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) have also weighed different means to fight back.

Gov. Laura Kelly (D), the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, said that she will support the efforts of her Democratic colleagues, but her preference would be for the courts to step in.

I have never believed in unilateral disarmament, and so while I may not want to participate in certain activities, if I have to, in order to level the playing field, I would support my Democratic colleagues who decide to answer in kind, Kelly said.

If the other side is going to pursue this, regardless of the obvious unconstitutionality of it, then I dont think we have any other choice but to go there. You just dont go to the front lines without your bullets, she added.

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Some Democrats expressed discontent with how their party has responded to President Donald Trump's second term, a new poll found. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

The Democratic Partys own voters are raising alarm bells.

One-third of Democrats describe their own party negatively, with some calling it weak and ineffective, according to a new poll.

The poll, released by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research on Sunday, revealed that 35% of Democrats used negative labels to characterize the party, while 23% used positive attributes.

The poll comes on the heels of six months into President Donald Trumps second term  and could signal warning signs for Democrats ahead of the midterm contests next year, as their voters take a more pessimistic view of the state of the party compared to Republicans. While Democrats described their party more negatively than GOP voters, Republicans were roughly twice as likely to describe their party positively.

Cathia Krehbiel, a 48-year-old Democrat from Iowa, said that the Democratic Partys response to the Trump administration has been scattershot.

Theyre spineless, Krehbiel said of her party. I just feel like theres so much recently thats just going abhorrently wrong. And they speak up a little bit and they roll right over.

Around 15% of respondents used the words weak and apathetic to paint the Democratic Party, and 10% capitalized on ineffective and disorganized more broadly. When asked to choose their own words, only about two in 10 Democrats described the party positively. One in 10 said that the Democratic Party is empathetic and inclusive.

While there will most likely be little movement for self-identifying Democrats to favor Republican candidates ahead of the 2026 midterms, as most Democrats expressed negative views of the GOP, some might not decide to vote at all, the poll found.

Jim Williams, a 78-year-old self-described independent from Michigan, said he tends to back Democrats, but he is disappointed with the partys messaging. He said that the more Republicans back Trump, the less I like them, calling Trump a bully.

About four in 10 adults, overall, view both parties in a dim light. Words used to describe Democrats and Republicans include dishonest and stupid.

Meanwhile, around four in 10 Republicans used positive attributes for GOP, including patriotic, hardworking and claims using the word freedom. About two in 10 Republicans characterized their party as negative, using phrases such as greedy, for the rich and corrupt.

The poll surveyed 1,437 U.S. adults and was conducted between July 10-14. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

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Radio host Charlamagne tha God shot back at President Donald Trump on Monday after he was attacked by the president on social media.

Charlamagne, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, criticized Trumps second term on the Fox News show My View with Lara Trump on Saturday. He told the presidents daughter-in-law that he would not give his second presidency a good rating thus far, pointing to how the least of are still being impacted the worst.

When you look at something like the big, beautiful bill, thats something that Im going to benefit from because the tax bracket that Im in, but you know, theres going to be so many people thats hurt by that bill, Charlamagne said, in reference to the GOPs budget megabill signed into law last month.

Anything that takes away Medicaid from people and will put people in a worse financial situation than they were previously in, Im not for, he added.

During the interview, Charlamagne also said that traditional conservatives are engaging in a political coup against the MAGA movement, citing the Jeffrey Epstein controversy that has found its way into the national spotlight after the Justice Department announced it would not release additional documents related to the sex-trafficking investigation.

I think that they know this is the issue that has gotten the base riled up, the MAGA base isnt letting this issue go and for the first time, they can probably take their party back and not piss off the MAGA base, he said.

Charlamagnes comments appeared to get under Trumps skin, prompting a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform during the early hours of Sunday.

The very wonderful and talented Lara Trump, whose show is a big ratings success, put racist sleazebag Charlamagne The God (Why is he allowed to use the word GOD when describing himself? Can anyone imagine the uproar there would be if I used that nickname?), Trump wrote.

Hes a Low IQ individual, has no idea what words are coming out of his mouth, and knows nothing about me or what I have done - like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight, he continued.

Charlamagne fired back early Monday on the newest The Breakfast Club episode, labeling Trump as the Donkey of the Day.

My fellow Americans, we are in a strange time right now. A time we have never seen because authoritarian strategy is being used against anyone who speaks out against this administration. But that alone, with his reaction to what I said on Lara Trump, shows how authoritarians will attempt to bully people into pushing false narratives, the radio host said.

President Trump, do you realize the best way to get the headlines you want is to simply do a good job, is to simply do right by all Americans, he added.

Charlamagne said he didnt take the presidents insults to heart, including his sleazebag remark, joking Depending on who you ask, that may apply to me, and calling it absolutely true that he is unaware of what he is saying.

He said I dont know anything about him ending five wars. Mr. President, nobody knew that, because its not true, alright, Charlamagne said.

There is zero evidence, theres nothing credible whatsoever, that says President Trump played any role in ending the ongoing  key word, ongoing  conflict in the eastern DRC and Rwanda," he continued.

Charlamagne also went on to say that U.S. strikes in June did not eliminate Irans nuclear facilities, citing media reports, and noted that the southern border is not closed, but the president has tightened its immigration policies.

By the way, I want border security. I just want you to keep your promise of deporting illegals and criminals, but since Homeland Security started to work to deport more people, OK, immigrants with legal status and no criminal history are being detained and deported too. Thats not right, Charlamagne said.

Charlamagne also joked that Trump had called him racist  but I didnt mention race, not one time on Lara Trump.

I was just talking to your base, letting your base know that you havent kept the promises that you made in regards to the economy, he said. In fact, youve made things worse.

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President Donald Trump made several social media posts about Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson and Jose Luis Magana) (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson and Jose Luis Magana)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent President Donald Trump into a social media rampage on Monday.

During an appearance on CNBCs Squawk on the Street, Warren addressed Trumps firing of the head of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), his signature big, beautiful bill and how the Democrats in Congress should respond.

Remember, Donald Trump ran for office saying he would lower costs on day one. Cost of groceries are up, cost of housing is up, cost of health care is up. And where is Donald Trump? Warren asked.

Hes passing a signature bill to throw people off their health care so he can do tax cuts for billionaires, she continued, referencing the GOPs budget megabill, signed into law last month, which will extend Trumps signature first-term tax cuts while slashing funding for programs including Medicaid.

Warren said that Democrats instead believe that billionaires should pay their fair share, and that her party needs to focus on affordability, adding that Thats what were out there fighting for.

Warrens comments had sparked immediate outrage from Trump, who took to his Truth Social platform to respond.

Trump first claimed that his administration has cut energy and tax costs Tremendously, responding to how Warren said that costs in key areas have increased.

She is just angry that I blew up her terrible Presidential Campaign. Call her out!!! Trump wrote, labeling her as Pocahontas, a nickname he has coined for the senator in reference to her past claims of Indigenous heritage.

In a separate post, he went on to label Warren as a LOSER! saying that she lies about everything, including the fact that she is an Indian.

He added: Shes no Pocahontas!!!

Trump then demanded more pressure from the television network toward Warren in a third post.

Ask Pocahontas the real questions, CNBC!!! he wrote.

While discussing Trumps termination of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the BLS, Warren said that Trump has now told the entire world to not trust U.S. data.

Her firing came hours after the independent arm of the Department of Labor released a revised report on Friday that showed that job hiring had slowed down significantly in July and the previous months. Without citing evidence, Trump called the data rigged and said that McEntarfer had manipulated the report for political purposes.

The agency revealed that the country added only 73,000 new jobs in July.

This is like taking value that the United States has literally spent decades and decades and decades building up, and Donald Trump just strikes a match and sets it on fire, Warren said.

We have Republicans, in theory, they could just stand up to him, but I say in theory. Its the most spineless bunch of people Ive ever seen, she added.

When asked about the termination, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer told Fox News on Monday that it is my job to support the president in this issue, and I do support him.

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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at Lehigh Valley International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, in Allentown, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

President Donald Trump lashed out at Senate Democrats on Sunday for delaying a number of his nominees who he wanted confirmed ahead of the August recess.

Democrats have reportedly been negotiating with Republicans to reach a deal on confirming some of Trumps nominees in exchange for the release of billions in funds, CBS News reported. Trump on Sunday accused Democrats of slow walking his nominees and expressed frustration at the Democrats request to release the funds.

Democrats, lead by Cryin Chuck Schumer, are slow walking my Nominees, more than 150 of them. They wanted us to pay, originally, two billion dollars for approvals. The Dems are CRAZED LUNATICS!!! Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump had previously targeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Saturday as Democrats tried to strike a deal with Republicans to confirm Trumps nominees. It appeared that negotiations collapsed after Trump instructed Republicans to reject any agreement that involved the release of funds.

Senator Cryin Chuck Schumer is demanding over One Billion Dollars in order to approve a small number of our highly qualified nominees, who should right now be helping to run our Country. This demand is egregious and unprecedented, and would be embarrassing to the Republican Party if it were accepted, he wrote on Truth Social, calling itpolitical extortion."

Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL! Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country. Have a great RECESS and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! he added.

Schumer mocked Trump on social media platform X on Saturday after the Senate left without a deal on his nominees.

Let me clear what happened: Donald Trump attempted to steamroll the Senate to put in place his historically unqualified nominees.But Senate Democrats wouldnt let him, Schumer wrote on X.

He also jabbed Trumps book, The Art of the Deal, in response to his Truth Social attack.

The Art of the Deal. https://t.co/fVc9kriNfG  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 3, 2025

Trump has been pressuring Senate Republicans for weeks to cancel the August recess and grind through dozens of his nominations as Democrats have slowed the process. But Republicans hoped to make a deal with Democrats instead, and came close several times over the last few days as the two parties and the White House negotiated over moving a large tranche of nominees in exchange for reversing some of the Trump administrations spending cuts on foreign aid, among other issues.

The Senate held a rare weekend session on Saturday as Republicans held votes on nominee after nominee and as the two parties tried to work out the final details of a deal. But it was clear that there would be no agreement when Trump attacked Schumer on social media Saturday evening and told Republicans to pack it up and go home.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that prosecuting Democratic lawmakers who recently exited the state would be a "challenge." (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) threatened the arrest of Democratic lawmakers who have fled the state, but acknowledged that prosecution would be a challenge.

More than 50 Democrats exited Texas to Illinois on Sunday afternoon in an attempt to block Republicans from redrawing the states congressional map to give themselves at least five more safe GOP seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott informed the band of Democrats  who amount to threshold number of lawmakers needed to pass legislation  that he would move to have them expelled from office if they did not return when the House reconvenes at 3 p.m. CT on Monday.

Democrats are aiming to deny the quorum that the legislature needs to operate until the states special session ends later the month. Abbott, however, would be able to call for another one, as he moves to pass the plan backed by President Donald Trump.

Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu along with other members of the Texas House are joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map office during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) AP

When asked about how to move forward by conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Paxton on Monday said he would have first suggested to chain them to their desk and not let them out of the door.

Since that has been left on the table, that was the most  I think best chance of success, the fastest. The next is trying to arrest them," said Paxton, the states top law enforcement officer.

Paxton predicted that Abbott will be forced to call future special sessions, and the Democratic lawmakers will eventually return.

They have to, Paxton said. They have jobs, they have lives, they have families. Theyre not going to live in Chicago, especially when it starts getting cold.

Texas AG Ken Paxton confirms he is moving forward with efforts to arrest the Democrats who fled the state to block the redistricting vote:



Trying to arrest them. Eventually they are going to have to come back. They have jobs and families. pic.twitter.com/n2UnINzJWK  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 4, 2025

Paxton said that Republicans have successfully gotten what we needed done, despite stalling tactics.

In his threat to Democratic lawmakers, Abbott alleged that they could be committing felonies if they fundraise to pay for $500-a-day fines from skipping the session.

Paxton noted that a resolution could take time to process.

If we go to court, that takes time, we get appeals... now that theyve let them out of the state, its going to take a little longer, but Im very optimistic, if the governor, and I believe the governor will have resolve, if he keeps calling them back, he said.

Abbott said that if Democrats are not back in the state by later Monday, he would take legal action, citing a nonbinding legal opinion from 2021, written by Paxton, who argued that whether a specific legislator abandoned his or her office such that a vacancy occurred will be a fact question for a court. Abbott claimed that if vacancies are determined, he could swiftly fill the spots under the state constitution.

Paxton has since railed against state Democrats on social media, reiterating calls for their arrests.

These radical Democrats are spitting in the face of every Texan they swore to represent, Paxton wrote on X on Sunday. This is cowardice and dereliction of duty, and they should face the full force of the law without apology.

On Monday, he asked his audience to donate to his U.S. Senate bid.

Radicals like Gavin [Newsom], Hakeem Jeffries, Jasmine Crockett, JB Pritzker, and Alex Padilla are attacking me for wanting Democrats to be held accountable. Theyre terrified of me being in the Senate, he wrote.

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President Donald Trump left social media users baffled after he claimed on Sunday that he had lowered prescription drug prices by up to 1,500%.

While in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Trump told reporters that Republicans will turn their attention to the tremendous drop in drug prices ahead of the 2026 midterms.

You know, weve cut drug prices by 1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500%, Trump said, before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, D.C.

I dont mean 50%  I mean 14, 1,500%," he added.

Trump claims hes cut drug prices by 1,500 percent pic.twitter.com/n9meMZxS6R  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 4, 2025

Trump went on to say that he wants the United States to offer the same prices as Europe and what other country gets.

So well be dropping drug prices. Itll start over the next two to three months, by 1,200, 1,300 and even 1,400%, and 500%, but not just 50% or 25%, which normally would be a lot, because the rest of the world pays much less for the identical drug, Trump said.

Reducing the price of a product by 100% would make it free  meaning Trumps figures, all above 500%, would point to the consumer receiving money back when purchasing an item. His claims quickly drew reactions on social media, with many users taking notice of the impossible figures.

Gregg Nunziata, a conservative lawyer, said that it is great to have a numerically illiterate person unilaterally in charge of our tariff policy.

On June 15, 1992, [Dan] Quayle altered 12-year-old student William Figueroas correct spelling of potato to potatoe at the Munoz Rivera Elementary School spelling bee in Trenton, New Jersey. He was the subject of widespread ridicule for his error.  @Wikipedia," Justin Wolfers, a professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan, joked.

George Conway, an attorney once involved in Republican politics turned prominent Trump critic, called Trump an utter moron over his claims.

This would mean, in essence, that consumers would be getting paid by manufacturers or retailers to receive medicationsin fact, getting paid up to 11, 12, 13, or 14 times what the consumers were previously paying to the sellers for prescriptions," Conway wrote.

This would mean, in essence, that consumers would be getting paid by manufacturers or retailers to receive medicationsin fact, getting paid up to 11, 12, 13, or 14 times what the consumers were previously paying to the sellers for prescriptions.



What an utter moron https://t.co/ctN0owr1Gv  George Conway  (@gtconway3d) August 4, 2025

In a separate post, Conway said that Trump has shown himself to be utterly innumerate.

A journalist noted how Trump has yet to cut drug prices  but has instead sent letters to top pharmaceutical manufacturers outlining steps of how they can bring down prices to match the lowest price offered in other nations.

Does he know that and is lying? Or is he deluded? We have no idea, the user wrote.

Another user chimed in: The prescription costs $100. You go to the drug store to pick it up, and instead of paying the pharmacist, the pharmacist gives you the medicine AND $1,400! Why didnt any previous president think of this!?

Trumps comments came on the heels of his firing of Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over revised weak job numbers that he made clear he did not support. The independent body had released a report hours earlier showing that hiring had slowed down significantly over the last three months.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.

Those big adjustments were made to cover up, and level out, the FAKE political numbers that were CONCOCTED in order to make a great Republican Success look less stellar!!! I will pick an exceptional replacement, Trump wrote in a new post on Monday.

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President Donald Trump praised Sydney Sweeneys American Eagle ad campaign after it sent shockwaves throughout the country last week.

Sweeneys ad with American Eagle faced some backlash over its use of the word genes instead of jeans, resulting in many conservative pundits defending the popular actress. Trump told reporters that he loved the ad after being told Sweeney was a registered Republican.

Shes a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad, he told reporters on Sunday. Youd be surprised at how many people are Republicans.

If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic, he added.

Trump: Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican? Now I love her ad. If she is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic pic.twitter.com/ylJeb5OUks  Acyn (@Acyn) August 4, 2025

Buzzfeed News first reported that Sweeney has been a registered member of the Republican Party in Florida since 2024.

American Eagle responded to the criticism in a post on Instagram, saying its campaign is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.

Trump also posted about Sweeney on Truth Social on Monday while attacking pop sensation Taylor Swift.

Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Its for American Eagle, and the jeans are flying off the shelves. Go get em Sydney! he wrote.

Or just look at Woke singer Taylor Swift. Ever since I alerted the world as to what she was by saying on TRUTH that I cant stand her (HATE!). She was booed out of the Super Bowl and became, NO LONGER HOT. The tide has seriously turned  Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he added.

Titled Sydney Sweeney has great jeans, the campaign sparked a debate about race, Western beauty standards, and the backlash to woke American politics and culture. Most of the negative reception focused on videos that used the word genes instead of jeans when discussing the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actor known for the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus.

Some critics saw the wordplay as a nod, either unintentional or deliberate, to eugenics, a discredited theory that held humanity could be improved through selective breeding for certain traits.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Photo: https://pbs.twimg.com/

Ukraine is interested in involving Japanese business and implementing joint projects from green energy to high-tech production, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka has said.

"Japan is a strategic partner of Ukraine in the process of restoring and modernizing the economy. We are interested in involving Japanese business and implementing joint projects in key areas  from green energy to high-tech production. This is a mutual long-term economic project in which Japanese companies can become part of building our future," the office said citing Kachka after a meeting with representatives of institutions that promote the development of ties between Japanese and Ukrainian businesses during a working visit to Tokyo (Japan).

In particular, the Ukrainian delegation met with representatives of the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance Agency (NEXI), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and the Japanese Business Federation Keidanren.

It is noted that during the negotiations with JETRO, the deputy prime minister expressed gratitude for the opening of the organization's representative office in Kyiv, which was an important result of the 2024 negotiations.

During the meeting with Chairman of Keidanren Yoshinobu Tsutsui, the parties discussed the creation of favorable conditions for Japanese companies in Ukraine, in particular within industrial parks.

In addition, the meeting with Chairman of NEXI Atsuo Kuroda was devoted to the role of the Japanese Export Credit Agency in reducing business risks for companies investing in Ukraine.

"Representatives of Japanese institutions confirmed their role in the strategic partnership with Ukraine in the restoration and transformation of the country's economy, the parties agreed on the further development of cooperation," the office said.
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US Special envoy for Middle East affairs Steve Witkoff will probably visit Moscow this week, US President Donald Trump said.

"He may go, I think, next week, Wednesday or Thursday (August 6 and 7) to Russia. They would like to see him. They asked him to meet with them. So we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters.

He noted that Witkoff is currently focused on the problems of the Gaza Strip, but he may go to Russia.

Reporters asked Trump what would happen on Friday, August 8, if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine.

"Well, there will be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding them. You know, they're wily characters and they're pretty good at avoiding sanctions. So we'll see what happens," Trump said.

As reported, on July 14, Trump said that he would impose sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin continued to delay concluding a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine. On July 28, Trump announced a new deadline for reaching an agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which would not exceed 10-12 days instead of the previously planned 50 days.
Campaigners fighting to stop windfarm cables being laid at Saunton Sands want planners to investigate the proposed Xlinks site at Abbotsham as an alternative route.

Love Braunton says the route planned for the Xlinks Morocco to UK project has significantly less environmental concerns than the White Cross windfarm cable plan, which would come ashore at Saunton and tunnel under a number of protected landscapes before connecting to the national grid at Yelland.

Last month the government decided to walk away from the Xlinks scheme, which would have brought wind and solar energy from Morocco to Britain via a 3,800km cable coming onshore at Cornborough near Abbotsham, a little further down the coast, before connecting to a sub station near Alverdiscott.

READ MORE: Government ditches support for Xlinks undersea cable project

Now, Love Brauntons solicitors are asking North Devon Council (NDC) to hold issuing the decision notice on the planning permission granted in May until the alternative route is explored.

The Morocco scheme was expected to provide eight per cent of the UKs energy and slash energy prices by more than nine per cent in its first year.

Designated as a nationally significant project by the previous government in 2023, the Labour Government pulled its support after saying it wanted to concentrate on projects in the UK and there was a high level of inherent risk, related to both delivery and security.

Above: The stretch of coast near Abbotsham at Cornborough, roughly close to the location depicted here, would be a better place for the White Cross cables to make landfall, Love Braunton says. Credit: Viral PR

White Cross meanwhile is a test and demonstration site for wind power in the Celtic Sea, 50 kilometres off the North Devon coast, which was granted development rights from the Crown Estate in 2021

The onshore cable route was controversially granted planning permission despite thousands of objectors raising concerns over the impact on the environment, the beach and Braunton village which could see 82 vehicle movements a day through its narrow streets.

There were 39 conditions added to the planning consent in an attempt to protect the landscape and the community.

The letter to North Devon Council on behalf of Love Brauntons solicitors, Richard Buxton, said: The Xlinks cable route is understood to have capacity to accommodate the onshore energy transmission and is therefore a reasonable alternative with significantly less environmental concerns.

The Xlinks route does fall under the jurisdiction of Torridge District Council, however.

White Cross says its plans will bring jobs and investment to the region.

READ MORE: Swimmers leave their heart on the sand at North Devon beach facing wind farm cable plans

At the planning meeting in May, planning officer Andrew Sierakowski said 22 other routes had been looked at, but there were environmental constraints along the whole coastline.

Its chock-a-block with designations and its impossible to go onshore without going through one, he said.

Xlinks says it has not ruled out its Morocco-UK power project, which could potentially still go ahead without support from the government.

However, not all are pleased with the legal bid from Love Braunton  a reader emailed the Gazette today (Tuesday) to say North Devon needed to stand together and lobby for the connections to be moved to Bridgwater or Port Talbot where the power was needed.

They added: The Braunton residents are trying to throw their North Devon neighbours under the developers bus in an I'm alright Jack move, claiming with no evidence whatsoever that the destruction of Abbotsham's unspoilt coastline is a better choice.

I thought North Devon had a sense of pride, togetherness and community, but apparently not.

These small-minded folks need to realise that with 20 offshore wind projects granted connections at Alverdiscott, even if they are successful in inflicting blight and devastation on their North Devon neighbours, it will not be long before the next connection project grabs the chance to use the Braunton route, which having permission will look very attractive.
Dozens of people took to Barnstaples streets on Saturday (August 2) to add the clamour of pots n pans to nationwide protests calling for an end to the death and starvation being inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza.

The North Devon Palestine Solidarity Campaign event was supported by North Devon MP Ian Roome, who spoke at the rally calling on the Government to act, saying empty words will no longer cut it.

Above: North Devon MP Ian Roome speaks at the Palestine rally, saying empty words no longer cit it.

The protest followed a demonstration outside Downing Street when Sir Kier Starmer announced that Britain would recognise a Palestinian State, unless Israel meets certain conditions.

READ NEXT: North Devon protestors demonstrate outside factory that supplies jet parts to Israel

Demonstrators are calling for immediate and unconditional recognition to bring an end to the mass starvation and killing and Gaza.

Above and below: Protesting in Barnstaple.

Armed with pots, pans and spoons, supporters from across North Devon and Torridge joined the PSC on Saturday. They said the empty pots and pans are a vivid and when beaten, audible, reminder of the starvation being inflicted on the Gazan population.

The event began in Barnstaple Square, where Mr Rome and others spoke, before it made a funereal procession up the High Street accompanied by a sombre drum beat.

Pausing in the High Street, the group announced to passers-by and shoppers the reasons for the rally before making a cacophony by beating their pots and pans.

The group continued to Library Square where more speeches were made and the crowd heard excerpts of a moving account from a former American soldier that is making waves on social media.

He signed up to support the aid effort but was sickened by what he says was the deliberate killing of Palestinians including children who were waiting to get food.

Above: A sizeable crowd turned out to support the pots n; pans rally in Barnstaple calling for an end to the death and starvation in Gaza.

North Devon MP Ian Roome told the Gazette it had been incredibly moving to see so many people at the rally on Saturday and to hear so many powerful speeches.

He said: I truly commend demonstrations like these for keeping what's happening in the public eye.

This isn't about politics as-usual. It's about humanity. I have been utterly appalled by the reports of mass starvation, with food being used as a weapon of war and so many civilians, children and families killed as a result. Such suffering cannot be ignored.

I have written to both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary on a number of occasions urging for far greater action and emphasising the moral duty we have as a country to stand up for international law and human rights.

Empty words will no longer cut it. My party and I will continue calling for: an end to all arms sales, more sanctions, ceasing trade with settlements in the occupied territories and an end to the violence.

READ MORE: Pictures: North Devon protesters march for Gaza
Exeter Airport is being sold as part of a multi-million-pound deal.

It is one of three regional airports to be snapped up by investment firm ICG, a London-based asset management company with offices in 17 countries and revenue of more than 970million.

It has reportedly agreed a deal with Rigby Group to buy Exeter along with airports at Bournemouth and Norwich for around 200million. The deal will be finalised later this month.

READ NEXT: Devon vet nurse trapped in Spanish hospital set to fly home today

Exeter Airport, which hosts airlines including Tui, Ryanair, KLM and Aer Lingus, was owned by Devon County Council until 2007, when it was sold to Regional and City Airports for 60million.

It was then sold on in 2013 to Rigby Group for an undisclosed sum.

Ludovic Laforge, managing director at ICG European Infrastructure, said: Were proud to be partnering with one of the UKs most dynamic regional airport groups in a transaction that underscores our commitment to supporting high-potential infrastructure assets.

The three airports are operated by Regional and City Airports (RCA), which is now a division of the Rigby Group.

The new owners say RCA will expand its airports, cargo and executive aviation operations, as well as accelerating its sustainable aviation practices.

RCA has become a model of successful regional aviation, according to ICG.

Under Rigby Groups stewardship, passenger numbers have risen to over 2million, up 13 per cent year-on-year, providing clear evidence of RCAs sustained growth.

READ NEXT: Bookings to Exeter Airports latest destination proving extremely promising

RCA chief executive Andrew Bell added: RCA has flourished into one of the leading UK airport groups and a high-performing enterprise. We are now ready to accelerate further.

Across our networks it will be business as usual, with the same outstanding team and vision, boosted by renewed momentum to drive our continued growth, innovation and sustainability.
Russia has attacked targets in Khmelnytsky region, Khmelnytsky Regional Military Administration head Serhiy Tiurin has said.

"The enemy has just attacked the region. No injuries or deaths so far. The air alert is ongoing. Let's stay in cover," he said on Telegram on Monday.
The military counterintelligence of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has uncovered another attempt by Russian military intelligence to infiltrate the Defense Forces of Ukraine: a "mole" has been detained in the State Special Transport Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

On Monday, the SBU reported on the detention in the Dnipropetrovsk region of a mobilized soldier from the combat brigade of the State Special Transport Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine who was working for the enemy.

"The detention took place at a stage when the defendant was undergoing combined-arms training at the training ground," the report said.

As the investigation established, the soldier was recruited by the occupiers immediately after mobilization to the relevant unit. He came to the attention of the Russian military intelligence (GRU) due to his pro-Russian comments on social networks.

"The agent's main task was to adjust the Russian air attacks on the Defense Forces in the Dnipropetrovsk region. It is documented that the person involved "leaked" to the Russian special services the geolocation of the military unit where he was undergoing military training," the department noted.

Then the agent began to collect the coordinates of adjacent Defense Forces formations, on which the occupiers planned to carry out missile strikes.

According to the SBU, the agent sent the collected intelligence to the curator via messenger in the form of marks on Google maps with a detailed description of potential "targets."

The SBU's military counterintelligence exposed the "mole" in advance, documented his contacts with the Russian GRU and detained him. During the special operation, measures were taken to secure the Defense Forces locations in the zone of enemy intelligence activity.

During the search, a phone with evidence of working for the enemy was seized from the detainee.

SBU investigators in the Dnipropetrovsk region informed him of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed under martial law).

The perpetrator is in custody without bail.
A Catholic church with roots dating back to the 19th century will close next month in East Chicago.

St. Stanislaus in East Chicago was originally established as St. Michael the Archangel in the late 19th century to serve the Polish immigrants settling in East Chicago's South Side neighborhood, and it remained a hub of the Polish community and its spiritual life for generations. Accounts vary on whether the parish first started in the 1880s or 1890s.

The Catholic church at 808 W 150th St. in East Chicago was officially founded as St. Stanislaus in 1900, drawing its name from the Bishop of Krakow, who was killed personally by King Boleslaus the Bold after excommunicating the king and denouncing his actions, going on to become the symbol of Polish nationhood. The first Polish person to be canonized, he's now the patron saint of Poland, as well as of the moral order.

St. Stanislaus is marking its 125th and final year in Northwest Indiana. The last Mass is tentatively slated for Sunday, Sept. 21. St. Stanislaus School will remain open, and the church building will be used as a school chapel.

Displaced parishioners are encouraged to join the parish closest to them. In many cases, that would be St. Mary's, a mile away at Indianapolis Boulevard and 144th Street, which has Masses every Sunday and Saturday.

The Diocese of Gary is in the process over the next few years of consolidating 14 parishes in North Lake County to four parishes with three worship sites as a result of population shifts in Northwest Indiana. The Catholic Church said that sprawling campuses once supported by 1,000 families are now supported by fewer than 150 people.

"The families who do live in the neighborhood and send their students to the parochial school worship elsewhere, namely St. Marys and St. Margaret Mary, where Masses are celebrated in the Spanish language. At the same time, we have much larger parishes located within one mile of St. Stanislaus. So, the first factor is population and geography," the Rev. Jeff Burton, the diocese's North Lake County dean, wrote in a letter to parishioners. "The second factor is that we dont have a sufficient number of priests to assign to a community of 85 souls, less than a mile from a parish of 1,200 souls. When the longtime pastor of St. Stanislaus retired, not having a priest to assign to the parish, as dean of North Lake, I took on the administration of the parish and some of the Masses, relying significantly on retired priests to fill the gaps. One of those priests died last month."

The Diocese of Gary said that St. Stanislaus is now averaging 85 worshipers at Sunday Mass, most of whom no longer live in the neighborhood.

St. Stanislaus hasn't had a priest since last year. At one time, the church was the largest Polish Roman Catholic church in the state of Indiana, parishioner and volunteer Mike Dosen said.

"It is very sad and bad timing. St. Stans is celebrating their 125th anniversary this year," Dosen said. "Some people think it is because of money, which might be true of some parishes, but St. Stans is very financially stable. Many people in church were crying at Mass after that announcement. Many people have been at St. Stans for several generations."

When he grew up, Dosen's family belonged to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in East Chicago, which was located about a block and a half from St. Stanislaus during a time when the city was filled with ethnic churches catering to all the immigrants who flocked there to work at the steel mills.

Immaculate Conception closed 30 years ago. Dosen's parents joined St. Stanislaus.

"My mom was very active at Immaculate Conception, and once joining St, Stan's, she became active there as well. She was an Eucharistic minister, which means she helped distribute communion," he said. "She is on the Parish Council, and she started St. Stan's Community Food Pantry, which she still runs. Once the parish closes in September, we will continue with the food pantry until we run out of our food supply. We will probably be able to continue until the end of the year."

Dosen has been working at the food pantry for the past decade.

"I have fond memories of all the people we have helped over the years; many are so dependent on those bags of food we distribute," he said.

St. Stanislaus started up at the turn of the century when East Chicago was a rapidly growing steel town, fueled by the rise of Inland Steel, Mark Manufacturing and other factories. It drew many Polish immigrants, but the closest Polish church was St. Casimir in Hammond, about 2  miles away. That was too far a trek for many at a time before the automotive had gained wide traction and most people walked to work, places of worship and grocery stores in their own neighborhoods.

St. Stanislaus used to host a popular carnival that was the highlight of the summer for many kids in the neighborhood.

"It was held in a large empty lot a couple of blocks away, just south of Kosciuszko Park. I have many good memories of those carnivals," Dosen said.

The church opened a school in 1922 with 10 classrooms and 10 teachers. It has a gymnasium that doubled as a community center and featured a 300-seat auditorium, billiards and bowling, according to the Diocese of Gary.

"Probably the biggest event in St. Stans history was when the school and hall burned in 1958," Dosen said. "The empty convent burned down a few years ago, but not as important as when the school/hall burned."

The school will remain open, operating under the Diocese of Gary's Office of Schools in a similar manner to the Bishop Noll Institute. Although it will no longer be a parish, the church building will continue to serve as the St. Stanislaus School Chapel with weekly Masses for students.

"Now, every Sunday, people at church talk about where they will be going to go after St. Stans closes. Some of the elderly members walk to church, some are members that have moved to other cities and drive to church because St. Stans is the only church they know or feel comfortable attending," Dosen said. "So, it is very hard for many to adjust and find a new parish. As for Mom and me, we will be joining St. John the Baptist in Whiting. Both my parents were from Whiting, and they both belonged to St. John the Baptist. So, it will be full circle for Mom back to the church she grew up in."

The diocese, which is closing seven other parishes in North Lake County, has been grappling with priest shortages since the 1970s, Burton said.

"In the Sunday, Feb. 3, 1974 edition of The Times, Bishop Grutka commented extensively on the looming priest shortage, noting that we had an insufficient number of men in priestly formation to replace those who would be retiring. A year before that, we saw the first parish in East Chicago to close, St. Jude in Indiana Harbor," Burton said in a letter to parishioners. "In the 1977 report to the Vatican, Bishop Grutka noted that the population of our traditionally strong ethnic parishes was beginning to head to the suburbs, and even 50 years ago, he questioned their ability to continue into the future."

The shortage reached a point where action had to be taken, Burton said.

"With a significant number of active priest-pastors eligible to retire in the next five years, we could no longer delay any decisions. The bishop convened a Pastoral Planning Team, and we began meeting with parish leaders and at town hall-style meetings at Bishop Noll Institute," he said in a letter to parishioners. "Weve been very transparent about the challenges we face, and the models for the future that were proposed by the people give us a fighting chance to further the Catholic faith in the future."
Russia is preparing to expand its use of occupied Ukrainian territory to launch Shahed drone strikes on Ukraine, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said in its August 3 assessment.

"Satellite imagery of the airport in northern occupied Donetsk City from July 2025 shows that Russian authorities have partially cleared the fortifications on the runway and started construction work at the parking lots, possibly in preparation for the installation of fuel tanks.[6] Ukrainian open-source intelligence group CyberBoroshno reported that the satellite imagery suggests that Russian occupation authorities are building closed storage areas near the destroyed airport terminal and are preparing manual drone control points, warhead unloading areas, air surveillance posts, and a runway," the report said.

According to CyberBoroshno, the Russian occupation authorities are developing infrastructure at the airport for launching Shahed-type strike drones, Gerber-type decoy drones, and possibly Geranium-type (Shahed) jet drones.

"Long-range drone launch sites close to the front line will reduce the reaction time of Ukrainian air defenses," analysts say.

It is noted that Russian troops have previously launched long-range strike drones from occupied Ukraine, and Russia's continued use of the occupied territory for such strikes will pose an increasing threat to Ukraine and NATO member states if Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian territory.
At Alligator Alcatraz, the Biggest Risk Isnt Alligators The area around the immigrant detention center, deep in the Everglades, is threatened by a number of environmental hazards like hurricanes, intense heat and even wildfires. Marco Bello/Reuters

Fla. Alligator Alcatraz

The day President Trump toured Alligator Alcatraz, the sprawling new immigrant detention center in Floridas Everglades, he quipped that any escapees would need to learn how to run away from an alligator.

That danger is exaggerated, experts say. But the vast, subtropical wilderness of the Everglades poses other grave risks to detainees, particularly hurricanes and tropical storms.

The detention site, designed to hold several thousand people, is built mainly of tent-like temporary structures and trailers on swampland thats roughly a dozen feet above sea level. Over the past 35 years, a tropical storm or hurricane has passed through the region roughly once every two years, on average.

Historical storm paths since 1990 Tropical storm Hurricane category 1 2 3 4 5 Tropical storm Hurricane category 1 2 3 4 5

Fort Lauderdale The Everglades Naples Gulf of Mexico Katrina  2005 Alligator Alcatraz Wilma  2005 Miami Andrew  1992 Irma  2017 Ernesto  2006 Irene  1999 Atlantic Ocean Fort Lauderdale Gulf of Mexico The Everglades Naples Katrina  2005 Alligator Alcatraz Wilma  2005 Miami Andrew  1992 Irma  2017 Atlantic Ocean Ernesto  2006 Irene  1999 Fort Lauderdale The Everglades Gulf of Mexico Naples Katrina  2005 Alligator Alcatraz Wilma  2005 Miami Andrew  1992 Irma  2017 Atlantic Ocean Ernesto  2006 Irene  1999 The Everglades Katrina  2005 Naples Alligator Alcatraz Wilma  2005 Miami Andrew  1992 Irma  2017 Ernesto  2006 Irene  1999 The Everglades Katrina 2005 Wilma 2005 Alligator Alcatraz Miami Andrew 1992 Ernesto 2006 Irma 2017 Irene 1999 Fort Lauderdale The Everglades Naples Katrina  2005 Gulf of Mexico Alligator Alcatraz Wilma  2005 Miami Andrew  1992 Irma  2017 Ernesto  2006 Atlantic Ocean Irene  1999 Source: National Hurricane Center. The New York Times

Say a Cat 5 comes through Central Florida, said Jason Houser, former chief of staff at United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, referring to a Category 5 hurricane, which whips up winds of more than 150 miles per hour. You're looking at massive winds, flooding and you're going to get officers killed, he said.You're going to get migrants killed.

The area is also subject to other risks including intense rainfall, extreme heat and humidity, and wildfires during the dry season, when water levels tend to recede.

As U.S. immigration authorities expand their capacity to detain people, they are increasingly relying on soft-sided tent structures, which make the sites more vulnerable to extreme weather, experts say. Similar tents have been used to hold migrants in Cubas Guantanamo Bay and on the grounds of Miamis overcrowded Krome detention center.

Tents at the detention center in the Everglades. Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press

The Florida Division of Emergency Management, which operates the facility, did not respond to questions about evacuation plans, the ability of the buildings to withstand wind and other matters.

But as concerns mounted over risks to the site, it released a heavily redacted document last week that laid out the need for a full-scale evacuation and relocation due to a tropical cyclone.

The geography of this location, while ideal for integrated detention operations, the introduction to the report said, is vulnerable to tropical weather.

At a public briefing last month, Kevin Guthrie, Floridas head of emergency management, said the facility could withstand hurricane winds of up to Category 2, or up to 110 miles per hour. Hurricane season runs through November 30. The site would need to be evacuated if a storm stronger than a Category 2 hurricane threatened it, Mr. Guthrie said.

Mr. Houser, the former ICE chief of staff, said the tents the agency used during his tenure were designed to withstand winds of up to about 75 miles per hour, the speed at which wind starts to be considered hurricane-force.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement that, as with any facility, ICE has plans in case of emergency, including a hurricane plan.

President Donald Trump visiting Alligator Alcatraz last month. Doug Mills/The New York Times

The United States has a history of putting detention centers in harsh environments. In the 1940s, the United States government built internment camps for citizens of Japanese descent in the deserts of California, Wyoming and other Western states, where detainees endured extreme heat in the summer, freezing temperatures in the winter, along with strong winds and dust storms. From the 1980s, the United States government detained and processed Haitian refugees on board ships at sea and at a Navy base in Guantanamo Bay.

Officials have said Alligator Alcatraz could house as many as 4,000 people in tents and rows of trailers. It was built in little more than a week and is surrounded by the Great Cypress National Preserve in the Everglades ecosystem, on an old airstrip 13 feet above sea level.

Known as the River of Grass, the Everglades is one of Americas most distinctive landscapes, encompassing tangled mangroves and marshland. It is a habitat for rare wildlife, and recharges an aquifer that supplies clean water to millions of people in South Florida. Native Americans, including the Miccosukee tribe, have made their homes there. For miles around the facility, much of the ground is covered by a shallow sheet of water for many months of the year.

Its isolated. Its flat. And its wet. And the areas been cleared for the airport, which makes the structures there much more vulnerable to the winds, said David S. Nolan, professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami. You're really getting almost the maximum possible winds that you could over land.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused widespread tree damage and knocked out power to some areas within the Everglades. Aerial surveys by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration found staggering damage to trees there at the time.

Irma brought hurricane-force winds in 2017 Fort Lauderdale The Everglades Naples Gulf of Mexico Alligator Alcatraz Miami Irma  2017 Atlantic Ocean Fort Lauderdale Gulf of Mexico The Everglades Naples Alligator Alcatraz Miami Irma  2017 Atlantic Ocean Fort Lauderdale The Everglades Gulf of Mexico Naples Alligator Alcatraz Miami Irma  2017 Atlantic Ocean The Everglades Naples Alligator Alcatraz Miami Irma  2017 The Everglades Alligator Alcatraz Miami Irma 2017 Fort Lauderdale The Everglades Naples Gulf of Mexico Alligator Alcatraz Miami Irma  2017 Atlantic Ocean Source: National Hurricane Center The New York Times

Last year, Hurricane Milton spawned dozens of tornadoes, one of which passed through a section of the Everglades and into Lake Okeechobee, generating peak winds of 140 miles per hour. A weaker tornado came closer, within miles of the detention site, with winds of up to 85 miles per hour.

Other hurricanes have also wreaked havoc in the Everglades. Andrew, a Category 5 hurricane at landfall with winds of 165 miles per hour, uprooted mangrove trees and damaged 70,000 acres of wetlands. Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina in 2005 both brought hurricane-force winds to the area.

Evacuating the site would be a challenge, experts said. The detention facility is accessed by a two-lane road, which could make it challenging to move thousands of people. Thats something I hope theyre preparing for, said Jeffrey Lindsey, a fire and emergency services director and lecturer at the University of Florida.

Mr. Guthrie, the Florida emergency chief, has said his team had recently visited several prisons to evaluate them as potential sites to evacuate detainees to during a major storm.

Flooding in Big Cypress National Preserve following Hurricane Irma in 2017. National Park Service

Flooding in the low-lying expanse of the Everglades is unlikely to develop as fast as the devastating flash floods in Texas in recent weeks, experts said. However, when the area floods, water is typically very slow to drain, said Elizabeth Dunn, a researcher at the University of South Florida with an expertise in disaster management and homeland security. Government flood maps indicate high flood risk in the area around the detention center.

On its opening day, as President Trump visited the site, news cameras showed water seeping into the site from a passing storm.

Its very flat land, and its going to sit there for a while, Ms. Dunn said of potential floodwaters. In addition, possible damage to roads, levees and power lines raises other logistical risks. How are you going to get food in? How are you going to get medical supplies, how are you going to get people out? she said.

Wildfire perimeters since 1990 Fort Lauderdale The Everglades Naples Gulf of Mexico Alligator Alcatraz Miami Atlantic Ocean Fort Lauderdale Gulf of Mexico The Everglades Naples Alligator Alcatraz Miami Atlantic Ocean Fort Lauderdale Gulf of Mexico The Everglades Naples Alligator Alcatraz Miami Atlantic Ocean The Everglades Naples Alligator Alcatraz Miami The Everglades Alligator Alcatraz Miami Fort Lauderdale The Everglades Naples Gulf of Mexico Alligator Alcatraz Miami Atlantic Ocean Source: National Interagency Fire Center Note: Excludes prescribed fires, or controlled burns set intentionally as a way to minimize wildfire risk. The New York Times

The Everglades dry winter and spring months bring different threats. Surface water retreats, and wildfires become frequent and widespread. In May, a fire in Big Cypress burned more than 6,500 acres of pine, cypress and grass.

The fires can be tough to contain, said Mr. Lindsey, who is a retired fire chief with more than 45 years of experience with hurricanes and wildland fires. Youre talking about swamps, he said. Navigating through that becomes very difficult, and sometimes it's easier to let the fires burn.

A wildfire at Big Cypress National Preserve this year. National Park Service

But firefighters typically didnt need to consider the risks to thousands of people in the middle of the Florida swamp, he said. Its mostly animals you see trying to escape," he said.

In recent weeks, detainees have reported backed-up portable toilets, rainwater leaking into tents and spotty air conditioning. Lack of infrastructure at the site has meant that drinking and bathing water must be trucked in, and sewage hauled away. A federal judge said on Aug. 7 that work must stop for 14 days while she considered arguments that building and operating the immigration detention facility would harm the environment.

The Florida facility could be used as a blueprint as the federal government expands locations to hold immigrants facing deportation, the Department of Homeland Security said last month. "We've had several other states, Secretary Kristi Noem said at a briefing, that are actually using Alligator Alcatraz as a model.





A correction was made on August 4, 2025: An earlier version of this article stated incorrectly the name of the university where Elizabeth Dunn works as a researcher. It is the University of South Florida, not the University of Southern Florida.
THE scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers has opened for submission of online applications, a Fine Gael Deputy has said.

Deputy John Clendennen said this scheme will recognise the hard work of farmers in Offaly that missed out on payments previously.

The Long Established Young Farmers, often called the Forgotten Farmers, is a group who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had commenced in agriculture prior to 2008, but did not receive young farmer Installation Aid and were not eligible for young farmer supports under the CAP from 2015.

Its great to see this anomaly being addressed with the opening of application for this scheme. So many farmers across the country have waited for this issue to be addressed.

READ NEXT: Young Offaly dairy farmer appointed to charitable trust's Youth Board membership

5m was allocated for this scheme in the Budget to ensure that these farmers get access to this vital scheme. The government also committed to deliver a scheme that recognises the Forgotten Farmers in the Programme for Government.

Online applications can be submitted until 5.30pm on 13 August 2025 and I encourage all those eligible in Offaly to apply. Applications can be made at Agfood.ie.

Farmers can be reassured that Fine Gael and Minister Martin Heydon are doing everything we can to support the agricultural sector, concluded Deputy Clendennen.

READ NEXT:Tullamore Credit Union teams up with Offaly County Council on housing front
A former Ukrainian soldier appeared in Portlaoise District Court for stealing alcohol and intoxication.

Myroslav Krynytskyl (32) of No Fixed Abode was accused of stealing two bottles of pink gin worth 52 from Aldi, Main Street, Portarlington on March 21 last. He was also accused of stealing five bottles of whiskey and one bottle of gin valued at 133 from Lidl in Portarlington on March 14 and being intoxicated at The Sycamores, Kilnacourt Woods, Portarlington on March 19, 2025.

Garda Sergeant Jason Hughes said the accused was arrested in Portarlington on March 19 when gardai found him in an intoxicated state. He attempted to walk away from Garda Burke and he was unable to do so, he explained. The man was then arrested for his own safety, he explained.

Sgt Hughes said the theft of five bottles of whiskey and one bottle of gin from Lidl Portarlington was captured on CCTV. He said the theft of two bottles of gin from Aldi was also captured on CCTV. Sgt Hughes said the accused had 27 previous convictions.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had been in custody since June 6. She said the man had been married but was now separated. He had worked in a factory in a car plant but during the war with Russia he was a soldier in the Ukrainian Army. She said he was released from duty due to mental health difficulties and a head injury.

Ms Fitzpatrick said the man wasnt in any trouble prior to his involvement in the war in Ukraine. She said his engagement with the probation services has been of benefit but he will be starting from scratch on release from custody.

Judge Deirdre Gearty said he would need supervision in future. She sentenced him to two months in prison and backdated the sentence to June 9.
MANAMA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese fine brushwork painting exhibition opened on Sunday at the Bahrain Art Centre in Manama, Bahrain, showcasing nearly 50 flower-and-bird artworks by Chinese artist Su Xiaofeng.

Organized by the Chinese Embassy in Bahrain, the exhibition runs through Aug. 17 and is open to the public free of charge. Alongside the paintings, visitors can also explore an experience exhibition on China Oud -- a traditional aromatic resin used in incense and perfumery.

At the opening ceremony, Su Xiaofeng expressed his hope that the exhibition would deepen understanding and friendship between the peoples of China, Bahrain, and other nations through the shared language of culture and art.

Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain Ni Ruchi said the debut of Chinese fine brushwork opens a window for the Bahraini public to know about traditional Chinese art.

Bahrain's Minister of Tourism, Fatima Al Sairafi, who attended the opening and toured the exhibition, described the event as "a very special occasion to celebrate the art of our two nations."

She expressed hope that this event would serve as an opportunity to further promote cultural and tourism exchanges between Bahrain and China, and enhance the friendship between the two peoples.
On the territory of the former cemetery in Zboiska in Lviv, a Ukrainian-Polish expedition has begun search and exhumation work to rebury the remains of soldiers of the Polish Army, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications reported.

"The soldiers died in 1939 during the defense of Lviv from the German army. They were representatives of different nationalities. The work is being carried out within the framework of bilateral cooperation aimed at a joint understanding of historical events," the ministry said in a statement.

It is noted that according to Yevhen Boiko, the head of the executive committee of the Lviv City Council, the cemetery existed until the 1960s, and was finally liquidated in 1987. Later, in the 1990s, a symbolic wooden cross was erected with the inscription in Polish: "To the soldiers of the Polish army who fell in defense of the Fatherland in September 1939."

According to the report, the exhumation work will continue until August 30.

As reported, in early May it became known that the remains of 42 people were discovered at the site of exhumation work in the former village of Puzhnyky in Ternopil region.

In June, Ukraine transferred permission to the Polish side to conduct exhumation work on the territory of the former village of Zboiska.
Life in Palestine is not easy on day 666 of the holocaust is not easy but it is not easy outside of Palestine either. After all it is a small world and everyone is either supportive of genocide (directly or indirectly by staying quiet) OR one resists. This is the moral issue of our time and no one can say later that they did not know.

Israel destroys seed propagation facility in Hebron. The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University ( palestinenature.org) condemns this egregious act. It is especially irritating for us as we also have a seedbank and consider the UAWC our main partner and the main seedbank for domestic plants guarding genetic diversity of food crops.

Stay Humane and ACT to 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
Toronto, ON, Canada, July 30, 2025 -- On Friday, August 1, 2025, Tai Ji Men in Toronto will officially open its doors at 125 King 
Several Oregonians have fallen victim to gold and silver bar scams in recent weeks. TNS

The Oregon Department of Justice issued an urgent warning to residents last week after yet another Oregonian fell victim to a gold bar scam.

The Oregon woman was swindled out of tens of thousands of dollars after scammers convinced her to convert her money into gold, claiming her bank accounts had been compromised, officials said.
An Umpqua Bank branch location at the downtown Portland tower that once housed its headquarters. Elliot Njus/The Oregonian

Umpqua Bank will become Columbia Bank on Sept. 1, it told customers in a message Monday.

It had announced the change earlier this year. Tacoma-based Columbia Bank acquired Umpqua Bank in 2023, and said in April it would scrap the Umpqua name to reduce confusion and simplify its portfolio of brands.
Travelers who use Northwest Cornelius Pass Road north of U.S. 26 will need to choose an alternate route Tuesday, Aug. 5 while crews chip seal the roadway surface.

Cornelius Pass Road will be closed to all travelers 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday as the Oregon Department of Transportation works on improving the road surface between U.S. 30 and Northwest Skyline Boulevard. Local traffic will be flagged through the area.

The second day of work was scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 6, but predicted rainfall may push that work out another day or two. ODOT spokesperson David House said in a recent email that whenever the second day of work occurs, traffic will be guided through the work area via pilot car. He expected most drivers would choose alternate routes to avoid what will be long delays in the area.

Through traffic on OR 127 (Cornelius Pass) should use Interstate 405 to access U.S. 26 and 30.

Visit TripCheck.com for up-to-the-minute details on delays and road closures.
Washington County Sheriff's Office civil deputy Charles Doze is shown here in a file photo. Courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff's Office

A Washington County sheriffs deputy has filed a $23 million lawsuit against the owners of a Tualatin apartment complex  claiming they failed to provide warning of a tenant who ambushed him in a burst of gunshots when he tried to serve an eviction notice.

Charles Doze was shot seven times moments after another deputy kicked down the barricaded door to an apartment at The Timbers at Tualatin on July 26, 2023.

The tenant, Kris Graves, had stopped paying rent in April and had been heard yelling in the dead of night, according to the lawsuit. Graves, 34, was unemployed and had covered up the windows of his second-floor unit.

Graves fired a handgun as soon as the door was breached, striking Doze in the head, face, arms and torso. The deputy, then 69, lost all vision in his left eye, among other serious injuries. Doze worked as an armed civil deputy tasked with serving legal papers.

The tenant was found dead several hours later when deputies breached the apartment.

Doze seeks $23 million in damages from the Timbers at Tualatin, its owners at Pacific Urban Investors of Palo Alto, California, as well as residential property manager FPI Management, real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield and the sites community director, Nicole Mutziger.

The suit alleges that the defendants failed to conduct welfare checks on Graves, ban tenants for possessing guns as a condition of the lease and failed to take reasonable steps to de-escalate after learning of the barricades and altered locks.

A representative for Pacific Urban declined to comment, while the others didnt respond to inquiries. Doze remains on leave from the sheriffs office, according to agency spokesperson Deputy David Huey.

The lawsuit was filed July 25 in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.
Burrowing owls weigh around 5 to 6 ounces with a maximum 1.8-foot wingspan. Found in prairies and grasslands, the long-legged, yellow-eyed raptors nest in holes in the ground. Harney County Migratory Bird Festival

Seventeen years ago, only four burrowing owl pairs remained at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in eastern Oregon.

Now, more than 80 pairs nest in the unlikely spot that has become home to one of the worlds most flourishing  and most studied  colonies of burrowing owls. Theyve produced at least 285 baby owls this year alone.

The population boom of long-legged, yellow-eyed raptors comes courtesy of some old juice barrels, a team of researchers and one man who really loves owls.

David Johnson, the founder of the Global Owl Project, spearheaded the conservation effort that brought the colony back to life on this plot of grassy plains as habitat loss has driven the species into decline elsewhere.

While the land outside Hermiston has cycled through many uses  a military depot, a chemical weapons destruction site and now an Oregon National Guard training center  the owls have been there all along.

Read more: Burrowing owls decorate their dens, plus other fun facts on the small raptor

Johnson hopes yet another transition will preserve the momentum as he steps away from the site for health reasons and turns the work over to another owl group, the Oregon Military Department and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

A big part of my heart is out there, Johnson said. I put a lot of my life into helping the owls  With the depot, I have to let go.

David Johnson, the founder of the Global Owl Project, with burrowing owls at the depot. Courtesy of David Johnson

Burrowing owls, found only in the Americas, are small, weighing around 5 to 6 ounces with a maximum 1.8-foot wingspan. They nest in the ground, not in trees, so theyre more likely found in prairies or grasslands than in forests. Typically, burrowing owls in Oregon rely on holes dug by badgers to nest and fledge their young. But badgers at the depot have mostly disappeared, along with their dens.

When he arrived at the depot, Johnson knew that the remaining four burrows would soon cave in and the few owls left would likely die out. So he developed a network of artificial burrows that has proven especially effective.

David has more or less resurrected owls in the area, when it sounded like they had just about disappeared, said Denver Holt, founder and president of the Owl Research Institute. The Montana-based nonprofit, not affiliated with Johnsons Global Owl Project, will now oversee the studies at the site.

The density of owls and intensity of the research are unique to the depot, said Mike Green, who leads the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Northwest migratory birds program. Green has visited the site and worked with Johnson on other projects.

Thats the most successfully studied colony of burrowing owls, Green said. Theres no other researcher I know of working on burrowing owls in North or South America thats spent nearly as much time on anything like this.

LIFELONG COMPANIONS

Johnson, 68, was only 11 when his fascination with owls began during a camping trip in his home state, Minnesota.

An eastern screech owl landed on his tent under the moonlight. Lying inside, separated by just a few inches and the canvas of his tent, a young Johnson felt vibrations as the owl called from its perch for 20 minutes.

He can still clearly recall the screech owls shrill whinny, resembling a horses neigh.

After that, the birds became his lifelong companions, Johnson said. He studied spotted owls at the University of Oregon for his masters degree, then in 1993 became Oregons spotted owl coordinator, leading a team that worked to recover and preserve the threatened species.

When that job ended in 1995, he moved to Washington states Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he led a 600-person project gathering data on wildlife habitat.

In 2005, Johnson moved to Washington, D.C., with his wife and founded the Global Owl Project, along with 13 professors and museum curators. Johnson has since served as the director, the project growing to 450 researchers, volunteers and academics in 65 countries studying the science and conservation of all kinds of owls.

At first, the project was funded by the National Science Foundation, but for years has run on other contracts, grants and donations, Johnson said. It has nonprofit status in some countries but not in the U.S.

A female burrowing owl with her clutch of eggs inside an artificial burrow at the old Umatilla Chemical Depot. David Johnson

Burrowing owls are listed as endangered or threatened in Canada and some U.S. states. In Oregon, theyre listed as a species of concern and considered a bird of conservation need by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Pest control programs that target animals that dig up farmland are the primary cause for the owl species decline, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. At the Umatilla depot, badgers got pushed out by fencing and farmland or caught up in coyote eradication efforts.

The owls also appear on the U.S. Department of Defenses list of mission-sensitive species, or birds that live on military installations and could inhibit training if they become endangered.

SURVIVING TO THRIVING

Johnson had been in D.C. for just a few years when he got a call in 2007 from the Oregon Military Department. Don Gillis, the departments natural resources manager at the time, was on the line.

We need you out here in Oregon, Johnson recalled Gillis saying. We need your help on the depot. We cant figure out whats going on.

Johnson returned to Oregon the next year and found the burrowing owl colony on the brink of collapse.

He knew that wooden crates had been used elsewhere to create artificial burrows to rebuild owl populations, but those deteriorated quickly, so he turned to Tree Top, the Washington-based applesauce and juice company.

With 55-gallon barrels that once held peach, apple and grape juice, Johnson and his team made new homes for the owls.

They cut the barrels in half, dug thigh-high holes and buried them underground.

They made holes on the tops of each barrel and attached small pails that led to the surface to allow researchers to access the underground chamber. They also attached tubes 10 feet long and 6 inches wide, the ends peeking just above ground as an entrance for the owls.

David Johnson and Jim Castle, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, lowered an artificial burrow into the ground at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in 2016. Courtesy of the Global Owl Project

The first year of the project, Johnson and his team built four sites, each with two burrows. Female owls choose between the two to lay their eggs and males use the other to store the mice, insects and small snakes they eat.

Johnson expected to yield four owl pairs  one at each site. But to his surprise, he found nine nesting pairs that year. And 32 pairs the next year. The following year there were 61, then 65.

By 2015, what was once a depleted colony was thriving. Johnson, along with biologists with the military and the Umatilla Confederated Tribes, had built more than 90 sites. Each year, Johnson traveled from D.C. to work at the depot throughout May and June.

The depot itself also had changed. A yearslong project to incinerate the chemical weapons once stored there concluded in 2011, and its 17,000 acres were then divvied up.

The Oregon Military Department now uses some of the land for its Rees Training Center, one of four National Guard training sites in the state. Around 4,000 acres are set aside for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, who plan to use it as a wildlife conservation area. The Columbia Development Authority has taken over the rest and plans to redevelop it for industrial use and wildlife habitat.

The burrow sites are down to 50 on what will soon become tribal land and 29 on military training grounds. Some have been removed for development and others are now off-limits because of military equipment. More pairs likely nested and produced owlets in those burrows that researchers were unable to monitor, contributing to a lower count this year than last.

All burrows are at full capacity, with some owl pairs even doubling up at some sites, said Janet Johnson, a natural resources program manager with the Oregon Military Department. (She is not related to David Johnson.)

The barrel burrows have sustained a steady population and produced more information about the species than other colonies throughout the Americas, she said. She oversees conservation efforts at the Oregon National Guard training sites and helps clean and repair the burrows each year.

The design he developed for the burrow system, all of those details  have all been developed through the years of this project, she said. Now theyre acting as a model for other (military) installations on a national level.

The artificial burrows for owls at the old Umatilla Chemical Depot are buried completely underground, except for the end of a 10-foot pipe as an entrance to the chamber. Courtesy of the Oregon Military Department

END OF AN ERA

Each year, researchers and biologists with the Global Owl Project, the local tribes and the military capture all the adult and newborn owls on site, snap metal bands around their skinny legs and weigh them. Theyve attached tiny geolocation backpacks to track some birds migration patterns.

Using the numbered bands, researchers have tracked around 3,700 individual owls over 17 years  amounting to the worlds most comprehensive demographic data on the species, David Johnson said.

That data has uncovered new research topics on the species, including findings about burrowing owls migration and mating patterns, Johnson said.

The length of time that hes been able to study these banded birds allows us to look at multiple generations of birds in a way that I dont think any other researcher has been able to do, said Green of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It gives us a new perspective on birds in general.

Johnson missed the banding this year for the first time since the project started. He has turned his focus to chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer, which has depleted his energy.

The diagnosis means hes stepping back from his work as director of the Global Owl Project. Those taking over to lead the international organization dont live near Oregon, Johnson said, and cant commit to visiting for two months a year as he did.

So, the Montana owl group will now lead the research and the military and tribes will continue to support the remaining burrows.

A staff member with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation's Department of Natural Resources holds burrowing owls during the 2025 season. Lindsay Chiono

So far, its been a very productive collaboration, said Lindsay Chiono, a wildlife habitat ecologist with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The depot land transferring to the tribes will be named Papuunmi Tanawtpama Ticam, Chiono said, which translates to home of the burrowing owl.

We are basically inheriting this pretty amazing research effort and conservation success story, Chiono said. So we want to move forward respecting the efforts of those whove come before to keep the species on the site.

Johnson said his spirit remains at the depot.

He still gushes about everything there is to know about burrowing owls: the coo coo of their calls, the number of eggs they lay, the type of mice they eat.

His voice bursts with enthusiasm when he discusses the three owl-related projects hes wrapping up: Publishing the data from the depot, confirming the number of burrowing owl subspecies and editing a book about cultural perceptions of owls around the world. The book will be published next spring, he said.

I didnt pick owls, they picked me, he said. Ive always known what I want to do. Its always been owls.

 Maddie Khaw covers breaking news, public safety and more for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at mkhaw@oregonian.com.
National research laboratories in Colorado, Oregon and Washington focused on addressing climate change and improving energy efficiency and affordability for Americans would be gutted under budgets proposed by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, based in Richland, Washington, and Portland and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, based in Golden, Colorado, would see their funding in the year ahead nearly halved under the Trump administrations proposed 2026 budget for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are negotiating spending bills for the next fiscal year that begins in October and will decide on the energy agencys budget after Sept. 2, when they return from their August recess.

The national labs are meant to lead research and scientific experimentation in climate and clean energy strategies, including measuring extreme weather risks by collecting and analyzing atmospheric data from around the world and improving battery and grid technologies to get more wind and solar energy flowing to homes and businesses. They also study energy efficiency across U.S. infrastructure and commerce, all of which is meant to save Americans and businesses money and to curb climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Andrea McMakin, a former communications specialist and 34-year veteran of the Northwest Laboratory in Richland, said the U.S. risks losing its best scientists if the proposed funding cuts go through.

McMakin is part of the group Friends of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which has been raising concerns about the cuts. McMakin said the group learned in June that the labs former director told staff in a meeting that up to 1,000 people could be cut if the current budget passes, a number thats been echoed by state leaders.

Those people leave. They have to find jobs someplace. And were seeing that a lot of other countries are stepping up their recruiting to get U.S. scientists and engineers, McMakin said. We dont want to see that. We want to keep our energy competitiveness and we want to keep our brain power here in the U.S.

A recent report from Politico cites two sources familiar with U.S. Department of Energy facilities who said up to 1,000 people could be cut from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado.

Heather Lammers, a spokesperson for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, said in an email that the lab is talking with the federal energy department to fully understand the impacts of its proposed spending cuts.

The Northwest Laboratorys public affairs officer, Dawn Zimmerman, did not confirm figures for potential staff cuts and said the U.S. Department of Energy requires all queries involving the federal budget to be directed to its public affairs office. An unnamed Energy Department spokesperson said in an email that personnel decisions are dictated by the labs directly, not the federal government.

The Department of Energy is committed to making the American peoples government more efficient while also growing the output of top-quality science at our national labs, the spokesperson wrote.

Trump proposed in May cutting next years budget for the U.S. Energy Department by about $3.5 billion. Of that, $2.5 billion would be cut from the agencys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy  a 74% reduction from its current budget.

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, established following the 1973 oil crisis, in recent years has focused on researching, developing and deploying technologies meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the countrys electricity sector. That technology includes batteries that can hold large amounts of wind and solar power, and white LED light bulbs that require far less energy than incandescent and fluorescent lights.

The budget also cuts 14%, or $1.15 billion, from the departments Biological and Environmental Research program, meant to collect and analyze climate change data.

Both the Colorado lab and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory get most of their funding from those two programs. But under Trumps proposed 2026 budget, the Renewable Energy Lab would lose $387 million in funding  more than half of its current budget.

Lammers, the spokesperson for the National Renewable Energy Lab, said it also receives funding from state and tribal governments and some private industry partners.

We remain committed to our mission of delivering integrated solutions for an affordable, secure and reliable energy future through research, innovation and strategic collaboration, she said.

The Northwest National Lab would lose about $280 million, a third of its current budget.

The lab, which employs more than 5,000 people, is the largest employer in Washingtons Tri-Cities area, which includes Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, according to the areas development council.

Washingtons U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, said the Republican budget for the Energy Department would be a devastating blow to the Northwest National Lab.

Make no mistake: if Trumps budget request were to become law, it would result in the loss of over 1,000 jobs at PNNL. On top of that, this administration is defying the law right now by redirecting millions of dollars away from wind and solar research and development happening at our national labs  this move alone could force major layoffs at PNNL, she said in a statement.

Murray, the lead Democrat and vice chair on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she would fight the proposed cuts.

President Trumps budget is dead on arrival in the Senate as far as Im concerned, she said. Im working to write a bipartisan funding bill that will protect investments in our national labs and save the jobs President Trump is thoughtlessly seeking to eliminate.

Oregons U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, also a Democrat, said in an email the Republican budget is anti-science and will harm clean energy industries gaining traction and growing in parts of the state.

I just had five town halls in eastern Oregon where wind turbines and solar panels are taking full advantage of renewable energy options that lower prices for consumers and fight the climate crisis, Wyden said. Thats but one clear example of how this latest Republican scheme to slash research investments in clean energy would be both nonsense and anti-science.

Wyden said he voted against confirming oil executive Audrey Robertson as Trumps appointee for assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the federal energy agency, in large part because Trump said he wanted to cut renewable energy investments.

Trump threatened nearly identical cuts for the energy department during his first presidency in 2017, but Congress ultimately ignored the presidents suggested budget for the agency. McMakin said she remembers staff of the Northwest National Lab starting to change the way they talked about their work so they wouldnt draw Trumps attention.

I remember at that time it was like, we have to change. We cant say atmospheric climate science anymore, we have to say earth sciences, because it was just one of those language things that if you said climate science or anything about climate you are in danger of getting your funding cut, she 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.
Tucked along the banks of John Day River in central Oregon sits a 20-foot-wide metal grain silo with a neon cocktails sign outside.

This is Bens Place Bar, the only bar in rural Spray.

Spray is a 32-mile drive southeast of Fossil in Wheeler County. The town is home to only about 150 people.

Yet, since it opened in April, Bens Place has become a viral hit on social media and a destination for travelers along this windy, scenic stretch of Oregon 19. The tiny establishment has drawn visitors from as far as Portland, Seattle, Montana and Canada.

17 1 / 17 Ben's Place Bar in Spray

From motorcycle guys to rafters, fishermen, bicyclists, you name it, said owner Keith Mitchell. Just all walks of life have come through.

Youll note, Keith is not a Ben. The bars name comes from a family inside joke.

My brother-in-law and I used to joke with each other, What have you been doing? Ive been drinking. So, thats why its called Bens Place Bar, he said. Nobody in the family is named Ben. Everybodys been drinking.

Ben's Place Bar, located inside a silo in Spray, Oregon along the John Day River. The sign above the bar reads: "First Name: Ben. Last Name: Drinking." Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian

Mitchell, who lives in Battle Ground, has long traveled to central Oregon to fish and raft along the John Day River. In 2019, he purchased a long, narrow riverfront lot where he built two cabins. Visitors can now rent those cabins for $280- $300 a night and enjoy the views of the river.

In 2022, Mitchell opened Topwater Pizza in a converted car trailer on the property. Grace Mitchell, Keiths daughter, bought the pizza cart business last year, serving up 16-inch and 10-inch hot pizzas to eat on site or to go.

At first, (locals) were kind of like, I hope you dont turn this into Bend, Oregon,  she said. But they love it now. Its become a fan favorite.

And why wouldnt it? Its the only restaurant in town  and it has the added benefit of serving truly good pizza, with a wide array of build-your-own toppings pizzas and house specials. Graces personal favorite is the Gs Pizza, made with pepperoni, chicken, olives, pineapple and jalapenos and topped with a pesto drizzle.

A G's Pizza on a counter at Ben's Place Bar, with a view of the John Day River. Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian

The opening of Bens Place Bar this spring has only added to the pizza carts success.

The former grain silo that houses the bar was trucked in from Weiser, Idaho, and assembled on the narrow property. Mitchell, an arborist by trade, used waste pieces of Douglas fir to line the silos interior walls. Holes were cut for windows that provide near panoramic views of the river.

Drinks are served from a wooden bar seared with the branding irons of local ranching families. Theres no room for taps, so Bens Place serves beer from cans or bottles, poured into ice-cold glasses.

Ive never bartended in my life, Mitchell said. Ive got a tree service. This is all new to me.

But Mitchell knows a little something about drinking, and hes developed a few signature drinks. The Mitchell mule, for example, is his take on the cocktail, made with spiced rum instead of vodka, plus fresh mint and orange. It costs just $7. A Corona or Coors Light is just $4.

The silo seats about 20 inside, and bar-goers also have plenty of outdoor seating with stunning river views.

Bens Place hosts monthly live music, with a calendar of concerts posted at bensplacebar.com.

The bar has drawn not just tourists but also locals, who havent had a watering hole in town since the last bar in Spray closed about 20 years ago.

Its kind of brought in the people that are out on the ranches or outskirts, who always just kind of stay to themselves out there, said Sprays mayor, Arcadius St. Laurent, who was seated in the silo on a recent Sunday. Weve gotten to visit and actually know a lot more of the community here in the last couple of months just because of having this open.

IF YOU GO: Bens Place Bar, 938 Willow St. in Spray, is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays, from the first of April through the end of October.

Topwater Pizza is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Topwaters winter hours will vary, with limited hours for to-go, call-in orders. Large parties planning to stop by for food can call ahead at 360-566-7068.

To inquire about a cabin rental, visit bensplacebar.com or riverbluffcustomcabins.com.
An empty lot in Portland's Old Town is set to be converted to a day center site by the city and nonprofit services provider Urban Alchemy. Aug. 4, 2025 Lillian Mongeau Hughes

Portland Mayor Keith Wilsons plan to end unsheltered homelessness includes funding day centers in each of the citys four voting districts as a companion to the 12 to 15 overnight-only shelters hed also like to open. The idea is to offer people staying in nighttime shelters a chance to spend the day in a safe space where they can connect to services.

The first new day center will be set up in an empty lot in Old Town, bordered by Northwest 6th Avenue, Glisan Street, Broadway and Hoyt Street. The lot is owned by Prosper Portland, the citys economic development arm, and served as a village shelter during the pandemic.
Kyiv prosecutors have filed a lawsuit with the court to declare the contract for the construction of the Podilsky Bridge in Kyiv for over UAH 2 billion hryvnias invalid and to recover this money from the contractor, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office has said.

"The Podilsky District Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv has filed a lawsuit with the court to declare one of the contracts for the construction of a section of the Podilsky Bridge across the Dnieper River invalid, namely the section from the Rusanivsky Sady dam to Perova Boulevard," the city prosecutor's office said in a message on its Telegram channel on Monday.

According to the report, in April 2017, the KP "Directorate for the Construction of Road and Transport Facilities of Kyiv" and a private company concluded a contract for the construction of the Podilsky Bridge.

The prosecutor's office emphasizes that over the past eight years, the term of work has been repeatedly extended, and the price of the work has increased from UAH 1.7 billion to UAH 3.5 billion, that is, almost doubled, which is confirmed by 90 additional agreements to the contract.

"As of July 2025, more than UAH 2 billion have been paid from the Kyiv city budget. At the same time, the decision of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine recognized that two participants in the tender for construction work (in particular, the winner of the tender) committed violations in the form of anti-competitive concerted actions, distorting the results of the tender," the report states.

The prosecutor's office explains that the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine concluded in its decision that these tender participants have common interests and relationships. The companies tried to appeal this conclusion in the courts during 2022-2023, but courts of all instances refused to satisfy their claims.

The Podilsky District Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv filed a lawsuit in the interests of the state to declare the contract invalid as contrary to the interests of the state and society, and to recover the money paid from the winner of the tender.

The Commercial Court of Kyiv has opened proceedings in the case.

The report also specifies that the court is already considering a similar case on the claim of the Podilsky District Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv to declare the contract for the construction of the Podilsky Bridge worth UAH 8.4 billion invalid.
A mural adorns the inside of a youth shelter in Eugene, Oregon that is run by Looking Glass Community Services. Looking Glass Community Services

Figuring out exactly how many Oregon children are homeless is tricky. Depending on the data source, Oregon has anywhere from about 2,600 homeless children, according to a biannual federally mandated count, to nearly 10 times that many  about 23,700, according to the state Department of Education.

Thats a vast gap that begs the question of why two ways of counting the same thing could possibly be so far apart. The short, though not completely satisfying answer is that the two tallies show pretty different things.

This is a question that has been asked so many times, said Sean Suib, executive director of New Avenues for Youth, a homeless services organization focused on children. And the answer is a bit elusive.

Whats clear, no matter the measure, is that Oregon does not do well in national rankings when it comes to youth homelessness.

Were always in the shame club, Suib said.

The smaller estimate of 2,600 children is a snapshot of who was homeless on one night in January 2023. It comes from a federally mandated census of homeless people, called a point-in-time count, that is conducted every other year to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The statewide 2025 numbers should be available soon, but they likely wont record a 10x jump.

Suib said that the point-in-time count figure tends to include children in the most severe situations of homelessness, like living out of a car or staying in a shelter.

But it only records people who are homeless on one night in January. And people approached by surveyors doing the counting can also decline to participate. For these reasons, it is a known undercount of the annual number of homeless people and it misses anyone who is not actively receiving services or living outside.

A father and son, right, who spent time at the Path Home Family shelter in Portland earlier this year listen as Reece Marshburn, left, and Bre Gregg, center, perform a song the dad helped write for the Lullaby Project. Vickie Connor/The Oregonian

The second way to measure youth homelessness is to count students. The larger figure, 23,700, comes from the Oregon Department of Educations homeless student data, which is collected to secure federal McKinney-Vento funding from the U.S. Department of Education. This count uses a broader definition of homeless, like staying on a friends couch or moving very frequently due to consistent trouble making rent. It also counts anyone of school age, including 18-year-olds and a handful of 19- and 20-year-olds.

Children identified by their school districts as having unstable housing are given the right to stay at their original school, even if their address changes during the school year, along with additional academic and social supports.

School districts are actively looking to identify students with unstable housing, Suib said, which makes the count less subject to the issues of young people hiding from officials. The broader definition, and the fact that the count includes anyone identified as homeless at any point in the year instead of on a single night, also contribute to the higher numbers, he said.

Its worth noting that when the McKinney-Vento data is more closely parsed certain groups do get a little closer to the point-in-time numbers. For example, 3,166 Oregon students were recorded as living unsheltered at some point during the 2021-22 school year. That is not far off the January 2023 point-in-time count figure for unsheltered families with children, which was 3,952 total people in those families.

By any measure, Oregon does poorly

Research shows that one of the biggest risk factors for becoming homeless as an adult is being homeless as a child. Among other issues, unstable housing tends to disrupt educational attainment and can cause lasting trauma.

Thats bad news for Oregon, which has among the highest rates of homeless children in the country, according to information drawn from both data sets.

Oregon had the nations eighth highest rate of homeless students, about 3.3% in the 2021-22 school year, among all U.S. states and the District of Columbia, according to the most recently available federal data. National McKinney-Vento data also shows that 70% of homeless Oregon students were chronically absent that year, the fourth highest rate in the country.

And according to national point-in-time count data from 2023, the state also had the highest rate of unsheltered families with children within its overall homeless population and was tied for the second highest rate of unsheltered children on their own, groups that are arguably among the most vulnerable. On the upside, Oregon also saw the fifth largest decrease in the number of families with children who were homeless from 2007 to 2024.

Knowing exactly how many young people are homeless doesnt change the basics of what they need, Suib said. Research shows kids need stable, safe adults, consistent school placements and a roof over their heads. Things like job training for older kids and preschool for younger ones also make a difference.

But while the numbers may not dictate what should be done to help kids, they do help clarify how much funding governments need to provide that help.

Two young people, one at risk of becoming homeless and one formerly homeless, learn from Production Manager Iain Ogilvie, right how to screen print at New Avenues Ink, a nonprofit youth homeless services provider that offers some job skills training. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

Getting a more accurate count while still following the federal rules for how to conduct the existing surveys could be tricky. But Suib said more reliable data on homeless children and families would help secure needed resources.

Getting better numbers so that advocates can fight for the resources needed to prevent late state adult homelessness really matters, Suib said. Counting means funding and funding means services and support.

Oregon has added a significant amount of dedicated funding for homeless young people in recent years. Both last biennium and this one saw about $19 million set aside for youth homelessness, which includes young people up to age 24. Its not as much as advocates wanted  a bill to secure more than double that amount and had the backing of Gov. Tina Kotek died in committee  but Suib acknowledged the progress.

At the same time, the Trump administration continues to threaten cuts to multiple funding streams that support a wide variety of services for homeless youth, including Medicaid, funds to help connect runaway kids to services and any help specifically for LGBTQ+ people, who are disproportionately represented among homeless youth.

The presidents proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 would reduce schools-based funding for homeless students from $6.5 billion to about $2 billion, according to reporting by NPR. It would also untether the money from direct services, allowing it to be spent on art classes or reading instruction, for example.

Despite this projected federal cut, Oregon is expecting to receive $1.2 million in school-based homeless services for the coming fiscal year, according to Liz Merah, an Oregon Department of Education spokesperson.

New statewide numbers  from the January 2025 point-in-time count and the 2024-25 school year  will be available this fall. The gap between the two likely wont close significantly.

In the end, Suib said, hes not sure it matters that the numbers are so different as long as its clear what each one is describing.

We look at these two incredibly different counts and we think theyre telling us the same thing and theyre not, he said. But they are both important measures.

Lillian Mongeau Hughes covers homelessness and mental health for The Oregonian. Email her with tips or questions at lmhughes@oregonian.com. Or follow her on Bluesky @lmonghughes.bsky.social or X at @lrmongeau.
Portland will see a handful of days with cloudy skies and even some rain around midweek. Oregonian file photo. The Oregonian

Portlands weather forecast may not look like a typical early August forecast, but with temps on the cool side and no extreme heat in sight, most residents can enjoy the cool -Monday through at least Thursday.

The National Weather Service says an upper-level trough centered over southeastern Alaska and surface high pressure well offshore in the northeastern Pacific combine to bring continued onshore flow and below-normal temperatures through much of the week.

Portland will see a good covering of marine clouds early Monday. Some clearing is expected by the afternoon, but temperatures may struggle to reach 75 degrees, which is about 10 degrees below average. However, if the clouds clear out earlier, temps could warm into the low 80s.

Portland will see another round of low clouds Tuesday, but by the afternoon skies should clear to partly sunny. The high will reach about 81.

A new system, tracking north of Vancouver Island, will bring a front to the coast overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. This is the metro areas best chance of widespread rain in about three weeks, according to the weather service.

Portland has a 40% chance of showers Wednesday through the morning hours. Skies will stay mostly cloudy, and the high temp should reach about 78 degrees.

Shower chances linger into Thursday but should be limited and short-lived. Skies will begin to clear out by the afternoon. Thursdays high will reach near 79 degrees.

If youre excited about this cooler and possibly damp week, enjoy it while you can. Current long range forecasts are showing the return of high pressure into the weekend and temperatures heating back up well into the 90s by Sunday.
Thanks to a new partnership, the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association has expanded to include bed and breakfast facilities.

The Pennsylvania Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns has merged with the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

The partnership went into effect on Friday.

Over the past decade, the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association has expanded its reach beyond restaurants and hotels to include Pennsylvanias destination marketing organizations, amusement parks, attractions, campgrounds and caterers.

Hospitality is stronger when we work together, Joe Massaro, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, said in a news release. Whether were fighting human trafficking, advocating for fair regulations and parity in the industry, or ensuring tourism funding reaches every corner of the Commonwealth, were all in this together. Welcoming Pennsylvanias B&Bs into the PRLA family reinforces our commitment to a shared mission: to protect, promote, and elevate Pennsylvanias hospitality industry.

A PA Bed & Breakfast Inns council has been established within the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association. The council includes PA Bed & Breakfast Inns Council board members and will focus solely on advocacy, education, and issues unique to the bed and breakfast community.

The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association was founded in 1937 and is based in Harrisburg. It represents restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality businesses across Pennsylvania.
A Cumberland County man charged earlier this year with making online threats against his doctor in now behind bars after police said he made repeated threats on social media against the troopers who investigated the original case.

Ryan F. Reeher, 37, of Monroe Township, was charged with making terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor, and arrested Friday. The magisterial district judge denied Reeher bond, citing public safety at risk/danger to the community.

Reeher originally was charged in March after police say he posted the name and photo of his doctor on X, formerly known as Twitter, believing the doctor had lied about his diagnosis.

Reeher demanded the doctor admit was he was a part of that or I (God) will start taking the lives of your family members, according to an affidavit written by police.The social media posts said Reeher called the doctor a disgusting individual, who would get what is coming to you.

The doctors name was included in a list of people Reeher believed had committed crimes against him.

Reeher referenced needing mass coffins and demanding that people admit their guilt of it will take one prayer to end your lives and your childrens lives, according to police.

A few weeks after these posts, Reeher was picked up on a warrant for an evaluation for an involuntary mental health commitment.

Its unclear from police records whether Reeher was committed for treatment and if so, for how long. He was arrested April 10 and released on his own recognizance.

In June, police say Reeher started up with more threats on X, this time against the two troopers who worked on his case with the doctor as the victim.

Reeher had previously predicted future deaths and on July 20 he said two of those deaths would be members of the #PAStatePolice, according to an affidavit filed against Reeher.

Reeher said God would be the one to take them out.

You think you can run or hide, but you cant, Reeher posted on July 20, according to police. All exits are covered. #carriedby6 #judgedby12 Remember? I told all of you this all last summer. Time for it to become a reality.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen speaks to the media Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025 in front of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Courthouse in Anaconda, Mont., about the ongoing search for shooting suspect Michael Brown. (Joseph Scheller/The Montana Standard via AP) AP

By Safiyah Riddle, The Associated Press

The former U.S. soldier suspected of killing four people at a Montana bar was still at large early Sunday and may be armed after escaping in a stolen vehicle containing clothes and camping gear, officials said.

Authorities believe 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown killed four people on Friday morning at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of Missoula in a valley hemmed in by mountains.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said at a press conference Sunday that Brown committed the shooting with a rifle that law enforcement believes was his personal weapon.

The victims ranged in age from 59 to 74 and included a female bartender and three male patrons.

Knudsen warned residents in the town of just over 9,000 people that Brown, who lived next door to the bar where he was a regular, could come back to the area.

This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever. So there absolutely is concern for the public, Knudsen said.

Numerous public events were canceled over the weekend as the search entered its third day, according to local Facebook pages.

Investigators are considering all possible options for Browns whereabouts, the attorney general said. That includes searching the woods where Brown hunted and camped while he was a kid. But Knudsen noted that, during peak tourist season in western Montana, some law enforcement officials would have to return to their local jurisdictions for their regular responsibilities.

Brown served in the Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005, according to Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson. Brown was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009, Castro said, and left military service at the rank of sergeant.

Browns niece, Clare Boyle, told the AP her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years and she and other family members repeatedly sought help.

This isnt just a drunk/high man going wild, she said in a Facebook message. Its a sick man who doesnt know who he is sometimes and frequently doesnt know where or when he is either.

Knudsen said on Sunday that Brown was known to local law enforcement before the shooting. It was widely believed that he knew at least some of the victims, given how close he lived to the bar.

Law enforcement released a photograph of Brown from surveillance footage taken shortly after the fatal shootings. He appeared to be barefoot and in minimal clothing.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen speaks to the media Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025 in front of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Courthouse in Anaconda, Mont., about the ongoing search for shooting suspect Michael Brown. (Joseph Scheller/The Montana Standard via AP) AP

included

But law enforcement now believes Brown ditched the vehicle he escaped in and stole a different one that had camping gear, shoes and clothes in it  leaving open the possibility that Brown is now clothed.

The last time that law enforcement saw Brown was on Friday afternoon, but there was some confusion because there were multiple white vehicles involved, Knudsen said.

There is a $7,500 reward for any information that leads to Browns capture.

This is still Montana. Montanans know how to take care of themselves. But please, if you have any sightings, call 911, Knudsen said.
Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Tetyana Berezhna has discussed with the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan Abe Toshiko priority areas that can become the basis for deepening bilateral cooperation.

"In particular, the topic was the restoration of destroyed cultural objects, training of Ukrainian specialists in the restoration and evacuation of art treasures, digital transformation in the field of heritage protection, creation of modern storage facilities for museum collections. The issue of supporting Ukrainian exhibitions, tours and visits of artists to Japan was also raised," the Ministry of Culture said in a statement following the meeting in Japan.

It is noted that Berezhna invited Japan to join the Cultural Resilience Alliance and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund as a strategic partner in the preservation and restoration of historical and cultural monuments.

In addition, the parties discussed cultural exchange projects, in particular, the translation of Japanese animation, films and literature into Ukrainian.

"We are not asking for charity, we are inviting you to a partnership with a country whose culture and resilience are the strong and unbreakable eastern gate of Europe," Berezhna emphasized.

According to the report, following the meeting, the parties confirmed their mutual interest in further developing cooperation, implementing joint initiatives and strategic projects in the fields of culture, education, media and information security.

As reported, on August 3, a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka arrived in Japan to participate in an event dedicated to the National Day of Ukraine at the Expo 2025 exhibition in Osaka, Japan.
Edward Mitchell, 55, and Lester Eiland, 54, pose for a photo before a seafood dinner following their release from jail. They spent the past 25 years eating Pennsylvania Department of Corrections food while fighting wrongful convictions in the 2000 murder of Harrisburg taxicab driver Angel DeJesus. Photo courtesy of Nilam Sangvhi
President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he leaves the White House, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Washington, as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, looks on. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) AP

So its one thing when a boss offers an associate a pat on the back.

Its another when its the president of the United States and his public comments about his press secretary focus on her lips. Suffice to say, the praise sent social media into an uproar.

Speaking to Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Friday night, President Trump, 79, was asked for his sentiments on Karoline Leavitt, 27, who began working with Trump in January 2024 as his national press secretary during his election campaign. She has kept that role since he became president, and has vigorously defended her boss during questioning about a variety of topics.

Shes become a star, Trump said. Its that face. Its that brain. Its those lips, the way they move. They move like shes a machine gun.

Shes a star, and shes good. Shes a great person, actually. But shes - I dont think anybody has ever had a better press secretary than Karoline. Shes been amazing.

That clip soon went viral, with comments calling it everything from creepy to referencing Monica Lewinsky, who became internationally known in the late 1990s after President Bill Clinton admitted to having had an affair with her during her days as a White House intern between 1995 and 1997. At the time, Clinton was 49 and Lewinsky was 22.

The timing of his comments also comes as the White House continues to resist calls from Congress and the presidents own base to release the FBIs investigative files on child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, it has asked courts to release grand jury testimony and has interviewed convicted Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to try to satisfy demands for transparency.

Leavitt is Trumps fifth press secretary overall and the first of his second term in office. Trump had four press secretaries during his first administration: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany. She is the youngest press secretary in White House history.

Leavitt married real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, 59, in January, only days before Trumps second inauguration.

The presidents comments came a day after Leavitt commended him during a White House press briefing, saying he deserved international recognition.

President Trump has brokered, on average, about one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his six months in office, she said. Its well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
A former Luzerne County election administrator shows a class how to set up new voting machines in 2021. Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

Story by Carter Walker of Votebeat

An analysis of three recent statewide elections found that problems with voting machines were rare and easily fixed.

This article is made possible through Spotlight PAs collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. Sign up for Votebeats free newsletters here.

Pennsylvania voters encountered only scattered voting-machine malfunctions that rarely affected their ability to cast ballots in recent elections, according to a Votebeat and Spotlight PA analysis of problems reported to the state.

Counties reported a smattering of common problems with machines at polling places, such as paper jams and error messages. Such issues were typically fixed quickly by counties having technicians on call or simply replacing the machine.

For election officials, sending out a technician or staffer to a polling place is usually easier and more efficient than trying to walk a poll worker through a fix over the phone, said Forrest Lehman, election director in Lycoming County. Officials refer to these traveling helpers as rovers or roamers.

Often you dont know for sure whats going on without sending someone out there, Lehman said. His rovers are prepared with a Swiss Army knife of supplies to address any issue they may encounter, he said, and often the biggest delay is just the time it takes a rover to drive to the polling place.

Pennsylvania appears to be the only state to require counties to report voting system malfunctions after each election. The requirement is the result of an August 2023 legal settlement between the Department of State and a coalition of election security groups. Votebeat and Spotlight PA analyzed the reports for three elections since the requirement took effect: the November 2023 municipal election, the 2024 primary and the 2024 general election. The 2025 primary election reports havent yet been published.

The reports reviewed by Votebeat and Spotlight PA showed:

The most common problems were ballots getting jammed in a machine, issues with scanning ballots, or the machine displaying some kind of error message.

Many of the problems didnt affect voters ability to cast ballots, because workers were often able to direct them to other available machines. Of those that did interfere with voting, the most common types of problems were scanning issues and jams.

Across the three elections, a total of 1,673 voters were delayed or prevented from casting a ballot due to equipment malfunctions, which represents 0.014% of the votes cast in those elections.

See a compilation of the reports.

The most common resolution involved replacing equipment, but election officials also solved problems by resetting a machine or switching to a second machine for the rest of the day.

The quickest resolutions, those that took 30 minutes or less, typically involved having a trained county worker go to the polling place and fix the issue.

The state doesnt require counties to have roving technicians, but Amy Gulli, a spokesperson for the Department of State, said most at least have extra staff at the election office who can be dispatched as needed.

Karen Barsoum, Chester Countys election director, said her county uses two separate teams of workers  one of traveling technicians and another of roaming staffers to solve issues that cant be resolved by poll workers.

Barsoum said the roamers serve as liaisons between her office and the precincts, providing the poll workers with extra supplies or just an extra set of hands if needed.

The technicians are available for more serious issues. They have the county divided into 10 zones, with one traveling technician stationed in each zone on Election Day with tools to repair, clean, or replace malfunctioning equipment.

Barsoum said the new requirement to fill out the malfunction reports helped Chester County more clearly see how poll workers should handle issues when they arise. The county developed its own form for poll workers at each precinct to fill out when machines malfunction, which includes step-by-step instructions and an explicit reminder not to let the issue prevent or delay voting. She then uses those precinct-level sheets to fill out the state reports.

Poll workers cannot say, Oh the machine is down. Please come back later, she said. Now thats not an option. Now its in writing  this is what you do.

The reports show that the most consequential issues are typically due to human error  often one that should have been discovered through pre-election machine testing.

Northampton Countys 2023 ballot tabulation issue, which made it appear as if votes were being changed to candidates not chosen by the voter, and Cambria Countys issue with ballot printing during the 2024 presidential election were both problems that could have been discovered and fixed through proper logic and accuracy testing. But the counties failed to catch those issues in time.

Carter Walker is a reporter for Votebeat in partnership with Spotlight PA. Contact Carter at cwalker@votebeat.org.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
This place is known for its burgers, and gained popularity during the 1980s and 1990s. (Getty Images) Getty Images

An iconic fast food chain  one that was for years thought to be coming to an end  seems to be showing signs of life once more.

So much so, in fact, its been opening up new locations. And one of the latest ones is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

Get more news about restaurants in Pennsylvania  along with all other things food and retail  by signing up for PennLives Eat, Shop, Go newsletter at this link.

According to TastingTable, Roy Rogers  the Frederick, Maryland-headquartered franchise named after the famed cowboy star that gained prominence during the 1980s and 1990s  is having a slow resurgence.

TastingTable explains that the chain reinvested in some store upgrade in the early 2020s following a period of mass store closings. Now, that reinvestment seems to be paying off.

USA Today reports that this strategy has culminated in an expansion that involves 24 company-owned restaurants and 16 franchise restaurants in seven states, the news of which opened in Cherry Hill, New Jersey back in June. USA Today notes that this is Roy Rogerss first return to the South Jersey and Philadelphia area since the 1990s.

The feedback from the Cherry Hill community since we announced this new restaurant has been overwhelmingly positive, and we have been working hard to make this opening a grand success, said Co-President of Roy Rogers Restaurants, Jim Plamondon, via press release.

We are excited to make this long-anticipated return, and Cherry Hill allows us to serve a growing, diverse community and introduce a new generation to the quality and variety that makes Roy Rogers a cut above.

Further information regarding Roy Rogerss plans for the future remains pending.
We realize it's only August, but in case you want to know ahead of time (and have manual clocks)  here's when daylight saving time ends this year. (Getty Images) Getty Images/Westend61

August is here. The sun is noticeably setting earlier. And as the high temperatures seem to be taking a break this week, there seems to be  dare we say  an autumnal vibe to the air (or maybe thats all the Halloween stuff thats already being advertised).

You know what that means  PennLives annual reminder of when daylight saving time ends this year.

According to TimeAndDate.com, daylight saving time 2025 will come to an end on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 a.m. Clocks will fall back during this time, meaning people will be getting an extra hour of sleep.

The Old Farmers Almanac explains that daylight saving time was first pioneered by an Englishman named William Willet, who believed it could make the best productive use of the suns light while saving on electricity costs. The idea eventually caught steam in World War I, and here we are.

Everyone appreciates the long, light evenings, wrote Willet in his manifesto The Waste of Daylight (1907). Everyone laments their shrinkage as the days grow shorter, and nearly everyone has given utterance to a regret that the nearly clear, bright light of an early morning during Spring and Summer months is so seldom seen or used

That so many as 210 hours of daylight are, to all intents and purposes, wasted every year is a defect in our civilization. Let England recognize and remedy it.

However, theres been a continual push to get rid of the biannual practice due to the possible health effects and dangers it wraughts: USA Today reports how in 2022 what was known as the Sunshine Protection Act  a measure that would make daylight saving time permanent  was unanimously approved by the Senate only to die in the House. A new iteration of the bill was introduced to the Senate in January.

As for Pennsylvania specifically, the PA Senate Republicans website explains how the state Senate approved to end daylight saving time in March. Further action on the bill remains pending as of the publishing of this report.

There have always been disagreements about whether we should follow daylight saving time or standard time permanently, said the bills sponsor Sen. Scott Martin (R-13). That has prevented movement on this issue at the federal level.

For me, the most important thing is ending the practice of changing the clocks twice a year and all the negative consequences that come with it.

For now, clocks will still be falling back on Nov. 2.
Four grandparents from Buffalo were found dead from a car crash in West Virginia after last being seen July 29 at a Burger Kiing in Erie. Getty Images

Four grandparents from New York state last seen in Pennsylvania were found dead in West Virginia, authorities said.

Marshall County, W. Va., Sheriff Mike Dougherty told WTRF-TV in Wheeling, W. Va., and Steubenville, Ohio, that Dr. Kishore Divan, Asha Divan, Shailesh Divan and Gita Divan were found dead in their Toyota Camry that had crashed.

Ages on the four were not provided.

The car was found Saturday night down a steep embankment, the station reported.

WTRF reported that the four had left Buffalo, N.Y., and were headed to Prabhupadas Palace of Gold in Moundsville, W. Va.

The four were last seen at a Burger King in Erie on July 29.

WTRF said the group was headed to Pittsburgh and then Moundsville, about 70 miles away, to spend the night.

Missing persons reports were filed in Buffalo and cell phones pings were recorded early Wednesday in Moundsville and Wheeling, but no additional contact was made with the group, WTRF reported.
12 1 / 12 Pa. State Museum Native American exibits

For years, visitors to the State Museum of Pennsylvania have been able to tour the museums extensive Native American collection, which includes thousands of sacred artifacts from Tribal Nations across the country, as well as funerary objects and human remains.

The exhibit is being dismantled and much of it is now inaccessible to the public as part of the museums compliance with a federal law mandating the repatriation of Native American human remains and cultural items held by federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has some 908 individual remains and 79,628 funerary objects in its collection, which are subject to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

The federal law is designed to protect Native American gravesites and human remains from desecration and give Tribal Nations a method by which to reclaim ancestral property, including human remains.

The PHMC, as the agency charged with preserving and interpreting Pennsylvania history, receives federal funds and must comply with the law.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is fully committed to this process, said Andrea Bakewell Lowery, the commissions executive director. Since the new NAGPRA regulations went into effect, we have repatriated dozens of remains and artifacts and are actively coordinating with federally recognized Tribes and Nations to continue this important work. This engagement represents a commitment not just to legal compliance, but to ethical stewardship and fostering respectful relationships.

The Native American exhibit at the State Museum has been temporarily closed since early May to allow museum staff to identify objects subject to the federal law and to follow the laws protocol on returning the items.

The closure will allow PHMC to thoroughly review, document, and work in close collaboration with Native American communities to determine appropriate dispositions for these sensitive materials, honoring the rights and wishes of Native peoples, Bakewell Lowery said.

The law was enacted in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush and was significantly updated in 2024. The revisions expedite and streamline the repatriation process, requiring institutions to offer human remains and funerary objects for repatriation within a five-year period.

Other cultural and academic institutions in Pennsylvania that have objects or remains in their collections listed in the database maintained by the U.S. National Park Service include Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pennsylvania Western University, North Museum of Nature and Science (Lancaster) and Tioga Point Museum.

Despite its historic significance, the law has been beset by major challenges, including implementation and enforcement. Many Tribal Nations say that the original legislation does not go far enough to address past wrongdoings, nor does it take into account the challenges of the repatriation process both in terms of legal and ethical considerations, according to the National Congress of American Indians.

We never ceded or relinquished our dead. They were stolen, James Riding In, a retired Arizona State University professor who is Pawnee, has said of the unreturned remains.

There are 574 federally recognized tribes and approximately 400 additional tribes that are not federally recognized.

Bakewell Lowery described the items in the collection as deeply sacred and integral to cultural and spiritual practices  to their lineal descendants and culturally affiliated Native communities.

Crucially, they also strengthen Tribal authority by requiring consent from direct descendants or Tribes before exhibiting or researching remains and cultural items, she said.

Much of the second-floor exhibit at the State Museum is sealed off by a tall barrier. Neither members of the public or the media are permitted to take photos of materials behind the barrier.

The appropriation of Native American sacred objects, artifacts, remains and funerary objects accelerated throughout the 1800s as the United States expanded westward. The federal government, along with museums and cultural institutions, encouraged the looting of Indigenous items and remains.

Many institutions have refused to comply with the law, and still possess vast collections of objects and remains, a 2023 investigation by ProPublica found.

The investigative journalism outlet found that 10 institutions held about half of the Native American remains that had not been returned to tribes. These included prestigious museums, state-run institutions and at least two federal agencies.

ProPublica found that the American Museum of Natural History had not returned some human remains taken from the Southwest. Musuem officials argued that the remains were too old to determine the appropriate tribes for repatriation.

That same year, the Center for Art Law found that over 110,000 Native American remains were still unrepatriated. A myriad of obstacles have contributed to the glacial pace of the repatriation process and the lack of compliance and enforcement, according to the center.

The processing and repatriation of Native American art, artifacts and remains can be tracked via the NAGPRA website.

The National Park Service notes on its website that Congress recognized that human remains of any ancestry must at all times be treated with dignity and respect.

Congress also acknowledged that human remains and other cultural items removed from federal or tribal lands belong, in the first instance, to lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The harsh legacy of the federal governments treatment of Indigenous people endures today, however.

In the 1900s, we uncovered the history of how much looting and vandalizing occurred, former Hopi Tribal Council Vice Chairman Clark Tenakhongva said a few years ago. Were still suffering the consequences of the first contact of non-natives to America, and the history endures today. This is only to mend the wounds they created here and do so with the best processes we can in putting remains back where they belong.

But that doesnt mean its the end of any Native American history exhibit at the State Museum.

The removal of NAGPRA-related materials is expected to take several months. Bakewell Lowery said officials do not expect the exhibit to reopen before the museum closes for renovations in August 2026 for three years.

The history of Native Americans is a critical part of Pennsylvania history, and PHMC is committed to developing the new exhibit in consultation with the Nations, she said.
Millions in federal funding and more than a thousand jobs have been lost in the Pennsylvania region as the result of Trump administration cuts to the National Institutes of Health. Olga Nevskaya - stock.adobe.com

The defunding of millions in federal science grants is shaking the economy of the Pennsylvania region to the tune of more than a thousand jobs and hundreds of millions in economic losses.

Researchers at University of Pennsylvania found that a thousand-plus jobs in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey have so far been eliminated and the regions economy has taken a $400 million hit with the loss of already-appropriated science grant funding since President Donald Trump took office in January, reported WHYY in Philadelphia.

Allie Sinclair, a cognitive neuroscientst at Penn, along with other researchers, developed an interactive map showing the cuts. Sinclair told the radio outlet they are regularly updating the map may look into exploring the impact of cuts in scientific grants by other agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.

The work estimates the economic impact of salaries of scientists, researchers, and facilities staff that have been eliminated and the community impact of those people spending less money.

Universities and hospitals in central and western Pennsylvania, including Penn State, Penn State-Hershey Med, University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon have lost more than $20 million in already-appropriated funds that were abruptly cancelled.

In the Philadelphia area, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel, Thomas Jefferson, Childrens Hospital, Temple University are among the institutions that have lost millions in grants.

A spokesperson for the National Institutes of Health sent a statement to WHYY saying that NIH is carefully reviewing all grants to assure NIH is addressing the United States chronic disease epidemic. NIH and HHS are taking actions to prioritize research that directly (affects) the health of Americans.
When President Donald Trump initiated a violent and illegal attack on Iranian nuclear facilities without Congressional approval, he made a conscious choice to make a bad situation with Iran infinitely worse.

There is something known as international law, the United Nations charter, common sense and basic human decency. None of them recognize the right of sovereign nations to militarily attack each other over petty ideological differences.

The unprovoked U.S attack on Iran follows the equally unprovoked and illegal assault on Iran by Israel, which has left hundreds of Iranians dead. The attack on Iran threatens to poison the regional environment with nuclear fallout, potentially endangering the lives and health of any number of Iranian citizens, many of whom disagree with their government, its policies and ideology.

Followers of Trumps brand of divisive politics may not be surprised by the destructive nature of his Middle East policies. But one questions why Congress has failed to demand restraint and de-escalation of a potentially explosive situation.

And two decades after the illegal and fraudulent invasion of Iraq, one wonders why the U.S. political establishment has not lost its appetite for unnecessary wars.

Suhail Shafi, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Story by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters.

HARRISBURG  Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros 2023 inauguration and the celebrity-studded ball that followed it cost more than $4 million, but the identity of the benefactors who paid the bill has remained a secret.

Now, through a first-of-its-kind analysis, Spotlight PA has identified a portion of those donors, which include influential lobbying firms, unions, and corporations with interests before the commonwealths government.

A fundraising pitch prepared by Shapiros inauguration committee and reviewed by Spotlight PA promised high-dollar contributors face time with the governor.

VIP tickets to the Inaugural Celebration include access to the VIP lounge through the evening, fine print on the document states. A clutch with Governor-Elect Shapiro and Lt. Governor-Elect [Austin] Davis will be held in the VIP lounge at the start of the event.

Unlike some states, cities, and the federal government, Pennsylvania does not require top elected officials to disclose who contributes to celebrations held to mark their entrance into office. Shapiro has declined to do so voluntarily.

The Democrats inaugural committee told the IRS that it raised $5.4 million from Dec. 1, 2022, to Nov. 30, 2023, but not the sources of the money. Using other nonprofits filings and campaign finance information, Spotlight PA identified where 15% of that total came from.

In an email, Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder said private fundraising for an inauguration is completely customary, and that the celebration rallied folks from all walks of life all across our Commonwealth to celebrate the beginning of an Administration focused on fighting and delivering for all Pennsylvanians.

But campaign finance experts said the limited transparency goes against the spirit of laws designed to quell the influence of money in politics.

When private dollars are supporting a public official or a candidate, theres always going to be a question about whether those private dollars are influencing or putting undue influence on the decisions that that elected official is making, Aaron McKean, a senior legal counsel with the Campaign Legal Center, told Spotlight PA. Thats the whole reason for having limits on contributions and transparency.

Federal tax filings also show that the Shapiro inaugural committee donated money not spent on the celebrations to Team PA, a nonprofit that bills itself as a public-private partnership to bolster Pennsylvanias economic development.

Team PA, which keeps its donors secret, frequently pays for Shapiro to attend high-profile sporting events. The organization is also collecting donations to restore the governors mansion after an arson attack.

Donating leftover inaugural money to Team PA, Bonder said, follows the lead of previous administrations.

Spotlight PA was able to identify one previous governor who donated inaugural dollars to the group: Shapiros Democratic predecessor, Tom Wolf.

In an email, a Wolf spokesperson said that leftover funds from the governors inaugural committee were contributed to Team Pennsylvania in order to fund economic development work and Governors Residence operations and decor.

There is longstanding precedent for governors to work with Team Pennsylvania to fund those areas that should not come at a cost to the taxpayer, the spokesperson added. They did not say how much Wolf contributed to the group.

Shapiros inaugural committee was organized as a 501(c)4 nonprofit under federal tax law, which means it is not required to reveal its donors.

However, state law requires political committees  like those that lawmakers use to raise money or unions use to give it  to reveal their spending, and federal law mandates that nonprofits note how they spend their money on annual tax forms.

A Spotlight PA analysis using these publicly available documents revealed the source of 15% of the money Shapiros inaugural committee received. Among the contributors were lobby shops, trade unions, universities, and corporations.

Labor was by far the largest donor class, totaling $535,000. Checks came from a wide range of unions, including ones for police and corrections officers, the construction trades, and health care workers. The carpenters union provided the single biggest check, $150,000.

According to a sponsorship document viewed by Spotlight PA, the committee offered packages of perks for donations between $5,000 and $150,000. The latter donation level came with a limited-edition commemorative gift and eight photo ops with Shapiro, as well as access to a pre-inaugural VIP reception, the swearing-in ceremony, and the inaugural celebration.

Firms registered to lobby the state government also donated, according to campaign finance records, including law firms Eckert Seamans and Duane Morris, as well as Harrisburg lobby shop Versant Strategies. Clients of the three are diverse and include agriculture, energy, real estate interests, as well as the School District of Philadelphia.

Other donors identified by Spotlight PA include Erie Insurance, Motorola, Sheetz, the states orthopedic surgeons association, and a horse breeders trade group. Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Pennsylvania also chipped in.

The source of the remaining 85% of Shapiros inaugural funding remains unknown. A spokesperson for Shapiro declined to provide the information.

Stronger rules outside of Pa.

Shapiro has been previously asked to disclose the donors to his inauguration, but refused, saying, Were going to follow all of the laws required with reporting and disclosure, and thats the approach were going to take.

But in Pennsylvania, where loose ethics and campaign finance laws have frequently drawn criticisms from good-government advocates, theres no statute addressing this particular fundraising.

Other state and local governments require the disclosure of donors or limit how dollars are spent, McKean told Spotlight PA.

That includes Philadelphias city government, which mandates the disclosure of inaugural donors and imposes the same donation limits it places on political committees  $3,700 from an individual and $14,800 from a political committee.

Even in the absence of such rules, statewide elected officials have embraced transparency in the past. Wolf voluntarily capped donations to his inaugural committee at $50,000 and disclosed the name of every donor who gave more than $500.

He raised $2.7 million for his 2015 opening soiree, including cash from a number of the same donors as Shapiro did eight years later.

Theres no reason why we cant do this, McKean said. The question is whether officials are actually interested in doing it.

Leftover funds

Shapiros committee spent $4.3 million on four days of festivities, according to the IRS report. The headlining event was held at Rock Lititz in Lancaster County, a rehearsal space often used by national touring artists, and included multiple music acts, including Smokey Robinson, as well as a Shapiro-branded dance floor and a smorgasbord of catered eats.

Approximately $1.1 million was left over, and the majority  $750,000  went to Team PA.

Founded in the 1990s by former Gov. Tom Ridge, the group has accepted state contracts to conduct economic studies and underwritten a handful of foreign trade missions. In recent years, its also served as fiscal sponsor for a number of state commissions, such as one overseeing the governors mansion; this title effectively gives Team PA oversight of the commissions bank accounts.

Shapiro and his administration operate under a self-imposed gift ban, which says that no executive branch employee shall accept any gift from anyone seeking to obtain business or an outcome from the commonwealth.

Despite this, Shapiro and other top officials have attended multiple high-profile sporting events on Team PAs dime, including two Super Bowls.

Team PA CEO Abby Smith previously told Spotlight PA that Shapiros tickets are paid for out of the Pennsylvania Growth Partnership, one of the funds the organization oversees. Bonder, the Shapiro spokesperson, has previously argued that the group and its bank accounts paying for tickets dont violate the gift ban because of Team PAs decades-long history of collaborating with the state, and that it is completely incomparable to a private actor.

It is still not clear who solicits money for, or donates to, the Pennsylvania Growth Partnership, or who decides which events Shapiro attends at Team PAs expense.

Smith said when Team PA gets requests to use money from the various funds it manages, it approves them and cuts a check. However, Bonder has previously said that the governor does not have sole discretion over funds in the Pennsylvania Growth Partnership.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
On the night of August 4, the Russian occupiers attacked the territory of Ukraine with 162 Shahed-type strike UAVs and simulator drones of various types, as well as the Kh-47 M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile, the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said.

"According to preliminary data, as of 11:30, air defense systems shot down/suppressed 161 enemy Shahed-type UAVs and simulator drones of various types in the north, south, east and center of the country. 1 UAV was hit, as well as the fall of downed ones (fragments) at 9 locations in the Odessa and Kyiv regions," the Air Force said on Telegram on Monday.

The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
The Central Dauphin School District purchased the building at 75 S. Houcks Road in Lower Paxton Township. July 30, 2025 Daniel Urie | durie@pennlive.com

There were 10 properties in Dauphin County that sold for more than $2.5 million in the first half of 2025, according to county records.

The list includes land, manufacturing facilities, a former nursing home, a shopping center and office buildings.

There are 40 municipalities in Dauphin County, but only seven of them had sales that hit the $2.5 million benchmark: Swatara Township (2); Susquehanna Township (2); Harrisburg (2); Middle Paxton Township (1); Lower Paxton Township (1); Londonderry Township (1) and Derry Township (1).

Last year, there were 25 properties in Dauphin County that sold for at least $5 million. In the first six months of 2025, there was just one such transaction.

These Dauphin County properties all sold for more than $2.5 million in the first half of 2025:

10. Farmland with buildings  $2.5M

On May 13, Earl Houser and Anna Houser sold the property at 3205 Round Top Road in Londonderry Township to Stone House Farm LLC.

9. 7389 Paxton St.  $2.56M

On April 8, Denmark LLC sold the property at 7389 Paxton St. in Swatara Township to McCarthy Tire Service Company of Pa. for $2.56 million.

8. 2244 N. Seventh St.  $2.6M

On May 16, Dap III LP sold the property at 2244 N. Seventh St. in Harrisburg to Willow Mill Commercial 7th LLC.

The 509-acre property in Middle Paxton Township was acquired by The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania, which has transferred the land to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Photo provided by NAI CIR

On March 6, Buonarroti Trust/Vartan Company sold the property at 160 Cemetery Road in Middle Paxton Township to the Nature Conservancy. The property was then transferred to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

6. 7501 Derry St.  $3.85M

On June 20, Mold Base Industries Inc. sold the property at 7501 Derry St. in Swatara Township to New Jersey-based 7501 Derry Property LLC.

5. Office building  $4.128M

On April 28, Linlo Properties sold the property at 800 Corporate Circle in Susquehanna Township to Cohen & Parker Properties.

4. Manufacturing facility  $4.25M

On April 23, Philadelphia Macaroni Company sold the property at 523 S. 17th St. in Harrisburg to Couscous Co.

The Central Dauphin School District purchased the building at 75 S. Houcks Road in Lower Paxton Township. July 30, 2025 Daniel Urie | durie@pennlive.com

3. 75 S. Houcks Road  $4.5 million

On Jan. 7, Room One Corporation sold the property at 75 S. Houcks Road in Lower Paxton Township to the Central Dauphin School District.

The school district said the property was purchased to accommodate the central administration staff. The former site of the administrative staff located at 600 Rutherford Road is being renovated and converted into a Kindergarten Learning Center.

The 42,000 square-foot former senior living facility, has been purchased. Photo provided

On Jan. 29, Butler Street Living LLC sold the property AT 3251 Butler St. in Susquehanna Township to Drayer Real Estate Holdings LLC. The Horizons program, created by Swatara Township-based LHM Hospice & Social Services Foundation, will use the facility for its transitional housing program for those at risk of homelessness.

1. Stoverdale Commons  $7.5 million

On May 20, Middletown Wood Road Partners LP/Deerin Companies sold the property at 777 Middletown Road, L1 and L2, in Derry Township to Silver Spring Township-based 2087 Market Street LLC.

PennLive publishes a list of the largest transactions in Dauphin County each year:
Willie is scrambling to surprise Korie on their anniversary on the next episode of Duck Dynasty: The Revival.

Duck Dynasty: The Revival, season one, episode 10, airs at 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, on A&E.

LIVE STREAM: Fans can watch A&E without cable on Fans can watch A&E without cable on Philo , which has a seven-day free trial; DirecTV, which offers a five-day free trial; and SlingTV.

The episode is called Shoot My Shot, Or Not.

The synopsis is, On a speaking trip to Puerto Rico, Willie scrambles to plan a last-minute anniversary surprise for Korie, settling on an unusual hunt. Meanwhile, the kids raid Willie and Kories house while theyre out of town. Then, Sadies gender reveal goes haywire.

The new series, a spinoff of Duck Dynasty, features Willie and Korie Robertson, their adult children and grandchildren.

The original Duck Dynasty ran for 11 seasons on A&E and concluded in 2017. Phil Robertson, 79, founder of the Duck Commander empire and star of Duck Dynasty, died on May 25, 2025.

What is Philo?

Philo is a streaming service that offers more than 70 live channels and more than 70,000 titles on demand for $28 a month. Philo has a SEVEN-DAY FREE TRIAL. Channels include AMC, AMC+, A&E, MTV, BET, Discovery, VH1, Food Network, History, Nickelodeon, OWN, TLC, Lifetime, Hallmark, Paramount and TV One. Add-on packages include EPIX, STARZ and Movies and More. Philo offers an unlimited 1-year DRV.

What is DirecTV?

DirecTV provides access to more than 100 channels, hundreds of on-demand titles, the ability to stream through three devices at once, and unlimited Cloud DVR storage. Channels include ABC, HGTV, Hallmark, Bravo, BET, Discovery, Food Network, AMC, Animal Planet, CMT, Comedy Central, FX, ID, Disney, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and PBS Kids. Subscription package prices start at $86.99 a month. The streaming service offers a FIVE-DAY FREE TRIAL.

What is Sling TV?

Sling streaming service is $45.99 a month for the Orange (35 channels) or Blue (43 channels) Levels. Orange plus Blue is $60.99 a month. Premium subscribers also can get a month of Showtime, STARZ and EPIX for free. Channels include CMT, Bravo, BET, Comedy Central, A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, Discovery+, Hallmark, History, National Geographic, Lifetime, TLC and USA.
WSOP Circuit Harrahs Atlantic City to Feature $500,000 Guaranteed Main Event

Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) is in full swing and will be heading to the East Coast this month for WSOPC Harrah's Atlantic City.

The WSOPC Harrah's Atlantic City stop will run Aug. 14-25 and will consist of 18 ring events culminating with a $1,700 Main Event with a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. Buy-ins at the WSOPC Harrah's Atlantic City stop range from $400 to $1,700.

Big Changes Announced for WSOP Circuit

Circuit Action in Atlantic City

Action in Atlantic City will kick off with a $40,000 Opener event with a $25,000 guaranteed prize pool on Aug. 14, followed by the first of four flights in the $400 Mini Main with a $200,000 guarantee.

Not long after that, the $400 NLH Monster Stack will take place with three starting flights in the $100,000 guaranteed tournaments.

The $500,000 guaranteed Main Event kicks off on Aug. 21 with the first of three starting flights. The event will play down to a winner on Day 2 on Aug. 24.

Harrah's Atlantic City

Other highlights throughout the series include a $400 Big O event, a $600 Black Chip Bounty NLH event, a $400 Grand Master 40/40/40 event splitting up players younger and older than 40, and a $400 Double Stack Closer that will wrap up the series on Aug. 25.

There's plenty of WSOP Circuit action as of late, with the Circuit team currently at OlyBets Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn, Estonia, where Jenny Westerlund shipped the Main Event for 200,200 and her first Circuit ring.

Before the Atlantic City stop kicks off, the WSOP Circuit will head to Cherokee, North Carolina for WSOPC Harrah's Cherokee taking place Aug. 7-18 and culminating with a $1,700 Main Event with a $1.5 million guaranteed prize pool.

The full schedule for the upcoming WSOPC Harrah's Atlantic City stop is available in the table below.

2025 WSOPC Harrah's Atlantic City Schedule

Date Time Event Name Buy-In Aug 14 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #1: $400 30K Opener NLH $25K GTD $400 Aug 14 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini Main NLH (Flight A) $200K GTD $400 Aug 15 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini Main NLH (Flight B) $200K GTD $400 Aug 15 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini Main NLH (Flight C) $200K GTD $400 Aug 16 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #2: $400 Mini Main NLH (Flight D) $200K GTD $400 Aug 16 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #3: $400 NoLimit Holdem $25K GTD $400 Aug 17 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #4: $400 Seniors NLH (50 and Older) $50K GTD $400 Aug 17 3:00 PM WSOPC Event #5: $600 NoLimit Holdem $25K GTD $600 Aug 18 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #6: $400 NLH Monster Stack (Flight A) $100K GTD $400 Aug 18 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #6: $400 NLH Monster Stack (Flight B) $100K GTD $400 Aug 19 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #6: $400 NLH Monster Stack (Flight C) $100K GTD $400 Aug 19 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #7: $400 Big O $20K GTD $400 Aug 20 12:00 PM WSOPC Event #8: $600 NoLimit Holdem $50K GTD $600 Aug 20 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #9: $400 NoLimit Holdem $400 Aug 21 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #10: $1,700 NLH Main Event (Flight A) $500K GTD $1,700 Aug 21 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #11: $400 NoLimit Holdem $400 Aug 22 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #12: $300 NoLimit Holdem Ladies Event $300 Aug 22 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #10: $1,700 NLH Main Event (Flight B) $500K GTD $1,700 Aug 22 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #13: $400 NoLimit Holdem $400 Aug 23 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #10: $1,700 NLH Main Event (Flight C) $500K GTD $1,700 Aug 23 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #14: $400 NoLimit Holdem $400 Aug 23 7:00 PM WSOPC Event #15: $300 Turbo NoLimit Holdem $300 Aug 24 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #16: $400 NLH Grand Master 40/40/40 (Ages 40 and Older) $400 Aug 24 4:00 PM WSOPC Event #17: $600 Black Chip Bounty NLH $25K GTD $600 Aug 25 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #18: $400 Double Stack Closer NLH $400

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Paul Worsley Slays the 2025 Goliath; Turns 200 Into 316,640

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

Liverpool's Paul Worsley had only $2,098 in live tournament cashes until he decided to enter the 2025 edition of the Grosvenor Goliath. When Worsley's Hendon Mob profile is updated, it will show an incredible 316,640 score thanks to him topping a record-breaking 12,961-strong field and slaying the 2025 Goliath.

The Goliath has drawn in more than 10,000 entrants annually since 2022. Then, Kyle Jeffrey outlasted 10,583 opponents and banked 200,000. The following year, Alex Todd collected 176,800 after leaving 11,492 opponents in his wake. Last year, the Goliath attracted 11,749 players. William Watkins came out on top and scooped 166,058.

Fast-forward to the 2025 edition, and the Goliath set a new attendance record, with 12,961 entrants and a jaw-dropping 1,970,070 prize pool from a 200 (160+40) buy-in. Worsley will forever be known as its champion. This huge turnout keeps the Goliath as the largest-ever live tournament outside of Las Vegas and, according to Grosvenor Casinos, the 16th largest live poker tournament of all time!

2025 Goliath Final Table Results

Rank Player Prize 1 Paul Worsley 316,640 2 Thomas Clack 217,500 3 Vasilica Luca 144,800 4 Ben Parkin 100,470 5 Velupillai Kalahmohan 68,950 6 William Tagg 48,270 7 Jason Smith 33,490 8 Ryan Johnstone 23,640 9 Keith Tuckley 17,140

By the time the monster-sized field had been whittled to the nine-handed final table, 17,140 was the least any of the players could take home. Amazingly, each of the nine finalists walked away with a career-high prize, including ninth-place finisher Keith Tuckley, who secured a 17,140 payday. Tuckley got his last 13 big blinds into the middle holding pocket sixes and lost a coinflip against the ace-king in Vasilica Luca's hand.

Ryan Johnstone, who cashed in last year's Goliath, fell in eighth for 23,640. Johnstone's last six big blinds went into the middle holding pocket tens only for William Tagg's ace-ten to get there on the river.

A short-stacked Jason Smith more than doubled his lifetime earnings when he got his hands on the 33,490 sixth-place prize. Smith was down to a meagre five big blinds when he jammed with king-eight and found a caller in the shape of the dangerous and experienced Thomas Clack. Clack revealed ace-jack, spiked an ace on the flop, and Smith was cooked.

Kartik Takes GOLIATH PokerNews Cup Title; Kully Sidhu Finishes Second Again Read more

After entertaining the final table's stream viewers throughout proceedings, Tagg came unstuck in sixth, a finish good for a 48,270 payday. With a 2.5 million big blind, Tagg three-bet jammed for 17.6 million after an opening raise from Ben Parkin. Tagg made his move with queen-nine. Unfortunately for him, Parkin had opened with a pair of black aces in the hole. Parkin snap-called, his aces held, and the 2025 Goliath was down to only five hopefuls.

Those five became four with the untimely demise of Velupillai Kalahmohan, whose Hendon Mob profile suggests he's a Pot-Limit Omaha specialist. Despite his penchant for four hole cards, Kalahmohan showed his No-Limit Hold'em prowess in this event, but came unstuck at the hands of Luca. The latter opened with pocket eights and called when Kalamohan three-bet all-in with pocket fours for around six big blinds. The eights held, and Kalamohan headed to the cashier's desk to collect 68,950, locking in a six-figure score for the surviving four players.

Ben Parkin

The first of those 100,000+ prizes went to Parkin, who moved all-in from the button for seven big blinds with jack-eight. Luca called with king-ten of clubs in the small blinds, with Worsley coming along for the ride in the big blind with five-deuce of clubs. Luca and Worsley checked down an ace-high board, with Luca taking the sizeable pot after pairing his ten on the river.

The final three players paused the tournament clock and discussed a potential deal. However, negotiations proved fruitless after Clack, the most experienced player of the trio, demanded more money than his two opponents were prepared to give up.

A huge pot went down shortly after play resumed. Clack jammed with queen-jack of spades on the button, Luca called all-in from the small blind with pocket nines, and Worsely also called with ace-queen of diamonds from the big blind! A king-high flop kept Luca's nines ahead, and they remained the best hand on the turn. However, a jack landed on the river, busting Luca in third for 144,800 and propelling Clack into the chip lead and leaving Worsley with only five big blinds.

Thomas Clack

It is fair to say the deck was not kind to Clack during the heads-up battle with Worsley. The latter started clawing his way back into contention when his queen-trey hit a queen on the river to best Clack's suited jack-trey after it had flopped top pair. Clack found himself card dead and on the wrong side of almost every crucial hand.

The final hand saw Clack jam for 98,750,000 at the 4,000,000/8,000,000/8,000,000a level with nine-seven of spades, and Worsley called with the dominating ten-nine of clubs. A nine on the flop improved both players' hands, but Clack was still behind. An ace on the turn gave Clack 21 outs to a chop or a win, but that was too many because a ten on the river gifted Worsely two pair and the victory. Clack walked away with a runner-up finish worth 217,500, leaving Worsely to be crowned the 2025 Goliath champion, an accolade that came with 316,640.

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The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) reported on suspicion of members of an organized criminal group exposed the day before, involved in a corruption scheme in the procurement of UAVs and electronic warfare equipment.

As the NABU press service reported on Monday, among the suspects: the former head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration - Part 5 of Article 191, Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, People's Deputy of Ukraine - Part 5 of Article 191, Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the head of the city military administration - Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the commander of a military unit of the National Guard of Ukraine - Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, actual beneficial owner of the enterprise  UAV manufacturer  Part 5, Article 191, Part 2, Article 28, Part 1, Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the director of the UAV manufacturer  Part 5, Article 191, Part 2, Article 28, Part 1, Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The beneficiary and director of the UAV manufacturer are also additionally charged with obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"According to the investigation, they registered people for work for a monetary reward and provided them with reservations, effectively blocking the possibility of their mobilization into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the report says.

With the approval of the Prosecutor General, a petition was sent to the court to elect a preventive measure in the form of detention for the suspected people's deputy with the alternative of paying bail in the amount of UAH 30 million. The court also filed motions to impose preventive measures on other defendants in the case.

According to the investigation, during 20242025, the participants in the organized group established a scheme for the systematic appropriation of budget funds allocated by local governments for the needs of the defense forces, as well as the receipt and provision of illegal benefits in particularly large amounts.

As established by NABU and SAPO, one of the schemes was implemented during the conclusion of a state contract for the supply of electronic warfare systems. For concluding a contract for the purchase of products at a knowingly inflated price, the participants in the organized group received an illegal benefit in the amount of 30% of the contract amount.

A scheme for the appropriation of funds during the purchase of FPV drones was also exposed. The military unit concluded a state contract for the amount of almost UAH 10 million with an enterprise that supplied products at a cost that was overstated by about $80,000. After the contract was executed, the company's officials handed over their "kickback" to the members of the criminal group.

The names of the defendants were not disclosed. According to media reports, this is a member of parliament from the Servant of the People party, Oleksiy Kuznetsov. This was actually acknowledged by the head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, who announced that Kuznetsov's membership in the faction would be suspended for the duration of the investigation.

According to media reports, the scheme with Kuznetsov's participation involved the ex-head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai and now head of the Mukachevo regional state administration).

The commander of the National Guard, Oleksandr Pivnenko, has already removed the defendants from their positions, and an official investigation has been launched.
Lauren Leibman covers Georgetown County for the Post and Courier. She interned with The State newspaper and worked for The Daily Gamecock during her time at the University of South Carolina.
Rep. Nancy Mace. Handout from campaign, do not use for any editorial.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is set to visit Ukraine in the coming days, the Kyiv Post reports, citing sources.

"The visit comes as a deadline set by the president for a peace deal with Russia is rapidly approaching. The news of Kelloggs expected trip coincides with a planned trip to Russia by Steve Witkoff, another of Trumps envoys," the article said.

Trump confirmed Witkoff's trip on Thursday.

"Yes, he's going to Israel, and then he's going to Russia, believe it or not," the president told reporters.

The sources said Witkoff's trip was "suggested by the Russians" earlier this week and approved, despite Trump's initial skepticism. The US president reportedly told advisers that he considered the trip "useless."

On Thursday, Trump told reporters that he expected sanctions to be imposed after the deadline he gave Russia for a ceasefire with Ukraine, set for August 8, expires. At the same time, he expressed doubt that such punishments would change Putin's behavior. "We're going to impose sanctions. I don't know that sanctions bother him," he said.
This paid press release is brought to you from our partnership with EZ Newswire. The Post and Courier news staff was not involved in its creation.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America ("Allianz Life") recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Allianz Life.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 16, 2025, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America ("Allianz Life") detected unauthorized access to a third-party, cloud-based CRM system used by Allianz Life. The breach compromised the personal information of most of its 1.4 million customers, along with some financial professionals and employees.The impacted data may include names and other personal identifiers.An investigation with cybersecurity experts followed, and Allianz Life filed notice of the breach with the Maine Attorney General on July 25, 2025. Allianz Life will begin mailing notice letters on August 1, 2025, to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter or email from Allianz Life, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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Pick up a Wellness Passport by August 10 and enter to win movement-based giveaways designed to support your journey beyond the dispensary.PITTSFIELD, MA / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 /Berkshire Roots, a leading Massachusetts cannabis company rooted in wellness and community, is proud to announce the launch of its August Wellness Month-a month-long campaign designed to help customers cultivate balance, intention, and well-being through curated cannabis experiences.Framed as a journey toward mind & body wellness, Wellness Month will spotlight a different theme each week-from boosting energy and enhancing creativity to promoting calm and supporting rest. Through in-store experiences, exclusive product pairings, educational content, and engaging community activities, Berkshire Roots invites customers to explore cannabis not just as a product, but as a companion to self-care.Introducing the Wellness PassportTo encourage participation, customers are invited to pick up a Wellness Passport at either dispensary location by August 10. Those who complete all four weekly check-ins will be entered into a location-based wellness giveaway:East Boston: Gift card to a local gym offering yoga, rock climbing, and morePittsfield: Season ski pass to a nearby mountain resortWith this initiative, Berkshire Roots reaffirms its mission to provide thoughtful cannabis education, mindfully curated products, and a supportive space for personal wellness journeys."We wanted to create something that speaks to the deeper potential of cannabis and how it can support different forms of well-being," said Brittany Hover, Marketing Director & Wholesale Consultant at Berkshire Roots. "This campaign is about creating space for people to slow down, explore new routines, and discover what well-being means to them-with cannabis as a tool for support and self-connection." About Berkshire Roots Berkshire Roots is one of Massachusetts' most trusted cannabis brands, with dispensary locations in Pittsfield and East Boston. Known for premium in-house products, expert guidance, and a mission rooted in well-being, Berkshire Roots continues to lead the way in cannabis advocacy, education, and community connection.Contact InformationBrittany HoverMarketing Director & Wholesale Consultantbhover@ berkshireroots.com 4132120901SOURCE: Berkshire Roots
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces an investigation into BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE:BRBR) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in BellRing, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit Why is BellRing being Investigated?BellRing operates in the convenient nutrition category. The Company's primary brands include Premier Protein and Dymatize, which offer ready-to-drink protein shakes and powders. During the relevant period, the Company stated that Premier Protein "hit an all-time high in household penetration" and that "demand remains strong." The Company also stated that its growth was "strong in all channels," driven by "distribution expansion, accelerating velocities and incremental promotional activity." In truth, the Company's sales growth during the relevant period may have been driven by temporary trade inventory loading at several key retailers, not sustainable end-consumer demand.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn May 5, 2025, after market hours, BellRing revealed that starting in Q2 2023, "several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand," which would create a headwind to Q3 2025 growth. The Company also announced it was expanding promotions to boost sales and "offset [] third quarter reductions in retailer trade inventory levels." On this news, the price of BellRing stock fell $13.96 per share, or more than 18%, from $77.34 per share on May 5, 2025, to $63.38 per share on May 6, 2025.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit What Can You Do?If you invested in BellRing you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212.789.3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / The revolutionary digital tipping solution and blockchain-powered platform, CryptoTipX is quickly changing the way we say thank you. CryptoTipX lets you tip instantly, without contact, and across borders via wearables, NFC-based solutions, and decentralized finance tools. It does this by combining emotional sensitivity with powerful Web3 technology. It makes tipping a smooth way to show appreciation, no matter where you are in the world.We're entering a world where cash is disappearing fastAcross the world physical money is becoming obsolete. Cafes, bars, taxis, and even street vendors now refuse cash entirely. Card-only and mobile payment signs are the new norm. Younger generations often don't carry coins or notes at all.This creates a new kind of tension:How do you say thank you when your wallet is empty not for lack of generosity, but because you literally don't carry cash anymore?At the same time, most digital solutions are impersonal, clunky, or take huge fees. You can't exactly Venmo your hotel bellhop. And asking for someone's IBAN or crypto address just to say "thanks" isn't realistic.CryptoTipX is filling this growing void.The Tipping DilemmaFor the tipper, tipping can be uncomfortable as a respectfully denied gratuity might make the sender feel ashamed or ignored. The process itself, going through a wallet or calculating dollars in full sight, can convert a nice gesture into an unpleasant, businesslike display. Many people would rather show their gratitude discreetly and honestly, without the stress of a public conversation or making a mistake in front of others.Service personnel typically have to deal with complicated social norms. People from cultures that value humility and friendliness may feel like receiving money makes them less professional or proud. This makes things tense in a subtle way, where both sides respect each other but are afraid to act.CryptoTipX: A Smart Way to Deal with CultureCryptoTipX offers unobtrusive, flexible solutions that take into account regional tipping norms:Latin America and Southern Europe: Tipping is fine, but it should be done quietly. CryptoTipX lets you make transactions without having to whip out big amounts.Europe: In countries such as the Netherlands or Luxembourg, workers refuse tips on principle. CryptoTipX lets people show their thanks without breaking societal rules.Asia: CryptoTipX's anonymous digital format is popular with younger people in areas like Japan, where tipping is usually frowned upon.Anglo-American Regions: Tipping is common in the U.S., Canada, and the UK, but cashless, contactless options like CryptoTipX are becoming more popular because they are easier to use and cleaner.In Scandinavia the culture values equality and discretion, tipping is rare, and in many cases, politely declined. A service provider may decline a tip out of modesty or principle.The CryptoTipX Advantage: A New Etiquette for Modern GratitudeCryptoTipX makes tipping less awkward by letting you send and receive money without touching it, using a scan, tap, or wearable device.Main Features:Custom thank-you messagesAnonymous transactionsGroup tipping for team-based serviceReputation-building tokensInstant feedback loopsWith CryptoTipX, the act of tipping becomes more than financial; it becomes personal, meaningful, and human-centered.Wearable Technology: Tipping Made EasyCryptoTipX integrates NFC-enabled wearables, such as bracelets and smartwatches, that allow global users to tip effortlessly. When a service worker wears a TipX device, they send a clear opt-in signal, tips are welcome, removing uncertainty for the customer while maintaining professional respect for the receiver.Real-World Scenario for Service Workers:In Q1 2025, 100 hotel and restaurant workers in Los Angeles used TIPX wearables. They eliminated up to 10% in third-party app fees and received instant tips at just a 2% fee. Within one month, they saved over $10,000 in fees and saw a 20% increase in tipping volume.Built on Binance Smart Chain (BSC): Where Technology Meets Real LifeCryptoTipX is more than just a software; it's a whole decentralized economy based around BSC to make transactions faster and cheaper. It has the following infrastructure:Dedicated App:The TipApp is a place to tip, manage your wallet, convert cash to crypto, and make withdrawals.Planned Integrations: Partnerships with Stripe, PayPal, Garmin, Samsung, and Wise or Revolut make it easy to get started with fiat.Solana Bridge: Lets you quickly and cheaply move money between chains and connect with NFTs and DeFi ecosystems.TipXchange: The Future of DeFi TippingSet to launch in Q1 2026, TipXchange is a decentralized exchange built to support the TIPX token ecosystem with:Low fees (as low as 1%)Solana bridge integrationNon-custodial securityFull TIPX-to-fiat and cross-chain swapsIts long-term vision is complete ecosystem autonomy; no third-party platforms, just direct control, lower costs, and higher liquidity.No Tax on TippingIn January 2025, former President Donald Trump renewed his campaign promise to eliminate federal taxes on tipped income. For service workers relying on gratuities, this legislative support aligns perfectly with CryptoTipX's mission of giving workers 100% of what they earn.Use Case: Making Games and ContentDuring a six-month test, 500 streamers used TIPX wearables to give live tips. TIPX made it possible for viewers to tip creators directly without having to pay the high fees that platforms like Twitch and YouTube charge (up to 30%). Result: an 18% rise in net income, quick access to money, and more viewers who are interested.A Place for EveryoneCryptoTipX gives regular people, freelancers, and professionals more power by showing them how blockchain works for them, not by explaining it. It makes trading and volatility less complicated and turns crypto into a useful tool for people.This is mass adoption, not just a fad.A Future Where Thankfulness and Respect Go Hand in HandCryptoTipX doesn't want to get rid of tipping; it wants to change it. It considers cultural differences, eliminates problems, and makes the simple but important act of saying thank you easier.CryptoTipX makes it easy, respectful, and worldwide to tip your barista in Madrid, your tour guide in Tokyo, or your streamer in Los Angeles.Tipping is no longer awkward with CryptoTipX. It's easy.Contact InformationName: Cristian L Company: CryptoTip.com Ltd Email:info@ crypto-tip.comWebsites:  2025 CryptoTi
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KUALA LUMPUR, MY / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / As Malaysia celebrates its 68th year of independence,CUKTECH , an innovative leader in clean energy and advanced charging solutions, introduces a different kind of freedom: one built for today's mobile, digital, and demanding world. The brand's latest product trio, the CUKTECH 10 Mini Power Bank, CUKTECH 6 Magnetic OLED Fast Charging Cable, and CUKTECH CP Outdoor Mini Fan, are compact everyday companions designed to remove the friction from modern life. In the spirit of Merdeka, they offer control, adaptability, and the power to stay productive and present, wherever life takes you.With deep roots in power technology and close partnerships with global tech giants likeXiaomi , CUKTECH brings over a decade of Research and Development ("R&D") expertise to the table. Each new product reflects the brand's ethos of delivering exceptional value, smart design, and practical performance that seamlessly integrates into everyday routines.CUKTECH 10 Mini Power BankAt the centre of this launch is the CUKTECH 10 Mini Power Bank, a compact yet powerful 10,000mAh device capable of 55W fast charging, equipped with 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A ports, and a smart LED digital display. Weighing just 217.5g, it's flight-safe, 3C-certified, and built with high-quality lithium-ion battery cells from Jiangsu Changhong Sunpower Co., Ltd., a trusted manufacturer widely used in major power banks for enhanced safety. It fits neatly in the palm or pocket, making it the ideal travel companion. With support for major fast-charging protocols including PD 3.0, PPS, UFCS, and Xiaomi HyperCharge, it offers broad compatibility across Android, iOS, laptops, and even Nintendo Switch. A 10-minute self-charge delivers enough power for hours of use, perfect for fast-paced urban lifestyles.CUKTECH 6 Magnetic OLED Fast Charging CableThe second product, the CUKTECH 6 Magnetic OLED Fast Charging Cable, redefines the USB-C experience. This 1.5m braided cable not only supports 240W ultra-fast charging (PD 3.0 and Xiaomi 6A protocols) but also features an integrated OLED display that shows real-time voltage, current, and wattage, solving a long-standing pain point for users who often guess their charging speeds. Its magnetic cable management system ensures clean, tangle-free storage and easy desktop organisation, while the durable build quality rivals top-tier global brands at a fraction of the price.CUKTECH CP Outdoor Mini FanCompleting the lineup is the CUKTECH CP Outdoor Mini Fan, dubbed the "Pocket Typhoon". This featherlight, 56.9g mini fan delivers surprisingly strong airflow using Turbocharged Vortex Cooling and 3 adjustable wind modes, offering instant refreshment whether you're hiking, commuting, or cooling down post-workout. With intelligent chip control for safety and whisper-quiet operation, it pairs effortlessly with any power bank via USB-A ports, including CUKTECH's own series, offering more than 22.5 hours of breeze from a 10,000mAh battery."This Merdeka, we're celebrating a quieter kind of freedom, the kind that makes everyday life simpler," a representative of CUKTECH commented. "It's the freedom to go about your day without worrying about a dying battery, messy cables, or the heat. With the CUKTECH 10 Mini Power Bank, Magnetic OLED Fast Charging Cable, and CP Outdoor Mini Fan, we're introducing practical tools that offer comfort, control, and peace of mind so you can move through life on your own terms." Starting from 5 August 2025, the CUKTECH 10 Mini Power Bank (RM 106), CUKTECH 6 Magnetic OLED Fast Charging Cable (RM 49), and CP Outdoor Mini Fan (White, RM 47) will be available simultaneously on Shopee and Lazada. The Black CP Outdoor Mini Fan is scheduled for release in early September. Whether you're working remotely, commuting in the heat, or powering up devices for travel, CUKTECH's latest lineup ensures that performance and practicality go hand in hand, without breaking the bank.Find more about CUKTECH products on their website at cuktech.com , and through their Asian social media on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. For further updates and to connect with the CUKTECH community, feel free to visit CUKTECH's Malaysia and Facebook community pages.###ABOUT NANJING CUKTECH ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. ("CUKTECH")CUKTECH is a technology-driven innovative company, dedicated to creating a comprehensive clean energy ecosystem for its users. Since its journey began in 2016, CUKTECH has achieved remarkable milestones in the charging market, including developing popular charging products for Xiaomi that have garnered praise from both media and users. Today, CUKTECH products are sold in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. With a steadfast commitment to product innovation, over 51.4% of our team focuses on research and development, ensuring meticulous attention to detail and delivering products that users love. Known for its commitment to creating a comprehensive clean energy ecosystem, CUKTECH offers a range of cutting-edge products now available on Shopee and Lazada.For media information, kindly contact:Triven Marketing Group, for NanJing Cuktech Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. Jazzmin WanEmail: j.wan@ swanconsultancy.biz SOURCE: CUKTECH
Detectives of the Main Detective Unit of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) of Ukraine have completed a pre-trial investigation and sent to court an indictment against the deputy head of the currency control department of one of the commercial banks, who is accused of facilitating the withdrawal of funds from PJSC Ukrtatnafta in particularly large amounts.

"The investigation established that an organized criminal group withdrew UAH 585 million in equivalent from the company's accounts," BES reported on its website on Monday.

According to the Bureau, on the first day of the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a foreign economic contract for the purchase of crude oil was concluded between "Ukrtatnafta" and a non-resident company. Under this contract, Ukrtatnafta officials were to make payments to the accounts of the specified company in order to fulfill their obligations.

"However, realizing that during this period the actual import of raw materials was impossible, they forged the contract and invoices to it, identical to the real documents, imitating the purchase. The main difference was the company that was supposed to supply the raw materials and, accordingly, receive funds for it," BES said.

In turn, the deputy head of the bank's currency control department contributed to the concealment of traces of the criminal offense. To do this, she made handwritten digital entries - dates on the forged contract and on previous invoices (invoices) to it, as if the bank had received such documents before the actual transfer of funds to the foreign account of the controlled company. Based on the forged documents, $20 million was transferred to the address of the controlled enterprise.

BES detectives reported suspicions of a bank official in aiding and abetting the appropriation of property (company funds) through abuse of office, committed by a group of persons in a preliminary conspiracy, under martial law and in particularly large amounts. Currently, the indictment against the official has been sent to court.

"The pre-trial investigation into the others is ongoing," the Bureau noted.

The department recalled that earlier its detectives, together with employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, exposed the fact of the appropriation of UAH 40 billion by the former owners and top management of Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta. Within the framework of criminal proceedings, 10 episodes of criminal activity are documented: in particular, the withdrawal of large batches of petroleum products to affiliated companies, tax evasion, and the creation of bad debts of oil refineries, which led to the depreciation and decrease in the value of their assets.

As reported, in total, in the case of the appropriation of Ukrtatnafta funds, detectives of the Main Unit of Detectives of the BES reported suspicion to six individuals. The indictment against one of the participants of the organized group has already been sent to court. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

On November 5, 2022, the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine adopted a decision to transfer a share of Ukrtatnafta's corporate rights, owned by private owners, to the state. They are currently managed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The remaining 43.05% of the company's shares belong to NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.
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HOUSTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 /EON Resources Inc. (NYSE American:EONR) ("EON" or the "Company") is an independent upstream energy company with 20,000 leasehold acres comprising two fields in the Permian Basin in southeast New Mexico. Today, the Company announces it has: (i) received multiple non-binding offers to fund the $41 to $53 million needed for the previously announced Purchase, Sale, Termination and Exchange Agreement with the Seller ("Seller Agreement") that will result in (a) the restructure of the Company's balance sheet by eliminating all current and future obligations to the Seller in a discounted manner, and (b) re-purchase of an overriding royalty interest ("ORRI") equal to ten percent (10%) in the Grayburg-Jackson Field (Press Release on Seller Agreement as amended); and (ii) a farmout to an industry leader with a proven team for the previously announced San Andres horizontal drilling program (Press Release on horizontal drilling program) in the Grayburg-Jackson Field.Funding offers: Subject to execution of definitive documents, we expect to fund the $41 to $53 million using volumetric funding ("VMA") via the sale of one or more ORRI packages. The schedule is to close and fund in approximately four weeks. The funding is to discharge our $20.5 million settlement with Seller and to retire the Company's senior debt for $18.5 million. As disclosed in previous press releases, we expect the benefits to include:Completion of our $20.5 million cash settlement with Seller that returns to EON the 10% ORRI; retirement of the $22 million Seller note ($15 million principal plus accrued interest); and return to treasury of the Seller preferred shares with redemption value of $24 million. This would create over $40 million in net value to the Company and its shareholders.Retirement of its senior debt eliminating a $700,000 per month note payment with a payment substitution of an estimated incremental ORRI payment of $100,000 to $300,000 per month. A positive cash flow impact of $400,000 to $600,000 per month is expected.Funds raised by the VMA and farm-in proceeds in excess of $41 million would be used to develop 45 in field waterflood patterns out of a remaining 150 waterflood patterns in our Seven Rivers formation.Farmout with Horizontal Drilling Program: In a separate farmout and drilling commitment transaction, EON has reached an agreement in principle with a private company with a proven team to develop reserves estimated to be up to 40 million barrels in the San Andres formation using a horizontal drilling program. We are targeting commencement of the initial San Andres horizontal drilling in the first quarter of 2026. EON expects that this will add over $100 million in PV-10 value to the Company. Details of this transaction are being withheld until the private company completes due diligence and closing occurs."We could not be more pleased with the outcome of this raise that has resulted in connecting us with a world class Permian driller, and energy investors who are focused on Permian development opportunities," said Dante Caravaggio, President and CEO of the Company. "To ensure we close in on schedule, we will proceed with one preferred and one backup funding source. Both sources look to the value of overriding royalties the Company could deliver in consideration of funding, with both sources in an advanced stage of due diligence. Simultaneously with the close, EON significantly improves cash flow reducing the need to use our ELOC facility." More information will be released if we are successful in negotiating definitive documents and funding occurs, of which we can make no assurances at this stage.About the Grayburg-Jackson Oil Field PropertyLH Operating, LLC ("LHO"), a wholly owned subsidiary of EON, operates its holdings in New Mexico of oil and gas waterflood production comprising 13,700 contiguous leasehold acres, 342 producing wells and 207 injection wells situated on 20 federal and 3 state leases in the Grayburg-Jackson Oil Field. The Grayburg-Jackson Oil Field is located on the Northwest Shelf of the prolific Permian Basin in Eddy County, New Mexico.Leasehold rights of LHO include the Seven Rivers, Queen, Grayburg and San Andres intervals that range from as shallow as 1,500 feet to 4,000 feet in depth. The December 2024 reserve report from our third-party engineer, Haas and Cobb Petroleum Consultants, LLC ("Haas & Cobb" or "Cobb"), reflects LHO to have proven reserves of approximately 14.0 million barrels of oil and 2.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The mapped original-oil-in-place ("OOIP") in the LHO leasehold is approximately 876 million barrels of oil in the Grayburg and San Andres intervals and 80 million barrels in the Seven Rivers interval for a total OOIP of approximately 956 million barrels of oil.Our primary production is currently from the Seven Rivers zone. In addition to proven reserves, the Company believes it may access an additional 34 million barrels of oil by adding perforations in the Grayburg and San Andres formations, plus another 40 million barrels from the horizontal drilling program in the San Andres. With proven oil reserves of over 15 million barrels, combined with the potential 74 million additional barrels from the Grayburg and San Andres zones, LHO should produce oil and a revenue stream for more than two decades with a low decline rate.About the South Justis Field PropertyThe South Justis Field ("SJF") is a carbonate reservoir, similar to the rest of the Permian. The SJF was first developed in the 1960's and had an initial production in the 6,000 BOPD range. The waterflood implemented at a cost of $40 million dollars in the 1990's by a major oil company had mediocre performance due to poor connectivity between wells, which indicates an opportunity for horizontal infill well drilling. The subsequent owners of the SJF had higher priorities, which led to an increase in idle wells with downhole failures, thus allowing the production to drop dramatically. The Seller acquired the field and has reactivated several wells with good results increasing the production of oil. This indicates that there are a significant number of wells that can be reactivated to increase production on existing wells.The SJF comprises 5,360 contiguous acres with 208 combined producing and injection wells with well spacing of 50 acres. The field is located in the Central Basin of the prolific Permian Basin in Lea County, New Mexico located approximately 100 miles from EON's Grayburg-Jackson Oil Field property. The producing formations include the Glorietta, Blinebry, Tubb, Drinkard and Fusselman intervals that range from 5,000 feet to 7,000 feet in depth. The original-
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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Fortitude Gold (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") today announced the timing of its 2025 second quarter earnings conference call scheduled for Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield.Conference CallFortitude Gold's CEO, Mr. Jason Reid, will host the conference call Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Topics of discussion will include 2025 second quarter results and an update on current operations. The conference call will be recorded and posted to the Company's website.Q&AFollowing Mr. Reid's opening remarks, the Company will host a question and answer (Q&A) session.Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025Time: 11:00 AM Eastern (9:00 AM Mountain)There are two ways to join the conference call:To join the conference via webcast, please click on the following link:To join the call via telephone please use one of the following dial-in details:Toll Free: 888-506-0062International: 973-528-0011Participant Access Code: 881765Please connect to the conference call 10 minutes prior to the start time using one of the connection options listed above.REPLAYA webcast replay of the conference call will be available using the following link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2640/52809 A teleconference replay will be available using the following numbers:Toll Free: 877-481-4010International: 919-882-2331Participant Access Code: 52809About Fortitude Gold Corp.:Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free, and distribute dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of seven high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and an eighth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production and County Line is our next targeted mine build. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions.Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, the scope, duration, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mining operations, Company employees, and supply chains as well as the scope, duration and impact of government action aimed at mitigating the pandemic may cause future actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate.Contact:Greg Patterson719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.comwww.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corp.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:HIMS) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Hims & Hers, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/hims-hers-health-inc-class-action Investors have until August 25, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Hims & Hers securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Sookdeo v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-05315. A subsequent complaint alleging substantially similar claims was also filed and is captioned Yaghsizian v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-05321.Why was Hims & Hers Sued for Securities Fraud?Hims & Hers operates a telehealth platform that provides consumers with access to online consultations with licensed healthcare professionals, prescription medications, and a range of wellness products. On April 29, 2025, Hims & Hers and Novo Nordisk announced a "long-term collaboration" starting with the immediate sale of Novo Nordisk's popular weight loss drug Wegovy on the Hims & Hers platform. The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide.As alleged, Hims & Hers touted and misrepresented to investors the nature of its partnership with Novo Nordisk, including asserting that under the terms of the agreement Hims & Hers could offer both Wegovy and compounded semaglutide to its customers. Hims & Hers also allegedly represented to investors that its sale of compounded semaglutide complied with FDA regulations.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn June 23, 2025, Novo Nordisk announced that it was terminating the partnership, "based on Hims & Hers deceptive promotion and selling of illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy that put patient safety at risk" and alleged that Hims & Hers "failed to adhere to the law which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs." On this news, the price of Hims & Hers stock fell $22.24 per share, or more than 34%, from $64.22 per share on June 20, 2025 to $41.98 per share on June 23, 2025.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/hims-hers-health-inc-class-action What Can You Do?If you invested in Hims & Hers you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212.789.3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / With Intelligence recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to With Intelligence.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On June 28, 2025, PeopleCheck, a third-party vendor for With Intelligence, discovered that threat actors had accessed data using compromised login credentials. On July 7, 2025, PeopleCheck alerted With Intelligence that data processed on its behalf may have been affected.The impacted files may have included your name, email, internal reference name, date of birth, phone number, birth city, Social Security number, gender, mother name, and share code.On July 11, 2025, With Intelligence reported the breach to the Massachusetts Attorney General and began notifying affected individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from With Intelligence, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Moviynt recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Moviynt.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Recently, Moviynt became aware of a security incident on its internal employee email system. Upon detection, Moviynt launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to employee email accounts and files between February 27, 2025, and March 6, 2025. The impacted files may contain personal information of individuals, including names and Social Security numbers.On July 8, 2025, Moviynt began sending notice letters to impacted individuals and filed a notice with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Moviynt, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 3, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Vestis Corporation (NYSE:VSTS) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: A class action securities lawsuit was filed against Vestis Corporation that seeks to recover losses of shareholders who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between May 2, 2024 and May 6, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Vestis' ability to grow its business; notably that Vestis would be unable to execute on planned strategic initiatives to drive purported improvements to the customer experience and its onboarding efforts in order to drive new customer growth, increased customer retention, and increased revenue from existing customers.On May 7, 2025, Vestis announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, withdrew its revenue and growth guidance for the full fiscal year 2025, and provided guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 that fell significantly below market expectations. The Company attributed its poor results partially to "lost business in excess of new business," but primarily on "lower adds over stops, which is how we describe volume changes with our existing customers." The Company attributed its decision to pull full-year guidance and provide disappointing third quarter targets to the "increasingly uncertain macro environment." Following this news, the price of Vestis' common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $8.71 per share on May 6, 2025, Vestis' stock price fell to $5.44 per share on May 7, 2025, a decline of about 37.54% in the span of just a single day.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Vestis stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/vestis-corporation-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=159488&wire=1&utm_campaign=15 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Oakley Signs, an approved supplier ofREMAX signsand other high-quality real estate marketing materials, will unveil an exciting line of premium signage at the2025 REMAX Broker Owner Conference , to be held August 3-5 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.Conference attendees can visit the Chicago-based company at Booth 518 to experience an all-new lineup designed to boost curb appeal and deliver lasting impact. They can also take advantage of Oakley Signs' best pricing of the year, offered exclusively to event participants."We're excited to connect with REMAX leaders from across the country and showcase how Oakley is helping brokers and agents elevate their brand presence in today's competitive market," said Austin Blonde, president of Oakley Signs.Oakley Signs will also offer dedicated online portals to simplify the ordering process. With Oakley's program, REMAX real estate companies gain custom-branded web storefronts that give their agents easy access to premium, customized signage.As the sponsor of the BOC PBS Reception at 5:30 p.m. EDT, August 4, Oakley Signs will give REMAX top-producing brokers a unique opportunity to mingle and share essential industry insights.Conference participants are invited to visit the Oakley Signs booth to learn more about the company's exclusive offerings. REMAX Affiliates can also visit https://www.oakleysign.com/to explore Oakley's full lineup of products.About Oakley SignsOakley Signs has been a trusted partner for real estate professionals nationwide, delivering high-quality, customizable signage that helps agents and brokers build strong, recognizable brands. With fast turnaround times, free design services, and a commitment to innovation, Oakley Signs continues to set the standard in real estate marketing solutions.For all sales or media inquiries, please contact Sales Representative Justin Vantassel at justin.vantassel@oakleysign.com or 1 (800) 373-5330.Contact InformationJustin VantasselSales Representativejustin.vantassel@oakleysign.com (800) 373-5330SOURCE: Oakley Signs
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NEW YORK, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / August 3, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilAugust 4, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC ("Reckitt" or the "Company") (OTCQX:RBGLY), if they purchased the Company's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") between January 13, 2021 and July 28, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased ADSs of Reckitt and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/otc-rbgly/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court byAugust 4, 2025 .About the LawsuitReckitt and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) preterm infants were at an increased risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis ("NEC") by consuming the Company's cow's milk-based formula, Enfamil; (ii) such risk could impact the Company's sales of Enfamil and expose the Company to legal claims; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's positive statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.The case is Elevator Constructors Union Local No. 1 Annuity & 401(K) Fund v. Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, et al., No. 25-cv-4708.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, New Jersey, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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TBILISI, GE / ACCESS Newswire / August 3, 2025 / Reputation Coalition, a leader in online reputation management, has successfully removed over 470 negative Airbnb reviews for more than 30 short-term rental businesses across the U.S. and Europe in just eight months. By focusing on legal and ethical Airbnb review removal, the company helps hosts protect their livelihoods and boost bookings.Browsing Airbnb listings while planning the perfect stay - reputation matters."Negative Airbnb reviews can tank a host's business overnight," said Arslan Valiev, CEO of Reputation Coalition. "Our mission is to help hosts remove Airbnb reviews that break platform rules or legal standards, giving them a fair shot in a competitive market." Studies show reviews heavily influence guest bookings. Research from Tourism Management Perspectives highlights how even one negative review can deter potential guests, while arXiv and Current Issues in Tourism confirm that higher ratings directly correlate with increased reservations. Reputation Coalition's expertise in how to remove Airbnb reviews legally ensures hosts maintain strong ratings without risking their accounts.One Los Angeles property management company, handling over 10,000 reviews, saw steady improvement after Reputation Coalition removed five damaging reviews daily, gradually lifting their average rating. A Texas host shared, "After clearing 15 unfair reviews, our rating jumped from 4.6 to 4.9, and bookings rose 23% in a month." Unlike risky tactics that can lead to account bans, Reputation Coalition uses a transparent, evidence-based approach. The team identifies reviews violating Airbnb's content policies-such as defamation, privacy breaches, or irrelevant content-and builds legal cases grounded in U.S. and EU laws."We don't cut corners," Valiev added. "Every removal is backed by solid evidence, ensuring hosts stay safe while improving their online reputation." About Reputation Coalition Founded in 2020 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Reputation Coalition specializes in ethical online reputation management, helping businesses remove harmful content from platforms like Airbnb. For more information, visit reputationcoalition.com or contact info@ reputationcoalition.com Media Contact:Arslan Valiev info@ reputationcoalition.com SOURCE: Reputation Coalition
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WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / The St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation (STEEMCC) has announced the launch of the REACH-USVI initiative, which aims to advance resilient behavioral health integration in the US Virgin Islands. The transformative effort is designed to improve outcomes for underserved populations and address critical gaps in care coordination by fostering collaboration among providers, community organizations, and stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem.As part of its mission to deliver innovative solutions for health equity, the STEEMCC Initiative leverages cutting-edge technology, policy development, and robust community engagement to address the social determinants of health. By prioritizing inclusivity and sustainability, the program aims to create a replicable model for improving patient outcomes and healthcare accessibility."STEEMCC represents an extraordinary step forward in how we approach coordinated care," said Dr. Tess Richards, medical director and executive director of STEEMCC. "This collaborative effort embodies the principles of equity and innovation, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the support they need to achieve better health outcomes." Transforming Behavioral Health in the USVIThe REACH-USVI initiative seeks to address critical behavioral health disparities exacerbated by geographic barriers, provider shortages, and the lasting impacts of natural disasters. By integrating evidence-based telehealth services and resilience planning, the program focuses on three core strategies:Infrastructure Enhancement: Upgrading telehealth capabilities to provide accessible and cost-effective behavioral health services.Patient-Centered Care: Leveraging models like the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) and the 4Ms framework to deliver holistic, person-centered care.System Resilience: Incorporating climate preparedness planning to ensure continuity of care during environmental disruptions.STEEMCC is working closely with Zane Networks, Schneider Regional Medical Center, and the Howard University Telepharmacy and Population Health Center to address the diverse needs of the USVI's rural and underserved populations. Together, the network aims to serve 4,000 unduplicated patients over the program's duration, enhancing access to preventative screenings, psychiatric consultations, medication management, and crisis intervention services. The project officially launched on September 1, 2024.About The St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation The St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation (STEEMCC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving the St. Thomas-St. John District in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, STEEMCC is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality, accessible, and affordable primary healthcare services, including patient education, community outreach, and research. Their offerings encompass primary preventive care and chronic disease management, with a focus on underserved and low-income populations. For more information, visit www.steemcc.org ###Media Contact: Dave Anderson Anderson Interactive 770-401-1044 dave@ andersoni.com SOURCE: St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/Kkoshelenko/

Former Deputy Minister of Social Policy Kostiantyn Koshelenko has joined Mastercard as Director of Development in the field of cooperation with the public sector in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

"Mastercard's solutions have already become part of tangible positive digital changes in Ukraine. Now my task is to expand this presence, attract new areas and make these solutions even more effective and closer to people," Koshelenko said on his Facebook page.

According to him, he will focus on promoting the Ukrainian experience of state digitalization abroad, as Mastercard helps governments develop modern and accessible services - from digital identification and targeted payments to solutions for transport, crisis response and management analytics.

As reported, in February this year, Koshelenko resigned from his post as Deputy Minister of Social Policy for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization.
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Bringing Danish textile excellence to bold, functional furniture designSALT LAKE CITY, UTAH / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Stereo Furniture, a new brand within the premium mid-tier modern furniture space, is proud to announce its partnership with Kvadrat, the renowned Danish textile innovator, as a select vendor for the release of its debut collection.Known globally for its commitment to longevity, sustainability, and elevated design, Kvadrat has long been a trusted partner to some of the world's leading designers and architectural firms. Stereo joins a distinguished roster of collaborators integrating Kvadrat's industry-defining textiles into distinctive, high-quality products."Our pieces are meant to be lived with - to be in, on, and around," says Matt Daines, co-founder of Stereo. "They're compelling, yet functional, and stand-alone beautiful. Kvadrat's bold textures and rich colorways add depth and durability to that story. They allow us to stay true to our design ethos - fun, functional, and lasting - while giving our customers access to an internationally renowned textile house." Stereo Furniture launched with a clear mission: to reclaim the individual furniture piece as an anchor of expression - not simply a contributor to mood or atmosphere. As an online, direct-to-consumer brand stereofurniture.com is the place to explore the collection, make purchases, and learn more about their process and team.Stereo's debut collection, made in the U.S., showcases their unique aesthetic - compelling, bold silhouettes paired with Kvadrat's sustainably produced, tactile upholstery. Together, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to quality, longevity, and the emotional resonance of everyday objects.Kvadrat's textiles are manufactured to the highest environmental standards and have become synonymous with innovation and timelessness - an ideal complement to Stereo's belief that furniture should hold the room.The Stereo x Kvadrat collection is available now atstereofurniture.com . For press inquiries, interviews, or sample requests, please contact:Contact InformationMatt DainesCo-Founderpress@ stereofurniture.com +1.888.559.0001SOURCE: Stereo Furniture
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Born from the ambition to make staying connected abroad more accessible, TravelKon's Europe eSIM solves connectivity issues, limited coverage, and complex setups with its hassle-free unlimited data plan.SYDNEY, AU / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Europe remains the world's top long-haul travel destination post-pandemic for travellers across the globe, including Australians as one of the largest visitor groups. According to the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), over 1.3 million Australians travelled to Europe in 2024. Yet, staying connected across multiple countries has troubled travellers with expensive roaming fees and coverage gaps. According to a survey by Finder, 60% of Australians experienced bill shock from international roaming during their travels.TravelKon, Australia's trusted travel eSIM and SIM card provider, addresses these challenges with its new Europe eSIM unlimited data solution, covering 35 countries, including the United Kingdom (UK) and Turkey. This is part of TravelKon's broader mission to provide reliable, yet affordable and accessible connectivity solutions for travellers, as eSIMs could save up to 80% on mobile data costs.Europe eSIM with Unlimited Data: TravelKon's Simple, Wide-Coverage Solution Coverage gaps may leave travellers without internet when they need it most, whether it's for navigation, using translator apps, or keeping in touch with friends and family. Traditional roaming charges can cost $5-10 per day, while local SIM cards require constant swapping at borders. For trips across multiple European countries, these challenges can quickly add up. Constantly swapping SIM cards, juggling between carriers, and managing data limits can turn a dream getaway into a logistical nightmare.Recognising this problem, TravelKon addresses this issue with its newly launched Europe eSIM, starting from just AU$2.72 per day for unlimited data. Unlike complex alternatives, TravelKon's Europe eSIM keeps things simple: connect across 35 countries with one plan-unlimited data, no bill shock, and no hidden fees.From sharing Instagram posts in Santorini to making FaceTime calls from Amsterdam cafes, travellers enjoy seamless connectivity across Europe. The eSIM works perfectly for multi-city itineraries including London, Paris, Rome and Barcelona.With most travellers visiting multiple countries, constant internet access becomes essential - for navigation between destinations, translation needs, social updates and spontaneous transport bookings. TravelKon's unlimited data solution eliminates these worries, allowing music streaming on long train journeys, instant photo uploads and mobile hotspot use without monitoring data limits.Covering 35 countries including Australians' favourite destinations, the service reaches beyond major cities to rural villages, coastal towns and alpine resorts. Activation couldn't be simpler: buy online, scan your QR code before departure, and enjoy instant connection upon arrival in Europe.What Travellers Love About TravelKonThis eSIM launch is tailored for travellers who need wide coverage and a simple setup. Sarah from Melbourne shared her experience: "We used TravelKon's Europe eSIM for our three-week trip covering eight countries. The best part was not thinking about data - we could navigate, translate, and share freely. The setup was really simple, and it worked immediately in each new country." Moreover, TravelKon takes its commitment to deliver excellent service a step further by offering eco-friendly choices. TravelKon helps reduce plastic waste with a sustainable eSIM model, proving to travellers that they don't have to worry about leaving a large carbon footprint while travelling - one of the main concerns in recent years.Meeting Modern Travel Demands with a Commitment to ExcellenceAs digital needs grow, TravelKon's Europe eSIM is committed to providing a practical solution for modern-day travellers. This stems from our ambitious vision: the freedom to connect, explore, discover, and share without compromise. This reflects TravelKon's commitment to delivering exceptional value and unparalleled customer service through three core missions:Leading in innovation and excellenceProviding best-in-class customer serviceEnsuring transparencyTravelKon will continue to serve its users by empowering them with a user-centric approach, putting their needs at the centre, and pioneering cutting-edge technology.The company attributes its success in providing an affordable yet accessible solution to its team of experienced technology developers and customer support professionals, who deliver excellent connectivity and service.For more information, visit TravelKon's official product page at travelkon.com.au About TravelKonFounded in 2019, TravelKon is an Australian company solving connectivity challenges for global travellers. Partnering with leading telecom operators worldwide, TravelKon delivers affordable eSIM data plans across 180+ destinations, including Japan, North America, and Europe.Media Contact: Brenda - PR & Communications Manager media@ travelkon.com.au | +61 412 718 829SOURCE: TravelKon
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the successful signing of a US$1.35 billion facility for Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), leading a US$4 billion syndicated refinancing deal for the construction of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex.

The landmark transaction, one of the largest syndicated facilities in Africas recent financial history, aims to refinance capital invested in building the 650,000-barrel-per-day single-train refinerycurrently the largest of its kind globally.

The financing also supports early operational expenditures and strengthens Dangotes balance sheet for continued industrial growth.

As Mandated Lead Arranger, Afreximbank contributed the largest share of the facility, affirming its strategic commitment to financing transformative infrastructure projects that drive African industrialisation, enhance energy security, and promote intra-African trade.

The Afreximbank statement did not disclose the identities of the banks that provided the facilitys $1.65 billion balance.

Since the Dangote Refinery commenced operations in February 2024, Afreximbank has provided crucial financing for crude oil supply and product offtake arrangements to ensure stable and uninterrupted production.

With this landmark deal, we reaffirm that Africas development must be financed from within, said Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Afreximbank.

This facility boosts Dangote Refinerys ability to supply high-quality petroleum products across Africa and signals a major step towards energy security and self-reliance on the continent.

Aliko Dangote, President/CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, praised the financing as a strong show of confidence in Africas industrial future.

Afreximbanks leadership in this refinancing confirms our shared vision to industrialise Africa using African capital, Mr Dangote said. This support enhances the refinerys ability to deliver refined petroleum products efficiently to both local and export markets.

The syndicated facility attracted widespread participation from top African and global financial institutions, further underlining investor confidence in Dangote Industries strategic role in reshaping Africas industrial landscape.

Afreximbank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution that supports intra- and extra-African trade. With total assets and contingencies exceeding US$40.1 billion as of December 2024, the Bank is central in accelerating Africas industrialisation, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Dangote Industries is one of Africas most diversified industrial groups, with significant interests in cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser, energy, petrochemicals, and more. Its local manufacturing capacity across 11 African countries contributes significantly to job creation, import substitution, and regional development.
MTN Nigeria has officially launched the Next Afrobeats Stars show to discover and nurture talents in the Afrobeats industry.

During a media parley on Saturday night in Lagos, the telecommunication company told PREMIUM TIMES that the show will be a transformative opportunity for the up-and-coming Afrobeats artistes to achieve their dreams.

The newly launched shows highlights also included choreographic demonstrations of Afrobeats genealogy, from Fela Anikulapos Afrobeat to the new era of Afrobeats.

While stating the purpose of the show, MTN Nigerias Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, said that the show, which will award $100,000 to the winner, will include talent competitions, mentorship sessions, and identification of the next Afrobeats stars for global stardom.

Tonight, were not just launching a show; were launching dreams that will resonate from the streets of Lagos through the valley of Jos and across Nigerias farthest reaches, she stated.

It is a platform where talents meet opportunity, where the rhythm of Nigeria meets the worlds reach. The winner of the next African star would receive a 1000 $100,000 record deal, which is approximately over the production, the Chief Marketing Officer said.

Africas Creative Capital

She added that the initiative aligns with the Nigerian governments plan to transform Nigeria into Africas Creative Capital and a leading global centre for creative excellence by 2030.

Ikenna-Emeka further stated that MTN is committed to inclusivity and opportunity for all Nigerians of different backgrounds.

At MTN, progress is our purpose. We want every Nigerian, regardless of their background or location, to have a chance to shine. This show will reach every corner of Nigeria, from vibrant cities to remote villages, because talent knows no limits, and neither should opportunity, she said.

On his part, Senior Manager of MTN Nigerias Youth Segment, Temilolu Salako, stated that the show is a lifestyle platform that connects rising stars to the spotlight with the MTN Pulse program.

The show is more than just a campaign. Its a spotlight, a lifestyle platform for young Nigerians to connect and create. MTN Pulse is not just sponsoring this movement. Its investing in the culture, the creators, the communities that keep the Nigerian youth at the heart of these global trends.

Also, while responding to the question of what makes the show different from Project Fame, the MTN Chief Digital Officer, Aisha Mumuni, said having A-list producers as judges will make a big difference, creating a platform for mentorship for the winners in the future.

We have A-list producers as the judges, so the difference is that Afrobeats was not where it is today then, but with some of our experienced judges as the producers, were quite confident that well do pretty well with this.

Collaborative effort

The show, a collaborative effort between MTN Nigeria, Ultima Studios, and ONErpm, will feature top Afrobeats producers serving as judges and mentors.

Parts of the producers that will double as the shows judges are Temi-dayo Babatope, popularly known as PuffyTee, and Andre Vibez, the producer of both Calm Down by Rema and Rush by Ayra Starr.

Music producer and judge Andre Vibez shared his excitement, saying, Im excited to bring my experience to the table and help discover the next generation of Afrobeats stars.

Femi Ayeni, CEO of Ultima Studios and fellow judge, assured viewers of something different, noting, This show will be unlike any other talent competition. Afrobeats is at its maturity.

MTNs Ikenna-Emeka encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunity, emphasising the companys commitment to empowering and connecting emerging artists to the global stage.
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, have resumed their war of words over Mr Obis pledge to serve for one term if elected Nigerias president in 2027.

How it started

On 29 June 2025, Mr Obi declared his intention to contest in the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria.

The LP candidate, who served as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, pledged to serve for a four-year tenure if elected the countrys president in 2027.

In Nigeria, elected presidents are constitutionally entitled to a four-year tenure and also are also qualified to seek reelection for a second and final term.

In response, Mr Soludo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, argued politicians who make such promises are mentally unstable.

The governor spoke on Saturday during a political rally held in Anambra South District in support of his second-term ambition.

Although he did not mention names, Mr Soludo was apparently referring to Mr Obi.

How can anybody with a brainYou think you are talking to fools. You come to people and say, Ill do only one term.

Anybody, any politician who said that, must be sent to a psychiatric home, he said.

The Anambra governor argued that, given that the countrys constitution allows for a second term, pledging to serve for one term is strange.

Tell us where it has ever happened or who. Anybody who is saying this needs a psychiatric examination because you are taking every one of us to be a fool, he stated.

Mr Obi speaks

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Sunday, Mr Obi, reaffirmed his vow to serve only one four-year term if elected Nigerias president.

The LP candidate, without mentioning names, acknowledged cynicism of some Nigerians including Mr Soludo towards his one term pledge.

Recently, I became aware of two statements aimed, albeit indirectly, at my vow to serve only a single four-year term.

One person remarked that even if I swore by a shrine, I still wouldnt be believed. Another suggested that anyone talking about doing only one term should undergo psychiatric evaluation, he said.

Mr Obi said their scepticism was because they were judging him by their own standards  where political promises are made to be broken.

But they forget, or perhaps choose to ignore, that Peter Obi is not cut from that cloth, he stated.

Responding to Mr Soludos comments, the former governor said: If making such a (one term in office) promise qualifies me for psychiatric evaluation, then we may as well question the mental fitness of those who framed our constitution, which clearly stipulates a four-year renewable tenure.

Not the first time

This is not the first time Messrs Obi and Soludo would engage in a war of words.

In late 2022, Mr Soludo predicted that Mr Obi would not win the 2023 presidential election, citing lack of political structure and poor voting strength of the South-east, where the LP candidate hails from.

The Anambra governor also claimed the value of investments made by Mr Obi while he was the governor of the state was worth next to nothing.

But responding days later, Mr Obi said although investments are bound to go up and down, a company where he made some of the investments as governor was still in business and has provided job opportunities to several residents of the state.

I have done my little own as a trader, now the professor is there. He will do his own as a professor. The schools I didnt roof, he will roof them. Thats how government goes, the LP candidate had added.
Tanzania is approaching its October 2025 general elections with uncertainty. The main opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), has been disqualified from running, and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is manoeuvring to claim its seventh consecutive term.

CHADEMA chairperson Tundu Lissu is in custody on treason charges due to his partys demands for electoral reforms. The no reforms, no elections campaign has been interpreted by the courts as an attempt to disrupt the polls. Mr Lissu is also charged with incitement and publishing false information. The treason charges are non-bailable and carry the death penalty.

Tanzania has had six elections since multiparty democracy was introduced in 1995. The CCM has won them all, making it one of Africas longest-ruling independent parties. Much of this electoral dominance has resulted from exclusion, censorship, electoral fraud and violence against the opposition.

Tanzania is sliding into electoral authoritarianism  a system where polls are held, but within a manipulated process where the ruling party retains power through state control, patronage, violence, intimidation and manipulation of electoral systems.

Since 2016, Freedom House has categorised Tanzania as Partly Free, because its defective or flawed electoral democracy lacked robust civil liberties and political rights. In 2025, the country moved to the Not Free category, signalling an authoritarian turn as political freedoms and rights decline.

The ruling partys vote share shrank to its lowest point ever in 2015 when John Magufuli was elected (see table), with the opposition gaining in both the presidential and parliamentary polls. When dominant political parties are threatened, they often resort to suppression and control to remain in power.

Under Mr Magufuli, crackdowns on civil society and independent media increased, and laws were weaponised to silence dissent, such as the passing of the Cybercrimes Act and the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations. Other authoritarian tactics included the co-option of prominent opposition figures and the fusion of state and party, blurring the divide between public service and party loyalty.

In the 2020 general elections, Mr Magufuli won the presidency by 84.4 per cent, with CCM clinching 261 of the 264 parliamentary seats (98.7 per cent of the vote). In Zanzibar, Tanzanias semi-autonomous state, CCM won 76.6 per cent of the presidential ballots. That was followed by a landslide 99.3 per cent victory in the November 2024 local government elections.

Like other liberation and independence parties in Southern Africa, such as in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Angola, CCM has benefited from the legacy of state-building. Institutional structures established by these long-serving ruling parties have supported patronage and clientelist networks, entrenching one-party dominance. Although their trajectories are changing, the prospects for fair and credible elections in Tanzania, as in Mozambique and Zimbabwes last polls, remain bleak.

Tanzanias President Samia Hassan, who succeeded Mr Magufuli in 2021, reversed many retrograde policies to try to bring about reforms. Through her reconciliation, resilience, reforms, and rebuilding (4R) philosophy, she initiated dialogues with the opposition and other stakeholders to reform the electoral architecture.

Three bills governing the electoral process were subsequently enacted in 2024, but they failed to reflect the desired electoral reforms. Although the Independent National Electoral Commission Act (2024) established a new commission, it retained the presidents power to appoint commission members. This became the basis for the oppositions no reforms, no election agenda.

Mr Magufulis legacy lingers in the CCM, exposing factions and divided loyalties. Ms Hassan initially tried to tame party hardliners but has gradually brought them back. As elections approach, internal rifts continue to simmer.

One emerging faction contends that Ms Hassan bypassed the partys nomination procedures, calling into question her candidature for the October polls. Another has criticised alleged state involvement in abductions of government critics and state repression. Also, the nomination process for parliamentarians and ward councillors was momentarily suspended because of perceived bias and favouritism.

CHADEMAs push for electoral reforms has been undermined by other opposition parties apparent alignment with CCMs approach, making them seem like ruling party puppets.

Increased repression has moved public discussions about the elections to digital spaces like X Spaces, Clubhouse and WhatsApp groups. When the state responded with restrictions on social media, citizens turned to virtual private networks to continue their social media engagement. Youth-led protests in neighbouring Kenya were mobilised using social media. To avoid this, Tanzania has pursued continued state censorship.

Official election observer missions from regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union (AU) could expose Tanzanias democratic decline. But although they regularly observe elections, these bodies often take non-confrontational and diplomatic approaches, rubberstamping polls that are not free and fair.

The AU Commission deployed a preelection assessment mission to Tanzania in June to assess election preparations, especially the electoral commission, but hasnt yet publicised its report. In May, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Mr Lissus arrest and treason charges to try to pressure Tanzania to ensure fair elections. The government accused it of interfering in the countrys internal affairs.

The European Union and the United States could use aid and diplomacy to apply pressure, but economic and strategic interests limit their actions. Regional bodies like the EAC and SADC must call for free and fair elections in Tanzania, and accreditation for their election observers who have been excluded from the upcoming polls.

In Tanzanias last general elections, major international observers were barred from monitoring proceedings. Domestic observers  and others who may get accreditation  should document election-related irregularities as was done in Mozambique in 2024.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Correctional Service confirms dismissing whistleblower gives reasons

As Institute for Security Studies Researcher Borges Nhamirre notes, the observers were crucial in monitoring and documenting flaws in Mozambique. Although this did not make the election free or fair, it increased transparency and raised public awareness.

The current electoral situation shows that Tanzania is sliding further into a de facto authoritarian system where voting is reduced to a procedural coronation ritual for the ruling party. Electoral reforms are urgently needed.

Nicodemus Minde, Researcher, East Africa Peace and Security Governance, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Nairobi

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).
In response to the concerns regarding plastic pollution in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems worldwide, a diverse assembly comprising national governments, international organisations, civil society entities, private sector representatives, and academia will convene in Geneva, Switzerlands capital city, from 5 to 14 August for the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC-5.2) meeting on plastic pollution.

The primary objective of this assembly is to finalise an international, legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution, with particular attention to its impact on marine environments.

Background

According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), in March 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a historic resolution was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

The resolution (5/14) entitled End plastic pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument, requested the Executive Director of UNEP to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop the instrument, which is to be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal.

Based on this, UNEP said the INC commenced its work during the second half of 2022, with an ambitious target to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024, but this did not happen.

The first session of the INC (INC-1) took place in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 28 November to 2 December 2022, and was followed by a second session (INC-2) from 29 May to 2 June 2023 in Paris, France.

Again, the third session (INC-3), which the UNEP said marked the processs midway point from 13 to 19 November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, was followed by the fourth session (INC-4) from 23 to 29 April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada.

The first part of the fifth session (INC-5.1) took place from 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea.

Now, expectations are high, as critical stakeholders worry if the second part of the fifth session (INC-5.2), scheduled to take place in Geneva, will deliver stringent regulations to address the impacts of plastic pollution globally due to alleged significant pushbacks from industry lobbyists, particularly those from fossil fuel and chemical industry states.

Plastic pollution concerns in Africa, Nigeria

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), annually, more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced globally. An estimated 1923 million tons end up in lakes, rivers and seas. However, only less than 10 per cent of the worlds annual plastic production is recycled.

In Africa, which produces only 5 per cent and consumes 4 per cent of global plastic, a growing population and urbanisation are driving an increase in single-use plastic, exacerbating environmental pollution and health threats.

Meanwhile, Africas most populous nation, Nigeria, is among the countries facing a severe plastic pollution crisis, ranking as a top global polluter.

Annually, an estimated 2.5 to 3.5 million tons of plastic waste are generated across Nigeria, with a decimal fraction being recycled. This often leads to widespread environmental damage, since plastics do not decay (are non-biodegradable), impacting both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and posing risks to public health.

If one looks into major drainages and corners of major cities and communities in Nigeria, the chances of finding empty water sachets and plastic bottles, as well as takeaway plastic packages, are significantly high.

In the face of these growing concerns, several efforts are ongoing to address plastic pollution in Nigeria. One of the states leading this effort is Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital. Recently, the Lagos State Government announced that it has commenced full enforcement of its ban on certain single-use plastics (SUPs).

Similarly, in June, the UNEP explained that they are working with the Nigerian government to introduce a series of regulations that will make companies that produce and use plastic packaging responsible for countering plastic pollution.

Extended producer responsibility as a strategy shifts the responsibility of waste management to the producers, adopting the polluter pays principle, said Innocent Barikor, director-general of Nigerias National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Over the past two decades, plastic production and import have increased in Nigeria, overburdening the countrys municipal waste management systems. Most plastic wastes in Nigeria are either burned, dumped in the open or tossed into water bodies, research suggests.

Major dividing issues among negotiating blocs at INC

As Parties seek to develop and finalise a legally binding international treaty on plastic pollution, a deep division has emerged over critical themes following the past four cycles of negotiations held.

According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), there are several concerns about whether the treaty should include caps on plastic production, inclusion of chemicals of concern and design standards for plastic products.

Also, parties do not agree on the structure of finance mechanisms, including a possible primary polymer fee and remediation fund and whether measures should be mandatory or voluntary, and applied globally or nationally.

Over the course of five rounds of negotiations of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), the CSE noted that member states have had ample opportunity to articulate their red lines, identify points of convergence, and highlight areas of substantive divergence.

These discussions, the centre said, have laid the groundwork for the adoption of an international, legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. However, the group said progress remains hindered by a persistent divide between oil and plastic-producing countries, many of which have pushed for a narrow focus on downstream waste management and a larger group of countries advocating for an ambitious, full life-cycle approach to plastic pollution.

The experts said the current Chairs text reflects this tension and that it presents a significantly diluted version of the treaty that was initially envisioned, shaped by the assertive positions and influence of fossil fuel-aligned states.

As a result, several critical provisions, such as those related to plastic production limits, toxic chemical phase-outs, and financing mechanisms, remain heavily bracketed or intentionally ambiguous, a fresh report by the CSE released on Sunday, noted.

Since the commencement of the fifth session, however, the report suggests there has been renewed momentum from parties after a number of countries submitted formal textual proposals on key articles of the draft treaty.

These proposals, it said, have emerged from active bilateral and multilateral consultations, signaling a growing appetite among member states to move the process forward in Geneva.

Meanwhile, in early July 2025, member states convened in Nairobi for consultations aimed at identifying potential landing zones, particularly for the more contentious articles of the draft treaty.

Several of these articles saw the submission of fresh textual proposals by member states, reflecting evolving positions and efforts to bridge critical divides.

Over 100 countries, including members of the High Ambition Coalition, backed binding reductions in plastic production. In contrast, the CSE said oil- and petrochemical-exporting nations, like Saudi Arabia and Russia, resisted such caps, emphasising waste management instead.

Groups like India, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia also opposed any changes to the consensus-based decision-making process, stalling agreement on procedural reforms.

At the negotiation, Nigeria falls under the Africa Group. So far, Parties have expressed divergent views and demands under the different articles (about 20) referenced in the initial draft texts.

For instance, deliberations around Article 1, dubbed as Objectives of the Global Plastics Treaty, reveal both a broad consensus on the need to end plastic pollution and divergent perspectives on the framing and ambition of this objective.

Most countries agree that the treaty should explicitly aim to protect human health and the environment, with many emphasising the need for a comprehensive, full life-cycle approach to plastics, the CSE noted.

It said countries such as Ghana (on behalf of the African Group), Rwanda, Bangladesh and Tuvalu (on behalf of PSIDS) advocate for a clear and strong reference to addressing plastic pollution throughout its entire life cycle from production to disposal.

The groups highlight the importance of tackling not only plastic waste, but also upstream drivers like production volumes and product design. These positions, the CSE said, often reference marine environments and biodiversity, recognising the global and transboundary nature of plastic pollution.

Brazil, Egypt and Indonesia also support the overarching goal of ending plastic pollution but tend to frame it within broader sustainable development or environmental protection narratives. Malaysia introduces circular economy considerations, suggesting that sustainable waste management and safer material cycles are integral to the treatys success.

On the other hand, countries such as Iran, Kazakhstan and Kuwait call for greater sensitivity to national contexts.

Iran emphasises legacy plastic pollution and the need for financial and technical support for developing countries. Kuwait and others express caution about expanding the treatys mandate too far, raising questions about overlap with other international health and environment frameworks.

Concerns and recommendations

Ahead of the negotiation starting on Tuesday, a group of scientists (Scientists Coalition) has expressed concerns that the treaty risks becoming ineffective if important evidence-based obligations are excluded.

In a statement issued on 31 July, the scientists said they are also concerned about a deliberate misrepresentation of the scientific evidence to manufacture doubt and undermine measures on chemicals of concern and plastic production.

While these efforts may serve short-term business interests, the group said they undermine the scientifically proven need to protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution.

Countries that are serious about ending plastics pollution will ensure the treaty is well supported by essential-use, hazard-based safety, sustainability, and transparency criteria, said Trisia Farrelly of Cawthron Institute and Massey University, New Zealand.

The scientists said these criteria are crucial in identifying the most harmful plastic chemicals and products, and to inform globally harmonised standards to minimise monitoring and reporting costs, enhance supply chain transparency, guide national plans, and drive down hazardous plastics hyperproduction.

Also, Richard Thompson at the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom, said, It is clear that business as usual is neither safe nor sustainable.

To achieve its goal, Mr Thompson said the scientific evidence shows that the new instrument needs to mandate the development of essentiality, safety and sustainability criteria to ensure the plastics that are produced are essential to society and are far safer and more sustainable than they are today.

He argued that Harmonised standards and labelling can support these criteria to enable safer and more sustainable plastics and alternatives to become the norm in international trade.
The Police Command in Rivers State has arrested one David Obasi, alleged to be involved in cyberstalking and defamation of innocent Nigerians on social media.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the commands spokesperson, confirmed Mr Obasis arrest during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

NAN reports that Mr Obasi is accused of targeting victims by falsely branding them scammers, posting their photographs online, and subsequently demanding money from them as a condition for removing the defamatory posts.

Ms Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, stated that Mr Obasis arrest followed a petition dated 17 June, submitted by the legal counsel of John Adekola, a Nigerian, based abroad, and popularly known as @McPhils_ on social media platforms.

According to Ms Iringe-Koko, Mr Obasi had tagged Mr Adekola as a scammer on his X account despite having no prior acquaintance or business dealings with him.

Shortly after receiving the complaint, officers from the Police Area Command in Choba acted, tracked, and arrested Obasi on 1 August in Port Harcourt.

The suspect is currently in police custody, and an investigation into the matter is ongoing, she confirmed.

NAN reports that the defamatory content, allegedly posted by Mr Obasi against Mr Adekola and two others, has since been deleted from the suspects account, which is identified as @boymanagerO on X.

Before it was removed, the post read: Scammer alert. Watch out for @McPhils_. Dont sell accounts to them. They take your account and block you. Be warned.

A petition, stamped and filed by Mr Adekolas legal representative, Ibukun Ahisu, accused Mr Obasi of criminal conduct and defamation.

Mr Ahisu asserted that Mr Obasi posted Mr Adekolas photograph online and made direct, false accusations, branding him a scammer without any evidence, justification, or due diligence.

Our client has never had any transactions and has never engaged in the sale or purchase of (social media) accounts with Obasi.

Even the phone number referenced in the alleged chats does not belong to our client, the lawyer said.

He noted that the suspects actions violate the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, which is punishable by up to N7 million fine, three years imprisonment, or both.

The petitioner further demanded that Mr Obasi retract the defamatory post, provide a video apology, and desist from circulating any further malicious content targeting Mr Adekola.

Should Obasi fail to comply within 12 hours, we will sue for defamation and reputational damage, file a criminal complaint, and report the matter to X, the letter concluded.

Following the suspects arrest, NAN sighted messages of apology purportedly sent by Mr Obasi via the victims X account, in which he pleaded for forgiveness.

In his remarks, Prince Wiro, national coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, condemned the trend of online defamation and extortion.

He urged young people to reject fraudulent practices and pursue lawful means of livelihood.

He expressed concern over the increasing number of cases where scammers falsely accuse innocent individuals on social media in a bid to extort.

They make fraudulent accusations against their targets, and when the victims reach out in an attempt to clear their name, they are pressured to pay in exchange for deleting the post.

This is the new tactic scammers have adopted, and the police must ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and prosecuted accordingly, he stated.

Mr Wiro called on social media users to be vigilant against such tactics and to report such incidents to the police.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extends heartfelt congratulations to Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON) one of Africas most prominent industrialists, philanthropists, and Chairman of BUA Group, on his 65th birthday on August 4, 2025.

As President Tinubu puts it, Abdul Samad Rabius milestone celebrates a life defined by quiet excellence, courageous enterprise, and unwavering faith in Nigeria.

President Tinubu describes the industrialist as one of Africas most accomplished businessmen, whose investments have transformed key sectors of Nigerias economy from cement to foods, sugar to steel, ports to power, and more recently, oil and gas, demonstrating what is possible when vision meets discipline and ambition is anchored in purpose.

President Tinubu commends Abdul Samad Rabiu for his calm leadership and deep belief in Nigeria. He notes that his businesses have created thousands of jobs, deepened industrial capacity, and restored confidence in indigenous enterprise and local production.

President Tinubu hails the profound impact of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), which continues to deliver landmark interventions in education, health, and social development across Nigeria and the continent, quietly but consistently improving lives, building institutions, and expanding access to opportunity.

Abdul Samad Rabiu is a builder in every sense, the President said. He has built industries, empowered people, uplifted communities, and continues to invest in the future of our countrynot for applause, but out of duty and conviction. Nigeria is proud of him, and I am proud to call him a trusted partner in our nations progress.

President Tinubu wishes Abdul Samad continued strength, wisdom, and good health.

He expresses confidence that Samads legacy as a patriot, philanthropist, industrialist, and nation-builder will endure for generations.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

August 3, 2025 
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has arrested two suspected cultists during a raid in a hotel at Ikot-Udota in Eket Local Government Area of the state.

Timfon John, the commands spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement to reporters in Uyo on Saturday.

Ms John, a deputy superintendent of police, said that operatives of the command successfully arrested two suspected cultists and recovered a firearm, ammunition and other items during the raid.

According to her, the raid occurred at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, 31 July, in a hotel in Ikot-Udota in Eket.

She said the command acted on a tip-off that some expelled students and drop-outs from a certain institution (name withheld) had formed criminal gangs.

She alleged that the students were engaging in a range of illicit activities, including extortion, rape, and cybercrime.

The police spokesperson said that during the arrest, officers recovered the following items: one English Beretta pistol with three rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

Other items recovered include one laptop, two Android phones, an MTN internet router, a cocktail of suspected drug concoctions and three copies of a power-of-attorney, suspected to be stolen.

Ms John said that preliminary investigations indicated that the gang were led by two individuals, who are currently at large.

She said that efforts were ongoing to arrest others who are at large.

This successful operation is a testament to the commands commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the community, she said.

Cultism still thrives in some parts of Akwa Ibom despite a ban on cult groups in the state.

The police in the state, last month, arrested a suspected cultist and recovered several items, including a human skull, in Oku Abak, Abak Local Government Area of the state.

Ms John had said that, besides being a cultist, the suspect, Pius Pius, is also a vandal who specialises in vandalising transformers in some parts of the state.

(NAN)
The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has scheduled for consideration a motion to impose a preventive measure on the former head of the Mukachevo District State Administration and a Member of Parliament of Ukraine.

The consideration of the motion to impose a preventive measure on the former head of the Mukachevo District State Administration is scheduled for Monday, August 4, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., courtroom No. 5 (Beresteyskyi Avenue, 41).

The consideration of the motion to impose a preventive measure on the People's Deputy will take place at 1:30 p.m., courtroom No. 6 (Beresteyskyi Avenue, 41), the broadcast is available at the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/oIFSnoJJ58A?si=fSuGGlUcwEl2V-0h

If the motion from the media is granted, the court session will be broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Anti-Corruption Court.

According to the investigation, during 20242025, the participants of the organized group established a scheme for the systematic appropriation of budget funds allocated by local governments for the needs of the defense forces, as well as the receipt and provision of illegal benefits in particularly large amounts.

As established by the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), one of the schemes was implemented during the conclusion of a state contract for the supply of electronic warfare systems. For concluding a contract for the purchase of products at a knowingly inflated price, the participants of the organized group received an illegal benefit in the amount of 30% of the contract amount.

A scheme for the appropriation of funds during the purchase of first-pervon view (FPV) drones was also exposed. The military unit concluded a state contract for the amount of almost UAH 10 million with an enterprise that supplied products at a cost that was overstated by about $80,000. After the contract was executed, the company's officials transferred their kickback to the participants of the criminal group. The names of the defendants were not named. According to media reports, the Member of Parliament Oleksiy Kuznetsov (Servant of the People faction). This was actually admitted by the head of the faction, David Arakhamia, who announced that Kuznetsov's membership in the faction will be suspended for the duration of the investigation.

According to media reports, the scheme with Kuznetsov's participation involves the ex-head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai.

The commander of the National Guard Oleksandr Pivnenko has already removed the defendants from their positions, and an official investigation has been launched.

NABU and SAPO have served notices of suspicion to six exposed members of the organized criminal group. As the NABU press service reported on Monday, among the suspects: the former head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, a Member of Parliament of Ukraine, head of the city military administration, commander of a military unit of the National Guard of Ukraine the actual beneficial owner of the UAV manufacturer and the director of the UAV manufacturer.

With the approval of the Prosecutor General, a petition was sent to the court to select a preventive measure in the form of detention for the suspected people's deputy with the alternative of posting bail in the amount of UAH 30 million. A petition was also sent to the court to select preventive measures for other persons involved in the case.
The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Governor Monday Okpebholos claim of initiating the ongoing reconstruction of the Benin-Asaba Expressway as misleading and inaccurate.

In a statement on Saturday, Chris Nehikhare, the spokesperson for the partys caretaker committee, said the governors narrative distorts public records.

He condemned the governors spokespersons claim that the project is linked to President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as political propaganda and a misrepresentation of facts.

According to Mr Nehikhare, the expressway project was conceived and finalised through a structured public-private partnership under former Governor Godwin Obasekis administration.

In January 2024, Obaseki signed a N228 billion concession agreement with Triple A Infrastructure, InfraCorp, and Africa Plus Partners to execute the redevelopment of the road, Mr Nehikhare said.

He explained that the project was part of the federal governments Highway Development and Management Initiative and followed all required regulatory approvals and standards.

Mr Nehikhare noted that the initiative was not a routine contract but a visionary infrastructure renewal effort designed by Mr Obaseki to deliver long-term economic benefits.

He insisted that the APC-led federal government played no role in the projects planning or initiation, alleging that execution was deliberately delayed until after the Edo 2024 elections.

The PDP described Mr Okpebholos recent inspection tours of the project as mere publicity stunts, saying they added no real value to the projects scope or funding.

The party maintained that the Edo people were politically aware and could not be deceived.

It urged the governor to focus on initiating and completing his projects rather than claiming credit for inherited ones.

Mr Nehikhare concluded by challenging the governor to deliver on his mandate with original projects that genuinely benefit the people.

It could be recalled that during a recent inspection, Governor Okpebholo described the project as a tangible outcome of President Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda.

He had praised it as a cornerstone of the presidents development vision and a demonstration of the federal governments commitment to its promises.

This is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President. He is taking this road straight to Asaba. It is going to be 10 lanes. Five on one side, five on the other side, he said.

Remember, when this road was flagged off a few months ago, the minister for works was here.

The minister for finance was also here. And I was here. This is the fruit of that flag-off, the governor said.

(NAN)
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has disbursed over N400 million in farm, trade, and business grants to 1,076 beneficiaries in the Eket Federal Constituency of the state.

Speaking at the event, which took place at the Cenotaph by Eket Stadium, Eket Local Government Area, Mr Eno said 268 constituents were successfully selected to benefit from the ARISE Farmers grant, 549 from the ARISE Traders grant, and 239 from the ARISE Equipment support scheme. Eighth benefited from the N5 million MSME grant, and 12 benefited from the cars and mini buses.

Mr Eno said the empowerment is for every qualified Akwa Ibomite duly registered with the ARISE empowerment portal, stressing that it is not tailored to favour any political party.

The governor, who has lived and done business in Eket for about 30 years, appreciated peoples turning out across party lines. He stressed the need to distinguish between a party affair and a state affair, like the town square meeting.

Dont insult Udom Emmanuel  Gov Eno

He used the opportunity to clear all doubts on his relationship with his political father, Udom Emmanuel, saying, Let me say here and now, because we are in Eket Federal Constituency, my political father comes from here. Let me make it abundantly clear that there is no issue between me and my political father, no issue whatsoever. We have moved in the best interest of Akwa Ibom State for today, so that we can pull our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That does not cause any confusion.

I am his political son, and so he will always earn our respect and support, and I will like to make that assurance to our sons and daughters from Onna, so if anybody tries to insult him, you are doing so at your peril, he is still our father and will continue to earn our respect, he said.

The governor appreciated the people of Eket Federal Constituency for coming out en masse for the meeting and for their numerous gift items. He said he was not surprised, given that Eket is the land of his rebirth.

Uyo Senatorial District and Etinan Federal Constituency are the land of my birth, but Eket is the land of my rebirth. It is in this land that I cut my teeth in business. I am overwhelmed by your warm welcome.

I have received the needs assessment document. We will look at it, but I am not promising you all. We will deliver based on the availability of funds, he said.

The governor enumerated the different projects in the Eket Federal Constituency at different stages of completion, and assured that he will do more for the constituency and the state in general.

Enos response to peoples demand

Responding to demands by Eket Stakeholders, on the beach and Eket Qua River Hotel, he said the government was searching for investors. Still, he urged the host communities to maintain peace to welcome investors.

He said that the state government will commence work on the Qua River Hotel as soon as the lingering legal issues are settled.

Also speaking on the issue of Stubb Creek forest, Mr Eno urged the concerned communities to exercise restraint, saying that a committee that will be chaired by him, with the deputy governor, speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, attorney general and two members each from the concerned communities as members will be inaugurated to look into the issue.

The governor said the state government will not allow any unapproved building or shanty in Stubb Creek and would not hesitate to remove any such structure.

He also used the occasion to call on those in government to create impact within their communities, and appreciated one Ayara Johnson, a ward Personal Assistant, for his contributions to his community and promoted him from ward personal assistant to his personal assistant.

Presenting the needs document, accompanied by numerous gift items, Assam Assam, a former Nigerian ambassador to Russia, appreciated the governor for delivering on his campaign promises and assured him of the continued support of the people from the area.

Earlier in his remark, the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Enobong Uwah, appreciated the Eket Federal Constituency for their support before and during the last elections, and since Governor Eno assumed office.

Mr Uwah said the visit is to appreciate them with different forms of empowerment packages and listen to their needs, which will be added to the 2026 budget.

Speaking on behalf of the Chairpersons of the local government areas in the Eket Federal Constituency, the Chairperson of Eket Local Government Area, Akan Tommy, said the mammoth crowd came out to welcome the governor back home.

We are not here for a campaign but to celebrate you for all you have done in Eket Federal Constituency. In 2023 we supported and moved around with you for camping. In 2027, we will also join you to campaign in other federal constituencies, but in Eket, which is your home, your votes are intact.

Other speakers, including Frank Archibong, the commissioner for local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Helen Esuene, a former senator; Nduese Essien, a former minister of Lands and Urban Development; and Pat Ifon, a former House of Representatives member, appreciated Governor Eno for his numerous development initiatives and strides in their respective domains, and assured of continued support beyond 2027.

On their part, the legislators from the Eket Federal Constituency moved a motion which was seconded accordingly, and the governor was adopted as the sole candidate of the federal constituency for the 2027 governorship election.
The Lagos State Government on Monday urged residents to remain calm following 12-h0ur long heavy rainfall across the state, assuring the public that resilient infrastructure is in place to mitigate flash flooding.

In a statement, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, cited a new weather advisory from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms expected to persist for the next three days.

Mr Wahab acknowledged that some areas of the state may experience flash floods due to the major drainage channels being overwhelmed by the volume of rainwater.

He attributed the risk to the states coastal geography and the broader impacts of climate change.

Given Lagoss position as a coastal city, water levels in the lagoon will rise during heavy rainfall, resulting in tidal lock that may prevent the discharge of stormwater from drainage collectors, Mr Wahab explained.

He urged residents, especially those in low-lying areas, to stay alert as the intensity of the rains could lead to flooding in vulnerable neighbourhoods. Communities near rivers and lagoons are particularly at risk of experiencing flash floods with strong currents, he added.

With school holidays, Mr Wahab called for increased parental vigilance to prevent children from playing in the rain or attempting to swim in flooded areas.

The commissioner reiterated previous warnings to motorists and pedestrians to avoid wading through floodwaters, noting that vehicles may become submerged and individuals swept away by strong currents.

He also cautioned against dumping refuse into drains during rainfall, stressing that such actions block waterways and exacerbate flooding. There are consequences for such acts, he warned.

Mr Wahab said the state has intensified year-round cleaning and maintenance of drainage channels and is awarding contracts for concrete lining of new drains to better contain runoff from heavy rains.

However, he acknowledged that extreme rainfall, such as what Lagos experienced in the last 12 hours, requires coordinated efforts to manage its impact.

NiMets forecast earlier on Monday predicted cloudy skies and light morning rains across the South, including Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa. More widespread rains are expected later in the day, with potential flooding in Oyo, Ogun, Edo, and Delta.

For Tuesday, the agency projected continued morning thunderstorms in northern states including Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Zamfara, with moderate rains across the region later in the day.

Also, central states, including Abuja, are likely to experience intermittent rain, while persistent showers are forecast for southern coastal states.

NiMet specifically warned residents in Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom to prepare for possible flooding.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has written a heartfelt tribute in honour of his wife, Asia Ahmad El-Rufai, as she marks her birthday, describing her as his OgaAtTheTop, trusted companion, and the unwavering rock behind their family.

In a statement on Monday, Mr El-Rufai called on Nigerians and well-wishers to join him and his family in offering special prayers for Asia as she celebrates her birthday on 3 August, and as the couple prepares to mark their 26th wedding anniversary on 14 August.

Asia has variously been my cerebral and passionate friend and wife  a mother and nurturer of all our children for nearly 30 years, Mr El-Rufai wrote. She has tolerated my personal idiosyncrasies and absences for public service, while developing her intellect and following her passions.

He praised her exceptional academic journey, noting that she holds three masters degrees and is currently pursuing a PhD.

Beyond her academic accomplishments, Mr El-Rufai highlighted Asias work in civil rights litigation, her advocacy against drug abuse, and her bold stance on mental health awareness, calling her an accomplished lawyer and public servant.

The former governor prayed for continued divine protection and blessings upon her, describing her as the pillar that has held their family together over the decades.

May the rest of Asias life be the best of her life, he added. Thank you, Asia, for being a solid rock in stabilizing our family.

Mr El-Rufai ended the tribute with a blessing for his wifes lovely and loyal friends and her devout family, reinforcing his admiration and appreciation for the woman he calls both partner and inspiration.
The police in Akwa Ibom State have killed a suspected kidnapper and recovered a firearm from him.

The police spokesperson in the state, Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Ms John, a deputy superintendent of police, said the suspect, identified as John Akpan, from Ikot Umiang in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state, was killed during a shootout with operatives.

She said the incident occurred on Saturday.

The other gang members fled the scene. A locally made pistol, one live cartridge, and one expanded cartridge were recovered at the hideout. Akpan, who sustained bullet injuries, was taken to a hospital where he was confirmed dead, Ms John said.

The police said operatives acted on intelligence that a group of kidnappers it had been monitoring had returned to the area.

According to the statement, the gang members had been terrorising residents of the area from 2020 to 2023 and were also alleged to be involved in the kidnapping of a church founder in 2023.

Kidnappers den

The area has been a kidnappers den before relative peace returned through the combined efforts of the security agents and community leaders.

In June last year, gunmen in the area kidnapped a retired secondary school principal, Ezekiel Paul, at his home in Ikot Abasi Akpan, a few kilometres from where the suspect was killed. He was released after a ransom was paid.

Residents of Ekpene Ukpa Road  stretching from Ekparakwa in Oruk Anam Local Government Area through Mkpat Enin Local Government Area to Etinan Local Government Area had been living in fear due to the activities of kidnappers in the area.

Gunmen have, within the last four years, carried out a series of abductions, collected huge ransoms, and on some occasions killed their victims.

Within three months in 2022, gunmen abducted four high-profile persons, including two clerics and a medical doctor, and a party chieftain in the area. All four kidnappings happened less than five kilometres apart.

In February 2022, gunmen invaded a cottage hospital in Ikot Ekpaw, Mkpat Enin LGA, and abducted a medical doctor, Felix Ekpo.

The Punch newspaper reported that the kidnappers stormed the hospital in the morning and made away with the doctor in his car.

Two months later  in April 2022  gunmen abducted John Okoriko, a televangelist and founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, and demanded N100 million in ransom.

Mr Okoriko was abducted when gunmen invaded the headquarters of his church in his village, Ibekwe Akpanya, in Mkpat Enin LGA, PREMIUM TIMES reported.

In May same year, gunmen kidnapped Alphonsus Eboh, a Catholic priest in the same community, Ikot Abasi Akpan, and demanded N100 million as ransom.

Then, the chairperson of the parish council, Cletus Okodi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the priest was kept in an unidentified forest in the area.

Mr Okodi, himself a kidnap victim, did not disclose the amount the church paid before the priest was released.

Still in May 2022, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Sylvester Ntefre, was shot dead by gunmen. The gunmen invaded his residence in Ekparakwa, along Abak-Ikot Abasi Road, in a black SUV and shot continually to scare neighbours before abducting the man.

In March 2024, a liquor distributor, who was kidnapped at his office in Ekparakwa, died in captivity, the Sun newspaper reported. Where his kidnapping took place is meters away from where Mr Ntefre was later abducted in May,

Malcahy Ufot, a retired broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria who was kidnapped by gunmen in October 2023 but released after he became unconscious in captivity, died the next day at a hospital in Uyo.
Simon Ortuanya, a former commissioner of education in Enugu State, has been appointed as the 16th substantive vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The spokesperson of UNN, Agha Inya, announced this in a statement on Sunday night.

His appointment was ratified on Sunday by the Governing Council of the University, following a transparent and merit-based selection process chaired by Engr. Kayode Ojo, Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr Inya said.

The university community congratulates Professor Ortuanya on his appointment and looks forward to a new era of academic excellence and transformational leadership, he added.

The new vice-chancellor at a glance

Mr Ortuanya is a professor of law at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

From 2007 to 2015, he served as the commissioner for education under the administration of the then-Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime.

In 2017, he became the director general of the South-east Governors Forum.

Two years later, the professor of law was appointed as the Secretary to the Enugu State Government under the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

He hails from Ohodo, a community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Before now, the people of Nsukka, which hosts the university, had been agitating for the emergence of an indigene as the substantive vice-chancellor of the institution for the first time since its existence in the 1950s.

Igbo-Etiti, though a separate local government area in Enugu, is among the areas that make up the Nsukka Cultural Zone.

With the latest appointment, Mr Ortuanya becomes the first Nsukka man to hold the coveted position of vice-chancellor of the university.
Severe flooding has struck parts of Niger State, destroying farmlands in Kafin Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area, and submerging at least 18 communities in the Lapai Local Government Area.

The affected communities include Dere, Eshi, Apataku, Tsakanabi, Kuchi Kakanda, Arah, Achiba, Rebba, Ebwa, Pele, Edda, Rigido, Gbami, Yawa, Baka, and Muye.

In response, the state government has warned residents in flood-prone zones to relocate to higher ground without delay.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication, Media and Strategy, Jonathan Vatsa, emphasised the importance of early action, referencing the recent tragedy in Mokwa as a wake-up call for vulnerable communities.

According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), 15 out of the 25 local government areas in Niger State are at high risk of flooding during the rainy season.

In addition, the federal government has directed residents in four LGAs to vacate lowlands ahead of heavy rainfall expected between 31 July and 4 August.

The Niger State Government has announced plans to launch an aggressive public sensitisation campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of flooding and the need for early evacuation.

Mr Vatsa appealed to traditional rulers, community heads, and religious leaders to support the effort by mobilising and educating their people on the risks and necessary precautions.

It could be recalled that in late May, torrential rains triggered flash floods in Mokwa, a major market town in Niger State. More than 500 people were killed and over 600 went missing, with over 3,000 homes submerged and two bridges and roads destroyed.
A popular Nigerian Catholic priest, John Oluoma, has defended Peter Obis single four-year term pledge amid a war of words between Mr Obi and Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State.

The war of words

In June, Mr Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), pledged to serve for a single four-year tenure if elected the countrys president in 2027.

The Nigerian constitution allows elected presidents only two terms of four years each. President Bola Tinubu, from the southern part of the country, is currently in his first term and is expected to seek re-election in 2027. Mr Obis pledge appears to be a strategic assurance to the north that the south would not stay in power for more than eight years.

But Mr Soludo, without mentioning names, aimed a swipe at the LP candidate, saying politicians who make such promises are mentally unstable.

In his response, Mr Obi reaffirmed his vow to serve only a single four-year term if elected Nigerias president, adding that his critics were judging him by their own standards, where political promises are made to be broken.

Catholic priest backs Obi

But reacting in a Sunday Facebook post, Mr Oluoma said Mr Obis reaffirmation of the one-term promise was reassuring and gathers more credibility.

The Abuja-based Catholic priest said it was unnerving that the loudest and most scathing scepticism, cynicism, and criticism come from Igbo-speaking people of the South-east where the LP candidate hails from.

He backed Mr Obis one term promise and stressed that the politician could use the pledge as a strategy to win the forthcoming general election in Nigeria.

This one-term project might be Peter Obis most potent disruptive political masterstroke in Nigeria yet. It is capable of being Obis biggest winning strategy come 2027, and I back it with my full chest, he said.

Mr Oluoma argued that Mr Obis pledge would be a win-win for Nigeria from every dimension.

Tribally, it soothes and even settles the Igbo presidency drought. Regionally, it retains power in the South.

I dont think our brethren from South-west who have tasted that office well enough wouldnt consider it. Same goes for our brethren in the South-south, he stated.

Why Nigerians should back Obis one-term pledge

Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has implemented economic and policy reforms, such as removing petrol subsidies, floating the naira, tax reforms, and interest-free loans to Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions.

Most of these reforms, especially the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the Naira, have elicited both criticism and praise from Nigerians and non-Nigerians.

But Mr Oluoma argued that those were Mr Tinubus boldest and gutsiest economic reforms and policies in Nigeria.

The Catholic priest contended that Mr Obi cannot reverse such policies if elected.

He stressed that those reforms had come to stay despite their biting consequences, which he hopes will ease off with time and more intentional interventions from the Nigerian government.

Obi will definitely build on them (Tinubus reforms) and bring some needed cut down in cost of governance, systemic corruption and decentralisation of certain centralised government establishments and bureaucracies.

He is most likely going to be the first Nigerian president to escape the crime of tribalism and nepotism in political appointments, Mr Oluoma argued.

The Catholic priest maintained that if elected, Mr Obis one-term presidency will hold a new promising era for Nigerias politics.

The North should throw its weight fully to it, the South-south and South-east will have no problem keying in. The only region that will kick against it, understandably, will be the South-west, and thats totally fine, he stated.

Nigerians, Obis one-term presidency is the most golden opportunity we have to use one stone and kill many birds. Lets make it happen.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

A total of 1,969,313 candidates sat the examination conducted between April and June, out of the 1,973,365 candidates that registered across 23,554 recognised secondary schools in Nigeria.

The exam was also conducted in schools operating the Nigerian curriculum in Benin, Cote dIvoire, and Equatorial Guinea.

WAECs Head of Nigeria Office, Amos Dangut, announced the release at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, noting a significant drop in the number of candidates who passed with credits in core subjects.

According to him, 1,718,090 candidates, representing 87.24 per cent of those who sat the examination, obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, with or without English Language and Mathematics.

However, only 754,545 candidates, representing 38.32 per cent, obtained credit and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. This is a major drop from the 72.12 per cent recorded in the 2024 edition, indicating a 33.8 percentage point drop in performance.

Mr Dangut explained that the decline in performance may be related to the examination bodys efforts to curb malpractice.

He said one of the key measures introduced was the serialisation of objective test question papers in Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics, which made it difficult for candidates to cheat.

More details

Mr Dangut said 976,787 of the candidates who sat the exam were male, while 992,526 were female, representing 49.60 per cent and 50.40 per cent respectively.

Out of the total, 12,178 candidates with varying degrees of special needs were registered, including 112 visually impaired, 615 with hearing difficulties, 52 with mental health conditions, and 37 physically challenged candidates. WAEC said provisions were made to support these candidates, and their results have also been released.

So far, the results of 1,517,517 candidates (77.06 per cent) have been fully processed and released, while 451,796 candidates (22.94 per cent) still have one or more subjects pending due to issues being resolved.

WAEC said it is working to release the outstanding results in the coming days.

Examination malpractice

Mr Dangut said the results of 262,803 candidates, representing 13.34 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.

He said the cases are being investigated and that the outcome of the investigations will be presented to the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) for consideration.

Mr Dangut also warned candidates and parents or guardians against the activities of fraudsters who operate rogue websites and impersonate the council to mislead the public.

Most of these faceless miscreants have turned WAECs examination periods into a cash cow, he said. These platforms exploit the anxieties of students, lure parents into quiet complicity and try to erode public trust in the value chain of academic success.

He added that some supervisors and invigilators were caught aiding and abetting examination malpractice during the examination.

The Council, on its part, through the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), will mete out appropriate sanctions to affected supervisors in collaboration with the various States Ministries of Education, he said.

Other challenges faced

WAEC also highlighted logistics challenges, including a delay in conducting one major paper in a few locations, which threatened to disrupt participation for Nigerian candidates.

Another major issue was non-adherence to registration deadlines. Mr Dangut described it as perhaps one of the greatest headaches for the council, explaining that late registration and failure to upload students Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS) complicated preparations.

He stressed that WAEC registration is not open-ended and that delays affect the production of examination and post-examination materials.

WAEC also noted that inflation has significantly raised the cost of conducting examinations. It appealed for support and understanding as it continues to navigate the economic realities.

Certificates, access to results

Mr Dangut said arrangements have been made for candidates to collect their certificates from their schools within 90 days of the release of the results.

He encouraged candidates to take advantage of the available channels to access their results and digital certificates.

WAEC said candidates can check their results online via its website, adding that digital certificates are also available through the WAEC Digital Certificate platform and will be accessible 48 hours after candidates check their results online.

Only candidates who have fulfilled their financial obligations will be able to access their results and digital certificates, WAEC said.

Mr Dangut also noted that the results of candidates sponsored by some state governments will be withheld until the debts owed to the council are cleared.
The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the arrest of seven suspects allegedly involved in the killing of Bright Owhor, a lawyer based in Port Harcourt.

Mr Owhor, 46, was shot dead by gunmen on 6 July at his residence on Market Road in the Rumuomasi area of Port Harcourt.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in Rivers, told reporters in Port Harcourt on Monday that the arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation.

She stated that following the incident, operatives of the commands Anti-Kidnapping Unit were deployed to investigate and ensure the perpetrators were brought to justice.

Following meticulous intelligence work and technical surveillance that lasted over ten days, all individuals involved in the killing of Owhor were identified and apprehended, she said.

Ms Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, revealed that preliminary investigations showed the suspects, aged between 22 and 34, had assumed various roles in executing the crime.

The suspects roles ranged from: the shooter, gang leader, arms supplier, armed operative, handler of stolen vehicles, and driver of the getaway vehicle.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Deygbam Secret Cult group and admitted their involvement in the murder.

The suspects also confessed to withdrawing funds from Owhors bank account and referenced recent cult-related violence between the BS and G12 Deygbam factions in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, she added.

The police spokesperson confirmed the recovery of arms and ammunition from the suspects, including four locally made pistols, seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, and two live cartridges.

Others include a minibus, a Toyota Camry saloon car, and an MTN SIM card.

Ms Iringe-Koko stated that the successful operation reflects a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and restore public confidence in law enforcement across the state.

There has been an increase in cult-related violence and killings in the oil-rich Rivers State.

In January, suspected cultists killed a vigilante member, Precious Nnamdi, who was providing security in Ahoada Town, Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.

A witness said the assailants trailed the victim before killing him.

The cultists shot Nnamdi while he was patrolling along Hospital Road in Ahoada Town. They fired multiple shots, but the bullets reportedly did not penetrate him, he said.

The witness said that after the gunfire failed, the gang resorted to using iron bars and sticks found nearby to attack the vigilante.

The hoodlums struck Nnamdi repeatedly until he succumbed to the injuries, and thereafter, they fled the scene, he recounted.

In April last year, Sunday Baba, a police inspector, was shot dead by gunmen at his duty post in Rivers.

PREMIUM TIMES in 2021 reported how seven operatives were killed in the state by gunmen at two different police facilities  three were killed in Elimgbu police station, while two were murdered at the divisional police headquarters in Rumuji.

Two operatives were killed in an attack on a security checkpoint along the East-West Road, this newspaper had reported.

Gunmen in August 2023 shot dead a police inspector in front of a hotel in the D/Line axis of the state capital, Port Harcourt, and carted away his rifle.

Punch newspaper reported that the assailants rode in a Toyota Corolla at speed and stopped in front of the hotel, shot the operative and zoomed off immediately.

Also in August 2023, Bako Angbashim, a superintendent of police and divisional police officer in charge of Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state, was beheaded by gunmen.

Suspected members of the Iceland cult group in Odemude, a community in the local government area, killed the slain officer. The attackers ambushed the officer, who, along with his colleagues, was planning a raid on some criminal hideouts in the area, PREMIUM TIMES reported.

The leader of the cult group, Gift Okpara, otherwise known as 2Baba, was later killed by the police about five months after he led the gang that murdered the police chief.
Photo: https://x.com/AndriyYermak/

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, and the French documentary filmmaker Bernard-Henri Levy have written a joint article for the French publication Le Point, in which they argue that Ukraine has recently given the world a lesson in democracy, describing the protests that took place in Ukrainian cities in response to the limitation of the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

"Ukraine has once again given the world a lesson in democracy. It has once again proven that democratic transparency is the basis of its renewal. And this despite the fact that the war does not subside, despite the skepticism of false friends... The streets mobilized. The Ukrainian press grumbled. Ukraine's Western allies became concerned. But all these debates did not lead to the cacophony and crisis that external enemies hoped for, but instead led to a compromise," the article says.

The authors call Ukraine "a laboratory for the future of democracy."

Commenting on the article, Yermak emphasized that Ukraine is not an "imperfect democracy at war," but "a democracy that learns, reforms, corrects mistakes  and moves forward under fire."

"A legislative compromise, not a crisis  strengthening the president, parliament, and anti-corruption agencies As de Gaulle said: reforms are an urgent necessity. Ukraine proves it. More than resilience. This is a lesson in democracy," the head of the President's Office wrote on Telegram.

As reported, on July 22, the Verkhovna Rada limited the independence of the NABU and the SAPO by adopting draft law No. 12414. In particular, the amendments to the draft law empower the Prosecutor General to: be the de facto head of the SAPO and delegate the powers of the SAPO prosecutor to other prosecutors; provide NABU with mandatory written instructions and request materials on any cases; transfer requested cases to any prosecutors; transfer the investigation of cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the NABU to other bodies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyyy signed the law on the evening of July 22.

Starting from July 22, protests against the restrictions on the independence of the NABU and the SAPO were held daily in Kyiv and some other cities of Ukraine. A day later, on July 23, after protests and concerns from international partners, the President of Ukraine announced that he would propose to the Verkhovna Rada a bill that would ensure the strength of the law enforcement system and the absence of Russian interference in the activities of law enforcement agencies.

On July 31, the Verkhovna Rada restored the independence of the NABU and the SAPO, supporting the corresponding presidential bill No. 13533. Zelenskyy signed it on the same day.

The draft law, in particular, establishes the procedural independence of the head and prosecutors of the SAPO from the Prosecutor General, establishes that the NABU detective carries out the instructions only of the SAPO prosecutor, and also provides that NABU detectives, when carrying out operational and operational-technical activities, carry out the instructions only of the NABU detective or the SAPO prosecutor. The draft law also returns the SAPO prosecutor the right to refer criminal proceedings to NABU detectives, while the Prosecutor General loses this right. NABU detectives are returned the right, by decision of the NABU director and with the consent of the SAPO prosecutor, to investigate criminal offenses referred to the jurisdiction of investigators of other bodies. The consent of the Prosecutor General will no longer be required.
Gunmen have killed two police operatives in Imo State, Nigerias South-east.

The incident, PREMIUM TIMES gathered, occurred on Sunday along Okigwe Axis in Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.

Sources told this newspaper that the slain operatives were attached to the Majority Leader of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Kingsley Ikoro.

How it happened

A police operative told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that Mr Ikoro, who represents Afikpo North-West in Ebonyi State Assembly, was travelling with the officers when one of their vehicles developed a mechanical fault.

The two operatives stayed back along the road to look for a mechanic while the lawmaker continued his journey in other vehicles.

While they were there, some hoodlums ambushed them and opened fire on them. They died immediately, the operatives, who asked not to be named, said.

Police speak

When contacted on Monday afternoon, the police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, confirmed the attack and killing of the operatives to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has launched a manhunt for the killers.

The commissioner has ordered deployment of tactical and operational resources to make sure the hoodlums were apprehended and brought to book, he said.

The spokesperson said police operatives were combing the bushes around the area to track down the attackers.

He said the bodies of the slain officers had been recovered and deposited in a morgue.

Increased attacks

Like other states in Nigerias South-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

READ ALSO: Police arrest 7 suspects linked to killing of lawyer

Hundreds of people have been killed or abducted and several others injured in the attacks in the region.

The latest attack occurred less than two weeks after gunmen killed several people and injured many in multiple attacks in three communities in Ideato North Local Government Area of the state.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the attacks in the region. But the group has denied its involvement.

IPOB is leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria.
The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of two luxury vehiclesa white Bentley Coupe and a blue Toyota Venzalinked to a suspected internet fraudster, German Daniel Onoriede.

The judge, Dehinde Dipeolu, issued the order on Monday following a motion ex-parte filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa.

In addition to the final forfeiture of the vehicles, the court also granted an interim forfeiture of $20,000 CFA 110,000, and a blue Nissan Almera car, pending further investigation and legal proceedings.

An affidavit sworn to by EFCC investigator Bufa Okangbe and filed in support of the final forfeiture application said the EFCC conducted a sting operation on 14 August 2023, targeting suspected internet fraudsters in Ocean Bay Estate, Lekki, Lagos. During the operation, Mr Onoriede reportedly evaded arrest, but EFCC operatives recovered two vehicles from his apartment.

Documents obtained during the investigation revealed that the Bentley Coupe, with chassis number SCBFE63WXCC077771, was imported using proceeds from unlawful activities. According to the filing, further financial analysis showed that Mr Onoriede operated multiple bank accounts, including naira and dollar accounts, which received over N500 million between 2018 and 2023 from suspected fraudulent sources.

The judge, Mr Dipeolu, satisfied with the evidence presented, granted the EFCCs application for final forfeiture of the vehicles.

Interim forfeiture of assets

In a separate affidavit submitted by EFCC investigator Solomon Usman, the court was informed of a 13 July 2025 sting operation conducted by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) along the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos. During the operation, a suspected fraudster driving a sky blue Nissan Almera with chassis number SJNFAANI6U0508962 abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby bushes.

The driver, upon sighting the operatives of the NSC, alighted from the vehicle and fled into a bush along Baba Pupa close to the Seme Border area of Lagos State, thereby evading arrest.

The suspected fraudster abandoned his car. After a physical examination of the vehicle by the officers, a total sum of $20,000 (Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) and CFA 110,000 (One Hundred and Ten Thousand CFA) were discovered in the abandoned vehicle, a statement by EFCCs spokesperson Dele Oyewale quoted the supporting affidavit as stating.

READ ALSO: Appeal Court upholds EFCCs power to investigate tax evasion

EFCCs lawyer Kofarnaisa, thereafter, told the court that the money and car were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and also prayed the court to order their forfeiture.

Consequently, the judge granted the interim forfeiture and also directed the commission to publish the interim order in any national newspaper to enable any interested person to appear before the court and show cause why the funds and property should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says the results of some candidates in government-sponsored schools will not be released until the governments of the affected states pay their outstanding registration fees.

The Head of WAECs Nigeria Office, Amos Dangut, announced the release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, but noted that some candidates would not be able to access theirs until their state governments clear their debts.

I need not restate the fact that the results of candidates who are sponsored by states indebted to the Council will not be released now until payment is made, he said.

We appeal to the concerned to do the needful to enable the affected schools and candidates access their results.

When asked to name the indebted states involved, Mr Dangut declined, noting that the situation was changing.

He said WAEC was making efforts to engage with the states involved and confirmed that the number of indebted states had reduced as of Monday morning.

As of yesterday, we had four states that had outstanding fees, but early this morning, I got information about two states taking it up, he said. So, we have just about two states. In fact, I got a call  that they are with the various ministries right now trying to tidy up the payments.

A total of 1,969,313 candidates sat the examination conducted between April and June, out of the 1,973,365 candidates that registered across 23,554 recognised secondary schools in Nigeria.

Of these, 1,517,517 results, representing 77.06 per cent, have been fully processed and released, while 451,796 results (22.94 per cent) are still being processed due to various issues.

Past debts

WAEC has in the past raised concerns about state governments defaulting on payments for candidates in public schools. In 2023, eight states were reportedly owing the Council, though Zamfara and Niger were identified as the biggest debtors.

Zamfara State, under former Governor Bello Matawalle, reportedly owed WAEC about N1.6 billion, a figure later confirmed by the current administration.

In a 2023 interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Governor Dauda Lawals spokesperson, Mustapha Kaura, said the debt was inherited from two previous administrations.

Mr Kaura said the state intended to pay the debt either in full or in instalments once the governor secured approval from the state executive council.

In May 2025, the Zamfara government announced it had paid N1.4 billion to clear the debts it owed to WAEC from 2018 to 2022.

The swift payment of the outstanding debt to WAEC and NECO has relieved the stranded Zamfara students, who completed their final exams but could not proceed due to the examination bodies withholding their results, a statement published on the state governments website said.

For the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Governor Dauda Lawal has paid the outstanding bill of one billion four hundred million naira that the previous administrations owed from 2018 to 2022.
Armed persons on Saturday killed at least eleven people and abducted several others in a night attack in Sabon Garin Damri in the Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Residents said about 70 people were unaccounted for and were feared abducted.

Reuters reported that the gunmen, locally called bandits, stormed the community, shooting sporadically and abducting people.

They came on motorcycles, shooting randomly before abducting our daughters and children. As of today, we havent heard anything from them. Everywhere is quiet, a resident, Isa Sani, told Reuters on Monday.

Another resident whose wife was abducted said he narrowly escaped the attack.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Bakura is one of the areas in the state that has suffered repeated attacks by bandits. It is on the ZamfaraSokoto border and near the Gundumi forest in Sokoto.

Several bandit leaders have their camps in the forest, which has now become a hub for terrorists.

The state police spokesperson, Sadiq Abubakar, could not immediately comment on the incident as his phone number didnt connect on Monday evening.

READ ALSO: Why there are many terrorists in Nigeria Security expert

The activities of these armed persons, including kidnapping for ransom, killing, armed robbery, imposition of levies, attacks on schools, mosques and highways, have led to the death of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of over a million.

The attacks continue despite the presence of security personnel. Over the years, thousands of residents have lost access to farmlands, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and worsening poverty in the state.

Aside from kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, mining, and gun running, terrorists operating in the northwest and north-central parts of Nigeria have included imposing levies on residents as a way of financing their terrorist acts.
aThis is not an attack on the judicial branch. It is a call to conscience. Judges are meant to be neutral arbiters. In Odinkalus offering, too many have become embedded in the arena of electoral conflict. They do not interpret the rules; they change them and enter fudged scores on results sheets. They act as though democracy begins and ends in their courtrooms. While inside the arena of conflict, their roles arent about reviewing the actions of burglars of elections; it is simply about taking sides with election bandits

One month ago, in Abuja, a small circle of friends, literary enthusiasts, human rights activists, politicians, public intellectuals and thinkers gathered to listen to Chidi Odinkalu read from his latest offering, The Selectorate: When Judges Topple the People. It was a private reading, but the ideas Chidi graciously espoused belong in the public domain. They concern us, citizens of this ruined Republic.

Odinkalu is no stranger to judicial criticism. I have often described him, both as a restless ruffler of the judicial nest and a flamethrower who scorches the dark recesses of our judicial quarters, casting light into corners long hidden from the public view, so that citizens may, if only for a moment, glimpse the shadows that dwell within. Rightly so. He has spent the better part of his sterling career in the academe and public activism, exposing the inconsistencies, betrayals, and quiet capitulations of the judicial branch. But The Selectorate is more than a critique. It is a mirror, held up to a country whose judicial branch is in utter disrepute.

Odinkalus rendering is consistent with the Selectorate Theory popularised by Bueno de Mesquita, Alastair Smith, Randolph Siverson, and James Morrow in their landmark book, The Logic of Political Survival. They divide society into three groups: the nominal selectorate (everyone with formal rights to choose leaders), the real selectorate (those who actually vote or participate), and the essentials  the critical few without whom no leader can hold power.

In functioning democracies, the essentials are usually the voting public. In our case, Odinkalu argues that the courts have quietly taken over that role. The judges, especially those presiding over electoral disputes, now determine who governs. Not the people. This shift means power is no longer derived from the consent of the governed but from the decisions of judges that often defy logic or law. Judges have become kings who sit on imperial thrones where they measure justice by the Shekels.

Odinkalu lays out his arguments methodically.

He does not scream. He squares the bulls eye and scores it well, without being vindictive. He lays accusations where he needs to. He illustrates. Case after case, election after election, state after state, he shows how the judicial branch transformed itself into a class of The Selectorate. Judges now act both as kings and kingmakers. They wield more influence than ballots. They decide contests that citizens thought they had settled at the polling units. He advances the reason, among other reasons, for this, or to put it more simply, he provides an account for the state of affairs, concluding: This combination of factors was well suited to inspire the onset of a new trend in the cultivation of clientelist relationships between politicians and judicial officers underpinned by bargains, both implicit and sometimes explicit.

Odinkalus position is not founded on legal abstractions. He excavates the upper crust of judicial adjudication with the dexterity of the Foucauldian archaeologist, seeking to uncover what lies beneath the surface of mere observations, thereby exposing bargains hidden by client relations.

Democracy collapses not with the squeal of Fellow Nigerians, martial music, and the bang of a coup, but with the gavel of a judge. Quietly. Slowly. Fatally. He does not argue that all judges are corrupt. Rather, he shows how a politicised judicial process invites corruption. When judges are seen as gatekeepers to power, the temptation to influence them becomes overwhelming. The judiciary, once the last hope of the common man, has become a marketplace of elite bargains.

What he exposes presents itself as the real, clear, present and growing danger to our democracy. But, theres a point about hegemony and power to be made here; a point that he didnt allude to, which underpin his arguments. The Italian scholar, Antonio Gramsci, argued in his Prison Notebooks that power can be seized, constructed, and sustained through the subtle architecture of hegemony. He showed that ruling classes rule by force and also by manufacturing consent to legitimise their authority. Once power is seized, it does not serve the common good, but answers only to those who possess and perpetuate it through dubious means, as the Selectorate Theory explains. The danger, again, is that the moral foundations of the state are hollowed out and the institutions of justice are reduced to performances for the powerful. It is through these dubious performances for the powerful that judicial hegemons have taken our countrys democracy.

Drawing from political science, constitutional law, and Nigerias political history, Odinkalu makes a powerful case for restraining the judicial branch, instead of exalting it. His critique is interdisciplinary, and there lies its strength. He does not merely point out errors of law; he explains how those errors consolidate power in the hands of a few, and how that consolidation hollows out our Republic. He tells the truth many dare not whisper: that judges now select councillors, chairmen, governors, senators, representatives and presidents. Nigerias citizens have been turned into mere subjects without the power to decide who represents them. Simply put, they have become a formality in the democratic rituals. They queue in the sun to vote, but the real verdict emerges later from obsequious courts and decisions delivered by judges who do not act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly, as Prophet Micah expressed in the Holy Book.

Odinkalus work strikes at the core of Nigerias political dysfunction. It speaks to the question of legitimacy. A government chosen by judicial fiat is not a government of the people; It is a government of the court. He is not the first to observe this, but he may be the first to frame it so sharply and brilliantly. By situating his analysis in the Selectorate Theory, he shows that the problem is not only corruption or incompetence. It is also structural and systemic. It is also about how political actors engineer political survival in Nigeria through the manipulation of legal instruments by counting judges among their favourites. In this way, the judges have also transformed themselves from kingmakers into kings.

This is not an attack on the judicial branch. It is a call to conscience. Judges are meant to be neutral arbiters. In Odinkalus offering, too many have become embedded in the arena of electoral conflict. They do not interpret the rules; they change them and enter fudged scores on results sheets. They act as though democracy begins and ends in their courtrooms. While inside the arena of conflict, their roles arent about reviewing the actions of burglars of elections; it is simply about taking sides with election bandits and extending the geography of banditry and the boundaries of judicial conquest.

Odinkalu highlights the notion of judicial essentials: those judges whose decisions determine whether a political actor rises or falls. In a country where elections are frequently flawed and where the process is often tainted by violence and rigging, it is easy for judges to claim the role of final referee. But what happens when that referee takes sides? Odinkalu answers this with clarity.

Democracy collapses not with the squeal of Fellow Nigerians, martial music, and the bang of a coup, but with the gavel of a judge. Quietly. Slowly. Fatally. He does not argue that all judges are corrupt. Rather, he shows how a politicised judicial process invites corruption. When judges are seen as gatekeepers to power, the temptation to influence them becomes overwhelming. The judiciary, once the last hope of the common man, has become a marketplace of elite bargains.

It is easy to look away; and easier still to rationalise. But the consequences are already here. Disillusionment. Voter apathy. Cynicism. When citizens no longer believe their votes count, democracy dies. Odinkalu is urging them to fight back; not with violence, but with vigilance. Not with slogans, but with civic courage. The judicial branch is vital. Its independence must be protected. But that independence is meaningless if it is used to serve power instead of the citizens.

There are those who will say Odinkalu exaggerates, but the evidence says otherwise. He documents cases in which politicians whose names were not on the ballot ended up being our representatives  with help from the courts, of course. He documents cases in which political careers were extinguished, not by voters, but by panels of judges whose decisions stretched the limits of interpretation. Some of these rulings contradicted precedents. Others ignored the evidence. All of them had political consequences.

What makes The Selectorate compelling is that it does not end in despair. Odinkalu offers suggestions. He calls for transparency in the appointment and disciplinary processes for judges. He urges the Bar to be more assertive in defending judicial integrity. He wants the public to demand better. Most of all, he believes the judiciary must return to its proper role: interpreting the will of the people, not supplanting it. And the citizens must be at the heart of electoral disputes, as parties. Its a tough ask in a country where institutions are routinely hijacked. But it is necessary.

As I listened to him read that Saturday, I was struck by his calm tone. There was no bitterness. Only resolve. He has written this book not to condemn, but to warn compatriots. He asks citizens to reckon with what the country has become and to confront how that becoming has trumped electoral justice. What was once a noble exercise of the power of choice at the ballot box has, in his offering, turned into absurdity. Here, power is no longer secured through the choices of citizens at the ballot box, but through the meticulous choreography of legal arguments staged not for the people, but for those robed in black who now hold the final say. The will of the electorate has been displaced by shenanigans, which play out in courtrooms that have become the true closets of judicial corruption. Ours is a democracy where the people vote, but the judges choose.

It is easy to look away; and easier still to rationalise. But the consequences are already here. Disillusionment. Voter apathy. Cynicism. When citizens no longer believe their votes count, democracy dies. Odinkalu is urging them to fight back; not with violence, but with vigilance. Not with slogans, but with civic courage. The judicial branch is vital. Its independence must be protected. But that independence is meaningless if it is used to serve power instead of the citizens.

The Selectorate is not just a book about judges. It is about us: our passivity, our complicity, and our silence. It urges us to look at the judicial branch and ask, Whose interests does it now serve? In that question lies our fate, our countrys fate and the fate of democracy.

Abdul Mahmud, a lawyer and writer, is president, Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL).
Professor Okello Oculi was a cat with many lives. He outlived the several dictators who would have been delighted to roast him, but he has left a long trail of inconsolable mourners in Nigeria where he made a home and raised a family. In all, he lived in Nigeria for 48 years, longer than he ever lived in the country of his birth, Uganda.

Okello was my valued friend. His notoriety as a pan-Africanist intellectual, poet, novelist and social engineer/political scientist preceded him. He had made a name at the Ahmadu Bello University as a lecturer and researcher of the progressive school. Those were the days when being a progressive intellectual was not necessarily a death sentence.

Before joining the faculty in ABU, two unrelated events had shown him that the path he had chosen was going to be full of exciting moments and possibly dangerous. On one occasion, he wanted to spend some time in Jamaica to see some friends and generally look around the West Indies but he was stopped at the airport and questioned about his revolutionary credentials. In those days, and, to some extent, even today, radical academics were always under suspicion of being subversive elements. They were therefore an endangered species in most countries governed by puppets of colonial overlords.

Idi Amins Uganda

The second event that threatened to terminate his trajectory as an academic happened in his native Uganda in 1971 when he was an assistant lecturer at his alma mater, Makerere University under the supervision of his mentor and head of department, Prof. Ali Mazrui.

General Idi Amins soldiers had stormed the faculty and picked up Okello. Usually, any person picked up like that would never be seen again. Luckily, Mazrui was then on good terms with Idi Amin and he quickly intervened to get Okello released.

Mazrui himself told the story: One day, at the Faculty of Social Sciences, my secretary, Anna Gourlay, entered my office (as head of department of Political Science) and said anxiously that some soldiers were taking Okello away.

I emerged from my office to face the two soldiers holding Okello. I enquired on whose authority they were picking up a member of my staff.

Ask Captain Ochima, one of the soldiers replied (Ochima was the soldier who had announced Amins coup in January 1971 on the radio.)

When I failed to reach Ochima on the phone, the soldiers took Okello away. I next tried desperately to connect with Amins powerful private secretary, Henry Kyemba. In 1971, my own standing with Idi Amins regime was high. I was also a high profile Muslim intellectual in post-colonial Uganda. We waited anxiously for feedback. Finally, Amins private secretary called me to say Okello Oculi had been located and would be returning to Makerere within an hour. To our very great relief, we were reunited with Okello in reasonable time.

It was clear that the countrys new leaders were becoming increasingly dangerous and anti-intellectual. Luckily, Okello secured a Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship in 1972 for a fellowship and doctorate in political science at the University of Wisconsin, USA.

Nigerian Option

Okello was not a spring chicken when it came to cold calculation regarding how the reactionary governments of the third world behaved. With a PhD in Political Science in the bag, he knew that he would be considered even more dangerous in Idi Amins Uganda, so he opted to go to Nigeria. He was to spend the next 48 years of his life in the country.

One of Okellos regrets about how Africans deplete the ranks of their intellectuals pertained to the loss of his friend, the historian Walter Rodney, whom he had advised not to return to Guyana but to join him, Okello, in exile in Nigeria or some other country. Rodney said he would return to Guyana and that nothing bad would happen.

But on 13 June, 1980, Walter Rodney was killed in a car explosion in Georgetown. The Guyanan regime claimed that he was killed by a bomb which he intended to throw at a prison in order to release men arrested on treason charges. The rest of the world cried that Rodney was assassinated through a bomb planted by the regime in a radio provided by a sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force. The elimination of Rodney was a major loss to the black race and to the progressive movement worldwide.

Okello enjoyed his time at ABU and many of his former students are now movers and shakers of Nigerian society in many spheres of life. On leaving ABU, he served as a Review Editor for political science journals at the University of Abuja, guiding scholarly discourse and mentoring younger academics. He was also a regular columnist and member of the Editorial Board of Daily Trust newspaper. He played an important role in helping the newspaper inaugurate its now popular annual African of the Year prize.

His pioneering work with his Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Mock Summits  launched at Ahmadu Bello University and later extended to secondary schools and the African Union headquarters  earned him wide respect as an educator and innovator. I had the good fortune of attending two of those summits and I could see, first hand, the incredible possibilities of making young secondary school students concentrate on the serious business of statesmanship. I have no doubt that in the years ahead, we are going to see some of those students in the corridors of power all over the country. The seed has been sown.

Late last year, Okello shared his dream to institute a Diallo Telli prize in honour of the first secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity. The prize, he said, would be awarded to an African diplomat who demonstrates creativity, courage, and brilliance in the service of the continent. It is hoped that his many friends across the wide spectrum of competencies he has traversed in the last 48 years will rally round the family to ensure that this dream together with his mock summits are sustained.

What better way to bid this great son of Africa goodnight than to fetch from his fount of poesy:

Farewell

Gone with harmattan

is our season of song.

In its wake, we too begin to shed our leaves;

last years indulges with wickedness and joys;

like picking extra pieces of meat as a wife blew out

a flying ant from Gods left eye.

In our grill we will cultivate four rows of sunsets

and sunrises;

massaging boils;

pruning cracking toenails with each step;

dredging old pots for stale ideals, soured horizons;

whipping our appetite with toothy vengeance with each

time-out called.

The great Ali Mazrui proudly flaunted the characteristics he shared in common with Okello as follows: Both of them were political scientists with literary pursuits; both studied in the US; both reconnected in Africa through affiliation with Nigerian universities; both married Nigerian women and promoted pan-Africanism; both became East Africans in exile who met more abroad than in East Africa.

As Okello embarks on his last safari to collect his prize for a life well spent in the service of Africa, our prayerful thoughts are with his wife, Debra, his son, Sembene and his extended family in Uganda and the rest of Africa.

Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on [email protected], Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021
The next generation is going to war without swords. Some are going to the Philistines to sharpen their swords. They will self-destruct. If we dont live our truth, but only speak it, they wont catch the flame, much less sparking the fire of deep love and passion for Jesus. Churches and pastors must repent and come back to God in true repentance. The church must wake up and start talking and acting on how to make our children know and serve the true God.

And there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord. (Judges 2:10)

They are in church but are not in Christ. They can organise but can rarely agonise. They can pay for anything but can rarely pray about anything. They can feast but can rarely fast. They can sow for anything but can rarely grow for anything. The present generation of matured believers and leaders must therefore begin to build bridges and collapse all walls between God and the next generation. We must go back to the truth of Gods words thats devoid of greed, egocentrism, post-modernism and new age religions. We must come together to fulfil the prophecy given to David that, One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts (Psalms 145:4). For by doing these shall we be able to put sharp swords in the hands of the next generation and when we are gone, they will be strong and bold enough to confront the philistines of our lands. They will grow strong and tall in God and succeed in passing the swords to the next generation after them and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to all nations for the end to come!

Susana Wesley had nineteen children for her husband, Samuel Wesley. John Wesley was the fifteenth of these children. For many years, Susanna would pray for each of her children. She birthed their vision on the wings of intercession. She lost many of them, but God rewarded her faithful intercession by sending the mantle of revival on her son, John Wesley, who later founded the great Methodist church in England. Godly mothers are priceless. Our generation is yet to appreciate the value and impact of godly mothers in the birth of great visions. To further bridge this gap, let me also tell you more about the exploits of godly mothers in shaping the history of the church. Morrow Graham, the mother of Billy Graham prayed for and inspired Evangelist Billy Graham into his calling. Katharina Luther inspired the great Martin Luther to prominence.

Sometimes, we need to know the sacrifices that Christians in other nations and in other generations have made in following Christ to deepen our commitment and faithfulness to fighting for the future of our children.

Charles Colson, in his book, The God of Stones and Spiders, told the story of Armando Valladares, a Cuban poet who was arrested by Fidel Castro in 1960. Fidel Castro locked up Armando for 22 years. In the words of Charles Colson, During one three-month period, Armando Valladares and some condemned Christian prisoners were given showers of human urine and excreta by sadistic prison guards. In the middle of the night, Armando would hear from his prison room, the footsteps of these condemned Christian men matched outside. Then he would hear the shouts of Viva Cristo Rey, meaning, Long live Christ the King, just before exploding rifles of soldiers shattered their defiant voices.

At that time, Armando was not a serious believer in Christ. But after witnessing the experience of unshakeable faith and trust in Christ that was demonstrated by these fearless Christian men, even in the face of death, he came out of Castros prison after 22 years with a renewed fire and commitment to be a passionate follower of Christ. Friends, you dont want to know the prices that generations of Christians have paid in defending their faith to stay faithful to the Lord. Christianity is not a cost-less experience. Jesus himself said, if anyone will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Matthew 16:24). You cannot be a follower of Christ and be reckless in the way you live your life.

This is why its extremely important that we all de-emphasise church membership and start promoting and living on the virtues and values of discipleship. This includes building spiritual stamina and capacity for the days that are ahead and emphasising intimacy, deep relationship, and spirituality above carnality in teaching and training our children are the platforms on which the next generation can stand.

Above all, let those that are stealing, steal no more. Let hypocrisy stop. The younger generation is at a crossroad of critical decisions. The next generation is going to war without swords. Some are going to the Philistines to sharpen their swords. They will self-destruct. If we dont live our truth, but only speak it, they wont catch the flame, much less sparking the fire of deep love and passion for Jesus. Churches and pastors must repent and come back to God in true repentance. The church must wake up and start talking and acting on how to make our children know and serve the true God.

Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema Assembly and the founder of the Voice of the Watchmen Ministries in Ontario, Canada. He can be reached through [email protected]
The Chairperson of the Northern Nigeria Development Commission (NNDC), Lamis Shehu Dikko, has advocated for constitutional amendments that would grant formal recognition to regional development bodies and address key governance challenges facing Nigerias federal structure.

Speaking at the Northwest Governors Forum Constitutional Review Consultative Meeting in Abuja today, Mr Dikko outlined strategic reforms needed to create a more equitable federation, emphasizing the need for balanced revenue allocation, enhanced local government autonomy, and constitutional empowerment of regional development institutions.

The North seeks no favour beyond fairness, and no privilege above parity, Alhaji Dikko declared while addressing the gathering of Northwest governors and constitutional review experts.

The NNDC Chairperson proposed several key constitutional reforms, including a rebalanced federal structure that would transfer legislative powers in areas such as policing, agriculture, prisons, and minerals to state governments.

We propose a rebalanced federal structure where states should legislate in areas such as policing, agriculture, prisons, and minerals, with residual powers returning to the states and the Exclusive List pruned to reflect subsidiarity, he stated.

Addressing revenue allocation challenges, Mr Dikko called for reforms that reflect national equity principles, stating that the current system unfairly penalizes states without natural resources.

On regional economic coordination, he emphasized the constitutional recognition of development bodies, saying: While the NNDC and other regional development companies such as ODUA should be granted constitutional recognition as regional development bodies empowered by law to coordinate regional enterprises and industrialisation with federal support.

The NNDC Chairman also highlighted critical infrastructure challenges, particularly the uncommissioned 255MW Kudandan/Kaduna Power Plant, urging direct gubernatorial intervention with the President to resolve outstanding issues.

The gas-powered plant was developed under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) to supply electricity to the Kaduna-Kano-Katsina industrial corridor and stabilize the Northern transmission ring. Its commissioning is pivotal to unlocking industrial growth, he explained.

Mr Dikko called for renewed Northern unity, stating: This period of constitutional amendment should serve as a catalyst for more vigorous activities to unite the Northern Region again, the unconstitutional artificial fragmentation into North East, North Central and North West notwithstanding.

He proposed the establishment of a Technical Working Group to frame actionable constitutional amendment proposals and urged mobilization of Northern Caucuses in the National Assembly to advance regional interests.

Let us show the nation what unity looks like. Let us demonstrate that regional pride and national loyalty are not in conflict, Mr Dikko concluded.

Also speaking, Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, a professor who is the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, presented a comprehensive analysis of constitutional amendment proposals and their implications for Northwest states during the ongoing consultative meeting.

In his technical presentation, Mr Ladan outlined critical areas where Northwest states show both consensus and divergence on constitutional reforms, emphasizing the need for balanced approaches to federalism.

Mr Ladan noted significant alignment among most Northwest states on security reforms, stating: Most statesKaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Zamfaraadvocate for state police to address localised threats, while Sokoto rejects state police, favouring centralised policing to preserve national cohesion.

He recommended adopting a balanced policing model that establishes state police forces where supported while maintaining federal oversight and coordination mechanisms.

On fiscal reforms, the legal expert harped on broad regional support for revenue formula revision, noting: Fiscal federalism garners broad support for revising the revenue formula to boost state and LG allocations; Sokoto, however, rejects resource control and prefers pooling revenues nationally.

Mr Ladan specifically referenced Katsinas proposal for a new allocation formula of Federal (45%), States (31%), LGs (24%) as a practical framework for consideration.

He further emphasized regional consensus on local government reforms, stating: All states support functional LG autonomy and direct funding, while rejecting federal control through a National LG Electoral Commission.

Mr Ladan noted selective support for power devolution, explaining: Several states push for transferring select items from the Exclusive to Concurrent Listlike railways (Kaduna), mining (Kebbi), and labour/minimum wage (Jigawa). Sokoto rejects devolution of natural resources but supports tourism and quarantine on the concurrent list.

The constitutional law expert recommended a phased approach to reforms, stating: Begin devolving powers in targeted, low-risk sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and intra-state railways, allowing states to build governance capacity incrementally.

Mr Ladan concluded that successful constitutional reform requires achieving bipartisan consensus, crafting precise legislative amendments, and embedding safeguards that ensure transparent, consistent, and equitable implementation across all states in the region.

The constitutional review meeting, convened under the theme Aligning Regional Priorities for a People-Centred Constitution, brings together governors, legal experts, and stakeholders to develop a unified Northwest position on constitutional reforms.
A Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official, who is being investigated for alleged extortion of N100,000, has absconded, according to the FRSC.

The FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, disclosed this to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.

Alleged extortion

PREMIUM TIMES reported in June that a Nigerian journalist, Agba Jalingo, in a Facebook post, accused officials of the corps in Calabar, Cross River State, of extorting money from a driver for not wearing a seatbelt.

This Road Safety team also arrested a vehicle yesterday in Calabar and extorted N100k from the driver for not wearing a seat belt.

The money was extorted through the private account of one Zeal Nkere Richard before the vehicle was released. Thats the vehicle they used, he wrote, with a picture of the FRSC patrol vehicle and an Opay payment receipt as evidence.

The then-sector commander of the FRSC in the state told PREMIUM TIMES that the command had begun an investigation into the allegation.

Citing this newspapers report, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, ordered an immediate transfer of the case and recall of the officials to FRSC headquarters in Abuja for a thorough investigation.

As an organisation that upholds standards at all times, we have procedures to check indiscipline, corruption, and patrol misconduct.

If found guilty, the operatives will face severe disciplinary actions, including dismissal and prosecution, the corps spokesperson, Mr Ogungbemide, said in June.

Investigation, abscondment

When contacted for an update on the investigation on 7 July, Mr Ogungbemide told PREMIUM TIMES that the FRSC Intelligence Department had narrowed the investigation to one official, as the driver had alleged.

However, he said the official denied the allegation, prompting the corps to demand his account statement for confirmation, a request the official turned down.

The accused is available. He has reported to the headquarters. The process is for him to make his statement of account available. Since he has failed in that regard. The legal department has advised that we get it through a court affidavit to the bank, and that is what we are engaging in, he said in July, during an interview with our reporter.

Yes, he denied the allegation, which is why we asked him to turn in his statement of account, but he is not forthcoming, and we have to go through the legal means  obtaining a court affidavit, he said, when asked if the official was denying the allegation.

When PREMIUM TIMES called the FRSC on 1 August for a further update, the agencys spokesperson said the official had absconded.

I just confirmed from the Intelligence Department. Investigation is not yet completed. The man absconded and is declared AWOL (absence without leave).

He reported and absconded. We dont have access to his account. We are still in the process of getting an agency with such authority to access the account in his absence so that the investigation can be concluded, he said.

Asked if the corps will continue to pay his salary, having absconded from duties, Mr Ogungbemide said, The way its done, when youre declared AWOL, and it will enter desertion after 21 days. When it enters desertion, your salary will be suspended, which means you can then be tried in absentia.

The essence of getting other agencies involved is to have access to his account to be sure that money is actually in his account, he said, adding that the corps is being thorough to avoid litigation after the investigation.

It (the investigation) will be very exhaustive and thorough, he added.

FRSC not serious with investigation  Lawyer

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, a legal practitioner who specialises in banking litigation, Jerry Akpan, said any government agency investigating an allegation of criminal offence against its official or anybody in society has a right to apply to the court for an order enabling it to investigate a certain account number held by an accused in a given bank.

Before it does that, it has to give a reason  reduce it to writing and file in a court: an affidavit, Mr Akpan said.

The FRSC spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES on 7 July that the corps was seeking a court order to access the bank account details of the investigated official.

However, when contacted on 1 August, the FRSC spokesperson said its legal department was considering obtaining a government agency with the authority to access someones account in their absence.

In the Magistrate Court, it is two days or even a day, Mr Akpan said when asked how long it could take a government agency to obtain a court order to access its employees account.

Speaking further, Mr Akpan said the FRSC was not serious about the investigation.

One in many

The incident is one of the many cases where FRSC officials have been accused of extortion.

Two years ago, this newspaper reported that the FRSC was probing its operatives, who had allegedly been caught extorting money from commuters in Ogun State.

PREMIUM TIMES in 2021 reported how 15 FRSC officials were arrested through a joint security operation led by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for allegedly extorting money from motorists on highways across the country.

The arrests were made simultaneously in Adamawa, Gombe, Ondo, and Osun States, with the extorted money from the officials.
Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has said the power outages experienced over the past four days in some parts of Enugu State is due to a significant drop in energy allocation from its parent company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC).

MEDL, in a statement by its management on Monday, said this development is a result of the recent issuance of a new tariff order by the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), which reduced the tariff for Band A customers from N209.50/kWh to N160,40/kWh.

Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) wishes to inform its esteemed customers in parts of Enugu State who have been experiencing power outages over the past four days that the situation is due to a significant drop in energy allocation from our parent company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC).

This development is a result of the recent issuance of a new Tariff Order to Mainpower by the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC). The Order reduced the tariff for Band A customers from N209.50/kWh to N160,40/kWh, the statement said.

It explained that upon receipt of the tariff order, MEDL, by obligation, promptly updated EEDC its energy supplier, adding that after analysing the implications of the new tariff, EEDC concluded that implementing it would result in a monthly loss of over N1 billion, which makes it impossible for EEDC to meet her obligations to the market.

Consequently, it said to mitigate these losses, EEDC made the difficult decision to reduce the volume of energy supplied to MEDL.

This, the statement said, has unfortunately resulted in MEDL receiving only about 50 per cent of its usual energy allocation, significantly affecting its ability to serve some of its esteemed customers.

MEDL said it does not receive electricity directly from National Grid. Instead, it relies solely on EEDC, which holds the vesting contract agreement with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), the organisation responsible for electricity bulk trading.

We deeply regret the inconvenience this situation has caused our valued customers.

MEDL assured that discussions are ongoing with key stakeholders at the state and federal levels (including EEDC, EERC, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), and NBET to quickly resolve this issue.

We are hopeful that a resolution will be reached within the next 48 hours or soon thereafter. We also acknowledge that this communication is coming later than expected. The delay was due to the short notice with which we received the full details of the development.

We appeal for your continued patience, calm, and understanding as we work diligently with the relevant authorities to restore normal service as soon as possible, the statement said.

MainPower is an electricity company in charge of power supply in Enugu State.

In October 2024, EERC licensed Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited to distribute power in Enugu State.

This followed the complete transfer of regulatory oversight to the commission by the NERC.

The National Assembly, in 2023, passed 16 constitutional amendment bills, one of which allowed states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.

The Enugu State Government, consequently, enacted the Enugu State Electricity Law, 2023, which established the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, an agency responsible for the distribution and regulation of power in the state.

In June 2024, President Bola Tinubu assented to the electricity bill, which authorises states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.

In April this year, NERC, began handing Enugus commission the regulatory power over the states electricity market.

The handover process, which had a six-month transition period, was completed in October 2024.
* The construction of the Port of Chancay, launched in 2021, is creating a maritime gateway to Asia and beyond, revitalizing the city's economy and strategic significance. * Unlike the old imperial roads, which served mostly the elite, the Chancay Port is designed to benefit broader populations -- creating jobs, speeding trade, and positioning Peru as a regional logistics hub. * Extending the ancient Inca spirit of connection into the 21st century, Chancay is forging a new land-sea corridor across the Pacific, linking Latin America with Asia and heralding a new chapter of shared prosperity. by Meng Yifei and Zhu Yubo LIMA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- More than 500 years ago, the legendary Inca Trail stretched from Cusco across the Andes, linking far-flung territories and fostering political, economic, and cultural integration across the vast Inca Empire. Today, on Peru's Pacific coast, Chancay Port is becoming a starting point of an Inca Trail of the New Era -- a maritime gateway linking Latin America with Asia. In the first five months of 2025 alone, trade through the Chancay Multipurpose Port Terminal surpassed 777 million U.S. dollars. Peru's President Dina Boluarte said in June that the project is expected to lift GDP by 1.8 percentage points -- roughly 4.5 billion dollars -- and create some 7,000 jobs. As a 21st-century smart port, Chancay Port is deepening cooperation between China and Latin America, advancing connectivity and shared prosperity across continents. FROM SACRED PATH TO SMART PORT In the 15th century, the Inca Empire extended across much of South America, encompassing territories that today make up Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. At the heart of this vast realm was the Qhapaq Nan, or "sacred path" -- a sprawling network of stone roads that linked the empire's four regions and connected its capital, Cusco, with distant frontiers. "These routes already existed before the Inca expansion," said Rafael Varon Gabai, director of Peru's National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History. "But they were integrated and perfected with bridges and infrastructure that enabled trade, communication and cultural exchange." In 2014, the Qhapaq Nan was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a testament to its enduring legacy. North of Lima, the city of Chancay echoes Peru's rich history. Between 1100 and 1400 AD, the Chancay civilization thrived along this stretch of coast, developing sophisticated agricultural systems and urban settlements in the Chancay and Chillon valleys. Today, the ancient landscape is experiencing a new transformation. The construction of the Port of Chancay, launched in 2021, is creating a maritime gateway to Asia and beyond, revitalizing the city's economy and strategic significance. "Until recently, large-scale industrial or commercial activity was practically nonexistent," said Nilo Miranda, president of the Chancay Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Tourism. He hopes the city of Chancay will seize this historic opportunity to become the "Andean pearl" of the new era, just as the Oriental Pearl Tower came to symbolize Shanghai's rise. This Pacific-facing port is more than an infrastructure project -- it stands as a modern echo of the ancient sacred paths. Extending the ancient Inca spirit of connection into the 21st century, Chancay is forging a new land-sea corridor across the Pacific, linking Latin America with Asia and heralding a new chapter of shared prosperity. A NEW CORRIDOR ACROSS PACIFIC The new maritime route has shortened Asia-bound shipping times from 33 days to just 23. "Since the inauguration of the Port of Chancay, we have been receiving an average of 400 containers per month from China," said Mayra Huillca, coordinator of the foreign trade department at Indurama, a company that imports Chinese-made home appliances for the Latin American market. "Currently, we sell 50 percent more than before." Neighboring countries are also reaping benefits. Ecuador's banana exports to China jumped 45.56 percent in the first five months of 2025, according to the Ecuadorian Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acorbanec). "The logistics aspect greatly helps Ecuadorian banana exports," said Acorbanec CEO Richard Salazar. "The presence of COSCO Shipping Lines has also made the route faster and more direct." Where the ancient Inca Trail once connected much of South America by land, the Port of Chancay is forging a broader, modern land-sea corridor between Asia and Latin America. Unlike the old imperial roads, which served mostly the elite, the Chancay Port is designed to benefit broader populations -- creating jobs, speeding trade, and positioning Peru as a regional logistics hub. "This port, in my view, represents the renewal of the Inca Trail," said Luis Vasquez, president of the Foundation for the Development of Science and Culture at the National University of San Marcos in Lima. LIVING HERITAGE Once a key site in the Inca Empire, Chancay's legacy now converges with 21st-century innovation. Since its launch in 2021, Chancay Port has become Latin America's first green, smart port, operating 24/7 with automated gantry cranes, low-carbon vehicles and real-time AI-driven logistics. Fully powered by clean energy, it ensures sustainable, carbon-free operations. "We're improving efficiency, safety and emergency response as we evolve towards a modern, sustainable model," said He Bo, executive deputy general manager of COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru. But the port's impact extends beyond cutting-edge technology to serve as a powerful engine for economic growth. During a recent visit to the site, Xinhua journalists observed young, skilled workers operating robotic arms and managing automated systems -- a vivid sign of the country's growing role in high-tech logistics. Chancay has evolved from a historical site into an emerging symbol of modern development. "Shipping lines, commercial vision and connectivity open up an enormous range of possibilities for trade and development," said Gonzalo Rios Polastri, deputy general manager of COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru. STRONGER BONDS ACROSS CULTURES Beyond trade, Chancay Port is also a bridge of cultural exchange. "In Peru, Chinese people are often affectionately called paisanos," said Varon. Peru's Congress has even declared Feb. 1 as Peru-China Fraternity Day. Chinese-Peruvian fusion restaurants, known as "chifas," are a hallmark of Peru's urban landscape. "Half of the port workers come from the Chancay area," said Rios. "Many young locals, after training, have become skilled operators of smart equipment." Peruvian and Chinese employees work side-by-side, with relationships forged outside of work. "Many Chinese staff already consider Peru their second home," Rios added. In 2024, Cusco's Inka Museum hosted Sunlight: Cultural Exchange Exhibition between the Ancient Shu and Inca Civilizations, receiving nearly 8,000 visitors. "For the first time, Chinese artifacts arrived in Cusco and were displayed alongside Inca relics," said Julinho Zapata, the museum's director. "The artifacts communicated with each other." "It was truly transcendental," added Eleazar Crucinta, rector of the National University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco. "People finally saw Chinese culture not in books or images, but in person."
Photo: https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/

On Saturday, August 2, the Defense Forces of Ukraine carried out a high-precision strike on Russian military facilities in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhia region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

"As a result of the operation, the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system of the Russian occupation forces was destroyed by long-range fire weapons. The elimination of this target significantly reduces the enemy's long-range firepower and reduces its ability to shell the positions of the Defense Forces of Ukraine and the civilian infrastructure of the region," the message posted on the Telegram channel says.

It is noted that this strike once again confirms the effectiveness and accuracy of Ukrainian units in identifying and destroying critical enemy targets, including in the temporarily occupied territories.

"The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue the systematic destruction of key elements of Russia's military potential, which weakens the enemy's ability to conduct combat operations, maintain illegally seized territories, and ensure occupation. Ukraine will continue the fight until the complete withdrawal of Russian occupation forces, the restoration of territorial integrity, and the establishment of a just and lasting peace," the General Staff noted.
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds 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"), of the important September 22, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. The Fund is a mutual fund within defendant James Alpha Funds Trust's series of mutual funds (which does business as Easterly Funds Trust).

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 [email protected] 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. 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 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 [email protected] 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 Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
LUXEMBOURG, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 7, 2025, the unveiling ceremony of the Higer Bus Europe Parts Center and the Luxembourg Service Station was held in Luxembourg. Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg, and Lex Delles, The Luxembourg Minister of Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism attended the ceremony. Thelen, President of the Chamber of Commerce; Sitz, Director of Automotive and Intelligent Transportation at the Ministry of Economy, and representatives of Chinese and Luxembourg companies such as Demy Schandeler and Higer Bus were also present.

At the event, Minister Delles and others took a test ride on the Higer electric bus and praised Higer Bus for choosing Luxembourg, the "crossroads of Europe," to establish its first European parts center and service station. It is reported that the parts center will be equipped with a full range of bus-related spare parts and will significantly reduce delivery times to better serve customers in Europe.

At the end of 2024, Minister Delles, led a government delegation to visit Higer Bus and witnessed the delivery of a batch of electric buses to Luxembourg. The delivered electric buses were from the Azure series, a range of electric buses developed by Higer Bus to meet the future urban transportation needs. These buses integrate mainstream new energy technologies and intelligent manufacturing processes. The buses, with their advanced technology, high operational efficiency, and humanized design, not only meet the low-carbon and environmental protection concepts of the European market but also take into account the practical needs of European old towns to increase bus coverage and the proportion of bus electrification. The overall development concepts of the buses are in sync with Europe and meet European certification requirements. The Azure buses come in various lengths, and the seat layout can be adjusted according to customer needs. They are all low-floor and electric, suitable for various operating scenarios such as urban main and branch lines, suburban operations, and point-to-point shuttles. In actual use, operators can flexibly adjust the line formations according to passenger flow, fully leveraging the vehicle's advantages to maximize transportation efficiency and significantly reduce operating costs.

At present, 11 Higer buses have been put into operation in Luxembourg, mainly for intercity bus line connections. The stable operation of the vehicles and the quiet and comfortable riding experience have won the praise of local passengers.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2743352/Higer_Bus_Establishes_First_European_Parts_and_Service_Hub_in_Luxembourg.jpg
HONG KONG, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A collaborative research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has developed a multifunctional nanorobot equipped with silver and gold nanorods to facilitate high-performance pollutant degradation and bacteria elimination, with its mobility navigated by the application of magnetic fields. The invention holds potential for broad applications in antibacterial treatments, sewage management, and biomedicine.

A collaborative research team led by Professor Ken Leung Cham-fai, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry at HKBU, has developed a multifunctional nanorobot to facilitate high-performance pollutant degradation and bacteria elimination.

Chemical pollution, pathogenic bacteria, and biofilms (a community of microorganisms embedded in a slimy matrix) pose significant threats to public health. In response, scientists have developed various nanoplatforms with catalytical and antibacterial properties. However, creating a remotely controllable nanorobot with precise targeting and propulsion capabilities, which aims to enhance efficacy and flexibility in treatment strategies, remains a challenge.

Professor Ken Leung Cham-fai, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry at HKBU, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei University of Technology, and the Dongcheng branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, have designed and fabricated a nanorobot, which demonstrates capabilities in breaking down organic pollutants, exhibits antibacterial properties, and removes biofilms. The research findings have been published in the academic journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

The multifunctional nanorobot has a hollow spherical structure with the following components and features:

The core composes of iron oxide, a magnetic material that enables control of the nanorobot's movement with the application of magnetic fields, so that the nanorobot can navigate along predetermined paths;

The middle layer consists of silver and gold bi-metallic nanorods, which act as catalyst for chemical reactions that facilitate the degradation of organic pollutants, and inhibit the growth or disrupt the function of bacterial cells;

The outer layer is made of polydopamine, a biocompatible material that protects and stabilises the inner components; and

A large cavity and mesoporous structure that can be used as drug carriers.

To test the efficacy of the nanorobot in pollutant degradation, the research team created simulated miniature wastewater pools. Driven by magnetic fields, the nanorobots accurately moved to two of the chambers and stayed there for one minute. Subsequent tests showed that the levels of both 4-nitrophenol, an organic pollutant from industrial and agricultural activities, and methylene blue, an organic dye typically found in industrial wastewater, were reduced significantly.

The research team also discovered that the nanorobot demonstrates antibacterial capability. The team used the nanorobot loaded with zinc phthalocyanine to investigate the antibacterial effects of silver and gold on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under various conditions, including controlling the nanorobots' movement with magnetic fields, and applying light sources including near-infrared laser and xenon lamp irradiation. When magnetic fields, near-infrared laser and xenon lamp irradiation were applied together, the nanorobot loaded with zinc phthalocyanine achieved up to 99.99% inhibition of bacterial proliferation.

The magnetic propulsion capability of the nanorobot loaded with zinc phthalocyanine also enables it to effectively remove bacterial biofilms. When the nanorobots were introduced to biofilms grown in experiment plates, and U-shaped tubes with magnetic fields and light source were applied, they effectively disrupted and removed biofilms. When magnetic fields, near-infrared laser and xenon lamp irradiation were applied together, the most significant biofilm removal and lowest bacterial survival rates were recorded. The study highlights the potential of the nanorobot in addressing biofilm-associated infections and blockages in confined spaces like catheters.

Professor Ken Leung Cham-fai said: "Our research results show that the multifunctional nanorobot developed by our research team exhibits precise catalytic capabilities, high antibacterial activity, and effective biofilm removal properties. Its mobility navigated by magnetic fields enables pollutant degradation and antibacterial activities to be conducted in a controlled, precise and effective manner. This multifunctional nanorobot possesses significant potential for applications in sewage treatment, biomedicine, and other fields."

SOURCE Hong Kong Baptist University
COSTA MESA, Calif., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Simpluris, Inc., regarding the Canteen Vending Machine Class Action Settlement.

A settlement has been reached with Compass Group USA, Inc., also known as Canteen. The class action lawsuit claimed that certain Compass vending machines charged consumers more than the displayed price when a purchase was made on a credit, debit, or prepaid card, without disclosing the extra charge for use of a card. The Court has not decided which side is right.

Who is included? You are included in this settlement if all of the following are true:

(1) you made one or more purchases from a "Subject Vending Machine"

(2) you used a credit, debit, or prepaid card

(3) the purchase(s) occurred between 2014 and July 9, 2025.

"Subject Vending Machines" are Canteen's vending machines that (1) provided a cash or card payment option and (2) charged more than the price listed when a credit, debit or prepaid card was used. A list of locations with the Subject Vending Machines can be found on the Settlement Website: www.vendingmachinesettlement.com.

What does the settlement provide? Compass has agreed to pay $6,940,000 to settle the claims in the lawsuit. After the Court approves payments for attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses, administrative expenses, and service awards, the rest of the money will be used to pay members of the Class who submit a valid Claim Form on time. The amount received will depend on how many purchases you made. Payments are expected to range from $30 to $360, as shown in the following chart:

Number of Purchases Settlement Payment Up to 250 purchases $30 More than 250 purchases $60 More than 500 purchases $90 More than 750 purchases $120 More than 1,000 purchases $150 More than 1,250 purchases $180 More than 1,500 purchases $210 More than 1,750 purchases $240 More than 2,000 purchases $270 More than 2,250 purchases $300 More than 2,500 purchases $360

Payment amounts may be reduced on a proportionate basis, if needed, to pay all valid claims.

How do I get a payment? You must submit a valid Claim Form by November 14, 2025. You can fill out and submit the form online at www.vendingmachinesettlement.com. You may also print the Claim Form from the website and send to the address on the form. Claim Forms are also available upon request by calling (833) 360-6766 or emailing [email protected].

Your other options. You may exclude yourself from the settlement by mailing or emailing the Settlement Administrator on or before October 17, 2025 at: Jilek v Compass Group USA Inc d/b/a Canteen, P.O. Box 25417, Santa Ana, CA 92799; [email protected]. If you do this, you will NOT receive a settlement payment, you cannot object to the settlement, and you will not be bound by the settlement. If you remain in the class, you may object to the settlement. Objections are due October 17, 2025. If you do nothing, you will not get a settlement payment, but you will still be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court. You will not be able to file or continue a lawsuit against Compass regarding any legal claims released in the settlement.

Who are my lawyers? The Court has appointed the lawyers listed below to represent the Class:

Arias Sanguinetti Wang and Team LLP Mike Arias M. Anthony Jenkins Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C. Kevin P. Green Daniel S. Levy Rhine Law Firm, P.C. Joel R. Rhine Ruth A. Sheehan

The Court's hearing. The Court will hold a hearing in this case [Jilek v. Compass Group USA, Inc., Case No. 3:23-cv-00818-JAG-DCK] at 9:00 a.m. on January 9, 2026, at the Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr., Federal Courthouse, 701 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virgina 23219, before Senior District Judge John A Gibney Jr. At the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the settlement and Class Counsel's requests for attorneys' fees, costs, expenses, and Service Awards made in their Fee Application. You or your lawyer may appear at the Court's fairness hearing, but you don't have to. The motion for Fee Award and Costs and Service Awards will be posted on the Settlement Website after it is filed with the Court.

This is only a summary. More Information can be found at: www.vendingmachinesettlement.com or by calling (833) 360-6766.

SOURCE Simpluris Inc.
TYLER, Texas, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Even from a casual visit, you can see the importance of the work being done at Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary. Whether it's administering a round of antibiotics to a newly rescued bobcat or guiding a busload of eager fifth graders through the sanctuary's winding paths, the mission hasn't changed.

Tiger Creek: Living Commitment to Wildlife

Tiger Creek continues to provide a place of safety for animals that have nowhere else to go. Big cats are treated not just as rescues but given care, space, and time to heal. This care extends beyond just food and shelter. On-site veterinary services, behavioral enrichment, and spacious, species-specific enclosures are part of the daily routine.

Since opening its gates, the sanctuary has rescued over 75 big cats and provided assistance to more than 1,200 wild animals.

Education That Inspires

Over 25,000 educational tours have been given since the sanctuary's inception, many of them to students who leave with a very different understanding of wildlife than when they arrived. It's one thing to read about endangered species in a textbook. It's another to see for yourself.

That proximity and context to wildlife changes people. It changes career paths, too. So far, more than 150 aspiring animal care professionals have trained here, through structured apprenticeships and hands-on internships that go beyond what any classroom can offer.

Some of them are now working in vet clinics or wildlife rescue centers across the country. Some come back to volunteer.

A Living Commitment to Wildlife

The rehab program is one of the sanctuary's core focuses where a wide number of animal species in distress, whether from injury, displacement, or human interference, are brought in, treated, and, when possible, released back into the wild.

Each intake is met with careful evaluation, and every release is carefully planned with the animal's wellbeing in mind. The sanctuary's proximity to vast stretches of forest and protected land makes it ideal for such efforts.

The People Behind the Work

Tiger Creek runs because of the dedication of staff and volunteers. From cleaning enclosures and prepping meals to helping with events and visitor education, they're here for the right reasons.

Since the start, Tiger Creek's passion for big cat conservation is unending. The sanctuary continues to partner with fellow conservationists and distinguished facilities to help protect and save this endangered species. Tiger Creek has engaged in further research and collaborations with institutions like Texas A&M, the National Institutes of Health, and global research stations. It's work the sanctuary plans to keep working towards for the long term, as it seeks to contribute to the community of animal welfare and big cat conservation.

About Tiger Creek

Founded in 1995, Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge sits nestled in East Texas, on a stretch of land designed to mimic the natural habitats of the animals it houses. It's home to big cats and native wildlife in recovery, and a community of people who show up every day to care for them. The mission here is simple: rescue, rehabilitate, educate. Since opening its gates, the sanctuary has rescued over 75 big cats and provided assistance to more than 1,200 wild animals.

Media Enquiries

Emily Brooks

Executive Director

Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary

Phone: 903-858-1008

Email: [email protected]

www.tigercreek.org

SOURCE Tiger Creek
The newly integrated Skrill e-wallet supports USD transactions, enables instant deposits and withdrawals, and comes with no associated fees. With a minimum transaction of $5 and a maximum of $5,000, it offers a convenient and flexible solution for both firsttime users and seasoned traders operating across global markets.

According to PrimeXBT , payment speed, security, and accessibility are essential to a seamless trading environment. With the addition of Skrill, the broker continues to streamline transactions and adapt to the evolving needs of its growing international user base.

Skrill is now part of a wide suite of international and region-specific payment options available at PrimeXBT, including SWIFT, Neteller, Binance Pay, and local methods such as PIX, UPI, EasyPaisa, JazzCash, and CapitecPay. This broad selection helps users in both developed and emerging markets fund and withdraw in ways aligned with their regional infrastructure and individual preferences.

This integration reflects PrimeXBT's wider commitment to expanding its global reach by strengthening infrastructure and offering localised payment solutions that empower traders to engage with multi-asset markets on their own terms.

To find out more, users can visit the PrimeXBT website .

About PrimeXBT

PrimeXBT is a global multi-asset broker trusted by over 1,000,000 traders in 150+ countries, offering a next-generation trading experience that bridges traditional and digital finance. Clients can trade CFDs on Stocks, Indices, Commodities and Crypto, as well as Crypto Futures and Forex. PrimeXBT also enables clients to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, store them in secure built-in wallets, and instantly exchange crypto to crypto or fiat to crypto, all within one integrated environment. Since 2018, PrimeXBT has made investing more accessible by lowering barriers to entry and providing secure, easy access to financial markets. This accessibility extends across its native web and mobile platforms, MetaTrader 5, and a variety of funding options in crypto, fiat, and local payment methods. Committed to putting clients first, PrimeXBT empowers traders of all levels with innovative tools and industry-leading conditions, delivering a better way to trade.

Disclaimer: The content provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as personal investment advice and does not constitute a solicitation or invitation to engage in any financial transactions, investments, or related activities. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The financial products offered by the Company are complex and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. These products may not be suitable for all investors. Before engaging, you should consider whether you understand how these leveraged products work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money. The Company does not accept clients from the Restricted Jurisdictions as indicated on its website / T&Cs. Some services or products may not be available in your jurisdiction. Payment methods vary by region. The applicable legal entity and its respective products and services depend on the client's country of residence and the entity with which the client has established a contractual relationship during registration. Payment details mentioned herein may be subject to future changes.

Contact

PrimeXBT

[email protected]



Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2743383/PrimeXBT_EWallet.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2662765/5443368/PrimeXBT_Logo.jpg

SOURCE PrimeXBT
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity, Inc., a global leader in cyber threat intelligence and security solutions, today announces an educational collaboration with Duke University's Masters of Engineering in Cybersecurity program. This partnership aims to enrich cybersecurity education by including Resecurity's enterprise-level cyber threat intelligence (CTI) tools and industry expertise in the program's curriculum.

Resecurity Partners with Duke University Masters of Engineering in Cybersecurity to Bolster Cyber Intelligence Education

As part of the agreement, Resecurity will provide Duke with complimentary access to its Context cloud-based CTI platform, valued at $1 million per year, enabling students and faculty to explore real-world threat detection and analysis scenarios. This hands-on access will support lab exercises, research initiatives, and graduation projects, while empowering learners to experience cybersecurity as practiced by industry experts.

"This collaboration with Resecurity allows our students to experience more of the cyber defense industry while they are still at Duke," said Art Ehuan, Executive Director of the Duke Cybersecurity Master of Engineering program. "It's not just about toolsit's about developing the mindset to tackle rapidly evolving global threats."

In addition to platform access, Resecurity will offer specialized guest lectures and on-campus workshops on threat intelligence, advise student capstone projects, provide internship opportunities and technical support for faculty and lab use.

Under the agreement, Resecurity will provide Duke University with:

Access to the Context and Risk cloud-based cybersecurity platforms and technical support.





and cloud-based cybersecurity platforms and technical support. Development assistance for school-based educational programs focused on cybersecurity.





Ongoing support as needed to counter cyber threats and strengthen Duke's digital resilience.

"Resecurity is excited to support Duke in developing the next generation of cyber defenders," said Shawn Loveland, Chief Operations Officer for Resecurity. "Academic partnerships are critical to bridging the gap between education and the realities of cybercrime and nation-state threats."

The integration of Resecurity's technology and expertise will begin immediately and is expected to impact dozens of students in the upcoming academic year.

About Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified endpoint protection, fraud prevention, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence platform. We also provide our services to select universities worldwide, enabling them to deliver impactful CTI. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it is globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies, with a sole mission to enable organizations to combat cyber threats, regardless of their sophistication. Most recently, Inc. Magazine named Resecurity one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California. As a member of InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA), AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, FS-ISAC, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (AmChamKSA), Singapore (AmChamSG), Korea (AmChamKorea), Mexico (AmChamMX), Thailand (AmChamThailand), and the UAE (AmChamDubai). To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com.

About Duke University

Entering its second century, Duke University is consistently ranked among the top U.S. research universities and is home to leading graduate and professional schools in business, divinity, engineering, the environment, law, medicine, nursing, and public policy. Located in Durham, N.C., Duke's global reach extends through the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore, Duke Kunshan University in China, and various international research and education programs.

Based in the Pratt School of Engineering and supported by the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke's cybersecurity initiatives focus on technical skills as well as the ethical, legal, and policy aspects of digital security. Students gain practical experience through research labs including the Duke Cyber Team and interdisciplinary projects such as the Cyber Policy and Gender Violence Initiative. The university also collaborates with organizations including the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security to examine the links between cybersecurity, national security, and public policy.

SOURCE Resecurity
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prepare for boardroom battles, scandalous secrets, and sizzling chemistrybecause B.J. Steele's bestselling romance, Knocked Up by the Billionaire Boss, is just the beginning of a global phenomenon that's redefining billionaire romance with raw emotion, unforgettable heroines, and dangerously irresistible men.

Billionaire Boss Series by B.J. Steele

In Knocked Up by the Billionaire Boss, readers meet Ava Hart, a fiercely ambitious professional trying to navigate the cutthroat world of Manhattan Towerand her infuriatingly irresistible boss, billionaire CEO Liam Blackwood. One reckless night flips their power dynamic and leaves Ava hiding a life-changing secret: she's pregnant.

As boardroom politics and buried desires clash, Steele crafts an emotionally charged enemies-to-lovers story where passion is just the beginningand love comes at the highest cost. When the pregnancy leaks and Liam's ruthless ex resurfaces, Ava must decide what she's willing to risk: her future or her heart.

This breakout novel launches a cinematic, globe-spanning series that throws readers into a whole new world.

Keep up with the billionaires in Steele's novels over the next 45 days:

Knocked Up by the Billionaire Boss: Germany

Enemies in the office. Lovers in the clouds. When Ruth Meyer's secret pregnancy is exposed after a deadly jet explosion, Klaus Schmidther dangerous, enigmatic bosswill burn the world down to find her. Sabotage, betrayal, and revenge threaten everything, but this billionaire will stop at nothing to protect his unborn child.

Enemies in the office. Lovers in the clouds. When secret pregnancy is exposed after a deadly jet explosion, Klaus Schmidther dangerous, enigmatic bosswill burn the world down to find her. Sabotage, betrayal, and revenge threaten everything, but this billionaire will stop at nothing to protect his unborn child. Knocked Up by the Billionaire Boss: Manhattan

A brilliant rival. A ruthless grump. One steamy mistake. CEO Nate Sterling meets his match in Evelyn Harperhis fiercest competitor and his most dangerous temptation. When a secret pregnancy threatens both their careers, passion turns into a battle neither expected.

A brilliant rival. A ruthless grump. One steamy mistake. CEO meets his match in Evelyn Harperhis fiercest competitor and his most dangerous temptation. When a secret pregnancy threatens both their careers, passion turns into a battle neither expected. Knocked Up by the Billionaire Bodyguard: New York

She hired him to protect hershe didn't expect to carry his child. When CEO Sloane Carter finds herself pregnant after one night with her ex-military bodyguard, danger gets personal. Now, love might be the only thing that can save them both.

She hired him to protect hershe didn't expect to carry his child. When CEO finds herself pregnant after one night with her ex-military bodyguard, danger gets personal. Now, love might be the only thing that can save them both. Knocked Up by the Billionaire Boss: LA

Curvy, confident, and off-limits, Lila Monroe shakes up Damien Wolfe's empireand his world. After one heated night leads to pregnancy, he's forced to choose between power and a woman who makes him feel again.

Curvy, confident, and off-limits, shakes up empireand his world. After one heated night leads to pregnancy, he's forced to choose between power and a woman who makes him feel again. Knocked Up by the Billionaire's Best Friend: LA

One forbidden night with her best friend's brother. One baby on the way. Billionaire Rhett Wolfe broke every rule for herand now he's breaking down her walls to build something real.

One forbidden night with her best friend's brother. One baby on the way. Billionaire broke every rule for herand now he's breaking down her walls to build something real. Knocked Up by the Billionaire Oil Tycoon: Dallas

Temp worker Debbie Bennett didn't plan to get tangled up with a rugged Texas tycoon. Now, she's pregnant, in the middle of a dynasty war, and might be the key to unitingor destroyinga billionaire legacy.

Temp worker didn't plan to get tangled up with a rugged tycoon. Now, she's pregnant, in the middle of a dynasty war, and might be the key to unitingor destroyinga billionaire legacy. Knocked Up by the Billionaire Boss: Las Vegas

One wild night, one unexpected marriage, and one baby on the way. Ava Blake never expected to fall for her sexy Vegas client, but Sebastian King never plays to loseand now he's all in for their future.

B.J. Steele's trademark is clear: unforgettable heroines, deeply flawed heroes, and love stories that burn hot and hit hard. Whether you're into corporate intrigue, protective alphas, or twisty emotional plots, this series delivers.

Please visit the website at https://www.bjsteelebooks.com/

For media inquiries, or interviews, contact:

Sam Wood

+ 1 813-563-3602

www.bjsteelebooks.com

SOURCE B.J. Steele
Leading U.S. Veteran and Military-Spouse Founders Compete for Prizes up to $25K

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VetsinTech , the leading national nonprofit dedicated to supporting U.S. Military Veterans and military-spouses through tech-based programs and opportunities in education, employment and entrepreneurship, today announced the semi-finalists in its 2025 Startup Pitch competition. Now in its fifth year, the annual competition recognizes and accelerates early-stage startups founded by U.S. military veterans and spouses.

The annual startup pitch event  where founders present their ideas to an esteemed panel of business and finance experts  is proudly hosted by VetsinTech and sponsored by J.P. Morgan.

Five finalists will advance to the final round of VetsinTech's startup pitch competition, where they will compete live for cash prizes at the VetsinTech event from 4-7 p.m. PT on August 12, 2025, at the San Francisco office of a16z . Winners will be announced during the in-person pitch event. The military veteran or spouse-owned startups advancing to the final round are:

Deepinvent.AI

An AI-driven invention engine that rapidly transforms ideas into valuable intellectual property, revolutionizing innovation across critical industries, including semiconductor, aerospace, and automotive. Backed by a $500,000 investment from Antler, the platform accelerates the patent development process and helps companies protect their most valuable innovations.

Entropy Robotics

A specialized robotics company offering scalable, NDAA-compliant edge machine learning solutions designed for small robots and autonomous systems. With strategic partnerships already in place, the company focuses on applications in crop yield prediction and industrial automation, positioning itself at the intersection of AI and robotics compliance.

Quivly AI

A B2B AI platform that provides intelligent agents designed explicitly for post-sales teams to enhance customer success and retention. The company has secured top-tier enterprise clients, including Redis and Upflex, demonstrating strong market validation in the competitive AI agent space.

WorkUp

An AI-powered hiring marketplace that has achieved over $500,000 in sales while serving both B2B and B2C markets. With strong traction among leading universities, including USC and UCLA, the platform streamlines talent acquisition through intelligent matching and automated recruitment processes.

Yuzi Care

An AI-powered postpartum care platform that has generated $150,000 in revenue through its scalable dual-sided marketplace model. The platform connects new mothers with specialized care providers, leveraging artificial intelligence to personalize support during the critical postpartum period.

"Veterans and military spouses continue to prove they're not just ready to lead in tech  they're already building the future," said Katherine Webster, Founder and CEO of VetsinTech. "This competition gives us a front-row seat to the bold ideas and real-world impact veteran founders are making. We're proud to support their journey through our pitch competition and broader entrepreneurship programs."

A panel of expert judges will evaluate each startup based on innovation, product-market fit, potential for impact and alignment with VetsinTech's mission.

Cash prizes for 2025 winners:

1st Place: $25,000

2nd Place: $10,000

3rd Place: $5,000

"Military experience develops exceptional leaders who bring discipline, strategic thinking and resilience to the startup ecosystem," said Rhett Jeppson, Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking. "This year's extraordinary finalists demonstrate that Veteran founders aren't just participating in the innovation economy, they're also actively working to solve some of society's biggest challenges."

Over the past decade, VetsinTech has empowered veteran founders through startup bootcamps, mentorships, hackathons and venture-focused training programs. The annual pitch competition is part of a broader commitment to accelerating veteran entrepreneurship and innovation in the tech sector.

About VetsinTech

Based in San Francisco, with more than 115,000 vets strong and 24 chapters across the country, VetsInTech is the leading national, nonpartisan, nonprofit devoted 100% to springboarding veterans into tech careers. VetsinTech harnesses the national technology ecosystem to benefit veterans returning from active military duty who want to apply their exceptional training, skills, and experience to a new technology career. Comprising technology industry leaders and former service members, VetsinTech is the only non-profit supporting our veterans through tech-based programs and opportunities in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Learn more at www.vetsintech.co .

Press Contact:

Carmen Hughes

Ignite X

[email protected]

650.576.6444

SOURCE VetsinTech
ATLANTA, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- West Physics, a nationwide leader in medical and health physics services, proudly announces the launch of its Survey Meter Calibration Service, designed to help hospitals, imaging centers, and industrial facilities ensure accurate radiation measurements, regulatory compliance, and operational readiness with minimal disruption.

Survey meters are critical tools in maintaining a safe environment for patients and staff, yet many facilities face challenges with inconsistent calibration practices, long turnaround times, and disorganized documentation, leading to compliance gaps and operational inefficiencies.

"Our clients have consistently shared concerns about unreliable calibration processes, slow turnaround times and the risks these pose to their teams and patients," said Dr. Geoffrey West, President & Chief Executive Officer at West Physics. "We developed this service to address these pain points directly, providing a dependable, expert-led calibration program that facilities can trust."

Key Features of the Service:

Fast, Predictable Turnaround: Minimizes downtime with efficient mail-in calibration service.

Minimizes downtime with efficient mail-in calibration service. Proactive Scheduling: Ensures timely calibration sequencing to help you stay on schedule and avoid any lapses in compliance.

Ensures timely calibration sequencing to help you stay on schedule and avoid any lapses in compliance. Shipment Tracking: Stay informed every step of the way with our state-of-the-art proprietary tracking system.

Stay informed every step of the way with our state-of-the-art proprietary tracking system. Free Efficiency & Conversion Chart in Every Report: Easily, quickly and accurately convert cpm to dpm.

This service is delivered by West Physics' team of experienced medical and health physicists, ensuring that calibration is performed with a deep understanding of the regulatory requirements and operational challenges unique to healthcare and industrial environments.

"As regulatory expectations increase, facilities need a reliable partner who not only calibrates meters but also helps maintain a robust safety culture with fast and efficient turnaround times," added Dr. West. "This launch is part of our commitment to supporting clients with comprehensive, high-quality solutions that protect patients, staff, and reputations."

*The West Physics Survey Meter Calibration Service is currently available as an add-on service for all existing West Physics medical and health physics customers. Wider availability as a stand-alone service to be announced at a later date.

About West Physics

West Physics, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a global provider of medical and health physics testing and radiation safety consulting services. West Physics serves over 6,000 client sites, including hospitals, freestanding imaging centers, mobile imaging providers, and physician offices throughout the 50 U.S. states, federal territories, the Caribbean and the Middle East. West Physics specializes in assisting healthcare providers in maintaining their accreditation with organizations such as The Joint Commission, the American College of Radiology, the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, and in radiation regulatory compliance with state and federal agencies. For more information, please visit http://www.westphysics.com.

Media Contact: Denny Runnion, [email protected]

SOURCE West Physics Consulting, LLC
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who is one of President Donald Trump's most influential advisers, has accused India of financing Russia's war against Ukraine through oil purchases from Russia, Reuters reports.

"What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia," said Miller in an interview with the Fox News.

"People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. That's an astonishing fact," he said.

At the same time, Miller called Trump's relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "tremendous."

The publication notes that Indian officials said the country would continue to buy oil from Moscow despite US threats.
New platform combines artificial intelligence with community expertise to simplify complex workers' compensation compliance across jurisdictions

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers' Compensation Educational Services, LLC, the trusted organization behind WorkCompCollege.com, today announced the launch of WorkersCOMPliance.com, a groundbreaking platform that addresses one of the industry's most pressing challenges: navigating complex compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

WorkersCOMPliance.com - A Service of WorkCompCollege.com

The innovative platform leverages advanced artificial intelligence technology alongside human expertise and community collaboration to provide workers' compensation professionals with essential compliance information in a clear, consistent, and accessible format. This unique approach makes enterprise-level compliance tools available to organizations of all sizes.

"Managing workers' compensation compliance across state lines has become increasingly complex, with each jurisdiction presenting unique regulations, filing requirements, and best practices," said Robert Wilson, President. "WorkersCOMPliance.com simplifies these complexities while maintaining the depth and accuracy that professionals require to protect their organizations and ensure regulatory compliance."

Key Features of WorkersCOMPliance.com:

AI-Powered Compliance Intelligence  An advanced proprietary artificial intelligence process organizes and presents jurisdiction-specific information efficiently, enabling professionals to quickly access the regulatory guidance they need.

 An advanced proprietary artificial intelligence process organizes and presents jurisdiction-specific information efficiently, enabling professionals to quickly access the regulatory guidance they need. CompUNITY Support Center  A dynamic ecosystem where members actively contribute to the platform's growth through the unique CompUNITY Support Center. Users can ask questions, provide feedback, update regulatory content, and share insights from their professional experiences.

 A dynamic ecosystem where members actively contribute to the platform's growth through the unique CompUNITY Support Center. Users can ask questions, provide feedback, update regulatory content, and share insights from their professional experiences. Living Resource Platform  Unlike static information repositories, WorkersCOMPliance.com evolves continuously through user contributions and real-time updates, ensuring content remains current and relevant.

 Unlike static information repositories, WorkersCOMPliance.com evolves continuously through user contributions and real-time updates, ensuring content remains current and relevant. Multi-State Coverage  Comprehensive compliance information across all jurisdictions, addressing the challenges faced by organizations operating in multiple states.

The platform builds on the educational excellence that has established WorkCompCollege.com as the premier destination for workers' compensation training. By bringing that same commitment to clarity and practical guidance to the compliance arena, WorkersCOMPliance.com empowers professionals to stay compliant and protect their businesses.

"What sets WorkersCOMPliance.com apart is our belief in the power of a unified workers' compensation community," added Wilson. "Together, we're better. Through the CompUNITY Support Center, we're creating a stronger workers' compensation system where professionals support each other while accessing the tools they need to succeed."

The platform offers various features to encourage community participation, including support tickets for reporting errors and suggesting improvements, a Q&A community for sharing knowledge, and a recognition system that rewards contributors with achievement badges for their expertise and insights.

WorkersCOMPliance.com is currently available free of charge, providing immediate access to comprehensive compliance resources and the CompUNITY Support Center.

About Workers' Compensation Educational Services, LLC

Based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, Workers' Compensation Educational Services, LLC is dedicated to advancing the workers' compensation industry through innovative educational and compliance solutions. The company operates WorkCompCollege.com, the industry's premier training destination, WorkCompEvent.com, an industry focused event registration site, JudicialSurvey.com, a site facilitating public assessment of judicial and ALJ systems, and now WorkersCOMPliance.com, revolutionizing how professionals manage multi-state compliance challenges.

Contact: Workers' Compensation Educational Services, LLC, (855) 706-8473, [email protected], https://WorkersCOMPliance.com/

SOURCE Workers' Compensation Educational Services, LLC
The Third Army Corps, conducting a large-scale defensive operation in Borovsk and Lyman areas, has held back the Russian offensive at the last line of Donbas, said the commander of the Third Army Corps, Colonel Andriy Biletsky.

"Our bridgehead is the last line of defense of the Northern Donbas and Kharkiv region. The corps holds about 150 km - this is about 12% or 1/8 of the entire length of the front. It is safe to say that the Third Corps is already influencing the course of this war," Biletsky said in a video published on the corps page.

The commander emphasized that their section of the front is the second most intense in terms of enemy assault actions, but the soldiers do not only defend themselves, but also launch counterattacks.

He noted that in these battles the corps is already acting as a single combat mechanism and continues to scale up, attracting new units.

"Here and now we are creating a structure capable of effectively waging war and defining its new rules. We are adapting to new challenges, scaling up solutions that have proven their effectiveness on the front lines, and introducing innovations," the commander emphasized.

According to Biletsky, there are currently thousands of combat and non-combat positions open in the corps: air defense, drones, electronic warfare, medicine, communications, repair, logistics and other critical areas.

"There is a place for everyone in our team. I invite you to join the Third Army Corps to change and make history together," he urged.
Naftogaz Group has received permission from the Vienna District Court to enforce an arbitration award against the Russian Federation (the Crimean award) worth over $5 billion.

"In particular, the court allowed encumbrance of over 20 Russian real estate properties in Austria, which will be sold at auction. The total value of these assets exceeds EUR120 million," Naftogaz reported on Monday.

According to the company, similar actions are also underway in other jurisdictions.

"Another practical step on the way to recovering over $5 billion from the Russian Federation for the illegally seized assets of Naftogaz Group in Crimea. Similar actions are ongoing in other jurisdictions. The Russian Federation will pay for everything. Sooner or later. Definitely," said Serhiy Koretsky, chairman of the board of Naftogaz Ukrainy.

The interests of Naftogaz in Austria are represented by the law firm DORDA. The team is headed by partner Alexander Karl and chief lawyer Robert Keimelmayr, supported by Teresa Stingl.

As the company recalled, in October 2016, Naftogaz initiated arbitration proceedings against the Russian Federation, demanding compensation for Moscow's illegal seizure of the group's property - in violation of the bilateral investment protection agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Naftogaz was a leading participant in the natural gas market in Crimea, carrying out activities in the exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and distribution of gas. The list of assets included special permits for the use of subsoil, equipment and infrastructure, rights to operate pipelines and gas storage facilities, ownership shares in gas pipelines and over 675 million cubic meters of gas in underground storage facilities.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Monday for a five-day state visit aimed at strengthening defence and trade relations between India and the Philippines.

This marks his first official visit to India since assuming office in 2022.

President Marcos will land at Air Force Station Palam in the afternoon, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation comprising Cabinet Ministers, senior officials, and business leaders. His visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding symbolic significance to the engagements planned over the coming days.

The visit is expected to culminate in deeper strategic and defence cooperation, especially in the maritime domain.

The Philippines, notably, became the first foreign country to procure Indiaas BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. The first consignment of BrahMos missiles was delivered to the Philippines on April 19, 2024. An agreement to enhance defence collaboration, particularly focusing on maritime security, is anticipated during the visit.

President Marcos is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5. He will also meet President Droupadi Murmu and will be called on by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, with their meeting scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Monday at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi.

The Philippine President is also expected to visit Bengaluru before departing India on August 8.

Indiaas Ministry of External Affairs emphasised that the Philippines is a key partner in Indiaas Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and Indo-Pacific strategy. The relationship is anchored not only in strategic interests but also in deep historical and cultural ties.

The Tagalog language contains numerous words of Sanskrit origin, and archaeological findings like the Laguna Copperplate inscription and the Agusan Tara statue testify to centuries-old connections.

Diplomatic ties between India and the Philippines were formally established in November 1949. With the launch of Indiaas Look East Policy in 1992, and its subsequent transformation into the Act East Policy, bilateral relations have grown substantially, particularly through ASEAN cooperation.

President Marcos and PM Modi last met briefly on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in Lao PDR in October 2024, and earlier in Jakarta during the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in 2023.
Aden, Aug 4 : The death toll from a migrant boat capsizing off Yemen's coast has risen to 68, with 74 others still missing, as search and rescue operations continue amid rough seas, local officials said.

Rescue teams have recovered 68 bodies throughout the day along the coastline of southern Abyan province, while 12 survivors were pulled from the water earlier in the morning, according to Abdul Qader Bajamil, director of the health office in Abyan province.

The survivors were immediately transferred to Shaqra General Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Medical staff report that some of the survivors remain in critical condition due to prolonged exposure to seawater and exhaustion, Xinhua news agency reported.

The tragedy occurred Saturday night when a smuggling boat carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized around 11:00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) due to severe weather conditions and strong winds in the waters off Abyan province.

The Abyan security authorities confirmed that all victims and survivors are of Ethiopian nationality, part of the continuous flow of African migrants attempting to reach Yemen and subsequently travel to Gulf countries in search of better economic opportunities.

Bodies have been discovered scattered across different coastal areas, prompting authorities to expand their search operations and deploy additional rescue teams. Health officials are coordinating with local authorities to arrange proper burial procedures for the recovered victims in designated areas near Zinjibar, the provincial capital.

The incident highlights the ongoing perils faced by African migrants who continue to risk dangerous sea crossings despite Yemen's protracted conflict and severe humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has repeatedly characterized Yemen's situation as one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.

Local Yemeni security officials have renewed calls for urgent international intervention to address the root causes of irregular migration and strengthen maritime safety measures in Yemeni territorial waters.

"This tragedy underscores the need for regional cooperation to prevent such loss of life and address the underlying factors driving these dangerous journeys," an official of the Abyan security department told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other humanitarian agencies started to send their teams to provide support for ongoing rescue operations and assistance to survivors, according to the Yemeni officials.

Weather conditions in the area remain challenging, with maritime authorities warning of continued rough seas that could hamper search efforts.
Kozhikode, Aug 4 : The mother of Allan Suhaib, the second accused in the controversial Pantheerankavu UAPA case, has alleged that the Kerala Police is harassing her son, even as the trial reaches its final stage in the NIA Court in Kochi.

Fazal and Allan Suhaib, students of journalism and law respectively, were arrested in November 2019 in Kozhikode under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Both were active members of CPI(M)'s branch committee.

They were charged with supporting Maoist groups -- banned organisations classified as terrorist entities.

Following prolonged incarceration, the two were granted bail. However, the Kerala High Court later cancelled Fazal's bail, while Suhaib's bail remains intact. The trial is currently in its concluding phase.

Speaking to reporters, Suhaib's mother, Sabitha Sekhar, said the police are subjecting her son to continued harassment.

"My son has to stay in Kochi because the trial is ongoing, while we live in Kozhikode. The police are now putting pressure on people who offer him accommodation," she said.

"They are trying to influence landlords and even circulating his photo on social media. This is unbearable," Sabitha added.

The arrest of the two youths had sparked a political controversy in 2019, especially after the CPI(M) leadership distanced itself from them, despite family members insisting they were party members.

The controversy deepened when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared in the Assembly that both were Maoist activists.

The National Investigation Agency later took over the case, citing materials seized from the accused -- such as books, pamphlets, placards, and diary entries -- as evidence of their alleged Maoist links.

The issue had also resonated in the state Assembly, with the Congress-led UDF demanding that the Chief Minister approach Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek the withdrawal of UAPA charges against the duo.
August 04 : Netflix India has officially dropped the high-octane trailer for its upcoming Hindi-language action thriller Saare Jahan Se Accha, set to premiere on August 13, 2025. The streaming giants cryptic caption, Message decoded, perfectly sets the tone for this cerebral espionage drama where, as the trailer boldly puts it, Sarhad pe nahi, is baar jung zehenon mein hai. This isnt a war fought with guns  its a war fought with intelligence.

The series follows a sharp and unyielding Indian spy, played by Pratik Gandhi, on a covert mission to infiltrate and dismantle a nuclear weapons program across the border. With rising international fears surrounding nuclear proliferation, the shows release couldnt be more timely. Real-world headlines echo the shows premise, adding an eerie layer of realism to its already intense narrative.

Created by Gaurav Shukla and produced by Bombay Fables, Saare Jahan Se Accha boasts a talented ensemble cast that includes Tillotama Shome, Sunny Hinduja, Rajat Kapoor, and Kunal Thakur. The series represents Netflixs continued investment in regional storytelling with global relevance  a strategy thats quickly becoming central to the platforms content playbook in India and beyond.

Visually gripping and layered with psychological depth, the trailer teases a thriller that doesn't just aim for suspense but seeks to challenge ideas around patriotism, identity, and sacrifice. With high production values and a ticking-clock narrative, Saare Jahan Se Accha could be Indias answer to international spy sagas  rooted in desi soil but made for a global audience.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : In a remarkable engineering feat, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday hailed the successful microtunneling operation under Assam's Beki River as a breakthrough that sets a new benchmark in pipeline construction.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) In a remarkable engineering feat, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday hailed the successful microtunneling operation under Assamas Beki River as a breakthrough that sets a new benchmark in pipeline construction.

Overcoming years of technical hurdles with one of the worldas most advanced machines, the Herrenknecht AVN 1600 MTBM, engineers completed in just 28 days what had previously seemed impossible a" reviving India's oldest cross-country pipeline, which fuels the development of Northeast India.

"Courage and innovation make the impossible possible. Microtunneling.....an excellent technique, no digging, no damage on the surface.....only precision and that too deep under the river!," the Union Minister wrote on X, praising the milestone.

By completing years of work in just 28 days, an engineering example has been set for the future. A new standard has been set in pipeline history, the minister said.

According to the minister, before resorting to microtunneling, traditional technologies such as open-cut and suspension methods were tested to achieve the goal, but it proved difficult to find a solution in the riverbed using these methods.

"Traditional techniques like Open Cut, HDD, Suspension were tried but no solution was found in the river bed.....then one of the world's most advanced microtunneling machines Herrenknecht AVN 1600 MTBM challenged the challenge itself and completed the work of the pipeline under the river in a very short time," the Minister stated.

Indian has a cross-country pipeline under the Beki River in Assam. The 434-kilometre-long pipeline has been a lifeline for the northeastern estate for over 6 decades.

"India's oldest cross-country pipeline passes under the Beki River of Assam. Giving a new lease of life to this 434 km long power line, which has been the heartbeat of development of Northeast India for the last 60 years, has become a big engineering challenge," the minister said.
Seoul, Aug 4 : The South Korean military on Monday started removing loudspeakers for propaganda broadcasts toward North Korea installed along the heavily fortified border, the defence ministry said, in Seoul's latest efforts to reduce inter-Korean tensions.

The move comes less than two months after the South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts in front-line areas as part of efforts to mend strained ties with the North.

Pyongyang has also since turned off its own noise-blaring campaign against the South, Yonhap news agency reported.

"It is a practical measure that can help ease inter-Korean tensions without affecting the military's readiness posture," the ministry said in a notice to reporters.

The follow-up measure to the June suspension applies to fixed speakers installed alongside the border and is set to be completed within this week, Col. Lee Kyung-ho, a ministry spokesperson, told a regular press briefing. About 20 fixed speakers are known to be in the area.

No consultations with the North took place prior to the decision, Lee said.

When asked about whether the North is preparing to take corresponding action, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said no such movement has yet to be detected.

"North Korea appears to be carrying out maintenance work on its loudspeakers, but there were no signs of dismantling them. ... No unusual movement by the North Korean military has been detected so far," JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said.

North Korea has long bristled against the military's loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflets sent by activists over fears of outside information that could pose a threat to its ruling regime, Yonhap news agency reported.

But under the former conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration, South Korea turned on the loudspeaker campaign for the first time in six years in June last year as Pyongyang launched thousands of trash-carrying balloons across the border. Seoul had previously conducted the campaign on an on-and-off basis following North Korea's fourth nuclear test in 2016.

Since taking office in June, Lee has taken measures to revive inter-Korean ties that remain practically severed since the North declared in late 2023 that the two Koreas are two separate "hostile" countries and moved to dismantle symbols of inter-Korean relations and unification.

In addition to halting the military's loudspeaker broadcasts, Lee has called on civic groups to suspend their distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets, expressing hope that the reconciliatory gestures could pave the way for engagement with the North.

-IANS

int/bpd/rs
Sydney, Aug 4 : Australian police have charged a man with murder over a fatal stabbing in Sydney's western suburbs.

A police statement on Monday said that emergency services were called to reports of a woman being located with stab wounds at a unit in Mount Pritchard, 28 km west of central Sydney, shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Ambulance paramedics arrived and treated the 62-year-old woman, but she died at the scene.

A 28-year-old man was arrested at the residence and taken to a nearby police station. According to police, the man and the victim were known to each other, Xinhua news agency reported.

Detectives established a crime scene and, following inquiries with assistance from the homicide squad, charged the 28-year-old man with one count of murder as an act of domestic violence.

He was refused bail and would make an initial appearance at a Sydney court on Monday.

Last month a French tourist was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed while trying to break up a fight in the Australian city of Brisbane.

Emergency services said that the man was found by ambulance paramedics with significant stab wounds to his chest in Fortitude Valley, a popular nightlife area in central Brisbane.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to the hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Local media identified the victim as a French tourist.

A witness and friend of the victim told Seven Network television that he had intervened to stop a fight between two other people when he was attacked.

"Two people were fighting, and he was right in the middle and he got stabbed, I think, three times and he started bleeding," he said.

Police attended the scene and arrested two people.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : As the Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks disparaging the Indian Army, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised the Congress MP, calling his statements an "irresponsible claim".

The controversy stems from a comment Gandhi made during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he allegedly said, "Chinese troops are thrashing Indian Army soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh," in reference to the December 9, 2022, face-off in the Tawang sector.

Taking to X, Rijiju wrote, "Supreme Court rebukes Shri Rahul Gandhi for irresponsible claim that Chinese occupied Indian Territory!"

He added a direct quote from the court proceedings: "SC: How do you know 2000 Sqr km of Indian territory were occupied by Chinese? A true Indian will not say this."

Rijiju also reshared a video clip from a previous Lok Sabha session in which he had strongly dismissed Gandhi's remarks.

Sharing the clip, he stated, "There should be no confusion due to the false narratives of Congress, and left ecosystem with regards to India's boundaries."

A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi expressed disapproval of Rahul Gandhi's claim that 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory had been occupied by China, adding that "if he were a true Indian, he would not have said all this."

"How do you know that 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory were occupied by the Chinese? Were you there? Do you have any credible material? If you were a true Indian, you would not say all this. When there is a conflict across the order, is it unusual to have casualties on both sides?" the Justice Datta-led Bench asked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul Gandhi.

"Whatever you have to say, why don't you say it in the Parliament? Why do you have to say this in social media posts?" further asked the Apex Court.

The remarks came after Singhvi argued that it would be an "unfortunate situation" if an opposition leader cannot be allowed to raise issues of national concern in the press.
The mining and metallurgical group Metinvest has received an offer to sell its coal asset in the US - United Coal's coking coal subsidiary, and is considering this offer.

According to updated information on the operating performance of its US subsidiary United Coal, published by Metinvest on the Irish Stock Exchange on Monday, in an effort to support steelmaking operations in Ukraine, the group has resumed seaborne intragroup supplies of coking coal from United Coal after the suspension of operations at Pokrovskvuhillia due to the ongoing war.

It is noted that this strategic step helped maintain production continuity during a difficult period. However, increased production costs, logistical constraints and adverse global coking coal price conditions have significantly impacted United Coal's financial performance. In 2024, the asset showed a negative EBITDA of $42 million, and in 2025, further deterioration was observed due to persistently unfavorable geological conditions and ongoing market volatility.

"Given these circumstances, Metinvest is currently evaluating strategic options for the asset. In particular, the group has received a non-binding offer for the potential sale of United Coal. The Metinvest management is carefully studying the offer and will provide an updated market information after a final decision is made," the statement said.

As previously reported, in January 2025, Metinvest announced the suspension of its operations at Pokrovskvuhillia due to changing conditions on the frontline, energy supply shortages and deteriorating security situation. Since then, Metinvest has been partially replacing coking coal from its American subsidiary United Coal and importing it from other countries.

Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine - in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as in the countries of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
Seoul, Aug 4 : South Korea's top diplomat has said the US forces stationed in the country and their role will remain unchanged amid ongoing speculation that President Donald Trump's administration may reduce troop levels as part of a military posture adjustment.

South Koreaas Foreign Minister Cho Hyun made the remarks in an interview with The Washington Post, as speculation persists over the possibility of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea being reduced for use in operations outside the Korean Peninsula as the Trump administration prioritises deterring an assertive China.

Such a possibility has gained traction amid a growing view that Washington could push for a troop reduction, alongside other demands to reshape the alliance with Seoul, including increased defence spending, as part of broader efforts to "modernise" the alliance with a focus on countering China.

"We are talking with the United States, but there is no concern about the US forces in Korea. We believe that they will remain as such, and their role will remain as of today," Cho said in the interview, published Sunday (US time).

Asked what the potential troop drawdown would mean for bilateral relations, Cho cast it as hypothetical and said he does not believe it will happen.

"I don't think it will happen. I have met a number of senators this time, and they all have assured me that it will not be the case," he said.

Cho was visiting Washington last week for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and meetings with US government officials, lawmakers and experts from think tanks, Yonhap news agency reported.

Regarding China, Cho said that South Korea, led by the new Lee Jae Myung government, seeks to maintain good relations with China, although its economic and geopolitical rise has become "somewhat problematic" for its neighbours.

"But we will try to send a message to China: 'We want to maintain a good relationship and (see) you abide by international law in not only bilateral but in regional affairs,'" he said.

Cho said that South Korea will work with neighbouring Japan to address various challenges posed by China, noting the need for engaging with Beijing, rather than attempting to contain it.

"I've emphasised that all of these things will be in good collaboration with our ally, the United States," he said.

On the recent tariff agreement reached with the Trump administration, Cho assessed that it was a "win-win" proposal that aims to reduce the trade imbalance for the US while giving South Korea a chance to "remain at the top" in manufacturing areas.

"Korea was not singled out to rebalance the trade imbalance," he said. "We believe it is extremely important for us and for the United States as well because of the geopolitical challenges we have in Northeast Asia."

On Thursday (US time), the allies agreed to lower the US reciprocal tariff rate for South Korea to 15 per cent from the originally proposed 25 per cent. South Korea, in return, committed to investing US$350 billion in US industries.
Hyderabad, Aug 4 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao have expressed profound grief over the demise of Jharkhand's former Chief Minister Shibu Soren. CM Revanth Reddy hailed "Guruji Shibu Soren as a relentless warrior who played a pivotal role in the creation of Jharkhand state and in championing tribal rights throughout his life."

CM Revanth Reddy hailed "Guruji Shibu Soren as a relentless warrior who played a pivotal role in the creation of Jharkhand state and in championing tribal rights throughout his life."

The Chief Minister acknowledged Shibu Soren's significant contributions in fighting exploitative moneylenders and drug abuse, leaving an indelible mark in these struggles of the people.

CM Revanth Reddy recalled that Shibu Soren was a consistent supporter of the formation of smaller states and had extended strong solidarity with the Telangana statehood movement until its final stage.

CM Reddy affirmed that "Guruji's service to the Adivasi (tribal) community will remain etched in history forever."

Shibu Soren served the nation with distinction as an eight-time Lok Sabha MP, twice a Rajya Sabha member, and as Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

CM Revanth Reddy extended heartfelt condolences to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, the bereaved family members, and admirers of the late leader.

Former Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), too, condoled the demise of Shibu Soren.

KCR said that Shibu Soren's fight for tribal rights and regional identity was an inspiration for the Telangana statehood movement.

The BRS chief termed Soren's death as an irreparable loss to regional identity, federal politics and tribal society.

The BRS chief recalled his personal association with Shibu Soren and the support he extended to the Telangana movement.

KCR stated that the movement undertaken by Shibu Soren for Jharkhand state, reflecting the federal spirit of the country, inspired the movement for a separate Telangana state.

KCR recalled that he had invited Shibu Soren as the guest for the first meeting held in Hyderabad in 2001 at the time of formation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The former chief minister said that the full support Soren extended to Telangana movement can never be forgotten.

He said Soren recognised the aspirations of Telangana people and stood in support of the second movement for Telangana state.

He recalled that Soren fully supported creation of Telangana state in 2014.

The BRS chief also recalled that during the Telangana movement Soren's JMM was a partner in the UPA government at the Centre and he played a key role in exerting pressure for formation of Telangana state.

KCR said in 2022 he visited Jharkhand to take the blessings of Shibu Soren.

He conveyed his condolences to Shibu Soren's son and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and other family members.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao posted on 'X' that he was deeply saddened by the passing of Shibu Soren, a towering figure in Indian politics and a tireless crusader for tribal rights and regional self-determination.

"His demise is not just a personal loss  it marks the end of an era shaped by unwavering commitment to justice, identity, and dignity," he said.

"During the tumultuous days of the Telangana movement, Shibu stood by us with rare conviction. His solidarity with BRS President KCR and moral encouragement to the Telangana agitation gave us strength at critical junctures. He understood the soul of Telangana, because he had walked a similar path for Jharkhand," posted the BRS leader.

"As the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, he led from the front and turned what was once a dream into constitutional reality. His legacy will continue to guide every voice that dares to demand what is just and rightful," he added.

BRS MLC K. Kavitha also condoled the demise of Shibu Soren. She said Soren was a strong voice for tribal rights and also extended his support to the Telangana statehood movement.
Chennai, Aug 4 : The second state conference of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by party president actor-politician Vijay, was initially scheduled to be held on August 25 in Madurai. However, due to administrative and festival-related constraints, the police have asked the party to decide on a new date between August 18 and 22.

On July 17, TVK began preparations for the event by setting up the pandal structure at the convention site in Parapatti, Madurai district. On the same day, the partyas General Secretary, N. Anand, submitted a formal application seeking permission for the convention to the Superintendent of Police, Madurai district.

In response, TVK continued its groundwork for the conference, anticipating smooth approvals. However, police officials raised concerns about the original date as Vinayagar Chaturthi will be celebrated on August 27, and they advised the party to avoid holding the conference around that time due to security and crowd management challenges.

Subsequently, TVK proposed to hold the event on August 17. However, police denied permission for that date as well, citing Independence Day-related security arrangements and the need for heightened vigilance in the days surrounding August 15.

Given these constraints, the police formally advised TVK to select a new date between August 18 and 22 for the state conference, stating that any date within this window would be more manageable from a law and order perspective.

Following this development, party General Secretary N. Anand began consultations to finalise an alternate date within the suggested timeframe.

Meanwhile, preparations at the Parapatti venue continue, as TVK remains determined to hold a large-scale and successful convention.

The party leadership has expressed hope that the police will extend full cooperation once a revised date is finalised, ensuring the event proceeds without further hurdles.

This second state conference is expected to draw a significant crowd of party members and supporters from across Tamil Nadu, making it a major milestone for TVKas political journey.

As discussions continue between the party and law enforcement authorities, an official announcement regarding the revised date is expected shortly.
Mumbai, Aug 4 : The total Assets Under Management (AUM) of the Indian Mutual Fund (MF) industry stand at Rs 74.40 lakh crore, marking more than a sevenfold growth over the past decade, a report said on Monday.

Of the total AUM, equity commands the largest share at 59.94 per cent, followed by debt at 26.53 per cent, hybrid at 8.28 per cent, and other categories accounting for 5.26 per cent, according to Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund.

According to the report, a key development in the industry has been the steady rise of passive investing, which now accounts for approximately 17 per cent of total AUM.

While active funds continue to dominate in absolute terms, the increasing share of passive strategies reflects broader adoption of low-cost, transparent, and benchmark-aligned approaches, the report stated.

In the quarter ending June 2025, total estimated net inflows stood at Rs 3.98 lakh crore.

This was largely led by the debt segment, which drew Rs 2.39 lakh crore, reversing the previous quarteras outflows. Equities contributed Rs 1.33 lakh crore, while commodities added Rs 9,000 crore.

Meanwhile, active strategies accounted for Rs 3.62 lakh crore of total inflows, with passive funds contributing Rs 36,000 crore, the report highlighted.

aThis quarter reflects a notable shift in portfolio allocation a" a growing tilt toward well-diversified, resilient portfolios, complemented by a measured return to debt," said Pratik Oswal, Head - Passive Business, Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company Ltd. (MOAMC).

Whatas particularly encouraging is the increasing traction seen in passive investing.

Indian investors are gradually recognising the structural benefits of passive funds a"simplicity, cost efficiency, and alignment with market benchmarks, he added.

Within equities, broad-based funds emerged as the dominant category, garnering Rs 86,000 crore in net inflows.

This category captured 64 per cent of total equity flows a" 55 per cent from active funds and a notable 106 per cent from passive a" indicating increased allocation to passive equity strategies, the report noted.

Among active broad-based funds, Flexi Cap led with Rs 15,800 crore, followed by Small Cap at Rs 12,000 crore and Mid Cap at Rs 10,800 crore.

In the passive space, Large Cap funds remained the most allocated segment, reflecting continued focus on blue-chip benchmarks.

Thematic mutual funds, however, experienced a net outflow of Rs 2,400 crore, in contrast to Rs 8,400 crore inflows in the preceding quarter.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : The Adani Group plans a long-term investment in Vietnam of up toa$10abillion, according to a report in Vietnam's Tuoi Tre News.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) The Adani Group plans a long-term investment in Vietnam of up toa$10abillion, according to a report in Vietnamas Tuoi Tre News.

Group Chairman Gautam Adani revealed the investment plan during a meeting with Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam in Hanoi, as part of his business trip to Vietnam last week, the report said, citing the countryas Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He expressed admiration for Vietnamas vision and national development strategy and congratulated the country on its impressive socio-economic progress in recent years.

Gautam Adani emphasised that the group possesses extensive experience in investing in and operating major projects across sectors, such as seaports, airports, transport, logistics, energy, and digital technology in India and internationally, including Mundra Port -- Indiaas largest seaport. He also highlighted that Adani is Indiaas largest energy provider.

The Chairman of Adani Group briefed General Secretary To Lam on the companyas ongoing activities and long-term plans for Vietnam, confirming a strategic investment commitment of up to $10 billion, aligned with both the groupas strengths and Vietnamas developmental priorities, the report states.

The report refers to the Adani Group as a global leader in energy and logistics.

With the company's global experience and capacity, Gautam Adani stated his readiness to invest in areas prioritised by Vietnam, including strategic infrastructure, energy, renewable energy, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

He expressed hope for continued support from the Party and the state of Vietnam to ensure favourable conditions for Adani Groupas operations in the country.

In response, General Secretary To Lam congratulated Adani Group on its significant achievements and contributions to Indiaas economic growth over recent years.

He praised the companyas long-term investment approach in Vietnam as a means to deepen economic cooperation between the two nations.

The Party leader encouraged the Adani Group to engage directly with relevant ministries and local authorities to clarify partnership priorities, thereby accelerating the rollout of proposed projects, the report said.

He noted that Vietnam is actively pursuing strategic breakthroughs, prioritising development in science and technology, fostering innovation and digital transformation, and expanding the private sector economy.

The country is committed to providing all possible favourable conditions for both domestic firms and foreign-invested enterprises to pursue investment and business projects that contribute to national growth.

Expressing satisfaction with the robust development of the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership -- established in 2016 -- he urged businesses from both countries, including the Adani Group, to deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation in order to fully harness their shared potential, the Tuoi Tre News report added.
Seoul, Aug 4 : A special counsel team carried out searches and seizures against former South Korean Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and former South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Monday over allegations related to suspected government interference in an initial probe into the death of a Marine in 2023.

Special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team executed the warrants on the vehicles and mobile phones of Park, Cho and former National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin as part of its investigation into the allegations surrounding the probe into Cpl. Chae Su-geun's death.

Chae died in July 2023 after being swept away by an overflowing stream during a search mission for torrential rain victims, Yonhap news agency reported.

The team's investigation has focused on allegations that the initial suspects of the probe were cleared after alleged interference by high-ranking officials of the then Yoon Suk Yeol administration, including Yoon himself and former Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup.

The team has been investigating Park over a decision to lift Lee's travel ban in March last year despite the former defence minister being investigated by the anti-corruption agency at the time.

Lee left the country that month after being named ambassador to Australia but returned home soon afterward as controversy mounted over his departure.

The team seeks to look into whether the presidential office was involved in the decision to lift the travel ban and investigate possible illegal activities related to his appointment as ambassador.

Cho and Chang, respectively, served as the Yoon administration's foreign minister and national security adviser at the time.

Assistant special counsel Choung Min-young said in a briefing that his team had questioned officials at the foreign and justice ministries as witnesses and carried out the warrants against Park and other officials to secure further evidence.

Meanwhile, the team plans to question former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Wednesday about a meeting he attended in July 2023 where Yoon allegedly vented his anger about the preliminary results of the military probe.

The team also seeks to question former National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong again Friday after his appearance last week. Cho attended the meeting of senior presidential aides along with Kim as the national security adviser at the time.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order that barred it from using images of living persons, former Chief Ministers, ideological leaders, or political party symbols in advertisements for governmentarun welfare schemes.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order that barred it from using images of living persons, former Chief Ministers, ideological leaders, or political party symbols in advertisements for governmentrun welfare schemes.

After senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the Tamil Nadu government's special leave petition (SLP), the Chief Justice of India (CJI) agreed to list the matter for urgent hearing this week.

"This is an extremely urgent and unusual case. The Madras High Court has passed an order that no scheme of the state government can have the name of the Chief Minister or any other political figure. Why cannot we (state government) name a scheme? These are schemes for the welfare of the poor," submitted Rohtagi.

The Madras High Court, in an order passed on July 31, held that while photographs of the incumbent Chief Minister may be permissible, featuring ideological figures, former Chief Ministers, or party insignia in government schemes would be against the directives of the Supreme Court.

A Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by AIADMK MP C. Ve. Shanmugam, who alleged that the ruling DMK government violated apex court guidelines by branding public welfare schemes with the name and image of the Chief Minister, along with photos of former party leaders and ideological icons.

Referring to successive directives issued by the Supreme Court on regulating the content of government advertisements, as well as the Election Commission of India's 2014 Guidelines on Government Advertisement (Content Regulation), the Bench led by Chief Justice M.M. Shrivastava passed an interim order barring the Tamil Nadu government from including the name of any living political personality, or photographs of former Chief Ministers or ideological leaders of any political party, in advertisements related to welfare schemes.

"It would not be permissible to mention the name of the living political personality in the nomenclature of the government scheme.

Moreover, using the name of any ruling political party, its insignia/logo/emblem/flag also appears to be prima facie against the directives of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India," the Madras High Court said, while clarifying that its order does not restrict the launch or implementation of government welfare programmes.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : A total of 103 Indian cities, as part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), have shown a reduction in particulate matter PM10 concentration in 2024-25, the government informed the Parliament on Monday.

Launched in 2019 to tackle air pollution across India, NCAP focusses on 131 "non-attainment" cities and Million Plus Cities in 24 states. The programme aimed to reduce PM10 concentrations by 20-30 per cent by 2024.

Of the 103, "64 cities showed reduction in PM10 levels by more than 20 per cent and 25 of these cities have achieved a reduction of more than 40 per cent," said Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

"A total of 22 Cities also met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and have PM10 concentrations less than 60 micrograms per cubic metre of air," he added.

To address air pollution in urban areas, Singh stated that a "performance-linked grant of Rs 13,036.52 crore has been provided to 130 cities during 2019-20 till date, as a critical gap funding to implement air quality improvement measures".

Further, the programme leverages the mobilisation of resources through the convergence of various schemes of the central government such as Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), AMRUT, Smart City Mission, PM e-Bus Sewa, Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT), and Nagar Van Yojana, as well as the resources of state governments.

"Under NCAP, an amount of Rs. 5,318 crore has been provided to eight States/UTs that are part of the Indo-Gangetic plain to implement the city action plan of 41 targeted cities," Singh said.

City-specific clean air action plans are prepared by all cities to implement air quality improvement measures in their respective cities. These plans target air pollution sources such as soil and road dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, construction and demolition activities, and industrial pollution.

Notably, ambient air quality monitoring is carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).

For this, "1,612 monitoring stations have been set up in 572 cities and four rural areas across the country," the MoS said.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 4 : A Dalit activist has lodged a complaint with the police and Kerala SC/ST Commission against veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan over his controversial remarks on government grants for women and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) filmmakers.

Dinu Veyil, a Dalit activist, said on Monday that he filed the complaints against Gopalakrishnan for his remarks, which he made at a recent conclave questioning the Kerala government's inclusive film policy. It sparked a sharp reaction from Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian and rights activists.

The Dadasaheb Phalke awardee, speaking at the Kerala Film Policy Conclave in Thiruvananthapuram, stated that the Rs 1.5 crore grant provided to filmmakers from marginalised communities by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) was excessive and could lead to corruption.

He allegedly suggested that such filmmakers should be given "intensive training" for at least three months, and the grant amount should be reduced to Rs 50 lakh to benefit more individuals.

Dinu Veyil, in his complaint with the Museum Police in Thiruvananthapuram and the SC/ST Commission, alleged that Adoor Gopalakrishnan's statements were a violation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Dinu Veyil, in his Facebook post, said, "Through his statement, Adoor Gopalakrishnan appears to portray members of the SC/ST communities as inherently criminal, dishonest, or prone to corruption. This generalisation may attract penal provisions under Section 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which prohibits the promotion of ill-will or hostility against members of these communities."

"By suggesting that beneficiaries of government welfare schemes from the SC/ST sections take the money and run, the speaker implies that these communities engage in misuse of public funds. Such remarks associate SC/ST persons with dishonesty and corruption, potentially encouraging prejudice and social antipathy," stated the activist in the post.

"Furthermore, the specific phrases 'They should be told to understand that this is public fund' and 'They have thought that they will take this money, they can take it and take a picture' cast the SC/ST communities as ignorant and irresponsible. This characterisation amounts to deliberate humiliation in public view, which is punishable under Section 3(1)(r) of the same Act," his post said.

Dinu Veyil said that though Adoor Gopalakrishnan's remarks might not have been directed at individuals by name, they collectively demean all SC/ST persons associated with the ongoing scheme -- those present at the event, those who had earlier applied for the benefit, and those viewing the statement through media coverage.

In a strong rebuttal at the same event, Minister Saji Cherian had defended the government's initiative, calling it a landmark decision to correct historical imbalances in the film industry. The Minister asserted that the policy was designed to bring individuals from under-represented communities into mainstream cinema after nearly a century of exclusion, a decision the government will not roll back.
Kabul, Aug 4 : Afghanistan police authorities have discovered arms and ammunition, including a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG), in western Afghanistan's Farah province, said a news release of the provincial police office on Monday.

The weaponry includes a piece of AK-47, one stock of RPG, four hand grenades, projectiles and other military equipment were found from a house in Khak-e-Safid district, the news release added.

In a similar incident on July 27, the Afghan security forces 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.

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.

Additionally, a substantial amount of ammunition and military equipment has been seized during the operations.

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.
Photo: https://t.me/ermaka2022

Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, has announced the possibility of ending the war against Ukraine if pressure on the Russian Federation increases this week, and has proposed imposing sanctions on the Russian state agencies Rosatom and Roscosmos, disconnecting Gazprombank from SWIFT, and imposing sanctions on Russian ports.

President Donald Trump has made it clear Russia will soon face serious consequences if it doesnt immediately come to the negotiating table. By cutting back the previous 50-day window down to just 10 days last week, the U.S. president sent an unmistakable signal to Putin. These signals need to be followed up with decisive action for the war to end  Kyiv welcomes this clarity, Yermak wrote in his article for The Washington Post, published on Monday.

He noted that Ukraine shares US President Donald Trump's commitment to peace through strength, and added that this strength is the only language Putin understands. To truly shift the wars trajectory, however, the existing sanctions regime must be sharpened, the head of the Presidents Office notes.

Among his proposals is a complete economic blockade of the Russian Federation. Russia imports billions worth of microchips and electronics used in its drones and missiles through China and other smaller countries across Central Asia. These components often originate in the West but reach Russia via circuitous trade routes and financial loopholes. We are greatly encouraged by recent U.S. actions to crack down on sanctions evasion. The bipartisan Graham-Blumenthal bill marks a strong step toward imposing secondary sanctions on entities in third countries that help fund Russias war machine, Yermak said.

He also notes that the Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom and the space agency Roscosmos are not neutral civilian institutions, but strategic enablers of Putins war. Both agencies must be sanctioned in full and banned from cooperating with Western scientific and academic institutions, the head of the Presidents Office noted.

He also said more needs to be done to cut off Russia's access to international funding. Disconnecting some Russian banks from SWIFT in 2022 was a milestone. But one major financial institution, Gazprombank, remains connected, serving as a major conduit for sanctioned trade, particularly in energy and defense-related goods. Gazprombank must be disconnected alongside any smaller financial institutions trying to fill the gap, Yermak notes.

He praised Trump's decision to raise tariffs on India for buying oil from Russia above the price cap, but noted that more pressure was needed. The International Working Group on Russian Sanctions, which Im honored to co-chair, has developed a set of targeted proposals that can do just that. Those include sanctioning Russian ports used for exporting oil; designating operators of the shadow fleets of oil tankers, including vessels that disable tracking systems and use ship-to-ship transfers to obscure origin; and targeting intermediaries in the defense supply chain, including crypto infrastructure such as exchanges and wallets used for illicit payments and sanctions evasion, the head of the Presidents Office said.

Trump's recent statements, he said, show he understands the stakes. The ultimatum he has given to Putin expires later this week. Thousands of lives depend on the success of what follows. The tools to stop Russia exist. What is needed is the political will to use them with precision and force, Yermak summed up.
Kuala Lumpur, Aug 4 : Thai and Cambodian officials have arrived in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, for the General Border Committee meeting, as part of efforts to resolve the conflict between the two countries.

The meeting is scheduled to be held on August 7 in Malaysia, with the country being selected as a neutral venue, the Malaysian Armed Forces said in a statement.

The meeting aims to resolve the border dispute between the two countries, as part of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached in Malaysia on July 28, the statement added, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on August 1, Cambodia welcomed Thailand's proposal to hold talks on border issues in Malaysia.

"I would like to take this opportunity to confirm that Cambodia welcomes Thailand's proposal to hold a meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) in Kuala Lumpur," Cambodian Defence Ministry's Under Secretary of State and spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said at a press briefing.

"We're very confident that this meeting will be constructive and yield fruitful outcomes," she said.

The office of the spokesperson of Thailand's Ministry of Defence said Thursday on social media that Deputy Minister of Defence Nattaphon Narkphanit had officially responded to "Cambodia's invitation" for a special GBC meeting.

In his reply, Nattaphon welcomed the opportunity to join the meeting and emphasised a shared commitment to reduce tensions and resolve border security issues in a peaceful and constructive manner.

Socheata said in a press briefing that Malaysia, the current chair of ASEAN, sent a high-level delegation led by its Chief of Defence Forces, General Datuk Haji Mohd Nizam Bin Haji Jaffar, to Cambodia.

According to the spokesperson, the Malaysian defence forces chief said that two observation teams will be operational, one led by the Malaysian military attache in Cambodia and the other led by the Malaysian military attache in Thailand.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here to pay his tributes to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who passed away earlier on Monday.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here to pay his tributes to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who passed away earlier on Monday.

Soren, 81, had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for over a month due to kidney-related complications.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi also met Soren's son, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and other family members to express his condolences in person.

"Went to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to Shri Shibu Soren Ji. Also met his family. My thoughts are with Hemant Ji, Kalpana Ji, and the admirers of Shri Shibu Soren Ji," PM Modi posted on X.

Shibu Soren's passing was announced by his son, Hemant Soren, on Monday.

"Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty..." wrote Hemant Soren on his X handle in Hindi.

The hospital, in its statement, said, "He died after a prolonged illness. He was suffering from a kidney ailment and had also suffered a stroke, a month and a half ago. He was on the life support system for the last month."

The Prime Minister had then taken to X to mourn Soren's passing, describing him as a "grassroots leader" who dedicated his life to the upliftment of tribal communities and the underprivileged.

"Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden."

"Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti," he added.

Soren had been admitted to the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital for over a month due to a kidney-related issue. He was under the treatment of Dr A.K. Bhalla, Chairman, Nephrology and a team from Neurology and ICU at the hospital.

Popularly addressed as "Guruji" or "Dishom Guru" in his home state, Soren served thrice as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand in 2005, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010. His tenures were, however, often short due to political challenges.

Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village, then part of Bihar, Soren belonged to the Santal (Santhal) tribal group.

He formed the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh, an organisation focused on tribal liberation and land rights, when he was 18 years old.

In 1972, he cofounded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato, seeking a separate Jharkhand state and tribal uplift, and later became its General Secretary.

He played a pivotal role in the separate state movement, contributing to the eventual formation of Jharkhand in 2000.

Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha member for two terms, with the second stint ongoing.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : New Delhi-based rights group -- Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) -- on Monday claimed that 878 journalists were targeted over the past year under the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

The RRAG in its report titled, 'Bangladesh: Media Freedom Murdered By Dr Muhammad Yunus' stated that attacks on journalists increased by 230 per cent over the past year, compared to 383 cases reported under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina between August 2023 and July 2024.

The RRAG report, released on Monday on the occasion of one year of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, stated that Press freedom in Bangladesh has deteriorated further and 878 journalists were attacked under the interim government from August 2024 to July 2025, an increase by about 230 per cent.

Giving further details of the attacks on the journalists in Bangladesh, RRAG Director Suhas Chakma stated, "The number of criminal cases filed against journalists under the Yunus regime (195 cases) during 2024-2025 increased by 558 per cent in comparison to the number of cases (35 cases) filed against journalists under Hasina during 2023-2024.

"While Hasina's regime was not known to have denied any accreditation to journalists, Yunus used accreditation as an instrument to punish the journalists allegedly associated with the previous regime and denied accreditation to 167 media persons.

"During 2023-2024, Hasina's regime was not known to have used the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), anti-money laundering agency of the country, against the journalists but Yunus let loose the BFIU which issued notices to 107 journalists," Chakma said.

He said that while 348 media persons faced acts of violence and criminal intimidation under Sheikh Hasina's regime, mostly during the July 2024 uprising, about 431 journalists faced acts of violence and criminal intimidation under Yunus' tenure.

The RRAG report said that the situation of the media continues to deteriorate under the interim government of Bangladesh led by Yunus.

On June 25 (2025), journalist Khandaker Shah Alam, a correspondent of Daily Matrijagat, was murdered at Nabinagar Upazila, in Dhaka's northeast, in a targeted retaliation by Babul Mia, known locally as 'Tiger Babul Dakat' after he was released from prison, the report said.

According to the report, on July 27 (2025), the Cyber Tribunal of Dhaka issued arrest warrants against three journalists, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, its publisher Moynal Hossain Chowdhury and news portal Bangla Insider's Chief Editor Syed Borhan Kabir under the Digital Security Act (DSA) despite a declaration by Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on June 27 (2025) that all cases under the DSA had been withdrawn.

On April 21 (2025), Kongkon Karmaker was dismissed by The Daily Star as Dinajpur correspondent only because his report about the death of religious minority Bhabesh Chandra Roy was picked up by multiple Indian media outlets and India's Ministry of External Affairs, the report added.

RRAG Director Chakma said that in order to silence the media, Yunus established 'CA Press Wing Facts' as the de facto censorship authority by other means, the manufacturer of the government version of the truth, and to intimidate media houses and NGOs including the Rights & Risks Analysis Group, through disinformation.

The RRAG stated that it would approach the international community including the Human Rights (Joint Committee) of the United Kingdom seeking review support to the interim government of Bangladesh on governance issues and consider withdrawing bilateral support in the light of the absolute silencing of the media in the country.
Bengaluru, Aug 4 : Concerns have been raised regarding the indefinite strike call given by the six state-owned Road Transport Corporations (RTCs) in Karnataka, demanding the fulfilment of their long-pending demands.

The key demands include the release of 38 months' pending salaries, salary revision, and clearance of arrears.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is holding two high-level meetings at Vidhana Soudha on Monday in this regard. He is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Labour Organizations Joint Action Committee of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations, followed by another meeting with the Federation of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Organisations and other stakeholders.

RTC union leaders have already announced an indefinite strike starting from Monday midnight.

Staff members have begun distributing handbills at Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus stops in Bengaluru, appealing to commuters to support the strike.

The RTC staff are demanding the immediate release of 38 months' pending salaries, salary revision effective from August 1, a halt to privatisation, and other related demands.

Two earlier rounds of talks on this issue failed to yield any results. A final decision is expected after the conclusion of Monday's meetings with the Chief Minister.

The RTC unions have declared that 1.15 lakh employees across the state will participate in the strike. RTC buses are the primary mode of transportation for commuters, connecting cities with rural areas across Karnataka.

The Congress-led state government has enabled free travel for women under the 'Shakti' scheme. The budget allocation for the scheme has been increased from Rs 5,015 crore in 202425 to Rs 5,300 crore this year.

However, the BJP and JD(S) have alleged that the state government is jeopardising the financial health of RTCs for electoral gains.

However, the CM Siddaramaiah government has refuted these allegations, asserting that the scheme has empowered crores of women and will not be withdrawn under any circumstances.

Joint Action Committee Chairman Ananth Subbarao had warned on Sunday that transport workers are not going on strike on August 4 because Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is visiting Karnataka. Instead, all 1.15 lakh staff members will stay at home by halting bus operations.

He demanded that the government immediately release the pending arrears of 38 months. "We are successfully managing the 'Shakti' scheme. But the Siddaramaiah government has betrayed the trust of transport employees," Ananth Subbarao lashed out.

He criticised the government's response, saying, "The Chief Minister has called a meeting at the last moment. Threatening to impose Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and stop salaries is not acceptable. If the CM repeats the same old promises in the meeting, we won't listen."
Ahmedabad, Aug 4 : In the auspicious month of Shrawan, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday offered prayers and performed rituals at the ancient pilgrimage site of Stambheshwar Mahadev in Bharuch district.

To enhance the convenience of the pilgrims visiting this holy site, the Gujarat Sacred Pilgrimage Development Board has invested Rs 2 crore to create facilities, including a multipurpose hall, paved walkways, and benches for seating.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the commencement of the development and completion ceremonies of various projects in Bharuch district by visiting the Stambheshwar Mahadev temple. He prayed to Lord Bholenath for the welfare of all and the continuous progress of the nation and the state.

During his visit, he engaged with devotees present at the temple and participated in the distribution of prasad to the pilgrims.

Situated near Kamboi village in Jambusar taluka of Bharuch, where the Mahi river meets the sea, the ancient Stambheshwar Mahadev temple is uniquely positioned at the confluence of the river and the sea.

The templeas Shiva Lingam is naturally bathed twice daily by the rising tides of the sea.

Joining the Chief Minister during this visit were MLA D.K. Swami, former minister Chhatrasinh Mori, senior officials, as well as Mahant Vidyanandji Maharaj and other saints of the Stambheshwar Mahadev temple.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has undertaken a large-scale effort to develop and modernize shrines and holy places across the state, aiming to strengthen religious tourism, preserve heritage, and improve facilities for devotees.

One of the most ambitious projects is the Rs 1,632 crore master plan to transform Ambaji into a model temple town. This includes the construction of a Shakti Corridor linking the main temple with sacred Gabbar Hill, as well as enhancements such as ropeways, Mansarovar Lake, and event plazas.

In addition, over Rs 857 crore has been allocated to upgrade 163 secondary pilgrimage sites across districts like Dwarka, Bahucharaji, Pavagadh, Porbandar, and Siddhpur. Of these, development work has begun at 76 locations, and 57 projects have already been completed.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched a scathing attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi after the Supreme Court rebuked the Congress MP over his remarks on the Indian Army, with the party asserting that the apex court's observations raise "serious concerns" over Gandhi's sense of "Indianness" and national responsibility.

During a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Gandhi of repeatedly undermining the Constitution and demoralising the Indian Armed Forces.

"The Constitution that Rahul Gandhi takes along with him everywhere -- if anyone is challenging it, it is Rahul Gandhi," Bhatia said, adding, "It would not be wrong to say that if someone is destroying the confidence of our brave armed forces, it is Rahul Gandhi."

The sharp criticism came after a Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi pulled up the Congress leader over his claim that over 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory had been occupied by China.

"If you were a true Indian, you would not say all this," the bench remarked, although it also stayed defamation proceedings against Gandhi related to the comment.

Gandhi had made the claim during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, stating that "Chinese troops are thrashing Indian Army soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh," referring to the December 9, 2022, face-off in Tawang.

Bhatia said the comments were "factually baseless".

"We all know that our forces, displaying unprecedented valour, fought the Chinese troops in Galwan. However, Rahul Gandhi had claimed that China has occupied 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory. He also said that the Indian Army is being thrashed by Chinese troops," he stated.

Echoing the Supreme Court's concerns, Bhatia said, "Even the apex court has questioned how Rahul Gandhi knows that 2,000 sq km of Indian territory has been occupied by China. Was he there? Does he have any credible material to support this?"

"The apex court is making this serious comment on Rahul Gandhi's Indianness, which concerns every citizen of the country," he said.

Bhatia slammed Gandhi's decision to air such sensitive remarks on social media instead of raising them in Parliament -- which the apex court has also mentioned.

"You were earlier an MP and now the Leader of Opposition. Why don't you raise these questions in Parliament instead of peddling falsehoods on social media?" he asked.

The BJP spokesperson further recalled previous incidents where Gandhi was allegedly rebuked by the judiciary. He cited the Supreme Court's criticism of Gandhi's remarks during the Rafale deal controversy, when the Congress leader attributed statements to the apex court that were never made.

"Back then, too, the court had called his statements unfortunate and demanded an unconditional apology," Bhatia noted.

Bhatia also brought up a past defamation case involving freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, in which the court had reminded Gandhi of a letter written by his grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, praising Savarkar and had cautioned him to refrain from making "irresponsible comments" against the freedom fighters.

Calling Gandhi's repeated remarks part of a "distorted anti-India mentality", Bhatia said such rhetoric raises questions about his credibility and maturity to hold a constitutional position like the Leader of Opposition.
Ahmedabad, Aug 4 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday conducted an on-site inspection of the under-construction Bulk Drug Park in Jambusar, Bharuch district, a key initiative under the Central Government's Bulk Drug Park Policy.

Ahmedabad, Aug 4 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday conducted an on-site inspection of the under-construction Bulk Drug Park in Jambusar, Bharuch district, a key initiative under the Central Governmentas Bulk Drug Park Policy.

Spread over 2,015 acres (approx 815 hectares), the park is being developed with an estimated cost of Rs 3,920 crore, with Rs 550 crore allocated specifically for common infrastructure facilities.

During the visit, the Chief Minister inspected key construction works, including the approach road, compound wall, internal road network, precast drainage system, internal water supply, and effluent disposal systems. These works form part of the common infrastructure backbone essential to the park's functioning.

CM Patel was briefed on the technical progress and offered inputs to expedite timelines and ensure quality benchmarks.

The Bulk Drug Park is being developed by GIDC under the Government of India's 2020 Bulk Drug Park Policy, announced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to promote self-reliance in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing.

Gujarat is among the select states chosen for this strategic initiative aimed at reducing dependency on imports and enhancing domestic drug production capacity.

As part of his broader initiative to personally monitor the progress of key developmental projects during district visits, the Chief Minister also planted a tree on the project site. He reiterated the state's commitment to building world-class pharmaceutical infrastructure that will strengthen Indiaas healthcare manufacturing ecosystem.

The park is designed with state-of-the-art common infrastructure facilities, including a CETP (common effluent treatment plant), solvent recovery systems, stormwater drainage, solid waste management, research labs, training centres, a safety audit facility, and shared utilities like steam and testing labs.

The Central government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore in granta'ina'aid toward this infrastructure component.

During the inspection, CM Patel was accompanied by local MLA D.K. Swami, GIDC Managing Director Praveena D.K., Bharuch District Collector Gaurang Makwana, GIDC Chief Engineer Menat, and other senior officials.

The park is expected to be completed by March 2027, with its infrastructure serving as a major boost to Gujaratas industrial and healthcare landscape.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : The Finance Act, 2025, has provided substantial relief under the new tax regime with new slabs and tax rate, the Parliament was informed on Monday.

The new measures will play a significant role in creating a fair and equitable system of direct taxation that ensures no additional burden of direct taxes on the working and middle-class population of the country, Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

"Slabs and rates have been changed across the board to benefit all taxpayers. The new structure substantially reduces the taxes of the middle class and leaves more money in their hands, boosting household consumption, savings and investment," he said.

The Finance Act, 2025, has increased the income threshold for claiming a tax rebate under section 87A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for resident individual taxable under the new tax regime under section 115 BAC of the Act from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh, and the maximum rebate amount has been raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 60,000.

Marginal relief as provided earlier under the new tax regime is also applicable for income marginally higher than Rs 12,00,000, informed the minister.

According to the government, there are no specific or separate measures taken to monitor the long-term impact of these reforms in taxation on domestic consumption and economic growth.

The new income tax bill will make filing taxes easier for common citizens and small businesses.

According to BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, who chaired the Parliamentary Select Committee responsible for reviewing the legislation, the new law, once passed, will simplify Indiaas decades-old tax structure, cut down legal confusion, and help individual taxpayers and MSMEs avoid unnecessary litigation.

"The current Income Tax Act of 1961 has undergone more than 4,000 amendments and contains over 5 lakh words. It has become too complex. The new bill simplifies that by nearly 50 per cent -- making it far easier for ordinary taxpayers to read and understand," Panda told IANS last month.

He highlighted that the greatest beneficiaries of this simplification would be small business owners and MSMEs who often lack the legal and financial expertise to navigate complicated tax structures.
Bengaluru, Aug 4 : The Congress party has postponed its protest event, led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, to August 8 in view of the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren. The protest was originally scheduled to be held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on August 5 (Tuesday).

Speaking to reporters at Freedom Park on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar made the announcement. "The scheduled programme stands committed; it is only postponed by three days due to the demise of our honourable leader and former CM Shibu Soren, who had a long-standing association with the Congress party. He was one of the key leaders of our INDIA bloc," he said.

The rescheduled protest will be held on August 8 in Bengaluru. The press conference by Rahul Gandhi regarding the alleged election fraud, which was to be held prior to the protest, has also been postponed. Details of the new schedule will be shared later, Shivakumar added.

"Rahul Gandhi will explain many things to the nation," he remarked.

Responding to the BJP's plans to stage a counter-protest and criticism, Shivakumar said, "We have every right to raise our voice and express our opinions. Whether we are right or wrong -- that is for the people of the country and the Election Commission of India to decide. Before knowing the facts, what does the BJP even have to say in this matter? Let them continue with their statements. We are not going to silence them."

"They are welcome to make remarks. But at the same time, they must understand that this is a democracy, and this is the voice of the people," he emphasised.

Speaking about alleged election discrepancies, he said, "We conducted a thorough investigation into election-related irregularities. I became aware of it during the Assembly elections. We were able to rectify it in many constituencies, but in some places it was beyond our control. On the last day, the voters' list was published, and by the time our candidates noticed the irregularities, it was too late. We took some time. We could have filed an election petition, but we know how that process plays out -- it has its own legal procedures."

"We will inform the nation about what has happened here," he asserted.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, Karnataka Congress in-charge and party General Secretary, added, "The ECI now stands for the 'Election Capture of India' -- that's what it has turned into. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party will not allow that to happen -- neither by the pseudo Election Commission nor by any other authority."
Seoul, Aug 4 : South Korea's ruling Democratic Party (DP) proposed a controversial broadcasting bill aimed at reducing the government's influence over public broadcasters on Monday, prompting the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to launch a filibuster in protest.

Seoul, Aug 4 (IANS) South Koreaas ruling Democratic Party (DP) proposed a controversial broadcasting bill aimed at reducing the government's influence over public broadcasters on Monday, prompting the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to launch a filibuster in protest.

The amendment to the Broadcasting Act -- one of three contentious broadcasting bills aimed at reforming the governance structure of the nation's public broadcast media by weakening the government and the National Assembly's power to name board directors -- was tabled at a parliamentary plenary session before the Assembly's extraordinary session ends at midnight Tuesday.

In protest, PPP lawmakers launched a filibuster at 4:01 p.m. in an attempt to block the bill., Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, DP leader Jung Chung-rae said the ruling party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, would seek to pass the broadcasting bills at the session.

Jung said the DP will also push to pass other bills opposed by the PPP, including the "yellow envelope law," aimed at broadening labour protections and restricting companies from seeking damages for legitimate union activities, as well as a revision to the Commercial Act intended to better protect minority shareholders.

Earlier in the session, lawmakers voted to revise the order of the bills to be handled, placing the Broadcasting Act ahead of the Commercial Act and the yellow envelope bill.

A filibuster involves lawmakers holding the floor for extended periods as a way to prevent a parliamentary vote or delay the passage of a bill. Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be stopped after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of all parliament members, or 180 lawmakers, consent to it.

Only one bill can be realistically passed before the Assembly's extraordinary session ends.
Japan will continue to support Ukraine's efforts to achieve lasting peace as soon as possible  MFA

Japan will continue to support Ukraine's efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible, Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi said following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha.

According to the website of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Takeshi held talks on Monday with Sybiha, who is visiting Japan to attend the Expo 2025 exhibition in Osaka, Kansai.

Sybiha expressed gratitude for Japan's continued support for Ukraine and noted the deep connection between the two countries. He then expressed readiness to further strengthen cooperation with Japan, as the situation around Ukraine affects the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The parties had a frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine and the latest state of international efforts. Both ministers agreed on the need to continue close cooperation," the message reads.
Bengaluru, Aug 4 : The Karnataka Unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party are attempting to create unrest in the country after realizing that it has no chance of winning in the Bihar Assembly elections and that the NDA is certain to come to power there.

Presiding over a state-level preparatory meeting for the "Har Ghar Tiranga (Tricolour in Every Home)" campaign held at Jagannath Bhavan, the BJP state headquarters in Bengaluru, the Karnataka BJP chief and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, said the Congress leaders are falsely claiming that the Election Commission is being misused in Maharashtra and other states.

He also criticised Congress leaders, CM Siddaramaiah and Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar for alleging voter fraud in Karnataka.

"They are falsely accusing the BJP of misusing the Election Commission in Bengaluru Central and Rural constituencies. Through such accusations, the Congress is attempting to create disorder in the country," he charged.

Vijayendra further stated that the Congress was defeated in Maharashtra and other state Assembly elections. After that, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress were desperate to come to power at the Centre by any means, but they failed in that too.

"Rahul Gandhi has a special affection for Karnataka. During elections, we had stated that the Congress would turn Karnataka into an ATM. They are now misusing the state to fund black money," Vijayendra said.

"The Congress is burdening the people of Karnataka by increasing prices," he added.

"If Karnataka has become a safe haven for anti-nationals, and Rahul Gandhi shows such affection for the state, it is not because of the people here, but because all systems are being manipulated and surrendered to the Congress high command," he alleged.

"Rahul Gandhi is coming again to spread misinformation. The BJP is fully prepared to counter it," he claimed.

"It wouldn't be wrong to say that Congress is siding with anti-nationals. Just to appease minorities, they are sowing seeds of division in society. Under Congress' leadership, unrest is being created in both the state and the country," he said.

Vijayendra appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, saying it successfully informs the public about national developments, current affairs, and inspiring individuals.

He noted that the latest episode was viewed at 33,000 booths across the country, with Karnataka BJP ranking fourth nationwide. He thanked party workers for this achievement.

He continued, "Prime Minister Narendra Modiji does not come from a political family. He served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. At a time when the people were tired of the UPA government and youth felt India had no future, he instilled confidence in the nation that there was a bright future, development was possible, and a corruption-free administration could be delivered. He introduced himself as a servant of the people."

"Prime Minister Narendra Modiji did not become Prime Minister out of sympathy. Through transparent governance and development, India has transformed into the world's fourth-largest economic power. In just 11 years, the defence budget has tripled," he said.

He added that the Prime Minister's vision of every Indian celebrating Independence Day with pride and patriotism is now becoming a reality.

K. Surendran, former Kerala BJP President and in-charge of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign in South India, who inaugurated the event, also lashed out at the Congress. "Through Operation Sindoor, India taught a lesson to Pakistani terrorists. But Rahul Gandhi's Congress seems to stand with Pakistan. Under the leadership of Sonia and Rahul, the Congress is now behaving like an anti-India party," he alleged.

"Urban Naxals and the 'Tukde Tukde' gang are controlling Rahul Gandhi. When abroad, he speaks against India. He speaks against the Election Commission, Central investigative agencies, the Supreme Court, Aadhaar, and GST. It appears he desires the destruction of India," he charged.

He condemned the anti-national actions of the Congress and the Left parties and said that under PM Modi's leadership, the youth and the people are with the BJP. "This time, the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign carries even greater significance," he asserted.

On this occasion, the campaign poster was unveiled.

The protest planned by the BJP for Tuesday (August 5) near the Gandhi statue in front of the Vidhana Soudha has been postponed due to certain reasons, stated BJP State General Secretary P. Rajeev.

He stated that the protest was intended to be held with the participation of MLAs and MLCs to condemn the allegations made by Congress leaders regarding irregularities in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

BJP State Secretary H.C. Tammesh Gowda, State Mahila Morcha President K.C. Manjula, State Yuva Morcha President and MLA Dheeraj Muniraju, Yuva Morcha Vice President Dr Mallikarjun Balikai, and BJP Cells Coordinator S. Dattatreya were present.
Kolkata, Aug 4 : With less than two months left for Durga Puja, Kolkata Police have started an awareness campaign on a new type of cyber fraud, calling it the 'online five-star scam'.

Through this new scam, cyber fraudsters are innovatively trapping travellers. They have started deceiving travellers by calling them to book luxury hotels.

According to Kolkata Police officers, many travellers are losing money by falling into the trap of booking hotels in various tourist destinations of the country, especially in Puri.

A police source said on Monday that the matter came to light recently after a resident of the Parnasree area in South Kolkata lost Rs 70,000 while booking a hotel for Rs 7,000 for a trip to Puri.

"We started receiving similar complaints that cyber fraudsters are setting traps not only in the country, but also for hotel bookings abroad. It is a kind of online five-star scam by cyber fraudsters. We have started warning people about this through social media," said a city police officer.

Police sources said that those who are trying to book hotels in various tourist destinations in the country and abroad are becoming the targets of these cyber fraudsters.

"A large number of people search for hotels online or on search engines. In many cases, fraudsters are creating fake websites of famous hotels. Their numbers are given there. Travellers are getting into trouble if they call the fraudsters' numbers given on the fake websites. Especially in the case of hotel bookings abroad, they are also lured with huge discounts," said the police.

Police said that a stronger campaign will be carried out to raise awareness among people about these cyber frauds before the Puja, when a large number of people from West Bengal go on vacation during Puja holidays.

The police pointed out that these fraudsters also keep an eye online to see who is trying to book a continental hotel or a four or five-star hotel. They also try to find out that information on social media.

"In many cases, cyber fraudsters themselves call tourists using social media sources. Sometimes they introduce themselves as a travel agency, sometimes as an official of a luxury hotel, saying that they want to assist tourists in helping with the booking process," the police said.

They even ask tourists to fill out forms to get crucial information. Then a QR code is sent to 'confirm' the booking.

"They will have to scan that QR code, and some OTPs will be sent to his phone, which he will have to share. By doing this, financial information is shared with fraudsters and they extract huge amounts of money from the tourist's bank account," said the police.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : The government has consistently undertaken wide-ranging reforms to improve the business environment, attract investments, and promote economic growth, the Parliament was informed on Monday, as the country is projected to clock GDP growth in the range of 6.3 per cent to 6.8 per cent in the current fiscal (FY26).

These measures include initiatives undertaken under the Ease of Doing Business programme, comprising the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP), Business-Ready assessment, Jan Vishwas, and Reducing Compliance Burden on Businesses and Citizens, said Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

As per the latest available Provisional Estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, GDP at constant prices is estimated to have grown by 6.5 per cent in 2024-25.

This growth was primarily driven by robust performance in the construction sector (9.4 per cent), public administration, defence and other services (8.9 per cent) and financial, real estate, and professional services (7.2 per cent).

Looking ahead, the Economic Survey 2024-25 has projected GDP growth for the year 2025a"26 in the range of 6.3 per cent to 6.8 per cent.

The government has undertaken a series of initiatives to attract greater domestic and foreign investment, focusing on robust capital expenditure, infrastructure development, financial sector reforms, and enhancing the ease of doing business.

The Union Budget 2025a"26 identifies investment as one of the four key engines of growth. Complementary measures include credit guarantee schemes, the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, and the creation of a strong skilling ecosystem.

In addition, the government has implemented wide-ranging and transformative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) reforms across sectors such as defence, civil aviation, pharmaceuticals, single-brand retail, contract manufacturing, digital media, insurance, and space.

To maintain Indiaas appeal as an investment destination, the FDI policy is reviewed regularly and updated as needed. An investor-friendly framework is in place, with most sectors a" except a few of strategic importance a" open to 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route, requiring no prior government approval, said the minister.

The Union Budget 2025-26 has set the fiscal deficit target for 2025a"26 at 4.4 per cent of GDP.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Parliament was informed on Monday that the Central Board of Direct Taxes regularly receives detailed financial data under global tax cooperation frameworks, including the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) with over 100 jurisdictions including Switzerland, which it uses to verify ITRs filed by Indian taxpayers.

As a result, a total of 24,678 taxpayers reported their foreign assets and income in revised ITRs for AY 2024-25, while 5,483 taxpayers filed belated returns reporting foreign assets worth Rs 29,208acrore and foreign income of Rs 1,089.88acrore, Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, said in the Lok Sabha.

The minister said that the Government of India has been proactively engaging with foreign governments, for exchange of information, and has entered into tax treaties including Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements, Tax Information Exchange Agreements, the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and the SAARC Multilateral Agreement, with other countries which provide for mutual administrative assistance including exchange of information concerning taxes.

India has also joined the AEOI, based on the Common Reporting Standard and receives financial account information of Indian residents in other countries with which the AEOI relationship is activated. India has also entered into an InterGovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the US in 2015 for sharing of financial account information on automatic basis.

The Government has taken proactive and effective steps whenever any credible information has been received with regard to black money abroad, whether in HSBC cases, ICIJ cases, Paradise Papers or Panama Papers.

These steps include constitution of Multi-Agency Group in relevant cases, calling for definite information from foreign jurisdictions, bringing the black money to tax under relevant law, launching prosecutions against the offenders, the minister said.

The NUDGE (Non-Intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable) Taxpayers Campaign was launched by the Income Tax Department in November 2024 to improve taxpayersa voluntary compliance for declaration of foreign income and assets.

Under the campaign, informational messages were sent via SMS and email to selected resident taxpayers in respect of whom information has been received under the Automatic Exchange of Information that they are holding foreign assets and/or having income from foreign sources, to accurately report foreign assets and income from foreign sources in their Income Tax Returns, the minister said.

The current mechanisms have been successful in preventing the proliferation of black money, and have promoted a concerted global effort for curtailing bank secrecy for tax purposes and promoting tax transparency.

These measures have further been accompanied by digitisation and formalisation of the economy which have led to further reduction in the opportunities for proliferation of black money, the minister added.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr arrived in New Delhi on Monday on his first State Visit to India. Union Minister of State for External Affairs (MoS) Pabitra Margherita welcomed him at the airport.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal extended a warm welcome to Ferdinand R Marcos Jr and stated that this visit will further strengthen ties between India and Philippines.

"Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India and Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations," Jaiswal posted on X.

The Philippines President is in India for a five-day State visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is accompanied by First Lady Madame Louise Araneta Marcos. During his visit, he will meet Prime Minister Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and also travel to Bengaluru, before returning to the Philippines on August 8.

In an earlier press release, MEA stated, "This would be the first visit of President Marcos to India, since assumption of office of the President of the Philippines. During the visit, Prime Minister and President Marcos are scheduled to hold bilateral discussions on August 5. President Marcos will also be meeting Honorable Rastrapatiji Smt. Droupadi Murmu. External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar is also scheduled to call on President Marcos during this visit."

The diplomatic ties between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Since then, both nations have developed a strong partnership across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The two countries also engage closely at regional level, including through Indiaas Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN.

MEA further stated, "Indiaas relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our aAct Easta Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The forthcoming State Visit of President Marcos, coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation, and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest."
New Delhi, Aug 4 : The brain might become the target of new type 1 diabetes treatments and pave a better way for insulin management, according to a study.

Researchers had, over a decade ago, found that an acute complication of type 1 diabetes -- diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) -- can be resolved with the hormone leptin, even in the absence of insulin.

In the analysis, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the team explained how leptin affects the brain and how it might be used in future therapeutics.

DKA happens when the body is unable to make insulin and begins to break down fat for fuel. This can lead to a life-threatening buildup of sugar (glucose) and ketoacids in the blood.

Doctors have typically administered insulin to address the complication. But evidence now shows that, when insulin is insufficient, the brain plays a key role in driving DKA, explained researchers from the University of Washington in the US

When the pancreas can't make insulin, "the brain gets the message that the body is out of fuel, even if it's not. This information is being communicated in part by a low blood level of the hormone leptin," said Dr. Michael Schwartz, Professor of Medicine, at the Universityas School of Medicine.

Leptin helps the brain regulate appetite and body weight. Leptin is produced by your body's fat cells. The hormone is carried by the bloodstream into the brain, particularly an area called the hypothalamus.

The study noted that controlling blood glucose with leptin could unlock new avenues of treatment for patients.

Schwartz noted that insulin management is a substantial burden for patients and their families.

"I think if you could treat type 1 diabetes without daily insulin injections and blood sugar monitoring, patients would say that is the greatest thing ever," he added.

If the brain can be convinced that fuel stores are not depleted, or if specific brain neurons that trigger the production of glucose and ketones are turned off, the body stops the reaction that leads to severe hyperglycaemia and DKA.

"This new framework challenges that conventional wisdom about insulin deficiency as the sole cause of diabetic ketoacidosis that has been widely accepted for decades," said Schwartz.

"It shows that the brain plays a powerful role in the genesis of uncontrolled diabetes -- and may hold the key to new treatments."
Hyderabad, Aug 4 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday said that Hyderabad has transformed into a global GCC hub in 20 months of the Congress government.

The Global Capability Centre (GCC) growth is an important step towards achieving the TelanganaRising 2047 vision and the goal of a one-trillion-dollar economy, he said at the inauguration of US pharma major Eli Lilly's new technology and innovation facility here.

The Chief Minister described the launch as clinching proof that in less than 20 months, with IT & Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu's vision and hard work, the government made Hyderabad the global GCC capital and hub.

"We are not opening any ordinary centre or GCC, but a nerve centre of Eli Lilly, like the brain of the corporation, will operate from here. It will manage, lead and accelerate Eli Lillyas global operations," he said.

The Chief Minister said that the GCC growth in Hyderabad, in line with the Telangana Rising 2047 vision, will help in the stateas roadmap to achieving a one trillion-dollar economy. "We are proud that 1 in every 3 vaccines administered anywhere in the world is developed or manufactured in Hyderabad."

Hyderabad has become the preferred global destination for cutting-edge capability centres of the worldas top pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The city is the Life Sciences capital of India, with the presence of over 2,000 companies, he added.

The Hyderabad GCC will integrate Lilly's advanced technology capabilities across key functions, supporting accelerated innovation, enhanced efficiency, and improved health outcomes for patients globally.

The facility will support innovation and strengthen digital capabilities across Lilly's global operations. The new centre will create opportunities for local talent and advance Hyderabad's biotech ecosystem.

By focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence (Al), automation, cloud computing, and software product engineering, the site will contribute to solving some of the world's most pressing health challenges while also creating growth opportunities for local talent.

The company has already onboarded 100 professionals at the 220,000 square feet Hyderabad facility and plans to expand the headcount to 1,500 over the next few years.

The Chief Minister expressed commitment to providing a transparent, progressive and innovation-driven ecosystem, so that the Life Sciences industry can grow in scope and change the health sciences capabilities for the entire world.

"You are not just living and working in Hyderabad - you are now part of our family. You are shaping the future of global healthcare from Hyderabad," he told the Eli Lilly workforce.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : President Droupadi Murmu visited the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here to pay her last respects to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who passed away earlier on Monday.

President Murmu met Soren's family, including his son and current Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, to offer her heartfelt condolences.

"President Droupadi Murmu visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi and paid last respects to Shri Shibu Soren. She offered her condolences to his son and Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren", the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on its X handle.

Earlier in the day, the President expressed deep sorrow over Soren's demise, describing it as a "big loss in the space of social justice".

"The demise of Shri Shibu Soren Ji is a big loss in the space of social justice. He championed the cause of tribal identity and the formation of the state of Jharkhand," President Murmu wrote on X.

"Besides his work at the grassroots, he also contributed as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, as a Union Minister, and as a Member of Parliament. His emphasis on the welfare of the people, especially the tribal communities, will always be remembered. I extend my deepest condolences to his son and Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren Ji, other family members, and admirers," she said.

Soren passed away Monday morning at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after battling a prolonged illness. He had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications for over a month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited the hospital to pay tribute and meet the grieving family.

"Went to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to Shri Shibu Soren Ji. Also met his family. My thoughts are with Hemant Ji, Kalpana Ji, and the admirers of Shri Shibu Soren Ji," the Prime Minister posted on X.

Fondly known as "Guruji" or "Dishom Guru" in Jharkhand, Shibu Soren was a towering figure in tribal politics and a key architect of the Jharkhand statehood movement.

Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village (then Bihar, now Jharkhand), he belonged to the Santhal tribal community. Soren served as Jharkhand's Chief Minister three times - first in 2005, then from 20082009, and again from 20092010though his terms were often cut short due to political instability.
Kolkata, Aug 4 : BJP's IT Cell chief and party's central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, on Monday, highlighted an event of a group of Muslim women attacking a group of Hindu women here after the latter refused to chant "Allah Hu Akbar" slogan in a public place, as was demanded by the attackers.

Malviya, shared on his official social media account, a post by the West Bengal unit of the BJP made earlier in the day, where the latter also uploaded a video, in which one of the attacked Hindu women was seen and heard describing the attack they faced in South Kolkata.

IANS, however, was not in a position to check the authenticity of the video.

In the video, the victim woman was seen and heard as claiming that the attack on her, as well as some other Hindu women, took place at Dhakuria Lake in South Kolkata.

As per her version, they were stopped by a group of Muslim women, who asked them to chant the "Allah Hu Akbar" slogan.

"One of us calmly pointed out that this was a public place and not a religious place. She also argued that since they were Hindus, they could not be forced to chant that particular religious slogan. Thereafter, she was attacked," said the woman, who was seen and heard claiming in the video.

Reacting to the video, BJP leader Malviya, on Monday afternoon, claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee achieved what even Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his protege Huseyn Suhrawardy could not by making Kolkata unsafe for native Bengali Hindus.

"Once a vibrant, affable, and cosmopolitan city, Kolkata now lives in fear. If this is the condition of women in the state capital, one can only imagine the horrors unfolding in mofussil towns and villages," he claimed.

According to BJP leader Malviya, there was Sandeshkhali in every corner of West Bengal, and Mamata Banerjee's silence on this issue was complicity.

At the time the report was filed, there was neither any reaction from the police administration nor from the ruling Trinamool Congress on the matter.
Dhaka, Aug 4 : Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will undertake a two-day visit to Bangladesh starting August 23, the local media reported on Monday. This would mark the first bilateral visit by a Pakistani foreign minister in a long time amid growing closeness between Dhaka and Islamabad since the exit of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, last year.

Citing diplomatic sources, Bangladeshas leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo reported that during his visit Dar will hold discussions with the Foreign Affairs Advisor Towhid Hossain and also call on Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor to the interim government in the country. The report indicated that Dar will engage with Bangladeshi political leaders during his visit to Dhaka.

"The agenda has not been decided yet. Hopefully, it will be finalised in early August," Prothom Alo quoted Hossain as saying in response to a question on the priorities of the upcoming Dhaka-Islamabad foreign ministerial meeting.

In April, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visited Dhaka for the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) which were held after a gap of 15 years.

During Baloch's visit, Bangladesh had raised the issue of financial claim to the tune of USD 4.32 billion from Pakistan as a fair share from the assets of undivided Pakistan before 1971 besides also seeking a formal apology for the genocide committed by the Pakistani armed forces during the Liberation War.

Dar was scheduled to be in Dhaka immediately after Baloch's trip but had to cancel the visit following the Pakistan-sponsored heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which witnessed the massacre of 26 innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Relations between Dhaka and Islamabad remained strained during the 15-year rule of the former Awami League government due to issues such as the war crimes trials in Bangladesh and broader regional politics. Key issues in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations have always included Pakistan's role in the 1971 genocide during the Liberation War, the return of stranded assets, and compensation.

However, things have changed drastically since the formation of the interim government led by Yunus in August 2024.

Last year, Yunus met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral ties.

In January, four high-ranking officials of Pakistan's notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including the Director General of Analysis Major General Shahid Amin Afsar, visited Dhaka, marking a significant shift in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations.

A Bangladeshi military delegation led by Lt. Gen. SM Kamrul Hasan, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, also visited Rawalpindi a" the nerve centre of Pakistanas military establishment a" from January 13 to 18. The delegation met the chiefs of the Pakistani army, navy, and air force, highlighting a deepening military dialogue.

The two nations historically estranged since the brutal 1971 Liberation War a" wherein Pakistani forces massacred millions of people and reportedly raped hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi women a" are now demonstrating signs of rapprochement.
In Vovchansk direction, participation of mercenaries from number of countries, in particular China, being recorded in the war  Zelenskyy

In Vovchansk direction, soldiers are recording the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and African countries in the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported following a conversation with soldiers of the 17th separate motorized infantry battalion of the 57th brigade named after Koshovy Ataman Kost Hordienko.

We spoke with commanders about the frontline situation, the defense of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the battles. We also specifically addressed the issues of drone supply and deployment, recruitment, and direct funding for the brigades. Our warriors in this sector are reporting the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and African countries in the war. We will respond, Zelenskyy said on X Monday.

The President also presented the defenders with state awards.

It is an honor for me to be here. Thank you for fighting, serving your state and the Ukrainian people, and for supporting one another, he added.
Mumbai, Aug 4 : Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday condemned remarks made by NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad against Sanatan Dharma, calling them "unfortunate" and an insult to India's cultural roots.

Mumbai, Aug 4 (IANS) Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday condemned remarks made by NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad against Sanatan Dharma, calling them "unfortunate" and an insult to India's cultural roots.

This comes after Jitendra Awhad, while speaking to the media on Saturday, had sparked controversy by stating, "Sanatan Dharma has ruined India. There was never a religion called Sanatan Dharma. We are followers of Hindu Dharma."

Speaking to IANS, Sanjay Nirupam said, "Hindu Dharma is the root of India's culture and Sanatan tradition. Leaders like Jitendra Awhad are insulting Sanatan Dharma, which is unfortunate. India faced foreign invasions for a thousand years, endured forced conversions and aggressive religious expansion. Yet, the Sanatan tradition survived. Despite the spread of Islam and Christianity, Sanatan Dharma remained alive because India preserved its dignity and cultural ethos. Sanatan Dharma is not a recent idea but a timeless tradition that has endured countless attempts to erase it."

Nirupam further reacted to BJP leader Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's remarks, in which she accused the Congress of "torturing Hindus" and practising appeasement politics towards Muslims during its tenure in power.

Nirupam said, "While in power, Congress coined the term 'saffron terror' to malign the RSS and Hindutva. Innocent people associated with Hindutva were falsely implicated in the Malegaon blast case. Now, after 17 years, the NIA court has declared them innocent. This clearly proves that the entire 'saffron terror' narrative was politically motivated. Sadhvi Pragya is right in saying terrorism has no religion or colour. Congress defamed the saffron colour, which is revered in this country, and now it's proving to be a shameful chapter for them."

Nirupam further commented on the Supreme Court's recent observation directed at Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi. The court questioned Gandhi over his repeated claims that China had occupied 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory during the 2020 Galwan Valley standoff.

"Rahul Gandhi must make responsible statements, especially in his role as the LoP. If he alleges territorial occupation, he must have evidence. The Supreme Court has rightly asked for proof. Such serious matters should not be reduced to political rhetoric. If he wishes to question the government, he should do it in Parliament following proper procedures," Nirupam told IANS.

Despite the criticism, the Supreme Court granted Rahul Gandhi relief by staying criminal defamation proceedings initiated over his remarks concerning the Indian Army.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : India's total office stock is set to cross the landmark 1 billion square feet (bn sq ft) in office supply by Q3 2025, a major landmark in the office real estate market, bringing India's stock a few steps closer to that of other global gateway markets, a report said on Monday.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) India's total office stock is set to cross the landmark 1 billion square feet (bn sq ft) in office supply by Q3 2025, a major landmark in the office real estate market, bringing Indiaas stock a few steps closer to that of other global gateway markets, a report said on Monday.

"From under 200 mn sq ft in 2005 to nearly 1 bn sq ft in 2025, office supply has grown at a CAGR of 8.6 per cent in the last 20 years," Knight Frank said in a report.

The expansion underscores Indiaas emergence as one of the fastest-growing and most future-ready office markets globally.

According to the report, the cumulative office stock across the top 8 Indian cities stood at 993 million sq ft (mn sq ft) as of the first half of 2025 (H1).

Bengaluru leads with 229 mn sq ft (23 per cent), followed by NCR with 199 mn sq ft (20 per cent), and Mumbai at 169 mn sq ft (17 per cent).

"As we prepare to cross the 1 billion sq ft threshold, itas not just a number; it reflects the growing institutionalisation, maturity, and global relevance of Indiaas office market," Knight Frank India Chairman and Managing Director, Shishir Baijal, said.

This transformation has been powered by an ecosystem of world-class developers, investors, and occupiers who have continually raised the bar in creating dynamic, sustainable workspaces, he added.

Indiaas office stock has grown at a CAGR of 8.6 per cent over CY2005a"2025. Bengaluru, NCR, and MMR have led this expansion, collectively accounting for 60 per cent of the total stock. Close behind, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai contribute another 33 per cent, while Ahmedabad and Kolkata make up the remaining 7 per cent of Indiaas office stock, the report said.

As per the report, Indiaas office demand has transformed dramatically from 1990 to 2025, evolving from a tech-industry support base into a global hub for capability centres, rising in the value chain.

Spanning seven distinct phases, this journey reflects resilience, innovation, and policy-led reform.

Milestones like the SEZ policy, regulatory improvements, and infrastructure investments have enabled the market to reach the 1 billion sq ft mark, underscoring scale, quality, and institutional depth, the report said.

As per the report, looking ahead, the growth runway remains significant.

With current office stock nearing 1 bn sq ft, India is poised to add its next billion square feet by 2036a"2041, depending on the pace of expansion.

These projections are not merely assumption-based; they are anchored in Indiaas expected nominal GDP growth, historical absorption trends, and increased institutionalisation of the office sector.

At a 12.7 per cent CAGR, supported by strong economic momentum and formalisation, the milestone could arrive by 2036, the report stated.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Rani Kapur, former Chairperson of Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd (Sona Comstar), on Monday requested the UK authorities to conduct a thorough probe into her son Sunjay Kapur's death, saying that his death may not have been natural or accidental, but may, in fact, have involved foul play, including the possibility of murder, abetment, conspiracy, fraud, and forgery.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) Rani Kapur, former Chairperson of Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd (Sona Comstar), on Monday requested the UK authorities to conduct a thorough probe into her son Sunjay Kapuras death, saying that his death may not have been natural or accidental, but may, in fact, have involved foul play, including the possibility of murder, abetment, conspiracy, fraud, and forgery.

She has formally written to the UK authorities seeking a more in-depth probe into his death.

Rani Kapur said his son was a US citizen of Indian origin with significant personal, professional, and financial ties across the UK, the USA, Singapore, Germany, and India. He was a high-net-worth individual with active business interests and asset holdings in multiple jurisdictions.

"I am compelled to bring to your urgent attention that credible and concerning evidence has surfaced indicating that his death may not have been natural or accidental, but may in fact have involved foul play, including the possibility of murder, abetment, conspiracy, fraud, and forgery, some elements of which, given that he died at Dukeas Ground of Old Guards Polo Club, appear to have occurred within the United Kingdom and, more particularly, within the jurisdiction of Surrey Police," Rani Kapur said in her formal request.

Sunjay Kapur passed away on June 12 during a polo match in England. He reportedly suffered a fatal cardiac arrest after accidentally swallowing a bee, which got stuck in his throat and triggered a severe allergic reaction.

She further stated in her request that since the date of his death, "I have come into possession of records and have come across facts which point to prima facie forged legal and financial documents, dubious asset transfers and suspicious legal filings, indications of coercion or collusion between individuals who stood to gain financially from his demise".

According to her, there are also compelling reasons to believe that "his death may have been facilitated or orchestrated as part of a coordinated transnational conspiracy, with the involvement of individuals and entities located in the UK, India and maybe the United States".

Given the gravity of the matter and the possible presence of multiple offences under the UK law including murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, fraud by false representation, forgery, and perversion of the course of justice, "I respectfully request for immediate registration of a formal complaint and initiation of a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding my sonas death", she added.

Ranu Kapur also requested the UK authorities to seize and preserve all evidence, including medical records, digital communications, financial documents, and CCTV or forensic evidence from the place of death, liaise with Indian and US authorities, where relevant, to investigate possible international aspects of the crime, and conduct a forensic audit of my sonas financial and legal affairs in the UK following his death.

Last month, Sona Comstar said that Rani Kapur has had no role, direct or indirect, in Sona Comstar since at least 2019 and has "no locus standi on any matter" related to the company. In a stock exchange filing, the Haryana-based company said that she is neither a shareholder, director, nor officer of the Company.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Reports of human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in its 2018 and 2019 reports on Kashmir, documented allegations of enforced disappearances, custodial torture, and restrictions on freedom of expression in Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

The unauthorised grip of Pakistan over the region often comes to the fore in local media outlets. They have covered instances of gender-based violence and suppression of minority voices, particularly in areas where military presence is heavy.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (2021) further highlighted the lack of judicial recourse for victims, noting that military courts often bypass civilian legal frameworks. The ecological cost of Islamabad's developmental policies in the region has been severe.

According to the Pakistan Forest Institute (2020), GB has lost over 30 per cent of its forest cover in the past two decades due to unchecked logging and infrastructure projects.

This deforestation has exacerbated the frequency and intensity of flash floods, as documented by WWF Pakistan and ReliefWeb following the 2022 monsoon season.

In 2017, protests erupted in Muzaffarabad and Neelum Valley against illegal timber trade allegedly backed by local officials and military-linked contractors. Coverage by some prominent newspapers revealed that despite public outcry, no substantive action was taken to halt the deforestation, raising concerns about institutional complicity.

While the region generates significant revenue through tourism and natural resources, local communities see little benefit. The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) reported that GB attracted over 1.2 million tourists in 2023, yet most of the revenue is funnelled into military-run enterprises or Islamabad-based agencies.

Land appropriation by the military has also intensified. The International Commission of Jurists (2022) noted that thousands of acres in Skardu and Hunza have been transferred to the Pakistan Army under the guise of "strategic development."

Local protests, covered by various television channels and prominent newspapers, have been met with arrests and media blackouts. Subsidies for basic commodities remain elusive.

According to a prominent business daily, residents of GB pay higher rates for wheat and electricity than those in Punjab or Sindh, despite the region's harsh terrain and limited infrastructure. This economic disparity has fuelled resentment and calls for provincial status, which Islamabad continues to deflect.

Tourism, once a community-driven enterprise, is now largely monopolised by military-linked corporations. Investigative reports have exposed how hotels, transport services, and even trekking permits are controlled by entities affiliated with the Pakistan Army.

Local entrepreneurs, interviewed by news reporters, lament that they are being edged out of the market despite years of investment and experience.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir stands at a crossroads. While its natural beauty and strategic importance are undeniable, the region's people continue to suffer under a regime that prioritises control over accountability.

As international attention remains fixated on the Line of Control, the lived realities of those in PoJK and GB demand urgent redress - from constitutional recognition and human rights protections to ecological restoration and economic equity. Without meaningful reform, the region risks becoming not just a geopolitical flashpoint, but a humanitarian and environmental tragedy in slow motion.
Patna, Aug 4 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced the implementation of the domicile policy in the state, which will be applicable from the upcoming Teachers Recruitment Examination (TRE)-4, scheduled for 2025.

Sharing the update on social media, Nitish Kumar emphasised his government's continued efforts to strengthen Bihar's education system since taking office in November 2005.

"A large number of teachers have been appointed over the years. Now, instructions have been issued to the Education Department to amend recruitment rules and prioritise Bihar residents (domicile holders) in teacher appointments. This will be implemented from TRE-4 onwards," Nitish Kumar stated.

The Chief Minister further announced that TRE-5 will be conducted in 2026, and the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) will be held prior to TRE-5, ensuring smoother coordination and better-qualified applicants.

The announcement has received strong backing from ruling party leaders.

JD-U MLC Neeraj Kumar hailed the move as a "historic decision" in the interest of Bihar's youth.

"This is a much-needed and people-centric step by Nitish Kumar. The RJD, which gave Rajya Sabha tickets to outsiders, including a person from Haryana and another from Singapore for the Lok Sabha, should reflect on their choices. Bihar's youth deserve the first right to jobs in the state," Neeraj Kumar remarked.

The Chief Minister's latest decision comes alongside other welfare measures. Notably, the honorariums of Mamata and Asha workers were recently increased.

ASHA workers will now receive an incentive of Rs 3,000, up from the earlier Rs 1,000.

Mamta workers will now be paid Rs 600 per delivery, compared to the previous Rs 300.

He had also announced a Journalist pension scheme by increasing from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000 under the Bihar Patrakar Samman Pension Yojana.

Social Security Pension was also hiked from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100 for the disabled, elderly and widows in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar announced 125 units of electricity free of cost to all eligible households, and the government has promised to create 1 crore jobs over the next five years.
Bhopal, Aug 4 : The Congress continued to hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Madhya Pradesh government on Monday, reiterating the accusation of "snatching" away tribals' land and weaken their Constitutional rights in forest areas during the ongoing Monsoon session of the Assembly, prompting Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and State Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah to respond in the House.

The Congress had targeted the BJP on tribal land issue from the very first day of the Monsoon session which started on July 28, and it continued to attack on the sixth day of the session as well.

A fresh political attack was made by former Minister and Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh, alleging that tribals' land was being forcibly taken away.

Raghogarh MLA Jaivardhan, who is the son of former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, alleged that, "tribals are being evicted from their land and suppressed with false allegations".

Chief Minister Yadav, who was present in the House, responded himself, stating that, "More than 26,500 forest rights leases to the tribal community during the tenure of the BJP government, which is the highest in Madhya Pradesh."

State Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah later told the House that the decision of forest land lease cases would be taken after conducting physical and aerial survey and complying with the guidelines laid down under the Madhya Pradesh Van Bhumi Shashwat Patta Prati Sanharan Rules, 2005.

The Union government's report revealed that Madhya Pradesh -- which has the largest forest cover in the country -- identified and registered more than 15,200 hectares of degraded forest land for the programme (until February 2), the highest among all states across the country.

As per the rule, any individual or private entity can undertake plantation on degraded land, including open forest and scrub land, wasteland, and catchment areas, and earn green credits that can be traded and serve as a metric for corporate social responsibility.

On the other hand, Congress had been collectively raising tribal land issue aggressively for the past few months from now; accelerated its voice again during the ongoing Monsoon session of the Assembly.

Congress legislators, led by the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Umang Singhar had held a symbolic protest on July 28.

Initially, the Congress had launched an scathing attack at the BJP on tribals' rights and forest land issues earlier in June this year when LoP Singhar, along with former Union Minister Arun Yadav, and Congress Working Committee member Kamleshwar Patel had said that tribals in the state are being denied their rights to water, forests, and land by the BJP government.

Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath and former LoP Ajay Singh and senior tribal leader as well as former Union Minister Kantilal Bhuria's son Vikrant Bhuria, who is a Congress MLA from Jhabua, had also been raising this issue at different occasions.
Hyderabad, Aug 4 : Telangana Congress leaders and workers left for Delhi by a special train on Monday to participate in a protest demanding Presidential assent for the Backward Classes reservation bills passed by the state legislature.

AICC in-charge of state affairs Meenakshi Natarajan, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Animal Husbandry Minister Vakati Srihari were among the leaders who boarded the train at Cherlapalli Railway Station.

Speaking to reporters, Mahesh Goud alleged that Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and other BJP leaders are trying to obstruct the 42 per cent quota to Backward Classes. He said that Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders were leading the historic movement for Backward Class reservations.

According to Congress sources, 25 leaders from each district have left for the national capital by the special train.

They will participate in a dharna to be led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at Jantar Mantar on August 6.

The Congress party has already announced three-day protest in Delhi to press the demand for Presidential assent for the two Bills passed by the state legislature in March to enhance reservation for BCs to 42 percent in education, employment and local bodies.

On August 5, Congress MPs will move an adjournment motion in Parliament to demand a debate on the Backward Class quota bills.

The next day, the Chief Minister along with his Cabinet colleagues and other Congress leaders, will stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar.

The Chief Minister and other senior leaders will seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu on August 7 to submit a memorandum regarding the pending bills.

Ponnam Prabhakar had earlier announced that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge will also meet the President.

The Congress leaders have slammed the BJP for blocking the Bills citing inclusion of Muslims.

BJP leaders have alleged that Congress is allocating 10 per cent reservation to Muslims in the guise of Backward Classes, though it had promised 42 per cent quota to Backward Classes

Due to the delay in the Presidential asset for the Bills, the state government decided to issue an ordinance to provide 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in upcoming local body elections.

However, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has not yet given approval for the draft ordinance sent last month.
Islamabad, Aug 4 : Pakistan's Sindh province has witnessed a sharp increase in gender-based violence cases, the Women Action Forum (WAF) said in its 2021-24 report on gender-based violence in the province.

In the report titled aCounting the woundsa, the WAF said that 2,564 gender-based violence cases were reported in Sindh, marking a steady rise in such cases. Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported that the WAF remained engaged in 70 per cent of the total cases, monitoring data gathered through print, electronic and social media.

Rights activists, journalists, development sector activists and academicians attended the gathering. During the event, the participants voiced concern regarding the increase in gender-based violence cases, including suicide, murder, honour killing, harassment.

According to the WAF, women did not feel protected due to government's non-serious approach towards the rise in such cases while the police also became a partner in the crime due to defective probe in such cases. In 90 per cent of the cases, people who were behind the crime belonged to victim's family.

While sharing figures, WAF leader Amar Sindhu stated that cases of honour killing have significantly increased which was a matter of concern and that the accused were from womenas family in majority of the cases.

Arfana Mallah said these were not just figures but 'wounds' on smiling faces. She stated that police did not lodge FIRs of victims. She further said, "Only the SSP concerned would respond to such nature of crime, and finally the officer also withdraws from pursuing it. Only SHOs prevail in these cases."

Haseen Massarat said that the sexual abuse among underage girls was also witnessing increase. She accused the police of leaving victims at the mercy of media for a 'trial' and mentioned that men were least interested to hear about ordeal of abused women.

Poet Khalida Munir said that a large number of women committed suicide in 2023. She mentioned that women are being killed on the pretext of marriage even today.

Shahnaz Sheedi said that women were not treated as human beings but regarded as animals in Pakistan's society. Ismail Kumbhar, Suleman Abro, Ghurfrana Arain of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Ramesh Kumar Gupta and others also expressed their views on the issue.
Kochi, Aug 4 : The Kerala High Court on Monday orally questioned the authority of Kerala State University's Vice Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal to continue the suspension of Registrar Dr. K.S. Anilkumar, despite revocation of the same by the University Syndicate.

The court was looking into a petition filed by Anilkumar seeking to quash several orders issued by the VC under Section 10(13) of the Kerala University Act, that prevented him from rejoining duty.

Anilkumar was suspended last month by the VC for his action of cancelling a private programme to be inaugurated by Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar, who is also the chancellor of Universities in the state.

The event was held at the Senate Hall of the Kerala University located inside the campus, and at the last minute, following a protest by the student and youth wings of the CPI-M, Anilkumar informed the Governor that the programme was cancelled.

The protest broke out when the protesters objected to a Bharat Mata portrait with a saffron flag kept on the dais of the venue.

On Monday, the court orally questioned the authority of the VC in keeping the Registrar under suspension.

"Which is the power you exercised for keeping him under suspension?" it asked.

To this, the counsel appearing for the VC submitted that he had acted in exercise of powers granted under the statute, citing Section 10(13) of the Kerala University Act.

The provision stipulates that if an emergency has arisen, the Vice Chancellor can exercise any power vested in the Syndicate or Academic Council and, in the next session, report the action taken to the authority concerned.

At the next syndicate meeting held on July 6, the suspension was reported to the Syndicate.

The VC's counsel further urged that the matter should be heard in length since the interim relief sought for revocation of suspension tantamount to granting final relief itself.

Later, the Court orally remarked that "that agenda itself was regarding the suspensionait is regarding a counter affidavit to be filed before the Court against the challenge of suspension".

The court then did not pass any interim order but posted the case on August 6 for further hearing.

For a while, there has been a tussle between the successive Governors - first Arif Mohammed Khan and now Arlekar - and the Pinarayi Vijayan government over the daily running of the universities in the state.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship initiative Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) has earned a prestigious spot in the Guinness World Records for achieving the "Most people registered on a Citizen Engagement Platform in one month." New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship initiative Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) has earned a prestigious spot in the Guinness World Records for achieving the "Most people registered on a Citizen Engagement Platform in one month."

This recognition was conferred in honour of the record-breaking 3.53 crore valid registrations received during the 8th edition of the programme, hosted on the MyGov platform -- a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Education and MyGov that has been running successfully since 2018.

Pariksha Pe Charcha is a unique global platform where Prime Minister Modi directly engages with students, parents, and teachers, offering advice, motivation, and strategies to ease examination stress. Over the years, it has transformed exam season into a celebration of positivity, preparation, and purposeful learning.

The official Guinness World Records certificate was formally presented at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

The event was attended by Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jitin Prasada, Secretary of School Education and Literacy Sanjay Kumar, MyGov CEO Nand Kumarum, and other senior officials and stakeholders.

The record was adjudicated and officially announced by Rishi Nath, a representative of Guinness World Records.

Speaking at the event, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that under Prime Minister Modi's visionary leadership, Pariksha Pe Charcha has become a national movement redefining the examination experience.

He noted that the 8th edition garnered an estimated 21 crore plus viewership across media platforms in 2025, reflecting the nation's collective commitment to holistic and inclusive education aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw praised the initiative as a powerful medium for bringing together students, teachers, and parents to foster stress-free, well-being-focused learning. "The record-breaking registrations are a testament to the public's trust and the programme's impact," he said.

Minister Jitin Prasada commended MyGov for leveraging digital innovation to make governance more participatory. He highlighted that Pariksha Pe Charcha has set a benchmark for using technology to scale public engagement nationwide.

In line with the goals of NEP 2020, which promotes stress-free and experiential learning, Pariksha Pe Charcha encourages moving away from rote memorisation to fostering critical thinking and emotional resilience.

Through personal interactions, Prime Minister Modi addresses real challenges faced by students -- including time management, digital distractions, and exam anxiety -- offering practical solutions and encouragement.

Since its inception, PPC has evolved into a pan-India movement that views examinations not as a source of stress but as an opportunity for self-growth and expression. The programme's inclusivity, digital reach, and innovative format continue to make it a cornerstone of student engagement in the country.
Two people died as a result of an enemy attack on the village of Stepnohirsk (Vasylivsky district, Zaporizhia region), Head of Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration Ivan Fedorov said.

"The Russians are continuously attacking the frontline town. As a result of enemy strikes, a house was destroyed. A 60-year-old and a 49-year-old man were killed," Fedorov said in Telegram on Monday.

Stepnohirsk is located just a kilometer from the village of Plavni, through which the frontline passes.

As reported, earlier on Monday, a couple, a 65-year-old woman and a 62-year-old man, were killed in enemy airstrikes on the territory of Huliaipole community of Polohiv district of Zaporizhia region. Houses were also destroyed and damaged.
New Delhi/Kannur, Aug 4 : Eight accused CPI-M workers suffered a blow on Monday when the Supreme Court rejected to accept their petition against the decision of the Kerala High Court upholding the Sessions Court decision, which sentenced them to seven years in jail, for severing the legs of new BJP Rajya Sabha member from Kerala, C. Sadanandan, in 1994.

Incidentally, it was on January 25, 1994, Sadanandan, while serving as the RSS Kannur district sahakaryavahak, he was attacked by CPI-M cadres near his home and both his legs were severed.

What has raised eyebrows was the presence of CPI-M legislator and former Health Minister K. K. Shailaja, who led the party workers at the Mattannur Pazhassi South CPI-M party committee office, to give the eight accused -- currently out on bail a send off to make them available before the Thalassery Court.

Soon after the news came that the Supreme Court did not even accept their petition in the file, the state CPI-M office was filled with hundreds of party supporters and leading them was former Minister Shailaja and bid the eight accused a farewell.

The Thalassery Court will now send all the eight accused to the Kannur jail to serve the remainder of the seven year imprisonment that was handed out to them by the trial court in the late nineties.

Following their conviction, they approached the Sessions Court, which upheld the trial court's decision.

Later, they approached the Kerala High Court in January this year, but that was also turned down and finally on Monday, the apex court failed to even accept their petition.

Reacting to the court judgment, Sadananadan recalled what the High Court observed while upholding the Sessions Court judgment said that the High Court in January in its final judgment pointed out that politics should be fought on ideology and not on the streets.

"For long we the Sangh forces have harped on it and it was accepted by the Courts. The High Court then ruled that under no circumstances should a relief in the punishment be allowed, as it will send a wrong impression to the society," Sadanandan said, who was in the Upper House when the news came.

"The High Court also asked then why is that the state government has not gone for the victim," Sadanandan added.

He then criticised former Minister Shailaja, who is his MLA (Mattannur) also, for leading the party workers, who were shouting slogans for cheering the eight accused CPI-M workers.

"As an MLA, she (former Minister Shailaja) should not have gone to lead the CPI-M workers as it sends wrong message to the society. In criminal cases when the accused gets this sort of applause it gives a boost to the criminals," Sadanandan added.

A retired high school teacher from Kannur and currently the Kerala BJP Vice-President, C. Sadanandan, stands as a symbol of resilience and unwavering commitment to public life.

His political journey is etched with pain and perseverance and it was for that last month he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
Kolkata, Aug 4 : Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the party's Lok Sabha (LS) MP, Abhishek Banerjee, has replaced veteran and four-time party MP, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, as the leader of Trinamool Congress' Parliamentary team in the Lower House of Parliament.

The announcement on this count was made by Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, at a virtual meeting on Monday, chaired by her, which was attended by all the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members of the Trinamool Congress.

Meanwhile, four-time Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee, on Monday, announced after the virtual meeting that he has decided to step down as the Chief Whip of the party in the Lok Sabha.

However, it is not yet clear when Kalyan Banerjee's replacement in that chair will be announced, or whether Abhishek Banerjee, will also operate in that role besides his new role as the leader of Trinamool Congress' Parliamentary team in the Lok Sabha, till the time any name is announced as the permanent Chief Whip of the party.

Announcing his resignation, Kalyan Banerjee told media persons that this step was prompted by his moral obligation after the Chief Minister expressed displeasure in the virtual meeting over the lack of coordination among the party MPs on the floor of the House.

A Lok Sabha member who attended the meeting, said that there were indications by the Chief Minister at the virtual meeting that Abhishek Banerjee might have to play the dual role of leader of the party's Parliamentary team in the Lok Sabha as well the Chief Whip, for the time being.

"The Chief Minister entrusted him with the responsibility to decide which party MP would speak on which subject in the Lok Sabha. However, that decision will have to be approved by Mamata Banerjee," said the Lok Sabha MP who refused to be named.

Meanwhile, party insiders said that Kalyan Banerjee had earned the ire of the party leadership, including the Chief Minister, over his recent faceoff with his fellow party Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra over one of Banerjee's comments on the rape of a law college student within the college premises at Kasba in south Kolkata.

Banerjee, then, even resorted to attacking Moitra at a personal level over her recent marriage with senior advocate of the Supreme Court and former Lok Sabha MP from Puri constituency in Odisha, Pinaki Misra
Ludhiana, Aug 4 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said the 'War Against Drugs' campaign has reached its final phase, and the newly formed defence committees in villages and cities will uproot drug trafficking from the state.

Addressing members of defence committees here, the Chief Minister said the government launched the campaign on February 4 and has achieved major success in eliminating the root of the drug problem. He said the backbone of the drug supply chain has been entirely broken.

Mann thanked the people for their enthusiastic support in this noble mission to save the future generations.

The Chief Minister said that to keep villages and cities drug-free in the future, the government has formed the defence committees. He said he is confident that these defence committees will act as generals in this war against drugs and safeguard our villages and cities.

"We have dreamt of making Punjab vibrant again, and with your cooperation, no power in the world can stop us from realising this dream," he added.

The Chief Minister said he had pledged to restore Punjab's pride, honour, and self-respect, adding no stone would be left unturned for it.

Mann explained that each village or ward defence committee will be formed with four core members: the village sarpanch or ward councillor, a representative from the anti-drug campaign, the BDPO or their representative, and the Station House Officer (SHO) or their representative.

He said these committees will include 10 to 20 members, depending on the population and only individuals with clean records and reputations, such as retired army personnel, teachers, and village headmen, will be included.

The Chief Minister categorically said each committee will be officially notified by the local Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM), and committee members will be issued special government ID cards.

He said it will facilitate communication with the administration regarding drug-related information or anti-drug activities.

Mann said villages and wards will have round-the-clock surveillance to ensure no trafficker dares to operate.

--IANS

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Vilnius, Aug 4 : Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas stepped down from his post on Monday, triggering the automatic resignation of the entire cabinet.

Paluckas confirmed his decision during an emergency government meeting on Monday morning, the Baltic News Service reported.

"Having made the decision to resign as Prime Minister, I announce that the 19th Government of Lithuania is resigning," Paluckas said at the start of the meeting.

He added that he would formally submit his resignation to President Gitanas Nauseda later on Monday and expressed gratitude to his ministers for their cooperation, Xinhua news agency reported.

Under Lithuanian law, the Prime Minister's resignation mandates that the President be informed the same day. Nauseda is now expected to accept the resignation via official decree and assign the outgoing government to serve in a caretaker role until a new administration is established. He should also appoint an interim Prime Minister.

Nauseda has up to 15 days to nominate a new Prime Minister, who must then be approved by the parliament, known as the Seimas. The Social Democratic Party, which has the largest representation in the Seimas, is responsible for selecting a nominee. They are scheduled to discuss their candidate at a party presidium meeting on Wednesday.

Paluckas announced his intention to resign as the country's head of government and chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party last Thursday.

His departure from office comes amid investigations into his financial dealings and allegedly inappropriate involvement in business, ties to certain businesspeople and failure to pay damages owed to the Vilnius municipality.

Paluckas, however, denied any wrongdoing and called the criticism a "coordinated attack" by political opponents.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda accepted the resignation of PM Paluckas' government and appointed Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius to lead the interim administration. According to the Constitution of Lithuania, when the Prime Minister resigns, his cabinet must resign too, and the President must be notified on the same day.

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Chandigarh, Aug 4 : Haryana Transport Minister and senior-most lawmaker Anil Vij on Monday said the people should not listen to 'kathavachaks' or religious storytellers but should instead heed the words of saints as "only saints can speak the ultimate truth and there is difference between a storyteller and a saint".

Chandigarh, Aug 4 (IANS) Haryana Transport Minister and senior-most lawmaker Anil Vij on Monday said the people should not listen to 'kathavachaks' or religious storytellers but should instead heed the words of saints as "only saints can speak the ultimate truth and there is difference between a storyteller and a saint".

In an interaction with the media, a vocal Vij said: "Anyone can become a 'kathavachak' after reading a few books. Just recently, Aniruddhacharya-ji maharaj gave several controversial statements. But a saint is someone who has gone through penance, renunciation, attained spiritual wisdom, and established a divine connection."

Pookie Baba, aka Aniruddhacharya, sparked outrage with sexist remarks suggesting women unmarried at 25 are promiscuous.

When asked about Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar's Leader of Opposition, for holding two voter ID cards with different numbers, which may constitute a criminal offence, Haryana minister Vij said: "If Tejashwi has two, their workers probably have hundreds. That's why I've been saying from day one -- fake leaders are advocating for fake voters in Bihar."

When asked about his upcoming tour across Haryana starting August 15 and whether it was due to any displeasure, Vij said: "I am not upset at all. In fact, no one can be a bigger devotee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) than me. Duties have been assigned for each of the 42 assembly constituencies."

He said party workers from all over Haryana call him and he will would meet them all.

"I am the most-senior BJP MLA in Haryana. I have won assembly elections seven times. No one else has come even close. That's why I look after the entire state. Workers from all corners of Haryana call for me, and I will visit each of them, meet them, and fully energize them so that they work for the party day and night," he added.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 4 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's order on conducting local and civic body elections under the newly proposed ward structure with 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

He said that this has paved the way for holding the long-overdue polls to the municipal corporations, municipal councils, Zilla Parishads, and other local bodies in Maharashtra.

CM Fadnavis, in his reaction, said, "The Supreme Court verdict regarding OBC reservation has two meanings. In the previous order (May 6), the court had said that elections should be held as per the old OBC reservation (27 per cent), and the same direction has now been confirmed."

He pointed out that, therefore, the OBC quota will be applicable in the upcoming local and civic body elections, adding that the Supreme Court has also said that elections will be held as per the 2017 OBC quota (27 per cent), not as per the 2022 OBC quota.

"Therefore, both the demands of the state government have been accepted. The Supreme Court has given its approval to hold the upcoming local and civic body elections with OBC reservation," he said.

NCP minister and Samata Parishad founder Chhagan Bhujbal said the ensuing local and civic body elections will be held with this 27 per cent OBC reservation and new ward structure.

"In its judgment of May 6, the SC had ruled that elections would be held with 27 per cent reservation. In today's ruling, the apex court has confirmed its earlier judgment, saying the elections will be held with a new ward structure," he said.

The minister added that the SC has clearly said that the composition of wards and their structure is entirely the prerogative of the state government, which has enacted a law in this regard.

"There is no stay on that law. Therefore, today's apex court order has paved the way for holding local and civic body elections in the state with a 27 per cent OBC quota and with a new ward structure," he remarked.

NCP SP legislator Jitendra Awhad also hailed the apex court order. However, he accused the MahaYuti government of wasting three years due to vested interests.

The local and civic body elections in Maharashtra have been stuck since 2022 due to litigation over the implementation of the OBC reservation.

The apex court had ordered a status quo on OBC reservation in local body elections in August 2022.

Besides, petitions had also challenged the Banthia report in the court. The Banthia Committee had compiled empirical data on OBC, but it was challenged by various OBC organisations.
Bengaluru, Aug 4 : The Karnataka High Court, in an interim order, on Monday directed the RTC associations, which have called for an indefinite strike across the state demanding salary revision and payment of arrears, to postpone the proposed action by one day.

A division bench of Justices K.S. Mudagal and M.G.S. Kamal, passing the order, issued notices to the state government, RTC unions, and the Joint Action Committee.

The matter was taken up by this bench as the Chief Justice's bench was not functioning on Monday. The bench stated that the case will be heard by it on Tuesday.

Deeksha Amrutesh, counsel appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the general public would suffer due to the indefinite strike by RTC staff. She also pointed out that during a previous strike, action had been taken against staffers. She added that fulfilling the demands of the RTC workers would place a burden of Rs 2,200 crore on the state government. A meeting on this issue is scheduled for August 7, yet the indefinite strike has been called amid this process, she noted.

The court questioned the petitioner on why the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had been filed at the last minute.

H.R. Renuka, counsel for the RTC staffers, stated that notice regarding the indefinite strike was already given on July 15.

Reacting to the High Courtas order, Joint Action Committee Chairman Ananth Subbarao questioned the directive. "What does postponement of the strike for one day mean? Does it imply we can launch the protest the next day? Instead of postponing the strike, the court could have ordered the government to clear the arrears. I havenat seen the order yet. Once we receive a copy, we will decide," he stated.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the Chief Minister had held a meeting with representatives of the RTC workers in July. He said there are 14 organisations representing RTC staff in the state, including the Joint Action Committee and the Federation of Associations.

He said that the workers demanded the release of arrears for 38 months of revised salary. A single-member committee had, however, recommended payment of revised salary for 14 months, excluding the Covid-19 period.

The CM, who had chaired the meeting today at Vidhana Soudha, had agreed to release Rs 718 crore for the 14-month revised salary. However, the representatives rejected this and insisted on receiving the entire 38 monthsa arrears, Reddy said.

"The public need not be confused. The court has passed its order. In any eventuality, the government has made alternative arrangements. IT companies will be advised to opt for work-from-home," the minister added.
Bathinda : , Aug 4 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Monday alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal had done an underhand deal worth Rs 30,000 crore with Delhi builders to hand over 65,000 acres to them at throwaway prices in Punjab to fund AAP's upcoming election campaigns across the country.

Addressing a sit-in protest which saw massive attendance in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here, Badal said: "We will not allow an inch of land to be acquired under the AAP government's land grabbing scheme. We will continue out agitation till the land pooling scheme is not withdrawn."

Stating that farmers were being forced to pay for the AAP's expansion plans, he said: "Kejriwal has virtually shifted to Punjab and has made the Markfed office in Mohali his residence."

He said similarly, AAP Delhi leader Manish Sisodia had been given a residence next to that of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh.

Badal said the duo along with others from Delhi had taken over the reins of the state and were bent "on milking it dry".

Asserting that the Akali Dal would not allow the five-member committee headed by the Chief Secretary to oversee all land acquisitions in the state to function, Badal said: "We will not allow this committee, which is packed with four outsiders, to enter Punjab."

He also asked the Chief Secretary not to become party to the illegal acquisition process which was not following the 2013 Central act on acquisition but had instead decided to acquire land as per a state act of 1995 which discriminated against farmers.

The Akali Dal chief also made it clear that it was the farmers who would suffer the most.

"Only 11,000 acres have been acquired in Punjab in the last 25 years out of which 3,000 acres is yet to be developed. Similarly, only 28,000 acres of land was acquired to establish Chandigarh 75 years back out of which 8,000 acres is still vacant. How can the AAP government think it will be able to develop 44,000 acres with 24,000 acres in Ludhiana alone?" he asked, adding farmers would face long years of waiting for development of their land which would not only destroy them but also the agri-economy of the areas where acquisition would be done.

Stating that some village panchayats had already taken the lead by passing resolutions asserting they did not want their land to be acquired, Badal said "this should be turned into a mass movement".

He also spoke on how the Akali Dal would come out with a policy when it formed a government in the state in 2027 under which outsiders would not be allowed to buy land in the state.

"Similarly, government jobs will also be restricted to Punjabi youth only." He also asserted that the next SAD government would invite new industry into the state but make it mandatory for the industry to give employment to at least 80 per cent Punjabis in their establishments.

--IANS

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Manila, Aug 4 : The Philippine House of Representatives has filed a formal motion urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its recent ruling that effectively blocked the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said Monday.

In an official statement, Romualdez emphasised that the House acted "in full compliance with the Constitution" when it transmitted the impeachment complaint against Duterte on February 5, describing the process as both lawful and consistent with democratic principles.

The motion, which was submitted through the Office of the Solicitor General, argued that the Court had "misread the facts" and erroneously applied new rules retroactively. It warned that the controversial decision could severely undermine Congress's constitutional role in the democratic process and weaken the peopleas right to hold public officials accountable through established legal mechanisms, Xinhua news agency reported.

aThis is not an act of defiance. It is an act of duty. We do not challenge the authority of the Court. We seek only to preserve the rightful role of the House, the voice of the people, in the process of accountability," Romualdez said, reiterating the House's respect for the judiciary while defending the integrity of its actions.

Romualdez insisted that the House did not violate the constitutional one-year bar when it impeached Duterte. He further emphasised that the earlier three complaints were archived only after the February 5 transmission of the fourth complaint, which he asserted constituted the sole valid initiation of the fourth impeachment, fully in line with the Constitution's one-year bar on multiple filings.

On July 25, the Supreme Court unanimously voted to declare the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, thereby preventing the Senate from assuming jurisdiction over the case.

The Court clarified that Duterte was not absolved of the allegations and ruled that a new complaint may only be filed after February 6, 2026.

The Senate has yet to decide whether it will appeal the ruling or simply abide by the Supreme Court's decision, pending further deliberations.

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Bhubaneswar, Aug 4 : Politics heated up in Odisha on Monday following the midnight arrest of two student leaders in connection with the tragic death of FM College student after her self-immolation attempt near the principal's chamber in Balasore on July 12, over alleged sexual harassment by one of the faculty members of the college.

The girl, who sustained over 90 per cent burn injuries, succumbed later while undergoing treatment at Bhubaneswar AIIMS.

After 22 days of the unfortunate incident, the accused identified as Subhra Sambit Nayak, and Jyoti Prakash Biswal were arrested late on Sunday night by the Crime Branch on charges of criminal conspiracy and abetment of suicide.

The Opposition Biju Janata Dal on Monday lashed out at the Odisha government and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) following the arrest of the two students' leaders reportedly linked to the ABVP.

Addressing a Press conference here on Monday, BJD MLA Goutam Buddha Das alleged that the ABVP, which has no significant presence in colleges across Odisha, plotted a conspiracy and instigated the FM College student to take the extreme step, aiming to gain popular sympathy in its favour ahead of the college elections.

The state government has recently announced the resumption of college elections in Odisha.

Das further accused BJP leaders of being the chief conspirators behind the whole incident.

He alleged that the FM College student lost her life by falling prey to this conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the ABVP strongly criticised the Odisha Police for the midnight arrest of Nayak and Biswal.

"In the heart wrenching incident of college student and ABVP worker Soumyashree's death after self-immolation, the apprehension of two of her classmates at midnight by the police administration is a blatantly partisan act, which points to deep political conspiracy. ABVP condemns failed attempts by the police to save their real political masters," alleged the organisation in a Press statement.

The ABVP held the alleged sexual harassment of the girl by the arrested HoD, Samir Kumar Sahu, along with character assassination attempts on social media allegedly by leaders of the BJD and Congress student wings, responsible for the FM College student taking the extreme step.

The organisation targeted Odisha Police for not taking any action against the BJD and Congress student leaders.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kharkiv region met with soldiers of the Ivan Sirko 92nd separate assault brigade.

"The fighters are holding a difficult section of the front  Lyptsi. I talked with the commanders. Defense in the area of responsibility, training of soldiers, their morale, ensuring the needs of the units are in the focus of attention," Zelenskyy said in the Telegram channel on Monday.

The president also discussed with the soldiers positive feedback on the electronic system for scoring points for the destruction of occupiers and their equipment.

"We will work on and resolve all the issues discussed," Zelenskyy said.

In addition, he awarded the defenders with state awards.
Kolkata, Aug 4 : The Kolkata Police said on Monday that their personnel had arrested three Nigerians, including a woman, from Delhi in connection with duping a person of Rs 1 crore in the name of the World Health Organization (WHO) and a private pharmaceutical company.

A senior official of the Kolkata police said that the arrested Nigerians had contacted the person, a resident of Kolkata, by creating a fake email ID and had also contacted him on WhatsApp from a British number to win his confidence.

"Three persons, including a woman, were arrested in the operation, which was conducted in Delhi recently. The arrested persons have been identified as Peter Mercy Oloumi alias Sophia, Kimeku Kailings, and Alexander Divine. All three are Nigerian nationals," said the city police official..

The investigating official had also been able to trace their permanent addresses in Nigeria, besides the address in Delhi, where they used to operate from.

Police investigation revealed that these cyber fraudsters used foreign numbers and IP addresses to trap common people.

"Twelve smartphones, three keypad phones, a router, and a laptop were seized from the arrested trio. The laptop was used to forge the logos and seals of the World Health Organization and a pharmaceutical company," the city police official said.

The arrests were made based on a complaint that was filed in May with Kolkata Police's Cyber Police Station.

The complainant said that he was contacted in the name of the WHO and a pharmaceutical company. After showing various documents to gain his trust, the fraudsters duped him of Rs 1.1 crore.

While investigating the incident, the officials of the police cyber police station found some WhatsApp numbers in the United Kingdom. The mobile from which those WhatsApp numbers were being used had an IP address in Nigeria.

"Those WhatsApp accounts were also active in Delhi at about the same time. They were being operated using an Indian number. Based on that information, a raid was carried out and suspects were arrested," said the city police officer.
Ghaziabad, Aug 4 : As the Supreme Court criticised Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi for his alleged "controversial remarks" about the Indian Army, spiritual leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Monday said the top court has effectively held up a mirror not only to LoP Rahul Gandhi but to the entire Opposition.

"If China had occupied Indian land to that extent, then Rahul Gandhi's residence in Tughlaq Lane would have been included in that territory. I express my deep gratitude to the Government of India for providing him a home there in Tughlaq Lane. He speaks like Tughlaq. The Supreme Court's recent comments on his statements were a necessary reality check. The way the court slammed Rahul Gandhi is a reflection not only on him but on the entire Opposition," Krishnam told IANS.

The spiritual leader also reacted to Bihar Assembly Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav's recent claim that his name was missing from the voter list. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in Patna promptly asked Yadav to provide his EPIC card details for thorough verification.

Krishnam said, "The Election Commission of India (ECI) is impartial and robust. The ECI's firm response to Tejashwi Yadav's allegations is a slap in the face to the entire Opposition. Every day, the ECI faces abuse - if a party wins, everything is fine; if it loses, the EVMs are blamed. Yet, these leaders hold their seats thanks to certificates issued by the ECI."

He added pointedly, "If the Election Commission is biased, they should resign. Similarly, governments in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh should resign. Rahul Gandhi should also resign from the Lok Sabha."

Krishnam also reacted to senior NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad's controversial remark that Sanatan Dharma has ruined India, which had drawn sharp criticism from the BJP and its allies.

"Whoever wants to criticise Sanatan Dharma can speak, but for centuries, there has been a conspiracy to destroy Sanatan Dharma. It is the only true religion in the world. Despite efforts to erase it, Sanatan Dharma has survived and will continue to survive," Krishnam added.

Responding to Congress MP P. Chidambaram's allegations regarding the Election Commission's voter roll exercise (SIR), particularly the addition of around 6.5 lakh migrant workers to Tamil Nadu's electoral list and the removal of 65 lakh voters from Bihar due to 'permanent migration,' Krishnam expressed stern disapproval.

"Right now, I want to say this to P. Chidambaram  this country will be destroyed if such talk continues. You have already done much damage to India; please stop trying to ruin it further," he stated.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Tesla is set to expand its presence in India's electric vehicle market with the launch of its second retail outlet in the country.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) Tesla is set to expand its presence in Indiaas electric vehicle market with the launch of its second retail outlet in the country.

The new Tesla Experience Centre will open on August 11 at Aerocityas upscale Worldmark 3 complex in the national capital, catering to customers in the national capital region -- a key hub for Indiaas electric mobility push.

This opening comes less than a month after Tesla inaugurated its first showroom in Mumbai on July 15 at the Maker Maxity mall in Bandra Kurla Complex.

The high-profile Mumbai launch was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who praised Teslaas entry into the state and invited the company to set up R&D and manufacturing facilities there.

The Aerocity facility, currently in the final stages of construction, is expected to command a monthly rent of around Rs 25 lakh.

Images of the nearly completed outlet have already surfaced on social media -- highlighting the brandas premium positioning in India.

Tesla is presently offering one model in the Indian market -- the Model Y -- priced from Rs 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom).

It is available in two versions: a standard rear-wheel drive with a 60 kWh battery offering a WLTP-certified range of 500 km, and a long-range rear-wheel drive variant with a 75 kWh battery delivering up to 622 km on a single charge.

Deliveries will be prioritised for buyers in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Gurugram, with vehicles transported on flat-bed trucks directly to customersa homes.

The company has also updated its website to allow vehicle registration across all states and union territories, expanding access beyond its initial launch cities.

While Tesla lists its full self-driving (FSD) feature as an optional extra for Rs 6 lakh, the advanced capability will be introduced in India at a later stage.

The debut of Teslaas Indian website coincided with the Model Y launch -- signalling the companyas readiness to scale operations despite challenges in EV infrastructure and policy.
Seoul, Aug 4 : South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday the government plans to resume using the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund for humanitarian projects in North Korea once bilateral contact is restored, marking a potential thaw in the long-frozen inter-Korean relations.

"It is shocking that none of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund was executed last year," Chung said during a meeting with the NGO Council for Inter-Korean Cooperation. He expressed concern over the halt in engagement and emphasised the need for renewed collaboration through peaceful and humanitarian channels.

The fund, established in 1991, supports economic cooperation as well as social and cultural exchanges between the two Koreas. It has historically served as a key financial mechanism for facilitating dialogue and goodwill on the peninsula. Its budget peaked at 439.7 billion won (US$317.4 million) in 2007 but has since sharply declined amid North Korea's continued nuclear and missile provocations and the resulting diplomatic tensions.

The most recent use of the fund was in 2023, when 900 million won was allocated to a child nutrition programme.

However, broader initiatives have remained stalled due to strained ties and lack of formal communication channels.

Chung recently approved revisions to ministry guidelines governing declarations of contact with North Koreans.

Under the new rules, South Korean nationals may freely engage with North Koreans, as long as they report the contact in advance. The new guidelines are part of efforts to increase transparency while fostering greater flexibility in civil society-led interactions.

"Just report it and meet them freely," Chung said, encouraging civic groups to play a more active role in improving frosty inter-Korean relations and paving the way for future cooperation.

In response, Choi Chang-nam, Vice Chairman of the NGO Council, said the eased restrictions were a relief for activists who have long sought more autonomy in humanitarian outreach, Yonhap news agency reported.

According to the ministry, there were no government or civilian-led humanitarian aid projects carried out for North Korea in 2024, underscoring the urgency for renewed engagement.

IANS

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New Delhi/Manila, Aug 4 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar called on Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr in New Delhi on Monday, expressing confidence that the visiting leader's talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday will significantly deepen the ties between two nations.

The meeting comes at the start of Philippines President's five-day State Visit to India at the invitation of PM Modi.

In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar stated, "Delighted to call on President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr of the Philippines this evening in Delhi at the start of his State Visit. Confident that his talks with PM Narendra Modi tomorrow will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership."

Earlier in the day, Union Minister of State for External Affairs (MoS) Pabitra Margherita welcomed Ferdinand R Marcos Jr at the airport. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal extended a warm welcome to Ferdinand R Marcos Jr and stated that his visit will further strengthen ties between India and Philippines.

"Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India and Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations," Jaiswal posted on X.

Philippines President is accompanied by First Lady Madame Louise Araneta Marcos. He will be accorded ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday and also pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Ferdinand R Marcos Jr will meet PM Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Tuesday. He is scheduled to hold other engagements in the capital on Wednesday and will travel to Bengaluru on Thursday before returning to Philippines.

The diplomatic ties between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Since then, both nations have developed a strong partnership across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The two countries also engage closely at regional level, including through Indiaas Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN.

"Indiaas relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our aAct Easta Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The forthcoming State Visit of President Marcos, coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation, and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest," the MEA stated.

PM Modi and President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr had met briefly on the sidelines of 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in Laos in 2024. The two leaders also met on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta in 2023. In 2017, PM Modi had travelled to Philippines for the 15th ASEAN-India Summit and the 12th East Asia Summit.

Economic and commercial engagement is an important aspect of India-Philippines bilateral ties. The bilateral trade between two nations reached USD 3.5 billion in 2023-24. There is a notable presence of Indian companies in the Philippines, in the areas of IT and ITES, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, textiles, infrastructure, FMCG, chemicals, automobiles, agriculture, among others.

India is the largest exporter of pharmaceuticals to the Philippines. Pharma exports from India to the Philippines have increased from USD 290 million in 2020-21 to USD 460 million in 2024-25.

Development cooperation is another impact aspect of India-Philippines relations. India is implementing six Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in the areas of agriculture, disaster risk reduction and management, health-care and livelihood support, in the Philippines, under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Indian Grant Assistance for implementation of QIPs, signed in February 2023.
Kolkata, Aug 4 : A petition was filed at Calcutta High Court on Monday challenging the West Bengal government's decision to enhance the annual dole for different community Durga Puja committees to Rs 1,10,000 this year, up from the previous year's Rs 85,000, as announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last week.

Saurav Dutta, a resident of Durgapur in East Burdwan district, sought the permission of Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam to file a petition in the matter.

The bench permitted the filing of the petition. However, it is not yet clear when the matter will come up for hearing, and at which bench the matter will be heard.

Dutta also approached the high court with a similar petition last year. However, the court did not intervene in the decision of the state government on this matter.

Already, the state government and the Chief Minister have come under scathing criticism over the decision to enhance the annual dole to the community Puja Committees to Rs 1,10,000 this year.

As per rough estimates, the enhanced Puja dole this year would cost the state exchequer somewhere between Rs 473 crore and Rs 495 crore, depending on the exact number of community Durga Puja committees eligible to receive that dole, an amount substantially higher than the previous yearas figure of Rs 365.5 crore.

While the figures mentioned above would be just the direct payout from the state exchequer, the actual expenditure would be much more, considering the massive 80 per cent electricity concessions provided to beneficiary Puja committees in addition to the annual dole.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had appealed to the community Durga Puja committees not accept the annual dole paid to them as a mark of respect to the junior woman doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata who became a victim of ghastly rape and murder within the hospital premises in August last year, as well as an expression of solidarity towards the lakhs of unemployed youths in the state, whose dreams of earning a decent livelihood had been shattered because of the flawed policies of the state government.

At the same time, he also announced full support on his part to those community Durga Puja committees who would be refusing the state government's dole offer this year.
Ludhiana, Aug 4 : Punjab unit BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, describing the government's attitude arrogant, stating that the Central government would now take appropriate action.

Jakhar was in Ludhiana to join a protest in support of three BJP councillors against whom the Municipal Corporation's Mayor had filed a case.

Jakhar said the case was filed simply because the councillors had gone to meet the Mayor to discuss development works.

He called it an injustice to the councillors and an example of the government's arrogance and corruption.

Jakhar vowed that the BJP would fight for its self-respect with full force and that this issue would resonate across Punjab. He criticised the Mayor, accusing him of forgetting about development and engaging only in political bias.

Jakhar also raised questions about the use of Rs 1,800 crore provided by the Centre for the Ludhiana Smart City Project. He announced that he would write a letter to the Central government to request an audit of the funds to show the public how and where the money was spent.

Taking a potshot at CM Mann, Jakhar said Mann "is busy telling jokes while the people of Punjab are suffering from drug abuse and corruption".

He also targeted recently appointed minister Sanjeev Arora, saying that he will have to come clean on the issue of conflict of interest and he cannot escape simply by resigning from his companies.

He also urged the Chief Minister to become the voice of the people, warning that otherwise the public "is ready to send him back home".

BJP chief Jakhar also criticised the government on the issue of land pooling, stating that this decision would eventually turn the people against the government.

--IANS

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Kochi, Aug 4 : India's marine fish landings logged a total of 3.47 million tonnes in 2024 with a slight decline of two per cent compared to the catch in 2023, according to ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Kochi, Aug 4 (IANS) Indiaas marine fish landings logged a total of 3.47 million tonnes in 2024 with a slight decline of two per cent compared to the catch in 2023, according to ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Gujarat retained its top position in overall fish landings with 7.54 lakh tonnes, followed by Tamil Nadu (6.79 lakh tonnes) and Kerala (6.10 lakh tonnes).

The CMFRIas annual marine fish landing estimates showed that Indian mackerel remained the most landed resource in the country at 2.63 lakh tonnes, followed by oil sardine at 2.41 lakh tonnes.

All over India, species such as Indian mackerel, threadfin breams, oil sardine, ribbonfishes, non-penaeid shrimps, and cephalopods recorded a decline in 2024 compared to the previous year, while landings of lesser sardines, penaeid shrimps, anchovies, and tunnies increased.

When the west coast region suffered an overall decrease in landings, the east coast showed an increasing trend, with Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh the exceptions. Maharashtra registered the highest growth of 47 per cent compared to the previous year.

West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha also saw notable increases of 35, 20 and 18 per cent, respectively.

However, states and UTs like Karnataka, Goa, and Daman & Diu experienced significant declines in landings.

In total, about 2.5 lakh fishing trips were monitored, offering an in-depth view into nationwide effort and productivity. The CMFRI report pointed out that cyclonic storms such as Dana, Fengal, Remal, and Asna significantly impacted fishing activities, contributing to the overall decline.

Increased heat wave days in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala further disrupted fishing operations.

Kerala recorded a marginal decrease of 4 per cent in the marine fish catch in 2024 compared to the previous year, totalling a landing of 6.10 lakh tonnes.

Indian oil sardine topped the list of most caught species in the state with 1.49 lakh tonnes, registering a slight increase of 7.6 per cent.

Indian mackerel (61,490 t), penaeid shrimp (44,630 t), anchovies (44,440 t) and threadfin breams (33,890 t) were the other major contributors to Keralaas total marine catch.

Indian mackerel saw a decline of 16 per cent in landings.

The year witnessed very low landings and higher landings of oil sardine in different quarters.

It also saw an unusual fluctuation in oil sardine landings in the state.

A severe scarcity in the first quarter led to prices escalating to Rs 350-400 per kg.

However, from September onwards, as landings surged exceeding one lakh tonne in the last quarter, prices dropped sharply to Rs 20-30 per kg.

The Fishery Resources Assessment, Economics and Extension Division of the CMFRI estimated the annual marine fish landings of the country through its online data collection system.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday constituted two high-level committees to formulate a transparent and socially secure excise policy and a people-oriented EV policy.

The special committee on excise policy will be headed by Cabinet Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh and the one on EV policy will be chaired by Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood.

"Our government is dedicated to the people of Delhi and is continuously taking decisions in public interest," said CM Gupta.

Earlier addressing the Delhi Assembly, CM Gupta said that Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev were more than just military missions  they embodied the honour and dignity of every Indian household.

She reflected on India's military achievements, national security strategies, and pivotal decisions in recent history and described the success of these operations as a moment of national pride and paid tribute to the courage and dedication of the Indian armed forces.

The Chief Minister added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through his resolute and dynamic leadership, has safeguarded the dignity, honour, and self-respect of Indian women.

She strongly criticised the Opposition, accusing them of consistently neglecting national interest and deliberately working to tarnish the country's image.

Operation Sindoor, she noted, was a response to the silent suffering of India's daughters and sisters.

By acting as a courageous father, a compassionate brother, and a resolute national leader, the Prime Minister has upheld the dignity and empowered the spirit of Indian women, she said.

CM Gupta said that Opposition parties, driven by self-interest, have distanced themselves from the nation's welfare.

"They sympathise with anti-national elements because they see their own reflection in them. They are not inspired by India's progress  they would rather see the nation held back," she said.

She recalled that when Operation Sindoor was discussed in Parliament, the opposition raised numerous questions.

"Those who distrust their own military and refuse to believe their own Prime Minister instead place their faith in foreign powers," she said.

She stressed that the Indian armed forces continue to defend the nation with the same courage and commitment they displayed during the wars of 1965 and 1971.

However, she questioned the lack of political will shown by the previous governments, despite India's historic military victories.

"Why did our governments return captured territories under pressure after the 1965 war? Why did we accept mediation from the United Nations and the United States? And in 1971, after capturing 93,000 Pakistani soldiers, why were they released unconditionally?" she asked.

The Chief Minister also invoked the Simla Agreement, the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits as critical historical references.

She criticised the silence of the Opposition and questioned the "indecisiveness" of past leadership, pointing out that no accountability was ever taken for these matters.
Mumbai, Aug 4 : Aurobindo Pharma Limited on Monday reported a 10.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) drop in consolidated net profit to Rs 824.2 crore for the first quarter (Q1) of FY26, compared to Rs 918.2 crore in the same period the previous year (Q1 FY25).

The pharmaceutical companyas revenue rose 4 per cent YoY to Rs 7,868 crore from Rs 7,567 crore in the year-ago period, according to its stock exchange filing.

Operating profit remained largely stable, with EBITDA slipping 1 per cent to Rs 1,603 crore from Rs 1,619.6 crore.

The EBITDA margin narrowed to 20.3 per cent from 21.4 per cent a year ago, the company stated in its regulatory filing.

The US formulations segment, which contributes a significant share of the business, declined 1.9 per cent YoY to Rs 3,488 crore ($408 million), affected by destocking and seasonal factors.

In contrast, the European formulations business saw strong growth of 18 per cent to Rs 2,338 crore (241 million euros).

Revenue from growth markets was up 8.8 per cent at Rs 772 crore ($90 million), while antiretroviral (ARV) sales jumped 55.2 per cent to Rs 355 crore ($41 million).

However, revenue from the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) segment fell 16 per cent to Rs 916 crore ($107 million), as per its regulatory filing.

The company spent Rs 367 crore on research and development during the quarter, accounting for 4.7 per cent of total revenue.

It received final approval for 14 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) from the US Food and Drug Administration, including one that had earlier received tentative approval.

Vice-Chairman and Managing Director K. Nithyananda Reddy said the company started the year steadily, with strong momentum in the European market and resilience in the US business despite short-term challenges.

He added that disciplined execution, operational initiatives, and a recent US acquisition would help accelerate growth.

Aurobindo Pharma declared an interim dividend of Rs 4 per equity share and set August 8 as the record date.

The dividend will be paid on or before August 21, the company added in its regulatory filing.

Shares of Aurobindo Pharma closed at Rs 1,092.00 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), up 1.13 per cent ahead of the earnings announcement.
BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nepali President Ram Chandra Poudel on Friday exchanged congratulations on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Noting that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers, and their friendly exchanges have a long history, Xi said that no matter how the international and regional situations change, the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation, setting a model for friendly relations between countries with different social systems and of different sizes. In recent years, China-Nepal relations have seen sound and stable development, and political mutual trust has grown ever stronger, said Xi, adding that the Belt and Road cooperation as well as cooperation in various fields have witnessed increasing expansion, and the strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity between the two sides has been continuously deepened. Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nepal relations, and is ready to work with Poudel to take the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all fields, so as to better benefit the peoples of both countries, and contribute to regional peace and development. For his part, Poudel said that over the past 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have consistently upheld mutual trust, sovereign equality and peaceful coexistence, adding that their friendship has withstood the test of time. Noting that China is a trustworthy neighbor and development partner of Nepal, he said Nepal is grateful for China's long-standing support for its development and for respecting Nepal's sovereignty and independence. Nepal firmly adheres to the one-China principle and looks forward to working hand in hand with China to further deepen cooperation in various sectors, and realize the shared vision of peace, progress and prosperity, he added. On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also exchanged congratulations. Li said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Nepal relations and is willing to work with Nepal to take the 70th anniversary as an opportunity to accelerate the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as well as exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and promote the continuous development of the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity. Oli said that Nepal and China adhere to developing friendly relations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Nepal highly appreciates China's respect for Nepal's sovereignty, independence and the development path it has chosen independently, and admires China's great historical achievements. Looking ahead, Nepal will continue to be committed to implementing the agreements reached between the two countries, and bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both nations, he said.
Photo: https://x.com/andrii_sybiha/status

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has held a meeting with representatives of Japanese business and the team of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) headed by Vice President Katsura Miyazaki.

"We are building momentum for Ukrainian-Japanese cooperation in the area of sustainability and recovery. Together with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Taras Kachka, we met with Tsutsui Yoshinobu, Chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), Kuroda Atsuo, Chairman and CEO of the Japan Export and Investment Insurance Agency (NEXI), and Ishiguro Norihiko, Chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)," the minister wrote on social media X.

On behalf of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sybiha conveyed gratitude to Japan for helping Ukraine overcome three extremely difficult winters. He recalled that the Russian war had destroyed Ukraine's infrastructure, causing $600 billion in damage.

"Japan can play a key role in Ukraine's recovery, from critical infrastructure to innovative partnerships. Today, we agreed on next steps to expand our trade, business, and economic cooperation," the message reads.

Also in Tokyo, the Ukrainian delegation met with the Japan International Cooperation Agency team. Since the full-scale Russian invasion, JICA has been actively promoting humanitarian, rehabilitation and capacity-building projects - from upgrading hospitals and restoring water and electricity supplies to promoting energy efficiency and training Ukrainian specialists in Japan.

We outlined new areas to expand our cooperation and support for Ukraine, Sybiha said.
Islamabad: As Field Marshal Asim Munir wrapped up yet another high-profile visit to China, Pakistan's indispensable "iron brother", it carries an explicit message for both domestic and external audiences that Pakistan's top General is not just the Chief of Army Staff. He is the country's de facto head of state, foreign minister, and economic strategist rolled into one uniformed figure.

From Beijing to Washington, Asim Munir has emerged as Pakistan's most visible face on the international stage. In a telling departure from past norms, where foreign policy and diplomacy were handled by civilian leaders, Munir now routinely engages heads of state and top ministers of the world's major powers.

In June, he was received in Washington with a protocol typically reserved for Presidents, wherein he was hosted for a formal luncheon by US President Donald Trump. His July 25 visit to Beijing was similarly instructive. He met with Chinaas Vice President Han Zheng, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and the top brass of the Peopleas Liberation Army, covering everything from regional security to the future of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as per the statement issued by Pakistan Armyas Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

This outreach to Washington and Beijing, Pakistan's most significant external "allies", seems to have effectively supplanted the civilian government of Shehbaz Sharif in both style and substance. In both capitals, Munir is treated as the true interlocutor, highlighting how far Pakistanas military has overreached into domains traditionally managed by elected representatives.

Asim Munir's aggressive diplomacy abroad is only one facet of a broader power consolidation at home that has pushed Pakistan into what can only be described as a military-led "hybrid authoritarianism". Behind the civilian faAade, the military establishment has pulled all institutional levers to dominate the judiciary, the economy, and the legislative process.

A glaring example is the military's grabbing of vast tracts of agricultural land in Punjab and Sindh under the guise of "national development" in 2023. Under Muniras watch, thousands of acres of government land have been allotted to serving and retired officers for agricultural purposes, all in the name of so-called food security of the country. This wholesale land grab, facilitated by pliant bureaucracies and rubber-stamp judicial processes, is in addition to over 12 million acres of land already in the possession of armed forces.

Meanwhile, the economic crisis that grips Pakistan has not spared the foreign exchange reserves, yet the militaryas own financial apparatus remains untouched. The military-run business conglomerates, run under Fauji Foundation, Shaheen Foundation, Bahria Foundation and Army Welfare Trust (AWT), continue to thrive tax-free and without government oversight. At the same time, there has been a steep rise in the government defence budgetary allocations, with a 20 per cent hike in 2025, as announced in June. This has come even as social sectors like health and education face severe cuts in their annual allocations, all in the name of austerity.

All of this is made possible by legal tweaks and constitutional manipulation. Laws such as Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act have been weaponized through amendments to stifle dissent. This has allowed the government to try hundreds of civilians, including opposition activists and journalists, by military courts in the aftermath of May 9, 2023, violent anti-government protests.

Moreover, Asim Munir has furthered the strategic parachuting of military officers in civilian institutions like Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and National Database and Registration Agency (NADRA), among dozens of others. Such encroachment in civilian affairs ensures that the military establishment influences every lever of the countryas governance structure. This increasing opacity and unchecked power have real-world consequences.

Perhaps the most damning indictment of Asim Muniras tenure is not just the scope of his ambition, it is the cost at which it has come. Munir may go down in history as the army chief who has lost hundreds of soldiers to insurgent attacks in merely two years of his tenure. From Balochistan to the tribal hinterland of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistani troops have come under relentless assault from a rejuvenated insurgency, especially by groups like Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

In June, over a dozen soldiers were killed in a single attack in North Waziristan, with TTP claiming responsibility. The environment in Pakistan has been made such that no one dares to raise the questions over why the army was caught so off guard as the answer lies in the misplaced priorities of its leadership. As such, intelligence failures and overstretched resources diverted toward political engineering have left national security more and more vulnerable.

Muniras focus has clearly shifted from commanding the army to controlling the country. His preoccupation with political micromanagement, from managing elections, orchestrating defections, and installing compliant judges, has allowed militant groups to regroup and strike with impunity.

The consequences of this military overreach are not abstract. Pakistan today finds itself mired in economic stagnation, political instability, and social repression. The elected government of Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) serves little purpose beyond legitimizing decisions made in Rawalpindi. Even the civilian cabinet has admitted, as evidenced by Defence Minister Khwaja Asifas recent statements, that policy decisions are taken in consultation with the military establishment.

This is not new in Pakistan, where the military has always been a shadow power. But under Asim Munir, the shadow has become the spotlight. Unlike his predecessors like General Qamar Bajwa, who preferred to rule from behind the scenes, Field Marshal Munir appears unashamed of his centrality. He has no qualms about attending investment conferences, briefing envoys, or commenting on fiscal policy, which are all duties that fall well outside the remit of a military officer.

This overt control is compounded by an ecosystem of surveillance, censorship, and intimidation. Herein media channels have been taken off air for airing dissenting views, with scores of journalists arrested or forced into exile in the last two years.

Asim Muniras Pakistan is one where the constitution is interpreted through camouflage, where democracy is performed but not practiced, and where the price of questioning the army is, quite literally, oneas freedom. The military establishmentas institutional interests have expanded from national defense to national domination, and Munir is their most visible symbol. The erosion of civil institutions, the suppression of dissent, and the neglect of core military duties are not just signs of overreach, but that of a rot.

And as Pakistanas soldiers continue to fall in the countryas hinterlands of Balochistan and KPK while their chief chases diplomatic photo-ops, the question must be asked: Who really rules Pakistan? And, for how long can a country survive when its Generals stop guarding the borders and start governing the state?
Chennai, Aug 4 : A Level 2 flood warning has been issued for residents living along the banks of the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu's Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts, as the Vaigai Dam is expected to reach its full storage capacity within the next 48 hours.

The warning comes in the wake of continuous rainfall in the region and increased inflow of water from the Mullaperiyar Dam.

Authorities have raised concerns over potential flooding in downstream areas, urging people in vulnerable zones to stay alert.

The Vaigai Dam, located near Andipatti in Theni district, currently stands at a water level of 68.41 feet as of Monday morning.

With the full reservoir level set at 71 feet, officials anticipate the level to rise to 69 feet later in the day and continue increasing due to heavy inflow.

At present, the dam is receiving 1,594 cubic feet of water per second (cusecs), while only 69 cusecs are being released to meet the drinking water requirements of Madurai city.

The total water reserve in the dam has reached 5,421 cusecs. Authorities plan to allow the dam to reach its maximum capacity before releasing the excess inflow, which may result in flooding along the riverbanks.

In light of this, a yellow alert has been declared in the Theni district, where persistent rainfall continues to raise water levels.

Once the dam hits full capacity, all incoming water will be released downstream, potentially affecting low-lying areas in adjacent districts.

Meanwhile, the Mullaperiyar Dam is also witnessing significant inflow, with 1,053 cusecs entering the reservoir each second. To manage this, authorities have increased the outflow to 1,862 cusecs.

The sustained rainfall in the Western Ghats has contributed to rising water levels in several other dams and reservoirs across the region. Officials have warned residents in flood-prone areas to remain cautious and follow safety advisories, as water levels are being monitored closely.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 4 : TV actress Anita Hassanandani broke down in tears on her very first night in the village, marking an emotional start to her journey on "Chhoriyan Chali Gaon." Mumbai, Aug 4 (IANS) TV actress Anita Hassanandani broke down in tears on her very first night in the village, marking an emotional start to her journey on "Chhoriyan Chali Gaon."

Stepping out of her comfort zone, the actress is among the celebrity participants embracing rural life on the new reality show. In the grand premiere episode, all the contestants were introduced and faced some interesting tasks before heading to the village. In tonight's episode, they finally arrive at Bamuliya village near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. In a promo, as Rannvijay was assigning homes, he shared that one grandmother had specifically asked for Anita to stay with her. The heartfelt reason behind her request left Anita in tears.

Rannvijay mentioned on the show, "She has a small girl in her house who doesn't have a mother. Hence, she requested you to stay at her house, so that you get the kids' love and they get Anita's love." Hearing this, Hassanandani could not control her tears as she said, "The amount of love I want to give Aaru, I will give each of the kids here."

Earlier, in an interview with IANS, the 'Yeh Hai Mohabbatein' actress had opened up about the emotional challenges of leaving her son Aarav for the show "Chhoriyan Chali Gaon." Talking about how she has been preparing her son to manage without her around, Anita shared, "From the moment I wake up, Aarav is by my side. He wants me to do everything for him, but since I'll be away, I've been training him for the past two weeks to sleep with my mom. I've slowly been preparing him to manage without me being around, from waking up and getting ready for school to finishing his meals and homework on time."

"I've also created a detailed two-month schedule for him, mapping out which classes and activities he'll attend on which days. I've added Rohit to all the groups so he can seamlessly take over. As much as I'm going to learn from this show, I think Rohit will also realise just how beautifully challenging motherhood truly is," she added.

Hosted by Rannvijay Singha, the rural reality show features a star-studded lineup including Krishna Shroff, Aishwarya Khare, Rameet Sandhu, Anjuum Faakih, Reha Sukheja, Dolly Javed, Sumukhi Suresh, SurabhiSamriddhi Mehra and Erika Packard.

"Chhoriyan Chali Gaon" premiered on 3rd August on Zee TV.
Washington, Aug 4 : US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to substantially raise tariffs on India for purchasing oil from Russia.

In a Truth Social post, Trump, however, did not elaborate on what kind of tariffs those would be.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump wrote in his social media post.

"Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he added.

Earlier, Stephen Miller, one of Trump's most influential advisors, said that the US President clearly believes India should stop buying Russian oil.

"What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing oil from Russia," Miller said on Sunday Morning Futures.

He, however, said that Trump's relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "tremendous".

Last week, the US President said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods imported from India, along with a penalty for buying Russian oil.

Meanwhile, government sources have clarified there is no pause on the oil imports from Russia. According to sources, "India's energy purchases are driven by national interests and market forces. We do not have any reports of Indian oil firms halting Russian imports".

Trump has threatened 100 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week that "You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics".

India sources its oil purchases based on global market offerings to meet its energy.

"Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership," said the MEA spokesperson.
Chennai, Aug 4 : Actor and Parliamentarian Kamal Haasan on Monday lauded actor Suriya and his Agaram foundation, saying that they had set in motion a silent revolution by nurturing one child, one dream at a time.

The ace actor, director and producer, who only recently turned a member of the Rajya Sabha, issued a statement to express how impressed he was with the social change that was being ushered in by Suriya's Agaram Foundation, which has been doing appreciable work in providing education to those from the poorer sections of society.

He wrote, "...Being part of Agaram Foundation's 15-year celebration was a moment of joy that left me deeply moved. The doctors, innovators, and thought-leaders emerging from Agaram are not merely individual triumphs, they are living testaments to what education can accomplish when nurtured by compassion and a sense of public service."

The actor further went on to say, "You and the team at Agaram have set in motion a silent revolution, nurturing one child, one dream at a time. The work of your foundation will not be measured in numbers, but in the enduring transformations it has sparked.

"Every child empowered through Agaram carries within them the potential to heal, to lead communities, and to uplift countless others, creating ripples of change across generations yet to come. Your efforts embody the spirit of a just and progressive India. They demonstrate how the light of education, placed in committed hands, can dissolve the entrenched barriers of birth and circumstance. You have given many the strength to dream beyond mere survival, and the courage to pursue dignity, purpose, and excellence."

Stating that Suriya's family had returned with grace the love that their beloved state of Tamil Nadu had showered upon him, Kamal Haasan said that he was sure that in the fullness of time, "it shall be said that while your name lit up screens and stages, it gleamed even more enduringly in the quiet triumphs of those you uplifted, the generations who carry forward the light you lit."
Kolkata, Aug 4 : The Calcutta High Court on Monday imposed an interim stay on the FIRs filed against the filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri's upcoming movie "The Bengal Files".

A single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta had imposed the interim stay on the FIRs against the movie till August 26. The next hearing on the matter at the same bench will be on August 19.

Agnihotri and his wife, actress Pallavi Joshi, had last month approached the Calcutta High Court seeking dismissal of FIRs filed against "The Bengal Files". The matter came up for hearing on Monday, and Justice Sengupta imposed an interim stay on the FIRs filed against the film.

An FIR was registered against the movie in Murshidabad district soon after the teaser campaign for the movie was released. Later, another FIR was also registered at Lake Town Police in Kolkata. The main accusation in the FIR was that the movie might contain some sensitive matter that might hamper communal harmony in the state.

"The Bengal Files" is perceived to be the third part of Agnihotri's "Files" trilogy, the first being "The Tashkent Files" in 2019 and the second being the much-controversial "The Kashmir Files" in 2022.

Previously, the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government had been accused of issuing gag orders against feature films on allegedly flimsy grounds.

In May 2023, the Chief Minister announced the ban on screening of "The Kerala Story" in the state because certain scenes in the said movie can affect the peace and harmony in West Bengal.

Her decision attracted widespread criticism from the silver screen circles, rights bodies, and civil society nationally. Then, the intellectuals in West Bengal got divided over the decision of the state government to ban the screening of the movie.

However, in May 2023 only, the Supreme Court decided to set aside the ban on screening of "The Kerala Story" in West Bengal, observing that legal provisions could not be used to put a premium on public intolerance.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea challenging the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023, which increased the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies from 10 per cent to 27 per cent.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi questioned the petitioners for instituting a writ petition directly before the top court and told them to first approach the Gujarat High Court.

Sensing the disinclination of the apex court to entertain the plea, senior advocate K. Parameshwar, representing the petitioners, sought permission to withdraw the writ petition with liberty to approach the Gujarat HC.

The petition, filed through advocate Sudhanshu Prakash, contended that the amendment violates constitutional principles, lacks empirical backing, and contravenes previous apex court judgments governing reservations in local bodies.

The petitioners -- Vora Jaimin and others -- said that while the Gujarat government formed a Commission led by Justice K.S. Jhaveri (retired) in July 2022, its report, submitted in April 2023, has not been made public.

"Since the report of the Commission, which forms the basis of the Amendment Act, is not in the public domain, it follows that the Amending Act is not backed by any verifiable data. Absence of the report from the public domain means there is no yardstick by which to judge the validity of the reservation provided by the Amending Act," the petition stated.

It alleged that the state government failed to comply with the "triple test" laid down by the Supreme Court in Vikas Kishanrao Gawali vs. State of Maharashtra, mandating that any OBC reservation in local bodies must be preceded by: (1) A dedicated Commission conducting a rigorous empirical inquiry; (2) Local body-wise specification of reservation based on that data; and (3) a ceiling ensuring the total reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs does not exceed 50 per cent.

The petition claimed that the amendment appears to mechanically increase OBC reservation to 27 per cent without assessing the actual political backwardness or representation needs of the community.

"The blind transplantation of servicea'law percentages (e.g., 27 per cent) into the electoral sphere is impermissible," the plea said.

The petitioners, all aspiring candidates from the unreserved category in the upcoming local body polls, claimed that they are being unfairly excluded from contesting elections due to the excessive reservation. The petition sought a direction to strike down the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023, and urged the top court to lay down guidelines for assessing OBC political backwardness to prevent excessive reservation in local bodies.
Jaipur, Aug 4 : In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Pratapgarh Police have seized mephedrone (MD) drugs worth over Rs 50 lakh and uncovered an illegal drug manufacturing unit hidden deep within the forests of Arnod-Suhagpura in Rajasthan.

Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested three smugglers and recovered a large quantity of chemicals and equipment used in the production of synthetic drugs. This marks the first major operation of the year under Section 30 of the NDPS Act in Pratapgarh district.

Following directions from District Superintendent of Police B. Aditya, a police team led by Station Officer Deepak Kumar was patrolling near the Zero Mile intersection on Monday. There, they spotted three suspicious individuals standing outside the Forest Department quarters.

On seeing the police vehicle, the men tried to flee. One of them, Omkar Singh, was caught immediately. A search led to the recovery of 213 grams of MD and 332 grams of a mixing agent known locally as atanka.a

Upon interrogation, Omkar revealed the names of his two accomplices - Shyamlal Meena and Ramesh Meena - who were later arrested.

During questioning, Ramesh disclosed that he had been working for Jamshed Khan, a resident of Devaldi and a repeat offender with previous NDPS cases.

According to Ramesh, Jamshed had selected a remote forest location to set up an illicit MD manufacturing lab, aiming to avoid detection.

Acting on this information, the police raided the site and recovered jars and containers filled with chemicals such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydrochloric acid, and dichloromethane - substances commonly used in making synthetic drugs.

The accused had brought the recovered MD and chemicals to Shyamlal to finalise a sample deal. Had the deal succeeded, a larger consignment would have been manufactured in the forest lab.

The arrested individuals were identified as Omkar Singh (31), a resident of Sadari in Pali; Shyamlal Meena from Khora, Arnod; and Ramesh Meena from Hamakhora, Suhagpura.

A team comprising SO Deepak Banjara, SI Deepak Kumar, and several constables played a key role in the operation. Police are now expanding their investigation to identify other members of the drug network.
Patna, Aug 4 : The release of the first draft list under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) has triggered a major political controversy in Bihar.

The Congress launched a scathing attack on the ECI in a joint press conference on Monday, raising serious concerns over the alleged deletion of nearly 65 lakh voter names from the electoral roll.

Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram, former State party president Madan Mohan Jha, and senior party leader Praveen Jha addressed the media, questioning the transparency and legality of the SIR process.

Rajesh Ram alleged, "The removal of such a large number of names of people without consultation or public disclosure casts doubt on the impartiality of the Election Commission. Why was no proper explanation or authentic data shared, especially when lives and democratic rights are involved?"

The Congress leaders claimed that the EC has neither made the deleted voter list public nor uploaded relevant details on its official website.

They said this lack of transparency is eroding trust in the democratic process.

Citing a specific case from Nalanda, Praveen Jha said: "In a single booth, several voters were declared dead and removed from the electoral rolls, even though many are still alive. This clearly points to gross negligence or targeted action."

He called it a "systematic attempt to manipulate the voter base," especially in areas perceived to support opposition parties.

When asked about Leader of Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav's alleged double EPIC controversy, Congress leaders refrained from commenting in detail, saying that the RJD leader himself would respond.

However, they emphasised that the core issue is the flawed and politically motivated SIR process, which they say disproportionately affects Opposition voters.

Rajesh Ram questioned the pre-emptive claim of 20 per cent deletion even before the SIR process began.

"How did the Election Commission already know the figure? Was this figure predetermined?" he asked.

Congress demanded that the EC hold discussions with political parties and civil society groups before taking such sweeping steps in a sensitive election year.

Madan Mohan Jha said, "If the government is confident about its voter list clean-up, why is it avoiding scrutiny from the Opposition? Even the Prime Minister's scepticism towards the Supreme Court judges is concerning."

He criticised the EC for ignoring the Supreme Court's recommendation to integrate Aadhaar verification, terming it a violation of judicial advice and public trust.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : On the opening day of Delhi Assembly's Monsoon Session, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday led legislators in hailing the armed forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for successful Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, even as Opposition AAP members questioned the logic behind the ceasefire in the cross-border action.

The discussion on the motion to thank the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the armed forces for Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev witnessed sharp exchanges between the treasury and Opposition benches, with AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha being marshalled out over an objectionable remark.

CM Gupta expressed gratitude to the Indian armed forces and the Prime Minister for the success of Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, and called upon the entire Assembly to join in a chant of 'Har Har Mahadev' on the sacred occasion of the last Monday of the holy month of Sawan.

She said these two were more than just military missions, as they embodied the honour and dignity of every Indian household.

The Chief Minister reflected on India's military achievements, national security strategies, and pivotal decisions in recent history.

She described the success of these operations as a moment of national pride and paid tribute to the courage and dedication of the Indian armed forces.

The Chief Minister added that PM Modi, through his resolute and dynamic leadership, has safeguarded the dignity, honour, and self-respect of Indian women.

She strongly criticised the Opposition, accusing them of consistently neglecting national interest and deliberately working to tarnish the country's image.

"Until PM Modi's government came to power, stones were thrown daily in the Kashmir Valley, there were constant massacres, and India was defamed every single day. But they (Congress) never took responsibility. They remained silent. And during the mass killing and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, they didn't take responsibility either," she said, attacking the Congress-led UPA.

"Operation Sindoor was an answer to all those tears that flowed from the eyes of our sisters. Operation Sindoor was a response to the wails of those mothers who cried and screamed, clinging to the coffins of their sons. It was not just a military operation  it was the honour of every martyred soldier's family, carried out because of Hon'ble Prime Minister Modi..." she said.

Ahead of the discussion, a statement congratulating the armed forces and the Central government for the two operations was read out by Speaker Vijender Gupta.

Power Minister Ashish Sood said the two operations represent the new normal in response to the terror attack.

Sood and many of the BJP legislators said that the success of the two operations had exposed those who doubted the Armed forces and intelligence agencies, hailing the Central government for supporting the armed forces and boosting the Defence budget.

He trained his guns on the Opposition for worrying more about the number of fighter jets lost by the IAF in the battle.

Quoting foreign defence experts for India's "decisive victory" in the war and setting a "new benchmark in anti-terror action", Sood hit out at the Opposition for criticising the government over the action that dismantled Pakistan-based terror hubs and left 11 out of 12 airbases in the neighbouring country damaged.

He said the operations were key from three aspects: Establishing India's authority in modern warfare, displaying IAF's superior power and showcasing the potential of Make in India weapons.

Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra alleged that "while our armed forces were killing terrorists, members of the Opposition were mourning the casualties in Pakistan".

AAP legislator Kuldeep Kumar questioned the logic behind the timing of the ceasefire. "When we were on the verge of reclaiming PoK, the Operation was called off. Who forced India to stop the Operation?"

Other AAP speakers questioned the logic behind the ceasefire and the decision not to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

BJP MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah hailed PM Modi's leadership for the success of both operations. "Our armed forces struck by entering the enemy zone. No PM has ever dared to do this," he said.

BJP legislators Abhey Kumar Verma and Anil Kumar Sharma also hailed the two operations and hit out at the Opposition parties for not praising the armed forces and showing a soft corner for Pakistan and terrorists.
Photo: https://president.gov.ua/

Ukraine will continue to support its communities in the eastern part of the country, in particular, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects a report from Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on the action program for border territories.

"The government will continue to support our cities, our communities in the eastern part of Ukraine. In particular, this concerns special conditions for business in frontline and border areas in order to preserve jobs and preserve our Ukrainian production. There are many nuances. We have already discussed them with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and I am waiting for a report on the action program for border areas," Zelenskyy said in an address on Monday.

The president also discussed additional financial support for brigades in Kharkiv region that are performing combat missions with Head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Oleh Synehubov and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
Chennai, Aug 4 : Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad has strongly criticised former Union Minister P. Chidambaram and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for what he termed as "divisive and baseless" statements regarding the recent revisions in voter rolls in Bihar and Tamil Nadu.

Chennai, Aug 4 (IANS) Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad has strongly criticised former Union Minister P. Chidambaram and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for what he termed as "divisive and baseless" statements regarding the recent revisions in voter rolls in Bihar and Tamil Nadu.

Prasad accused the Congress-DMK alliance of attempting to undermine the integrity of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and distract from governance failures in Tamil Nadu.

Chidambaram had recently alleged that the ECI had removed 65 lakh voters from the electoral rolls in Bihar and added 6.5 lakh new voters in Tamil Nadu, describing the developments as suspicious and potentially illegal.

Countering this, Prasad said these claims were made without constitutional understanding or reference to electoral procedures and were aimed at maligning the Modi-led central government.

"These allegations not only lack evidence but are also a deliberate attempt to erode public trust in our democratic institutions," Prasad said, adding that the Congress and DMK were resorting to "divisive and dynastic politics" to destabilise the idea of a unified Bharat.

Prasad asserted that the removal of voters in Bihar was part of a routine Special Intensive Revision exercise conducted by the ECI under the provisions of Article 324 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

He clarified that such exercises are standard practices meant to eliminate duplicate, deceased, or relocated entries from the electoral rolls and that affected individuals have legal recourse to appeal for reinstatement.

Similarly, he dismissed Chidambaram's concerns about the inclusion of 6.5 lakh voters in Tamil Nadu, stating that migrant workers from other states are constitutionally entitled to register as voters at their current place of residence under Article 19(1)(e) and Section 19(b) of the Representation of the People Act.

"Labelling these voters as 'non-residents' is a rhetorical exaggeration, not a legal argument," he said.

Turning his focus to Tamil Nadu, Prasad said the state was facing a serious governance crisis under the DMK, with rising incidents of crime, drug abuse, custodial deaths, and administrative corruption.

He cited the Anju Lavanya case as evidence of the deteriorating law and order situation, and condemned the state government's alleged crackdown on peaceful protests and hunger strikes by disgruntled trade unions.

"While Tamil Nadu's citizens are grappling with real challenges, Chidambaram and Stalin are busy peddling conspiracy theories and slandering constitutional bodies like the ECI," Prasad said.

"This is political posturing, not responsible leadership."

He also accused Stalin of aligning with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to further divisive regional politics, and criticised both leaders for ignoring linguistic and governance issues within their states in favour of partisan rhetoric. Prasad emphasised that the ECI functions with transparency, displaying draft rolls publicly and offering grievance redressal mechanisms.

He warned that casting aspersions on the ECI's impartiality without proof undermines the credibility of the electoral process. Highlighting the BJP's performance in the recent general elections, Prasad said the people of India have overwhelmingly rejected the Congress-DMK alliance's politics of division and entrusted Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a third consecutive term.

"This is a clear endorsement of the BJP's vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047an inclusive, united, and developed nation," he said.

He concluded by urging political leaders to focus on constructive engagement and real issues like voter awareness and accessibility rather than indulging in defamatory narratives.

"Tamil Nadu's people deserve leadership committed to justice, safety, and development - not sensationalism and slander," he added.

--IANS

aal/dan
Guwahati, Aug 4 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that the first phase of eviction drive in the Rengma Reserve forest at Uriamghat in the Golaghat district is completed and at least 1,200 hectare of land was made free from encroachment.

Taking to social media platform X, CM Sarma said, "Phase I of the eviction drive in Uriamghat is over where we recovered more than 1200 hectare of land in Rengma Reserve Forest."

The Chief Minister also warned that the eviction exercise will continue in the state to clear illegal encroachment.

"The drive will continue, here as well as across the state to take back every inch of land, which rightfully belongs to the people of Assam," CM Sarma added.

The state administration in Assam's Golaghat district launched a large-scale eviction drive in the previous week.

In the eviction exercise, nearly 2,000 families accused of encroaching upon forest land in the Rengma Reserve Forest under the Sarupathar sub-division in the Golaghat district had to leave the forest area.

The encroached land, reportedly converted into betel nut plantations allegedly linked to a larger "betel mafia" network, has drawn sharp administrative action following extensive land surveys across 30 villages in the area.

Authorities deployed a formidable force, around 700 to 800 personnel from the Assam Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the State Forest Department.

Heavy machinery, including bulldozers and excavators, have also been mobilised to carry out the eviction.

Many of those facing eviction are Bengali-speaking Muslims, a community often branded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Reports suggest that a significant number have fled the area in fear, seeking shelter in other parts of Assam.

According to official estimates, over the past four years, 1.29 lakh bighas (around 42,500 acres) have been cleared of encroachments, but nearly 29 lakh bighas (more than 9.5 lakh acres) still remain under illegal occupation across the state.

The state government claimed that many of the encroachers originate from Muslim-majority districts within Assam, such as Nagaon, Morigaon, Sonitpur, Cachar, Dhubri, Barpeta, and Hojai, as well as from neighbouring states like West Bengal and Bihar.

As tensions rise, the Nagaland government has issued an advisory urging its border districts to remain vigilant and prevent any spillover of displaced families from Assam into its territory during the course of the eviction.
Hyderabad, Aug 4 : Telangana Jagruthi President and BRS MLC K. Kavitha called off her 72-hour fast on Monday evening after the High Court declined permission to use the Dharna Chowk for the protest.

Kavitha, who had started the fast at 10 a.m., posted on X that she was compelled to call off the fast this evening as the High Court has declined permission for Telangana Jagruthi and United Phule Front (UPF) from using the area.

"However, Jagruthi and UPF will come back with a much stronger strategy, involving legal and other forms, to build pressure on both the Congress and BJP parties which are continually denying the OBCas their rightful share in the local body elections," she posted.

Kavitha, on Monday morning, began the 72-hour fast for 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes in education, employment and local bodies.

Hyderabad police had given permission for the hunger strike only till 5 p.m. The police conveyed to the organisers that there is no permission for a 72-hour hunger strike.

The Telangana Jagruthi had approached the High Court, seeking orders to the government to give permission for 72 hours. However, the High Court declined the permission.

Kavitha, along with Telangana Jagruthi workers, launched the fast at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park here after garlanding the statues of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule and Professor Jayashankar.

She stated that Telangana Jagruthias struggle would become historic. She said Backwards Classes (BCs), who constitute 50 per cent of the population, should get their due in local bodies.

She said they had been demanding that the Congress government implement the Kamareddy BC declaration released during the Assembly elections. She alleged that the Congress is trying to escape by blaming the BJP.

The Congress government should clear the doubts of the BJP on two Bills passed by the Telangana Assembly and sent to the Centre for approval for 42 per cent reservation in education, employment and local bodies, she demanded.

The Telangana Jagruthi President said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy should announce that Muslims would be provided 10 per cent reservation. "He should declare that 42 per cent reservations will be given only to BCs, and Muslims would be provided a separate 10 per cent reservation," she said.

The BJP has been raising objections to Muslims being included in BCs for reservation. BJP leaders are stating that the Centre will approve the Bills if Muslims are excluded from the 42 per cent BC reservation.

Kavitha said a Bill should be tabled in the Parliament for 10 per cent reservation to Muslims. If the Congress is sincere, it should make efforts in this direction, she said.
Imphal, Aug 4 : In a sustained series of operations, the Army and Assam Rifles units in close coordination with Manipur Police and other security forces arrested 15 active insurgent cadres and recovered 69 weapons, 16 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and varied ammunition, officials said on Monday.

Defence Spokesman Lt Col Amit Shukla said that based on specific information, combined forces conducted a series of raids during the past few days in Churachandpur, as well as Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts and apprehended 15 hardcore militants and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.

The arrested militants belonged to four banned militant outfits -- United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), and Peopleas Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).

According to Lt Col Shukla, the joint forces recovered 69 various types of weapons, 16 IEDs, a few grenades, other ammunition, radio sets, and other war-like stores.

These also included earlier looted service weapons, country-made arms, and explosives capable of causing mass casualties.

These coordinated actions underscore the firm resolve of the security forces to maintain peace and stability in the region while preventing the resurgence of insurgent activities, the defence spokesman said.

Meanwhile, a senior Manipur police official said earlier in the day that ten more militants of different banned outfits were arrested during the past 24 hours by the joint forces.

The ten militants arrested in three districts -- Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur -- belonged to various factions of the KCP and PREPAK.

Security personnel recovered pistols and various materials, including several mobile handsets, various documents, and some ammunition, from the possession of the arrested militants.

The arrested militants were involved in kidnapping, firing incidents, extortion, seeking monetary demands and collection of extortion money from schools located in the Imphal valley area.

--IANS

sc/dan
Mangaluru, Aug 4 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT), on Monday, completed the sixth day of excavation at the marked burial sites in a Hindu pilgrimage centre in Mangaluru district of Karnataka, sources said.

Sources said that multiple bones and a skull were recovered at the site.

According to sources, shortly after the commencement of digging at marked burial site number 11, the unidentified complainant-cum-whistleblower led authorities to a different nearby location.

Excavation at this new site reportedly led to the discovery of several bones and a skull.

Staff members carrying boxes, buckets, and pipes out of the forest by the end of the day indicated that the SIT had found human remains.

The authorities' decision to work for hours without taking a lunch break further suggested significant findings.

Additionally, workers were seen carrying a sack of salt uphill into the forest, reinforcing the belief that multiple bones had been discovered.

However, no official statement has been issued yet in connection with the findings.

Authorities are hopeful of completing excavation at all 13 marked burial sites.

It remains unconfirmed whether the work at burial site number 11 has been concluded.

This development could mark a major turning point in the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, T. Jayanth, a social activist and resident of Ichilampadi village in Mangaluru district, lodged a complaint with the SIT on Monday, alleging that a police officer had buried the body of a minor girl without following legal procedures.

In his complaint, Jayanth said, "During 2002 or 2003, the police received information about the murder of a girl aged between 13 and 15, whose body had been dumped in a forest area near the roadside along state highway number 37. The police officer visited the spot after a week, took a photograph, and buried the body in a trench about one to two feet deep. No legal procedures were followed, and no case was registered."

He also added, "I was an eyewitness to the incident. Out of fear and shock, I did not inform anyone at the time. I now have faith in the SIT and am lodging this complaint. There are others who also witnessed the incident, and I am willing to produce them if necessary."

After receiving the complaint, the SIT directed Jayanth to file a formal complaint at the jurisdictional police station, and said that further action would be taken as per the directions of the Director General and Inspector General of Police, M.A. Saleem.

Earlier, SIT Chief Pronab Mohanty had said that no significant material had been recovered from the previously excavated sites.

However, reports later surfaced indicating that a red, torn blouse and a PAN card belonging to a woman named Lakshmi were recovered from the first burial site.

In addition, the whistleblower reportedly submitted a skull -- allegedly recovered from one of the burial sites -- to the SIT.

In a major development on July 11, the unidentified complainant, who claimed he had been forced to bury the bodies of women and girls who were raped and murdered in Dharmasthala village, appeared before a court in Mangaluru district and recorded his statement.

He requested that the bodies be exhumed in his presence and alleged that the victims bore clear signs of sexual assault.

According to him, the bodies were found without clothing or undergarments and had injuries consistent with violent sexual abuse.

These revelations have sent shockwaves across Karnataka.

Following the claims, a retired Supreme Court judge and several activists have demanded a Supreme Court- or High Court-monitored SIT probe into the alleged Dharmasthala murders, which may involve the deaths of multiple women, girls and destitute men.
Kolkata, Aug 4 : Veteran and four-time Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee on Monday attacked his fellow party Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra shortly after announcing his resignation from the chair of the Chief Whip of Trinamool Congress's Parliamentary party in the lower house.

"I have taken note of the recent personal remarks made by Ms Mahua Moitra in a public podcast. Her choice of words, including the use of dehumanising language such as comparing a fellow MP to a 'pig', is not only unfortunate but reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil discourse," Banerjee wrote in a social media post.

The Trinamool MP's strong reaction came a day after Moitra courted a controversy by comparing him with a "pig".

"You don't wrestle with a pig. Because the pig likes it and you get dirty," Moitra said while taking part in a podcast interview.

She made those statements in response to Banerjee's recent personal attack against her regarding her marriage to Pinaki Misra, a former BJD Lok Sabha member and senior legal counsel.

Reacting to Moitra's comments, Banerjee indirectly said in his social media post that politicians like Moitra should take a hard look at the kind of politics she was practising and the hollowness it exposes.

"When a public representative stoops to name-calling and coarse innuendo, it reflects not strength, but insecurity," Banerjee added.

The Trinamool leader further said that labelling a male colleague as 'sexually frustrated' was not boldness, but rather it was an outright abuse.

"If such language were directed at a woman, there would be nationwide outrage, and rightly so. But when a man is the target, it's dismissed or even applauded. Abuse is abuse - regardless of gender," Banerjee added.

Banerjee also accused Moitra of hiding her failures by indulging in a mud-slinging exercise.

"If Ms Moitra thinks that flinging gutter insults will mask her failures or distract from serious questions about her record, she is deluding herself. Those who rely on abuse instead of answers are not champions of democracy - they are its embarrassment," he said.
Bhubaneswar, July 4 : Continuing its crackdown on corrupt public servants, Odisha Vigilance on Monday arrested a senior official of the State Transport Department after he was found in possession of assets worth over six times his known sources of income.

The accused official identified as Golap Chandra Hansdah, is posted as MVI at the Regional Transport Office in Boudh district.

On the strength of search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Baripada, Odisha Vigilance on Sunday launched simultaneous searches at multiple properties linked to Hansdah in Baripada, Boudh, and Bhubaneswar.

The court issued the warrants over allegations of possession of disproportionate assets (DA) by Hansdah.

The team led by four Deputy Superintendents of Police, seven Inspectors and other supporting staff carried out the search operation at six places including one residential house at Prafulla Nagar in Baripada town, paternal house of Hansdah at Gudidiha village under Khunta police limits in Mayurbhanj district, office chamber at Boudh, etc.

During house searches, the vigilance sleuths found Hansdah and his family in possession of one multi-storeyed building at Baripada town, 44 plots including 43 in and around Baripada town and one on the outskirts of Balasore town, gold weighing over one kilogram including gold biscuits of 50 grams each, silver ornaments 2.126 kgs, bank and insurance deposits worth over Rs 1.34 crore and Rs 40 lakhs spent daughter's medical education, one four wheeler, three two wheelers and household articles worth around Rs 16.06 lakhs.

"After thorough search, inventory and further enquiry, the income, expenditure and assets of Hansdah, MVI, Boudh, were calculated and he was found in possession of disproportionate assets which were 630 per cent in excess of his known sources of income," informed vigilance sources.

Accused Hansdah, who joined government services in 1991, was promoted as junior MVI in 2003. He later got promoted MVI in 2020 and posted at RTO office, Boudh.
Jaipur, Aug 4 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma laid the foundation stone of the Isarda-Dausa Drinking Water Project during a ceremony held in Dungarpur village of Lalsot, Dausa district.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister reiterated his government's resolve to enhance living standards by extending essential facilities to every village and hamlet across the state. The Rs 350 crore project will include the construction of 8 clean water reservoirs, 5 pump houses, and 47 high reservoirs.

Over 1,840 km of pipelines, including rising main, main, and VDS lines, will be laid. On completion by 2027, the project will supply clean drinking water to over 6.27 lakh people across 302 villages and Lalsot town.

Additionally, development works worth over Rs 120 crore have been approved in the Lalsot Assembly, including a budget allocation of Rs 116 crore.

Highlighting achievements over the past one and a half years, Sharma said the government has made significant progress in water, electricity, and infrastructure. Projects like the Ram Jal Setu Link, Yamuna Water Agreement, and Mahi Dam Scheme have ensured better irrigation and drinking water facilities.

Irrigation has been extended to 82,964 hectares with Rs 8,496 crore in investments, and the government aims to provide daytime electricity to farmers by 2027.

He emphasised that more than 75,000 youth have received appointment letters through six employment fairs, and recruitment is being conducted transparently, with no exam paper leaks.

The Chief Minister contrasted his government's achievements with the previous administration, citing construction of 32,000 farm ponds versus 29,000 in five years, and expansion of power generation capacity by 4,800 MW.

He noted 1,421 villages have been connected with roads, over 89,000 students given tablets, and 9.75 lakh ownership cards distributed, far surpassing the former government's records.

Sharma also urged citizens to support the Vande Ganga Jal Sanrakshan Jan Abhiyan, aiming to plant 50 crore saplings in five years.

Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena and Water Supply Minister Kanhaiyalal also addressed the gathering, emphasising government efforts to improve farmers' lives and crack down on past corruption in the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Patna, Aug 4 : The much-anticipated 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' of Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, originally scheduled to begin on August 10 in Bihar, has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Patna, Aug 4 (IANS) The much-anticipated aVote Adhikar Yatraa of Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, originally scheduled to begin on August 10 in Bihar, has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) officially announced the postponement through a letter (No. 168, dated August 4, 2025) issued by its state office, citing "unavoidable reasons" behind the decision.

The death of a former Chief Minister of Jharkhand is believed to be the primary reason behind the deferment, sources said.

The party has urged supporters and officials to consider the previous schedule cancelled until a new date is announced.

The revised schedule of the yatra will be communicated in due course.

As per the earlier plan, the first phase of the yatra was to commence from Sasaram in Rohtas district on August 10 and culminate in Narpatganj in Araria district on August 19, covering several districts across Bihar.

Jointly organised by Congress and RJD, the yatra was being projected as a peopleas movement for voter rights and a direct protest against the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the Election Commission.

The two opposition parties also planned to use this platform to attack both the Modi government at the Centre and the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on various election-related issues.

Leaders from both parties had termed the yatra as the beginning of their electoral campaign for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

It was designed not only to voice opposition to recent electoral roll deletions under SIR but also to galvanise support and re-energise the Mahagathbandhan cadre ahead of the polls.

Party insiders said the announcement of the yatra had already created a buzz within the alliance, with grassroots workers and ticket aspirants gearing up to participate in large numbers.

For many local leaders, it was a crucial opportunity to showcase strength and influence in front of top leadership.

Now, with the program postponed, political attention will shift to the rescheduled dates, which are expected to be strategically aligned with future election planning and regional developments.
Jaipur, Aug 4 : National Democratic Party President and Nagaur Lok Sabha MP Hanuman Beniwal met the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as well as Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, at his office in the Parliament House in New Delhi on Monday.

During the meeting, Beniwal urged the Union Minister to expedite approval for the proposed Kendriya Vidyalayas in Khinvsar, Deedwana, and Parbatsar within the Nagaur parliamentary constituency.

Taking to social media platform X, the Nagaur Lok Sabha MP said: "Today, I met with the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary Ji, at his office in the Parliament House and held detailed discussions regarding the earliest possible approval of the proposed Kendriya Vidyalayas in Khinvsar, Deedwana, and Parbatsar in the Nagaur Parliamentary constituency. We also discussed the atmosphere of fear prevailing in government schools following the recent school tragedy in Rajasthanas Jhalawar district. I urged Jayant Ji to ensure the earliest possible financial approval for the proposals I sent for the repair, renovation, etc., of various government schools in Nagaur and Deedwana-Kuchaman districts. The Minister Ji gave positive assurances on all issues."

He also raised concern about the fearful atmosphere prevailing in government schools following the recent school tragedy in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district.

Additionally, Beniwal pressed for early financial sanction of pending proposals for the repair and renovation of various government schools in Nagaur and Deedwana-Kuchaman districts.

The Union Minister, according to Beniwal, gave positive assurances on all the issues discussed.

In a separate development, Minister Chaudhary also responded to a parliamentary question posed by Beniwal regarding the status of PM Shri schools.

Beniwal criticised the Central government for lacking clarity and accountability in the implementation of the PM Shri scheme, despite claims of significant expenditure.

He said that the Union government has acknowledged spending more than Rs 5,000 crore under the scheme in the last two financial years (2023a"24 and 2024a"25).

However, when asked how many schools had achieved 100 per cent physical and educational upgradation, the Union government failed to provide a definitive figure.

Beniwal said this reflects a serious lapse in monitoring and implementation, as funds are being disbursed without any transparent tracking of whether schools are meeting the required standards.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with wounded soldiers who are undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in one of the medical institutions in Kharkiv: the head of state talked to them, thanked them for their service and awarded them with the Order of Courage, 3rd degree, and the Medal for Military Service to Ukraine, the presidential website reports.

"Thank you for really defending Ukraine. We are sincerely proud that we have such warriors - strong people, cool, young, powerful. I wish you a speedy recovery," Zelenskyy is quoted as saying.

He also thanked the combat medics who help the military recover from injuries and presented them with the medals For Military Service to Ukraine and For a Saved Life.

"Thank you for your service. Thank you for helping us as much as possible here in Kharkiv region, rehabilitating our guys and girls. And the first thing they say is that they are very grateful to the doctors. Thank you and all your colleagues for your service to Ukraine," the president noted.

In addition, Zelenskyy familiarized himself with the work of a mobile field hospital, which was previously used at the front. Now the hospital has been attached to a medical facility to increase its ability to help the wounded.
Indore, Aug 4 : In an unfortunate incident, a 26-year-old man lost his life after drowning in a pond while he along with his three friends was enjoying a picnic while bathing in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred at a village under Sirmol police station outskirts in Indore on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Mohsin Khan, a resident of Khajrana area in Indore.

The victim, Mohsin, along with his three friends had gone for a picnic at a pond near Roshia Baba Dargah.

While his friends were at the other side of the pond, Mohsin was swimming on one side of the pond.

The incident came to light after a video recorded by an unidentified bystander surfaced on the social media on Monday.

The viral video also showed that when Mohsin was drowning, his friends were recording the video, assuming he was swimming comfortably.

Three others who had gone for picnic with Mohsin, have been identified as Anwar Khan, Wahid Khan, Habib Khan, according to the police.

During the investigation, police learnt that Mohsin had entered the deep water and soon began to drown.

Later, noticing that Mohsin was drowning, his friends tried to save him but it was too late till then.

Mohsin worked as a scrap dealer and is survived by his wife and three daughters, the youngest being just two-years-old.

His family is devastated by the sudden loss.

The Madhya Pradesh government said in a statement in the Assembly on Friday that more than 132 people have lost their lives after drowning in rivers and streams since the monsoon session started this year.

More than 205 people have died during the last two months, including 60 of them losing lives due to lightning strikes in across Madhya Pradesh.

While 13 people lost their lives due to falling trees, walls, or house collapses.
Agartala, Aug 4 : In a significant move toward strengthening disaster management, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday unveiled the State Disaster Management Plan (SDMP) and inaugurated multiple technology-driven initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of natural and man-made disasters.

Speaking at the event held at the state civil secretariat, Saha, who also serves as Chairperson of the Tripura Disaster Management Authority, stressed the importance of advance preparedness in minimising loss of life and property, citing the devastating floods of August last year that claimed over 30 lives across the state.

The SDMP 2024-25, released after a gap of nine years, reflects a comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategy in alignment with national and international frameworks including the Sendai Framework, SDGs, and the Paris Agreement.

State's Revenue Secretary Brijesh Pandey said that this comprehensive plan has been thoughtfully revised through extensive consultations and incorporates valuable lessons learned from recent disasters.

The two-volume plan outlines a clear approach to disaster mitigation, response, and recovery, while integrating departmental responsibilities and long-term sustainability goals.

Among the key projects inaugurated by the Chief Minister was the Technology Demonstration Unit at Hapania, developed under the NDMA's "Earthquake Resiliency of Lifeline Masonry Structures" scheme at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.

This unit would serve as a training ground for civil defence volunteers and 'Aapda Mitras' in earthquake-resilient construction techniques.

The Chief Minister also launched the Civil Defence Volunteer Training Programme, which aims to train 2,880 volunteers and 16 master trainers by March 2026 under a Rs 3.66 crore centrally-sponsored scheme. In a major upgrade to early warning systems, 26 automated weather stations and rain gauges installed across the state were formally dedicated to the nation, with further installations and a new Doppler radar planned for South Tripura.

The Revenue Department launched an online equipment verification portal to monitor emergency gear across 37 strategic locations and another portal to streamline land use change approvals.

The latter, developed under new land diversion rules, aims to accelerate approvals within 14 days for startups and industrial projects. Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Director General of Police Anurag and Revenue Secretary Brijesh Pandey also attended the event, marking a milestone in Tripura's proactive approach to disaster preparedness and technological modernization.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Aug 4 : Congress' Rajya Sabha MP and senior lawyer Vivek Tankha, on Monday, wrote a letter to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, requesting to abolish the 'Madhya Pradesh Dakaiti Aur Vyapharan Prabhavit Kshetra Adhiniyam (MPDAA), 1981.

Bringing to his notice the state government's record that all dacoits from Chambal (Chambal ka beehad) have been eliminated, and the presence of no new dacoit was declared after 2007, this law should be abolished to ensure that "it is not misused" when the law had already served its purpose.

"Any law is enacted according to social, economic and the law and order situation of the current government, and when the law had served its purpose for which it was enacted, it becomes necessary to bring some change (amendment) or abolish it," Tankha wrote in his latter.

Revealing some other facts and backgrounds about this law, Congress leader Tankha while highlighting that despite the state government has declared that "no dacoit is now living in Chambal after 2007, more than 900 FIRs have been registered under this Act between 2020 and 2023".

"Noting that misuse of this law is creating social enmity, becoming a burden for judiciary and the government, various social organisations, and individual experts have suggested for a change in this law," Supreme Court lawyer Tankha wrote.

He also reminded that former Congress MLA from Bhind, Mewaram Jatav had also put a proposal to abolish this "irrelevant" law in the Assembly in 2023.

There are concerns about the impact of the law on individuals, particularly youth, who may be wrongly implicated due to the broad application of the law's provisions.

"Knowing your administrative ability, commitment towards the people of Madhya Pradesh and your prompt response in making the state's law and order better, I believe that you (CM Mohan Yadav) will take a decision on this suggestion," the Congress leader said.

The "Madhya Pradesh Dakaiti Aur Vyapharan Prabhavit Kshetra Adhiniyam, 1981" (Madhya Pradesh Dacoity and Kidnapping Affected Areas Act, 1981) was enacted by the Madhya Pradesh State Legislature to address dacoity and kidnapping in the affected areas.

It provides for the declaration of such areas, speedy trials, and special courts, as well as punishments for specified offences and the attachment of properties acquired through illegal means.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 4 : The Odisha government will develop 835 model primary schools under the first phase of its flagship Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Prathamik Vidyalaya scheme.

These high-quality primary schools developed under the flagship programme will function as feeder schools for the high schools across the state.

The government targets to spend Rs 7 crore per school. Primary schools with more than 100 students, classes being held from pre-primary (Shishu Vatika) to Class 8 and possessing more than two acres of land will be developed as model schools under the Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Prathamik Vidyalaya scheme.

During a review meeting held here on the implementation of the scheme, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasised developing one model school in each gram panchayat headquarters, keeping in view its geographical location.

He also stressed on providing national-level quality education in the socio-economic context and ensure transport facilities for the students.

CM Majhi instructed the concerned authorities during the meeting to provide free transportation facilities to students in remote and inaccessible areas to facilitate their commute to school.

He also directed the authorities to select schools with sufficient land and develop those primary schools in a way that allows for future upgradation to high schools.

The Chief Minister directed departmental secretaries and officials to ensure the improvement in results through the adoption of technology and follow best practices in teacher recruitment process.

The Chief Minister also laid emphasis on strengthening infrastructure, adopting modern teaching methods, encouraging the involvement of parents, alumni, and local stakeholders.

He also stressed on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy to achieve basic educational competencies by class 3, in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).

In the meeting, discussions held over governmentas aim to promote diverse forms of education in these schools, including STEM-based learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), with a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, as well as vocational skills and experiential learning.

The initiative seeks to support the holistic development of students by encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and life skills.
New Delhi, Aug 5 : In the wake of US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff announcement targeting Indian imports, New Delhi has mounted a robust defence of its economic and strategic choices -- drawing support from across the political aisle.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, representing Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu, was among the first to publicly back the Union government's response.

In a sharply worded social media post, Chidambaram dismissed Trump's threats as the outbursts of "impulsive heads of state", urging India to remain anchored in its national interests.

The controversy erupted after President Trump signed an executive order titled "Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates", slapping a 25 per cent duty on a wide array of Indian goods.

The move, he claimed, was retaliation for India's continued oil trade with Russia -- an arrangement he alleged was enriching New Delhi at the cost of Ukraine's suffering.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded within hours, issuing a statement that was both measured and unflinching.

It described Trump's accusations as "unjustified" and "unreasonable," asserting that India's energy decisions are dictated by economic imperatives and global market realities -- not geopolitical allegiances.

The MEA underscored that India's oil imports from Russia surged only after traditional suppliers in the Middle East redirected their exports to Europe following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict.

Far from being opportunistic, the shift was a pragmatic response to global volatility.

"India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," the Ministry said.

In a pointed rejoinder, the MEA also called out what it termed "double standards" in Western policy.

It cited data showing that the European Union imported a record 16.5 million tonnes of Russian LNG in 2024 -- far exceeding India's intake.

The US, too, continues to source critical commodities from Russia, including uranium and fertilisers.

India's oil imports from Russia have risen from a negligible 0.2 per cent before the war to more than 35 per cent today, making Moscow New Delhi's top supplier.

Yet, as the MEA noted, this is a reflection of market dynamics -- not political endorsement.

Trump's tariff salvo, coupled with his criticism of India's "obnoxious" trade barriers, has reignited debate over the future of Indo-US economic ties.

But for now, India's message is clear: strategic autonomy is non-negotiable.
The Tolstoys can probably lay claim to being the second largest family from the Russian nobility, after the Romanovs. There are currently around 200 direct descendants of the famous author Leo Tolstoy.

The importance of family values was a theme that Leo Tolstoy explored thoroughly in his work. His novel Anna Karenina presents the idea of family as something almost sacred, and one of the central characters in War and Peace, Countess Natasha Rostova, who is first depicted as a flighty and rather promiscuous girl, later finds real happiness with her family and her children. Tolstoys autobiographical trilogy, which comprises the novels Childhood, Boyhood and Youth, also revolves around his relationship with his relatives.

Leo Tolstoy with his family at tea in a park, 1892. Source: Press photo

A devoted family man, Tolstoy had 13 children. Four died either in infancy or early childhood, while the rest mostly left Russia in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. During Tolstoys lifetime, all his family members contributed to the dissemination of his literary work and legacy, a devotion that continued after the author passed away. Tolstoys wife, Sophia Andreyevna, copied  by hand, no less  War and Peace in its entirety numerous times; in 1917 his eldest daughter Tatyana became the first director of his memorial museum, Yasnaya Polyana, while his other daughters Maria and Alexandra were his aides and authorized representatives.

The Tolstoys in Yasnaya Polyana

There are currently more than 200 descendants of Leo Tolstoy living in different countries. Quite a few of them continue their famous ancestors work, preserve his legacy and study his many writings.

Vladimir Tolstoy Artyom Geodakyan/TASS Artyom Geodakyan/TASS

One of them is Vladimir Tolstoy (b.1962), who is Leo Tolstoys great-grandson. During the 1990s, he wrote several articles to notify the public about the illegal logging taking place on the grounds of Yasnaya Polyana estate, and in 1994 he was appointed the museums director. Under his management Yasnaya Polyana was revived and transformed into a major cultural center. Vladimir Tolstoy has also initiated the literary prize called 'Yasnaya Polyana'.

Incidentally, it was Vladimir Tolstoy who organized the first convention for Leo Tolstoys descendants in 2000, returning the family members to their roots. The convention has since become a traditional event and is held on the estate every two years. (One of them, British photographer Oleg Tolstoy, has documented the relatives' portraits - click here to see some of them and to read his story.)

In 2012, Vladimir Tolstoy became President Vladimir Putins cultural advisor, while his wife, Ekaterina Tolstaya, took over the role of Yasnaya Polyanas director.

Fulfilling Leo Tolstoys will

In 2014 Vladimir Tolstoy was among organizers for All Tolstoy in a Single Click project, which was of the major literary events of the year.

The project involved digitizing the complete works of Leo Tolstoy - comprising 90 volumes, including the writers letters and diaries  to make them available online free of charge. Several thousand volunteers from all over the world took part in the initiative, helping to proofread the digitized material.

The work was presented as like a game, a competition of sorts: participants tried to do more than the others, proofreading as much as they could. It was a tremendous contribution for the future generations. I think we still do not fully comprehend the depth of what has been done, says Vladimir Tolstoy.

Fyokla Tolstaya Vladimir Trefilov/Sputnik Vladimir Trefilov/Sputnik

By creating an electronic version of his complete works, we actually fulfilled Leo Tolstoy's will  we made his work accessible to everyone, says another great-granddaughter of the novelist, famous Russian TV presenter Fyokla Tolstaya, who managed the project.

According to Fyokla, Tolstoy represents one of Russia's international brands, and she is engaged in promoting his novels.

Tolstoy TV

Yet another great-grandson of the writer, Fyokla's second cousin Pyotr Tolstoy, is also a TV celebrity: he presented Russia's main evening newscast, Vremya, which airs on Channel One, from 2005-2012, and also hosted his own program, Tolstoy: Sunday. Pyotr was a member of the Civic Chamber, a government body charged with coordinating the interests of citizens and authorities, and now he is a deputy chairman of the State Duma, the Russian parliament's low chamber.

Pyotr Tolstoy Artyom Geodakyan/TASS Artyom Geodakyan/TASS

Pyotr says his famous name has never helped or hindered him, but he did jokingly admit in one of his earlier interviews that it made his army service somewhat more difficult, as his army buddies sometimes refused to give him a hand, saying, No, Tolstoy, you're not getting anything from us, we got fed up with your grandpa back when we were in school. Tolstoy's works, including War and Peace,one of the longest novels ever written, are required reading in Russian schools.

Another author

Another famous member of the Tolstoy family is Tatyana Tolstaya, granddaughter of the famous Soviet author Alexey Tolstoy, a distant relative of Leo. Even though she is not a direct descendant of Leo Tolstoy, she is a talented author in her own right. Her most famous work is the post-apocalyptic novel The Slynx.



Tatyana Tolstaya Sergei Savostyanov/TASS Sergei Savostyanov/TASS

Just like some of her relatives, Tatyana is also a famous TV personality in Russia: up until 2014 she hosted The School for Scandal, a very popular talk show beloved by Russian intellectuals.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.
For years, China has been the global leader in manufacturing. Everything from technology to medical equipment is made in China. That is why it is so surprising that India displaced China as the number one manufacturer of iPhones. While the iPhone is one product, this trend demonstrates a potential strategy for the U.S. to diversify away from China. Doing so not only benefits us economically, but also for national security reasons.

The rise of China as a manufacturing powerhouse has been a story many years in the making. Deng Xiaoping's opening of the economy after the death of Chairman Mao opened the world to a source of labor that was as plentiful as it was cheap. Chinas rise has been so rapid, especially since the turn of the century, that its share of manufacturing output rose from 9% of global output in 2004 to almost 30% in 2023.

Despite this dominance, there is a crack in the armor developing. A stagnating economy, draconian COVID-19 measures, and the trade war are all contributing factors in companies moving out of China. India, Vietnam, and Mexico are some of the countries benefiting from this. Nevertheless, Chinas manufacturing prowess remains.

It is not just commercial items that China produces, but also goods vital to Americas national security. One example of this arose during the pandemic, when we learned how dependent the U.S. is on China for pharmaceuticals as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If China were an ally of the U.S., this wouldnt be a problem, but the fact that China is a rival of the U.S. in the best of times is cause for concern.

The U.S. military also has supply chain concerns related to China. While we certainly dont buy any equipment from China, we do buy rare earth metals from China. These metals are needed in the production of all kinds of military equipment, from fighter planes to missiles. China cut off the export of these critical minerals in its trade war with the United States. If the U.S. were to go to war with China, it would lose access to the number one producer and processor of these elements. Therefore, it is vital for the U.S. to find other sources for rare earths. Deals with places like Ukraine are a good start, but there is a long way to go in breaking Chinas monopoly.

So how do we secure the supply chains of resources critical to both our healthcare and military industries? A good start is moving our manufacturing base to friendly or allied nations. A process sometimes called friend-shoring. Like China, India has a large and relatively cheap labor force. Unlike China, it is not an enemy of the United States. By securing better trade deals and diplomatic ties with countries like India, we can move the manufacturing of critical goods to friendlier nations. To accomplish this, we need fewer tariffs and more deals. President Trump should consider using more honey and less vinegar to secure our relationship with the second most populous country on earth.

There are policy changes the U.S. can make to increase manufacturing at home. Contrary to popular belief, U.S. manufacturing is as productive as it's ever been. However, that doesn't mean there isnt more to be done. By cutting regulations, the U.S. can make itself a more attractive market for investment in manufacturing.

Friend-shoring is also a vital part of reducing Americas dependence on China for rare earths. Australia, India, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia are all countries that could supply the U.S. with these crucial resources. In addition, the U.S. should look internally as a source for rare earths. Opening a new mine in the U.S. takes longer than almost anywhere else in the world. Streamlining the process for approving new mines is vital to our national security.

The Chinese and U.S. economies are deeply tied, with the U.S. deeply reliant on China for critical products such as pharmaceuticals, PPE, and rare earth elements. Therefore, the U.S. must continue friend-shoring these industries to friendlier nations. Policymakers should capitalize on the rise of countries like India by deepening economic ties through trade deals. Our national security depends on it.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy to hold meeting on outcomes of his visit to Kharkiv region

On Tuesday, August 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold a Staff meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters following today's communication with soldiers in Kharkiv region.

"Tomorrow I am gathering the Headquarters meeting. We will discuss there everything that we heard from our military today," Zelenskyy said in an address on Monday.

The President emphasized the importance of direct funding for brigades, primarily funding for drones.

"It is very important now to give more opportunities to brigades to independently - according to their needs, according to their choice - buy pickups and other necessary equipment," he added.
Recently, Christian musician Sean Feucht had his numerous permits to hold events on public property across Canada canceled and revoked by various elements of the Canadian government, due to the fact that he is an open populist and has publicly expressed his personal right-wing values and ideology.

Unfortunately, the open persecution that Feucht has been forced to endure during his Canadian tour is not at all extraordinary or abnormal.

Rather, since 2016, populist ideology has become openly oppressed and persecuted throughout the international political system.

In fact, virtually every nation that has been dominated by left-wing regimes and politics over the course of the past decade has vividly oppressed populist ideology and right-wing values within its society.

First, over the course of the past decade Frances left-wing news media and political edifices have steadily transformed French society into a political ecosystem wherein it is not merely tolerable, but justified, to persecute and abuse the human rights of any person who is a willing populist.

For instance, French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly claimed that populism is spreading across Europe like a disease and that Europeans should fight [populists] vigorously instead of criticising the actions of pro-European governments like his.

Furthermore, Marine Le Pen, president of the National Rally Group in Frances National Assembly, was recently convicted and unjustly punished for embezzlement, specifically because she is an unabashed populist and a constant advocate for the needs of the French people.

In fact, the judge who presided over Marine Le Pens case, Benedicte de Perthuis, explicitly stated that Le Pens extreme sentence is a direct result of her serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe  especially in France, and the severe risk to public order that Le Pen and her politics represent.

Moreover, in Germany, populist ideology has been forcibly barred from public discourse and right-wing values have been excised from German politics for over a decade.

For example, German politicians have long hidden behind the German nations infamous Brandmauer, the firewall that has been erected against any and all right-wing politics in Germany since the end of World War II, and refused to work together with any right-wing political parties or values in any capacity, in an overt effort to prevent any resurgence of right-wing politics or ideology in Germany.

In fact, in Germany, it is currently almost impossible to purchase books by even world-renowned conservative authors, such as Douglas Murray, due to the fact that they have been branded as right-wing ideologues and shamefully blacklisted in Berlin.

Finally, since the advent of the Liberal government in 2015, all populism and right-wing ideology have become openly oppressed and persecuted within Canada itself.

For example, for almost ten years, populist political actors such as Sean Feucht and Tamara Lich have been consistently persecuted for their beliefs and precluded from numerous fundamental human rights, such as the right to freedom of expression and the right to religious liberty.

Furthermore, conservative media outlets are routinely denied access to politicians in Canada, and right-wing reporters, as well as Canadian citizens, are routinely ignored and often rudely dismissed by Canadas left-wing politicians and political actors.

In addition, Canadas former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau frequently misrepresented populists as some species of crypto-nazi and attempted to associate all right-wing ideology with the accusations of bigotry and fascism that have been heaped upon American President Donald Trump.

In truth, Trudeaus crusade to outlaw any iteration of populist ideology and right-wing values in Canada was so all-consuming that in 2022 it compelled him to despotically enact Canadas Emergencies Act and explicitly violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms itself in an effort to oppress the Freedom Convoy and its bevy of populist supporters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, throughout the Liberal era, Canadian society has become violently polarized and right-wing extremism has become increasingly prevalent, due to the fact that any Canadians who publicly espouse conservative values, politics, and ideologies, such as populism, have long been denied earnest access to the overwhelming majority of all legitimate avenues for political expression. As a result, vast swathes of Canadian society have been forced to seek out political expression outside mainstream society and its channels.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that the left-wing pundits and politicians who have dominated Western nations throughout the modern era have attempted to misconstrue themselves as champions of diversity and pluralism, it is evident that their commitment to diversity is only skin deep and that the open persecution that Sean Feucht has been forced to endure during his time in Canada is not at all an abnormal experience for any modern conservative or populist.

Rather, since 2016, populist ideology and politics have been openly oppressed and persecuted throughout the international political system and in many of the European nations that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney explicitly seeks to emulate.

In fact, virtually every nation that has been dominated by left-wing regimes and politics over the course of the past decade has enthusiastically misconstrued populist ideology as inherently dangerous to any democracy and thereby overtly oppressed the overwhelming majority of all populist ideology and values within its society.

In truth, although modern left-wing pundits and politicians have persistently invoked the ghoul of populism in an effort to frighten and shame people away from the right wing of the political spectrum, it is clear that populism is nigh-indistinguishable from democracy, and is, at best, merely the moniker that left-wing politicians and pundits attach to any unwanted political outcomes and conservative results in an effort to ignore the real needs of the state and the bedrock of any democracy: its people.

More importantly, if Canadas Liberal government continues to preclude populism and conservative ideology in Canada from accessing the legitimate channels for political expression, then it is readily apparent that the violent political polarization and democratic backsliding that currently menace Canadian society will inevitably spill over into overt anarchy and violence, as populists and conservatives throughout Canada are forced to secure themselves against a nation increasingly indistinguishable from the State of Nature.
Gangs of London actor Sope Dirisu will star in All the Sinners Bleed, a crime thriller series adapted by Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole.

ADVERTISEMENT

The upcoming Netflix show takes its inspiration from S.A. Cosby's novel of the same name, which earned a spot on former president Barack Obama 's summer reading list.

The Obamas' production company, Higher Ground Productions, is among the executive producers on the project.

"Haunted by his devout mother's untimely death, the first Black sheriff in a small Bible Belt county (Dirisu) must lead the hunt for a serial killer who has quietly been preying on his Black community for years in the name of God," an official synopsis reads.

Cole is also the showrunner and an executive producer.

A release date, and additional casting information, has not yet been announced.
Manufacturers of passenger vehicles (PVs) in the first half of the calendar year (2025) reported a modest 0.5 per cent year-on-year increase in wholesale dispatches, while retail sales grew 2.5 per cent for the same period, reflecting a calibrated approach by automakers amid elevated dealership inventories and cautious consumer sentiment.

Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), dispatches rose marginally to 2.16 million units, up from 2.15 million units a year earlier.

Retail sales, meanwhile, grew at a stronger pace of 2.5 per cent during the same period, reaching 2.07 million units, according to the data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada), compared to 2.02 million units last year.

Industry analysts say this data signals a broader industry shift, by which factory output is becoming more closely aligned with market demand, as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) adopt leaner, demand-driven inventory strategies.

Automakers are increasingly synchronising factory output with retail movement to avoid a stock buildup across dealership networks.

Dealership inventory levels continue to remain elevated  well above the 50-day mark  which has prompted OEMs to moderate dispatches, said Anurag Singh, advisor, Primus Partners.

This is a prudent and necessary step as it helps maintain market discipline and avoids inventory overhang across the retail network.

Singh added inventory levels varied widely across regions, depending on the model, variant, and even colour preferences.

Ahead of the festival season, dealers typically build inventories to cater to time-sensitive demand, but for now, factory output is closely tracking actual sales trends.

Despite the 2.5 per cent increase in retail sales over the first half of the calendar year, high inventories persist.

Fada notes meaningful stock correction will occur only if OEMs significantly scale down factory dispatches below retail volumes.

"OEMs must recalibrate at a much bigger pace. Maintaining current levels wont help anyone, said C S Vigneshwar, president, Fada.

Honda Cars India is aligning output with market demand by focusing on retail deliveries over wholesale dispatches.

With a favourable monsoon and the onset of the festival period starting with Onam, we are optimistic of an uptick in demand and have planned to ensure our models are available across the country, said Kunal Behl, vice-president, marketing and sales, Honda Cars India.

We will enhance our marketing campaigns and introduce exciting product updates to catch the festive fervour.

Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai Motor India, Kia, and Toyota did not respond to queries, citing the ongoing silent period ahead of their upcoming financial results.

Among OEMs, Maruti Suzuki clocked a 4.5 per cent increase in PV production during January-June.

The company produced 1.07 million units compared to 1.02 million units during the same period last year.

Growth was strongest in March, around 17 per cent, and in April it was 6.2 per cent, while June saw a 4.2 per cent year-on-year decline in output.

Maruti Suzuki is one of the countrys leading PV exporters.

Hyundai Motor India, in contrast, saw a marginal contraction of 0.6 per cent in production during the period.

While April and May showed growth of 7.8 per cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively, the others posted declines, with June showing the highest fall at 7.5 per cent.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) posted the most robust growth among major OEMs, with a 25.2 per cent increase in PV production.

Domestic wholesale figures for the first half of 2025 showed M&M as the strongest performer among major passenger vehicle manufacturers, registering 20.2 per cent year-on-year growth.

Maruti Suzuki, the market leader, saw a marginal decline of 2.2 per cent in wholesales, which stood at 0.87 million units in H1 2025 compared to 0.89 million units a year ago.

While it witnessed modest gains in January, February, and April, significant drops in May, around 5.5 per cent, and June, around 13.3 per cent, offset the earlier momentum.

Hyundai, meanwhile, faced sustained pressure across the board, reporting a 7.7 per cent year-on-year decline in wholesales.

Retail PV sales saw a strong start in January 2025 with a 15.5 per cent jump year-on-year, but subsequent months have seen a mixed performance.

Maruti Suzuki registered a 2.16 per cent year-on-year increase in its domestic retail sales for the first half of 2025.

Sales rose to 833,110 units compared to 815,476 units in the same period last year.

Hyundai saw a decline of 6.5 per cent in its retail domestic sales, delivering 260,662 units against 278,930 units in H1 2024.
State Bank of India has 18,000 pending cases and Bank of Baroda has around 1,000 cases.

IMAGE: The Union ministry of finance in New Delhi. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

The Union ministry of finance has chided publicsector banks (PSBs) for failing to promptly release property documents to customers who have repaid loans, calling the lenders' conduct 'unsatisfactory', according to a senior government official.

The backlog of such cases reduced from 29,500 in August 2024 to 20,800 in February 2025.

"The delays are a breach of customer trust, so the finance ministry has directed PSBs to fix accountability, set strict timelines, and ensure faster release of pledged assets, warning that such lapses damage the public image of PSBs," said the official on condition of anonymity.

State Bank of India has 18,000 pending cases and Bank of Baroda has around 1,000 cases, said the official.

In September 2023, the Reserve Bank of India said that regulated entities (RE) should release original movable and immovable property documents and drop charges for the registry within 30 days after full repayment and settlement of a loan account.

For delays of more than 30 days and attributable to REs, companies will have to compensate borrowers at a rate of Rs 5,000 per day.

REs must also communicate the reasons for the delay to the borrower. The RBI had issued the directives to help borrowers and make REs responsible.

"These directives from the finance ministry to expedite pending cases are particularly relevant for retail loans, such as home, vehicle, and loan against property, and also to avoid penalty from the regulator," said a senior bank executive responsible for legal affairs.

Segregation of banking functions has led to documents being stored in different places, such as loan processing centres.

It has resulted in delays in delivering documents to borrowers upon full payment.

The RBI had said REs are following divergent practices in releasing movable and immovable property documents, causing customer grievances and disputes.

In cases where the property documents are lost or damaged, either in full or in part, the lender will be responsible for assisting the borrower in obtaining duplicate or certified copies of the movable/immovable property documents.

The lender will also bear the associated costs, in addition to paying compensation, the RBI had said.

However, in such instances, the REs will have an additional 30 days to complete this procedure, and the penalty for the delayed period will be calculated thereafter.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
For Malegaon's Muslims, Rahul Gandhi's remarks were simply one more indication that the party they once supported no longer cares for them, notes Jyoti Punwani.

IMAGE: The clock stood still at 9.35 pm, when the bomb went off. The tea shop has preserved it as it was then. Photographs: Jyoti Punwani

On 11.30 am on July 31, the long awaited judgment on the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast was finally pronounced. All the accused had been acquitted.

Then started the gloating on television channels, with news anchors and BJP leaders outdoing each other in celebrating the 'victory of Hindutva' and slamming the Congress for its 'conspiracy' in 'concocting' the 'false narrative' of 'saffron terror'.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who had in 2011, accused the RSS of running 'bomb factories' was interviewed; he gave a sheepish answer about terror having no religion.

When the media finally caught up with Rahul Gandhi, viewers waited to see what he would say. Alas, the man who's often been described (wrongly) as the only politician who criticises the RSS (Rahul faces defamation cases by RSS workers), dismissed the question as 'digressing the issue'.

He then went on to hector the media, as is his habit. 'You people don't see (the main issue) (how the government is running this country into the ground). You want to talk about other issues,' he scolded them.

Rahul Gandhi's answer was a slap in the face not only of the six families who lost their loved ones in the 2008 Malegaon blast, and the 100-odd victims injured in it. It was a slap in the face of the entire Indian Muslim community and indeed, all those Indians, Hindus included, who refused to believe in the myth that had for long prevailed and been acted upon: 'All terrorists are Muslim'.

IMAGE: The tea shop opposite which the bomb went off, as it looks today.

The investigation into the 2008 Malegaon blasts shattered this myth, as it pointed to the hand of Hindutva ideologues and activists behind a series of blasts targeting Muslims between 2006 and 2008, and some even earlier.

But Rahul would have known that. For, within a year of the 2008 blasts, he told no less a personage than the US ambassador to India that 'radicalised Hindu groups' posed more of a danger to India than Islamist terror groups such as the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. This was revealed in 2010 by Wikileaks.

Rahul wasn't alone in voicing strong opinions on 'radicalised Hindu groups'. Two Union home ministers belonging to his party, P Chidambaram and Sushil Kumar Shinde, had, in 2010 and 2013 respectively, spoken publicly of 'saffron terror'.

IMAGE: Bhiku Chowk, the site of the blast, as today.

So had M K Narayanan, national security advisor from 2005 to 2010. Known as a hawk in intelligence circles, Narayanan had mentioned 'Hindu extremist groups' to the FBI director, according to Wikileaks.

Indeed, Narayanan was one of those sent by then prime minister Manmohan Singh to then leader of the Opposition L K Advani to convince the latter that Pragya Thakur's claims of torture in custody by the Maharashtra ATS were false. (The other was then IB Chief P C Haldar.)

Surely Rahul couldn't have forgotten all this?

His dismissive remark left his own party defenceless against the charges that haven't stopped being made against it.

IMAGE: Photograph of 19-year-old victim Azhar's dead body, preserved by his parents.

In 2019, defending the BJP's nomination of terror accused Pragya Thakur for a Lok Sabha seat against the Congress's Digvijaya Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said her nomination was a symbolic answer to the Congress that had 'defamed a 5,000-year-old civilisation' by linking it with terror.

Last week, after her acquittal, the sadhvi claimed this was a victory of 'Bhagwa' (saffron).

The fact that a terror accused became an MP of the ruling party, while out on bail, was only one indication of the special privileges conferred on the Malegaon blast accused. Unlike Muslim or Maoist terror accused, who rarely get bail, and if they do, it comes after the end of a long legal battle, these Hindu accused were all out on bail when the judgment was pronounced.

They hadn't got their freedom after hard won legal struggles. Instead, the prosecution agency itself had diluted the charges against them, and declared that it had no objection to them getting bail.

IMAGE: Malegaon's economy runs on powerlooms.

***

When Rahul Gandhi was asked for his reaction to the judgment, all that had been reported was that the 7 accused had been acquitted, with the judge saying 'there might be strong suspicion against the accused but it is not enough to punish them.' Rahul could at least have pointed out that the accused had not been honourably acquitted, but only been given the benefit of the doubt.

Better still would have been for the Leader of the Opposition to remind the media that Rohini Salian, the original public prosecutor in the case, had gone on record to say that the prosecuting agency had, after the BJP came to power at the Centre, told her to 'go soft' in the case. Just that would have been enough.

Rohini Salian's statement, made in 2015, had made front page news for days. No Opposition politician could have forgotten it, and certainly not one who claims to be fighting an ideological battle against the BJP. In fact, Rahul's latest attack on the RSS was made as recently as June 27, when he accused the BJP and the RSS of wanting the Manusmriti, not the Constitution.

Rahul surely must be aware that in three major bomb blasts targeting Muslims -- 2007 Ajmer Sharif blasts, the 2007 Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad) blast and the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast -- all but three of the Hindutvawadi accused have been acquitted post-2014. The NIA was the prosecuting agency in all of them. This too could have been mentioned by him.

IMAGE: Maulana Abdul Qayyum of the Jamiat Ulema, who has kept track of the victims from the start.

The 2008 Malegaon blast victims, most of them poor, aged and infirm, have been left to their fate by all parties in this powerloom city. Only the Jamiat Ulema, which has been in the forefront of defending Muslims falsely accused in terror cases, has kept track of them. In this case, it represented Syed Nisar, father of Azhar, a 19-year-old victim of the blast, who intervened to oppose Pragya Thakur's bail and also her Lok Sabha candidature.

For these victims, and indeed, for Malegaon's Muslims, Rahul Gandhi's remarks were simply one more indication that the party they once supported no longer cares for them.

IMAGE: Azhar's parents, Syed Nisar and his wife.

In the last two days, after the judgment was uploaded, the NIA judge's scathing remarks against Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit's conduct as an army officer, his dismissal of Pragya Thakur's repeated claims of torture, and his observations on the NIA's failure to produce evidence against the accused, have all been published.

It is still not too late for Rahul Gandhi to point out all this to the media. That is a duty he owes to the victims, to his own party, and to the policy of secularism guaranteed by the Constitution.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'The definitions in the Act are so wide and so vague that they can be easily misused to target individuals who may not be conducive to the present government in power.'

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in Nagpur. Photograph: ANI Photo

Supreme Court Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave delivers a scathing critique of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024 in this extensive two-part interview, describing the legislation as both unnecessary and constitutionally problematic.

Dave argues that existing laws are sufficient to tackle genuine security concerns, while the new Act's vague definitions create dangerous opportunities for misuse against dissenters, academics, journalists, and lawyers.

"I'm too busy doing nothing these days," Dave, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, who retired after 48 years at the Bar, and who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, says in lighter vein before he sets on to begin his serious critique of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024.

In this first part with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff, Dave examines the Constitutional flaws in the Act and explains why he believes it will fail judicial scrutiny under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024 was enacted by the Maharashtra legislature on July 10, 2025 with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis allaying fears about its misuse.

What in your view are the most Constitutionally troubling aspects of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024?

Such laws are really not required because existing laws are sufficient to tackle this problem. These existing laws, or even ordinary criminal laws, are adequate to address any genuine concerns.

The problem is that these laws are being introduced under various names, and if you examine the statement of objects and reasons, they are really designed to terrorise people.

Frankly, there is no evidence of any widespread Naxalism in urban areas. A few individuals may have come and stayed in urban areas, but that doesn't constitute a widespread situation requiring new legislation.

The real difficulty is that the definitions in the Act are so wide and so vague that they can be easily misused to target individuals who may not be conducive to the present government in power.

The whole purpose of bringing these laws raises serious doubts about the bona fides behind such legislation.

Do you see them as a repetition of earlier draconian laws that have failed judicial scrutiny?

Yes, of course. There is no doubt that this law will also have to be tested before a court, and I don't think it will pass muster as far as Articles 14 and 21 are concerned.

Under what Constitutional premise can the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024 be challenged?

Essentially, it can be challenged on the ground that it violates Constitutional guarantees under Article 21 (Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the fundamental Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Article 14 (Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees the Right to Equality, stating that the state shall not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India), because it confers unguided, unbridled executive power.

Though the Statement of Objects and Reasons frames the law as targeting the extension of urban Naxalism -- specifically groups that offer logistics and refuge to armed cadres, and claims existing laws are inadequate -- the actual text is vague and overbroad.

It criminalises not only violent or extremist conduct but also speech, protest, association or dissent that allegedly disturbs 'public order', without due process.

1That mismatch -- the law's broad reach versus its stated purpose -- is precisely why the Act is both vague and unnecessary, and can legitimately be challenged as unconstitutional, especially since existing laws already address the declared problem with appropriate safeguards.

I believe that even if courts don't strike down the law entirely, they will have to read down many provisions, including the definitions.

The Act seeks to criminalise 'Urban Naxalism.'

How do you interpret this term, which has no legal definition but has immense political currency?

It can be easily politically misused. This government wants to label many people with various names, and this is one more phrase they have coined. They want to target people using this vague term, and the kind of allegations they make against people are horrendous and very unfortunate. This is a big problem with the government today.

Does this vagueness make it ripe for misuse against dissenters, academics, journalists, and lawyers?

There is no doubt that it is capable of being misused and abused.

The government and legislature both know this law (the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024) can be abused and misused, and it will be abused and misused. Yet they pass it because that's how the government wants to create fear in people's minds.

Many observers have pointed out that the Opposition in Maharashtra did not utter a single word opposing the provisions of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024 or express opposition as part of the committee that scrutinised this law.

The Opposition is not hand in glove with the government. The Opposition is inept.

Unfortunately, they are incompetent. They really don't understand their role. The Opposition exists only in drawing rooms now, on social media, and in photographs standing in front of Parliament.

The Opposition has not understood that in a democracy, they have a much bigger role. They must be vigilant about everything happening and go to people to explain and help them understand the seriousness of these challenges. But that's not what they want to do. They prefer to remain in Delhi and enjoy a luxurious life. The Opposition really has no idea about these things, and I'm sorry to say that.
'What India has done will surely embolden more countries to stand up to Trump.'

IMAGE: US President Donald John Trump talks to the media at the Lehigh Valley international airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, August 3, 2025. Photograph: Ken Cedeno/Reuters

South Korea: 15%

EU: 15%

Japan: 15%

Philippines: 19%

Indonesia: 19%

Vietnam: 20%

UK: 10%

Mexico: 30%

Canada: 35%

India: 25%

These are the trade tariff rates imposed on various countries by United States President Donald John Trump.

There is an additional penalty for buying oil from Russia for India.

Though the trade negotiations between India and the US are still going on, from today Indian exporters have to pay 25% on all the goods exported to the US market.

How will this affect the Indian economy which Trump described as 'dead'?

"Our exports are just 20% of our GDP. And exports to the US are 18% of our total exports. The merchandise exports to the US is only 3% to 4%. If 25% of that comes down, I don't think we will notice the impact," Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier in the concluding segment of a two-part interivew:.

Part 1 of the Interview: 'Trump Wants Big Pie Of India's Economy'

Trump said India can take its dead economy down for all I care, like China's....

In the first trade war, he was after China. But China rebutted.

This time, he has almost forgotten about China and targeting poorer countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia and other smaller countries.

This shows his frustration and nothing else.

China is the most industrialised country in the world, and they manufacture 30% of the world's production. They are the top manufacturer in the world.

And the US cannot live without Chinese products.

So, when he is talking about China and hyphenating India with China and Russia, it shows his frustration; nothing else.

Do you feel India should come out of its anti-China stance and start a good working trade relationship with China so that it can nullify what the US is doing?

A collaboration of India, China and Russia against the US...

India's trade relations with China and Russia are superb.

Even when we had a military stand-off with China in 2020, trade between the two countries increased tremendously, and imports from China increased. The Indian government did not pass any order limiting imports from China.

So, at the business level, there are no restrictions even today.

China sometimes annoys India by restricting the supply of certain things.

Broadly, the business between India and China is roaring with $130-140 billion trade while it is around $180 billion with the US.

So, trade with China is good.

And with Russia, we buy one third of our crude oil from Russia. Oil imports from Russia was worth $60 billion last year.

You have to remember that while America was standing with our enemy all the time, Russia stood with us during all the wars.

Kindly note this image of nearly empty shelves in the cold medication section of a drug store in Brooklyn, New York, has been published only for representational purposes. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Harsh Goenka tweeted that the tariff imposed on India by the US would affect the MSME sector badly. So also the textile and pharma sectors.

When the MSME sector gets affected, jobs also will shrink, he said.

We expect Indian industry to pressurise the Indian government to make deals with the US even if it is bad for the country. That's because they will lose money.

The auto sector forced Japan to strike a deal with Trump sacrificing the agricultural sector.

The same thing happened in the EU too.

But it cannot happen in India because agriculture is the livelihood in India.

I want to stress another fact here. Our exports are just 20% of our GDP. And exports to the US are 18% of our total exports. The merchandise exports to the US is only 3% to 4%. If 25% of that comes down, I don't think we will notice the impact.

Of course, pockets of the top industries will become lighter. But I don't think there will be any problem at the factory level.

I feel there is no reason to worry. We are not going to lose the US market. Of course, there will be some adjustments in some sectors.

IMAGE: Ajay Srivastava IMAGE: Ajay Srivastava

You said earlier that the US would not be able to survive without products from China. Similarly, do you feel they need certain products from India also?

Of course. 90% of doctors' prescriptions contain generics from India.

They need our pharma products. That's why they order them. That's why we supply.

Ultimately, Trump is making things expensive for American people.

Because India did not budge to Trump's bullying in trade negotiations, he has slapped 25% tariff on Indian products.

Do you think hereafter, other countries may follow India's way of standing firm to safeguard their domestic sectors?

I am happy you asked this question. I am sure the message must have gone very clearly to the world.

When big powers like the EU and Japan sacrificed their agriculture in front of Trump, India stood up. China stood up.

What India has done will surely embolden more countries to stand up to Trump as they have India and China as clear examples in front of them.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'Trump is likely being purposefully vague, hoping that this lack of clarity will pressure India, fearing the worst, to agree to scale back its imports of Russian oil.'

IMAGE: US President Donald John Trump arrives at the White House, August 3, 2025. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Reuters

"It's hard to imagine any scenario under which India would reduce its oil trade with Russia, given its special relationship with Moscow, given how cheap Russian oil continues to be, and given how much its import bill could soar if it were to pivot away from Russian oil and focus on other, more expensive, oil from elsewhere," South Asia specialist Michael Kugelman tells Rediff's Archana Masih.

How will Trump's tariffs impact India's exports, especially in manufacturing?

Optimists in India may downplay the economic impacts, but these tariffs will hurt simply because the US is such an important destination for Indian exports.

Compounding matters for India is that many of its main export competitors, including Bangladesh and Pakistan -- both of which also send a majority of their exports to the US -- were hit with lower tariffs than was India.

All this said, India's economy is large and growing, and it has the capacity to be resilient.

One signpost to watch out for is what India does to compensate for what will become a more difficult US market.

Here, the fate of India's ongoing trade negotiations with the EU -- another top export market -- becomes all the more significant.

What will be the short term and long term consequences?

The short-term consequences will be most stark, because the tariffs will deliver an immediate blow to Indian industries that have long looked to US markets in a big way.

The long-term consequences are more unclear, as there are still many unknowns. Will the US and India eventually get a deal? It's certainly a possibility, even if takes some weeks or months.

Will India get its trade deal with the EU and secure the greater market access it needs to compensate for its losses in US markets?

And how will India's economic policies respond over the longer term, especially if there's no eventual deal with the US: Will it use this as an opportunity to focus more attention on increasing export diversification and prioritising the development of products that are good fits for attractive markets in the Middle East and less explored markets in the Global South?

How much higher is this tariff likely to be after the penalty Trump has spoken of?

That's unclear, and Trump is likely being purposefully vague, hoping that this lack of clarity will pressure India, fearing the worst, to agree to scale back its imports of Russian oil.

But it's hard to imagine any scenario under which India would reduce its oil trade with Russia, given its special relationship with Moscow, given how cheap Russian oil continues to be, and given how much its import bill could soar if it were to pivot away from Russian oil and focus on other, more expensive, oil from elsewhere.

Not to mention, doing so would amount to one concession too many, given everything else India has done in recent years: It has significantly reduced its oil imports from Venezuela and Iran following US pressure, even as it has ramped up its oil imports from the US.

Ultimately, this conundrum offers one more reason why India will hope the war in Ukraine ends sooner rather than later.

If the war ends, or even if the Russian and Ukrainians agree to begin talks, then Trump would presumably no longer be angry at Vladimir Putin for refusing to listen to Trump's peace entreaties, and therefore less likely to try to squeeze Putin by pressuring top Russian energy buyers like India to back away from Russian oil exports.

IMAGE: Farmers remove grass from a paddy field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

You tweeted that India was one of the first countries to start trade talks with the Trump administration and early tariff reductions. It's been increasing US goods imports and investing in US for years.

Trump calls India a friend. Yet India was hit with 25% tariffs? Why do you think Trump still did that?

I think it comes down to Trump's uncompromising, zero-sum, take-it-or-leave-it negotiating tactics.

He wanted more US access to markets across India, including those -- like agriculture and dairy -- where Indian negotiators have put their foot down and refused to ease protections.

It's worth remembering that early on in the talks, when there was a lot of optimism on both sides about prospects for a deal, US officials said that everything was on the table -- a comment that could be interpreted as a suggestion that the US wanted concessions across the board.

With India unwilling to ease protections in those politically important sectors, Trump was unwilling to make a deal that wouldn't have given him everything he sought.

There's also the issue of Trump reacting to Indian policies that he has long been very unhappy with and India hasn't changed -- such as its tariffs, which Trump has long singled out, and its imports of oil from Russia, which have started to bother Trump much more since his attempts to get peace talks going in Ukraine have been stymied due in part to Putin's intransigence.

We also can't rule out the possibility that this was personal for Trump: That he was upset with India for not letting him take credit for a role in the ceasefire with Pakistan, with Modi for giving detailed rejections of his various positions in a long call the two leaders had, or with India's government more broadly for not being sufficiently accommodating toward him.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Donald Trump at the Howdy Modi event in Houston, September 22, 2019. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

How will this impact an already strained India-US relationship? How can the relationship be improved upon from here?

A trade deal would have been a confidence-building measure that injected some much-needed new momentum into a relationship that has been floundering since the end of the India-Pakistan conflict.

That there's no deal -- at least not yet -- will make it all the more difficult for the two sides to pick up the pieces after all that's happened over the last few months.

All this said, all is not lost.

First of all, there could still be a deal, though it's hard to imagine India being willing to make any more concessions, given all those it's already made.

Additionally, there could well be changes in the US policies that have upset India: For example, all this sudden movement in US-Pakistan ties could well slow down.

But the bigger issue at play is that the US-India relationship is, broadly speaking, a strong and sound partnership.

It has many pillars of cooperation that function on separate tracks and aren't necessarily impacted by problems in other areas.

It's telling, for example, that even amid the current crisis, the US and India achieved successes on space cooperation and counterterrorism.

Additionally, the relationship plays out on multiple channels -- government to government but also between the two private sectors and via the Indian-American diaspora.

I recently attended a high-level forum in New York with US and Indian business leaders, and there was a palpable sense of optimism and enthusiasm in the room -- even with government-to-government ties sputtering.

All this is to say that the relationship is resilient and has the capacity to bounce back -- especially if it leverages the goodwill and trust in areas that haven't been hit by the current malaise.

Is Trump harder on his allies than his adversaries?

It certainly seems that way. To be sure, he hasn't exactly been soft on Iran, and one can point to several other exceptions (Putin, who Trump has long suggested he has a soft spot for, has become a target of Trump's ire).

But on the whole, whether it's a function of tough love, or a desire to be a diplomatic disruptor, Trump does seem to reserve some of his harshest words and actions for top US allies and partners.

What this means for US relationships with its closest partners, including India, depends on a critical consideration: Will these relationships be held hostage to the whims of Trump, or can they fall back on the strong strategic convergences and institutional linkages that bind these partnerships together?

Public messaging from New Delhi of late suggests a willingness to leverage the latter in its relations with Washington.

Photograph: Sahiba Chawdhary

What does the US deal with Pakistan about developing oil reserves actually mean and how will this impact India?

It's hard to tell at this point. A significant majority of Pakistan's probable reserves are not confirmed. In that sense, it would seem that a more impactful deal would focus on oil exploration, not on the development of reserves.

Trump administration officials might have been intrigued by Pakistani boasts of having made large oil and gas discoveries last year, and prompted to pursue a deal based on those claims.

What this deal does show is that the Trump administration -- contrary to most previous US administrations -- is keen to reframe its relationship with Pakistan so that it's more focused on commercial matters and less focused on security (though there is a small counterterrorism dimension to it now).

Crypto, critical minerals, trade and investment, and now energy appear to be the watchwords for this unexpected resurgence in US-Pakistan relations.

For India, the news could be worse: We're not seeing indications of a new US-Pakistan security alliance. But then again, with Pakistan's military so deeply involved in so many non-security sectors these days, anything the US does with Pakistan will be done with significant levels of involvement -- even if indirect -- from the Pakistani armed forces.

And that will likely not go down well in Delhi, especially so soon after the recent conflict with Pakistan.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Security agencies have gathered evidence, including documents issued by the government of Pakistan and biometric data, confirming that the three slain foreign terrorists involved in the deadly Pahalgam attack were Pakistani nationals, officials said on Monday.

IMAGE: The security forces recovered weapons from the slain Pakistani terrorists. Photograph: ANI on X

The terrorists, identified as senior Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) operatives, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Dachigam forest on the outskirts of Srinagar on July 28 during an operation code-named 'Mahadev'. They had been hiding in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt since the April 22 attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow, which claimed 26 lives.

The evidence collected shows that no local was among these terrorists, the officials said.

Biometric records of Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), voter identity slips and digital satellite phone data, including logs and GPS waypoints, are among the clinching evidence gathered by the security agencies confirming the Pakistani nationality of the three terrorists, the officials said.

They said the post-encounter investigation, including ballistics weapon-to-cartridge match and statements of two detained Kashmiri helpers, corroborated the terrorists' involvement in the Pahalgam attack.

"For the first time, we have government-issued Pakistani documents in hand that nail the nationality of the Pahalgam attackers beyond doubt," a senior official said.

Forensic, documentary and testimonial evidence collected during and after 'Operation Mahadev' conclusively shows that all three attackers were Pakistani nationals and senior LeT operatives who had been hiding in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt since the day of the attack, the officials said, adding that no Kashmiri was part of the shooting team.

The slain terrorists were identified as Suleman Shah alias "Faizal Jatt", an A++ category terrorist, mastermind and lead shooter; his close associate Abu Hamza alias 'Afghan', an A-grade commander and the second gunman; and Yasir alias 'Jibran', also an A-grade commander and the third gunman, the officials said.

Along with weapons, the security forces recovered Pakistani government-issued documents, such as two laminated voter slips issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, from the pockets of Shah and Hamza, they said.

According to the officials, the voter serial numbers correspond to electoral rolls in Lahore (NA-125) and Gujranwala (NA-79), respectively.

The officials said the NADRA-linked Smart-ID chips -- a micro-SD recovered from a damaged sat-phone contained the NADRA biometric records (fingerprints, facial template, family tree) of all three men -- confirming their Pakistani citizenship and addresses in Changa Manga (Kasur district) and Koiyan village near Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan-manufactured personal items like wrappers of 'CandyLand' and 'ChocoMax' chocolates (both brands produced in Karachi) were found in the same rucksack that carried spare magazines, the officials said, adding that lot numbers printed on wrappers were traced to a May 2024 consignment shipped to Muzaffarabad, PoK.

On forensic and technical confirmation, the officials said, the 7.62x39 mm casings found in Baisaran were test-fired against the three AK-103 rifles seized on July 28 and the striation marks matched 100 per cent while mitochondrial profiles extracted from blood on a torn shirt found in Pahalgam were identical to the DNA of the three bodies of the terrorists.

The terrorists crossed the Line of Control (LoC) through north Kashmir's Gurez sector in May 2022, when the intelligence intercepts placed their radio check-in from the Pakistani side, the officials said.

On April 21, they moved into a 'dhok' (seasonal hut) at Hill Park, 2 km from Baisaran, as was stated by two detained helpers, Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, who sheltered them overnight and provided them cooked food before they trekked to Baisaran the next day to carry out the attack.

The GPS waypoints recovered from Shah's Garmin device match the exact firing positions reported by eyewitnesses, the officials said, adding that they escaped towards Dachigam after carrying out the attack.

The shell casings at the scene matched the three AK-103 rifles recovered from the terrorists after the encounter, the officials said.

On digital footprints, they said a Huawei satellite phone (IMEI 86761204-XXXXXX) used by the terrorists had been pinging Inmarsat-4 F1 every night between April 22 and July 25. Triangulation narrowed the search grid to four square kilometres inside Harwan forest.

Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches of three people -- Hashim Musa, Ali Bhai alias "Talha", and local Adil Hussain Thoker -- on April 24. However, after the July 28 encounter, the agencies clarified that those sketches were based on a photograph found on a phone retrieved from an unrelated December 2024 shootout and the actual attackers were different.

Another crucial evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the attack was the command and control links inside the neighbouring country, the officials said.

They said LeT's south-Kashmir operations chief, Sajid Saifullah Jatt of Changa Manga in Lahore, was the overall handler as his voice samples from the recovered sat-phone matched his earlier intercepted calls.

LeT Rawalakot chief Rizwan Anees also visited the families of the slain attackers on July 29 to organise 'Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza' (funeral prayers in absentia) and its footage is now part of the Indian dossier, they said.
United States President Donald Trump on Sunday yet again took credit for stopping conflicts around the world, including the recent one between India and Pakistan.

IMAGE: United States President Donald Trump. Photograph: @WhiteHouse/X

Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after a long night of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim on several occasions.

Trump's latest claim comes days after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for ending several conflicts around the world including the one between India and Pakistan.

On Sunday, in a post on Truth Social, Trump slammed radio host and author Charlamagne Tha God, and said he (God) knows nothing about him or what he has done, like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight.

He didn't know that, or India and Pakistan or, wiping out Iran's nuclear capabilities, or closing the horrendous open Border, or creating the greatest economy, Trump said.

Just a day earlier, Trump said in an interview on Newsmax that he has settled a lot of wars.

You take a look at what's happened just over the last little while. We've settled a lot of, a lot of very beautiful wars have been settled One of the wars India, Pakistan, nuclear, Trump said adding that he settled conflict between Thailand and Cambodia as well as Congo and Rwanda.

I settled that up. And I settled it up with trade. I settled a lot of them with trade. I said listen, you guys are going to fight. You can fight all you want. I mean, just fight your hearts out. But we're not doing a trade deal'.

All of a sudden they end up not doing a war. I settled a lot of wars. I think I settled averaging about a war a month. But, you know, we're saving millions of lives, he said.

Trump on Wednesday announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment.

The tariff for Pakistan was 19 per cent, lower than the 29 per cent announced by Trump in April. In fact, Trump on Wednesday also announced sealing a trade deal with Pakistan and said that Washington will work with Islamabad to develop what he described as the South Asian nation's massive oil reserves.

At a White House press briefing on Thursday, Leavitt said that Trump has now ended conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo and Egypt and Ethiopia.

She said that the president has brokered, on average, about one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his six months in office. It's well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, she said.

Since May 10, Trump has repeated his claim nearly 30 times that he helped settle the tensions between India and Pakistan and that he told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours that America will do a lot of trade with them if they stopped the conflict.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament this week that no leader of any country asked India to stop Operation Sindoor launched by India in retaliation after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday categorically said there was no third-party intervention in bringing about a ceasefire with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, asserting that the halting of the military action was also not linked to trade as claimed by Trump.

Intervening in the special discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar said Prime Minister Modi and Trump did not have any phone calls between April 22, when the Pahalgam terror attack took place, and June 16.
Another 10 schools restored in Kyiv, Chernihiv regions with EU support  thousands of children to return to their desks in autumn

About 2,000 children in communities of Kyiv and Chernihiv regions will be able to return to full-time education in safe and comfortable conditions this autumn.

Within the framework of the School Repairs in Ukraine project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), another ten educational institutions  preschools, schools, and vocational colleges  have been fully restored from damage caused by the war.

As reported by UNOPS, a total of 44 institutions in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions have already been restored within the project. By the end of 2025, it is planned to complete the repair of over 70 educational facilities. The project budget is EUR 28 million.

According to the Ministry of Education and Science, some 3,524 educational institutions have been damaged since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine, of which 360 have been completely destroyed. In Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, the greatest destruction was suffered by communities that were under occupation or systematically shelled.

"In-person learning plays a vital role in a child's development  it provides not only education, but also stability, emotional support, and social interaction. This is why restoring access to educational facilities in Ukraine remains one of the key priorities of the European Unions support to Ukraine. We are glad to work with UNOPS on this important effort  making sure children are protected when returning to schools," Head of the European Union Humanitarian Aid Office in Ukraine Marianna Franco said.

A technical survey was conducted in each institution to determine the nature of the damage and the scope of work required. The reconstruction included replacing windows and doors, repairing roofs, insulating facades, upgrading heating systems, classrooms, gyms, corridors and bathrooms.

Thanks to the renovated infrastructure, thousands of children will be able to study again in familiar conditions. For communities, this means a step towards stability and the restoration of daily life.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday asked party activists to take a cue from himself and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Uddhav Thackeray, who came together after 20 years, and stop intra-party bickering.

IMAGE: Raj and Uddhav Thackeray greet the gathering at the Marathi Vijay Diwas rally at NSCI Dome in Worli, central Mumbai, July 5, 2025. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

The MNS chief addressed a gathering of party workers in Mumbai.

An MNS functionary said Raj Thackeray asked party workers to focus on strengthening the organisation ahead of elections to local bodies.

He also asked us to take along those party workers who have not been active for different reasons.

"He (Thackeray) asked party workers to end internal bickering. Rajsaheb said if he and Uddhav Thackeray can come together after 20 years, then why can't the party workers put an end to their disputes," the functionary said.

Estranged cousins, Raj and Uddhav, shared a political stage last month to celebrate the Maharashtra government's rollback of two contentious GRs on a three-language formula for students of classes 1 to 5 amid Hindi "imposition" controversy.
India portrays itself as being one of America's closest friends in the world, but imposes massive tariffs, engages in cheating on immigration policies, and its purchases of Russian oil are financing the Ukraine war, a top aide to President Donald Trump has alleged.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald J Trump at the White House, February 13, 2025. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, in an interview to Fox News Sunday, said that Trump has said very clearly that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing oil from Russia.

People be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil," Miller said.

That's an astonishing fact, he said,

"India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world, but they don't accept our products, they impose massive tariffs on us, we also know they engage in a lot of cheating on immigration policies, which is very harmful to American workers. And of course, we see again, the purchasing of oil, from Russia, Miller said.

He added that while Trump wants a tremendous relationship and has always had a tremendous relationship with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the US needs to get real about dealing with the financing of this (Ukraine) war.

"So President Trump, all options are on the table to deal diplomatically, financially and otherwise with the ongoing war in Ukraine, so we can achieve peace and end the war that the Democrat Party and Joe Biden are responsible for," he said.

Last week, Trump said that the US has a massive trade deficit with India.

He said that while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any country."

Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine -- All things not good! Trump had said.

He said that India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25 per cent, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August 1st.

Trump had also mounted a sharp attack on India and Russia for their close ties and said that the two countries can take their "dead economies down together".

In the backdrop of Trump's "dead economy" barb at India, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told Parliament on Thursday that India is the world's fastest-growing major economy and widely expected to be the "third largest economy" in a few years.

Goyal also said India will take all necessary steps to safeguard and promote national interest and that the implications of the US tariffs are being examined.
India on Monday mounted an unusually sharp counterattack on the US and the European Union for their "unjustified and unreasonable" targeting of New Delhi for its procurement of Russian crude oil.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Bing Guan/Reuters

New Delhi's response came hours after US President Donald Trump asserted that Washington will substantially raise tariffs on goods from India over its energy ties with Russia.

Firmly rejecting the criticism, India pointed out the double standards in targeting it on the issue and said both the US and the EU are continuing their trade relations with Russia.

"Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, and machinery and transport equipment, the MEA said in a late-evening statement.

"Where the US is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals," it added.

"In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," the MEA said.

It said India has been "targeted" by the US and the EU for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict.

In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict, it said.

"The US at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability," the MEA said, adding India's imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumers.

"They are a necessity compelled by global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia," it said.

The MEA noted that the European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia.

"In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India's total trade with Russia that year or subsequently.

"European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022," it added.

Earlier, US President Trump said his administration will substantially raise tariffs on India.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits," he said in a social media post.

"They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," he said.
A large cache of arms and ammunition were seized from a flat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Monday, a senior police official said.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The detective department of Barrackpore police commissionerate arrested one Madhusudan Mukherjee, who was allegedly in possession of the flat, in connection with the seizure, the official said.

Sixteen firearms and 904 rounds of ammunition were seized from the flat in Rahara on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Detective Department, Charu Sharma.

The police also seized around Rs 1 lakh in cash, 248 grams of gold and more than 10 kg antique coins, the value of which is being examined, the police officer said.

She said that of the 16 arms seized, there were five long arms, one pump action gun, a bolt action rifle, two double-barreled rifles and one single-barreled rifle.

"Apart from these, nine small arms were also recovered, of which are one 9 mm pistol, two 7 mm pistols, three revolvers and three single-shot guns," she said.

The officer said that 905 rounds of ammunition were also seized from the flat.

Certain machines were also seized, and the police suspect that those were used to repair firearms.

"The person arrested is involved in supplying and procuring arms," she said.

Mukherjee, who used to pose as a cloth merchant, was arrested from his ground-floor flat in Regent Park area of Rahara, around 15 km from Kolkata.

Sharma said that the police are investigating how and from where the accused procured the weapons and to whom these were meant to be supplied.

The police said the suspect used to drive rented vehicles used by the force in Bardhaman earlier.

In 2006, he was arrested in Khardah police station area in a case related to the Arms Act and the NDPS Act.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamta Banerjee on Sunday lashed out at the Delhi Police for referring to the Bengali language as 'Bangladeshi national language' in a purported letter, alleging that it was 'insulting, anti-national and unconstitutional'.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Photograph: ANI Photo

Party national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee, who also shared the letter on X, echoed his party chief's sentiment and alleged that it was a calculated attempt by the BJP to 'defame Bengal'.

Bharatiya Janata Party's state president Samik Bhattacharya justified the Delhi Police's action and said there is a difference in the dialect of the Bengali language spoken and written in West Bengal with that of Bangladesh.

The BJP also alleged that the TMC was trying to defend illegal Bangladeshi migrants who, the party said, speak a heavily Urdu-influenced Bengali dialect.

The letter, linked to an investigation of a case under the 'Foreigners' Act', was written to the officer-in-charge of Banga Bhawan, the official guest house of the state government in the national capital.

'See now how Delhi Police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as 'Bangladeshi' language!' Banerjee posted on her Facebook account, sharing a copy of the letter.

Banerjee said that Bengali is not only her mother tongue but also the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda.

The TMC supremo described the Centre as anti-Bengali and urged all to stage protests against such 'anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate Bengali-speaking people of India'.

She also said that Bengali was the language in which both India's national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana' by Tagore and national song 'Vande Mataram' by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay were written.

'... the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!' Banerjee said.

'candalous, insulting, anti-national, unconstitutional!! This insults all Bengali-speaking people of India. They cannot use this kind of language, which degrades and debases us all. We urge immediate, strongest possible protests from all against the anti-Bengali Government of India, who are using such anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate the Bengali-speaking people of India,' she said.

Earlier in the day, the TMC posted a letter, in its X handle, claiming that the police officer in charge of the investigation has written to the Banga Bhawan in the national capital, seeking a translator for 'Bangladeshi national language' following the arrest of eight people, suspected to have illegally crossed over into India from the neighbouring country.

The Diamond Harbour MP took to his social networking site to post, 'For months now, Bengali-speaking people have been targeted, harassed and detained across BJP-ruled states. Now, in a shocking escalation, @DelhiPolice has officially referred to Bangla as a 'Bangladeshi language' in an official letter.'

Maintaining that this is not a mere clerical error, Banerjee alleged, 'It is yet another calculated attempt by the BJP to defame Bengal, undermine our cultural identity and equate West Bengal with Bangladesh for narrow political propaganda.'

He claimed that it was a direct violation of Article 343 and the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and went on to say that there is no language called Bangladeshi.

'To call Bangla a foreign language is not just an insult; it's an attack on our identity, culture and belonging. Bengalis are not outsiders in their own homeland,' Banerjee claimed.

'This is why we call the BJP Bangla Birodhi (anti-Bengal) and zamindar. They do not respect India's diversity. They thrive on division,' the TMC national general secretary alleged.

Banerjee demanded the suspension of the Delhi Police officer.

'We demand the immediate suspension of Investigating Officer Amit Dutt and a formal public apology from @DelhiPolice, @BJP4India, and the Home Ministry led by @AmitShah,' he wrote.

He also asserted that 'Bangla and Bengalis are Indians' and 'Bangla is our pride'.

'We will not allow our identity to be trampled,' Banerjee wrote.

Meanwhile, the BJP president further claimed that the police have rightly referred to the dialect spoken by the arrested persons as 'Bangladeshi language'.

The West Bengal BJP, which also posted a copy of the letter of the Delhi Police on the X handle, said, 'Now, TMC is outrageously claiming this is an 'insult to our language. But here's the irony their entire outrage is rooted in defending Bangladeshis. What does that have to do with India or Indian Bengalis?

'Let's get this straight for TMC, a heavily Urdu-influenced dialect spoken by illegal migrants is now the real Bengali language? Is this what TMC politics has come to defending foreign nationals while eroding Indian identity?' the saffron party posted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, a get-together of the ruling alliance's MPs which is being held after a considerable gap.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his allies TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and JD-U supremo Nitish Kumar at the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting in New Delhi, June 2024. Photograph: Courtesy @BJP4India/X

The NDA meeting comes a couple of days before the filing of nomination for vice president's election begins from August 7.

The NDA will have to announce its candidate, whose election will be a certainty due to the alliance's majority in the electoral college, by August 21, the last date of nomination-filing and the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The meeting comes in the middle of a session which has been all but a washout so far, except for a two-day discussion on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, due to a united Opposition's ceaseless protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission.

Modi is expected to speak on a host of current issues as the Opposition has been raising the heat over the poll body's alleged partisan conduct favouring the government, and the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

The prime minister is also likely to be felicitated by the parliamentary party over his government's military response to the terror strike.

The electoral college for the vice president poll includes MPs of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and its current strength is 782. If the Opposition also names a candidate, a distinct possibility, then the poll is scheduled to be held on September 9.

Sources said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and a few BJP national general secretaries are likely to be coordinating with allies for the vice presidential poll.

Since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP lost its majority but comfortably crossed the halfway mark with allies, the sessional meeting of the party's MPs was expanded to include its allies. PM Modi had addressed the first such meeting on July 2.

However, no meeting has been held in the last few sessions.

Before the last national elections, he used to address the weekly meetings of BJP parliamentary party, now expanded to include party's allies such as the Telugu Desam Party, Janata Dal-United, and LJP (Ram Vilas).

The meeting is attended by MPs of the ruling alliance, and PM Modi often covers a sweep of political and governance issues, and at times touches on the government's agenda in Parliament.

He often offers to the MPs talking points to be raised in public, especially their constituencies. PTI KR
In a setback to the Uttar Pradesh government, the Supreme Court on Monday said it would keep in abeyance its May 15 nod to the ambitious scheme to develop the Shri Banke Bihari Temple corridor at Vrindavan in Mathura for the benefit of devotees as the main stakeholders were not heard.

IMAGE: The Shri Banke Bihari temple, Vrindavan, in Mathura. Photograph: ANI Photo

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi deprecated the approach of the state government in moving the court in a clandestine manner and questioned the hurry for enacting an ordinance -- Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025 -- to take over the management of the ancient temple.

The top court said it would appoint a committee headed by a retired high court or district judge to manage the affairs of the temple in the interest of lakhs of devotees, besides including the main stakeholders in the managing committee.

The bench told Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, "Less said the better. How do you justify the directions passed by the court? The state in the most unfortunate way came to the court in the most clandestine manner without informing the court receiver or stakeholders (members of the family who claimed to be the owner of the temple). Get the directions behind their back and set aside the order of the high court. This is the least thing we expect from the state."

The top court at present is not adjudicating the constitutionality of the ordinance and the high court will look into it.

The bench asked Nataraj to seek instructions while deciding to pass an order on August 5 to keep the May 15 order in abeyance and appoint someone as the managing trustee of the temple to look after the daily affairs.

"This is the land of lord Krishna. He was the first mediator known to the world. Let's find a way out to resolve the dispute pending for years and develop the area in the interest of lakhs of devotees who visit these iconic religious places. Basic amenities need to be created as nowadays religious tourism is one of the biggest sources of revenue," the bench said.

It assured all the stakeholders, including several warring factions, who claim to be owners of the temple that some responsible person would be given charge to manage the affairs of the temple, aside from a mandate to develop the adjoining areas and small temples in nearby localities.

When Nataraj pointed that one person claiming to be from the Goswami community moved the top court for intervention but was not heard by the community, the bench asked if the court receiver was in-charge of the temple management, why was the person not heard and a response from other warring factions not sought.

The top court further questioned the government of wanting to acquire five-acre land for developing a holding area from the temple funds and not use its money.

"What stopped you from acquiring the entire land and properties from your corpus in public interest? What was the tearing hurry in enacting the ordinance, when the matter was sub-judice? Providing basic amenities and developing the area is the duty of the state. There are numerous instances where the state's participation has helped in developing the religious places like in Golden Temple in Amritsar," the bench said.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for members of the managing committee, said the order was passed without hearing them and as it was a private temple, they were required to be heard.

The bench said the term "private temple" was a misnomer and the state was trying to acquire the land for the benefit of lakhs of devotees who visit the temple every year.

The top court posted the matter for August 5 while asking Nataraj to seek instructions and clarifying that the constitutionality of the ordinance would be decided by the high court for which it would modify the May 15 order.

The managing committee members and other petitioners who sought the recall or modification of the May 15 order were asked to give certain suggestions with respect to the management of the affairs of the historic temple.

The plea, filed through advocate Tanvi Dubey, of the management committee of the Thakur Shree Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple in Mathura, challenges the ordinance, which vested the control of the shrine's administration with the state.

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 corridor.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said United States President Donald Trump's remark terming India a dead economy was meant to be an "insult" and must not be taken "literally".

IMAGE: US President Trump last week called India a dead economy just hours after he announced a 25 per cent tariff on the import of Indian goods. Photograph: @WhiteHouse/X

Tharoor on Sunday said that when wars are being conducted with the active involvement of some of the biggest powers, and people who are supposed to be upholding world order are contributing to promoting disorder, India needs to be very clear about its national interests.

The senior Congress leader, who was in conversation with Crossword CEO Aakash Gupta in Pune, spoke on a wide range of issues, including his latest book, The Living Constitution.

US President Trump last week called India a dead economy just hours after he announced a 25 per cent tariff on the import of Indian goods along with an unspecified penalty for buying vast majority of Russian military equipment and crude oil.

Tharoor said that it is a turbulent and unpredictable world, especially with Trump in the White House.

"On Trump, let me say, you can't take him literally, but you do need to take him seriously. He is the President of the US, and the decisions he makes can affect policies, and policies can affect us. So take him seriously, but don't take him literally, not every word. When he says your economy is dead, it's like a schoolboy in the playground saying your mother is ugly. You are not supposed to take that seriously. It is meant to be an insult, not meant to be taken literally," he said.

The entire impact of Trump's tariff policies over the last six months or so has taken the whole world back, and India too had a bit of a jolt just two to three days ago, Tharoor said.

"We are going to have to recover because the American relationship, and I don't just mean the trade relationship, the strategic partnership, is important enough for us to want to make the real effort to make this work. So I think there is a lot that needs to be done," he said.

He added that the credibility of the United Nations Charter and the Security Council is cast into question.

"...the wars are being conducted with the active involvement of some of the biggest powers in the world. And that, again, means that the people who are supposed to be upholding world order are contributing to promoting disorder. In the midst of all this, what does India do to navigate its position? Well, first of all, of course, we have to be very clear in our minds what our national interests are," Tharoor said.

India's first and most important national interest is the well-being of its people, of the Indian people, he said.

"And that means focusing on our development, on our prosperity, on our harmony, on our coexistence with each other, and on the safety and security of our borders as well, which have recently been threatened both from the Chinese side and the Pakistani side. And we have to be prepared to be robustly able to defend ourselves without jeopardising the larger story of our development and our growth," he said.

On the international front, India has to play a constructive role, he said.

"We have to be amongst the rule makers and not just the rule takers. We have to be a significant player so that we are not in a position where others can dictate to us or push us around. Our credibility matters. We are already the most populous country in the world. We are already amongst the largest economies in the world and will soon be the third largest. In all these circumstances, we do matter. We have to be counted. But at the same time, we have to be sure what we want to be counted for," he asserted.

Tharoor said that with India already clear about its interests and how it needs to stand up for its people, the country will navigate all this unpredictability and uncertainty with ability and skill, and said that is what he is counting on the country's diplomats to be able to do.

Asked about the delegation led by him to the US to brief on Operation Sindoor, his meeting with US Vice President J D Vance, the Congress MP said, "We had extremely good and effective meetings as not only was our message well received, but it was almost repeated back to us with sympathy, understanding, and respect."

"I had a very limited mandate. We were just there to explain Operation Sindoor, why we did what we did, what the thing was all about and what it was not all about, and the fact that we had to convey to the outside world that if terrorists strike us again, we will have to strike back again, so they better be prepared for that. And those messages were very clearly respected, understood, and applauded," he added.
Mortal remains of veteran tribal leader and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch Shibu Soren reached state capital Ranchi on Monday evening, with thousands of people waiting outside the airport and lining the streets to pay their final respects to the iconic leader, affectionately known as Dishom Guru.

IMAGE: Mortal remains of JMM founder and former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren, brought to Ranchi. Photograph: ANI on X

Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his legislator wife Kalpana Soren and the CM's brother and MLA Basant Soren accompanied the body, which was flown in on a special aircraft from Delhi.

Shibu Soren, 81, who was undergoing treatment at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi for over a month for kidney-related problems, passed away on Monday morning.

As soon as the mortal remains reached Birsa Munda Airport here, JMM workers and leaders who were gathered there in large numbers started raising slogans like 'Dishom Guru Amar Rahe (long live the leader of the people).

Several leaders and ministers Dipika Pandey Singh, Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Irfan Ansari, Mathura Mahto and Shilpi Neha Tirkey were also present at the airport.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren was seen sitting in the open carriage, decorated with flowers and Guruji's picture atop, carrying his mortal remains amid tight security.

The carcade is headed to Shibu Soren's residence at Morabadi in Ranchi.

A large number of workers and leaders cutting across party lines also gathered at his residence.

His body will be taken to his native village Nemra in Ramgarh district on Tuesday and his last rites will be performed there, JMM sources said.
In a significant organisational shake-up, Trinamool Congress on Monday named its national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee as the party's new parliamentary leader in the Lok Sabha, replacing veteran leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, who has been unwell for months.

IMAGE: rinamool congress MP Abhishek Banerjee addresses Trinamool congress Martyr Day rally, in Kolkata, July 21, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The decision was taken at a closed-door virtual meeting of TMC MPs from both Houses of Parliament, chaired by party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who attended virtually from Kolkata.

Three-time MP Abhishek Banerjee, widely seen as the de facto No. 2 in the TMC and nephew of Mamata Banerjee, will now spearhead the party's strategy and coordination in the Lok Sabha at a time when the Opposition bloc INDIA is ramping up pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government over issues ranging from Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative to alleged attacks on Bengali migrants in parts of the country.

"Abhishek Banerjee will lead the party in the Lok Sabha until Sudip Bandopadhyay recovers fully," the TMC boss told party MPs during the meeting, according to sources.

Bandopadhyay, a four-time MP from Kolkata North and a seasoned parliamentarian, had been holding the position since 2011 after Mamata quit the post after becoming CM.

She also announced that Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar would be in charge of day-to-day coordination among MPs in the Lower House.

Party insiders said Sreerampore MP Kalyan Banerjee, who was earlier in charge of floor coordination, has also been relieved of his responsibilities.

He has resigned from his post as party chief whip. The move follows murmurs of internal rift and friction among some of the senior MPs during the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha.

The TMC chief was reportedly unhappy with the recent lack of cohesion among the party's MPs in the Lok Sabha.

"Rajya Sabha work is going well, but the performance of Lok Sabha MPs has been below expectations. Sudip Bandopadhyay is unwell, and so is Saugata Roy. In the absence of senior leaders, coordination has collapsed," Mamata Banerjee is learnt to have told the meeting.

"The leadership felt the need for a more vigorous and sustained parliamentary presence. While Sudipda remains a respected senior leader, Abhishek's elevation reflects the party's intent to rejuvenate its interventions in Parliament," a senior TMC leader told PTI.

The move is being seen by political analysts as a clear signal that the party is grooming Abhishek Banerjee for a larger role in national politics.

The Diamond Harbour MP is already in charge of party expansion outside Bengal and played a key role during the Lok Sabha campaign.

He was also part of the all-party delegation that visited Japan earlier this year as part of the government's diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, indicating growing bipartisan faith in his abilities.

With 29 Lok Sabha MPs, the TMC is the third-largest party in the Opposition bloc INDIA and plays a crucial role in floor coordination within the alliance.

"Abhishek's appointment marks a generational shift in the party's parliamentary strategy. It's also a vote of confidence in his leadership skills," another party leader said, requesting anonymity.

While the reshuffle is being attributed to health concerns, party insiders admit that it is equally aimed at asserting control and plugging internal discord, especially as TMC prepares for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections amid stiff competition from BJP and the Congress-Left alliance.
Peskov's statements about possible meeting of leaders look like another delay  Yermak

Statements by Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov about a possible meeting of the leaders look like another delay, since there are no specifics, believes the head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak.

"Peskov's statement about a possible meeting looks like another delay, because there are no specifics in it. Ukraine's position is clear: we are ready for a meeting of leaders. Our partners, all those who truly value peace, support Ukraine's position that a meeting of leaders should take place," Yermak wrote on his Telegram channel.

He added that "if the question is only about preparation, then this is definitely not for us: we are ready right now."

"But the endless we do not exclude without a specific date is unacceptable," the head of the Presidents Office emphasized.

Earlier, Peskov said that Russia was allegedly ready for a meeting of leaders, but after preparatory work at the expert level.

On August 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was ready to meet with Russia at the level of leaders at any time.

"We hear statements from Russia, and if this is a signal of their serious readiness to end the war with dignity and establish a truly lasting peace, and not just attempts to buy more time for the war and a delay in sanctions, then Ukraine once again confirms its readiness to meet at the level of leaders at any time," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Friday.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Some clouds. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
If you own Microsoft stock, youve got to be happy.

Microsofts latest financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2025 were robust: Revenue reached US$76.4 billion (up 18 per cent year-over-year), with net income at US$27.2 billion (up 24 per cent). The primary driver was robust growth in Microsofts cloud and AI businesses. Azures revenue, which has finally been separated out in the financial reporting, now stands at US$75 billion in annual revenue, representing a 34 per cent surge for the year.

Put it all together, and you can see why Microsoft has joined Nvidia in the US$4-trillion valuation club.

So much for the good news. Despite those impressive financials, Microsoft has laid off a substantial number of employees this year  about 25,000, to be exact, including roughly 9,100 in July alone (approximately 4 per cent of its workforce). The layoffs have affected a broad range of divisions, including Xbox, engineering, and management layers.

Whats driving these cuts is clearly not poor performance. Instead, Microsoft is betting that its aggressive US$80 billion AI investments will pay off, as per Intertek, which sources Engadget. Dont take my word for it: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently noted in a July blog the incongruence of laying off employees even as Microsoft is thriving. He called this dynamic the enigma of success in a tech industry where progress demands constant change, even when things are going well.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to those who have left, he added. Their contributions have shaped who we are as a company, helping build the foundation we stand on today. And for that, I am deeply grateful.

Im sure deep gratitude will help keep a roof over their heads.

Microsoft is far from alone in dumping once-valued employees for cheaper AI alternatives. IBM has cut 8,000 jobs so far this year, according to Business Today. In particular, IBM is gradually replacing clerical jobs with AI, while its AskHR bot has taken over much of HRs old workloads. At the same time, Meta is reducing its staff by 5 per cent in 2025, per Reuters, as it switches gears from its metaverse dud to AI.
n Kherson, 310 people have already been evacuated from Korabel district due to the worsening humanitarian situation after the Russian strikes, including 34 children and 41 people with reduced mobility, Head of Kherson Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin said on Monday.

"Today alone, as of 15:00, 219 people have been evacuated from Korabel [district]. And in total, out of 1,800 residents who remained in the microdistrict at the time of the first strikes on the bridge, 310 people were able to be evacuated. Among them are 34 children and 41 people with reduced mobility," he said in Telegram.

He noted that special attention is being paid to the evacuation of children.

"Currently, ten minors remain in the neighborhood. We are working with their families. Some families have already agreed to evacuate," the administration's head said.

Prokudin said everyone who decides to evacuate will receive assistance at every stage  from departure and settlement to further residence.

As reported, as a result of the air strike by the Russian occupation army on Sunday on Ostrivsky Bridge in Kherson, the authorities are calling for evacuation from Korabel district.
In the Russian-occupied cities of Donetsk and Mariupol, an escalating water crisis has pushed daily life to the brink of survival, forcing officials from the local level all the way up to President Vladimir Putin to seek solutions.

Water trickles out of taps for only a few hours every few days, often discolored and undrinkable. Entire neighborhoods have resorted to survival tactics: hauling water in buckets and collecting rainwater. Local residents and observers in the eastern Ukrainian cities have called on Russian-imposed authorities to tackle what they have said is a devastating situation that demands immediate attention.

'We Live In A Water Desert'

Once industrial heartlands of Ukraine, both Donetsk and Mariupol, as well as smaller towns around them, now face a deepening humanitarian emergency. The combination of destroyed infrastructure, failed reconstruction projects, and collapsing reservoirs has plunged the region into what analysts are calling a full-scale ecological and social catastrophe.

On July 22, pro-Kremlin Telegram channels with hundreds of thousands of followers published an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, signed by residents of occupied Donetsk.

The message, also echoed by pro-Kremlin bloggers and military propagandists, warned of a spiraling water crisis. "Donetsk has had no stable water supply since 2022," the letter states. "Now it's only once every three days, sometimes less."

In Mariupol, the situation is only slightly better. There, water is reportedly supplied every two days, though residents claim that timetable is often not followed. In both cities, water rarely reaches the upper floors of residential buildings. Households rely on improvised wells, irregular truck deliveries, or plastic tanks scattered throughout neighborhoods. In the summer heat, many of these tanks turn green with algae.

"Over the past eight days, we had water for four hours only. It came out orange," said Olha, a resident of Yenakiyeve near Donetsk. "There are 17 barrels of water for the whole city. The heat is unbearable. Carrying water to the fourth floor without a lift? It's torture."

In Mariupol, residents share similar stories. "The water we get smells of rust and sewage," one local told the Tochka website. "But we still pay for it like it's clean drinking water."

Failed Russian Solution

After the destruction of the Siverskiy DonetsDonbas canal in the early months of the full-scale Russian invasion launched in February 2022, both Donetsk and Mariupol lost their primary source of freshwater. The canal, built in the 1950s to supply the region's growing cities, drew water from the Siverskiy Donets River near Slovyansk.

After gaining control over parts of the region, Russia rushed to construct an alternative: the DonDonbas water conduit, a 194-kilometer dual-pipe system meant to bring water from the Don River near the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. The project, completed in mid-2023 and overseen by then-Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, was supposed to solve the region's water problems.

However, the project fell short of its promises, adding to the residents' frustrations and disappointment. It has also been mired in scandal. Ivanov was arrested in April 2024 for accepting massive bribes, including from the company that built the pipeline. "Seventy-five billion rubles ($930 million) were stolen," said former Mariupol TV President Mykola Osychenko to Current Time. "And there's still no water."

Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-appointed separatist head of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), now concedes that the pipeline covers only a fraction of the region's demand. In late July, he described the situation in Donetsk's internal reservoirs as "critical."

He said a long-term solution would only come once Russia captures Slovyansk, one of the main cities in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region, and regains control of the original canal source.

Pushilin met with Putin on August 4 where the problems were acknowledged, again blaming the Ukrainian government for the situation.

But the two also admitted infrastructure was an issue exacerbating the problem.

"There is another issue the government has reported to me," Putin said, "significant water losses during the transfer of these resources."

Pushilin added that water losses can reach 60 percent in some areas. Neither politician elaborated on the issue or any plans to correct it.

Donbas Reservoirs Run Dry

Satellite imagery reviewed by BBC's Russian Service reveals a startling decline in water levels across major reservoirs in the Donbas region, including those feeding both Donetsk and Mariupol. Nine out of 10 monitored reservoirs have significantly shrunk since 2021. This summer's average temperature in Donetsk was 27 Celsius, not the hottest on record, but hot enough to accelerate evaporation in already depleted basins.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Russia dispatched 75 water trucks to Donetsk. Pushilin boasted that 33 had arrived by July 25. But the math tells a bleak story: With each truck carrying 10,000 liters, that's just 0.6 liters per person for Donetsk and nearby Makiyivka, home to more than 1.2 million people combined.

"Even if the trucks stayed and operated daily, where would they get the water from?" Osychenko wonders. "There are no viable sources left."

The Zuyivska Thermal Power Plant, one of the region's leading electricity providers, is now facing cooling issues due to low reservoir levels. At a poultry farm in the town of Rozovka, two-thirds of the water supply was cut, resulting in many of the birds dying.

As the crisis worsens, even loyal pro-Russian voices are turning on local authorities. Former Ukrainian parliamentary deputy and 2014 separatist leader Oleg Tsaryov posted angrily to Telegram: "Donetsk used to be a city of roses. Now people defecate in bags and some throw them under windows."

Social media is flooded with images and complaints: cracked taps, discolored water, and plastic buckets replacing toilets.

The decay isn't just due to the war but also crumbling infrastructure. According to former utility workers, water infrastructure in the region was already 80 percent worn out by 2014. Little has been done to maintain or replace it since. In the Kirov district of Donetsk, pipes are nearly 100 percent corroded. Leaks and bursts are daily occurrences, and the losses weren't even factored into the DonDonbas pipeline's capacity.

Authorities Promise, People Leave

With little faith in officials, many residents are quietly planning to leave. "People aren't stupid," Osychenko said. "They know if there's no water now, there won't be any later. Without water, there's no electricity. Without electricity, no heating. The whole utility system will collapse by winter."

This fear is echoed by humanitarian groups, who warn of a looming public health disaster. The combination of decaying sanitation, limited drinking water, and high temperatures could trigger outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease.

Donetsk and Mariupol were once symbols of Soviet-era industrial power. Today, under Russian occupation, they are becoming symbols of infrastructural collapse, institutional corruption, and humanitarian failure.

What began as a war of conquest has evolved into a slow, suffocating disaster for those left behind. Until water flows freely again, Donetsk, Mariupol, and the towns around them remain simply in survival mode.

With reporting by BBC
US President Donald Trump said he will be "substantially raising" tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil as his special envoy Steve Witkoff prepares to travel to Moscow this week ahead of a deadline for the Kremlin to take steps to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social on August 4 that India is not only buying "massive amounts" of Russian oil, it is then selling it onward "for big profits."

"They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump said.

"Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he added without elaborating on the timing or amount of the new tariffs.

Last week Trump said India faced a 25 percent tariff on goods exported to the United States and added that the world's fifth-largest economy would also face an unspecified penalty. He gave no further details.

Trump, who has increasingly voiced frustration with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, last week gave Russia 10 days to move toward a peace or face sanctions and secondary tariffs that would likely target China and India, the two largest buyers of Russian oil.

With that deadline looming on August 8, Trump has said Witkoff will fly to Moscow following his current trip to Israel, though he did not provide a specific itinerary.

The Kremlin on August 4 did not confirm the visit, but did say President Vladimir Putin may meet with Witkoff this week.

"We are always happy to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow.... We consider such contact important, substantial and helpful," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

A day earlier Trump warned "there'll be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions."

"They're wily characters and they're pretty good at avoiding sanctions, so we'll see what happens."

Kyiv and Moscow have been trading strikes ahead of the deadline set by Trump.

In the most recent attack, three people were killed in Ukraine's southeastern region of Zaporizhzhya, Governor Ivan Fedorov said late on August 3.

Stepnohirsk, a town only a few kilometers from the front line, was attacked, Fedorov wrote on Telegram, adding that two men, ages 40 and 50, and a woman, 58, were killed. Private homes were also destroyed, he said.

Russia also reportedly launched at least one Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missile overnight, with Ukraine's military saying an air base in western Ukraine was likely the intended target.

It added that the attack had been repelled, though Russian Defense Ministry said the "objective of the strike has been achieved."

Debris from attacks across the Odesa region and the outskirts of Kyiv also sparked several fires, which local officials were quickly extinguished.

Odesa Market Cleans Up After Russian Strike No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:43 0:00

Deadline Moved Up

Trump has been pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a cease-fire and an end to the war, now in its fourth year.

Trump announced on July 14 that Putin had 50 days to end the war or Russia would face severe tariffs targeting its oil and other exports, but he later moved the deadline up to August 8.

This corresponded with a deadly week for civilians in Ukraine, including a July 31 attack on Kyiv involving more than 300 drones that killed at least 31 people. Ukrainian forces also increased strikes on Russian infrastructure.

Russian authorities said the drone attack on the Sochi oil refinery was one of several launched by Ukraine over the weekend targeting energy and military installations in the southern Russian cities of Ryazan, Penza, and Voronezh.

US Deploys Nuclear Submarines

The escalating attacks and the approaching deadline for a deal come as Trump said on August 1 that he had deployed nuclear-capable submarines to the "appropriate regions." Trump said he had decided to reposition the nuclear submarines "closer to Russia" because of "highly provocative statements" by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The US president did not specify whether these were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines.

Asked later by reporters why he ordered the submarine movement, Trump said that "a threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we're going to protect our people."

Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, accused Washington of playing a "game of ultimatums" in response to Trump's announcement that he shortened the deadline for the Kremlin to accept a cease-fire, writing that "each new ultimatum is a threat and a step toward war."

Putin has not publicly responded to Trump's latest deadline. He has periodically claimed to be interested in peace but only on terms wholly unacceptable to Kyiv.

The Kremlin on August 4 dismissed concerns over an escalation in nuclear rhetoric, saying the US movement of submarines was more an emotional reaction than a shift in military dynamics.

"It's clear that US submarines are always on alert in any case," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

Trump has recently voiced frustration with Putin after initially appearing more conciliatory toward striking a deal with Moscow following his return to office in January.

The US president has since said that he believes Putin is not negotiating in good faith and last week described Russia's continued attacks on civilian areas as "disgusting."

With reporting by Reuters and dpa
A 13-year-old girl was returned to the government-controlled territory of Ukraine, Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak has said.

"As part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, a 13-year-old girl was rescued from the temporarily occupied territory. She dreamed of leaving for her grandparents, who live in the controlled territory of Ukraine, and maintained contact with them throughout the years of occupation. After much hesitation, she still decided to leave, which ended successfully  today the child is safe and with her relatives, whom she had not seen for over three years," he said in the Telegram channel on Monday.

Yermak thanked Helping to Leave for helping to save the child.
It's not acceptable that falling trees after a "light storm" have again caused power outages in West Roscommon, according to Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice

He has called on the Government to take immediate action and to take the issues "by the scruff of the neck."

Speaking in the aftermath of Storm Floris, Deputy Fitzmaurice said the Ballinlough area had again seen electricity lines fall, leaving homes without power just six months after new infrastructure had been installed.

This is not acceptable, he said. People who were left without power for 15 or 16 days during the last storm are now suffering again after a mere blow of wind. It is disgusting.

The Roscommon-Galway TD has called on Minister Darragh O'Brien to issue a clear instruction on tree cutting, claiming that insufficient tree-cutting near power lines was at the root of the problem.

The machines have already been in there cutting. They should have cut back enough. The ESB now needs to take this by the scruff of the neck and once and for all decide what they're doing and what they're not doing, he said.

Calling on Minister OBrien to issue direct instructions to the utility company, Deputy Fitzmaurice urged the Government to forget about what people are objecting to and take decisive action to remove all trees near to power lines, they must be taken out it's that simple, whatever the distance is required get it done to put an end to this once and for all.

It's way past time that a stop is put to this codswallop, he said. Get out there and cut those trees and this will not happen again.

He said the people of the west were continuing to bear the brunt of failed policies and warned that unless urgent decisions were made, further outages would follow.

Deputy Fitzmaurice said: It is sickening to see new power lines that were only put up six months ago flattened again today. When are we going to cop on as a country and put people before everything else?
Roscommon Gardai are seeking information after a handbag was stolen from an elderly woman in broad daylight.

On Saturday, July 19th, a woman in her 80s was shopping at Tesco, Roscommon. While putting her groceries into the car, she put her handbag in on the back seat of her white 142 Toyota Aygo.

She was then approached by a male to assist her with her shopping, which she declined. The male then walked around her car, opened and shut the back door of her car and walked away. She was then approached by another male to distract her, Roscommon Gardai said. She finished putting her shopping into the car and proceeded to Supervalu. She subsequently realised that her handbag and its contents had been taken from the back seat of the car.

Gardai in Roscommon Town are continuing to investigate this theft and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

If you were in the area between 2pm and 3pm and saw anything suspicious or have possible dashcam footage to please contact Gardai at Roscommon on 090 6638300.

Separately a large sum of money was found in the Roscommon area on Saturday July 19th.

It is now in the possession of Gardai in Roscommon. Please contact Gardai there on 090 6638300 or call in to enquire.
Former 3-Time Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren Passes Away, Son Hemant Soren Confirms

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a phone call.

Former 3-Time Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren Passes Away Latest News:

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren passed away at the age of 81 on Monday. His son and current Chief Minister of the state, Hemant Soren, confirmed the demise in a post on X an hour ago at the time of filing this report.

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Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty... Hemant Soren wrote in a deeply emotional post.

Shibu Soren was a prominent tribal leader and the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). He served as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand three times.

According to a report by The Times of India, Shibu Soren was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the last week of June due to a kidney-related issue.

Leaders across political party lines and admirers have poured in condolences on the demise of the former Jharkhand Chief Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a phone call, and also conveyed his sympathies to the family and admirers.

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In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti.

Leader of Opposition of the lower house and congress MP Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences in a post on X, saying, "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Jharkhands former Chief Minister and senior JMM leader Shibu Soren Ji. A strong voice for the tribal community, Soren Ji fought tirelessly for their rights and entitlements. His role in the formation of Jharkhand will always be remembered. I express my deepest condolences to Hemant Soren Ji, the entire Soren family, and all of Gurujis supporters."

Leader of Oppostion in the Upper House Malikarjun Kharge said he spoke to Hemant Soren expressing his condolences.

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In a post on X, Malikarjun Kharge, wrote "I am saddened by the passing of Jharkhand's former Chief Minister, former Union Minister, and founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren ji. He dedicated his life to the struggle for a separate Jharkhand state and the rights of its people over water, forest, and land, as well as the preservation of tribal culture. I spoke with his son and Jharkhand's Chief Minister Hemandt Soren ji, expressing my deep condolences to his family and supporters. In this hour of grief, may God grant them strength."

BJD chief Naveen Patnaik also expressed his condolences in a post on X, saying, "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Jharkhand Chief Minister and founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Shibu Soren. He was a prominent tribal leader and will be remembered for his dedication to fight for the rights of the tribal and marginalised people. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family, friends, and followers in the hour of grief. #OmShanti"

(For more news apart from Former 3-Time Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren Passes Away, Son Hemant Soren Confirms, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
MP R Sudha's Gold Chain Snatched During Morning Walk in Delhi's Chanakyapuri

Chanakyapuri houses several embassies and official residences of state governments.

MP R Sudhas Gold Chain Snatched During Morning Walk in Delhis Chanakyapuri Latest news

New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI): Unidentified assailants allegedly snatched a gold chain from Mayiladuthurai MP R Sudha in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri while she was out on a morning walk on Monday, police said.

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Chanakyapuri houses several embassies and official residences of state governments.

Sudha, who is staying at Tamil Nadu Bhavan in the area, was out for her routine morning walk when the unidentified assailants snatched her gold chain and fled the spot, police said.

"A case has been registered and an investigation is underway. Multiple police teams have been deployed to trace the accused and examine CCTV footage from the vicinity," a senior police officer said.

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Police are also speaking to eyewitnesses and checking for any suspicious movements reported in the area at the time of the incident. Security around Tamil Nadu Bhavan and nearby stretches has been stepped up, officials added.

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TERROR TRIO: From left, Pahalgam terrorists Jibran, Suleiman Shah and Hamza Afghani (Image Courtesy: India Today) Post-Encounter Evidence Confirms Pakistan-Origin of Terrorist Trio killed in Op. Mahadev: Report

Crucially, GPS coordinates retrieved from Suleman Shah's Garmin watch matched the firing positions reported by eyewitnesses at the scene.

Post-Encounter Evidence Confirms Pakistan-Origin of Terrorist Trio Neutralized in Operation Mahadev: Report

Pakistan-Origin of Terrorist Trio killed in Operation Mahadev Latest News: The post-encounter evidence released by security agencies confirms that the three terrorists neutralized on 28 July in the Dachigam area of Srinagar, during Operation Mahadev, were Pakistani nationals, India Today reported.

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According to the report, the security agencies identified Suleman Shah as the mastermind and lead shooter in the Pahalgam attack. The second gunman was Abu Hamza, also known as "Afghani," while the third shooter was Yasir, alias Jibran.

Two laminated voter ID slips issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan were recovered from the bodies of Suleman Shah and Abu Hamza, confirming their Pakistani citizenship. The voter serial numbers on the slips matched entries in the electoral rolls of Lahore (NA-125) and Gujranwala (NA-79) respectively.

Further evidence came from a micro SD card retrieved from a damaged satellite phone, which contained biometric records from NADRA (Pakistan's national citizen registry) for all three men. This included their fingerprints, facial templates, and family tree records, indicating their registered addresses in Changa Manga (Kasur District) and Koiyan village, near Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

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Additionally, wrappers of Pakistani chocolate brands, such as 'Candyland' and 'Chocomax', were found in their possession.

Forensic analysis of 7.62x39 mm shell casings recovered from the Baisaran attack site, where 26 civilians were killed, matched striation marks on the three AK-103 rifles seized from the terrorists.

DNA analysis also confirmed their involvement. Mitochondrial profiles extracted from blood found on a torn shirt in Pahalgam matched the DNA of the three slain terrorists.

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Intelligence agencies confirmed that the trio had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) near the Gurez sector in May 2022, based on intercepted radio communication from the Pakistani side. After crossing, they took shelter in a seasonal hut (dhok) at Hill Park, about 2 km from Baisaran. Two local Kashmiris, Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad, confessed to providing them shelter and cooked meals.

On April 22, the terrorists trekked to the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, where they carried out the brutal attack at 2:30 PM. Afterward, they fled northeast into the dense Dachigam forest.

Crucially, GPS coordinates retrieved from Suleman Shahs Garmin watch matched the firing positions reported by eyewitnesses at the scene.

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The trio was ultimately neutralized three months after the deadly attack.

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NATO Secretary General welcomes Netherlands announcement to boost Ukraine air defenses, expects important announcements from other allies soon

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomes the announcement by the Netherlands of EUR 500 million to strengthen Ukraine's air defences and expects important announcements from other Allies soon.

Great to see the Netherlands taking the lead and funding the first package of US military equipment for Ukraine under NATOs Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List initiative. I thank Allies for getting Ukraine the equipment it urgently needs to defend against Russian aggression. I expect further significant announcements from other Allies soon, Rutte said on X.

Earlier, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced the allocation of EUR 500 million to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, including missiles and spare parts for Patriot systems.
Kharge Expresses Deep Anguish' Over the Demise of Able Parliamentarian' Shibu Soren

Kharge highlighted that Shibu Soren was elected to Lok Sabha six times and to Rajya Sabha three times.

Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge meet Hemant Soren &Family at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi News:

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on Monday to pay their last respects to Shibu Soren, the three-time Chief Minister of Jharkhand, who passed away that day.

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Both leaders offered their condolences to Hemant Soren, the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand, and son of the late Shibu Soren.

Earlier on Monday, Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter of condolence on behalf of the Indian National Congress to Hemant Soren. The letter expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Shibu Soren, referring to him as a distinguished public figure, a sitting Member of Rajya Sabha, and the founding patron of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The letter read, "I, on my behalf and on behalf of the Indian National Congress, express my heartfelt condolences and deep anguish over the sad demise of your revered father, Guruji Shibu Soren."

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It continued, "Shri Shibu Soren Ji served the people of Jharkhand with distinction, holding the office of Chief Minister on three occasions. In his role as Chief Minister and as a Union Cabinet Minister, he demonstrated exceptional administrative acumen and an unwavering commitment to public service."

Describing Soren as an "able parliamentarian," Kharge highlighted that Shibu Soren was elected to Lok Sabha six times and to Rajya Sabha three times.

"A true man of the masses, he dedicated his life to voicing the concerns of the people, especially the tribals, the marginalized, and the downtrodden. He tirelessly fought for the fundamental rights of jal, jangal, and zameen of the Adivasis and was instrumental in the movement for the creation of a separate state of Jharkhand," the letter stated.

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The letter concluded by expressing that with Soren's passing, both the nation and the state of Jharkhand have lost a visionary leader and a guiding public figure. "May his soul rest in peace. I fervently pray that your good self and all your family members find strength and solace in this hour of profound grief," Kharge wrote.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited Hemant Soren and the family at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to offer his condolences.

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Chandigarh & Amritsar Bar Associations Observe No Work Day in Protest of Adv Lakhwinder Singhs Death

The Amritsar Bar Association has urged all judicial officers and relevant authorities to cooperate with the decision of the legal fraternity

Chandigarh & Amritsar Bar Associations Observe No Work Day in Protest of Adv Lakhwinder Singhs Death

Bar associations Chandigarh & Amritsar protest of attack on Advocate Lakhwinder Singhs death news: The Amritsar Bar Association, in a State Call, unanimously resolved to observe a 'No Work Day' on Monday, 04.08.2025, and to stage a protest Dharna at 11:00 AM outside Gate No.1 of the District Courts Complex, Amritsar, over the tragic demise of Advocate Lakhwinder Singh, who succumbed to grievous injuries sustained in a brutal attack.

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The decision was taken under the leadership of its President, Shri Gurpreet Singh Panesar, and includes a call to all Bar Associations across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to join in solidarity.

In a statement issued, the Amritsar Bar Association said, With deep sorrow and strong indignation over the untimely and tragic demise of Advocate Lakhwinder Singh, who succumbed to grievous injuries sustained in a brutal attack, the Amritsar Bar Association, under the leadership of its President Shri Gurpreet Singh Panesar, has unanimously resolved to observe No Work Day on Monday, 04.08.2025, and stage a protest Dharna at 11:00 AM outside Gate No.1 of the District Courts Complex, Amritsar.

It further added, In view of the gravity of the situation and in the interest of unity and justice for the legal fraternity, a State Call is hereby given to all Bar Associations across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to observe No Work on 04.08.2025 in solidarity and demand the immediate arrest of all accused and accountability of law enforcement agencies.

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The Amritsar Bar Association has urged all judicial officers and relevant authorities to cooperate with the decision of the legal fraternity.

May the soul of Advocate Lakhwinder Singh rest in peace. Let justice be delivered without delay, it vowed.

In view of the State Call given by the Amritsar Bar Association, the Executive Body of the District Bar Association, Chandigarh has also unanimously decided to observe a "No Work Day" on 04.08.2025 (Monday).

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The decision was taken following a meeting of the Executive Body of the District Bar Association, Chandigarh, to discuss the matter regarding the State-Level call issued by the Amritsar Bar Association.

In its official statement, the Executive Body said, The Executive Body of the District Bar Association, Chandigarh has unanimously decided to observe a 'No Work Day' tomorrow, i.e., 04-08-2025 (Monday), in view of the untimely and tragic demise of Adv. Lakhwinder Singh, Member of the Amritsar Bar Association, who succumbed to grievous injuries sustained in a brutal attack a few days ago.

It added, The District Bar Association, Chandigarh, in full support of the State Call by the ABA, stands in solidarity and demands immediate action from the authorities to arrest the accused and ensure justice is served.

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Advocate Lakhwinder Singh's death:

Advocate Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Jandiala Guru, was critically injured in a brutal gun attack by unidentified assailants on July 21. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

According to a report by The Times of India, three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, Senior Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh informed.

The arrested accused have been identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Love, Manpreet Singh alias Money, and Manminder Singh alias Billa.

Pistols and magazines were also recovered from their possession.

Advocate Lakhwinder Singh was attacked while en route from Jandiala Guru to Amritsar. Three assailants opened indiscriminate fire on his vehicle.

As per the report, during interrogation, the arrested accused revealed that the attack was carried out at the behest of one Abhi, son of Kanta, a resident of Jandiala.

Investigations were ongoing as of August 2, and SSP Maninder Singh stated that more arrests might follow.

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write key words on the news using comma one after another-suitable for effective SEO in one line

The districts under the yellow are Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jhalandar, Ludhiana, and Patiala.

IMD Chandigarh Issues Heavy Rainfall Warning for Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh from 4th to 6th August

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Chandigarh, has issued a warning for heavy rainfall over Punjab, Chandigarh, and Haryana from 4th to 6th August in a press release on Monday.

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The IMD has forecasted rainfall activity over Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh with heavy rain at isolated places from 4th to 6th August. Very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated locations over Northern, Eastern, and Southern parts of Haryana on 5th August.

Light to moderate rainfall is expected at many places in the next 24 hours. The rainfall activity is expected to increase over Northern and Eastern parts of Punjab, Northern, Eastern, and Southern Haryana, and Chandigarh from 5th to 6th August 2025.

Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is likely in parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh on 5th August. Very heavy rainfall (12 cm or more) is likely between 4th and 6th August at isolated places in Northern and Eastern parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. Furthermore, very heavy rain (12 cm or more) is also expected at isolated locations on 6th August over areas in Punjab, Haryana, including Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Gurugram, Faridabad, Mewat, Palwal, and adjoining districts.

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Yellow alert:

In the latest update, IMD Chandigarh has placed three districts in Punjab under a yellow alert, warning of heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, squalls, and other weather conditions. The three districts are Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar.

The same three districts, along with SAS Nagar, have been placed under a yellow alert for tomorrow, 5th August, for the same weather conditions.

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Nowcast:

IMD Chandigarh, in its Nowcast valid until 9 PM tonight, has placed six districts under a yellow alert, warning of light rain with rainfall rates of up to 5mm per hour.

The districts under the yellow are Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jhalandar, Ludhiana, and Patiala.

(For more news apart from Congress MPs Express deep anguish Over Demise of Able Parliamentarian Shibu Soren, Meet Family , stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
"They are in the region, yeah": Trump Deploys nuclear submarines in Russia

"ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and ..."

"They are in the region, yeah": Trump Deploys nuclear submarines in Russia

US President Donald Trump has said that nuclear submarines have been deployed in Russia, ANI reported.

"They are in the region, yeah -- where they have to be," Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Sunday, according to the ANI report.

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When asked if there was anything Russia could do to avoid sanctions at this point, Trump said, "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."

He further said that he was looking for fairness and not leverage when he was imposing tariffs. "I'm not looking for leverage -- I'm looking for fairness. We want to see reciprocal wherever we can, and all I can say is this: our country will be taking in hundreds of billions of dollars."

Trump said on Friday that he was ordering two US Navy nuclear submarines to "appropriate regions," in response to remarks by Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's Former President and current deputy chairman of its Security Council.

In what he called an effort to be "prepared," Trump said in a Truth Social post that he had "ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that."

Trump later on Friday said the repositioned nuclear submarines were moved "closer to Russia," the report said citing ANI report.

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He said Thursday he intended to place new sanctions on Moscow, and called Russia's attacks on Ukraine "disgusting."

In an earlier social media message, Trump said the Ukraine war "should have never happened," as per CNN. "This is Biden's War, not 'TRUMP's.' I'm just here to see if I can stop it!" Trump wrote.

The president did not specify what type of submarines were being moved or where to, and the Pentagon usually reveals little about any of its subs' movements, CNN reported. The US Navy has three types of submarines, all of which are nuclear-powered, but only one of which carries nuclear weapons.

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Romania will activate the European mechanism RESTORE

Romania is going to activate RESTORE, a European mechanism especially created for cases of major natural disasters

Foto: facebook.com/departamenturgente

Corina Cristea, 04.08.2025, 14:00

Against the dramatic situation in its north-east, Romania has for the first time decided to apply for the activation of RESTORE a European mechanism, especially designed to respond major natural disasters. The instrument allows for the rapid access of millions of Euros out of European funds for rebuilding the infrastructure, households and the small businesses in the affected area, the Minister of European Investment and Projects, Dragos Pislaru says. The latest flooding has left three dead in the counties of Neamt and Suceava, while thousands others have been stranded and over 13 hundred households destroyed. The latest flooding has also wreaked havoc on the local infrastructure, with 280 kilometers of road affected, two bridges and over 4000 meters of reinforced river banks destroyed. The local power grid has not remained unaffected by the fury of water with over 9 kilometers of electricity network destroyed and 31 posts broken.

According to the minister, the Government is going to also activate the EU Solidarity Fund, where Romania can access hundreds of millions of Euros for the reconstruction of the affected area, but this money is to become available within months. Minister Pislaru has also announced that a fresh aid package is to be endorsed by the Executive in the following period, after the damage assessment has been completed. In the meantime, the State Reserves have dispatched tons of food, water, clothes, pieces of modular buildings and diesel fuel to the affected areas.

The Government has so far allotted 6 thousand Euros per family in the affected areas and all the intervention teams, consisting of doctors, firefighters and other specialized workers have been deployed to the area. These are backed by ambulances and helicopters.

From the very onset of the flooding, Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, Environment Minister, Diana Buzoianu, State Secretary, Raed Arafat and the other colleagues involved have made all the necessary efforts to protect the peoples lives and minimize the effects of this regrettable disaster. Now we are going to focus on finding remedies to the material damage and make sure the reconstruction process in the area starts right away, Minister Pislaru went on to say. A week on from the disaster, hundreds of volunteers from all over Romania have been joining the teams of firefighters and gendarmes in an impressive attempt to support the locals who have seen their households swept away by waters. Companies and animal-protection NGOs have also joined the reconstruction efforts in the area.

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PostNL (PNL.AS,PNLYY.PK), a Dutch parcels and mail deliverer, reported Monday a loss of 24 million euros in the second quarter, compared to prior year's profit of 10 million euros.

The latest results included a 40 million euros impairment of goodwill, related to CGU Mail in the Netherlands.

Operating loss was 26 million euros, compared to profit of 15 million euros a year ago.

Normalised EBIT dropped to 11 million euros from last year's 18 million euros.

Revenue grew to 807 million euros from 795 million euros last year.

Parcels revenue went up 2.8%, with volume growth of 2.2% and further client concentration.

Meanwhile, Mail volume fell 8.3%, mainly due to some positive phasing effects in underlying substitution that partly offset the impact from election mail last year.

Looking ahead, the company reiterated 2025 outlook for normalised EBIT to be in line with 2024, in an ongoing volatile economic environment.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
NASA has released a new proposal opportunity for industry to tap into agency know-how, resources, and expertise. The Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO), managed by the Space Technology Mission Directorate, enables valuable collaboration without financial exchanges between NASA and industry partners. Instead, companies leverage NASA subject matter experts, facilities, software, and hardware to accelerate their technologies and prepare them for future commercial and government use, the US space agency said in a press release.

NASA issued a standing ACO announcement for partnership proposals which will be available for five years and will serve as the umbrella opportunity for topic-specific appendix releases. NASA said it intends to issue appendices every six to 12 months to address evolving space needs. The 2025 ACO appendix is open for proposals until September 24.

NASA will host an informational webinar about the opportunity and appendix at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday. It urged interested proposers to submit questions which will be answered during the webinar and will be available online after the webinar.

In recent years, NASA has played a key role as a technology enabler, providing one-of-a-kind tools, resources, and infrastructure to help commercial aerospace companies achieve their goals.

Since 2015, NASA has collaborated with industry on approximately 80 ACO projects.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Euro area investor confidence deteriorated unexpectedly in August as the newly reached trade deal with the U.S. deepened concerns about the current economic situation as well as the outlook, data from the behavioral research institute Sentix showed on Monday.

The Sentix investor sentiment index fell steeply to -3.7 in August from 4.5 in July. The measure was expected to climb to 6.2.

The current situation indicator declined sharply to -13.0 from -7.3. Likewise, the expectations index plunged to 6.0 from 17.0 in the previous month.

The Sentix survey was the first to assess the U.S.-EU trade agreement and the deal is proving to be a real mood killer, the think tank said.

The think tank said, "The U.S. and Donald Trump may feel like winners in the short term, but falling expectations here too indicate that this type of trade policy will mainly produce losers."

Although it looked as if the euro area was emerging from its economic lethargy recently, but this has become a question again as pressure on export-oriented industries is likely to increase further, Sentix said.

In addition, concerns about spiraling government debt are growing in the currency bloc.

In Germany, economic sentiment deteriorated notably in August with the index falling to -12.8 from -0.4 in July.

The current situation index slid to -29.0 from -18.8 in July. Similarly, the expectations index declined to 5.0 from 19.8 in the prior month.

Sentix said the trade agreement with the US will require a rethink in Berlin. Moreover, the federal budget is out of control and any generous social welfare system leads to free-rider effects.



If the "correction" is made through tax hikes rather than austerity, there is little hope for an upturn, said Sentix.



The survey was carried out by 1,050 investors between July 31 and August 2.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Czech President Petr Pavel notes that he is concerned about Russias hybrid activities in European countries, including the Czech Republic, which, in his opinion, are effective.

"We usually call it hybrid warfare. And Russia is quite effective in this hybrid activity in Europe. And they are very active in all European countries, including the Czech Republic," Pavel said in an interview with the BBC published on Monday.

According to him, the Russian Federation invests in media sources, in social networks, the result of which was evident in the elections in Romania and a number of other countries. "This is the presentation of articles, this is the influence on some politicians, this is the support of some political parties. They abuse the openness of democracies, the democratic system. They abuse access to the media. They abuse new technologies, artificial intelligence and create a virtual reality in social networks that almost looks like real human beings, but in fact these are fake accounts controlled by artificial intelligence," the Czech President noted.

Pavel noted that after losing the arms race with the West, the Russians have taken the approach that "if you can't be stronger than your opponent, let's try to make them weaker." "This is what they do through espionage, through sabotage, through subversion, through cyber attacks, through psychological or information operations or disinformation campaigns. This is what they do in a very coordinated way," he noted.

According to the Czech President, the USSR and the Russians "if they were very good at anything, it was intelligence, espionage and foreign services." "Therefore, I think that they certainly did not reduce their activities in these areas, but on the contrary, they increased them," Pavel stated.
Thirty-seven percent of Americans have experienced fraudulent activities after being personally and/or professionally impacted by a natural disaster, according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Institute of CPAs, or AICPA.

When asked what types of fraud they had experienced, the respondents reported identity theft, Government assistance fraud, loan scams, vendor fraud, utility scams, charity fraud, insurance fraud and contractor fraud.

The survey also found that those in the Northeast and South were more likely to have experienced fraudulent activities as a result of being personally or professionally affected by a natural disaster than those in the Midwest.

"In the aftermath of a natural disaster, you may see many individuals show positive behaviors, but you may also see unexpected negative behaviors," says Christine Cutti-Fox, Director of Forensic & Technology Advisory Services at AICPA. "Fraud can manifest in various ways, and whether you are dealing with the impact as an individual, family, or owner, it is essential to stay informed and develop a comprehensive plan supported by appropriate documentation to facilitate effective recovery."

The survey found that 48 percent of Americans said their personal insurance coverage doesn't include protection against fraud-related losses during disaster recovery. Thirty-nine percent of those who took part in the survey said their personal insurance coverage includes protection against fraud-related losses during disaster recovery.

64 percent of business owners say they have insurance coverage that includes protection against fraud-related losses during disaster recovery, while 32 percent don't have insurance coverage that includes protection against fraud-related losses during disaster recovery.

"Fraud-related insurance coverage serves as a safeguard for financial security, offering protection against unforeseen incidents. It can provide coverage for a range of fraudulent activities, including identity theft, cyber threats, insurance claims fraud, and employee dishonesty," Cutti-Fox added.

The AICPA's forensic and valuation services offer tips to help those impacted by a disaster to avoid becoming further victimized by bad actors.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
China activates level-IV emergency responses for flood control in Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Guangdong

Xinhua) 08:07, August 04, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Water Resources on Sunday activated a level-IV emergency flood response in Gansu and Qinghai provinces and in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with all the three regions located in the northwest of the country.

Heavy to torrential rains are forecast for northeastern Qinghai, central Gansu and northern Ningxia on Sunday. Some tributaries of the upper Yellow River are expected to see rising water levels -- and some small and medium-sized rivers are likely to exceed flood warning levels.

The ministry urged local authorities to closely monitor weather conditions and implement measures to protect people's lives and property.

The ministry has dispatched two working teams to Qinghai and Ningxia to assist in flood control.

Also, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management, due to heavy rainfall forecast by meteorological departments, China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters launched a level-IV emergency response to flooding in the southern Guangdong Province, as well as in Gansu and Ningxia, on Sunday.

A working team has been sent to Guangdong to support local flood control efforts, the ministry added.

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Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who expressed gratitude for the funding of the US arms package (including Patriot components and missiles) worth EUR 500 million.

"I have just spoken on the phone with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is very grateful to the Netherlands for the EUR 500 million of military aid package announced today. The Netherlands is the first country to fulfill the agreements concluded between NATO and the USA to purchase, among other things, American air defense weapons for Ukraine," the Prime Minister said on X.

He stressed that the promised weapons are urgently needed, as Ukraine is still fighting daily against ongoing Russian aggression.

"By doing this, Ukraine is also fighting for the freedom and security of Europe," Schoof said.

In turn, Zelenskyy thanked the Netherlands for the package provided, and noted that this decision was one of the practical results of the NATO summit in The Hague.

"Ukraine, and therefore all of Europe, will receive more protection from Russian terror. I am sincerely grateful to the Netherlands for its significant contribution to strengthening the Ukrainian air shield  I have just discussed this with Prime Minister Dick Schoof. The EUR 500 million package is American weapons, in particular missiles for the Patriots. The first such step among NATO countries and at a time when Russia is trying to scale up its strikes. This will definitely help protect the lives of our people!" Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel.

He thanked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for his determination to strengthen Ukraine's defense.

"I am grateful to Dick Schooff for today's decision, and we look forward to his visit to Ukraine!" the president concluded.
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The availability of the App is subject to the following requirements for the functionality of the App:-

the mobile communication device used to access the App must be powered on;

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The terms of agreement with the user's respective mobile communications network provider will continue to apply when using the App;

The SAPS shall not be liable for any communication, software or hardware costs the user may incur in connection with access or use of the App.

Applicable restrictions for all users

You may not use the App for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act of 2002 (RICA), the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013, fraud, defeating or obstructing the course of justice, criminal defamation, crimen inuiria, etc., any applicable additional or amended terms of service, or any other conditions or notices that are made available on the App or website. Unauthorised use of this App may result in the SAPS instituting a claim for damages against you and/or you maybe be found guilty of a statutory and / or common law offence;

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transmitting any worms, viruses, trojan horses, time bombs, or cancelbots and / or other codes or malware of a destructive nature. This includes not interfering with the operation of any of the tools, scripts, routines or codes of the App, including by using any software, routine or devices that may interfere with the tools, such as viruses, trojan horses, worms, time bombs or cancelbots and/ or other codes or malware of a destructive nature;

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utilising the App for any illegal or unauthorised purposes; and

the APP may not be used for any purpose that is unlawful or which may constitute a criminal offence or which may be used to promote or further the commission of a criminal offence.

Unauthorised use of the App includes engaging personally or permitting a third party to engage in the following activities:-

copying, adapting, modifying, republishing, distribution or redistributing this App or the material on the App without the SAPS' prior written consent;



using any automated data collection, data mining or data gathering methods of any kind in relation to the App;



reverse engineering, disassembling, decompiling, transferring, exchanging or translating the source code of the App;



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creating derivative works of the App of any kind.

You acknowledge that the SAPS own the intellectual property rights in and to this website and that this App is owned by the SAPS and/or its developers and the unauthorised use thereof is expressly prohibited;

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the SAPS reserves the right to alter, restrict and / or terminate the App to you in particular, or to the public in general, without notice or reason, or to revise the Terms and Conditions for Use. Such changes will be posted on the SAPS website and be deemed to have been accepted by you if you continue using the App. The obligation therefore is on you to review these Terms and Conditions for Use at regular intervals;

SAPS' failure to exercise any particular rights or provisions of these Terms and Conditions for Use shall not constitute a waiver of such right, unless acknowledged and agreed to by the SAPS in writing;

Any personal information provided to the SAPS in relation to the App will be dealt with in accordance with the Privacy Policy; and

These Terms and Conditions for Use will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of South Africa as they are and you submit to the jurisdiction of South African Courts.

Limitation of liability

You understand, acknowledge and agree that downloading and/ or usage of the App and website and reliance thereon is entirely at the discretion and risk of the user. The SAPS in its discretion, reserves the right at any time to change or discontinue any aspect or feature of the App, including but not limited to: content, functionality, hours of availability and equipment needed for access or use of the App. The SAPS shall attempt to maintain the availability and accessibility of the App, however, the SAPS takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for the App being temporarily unavailable or inaccessible for reasons beyond the SAPS control;

The SAPS shall not be liable for damage to, or viruses or other codes that may affect any equipment, software, data or other property as a result of the user downloading, installing, accessing or using the App; and

The SAPS shall not be responsible or liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or any damages arising out of or relating to the App and any content or information contained within the App. The App shall only be effective within the borders of the Republic of South Africa, and the SAPS shall not be liable for any damages relating to the availability/ non-availability of the App.

No warranties

You expressly agree that the use of the App is at your own risk. You understand and agree that any material and or information uploaded or downloaded or otherwise obtained, through the use of the App, is done at your own risk and discretion. You will be solely responsible for any damage to your device or loss of data that results from the download of information;

The App is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. The SAPS makes no warranty that the App will meet your requirements or that the service will be available and uninterrupted. The SAPS does not make any warranties as to the results that may be obtained from the use of the App or to the accuracy of the information and the reliability of the information obtained through the App. The SAPS does not guarantee that any defect on the App will be corrected;

The SAPS disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express, implied or statutory, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular use or purpose, accuracy and non-infringement;

The SAPS makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that all material and information provided in relation to the App is correct but cannot represent or guarantee the accuracy thereof; and

The SAPS makes no warranty regarding any dealings with or transactions entered into with any other parties through the App. The entire risk as to satisfactory quality, performance, accuracy, effort and results to be obtained through the use of the App is with you. No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by you from the SAPS or through the App shall create any warranty not expressly made herein.

The SAPS respects your personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No.4 of 2013), and any personal information that is collected by the App and the SAPS will do everything reasonably expected to guard against unlawful and unauthorised disclosure thereof; The App uses cookies to collect information. The collected information will only be used to:-

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Security, intrusion, and detection

For security purposes network traffic is monitored in order to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage or conduct criminal activity. To protect the App from unauthorized use and to ensure that the system is functioning properly, individuals using this app are subject to having all of their activities monitored and recorded by personnel authorized to do so by the SAPS.

Anyone using this App expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, the system personnel will report such for criminal investigation and prosecution and that any abuse or unintended use of the APP will lead to immediate unilateral termination of the APP by the SAPS, without notice to the user. Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage to this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the applicable legislation.

Your own efforts to protect against unauthorized access play an important role in protecting the security of your personal information. You must sign off when you are finished using a shared device, and always log out of any site when viewing personal information. The SAPS may have links to other websites that are not under the SAPS' control. The SAPS is not responsible for the content or privacy policies of these sites, and users should read those policies on such sites.

Disclaimer for hypertext links:

Neither the SAPS nor its contributors are responsible for the content of any off-site pages that are referenced by or that reference the SAPS App.

The user specifically acknowledges that neither the SAPS nor its contributors are responsible for any defamatory, offensive, misleading, or illegal conduct of other users, links, or third parties and that the risk of injury from the foregoing rests entirely with the user.

Links from the SAPS App to other sites or from other sites to the SAPS App do not constitute an endorsement by the SAPS. These links are for convenience only. It is the responsibility of the user to evaluate the content and usefulness of information obtained from other sites.
Czech President Petr Pavel believes that Ukraine will not be able to liberate the currently occupied territories in the near future even with maximum support from partner countries and that the economic situation will stimulate residents to move from there to government-controlled territories, while suggesting the resumption of economic cooperation with Russia after the ceasefire.

"Right now, Ukraine, with all Western Support, is not in a position to liberate occupied territories in a short time frame without a significant cost to lives. And of course, it will be very unfair from the West to push Ukraine to liberate all occupied territories right now, because we dont want to exterminate the Ukrainian nation. We want them to survive as an independent sovereign country. And if there is a cost to renewing Ukraine as an independent autonomous state, if the cost is to accept that part of the territory will be temporarily occupied, without recognising it legally, then so be it," Pavel said in an interview with the BBC published on Monday.

However, he claims that "we will never recognise these occupied territories as legally Russian."

"If there is a price for restoring Ukraine as an independent state, if the price is to accept that part of the territory will be temporarily occupied without its legal recognition, then let it be so," the Czech president said, referring to other examples in the world and noting that the Czech Republic itself remained under occupation for 22 years.

He said there are steps and measures that they can take together with Ukraine. If they manage to restore Ukraine's sovereignty over the maximum part of its territory together with Ukraine, if they manage to accept Ukraine into the European Union, rebuild Ukraine after the war, gradually bring them into the single European market, and raise the standard of living in Ukraine, then this will be a good signal for the people living in these occupied territories. And they will be much better off in Ukraine than in Russia, he added.

In this context, the Czech President stated that the occupied regions are a burden for Russia and the occupying authorities do not care about the local population. When asked whether the Russian Federation will allow people to leave the occupied territories, Pavel replied that sooner or later. Who knows? When asked under what circumstances, he added: Do you know what regime will be in Russia in 20, 30 years? Vladimir Putin will not be there forever.

Pavel claims that currently there is no available tool to oust Russia from the occupied Ukrainian territories without causing many victims and destruction. The head of stated added it is difficult to defeat a country with such a huge military potential and human potential as Russia, especially if such a country is supported by another huge and economically powerful country like China.

Asked whether he did not believe that accepting such a status quo or these concessions would be a de facto agreement with the aggressor's terms, the Czech president replied obviously, if you look at it from the point of view of elementary human justice or even international law, it is extremely difficult to accept, but we also live in reality. What alternatives does Czech Republic have with Ukraine? Will Czech Republic fights with Russia endlessly? Such an approach will definitely lead to much more loss of life for all of us and cause extreme damage to our economies, he believes.

Pavel said he believes in the power of negotiations, but negotiations require at least two people. At the moment, Russia does not want to negotiate. They want to impose conditions that are unacceptable to partners, and they only want to benefit from this process. They do not recognize the word compromise. They simply want to win. He added in his opinion sooner or later, if they manage to sit down with Russia at the negotiating table, they will be able to open up other issues that are quite burning for both European citizens and Russians. And this is the European security architecture, the Czech president said.

In his opinion, they should start by bringing Russia to the negotiating table, agreeing on a ceasefire, and then agreeing on a peaceful settlement. He also suggested the possibility of economic cooperation between the EU countries and Russia in such a case. He said once they reach a peaceful settlement, they can start rebuilding Ukraine and, perhaps, based on the Russian approach, also bring Russia back to the negotiating table when it comes to a security agreement in Europe or any cooperation or business with Russia that they had in the past. But the main prerequisite for all of this is peace in Ukraine, Pavel said.
Using two instruments onboard the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have captured new high-resolution images of the planetary nebula NGC 6072.

NGC 6072 is located around 1,241 parsecs (4,048 light-years) away in the southern constellation of Scorpius.

Also known as ESO 389-15, Hen 2-148 or IRAS 16097-3606, the nebula has a dynamical age of 10,000 years.

It was first discovered by the British astronomer John Herschel on June 7, 1837.

Since their discovery in the 1700s, astronomers have learned that planetary nebulae, or the expanding shell of glowing gas expelled by a low-intermediate mass star late in its life, can come in all shapes and sizes, the Webb astronomers said.

Most planetary nebulae present as circular, elliptical, or bi-polar, but some stray from the norm, as seen in new Webb images of NGC 6072.

In the new image from Webbs NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), its readily apparent that NGC 6072 is multi-polar.

This means there are several different elliptical outflows jetting out either way from the center, the astronomers said.

These outflows compress gas towards the equatorial plane and create a disk.

This is evidence that there are likely at least two stars at the center of this scene.

Specifically, a companion star is interacting with an aging star that had already begun to shed some of its outer layers of gas and dust.

The central region of the planetary nebula glows from the hot stellar core, seen as a light blue hue in near-infrared light.

The dark orange material, which is made up of gas and dust, follows pockets or open areas that appear dark blue.

This clumpiness could be created when dense molecules formed while being shielded from hot radiation from the central star.

There could also be a time element at play. Over thousands of years, inner fast winds could be ploughing through the halo cast off from the main star when it first started to lose mass.

The longer wavelengths captured by Webbs MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) are highlighting dust, revealing the star astronomers suspect could be central to this scene.

It appears as a small pink-white dot in this image, the researchers said.

Webbs look in the mid-infrared wavelength also reveals concentric rings expanding from the central region, the most obvious circling just past the edges of the lobes.

This may be additional evidence of a secondary star at the center of the scene hidden from our view.

The secondary star, as it circles repeatedly around the original star, could have carved out rings of material in a spiral pattern as the main star was expelling mass during an earlier stage of its life.

The red areas in NIRCam and blue areas in MIRI both trace cool molecular gas (likely molecular hydrogen) while central regions trace hot ionized gas.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have illuminated a complete sensory pathway showing how the skin communicates the temperature of its surroundings to the brain.

This discovery, believed to be the first of its kind, reveals that cool temperatures get their own pathway, indicating that evolution has created different circuits for hot and cold temperatures. This creates an elegant solution for ensuring precise thermal perception and appropriate behavioral responses to environmental changes, said Bo Duan, senior author of the new study.

"The skin is the body's largest organ. It helps us detect our environment and separate, distinguish different stimuli," said Duan, a U-M associate professor of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. "There are still many interesting questions about how it does this, but we now have one pathway for how it senses cool temperatures. This is the first neural circuit for temperature sensation in which the full pathway from the skin to the brain has been clearly identified."

This work deepens our understanding of fundamental biology and brings us closer to an explanation for how we evolved to inhabit safe temperatures and avoid dangerous extremes, Duan said. But it also has medical implications that can be explored to help improve the quality of life for people in the future.

For example, more than 70% of people who have undergone chemotherapy experience pain caused by cool temperatures, Duan said. The new study found that the neural circuit responsible for sensing innocuous cool does not mediate this type of cold pain. But, in understanding how the cool-sensing circuitry works when it's functioning properly under normal conditions, researchers now have a better chance of discovering what goes wrong in disease or injury. It could also help develop targeted therapies that restore healthy sensation without impairing normal temperature perception.

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and performed in collaboration with Shawn Xu and his research team in the U-M Life Sciences Institute.

A cool amplifier discovery

In their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, Duan and his team used sophisticated imaging techniques and electrophysiology to observe how mice transmitted the sensation of cool temperatures from their skin to the brain.

It's an approach the team has applied to other sensations in the past. Headed by postdoctoral research fellow Hankyu Lee and doctoral students Chia Chun Hor and Lorraine Horwitz, the team turned its focus to temperature in this work.

"These tools have allowed us to identify the neural pathways for chemical itch and mechanical itch previously," Duan said. "Working together, the team identified this very interesting, very dedicated pathway for cool sensation."

The cool signal starts at the skin, which is home to molecule sensors that can detect a specific range of temperatures between about 15 and 25 degrees Celsius -- equivalent to 59 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. When those sensors engage, they excite primary sensory neurons, which send the cool signal to the spinal cord. Here, the team found that the signal is amplified by specialized interneurons, which then activate projection neurons that connect to the brain.

Researchers had previously known about the skin's molecular thermometers -- they, in part, earned researchers in California the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine -- but the spinal cord's amplifier was an unknown key ingredient. With the amplifier disabled, the cool signal becomes lost in the noise, the team found.

Although the study was performed in mice, each component of the circuit has been shown to be in humans through genetic sequencing, Duan said. So it's likely that we have the same pathway to thank for the refreshing sensation of stepping into an air-conditioned room on a hot summer day.

Moving forward, the team is looking to identify the pathway or pathways involved in acute cold pain.

"I think the painful sensations are going to be more complicated," Duan said. "When we're in riskier situations, there could be multiple pathways involved."

His team is also interested in how the brain processes these various skin signals and how we've evolved not only to differentiate between them, but also connect emotions with them to help protect ourselves. In fact, it's the curiosity around those sorts of questions that originally motivated Duan's work, which he is perpetually reminded of working in Michigan.

"In summer, I love walking along Lake Michigan and having a gentle breeze hit my face. I feel very cool, very comfortable," Duan said. "But the winter is really terrible for me."
The Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has refuted information circulating online about Polands alleged intention to end the visa-free regime with Ukraine.

"This information does not correspond to reality. This is the personal opinion of one of the Polish politicians, who does not influence the adoption of such decisions," the Center said in a message posted on its Facebook page.

As noted by the Center, the visa-free regime between Ukraine and Poland operates on the basis of a pan-European decision: it was introduced by all EU countries that are part of the Schengen zone.

Formally, a decision at the level of the European Union is required to cancel or limit the visa-free regime.
Some butterflies can smell others of the same species, allowing them to identify each other in areas where multiple species all look the same, new research finds.

A large international team has genetically mapped glasswing butterflies found across Central and South America, rewriting the evolutionary tree and highlighting six new species.

The team includes experts at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Universidad Regional Amazonica Ikiam in Ecuador, Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Brazil, the University of Cambridge, and others.

The research, published on July 28 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), starts to uncover new insights about these butterflies as well as factors involved in the rapid diversification of species and why some species are more capable of this. The findings help experts to understand more about how has life evolved until now and possibly suggest how it might change in the future.

For example, researchers found that in glasswing butterflies, even the most closely related species produce different pheromones, indicating that they can smell others of the same species. Given that all of these butterflies look the same to teach birds that they are all toxic, this allows the butterflies to find a compatible mate.

By untangling the taxonomy of these butterflies, the team provides answers to questions that have remained unknown for at least 150 years. The researchers also present ten freely available reference genomes that can help to monitor and maintain insect populations in some of the most biodiverse areas of the world.

Butterflies are used in conservation as an indicator species, meaning they are used to track and monitor the levels of biodiversity and other insects in an area.

Glasswing (Ithomiine) butterflies are found across Central and South America and make up a substantial part of the butterfly species found there, making them good indicators of biodiversity in incredibly biodiverse areas, like the Amazon rainforest.

However, there are over 400 species of glasswing butterfly, and all species in an area look incredibly similar to discourage birds from eating them, with coloring that implies they are toxic.

Additionally, glasswing butterflies can undergo rapid radiation, where many new species arise from the same ancestor in a short period of time. As they are very closely related, it makes it difficult to visually identify and track the different species of butterflies.

To genetically untangle these butterflies, an international team including Sanger Institute scientists sequenced the genomes of almost all species of two particularly fast radiations of glasswing butterflies to remap their evolutionary trees. Of those species, 10 were sequenced to the gold standard of "reference quality" genomes that are freely available to the research community.

By genetically mapping these butterflies, the team highlighted that six subspecies were more genetically distinct than previously thought, leading to them being classified as new individual species. Also, understanding the species from a genomic perspective enables experts to highlight any visual differences that could be used to identify and track the different species, now that they are confirmed as genetically distinct.

The team also investigated if the genomes held clues as to why these butterflies had so many species, and what allowed them to develop so quickly. While most butterflies have 31 chromosomes, they found that in these glasswing butterflies, the number of chromosomes varies a lot, ranging between 13 and 28. While they have largely the same genes, these genes are packaged into chromosomes in different ways in each species, a process known as chromosomal rearrangement.

These chromosomal rearrangements have knock-on effects when it comes to mating. In order to reproduce, butterflies must produce eggs and sperm, but this relies on the butterfly's chromosomes lining up. This means that if two butterflies with different chromosomal rearrangements mated, their offspring would be sterile because they would be unable to produce sperm or eggs. As a result, the butterflies have evolved a new mechanism using pheromones to detect potential mates with a chromosome arrangement that matches their own and therefore avoid producing sterile offspring.

The researchers suggest that the high level of chromosomal rearrangement in these butterflies is key to their ability to rapidly form new species, as once a population changes its chromosome number and thus forms its own species, it can more quickly adapt to different altitudes or host plants. Why they have such high levels of rearrangements remains a mystery and is something the scientists are working to uncover.

Understanding rapid radiation in insects could have implications for conservation research, understanding how species adapt to climate change, as well as possible implications for agriculture and pest control.

Dr Eva van der Heijden, first author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge, said: "Glasswing butterflies are an incredibly adaptive group of insects that have been valuable in ecology research for around 150 years. However, until now, there was no genetic resource that allowed us to robustly identify different species, and it is difficult to monitor and track something that you can't identify easily. With this new genetically informed evolutionary tree, and multiple new reference genomes, we hope that it will be possible to advance biodiversity and conservation research around the world, and help protect the butterflies and other insects that are crucial to many of Earth's ecosystems."

Dr Caroline Bacquet, senior author at the Universidad Regional Amazonica Ikiam in Ecuador, said: "Having the reference genomes for the two groups of glasswing butterflies, Mechanitis and Melinaea, allowed us to take a closer look at how they have adapted to life in such close proximity to their relatives. These butterflies share the responsibility of warding off predators by displaying similar colour patterns, and by producing different pheromones they can successfully find mates and reproduce. Now that we have clarity on glasswing butterfly species, we can look for specific markings or differences between them, giving new ways to track them during fieldwork."

Dr Joana Meier, senior author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "We are in the middle of an extinction crisis and understanding how new species evolve, and evolve quickly in some cases, is important for preserving species. Comparing butterflies that rapidly form new species to others that do not could benchmark how common this is in insects and highlight the factors involved. This, in turn, could identify any species that require closer conservation and possibly identify genes that are important in the adaptation process and might have uses in agriculture, medicine, or bioengineering. This research would not have been possible without global collaboration. We have one planet, and we must work together to understand and protect it."

This study was made possible by a large international collaboration. As well as those already mentioned, this work included researchers at Harvard University, USA, the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil, Technische Universitat Braunschweig, Germany, the University of York, the University of Bristol, Universite de Guyane, France, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, University of Florida, USA, and Universite des Antilles, Paris, France. A full list of contributors and affiliations can be found in the publication.

This research includes funding from Wellcome and others. A full list of funding acknowledgements can be found in the publication.
Czech President Petr Pavel notes a significant improvement in the situation with the supply of artillery ammunition to Ukraine in the last two years thanks to the so-called "Czech initiative."

In an interview with the BBC published on Monday, Pavel said the initiative was motivated from the very beginning to ensure a sufficient flow of ammunition, which the Ukrainian defenders so badly needed. Two years ago, they were at such a disadvantage that the ratio of their shelling was one to ten compared to the Russians. Now it is about one to two. This means that with a stable flow of ammunition, Ukrainian planners can now afford the luxury of planning, because they know what they will receive in the coming months, he added.

According to him, last year, Ukraine managed to deliver about 1.5 million large-caliber ammunition, and this year, 2025, 1.8 million will be delivered, of which about 800,000 are 155 mm caliber.

The Czech president stated this provides Ukraine with the certainty of receiving an average of 80,000 rounds of ammunition every month, which is a significant amount for a successful defense.

Regarding the transparency of supplies, Pavel noted cooperation with a number of NATO allies and third countries, which are allowed to be part of the process and send their auditors to the Czech Ministry of Defense. He said in such a complex process there will always be certain problems with supplies, timing, cost, but he would strongly reject any lack of transparency or even abuse, since there is enough oversight to have full control.

Asked whether he could guarantee that the Czech Republic's military support for Ukraine would remain unchanged regardless of the results of the planned elections, the president replied that he cannot do this because, obviously, he does not know the results of the elections.

Pavel said they will have parliamentary elections, which will probably lead to a change of government. He added he does not know what the priorities of the new government will be, but all his efforts are now focused on supporting a common approach to security and defense, including their approach to Ukraine, because he believes that their support for Ukraine is a vital component of their own security.

As reported, the Czech Republic has taken the initiative to purchase large volumes of ammunition for Ukraine with short delivery times on the world market. The Czech initiative to purchase ammunition from third countries was joined by, in particular, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, and Poland.

In May 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine expects to receive 3 million artillery shells in 2025, of which 1.8 million are within the framework of the implementation of the Czech initiative.
Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/

Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal has said the United States and the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) are launching a new mechanism to support Ukraine through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.

"The purpose of this mechanism is to ensure the rapid supply of systems and weapons to Ukraine, which, in large quantities, can be obtained from the United States, in order to strengthen Ukraine's positions and create conditions for achieving a just and sustainable peace," the minister said on Telegram on Monday.

According to him, the PURL initiative is being implemented within the framework of agreements between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, thanks to the new mechanism, Alliance member states and partners will have the opportunity to finance the supply of the U.S. weapons and technology through voluntary contributions.

According to information, the PURL involves the formation of a list of equipment and ammunition, based on requests from Ukraine, which are confirmed by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). New assistance packages will be announced on a regular basis. NATO will coordinate supplies within this mechanism, in particular through existing NATO mechanisms (NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, NSATU).

"The Netherlands has taken on the financing of the first assistance package in the amount of EUR 500 million, and it is expected that the weapons will be delivered soon. New important announcements are also expected in the near future," Shmyhal said.
On July 30, 2025, the Commercial Court of Lviv Region decided to remove the executive management and executive director of JSC Galychpharm from the exercise of their powers, assigning the responsibilities for managing the enterprise to the arbitration manager.

This decision is another procedural step within the framework of groundless bankruptcy proceedings initiated by IC Sky-Development LLC, which recently bought out the alleged debt obligations of JSC Galychpharm, none of which has been confirmed by a court decision that has entered into legal force. Therefore, just as the very opening of this bankruptcy proceedings of the enterprise, all subsequent actions within it are obviously groundless and illegal.

There was no legal basis for opening this bankruptcy case, so all subsequent procedural actions arising from it - including the decision to remove the executive management - are illegal and look like a raider attack on the enterprise, where the raiders are helped by the court of first instance, making knowingly illegal decisions.

The Supervisory Board of JSC Galychpharm declares its categorical disagreement with the decision of the Commercial Court of Lviv Region, which removed the executive management company from performing its duties and transferred management functions to the arbitration manager.

According to Article 40 of the Code of Ukraine on Bankruptcy Procedures, the court may remove the executive body in the event of proven facts of obstruction of the arbitration manager, improper preservation of the debtor's property, or violation of the rights of creditors or the debtor. However, none of these violations was committed by the management of JSC Galychpharm. On the contrary, during the entire time the arbitration manager was at the enterprise, he was provided with full access to information, accounting documents, objects of inspection and cooperation with the management. The enterprise acted openly and in good faith. No actions of the executive director or executive management prevented the work of the property manager, did not create threats to the property or interests of the debtor/creditors, and therefore there are no legal grounds for such a radical decision.

Transfer of management powers to an external person who is not an employee of the team, is not familiar with internal processes, production cycle, the specifics of the industry, although formally provided for by law, may threaten the further functioning of the enterprise, the efficiency and safety of its activities.

Such a decision may lead to disruptions in production, disruption of obligations to state and commercial counterparties, shortage of medicines in medical institutions, disruption of international contracts, loss of jobs and a decrease in trust in the enterprise.

The suspended executive management of JSC Galychpharm consists of professional and experienced managers with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, who continue to perform their duties in accordance with the law. Their replacement in the status of an executive body has no professional or economic justification.

The supervisory board of JSC Galychpharm also states: there are no signs of bankruptcy in the company, which is confirmed by financial and operational stability, the absence of signs of critical financial difficulties and compliance with legislative requirements.

On the other hand, such court decisions create a danger of destabilizing the Ukrainian manufacturer with a transparent reputation, which honestly works in the market, pays taxes, supports the state and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, provides vital medicines to Ukrainian and foreign patients.

JSC Galychpharm is a Ukrainian company with over 100 years of history. We are conscientious taxpayers, reliable employers for over a thousand specialists, honest partners for dozens of companies in Ukraine and abroad.

The Supervisory Board and lawyers are already preparing an appeal and will defend justice. We are confident: truth and the law are on our side and justice will be restored.
Full-year results from beverages group Diageo and second-quarter results from oil major BP will be in focus on Tuesday morning.

Guinness maker Diageo, whose share price has slumped by nearly 30% already this year, will report its numbers for the 12 months to 30 June, with investors keen to see how much tariffs will weigh on its bottom line since its last update.

The firm had said in May that it expects to book a $150m annualised hit from tariffs on imports into the US, though duties on EU imports have since increased from 10% to 15% since that projection was made.

For the second half, the company guided to an improvement in the organic net sales growth rate compared with the 1.0% increase registered over the first half, with the consensus estimate at 1.4%, equating to revenues of $20.2bn. Organic operating profits are likely to fall at a similar rate as the first half (-1.2%).

The recent departure of its chief executive of six years, Debra Crew  who just three weeks ago left the firm "with immediate effect, by mutual agreement"  will still be top of mind for many investors, along with news on progress with the succession programme.

BP will released its second-quarter update, following an impressive period of exploration for the company so far this year.

Just this week, the energy group announced its 10th discovery of 2025  its largest in 25 years  at the Bumerangue prospect in the deepwater offshore Brazil.

If BP wanted a piece of news to convince the markets of its renewed focus on hydrocarbons ahead of its second-quarter numbers later this week then its biggest oil discovery in a quarter of a century provides it," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

With a new chair in place, BP will want to use its latest numbers to convince the market it has truly revamped its strategy and moved away from the green push which proved unpopular with a significant portion of its shareholder base.

Interim results from hotels giant IHG, precious metals miner Fresnillo, medtech group Smith & Nephew and housebuilder Travis Perkins will also be released at 0700 BST.

In terms of economic data, a host of service-sector purchasing managers' indices (PMIs) for July will be released in the UK, China, EU and US  though numbers from the UK and EU will be non-events since preliminary estimates were released two weeks ago.

Markets will get their first look at July data in China and the US: the Caixin services PMI for China is expected to ease to 50.2 for last month  its lowest since September 2023  after registering a nine-month low of 50.6 in June; while the ISM services PMI for the US is forecast to pick up to 51.5 from 50.8.

Tuesday 5 August

FINALS

Naked Wines, Diageo

INTERIMS

International Workplace Group, Serica Energy, Keller Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, Fresnillo,

Smith & Nephew, Travis Perkins, SIG, Globaldata

Q2

BP

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Smith & Nephew

AGMs

Syncona Limited NPV, CML Microsystems, Galantas Gold Corp., Northern Venture Trust

EGMs

Henderson Far East Income Ltd.

GMs

Glencore

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Johnson Matthey

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Services (09:30)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Caixin Services PMI (China) (02:45)

HCOB Services PMI (EU) (09:00)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

ISM Services (US) (15:00)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)
Tesla approved a $29bn share award for chief executive officer Elon Musk on Monday, aiming to secure his leadership at a time of declining sales and strategic upheaval.

The award, which granted Musk 96 million new shares, came as he appealed a Delaware court ruling that voided his 2018 compensation package - then worth over $50bn - on the grounds that it was excessive and unfair to shareholders.

Teslas board said the new award, recommended by a special committee of two directors, was necessary to retain Musk as the company shifted focus from electric vehicles to artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies.

Retaining Elon is more important than ever before, the company told shareholders, citing intensifying competition for AI talent and Musks involvement in multiple ventures outside Tesla.

Musks new compensation package would require him to remain in a key executive role through 2027.

The shares would vest only under that condition, and would be subject to a five-year holding period, except to cover taxes or purchase costs.

Musk would need to pay $23.34 per share as they vest, matching the exercise price from his 2018 award.

Tesla lost about 25% of its market value in the year to date amid slowing EV sales, growing competition from global automakers, and political controversy surrounding Musks recent advisory role to US president Donald Trump.

Musk had since distanced himself from politics following a public falling out with Trump, whose administration cut support for EVs.

In recent earnings calls, Musk warned that Tesla could face a few rough quarters as US subsidies diminished.

He also acknowledged shareholder concerns about his divided focus and demanded greater control over the company, warning he could be ousted by activist shareholders without increased voting power.

The new stock award would raise Musks stake in Tesla from about 13% to 16%.

If his 2018 package is reinstated on appeal, his ownership could exceed 20%, but the new award would be forfeited or offset to prevent duplication.

Tesla said the award was a critical first step to keep Musk focused on its pivot to AI-driven products such as robotaxis and humanoid robots.

At 0831 EDT (1331 BST), shares in Tesla were up 2.24% in premarket trading in New York, at $309.40.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
London stocks had extended gains by midday on Monday, with lenders leading the charge after the Supreme Court ruled in their favour in the car finance case.

The FTSE 100 was 0.3% firmer at 9,096.56.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "The FTSE 100 managed a cautious recovery on Monday morning after the tariff-related sell-off at the end of last week

"Concern about the ongoing ructions in global trade was compounded by the Trump administrations decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics off the back of weak jobs numbers - raising questions about the reliability of US economic data and about a potential slowdown in the worlds largest economy.

"Despite this, US futures were pointing to gains when Wall Street resumes trading later. Whether this holds will depend on the latest news from the Trump administration, the latest developments in the economy, with ISM Services PMI data on Tuesday due to give a signal here, and corporate earnings."

On home shores, the focus was firmly on lenders after the Supreme Court announced on Friday in its long-awaited ruling on car finance that hidden commissions from lenders to dealers on car loans were not unlawful. The ruling means that millions of motorists will not be able to claim compensation.

Following the ruling, the Financial Conduct Authority said it will consult on running a compensation scheme.

In a statement on Sunday, the FCA estimated that most individuals would probably receive less than 950 in compensation.

Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said: "Lenders will be relieved that theyve avoided having to potentially pay out millions of pounds in compensation to motorists who hadnt been fully informed about the levels of commission being paid to their dealers.

"Most people buying a car in the UK take out finance and most wont have scrutinised the small print before pocketing the keys and driving off the forecourt and it was this lack of transparency which formed the basis for the original court case.

"But the Supreme Court was clear that an earlier ruling in favour of motorists was wrong, that the commission paid to dealers was neither a bribe nor could anyone have expected a dealer not to have a commercial interest in selling cars."

Lloyds jumped to the top of the FTSE 100 on the back of the ruling. The bank said it will keep its 1.2bn provision under review but that there was unlikely to be any material changes.

Barclays - which had set aside 90m to cover any potential motor finance payouts - also gained.

Meanwhile, Close Brothers, which had set aside 165m, rocketed to the top of the FTSE 250 after the ruling.

Elsewhere, BP gushed higher as it announced its tenth oil and gas discovery of the year after drilling at the Bumerangue prospect in the deepwater offshore Brazil.

Shipping broker Clarkson shot up despite reporting weaker interim earnings as US tariffs and an uncertain economic environment continued to hit freight rates.

Russ Mould said: "Clarkson is right at the sharp end of the tariff turmoil given the shipping brokers reliance on global trade so investors will be relieved by its resilient first-half numbers and unchanged full-year guidance.

"Having issued a major profit warning in May after warning about growing risks alongside its full-year results in March, the market is clearly pleased that the outlook has not got worse than it already was.

"Although, a hint of further turbulence is provided by the suggestion results will be weighted towards the second half."

On the downside, medical products firm Convatec slumped after saying that chief executive Karim Bitar would be taking a medical leave of absence.

Auction Technology tumbled as the online marketplace operator said it had bought Chairish, a US-based marketplace for vintage furniture and art, for $85m.

Senior also lost ground after its first-half revenues missed estimates.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 9,096.56 0.31%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,785.73 0.40%

techMARK (TASX) 5,236.60 -0.18%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 81.50p 7.60%

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,091.50p 2.49%

NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 523.20p 2.27%

Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,017.00p 1.95%

Barclays (BARC) 363.55p 1.93%

Legal & General Group (LGEN) 258.50p 1.77%

CRH (CDI) (CRH) 7,258.00p 1.77%

BAE Systems (BA.) 1,845.50p 1.60%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,919.00p 1.53%

Aviva (AV.) 643.60p 1.45%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Convatec Group (CTEC) 226.80p -1.82%

Next (NXT) 12,130.00p -1.62%

Haleon (HLN) 360.10p -1.45%

Croda International (CRDA) 2,589.00p -1.45%

Diageo (DGE) 1,798.00p -1.32%

IMI (IMI) 2,150.00p -1.19%

Rentokil Initial (RTO) 357.40p -1.16%

AstraZeneca (AZN) 10,976.00p -1.15%

Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,144.00p -1.08%

Pearson (PSON) 1,125.50p -1.05%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Close Brothers Group (CBG) 483.40p 21.52%

Clarkson (CKN) 3,665.00p 7.32%

Ocado Group (OCDO) 342.90p 3.69%

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 300.80p 3.58%

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 69.45p 3.58%

Paragon Banking Group (PAG) 915.00p 2.81%

Carnival (CCL) 2,048.00p 2.68%

Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 335.20p 2.57%

Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,285.00p 2.55%

Patria Private Equity Trust (PPET) 537.00p 2.48%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Auction Technology Group (ATG) 379.00p -21.04%

Senior (SNR) 184.80p -4.74%

Frasers Group (FRAS) 664.00p -2.06%

Ithaca Energy (ITH) 166.00p -1.89%

ITV (ITV) 80.25p -1.83%

Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,260.50p -1.83%

Discoverie Group (DSCV) 662.00p -1.78%

Morgan Advanced Materials (MGAM) 221.00p -1.34%

Quilter (QLT) 163.90p -1.27%

Renishaw (RSW) 2,870.00p -1.20%
BP has announced its tenth oil and gas discovery of the year after drilling at the Bumerangue prospect in the deepwater offshore Brazil.

An exploration well in the Santos Basin, known as 1-BP-13-SPS, was drilled to depth of 5,855 metres, compared with the water depth of 2,372 metres.

Drilling at the well, which is located over 200 miles from Rio de Janeiro, found a 500-metre gross hydrocarbon column in high-quality pre-salt carbonate reservoir with an areal extent of greater than 300 square kilometres, BP said.

The company will now begin lab testing to assess the reservoir and fluids discovered, with further appraisal activities planned subject to regulatory approval.

"We are excited to announce this significant discovery at Bumerangue, bp's largest in 25 years," said Gordon Birrell, executive vice president for production and operations.

"Brazil is an important country for bp, and our ambition is to explore the potential of establishing a material and advantaged production hub in the country."
Londons FTSE 250 was up 0.7% at 21,842.02 in afternoon trade on Monday.

Close Brothers rocketed after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of banks in the car finance case.

On Friday, the Supreme Court announced in its long-awaited ruling that hidden commissions from lenders to dealers on car loans were not unlawful. The ruling means that millions of motorists will not be able to claim compensation.

Following the ruling, the Financial Conduct Authority said it will consult on running a compensation scheme.

In a statement on Sunday, the FCA estimated that most individuals would probably receive less than 950 in compensation.

Shipping broker Clarkson was also in the black despite reporting weaker interim earnings as US tariffs and an uncertain economic environment continued to hit freight rates.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "Clarkson is right at the sharp end of the tariff turmoil given the shipping brokers reliance on global trade so investors will be relieved by its resilient first-half numbers and unchanged full-year guidance.

"Having issued a major profit warning in May after warning about growing risks alongside its full-year results in March, the market is clearly pleased that the outlook has not got worse than it already was.

"Although, a hint of further turbulence is provided by the suggestion results will be weighted towards the second half."

Wizz Air flew higher after July traffic stats showed that passenger numbers rose 6.8% year-on-year.

Auction Technology slid as the online marketplace operator said it had bought Chairish, a US-based marketplace for vintage furniture and art, for $85m.

Senior also lost ground after its first-half revenues missed estimates.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Close Brothers Group (CBG) 481.20p 20.97%

Clarkson (CKN) 3,670.00p 7.47%

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 71.50p 6.64%

Ocado Group (OCDO) 343.50p 3.87%

Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,296.00p 3.43%

4Imprint Group (FOUR) 3,665.00p 3.24%

Patria Private Equity Trust (PPET) 540.00p 3.05%

Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 336.40p 2.94%

W.A.G Payment Solutions (WPS) 84.00p 2.69%

Paragon Banking Group (PAG) 913.00p 2.58%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Auction Technology Group (ATG) 377.50p -21.35%

Senior (SNR) 186.60p -3.81%

Frasers Group (FRAS) 659.50p -2.73%

Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,260.00p -1.87%

Ithaca Energy (ITH) 166.10p -1.83%

Victrex plc (VCT) 678.00p -1.74%

Inchcape (INCH) 675.00p -1.60%

Discoverie Group (DSCV) 664.00p -1.48%

ITV (ITV) 80.55p -1.47%

Foresight Environmental Infrastructure Limited (FGEN) 81.90p -1.44%
Nova Poshta, Ukraine's leading express delivery company and a member of the Nova Group, has installed more than 200 custom-designed parcel lockers in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Rivne, Dnipro, and Odesa, and plans to add another 1,000 by the end of 2025.

"Over 200 custom parcel lockers have already been installed. By the end of the year, we plan to add at least 1,000 more, in partnership with universities, brands, festivals, and city administrations," the company said on its Telegram channel on Monday.

Nova Poshta noted that there are currently more than 28,300 parcel locker points operating across the country. In the first half of the year, the network expanded by over 4,000 units.

As reported, Nova Poshta added 708 new branch locations in the first six months of this year, bringing the total to 13,985. The number of parcel lockers grew by over 4,000 to 28,326, compared to 12,180 branches and 18,370 lockers as of mid-2024.

In the first half of 2025, Nova Poshta increased its revenue by 23% year-over-year to UAH 24.6 billion. The company delivered 238 million parcels and cargo items during the period, up 7% compared to the first half of 2024.

Nova Poshta's core business remains the express delivery of documents, parcels, and palletized large cargo.
India and Philippines to expand defence ties, including BrahMos missile cooperation.

First joint naval patrols in South China Sea signal strategic alignment.

Talks on trade pact, investments, and visa-free travel for Indians underway.

Philippines President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on August 4, 2025, kicked off a five-day state visit to India, his first as head of state. The visit, which will extend until August 8, is intended to advance the bilateral relationship with a specific focus on defence, trade, maritime cooperation, and allied strategic sectors.

Marcos will have bilateral meetings with top Indian leaders, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, and sit down with External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar. His delegation comprises first lady Louise Araneta Marcos, top Cabinet ministers, officials, and business leaders. Bengaluru is also on the agenda prior to the departure of the delegation.

The focal point of the visit is increasing defence cooperation. The Philippines had also become India's first export customer for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in 2022, with deliveries starting in April 2024. Manila now desires to look into buying more military hardware, naval assistance, combined training and exercises, and revisions to existing defence?cooperation agreements like the 2006 security agreement.

Also Read- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend World Climate Action Summit in Dubai

The two militaries have also initiated joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea, the first ever for IndiaPhilippine maritime cooperation, announcing their shared adherence to freedom of navigation and rules-based order as regional tensions with China rise.

On trade and economic ties, bilateral trade has grown steadilyreaching about US $3.5?billion in 202324with avenues opening in pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, electronics, agriculture, and services. Negotiations are underway toward a Preferential Trade Agreement, and both sides are seeking to enhance investment and connectivity, including visa-free travel arrangements for Indian tourists to the Philippines.

Witnesses in Manila and Delhi view this visit as a great chance to build on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, advance Indo?Pacific strategic interests further, and initiate new initiatives in defence, maritime security, technology, and economic cooperation.
A viral WhatsApp message falsely claimed RBI ordered banks to stop dispensing Rs 500 notes via ATMs.

PIB Fact Check confirmed no such RBI directive exists, Rs 500 notes remain legal tender.

Citizens urged to ignore misinformation and verify financial updates through official sources.

The government dismissed as 'untrue' a viral WhatsApp message that falsely claimed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had instructed banks to stop dispensing Rs 500 notes through ATMs by September 30, 2025. The misleading message further alleged that 90 percent of ATMs would cease issuing Rs 500 notes by March 31, 2026, and 75 percent by September 30, 2025.

The message also warned people to start 'liquidating' their Rs 500 notes and hinted that only Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes would be available through ATMs in the near future.

Press Information Bureaus (PIB) Fact Check unit confirmed that no such instructions have been issued by the RBI and that Rs 500 notes remain legal tender. The unit, in a post on social media platform X, categorically stated that the claim was entirely baseless. Clarifying the matter, the governments official media arm theFact Check unit confirmed that no such instructions have been issued byand that Rs 500 notes remain legal tender. The unit, in a post on social media platform X, categorically stated that the claim was entirely baseless.

"Has RBI asked banks to stop disbursing Rs 500 notes from ATMs by September 2025? A message falsely claiming exactly this is spreading on #WhatsApp. #PIBFactCheck: No such instruction has been issued by the @RBI. Rs 500 notes will continue to be legal tender", the post clarified.

The PIB Fact Check team urged citizens not to fall for such misinformation and to always verify financial claims with official sources such as RBIs official communications or PIBs fact-checking platforms.

This is not the first time such rumours have circulated. A similar message, also circulated via WhatsApp last month, alleged a phased withdrawal of Rs 500 notes from ATMs by 2026. That claim, too, was debunked by the PIB Fact Check unit at the time.

Authorities have reiterated the importance of exercising caution and not forwarding unverified messages, especially those related to currency or financial policies. They emphasized that misinformation regarding currency has become increasingly common and can cause unnecessary panic among the public.

Citizens are encouraged to stay informed through verified channels and refrain from spreading unconfirmed information.
Zohos Sridhar Vembu warns students against taking large education loans amid declining IT job opportunities due to AI disruption.

Zoho and other tech giants like TCS and Microsoft have reduced hiring or laid off thousands as AI transforms job roles.

Vembu urges companies to invest in skill-based training and recognize alternative credentials over traditional degrees.

Sridhar Vembu, Chief Scientist and Co-founder of software giant Zoho, has urged students and parents to think carefully before taking on large education loans, especially in light of the declining job opportunities in the Information Technology (IT) sector due to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and job automation.

Vembu shared his concerns on social media platform X, citing a distressing example of a student who took a loan of Rs 70 lakh (approximately $80,000) at 12% interest to pursue a masters degree from a lesser-known U.S. college. The student is now struggling to find employment, with loan repayments about to begin.

The job scene in IT is bad, especially for foreign students, Vembu posted. We at Zoho are also not hiring much right now as we prepare for the AI era. We prefer not to resort to layoffs, so were being cautious.

The Zoho founder warned that education should not become a trap for young people, burdening them with heavy debt in an increasingly uncertain job market. He stressed the need for more industry-led training programs and alternative credentials to replace traditional degrees.

The only smart course is for employers to fund training programs and for the industry to accept alternative credentials rather than always demanding formal degrees, Vembu said. Our best investment has been in skill development, and I hope more companies adopt this approach.

Also Read: Sridhar Vembu Urges Public Transport Overhaul to Make Indian Cities Livable

His warning comes amid large-scale layoffs across major tech firms. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) recently let go of 12,000 employees, while Microsoft laid off 15,000 workers in 2025, citing skill mismatches and the restructuring of roles due to AI and automation. Regular IT roles like back-office support, software engineering, and IT helpdesk have been hit the hardest.

Indias IT industry association Nasscom has also flagged that the sector is at a major inflection point, pushing for urgent upskilling and cross-skilling in AI-driven capabilities to help professionals stay relevant in the evolving digital landscape.
A bodega worker was stabbed to death Friday afternoon in East New York, Brooklyn, according to the NYPD.

Diego Sandoval-Nava, 33, suffered multiple stab wounds to his torso at the business located at 684 Hegeman Ave., police said.

Officers responded to a 911 call reporting the incident around 3 p.m. Sandoval-Nava was rushed to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
In this Jan. 4, 2024 photo, P.S. 21 school secretary Michele Cenci, center, is indicted in state Supreme Court, St. George for theft of school funds. Jan Somma-Hammel

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A former purchasing secretary at a Staten Island elementary school will avoid jail time, but she is on the hook to pay back the $145,000 officials say she stole.

Michele Cenci, 55, of Monterey Avenue in Annadale, was indicted in January on charges that included grand larceny, forgery and falsifying business records.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  City Harvest will host a free Mobile Market on Tuesday, August 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Warren St. (Cheryl White) and Hill St. in Stapleton, offering fresh produce to Staten Islanders facing food insecurity.

The farmers market-style event is part of City Harvests mission to combat hunger across New York City. Each year, the organization distributes over three million pounds of fresh produce through its Mobile Markets, which served more than 111,000 New Yorkers last year alone.

The Stapleton Mobile Market is held regularly on the first Tuesday and third Saturday of each month. Proof of Staten Island residency is required to receive food. Currently, the program serves approximately 1,000 residents monthly.

In addition to fresh produce, attendees can enjoy live cooking demonstrations from City Harvests Nutrition Education team and connect with local nonprofits and community partners offering resources and support.

While City Harvests charitable food programs provide vital assistance, the organization emphasizes that they cannot fully offset the impact of federal cuts to food assistance programs.
A new school has been proposed at an empty, grassy property in Great Kills, located at the corner of Abingdon and East Reading avenues. If approved, it would open by 2030. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A new school has been proposed to add over 750 seats for students on Staten Island.

The new facility, serving students in pre-K through eighth-grade, is proposed to bring about 754 seats to Great Kills, with seats allocated for special education.
Lauren Semanchik, 33, of Franklin Township, and Tyler Webb, 29, of Lacey Township, were found shot to death in Semanchik's home in Hunterdon County on August 2, 2025. (Photo by Victoria Gladstone for NJ Advance Media | Inset photos provided)

A New Jersey State Police trooper shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and a man she was recently dating before taking his own life, according to the womans family and a source familiar with the investigation.

Lauren Semanchik, 33, and Tyler Webb, 29, were found dead Saturday in Semanchiks home on Upper Kingtown Road in Franklin Township at 12:22 p.m., the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office said in a statement Sunday.
An Apple logo is displayed at the Best Buy Atwater Village store in Glendale, Calif., on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) AP

The FTC has issued a warning for all iPhone users, so consumers, be warned, as mobile threats surge faster than ever.

This is your reminder that hackers are now disguising themselves as Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft to trick people into handing over personal information or cash.

Scam messages are hitting inboxes and phones at record speedoften before you can even hit delete.

Many of these fraudulent messages are disguised as official communications from well-known tech companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft, the FBI warns.

These scams often take the form of urgent-sounding emails or texts. One recent example: a fake Apple message claims your iCloud ID was used to make a large Apple Pay purchase at the Apple Store.

It warns that unless you call a provided number, the charge will go through and cant be reversed. Thats the trap.

Legitimate customer service, security, or tech support companies will not initiate contact with individuals out of the blue, the FBI emphasizes.

Still, scammers often pretend to be representatives from familiar brands, preying on fear, confusion and folks not so tech-savvy.

The scam typically escalates by urging you to call a fake support number. Increasingly, scammers are even making the first call themselves.

In response, companies like Google and Apple, continue to remind users that they will never call to discuss account security or request sensitive information.

If you receive a suspicious email, text, or pop-upeven if it looks convincingdo not call the number listed.

Instead, verify the issue by going directly to the companys official website or using the support option within the app.

Remember: never click links or trust contact information from unexpected messages. Better safe than sorry!

While many tech-savvy users can spot red flags, like awkward wording or strange email addresses, AI-generated scams are becoming more convincing and more believable than ever.

Thats why its especially important to check in with family membersparticularly seniors or those less familiar with technologywho may be more vulnerable to panic and manipulation.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents to monitor air quality conditions as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to impact large portions of the state.

Hochul issued an update on the states air monitoring efforts, announcing an air quality health advisory for ozone in the Long Island and New York City Metro regions for Monday.

Additionally, advisories for fine particulate matter pollution remain active across multiple regions including New York City Metro, Lower and Upper Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Eastern Lake Ontario and Central and Western New York.

New York continues to track air quality conditions across the state, and people in certain areas may notice visible smoke throughout the day, Hochul said.

She went on to emphasize the importance of staying informed during summer months when factors like distant wildfires can impact air quality, encouraging New Yorkers to take appropriate precautions to stay safe and protect themselves and their families by paying attention to the States Air Quality Health Advisories.

Weather patterns are expected to bring more spikes in smoke to certain regions tomorrow, according to state officials.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation works with the Department of Health to monitor air quality using data from more than 50 sites across the state.

Air quality health advisories are issued when pollution levels are predicted to exceed an air quality index value of 100. The air quality index was designed to correlate different pollutants to a single scale, with higher values indicating greater health concerns.

Despite having some of the nations most stringent air quality regulations, New York still experiences days when ozone or particulate matter can affect air quality.

Officials are directing residents to check airnow.gov for accurate air quality forecasts and conditions. Information about exposure to smoke from fires is available on the DOH website.

Poor air quality can pose serious health risks  especially for those with heart conditions, lung diseases, such as asthma, young children, those over 65 years old and pregnant individuals, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said.
The leader of express shipments in Ukraine, Nova Poshta, in the second quarter of 2025 increased its unconsolidated net profit by 2.6% compared to the same period in 2024 - to UAH 905.45 million.

According to the company's reporting on its website and in the information disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine, revenue in the second quarter increased by 22.9% - to UAH 12.712 billion.

In general, for the first half of this year, Nova Poshta's net profit decreased by 19.6% - to UAH 1.196 billion, while revenue increased by 22.1% - to UAH 24.571 billion.

It is noted that gross profit for the first half of the year increased by 30.8% - to UAH 5.055 billion, while operating profit - by 45.6%, to UAH 2.444 billion.

The lower net profit is due to the fact that for January-June last year, Nova Poshta received UAH 1.341 billion in other financial income, while for the same period this year - UAH 341.15 million, but at the same time increased the payment of income tax to UAH 227.01 million from UAH 83.43 million.

The report also states that the company decided at the end of May to issue a new four-year issue of series H bonds for UAH 1 billion with a nominal yield of 16% in the first year and UIRD+3 percentage points in the next three years.

As of the middle of this year, Nova Poshta had obligations under three issues of series E, F and G bonds for UAH 995.82 million, respectively, maturing on July 30 this year, UAH 998.45 million maturing on June 1 next year and UAH 999.38 million maturing on May 2, 2027.

The company's bank liabilities as of the middle of this year decreased to UAH 6.389 billion from UAH 6.635 billion a quarter earlier.

The main activity of Nova Poshta is express delivery of documents, parcels and palletized oversized cargo. The company is the leader in express delivery in Ukraine. Its ultimate beneficial owners are Volodymyr Popereshniuk and Viacheslav Klymov.
Bettors on one legal gambling site are predicting that a nightmare scenario is coming for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party in 2026.

An overwhelming 70% of those betting on the question on the Kalshi wagering site believe that the Democratic Party will retake control of the House of Representatives next year.

Just 30% of those placing wagers believe that the GOP will maintain what is now a slim majority in the House.

Control of the House would allow the Dems to at least try to put the brakes on Trumps legislative agenda.

It could also encourage some Dems to launch new impeachment proceedings against the president. Impeachment proceedings begin in the House before moving to the U.S. Senate for trial.

Trump was impeached twice in his first term. The GOP-controlled Senate acquitted him both times.

The Dems last won control of both houses of Congress in 2021. They held control until the GOP took full control of Congress earlier this year.

The party in control of the White House, currently the Republicans under Trump, historically loses congressional seats in midterm elections, with the midterms often seen as a referendum on the sitting presidents performance.

The Republicans currently hold 219 seats in the House of Representatives, under Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

The Dems have 212 seats. An additional four seats are vacant.

House Republicans were key to helping Trump pass his One Big Beautiful Bill.

Democrats would likely look to stall Trumps agenda should they retake control of the House.

The midterms will come two years before the end of Trumps second term in office, heightening the drama as attention turns to the 2028 presidential election.

Trump is constitutionally barred from seeking another term in the White House.
A former Trump official is warning the president about failing to act on accusations of treason against former President Barack Obama.

Sean Spicer, who was President Donald Trumps White House spokesman during Trumps first term in office, said that the MAGA movement is out for revenge when it comes to the so-called Russiagate accusations against Obama.

Appearing on his 2Way show on YouTube, Spicer said its a dicey time to accuse Obama with Trumps MAGA supporters still feeling burned over what they believe is a continuing coverup of accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, Mediaite reported.

I think that the problem that exists on my side right now is theres a lot of people who are saying, Dont get us excited if youre not going to do this, Spicer said.

Trump has said that Obama was at the head of a treasonous conspiracy that sought to derail Trumps chances in the 2016 presidential election.

And so Im, you can tell, very fired up about this issue. Its very personal, and I want revenge. So you know what, if these guys keep pumping out this stuff and declassifying things and dont go anywhere, you think Epstein was bad, youre going to piss off a lot of people if they dont act. So I think theyre creating the impression that things will happen, and there better be some kind of follow-up, continued Spicer. People who dealt with this issue are a hell of a lot more vocal than they are on Epstein. And I think youre getting a lot of peoples hopes up. So I dont know yet, but I feel like theyve started to create the expectation that there will be something and people want [that].

Trumps MAGA supporters remain in a fury after a Justice Department finding that Epstein died by suicide in jail, as initially thought, and did not leave behind a list of clients who had used his services.

Those in the MAGA world believe that Trump has backtracked on his promise to release all available information about Epstein.
President Donald Trump is praising Sydney Sweeney's controversial ad after learning she is a registered Republican. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

President Donald Trump hailed actress Syndey Sweeneys controversial American Eagle ad as fantastic after he learned she is a registered Republican.

In an interview with a reporter captured by NBC News, the reporter inquired whether Trump had heard about the news that came out over the weekend  that Sweeney, 27, is a registered Republican.

Any thoughts on that? The journalist asked. The president, seemingly not able to hear the question, leaned in closer to listen.

After clarifying that they were discussing Sweeney, the president pulled back, and said: Oh, now I love her ad.

@nbcnews President Trump expresses support for SydneySweeney amid reports that the actress is a registered Repubican.  original sound - nbcnews - nbcnews

Is that right? Is Sydney Sweeney?... Trump trailed off.

He continued on to say, Youd be surprised at how many people are Republicans. Thats one I wouldnt have known, but Im glad you told me that.

If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.

The ad Trump is referring to is the controversial American Eagle campaign that Sweeney is the face of.

The tagline, Sydney Sweeney has great jeans, has been making the rounds on the internet as social media denizens question whether or not the campaign is a thinly veiled eugenics ad.

Most of the negative reception focused on videos that used the word genes instead of jeans when discussing the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress known for the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus.

Critics found the most troubling was a teaser video in which Sweeney says, Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue.

The Associated Press contributed to this piece.
MAGA firebrand Rep. Nancy Mace is looking to make a major political move.

The Republican has announced that she will enter the GOP primary for governor of South Carolina in 2026, CNN reported.

In announcing her bid on Monday morning, Mace said that she is tired of politicians who smile for the cameras, lie to your face, and then vanish when its time to lead.

Im not one of them, the congresswoman said. Im running for governor because South Carolina doesnt need another empty suit. It needs a governor who will fight for you and your values.

A onetime critic of President Donald Trump, including Trumps role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, Mace has become one of Trumps biggest backers.

The congresswomans announcement video included a clip of the president calling her a fighter.

Mace caused controversy when she introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from using the womens restrooms at the Capitol. She said the resolution was aimed at then-incoming Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride of Delaware, who is the first transgender member of Congress.

Mace was slammed earlier this year for using an anti-transgender slur during a House Oversight Committee hearing.

During a floor speech in February, Mace accused her former fiancee of physical assault, rape and sex trafficking against her and other women.

She accused the man and several other men by name on the House floor and accused the states top prosecutor, Alan Wilson, of slow walking an investigation into her ex.

Wilsons office in a statement called Maces accusation about his handling of the investigation categorically false.
Republican lawmakers and others have turned on President Donald Trump after the president fired Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer following a less-than-stellar jobs report last week.

Trump had slammed McEntarfer, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, accusing her of manipulating jobs figures to fit a political agenda, the Daily Mail reported.

The BLS monthly jobs report for July showed a below-expectations increase of just 73,000 jobs.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Trump and those who decided to fire McEntarfer ought to grow up.

Sen. Cyndia Lummis (R-Wyo.) said that if the July jobs numbers are accurate and McEntarfer was still fired, Thats a problem.

These are turbulent times and weve created some of the turbulence, and so it should be expected that there would be some ups and downs associated with the job market, Lummis told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a onetime supporter of Trump but now a presidential foe, told CNN on Sunday, When [Trump] gets news he doesnt like, he needs someone to blame because he wont take the responsibility himself. And this is the action of a petulant child. Like, you give me bad news, I fire the messenger.

Trump accused McEntarfer of intentionally over-reporting job growth before the 2024 presidential election in a bid to help Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris win the race.

Trump claimed that McEntarfer overstated job growth by 818,000 for the year ending March 2024 and by 112,000 in August and September of last year.

Trump-appointed BLS Commissioner William Beach said its not the fault of the commissioner if jobs are initially reported incorrectly. Beach called the firing groundless.

The commissioner doesnt do anything to collect the numbers. The commissioner doesnt see the numbers until Wednesday before theyre published, Beach said on CNN on Sunday. By the time the commissioner sees the numbers, theyre all prepared.
President Donald Trump has suddenly been removed from an exhibit on presidential impeachments at the hallowed Smithsonian National Institute of American History in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Post reported that mentions of Trumps first-term impeachments have been removed from the exhibit titled, The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.

Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives twice during his first term in the White House. The Senate failed to convict the president both times.

Trump is one of only three presidents in U.S. history to be impeached and the only one to be impeached more than once.

Critics slammed the sudden removal of Trumps impeachments from the exhibit, saying that it could be another sign of a cultural or historical entity looking to curry favor with the president.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said the omission of Trumps impeachments in the exhibit was an attempt to rewrite history.

Following Schumers broadside, the museum in a statement said that information about Trumps impeachment trials would be returned to the exhibit soon.

The museum further stated that the placard mentioning those impeachments did not meet the museums standards in appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation.

The statement also said that the museum had not been asked by any Administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit.

The NMAH edited the Limits of Presidential Power section of the exhibition by turning back the clock and removing information about Trumps impeachments, information which had been on display since September 2021.

In a statement to the Post, Smithsonian spokesperson Phillip Zimmerman said, The section of this exhibition covers Congress, The Supreme Court, Impeachment, and Public Opinion. Because the other topics in this section had not been updated since 2008, the decision was made to restore the Impeachment case back to its 2008 appearance.
Vice President JD Vance has long been seen as the heir apparent to President Donald Trump.

But a potential 2028 rival has suddenly appeared, one who could be well equipped to compete heavily against the veep in the GOP presidential primary.

CNNs Eric Brander said that he was a little surprised during a recent visit to Iowa how frequently the name of Secretary of State Marco Rubio came up, often in the same breath as JD Vance.

Brander said, Both of them, despite their own very public criticism of Trump in the past, now seem to be viewed as team players; as closely aligned with Trump and with his current administration, obviously, as leading members of it.

Brander continued, Theres interest in Rubio in part because he has run for president before, unlike Vance. A lot of people in the early voting states remember Rubio visiting them in 2016, when he finished third in Iowa in what were pretty competitive caucuses. So a lot of these early-state Republican voters have met Rubio before. Theyve already formed opinions of him.

Brander said that while Republicans are excited about Vance, many in the GOP still feel that they dont know him well.

They havent had a chance to go through the usual process with him, the pundit said. He obviously starts with an advantage as Trumps legacy, but based on the conversations Ive had, it doesnt appear to be a lock. I think a lot of Republican voters are going to want to at least meet and hear from a broader range of candidates.

Trump came in second in the Iowa caucuses in 2016, finishing behind GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Rubio, then a U.S. senator from Florida, finished third.

Trump ridiculed Rubio as little Marco during that campaign, but Rubio has become a trusted advisor to the president in Trumps second term in the White House.
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The range of businesses operated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is extensive: fentanyl, weapons, fuel, extortion, migration. And now, the trafficking of Mexican mercury for illegal gold mining in South America. This has been revealed by the U.S. Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) in its most recent report, Traffickers Leave No Stone Unturned.

According to the report, Mexicos most powerful criminal organization has extended its tentacles into countries like Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia to keep filling its coffers. The NGO estimates that from 2019 to the current year, the cartels earnings from the trafficking of mercury  a substance considered one of the ten most lethal chemicals in the world  amount to approximately $8 billion

According to the report, the Mexican state of Queretaro is the point of origin for the largest illegal flows of mercury ever documented. To be precise, between April 2019 and June 2025, around 200 tons have been smuggled from the Cristo Vive, El Mono, La Fe, and La Pena mines, destined for gold mining in the countries mentioned. This averages about 40 tons of mercury per year between 2019 and 2024. These mines are highly protected by recently built fortifications, erected between November and December 2023, which include gates, watchtowers with cameras, barbed wire, and men armed with high-caliber weapons

The vast majority of artisanal and small-scale gold miners  often operating illegally  rely on the daily use of mercury. They use it to facilitate the separation and capture of particles of this precious metal from sand and other substrates from which it is extracted. Afterward, gold is separated from mercury through a combustion process, during which the mercury evaporates. This practice accounts for approximately 40% of all human-caused atmospheric mercury emissions.

A man in a mercury mine in Camargo, Queretaro. ALEJANDRO SALDIVAR

According to testimonies from sources working in the mines in Queretaro, the demand for mercury in gold mining has boosted the complex operation and made it profitable. These same sources have indicated that a new mercury rush has been sweeping the region since the beginning of this year, largely triggered by record prices offered by traffickers ($330 per kilogram), a consequence of the rise in gold prices.

Julia Yansura, director of the Environmental Crime and Illicit Finance Program at the Coalition for Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT), says the report is eye-opening. Until its publication, according to researchers and governments of various countries, it was believed that mercury for gold mining in South America came from countries like Russia, China, Tajikistan, and the United Arab Emirates; and that it was distributed overland through Bolivia to neighboring nations. The fact that these new findings involve Mexico really surprises me, she says via video call.

More than 10 years of smuggling

As a result of export bans implemented by the European Union in 2011 and the United States in 2013, Mexico quickly became one of the worlds main mercury suppliers, alongside China, Indonesia, and Kyrgyzstan. In Queretaro, home to the worlds second-largest mercury reserves, at least 19 mines were operating in 2020, producing up to 100 tons annually. Production in areas like La Plazuela has reached almost industrial levels under the shadow of the CJNG.

At the head of this operation, according to the report, is allegedly the Mexican Juan Jose N., who has been involved in smuggling for over a decade. He oversees the purchase of liquid mercury from miners, the concealment of the metal in bags filled with gravel, its illegal transport to seaports, and its fraudulent shipment.

Furnace area of a mine in Queretaro. Alejandro Saldivar

From the ports of Manzanillo and Veracruz, containers  each weighing approximately 20 tons  are prepared for shipment to Panama, a stop that traffickers use as a transshipment hub en route to India, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, or Ecuador.

Their modus operandi involves adding four tons of liquid mercury to bags of gravel loaded into a container about six meters long. Once inside, the containers are covered with dozens of identical bags filled with regular rubble. The main reason for this is that traffickers misdeclare the shipments from Mexico as construction materials or decorative stones, the report explains. In this way, until June of this year, suspicious shipments have been able to pass inspections.

On June 7, Peruvian customs authorities confirmed the seizure at the Callao port of a container with smuggled mercury valued at approximately $500,000, originating from Mexico and headed to Bolivia. The National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration in Peru detected the cargo hidden within a shipment of 20 tons of crushed stone (gravel), transported in 25-kilogram bags, which according to expert estimates, could yield about four tons of liquid mercury after processing.

EIA analysts identified a total of 50 shipments exported from Mexico that likely contained mercury-containing material between April 2019 and June 2025. Of these shipments, 37 were destined for Peru, 10 for Colombia, and three for Bolivia. According to the government agencys analysis, this would represent approximately 200 tons of smuggled mercury.

Gold mining in the Amarakaeri communal reserve in Madre de Dios, Peru. ALEJANDRO SALDIVAR

Money laundering

The growth of illegal gold mining, which is experiencing a new boom with prices rising to $107 per gram in the last six months, has turned mercury into a highly sought-after catalyst. Criminal groups like the CJNG have taken advantage not only of a source of income but also of another means to launder money, explains Yansura.

Gold is incredibly valuable, and easy to transport. Plus, it doesnt spoil like cash, explains the FACT director. Yansura says gold isnt as traceable as diamonds, for example. Its very easy to melt down and convert into other items. Traffickers create very ugly, quickly made jewelry and then send it with travelers flying to places like Miami.

If anyone asks them questions about the jewelry, they claim its a family item. They avoid questions. We know that a large portion of the gold that comes out is associated with organized crime, Yansura explains.

The reports findings also shed light on the current shortcomings of the Minamata Convention signed in 2013. The international treaty, to which Mexico is a party, aims to prohibit or restrict the production, import, and export of mercury. Mexico has set a grace period for its extraction that extends until 2032. While Mexicos reports to the Convention seem to indicate a gradual phase-out of production under control, the EIA investigation supports a different conclusion. Mercury production and smuggling from Mexico remain significant, the document notes.

Aerial view of the mercury mine in Camargo. ALEJANDRO SALDIVAR

The EIA report argues that mercury must be treated for what it is: a highly toxic catalyst for converging crimes such as human rights violations, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, and the illegal extraction of natural resources. It states: Allowing the continued production of mercury in Mexico until 2032  with its attendant deadly effects on natural ecosystems and people  will in practice create deadly lasting effects for generations in Mexico and across Latin America.

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The sudden resignation of Dan Murphys and BWS owner Endeavours executive chairman has got investors wondering whos in charge of the $7.2 billion company, with incoming chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka still five months away from starting her role.

Endeavour said on Monday that Ari Mervis, who held the dual responsibilities of chairman and chief executive, had left the business after disagreements with the board, raising concerns about the interim management of the company.

Endeavour executive chairman Ari Mervis has abruptly resigned, mere months after appointing Jayne Hrdlicka as CEO. Credit: Louise Kennerley

Hrdlicka, Virgin Australias former chief executive, is scheduled to take the helm at Endeavour on January 1, but has been consulting Endeavours board twice a week as it takes stock of the companys performance across its various businesses, including 350 pubs and hotels and more than 1700 bottle shops.

Independent board director Duncan Makeig has stepped in as interim chairman while chief financial officer Kate Beattie will act as interim chief executive.
When Cyclone Alfred barrelled towards the Queensland coast in early March, authorities based their warnings partly on data from a powerful US satellite capable of peering through clouds.

Australia and other nations have long relied on these polar-orbiting microwave devices run by the US Defence Meteorological Satellite Program. They give us vital insights about wind-speeds over oceans and other data that improve weather forecasts  and they have few substitutes.

US satellite data has aided weather forecasting and warning systems for events such as Cyclone Alfred. Credit: Nick Moir

Access to that public good science and a vast array of other weather and climate data is under its own cloud after deep and apparently random cuts by the Trump administration.

Remarkably, even the US National Weather Service wasnt sure until just days before the Atlantic hurricane season began ramping up whether it would retain access to such satellites.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Annabelle King says the Sydney dating scene is not for the faint-hearted. While some of her peers are coupling up, the 27-year-old fears she is falling behind. I feel like I finished school, went to university, got a professional job, and then it was just like, bam, everyone else has gotten ahead, and Im sitting here, hold on. Ive got no prospects, she says. I look at this timeline, and Im turning 28 this year. Im like, Well hold on, I also have a body clock to work with. Its freaked me out so much that Im freezing my eggs. Kings experience is not an isolated one. Ask any group of Gen Z men and women about their dating experiences and youll hear a litany of complaints, from the struggles of meeting someone genuine online to the expense of dating in a cost-of-living crisis. Others are still studying or too focused on building their careers to even consider a romantic relationship. As a result, at a time when their parents would have been coupling up and contemplating starting a family, many in Gen Z are barely out of the dating starting gate. Is this the end of love? Relationships Australia NSW chief executive Elisabeth Shaw says the ground for Gen Z  those born between 1997 and 2012  has shifted compared with previous generations.

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Its certainly true that a preoccupation with having a partner is not as strong ... taking your time and being a little bit more casual about a relationship is certainly more of a feature in this generation, she says. Indeed, young people worldwide are increasingly meeting their first boyfriends or girlfriends either much later in life or not at all. Research from the US found that only 56 per cent of Gen Z adults were in a relationship at any point during their teen years, compared with 69 per cent of Millennials, 76 per cent of Gen X, and 78 per cent of Baby Boomers. Loading University of Melbourne sociologist Professor Dan Woodman says people are taking longer to establish themselves comfortably in their careers, which affects young peoples dating habits. Gen Z women also have access to more work and education opportunities than earlier generations. This cohort is also taking up further education at a higher rate than their male counterparts. Young women are studying for longer, doing masters [degrees], trying to get some return on that investment into education in a career, Woodman says. They could be well into their 30s before they feel it might be the right time to have kids, and then youve got to find the right partner. You dont necessarily, if youre a young woman, have a lot of men who have got their act together in their 20s to do it.

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Mina Lin, 22, has never been in a relationship and isnt keen on pursuing one anytime soon. On top of juggling various responsibilities during her time at high school and university, her job as a healthcare worker means her days are hectic, so romance has been put on the backburner. Ive always been someone whos been chasing after a goal. In my life, its always been about getting into a good course, finishing uni and getting a good, stable job, Lin says. Mina Lin, 22, has been single her whole life and, given her hectic daily routines, isnt looking to start dating soon. Credit: Steven Siewert Ive just been going to uni, coming back home, or going to work. I dont really actively put myself in situations to socialise with new people, she says. Right now Im just really not ready for a relationship. I know I shouldnt be thinking this, but it feels like its a lot of work, it feels like something that I have to commit to, on top of what Im doing right now. Some describe dating as an onslaught of bad luck. King says Sydneys dating scene is transactional, with one man repeatedly trying to sleep with her on the first date.

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I was like, I barely know you, she says. King doesnt want to rush into a relationship for the sake of fulfilling her dream of starting a family. Because it is more important to her that she finds the right person, she has accepted this means her life might look different to the people around her for a while. Finding the right person and someone who will be a good father and a loyal partner to me is a massive priority, and I dont want to rush into that, and I dont want to feel pressure around that, but I also dont want to feel like Ive missed the boat, because I feel like I was put on this earth to be a mum. The UberEats of romantic relationships University student Rodger Liang is swimming against the tide when it comes to online dating and says he is very, very set on the organic stuff. That is, meeting people in the real, as opposed to the virtual, world. University student Rodger Liang, 23, found all his previous partners without the help of dating apps. Credit: Peter Rae I think its almost easier, Liang, 23, says. I feel like, if the timing is right, Im more comfortable with the idea of meeting somebody organically as well. I dont need to force anything at the moment.

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Theres also no level of trust [on dating apps], and I already hear enough horror stories from my friends about dating apps  really bad conversations, and just the usual where people dont show up to dates. Finding somebody that you like is kind of exhausting, and then for them to like you back is also a process  its a lot. Dr Lisa Portolan wrote her PhD on dating apps and intimacy and says that while the platforms have created the illusion of infinite choices, they are slowly chipping away at young peoples ability to form real connections. People constantly think that love is disposable, that the grass is going to be greener, theres always going to be someone at the next swipe or online, Portolan says. It creates this sense of almost like an UberEats of romantic relationships, where many people tend to tie their bonds loosely because theyre prepared to have to unravel them quickly so they can move onto the next person. More and more people are opting out. Match Group, the online dating behemoth that owns Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, saw revenue almost halve from $US3.75 billion in 2015 to $2.08 billion in 2024.

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For us, partnering with Flight Centre, with Cross, with ELLE, and weve also now partnered with Colliers, weve been instrumental in driving those expectations to the investor, Egan says. Weve created new products that werent traditionally open to the smaller investor.

ELLE comes on board

This convergence of lifestyle, branding, and hospitality is also drawing the attention of global names in media and design. Among them is ELLE  a brand better known for its fashion titles but now expanding into immersive hospitality, with its new resort and beach club concept launching in Bali.

Francois Coruzzi, chief executive of ELLE International Licenses, says the move into lifestyle-led accommodation is a natural extension of the brands global identity.

As you might know, ELLE is much more than a magazine, says Coruzzi.

It is the most powerful fashion and lifestyle media brand worldwide, with 50 editions of ELLE and 25 editions of ELLE DECORATION, and product collections across more than 80 countries.

Coruzzi says the brands foray into real estate and hospitality is not about leveraging a name, but creating meaningful new ways for people to engage with the ELLE identity.

ELLE is not just a media icon. It is a lifestyle brand, with deep roots in fashion, beauty, and increasingly, in new areas such as branded real estate and hospitality, with an affordable luxury positioning.

The companys first step into accommodation came with a boutique hotel in Paris, followed by a second in Amsterdam.

That project of urban boutique-hotel proved what we had long believed: as a global lifestyle brand, ELLE has the power to offer guests more than a place to stay; it offers a lifestyle to experience in new and immersive ways, Coruzzi says.

Building on this success, ELLE is now launching the ELLE Resort & Beach Club in Bali  a destination that blends fashion-led design with hospitality to offer emotionally immersive spaces that reflect the bold, creative DNA of the ELLE brand.

By blending fashion-led design with hospitality, we aim to create emotionally immersive spaces  destinations that reflect the bold, creative DNA of the ELLE brand and elevate every moment of the guest experience, Coruzzi explains.

The ELLE Resort & Beach Club promises to redefine the luxury travel experience in Bali. With 170 branded suites, the beachfront location offers unparalleled access to the islands natural beauty. The resort will feature an extensive beach club, VIP lounges, multiple restaurants, fitness centres, and curated wellness areas  providing an all-in-one immersive experience.

Weve collaborated with leading design and hospitality consultants to ensure that every element of the resort reflects the ELLE brand ethos while remaining grounded in local relevance and guest-centric innovation, Coruzzi says.

Fractional ownership

Another feature of the emerging investment model is fractional ownership  where buyers purchase a portion of a managed property and receive a share of income and usage rights. These projects typically operate under long-term leases, with management, operations, and amenities handled by professional operators.

While financial outcomes arent guaranteed, some investors see these models as a more accessible way to engage in professionally managed property. Egan says a key draw is that a fractional investor enjoys the same benefits as a larger investor.

The ELLE project, for example, offers what he describes as a generational product, with a 50-year lease.

Most of our investors are 40, 45, 50. Theyve done well in Australian property investment and theyre using that capital growth to participate in offshore developments, says Egan.

Why branded hotels? The attraction for Australian investors

For many investors the appeal of branded hotels lies not just in access but in the credibility and reach of the companies involved.

These hotels are going to be in the Flight Centre bricks-and-mortar venues all over Australia, Egan says. So theres a lot of confidence that comes from that.

The rise of branded resorts in Bali places a strong emphasis on lifestyle. New developments feature luxury accommodations but also a full range of amenities, including restaurants and lounges, boutique retail spaces, and beauty or wellness experiences.

Theres so much to do within these resorts, from fitness and wellness to food, beverages, and shopping. Guests can immerse themselves in an experience, while investors can benefit from both room revenue and operational income, Egan says.

He says the rise of branded resorts is resonating with Australians who are priced out of domestic markets but still want to participate in the property space.

Nearly half of Australian homes now are over a million dollars, he says. That affordability gap  it just gets worse quarter by quarter.

Against that backdrop, interest in these newer models has surged. The uptake in Australian investors has already been incredible, he says.

Professional oversight has become increasingly important. With Colliers as our construction management company, were also ensuring that we bring those building standards into those lease terms as well.

The future of Balis hospitality investment landscape

Looking ahead, Egan says more projects are in the pipeline, with Asia-Pacific cities like Tokyo, Jakarta, and Bangkok being explored for future developments.

This is going to be the first of a series of international investments that were looking at with the brand partners together, he says.

As Bali continues to see an influx of international visitors, including Australians, the landscape for hospitality investment is being reshaped. Through fractional ownership and partnerships with internationally recognised brands like ELLE, investors are being offered an exciting opportunity to enter a market that blends luxury, lifestyle, and high-yield returns.

To find out more, please visit Geonet.
I wish Virgin Airlines well with their decision to allow small pets on their planes, declares Lin Sinton of Killarney Heights. But I would not want to be the first passenger lunging for the emergency exit with a miniature pinscher clamped to each foot.

Thank you, Llewellyn Dickeson for inspiring me to go in search of Mateus Rose (C8) again after all these years, says Bill Yonge of Frenchs Forest. My local BWS has it for $14, but alas, no Casal Garcia.

Cruising on the Fairstar in the early 80s we had a Portuguese waiter at our designated table, writes Mark Fuller of Armidale. After regularly ordering Mateus for the evening meal, I asked him if it was popular in Portugal. He replied it was considered very inferior and only worthy of export. Sounds a bit like Fosters.

Speaking of beer, Mark Pearce of Springwood says, Peter Snowdens longing for a twenty-six ounce bottle of Reschs DA (C8) reminds me of my first encounter with this particular ale when I was a young boy. My dad had a full bottle ready to enjoy with our Sunday roast when I knocked it over and its contents provided an unwelcome gravy for his meat and veg, taking the concept of Dinner Ale a step too far!

Both Mike Tucker of Hornsby Heights and William Galton of Hurstville Grove remember the nickname Dirty Annie, with Mike asserting that it was most certainly not the preferred drop.
A nurse employed at a Sydney childrens hospital has been suspended from the medical profession by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal after he was accused of sexually touching a 16-year-old patient without consent under his care.

Nathan Kai Wei Pang had his registration suspended for three months for professional misconduct towards the adolescent boy, including allegedly inappropriately touching his genitals, speaking in a sexualised manner and making false statements about the incidents to his employer.

Pang will be able to work with children again after his suspension if he completes the education requirements laid out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW, including ethics, consent and record-keeping training.

The Sydney nurse has been suspended for three months. Credit: Michael OSullivan

The boy was recovering from surgery that involved a catheter in his groin, and needed check-ups to ensure it was healing properly.
Brisbanes citywide rollout of green waste bins has begun in 11 suburbs.

The Brisbane City Council announced a citywide green bin scheme in its budget this year, raising waste costs for all residents and replacing the former opt-in program that had come with a fee.

The council planned to send green bins to about a dozen suburbs each week  beginning with inner-city, western and southern areas  with up to 160,000 bins distributed in the next four months.

The Brisbane City Council has started rolling out its new green bin program. Credit: Brisbane City Council

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council was thrilled, and the program would cut the councils waste levy bills that it paid to the state government.
Detectives seized $10 million worth of drugs, $1 million in cash, encrypted devices, guns and almost 50,000 black market cigarettes. The Herald can reveal Lupin, although it officially ended in December, has remained partially active. Fauxs officers are still monitoring the crime syndicates and working with the homicide squad. For those who breach the trust, there are very significant consequences  its violence, and no holds barred. Detective Superintendent Peter Faux One victim, Rich Dylan Choup, was increasingly erratic in the days before he vanished in July 2024. The father of one was paranoid, distracted and snappy at home, his partner recalled to detectives. CCTV on July 25 captured him clutching a Vietnamese iced coffee as he was slapped on the face by a man on the street, right near Cabramatta police station, and marched to a waiting Audi SQ2.

He was never seen again. Lupins detectives concluded Choup had been vanished by his employers, a Melbourne-based drug syndicate. Their fears were confirmed a month after his disappearance, when dirt bike riders in Lucas Heights made the grisly discovery of his remains. An autopsy found his right ear had been severed. We dont know what the exact nature of the disputes were, Homicide boss Joe Doueihi said last month, his squad now leading the investigation. It may be a case of missing drugs or missing money. If I were a betting man, thats what I would say the situation was. Homicide detectives believe Choups death was the third act of savage housecleaning by the Victorian syndicate within six days.

The same kill crew also kidnapped a 31-year-old man in Auburn and sliced off part of his ear with a box cutter at a home in Canley Vale. He remains so terrified that he has yet to officially report the attack. The crew are suspected of then bundling a third man into a car and driving to Queensland, where they shot him in the head and buried him in bushland. The gunshot victim in the Queensland service station after digging himself out of a shallow grave. Credit: Nine News Miraculously, the man survived, dug himself from the dirt and stumbled into a service station to ask for aid. They have a strong focus on loyalty in these groups  part of it is cultural, Faux said.

But for those who breach the trust, there are very significant consequences  its violence, and no holds barred. It means they work very well together, and it can be challenging to police because people on the edges of these gangs dont report anything, even when they become targets. The Asian gangs vicious internal retribution has continued in 2025. Thi Kim Tran was kidnapped from her Bankstown home and murdered. In April, a few months after Lupin wrapped, Sydney woman Thi Kim Tran was kidnapped from her home while her terrified children tried to save her.

She was forced into a stolen car, driven to neighbouring Bankstown, and executed with a gunshot. Her body and the car were set alight. Police suspect the 45-year-old was targeted because her husband, thought to be a drug cook, was ripping off his bosses. That syndicate, also believed to be from Victoria, is a separate crime entity from Choups employer-turned-killers. Vietnamese crime gangs dominated Sydneys heroin scene in the 1980s and 1990s, with the infamous 5T gang going so far as to assassinate NSW member of parliament John Newman in 1994. Loading

Over the past 20 years, they have refocused on cannabis hydro houses and, increasingly in Sydney, on methamphetamine. Lupin found almost no heroin, Faux said, but plenty of meth labs and underworld experts. The role of Vietnamese gangs, now, is bringing in people from overseas who are skilled in crystallising methamphetamine, or laundering money, Faux said. Today, Sydney gangs are more collaborative, contracting jobs out based on strengths. Islanders provide muscle, cocaine flows through Middle-Eastern connections and Chinese run underground gambling. Asian crime gangs are no exception, Lupin found, but they still use trusted operatives to carry out violence more than other gangs.

The Asian gangs trust their people  they have the skills, Faux said. Theyre not using 15-year-olds to carry out shootings  theyre sophisticated, and not ad-hoc. Vietnamese gangs in particular are also unique for a willingness to elevate women to commanding positions, describing them as Aunty as a matter of respect. Kevin Ly and Dung Thi Ngo. Credit: Nine News Dung Thi Ngo, for example, was convicted in 2018, and later acquitted on appeal, of allegedly ordering her devoted underling, Kevin Ly, to execute a thieving meth cook in a Canley Vale home.

The pair was accused of killing the cooks girlfriend simply because she was in the home as well. While many of the gangs operate within strict boundaries of the state, or even postcodes, Asian crime gangs cross any border. Part of that is because methamphetamine requires the importation of precursor chemicals from offshore. It has to be stopped at the border. As long as it keeps slipping through, we will keep having work, one police source told the Herald on the condition of anonymity. It has to be stopped at the source.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele opened the door last week to remaining in power indefinitely, and all the messages he has sent so far suggest that he intends to do so. On Thursday, the Legislative Assembly, controlled by his party, approved a constitutional reform that allows for indefinite presidential re-election, which has been prohibited since 1983. The amendment was approved in less than six hours, just a day before the Salvadoran population went on holiday for the San Salvador festivities.

The package of reforms to articles 75, 80, 133, 152, and 154 of the Constitution was presented by the ruling party, Nuevas Ideas, and passed with 57 votes in favor and only three against, which were cast by the only opposition lawmakers in Congress. These changes not only lift the ban on indefinite presidential re-election. They also extend the presidential term from five to six years and move the general elections up to 2027, two years before the current presidential term ends. Both measures violate the Constitution as it is currently written.

Lawmakers and officials loyal to Bukele have defended the reform, claiming it is a mechanism to save public money. Their argument is that, since elections are held every three years for mayors and legislators and every five for the presidency, the country is constantly organizing elections. The recent constitutional changes, however, appear to be the final steps in a long path Bukele has taken toward a bigger goal: staying in power.

One move, 14 years in power

With the reform approved this Thursday, Bukele is aiming to remain in power for at least 14 years. The 44-year-old president has already completed six years at the helm of the government. By the time the 2027 elections take place, he will have served eight years as head of the executive. The ruling bloc claims that by moving the elections forward, the president is actually reducing his time in office.

However, the opposition in El Salvador is currently nonexistent, and recent polls give the president an approval rating of over 80%, thanks to his relentless war against the gangs. With those numbers and so little time for opposition parties to regroup and offer a real political alternative, the president is virtually guaranteed another term  this time for six years  which would bring his total time in power to 14 years.

He is so confident of victory that, between 2023 and 2024, the executive branch acquired three properties worth $1.4 million, where construction will begin on a new presidential residence just three blocks from the private home where he currently lives with his family. This move, however, is the culmination of a broader strategy Bukele has pursued since he came to power in 2019. After being elected president, he dismantled the traditional political party system and, last February, stripped them of public funding, leaving them unable to campaign  while his own image is continuously boosted by government propaganda.

Power concentrated in one person

Since taking office, Bukele has focused his efforts on controlling the entire state apparatus. He first took control of the Legislative Assembly, removed the justices of the Supreme Court, as well as the Attorney General who was investigating him for corruption and alleged negotiations with gangs, and carried out a massive purge of judges across the country. He then changed electoral rules and reduced the number of parliamentary seats in order to regain a majority in Congress  which has now granted him absolute power.

Bukele has also directed the entire state apparatus toward glorifying his image, portraying himself as omniscient and omnipresent. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, when the government deployed thousands of teams across the country to distribute food packages to unemployed citizens, the aid was delivered with the message: President Bukele sent this to you.

On another occasion, during a press conference in 2022, the president claimed that there wasnt a single dirty bathroom in any public institution that he wasnt aware of. In short, everything good that happens in El Salvador  whether its paving a road or planting a tree in a park  is thanks to Bukele. If something goes wrong, its the oppositions fault.

Too many powerful enemies

Bukele is now, in a way, a slave to power. Since taking office, he has bulldozed through the various institutions in El Salvador. He began with political parties, then moved on to replacing the business elite, co-opting labor unions and professional organizations, and finally, dismantling the countrys most powerful criminal mafia: the Mara Salvatrucha-13 and Barrio 18 gangs.

With so many enemies, Bukele now has, according to most analysts, a pressing need to remain on the throne. During his first six years in power, journalists and civil society organizations have documented hundreds of alleged corruption cases involving his inner circle  including his family, which has multiplied its land holdings twelvefold since he took office.

In addition, the president has implemented measures that, according to several human rights organizations, could constitute crimes against humanity  such as enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of hundreds of Venezuelans deported by the United States in his maximum-security prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). These individuals were later returned to their home country as part of a three-way exchange.

Pact with the military

Since taking office, Bukele has forged an unbreakable alliance with El Salvadors Armed Forces. He doubled their budget, increasing it from $145 million to $314 million  the highest amount since the end of the civil war and the 1992 peace accords.

He has also blocked access to military archives and abandoned ongoing cases involving crimes against humanity committed during the civil war, such as the El Mozote massacre, perpetrated in December 1981, in which more than 1,000 people  mostly women and children  were killed.

Expulsion of critical voices

In the past two months, the Bukele administration has launched a wave of authoritarian crackdowns against human rights organizations and independent journalists. Between June and July alone, at least 40 journalists and 20 activists have fled El Salvador out of fear of reprisals. Cristosal, the organization that has filed the most complaints during this government, left the country last month. Ruth Lopez, head of the anti-corruption and justice unit at the NGO, was imprisoned along with three other activists.

Amid the exodus of critical voices fleeing the country, Bukele has delivered yet another blow to ensure his grip on power. The most recent message he sent to human rights organizations and journalists came during his speech marking his sixth year in office, at the beginning of June. I dont care if they call me a dictator, he said.

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At the start of the trials second week on Monday, prosecutor Steven Whybrow alleged Marco spent years building credibility with his investors, including providing them with generous returns and always returning their principle investment when asked.

His former executive assistant, Linda Marissen, has been charged with 30 offences for her alleged role in the crimes. Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Chris Marco makes his way to court through waiting media during the first week of his trial. Credit: 9News Perth

Private investor Chris Marco is on trial, facing 44 charges after allegedly defrauding investors of about $36.4 million.

A Perth businessman has told Western Australias Supreme Court he sunk $13.5 million into private investments organised by an alleged fraudster.

However, the state alleged there were no investments, and Marco used other investors money to pay off his clients when needed.

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Graeme Sansom took to the stand on Monday, told the court he too had built confidence in Marco over the years.

Sansom invested about $13.5 million over the years he worked with Marco, and frequently took home returns of around six figures.

Sansom, a mortgage and finance broker, said he relied on Marcos integrity to ensure his money was being invested correctly.
New data reveals West Australian parents earning top dollar are sending their children to some of the most expensive schools in the state  but several smaller, less-expensive schools are surprise inclusions in the list.

Families with a median income of $376,000  the highest for a school in WA and one of the highest nationally  are sending their children to Christ Church Grammar School, the latest figures from the Department of Education show.

All schools in the top 10 list for median parent earnings cater for students from kindergarten through to year 12, except for the Quintilian School  an independent primary school.

Both that school, and the only Catholic school to make the list  John XXIII College  had considerably lower yearly fees than the others.
Keefer, a self-proclaimed leftie who works as an emergency room doctor in his spare time, was speaking as part of a panel discussion alongside Centre for Independent Studies energy analyst Aidan Morrison and the free market think tanks executive director Tom Switzer. Lifting the ban was a no-brainer and the best hope to decarbonise the electricity sector globally, Morrison said. However, WA Mining Minister David Michael said the government had no intention of changing the policy. Uranium mining is banned in Western Australia and the state government has no plans to change its existing policy, he said. We know Western Australia will be a global renewable energy powerhouse into the future, and we must do everything we can to bring that industry alive.

Its the first time in the conferences 34-year history its curtain-raiser keynote has taken the form of a panel discussion. Loading It was scheduled before the Coalitions catastrophic federal election meltdown in May, when its nuclear power ambitions went up in flames. Instead, Australia has been locked into what Morrison labelled an unachievable net-zero pipe dream pushed by the federal Labor government. There is no serious intellectual defence for the prospect that we would meet the net-zero targets in 2050, he said.

The characterisation of this energy transition meeting resistance, I dont think its quite right. It stopped cold, stone dead, a year or two ago. The only thing keeping renewable energy projects viable was vast amounts of taxpayer subsidies, he said. Keefer, tapping into his background in medicine, said the government should view the energy transition like a triage ward. Decarbonisation is a noble goal, but policymakers need to make a sober analysis about how to mobilise limited resources of money, labour and time to have the biggest impact.

That means not throwing billions of dollars at unproven green hydrogen and putting it into things such as nuclear, Keefer said. Decarbonising global steel production by replacing coking coal with green hydrogen would take the equivalent of the entire electricity production of the United States. That would require about 1.2 million wind turbines; each one requiring 500 to 1500 tonnes of steel. So were just chasing our tail around and around, Keefer said. Australia needed to be clear-eyed about how quickly decarbonisation could be achieved, he said.

The world would eventually have to come to terms that its renewables targets wont be reached and fossil fuels would have to be burned for longer to plug the gap. That means discussing climate adaptation. You know, thats taboo to talk about adaptation to climate change, to talk about geoengineering. And so were delaying doing the research on it, delaying doing the infrastructure building that we need, Keefer said. This isnt an argument that we do nothing to reduce carbon emissions, but it is an argument for realism, because a shared collective delusion is not going to create ideal and best policy. Loading

Green hydrogen true believer and WA mining billionaire Andrew Forrest was recently forced to abandon two projects and asked by the government to return upfront funding grants. His green hydrogen dream has never looked less likely. Forrests Fortescue Metals and the other iron ore majors are absent from the three-day Diggers and Dealers conference. Behemoths such as Fortescue, BHP and Rio Tinto have financing streams u the forums purpose is to connect small and mid-cap miners to funders as they look to get more speculative projects off the ground. Uranium producers Paladin Energy and Boss Energy were hoping to attract some investor interest amid a trying time for the sector, even without the prospect of a domestic nuclear energy market evaporating.
The premier is warning its not open season on the bridge as the government scrambles to determine if Sundays march across Sydneys main landmark will set a precedent for future demonstrations.

The peaceful march  which police estimated to comprise 90,000 people, though protesters put that figure at 200,000 to 300,000  passed without arrests or injuries as the demonstrators called for sanctions against Israel and the free flow of aid to starving Palestinians in Gaza.

Premier Chris Minns said his government is considering whether a judgment in the Supreme Court to authorise the protest will make it easier for other groups to stage similar marches, after Sundays action cost the state millions.

No one should assume its open season on the bridge, Minns said. Were not going to have a situation where the anti-vaccine group has it one Saturday, and then the weekend after that, critical mass takes over and then the weekend after that we have an environmental cause, and then the weekend after that because of an industrial dispute.
Cooped up in a school science lab about a decade ago, I tinkered away on a more important STEM project. I was altering the HTML on my Tumblr site to add a music player widget. Visitors would be greeted by an acoustic One Direction cover of Jason Mrazs Im Yours  followed by some Bon Iver, for credibility.

Trying to access Facebook or Instagram while on school grounds returned only an error message. But the grown-ups in charge hadnt kept up with the meteoric rise of the blogging platform that peaked in popularity in 2014. It was open season.

The governments social media ban may lead to unintended consequences. Credit:

The teachers couldnt have known their selective ban would allow us to dedicate more time to our craft. One of my classmates quickly ascended to the status of Tumblr-famous, landing a modelling contract. Tens of thousands of unsuspecting followers relished nuggets of life and style advice dished out from the year 8 homeroom.

And because girls shouldnt have all the fun, Im reliably informed that X, then known as Twitter, was at the same time experiencing an unlikely surge in sign-ups from young men trapped in the ivory towers of private school boarding houses.
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InspirationTrain journeys I travelled across the breadth of Europe on trains over six weeks Tim Richards August 5, 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 32 View all comments

Im looking at Charles Dickens, and the great author is looking back at me. After all my trips to London, Im finally visiting the National Portrait Gallery near Trafalgar Square. Here you find portraits of the great and the good, and this 1855 portrait reminds me Dickens was a witness to the early days of the railways, and also a frequent traveller to Europe. The Eurostar, the only high-speed train used for the journey. iStock Given that, I suspect hed be envious of what Im about to do. Equipped with a Eurail pass on my phone, Im going to travel by train from London to Istanbul over six weeks, stopping off at cities along the way. In doing so, Ill be jumping aboard the bandwagon of the sleeper train revival thats swept Europe due to its environmental advantages. Of the eight trains taking me from the UK to Turkey, four will be sleepers, and Im curious to see how this old-school type of train travel has adapted to the 21st century.

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So, farewell, Charlie. Im off to Istanbul. London, UK to Amsterdam, Netherlands St Pancras Station, London. iStock My only high-speed train on the whole journey is a Eurostar service. Ive reserved a seat in Eurostar Plus class (basically premium economy) and board at beautiful St Pancras Station for the four-hour journey. Passport control takes place in London, where a French official stamps my passport and I enter the Schengen Area of passport-free travel. Its a pleasant journey to Amsterdam in my single seat (theres a one and two-seat layout) and I enjoy the rural scenery between cities. The complimentary lunch is, oddly, served soon after departure at 11.04am: a tasty cold chicken salad with a truly excellent chocolate tiffin for dessert. Amsterdam to Berlin, Germany

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Amsterdam Centraal Station. iStock Theres something delightfully atmospheric about waiting on a chilly platform for a sleeper train to distant parts. After a few days exploring Amsterdam and a scenic side-trip to pretty Utrecht (a handy use of the Eurail pass), I find myself at Amsterdam Centraal Station at 10.30pm. European Sleeper is a Belgian-Dutch night train which began service in 2023, and Im picking it up for the Amsterdam-Berlin leg. The single compartment on board the European Sleeper. Tim Richards Im ushered aboard by Dylan, a friendly young Dutch attendant. He tells me this sleeper carriage first saw service in 1955, though its been fully refurbished. Ive booked my compartment as a single, for sole use, via a reservation on top of the Eurail pass, and the compartment is spacious. Theres a bed, an armchair and a tall cabinet containing a washbasin and mirror. Comfortable in my little room, I wake at 5.15am to breakfast: a box containing a bread roll, cheese spread, jam, yoghurt, muesli and orange juice. An hour later, right on time, the train pulls into Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

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Berlin to Krakow, Poland There is stunning scenery on the train ride from Berlin to Krakow. iStock The online seat reservation for this Polish daytime train, named Galicja, costs only 4: a bargain for the comfortable first-class seats. It doesnt have an assigned seat number, so I spend the day changing seats as new passengers board. This does help me meet interesting people, as the facing seats encourage conversation. Im delighted to discover theres a dining car, and am soon enjoying a steaming bowl of rye-flour soup with egg and sausage, served in a ceramic bowl with metal cutlery. As we trundle past the green forests of Silesia, who could ask for anything better? Krakow to Budapest, Hungary

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Breakfast tray aboard Chopin enroute to Budapest. Tim Richards After a few days enjoying Krakows historic splendour (and its vodka), I board a Polish sleeper train, Chopin, at Krakow Glowny Station. Ive booked a single again and, surprisingly, my compartment has a bathroom complete with washbasin, toilet and shower. These were once sold as deluxe sleepers, but due to uncertain availability theyre now the same fare as sleepers without bathrooms; a nice bonus. In a cupboard I find a bottle of water, orange juice and a chocolate wafer bar. Then I head to bed for what I assume will be an uninterrupted sleep. But no. About 1.30am Im awoken by Czech ticket inspectors. Unable to find my printed reservation, I show them the phone version and theyre happy to scan that. Later I discover the train attendant kept hold of my reservation so I wouldnt be woken in the middle of the night. I wake again around 6.30am in Slovakia, and the attendant delivers my breakfast. Its similar to the one on my previous sleeper, with the addition of slabs of dense brown bread. I sip my coffee and admire the lovely scenery as we follow the Danube across the border to Hungary. Budapest to Brasov, Romania

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Keleti Station, Budapest. iStock At Budapests spectacularly grand Keleti Station I gain access to its retro-styled Premium Lounge, open to those with a sleeper reservation. Then I walk to my Hungarian sleeper train, the Corona. Built in the 1960s, its a retro delight with wood-panelled compartments. Im in a single, with a table, a washbasin and a cupboard containing snacks. It also has a standard electrical outlet and two USB-A slots, the most charging capacity Ive had on a sleeper train. Theres no air-conditioning, but as we move on this hot day, the open windows cool the interior. This experience is a stark contrast to the sleek high-speed trains of western Europe. However, it feels like true old-school rail travel, with fresh air and lots of rattling. The dining car of the retro Corona. Tim Richards The dining car has tables with red-and-white cloths, blue-upholstered seats, gilt-edged lampshades and curtains. As we pass through the flat Hungarian landscape with its peaked-roof houses and green fields, I enjoy goulash soup followed by pork ragu accompanied by a beer. This for me is rail travel at its best.

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After a decent sleep and an uneventful border crossing, I awake to the mists of Transylvania, with trees, houses and rivers looming out of the fog. Brasov to Bucharest, Romania Cafes by night in Bucharest. iStock Having enjoyed the historic sights in and around the attractive city of Brasov  including that famous tourist trap, Bran Castle  I ride a packed train for 2 hours to the Romanian capital. I had thought a Monday morning service would be empty but discover its the end of a long weekend. Though the seating is cramped, the scenery is moody as we descend from the Carpathian Mountains to the plains of Wallachia. Bucharest to Sofia, Bulgaria

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For 10 hours Im seated in a second-class compartment of a Bulgarian train with no air-conditioning, no dining car and dire toilets. Luckily there are only three of us in the compartment: me, an American school bus driver, who saves up for a big holiday every year, and a young Belgian on his university break. We get on well, but its a hot day and the train is glacially slow. The saving grace is the beautiful Bulgarian countryside, with its green rolling hills and rocky mountainsides. Sofia to Istanbul, Turkey Istanbuls impressive Suleymaniye Mosque. iStock Sofia Central Station is a revelation, its main hall restored to its brutalist-modernist style splendour. On platform five is the Turkish-operated Sofia-Istanbul Express and my compartment is another single. There are two armchairs folding down to a bed, a retractable table, a washbasin and, unexpectedly, a bar fridge. We pull out at 6.45pm and pass through attractive green countryside. About 1am we arrive at the Turkish border station where everyone alights for passport control and luggage scans. Its actually more relaxed than it sounds  its a balmy night, there are stray cats wandering about and the stations shop is open. In due course Im back aboard, and falling asleep.

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In the morning we pass wheat fields and apartment blocks before our arrival at Halkali at the western edge of Istanbul. All that remains is to board a train on the adjacent commuter railway line and travel to the historic heart of the great city. Standing on the platform, at the end of an unforgettable transcontinental rail journey, I take a moment to catch my breath. Related Article Train journeys The worlds 24 greatest railway experiences THE DETAILS RIDE

Eurail passes cover a range of time periods. A popular choice is 15 days of travel within two months, costing $US486 ($745) for second-class travel and $US617 for first class. Additional seat reservations are often required. MORE

eurail.com, seat61.com The writer travelled courtesy of Eurail and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

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Revered for their superb landscapes, quirky cultures and ability to nurture the finer details of life, the six main Nordic nations have a lot in common. But despite their shared latitudes and spectacular landscapes, these countries are wildly different. They each have special qualities that make a country unique  whether its a penchant for sweating in saunas or a passion for carving ice hotels.
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It used to be one of those unwritten laws in travel  accommodation companies did accommodation, tour companies did tours.

Intrepids Daintree Ecolodge.

That was before tour operators broke the mould with expansion into river and small ship cruising, a common synergy these days.

One shining example is Abercrombie & Kent, with its A&K Sanctuary division, comprising 15 African safari camps, lodges and five Nile riverboats with plans for further expansion internationally.

Australias famous tour company Intrepid Travel has also made a splash into the accommodation market, recently buying a resort in Tasmania and a riad in Morocco.
I think its fair to describe me as a Christian Zionist. I believe in the necessity of the Jewish people to have their own safe, secure homeland. And while I have never thought Israel was perfect (far from it), I have seen the antisemitism and genocidal intent animating its enemies in the Middle East, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.

I can see the extraordinary antisemitism and bias in the larger international community. When a United Nations that includes North Korea, Syria, Russia and China condemns Israel more than any other nation in the world (by far), you know that the Jewish state is being singled out.

Yazan Abu Ful, a two-year-old malnourished child, sits with his father in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Credit: AP

Im also a veteran of the Iraq War who served as judge advocate for an armoured cavalry regiment during the surge in Iraq in 2007 and 2008. Before I became a journalist, I was part of a legal team that defended Israel from war crime accusations after Operation Cast Lead, the Gaza war of 2008 and 2009.

I know that Israel had the right under international law to destroy Hamas military and to remove Hamas from power after the massacre in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. In other words, Israel had the right to respond to a terrorist force such as Hamas the way the United States and its allies responded to a terrorist force such as the Islamic State group after it launched its terrorist campaign across the Middle East and across Europe.
Every morning, when Fernando leaves his house for his job as a cook at a Bayside restaurant in downtown Miami, he checks several times to see if his printed asylum application papers are in his backpack. Faced with increasingly frequent raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, deployed as part of President Donald Trumps anti-immigrant crusade, these documents are his only shield to claim legal status in the United States. Since May 2025, Fernando and his partner have fallen into a legal limbo: the work permit granted to them by humanitarian parole has expired, as did parole itself for this Nicaraguan couple.

Walking on the streets is difficult because you look at a police officer and you get scared. Its scary that theyll catch you just because you have a dark, Latino face then ICE tells you: Youre coming with us, Fernando, a fictitious name, tells EL PAIS on condition of anonymity. This migrant has two fears: first, that the United States government will track him down for making these statements and deport him; and second, that the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo will identify him and confiscate his properties in Nicaragua, a country he fled because he opposed the co-presidential couple.

We live with the same fear we had in Nicaragua, says Lucy, Fernandos partner. Were in a different country, but the fear is the same: that one day we wont return home and theyll take us, like they did there, to prison or here, to a detention center.

Fernando and Lucy worked at a bank in Nicaragua and always ruled out irregular migration to the United States through Mexico due to the dangers involved. Since 2018, the year of the social protests, they endured constant harassment from the police and Sandinista paramilitaries. This was until 2022, when they applied for a temporary humanitarian parole, a path opened up by the Biden administration. They were accepted and arrived in Miami in June 2023, where a month later their lives took a new turn with the arrival of their baby girl in July.

To support his family, Fernando did all kinds of jobs. He carried tiles and loaded debris for remodeling projects, he worked for flooring companies, he was a construction assistant and drove long distances in a van without being paid for fuel or overtime. He even took jobs where he was never paid at all. After several months of abuse, he found some stability in the kitchen of a tourist restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay.

However, just as things were beginning to stabilize for these Nicaraguans, their parole and work permits expired. They thought they were safe: before their status expired, they began the process of applying for political asylum. They had always feared Trump and his anti-immigrant rhetoric. Seeing the Republican return to the White House was, in their words, like a bucket of cold water. But the real blow to their peace of mind came later, when the president ordered an indefinite freeze on asylum applications from migrants who entered the United States under the parole program.

The anxiety is constant. Theres fear at work. Were on guard on the streets. Weve even considered moving to Switzerland, where I have a sister. But whats holding us back most in the United States is our daughter. Were here for her. Because theres no future in Nicaragua. The basic food basket costs more than what we earned. We couldnt support her there... and here the girl will be able to access an education that we couldnt provide her in Nicaragua, the couple reflects in unison while the little girl plays at a ceviche restaurant in Miami, near Bayside, where they meet with EL PAIS.

The daily limbo

Fernando complains about a limbo that gets bigger every day, especially after one of the latest news stories they saw on CNN at the end of June. That is, that Trump plans to take new action that would directly affect asylum seekers already in the country, who could face express deportation without even the right to a hearing. According to the U.S. media network, the Republican administration plans to deny the asylum applications of hundreds of thousands of people. Those affected would be migrants who entered illegally and then requested protection. Although technically the couple entered legally, under the parole program, Trump has insisted on describing this mechanism as an illegality created by his predecessor.

We dont know anything anymore. Theyre not respecting what the judges say either, says Fernando. The fear of these Nicaraguans is shared by a broader community: 96,000 Nicaraguans who arrived in the United States under the parole program, and whose legal limbo has now also extended to another 4,000 who were living under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). On July 8, the Department of Homeland Security announced the cancellation of TPS for Nicaragua, and since then, the possibility of being deported has tormented them every day.

ICE data indicates that its agents arrested approximately 30,000 immigrants in Junethe highest number since Trump returned to powerof whom 18,000 were deported. In the case of Nicaraguans, the State Department reported that since January 2025, Managua has received 22 flights with 2,527 deportees.

Sorry to repeat this, but were very scared, say Fernando and Lucy. Leaving home means not knowing if well ever return. Even more so now that theyve opened that detention center nearby, which looks more like a concentration camp, they continue, referring to Alligator Alcatraz. We know that if they catch us, were candidates for imprisonment there. We dont know for how long But even worse: if they deport us, we could end up in Nicaragua. Its horrible to live with this anxiety and with the little girl.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Early Sunday morning on August 3rd, 2025, just around 1:00 AM, a serious scooter accident took place near the Princess Juliana International Airport. Several police patrols, the traffic department, and ambulance personnel were dispatched to the location.

According to a preliminary investigation, the rider, who was coming from the Causeway Bridge heading toward Maho, lost control near the airport entrance, hit a raised curb, and fell off the scooter.

He suffered a head injury and is currently in the at SMMC. Due to the seriousness of his condition, he will be airlifted abroad for further treatment.

The investigation is ongoing. The Police urge all scooter and motorcycle riders to be cautious and wear the necessary safety gear.

KPSM Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Romeo Pantophlet, a former Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunications (TEATT) of Sint Maarten, passed away this morning in Florida. He was 72 years old. A prominent member of the National Alliance (NA), Pantophlet made significant contributions to the islands political and economic landscape during his years of public service.

Pantophlet served as a Member of Parliament and was a leading figure in the political sphere as a member of the National Alliance. Known for his hands-on approach, he took on the role of Minister of TEATT, where he oversaw key areas such as tourism, transportation, and telecommunicationssectors vital to Sint Maartens economy.

During his tenure, Pantophlet was instrumental in pushing for initiatives aimed at strengthening the islands infrastructure and promoting economic growth. His time at TEATT included tackling tourism-related challenges and addressing transportation policies to improve the community's quality of life.

Romeo Pantophlets legacy extends beyond his roles as MP and minister. At a critical juncture, he was appointed temporary manager of GEBE, Sint Maarten's government-owned utility company, ensuring stability while leadership transitions were underway. This appointment highlighted the trust placed in him to steer critical institutions with care and diligence.

Over the years, Pantophlet participated in multiple elections under the National Alliance banner, drawing significant voter support. Though his election outcomes varied, his consistent standing within the political arena cemented his reputation as a trusted figure among his constituents and fellow politicians.

Pantophlets contributions to public life earned him a well-regarded place in the political and social fabric of Sint Maarten. His work was often highlighted in local media and political discussions, showcasing his influence and commitment to serving the island.

The news of his passing has sent a wave of sorrow across Sint Maarten and among the diaspora. Pantophlets dedication to his nation and his humble approach to leadership have left an indelible mark on those who worked alongside him and the wider Sint Maarten community.

Romeo Pantophlet survived by his family and a legacy of service that will be remembered for generations. Further details surrounding memorial services and tributes are expected to be announced in the coming days.

The National Alliance and members of Sint Maartens government have expressed their condolences to his family, honoring the impact of one of their own who dedicated his life to the progress and well-being of Sint Maarten.
China's Baidu to deploy robotaxis on rideshare app Lyft



Beijing, Aug 4 (AFP) Aug 04, 2025



Chinese internet giant Baidu plans to launch its robotaxis on rideshare app Lyft in Germany and Britain in 2026, pending regulatory approval, the two companies said on Monday.

Last month, Baidu announced a similar agreement with Uber in Asia and the Middle East as it seeks to take pole position in the competitive autonomous driving field both at home and abroad.

Lyft and Baidu said Monday that "in the following years" the fleet of Apollo Go driverless cars will be expanded to thousands of vehicles across Europe.

They did not specify which other countries the cars would be deployed in, and it was not clear how long it might take to gain regulatory approval for the initial deployment.

Driverless taxis are already on some roads with limited capacity in the United States and China, most notably in the central city of Wuhan, where a fleet of over 500 can be hailed by app in designated areas.

Their reach is spreading, with Shanghai's financial district Pudong recently announcing a batch of permits for multiple companies to operate robotaxis.

China's tech companies and automakers have poured billions of dollars into self-driving technology in recent years, with intelligent driving the new battleground in the country's cutthroat domestic car market.

Baidu is not alone among Chinese companies in searching to expand its foothold abroad.

Its rival WeRide is also active in the Gulf region, and in January announced it had been picked to lead a small pilot project in Switzerland.

Pony.AI, another Chinese company, said in May that it had signed a deal to launch its self-driving taxis on Uber in "a key market in the Middle East later this year".

San Francisco-based Lyft in April said it had agreed to buy German taxi app Freenow, planting a flag in the European market.

The acquisition marked Lyft's "most significant expansion outside North America", the group said.

isk/reb/lb

Baidu

Lyft
Press Release from Business Wire: Mindbreeze



(AFP) Aug 04, 2025



CHICAGO, Aug 4, 2025 (BSW) - Mindbreeze, a global leader in AI-powered knowledge management solutions, introduced integrated support for multimodal Large Language Models (LLMs) to its flagship product, Mindbreeze InSpire. This enhancement enables enterprises to seamlessly process and analyze mixed data types-including text, images, videos, and audio files-within a single product.

"Mindbreeze InSpire applies enterprise-grade AI to analyze text, images, videos, and audio files," said Daniel Fallmann, Founder and CEO of Mindbreeze. "This upgrade extends our capabilities in applying multimodal AI to real-world enterprise data and use cases, empowering organizations with fast, reliable, and trustworthy insights to drive their most critical business processes."

With multimodal LLMs now built directly into Mindbreeze InSpire, organizations can automatically transcribe and summarize audio and video content and understand embedded multimedia within documents. This built-in capability streamlines the understanding of enterprise data, reduces manual effort, and supports critical business decisions.

About Mindbreeze

Mindbreeze is a global leader in AI-powered enterprise intelligence, with headquarters in Europe and the United States. Mindbreeze InSpire redefines how organizations access and utilize information. Powered by advanced AI, it transforms complex data into actionable insights, seamlessly connecting and analyzing information across systems.

Unlike traditional solutions, our AI agents deliver hyper-relevant, context-aware insights tailored to unique business needs, enabling smarter, faster decision-making. With unmatched integration capabilities, data security, and automation at its core, Mindbreeze InSpire maximizes the value of your information ecosystem while driving innovation.

Trusted by industry leaders and recognized for our cutting-edge technology, Mindbreeze leads the way in unlocking new dimensions of enterprise intelligence.

Learn more at www.mindbreeze.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X @Mindbreeze.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250804588328/en/









Contact

Media Contact: Britney Chandler +1 (312) 300-6745 [email protected]
80 years on, Korean survivors of WWII atomic bombs still suffer



Hapcheon, South Korea, Aug 4 (AFP) Aug 04, 2025



Bae Kyung-mi was five years old when the Americans dropped "Little Boy", the atomic bomb that flattened Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

Like thousands of other ethnic Koreans working in the city at the time, her family kept the horror a secret.

Many feared the stigma from doing menial work for colonial ruler Japan, and false rumours that radiation sickness was contagious.

Bae recalls hearing planes overhead while she was playing at her home in Hiroshima on that day.

Within minutes, she was buried in rubble.

"I told my mom in Japanese, 'Mom! There are airplanes!'" Bae, now 85, told AFP.

She passed out shortly after.

Her home collapsed on top of her, but the debris shielded her from the burns that killed tens of thousands of people -- including her aunt and uncle.

After the family moved back to Korea, they did not speak of their experience.

"I never told my husband that I was in Hiroshima and a victim of the bombing," Bae said.

"Back then, people often said you had married the wrong person if he or she was an atomic bombing survivor."

Her two sons only learned she had been in Hiroshima when she registered at a special centre set up in 1996 in Hapcheon in South Korea for victims of the bombings, she said.

Bae said she feared her children would suffer from radiation-related illnesses that afflicted her, forcing her to have her ovaries and a breast removed because of the high cancer risk.



- A burning city -



She knew why she was getting sick, but did not tell her own family.

"We all hushed it up," she said.

Some 740,000 people were killed or injured in the twin bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

More than 10 percent of the victims were Korean, data suggests, the result of huge flows of people to Japan while it colonised the Korean peninsula.

Survivors who stayed in Japan found they had to endure discrimination both as "hibakusha", or atomic bomb survivors, and as Koreans.

Many Koreans also had to choose between pro-Pyongyang and pro-Seoul groups in Japan, after the peninsula was left divided by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Kwon Joon-oh's mother and father both survived the attack on Hiroshima.

The 76-year-old's parents, like others of their generation, could only work by taking on "filthy and dangerous jobs" that the Japanese considered beneath them, he said.

Korean victims were also denied an official memorial for decades, with a cenotaph for them put up in the Hiroshima Peace Park only in the late 1990s.

Kim Hwa-ja was four on August 6, 1945 and remembers being put on a makeshift horse-drawn trap as her family fled tried to flee Hiroshima after the bomb.

Smoke filled the air and the city was burning, she said, recalling how she peeped out from under a blanket covering her, and her mother screaming at her not to look.

Korean groups estimate that up to 50,000 Koreans may have been in the city that day, including tens of thousands working as forced labourers at military sites.



- Stigma -



But records are sketchy.

"The city office was devastated so completely that it wasn't possible to track down clear records," a Hiroshima official told AFP.

Japan's colonial policy banned the use of Korean names, further complicating record-keeping.

After the attacks, tens of thousands of Korean survivors moved back to their newly-independent country.

But many have struggled with health issues and stigma ever since.

"In those days, there were unfounded rumours that radiation exposure could be contagious," said Jeong Soo-won, director of the country's Hapcheon Atomic Bomb Victim Center.

Nationwide, there are believed to be some 1,600 South Korean survivors still alive, Jeong said -- with 82 of them in residence at the center.

Seoul enacted a special law in 2016 to help the survivors -- including a monthly stipend of around $72 -- but it provides no assistance to their offspring or extended families.

"There are many second- and third-generation descendants affected by the bombings and suffering from congenital illnesses," said Jeong.

A provision to support them "must be included" in future, he said.

A Japanese hibakusha group won the Nobel Peace Prize last year in recognition of their efforts to show the world the horrors of nuclear war.

But 80 years after the attacks, many survivors in both Japan and Korea say the world has not learned.



- 'Only talk' -



US President Donald Trump recently compared his strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"Would he understand the tragedy of what the Hiroshima bombing has caused? Would he understand that of Nagasaki?" survivor Kim Gin-ho said.

In Korea, the Hapcheon center will hold a commemoration on August 6 -- with survivors hoping that this year the event will attract more attention.

From politicians, "there has been only talk... but no interest", she said.
Trump confirms US envoy Witkoff to travel to Russia in coming week



Washington, Aug 4 (AFP) Aug 04, 2025



Donald Trump confirmed Sunday his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia in the coming week, ahead of a deadline the US president has set for imposing fresh sanctions on Moscow.

Speaking to reporters, Trump also said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now "in the region."

Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.

The nuclear saber-rattling came against the backdrop of a deadline set by Trump at the end of next week for Russia to take steps towards ending the Ukraine war or face unspecified new sanctions.

The Republican leader said Witkoff would visit "I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow, before Trump's efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt.

When reporters asked what Witkoff's message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."



- 'Secondary tariffs' -



Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean "secondary tariffs" targeting Russia's remaining trade partners, such as China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption.

Despite the pressure from Washington, Russia has continued its onslaught against its pro-Western neighbor.

Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said Friday that he wants peace but that his demands for ending his nearly three-and-a-half-year invasion were "unchanged."

"We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries," Putin told reporters.

But he added that "the conditions (from the Russian side) certainly remain the same."

Russia has frequently called on Ukraine to effectively cede control of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable.

Putin also wants Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join NATO.

Ukraine launched a drone attack Sunday which sparked a fire at an oil depot in Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Kyiv has said it will intensify its air strikes against Russia in response to an increase in Russian attacks on its territory in recent weeks, which have killed dozens of civilians.

Russia's Ministry of Defence said on Monday, its air defences intercepted 61 Ukrainian drones overnight.

One person was killed by Russian shelling in the southern Kherson region, Ukraine's military administration said in Telegram post early Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said Sunday that the two sides were preparing a prisoner exchange that would see 1,200 Ukrainian troops return home, following talks with Russia in Istanbul in July.

Trump began his second term with his own rosy predictions that the war in Ukraine -- raging since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022 -- would soon end.

In recent weeks, Trump has increasingly voiced frustration with Putin over Moscow's unrelenting offensive.
Belarus, Taiwan among expected attendees for Hiroshima memorial



Tokyo, Aug 4 (AFP) Aug 04, 2025



A record number of countries and regions will attend the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, including Russia ally Belarus and first-timers Taiwan and Palestinian representatives, officials said Monday.

The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killing some 140,000 people. Three days later a second device was used on Nagasaki, with some 74,000 others losing their lives.

Representatives from 120 countries and regions -- plus the European Union -- are expected to attend the Hiroshima ceremony on Wednesday, according to Hiroshima officials.

These however don't include prominent nuclear states like Russia, China and Pakistan.

Hiroshima this year didn't handpick and "invite" foreign representatives, instead "notifying" all countries and regions that the event will be held.

This allowed the city to approach economies Japan doesn't officially recognise as countries, such as Taiwan and Palestine, both of which are expected to attend for the first time.

Meanwhile, Nagasaki said Friday that its memorial is also expected to draw a record turnout.

As of Monday last week, 101 countries and regions had provisionally expressed their intentions to attend.

This includes Russia, attending for the first time since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Nagasaki's decision last year to exclude Israel's ambassador prompted the then US envoy to Japan to boycott the ceremony.

The city said at the time that the move was "not politically motivated" but a safety precaution against potential disturbances like protests over the Gaza conflict.

"We wanted attendees to visit us and know first-hand the reality of what catastrophe a nuclear weapon can bring", a Nagasaki official told AFP last week.

Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15, 1945.
Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data

I have just returned from Atalaia do Norte, in the Brazilian Amazon, where I stood on June 5 by the Javari River to honor the memories of my friends, British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who were brutally murdered there for their unwavering defense of Indigenous rights and the Amazon.

What I witnessed there was not just remembrance; it was a stark reminder of what is at stake: the lives of all humans and the rest of nature, the preservation of Indigenous territories, and the right to dream of an Amazon beyond the plunder of capitalist extraction. The Dom and Bruno mission  to listen to Indigenous voices and defend the forest  continues to guide those of us who believe that the Amazon is not a resource to be exploited, but a living, breathing archive of ancestral knowledge, dignity, and resistance. I have walked both the halls of global climate conferences and the flooded trails of the rainforest, and in both places, Ive taken time to listen. What I hear are not corporate promises, but ancestral warnings, the same ones Dom Phillips summed up in his posthumous book How to Save the Amazon: People need to learn from Indigenous peoples that only collective, community thinking, not individual greed, can save the Amazon.

His words carry added urgency today. The Amazon does not need another showpiece summit centered around a spectacle of world leaders disengaged from the reality of the Amazon. Whats needed are actions grounded in care, justice, and respect for the forests original stewards. What I have witnessed in the Amazon is not just environmental degradation, but the erosion of meaning, of belonging. The crisis is not only ecological, but also civilizational.

The price of exclusion

As COP30 approaches, the worlds eyes turn to Belem and to the staggering cost of hotel beds, reportedly up to three times higher than in Glasgow during COP26. It is a bitter irony that these extortionate charges mirror the very predatory capitalism that is destroying the Amazon in its inexorable pursuit of financial gain. However, this is not just a matter of inflated cost; it is about exclusion. Delegates from poorer nations and grassroots civil society organizations, many of whom represent the communities most affected by the climate crisis, are being priced out of participation. (What kind of climate justice is possible when the cost of attending the Peoples COP (the parallel forum for NGOs and popular organizations) in Belem will range from $8,400 to $16,800 per person?)

If Belem becomes a playground for the privileged, the Amazon will once again be commodified as a spectacle, its rivers, peoples, and ecosystems turned into decor for diplomatic posturing. Climate governance cannot be auctioned to the highest bidder. If COP30 excludes the very voices it claims to uplift, it will not be a summit of solutions, but a symbol of hypocrisy.

Negotiation or performance?

As the recent United Call for an Urgent Reform of the UN Climate Talks reminds us, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process has consistently failed to deliver meaningful outcomes. Emissions continue to rise. Indigenous and traditional communities remain sidelined. The Amazon ecosystem, a crucial planetary regulator, is on the brink.

Meanwhile, over the past 30 years, COP summits have grown into media spectacles, massive, performative, and often hollow. With lavish pavilions, glossy campaigns, and corporate branding, the Blue Zone  the space for official negotiations) has become a climate-themed marketplace, increasingly detached from the communities most affected by ecological collapse. This is not mere optics, it is a political failure.

A recent investigation by The New York Times revealed that the number of participants at climate summits has grown exponentially. While COP29 had 71,000 attendees, COP28 in Dubai hosted more than 84,000, with fossil fuel lobbyists, corporations, and government delegations dominating the event. Far from signaling progress, this bloated attendance reflects the widening gap between decision-makers and the frontline communities most affected by the climate crisis.

The Amazon is not a backdrop

Belem is not just a city; it is a gateway to one of the most complex and threatened biomes on Earth. Holding COP30 in the Amazon is, in itself, a powerful statement and provides a remarkable opportunity to shift the narrative, to re-center Indigenous knowledge, reimagine governance, and elevate biocultural alternatives to extraction.

But how can this happen if fossil fuel companies sponsor the largest pavilions? If the Brazilian government auctions off offshore blocks to oil companies along the Amazon coast? If the same Indigenous communities that defend the forest are invited to perform on stage but are silenced at the negotiating table? If policy reform is discussed in air-conditioned tents while just a few miles away rivers flood and forests burn?

Fix governance, not the optics

The Brazilian government has touted innovation in governanceat this COP, through decentralized forums, task forces, and a multi-actor mutirao, or collective effort. While this signals openness, many within civil society fear dilution. There is little clarity about who is accountable, what decision-making structures exist, and how grassroots knowledge will be valued.

If COP30 fails to meaningfully integrate these voices, if it continues to serve the diplomatic choreography of elite actors and corporations, it will not only fall short of its policy goals but will further erode trust in global climate processes.

In Belem, we have the chance to depart from the path of climate colonialism. To reject the model in which the Global South becomes a showroom for the grammar book of bioeconomies and green growth while extraction continues under new guises.

Real climate action must dismantle the structures that created the crisis. That means ending fossil fuel expansion. It means confronting agribusiness and mining interests. It means seeing Indigenous knowledge not as complementary, but as central.

Rebuild, dont rebrand

To achieve this we need a COP built on accountability, equity, and radical listening, a COP that enshrines Indigenous territorial rights, ends fossil fuel subsidies, and opens itself up to non-state actors in more than symbolic ways.

Let us not allow COP30 to become another climate carnival of exclusion, greenwashing, and government performance. Let it be a rupture: a moment where the Amazon speaks not from the sidelines, but from the center of the world stage.

The Amazon is not a destination. It is a warning, a teacher, and a mirror. And it will not wait.

Dom Phillips believed the answers were already there, in Indigenous stewardship, in collective responsibility, in learning to unlearn. If we ignore these lessons in Belem, we risk not just failing the forest and its Peoples, we risk losing our last chance to truly listen to it.

MARCOS COLON is the Southwest Borderlands Initiative Professor of Media and Indigenous Communities at Arizona State Universitys Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He is also the author of The Amazon in Times of War (2024) and the organizer of Utopias Amazonicas (2025)

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Philippines' Marcos in India as navies hold joint drills



New Delhi, Aug 4 (AFP) Aug 04, 2025



Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos arrived in India on Monday on a visit aimed at strengthening defence and strategic ties between nations as they navigate tensions with China across the Asia-Pacific.

The five-day visit follows the Philippines' acquisition of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system -- the first such export by New Delhi -- with deliveries beginning in April under a $375 million deal signed in 2022.

The visit comes as Indian Navy warships take part in patrols of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time.

Talks between Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected Tuesday with a focus on expanding maritime security coordination and intelligence-sharing.

The Philippines has heightened defence cooperation with a range of allies over the past year after a series of clashes in the contested waterway.

"Our unwavering commitment to regional peace and cooperation serve as a credible foundation of our active and growing maritime cooperation," Marcos said before his departure from Manila.

Marcos said that both countries share a "geostrategic position as coastal states that border the busiest international trade routes".

India is a member of the Quad group, which includes fellow democracies the United States, Japan and Australia.

Beijing has repeatedly alleged that the four-way partnership, first conceived by late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, was created as a way of containing China.

burs-pjm/lb
Iran says US accountability for attacks on nuclear sites part of any future talks



Tehran, Aug 4 (AFP) Aug 04, 2025



Iran said Monday it would hold the United States accountable for attacks on its nuclear sites in any future negotiations, while ruling out direct talks with Washington.

The United States struck key Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22, briefly joining a war launched by Israel that had derailed talks on Tehran's atomic programme.

"In any potential negotiation... the issue of holding the United States accountable and demanding compensation for committing military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities will be one of the topics on the agenda," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a press briefing on Monday.

Asked whether Iran would engage in direct talks with the United States, Baqaei said: "No."

In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented attack targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, but also hitting residential areas over 12 days of war. US forces joined with attacks on nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz.

The fighting derailed talks that began in April and had been the highest-level contact between Tehran and Washington since the United States abandoned in 2018 a landmark agreement on Iran's nuclear activities.

Following the war, Tehran suspended cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and demanded guarantees against military action before resuming any negotiations.

Washington has dismissed Tehran's call for compensation as "ridiculous".

Baqaei said on Monday that Iran was committed to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, but criticised what he described as the "politicised and unprofessional approach" of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The foreign ministry spokesman said that the IAEA's deputy chief is expected in Iran "in less than 10 days".

Later on Monday, the head of the Iranian parliament's national security commission, Ebrahim Azizi, said the visiting delegation from the IAEA "will be strictly and exclusively authorised to conduct technical and expert-level discussions with Iranian officials and experts".

"Under no circumstances will physical access to Iran's nuclear facilities be granted, and no inspections by this delegation or any other foreign entity will be permitted at the country's nuclear sites," the lawmaker said, according to Tasnim news agency.

Last month, Iran said future cooperation with the UN agency would take on a "new form".

On July 25, Iranian diplomats met with counterparts from Germany, Britain and France, in the first such meeting since the war with Israel ended.

The three European powers are parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, which unravelled after the US withdrew during Trump's first term.

In recent weeks, the trio has threatened to trigger sanctions if Tehran failed to agree a deal on uranium enrichment and cooperation with UN inspectors.

Iran has repeatedly called reimposing sanctions "illegal" and insisted on its right to enrich uranium.

Israel and Western nations accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.
Somalia's Puntland releases arms cargo ship to Turkey



Mogadishu, Aug 4 (AFP) Aug 04, 2025



The Somali state of Puntland on Monday said it was "handing over responsibility" to Turkey for a cargo ship carrying military equipment that it seized last month, provoking the federal government.

The oil-rich area declared its autonomy in 1998, and the region has had tense relations with the central government in Mogadishu.

Puntland forces intercepted the Comoros-flagged vessel, saying it had been observed "loitering" near the coast and could pose a security risk.

Mogadishu protested the move, calling it "an act of piracy", and said the ship was carrying equipment for a Turkish military base in the country as well as goods for Somali traders.

In a statement on Monday Puntland government said a Turkish delegation led by its ambassador to Somalia held a meeting in the region and provided "proof that all the property belongs to the Turkish government".

"Puntland government decided to hand over the responsibility of the vessel and the shipment it is carrying to the Turkish government," it said in the statement.

The semi-autonomous region said it had wanted to "ensure that the military equipment does not fall into hands that might threaten Somalia's security and stability."

Puntland launched an offensive in December against Islamic State forces present in the region.








The first post-Aiden episode moves plots along and shows a much lighter and freer Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) enjoying autumn. Her house is starting to come together, and we know from the voiceover that "the woman returned to herselfand the family that would never inhabit her home, or her heart, faded from her life" That's cold, and I'm here for it.





Duncan (Jonathan Cake) continues to fawn over Carrie's novel in progress. There must be something we're not seeing, right? The plot device of having "the man" come back from the war only to die from an untreated wound from a previous battle? A bit on the nose. Is the man's name Sh-mayden? What is compelling is how Duncan complements Carrie. She's smart and clever. This is meaningful to Carrie, who has often been called sexy or cute. She likes the person that Duncan sees. It empowers her. What's concerning is that Duncan has missed deadlines for his Thatcher book.





Steve's (David Eigenberg) back! It's time for an awkward family dinner where Brady (Niall Cunningham) delivers both good news and bad news to Steve and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). Good news! He's found some direction and has enrolled in the Institute for Culinary Education. Miranda and Steve are thrilled, but their joy is short-lived. Brady goes on to tell them that he's gotten someone pregnant. He hooked up with a girl named Mia, maybe twice (how does that work?), and doesn't know her last name. Steve is incensed, and Miranda is trying to gather facts by questioning the baby's paternity and wondering if Mia is keeping the baby. I feel Steve's frustration, especially when Brady says, "It's cool."







Better Than Sex-AND JUST LIKE THAT, Pictured: Niall Cunningham as Brady Hobbes, Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes, and David Eigenberg as Steve Brady . Photo by Craig Blankenhorn/MAX 2025 MAX. All Rights Reserved









Miranda gets Carrie and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) on a three-way call to break the news. I'm distracted by Carrie wearing a cardigan over tights sans pants. What the hell's going on in that house? I like that Charlotte vocalizes this as her worst nightmare. Carrie brings some more honesty to the situation by sharing that if Mia doesn't want Brady involved, she most likely won't let Miranda be involved either. I feel hijinks coming.





The Anthony (Mario Cantone) and Giuseppe (Sebastiano Pigazzi) storyline is a bit of a yadda-yadda-yadda; they now live together. It takes a detour when Giuseppe realizes that his elderly puppeteer roommate not only whittled a puppet that looks just like him, but he also uses it to pleasure himself. And just like that, I never want to watch Pinocchio again. What I wanted to see was Anthony telling this story to Charlotte to bring him into the mix, but that never happened.





On the subject of unrelated plotlines, election night approaches for Herbert Wexley's (Chris Jackson) run for city comptroller. There was a lot of lead-up to this, with multiple mentions of campaign manager Chauncy, but the election was over in a blink, with Herbert losing despite being ahead in the polls. Again, where is Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker) sharing this information with Charlotte, or a scene with the ladies going to vote?





When we do see Charlotte, she's trying to redeem her free session with Rhonda Portante (Susie Essman) for a psychic energy cleanse, but keeps being interrupted by work being done on her home. Rhonda doesn't have her camera on and seems bothered by Charlottes frivolous life. That's why its actually compelling when, in the end, Charlotte breaks down about being so scared when Harry was sick, and Rhonda turns on her camera to provide a guided meditation. First of all, I want Susie Essman to give me a psychic energy cleanse, and second, this is what's infuriating about this show. Charlotte had a good storyline, but they threw her into these comedic situations that felt forced and deeply unfunny. It was a good idea, but it had lousy execution.





Seema (Sarita Choudhury) and her deodorant-free Adam (Logan Marshall-Green) continue to take two steps forward and three steps back. Adam lives in a beautiful rent-controlled apartment and shares intimate information about his deceased mother. Seema keeps looking for the red flag that will end this relationship, but Adam continues to surprise and meet Seema exactly where she is. It's kind of sweet, but also seems to be the plot of a different series.





Miranda and Charlotte attempt to locate Mia at the hair salon where she works. We know there are hijinks because Miranda's wearing a hat. They meet Mia, who is not a stylist, but rather the gassy shampoo person played by Ben Stiller's daughter, Ella. Mia is painfully honest that she's only keeping the baby because it will be a double Libra. Yikes. Miranda comes clean and shares that she's Brady's mom and wants to be involved in the baby's life, but Mia shoots her down. Where is this storyline going?







Better Than Sex-AND JUST LIKE THAT, Pictured: Kristin Davis as Charlotte York Goldenblatt and Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes.. Photo by Craig Blankenhorn/MAX 2025 MAX. All Rights Reserved











Duncan finally sees Carrie's closet and does a cringeworthy thing, talking to her shoes in a way that implies asking her out. I kind of liked him better when he was grumpy. He eventually asks her to a party his publisher is hosting, and she agrees. Carrie initially puts on a gray suit to wear, but thinks better of it and changes into a Vivienne Westwood ensemble. We see old-school Carrie strutting into the party, where she is greeted by Duncan's editor/ex-wife and Carrie Bradshaw enthusiast, Imogen (Tina Benko). I don't write fan fiction, but how funny would it be for Imogen to be best friends with Samantha in London and give Carrie a stern British talking-to? Imogen does indicate that Duncan's time in New York is coming to an end. Although initially Carrie doesn't want to kiss Duncan goodnight, she turns and initiates a kiss. There is no indication that this will become a relationship. It was a meaningful experience that helped Carrie come back to life, trust her instincts, stop apologizing for everything, and forge forward.





Better Than Sex-AND JUST LIKE THAT, Pictured: Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw. Photo by Craig Blankenhorn/MAX 2025 MAX. All Rights Reserved







We received news this week that AJLT would end with this season, so we have a two-part finale to wrap up the show. It's funny; I look forward to this show every week, but I hate it during and after. This cycle then repeats. I'll be sad when it's over, but it was a failed experiment. In an attempt to revisit these characters and see them as vibrant people navigating new challenges and experiences, it became a parody of its old self. The show thought it had something important to say, and it really could have accomplished this, but the characters were too rich and removed from real life to be relatable.





Can the two-part series finale redeem the series, or will it fall flat? Is this like one of those collections of short stories that seem unrelated and, in the end, everything makes sense?








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Partey was set free on bail, with conditions that he does not contact the alleged victims, notifies police three days in advance if he is moving home, telling police officers if he is staying at a different address for more than two weeks, and giving 24 hours notice of any international travel.
Turning to social media creators who advertise illegal routes into the UK, Dame Angela said: We will stop anyone who comes to the UK where weve got evidence, and what happens is that the people smugglers are getting people to say how safe the journeys were and do adverts once theyre in the UK.
Ms Forbes said: I remain wholly supportive of the First Minister just as when I backed him to be leader of the SNP and I look forward to campaigning for the SNP at the next election  to lead Scotland to independence.
While he worked as a driver for Lyft, Elias went out each day without knowing how much money he would earn. He had two options: set himself a goal of working eight hours and settle for whatever he earned in that time, or set a goal of earning, say, $100 during the day, no matter how many hours it took. He had no guarantees. No fixed salary, no health insurance, no accident protection. And it was even less certain that he would get back home without being stopped by immigration officials. That was the worst part, he says. You go out to work, and any tiny little thing could mean the end. A blown light bulb, a wrong turn, and the police can stop you. If you dont have your papers in order, you can screw up your life over a hundred bucks.

Elias is a 32-year-old Cuban who arrived in Texas through the humanitarian parole program. When the Trump administration eliminated the benefits available to people who entered the country this way, Elias lost his work permit and drivers license. Like many immigrants in similar situations, he decided to make a living with a rented account on the Lyft app, without legal status, working with fear. Those apps dont give you anything. Theyre a trap. But thats the way it is, he says.

Although exact figures are lacking, it is estimated that between 3.5 and 4.5 million immigrants in the United States work for apps like Uber, DoorDash or Lyft. Data from the Pew Research Center and McKinsey indicate that 45% of those working on these platforms are immigrants. In New York, the figure can reach 90%, according to the Independent Drivers Guild. This type of employment is known as the gig economy. Many see it as a way to earn extra income. Others, as a means of survival.

Now, the anti-immigrant policies promoted by President Donald Trump add an extra layer of vulnerability. Several Latino drivers tell EL PAIS that they feel more at risk of being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while working for these apps than if they were in a regular workplace.

I was doing this because I had nothing else. It was my only income. But you cant live like this, on the streets all day knowing that if the police stop you, they can deport you, says Elias, who asked that his real name be withheld for fear of immigration authorities. In fact, all the delivery drivers interviewed for this story asked that their real identities be withheld for fear of reprisals.

You have to drive in such a way that you more or less go unnoticed, opined a 21-year-old Venezuelan. Youre constantly at risk of being caught. Another 25-year-old Venezuelan woman said she stopped working for Uber Eats out of fear: I know people who have been deported because they were stopped while driving. Ive never been stopped, but its better not to take the risk.

ICE agents detain a migrant in California in June. Damian Dovarganes (AP)

The worker takes the blame

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2021, 16% of American adults had earned money through these apps at some point, and at least 9% had done so during that year. Flexibility is one of the most common reasons people are drawn to these types of jobs, although they offer limited benefits. According to the study, 23% of platform workers say they rely on them to cover their basic needs. Meanwhile, 35% consider them an important source of income, although not necessarily the only one.

The vast majority of them work under deplorable conditions. You dont get vacation time or days off or anything. And if something happens to the passenger, youre responsible. The app isnt responsible for that, Elias asserts.

A recent Human Rights Watch report notes that companies like Amazon, Flex, Uber, and Lyft impose opaque, unequal, and often abusive working conditions. Workers, classified as independent contractors, lack fundamental protections such as minimum wage, health insurance or workers compensation.

Antonio, a Colombian who has been delivering packages for Amazon Flex for two years, says that once, while working, his car broke down. I had to call a tow truck and pay for the repairs and everything. The only thing technical support told me was to deliver the packages the next day before 10 a.m. They paid me as if I had delivered the packages on time. But they didnt give me any support.

In the case of Amazon Flex, each package has a barcode that must be scanned upon pickup at the warehouse. Antonio has experienced that, upon arriving at the destination indicated by the app, he doesnt have the box hes supposed to deliver. In those cases, you notify technical support, and they take it off the route. But the customer can say they didnt receive the order, and thats where the problem starts, because they can flag you down and demote you, he explains.

One of the most worrying aspects for Human Rights Watch is the use of algorithms that assign tasks, set rates, and penalize behavior without any transparency. This lack of information leaves millions of people in an unstable position, where the blame always falls on the worker.

According to Antonio, his rating as a driver on the app has suffered for reasons beyond his control. Its no longer excellent, but good. Tomorrow, he explains, if I have another problem, they can block me. And then I cant work for them anymore. People I know have complained about having their accounts canceled for no reason, about being penalized for things that werent their fault. And its always us who lose. The one who always loses is the driver, he adds.

To address these conditions, a bill introduced in the federal Senate at the end of last July proposes requiring these digital platforms to issue weekly pay reports, including hours worked, hourly pay, deductions applied, and the percentage retained by the company. It also proposes requiring them to submit public reports to the Department of Labor. For the first time, the bill, called the Empowering App-Based Workers Act, would establish rights and transparency for those who work on these apps. However, given the Republican Partys control of both chambers, the proposal has little chance of passing.

A living wage

Antonio lives in Texas and he is 58 years old. He was laid off from his old job because he didnt speak enough English, so he started working at Amazon Flex with the idea of setting his own schedule. He says he tries to complete two delivery shifts each day, each lasting about four hours. But theyre hard to find.

He wakes up at five in the morning to compulsively refresh the app, hoping to find an offer that will pay him at least a dollar for every mile he drives. Its not that simple, he explains. If youre lucky, you get a block of $120 or $130. If not, you get the basics.

On average, he drives eight hours a day. That earns him, at most, $130 per day. But thats not always the case. There are days when he doesnt even get a block. Besides, the app doesnt let you work more than 40 hours a week. Thats the maximum you can do, even if you want more.

In the end, when you discount gasoline, maintenance, and car tires, the profit youre left with is much smaller.

According to a Human Rights Watch survey, in Texas, app workers earn an average of $5.12 an hour. Approximately 70% below a living wage, the organization says.

On a good day, Id make $120. But if you calculate it, what youre left with isnt much. Between gas, eating out and all that, it came to seven or eight dollars an hour, Elias notes. I tried to get a dollar a mile. But they almost never gave you that. They gave you less. And sometimes youd accept a good ride, only to have it ripped off along the way. Theyd tell you another driver would take it. And youd already wasted gas and time.

Elias left Lyft a few months ago out of fear of the current immigration policy, although, he says, he likes driving passengers around and would do it again if the conditions were better. Thats why he says he supports the new bill in Congress, which, among its proposals, establishes that the worker must receive at least 75% of the fare paid by the customer. Antonio also thinks its a good idea, although he doesnt think anything would change if it were approved. The platforms will always look for ways to continue making more while paying less, he says. As I said, in the end, the one who always loses out is the driver. Were the ones who provide the car, the time, and everything. And we dont even have anyone to complain to.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
A man steps out of the front passenger seat of a driverless Tesla Robotaxi in Southeast Austin, Friday, June 27, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Tesla has expanded its robotaxi service area again.

In the second expansion since its June 22 rollout, the electric automaker has expanded its human-supervised driverless ride-hailing program to cover nearly 80 square miles of Austin. The move came after Waymo earlier expanded its service area to cover 90 square miles of the city, where its service is available to the public through ride-hailing service Uber.

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Despite its steadily increasing service area, Teslas robotaxis remain available only to a small, invitation-only group of users. The service operates from 10 to 20 driverless Tesla Model Ys with a safety operator in the passenger seat who can shut down the car in case of trouble.

The Austin-based automaker launched the service June 22, with the original coverage area including much of South Austin. It went as far south as Ben White Boulevard and U.S. 290, west to Texas Loop 1, north to Cesar Chavez Street and east to U.S. 183.

Three weeks later, it expanded the area to roughly 42 square miles including the University of Texas campus and stretching north along the I-35 corridor from downtown. The resulting shape was unconventional.

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The company said the shape was meant to resemble an upside-down version of its T logo but it quickly drew comparisons to human male genitalia. CEO Elon Musk reinforced that notion by saying on social media the service area was harder, better, faster, stronger. The fare is a flat fee of $6.90.

 Tesla Austin Robotaxi geofence sizes (in square miles):



Initial: 6/22 - ~20 square miles



First Expansion: 7/14 - ~42 square miles



Second Expansion: 8/3 - ~80 square miles pic.twitter.com/IwnvSJseE4  TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 3, 2025

The latest boundaries include much of downtown, extend east toward Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, north along I-35 to Braker Lane and west toward the Tarrytown neighborhood.

Tesla has expanded its robotaxi service area to roughly 80 square miles in Austin. Tesla Robotaxi app

Musk teased the Austin expansion during the companys second-quarter earnings call. While Tesla Inc. reported a 16% drop in profit for the period from April through June, Musk focused instead on autonomy and robotaxis as the companys future, offering few remarks on its slumping sales and profit. He said he hoped the company would have robotaxi service available to half the population of the U.S. by the end of the year.

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It launched a non-autonomous ride-hailing service July 31 in the San Francisco Bay Area for Tesla owners and others, who can get rides in a Model Y with a human in the driver seat. Tesla lacks the necessary permits to offer autonomous service in California.

Tesla is trying to catch up to industry leader Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc. It launched its fully autonomous service in Austin about four months ago, where it now reportedly operates more than 100 vehicles. Its service is also available in four other U.S. cities.

Teslas latest expansion comes after Waymo expanded its Austin service to include Crestview, Windsor Park, Sunset Valley, Franklin Park, The Domain and McKinney Falls State Park. Its original area included neighborhoods downtown, Barton Hills, Riverside, East Austin and Hyde Park.

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A Tesla robotaxi, left, and a Waymo autonomous vehicle are seen earlier this month on a residential street in Austin. Tesla is reportedly expanding its autonomous ride-hailing service to San Francisco this weekend. Industry leader Waymo already operates there. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Unlike Teslas limited service, Waymo rides are available to the general public through the Uber app.

In addition to Austin, it offers service in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Phoenix. It is testing in Las Vegas, San Diego, San Antonio, Miami and, soon, Dallas.

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An Austin developer has acquired the IHOP restaurant at 707 E. Cesar Chavez St. Austin American-Statesman

The humble pancake, once a simple vehicle for syrup and butter, has officially entered the Gilded Age. In a move that screams "We're on TikTok, and we're not afraid to spend," IHOP is unveiling one of its most extravagant creations to date: the Luxe Dubai Chocolate Pancake. It's a social media trend served on a plate at one Austin location, complete with edible 24-karat gold flakes.

IHOP is taking its "International" title seriously with the trend known for its rich combination of pistachio, hazelnut, and crunchy kataifi (that shredded phyllo dough that's been all over your feed). The chain is dropping two exclusive versions of the dish, and for the lucky few, the first taste won't cost a dime.

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Where can I get the Dubai Chocolate IHOP pancakes in Austin?

The culinary stunt is manifesting in a very real way at the IHOP located at 707 E. Cesar Chavez St. Starting at 8:00 a.m. Monday, the first 25 eligible people in line will get a free taste of the "Luxe" version  a stack reportedly valued at over $100. The tower features buttermilk pancakes infused with Dubai Chocolate flavors, topped with a full-sized Dubai Chocolate bar, Madagascar vanilla-infused whipped cream, and those oh-so-fancy gold flakes.

@ihop TOMORROW  A pancake experience like no other   Monday, August 4th  12pm local time while supplies last The first 25 people in line at each location get to try our Luxe Dubai Chocolate Pancakes for FREE! Select IHOP locations: New York: 235 E 14th St # 237, New York, NY 10003 Austin: 707 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701 Los Angeles: 913 N San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91504  original sound - IHOP

For the rest of us, IHOP is offering a more grounded, though still undeniably luxurious, version for $13. While it skips the edible gold, this stack still brings all the flavor, with roasted kataifi, hazelnut spread, pistachio cream, and chocolate curls layered between the pancakes.

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The impassioned tones that washed over Austin Blues Fest at Waterloo Park in May were an onstage benediction. Blues music bares the soul and braces the spirit. It pleads, yearns and testifies. Its a genre that articulates the American struggle  a point of origin that branches to other subgenres.

This years Austin Blues Fest was an Antones Nightclub family reunion that honored the life of the venues patriarch, Clifford Antone. The Port Arthur native opened Antones Nightclub on July 15, 1975. Six locations later, the club celebrated its golden anniversary at the festival. But its not over yet  Antones will stage one more anniversary bash Tuesday at Blues on the Green in Zilker Park.

People would ask (Antone) about the blues and hed say, I didnt pick the blues, the blues picked me. his sister Susan Antone told the Statesman this year.

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Co-owner Susan Antone hugs musician CJ Chenier at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman

Antone started his own club to host the musicians he worshiped. He shipped in Chicago blues kingpins like Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon and B.B. King to Austin for weeks of shows. He championed roots artists from the Mississippi Delta like Eddie Taylor and Texas pioneers Lightnin' Hopkins and T.D. Bell.

Sarah Brown plays with The Antones All-Stars at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band perform at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band perform at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band perform at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman A reflection of Eve Monsees is seen in the crowd as she plays with The Antones All-Stars at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman Lindsay Beaver plays with The Antones All-Stars at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band perform at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman Eve Monsees plays with The Antones All-Stars at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman Marcia Ball plays the keyboard as The Antones All-Stars play at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman The Antones All-Stars play at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman The crowd watches The Antones All-Stars play at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel is recognized at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman The crowd dances as CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band perform at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman

He recruited young guitarists Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan in an onstage crash course, playing alongside electric blues legends Jimmy Rogers, Albert King and Freddie King during the late 70s and 80s.

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Stevie Ray Vaughans ravenous, unbridled guitar playing skyrocketed him to international fame and put a spotlight on Austin music. His career abruptly ended in a helicopter crash shortly after winning a Grammy for his 1990 album In Step. A year later, Austin adopted a new moniker: the Live Music Capital of the World.

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For Jimmie Vaughan, the club put a human face on the blues greats he admired.

"It was a dream come true to get to play with our musical heroes, he told the Statesman this year.

Jimmie Vaughan headlines a stellar lineup for Antone's "Farewell to 5th Street" celebration on March 18, 2013, as the legendary downtown Austin blues club is moving to a new location later this month. Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman

Antone became a caretaker not just of the music, but of the artists who made it. He invited Pinetop Perkins to come live in Austin in 2003, helping the aging pianist access essential medical care. He also housed and fed Howlin Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin for months at a time. Along the way, many of his idols became family.

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On April 27, Jimmie Vaughan joined Sue Foley, Muddy Waters son Big Bill Morganfield and other legacy Antones acts for a special Austin City Limits taping honoring Antones 50th anniversary. He played Slim Harpos Baby Scratch My Back like a prayer to everything the club did for him and his brother.

Gary Clark Jr., another internationally renowned blues player who honed his signature sound on the Antones stage, headlined the Austin Blues Fest finale with a soulful six-string serenade. In that moment on stage  as echoed on any given night at Antones  the blues came to life in Austin.

Blues is a spoken history, Will Bridges, who took ownership over the club in 2015, told the Statesman. You dont pass it down with sheet music. Recordings and videos are great, but the most impactful way is to hear and see it live.

Kathy Cordova and John T Davis share a moment at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman

Home of the Blues

Antone moved to Austin in 1968 to attend the University of Texas, but did not graduate. When he opened an imported clothing store in 1973, the shops backroom became a hangout spot where a crew called the Backroom Boys came to jam.

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He opened the first location on Sixth and Brazos streets back when nothing but trouble was happening downtown. He was young and inexperienced, so friends helped him build the first Antones location with help from his mother, Georgette, and sisters, Susan and Janelle.

The King of Zydeco Clifton Chenier was the first act to take the stage. CJ Chenier, who inherited Cliftons accordion prowess, remembered his father driving from Lafayette to play at the club.

CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band perform at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton, Austin American-Statesman

Antones is a Chenier tradition. It was pretty much his home away from home, Chenier said. We would start on Tuesday and play through Sunday. We did a whole week there.

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The club also fostered local talents like Angela Strehli, Denny Freeman, W.C. Clark, Lou Ann Barton and many more.

By the 80s, blues heavyweights like Jimmy Rogers were club regulars. Antone didnt just show reverence for frontmen  he spotlighted the lesser-known cats who helped shape the genre. Jimmy Vaughans band, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, were just getting started. Little brother Stevie Ray Vaughan also launched his illustrious career at the club.

Antones moved north to Anderson Lane for about a year before relocating to Guadalupe Street near UT in 1982, where it stayed until 1996.

Being the house band at Antones, it was like going to 'Blues College every night, backing up all the blues greats and people we admired, Vaughan said.

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Jimmy Vaughans Fabulous Thunderbirds played the opening show and reigned as the house band for years. The Guadalupe locations proximity to UT attracted college-aged blues fans. But in 1997, Antones returned downtown to Fifth and Lavaca streets.

Our school colors are blues

Blues was an extracurricular for Austin High School freshmen Eve Monsees and Gary Clark Jr. in 1999. The teenage guitarists studied liner notes and absorbed late-night lectures from the likes of Pinetop Perkins and Hubert Sumlin when their parents took them to Antones.

Cliff was like this mythical figure to me. I never saw him, I only heard stories about him for the longest time, Clark told the Statesman.

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Clifford Antone takes a moment to think of his past when he first listened to the blues while holding his vintage Gibson 330 guitar at his Austin home. Sung Park/Austin American-Statesman

We had met Clifford before, but he had never heard us play, Monsees said. There was a big show where he pulled us up on stage and we got to play with our heroes for the first time. When youre 15, thats the biggest thing in the world, growing up in Austin and getting to play that Antones stage.

It was kind of like we belonged to something, we were part of this legacy and this history that we were studying. We were in this world and it was a dream come true at that point, Clark said.

From the beginning one of the objectives was to bring the old-timers, the other was to get the young kids a chance to play, Antone said in the 2004 documentary, Antones: Home of the Blues.

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Dont waste time being shy, he told young players. You have to seize the moment and make it happen.

Clifford was for the growth and education and sharing the music that really enriched other peoples lives, Susan Antone said.

I feel like I went to Antones University. Guys who created this music were giving clinics every night, Clark said. Some of my best musical memories and inspiration was there. I hung on every word, every note.



Antone  who spent 14 months in federal prison for possession of more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana in 1984, and, in a separate case, was sentenced to four years in 1999 for conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering  began teaching the history of the blues to fellow inmates while incarcerated.

Clifford Antone, left, shakes hands with Abraham Chic Kazen, one of his lawyers, after leaving the Federal Court House where he was sentenced to four years in prison on Thursday, May 25, 2000 in Austin, Texas. Deborah Cannon/Austin American-Statesman

After his release from prison in 2002, UT professor Kevin Mooney invited Antone to guest lecture for his Musics of Texas course. Although Mooney could only offer $200, Antone insisted on giving two lectures instead of the one requested. With Mooneys support, Antone launched his own course at the university in 2004, titled The Blues According to C. Antone.

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Students packed lecture halls to hear Antone speak and view his personal video collection of live performances by blues pioneers. It was very special to see things that you knew were not available anywhere else. He really emphasized the musicians who were less well known, Mooney said.

Mooney said one student described the class as storytime with Clifford.

He was a conduit. He was a vessel for people to learn about the blues, to keep the music alive, said Sarah Rucker, who took the first class and later served as Antones personal assistant and confidant for two years.

UT freshman Zach Ernst refreshed his browser, finger poised on the mouse, when course registration opened in 2005. He had heard of Antones from his dad, who introduced him to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Arc Angels and Storyville at a young age.

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I was just a freshman kid from College Station. He didnt know me, Ernst, now the clubs director of booking and creative, told the Statesman. Consuming all this music so rapidly and learning all that stuff, it gave me a purpose. It was so gratifying to see him twice a week, he told the Statesman this year.

Antone taught the course for four years until his death in 2006.

Clifford Antone on right joins in on a conversation in his office with Bassist Calvin Jones in red and sister Susan Antone on left in their office at Antones during the week long anniversary celebration. In the back is percussionist "Mambo" John Treanor. Sung Park/Austin American-Statesman

The kids table take the reins

Bridges, who owns the club, first visited Antones with the father of his childhood friend, T. Murphy. Posters from the club, including one signed by Antone, hung on his bedroom wall. One night the club owner gave the budding blues fan a pat on the head, leaving a lifelong impression on the Austin native.

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Theres something very special about that guy, Bridges said. He had this magnetic charisma that so many people, in different ways, talk about, how he basically changed the course of their lives by meeting him.

Bridges, a graduate of Texas Christian University and UT Austins business school, had helped relaunch Lamberts in 2006. After Antones death, he was invited to help revive the club but declined  something he later regretted.

I always kind of thought it was a mistake, the one that got away, an opportunity for me to be involved with this brand I had grown up with, Bridges said. He always thought the club could thrive with the right support but never fathomed that he would be the one to revitalize it.

The legendary Austin nightclub Antone's has reopened for the new year on E. 5th St. and has been bringing a revival of blues music to the downtown area once again in part through the work of co-owner Will Bridges, left, and the club's music booker Zach Ernst, right. Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman

The club relocated to East Riverside in 2013 amid economic strain. When a planned investor deal fell through a year later, it reached another crossroads.

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Wills wife, Noel Bridges, then marketing manager at the Austin Chronicle, began tracking the clubs future. We wanted the best for Antones, she said. We wanted it to have a forever home and continue to be the Antones that we knew and loved, and reflect the history that we were familiar with.

Bridges called on Ernst, Clark  a rising blues star  Monsees (now owner of Antones Records), and Murphy. They were the generation raised on Antones  and now its stewards. Bridges referred to this group as the kids table.

Its kind of like going to Thanksgiving and realizing we got to bring the food. We dont just get to show up and it's there. We realized that this is on us, and it was intimidating, Bridges said.

I just couldnt see the city without an Antones logo anywhere, I couldnt picture it. Its like taking a vital organ out of the city, Clark said. Bridges brought Susan Antone back in and wrangled 16 limited partners to purchase the brand rights.

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We were young and ambitious and thought we were the right people for the job, Noel Bridges said.

Mounting economic pressures like high rent and limited parking were squeezing downtown music venues. Will Bridges was advised to find a new location in South or East Austin. But he wanted to go right back into the dog fight and plant our flag as close to the original as we can, he said.

They claimed a space in a former glass repair and screen printing shop at 305 E. Fifth St.

They had a little air conditioned sales offices in front and the rest was just sweaty dudes with heavy metal on spinning T-shirts all day on those screen press racks, Bridges said. When they showed the space to Susan, she said the blues is already here.

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Antones at 50

A shoe shine station is seen at Antones 50th celebration in Austin, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Antones may be the Home of the Blues, but its stage has welcomed various genres. The club supported Austins burgeoning hip-hop and Latin scenes in the 90s, a diversity that remains key to its survival.

Over the last decade, the new Antones team has been mindful to balance reverence for blues tradition while booking trendy digital-age artists to attract young music lovers.

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If I could, I would have W.C. Clark (aka the Godfather of Austin Blues) play here five nights a week and it would be packed every night, Ernst said. He hopes the varied approach breathes new life into the history.

They dont want any of the old-timers to come in here and think we sold out, he said.

People have a really personal connection to Antones, spread across five decades, six locations. Theres mixed expectations on what Antones is, or was, should be, or could be, Bridges said.

Its taken us a decade to figure it out to the degree that we have, Ernst said.

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We do it for our city and for our kids, Noel Bridges said. Their goal: building something even bigger and bolder for our city moving forward.

Chenier said the new guard at Antones maintains the same spirit its founder fostered. He said that in a world always moving on to the next best thing, places like Antones are the only kind of places that keep (the blues) going.

Zach and I are the old guys now, Will Bridges said. But we have this amazing culture here at Antones, and folks that are 20 years younger than us are drinking the Kool-Aid. I like to say theyve taken our Kool-Aid and hopped it up, making it even stronger.

I dont know if Cliff would like the term legacy because all he wanted to do was share his love and his knowledge of roots music and not let these artists be forgotten, Rucker said. I think if he were here today, he would say that his legacy isnt about success and it never was, its that his legacy is love.

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Its an amazing amount of history that got us here, but were just getting warmed up, Bridges said.

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.
Lynne Lively attends a protest opposing the redistricting of Texas at the Texas Governors Mansion on Sunday, July 20, 2025 in Austin. Redistricting is one of 18 items that Texas Governor Greg Abbott has listed on the agenda for the upcoming special session. Aaron E. Martinez/American Statesman

In an attempt to stifle state Republicans, Texas House Democratic legislators fled the state, traveling to cities such as Chicago, Albany, and Boston, to block a quorum needed in the 150-member chamber (two-thirds or 100 members present).

The goal is to delay or prevent a vote on a Republicanled redistricting plan that would add five new GOPleaning congressional seats, advancing a map championed by former President Trump in preparation for the 2026 midterms.

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After recent proposed redistricting maps, including one that shows a stretched-out single district from Lubbock to San Antonio, some are raising questions about whether state republicans are gerrymandering.

What is gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering is the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to give an unfair political advantage to a particular party, group, or class. It is a form of redistricting, but done with the intent to influence election outcomes rather than ensure fair representation.

According to the Campaign Legal Center, there are usually four tactics politicians use to gerrymander maps to disadvantage voters to improve their political interests.

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Malapportionment  drawing districts with deliberate differences in population, which causes constituents in highly populous districts to have effectively less voting strength (drawn to disadvantage the opposite political party or voters of color) than their counterparts in more sparsely populated districts (drawn to advantage voters of the same political party as the map drawer).

 drawing districts with deliberate differences in population, which causes constituents in highly populous districts to have effectively less voting strength (drawn to disadvantage the opposite political party or voters of color) than their counterparts in more sparsely populated districts (drawn to advantage voters of the same political party as the map drawer). Racial voting dilution redistricting plans that minimize or cancel the voting strength of Black and brown voters.

redistricting plans that minimize or cancel the voting strength of Black and brown voters. Partisan gerrymandering  creating political maps that enable a political party to gain a systemic advantage for itself.

 creating political maps that enable a political party to gain a systemic advantage for itself. Racial gerrymandering  sorting voters into districts with a predominant focus on race. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that an excessive focus on race in drawing districts offends the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution unless there is sufficient justification, such as compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

What is redistricting?

Redistricting is the process of drawing lines for legislative districts from which public officials are elected. When its conducted fairly, it reflects population changes and racial diversity, and is used by legislators to allocate representation in Congress and state legislatures equitably.

Is gerrymandering legal?

Gerrymandering is often criticized as unethical, but it is not always illegal. The legality depends on how and why the district lines are drawn.

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According to FairVote, partisan gerrymandering involves shaping electoral district boundaries in a way that disadvantages a particular political party. While often used to secure partisan advantage, this practice is generally legal, though it can be challenged. Currently, drawing districts to favor incumbents from either party remains permissible under the law.

However, gerrymandering becomes illegal when it violates the U.S. Constitution or federal laws, most commonly the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

FairVote notes that tactics like "packing" Black voters into a single district or "cracking" them across multiple districts to weaken their voting power can constitute illegal racial gerrymandering. These practices originated in the postCivil War South and were historically used to suppress Black political representation.

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Bird's-eyed-view maps were popular hybrids in the 19th century. This 1847 lithograph from D.P. Whiting and Charles Parsons maps out the camp of the U.S. Army near Corpus Christi. Courtesy of Texas General Land Office

Whats missing from your Texas history bookshelf?

How about a gorgeous volume of old maps that helped define and develop our state, that also includes cogent historical context for each image?

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Your wish is our command. Just out: Texas Takes Shape: A History in Maps from the General Land Office by Mark Lambert, James Harkins, Brian A. Stauffer and Patrick Walsh (University of Texas Press).

This magnificent book cajoles the reader to linger over every page with a magnifying glass in hand. You dont want to miss any of the telling details.

Recently, the authors, who work at the Texas General Land Office, answered some questions about this monumental work. At times, they teamed up on their responses.

How did you choose these maps from the 45,000 in the Texas General Land Office collection?

No wonder the French and the Spanish claims to southern North America and especially Texas conflicted. This 1688 engraving by Vincenzo Coronelli shows the Mississippi River, which the French claimed, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, which Spain claimed. Courtesy of Texas General Land Office

Harkins: It wasnt something we sat down and planned in one meeting.

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Rather, it took shape naturally, after years of working on exhibits for places like the Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Witte Museum in San Antonio, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Bush Library in College Station, as well as the Brazoria County Historical Museum.

Being surrounded by these maps for so long, we started to get a feel for which ones really stood out  and which ones had stories just waiting to be told.

All included, I think our first draft included about twice as many maps and text, and we had to figure out how to cull down to a manageable size for this publication.

We all had our favorites and would regularly discuss the merits of one map versus another, knowing all of them had a great case for inclusion.

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That was a fun exercise in collaboration between the authors and all of the fellow staff who contributed to this project.

That said, with a collection this big, narrowing things down was no easy task. We knew from the start this was going to be a serious challenge. But also  what an opportunity.

Lets be honest, it will likely be a long time before anyone else writes another book focused on the Land Offices map collection, so we wanted to make sure we did it justice.

We started with the big question: What matters most? For us, historical significance led the way. If Stephen F. Austin used it to plan his colony, or it helped define the boundaries of the Republic of Texas, or it played a role in a major battle  those were easy yeses.

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But we didnt stop there. We also wanted to capture the full range of the collection  even the quirky, unexpected pieces that make you wonder, How does this fit into the GLO? Like the map of land tied to the old Deaf and Dumb Asylums, organizations that are now known as the Texas School for the Deaf. Or the whimsical, almost playful map of the East Texas oil fields. They might seem odd at first, but they help paint a fuller, more fascinating picture of Texas history.

And honestly? Some maps just had to make the cut because theyre beautiful.

The colors, the artistry, the intricate details  theyre breathtaking. These maps arent just documents, theyre works of art. We wanted people to open the book and be wowed.

Most of the earliest maps are in Spanish and French. What role did their quite different versions of North America play in their colonial rivalry in Texas?

An 1876 studio photograph shows a surveying part with the typical tools and weapons found on a map surveying expedition. Included in the photo are members of the Blucher family. Courtesy of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Harkins and Stauffer: Its interesting how the Spanish and French took such vastly different approaches to mapping North America. The Spanish, while incredibly knowledgeable on the subject, were also very secretive. The French, on the other hand, were much more open with publishing maps.

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This is a trend thats illustrated throughout our book. Often austere, published Spanish maps usually illustrated the bare minimum. The French, oftentimes, would exaggerate borders or land areas  after all, its a lot easier to move a line on a map and give the impression of control than it is to actually maintain control. This is seen multiple times on 17th- and 18th-century maps.

Ultimately, the Spanish were making a bet: that detailed cartographic knowledge that was kept secret could be transformed into real, effective control over places and people.

The French, on the other hand, were sort of engaged in information wars  trying to claim land through cartographic subterfuge and in the court of public opinion (among European nations) rather than by putting a lot of boots on the ground.

Id say Spains approach worked in the places where it could put down very strong roots (central Mexico), but they couldnt develop their colonial infrastructure in far-flung places like Texas fast enough to lock out the rivals. And once France got a peek at Texas, its information wars approach was hard to stop, since it essentially exposed Spanish weakness there to the whole world and invited all kinds of interlopers to try their hand at it.

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It took almost 150 years before the Europeans figured out the actual shape of North America. Why is that?

Many early maps of Texas were based on reports from Native Americans. Some maps, like this 1841 example from Nicholas Doran Maillard and Day & Haighe, reveal just how much of Texas was controlled by Native Americans even if claimed by others. Courtesy of Texas General Land Office

Harkins and Stouffer: Well, North America is enormous.

No one had physically traveled across all of it, let alone surveyed it all scientifically, when these early European maps were being drawn, so the cartographers were basically stitching together tiny geographic fragments that arrived in Europe in the form of first-hand observation  some of it narrative, some of it actual sketches or maps.

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Add to that the fact that it was really hard to determine longitude in this early period, because figuring out longitude depended on having an accurate way to keep time when navigating across the Atlantic, and you get a lot of distorted shapes (especially on the east/west axis).

A third complicating factor might be Spanish imperial secrecy. The keepers of the Padron Real (a kind of master map of the empire) in Spain had a lot of geographic information about North America in the 17th century, but they werent willing to share it with the European map publishers for fear of their rival nations making a move on their colonial possessions.

With all of that said, the early commercial mapmakers didnt do a terrible job! It really is amazing when you look at some of the earliest maps of the Western Hemisphere. One of the oldest ones in this book that shows the West is from 1535  just 43 years after Columbus discovered the Americas. In that short span, mapmakers had already managed to sketch out a rough outline of the Caribbean and the Atlantic Coast. The scale was way off, of course, but you can still make out Florida, a big chunk of the Gulf Coast, and even a (much smaller) version of the Texas coastline.

About 20 years later, the German mapmaker Sebastian Munster printed whats believed to be the first map showing North and South America as two separate continents. It even includes early references to what appear to be the Mississippi River and the Rio Grande  which is kind of wild when you think about it.

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Yes, it took around 150 years to fully figure out the true shape of North America, but honestly, Im always blown away by how close they got, given the tools they had.

I loved the section on Native American mapping. How does that fit in with fact that they controlled almost all the North American land that the Europeans and Americans claimed until the 19th century?

"Texas Takes Shape: A History in Maps from the General Land Office" by Mark Lambert, James Harkins Brian A. Stauffer and Patrick Walsh was recently published by the University of Texas Press. Courtesy of University of Texas Press

Stauffer: Throughout the book, we really tried to get the point across that a map is the product of collective labor and cumulative knowledge, rather than just the work of some singular cartographic genius toiling away on his or her own.

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That is to say that maps depend on a lot of labor and knowledge that often goes unrecognized  from the explorers themselves to the ordinary scouts and informants that accompanied expeditions in the New World, to the compilers and draftsmen and lithographers who produced a commercial map for sale.

Indigenous people are obviously a hugely important source of geographic knowledge across the whole continent, and that essay shows that Europeans and Americans turned to them routinely for help. They were geographic informants of the first order, because they knew the lay of the land better than anyone, but they were also cartographers, even if many of the nations that controlled present-day Texas would not have placed as much emphasis on physically recording cartographic information as maps in the same way that Europeans or even the Nahuas of central Mexico did.

Historians like Juliana Barr have made the point that European maps (when read correctly) often do, in fact, show that Indigenous groups were the true sovereigns of the land. Especially in the era of conquest and encounter, you can see that they pretty carefully noted the locations and sizes of different Indigenous groups, and thats because they needed to know where they could go without being killed, basically.

But its also true that Indigenous cartographic knowledge isnt often noted, except maybe when you read reports or treatises that directly accompanied the maps, where theyll say an Indian we captured named Miguel told us about this route or something like that.

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So, Id say the evidence of Indigenous knowledge and contributions were there all along in the source material that the big-name cartographers used, even if it isnt directly credited on the maps.

On most of the early maps, Texas is an afterthought.

Stouffer and Walsh: In a lot of ways, Texas was a bit of an afterthought for early European and American mapmakers prior to the Louisiana Purchase. It was land that was on the far-flung stretches of the Spanish Empire in North America, which was a governing body prone to cartographic secrecy. Many different Indigenous peoples controlled and inhabited different parts of the region, so it wasnt particularly accessible to outsiders.

As the Mexican government recognized encroaching U.S. interests from the east, it sought to populate the area through increased immigration, both internal and external, as a sort of buffer zone, which led to increased cartographic activity in the region from both the colonization and military angles.

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We often revisit the idea that to control an area, one must map it, and that was the case for the Mexican government here. And it was where an enterprising person like Stephen F. Austin got his start by mapping the areas in which he wanted to establish his colony.

Texas independence and subsequent annexation, and the war between the U.S. and Mexico that followed, all played huge roles in both increasing interest in Texas and defining its shape.

The relatively straightforward borders of the Sabine River and the Rio Grande were by no means settled business in the 19th century. It took an international boundary commission to settle the former, and a full-scale war to settle the latter.

There was also the rather ambitious matter of Texas claims to land as far north as Wyoming. It was really only until after the Compromise of 1850 that Texas shape settled into what wed recognize today. But that wasnt the end of boundary disputes, from shifting riverbanks and offshore territory in the gulf, there have always been disputes  Texas even lost a whole county (Greer County) to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1896.

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Eventually the maps evolve into individual surveyed land claims, which is, after all, why the Texas General Land Office exists, to sort out ownership.

Stauffer: Land ownership is really key to Texas history.

The creation of the General Land Office is of the first order of business for the Republic of Texas after 1836 for good reasons:

 It has inherited a land system from Mexico under which many of the founders of Texas obtained land (and others were important stakeholders in the Mexican system  think David G. Burnet and Lorenzo de Zavala), and those guys need these land titles to be respected under a new sovereign. The Mexican cadastral layer on the new map of Texas was really important to maintain, and titles and plats were the way you do that.

Texas was very cash poor and land rich, and it planned to make land grants as inducements to settlers and payments to soldiers, and it could only do that if it knew what had already been granted and what was left to grant. So, record-keeping is king.

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When it comes to Spanish and Mexican land grants, one interesting ramification of the fact that many prominent Anglo Texans had been heavily involved in the empresario and speculation business prior to 1836 was that they were very keen not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

And this means they had to adopt a system that protected holders of perfected Spanish/Mexican titles, whether they were Anglo or Mexican in ethnicity.

Those titles are still valid legal instruments in Texas. Of course, things get more complicated after the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-48, and there certainly was land dispossession in South Texas in the second half of the nineteenth century.

But as recent historians have shown, the dispossession that does happen is often through mechanisms like tax policy rather than outright fraud, and theres arguably less dispossession in Texas than in other parts of the Mexican Cession (especially New Mexico and California) precisely because Texas kept control of its public lands after joining the union and because its Anglo leaders had an interest in upholding the validity of lands granted via Mexican title.

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Talk about the centrality of county maps in how the Land Office does its business.

Walsh: County maps are the foundation of everything the Land Office does when it comes to land in Texas.

County land ownership maps  what we call cadastral maps  show the original claims to every single piece of land in the state.

Its always interesting to think about, no matter where you are walking in Texas, you are walking on a land grant that was issued by the Crown of Spain, Republic of Mexico the Republic of Texas or the State of Texas to a person who was starting a new dream in Texas.

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Back when they were issued  through today  these county maps were, and are, essential tools. If someone wanted to claim a land grant, these maps helped them figure out what was available and what had already been granted in a certain area.

Today, people arent using county maps to scout out land to settle. Instead, that original information is still important, as county maps are often used for things like tracing land titles, figuring out ownership histories, and even determining mineral rights.

The kid in me keeps going back to the illustrated maps that show activity like railroads, cattle ranching or oil exploration. How and why did these become so popular?

Humorous scenes mix with serious commentary to capture a portrait of a region in transition for this 1933 map of East Texas oil country. The illustrated maps in this GLO book invite close examination. Courtesy of Texas General Land Office

Harkins: Those illustrated maps are some of the most fun to look at  they inspire imagination. They werent just beautiful; they were powerful tools. Thats one of the cool things about maps in the Land Offices collection: theyre both art and utilitarian.

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Maps showing railroads, cattle ranching and oil exploration werent just documenting what was already there  they were often showing what people hoped would be there soon.

Railroad maps are a perfect example. A lot of them were more aspirational than literal. They showed proposed lines, routes still in the planning stages or tracks that might never have been built at all. But to viewers back then, they looked like the future taking shape.

During the 19th century, Texas used land managed by the Land Office to help pay for railroad construction and other infrastructure. These maps often had a kind of promotional spin to them. Youll see rich imagery  crops, livestock, oil wells  all designed to attract settlers, investors and buyers. Railroad companies got land in exchange for building rail lines, so it was in their best interest to make those areas look as promising as possible.

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In a way, those maps were early Texas marketing: A bit of boosterism, a bit of sales pitch, and a lot of imagination.
Leander police have charged a man in the shooting death of Bodhi Linman, 26, in Bledsoe Park on July 29. American-Statesman

An 18-year-old from Cedar Park has been charged in the shooting death of 26-year-old Bodhi Linman in a Leander park last week, police said. Shaunathan Raby was charged with murder, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison. It's the first homicide of the year in Leander, police said.

Linman, of Round Rock, was killed after multiple shots were fired between two groups of people in the parking lot of Bledsoe Park on July 29, officials have said.

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Raby was arrested Thursday at an address in Austin with the help of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, according to a news release from the city of Leander. The arrest affidavit for Raby was not available Monday.

Shaunathan Raby, 18, of Cedar Park has been charged with murder in the shooting death of Bodhi Linman at a park in Leander. Williamson County Sheriff

Police were alerted about the shooting at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, the release said. It said officers found Linman with gunshot wounds and immediately administered lifesaving measures until the Leander Fire Department and EMS arrived. Linman was taken to St. David's Round Rock Hospital, where he died, the release said.

Raby left the park in a vehicle before police arrived, according to the release. It said officers interviewed several witnesses at the park and searched for Raby and his vehicle. Further details were not released because the case is still under investigation, officials said. Detectives are asking anyone with information, cell phone video or any surveillance video to contact police on the Leander Police Department's app at bit.ly/4lfhtB8.

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Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu talks with reporters after appearing with other Texas legislators and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) Mark Black/Associated Press Texas Rep. Jolanda Jones, left, joins New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, right, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, right, for a news conference with fellow Texas Democratic lawmakers on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. The Texas Democrats left the state in protest of a Republican gerrymandering plan to redraw congressional redistricting maps, which would add five new seats in Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Hochul says that New York will also seek to redraw congressional lines. (Will Waldron/Times Union) Will Waldron/Times Union Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu along with other members of the Texas House are joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map office during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) Mark Black/Associated Press Texas Rep. Mihaela Plesa, right, joins New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, for a news conference with fellow Texas Democratic lawmakers on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. The Texas Democrats left the state in protest of a Republican gerrymandering plan to redraw congressional redistricting maps, which would add five new seats in Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Hochul says that New York will also seek to redraw congressional lines. (Will Waldron/Times Union) Will Waldron/Times Union Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu along with other members of the Texas House are joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map office during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) Mark Black/Associated Press Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joins Gov. Kathy Hochul in welcoming a delegation of Democratic Texas lawmakers on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, during a news conference at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. The Texas Democrats left the state in protest of a Republican gerrymandering plan to redraw congressional redistricting maps, which would add five new seats in Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Hochul says that New York will also seek to redraw congressional lines. (Will Waldron/Times Union) Will Waldron/Times Union Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu along with other members of the Texas House are joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map office during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) Mark Black/Associated Press Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows takes the roll call in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. A quorum was not present after most Democrat state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman House Republicans listen to Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows speak at a news conference at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, after most Democrat state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows gavels after the House voted to send for absentees at the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. A quorum was not present after most Democrat state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, after most Democrat state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, arrives at the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. A quorum was not present after most Democrat state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, left, and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, picket outside the Governors Mansion to protest the Republican plan for Congressional redistricting in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Nancy Brady, of Manor, protests the Republican plan for Congressional redistricting at the Governors Mansion in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, led the picket, which was also attended by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman People protest the Republican plan for Congressional redistricting at the Governors Mansion in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, led the picket, which was also attended by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman People protest the Republican plan for Congressional redistricting at the Governors Mansion in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, led the picket, which was also attended by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Ann Patterson, of Bee Cave, protests the Republican plan for Congressional redistricting at the Governors Mansion in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, led the picket, which was also attended by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman People protest the Republican plan for Congressional redistricting at the Governors Mansion in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, led the picket, which was also attended by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman People protest the Republican plan for Congressional redistricting at the Governors Mansion in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, led the picket, which was also attended by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, protests the Republican plan for Congressional redistricting outside the Governors Mansion in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Alec DeGilio, Doorkeeper for the House of Representatives, locks and guards the door inside the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. A quorum was not present after most Democrat state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Representatives chairs in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin before the session was gaveled in, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. A quorum was not present after most Democrat state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued civil arrest warrants Monday for the more than 50 Democrats who fled Texas to block a vote on the controversial plan to boost the GOP's numbers in Congress by redistricting.

"They've left the state ... and turned their backs on the constituents they swore to represent," Burrows told the mostly Republican House members who did attend the floor session. "They've shirked their responsibilities under the direction of pressure of out of state politicians and activists who don't know the first thing about what's right for Texas."

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Shortly after, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas Department of Public Safety officers "to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans."

Texas Rep. Gene Wu, left, and other Democratic lawmakers board a plane at Signature Aviation at the South Terminal on Sunday, August. 3, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

The warrants allow law enforcement officers to compel the return of absent members found to be in Texas, but they are not subject to criminal arrest for breaking quorum. They don't authorize officers to go out of state to bring back the dozens of Democrats who decamped to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts to deny the House the quorum it needs to conduct business.

Just six of the House's 62 Democratic members were present for the seven-minute floor session.

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Burrows, R-Lubbock, told the chamber, and repeated during a brief news conference later, that the House will pass the redistricting plan sooner or later.

The new congressional map proposed by Texas Republicans would add five more winnable GOP seats by wiping out a Democratic-leaning district in Dallas, Austin and Houston, and adding additional Republican voters to two districts in South Texas currently held by Democrats Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez.

"Leaving the state does not stop this House from doing its work, it only delays it," the first-term speaker said. "And every day this chamber is unable to act, the cost grows."

A plane at Signature Aviation carrying Texas Democratic lawmakers takes off from the South Terminal on Sunday, August. 3, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

READ MORE: Texas House Democrats flee state to block redistricting

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The "cost" likely refers to the $500 per day fine that comes with breaking quorum, and which was triggered with the warrants Burrows signed. Under House rules, absent members are required to pay the fines with their own money, which means funds raised for their political accounts may not be tapped.

While Democrats cast their decision to leave the state halfway through the special legislative session called by Abbott as a principled move to protect mostly voters of color from being denied representation in Congress, Burrows noted that the fate of other matters, particularly relief for the Central Texas residents whose lives were upended by last months deadly flooding, was being jeopardized by their actions.

"You understand that the issue before us, disaster recovery, fighting for the families who lost loved ones in the floods, human trafficking and more, are not abstract policy debates," Burrow said as if he were speaking to the absent Democrats. "They are real world problems demanding immediate solutions."

Democratic lawmakers board a plane at Signature Aviation at the South Terminal on Sunday, August. 3, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

Democratic state Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg said he stayed in Texas both as an acknowledgement the outcome of redistricting is inevitable and "to have a seat at the table" in case Republicans were in the mood to compromise.

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The other Democrats who stayed in Texas were Richard Raymond of Laredo, Amando Martinez of Weslaco, Joe Moody of El Paso, Oscar Longoria of Mission, and Sergio Munoz also of Mission.

"Nobody could explain to me what the end game was," Canales said in a short interview. "I know how this ends. I can count to 76."

Even if House Democrats block a quorum for until the special session ends on Aug. 19, nothing is stopping Abbott from calling another.

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EAGLE PASS  Maverick County Attorney Jaime Iracheta works in a freshly refurbished, wood-paneled office with a matching desk and leather couch set.

He holds meetings in a video-equipped conference room and drives to work in a heavy-duty Chevy Silverado 4X4 pickup with a premium trim and towing package. It cost $83,000, and its one of six pickups the office owns.

That doesnt include the two Polaris Ranger Crew all-terrain vehicles purchased in December for $25,000 apiece. One of them is a Texas Edition offering enhanced capability along with exclusive Texas Edition badging and premium paint, procurement records show.

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Texas taxpayers paid for all of this  and more  through Operation Lone Star, Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts much-touted border security initiative.

Lone Star is best-known for the thousands of state troopers and Texas National Guard soldiers Abbott has deployed to patrol the border, string razor wire and detain undocumented immigrants.

With less fanfare, the state also has doled out more than $100 million since 2021 to counties and cities to cover border enforcement costs. The grants were supposed to pay for more police officers and sheriffs deputies, added jail capacity and the cost of prosecuting migrants on state trespassing charges.

Much of the grant money has been spent for those purposes. But over the last four years, millions of dollars have gone to fund routine government operations and other expenses that in some cases were unrelated to border security, an investigation by the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle found.

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Left, Maverick County Attorney Jaime Iracheta in his newly refurbished office paid for with Operation Lone Star funds. Top right, the office purchased new Chevy Silverado pickups with Lone Star money. Bottom right, the border security initiative also paid for a video-equipped conference room. Christopher Lee/San Antonio Express-News Top, Maverick County Attorney Jaime Iracheta in his newly refurbished office paid for with Operation Lone Star funds. Middle, Iracheta's office purchased new Chevy Silverado pickups with Lone Star money. Bottom, the border security initiative also paid for a video-equipped conference room. Christopher Lee/San Antonio Express-News

Reporters interviewed officeholders and law enforcement officials and reviewed records on more than 4,600 Operation Lone Star grants approved from September 2021 through January of this year. The governor's office authorized about $177 million in grants during that period and paid out about $113 million.

The records were obtained through the states Public Information Act. Some were redacted, and in many cases explanations for spending were vague, making it impossible to determine how all the money was spent.

SEARCH OUR DATABASE: See which Texas counties and cities have received grants under Operation Lone Star

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Border crossings this year are near record lows. President Joe Biden, whose policies Abbott said necessitated his border initiative, is out of office, replaced by the governors close ally, President Donald Trump. Yet the Texas Legislature just extended the Lone Star grant program for two more years.

To qualify for grants, local governments have to issue a declaration of disaster, aligning themselves with Abbotts position that Bidens immigration policies caused an invasion a stance that raised the governors national profile and influenced the 2024 presidential election.

In exchange for the grants, Abbott has secured backing for his signature issue from elected leaders in a part of Texas that was once a Democratic stronghold. Some county officials have said they arent facing a border crisis, and that they issued disaster declarations simply to get the money.

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About this story This story was principally reported and written by Jason Buch, an independent journalist based in Austin who has covered the border and immigration for years. He reported and wrote the story on assignment for the San Antonio Express-News. Benjamin Wermund, senior political reporter in Hearst Newspapers' Statehouse bureau in Austin, contributed reporting. Matt Zdun, a senior data reporter at the Houston Chronicle, analyzed records obtained from the governors office and created informational graphics and an interactive database. Ken Ellis, a designer and graphic artist for the Houston Chronicle, created the illustrations. Christopher Lee, a photojournalist at the San Antonio Express-News, shot the pictures.

Hotel rooms, gas, meals

Iracheta, a Democrat like most of the elected officials in Maverick County, is a staunch supporter of Operation Lone Star. He said he spent grant money on urgently needed personnel and technology upgrades to cope with a steep increase in border crossings under Biden.

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As for the Silverado 4X4s, theyre a necessity, he said: Prosecutors drove them to remote ranches where state troopers arrested immigrants on trespassing charges. The pickups are also a perk that helps him recruit lawyers to an isolated, poor county where nobody wants to work, Iracheta added. He said the all-terrain vehicles were a must because "there are no paved roads on some of these big ranches."

Maverick County sits right on the border. But a considerable amount of Lone Star grant money has gone to counties far from the Rio Grande, the Express-News and Chronicle found.

Javier Lopez, 19, an off-duty Border Patrol agent from Laredo, plays a round of golf at the Eagle Pass Golf Course, a public facility connected to Shelby Park. In the background is a row of shipping containers backed by concertina wire, security measures installed as part of Operation Lone Star. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

Galveston County received more than $3 million to send deputy sheriffs and constables hundreds of miles from the Houston area to the border to support frontline counties, records show. Overtime pay made up $2 million of the total. Hotel rooms, gas, meals and other travel expenses accounted for much of the rest.

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On top of those expenditures, the county received $1.2 million to cover officers salaries. Records do not indicate whether those officers went to the border.

The county also bought 105 Operation Lone Star uniforms at $150 apiece.

Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen did not respond to requests for comment on the spending.

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Other cities and counties spent grant money on vehicles, laptops, a deep-water boat, and dog food and other supplies for K9 units.

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Even in border counties, Lone Star money has been used to prop up day-to-day operations. The grants have become a crucial revenue source for those counties, which are among the poorest in Texas. They pay the salaries of sheriffs deputies, prosecutors, grant writers and other employees  even in areas that saw only modest increases in migrant crossings.

In Maverick County, Operation Loan Star accounted for 8% of the countys revenue in 2024, according to county records.

Councilman Elias Diaz of Eagle Pass, a city of 28,000 on the Rio Grande, called Lone Star political staging, and were just a prop. But he didnt mince words in explaining what would happen if the state grants went away.

It could cripple us, he said, and could lead to people losing jobs or us not having the things that we need.

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Top, migrants wait in a detention area next to the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass in December 2023. Bottom, although unauthorized border crossings have all but come to a halt since then, Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg Abbott's border security initiative, remains a conspicuous presence at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass. Christopher Lee/Staff and Staff File

Texas held the line

In one of the largest Operation Lone Star expenditures, the state approved a $10.8 million grant for Atascosa County to build and equip a regional medical examiners facility in Pleasanton. It would serve Atascosa and four neighboring counties, which together make up the states 81st Judicial District: La Salle, Frio, Wilson and Karnes.

The grant includes $8.5 million to build the 11,000-square foot complex, $362,000 for an architectural firm to design it, and $1.2 million for a full-body imaging system and liquid chromatography machines for autopsies and toxicology tests.

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Operation Lone Star reimburses local governments for transporting and processing the remains of immigrants who died crossing the border. But Atascosa County, located 140 miles from the border, has not requested reimbursement for such expenses. Nor has any of the four other counties, records show.

Left, Dan McCuistion holds crosses honoring migrants who died crossing the border. Top right, white crosses mark migrant burial sites at the Maverick County Cemetery in Eagle Pass. Bottom right, the family of Gustavo Alfonso Garcia Olivares couldn't afford to repatriate his remains. They watched his burial ceremony via livestream. Top, Dan McCuistion holds crosses honoring migrants who died crossing the border. Middle, white crosses mark migrant burial sites at the Maverick County Cemetery in Eagle Pass. Bottom, the family of Gustavo Alfonso Garcia Olivares couldn't afford to repatriate his remains. They watched his burial ceremony via livestream.

Audrey Gossett Louis, the Republican district attorney for the 81st Judicial District, has spearheaded the project.

This critical service will allow families who lose loved ones to get answers to the circumstances surrounding their death much sooner, according to a summary on Louis official website. It says the new facility will serve her district as well as surrounding counties in need of medical examiner services.

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The summary does not mention Operation Lone Star or explain what the project has to do with border security.

Louis did not respond to requests for an interview.

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Border crossings have plummeted since 2024 as first Biden and then Trump effectively stopped processing claims for asylum. Trump has also deployed active-duty military units along the nations southwest border.

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Reflecting the new reality on the ground, Texas has wound down some of its border operations. The state closed a booking facility that processed arrested immigrants, and in approving a 2026-27 state budget in May, lawmakers slashed $3 billion from Abbotts request for border security funding, most of which was earmarked for wall construction.

The austerity did not extend to Operation Lone Star grants, however. Theyll continue to be funded, to the tune of $110 million. What is more, the federal budget bill Trump signed into law in July sets aside billions to reimburse states for border security programs such as Lone Star.

Texas held the line against the Biden-Harris border crisis for the past four years, and now we finally have a partner in the White House who is working with Texas to protect our state and nation, said Abbotts press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris. We will continue to work to secure the border for not just the next four years, but the next 40 years."

Left, a family walks across an international bridge in Eagle Pass linking the U.S. and Mexico. Right, Shelby Park, a hub for Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star border security initiative, as seen from the bridge. Top, a family walks across an international bridge in Eagle Pass linking the U.S. and Mexico. Bottom, Shelby Park, a hub for Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star border security initiative, as seen from the bridge.

An invasion on its border

The governor launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021, sending Texas Department of Public Safety officers and National Guardsmen to the border.

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The initiative grew to include construction of segments of border wall, stringing of razor wire and installation of massive buoys in the Rio Grande to discourage migrants from wading or swimming across.

A key component was the mass prosecution of immigrants on charges of trespassing and other state offenses. Traditionally, immigration-related detentions and prosecutions were considered the federal governments exclusive domain. Abbott said the state had to take matters into its own hands because Biden effectively opened the border.

Gov. Greg Abbott, right, and the Trump administration's border czar, Tom Homan, confer at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a military base in Eagle Pass created to support Operation Lone Star. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

But the governor needed buy-in from local officials, particularly county prosecutors, some of whom still used paper files and had tiny staffs. Detaining and prosecuting hundreds of people a week would impose a huge financial burden on strapped cities and counties.

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The state had a program to reimburse local governments for border security costs, but it was limited to counties in South and West Texas, and it covered only expenses for law enforcement and medical examiners. So the Legislature authorized a new grant program. Abbott signed it into law in September 2021. It allocated $100 million to start.

To qualify, not only did counties and cities have to formally declare a disaster, they had to take part in Operation Lone Star prosecutions. As a sweetener, the program reimburses a broader range of expenses than the earlier grants, and although preference is given to border counties and those along the Gulf Coast, local governments anywhere in Texas are eligible.

Eagle Pass has been the epicenter of Operation Lone Star. Its here that Abbotts security forces occupied a public park and set up a sprawling military base on the outskirts of town.

In the early 2000s, then-Mayor Chad Foster led the opposition to construction of a border wall by the administration of Republican President George W. Bush. In 2017, Maverick County joined a lawsuit challenging a state law that prohibited sanctuary policies by local governments that protected immigrants from arrest and deportation.

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In 2021, attitudes started to change. Migrant crossings jumped that year after having dropped sharply during the COVID pandemic. In the U.S. Border Patrols Del Rio Sector, which includes Maverick County, migrant apprehensions shot up 350% from pre-pandemic levels, to 259,000.

Thousands of asylum-seekers, released pending court decisions on their immigration status, needed food, shelter and medical care. Local institutions became overwhelmed.

In July 2022, then-Maverick County Judge David Saucedo, who had led the challenge to the anti-sanctuary city law, issued a disaster declaration.

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This declaration does hereby request that the Governor of Texas, as Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the state, declare the existence of an invasion on its border with Mexico and take necessary actions to preserve and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Texas, the document states.

Saucedo said he did it to recover costs the sheriffs office ran up responding to the rush of migrants. The county couldn't foot the bill itself, he said.

If you dont have an emergency declaration on file, then the county couldnt recoup anything, he said in an interview. Maverick County is broke, for the most part.

Eagle Pass has been the epicenter of Operation Lone Star. State troopers and Texas National Guard soldiers occupied Shelby Park, above, and set up a sprawling military base on the outskirts of town. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

'Incentives to work here'

Iracheta, the county attorney, provides legal advice to county officials and oversees prosecution of misdemeanors. He said he was skeptical of Operation Lone Star at first, particularly the plan for mass trespassing prosecutions.

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The previous experience of criminal trespass that I had was a guy that didn't want to leave Walmart, he recalled.

He soon came to see things differently. One night, a smuggler fleeing sheriffs deputies jumped over a fence and ran through his yard, leaving behind a sandal, he said. Constituents told him they were frightened by the large numbers of migrants crossing their properties.

When there was a few people crossing, that's a way of life for border towns, Iracheta said. But the level that it got to was insane.

After the county joined Operation Lone Star in 2022, the state money began to flow. Iracheta is now the programs grant coordinator for Maverick County, which has received $11.9 million since 2022.

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Iracheta said that thanks to the Lone Star money, his staff has grown from two prosecutors and one investigator to 16 employees. They moved from outdated offices he described as horrible to a newly refurbished concrete building with pink trim that locals jokingly call the Taj Mahal. It has a workout room and showers.

As an added benefit, Iracheta runs a private legal practice out of the new Maverick County Attorneys Office.

Operation Lone Star grants paid for new digs for the Maverick County Attorney's Office. The building includes a workout room and showers. County Attorney Jaime Iracheta said the previous office was outdated and "horrible." Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

The county spent about $333,000 in grant money on cameras, microphones and software to permit taping and streaming of legal proceedings in three courtrooms.

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Lone Star grants also pay the salaries of deputy constables, grant writers and investigators for the District Attorneys Office, as well as those spiffy new pickups for Irachetas office.

Each of the six Silverados has pricey add-ons: $160 floor mats, $1,000 heavy duty rear bumpers, $700 running boards and $1,450 grill guards, according to state records. Three of the trucks are outfitted with Diamond Back 270 bed covers at $2,400 apiece.

Iracheta was unapologetic about the purchases. Before Lone Star, the county attorneys office had just one vehicle, a 2007 sedan with 300,000 miles on the odometer, he said.

Top left, Maverick County Attorney Jaime Iracheta, right, examines a map of the county with County Commissioner Jerry Morales. Bottom left, Iracheta's new office, paid for with Operation Lone Star funds. Top right, the Maverick County Commissioners approved a disaster declaration to qualify for Lone Star money. Bottom right, statistics on the number of migrant prosecutions handled by Iracheta's office. From top to bottom, Maverick County Attorney Jaime Iracheta, right, examines a map of the county with County Commissioner Jerry Morales. Iracheta's new office, paid for with Operation Lone Star funds. The Maverick County Commissioners approved a disaster declaration to qualify for Lone Star money. Statistics on the number of migrant prosecutions handled by Iracheta's office.

Since 2022, his office has prosecuted 6,300 Operation Lone Star cases. Nearly all were trespassing cases, and they involved a lot of driving, he said.

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If you put it in perspective of how much is going into the operation, we're nothing, Iracheta said. This is operational costs. We got vehicles for our investigators, we got vehicles for our prosecutors, because nobody wants to work in Maverick County. These are incentives to work here.

But grant spending sometimes spills over from border-related uses to routine county operations.

Last year, the Maverick County auditor expressed concern that only one of the three courtrooms renovated with Operation Lone Star grants was used for border-related cases. The auditor said the county also had failed to document $212,000 in payroll expenses funded with grants.

In a July 24, 2024, email, the county attorney replied to the auditor that the Governors Office is aware that these courtrooms handle non-OLS matters and still approved the $360,000.

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TEXAS POLITICS: How Greg Abbott made the Texas border America's problem

Regarding the $212,000 in payroll expenses, an official from the governors office wrote the county that the expenditure would be approved if the employees filed affidavits saying they worked the hours reported.

The way Abbotts office dealt with the auditors concerns frustrated some local officials, who say the state subjects non-Lone Star grants to much greater scrutiny. For decades, Maverick County has tried to improve its colonias, unplatted, poor communities that often lack basic services. Obtaining grants for drinking and wastewater in the colonias is a long, arduous process, said County Commissioner Jerry Morales.

You don't have any oversight there, Morales said of Operation Lone Star. But man, when I'm applying for a sewer connection grant, you want me to dot every single i and cross every single t.

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Maverick County Commissioner Jerry Morales has tried to improve the area's colonias, unplatted, poor communities that often lack basic services. He's frustrated that it's much easier to secure state aid for border security measures. , Maverick County Commissioner for Precinct 1 and critic of government spending concerning Operation Lone Star, is seen along a concertina and razor wire lined fence at Shelby Park, the staging area for Operation Lone Star on Fri, Mar 7, 2025, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer A Texas flag flies at a colonia in Eagle Pass. The unplatted, low-income communities often lack basic services such as public water and sewage treatment. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Samuel Sanchez, 74, with his daughter Irene, 36, in front of their home in a colonia in Eagle Pass. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Colonias near the border are prone to flooding and often lack basic services such as public water. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

Shot in the arm

Goliad County doesnt touch the border, but Republican Sheriff Roy Boyd Jr. has been an outspoken supporter of Abbott and Operation Lone Star.

The $3 million in grants approved for the county since 2021 paid, among other things, for six pickups, a van and an eighth vehicle for which no description was available in state records. The vehicles cost a total of $400,000.

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The justification for about $900,000 of the countys Lone Star spending was redacted from state records. That spending included $281,000 for surveillance equipment and accessories, $342,000 for specialized equipment and software and $140,000 on items identified only as equipment.

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Boyd didnt respond to a request for comment. In speeches and videos, he has faulted the Biden administration for allowing an open border and said Goliad County was overrun by cartel activity in 2021.

The state has approved more than $2.5 million in Lone Star grants for Brewster County in far West Texas. The money was a great shot in the arm, said Sheriff Ronny Dodson, a Democrat. At the peak of the migrant surge, deputies were stopping as many as 14 human smugglers per week, he said.

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The grants allowed Dodson to add to his 20-member force three deputies focused solely on the border. The county spent $360,000 on radio equipment, including mountain-top repeaters and backup battery systems, and $170,000 on surveillance equipment.

Dodson also secured approval for grants to buy 14 new Chevy Tahoes for $71,000 each and a $67,000 Ford F-250. It was no extravagance, he said. The fleet wears out rapidly in a county where deputies put 125,000 miles on a vehicle in a single year.

Well take it

Brewster never experienced the kind of migrant wave that hit counties closer to the border. Still, the county approved a disaster declaration to participate in Operation Lone Star.

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Anecdotally I don't think were as big an emergency as Kinney County was, said Brewster County Judge Greg Henington, a Republican. But there it is, well take it. The governor wants us to focus on this as a priority, so here we are.

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The town of Junction in the western Hill Country received two grants totaling $941,000  equal to about half its operating budget. The money has paid for four Ford Explorers, all-terrain vehicles and license plate readers for the police department as well as smaller items such as road flares.

Police Chief Rudy Supak said the grants were a godsend: When he started working in Junction in 2014, the departments newest cars were nine years old, he said.

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For a time, Junction police were involved in three or more car chases per week, pursuing suspected human smugglers on one of several highways that cut through town, Supak said. In an interview in March, he said officers hadnt had a chase in weeks.

Hes still glad the state money allowed him to re-equip his force.

My deal is, if the grant ends today, at least I can say my guys could survive and have the basic equipment to still produce services for Kimble County residents and whoever comes through here, Supak said. At least we have the basic equipment.

Zapata County, with a population of less than 14,000, was awarded $5.4 million under Lone Star.

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Records show the county spent $1.2 million on 29 vehicles, including pickup trucks for the sheriffs department, two vehicles for the county attorneys office and a $76,000 Chevy Tahoe for Zapata County Judge Joe Rathmells bailiff.

The county spent $251,760 on 30 laptops to go in the new vehicles. Hundreds of thousands more was spent on equipment for the vehicles  the details were redacted from state records.

Rathmell, a Democrat, said grant money also funded overtime for the sheriffs office and part of the salaries of the county judges assistant and a bailiff who worked on trespassing cases.

Ultimately, the county had so few trespassing arrests that the state stopped funding the administrative positions but continued to provide grants for law enforcement, Rathmell said.

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We never saw that drastic an influx of migration, he said.

In February, state officials wrote Rathmell to say they were terminating the countys Lone Star grant and wanted more than $1 million returned because it had been spent on unauthorized purchases.

The letter said Rathmell had not filed a financial report that was due in September and had failed to notify the governors office that equipment purchased for the county sheriffs office was missing. In April, the county paid back $1.17 million.

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Its really a painful experience for us, Rathmell said. All we wanted to do was help the governor out in his efforts and we ended up paying for it. We hope to recoup a sizable portion of what we had to give back.

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'A lot more money'

Despite the dramatic drop in border crossings, Texas counties continue to issue disaster declarations to take advantage of state funding.

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Hidalgo County did it this year. Under the border security grant program that preceded Operation Lone Star, the county sheriffs office collected $250,000 to $500,000 a year. In early 2025, officials learned the program would be folded into Lone Star and that a lot more money would be available with fewer restrictions, said Sheriff J. E. "Eddie" Guerra.

Issuing a disaster declaration was a no-brainer.

The county is asking for $3 million in grants to purchase new vehicles and surveillance towers. Guerra said the money can also help pay criminal investigators working on anything that has a border, organized crime nexus.

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Starr County Judge Eloy Vera earlier this year became one of several county judges to declare a disaster while saying his county was not facing an emergency.

Our hand was kind of forced because of economics, he told KRGV Channel 5 news. This county could certainly use those $5 to $8 million for law enforcement.
A plane at Signature Aviation carrying Texas Democratic lawmakers takes off from the South Terminal on Sunday in Austin. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

On Sunday, I joined Texas Democrats on a flight to Chicago  not to run from a fight, but to protect my community from a dangerous and coordinated power grab.

Gov. Greg Abbott, at the explicit request of President Donald Trump, has called a special session of the Legislature with one priority: redraw Texas congressional maps and rig the 2026 election by handing Trump five more Republican seats in Congress.

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Trump didnt just influence the process. He initiated it. He asked Abbott to rig the maps, and Abbott responded, How fast?

Now theyre trying to do it in just 30 days  quietly, while many Texans arent tuned in to whats happening at the state Capitol. Theres no new census data. No court order. No constitutional mandate. This isnt redistricting  its desperation.

And Austin is directly in their crosshairs.

Under the proposed maps, two of our most effective progressive representatives, Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar, are drawn into the same district. Communities that have stood together for decades are being sliced apart. One new district stretches from North Austin nearly to the Texas-New Mexico border, a five-hour drive.

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Republicans claim theyre making the maps more compact. But anyone whos ever driven in Texas knows thats a joke.

Lets be honest: They cant win in Austin on ideas, so theyre trying to erase us from the map.

Rep. John Bucy, an Austin-area Democrat shown speaking in January, writes that he joined other Democrats in breaking quorum Sunday because the proposed redistricting plan would silence voters' voices. Jay Janner/American-Statesman

Austin is one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic and most inclusive cities in the country  and that terrifies Trump Republicans. Theyve targeted our city budget. Attacked our LGBTQ+ kids. Blocked our ability to raise wages or protect our environment. And now theyre trying to silence our voice in Congress.

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All while our community is still reeling from tragedy.

Just weeks ago, Central Texas experienced catastrophic flooding. On July 4, more than 130 Texans died. A cabin of eight-year-old girls was swept away in the middle of the night. Emergency systems failed. Families are still grieving and rebuilding. If ever there was a reason to call a special session  that was it.

But instead of dedicating this session to emergency preparedness and disaster relief, Abbott made redistricting his top priority.

So far, the Legislature has held eight hearings on redistricting  and only two on flooding. Thats not just misguided. Its offensive.

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We tried everything: We testified in hearings. We called for transparency. We asked for negotiations. But when the governor made it clear that this session would be about silencing voters, we used the last tool we had left: breaking quorum.

This is not political theater. This is a fight for Austins future.

I ran for office to represent people  not to help a president with the lowest approval rating in decades handpick voters to stay in power. Trump doesnt want to build an agenda that works for America. He wants to build a Congress that works for him. And if he can gerrymander five seats out of Texas, hell think he can get away with it anywhere.

When Republicans cant win fairly, they cheat. When voters reject their agenda, they change the rules. If we let them succeed here, were inviting more of the same across the country.

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So on Sunday, I left.

Not because I wanted to. Because I had to. Because Austin deserves better than this. Because democracy works only if voters choose their leaders, not the other way around.

And thats why Ill keep fighting until every Austinite, every Texan, and every American has the freedom to be heard.
Texas state lawmakers board a bus following a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters on August 03, 2025 in Carol Stream, Illinois. The group of Democratic lawmakers left the state earlier today so a quorum could not be reached during a special session called to redistrict the state. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Scott Olson/Getty Images Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu boards a bus with other state lawmakers following a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters on August 03, 2025 in Carol Stream, Illinois. Wu and the other lawmakers left the state earlier today so a quorum could not be reached during a special session called to redistrict the state. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Scott Olson/Getty Images Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu along with other members of the Texas House are joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map office during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) Mark Black/Associated Press Texas Rep. Jolanda Jones, left, joins New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, right, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, right, for a news conference with fellow Texas Democratic lawmakers on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. The Texas Democrats left the state in protest of a Republican gerrymandering plan to redraw congressional redistricting maps, which would add five new seats in Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Hochul says that New York will also seek to redraw congressional lines. (Will Waldron/Times Union) Will Waldron/Times Union Texas Rep. Mihaela Plesa, right, joins New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, for a news conference with fellow Texas Democratic lawmakers on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. The Texas Democrats left the state in protest of a Republican gerrymandering plan to redraw congressional redistricting maps, which would add five new seats in Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Hochul says that New York will also seek to redraw congressional lines. (Will Waldron/Times Union) Will Waldron/Times Union Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu along with other members of the Texas House are joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map office during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) Mark Black/Associated Press Texas Rep. Jolanda Jones and fellow Texas Democratic lawmakers join New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for a news conference on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. The Texas Democrats left the state in protest of a Republican gerrymandering plan to redraw congressional redistricting maps, which would add five new seats in Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Hochul says that New York will also seek to redraw congressional lines. (Will Waldron/Times Union) Will Waldron/Times Union Texas Rep. Mihaela Plesa, right, speaks to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, during a news conference with fellow Texas Democratic lawmakers on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. The Texas Democrats left the state in protest of a Republican gerrymandering plan to redraw congressional redistricting maps, which would add five new seats in Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Hochul says that New York will also seek to redraw congressional lines. (Will Waldron/Times Union) Will Waldron/Times Union Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu talks with reporters after appearing with other Texas legislators and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) Mark Black/Associated Press Democratic lawmakers board a plane at Signature Aviation at the South Terminal on Sunday, August. 3, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks to reporters following a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters on August 03, 2025 in Carol Stream, Illinois. Wu was with a group of Democratic Texas lawmakers who left the state earlier today so a quorum could not be reached during a special session called to redistrict the state. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Scott Olson/Getty Images Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (C) and Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu (R) listen as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks to reporters during a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters on August 03, 2025 in Carol Stream, Illinois. Wu was with a group of Democratic Texas lawmakers who left the state earlier today so a quorum could not be reached during a special session called to redistrict the state. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Scott Olson/Getty Images Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu along with other members of the Texas House are joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map office during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black) Mark Black/Associated Press

In a statement late Sunday, Abbott said he would invoke a 2021 attorney general opinion that allows him "to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House" if they do not return to the Capitol by Monday afternoon. The House is scheduled to gavel in at 3 p.m. to consider the redrawn congressional map.

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"Democrats hatched a deliberate plan not to show up for work, for the specific purpose of abdicating the duties of their office and thwarting the chambers business," Abbott said. "That amounts to an abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office."

READ MORE: Texas House Democrats leave state to block Republican redistricting

The move, if Abbott follows through, would almost certainly trigger a legal battle.

The Republican governor cited a legally nonbinding opinion by Attorney General Ken Paxton that came in response to Democrats 2021 quorum break over an election law overhaul bill. While Paxton said it was beyond the scope of his office to say whether any one lawmakers quorum break constituted abandonment of office, he underscored that courts have a right to make that determination and remove public officials.

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The governor also suggested that members who raise money to offset their expenses for leaving the state "may also have committed felonies."

"Any Democrat who 'solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept' such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote may have violated bribery laws," Abbott said.

The harsh words came hours after a large group of Democrats flew to Illinois in a bid to stop state Republicans from passing a new congressional map that would give the party five more winnable seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.

SEE THE MAP: Texas Republicans unveil redistricting map to expand GOP foothold by 5 seats

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The House needs two-thirds of its 150 members at the Capitol to conduct business, and at least 50 Democrats have agreed to stay away through the end of the special session on Aug. 19, said State Rep. Gene Wu, who chairs the party caucus.

Wu's office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment about Abbotts statement. Democrats have said the decision to leave was not made lightly and that they've been fundraising to help cover the costs.

The only thing we have in our minds is what do we need to do to protect Texans," said Wu, D-Houston, said at a Sunday press conference alongside Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. "We will not be complicit in the destruction of our own communities."

Texas law allows the attorney general or a district attorney to file a special kind of legal action known as a quo warranto to remove a public official who has forfeited office. If a court finds the official guilty, the judge can enter a judgment removing them from office. Abbott said he would then be empowered to swiftly fill vacancies by calling an election.

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House members face fines of up to $500 a day for purposely leaving the state to deny a quorum. Those were put in place after the last quorum break.
The place where I sleep is actually a cell. Its extremely cold. The bathroom has no door and the floor is very dirty. Its very embarrassing not to have privacy to use the bathroom. This is part of a statement by a 16-year-old girl reflecting the conditions that minors suffer inside migrant detention centers in the United States. Several human rights organizations have collected testimonies from children and their families to denounce the treatment of minors who arrive, with or without their parents, seeking asylum. They hope that the harshness of the statements will serve to stop the Trump Administrations motion seeking to eliminate the protections that minors are guaranteedat least on paperwith the Flores Agreement.

Both parties will appear on August 8 before District Judge Dolly M. Gee of Los Angeles, who will likely decide whether to terminate the Flores Agreement, which has guaranteed minimum conditions for the well-being of children since 1997. According to the regulations, facilities where children are housed must be safe and sanitary and provide them with access to restrooms and sinks, drinking water, and food with adequate temperature and ventilation control.

President Donald Trump believes the Flores Agreement is no longer necessary because it does not serve the public interest, according to a motion his administration filed in May. The administration also claims that the situation is very different now from when the law was passed 27 years ago, that there were not as many immigrants then as there are now, and that conditions inside these centers have substantially improved since then.

The testimonies of children and their families, however, paint a very different picture. In the centers controlled by the Border Patrol (CBP), nicknamed iceboxes because of the low temperatures in which they are kept, detainees sleep crowded together on thin yoga mats, share a bathroom with more than 20 other people, often without a door, and have no access to natural light. Instead, they are kept under artificial light 24 hours a day and woken at night to check the anklets placed on them. The poor nutrition and lack of access to medicine make many ill, according to their parents.

I could only bathe my daughter once every two weeks because those were the only times the shower water was lukewarm, says one mother. When my daughter got sick, a member of the medical staff told me it was my fault my daughter was sick because it was my decision to bring her here. When I asked for medication, the staff told us to go home and we would get it there, says another.

The young woman who made the statement at the beginning of this storyand who remains anonymous for protection reasonsarrived in the United States with her mother and two younger siblings in April to request asylum through the appointment app CBP One, which the Trump administration has since eliminated. After an arduous journey that included walking through sewers, the mother surrendered to border police, who handcuffed her and took the entire family to the detention center in Chula Vista, California, about seven miles from the Mexican border.

Teenagers at a detention center in Donna, Texas, on March 30, 2021. Dario Lopez-Mills (AP)

We were still soaked, dirty, cold, and smelly They spoke in English, thinking we wouldnt understand the profanity they were uttering, but I understood quite a bit of English I heard one officer say about us, They smell like shit, to which another officer replied, They are shit. They treated us like we werent human, the young woman said. They were unable to leave their cell for five days.

The 72-hour limit has been exceeded

One of the recommendations included in the Flores Agreement is that minors should not spend more than 72 hours in CBP detention centers, but more and more children are being held for extended periods. Advocates for the minors report that children are frequently transferred to the recently reopened Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Family Detention Centers for additional weeks of detention, where the clock is reset on the time children spend in custody.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the trauma caused by the endemic confusion, cruelty, and deprivation of CBP custody, said the National Center for Youth Law and Childrens Rights, the organizations that compiled the statements.

Border Patrol facilities are not a place to hold anyone for days on end, much less children or people with vulnerable medical needs, the American Immigration Council said in a statement following the death of a girl in CBP custody in 2023. Anadith Danay Reyes Alvarez, who suffered from sickle cell anemia and heart disease, died on May 17 of that year at a Texas detention center, where she had been held with her parents for nine days. Subsequent investigations have revealed that medical staff ignored the parents pleas to be taken to the hospital after seeing their daughters condition worsen. Anadith suffered a high fever and chest and abdominal pain, among other symptoms, according to attorneys for the family, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit last May.

Last April alone, 213 minors exceeded the recommended 72-hour detention period and 14 children were held for more than 20 days, according to data compiled by the organizations filing the petition. One child was held in a CBP facility for more than a month. Thats insane, says Scott Bassett, an attorney with Amica, an organization that provides legal services to unaccompanied migrant minors.

The Flores Agreement was initially approved specifically for the latter, but was later extended to all minors. It takes its name from a 15-year-old Salvadoran girl, Jenny Lisette Flores, who crossed the border alone in the 1980s. She was held in a center for adults and subjected to body searches.

Migrant children between the ages of 3 and 9, at the Texas Customs and Border Protection Office, United States. Dario Lopez-Mills (AP)

The agreement, which Trump wants to eliminate after trying and failing to do so during his first administration, was supposed to be temporary, on the basis that legislation would be passed to include the same protections for minors, but the law never came. In 2024, the Biden administration approved a new regulation for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), where unaccompanied minors are transferred. The Democratic administration also wanted to eliminate part of the Flores Agreement because the new regulations already included some of the same protections for children who arrive alone, but child advocacy organizations opposed it.

No toys and no moving

The Flores Agreement requires unaccompanied minors to be transferred within 72 hours to ORR, where conditions are better: children receive educational, religious, and recreational services, which were previously denied to them at CBP facilities.

There wasnt a single toy. They werent even allowed to jump, move, or play with each other. Can you imagine being three years old and being told not to move for five days? Officers would walk through the room, and if the children moved, they would be told that if they didnt stop, they would be taken away, one father said in statements submitted to Judge Gee.

Amica works with minors held at the ORR, advising them and offering legal defense in their asylum cases. The Trump administration has also attempted to cancel legal services for these minors, but a judge has ordered the funding for their attorneys to continue temporarily. Bassett explains the risk of leaving children without legal representation in immigration court, as the government wants: One of the most frustrating things is that almost all of these children are eligible to win their cases. Only with a lawyer, someone who knows what to do, could they stay here. The problem is that the system is so complex for them that they cant do it without a lawyer.

To reduce the number of minors it must care for, the administration has begun offering voluntary deportation, as they cannot be deported directly by CBP. But even voluntary departure can be very confusing for children. Its something we need to seek legal advice about, Bassett adds.

Returning to the countries they fled, where most of them experienced traumatic experiences, isnt very appealing, but the conditions in which they are held in detention centers arent ideal for children either. We cant play. We just sleep, eat, cry, and wait, summarizes one of the children.

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Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests Diana Buzoianu has criticized the leadership of the National Administration "Romanian Waters" (ANAR) for failing to access EUR 350 million in National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) funds earmarked for the construction of dikes, dams, and polders.

"Over EUR 350 million should have been allocated to the construction of dikes, dams, and polders in the Romanian Waters sector. Of the 13 polders initially planned, only one is nearing completion. The original target of 510 kilometers of dikes was later scaled back to 400 - yet not a single kilometer has been built. (...) The European Commission will almost certainly refuse to keep this funding in the program. It's wasted money, lost money. Romania had a historic opportunity, and it slipped through our fingers. We had the chance to act and secure these funds a year ago," the minister said in a Sunday interview with private broadcaster Digi24.

Minister Buzoianu added that the director of ANAR should have already resigned and stated she will make a decision regarding his position after the release of the Prime Minister's Control Body report on the situation in Praid flooded salt mine.

According to the minister, ANAR is currently paying EUR 54,000 per month in rent for its Bucharest headquarters and intends to purchase a 6,000-square-meter building for its 270 employees, with an estimated price tag of RON 75 million.

Diana Buzoianu has requested a full inventory of all real estate managed by institutions under the ministry's authority and plans to assess whether those properties could be better utilized.

"I was told by Romanian Waters officials that they had a budget of RON 75 million last year to purchase a new headquarters. I was quite taken aback. I explained to them that, in a year when they failed to access a single euro of NRRP funds - losing all money for dikes and dams - it sends the wrong signal to be receiving RON 75 million for real estate. First, let's ensure things are functioning properly and that they're capable of attracting funds," she said.

The minister also announced that she had dispatched the Control Body to Romanian Waters last week to investigate staffing structures, the failure to attract EU funds, and how field inspections are carried out.

"EU funds were not accessed by the Romanian Waters. So, as we now witness communities affected by floods, we must all ask: why haven't we been able to prioritize and implement projects through an institution with over 8,000 employees and sitting on a mountain of money? This is a legitimate question for everyone whose home has been literally destroyed by floods. Why weren't flood-prevention works prioritized?," she concluded.
The initiative to establish a coalition in the field of cybersecurity between Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine is opportune, pragmatic and in line with Romania's objective to position itself as an active and relevant actor in the region, representatives of the National Directorate for Cyber Security (DNSC) say, agerpres reports.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday, a trilateral working meeting for the establishment of a regional cybersecurity alliance between Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine took place on July 30 in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.





According to the cited source, it aims to capitalize on the experience gained by Ukraine in recent years, strengthen a common operational framework for the prevention, detection and coordinated response to cyber threats and is based on the principles of solidarity, mutual trust and shared democratic values, with the aim of increasing cyber resilience in the region."Trilateral operational cooperation, through the establishment of a cyber coalition, will represent an important pillar of resilience and cybersecurity in the region, as well as concrete support from Romania in the process of accession of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to the European Union", declared Dan Cimpean, director of the National Directorate of Cyber Security (DNSC), quoted in the press release."The new alliance will constitute a solid platform for cooperation, aimed at strengthening the collective cybersecurity of the participating states and developing effective mechanisms to counter these threats," said Natalia Tkachuk.At the same time, DNSC representatives argue that the initiative represents a concrete step towards strengthening the European cybersecurity architecture, in a geopolitical context in which regional cooperation is becoming increasingly relevant for protecting the infrastructures, stability and values of the democratic world.
Romania's Supreme Council of Magistracy (CSM) says that the country's judiciary should be respected through social status, political decency, European wages and pensions, which are the expression of responsibility and the strict prohibitions that they have to face, agerpres reports.

In a press statement released on Monday, CSM says that following a meeting at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace organised at the initiative of President Nicusor Dan and amidst an "extensive interview given by the CSM chair on Friday, lasting over an hour, from which a fractional audio-video montage of a few minutes was broadcast" that the statutes of the magistrates, in all their components, are "the guarantee of an independent judiciary, essential to the normal functioning of society as a whole."





The Romanian justice, like the rights of each citizen, deserves "attentive, unbiased listening."CSM Chair Elena Costache, was asked by Digi24 private broadcaster if 70% of the last net pay is a small pension, she replied that she finds it "little".
Education Minister Daniel David met on Monday with the representatives of the education unions, who have been protesting since last week, who were informed that, currently, there are no budget cuts, however, to cover expenses until the end of the year, if the announced measures are not implemented, an additional allocation of approximately two billion lei is required.

"Representatives of the unions mentioned their viewpoints and the reasons for their protests and they also presented a series of demands. Minister Daniel David expressed his openness to finding the best solutions regarding the enforcement of the fiscal-budgetary law during and in the context of the public consultations on the subsequent legislation. Moreover, the ministry representatives mentioned that, at this moment, there are no cuts in the ministry's budget, however, for the proper functioning until the end of the year (covering expenses), if the announced measures are not taken, an additional allocation of approximately 2 billion RON is required," a release of the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) informed, agerpres reports.





The meeting which took place at the Education and Research Ministry headquarters was attended by minister Daniel David, alongside other MEC representatives, as well as by the representatives of the three trade union organizations involved in the protests - the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, the "Spiru Haret" Federation of Trade Unions in Education and the "Alma Mater" National Trade Union Federation.The three organizations announced that on September 8, the first day of the new school year, over 30,000 union members will participate in the "Education Rally."
The management teams of the Burn Centre of the Floreasca Emergency Clinical Hospital in Bucharest and that of the same hospital's Laboratory have been dismissed, the medical unit informs on Monday.

The decision comes after the sister of a patient who was hospitalized with burns on 70% of her body surface at the Floreasca Hospital reported several irregularities in the Burn Centre.

"In the context of the recent incident at the Burn Centre, we express, first of all, our deep compassion for the suffering of the patient and her family. (...) In order to prevent such situations from ever happening again, we have decided on the following measures, in addition to those already communicated: managerial reorganisation - we have decided to dismiss the management of the Burn Centre, and we have decided to dismiss the management of the hospital's Laboratory, as well. Starting today, the coordinator of the Burn Centre is doctor Adrian Frunza, and the laboratory is led by doctor Oana Iulia Talpos," the hospital informs in a message on Facebook.

According to the same source, the patient's medical observation sheet was promptly sent to the College of Physicians for a thorough analysis, and the 63 doctors involved (including doctors involved in interdisciplinary consultations) in treating the patient will send information notes to clarify the medical aspects of this case.

'A single patient suffering from irregularities like these is an alarm signal. These things should not and we do not want to happen again," hospital representatives report.
The Ministry of Education and Research, through the National Research Authority, launched a draft law for the digitalization and efficiency of research, development and innovation (RDI) activities for public debate.

"Promoted at the initiative of the Ministry of Education and Research, through the National Research Authority - Romania, the draft normative act aims to complete the current legislative framework in the field of research, development and innovation (RDI), in order to fulfill Milestone 276 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan - Entry into force of legislative amendments aimed at creating a favorable environment for public and private investments in #research, development and innovation", informs the ANC on Facebook.

The draft law proposes a series of essential measures to digitize and streamline the activities of institutions involved in financing and monitoring research projects, including the mandatory use of IT platforms by contracting authorities and the establishment of the Research, Development and Innovation Observatory - an instrument dedicated to substantiating public policies based on relevant data at the national level.

At the same time, the project regulates the establishment of #RoInovare, a specialized structure with responsibilities for promoting innovation in the private sector, facilitating public-private partnerships and attracting complementary investments to public ones in the field of research and innovation.

"These provisions aim to make financing mechanisms more efficient and transparent, reduce the administrative burden for all actors involved, increase the capacity to monitor and evaluate RDI programs, and strengthen public policies in the field. In particular, the project aims to stimulate the participation of large Romanian enterprises in strategic research partnerships and supports the preparation of the national ecosystem for the new directions of European innovation policies," states the cited source.
Secretary of State with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) Violeta Musat attended on Monday a trilateral online meeting with her counterparts from Bulgaria and Greece, in order to discuss the current epizootic situation in the Balkan region and to coordinate the joint actions of the three countries in the context of free movement in the Schengen Area.

According to a post on the ministry's Facebook page, the meeting agenda included topics such as: sheep and goat pox, bluetongue disease, as well as the measures to control and restrict illegal animal movement between the three countries amid free transit through Schengen border points, agerpres reports.





Alexandru Bociu, the president of the the National Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), alongside other officials from the institution attended the meeting on behalf of Romania.
Former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu was summoned Monday morning at the Prosecutor General's Office to be informed that prosecutors have changed the legal classification of one of the charges brought against him in connection with the mercenary group led by Horatiu Potra.

"Further to the press releases of February 26 and August 1, 2025, the prosecutor from the Criminal Investigation Section of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice has decided to reclassify the charges against one of the defendants, from disseminating false information and incitement to attempt actions against the constitutional order, to complicity in the attempted subversion of the constitutional order and continuous dissemination of false information (two material acts)," the Prosecutor General's Office announced in a press release..

Georgescu spent about half an hour inside the Prosecutor's Office and, upon leaving, suggested that a solution to the crisis in Suceava County would be for each city to "adopt" a family of flood victims.

When asked by journalists why he was summoned to the Prosecutor's Office, Georgescu replied: "As we say, the truth sweeps everything clean, you know. And I have this message: People make plans and God smiles. The moment will come when God delivers checkmate to this movement, to this situation - and my question is: With which chess piece will God deliver that checkmate?"

Dozens of Georgescu's supporters, including AUR MPs, were present outside the Prosecutor's General Office.

Prosecutors maintain that Horatiu Potra and his mercenary group planned to infiltrate protests organized immediately after the presidential elections were annulled, with the aim of creating chaos.

The action plan was allegedly devised by Calin Georgescu and his close associates during a secret meeting at a farm in Ciolpani, held shortly after the annulment of the elections.

Calin Georgescu has already been indicted in a separate case, in which he is accused of publicly promoting the cult of persons convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, as well as of promoting fascist, legionary, racist, or xenophobic ideas, concepts, or doctrines, in a continuous manner (five material acts).
The Association of Prosumers and Energy Communities (APCE) requests ANRE to publish the suppliers' purchase price for prosumers' energy, given the conditions in which discretionary prices are practiced and there are huge differences between how much suppliers pay for prosumers' energy and how much they sell on.

"The Association of Prosumers and Energy Communities (APCE) officially requests ANRE to publish the purchase price of suppliers for prosumers' energy, on the online platform "Typical Offers Comparator" on the institution's website. It is a simple, common-sense gesture that would allow all prosumers in Romania, over 230,000 in number, to make informed and correct decisions when choosing their energy supplier. Currently, due to missing or unclear regulations by ANRE, prosumers often do not know at what price the surplus energy produced and delivered to the network is purchased from them or discretionary prices, some even aberrant, are applied. In the absence of this public information, some suppliers apply non-transparent and uncompetitive prices, deceiving people's trust," a press release from APCE states.

According to the organization, in 2025, after market liberalization, there are suppliers who buy the energy produced by prosumers for 0.30 lei/kWh and resell it for 0.82 lei/kWh, but also suppliers who try to buy it for less than 0.10 lei/kWh, and then sell it to consumers for 0.88 lei/kWh.

"In the case of a particular supplier, things become completely absurd: prosumers are forced to initially sign a supply contract as simple consumers without knowing in advance the price at which they will be purchased for energy. The purchase price comes later, starting in August as a "contractual surprise", the statement states.

In these conditions, the Prosumers Association recalls that European Directive 2019/944, art. 11 para. (1a) and (2), obliges suppliers to provide clear, written and transparent information about prices and conditions before signing the contract. At the same time, ANRE Order 3/2022 obliges transparency and provides the digital framework through the POSF platform for changing supplier and ANRE Order 95/2022, which amends Order 15/2022, mentions that the energy delivered by prosumers is invoiced without commercial mark-up. "However, paradoxically, the supply margin is reintroduced as a separate component on the invoice, which allows price manipulation", the cited document underlines.

Thus, PACE considers that ANRE must oblige suppliers to publicly declare the real purchase price of energy from prosumers and the supply margin. At the same time, prices must be displayed transparently and updated on the "Comparator Oferte-tip" platform, just as it happens with prices for consumers, the cited source claims.
Eduard Stefan, an 11-year-old pupil from Caracal won the gold medal at the "Copernicus" International Mathematics Olympiad in the US. The pupil told AGERPRES on Monday about his participation in the competition, the emotions he experienced in New York and the "indescribable" joy of ranking first.

"My experience in the United States, in New York, was truly memorable and full of deep emotions. A moment that touched me deeply was during the ceremony when the Romanian national anthem was performed. The entire hall stood and applauded me. I felt profoundly honored, proud to be Romanian and grateful for this unique moment. When I learned I had secured first place with the highest score, I felt an indescribable joy. It was an explosion of emotions, amazement, pride and gratitude. Knowing that I brought Romania to first place in such an important international competition was a fulfillment and an honorable responsibility," Eduard Stefan said, agerpres reports.





Passionate about knowledge and learning, Eduard Stefan mentioned that, in order to keep himself entertained in airports and during his flight, he read "Eastern Europe" by Tomek Jankowski.
HOUSTON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring with late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors, has been transferred from Florida to a federal prison camp in Texas, local media reported Friday.

"We can confirm, Ghislaine Maxwell is in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Bryan in Bryan, Texas," BOP spokesperson Donald Murphy said in a statement, without providing further explanation.

Maxwell was sentenced in 2022 for carrying out a years-long scheme with Epstein to groom and sexually abuse underage girls. She has continued to appeal her conviction, including to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Maxwell has offered to testify before Congress if major conditions are met, including immunity and receiving the questions beforehand.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week renewed his denial of any connection to Epstein, accusing the Democrats of making up fake information.

Epstein, who had extensive connections with U.S. political and business elites, was arrested on sex crime charges and died in prison in August 2019, which was officially ruled a suicide.

During Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, he pledged to release Epstein-related documents if re-elected. However, in early July, the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a joint memo stating no incriminating "client list" exists and "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted." 
Service member reloads an M18 pistol on the flight deck of the destroyer USS Ralph Johnson while underway in the Philippine Sea on Feb. 22, 2025. (U.S. Navy)



The Air Force ordered all its M18 pistols inspected after the death of a security forces airman last month sparked concerns about the safety of the gun used widely across the U.S. military.

The service-wide supplemental inspection of the about 125,000 M18s used by the Air Force was ordered to validate the serviceability of weapons and reinforce confidence in their use, an Air Force spokesperson said Monday.

The inspection efforts began shortly after 21-year-old Airman Brayden Lovan was killed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., on July 20 when an M18 discharged while he was on duty at the intercontinental ballistic missile base.

Multiple investigations into Lovans death and the safety of the M18 pistol were ongoing, Air Force officials said. Air Force Global Strike Commands pause on the use of the M18 also remained in place. Meanwhile, some commanders in Air Force Combat Command  the services largest four-star command  had also ordered a temporary halt of the use of the pistol as a precautionary measure until airmen undergo refresher training, a service official said.

Air Force officials declined to say Monday whether the M18 probes had determined if the bullet that struck Lovan was the result of a negligent discharge, a criminal act or a so-called uncommanded discharge  a rare incident when a gun fires without the trigger pulled.

A lawyer representing Lovans family in the wake of the tragic incident has asserted Lovans death was the result of an uncommanded discharge, which he said follows a pattern of such incidents occurring with M18 and other nearly identical firearm models produced by New Hampshires Sig Sauer. The M18 and its larger M17 version used primarily by the Army are both versions of Sigs popular P320, a striker-fired, semi-automatic 9mm handgun with military, law enforcement and civilian versions.

Robert Zimmerman with the law firm Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky said Lovans mother Melinda Tucker and other family members are encouraging the military to halt the use of the M18 and other P320 variants.

In the midst of their unimaginable grief, Braydens family members are deeply concerned that what happened to him  a lethal uncommanded firing of a P320-variant pistol  could at any moment happen to another member of the armed forces, law enforcement or civilians that own or use Sig Sauer P320s, said Zimmerman, who represents more than 100 individuals who have alleged injuries or fatalities via defective P320s.

Sig has faced multiple lawsuits in recent years by law enforcement officials and civilians who have claimed their P320s have fired without the trigger being touched. In recent weeks, dozens of shooting ranges and a handful of law enforcement agencies have announced they would ban the use of P320s.

But Sig Sauer has long denied the P320 has any safety issue and has pushed back against such allegations.

In a lengthy statement issued last week to its customers, Sig argued P320 owners and operators  including those in the military  have nothing to worry about. The gunmaker said it was cooperating in the Air Forces investigation into the M18, calling Lovans death the result of a tragic incident.

The P320 pistol is one of the safest, most advanced pistols in the world  meeting and exceeding all industry safety standards, the Sig Sauer statement reads. Its design has been thoroughly tested and validated by the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels. In addition, the P320 has been rigorously tested, and is currently in use by militaries and law enforcement agencies around the world.  The P320 CANNOT, under any circumstances, discharge without the trigger first being moved to the rear.

While the Air Force spends the coming weeks inspecting its M18s, the Pentagons other military services are standing by their Sig pistols. Officials from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps said they were all aware of the ongoing Air Force investigations, but they had no current plans to change policies or inspect their M18s and M17s.

We value the safety of our forces and will continue to monitor the situation closely, an Army spokesperson said Monday.
An HC-130J Combat King II with a malfunctioning refueling hose approaches Misawa Air Base, Japan, in this image posted to the unofficial Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page on July 21, 2025. (Facebook)



Japans Tohoku Defense Bureau said it was not informed of an in-flight incident involving a U.S. military aircraft that landed at Misawa Air Force Base last month.

The HC-130J Combat King II, operated by the California Air National Guard, landed safely at the U.S. installation in northeastern Japan on July 18 because of an issue with its refueling hose, the 35th Fighter Wing confirmed Monday.

During a training flight, a mechanical indication resulted in the fuel hose being unable to retract, wing spokesman Capt. LeeRoy Stark said in an emailed statement. The aircrew conducted safety checklists, avoided flying over populated areas, and landed the aircraft at Misawa Air Base without incident.

The HC-130J is a long-range variant of the C-130J airlifter, used for personnel recovery, helicopter aerial refueling and other missions in austere environments, according to the Air Force.

Photos purporting to be of the incident were posted on July 21 to the popular, but unofficial, Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page. They show a refueling hose trailing behind the aircraft as it approaches the runway.

A spokesman for the defense bureau  a regional arm of Japans Ministry of Defense  said by phone Monday that officials there were unaware the incident had taken place. Some Japanese government officials speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

The 35th Fighter Wing works with visiting units to ensure compliance with flight safety protocols and emergency procedures, Stark said.

We maintain coordination with Government of Japan officials to ensure the safety of surrounding communities, he wrote.

The aircraft was participating in Resolute Force Pacific, a large-scale multinational exercise spanning the Indo-Pacific region. The drills began July 10 and end Friday.

Pacific Air Forces said the exercise involves more than 12,000 personnel and 350 aircraft across more than 50 locations covering 3,000 miles.
A Standard Missile-3 Block IIA is test-fired from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 10, 2024. (Nancy Jones-Bonbrest/Missile Defense Agency)



A proposed $8 billion missile defense system for Guam could have long-term, significant and major effects on the islands housing market and health care system, according to the final Environmental Impact Statement.

The decade-long project  intended to protect Guam from cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missiles potentially launched by China or North Korea  could begin affecting residents as early as this year, when construction crews begin arriving, said the report released July 25.

The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Army will wait until at least Aug. 24 before acting on the reports findings.

Construction of the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System  described as a comprehensive, persistent, 360-degree shield  is scheduled to begin later this year and continue through 2035. Plans include 36 missile launchers, 23 communication towers and 14 radar systems across the 210-square-mile island.

The report notes that the project would disproportionately affect the entire island of Guam, with potentially greater impacts in villages with higher concentrations of minority and low-income residents.

Roughly 40% of the systems construction workforce is expected to be hired locally. The remaining 60%  about 240 workers  will come from outside Guam. Their arrival is expected to place some strain on the islands already limited housing supply.

Workers would likely use temporary workforce housing or rent from the local market, according to the report.

By 2026, the military will begin a phased deployment of personnel, starting with 350 service members. By 2031, that number is expected to rise to about 2,300 service members and dependents living on Guam full time  a 1.5% increase over the islands 2020 population of 153,000 people, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

While most military personnel will live on Guams large military installations, approximately 324 off-base units will still be required  about 17% of the 1,900 rental properties that meet military housing standards.

Given the limited availability of housing and the unmet community demand for housing units on Guam, impacts on housing are expected to be long term, major, and significant with both direct and indirect impacts, the report states.

To help mitigate the strain, the Defense Department plans to phase in personnel and build additional on-base housing before dependents begin arriving in 2031.

The health care system on Guam  already designated a Health Professional Shortage Area and Medically Underserved Area by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  may also be affected by the influx of residents.

Guams remote location reduces access to specialized care and makes it difficult to recruit specialists from the U.S. mainland, according to the report.

Although early construction is expected to have only a short-term, negligible and less-than-significant effect, the report anticipates long-term pressures as military families settle on the island.

Service members will primarily use on-base care, such as Naval Hospital Guam, but dependents may turn to civilian providers, including Guam Memorial Hospital, the islands only public hospital.

The report also warns that military hiring could draw medical staff away from civilian clinics already struggling to meet demand.

In response to the projected strain, the Defense Department is holistically reviewing the life support facility needs for all the DoD projects on Guam, according to the report.

Support facility locations have not been finalized, but they are expected to be spread across Andersen Air Force Base, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz and Naval Base Guam, the report said.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Mauricio, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Lowen and Petty Officer 3rd Class Bradley Beauchamp, each an aviation survival technician at Air Station Traverse City, pose for a picture in the rescue swimmer shop at the air station in Traverse City, Mich., July 31, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard)



(Tribune News Service)  Three U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers who normally respond to emergencies on the water found themselves responding to a medical emergency on land when they heard an explosion near Air Station Traverse City in Michigan.

Last Thursday, Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Mauricio, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Lowen and Petty Officer 3rd Class Bradley Beauchamp were walking back to the air station after lunch when an explosion occurred at a nearby welding shop. All three men heard the explosion and felt a shockwave.

While emergency responders were on the way, someone on scene told them medical help was needed.

The swimmers grabbed EMS go bags and took a personal vehicle to respond to the incident, Coast Guard officials said in a news release. Once there, they were able to assist a Traverse City police officer who was supporting the neck of an injured person. They put a cervical collar on the patient, gave the person some oxygen and kept the patient stable until the EMS crew arrived.

Im just glad we were close enough to have a short response time, Mauricio said in a statement released by the military. Part of being a Coast Guard rescue swimmer is a bias for action, being able to respond at a moments notice regardless of the situation.

Thanks to the immediate response of our local EMS, we were able to stabilize the survivor and get him to a higher level of care as quickly as possible.

The Air Station in Northern Michigan uses helicopter crews and rescue swimmers to respond to search-and-rescue emergencies and medical calls across the western Great Lakes.

2025 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit mlive.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Texas is among 20 states where the Defense Department has requested the governor provide National Guard troops to help support Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities. (Texas Military Department)



Hundreds of Marines slated to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement were called off the mission after Pentagon officials determined the work required close contact with detained migrants.

Instead, the governors of 20 states are being asked to provide up to 1,700 National Guard troops to work within that state conducting case management, logistics and clerical work in ICE detention facilities, according to the National Guard Bureau. The July 25 memo for the mission, which keeps troops on a state mission but with federal funding, requires troops receive at least 30 days of notice to deploy.

Roughly 200 Marines deployed July 3 from Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina to Florida to work in support of an ICE mission, according to U.S. Northern Command. Another 500 Marines, National Guard and Reserve troops were authorized to join them doing similar work in Texas and Louisiana.

At the time of the announcement, NORTHCOM did not provide information on what troops would be doing. Officials only stated it would not be law enforcement work, and troops were prohibited from direct contact with detained people.

The Defense Department reversed course and sent the Marines and some personnel from the Navy Reserve back to their home stations because the work did require contact with ICE detainees, Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon, said in the memo.

The efforts of National Guard troops could include transporting and processing migrants in and out of facilities, according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Processing might include personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing, photographing people in ICE custody, and adding biographical and detention data into Department of Homeland Security systems.

The number of troops and the exact work that they will do in each state will be determined through an agreement between the states governor and local ICE officials, according to the National Guard Bureau.

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, Parnell said in a statement.

States requested to support ICE detention facilities are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming, according to the National Guard Bureau.

Each state has a Republican governor, though Vermont Gov. Phil Scott declined the mission, according to an interview that he did with NBC5 in Burlington. A dozen Vermont Guard members were requested primarily for clerical work, Scott said in the interview.

He said he did not believe the need required the National Guard and recommended the federal government find the support in its own workforce, including those who have left or been fired from their jobs in the last several months.
Japanese macaques are common throughout most of Japan and inhabit forested mountain slopes right down to the fringes of Tokyo. (Pixabay)

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YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan  A one-handed monkey is causing a stir in and around the home of the U.S. 7th Fleet, prompting warnings to residents after multiple sightings of the wandering primate.

The Japanese macaque, missing its left hand, was first seen Friday about a mile southwest of the base and was last spotted Sunday afternoon approximately 3 miles northwest, according to Yokosuka citys website.

Base spokesman Justin Keller confirmed by phone that the monkey was sighted on base Friday, but there were no reported incidents or injuries. He emphasized that anyone who spots a monkey on base should promptly notify security.

As of Monday, no new sightings had been reported in Yokosuka, a city environmental official told Stars and Stripes by phone. However, the animal was seen earlier that day in nearby Yokohamas Kanazawa ward, the Yokosuka city website said.

The macaque may be the same animal reported multiple times in Kanagawa prefecture since May. A monkey missing its left hand was spotted on May 13 in Sagamihara, home to the U.S. Armys Camp Zama, roughly 30 miles from the naval base.

Not many monkeys are missing their left hand, the Yokosuka city official said. However, he could not confirm whether the primate spotted over the weekend is the same one observed earlier this year.

The monkey may have traveled through Kamakura, Zushi and Hayama before reaching Yokosuka, according to the citys website. The animals first reported sighting was in May near Chigasaki, about 14 miles west of the naval base.

Base officials posted a warning Friday evening on the installations Facebook page, advising people to avoid the monkey.

Please do not approach, catch or try to feed wild animals, the post read.

The warning drew significant engagement, with more than 100 comments as of Monday afternoon. Several commenters claimed to have seen the monkey on base.

A wild monkey explores just outside Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Aug. 1, 2025. (Stephen Mayfield)



Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen Mayfield photographed the monkey near the main gate. He told Stars and Stripes via Messenger on Monday that he saw the animal while leaving the base. Although he did not see the monkey enter the installation, other social media users claimed it had.

While wild monkeys are not generally considered dangerous, they can become aggressive if provoked. Sudden movements, loud noises and direct eye contact may agitate them.

To date, there have been no reports of monkeys harming people in the city, but if you do see one, avoid making eye contact with it, back away slowly and calmly, and leave the area, Yokosuka citys website warns.

The city also warns against feeding monkeys or pointing cameras at them, and residents are advised to close doors and windows completely. If left alone, monkeys typically return to mountainous areas, it added.

Under Japans wildlife protection laws, monkeys cannot be captured unless they have caused injuries, according to a Nov. 2 report by Mainichi, a Japanese newspaper, about an earlier sighting of a macaque missing its left hand.
(U.S. Army)



Somewhere in South Korea, April 1955: Taro Leaf cannoneers of the 52nd Field Artillery Battalion team up to get a fire mission underway. Forward observers collect data that is relayed by radio to the fire direction center where it is computed so the 24th Infantry Division gunners can lay the gun on the target.

Looking for Stars and Stripes historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/
VILNIUS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas stepped down from his post on Monday, triggering the automatic resignation of the entire cabinet.

Paluckas confirmed his decision during an emergency government meeting on Monday morning, the Baltic News Service reported.

"Having made the decision to resign as prime minister, I announce that the 19th Government of Lithuania is resigning," Paluckas said at the start of the meeting.

He added that he would formally submit his resignation to President Gitanas Nauseda later on Monday and expressed gratitude to his ministers for their cooperation.

Under Lithuanian law, the prime minister's resignation mandates that the president be informed the same day. Nauseda is now expected to accept the resignation via official decree and assign the outgoing government to serve in a caretaker role until a new administration is established. He should also appoint an interim prime minister.

Nauseda has up to 15 days to nominate a new prime minister, who must then be approved by the parliament, known as the Seimas. The Social Democratic Party, which has the largest representation in the Seimas, is responsible for selecting a nominee. They are scheduled to discuss their candidate at a party presidium meeting on Wednesday.

Paluckas announced his intention to resign as the country's head of government and chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party last Thursday.

His departure from office comes amid investigations into his financial dealings and allegedly inappropriate involvement in business, ties to certain businesspeople and failure to pay damages owed to the Vilnius municipality.

Paluckas, however, denied any wrongdoing and called the criticism a "coordinated attack" by political opponents. 
Ohio Army National Guard soldiers fire an M777 Howitzer during an exercise at Mission Support Site Conoco, Syria, in December 2022. U.S. forces left three installations in May, including Conoco, a new Defense Department Inspector General report confirmed. (Julio Hernandez/U.S. Army)



U.S. forces in Syria have departed three military bases that for years supported efforts to defeat Islamic State militants, a new Pentagon report has confirmed.

American personnel and their anti-ISIS coalition partners in May left Mission Support Site Green Village, H2 and Mission Support Site Euphrates, sometimes referred to as the Conoco gas field, the latest quarterly report from the Defense Departments Inspector General said.

All three sites are located in the vast region known as the middle Euphrates River valley. Both the Conoco and Green Village bases were targets of numerous rocket attacks from Iran-backed militias over the past five years. The H2 base in Syria is a different site than a base with the same same in western Iraq, military officials said.

Conoco was attacked as recently as December and was also the site of a brief but intense 2018 skirmish between U.S. forces and fighters for the former regime, including Russian mercenaries, that left hundreds of the attackers dead and the Americans unharmed.

U.S. soldiers assigned to Operation Inherent Resolve secure an area in northeastern Syria in an M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle on Dec. 12, 2024. American troops at bases once used to help fight the Islamic State in the region departed in May, a new Defense Department Inspector General report confirmed. (Syrr Parker/U.S. Army)

Syrian partner forces practice movement techniques during squad-level tactics training with U.S. soldiers in Syria on April 15, 2025. American personnel left three bases in May and were either relocated within Syria and Iraq or returned home, according to the latest quarterly report by the Defense Department Inspector General. (Fred Brown/U.S. Army)



U.S. forces either dismantled and removed or handed over infrastructure to the Syrian Democratic Forces, part of the anti-ISIS coalition led by the U.S., according to the report, which was made public last week.

Fox News reported in May that 500 troops had left bases in northeastern Syria, including Mission Support Site Green Village and Mission Support Site Euphrates, citing unidentified U.S. officials.

The base closures are part of a larger consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria that the Pentagon announced earlier this year, with plans to eventually reduce the American military presence to one base and fewer than 1,000 troops.

The U.S. has maintained a presence in the country since the 2014 start of Operation Inherent Resolve, which aimed to suppress ISISs growing influence in Iraq and Syria.

U.S. forces at the three bases either relocated to other sites in Syria or Iraq or returned home after completing their tour of duty, the report said, without specifying the number of troops.

The departure of the American troops comes amid a tense transition for the new Syrian government, which in December ousted longtime dictator Bashar Assad and has since struggled to contain sectarian violence across the nation.

The Inspector Generals report notes that the U.S. withdrew from an area where relations remain strained between the SDF and the Arab tribal leaders, who view the SDF as occupiers who selectively dole out resources and protections based on cultural preference. Without U.S. forces to bridge the differences, tensions between the groups are expected to rise, the report said.

The White House has indicated a willingness to help the fledgling government of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, even as it reduces the U.S. military footprint in the country.

President Donald Trump met with al-Sharaa in May, promising to lift decades-old sanctions to give Syria a chance at peace.

However, Syria is also among the many countries that will be hit with steep tariffs starting Thursday if it does not reach a deal with the U.S. by then. The tariff level planned for Syria is 41%.

Last Thursday, Trump signed an executive order mandating widespread tariffs for dozens of countries and the European Union.
Eleven veterans who received the Purple Heart after being wounded in action were celebrated during the 14th Wounded Warriors in Action event in Ashtabula, Ohio. (Wounded Warriors In Action via Instagram)



(Tribune News Service)  Eleven veterans who received the Purple Heart after being wounded in action were celebrated this weekend during the 14th Wounded Warriors in Action event in Ashtabula, Ohio.

The veterans came from all over the country, as the organization honors veterans for their service, and encourages them in their work of healing.

You couldnt have a better time, it is like family ... you all come together, said Ellis Martin, of Summit, Miss., who served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 2007 and also spent time in Iraq.

The participants travelled from Mississippi, Georgia, Minnesota, Texas and many other states, said Joe Kalley, one of the event organizers.

Locals cheered on the veterans at Lake Shore Park and intersections as they were escorted by a caravan of motorcycles through town Friday. Traffic was stopped along their route so they could pass unimpeded.

Alexander Fort, of Georgia, said he never fished at that level after returning from a morning on Lake Erie. Fort served from 1999 to 2017.

Although the veterans enjoyed the fishing trip, many said the highlight of the weekend was spending time with one another.

Family, thats what it is, Fort said.

Mark Carr, a fishing boat captain, attended in support of the event.

It is [a] very humbling experience. I didnt serve, so this is my way to serve, he said.

The Team Erie portion of Wounded Warriors in Action coordinates the event, securing donations to fund it every year. The Ashtabula American Legion donated to the event and hosted a steak dinner on Friday evening after the tour of the town. Kister Marina hosted the veterans as well.

 2025 the Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio).

Visit www.starbeacon.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A 30-day public comment period began Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, on a federal rule change to stop most abortion services now permitted at the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the Federal Register. (Stars and Stripes photo)



WASHINGTON  A proposal by President Donald Trumps administration would eliminate most abortion services now provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs including in cases of rape or incest.

A 30-day public comment period began Monday on the rule change to add new restrictions to abortion services that are now permitted under limited conditions at VA hospitals, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.

About 100 veterans on average receive abortions through the VA each year, according to the notice.

The VA would still provide abortion services to pregnant veterans in life-threatening situations, according to the rule change. But abortions would be permitted only after a physician certifies that the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, according to the notice.

Denying veterans access to comprehensive reproductive health care is not only cruel  its dangerous, said Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., who trained as a physician at the VA. Rolling back these critical protections not only endangers the health and lives of veterans, it betrays the fundamental promise that our government will care for our veterans when they need it most.

Trump and VA Secretary [Doug] Collins are ripping away necessary health care from pregnant veterans whose lives and health are in danger or who were raped. Its unspeakably cruel, and a grotesque assault on women who have put their lives on the line to keep us safe, said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

But Republican lawmakers on the House Veterans Affairs Committee issued a joint statement in support of the new restrictions.

Taxpayers do not want their hard-earned money spent on paying for abortions. VAs sole focus should always be providing service-connected health care and benefits to the veterans they serve, according to a written statement signed by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., the committee chairman, along with Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa; Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas; Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis.; Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas; and Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich.

In 2022, under former President Joe Bidens administration, the VA began allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest or when the health or life of the mother was at risk if the pregnancy was carried to term.

VA employees, when acting within the scope of their federal employment, have been able to provide abortion services regardless of state restrictions, according to the VA.

Prior to the Biden administrations politically motivated change in 2022, federal law and longstanding precedent across Democrat and Republican administrations prevented VA from providing abortions and abortion counseling, the VA said in a written statement Monday. VAs proposed rule will reinstate the pre-Biden bipartisan policy, bringing the department back in line with historical norms.

There are more than 2 million female veterans in the U.S., and nearly 300,000 are of reproductive age, according to the Minority Veterans of America, which opposes the new restrictions.

Female veterans are the fastest-growing demographic in the veteran population, the organization said.

The 2022 rule acknowledged that abortion care is fundamental to fulfilling that mission. Access in cases of rape, incest or danger to a patients life or health should be the bare minimum  not the ceiling, said Lindsay Church, executive director of Minority Veterans of America.

But under the new rule, the VA does not consider abortions as a needed medical service, according to the notice.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing to reinstate the full exclusion on abortions and abortion counseling from the medical benefits package, which was removed in 2022, the notice in the Federal Register stated.

For decades, VA had consistently interpreted abortion services as not needed medical services and therefore not covered by the medical benefits package, according to the notice.

The VA decision to allow limited abortion procedures overturned a 1999 exclusion to the VA health benefits package for veterans and other beneficiaries of CHAMPVA  the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

CHAMPVA enrollees can include spouses and children of a veteran rated permanently disabled for a service-connected disability.

The Biden-era rule change loosening VAs abortion restrictions followed a Supreme Court decision in 2022 ending the constitutional right to an abortion.

The VA said the high courts decision created an urgent need to provide abortion services in limited circumstances.
Action lodged against MMA fighter and two former neighbours

Nikita Hand speaks to the media outside the High Court last week. Photo: Collins Courts

Nikita Hand is seeking aggravated and punitive damages against MMA fighter Conor McGregor over his conduct in his appeal of a jurys verdict.

Ms Hand has already successfully sued McGregor in the civil courts, claiming that she was raped, with the jury finding that McGregor assaulted her.

On Thursday, after the Court of Appeal threw out McGregors appeal, Ms Hand lodged a new action against McGregor and two of her former neighbours.

Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins

The neighbours, Samantha OReilly and her partner Steven Cummins, had signed affidavits alleging that Hand was assaulted by her then partner on the night of the alleged rape by McGregor in December 2018.

McGregor had sought to introduce new evidence from Ms OReilly and Mr Cummins, but these witnesses were dramatically pulled from the appeal case at the last minute.

Ms Hand had filed an affidavit saying she did not understand why the couple were telling lies about her.

Punitive damages seek to punish a wrongdoer by ensuring they will not repeat the same conduct again

The new case filed by Ms Hand in the High Court seeks damages for malicious abuse of the process of the court by the defendants, and each of them, their respective agents and/or agents. The cause of action in the case is listed a malicious prosecution.

As well as general damages, Ms Hand is seeking aggravated and punitive damages against the three defendants.

Aggravated damages can be awarded where it is found that injury to the plaintiff has been exacerbated by the conduct of the defendant. It may be awarded when a court is satisfied that hurt was caused by outrageous, arrogant or cavalier conduct by a defendant.

Punitive damages seek to punish a wrongdoer by ensuring they will not repeat the same conduct again. These damages do not seek to compensate a plaintiff, but seek to publicly mark a courts disapproval of the defendants conduct. These damages often relate to the defendants conduct during legal proceedings.

Conor McGregor lost his civil rape case appeal. Photo: PA

In a statement after the Court of Appeal ruling on Thursday, Ms Hand said the appeal had retraumatised me over and over again.

After the verdict last November, Ms Hands legal team complained that posts by McGregor and his fiancee Dee Devlin, which attacked the jurys verdict, could amount to contempt of court.

Ms Hand later made an application to injunct McGregor from posting CCTV evidence from the case online after an Italian stout distributor business partner of McGregors claimed the footage would be posted online in order to change the publics view of the case.

Judge Alexander Owens ordered McGregor to destroy or return all copies of the CCTV footage that he had from the case. McGregor gave an undertaking not to distribute the footage.

Ms Hand was awarded 248,603.60 in damages by the High Court last November, and McGregor was also ordered to pay about 1.3m of her legal costs. He will also have to pay her legal costs in relation to his failed appeal.

McGregor claimed not to know why his legal team pulled Ms OReilly and Mr Cummins from giving evidence

The Court of Appeal judges decided to refer papers in the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions following an application from Ms Hands counsel John Gordon SC, who alleged there had been perjury by Ms OReilly and Mr Cummins, as well as subornation of perjury by McGregor.

McGregors friend James Lawrence, who was also sued by Ms Hand but was found by a jury not to have raped her, had appealed against the High Courts decision not to award him costs. This was also rejected by the Court of the Appeal, which cited evidence in the trial that McGregor was paying his friends costs.

Nikita Hand speaks to the media outside the High Court last week. Photo: Collins Courts

News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th

On a social media post on X last week, McGregor claimed not to know why his legal team pulled Ms OReilly and Mr Cummins from giving evidence.

He also said people were out of your f**king mind if they thought he would be paying Mr Lawrences legal costs. He wrote that he was in a world of fog during the civil trial when he was asked on the stand if he was paying Mr Lawrences legal bill and said I didnt know if I was.

A transcript of the trial shows McGregor said I believe I did, when the trial judge asked if he had paid Mr Lawrences legal fees.

In a post-verdict hearing on costs last December 5, Remy Farrell, senior counsel for McGregor, told the judge that Ms Hands side were correct to say that McGregor was paying Mr Lawrences legal costs.

Nikita Hand leaves the Four Courts last week after Conor McGregor lost his appeal. Photo: PA

Mr McGregors post said he would fight on with the truth and will continue to defend myself.

Meanwhile, the DPP is considering whether to refer a booklet of documents relating to Ms OReilly and Mr Cummins to gardai.

The documents include the affidavits both witnesses swore for the appeal, as well as new material that Ms Hands legal team intended to put to Ms OReilly and Mr Cummins during their cross-examination, had both not pulled out.

According to garda sources familiar with perjury investigations, the DPP is expected to refer the documents to the Garda Commissioner, who will most likely assign the file to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

Such investigations typically involve corroborating the facts outlined in both sworn statements, and any allegations contained in any other documentation.

It is likely the suspects will be interviewed as part of the investigation, although this is not always the case.

Perjury files have been forwarded to the DPP based on an analysis without the suspects knowledge, as was the case with Marie Farrell, once the gardas key witness in the garda investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier.

Ms Farrell was investigated for perjury after a High Court judge sent the DPP conflicting statements that Ms Farrell had made in evidence. She was giving evidence in the High Court in 2014 in a case where Ian Bailey sued the State for wrongful arrest.

Following a garda investigation, the DPP decided Ms Farrell should not face charges. Attempts to contact Ms OReilly and Mr Cummins for comment at their home in Ballyfermot yesterday were unsuccessful.
Buildings sold for total of 4.9m were located in 12 Irish counties and in Lanzarote

Seizing and selling off ostentatious trophy homes linked to criminals is now the number one priority for the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab), its chief told the Sunday World.

Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins believes that denying and depriving is a clear way of sending a message to criminals who splurge millions on properties. He also said putting the properties into the hands of law-abiding citizens is beneficial to communities that may have been overshadowed by a criminal controlling the area.

Cab completed the sale of 20 properties for a total of 4.9m last year. They were seized from criminals in 12 Irish counties, and in Lanzarote. This is an increase on 2023, when the bureau sold 12 houses.

The trend is continuing, as Cab has already made property sales totalling more than 3m this year.

Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins of the Criminal Assets Bureau. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Det Chief Supt Gubbins explained how identifying and calculating the cost of ostentatious renovations and extensions is a crucial part of the work when targeting properties financed through the proceeds of crime.

The seizure and sale of properties is a very important part of our work at the bureau  it is the ultimate example of denying and depriving the criminal, which is the aim of our work, he said.

We rarely get back as much money as what the criminal has put into the property, but this all sends a good message to the local community and shows that we are working in their community.

We have been thanked by local people when these houses are seized and then sold.

Often, these properties are in areas where the criminal controls the area  by us taking the properties and taking them out of their communities, we are seriously discommoding and disrupting their activities.

"In the world of organised crime, these individuals cannot just easily set up in another part of the city or country  targeting their homes has a big impact on their criminal enterprises.

He continued: We see that these houses  sometimes referred to as trophy houses  stand out in the local community because of the huge amount of work such as extensions and so on that have happened in the majority of cases. A lot of money has gone into many of the houses and they stand out in the community.

He said that trophy houses as well as holidays, cosmetic procedures, designer goods and clothes are all about a display of wealth, status and position in the criminal fraternity.

What we are constantly seeing is the people underneath our targets are aspiring to be like them, to have that lifestyle, he said.

But often they only have money for a certain period of time and notwithstanding our seizures against them in the main, they are not big savers  very few of them have saving accounts for example, they are spenders.

The bureau chief said properties are identified by Cab by a number of different methods, including our profile network, our own intelligence sources and good citizens reports.

Cab seized three properties from David Waldron

News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th

Det Chief Supt Gubbins also spoke about the important role that a panel of independent, professional quantity surveyors provide in the bureaus operations. These are experts at costing buildings from conception through completion. In Cabs case, they survey the targeted property then provide a report that outlines the work that has been done on the property.

For example, they identify the extensions that have been built on a property and then they break the cost down bit by bit into categories such as fixtures and labour costs, he said.

They then submit a report to us that becomes an affidavit that is used in a High Court case. It is very useful to us because primarily in our cases, the criminal asset that is being targeted is a dwelling.

According to exclusive figures, Dublin had the most property sales by Cab last year, at seven, and Co Kildare was next with two.

Ten other counties and the island of Lanzarote each had a single house sale.

It is understood the sale in Lanzarote was the first time Cab has sold a property abroad.

Sandra Hehir had an apartment in Lanzarote

The Lanzarote property was owned by Sandra Hehir, the sister of Limerick gangland boss Christy Keane, and was used as a holiday home by her.

Hehir (57) was given a two-and-a-half year sentence last year at the Special Criminal Court for money laundering for her brothers gang, after she was caught with 124,000 in crime cash in the attic of her Limerick home in June 2020.

The Lanzarote property was sold by a local estate agent for 155,000 and with the co-operation of local law enforcement. She agreed that the property be sold in a High Court settlement,Det Chief Supt Gubbins said.

Three of the properties sold last year were owned by Dublin drugs trafficker David Waldron. The homes were located in Wexford, Cabra and Leixlip.

Investigations established Waldron spent 1.69m on the luxury three-storey Co Wexford mansion located near Gorey after he bought a site at the location for 40,000 in 2014.
The Sunday World can also reveal that detectives are probing if the Black Forge was specifically targeted because it is owned by the former MMA fighter

Dublin Fire Brigade and gardai at the Black Forge, which is owned by Conor McGregor

Gardai have identified a chief suspect for an arson attack on Conor McGregors Dublin pub  who is also suspected of carrying out an unprovoked assault in the capital.

The Sunday World can also reveal that detectives are probing if the Black Forge was specifically targeted because it is owned by the former MMA fighter.

Emergency services were called out to a fire at the boozer in Crumlin, on Dublins southside, in the early hours of Friday, July 25, and quickly extinguished the small blaze.

Its understood the suspect set fire to some cardboard and placed it at the front entrance of the pub before leaving the scene.

The perpetrator made no efforts to hide his identity and detectives began treating the incident as one of criminal damage.

It can now be revealed that investigators have identified a chief suspect for that arson attack.

The man is also under investigation for an unprovoked assault in Dublin for which he has been arrested and charged.

The exact details of that incident cannot be outlined for legal reasons at this time.

Progress

While no arrests have yet been made in relation to the arson at the Black Forge pub, sources said last night that good progress is being made in the investigation.

Conor McGregor

A number of lines of inquiry are being followed and the investigation progressed significantly in recent days, a source confirmed.

A suspect has been identified and the investigation will advance further in the near future.

Investigators are now also probing if the Black Forge was specifically targeted because it is owned by the controversial MMA star.

McGregor has repeatedly said that he will run in this years presidential election and has shared strong anti-immigrant rhetoric online.

The 37-year-old this week lost his legal challenge to a High Court jurys finding that he was civilly liable for raping Nikita Hand at the Beacon Hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.

Last week, gardai said that no injuries were reported during the incident at the Black Forge and confirmed that it is being investigated as one of criminal damage.

A spokesperson for Dublin Fire Brigade said a report of a fire at a premises on the Drimnagh Road was made around 3am on Friday morning, July 25.

Firefighters from Dolphins Barn were mobilised to the address and on arrival found a small fire at the front of the building, they said.

Using a high-pressure hose reel, one fire engine dealt with the incident and no injuries were reported.

Workmen could be seen later in the morning repairing damage to the entrance of the pub.

McGregor bought the Black Forge Inn for 2m in 2020 and later spent an additional 1m on renovations.

In January 2022, the pub was targeted in an unrelated petrol bomb attack which failed to ignite, and no damage was caused in the incident.

McGregor later shared a social media post in which he offered a 50,000 reward for information on the person responsible.

Deleted

In the since-deleted social media post, the fighter asked for help identifying the little deli-chicken head suspected of carrying out the arson.

The Black Forge Inn in Crumlin was targeted shortly before midnight on January 12, 2022, when a bottle containing an accelerant was lit and thrown at the rear of the property.

Gardai said no significant damage was caused, and no arrests have been made.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Sunday World has learned that a man in his 20s who was interviewed in relation to alleged voyeurism at a holiday home in Co Down where McGregor was renting last year, could be facing charges.

A probe was launched last November after Mr McGregor made a complaint to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) when he became aware of the clips showing him and his partner Dee Devlin at a holiday home in Rostrevor.

The footage is understood to feature McGregor during an intimate moment with his partner. It was filmed from outside the luxury property he was renting while spending time with Ms Devlin and their children.

In February, the PSNI confirmed that a Co Down man volunteered himself for interview in relation to the footage. At the time, the mans legal representative said that he strenuously denies all these allegations and did so at interview.

We contend that there is no evidence to link our client to these offence and fully expect our clients name to be vindicated, solicitor Gavin Booth, of Phoenix Law, added.

This week the PSNI told the Sunday World that they have now submitted a file on their investigation to the prosecution service in the north who will consider whether charges should be brought.

A man in his 20s was interviewed by police on Monday, 27th January 2025 in relation to a report of voyeurism in the Rostrevor area in November 2024. A file was submitted to the Public Prosecution Service in July for their consideration, the spokesperson said.

Dublin Fire Brigade and gardai at the Black Forge, which is owned by Conor McGregor

News in 90 Seconds - Sunday, August 3rd
JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- With a 30-percent U.S. tariff on South African exports set to take effect on Friday, the South African government said Monday it would continue engaging with Washington to secure a trade deal that serves both nations' interests.

Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau said that no agreement had yet been reached, despite South Africa submitting its trade framework proposal in May.

"South Africa seeks to conclude deals that promote value addition and industrialization, rather than extractive relations that deprive the country of the ability to beneficiate our mineral wealth by mimicking extractive colonial era trade relations," Lamola said, noting that geopolitical tensions have complicated negotiations with the United States.

Lamola warned that the proposed tariff could reduce South Africa's gross domestic product by 0.2 percentage points. The United States is South Africa's third-largest trading partner, making up 7.5 percent of total trade, with agricultural exports most vulnerable to the looming tariff.

"South African exports do not compete with U.S. producers and do not pose a threat to the U.S. industry. On the contrary, our exports are crucial inputs that support America's industrial base," Lamola said, adding that agricultural goods from South Africa to the United States are seasonal and are not "replacing" U.S. agricultural products.

He also highlighted South Africa's efforts to diversify its export markets, particularly in agriculture. Local producers have started exporting lemons, avocados, and apples to China following the signing of bilateral protocol agreements. Similar efforts are underway to expand access to markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 
More than half of respondents have experienced an increase in crime or anti-social behaviour by groups of teenagers

Asked if they have noticed more gardai on the streets, 72pc said they had not. Photo: Getty

More than half the public feel their community is becoming less safe, with the majority saying they have not noticed more gardai on the streets.

A recent poll shows 36pc of people feel that their community is getting less safe with 17pc believing it is getting much less safe.

Over a year and a half after the Dublin riots, 70pc of people also said they do not feel safe in Dublin city centre, while just 15pc said they do feel safe when they are in the capital city.

Asked if they have noticed more gardai on the streets, 72pc said they have not seen a greater presence, with just 23pc saying they have and 5pc responding that they dont know.

The poll, which took place on Friday, comes after a 23-year-old man was remanded in custody after he was charged over the stabbing of a garda on a Dublin city centre street earlier this week.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice Niall Collins said both he and Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan have been adamant with now outgoing Garda Commissioner Drew Harris that garda visibility must increase. Mr Harris is due to stand down from his role next month and will be replaced by Justin Kelly.

Minister Jim OCallaghan and myself have been adamant that we want to see as visible a garda policing presence as possible across every community, Mr Collins said.

While a lot of new recruits have been deployed to the greater Dublin area, Mr Collins said the Government is not taking the eye off the ball in other parts.

Justin Kelly will take over from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris next month. Photo: PA

For example, in Limerick, there will be 20 new recruits coming out of Templemore this month and going to Limerick, Mr Collins said.

However, Mark OMeara, president of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) said the recruitment and retention crisis will still be the number one issue facing the new commissioner.

Garda numbers have not been improved one jot since the outgoing Commissioner took the reins in 2018, despite an unprecedented budget and increased advertisement and recruitment campaigns, Mr OMeara said.

Mr OMeara said the new commissioner must now work with the relevant parties to create a tangible and realistic strategy to increase garda numbers and support members.

Meanwhile, over half of people surveyed (51pc) said they have experienced an increase in crime or anti-social behaviour by groups of teenagers, 42pc said they have not experienced an increase and 7pc said they dont know. Of those surveyed, the overwhelming response (86pc) was that the courts should impose tougher sentences, and 70pc said they would be in favour of the Government building a super prison if it helped keep more offenders behind bars for longer.

Asked if they have noticed more gardai on the streets, 72pc said they had not. Photo: Getty

News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th

In the Programme for Government, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Independent TDs agreed to construct a new prison at Thornton Hall in north county Dublin.

The 160-acre site was bought by the State in 2005 with plans to build a super-prison to hold up to 2,200 inmates.
Former CAB target Bernard Byrne and his brother John Paul alleged to have made 750k from laundering fuel and cash

A firm owned by a suspected fuel smuggler and former target of the Criminal Assets Bureau has been paid more than 4 million by the Irish Government to house asylum seekers.

Bernard Byrne is the director and owner of Tenzing Ltd, which is listed as receiving funds from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

In 2005, it emerged that Byrne, along with his brother John Paul Byrne, had holdings worth 750,000 in Northern Ireland which was targeted by the UKs Assets Recovery Agency (ARA).

The case was referred to the ARA by HM Revenue and Customs in 2004 after a joint investigation with CAB into fuel smuggling and laundering on both sides of the border.

Bernard Byrne at his Go service station on the Kylemore Road

Bernard Byrne speaking to Samuel Mansfield

In its case in the High Court in Belfast at the time, the ARA alleged that the assets of both brothers were from fuel laundering and smuggling, together with excise fraud and associated money laundering activity.

An interim receiver was appointed over two filling stations in Co Armagh and Co Down, a house in Newry, an apartment in Belfast, vehicles, farm machinery and bank accounts.

Bernard Byrnes Tenzing Ltd was set up in January 2023 and is registered to an office in Lucan, Co Dublin.

That year, the company received payments of 876,000, 553,350 and 366,000 for accommodation and/or related costs.

In 2024, the payments from the Department totalled 2,382,000 with 186,000 paid out in the first quarter of 2025, bringing the overall total to 4,363,350.

According to a Dail question reply, Tenzing Ltd operated an emergency accommodation centre at Redbank Guesthouse in Skerries, Co Dublin in 2023.

Responsibility for the 1.2 billion accommodation budget has been moved to the Department of Justice since May this year.

Bernard Byrnes company has been paid more than 4m by the government

Bernard Byrne is also a director of other firms involved in the retail fuel business and owns the Go filling station on the Kylemore Road in Ballyfermot, Dublin.

The land on which the business is located is owned by Arcount Ltd, which is controlled by Vincent Cosgrave, a Dublin-based businessman.

Cosgraves property portfolio includes the Sheldon Park Hotel across the road from Byrnes filling station business.

His daughter, Donna, married Jim Mansfield Jr and the couples son, Samuel Mansfield, was previously photographed by the Sunday World meeting with Bernard Byrne in 2016.

There is no suggestion that Samuel Mansfield is involved in any criminal activity.

Jim Mansfield Jr was jailed for 18 months in February 2022 for attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing that CCTV footage be destroyed.

The Special Criminal Court acquitted Mansfield of conspiring to have a man kidnapped by a criminal gang but convicted him of directing that the footage be destroyed.

Jim Manfield Jnr, was jailed for for attempting to pervert the course of justice

It was also heard in a CAB case that Jim Mansfield Jr was previously given 4.5 million of Kinahan cartel cash to launder through property investments.

As a result of the 2004 CAB investigation into fuel smuggling, Bernard Byrnes father, John Byrne, paid 1.6 million to the Revenue Commissioners.

During a search of John Byrnes home in June 2004, authorities discovered 200,000 in cash and cheques concealed throughout the property.

Investigators concluded he had operated a significant grain delivery business for several years.

He faced charges over failing to file tax returns at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court in 2007. The court heard at the time Byrne Snr had 157 previous convictions across both Northern Ireland and the Republic, including a 1.3 million fraud conviction in Northern Ireland.

Judge Pat McCartan had deferred sentencing to allow Byrne Snr to finalise his tax affairs.

The judge described Byrne Snr as someone who had lived completely outside the good order of things and imposed a two-year sentence, suspended on condition of good behaviour.

The Sunday World recently reported on two other firms which have received payment for providing accommodation.

One firm had been owned by John Gill, the father of alleged gangland figure Jonathan Gill. According to figures published by the Government, Astervale Ltd was paid 414,505 from 2022 until April 2024.

Another firm which has been awarded emergency accommodation contracts has links to the Drogheda gang feud.

Ben OBrien resigned in May as a director of Secure Accommodation, which has been paid 10.2 million since it was set up in September 2022.

OBrien (31) was among several people named in evidence in the 2022 CAB case against gang bosses Owen and Brendan Maguire.

Bernard Byrne

News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, August 5th
Mark McCourt (34) pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court this week to firearms offences

A gunrunner who supplied a range of firearms and pipe bombs to the criminal underworld was previously involved in a stolen car ring with the gang behind the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

Mark McCourt (34), who is from Dundalk, Co Louth, but has an address in Edenrieve, Newry, Co Down, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court this week to firearms offences and participating in a criminal organisations efforts to import restricted weapons.

A senior garda told the court he was fully satisfied there was a criminal organisation in existence under the control and direction of McCourt, whose function was the importation of firearms components from the USA to Ireland, and the reassembly of these restricted firearms for onward distribution to other criminal organisations.

McCourt grew up in Fr Murray Park in Dundalk but has lived at numerous addresses on both sides of the Border and has been involved in crime for years, amassing 47 convictions since his teens.

He was previously involved in a stolen car ring operating in the Border region and had links to the gang behind the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, in 2013.

82 gun parts were re-assembled by a firearms technician

He was not suspected of any involvement in Det Garda Donohoes murder but was one of many associates of the gang questioned by gardai as part of a painstaking probe into the callous killing.

McCourt also had links to Aaron Brady from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, who is serving a life sentence for the Donohoe murder, and Brendan Benny Treanor, who was found to be a member of the gang behind the attack but was acquitted of involvement in robbery.

The gang had been involved in creeper burglaries and McCourt, who is a self-confessed motoring enthusiast, became involved in a stolen car ring with the crew.

He was on the periphery of that but was linked to them. He wasnt considered a high-level criminal, a source said.

Garda Donohue was shot dead

In 2008, when he was 17, McCourt was hospitalised after scaffolding fell on him in Dundalk.

He suffered a broken neck bone, a broken shoulder and several broken ribs, and spent his 18th birthday in hospital.

McCourt recalled in a newspaper interview how he pushed his girlfriend out of the way and could have died in the incident if a parked taxi hadnt borne the brunt of the falling equipment.

If the car wasnt there, I was dead, McCourt said at the time.

He took a personal injury claim over that incident and another incident, and was awarded a total of 155,000 from the two claims.

McCourt previously told how he was obsessed with cars and spent the money on a lavish lifestyle for him and his friends.

Gardai at the scene of the murder of Garda Adrian Donohue in 2013

He left school early and got into trouble from an early age, regularly appearing before the courts for matters like assault, theft, high-speed chases and threatening behaviour.

He has served several prison sentences, including a three-year term for ramming the car of an off-duty garda at her home.

The stolen car ring McCourt was involved in was with Treanor and Bradys gang.

He was arrested after a high-speed chase in Louth on August 11, 2011, after gardai tried to stop him when they saw he was driving in a dangerous manner.

McCourt attempted to drive at an officer, who jumped out of the way, and gardai had to use a stinger device in the incident.

He was caught after going down a cul de sac. Gardai discovered stolen car parts in the vehicle and subsequently found two stolen BMWs worth 55,000 at his property.

McCourt was sentenced to two years with one year suspended.

His father, Mark McCourt Snr, has also been before the courts in the past over crimes related to car theft.

McCourt Snr pleaded guilty to several charges related to the theft of a car, car radios and stolen cheques to a total value of IR36,900 and was ordered to do 240 hours of community service in 1993.

Killer Aaron Brady

McCourt Jnr also had links to other criminals operating in the Border areas and around the country, and became more heavily involved in serious crime in recent years as he moved into arms trafficking.

He was selling firearms and pipe bombs to criminal gangs in Derry, Dublin and Limerick.

The firearms were sourced in the US, broken into various components and then smuggled into Ireland before being re-assembled here.

Detective Inspector Shane McCartan of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who led an investigation into the gangs activities last year, told the Special Criminal Court this week that a firearms technician had been able to assemble 82 gun parts seized in a raid on a property in Co Louth last year into six assault rifles and a dozen pistols.

Det Insp McCartan said McCourt and his co-accused both flew to Las Vegas, Nevada on three occasions in April and May 2023.

In April that year, following their return from the trip, McCourt told one prospective customer  who used the alias The Keeler  we got sorted this evening and that it would take a few hours to stick them all together, the court was told.

So get the cash ready lol, McCourt added, before telling The Keeler to get another phone as a burner.

Mark McCourt

In further text exchanges with The Keeler, McCourt wrote: 75k cash is [the] best price and that he had another man there for them today.

He then added: Tell them 75k and Ill throw in the 10 pipes for free.

Det Insp McCartan said: Its my belief that refers to pipe bombs.

Prosecuting counsel, Simon Matthews BL, said that after a trip to Las Vegas in May 2023, a text from McCourts phone to a prospective buyer under the alias Vladimir Putin said: I can get an AR-15 shell drop a deer at 900 yards, no problem.

Vladimir Putin then asked about buying a 7.62 sniper and about the source of the weapons.

We ram raid the place across the water, McCourt replied, adding: Yeah mate, dont know, but I can get a price.

In another exchange stored on the seized phone, another prospective customer using the alias Duff asked: Sweet bro, and if I need another AR [assault rifle] how soon can I get it?

Thatll be next monthbut theyre definitely there to be got, came the reply by voice note, which was played to the court.

Sentencing will be finalised at a later date.

Mark McCourt and the seized weapons

News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th
The 21-year-old was left with life changing injuries following a violent assault

Teenager Alanna Quinn Idris has said she doesnt forgive the man who instigated a violent attack on her which led to her losing her eye.

The 21-year-old was left with life changing injuries following a violent assault on December 30, 2021, including a ruptured eyeball, broken cheekbone and a shattered tooth.

This week, Jack Cummins, 22, who orchestrated the attack on the then 17-year-old and her friend Louis OSullivan, was sentenced to six years for bringing assailants to the scene and being the catalyst for all that ensued.

Judge Pauline Codd said on Tuesday while sentencing Cummins, of Rossmore Road, Ballyfermot, that the phone call he made to his cousin, Josh Cummins, that night had disastrous and tragic consequences for Ms Quinn Idris and that all the tragedy and heartbreak from that evening unfolded from that particular call.

Speaking from the family home, Ms Quinn Idris said she does not accept Jack Cummins apology which he made this week in court, expressing his sorrow and wishing her well in her recovery.

Jack Cummins and Alanna Quinn Idris

The aspiring model said: I thought it was a p*ss take to be honest, I didnt think anything of it. I just thought it was ridiculous.

I think he just did it for the sake of it, I certainly wouldnt be forgiving him for what he done, absolutely not, not in a million years."

And when it comes to the six year sentence handed down to Jack Cummins, she said she is happy with the jail term given.

She added: It was a lot better than we thought it was going to be, but it is still not comparable to what I have had to go through.

We were told he was only going to get two or three years and he ended up getting six.

Im delighted that its finally all over, Im so relieved. It was a long few years which dragged out for me.

The sentencing of Jack Cummins comes after years of torment and bullying by him, according to Ms Quinn Idris, as she recalled one particular incident which involved him and gang of boys throwing fireworks at her and a few friends.

Victim Alanna Quinn Idris with mother Jamie

She said: There was an incident where Jack Cummins approached myself and a few friends on the main road in Ballyfermot and started shouting and screaming. It was probably in 2017.

He tried to pick up an orange traffic cone and throw it at us but it flicked back at him because hes very small. He was probably 17 at the time. We laughed because of what happened as he was the one shouting at us and then that happened.

As we laughed at him he went around the corner and there was a group of say 15 boys there and the next thing they came around and started to throw fireworks at us.

They followed us down the whole main road of Ballyfermot and threw fireworks at us to the point we had to run into a shop and take cover.

They lit a firework and threw it in at me. There were other people there in the shop and I ran into the stock room for safety.

This all started back when I was very young, they used to torment me and they didnt like it when I stood up against them. They made a kind of game out of it then but then it went too far and it started to get physical.

Ms Quinn Idris said she is happy to finally have some closure following this week's final sentencing. And after years of trying various prosthetic eyes, she has found one which she is happy with.

I decided to go with a full white one, I didnt want one that had a pupil and looked like an actual eye. I was struggling with it looking like that.

Since the sentencing on Tuesday, Ms Quinn Idris said the public support she has received has been amazing.

Alanna Quinn Idris (17) who was attacked outside the Civic Centre on the Ballyfermot Road

She went on: So many people have been sending nice messages of support. I havent managed to get back to them all just yet.

The 21-year-old also revealed how she is set to star in the new season of the Netflix hit Wednesday staring Jenna Ortega.

She said: I have signed with a modelling agency, Not Another, just over a year ago now and I have been doing a few jobs here and there.

I did a Charlotte Tilbury job and I was recently a background extra for the next season of Wednesday.

Im going to be in the last episode of the next season so I cant wat to see that. It was great fun.

Jenna Ortega was there but I didnt get to say hello to her. Its out in the next few weeks i think.

The part Im in is a large ballroom scene and I had to stand in the background in a huge dress.

I would love to do more work on screen like that.

Alanna Quinn Idris

News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th

Jack Cummins pleaded guilty to procuring an assault causing serious harm to Alanna Quinn Idris on Ballyfermot Road on December 30th, 2021.

He also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm to Mr OSullivan. He had no previous convictions and was 18 at the time.

His cousin Josh Cummins, who is now 20, of Raheen Drive, Ballyfermot, was handed a five year sentence with the final two suspended in November 2023 and Darragh Lyons, 21, of Weir View, Glenaulin, Chapelizod, Dublin 20 was given a four and a half year sentence in March 2023 for his role in the attack.

While a fourth man, who struck Alanna with the e-scooter saddle, has never been identified.
Emergency services found Mr Carroll with fatal injuries sustained in the attack at a house in the Scribblestown area at 1am on Sunday, June 9, 2024

A man in his 30s has been arrested in relation to the killing of father-of-two Mark Carroll (34), who was stabbed to death in Finglas, north Dublin last year.

Emergency services found Mr Carroll with fatal injuries sustained in the attack at a house in the Scribblestown area at 1am on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

He was brought to James Connolly Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Gardai believe he was a visitor at the property when a row turned violent.

A statement by An Garda Siochana confirmed the arrest of a man today.

"As part of the investigation into the murder of 34-year-old Mark Carroll, who died following an incident in Finglas, Dublin 11, on Sunday, June 9th, 2024, Gardai have arrested a man.

The man (aged in his 30s) is currently detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, at a Garda Station in the Dublin area.

Investigations are ongoing.

Victim Mark Carroll (34)

News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th
The man was discovered with injuries and in an unresponsive condition in St Catherines Grange, shortly after 2pm on Friday

A man, aged in his 70s, has died following a serious assault at a house in Waterford city on Friday.

The man was discovered with injuries and in an unresponsive condition in St Catherines Grange, shortly after 2pm on Friday.

He was transported to University Hospital Waterford for treatment and was pronounced dead on Sunday.

A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene during the incident and subsequently detained at a Garda station within the Waterford-Kilkenny Division under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

He was later charged in relation to the investigation and appeared before Waterford District Court yesterday.

The local Coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist have been notified and a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

A technical and forensic examination at the scene has been completed.

A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) is leading the investigation and a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) is providing support to the deceaseds family.

An incident room has been established at Waterford Garda Station.

Investigating Gardai are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Waterford Garda Station 051 305 300 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Investigations are ongoing and further updates will follow.

University Hospital Waterford

News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th
Gena Heraty has been living in Haiti since 1993 where she runs an orphanage for up to 270 children

Gena Heraty has worked in Haiti for more than 30 years. Photo: Mark Condren.

The family of an Irish woman among eight people who were kidnapped from an orphanage near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince yesterday has said they are absolutely devastated by the news.

Westport native Gena Heraty is a charity worker overseeing the Sainte-Helene orphanage operated by humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters), AFP reports.

Ms Heraty has been living in Haiti for 32 years, running the orphanage which accommodates up to 270 children.

The situation is evolving and deeply worrying. We are working closely with NPFS in Haiti and Ireland, the Irish Government, and international partners who are doing everything possible to ensure the safe and immediate release of Gena and her colleagues, her family said.

Gena Heraty has worked in Haiti for more than 30 years. Photo: Mark Condren.

News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th

NPFS Haiti is working actively to ensure the ongoing safety and well-being of all the children and workers at the orphanage in Kenscoff during this challenging time. We ask that you keep Gena and her colleagues in your hearts as we pray for their safe return.

Out of respect for the ongoing efforts and for Genas safety, we are not in a position to share further details at this time, the family statement read.

A three-year-old child and other orphanage workers have also been taken, according to the mayor of the local commune. It was first reported that nine were kidnapped, this has been revised to eight.

"The attackers broke into the orphanage around 3:30am without opening fire," said the mayor of Kenscoff, Masillon Jean, calling it a "planned act".

"They broke through a wall to enter the property before heading to the building where the director was staying, leaving with nine hostages."

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is aware of Ms Heratys case and is providing consular assistance.

Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris said he has spoken to the family of Gena Heraty and said her kidnapping is deeply worrying.

Speaking today, the Tanaiste said: The kidnapping of Irish citizen Gena Heraty, along with seven of her colleagues and a three-year-old child from the grounds of an orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, is deeply worrying.

Gena has served the people of Haiti for over 30 years.

She has dedicated her life to supporting the most vulnerable people in Haiti and it is imperative that she is released immediately.

This morning, I had a good conversation with Genas sister, Noreen, and I assured her that all is being done to ensure Genas release.

My Department is in close contact with the Heraty family, local authorities and Nos Petits Freres et Surs, the organisation Gena works for. The countrys two ambassadors are also in close contact.

"We will continue to leave no stone unturned to ensure Gena and her colleagues are released.

In a statement published on Sunday, NPH said that seven staff members and one youth were taken from its home for vulnerable and at risk children in Kenscoff.

The organisation confirmed that one of the staff members taken is a foreigner, whose identity and nationality will not be revealed for security reasons. NPH also said that two hospitals it runs in Haiti will be closed until the people taken from its orphanage have been safely released.

Gangs control 90pc of Haitis capital, according to the United Nations, and in recent months they have been launching attacks on previously peaceful communities.

More than 5,600 people were reported killed in Haiti last year, with gang violence leaving more than 1 million people homeless in recent years, according to the UN. The UN recorded 185 victims of kidnapping in Haiti between April and June of this year, and said that gangs commit this crime to subjugate people in areas under their control.

The Irish Independent previously spoke with Ms Heraty in 2013 after she was attacked and the then mayor was killed at an orphanage in Kenscoff in a robbery.

Ms Heraty is director of the special needs programme at the orphanage.

This article was amended on August 4, 2025, to reflect eight people in total were kidnapped, rather than the initial provided figure of nine.
The Governments proposal to abolish NCEA is a huge backward step that feels like a return to the 1980s, a Bay of Plenty principal says.

The proposed changes garnered varying levels of enthusiasm among Rotorua and Tauranga principals NZME spoke to after yesterdays announcement.

The Government proposed to replace the main secondary school assessment system with a new national qualifications system, sitting alongside a refreshed curriculum.

NCEA Level 1 would be removed, with year 11 students instead facing a Foundational Skills Award with a focus on literacy and numeracy.

NCEA Levels 2 and 3 would be replaced with the New Zealand Certificate of Education at Year 12 and the NZ Advanced Certificate of Education at Year 13 under the proposal.

Students would need to take five subjects and pass at least four to achieve each certificate, with A-E grades and marks out of 100.

The changes would be implemented gradually over five years, starting with the Foundational Skills Award in 2028.

Papamoa College principal Iva Ropati said the current system needed fixing, but not to the serious extent of where the Government has proposed.

The plan is a huge backward step for education in NZ, he said.

He argued the Government had poorly understood the complexity of the modern standards-based assessment qualification.

Their fix it attitude will result in the complete demolition of a strengths-based approach to student learning and flexible pathways in a NZ context.

It feels as though were headed back to the 1980s and therefore will potentially lose much of what was positive about our current qualification system.



Papamoa College principal Iva Ropati. Photo / Stuart Whitaker

He said the current system had flaws  it was poorly understood in the wider community, did not consistently promote excellence in achievement, and had a widening engagement gap especially for vulnerable learners.

However, the new model felt cold, impersonal and at risk of being irrelevant for modern society.

Mount Maunganui College principal Alastair Sinton said he felt positive about students only needing two qualifications, but wanted clarity about how University Entrance would be achieved.

I would like to see University Entrance integrated into the proposed NZ Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) at Year 13, to simplify the journey for students and families further.

Sinton said he was glad to see many positive elements of NCEA would be protected under the new proposal.



Mount Maunganui College principal Alastair Sinton. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Public opinion has never been entirely behind it [NCEA]. This has resulted in a lack of credibility, which has been unfortunate but understandable at times.

He said the recent addition of the Numeracy and Literacy Common Assessments meant students currently moving through the qualification would remain well prepared.

Rotorua Boys High School principal John Kendal said he was curious to unpack the changes with the schools staff, students and community to better understand how they would impact students.



Rotorua Boys High School principal John Kendal. Photo / Supplied

He said NCEA worked well at his school, achieving high passing rates at each level.

Otumoetai College principal Russell Gordon said NCEA delivered strong outcomes when implemented well.

While some public messaging portrays it as fundamentally broken, I would offer a more measured view: NCEA is not broken, but I do believe that it needs to evolve.

He said the national system must continue to adapt to meet the needs of students in a changing world.



Otumoetai College principal Russell Gordon. Photo / Supplied

For some students, the current systems flexibility had encouraged a focus on simply attaining the qualification, sometimes at the expense of deeper skill and knowledge development.

Changes must be thoughtful, evidence-based, and carried out in genuine partnership with schools, employers, tertiary providers, families and whanau.

Gordon said elements of the proposal, such as improved subject clarity, literacy and numeracy benchmarks, and clearer grading, could strengthen the qualification.

Labour MP Jan Tinetti - a former education minister and Tauranga school principal - said she was concerned the proposed system could take the qualification backwards.

The direction the Government has announced doesnt seem to be very forward-looking.



Labour MP Jan Tinetti. Photo / File

I have already heard from schools around concerns they have; however, the devil is in the details, which the announcement is scant on.

Its like saying here is the outline of the house but you cant see inside it yet.

Bay of Plenty National MP Tom Rutherford said the current NCEA system had significant problems, with international ranking showing Kiwi student falling behind in key areas such as literacy and numeracy.



Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford. Photo / Alex Cairns

He said the systems flexibility had led to students choosing easier pathways just to accumulate credits rather than developing critical skills Bay of Plenty industries needed.

Tauranga National MP Sam Uffindell said students could game NCEA by patching together credits from random courses and avoiding external examinations.



Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. Photo / Alex Cairns

Too many students were allowed to slip through the cracks.

Rotorua National MP Todd McClay said the proposed changes were a sensible step to provide secondary school educators, students and their parents with structure and clarity.



Rotorua MP Todd McClay at the opening of Fieldays 2025. Photo / Maryana Garcia

They will set Rotorua teenagers up with a strong foundation, and provide clearer pathways for future training, employment or study, and the new internationally benchmarked national qualification gives them the means to succeed in a modern global economy.

The proposal is open for consultation until September before final decisions will be made.
Alberto Flores Granada Monday, 4 August 2025, 13:49 Share

They are small and, above all, very striking because of their intense blue colour. And if touched, they produce a stinging effect similar to that of jellyfish. The blue glaucus, which is also called the blue dragon, sea swallow, or blue angel is a gastropod that was spotted off the Spanish coast in 2021 in Alicante and in 2025 it has been detected again, this time on a beach in Lanzarote.

In fact swimming has been prohibited at the Lanzarote beach due to the risks of their sting which can be quite painful. And after being detected in the Canary Islands, some experts point to the possibility that they could reach the south of the Iberian Peninsula on their way to feed on their favourite prey, the Portuguese caravel (Physalia physalis).

"It is a gastropod that does not have a shell and, consequently, has developed a series of defensive systems," Luis Sanchez Tocino, collaborating professor at the Zoology Department of the University of Granada (UGR), explained to SUR's sister newspaper IDEAL. As it does not have a "mechanical" defence system, this animal uses a "chemical defence" to protect itself from predators.

"Its defence system is based on the stinging cells of the animals it feeds on".

"Its defence system is based on the stinging cells of the animals it feeds on," said Sanchez. In other words, it stores the stinging cells of the jellyfish it eats in its defence system, accumulates them in its digestive system and uses them when it needs to defend itself. Although its favourite food is the Portuguese dogfish, it also feeds on the blue button jellyfish (Porpita porpita) and the sea sail (Velella velella).

What the blue dragon looks like

As the UGR professor explains, this animal is between two and three centimetres in size, has a "very flat" body and its striking blue colour has an explanation: to go unnoticed by its predators. "From the air, because of its colour, it blends in with the sea. From below, it is silvery, so it is difficult to distinguish it from the sun's rays," he explains

Sanchez says that the Blue Dragon can usually be found "just below the surface" of the sea, as that is "where its prey is". After its detection in Alicante in 2021 and now in Lanzarote, it could now reach Andalucia thanks to sea currents, which drag and move both the blue dragon and its prey. "A few years ago many Portuguese man o' war appeared and it is most likely that they were accompanied by blue dragons," he says.

Is its sting dangerous?

Touching a blue dragon can cause symptoms similar to those of jellyfish stings. The symptoms usually range from pain, dermatitis and blisters, to nausea and vomiting. For this reason, Sanchez warns that it is important to "avoid them and not to bother them", like any other wild animal.

Their sting isn't very serious, although it can be dangerous for people with sensitive skin or allergies or if the sting occurs on the eyes or other mucous membranes. "There has been some unfounded scaremongering about the blue dragon, branding it as a deadly animal. However, there are others, such as the Portuguese carabela (man o' war), which are more dangerous," he concluded.
HANGZHOU, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- On a summer weekend, Du Tingting and her boyfriend wandered through the throngs of people at West Lake in east China's Hangzhou, before settling on a wooden bench overlooking the rippling water and swaying lotus leaves. Despite the crowds, the spot felt almost private, serving as an unexpected pocket of peace at one of China's busiest tourist destinations.

"The benches here are perfectly spaced," Du observed. "They give couples just enough privacy while keeping you connected to the water's poetry."

What she didn't know is that this detail, the space between benches, was the result of a decision made in the 2000s by President Xi Jinping, then Party chief of Zhejiang Province, of which Hangzhou is the capital city. This was one of many measures contained in his ambitious West Lake restoration initiative.

At his suggestion, the once tightly packed benches were set farther apart. His reasoning was simple -- West Lake is a favored retreat for lovers, and they should be able to enjoy it without feeling crowded.

Over time, these thoughtfully arranged seats have become must-visit photo spots for couples. They invite visitors to pause, soak in the lake's misty charm, and lose themselves in the history and culture that have shaped West Lake's eternal beauty.

West Lake stands as one of China's most celebrated cultural landmarks, with its beauty enshrined in poetry and its mist-shrouded waters whispering legends of love.

In 2002, after taking up his post in Zhejiang, Xi began his inspection tour in Hangzhou with a visit to West Lake.

At the construction site of the new scenic area on the Yanggongdi Causeway, he examined the plans and emphasized that the lake was Hangzhou's "lifeline."

"Every inch around West Lake breathes history. Every step resonates with culture," he said, urging efforts to preserve the truly charming aspects of the "old" and the "aged."

He visited West Lake three more times within a year, emphasizing that "natural ecosystems and cultural landscapes should both be restored" -- a principle that guided the conservation project throughout.

In the early days of China's economic boom following the reform and opening up, cultural development in some regions fell into a paradox: praised in principle but neglected in practice, often overshadowed by more immediate priorities.

This tension became particularly visible at West Lake, where the removal of perimeter fencing and restoration of cultural sites initially drew skepticism. The project increased maintenance costs and eliminated ticket revenues, leading some to question its economic rationale.

Yet Xi offered a transformative vision: "To resolve tensions between humanity and nature, between individuals, and within society, we must harness culture's power -- its capacity to nurture, enlighten and inspire."

For him, culture was never a luxury but the very fabric that binds society together, an invisible force fueling a nation's enduring vitality across generations.

This philosophy became a hallmark of Xi's approach, culminating in 2005 with the launch of "eight major projects," a sweeping initiative to promote Zhejiang's cultural development. The program prioritized heritage preservation, high-quality cultural works and academic research, among other key areas.

Thanks to heritage conservation efforts, West Lake ushered in a renaissance. Over 180 heritage sites and lost water areas were restored, breathing new life into the lake's historical and cultural landscapes.

In a visionary move to enrich the people's cultural life, Xi spearheaded the construction of landmark institutions along West Lake's shores. The Zhejiang Art Museum and the West Lake Museum now serve as cultural centers while enhancing the lakeside scenery through their graceful architectural forms.

Xi also prioritized visitor comfort and accessibility around the lake. Beyond thoughtful touches like generously spaced benches, the upgrades featured free admission to all lakeside parks, free use of all public toilets around the lake, and boats with cushioned hulls for gentle bridge passages -- thereby seamlessly harmonizing heritage protection with public enjoyment.

"Xi's protection of West Lake's cultural heritage was both a benevolent governance act and a move that won people's hearts," recalled Zhang Jianting, then director of the Hangzhou West Lake scenic area administration committee.

In 2011, West Lake was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming both a crown jewel among Chinese tourist attractions and a premier global travel destination.

West Lake's transformation was just one highlight of Xi's broader push to protect cultural heritage across Zhejiang. To protect an archaeological site, nearby quarries were shut down, making way for the creation of a park and museum complex, now a magnet for tourists.

The ancient Grand Canal has been revitalized through ecological restoration, cultural renewal, and improved public access. Once polluted and neglected, it now serves as both "a canal for the people" and "a canal for visitors" as Xi envisioned.

Today, Zhejiang boasts three UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites, five national archaeological parks and 281 major national cultural relics protection units. As an economic powerhouse, the province has harnessed its cultural sector as a new engine of growth, underpinned by a robust public cultural service system, flourishing cultural industries and a steady pipeline of cultural talent.

From Zhejiang's Party chief to China's top leader, Xi has remained committed to advancing the cultural cause for the benefit of the people.

"The 'strength' of a culturally strong nation ultimately lies in the height of its people's thought, the status of their spirit, and the level of their cultural literacy," said President Xi in 2024.

As night fell, the moon's reflection decorated the water. Du Tingting and her boyfriend were captivated by the amazing view and decided to camp by the lake for the night.

"For a moment, I felt a connection with the ancient poets who once rowed across the lake and recited verses under the moonlight," she said. "It was simply incredible!" 
SUR in English Gibraltar Monday, 4 August 2025, 13:23 Share

The Gibraltar Finance Centre will welcome students from across the territory to a comprehensive careers fair next month, offering direct access to leading employers in the financial and professional services sectors.

Scheduled for Monday, 8 September from 9.30am to 12.30pm, at the Aurora Ballroom in the Sunborn Hotel, the event will be officially opened by the Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry, The Hon Nigel Feetham KC MP.

The free-to-attend fair requires no advance registration and will showcase career opportunities across multiple industries, including insurance, banking, accountancy, law, funds management, pensions, fintech, and gaming. Students will have the opportunity to meet directly with industry representatives, learn about internship programmes, and explore graduate employment prospects.

"This careers fair reflects our commitment to investing in Gibraltar's future," Minister Feetham said. "It is vital that we give our students access to the knowledge, connections and opportunities that will help them thrive in an increasingly competitive world. I encourage all young people to take advantage of this event and begin shaping the careers they aspire to."

Beyond job opportunities, the fair aims to help students understand employer expectations and build professional networks within Gibraltar's thriving financial services community. Light refreshments will be available throughout the event.

The careers fair forms part of the Government's broader strategy to develop local talent and strengthen Gibraltar's position as a leading financial services hub. The initiative seeks to connect emerging talent with established industry players while supporting the territory's continued economic growth.

The event is organised by the Ministry of Justice, Trade and Industry of HM Government of Gibraltar as part of ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between education and industry in the territory's key economic sectors.
Alekk M. Saanders Fisterra Monday, 4 August 2025, 12:52 Share

Numerous places in Spain are labelled with the name Fisterra. For example, in Andalucia, Cadiz has been considered the end of the earth since ancient times. The Romans claimed that beyond the Pillars of Hercules, the unknown would swallow up those who dared to venture there.

Something similar was imagined on the westernmost promontory of Galicia, which the Romans called finis-terrae (the end of the earth). Believing it to be the edge of the known world, they performed nocturnal sacrifices to ensure the safe return of the sun each morning.

Zoom A moment to be remembered forever. AMS

A picturesque experience

Fisterra or Finisterre (as it is called in Spanish) is a truly remote area in the very west of Spains mainland. Cape Fisterra is known in the context of the Way of St James. With most pilgrims completing their Camino in Santiago de Compostela, thousands of modern travellers are inspired to continue their journey along the so-called Camino Finisterre, retracing the steps that combine Christian pilgrimage with ancient pagan traditions.

This is a picturesque experience worth doing as Cape Fisterra reveals the full majesty of Galicias rugged coastline. Panoramic views stretch endlessly, from dramatic cliffs, hidden coves and golden beaches

This is a picturesque experience worth seeking out as Cape Fisterra reveals the full majesty of Galicias rugged coastline. Panoramic views stretch endlessly, from dramatic cliffs, hidden coves and golden beaches like O Rostro, Arnela, Mar de Fora, Langosteira, Ribeira, and Corveiro. They say in Fisterra history, spirituality and nature converge in spectacular harmony.

Zoom The last stop for pilgrims. AMS

Incidentally, there are several rocks in this area associated with religious legends, such as the "holy stones", the "stone chair", the "stained wine stones", and the tomb of Orcabella. In the area the Celts engaged in sun worship and assorted rituals. In addition, Cape of Fisterra is mentioned in the context of a Celtic rite of fertility when sterile couples had sexual intercourse on one specific stone to try to conceive.

Always full of people. AMS

However, Fisterra is not only known for 'promoting' fertility, but also for taking the lives of many sailors. Many shipwrecks have occurred on its treacherous rocky shore, which juts out directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Not surprisingly, the coast gained a nickname - Costa da Morte (Coast of Death). The most important lighthouse was erected on the cape many centuries ago to help the sailor. (The modern lighthouse building dates from 1868 and is the iconic 0.0 km waymaker.)

Tasty and cool

More than three kilometres away is the nearest settlement. Fisterra is also the name of an ancient harbour and fishing village, where everyone can see for themselves why Galician cuisine is so appreciated. All restaurants offer freshly caught seafood and local wines. The village has hotels and hostels popular with pilgrims.

Fisterra village, meeting points and 'message desks'. AMS

In August maximum temperatures can reach 20C or a bit over, the nights are cool with the minimum around 16C

Fisterra is known to be a windy area, which can contribute to cooler wind chill, especially near the sea. So there is no reason to expect high temperatures in summer though clear skies. In August maximum temperatures can reach 20C or a bit over, the nights are cool with the minimum around 16C in August. As for the water, the Atlantic Ocean in Fisterra is cold all year round, which makes bathing on its beaches, even in summer, a refreshing experience.
Rossel Aparicio Malaga Monday, 4 August 2025, 09:16 Share

The new heatwave forecast by the state meteorological agency (Aemet), which will affect the whole of Spain - except for the Cantabrian area and the Canary Islands - is beginning to make its mark in Spain. It will also be felt this week in the Andalucia region and in Malaga province. Aemet is warning of an almost generalised rise in temperatures that will continue, at least until next Sunday 10 August, due to the entry of "a mass of warm, dry air from the African continent" which, together with the "high levels of sunshine at this time of year, will lead to higher temperatures than usual for this time of year", according to Aemet in the latest update on the special warning for this latest heatwave of the summer.

As far as Malaga province and the Costa del Sol is concerned, Aemet has issued a yellow heat warning for Tuesday 5 August. The warning will affect, from 1pm - 9pm, the Antequera area, where maximum temperatures of up to 39C, "especially in the areas closest to the provinces of Cordoba and Seville", explained Jose Luis Escudero, local meteorologist and head of the SUR blog 'Tormentas y Rayos' (Storms and Lightning) . Escudero also highlighted the likelihood of higher maximum and minimum temperatures in the province of Malaga, including the coast, from Thursday. However, we will have to wait for a new update on Tuesday or Wednesday to find out what will happen in the province over the coming weekend.

Heat in Andalucia

For its part, the Andalucia region will once again have amber warnings for high temperatures in parts of the provinces of Seville, Jaen, Cordoba and Granada; as well as yellow warnings in areas of Almeria and Huelva. Coastal phenomena will also be present in certain areas of the province of Almeria.

According to the forecast consulted by Europa Press, the amber level warnings will be present from 1pm and 9pm this Monday in the regions of Sierra and Pedroches and the Cordoba countryside, in Cordoba; in the Cuenca del Genil, in Granada; in the areas of Morena and Condado, Cazorla and Segura and the Guadalquivir Valley, in the province of Jaen; and finally, in the countryside of Seville; with maximum temperatures ranging between 40C and 42C.

Additionally, the northern and southern Sierra of Seville; the city and Montes de Jaen area; the Subbetica in Cordoba and the Aracena area in Huelva, the thermometers will register maximum temperatures of 38C and 39C. Meanwhile, in the province of Almeria, in the Poniente area and the city, the maximum temperature will be 36C. These warnings will also be in force from 1pm to 9pm.

National weather

In the national forecast, for today, Monday 4 August, "significantly high temperatures are expected over most of the Spanish mainland, with notable rises in some regions", as well as probable very strong gusts of easterly winds in the Strait of Gibraltar.

According to Aemet, maximum temperatures "will rise in the north of the Balearic Islands and the northern half and east of the Spanish mainland, with notable rises expected in the Cantabrian, the upper Ebro and northern Galicia areas. They will fall in the extreme southwest and will remain stable in the rest. The high wil exceed 34-36C practically everywhere in the inland areas of the peninsula, as well as in Rias Baixas and points of Alboran, with temperatures expected to exceed 40-42C in large areas of the southern half of the Atlantic slope and around the Mino".

Meanwhile, minimum temperatures will increase in the northern half of the country, except in the Cantabrian Sea and northeast of Catalonia, where local decreases are expected, and will remain unchanged in the rest of the country. "They will not fall below 20-22C, even above 25 degrees locally, in the Mediterranean and the southern half of the Atlantic coast".
SUR Rincon de la Victoria Monday, 4 August 2025, 13:05 Share

The Mediterranean archaeological park in Rincon de la Victoria on the eastern Costa del Sol is hosting an evening of stargazing on Friday 8 August. The councillor for tourism, Antonio Jose Martin, said: On this occasion, we will travel to the origin of space and time, exploring star constellations and their mythology through guided astronomical observation, exploring the regions listed in Ptolemy's ancient catalogues, combining science, history and mythology.

The programme will begin at 10.30 pm and there will be a talk in Spanish on the mythology of the constellations, a night-time observation of planets and deep space objects through a professional telescope and a concert featuring a soprano accompanied by piano.

The activity is free and open to all. Participants are advised to wear comfortable clothing and bring something to sit or lie on, such as beach chairs, mats, or blankets, to fully enjoy the experience.

Free tickets can be requested here with a maximum of two people per booking and until capacity is reached. The Mediterranean archaeological park is located on Avenida de Picasso.
Maria Jose Diaz Alcala Malaga Monday, 4 August 2025, 09:57 | Updated 11:26h. Share

A man ended up in the Hospital Regional Universitario's ICU after being injured by alleged burglars who broke into his house in Marbella early in the morning on Wednesday, 27 July. The National Police arrested another injured man, who was discovered with a stab wound in his back, on suspicion that he was one of the perpetrators, but the investigation remains open.

It was around 5am when the emergency services received a call reporting that a group of individuals had allegedly broken into a property in Marbella. The National Police and the medical services were immediately mobilised to the scene, where they first found the stabbed burglar.

The person who had wounded him was reportedly the owner of the house, who had woken up in the middle of the night to the noise of someone breaking into his home. He took two knives and went to check whether his suspicions were right.

When the police found him, he was also seriously injured. The victim was first taken to Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella and then transferred to an intensive care unit in Malaga city, "with a guarded prognosis".

While the police have already arrested the wounded suspect for a crime of breaking in, the investigation remains open. The other suspects are yet to be located and detained.
Artist Jessica Persson and the tourism councillor at the launch of the exhibition.

Tony Bryant Mijas Monday, 4 August 2025, 11:32 Share

The Mijas Pueblo tourist office is currently hosting the exhibition the colours of the earth by multidisciplinary artist Jessica Persson, which can be viewed until 29 August. The exhibition showcases works that reflect the transformation of earth, fire and ash into sculptural forms. Using materials found in the local landscape, such as stones, bones and wood from different trees, Persson creates pieces that push the boundaries of traditional ceramics.

Tourism councillor Francisco Jerez explained that this type of initiative strengthens Mijass cultural appeal as a leading tourist destination.

Its not just about displaying art, but about generating experiences that add value to the Mijas brand. Exhibitions like this help us stand out on the Costa del Sol by offering visitors more than just sun and beaches. It is a meeting with creativity and nature through art, he said.

Jerez also highlighted the international profile that comes with hosting renowned artists: The fact that creators from different countries want to exhibit here shows that Mijas is an open, interesting place with the capacity to attract talent. Every exhibition connects us with new perspectives and enriches our identity as a modern and culturally vibrant town.

For her part, the Mijas-based artist, who holds a degree in ceramics from the San Telmo school of art in Malaga, explained the meaning behind her work.

The tones I use come from the earth and the coast  amber and sienna hues that I integrate into my pieces. I work directly in the field, sometimes leaving the artworks outdoors so they absorb the spirit of their surroundings. I dont use conventional tools, only my hands and materials found in nature, she said.

Persson added that her goal is to encourage the public to reconnect with the slower rhythm of the natural world:

We live in a world that moves too fast. With my work, I want to invite people to pause, reconnect with nature, and listen to it. If my pieces help people to feel that, then the goal has been achieved.

The exhibition can be viewed Monday to Friday from 9am to 8pm, and weekends from 10am to 2pm.
Cristina Vallejo Malaga Monday, 4 August 2025 | Updated 05/08/2025 11:54h. Share

Rental prices are slowing down in Malaga. There are already signs of this in the latest statistics published by real estate portal Idealista in Spain. The province is the fourth most expensive province for renting: 16.70 euros per square metre per month is only surpassed by just over 20 euros in Madrid and Barcelona and 19.70 euros in the Balearic Islands. That figure for Malaga is beginning to weigh against the upward trend. Now the Costa del Sol is no longer among the places where renting is most expensive in Spain. In the last month the increase in rental prices has been just 0.2%, compared to increases of more than 4% in Teruel, more than 3% in Lugo and Jaen and more than 2% in a good handful of provinces, including other Andalusian provinces such as Almeria and Huelva.

Still, we should be cautious about this news because, across Spain as a whole, rental prices fell by 0.5% in July compared to June, to an average of 14.60 euros per square metre per month. In Soria they fell 4.5% and in two territories with very demanding prices (Barcelona and the Balearic Islands), they fell by more than 2%.

Looking at year-on-year figures, rental prices in Malaga province have registered an increase of 9.2% in the last 12 months, below the Spanish average of 10.9%. As a result, the rate of increase is no longer one of the strongest in Spain, another indication that prices may be close to reaching their ceiling. Currently, the baton has been passed to smaller, cheaper provinces such as Teruel, Zamora and Segovia, where increases are around 20% compared to the levels of 12 months ago, while in Guadalajara and Toledo the increases are around 14%. Malaga, in the ranking of provinces ordered by price increases over the last year, is right in the middle of the table with as many places ahead as behind it in terms of rental increases.

Within the province, the cooling of rent increases is being most acutely felt in Malaga city. For starters, Malaga city is among the 20 or so provincial capitals where property rentals in July were somewhat cheaper than in June. Note that these are the advertised prices, the asking prices coming from the landlords, as this is the data published by Idealista. So, in the Costa del Sol capital, rents fell by 0.2% in July, while in Soria the decline was 5% and in San Sebastian and Barcelona, two capitals that stand out for their high prices, it fell by 2.2%.

Even so, Malaga, with its 15.60 euros per square metre per month, is the fifth most expensive capital city in Spain, behind Barcelona and Madrid (23.40 and 22.10 euros per square metre per month) and San Sebastian and Palma de Mallorca (both slightly above 18 euros per square metre per month). Therefore, this state of affairs is beginning to weigh on the city, and more so than on the Costa del Sol province as a whole, given that the city's rent increase is 7.3% in year-on-year terms, placing it almost two percentage points below the provincial average and more than 3.5 points below the national average (the aforementioned 10.9%).

The sharpest increases in the last year have occurred in the cities of Segovia (22.7%), Zamora (19.4%) and Tarragona (17.2%).

Within the Andalucia region, there are now other provincial capitals where the rate of rent increases are also higher than in Malaga: Jaen (+10.8%), Huelva (+9.4%) and Seville (+8.6%).

Over 50% of household income goes to paying rent

These figures, which show that rents in the province and in the capital of the Costa del Sol are beginning to show more moderate increases, are consistent with others published this week by Idealista. They indicate that the province is the one where residents have to make the greatest effort to pay the rent: the percentage of household income needed to rent an apartment is 55%. That news places Malaga ahead of the Balearic Islands, where renting a home swallows up 52% of disposable income, and Barcelona (42%). A slowdown in the rate of rental increases has also been visible of late in these two provinces. On average, renting in Spain accounts for 38% of household income, a percentage that slightly exceeds what is recommended by financial experts and international organisations: the cost of housing should not account for more than 30% of a household's resources.

However, even after the latest price increases in provinces such as Teruel, Lleida, Ciudad Real and, closer to home within Andalucia, Jaen, rent accounts for no more than 20% of tenants' income.

If, instead of talking about the province as a whole, we look solely at Malaga city, we discover that, according to Idealista data, it is in third place on the list of Spanish cities where rent takes up the highest percentage of income at 42%. Only Barcelona (44%) and Palma (43%) are ahead of Malaga.

Francisco Inareta, spokesperson for Idealista, stated that the data showed that the rental housing situation is one of being an "emergency" and that it is "close to overflowing in many locations." He also noted that developments in the rental market are driving many people to buy an apartment and that this, in turn, is putting pressure on the purchase market. Thus, purchasing a home in Malaga city and meeting the mortgage repayments accounts for 37% of household income (a proportion surpassed only by Palma, with 43%). Meanwhile, in the province, the rate of effort (proportion of income going to housing costs) rises to 44%, a figure equal to the Balearic Islands. Both are in the lead.
Edurne Martinez Madrid Monday, 4 August 2025, 16:05 Share

The EU has proposed to impose a 6.8-million-euro penalty on Spain for failing to implement the new directive on parental leave in time. This happened just a few days after Spain's council of ministers approved the regulation to increase parental leave from 16 to 19 weeks, the last two to be taken at any point by the time the child turns eight. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a judgement in which it upheld the appeal brought by the European Commission in January 2024 for this reason.

The CJEU proposed a penalty of 6.8 million if the non-compliance persists after the judgment is delivered, in addition to a daily fine of 19,700 until Spain puts an end to the non-compliance. In the text, the CJEU rules that Spain has failed to comply with the transposition deadlines and orders it to pay the fine, plus the Commission's legal costs.

Brussels brought Spain before the CJEU, considering that the Spanish legal system was not complying with the deadlines established for the directive on work-life balance for parents and caregivers. It asked the CJEU to sentence Spain to 9,760 euros per day from 3 August 2022 (the deadline for transposing the directive was 2 August 2022). At the beginning of the month, the fine already exceeded 10 million euros.

The government had set 2 August 2024 as the deadline for applying for the two weeks of extra paid parental leave. But the problem is that the deadline for transposing the European directive was two-fold. The first expired on 2 August 2022, when the six weeks' paid leave was required. And the second, just two years later, called for the payment of another two weeks to bring the total to eight paid weeks for all parents for each child up to the age of eight.

The government confirmed that it will pay the fine to Brussels, which implies that it will no longer have to pay the daily penalty of 19,760 euros, as the three-week extension of birth and nursing leave came into force on Thursday, 31 July.

A government 'shortcut'

After receiving the ruling, the UGT trade union said that there had been no "social negotiation" prior to the extension of parental leave with the government and criticised the royal decree law approved last week as a "shortcut" that allows Spain to stop getting sanctioned for failing to comply with the European directive on reconciliation.

"The most painful thing and what, in our opinion, breaches the directive is that: who can afford eight weeks of unpaid leave? Therefore, I think that they have taken a shortcut to avoid being sanctioned," said Lola Navarro, deputy general secretary of the UGT. According to the union, the positive circumstance of extending leave cannot outweigh the fact that it will not reach every family, which makes it an "insufficient" measure. "A large number of children from these families are left out," Navarro said.
Carlos Hidalgo Madrid Monday, 4 August 2025, 14:47 | Updated 15:07h. Share

National Police officers in Spain have dismantled a criminal group that allegedly, more than two years ago, began to defraud the e-commerce giant Amazon through false returns of goods. Seven people between the ages of 68 and 24 have been arrested (five of them are men). Most of them have previous convictions for similar offences, such as fraud and forgery. In addition, there are five other individuals under investigation who have not been arrested yet. Their fraud reportedly resulted in a financial loss of 300,000 euros for Amazon.

Operation Alligator began in March 2023, when the e-commerce giant's legal services filed the complaint. According to sources, the accused (most of them are Spanish, but there are one Moroccan and one Venezuelan) placed orders for products of high value, usually electronic devices such as Apple phones and tablets. Sometimes they used the names of real Valencia-based companies, but would provide their own addresses. To do so, they had opened accounts in the names of third parties and of the companies on Amazon.

Once they received the goods, they would ask for a refund, claiming that the products were faulty or even creating a defect themselves. Another method they used was writing an odd or incorrect delivery address so that the courier would call and ask them to meet them in the street and deliver the package. The fraudsters would then file complaints, claiming that they had not received the product but had still been charged for it. These tricks were repeated with laptops, video games and cameras, in addition to the devices mentioned above, each at a market price higher than 1,000 euros.

Police managed to locate and arrest several individuals in Valencia city, San Antonio de Benageber (also in the region of Valencia) and Madrid city. During two house searches in Turia, the police seized 114,000 euros in cash, more than 1,500 dollars, six vehicles, numerous mobile phones, computers, cameras and tablets, in addition to a large amount of bank documentation and notes of interest to the investigation.
Luis Gomez Monday, 4 August 2025 | Updated 06/08/2025 10:16h. Share

Despite Formentera's tiny size - 19 kilometres separate the port of La Savina from the top of Pilar de la Mol - the smallest of the Pitiusas islands in Spain's Balearics - the number of tourists continues to increase. It is receiving more and more visitors, especially Italians while it has experienced a slight decrease in Germans. The opening of restaurants, hotels and luxury brand shops (Gucci, Celine, Versace, Loewe...) is soaring.

Fortunately, the island maintains the turquoise colour of its waters, despite the fact that the impressive and numerous yachts continue to approach the sandy beaches, with the risk of destroying the oceanic posidonia meadows, important seagrass ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea which help generate its deep blue colour.

The only thing that is going down in numbers is the number of naturists. Despite being a legal practice, naturism is on the decline on almost all the beaches, especially in the most photographed ones, with Ses Illetes leading the way, the picture-postcard beach where selfies, posing and swimming costumes are the order of the day.

The 'undressed' Formentera has given way to a Formentera that covers itself more than ever. Changes in customs, the increase in mobile phones and the fear of losing privacy, as well as Italian colonisation, have transformed the landscape. "The Germans used to settle in the Migjorn area. They were not so much used to going to Illetes, which has always been more of a place to pose. They moved around the island on bicycles and spent the whole day on the beach in the nude. They would take off their clothes, swim and at the end of the day, they would leave in their shorts", explained Monica Lopez and her husband, Pepe Torres Ferrer.

With stiletto heels

Little is left of that Formentera. The free-spirited island has given way to a more demure and glamorous one. Of course, there are still stretches of coastline, in Migjorn, Platja de Llevant, Sa Roqueta. Es Calo and Espalmador, where some still sunbathe naked, but there are not many.

"A lot of Italians come here and much younger. They start coming in May. The girls arrive already tanned and flood the ferry from Ibiza. They bring suitcases and go to the beach in high heels... stilettos! Stilettos! They love showing off on Instagram, but going naked? Not at all! The type of tourism has definitely changed, largely because of them," they say. Fewer women go topless nowadays too

"They've made everything more expensive since they came here because they've taken over almost all the businesses on the island," explains Monica, who was born in neighbouring Menorca but has lived on Formentera for 28 years. "When I arrived it was very different, everything was allowed. A lot of the idiosyncrasy and essence of the island has been lost," she complains.

Naturism is the same in the rest of the Balearic Islands and also on the Costa Brava. A secluded beach in a peaceful setting, where the only material was towels on the sand. This is how the residents of Cala Illa Roja, in Begur (Girona), one of the most traditional naturist spots in Catalonia, remember the scene. Now the locals say that it is flooded with swimming costumes and bikinis every summer. Naturists have become "almost an endangered species", according to Segimon Rovira, president of the Club Catala de Naturisme (CNN).

Zoom Swimming costumes are the order of the day in Formentera, which maintains its picture-postcard beaches. Adobe Stock

The overcrowded beaches, the lack of protection of these spaces and the lack of adequate signposting have meant that users have fewer places to practise "naturism in a safe and peaceful way. More and more people are coming with swimming costumes and taking photos, and that makes us uncomfortable," he protests. Why? "There is a lack of space. People who go to the beach dressed can enter the nudist areas and it's ok, but although we don't want to bother them, we can be harassed", he complains. The result? Naturist beaches in Catalonia "are disappearing", he confirms.

Difficulties

"Aesthetic" pressure

It is striking that naturists are, for the most part, people of "a certain age" who are not worried about prejudices. It's not young people who are concerned about the "aesthetic pressure and insecurity of their bodies", as well as the increasing sexualisation of nudity. "They fear harassment and that images of themselves taken without their consent might end up circulating on the internet," says anthropologist Livia Motterle.

There are other factors that explain the decline of this practice: the reluctance of many municipalities to promote naturist tourism, if not to ban it outright, as in the case of Platja d'Aro town council. He justifies the ban on nudism on his beach on the grounds that "it is a place with a family tradition". Rovira insists that municipal by-laws should promote naturist tourism "with high purchasing power" and encourage "civic-mindedness" to achieve "inclusive beaches" where everyone can sunbathe and respect each other.

He believes that regulations of this nature are necessary to counteract the impact of decisions such as that of the Mallorcan town hall of Ses Salines, which three years ago banned naturism by equating it with sexual relations and fined up to 750 euros. The mayor rectified his decision a few days later and limited this regulation "to urban beaches and not virgin sandbanks".
A person in costumes performs in a mask parade during the Porto Novo Mask Festival in Porto Novo, Benin, Aug. 3, 2025. The festival was held here from Saturday to Sunday to showcase the art and culture of Benin's traditional religion Vodun through a mask parade, concerts, seminars and other activities. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

People in costumes perform in a mask parade during the Porto Novo Mask Festival in Porto Novo, Benin, Aug. 3, 2025. The festival was held here from Saturday to Sunday to showcase the art and culture of Benin's traditional religion Vodun through a mask parade, concerts, seminars and other activities. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

People in costumes perform in a mask parade during the Porto Novo Mask Festival in Porto Novo, Benin, Aug. 3, 2025. The festival was held here from Saturday to Sunday to showcase the art and culture of Benin's traditional religion Vodun through a mask parade, concerts, seminars and other activities. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

People in costumes perform in a mask parade during the Porto Novo Mask Festival in Porto Novo, Benin, Aug. 3, 2025. The festival was held here from Saturday to Sunday to showcase the art and culture of Benin's traditional religion Vodun through a mask parade, concerts, seminars and other activities. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

People in costumes perform in a mask parade during the Porto Novo Mask Festival in Porto Novo, Benin, Aug. 3, 2025. The festival was held here from Saturday to Sunday to showcase the art and culture of Benin's traditional religion Vodun through a mask parade, concerts, seminars and other activities. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
Pittsford, N.Y.  Buffalo Bills running back James Cook sat out practice for the second straight day on Monday.

When reporters asked Cook about his absence after Sundays practice, he said only one word: business.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane appeared on the WGR 550 morning show on Monday. He said Cooks decision to sit out came as a surprise.

Its not something we were fully aware of until shortly before practice, Beane said. I get it. I understand its the world were in, I guess, of how players want to respond and things like that.

Cook has been vocal about his contract demands throughout the offseason. Hes aiming for $15 million per season in a new deal, as he stated in a social media post in February.

NFL Networks Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday that Cook and the Bills arent far off on a number and remain engaged in talks.

Beane said on Monday that the team and Cooks representatives have been in constant communication, discussing a potential new deal. But as things stand, the two sides havent been able to land on an agreement.

And now Cook is taking another stand.

Its well known we tried to get something done with Jimbo, Beane said. And unfortunately, it takes two, and both sides have to agree on what that number is. And obviously, that hasnt gotten there. But, Im not sitting here saying you dont pay running backs. I think you just have to find what the sweet spot is.

Beane went on to say how much the Bills love Cook and hes hopeful that the 25-year-old running back can can back on the field sooner rather than later.

We want all our guys practicing, Beane said. We got some guys out, due to injuries or soft tissue and stuff like that. So were trying to get as many guys on the practice field as we can and start preparing for this first preseason game, and hopefully well get him back out there soon.

Cook reported for mandatory minicamp in June and then was present and practicing at the start of training camp last month. Cook said last month that he was practicing because he didnt want to get fined. Hes remained optimistic that a deal would get done.

I mean, however it happens, its going to get done, wherever it happens, Cook said. I deserve what I want, what I need, and its eventually going to happen.

Beane said he knows how important it is to Cook to be a part of the team.

A lot of negotiations can be tough, Beane said. I just think, people choose to handle it how they choose. ... Jimbo doesnt want to miss, I know that, and so Im sure its painful for him to make that decision, and like I said, well continue the dialogue with him, and hopefully get it resolved and get him back out there."
Syracuse, N.Y.  A specialized job fair focused on accessibility and inclusion is coming to Syracuse this fall, offering adults with diverse abilities a chance to launch their careers.

The Community at Work Job Fair provides adults with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to meet with inclusive local employers. Job seekers will be able to explore industries, learn about positions and network with actively hiring companies.

The event, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, will take place at CNY Works, located at 960 James St. in Syracuse.

Participation is free for both job seekers and employers.

While the fair is tailored for adults with diverse mental and physical abilities, experiences or access needs, all community members are welcome.

The goal of this event is to empower people by connecting them with employers who are eager to build diverse and inclusive teams, ultimately fostering confidence for both initial employment and long-term professional growth.

Employers participating in the event can demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion while accessing motivated talent to strengthen their workforce. Companies that have already signed on include retailers, service providers and MACNY, The Manufacturers Association of Central New York.

This job fair is about more than just filling positions; its about making our business community even stronger and more vibrant, said Lindsay Marlenga, senior director of marketing at syracuse.com | The Post-Standard, which has partnered with CNY Works to present The Community at Work Job Fair.

Were dedicated to connecting talented individuals with disabilities to inclusive companies who will truly benefit from their unique skills, perspectives and diverse backgrounds. This is a win-win for both job seekers and employers.

The event kicks off with registration and an hour-long panel moderated by the hosts of Enable: The Disability Podcast. Panelists will discuss real life tips for getting hired, navigating the job search process and interview advice from employers with open positions.

Job seekers may find it useful to bring copies of their resume, but it is not required.

More information about the job fair, including a list of participating employers and registration details, can be found at communityatworkjobfair.com. The website includes links to state and local resources available to people with disabilities.
Utica, N.Y.  A Central New York corrections officer was sentenced in Utica to prison Monday, the first guard who admitted beating an inmate who died last year.

Christopher Walrath, 36, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
Jayden Nguyen, New Haven Register, Conn. (TNS)

Ed and Lorraine Warrens Monroe home and occult museum now has a new owner.

Comedian Matt Rife announced in a TikTok video posted Friday that he and his friend, YouTuber Elton Castee, purchased the late couples Connecticut property together.

The museum was established in 1952, and the Warrens daughter Judy Spera and her husband, Tony, owned the house and were the curators of the museum before Rife and Castees purchase of the property.

Rife said in his video that, in addition to owning the property, he and Castee are now the legal guardians and caretakers of all 750 haunted artifacts and items in the Warren museum. He specified that he and Castee do not own the items, but will be taking care of them for at least the next five years.

One of the items now under Rife and Castees care is the infamous Annabelle doll, which became an inspiration for The Conjuring movies. The doll was on tour earlier this year with Connecticut paranormal investigator Dan Rivera, who died while touring with the doll in July.

A doll is seen at the premiere of Warner Bros' "Annabelle Comes Home" at Regency Village Theatre on June 20, 2019 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/FilmMagic via Getty Images) FilmMagic

Rife told his TikTok followers that he and Castee plan to open the Warrens house to the public for people to book a night or weekend to stay at the property and explore the house, museum and its artifacts.

The museum has been closed to the public since 2014 due to local zoning laws not permitting a museum in the residential neighborhood.

Tony Spera told CT Insider in 2022 that he has faced zoning disputes due to the popularity of the museum. Neighbors have complained of fans of the Warrens knocking on their doors and have taken issue with previous private tours given by Spera.

Rife did not address potential zoning issues in his TikTok video.

Rife, an Ohio native, is best known for his TikTok viral stand-up comedy videos. In 2023, he released two comedy specials on Netflix, Lucid and Natural Selection. Forbes ranked Rife at No. 7 on its Top Creators 2025 list with an estimated earnings of $50 million, and he was also included on Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2024.

Outside of comedy, Rife said in the caption of his video that he is a big fan of The Conjuring movies and obsessed with the paranormal and all things haunted.

This is the most random hobby ever, Rife said in his video. I should probably collect stamps or something. Might be a little safer.

 2025 the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.). Visit www.nhregister.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Syracuse, N.Y.  The multinational construction company that built the Lake Placid ice rinks and the amphitheater on Onondaga Lake has been hired to start preparing the site of Micron Technologys massive chipmaking complex in the town of Clay.

The hiring of Gilbane Co. is another critical step in making the Micron project, announced nearly three years ago, a reality. Micron says it plans to start clearing trees and trucking in fill at the site at Route 31 and Caughdenoy Road in November.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Micron Technology is in the final stages of obtaining the first three permits it will need to build its planned chipmaking complex in Clay.

The permits would allow the company to destroy hundreds of acres of wetlands and threatened bird habitat by setting aside similar land elsewhere. Micron cant start work until it gets these and other permits from state and federal regulators.

Micron is racing to garner those approvals so it can start cutting hundreds of acres of forest and trucking in millions of tons of fill in November. The project is already 18 months behind the original schedule proposed in 2023.

The wetlands and bird habitat permit applications are now open for public review, another sign that Micron is forging ahead with what would be the largest private investment in state history.

The company says it must ultimately obtain 34 major approvals from 12 government agencies, from the town of Clay to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Those approvals include air and water discharges, construction of access roads from state highways, withdrawal of water from Lake Ontario and zoning changes.

Not all of those approvals will be needed by November; some can likely be obtained later as the project progresses, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said. The first of four planned chip factories wont start operations until early 2029, Micron said.

The New York Empire State Development agency meets weekly with officials at all levels of government to keep the permit applications on track, said Kevin Younis, a Syracuse native and deputy director of the agency.

We track where it is, where it needs to be, whos doing it, whos not doing it, Younis said. We track all the local permits. We track all the federal permits.

All of those approvals are separate from the draft environmental impact statement that details the potential effects of the project. A public hearing was held on that 20,000-page report July 24, and the public can comment in writing until Aug. 11.

The project cant move forward until both the Onondaga County Industrial Development agency and the U.S. Department of Commerce finish the environmental report and give the project their blessing. Thats expected to come in October.

While that report is being wrapped up, Micron is pushing to get permit applications approved. In the applications now open for public comment, Micron is asking:

The state Department of Environmental Conservation for a permit to cut trees, pour concrete and otherwise destroy about 600 acres of habitat that is occasionally used by the northern harrier hawk, considered threatened in New York state, and the short-eared owl, listed as endangered.

The Army Corps and the state Department of Environmental Conservation for permission to fill in about 200 acres of wetlands on the site. Each agency would issue a separate permit. These applications were first filed in May 2023, and Micron has been going back and forth with regulators to answer questions and prepare a plan to mitigate the loss of the wetlands.

To obtain those permits, Micron has pledged to set aside more than 1,400 acres of wetlands and bird habitat to make up for whats lost during construction. The wetlands would be created at six unconnected parcels in southern Oswego County. The bird habitat would be set aside at eight sites, ranging from Oswego to Tioga counties.

The wetlands and habitat sites would be overseen by the nonprofit The Wetland Trust.

Micron says it plans to build up to four fabrication plants, or fabs, in Clay that would annually produce more than 1 billion memory chips used in cell phones, artificial intelligence and other uses. The company could get taxpayer subsidies of up to $25 billion to build the first two fabs.

This map shows a tentative proposal by Micron Technology to build new wetlands (red) to replace the ones the company would to fill in when building chipmaking factories in Clay (yellow). (Micron Technology) Micron Technology

How to comment

Wetlands. DEC and the Army Corps are taking written comments on the wetlands permits. Comments can be sent to DEC at Comments.Micron2025@dec.ny.gov by Sept. 1. The Army Corps is taking written comments at CELRB-Micron.public.comments@usace.army.mil by Aug. 11. Be sure to include the project number of LRB-2000-02198.

The wetlands permit applications are available at Microns permits website. They are listed under the title JPA, which stands for joint permit application, and WQC, which stands for Water Quality Certification.

Paper copies of the applications can also be found at the Cicero, North Syracuse and Brewerton libraries.

Bird habitat. The bird habitat application is buried inside the joint permit application on the Micron site. You can find it as Appendix Q in the JPA Appendix Volume V.

Its the same email address for comments on the habitat as it is for the wetlands: Comments.Micron2025@dec.ny.gov.

Public hearings. DEC will hold two virtual public hearings on the wetlands and permit applications, from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 12 and 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 13. Anyone who wants to watch or speak has to register online. Click on the dates to register for that session:

The Army Corps held a public hearing on the wetlands application on July 24, in conjuction with the hearing on Microns impact report.

Micron also needs permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to cut down trees because two species of endangered bats roost on the site in summer. The bats are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act and so fall under jurisdiction of the wildlife service.
An official who ran the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics during President Donald Trumps first term is criticizing Trump for firing the agencys head last week.

Bill Beach, who Trump appointed to lead the bureau in 2017, said during an interview Sunday that Trumps suggestions about rigged data demonstrate a misunderstanding of the agencys collection and reporting standards.

Theres no way for that to happen, Beach told CNNs Kasie Hunt on State of the Union, according to Politico. The commissioner doesnt do anything to collect the numbers. The commissioner doesnt see the numbers until Wednesday before theyre published. By the time the commissioner sees the numbers, theyre all prepared.

Trump fired the head of the bureau, Erika McEntarfer, last week after a lackluster jobs report. The president suggested she had rigged the data to make him and Republicans look bad, according to CNN.

Beach said the move to fire her undermines credibility in government statistics. The bureau produces data on a variety of economic and workforce topics.

Suppose that they get a new commissioner and this person, male or female are just the best people possible, Beach said, according to Politico. And they do a bad number. Well, everybodys going to think, well, its not as bad as it probably really is because theyre going to suspect political influence.

Beach also said the bureaus estimates are far better now than in previous decades, Politico said.

White House officials have defended Trumps actions.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett rejected claims that Trump was shooting the messenger for weaker-than-expected jobs numbers, according to CNBC.

Instead, Hassett said, the president wants his own people there, suggesting that the data would be more transparent and more reliable with a Trump appointee, according to CNBC.
Ithaca, NY - Cornell University is close to a deal with the Trump administration that would restore hundreds of millions of lost federal research money, according to Bloomberg news.

Under the terms of the settlement, Cornell would pay as much as $100 million, Bloomberg reported, quoting sources familiar with the negotiations.

Bloomberg said the deal could come as soon as next week.

One outstanding part of the settlement, Bloomberg reported, is whether or not an independent monitor would be required to be make sure the agreement was complied with. That was a condition as part of Columbia Universitys $221 million deal, NPR reported.

Cornell is under federal investigation for alleged civil rights violations, including improperly handling antisemitic incidents on campus.

Brown University just signed a similar deal with the Trump administration. That one was for $50 million.
CANBERRA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has committed additional funding for humanitarian assistance efforts in Gaza.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and International Development Minister Anne Aly on Monday announced that Australia will provide an additional 20 million Australian dollars (12.9 million U.S. dollars) to organizations delivering food, medical supplies and other lifesaving support in Gaza.

The new funding includes 6 million AUD (3.8 million USD) for the United Nations World Food Programme and 5 million AUD (3.2 million USD) each for UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Wong and Aly said in a joint statement that the new package takes Australia's total humanitarian funding for Gaza since October 2023 past 130 million AUD (84 million USD).

"Australia has consistently been part of the international call on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza, in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice," Wong said.

"The suffering and starvation of civilians in Gaza must end."

The funding was announced one day after tens of thousands of Australians joined pro-Palestine protests in Sydney and Melbourne, calling for an end to the war and famine in Gaza.

In Sydney, an estimated 90,000 people participated in the protest across the city's iconic Harbor Bridge despite wet weather and an attempt by authorities to stop the demonstration from going ahead.

Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek told Seven Network television on Monday that Australians want to "send a message" that there has been too much death. 
Heads up to those who still plan on buying the original Switch: Nintendo has increased its price.

Yes, you read that right. The original Switch, which has cost $299.99 in the US since its release in 2017, now has a price tag of $339.99 on Nintendo's online store.

Nintendo Increases Prices for Original Switch

The base Switch model is not the only one to experience the price increase as other models have also changed prices, according to a report by The Verge.

The Switch OLED used to cost $349.99, but the price has been increased by $50 to reach $399.99. On the other hand, the Switch Lite has also increased in price from $199.99 to $229.99.

According to The Verge, Canada has also seen increase in prices for the original Switch.

Why Did Nintendo Raise Prices?

As to why Nintendo increased its prices, the company said that the decision to increase has been "based on market conditions."

It should be noted that the price increase has been implemented just as President Donald Trump announced a new set of reciprocal tariffs on numerous countries.

It is now being speculated that the price increase may be connected to Trump's decision to impose a 20% tariff on products from Vietnam, where most of Nintendo's production take places.

While Nintendo has assured that the Switch 2's prices won't change for now, many gamers have begun worrying that that a price increase may be imminent in the coming months.

Originally published on Player One
VILNIUS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- While hosting Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Vilnius on Monday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda criticized Israel over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, saying that starvation cannot be used as a weapon.

"The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire. I call on the Israeli government to take urgent steps to resolve the humanitarian crisis by ensuring adequate delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially women and children," Nauseda said at a joint press conference, Baltic News Service (BNS) reported.

"Starvation cannot be used as a tool of political or military fighting," he added.

Calling on Israel to ensure the respect of human rights in Gaza, Nauseda also condemned violence in the West Bank and the illegal expansion of settlements.

Besides expressing his concerns over the Gaza situation, Nauseda also emphasized the efforts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the defence and security industries.

Herzog's visit to Lithuania comes as the international community is stepping up criticism of Israel's campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has triggered a humanitarian crisis.

During Herzog's visit, several protests took place in the Lithuanian capital against Lithuania's cooperation with Israel.

According to the Israeli president's office, Lithuania is the first stop of Herzog's official visit to the Baltic States from Aug. 3 to 6. To strengthen bilateral relations in areas such as economic, technological, and security cooperation, he will visit Latvia and Estonia as his next stops, accompanied by an economic delegation. 
All five miners found dead after Chilean mine collapse



Rancagua, Chile, Aug 3 (AFP) Aug 03, 2025



A rescue operation in Chile at the world's largest underground copper mine ended Sunday with no survivors, as the body of a fifth missing miner was found days after a tunnel collapsed, officials said.

"Today we finally found (dead) the last of the missing workers," Aquiles Cubillos, prosecutor for Chile's O'Higgins region, told reporters.

Operations at the El Teniente mining center had been suspended since Friday after a "seismic event" caused the collapse of a tunnel the day before, trapping the five miners inside.

Whether the cause of the shaking was due to an earthquake or drilling remains under investigation.

El Teniente, which is operated by the Chilean state-owned mining firm Codelco, boasts more than 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) of tunnels and is the largest underground copper deposit in the world.

Last year, it produced 356,000 metric tonnes (over 392,000 tons) of copper -- nearly seven percent of the total for Chile.

Chile's mining industry is considered among the safest in the world, with a fatality rate of 0.02 percent in 2024, according to the National Geology and Mining Service of Chile.
Spanish police seize illegal ivory carvings



Madrid, Aug 4 (AFP) Aug 04, 2025



Spanish police said on Monday they had seized dozens of carvings made from the ivory tusks of endangered African and Asian elephants as part of a smuggling and environmental crimes investigation.

Officers with the Guardia Civil confiscated 126 ivory carvings of various sizes, many featuring Asian-style designs, from a trading company in the eastern region of Valencia, the force said in a statement.

They also seized a 1.77-metre (5.8-foot) tusk weighing 22 kilogrammes (48.5 pounds), believed to date back to the 19th century.

Authorities said the items lacked proper documentation.

An analysis confirmed the ivory came from African and Asian elephants, both of which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

One woman was arrested and four other individuals were placed under investigation.

The World Wildlife Fund estimates that around 20,000 African elephants are illegally killed each year for their ivory tusks, despite international trade bans.

Ivory -- sometimes called "white gold" -- has historically been one of the world's most sought-after commodities, used in jewellery, weaponry, musical instruments and ornamental carvings.
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Melania Trump is searching for new talent to perform at the White House during the holiday season.

The White House announced in a press release Monday that the First Lady and President Donald Trump have begun planning for their Christmas traditions. This includes inviting volunteers and performers to celebrate the holiday at the White House in Washington, DC.

Melania is looking for talented musical groups  from school bands, choirs, and holiday-themed entertainers  to volunteer to perform in DC, according to the release. Performances will take place on eight specific dates in December during the holiday open houses at the White House.

Applications to be a volunteer performer are open now until September 5 at 5 p.m. ET. Those interested must submit an audition tape either a capella or with an acoustic accompaniment. Amplification is not permitted.

Anyone accepted to be a performer will be notified by October 13.

Melania Trump is searching for talented volunteer to perform at the White House in December ( Getty Images )

In addition, Melania is looking for volunteers to help decorate the White House for the Christmas season. Any individual applying for this opportunity must be 18 or older, with decorating taking place from November 24 through November 30.

However, both performers and decorating volunteers are responsible for their travel accommodations and personal expenses in DC.

Along with open houses, the White House hosts a National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony every year, with celebrities headlining. The 2024 event featured Adam Blackstone, Stephen Sanchez, and James Taylor, among others.

During Donald Trumps first term in office, Melania made headlines for her holiday decorations when she opted for white branches instead of traditional Christmas trees in parts of the White House in 2017. Meanwhile, in 2018, her red trees were panned for appearing to be covered in blood.

Years after Melanias Christmas decorations were mocked, Donald made it clear that he was still upset about the criticism.

She would make the most beautiful Christmas decorations, he said, while speaking at the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, in 2021. And I remember she made these magnificent red trees, and the media said, Oh, thats terrible. I said, Honey, next time, try white.

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She made magnificent, remember, the most beautiful youve ever seen, white trees? And they said, Oh, thats terrible. I said the next time, lets do it more traditional. Lets go with green, he added. We went with beautiful green trees, and they said: Why wouldnt you make them white like they used to be? But Ill tell you what, shes loved all over, and shes got a tremendous heart.

Melanias Christmas spirit was also questioned in 2020 when she was heard on a leaked recording complaining about having to organize the decorations. The conversation was recorded in 2018 by a friend of Melania, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff.

Im working ... my a** off at Christmas stuff that you know, who gives a f*** about Christmas stuff and decoration? Melania can be heard saying. But I need to do it, right? Correct?
HARBIN, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- While much of China swelters under scorching summer heat, Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, is drawing visitors with a refreshing contrast, offering a chilly escape fueled by its renowned ice and snow tourism.

Although it is no longer the official ice and snow season, Harbin Ice and Snow World Park remains a popular destination. Its indoor pavilion, maintained at minus 10 degrees Celsius, features nine themed areas and 19 attractions that blend urban culture, artistic creativity and ice-themed innovations.

Visitors can explore ice sculpture exhibits, displays on the history of the Asian Winter Games and European-style streetscapes. Simulated snowfall, a giant slide and figure skating performances add to the immersive experience.

"Harbin people brought winter into summer. It's amazing and beautiful. I have to tell my friends that Harbin is worth visiting," said a tourist surnamed Li from south China's Guangdong Province.

From January to June this year, Harbin welcomed 86.98 million tourist visits and recorded 137.58 billion yuan (about 19.27 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue, up 17.8 percent and 14 percent year on year, respectively, according to the Harbin municipal bureau of culture, radio, television and tourism.

"Since Harbin's ice and snow tourism went viral, the ice and snow economy has grown rapidly," said Li Zhuomin, deputy director of the bureau, adding that the boom has created jobs across facility construction, maintenance, tourism services and catering, boosting consumption and driving economic growth.

According to Wei Pengju, director of the institute of cultural economics at the Central University of Finance and Economics, Harbin's ice and snow economy is experiencing a "leapfrog development." The unique resources and lifestyle play a key role in helping the city stand out from other similar destinations. 
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Its no slight to Wilderness Festival that one of its greatest pleasures is saying goodbye to it. A 30-minute walk from its main field takes you to the local Charlbury train station, a journey that finds you passing disused train tracks, babbling brooks, stone cottages and enormous fields of wheat. Its the sort of England that Cameron Diaz moved to in The Holiday, or a place so chocolate-box beautiful that if a grisly murder happened here, wed all be hearing about it for decades. Isnt the natural world and everything in it so utterly, utterly gorgeous?

By design or not, this is what Wilderness does to a person. You go in a big-city misery-guts and leave pretty much the same, if just with a new and exciting fondness for foliage. This is a four-day event in the bucolic Oxfordshire countryside that encourages you to meditate, luxuriate and rot (serenely), with saunas on hand, massage chairs next to the loaded brownie stand, and champagne-battered fish on the menu. Theres also, if you squint, some music.

Wilderness  if you hadnt got the gist already  is Britains bougiest festival, a reputation so well-established by this point that it comes as no surprise to stumble upon a vendor here selling outdoor pizza ovens. Theres no disguising the luxe, frou-frou commerciality of it all  Disney, Nespresso and Disaronno are among the many companies with installations on-site  and Wilderness, to its genuine credit, doesnt really bother to. This is not a festival that would insist that its great-grandfather was born in a dustbin and worked really, really hard to become a multimillionaire, actually  it would just offer you an ostrich burger and complimentary yoga mat and call it a day.

Families naturally adore it. All weekend, tiny children run free across vast swathes of immaculate greenland, scream from the seats of rotating swing rides, and rotate on ferris wheels. By night, parents dress up in their sparkliest festival clobber to gyrate and yelp, as if they havent been let out of the house since 2005. The music is of a similar bent: Orbital careen through dazzling Nineties trance-pop on the Friday, inspiring the biggest cheers when they launch into a never-officially-released banger that samples the Spice Girls Wannabe. A day later, Supergrass wax nostalgic on the 30 years since they released the Britpop classic I Should Coco, which they play in full alongside 1999s riotous Bowie riff Pumping on Your Stereo and a handful of their B-sides (We used to do those in the Nineties, jokes frontman Gaz Coombes).

Prolific Noughties bop-deliverers Basement Jaxx sign off the festival on Sunday with a further trip down memory lane, along with a frenetic, confident set of loud pop-rock by Wet Leg. Outside of a DJ set by Australian duo Confidence Man and lovely Friday-evening folk by Scotlands Jacob Alon, they serve as one of the few name acts here that feel at all contemporary. Perhaps speaking to the dearth of available festival headliners this year, the bill is weighted heavily on DJs spinning through old hits  by weekends end, I think Ive heard enough of Diana Rosss Im Coming Out to last a lifetime. And its noticeable how unusual it is to hear actual voices on stage. If Billy Bragg seems to haunt Glastonbury, Wilderness seems haunted by Jamie Olivers Spotify algorithm  theres lots of wordless acid-jazz, chill-out pop and dinner-party ditties; mood-music reigns supreme, from the atmospheric wailing of Aurora (think a rockier Enya) to the dreamy death rattles of the French duo Air.

Im not sure Wilderness is entirely as relaxed as billed  between the constant bag searches, laddish and bantering security guards, and cornered-off VIP areas you only realise arent for you once youve been ordered to back away from them, its tricky to feel wholly at ease. And until the music begins in the evenings, its a seemingly endless cycle of wandering, sunbathing and drinking beneath the most beautiful trees youve seen in your life. But I suppose thats its own kind of bliss, isnt it?
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British model Chloe Ayling, who was kidnapped in Italy in 2017, has revealed that she often encounters people who still dont believe her story.

The 27-year-old from south London was lured into attending a fake photoshoot in Milan eight years ago. She was kidnapped and drugged and told she would be sold as a sex slave on the black market.

Six days later, however, her kidnapper drove her back to Milan and left her at the UK consulate.

Ayling was ridiculed by media and scrutinised by the public who became obsessed with the idea peddled by her attackers defence team that the entire incident had been a PR stunt to further her career.

Speaking to Christine Lampard on Lorraine, Ayling said: Its always people who dont know the facts. They judge too quickly and jump in before knowing the full story. You can never get offended by it really, because they dont know.

Ayling appeared on the ITV morning programme ahead of the release of her new BBC documentary My Unbelievable Kidnapping, which is set to air on BBC Three at 9pm tonight (Monday 4 August).

Of relieving the ordeal for the TV series, Ayling said: I thought it would be easy. Im really not good at talking about my feelings. I had to relive it again and I got emotional about things I hadnt before.

Chloe Ayling on 'Lorraine' ( ITV )

When asked how the backlash to her retelling of the incident had affected her in the past, she said she was constantly having to speak about her kidnappers crazy decisions as if they were her own.

It was my calmness that saved me, Ayling explained of the reason she initially appeared calm in interviews and CCTV footage. I had to get him on side to be able to get out.

She added of her forthcoming documentary: I want to show a victim doesnt have to fit into a typical box to be believed.

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Aylings kidnappers  Polish brothers Lukasz and Michal Herba  falsely told her that she had been kidnapped by a Romanian criminal gang called the Black Death.

After realised that one of the brothers was infatuated by her, she convinced him she might one day be his girlfriend  an act of deception that may very well have saved her life.

However, the false claim became the dominant narrative in the story. Aylings body language and media interviews were intensely scrutinised as she was treated as a suspect rather than the victim she was.

But Aylings recounting of the kidnapping remained consistent, and Lukasz was eventually jailed for 16 years and nine months. His brother Michal, who was also sentenced to 16 years behind bars, has since been released following an appeal.
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Suranne Jones has said she would consider returning to Coronation Street, more than two decades after leaving.

Jones made her debut on the cobbles as Karen McDonald in 2000, and has enjoyed a successful acting career since leaving the ITV soap in 2004.

Ahead of her Netflix debut in new political thriller Hostage, Jones has revealed she would respond positively if soap bosses asked her to reprise the role of Karen.

If they asked, Would you come and do an episode of Coronation Street? Id say, Why not? she told The Times.

If you had asked me two years after I left the show, Id have said, Absolutely not. Im going to do all these things. But now its 21 years ago, it might be fun.

After leaving Corrie, Jones started collaborating with writer Sally Wainwright, appearing in Scott & Baileyand Gentlemen Jack, for which she was Bafta nominated.

Jones received another Bafta nomination for her role in Mike Bartletts Doctor Foster, and received acclaim for her performances in Lennie James series Save Me and BBC drama Vigil.

open image in gallery Suranne Jones in new Netflix series Hostage ( Netflix )

However, one role Jones does not want to add to her CV is the lead in BBCs long-running sci-fi show Doctor Who.

I would be scared to play the Doctor, she admitted. I thought Ncuti Gatwa did a brilliant job. Thats a lot to live up to. Its a pressurised job.

Jones, who made a guest appearance in 2011 episode The Doctors Wife, said she loved the era of Jodie Whittaker, who became the first woman to play the Time Lord in 2017.

Watching some of her episodes with my son, Im like, Wow, that takes a lot. So Id be a bit frightened of it.

Jones return would go down well with Corrie fans who have seen the soap go through plenty of change in the last year due to a series of departures, including Gail Platt star Helen Worth.

The latest actor to announce their decision to leave the soap after decades on screen is Sally Ann Matthews, known for playing the fiery Rovers Return landlady Jenny Connor.

The 54-year-old said in a post shared on Friday (1 August) that it was time to play different roles  ones that she always hoped I would when Id grown up.

open image in gallery Suranne Jones played Karen McDonald in Coronation Street from 2000 to 2004 ( ITV )

Matthews made her debut on the soap in 1986 as Alan Bradleys tearaway daughter, before leaving in 1991. She made a shock return in 2016, which was only meant to last for a matter of months, but ended up staying as a central character in the show for another decade.

Matthews exit follows a string of central character departures, with Charlotte Jordan, who played her onscreen step daughter Daisy Midgeley, Shelley King, who played Yasmeen Metcalfe and Colson Smith, who played Craig Tinker, all leaving the soap earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Debbie Webster actor Sue Devaney will leave the series in 2027. Her character has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and the storyline will eventually lead to her exit.
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King of the Hill has paid tribute to the late Jonathan Joss, who was shot dead in June at the age of 59.

Joss was the voice of John Redcorn from season two through to season 13 of the popular animated series. He had already recorded his parts for the shows revived 14th season, which is streaming on Hulu now.

At the end of the tenth episode of the new season, a title card displays a photograph of Joss beside an image of John Redcorn with the caption: In loving memory... Jonathan Joss.

Joss is not the only cast member to have died since the show last aired. Johnny Hardwick, who played conspiracy theorist Dale Gribble, died in 2023 at the age of 64. He was found in his bath tub at home and no official cause of death was ever established.

A tribute to Hardwick appears at the end of sixth episode Any Given Hill-Day. Hardwick recorded dialogue to to that episode before his death. Subsequent episodes feature Toby Huss taking over the role.

The tribute to Jonathan Joss that appears at the end of the 14th season of King of the Hill ( Hulu )

Jazz musician Chuck Mangione, who made several appearances in the show as a version of himself, died last month at the age of 84. The new series features a cardboard cut-out of Mangione alongside Snoop Dogg promoting home-brewing.

The fatal shooting of Joss outside his home in San Antonio, Texas is still being investigated. After initially dismissing claims that the killing of Joss was a hate crime, local police subsequently walked back that claim as way, way, way premature.

Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, a neigbour of Joss, has reportedly confessed to shooting the actor but has claimed it was in self-defense.

A rifle in Cejas possession was confiscated by police, according to a police report obtained by The Independent.

He was charged with felony first-degree murder and his bond was set at $200,000. His first court date has been set for later this month.

Authorities have not shared a motive behind the deadly shooting but Joss husband released a statement claiming the actor was killed in a homophobic attack after years of threats and an arson attack on their home.

According to reports, the actors home was burned down in February, killing his three dogs. Joss apparently had returned to his former home on the day of the shooting to collect mail, including a victims fire fund check.

Joss  whose other credits included the recurring role of Chief Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation, as well as Tulsa King, Ray Donovan, True Grit, and The Magnificent Seven  took over the King of the Hill role of John Redcorn from Victor Aaron, who died in a 1996 car crash.
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Ty Burrell has opened up about his decision to leave Los Angeles for Salt Lake City after wrapping up the final season of Modern Family.

After Burrell, 57, starred as real estate agent Phil Dunphy in 11 seasons of the hit sitcom from 2009 to 2020, the actor decided to leave Hollywood alongside his wife, Holly Burrell, and their two daughters, Frances, 15, and Greta, 13, to relocate to Utah.

It's just been spectacular, the actor told People in an interview published on Sunday. We moved here right after [Modern Family] ended, and I don't have any regrets. It's been lovely and a great place to raise the kids.

The Finding Dory voice actor continued, saying that the adjustment from living in a city to the more rural Utah was an adjustment that took time to get used to.

My parents werent really those kinds of people, Burrell said about living in the mountains. So at first, when we moved here, it almost felt like cosplay, like we were pretending to be people who were outdoorsy, and now we really truly love it.

When we moved here, it almost felt like cosplay, like we were pretending to be people who were outdoorsy, Burrell recalled about his familys move to Salt Lake City ( Getty Images )

Burrell was not the only Modern Family cast member to make the decision to leave California. Earlier this year, Ariel Winter, known for playing Burrells on-screen daughter on the series, revealed she also left Los Angeles. In an interview with People in May 2025, she said her choice came after she endured severe childhood trauma.

It was every headline I read about myself, like, grown people writing articles about me saying how I looked terrible or pregnant or like a fat slut. I mean, I was 14. It totally damaged my self-esteem, she told the publication of her treatment by the press.

Winter, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, started appearing on screen at the age of four. She was 11 when Modern Family first premiered in 2009.

I understood what it was like to be hated. No matter what I was going through, I was a target. It made it very difficult to look at myself in the mirror and go, I love this version of me, she said.

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On top of the negative press about her appearance, Winter said her rocky relationship with her mom, Chrisoula Workman, was also the talk of the town.

In April 2020, when Modern Family finally wrapped, Winter said she and her boyfriend, actor Luke Benward, made the decision to leave Los Angeles behind.

I didnt leave the industry, she explained, noting her acting career isnt over yet. I just left the city of L.A.

It holds some not-great memories for me, and Im young and never lived anywhere else, and thought, Why not? If youre no longer on a network show that shoots there, you dont really have to be there, and if I get a network show, I can easily go back, she said.
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Sir David Suchet has spoken about his young grandsons very rare and incurable condition, saying that he is campaigning to raise awareness.

The 79-year-old actor, best known for playing detective Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie's Poirot, has two adult children with his wife (actor Sheila Ferris), and four grandchildren.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Suchet and his family were interviewed about his 11-year-old grandsons rare condition, known as Tuberous Sclerosis.

According to the NHS, Tuberous Sclerosis is a condition that causes mostly benign tumours to develop in different parts of the body. It is present from birth, and can cause mild to severe health problems, including epilepsy, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, kidney issues, breathing difficulties, and hydrocephalus, or a build-up of fluid on the brain.

It was a shock. Our darling grandson has Tuberous Sclerosis, a very rare incurable disease (in this case caused by a non inherited) gene mutation, Suchet told the publication.

He is now 11, but he is non-verbal. He can walk, with a very particular gait. But he is a beautiful child.

Sir David Suchet has opened up about his grandsons rare and incurable health condition ( Getty Images )

Speaking about his grandsons condition, the actor explained: I learned it was incurable, it was hard to take in, not many people have heard of it. So I'm now campaigning to raise awareness.

Suchet added that he and his family are very close, and that he rents a property in Wiltshire, near where his sons family lives, so that he and Ferris can be on hand.

You can't cure or halt it what my grandson endures, you just have to get on with it, he said.

Suchet, a prolific and celebrated stage actor whose role in the Agatha Christie TV adaptation propelled him to national stardom, was knighted in 2020 for his services to drama and charity.

At the time, the actor told PA news agency that it was the proudest moment of his life.

Ive been knighted on stage and it doesnt compare, he said. And no camera is going to say Cut, lets do a retake.

Asked what he was most proud of, Suchet responded: I think it has to be Poirot for the general public.

For myself, Im very proud and grateful to have been given a career that has spanned all media.
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A dedicated equestrian has credited her beloved horse with aiding her recovery after she suffered a stroke at the age of 13, leaving her partially paralysed.

Summer Chard, who lives in Newbury, West Berkshire, with her mother Liane, father Lee, and 18-year-old brother Harry, experienced the life-altering event in March 2023.

While resting ahead of a family wedding, Summer  who has a massive passion for sports  said both of her arms stopped working, a feeling she compared to pins and needles.

Summer recalled that she and her brother, Harry, were almost laughing about the lack of feeling in her arms.

I was thinking, Im sure Ill be fine, and my brother was playing around with my floppy wrist, she said.

When she struggled to sit up in bed, her mother, Liane, realised something was wrong and promptly rushed her to Reading Hospital.

open image in gallery Summer in hospital following the stroke ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Initially, doctors treated her for spinal inflammation, but when her movement did not return after several days, a more serious condition was suspected.

She was transferred to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and diagnosed with a stroke, which had left her paralysed from the neck down to her waist.

Summer immediately began intensive physiotherapy to regain movement, as she was unable to wash, dress, brush her hair, or walk unaided.

She entered "fight mode", determined to progress in her recovery.

She insisted on getting out of her hospital bed daily, occupying herself with colouring or playing with putty to improve her motor skills.

The return home was hard, but after reuniting with her horse, Cindy, a 15-year-old palomino, Summer has made leaps and bounds in her recovery.

open image in gallery Summer Chard with her horse, Cindy ( Collect/PA Real Life )

She was soon back on Cindy, plodding around the stable yard.

Summer, now 15, has since regained most of her mobility, although some issues persist with her hands, and is back at school on a reduced timetable.

She credits the patience of her horse for helping her get back on her feet.

When Im with Cindy, I forget about everything thats happened and Ive been able to get better at doing things because of her, like putting on her saddle and attaching her reins, Summer said.

If it wasnt for her, I would have been in such a different mindset.

You can always find the positives in everything and I always think that everything happens for a reason.

Ive grown up so much throughout this journey and this has kind of made me who I am now.

open image in gallery Summer had to learn to walk again following the stroke ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Several hundred children are diagnosed with a stroke every year in the UK, according to the Stroke Association.

However, Liane said she did not really believe it when they got the diagnosis.

I thought, shes 13, old people have strokes  Id never heard of children having them.

Watching her daughter get back on her horse was a scary moment for Liane.

Summer said I trust her, but Ive seen them when they ride, they go very fast, she said.

She still couldnt really use her arms but we lifted Summer on and Cindy just plodded along, it was amazing to see.

open image in gallery Summer is now riding again and wants to open her own riding school one day ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Completing tasks in the stables with Cindy, such as lifting her arms to put on her saddle and attaching the reins, has helped Summer in her progress.

Riding now is absolutely fine, but there were days where it was really hard and I would just cry because I couldnt do it, Summer said.

My progress has gone so gradually but everyday Ive seen that I can do things again, I just do them in a different way.

I got so much stronger and it felt so good because I feel I can be independent again.

In the future, Summer said she would love to open her own riding school to teach individuals with disabilities, injuries or mental health issues how to ride horses.
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American Eagle has finally responded to the backlash regarding its latest campaign with Sydney Sweeney.

Last week, the retailer revealed an advert with the actor, which features her posing in a denim jacket and jeans, alongside the tagline: Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.

While the tagline appeared to be a pun about denim  by changing the word genes to jeans  it sparked immense criticism online on Monday, since the phrases good genes and great genes have historically been used in the language of eugenicists, who believe the human race can be improved genetically by selective breeding.

Now, American Eagle has spoken out about the campaign and defended the Euphoria star.

Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans, the retailer wrote in a statement on its Instagram Friday. Her jeans. Her story.

American Eagle says Sydney Sweeney ad always was about the jeans amid backlash ( Getty Images )

Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way, the statement continued. Great jeans look good on everyone.

Along with criticizing the tag line, many people noted the apparent subtext of the campaign and hit back at it for a lack of diversity.

Advertising has always been and will always be about subtext and interpretation. If you're going to run a campaign that has a double meaning, you better be clear on what those double meanings are. Making a blonde white lady the sole face of your campaign and saying she has good genes against the backdrop of literally everything happening in the world is a choice, one person wrote on LinkedIn.

Sydney Sweeney is a great example of white supremacy being the only way a lot of people derive self-esteem, another wrote on X. She starred in two shows where she played the less hot friend to a dark-haired and brown skinned woman and tried to steal their man for validation in both shows.

Meanwhile, a crucial part of the ad campaign has gone unnoticed.

As part of the campaign, American Eagle is launching The Sydney Jean, a limited-run on the companys wide-legged jeans that were produced in collaboration with Sweeney, according to a press release.

Theres also a butterfly motif on the back pocket of [The Sydney Jean that] represents domestic violence awareness, with 100 percent of proceeds from the jeans being donated to Crisis Text Line, a non-profit that offers confidential mental health support to anyone 24/7.

However, many people on X have expressed that the important meaning of this campaign isnt clear in any of Sweeney's advertisements.

If you watched those Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ads, youd never know they were fundraising for a domestic violence charity, one tweeted, while another agreed: That Sydney [Sweeney] American Eagle ad was supposed to be about raising awareness for domestic violence, and that's the approach they chose.

Despite the controversy over the campaign, sales at American Eagle were flying. Since the advert was announced, American Eagles stock jumped 10 percent, adding about $200 million to the groups value, according to Vanity Fair.
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An Alabama foster care worker is facing up to 20 years in prison after a three-year-old boy in the states care died in a hot car last month.

Kela Stanford, 54, is charged with leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm, Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr said Friday.

KeTerrious KJ Starkes Jr., a three-year-old from Bessemer, was pronounced dead July 22 after he was found alone in a car at a Birmingham home. Authorities said the car was off and its windows were rolled up when the toddler was found, KTLA reported.

The child was in the foster care system and had been picked up from daycare by Stanford, a contract employee of the State Department of Human Resources, for a scheduled visit with his father, NBC News reported.

He was supposed to be taken back to daycare after the visit but ended up at the suspects home, where he was left inside the car, police said. The child was discovered after his foster mother arrived at daycare to collect him, and discovered he wasnt there.

open image in gallery Kela Stanford was charged with leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm ( Jefferson County Jail )

The toddler was in the car for about five hours before he was found, the Jefferson County Coroners Office said.

Stanford had regularly driven the toddler to and from scheduled supervised visits, and it was not immediately clear what caused the child to be left in the car. Stanford was taken in for questioning and was cooperative, police said.

The boys biological father, who has not been identified, told WBRC that he last saw his son that morning.

Words cant even express how I feel right now, he told the outlet, through tears. As soon as I leave my son, the first thing he says is, Daddy, I want to go with you. He says that every time, and it really hurts.

open image in gallery KeTorrius KJ Starkes, 3, died inside a hot car in Alabama last month ( Change.org )

The grieving father said that he usually handed over his son to a representative from a private child welfare provider, who was responsible for transporting his son to and from daycare.

A child in DHR custody was being transported by a contract provider when the incident occurred, a DHR spokesperson said. The provider has terminated their employee. Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances.

Stanford was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Friday and has been released on bond. If convicted, she faces between two and 20 years in prison.
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A single mother who was viciously beaten in a street brawl in downtown Cincinnati last month has spoken out publicly to thank supporters after video of the incident went viral, saying they brought back faith in humanity.

I want to say thank you to everyone for all of the love and support. Its definitely whats keeping me going. And you have just brought back faith in humanity, she said through tears in a post on social media on Sunday.

Its been very, very hard, and Im still recovering. I still have a very bad brain trauma, the woman  identified only as Holly  said.

Her right eye is still blackened, and her face appears covered in yellow bruising as a result of the attack. She told The Enquirer she has been in and out of the hospital for the past 10 days and has been hiding outside of the city after receiving threats to her life.

I met those guys that night while celebrating my friend's birthday, Holly said of some of the men involved in the fight. We weren't out to get into a fight. We were waiting on our Uber outside, and that's when it all started.

Holly was one of the people attacked by a mob in downtown Cincinnati on July 26, 2025 ( Social media )

Video of the brawl on July 26 shows a group of mostly Black men surrounding Holly and an unidentified man, both of whom are white.

One of the alleged assailants, Montianez Merriweather, 34, claims he was called racial slurs and spat on before the violence began.

The specifics of how the fight began remain unclear, and Holly told The Enquirer that she couldn't say much about it, citing that police and lawyers had advised her to avoid discussing specifics while the incident is under investigation.

Five people have since been charged following the violent late-night brawl in late July, an incident that involved dozens of people and has reignited concerns about public safety in the Ohio city.

Footage of the altercation depicts a large crowd before punches begin to fly. The man is seen falling to the ground, subjected to repeated punches and kicks from bystanders.

In another distressing moment, Holly is struck in the face, collapsing motionless before being aided by another woman. She is visibly bleeding from the mouth.

I am outraged by the vicious fight that occurred downtown, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said in a statement. It is horrifying to watch, and this is unacceptable and disgusting behavior is intolerable in any part of our community.

The video of the brawl quickly became a political issue. Vice President JD Vances half-brother Cory Bowman, who is running to be Cincinnatis mayor, flagged the fight on social media shortly after it occurred and blamed city leadership for creating an unsafe environment.

For many, these images sparked shock and disbelief, he said in a statement. For residents within our city limits, they serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing crime and lawlessness we've had to endure this summer.

Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department, posted on X above an image of the video that EVERY American is entitled to the equal protection of our laws. Federal law enforcement is on it, and we will ensure that justice is done.

The videos also became a flashpoint among conservatives online, despite a lack of available details about the incident. Political influencers pointed to it as an example of apparent Black-on-white violence and criticized media coverage of the fight.

Vivek Ramaswamy, currently running for the Republican nomination for Ohio governor, is holding a town hall in Cincinnati on Monday night (August 4) focused on crime, to reflect on recent events.

Holly said her recovery has been very, very hard, and tearfully thanked those who have contributed to her GiveSendGo fundraiser, which so far has raised more than $280,000.

God bless you all. Thank you, she said.

Right-wing columnist Benny Johnson launched the fundraiser, and donors include Ramaswamy and Senator Bernie Moreno.

Holly has pushed back against how the fight has been spun politically and framed through a racial lens.

Let's stop looking at people as Black and White, Republican and Democrat, Holly said. Let's start looking at people as human beings.

Holly said she holds no hard feelings against the people who attacked her.

I don't feel any anger or hatred about what happened. They should serve time in jail, but I'm praying for them, Holly said. I hope they learn to control their rage and change their lives.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Brunei Legislative Council passed a motion on Monday to become a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

Legislative council members said that such memberships support international efforts toward strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and enhancing bilateral and multilateral ties.

Haji Erywan Mohd Yusof, second minister of foreign affairs, said Brunei legislative council membership to the IPU and the CPA enables the exchange of ideas on global challenges and sharing unique values of the country internationally.

Haji Suyoi Osman, a legislative council member, said becoming a full member to the IPU and the CPA is a strategic step and in line with Brunei's aspiration to strengthen the role of the legislative council.

Awang Zainol Mohamed, another legislative council member, said Brunei's membership builds more responsive, transparent and professional work structures of the legislative council. 
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Sean Diddy Combs is asking to be released from prison  a move that a woman identified as a victim in the case supports.

Last month a jury convicted the music mogul on two counts of prostitution-related charges but acquitted him of more serious counts of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Diddys defense team has asked the judge to release the 55-year-old from a New York prison on appropriate conditions before hes sentenced on October 3.

Virginia Gina Huynh, identified as Victim 3 in the criminal case, said in a letter to the judge that she believes he is not a danger to the community. Huynh didnt testify in the case but her name was frequently mentioned throughout the trial. Prosecutors said they lost touch with her and her attorney before the trial began.

Speaking about Diddys character, Huynh wrote: Our relationship, like many, was not always perfect, we experienced ups and downs, and mistakes were made but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future.

To her knowledge, she added, he hasnt been violent for many years.

open image in gallery A woman named as a victim in Diddys criminal case is now asking for him to be released in advance of his October 3 sentencing ( AP )

He has substantial ties to his family and community, including children who depend on him for emotional and financial support. Granting him bond would allow him to continue caring for his family and fulfilling his responsibilities while still subject to the Courts supervision, she wrote.

Allowing him to be at home will also support the healing process for all involved. I respectfully ask that you consider these factors when deciding his eligibility for release, the letter continued.

The letter accompanied Diddys defense teams latest attempt to release their client before hes sentenced. The government has objected to Diddys release from the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, where he has been held since last September.

In a filing to the judge last week, federal prosecutors argued that the moguls defense team repeatedly conceded his propensity for violence at trial.

They also pointed to his history of violence with Cassie Ventura, his ex-girlfriend and another victim in the case. Not only did Ventura and other witnesses describe Diddys physical violence toward her, but prosecutors repeatedly played footage of the rapper attacking her at the InterContinental Hotel in California in 2016.

open image in gallery Diddys defense lawyers have argued that hes not a danger to the community and should be released, noting that most of his history of violence occurred over a decade ago while he was addicted to drugs

Prosecutors also argued that the rapper attacked a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane, another victim, and his girlfriend from 2021 through 2024. While she admitted to starting the fight in June 2024, she walked away with bruises while Diddy had no visible injuries from the altercation, the government wrote.

Diddys defense team called the prosecutors argument disingenuous, adding that Diddy is not a danger to the community and that most of his history of violence happened more than a decade ago, while he was addicted to drugs.

The defense lawyers pointed out that he has not been physically violent during his 11 months in jail. There is no reason to believe he will be violent or threatening to anyone in any manner, they argued.

Last week, his defense attorneys argued that there are exceptional circumstances that warrant his release ahead of sentencing.

They suggested a series of conditions for his release, including the rapper signing a $50 million bond, secured by his Miami home, where he will live. Under these conditions, he would surrender his passport and his travel will be limited to the Southern District of Florida and the Southern District of New York for attorney meetings. He also would be placed under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services Agency.

At a July 2 bail conference, hours after the verdict was read, Judge Arun Subramanian denied bail. The defense team repeatedly "conceded the defendants violence throughout the trial, Subramanian said.
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A serial groom who illegally married three unsuspecting women, in three different Florida counties, has managed to evade jail time.

Henry Betsey Jr. was sentenced to two years probation after he pleaded no contest to felony bigamy, ABC Action News reported.

Michele Betsey, Brandi Betsey, and Tonya Betsey, learned that they were all married to the same man at the same time, and that each had gotten hitched in a different Florida county. The three women met him on a dating app or website.

I met him on Match.com. We met in early November, Michele Betsey, his third and most recent wife, told WFTS. The two tied the knot at the Hernando County courthouse on November 23, 2022, after a brief courtship.

She later learned that Henry was still married to Brandi Betsey, his second wife. Henry married Brandi on February 22, 2022, at the Manatee County Courthouse.

I met him on a dating app. The first time I ever got on a dating app, his second wife said. He said all the right things.

Henry Betsey Jr married each woman in a different Florida county ( Seminole County Jail )

But Brandi Betsey had no idea about his wife before her. Tonya Betsey met her husband on Tinder, and the two were married at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville on November 24, 2020.

Meeting on a dating site and the way he portrayed himself, he sold the perfect person, when in reality he was none of those things, Tonya Betsey said.

Henry Betsey Jr. was arrested for felony bigamy at his home in Seminole County in May. His arrest came after his first wife pieced together that she wasnt his only one.

I just started county by county, putting in his name. And thats when I came up with the marriage to Michele and the marriage to Brandi, his first wife said.

Third wife Michele only found out her husband was already married - twice - when she was contacted by Tonya.

She found me and she messaged me, and I had no idea that she was actually still married to him, Michele said.

All three women say they believe he was targeting them for financial gain.

The day we got married, he said, We need to make your bank account a joint bank account, his second wife, Brandi Betsey, said.

Child support, alimony, anything that comes with, you know, the extra perks of marrying a newly single, divorced woman, third wife, Michele Betsey, added.

Henry Betsey Jr recently told a court that he has no source of income or money in the bank.

Brandi Betsey and Tonya Betsey had previously obtained domestic violence orders from judges after their husband became abusive. Michele Betsey said that she kicked him out of the house after just five days of marriage, WFTS reported.

Following his arrest, Henry Betsey Jr. filed for divorce from his first wife, Tonya. He is seeking annulments for his second and third marriages.

Betsey Jrs wives say the system that handles marriage licenses should have more safeguards.

If the counties did talk, it would have saved me a lot of heartache, a lot of money, a lot of stress, Tonya Betsey said.

Betsey Jr. pleaded guilty to the felony bigamy charge in May. In court Thursday, he apologized for marrying three women at the same time.

First and foremost, I want to apologize to the ladies and I want to apologize to the court administration and to my family and friends that had to be involved in this. Because ultimately this is something that I didnt wish to be part of, he said.

Michele Betsey was present for his sentencing but said she didnt believe he had any remorse.

In addition to two years probation, Betsey Jr. was given 100 hours community service, ordered to complete a mental health evaluation and stay off dating websites.
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A fitness model has been arrested after his personal trainer husband was found dead on the toilet with multiple stab wounds at their New York City apartment, according to a report.

Donald Zieben-Hood, 40, called 911 Friday after finding his husband dead on the toilet inside their Harlem home. Soon after, he was arrested for violating an order of protection that kept him from having contact with his husband, police sources told the New York Daily News.

Police found Jacob Zieben-Hood, 34, slumped over on the floor covered in blood with gashes from his head and multiple stab wounds to the back of his leg, including a stabbing on the back of his calf that penetrated his muscle, prosecutors said during Donald Zieben-Hoods arraignment Sunday night.

One of the wounds severed an artery, and Jacob Zieben-Hood bled to death, authorities said.

The personal trainers death is being investigated as a homicide. His husband has been charged with first-degree burglary, weapon possession and aggravated criminal contempt.

Donald Zieben-Hood (left) was arrested for violating an order of protection after he called 911 when he found his husband, Jacob Zieben-Hood (right), according to a report. ( Getty Images )

An autopsy is pending to determine if the personal trainers wounds were accidental, self-inflicted or a homicide, according to the report.

The Independent has contacted the New York Police Department for further information.

The couple, both models and fitness influencers, had been together since at least 2016, according to their Instagram profiles. However, the pair had been having issues for months, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Donald Zieben-Hood demonstrated an escalating pattern of violence toward his husband in defiance of multiple public court orders, culminating in his husbands death.

On the night of his death, Jacob Zieben-Hood told his dad that his husband was coming after him, and preventing him from leaving the apartment, prosecutors said.

The victims father heard the defendants voice in the background screaming at the victim and calling him derogatory names, prosecutors said.

Donald Zieben-Hood admitted to authorities when he called 911 that he had violated the order of protection.

I had an order of protection placed against me. Im getting arrested, right? he asked the dispatcher, prosecutors said during his arraignment.

Donald Zieben-Hood was arrested earlier this year for two assaults against his husband  one incident on February 26 and one the following day. In one of the incidents, he was accused of choking his husband at least twice.

He was charged with assault, strangulation, harassment, criminal obstruction of breathing and contempt of court, but was released on $20,000 bail.

There was also an incident on June 14 when Donald Zieben-Hood allegedly confronted his husband outside their home with a knife and said I will attack you, according to a criminal complaint.

He was charged with menacing and contempt of court, and released on $5,000 bail. He is due back in court on August 28 for those charges, according to the report.

In addition to those cases, prosecutors said there had been nine domestic incident reports since March 2024, where Donald Zieben-Hood was not arrested.

It was not immediately clear whether Donald Zieben-Hood had resumed living with his husband despite the protection order against him.

Neighbors said the pair would fight frequently, and were in a dispute just hours before Jacob Zieben-Hood was found dead.

Theyve been arguing for months, and Ive been complaining, a neighbor named Craig told the Daily News. I know couples fight, but this was abnormal. They were very loud. Slamming doors all the time.

I knew something tragic would happen, he added. Its unfortunate.
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A knife-wielding customer of a New Jersey bakery who was angry after being fed food he was allergic to four years ago returned to the establishment last week and stabbed the owner, according to reports.

The agitated customer entered The Baladna Bakery in Patterson on Thursday and stabbed Abed and Mohammad Assad, ABC 7 reported.

Police said the knife-wielding customer told the victims he was upset about being sold a sandwich four years ago that contained eggplant, saying it made him ill because he is allergic, Fox 19 reported.

"He told him, 'You give me eggplant in my sandwich and then my stomach was bothering me' and stuff like that," Moneer Simrin, a friend of the victims, said.

The altercation took a violent turn, with Mohammad getting stabbed in the stomach. As his brother stepped in to help, he was slashed in the arm.

open image in gallery A knife-wielding customer of a New Jersey bakery who was angry he was given food he was allergic to four years ago returned to the establishment last week to stab the two owners, authorities said. ( Google Maps )

Another witness detailed learning of the confrontation, hearing the men yelling before seeing Abed bleeding from his arm.

I heard screaming, so I went outside to see one of the bakery owners outside holding his arm. His arm was bleeding, the witness told ABC 7. [It] surprised everybody because theyre very nice people.

The brothers suffered deep stab wounds and were brought to Saint Josephs University Hospital. Mohammed remained in the hospital as of Sunday, while Abed had been released.

Patternson Mayor Andre Sayegh took to the business district to try and alleviate concerns from residents and other business owners.

Theyre concerned. This type of thing does not happen in that area, so I tried to assuage some of the fears, allay their concerns and reassure them that the police department is completely focused on bringing whomever is responsible for this tragic violent incident to justice, Sayegh said.

The suspect was last seen running away on Main Street. Police have not shared a description.

The family-owned bakery has been closed ever since the altercation, and will remain closed until further notice, according to the reports.
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Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for the man accused of murdering two YouTubers while they were livestreaming in Las Vegas, court documents show.

Manuel Ruiz, known online as Sin City Manny, faces two counts of murder with use of a deadly weapon after killing husband and wife content creators Rodney Finley, 44, and Tanisha Finley, 43, in June near the Bellagio Hotel.

Last Wednesday, state prosecutors filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty, according to court filings.

Under state law, to seek the death penalty, prosecutors must show that one or more aggravating circumstances occurred.

Ruiz, 41, "knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person by opening fire in such a crowded area, prosecutors argued in the notice, obtained by KSNV.

open image in gallery Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Manuel Ruiz, a YouTuber known as Sin City Manny, is accused of shooting dead a rival and his wife on the Las Vegas strip ( Youtube/sincitymannywise )

"To establish this aggravating circumstance, the State will rely on certified court documents, statements made by the Defendant, police reports, witness statements, videos, photographs and/or testimony of witnesses to establish these facts, the notice read.

Ruiz was arraigned on July 17. He has not yet formally entered a plea, but said at his court appearance: Im innocent.

However, when he turned himself in to the police, he told investigators he was adamant that he shot in self-defense, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in an arrest report obtained by the outlet.

He believed Rodney Finley was reaching for a gun, so Ruiz opened fire in self-defense, he argued. Ruiz also thought he saw Tanisha with a shiny black object in her hand," which he believed to be a gun.

open image in gallery YouTube personality Finny Da Legend, whose real name was Rodney Finley, was shot dead near the famed Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, along with his wife, Tanisha Finley ( Youtube/Finny Da Legend )

A livestream from Rodney Finleys account, "Finny Da Legend, captured the shooting. That footage "clearly showed Manny advancing towards Finny while shooting," the arrest report claims, noting there were no weapons found near the couple.

During a news conference in June, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson trashed Ruizs self-defense claim.

"I think it's probably garbage. There's no indication from any of the evidence at all that self-defense would be a viable defense," Wolfson said. "No weapons were found near the victims or on the victims, and the motivation is pretty clear."

Ruiz and Finley had a years-long feud that dated back to 2023, another content creator told police in June, KSNV reported.

It is believed that the suspect and the victims knew each other and had previously engaged in conflict over social media prior to the shooting, LVMPD said in a news release a day after the shooting.

Ruiz is being held at Clark County Detention Center. Hes next scheduled to appear in court on August 14 for a continued arraignment, court documents show.
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Four people were hospitalized and four others treated at the scene after someone released bear spray inside a subway car in Manhattan on Sunday night.

The incident happened just after 9:30 p.m. on a southbound No. 4 train at the 14th StreetUnion Square subway station.

Officers arrived to find eight people affected by a substance that had been sprayed inside the subway car, according to the New York City Police Department.

Four people were transported to Lenox Hill Hospital, police said. They are in stable condition. Four others were treated at the scene.

Eight people were treated by medical officials after a man released bear spray inside a subway car in NYC on Sunday night ( Citizen )

Police are searching for a suspect described as a man in his 30s wearing a camouflage ski mask, NBC4 reported.

Witnesses told police the man fled upstairs and out of the station after spraying the irritant, which police reportedly told the local outlet was bear spray.

Video shared on the Citizen app showed a heavy police presence at the scene. Subway service was briefly disrupted as emergency crews responded to the incident.

No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing, police said.

The incident comes just over a month after six people were hurt in June when someone used bear spray inside Washington Square Park, CBS News reported. That person was taken into custody.
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A manhunt was launched last week after a seven-month-old baby girl was abandoned in a strangers front yard, hours before four of her relatives were found dead in a wooded area in Tennessee.

Reports of the infant in Dyer County on July 29 sparked a statewide search for her guardians, leading cops to discover the bodies of the childs parents, James Matthew Wilson, 21, and Adrianna Williams, 20, in neighboring Lake County.

The babys maternal grandmother, Cortney Rose, 38, and maternal uncle, Braydon Williams, 15, were also found dead, officials said.

On Tuesday, the City of Jackson Police Department announced it had arrested a suspect, Austin Drummond.

open image in gallery The City of Jackson Police Department revealed that it had detained Austin Drummond on Tuesday morning ( Tennessee Bureau of Investigation )

Three other people have also been arrested in connection with the deaths. Tanaka Brown and Giovonte Thomas, both 29, who were charged over the weekend with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, followed by Dearrah Sanders, who faced the same charge on Monday.

Heres what we know about the case:

The Crime

Deputies from the Dyer County Sheriffs Office responded to reports at about 3.10 p.m. last Tuesday that a dark-colored minivan had dropped off the child in a car seat at a random individuals front yard in the unincorporated community of Tigrett.

It set off a scramble to find the babys caregivers, Stephen Sutton, a spokesperson for the sheriffs offices in Lake and Dyer counties, said at a news conference Friday.

Just before 10.30 p.m., Rose and Williams were reported missing, according to audio of a 911 call obtained by NBC affiliate WMC-TV.

The bodies of Wilson, Rose and the two Williamses were found nearly 40 miles away later that evening in a wooded area along Carrington Road in Tiptonville, authorities said.

The baby is safe and being cared for, Sutton said.

open image in gallery Tributes have been paid after James Matthew Wilson and Adrianna Williams were found dead ( Facebook )

open image in gallery The baby was abandoned on a strangers front lawn ( Dyer County Sheriff's Office )

Authorities have not revealed how the four people died, but have ruled their deaths homicides.

On Monday, investigators searched a wooded area near Union University in Jackson. Less than a mile down the road, Jackson Christian School was on lockdown, a receptionist told CNN. The suspects arrest followed a day later.

The FBI and a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force were among the nearly dozen agencies working on the case. A combined reward from the TBI and U.S. Marshals Service reached $32,500.

Authorities said Thomas is being transferred from Madison County Jail to Lake County Jail, where Brown is also being held without bond. Sanders was also set to be booked into Lake County Jail, officials said Monday.

The Victims

Friends and family members of the victims have shared their heartbreak online.

Wilsons sister, Amanda Myatt, set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the funeral costs of the four victims.

Matthew and Adrianna were very loving parents to beautiful baby girl whom that they got to love and support her for 7 months, she wrote. Courtney was sole provider for her kids.

A separate GoFundMe campaign was set up by Wilsons grandmother, who said she hopes to provide him a proper service. A funeral service is expected to be held for Wilson on Tuesday afternoon in Newbern.

A friend of Wilsons partner, Williams, told CBS affiliate News Channel 3 that she was the sweetest person who loved being a mama.

The couples last social media update was posted a day after the birth of their little girl.

The last photo posted to a Facebook profile believed to belong to Rose, in May, appeared to show her beside her infant granddaughter.
KAMPALA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Military chiefs from Uganda and South Sudan have held discussions following a deadly border dispute between the two countries, a Ugandan military spokesperson said Monday.

Sam Okiding, Uganda's deputy chief of defense forces, and Dau Aturjong Nyuol, chief of the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF), met on Saturday in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, Uganda's military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye told Xinhua by telephone.

Kulayigye said the discussions were part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the border dispute and to enhance bilateral military cooperation between the two nations.

"The meeting took place on Saturday. It's part of the ongoing diplomatic engagements between the two armies and countries. The two leaders discussed various issues," Kulayigye said.

The meeting came just days after deadly clashes between Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces and SSPDF troops in the Fitina Mabaya and Goboro areas, located between Uganda's northwestern Yumbe District and South Sudan's Kajo-Keji County, which resulted in casualties on both sides.

The Ugandan military said in a separate statement issued Monday that Okiding thanked the SSPDF leadership for their continued cooperation and for fostering a strong relationship between the two armies.

For his part, Nyuol reaffirmed South Sudan's commitment to maintaining strong ties with Uganda. "No one can separate us because we share a lot historically," he said, pledging continued cooperation in regional peace and security.

Uganda and South Sudan have also established a joint working committee to address ongoing tensions in the border area, where confrontations between UPDF patrols and South Sudanese forces have occasionally raised concerns. 
Javelin Minerals has tweaked its mining plan to boost the expected gold recovery at the companys Eureka project to 39,000 ounces, a 15 per cent increase from the previously announced 34,000 recoverable ounces. It follows on from a 27 per cent jump in the resources higher confidence indicated category.

The lift to indicated resources was accompanied by a 32 per cent bump-up in grade to 1.98 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, providing a significant uplift in anticipated cash flow from mining the project, expected to begin next year.

Javelin Resources Eureka gold project, north of Kalgoorlie, where it plans to fast-track gold production and toll-treat its ore as early as next year.

The huge jump in the gold grade for the 39,000 recoverable ounces extended to the projects overall mineral resource, increasing it to 2.04 million tonnes at 1.69g/t, using a 16 per cent grade increase from the previous resource, for 110,687 ounces of the precious yellow metal.

Notably, the indicated mineral resource has been beefed-up and now stands at a solid 1.36Mt going 1.8g/t for 78,678 ounces, a significant 27 per cent leap. The bulk of the resource of more than 70 per cent is now positioned in the much-vaunted category. Much of the indicated resource sits below the southern end of the Eureka pit, where the company plans to begin its contract mining operations.
Tesla approved an interim stock award worth about $US30 billion ($46 billion) for chief executive officer Elon Musk, a massive payout meant to keep the billionaires attention on the vehicle manufacturer as a legal fight over a 2018 pay package drags on.

The new agreement includes 96 million shares of the car maker that will vest if Musk continues to serve in the top post for another two years, the company said in a regulatory filing. The restricted stock has an exercise price of $US23.34, equal to the price in the prior compensation plan.

The move underscores Elon Musks grip on the company, even as it struggles with falling electric vehicle sales and a slumping stock price. Credit: AP

Shares of Tesla rose as much as 3.1 per cent to $US312.12 in New York before paring some of the gains to close 2.2 per cent higher. The companys stock was down 25 per cent this year as of Fridays close, compared with a 6 per cent rise in the S&P 500.

The move underscores Musks grip on the company, even as it struggles with falling electric vehicle sales and a slumping stock price. The worlds richest person has said he wants a greater stake in Tesla as he reorients it around futuristic pursuits including artificial intelligence and driverless vehicles.
Opera Australias 2026 program will feature a new production of La Boheme  the companys first revamp of the beloved Puccini work in 15 years. Exclusive to Melbourne, the production is one of the highlights of a solid program revealed on Monday by the company for its 70th-anniversary season.

The launch comes in a year the company has had significant departures at leadership level  there is still no permanent CEO or artistic director  and in which it recorded a $10 million deficit.

Opera Australias widely praised La Traviata will be staged in Melbourne as part of the 2026 season. Credit: Guy Davies

Next year marks 130 years since La Boheme was first staged, and in that time Puccinis cherished work has been endlessly reimagined.

Youre dealing with one of the greatest works ever written, says director Constantine Costi. Claus Guth set La Boheme on the moon for the Paris Opera, so I feel like the ceiling has been smashed.
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Review Eating outMelbourne Its sibling is unmistakably Melbourne, but does Harriot have the same pulling power? The luxe Euro bistro, the latest restaurant from the team behind Tipo 00, is difficult to define. Besha Rodell August 5, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 9 Harriot gets its glow on in the evenings. Kristoffer Paulsen 2 / 9 Rainbow trout, cabbage and lovage. Kristoffer Paulsen 3 / 9 Chocolate sabayon tart with wattleseed and buttermilk ice-cream. Kristoffer Paulsen 4 / 9 The restaurant is at the foot of an office block. Kristoffer Paulsen 5 / 9 Lamb sweetbreads. Kristoffer Paulsen 6 / 9 Gnocchi with comte, kale and freshly shaved black truffle. Kristoffer Paulsen 7 / 9 Bluefin tuna and fermented porcini tartlets. Kristoffer Paulsen 8 / 9 Harriots orangey-beige room. Kristoffer Paulsen 9 / 9 Diners at Harriot. Kristoffer Paulsen Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15 / 20 How we score European$$$$ Is there a more Melbourne restaurant than Tipo 00? Others certainly are deserving of the title, but as an example of what we do best, its hard to argue that Andreas Papadakis 11-year old flagship isnt a contender for the prize. Its vintage shopfront location on Little Bourke Street is unmistakably Melbourne. Its menu of gorgeous pastas and small plates eloquently reference our citys Italian heritage. Even the style of service  friendly, efficient, no-nonsense  has a distinctly Melbourne vibe. The same cannot be said for Harriot, the newest restaurant from Conferre Group, which owns Tipo along with Osteria Ilaria, Figlia and Grana  all restaurants with a strongly Italian identity. Take Harriots setting  a new fit-out in the bottom of 555 Collins Street, the 35-storey office tower on the corner of King Street. Step through the door into the orangey-beige room, and the lo-fi luxe of the space is soothing but placeless. (It shows its sexier side at night when the room gets its glow on.)

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Bluefin tuna and fermented porcini tartlets. Kristoffer Paulsen The food is a little bit French, a little bit British, a Euro-ish theme that is decidedly not faithful to one region. This makes sense when looking at the background of head chef James Kelly, who cooked at Embla then spent time at Londons highly respected Lyles before landing back in Melbourne. This is his first gig as head chef, but it plays as the work of someone decidedly assured in his cooking. In a town with so much raw fish in tiny bites, the jewel-like bluefin tuna tart manages to stand out here, the deep and sweet fish bolstered (and not overwhelmed) by fermented porcini. The dense meatiness of a classic pigs head terrine is given lift and contrast by its accompaniments of witlof leaves and a lovely sweet-tart quince puree. Rainbow trout, cabbage and lovage. Kristoffer Paulsen

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A rainbow trout entree is a showcase for what I assume Kelly is aiming to achieve here: it sings of quiet luxury and subtle saucing, and is somewhat of a throwback to the French cooking of the 1970s, the poached pink fish in a delicate sorrel sauce, no element screaming for attention but everything working in harmony. Sauce is, in many ways, the star of this menu. Theres currently a gnocchi on offer that sits in a brilliant emerald kale emulsion. I wasnt planning on ordering it until the waft of black truffles found me from another table  when the dish arrived it was covered in a blanket of truffle. Often, raw sliced truffle is a waste: too blunt, too cold. (My late stepfather, a journalist and also a part-time truffle salesman, used to complain endlessly about restaurants bunging truffle on top of dishes rather than cooking with it.) But here the gnocchi and sauce warm the truffle enough to release its perfume, imbuing the whole dish with its foresty wonder. Gnocchi with comte, kale and freshly shaved black truffle. Kristoffer Paulsen Some main courses are stock-standard luxe fare: a perfectly cooked duck breast with orange and shallot; a wagyu rump that has its already lush flesh ramped up to a zillion on the richness scale with the addition of a sauce made from bone marrow.

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The star dish, though, is undoubtedly lamb sweetbreads. The preparation changes  I had a classic caper-lemon-brown butter situation  but the beautiful creamy-in-the-centre, crisp on the outside saute theyre given does not. My worry for Harriot is that its aim is quite broad, in a town that can have a short attention span for restaurants that dont fit into a neat box. The loose Euro theme also allows for sommelier Justin Howe to delve deeply into French nerdery, and the list hes put together is reason enough to visit Harriot. Broken down by Old and New World, it includes one of the better collections of Burgundies in town, with fun asides into Australia, Germany, and yes, Italy. Howes wine talk is personal and to the point. He isnt trying to upsell you, and hes a master at finding bottles within the confines of budget, taste and the food youre eating. I suppose my worry for Harriot is that its aim is quite broad in a town that can have a short attention span for restaurants that dont fit into a neat box. Its not a wine bar (not casual enough), nor is it classic fine dining. Its not easily definable, nor is it cutting edge. However, it is a showcase of Kellys cooking skills, and the sweetbreads alone will have me coming back, as will that wine list.

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While Harriot may be a departure for this group, Im heartened to see one of the citys great operators betting on the talent of their younger staff. The hope is that Harriot is pretty enough, friendly enough and delicious enough that its inherent quality will see it through. Whats more Melbourne than that? The low-down Atmosphere: Modern lo-fi luxe Go-to dishes: Tuna tart ($14); Gnocchi with kale and comte ($46); Lamb sweetbreads ($29) Drinks: Sharp spins on classic cocktails, extensive wine list with a focus on France Cost: About $175 for two, excluding drinks Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Related Article Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review Eat it and weep: The pasta dish so good it brought our critic to tears

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Review Eating outCarlingford Dont miss the kebabs and all things tangy, savoury-sour at this Persian restaurant Marinated minced lamb and chicken skewers are the most popular dishes at Carlingford restaurant Surena, grilled on sword-like sticks and fanned furiously over charcoal. Helen Yee August 5, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 6 Surena moved to its current location in Carlingford in late 2022. Edwina Pickles 2 / 6 Ghormeh sabzi with diced grass-fed lamb and kidney beans. Edwina Pickles 3 / 6 Kebabs make up the bulk of the menu at this busy restaurant. Edwina Pickles 4 / 6 Fesenjan (slow-cooked chicken stew). Edwina Pickles 5 / 6 Torsh kebab (sour kebab). Edwina Pickles 6 / 6 Edwina Pickles Previous Slide Next Slide 13.5 / 20 How we score Persian$$$$ Cantonese people call it fan jiew, Koreans know it as nurungji, and Spaniards describe it as soccarat. Its the layer of scorched rice you find at the bottom of the pot  or paella pan  that unleashes so much heart-clutching joy around the world. For Persians, this brittle crackly rice is called tahdig, which translates to bottom of the pot in Farsi. Tahdig is on every table at Surena, bustling with families and gatherings of friends. The version here is lined with a layer of lavash bread before adding the rice and oil. The result? A golden cap of shattering crunch that makes a terrific contrast to pillow-soft basmati grains. Kebabs make up the bulk of the menu at this busy restaurant. Edwina Pickles

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There are 150 tahdig pots in the kitchen, says Mehdi Mousavi, restaurant co-owner with wife Fatemeh Mahmoudi. The pots were brought back from Iran, and up to 15 of them are in the oven at any one time, blasted at 400 degrees for five minutes to create the rices trademark bottom. Surena is a busy restaurant. The sea of midnight blue velvet chairs and decorative table numbers may also make you feel like youve stumbled into a Persian wedding reception. (Iranian pop music videos add to the charm.) First opening in Hornsby in 2020, the restaurant moved to its current location in Carlingford in late 2022. Koubideh marinated minced lamb and joojeh marinated chicken skewers are the most popular dishes, grilled on sword-like skewers and fanned furiously over charcoal. The meats are complemented with grilled tomato and green chilli, a hunk of raw onion and the biggest mountain of saffron rice  capped with crunchy tahdig  you may have ever set eyes on. The metal plates are huge, looking more like serving dishes. Ghormeh sabzi with diced grass-fed lamb and kidney beans. Edwina Pickles We gravitate towards the torsh kebab, described as sour on the menu but in reality leaning more to tangy and sweet. The marinade of pomegranate molasses, walnuts and herbs is flavour-packed and makes for a juicy lamb fillet that hums sweetness and zing.

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The pomegranate molasses and crushed walnut combination is also used to marinate green olives called zeytoon parvadeh. Add garlic and fresh mint, and we cant get enough of this starter thats equal parts sharp, salty and sweet. Fesenjan, one of Persias most iconic dishes, is also big on pomegranate and walnut. Tender hunks of chicken are enrobed in a sauce spiced with turmeric, slightly sour from pomegranate but tempered by the creaminess of ground walnuts. Theres a little sweetness, too, that makes fesenjan intriguingly addictive. Fesenjan (slow-cooked chicken stew). Edwina Pickles Like tangy, savoury-sour things? Then youll love ghormeh sabzi. Arguably considered Irans national dish, the aromatic stew of diced grass-fed lamb and kidney beans is a deep olive-green from leek, parsley, coriander and spinach. A signature piquancy comes from limoo amani dried limes. First brined then sun-dried, these rehydrated limes add layers of tart, citrusy and bitter notes. Smoky grilled eggplant pops up in numerous places. Kashk o bademjan is a chunky eggplant dip fortified with a patterned arrangement of caramelised onion, crushed walnuts, fried mint and kashk, a traditional whey that adds an almost blue-cheesy profile. For more dipping action, the borani features eggplant mixed through yoghurt and what tastes like a whole bulb of garlic. Fried lavash crackers on the side make for compulsive nibbling.

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Meanwhile, ash reshteh is a big hug in a bowl for winter, and super filling with its melange of red beans, white beans, chickpeas and lentils. Fresh parsley, coriander and spinach add freshness while the reshteh flat noodles thicken the soup with their starchiness. Skip the kashk if you want to make it vegan. Pick of the desserts is the faloodeh and ice-cream, a refreshing jumble of vermicelli-style noodles in rosewater granita with pistachio slivers and sour cherry jam. I make a note to return in summer, when its combination of pistachio and saffron ice-creams probably tastes twice as good. First, though, our group needs to make it through the three boxes of leftover rice and tahdig we pack up to take home. The low-down Atmosphere: Persian wedding reception guest vibes complete with Iranian pop music video clips Go-to dishes: Torsh sour kebab ($33); ghormeh sabzi ($24); and fesenjan ($26). Drinks: Giant jugs of doogh drinking yoghurt and non-alcoholic malt in flavours including pomegranate, apple and peach. BYO is available Cost: $70 for two, excluding drinks Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.

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MEXICO CITY, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least seven inmates were killed and 11 others injured after a riot broke out at a prison on Saturday afternoon in the city of Tuxpan in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, the state's Secretariat of Public Security said Sunday.

National Guard troops, along with personnel from the National Defense and the state's Secretariat of Public Security, regained control of the Social Reintegration Center on Sunday morning following the riot, the secretariat said in a social media post.

"As a result of the riot, the unfortunate deaths of seven inmates have been reported, as well as 11 injured people, who are receiving medical attention at different hospitals," it said on X.

The secretariat said that several fires caused by the riot at the prison had been fully extinguished and a number of inmates were transferred to a prison in the town of Panuco.

The Veracruz state government reiterated its commitment to good governance and improving safety conditions at prisons in coordination with other government agencies. 
Her boss is supportive, and, coincidentally, three of Kitteltys six or so colleagues have people close to them who have also called on the generosity of the volunteers of Heartfelt. Kittelty has done more than 300 photo sessions for bereaved families. Sara Sidhoms baby, Leon, was discovered not to have a heartbeat at 35 weeks and six days gestation. Sidhom needs no time to think about her answer when asked what it meant to her and her husband, Angelos, that Kittelty came and photographed their firstborn child with enormous care. Kylie Kittelty, left, with parents Sara and Angelos Sidhom, and photos taken by Kylie shortly after their baby, Leon, died after being born at 35 weeks and six days gestation. Credit: Simon Schluter Its everything, she says. Its all that we have left of him. Even the warmth of the gesture was deeply comforting.

Loading Its the most vulnerable Ive ever been in my life, Sidhom says. Id just given birth for the first time, Ive lost my son, and my [now late] father-in-law was in hospital at the same time. When Kylie came, we were just met with so much kindness. Photographer Gavin Blue created Heartfelt, which is funded by small donations, in 2010 after also living through the trauma of losing an unborn child. He and the parents and volunteer photographers who spoke to this masthead are hoping to spread the word that the service exists, given that about 3000 babies are stillborn or die perinatally in Australia every year. They would like more parents to be informed about the service, especially given that 2024 research by Monash University published in Illness, Crisis and Loss found that perinatal bereavement photography contributed to post-traumatic growth in parents after having expectations of life shattered.

Having the photographer present helped parents feel validated that their baby was human and a real loss, the paper noted. Many parents reported that having the photographs helped to humanise their experience and communicate to others that their child was a beloved family member. Blue said he was motivated to start Heartfelt in part by wanting parents to have very high-quality photographs, presented beautifully and worthy of being displayed. We had a little girl who passed away at 32 weeks [gestation] in 2006; the hospital took photos, and they were brutal. I just thought, I can do something better here, he says. Most of the 306 photographers giving regular time to Heartfelt Australia and New Zealand are mothers, he says, and as of the end of May this year they had collectively done 19,351 sessions with families. Some photographers avoid doing sessions [with bereaved families] that are similar to their own circumstances, but when I hear a family has the same condition [his baby Alexandra] had, I move things to make sure I am available to them.

Loading I just really want to look after them. Doing his bit for other families gives Blue a sense of honouring his daughters life, he says. Every time I do a session, I know this keeps Alexandra close, it just keeps her memory alive for me, and [I feel] shes making a difference. Sydney photographer Amanda Naylor  also an accountant in a previous career  said she read about Heartfelt in a magazine and felt instantly thats my thing.

She and her husband had been through the emotional rollercoaster of IVF, which had left her with especially heightened empathy for women who use it and lose desperately wanted babies. I am a very emotional person, Im the typical cry at a TV ad sort of person, I have a lot of empathy and a caring nature I feel is very suited to this, says Naylor, who has been donating time to do photo shoots with Heartfelt for about eight years. Photographer Amanda Naylor, right, took family portraits for Nina and Pete Tesseyman with their late baby boy Sol. They have since had baby Cassian. Credit: Jessica Hromas Ive had my [photography] business for about 10 years, but I always say this is the work Im most proud of. As well as the beautiful feedback from families who say things like if the house was on fire, thats literally what I would save, the photos from Heartfelt, for Naylor, the experience of being there at such a critical moment has enriched her life.

Its a really raw view on the experience of life, she says. We get so caught up in our day-to-day  and you come out of a session, and its like This is life and death. Im always humbled to be taken into that space and I hold that very dearly. Im often just one of a handful of people who have met their child. Naylor says having done about 100 shoots with grieving families, she is left with a sense of awe at their grace: This is the most traumatic, unexpected experience that theyre having, but theres so much humility and grace and love. You walk out just blown away by how beautiful and how big love can be. In 2022, she photographed NSW parents Nina and Pete Tesseyman and their baby, Sol, who died due to a rare condition that was not detected in utero. Ninas sister arranged Naylors visit, having become aware of the service through a friend who had Heartfelt photos taken. In the midst of such a crisis, you dont know what you should do, or whats meant to happen, or anything that is going on, says Nina, who with Pete now has a second baby son, Cassian Sol.
Thousands more people are using public transport as the state marks one year of 50 fares, but passenger numbers have still not cracked pre-COVID levels.

And Brisbane buses are still getting stuck in traffic, with about one in 10 not running on time, and on-time running worse at the beginning of the year than it was before the pandemic.

We can reveal that 88 per cent of Brisbane buses were on time in January to March this year, with the figure last hitting 90 per cent two years ago.

Eren Roigard is a fan of cheaper public transport fares. Credit: Brittany Deguara

Buses can run two minutes early or six minutes late and still be considered on time.
Brisbanes new bus network is so efficient, some services are running too early and the timetable might need to be tweaked.

As the state marks one year since 50 fares we revealed Brisbane buses have not hit 90 per cent on-time running for two years.

Adrian Schrinner and Transport chair Andrew Wines speak to media in the CBD. Credit: Felicity Caldwell

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has just held a press conference to reveal the Metro and new bus network has cut bus congestion on the Victoria Bridge  a previously notorious bottleneck  by 30 per cent.

Loading

We asked whether the Lord Mayor thought the new network might allow Brisbane buses to hit that 90 per cent on-time figure again.

Were just over a month into the new network but theres already some evidence that some buses are actually running ahead of the scheduled timetable because theres far less congestion, he said.

So were going to have to continue to tweak the timetables to make sure that theyre as accurate as possible.
A 21-year-old man accused of abusing a young child at a Brisbane childcare centre has had his case heard in court for the first time.

Nicolas James Parisi was accused of indecent treatment at Milestones Early Learning in Tingalpa on July 10.

The 21-year-old from Cleveland did not appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday morning when his case was mentioned.

Affinity childcare worker Nicolas Parisi has been charged by Queensland police with indecent treatment of a child.

Parisis case was adjourned until August 25. He remains on conditional bail and has not entered a plea.
A Chinese woman has been charged with reckless foreign interference after she was allegedly tasked by Chinas Public Security Bureau with spying on an Australian-based Buddhist group.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said on Monday that the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was charged after search warrants were carried out at Canberra residences on Saturday. The reckless foreign interference charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years jail.

AFP assistant commissioner Stephen Nutt. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The AFP has alleged the woman  was tasked by Chinas Public Security Bureau to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of the Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association, Nutt said.

The womans appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday comes just days after ASIO boss Mike Burgess sounded the alarm that Australia was increasingly becoming a target of espionage, costing the government more than $12 billion per year.
In the first six months of this year, the number of unlawful use of motor vehicle offences reported in Townsville and Cairns dropped. Police Minister Dan Purdie would not comment specifically on this data. Instead, Purdie pointed to the Making Queensland Safer Laws, saying there had been a 4 per cent decrease in stolen cars across the state since the laws came into effect. Purdie said this meant there were 445 fewer cars stolen in the first half of this year, compared to the same period last year.

Theres still more work to be done to drive down crime in our communities, he said. He has previously said a remaining $4.5 million from the immobiliser trial would be reallocated to other crime-prevention programs, but did not elaborate on how the funds would be spent. The government said during the trial, several vehicles fitted with immobilisers had been stolen, and there were risks of immobilisers being used as a form of coercive control. The Queensland Police Union had long pushed for the technology, with former president Ian Leavers claiming it had the potential to significantly reduce vehicle theft. The union was unable to comment when approached last week. Associate Professor Andrew Hemming from the University of Southern Queensland said a typical immobiliser cost between $1000 and $1500 to buy, and between $50 and $160 to install, leaving a minimum of about $550 for the car owner to pay.

The likelihood is that the scheme benefited those with the income to pay the difference, who also owned a car of sufficient value to be a target for car thieves, he says. Loading The problem in identifying the benefit of the car immobiliser scheme is the same as if the subsidy had been for a burglar alarm, namely, the thief moves on to another house or car not so well protected. He said more police resources in trouble spots, the targeting of locations for metal detection scans, and tighter bail laws, would also affect crime rates in Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa. Money that would have been spent on immobilisers could be redirected, Hemming said, to police overtime or grants for better lighting at trouble spots, such as bus stops and railway stations.

He said another alternative would be to provide vulnerable citizens, such as the elderly and disabled, with personal protection alarms. However, any crime prevention program faces the difficulty of identifying the effectiveness of one program from all the other initiatives and police resourcing priorities, he said. A month before the state election, police said there were no reports of a vehicle fitted with an immobiliser being stolen, and there had been several instances where they had prevented a theft. Lisa Cohen, owner of LC Distributors, which supplies immobilisers to installers, urged the government to restart a trial and assistance program to help car owners protect their vehicles. Stopping car thieves stops them committing multiple crimes, and as we have seen in recent years, car theft can result in the loss of life on Queensland roads, she said.

The best way to stop these offenders is for car owners to install a secondary immobiliser. In a case study provided by police last year, Mick from Cairns said his car was pushed down the street but left abandoned when the immobiliser stopped it from starting. Mick from Cairns has a vehicle immobiliser installed. Credit: Queensland Police Service Its not in the car, so they dont even know its got an immobiliser  Theyve gone to flick the keys and nothings happened, he said, holding up his key pad, which he does not keep inside the car. It gives me peace of mind. I still hide everything of a nighttime, but I know that theyre not going to be able to get that car to go anywhere.
Jerusalem: For months, the Israeli government had focused on negotiating a two-phased deal for a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of some hostages, leaving discussions about a permanent end to the war for a later stage.

With the talks now at an impasse, US and Israeli officials appear to be sharply changing their tone by signalling they will push for a comprehensive deal. But Israel and Hamas remain far apart, and analysts said this new approach would also face steep challenges.

A screenshot of the Hamas video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David.

The shift, at least in rhetoric, comes as the Israeli government faces rising domestic pressure to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza.

Israel believes about 20 are still alive and that the bodies of 30 others remain in the enclave. Videos released at the weekend showed two living captives looking emaciated and frail, shocking many Israelis and sparking fear among the hostages families.










DETROIT

Aug. 4, 2025

Saturday, Sept. 20

Michigan's

-- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is gearing up for the third annual Classic Cars for the Cure on. Tickets are now available for this high-energy evening highlightinglove of automobiles. This year's event will support cancer research at Karmanos.

"We are honored to invite our friends in Detroit, throughout Southeast Michigan and worldwide, to a special event," Deborah Savoie, Karmanos Cancer Institute Board of Directors, said. "This year's Classic Cars for the Cure is something we all will long remember. And while we are having a truly wonderful time with friends who love cars, we are also helping raise funds needed for local cancer research."

Classic Cars for the Cure has evolved into a must-attend annual event. The gala is held indoors in a private garage. Guests will enjoy a strolling supper designed by Forte Belanger, live '50s and '60s music by Stella and her band Intrigue, a performance along with dance and swing lessons from the Oakland University Dance Team, and dessert served in a 1950s diner. They can also get up close and personal with the remarkable classic automobiles that are rarely seen on the streets today.

"People who love cars appreciate the special nature of their favorite automobiles," Savoie said. "Like real people, we think each auto has a unique personality. And, like people, every car tells a story. They'll hear those stories from the collectors as they walk up to view each car's profile."

Al Trombetta, Classic Cars for the Cure automobile curator and local car aficionado, has assembled 25 rare classic cars from museums and top collectors. As a classic car collector himself, Trombetta's mother died of lung cancer, so assisting in this event is near and dear to his heart.

"We are impressed and very appreciative of Al's commitment to bring the community together for a Motor City-style event and raise funds for the critical research that our investigators do at Karmanos," said Debra Partrich, Karmanos Cancer Institute Board of Directors. "Our physicians and researchers work daily to give patients the best opportunities they have in the fight against hundreds of cancers by discovering new therapies. Attending this event not only gives Michiganders an up-close look at some unique and classic cars, and interaction with the owners and fellow spectators who love high-quality vehicles, but it also brings in money to help Karmanos doctors and investigators continue to discover better treatment options for our loved ones, friends and neighbors."

The exhibition will also include several concept cars, automotive designers' dreams that dazzle the imagination.

There are several new "interactive" features for this year's Classic Cars for the Cure, including "What's My Line," an opportunity for guests to learn more about Karmanos' research and speak with researchers about their work.

Among the speakers for the evening will be Boris Pasche, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, president and CEO at Karmanos. Dr. Pasche joined Karmanos in August 2023 and holds the title of principal investigator of the National Cancer Institute's Comprehensive Cancer Center Core Grant and the chair of the Department of Oncology at Wayne State University's School of Medicine. His goal for Karmanos is to become an undeniable leader in cancer research and treatment discoveries. He works closely with Karmanos physicians, scientists and clinical trials principal investigators to elevate and expand the amount of research currently taking place at the cancer center in Detroit.

Dr. Pasche is an experienced medical oncologist who specializes in treating gastrointestinal malignancies and hereditary cancer. His research focuses on cancer susceptibility and new therapies. In 2023, a medical device Dr. Pasche co-invented, TheraBionic P1, was approved by the FDA to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer. Currently, Karmanos is conducting a study using the TheraBionic P1 device, which is available for patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Classic Cars for the Cure takes place on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at 1330 North Crooks Rd in Clawson. Guests are asked to wear cocktail attire or 1950s and 1960s flair.

Tickets are $250 each. For more details on the event and to purchase tickets, visit karmanos.org/cars25.

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

Karmanos Cancer Institute is a leader in transformative cancer care, research and education through courage, commitment and compassion. The Karmanos vision is a world free of cancer. As part of McLaren Health Care, Karmanos is the largest provider of cancer care and research in Michigan. For more than 75 years, the administrative and research headquarters, along with the premier specialty cancer hospital, have been located in downtown Detroit. With multiple network sites, Karmanos delivers world-renowned care and access to clinical trials throughout Michigan and northern Ohio. The National Cancer Institute recognizes Karmanos as one of the best cancer centers in the nation with a comprehensive cancer center designation. Its academic partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine provides the framework for cancer research and education  defining new standards of care and improving survivorship. For more information, call 1-800-KARMANOS (800-527-6266) or visit karmanos.org. Follow Karmanos on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute
TEHRAN, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian parliament's economic commission passed a motion at a meeting on Sunday to remove four zeros from Iran's national currency the rial, the official news agency IRNA reported, quoting commission chairman Shamseddin Hosseini.

The move, aimed at streamlining financial transactions, revived a shelved plan by the administration of former President Hassan Rouhani in 2019, according to Hosseini.

According to the IRNA report, Iran's national currency would continue to be called the rial, and one rial would be equivalent to 10,000 at the current value and be subdivided into 100 gherans.

The removal of four zeros from the rial has yet to be approved by Iran's parliament and the Constitutional Council.

Iran's currency has suffered sharp depreciations since the May 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, between Tehran and the world's major countries. A reinstatement of sanctions against the Middle Eastern country followed. 
In fifth year of partnership, Subaru remains largest corporate supporter of AdoptAClassroom.org, reaching more than 950,000 students nationwide

Subaru teams up with actor Max Greenfield to highlight the growing need for equal opportunity for a quality education

to highlight the growing need for equal opportunity for a quality education 92% of teachers have students whose families cannot afford school supplies

Teachers spend average of $895 out-of-pocket on school supplies, up 50% since 2015

CAMDEN, N.J., Aug. 4, 2025 -- Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) today announced that in its fifth year as the largest corporate supporter of AdoptAClassroom.org, it will have helped support more than 950,000 students nationwide as part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative. Subaru, together with more than 630 retailers, will continue to provide teachers with funding for the essential supplies and high-quality resources they need to support student success in the classroom. This year, Subaru has also partnered with actor and education advocate Max Greenfield to help spotlight the growing need for support in classrooms nationwide.

Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Subaru of America, Inc.: "Helping nearly one million children in high-needs schools feel better prepared to learn and have access to the education they deserve is a rewarding feeling. Educators are among the top professions of Subaru owners, and as the largest corporate partner of AdoptAClassroom.org, we're proud to match their dedication with a program that has tangible results in their classrooms."

Together, Subaru and its retailers are committed to supporting students in high-needs schools by providing teachers nationwide with funding to purchase essential classroom supplies through AdoptAClassroom.org. Many participating retailers will also donate curated school supply kits filled with the most requested materials from teachers, and some will be going even further, supporting local schools with flexible funding for special projects.

Ann Pifer, Executive Director of AdoptAClassroom.org: "Each year, we see a record-breaking number of students supported, thanks to the incredible commitment of Subaru and its strong community of retailers. As we mark our fifth year of partnership, we're proud to help provide critical educational opportunities and resources to classrooms across the country. This continued collaboration is a powerful testament to the impact we can make together."

To launch the 2025 program, beloved actor, author, education advocate, and father of two, Max Greenfield, has partnered with Subaru to adopt a classroom as part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative. Greenfield visited a local elementary school in Los Angeles that has been supported by the Subaru Loves Learning initiative, where he helped spotlight the impact that funding can have on classrooms as back-to-school season quickly approaches.

Max Greenfield, Actor, Author, and Advocate: "I've always had a deep respect for teachers, but becoming a parent gave me a closer look at how much they take on, often going above and beyond without the resources they deserve. That's why Subaru Loves Learning stood out to me. It's a conscientious effort to support the people who make such a big difference in our kids' lives."

As part of the 2025 program, Subaru will once again be working to support students in the Camden City School District (CCSD) by adopting 91 classrooms near the automaker's headquarters in Camden, NJ. This hometown effort will include funding, as well as employee volunteers helping teachers set up their classrooms for the new school year.

To learn more about the Subaru Loves Learning initiative and the partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, visit subaru.com/learning or follow #SubaruLovesLearning on social media.

*High-need is defined as a school that has a Title I Schoolwide Program and/or a school where 40% or more of the student population qualifies for the Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Program.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube .

About AdoptAClassroom.org

Every teacher should have access to the tools they need to teach. All students should have the resources and supplies they need for a great educational experience. AdoptAClassroom.org is a national nonprofit that partners with PreK-12 teachers, educators, and schools to equip students where they need it most. Today, teachers spend an average of $895 of their own money on their classrooms each year. More than half of classroom supplies are purchased by the teacher. Since 1998, AdoptAClassroom.org has raised $74 million and equipped 7 million students across the United States. 90% of all funded classrooms are located in high-needs schools. The 501(c)(3) organization holds the highest ratings from both Charity Navigator and Candid/GuideStar. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit www.adoptaclassroom.org.
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Aug. 4, 2025 -- Dover Corporation today announced that it has acquired Site IQ LLC ("SIQ"), which is now part of the Dover Fueling Solutions ("DFS") business unit within Dover's Clean Energy & Fueling segment.

Headquartered in Lombard, Illinois, SIQ is an industrial internet of things company with a focus on remote monitoring of fueling sites. SIQ's hardware and software products expand Dover's ability to deliver a comprehensive solution that brings actionable intelligence and remote hardware service to retailers and service companies.

"SIQ fulfills a need in the industry for an end-to-end solution that connects retailers and service companies with fuel dispensers," stated David Crouse, President of DFS. "This acquisition provides us with industry leading remote monitoring and analytics capabilities, which can reduce operating costs and improve efficiency of maintenance for our customers."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of over $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Climate & Sustainability Technologies. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 70 years, our team of approximately 24,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.
172 hydrocarbon discoveries in 10 years as Modi Govt opens No-Go Zones: Puri





NEW DELHI :

Bold and transformative policy decisions

UNION Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday said that 172 hydrocarbon discoveries have been made over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including 62 in offshore areas. The minister highlighted that exploration efforts are now being expanded into regions previously designated as No-Go zonesan initiative made possible by what he described as PM Modis bold and transformative policy decisions. Under the guidance of PM @narendramodi ji, 172 hydrocarbon discoveries have been made in the last decade, of which 62 are in marine areas. Now this figure will increase even faster because now we are going for exploration in those areas also, where exploration has never been done before.

Which once came under No Go areas, he said in a post in Hindi. Modi jis bold decision on these no-go areas is giving a new height to exploration & production, Puri added. Last week, the minister informed the Parliament that India is witnessing a renewed surge in oil and gas exploration with the opening of nearly one million square kilometres of erstwhile No-Go offshore areas in 2022. In a written response to a Rajya Sabha question, the minister stated that this action has opened up important exploration frontiers, particularly in deepwater and frontier areas like the Andaman-Nicobar (AN) offshore basin, and has played a key role in starting the current offshore activity momentum. The minister emphasised the geological significance of the AN Basin, which is part of the Bengal-Arakan sedimentary system and sits where the Andaman and Nicobar Basins converge.

Numerous stratigraphic traps that are favourable to the accumulation of hydrocarbons have been created as a result of the tectonic setting at the border between the Indian and Burmese plates. The basins closeness to established petroleum systems in North Sumatra and Myanmar adds to its geological promise. Following major gas discoveries in the South Andaman offshore Indonesia, the region has garnered renewed international attention, highlighting the regions geological continuity, the minister stated.
CM felicitates top-performing aspirational distts, blocks under Sampoornata Abhiyan





Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai along with Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao, Vijay Sharma and others honouring officials from aspirational districts and development blocks in a function at New Circuit House Raipur.

Staff Reporter

RAIPUR

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai felicitated aspirational districts and development blocks that excelled in achieving the defined goals of the Sampoornata Abhiyan. The awards were presented at a function held in the New Circuit House in the state capital on Saturday for districts and blocks that achieved saturation in the selected indicators during the three-month-long campaign conducted across Chhattisgarhs aspirational districts and blocks from July to September 2024.

The Chief Minister honoured officials and staff from various departments who contributed significantly to this achievement. Bastar and Kondagaon districts, along with aspirational development blocks Shankargarh, Mainpur, Makri, Koylibeda, Orchha and Pratappur, were awarded gold medals for achieving full saturation across all six identified indicators under the campaign. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, Member of Parliament Brijmohan Agrawal, and MLAs Sunil Soni, Motilal Sahu, and Guru Khushwant Saheb. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sai said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) embodies inclusive growth for every section of society.

He emphasised that the people living in remote areas and members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) need development the most. Referring to the Pradhan Mantri Janman Yojana, he noted that the Central Government, understanding the gravity of the situation, has launched this initiative to bring essential services like housing, drinking water, electricity, roads, and other basic infrastructure to remote tribal areas. He also highlighted that programmes like the Dharti Aaba Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, which includes 6,661 villages of Chhattisgarh, are lighting up the path of progress in far-flung villages, in line with Prime Minister Modis far-sighted vision. The Chief Minister said that villages falling under the ambit of aspirational districts and blocks are now advancing at a rapid pace in the state.

In his address, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, while addressing the programme, said that work on aspirational districts began in 2018 with a mission to bring backward districts and blocks to the forefront of development. He informed that various sectors are being addressed in these areas to improve human development indicators and bring them up to the saturation level. Expressing hope, he said that the journey towards a developed Chhattisgarh and a developed India will be achieved through the development and welfare of every individual. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma remarked that the work being done in aspirational districts and blocks is focused not just on physical progress, but also on enhancing human development indicators.

He stated that efforts are underway to identify key indicators and work towards their saturation, especially those which generally receive less attention. Extending his best wishes, he expressed hope that the districts and blocks under the programme continue to perform even better. Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain and Secretary of Planning, Economics, and Statistics Department Ankit Anand provided a detailed overview of the work done and achievements recorded during the Sampoornata Abhiyan. Member Secretary of NITI Aayog Ashish Bhatt, Member K. Subramaniam, and Director of Planning, Economics, and Statistics Department Roktima Yadav were also present during the event. Under the campaign, six indicators were selected out of the 49 indicators for aspirational districts and 40 for aspirational blocks.

These included ANC registration, number of pregnant women receiving supplementary nutrition, issuance of soil health cards, number of fully immunized children, electrification of schools, distribution of textbooks within one month of the start of the academic session, diabetes screening, hypertension screening, and number of self-help groups that received revolving funds. Aspirational districts and blocks that achieved full saturation on all six indicators were awarded gold medals. Those that achieved full saturation in five indicators were given silver medals, those with four indicators received bronze medals, and those with three indicators were awarded copper medals. Among the aspirational districts, Bastar and Kondagaon achieved full saturation in all six indicators and were awarded gold medals. Among aspirational blocks, Shankargarh, Mainpur, Makri, Koylibeda, Orchha, and Pratappur also secured gold medals.

Dantewada, Korba, Kanker, and Narayanpur districts, along with aspirational blocks Lakhnapur, Baikunthpur, Durgkondul, Gaurela-2, Korba, and Pithora, were awarded silver medals. Aspirational district Bijapur and aspirational blocks Gariaband, Usoor, Podi Uproda, Bodla, Tokapal, and Kuaankonda received bronze medals. Copper medals were awarded to aspirational districts ManpurMohlaAmbagarh Chowki, Mahasamund, and Sukma, and to aspirational block Ambagarh Chowki. The awards were received by the current and former collectors of the respective districts.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- At least six workers died and 10 were injured in a quarry accident in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh, confirmed the local police on Monday.

The mishap occurred in the state's Bapatla district. Four among the injured were said to be in a critical condition. Most of the victims hailed from the eastern state of Odisha.

According to an online report by India Today, the accident happened on Friday evening when a large section of rock gave way during quarrying operations, burying workers under tons of debris.

Around 16 workers were present at the quarry when the incident happened. Rescue teams were deployed to pull survivors from the debris. The injured were admitted to a local hospital. 
FIR against Army officer for murderous assault of SpiceJet staff over baggage





NEW DELHI :

A SENIOR Army officer was charged with murderous assault after an issue regarding excess baggage with SpiceJet Airlines turned violent at Srinagar Airport last week. The officer allegedly assaulted four SpiceJet ground staff members, leaving them with a spinal fracture and injuries to the jaw. According to a statement released by the airline, the passenger grievously assaulted four SpiceJet employees at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi on July 26, 2025. The altercation reportedly began after the officer was informed that his two pieces of cabin baggage, weighing a total of 16 kg, exceeded the permissible limit of 7 kg. SpiceJet claims that when staff members politely informed [him] of the excess baggage and asked to pay the applicable charges, the passenger refused and forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding process, which the airline described as a clear violation of aviation security protocols.

He was escorted back by a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official. What followed was a violent episode at the boarding gate. Our staff members suffered a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries after being attacked with punches, repeated kicks and a queue stand, the airline said in its statement. One SpiceJet employee collapsed unconscious on the floor, but the passenger continued kicking and hitting the fainted employee. Another staff member attempting to assist the injured colleague was also attacked.

Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a forceful kick to the jaw while bending down to assist the colleague who had fainted, the statement added. All four injured employees were rushed to a hospital and are currently undergoing treatment for what the airline described as grievous injuries. SpiceJet confirmed that it has filed a First Information Report (FIR) with the local police and has begun the process of placing the officer on Indias no-fly list. SpiceJet has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation appraising them about the murderous assault on its staff and has requested appropriate action against the passenger, the airline stated. CCTV footage of the incident has also been handed over to authorities. The airline said, SpiceJet strongly condemns any act of violence against its employees and will pursue this matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion. (ANI)
RG Kar victims parents ask political parties except TMC to join protest rally on Aug 9





KOLKATA :

THE parents of the R.G. Kar rape and murder victim, on Sunday, called upon all political parties, except Trinamool Congress, to join without respective political banners, the scheduled March to State Secretariat on August 9, the first anniversary of the macabre tragedy.

The idea of the March to State Secretariat with the parents of the victim leading the rally was first floated by the leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. The victims parents not only gave consent to the proposal floated by the leader of the Opposition, but also individually contacted the leaders of the different political parties and pressure groups, requesting them to join the protest march to the State Secretariat, Nabanna, at Mandirtala in Kolkata, adjacent to Howrah district, on August 9. While floating the March to State Secretariat proposal last month, Adhikari also strongly voiced for keeping the programme thoroughly apolitical, where everyone, irrespective of their individual political belief, was expected to join without carrying their respective party or organisational flags.

On Sunday, the victims parents claimed that a renewed movement on the issue is necessary not just because their daughter is yet to get justice, but also because of the event of sexual harassment within the educational institution premises. like the rape of a law college student within her college premises at Kasba in South Kolkata in June this year. However, a section of the Trinamool Congress leadership has claimed that the victims parents are being confused by the leaders of the Opposition parties. First, they demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe. CBI probed the matter, and the sole convict in the case was sentenced. Now they are claiming that they are not happy with the course of the CBI probe. Why are they unhappy? questioned Trinamool Congress State Vice-President Jaiprakash Majumdar. Notably, in connection with the R.G. Kar tragedy, parallel cases are going on in a trial court in Kolkata, the Calcutta High Court, and the Supreme Court. In the case of the Kasba Law College rape, the sleuths of the Detective Department of the Kolkata Police are probing the matter.
Shift towards cotton impacts soybean sowing this Kharif season





Staff Reporter :

A significant increase of 50 per cent compared to previous years in cotton cultivation has emerged in the district this year in the current Kharip season. The data from the Agricultural Department shows that this increase has come at the cost of soybeans, a major cash crop for the farmers in the Vidarbha region. According to figures from the Agriculture Department, in the last 5 years the cotton was sown on an average of 586,830 hectares.

The data available till July 29 shows that the cotton has been cultivated on 6,41,364 hectares, making it 109.3 percent of the average cultivation area. Meanwhile, soybean, which has traditionally been the regions most dominant Kharif crop, has has seen a drop from 3,14,427 hectares of average cultivation area to 2,64,057 hectares making only 83.98 per cent coverage. Agricultural officials believe the decline in soybean sowing is due to a clear shift in farmer preference towards cotton, considered a more profitable cash crop. Attractive Minimum Support Prices (MSP), increasing textile industry demand, and newer seed varieties have made cotton a more appealing choice, particularly in areas with black cotton soil and moderate irrigation. An official from the Agriculture Department stated, This Kharif season, farmers have opted for cotton over soybean.

While cotton is more expensive to sow and takes longer to mature, it offers better returns. Despite this shift, the production of soybean and its products, like soybean oil, has not been affected. Cotton sowing has especially increased across the Nagpur Division. Farmers point to higher and more stable market prices for cotton, while soybean continues to face price volatility and pest issues. The delayed arrival of the monsoon further benefited cotton sowing this year. The Agriculture Department is encouraging balanced crop planning, soil testing, and crop rotation techniques to support both farmer income and ecological sustainability.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- A total of 20 peacocks, including three males and 17 females, were found dead in an agricultural land in India's southern state of Karnataka, an official said on Monday.

According to the state's Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, the birds died in Hanumanthapura village in the state's Tumakuru district. A probe had been ordered to find out the exact cause of the birds' deaths, he added.

"The agricultural land is owned by a village farmer. Prima facie it appears that the farmer had sprayed some pesticide on his crops. The birds fed on the crops, got poisoned and died instantly. Final report of the accident is awaited," the official said.

Peacock is India's national bird. 
SINGAPORE, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brands are gaining growing favor among Singaporean consumers across a range of categories, according to a recent survey conducted by Singapore-based market research firm Blackbox.

The survey, which polled over 1,500 adults, found that Singaporeans now prefer Chinese brands over American ones in several key sectors. In motor vehicles, 34 percent of respondents favored Chinese brands, compared to 28 percent for American brands. In groceries, the figures were 36 percent versus 32 percent.

For household appliances, Chinese brands led with 39 percent compared to 30 percent for American ones. In lifestyle experiences, the preference stood at 38 percent to 31 percent, and for snacks and convenience food, 37 percent chose Chinese brands while 32 percent preferred American ones.

"This is far from just a pricing story," Blackbox said, noting that Chinese brands are no longer seen merely as low-cost alternatives, but as credible, competitive, and increasingly design-forward players in their own right.

One telling example is that in the first four months of 2025, Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD dethroned longtime market leader Toyota to become Singapore's best-selling car brand, a "symbolic breakthrough for Chinese brands in general," said Blackbox.

The survey also reflected shifting attitudes toward American products. Due in part to tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump, 50 percent of male respondents and 38 percent of female respondents indicated that they plan to reduce spending on U.S. goods. 
Blueshift Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Xerox Holdings Co. (NYSE:XRX  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 40,534 shares of the information technology services providers stock, valued at approximately $196,000.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in shares of Xerox by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 95,012 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $801,000 after buying an additional 1,733 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Xerox by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 66,209 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $558,000 after buying an additional 2,320 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in Xerox by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 87,466 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $737,000 after purchasing an additional 2,534 shares during the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Xerox by 21.6% in the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 17,281 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 3,066 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Xerox by 5.7% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 56,907 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $275,000 after purchasing an additional 3,091 shares during the last quarter. 85.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Xerox Trading Down 3.0%

Shares of NYSE:XRX opened at $3.93 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $494.35 million, a PE ratio of -0.37 and a beta of 1.82. The companys 50-day moving average price is $5.27 and its 200 day moving average price is $5.82. Xerox Holdings Co. has a fifty-two week low of $3.44 and a fifty-two week high of $11.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.61.

Xerox Dividend Announcement

Xerox ( NYSE:XRX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The information technology services provider reported ($0.64) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.07 by ($0.71). Xerox had a negative net margin of 21.24% and a positive return on equity of 7.57%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.29 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Xerox Holdings Co. will post 1.07 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th were given a $0.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. This represents a $0.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. Xeroxs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -0.87%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Steven John Bandrowczak acquired 22,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 23rd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $4.48 per share, for a total transaction of $99,904.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 382,442 shares in the company, valued at $1,713,340.16. This trade represents a 6.19% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Mirlanda Gecaj acquired 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 23rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $4.41 per share, for a total transaction of $44,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 15,956 shares in the company, valued at $70,365.96. The trade was a 167.90% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have bought 82,300 shares of company stock valued at $364,254. 1.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Xerox Company Profile

(Free Report)

Xerox Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a workplace technology company that integrates hardware, services, and software for enterprises in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Print and Other; and FITTLE.

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Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. trimmed its position in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Free Report) by 15.8% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 32,553 shares of the retailers stock after selling 6,102 shares during the quarter. Capstone Financial Advisors Inc.s holdings in Walmart were worth $2,858,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bear Mountain Capital Inc. boosted its stake in Walmart by 98.2% in the 1st quarter. Bear Mountain Capital Inc. now owns 337 shares of the retailers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart during the 1st quarter worth approximately $35,000. Lipe & Dalton raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 95.2% during the 1st quarter. Lipe & Dalton now owns 410 shares of the retailers stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart during the 1st quarter worth approximately $49,000. Finally, Vega Investment Solutions purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter worth approximately $54,000. 26.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Walmart Stock Performance

Shares of WMT opened at $98.40 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $785.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.05, a P/E/G ratio of 4.74 and a beta of 0.66. Walmart Inc. has a 1 year low of $66.67 and a 1 year high of $105.30. The companys fifty day moving average is $96.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $95.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.22 and a current ratio of 0.78.

Insider Activity

Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 15th. The retailer reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $165.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $164.53 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.76% and a net margin of 2.75%. The businesss revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.60 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, EVP John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.14, for a total transaction of $1,248,712.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 932,313 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $88,700,258.82. This represents a 1.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP John D. Rainey sold 2,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.44, for a total transaction of $216,568.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 628,318 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $61,851,623.92. This trade represents a 0.35% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 143,912 shares of company stock worth $13,863,813 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 45.58% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. KeyCorp lifted their target price on Walmart from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, June 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $103.00 target price (up from $102.00) on shares of Walmart in a research note on Monday, June 9th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Walmart from $107.00 to $111.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Walmart from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Tigress Financial boosted their target price on Walmart from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $106.67.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Walmart

Walmart Company Profile

(Free Report)

Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications.

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Commerce Bank lowered its stake in Fortive Corporation (NYSE:FTV  Free Report) by 8.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 45,885 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 4,243 shares during the period. Commerce Banks holdings in Fortive were worth $3,358,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Parvin Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Fortive during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. American National Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Fortive during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Fortive by 114.2% during the 1st quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 377 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares during the period. Park Square Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Fortive during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Quarry LP increased its holdings in Fortive by 229.6% during the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 501 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.94% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Melius Research upgraded Fortive to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Fortive from $87.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Fortive from $88.00 to $82.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. BNP Paribas reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Fortive in a report on Thursday, June 12th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their target price on Fortive from $85.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $65.86.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, SVP Peter C. Underwood sold 14,327 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.88, for a total value of $1,058,478.76. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 51,750 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,823,290. The trade was a 21.68% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO James A. Lico sold 175,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.40, for a total value of $12,670,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 428,585 shares in the company, valued at $31,029,554. This trade represents a 28.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.92% of the companys stock.

Fortive Stock Performance

Shares of FTV opened at $46.59 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $61.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $69.44. Fortive Corporation has a 52 week low of $46.47 and a 52 week high of $83.32. The stock has a market cap of $15.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.08.

Fortive (NYSE:FTV  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The technology company reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by ($0.02). Fortive had a return on equity of 11.96% and a net margin of 13.62%. The company had revenue of $1.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.93 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Fortive Corporation will post 4.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fortive declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, May 27th that allows the company to repurchase 15,630,000 outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the technology company to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Fortive Company Profile

(Free Report)

Fortive Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and services professional and engineered products, software, and services in the United States, China, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Intelligent Operating Solutions, Precision Technologies, and Advanced Healthcare Solutions. The Intelligent Operating Solutions segment provides advanced instrumentation, software, and services, including electrical test and measurement, facility and asset lifecycle software applications, and connected worker safety and compliance solutions for manufacturing, process industries, healthcare, utilities and power, communications and electronics, and other industries.

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Earned Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSCI Inc (NYSE:MSCI  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 758 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $429,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BIT Capital GmbH bought a new stake in shares of MSCI during the 1st quarter worth about $472,000. Scotia Capital Inc. raised its holdings in shares of MSCI by 77.0% in the 1st quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 13,094 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,405,000 after purchasing an additional 5,697 shares in the last quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of MSCI by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC now owns 1,004 shares of the technology companys stock worth $568,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd raised its holdings in shares of MSCI by 169.4% in the 1st quarter. R Squared Ltd now owns 1,670 shares of the technology companys stock worth $944,000 after purchasing an additional 1,050 shares in the last quarter. Finally, United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund raised its holdings in shares of MSCI by 26.3% in the 1st quarter. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund now owns 98,638 shares of the technology companys stock worth $55,780,000 after purchasing an additional 20,527 shares in the last quarter. 89.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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MSCI Stock Down 0.7%

MSCI stock opened at $557.28 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $43.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.29. MSCI Inc has a 12 month low of $486.73 and a 12 month high of $642.45. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $563.64 and a two-hundred day moving average of $564.73.

MSCI Announces Dividend

MSCI ( NYSE:MSCI Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $4.17 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.12 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $772.68 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $763.06 million. MSCI had a net margin of 39.46% and a negative return on equity of 143.13%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.64 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that MSCI Inc will post 16.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 29th. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.80 per share. This represents a $7.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. MSCIs dividend payout ratio is currently 47.68%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on MSCI. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of MSCI from $655.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of MSCI in a report on Thursday, April 10th. They issued a neutral rating and a $585.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of MSCI from $578.00 to $533.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of MSCI from $673.00 to $631.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of MSCI from $650.00 to $680.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MSCI currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $654.73.

Read Our Latest Analysis on MSCI

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Henry A. Fernandez acquired 84 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 25th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $548.69 per share, with a total value of $46,089.96. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer owned 1,279,951 shares in the company, valued at approximately $702,296,314.19. This represents a 0.01% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Over the last ninety days, insiders have acquired 12,400 shares of company stock worth $6,731,599. 3.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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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Hartford Investment Management Co. lowered its position in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE  Free Report) by 1.0% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 79,483 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 822 shares during the quarter. Hartford Investment Management Co.s holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $1,226,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HPE. World Investment Advisors acquired a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 4th quarter worth about $593,000. Integrated Quantitative Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 4th quarter worth about $303,000. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 4th quarter worth about $8,361,000. Gator Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 4th quarter worth about $224,000. Finally, Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 4th quarter worth about $1,462,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.78% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have commented on HPE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $30.00 price target for the company. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. They set a neutral rating and a $22.00 price objective for the company. Barclays lifted their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. Finally, Wolfe Research started coverage on Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. They set a peer perform rating for the company. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $22.67.

Insider Activity at Hewlett Packard Enterprise

In other news, SVP Jeremy Cox sold 68,590 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.44, for a total transaction of $1,264,799.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Phil Mottram sold 30,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.54, for a total value of $616,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 42,427 shares in the company, valued at approximately $871,450.58. This represents a 41.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 128,590 shares of company stock valued at $2,436,000. 0.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Price Performance

NYSE:HPE opened at $19.79 on Monday. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company has a 12 month low of $11.97 and a 12 month high of $24.66. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $19.34 and a two-hundred day moving average of $18.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market cap of $25.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.37.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 3rd. The technology company reported $0.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.33 by $0.05. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a return on equity of 9.59% and a net margin of 4.60%. The company had revenue of $7.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.51 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.42 EPS. Hewlett Packard Enterprises quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company will post 1.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 18th were paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 18th. Hewlett Packard Enterprises payout ratio is 52.53%.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company Profile

(Free Report)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.

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J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG increased its stake in shares of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 7.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 21,457 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,516 shares during the quarter. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AGs holdings in Archer Daniels Midland were worth $1,030,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. S.A. Mason LLC purchased a new position in shares of Archer Daniels Midland during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. ORG Partners LLC increased its position in Archer Daniels Midland by 297.2% during the first quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 699 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 523 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new position in Archer Daniels Midland during the first quarter worth about $37,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its holdings in Archer Daniels Midland by 43.4% in the 1st quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 783 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 237 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Archer Daniels Midland by 109.8% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 839 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 439 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.28% of the companys stock.

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Archer Daniels Midland Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of NYSE ADM opened at $53.87 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.88 billion, a PE ratio of 19.24, a PEG ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.68. Archer Daniels Midland Company has a twelve month low of $40.98 and a twelve month high of $62.61. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $49.37.

Archer Daniels Midland Announces Dividend

Archer Daniels Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share 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%. Archer Daniels Midlands revenue was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.46 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Archer Daniels Midland Company will post 4.31 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 21st were paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 21st. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.8%. Archer Daniels Midlands payout ratio is 72.86%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on ADM shares. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Archer Daniels Midland from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Citigroup reduced their target price on Archer Daniels Midland from $51.00 to $49.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. UBS Group upgraded Archer Daniels Midland from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Bank of America lowered shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $47.00 to $45.00 in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $50.29.

View Our Latest Stock Report on ADM

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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Manchester Capital Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN  Free Report) by 7.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,672 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 214 shares during the quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLCs holdings in Lennar were worth $307,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Secured Retirement Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lennar during the first quarter worth $926,000. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc increased its position in shares of Lennar by 15.4% during the first quarter. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc now owns 2,183 shares of the construction companys stock worth $251,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Lennar by 2.1% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 208,763 shares of the construction companys stock worth $23,962,000 after acquiring an additional 4,332 shares during the period. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Lennar by 24.8% in the first quarter. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 42,041 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $4,825,000 after buying an additional 8,357 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Advisory Inc. increased its holdings in Lennar by 5.4% in the first quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 6,965 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $799,000 after buying an additional 354 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.10% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on LEN. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Lennar from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on Lennar from $128.00 to $114.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, June 20th. Zelman & Associates lowered Lennar from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Bank of America dropped their target price on Lennar from $110.00 to $105.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Finally, JMP Securities dropped their target price on Lennar from $150.00 to $130.00 and set a market outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, June 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $128.85.

Lennar Stock Performance

NYSE LEN opened at $115.97 on Monday. Lennar Corporation has a 1 year low of $98.42 and a 1 year high of $193.80. The company has a market capitalization of $30.04 billion, a PE ratio of 9.59, a P/E/G ratio of 4.92 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a fifty day moving average of $110.63 and a two-hundred day moving average of $114.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 3.65 and a quick ratio of 0.49.

Lennar (NYSE:LEN  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, June 16th. The construction company reported $1.90 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.94 by ($0.04). Lennar had a return on equity of 12.73% and a net margin of 9.20%. The business had revenue of $8.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.21 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.45 EPS. Lennars quarterly revenue was down 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Lennar Corporation will post 12.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Lennar Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 18th. Stockholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Lennars dividend payout ratio is 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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BEIJING, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, together with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, on Monday dispatched over 13,000 emergency supply items to north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to support flood control and rescue operations.

The supplies, allocated at the request of Inner Mongolia's flood control authorities, include rescue boats, drainage pumps, generators and lighting equipment.

The emergency materials will be used to strengthen local flood prevention and disaster relief efforts.

Inner Mongolia has experienced continuous rainfall since July 23, with flooding affecting some areas.

China's national observatory on Monday renewed an orange alert for rainstorms, forecasting torrential rains across vast regions of the country -- including Inner Mongolia -- from 2 p.m. Monday to 2 p.m. Tuesday. 
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's military on Monday began dismantling propaganda loudspeakers installed along the border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Seoul's defense ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that it was a practical measure taken to help ease tensions between the two sides without any influence on the military's readiness posture.

The anti-DPRK loudspeaker broadcasts were suspended on June 11 to restore trust in inter-Korean relations and peace on the Korean Peninsula, said the ministry.

The government, led by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, resumed loudspeaker broadcasts to the DPRK in June 2024. 
Rampant corruption, rising incidents of crime against women and the frequent communal violence in minority-dominated pockets of West Bengal will be the counter-attack points of the BJP Parliamentarians from West Bengal on the floor of the Parliament during the remaining days of the on-going monsoon session of Parliament against the Trinamool Congress views on special intensive review (SIR) and Bengali-harassment claims in the BJP-ruled states.

The leadership of both parties will be finalising their respective war strategies on Monday. On one hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be holding a virtual meeting with all the party Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members on Monday to finalise the floor strategy of the party within the Parliament on the SIR and Bengali-harassment issues.

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On the other hand, on Monday, members of the BJPs Parliamentary team from West Bengal in both the Houses of the Parliament, led by the partys state president in West Bengal and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya, will attend a meeting with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, confirmed Bhattacharya on Sunday.

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Although he refused to divulge the probable content of the meeting to be chaired by HM Shah, Bhattacharya said that the current burning issues in West Bengal would surely be discussed at the meeting.

Meanwhile, an insider from the state committee of the BJP in West Bengal said that points raised or to be raised against the Union Government on the floor of the Parliament by the Trinamool Congress MPs, all concentrated on West Bengal issues, need to be countered adequately, and immediately on the same day, on the floor of the Parliament.

However, he added, that the required counter-argument is not always possible since not on all days BJP Parliamentarians from West Bengal are listed among the speakers.

So our MPs, on Monday, will request the Union Home Minister to arrange so that at least one party MP from West Bengal is enlisted as speaker on each day of the remaining days of the Monsoon Session, the state committee member said.
Continuous rains over West Bengal, coupled with the slowing down of the supply chain, have led to prices of vegetables skyrocketing in Kolkata markets, as well as in several other cities and towns across districts.

In Kolkata markets, a cauliflower, which was being sold at Rs 30 a few days ago, is now being sold at Rs 50 to 60. Pointed gourd is being sold at least Rs 50 per kg, as against Rs 30 a few days back. A large-sized brinjal is being sold at Rs 100 per kg, while being sold at Rs 60 some days back.

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Farmers associations and West Bengal Task Force members blamed the phenomenon on a prolonged spell of heavy rain, which damaged locally produced crops.

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State task force member Rabindranath Kolay, however, claimed that the prices have already come down. The day before yesterday, we visited the markets to inspect the price of vegetables. The prices that had gone up have come down a little bit. The heavy rains have damaged a large quantity of crops. Therefore, the supply chain has been hit, resulting in the rise of vegetable prices. However, efforts are on to bring it further down, he said.

From Kolkata to the districts of Bankura and North 24 Parganas, the reality remains the same.

Vegetable sellers claim that the price hike is due to the effect of excessive rain in the districts as well. Heavy rains have been occurring in districts in the past few weeks. The continuous rains have caused extensive damage to vegetable cultivation. Due to this, the price of vegetables is soaring, said a seller.

Bitter gourd, which was being sold for Rs 50 per kg a few days ago, is now selling at Rs 80 per kg. Kohlrabi, which was also being sold for Rs 50 per kg, is now selling for Rs 80. Cucumber is being sold for Rs 80 per kg, and tomatoes are being sold for Rs 70 per kg in the Kolkata markets. Ladies finger is also being sold for around Rs 80 per kg, while green chilli costs between Rs 100 and 120 per kg.
Trinamool Congress, on Sunday, highlighted another incident of a migrant worker from West Bengal being killed in a BJP-ruled state.

In a social media post, the Trinamool Congress alleged that a migrant worker from the Chanchal area in Malda district died under mysterious circumstances.

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Claiming that an anti-Bengal agenda is being propagated in the country, the party described the incident as a continuation of the anti-Bengal agenda by the BJP.

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How far will this Bangla Birodhi agenda go? A migrant worker from Hajratpur village in Maldas Chanchal-I block had lived and worked in Gurugram for 16 years. Like many Bengali-speaking workers, he faced rising hostility and discrimination. Tired and afraid, he had booked a train ticket to return home. But his bloodied body was found at his workplace. Initial reports claim he fell from a rooftop or staircase, but his family suspects foul play, the social media statement of Trinamool Congress read.

The Trinamool Congress said that this was not an isolated incident, as there have been several incidents of migrant workers from West Bengal being harassed and attacked in BJP-ruled states.

This is not an isolated incident. From Delhi to Mumbai, Bengali workers are being harassed, detained, and now dying under suspicious circumstances in @BJP4India-ruled states, the statement read.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party further demanded an investigation into the incident. We demand a full investigation into his death and immediate action to protect Bengali workers across the country. Enough is enough, it said.

For the last few weeks, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has been vocal about the harassment and attacks on Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.

On several occasions, Banerjee slammed the BJP for orchestrating such attacks against Bengali-speaking people in an attempt to create a sense of fear among them ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls. She also vowed to fight against these atrocities by starting the second Bhasha Andolan against the BJP.

Meanwhile, BJP Lok Sabha member from Kanthi constituency in East Midnapore district of West Bengal, Soumendu Adhikari, last month complained to Delhi Police against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of allegedly disseminating fake and provocative content on her social media handle on the issue of alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers from West Bengal in BJP-ruled states.

His complaint was about a video shared by the Chief Minister on the wall of her official X handle, where she accused the Delhi Police of harassing and torturing a Bengali-speaking migrant family there.
Praveen Shankar Kapoor, General Secretary of the Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch and spokesperson of the Delhi BJP, on Monday accused the Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the local police of negligence in the Chandni Chowk area, leading to its severe deterioration. He called for urgent and strict corrective measures.

Demanding decisive action, Kapoor urged Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Mayor Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh to address the growing encroachments not only in Chandni Chowk market but also on adjoining roads, including Diwan Hall Road, Cycle Market Road, HC Sen Marg, Shanti Desai Marg, Nai Sarak, and Fatehpuri Church Mission Road.

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The Delhi BJP spokesperson appreciated the efforts of MP Praveen Khandelwal in improving cleanliness and reducing encroachments in the area.

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He also expressed confidence in the residents and shopkeepers of the locality, describing them as nationalists and affirming that they would not participate in any protest, sit-in, or symbolic Gandhigiri demonstrations during Independence Day Week, from August 9 to 15.

Meanwhile, Kapoor urged the government to take immediate steps to address the concerns of residents in the walled city.

He further announced that on August 11, with support from local businesses and citizen groups, MP Praveen Khandelwal will organize a Tiranga Yatra (Tricolor March) from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Chowk to uphold the spirit of nationalism.
There was a time when Harrison Ford, one of the most famous actors in Hollywood today, was told he had no future in the film industry. Yes, really.

Back in the 1960s, Ford was just starting out. He had a small acting contract with Columbia Pictures and was earning only $150 a week. His first-ever role was in a movie called Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round.

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He was young, eager, and full of hope.

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One day, Ford was called in to meet with the head of new talent at the studio. Naturally, he thought they were going to give him some tips or encouragement. But what he heard instead shocked him.

The studio executive told him flat-out that he had no future in the business. Thats right, one of the biggest actors of our time was once told he wouldnt make it. And it didnt stop there. The executive said Ford should change his name and get a fancy haircut like Elvis Presley if he wanted any chance of surviving in Hollywood.

But Ford wasnt having it. He wanted me to change my name. He thought Harrison Ford sounded too high and mighty. Then he said I should get my hair cut like Elvis, Ford shared. I didnt go along with any of that.

Instead of listening to that advice, Ford walked away. He didnt complete the seven-year contract, he left after just a year and a half. But he didnt give up on acting. He just chose to do it his way.

And clearly, it worked.

Years later, when Ford had already become a household name, he ran into that same executive again. We were across a crowded room. He had sent me a card that said, I missed my guess, Ford remembered. I couldnt even remember who he was at first. But then he gave me a little nod and smiled, and I knew.

Since then, Harrison Ford has gone on to play some of the most iconic characters in movie history. From Han Solo in Star Wars to Indiana Jones and Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, Ford has done it all. But its not just action and adventure, hes also starred in serious dramas like Witness, gripping thrillers like The Fugitive, and even sweet romantic films like Working Girl and The Age of Adaline.

Hes worked with some of the biggest directors in the world, like Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and Peter Weir. And even today, hes still acting in major movies and shows.
Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan is ready to show a new side of herself to the world. In a recent interview, the 38-year-old star shared how she has often been stuck playing the same type of roles, and now she wants to break that pattern.

Lohan, who started acting when she was just 10, became a household name after starring in the 1998 Disney hit The Parent Trap. The film was a big success and opened the door to more roles in teen comedies like Freaky Friday and Mean Girls.

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But as time passed, she felt like people only saw her as the same fun, quirky character again and again.

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In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Lindsay Lohan admitted that she stepped away from the spotlight between 2013 and 2022 to focus on her personal life.

I was losing that feeling of excitement about doing a film, she said. And I wanted to live my own life for a bit, figure out how to have a more private life, a real life. I wanted to wait to get that itch again.

Now, she says shes ready. With her return to movies, she wants people to see more than just the rom-com star theyre used to. I do feel pigeonholed, she said. Even today, I have to fight for serious roles. Its frustrating because I know I can do more, but people only want to see me as the character I played years ago.

One of the roles shes most proud of is in A Prairie Home Companion, a film that showed a different side of her acting skills.

I was so happy to work on that. But even now, I still have to prove that I can do those kinds of roles. I want to break that cycle, she said.

Lohans fans will soon see her back in a familiar setting with the upcoming sequel Freakier Friday, where shell reunite with Jamie Lee Curtis. But beyond that, shes looking forward to more challenging roles. At the films Los Angeles premiere, Lohan said she hopes to explore drama and action films in the future.

I love romantic comedies because thats where I started, and my fans love them. But Id also like to do something different, maybe something action-packed or a serious drama. I want to surprise people, she said.

Shes also stepping into the role of producer with the upcoming Hulu series Count My Lies, which shes both starring in and producing.

I want to open new doors for myself, she said. And if someone like Martin Scorsese calls, of course I wont say no!
BEIRUT, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Hezbollah member was killed and four others injured on Monday in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese sources.

The Public Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health, said that the drone strike on the town of Khiam "resulted in the killing of one individual and injuries to four civilians."

A Lebanese security source told Xinhua that the dead was "a Hezbollah member named Ali Suleiman Abu Abbas."

Meanwhile, the official National News Agency reported that "two hostile drones targeted a parked excavator with two bombs in the Al-Fuwarah neighborhood of the village of Yaroun in the Bint Jbeil district."

Since Nov. 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States and France has been in effect between Hezbollah and Israel, putting an end to clashes that had erupted in the wake of the war in Gaza.

Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally carries out strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are meant to eliminate "threats" posed by Hezbollah. 
Big news is buzzing in the Marvel world! Actor Mark Ruffalo, who plays The Incredible Hulk, is reportedly in talks to appear in the next Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

While theres no official confirmation yet, sources told Deadline that Ruffalo might bring back his big green superhero for this much-awaited film.

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Mark Ruffalo has already played the Hulk in many Marvel movies. Fans loved him in The Avengers series, Thor: Ragnarok, and even his small appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

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Adding to the excitement, Sony Pictures released a short teaser on August 1, also known as Spider-Man Day. The 8-second clip gave fans a peek at a new Spidey suit. The suit features bold red fabric with raised black webbing, closely resembling the classic comic book look. A shadowy black spider symbol is also briefly visible on the chest.

Alongside the teaser, Sony posted the message: Something brand new is coming #SpiderManDay. The short video has already gotten fans hyped for whats coming next.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be the fourth film in the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man series. Holland will return as Peter Parker, the well-loved friendly neighborhood superhero. Zendaya is back too, playing MJ, Peters girlfriend, and Jacob Batalon will reprise his role as Ned, Peters best friend.

In a surprise reveal, Stranger Things star Sadie Sink has also joined the cast. But her character remains a mystery for now.

Even though the teaser gave a taste of the new look, the full film wont hit theatres until July 31, 2026. Fans will have to wait nearly a year to find out how Hulk might fit into the story, or what new challenges Spider-Man will face this time.
Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has landed in controversy after making critical comments about government grants given to filmmakers from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and women communities.

Dalit activist Dinu Veyil has filed complaints against him with the police and the Kerala SC/ST Commission, saying the remarks were offensive and harmful.

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What did Adoor Gopalakrishnan say?

At the Kerala Film Policy Conclave held recently in Thiruvananthapuram, Gopalakrishnan questioned the state governments decision to provide 1.5 crore in funding to SC/ST and women filmmakers. He said the amount was too high and could lead to corruption.

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He suggested that instead of giving such a big amount, the government should offer a smaller grant, around 50 lakh, and give proper training to these filmmakers for at least three months.

Complaint and allegations

Dinu Veyil, a Dalit activist, submitted formal complaints to the Museum Police in Thiruvananthapuram and also approached the Kerala SC/ST Commission. He said Gopalakrishnans words were not just disrespectful, but possibly in violation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

In a detailed post on Facebook, Dinu explained that Gopalakrishnans statement seemed to portray SC/ST individuals as dishonest or likely to misuse public money. According to him, this kind of generalisation can spread hatred or prejudice and may fall under Section 3(1)(u) of the Act, which prohibits promoting ill-will against SC/ST communities.

He further pointed out phrases like They should be told to understand that this is public fund and They have thought that they will take this money, they can take it and take a picture.

Dinu argued that such remarks made SC/ST beneficiaries sound ignorant and careless. This according to him is public humiliation, punishable under Section 3(1)(r) of the same law.

The activist added that even if no specific individual was in target, Gopalakrishnans statements insulted everyone connected with the grant. This includes those present at the event, past applicants, and viewers who watched the speech in the media.

Keralas Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian, who was also at the conclave, strongly defended the governments decision. He said the initiative was a historic step to support communities kept out of mainstream cinema for over 100 years.

This policy is not something we will withdraw. It is meant to correct old injustices, said the Minister. He explained that the grants were part of a wider plan to ensure diversity and inclusion in the Malayalam film industry.

The Minister also reminded everyone that the film world has domination of certain groups for decades. He said it was only fair that the government now provides support to those left behind.

Adoor Gopalakrishnan, a Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, has not yet responded publicly to the complaint.
Riding on the Supreme Court of Indias criticism of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his Indian Army remark and Chinese encroachment claim, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched a scathing attack on him and his party, Congress, demanding an apology for questioning the sacrifices of the countrys brave soldiers.

Amplifying the Supreme Courts remark on Rahul Gandhi  If you were a true Indian, you would never have made such statements!, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that this was the first time in the parliamentary history of the country, the top court has had to make such a stern remark against the leader of the opposition.

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Pradhan further accused Gandhi and Congress of having a history of insulting the army.

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Whether it is the surgical strike or Operation Sindoor, they have questioned the sacrifices of our brave soldiers at every opportunity. Their loyalty is not to the nation but only to one family, which is why respect for the nation is not even part of their fundamental thinking, he said.

The minister also demanded an apology from Gandhi and his party Congress. Today, the entire country is hurt by this anti-national mentality and expects an apology from Rahul Gandhi and Congress.

His statement comes shortly after the Supreme Court strongly admonished the Leader of the Opposition for his remarks that Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel.

Also Read: A true Indian will not say this: SC admonishes Rahul Gandhi over Indian Army remarks;stays defamation proceedings

Hearing a petition filed by Rahul Gandhi against an Allahabad High Court order upholding a Lucknow court summons issued to him in connection with a criminal defamation case over his Army remarks, the top court said that, being the LoP, he should speak in Parliament and not on social media.

Why in a social media post and not in Parliament? the Bench asked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing Rahul Gandhi.

The court also asked the Leader of the Opposition what credible material was behind his claim that China has acquired 2000 sq km of Indian land.

How do you get to know when 2000 sq km was acquired by China? What is the credible material? A true Indian will not say this. When there is a conflict across a border, can you say all this? Why cant you ask the question in Parliament? the bench further questioned the Congress leader.

The defamation case, one of many filed against the Congress leader, pertains to a complaint filed by a former director of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

The complaint alleged that Rahul Gandhis December 16, 2022, remarks regarding the India-China border standoff were derogatory and defamatory towards the Indian armed forces.
In a unique confluence of education, diplomacy, and cultural exchange, a group of 14 Korean software engineers from Samsung began an intensive eight-day training programme on Indian culture and the Hindi language at the Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ), Ranchi. The inauguration ceremony, held at CUJs auditorium, marked not just the launch of a language course but a moment of deepening ties between India and South Korea.

The event was graced by Jal Yodha and Padma Shri awardee Uma Shankar Pandey, senior journalist and analyst Harsh Vardhan Tripathi, Korean professors Yi Young Lee and Koh Tae Jin from Hankuk University, and CUJ Vice Chancellor Prof Kshiti Bhushan Das.

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The Indo-Korean initiative underlines how soft power and cultural diplomacy can play a pivotal role in fostering international goodwill. This partnership between Samsung and CUJ is not merely academic; it is symbolic of the growing Indo-Korean relationship that extends beyond trade and technology to embrace culture, heritage, and language.

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Prof Das, in his presidential address, emphasised CUJs growing global vision: Through initiatives like these, CUJ is not just educatingit is connecting nations. Our commitment is to make Jharkhand a global cultural and educational hub.

The programme centres around immersive Hindi language training, cultural workshops, and field visits to iconic tribal and natural heritage sites. Prof Shreya Bhattacharjee, Dean of the Language Faculty, highlighted that language is a living medium of empathy. Teaching Hindi to Korean professionals is our contribution to global friendship.

Professors Yi Young Lee and Koh Tae Jin, fluent in Hindi, captivated the audience with their eloquence. We come here every year and each time we take back a deeper understanding of Indias soul, said Prof Lee.

This collaboration is also a shining example of corporate social responsibility in action. Samsungs continuous commitment to sending employees for cultural training reflects a progressive, human-centric corporate ethos. By partnering with CUJ, the company is not only investing in human capital but also intercultural sensitivitya key requirement in an interconnected global economy.

Chief guest Uma Shankar Pandey, noted for his work in water conservation, took the opportunity to link cultural understanding with environmental responsibility. Culture isnt just about language and traditionits about our relationship with nature. Water, as a shared concern for all humanity, must become central to global dialogue, he said. He encouraged CUJ to take a leadership role in research and activism related to water sustainability.

Harsh Vardhan Tripathi, in his thought-provoking address, urged students and faculty alike to become agents of transformation. If we want India to be a developed nation by 2047, we must draw lessons from our civilizational values and apply them with a futuristic vision. This initiative is one such step where we open our minds and hearts to the world.

The programme also gives the visiting engineers an immersive experience of Jharkhands tribal culture, natural beauty, and mineral wealth. Visits are planned to Patratu Lake, Birsa Mundas ancestral village in Khunti, and local tribal cultural sites. The curriculum includes not only spoken Hindi but also technical terminology relevant to their workplace needs.

During their stay, the Korean participants will also interact with CUJs Korean language students, creating a vibrant exchange of perspectives.

This initiative, launched from a state often underrepresented on the national stage, is positioning Jharkhand as a centre of international cultural exchange and academic collaboration. Through its vision and execution, CUJ is proving that global education doesnt need to originate in metrosit can emerge from mineral-rich heartlands too.
Facing the BJP heat after the Supreme Court admonished Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks that Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian soldiers, the Opposition Congress on Monday came to the rescue of its leader and accused the Modi government of hiding and deflecting truth.

In a lengthy social media post, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated, Since June 15, 2020, when our 20 brave soldiers were martyred in Galwan, several critical questions have been arising in the minds of every patriotic Indian. However, over the past five years, instead of answering these questions, the Modi government has adopted a policy of hiding and deflecting the truthwhich we can call DDLJ: Deny, Distract, Lie, and Justify.

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The Congress leader posed several pointed questions and highlighted the purported remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Galwan standoff between Indiana and Chinese soldiers that no one has intruded into our borders, nor is anyone present there.

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Was this not a clean chit given to China? Ramesh said on X.

He also mentioned Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedis statement that we want to return to the status quo of April 2020 and asked if the disengagement agreement of October 21, 2024, truly take us back to that status quo.

The Congress leader asked the Modi government if it was not true that Indian patrolling teams in Depsang, Demchok, and Chumar now require Chinese consent to access their own patrolling points, whereas earlier they freely exercised Indias territorial rights?

He also raised the alleged buffer zones in Galwan, Hot Springs, and Pangong Lake which lie within Indias claimed line but the Indian patrolling teams are being prevented from accessing these areas.

Was it not widely reported in 2020 that approximately 1,000 square kilometers of territory in eastern Ladakh came under Chinese control, including 900 square kilometers in Depsang? the Congress leader asked.

His further asked, Is it not true that the Superintendent of Police in Leh presented a paper at the annual conference of Directors General of Police, stating that India has lost access to 26 out of 65 patrolling points in eastern Ladakh?

The Congress leader also raised the issue of increasing imports from China with several sectors, including telecom, pharma, and electronics, becoming easily dependent on Chinese imports.

In another question, he asked, Is it not true that the Modi government is attempting to normalize relations with a country that played a significant role in Pakistans military actions during Operation Sindoorproviding Pakistan with weapon systems like J-10C fighter jets and PL-15 air-to-air missiles, and, as stated by Deputy Army Chief Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh on July 4, 2025, also providing live inputs for Indian military operations?

He accused the Modi government of being responsible for the largest territorial loss India has suffered since 1962 and attempting to normalize ties with China, which has hostile tendencies.

The truth is that the Modi government is responsible for the largest territorial loss India has suffered since 1962, and due to its cowardice and misguided economic priorities, it is now attempting to normalize relations with a country like China, which has hostile tendencies, he concluded.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into alleged religious conversions, foreign funding, and money laundering involving Chhangur Baba and his network.

On Monday, the ED presented Chhangurs close associate Navin Rohra before the NIA court in Lucknow, where the special court granted a four-day remand for further interrogation. Rohra will remain in ED custody until August 8.

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Earlier during the court proceedings, the ED had sought a seven-day remand, arguing that Rohra possesses crucial information related to suspicious financial transactions, overseas assets, and Chhangurs expansive network, particularly in Dubai. After hearing the arguments, the court sanctioned a four-day custody.

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Navin Rohra is considered a key figure in Chhangurs alleged financial web and is believed to be the link between Dubai-based operations and transactions worth approximately 60 crore.

The ED suspects Rohra played a central role in managing Chhangurs shipping business and channeling foreign funds through illegal means.

The agency has already compiled details of Chhangurs multiple properties in Dubai, some of which were previously tracked by the Uttar Pradesh ATS.

During hours-long questioning sessions, ED officials focused on Rohras visits to Dubai, hawala networks, and suspected foreign donations received under the guise of religious and charitable activities.

The ED had earlier interrogated Chhangur for seven days. Upon completion of his remand on August 1, the agency moved an application for Rohras custody, which was heard and approved on August 4.

During questioning, Chhangur admitted to receiving funds from Pakistan and other foreign sources. He claimed the money was used for serving the poor and for religious propagation. He also mentioned that his close aides arranged his travels and logistics in Dubai.

Regarding properties purchased in the name of Neetu, another arrested associate, Chhangur said he trusted her completely and considered her a reliable aide.

So far, a total of seven individuals have been arrested in this case, including Chhangur, his son Mehboob, Neetu, and Navin Rohra. The ED believes that Rohras interrogation could reveal critical links in the ongoing investigation, potentially exposing the full scale of foreign funding, illicit transactions, and the money laundering network.

Investigation agencies are now closely monitoring the networks used to channel money from abroad into India, allegedly under the cover of religious activities. These funds are suspected to have been used for purchasing land, real estate, and setting up businesses.

As the probe deepens, the ED expects major revelations that could unravel a vast nexus of foreign-sponsored financial crimes masked behind charitable and religious operations.
Rekindling the row over Sanatan afresh, actor-politician Kamal Hassan has emphasised the importance of education as the primary tool for social change and advancement, adding that it remains the only weapon which could break the shackles of dictatorship and Sanatan.

Education gives the requisite strength to change laws and shape the nations trajectory. It is a war, and in that education alone can destroy and wipe out dictatorship and Sanatan along with their attendant paraphernalia, he said on Sunday at the 15th anniversary event of Agaram Foundation of Tamil actor Surya Sivakumar here.

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The foundation is engaged in providing financial and logistical support for the education of the poor and underprivileged students.

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Coming down heavily on NEET examination for MBBS programme, he said it is denying and depriving aspiring students of their opportunity and has to be repealed for which education is the tool and nothing else. He was cautioning against any resort to violence.

Since 2017, NEET has had limited opportunities. Even the Agaram foundation could not do anything beyond a point since the law is the stumbling block. In this war, we cannot win without education. As such, hold on to education firmly and nothing else. Otherwise, the majority, who are fools, will defeat you, he added.

The condemnation of Sanatan by Hassan, a newly elected Rajya Sabha MP, comes close on the heels of Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad who had said Sanatan Dharma has ruined India. There was no religion called Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Dharma was responsible for denying Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj his coronation. Its followers tried to assassinate social reformer Jyotirao Phule.

Earlier, in September 2023, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin had likened Sanatan Dharma to dengue and cholera which had to be eliminated. It created a furore with the BJP and Sangh Parivaar painting his as anti-Hindu and had to face court cases though he eventually came out of them.
National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, caused deep hurt and disappointment among the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

He reaffirmed that the party remains committed to pursuing the restoration of the regions constitutional and democratic rights through peaceful, democratic, and constitutional means.

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He reiterated the partys strong opposition to the unilateral and unconstitutional actions taken on August 5, stating that such steps continue to remain unacceptable to the people of Jammu & Kashmir as well as to the party.

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Dr Abdullah asserted that the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference will persist in its peaceful, democratic, and constitutional struggle for the restoration of the regions rights.

He made these remarks during a meeting with several individual and public delegations who called on him at the party headquarters in Srinagar.

Emphasizing the values of public service, sincerity, and loyalty to party ideals and programmes, Dr Abdullah said, Our resolve is rooted in the aspirations and sentiments of the people.

He added, I warmly welcome all those who have joined the National Conference today. Their decision reflects growing faith in our partys vision and commitment to public service. I am confident that their experience and dedication will strengthen our efforts, especially at the grassroots level, and help us better serve the people.
The controversial remarks about Sanatan Dharma made by Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad were strongly condemned by leaders of the BJP-led Mahayuti ruling alliance on Monday.

Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtras Minister of State for Tourism, Mining, and Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Shambhuraj Desai, said on Monday, What Jitendra Awhad said is not acceptable to me. Sanatan Dharma is a distinct ideology that advocates harmony and tolerance. What he said is totally wrong.

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On Sunday, Awhad had said, Sanatan Dharma has ruined India. There was never any religion called Sanatan dharma. We are followers of Hinduism. This so-called Sanatan Dharma denied coronation to our Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It defamed our Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The followers of this Sanatan Dharma tried to murder social reformer Jyotirao Phule. They threw cow dung and filth on his wife, Savitribai Phule.

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This Sanatan Dharma conspired to murder Shahu Maharaj. It didnt even allow Dr BR Ambedkar to drink water or attend school. It was Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar who finally stood up against Sanatan Dharma, burnt the Manusmriti, and rejected its oppressive traditions. The author of Manusmriti came from this Sanatani tradition.

Reacting to the remarks, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC said, It has become a trend for the opposition to criticise Sanatan Dharma. Their claim that Sanatan Dharma is a distorted ideology separate from Hinduism reflects their ignorance. By making such absurd remarks, they are perpetuating caste oppression and social exclusion.

BJP leader Ram Kadam said that Awhads statements reflect an incomplete understanding of Hindu scriptures.

The statement by a leader of Sharad Pawars party is based on an incomplete study of Hindu scriptures. Are you defaming Sanatan Dharma? Will you now do this for political gain? It is unfortunate that he (Awhad) is making such statements solely for the sake of appeasement politics, Kadam remarked.

Several other BJP leaders also condemned Awhads anti-Sanatan Dharma remarks.

Maharashtra BJP state unit chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye told reporters on Monday, After the court debunked the false narrative of saffron terrorism, those following the Congress culture have resumed propaganda targeting Sanatan Hinduism. This shows they are prepared to erase the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Those who follow Congress ideology but wear the mask of Hindutva have now exposed themselves by participating in the conspiracy to label Sanatan Dharma as terrorist.

Upadhye further questioned whether Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who identifies as a Hindutva supporter, endorsed Awhads anti-Sanatan remarks.

After the court rejected the conspiracy by Congress and Sharad Pawar to falsely implicate Hindutva activists in the Malegaon blast case, a new narrative is being peddled  this time under the guise of Sanatani terrorism, fronted by MLA Jitendra Awhad. The Congress has forgotten that Sanatan Dharma represents Indias ancient and tolerant social system, which Mahatma Gandhi also followed, he said.

Citing an article written by Mahatma Gandhi in Young India in October 1921, Upadhye said, Sanatan Dharma is the culture of India that has gifted the world the value of tolerance. Gandhi wrote in 1921: I consider myself an orthodox Hindu and I have strong faith in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, and all the Hindu scriptures.

Upadhye also criticised Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of hypocrisy.

Why has Uddhav Thackeray, who once claimed to be proud of Hindutva, now gone silent? Has he accepted Jitendra Awhads criticism of Sanatan Dharma? We strongly condemn the Congress culture and Uddhav Thackeray, who has bowed before it and accepted the anti-Hindu rhetoric of Jitendra Awhad, Upadhye concluded.
CPI MP and Rajya Sabha leader P Sandosh Kumar has urged Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to register an FIR against Bajrang Dal activists accused of threatening three tribal girls who were travelling with two nuns recently jailed on charges of religious conversion in Durg, Chhattisgarh.

Sandosh Kumar recalled that Sister Preethi and Sister Vandana were attacked by Bajrang Dal miscreants at Durg Railway Station and later arrested on baseless charges of conversion and human trafficking.

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In his letter, he said, I visited Chhattisgarh twice in this regard, met the affected persons, and witnessed first-hand the climate of intimidation that has gripped the victims.

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After ten days in jail, the nuns were granted bail, with widespread support from progressive forces. The CPI has decided to provide full legal and social aid to the tribal girls Kamleshwari Pradhan (21), Lalita Usendi (19) and Sukhmati Mandavi (19) who were traveling with the nuns and have since come under threat from right-wing vigilantes.

The girls, from extremely vulnerable backgrounds, have already submitted a signed statement of their ordeal to the SP of Durg.

Sandosh Kumar stated that, Owing to CPIs principled stand to support the girls, our Narayanpur District Secretary, Shri Phool Singh Kachlam, has now received threats from these elements. This is unacceptable and reflects poorly on the law-and-order situation in the state.

The CPI has demanded that the three girls and CPI District Secretary Phool Singh Kachlam be provided immediate security, that an FIR be registered against those issuing threats, and that strict action be taken against vigilante groups attempting to intimidate the victims and obstruct justice.

Vigilantes cannot be allowed to target poor girls and political activists with impunity. The Chhattisgarh government must act urgently to protect the oppressed and uphold the rule of law, P Sandosh added while stating that the case had drawn national and international outrage.

Earlier on Monday, Congress MP Hibi Eden moved a notice for Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the arrest of two Kerala-based nuns and tribal girls in Chhattisgarh on the charges of human trafficking.

In his adjournment motion notice, he demanded a proper investigation into the issue, withdrawal of the case against the nuns, and exclusion of NIA from such matters unless absolutely necessary.

The nuns from Kerala were arrested at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on July 25.
MANILA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine House of Representatives has filed a motion urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling that blocked the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said Monday.

In a statement, Romualdez said the House acted "in full compliance with the Constitution" when it transmitted the impeachment complaint against Duterte on Feb. 5.

The motion, submitted through the Office of the Solicitor General, argued that the Court had "misread the facts" and applied new rules retroactively, warning that the decision could undermine Congress's constitutional role and weaken people's right to hold officials accountable.

"This is not an act of defiance. It is an act of duty. We do not challenge the authority of the Court. We seek only to preserve the rightful role of the House, the voice of the people, in the process of accountability," Romualdez said.

Romualdez insisted that the House did not violate the constitutional one-year bar when it impeached Duterte.

He emphasized that the earlier three complaints were archived only after the Feb. 5 transmission of the fourth, which he said constituted the sole valid initiation of the fourth impeachment, in line with the Constitution's one-year bar.

On July 25, the Supreme Court unanimously voted to declare the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, preventing the Senate from assuming jurisdiction.

The Court said that Duterte was not absolved of the allegations and that a new complaint may only be filed after Feb. 6, 2026.

The Senate has yet to decide whether to appeal or abide by the Supreme Court ruling. 
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the criminal defamation case pending before a Lucknow court against Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi in connection with his remarks about the Indian Army during the 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra.

However, the court also strongly admonished the Leader of the Opposition for his remarks, saying a true Indian will not say all this when there is conflict on the border.

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While hearing a petition filed by Gandhi against an Allahabad High Court order upholding a Lucknow court summons issued to him, the Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih cautioned Gandhi over his public remarks.

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Why in a social media post and not in Parliament? the Bench asked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing Rahul Gandhi.

The court also asked the Leader of the Opposition what credible material was behind his claim that China has acquired 2000 sq km of Indian land.

How do you get to know when 2000 sq km was acquired by China? What is the credible material? A true Indian will not say this. When there is a conflict across border, can you say all this? Why cant you ask the question in parliament? the bench further questioned the Congress leader.

The defamation case, one of many filed against the Congress leader, pertains to a complaint filed by a former director of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

The complaint alleged that Rahul Gandhis December 16, 2022, remarks regarding the India-China border standoff were derogatory and defamatory towards the Indian armed forces. The Congress leader had said that Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren passed away on Monday, his son and current chief minister Heman Soren confirmed. Taking to X, Heman Soren shared the news of the demise of his father. In a post on X, he said, Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty.

Shibu Soren (81), a Rajya Sabha MP, was the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and a prominent tribal leader.He was suffering from a kidney-related ailment and was admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the last week of June.

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Minutes after Hemant Soren shared the news of the demise of his father, Shibu Soren, condolences by several political leaders poured in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, describing Shibu Soren as a grassroots leader who dedicated his life to the welfare of tribals and the people of Jharkhand.

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Undisputed president of JMM

Shibu Soren, a prominent tribal leader and advocate for the rights and welfare of Jharkhands tribal communities, served as the President of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a key constituent of the INDIA alliance. The partys major goal was to secure a separate state for the tribal population, ultimately fulfilled by the creation of Jharkhand in 2000. He played a leading role in the movement for the creation of a separate Jharkhand state. He also held the position of Chief Minister of Jharkhand on three separate occasions.

Affectionately known as Dishom Guru (Great Leader) by his supporters, Shibu Soren helmed the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) for nearly four decadesfrom 1987 until April 2025serving as its undisputed president throughout.

Shibu Sorens Tenure as Union Minister Marked by Legal Troubles and Controversy

Shibu Soren served as Union Coal Minister three times during the UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh  in 2004, from 2004 to 2005, and again in 2006. He resigned from the Cabinet after an arrest warrant was issued in connection with the 1974 Chirudih case, which involved a violent clash between tribals and Muslims.

After securing bail, he was re-inducted into the Union Cabinet but soon resigned to become the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. His tenure lasted just 10 days, after which he returned as Coal Minister in 2006.

Less than a year later, Soren was convicted of the murder of his former secretary, Shashinath Jha, marking the first time a Union Minister was found guilty in a murder case. However, the Delhi High Court later acquitted him.

His final term as Chief Minister ended abruptly after his party supported a motion brought by the UPA in Parliament  despite being in alliance with the BJP in Jharkhand. In retaliation, the BJP withdrew support, leading to the collapse of his government.

Shibu Sorens early life

Shibu Soren was born in the Ramgarh district, which was part of undivided Bihar at the time. A member of the Santhal tribe, his father was killed by the goons allegedly hired by moneylenders. The killing of his father became a turning point in Shibu Sorens life, cementing his early political activism against exploitation and injustice.

At the age of 18, he founded the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh to mobilize tribal youth. In 1972, he co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) along with Bengali Marxist trade unionist A.K. Roy and Kurmi-Mahato leader Binod Bihari Mahato. Soren became the partys general secretary and played a central role in organising mass agitations to reclaim tribal lands that had been alienated by non-tribal settlers and landlords. These movements often involved forcibly harvesting crops on disputed land and holding peoples courts to deliver summary justice against landlords and moneylenders. On January 23, 1975, Soren was accused of inciting a violent campaign to expel outsidersnon-tribal residentsfrom tribal-dominated areas.

His Lok Sabha run

Shibu Soren was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 from the Dumka constituency. He went on to win the seat again in 1989, 1991, and 1996. In 2002, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, but soon after won the Dumka Lok Sabha seat in a by-election the same year, prompting his resignation from the Upper House. He was re-elected from Dumka in 2004. However, in a significant political setback, Soren lost his long-held bastion in the 2019 general elections, when the BJPs Nalin Soren defeated him by a margin of over 45,000 votes.

Soren is survived by his wife, Roopi Soren, two sons, Hemant and Basant, and a daughter, Anjali. His elder son, Durga Soren, passed away in 2009. Hemant currently serves as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand and has recently assumed the role of JMM president, while Basant is a sitting MLA.
United States President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to substantially raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, alleging that New Delhi is reselling it on the open market for significant profits.

In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump said, India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits.

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Reiterating his administrations accusation that New Delhi is financing Russias war in Ukraine by purchasing oil and military equipment from the Kremlin, Trump added, They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA.

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His latest tariff warning comes just days after he imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, along with an unspecified penalty related to its trade with Russia.

On Saturday, Trump had claimed that he had heard India would stop purchasing Russian crude oil. However, Indian government sources swiftly refuted this, clarifying that Indian refiners would continue to buy oil from Russia. The decision, they said, is driven by economic considerations, including price, crude grade, and logistical factors.

Government officials also outlined the rationale behind Indias continued energy ties with Russia, noting that Russia is the worlds second-largest crude oil producer, with an output of about 9.5 million barrels per day (nearly 10% of global supply), and the second-largest exporter, supplying roughly 4.5 million barrels per day of crude and 2.3 million barrels per day of refined products.

Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated Indias stance, saying energy sourcing decisions are based on market dynamics and national interest.

As far as sourcing Indias energy requirements is concerned, we take decisions based on the price at which oil is available in the international market and depending on the global situation at that time, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly press briefing. He declined to comment when asked specifically about Trumps claim.
A shocking incident of chain snatching involving Congress MP R. Sudha Ramakrishnan in the high-security Chanakyapuri area of the national Capital has triggered an outcry from Congress leaders, who have accused the Union Home Ministry and Delhi government of a total breakdown in law and order.

Reacting strongly to the incident, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jebi Mather said: In the national Capital, early in the morning, a woman Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu gets attacked. Her chain is snatched. Her clothes are torn. Where is womens safety in this country? If this is the situation under the nose of the Union Home Ministry, where do we stand in womens safety in India?

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Congress MP Pramod Tiwari echoed the concern, criticising the BJP-led government: Gang wars, shootings, and murders have become a daily occurrence in Delhi. Law and order, which is under the Central Government and the Home Ministry, has completely collapsed. Even today, we received news that one of our MPs was a victim of chain snatching in Chanakyapuri, considered the most secure area It seems law and order no longer exists under PM Modis and BJPs rule.

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The incident occurred early on Monday morning while the Mayiladuthurai MP was out for a walk near Gate 3 and 4 of the Polish Embassy, accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Rajathi.

According to her complaint, a man wearing a full-face helmet approached them on a Scooty from the opposite direction and snatched Sudhas gold chain before fleeing. The area is known for housing multiple foreign embassies and VIP residences, raising serious concerns about security.

Congress Member of Parliament Hibi Eden also contributed to the reactions. Unfortunately, a Congress MP, Sudhas gold chain was snatched early in the morning, and she reported it to the nearest police station, but nobody was even responding. So, how safe is the common man if a lady MP has to suffer this? We strongly condemn this, and we wanted her to speak in Parliament, but the Speaker has denied permission. We will continue to raise this issue, he said.

The Delhi Police have begun an investigation and are scanning CCTV footage from the vicinity. The Congress party is expected to raise the matter strongly in Parliament this week.
In 2025, numerous conferences will address climate change and nature conservation; among the most significant is the 30th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), scheduled for November 1021 in Belem, Brazil. This event is of particular importance as it will conduct the second global stock-take under the Paris Agreement, evaluating collective progress towards climate goals.

The outcomes of COP30 are expected to drive enhanced efforts in emissions reduction, climate adaptation, and the mobilization of financial and technological resources, especially for vulnerable regions such as the Amazon. Equally important is the IUCN World Conservation Congress, to be held from October 9-15 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. As the foremost global forum for biodiversity and conservation, the Congress will guide strategic priorities for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Together, these forums provide essential opportunities for advancing international collaboration, integrating scientific insights, and translating policy commitments into effective, actionable solutions. For now, July 28th, World Nature Conservation Day served as a poignant reminder of an undeniable truth  a healthy environment is not a luxury, but the bedrock of a stable and productive society.

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It underscored our collective responsibility to protect, conserve, and sustainably manage our planets invaluable natural resources for the well-being of present and future generations. In an era marked by unprecedented environmental challenges, from climate change and biodiversity loss to resource depletion and pollution, this day implored us to reflect on our relationship with nature and to commit to decisive action. The consequences of environmental degradation are no longer distant threats; they are palpable realities impacting lives and livelihoods globally.

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As Margaret Mead (American Cultural Anthropologist) succinctly points that We wont have a society if we destroy the environment. The intricate web of life, from the smallest microbe to the largest mammal, provides us with essential ecosystem services, including clean air and water, fertile soil for food production, climate regulation, and critical raw materials. When these systems are compromised, the ripple effects are far-reaching. This sentiment has been echoed more strongly by E. O. Wilson, a renowned biologist and champion of biodiversity, who highlighted the critical role of even the smallest creatures. He said, If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago.

If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos. The consequences of environmental degradation are many. Economically, environmental degradation can lead to resource scarcity, increased disaster frequency, and disruption of industries reliant on natural capital. Socially, it can increase poverty, displace communities, and fuel conflicts over dwindling resources. Psychologically, the loss of natural spaces and the looming threat of ecological collapse can induce anxiety and a diminished quality of life. Mahatma Gandhi had famously stated that the Earth provides enough to satisfy every mans needs, but not every mans greed, profoundly encapsulating the core challenge of our time  balancing human development with ecological integrity.

India, a land of immense biodiversity and a rich tradition of environmental stewardship, has a growing number of contemporary conservation success stories and ongoing initiatives. Indias multifaceted environmental conservation efforts are exemplified by the success of Project Tiger, initiated in 1973 to avert the extinction of the Bengal tiger. Through targeted strategies such as habitat protection, anti-poaching initiatives, and scientific monitoring, tiger populations have significantly rebounded. The Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, which recovered from a complete loss of tigers in 2009, now serves as an international model for species recovery. Conservationist Dr. Valmik Thapar highlights the ecological ripple effect of such efforts, stating that When we save a tiger, we save a constellation of life that includes communities, forests, and rivers.

In parallel, water conservation has gained prominence through grassroots movements and individual efforts. Organizations like the Environmentalist Foundation of India (E.F.I.) have revived traditional water bodies through community engagement, while environmentalists such as Rajendra Singh, Sundar Lal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Lakshmikutty, and Tulsi Gowda have played pivotal roles in promoting sustainable practices. Forest conservation, supported by legislative tools like the Forest Conservation Act (1980), has increasingly relied on participatory models such as Joint Forest Management (JFM), which involves local communities in resource stewardship. Additionally, species reintroduction initiatives and eco-conscious start-ups  like Gud Gum and Organic Maadi  demonstrate Indias growing alignment of innovation, community participation, and sustainability in environmental governance. The global movement for nature conservation has achieved significant progress through multifaceted strategies. Protected areas, including national parks and biosphere reserves, now cover a substantial portion of the Earths surface.

For instance, Chile recently established five national parks in Patagonia, conserving 10 million acres while promoting eco-tourism. Species recovery efforts have also seen success  the southern white rhino population has increased from 50 to over 11,000 due to anti-poaching measures and sanctuaries. Similar progress is evident in initiatives targeting African elephants, lions, and marine species. Marine conservation is gaining momentum, with organizations like Project AWARE mobilizing scuba divers globally to remove marine debris and advocate for policy reform. In Costa Rica, coral reef restoration and protection of nesting sea turtles bolster marine biodiversity. Community-based conservation is equally critical. Moreover, indigenous groups such as Bolivias Izoceno-Guarani integrate traditional knowledge with modern practices.

Efforts in sustainable agriculture, reforestation in Portugal and the Amazon, and eco-volunteering contribute to ecosystem restoration. The Global Environment Facility (GEF), comprising 183 nations, plays a pivotal role in financing biodiversity protection. Its support for the Amazon Fund  largely funded by Norway and Germany  has led to a 70 per cent reduction in deforestation, strengthened indigenous stewardship, and enhanced forest monitoring, making the Brazilian Amazon a model of sustainable development and ecological resilience. However, there is still an enormous amount of work to be done in reducing carbon emissions and restoring our fragile ecosystems. Environmentalists continue to raise urgent concerns about melting glaciers, dying coral reefs, and widespread deforestation driven by unchecked development.

Given the crises looming large on our ecosystem per se, achieving the 2030 SDGs seems a distant dream. Money alone is not the answer. Only when conservation finance empowers communities does it become a lasting, just solution, points out Dr. Jane Goodall. Any financial model that externalizes social or environmental costs is parasitic and doomed to collapse, asserts Nobel laureate Dr. Elinor Ostrom. Both education and storytelling hold equal power. In 2023, Earth Rangers  a Canadian youth-driven initiative  successfully crowdfunded $2 million to place tracking collars on African elephants, using gamified storytelling to engage and inspire. This effort demonstrated that young people can also be powerful funders.

As co-founder Dr. Chris G. Anderson puts it, When the stories are true, the money flows. In this interconnected era, a baboons laugh in Kenya, a young girls scholarship in Maasailand (East Africa), and the planets carbon balance are signatures on the same balance sheet. The future we bequeath will not be decided by generals of the past, but by civilians of the present.

(The writer is Programme Executive, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti.)
Every monsoon, the town of Ghatal in West Midnapore district of West Bengal becomes an island in a sea of misery. For the 2.5 lakh people living here and in its surrounding blocks, the arrival of rain is not a seasonit is a sentence. Year after year, like clockwork, the rivers rise and the floodwaters return, seeping into homes, swallowing fields, drowning roads. Generations have lived and died here without ever seeing a year free of waterlogged streets and submerged lives.

Whether you speak to a child barely old enough to wade through knee-deep water or an octogenarian who has watched the town drown since the 1970s, the refrain is the same: Amader janya barsha mane mrityu aar dhangsher bartafor us, the monsoon means a message of death and destruction.

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The Geographical Trap: A Basin Shaped for Disaster

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Ghatals geography is its original curse. The town itself is shaped like a cauldron, resting barely seven to nine metres above sea level, while the average elevation of the lower Shilabati catchment is just five metres. Through its heart flows the Shilabati River, bisecting the town, while the Kansabati, Rupnarayan, Jhumi, and a dense network of distributaries encircle it like liquid nooses.

During the monsoon, these water systems swell. Environmentalist Dr. Pravat Kumar Shit illustrates how the Shilabati alone receives inflow from six major tributariesJoypanda, Betal, Donai, Tangai, Kubai, and Parangand more than 70 smaller streams. Every storm flushes vast amounts of sediment and water into Ghatals basin, he says. And the natural gradient doesnt let this water escape.

The problem is hydraulic: the rivers gradient is steep in the upper reaches0.84% slope, allowing rapid flowbut this plummets to just 0.02% as the river nears Bandar, near Ghatal. This means that by the time water descends here, its velocity drops from 50 m/s upstream at Banka to just 22 m/s at Bandar. The discharge reduces from 113 cubic metres per second to almost half, choking the rivers capacity to drain itself.

With even moderate rainfall of 200 mm in a few days, which has become increasingly common, Ghatals fragile defenses crumble. The land cannot absorb, the rivers cannot evacuate, and the people cannot escape.

From Natures Wrath to Human Folly

Geography alone, however, is no longer solely to blame. In the name of development, embankments, wetlands, and channels have been encroached upon, while illegal constructions have mushroomed in low-lying areas. Reservoirs upstream, like Kangsabati and Damodar, discharge water during monsoon precisely when tidal flows from the Rupnarayan surge inland. This double assault traps Ghatal between upstream floods and downstream tidal bulges.

Moreover, the rivers themselves are dying of neglect. Decades of silting have raised riverbeds higher than the floodplains they should have protected. The Palaspai and Durbachati distributaries, once natural escape channels for water, now struggle against accumulated sediment.

The Rupnarayan River, for instance, has accumulated an estimated 26.57 million cubic metres of sediment in just the lower 40 kilometres over the past 25 years. Sediment transport studies reveal suspended sediment concentrations between 3.1 and 5.05 gm/l in non-monsoon seasons, spiking to 4.97 to 6.5 gm/l during monsoon. High tides carry up to 1.29  108 metric tons/year of suspended sediment upstream, more than what is discharged downstream during low tides, especially in non-monsoon seasons. This imbalance accelerates shoaling, reducing water flow capacity.

In monsoon, while sediment transport during high tide peaks at 2.45  108 metric tons/year, it nearly matches the low tide discharge of 2.3  108 metric tons/year, keeping sedimentation somewhat in check. However, water discharge directly influences sediment transport (correlation coefficient r = 0.908), proving that without robust river management, no flood mitigation can succeed.

The Colonial Legacy of Embankments

This isnt a new crisis. In the colonial era, landlords constructed circuit embankments like the Ghatal, Panna, Chetua, Mohankhali, Dashpur, and Narajal circuits to shield farmlands from seasonal flooding. After the Bengal Embankment Act of 1873, maintenance shifted to the government, but with little scientific upkeep.

Professor Biswajit Bera of Sidho Kanho Birsha University, a river scientist, explains that these embankments inadvertently created a double-edged hydrology. They prevented natural flooding but caused silt to accumulate behind the walls. Over time, riverbeds became elevated relative to adjacent lands, turning any embankment breach into a disaster as water flooded the depressed areas, called Chatal, where it stagnated for weeks.

Even today, only the four-metre-high Chetua Circuit embankment offers some protection, but it is insufficient against rising water levels and spring tides, which now push seawater deep into Ghatals interior.

The Ghatal Master Plan: A Dream Deferred

In 1976, officials envisioned a comprehensive solutionthe Ghatal Master Plan. Proposed by the West Bengal Irrigation and Waterways Department, the plan promised high earthen embankments, dredging and widening rivers, installing sluice gates, pumps, and even constructing reservoirs. A foundation stone was laid in 1982. Then nothing.

For decades, the plan languished in files gathering dust. A brief revival in 2009 saw WAPCOS, a central public sector enterprise, prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) covering 1,659 sq km across 13 blocks, estimating costs at Rs 1,740 crore. The Ganga Flood Control Commission approved it in 2015, recommending Rs 1,214.92 crore for the first phase. Yet, work never began.

In 2022, the Centre suggested placing the project under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme, and in 2024, finally granted Investment Clearance. But as of 2025, there is little to show on the ground.

In a telling statement, Union Jal Shakti Minister Chandrakant R. Patil admitted that the Centre lacks sufficient funds for the Master Plan, advising West Bengal to approach institutions like the World Bank for loans. The state government has been told it can seek external funding, and the Centre will assist as needed, Patil said. A central promise reduced to an international funding suggestion.

Floods and the Politics of Memory

Every election cycle, Ghatals floods returnnot just in waterlogged lanes but on political podiums. From Panchayat polls to Lok Sabha campaigns, every party promises to fast-track the Master Plan. Yet each monsoon, Ghatal returns to square one.

In Ghatals narrow streets, people scoff at the term Master Plan. A common joke here goes: Plan ta Master-er, kaj ta Disaster-er. Residents oscillate between rage and resignation. As elections approach again in 2026, political manifestos will no doubt resurrect the plan. But on the ground, hope has withered.

The Science of a Sustainable Future

What Ghatal needs is not just embankments or promises but a holistic, science-driven river basin management strategy. Experts stress the importance of dredging, controlled upstream releases, restoring wetlands for natural drainage, and continuous monitoring of sedimentation rates. Data-driven interventions must replace ad hoc embankment patch-ups.

For instance, the rate of bed load transportthe movement of sediment along the riverbedvaries sharply with seasons. It ranges from 0.1905 to 6.52985 kg/m/sec in pre-monsoon, peaks at 0.5008 to 14.74893 kg/m/sec in monsoon, and tapers to 0.2318 to 6.31764 kg/m/sec in post-monsoon. Without engineering solutions aligned to these dynamics, any structural intervention remains temporary.

Moreover, flood management must factor in climate variability. With rainfall patterns growing erratic due to climate change, episodic bursts of 200-250 mm rainfall in 3-4 days are becoming common, overwhelming outdated flood defenses.

Living With Water: The Human Cost

In every flood, there is an untold human story. Children missing school because classrooms are underwater. Farmers watching entire harvests rot. Households survive without electricity or clean drinking water for weeks. Municipal pump houses remain shut. People die not just from drowning but from snakebites, electrocution, and waterborne diseases. Livestock perish or fall sick standing in fetid water. Communication networks collapse.

For eight to ten surrounding gram panchayats, this is a cyclic apocalypse. Villages vanish beneath murky water, and the air smells of rot and resignation.

A Plan Still in Paper, A Town Still in Water

The Ghatal Master Plan has become less a blueprint and more a fableinvoked in speeches, enshrined in files, but absent on the ground. Yet, the town waits. Because it has no choice. Every monsoon, Ghatals people stack bricks by their doors, lift their beds on platforms, and prepare dinghies to navigate submerged streets.

As long as politics trumps planning, as long as sediment chokes rivers and corruption chokes governance, Ghatal will drownnot just in water, but in indifference.

And yet, perhaps somewhere between the rivers slow drift and the towns stubborn endurance, there remains a sliver of hope: that someday, a promise made will be a promise kept.
Families of detained and forcibly disappeared Baloch leaders continued with their sit-in protest in Islamabad despite facing harsh weather conditions and state intimidation, leading the Baloch human rights group, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), reported on Saturday.

As per BYC, the families had travelled from Balochistan all the way to Islamabad in search for justice.

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The protesters include elderly women and children who have withstood heavy rains, extreme heat, and severe weather over the past several days.

Despite this, BYC said that the state has responded with roadblocks, surveillance, intimidation, along with the sealing of roads in front of the National Press Club.

Today marks Day 18 since the Baloch families of detained BYC leaders and other enforcedly disappeared persons travelled from Balochistan to Islamabad in search of justice, BYC said in a post on the social media platform X.

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BYC further added, For 18 consecutive days, these families, many of them elderly women and children, have sat in protest through heavy rain, unbearable heat, and harsh weather, yet no camp has been allowed. Instead of listening to their cries, the state has responded with roadblocks, intimidation, surveillance, and the sealing of the road in front of the National Press Club.

Balochistan has long been the centre of persistent human rights issues. The area has experienced cycles of violence related to separatist movements, a heavy military presence, forced disappearances, and economic neglect. These challenges have attracted attention from human rights groups, journalists, and international observers.

Human rights groups have long accused Pakistani authorities of abducting civilians in Balochistan without due process, using enforced disappearances to suppress dissent and intimidate communities in restive areas. Pakistani authorities routinely deny these allegations, but civil society continues to condemn the security forces role in systematic abductions targeting students, political workers, and residents.
The Kremlin has reacted cautiously to US President Donald Trumps decision to deploy two nuclear submarines near Russian waters. As per reports on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned against escalating nuclear rhetoric but downplayed the move as a routine action.

The development comes after Trump stated that the US is totally prepared in response to a nuclear threat from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who had previously reminded Trump of Russias nuclear capabilities.

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The tension between the US and Russia began when Medvedev made a statement about Russias nuclear strike capabilities, prompting Trump to respond with a threat of his own. Trump ordered the deployment of two US nuclear submarines to appropriate regions in response to Medvedevs comments, which he deemed foolish and inflammatory.

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The US submarines in question are Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarines, capable of carrying up to 24 Trident II D5 ballistic missiles that can deliver multiple thermonuclear warheads.

Trump ordered the deployment of two US nuclear submarines near Russian waters, stating that the move was necessary to protect US interests.

Dmitry Peskov cautioned against nuclear rhetoric, emphasizing the need for restraint and diplomacy to avoid escalating tensions.

Russia has a significant number of nuclear submarines in the worlds oceans, with some lawmakers dismissing the US deployment as insignificant.

Security analysts have described Trumps move as a rhetorical escalation, noting that the US already has nuclear-powered submarines deployed and capable of striking Russia. Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists pointed out that US nuclear submarines are always positioned to launch nuclear-armed missiles at targets in Russia, making the recent deployment unnecessary. Some experts believe the move is more signaling than a genuine attempt to escalate the situation.

The deployment of US nuclear submarines has raised concerns about the potential for unintended consequences. Trump warned that words are important and can lead to unintended consequences, expressing hope that the deployment would serve as a deterrent and prevent escalation.

Meanwhile, Russia has set out its own terms for peace in Ukraine, and has given no indication that it will comply with Trumps 10-day deadline.
US President Donald Trump reiterated his claims of mediating the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan as well as helping to resolve several other global conflicts.

Trump on Sunday took to his social media, slamming American radio host and author Charlamagne Tha God. He said that the author knows nothing about him and what he has done, including ending 5 wars.

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Like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31-year bloodbath between the Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight. He didnt know that, or India and Pakistan or wiping out Irans nuclear capabilities, or closing the horrendous open Border, or creating the greatest economy, Trump posted on Truth Social.

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The latest remarks came days after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that the US President ended several conflicts around the world, including the one between India and Pakistan, during his six months in office and therefore should be awarded the coveted Nobel Peace Prize.

The President has now ended conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo, and Egypt and Ethiopia. This means President Trump has brokered, on average, about one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his six months in office. It is well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, she said at a White House press briefing.

Last week, during a Rajya Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S.Jaishankar categorically stated that no phone conversations occurred between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Trump between April 22 and June 16.

Addressing concerns raised during the discussion, Jaishankar also underlined Indias unwavering policy against third-party mediation in its dealings with Pakistan. He reiterated that any dialogue must be strictly bilateral and contingent upon formal communication through the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO).

When Operation Sindoor was initiated, several countries reached out to understand the situation, the EAM said.

We conveyed a consistent message  we were not open to any external mediation. Any issue between India and Pakistan would be settled bilaterally. We were responding to an attack, and that response would continue unless Pakistan formally requested a cessation of hostilities through the appropriate military channel, he added.
People enjoy Chaobola, a street food listed as municipal-level intangible cultural heritage, at a food festival in Zhangye, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo by Feng Li/Xinhua)

A chef cooks Chaobola, a street food listed as municipal-level intangible cultural heritage, at a food festival in Zhangye, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo by Feng Li/Xinhua)

Cooks perform cooking Chaobola, a street food listed as municipal-level intangible cultural heritage, at a food festival in Zhangye, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo by Cheng Lin/Xinhua)

Staff distribute Chaobola, a street food listed as municipal-level intangible cultural heritage, at a food festival in Zhangye, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo by Feng Li/Xinhua)
Amid speculations over the mysterious death of businessman Sunjay Kapur, his mother Rani Kapur has sent a letter to the government in UK, seeking a thorough investigation into the 'mysterious circumstances' surrounding the untimely demise of her son.

Rani Kapur raised concerns about "coordinated transnational conspiracy" involving individuals from India, the UK and even the USA. This comes as the Kapur family is stuck in a bitter feud over succession in the 30,000 crore Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd (Sona Comstar) business empire.

#WATCH | Mumbai | Mother of late businessman Sunjay Kapur, Rani Kapur says, "I still don't know what happened to my son. I'm old now and need closure before I go. I may be old and frail now, but my memory of being with my husband when Sona (Sona Comstar) was set up is strong. I pic.twitter.com/rHVoB3MpZP  ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2025

Rani Kapur, who is the former chairperson and co-founder of Sona Comstar, filed a criminal complaint with the Surrey Police over the death of Sunjay at the Duke's Ground of Old Guards Polo Club. He died on June 12 during a polo match following a cardiac arrest. Sunjay accidentally swallowed a bee that got stuck in his throat and led to an allergic reaction.

She claimed that there is "credible and concerning evidence" Sunjay's death may not have been "natural or accidental" but may in fact have involved foul play, including the possibility of murder, abetment, conspiracy, fraud, and forgery.

I am compelled to bring to your urgent attention that credible and concerning evidence has surfaced indicating that his death may not have been natural or accidental, she wrote.

Sunjay's mother claimed that since his death, she has come across dubious asset transfers, forged financial records, suspicious legal filings and "indications of coercion or collusion between individuals who stood to gain financially from his demise".

"I respectfully request for immediate registration of a formal complaint and initiation of a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding my sons death," she wrote.

Rani also urged the authorities to seize CCTV footage, forensic evidence, digital records, medical and financial documents.

Speaking to ANI, Rani said, "I still don't know what happened to my son. Im old now and need closure before I go." While pointing out that she had no involvement in the company since 2019, she asserted that "our family legacy must not be lost. It must be passed on, as my husband always wanted it to be."
US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose more tariffs on India for continuing to buy Russian oil, alleging that New Delhi does not care about Kyiv.

This move comes a week after announcement of 25 per cent tariff on India over "high tariffs on US goods" and procurement of Russian oil and military products.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump said, "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits."

He alleged that India does not care about how many Ukrainians are being killed by the "Russian War Machine". However, Trump did not mention about the rate of the tariffs or when they would come into effect.

In response, India on Monday slammed the US and European countries for continuing to back Russian goods and energy products during the Ukraine war, saying the targeting of India is "unjustified and unreasonable."

"Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," stated MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, adding that that the implications of the tariffs are being examined.

Last week, the US president said he does not care what India does with Russia. "They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World."

India has expressed hope in concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement. The two sides have carried out five rounds of negotiations so far. The US team will visit India on August 25 for the next round of talks that will go on till August 29.
For India, bilateral trade negotiations have become more important than ever. Our economy is in a unique positionwe are facing a significant new challenge and an opportunity, at the same time.

It all started with Indias largest trading partner, the United States of America, announcing a sweeping 25% tariff on all Indian goods. In parallel, India also signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom, expected to come into effect in phases. While the first one makes Indian products more expensive in the American market, the latter will eliminate taxes on most Indian exports to the UK.

So, how much of Indias exports are impacted, and what does this new trade reality mean for key Indian industries and the common person?

The two sides of the coin

The US challenge: A tariff is a tax imposed by a country on imported goods. The new 25 per cent US tariff means that for every 100 worth of goods an Indian company sends to the US, the American importer will have to pay an additional 25 in tax. This cost is usually passed on to the American consumer, making the Indian product more expensive compared to similar items from countries not facing the tariff, like Mexico and Vietnamor even China. This could lead to a sharp drop in orders for Indian factories.

MORE | FACT CHECK: New Delhi to modify India-US bilateral agreements after Trump's 25% tariff? Here's the truth

The UK opportunity: A free trade deal does the opposite. The India-UK FTA is expected to remove British tariffs on over 99 per cent of Indian goods. This means our products would become cheaper and more competitive in the UK market. For instance, a 12 per cent tariff on Indian textiles will be cut to zero, giving Indian sellers a major price advantage.

So, how does this coin of trade impact the major Indian export sectors?

Electronics and smartphones

The US tariffs are a major blow to the Make in India initiative. India has become a significant exporter of smartphones, with major global brands manufacturing here (like Apple and Samsung) for export. The 25 per cent tariff would instantly erase the cost competitiveness of these Indian-made phones in the US market, likely causing a severe drop in exports.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industrys monthly reports in the coming quarter would give us a better idea of the impact.

MORE | Trump tariffs: Undeterred India to continue buying Russian oil

However, the UK FTAonce it comes into effectwould reduce tariffs on Indian electronics in the UK, opening up a new and valuable market. But the volume of smartphone and electronics exports to the US is currently far larger than to the UK, which means it cannot immediately compensate for the potential losses from the massive US market.

Textiles and apparel

The US has been the single largest buyer of Indian apparel and home textiles. A 25 per cent tariff will make our clothing much more expensive for US brands and consumers. This poses a direct threat to millions of jobs in textile hubs like Tiruppur, Ludhiana, and Panipat. Data from the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) of India in the coming months would provide a better insight into the same.

Here is where the UK FTA is a game-changer. The free trade deal essentially eliminates the existing UK tariffs (currently 8-12 per cent) on Indian textiles and apparel, giving our exporters a significant edge over competitors like Bangladesh (which already had duty-free access) and China. This could potentially offset a significant portion of the losses from the US tariffs over time.

Gems and jewellery

This sector, which employs millions in cities like Surat and Jaipur, sends a huge portion of its exports to the US. A 25 per cent tariff on items like cut diamonds and gold jewellery is exceptionally damaging, as margins in this trade are sensitive to price changes. Demand from the US is likely to fall sharply. The UK FTA impact on this is unclear, but the sheer scale of the US market for gems and jewellery means that the industry would face a very challenging period ahead.

Pharmaceuticals

India is known as the pharmacy of the world and is a critical supplier of affordable generic medicines to the US. While essential medicines could get more exemptions from tariffs, if Trump doubles down, it would lead to healthcare costs jumping for American citizens. Trumps April tariff set excluded essential pharma products, but the latest flat tariffs would impact the US more than India.

The UK FTA presents India with a stable new market with a 0 per cent tariff. But it is significantly small, but it is a good change.

Many industry experts, especially in pharma, are not overtly worried about the US tariffs. The UK FTA is timely and crucial to the economy as well, giving Indian exporters a way to diversify away from the US marketespecially for sectors like textiles.

Yet, the UK economy is significantly smaller than that of the US. As export numbers come in over the next quarter, the impact of the US tariffs will become clearer.
After 2022's Decision to Leave, Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is bringing out his new thriller, No Other Choice, headlined by Squid Game actor Lee Byung-hun, known for appearances in acclaimed Korean thrillers like A Bittersweet Life and I Saw the Devil.

No Other Choice, which has been selected as the opening film at this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), is powered by a twisted idea in The Ax, a 1997 novel by mystery author Donald E. Westlake. The plot revolves around a middle-aged man, recently terminated on account of corporate downsizing, drawing up a plan to kill every single man who could be a potential replacement to take over his former job, while desperately looking for new employment.

The story is transplanted to South Korea, with Lee Byung-hun playing the protagonist Man-soo, while Crashing Landing On You actress Son Ye-jin plays his wife, A-ra. Lee will be hosting the BIFF opening ceremony.

The festival will run from Sept. 17 to 26. The organisers picked the film for a reason. "It embodies what audiences most hope to see  a film that can reinvigorate Korean cinema at this pivotal moment," said the team in an official statement. The festival marks its 30th anniversary this year.

No Other Choice is also expected to feature in the competitive section of this year's Venice International Film Festival.

A former film critic, Park Chan-wook made his directorial debut with The Moon... is the Sun's Dream. However, his 2000 film Joint Security Area was what was deemed to be his breakthrough. He later made the 'Vengeance' trilogy, which comprises the widely acclaimed Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance.

For his stellar work in Decision to Leave, Park Chan-wook won Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.
The 71st National Film Awards stirred controversy after Friday nights announcement as Sudipto Sen directorial, The Kerala Story, took home two awards, including Best Direction and Best Cinematography.

The recognition of the filmlabelled as a propaganda piecebrought to light other titles that were deemed more deserving. One notable omission was Blessys Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life).

ALSO READ | 71st National Film Awards: 'Kerala Story' wins twice, despite controversy around its release

The snub came as a shock to all, as the film had been praised for its depiction of a true story set against the desert dunes. Leading man Prithviraj was widely applauded for his performance and for enduring the physical restraints to represent a perished man on the dry land.

Reacting to the National Award debacle, Blessy said he was taken aback by the reasoning given by Jury Chairperson Ashutosh Gowariker. I heard the jury chairperson mention that the film was denied awards due to technical shortcomings. But I remember him appreciating the film deeply during our conversations, the filmmaker said.

ALSO READ | 'Aadujeevitham' review: Behold, a classic

Blessy pointed out an earlier interaction with Gowariker, where he praised the film. When we held a premiere in Mumbai as part of our Oscar campaign, I had reached out to him. We spoke at length, and he praised the film highly, adding that Gowariker had compared Aadujeevitham to David Leans 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia.

That comment felt like an award in itself, Blessy said. He even invited me to lunch the next day to discuss the film further, though I couldnt attend as I had to travel that night.

ALSO READ | 'Prithviraj's commitment gave 'Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life' an unparalleled depth': Blessy, Benyamin

Blessy questioned how a film that was praised by the jury itself could be dismissed on technical grounds. This seems like double standards, he said.

In a statement to the publication, jury member Pradeep Nair explained that Aadujeevitham was considered in several categories but ultimately fell short. Ashutosh Gowariker had seen the film earlier and expressed serious concerns about its adaptation and execution. He, along with others, felt the storytelling lacked authenticity and the performances didnt come across as natural, Nair said.
Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan drew flak during Sundays Kerala Film Conclave for comments he made about the 1.5 crore grants given to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and women filmmakers. While he appreciated the initiative, he raised concerns about its execution.

ALSO READ | Kerala Film Policy Conclave 2025: New measures expected to bring positive changes to Kerala film industry

Taking the stage at the conclave, he said, The government is providing 1.5 crore for filmmakers from the SC/ST communities to make films. I told the Chief Minister that the government is paving the way for corruption through this, but nothing has changed. Gopalakrishnan states that filmmakers have raised complaints about the scheme, and suggested that those receiving it must undergo three months of intensive training before making films.

"Same goes with women, he added. Don't give money to make a film just because she is a woman. Gopalakrishnan also suggested that the amount should be reduced from 1.5 crore to 50 lakh.

Reactions to Gopalakrishnans comments

Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian defended the policy, citing a lack of opportunities for these communities in the past. In the 98 years of Malayalam cinemas history, those from the SC/ST communities have not had a mainstream opportunity. This funding project is one of the best decisions this government has taken, because of which many new filmmakers from these communities were able to come forward, Cherian said, adding that each recipient goes through an intensive screening process.

Filmmaker Dr Biju, a Dalit, strongly opposed Gopalakrishnans comments and posted on Facebook: If many people who have acquired only their creativity without any training can do cinema, similarly, people and women belonging to the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe category can do film.

Keralas Minister of Higher Education R. Bindu also weighed in on the platform and said, It doesn't matter if you roam the world's cinema halls, you have to develop your heart and become a human being.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan is on the move, determined to take up exciting new film roles.

The 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' actor is currently busy shooting for his next film, titled 'Battle of Galwan', about a fierce clash in 2020 between India and China at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

ALSO READ | This award is for you: Shah Rukh Khan on his first National Award win for Jawan

In the meantime, he is currently in talks with acclaimed Mollywood director, screenwriter, and film editor Mahesh Narayanan about an action period-thriller.

"Salman Khan and Mahesh Narayanan have been jamming on multiple ideas, and Salman has given a go-ahead to the filmmaker on a period-thriller with action. The film in discussion will be set in the 1970s to 1990s, and Mahesh will now come back for a full-length narration, a source said about the meeting, as per a Pinkvilla report.

The source added that the talks had already reached an advanced stage, as Salman Khan liked the pitch for the film, and wanted to do a film outside of his comfort zone.

Mahesh Narayanan has written and directed a number of films such as 'Fahadh Faasil-starrers 'Malik', 'Take Off', and 'C U Soon', all of which impressed critics and viewers alike.

ALSO READ | 'Battle of Galwan': Salman Khan's rugged look steals the show in new motion poster, breaks the internet

Be it Galwan, or the Mahesh Narayanan directorialSalman is looking to explore new genres now, that challenge him. There will be a 100 per cent clarity on the Mahesh Narayanan film before the end of this year, the source explained.

Last seen in A.R. Murugadoss' 'Sikander', Salman Khan is expected to continue filming 'Battle of Galwan' till the end of 2025. If the talks with Mahesh Narayanan succeed, he is expected to begin filming for the action period thriller in 2026.
The Telugu film industry has come to a grinding halt after the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation announced on Sunday that an indefinite strike will commence today, August 4. In a press release, the federation attributed the strike to the lack of wage revision and demanded a 30 per cent hike starting Monday.

The federation declared that production can resume once the producer can provide the aforementioned increase. Those providing relevant confirmation from the producer will be allowed to go shooting. The relevant letter needs to be submitted to the federation.

The federation also informed that members will not be permitted to attend the shoot of any film or web series without prior approval. This strike applies to all of Telugu cinema, whether it be high- or low-budget. The halt of production could cause significant delays to film releases and heavy financial losses.

Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce responded to the demands with a press release, stating that the wages already exceed the stipulated minimum. We have already been paying much higher than the existing minimum wages as per the act to both skilled and unskilled workers.

As per the press note, the organisation is engaging in discourse with the producers to come to a solution. The Chamber is in talks with relevant authorities to secure a sustainable resolution. Producers are informed to follow the Chambers guidance strictly and avoid independent action or separate agreements with the union until resolution.

Rajeswar Reddy, former General Secretary of the federation, said in a statement to The Free Press Journal that daily wagers in the industry earn about Rs 1,400 per dayan amount that has not seen an increase for the past three years. "Each film employs 150 to 200 such workers. Producers spend crores on top technicians but hesitate when it comes to marginal hikes for lower-tier workers," Reddy said.
The much-hyped framework agreement between the government and the largest Naga insurgent group, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM), has completed 10 years, but, the larger promise of a Naga accord for lasting peace to the decades-long insurgency is still a distant dream.

Importantly, the framework agreement signed on August 3, 2015, was the culmination of several rounds of discussions to set the stage for political talks and an acceptable solution for both sides. For the government, the basic premise of the talks is finding a lasting solution under the framework of the Indian Constitution. For the NSCN(IM), it has clearly been the protection of the distinct identity and unique history of the Nagas, and the dream of integration of the Naga people territorially and politically, which has been a long-standing demand.

It may be recalled that a historic breakthrough was made in July 2002, at Amsterdam, where the government, represented by K. Padmanabhaiah, met the NSCN leadership and formally recognised the unique history and situation of the Naga people. A joint communique issued after the meeting said that the talks should continue in an accommodative and forward-looking manner so that a lasting and honourable solution can be arrived at. Th Muivah, general secretary of the NSCN called it the first realistic step ever taken towards working out an honourable solution to the long-drawn-out Indo-Naga issue", and praised the Indian leadership, under then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for the right step taken.

After more than 10 years of negotiation, in 2015, the Naga group claimed that the framework agreement signed during the first term of the Modi government acknowledged that the sovereignty of the Nagas lies with the Naga people and that sovereignty would be defined in the final accord.

Interestingly, while the framework agreement was signed between the government and the NSCN(IM), what also followed was several rounds of discussions between the government and another distinct group called the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), a conglomerate of at least seven Naga outfits, after the two signed an agreed position in 2017. The NNPGs have also been discussing the contours of a final agreement that can show the way forward. But the NSCN(IM) views it as an attempt to dilute the Naga peoples struggle and weaken the authority of the NSCN(IM).

The NNPGs, on their part, do not insist on holding talks outside the framework of the Indian Constitution, nor are they insisting on a distinct territorial or political identity for the Naga people. On the other hand, the NSCN(IM) demands a separate flag and has not completely given up its idea of a Greater Nagalim, to be formed by adding contiguous Naga-inhabited regions of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam with Nagaland.

While the government is open to the idea of more autonomy for the Naga-inhabited regions, government officials have clearly said that a separate flag or constitution, or the idea of Greater Nagalim, is neither feasible nor appropriate, given the supremacy of the Indian Constitution.

With a significant drop in insurgency-related incidents in Nagaland and people's demand for lasting peace, all eyes are once again on how quickly the NSCN(IM) and the government are able to show the way forward. We have seen a decline in insurgency-related incidents in Nagaland over the last few years. This demonstrates that there has been a visible shift in peoples minds who are rejecting violence and looking forward to peace and development," says D.K. Pathak, former chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group, created in 2001 to oversee the ceasefire with the Naga militants. But Pathak says the ceasefire must be implemented on the ground for peace dividends to continue.

In the last two years, the spiraling tensions in Manipur following ethnic violence between communities in the hill and valley districts have created concerns for security agencies, who witnessed some activities of the NSCN(IM) in the hill districts, home to the Naga people, keeping them on their toes to prevent any insurgent groups from taking advantage of the situation. The NSCN(IM) is also said to be active in the troubled areas in Myanmar, across the border with Manipur, where it has set up bases and continues smuggling arms and extortion activities, according to intelligence agencies.

Given all the concerns and the evolving security situation in the Northeast, it will be a tightrope walk for the government. Security officials say the focus must be on continuing the ceasefire in letter and spirit with the Naga insurgent groups to ensure the dividends of peace are visible on the ground, while rolling out peace talks and initiatives that can have a lasting impact, not just in Nagaland, but in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and beyond.
BEIJING, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- China has rescued a foreign container ship that caught fire in the South China Sea, saving the lives of its 25 foreign crew members, the Ministry of Transport said on Monday.

On July 28, four containers on a large Liberian-registered container ship suddenly caught fire approximately 190 nautical miles northwest of Yongshu Reef in China's Nansha Islands, threatening the safety of the crew and international shipping routes, according to the ministry.

Upon receiving the alert from the Hainan provincial maritime search and rescue center, the ministry's Nanhai Rescue Bureau promptly initiated an emergency response and dispatched a rescue ship. The ship, which had been on routine patrol duty nearby, moved at full speed to the scene. To ensure the efficiency of rescue operations and the safety of personnel, a rescue helicopter was dispatched to transmit real-time updates on the fire situation.

Visible flames were extinguished by about 2 p.m. on July 30. Following repeated inspections, rescue crews confirmed that no residual fire risks remained by the evening of Aug. 1, securing the safety of the crew, vessel and cargo while preventing secondary disasters like marine pollution.

The rescue vessel remains on-site, safeguarding the container ship to ensure its subsequent voyage safety.

The ministry said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety of international shipping channels in the South China Sea. The successful rescue has not only tested China's emergency response capabilities in deep-sea and far-sea areas, but also demonstrated through concrete actions China's ability to safeguard the lives and property of people at sea, and to ensure the smoothness of international shipping channels. 
Air India on Monday stated that two passengers onboard a Mumbai-bound flight from San Francisco were relocated after they complained about a few small cockroaches on board, the airline said in a statement.

The statement added that until the flight could be properly cleaned, the two passengers were relocated to other seats in the same cabin, after which no further complaints were raised.

ALSO READ | Air India cancels Singapore-Chennai flight AI349 due to technical snag

The airline then proceeded to deep clean flight AI 180, on which the incident reportedly occurred, after it made a scheduled stop at Kolkata for refuelling. The same aircraft was said to have departed for Mumbai.

Air India spokesperson says, On flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, two passengers were unfortunately bothered by the presence of a few small cockroaches on board. Our cabin crew, therefore, relocated the two passengers to other seats in the same cabin, where  ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2025

"Despite our regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter an aircraft during ground operations," Air India said.

Launching a comprehensive investigation into the source and cause of the insect incident, the airline declared that it would implement measures to prevent this in the future. The airline also apologised for "inconvenience caused to the passengers".

This follows Air India's cancellation of a Singapore-Chennai flight on Sunday, following a technical issue that required extended maintenance work.

The technical issues with the AI 349 flight, which was to be operated by an Airbus A321, were identified during a pre-departure check.

"Arrangements are being made to fly the passengers to Chennai at the earliest. Hotel accommodation is being provided, and full refunds on cancellation, or complimentary rescheduling is also being offered to passengers based on their preference," Air India had said.
The body of a 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly set on fire by three miscreants in Puri district of Odisha and succumbed to her burn injuries at AIIMS Delhi, was brought to her home state.

The minors body was brought to the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar on a service flight on Sunday night and later taken to her native place at Balanga in Puri.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, who were present at the airport, paid floral tribute to the girl. Former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan, BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma, BJP leader Samir Ranjan Dash and many others also paid tribute to the deceased at the airport.

#WATCH | Puri, Odisha | The mortal remains of a 15-year-old girl who was set on fire by miscreants on July 19 in Balanga, reach her native place in Balanga. pic.twitter.com/mTSVuaBIc6  ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2025

The girl succumbed to her burn injuries on Saturday after a 14-day battle for life, and the post-mortem examination was conducted on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties in Odisha rejected the polices claim that it was a case of suicide and no one was involved in the incident. Both the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) alleged that the government had failed to carry out a proper investigation.

The police have floated a new theory after the girls death - that no one else was involved. This narrative is completely unacceptable to the public. It appears the police are trying to shield the real culprits and protect their political masters, the BJD said.

#WATCH | Puri, Odisha | On the death of a 15-year-old girl who was set on fire by miscreants on June 19 in Balanga, BJD MP Subhashish Khuntia says, "...This is very sad...The police have not been able to arrest those behind this incident. The Odisha government has completely pic.twitter.com/1lTBVOMzzH  ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2025

BJD leader Pramila Mallick said the police failed to make any arrests even two weeks after the incident. Since the incident occurred in the constituency of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, there is growing public suspicion that some of her close associates and BJP workers may be involved. Yet, the police have taken no concrete steps to bring the perpetrators to justice, she said.

The Congress, too, targeted the state government and even demanded the resignation of Parida. The victim had given her statement four times and was mentally sound. As she was beginning to recover, her sudden and unexplained death has raised disturbing questions in the minds of people across the State, said party spokesperson Sonali Sahu.

Initial reports had suggested that the girl was abducted and set on fire by three miscreants. The incident, which took place on July 19, sparked outrage as it came days after another girl self-immolated on a college campus in Balasore, alleging inaction on her complaint.

Meanwhile, corroborating the police version, the Puri girls father on Sunday released a video saying her daughter ended her life due to mental distress.

All I want to say is that the Odisha government has done a lot for me and my family. I humbly request that everyone please do not politicise this tragedy. Instead, pray for her soul, he said.
Amid the ongoing row over the alleged arrest of Bengali-speaking people from various parts of the country, a fresh controversy has erupted after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Delhi Police of calling Bangla a Bengladeshi language.

Banerjee was referring to a letter by an officer of the Delhi Police, investigating a case under the Foreigners' Act, to the Banga Bhawan in the national capital. The letter had sought a translator for the "Bangladeshi national language" following the arrest of eight people, suspected of having illegally crossed over into India from the neighbouring country.

THE WEEK couldnt independently verify the authenticity of the letter.

Banerjee termed the mention of "Bangladeshi national language" in the letter as scandalous, insulting, anti-national, unconstitutional.

This insults all Bengali-speaking people of India. They cannot use this kind of language, which degrades and debases us all, she said.

See now how Delhi police under the direct control of Ministry of Home, Government of India is describing Bengali as " Bangladeshi" language!



Bengali, our mother tongue, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, the language in which our National Anthem and the pic.twitter.com/2ACUyehSx8  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 3, 2025

We urge immediate strongest possible protests from all against the anti-Bengali Government of India, who are using such anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate the Bengali-speaking people of India, the chief minister said.

Banerjee said that Bengali is not only her mother tongue but also the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda. She also mentioned that Bengali was the language in which both India's national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana' by Rabindranath Tagore, and national song 'Vande Mataram' by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay were written.

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, too, attacked the Delhi Police, saying the mention of Bangladeshi language in the letter was a calculated attempt by the BJP to defame Bengal.

"It is yet another calculated attempt by the BJP to defame Bengal, undermine our cultural identity and equate West Bengal with Bangladesh for narrow political propaganda, he said.

The BJP, however, justified the Delhi Police action, saying the cops were referring to the dialect spoken by the arrested persons.

Party's West Bengal unit president, Samik Bhattacharya, said that there is a distinctive difference in the dialect of the Bengali language spoken and written in West Bengal compared to that of Bangladesh.

BJP leader Amit Malviya termed Mamata Banerjees reaction to the Delhi Police letter as misplaced and dangerously inflammatory.

Nowhere in the Delhi Police letter is Bangla or Bengali described as a Bangladeshi language. To claim otherwise and call upon Bengalis to rise against the Centre is deeply irresponsible. Mamata Banerjee should be held accountableperhaps even under the National Security Actfor inciting linguistic conflict, he said.
The defence ministry has debunked viral reports regarding the identities of the Pahalgam attackers and clarified that the armed forces have not prepared any such reports.

The widely circulated purported identity reports linking terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack with Pakistan were fake, the defence ministry said.

 Social media accounts are spreading a Report on the Identities and Background of the Pahalgam Attackers'.



 No authorised media handle of the Armed Forces has prepared or issued any such document.



 No remarks of this nature have been made by the Armed Forces Public pic.twitter.com/7UphgDvi3a  HQ IDS (@HQ_IDS_India) August 4, 2025

In a statement published on Monday, the ministry said none of the forces or agencies under it have published any reports regarding the identities of the three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. The terrorists with alleged Pakistani links were gunned down by security forces during a recent military operation in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a social media post, the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters said no official document has been released regarding the terrorists' identities. "Social media accounts are spreading a report on the identities and background of the Pahalgam attackers. No authorised media handle of the armed forces has prepared or issued any such document," it said.

The defence ministry said none of the armed forces personnel have made remarks. "The report appears to be a compilation of information on post-encounter findings, collated from open sources, it said.

Earlier in the day, several media and social media accounts shared images allegedly showing Pakistan-issued national identity cards of the three terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev. Reports claimed investigators have gathered evidence, including biometric records of Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), voter identity slips and digital satellite phone data of the three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists involved in the terror attack.

Security forces killed Suleman Shah, the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, and his accomplices Abu Hamza and Yasir during Operation Mahadev recently. Incidentally, the operation coincided with the discussion on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack in Parliament.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren has passed away after a prolonged fight with kidney-related illness. The 81-year-old was on ventilator support for the past few days at the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, having been hospitalised in the last week of June.

Soren was the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for the past 38 years and was the party's founding patron.

The news was confirmed by Soren's son and current Chief Minister of Jharkand Hemant Soren in a post on X. "Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all... I have become 'shunya' (zero) today," Hemant Soren's post read.

A tribal leader, Soren, was the chief minister of the state thrice, first for 10 days in 2005. He returned to the top post in August 2008 but could only spend a little over four months in office. His third term was from December 30, 2009, which ended a year later.

A tribal leader, Soren, was the chief minister of the state thrice, first for 10 days in 2005. He returned to the top post in August 2008 but could only spend a little over four months in office. His third term was from December 30, 2009, which ended a year later.

Born in Nemra village of Ramgarh district (at that time Bihar state), Soren belonged to the Santal tribe. His political journey began at 18 when he formed the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh. In 1972, Bengali Marxist trade union leader A. K. Roy, Kurmi-Mahato leader Binod Bihari Mahato, and Soren formed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Though Jaipal Singh Munda of the Jharkhand Party was the first person to claim a separate state, Soren emerged as the tallest leader of the state, spearheading the movement for Jharkhand under the banner of the JMM.

Soren established the Pokhariya Ashram in Bokaro district, from where he began to fight for tribals and their rights against moneylenders. Their agitation sometimes turned violent after Soren forcibly took over tribal lands that were alienated and held Kangaroo courts.

Former Chief minister of Jharkhand and Legend Shibu Soren! Passed away Om Shanti  



Greatest Tribal Leader  #ShibuSoren pic.twitter.com/QZqMbdLL1z  Ashish Singh (@AshishSinghKiJi) August 4, 2025

His first election to the Lok Sabha was in 1977, which he lost. Soren, however, won from Dumka in 1980, retaining the seat in 1989, 1991, and 1996 as well.

Soren went on to become the Union Coal Minister in the Manmohan Singh government, but had to resign following an arrest warrant in his name in the thirty-year-old Chirudih case, where a clash between tribals and Muslims resulted in the death of 10 people. He was re-inducted into the Union Cabinet and given back the coal ministry on 27 November 2004, as part of a deal for a Congress-JMM alliance.

After decades of agitation, steered by him and others, the demand for a separate state was finally fulfilled with the formation of Jharkhand on November 15, 2000. However, JMM couldnt win the first elections and BJPs Babulal Marandi became the new states first Chief Minister and remained in power until 2003.

The JMM won the 2005 Assembly polls in the new state, following which Soren first became the chief minister.

Soren is survived by his wife, Roopi Kisku, and three sons, Durga Soren, Hemant Soren, and Basant Soren, and a daughter, Anjali Soren.
Amid buzz over Jammu and Kashmir's statehood and possible discussion about it in the Parliament on Tuesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said "nothing positive" is likely to happen.

Ive heard every possible permutation & combination about what to expect in J&K tomorrow so let me stick my neck out and say nothing will happen tomorrow - fortunately nothing bad will happen but unfortunately nothing positive will happen either. Im still optimistic about  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 4, 2025

The chief minister, in a post on X, said, "Ive heard every possible permutation & combination about what to expect in J&K tomorrow, so let me stick my neck out and say nothing will happen tomorrow - fortunately nothing bad will happen, but unfortunately nothing positive will happen either."

While Abdullah expressed hope that something positive might happen during the monsoon session, it is unlikely to happen on Tuesday. "Im still optimistic about something positive for J&K in this monsoon session of Parliament, but not tomorrow," he added. "And no, I havent had any meetings or conversations with people in Delhi. This is just a gut feeling. Lets see this time tomorrow," Abdullah said.

Speculations were abuzz that Jammu and Kashmir may be granted statehood during monsoon session of Parliament. The rumours strengthened after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah met with President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday.
In Munnar, a tourism hotbed in Kerala, the local government is facing charges of the mass killing of as many as 200 stray dogs.

The Kerala Police are probing the allegation that at least 200 dogs were killed and buried by the Munnar Grama Panchayat after receiving an official complaint from an animal rescue group. The group was able to provide visuals of strays being loaded into a vehicle owned by the Grama Panchayat, according to Malayalam media reports.

ALSO READ | Food waste on streets root cause of Kerala's stray dog menace, say experts

As many as 30 people were bitten by stray dogs within the Panchayat's limits in the last two months. The local self-government was on the back foot after the public criticised it for not doing enough to manage the stray dog menace, reports said. This is suspected to have led to the concerned authorities sanctioning an alleged illegal culling of the canines.

The driver of the Panchayat vehicle was named in the complaint by the animal rescue group, according to Manorama News. However, the local self-government has denied all allegations and maintains that they have not harmed the animals.

ALSO READ | Kerala looks for innovative ways to tackle stray dog menace

However, the development has kick-started a largely one-sided debate on social media. People across the state have thrown their weight behind the Panchayat authorities, claiming that they did the right thing. Stray dog attacks and rabies cases have been on the rise in the southern state in recent years. School-going children being mauled by packs of strays even in their homes have resulted in a change in public sentiment over culling the animals.

Many claim that if vaccination and sterilisation are ineffective, the government should not think twice before eliminating the dangerous animals. Human lives cannot be valued over those of dogs or any other animal, they argued in the comment section of all news articles sharing the developments in Munnar.
The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued an interim stay against the indefinite strike by KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC employees from August 5 but the unions have decided to go ahead with their agitation. Now all eyes are on the Siddaramaiah government's response as the talks are believed to continue on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: WFH request to Bengaluru techies, to hiring private tempos, how Karnataka govt is bracing for 'bandh'

"If the entire public transport operation is stalled, the public are likely to be put to hardship. Therefore, it would be appropriate to grant interim stay till tomorrow (Aug 5) awaiting the outcome of negotiations with the government referred to above. Hence respondent No.7 is hereby directed to put on hold the proposed strike till next hearing date," the court said.

Will Siddaramaiah give in to union demands?

If the strikes go on indefinitely, the government might be forced to come up with favourable terms for the bus employees.

ALSO READ: When will Karnataka bus strike end? Who will be affected?

Last month, the Siddaramaiah government invoked the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), 2013, to ban strikes till December 31. Around 30,000 private transport vehicles will be roped in to ply services for commuters. It remains to be seen if this would be a practical solution for commuters who are regularly dependent on KSRTC and BMTC services.

The government's talks with the transport unions over salary hike and payment of arrears over 38 months have failed, prompting the employees to launch strike. The final round of the talks were held in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

Siddaramaiah reportedly agreed to clear two years of arrears and asked the employees to give up their claim on the remaining two years. This was met with strong objection from the unions, who insisted that arrears of all the 38 months from January 1, 2020, should be settled. They are also seeking implementation of equal pay under the 7th Pay Commission from January 1, 2024.
Government buses across Karnataka will go off the roads on Tuesday as the state public transport workers have decided to go on an indefinite strike demanding pay revision and payment of pending arrears for the past 38 months.

KSRTC will proceed on Strike from 6am tomorrow 5, August indefinitely as talks with CM failed. The demands were being put for last one year . We regret inconvenience but KSRTC despite working non stop through COVID period is denied Arears for 38 months and wage fixation with pic.twitter.com/cSrLPryfVt  Bhaskar Rao (@Nimmabhaskar22) August 4, 2025

A two-hour meeting between the Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing workers' associations from all four state-run transport corporationsBMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTCand the chief minister ended in a deadlock after the government failed to yield to the demands.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On meeting the CM over the KSRTC employee's strike, JAC President HV Anantha Subbarao says, "Today we had a very long meeting with the CM and the other management officials. Our main demand was 38 months of arrears and a wage rise from 1 January pic.twitter.com/XoHlNgRTCF  ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2025

The JAC asked the workers to hold a protest from home on Tuesday, despite the Karnataka High Court, on Monday, directing the union to put off their indefinite strike by a day pending negotiations with the state government.

The state government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the transport workers to curb the strike agitators and has also roped in 30,000 private transport vehicles, including buses, maxi cabs, and contract carriages to prevent a transport paralysis across the state. Besides the daily commuters and those travelling to their home town for the upcoming festival (Varamahalakshmi habba) being inconvenienced due to the bus strike, the beneficiaries of Shakti scheme (free bus travel for women) will be required to buy tickets.

Long-pending demands

Of the many demands, two different unions have demanded implementation of equal pay under the 7th Pay Commission from January 1, 2024, payment of 38 months arrears from January 1, 2020, announcement of labour union elections, and withdrawal of cases filed against employees and their families during similar protests in 2020 and 2021.

According to the JAC, the salary revision takes place every four years. The forum is demanding that the government clear arrears for 38 monthsfrom January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2023which would cost the government Rs 1,785 crore and give a 25 per cent pay hike from January 2024.

READ MORE: KSRTC strike: WFH request for Bengaluru techies to hiring private tempos, how Karnataka govt is bracing for 'bandh'



"The CM agreed to pay arrears only for 14 months and did not commit to a pay revision. We are left with no choice but to go ahead with our strike. The one-member Sreenivasmurthy Committee too has recommended that the arrears be paid for all 38 months. Also, there is a need to revise the salary from January 2024. The CM suggested that we can have discussions post the upcoming legislature session. We are opposed to it, said Anant Subba Rao, who is leading the JAC.

Transport Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy said, The previous BJP government had decided to revise the pay from March 1, 2013. Our government will follow that government notification. Also, there are two factions among the transport unions, which have different sets of demands.

Further, the minister added that the government had spent around Rs 9,000 crore towards diesel cost and other expenditure during Covid, as per the Sreenivasamurthy Committee, which also recommended a pay revision from January 1, 2022. So, the CM has agreed to pay the arrears for 14 months, amounting to Rs 718 crore. But the union is demanding arrears for 38 months. Another faction  KSRTC Okkootahas demanded equal pay (at par with other government employees) instead of the revision every four years. The CM has agreed to conduct an election to the Okkoota and a possible pay revision after review, said Reddy.

Will strike violate court order

A PIL was filed in the High Court on Monday by some advocates stating that an indefinite strike would inconvenience them as they were dependent on public transport. Rao also maintained that the JAC was not made a party to the PIL, and the committee had received no court directive to put off the strike.

Manjunath, convener of JAC, asserted that the strike would not violate any laws as they had given prior intimation to the state government about the strike.

We gave a memorandum last year informing the government about the strike on December 31, 2024. But the government assured that it would hold discussions post Sankranti (January). Again in July, we informed the government about our protest. We have not violated any norms and the government should stop imposing ESMA against us as it is an anti-democratic law of the British rule.
From August 5, government buses belonging to BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC will stay off the roads following the failure of talks of employees' unions with the Karnataka government authorities over the settlement of 38 months arrears and salary hike.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On meeting the CM over the KSRTC employee's strike, KSRTC Employee Division Head, Bhaskar, says, "... The stand of the govt is slightly different compared to the stand before we gave a strike notice... The govt has come forward to pay the arrears pic.twitter.com/frBCuHqBzF  ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2025

As nothing conclusive came out of the final round meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and the representatives of the employees' union, the workers have decided to go on an indefinite strike.

ALSO READ: Govt buses to go off roads across Karnataka

"Our discussions happened on arrears of 38 months of salary and salary hike from January 1, 2024. Finally, the chief minister said that he would clear two years of arrears and asked us to give up the claim on the remaining two years' arrears. We have not agreed for it. We need 38 months' arrears," KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation president H V Anantha Subbarao told reporters.

He said the KSRTC and BMTC staff will not work until the demands are met.

Who will be affected?

In a bid to mitigate the impact of the indefinite strike, the Karnataka government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the transport workers.

The government has also roped in as many as 30,000 private transport vehicles, including buses, maxi cabs, and contract carriages.

However, the strike is sure to cause some difficulty to daily commuters and those travelling to their homes for the Varamahalakshmi habba (festival).

Besides, beneficiaries of 'free bus travel for women' will also be impacted, as they will have to buy tickets.

As the government has requested IT companies to provide the WTF option to employees, the impact on the IT sector is expected to be minimal.
Palestinians transfer the body of Yousef Imad Ibrahim al-Amer killed in an Israeli operation in Qabatiya town, south of the West Bank city of Jenin, on Aug. 4, 2025. A Palestinian youth was killed and another wounded on Monday during a military operation by the Israeli army in the northern West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian youth was killed and another wounded on Monday during a military operation by the Israeli army in the northern West Bank, according to Palestinian sources.

"We were informed by the General Authority for Civil Affairs of the killing of Yousef Imad Ibrahim al-Amer, 33, near the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin," the Ramallah-based health ministry said in a brief statement.

In a separate statement, the General Authority for Civil Affairs announced that Qusay Amin Suleiman al-Saadi, 21, was wounded during the operation and arrested by Israeli forces.

According to local Palestinian sources, Israeli forces surrounded a tin-covered agricultural facility in southern Qabatiya and opened fire at it. They also fired shoulder-fired missiles, setting fires inside the facility.

The sources added that residents attempted to reach the site and retrieve al-Amer's body, but Israeli forces stormed the area with a military bulldozer and completely demolished the facility.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed in a brief statement that its crews recovered al-Amer's body from under the rubble of the facility.

Also on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its forces operated in Qabatiya, "apprehended an active terrorist in the Jenin Terrorist Network, along with two of his accomplices," and located "an M16 rifle and a magazine" after searches in the area. 

Palestinians prepare to transfer the body of Yousef Imad Ibrahim al-Amer killed in an Israeli operation in Qabatiya town, south of the West Bank city of Jenin, on Aug. 4, 2025. A Palestinian youth was killed and another wounded on Monday during a military operation by the Israeli army in the northern West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Palestinians transfer the body of Yousef Imad Ibrahim al-Amer killed in an Israeli operation in Qabatiya town, south of the West Bank city of Jenin, on Aug. 4, 2025. A Palestinian youth was killed and another wounded on Monday during a military operation by the Israeli army in the northern West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Lucknow University Professor Ravi Kant, who called spiritual leader Baba Bageshwar alias Dhirendra Krishna Shastri a 'woman trafficker', was booked by Bamitha police in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh.

The FIR registered against Ravi Kant said he allegedly hurt religious sentiments by making derogatory remarks. Ravi Kant was booked under BNS Section 353(2). The complaint was filed by Dhirendra Kumar Gaur, a member of the Bageshwar Dham Committee.

Religious discourse turns fiery as Baba Bageshwar supports Aniruddhacharya and Premanand Ji in calling for adherence to Dharma and modestyigniting debates over tradition and modernity.#ReligiousControversy #BabaBageshwar #DharmaDebate #Aniruddhacharya #PremanandJi pic.twitter.com/5FxLtuJGJc  NewsX World (@NewsX) August 4, 2025

Gaur accused Ravi Kant of defaming Baba Bageshwar and hurting religious sentiments of millions of believers.

Ravi Kant's post came after a video purportedly showed Chhatarpur police stopping an ambulance transporting a group of women. Reports claimed that the women were residing at the Bageshwar Dham and they were concealing their real identities. However, there was no official confirmation about the incident.

Baba Bageshwar alleged that there have been attempts to defame the Dham, saying he is fighting against the biggest disease in the country, which is casteism. "When you walk the path of truth and service, such accusations are bound to come your way."

He said the Dham is holding a Padyatra from November 7 to 16, which has caused "stomach aches" for some people. "We won't wave from our resolve," he asserted.

In Bhopal, Shastri on Monday said Hindus should not be divided even though there are fights over language and regions. "Some forces want to create 'Ghazwa-e-Hind', but our only dream is it should be 'Bhagwa-e-Hind'. We have a problem with those Hindus who divide us in the name of caste."

Responding to the Malegaon blast case, he said when the incident happened, a story was scripted behind the scenes and it was called "saffron terrorism". This was intended to defame saffron and Sanatan but eventually it was proved such a thing does not exist.
Weeks after Yemen's Houthi government postponed the death sentence of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been on death row in a murder case, the victim's family has urged the court to carry out the execution immediately.

Nimisha Priya, who was convicted of murdering Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017 was sentenced to death in 2020. She was scheduled to be executed on July 16. However, intervention from the Indian government has reportedly led the authorities to postpone the execution.

In a letter to Yemen Attorney General Judge Abdul Salam Al-Houthi on Sunday, Talal's brother Abdul Fattah Mahdi urged the bench to immediately execute Nimisha.

"We categorically reject all attempts at reconciliation," said the letter, noting that new execution date has not been announced more than a month after the postponement.

ALSO READ: Nimisha Priya case: Why MEA turned down Action Councils request to travel to Yemen

"We affirm our full adherence to our legitimate right to implement the retaliation sentence," Abdul added.

The latest letter comes more than a week after Abdul sent a similar letter on July 25, seeking a new execution date. In the letter, Talal's brother slammed misleading reports that appeared on Indian media and rejected claims about Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar's statement on revocation of Nimisha Priya's death sentence.

ALSO READ: FACT CHECK: Was Nimisha Priya's death sentence revoked? MEA clarifies truth about media reports on Kerala nurse's release agreement

"Talal's blood will not be a commodity in the negotiation bazaar," he wrote.

The Kerala nurse had set up a clinic in Sana'a in 2015 under Talal's sponsorship. Later, Talal allegedly forged marriage documents to show that they were married and took her passport. He allegedly abused the woman physically and mentally.

Nimisha drugged Talal in a bid to get her passport back and escape captivity, but he died of overdose. She hid his body in a water tank before fleeing. The authorities nabbed her at the Saudi border.
Odisha Police have arrested two more people in connection with the self-immolation of a 20-year-old female student on the campus of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore last month.

The duo were arrested by the Crime Branch at their residence on Sunday night on charges of instigating the girl to set herself ablaze. They were produced before the residential office of the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM), Balasore, and were remanded to judicial custody for 14 days after their bail petitions were rejected.

"The arrested persons are Jyoti Prakash Biswal, a student of the college, who had sustained burn injuries in an attempt to save the woman, and Subhra Sambait Nayak, the state joint secretary of a student organisation," a senior police officer told PTI.

Biswal had sustained burn injuries when he tried to rescue the victim. He was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and was apprehended after being discharged, police said.

According to some reports, Nayak is the state joint secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJP.

In a surprising twist, the student who was hailed as a hero for trying to save the girl in the Balasore self-immolation case has now been arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with the same incident.



Always trust professional investigations, not the social media jury.  Manas Muduli (@manas_muduli) August 4, 2025

With the fresh arrests, the total number of people held in the case has gone up to four. Police had earlier arrested Samira Kumar Sahoo, an assistant professor of the college, and ex-principal of the institute, Dillip Ghose.

The victim, a second year BEd student, set herself on fire after pouring petrol on her body on July 12, alleging that her complaint of sexual harassment against the Head of the Department was not validated by an internal enquiry committee of the institute.

She sustained 95 per cent burn injuries and died on July 14 while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Umar Ansari, son of the late gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, was arrested on Sunday in Lucknow for allegedly submitting forged documents to a Ghazipur court in a bid to recover his father's properties, which had been seized under anti-gangster laws. A case has also been registered against his lawyer, Liaquat Ali.

According to the Ghazipur police, Umar began the process earlier this year by preparing false documents aimed at reclaiming real estate confiscated under Section 14(1) of the Gangsters Act.

One of the properties for which Umar had filed a reclamation appeal was Afshan Ansari's property worth about ten crores, which was confiscated in 2021, as per a Jagran report.

These included a forged affidavit allegedly signed by his mother, Afshan Ansari, who has been absconding since 2023 in order to avoid arrest in land-related cases, and carries a 50,000 police bounty.

In early July, Umar submitted a petition to the Mohammadabad Tehsil Court in Ghazipur, claiming that the seized properties should be returned.

Alarm bells rang in late July when court staff flagged irregularities in the documentation.

A forensic comparison of signatures revealed that Afshan Ansaris consent was fabricated. The investigation confirmed that Umar had attempted to mislead the judiciary by impersonating legal authorisation from a fugitive.

On August 3, an FIR was filed under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including cheating, criminal conspiracy, and forgery. Umar was picked up from Lucknows Darul Shafa complex and taken into custody.

This marks the sixth criminal case against Umar Ansari, whose familys real estate empire has been under intense scrutiny since Mukhtar Ansaris death.
A SpiceJet employee on Monday explained how he was allegedly assaulted by a senior Army officer at the Srinagar airport on July 26.

SpiceJets Mudasir Ahmad was one of four employees allegedly assaulted by the officer after 'the latter was told to pay an extra cabin baggage charge. The officer, whose identity is not yet known, was scheduled to board SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi.

ALSO READ | Video | Identity of senior Army Officer who attacked Spice Jet staff at Srinagar airport still hidden

Ahmad, who suffered a spinal fracture, stated that he stopped the Army officer as the latter had been carrying two bags totalling 16kg. However, the employee reasoned, only 7kg is allowed without the payment of an extra baggage fee.

VIDEO | Srinagar: SpiceJet ground staff Mudasir Ahmed Khan, who was assaulted by an army officer at Srinagar Airport on July 26, says,



"I was there at the boarding gate. So, I was helping with boarding and we have a 7 kg limit to hand baggage. One passenger had 16 kgs of pic.twitter.com/U17ZKMZYQY  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 4, 2025

"I told him that he would have to pay for extra baggage. He started shouting againI called up my Duty Manager and asked him to come. The Manager too explained to him," Ahmad told PTI.

However, things turned significantly worse, as the Army officer pushed the CISF staff aside in a bid to try entering the boarding gate. However, he was held back, and told to pay the excess charge.

At this, Ahmed alleged that the officer took out "a few things from his bag and threw it at a member of the staff who was in front of him".

SpiceJet says murderous assault on its staff in Srinagar by a senior Army Officer caused spinal injuries and a jaw fracture. Airlines says will pursue matter to the fullest extent legally. Incident over excess baggage on July 26. Full statement in next tweet. pic.twitter.com/08IcykeQuo  Jagriti Chandra (@jagritichandra) August 3, 2025

"He hit me on my face with the rest of the baggage. He slapped me and started hitting me. He used his fist and feet to hit me  At the end, he punched me and I fell down," Ahmad recounted.

Two counter-FIRs have been registered in the case. The airline has also initiated a process to place the Army officer on the no-fly list, in accordance with civil aviation regulations.

In a statement issued on Saturday following mounting public scrutiny, the Indian Army said: The matter involving an alleged altercation between an Army personnel and airline staff at Srinagar Airport on 26 July 2025 has come to the notice of the Indian Army. The Indian Army is committed to uphold the highest standards of discipline and conduct and takes all allegations seriously. Full cooperation is being extended to the authorities in investigating the case.

"(The Indian Army is) fully committed to maintaining discipline and mutual respect in all civil spaces across the country," the statement added.
France, home to Europes largest Jewish population, is once again wrestling with a surge in antisemitic sentiment that has alarmed political leaders, Jewish communities and rights groups alike. While antisemitism has long cast a shadow over French society, recent incidents, political decisions and disturbing trends among the youth suggest a deepening crisis that may prove more difficult to contain.

The latest flashpoint came over the weekend when the French government expelled Nour Atallah, a student from Gaza who had arrived on a scholarship to study at Sciences Po Lille. Her visa, granted under a programme overseen by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and the French Consulate in Jerusalem, was swiftly revoked after posts from her social media accounts were discovered glorifying Adolf Hitler, calling for the execution of Jews and celebrating the October 7 Hamas attacks. The posts, now deleted, triggered a judicial inquiry and led to her deportation to Qatar.

The scandal has ignited intense scrutiny over Frances vetting procedures for Gazan students. Barrot has frozen all student evacuations from Gaza pending an internal investigation. The incident has highlighted a broader unease within France over the intersection of the Israel-Palestine conflict and domestic communal tensions.

Even before Atallahs expulsion, antisemitic incidents were climbing at an alarming rate. In Paris alone, three synagogues and a Jewish restaurant were recently vandalised with green paint, while the citys Holocaust memorial was defaced twice, including with anti-Israel graffiti. In Lyon, swastikas and hateful slogans appeared on classroom walls of a primary school that was also set on fire. While the blaze was quickly extinguished, the symbolism was chilling.

France has a painful history with antisemitism. During the Vichy regime between 1940 and 1944, the state collaborated with Nazi occupiers to deport around 76,000 Jews to death camps. Although the Republic has since formally acknowledged and condemned these crimes, the legacy continues to haunt French political and social life.

Pro-Palestine protesters in France laid a large Palestinian flag on a city street as part of massive demonstrations supporting Palestine. pic.twitter.com/T5TUZbjugc  PALESTINE ONLINE  (@OnlinePalEng) June 1, 2024

The latest wave of hostility is unfolding against the backdrop of the ongoing IsraelHamas war. According to the American Jewish Committees (AJC) 2024 Survey of Antisemitism in France, younger generations are increasingly vulnerable to antisemitic ideas, often masked as anti-Zionism. More than a third of French people aged 18 to 24 reportedly believe that attacking Jews is justifiable if they support Israel. Among French Jews under 25, 64 per cent have experienced verbal abuse due to their heritage.

Anne-Sophie Sebban-Becache, head of AJC Paris, warned that this generational shift is the result of a long campaign to equate Jews and Zionism with oppression, racism and colonialism. We cannot normalise a society where hatred towards Jews is treated as political discourse, she said during a recent national conference convened by Aurore Berge, the minister delegate for gender equality and the fight against discrimination.

The resurgence of antisemitism is not only verbal or symbolic. Some attacks have turned violent. Synagogue arsons and the rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl have added to the climate of fear among Frances Jewish population. Ariel Kandel, head of Qualita, a group helping French Jews move to Israel, warned that this announcement puts our brothers in France in danger and could encourage antisemitism, referring to the Macron governments recent decision to support the recognition of a Palestinian state.

That policy shift, while applauded in some international forums, has deeply divided French society. Many in the Sephardic Jewish community, traditionally supportive of Israel, feel betrayed by what they see as a failure by President Emmanuel Macron to stand by Israel in its fight against terrorism. French-Israeli analyst Myriam Shermer noted that Macrons criticisms of Israel have alienated many French Jews who feel increasingly abandoned by the state.

Meanwhile, the far left has fully embraced the Palestinian cause, while Marine Le Pens previously antisemitic far-right party has realigned itself as pro-Israel. These political reversals reflect not a newfound moral clarity but rather a reshuffling of ideological interests. French Jews, caught between both extremes, face rising hostility from both ideological camps.

The expulsion of Atallah and the emergence of similar cases, such as that of Fady Hossam Hanona  a Gazan journalist who received refugee status in France despite posting virulently antisemitic messages  have raised uncomfortable questions about Frances asylum and immigration policies. In July, the French National Court of Asylum ruled that all Palestinian nationals from Gaza not protected by the UN qualify for refugee status due to the risk of persecution by Israeli forces. Critics argue that this broad ruling may inadvertently shelter individuals who espouse hate.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who ordered the closure of Atallahs X (formerly Twitter) account, has been among the most vocal in warning against what he calls the propaganda of Hamas operatives. He also condemned the recent spate of vandalism against Jewish institutions as odious acts aimed at intimidating the Jewish community.

Despite the rise in threats, many French Jews remain defiant. The AJC survey revealed that 73 per cent of them feel their Zionist beliefs were strengthened after the October 7 attacks. Seventy-one per cent said their Jewish identity had deepened in response to the violence.

Resilience, however, is not the same as safety. Over the past decade, around 50,000 French Jews have emigrated to Israel, citing fear, alienation and a lack of government protection. If current trends continue, that number is likely to grow.
US Presidents anti-India tirade on tariff and Russian oil dependence, and pivot to neighbouring Pakistan could have an unexpected aftermath: India adopting a conciliatory approach towards China. The signs are already there with a visible thaw in India-China relations.

Trumps chiding of Indias import of Russian oil and his acerbic remark about dead economy have ruffled New Delhi, but the Centre remains defiant. Indias decision to continue importing Russian oil has been cheered by Chinese state-backed media Global Times, which ran a piece about Indias independent foreign policy.

A report published in the Chinese mouthpiece quoted Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, who said India's purchase of Russian oil is based on certain economic considerations and will not be abandoned due to US pressure. India is an oil-deficient nation, and Russian oil offers the advantages of being cost-effective and high-quality, enabling India to secure its petroleum reserves and provide robust safeguards for its economic development, Qian added.

It also quoted Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who said Indias decisions embodied its adherence to an independent foreign policy. "Trump's tariffs have inflicted heavy blows on various nations; rather than awaiting doom passively, it is better to stand firm to mitigate losses," Lu said, adding that every country has the right to safeguard its legitimate interests, and Brazil and India are acting on this principle.

Trump administration now treats tariffs as a "panacea' for all the difficulties it confronts, yet reality tells a different story, he said.

Also read: Reasons why PM Modi might attend the September military parade in China along with Vladimir Putin

The piece also carried Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech in Varanasi, where he urged Indians to prioritize locally made products. It also observed that if the US persisted in applying unilateral pressure on India, it may prompt India to reassess its foreign policy.

Indias stance

Though regional observers are optimistic that the equations could reverse in due course as India remains a valuable partner for the US in the region, Trumps statement has pushed India to adopt a flexible strategy toward China. Many believe it is unsustainable for India to take on China with an unreliable partner like Donald Trump, who has openly criticised Indias foreign policy.

The signs are already there: The Beijing visit of NSA Ajit Doval immediately after a visible change in Indias stance with regard to normalising ties with China. Indias stance was that normalisation of ties between India and China depended on the restoration of the pre-2020 border status. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also soon travel to China to participate in-person at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders' summit later this month.
Youve seen her face, but shes invisible. She carries her pain many layers beneath her easy smile. Often, shes the woman who, as a girl, was kind and sensitive, who couldnt bear to see others suffer and would give of herself without hesitation to help a friend in need.

But now, her pain runs deep. A fissure of the soul. A quiet shattering of identity. While her emunah in HaShem may still stand, her faith in herself has been eroded at the core.

She is the victim of narcissistic abuse.

Her husband is polished. You would never know.He smiles at you at the kiddush, maybe shares a congenial vort. He seems like a charming guy, maybe even more than average. He has to be.

At his core, he knows emptiness. The inner relationality and capacity for connection that sustains most people is foreign to him. He can mimic it with great skill, hence the charm. But he doesnt experience love, warmth, or the internalized presence of another the way the rest of us do.

He thrives on receiving the energy of others, but without authenticity or reciprocity.His external charisma becomes a necessary veneer, his lifeline to admiration and control.

Flashes of authentic vulnerability are rare. But when it serves him, he can jerk the tears and sympathy of others with uncanny precision, charming, broken, the perfect victim.

Some of you know exactly what Im talking about. You may be shuddering or nodding as you read the description above.

In the aftermath of Oct 7th, the Iran war, and the innumerable antisemitic acts that followed, the whole of the Jewish people have had similar experiences.

We were attacked, and then called Zionist aggressors. Many precious humans who dedicated their lives to peace were murdered in cold blood, mutilated, stolen from their families, and then internationally shamed as subhuman abominations. When we protested the injustice, we were attacked further.

Our most moral army in the world sends multiple forms of notification before attacking terrorists, yet they, who specialize in using children as human weapons, call us baby murderers.

We cant win. We have all had a wrenched personal taste of the dynamics of abuse.

We are now in the Three Weeks, between the 17th of Tammuz, when the gates and boundaries of Jerusalem were breached, and the 9th of Av, when the holy abode of the Divine was destroyed.

This year more than ever, this time of mourning, yearning, and commemoration is deeply personal. We are all yearning for restoration and redemption. The breaches in our boundaries have hit home.

Perhaps we can take this opportunity, as a people, to deeply recognize the destruction taking place in the lives of many women in our communities.

Note: While this article focuses on a dynamic in which the woman is the victim and the man is the abuser, a pattern that is unfortunately common, it is important to acknowledge that abuse can go in both directions. Sometimes women are the abusers, and men the victims. Power dynamics are complex, and each case should be assessed with care and nuance.

Here is a list of dynamics that are common in situations of abuse. Do you recognize any of them? Keep in mind, not every abusive relationship includes all of these dynamics. Some may be more subtle, or take different forms. But if even a few of these patterns resonate with you, especially if they repeat over time, please consider seeking support. Abuse thrives in silence and confusion. Naming whats happening can be the first step toward healing and clarity.

1. The abuser attacks, and then claims to be the victim.

 He gaslights and undermines her regularly, then tells the Rav or therapist that she doesnt treat him with respect.

2. He provokes her until she reacts, and then points to her reaction as the problem.

 He screams at her until she feels she is losing her footing. Then he tells her to stop being a drama queen and take care of her responsibilities as a wife and mother.

3. He presents as calm and reasonable, while she seems emotional and unhinged.

 The calm is a tactic. He shows himself as intellectually sound and morally in the right. Her nervous system senses danger everywhere. She can hardly think clearly. Her fogginess is used as a weapon against her.

4. He uses charm strategically.

 Hell do kindnesses and favors for friends and members of the community, while ignoring or degrading the needs of his wife and family. He tells rabbis and therapists his distorted version of the truth to turn them against his victim. Also with the victim, one minute he attacks her brutally and before you know it, hes back into charming and recruiting mode. The opposite is also true. They may have shared a moment of closeness and things seem to be going well, and out of nowhere he is back to shaming, accusing, and threatening her.

5. He uses children as weapons.

 He says things like, Never mind your mom, you know she overreacts to everything, further destabilizing his victim. Some go so far as to weaponize children in legal battles.

6. He lies with confidence. She stammers with the truth.

 She is easily stunned into silence. When you know that you wont be heard, your capacity to express yourself becomes blunted. Some women stand strong, but then they are often seen as problematic.

7. He accuses her of exactly what hes doing.

 Shes manipulative, he says, after months of gaslighting her. He externalizes and projects his shame onto her. Listen carefully to what he says about her, its probably true about him in some way.

8. He discredits anyone who tries to help her.

 Former or current therapists, lawyers, rabbis, all become biased or dangerous, and legitimate cannon fodder once they side with her.

9. He manipulates systems to keep control.

 False reports to police, social services and anyone else who will listen to him. Filing endless motions in court.

10. Sometimes he is more interested in power than in resolution. She may have had enough and is ready to walk away and end the relationship, but he love-bombs her and then baits her back into the cycle.

11. He has no real empathy.

 He may mimic it when it serves him, but he doesnt feel others and their needs in the way most people do.

12. He keeps her in confusion.

 Thats not accidental. Its a tactic. When you dont know whats real, you become easier to control. Sometimes he brings generous gifts, or love-bombs her, but only in order to continue the cycle of abuse.

13. He isolates her and discredits her.

 Shes crazy, Shes dramatic, Shes aggressive. She tries to protect herself and her children, and it is turned against her. He spreads lies, then collects evidence by saying, Well, its a known fact that

14. He makes her doubt her own eyes and ears.

 That never happened. Youre imagining things. Of course that was your fault, you started it. If you only listened better, or just told me what you want in the right way There is no right way. Youve tried everything. But somehow, you are always in the wrong.

15. He obfuscates his abuse by making it look like two parties that just cant get along.

 As long as he can make her look as bad as he is, he evades the fallout of his actions.

This leads directly into a pattern that has been well-documented in psychological research, known as DARVO. DARVO stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender, a common tactic used by abusers when confronted. Instead of taking responsibility, they lash out, deny wrongdoing, and portray themselves as the real victim.

15. He reverts to an emotionally compelling narrative of victimhood when held accountable.

 He may shift the blame onto the actual victim, or even onto the person trying to help. Shes twisting everything. You dont know the full story. Im the one being attacked here.

16. He shames her for her vulnerabilities.

 Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes, and have shameful moments. A normal husband bends down to pick her up, honors her struggles, protects whats tender. An abuser hones in on her vulnerabilities and exposes them in any way he can. He may even share things she told him in confidence, just to humiliate or shame her.

17. He takes credit for everything that goes right, and blames her for everything that goes wrong.

 If the kids are thriving, its because of his influence. If theyre struggling, its her fault. If theres peace in the home, its because hes being patient. If theres tension, its because shes impossible to live with. Nothing is ever his responsibility, unless it makes him look good.

18. He uses Torah and Religion to hurt her.

He twists holy words into weapons. He quotes halacha to silence her, shame her, or justify his control. He may use concepts like kavod habaal or shalom bayis to demand compliance, while ignoring the Torahs repeated calls for compassion, humility, and respect.

If reading this list leaves you feeling shaken, heartbroken, or even a little breathless, youre not alone. Realizing that youve lived inside these dynamics, or that someone you love is still trapped in them, can be disorienting and deeply painful. Theres grief in naming it. And theres power.

Because once we name these patterns, we can break through the fog that comes from the gaslighting, and perhaps we can begin to take small steps towards change.

And for those whose homes have been spared these dynamics, the echoes may still ring out from the world stage.

Take a look at how these very same tactics have been used against Am Yisrael:

Hamas slaughters civilians, then cries to the UN for protection.

Israel responds to unprovoked terror attacks, and is accused of escalating violence.

While Israel is busy fighting a war for survival on all fronts, others are creating media campaigns against us and eloquently defaming us in public platforms.

Iran earnestly claims to the world that they are enriching uranium purely for civilian purposes, yet posts public propaganda stating, Death to Israel, Death to America.

Rocket launchers placed in schools. Openings to terror tunnels hidden under cribs.

They arent providing humanitarian aid! while they are stealing truckfuls to fund terror.

Weaponizing the media, the UN, and human rights organizations.

There was no massacre. The videos are fake. The Holocaust never happened. Or Its their fault for oppressing the poor Palestinians.

In 2000, Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered the Palestinians a generous two-state solution at Camp David. The offer was rejected outright by Yasser Arafat, with no counterproposal, followed shortly by a wave of violence.

Maintaining conflict and punishing Israel, at the expense of their own Palestinian children has been more important to them than achieving peace.

The parallels are chilling. When we see these tactics used against our nation, we feel the outrage, the betrayal, the urgency to defend and protect. For some, those same dynamics play out not on a national stage, but within the walls of their own home.

Most of us have had moments over the past year and a half where weve been deeply impacted by these dynamics of abuse. Perhaps we can use this as an opportunity to reflect on how these same patterns affect women trapped in complex and painful situations, and how we, as a community, can support them more effectively.

What She Needs Most from the Community

Believe her.

Grief begs for a witness. Pain that is invisible becomes compounded by loneliness. If someone confides in you, listen deeply. Tell her that you are holding the pain with her.

You cant imagine how valuable that is, a true breath of fresh air.

Her relationship dehumanizes her. When you see her, you welcome her back to the world of humankind.

This may be the greatest help of all.

Help her find the right resources.

The heartbreaking reality is that many professionals, including marriage therapists, rabbanim, even dayanim, are not trained to recognize the dynamics of covert abuse. They may not fully grasp what is happening, even as it unfolds in front of them.

Encourage her to find someone who truly understands the patterns of abuse and can help her slowly reclaim her boundaries and sense of self.

Dont give standard shalom bayis advice.

Telling her to communicate better, be mevater, or honor him more may backfire. It shifts the responsibility back to her and creates fertile ground for further harm.

The book or shiur that helped you in your marriage might make her situation worse, and then shell feel guilty and not shamed for not being able to accomplish what you did.

Offer practical help, in whatever form you realistically can.

Many women in these situations are struggling to meet basic needs.

A woman told me this week that her husband is a millionaire, yet she and her children lack essentials.

Groceries, babysitting, emotional support, money for therapy, it all matters.

Alleviate her isolation.

In one case, the charming abuser was being honored at shul while his ex-wife was left off Shabbos guest lists. It isnt uncommon for abusers to turn the victims family against her, furthering her isolation, and narrowing options for escape.

Even if she looks like a wreck right now, do whatever kindness you can.

Its transformative. If she sometimes feels a bit unstable, try to understand. Theres nothing essentially wrong with her, shes just living on a roller coaster. Its really hard to maintain stability with little or no solid ground beneath your feet.

Educate yourself.

If youre a rabbi, therapist, kallah teacher, or community leader, learn the signs. Be willing to question assumptions. Your credibility can either protect her or put her in danger. Sometimes your well intentioned help can have a tragic and long-lasting painful impact on the victim and her children. It is possible that your compassion is allowing you to be manipulated into being another weapon to hurt the ones who have been hurt enough.

If something isnt quite lining up, make a phone call. Speak with someone who recognizes, understands and can give helpful and targeted advice. There are excellent online resources. One I recommend is: The Center for Relational Resilience, offering deep and dynamic courses to help you recognize these patterns and support those in need.

Rising from the Ashes

Some girls learn early on to care for themselves, honor their own needs and preferences, and not to over give.

Yet others arent taught those precious lessons. Perhaps they learned from birth to prioritize the needs and feelings of others. Its preverbal, subconscious, and a hard pattern to break. They may be the deep ones. The sensitive ones. The ones who care more than others. The ones who cant stand to see another in pain and need. They may pray harder, give more, go out of their ways to help, to fix, to love.

Often those are the precious souls that get caught. Narcissist love them. They thrive on gutting them emotionally and spiritually. Taking from their generosity, and reciprocating with heaps of abuse. Not because theyre weak, rather because theyre strong in the ways that abusers feed off of. Their light becomes a target. Like bugs to a lamp.

She stayed because she saw his brokenness. She gave him the benefit of the doubt again and again. She wanted so badly to make it work, because she believed in people, in potential, in teshuva, in love.

And each time her beauty and generosity were corrupted against her.

And then one day, she wakes up. Not all at once. But something shifts. She realizes: This is not love.This is not my fault. This is not what I was created for.

And when that shift happens, even if her knees are still shaking, she begins to rise. Take her hand, see her. Lift her up.

Not in a blaze of glory. Maybe just in little things: She says no. She stops explaining. She stops apologizing. She stops willingly erasing herself. She starts telling the truth.

Changes come slowly. There are ups and downs. Her empathy grows edges. She can say no. She stops volunteering to go above and beyond. Her kindness gets muscles. Her soul, once trapped in fog, starts to breathe again.

He may clamp down harder.

Yet with time, she feels drawn, more and more towards those who dont erode her boundaries. To those who honor and delight in her being, and dont deride it. To those with whom it is safe to be real and vulnerable.

She becomes unshakeable.

Sometimes.

And sometimes she shakes and falls.

But each time she gets up a little faster. A little stronger and more resolute. Because now her empathy is paired with discernment. Her compassion comes with boundaries. She is slowly reclaiming her intuition and her power.

She becomes herself again. Maybe for the first time.

She is not the same woman who entered the storm. She is something rarer, richer, more radiant.

And in her rising, the Shechinah rises with her.

Because her story is not just personal. Its collective. We, too, as a people, have been betrayed. Gaslit. Blamed. We too have been called aggressors for simply trying to survive and be who we were created to be. We have tried to appease, to explain, to play by the rules  only to be humiliated, twisted, and shamed again.

But something is shifting.

We are beginning to see with clearer eyes. To stop explaining. To stop apologizing. To stop looking for love in places that suck our spiritual blood, and reduce and deride us.

We are turning our eyes back to the One who truly loves us. The One who sees beneath the grime. Who recognizes the soul. Who lifts us gently from the dust, washes us clean, and says: You are still Mine. I see your radiant, resilient essence, even after all this. You are more beautiful now than before, you have been forged in fire.

And maybe  just maybe  thats what this long and painful galus has been about. Not breaking us. But refining us. Teaching us to say no. To hold our boundaries. To know our worth.

Were not just waiting to be redeemed. Were becoming the people who can walk out of exile with heads held high.

May it be soon. For all of us. For every woman who rises from the ashes. And for our whole people, rising with her.

   !    !
India has indicated that it would continue buying oil from Russia despite threats by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Indian foreign ministry said its relationship with Russia was steady and time-tested, and should not be seen through the prism of a third country.

Addressing a weekly presser on Friday, spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Indias broader stance on securing its energy needs was guided by the availability of oil in the markets and prevailing global circumstances.

The comments follow an announcement by President Donald Trump that he intends to impose a 25% tariff on goods from India plus an additional import tax because of New Delhis purchases of Russian oil.

The threat came as the U.S. president has increasingly soured on Russia for failing to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine and has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made.

India bought 68,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Russia in January 2022, but by June of same year oil imports rose to 1.12 million barrels per day. The daily imports peaked at 2.15 million in May 2023 and have varied since.

Supplies rose as high as nearly 40% of Indias imports at one point, making Moscow the largest supplier of crude to New Delhi, the Press Trust of India reported, citing data from Kpler, a data analytics company.

Indias daily oil consumption is pegged around 5.5 million barrels, of which nearly 88% is met through imports.

The country has historically bought most of its crude from the Middle East, but this has changed since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

India, the worlds third-largest crude importer after China and the U.S., began buying Russian oil available at discounted rates after the West shunned it to punish Moscow.

(AP)
Summer heat, outdoor fun  and cold and flu symptoms?

The three may not go together in many peoples minds: partly owing to common myths about germs and partly because many viruses really do have lower activity levels in the summer.

But it is possible to get the sniffles  or worse  in the summer. Federal data released Friday, for example, shows COVID-19 is trending up in many parts of the country, with emergency department visits up among people of all ages.

Heres what to know about summer viruses.

How much are colds and flu circulating right now?

The number of people seeking medical care for three key illnesses  COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV  is currently low, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Flu is trending down and RSV was steady this week. But COVID-19 is trending up in many mid-Atlantic, southeast, Southern and West Coast states.

The expectation is that COVID-19 will eventually settle into a winter seasonal pattern like other coronaviruses, but the past few years have brought a late summer surge, said Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at University of California Davis Childrens Hospital.

Other viruses circulating this time of year include the one that causes hand, foot and mouth disease  which has symptoms similar to a cold, plus sores and rashes  and norovirus, sometimes called the stomach flu.

Do viruses spread less in the summer?

Many viruses circulate seasonally, picking up as the weather cools in the fall and winter. So its true that fewer people get stuffy noses and coughs in the summer  but cold weather itself does not cause colds.

Its not just about seasonality. The other factor is our behavior, experts say. Nice weather means people are opening windows and gathering outside where its harder for germs to spread.

But respiratory viruses are still around. When the weather gets too hot and everyone heads inside for the air conditioning, doctors say they start seeing more sickness. In places where it gets really hot for a long time, summer can be cold season in its own right.

I grew up on the East Coast and everybody gets sick in the winter, said Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency room doctor and Arizona State University researcher. A lot of people get sick in the summer here. Why is that? Because you spend more time indoors.

Should you get another COVID-19 booster now?

For people who are otherwise healthy, timing is a key consideration to getting any vaccine. You want to get it a few weeks before that big trip or wedding, if thats the reason for getting boosted, doctors say. But, for most people, it may be worth waiting until the fall in anticipation of winter cases of COVID-19 really tick up.

You want to be fully protected at the time that its most important for you, said Dr. Costi Sifri, of the University of Virginia Health System.

People at higher risk of complications should always talk with their doctor about what is best for them, Sifri added. Older adults and those with weak immune systems may need more boosters than others, he said.

Are more younger kids getting sick with COVID-19?

Last week, the CDC noted emergency room visits among children younger than 4 were rising. That makes sense, Blumberg said, because many young kids are getting it for the first time or are unvaccinated.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in May that the shots would no longer be recommended for healthy kids, a decision that health experts have said lacks scientific basis. The American Academy of Pediatrics still endorses COVID-19 shots for children older than 6 months.

How else can I lower my risk?

The same things that help prevent colds, flu and COVID any other time of the year work in the summer, doctors say.

Spend time outside when you can, wash your hands, wear a mask. And if youre sick, stay home.

(AP)
BRASILIA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Protests have erupted across Brazil since Friday in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariff hikes and sanctions on the country.

Chanting slogans and waving signs reading "Sovereignty is not negotiable," protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Brazil and near the U.S. consulates in several major cities, including Rio de Janeiro, denouncing the U.S. attempts to weaponize tariffs and interfere with Brazil's national sovereignty and judicial independence.

The U.S. government on Wednesday announced that it would impose tariffs of up to 50 percent on Brazilian exports and sanction Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of Brazil's Federal Supreme Court currently overseeing the case against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting to seize power after losing his reelection bid in 2022.

The latest Brazil tariff hike, among the highest imposed by the United States on its trading partners, comes after Trump's accusation that the Brazilian judiciary is abusing power and his demand to halt the trial of Bolsonaro.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has strongly rejected the U.S. measures, denouncing the interference in the country's internal affairs and accusing the opposition -- particularly members of the Bolsonaro family -- of putting foreign alliances ahead of national interests. He insists that Brazil negotiate on equal terms and resist external pressure surrounding Bolsonaro's prosecution. 
In the final moments of a life defined by violence, 60-year-old Edward Zakrzewski thanked the people of Florida for killing him in the most cold, calculated, clean, humane, efficient way possible, breathing deeply as a lethal drug cocktail coursed through his veins.

With his last breath, strapped to a gurney inside a state prisons death chamber, Zakrzewski paid what Florida had deemed was his debt to society and became the 27th person put to death in the U.S. so far this year, the highest number in a decade.

Under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has executed nine people in 2025, more than than any other state, and set a new state record, with DeSantis overseeing more executions in a single year than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

Across the country, more people have been put to death in the first seven months of this year than in all of 2024. Floridas increase is helping put the U.S. on track to surpass 2015s total of 28 executions.

And the number of executions is expected to keep climbing. Nine more people are scheduled to be put to death in seven states during the remainder of 2025.

Florida drives a national increase in executions

After the Supreme Court lifted its ban on capital punishment in the 70s, executions steadily increased, peaking in 1999 at 98 deaths. Since then, they had been dropping  in part due to legal battles, a shortage of lethal injection drugs, and declining public support for capital punishment, which has prompted a majority of states to either pause or abolish it altogether.

The ratcheting up after this yearslong decline comes as Republican President Donald Trump has urged prosecutors to aggressively seek the death penalty and as some GOP-controlled state legislatures have pushed to expand the category of crimes punishable by death and the methods used to carry out executions.

John Blume, director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project, says the uptick in executions doesnt appear to be linked to a change in public support for the death penalty or an increase in the rate of death sentences, but is rather a function of the discretion of state governors.

The most cynical view would be: It seems to matter to the president, so it matters to them, Blume said of the governors.

The only appropriate punishment

In response to questions from The Associated Press, a spokesperson for DeSantis pointed to statements the governor made at a press conference in May, saying he takes capital cases very seriously.

There are some crimes that are just so horrific, the only appropriate punishment is the death penalty, DeSantis said, adding: these are the worst of the worst.

Julie Andrew expressed relief after witnessing the April execution of the man who killed her sister in the Florida Keys in 2000.

Its done, she said. My heart felt lighter and I can breathe again.

The governors office did not respond to questions about why the governor is increasing the pace of executions now and whether Trumps policies are playing a role.

Deciding who lives and who dies

Little is publicly known about how the governor decides whose death warrant to sign and when, a process critics have called secretive and arbitrary.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, there are 266 people currently on death row, including two men in their 80s, both of whom have been awaiting their court-ordered fate for more than 40 years.

Speaking at the press conference in May, DeSantis said its his obligation to oversee executions, which he hopes provide some closure to victims families.

Any time we go forward, Im convinced that not only was the verdict correct, but that this punishment is absolutely appropriate under the circumstances, DeSantis said.

US ranks alongside Iran and Saudi Arabia for executions

For years, the U.S. has ranked alongside Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt as among the countries carrying out the highest number of confirmed executions. China is thought to execute more of its citizens than any other nation, although the exact totals are considered a state secret, according to the non-profit Death Penalty Information Center.

Robin Maher, the centers executive director, says elected officials in the U.S. have long used the death penalty as a political tool, adding its a way of embellishing their own tough-on-crime credentials.

Florida executions vary year to year

In 2024, DeSantis signed one death warrant. From 2020-2022, Florida didnt carry out a single execution. In 2023, DeSantis oversaw six  the highest number during his time in office until this year. 2023 was also the year the governor challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.

There are a number of reasons why the rate of executions may vary from one administration to the next, said Mark Schlakman, an attorney and Florida State University professor who advised then-governor Lawton Chiles on the death penalty.

The availability of staff resources, the tempo of lengthy legal appeals, and court challenges against the death penalty itself can all play a role, Schlakman said, as well as a governors sensibilities.

The one person who can stop this

One execution after another, opponents of the death penalty hold vigils in the Florida capitol, outside the governors mansion, and near the state prison that houses the death chamber, as people of faith across the state pray for mercy, healing and justice.

Suzanne Printy, a volunteer with the group Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, has hand-delivered thousands of petitions to DeSantis office, but says they seem to have no effect.

Recently, DeSantis signed death warrants for two more men scheduled to die later this month.

Still, Printy keeps praying.

Hes the one person who can stop this, she said.

(AP)
A disturbing image circulating online has prompted sharp condemnation from New York State Assemblyman Kalman Yeger and a call for immediate action from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The photo shows a vehicle in Closter, NJ, bearing a large swastika and New York State EMT license platesdespite sources telling YWN the vehicles owner is no longer be a certified EMT.

In a letter sent Monday to DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder, Yeger urged an investigation into the registrants credentials and questioned how someone could retain EMT plates while promoting hate symbols.

Im sure there will be some free-speech nonsense about a vehicle owners right to paint his vehicle any way hed like, but I dont believe he has the right to a New York EMT plateparticularly if he is not actually an EMT, Yeger wrote.

Yeger noted the vehicle, bearing the number EMT 544, poses a unique danger by appearing official. Vehicles with EMT plates may be assumed to have emergency authority or equipment onboard, potentially granting them unearned deference or access in public emergencies.

Kindly have your staff inquire if the vehicle registrant is actually an EMT, Yeger wrote. After a simple inquiry, I suspect the department might find ample cause to revoke the EMT plates.

Sources tell YWN that the vehicle belongs to John Kanjiram, a self-described product manager and startup advisor. According to a testimonial written by Kanjiram, he trained as an EMT to support his transition into the medical field. However, those same sources allege that Kanjirams EMT certification expired in January 2015over a decade ago.

According to DMV policy, the agency does not routinely verify whether EMT license holders remain actively certified. As long as a registrant continues to pay registration fees, they can legally retain their EMT platesregardless of their current standing.

Kanjirams LinkedIn profile makes no mention of current involvement in emergency medical services. Instead, it lists his current title as Full Stack Product Manager with 3x Startup & AI Experience. He also appears to be job-hunting, posting publicly two months ago about seeking a new role.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The name Yahya saw the single largest rise in popularity among boys names in the UK in 2024 despite  or perhaps because of  its association with one of the worlds most notorious terrorists: Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas mastermind behind the October 7th massacre in Israel.

According to newly released data from the UKs Office for National Statistics, 583 boys born last year were given the name Yahyaa 33-place jump in national ranking that vaulted it to the 93rd most popular boys name in the country.

Sinwar, also referred to as The Butcher of Khan Younis, was not a distant figure in 2024. As the leader of Hamass military operations in Gaza, he is widely regarded as the architect of the October 7 assault. The UK government has designated Hamas a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000, making any expression of support for the groupincluding its leadersa criminal offense.

Though there is no confirmed link between the rise in the name Yahya and support for Sinwar, the timing is jarring. The 2024 birth data spans January to December, meaning it captures naming trends in the immediate aftermath of October 7. Sinwar was killed in an Israeli operation in Rafah in mid-October, just as the war escalated.

Sinwars legacy is soaked in blood. He led Hamass brutal internal security wing, al-Majd, and was personally involved in executing suspected collaborators, often through torture and public killings. Israeli intelligence officials have recounted stomach-turning incidents: Sinwar once forced a man to bury his own brother alive, and strangled dozens of fellow Palestinians during his reign of terror.

In 1989, he was convicted and sentenced to four life terms for the abduction and murder of Israeli soldiers and for overseeing extrajudicial killings. Ironically, in 2004, Israeli doctors removed a fatal brain tumor, saving Sinwars life while he was still incarcerated. In 2011, he was released as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap.

The UK, home to Europes second-largest Jewish population, has faced growing tensions amid the Gaza conflict. The sharp rise in the name Yahyaespecially in the context of Hamass atrocitiesdoesnt offer anything comforting.

The only name to see a greater rise in popularity than Yahya was Vinnie. Meanwhile, the name Mohammad jumped 15 places, Mohammed rose 7 spots to become the 21st most popular boys name, and Muhammad held its position as the most popular name for baby boys in the UK for the second year running.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Hamas has declared that it will not disarm as long as the occupation exists, and criticized U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for what it described as a theatrical visit to an aid distribution center in war-torn Gaza.

The statement, released Saturday, flatly denied reported claims by Witkoff that Hamas had expressed willingness to demilitarize  remarks made following his visit to a site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a new U.S.- and Israel-backed relief agency. Witkoff had told hostage families in Tel Aviv earlier that Hamas said it is ready to demilitarize, a comment Hamas denounced as false and manipulative.

The American administration is a full partner in the crime of starvation and genocide, Hamas said, accusing Witkoffs visit of serving as political cover for managing starvation and continuing the systematic killing of children and unarmed civilians.

Hamas said it is commited to armed resistance (AKA terrorism), citing what it claims is a right under international law to fight until Palestinians achieve national rights, including an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and Jerusalem as its capital.

The group also lashed out at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began operating in mid-May as an alternative to the UN-led humanitarian system. While Israel insists it does not deliberately target civilians and accuses Hamas of hijacking aid and using civilians as human shields, it has acknowledged that Palestinian deaths have occurred during aid deliveries. The IDF says it has revised its engagement protocols following lessons learned.

Several international humanitarian organizations have refused to coordinate with GHF.

The U.S. is complicit, Hamas charged, calling on Washington to end its support for the aid framework and push instead for a ceasefire and complete end to Israeli military operations.

The renewed Hamas declaration came just days after an unprecedented joint statement from the entire Arab League  along with dozens of countries and the EU  publicly condemned Hamass October 7 massacre in Israel and urged the group to disarm in the name of peace and a two-state solution. Witkoff appeared to reference that statement when he told hostage families Saturday that some Arab countries are demanding that Hamas disarm.

Still, he tempered expectations regarding a breakthrough in the hostage-ceasefire talks, which remain deadlocked following the recent withdrawal of U.S. and Israeli negotiators from Doha.

I wish I had perfect news for you, but its a super-complicated situation and I dont have perfect news, Witkoff was heard telling families in audio published by Israels Channel 12. He added that while he believes a comprehensive deal is still possible, he could not share all the reasons for his optimism.

The Trump administrations point man for Gaza added that the U.S. is no longer pursuing piecemeal deals  an apparent reference to previous, partial releases of hostages that left many still in captivity. No piecemeal deals that doesnt work, Witkoff said.

His comments mirror those of a senior Israeli official who told reporters last week that the U.S. and Israel are now aligned in pushing for a full cessation of hostilities, contingent on the return of all remaining hostages.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The United States, United Kingdom, and a dozen allied nations have issued a joint statement accusing Iran of waging an escalating campaign of assassinations, kidnappings, and harassment across Europe and North America, targeting dissidents, journalists, and Jewish communities.

We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America in clear violation of our sovereignty, read the statement, signed by the governments of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The coordinated condemnation comes amid mounting evidence that Tehran is outsourcing attacks to transnational criminal networksincluding violent gangs in Sweden and hit squads in the UK and Franceto pursue its enemies abroad.

British intelligence officials say they have disrupted over 20 Iranian plots on UK soil since early 2022, including efforts to assassinate or abduct British nationals and exiled dissidents viewed by Tehran as threats to its regime.

A U.S. government report published last Tuesday warned that Iran has intensified efforts to strike Jewish targets in Europe. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Iranian operatives are relying on local proxies such as Swedens Foxtrot and Rumba gangs, as well as criminal collaborators in Germany, Belgium, and France, to carry out attacks.

Britains Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) recently described Iran as a significant and wide-ranging threat to national security. While not as globally aggressive as Russia or China, Irans covert operations, the ISC warned, are expanding rapidlyand the UK government is not adequately prepared.

There is now a clear case for the UK to proscribe Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ISC concluded, echoing calls from lawmakers urging the government to formally label the group as a terrorist organization.

In response to the growing threat, London announced in March that Tehran would be forced to register all political influence activities under new foreign influence transparency laws, a move designed to expose Irans clandestine lobbying and infiltration efforts.

The list of recent Iranian plots is alarming. In December, two Romanian nationals were charged after a journalist from an Iranian diaspora outlet in London was stabbed. Just months earlier, three Iranian nationals were indicted for assisting Tehrans foreign intelligence service in a plan to target UK-based journalists.

In May, eight Iranian men were arrested in Britain, reportedly just hours before launching an attack on the Israeli Embassy in London.

And in October, Reuters revealed that Iranian operatives were behind a surge of assassination attempts across Europe and the United States, pointing to a systematic campaign to eliminate Tehrans critics far beyond its borders.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Four US citizens, two men and two women, are currently in Iranian custody, the New York Times reported last week.

The four Iranian-Americans traveled to Iran to visit family members, the report said, quoting human rights organizations. Three are still in prison, and one has been barred from leaving the country.

One of the Americans, a 70-year-old Jewish father and grandfather from New York who owns a jewelry business, was arrested in the wake of the Israel-Iran war and is being interrogated over a past trip to Israel.

The relatives of three of the Americans have requested anonymity, fearing that publicity could worsen their situation.

The report emphasized Irans decades-long use of hostage diplomacy, a policy of wrongful detention of dual nationals and foreigners to use as leverage for prisoner swaps and the release of sanctioned funds.

US President Donald Trump has made the release of wrongfully detained Americans in foreign countries a priority of his term.

US envoy Steve Witkoff did not respond to a query on whether the detention of US citizens was raised during communications with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi.

The State Department said that it is closely tracking reports of the detention of US citizens in Iran.

For privacy, safety, and operational reasons, we do not get into the details of our internal or diplomatic discussions on reported US detainees, it said in a statement on Monday. We call on Iran to immediately release all unjustly detained individuals in Iran.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Amir Weissbrod, the deputy director of the Foreign Ministrys UN and International Organizations Division, revealed on Sunday that the UNRWA continues to employ numerous Hamas terrorists.

Weissbrod wrote on X: Nothing new under the sun with the UNRWA. In lists of workers that were sent to the Israeli Foreign Ministry last week, we can easily see that the UNRWA employs many Hamas terrorists, some whose names Israel transferred to the organization back in 2011 and were again transferred in a letter to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in July 2024. Nothing was done and they are still employed.

Three examples:

1. Mohammad Abi Itiwi, an UNRWA driver who participated in the kidnapping of young Israelis from a bomb shelter near Kibbutz Reim and was killed by the IDF in August 2024.

Result: Still employed and receiving a salary despite the fact that he was killed

2. Naji Abdalla Abu Azizhis name was already transferred to the UNRWA in 2011 and again in July 2024a school principal by day and member of Hamas chemical manufacturing unit by night. I revealed information about him several times on my account, and the information was also transferred to UN Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, including his Hamas rank and the serial number of his Kalashnikov rifle.

Result: You guessed it.

3. Khaled Said Mustafa el-Masri, another UNRWA principal of a school under which a Hamas terror tunnel was found. I provided documents proving that he is a Hamas commander and the information was transferred to UN officials.

Result: Nada.

This is just a small example out of many showing why any responsible government that doesnt want its taxpayers funds to reach Hamas should not fund the UNRWA, Weissbrod concluded.

Additional UNRWA employees revealed as Hamas terrorists can be read about here, and here, and here, and here, and here.

Victims of terrorist attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah recently filed a landmark lawsuit against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), alleging the agency played a direct role in supporting terrorism and enabling the groups responsible for the October 7 massacre and other attacks.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Hours before the government is scheduled to vote on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miaras dismissal on Monday afternoon, Baharav-Miara sent a letter to the government claiming her impending dismissal is illegal and is being carried out to thwart the recruitment of bnei yeshivos and interfere in the court cases against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Baharav-Miara also announced that she will not attend the meeting ahead of the vote in order to defend the governments claims against her.

The decision to change the way the attorney generals tenure is terminated is fundamentally illegal, she claimed in the letter. So is any procedure intended to implement it. The participation of the attorney general in an illegal procedure, the outcome of which is known in advance, will create the appearance of a proper procedure and give it validity. In doing so, the attorney general would be betraying her role.

It should be noted that the Supreme Court previously announced that the governments dismissal of Baharav-Miara will not take effect until it holds a hearing on petitions against it.

Nonetheless, according to reports, the government has decided to ignore the Supreme Courts announcement and boycott Baharav-Miara following her dismissal.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Sky News Australia host Rowan Dean excoriated tens of thousands of pro-Hamas protesters who marched in Sydney and Melbourne over the weekend, following Hamass release of a video on Friday showing hostage Evyatar David appearing emaciated and being forced to dig his own grave.

Unless you are holding signs for this man, Evyatar David, this is who you are supporting if you march on the bridge today. You are supporting the people who do it, Dean said.

Hang your heads in shame; absolutely disgusting, Dean continued. You hypocrites, you say youre doing this for humanity. Where is your humanity for this man? Where is your humanity, you disgusting grubs?

If youre a politician and youre walking out there, dont ever expect a vote from any sensible Australian ever again, he concluded.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted a photo of a sign held by one of the protesters in Sydney featuring Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Saar wrote, The distorted alliance between the radical Left and fundamentalist Islam is sadly dragging the West toward the sidelines of history.

In the picture: Radical protestors at Sydney Harbour Bridge today holding an image of Irans Supreme Leaderthe most dangerous leader of fundamentalist Islam, the worlds largest exporter of terror, and a mass executioner.

Australians, wake up!

Alex Ryvchin, the co-chairman of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, also slammed the pro-terror protestors who marched under a banner entitled March for Humanity, Save Gaza.

Any genuine concern for humanity would have also included the forgotten people held against their will in Gaza, the tortured and broken innocents held underground for nearly two years, he stated.

He also emphasized that the Palestine Action Group, which organized the march, is the same group that held a pro-Palestinian rally as the October 7 massacre was still unfolding.

On Monday, the left-wing Australian government announced an additional $20 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar spoke to the foreign press on Monday while standing in front of a screenshot of hostage Evyatar David, taken from a cruel Hamas psychological terror video published on Friday showing an emaciated David digging his own grave.

This past weekend, Hamas and Islamic Jihad cruelly released horrifying videos of our hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, he said.

The world witnessed their terrible condition, starved and tortured. Evyatar was forced to dig his own grave. The world saw the thick arm of the well-fed terrorist next to the starved and tortured Evyatar.

On October 7 and since then, Hamas has committed evil crimes, like the Nazis and ISIS did. There are still 50 hostages cruelly being held in the dungeons of Gaza. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are using the starvation and torture of hostages as part of a deliberate and well-planned sadistic propaganda campaign. These organizations also planted the starvation campaign of lies.

Saar slammed the international media for its unbalanced and twisted anti-Israel agendafeigning concern for Gaza while ignoring the plight of the hostages and failing to publish their photos on their front pages.

He emphasized that 50 hostages (20 living) are still being held in Gaza and have been denied access to visits by Red Cross representatives.

He also slammed countries, such as France, the UK and Canada, for announcing they will recognize a Palestinian state, emboldening Hamas and undermining hostage negotiations.

Its immoral, Saar said. And its also politically foolish. If you cant help, for G-ds sake, dont continue to cause damage to all the people living in our region.

Watch Saar full remarks below:

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
NAGOYA, Japan, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- A China-Japan peace and friendship exchange meeting has been held in Japan's Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The event on Sunday was hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Nagoya, drawing over 140 participants from both countries.

Zhao Baogang, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, stressed in his speech that China is committed to working with peace-loving Japanese to firmly oppose any attempt to distort, beautify, or deny the history of aggression.

He emphasized the shared responsibility to safeguard historical truth and human conscience, and to promote a peaceful future.

Chinese Consul General in Nagoya, Yang Xian, stressed China's significant role in the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and said China is willing to work with all walks of life in Japan to remember history, learn from history, and jointly create a bright future for Sino-Japanese relations.

Japanese House of Representatives member Isao Matsuda emphasized the importance of learning from history to build a peaceful future and expressed renewed determination to advance Japan-China relations.

Noriyuki Kawamura, president of the Tokai Japan-China Relations Society, said that acknowledging wartime history is key to preventing future conflict.

A highlight of the event was the donation of historical materials by Satoshi Daito, abbot of Enkoji Temple in Aichi Prefecture, to the Chinese side. The collection included rare photographs of the Japanese invasion of China.

Daito, who has spent nearly two decades collecting such documents, stated that historical records are crucial to uncovering the truth and represent a first step toward peace. 
Senior Hamas terrorist Ghazi Hamad said over the weekend that one of the fruits of the October 7 massacre was the worlds willingness to recognize a Palestinian state.

In an interview with Al Jazeera shortly after announcements by France, the UK, and Canada confirming their intention to recognize a Palestinian state, Hamad boasted about the benefits of the October 7 massacre. It should be noted that Hamad left Gaza for Lebanon weeks before the October 7 attack.

The first thing is that it brought back the Palestinian issue, he elaborated. Why are all the countries recognizing Palestine now? Before October 7, was there a country that dared recognize a Palestinian state?

Now, the fruit of October 7 is what spurred the whole world to open their eyes to the Palestinian cause, he asserted.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a clip from Hamads interview, stating: Dont let terror collect its reward.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
An Israeli citizen was found robbed and murdered near Las Vegas over the weekend, and authorities have opened a homicide investigation. Local law enforcement confirmed on Monday that the body was discovered approximately 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, the citys bustling hub of hotels and casinos.

Police have not yet identified any suspects, and the motive for the killing remains unknown. No arrests have been made.

According to a Chabad shliach in Las Vegas, the victim had traveled to the city for a hotel vacation. He added that an autopsy had been prevented and the body was returned to Israel within 24 hours for kevurah.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it had not yet been formally notified of the incident. The victims name has not been released, and few details have emerged about the circumstances of the crime.

The killing comes on the heels of two high-profile murders of Israeli nationals in Los Angeles this past April.

In the first of the Los Angeles cases, 47-year-old Israeli-American businessman Alexander Modvadze was brutally murdered during a targeted home invasion in the Woodland Hills neighborhood. According to the LAPD, three Georgian nationalsPata Kuchiyashvili (38), Zaza Otarashvili (46), and Besiki Khutsishvili (52)broke into Modvadzes home, held him hostage for hours, and inflicted fatal head injuries before fleeing with valuable property. The suspects were apprehended within hours, aided by the FBI.

The second victim, Israeli businessman Manny Hidrabrother of Moshe Hidra, Deputy Commissioner of the Nitzan Detention Center in Israelwas found dead in his Valley Village apartment days later. His alleged killer, 27-year-old Eric Escamilla, a repeat offender recently released from custody, was captured following a nearly two-week manhunt. Authorities believe Escamilla broke into an adjacent unit before leaping from a balcony into Hidras apartment and launching a fatal assault. Surveillance footage later showed Escamilla attempting to force entry into other units.

(YWN World Headquarters = NYC)
Synagogues in both Canada and Australia have come under attack in recent days, prompting investigations and renewed calls for action against hate crimes.

In Canada, authorities are probing a disturbing act of vandalism at Victorias Conservative Congregation Emanu-El  the countrys oldest continuously operating synagogue  where antisemitic graffiti scrawled across the property included genocidal threats and vile slurs against Jews.

Jews are evil! Because genocide is evil! Stop genocide stop the Jews! Jews are murdering thousands of gentile children. In the future Palestinians will get their revenge against you child-killing Jew-monsters! the graffiti read.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver condemned the attack as a painful reminder that the fight against antisemitism is far from over.

British Columbias Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said that hate-fueled vandalism and intimidation are criminal acts, not protected expressions. She confirmed the expansion of the provinces Hate Crimes Unit, tasking it with aggressively investigating hate-motivated offenses and ensuring charges are brought against the perpetrators.

Just days earlier, the Canadian government announced its conditional support for recognizing a Palestinian state if the Palestinian Authority implements a series of reforms. The Israeli government has slammed such moves as effectively rewarding Hamas in the wake of its October 7 massacre.

Meanwhile, in Australia, police are hunting for a lone suspect responsible for a series of antisemitic vandalism incidents at the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, an Orthodox shul in South Yarra. The shul has been defaced five times between March 11 and July 30 with offensive slogans spray-painted onto its walls.

CCTV footage released by Victoria Police shows the male suspect arriving on a black e-scooter, dressed in dark clothing, and covering his face with various disguises.

Police certainly take a dim view of this sort of abhorrent behavior in the public arena, said Detective Inspector Martin McLean. We believe the offender is acting alone, but were asking the public for any information that could help bring this person to justice.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A financial revolution is reshaping how money moves globally, from infrastructure to customer experience.

At Scottish Mortgage, were backing the companies rethinking the system from the ground up, providing meaningful exposure for our shareholders right across the value chain.

As with any investment, your capital is at risk.

From Sao Paulo to Singapore, a quiet financial revolution is underway. It's not always visible, but it's already reshaping how we live, spend and move money.

Paying with your phone, sending money abroad instantly, and opening a bank account without stepping into a branch - these once-fragmented, frustrating experiences are now seamless, intuitive, and accessible.

Behind this shift is a new wave of global companies transforming finance, not through headlines but through innovative, purposeful technology that's quietly reshaping how money moves.

At Scottish Mortgage, we're backing companies rethinking finance from the ground up, building faster, more inclusive systems that will define the future of finance.

Scottish Mortgage says incumbent banks are often weighed down by legacy infrastructure, which is complex, costly, and resistant to change

Building the Foundations of the Digital Financial System

While consumer-facing apps often grab the spotlight, much of the real transformation is happening behind the scenes. Infrastructure is the quiet layer  the digital plumbing that enables finance to scale, connecting customers, businesses and currencies across borders.

Stripe, a payments technology company, is building the internet's economic infrastructure. It provides software that enables online businesses to accept payments and manage financial operations easily. Used by millions of businesses, including by half of the Fortune 100, Stripe processed $1.4tn in payment volume last year. Its vision is to move money in the cloud as seamlessly as data, powering a more connected, scalable financial system.

Adyen, a Dutch company with a global reach, offers a single platform that combines payments, risk management, and embedded financial services. Its simplicity, scale, and reliability have made it a critical payments partner for companies like Uber, Spotify and H&M. In 2024, Adyen processed over 1.2tn in total volume, supporting commerce both online and in-store.

Wise is building a new network for moving money across borders, designed to make transfers instant, transparent, and eventually free. Its platform allows individuals, businesses and financial institutions to hold and convert multiple currencies with ease. With the global cross-border retail payments market currently worth over 11tn, Wise is well-placed to capture a large and still under-served opportunity.

These companies are laying the foundations of modern digital finance, building the infrastructure that makes financial services faster, smarter and more widely accessible.

Singapore-based SEA Ltd aims to improve the lives of consumers and small businesses through technology

Expanding Financial Access

Finance is one of the most powerful tools for individual and economic empowerment. Today, digital platforms are extending that power further and faster than ever, especially in emerging markets, where conventional financial institutions have long failed to reach many.

This is the democratisation of finance in action  companies using technology to lower barriers, reduce costs, and give more people access to the tools they need to participate and prosper.

NuBank, one of the world's largest digital banks, gives over 100 million individuals across Latin America access to banking services, often via a smartphone alone. Its model brings formal financial services within reach for tens of millions historically excluded from the traditional system.

SEA Ltd, a Singapore-based digital platform business, aims to improve the lives of consumers and small businesses through technology. Its digital finance arm, SeaMoney, is expanding financial access in Southeast Asia through digital wallets, payments and credit. With over 28 million users and a loan book of over $5bn, it's helping underserved populations transact and borrow in economies where formal banking remains limited.

These companies demonstrate that financial inclusion is not only a societal benefit but a powerful driver of long-term growth. By scaling access, they're also scaling opportunity.

Transforming the Customer Experience

Incumbent banks are often weighed down by legacy infrastructure, which is complex, costly, and resistant to change. By contrast, a new generation of companies is starting with the customer and building from the ground up. These innovators are redesigning what it means to manage money in a digital world, prioritising speed, simplicity, and control.

Revolut, a UK-based digital banking platform, is reshaping finance with an all-in-one app that combines a wide and growing range of services, from spending and saving to investing, currency exchange, and crypto. With over 50 million customers across 40+ countries, it offers a fast, flexible alternative to traditional banks, built for a digitally connected world. Revolut's emphasis on intuitive design, instant access, and personal financial control exemplifies how customer experience is becoming a core competitive edge.

Affirm, a U.S.-based buy-now-pay-later provider, offers a compelling alternative to traditional consumer credit through clear, interest-free instalments and upfront terms. Used for everything from everyday purchases to larger expenses, it helps users budget confidently and avoid surprise fees. With over 20 million active users and 350,000+ merchant partners, Affirm's high repeat usage reflects a customer experience built on trust and control.

These businesses prioritise simplicity, affordability, and 24/7 access, features now seen as fundamental to modern financial services, not optional extras.

Innovating Financial Ecosystems

Leading fintech platforms are evolving into full-service ecosystems, combining payments, credit, savings, and more to meet a broader set of financial needs and drive deeper, more enduring customer relationships.

MercadoLibre is a fully integrated ecommerce and fintech platform that creates powerful network effects by linking commerce, payments, credit and logistics in one connected ecosystem. It operates the largest digital platform in Latin America, serving over 100 million users. Its financial services arm, MercadoPago integrates digital wallets, credit, investment and insurance, creating a financial hub for consumers, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes. This interconnected model reflects MercadoLibre's evolution into a full-service ecosystem, deepening its role in users' financial lives and strengthening long-term customer relationships.

Ant Group, the operator of China's Alipay super app, has built one of the world's most advanced digital ecosystems. What began as a mobile payments solution has evolved into a platform that integrates lending, wealth management and insurance, alongside everyday commerce. It now connects over 1 billion users to more than 10,000 types of consumer services and 90 million merchants across Asia, anchoring one of the most advanced and scaled fintech ecosystems in the world.

These businesses are not simply expanding their product offerings  they are building interconnected ecosystems that strengthen over time, reinforcing user engagement and enabling broader, platform-led financial inclusion.

Alipay began as a mobile payments solution but has evolved into a platform that integrates lending, wealth management and insurance, alongside everyday commerce

Enabling Global Financial Progress

At Scottish Mortgage, we seek out companies driving structural change. We believe that progress  often enabled by technology, led by ambitious founders, and focused on solving real-world problems  is a powerful engine for long-term growth. The digitalisation of finance is a profound, structural shift reshaping how money moves worldwide, and we're backing the companies building the financial systems of the future.

Risk Factors

The Trust invests in overseas securities. Changes in the rates of exchange may also cause the value of your investment (and any income it may pay) to go down or up.

The Trust invests in emerging markets, which includes China, where difficulties with market volatility, political and economic instability including the risk of market shutdown, trading, liquidity, settlement, corporate governance, regulation, legislation and taxation could arise, resulting in a negative impact on the value of your investment.

Important Information

This article does not constitute, and is not subject to the protections afforded to, independent research. Baillie Gifford and its staff may have dealt in the investments concerned.

The views expressed are not statements of fact and should not be considered as advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a particular investment.

Baillie Gifford & Co and Baillie Gifford & Co Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The investment trusts managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Limited are listed on the London Stock Exchange and are not authorised or regulated by the FCA.

A Key Information Document is available by visiting scottishmortgage.com
More than 125 bosses, peers and academics have written to Rachel Reeves in a stark warning over the 'scandal' of nearly a million young people at risk of being a wasted generation.

Official figures show there is an army of NEETs  people aged 16-24 who are not in employment, education or training.

The letter, to be delivered to the Chancellor today, says that without urgent action, huge numbers are destined 'for the scrapheap.' It has been co-ordinated by Christopher Nieper, boss of the David Nieper fashion business, along with the Jobs Foundation charity.

Signatories include JCB chief Lord Bamford, City tycoon Lord Spencer, property mogul Jamie Ritblat, grocery entrepreneur Sean Ramsden and venture capitalist Jon Moulton.

Warning: The letter to the Chancellor has been co-ordinated by Christopher Nieper (pictured)

Toyota UK and the Rigby Group, Europe's largest private IT services company, are also among the signatories urging a skills tax relief to incentivise firms to train young people, which they say would benefit the Exchequer and boost less prosperous areas.

Nieper, who has rescued a failing school in Derbyshire which claims that it helped all 18-year-old pupils secure a job or further education, said: 'The cost of the NEETs crisis to the economy is unsustainable  not just in welfare payments but in lost productivity, unfulfilled potential and long-term damage caused by early unemployment.'

He has proposed a tax break for employers and says modelling shows that if the number of NEETs is halved, the Exchequer would gain up to 23billion.
Great Portland Estates Plc (LON:GPE  Get Free Report) insider Toby Courtauld purchased 44 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 31st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 339 ($4.50) per share, for a total transaction of 149.16 ($198.06).

Toby Courtauld also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, June 30th, Toby Courtauld purchased 41 shares of Great Portland Estates stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 364 ($4.83) per share, for a total transaction of 149.24 ($198.17).

On Friday, May 30th, Toby Courtauld purchased 44 shares of Great Portland Estates stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 337 ($4.47) per share, for a total transaction of 148.28 ($196.89).

On Tuesday, May 27th, Toby Courtauld sold 18,510 shares of Great Portland Estates stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 327 ($4.34), for a total value of 60,527.70 ($80,371.40).

Great Portland Estates Stock Performance

Shares of Great Portland Estates stock opened at GBX 331.20 ($4.40) on Monday. Great Portland Estates Plc has a one year low of GBX 260 ($3.45) and a one year high of GBX 371.50 ($4.93). The company has a market cap of 1.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.30, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 51.52, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 0.26. The businesss 50 day moving average price is GBX 343.08 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 311.39.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Great Portland Estates ( LON:GPE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 21st. The company reported GBX 5.30 ($0.07) EPS for the quarter. Great Portland Estates had a return on equity of 15.50% and a net margin of 172.83%. On average, research analysts predict that Great Portland Estates Plc will post 6.1719457 EPS for the current year.

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Great Portland Estates in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. Peel Hunt reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 375 ($4.98) price target on shares of Great Portland Estates in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Great Portland Estates

About Great Portland Estates

(Get Free Report)

GPE is a FTSE 250 real estate investor and developer. GPE aims to deliver superior returns by unlocking the often hidden potential in commercial real estate in central London, creating high quality sustainable spaces for its customers and long-term value for its stakeholders.

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Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its stake in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO  Free Report) by 7.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,473 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Managements holdings in Valero Energy were worth $327,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 5.9% during the first quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 3,002 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $396,000 after buying an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Davis R M Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Valero Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $274,000. Foster & Motley Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1.5% during the first quarter. Foster & Motley Inc. now owns 22,609 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,986,000 after buying an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1.7% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 160,901 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $21,250,000 after buying an additional 2,667 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NorthRock Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 7.6% during the first quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 3,675 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $485,000 after buying an additional 261 shares during the last quarter. 78.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Valero Energy Stock Performance

Valero Energy stock opened at $133.17 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $138.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $131.07. Valero Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $99.00 and a 52-week high of $155.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.49, a P/E/G ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 1.03.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

Valero Energy ( NYSE:VLO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.62. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 5.76% and a net margin of 0.62%. The firm had revenue of $29.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 188.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on VLO shares. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Valero Energy from $159.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 28th. Citigroup cut Valero Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $134.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Valero Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $127.00 to $154.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Valero Energy from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Raymond James Financial boosted their price objective on Valero Energy from $155.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $154.47.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Valero Energy

Valero Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.

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Sfmg LLC increased its holdings in shares of Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO  Free Report) by 9.3% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 6,728 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 575 shares during the period. Sfmg LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $619,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Clearstead Trust LLC boosted its holdings in Southern by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 7,177 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $660,000 after acquiring an additional 238 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its holdings in Southern by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 1,092,554 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $100,460,000 after acquiring an additional 33,729 shares during the period. Smithfield Trust Co boosted its holdings in Southern by 20.9% during the 1st quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 2,315 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $213,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. Argent Trust Co boosted its holdings in Southern by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Argent Trust Co now owns 39,650 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,646,000 after acquiring an additional 494 shares during the period. Finally, L & S Advisors Inc boosted its holdings in Southern by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. L & S Advisors Inc now owns 44,341 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,077,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the period. 64.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Southern Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SO opened at $94.96 on Monday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $91.38 and its 200 day moving average price is $89.50. Southern Company has a 12 month low of $80.46 and a 12 month high of $96.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $104.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.41, a P/E/G ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 0.38.

Southern Announces Dividend

Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.99 by ($0.08). Southern had a return on equity of 12.09% and a net margin of 15.10%. The company had revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.70 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.10 earnings per share. Southerns revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Southern Company will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 18th will be paid a $0.74 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 18th. This represents a $2.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.1%. Southerns payout ratio is currently 76.09%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Southern news, CEO Kimberly S. Greene sold 13,158 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total value of $1,250,010.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 93,661 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,897,795. The trade was a 12.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on SO. Wall Street Zen cut Southern from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday. Mizuho lifted their price objective on Southern from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays lifted their price objective on Southern from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Southern from $98.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Southern from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $94.29.

View Our Latest Research Report on Southern

About Southern

(Free Report)

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.

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Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE:CLDT  Get Free Report) is expected to announce its Q2 2025 earnings results before the market opens on Wednesday, August 6th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.34 per share and revenue of $79.67 million for the quarter. Chatham Lodging Trust has set its FY 2025 guidance at 0.950-1.030 EPS and its Q2 2025 guidance at 0.320-0.360 EPS.

Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE:CLDT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $68.64 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $67.99 million. Chatham Lodging Trust had a return on equity of 1.38% and a net margin of 3.44%. On average, analysts expect Chatham Lodging Trust to post $1 EPS for the current fiscal year and $1 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Chatham Lodging Trust Price Performance

Chatham Lodging Trust stock opened at $6.63 on Monday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $7.12 and its 200 day moving average is $7.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market cap of $324.74 million, a P/E ratio of 110.50 and a beta of 1.50. Chatham Lodging Trust has a one year low of $5.83 and a one year high of $10.00.

Chatham Lodging Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th were paid a $0.09 dividend. This is an increase from Chatham Lodging Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 30th. Chatham Lodging Trusts payout ratio is presently 600.00%.

Chatham Lodging Trust announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Tuesday, May 6th that allows the company to repurchase $25.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the real estate investment trust to repurchase up to 7.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on CLDT shares. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Chatham Lodging Trust from $11.00 to $9.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Alliance Global Partners reiterated a buy rating on shares of Chatham Lodging Trust in a report on Tuesday, May 6th.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Chatham Lodging Trust

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chatham Lodging Trust

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CLDT. Strs Ohio bought a new stake in shares of Chatham Lodging Trust during the first quarter valued at approximately $61,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Chatham Lodging Trust during the first quarter valued at approximately $62,000. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chatham Lodging Trust by 35.8% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 98,409 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $702,000 after acquiring an additional 25,926 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Chatham Lodging Trust by 26.7% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 193,422 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,379,000 after acquiring an additional 40,746 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chatham Lodging Trust by 6.6% during the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 289,534 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,064,000 after acquiring an additional 18,030 shares in the last quarter. 88.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Chatham Lodging Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Chatham Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) focused primarily on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels. The company owns 39 hotels totaling 5,915 rooms/suites in 16 states and the District of Columbia.

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KABUL, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Police have discovered arms and ammunition, including a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), in western Afghanistan's Farah province, said a news release of the provincial police office on Monday.

The weaponry includes a piece of AK-47, one stock of RPG, four hand grenades, projectiles and other military equipment were found from a house in Khak-e-Safid district, the news release added.

Earlier in similar operations, police discovered arms and ammunition, including anti-aircraft guns, in the northern Samangan province some two weeks ago. 
Geneva Capital Management LLC lessened its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Free Report) by 2.4% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 94,275 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 2,329 shares during the quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLCs holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions were worth $22,858,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 50.0% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,560,316 shares of the business services providers stock worth $804,952,000 after purchasing an additional 1,186,555 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,648,527 shares of the business services providers stock worth $372,713,000 after purchasing an additional 40,506 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 1,615,131 shares of the business services providers stock worth $365,177,000 after purchasing an additional 20,716 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 24.4% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,604,783 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $362,825,000 after buying an additional 314,323 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,461,011 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $330,320,000 after buying an additional 55,080 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.03% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on BR shares. Needham & Company LLC started coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. They issued a buy rating and a $300.00 price target on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised Broadridge Financial Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $259.00 price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $250.83.

Insider Activity at Broadridge Financial Solutions

In other news, Director Maura A. Markus sold 3,556 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.08, for a total transaction of $864,392.48. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 30,892 shares in the company, valued at $7,509,227.36. The trade was a 10.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Douglas Richard Deschutter sold 5,056 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.55, for a total value of $1,211,164.80. Following the sale, the insider owned 21,167 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,070,554.85. The trade was a 19.28% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 18,116 shares of company stock valued at $4,352,298 over the last quarter. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of BR opened at $244.61 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $241.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $237.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.32. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a 52-week low of $206.29 and a 52-week high of $257.65. The company has a market cap of $28.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.78 and a beta of 0.94.

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The business services provider reported $2.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.41 by $0.03. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 44.82% and a net margin of 11.65%. The firm had revenue of $1.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.86 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.23 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 8.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 12th were given a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 12th. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss payout ratio is presently 52.93%.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Profile

(Free Report)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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TIAA Trust National Association reduced its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 30.1% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 13,791 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 5,946 shares during the quarter. TIAA Trust National Associations holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $2,289,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FMR LLC raised its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 2,572,488 shares during the period. Sanders Capital LLC raised its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 231,310 shares during the period. Capital World Investors raised its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 294,316 shares during the period. Capital International Investors raised its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 1,683,256 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 4,158,772 shares during the period. 16.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Down 2.6%

Shares of TSM opened at $235.28 on Monday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $222.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $195.85. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a twelve month low of $133.57 and a twelve month high of $248.28. The stock has a market cap of $1.22 trillion, a PE ratio of 26.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a quick ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The semiconductor company reported $2.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.13 by $0.34. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 32.87% and a net margin of 42.91%. The firm had revenue of $30.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $28.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.48 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 44.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be given a $0.6499 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is 28.16%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on TSM. Barclays restated an overweight rating and issued a $240.00 price objective (up from $215.00) on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $270.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Susquehanna upped their price target on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $258.33.

View Our Latest Research Report on TSM

About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

Further Reading

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TIAA Trust National Association boosted its position in The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 7.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 23,028 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 1,571 shares during the quarter. TIAA Trust National Associations holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $1,931,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. TrueMark Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter worth approximately $4,282,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 29.1% in the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 223,438 shares of the banks stock worth $18,740,000 after purchasing an additional 50,368 shares during the last quarter. Formidable Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter worth approximately $247,000. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 121.8% in the first quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 183,602 shares of the banks stock worth $15,399,000 after purchasing an additional 100,810 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Benson Investment Management Company Inc. bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter worth approximately $5,259,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.31% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Bank of New York Mellon news, EVP J Kevin Mccarthy sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.45, for a total transaction of $1,969,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 35,115 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,457,071.75. This trade represents a 36.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Bank of New York Mellon Stock Performance

Shares of Bank of New York Mellon stock opened at $99.78 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.23, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $93.13 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $86.90. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation has a 12 month low of $60.93 and a 12 month high of $103.16.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 15th. The bank reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $4.77 billion during 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 companys 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. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation will post 6.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of New York Mellon Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This is an increase from Bank of New York Mellons previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 25th. Bank of New York Mellons payout ratio is 32.37%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on BK shares. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $105.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $95.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.38.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Bank of New York Mellon

About Bank of New York Mellon

(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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Earned Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 1,431 shares of the payment services companys stock, valued at approximately $385,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Investment Management Corp VA ADV purchased a new stake in American Express in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. MorganRosel Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express during the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Nexus Investment Management ULC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express during the 1st quarter worth $34,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express during the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Finally, IAG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express during the 1st quarter worth $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the companys stock.

Get American Express alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on AXP. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on American Express from $250.00 to $311.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Monness Crespi & Hardt downgraded American Express from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $327.00 price target on American Express in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of American Express in a report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Citigroup restated a neutral rating and set a $327.00 target price (up from $300.00) on shares of American Express in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Two 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 companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $311.05.

Insider Activity at American Express

In related news, insider Anna Marrs sold 5,500 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $310.77, for a total transaction of $1,709,235.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 20,311 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,312,049.47. This trade represents a 21.31% 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. Also, insider Glenda G. Mcneal sold 50,000 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $309.50, for a total value of $15,475,000.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 10,957 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,391,191.50. The trade was a 82.03% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 64,950 shares of company stock valued at $19,787,710. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

American Express Price Performance

NYSE AXP opened at $294.25 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $204.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.65, a P/E/G ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.28. American Express Company has a 1 year low of $220.43 and a 1 year high of $329.14. The businesss fifty day moving average is $306.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $291.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a current ratio of 1.61.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The payment services company reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.86 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $17.86 billion for 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 firms revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.49 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Express Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 3rd. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. American Expresss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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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ULAN BATOR, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- In the early morning of Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, 19-year-old Mongolian university student Enkhbat arrives early at the examination venue for the Chinese Proficiency Test, ready to assess his Chinese language skills.

"I'm in my sophomore year and hope to use this test to evaluate my Chinese proficiency in preparation for studying abroad," Enkhbat said. Hailing from Khentii Province, his parents are herders, and a chance encounter led him to the Chinese language.

In the summer of 2023, Enkhbat traveled to Ulan Bator with his father to sell cashmere products, where they encountered a businessman from China. Unfortunately, without a translator, neither Enkhbat nor his father could comprehend the Chinese spoken by the businessman, leading to an unsuccessful negotiation that left his father feeling regretful.

That day, his father patted him on the shoulder and said, "You need to learn Chinese when you go to university."

At university, Enkhbat chose to major in Chinese, planning to study further in Shanghai after graduation. "China has a huge market, and the potential for China-Mongolia trade is immense," Enkhbat noted.

Currently, there is a growing number of young people in Mongolia, like Enkhbat, keen on learning Chinese. Cheng Shengli, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the National University of Mongolia, said that among foreign language learners in Mongolia, those studying Chinese rank second after English.

There are 18 national primary and secondary schools as well as over 40 private schools offering Chinese courses in Mongolia, with more than 150 other schools planning to introduce Chinese language programs.

The Confucius Institutes at the National University of Mongolia and the Mongolian State University of Education, as well as several Confucius classrooms and teaching centers, have become important platforms for Chinese language education and cultural exchange between China and Mongolia.

Khishig Chinese Language Comprehensive Secondary School in Ulan Bator has implemented Chinese language courses. Teacher Jiyaa said that students enjoy learning Chinese, singing Chinese songs, and following Chinese television dramas, resulting in remarkable improvements in their Chinese proficiency.

The "Chinese Bridge" contest, a Chinese proficiency competition for foreigners, has also sparked Mongolian students' enthusiasm for learning Chinese.

Middle school student Hulan from Tsaikhun Secondary School in Darkhan-Uul Province said, "'Chinese Bridge' is like a mirror, reflecting my progress in Chinese while revealing the many treasures hidden within the language."

Throughout the years, many students in Mongolia have shown a deep enthusiasm for the competition, viewing their preparation and participation as valuable opportunities to improve their language skills.

Cheng said that the "Chinese Bridge" is not just a competition; it serves as a gateway for Mongolian students to immerse themselves in the Chinese language, allowing them to experience the beauty of the language and the vast opportunities for cultural exchange between the two nations. 
Hollywood star Mel Gibson will return to Meath next weekend to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic Oscar-winning film Braveheart.

Gibson, who directed, produced and starred as William Wallace in the film, will be attending the King John's Summer Prom Festival in Trim where much of the film was shot.

The King John's Summer Prom Festival will take place from Friday, 8 August to Sunday, 10 August and this year it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the film which was released in 1995, making it the theme to this year's festival.

The festival's organisers have said: "With almost 300 performers, the King John Summer Prom Festival is a groundbreaking blend of classical music, film, and community celebration. Its more than a festival  its a moment in Irish cultural history."

Gibson is expected to be on hand to sign posters at Trim Castle Hotel on Saturday morning, 9 August with all proceeds going towards the Irish Actors Equity Benevolent Fund, which provides emergency assistance to people in financial difficulty.

READ NEXT: Young girl injured in Parnell Square attack progressing her rehabilitation 'like a champ'

There are 200 of these limited edition Braveheart posters up for grabs, costing 50 each.

In addition to this, he will attend a number of concerts and a screening of Braveheart on Saturday night alongside other cast members.

There's a lot more to expect from the festival besides Mel Gibson's appearance, with the Irish Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Niall O'Sullivan and many more acts expected to perform.

This is definitely a festival to check out for all Braveheart fans! For more information on tickets and a full line-up of events, you can check the King John Summer Prom Festival website.
Quickly, we wanted to share this quote about immigration chaos over the years that's just now starting to get cleaned up . . . Also the arrest pix put on blast by authorities is probably worth a look for any local curious about the threat or why so many Latinos AND Democratic Party voters still support Prez Trump in his border crackdown despite talking head pundits trying to convince viewers otherwise . . . Admittedly, taco stand roundups have chipped away at that backing and that's probably the reason why news like this is important no matter partisan affiliation.

Check-it . . .

According to an HSI spokesperson, (the) 34-year-old is a self-admitted member of the Surenos gang.



The U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of California has previously said that the Surenos gangs have roots in Southern California and Latin America and recognize the primacy of the Mexican Mafia prison gang.



(He) has been deported from the U.S. four times in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022.



This individual repeatedly crossed the border, joined a violent gang while incarcerated, and built a track record of crime and disregard for the law, said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent in Charge. Hes exactly the kind of threat we are determined to find, stop and remove from our communities.





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Sharing this one only for the sake of nostalgia given that our love for the old school blog format might be akin to fondness for the way film projections look to avid fans of cinema . . . Check-it:

"The Screenland Armour Theater is turning to the past to shape its cinematic future. The beloved North Kansas City theater has launched a fundraising campaign to help install 35mm and 70mm film projectors, giving moviegoers the chance to once again experience films in their original analog format alongside modern digital screenings."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
In retrospect . . .

It kinda seems like the former archbishop setting up a counter-protest offered more of a spotlight to these free speech advocates . . . Here's the aftermath that we can be forgiven for missing earlier.

Check-it . . .

Jaee Crazee, vice-president and secretary for the Grotto, says the group is looking for a change.



We are gathered together with all the occults to talk about the takeover, I guess, essentially of Christianity in the government. We want equality for all religions, Crazee said. Were definitely not devil worshippers, thats for sure; were just activists trying to make a difference and trying to empower the community.



13 news reporters were there at the protest and did not observe any violent behavior or law enforcement interventions.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
A litany of arguments from both sides of the fence confront this controversial project that seems to have backfired . . .

"Trans Heartland said on its now-archived website that it provided support for trans Kansans through an Overland Park drop-in center, scholarships and three peer support groups.



"But instead, people familiar with Trans Heartland told The Star that the organization took money from well-meaning donors and left a pattern of hostile interactions in its wake."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The reactionaries will take the W and brag about it . . . However . . . The only thing we have to contribute to the conversation is that people who actually care about gun rights were always kinda "meh" about this STL couple because their gun brandishing was obviously a political stunt and in bad form.

Also . . .

Only the worst kind of troll would defend some dude ready to kill for his mansion . . . For those who look closely, this was never a story about gun rights but mostly about a rich guy with a bad temper who wanted A LOT of attention and garnered it for all the wrong reason.

Still, because we're able to hold two thoughts in our head at the same time, we're glad he got his gun back even if he probably deserved every bit of trouble he encountered over his front porch flex.

Check the basics . . .

The St. Louis couple who went viral in 2020 for wielding guns as Black Lives Matter protesters marched outside their property have regained possession of their semiautomatic rifle.



After a yearslong and complex legal struggle to reclaim their weapons after they were seized by authorities more than five years ago, police have returned the AR-15 to St. Louis lawyers Mark and Patricia McCloskey.



"It only took 3 lawsuits, 2 trips to the Court of Appeals and 1,847 days, but I got my AR15 back!" Mark McCloskey posted to his X account on Friday, along with several photos of him carrying the gun.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Baku, Azerbaijan, August 4. On August 4, the Azerbaijan State Theater of Young Spectators hosted a farewell ceremony for Elchin Afandiyev, a distinguished Azerbaijani writer, novelist, playwright, critic, literary scholar, Doctor of Philological Sciences, professor, member of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, People's Writer, recipient of the Istiglal Order, and a prominent public and state figure, Trend reports.

Prime Minister Ali Asadov, along with other state and government officials, attended the farewell ceremony.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, and various state and government institutions.

Colleagues, friends, prominent figures from the countrys scientific and cultural spheres, members of parliament, and numerous readers of the late People's Writer paid their respects to the unforgettable novelist.
WINDHOEK, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Namibia on Monday officially opened the inaugural Commonwealth Youth Council Consultative Dialogue, with delegates, policymakers, and leaders from all 56 members.

The 4-day event, running from Monday in the Namibian capital of Windhoek, aims to shape a future centered on youth voices, leadership, and aspirations.

In her opening speech, Namibia's Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp emphasized the country's role as a Commonwealth member and a nation committed to youth empowerment.

"This dialogue represents the Commonwealth's commitment to investing in its greatest resource: its young people ... we are united by a singular purpose: to shape a future that centers youth, their voices, their leadership, and their dreams," she said.

According to Steenkamp, Namibia is a youthful nation, and over 60 percent of its population is under the age of 35. "In our context, this is not merely a demographic statistic; it is a powerful call to action. Our young people represent strength, talent, creativity, and resilience," she added.

Steenkamp said through the country's National Youth Policy III (2020-2030) and the newly launched Sixth National Development Plan, Namibia is laying the groundwork for real, measurable change in the lives of the youth.

"We are also deepening our investment in regional and international cooperation, supporting platforms where Namibian youth can exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and lead confidently on the continental and global stage," she added.

Meanwhile, Steenkamp acknowledged that global challenges facing youth, such as unemployment, mental health, access to finance, digital exclusion, and the climate crisis, are shared, necessitating collective and collaborative responses. 
Baku, Azerbaijan, August 4. During the ongoing proceedings at the Baku Military Court on August 4, victim Ingilab Mammadov said he was among the residents of Mingachevir who were affected by the missile attack during the 44-day Patriotic War, Trend reports.

Mammadov testified that he, along with his three children, sustained injuries under the rubble of the two-story building during the missile strike on October 4, 2020, adding that there were no military facilities around the house. We later found out that it was a Smerch missile fired by Armenians, the victim said.

Victim Elchin Baghirov stated he suffered material and moral damage during the Smerch missile attack, adding that he, his mother Nabat Baghirova, and his uncle were also injured during the incident. Baghirov further stated that his uncle had lost the ability to work due to the sustained injuries.

The court proceedings continue against Armenian nationals accused of crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, and violations of the laws of war. The charges also include financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, received Chief of the Naval Staff of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, along with his delegation during their visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Prior to the meeting, the delegation visited Alley of Martyrs, where flowers and wreaths were arranged at the graves of Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as well as at the Eternal Flame monument.

Following this, the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army hosted a meeting. Colonel General Valiyev extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation and expressed his satisfaction with seeing them in Azerbaijan. He underscored the deep historical ties and emphasized that the existing bilateral military cooperation is at an advanced stage of progress.

In response, Admiral Naveed Ashraf expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality shown, affirming his belief that such engagements would positively contribute to strengthening bilateral military cooperation.

The discussions highlighted the significance of conducting joint exercises in terms of enhancing the professionalism of Azerbaijani and Pakistani naval personnel. Additionally, a comprehensive and productive exchange of views was held on various other issues of common interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova has attended the Inter-Parliamentary Forum, which commenced its work as part of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in the town of Awaza in Turkmenistan, a source in the parliament told Trend.

Initially, the forum was launched with a ceremonial inauguration event.

Gafarova presided over the first session of the Forum, which was entitled From Vienna to Awaza: Unresolved Challenges, Lessons Learned, and the Way Ahead.

She conveyed her commendations to Turkmenistan as the principal host nation for the adept orchestration of the forum.

As the speaker said, the Forum aims to ensure the recognition of that role that parliaments can play in forming and implementing policies and programs in the landlocked developing countries, transit countries, and development partners, as well as in fulfilling the obligations and priorities under the Programs of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries.

According to her, legislative bodies possess a significant arsenal of legislative mechanisms, fiscal management strategies, and oversight capabilities, which are instrumental in realizing the predetermined objectives.



The orator articulated that legislative bodies, as quintessential representatives of the populace, are the primary entities to establish a conduit with the citizenry.



She also articulated that, while facilitating the interface between governmental entities and the citizenry, legislative bodies meticulously consider all propositions and insights put forth by civil society, subsequently integrating them into the legislative agenda.

Gafarova focused the attention on the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation going beyond national boundaries and elevating parliaments efforts to the international level; she said confidently that the discussion of ideas and exchange of experience would open new perspectives in the work done by the parliaments. As was also said, such a forum as this could promote amalgamation of parliaments endeavors and coordination of their work.

The speaker highlighted the necessity of keeping national development, regional cooperation, international support, and partnership as the key areas of the current and future activities.

According to the speaker, this is decisive for the implementation of the Agenda 2030, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and making certain that nobody is left behind.

Further at the debates, Gafarova informed the gathering participants of the relevant Azerbaijani experience. She stressed that Azerbaijan, a landlocked country, has been able to convert geographic limitations to opportunities thanks to the implemented initiatives; she added that Azerbaijan has invested billions of dollars over the past years in transport infrastructure, including the International Merchant Seaport of Alyat and construction of new motoring roads and railways. Situated on the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor and the North-South Corridor, Azerbaijan has to date become one of the key transport and logistical hubs in Eurasia.

The speaker remarked in her address that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, the cornerstone of the Middle Corridor, proves the commitment of Azerbaijan to strengthening regional ties. The current Digital Silk Way project, which is a web of fiber-optic cables laid across the Caspian seabed, will promote digital infrastructure progress and digital security efforts.

She also announced another important initiative that is being carried into life currently, namely, the green energy development and transmission cooperation amongst Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

According to Gafarova, Azerbaijan, which remains committed to the South-South co-operation concept, is sharing her experience in streamlining and modernizing customs operations, digitalization, and infrastructure development with the other landlocked countries, thus affording them an opportunity to overcome geographic isolation and partake of collective growth.

She emphasized then that Azerbaijan calls on the international community to propose more reliable and practicable support mechanisms for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by the landlocked countries.

Besides, she observed that Azerbaijan's initiative fosters regional collaboration and synergy while simultaneously enhancing connectivity and facilitating trade expansion for the landlocked nations.



The discourses persisted; subsequent orations ensued.

The speaker remarked at the closure of the event that the discussions held had been fruitful; she pointed out such platforms significance in terms of exchange of experience and new ideas.

"The summary document adopted at the concluding session to reflect the forum participants shared views will strongly support the achievement of our common goals and will contribute to the implementation of the Awaza Action Program," she added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. On August 4, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova met with Speaker of the Senate of the Supreme Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva during her working visit to Turkmenistan's Avaza, a source in the parliament told Trend.

Meanwhile, it was noted that during the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the dynamic development of relations between our friendly and brotherly countries, and the exceptional role of the heads of state in deepening our relations was particularly emphasized. Furthermore, it was noted that thanks to the strong will of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, our bilateral relations have entered a new, more dynamic stage of development, and it was underlined that our countries are successfully cooperating in many areas.

In the course of the discussion, it was noted that, in keeping with the spirit of the high-level relations between our countries, cooperation between our parliaments is also developing dynamically. It was stressed that close contacts, regular meetings held within the framework of various international events, and mutual visits have a significant and positive impact on the interaction between our legislative bodies. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova recalled with satisfaction her numerous visits to Uzbekistan, including her participation in the First Uzbek-Azerbaijani Interparliamentary Forum in July this year. The importance of the Action Plan for the Development of Interparliamentary Cooperation for 2025-2026 signed during the forum, as well as the Regulations on the Commission on Interparliamentary Cooperation of the Azerbaijani Parliament and the Supreme Majlis of Uzbekistan, was once again emphasized in terms of the further development of our relations. It was noted that these documents create significant opportunities for further expansion of ties between our parliaments, their committees, friendship groups, and deputies.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on other matters of mutual interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. The recent allegations made by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Ismail Baghaei, on the alleged mistreatment of Iranian-origin prisoners in Azerbaijan are entirely unfounded, Spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada said in a commentary regarding the above allegations, Trend reports.

According to him, all official information concerning Iranian nationals detained or imprisoned in Azerbaijan has been duly communicated to the Iranian side in accordance with the provisions of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

"The rights, legitimate interests, and personal safety of citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran held in penitentiary facilities under the authority of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan are fully protected. These individuals are provided with the necessary material and living conditions.

In line with the requirements of the national legislation, convicted and detained persons are granted the right to make phone calls, receive parcels, and have visits and telephone communication with their family members. In certain penitentiary facilities, video meetings between Iranian citizens and their families have also been arranged.

Foreign nationals held in custody, including citizens of Iran, regularly undergo medical examinations at medical-sanitary units.

Furthermore, medications brought by the staff of the Embassy of Iran in Azerbaijan for their citizens have been duly received by the medical personnel in accordance with the requirements of regulatory acts and delivered to the respective inmates.

In 2025 alone, arrangements were made for consular meetings between representatives of the Embassy of Iran and 37 Iranian nationals serving sentences in the penitentiary facilities of Azerbaijan. The most recent consular meeting took place on July 31 with two Iranian citizens," the Azerbaijani official added.

As he emphasized, it is well known to the Iranian side that Azerbaijan has demonstrated a humanitarian approach with regard to several Iranian citizens.

Hajizada recalled that under the Presidential Decree of Azerbaijan dated 26 May 2025 on pardoning a number of convicted individuals, five Iranian nationals were pardoned.

"Despite these steps, the Azerbaijani side has repeatedly encountered a lack of transparency regarding the status of its own nationals detained or arrested in Iran. In the majority of such cases, relevant information is not communicated to the diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan in Iran. Furthermore, Azerbaijani citizens are frequently denied access to consular support, communication with family members, or the ability to submit formal requests to serve the remainder of their sentences in Azerbaijan, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Iran on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, signed in Baku on 21 February 1998.

Additionally, despite repeated requests, the Azerbaijani side is not provided with information regarding court hearings involving Azerbaijani citizens in Iran, including decisions adopted during such proceedings.

Azerbaijan has consistently advocated for addressing such issues through constructive bilateral dialogue and diplomatic channels, without politicizing them. In this regard, relevant discussions also took place during the most recent round of consular consultations held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Iran in Tehran on 15 April 2025," he concluded.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Azerbaijani Army units did not open fire on an excavator in Armenia, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The ministry said that the information released by the Armenian Ministry of Defense about the alleged opening of fire by Azerbaijani Army units on an excavator during road construction work between combat positions in the Syunik region at around 13:10 (GMT +4) today disn't true.

"The Azerbaijani Army units did not open fire in the indicated direction," the ministry noted.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan. 4 August. Speaker of the Parliament Sahiba Gafarova had a meeting in the course of her working visit to Turkmenistan with Speaker of the Majlis of Turkmenistan Dunyagozel Gulmanowa on 4 August, Trend reports, referring to the nation's parliament.

Dunyagozel Gulmanowa greeted the Speaker of the Milli Majlis and thanked her for her participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Forum held within the frameworks of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. She said that the matters discussed at the conference were of considerable importance and served the interests of our peoples.

Praising highly the cooperation between the legislative bodies of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Dunyagozel Gulmanowa voiced her satisfaction with the current state of the relations between our countries.

Thanking them for the cordial reception, the Speaker of the Parliament went on to bring up the significance of the Conference for the progress of the cooperation between the Parliaments of the Participating States. Sahiba Gafarova also thanked the Turkmen side for having organized the conference to high standards.

As she was talking about the progress of the relations between our friendly and fraternal states, Sahiba Gafarova underlined the great role that high-level reciprocal visits play in the growth of the relationship. She mentioned the visit of the delegation led by Speaker of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to our country last month and highlighted the importance of the esteemed guests meeting with President Ilham Aliyev during that visit and of the discussions they held at the meeting. The Speaker said that the documents signed between our countries constituted the legal frameworks for our relations. Of those documents, the Declaration of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan stands out for its special gravity in view of the continued development of our countries comprehensive cooperation.

Having pointed out the substance of the two countries parliaments in the furtherance of the Azerbaijani-Turkmen relations, Sahiba Gafarova lauded the relevant work done by the working groups for inter-parliamentary relations.

That our peoples are united by deep historical roots as well as moral and cultural foundations, and the need to preserve those for the coming generations was emphasized during the meeting.

The conversation also saw an exchange of opinions regarding other matters of interest to both sides.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. To be in the free Khankendi of Azerbaijan is a great pride and honor for every Azerbaijani youth, including me, a doctoral student living in Genoa (Italy), researcher in the field of international security and political science, Toghrul Aliyev told reporters at the opening ceremony of the VI Summer Camp of Diaspora Youth in Khankendi, Trend reports.

Aliyev emphasized that the victory won by the powerful Azerbaijani army under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the subsequent inspiration of new life in the cities, which are being revived every day due to active construction works, arouses pride and joy among the youth.

"Today, I am participating in the 6th Diaspora Youth Summer Camp organized by the State Diaspora Committee. At this event, dedicated to the Year of Constitution and Sovereignty, we will have numerous meetings with the authorities, as well as get better acquainted with the national-cultural values of Azerbaijan.

More than 100 representatives of Azerbaijani youth from all over the world who return to their national-spiritual values, roots, and ethnic identity and embrace these values are represented here," he noted.
KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, August 4. A total of 2,450 houses have been identified for repair and reconstruction work in Azerbaijan's 18 settlements, according to the resettlement plan for 2025, Elchin Yusubov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city, and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, said at the opening ceremony of the 6th Diaspora Youth Summer Camp held in Khankendi, Trend reports.

"Currently, over 15,000 people have settled in the city of Khankendi and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts. These people are both former internally displaced persons as well as employees of state and private institutions and their family members," he mentioned.

Yusubov recalled that on May 28, 2024, the first families returned to Khojaly city with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

"In general, the return of some of the former internally displaced persons to the Sugovushan, Hasanriz, and Talish villages of the Aghdara district, as well as Khojaly city and the Khojaly district's Ballija, Tazabina, and Khanyurdu villages, has been ensured, and life has revived in these villages. The above-mentioned work is being implemented in stages in accordance with the resettlement plan.

Besides, according to the resettlement plan for this year, 2,450 houses have been identified for repair and reconstruction work in Azerbaijan's 18 settlements, including villages of the Khojaly district (Ballija, Khanyurdu, Tazabina, Dashbulag, Badara, Seyidbayli, Khanabad, Shushakend, Almali, Mehdibayli, and Chanagchi) and seven villages of the Aghdara district (Hasanriz, Vangli, Kolatagh, Childiran, Heyvali, Chapar, and Ashagi Oratagh)," he explained.

The official indicated that pertinent initiatives have already been initiated regarding the relocation of the populace in the aforementioned villages.

"Consequently, the facilitation of resettlement for a cohort of up to 10,000 previously internally displaced individuals within the specified villages will be operationalized," he underscored.

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KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, August 4. Important efforts are underway towards eliminating the threat of mines and ecological rehabilitation in Azerbaijan, Elchin Yusubov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, said at the opening ceremony of the 6th Diaspora Youth Summer Camp held in Khankendi, Trend reports.

According to him, Along with encouraging developments, the takeover of our territories caused significant issues that will take years to address, and the mine threat is one of the most significant issues.

Yusubov emphasized that since the Second Karabakh War, about 400 civilians and military personnel have been killed or seriously injured as a result of mine explosions.

"At the same time, it's necessary to emphasize the violation of the ecological environment. During the occupation, our natural resourcesour rivers, forests, and landswere illegally exploited, the natural balance was disrupted, and irreparable damage was caused to the environment.

Azerbaijan has identified the solution of these problems as priority areas, and serious steps are currently being taken both to eliminate the mine threat and to restore the environment," he noted.

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HONG KONG, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chris Tang Ping-keung, secretary for security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, on Monday exercised the powers conferred by relevant sections of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to specify 16 overseas activists wanted for alleged national security offences.

The 16 persons are subject to warrants of arrest issued by the court for being suspected of having committed offences endangering national security outside the HKSAR. The Secretary for Security also specified the measures to be applied against the 16 relevant absconders by notices published in the Gazette.

The 16 specified relevant absconders are male Ho Leung-mau Victor, female Chan Lai-chun, male Feng Chongyi, female Gong Sasha, male Ng Man-yan, male Tsang Wai-fan, female Chin Po-fun, male Ha Hoi-chun, Paul, male Hau Chung-yu, male Ho Wing-yau, male Keung Ka-wai, male Lam Tony, female Ng Agnes, male Wong Chun-wah, male Wong Sau-wo and female Zhang Xinyan. All of them have persistently engaged in acts and activities endangering national security outside the HKSAR.

The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force announced on July 25 that the above-mentioned 16 absconders and male Yuan Gong-yi, male Fok Ka-chi, male Choi Ming-da were put on the wanted list, with rewards offered in respect of each wanted person.

The 19 persons are accused of organizing, establishing, or participating in a subversive organization called the "Hong Kong Parliament" outside of Hong Kong. The court has, upon application by the Police, issued arrest warrants against these 19 persons at large.

Among the aforementioned fugitives, the Secretary for Security had already exercised powers conferred by section 89 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, in June and December 2024, to specify Yuan Gong-yi, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da as absconders and to specify the measures to be applied against them by notices published in the Gazette.

The following three measures are applicable to all 16 relevant absconders specified on Monday: "Prohibition against making available funds etc. or dealing with funds etc.," "Prohibition against certain activities in connection with immovable property" and "Prohibition in connection with joint ventures or partnerships with relevant absconders," while the measure of "Cancellation of HKSAR passports etc." is applicable to most relevant absconders. In addition, the measure of "Temporary removal from office of director" is applicable to individual relevant absconders.

"These lawless wanted criminals are hiding in Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand, China's Taiwan region, etc., and continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security. They also intended to incite hatred through smear and slander against the Central Authorities and the HKSAR. We therefore have taken such measures to make a significant impact," a HKSAR government spokesperson noted. 
In the fifth edition of the Yukselish competition held this year, three out of the twenty winners were employees of Kapital Bank, the highest number among all participating organizations. To celebrate this achievement, a meeting was held at Azerbaijans largest financial institution, during which the banks leadership congratulated the winners on their accomplishments.

Farid Huseynov, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Kapital Bank, along with Fargana Mammadova, Board member, Chief Human Capital and Organizational Development Officer, met with the winners, recognizing their contributions, leadership qualities, and dedication to professional growth.

During the meeting, the participants shared their experiences, discussed the challenges and obstacles they overcame, and reflected on how their success can serve as motivation for other employees within the bank.

Farid Huseynov emphasized that the achieved results reflect the banks systematic approach to human capital development: Winning the Yukselish competition is not only an individual accomplishment but also an organizational success. At Kapital Bank, we identify the leaders of tomorrow and create all the necessary conditions for their personal and professional growth. The success of our three employees is no coincidence; it is the natural outcome of a values system and development culture that have been cultivated over the years.

Fargana Mammadova highlighted the strategic significance of the competitions results for the bank: Our greatest asset has always been and remains our people. The individual development of each employee, as well as the identification and support of leadership qualities, is a fundamental part of our banks long-term success strategy. Winning competitions such as Yukselish reaffirms the correctness of the path we have chosen.

The 2025 winners from Kapital Bank included Toghrul Khalilov, Director of the Sales Channels Department; Goshgar Dashdiyev, Manager of the Direct Sales and Service Department; and Mammad Hasanov, Product Owner in Retail Risk Technologies.

Each of them has progressed through various key positions within the bank, demonstrating outstanding performance.

The Yukselish competition was established by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, dated July 26, 2019. The project aims to identify and develop young and promising managers and strengthen their leadership potential across different sectors, including public administration. The competition consists of five stages and is conducted based on an international model assessing competencies such as strategic thinking, leadership, decision-making, and ethics.

Kapital Bank, the country's first bank, is part of PASHA Holding. Kapital Bank has the largest service network in Azerbaijan with 121 branches and 52 departments all over the country. For more detailed information about the banks products and services, please refer to https://kapitalbank.az website, 196 Call Centre or the banks various social network pages. To apply for a consumer loan visit https://kbl.az/prgtk, for a Birbank installment card visit https://kbl.az/prcrc.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the 30th Anniversary of the Military-Police Operation Storm will be marked with a central celebration on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Knin, Trend reports.

The program for the central celebration was presented at a press conference held at Knin City Hall by representatives of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, and the City of Knin.

The program was presented by State Secretary at the Ministry of Croatian Veterans and coordinator of the Organizing Committee for the commemoration, Darko Nekic; State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior Tomislav Bilandzic; Commander of the Command Operational Center of the Croatian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Zeljko Ljubas; Head of the Sibenik-Knin Police Department Sandro Santini; and Mayor of Knin Marijo Cacic.

The jubilee celebration of Operation Storm will begin at 6:30 a.m. with a traditional wake-up call through the streets of Knin. Guests and participants are expected to arrive at the NK Dinara stadium by 9:30 a.m.

A wreath-laying ceremony honoring fallen, missing, and deceased Croatian veterans is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. at the Monument to the Croatian Victory "Storm 95" on Dr. Ante Starcevic Square. Wreaths will be laid by the families of fallen, missing, and deceased veterans, war invalids, wartime commanders, war veterans' associations, top state officials of Croatia, representatives of the Croatian National Assembly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and representatives of counties and cities.

The central ceremony at NK Dinara stadium will begin at 9:40 a.m., followed by the traditional flag-raising ceremony at the Knin Fortress. This will be accompanied by the ringing of church bells, the raising of the Croatian flag with the national anthem, and honorary gun salutes.

Citizens and guests will be able to follow the fortress program via video screens installed at the stadium and the central city square.

At the stadium, invited speakers will deliver addresses, and a historical overview of Operation Storm will be read. The names of the fallen and missing Croatian veterans from the operation will be read aloud by their sons, adding an emotional touch to the occasion.

Simultaneously, at the Knin Fortress, 245 cadets of the Croatian Army and students of the Police Academy will symbolically step forward in honor of the 245 fallen and missing Croatian veterans of Operation Storm.

The stadium program will also feature musical performances and an impressive demonstration of the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces and Police, including an air show. The joint display will include members of the Special Forces Command, Croatian Air Force, and Intelligence Regiment, with UH-60M Black Hawk and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters. For the first time, the capabilities of Croatian-made FPV drones will be showcased.

The aerial program will also feature a performance by the aerobatic team "Wings of Storm," and a symbolic flyover by Rafale multirole fighter jets is expected above Knin.

After the main ceremony, a Holy Mass will be held at 12:00 p.m. in the Church of Our Lady of the Great Croatian Baptismal Vow.

Throughout the day, visitors will have the opportunity to view a tactical-technical exhibition of Croatian Army and Police weapons and equipment on Dr. Franjo Tuman Street. A traditional military bean stew will also be distributed to citizens.

The all-day program in Knin will conclude with an evening concert organized by the City of Knin.

All citizens are invited to proudly display Croatian flags and celebrate our greatest victory with dignity throughout the country.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia has announced a new grant competition titled Support to Financing of Pre-Assessment Visits for Development Cooperation Projects in Recipient Countries, Trend reports.

The initiative is aimed at facilitating business trips for feasibility studies in designated partner countries, enabling Latvian institutions and organizations to establish new partnerships and prepare development cooperation project proposals.

Applications will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis, and funding will remain available through 2025. The total budget allocated for project implementation in 2024 is 25,000 euros.

Eligible applicants include Latvian public administration institutions (both direct and indirect), local governments, government agencies, associations, foundations, businesses, trade unions, and other legal entities registered in Latvia.

Priority for funding will be given to projects targeting the European Unions Eastern Partnership countriesUkraine, Moldova, and Armeniaas well as countries in Central Asia such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and various African nations.

The assessment of project submissions will prioritize the alignment of the project concept with development cooperation objectives and the exigencies of the partner nation, the expertise of both the applicant and their collaborative entity, as well as the comprehensive integrity of the proposed financial plan.

Additional points will be awarded to:

Civil society organizations;



Projects involving multiple partners;

Applicants that secure co-financing;

New applicants who have not previously implemented development cooperation projects;

Applications must include a clear rationale and a proportional, well-structured budget to be considered competitive.

This initiative reflects Latvias ongoing commitment to fostering meaningful international partnerships and supporting sustainable development in partner regions through knowledge sharing and collaborative planning.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Turkmenistan supplied 120.03 million cubic meters (mcm) of pipeline natural gas to Turkiye in May 2025.

Data obtained by Trend from the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority shows that, although Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran remained the three largest suppliers of pipeline gas to the country with volumes of 1.19 billion cubic meters, 1.05 billion cubic meters, and 791.7 million cubic meters, respectively, Turkmenistan continued to play a stable role in meeting Turkey's natural gas needs.

Turkiye also imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) during the same period, receiving 281.8 mcm from Algeria and 96.01 mcm from the United States, further diversifying its energy mix.

Overall, Turkiyes natural gas imports in May 2025 totaled 3.539 billion cubic meters, a 22.79 percent increase from 2.882 billion cubic meters in May 2024. Pipeline gas imports reached 3.161 billion cubic meters, up 35.30 percent, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports dropped by 30.79 percent, amounting to 377.81 million cubic meters.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. At its Annual Meeting in May 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Board of Governors approved the Banks new Strategic and Capital Framework (SCF) for the next five years, setting clear priorities for its activities in Central Asia and beyond.

Huseyin Ozhan, EBRD Managing Director for Central Asia and Mongolia, told Trend that the SCF focuses on three core themes: accelerating the green transition, advancing economic governance, and promoting human capital and equality of opportunity for all.

"These are the key guiding principles for the EBRDs operations in Central Asia," Ozhan said. "We also have individual country strategies for each regional state, prepared and implemented in close collaboration with national authorities. While each countrys objectives may vary, these strategies share common goals - fostering private sector competitiveness, employment, skills development, inclusion, and the digital transition".

Ozhan stressed the banks commitment to supporting Central Asias green pathway to carbon neutrality and climate resilience, emphasizing improvements in water efficiency and cleaner energy. Strengthening economic governance and improving the business climate remain priorities, as do boosting regional connectivity and creating sustainable infrastructure.

The EBRD official highlighted growing cooperation among Central Asian countries. "In August 2024, the countries signed the Central Asia 2040 strategy - a new concept for regional cooperation that aligns development, trade, and investment priorities," he said. "We welcome the border demarcation accord between Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, which ends decades of geopolitical tensions. Such political stability and predictable investment climates will attract much-needed investments into the region, including from the EBRD".

Ozhan pointed to the Kambar-Ata hydroelectric power plant project as a key example of successful regional cooperation. Developed as a trilateral joint venture between Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, it is backed by financing from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), EBRD, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and other international financiers.

"When completed, Kambar-Ata will be one of the largest hydroelectric projects in Central Asia," Ozhan noted. "Beyond energy benefits, the dam will improve seasonal water management and irrigation capacity, reinforcing cooperation across the region".
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 4. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the invitation of Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, will visit Turkmenistan on August 4-5 to participate in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, Trend reports.

The event, which will take place in the National Tourist Zone Avaza, will be attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, heads of foreign states and governments, as well as leaders of international and regional organizations.

The conference agenda includes pressing issues regarding the development of international cooperation in strengthening transport connectivity and simplifying trade procedures, economic transformation, enhancing resilience to climate change and environmental challenges, and advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The conference is expected to adopt the "Avaza Political Declaration" and an action program.

During his visit, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will also take part in an event dedicated to preparing for the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and hold a series of bilateral talks.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 4. The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Pakistan held a meeting with the Secretary General of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shahid Khalil, to explore new areas of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, Trend reports via the Turkmen diplomatic mission.

The discussion focused on deepening engagement between the private sectors of both countries, with an emphasis on facilitating direct business contacts, encouraging participation in joint exhibitions, and launching investment forums and business missions.

Both sides stressed the importance of regular information exchange and coordination between chambers of commerce and business associations in order to promote sustainable, long-term commercial partnerships.
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. Turkmenistan and Turkiye discussed the potential for deepening a strategic energy partnership during a high-level parliamentary forum held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, Trend reports.

The talks highlighted shared ambitions to strengthen energy cooperation, with a particular focus on natural gas transit. With Turkmenistan holding some of the world's largest natural gas reserves and Turkiye strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, both sides see an opportunity to establish new routes for energy exports.

The Turkish delegation outlined plans to increase imports of Turkmen gas via the Caspian Sea, followed by transit through Turkiye to European markets. This initiative is expected to enhance regional energy security while supporting efforts to diversify supply routes.

Beyond natural gas, the parties emphasized joint efforts in energy policy development, the promotion of renewable energy sources, and the integration of technological innovation. Environmental sustainability and carbon footprint reduction were also key priorities of the dialogue.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 4. The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan has approved a resolution on the implementation of an investment project for the construction of the all-season Sea Breeze Uzbekistan resort on the shore of the Charvak Reservoir, Trend reports.

The Government Commission on Investment Attraction, Industrial Development, and Trade Regulation, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, deemed the proposal of the joint venture Sea Breeze Uzbekistan, created with the participation of the Azerbaijani company Agalarov Development, as the most optimal.

According to the project, a year-round resort complex is planned to be built on a territory of 577 hectares in the Bostanlyk district of the Tashkent region. The British architectural firm Scott Brownrigg has been engaged to develop the master plan.

The Hokimiyat of the Tashkent region, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, has been instructed to gradually terminate the rights of owners, users, and tenants on land plots designated for the project and to reclassify these lands as free lands under the jurisdiction of the district hokimiyat.

The issue will then be submitted to the Government Commission for consideration regarding changes in land categories, including agricultural lands and forest fund lands.

The joint venture Sea Breeze Uzbekistan is directly granted a lease of 577 hectares for a term of 25 years with the right of priority renewal. The project implementation is planned for the period from 2025 to 2035.

The Sea Breeze Uzbekistan project was first presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev by Emin Agalarov on December 16, 2024. The Head of State supported the initiative and instructed the formation of a commission headed by the Prime Minister.

In April 2025, the President reviewed the master plan prepared with the involvement of several foreign companies. The project envisages the construction of a resort center divided into 10 compact zones: a boulevard, beaches, and recreational areas will be arranged by the water, while hotels, cottages, residential houses, restaurants, and spectator areas will be located on the slopes.

In early July, Emin Agalarov presented an updated concept of the project and also acquainted the President of Uzbekistan with the operations of the Sea Breeze resort complex in Baku.
Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets on Sunday in the West Bank, denouncing the ongoing Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip and its restriction on aid delivery, which has led to widespread malnutrition and starvation in the coastal enclave.
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. In the run-up to the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, Turkmenistan's Minister of Finance and Economy, Mammetguly Astangulov held a high-level meeting with representatives of the UN in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, Trend reports.

The talks, held at the Berkarar Hotel, brought together the Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, Dima Al-Khatib, and the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Fatou Haidar.

The discussion focused on enhancing cooperation in sustainable development, industrial growth, and the promotion of an innovative economy. Both sides emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to support development goals, particularly in the context of landlocked countries.

Following the meeting, participants reaffirmed their common commitment to strengthening partnerships and coordinating efforts on global platforms to address pressing economic and development challenges.
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. On the sidelines of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza, Turkmenistan, the World Bank rolled up its sleeves and got down to brass tacks in high-level talks aimed at boosting investment cooperation in the transport sector, Trend reports.

Galina Romanova, Head of the Department of Public Finance and Economic Policy at Turkmenistans Ministry of Finance and Economy, met with Alexander Prodan, Chief Economist for Transport at the World Bank. The discussions centered on financing mechanisms for the creation and development of international transport corridors critical to improving regional connectivity.

Both parties underscored the criticality of synergistic policy frameworks for infrastructure capital allocation and the long-term viability of transportation initiatives. Focused emphasis was directed towards initiatives that amplify Turkmenistans strategic positioning as a pivotal nexus for international cargo and traveler transit.



The convening underscored the synergistic engagement in fortifying economic alliances and enhancing accessibility to international markets for landlocked nations via robust and contemporary logistics infrastructures.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 4. By government resolution, Aidar Akhmetbekov Abildabekov has been appointed Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Trend reports, citing the government press service.

Born in 1970, Abildabekov graduated from Karaganda State University and Peoples' Friendship University. He began his career in 1996, gaining extensive experience in commercial trade and entrepreneurship.

From 1998 to 2009, he held various roles in Kazakhstans customs authorities, advancing from inspector to department head. Between 2010 and 2022, he led statistical departments at the national and regional levels.

Since 2022, Abildabekov has served as Deputy Chairman, then Chairman of the Trade Committee at the Ministry of Trade and Integration. His appointment as vice minister marks the continuation of his leadership in advancing Kazakhstans trade policies and integration efforts.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 4. A delegation from the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan visited the US to promote Uzbek-made products, expand export opportunities, and strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations, Trend reports.

In the course of the visit, the Ministry organized the participation of 25 local textile enterprises under the unified brand Made in Uzbekistan at the international exhibitions Texworld NYC, Apparel Sourcing US, and Home Textiles Sourcing Expo, held in New York.

As part of the exhibitions, meetings were held with several leading companies and industry associations, including Bunzl plc, Levi Strauss & Co., PVH Corp., G-III Apparel Group, Kontoor Brands, American Eagle Outfitters, Tapestry Inc., Macys, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), Oritain, and others. Discussions focused on market access for Uzbek manufacturers in the U.S., as well as sourcing-based procurement mechanisms.

In addition, MIIT representatives met with the U.S. Department of Commerce, where both sides expressed mutual interest in developing a framework to boost trade turnover, reduce trade barriers, and enhance investment cooperation. Opportunities to expand the export of Uzbek goods, including textiles, construction materials, electrical products, and agricultural produce, were also discussed. Special attention was given to entering major marketplaces such as Amazon and Walmart, as well as retail chains including Whole Foods Market, Bloomingdales, and The Home Depot.

During discussions with the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) under the U.S. Department of Commerce, an agreement was reached to organize joint webinars and training seminars for Uzbek companies on certification and packaging requirements aligned with U.S. market standards. The delegation also met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Cotton Association to explore the supply of American cotton to Uzbekistan under the GSM-102 credit guarantee program, including the possibility of raising the credit limit and launching the Made from U.S. Cotton initiative to promote cotton-based products in international markets.

The Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan continues its consistent efforts to develop the countrys export potential and promote national products in global markets.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the U.S. totaled $351.3 million from January through May 2025, marking a decrease from $390.6 million in the same period of 2024, signaling a modest decline in bilateral trade volumes.
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. Transportation costs for landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) account for 15-20 percent of the value of their export trade, much higher than the 7-10 percent logistics costs faced by coastal states, said Azat Atayev, Deputy Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, Trend reports.

He made the remark at a Youth Forum held on July 4 at Avaza National Tourism Zone on the sidelines of the Third UN Conference on LLDCs.

Over 80 percent of LLDCs rely heavily on exporting raw materials and low-value-added goods, which constitute more than 60 percent of their foreign trade.

The forum also emphasized the critical role of youth in driving economic progress. With an average population age of 24.5 years, LLDCs have a promising demographic advantage for boosting productivity and innovation. Currently, young professionals in these countries generate economic activity valued at over $2.5 trillion, representing 2.2 percent of global GDP.

Held under the UNs Youth2030 strategy, the forum aims to actively engage young people in implementing the Awaza Action Program for LLDCs. Initiated by Turkmenistan, the event also supports the practical realization of the UN General Assemblys declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, a resolution proposed by Turkmenistan.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 4. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement on the forms of veterinary certificates for the export of fish, fish products, honey, and other bee products from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan, Trend reports, citing the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture.

The deal was wrapped up during the official talks between the veterinary authorities of the two nations. The standardized certifications will facilitate the assurance of veterinary and sanitary compliance and serve as an indicator of the increasing confidence and collaboration between the two parties in the domain of veterinary science. The newly ratified accord is anticipated to streamline operational protocols for exporters and validate that Kazakhstani commodities align with global veterinary compliance benchmarks.



The Committee for Veterinary Control and Supervision of Kazakhstan, operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture, is actively engaged in harmonizing veterinary documentation with international standards and enhancing the regulatory framework for the exportation of animal-derived commodities.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 4. Uzbekistans Transport Minister, Ilkhom Makhkamov, meets with Ahmad Abdullah Al-Jufairi, Executive Chairman of Qatars Protocol Capital Group, to explore strategic investments in transport infrastructure and digital innovation, Trend reports.

In the course of the meeting, the parties discussed promising areas of cooperation, particularly projects in transport infrastructure and initiatives aimed at advancing digital technologies within the sector.

The dialogue also covered the development of the road network and explored various approaches to implementing joint projects, including models for long-term participation.

Protocol Capital Group is a major Qatari investment firm managing assets exceeding $4 billion. The company is actively involved in financing projects across diverse industries such as real estate, oil and gas, water storage and air-cooling systems, construction materials, steel production, and pharmaceuticals. With over 1,000 successful projects implemented in more than 34 countries, Protocol Capital Group brings extensive experience and global reach to its partnerships.
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. Turkmen Deputy FM Akhmet Gurbanov and Somali Deputy FM Isaac Mohamud Mursal discussed deepening bilateral ties and multilateral cooperation on the sidelines of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza, Trend reports via Turkmen MFA.

The sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in expanding cooperation across political, diplomatic, economic, trade, cultural, and humanitarian spheres. They also highlighted the value of their partnership within the framework of international organizations, particularly the United Nations.

The representative of Somalia expressed support for Turkmenistan's peace initiatives and welcomed its commitment to global stability and sustainable development. He also highly appreciated Turkmenistan's role in hosting LLDC3, noting its importance for international dialogue and cooperation.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 4. A delegation led by Chen Hu, Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, held a meeting at the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

The delegation comprised more than 20 high-level executives from sectors including industrial operations, logistics optimization, textile manufacturing, and automotive commerce, featuring notable entities such as Guangzhou Nanling Automobile and Guangzhou Light Industry Group.



The dialogues centered on Uzbekistan's investment ecosystem, prospective collaborative initiatives, and the augmentation of bilateral economic synergies. The Chinese contingent articulated a robust enthusiasm for the Uzbek marketplace and affirmed its preparedness to enhance pragmatic synergies predicated on the extant potentialities.



This advancement materializes in the context of bolstering bilateral economic synergies between the two nations. The bilateral trade volume exceeded $13 billion in the prior fiscal year, with both entities reaffirming their strategic aim of achieving a $20 billion trade threshold, as articulated by their respective leaderships.

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Photo: Official information source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Azerbaijan secured its position among the top three natural gas suppliers to Turkiye in May 2025, becoming the second-largest exporter, Trend reports citing Turkiyes Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK).

In May 2025, Turkiye imported 1.057 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan, marking a 4.80% increase compared to 1.009 billion cubic meters in May 2024. Azerbaijan ranked second among pipeline gas suppliers to Turkiye, surpassing the Islamic Republic of Iran in monthly supply volumes.

During the same period, Turkiye imported 791.74 million cubic meters of gas from Iran, up 33.40% from 593.49 million cubic meters a year earlier. The Russian Federation maintained its position as Turkiyes top supplier, exporting nearly 1.193 billion cubic meters of gas in May, compared to 734.41 million cubic meters in the same month of the previous year.

Overall, Turkiyes natural gas imports in May 2025 totaled 3.539 billion cubic meters, a 22.79% increase from 2.882 billion cubic meters in May 2024. Pipeline gas imports reached 3.161 billion cubic meters, up 35.30%, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports dropped by 30.79%, amounting to 377.81 million cubic meters.
Tens of thousands of Australians marched across Sydney's iconic Harbor Bridge on Sunday to protest the ongoing war and famine in Gaza. #GLOBALink
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 5. Azerbaijan has evaluated cooperation opportunities with Etisalat (UAE), one of the technology and telecommunications companies, and invited it to the World Telecommunication Development Conference to be held in Baku, Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"As part of our visit to the UAE, we met with Jassem Mohamed, Chairman of Etisalat, one of the leading global technology and telecommunications companies. We thanked the company's management for sharing the valuable experience they gained at COP28 in Dubai with us during the organization of COP29 in Baku.

We discussed the exchange of experience, advisory support, and future cooperation opportunities in the field of telecommunications. At the same time, we exchanged views on projects implemented in the field of urban transport. We invited the Etisalat management to the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) to be held in Baku on November 17-28, 2025," the minister added.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, August 4. Kyrgyzstans Ministry of Transport and Communications has shared an update on the ongoing reconstruction of the Suusamyr-Talas-Taraz road, Phase IV, Trend reports.

According to the ministry, construction is well underway, with heavy machinery already operating on site. Current work includes leveling and widening the road, relocating water pipelines, and removing old concrete power poles.

More than 80 pieces of specialized equipment and 65 workers are currently involved, and those numbers continue to grow. The project also includes setting up two asphalt plants, one concrete plant, and two stone crushing facilities to support construction.

The section being rebuilt spans 93 kilometers: from the city of Talas to the Kichi-Kapka border checkpoint with Kazakhstan. Completion is planned by 2028, and the project comes with a five-year warranty.

Key elements of the upgrade include the reconstruction of six bridges, one underpass, and the addition of sidewalks and street lighting in nearby towns and villages.

The contract for Phase IV was signed in March 2025 with Chinas Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd. The official start of construction was marked on April 25, 2025.

The information notes that this 93-kilometer section, from 104.6 to 197.6 kilometers, has undergone only basic repairs since Kyrgyzstan gained independence. Due to increased traffic and road wear, safe travel on this route has become impossible. A complete reconstruction is long overdue.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, August 4. President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, arrived in Turkmenbashi to take part in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, Trend reports via the president's press service.

Upon arrival at the Turkmenbashi International Airport, the Tajik leader was welcomed by the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

In the course of their discussions, the parties conducted a comprehensive analysis of the prevailing dynamics and future trajectories of Tajik-Turkmen relations, with a focused examination of political synergies, trade and economic interdependencies, and cultural interchange initiatives.

The two leaders also held an exchange of views on regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation and mutual support on global platforms.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 4. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, to attend the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, which will take place in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, Trend reports.

Guterres was received at Turkmenbashi International Airport by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty.

The central goal of the conference is to adopt the Avaza Action Program for 20242034, a new strategic roadmap aimed at improving access to global markets, strengthening infrastructure, and enhancing resilience against economic shocks. The document was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in December 2023. The event follows previous LLDC conferences held in Almaty (2003) and Vienna (2014).
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 4. Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan, Atadurdy Movlamov, held a meeting with Ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Pakistan, Chandra Warsenanto Sukotj, to discuss expanding cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties across multiple sectors., Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy in Islamabad.

Ambassador Movlamov warmly welcomed his Indonesian counterpart and extended congratulations on his new diplomatic appointment, wishing him a productive and successful tenure in Pakistan.

In the course of the meeting, the sides exchanged views on expanding Turkmenistan - Indonesia cooperation, emphasizing mutual interest in sectors such as trade, investment, energy, transport, and logistics. The discussion also explored avenues for enhancing business-to-business ties, implementing joint initiatives, and boosting bilateral trade volumes.
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) officially opened in Turkmenistan with a ceremonial flag-raising event in the Awaza National Tourist Zone, Trend reports.

The ceremony was attended by senior representatives of the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations, signaling the launch of a major international forum focused on development challenges faced by landlocked nations. The conference is taking place at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

The high-level forum has brought together government officials, UN officials, and international experts, who will engage in multilateral discussions on key areas such as sustainable development, energy access, environmental protection, and transport connectivity. Special emphasis will be placed on strategies to overcome the unique challenges faced by LLDCs due to their lack of direct access to the sea and global markets.

The central outcome document of the event, the Awaza Action Program for 20242034, aims to provide a comprehensive roadmap for improving infrastructure, trade integration, and resilience in landlocked countries over the next decade.
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Akhmet Gurbanov met with Ivana Zivkovic, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Trend reports via Turkmen MFA.

The discussion focused on key areas of cooperation, zeroing in on crucial areas of teamwork, such as sustainable development, digital transformation, economic sustainability, inclusive growth, and climate resilience. Particular emphasis was placed on UNDPs role in supporting Turkmenistans efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ivana Zivkovic reaffirmed UNDPs commitment to strengthening partnership and implementing joint initiatives for sustainable regional development. She further conveyed her utmost aspirations for the fruitful outcomes of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC 3), which is presently in session in Turkmenistan.

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AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Akhmet Gurbanov met with Liu Hua, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at the Berkarar Hotel in the Awaza National Tourist Zone, and discussed a new framework program for 20252029, Trend reports via Turkmen MFA.

The meeting highlighted the strong level of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the IAEA, with a focus on ongoing programs and the use of IAEA technical expertise, particularly in the healthcare sector.

The sides also discussed the draft of the 20252029 Framework Program between Turkmenistan and the IAEA, with mutual interest in finalizing and signing the document shortly.

Liu Hua praised Turkmenistan for its organization of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries and expressed appreciation for the hospitality shown during the event.
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, August 4. Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Akhmed Gurbanov met with Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime Feisa on the sidelines of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) and discussed issues related to expanding bilateral cooperation, Trend reports via Turkmen MFA.

The meeting focused on expanding cooperation, particularly in the fields of transport, environmental sustainability, and cultural and humanitarian exchange. Both sides reaffirmed their interest in strengthening ties and promoting shared initiatives for sustainable development and regional integration.

The Ethiopian delegation highlighted the importance of the earlier visit of Turkmenistans political leadership to Addis Ababa, noting it as a key moment in bilateral relations. They also welcomed Turkmenistans peace-oriented initiatives and expressed support for the upcoming International Forum on Peace and Trust, scheduled to be held in Turkmenistan in December 2025.

Minister Alemu Sime Feisa expressed appreciation for Turkmenistans role in hosting LLDC3 and commended the high level of organization and hospitality extended to international delegates.
BEIJING, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- A China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson on Monday said that a Japanese fishing vessel had been expelled after illegally entering the territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Dao.

The CCG has taken necessary control measures in accordance with the law, issued warnings and drove the vessel away after it illegally entered the waters from Aug. 1 to 4, according to CCG spokesperson Gan Yu.

Emphasizing that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, Gan urged the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters.

"The CCG will continue to carry out law enforcement operations in the territorial waters of Diaoyu Dao to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," the spokesperson added. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. The Economic Committee of the Iranian Parliament has passed a bill on the denomination of the national currency (removal of four zeros), the Chairman of the Economic Committee of the Iranian Parliament, Shamsaddin Hosseini, told local media, Trend reports.

According to him, thus, 1 rial of Iran's new national currency will be equal to the current 10,000 rials.

Hosseini noted that the previous draft law envisioned changing the name of Iran's national currency from rial to tuman and pennies to keran. However, following the Central Bank of Iran's law Iran's National Currency - Rial, the economic committee decided to keep the name of the national currency rial and the penny to keran.

'Regarding the issue raised by Iran's Constitutional Review Board regarding Iran's obligations to the International Monetary Fund, the Central Bank will control and carry out the purchase and sale of foreign currency based on the new rial.

There is no need to raise any issues with the International Monetary Fund on this matter, he noted.

Iran's parliament passed a resolution to denominate Iran's currency in 2020. According to the resolution, it is planned to remove four zeros from the designation of Iran's national currency and change the name rial to toman. However, the bill was not approved by Iran's Constitutional Review Board.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Presently, there are no inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Iran, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran today, Trend reports.

According to him, Iran has repeatedly stated that IAEA officials should act pursuant to their duties and not under the influence of other countries.

Baghaei stated that Iran has repeatedly protested against the IAEA's non-technical strategy.

Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is committed to its obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and intends to take steps within the framework of existing legislation, he noted.

The official pointed out that the IAEA deputy director general will visit Iran in the next ten days, and talks will be held on the prevailing special circumstances.

Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement in March 2023 and issued a statement on the agreement. According to the agreement, Iran's cooperation with the IAEA is within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and safeguards, and the parties are to cooperate in matters related to allegations of the existence of enriched uranium-based materials related to Iran's nuclear program.

On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA. According to the law passed by the Iranian parliament, inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are prohibited from entering the country to conduct inspections. IAEA inspectors are allowed to enter the country only if Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirms that the country's peaceful nuclear activities and the safety of nuclear facilities are guaranteed.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Iran's Supreme National Security Council has approved the establishment of an Iranian Defense Council in the country based on Article 176 of the Constitution, Trend reports.

According to information, the secretariat of Iran's Supreme National Security Council issued a statement on this occasion.

Under the statement, the defense council will scrutinize defense projects and strengthen the capabilities of the armed forces.

This council will be headed by Iran's president. It will include the head of the judiciary and the speaker of parliament, commanders of the armed forces, and several specialized ministers.

The information about the establishment of the Defense Council in Iran was published on August 2. The creation of such a structure in Iran is planned after Israel launched strikes on the night of June 13, accusing Iran of implementing a secret military nuclear program. Israeli air strikes and raids were mainly directed against nuclear facilities, military commanders, prominent nuclear physicists, and air bases.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. In case of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US in the future, Iran's demand for compensation from the US will be one of the issues on the agenda, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran today, Trend reports.

According to him, Iran's future negotiations with the US will certainly be different. The situation has changed a lot in the period before and after June 12.

Baghaei stated that the US should pay compensation for the military aggression against Iran's nuclear facilities.

Abbas Goudarzi, spokesman for the Iranian parliament's presidium, announced on July 10 that a group of Iranian MPs is preparing a draft demanding that the government monitor legal norms to seek compensation from Israel and the U.S. for military attacks on Iran.

In the early morning hours of June 13, Israel launched military airstrikes against Iran. The strikes killed a large number of high-ranking military officers, generals, atomic scientists, and other senior officials.

That same evening, Iran responded to Israel with Operation True Promise III: hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones were launched at several targets, including Tel Aviv, causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction.

On June 22, the US launched military airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities. The airstrikes reportedly destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities.

In addition, on the evening of June 23, Iran launched airstrikes against a U.S. military base in Qatar.

On June 24, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that the Israeli government had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council also issued a statement noting the cessation of attacks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Uranium enrichment is extremely important for Iran as an integral part of its nuclear program, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran today, Trend reports.

According to him, any ideas and initiatives that can ensure this right of Iran can be studied by the country.

Baghaei further stated that by focusing on UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and the comprehensive joint action plan, Iran's peaceful nuclear program, including uranium enrichment, has been approved.

On June 12, a resolution submitted by the US, UK, France, and Germany against Iran was put to a vote at the IAEA board meeting. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 19 countries in favor, 11 in favor, and 3 against (Russia, China, and Burkina Faso). The resolution notes that Iran has repeatedly failed to fulfill its obligations to cooperate fully and timely manner with the agency since 2019 in connection with undeclared nuclear material, Iran's activities at many undeclared sites.

In its latest report, the IAEA stated that Iran had 408.6 kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent as of May 17, 2024. The stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent has increased by 133.8 kilograms since the February report. The report considers this level of enrichment as a short technical step towards 90 percent enrichment (considered weapons-grade). The Agency has called on Iran to cooperate fully and effectively.

In the early morning hours of June 13, Israel launched military airstrikes against Iran. The strikes killed a large number of high-ranking military officers, generals, atomic scientists, and other senior officials.

That same evening, Iran responded to Israel with Operation True Promise III: hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones were launched at several targets, including Tel Aviv, causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction.

On June 22, the US launched military airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities. The airstrikes reportedly destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities.

In addition, on the evening of June 23, Iran launched airstrikes against a U.S. military base in Qatar.

On June 24, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that the Israeli government had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council also issued a statement noting the cessation of attacks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. The time and place of the next round of talks between Iran and three European countries (The UK, France, and Germany) have not yet been determined, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran today, Trend reports.

According to him, the deputy foreign ministers of Iran and three European countries held a meeting on Iran's nuclear program in Istanbul, where an agreement was reached to continue discussions.

Baghaei stated that Iran has always taken the talks seriously and believes in their success. However, issues raised outside the discussions are useless.

The meeting between the deputy foreign ministers of Iran and the three European countries was held on July 26 at the Iranian consulate in Turkiye's Istanbul.
"You're always welcome in China!"

Children from China's Xinjiang, visiting Beijing for a summer camp, shared joy and hospitality with international visitors at the iconic Badaling Great Wall.
Call it GE2 2.0.

For the first time since the pandemic, UMass Lowells Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE2) program returned to an in-person format this summer, drawing 25 students from around the world to campus for a three-week immersion in entrepreneurship, teamwork and innovation.

And this time, there was a twist.

Instead of designing hypothetical startups, students worked in teams to solve a real-world challenge: how to turn a faculty-developed space technology into a viable business.

Their mission centered on Chickadee, a nanosatellite designed by Physics Professor Supriya Chakrabarti. The device is engineered to fit into unused areas of CubeSat launchers, allowing companies to send more payloads into orbit at reduced costs. Students were tasked with developing commercialization strategies for the satellite.

Image by Ed Brennen GE2 participants gather around as physics graduate student John Kanaris explains his research work at the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology.

This was a demanding product requiring students to first understand the tech, then research the market and make actionable recommendations. And we had the inventor with us almost every day, answering questions and guiding students, which was great, said Deborah Casey, associate teaching professor of marketing, entrepreneurship and innovation, who served as the programs faculty lead.

Run by the Jack M. Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship in the Manning School of Business, GE2 has welcomed more than 1,500 students from over 30 countries since its launch in 2014.

This years group included 20 undergraduates as well as five international graduate students serving as team leads. Among them were four master's in Business Administration (MBA) students  Toshio Naito, Ian Chu, Daigo Sato and Aiko Koga  from UMass Lowells Abitus program in Japan, and Kai Hu, a doctoral student from the National Institute of Development Administration, a GE2 partner institution in Bangkok, Thailand.

Image by Ed Brennen Physics Professor Supriya Chakrabarti holds up a Chickadee nanosatellite while asking a question during the GE2 teams' final presentations at Alumni Hall.

Spotlight Naito, a medical doctor and professor at a university hospital in Tokyo, said the in-person format was a valuable part of his online MBA experience.

Usually you are studying online, so having the chance to study in the U.S. face-to-face with other students is a good experience, said Naito, whose teams plan won top honors on the final day.

Students received instruction from a dozen Manning School faculty members on topics such as market research, creativity and international strategy. They often arrived before 8 a.m. and stayed well past 5 p.m. to refine their business plans and prepare for their final presentations.

Patrick Guinee, a senior business major from Andover, Massachusetts, found value in stepping outside his comfort zone and learning about satellite technology.

The courses that Ive got the most out of at UMass Lowell are hands-on like this one, said Guinee. Its cool to interact with people from different countries and see their thought process.

Image by Ed Brennen GE2 participants, from left, Victor Tous, Ian Chu, Sanjedha Haque and Mikele Hysa head to the program's closing luncheon at the Pulichino Tong Business Center.

Srunu Bhagavathula, a rising sophomore from Westford, Massachusetts, took the course to meet new people and stay on campus over the summer.

Id like to have my own business someday and work with diverse teams, she said. It was definitely a challenging project, but Professor Chakrabarti did a really good job explaining it to us.

The student teams pitched their commercialization strategies to a panel that included Chakrabarti, Professor Steven Tello and Professor Yi Yang, director of the Wilson Center and associate dean of graduate studies and research.

Each group came up with different business approaches, which was very interesting, said Chakrabarti, UMass Lowells 2024 Distinguished University Professor. Business strategy isnt something I do on a daily basis, so this was a great educational experience for me, too.

Students also toured the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology (LoCSST), where the Chickadee is being developed. The project is part of Chakrabartis $5.5 million award to launch the Massachusetts Alliance for Space and Technology and Sciences (MASTS) at UML.

Image by Ed Brennen Physics Professor Supriya Chakrabarti congratulates Toshio Naito, right, and Gireesh Kalluri on their team's winning GE2 presentation.

GE2 founding director, Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus Ashwin Mehta, who joined via video from California, congratulated students for pioneering the programs new chapter.

Ian Chu, one of the Abitus students, said she will treasure the GE2 experience.

It was a challenging project because of the language barrier, but it has helped me have more confidence to talk to people, said Chu.

Bertie Greer, Rist Family Endowed Dean of the Manning School of Business, applauded students for embracing your uncertainty and challenging your assumptions as they worked on solutions.

Entrepreneurship is a mindset that can be transferred to many different applications, Greer said. I hope that this becomes a foundation of everything that you do in the future.
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Malegaon blast victims demand action against those celebrating acquittal of Hindu accused

Victims of the 2008 Malegaon blast Monday August 04, 2025 demanded action against Hindutva groups celebrating the acquittal of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and other accused

Monday August 4, 2025 6:50 PM , ummid.com News Network

[The victims of 2008 Malegaon blast protesting at Additional Collector Office Malegaon Monday August 04, 2025. Also seen are former MLA Asif Shaikh, Mustaqem Dignity and others.]

Malegaon: Victims of the 2008 Malegaon blast Monday August 04, 2025 demanded action against Hindutva groups celebrating the acquittal of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and other accused.

Led by Minority Defence Committee (MDF), the relatives of those died and injured in the blast, today protested at the Additional Collector Office.

The victims were carrying placards and banners written with demands to the state government to challenge the NIA Special Court order acquitting the Hindu accused.

2008 Malegaon Blast

A powerful bomb, as per the ATS charge sheet, fitted in a motorcycle, exploded at Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon on September 29, 2006.

Six Malegaonians  including 7-year-old girl Farheen, were killed and more than 100 others were injured in the terrorist attack executed in the Holy month of Ramadan and two days before Eid in Malegaon.

The motorcycle fitted with the bomb was parked few meters away from the ladies market at a junction where hundreds of people are present at any given time.

The deadly terror attack was first investigated by Maharashtra ATS led by Hemant Karkare. Karkare was assassinated during the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. Before his tragic death, Hemand Karkare in his painstaking investigation unearthed the involvement of the Hindus in the bomb blast.

The ATS in its charge sheet said the investigating agencies traced the motorcycle to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in whose name it was registered. Further investigation in the case led to the arrests of Col Prohit, a serving army officer, and others.

Two years after the BJP came to power in 2014, the investigation was handed over to the NIA. In the meantime, Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian, who was looking after the case, publicly accused that she was asked to go soft on the accused.

In another indication of where the case is leading to, Sadhvi Pragya Singh, one of the key accused, was fielded by the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as the party candidate. She contested the election against former MP Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal and won.

On July 31, 2025, a Special NIA Court acquitted all the seven accused. The Court in its judgment said there is a strong suspicion of the involvement of the accused but mere suspicion cannot lead to conviction.

In over 1,000 page judgment, Justice Ak Lahoti of the NIA Court in Mumbai said the prosecution could not produce sufficient evidence to prove the charges against the accused and acquitted them, as per his order, extending them benefit of doubt.

Hindus celebrate the Judgment

[Hindus celebrating the NIA Special Court's verdict.]

The NIA Special Courts verdict shocked the people of Malegaon, especially the victims who waited 17 long years for justice. Yet the City remained calm and peaceful without a single incident of protest reported from anywhere. However, some people associated with the right wing Hindutva groups distributed sweets and celebrated the courts judgment.

This is akin to rubbing salt on our wounds, Asif Shaikh, Convener of Malegaon Defence Committee (MDF) who led todays protest said.

He also cited the 2006 Mumbai blast verdict pronounced on July 21  barely 10 days before the Malegaon blast verdict.

All accused acquitted in the Mumbai train blast case were Muslims. The Bombay High Court pronounced them all innocent. But, not a single Muslim  in Malegaon or any other part of country, celebrated the verdict, he added.

On the other hand, the Hindu accused have not been pronounced innocent, and the court acquitted them extending benefit of doubts. Yet, these people are celebrating the judgment, he said.

Asif Shaikh also said the celebration of the verdict was a blot on the country, and a move aimed at disrupting communal harmony and provoke violence. He wondered how these people got police permission.

File appeal before Aug 14

[Former MLA and Convener Minority Defence Committee, Asif Shaikh, talking to media.]

Mustaqeem Dignity, the co-founder of Malegaon Defence Committee (MDF), speaking to media after giving memorandum to the Additional Collector Malegaon expressed surprise that the Hindutva groups chose Gandhi Statue for their celebrations.

It is strange and total surprise that those celebrating the acquittal of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur chose the Gandhi Statue. Did they forget the Sadhvi has always glorified Nathuram Godse, the killer of Mahatma Gandhi? Dignity asked.

Mustaqeen Dignity demanded from the government to challenge the NIA Curt order before August 14, 2025.

The MDF will force to take action if the government fails to challenge the verdict by Aug 14, he said adding the MDF action will be democratic and peaceful.



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Maha Direct 2nd Yr Engg 2025 Round 1 Allotment - Direct Link

Candidates should note that date of reporting to the allotted Institute and Confirmation of Admission after DSE 2025 CAP Round I result is from August 06 to 08, 2025

Tuesday August 5, 2025 1:31 AM , ummid.com News Network

Maharashtra Direct Second Year Egineering CAP Round 1 Allotment 2025: Maharashtra CET Cell is set to release today i.e. Tuesday August 05, 2025 on its official website dse2025.mahacet.org.in Provisional Allotment Result of CAP Round I of candidates who have registered for admission in Direct 2nd Year Engineering and Technology (BE and B Tech) courses for the year 2025-26.

DSE25 Merit List, Seat Matrix

Maharashtra CET Cell had released DSE 2025 Provisional Merit List on July 23, 2025, and DSE 25 Final Merit List and Seat Matrix i.e. details of vacant seats on July 29 and July 31, 2025 respectively.

Following the release of Seat Matrix and Final Merit List, candidates were asked to submit college options and preferences from August 01 to 03, 2025.

Candidates should note that DSE 2025 Allotment Result will be released today based on options and choices submitted by them.

Steps to check Direct 2nd Year Engineering CAP Round 1 Allotment Result

Click here to go to the official website: " dse2025.mahacet.org.in ".

". Click on the link "CAP Round 1 Provisional Allotment List" under Important Links section of the Home Page.

Enter your Application ID which starts with DSE25 and Date of Birth.

Click on Submit button to check your name and position.

Candidates should note that the CET Cell has confirmed date of release of DSE 2025 CAP Round 1 result. It has not mentioned any specific time. As per previous records however, DSE CAP Round 1 result will be published any time by today evening.

Maharashtra Direct 2nd Year Engineering Admission 2025 - Important Dates

Online registration of application and uploading of required documents by the Candidate for admission on website (For Maharashtra State/All India/NRI/OCI/PIO/CIWGC/FN candidates): July 04 to 19, 2025 (Extended from July 15 to 19).

Date and schedule of document verification: July 05 to 19, 2025

Display of DSE 2025 Provisional Merit List: July 23, 2025

Submission of grievances if any, for all type of Candidates: July 24 to 26, 2025

Display of DSE25 Final Merit list of Maharashtra State/All India candidates on website: July 29, 2025

Display of Provisional Category wise Seats (Seat Matrix) for CAP Round I: July 30, 2025

Display of Provisional Allotment of DSE 25 CAP Round I: August 05, 2025

Date of admission confirmation: August 06 to 08, 2025

Display of Provisional Vacant Seats for Direct 2nd year DSE 25 CAP Round II : August 09, 2025

Display of DSE 2025 Provisional Allotment of CAP Round II: August 14, 2025

Online registration for the students seeking admission in DSE 2025 - Direct Second Year Full Time Under Graduate Course in Engineering (B.E. / B Tech), started through the official website dse2025.mahacet.org.in on July 04, 2025 .

After publication of DSE Final Merit List on July 29, the admission process moved to the next stage when candidates whose names appear in the Final Merit List were asked to fill College Choice and Option Form.

Candidates should note that the CET Cell had published DSE 2025 Seat Matrix giving details of vacant seats in various colleges after publishing the Final Merit List.

Candidates were advised to read carefully the Seat Matrix before submitting DSE 2025 Option Form. This is important as allotment of seats will be done based on options submitted by the candidates.

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Legislative Council meeting discussed a whole-of-nation approach to realizing Brunei Vision 2035, which requires cooperation from all parties and the people, said Haji Abdul Rahman Taib, Speaker of the Legislative Council, on Monday.

At the opening of the second session of the council's 21st meeting, he expressed hope that the discussions would be conducted in a strong, mature, and proper manner, focusing on the interests of the people and the nation while addressing queries related to national development.

The Legislative Council acts as a bridge between the government and the people. 
Yeonsoo Go, a 20-year-old South Korean student at Purdue University and the daughter of a prominent Episcopalian priest in New York, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a routine visa hearing in Manhattan. The case has sparked widespread outcry among religious communities both in New York and South Korea, as well as concern from human rights advocates.

Detention Following Routine Hearing

Go attended a visa hearing with her mother in Manhattan, reportedly anxious due to ongoing headlines about strict immigration enforcement in the U.S. As they left the hearing, ICE agents were waiting outside and arrested her on July 31. According to ICE records, she was initially taken into federal custody near Manhattan before being transferred to the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisianaa common destination for recent detainees.

Contested Visa Status

The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Go overstayed a visa that expired two years ago and placed her in expedited removal proceedings. In contrast, an attorney for the Episcopal Diocese in New York insists Go's visa is valid through December and that the hearing was a standard part of her extension process. The attorney criticized the abruptness and apparent lack of due process surrounding her arrest, describing Go as "absolutely terrified" by the situation.

Go's mother, Reverend Kyrie Kim, serves as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of New York and is recognized as the first woman ordained in the Anglican Church of Korea's Seoul Diocese. The family moved to the U.S. in 2021 under a religious worker's dependent visa (R-2), and Go was pursuing a pharmacy degree at Purdue after graduating high school in Scarsdale, New York.

Community and International Reaction

Faith leaders from the U.S. and South Korea have condemned Go's treatment. Over the weekend, groups rallied in Manhattan's Federal Plazawhere Go was first heldcalling for her release. The demonstrations included prayers, music, and testimonies from friends who spoke about her positive influence and active involvement in community service, including helping make meals for the homeless.

The Episcopal Diocese, Interfaith Center of New York, and New York Immigration Coalition are publicly supporting Go. Rev. Dongshin Park, Primate of the Anglican Church of Korea, called for "a fair and transparent review" of her immigration status and underscored the longstanding alliance between the U.S. and Korea.

Go's father has appealed to the South Korean government to intervene. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is providing consular assistance and remains in contact with U.S. authorities about Go's detention.

Broader Context

Go's arrest comes amid intensified immigration enforcement under current U.S. policy, including efforts to limit "sanctuary city" protections. The Justice Department recently sued New York City, accusing it of policies that impede federal enforcement.

As of Monday, Go remains detained in Louisiana, and her family, church community, and advocates continue to press for her prompt release and a thorough, humane review of her case.

If you would like to support Yeonsoo Go and her family during this difficult time, please consider donating to their official GoFundMe campaign. Funds will go towards legal fees, transportation, meals, and basic necessities as the family navigates this ordeal. Your contributionno matter the amountwill make a meaningful difference.

Donate to help Yeonsoo Go's family here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-yeonsoos-legal-and-family-needs

Tips for International Students Navigating U.S. Immigration

The situation involving Yeonsoo Go underscores the challengesand potential risksinternational students can face in the United States. Here are important tips and reminders for international students and their families:

Stay Informed About Your Visa Status: Always monitor your visa expiration date and ensure your paperworkextensions, transcripts, and other required documentationis up to date.

Keep Copies of All Immigration Documents: Maintain both physical and digital copies of your passport, visa, I-20 (if on an F-1), and all other relevant records in a secure place.

Engage Regularly With Your School's International Student Office: University advisors are invaluable for clarifying status questions, navigating requirements, and alerting you to changes in U.S. immigration policies.

Consult Legal Experts: If you are unsure about your status or receive correspondence from ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, seek immediate assistance from a qualified immigration attorney.

Don't Ignore Official Notices: If you receive an appointment or notice regarding your immigration statuseven for a routine check-intreat it seriously and prepare accordingly.

Inform Trusted Contacts: Let a close friend, family member, or advisor know when and where you are attending any official immigration appointments.

Know Your Rights: Learn what to do if approached by ICE officers. In most situations, you have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the right to refuse a search of your belongings without a warrant.

Warning About ICE Enforcement

Recent high-profile detentions highlight that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is strictly enforcing visa regulations and sometimes acting immediately following official hearings. International students should take extra caution, maintain robust legal records, and understand their rights in encounters with immigration authorities.

Proactively managing your immigration status and seeking support from university officials and legal counsel can help reduce the risk of sudden detention or deportation. If in doubt, ask for helpyour safety and well-being depend on it.
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
DAMASCUS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Armed clashes erupted early Monday between Syrian authorities-affiliated forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern countryside of Aleppo province, as both sides accused each other of violating a recently-brokered ceasefire and escalating tensions.

The SDF's media center said in a statement that its forces exercised "legitimate right to self-defense" after an attack by authorities-aligned factions on four SDF positions in the village of al-Imam around 3:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT), and that its forces repelled the "assault" after 20 minutes of clashes.

The SDF blamed "undisciplined factions" under Syrian authorities' command for shelling residential areas near the frontline over the weekend without justification, urged Damascus to restrain these forces, accused Syrian defense authorities of distorting facts by claiming the SDF initiated the attack, and warned of further escalation given continued "provocations" as such.

Also on Monday, Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the clashes in al-Imam, which it said involved medium and heavy weapons from both sides, with no confirmed casualties by midday.

On Saturday, Syrian defense authorities, cited by state news agency SANA, said the SDF launched rocket salvos "irresponsibly" targeting civilian homes for unknown reasons. 
Switzerland said on Monday it was ready to make a better offer to the United States to avoid steep tariffs that have shocked the country.

The Alpine nation faces a 39-percent duty, one of the highest among the dozens of economies that will be hit by new tariffs expected to come into force from Thursday.

The Swiss stock market tumbled by more than two percent when it opened on Monday before paring its losses later in the day, ending the day down just 0.15 percent. It was closed for a national holiday when Trump unveiled the tariffs on Friday.

Trump had originally threatened in April to slap a 31-percent tariff on Switzerland, which swiftly decided to negotiate with the United States.

By comparison, the 27-nation European Union struck its own deal with Trump and will face tariffs of 15 percent, down from a previous threat of 30 percent.

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter has said Trump believes that Switzerland "steals" from the United States by enjoying a trade surplus of 40 billion Swiss francs ($50 billion).

The Swiss Federal Council said after an emergency meeting on Monday that it would "continue negotiations with the aim of reaching a trade deal", even beyond the Thursday deadline.

"Switzerland enters this new phase ready to present a more attractive offer, taking US concerns into account and seeking to ease the current tariff situation," the council said in a statement.

It said the looming tariff put the country "at a distinct disadvantage compared with other trading partners with similar economic profiles", citing lower duties for the EU, Britain and Japan.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, however, warned on Sunday that "the coming days" were not likely to see changes in any duties as the "tariff rates are pretty much set".

- Chocolate, watches, pharmaceuticals -

Hans Gersbach, deputy head of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute, said the tariffs could cut the country's annual growth by between 0.3 and 0.6 percent.

But it could be as much as 0.7 percent if Trump targets the pharmaceutical industry, which has so far been exempt from tariffs.

Pharmaceutical products account for more than half of Swiss exports, the economist noted.

Analysts at Swiss investment managers Vontobel said in a note that they believed "there is some hope for an agreement on US tariffs for Switzerland" that would bring them down to the 15 percent set for other countries.

XTB Research Director Kathleen Brooks said the recovery of the Swiss stock market during the day on Monday "is a sign that investors are optimistic about the prospect of a lower levy being negotiated in the coming days".

But Vontobel analysts added that if the 39-percent tariffs remain in place, earnings for key sectors such as watchmakers "could be hit substantially".

The chocolate industry association, Chocosuisse, said the tariffs were a "tough blow" for the sector, which is already reeling from a 10-percent duty.

"It is particularly shocking that Switzerland finds itself at a distinct disadvantage compared to all other Western industrialised countries," it said in a statement, urging the government to continue negotiating.

Swiss media said the government could point to distortions in the gold trade during the negotiations as it inflates the country's trade surplus with the United States.

Switzerland is home to refineries where imported gold bars -- mostly from Britain -- are melted down to meet US standards.

These gold transactions create a statistical distortion in trade figures, according to the Sunday newspaper SonntagsZeitung, which suggests pointing out that they give the impression Switzerland exports more to the US than it actually does.

noo/rl/sbk
TEHRAN, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran will consider any proposal for the resolution of its nuclear issue that is capable of incorporating and guaranteeing the country's uranium enrichment on its soil, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said here Monday.

"We have always stressed that the issue of uranium enrichment in Iran, as an inseparable part of the country's rights within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, is of very high importance. Thus, any proposal capable of guaranteeing this important component will be worth considering for us," Baghaei said at a weekly press conference.

He said that the circumstances for any potential Iran-U.S. talks have drastically changed, and that among the main matters on the agenda are "holding the United States to account and demanding compensation for the military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities."

Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran on June 13, including nuclear and military sites, followed by U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22. After 12 days of fighting, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on June 24.

In recent days, Washington has repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Tehran. 
A nurse will spend over four years in prison for stealing nearly 150,000 from an elderly, vulnerable woman.

Joan Hanrahan (43) of Woodview Close, Maypark Village, Waterford pleaded guilty to five counts of theft contrary to Section 6 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act and ten counts contrary to Section 4 of the same act.

Between 2021 until 2024, Hanrahan took money from her victim through ATM withdrawals and banking slips. She brought the victim into a PTSB branch, prepared a cash withdrawal slip and made the victim sign the check.

The elderly woman had been suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia in her later years.

The deception was uncovered after the victim died in April 2024 and her family discovered multiple sums of thousands of euro taken out of her account under the tag "nursing home". The family alerted the Gardai.

Detective Garda Stephen Burke investigated the matter and requested data requests to AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB and recovered CCTV footage from various ATMs across Waterford. CCTV footage showed Hanrahan withdrawing large sums of money using the victims' card. Harahan was seen withdrawing money on the day of the woman's funeral.

Hanrahan was arrested at her home and told Gardai "I destroyed [the] card. Sorry I spent all the money."

Stolen compensation

In 2021, Hanrahan received a suspended sentence from Tipperary Circuit Court over similar charges. She stole nearly 30,000 from three elderly patients at the care home she worked at. She would take a patient into town and have them withdraw money.

At the Tipperary Court, she told the Judge that she would pay restitution to the victims through her pension fund. Instead, she had actually stolen the 30,000 from her victim in Waterford. Judge Eugene O'Kelly later said during proceedings: "She was literally robbing Peter to pay Paul".

Victim's family

In 2020, Hanrahan was hired as a carer by a family in Waterford to care for their mother. Hanrahan worked between 10am - 2pm to care for the woman, bringing her to Mass and day trips out to Tramore and Dunmore East. The family were not aware of Hanrahan's criminal convictions and had been provided solid references.

At Waterford Circuit Court, the victim's son provided the victim impact statement through video link. He spoke of the hurt, shock and trauma felt by his entire family due to Hanrahan's deceit. He described his mother and how Hanrahan preyed on her vulnerability for her own gain. The Court heard how Hanrahan ingratiated herself in their family and became a trusted figure in their lives, even befriending their children.

The son explained the family's wish to never see their mother in a nursing home, and the hurt in seeing that Hanrahan wrote 'nursing home' on the cheques for the stolen money.

He also criticised PTSB for failing their 'duty of care' by not flagging the incidents when Hanrahan brought his mother into their banks and had her sign off on withdrawal slips. He said: "She manipulated GPs, priests, her elderly victim; no one was untouched by her manipulation.

"Joan Hanrahan infiltrated our family."

At his mother's wake, Hanrahan put a personal item into the coffin. He said: "She sympathised with us, she wept with us. She is a cold and callous predator."

Sentence

Defence counsel Gareth Hayden BL told the Court that his client had received a diagnosis of kleptomania and was deeply apologetic for her actions. He said: "She told the Guards that knew it was wrong but couldn't stop." Mr Hayden referred to a traumatic incident in her early childhood, and that she witnessed an older family member commit theft. He spoke about the impact her negative offending has had on her children.

Judge O'Kelly sentenced Hanrahan to four years and six months on one charge, and two years and three months for the rest. Both sentences to run concurrently.
The Gardai in Waterford are investigating a serious incident that occurred in the city over the weekend.

On Friday, August 1, at around a 2.20pm in the afternoon uniformed Gardai responded to a call and attended a youse in St Catherine's Grange housing estate.

A spokesperson for the Gardai told Waterford News & Star that a male in his 70s was found unconscious and injured at the scene.

A second male, aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene.

It's understood this male was subsequently charged with assault causing harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

He has been remanded in custory.

The Garda spokesperson said the investigation into the matter is ongoing at Waterford Crime Unit.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Waterford Garda Station on 051 305300 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.
Waterford City and County Council hope to have the county's Outdoor Recreation Plan finalised this month and to launch the document later this year.

In a report to the members of the local authority in July, Chief Executive of the Council, Sean McKeown, said the members of the plan project team attended the National Outdoor Recreation Conference in Limerick in June.

Meanwhile, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) scheme is funding 12 projects which are currently being implemented or shortly to commence. The projects are being funded under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) 2022 and 2023.

In related news, Waterford Trails is continuing to engage with Sport Ireland Outdoors, local trail development groups and other key stakeholders with regard to ongoing monitoring, maintenance, development and promotion of Waterfords existing recreational trail network and for more information on that visit www.visitwaterfordtrails.com
A section of the 900-year-old Norman Walls in Waterford City has been vandalised again.

The damage to the wall is the latest in a long list of incidents targeting the Priory, Quaker Tombstones and Walls at the rear of Wyse Park.

Commenting on the escalating incidents, the latest of which saw a section of the wall removed and destroyed, Councillor Eamon Quinlan said there is a sense of outrage and defeat in the community.

"To see these walls have graffiti sprayed on them, to see tombstones smashed is bad enough, but now, seeing huge holes being created in the walls, stones removed, some smashed, just so they can sneak into the park to drink cans and act the maggot is heartbreaking.

"They are taking a whole section of our city walls!

"I am now publicly calling on Waterford City and County Council to surrender this area directly to The Office of Public Works (OPW) and allow them to take over the maintenance of these walls until such time as we can prove we can protect them, said Cllr Quinlan.

Waterford City and County Council are responsible for the maintenance of the walls.

According to Cllr Quinlan, this incident happened a week before the council fenced off the area.

But locals have been calling for action to protect the area for months.

Some of the section destroyed on the ground. Picture by Cllr Eamon Quinlan

Millions of euros have been spent on the restoration of Waterford's Historic Walls, along with its Defensive Towers and even the St John's Priory.

That includes hiring stonemasons to secure and enhance the structure.

I have to say, this is an unmitigated failure by Waterford City and County Council in terms of its responsibility to preserve our heritage for future generations.

All generations have had thugs, but none have ever gotten so far in terms of literally digging into and carrying away sections of our history, in an almost 'The Great Escape' style," said Cllr Quinlan.

Cllr Quinlan says he isn't sure about the stability of the walls.

This section is beside houses, a footpath and a road.

"As a priority, this needs to be secured, and the public needs to be advised if it is safe, and if not, when it will be.

"At this stage, I am repeatedly asking the Council to take this seriously.

"As a child in De La Salle, around the corner, we were able to come over and use this area with the Cub Scouts, play, conduct nature walks, be thought about Irish history, much of which started right here.

"Now, no school would dare let their pupils in there for fear of what might happen.

"We have been slowly losing year in, year out here, and thats why so many feel so disappointed in where we are now.

The area remains closed off to the public while Waterford City and County Council engages in a plan of action to rectify the situation.

GENERATIONS OF WATERFORD PEOPLE

The walls at the rear of Wyse Park date back to the 12th century and have been a feature of life for generations of Waterford People.

Cllr Quinlan said the park goes back centuries, has a priory, started by Crusading Knights Hospitallers.

Section of the wall missing. Picture by Cllr Eamon Quinlan

"Tombstones of generations of our local Quaker community. Walls built by Waterford hands 900 years ago. Side by side with the Norman Walls, added to the Vikings' walls were added to increase Waterfords size.

"Walls that rebuffed the House of York during the War of the Roses, earning us our motto the Unconquered City, Urbs Intacta Manet, that went on to hand Oliver Cromwell one of his singular defeats on Irish soil," said Cllr Quinlan.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

The Waterford News and Star reported in February that council workers were finding it difficult to keep up with the level of antisocial behaviour in the area.

That was in response to damage caused to the tombstones, which were broken and spraypainted.

The workers onsite to tend to the tombstones said that they are going in every day or two, and it takes a considerable amount of time to clean up after an incident.

Council workers reported finding drug paraphernalia and youths loitering who sometimes abuse the staff trying to maintain the site.
Louise Walsh

An Irish-born medical registrar said he was left stunned after a group of children hurled racial slurs at him as he left a shopping complex last week.

Dr Taimoor Salman estimates children as young as 10 years old shouted 'Mr Curry Man' in a broken Indian accent at him.

The incident occurred after 9pm on Thursday evening as Dr Salman dropped into Blackcastle Shopping Centre in Navan, Co. Meath to pick up a few groceries on his way home from work at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth.

He had stepped into his car and was about to reverse when a young boy cycled in front of him and repeatedly shouted 'Mr Curry Man'.

"I said he was being very rude and as I reversed an older boy, a young teen, came up and asked me if I had said something so I told him that his friend had been rude," he said.

"The older boy told me to shut up and then started doing impersonationations of Apu, the Indian shopkeeper in the Simpsons. I just left. I didn't say anything more as they were children.

"I was stunned and upset. I have seen racial abuse and throw away remarks first hand to me and my colleagues at the hospital but I would never expect this from children who are generally very accepting of other nationalities.

"There seems to be a horrible pack mentality and this incident was insidious."

Dr Taimoor was born in Ireland where his father trained and practised as a surgeon and worked in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan before moving the family to work in the UK and Saudi Arabia.

"I lived in Navan and went to primart school here and have nothing but good memories of the town as a child. I never experienced any racism here.

"That's part of the reason I came back to live here with my wife and young daughter in 2017 and after I began working in the hospital in Drogheda."

Dr Salman, whose parents were born in Pakistan, believes that the streets of Navan have become too dangerous for him to walk at night.

"This wave of hatred to people of colour is quite recent and increasingly more open and brash. I've been back in Ireland for 15 years. In 2017, it was a peaceful and safe place and I could walk anywhere at any time without fear. Now it is too unsafe and I would only go to crowded places."

"There is no invasion in this country. This is everyone's home and everyone has to be respectful to everyone else. Racism is ugly and it shouldn't be accepted or tolerated.

"I've seen senior consultants and colleagues at the hospital targeted and even in guidelines, we are told to use the word 'coloured' people. Why? All people are just people. We all have a heart and we will all live and die. There should be no distinction.

"I saw a child on Thursday night. I didn't see a colour. No-one should see a colour"
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Whats good, whats bad, and whats in between in literature? Here we review the latest titles. See all 51 stories .

There are plenty of good books around for you in August, including memoir, histories, fiction, short stories and forgotten classics. Why not make the most of the last month of winter by hunkering down with a new book  even if youre heading for a spot where the weather isnt too chilly.

Learned Behaviours

Zeynab Gamieldien

Ultimo, $34.99

When Zaid Saban begins at Brookbank Boys High in western Sydney, he feels lost. He soon finds a friend in Hass Abdallah and their lives intertwine. But then those lives diverge: Zaid becomes a lawyer, Hass is charged with murder and takes his own life in jail. Years later, his sister Amira visits Zaid, asking for help with a diary she has found; shes puzzled by things Hass wrote. When his past resurfaces, Zaid knows he has not transcended it and his desire for certainty only leads to unwanted questioning and more uncertainty.

In Zeynab Gamieldiens new novel, a lawyer has to come to terms with events in his past and what happened to his best friend. Credit:

The Visitor

Rebecca Starford

Allen & Unwin, $32.99

This is the second novel from Rebecca Starford, co-founder with Hannah Kent, of the online literary journal Kill Your Darlings. The first was The Imitator, an acclaimed historical spy drama. The Visitor begins with an elderly couple deserting the Brisbane house theyve lived in for 50 years. Why havent they told Laura, their writer daughter, whos been living in Britain for ages? When the couple die in strange circumstances in the outback, Laura and her family return to Queensland to do up that family home. But why is Laura behaving so oddly, and what does a mysterious photograph reveal about events?

Conspiracy Nation

Ariel Bogle & Cam Wilson

Ultimo, $36.99

As the two authors who have long investigated the intersections of technology, culture, politics and the law write, It can come as a shock to a lot of Australians to find that their friends, families and workmates  now understand their lives through the prism of plots, cabals and Manichean fights between good versus evil. Conspiratorial thinking and misinformation abound in Australia, particularly since COVID-19, and Bogle and Wilson explore the origins of a host of conspiracy theories, including those surrounding the Port Arthur massacre, COVID lockdowns and the 28, an alleged cabal of paedophile politicians.

Yilkari

Nicholas Rothwell & Alison Nampitjinpa Anderson

Text, $34.99

Its fair to say that Nicholas Rothwell, winner of two prime ministers literary awards, writes books that are hard to categorise  an appealing thing these days when marketing forces hold such sway in publishing. Yes, he has written two novels, but both contained elements of autobiography, particularly his first, Heaven and Earth. Now he has joined forces with his Indigenous wife, former politician and now painter Alison Nampitjinpa Anderson, to write their suite of the Western Desert. The arrival of a surprise guest, someone met 15 years earlier in Berlin, prompts a fascinating journey of awakening and spiritual discovery.

U Want It Darker

Murray Middleton

Picador, $34.99

Murray Middleton made his mark as a short-story writer  he won The Age award and then the Vogel  spent eight years on his first novel, the magnificent No Church in the Wild, and returns just over a year later with a collection of inventive stories that spotlight the angst and joys of the creative life. As our review will say: The dramatic situations are characterised by a collision of two irreconcilable desires: the impulse to create art with the spiritual toll and untenable economic realities. These are the lands of the crestfallen bohemian.
Imagine the confusion in the Twigg household. The trigger was the Wordle back in June. Sheryl and her daughter Keira pitched their daily battle, seeking to reveal the mystery words in fewer moves, though the real contest lay in how to say the eventual answer.

As Sheryl explains, I say TAUPE so that it rhymes with Thorpe, while my daughter insists the colour rhymes with rope. Both of us were adamant. In fact, wed only realised we reached the same answer after looking at each others phones.

Taupe, a truly horrible colour. But do you say it like rope or warp? Credit: Getty Images

So whos right? Thorpe or rope? Suddenly, I was magistrate in Twigg v English, compelling me to consult the original French. Brownish-grey on the spectrum, taupe derives from mole whose fur displays the in-between shade. Alas, French has an in-between way of saying the word, going closer to rope in rhyme yet longer in duration, the vowel somehow shorter.

Acting as mole on behalf of the Twiggs, I ran a radio survey across Victoria. Pick a rhyme: rope or warp. Hundreds replied. Ninety-five per cent stood in the warp camp, despite Collins (UK) and Merriam-Webster (US) favouring the rope echo. The Macquarie has a bob each way, promoting warp over rope, leaving us lost in the brownish-grey murk of indecision.
Sydney Sweeney registered as a Republican the day after Donald Trumps criminal conviction.

The White Lotus actor, who has provoked anger from left-wing critics and social media commentators in a recent advert for American Eagle jeans, registered with the party in June last year, public records show.

Sydney Sweeny pictured in June. Credit: Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP

Two weeks earlier, Trump became the first president to be criminally convicted for what prosecutors said was a scheme to cover up an affair with an adult film star.

A woman matching Sweeneys age, address and place of birth registered as a Republican on June 14 last year in Monroe County, Florida, according to state records.
I havent entered a gym since the last millennium, when an instructor took my shilling and promised to turn me into a he-man. At least, I thought he said he-man. He might have said human. Anyway, I got no closer to becoming a he-man than I did to becoming emperor of China. This failure has rankled. And I blame him.

Lately, gyms have emigrated from shopping centres and high streets to light industrial zones alongside car wreckers, chemical storage facilities and bikie HQs. You see muscled fellows wearing wisp singlets plodding along the backstreets like the strongest, simplest superhero in any franchise  the Hulk, the Thing  the type of erratic champion needing close and constant instruction from the mastermind of the gang lest he accidentally break North America.

Credit: Robin Cowcher

A whiff of the underworld accompanies bodybuilding for me. Is it the thuggishness muscle implies? The fact it can be turned so readily to standover work? Or the fact bikies and crime bosses have recently got so massive? Watching a cop trying to cuff a Coffin Cheater these days is like watching a toddler attempt a Rubiks Cube.

Maybe muscle gym membership should come with an ankle tracker. One of those devices parolees wear so they cant slip down to the pub on Tuesday arvo, slurp daytime beers and slide back into the life. You want the Gold Class membership that comes with caramel flavoured protein shakes? OK, put this anklet on and surrender your passport.
GAZA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said on Sunday that it is ready to comply with a request from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver food and medicine to Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a statement that this step, however, is contingent on "the normal and permanent opening of humanitarian corridors for the passage of food and medicine to all areas of the Gaza Strip and the cessation of all forms of enemy air raids during the delivery of parcels for the hostages."

Obeida said the Brigades "do not intentionally starve the hostages," adding that "they eat what our fighters and our people eat, and they will not receive special privileges in light of the crime of starvation and siege."

The announcement comes hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a phone call to the regional head of the ICRC, Julien Lerisson, requesting his urgent intervention to secure food and treatment for the hostages in Gaza.

Between Thursday and Saturday, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad released videos showing three Israeli hostages in visibly fragile condition. The videos have sparked protests in Israel, with demonstrators urging the government to reach a ceasefire deal to secure the hostages' release from Gaza. 
The other day I looked up synonyms for dementia  and are they ever a depressing bunch! Such as, on the top of the list: madness, insanity, lunacy, mania, senility, derangement, craziness, delirium, psychosis. Not to mention the imagery that Harry Potters Dementors conjure up. Talk about giving a dog a bad name!

What embarrasses me, as someone who has talked passionately about the importance of removing the stigma that surrounds dementia, is that it wasnt me who thought to actually question the label itself. Was its very name  dementia  reinforcing that stigma?

Heather Cooper, who discovered the language of music after her dementia diagnosis, performed on the ABCs The Piano. Credit: ABC

That question came from a member of the audience after a talk I had given to a lively retirement village group that included some amazing people continuing to flourish in their 90s. I had spoken to them about the realities of dementia. Not only did a minority of older people have it, I said, but it was possible to go on living satisfying lives for a long time after diagnosis.

And I gave some powerful examples. They included the wonderful Heather Cooper, who appeared in an episode of ABCs The Piano, having taken up the instrument after her Alzheimers diagnosis. Dementia Australia had advised her to learn a new language. She decided to learn the language of music. And, six years later, here she was, giving a great performance, playing and singing My Favourite Things, before a most illuminating and inspiring conversation with Amanda Keller about her life since that diagnosis.
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InspirationTrain journeys I travelled across the breadth of Europe on trains over six weeks Tim Richards August 5, 2025  3:00am 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 32 View all comments

Im looking at Charles Dickens, and the great author is looking back at me. After all my trips to London, Im finally visiting the National Portrait Gallery near Trafalgar Square. Here you find portraits of the great and the good, and this 1855 portrait reminds me Dickens was a witness to the early days of the railways, and also a frequent traveller to Europe. The Eurostar, the only high-speed train used for the journey. iStock Given that, I suspect hed be envious of what Im about to do. Equipped with a Eurail pass on my phone, Im going to travel by train from London to Istanbul over six weeks, stopping off at cities along the way. In doing so, Ill be jumping aboard the bandwagon of the sleeper train revival thats swept Europe due to its environmental advantages. Of the eight trains taking me from the UK to Turkey, four will be sleepers, and Im curious to see how this old-school type of train travel has adapted to the 21st century.

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So, farewell, Charlie. Im off to Istanbul. London, UK to Amsterdam, Netherlands St Pancras Station, London. iStock My only high-speed train on the whole journey is a Eurostar service. Ive reserved a seat in Eurostar Plus class (basically premium economy) and board at beautiful St Pancras Station for the four-hour journey. Passport control takes place in London, where a French official stamps my passport and I enter the Schengen Area of passport-free travel. Its a pleasant journey to Amsterdam in my single seat (theres a one and two-seat layout) and I enjoy the rural scenery between cities. The complimentary lunch is, oddly, served soon after departure at 11.04am: a tasty cold chicken salad with a truly excellent chocolate tiffin for dessert. Amsterdam to Berlin, Germany

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Amsterdam Centraal Station. iStock Theres something delightfully atmospheric about waiting on a chilly platform for a sleeper train to distant parts. After a few days exploring Amsterdam and a scenic side-trip to pretty Utrecht (a handy use of the Eurail pass), I find myself at Amsterdam Centraal Station at 10.30pm. European Sleeper is a Belgian-Dutch night train which began service in 2023, and Im picking it up for the Amsterdam-Berlin leg. The single compartment on board the European Sleeper. Tim Richards Im ushered aboard by Dylan, a friendly young Dutch attendant. He tells me this sleeper carriage first saw service in 1955, though its been fully refurbished. Ive booked my compartment as a single, for sole use, via a reservation on top of the Eurail pass, and the compartment is spacious. Theres a bed, an armchair and a tall cabinet containing a washbasin and mirror. Comfortable in my little room, I wake at 5.15am to breakfast: a box containing a bread roll, cheese spread, jam, yoghurt, muesli and orange juice. An hour later, right on time, the train pulls into Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

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Berlin to Krakow, Poland There is stunning scenery on the train ride from Berlin to Krakow. iStock The online seat reservation for this Polish daytime train, named Galicja, costs only 4: a bargain for the comfortable first-class seats. It doesnt have an assigned seat number, so I spend the day changing seats as new passengers board. This does help me meet interesting people, as the facing seats encourage conversation. Im delighted to discover theres a dining car, and am soon enjoying a steaming bowl of rye-flour soup with egg and sausage, served in a ceramic bowl with metal cutlery. As we trundle past the green forests of Silesia, who could ask for anything better? Krakow to Budapest, Hungary

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Breakfast tray aboard Chopin enroute to Budapest. Tim Richards After a few days enjoying Krakows historic splendour (and its vodka), I board a Polish sleeper train, Chopin, at Krakow Glowny Station. Ive booked a single again and, surprisingly, my compartment has a bathroom complete with washbasin, toilet and shower. These were once sold as deluxe sleepers, but due to uncertain availability theyre now the same fare as sleepers without bathrooms; a nice bonus. In a cupboard I find a bottle of water, orange juice and a chocolate wafer bar. Then I head to bed for what I assume will be an uninterrupted sleep. But no. About 1.30am Im awoken by Czech ticket inspectors. Unable to find my printed reservation, I show them the phone version and theyre happy to scan that. Later I discover the train attendant kept hold of my reservation so I wouldnt be woken in the middle of the night. I wake again around 6.30am in Slovakia, and the attendant delivers my breakfast. Its similar to the one on my previous sleeper, with the addition of slabs of dense brown bread. I sip my coffee and admire the lovely scenery as we follow the Danube across the border to Hungary. Budapest to Brasov, Romania

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Keleti Station, Budapest. iStock At Budapests spectacularly grand Keleti Station I gain access to its retro-styled Premium Lounge, open to those with a sleeper reservation. Then I walk to my Hungarian sleeper train, the Corona. Built in the 1960s, its a retro delight with wood-panelled compartments. Im in a single, with a table, a washbasin and a cupboard containing snacks. It also has a standard electrical outlet and two USB-A slots, the most charging capacity Ive had on a sleeper train. Theres no air-conditioning, but as we move on this hot day, the open windows cool the interior. This experience is a stark contrast to the sleek high-speed trains of western Europe. However, it feels like true old-school rail travel, with fresh air and lots of rattling. The dining car of the retro Corona. Tim Richards The dining car has tables with red-and-white cloths, blue-upholstered seats, gilt-edged lampshades and curtains. As we pass through the flat Hungarian landscape with its peaked-roof houses and green fields, I enjoy goulash soup followed by pork ragu accompanied by a beer. This for me is rail travel at its best.

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After a decent sleep and an uneventful border crossing, I awake to the mists of Transylvania, with trees, houses and rivers looming out of the fog. Brasov to Bucharest, Romania Cafes by night in Bucharest. iStock Having enjoyed the historic sights in and around the attractive city of Brasov  including that famous tourist trap, Bran Castle  I ride a packed train for 2 hours to the Romanian capital. I had thought a Monday morning service would be empty but discover its the end of a long weekend. Though the seating is cramped, the scenery is moody as we descend from the Carpathian Mountains to the plains of Wallachia. Bucharest to Sofia, Bulgaria

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For 10 hours Im seated in a second-class compartment of a Bulgarian train with no air-conditioning, no dining car and dire toilets. Luckily there are only three of us in the compartment: me, an American school bus driver, who saves up for a big holiday every year, and a young Belgian on his university break. We get on well, but its a hot day and the train is glacially slow. The saving grace is the beautiful Bulgarian countryside, with its green rolling hills and rocky mountainsides. Sofia to Istanbul, Turkey Istanbuls impressive Suleymaniye Mosque. iStock Sofia Central Station is a revelation, its main hall restored to its brutalist-modernist style splendour. On platform five is the Turkish-operated Sofia-Istanbul Express and my compartment is another single. There are two armchairs folding down to a bed, a retractable table, a washbasin and, unexpectedly, a bar fridge. We pull out at 6.45pm and pass through attractive green countryside. About 1am we arrive at the Turkish border station where everyone alights for passport control and luggage scans. Its actually more relaxed than it sounds  its a balmy night, there are stray cats wandering about and the stations shop is open. In due course Im back aboard, and falling asleep.

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In the morning we pass wheat fields and apartment blocks before our arrival at Halkali at the western edge of Istanbul. All that remains is to board a train on the adjacent commuter railway line and travel to the historic heart of the great city. Standing on the platform, at the end of an unforgettable transcontinental rail journey, I take a moment to catch my breath. Related Article Train journeys The worlds 24 greatest railway experiences THE DETAILS RIDE

Eurail passes cover a range of time periods. A popular choice is 15 days of travel within two months, costing $US486 ($745) for second-class travel and $US617 for first class. Additional seat reservations are often required. MORE

eurail.com, seat61.com The writer travelled courtesy of Eurail and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Samraong, Cambodia: Teuk Buntoeun was picking through shrapnel and rubble when his still-ringing ears caught the spin from Bangkok. It went like this: Thailand had sent an F-16 fighter jet over the dividing Dangrek mountains, precision-pounding Cambodian military positions. The news was all over the global media. The Thai military reported that the mission was successful  and fair. Unlike Cambodia, which it has accused of breaching the Geneva Conventions, Thai strikes do not target civilian areas or any locations unrelated to military operations, the military claimed. But this is not true, Buntoeun says, gesturing to the damage all around him. This is a pagoda. In his telling, more than 20 people were at the Ta Moan Sen Chey pagoda, a Buddhist place of worship, when the bombing began shortly before 5pm on July 24, the first day of what would become a five-day war between Thailand and Cambodia. One of those people, a lay worker, was crushed under the collapsed walls of a dormitory, and killed. Prum Chenda, deputy chief of the local Achar, holds a section of a statue at the destroyed Ta Moan Sen Chet Pagoda. Credit: Kate Geraghty His name was Kheang. He was 73 years old, says Buntoeun, the pagodas chief achar  a lay person responsible for a temples good order and certain rituals. Kheang had been homeless until Buntouen offered him shelter three years ago. The pagoda, built in 2011, is now a mess of steel and shattered roof tiles. The concrete at the front is gouged and strewn with debris. Among it all is piece of bomb printed with the words for use on MK82, made in 2023.

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Buntoeun and his deputy, Prum Chenda, hurry us along through giant boulders to the obliterated dormitory where Kheang died and two others were injured. Abandoned orange robes belonging to the monks who fled lie tangled in twisted tin and timber. The cost of war Ta Moan Sen Chey Primary School, which held classes for its 30 young pupils right up to July 23  the day before the fighting  is a short walk away. The kindergarten room is the worst hit. School principal Lay Phalla crunches over tiles, past a shrapnel-pocked whiteboard and walls covered in torn, dangling posters, and scoops up a shorn laptop near a tiny pink chair. He flings the broken equipment onto the teachers desk. Ta Moan Sen Chey primary school principal Lay Phalla takes in the kindergarten classroom that was destroyed by Thai military bombing. Credit: Kate Geraghty Teacher Srun Ngep inspects the damage in the kindergarten classroom. Credit: Kate Geraghty We dont know what will be the next step, he says. We will ask for donations.

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The school and pagoda are a few kilometres from the ancient Ta Moan Thom temple, which proved to be at the centre of the five-day war that ended last week after claiming dozens of lives, including civilians, and displacing hundreds of thousands of Thais and Cambodians. Both sides claim Ta Moan Thom as sovereign territory, along with several other temples along swaths of ambiguous border between the two countries. Importantly, these temples are on the Dangrek mountain range, the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge in the 1990s, and vital geography should Thailand and Cambodia ever enter into full-scale war. It was on to Ta Moan Thom that a group of Cambodian citizens descended in February to sing patriotic songs, infuriating the Thai troops stationed there and politicians in Bangkok. Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, now the acting prime minister, worried at the time that the stunt could needlessly escalate Cambodian-Thai tensions. It did. Civilian Khek Vin, 65, was wounded by shrapnel when his house, near Ta Krobei Temple, was hit by artillery. Credit: Kate Geraghty Khek Vin holds a piece of shrapnel removed from his body after his house was hit by artillery. Credit: Kate Geraghty The most serious precursor to the armed clashes was a May 28 border skirmish at an area known as the Emerald Triangle  the convergence of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos  that left a Cambodian soldier dead.

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As in the most recent fighting, both sides accused each other of striking first that time. The rhetoric and war posturing mounted. Asked why his school was bombed, Lay Phalla suggests confusion. He says the initial May 28 incident prompted his staff to dig a rudimentary bomb shelter at the front of the school, made of sandbags and tarpaulin  just in case. When they saw the bunker, maybe they thought it was a military base, he says of the Thai military. This is just my thinking. Luon Chanthak inside the ruins of his home, damaged by the explosion of an MK-84 bomb fired by the Thai military. The Cambodian soldier was off-duty and at home near Thma Daun village when it exploded. Credit: Kate Geraghty A Cambodian Mine Action Centre officer inspects an unexploded MK-84 bomb fired by the Thai military that remains in the ground at the rear of the home of a farmer near Thma Daun village. Credit: Kate Geraghty Phalla and achars (officials) at the pagoda insist there were no soldiers or military installations anywhere near their school and temple when they were bombed. Thai Major General Winthai Suvaree countered that the temple was only 1.6 kilometres from the border, and therefore in the scope of the combat zone. In addition, the area was used as an assembly point and command post for Cambodian troops, he claimed.

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Despite the accounts from civilians, he added: During periods of active combat, this area is no longer inhabited by civilians, as it is an extremely dangerous zone. Breaches defy Trumps ceasefire The true death toll from the five-day war remains unclear, though it is believed to be upwards of 40. Thailand appears to have borne the bulk of civilian casualties. In one incident  an alleged Cambodian rocket attack on a petrol station in Si Sa Ket province  eight people, including children, were killed, Thai media has reported. Thoeun Sida (second from right) and her children Lok Vina, 4 (second from left), and Lok Chanthy, 5, (right), in their shelter. Credit: Kate Geraghty Elsewhere, Thailand has accused Cambodia of firing heavy artillery towards hospitals and schools, which the government says breaches the Geneva Conventions on war. Towns on both sides of the border emptied when the fighting broke out, as terrified citizens sought shelter with faraway families, or at camps set up for internally displaced people. The fighting has quietened since a ceasefire came into effect at midnight on July 28. US President Donald Trump, who told Thailand and Cambodia to stop fighting or suffer terrible trade deals, has both claimed and been given credit for the truce. On the day Trumps administration announced a 19 per cent tariff rate for both countries  well below the 36 per cent he had earlier indicated would come into force  this masthead spotted a giant electronic billboard in the middle of a Siem Reap roundabout labelling Trump the President of Peace.

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JERUSALEM, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Israel will establish a national space research and development (R&D) lab with 40 million shekels (some 11.7 million U.S. dollars) in government funding, the Israeli Innovation Authority and the Israel Space Agency announced Monday.

The lab, which aims to accelerate Israel's entry into the global space market, will provide end-to-end services, including R&D, satellite launches, system integration, and data analysis, enabling startups, companies, and academic institutions to test technologies in orbit, they announced in a joint statement.

As a national innovation hub, the lab will support early-stage ventures, foster global aerospace partnerships, and bridge academia with industry, they said, adding that at least 15 Israeli-developed payloads are slated for orbital launch within three years.

"Investing in a national launch lab will allow Israeli companies to test their technologies in space, boost our international presence in the field, and help drive future economic growth," said Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel. 
RAMALLAH, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Palestine's foreign ministry and officials on Monday condemned U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson's visit to a Jewish settlement on Palestinian land in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, condemning Johnson's visit as an encouragement to "the crimes of settlements, settlers, and the confiscation of Palestinian lands."

It said that all settlement activity is invalid and illegal and undermines the opportunity to implement the two-state solution and achieve peace.

Palestinian National Council Speaker Rawhi Fattouh described the visit as "a dangerous bias toward the occupation and a flagrant violation of international law and resolutions of the United Nations, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice."

Fattouh said in a statement that the visit "encourages and rewards the settlers for their crimes of murder, arson, and violence against the Palestinian people" and "provides cover for racist legislation issued by the Israeli Knesset to perpetuate the occupation and legitimize seizure, displacement, and apartheid."

Fattouh stressed that the move "harms the United States' position as a permanent member of the Security Council and contradicts its legal and moral obligations."

Johnson visited a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on Monday. Israeli officials told U.S. media outlet Axios that his visit was "private." 
Leesville, LA (71446)

Today

Cloudy with light rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with light rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Mayo TD and Minister of State, Alan Dillon, has said he is shocked and deeply concerned after hearing that Gena Heraty from Westport has been kidnapped in Haiti.

This is heartbreaking news. Gena has spent over 30 years helping children and people with disabilities in Haiti. Shes a brave and selfless woman, and we are all incredibly proud of her, said Minister Dillon.

Gena was taken from the grounds of an orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, along with seven of her colleagues and a three-year-old child.

Minister Dillon confirmed he has contacted Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris to request urgent assistance.

I spoke with the Tanaistes office this morning and asked that everything possible be done to help bring Gena and the others home safely, he said.

The Tanaiste has since spoken with Genas sister, and the Department of Foreign Affairs is now working closely with, Genas family, local authorities in Haiti, the organisation Gena works with (Nos Petits Freres et Surs) and Irelands ambassadors and diplomatic staff on the ground.

"The people of Mayo and the West are behind Gena 100%. Were all praying for her and thinking of her family during this awful time, Minister Dillon added.

She has given her life in service to others; now its our turn to support her. I will stay in close contact with the Tanaistes office and continue doing everything I can to help bring Gena home safely.
An Irish woman has been kidnapped from an orphanage near Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

Gena Heraty, from Westport in Co Mayo, is one of nine people who have been kidnapped from the Sainte-Helene orphanage, according to reports.

AFP and Fracne 24 reports that the facility is operated by the humanitarian organisation "Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs" ("Our Little Brothers and Sisters").

The people who were kidnapped alongside Ms Heraty include a three-year-old child and seven employees, according to Kenscoff Mayor Masillon Jean.

"The attackers broke into the orphanage around 3.30am (07.30am Irish time) without opening fire," the mayor said, according to France 24. The mayor called it a "planned act".

"They broke through a wall to enter the property before heading to the building where the director was staying, leaving with nine hostages."

No demands or ransom requests have been made.

AFP reports that Ms Heraty has lived in Haiti since 1993 and she runs the orphanage which cares for up to 270 children.

In April 2021, two French priests were kidnapped with eight others. They were released after three weeks.
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Uganda, already home to 1.93 million refugees, is on the verge of hosting 2 million refugees by the end of 2025 due to escalating crises in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a UN spokesperson said on Monday.

The crises in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been driving an average of 600 people to cross the border daily in search of safety and lifesaving aid, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing, citing the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Uganda is already the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and the third largest globally, said Haq.

Uganda's progressive refugee policy allows refugees to live, work and access public services, but funding shortfalls are drastically impacting aid delivery and threaten to undo years of progress, he said.

Currently, Uganda's refugee response is only 25 percent funded, and UNHCR is calling for more urgent and sustained international support and solidarity to ensure refugees and their local communities can live safe and more dignified lives, said the spokesperson. 
YAOUNDE, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- At least four separatist fighters, including two commanders, have been killed in a military offensive in Cameroon's restive Southwest region, security sources said Sunday.

Government forces ambushed and attacked the fighters late Saturday in the Maumu locality of the Anglophone region, said a regional military official.

"After receiving tips from our sources on the ground, our brave soldiers ambushed the separatist terrorists who were on a regular patrol and terrorizing civilians. They tried to escape, but our professional forces neutralized them," the official, who asked not to be named, told Xinhua by phone.

"Two of the four separatist terrorists were responsible for killing two civilians in an overnight shooting last month in the town of Buea. We will continue to secure the regions and secure civilians," the official added.

Cameroon has deployed additional forces to the war-torn English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions as the country prepares to hold presidential elections in October.

Government forces have been clashing with separatist fighters in the regions since 2017. Separatists want to create an independent nation in the regions. 
People stand near the site where a light-sport aircraft crashed in Ciampea area of Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, on Aug. 3, 2025. A light-sport aircraft crashed in Bogor, West Java province, on Sunday morning, killing one person and seriously injuring another, according to a spokesman for the Indonesian Air Force. The aircraft, operated by the Indonesian Aero Sport Federation, went down in Ciampea area at around 10:00 a.m. local time, shortly after taking off from Atang Sendjaja Airport in Bogor at approximately 9:08 a.m. (Photo by Aditia Permana/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A light-sport aircraft crashed in Bogor, West Java province, on Sunday morning, killing one person and seriously injuring another, according to a spokesman for the Indonesian Air Force.

The aircraft, operated by the Indonesian Aero Sport Federation, went down in Ciampea area at around 10:00 a.m. local time, shortly after taking off from Atang Sendjaja Airport in Bogor at approximately 9:08 a.m.

It was piloted by former Indonesian Air Force spokesman Fajar Adriyanto, with civilian Roni Ahmad serving as co-pilot. Adriyanto died in the crash, while Ahmad sustained serious injuries. Both were taken to a nearby hospital.

Indonesian Air Force spokesman I Nyoman Suadnyana said the plane was in airworthy condition before departure, adding that authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. 
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have given their first interviews on the new party they announced last week. They make clear that the organisation, with the placeholder name Your Party, will offer the working class no change from the political spinelessness displayed by Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party.

Sultanas role is to put on a more militant face than Corbyn can offer. She told Novara Media, To me, the Labour Party is dead. Its dead morally, its dead politically, and its dead electorally as well.

This is radical-sounding window dressing. She spent much of the rest of the interview stressing her preferences and opinionbecause everything will supposedly be decided democratically by the members at a founding conference in the autumnthat the party follow a tactical alliance method to stop [Reform UK leader Nigel] Farage getting into power, because that has to be the guiding principle.

Zarah Sultana MP [Photo by House of Commons / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Your Party would have to identify where we can win and where others who have the same goals and values around progressive politics, around defeating Reform, where we can work together that will be, I imagine, a negotiation.

This is a recipe for subordinating workers interests to a Stop Farage platform of alliances with all manner of lesser evils, from Independents, the Greens, Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party to Labour lefts that will only prepare the way for betrayals.

Sultana cited as a model the New Popular Front like weve seen in France. Led by Jean-Luc Melenchons Unsubmissive France, the NPF has smothered opposition to President of the Rich Emmanuel Macron and allowed the Socialist Party (part of the NPF) to prop up Macrons chosen prime ministers and their austerity agendaall in the name of stopping the far-right National Rally.

What Sultana alludes to amid uncompromising declarations that We are the left; were going to take all the left, Corbyn admits without a trace of political embarrassment. Advocating some kind of federal structure for the new party, he says, Im very conscious that there are lots of independent groups around the country, independent groups of councillors, independent party activists Theres also Peoples Assembly and many other groups Were not going to get involved in a turf war.

This is not a plan for a new kind of party, let alone a socialist one, but an umbrella organisation for the old politics of pressuring the Labour Party. Asked specifically by Owen Jones, Do you think Labours dead?, Corbyn refused to say so. Instead he described how a lot of Labour MPs come and search me out in the library and whisper furtively, Jeremy, I think youre doing the right thing Are they going to come over to my party? No. But are they going to work with us? Yes.

Corbyn is still so wedded to Labourism that he can talk about Tony Blair in almost wistful tones, telling Jones that his 1997 governmentwhich Margaret Thatcher called her greatest achievementwas an interesting conundrum.

Jeremy Corbyn speaking at a June 21, 2025 rally against the genocide in Gaza

He recalls voting against Blair over single-parent benefit and being told by the Chief Whip Nick Brown, Im here to assure you that tomorrow there will still be a Labour Party and tomorrow you will still be part of that Labour Party. The cuddly feelings were clearly reciprocal, with Corbyn continuing, Until he [Blair] got involved with Iraq and so on, the social justice system was an improvement. With Iraq, Blair had simply got totally off the wall.

The arrangements proposed by Corbyn will be made possible by studied vagueness and the burying of class questions. The way you keep a party together, says Corbyn, is by going forward campaigning on fundamental issues, listing peace, social justice, environmental sustainability, protecting human rights and opposing the far-right.

What he really means is campaigning without addressing the fundamental issues. A prime example is given by his and Sultanas description of British militarism, which they oppose but never link to the intensifying imperialist struggle for the redivision of the world. It is presented as the fault of arms dealers which can tell governments what to do, in Sultanas wordsas if British imperialism is a catspaw and is not acting in its own interests.

By the same token, social inequality and impoverishment are never linked to the interests not just of a few greedy corporate culprits, but of an entire capitalist class. A class which has orchestrated a decades long counter-revolution against all the social gains of the working class, aided by the trade union bureaucracy, which can only be thrown back by a massive industrial and political mobilisation of workers and youth.

Sultana and Corbyn cleave to the politics of the golden mean, a fair social contract which can be struck in Parliament while avoiding a struggle between classes. No dividing political lines are drawn, except with Farage, disarming the working class in the face of their political opponents, to whom Your Party will extend the hand of friendship.

Corbyn summed up the approach by describing his relationship with the Independent Alliance in parliament. They had decided, Where we agree well work together. Where we dont agree, well say no more about it, well just park that and move on. This held true even as Alliance member Ayoub Khan called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to mobilise the army to break the Birmingham bin strike.

Jeremy Corbyn and other general election independent candidates are paraded on the stage during the rally. From left: Michael Lavalette; Leanne Mohamed; Corbyn; Andrew Feinstein, and Iqbal Mohamed, July 6, 2024

The evasion of these critical issues by which a partys character is defined is complemented by Corbyns absurdly narrow and localist politics. In a moment of unintentional self-parody, he tells Jones, I always think of Finsbury Parklocated within his Islington North constiuencyas the centre of my universe.

He says he resisted pressure from his allies to form a new party in 2021-22 ahead of a 2024 election because I would have had to spend two years doing a lot of travelling around, which would not have played well in the local community in Islington North. His own seat in parliament meant more to him than mounting a national challenge to Starmers incoming government of repression, war and austerity.

However much Corbyn and Sultana talk about democracy in the new partyand whatever procedures are implemented for the founding conferenceit is their politics which will define it. No one looking to participate in Your Party is challenging their role as its guiding lights, in which they will be backed by the milieu represented by their interviewers.

Jones, writing in the Guardian, was a key figure in the left antisemitism campaign which led, with Corbyns help, to the driving out of the Labour Party of many of his supporters, and ultimately his own ouster. He initially backed Starmer as Labour leader, and has spent the last year supporting the We Deserve Better initiative calling for a diffuse electoral alliance of the Left including Green and left-wing independent candidates, as well as socialist Labour MPs.

Novara, which established itself during Corbyns rise to Labour leadership as the house paper of the Labour left, has been more insistent on the need for a new left party, but also championed the Greens as a possible way forward.

Both will be happy with Corbyns statement on prospective Green Party leader Zack Polanski: Will we work with him? Yes, on issues, generally wed agree on environmental issues, wed agree on social justice issues.

The Socialist Equality Party rejects the idea that the left-wing, anti-war aspirations of millions of workers and young people can be advanced through these forces: the semi-reformist dregs of a prolonged period of political reaction. What is required is a revolutionary party built on the principles of uncompromising class struggle and socialist internationalism.
This is Gaza is a 50-minute special produced for Britains Channel 4 Streaming, directed by Tom Besley. It includes never-before-seen footage from areas of Gaza inaccessible to foreign journalists and also explores the challenges Palestinian journalists face amid murderous violence and censorship.

This is Gaza (2025)

The latest figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, as of the end of July, reveal that more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed there since October 7, 2023. This tally is an evolving estimate in a setting where precise counting is almost impossible. These numbers do not include the thousands still missing, likely buried under collapsed structures. Needless to say, the long-term consequences in terms of disease, maiming and death, as well as mental illness, cannot even be calculated at this point. The Final Solution of the Palestinian question has been set in motion by the Zionist regime, with firm imperialist backing.

Recent months have seen Israel block significant aid convoys, with hundreds of United Nation food trucks stuck at the border, sometimes for weeks, and critical items like fuel (needed for hospital operation and food preparation) blocked entirely since March 2, 2025.

Israels restrictions on food, fuel, and humanitarian aid, along with destruction of food production capabilities and unsafe, militarized aid delivery, have created conditions of mass starvation in Gaza. Amnesty International and the World Health Organization characterize the situation as the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war. The long-term health and developmental impact of this mass deprivation, especially on children, lasts for generations. The degree of human suffering in Gaza is almost incalculable.

Yousef Hammash is a Palestinian journalist and filmmaker. This is Gaza follows his lifeusing footage he shotin the besieged enclave and how it has been irrevocably transformed by the conflict. There are poignant scenes of Hammashs life in the Jabalia refugee camp and the communitys suffering, documenting the impact of war on everyday life. As a witness and journalist, he has recorded the harsh realities on the ground, showing not only the destruction but also the human cost of the violence and blockade, as well as the deep community bonds.

This is Gaza

This is Gaza is a vivid, firsthand photojournalistic record of the crisis.

This war is like nothing Gaza has experienced beforeits hell on earth 

The documentary shows Hammash charting his familys forced relocation, the heartbreaking decision to leave their home, their traveling south to Rafah and eventually their departure from Gaza for London, from where Hammash continues to report. He documents the chaos and destruction since October 2023, highlighting the mass displacement and loss faced by Gazans.

Every day, Hammash explains, as the viewer watches the disturbing footage, I witness homes turned to rubble, families torn apart, children who have known only war. The sounds of bombs no longer shock usthey are the background of our lives. Gaza is not just a place; its the survivors endless struggle for dignity amid despair  We are trapped, not just physically but in a siege of silence and suffocation. The lack of food, water, medical suppliesits starvation by design. The world must see that this is not just a conflict; its a deliberate campaign that crushes hope  Despite everythingthe loss, the fear, the isolationthere is a spirit here that refuses to die. People share what little they have, children play amidst ruins, and journalists like me tell the stories that the world tries to ignore 

The Palestinian journalist goes on:

The starvation was the most effective weapon used. Peoples access to basic needs became less and less. I witnessed people getting killed while desperate for food 

The Israelis must do more to let aid in. People who are desperate would do anything ...

My camera is my weapon, my truth-telling, my fight. My documentary is not to evoke pity but to demand justice and accountability. We are more than victims; we are witnesses ...

I dont know how we have survived this  Not even in my nightmare would I imagine this would happen  I knew it was bad, but not that bad 

We have been thrown to a really aggressive beast ... There is no place safe in Gaza.

Virtually every image in the footage is appalling. An entire population fleeing for their lives and responding to the brutality of their existence.

One frantic man tells the camera Expose them to the world!

This is Gaza

Yousef asserts: These are my friends, neighbors, people that I have lived with for 30 years. When the Israelis kill one person, the collateral damage is 100 [i.e., the impact is felt by 100 people].

He emotionally responds when the footage shows a father with dead child melting into numbness: History didnt start [on] October 7. Palestinians have a long history with the Israeli army  Life is extremely impossible. All water and goods come from Israel. All that you see is destruction.

Another scene shows a forlorn man carrying two small bags: This is all that exists of my house.

Everyone is trying to help, confirms Yousef, digging all night long. The corpses of three children less than 10 years old are shown all sleeping peacefully.

Now we are exposed to these scenes every minute, every second.

An Israeli Defense Force (IDF) notice commands people to flee.

Nothing more humiliating than displacement. In 1948, the Nakba, we heard stories for years. Now we are the stories  For Palestinians, it is the curse of being born.

We have been ordered to flee to the South following a specific route. But as his car with passengers journeys, the route itself is bombed.

In Khan Younis, hundreds of thousands are crammed together. We have been sent back 1,000 years  No one is looking at Palestinians trapped in Gaza as human beings as a people with culture  They have bombed every Mosque we had, for both Christians and Muslims.

In countless scenes people comb through debris looking for survivors.

Imagine one million children going through this. People are showing pictures on their phones as they look for dead bodies. There are four small legs under a blanket: Two girls, two boys, one family!

To those who are unaffected by his devastating footage, Yousef says: I dont want them to see the footage because theyre not human.

No child should have to understand whats going on. We see clips of children whose families have died in bombings. Whats next for them?

Movingly, a young boy faces the camera: The world is so beautiful without the sound of drones. Ceasefires are a mere hoax.

Over a million people in Rafah. We are now going to live in tents.

A jubilant girl in a wheelchair is eating the first bread in three days. She is deaf but wants everyone to know she can read and write.

The issue of mental health. Every hospital, every institution of learning has been destroyed  Starvation is the most effective weaponit pushes people into madness. This is famine: images of skeletal children lying immobile in a hospital bed.

Yousef removes his family from Gaza after 179 days of Israeli bombing. Im nobody outside of Gaza  My team, my relatives are there  I must keep telling the story.

The last scenes are of the bombing of northern Gaza. Zionist settlers are celebrating keeping out the infection, as the Israeli army kills people who are evacuating.

Whats next for me? asks the journalist. I dont have the right to think of a future. One million children have been killed in 14 months.

Viewing This is Gaza is anger-provoking and simultaneously heart-wrenching.

The implementation of the starvation and ethnic cleansing in northern Gazareferred to as the generals plan, coined by Giora Eiland, the former head of Israels National Security Councilcomes as the United States is deepening its direct involvement in the genocide.

The IDFs forced displacement orders, reports the United Nations Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territories may be causing the destruction of the Palestinian population in Gazas northernmost governorate through death and displacement. The statement added, This is particularly the case around Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun.

As the WSWS commented on July 25:

The reality is that Israel can only carry out the Gaza genocide with the brutality that can only be compared to the Nazis annihilation of European Jewry because the Zionist regime enjoys the full backing of imperialism. Netanyahus fascist government has received an uninterrupted supply of high-grade military equipment, predominantly from the US and Germany, including the bombs used to massacre defenceless men, women, and children.

Furthermore, we explained:

All of the imperialist powers, including those who signed this weeks statement, have enforced savage crackdowns against anti-genocide protesters. Supported by their accomplices in the media, the imperialist governments have smeared opponents of the genocide as antisemites, unleashed vicious police assaults, and connived with far-right Zionist organisations funded by the Israeli state to terrorise activists.

This is Gaza contributes to the world populations understanding of what is taking place in the region and developing an even deeper hatred of the imperialist system that has made it possible.
Last week, Israels parliament, the Knesset, held a conference The Gaza Rivierafrom vision to reality. Fascist lawmakers presented plans to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip of Palestinians, annexe it to Israel and re-establish Jewish settlements there. This would include building two cities in Gaza, one in the north and south of the Strip, as well as a university campus, an industrial area, a commercial and tech park and a tourist district with beachfront hotels.

Attending the conference were government ministers, Knesset members, heads of regional councils, security personnel, bereaved families, relatives of hostages, rabbis, researchers and activists.

[The sign in the Knesset pictured in the X posting reads: Meeting of the Lobby for the Renewal of Jewish Settlement in the Gaza Strip: Topic: The Gaza Riviera  From Vision to Reality]

The name of the conference stemmed from President Donald Trumps February 4 announcement at a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would take over Gaza and own it, forcing the 2.1 million Palestinians living there to leave, and turn it into the Riviera of the Middle East.

Trump added, If its necessary, well do that, were going to take over that piece, were going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and itll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of. He had earlier called for the permanent resettlement of Gazas Palestinians in neighbouring countries.

President Donald Trump meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

Trump doubled down on his plans a week later at another press conference at the White House, this time with King Abdullah of Jordan, saying, I believe we will have a parcel of land in Jordan, a parcel of land in Egypt, we may have some place else but I think when we finish our talks well have a place where theyll live very happily.

When asked whether he agreed with Trumps proposal to remove the Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt, Abdullah, squirming with embarrassment, replied that Egypt and the Arab countries had an alternative plan that would be revealed in due course: the Arab Leagues $53 billion reconstruction programme announced by Egypt in March that would leave the Palestinians in a Gaza governed by technocrats.

That such a conference could be held in Israels parliament, with barely a mention, let alone comment or condemnation, in the worlds media, indicates the degree to which ethnic cleansing and annexation after territorial conquest have become normalised, not just in Israel but in the centres of world imperialism. Under conditions where Washington is in the business of creating a New Middle East, it sets the tone for what future wars of conquest will mean.

Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism Party and Finance Minister who also holds a post in the Defence Ministry giving him de facto control over the West Bank, said We will occupy Gaza and make it an inseparable part of Israel. Eyal Zamir, chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), had told him that the northern border of Gaza should be annexed for security purposes.

Smotrich said, I truly believe there is a tremendous opportunity here, adding that Israel would begin with the northern border [area of the strip] and establish three communities there. We are already talking about it. Some call it a security annexation.

He spoke of a proposed plan to relocate Gazans to other countries, that would serve as a means of facilitating the settlement of the Strip and of receiving a green light from the president of the United States to turn Gaza into a prosperous strip, a resort town with employment, a reference to Trumps statements at the White House last February.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, speaks with Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich during the weekly cabinet meeting at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Ronen Zvulun]

He declared to cheers and applause, Thats how you make peace. It could bring hundreds of thousands of Israelis to Gaza and solve the housing problem and cost of housing for us.

Smotrich and other far-right politicians have repeatedly called for Israel to annexe Gaza and re-establish settlements in the Strip. Speaking at the conference, he said, For 20 years, we called it wishful thinking. It seems to me it is now a real working plan.

Michael Sfard, an Israeli human rights lawyer, said, This is a plan for ethnic cleansing. Under international law, this would amount to a crime against humanity because deportation is a war crime when committed on a small scale and a crime against humanity when it is committed on a massive scale.

Daniella Weiss, leader of the far-right settler group Nachala that drew up the plans, said, The Arab Gaza chapter is over and In Gaza, there will never be an Arab, international or American government.

Limor Son Har-Melech, a lawmaker from the far-right Jewish Power Party, praised the settlers, calling them the successors of the Zionist leaders who established Israel in 1948. We need to rebuild the Gaza Strip with Jewish cities.

This was a reference to the settlementsestablished after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war when Israel seized control of Gaza  that were demolished after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon unilaterally disengaged from the Strip. Sharon had calculated that Gaza, which had become the scene of increasingly costly confrontations, would be easier to control without the presence of the settlements. It would also provide cover for US President George W. Bush to approve the expansion of the settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu resigned from Sharons government in protest at the pull-out.

Har-Melech added that there needed to be big and fortified cities all over Gaza There is a thirst for return among the public. Not as a punishment but because this is where we live.

Religious Zionist lawmaker Zvi Sukkot echoed Har-Melechs remarks, saying Israel had the power to implement Trumps vision. Sukkot was once an active member of The Revolt, the far-right terrorist group responsible for firebombing a Palestinian family home in the village of Duma in 2015, killing three people. These included an 18-month-old, Ali Dawabsheh, who was burned alive in the fire and both his parents who died from their injuries.

While Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any plans to resettle the Palestinians in Gaza, Defence Minister Israel Katz has called for transferring the Palestinians to a humanitarian city in southern Gaza as what could only be a preparatory step for their expulsion. When speaking at the White House during his visit last month, Netanyahu claimed that the US and Israel were getting close to finding several countries who will take in Palestinians who would like to leave Gaza. He has rejected any ceasefire with Hamas that does not include Hamass surrender and the release of all living hostages and the bodies of the dead within weeks, threatening that otherwise Israel will begin annexing parts of Gaza.

In a recent radio interview, Orit Strook, a Religious Zionist lawmaker and Minister of Settlements and National Missions who is one of the leaders in the settlement in Hebron  called for expanding military operations to all areas of the Gaza Strip, even if it risks the lives of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.

Theres an entire area the IDF has designated as a do-not-touch zone because hostages are being held there, she said. You cant win a war this way I cant make the kind of life-and-death arithmetic where one persons life is worth more than anothers. Well do our best to avoid harming [the hostages], but this may indeed happen.

IDF chief of staff Zamir warned the government that if it instructs the army to operate throughout Gaza City or within the refugee camps in the central Gaza region, then it must declare that bringing home the hostages is only a secondary goal of the war, as such operations would endanger the hostages and lead to more soldiers getting killed and a heavier burden on combat troops in both the regular army and the reserves.

Public opinion polls show that the majority of Israelis back an agreement with Hamas that would release all the hostages at once in exchange for an end to the Gaza war.
DHAKA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Bangladeshis, living and working abroad, remitted home nearly 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in July, the first month of the current fiscal year (from July 2025 to June 2026), a senior central bank official said Monday.

Arief Hossain Khan, spokesperson and an executive director of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), told Xinhua that remittances surged 29.5 percent year-on-year to 2.478 billion dollars last month.

The spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the figure, saying remittance usually goes up before and after major Muslim festivals, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Bangladeshi expatriates in June sent home 2.82 billion dollars, the third-highest in the country's history, largely buoyed by the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which was celebrated here on June 7.

Bangladesh remittances hit an all-time high of over 30 billion dollars in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to the BB.

Remittances mainly come from Middle East countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. 
The share price of print equipment manufacturer Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HDM) surged by 35 percent on July 29, after the company announced it was entering arms production.

Company CEO Jurgen Otto announced a long-term strategic partnership with Vincorion, already active in security technology. Vincorion originated from the military technology division of the East German tech conglomerate Jenoptik; among other things, it manufactures generators for the Eurofighter combat jet.

The arms market is a huge market, worth many, many billions of euros, and growing, Otto exulted. This was the first concrete project from the arms industry HDM was now entering. Over the next three years, the company expected to generate at least 100 million in the arms sector, he added.

This gives Heidelberg access to a segment with growth potential and high margins, connected to Europes drive for greater defence autonomy, wrote Comdirect, a subsidiary of Commerzbank. Strategically, Heidelberger Druck is thus aligning more strongly with security-critical technologies, making its business more robust and valuable in the long term.

HDM is not alone. The feverish turn by many engineering firms toward the production of military goods aligns with the political goals of the imperialist powers vying for dominance on the world market. Driven by collapsing profits in the civilian sectorthanks in part to the trade war between Europe and the USmany major corporations are joining the business of death:

ZF Friedrichshafen is actively offering its facilities for arms production and converting capacities, such as for military propulsion systems.

is actively offering its facilities for arms production and converting capacities, such as for military propulsion systems. Trumpf is developing and producing laser weapons for the first time, targeting drone defencean entry into high-end military technology.

is developing and producing laser weapons for the first time, targeting drone defencean entry into high-end military technology. Continental is partnering with Germanys largest arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and converting plants formerly used for automotive technology into facilities for weapons components.

is partnering with Germanys largest arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and converting plants formerly used for automotive technology into facilities for weapons components. Volkswagen (VW) is considering converting its Osnabruck plant for tank production; its entry into the defence sector has been officially confirmed by the companys leadership.

is considering converting its Osnabruck plant for tank production; its entry into the defence sector has been officially confirmed by the companys leadership. Bosch is losing skilled workers to the arms sector and using facilities for military subcontracting.

Meanwhile, existing arms manufacturers are also expanding their production capabilities:

Rheinmetall is converting former auto parts production lines (especially in Berlin and Neuss) into weapons and ammunition factories to meet soaring demand.

is converting former auto parts production lines (especially in Berlin and Neuss) into weapons and ammunition factories to meet soaring demand. KNDS (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) is repurposing former railway tech factoriessuch as those acquired from Alstomfor the production of tank components.

is repurposing former railway tech factoriessuch as those acquired from Alstomfor the production of tank components. Hensoldt is actively recruiting engineers from the civilian mechanical engineering sector to ramp up production of military electronics and radar systems.

In addition, large German machine tool makers such as Walter Maschinenbau, Vollmer, Heller, and Fein are increasingly acting as suppliers of industrial equipment and components that end upsometimes indirectlyin international arms manufacturing. The focus here is on CNC machines used for the precision production of weapons, vehicles and ammunition. These are sold not only within Germany but also exported to third countries.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG was once a global leader in the production of printing presses for commercial and magazine printing. But with the rise of digital communication and the online availability of newspapers and magazines, demand for printed products has fallen.

According to another printing press manufacturer, Konig & Bauer, global demand for newspaper presses declined by about 70 percent between 2008 and 2018. The growth of online retail led to some expansion in the packaging and digital printing segment, but the profit margins of the past were gone.

This trend led HDM to diversify its product portfolio. In recent years, it introduced new product lines, including consumables and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, automation technologies and robotics. Nevertheless, annual revenues fell steadilyfrom about 3.6 billion in 2007 to 2.25 billion in the 2024/25 financial year. Production capacities were therefore underutilised.

So, when CEO Otto announced the strategic partnership with Vincorion, he highlighted the companys excellent scalabilityits ability to increase output without massively raising investment costs. Heidelberg aims to reposition itself as a reliable partner in security-related sectors, he declared.

Strike at Heidelberg Druckmaschinen in Wiesloch (November 2024) [Photo by IGM Heidelberg]

The IG Metall union supports Germanys military buildup and thus also HDMs corporate goals. At the end of last year, the union betrayed the roughly 3,500 HDM workers during the wage dispute for higher pay.

At a strike on November 6, Heiko Massfeller, head of IG Metall Heidelberg, acknowledged the burden that rising prices placed on working families: Workers are paying significantly more for groceriessomething we notice directly in our wallets. We therefore need more money now, also to help stimulate the economy.

Yet just four weeks later, on December 9, IG Metall announced it had agreed to substantial cuts in real wages and the elimination of nearly one in eight jobs: To improve cost efficiency, the wage increase from this current round of negotiations will be offset against performance-based bonuses. This will keep wages constant, and workers wont lose money.

Considering the previously emphasised rise in food prices, this stagnation in pay amounted to a cut in real wages and was something IG Metall no longer wanted to hear about. The job cuts were once again dressed up as being organised in a socially acceptable manner: Up to 450 posts will be eliminated across all departments and levels over the coming years, for example through the retirement of older employees.

Once again, the union tried to present a defeat as a major victory. It fully backs the militarisation of production and the war economy, for which it is prepared to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of jobs. But who is it trying to fool?

Workers everywhere are having the same experiences: layoffs and downsizing via early retirement or hiring freezes, skyrocketing prices for food, rent and energy, falling wages and living standards, slashing of social benefits, and cutbacks to healthcare and education. Billions in cutbacks are being redirected into militarisation and war.

Workers readiness to resist this conversion to a war economy is growing worldwide. What is needed is to organise and unite these forces in rank-and-file action committees, independently of the pro-corporate union leadership. We therefore call on all workers in mechanical engineeringand beyondto join the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees in the fight against mass layoffs. Contact us by sending a WhatsApp message to +49 163 3378340 and register using the form below.
Workers at the Dundee Engine Complex [Photo by Stellantis Media]

Defying threats of retaliation, Stellantis Dundee Engine workers have come forward to provide details about the widespread pattern of safety violations at the Michigan plant where 63-year-old machine repairman Ronald Adams Sr. was killed on April 7. Adams was performing maintenance work in an enclosed factory cell when an overhead gantry suddenly activated, pinning him to a conveyor and instantly killing him.

The information provided by Dundee workers has been critical to the independent investigation into Adams death being conducted by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. The IWA-RFC presented its initial findings at a public hearing in Detroit on July 27.

At the hearing, audience members heard the following testimony from John, a skilled tradesman and co-worker of Adams, who was seriously injured at the factory. Below is a transcript of an audio statement John submitted to the IWA-RFC hearing. To become involved in the inquiry or to report information on workplace deaths and injuries, submit the form at the bottom of this page.

My story is not a lie. I lived it, and Im living it now. Twelve surgeries, and I still may lose this leg. I know when I left there [Dundee Engine], it was just chaos, and especially around launch time, safety is out the window.

Its as simple as that. Everything gets bypassed; stuff gets shut off. Its not going to stop. I think probably when it stops, it will be when the workers have something to say about safety, where they can look and be like, Oh man, somebody is going to get killed in here. Lets shut this down.

The thing that happened to me was because of a safety issue that we kept bringing up. Why should we have to keep crossing steel stairs to go over to fix an operation that keeps constantly going down? But the way it is now, hell, you go to your union; its just like going to management.

When I got injured, they let me sit there for four hours before they even let me go to the hospital. You know, my legs were red and puffy, you know, swollen. All of a sudden, they say, Oh, well give you a chair to sit down. Well give you another employee so you could tell him what to do. But you didnt do that when Im running over these damn steps by myself all day.

Four hours later, I go to the doctor, and theres a big, giant piece in my kneecap and stuff just floating around, tearing up all my ligaments. When the doctor finds out that it happened four hours ago, he said, No, you should have come here when this happened. I had to have emergency surgery.

So, then Im off work until I see the surgeon. I get a letter the next day, FedExd to my house. You have to return to work that Monday or youll be fired. I hadnt even had surgery. When I had the surgery, the doctor told me I had to be off for three weeks.

But not with them. Youre going come in here every day and were going to find something for you to do, they said. So, they had me counting thousands of washers. Im falling asleep. Im on medicine. Theyre coming by and saying, Hey, you cant go to sleep. I told them Im not even supposed to be here. So, after I do all that, then they put me on the floor.

Im sitting up there dozing off. You know there are engine blocks coming down the line. I could easily just fall over and slice my whole head open. I say to my chairman of the union, Dude, what the hell is going on? He says, Well, you got to kind of do what they want you to do. I say, Im not even supposed to be here. Im on Oxycontin, man. Im on the floor. I can barely stand up and yall making me work.

The next thing I know I woke up, there was human resources, the UAW chairman and a couple other people standing over me telling me, Youre fired because you went to sleep.

What hurt me more than anything is my union. They did not do anything for me, nothing. They always told me, just abide by what management says. Were nothing but slaves. Thats what we are.

What happened to Ronnie I know should have never happened. I knew Ronnie. We worked in the same area. We saw each other every day, in the lunchroom, everywhere. We became buddies. When I got hurt, Ronnie was still calling, Hey, man, how you doing? Need anything? You cool?

You could tell people who take safety at the utmost. Ronnie was like. Hey man, make sure you put your lock out on there. He came from aircraft mechanics where their stuff is much stricter than ours. So, he brought that to the plant. Not one time have I ever seen him say, You know, man, we can bypass this and get around that. It was never anything like that. I could never, ever, see Ronnie doing that.

I could never, ever see Ronnie going into a cage knowing that its energized because we know whats going to happen. If it moves and youre in there, it isnt going to be like, Oh, stop, robot. Its either death or maimed. Theres no warning. Its just a boom and its gone.

So, for him to be in there like that, he wouldnt have done it. He wouldnt have done it.

I just want to tell the workers, you guys and girls know whats going on. You know the safety issues. And I know, hey, you want to keep your job and stuff like that. But whoever thought this would have happenedthis, right here, and especially to Ronnie? And if it could happen to him, its going to happen again, and somebody else is going to be crying, doing a funeral, and we are going through the same thing again. Nothing is ever going to get done unless we find out. And if you dont have an independent investigation and just listen to what the company saysdamn the company just opened up the plant, that shows you what they are going to do. The union is in bed with management. Its like a big game to make money at the cost of our lives.

All of you that are listening, you know what Im talking about. When you go to work, you feel like you cant say anything, you cant do anything, you cant speak out or you could lose your job. They keep us like that, and as long as we stay like that, it is always going to be like that.

This has got to stop, because we can make engines and we can make cars without people getting killed. If we were in control, the workers, wed stop the line. We would be like, No, nobody is going do this because nobody wants to get killed. And until it gets like that, this is going to keep happening.
A 32-member special parliamentary committee in Thailand has been established to draft a so-called amnesty bill that would supposedly grant pardons for various offences incurred during periods of political upheaval and protest in the country over the past two decades.

The committee has been tasked with merging three rival proposals passed on July 16 in the lower house of the National Assembly that would cancel select criminal charges and convictions between 2005 and 2022. This period covers major events including the military coups of 2006 and 2014, the judicial coup of 2008, the bloody military suppression of Red Shirt protesters in 2010, and the mass student demonstrations in 20202021.

Students raise three-fingers, symbol of resistance salute, during an August 2020 rally in Bangkok, Thailand [AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit]

The portrayal of a broad amnesty being granted in order to promote social harmony is a fraud. The bills approved in the Thai parliament were presented by three right-wing parties: the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), the United Thai Nation Party (UTN), and the Kla Tham Party (KT). Both UTN and KT are breakaways from the Palang Pracharath Party, founded by the junta that carried out the 2014 coup and the ruling, military-backed party until 2023.

Common to all three bills were exclusions for those charged or convicted under the draconian lese-majeste law, Section 112 of the criminal code, which illegalises any criticism of the monarchy. The BJT added a specific clause banning support for amnesty for lese-majeste. Section 112 is often used as a catch-all for the state to violate democratic rights and intimidate protesters with potential jail terms of up to 15 years.

The refusal to provide amnesty in lese-majeste cases and to even ban support for such a move reflects the fact that the monarchy serves as the linchpin of Thailands capitalist establishment at a time when sharp tensions are growing within Thailand and the ruling class.

Other offences related to demonstrations against military-backed governments and for democratic rights have also been excluded from the approved bills. These include contempt of court, damage to public property, and noise violations. These exclusions consciously target hundreds if not thousands of youth and working-class demonstrators.

A large portion of those excluded from amnesty were participants in the 20202021 student-led protests that erupted following the militarys rigging of the 2019 general election and the dissolution of the Future Forward Party, the forerunner of the Peoples Party (PP).

According to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) organisation, at least 5,057 people have been charged with a crime for exercising their rights to free speech and assembly since 2006. TLHR points out that it does not have access to information in every case and that the actual figures are likely much higher.

Furthermore, nearly 40 percent or 1,977 of these cases stem from 2020 onwards. TLHR states that from this figure, 1,218 people would not benefit from the approved amnesty bills or would only partially benefit, meaning some but not all charges would be dropped.

During the military administration of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), in power from 20142019, many were also prosecuted for opposing the juntas orders or expressing opposition to the rewriting of Thailands constitution. Hundreds were tried in military courts, resulting in unfair trials. These charges and prosecutions were also not included in the three amnesty bills approved by parliament.

Therefore, a bill, if passed, would provide amnesty for right-wing political activists and party officials, as well as those who took part in the killing of protesters in 2010. That year, the military gunned down 80 Red Shirt demonstrators and injured more than 2,100 people. The Red Shirts criticised military rule and supported Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in a military coup in 2006. Red Shirts charged during this period will also not be covered under the proposed amnesty bills.

These so-called amnesty bills are in reality meant to allow the state and its accomplices to suppress pro-democracy and anti-government protests with complete impunity. The former ruling junta already provided immunity for military figures involved in the 2014 coup in the constitution that it drafted. Section 279 states that, All announcements and orders of the NCPO and orders of the Head of the NCPO are to be considered as constitutional and legal, and shall continue to be valid.

The move to excuse the crimes of the right-wing and pro-military figures is taking place amid deep social divisions in society, exacerbated by the crisis of capitalism internationally. This has led to declining economic growth, job losses, and the eruption of a military conflict with Cambodia last month over their disputed border.

Trumps imposition of a 19 percent tariff on all Thai exports to the US, announced on July 31, will compound the countrys economic and social crisis. Thailands economy is expected to grow only 1.8 percent this year and 1.7 percent next year, lower than the 2.5 percent growth in 2024. Thailand faces the slowest growth among ASEAN countries.

Under these conditions, the consolidated amnesty bill is being tailored to enable a rapprochement between rival sections of the ruling class in preparation for suppressing the class struggle that will inevitably emerge. At the same time, it is meant to give the appearance that Thailands period of political turmoil and coups is over. This is despite the fact that even as the bill is being drafted, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended by the Constitutional Court in a judicial coup over her handling of the border dispute with Cambodia, which erupted into an armed conflict last month.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party did not put forward its own bill, but supported the three from the right-wing parties while opposing a bill by the Peoples Party and another backed by TLHR in cooperation with similar civil organisations.

Pheu Thai has implicitly rejected amnesty for lese-majeste charges in cooperation with the right-wing and pro-military parties. Pheu Thai spokesman and MP Danuporn Punnakanta claimed, We dont want these bills to spark massive protests that could affect the structural integrity of the country. A Pheu Thai-proposed amnesty bill in 2013 was seized upon by right-wing forces to stage protests against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra that ultimately led to the 2014 coup.

Pheu Thai also reportedly does not want to be accused of seeking amnesty for Thaksin, who currently faces lese-majeste charges related to an interview he gave to the South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper in 2015. A ruling in this case is expected on August 22.

The role of the so-called progressive Peoples Party in this affair has been to lend the debate over the amnesty bills an air of legitimacy. The PP has sought to convince its supporters that the parliamentary debate over amnesty can be turned into a defence of pro-democracy protesters and democratic rights. Yet the PP knows full well the right-wing and pro-military parties that dominate parliament actively oppose this.

These right-wing parties and their allies in the courts manoeuvred and schemed to block the PPs predecessor, the Move Forward Party (MFP), from forming a government after it won the 2023 general election; dissolved the MFP on lese-majeste accusations; and removed one prime minister and is in the process of removing a second in judicial coups.

Yet, the PPs own proposed bill did not include amnesty for lese-majeste charges, but instead would have established a parliamentary committee to review individual cases. In other words, the PP tells its supporters to place faith in the very parties at the forefront of attacking basic democratic rights.
The High Court ruled last week that Palestine Action (PA) co-founder Huda Ammori can challenge the lawfulness of Home Secretary Yvette Coopers order banning Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The judicial review hearing will take place in November.

The UK's Royal Courts of Justice [Photo by Mike Peel / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 4.0

Coopers proscription of PA came into effect July 5, approved in a right-wing stampede by both houses of parliament. It is the first time in Britain that a non-violent civil disobedience group has been listed as a terrorist organisation. Membership of PA, or support for it, is now a crime under the Terrorism Act (2000), punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment.

In June, before the ban was announced, UN legal experts and lawyers groups across six continents wrote to the Starmer Labour government, warning that police investigations of PA members under counter-terrorism laws and growing repression of dissent were warning signs of erosion of the rule of law and democracy in the United Kingdom.

Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled Wednesday it was reasonably arguable that: 1) The banning order against PA is a disproportionate interference with Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) [rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly]; and 2) The Home Secretary should have consulted PA before making the decision to proscribe and, by failing to do so, acted in breach of natural justice and/or contrary to Article 6 of the ECHR [right to a fair hearing].

A further four grounds for judicial review were rejected by Judge Chamberlain.

He rejected Ammoris claim (Ground 1) that the home secretarys ban was made for improper purposes, finding there was nothing to suggest it was motivated by an extraneous purpose, such as to quell dissenting political views. His ruling dismissed overwhelming evidence by the claimant showing collusion between the British government and Israeli state officials.

Huda Ammori [Photo: Huda Ammori/X]

Judge Chamberlain rejected Ammoris (Ground 3) arguments that Palestine Action did not seek through its actions to place pressure on the UK government (a key factor in defining a group as terrorist is that its violent methods aim to influence government policy), and he rejected her claim that there was no sufficient nexus between the terrorism identified and the organisation.

He concluded the issue was not reasonably arguable. But documents obtained by Declassified UK through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and submitted in evidence showed MI5s Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) describing PA as highly unlikely to endorse violence, while the governments own Proscription Review Board (PRG) advised in March 2025 that there was no known precedent of an organisation being proscribed mainly due to its use or threat of action involving serious damage to property.

Judge Chamberlain also rejected Ammoris (Ground 4) claim that the home secretary had failed to consider the impact of a terrorist ban on PAs membership, including vulnerable categories such as young people and the elderly, and its broader implications for other protest groups and trade unions.

He rejected Ground 5, that the home secretary acted unlawfully in considering legally irrelevant factors to justify her banning order. These included 1) whether PAs actions were morally or politically justifiable, 2) lost revenue arising from PAs actions, and 3) the views of pro-Israel lobby groups. He concluded that none of these points disclosed a reasonably arguable error of law.

Judge Chamberlain rejected Ground 7 alleging a breach of the public sector equality duty in Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, due to the banning orders discriminatory impact on members of the Palestinian community.

He ruled that two remaining groundschallenging the proportionality of the home secretarys banning a non-violent group (Ground 6) and the home secretarys failure to take into account that PA was acting to prevent genocide and other serious violations of international law (Ground 5)will form part of arguments at a judicial review relating to the claimants Article 10 and 11 rights and that nothing would be added by accepting these as separate grounds.

Hyperbole

On July 4, Judge Chamberlain had dismissed Ammoris claim for interim relief, i.e., for a stay of PAs proscription pending the outcome of a potential judicial review. The judge had dismissed as hyperbole and overstated the warnings by Ammoris lawyers, Raza Husain KC and Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC, that PAs proscription would lead to grossly disproportionate interference with the rights to freedom of expression and assembly not just for its own members but for huge swathes of the British public.

Hundreds of activists have since been arrested under the Terrorism Act for expressing support for Palestine Action. Moreover, as predicted by UN legal experts and human rights organisations, the effect has been to criminalise broader speech and assembly opposing Israels genocide in Gaza.

At the July 21 hearing seeking permission for judicial review, Ghralaigh told the court the situation was even worse than they had predicted.

Journalist Mohamed Elmaazi (whose summary of proceedings was published by Craig Murray) relates Ghralaigh telling the court that members of the public with flags, badges, t-shirts, and posters that support Palestine, oppose genocide and/or satirise the Governments position on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza had been subjected to heavy policing and other enforcement None of those had any relationship with Palestine Action.

Ghralaigh cited verbatim an exchange between protestor Laura Murton and Canterbury police officers on July 14:

Officer: Whats your intention here today?

Murton: My intention is to wave this flag and keep Palestine in the public consciousness right now.

Officer: So, do you support any prescribed group?

Murton: I do not, I do not support any proscribed group. I support a free Palestine and the end of genocide.

Officer: Can I get your details?

Murton: Am I required to give them to you?

Officer: Well, you may be committing an offence at the moment. So, I just need to make sure that youre legit.

Murton: What offence?

Officer: Well, as youre aware, its now become an offence to obviously support a proscribed group like Palestine Action

Murton: Yeah, but I dont, I am not, I dont have anything on which says that.

Officer 2: I appreciate that. But the way youre behaving at the moment would lead me to believe that you maybe- Giving me suspicion or grounds to believe you could be.

Murton: What suspicion? That Ive got a sign that says Free Gaza. Holding a Palestinian flag and I have a sign that says Israel is committing genocide?

Similar instances continue to occur across the UK. Judge Chamberlain countered that police officers were overstepping because they didnt understand the law. Ghralaigh replied, My Lord may say that the officer doesnt understand the law, but Canterbury Constabulary has not issued an apology. The Secretary of State hasnt said that this is a misapplication of the law There is no indication that they are getting this wrong because no one has said they are getting this wrong.

Sir James Eadie KC for the government argued that granting judicial review would subvert the will of parliament by circumventing existing statutory routes to challenging proscription through an appeal either to the home secretary or to the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC) created under the Terrorism Act.

But Judge Chamberlain ruled the Terrorism Act had not excluded judicial review as a route to appeal. He agreed with the claimant that appealing to POAC would take too longit would be very unlikely to even be listed until midway through 2026, resulting in detrimental impacts on freedom of expression and freedom to protest.

He emphasised that a third avenue of challenge was already being pursued through the criminal lawnamely by members of the public protesting in support of Palestine Action and then challenging terrorism charges against them through the courts. His July 30 ruling stated: If the legality of the proscription order can properly be raised by way of defence to criminal proceedings, that would open up the spectre of different and possibly conflicting decisions on that issue in Magistrates Courts across England and Wales or before different judges or juries in the Crown Court. That would be a recipe for chaos.

He concluded: If the proscription order is determined to be lawful, there would be a real benefit in making that clear to the general public as soon as possible, so as to prevent the criminal courts from becoming clogged up with unmeritorious defences.

Closed proceedings

Huda Ammori v Secretary of State for the Home Department gives fresh proof of the vicious class character of British justice. Ahead of the permissions hearing, Judge Chamberlain presided at a closed session of the High Court on July 16, where the government submitted secret intelligence about PA. Lawyers for Ammori were barred from attending. Ammori was represented by a Special Counsel, who is unable to inform either Ammori or her lawyers about the evidence submitted against her claim.

Following the closed session, Judge Chamberlain made a declaration under Section 6 of the Justice and Security Act (2013) permitting the home secretary to withhold sensitive material at the permissions hearing that was held five days later.

Doubtless, the British government has submitted fabricated intelligence that PA is backed by foreign actors. On June 23, as Cooper announced her intent to ban PA, Rupert Murdochs Times reported that Iran could be funding Palestine Action, Home Office officials claimed. Similar reports followed in the Daily Mail, Spectator and Telegraph.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper attends the 9th Annual APCC and NPCC Partnership Summit, November 19, 2024 [Photo by Andy Taylor/Home Office / CC BY 2.0

Eadie KC, arguing for the government, made clear in his own submissions that the Terrorism Act (introduced by the Blair Labour government in 2000) affords primacy to the secretary of state in ensuring the effectiveness of the proscription regime on national security grounds. Meanwhile, the Justice and Security Act allows for the withholding of national security intelligence/information in open court.

The appeal to national security thereby sets up a judicial-political Catch-22.

Far Left subculture

Ammoris legal team has submitted documents to the High Court obtained by Declassified UK, showing that JTAC and the PRG had confirmed a decision to proscribe PA in March 2025, despite just 3 out of 385 of its protests resulting in serious property damage (including a protest at Elbits weapons factory in Filton, near Bristol). But a banning order was postponed for political reasons. After Israels sudden ending of its bogus ceasefire, coinciding with Ramadan, Foreign Office officials warned the time was not right, and that proscription risked being received poorly both domestically and abroad.

Declassified UKs John McEvoy concluded that the incident at RAF Brize Norton was therefore the trigger but not the cause of the proscription order, which had been approved months prior.

Significantly, a separate Community Impact Assessment produced by the Research, Information and Communications Unit (a government agency providing strategic communications for the Home Office) and the National Police Chiefs Council, warned that banning PA could be seen as the partial realisation of Lord Walneys efforts, which dissenting actors could argue were coloured by pro-Israel bias.

Lord Walney (former Labour MP John Mann) issued a report in May 2024, Protecting our Democracy from Coercion, describing PA as being largely a part of the Far Left subculture in the UK that has too often featured both violence and antisemitic incitement. His report identified PA co-founder Richard Barnard and rap artist Lowkey (an early backer of PA) with support for terrorism. Walney alleged the British Far Left and Islamists make common cause depicting them as part of a deeply entrenched ecosystem founded in an understanding of imperialism and the state as common enemies.

Walneys report, based on the crude frame-up methods of a police state, argued, the Government should keep under review the question of whether Palestine Action meets the criteria for proscription as a terrorist entity.

Pointing to the high bar for proscription under the Terrorism Act, Walney advised the creation of a new legal mechanism to deal with actions designed to interfere with the rights of others or impede the proper functioning of democratic institutions or business, whether it is of a persistent or continuing nature, and whether it was undertaken to advance a political or ideological cause. Sanctions attached to this restriction would include restricting the groups right to assembly and its ability to fundraise.

A judicial review of the governments order to ban PA will be held over three days, sometime after November 10. Judge Chamberlain rejected a renewed appeal by Ammoris lawyers for interim relief, which means that PA remains listed as a terrorist organisation. Craig Murrays eyewitness account of High Court proceedings on July 4, when interim relief was first deniedincluding at an extraordinary late-night Court of Appeal sessionis essential reading.
Over a decade after a report into the sexual abuse of at least 1,400 children by men in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, evidence has emerged showing that local police not only knew of, but were allegedly involved in the crimes.

Five women exploited by grooming gangs have so far given statements to solicitors saying they were also sexually abused by police officers. Witness statements from 25 other victims have described police working alongside the gangs or turning a blind eye to child sexual exploitation.

South Yorkshire Police headquarters, Snig Hill, Sheffield [Photo by Robin Stott / CC BY-SA 2.0

Former chief inspector of social work Professor Alexis Jays harrowing 2014 report was the fourth into child sexual exploitation in the South Yorkshire town.

Jays report detailed vulnerable children being plied with gifts like drugs and alcohol, beaten, threatened and passed around for sex between adult males. Jay said the 2002 research contained severe criticisms of the police, council and other agencies for ignoring the problem, and warned that her estimation of victim numbers was likely conservative.

Right-wing forces seized on media headlines around Jays report that concentrated primarily on the ethnicity of the perpetrators, most of whom were identified as being of British-Pakistani origin. Five men were jailed in Rotherham for child sex offences against girls aged 12-16, with further cases in other similarly impoverished northern towns.

As the WSWS noted at the time:

Right-wing newspapers and politicians are utilising the report for their own ends. The scandal, they claim, has little to do with poverty and everything to do with a so-called political correctness that abandoned white school girls to Muslim gangs. Such is the febrile atmosphere surrounding the Rotherham report that fascist groups such as the English Defence League and Britain First are virtually camped out in the town, which has also become a target for the anti-immigrant United Kingdom Independence Party.

This filthy campaign helped to distract from a subsequent police investigation into historic child abuse (Operation Stovewood) and the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC)s Operation Linden investigating complaints about South Yorkshire Polices (SYP) handling of reports of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Switalskis Solicitors continued documenting repeated allegations by the victims of the collusion and involvement of SYP officers in their exploitation. Amy Clowrey, Director of Switalskiss child abuse compensation team, said they had hoped these would be unearthed through Operations Stovewood and Linden, but That never happened.

Operation Linden concluded in 2022 after eight years. The IOPC upheld 43 complaints against individual officers in 91 investigations. Eight officers faced misconduct and six gross misconduct charges. No officer lost their job or faced criminal charges.

Clowrey said the matter only finally went back to SYPs Major Crime Unit in October 2024, after sitting with the Professional Standards Department (dealing with officers conduct, not criminality) for more than a year.

Since December 2024, three former SYP officers have been arrested on suspicion of historic sexual offences between 1995 and 2004. Not one has been charged.

The IOPC concluded in 2022 that SYP fundamentally failed in its duty to protect vulnerable children and young people during that time. Former IOPC investigator Garry Harper, who worked on Linden for two years, told press bluntly that Linden was an abject failure from beginning to end, and SYP managed to evade almost any accountability.

Switalskis passed its dossier of 30 survivor testimonies detailing abuse to SYP. The firm is attempting to bring a separate civil claim against SYP to secure compensation, but the investigation is still being conducted by SYP itself.

The dossier, reported by the BBC, is harrowing. Victims speak of being raped from the age of 12 by a serving SYP officer in a marked police car. One woman, targeted by a grooming gang when she was 11, was sexually abused by hundreds of men over five years. She was also abused by two police officers, she says, one of whom repeatedly tracked her down and demanded sex.

He knew where we used to hang out, he would request either oral sex or rape us in the back of the police car, she told the BBC. If she tried to refuse, she said, he threatened to contact the gang himself. Being raped once, she said, was just easier than gang rape by 15 20 guys one after another.

When Willow (survivors are anonymised) was forced into an illegal abortion by the gang, her youth worker contacted social services and police. She was destroyed, she said, when one of the abusing officers turned up to interview her. He later ripped up her statement in front of her, and the matter went no further.

Survivors allege officers had sex with girls in exchange for drugs and money, and supplied illegal Class A drugs directly to the gangs. Three women reported being beaten up as children by officers, one in a police cell.

Another officer accused of abuse of children was allowed by SYP to retire. Harper called this At best a reputational covering exercise. At worst, it was out and out corruption.

SYP told the BBC that no former officer currently under inquiry had an allegation of rape against them at the time of their retirement.

The decision to hand investigative authority back to SYP is a calculated slap in the face, and 13 witnesses have withdrawn from the current investigation.

Switalskis said those survivors have no faith that SYP will do a thorough job of investigating alleged abuse by their own officers. It added that dealing with SYP continues to be retraumatising, and many survivors refuse to report offences because they do not think they will be believed and because they were treated so badly in the past. This is more than justified.

SYP have repeatedly rejected Switalskis requests that they hand the investigation to another force due to the risk of potential conflict(s) of interest and survivor engagement. The IOPC said they are satisfied that there is no conflict of interest.

Professor Jay told the BBC she was shocked SYP would be conducting the investigation into its own former officers, and called for the investigation to be handed to another police force or an independent body. She said there are many, many legitimate causes for victims and survivors to feel a total lack of trust in SYP.

David Greenwood of Switalskis said he could not be confident there are not officers burying evidence or just not finding evidence deliberately because of knowledge of some of those involved. Im sure that the full truth in terms of the level of corruption and the extent of it in Rotherham has yet to come out.

Jays report pointed to an escalating crisis fuelled by cuts to social provision. He noted that local authority funding cuts had led to a dramatic reduction in resources available to Rotherham and neighbouring Councils. A third of the children exploited had mental health problems, and two thirds emotional difficulties. A large number were supposedly in carei.e., wards of the local authority. The spiralling growth in social inequality was accompanied by a bipartisan condemnation of a feral, undeserving underclass.

Another survivor, Emma, had been in care and ran away from childrens homes repeatedly. When found, she says, she was raped by a police officer in a squat. This officer targeted children in care because of their vulnerability. He knew we wouldnt be missed, he knew we wouldnt be reported. He knew we wouldnt be able to say anything. He knew that he had the upper hand.
Sunday witnessed one of the largest protests in Sydneys history, with a massive crowd marching across the Harbour Bridge in opposition to the imperialist-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The New South Wales (NSW) Police, who were intensely hostile to the demonstration, begrudgingly acknowledged that 90,000 or more people participated.

Organisers have estimated the rally at 300,000. That is plausible, given that protesters simultaneously stretched across the entire 1.1 kilometre (0.7 mile) bridge, at the same time that more people were massed several city blocks from even setting foot on the structure.

Whatever the exact number, the demonstration was the biggest in Sydney since the 2003 protests opposing the illegal US-led invasion of Iraq.

The rally expressed immense hostility to the genocide, and particularly its latest phase in Israels deliberate mass starvation of Palestinians in Gaza.

There was a sense that participants wanted to send a message to the world, including the Palestinians themselves, by taking over one of Australias most iconic landmarks for several hours.

The crowd was diverse, including workers, youth and middle-class people from all backgrounds. In an indication that the genocide is politicising a new generation, there were many teenagers and young adults. Signs and chants denounced the federal Labor government for its ongoing complicity in the mass slaughter.

The march was led by a number of prominent figures, including Julian Assange, who made one of his first public appearances in Australia since being freed last year and defeating US attempts to imprison him for life for exposing war crimes.

Journalists Antoinette Lattouf and Mary Kostakidis, who have both been targeted by the Zionist lobby for their defence of the Palestinians, were also there.

Front of the march across Sydney Harbour Bridge with journalist Mary Kostakidis, Julian Assange, sports journalist Craig Foster and Antoinette Lattouf in the centre, August 3, 2025

In addition to teeming rain, the protesters were defying official threats.

The NSW Police, acting at the behest of the state Labor government, had unsuccessfully attempted to have the demonstration banned in the Supreme Court. Labor Premier Chris Minns, an ardent Zionist, had declared that the protest would cause chaos and would be an unacceptable disruption to the city.

In rejecting the police case, Justice Belinda Rigg pointed to the dictatorial logic of that argument. If such claims of unacceptable disruption were accepted, no assembly involving inconvenience would be permitted.

The judgement pointed to fears in the state apparatus that an attempt to suppress mass sentiment, on this occasion, could backfire. Under conditions where it was clear that people would march whatever the ruling, Rigg warned that a ban would inevitably lead to resentment and alienation.

The attempts by Minns to suppress the protest probably made it larger, with many demonstrators stating they were also taking a stand for basic civil liberties.

The NSW Labor government has, over the past two years, repeatedly sought to illegalise pro-Palestinian protests. Last month, it oversaw a major mobilisation against a small protest, during which the police violently assaulted lawyer and former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas, who may permanently lose sight in one eye as a consequence.

More than such threats of violence, protesters were rejecting the relentless campaign to brand opposition to Israels genocide as antisemitism. That bogus line, promoted by the Labor governments and the corporate media, was exposed by the rally itself, including by the substantial participation of anti-Zionist Jews.

Sections of the corporate media, which has slandered opponents of the genocide as bigots and faithfully repeated every lie of the criminal Israeli regime, have felt compelled to adapt to the mass sentiment.

A prominent comment in the Sydney Morning Herald, for instance, declared that horror over the catastrophe in Gaza had gone mainstream, adding: No one should suggest that the city had turned its back on our Jewish community.

A number of reports, however, including from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, have led with declarations by the NSW Police that the march was a perilous event, which could have resulted in a mass crowd crush.

That was the argument the NSW government and the police eventually fixed on in their court attempt to ban the protest, having previously denounced it publicly only as an inconvenience.

The circumstances of the rally raise concerning questions about the actions of the police. As the front of the march had crossed the Harbour Bridge, the police sent automated text messages declaring they had cancelled the protest, in collaboration with the organisers, for fear of a crowd crush.

A section of the anti-Gaza genocide protest before it began the Sydney Harbour Bridge march, August 3, 2025

Protesters at the front were instructed to turn around and return to the city centre. But, prior to this directive, police officers had withdrawn from the bridge, despite earlier having a substantial presence. That created a confused situation where for a period, protesters were marching in opposite directions, without any pretence of on-the-ground police crowd management.

It is legitimate to ask whether the police were attempting to engineer the crowd crush that they had warned against. In the end, protesters left the bridge without incident, due to the sense of solidarity of the crowd itself.

In Melbourne, police openly blocked a large anti-genocide protest. There, the state Labor government directed police to forcefully suppress an attempt by some 25,000 demonstrators to march across the King Street Bridge.

Having declared that the closure of the bridge by protesters would be an unacceptable disruption and risk to emergency services, Labor shut the bridge to block the rally and deployed aggressive riot police to guard it.

The mass opposition expressed in the Sydney march raises the issue of what action is required to end the genocide in Gaza. The speakers before the march did not have any answers.

Several Palestinian and human rights activists spoke movingly about the unfolding horrors. Palestinian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah, whose research funding has been targeted at the behest of the federal Labor government, gave a defiant speech against Zionist threats and censorship. Jewish-Australian journalist Antony Lowenstein spoke strongly against the relentless conflation of Judaism and the Israeli state.

But the political line was set by federal Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi. She advanced the same perspective of endless protests, aimed at pressuring the powers-that-be, that has manifestly failed over almost two years to stop the Israeli onslaught.

Faruqi referenced recent statements of Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other government leaders who have cynically and belatedly bemoaned the mass starvation. They are clearly trying to contain the mass anger expressed in the demonstration.

Faruqi pointed to the threadbare nature of the statements and said that words are not enough. But she claimed that popular pressure was moving Labor inch by inch towards a defence of the Palestinians. That is simply a lie.

Labor stands full square behind the atrocities. Days before she made that claim, Faruqi was in the Senate when Foreign Minister Penny Wong thunderously defended Australias military exports to Israel, which the Labor government had previously denied were continuing. And Faruqi was addressing a protest that Labor had sought to ban.

The claim that Labor is shifting, or can shift, serves to subordinate anti-genocide opposition to the very government that is a party to it. That is the role of calls for Labor to sanction Israel. The fact that a member of the Labor government, Ed Husic, was present at the protest and raising the call for sanctions points to its entirely toothless character.

Its function is to divert attention from the central question, the independent action of the working class.

The rally was addressed by Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Sydney branch secretary Paul Keating. He gave a demagogic speech, declaring that the fight against the genocide was a working-class issue, and that his union was unwaveringly committed to taking it forward.

Keatings noisy bluster was dialled up to compensate for the conspicuous absence of any substantial contingent organised by the trade unions, despite the massive size of the protest.

Moreover, the MUA has not taken action to halt the genocide, but has suppressed it. The union has enforced the orderly loading and unloading of cargo from the Israeli Zim shipping line, which has committed to aiding the Israeli war effort.

When, in November 2023, members of the Socialist Equality Party asked Keating if the MUA would uphold the call by Palestinian trade unions for industrial action to cripple the Zionist war machine, he reacted with fury.

Halting the genocide means building an independent movement of the working class, in a political fight against the Labor government, the Greens, the corporatised union bureaucracy and the entire political establishment. That is the only means of unleashing the social and political power of the working class, including through industrial action, to halt the ongoing Israeli war crimes and the broader eruption of imperialist militarism of which they are a part.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein]

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent boasted Wednesday that a provision in legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump last month would provide a back door for privatizing Social Security, threatening the monthly benefits on which nearly 70 million Americans, most of them elderly, rely on to live.

Bessent was speaking about the giant tax and spending bill Trump signed July 4, making permanent Trumps 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy and big business. The bill funnels an estimated $3 trillion to the super-rich, while cutting more than $1 trillion in spending on Medicaid, food stamps and other vital programs on which tens of millions of working people depend.

One section of the 1,000-page bill establishes what are modestly titled Trump accounts of $1,000 each for every baby born in the United States from 2025 through 2028, the entirety of Trumps second term. (The original title was reportedly money account for growth and advancement, or MAGA accounts, but this was replaced by something even more directly flattering to the would-be dictator).

Families could contribute up to $5,000 a year tax-free to these accounts until age 18, or employers could make the contributions as a benefit to favored employees. Given the near-impossible struggle of working people to pay their regular billsto say nothing of going ever further into debtthe accounts of working class children would likely remain at $1,000, invested in index-linked funds through brokerages or other private financial institutions.

For the children of affluent families, able to set aside the additional $5,000 a year, the tax-free wealth accumulation could be considerable. According to calculations by the Urban Institute and Washington Monthly, making optimistic assumptions like 8 percent annual return and no financial collapses, the children of the affluent by age 18 would have accounts averaging $191,000, compared to $4,000 for those whose families were unable to make those investments. The disparity at age 65 would be even starker: $6.86 million for one, $93,000 for the other.

These figures, well understood by Bessent, Russell Vought and other Trump administration budget-cutters, actually refute Bessents claim that the Trump accounts will out-compete Social Security benefits and thus provide political cover for back door privatization.

He told his audience, Social Security is a defined benefit plan and said of the promotion of market-based accounts, thats a game changer, too. In other words, the Trump administration envisions doing to Social Security what countless corporate employers have done to workers pensions: converting them to 401k accounts which have no defined benefits, but instead subject retirees to the risks of highly unstable financial speculation.

The real political meaning of Bessents remarks is demonstrated by the venue at which he made them: a Washington conference sponsored by Breitbart News, one of the main online media outlets of the fascist right, once run by Steve Bannon. Bessent warned his fascist audience of the danger represented by the shift to the left among young people, as expressed in the vote for New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Clearly more concerned about the threat of Mamdanis voters, particularly the youth, than the mild reforms proposed by the Democrat himself, Bessent warned that the New York election showed people have given up on a market-based system. The Trump accounts would counter that, he said. When you do this, you make everyone a shareholder, he claimed. You make everyone a stakeholder. People who are part of the system do not want to bring down the system.

On Thursday, speaking to CNBC, Bessent doubled down on this argument, saying, I was talking about the $1,000 baby bonds that every American citizen, every newborn, is going to get. The Democrats hate this program because  it brings capitalism and markets to every American.

Despite the reference to the Democrats, one of the two parties of Wall Street, Bessents comments point to the real fear of the ruling class: growing opposition to capitalism and the threat of socialism.

There were obligatory statements of clarification issued by the Treasury, by Bessent himself and by Trumps most prominent paid liar, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, all pledging undying devotion to the preservation of Social Security. But Bessents remarks follow a series of ever more explicit attacks on the program, the largest social expenditure of the federal government.

Trumps first anointed budget-cutter, billionaire Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, called Social Security a Ponzi scheme during his days as the boss of the Department of Government Efficiency. Billionaire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick declared that only scammers would complain if they missed a Social Security check.

The Social Security Administration has itself been downsized, with the elimination of so many jobs that it is virtually impossible for recipients to get through to the agency on the phone. Most recently, the White House proposed to force recipients to travel to an agency office to file papers like changes of address or getting tax forms, only to back off, at least for now, after protests that this would be an undue burden on the elderly and disabled.

The overall intention is clear: to downgrade and denigrate a program which, over the past 90 years, has become an indispensable component of what little remains of a social safety net in America.

Social Security was once dubbed the third rail of American politics: touch it and you die. But over the course of the last three decades, it has been steadily undermined by Democratic and Republican administrations alike.

It was Democratic House Speaker Tip ONeill who, in partnership with Republican President Ronald Reagan, enacted the first cuts in Social Security in 1983, raising the age of eligibility from 65 to 67. Congressional Democrats issued demagogic denunciations of Bessents remarks, but the first US president to propose the type of baby accounts pushed through by Trump was Democrat Bill Clinton, who called them universal savings accounts, or USA accounts.

George W. Bush made the first attempt at outright privatization in 2005, but this provoked a storm of popular opposition and contributed, along with the mass opposition to the Iraq War, to the defeat of the Republicans in the 2006 elections. The global financial crash of 2008 made handing over the Social Security Trust Fund to Wall Street politically impossible to propose for more than a decade. But now, driven by the financial unraveling of American capitalism, with a national debt topping $37 trillion this year, and vast outlays for ongoing wars with Russia and the Middle East and an impending war with China, the US ruling class cannot wait any longer.

No one should believe that the Democratic Party wing of the financial oligarchy has any fundamental differences with Trump over the dismantling of Social Security. The only differences are over how to impose such policies and who will end up taking the blame. As it is now, the Congressional Budget Office forecasts a financial crisis by 2033, with the Trust Fund surpluses eliminated and payments cut across the board by 23 percent.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer declared, Now, of course, Secretary Bessent had rushed to Twitter later to do a little cleanup, but the truth came out, the real truth. Actions speak louder than words, and the actions Donald Trump and his gang are taking against Social Security speak volumes. Schumers actions also speak louder than his words: He led the group of Democratic senators who joined Republicans in April to push through a continuing resolution to fund the Trump administration through the current fiscal year.

The core policy of the Biden administration and the Democratic Party is continuing and escalating the war with Russia in Ukraine. If Trump plays ball on Ukraine, they will play ball on Social Security.

All sections of the ruling class accept that capitalism cannot afford to pay even the minimal benefits of the present Social Security system, let alone provide a dignified and comfortable retirement for workers who no longer produce surplus value and generate profit. On the contrary, they seek to slash benefits and even reduce life expectancy, by dismantling public health programs and research. That alone demonstrates that the capitalist system has reached a dead end.

The world working class today produces more wealth than mankind has ever produced, but it is monopolized by a tiny class of billionaires and multi-millionaires, who have heaped up unimaginable fortunes while arming themselves to the teeth against their capitalist rivals and against the working class at home.

The socialist perspective is to take these resources, and ownership of the gigantic corporations on which this wealth is based, out of the hands of the capitalist class and put them to the service of working people. This is the only possible basis to guarantee a comfortable retirement, far beyond the inadequate payments from Social Security, and all the rights of the working class.
Take up the fight for rank-and-file control! Join the Boeing Workers Rank-and-File Committee! Text (406) 414-7648, email boeingworkersrfc@gmail.com or fill out the form at the bottom of this article.

A worker performs hydraulics testing on a new F/A-18 at Boeing's fighter aircraft production line in St. Louis. [AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey]

More than 3,200 Boeing workers voted on Sunday to reject the second four-year contract proposal brought to them by the International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 837. The workers walked out on strike just after midnight Monday morning.

The strike against the aerospace giant Boeing is at the same time a fight against the Trump administration, which has awarded the company a multibillion-dollar contract to build fighter jets in preparation for war against China.

Last week, workers overwhelmingly rejected a contract proposal endorsed by union leaders. A central issue in the negotiations is the Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) in which Boeing is demanding the right to impose four consecutive 10-hour shifts Monday to Friday or three consecutive 12-hour shifts Friday to Monday.

The latest proposal excludes the AWS, leaving work hours and overtime unchanged. It also includes a $0.50 hourly pay increase and increased the pension multiplier to $10 in the first year, instead of $5 in the second and third years. But this does not apply to the most senior workers, according to the IAM. A 20 percent wage increase over four years and a $5,000 ratification bonus remain the same as the previous proposal.

It is our last, best and final offer and, we think, a very compelling offer, Boeing Vice President of Air Dominance Dan Gillian said from St. Louis. The company announced that non-union workers will operate the facility, and production will continue on a limited basis, a dangerous prospect for a company with one of the worst safety records in the industry.

Boeing awarded $20 billion for air dominance

Boeings facility in St. Louis produces for the companys defense division, which supplies planes and bombs used in Israels US-backed genocide in Gaza and in the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine.

The company is among the largest employers in the St. Louis metro area and employs more than 16,000 across three plants in the area, according to Business Journal.

In its relentless pursuit of profits, Boeing has been responsible for a series of catastrophic aircraft failures. Numerous high-profile disasters killed more than 330 people in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 and injured countless others in the course of mid-air malfunctions. In June, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed in India killing 260 people. The FAA earlier this year would not lift a 38-plane per year limit on the 737 MAX.

After a mid-air panel blowout on a brand new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 airplane that lacked four key bolts, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in March of this year that Boeing had lost trust. But after meeting with company executives, Duffy announced, They get it, and they are making the changes in manufacturing.



Later that month, the company was awarded a contract reported to come in at $20 billion to build the latest F-series fighter jet as part of American imperialisms preparations for war with China. The St. Louis plant is essential in building the Air Forces fighter jet, the F-47 in a program known as Next Generation Air Dominance.

The Trump administration views the project as highly sensitive. National Security Journal wrote on the negotiations, ... if President Trump feels like the two sides are dragging their feet, it would not be out of the realm of possibility that hed get involved.

In addition to this massive cash infusion, Boeing also sought about $155 million in local tax breaks for a related airport-based expansion project in exchange for guaranteeing just 500 new jobs, an unpopular giveaway that local politicians bent over backwards to justify.

A strike with political repercussions

Boeing workers are walking out on a hated corporation, behind which stands a deeply hated administration, against which tens of millions of Americans have protested, and its pro-war enablers in the Democratic Party. The strike will inevitably generate huge support among millions across the country and the world opposed to the genocide in Gaza, the war in Ukraine and other criminal ventures sponsored by US imperialism.

From the standpoint of American capitalism, the strike hits at a critical portion of the military-industrial complex. Preparations are being made to prepare for massive new wars against China, Iran and other official enemies of US capitalism on a scale not seen since World War II. This requires all sectors of the economy to be subordinated to war and the suppression of opposition in the home front.

But the massive cuts to Medicaid, schools and other social spending, the use of tariffs as a regressive tax on working class consumers and other measures which, in the final analysis, are to free up resources for war are generating tremendous opposition and anger in the working class. The ground is being set for open class conflict not seen in the US in generations.

The capitalist class does not only have strategic enemies abroad; its biggest enemy is in the home front in the form of the American working class. The determined action of Boeing workers directly asserts the working classs fight for its rights against the ruling elites program of war abroad and dictatorship at home.

Form rank-and-file committees to enforce workers demands

The union bureaucracy is doing its level best to prove its usefulness to the American war machine, with the United Auto Workers proposing using closed auto plants for military production and union officials across the country backing Trumps America First nationalism. The IAM bureaucracy is playing a critical role as well.

It has already brought two unacceptable contracts to the membership and will do everything it can to settle the dispute quickly, and to the benefit of Boeing and the Trump administration

Last autumn, in what emerged as a semi-rebellion against the IAM leadership, more than 30,000 Seattle-area Boeing workers waged a determined strike for seven weeks. Workers had voted down two IAM-backed proposals that failed to meet rank-and-file demands for a 40 percent raise over three years in the Pacific Northwest, where housing and living costs are out of control, and to restore the pensions that were taken away in 2014.

After workers fought for weeks on $250 per week in strike pay, IAM leaders forced through a third deal that did not meet the demands of the membershipa 38 percent raise over four years and no pensions. Significantly, the final vote took place the day before the November presidential election.

Before the strike had even concluded, the company announced the layoff of 17,000 workers, or about 10 percent of its total workforce, a vicious blow which the IAM made no issue of. In the St. Louis area, 700 were laid off.

Boeing workers must prepare for a serious fight against not just Boeing management but the government and the capitalist ruling class. There can be no doubt that the federal government is already working behind the scenes with both the IAM and Boeing to shut down the strike as soon as possible. If that fails, the fascistic Trump will not hesitate to use more open methods to break the strike.

Against this must be brought to bear the far greater power of the American and world working class. Workers must mobilize in support behind the strike, while Boeing workers should do everything possible to expand the strike, including to Boeing workers throughout the St. Louis region and the country.

This fight can only take place through a rank-and-file rebellion against the IAM apparatus, with workers asserting democratic control over every aspect of the strike and negotiations, while defeating the unions efforts to isolate the strike. The organizational building blocks of this rebellion are rank-and-file committees, organized by workers themselves and excluding union bureaucrats, which fight to transfer power back to the shop floor.

In the Seattle-area Boeing strike last year, workers formed the Boeing Workers Rank-and-File Committee, which declared at the time: It has become absolutely clear that if we are to win this strike, we have to overthrow the dead weight of the IAM union bureaucracy. They are acting as errand boys for Boeing executives and for the government.

It concluded: Wall Street backs Boeing because they know that the real issue in our strike is this: Who controls the worlds wealth? The workers who create it or the capitalists who exploit us?

The lessons of that strike must be brought forward into the present struggle in St. Louis through the formation of a rank-and-file strike committee. To get involved, fill out the form below.
In an open threat to wage nuclear war against Russia, US President Donald Trump announced on August 1 that he is repositioning US nuclear submarines to strike Russia. The threat came in the run-up to August 8, the day Trump says he will impose crippling tariffs on Russia and all its trading partners if Russia does not stop fighting in Ukraine.

The USS Wyoming pulls into Norfolk, Virginia. [Photo: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Cameron Stoner]

On Telegram, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev attacked Trumps tariff threat as playing the ultimatum game, adding: 1. Russia isnt Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Medvedev also advised Trump to watch the post-apocalyptic TV series The Walking Dead to see what a US-Russia war would mean. Trump replied:

Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that  Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.

With this monumentally reckless threat, it is clear that the military and trade conflicts between the major powers are escalating completely out of control. The Kremlin has brushed off Trumps tariff threats and kept mounting localized offensives all along the front lines in Ukraine. Trumps pledges to rapidly negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war have failed, and a seemingly unstoppable momentum is building up in ruling circles for a massive military escalation of the NATO conflict with Russia.

During the US election campaign, Trump postured as an opponent of the Ukraine war and even pledged to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours with a few phone calls. As president, however, after briefly suspending US military aid to Ukraine this winter and opening talks with the Kremlin, Trump rapidly resumed arms shipments worth tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine. This was hailed by Democratic Party officials as well as the European Union (EU), who have made support for war with Russia the center of their opposition to Trump.

Negotiations with Russia have stalled, however, because US and NATO officials are not willing to acquiesce to key Russian demands that drove the Kremlins decision to invade Ukraine in 2022in particular, that NATO not be allowed to post its forces in Ukraine, on Russias border.

Over the last week, Trump administration officials have made increasingly pessimistic statements on diplomatic talks with Russia. Last Thursday, Trump indicated that threats of sanctions likely would not stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from continuing military operations in Ukraine, saying: I dont know that sanctions bother him.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the president was bothered by the failure to make progress on a diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine war and might abandon the talks. So at some point, Rubio told Fox News, [Trumps] got to make a decision here about how much to continue to engage in an effort to do cease-fires if one of the two sides is not interested.

Instead, economic and military tensions between the major world powers are continuing to surge. Should Trump in fact impose the 100 percent tariffs on countries trading with Russia, the result could be a catastrophic collapse in world trade. Purchasers of Russian oil and gas include not only major Asian economies like China, India, and Turkey but also, despite EU sanctions on Russia, a number of EU states: Hungary, Belgium, France, Slovakia, Czechia and Italy.

Though US Democrats were initially enthusiastic about using sanctions to try to compel a Russian surrender, liberal publications are also taking an increasingly pessimistic tone. On Thursday, the New York Times wrote, it is hard to imagine that Chinas president, Xi Jinping, would abandon Mr. Putin, his most critical partner in challenging American power.

Trumps resort to nuclear threats must be taken as a warning: Conflicts between the major world powers in Europe and beyond are so intense that they will not be resolved peacefully, unless the working class intervenes decisively to take power out of the hands of the capitalist governments.

As the US attempts to use diplomatic or commercial weapons to force Russian compliance fail, the NATO imperialist powers are moving rapidly towards military escalation against Russia.

Indeed, as Trump was threatening nuclear war with Russia, German officials confirmed to Reuters that they are preparing a staggering increase in Germanys land army, with Europe launching a multi-trillion-euro rearmament drive. Berlin will order 3,000 Boxer armored vehicles and 3,500 Patria infantry fighting vehicles worth 17 billion as well as Eurofighter jets. This follows German Chancellor Friedrich Merzs pledge in May to use Berlins 1 trillion rearmament program to make the German Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe.

Other EU powers are also making huge purchases. France plans to acquire 1400 Serval and 1437 Griffon armored vehicles, as well as hundreds of Caesar truck-mounted cannons. Italy is purchasing at least 1050 Lynx armored vehicles and 380 Panther main battle tanks from Germanys Rheinmetall corporation. Poland has also announced plans to acquire over 1,000 tanks from South Korea, the United States and Germany, as well as other armored vehicles.

The European military build-up points to the escalating danger of nuclear war and the political bankruptcy of the Kremlins foreign policy. The EU alone, with a population of over 448 million and a Gross Domestic Product of $20 trillion, massively outweighs Russias population of 143 million and $2 trillion GDP. Should Europe fully remilitarize, Russian conventional forces would be vastly outnumbered in any war with NATOrapidly posing the question of whether the Kremlin would use its nuclear arsenal to avoid being overwhelmed.

The NATO war against Russia is, moreover, inseparably bound up with the international class war on the workers. While Trump slashes social programs and moves to send the US cost of living soaring with his tariffs, the EU powers are preparing austerity measures in the hundreds of billions of euros. After millions mobilized earlier this year in mass protests against Trump in the United States, explosive anger is building among European workers against governments preparing austerity to finance military build-ups in blatant defiance of the will of the people.

Indeed, when French President Emmanuel Macron last year proposed to prepare to send French or EU ground troops to Ukraine, the proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by the population of France and of Europe. A Eurasia Group poll found that 89 percent of Western Europeans were hostile to involvement in a war with Russia.

Doubling down on militarism and austerity, however, the NATO imperialist governmentsabetted by political establishments that have all adapted themselves to the Ukraine warare rapidly escalating the war towards a catastrophic nuclear conflict threatening the survival of humanity.

The great question today is the construction of an international movement in the working class, connecting mass opposition among rank-and-file workers against social austerity and police repression to opposition to imperialist war, and a revolutionary socialist perspective to take power out of the hands of the financial oligarchies that have placed the world on the brink of nuclear war.
A highly qualified veteran childcare worker, Anne, spoke to the World Socialist Web Site following recent allegations of child sexual abuse by a childcare worker in the Australian state of Victoria. Since news broke of the charges laid against Joshua Dale Brown, the media have reported that thousands of complaints over inadequate conditions have been made in childcare centres across the country.

Early childhood educators protest in Melbourne on September 7, 2022

Outraged parents have been promised reforms by both the state and federal Labor governments. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced a review. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare declared that new rules would be legislated so that childcare centres found to be failing safety standards could have their federal funding cut after a single breach. At the same time, Clare admitted that regulators already had the power to shut a centre if they thought there was a serious threat to childrens safety.

Anne commented on the July 13 WSWS article, which warned that the privatisation of childcare by successive Labor and Liberal-National state and federal governments has led to a situation where such abuses of children could occur. Today, 75 percent of long day care centres are run for profitamong the highest rates of childcare privatisation globally.

Childcare workers are among the lowest paid in the country. A recent 15 percent pay risegranted over two yearshas barely dented decades of wage stagnation. There are currently 21,000 staff vacancies in the sector, driven by poverty wages, crushing workloads and rampant casualisation.

The WSWS article said chronic understaffing, low wages, unregulated profiteering and the hiring of underqualified or unvetted staff were incompatible with any guarantee of safety and quality care. It concluded: The privatisation of childcare, an industry that has experienced burgeoning growth over the past decade, means profit, not childcare, is primary.

Anne graduated as a high school teacher in the late 1980s and taught in working-class Western Sydney schools. She noticed that children were arriving in high school unable to read and thought there was something wrong. When she started her own family, she began an early childhood degree in special education, a course she undertook for nearly three years. In addition, she completed a Certificate 3 course in Childrens Services, the minimum entry requirement for working in childcare centres.

In 2013, Anne added to her qualifications by acquiring a Certificate 3 in School Based Education Support, a teachers aide course. She recently upgraded her Childrens Services qualification to a Certificate 4 level.

Anne first explained how much working-class families now depend on childcare centres.

Huge numbers of babies and children are coming into childcare centres. The demand is so great. Young families have got mortgages, especially the Sydney-based families. They are professional women, couples that cannot afford to take two or three years out of their working lives the way I did. Their career wont be there for them. They can work part-time and juggle parenting and working. But the system is basically forcing them to work full-time and asking more and more of them. So, theyre in a real bind.

Anne outlined the conditions facing childcare workers.

Typically, a childcare centres daily routine would consist of free play until 9.30 as the parents drop their children off, then morning tea, then a nappy change. Nappy changes happen every two hours. Then there is an education activity, say the team leader reads a book to the group, then lunch, then nap time, during which we document childrens activities, then nappy change, then maybe outdoor play.

The day is highly structured, its got to be. When youve got 20 toddlers in a room, theres chaos. The centres sell themselves as child-centred, play-based, but children are constantly interrupted from their play, getting through the routine of nappy changes and meal times.

Children are divided into rooms, nursery, toddler and pre-school, with a ratio of staff to children, according to their age. But the educators are very rarely in the room at one time. Say you have four educators allocated to a room. The four of you are responsible for cleaning, changing nappies, doing the laundry, serving meals, climbing ladders to stack shelves with resources. Thats in between lunch and morning tea breaks. Its hard work. You are working flat chat from the minute you get there.

Ive had nurseries that are ten babies and up. Youre always working under ratio.

A big issue is lack of continuity of care. For early childhood care you need the consistency of staff, you need the familiar faces. You need the child to think, this is a person I see every day I come here. You might have 20 staff members going through one room. Thats very upsetting for children. They never know who theyre going to meet from day to day.

There has to be a well-structured daily program to be able to get the children into some sort of routine, some sort of peace and quiet where they know the rules of the room. But its very difficult for the children to know the rules of the room and the expectations for their behaviour when youve got different staff members every day.

Every day these children are faced with the one team leader on Monday and Tuesday and Friday. So, the children might see them on Monday and Tuesday but the ones that come on Wednesday and Thursday are faced with a different team leader and a different casual and a different support person.

Anne commented on the lack of training and experience among many younger childcare workers.

Ive noticed over the past decade, staff are getting younger. Thats a good thing because generally they do have a bit more energy, but they are learning, they are new to their field. They learn a lot about early childhood in their first years. But there doesnt seem to be a lot of mentoring from older, more experienced workers, because the older workers really arent there anymore.

Most childcare workers are under 30, the regulars would be under 25. The team leader might be in her 30s or late 20s, so shes got a couple of years of experience and shes a diploma-trained person, whereas the more mainstream workers would be Certificate 3 trained.

Its becoming mandatory to have a Certificate 3 but the centres get around that by saying they are working towards a Certificate 3. A lot of trainees that are working towards a Certificate 3 are international students. A lot of them are straight out of school, so they might be 19- or 20-year-olds. There might be one or two in each room.

Anne drew attention to the differences between for-profit and not-for-profit childcare centres.

Ive worked in both for-profit and not-for-profit childcare centres. The local council-run, not-for-profit centres have definite policies and procedures and are accountable. There seems to be more monitoring where the staff are writing both policies and procedures. Staff are involved in policy upgrades and reviews and are more involved in how the centre is running. They try to work within the framework and make sure they are reading the quality national standards, such as child safety, interaction with children, interaction with parents and families. There was professional development. It was a system that was able to look after its workers.

However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the not-for-profit sector has deteriorated as well. Both sectors are now struggling with staffing, getting qualified staff.

Anne highlighted the low pay for childcare workers.

People are leaving the industry, especially older workers. Because we are more expensive, employers want to get rid of us. I experienced absolute friction when the new pay rates came in during 20222023. Basically, experienced staff were being paid close to $35 per hour as a casual and that was unheard of. Employers were saying, oh no, thats a lot of money, we cant afford a Certificate 3-trained person being paid $35 per hour, thats outrageous.

$35 per hour for the industry is phenomenal. There would be few workers today getting that pay rate. Its all about the cost. Unless [childcare centres] get proper oversight by the government, and the government isnt just throwing money at them with no accountability, the system will remain broken.
DHAKA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- In Tangail district, located in central Bangladesh, the pineapple industry is thriving.

Recognized as a Geographical Indication (GI) product, pineapples from Tangail are renowned across the country for their sweetness and juiciness, and they are even expanding into international markets such as the United Arab Emirates.

According to local media reports, thanks to favorable climate conditions and careful management by farmers, this year's pineapple harvest has been promising. Every day, around 25 to 30 trucks transport pineapples worth nearly 30 million Bangladeshi taka (about 248,535 U.S. dollars) to major cities across the country.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) estimates that Tangail's pineapple trade could generate about two billion Taka (about 16.60 million dollars) this season, making it a key driver of the local economy and a vital source of income for farmers.

Lokman Hossain Liton, a pineapple trader, told Xinhua recently that "I sell pineapples in Bangladesh's Dhaka, Sylhet, Barisal, Jessore, and Khulna. If we get the opportunity in the future, we will try to supply pineapples to China as well."

"We are already working with a few villages with the vision of sending our pineapples to other countries," said Liton, adding "We hope that we will be granted the ability to make our target come true."

At present, the DAE is planning to establish a pineapple processing plant to diversify the use of fresh pineapples into value-added food products, with the goal of boosting exports and further strengthening the market potential of Bangladeshi pineapples.

Local farmer Md. Sanwar Hossain said that the best news is that "our pineapples have received GI recognition. After receiving this GI recognition, we believe that we need to further improve the quality of our pineapple production."

In today's world, agriculture is a competitive profession, and in this competitive market, countries like China are far ahead, said Sanwar.

"To maintain this leading position, we farmers need to apply their experience in our research work and improve the quality of our pineapples many times over, so that we can produce pineapples of expert quality to compete in the global market," he added. 
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thai and Cambodian officials have arrived in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, for the General Border Committee meeting, as part of efforts to resolve the conflict between the two countries.

The meeting is scheduled to be held on August 7 in Malaysia, with the country being selected as a neutral venue, the Malaysian Armed Forces said in a statement.

The meeting aims to resolve the border dispute between the two countries, as part of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached in Malaysia on July 28, the statement added. 
Darcey and Georgi have finally arrived in Bulgaria for their joint honeymoon and family visit. But despite some sexy fun to kick off the trip, things quickly got off to a rocky start.

On the Aug. 3 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?, Darcey and Georgi started to get settled in as they began their three-week trip to Georgis homeland. (Of course, Darcey brought five full-size suitcases along with her.)

But this trip is about more than just meeting Georgis parents, according to Darcey. Were here to have the honeymoon weve always wanted! she exclaimed, later noting that the trip will kill two birds with one stone.

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We can have that sexy time, but at the same time visit family and friends, Darcey explained. Georgi agreed, noting that it will be good to explore his old stomping grounds with his wife.

After pushing the tower of suitcases through the airport, Darcey and Georgi loaded up their car and traveled to their hotel in Plovdiv, which Georgi said was one of the oldest towns in the world.

TLC Darcey, left, and Georgi, right, drive through Bulgaria after arriving for their three-week trip Darcey, left, and Georgi, right, drive through Bulgaria after arriving for their three-week trip

Once there, Darcey and Georgi requested the honeymoon suite. But they quickly learned that the room was unavailable, thanks to the last couple who stayed there.

We usually have a room for newlyweds, a hotel worker explained. "But due to the previous couple, it is currently being renovated.

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Ultimately, Darcey and Georgi were shown to another room, but Darcey wanted to be sure that no one would be able to hear their sexual escapades.

I don't want to make too much noise because I feel like the guy's going to be, like, listening at the door! she whispered while making out with Georgi on the bed.

After some thinking, Darcey ordered Georgi to leave the room so they could test out just how sound-proof their new space was. Once he was outside, Darcey did some air-humping on the bed while making quite a few intense sex noises.

TLC Darcey tests out how sound-proof her hotel room is while Georgi listens from outside the door Darcey tests out how sound-proof her hotel room is while Georgi listens from outside the door

Did you hear anything? Darcey asked, to which Georgi replied, Yeah of course! Sound[s] like you [were] like  [a] screaming little dog [or] a little horse.

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However, Darcey did not seem to mind. We really need this honeymoon, she said in a confessional, noting that it has been a long time in the making and that she would like to connect with Georgi in more ways than one.

But amid all the excitement, both Darcey and Georgi seemed nervous about how the trip would go. Specifically, Darcey was concerned that some of their lingering issues would get in the way.

I just hope that, that all gets put to ease being here together on this honeymoon and make us fall in love all over again, she said in a confessional.

TLC Darcey opens up about her trip to Bulgaria in a confessional Darcey opens up about her trip to Bulgaria in a confessional

The mood changed later when the couple went out for what was supposed to be a romantic dinner. Initially, Darcey was excited to see this version of Georgi as he excitedly looked at the menu, which included cultural staples such as beef tongue.

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I definitely love seeing this version of Georgi that I fell in love with, Darcey said in a confessional. The sex is good, the vibe is good, the energy [is good]. I'm loving Bulgaria, being on a beautiful honeymoon that I've dreamt of, and it's been a long time in the making.

However, it did not take long for the conversation to sour. When asked if he was excited to introduce Darcey to his family, Georgi said his family was excited, but admitted he was nervous about the meeting, noting that his parents have a very high expectation for him and his life  including his wife.

I love you, I make my choice to marry you, he continued. But my parents, they dont know you that well. I tried to help you, give you advice [about] how to dress and everything. I dont know if their expectation [is] matching my reality  So thats kind of, in a way, stressful.

TLC Darcey and Georgi have a conversation about meeting Georgi's family Darcey and Georgi have a conversation about meeting Georgi's family

Darcey did not take her husbands comment kindly. Are you embarrassed of me? she asked, but Georgi insisted, I never said that!

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So Darcey pressed Georgi for more answers. Did you tell [your family] that youre happy in this marriage? she asked.

I never shared nothing bad, Georgi explained. I never complain to my parents, they [are] assuming Im happy.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

But Darcey remained perplexed by Georgis response. So you never told your family that you're happy in this marriage or with me?

Georgi confirmed, but noted it was because I don't talk with my parents in general with my relationship. He continued, I don't want to worry them with extra stuff. My arguments with you or your arguments with me  thats between us. I dont need to call my parents and stressing them out with all of this.

TLC Georgi explains his concerns about Darcey meeting his family Georgi explains his concerns about Darcey meeting his family

Still, Darcey was hurt. I get it. You dont really care. Youre not proud of me, she told her husband. Yeah, youre embarrassed.

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So Georgi pushed back. When you act like that, Im very embarrassed actually.

Darcey maintained that she would not embarrass Georgi in front of his family. Im just going to sit there and not say one word, she suggested.

But Georgi felt if anyone were to be embarrassed at the meeting, it would be his wife. You listen, but you dont hear me, he asserted.

In a confessional, Georgi said so many things could go wrong with the meeting, noting that his dad is a professional profiler for the military. So he will judge every little thing about Darcey, and its a huge risk. I hope that things, they dont go the same way they go tonight.

TLC Darcey appears confused as Georgi explains his concerns about her meeting his family Darcey appears confused as Georgi explains his concerns about her meeting his family

Back at the restaurant, Georgi told Darcey that it felt like she didnt give a f--- about his feelings whenever he opened up to her. Its true, right now Im trying to say how I feel. You dont care. You dont, he said angrily.

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Darcey excused herself from the table and walked off. Afterward, Darcey said she was optimistic about meeting Georgis family until their fight during dinner.

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Why can't he open up to his family about us? What is he hiding that for? she pondered. Is there a reason hes hiding that? Its actually really scary.

90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.

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Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Stun Fans With Impromptu Visit to Summer Hot Spot originally appeared on Parade.

If you've been on social media at all as of late, then you know that the state of Maine is "having its moment" right now. Like... everybody who's anybody is hitting up the rocky coast this summer, including the celebrity crowd.

Case in point, power couple Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, who no doubt left visitors stunned after turning up at a local lobster joint, Beal's Lobster Pier, in Southwest Harbor.

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At first glance, they might have totally blended in with the rest of the tourists, although, it's pretty tough to miss these two.

Fans were delighted with the sighting, with one saying, "I JUST missed them! Was there for my first time the other day. So cool "

Another added, "Outstanding. Gwen & Blake hanging out with a real Maine celebrity, looking good Stu."

Something tells me at least a few diners that day did a double take upon seeing them.

Other Celebrities Visiting Maine

Back to the whole "Maine Moment" thing. Gwen and Blake aren't the only ones heading north this summer.

Patrick Dempsey was in Portland a few weeks ago and even took in a Hearts of Pine game.

Saved by the Bell alum Tiffani Thiessen recently stayed at the luxurious Hidden Pond Resort in Kennebunkport with her family.

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Side note: I stayed there last October, and it's SUCH a treat. Even if you aren't staying there when visiting Kennebunkport, don't miss out on the incredible dining experience at their on-site restaurant, Earth. It's to die for.

As someone who's lived in New England for close to 20 years, it's a little bittersweet to see this gem-of-a-state hitting new levels of Instagram fame. One of my favorite aspects of Maine has always been the charming towns that are away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Related: '90s Country Queen Stuns Fans with Ageless Look at 56: 'Still As Hot As Ever'

But if you've been there once, it's easy to see why so many people are flocking to get a taste of "the way life should be," so we really shouldn't be all that surprised to see famous faces turning up at local hotspots.

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If you're headed to Maine before summer is over, you might want to keep your eyes peeled. You never know who you might run into while waiting in line for a lobster roll.

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Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Stun Fans With Impromptu Visit to Summer Hot Spot first appeared on Parade on Aug 3, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Indie-rock veteran Conor Oberst has become the latest musician to be the focus of a lookalike contest, with the Bright Eyes frontman going so far as to show up at the event.

Taking place on Friday (Aug. 1) at Omaha, NE community space Floors, Floors, Floors, the event was first announced in early July as a fundraiser for youth music organization Omaha Girls Rock.

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Having initially started as a joke, attendees were invited to attend dressed as Oberst as part of the lookalike competition, with the indie-rock motif being underlined by the promise of the first 40 people to show up being given a single American Spirit cigarette.

Playing into the humor of the event on social media, one commenter had previously asked what the contingency plan would be if the real Oberst attended the festivities, with organizers noting that he can play but he cant win.

However, in a recap of the evening, the winner of the competition revealed that despite a limited number of entrants, both Oberst and his Bright Eyes bandmate Mike Nogis attended the event, with Oberst bestowing the victor with a giant trash bag full of his old clothes.

I was cleaning out my closet so you get a big bag of my clothing, Oberst can be heard saying in a video from the night.

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The competition took place just weeks after Bright Eyes wrapped up the European leg of their ongoing tour in support of 2024 album Five Dice, All Threes, and days after the release of their new song 1st World Blues. The band will be hitting the road later this month for a run of North American dates, with further shows in Asia scheduled for November and December.

The concept of lookalike competitions being recognized by their subjects is far from a new one. In October, a Manhattan Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest featured the actor making a guest appearance, while December saw Drake donating $10,000 to the prize pot of a competition focused on him.

Famously, Dolly Parton also attended her own lookalike contest, though rather than simply show up, the country icon decided to compete  ultimately failing to take home the grand prize.

All of these other beautiful drag queens had worked for months and weeks getting their clothes and all that, and they were dressed like me, Parton recalled to ABCs Nightline in 2012.

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So, I just got in the line and I just walked across [the stage] and they just thought I was some little, short gay guy. And I got the least applause but I was just dying laughing inside. I say its a good thing I was a girl or Id be a drag queen.

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Jason Momoas new historical drama, Chief of War, has taken viewers back to a pivotal era in Hawaiian history. Premiered on August 1, 2025, on Apple TV+, the series depicts the turbulent period of Hawaiis unification under King Kamehameha I. But when exactly does Chief of War take place, and what historical events does it cover? Here are all the details.

Heres when Jason Momoas Chief of War takes place

Chief of War is set in the late 18th century, a time when the Hawaiian Islands were divided into warring factions.

The series follows Kaiana, a real-life warrior chief who played an important and controversial role in the rise of Kamehameha the Great, the leader who ultimately unified Hawaii in 1795.

Alongside military strategy and tribal politics, the show also depicts the increasing influence of European forces. The arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778 was a turning point for the islands. After Cook died in 1779, foreign influence continued to deepen militarily, culturally, and economically.

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Beyond political unification, Chief of War highlights the internal dilemmas of Hawaiian leadersthe aliiwho struggled to balance tradition with foreign influence. The show also reflects on the spiritual and cultural disruption caused by colonization, setting the arc for Hawaiis eventual overthrow as a monarchy in 1893 and annexation by the U.S. in 1900.

Kaiana, played by Jason Momoa, was a real historical figure who initially supported Kamehamehas campaign but later defected to his rival. His involvement in the infamous Battle of Nuuanu in 1795, where he was ultimately killed, is one of the bloodiest moments in Hawaiian history. It is also a dramatic focal point for the series.

After all, Kaiana wasnt just a warriorhe was a voyager who traveled aboard foreign ships to China, the Pacific Northwest, and the Philippines. These journeys gave him knowledge of firearms and Western military tactics, which he initially brought back to help Kamehamehas cause.

Chief of War is currently streaming on Apple TV+, with new episodes released every Friday.

The post Chief of War Timeline: When Does It Take Place? Hawaiian History Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Barcelona-born, England-trained Alberto Sciamma has forged his own path in features over the last three decades, attracted to oddball themes and genre mashups that often wound up more intriguing in description than execution. But after not quite landing the eccentric conceits of Killer Tongue, Black Plague, Jericho Mansions, Bite and I Love My Mum, hes hit an unexpected home run in Cielo, a U.K. production shot on location in Bolivia.

The Spanish-language magical realist exercise about a young girls bizarre cross-country journey is like a kinder, gentler version of Jodorowskys fantastical narratives. While not lacking flaws, it offers considerable ambition, aesthetic beauty and bittersweet enchantment, with a surprisingly wide viewer appeal. It is at once this writer-directors sweetest film and by far his most accomplished.

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Cielo begins in a dismal desert outback with a series of shocks: First, a young girl catches a fish at a river bank, swallows it in one grotesque gulp and passes out. Then she bludgeons her perpetually drunk, abusive father (Juan Carlos Aduviri) to death, saying I love you, papi. This demise causes rejoicing for her mother (Carla Arana), whom little Santa (Fernanda Gutierrez Aranda) nonetheless kills as well, seemingly with that adults consent.

Moms corpse is then put in a salted plastic barrel for preservations sake, and loaded onto a cart the daughter is prepared to pull all the way to the distant sea. Church teachings, superstition and visions have convinced our heroine that she and her beloved ma can only escape their lives misery to date by somehow reaching Heaven. No matter what skepticism gets encountered en route, the precociously self-assured Santa is confident theyll get there, with mortality just a temporary inconvenience to be overcome in the eternal afterlife.

This may well sound like something that wouldve been played as a pious Christian allegory in another era. In Sciammas hands, it has Bunuels prankishness and doubt, if not his outright disdain toward organized religion. The local padre (Luis Bredow) is a sympathetic figure, as eventually is police chief Gustavo (Fernando Arze Echalar). Initially dismissive, both men become converts to Santas cause after witnessing miracles apparently generated by her presence. Still, she is more trusting toward a bus-full of raucous traveling female wrestlers who offer transportation once a truck shes borrowed from the priest conks out. Santa generates protective parental feelings in these grown-ups, particularly luchadora La Reina (Sasha Salaverry). However, she is primarily advised by that fish swallowed at the outset  evidently a spiritual guide of sorts, though she also keeps a separate one in a bucket of water, just for company.

Cielo (i.e. sky) is full of such surreal humor, though the wandering narrative never strays far from a sense of the real worlds cruelty. Santa is both insulated by innocent faith and grimly experienced beyond her years, a character conception that might easily cloy or grate in less fortunate circumstances. But not only does Sciamma sustain a very tricky tonal balance, he also has at his disposal a child actor (Aranda was just 8 during production) whose remarkable maturity seems innate rather than forced. The other performers provide effective notes of warmth and comedy, though Echalar occasionally oversells the kind of tearful awe this movie is otherwise careful not to push too hard.

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Digressive but never dull, Cielo sometimes threatens to lose its own thread. But theres an internal logic at work that maintains audience belief that a tangible destination lies ahead. Even if it didnt, getting there would be a sensory pleasure: Alex Metcalfes widescreen cinematography, which won awards at both Fantasia and Fantosporto, finds vivid color and compositions everywhere. Spectacular scenery certainly helps, as the story traverses from dusty Andean plains to harrowing mountain roads to capital city La Paz. With an occasional digital-effects assist for more fanciful moments, they all acquire an otherworldly feel here, even episodes of violent tragedy getting softened by an air of fairy tale. Sonic contributions are equally bold, largely divided between very different original-score elements created in Bolivia and England by composers Cergio Prudencio and Dave Graham, respectively.

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An ex-girlfriend of Sean Diddy Combs publicly endorsed the music mogul and requested his release from prison.

In legal documents filed to Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York on Sunday, August 3, and obtained by Us Weekly, a letter penned by Virginia Gina Huynh requested that the Court permit [Diddys] release on bond while the case proceeds.

The letter from Huynh, 33, who dated the music mogul, 55, on and off from 2014 to 2019, also stated, I am writing because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community. This is his first criminal case.

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Us Weekly has reached out to Huynh for additional comment.

Diddys Attorney Asks for His Immediate Release After Surprising Verdict

Huynhs letter followed a Tuesday, July 29, motion submitted by Diddys legal team that requested the rapper be released on bail ahead of his October 3 sentencing.

Diddy was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted of the two prostitution counts in July.

Diddys lawyers have submitted multiple requests for Diddys bail since his arrest, but all were unsuccessful.

Courtesy of Virginia Huynh/Instagram

Huynhs letter acknowledged that she originally served as Victim-3 within the prosecutions case against Diddy. Per a report published by CNN on Sunday, the previously anonymous Huynh mysteriously dropped out days before the trial began.

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The outlet also noted that during Diddys trial, a former assistant to Diddy testified that he once saw the hip-hop star throwing apples at Huynh at his home in Miami. This testimony was referenced by Diddys legal team in Sunday's filing and deemed an untested accusation.

Huynhs letter also candidly detailed her time with Diddy. Our relationship, like many, was not always perfect, we experienced ups and downs, and mistakes were made but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future. Over the years that followed he made visible efforts to become a better person and to address the harm he had caused, she stated.

Cassies Lawyer and Prosecution Ask Judge to Deny Diddys Bail Request Following Verdict

The letter claimed Diddy embodied an energy of love, patience and gentleness by the end of Huynh's time with him. To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first, she stated.

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She added, I want to assure the Court that if released, I believe Mr. Combs will adhere to all conditions imposed and will not jeopardize his freedom or the well-being of his family. Allowing him to be at home will also support the healing process for all involved. I respectfully ask that you consider these factors when deciding his eligibility for release.

Prosecutors responded to Diddys most recent bail request in a letter filed to Subramanian on Thursday, July 31. The response read in part, The defendants detention pending sentencing is mandatory, there are no exceptional circumstances justifying his release, and even if there were, the defendant cannot demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he is not a danger to the community.

Subramanian has yet to rule on the rappers latest bail request.

Diddys Prosecutors Cite Alleged Witness Tampering, Threatening Staff as Reasons to Deny Bail

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As for the charges against Diddy, the musicians attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a statement at the time, We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorneys Office. He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.

Since his arrest, Diddy has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Virginia "Gina" Huynh, an ex-girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs who reportedly dropped out at the last minute from testifying against him at trial, is now coming to his defense.

In a letter submitted Sunday, Aug. 3, to Combs' trial judge, Arun Subramanian, requesting his release on bail, Huynh writes that Combs embodies an "energy of love, patience and gentleness" despite his "mistakes."

Prosecutors said Combs was "violent toward" Huynh and was in a relationship with him at the same time as Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine. In her letter to the judge, Huynh says, "... mistakes were made but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future."

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Huynh was initially identified anonymously in Combs' indictment as "Victim-3." She was occasionally referred to by name during his trial, including references to violent incidents between the two as well as mentions of Combs' overlapping relationships with Ventura Fine and an unidentified ex-girlfriend who testified as "Jane."

Huynh would have been one of a handful of witnesses referenced using pseudonyms to protect their identities. These included a former assistant of Combs who was identified only by the name "Mia." But in the case of "Mia," several outlets revealed her identity during the trial, a practice newspapers and magazines generally avoid at the urging of the courts.

Trump addresses pardon decision for Sean 'Diddy' Combs, says mogul was 'half-innocent'

In her letter, Hyunh pushed for his release despite his "past behavior."

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"Over the years that followed, he made visible efforts to become a better person and to address the harm he had caused," she wrote. "To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first."

In previous rulings denying Combs' request to be released on bail, Subramanian has cited Jane's testimony  in which she alleged Combs choked and dragged her during an argument in June 2024, even as the producer was aware of the active federal investigation into his conduct  as a factor in his decision.

Diddy requests overturn of conviction or new trial after 'discriminatory' use of law

The letter comes days after the embattled music mogul's team again asked Subramanian to release Combs on a $50 million bond and allow him to live in his Miami mansion  instead of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York  while he awaits sentencing in October.

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His defense has also requested that the court either overturn his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution or grant him a new trial, nearly a month after being cleared of the most serious of his sex-crimes charges in a bombshell split decision.

Prosecutors have argued that Combs, 55, who has been jailed since September, should remain in custody until his sentencing. Subramanian has repeatedly denied his bail, saying "it is impossible" for him "to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he poses no danger."

Who is Gina Huynh?

Huynh is a model and influencer who reportedly dated Combs from 2014 to 2019. Hyunh has spoken publicly about the physical, emotional and mental abuse she endured from Combs publicly as early as 2019, before Cassie's 2023 lawsuit. Huynh has said the Bad Boy Records founder coerced her into terminating two pregnancies, but that she stayed because she loved him.

Contributing: Jay Stahl, Aysha Bagchi, KiMi Robinson and Anna Kaufman

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy's ex Gina Huynh requests his release from jail
Are you curious to know whether George Russell dies in The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7 titled Ex-Communicated. Season 3 mainly focused on George making the best moves to strengthen his grip on the railway business. From earning control over the Central Illinois railway to sending Larry to check on the mines, he ensured that their finances stayed flowing and intact. However, it seems that amid focusing on business control, he made a lot of enemies. As a result, an unthinkable tragedy occurs at the end of the episode, leaving his fate uncertain. Here are the details.

Does George Russell die in The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7?

Russells fate hangs in the balance in The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7. He was shot by an intruder.

In the episodes end, Bertha and George engage in a tense argument. Despite this, Bertha insists that George stay at home, rather than moving to his gentlemens club. He doesnt listen to her. There, a mysterious intruder managed to make his way to Georges study room. The intruder pulls out the gun and shoots George. This scene leaves everyone shocked, making them wonder if the makers are about to kill another key character after John Adams.

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Season 3 focused on George Russells strategic moves to gain control over the railway business. Initially, he fought with Arizona unions to acquire the Central Illinois railway from Alfred Merrick and his family. In another smart move, he blocked advances from Russell Risley Sage and Richard Clay during negotiations, held by J.P. Morgan.

Additionally, Russell wanted to ensure that payments to the Duke for Gladys marriage resumed. So, he asked Larry to go to Arizona and inspect the mines to see if they still held valuable copper. While Russell focused on his business moves, he also created trouble in his marriage. His relationship with his wife, Bertha, was initially strained due to their differing views on their childrens marriages.

The post Who Dies in The Gilded Age S03E07? George Russell? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Hana Jusics second feature God Will Not Help has debuted a trailer ahead of its Locarno premiere.

Selected for its prestigious International Competition and set in the early 20th century, it introduces headstrong Teresa (Manuela Martelli), coming to Croatia from Chile.

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Disturbing the peace of a family of shepherds, living in complete isolation amid harsh nature, shes claiming to be the widow of their late brother. Teresa, who cant speak a word of their language, is different from local women, dominated by men. Some are intrigued by her  others are quick to call her a witch.

Its certainly a much broader phenomenon, but in Croatia were witnessing a troubling resurgence of so-called traditional values, often couched in nostalgic fantasies of patriarchal order, Jusic told Variety, describing a disturbing ritual taking place in her countrys capital, Zagreb.

Groups of men kneel and pray for the purity of women. But behind this spectacle of piety is a gesture that thinly veils control and moral policing.

She added: I guess its important to reclaim the figure of the witch, a historical symbol of female defiance and nonconformity, against these attempts to re-domesticate womens bodies and desires. With this film, I wanted to suggest that figures like Teresa and [shepherdess] Milena could easily be among us today: women who unsettle the structures that seek to discipline them.

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In the film, Martelli  discovered by Jusic thanks to Carlo Sironis short Valparaiso  is joined by Ana Marija Veselcic, Filip uric, Mauro Ercegovic Gracin and Niksa Butijer. You can watch the exclusive trailer here:

God Will Not Help marks a bit of a departure for the Croatian director, known for such contemporary fare as short Terrarium and feature debut Quit Staring at My Plate, which scored her multiple awards. But in the end, its still about a family, she argued.

Ive always had an interest in psychology, so what actually drew me to scriptwriting was the possibility to talk about people from the perspective of their faults and pathologies  especially the ones theyre trying to hide or are unaware of. Families are perfect narrative units for this approach, she said.

Here, I wanted to avoid this type of psychologizing, so I chose a foreigner that starts her path afresh, among strangers. I wanted to make a poetic film that approaches characters from the outside, but I ended up talking about sadism and power games within a family setting again.

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Produced by Kinorama and sold by New Europe Film Sales, its co-produced by Nightswim, Microfilm, Horsefly Films, Maneki Films, Perfo Production and ERT.

Making a period drama wasnt easy, admitted Jusic, who had Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights on her mind.

I have a marvelous producer, Ankica Juric Tilic, who strongly believed in the project and had enough patience and dedication for six years of searching for financing and partners. At one point, we even agreed that if we dont succeed within a year, we would do it guerilla style. Luckily, we did. Looking back, Im not sure we wouldve survived it, she laughed, recalling unforgiving yet gorgeous locations that ultimately allowed her to make her own Eastern.

Waiting for funding, Jusic started to research local folklore and conduct interviews with older people from the region.

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They shared memories of their childhood, because life hasnt really changed there that much from the early 20th century up until the 1970s. What helped me immensely was that Manuela and I traveled to Punta Arenas and Porvenir [in Chile], trying to uncover Teresas story together by drawing from the experiences of local women.

They talked to those who used to work on rural estates, as well as sex workers currently working near the farms.

These stories brought substance and weight to my fictional [tale]. They provided it with firm, fleshy foundations, and it made me feel safer.

However, while eager to show an empowered character, Jusic never wanted to be overly didactic.

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Sometimes, when we struggle to find our voices and make our stories heard and seen, we turn to oversimplification. We end up with super strong, super smart or supercool female characters that can do no wrong, she noted.

Films  and their characters  should feel multilayered and difficult to decipher. All these ambiguities are what makes our stories resonate with real-life experience.

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The Bold and the Beautiful recap for Monday, August 4 saw Finn hearing alarm bells, Grace getting her hands even dirtier, and Ridge trying to stop Nick from proposing to Brooke!

What You Missed Today On Bold and the Beautiful

Over in Italy, Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) was finally seeing the light. He apologized to Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) for turning against her during the coup and for everything after. He said sorry over and over for hurting her and told her he cared about her deeply. However, before he got everything off his chest, Nick (Jack Wagner) showed up and whisked her away.

Brooke was all smiles while walking the streets of Italy and eating gelato with Nick. She was even more pleased when he took her to his boat. How lovely!

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WATCH THIS: SoapHub Says breaks down everything heating up in soaps!

Meanwhile, Eric (John McCook) was on the phone trying to track down his son to no avail. He was all about the drama and even told Donna (Jennifer Gareis) about the engagement ring when she called. Nick was going to propose and he and Ridge must stop it! Donna urged him to find Ridge before it was too late. Luckily, Eric didnt have to wait long. Soon, his son was there and Eric frantically told him about Nicks ring and plan to make Brooke his wife.

Bill Make A Million Dollar Mistake

Back in Los Angeles, Dollar Bill (Don Diamont) and Liam (Scott Clifton) was out of bed for the first time, which pleased Finn (Tanner Novlan) when he showed up to check in. Finn kept his skepticism to himself but when he asked about Liams aftercare and physical therapy plan, he was on edge when he heart there wasnt one.

While Bill saw that as yet another miracle, Finn knew that simply was not possible. How could an experimental treatment go so well the very first time? This is unheard of. Bill wasnt about to kick this gift horse in the mouth, especially not after paying such a high price for his sons life. Imagine Finns shock to hear Dollar Bill happily paid a cool million dollars! He was even more disturbed learning he sent the money directly to Grace.

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MORE: Find out whats coming up next on B&B!

Talk then turned to the past as Liam lamented how funny it was that Grace saved his life after Reese tried to ruin it. The evil doctor stole his daughter to pay off gambling debts and nearly robbed him of a life with her. And, Grace is the one who gave him more time with his daughter. Hmmgambling debts you say

Finns next stop was his office where he started making calls to get Liams file. Back at the Casa Spencer, Liam thanked Bill for dropping mad cash to save his life. Bill wouldnt hear of it. Thats nothing. The money is nothing. Hes just relieved his family is still intact after he let Luna (Lisa Yamada) free.

Grace Made Another Grave Misstep

As for Grace, she got tough with that mystery player who keeps calling her. Dont come near me or my daughters ever again! You hear me! Ever again! She seethed before hanging up the phone and staring at Liams file. She was so stressed she even snapped at a nurse who came to deliver paperwork.

Graces next call was to Paris. Grace told her daughter how much she loves her and told her she would do anything for her. Then, she went and deleted Liams entire brain cancer medical history. She then sat with her thoughts and relived each and every single lie she told that got her to this point. Her walk down that deranged memory lane was interrupted by Finn storming into her office and demanding answers!
LONDON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Met Office issued amber and yellow wind warnings on Monday as Storm Floris sweeps across the northern parts of the country, bringing hazardous conditions to millions of residents.

An amber warning, or the second-highest alert level, was in effect for much of Scotland until 10 p.m. (2100 GMT), while a broader yellow warning extended to parts of North Wales, northern England, and Northern Ireland.

Widespread travel disruptions were reported, with flight and rail services affected. Edinburgh Airport cancelled multiple inbound and outbound flights, while major rail operators issued advisories urging passengers to avoid travel due to safety risks and the likelihood of delays and cancellations.

"Much of Scotland is likely to see gusts of 50 to 70 mph, with more than 80 mph possible on exposed coasts, hills and bridges," said Dan Suri, chief meteorologist at the Met Office. "Western coastal areas will see the highest gusts late morning, with the strongest winds transferring to northeastern Scotland by late afternoon."

Inland areas covered by the yellow warning were expected to see winds of 40 to 50 mph, with gusts reaching up to 60 mph in higher or more exposed locations.

Since the introduction of impact-based weather warnings in 2011, only two amber wind alerts have previously been issued in August, the Met Office noted. Some areas in Scotland could see wind speeds approaching historic records.

Martin Thomson of Transport Scotland stressed the importance of caution. "Storm Floris has now arrived, and we urge the public to plan ahead if they must travel," he said.

Heavy rainfall is also forecast to accompany the strong winds. The Met Office predicted 20 to 30 mm of rain across western and northern Scotland on Monday, with 40 to 60 mm possible over elevated terrain.

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the UK's 2024/2025 storm season, arriving during what is typically a quieter summer period. Authorities advised residents in affected areas to remain indoors where possible, secure loose outdoor items, and monitor official weather updates throughout the day. 
Hulk Hogans funeral will be held less than two weeks after his death, but at least one member of his immediate family may not be there.

According to the Daily Mail, a memorial service honoring the late professional wrestler will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2025, at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Tampa, Florida. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, will be cremated at Pinellas County Forensic Center in Clearwater, Florida, though a specific date for his cremation hasnt been announced.

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Related: Who will inherit Hulk Hogans money after his death

Im not aware of when Mr. Bollea will be cremated, only that weve received a request for cremation approval, a spokesperson for the cremation center told Page Six.

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While many loved ones are expected to attend Hogans celebration of life, one family member who may not be there is Hogans daughter, Brooke, whom he shared with his ex-wife, Linda Hogan. (Hulk and Linda were married from 1983 to 2009.) While Brooke hasnt confirmed whether she will or wont attend Hulks funeral, she was missing from the WWE SummerSlam 2025 event in New Jersey held two days after her fathers death. SummerSlam was, however, attended by Hogans son and Brookes brother, Nick, who applauded and appeared to fight back tears during a tribute at the event.

NEW YORK - MARCH 15: (U.S. TABS OUT) Wrestler Hulk Hogan with his family, son Nick, wife Linda and daughter Brooke pose back stage after appearing on MTV's Total Request Live at MTV's Time Square Studios March 15, 2006 in New York City.

After the event, Brooke explained why she didnt attend the tribute, claiming that WWE didnt invite her. For those of you giving me crap for not attending my Dads tributes, @wwe did not extend an invite, she wrote in an Instagram Story.

Brooke also shared another post at the time detailing her and her fathers complicated relationship. My dads blood runs through my veins. His eyes shine through my children. Our bond has never broken, not even in his final moments, she wrote. We had a connection deeper than words, one that spanned lifetimes. I am so grateful I knew the real version of him. Not just the one the world viewed through a carefully curated lens. We shared a quiet, sacred bond, one that could be seen and felt by anyone who witnessed us together. When he left this earth, it felt like part of my spirit left with him. I felt it before the news even reached us.

Elsewhere in her statement, Brooke addressed where she and her father stood at the time of his death. We never had a big fight. My father and I never fought,' she wrote. It was a series of private phone calls no one will ever hear, know, or understand. My father was confiding in me about issues weighing on his heart, both personal and business. I offered to be a life raft in whatever capacity he needed. I told him he had my support.

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She continued, I begged him to rest, to take care of himself. He had nothing else to prove to the world or anyone. My husband and I moved down to Florida to be near him. He was getting older. I wanted to be there as much as possible. We had been through almost 25 surgeries together, and then all of a sudden he didnt want me at surgeries everything started getting covered in a thick veil. It was like there was a force field around him that I couldnt get through.

She ended her statement with a dedication to Hogans fans. Im deeply grateful for the love, tributes, and memorials from his fans and friends, she wrote. His life was one worth celebratingand always will be.

Hogan died on July 24 from cardiac arrest. He was 71 years old. He had also been diagnosed with leukemia at the time of his passing. He was taken ill from his home in Clearwater to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

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Modern Family Star Has No Regrets After Leaving L.A. for Utah originally appeared on Parade.

Modern Family alum Ty Burrell revealed why he has "no regrets" about leaving Los Angeles behind and moving to Utah.

Its just been spectacular, Burrell, 57, said of his life in Salt Lake City while speaking to People in an interview published on Sunday, August 3. We moved here right after [Modern Family] ended, and I dont have any regrets. Its been lovely and a great place to raise the kids.

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The sitcom star and his wife, Holly Burrell, are the parents to daughters Frances, 15, and Greta, 13. Despite itching to get back to acting, Burrell explained that he's been embracing voice acting jobs so that he can spend more time in Utah.

So at first, when we moved here, it almost felt like cosplay, like we were pretending to be people who were outdoorsy, he said, adding that his parents werent really those kind of people who enjoyed spending time outdoors. However, his immediate family really truly" loves it.

Burrell's love for Utah wasn't a secret before he and his family made the move. In fact, he penned an essay about Salt Lake City for Huff Post in 2014. In the piece, Burrell explained that he fell in love with the city while doing a play at the Pioneer Theatre Company in 1999. He explained he booked the gig in order to be closer to his now-wife.

Parade Daily SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 

"Over the next 10 years my wife and I travelled back and forth to spend time with family and began to fall deeper in love with your incredibly affordable lifestyle and immediate access to the outdoors," he wrote at the time. "We fell so deeply that we didn't feel like we could be apart anymore and we moved from New York in 2008."

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He jokingly added that he and his wife became "stalkers" of the city after falling in love with the area.

Modern Family Star Has No Regrets After Leaving L.A. for Utah first appeared on Parade on Aug 4, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Former Food Network star and celebrity chef Paula Deen has abruptly closed her popular Savannah, Georgia, restaurant, The Lady & Sons, after 36 years.Its companion, The Chicken Box, also was closed.A statement published on the restaurants Facebook page reads, My sons and I made the heartfelt decision that Thursday, July 31st, was the last day of service for The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box. We will now focus our attention on the four Paula Deens Family Kitchen locations across the country -- in Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), Nashville, and Branson (Missouri).

The post did not go into further detail on why the restaurant that helped boost Deen to a household name suddenly closed its doors.

The Lady & Sons officially opened in 1996 and featured popular southern comfort dishes such as fried green tomatoes, banana pudding, and fried chicken. The success of the restaurant helped bring Deen fame, with her landing a spot on the Food Network and soon her own spin-off show called "Paulas Home Cooking."

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The show was canceled in 2013 after a controversy where Deen admitted to having used the N-word and expressed that she wished for a wedding where waiters dressed as slaves in her past.

Deens Nashville-based restaurant, Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, opened in 2020 at Opry Mills. The restaurant remains open seven days a week.

In the social media post, Deen expressed that in the coming weeks, she and her sons will make appearances at the Paula Deen's Family Kitchens.

Were excited to continue visiting these restaurants regularly, starting with Branson on August 8th, the social media post reads.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Paula Deen closes Savannah restaurant, keeps Nashville spot open




NEED TO KNOW

Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-girlfriend Virginia "Gina" Huynh wrote a letter to a New York judge asking for him to be released on bail ahead of his sentencing

Huynh, who was referred to "Victim-3" in Combs' indictment, identified herself by name for the first time and asked the judge to grant the music mogul bond to "allow him to continue caring for his family and fulfilling his responsibilities"

Combs was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and will be sentenced on Oct. 3





Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-girlfriend Virginia "Gina" Huynh, who was referred to as "Victim-3" in his indictment, wrote a letter to a New York judge asking for him to be released on bail.

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In her letter, Huynh  identifying herself by name for the first time  advocated for Judge Arun Subramanian to grant Combs, 55, bond to "allow him to continue caring for his family and fulfilling his responsibilities while still subject to the Court's supervision."

The letter was submitted to the court on Sunday, Aug. 3, by Combs' defense team. Huynh also wrote that she does not believe Combs is a danger to the public and that he is a committed "family man  who has not been violent in many years."

"I believe it is important for the Court to have a full picture of who he is beyond the allegations," she added.

Elizabeth Williams via AP Sean "Diddy" Combs during the first day of his trial at Manhattan federal court on May 12, 2025, in New York. Sean "Diddy" Combs during the first day of his trial at Manhattan federal court on May 12, 2025, in New York.

"Our relationship, like many, was not always perfect, we experienced ups and downs, and mistakes were made but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future," Huynh continued in the letter.

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She added, "Over the years that followed, he made visible efforts to become a better person and to address the harm he had caused. By the time our relationship ended, he embodied an energy of love, patience and gentleness that was markedly different from his past behavior."

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Huynh said this is Combs' "first criminal case," and she wrote about how she believes the music mogul would not violate any conditions the court sets for release, as well as how she thinks he "will not jeopardize his freedom or the well-being of his family."



"Throughout the investigation and proceedings, he has been cooperative, respectful and compliant. He has substantial ties to his family and community, including children who depend on him for emotional and financial support," Huynh continued. "Allowing him to be at home will also support the healing process for all involved."

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Before Combs' trial began, prosecutors alerted the court that they could no longer locate Huynh (then known only as "Victim-3") and said they had lost touch with both her and her attorney.

She was referenced several times in the government's indictment of Combs, but she never testified in his trial.

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.

In the indictment, prosecutors accused Combs of using "force, threats of force, and coercion, to cause victims, including but not limited to three female victims ... to engage in commercial sex acts" for payments and other financial opportunities."

Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2018 Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2018

Combs' attorneys most recently asked the judge on July 28 to release him on a $50 million bond while he awaits sentencing for a recent federal conviction on charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.

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After Combs was acquitted of more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy on July 2, his attorneys sought his immediate release on bond prior to his sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Judge Subramanian denied his release at a bail hearing, saying Combs' history of domestic violence showed he could pose a danger to others.

Combs was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The law requires that a defendant convicted under the Mann Act be detained ahead of sentencing, unless there are exceptional reasons why it would be inappropriate. Additionally, in order to be released, a defendant must not pose a risk of flight or danger to the public.

During the eight-week trial, prosecutors alleged that Combs was the head of a criminal enterprise that committed such crimes as kidnapping, bribery and arson, and that he forced his ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and another former longtime girlfriend, who testified at his trial under the pseudonym "Jane," to have sex with male escorts.

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A 2016 hotel surveillance video showing Combs assaulting Ventura, 38, was among the evidence jurors were shown.

Prosecutors vehemently opposed Combs' release at his bail hearing, and they argued that he had been violent with Jane in June 2024  even after his homes had been raided by federal agents and while he was aware that he was under investigation on sex trafficking allegations.



Read the original article on People
Sean Diddy Combs ex-girlfriend Virginia Gina Huynh made a plea endorsing the rappers appeal on bail.

Court documents filed by Combs legal team and obtained by Page Six Sunday included a letter written by Huynh to Judge Arun Subramanian in support of the disgraced music moguls release prior to his Oct. 3 sentencing.

To my knowledge, [Combs] has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first, claimed Huynh  who was identified as Victim-3 in the prosecutions indictment.

Sean Diddy Combs ex-girlfriend Virginia Gina Huynh made a surprising plea endorsing the rappers release on bail. ginavhuynh/Instagram

Court documents obtained by Page Six Sunday included a letter written by Huynh to Judge Arun Subramanian. Gina Huynh / Instagram

Our relationship, like many, was not always perfect, we experienced ups and downs, and mistakes were made, she admitted, but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future.

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She claimed that Combs made visible efforts to become a better person and to address the harm he had caused over the years.

According to Huynh, the Bad Boy Records founder, now 55, embodied an energy of love, patience and gentleness that was markedly different from his past behavior by the time they broke up.

I am writing because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community, she continued.

To my knowledge, [Combs] has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first, claimed Huynh  who was identified as Victim-3 in the prosecutions indictment. ginavhuynh/Instagram

I am writing because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community, she added. Gina Huynh / Instagram

This is his first criminal case, Huynh further argued, claiming that Combs has been cooperative, respectful and compliant throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

He has substantial ties to his family and community, including children who depend on him for emotional and financial support, she added.

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I want to assure the Court that if released, I believe Mr. Combs will adhere to all conditions imposed and will not jeopardize his freedom or the well-being of his family.

Reps and attorneys for Combs had no additional comment when contacted by Page Six.

This is his first criminal case, Huynh further argued, claiming that Combs has been cooperative, respectful and compliant throughout the investigation and court proceedings. REUTERS

I want to assure the Court that if released, I believe Mr. Combs will adhere to all conditions imposed and will not jeopardize his freedom or the well-being of his family, she added. REUTERS

Huynh never testified in Combs federal trial despite being a key witness for the prosecution.

However, the rappers former assistant George Kaplan said under oath that he once saw an angry Combs throwing apples at Huynh as she tried to protect herself.

Meanwhile, Huynh previously accused the hip-hop producer of abuse in a 2019 interview with controversial blogger Tasha K.

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At the time, she recalled an alleged incident during their five-year relationship, claiming Combs stomped on [her] stomach really hard and took the wind out of [her] breath.

Huynh never testified in Combs federal trial despite being a key witness for the prosecution. SBJ / BACKGRID

She previously accused the hip-hop producer of abuse in a 2019 interview. Unwine with Tasha K/Youtube

I couldnt breathe. He kept hitting me. I was pleading to him, Can you just stop? I cant breathe,' Huynh claimed.

She said her relationship with Combs began amid his on-again, off-again romance with Casandra Cassie Ventura  who testified as the prosecutions star witness in the trial.

He was mentally, emotionally and physically abusing me. He would always compare me to Cassie and tell me that Im the bad one, shes a good one, Huynh alleged.

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She also claimed that everyone around Combs allowed the alleged abuse.

Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in July. Getty Images for Sean Diddy Combs

He was denied bail following the verdict. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3. Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Last month, Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

He was acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering after being accused by the government of using force, threats of force and coercion to compel at least three victims to engage in commercial sex acts.

Combs, who has denied the allegations, was previously denied bail after the verdict in July  with Judge Subramanian citing a disregard for the rule of law and a propensity of violence in his ruling.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
Sydney Sweeney's new American Eagle ad campaign has sparked significant backlash. Courtesy of American Eagle

Sydney Sweeneys political affiliation has been revealed amid backlash over her controversial American Eagle campaign.

Multipleoutlets reported over the weekend that the Euphoria star registered as a Republican voter in Florida just months before Donald Trump took on his second presidential term.

The actor has been registered to the Republican Party of Florida since June 2024, Buzzfeed confirmed after viewing publicly available voter registration records.

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Representatives for Sweeney didnt immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Sweeney has faced scrutiny in the past week over her ad with the clothing company.

In one video for the great jeans campaign, Sweeney, who has blue eyes and blonde hair, says, Genes are passed down from parent to offspring, often determining traits like eye color, personality, and even hair color. My jeans are blue.

Social media users slammed the ads wordplay, accusing its messaging of glorifying whiteness. Others linked the ad to eugenics, the racist and inaccurate theory that human genetics can be improved through selective and controlled breeding of populations.

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The internet also crucified the timing of Sweeneys ad amid Trumps administrations dissolution of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the country.

The backlash intensified after White House communications director Steven Cheung defended the ad on X, formerly Twitter.

Cancel culture run amok, Cheung wrote in a July 29 tweet alongside a screenshot of an MSNBC op-ed titled Sydney Sweeneys ad shows an unbridled cultural shift toward whiteness.

Cheung added, This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. Theyre tired of this bullshit.

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American Eagle addressed the discourse over the ad in a statement on its Instagram account.

Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story, the statement read. Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.

In 2022, Sweeney drew criticism after her brother, Trent Sweeney, posted photos of guests wearing MAGA-style hats and Blue Lives Matter tops at a 60th birthday celebration for their mom.

The Anyone But You star responded to the chatter by asking social media users to stop making assumptions.

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You guys this is wild. An innocent celebration for my moms milestone 60th birthday has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention, Sweeney wrote in an Aug 2022 post on X, formerly Twitter. Please stop making assumptions.

Related...
BAYREUTH, Germany (AP)  Less than 41 hours after his final bows for singing the title role of Lohengrin at Munich's Bavarian State Opera, Piotr Beczaa was 150 miles (241 kilometers) away at the Bayreuth Festpielhaus for a different production of the same Wagner opera.

Wagners roles are among the most punishing in classical music, and breaks of two or three days between performances are customary to allow for vocal recovery. Beczaa earned thunderous ovations on Wednesday in Munich and Friday at Bayreuth.

I was a little under pressure because Christian Thielemann is coming back to Bayreuth for this production," the 58-year-old Polish tenor said, citing his desire to please the conductor. "We did it in 2018 and '19 so, yeah, I agreed with this crazy schedule.

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Limited rehearsal time

Beczaa and the cast for the revival of Yuval Sharon's 2018 Bayreuth production arrived July 12 for four hours of blocking at a studio, then had a 7 1/2-hour final dress rehearsal the following day in the auditorium built to Wagner's specifications.

He traveled to Munich on July 14 for a recital four days later at the 150th Munich Opera Festival followed by Lohengrin in Kornel Mundruczo's 2022 staging on July 27 and 30. Beczaa drove back to Bayreuth the next morning for a 3 p.m. music rehearsal with Thielemann, who led Beczaa's first Lohengrin in 2016.

There were three more performances at Bayreuth through Aug. 9.

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Having sung Lohengrin in a different production previously, he carries a mature interpretation that can adapt fluidly to different directorial visions, Bavarian State Opera general director Serge Dorny said. His preparation for both stagings was meticulous, and we knew that he would approach each performance with total professionalism and focus.

Lohengrin, a mysterious knight, arrives to unite the divided people of Brabant and defend the noblewoman Elsa from the false accusation she murdered her brother. He agrees to marry her on the condition she never ask him his name or origin.

A veteran of seven productions

Beczaa also has sung Lohengrin in Dresden, Vienna, New York, Paris and Zurich.

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Mundruczo and Sharon, like many contemporary directors, abandoned Wagners 1850 stage directions that have Lohengrin arrive and depart on a boat pulled by a swan.

"He is not necessarily coming as a God-sent person, Mundruczo said. It's more like someone who we are choosing, so somehow its one of us."

Monika Pormale designed stark white sets for Munich that included hilly, grassy areas in the first act. Beczaa nearly slipped but caught his balance in time.

Anna Axer Fijalkowska costumed Lohengrin in cream as a common man rather than medieval finery: jeans, sweatshirt and loafers.

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I go, to be honest, on airplanes more elegant than that, Beczaa said, laughing.

Anna Brunnlechner, the revival stage director, didn't mind the compressed practice period.

I prefer a very intense time, also with a bit of adrenaline, than a very long rehearsal time where you can talk every detail," she said.

Bayreuths sets and costumes were by the married artists Neo Rauch and Rosa Loy, dominated by the color Delft Blue  even Beczaa's wig. Their Lohengrin is dressed like a 1930s electrician wearing a shirt and tie with overalls, arriving in a transformer and clutching a lightning bolt for a sword.

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Sharon, in an email to assistant director Eva-Maria Abelein he shared with the AP, called the opera the story of the decay of the angel."

Lohengrin is a bringer of light, and he is humble at first  he is a servant of a higher force, he wrote. But the idea of a year of bodily pleasure, joy, love, four seasons  He cant resist it. And the character we see in Act II is arrogant, full of himself, and much closer to violence. In Act III, he is brutal with his new wife  because thats what he thinks humans do.

Beczaa took over for the 2018 production premiere when Roberto Alagna withdrew 27 days before the first performance.

Piotr is really exceptional, Abelein said Saturday. He took one wrong position last night and then he came off saying, 'Im so sorry about this.' I said, 'Piotr, it's not important at all because the way he acted is important.'

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Surprise liquid refreshment

Wolfgang Schilly, another Bayreuth assistant director, provided Beczaa some special assistance for this years opener. Beczaa was thinking about "In fernem land (In a distant land), the third-act aria when Lohengrin reveals his name to Elsa.

I could give a thousand dollars for just a little water before the aria but theres no space, Beczaa recalled telling him Thursday.

Schilly had a tiny hole punctured in the set wall between where oversized insect wings were pinned, then inserted a straw attached to a bottle. An appreciative Beczaa was able to sip.

Im not so sure that Neo Rauch is happy that we make a hole in his art, Beczaa said, smiling.
One big happy family.

Modern Family star Ty Burrell, 57, recently admitted that he has no regrets ditching Hollywood for Utah following his success on the popular ABC sitcom.

Its just been spectacular, he told People in an interview published Sunday, Aug. 3.

Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy in the final season of Modern Family. ABC via Getty Images

Ty Burrell at the Barker Hanger on Sept. 28, 2019, in Santa Monica, Calif. Getty Images for P.S. ARTS

We moved here right after [Modern Family] ended, and I dont have any regrets, Burrell added. Its been lovely and a great place to raise the kids.

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The Black Hawk Down actor and his wife, Holly Burrell, 50, left Los Angeles for Salt Lake City in 2020 following the 11th and final season of Modern Family.

Since the move, they have raised their teen daughters, Frances, 15, and Greta, 13, and have committed to a new outdoorsy way of life.

Ty Burrell attends the 2023 Kids in the Spotlight film awards at Paramount Pictures Studios on Nov. 4, 2023, in Los Angeles, Calif. Getty Images

However, Burrell admitted that life in Utah is a big change compared to the more than 10 years he spent living in Hollywood while filming Modern Family.

My parents werent really those kinds of people, the Out of Practice star said regarding life in the mountains.

So at first, when we moved here, it almost felt like cosplay, like we were pretending to be people who were outdoorsy, and now we really truly love it, he added.

Ty Burrell and his wife, Holly Burrell, at the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017, in Los Angeles, Calif. WireImage

Burrell, who starred as goofy real estate agent Phil Dunphy in all 11 seasons of Modern Family, previously opened up about his wife and how theyve managed their 25-year marriage earlier this year.

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This is probably connected to the really old axiom of Dont go to bed angry, but we force ourselves to talk about stuff, he told People in March. Both of us make sure that if somethings wrong, by the end of the night, we have at least had some discussion about it.

Neither one of us are silent treatment people, and I think thats a real benefit, because I think that can be really hard on a relationship, when you dont talk about things, Burrell said.

Ty Burrell and his wife, Holly Burrell, attend the NYC premiere of Rough Night on June 12, 2017, in New York City. WireImage

Much like real life, Burrell starred as a family man in Modern Family.

He was married to Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen), and the on-screen couple shared Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter) and Luke (Nolan Gould).

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Ed ONeill (Jay Pritchett), Sofia Vergara (Gloria Delgado-Pritchett), Rico Rodriguez (Manny), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett) and Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker) rounded out the cast, and the show went on to win a total of 22 Primetime Emmy Awards throughout its 11-season run.

Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen in a scene from the two-part series finale of Modern Family. ABC via Getty Images

Although Burrell has largely stayed out of the spotlight since Modern Family ended, he did break cover for a Modern Family reunion at the 2024 SAG Awards after Ferguson twisted his arm to attend.

Plus, several fans of the show thought Burrell had passed away after he failed to appear for a previous reunion that the award-winning cast organized.

While the Incredible Hulk actor has mainly stuck to voiceover work in the years since leaving Hollywood, he did recently launch a podcast series, titled The Good Life, that is loosely based on his own childhood.

Ariel Winter, Ty Burrell, Sarah Hyland, Julie Bowen and Rico Rodriguez of Modern Family during a panel in Los Angeles on Jan. 8, 2020. Penske Media via Getty Images

However, Burrell has not ruled out an eventual return to the big or small screen following his new podcast project.

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Im starting to get the itch again to perform, he told People. Ive mostly done voiceover work and things like this podcast. And if it accidentally works, Id love to do a second season.

It was such a fun process and has so many great people in it, Burrell concluded. I hope people check it out.
Target refreshed its weekly ads overnight Monday, August 4, and savvy shoppers in the Wilmington-Philadelphia region can now get steep discounts at Target on everything from eggs and other groceries to diapers and baby supplies this week.

Here's the best deals you can get at Target this week, and how to find the Target nearest you in South Jersey.

How much are eggs, bread at target?

According to Target's website, you can get store-branded Good & Gather Grade A large eggs for $2.99 per dozen, and $4.49 for the 18-count carton.

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Target is also selling a dozen Good & Gather cage-free Grade A large eggs for $4.39 this week, and you can get aa dozen large brown organic eggs from the Happy Egg Co. for $10.49.

If you're looking to stock the bread pantry, you can get loaf of Market Pantry honey wheat bread for $1.89, or a loaf of Wonder round-top sliced white bread for $3.04.

New deals at Target this week

Target's refreshed weekly ads is featuring a nice buy one, get one deal for Target Circle members on Starbucks coffee products; blueberries; General Mills and Kellogg's cereals; Annie's crackers and fruit snacks; Tyson frozen chicken; Halo Top ice cream; Annie's Mac and cheese; and salad kits from Tabitha Brown and Good & Gather, respectively.

Target is also offering buy one, get one 50% deals this week on Simply lemonade; Sargento cheeses; Jimmy Dean sausages; Danimals yogurt and family pack M&M's.

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Target is also offering up to 30% off on breast-feeding pumps, 10% off on Heart-branded baby formula and deals on diapers from Huggies and Pampers.

The deals advertised on Target's website are what you should expect to pay at your local Target store.

Where are the Target locations in Delaware?

Target has five locations in Delaware:

Dover: 148 John Hunn Brown Road

Middletown: 361 Middletown Warwick Road

Newark: 800 Christiana Mall

Wilmington - Brandywine: 1050 Brandywine Parkway

Wilmington - Prices Corner: 3240 Kirkwood Highway

Target has an additional 20 locations in the greater Philadelphia region.

You can find the Target nearest you in Delaware by using the store locator tool on Target's website.

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Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Grocery shopping at Target? Here's how much eggs cost in Delaware
Love to travel? Idaho is home to one of the top road trips in the nation, according to Travel + Leisure.

The travel publication released its 2025 list of the 23 best road trips in the U.S.

From the dramatic California coast to the history-lined thoroughfares of New England, the United States is brimming with scenic drives, Travel + Leisure contributor Sarah Rose wrote in a July 6 article. Theres no shortage of stunning views along the way ...

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Those vistas range from city skylines and charming coastal towns to secluded beaches, limestone caverns and snow-covered peaks. Heres where to go in search of adventure.

A deep canyon frames a high, snow-covered peak in Idahos Lemhi Range in this file photo.

Best road trip in Idaho? Explore Lemhi Pass

More than 200 years after explorer Meriwether Lewis crossed the Lemhi Pass in eastern Idaho and caught his first glimpse of the Columbia River, you can make your own mountain trek, according to Travel + Leisure.

Part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Lemhi Pass belongs to the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains and spans about 2 miles across the border between Montana and Idaho, the National Park Service said.

The remote pass in the Beaverhead Mountains offers views of distant ranges of steep, rocky mountains, as well as sagebrush, Douglas fir trees and lodge pole pine trees, according to Visit Montana.

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Determined visitors with a four-wheel drive can take in the historic view on Forest Service roads from either the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana or the Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho, Travel + Leisure said said.

The travel publication recommends visiting the Lewis and Clark Festival in Great Falls, Montana, to get the full experience.

Glacier National Park in Montana is seen in this file photo.

What are top travel routes in Montana?

Want to venture farther into Montana? Travel + Leisure singled out two road trips in Big Sky Country, including Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The travel publication described the 50-mile route, which traverses Montanas Glacier National Park, as one of Americas most breathtaking drives.

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Travel + Leisure also recommended traveling the Beartooth Highway, a stretch of Highway 212 connecting Red Lodge, Montana, with Yellowstone National Park that boasts steep switchbacks and expansive mountain views.

Kalaloch Beach, one of the most visited areas of Olympic National Park, is on the southwest coast of the Olympic Peninsula, accessible off Highway 101.

Where should I drive in Pacific Northwest?

Travel + Leisure highlighted a number of road trips in the Pacific Northwest, including a sizeable stretch of Highway 101 along the Oregon coast that offers unobstructed natural vistas.

The publication showcased two cant-miss drives in Washington state.

According to Travel + Leisure, the 365-mile stretch of Highway 101 known as the Olympic Peninsula Loop traces the perimeter of one of the largest wilderness areas in the continental U.S.

A view of Seattle from Puget Sound is seen in this file photo.

Highlights include the Hoh Rain Forest and Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, as well as ocean pools crawling with sealife.

The Pacific Coast Paradise route, meanwhile, connects Seattle to Santa Barbara  snaking past major cities, picture-perfect vineyards and national parks and forests along the way, Travel + Leisure said.
MOSCOW, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and another 16 injured after a collision between a bus and a freight train in Russia's Leningrad region, regional authorities said Monday.

Seven of the injured people are in serious condition, and the wounded are being transported to local hospitals, the regional health committee said.

The collision took place at 6:11 a.m. local time (0311 GMT) as a tourist bus drove onto a railway crossing in front of an approaching train, Oktyabrskaya Railway said on Telegram.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. 
When you think of the Netherlands, canals, tulips and biking everywhere may come to mind  and those are among the reasons Americans are drawn to the country. Over 31,000 Americans live in the Netherlands, representing around 6% of the countrys total immigrants, and that number has increased over the years.

I was lured by the scenic charm  which the Netherlands certainly delivered. What I couldnt have imagined was the peace this country would give me in a decision that wasnt easy for me to make: having children.

For a time, the thought of having kids brought on so much anxiety that I kept putting it off, and instead focused on my career and building a business. I didnt expect how much this small country would make parenting feel so natural. Here are some unexpected things I learned about raising my child here.

Biking At 30 Weeks Pregnant

You can imagine the look on my face when I showed up for my first midwife appointment and saw a line of parked bikes with pregnant women hopping off them, bellies much bigger than mine. When I thought about pregnancy, I imagined morning sickness, resting at home and counting down the weeks until week 40, but that was not my experience here. Instead, I joined the crew who biked to every midwife appointment until I couldnt anymore.

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Yes, I was lucky to have a relatively smooth pregnancy. However, pregnancy in the Netherlands is generally treated as a natural part of life. Doctors, midwives and coworkers alike approach it pragmatically. My experience is that most people dont see you as fragile; rather, they encourage you to listen to yourself, make your own choices and adapt as you need. Its just another season of womanhood.

As Andrea Hamlet, an international board-certified lactation consultant from California whos lived in the Netherlands for over six years, told HuffPost, Pregnancy here is seen as a natural process, not a medical condition. I was able to relax in a way I dont think I could have back home.

Postnatal Care And Parental Leave

Living in a foreign country often means you dont have family around for support. Thats why the postnatal care in the Netherlands is truly a lifeline. Here, new parents receive the support of akraamzorg, a maternity nurse who visits your home every day for about a week after birth and helps with the essentials like feeding and bathing the baby, understanding your babys signals, while also handling household chores so that you can focus on healing and bonding.

Also, parental leave makes it easier to make long-term adjustments and focus on your life with a child. In the Netherlands, mothers are entitled to a minimum of 16 weeks of maternity leave (6 weeks before the birth and 10 weeks afterward).

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Both parents also share 26 weeks of parental leave, with nine of those weeks paid at 70% of their income. Paid leave can be used within the first year of the childs life. The remaining time is available as unpaid leave until the child turns 8 years old, allowing families to customize their time at home as needed.

In addition to the leave policy, the Netherlands provides financial support for parents of young children. They can receive up to 282 euros per quarter when their child is a newborn to help with basic expenses, and tax credits are available to reduce child care costs.

Letting Kids Be Independent

One of the biggest surprises for anyone visiting or raising children here is the level of independence kids have. In the U.S., the thought of letting a child walk to school or take public transportation alone can make a parents heart skip a beat. However, in the Netherlands, fostering independence from a young age is the norm, and the community completely supports it.

Sim Sawyers, an American mom and photographer living in Amsterdam, noticed this difference immediately.

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In the U.S., [many] kids dont take the bus or walk to school; everything is very car-centric. Even as teenagers, theyre often dependent on parents to drive them places, which can feel both restrictive and unsafe at times. Here, I love how much freedom kids are given  its good for them to grow up with that sense of independence.

Hamlet also shared her relief in watching her son explore freely: He can meet friends at the movies, go for a drink, or bike to the ice rink. Hes almost 14, and Im so grateful he can have the same kinds of experiences I had in the 80ssafely. My only concern here is traffic, and I dont worry about things like drugs, drunk driving, or guns.

A Community That Thinks About Kids

One thing that immediately stands out here is how integrated children are into everyday life. Family-friendly spaces and a judgment-free approach to raising your children are woven into the community. UNICEFs study on child well-being consistently ranks the Netherlands among the top countries for childrens happiness, mental health and safety. This is due, in part, to the supportive environment parents experience here, which extends across all aspects of society.

What Ive seen is theres a collective understanding that everyone is doing their best, and judgment around parenting choices is rare. Hamlet described it as such a relief: I dont feel judged by other parents. I love the family-oriented aspect of this country, she told HuffPost.

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The community rallies around families: High-end cafes and neighborhood restaurants offer kid-friendly spaces with high chairs, play areas and childrens menus. Parks are abundant, and the safety of these spaces gives parents the peace of mind to allow children the freedom to play and explore.

Sawyers highlighted how, even in a bustling city, its incredibly child-friendly, with a park on almost every block. She marveled at the inclusivity, adding, You walk into a high-end cafe, and they have four high chairs and a whole bookshelf full of games for kids in the back. Its not something youd expect, but its there, and its normal.

This acceptance of children and emphasis on their well-being makes navigating parenthood easier, creating a welcoming community for families.

Im grateful we made the move and found a community that values happiness, independence, well-being and inclusivity. This has made the journey of parenthood much more peaceful and given me the freedom to raise my child in a way that aligns with my values.

Related...
Who doesn't love comfort food? Vermonters certainly do.

The Green Mountain State has a lot of local eats that just hit that special spot. An apple cider donut or a maple creemee on a cone mean so much more than just satisfying your hunger. Eating them can feel like home.

As part of Reader's Digest's America the Tasty 2025: Comfort Food from Every State list, the publication said that one Vermont dish in particular signals that type of comfort more than anything else.

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"See if you agree with your states pick  or find a new personal favorite on this list," Reader's Digest said.

Here's what Reader's Digest picked for the most iconic comfort food in Vermont.

Apple pie is a traditional favortie on my Thanksgiving Day celebrations. European settlers brought apple pie to the colonies, where it became a staple of American cuisine in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Maple apple pie was named Vermont's top comfort food by Reader's Digest because of how important apple pie is to the people of Vermont. It is the state pie, after all.

"The Green Mountain State is so serious about apple pie, there are rules for how to eat it: A 1999 law requires a good faith effort to serve it with some other state staples: a glass of cold milk, a slice of cheddar cheese or a scoop of vanilla ice cream," Reader's Digest said about maple apple pie.

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That law by the way, Act 15 of 1999 which also saw apple pie become the state pie, was signed into law by former Gov. Howard Dean, who would go on to be a presidential hopeful known for his famous yell.

If you're feeling skeptical about the flavor combination of a nutty, salty cheese with a hot, ooey-gooey forkful of apple pie, then here's the New England history on that.

Is cheddar cheese on apple pie a thing

Yes, cheddar cheese on or with apple pie is a thing, America's Test Kitchen said.

"It heralds back to the 17th century, when, in England, traditional fruit pies were first paired with dairy-based accoutrements such as custard andlater oncheese," the website said.

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The test kitchen's website said that when English settlers came to America, the culinary practice of cheese and pie became a regional tradition in places where cheese was most available, like New England and the Midwest.

"An apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze," the website said, recalling a Wensleydale saying.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Reader's Digest said maple apple pie with cheese is VT's comfort food
Your opinion of September probably depends on whether you are under or over 18. If you are in the former camp, the ninth month of the year comes with heavy connotations of new textbooks, the retreat to the classroom, and evenings of homework. If you have passed that milestone age, then September is rather more fun.

In fact, there is an argument that, if you are not tied to full-time education  or directly responsible for someone who is  then September is the greatest month for travel. With children everywhere from Shetland to Southampton out of the picture, Europes most popular destinations are quieter, airports are not full of families running to catch their flight  and the consequent lessening of demand means that holidays are usually cheaper.

Better still, September offers a Goldilocks type of weather: neither the too hot scenario of July and August, nor the too cold that looms from November onward; merely a just right that applies to most of the European landmass. Of course, if you want to go further afield in search of your ideal temperature, then North Africa and North America may also be of service.

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Heres our pick of the 10 best destinations for September sun.

For temperatures 19C to 24C

The Belgian Riviera

Blankenberge is a seaside destination in Belgiums West Flanders province - Alamy

Belgiums coastline, strung along the North Sea between France and the Netherlands, is rarely lavished with praise. But there are lovely stretches of beach in the 40 or so miles between De Panne and Knokke-Heist, some of them home to soaring sand dunes. The weather in September is still pleasant too  and if you are eager to save a few pennies then genuine bargains are available.

How to do it

A seven-night getaway to the four-star Beach Palace Hotel in Blankenberge (at the north end of the coastal strip), flying from Heathrow to Brussels on September 13, costs from 578 a head, with Last Minute (020 3386 8411).

Guernsey

Guernseys capital, St Peter Port, has independent shops, historic sites, restaurants and coffee shops to enjoy - iStock

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If you would rather keep the journey time to a bare minimum, the second largest of the Channel Islands is a super option for the twilight of the summer; an unhurried outcrop where the pace of life rarely feels too frenetic. The capital, St Peter Port, slopes down to the harbour  and 13th-century fortress Castle Cornet  in a haze of shops and cafes. And if you feel like a spot of exercise, the coastal path amounts to a 39-mile complete circle.

How to do it

A seven-night getaway to the Duke of Richmond hotel  an attractive four-star in St Peter Port  flying out from Bristol on September 13, costs from 1,037 per person, with Channel Islands Direct (0800 640 9058).

Bordeaux

Head to France in September to witness the grape harvest - Alamy

There is arguably no better month in which to visit Frances capital of viticulture. The grape harvest  la vendage  generally begins in the middle of September, and is usually a cause for celebration as well as hard labour in the vineyards. Witness the Ban des Vendages festival, held on the third Sunday of September (September 21 2025) in neighbouring wine hotspot Saint Emilion.

How to do it

Wine-travel specialist Smooth Red (020 8877 4940) serves up a four-day City And Chateau Stay, which combines Bordeaux and Saint Emilion with a fair few bottles of top-quality claret. From 1,940 per person, not including flights.

25C to 29C

Taormina

Views of Mount Etna in Taormina on the east coast of Sicily - Robert Harding World Imagery

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September trims some of the excess from the Sicilian summer. The biggest island in the Mediterranean can swelter in temperatures in the upper 30s in July and August, but by the ninth month of the year, its ardour has generally diminished to something rather more palatable. A perfect window, then, to visit east-coast Taormina, where the hillside theatre, built in the third century BC, offers ancient Greek finesse in the Italian sunshine.

How to do it

Sicily4U (020 3868 6514) boasts a range of properties on the island. You can still rent Villa Kira  which can sleep up to eight, in the nearby town of Letojanni  during the week of September 27, for 5,707 (4,930). Excluding flights.

Malaga

Museo Picasso Malaga showcases Picassos art works in an Andalusian mansion - Getty

September tempers the worst of the summer heat on the Costa del Sol. Better still, with the school bell ringing, it opens up space on the beach, in the hotel, and around the swimming pool. As the de facto capital of the Andalusian coastline, Malaga is a fabulous city, its Picasso Museum full of bright wonders. Alternatively, you may just want a week on the sand.

How to do it

A seven-night all-inclusive escape to the four-star Globales Playa Estepona (50 miles down the coast), flying from Birmingham on September 21, costs from 868 per person, including transfers, with Tui (020 3451 2716).

The Algarve

Albufeiras candy-coloured waterfront is a pleasant way to while away summers finale - Moment RF

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If you prefer your Iberian holidays to come with a Portuguese accent, the Algarve is always a reliable destination for sun and sand. September generally makes for a calmer experience in the likes of Albufeira and Carvoeiro  and if these fabled resort-towns are destinations better suited to easy relaxation than full cultural immersion, then, well, whats wrong with that? Its the end of the summer; order a drink.

How to do it

A seven-night self-catered stay at the five-star Grand Muthu Forte Do Vale resort in Albufeira  flying from Manchester to Faro on September 20  costs from 679 per person, with Love Holidays (01234 230 440).

Rhodes

St Pauls Bay in Rhodes has views of the Lindos Acropolis - DTMH

With its southerly latitude, Greece stretches its summer well into the ninth month of the year. Except for the comparative lack of tourists, there is little obvious difference between July and September when it comes to a week on an Aegean island. Rhodes is a splendid option for a late-season getaway. Not least at Lindos, on the east coast, which shimmers in the sun at the foot of an ancient acropolis, the Turkish shore visible in the blur beyond.

How to do it

Rhodes welcomes a wealth of flights from the UK. A seven-night stay at the three-star Avra Apartments in Lindos, flying in from Edinburgh on September 13, starts at 596 per person, with Olympic Holidays (020 8492 6868).

30C and up

Cyprus

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus - Andrii Marushchynets

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You can find a final flash of the 30C on the south coast of Cyprus, where the Mediterraneans largest island-nation uses its effectively Middle Eastern location to keep the mercury rising. In such heat, you may not want to stray far from your lounger at your Limassol resort. But then, thats pretty much the idea.

How to do it

A seven-night dash to the five-star St Raphael Resort in Limassol, flying from Gatwick on September 27, starts at 1,050 per person with breakfast, with British Airways Holidays (0344 493 0787).

El Gouna

El Gouna is a resort town on Egypts Red Sea - Ahmed El Araby

If you really want the sort of September temperatures that send many people scurrying inside in search of air-conditioned comfort, then you need to look beyond Europe. But not too far beyond. A top possibility for respite from the winter, Egypts Red Sea resorts also work for a final burst of undimmed summer. El Gouna, a modern resort area just to the north of better-known Hurghada, is an increasingly popular choice.

How to do it

A seven-night all-inclusive break to the five-star Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna, flying out of Luton on September 13, costs from 1,239 per person, including luggage and transfers, with easyJet Holidays (0330 493 0787).

Orlando

Universal Epic Universe theme park opened in Orlando in May - Thomas Simonetti

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If you are the sort of nominal adult who loves the theme parks of Orlando, but doesnt particularly want to enjoy them while queuing for hours in sub-tropical heat with an army of sugar-boosted children, September is your friend. Floridas holiday capital is far less over-excited when the youngsters of the world are struggling through double maths  while the lines at the likes of Universal Epic Universe, which opened in May, are shorter.

How to do it

A seven-night transatlantic dash to the three-star Universal Endless Summer Resort  flying from Heathrow on September 6  costs from a basic 992 per person, with Virgin Atlantic (0344 209 4703).

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.




Key Points

A Baltic country was named the best country to retire in the world due to its affordable living costs, robust health care system, and high safety levels.

Norway ranked second thanks to its exceptional health care, and Portugal was third.

When deciding where to retire abroad, first consider the country's health care quality and visa accessibility, which are critical, according to experts.







Retiring abroad requires a lot of planning. That begins by choosing where you want to live in those post-working years. And, according to a new study, that choice can make or break your entire retirement.

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In late July, Everly Life, a life insurance company, released a report on the best places to retire around the globe. The study evaluated 137 countries using six indicators: cost of living, health care quality, safety, air quality, elderly population percentage, and retirement visa availability. Every factor was given a score on a scale of 0 to 100 and then averaged to provide each destination with a final score. And once the numbers were crunched, Estonia outranked the rest.

"Estonia's top ranking, with a score of 79.41, demonstrates how balanced excellence trumps single-category dominance," the report stated. "The Baltic nation combines reasonable living costs (55.9 cost index) with strong health care (77.7 index) and impressive safety levels (76.5 index)."

The company noted that Estonia's 20.91 percent elderly population signals "a retirement-friendly society," which also happens to live in one of the most pristine natural environments on Earth.

Estonia represents the sweet spot many retirees are seeking, Mariah Bliss, the spokesperson for Everly Life, shared. You're getting Northern European health care standards and safety without the crushing costs of places like Switzerland or Denmark.

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The country has a fantastic digital infrastructure, ensuring its residents stay connected, and an e-residency program to make relocating a little easier.

Joining Estonia at the top of the list is Norway in second place, with 77.30 points, largely thanks to its exceptional health care that outweighs its high cost of living, according to Everly Life.

Norway illustrates a key principle in retirement planning, Bliss added. Sometimes accepting higher daily living expenses for superior health care systems and social infrastructure delivers better long-term value than chasing rock-bottom costs in countries with weaker support systems.

Other top spots include Portugal, which came in at No. 3, followed by Spain (No. 4), Australia (No. 5), Canada (No. 6), Latvia (No. 7), Hungary (No. 8), Malta (No. 9), and Italy (No. 10).

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Related: 10 Best Places to Retire in Portugal, According to Locals and Expats

Although the destinations are ranked, Bliss encourages all upcoming retirees to consider each one closely to ensure it meets their personal needs.

When evaluating retirement destinations, think beyond the initial sticker shock of living costs. Start with non-negotiables: healthcare quality and visa accessibility can make or break your plans, regardless of how affordable a place seems on paper," Bliss said. Countries like Portugal prove you can find European-standard healthcare without Nordic prices, while places like Estonia show that emerging markets can offer developed-world amenities."

Finally, she said, always factor in currency stability and political climate. "A country might check every box today," Bliss said, "but retirement spans decades, and you need destinations that will remain viable throughout your golden years.



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure




Ortigia, Italy

Spend the night at Algila, a Baroque palace with gorgeous stone architecture, elegant details, and an excellent in-house restaurant.

Stroll along the waterfront promenades and through the quaint cobblestone streets, admiring famous sites like the Fountain of Arethusa, Temple of Apollo, and Cathedral of Syracuse.

Enjoy a seafood dinner at Apollonion, which serves a multicourse tasting menu designed around the catches of the day.

Savor a sunset aperitivo at Zefiro, situated on the bustling western side of the island.

Go back in time and connect with nature at Neapolis Archeological Park, which has an ancient Greek theater, Roman amphitheater, and centuries-old citrus trees.





Although travelers flock to Sicily every year in search of Mediterranean Sea views, imposing ancient architecture, and fresh seafood, many miss a visit to the stunning city that has it all: Syracuse and its historic center, Ortigia. Located on the southeastern coast of Sicily, Syracuse (Siracusa in Italian) is often overlooked by travelers in favor of Taormina, its opulent cousin to the north. But its unique blend of coastal Italian culture, coupled with rich history and Baroque-style architecture, make it a must-visit destination.

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Syracuse began as an ancient Greek settlement nearly 3,000 years ago, and its beauty has beckoned both travelers and empires for centuries (Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Norman, to name a few). Even the Roman orator, Cicero, referred to it as the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of all. Steeped in layers of history, Syracuse was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historic and cultural significance.

Syracuses old town and crown jewel is the island of Ortigia. Perched on the sea at the citys southern edge and connected only by two bridges, Ortigia is considered one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Just two miles in circumference, this small island has everything travelers to Italy crave: charming cobblestone streets and Baroque-style piazzas, ancient history around every corner, endless views of the sparkling sea, and fresh Sicilian-style seafood. Plus, it's connected by train to many popular Sicilian spots like Taormina, Noto, Ragusa, and Modica.

I was lucky enough to explore Ortigia on a recent trip to Sicily, and collected many amazing experiences on the island. But to help travelers fully appreciate the destination, I asked for additional insights from Linda Sarris, a Palermo-based travel expert, author, and private chef who organizes incredible experiences throughout Sicily. Heres everything youll need to explore the magical island of Ortigia.

Best Hotels

Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel

Situated near the water on the eastern side of the island, Algila is housed in a renovated Baroque palace and spreads across three gorgeous building complexes. There are a variety of room types, each uniquely designed and decorated with restored wooden paneling, wrought-iron detailing, and stone archways. We also loved the complimentary breakfast buffet and Sarris recommends trying the in-house restaurant for dinner.

Ortea Palace Hotel, Autograph Collection

Once a historic 1920s post office, Ortea Palace Hotel is conveniently located right across the bridge from mainland Syracuse and is considered to be one of the best in Sicily. Part of the Marriotts Autograph Collection, the property's dazzling lobby and spacious rooms are outfitted with Italian marble and elegant furnishings, with many accommodations boasting sea views, too. Guests can unwind in the indoor swimming pool, enjoy full spa treatments, or grab a drink at Incanto, the hotels rooftop terrace with panoramic vistas of the city.

Hotel Gutkowski

Sarris describes Hotel Gutkowski as an eclectic little boutique hotel spread out over two buildings overlooking the water. Both recently renovated buildings date back to the 19th century and house 26 rooms with their own stylish mix of modern and antique furnishings. Guests love the breakfast with local ingredients and relaxing on the terrace, right on the waters edge.

Lume

Sarris recommends this small but stylish six-room hotel not far from the water, noting its design and bistro. Meant to resemble a family home, Lume feels comfortable and intimate, and it's full of charming details and pops of color. Enjoy evening aperitivo on the rooftop terrace or try one of the many types of massages offered in the on-site hammam.

Best Things to Do

Melvyn Longhurst/Getty Images Visitors exploring the Neapolis Archaeological Park. Visitors exploring the Neapolis Archaeological Park.

Explore Ortigia Street Market.

From Monday through Saturday, various stalls line the northern corner of Ortigia, filled with colorful textiles, local spices and nuts, produce, and fresh seafood. The vibrant market feels like the cultural heart of the city, with neighbors greeting each other as they shop and vendors bartering across stalls. It's located right by the water and dotted with casual restaurants where you can grab a quick bite and enjoy the views. If you can, snag a bag of Sicilian almonds from one of the stallstheir delicate, buttery flavor is unlike any youve had before.

Experience ancient Siracusa at Neapolis Archeological Park.

Perfect for history and nature lovers alike, this archaeological park is located in the heart of Syracuse, an easy mile-and-a-half walk or 10-minute taxi ride from Ortigia. Neapolis Archeological Park is full of ancient wonders, including a Greek theater dating back to the third century B.C.E., a Roman amphitheater, and the Ear of Dionysius, a massive limestone cave carved into the hill. The park itself is gorgeous and peaceful, removed from the bustling city. Walk along winding pathways lined with centuries-old lemon and orange trees, and marvel at the limestone grottos as you take in the historic sites. Occasionally, the park hosts modern art installations for visitors to admire during their visit.

Walk the entire island.

Small and easy to navigate, Ortigia is best explored on foot. Start along the lungomare, the outer path along the water, where youll find scenic viewpoints and locals sunbathing on the rocky beaches below. Then, head into the city center and wander through the charming cobblestone streets and piazzas. Dont miss some of Ortigias primary attractions, including the Maniace Castle, Temple of Apollo, Cathedral of Syracuse, and Fountain of Diana, along the way. End your walking tour on the western side of the island at the mythologically famed Fountain of Arethusa, and grab a drink at Zefiro or at one of the many waterfront bars along Lungomare Alfeo for sunset.

Visit the Cathedral of Syracuse.

Also known as the Duomo di Siracusa, this stunning church is infused with history. It began as the Greek Temple of Athena, built in the fifth century B.C.E., and its original doric columns are still incorporated into the walls of the church. Today, its incredible Baroque facade is the focal point of Ortigia. Multiple layers of architectural history can be seen throughout the cathedral as it has been transformed a number of times by Byzantine, Arabic, and Norman settlers. The piazza surrounding the Cathedral of Syracuse is similarly elegant, with other Baroque-style architecture woven among charming cafes and restaurants. Its the perfect place to stop, have a coffee, and take in the view.

Take a boat tour.

To fully take in the beauty of Ortigia, Sarris recommends hopping on a boat tour. Ortigia Island Excursion offers a variety of options, from a daytime tour of Ortigia and its stunning nearby sea caves to a sunset aperitivo cruise. Soak up the sunshine and learn a bit of history as you discover some of Ortigias defining landmarks from the sea.

Best Nightlife

Zefiro

For great cocktails and a fun vibe with an even better view, head to Zefiro. Sarris describes it as the perfect spot to catch the sunset," and we couldnt agree more. This seafront cocktail bar is ideally located on the western coast of the island, right under Belvedere Largo Aretusa, a bustling piazza that locals and tourists flock to in the evening. Sip an expertly crafted cocktail while watching the sun dip behind the Ionian Sea. For sunbathers visiting in the warmer months, Zefiro also rents out beach recliners for the day in their solarium.

Best Restaurants

Cortile Verga Left: A dish from Cortile Verga; Right: Interior dining room. Left: A dish from Cortile Verga; Right: Interior dining room.

Caseificio Borderi

Looking for lunch near the bustling Ortigia Street Market? Try one of the enormous sandwiches at Caseificio Borderi. Each one is loaded with Italian meats and cheeses, as well as local delicacies like pistachio pesto, artichoke cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and Sicilian caponata. Try to grab a spot at one of the delis outdoor tables or take your sandwich to go and eat it along the water.

Fratelli Burgio

Sarris recommends eating at Fratelli Burgio, the salumeria right next door to Caseificio Borderi. Fratelli Burgio makes excellent salads and sandwiches, but it's especially renowned for its charcuterie boards. Each one features little bowls filled with local meats, cheeses, vegetables, and delicious house-made spreads. Snag a seat outside for lunch or peruse the shop for Sicilian goodies you can take home with you.

Apollonion Osteria da Carlo

If youre craving a seafood dinner, consider Apollonion. Nestled on a side street behind the Temple of Apollo, this small osteria is known for its tasting menu, fully dependent on the daily catches of the day. Reserve a table in the cozy, stone-walled dining room, order a glass of Sicilian wine, and sit back as Apollonion brings out course after course of fresh seafood dishes, all prepared in local styles. The restaurant also offers an a la carte menu.

Cortile Verga

Reserve ahead and spend your evening in this cocktail bar that serves small plates and some of the best drinks in town, says Sarris. Located in a gorgeous 18th-century courtyard, the romantic ambience of Cortile Verga is unmatched. In addition to its mix of classic and creative cocktails, it serves a variety of innovative bites and bruschettas, from salmon tartare and an eggplant mille-feuille to fresh shrimp salad and burrata with anchovies.

Antica Locanda

To experience true Sicilian hospitality, visit this homey dinner spot on the western side of Ortigia. Antica Locanda doles out comforting Sicilian dishes, from platters of fresh fish to generous bowls of seafood pasta. We loved the appetizer of mussels with croutons, but perhaps even more impressive than the food is the warmth of the staff. The chef and owner and his team go out of their way to welcome guests, offer suggestions, and make you feel like youre having dinner in a Sicilian home.

Best Time to Visit

Starcevic/Getty Images A beach on Ortigia island. A beach on Ortigia island.

While you can visit any time of year, Syracuse and Ortigia are best enjoyed during the warmer monthsspring through fall. During the summer, Ortigia (like all of Sicily) experiences high temperatures and sunny skies, perfect for boat rides and taking a dip in the Mediterranean (dont forget to pack your water shoes). For art lovers, a series of classical plays are put on in Neapolis ancient Greek theater every May and June. We especially recommend visiting during the shoulder seasons of March to May and September to October, as the weather is milder and the city is less crowded.

How to Get There

Mlenny/Getty Images Aerial view of Ortigia. Aerial view of Ortigia.

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Ortigia is located about an hour south of the Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA). Once you fly in, you can easily reach the city by taxi. For a less expensive alternative, the Interbus runs every 30 minutes or so between the airport and Siracusa-Corso Gelone 50 (the stop for Ortigia). Tickets can be bought ahead of time online or at an airport kiosk. Alternatively, you can rent a car from the airport. If you choose this option, we recommend asking your hotel for parking options, as many offer convenient valet services for a small, additional fee.

How to Get Around

Once youre on the small island of Ortigia, the best way to get around is by walking. Ortigia is only about two-thirds of a mile long by one-third of a mile wide, making it manageable on foot. If you want to take a taxi to Neapolis Archeological Park or elsewhere in Syracuse, there are active taxi stands right by Ortigias main bridge, near the Temple of Apollo. Syracuses train station is about a mile from Ortigia, and from there, you can take easy day trips to Noto, Ragusa, Catania, and Taormina.



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What did you miss?

One half of the infamous Peru Two, Michaella McCollum, has shared what it is really like behind the walls of prison in another country.

Now starring on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, McCollum has turned her life around since she was released from prison in 2016. Aged 20, she was jailed alongside Melissa Reid after their luggage was found to have 1.5m worth of cocaine at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima in Peru in 2013.

"I do think my time in prison changed me as a person," McCollum said on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, in scenes that aired on Channel 4 on Monday.

What, how and why?

Michaella McCollum in court in Peru after being arrested for smuggling drugs. (Getty)

Facing a grilling from the directing staff in episode two, the author shared her experience of surviving in a prison in Peru. "I ended up spending three years in prison," she said. McCollum said those years of her life were "long" and hard".

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She explained: "It was a maximum security prison, I was in the middle of the desert, it was male and female. It was the worst people. Lots of people were on drugs. There was a lot of drugs. There was lots of abuse. The conditions were awful."

In prison, she used the time to learn a new language and learn a lot about other people as she tried to make the best of the bad situation. "I could learn a lot about myself," she said. The mum-of-two said she had seen things you wouldn't normally see.

Michaella McCollum has turned her life around since prison. (Channel 4)

McCollum revealed how it all started. She came from a family of 10 children; her mum was a single mum with no dad on the scene. Her five older brothers were strict, causing her to want to rebel. "I would sneak out of the house, I would hang out with people who obviously weren't good for me," she said.

"That's when the drugs started. I was heavily addicted to a variety of different drugs at 16: Methadone, ketamine, GB, subutex."

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Seeking a way out, she booked a one-way trip to Ibiza to find her freedom. "I was only in Ibiza for six weeks, I was partying a lot," she said. McCollum met a group of friends where she met a man who asked her to pick up a package in Barcelona.

Melissa Reid was also arrested with Michaella McCollum. (Getty)

"I was getting deeper and deeper into this trap," she said. "I was passed to so many different people at all these different locations. Then put me on a flight to Peru in South America. I knew it was wrong and I shouldn't do it. But I just felt so scared, like what would they do to me, would they do anything to my family? I didn't know how to get out of the situation."

After prison, McCollum remembered the "frenzy" of the media "circus". "It was really hard," she said. "I knew I messed up, I was constantly reminded of that..." At this moment, her voice broke as the tears flowed.

Paps surround Melissa Reid and Michaella McCollum at court in Peru. (Getty)

"Obviously, I knew I did something bad," she said. "But the media made it harder. I tried to go back to normal.. Life wasn't normal anymore. I just turned 24. People were continuing with their normal life, my life was f***ed up."

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McCollum left the chat feeling positive. "I feel better after my chat with them," she told the group of celebrities later. "I feel like they were really positive."

All Directing Staff at Hostage Rescue Location. (Channel 4)

Peru Two drug smuggler Michaella McCollum's life now

In the outside world, McCollum has changed her life for the better. Her life revolves around her two sons, who taught her what unconditional love is.

In a piece to camera, she said: "Some people want me to suffer forever for the mistake I've made. I think I've paid for that, more than enough. I had my two boys... That was me finding my purpose.

"These two people taught me really to love. I'm really happy with my boys and the life we have. I want to challenge myself [on Celebrity SAS] and see how capable I am."

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sundays and Mondays.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A woman was left dead and a man was injured after an early Monday morning shooting in Baker.

That man later died from injuries sustained in the shooting at a hospital in Baton Rouge, according to the Baker Police Department. Authorities identified the man as Brendon Ely, 20.

Baker PD was called around 6:50 a.m. to the double shooting in the 5100 block of Tristian Avenue. Emergency medical services officials confirmed that the East Baton Rouge Coroners Office was called to the scene for one person, and a second shooting victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

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The coroner identified the woman killed as Kyra Hayes, 24.

Baker Police Chief Carl Dunn said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related. Dunn said the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office also responded to process the crime scene.

According to Baker PD, no arrests have been made in this case.

The investigation remains ongoing, and more information will be shared as it becomes available.

Zachary man arrested in deadly trail ride shooting in Ascension Parish

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DENVER (KDVR)  Thornton police are investigating an overnight Sunday double shooting in which one person has died.

Officers responded to the shooting in the 3000 block of East 152nd Place, according to a Thornton Police Department X post from 11:30 p.m. Sunday night. One person died, and another person is in the hospital, police said.

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The preliminary investigation showed the shooting was an isolated incident involving people who knew each other, though police did not say what sort of incident that was.

They did not release any suspect information or say if anyone was in custody.

Police did say there is no threat to the public.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Oahus traffic fatality count continues to rise following a crash in the Kualoa area that claimed the life of a 23-year-old moped rider.

2 critical, 1 dead in separate Oahu crashes

According to the Honolulu Police Department, the crash happened shortly before 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Officials said the man was driving southbound on Kamehameha Highway when he attempted to execute a wheelie, lost control and swerved into the northbound lanes.

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He then collided head-on with a 53-year-old driver.

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Paramedics with Honolulu Emergency Medical Services responded to the collision and treated the man for life-threatening injuries.

He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

HPD said this is Oahus 48th traffic fatality of 2025, compared to 23 at the same time last year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Harvey police believe a man who died after a shooting early Sunday morning may have been targeted in retaliation after seven people were shot at a house party in the city on Saturday night.

A spokesperson for the city said a man was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds inside a minivan in the 200 block of Calumet Boulevard early Sunday morning. According to the Cook County medical examiners office, the man who died was 28-year-old Jeremiah Adtutubofuh, of Chicago.

Preliminary reports connected his death with a shooting Saturday at a house party in the 14400 block of Des Plaines Street that left one suspected shooter dead and seven people injured, including a 4-year-old boy, the spokesperson for the city said.

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At a news conference Monday in front of the Harvey police station, police Chief Cameron Biddings provided more details about the shooting, and said the violence was part of a longstanding conflict between individuals with a long and disruptive history within our city.

We now know who the bad actors are. These are not random acts of violence or anonymous individuals, Biddings said. We are very familiar with them, and frankly, they have caused harm within our community for far too long.

Biddings said police have increased patrols in the area and are looking at pursuing charges where applicable.

Anyone who continues to endanger this community will be held accountable, he said, encouraging anyone with information on either crime to contact police directly.

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According to incident reports, the party was underway just after 8 p.m. Saturday when two people arrived and opened fire. One of the partygoers was armed and licensed for concealed carry and returned fire, striking and killing one attacker and injuring the other. The injured suspect was taken to a hospital in stable condition and is now in police custody.

The man who was killed was Charles Lipsey, 24, of Richton Park, according to the medical examiners office.

Lipsey was awaiting trial in three court cases that centered on his alleged possession and sale of stolen vehicles and forging documents at the time of his death. Lipsey spent about a year and a half behind bars after pleading guilty to a 2019 instance of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, records show.

In April authorities accused him of using Facebook Marketplace to sell a stolen 2023 Toyota Highlander in Lansing. About six weeks later, court records show Lipsey making a separate appearance after Chicago police arrested him for allegedly meeting a Schaumburg teenager in Chicagos Fuller Park neighborhood to sell a stolen 2022 Toyota Highlander.

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And on July 7, a Cook County judge issued an arrest warrant for Lipsey that accused him of using a fake vehicle title and fake drivers license to sell a 2021 Jeep Cherokee in Country Club Hills. He was arrested July 23 at a status hearing regarding the alleged Schaumburg vehicle sale, according to court records.

He had planned to plead not guilty to two of the three charges, records show, and had not yet been arraigned for the case that came from Country Club Hills. His next court appearance had been set for Aug. 11, records show.

Preliminary reports indicated that on Saturday five people other than the suspects were shot, the youngest of whom was a 4-year-old boy. The boy is in stable condition at a hospital, and so are the other four victims, according to a city spokesperson.

Harvey City Council members Colby Chapman and Tracy Key were at Mondays news conference, though they were not invited to speak.

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Key, who chairs the citys public safety committee, highlighted an upcoming meeting on issues including the most recent shootings. He invited concerned residents to show up to the Harvey City Hall at 6 p.m. Aug. 13 to be vocal and speak about how they feel about their public safety in the city.

People are worried and we need to make sure were on the right communication level, Key said, adding that departments including police only communicate with residents, including aldermen, through the mayors office.

It makes it difficult for us to call and find out whats going on or to get information, Key said, adding that he wants residents to feel comfortable bringing their concerns to police.

A statement by Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill posted on social media earlier Monday called for Harvey residents to come together in healing and rebuilding after the shootings.

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My thoughts are with the families of the victims, especially those now tending to the trauma and physical wounds of their loved ones, the 5th District commissioner said. No child should ever have to experience the terror of gunfire. No parent or resident should ever fear that a community celebration will end in chaos. These victims are our neighbors, our friends, our children.

McCaskill added that she is helping organize a community town hall and prayer vigil in the coming days.
MOSCOW, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Kremlin on Monday urged caution about U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks on nuclear submarine deployment against Russia.

Trump on Friday said on Truth Social that he had ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines "in the appropriate regions" following his spat with Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chair of Russia's Security Council.

Trump said Sunday that the two nuclear submarines have arrived "where they have to be," two days after he ordered their deployment.

"We are very careful about any statements related to nuclear issues ... And, of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric," said Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Meanwhile, Peskov said the Kremlin does not rule out the possibility of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff this week, adding that Moscow considers contacts with the envoy "important, meaningful and very useful."

Earlier, Trump said Witkoff could go to Russia this week. On April 25, Putin and Witkoff discussed the possibility of direct Russia-Ukraine talks during the envoy's last visit to Moscow.

On July 28, Trump cut short the deadline for Moscow to end the conflict with Ukraine to "10 or 12 days" from the initial 50-day timeline, citing disappointment with "Moscow's lack of willingness to compromise." Later that day, Medvedev said Trump is playing an "ultimatum game with Russia," calling his threat "a step towards war ... with his own country." 
The Brief

It has been one month since devastating floods in Kerrville, Texas, killed hundreds and impacted thousands of people.

Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller, who assisted in the recovery for 14 days, said the destruction was worse than any he had seen since working overseas after the Sri Lanka tsunami.

Miller, who is still reflecting on the emotional toll, is urging people to continue helping those impacted by the floods.

HOUSTON - This Sunday marks one month since the floods in Kerrville tore apart many families and a community.

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The floodwaters may have killed hundreds, but thousands were impacted.

Many people from the area donated or volunteered their time to help, including Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller.

Tim Miller reflects on Central Texas flood

What they're saying

Tim Miller says he was in Kerrville for 14 days, and the pictures and videos shown did not compare to the devastation he saw with his own eyes.

"I never want to go through it again, but that doesn't mean I wont do it," Miller said.

"I got there literally just hours after it hit, and I couldn't believe the devastation. It was ironic how fast the water went down, the water went down as fast as it went up."

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He says in a few minutes that the flood had destroyed a town for generations, and while reflecting in Kerrville, he says the emotions kicked in when he got home.

"In minutes, it took away everything, and then it left piles of debris 20 plus feet high, so when we got there, and we had all this huge equipment, and it was slowly sifting through all of these debris piles, and you get so far you see a hand sticking out, and you uncover a person and that certainly happened far more than one time," Miller said.

"You know, I worked during Katrina and Harvey and other storms and in 2005, when I took people to Sri Lanka, that reminded me more of what I saw in Sri Lanka."

Miller said once he returned he knew he and his large team had done a great job, especially working with the equipment in the conditions, but it was hard for him to not think about what else could be done to help.

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"What I saw over there with the people that were really affected, and they lost a loved one and to be around them people and their sadness," Miller said.

"What could we have done, what could we have done better?"

Local perspective

Miller added that while it was heartbreaking to see all the death and destruction, the positive was seeing all the amazing people that came together to help, even on his daughter's birthday at the command center.

"There are so many lives that are never ever going to be the same, but I think through the devastation, we met some of the greatest people that we worked with, out there," Miller said.

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"One of the neat things that happened was because we were working hard ourselves, and we got back to the command center and that day was my daughter Lauras birthday. So it was a reminder of why I do what I do."

Miller says since hes been back, he has been taking time to himself and reflecting on what happened in Kerrville, but he hopes people will still continue to help those impacted.

"I dont want to do it again. Im not saying I won't, but you dont get over that in two weeks when you come home," said Miller.

Miller says there isnt a word to describe what those impacted will go through for a long time, but its important that people continue to help any way they can.

The Source

Information in this article was provided from interviews conducted by FOX 26's Leslie DelasBour.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A semitruck driver had to be airlifted after his vehicle rolled over on Sunday evening, Aug. 3 along New Mexico Highway 9, Sunland Park Fire said.

Sunland Park Fire and Dona Ana County Fire Rescue were called out to the rollover at about 5:15 p.m. Sunday. The crash happened at Mile Marker 130 on Highway 9, which travels between Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico.

The man was pinned in the truck and needed to be extricated, Sunland Park Fire said.

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The man was then airlifted to a local hospital. His condition was not known.

DAFR provided the patient care. Sunland Park Fire set up the landing zone for the helicopter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
AMERICUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Americus Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) are investigating a Saturday afternoon shooting that left one person injured.

Police say on August 2, 2025 at 3:56 p.m., officers were dispatched to an apartment complex on Knollwood Drive to reports of a person shot. Upon arrival, officers found one male victim with a gunshot wound.

The victim, who was not named, was transported from the scene by EMS personnel. No other injuries have been reported at this time.

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Police ask that anyone with information related to the investigation call the Americus Police Department at 229-924-3677 or after hours at 229-937-9011.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Annie Cioffi drops off a ballot outside the Denver Elections Division office on June 25, 2024, primary Election Day. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

About 200 new laws that Colorado lawmakers passed this year go into effect Aug. 6, ranging from comprehensive updates to wage theft protections to smaller tweaks in state statutes.

Here are some of the new laws that Coloradans should know.

Stronger voter protections

Colorado lawmakers passed stronger voter protections this year in anticipation of federal rollbacks of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The new law protects access for voters in jail and allows the attorney general to enforce voting rights. It bans efforts to limit someones right to vote based on gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.

Updated wage theft law

A new wage theft law will impose fines on employers that misclassify employee types that affect their compensation. Fines range from $5,000 to $50,000 for multiple violations that are not fixed within two months. The new law will also reduce the time the state needs to wait before paying an aggrieved employee out of the states Wage Theft Enforcement Fund from six months to four months, so those people will get their earned money faster.

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The new law will also protect contractors from retaliation for taking protection under wage and hour laws. It also makes illegal efforts to use an employees immigration status against them to impact their pay and responsibilities at work

Starting next July, the state Labor Department will adjudicate wage theft claims up to $13,000, double the current threshold.

Free state park access to tribal members

Enrolled members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe are now able to enter any of Colorados 43 state parks for free with a current tribal identification card. During the bills legislative process, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in northeastern Utah attempted to amend it to include their members.

By next June, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will need to expand its efforts to engage with the states indigenous communities about state parks, according to the bill.

Protection for transit workers

It is now misdemeanor harassment to interfere with a transit worker, such as a bus driver or train operator, while they are doing their job. Additionally, the Regional Transportation District that covers the Denver metro area is now eligible to receive part of the $350 million voters approved last year for law enforcement agencies and personnel.

Official state mushroom designation

Colorado officially has a state mushroom: the Agaricus julius, also known as the emperor mushroom. The bill behind the designation was a project from the politics club at Horizon High School in Thornton. Colorado joins seven other states with official state mushrooms.

Labeling for gas stoves

Retailers will need to affix warning labels on gas stoves for sale in the state that read Understand the air quality implications of having an indoor gas stove, with a link to a webpage from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment about the health impacts of gas stoves. Research has shown that gas stoves can lead to respiratory conditions and cancer.

Limit on public pet sales

It is now illegal to sell a pet, advertise the sale or offer a pet for adoption on the side of the road, in a parking lot or in a public market. People and businesses licensed under the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act are still able to sell animals in public spaces. The new law does not apply to livestock sales or hunting dogs.

Privacy for ranchers

The information of people who request compensation for destruction caused by wildlife, such as wolf killings of livestock, are not subject to open records requests. That includes the persons name, phone number, home address, business address, personal email address and business email address.

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Information about conflict mitigation, the number of damage claims and the amount of money paid out to claimants are still subject to requests.

The bills legislative declaration states that ranchers have been reluctant to file claims following wolf depredations out of fear that people will contact them or go to their property to view the wolves. Colorado voters approved gray wolf reintroduction in 2020, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife began relocating wolves to the state in December 2023. Since then, there have been numerous livestock killings in Western Slope counties.

Punishment for AI generated pornographic photos

Realistic, sexually-explicit photos created by artificial intelligence are now covered under Colorados existing child pornography laws. It is also a crime to post computer-generated explicit photos of someone without their consent or with the intent of harming them. The new law creates a pathway for the subject of an obscene AI-generated photo to sue the person who posted the image.

Dog breeds in rental insurance

Insurers are not allowed to refuse, cancel or increase the cost of coverage for multifamily and rental property based on the breed of dog a policy owner has. Additionally, renters in publicly-financed housing will be allowed to have up to two pets starting next year.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
On the Maes in Pwllheli, a mobile sign on the pavement advertises a shop's wares: "Tarot, Crystals, Wicca, Reiki."

Take a look above the shop window and you will see another sign, a blink-and-you'd-miss-it slate plaque.

In Welsh, it reads: "Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru was established in a meeting here on 5 August, 1925."

It is an incongruous scene, which belies the political significance of the location.

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Six men from two distinct nationalist groups met here a century ago, during the week of the National Eisteddfod in this corner of the Llyn Peninsula, to write a new chapter of Welsh political history.

In day-to-day politics, it is easy to indulge in hyperbole. The dizzying speed of events can distort our judgment as to their true significance.

But take a 100 years of history, and you get a clearer perspective of a party's impact on the country and its people.

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So, what to make of Plaid Cymru, as it reaches its centenary?

"Plaid Cymru has now come to the mainstream of Welsh political life," said former Plaid MP and assembly member, Cynog Dafis.

To the mind of Elin Jones, the current Llywydd (the Welsh Parliament's presiding officer) and ex-Plaid Welsh government minister: "The party needs to own its role as the alternative left of centre party of government."

Leanne Wood, the party's first female leader, reflects: "What would I put on Plaid Cymru's report card after 100 years? Good effort, great enthusiasm, could do better."

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Wood's former university lecturer and Wales' fourth Labour first minister, Mark Drakeford, adds: "I think Plaid Cymru remains now, in significant parts, a party of protest rather than a party of government."

While Nick Bourne, former leader of the Welsh Conservatives in Cardiff Bay and, to date, one of the opposition leaders who was closest to securing Plaid the top spot in the Welsh government following the failed coalition negotiations of 2007, said: "I think if one were to ask members of the Welsh public, what do you identify Plaid Cymru with, they'd clearly say independence, the language and the culture.

"Would they identify a single other policy? I'm not sure I could, to be honest.

"So that I think is a challenge for Plaid Cymru," he added.

The 1966 Carmarthen byelection, won by Gwynfor Evans pictured with his daughters at the time, was described as an "earth-shattering result" [Getty Images]

At its inception, Plaid was primarily a social movement.

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The original six were motivated by the ambition to promote the Welsh language and its culture, as well as securing self-government for Wales.

In which case, Wales has devolution, the number of Welsh speakers is at least stable, and cultural institutions are plentiful.

But is a political party not ultimately judged by its record at the ballot box?

It took more than 40 years since its establishment, until 1966, in the Westminster by-election in Carmarthen, for Plaid Cymru to make its big breakthrough.

"It was an earth-shattering result and it was an epoch-making one as well," said former Plaid leader Dafydd Wigley.

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And yet, Gwynfor Evans lost the seat at the next general election  he would reclaim the constituency in a subsequent vote.

Despite the odd good result  the first Welsh Assembly election in 1999 in particular - it has been a patchy and often poor electoral record. The self-described "Party of Wales" has fallen way behind Labour and struggling to register in many parts of Wales.

The locations of the two Eisteddfods that currently bookend Plaid's history  Pwllheli in 1925, and this week's gathering in Wrexham where the party will celebrate its centenary  illustrate the point.

It took until 1974 for Plaid Cymru to first represent the Pwllheli area in Westminster, but it is now right in the heart of the party's electoral fortress on the western coast.

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Wrexham, on the other hand, has never come close to electing a Plaid MP or Senedd member.

The party has never won a Wales-wide election, and never has there been a Plaid first minister.

And yet, there has been this constant tension within the party as to Plaid's true purpose  is it to be the agent that changes Wales or does it pressure Labour to move in the same direction?

Back in 2021, Plaid Cymru, having come third in that year's Senedd election, signed a co-operation agreement with the Welsh Labour government to ensure some of its policies would see the light of day.

Plaid Cymru first won success at a general election in 1974 when Dafydd Elis-Thomas, left, and Dafydd Wigley, right, won seats [Getty Images]

Speaking on the steps of the Senedd following the announcement of the deal, the then Plaid leader, Adam Price, said: "To us in Plaid Cymru, Plaid isn't the most important word  Wales comes first for us every time."

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Nine months away from the next electoral test and with Rhun ap Iorwerth, a new leader at the helm, the party has a different ambition.

Wigley himself admits he wasn't ready to lead in 1999, so far Plaid's best Cardiff Bay election result: "We'd done our work as an opposition party and had a platform for government, but we just hadn't got all the ducks in a row, as it were."

With 2026 in sight, Plaid now has its eyes very much set on the top spot and, if some opinion polls are to be believed, it could genuinely happen.

Next year's Senedd election, with a new voting system more reflective of votes cast, is shaping up to be the most fascinating since the start of devolution

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Can Labour keep the party's Rolls Royce campaigning operation purring to maintain its grip on power? Is Reform UK about to steal the show and shake up the established order?

Or is it Plaid Cymru's time?

That chapter of history is yet to be written.

Watch 'Plaid Cymru at 100' on BBC One Wales at 2240 on Tuesday 5 August or catch-up on iPlayer
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevada isnt known for oil wells, but the federal government is preparing to lease 11 parcels totaling 20,000 acres for oil and gas development north of Las Vegas.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Monday opened a 30-day public comment period on plans to lease 19,957 acres in eastern Nye County, within BLMs Ely District. The land is in the White River Valley, southeast of Railroad Valley, where almost all of the states exploration has been focused.

The new leases available are along State Route 318, a road known for its twice-yearly open road race between the towns of Lund and Hiko.

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To participate in public comment, go to the BLMs ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2039811/510. Follow the Participate Now link on the pages left side. The comment period ends on Sept. 3.

President Donald Trump has made oil and gas production an emphasis of his domestic policy, a major shift from the Biden administrations attention to renewable energy development. The Trump administration is reducing red tape for businesses to apply for leases, fast-tracking oil and gas.

The BLM reports it has received interest in the parcels and proposes issuing leases on March 11, 2026.

Before development operations can begin, an operator must apply for a drilling permit detailing development plans. The BLM reviews applications, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders, according to a BLM news release.

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12-year-old Gaza refugee brought to Atlanta as part of massive medical evacuation

This week, Palestinian children from Gaza are arriving across the U.S. as a part of a medical evacuation through the nonprofit, Heal Palestine.

Yassin Alghalban, 12, is among the latest group to escape the conflict, arriving in Atlanta Sunday afternoon.

While searching for his toys in the rubble of their destroyed home on April 12, 2024, the 12-year-old lost both of his legs when an airstrike hit.

Yassins mother, Fadwa Almasry, said theyve been trying to get medical care since then, but have faced several challenges in their attempts to evacuate, including the closure of the Rafah crossing and random security blocks.

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Steve Sosebee, co-founder of Heal Palestine, says they have been able to bring dozens of children over to the U.S. over the last year and a half.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

We actually have the largest single evacuation of injured kids coming to the United States today, Sosebee told Channel 2s Brittany Kleinpeter.

Sosebee welcomed Yassin and his family on Sunday afternoon, joined by a crowd of metro Atlanta supporters.

The health sector in Gaza has been destroyed the so the treatment he should be getting in his land among his family and his people is not available to him, said Sosebee.

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Yassin not only lost his legs but also lost his father in a bombing. The 12-year-old and his siblings have been living on one or no meals each day.

Theyre all suffering from different levels of malnutrition, added Sosebee.

Yassins doctor, who didnt want to be identified for safety and security reasons, shared that the 12-year-old will begin treatment this week, and they are looking at getting him prosthetics.

Through a translator, Yassins mother shared this sentiment about her sons care.

Im very happy as a mom to be able to have this opportunity for him to be treated, and what I want to see is Yassin to walk again. And I want him to get back to normal life, where hes earning an education. I want him to be a teacher or a doctor, said Almasry.

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (WJW)  More than a dozen sedated and bound toucans were discovered hidden in a car at the Mexican border.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a 35-year-old California man was first detained at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on June 25 after a Customs and Border Protection canine showed a change of behavior while screening the mans Volkswagen Passat.

Ohio woman wins $1M but wont get half

Credit: Elba Benabe-Carlo/USFWS

According to a media release, an officer found a bird wrapped in cloth and duct-taped underneath the cars dashboard.

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Crocodiles euthanized after repeated escapes from abandoned compound, cannibalistic behavior

At the time, the officer did not know what the object was until it began to move and flutter. Officers then pried open the side panel of the dashboard and discovered a total of 14 sedated juvenile Keel-billed toucans concealed within the compartment, wrote the DOJ in a media release.

Officials said the exotic birds are illicitly sold as pets and can cost up to $5,000 each.

Credit: Credit: Elba Benabe-Carlo/USFWS Credit: Credit: Elba Benabe-Carlo/USFWS Credit: Credit: Elba Benabe-Carlo/USFWS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shared pictures of the birds on social media and wrote that bird trafficking is not only illegal, but it also causes incredible stress on the animals, which can lead to death.

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The suspect in the case could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Seventeen heat records were broken in Japan on Monday, the weather agency said, after the country sweltered through its hottest ever June and July.

Heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent worldwide because of human-caused climate change, scientists say, and Japan is no exception.

The city of Komatsu, in the central region of Ishikawa, saw a new record of 40.3 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

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Toyama city in Toyama prefecture, also in the central region, hit 39.8C (103F), the highest temperature since records began, according to the JMA.

Fifteen other locations across cities and towns soared to new highs between 35.7C (96F) and 39.8C, added the JMA, which monitors temperatures at more than 900 points in Japan.

On July 30, Japan experienced its highest recorded temperature, a sizzling 41.2C (106F) in the western region of Hyogo.

The rainy season ended about three weeks earlier than usual in western regions of Japan, another record.

With low levels of rainfall and heat, several dams in the northern region were almost empty, the land ministry said, with farmers worried that a water shortage and extreme heat could result in a poor harvest.

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Experts warn Japan's beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to the warmer climate, or sometimes not fully blossoming because autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering.

The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji was absent for the longest recorded period last year, not appearing until early November, compared with the average of early October.

Japan this year had its hottest June and July since data collection began in 1898, with the weather agency warning of further "severe heat" in the months ahead.

The speed of temperature increases across the world is not uniform.

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Of the continents, Europe has seen the fastest warming per decade since 1990, followed closely by Asia, according to global data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The South Dakota Highway patrol has released a list of crashes and arrests that occurred over the course of one day at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

According to a press release from the Department of Public Safety, there were a total of 18 crashes between Saturday and Sunday, with one of those crashes being deadly. One of the crashes was a non-injury crash.

Fatal Crash:

9:34 a.m. Saturday, a 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling westbound in the passing lane of US 16A near mile marker 56. The driver was unable to negotiate a curve in the roadway, tipping onto its right side and sliding into eastbound lanes, colliding with three eastbound motorcycles. The 58-year-old male driver of the 2019 Harley died from his injuries. The other three riders received serious, non-life threatening injuries. Helmet use for all four individuals is under investigation.

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One dead after four-motorcycle crash near Mt. Rushmore

Injury Crashes:

9:26 a.m. Saturday, a 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle was turning north onto US 16 from the Happy Place Campground. The front brake locked up, causing the rider to lay the motorcycle down. The driver and motorcycle fell onto the right side, and the rider was not wearing a helmet. The rider sustained minor injuries and was transported to Rapid City Monument hospital.

10:49 a.m. Saturday, a 2013 Victory motorcycle was westbound on SD Highway 44. The motorcycle had a flat tire, and as the driver was slowing down to pull over, he lost control and entered the ditch. The driver and passenger were separated from the motorcycle. They were not wearing helmets and received serious, non-life threatening injuries.

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12:31 p.m. Saturday, a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle was northbound on SD 87 near mile marker 62. The driver failed to negotiate a left turn and ran off the roadway to the right, travelling up an embankment. The driver was separated from the motorcycle, and the motorcycle fell on top of the rider. The driver was not wearing a helmet and received serious, non-life threatening injuries and was LifeFlight-ed to a hospital.

1:01 p.m. Saturday, a 2024 Harley Davidson trike was northbound on SD 87, and a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling south. The 2009 Harley crossed into north bound traffic and crashed into the 2024 Harley. Both riders were separated from their motorcycles. The driver of the 2024 Harley was not injured, the passenger of the 2024 and the driver of the 2009 sustained minor injuries and were taken to Monument Health in Custer. All 3 individuals were wearing helmets.

2:26 p.m. Saturday, A 2015 Harley Davidson was westbound on I-90. The driver struck the rumble strips as they were negotiating the curve in the roadway, causing the Harley to enter the median. After entering the median, the driver was separated from the motorcycle and came to rest in the median. The rider was not wearing a helmet and sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries.

4:55 p.m. Saturday, A 2023 Harley Davidson (unit 1) was westbound on I-90 in the right lane. A 2024 Harley Davidson (unit 2) was also traveling west on I-90 in the left lane. Unit 1 tried to pass Unit 2 and made contact with Unit 2. After contact the driver of Unit 1 lost control, entering the north ditch. The driver of Unit 1 received minor injuries. The driver of Unit 2 was not injured. Both were wearing helmets.

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5:13 p.m. Saturday, A Ford Escape was rear ended by a motorcycle while stopped at a stop light. The motorcycle rider sustained serious, life-threatening injuries and was flown to Monument Health in Rapid City. The motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet. The driver of the Ford Escape was not injured.

Sturgis Rally riders part of states crash numbers

5:44 p.m. Saturday A 2012 Ford F150 was stopped in the west bound lane of US 14A while waiting for traffic to make a left turn onto 2 Bit Road. A 2025 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling west on US 14A. The 2025 Harley collided with the rear-end of the Ford F150. The driver of the Harley Davidson received minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. The driver of the Ford was not injured, and was wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the Harley was not wearing a helmet.

6:40 p.m. Saturday, A 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling east on I-90 near mile marker 41. The Harley Davidson attempted to exit, but realized the road was closed. The driver laid the bike on its side and slid under the gate, coming to a complete stop. The driver was not wearing a helmet and was transported to the hospital with serious, non-life threatening injuries.

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12:44 a.m. Sunday, a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle (unit 1) was south bound on SD 79. A 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle (unit 2) was traveling north on SD 79. Both riders were straddling the centerline and struck each other. Unit 1 came to rest in the south bound lane of SD 79. Unit 2 ran off the road and came to a rest in the ditch. Both drivers were transported to the hospital. The driver of unit 1 received was wearing a helmet, and sustained life-threatening injuries, the driver of unit 2 sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries. Helmet use for the driver of unit 2 is under investigation.

12:50 a.m. Sunday, Sturgis Police attempted to stop a 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle for exhibition driving. The motorcycle fled, leading to a police pursuit. The motorcycle left the lane of travel at high speed and entered the ditch at MM 52 on US 14A. The driver was not wearing a helmet and sustained serious, life-threatening injuries. The driver was transported to Monument Health via helicopter.

All information released so far is only preliminary, according to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

In addition to crashes, the South Dakota Highway Patrol reported that from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, there were a total of 21 DUI arrests, a total of 31 misdemeanor drug arrests, and a total of 14 felony drug arrests.

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Highway Patrol also issued a total of 252 citations and 592 warnings over the course of Saturday to Sunday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
VILNIUS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Monday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas' government and appointed Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius to lead the interim administration.

The president now has up to 15 days to nominate a candidate for permanent prime minister to Lithuania's parliament, Seimas. Sadzius will serve as the head of the caretaker government until a new Cabinet is formed.

Paluckas announced his decision to step down on Thursday last week after law enforcement authorities opened two pre-trial investigations into his business activities, amid growing public concerns. He confirmed his decision during an emergency government meeting on Monday morning.

According to the Constitution of Lithuania, when the prime minister resigns, his cabinet must resign too, and the president must be notified on the same day.

The new prime minister will be nominated by the Social Democrats, the largest group in the Lithuanian parliament. The party will decide on its nomination at a meeting due on Wednesday. 
Authors note, 8/6/25: The victims age has been corrected. We apologize for the error.

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  An investigation is underway after a 43-year-old man died at an Austin hospital early Monday, according to a press release from the Travis County Sheriffs Office.

TCSO said Austin Police called around 1:35 a.m. to report a man, identified in court documents as a 43-year-old Jay Ellis, arrived at a hospital with gunshot wounds.

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Jay Ellis arrived at the hospital around 1:13 a.m., but died at 1:34 a.m., according to the release.

APD told TCSO that a person brought the wounded man in from a location near the 11400 block of Moore Road, which is in TCSOs jurisdiction, according to the release.

TCSO said it arrested a relative of the victim as a suspect. Court documents identified that person as 18-year-old Joshua Michael Ellis.

Travis County Jail records showed Joshua Ellis faced a first-degree murder charge. As of Wednesday, he remained booked in jail on a bond of $100,000.

According to an arrest affidavit, Joshua Ellis claimed the shooting was in self-defense.

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The case is proceeding as TCSOs fourth homicide investigation of 2025, according to the release. The sheriffs office said there isnt an ongoing threat to the public in this case.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  The Wilbur Cross High School student that was detained by ICE last week is expected to return to New England after being moved to three facilities across the country.

Esdras, 18, was allegedly picked up by ICE while working at a car wash on July 21.

Officials: New Haven student detained by ICE

ICE is arresting people who have no violent history that are productive members of the community so its really disheartening when they have arrested a young boy, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said.

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Since then, the community has been working to get him legal support and bring him back home to Connecticut.

We are not going to stop fighting we are going to keep having protests we are going to apply pressure because its unjust the way they took him, Ambar Santiago-Rojas with the New Haven Immigrants Coalition said.

Within two weeks, the 18-year-old was brought to detainment facilities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Louisiana.

His lawyer Tina Colon Williams said he was still in Louisiana as of Sunday and she is certain that he is not in New England yet.

She told News 8 that Esdras will continue to be detained when he returns but she has not been able to speak with him directly.

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According to Colon Williams, he was scheduled to leave for Guatemala last Thursday morning and the ticket was cancelled.

Community fighting for return of New Haven high school student detained by ICE

Its just inhumane because he was entering his junior year of high school he should be worrying what do I need to get for school supplies, what classes do I need to take but instead, now he is behind bars and wondering am I going to be deported or not, Santiago-Rojas said. He was just working and trying to have a better life.

ICE sent the following statement to News 8:

If they have a valid credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings, but if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation.

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It is unknown which facility Esdras is being taken to, but the community said they will not give up on him.

News 8 will continue to provide updates.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
This article was first pubished on Aug 4, 2025 and has since been updated

Who are they? Who are these faceless bureaucrats within the Ministry of Defence who have decided  seemingly without proper explanation, independent oversight or public announcement  to seal certain documents for a century?

It seems extremely unlikely that the documents in question contain secrets that would endanger Britains national security. What they probably hold are facts that could end three decades of trauma for the families of 29 fallen personnel, but would severely embarrass the Royal Air Force.

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Those personnel included 25 senior members of the British intelligence operation in Northern Ireland during the latter years of the Troubles, plus four RAF aircrew. They died en route from Belfast to a counter-terrorism conference in Scotland when their Chinook helicopter crashed into a foggy hillside on the Mull of Kintyre on June 2 1994.

Credit: Getty Images/ITN

The bereaved families are not natural troublemakers or radicals. They are people who believe, or once believed, in the state their loved ones served. But they have now begun legal action against the MoD in their search for the truth and are disgusted by what they see as 31 years of lies, deceit and obfuscation from a ministry notoriously reluctant to admit its errors.

Im utterly shocked. I cant see what justification they could have for sealing those documents away for a hundred years, says Chris Cook, the younger brother of Flt Lt Richard Cook, one of the Chinooks two pilots whom the RAF accused of gross negligence until it was forced to retract the claim 16 years later.

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Were 31 years on, and the pain is still very real, especially given that we dont know the truth and are still being lied to by the MoD, says Andy Tobias, a product manager from Watford who was eight when his father, Lt Col John Tobias of the Army Intelligence Corps, was killed.

Andy Tobias: The pain is still very real, especially given that we dont know the truth and are still being lied to by the MoD - Heathcliff O'Malley

Even now, Tobias grows tearful as he talks about the father he adored and recalls their last hug. He still wears his fathers dog tag around his neck and has tattoos in his honour  an army boot, a Chinook and the doomed flights call sign.

The MoD has completely lost its moral compass. It has shown no honesty, no integrity, and its those values that all those men and women joined the MoD for, he says.

I think weve been deceived and lied to, says Lucy Sparks, a human resources executive from Plumstead, in south-east London, who was two when her father, Major Gary Sparks of the Royal Artillery, was killed.

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I can only think the documents are being locked up for the protection of some senior bods and that some sort of cover-up is going on.

Tim Reid, who covered the story as a BBC journalist, is now spokesman for the Chinook Justice Campaign, which represents almost all the bereaved families, including 47 children of the dead. There appears to be something rotten at the heart of the MoD, he declares.

It seems unwilling to be truthful and transparent. Instead it lies and obfuscates to cover things up.

Chinook ZD576 took off from RAF Aldergrove near Belfast at 5.42pm on that fateful day. The pilots were Flt Lts Jonathan Tapper and Richard Cook, both members of the elite special forces with exemplary records. Their passengers included members of the Army, MI5 and the Royal Ulster Constabularys Special Branch, plus one civil servant.

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The helicopter crashed into the hillside while flying through fog 20 minutes later, killing everyone on board. Debris was scattered over a wide expanse of charred ground, suggesting the aircraft had struck the hillside at speed. There was no black box or flight data recorder on board.

A year later, an RAF board of inquiry found no evidence of human error and was unable to determine the cause of the accident. However, its report included an overview by two RAF Air Marshals, William Wratten and John Day, who accused the pilots of gross negligence despite RAF regulations requiring absolutely no doubt whatsoever before such a verdict could be reached.

Those two damning words inevitably captured the headlines.

The pilots families were appalled that their sons were effectively being accused of manslaughter. They refused to accept the charge. Cooks father, John, a former RAF fighter pilot who later commanded the Concorde fleet, recalled that his son had expressed concerns about the Chinooks safety and had increased his life insurance just before the crash.

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The families thus began a 16-year battle to clear their sons names, a battle aided by assorted parliamentary inquiries and an array of investigative journalists, aeronautical experts and past or present members of the RAF and MoD who were dismayed by the apparent scapegoating of the pilots.

In 1996, a fatal accident inquiry was held in Paisley. At least one RAF aeronautical expert later claimed that the MoD ordered him not to testify. Other information was allegedly withheld.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, defence secretary at the time of the crash, later told the BBC, The concern is that the MoD and RAF were themselves deciding what information was relevant to the inquiry, whereas some of us might suggest that was for the inquiry to decide.

The Chinook crashed into the hillside while flying through fog near the Mull of Kintyre in 1994, killing all aboard - Chris Bacon

Sir Stephen Young, who chaired the inquiry, nonetheless concluded that it has not been established to my satisfaction that the pilots were to blame.

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Over time, it emerged, through leaks and investigations, but never through voluntary submissions from the MoD or RAF, that this and other RAF Chinooks had a history of mechanical problems.

ZD576 entered service as a Mark 1 in 1983. In 1994, it was upgraded to a Mark 2 with a new computerised fuel control system known as full authority digital engine control (FADEC). Twice in the week after its delivery, one of its two engines had to be replaced due to faults in FADEC.

Further incidents with this and other Mark 2s over the following years triggered a series of internal memos from Boscombe Down, the MoDs aircraft testing establishment in Wiltshire.

One warned of the unquantifiable risk associated with the unverified nature of the FADEC.

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Another called FADEC positively dangerous and said its software falls significantly short of the standard required and expected for a safety critical system.

A third suggested that it should not be relied on in any form whatsoever.

Chinook ZD576, the aircraft involved in the 1994 crash, pictured here in 1987 - Wiltshirespotter

It also transpired that the RAF was engaged in legal action against Boeing, the Chinooks American manufacturer, over FADECs failures. Rifkind was appalled that his officials had not told him this. How on earth was I not told [] how come the secretary of state was not informed about that? he told the BBC last year.

The most damning memo was written on the very day of the crash by the commanding officer of Boscombe Downs Rotary Wing Test Squadron (RWTS). It referred to several serious incidents involving FADEC, including two engine flameouts, and concluded: RWTS deem it imperative, in the strongest possible terms, the RAF should be provided with a recommendation to cease Chinook HC2 operations.

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Earlier this week Robert Burke, a retired squadron leader who was an RAF helicopter test pilot at the time of the crash, claimed the doomed flight was a show flight intended to demonstrate that the Chinook Mark 2 was safe.

The RAF were desperately keen to demonstrate to the army that the Chinook Mark 2 conversion programme was ok, and the best possible way of demonstrating this was to fly this very important collection of service passengers, he told told BBC Radio Ulster. Everybody thought it was an incredibly stupid idea.

Narrowly focused inquiries by three parliamentary committees deemed the gross negligence charge against the pilots unwarranted.

On the 10th anniversary of the crash, John Major, the former prime minister, joined calls to overturn that cruel and unjustified verdict, saying it was time to remove the burden that has lain too long upon their reputations and their families peace of mind.

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The MoD stood its ground, repeatedly insisting that no new evidence had come to light to warrant reopening or overturning the verdict. They clearly tried to shut our campaign down, says Chris Cook.

They blocked us every way.

Chris Cook stands at the grave of his brother, Flt Lt Richard Cook - Heathcliff O'Malley

But political pressure grew until, in 2010, a new inquiry was finally ordered by the ConservativeLiberal coalition government, fulfilling a Tory election manifesto pledge.

Led by Lord Philip, a former judge, it labelled the MoDs intransigence extremely regrettable and demanded that the gross negligence verdict be set aside.

Seventeen years after the crash, Liam Fox, the defence secretary at the time, finally apologised to the pilots families in the House of Commons, but by then Cooks father had been dead for six years.

Chris Cook, himself a commercial pilot based in Farnham, Surrey, says his fathers battle to clear his older sons name had consumed his life and hastened his decline. Practically his last words were: Keep fighting.

The Philip review did not determine the cause of the crash, but it did record its informal discussions with several past and present RAF airmen.

They said the introduction of the Chinook Mark 2 had been rushed, fraught and chaotic, and that the helicopter had suffered unpredictable malfunctions including engine shutdowns and power surges.

Tapper, ZD576s co-pilot, had told a superior officer that he felt unprepared to fly the aircraft.

Jonathan Tapper (left) and Richard Cook - Handout/PA Wire

By then, however, the pilots families had won their battle to clear their names. The disaster was fading from public memory, and the whole sorry saga would probably have ended there had the BBC not broadcast a documentary on the crashs 30th anniversary last year (it is due to be re-broadcast later this August).

Entitled Chinook: Zulu Delta 576, it revealed that the MoD had secretly ordered various documents relating to the crash to be sealed not for 10 or 20 years, but for a century.

That came as a real shock. None of us were aware of that. And the first question was why? What else has ever been locked away for a hundred years? says Cook.

He suspects the documents might show that the RAF knew the Chinook was dangerous, and who decided it should fly regardless.

By the time the papers are released I will be long dead and gone and my daughter will be in her 70s, says Lucy Sparks.

You just cant think of a justification unless theres something they dont want us to find out or someone is being protected.

Its laughable, says Andy Tobias, who suspects the documents would show who decided to put 29 people on a helicopter deemed un-airworthy.

Theyre literally trying to flush us out so nobody is able to challenge the documents when theyre finally released. Its just disgusting.

Circa 1992: Andy Tobias (bottom right), then aged six, with mother Gaynor (left), father Lt Col John Tobias (top) and brother Matthew, eight - Heathcliff O'Malley

Normal practice is for government departments to send important documents to the National Archives at Kew after 20 years, with, if necessary, a request that they be redacted or kept closed. The independent Advisory Council on National Records and Archives then approves or rejects that request.

But there are exemptions.

Departments can seal documents containing information that would breach an individuals data protection rights, with approval only from a National Archives director. Such files are usually closed for 100 years  that being an individuals notional lifetime.

The MoD appears to have invoked that exemption in this case, saying the closed files contain personal information relating to third party individuals.

The bereaved families dismiss that claim as laughable and ridiculous. They argue that the MoD could redact any sensitive information about individuals, or let a senior judge review and redact the documents. They say the individuals concerned could only be MoD or RAF officials, as their own loved ones were all killed, and do not see why those officials right to privacy should trump their own right to the truth.

The Telegraph sent the MoD a list of specific questions. It asked who took the decision to seal the documents, whether the defence secretary had approved, why the documents had been sealed for so long, why they could not simply be redacted and, lastly, whether they had been sealed to protect senior MoD or RAF officers who let the Chinook fly knowing it was not airworthy.

It took nearly a week of persistent enquiries to extract a response from the MoD: Unfortunately, on this occasion we are unable to provide further information on this.

The coffins of Chinook crash victims arrive at RAF Aldergrove, brought by an RAF Hercules, ready for relatives to pay their respects - PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

The MoD has a long history of cover-ups, obfuscation and failing to admit fault unless or until compelled to do so. As revealed in July, it obtained an unprecedented superinjunction in 2023 to prevent the media reporting on the data leak that jeopardised the lives of 24,000 Afghans who had helped the British during the war.

It took 38 years and a 190m public inquiry to prove that trigger-happy British paratroopers had recklessly opened fire on unarmed civilians during a civil rights march in Londonderry, killing or wounding 28 of them on Bloody Sunday.

Veterans suffering health problems caused, they believe, by radiation from Britains nuclear tests in Australia and the South Pacific in the 1950s have been fighting for decades for justice, compensation and access to relevant MoD records.

Jason McCue, their lawyer, says the MoD has consistently displayed behaviours of obstruction, obfuscation and calculated secrecy in relation to what went on many decades ago. Our nuclear veterans deserve closure, and for their long struggle for truth and justice to come to an end.

He adds: The inherent problem with unchecked government secrecy is that it attracts lies to maintain it, those lies become infectious, and before you know it our institutions become corrupted.

The list goes on. Dozens of former military aircrew are suing the MoD, claiming their cancers were caused by the toxic fumes of the Sea King and other military helicopters in the 1990s and early 2000s, and that it failed to protect them despite knowing of the risk.

In 2010, the MoD paid compensation to families of 14 servicemen killed when an RAF Nimrod crashed in Afghanistan four years earlier, but only after a coroner and an independent review ruled that the plane had not been airworthy and the families had launched legal action.

Mark Stephens, a top London solicitor representing the Chinook families pro bono, says the Governments default position on security matters is dont say anything, dont let them have anything.

The MoD is much much worse than other departments. They have this sort of pomposity of elevation, so people at the top invariably have the view that they should not be criticised or subject to scrutiny in a way that any other walk of life would be expected to be, and thats just not acceptable.

But in this instance, far from silencing the families, the MoDs secrecy has had precisely the opposite effect.

Following the BBC documentary, they swiftly launched a fresh campaign to discover not what happened on that June day 31 years ago, but why it happened.

How was it that a helicopter known to be unsafe was allowed  indeed ordered  to fly that day, let alone with the bulk of Northern Irelands intelligence establishment on board?

The Philip review found that the helicopter had suffered unpredictable malfunctions including engine shutdowns and power surges - Chris Bacon

On June 2 last year, the 30th anniversary of the crash, the Chinook Justice Campaign called for a fresh public inquiry led by a judge who could review sealed documents.

It cited Article II of the European Convention on Human Rights, which obliges states to protect those within their jurisdiction from avoidable deaths and to investigate any such deaths. Four months later, the MoD said no.

On June 2 this year, the campaigns solicitors sent the Government a pre-action protocol letter, threatening legal action if it did not agree to an inquiry. The MoD again refused, arguing that there had already been six investigations and it was unlikely that a public inquiry would identify any new evidence or reach new conclusions on the basis of existing evidence.

The campaign called that utter nonsense, saying previous investigations had examined the case against the pilots, not the circumstances surrounding the crash, and that plenty of new evidence had emerged to suggest the Chinook was not airworthy.

On July 4, it wrote to Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister and former human rights lawyer, asking him to overrule the MoD.

For over three decades we have endured grief, unanswered questions, institutional silence and denial from the MoD, the campaign protested. No 10 has yet to reply.

The campaign is now applying for a judicial review of the MoDs refusal to set up a new inquiry. This process will keep the families in what Lucy Sparks calls limbo for yet more months or years.

Lucy Sparks, campaigning for justice for the victims families, has called the MoDs treatment of them an embarrassment - Heathcliff O'Malley

She points out that at 33 she is now the age her father was when he died, and that her two-year-old daughter is the age she was that day. She says the MoD has sent her family cards marking the anniversary that arrived several days late, as well as an invitation to a memorial service that came after it had already taken place.

She calls the MoDs conduct an embarrassment and declares: The way weve been treated has been insulting.

Andy Tobias says the MoD has lost all sense of morality, honesty and integrity.

What hurts so, so much is that my Dad cherished the organisation he worked for and loved fighting for his country and prided himself on good values, but those values are not being lived and breathed by those above.

Trevor Birney, who directed the BBC documentary, calls the Governments penchant for secrecy pathological.

He adds that in this case the bereaved families are wonderful people who have every right to ask the questions theyre asking, and I think its horrific the way the MoD has treated them with contempt from day one.

Asked for his message to the MoD, Cook replied: Treat the families with the respect theyre due. They deserve answers and should not be ignored.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A man and a woman were arrested in connection with the death of a 10-year-old girl in late July in eastern Arizona, according to a news release from the Apache County Sheriff's Office.

Anicia Woods, 29, and Richard Daniel Baptiste, 32, were arrested on suspicion of murder and child abuse after the unidentified girl was found unresponsive, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Officials say that on July 27, the Holbrook Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive child at the intersection of State Route 77 and U.S. Route 180 in Holbrook.

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Authorities found the child had received a "severe injury" and was taken to the Little Colorado Medical Center, about 30 minutes east, according to officials. The girl's injury was not disclosed.

Officials say she was later flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital, where she died July 30.

Following the execution of several search warrants, officials arrested Wood and Baptiste on suspicion of first-degree murder, kidnapping and three counts of child abuse, according to the Sheriff's Office.

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.

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Wood, Baptiste and the child who died all lived at a property in the rural community of Hunt, which is about 40 minutes southeast of where the original call for service was located, according to officials.

The Sheriff's Office did not disclose the nature of the relationship between Wood and Baptiste.

Officials say Wood and Baptiste were held in an Apache County jail without bond.

The case remained under investigation. The Sheriff's Office said they worked with other agencies to make the arrests, including the Navajo County Sheriff's Office, Holbrook Police Department, Phoenix Police Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety.

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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: Man and woman arrested in Arizona after death of 10-year-old girl




NEED TO KNOW

Two men allegedly connected to murder suspect Austin Robert Drummond have been arrested amid the search for Drummond

Drummond is accused of killing four family members in Tennessee and abandoning a 7-month-old baby girl in a front yard

Tanaka Brown and Giovonte Thomas have been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, police say





Two men allegedly linked to Austin Robert Drummond, who is accused of killing four family members in Tennessee and abandoning a 7-month-old baby girl in a front yard, have been arrested amid the ongoing manhunt for the murder suspect.

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On Saturday, Aug. 2, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) confirmed Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, had been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, per two news releases.

Brown is also facing a charge of one count of tampering with evidence, an update stated.

The TBI alleged that both suspects "assisted" Drummond, 28, who is wanted for the murders of James M. Wilson, 21, Adrianna Williams, 20, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15. The victims were all found deceased on Tuesday, July 29 in Lake County, Tenn.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Tennessee murder suspect Austin Robert Drummond Tennessee murder suspect Austin Robert Drummond

"Thomas was already being held in the Madison County Jail on an unrelated charge for Failure to Appear. He will be transferred to the Lake County Jail to be arraigned on the new charges," the TBI said in a release.

Cortney Rose/Facebook; Adrianna Williams/Facebook(2) Cortney Rose, Adrianna Williams and Matthew Wilson, Braydon Williams were all allegedly murdered. Cortney Rose, Adrianna Williams and Matthew Wilson, Braydon Williams were all allegedly murdered.

A separate post stated, "Brown was booked into the Lake County Jail where he remains [without] bond."

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Police discovered the four bodies amid the ongoing investigation into the abandonment of James and Adriannas 7-month-old baby daughter 25 miles away in Dyer County, Tenn., PEOPLE previously reported.

Dyer County Sheriff's Office/Facebook The 7-month-old baby found abandoned on a stranger's lawn. The 7-month-old baby found abandoned on a stranger's lawn.

On Sunday, Aug. 3, the Dyer County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) confirmed that the U.S. Marshall had increased its reward for the capture of Drummond to $10,000. With the TBI also offering $7,500, this brings the reward total to $17,500, per a Facebook post.

Drummond is wanted for first-degree murder x 4, aggravated kidnapping, possession of a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, per a U.S. Marshals "wanted" poster.

On Friday, Aug. 1, Drummonds empty car was located in Jackson, Tenn., over an hours drive away from Tiptonville, where his four alleged victims were discovered, the DCSO said in an alert shared on Facebook.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Murder suspect Austin Robert Drummond's abandoned car was located in Jackson, Tenn. Murder suspect Austin Robert Drummond's abandoned car was located in Jackson, Tenn.

"The Jackson Police Department has located the vehicle driven by Austin Drummond in the woods near the dead end of MCO road. It appears that he has been living in the vehicle and may be in the area, the DCSO said.

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JPD asks all people within the immediate area of this alert to lock their doors and stay indoors as we actively search for Drummond, the alert warned. Remember, he is considered armed and extremely dangerous. If you see him, call 911 immediately. Do not approach the suspect.

The quartet killed have been identified as the mother, father, grandmother and uncle of the abandoned infant and, according to Fox News, they were all family members of Drummonds current girlfriend.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Murder suspect Austin Robert Drummond Murder suspect Austin Robert Drummond

The outlet also reported that at the time of the alleged quadruple murder, Drummond was out on bond for allegedly attempting to kill someone while he was in prison in December 2024. He was behind bars for robbing a convenience store at age 16, and for threatening to go after jurors, according to the Associated Press.

On the evening of July 29, at about 10:26 p.m. local time, a 911 call was made reporting that Cortney Rose and her daughter, Adrianna Williams, were missing. The four bodies had been found hours after the infant was abandoned.

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.

The DCSO previously said in a Facebook post that officers had "received a call regarding a concerning incident on Old Highway 20 near the Tigrett area [in Dyer County]" at approximately 3:11 p.m. on July 29.

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"A dark-colored minivan or a white mid-size SUV was reported to have dropped off an infant in a car seat at a random individuals front yard," they added, alongside a photo of the infant. "Thankfully a witness saw the car seat with the child and called 911."

In an update hours later, the sheriff's office said that four individuals had been discovered dead in Lake County. Stephen Sutton, a spokesperson for the Lake and Dyer county sheriffs, has since said the baby was now safe, the AP reported.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation didn't have any additional information to add when contacted by PEOPLE. PEOPLE has also reached out to the Dyer County Sheriff's Office.



Read the original article on People




NEED TO KNOW

Two people have died and four others have been critically injured after a fiery single car collision in Texas

The Conroe Police Department said a Kia Soul struck a tree and became 'fully engulfed in flames' in the incident on Aug. 2

A 22-year-old was among those dead, with the victims' ages ranges from 16 to 22 years old





Two people have died and four others have been left injured following a fiery single car collision in Texas.

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In a press release shared on Facebook, the Conroe Police Department confirmed that the incident took place in the 2300 block of White Oak Blvd at Park Blvd in Conroe, which is on the outskirts of Houston, at around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2.

Patrol officers arrived quickly and discovered a white Kia Soul fully engulfed in flames, the release read. Several civilians had removed four occupants from the burning vehicle before emergency personnel arrived. All four victims were immediately transported to local area hospitals.

While one of the passengers is described as being in very critical condition, the others are in critical but stable condition.

Getty A stock photo of police sirens A stock photo of police sirens

Tragically, the 22-year-old driver and one passenger were unable to be rescued and were pronounced deceased at the scene, authorities continued. The Conroe Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire.

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PEOPLE has contacted the Conroe Police Department for further comment.

The Conroe Police Departments Traffic Fatality Reconstruction Unit responded and began investigating the cause of the crash, the statement added. Preliminary findings indicate that the Kia Soul was traveling westbound on White Oak Blvd at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway at an intersection and struck a tree head-on.

Authorities say that speed and alcohol could have played contributing factors to the collision.

Getty A stock photo of police tape A stock photo of police tape

Our first responders mourn alongside these families as they navigate this terribly difficult time. We are deeply grateful for the courageous actions of those who assisted removing the surviving victims, Police Chief Jon Buckholtz said in a statement. On behalf of the Conroe Police Department, we extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the victims and their families as they begin the long road to healing after this terrible morning.

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.

The ages of those involved in the crash range from 16 to 22 years old, police said, adding that their identities will not be released at this time.

The investigation remains ongoing.



Read the original article on People
Two people were stabbed inside a mall in Carson after what reportedly started as a verbal altercation escalated Sunday, authorities confirmed to KTLA.

Deputies with the L.A. County Sheriffs Department responded to reports of the stabbing at around 2 p.m. at the South Bay Pavillion Mall, located at 20700 Avalon Boulevard.

Details are limited and its unclear exactly what sparked the verbal altercation in the malls food court, though investigators said it quickly turned into a physical altercation that left two people with stab wounds.

The incident in the South Bay Pavilion Mall reportedly began as a verbal altercation on July 3, 2025. (Citizen)

Medical personnel with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded and transported both the victims to a nearby hospital. Neither of their conditions were immediately available.

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Fan falls 170 feet to his death at Oasis concert

A third person was arrested in connection with the incident.

In footage of the aftermath, several deputies are seen attending to someone that appears to be a victim, as they are seated at a food court table.

No information was provided on the ages and or genders of those involved.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  Two teenagers have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after the shooting death of a St. Petersburg man last week.

The victim, identified as 39-year-old Reginald Booth, was found lying in the street with a gunshot wound on 9th Avenue South at around 9 p.m. on July 29, the St. Petersburg Police Department said.

Previous coverage: Id tell him to come back: Mother of man shot and killed in St. Petersburg speaks out

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Booth was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Id tell him to come back: Mother of man shot and killed in St. Petersburg speaks out

SPPD announced Sunday morning that two arrests had been made in the case.

Keshaun Lamb, 19, was charged with first-degree murder and armed kidnapping. Larrion Boyd, 18, was charged with first-degree murder, armed kidnapping and burglary. Both were booked into the Pinellas County Jail on Saturday.

Arrest affidavits from the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office said the defendants chased the victim down the street and robbed him at gunpoint.

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The defendants took the victim to and from his residence at gunpoint before bringing him back to their car, where they shot and killed him before fleeing in the vehicle, the affidavit said.

The attack wasnt random, police said Lamb admitted to surveying the area ahead of time, and both defendants were wearing masks. The affidavit also said the incident was captured on a surveillance camera.

SPPD said the investigation is still ongoing, and anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact their department at 727-893-7780.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.




NEED TO KNOW

Two young brothers were found safe in a wooded area in central Mississippi in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 3

The search began the evening before, after the siblings got lost in the woods

Authorities urge parents to arrange a set time for children to return home when they're playing outside





After an overnight search, two young brothers were found alive and well in a wooded area in central Mississippi.

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On Saturday, Aug. 2, authorities received a report at around 8 p.m. local time that two boys, ages 8 and 10, were missing near Cato Circle in Pearl, a city of about 27,000 people just east of Jackson, the state capital. The residential area is surrounded by dense woods, the Chief of the Pearl Police Department, Nick McLendon, tells PEOPLE.

Before their family reported them missing, the brothers were playing outside, in a ditch near the edge of the tree line.

It started getting dark, and they thought they were walking home, but they were walking deeper in the woods, says McLendon. Next thing they know, its totally pitch black dark and they're in the woods lost.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

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Not long after, authorities had close to a hundred resources on the ground, from drones and K-9s to search and rescue teams. In nearby Jenkins Park, a command center was set up, the chief of police says. A coordinated search effort was underway by 10 p.m.

Emergency responders began the search with drones in the air and the dogs searching the wooded area. While the dogs eventually lost the scent, they had helped narrow down the search area, McLendon says.

We had a pretty good area of where they last located the scent and footprints in the creek, he says. At around 1:15 a.m. the next morning, the brothers were found by a heat-seeking drone about 1,000 meters into the wooded area. They were found lying down, according to authorities.

They just got lost in the woods, got turned around, says McLendon. The boys told officials that when it got dark and they were still lost, they decided to sleep there and wait for the sun to come up.

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.

GoogleMaps A command center was set up in nearby Jenkins Park in Pearl, Miss. A command center was set up in nearby Jenkins Park in Pearl, Miss.

They were transported to a local hospital, but were determined to be unharmed.

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McLendon says their family was ecstatic that the kids were found safe.

They were happy to be reunited with their kids, he says.

While officials encourage children to play outside, they urge their parents to keep an eye on them.

We'd love for them to get off the devices and be kids outside, but just monitor them, says McLendon. Especially when it starts to get dark, they need to have a set time to start coming back home.

Read the original article on People
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  On the fourth day of the 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, there were 0 deaths, 7 crashes and 226 citations.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) releases a Sturgis Rally Tally  a 24-hour (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.) recap for crashes, DUI arrests, drug arrests, citations and warnings for both Sturgis and the Rapid City district.

You can find the Year to Date data below.

Below you can find data from August 3 through August 4

Crashes

There were a total of 10 crashes with three being non-injury crashes and seven crashes involving an injury.

Arrests

34 arrests were made for drug possession and paraphernalia and 19arrests were felony drug charges.

DUIs

17 DUI arrests were made.

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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.
KIEV, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian forces have launched separate strikes on Russian military and fuel facilities, Ukrainian authorities said Monday.

The Security Service of Ukraine said in a statement that Ukrainian drones destroyed a Russian Su-30SM aircraft, damaged another and hit three Su-24 aircraft in a raid on the Saky military airfield in Crimea.

The attack also struck an aviation weapons depot, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces on Sunday struck a fuel depot at the Sochi airport, sparking a fire.

The general staff added that a Russian military aviation unit was stationed at the facility.

Ukraine also came under Russian attacks in the past day. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia made overnight raids on Ukraine on Monday, launching 162 drones and a Kinzhal hypersonic missile. The air defense intercepted 161 of the drones. 
About 3,200 union members at Boeing facilities in Missouri and Illinois went on strike at midnight on Monday after rejecting an contract offer from the company, the union said.

Local members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, who build and maintain fighter jets, including the F-15 and F/A-18 models, voted on Sunday to reject Boeing's latest contract offer.

"IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe," IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli said in a statement.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a round table on the economy during his visit to Boeing in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. March 14, 2018.

MORE: Boeing shares updates on safety plan 1 year after Alaska Airlines door plug incident

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Cicinelli added, "They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise."

The union members work at Boeing facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri, along with Mascoutah, Illinois, according to the union.

They had voted on July 27 to reject an earlier 4-year contract proposal put forward by the company, the union said.

Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters - PHOTO: A F/A-18E/F Super Hornets of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VFA-211) is lined up for take off on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) aircraft carrier in the Gulf June 18, 2015.

MORE: Boeing seeks to withdraw guilty pleas over 2 deadly 737 MAX crashes: Sources

"We're disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules," Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager and senior St. Louis site executive, said in a statement on Sunday. "We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers."

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Boeing officials noted that their contingency planning ensures there are no security issues related to using a non-union workforce, though impacts to operations will depend on the length of the strike.

Editors note: This article previously misstated one of the two states where Boeing workers have gone on strike.
More than 3,200 Boeing union workers in Missouri and Illinois are on strike following the rejection of a four-year labor agreement with the aerospace company.

The workers who assemble fighter jets turned down a four-year contract that would have raised the average wage by roughly 40% and included a 20% general wage increase and a $5,000 ratification bonus, according to Reuters. It also included increasing periodic raises, more vacation time and sick leave.

"We're disappointed our employees in St. Louis rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth," Dan Gillian, Boeing vice president and general manager of the St. Louis facilities, said in a statement to FOX Business.

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Boeing Defense said it was ready for the work stoppage and would implement a contingency plan that uses non-labor workers.

Inside Americas 6Th-gen Arsenal: B-21, F-47, And The Future Of Air Dominance

Workers display picket signs, as they protest during a walkout by members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) over contract negotiations, outside Boeing company's facility, in Berkeley, Missouri, U.S., Aug. 4, 2025.

"IAM [International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers] District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe," IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli said in a statement. "They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise."

Read On The Fox Business App

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The union said in a press release that its workers "assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18, and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies."

Boeing Division Handling Trump Fighter Jet Program Braces For Strike After Union Rejects Contract Offer

An employee works on the aft fuselage of a Boeing Co. F-15 Strike Eagle fighter aircraft at the Boeing Defense, Space & Security facility in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., on Monday, July 24, 2018.

IAM represents 6,000 active and retired members across the U.S. and Canada.

Boeings defense division has been expanding operations in the St. Louis region to support the production of the U.S. Air Forces new F-47 fighter jet, after securing the Pentagon contract earlier this year.

An American flag hangs near Boeing Co. F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets at the Boeing Defense, Space & Security facility in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., on Monday, July 24, 2018.

Click Here To Read More On Fox Business

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In March, President Donald Trump formally designated the F-47 as the U.S. Air Forces next-generation air superiority fighter, positioning it at the center of the Next Generation Air Dominance program that is expected to replace the aging F-22 Raptor, according to the Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan agency that supports Congress.

FOX Business' Bonny Chu, Danielle Wallace and Reuters contributed to this report.





Original article source: 3,200 Boeing workers go on strike in 2 states
The Brief

Pasco County Fire Rescue says a crash investigation shut down SR 52 near Bellamy Brothers Blvd. on Monday morning.

Three people went to the hospital, according to fire officials.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.

SAN ANTONIO, Fla. - Three people went to the hospital after a crash that shut down a stretch of SR 52 in Pasco County on Monday morning, according to fire officials.

What we know

The crash happened on SR 52 near Bellamy Brothers Blvd., according to fire officials.

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Pasco County Fire Rescue says two helicopters responded to the scene to help take patients to the hospital.

Courtesy: Pasco County Fire Rescue.

SR 52 was shut down at one point during the investigation, but has since reopened.

What we don't know

No further details on the extent of the injuries or what may have caused the crash have been released.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.

The Source

This story was written with information from Pasco County Fire Rescue.
A third child has died after a barge collided with a youth club's sailing boat in Biscayne Bay off Miami Beach on July 28, officials said.

The U.S. Coast Guard said Aug. 3 that a 10-year-old child in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital died "while surrounded by her immediate family."

Our hearts continue to mourn with all those impacted by Mondays tragic incident, especially with the passing of another one of Miamis children today, said Capt. Frank Florio, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Miami in a release.

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The Coast Guard remains committed to conducting a thorough investigation to ensure all facts are uncovered. We routinely seek the expertise of our federal, state, and local partner law enforcement agencies, and this case is no different. Our investigative team will be joined by investigators from Argentina, the home nation of one of the victims.

Here's what to know.

What happened when a barge hit a sailboat in Miami Beach?

According to reports from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami, and reporting from The Miami Herald, at around 11:15 a.m. on Monday, July 28. a 60-foot barge pushed by a tugboat operator struck a 17-foot Hobie Getaway sailing vessel carrying a 19-year-old female camp counselor and five girls near Hibiscus Islands in Miami Beach.

All six people were thrown into the water, where they were recovered.

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Two of the girls, a 7-year-old and a 13-year-old, were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, the Coast Guard said. A 10-year-old girl died in the hospital Sunday.

One 7-year-old girl was released from Jackson Memorial Hospital after being taken there in critical condition, her family said. The camp counselor and a 12-year-old girl were treated at the scene.

On July 31, the Coast Guard said in a release that it conducted alcohol and drug testing for operators on the tug and the barge as well as the sailboat as part of standard procedures. All results were negative.

The barge from the vessel collision near Hibiscus Island, July 28, 2025, that resulted in three girls dead. Coast Guard Sector Miami crews are investigating the potential causes of the collision.

Local boating community 'shattered by grief'

The Miami Yacht Club verified that the counselor and children were members of the club's Youth Sailing Foundation, which encourages children and adults to experience the joy of recreational and/or competitive sailing and learn the "essential elements of performance boat handling, seamanship and racing."

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"This devastating news comes after two young sailors lost their lives in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Now, with the passing of a third sailor, the entire sailing community is shattered by grief," the Miami Yacht Club said in a social media post.

"Our hearts are broken for these families. There are no words that can ease this pain, but we stand in full solidarity with the families, counselors, and every member of the YSF during this unthinkable nightmare."

Where did the barge hit the sailboat in Florida?

Hibiscus Island is an exclusive, luxury neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach on a man-made island in Biscayne Bay.

The collission was in the vicinity of Hibiscus Island, the Coast Guard said. The FWC initially reported it as being near Star Island, which is nearby. The Miami Herald reported it was between Hibiscus and Monument islands.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami boat accident results in 3rd girl's death
A drop box at the Ballard branch of the Seattle Public Library in King County. This voting location is one of the most popular in the county. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

Tuesdays primary will gauge the political climate in Washington and provide an early forecast of how the makeup of the state Legislature could change this fall.

Nine Democratic state lawmakers, all appointed to their seats, are running to retain them. Its a larger-than-usual number of legislative contests in an odd-year election cycle and, for Democrats, a lot of seats to defend.

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They dont have to sweat over all of them. Five involve legislators who are unopposed or heavily favored to finish in the top two on Tuesday and advance to the general election.

Those four other match-ups are attracting loads of attention and bountiful spending by candidates and their allies.

Contests for two Senate seats will be the first test of voters views on higher taxes, budget decisions and new laws passed last session by majority Democrats over the objections of Republicans.

Races for two other seats feature intraparty battles exposing and amplifying strains within the Democratic Party among its progressive and centrist forces.

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Here are the four races to watch Tuesday.

Republicans best hope

Republicans sense the duel in the 26th Legislative District may be their best chance this year for chipping away at Democrats 30-19 seat advantage in the state Senate.

Thats because Democratic Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, a former school board director making her case to voters for the first time as a lawmaker, faces Republican state Rep. Michelle Caldier, winner of six straight House races in the district, the last with nearly 55% of the vote.

They are vying to represent the district that encompasses parts of Kitsap and Pierce counties and includes Bremerton, Port Orchard, Purdy and Gig Harbor.

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Krishnadasan, who served six years on the Peninsula School District Board of Directors, was among the vulnerable Democrats voting against her partys major tax bills and transportation revenue package this past session.

But that hasnt stopped business- and Republican-backed political committees from spending a little more than a quarter million dollars as of Thursday to tie her to Democrats tax hikes.

They are hammering out a message that the most significant new tax increases fall on businesses, and some Democrats wanted to go further with heftier levies on large companies and wealthy individuals.

Caldiers campaigning on the theme that Democrats overreached and reducing their numbers in the Senate is the best means of preventing a recurrence in 2026.

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As the only two candidates, both will advance. Why spend so much money now? Each side hopes to get a sense of which issues resonate with voters. And they know winners of primaries generally go on to victory in the general election.

Republicans second-best hope

A similar dynamic is at play in the 5th District in east King County.

Victoria Hunt, a Democrat, who easily won a House seat last November, moved to the Senate a few weeks ago following the unexpected death of Sen. Bill Ramos.

Shes up against an experienced Republican candidate, Chad Magendanz. A former two-term state representative in the district, he ran for Senate last year and lost to Ramos. In 2022, Magendanz tried unsuccessfully to win a House seat.

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As in the 26th District race, a major focus is on the new and higher taxes enacted in the 2025 legislative session.

Unlike Krishnadasan, Hunt did vote for the tax bills and has defended her decision to do so. A political committee devoted to electing progressive Democrats has shelled out $40,000 in an independent effort to bolster her candidacy.

On the other side, the state Republican Party and the same business-backed political enterprise at play in the 26th District are behind $210,000 in spending on mailers, texts and digital ads opposing Hunt.

Thats a change. Those political forces stayed out of the November election as Ramos beat Magendanz by 3,400 votes. The Senate Republican Caucus didnt lift a financial finger either, but is doing so now. These forces must be feeling something akin to confidence ahead of Tuesday.

The other 5 races

In Tuesdays primary, the top two finishers move on to the general election.

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In five races, incumbents are either expected to safely scoot through or they are running unopposed.

Reps. Janice Zahn, D-Bellevue, and Osman Salahuddin, D-Redmond, each drew two opponents and both are expected to advance.

In the 41st District, Zahn faces Democrat Vinita Kak of Newcastle and Republican John Whitney of Bellevue. In the 48th District, Salahuddin is challenged by Ranga Bondada and Dennis Ellis.

Three appointed legislators  state Sens. Tina Orwall of Des Moines and Emily Alvarado of Seattle, and Rep. Brianna Thomas of West Seattle  are all unopposed. Orwall serves the 33rd District with Alvarado and Thomas representing the 34th District.

On to November for two Democrats? Or just one?

The 33rd District is a Democratic stronghold. It is one of the test sites for how progressive the partys voters are feeling.

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Democratic state Rep. Edwin Obras, a liberal in his first run for office, is facing a spirited challenge from Burien Mayor Kevin Schilling, a moderate Democrat with a couple of local election wins under his belt. Daryl Jones, a Republican, is also on the ballot.

The big question Tuesday is whether enough Democratic voters turn out to advance both of the partys wannabe torchbearers. A year ago, Republican candidates in this district collected 30% of the vote in the primary, then 31% in the general election. That means it is mathematically doable for both Democratic candidates to make it through to November.

Obras and Schilling, and their supporters, arent waiting to chance it. Obras has spent $131,000 to Schillings $126,000 and each has been the target of tens of thousands of dollars of hit pieces from independent political committees.

A third-place finish for Obras on Tuesday means he wont return to the Legislature in January.

Big dollar Democratic showdown

Sen. Vandana Slatter, of Bellevue, and Rep. Amy Walen, of Kirkland, are squaring off in an expensive Democrat-versus-Democrat grudge match in the 48th District, where both enjoy broad support among its voters in Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland.

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Already $700,000 has been shelled out collectively by the candidates and independently-run campaigns of their allies. With both women assured of moving on, all those dollars are about educating voters on some of their differences.

Slatter is the progressive, Walen the business-friendly moderate. The two voted similarly on many bills last session, but differed on a few of the marquee policies.

Both opposed a bill containing an across-the-board increase in the business tax and surcharges on the states largest corporations and financial institutions. And both supported another key component of the $9.4 billion tax package that extends the retail sales tax to some services.

Slatter voted for a gas tax increase. Walen did not. Walen opposed the new rent increase cap. Slatter voted for it.

With no Republican in the running, differences on policies like those could motivate GOP voters to engage. But ultimately, this race will be a barometer of how Democratic and independent voters are feeling. Most have cast ballots for both candidates before and now must choose one.
(WJW)  Looking for a little luck? The Ohio Lottery announced four places in the Buckeye State that have recently sold scratch-off tickets worth $50,000 each.

According to the lottery, three of the big wins came from VIP Millions tickets, which cost $50 to purchase. The other winning scratch-off ticket was a Holiday Bonus Millions ticket, which costs $30 to play.

Ohio woman wins $1M but wont get half

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A series of media releases was posted to the Ohio Lottery website on Friday, Aug. 4. According to the posts, here is where the four tickets were sold:

Sav U More, located at 2682 Westerville Road in Columbus

Toledo 76, located at 7503 Airport Highway in Holland

Piqua Food, located at 1401 South Street in Piqua

S&G, located at 7410 Jerusalem Road in Oregon

After mandatory taxes, each winning ticket is worth about $36,000, said the lottery.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.




NEED TO KNOW

Four elderly family members were traveling from Buffalo, N.Y., to New Vrindaban, a spiritual community in rural West Virginia, when they were reported missing

Police found the Divan family dead "off a steep embankment" on Aug. 2, four days after they were supposed to arrive at their destination on July 29

The bodies were located "just five miles" from New Vrindaban, the community said





Four elderly family members set out on a road trip from New York to a spiritual community in rural West Virginia. When they never arrived, authorities searched  and they were found dead just five miles from their final stop.

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After they were reported missing from Buffalo, N.Y., Kishore Divan, Asha Divan, Shailesh Divan and Gita Divan were discovered off a steep embankment in Marshall County, W. Va., "following a vehicle crash," the Marshall County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) said in a press release shared on Facebook.

The octogenarians bodies were found on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 2, at around 9:20 p.m. local time, according to the MCSO. Four days earlier, they were supposed to arrive at New Vrindaban, a spiritual community and unincorporated area in rural West Virginia.

In a statement shared on Facebook, New Vrindaban said that the foursome, whom they described as the Divan family, were scheduled to arrive at New Vrindabans Palace Lodge on Tuesday, July 29, but never showed up. Surveillance footage and cameras across New Vrindaban confirmed that the family never arrived at the property, the statement said.

Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty The Palace of Gold in New Vrindaban The Palace of Gold in New Vrindaban

Kishore, 89, Asha, 85, Shailesh, 86, and Gita, 84, planned to travel from Buffalo to New Vrindaban, and visit Pittsburgh on the way, according to the communitys statement. Before their bodies were found, they were last spotted in Erie, Pa.

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The Hindustan Times reported that the family was last seen at a Burger King in Erie in the afternoon of July 29, with security footage and a credit card transaction confirming that they stopped at the restaurant.

Not long after, authorities have a record of the groups vehicle, a 2009 Toyota Camry, traveling south on I-79, which runs from Pennsylvania to West Virginia, according to New Vrindaban. Four days later, the family was found in the embankment, which the community said was just five miles from New Vrindaban.



The discovery came after a helicopter search in the area. New Vrindaban temple president Jaya Krsna Das worked with authorities and the Divans extended family in their search, the community said.

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"The terrain where the crash occurred is notoriously difficult to navigate, particularly for those unfamiliar with the area, New Vrindaban's statement said. We are deeply grieved by this loss. While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, several possibilities have been discussed by the family and authorities, including mechanical failure, driver disorientation, or a collision.

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The MCSO did not share a cause of the crash, but said in its statement that first responders were on the scene for more than five hours.

The West Virginia sheriffs office also said that further information will be released upon the completion of the investigation.

Read the original article on People




NEED TO KNOW

The fatal victims of the mass shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Mont., have been identified by authorities

Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74, were all killed when a gunman opened fire on Friday, Aug. 1

The suspect, 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, remains at large





Authorities have identified the four fatal victims of the mass shooting at a Montana bar as they continue to search for the murder suspect.

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In a press release shared on Sunday, Aug. 3, the Montana Department of Justice named the victims as Anaconda residents: Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said at a press conference on Sunday that Kelley was a bartender at The Owl Bar, where the shooting took place around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 1. The other three victims were patrons, he said.

The suspected gunman, 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, allegedly fled the scene after opening fire inside the bar and remains at large, Knudsen said. The A.G. added that local law enforcement is working with state and federal agencies to search for Brown.

Montana Department of Justice From left: Daniel Edwin Baillie, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, David Allen Leach and Tony Wayne Palm From left: Daniel Edwin Baillie, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, David Allen Leach and Tony Wayne Palm

"We want to find this guy," Knudsen said. "This is a dangerous individual who has committed an absolutely heinous crime against this community and these victims."



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In a Facebook post on Saturday, Aug. 2, the Montana Department of Justice shared a photo of the suspect allegedly fleeing the scene wearing only a pair of black shorts or underwear.

Montana Department of Justice Michael Paul Brown Michael Paul Brown

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Lee Johnson with the Montana Department of Justice previously said that law enforcement had located the white Ford F-150 that Brown fled the scene in, though Brown was not located in or around the vehicle.

Brown is an Army veteran who served in Iraq between 2004 and 2005, according to an Army spokesperson, per The New York Times. He also served in the Montana National Guard for about two years until March 2008, according to the outlet.



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The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of $7,500 for any information that leads to the arrest or capture of Brown. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-877-926-8332 to report a tip.



Read the original article on People
LONDON -- Hospitals in the Gaza Strip recorded five deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, the Gaza Ministry of Health in the Hamas-run territory said on Monday.

All of those who died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours were adults, according to the ministry.

The deaths bring the total number of people who have died due to hunger since the conflict began nearly two years ago to 180 people, including 93 children, the ministry said.

Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A Palestinian youth shows bags of beans that he obtained from a food distribution point near the Netzarim corridor in the central Gaza Strip on August 3, 2025.

Israel is under increasing international pressure to facilitate the entry of more aid into Gaza, which has been devastated by nearly two years of conflict between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian militant groups, chief among them Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union.

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U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week that his nation will recognize a Palestinian state at a United Nations meeting in September if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire in Gaza. It came after French President Emmanuel Macron said France would acknowledge Palestine as a state, regardless of a ceasefire, at the same September meeting.

Aid is slowly resuming entry into Gaza after Israel instituted an 11-week total blockade on all humanitarian supplies entering the strip earlier this year.

The blockade caused widespread malnutrition and conditions that could likely lead to famine, according to the U.N. and aid groups at the time. Israeli officials have long accused Hamas of stealing and reselling aid, which Hamas denies.

In an post to X last week, Israel said it has been working "around the clock to get food, medicine, and essentials into Gaza." However, the U.N. World Food Programme told ABC last week that only about half of its requested 100 trucks have been allowed into Gaza by Israel.

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Last week, ABC News' Ian Pannell visited an aid station in Gaza that had stacks of undelivered food. An IDF spokesperson said it was the international community's responsibility to deliver it, but the U.N. said it can't deliver the aid safely.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification -- a global initiative monitoring hunger with the backing of governments, the U.N. and nongovernmental organizations -- warned last week that the "worst-case scenario of famine" is unfolding in Gaza.

MORE: 'Worst-case scenario of famine' unfolding in Gaza, IPC says

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the idea that Israel is applying a campaign of starvation in Gaza is "a bold-faced lie," adding that "there is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza."

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Aid distribution in Gaza is being conducted via sites run by the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which started operating in Gaza in late May. Israel says aid distribution must go through GHF to prevent Hamas seizing aid.

In recent weeks, the Israeli government allowed certain countries to start airdropping aid into Gaza. However, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, the largest U.N. agency operating in Gaza, warned in a July 26 post on X that airdrops are the "most expensive and inefficient way to deliver aid," calling them a "distraction to the inaction."

But aid operations have been hampered by the killings of nearly 1,400 Palestinians who were trying to receive food aid, per U.N. figures.

After previous such incidents, the IDF has said that its troops only fire "warning shots" at crowds and when its personnel feel they are in danger. The IDF and GHF have also previously accused Hamas of instigating violence at or close to aid distribution points.

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MORE: Human Rights Watch says Israel committing war crimes in alleged killings of Gazans at aid sites

Human Rights Watch on Friday accused Israel of committing war crimes and violations of international law, citing the killings of people near food aid distribution sites in Gaza -- as well as deprivation of food, aid and other basic services.

In its response, the IDF accused Hamas of starving and endangering the population in order to maintain control over the strip and of taking actions "to prevent the success of food distribution in Gaza." Before USAID officially ceased independent operations in July, an analysis compiled by its officials said it failed to find any evidence that Hamas engaged in widespread diversion of assistance.

Israel also said it allows the GHF "to operate independently" in the distribution of aid and that troops operate "in proximity" to make sure food is delivered in an "orderly fashion.

ABC News' Diaa Ostaz and Mary Kekatos contributed to this report.
Drones operated by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) struck five Russian fighter jets overnight on Aug. 4 at an airfield in Saky, a city in Russian-occupied Crimea, the agency said.

Ukrainian drones, in a Special Operations Center "A" mission, destroyed a Su-30SM aircraft, damaged another, hit three Su-24s, and struck an aviation weapons depot.

The Saky airbase plays a critical role in Russia's military operations in the Black Sea, and the damage from the Ukrainian strike is considered "significant," with a single Su-30SM jet valued between $35 million and $50 million, according to the SBU.

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"The successful special operation carried out by the SBU in Saky marks another step toward weakening the enemy's capacity to wage its war of aggression against Ukraine," SBU said.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

Russia has not officially commented on the reported strikes.

The Su-30MS is a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter aircraft developed by Russia, with production beginning in the early 2010s. Meanwhile, the Su-24 is a twin-engine, all-weather supersonic strike bomber developed by the Soviet Union, with production starting in the early 1970s.

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Russia deploys these fighter jets for regular attacks on Ukraine, as well as for patrols, radar surveillance, target guidance, and escorting long-range aircraft.

This is not Ukraine's first successful drone operation against Russian aircraft.

Ukraine carried out an unprecedented mass drone strike as part of the Operation Spiderweb on June 1, targeting four Russian air bases deep inside the country. During the attack, Ukrainian forces reportedly damaged 41 aircraft, using drones concealed in trucks at multiple locations across Russia.

Ukraine has also carried out several successful attacks against Russian targets in occupied Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

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Ukrainian drones have destroyed several Russian vessels, including the Caesar Kunikov landing ship, the Sergei Kotov patrol ship, the Ivanovets missile corvette, and multiple high-speed landing crafts.

Read also: Massive Ukrainian drone strike targets Russian railway station in Volgograd Oblast, local official claims

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NEW YORK, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- More than 3,200 Boeing fighter jet workers across the United States went on strike on Monday after rejecting a labor deal with the company the day before. 
Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board held three days of hearings, looking into what led to the fatal midair crash above the Potomac River between a plane and a military helicopter in January. During the hearings, the board interrogated witnesses from the FAA and the Army about what went wrong, with 10,000 pages of documents involved.

The crash occurred as an American Airlines regional jet was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., and an Army Black Hawk helicopter was conducting a training flight.

There were multiple revelations from the hearings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, revealing failures by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army. These include a faulty altimeter, previous warnings about the helicopter route and overwhelmed air traffic controllers.

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Are you kidding me? Sixty-seven people are dead! How do you explain that? Our bureaucratic process? said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, per The Associated Press. Fix it. Do better.

The air traffic controller was overwhelmed

The air traffic controller who was directing the two aircraft involved in the crash had managed 21 aircraft in the 10 minutes before the collision, per The Washington Post. He also was working two positions at once and was responsible for both jet and helicopter traffic.

When interviewed by investigators, he said he was starting to become a little overwhelmed and considered asking for help, before traffic eased to a manageable level.

Another pilot on a flight that arrived shortly before the crash told investigators that the controller seemed exceptionally busy and was not instilling a lot of confidence, according to The Washington Post.

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The controller had approved the helicopter crews request to continue down the Potomac River using visual separation. He also informed them that the passenger jet was coming in for landing.

A senior Army pilot questioned why the controller did not tell the helicopter to wait near Hains Point, saying in an interview with investigators that that was standard practice in his experience. The controller said the decision was made on a case-by-case basis, per The Washington Post.

During his testimony on Thursday, FAA official Nick Fuller said the controller made an error and he should have warned the pilot of the jet that the helicopter was approaching and that the targets were likely to merge, per The Washington Post.

During his interview with the NTSB, that controller said that by the time he realized there would be a conflict, giving a warning would most likely have been pointless.

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I dont think it would have made a difference, honestly, the controller said, according to The Washington Post.

The FAA had been warned about the helicopter route

Before the crash, FAA staff had raised concerns about the proximity of the Army helicopter route to commercial flights landing at the airport, per NPR.

The concerns were raised because helicopter operations are occurring in a proximity that has triggered safety events. These events have been trending in the wrong direction and increasing year over year, per the AP.

Clark Allen, the former DCA tower operations manager, said that in 2022, a working group at the airport had considered moving what was known as Route 4 or even eliminating part of it.

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Both of those options we were told we were unable to do due to continuity of government operations or security, Allen said, according to NPR.

According to the AP, the NTSB also said the FAA failed to recognize a history of 85 near misses around the Reagan airport within the last three years.

During the hearings, Homendy got after the FAA for not acting on the concerns of the employees.

Every sign was there that there was a safety risk and the tower was telling you that, Homendy said.

What you did is you transferred people out instead of taking ownership over the fact that everybody in FAA in the tower was saying there was a problem, the chairwoman added, per the AP. But you guys are pointing out, Welp, our bureaucratic process. Somebody should have brought it up at some other symposium.

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In March, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy permanently restricted nonessential helicopter routes around the airport and eliminated mixed traffic between helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, such as commercial jets, per NPR.

The helicopters locator system was not working

At the time of the crash, a system that could have provided real-time location data on the Black Hawk helicopter to nearby aircraft was not working. The Washington Post reported that even if it had been, the American Airlines jet did not have the ability to receive the data.

This system is the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADSB, and it has two components, ADSB-out, which broadcasts out an aircrafts real-time location, and ADSB-in, which is used to take in real-time location feeds from other aircraft nearby.

Investigators from the NTSB found that the ADSB-out on the helicopter was not working because of a time-setting error. But, the Army was known to turn ADSB-out off because the unit flew sensitive routes, per The Washington Post.

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The Black Hawk broadcasting ADSB-out wouldnt have made a difference, since the jet did not have ADSB-in. While the FAA requires aircraft to have an ADSB-out system, theyre not required to have ADSB-in.

Did night vision goggles play a part in the crash?

The helicopter crew was wearing night vision goggles the night of the collision. According to The Washington Post, pilots who have flown the same route at night said wearing night vision was the standard practice when flying in darkness. This was also their preference because they can see hazards more clearly.

Night vision can also present challenges because it limits the users field of vision as if they are looking through toilet paper rolls. Investigators were told that pilots combat this by constantly moving their head in a scanning motion.

Light magnification from the night vision goggles can also be overpowering in a bright area such as the Washington, D.C., area, making it hard to distinguish lights from one another.

The helicopters altimeter was not accurate

On Wednesday, the hearing opened with a video animation that showed where the helicopter and passenger jet were leading up to the collision.

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The animation showed that the helicopter flew above the 200 feet altitude limit for the helicopter route along the Potomac River before it collided with the plane, per the AP.

According to the AP, investigators shared that the helicopter was actually 80 feet to 100 feet higher than the barometric altimeter, which the pilots relied upon, showed.

I am concerned there is a possibility that what the crew saw was very different than what the true altitude was, Homendy said, according to ABC News.

The NTSB conducted three tests on other helicopters from the same unit flying over the same area and found similar discrepancies in the altimeters.
Texas Democrats fled the state Sunday to deny the GOP a legislative quorum as part of an effort to prevent Republicans from redrawing the Lone Star States congressional maps.

The move deprives the Texas state Legislature of the numbers it needs to function, stalling progress on the maps  but comes with big risks for the state Democrats, including steep fines and the threat of arrest.

Sign up for the latest from The Hill here

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It adds another layer to the battle thats been brewing in Texas, though its unclear just how much this could impact the GOP plans.

Separately, talk of redistricting is building in other states as both parties ready for next years high-stakes midterms.

Here are five things to know.

Texas Democrats are trying to slow GOP redistricting push

With the GOP firmly in control of both houses of Texass state Legislature, Democrats didnt have many avenues available to stop Republicans from plowing forward with their plan, which could give Republicans another five House seats.

Without enough power in the House to vote down the proposed changes  which advanced out of committee over the weekend and was expected to receive a floor vote this week  Democrats best move was leaving the state to prevent the state House from being able to conduct any business.

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The 150-member state House needs at least two-thirds of its members present for a quorum, and just enough Democrats left the state to deny it. They split up their destinations among solidly Democratic states  Illinois, New York and Massachusetts.

This isnt the first time Texas Democrats, who have long been a minority in the state chambers, have turned to this strategy to try to stall a particularly controversial plan state Republicans were proposing.

They fled in 2003 when Republicans were pursuing an earlier middecade redistricting plan and again in 2021 to try to stop a bill to implement new voting restrictions. In both cases, the proposals were delayed but ultimately passed.

The quorum break comes in the middle of a 30-day special session called by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), after President Trump put pressure on Texas to redraw lines and boost GOP numbers. Democrats could try to run out the clock on the current session but couldnt keep Abbott from calling another.

Texas GOP want to move forward regardless

Republicans dont seem deterred in moving ahead with their plan despite the loss of quorum.

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The state House is still set to meet Monday afternoon as previously scheduled with the members who are still present. But they wont be able to conduct business, with at least 51 state House Democrats absent.

Republican state House Speaker Dustin Burrows said on the social platform X that if a quorum isnt present by a 3 p.m. CDT deadline, all options will be on the table.

Abbott argued in a memo from the governors office that attendance at a special session isnt optional and that members must return in time for the meeting. He cited an opinion from the Texas attorney general as giving him the authority to declare vacant any seats held by state legislators who intentionally seek to break quorum.

He said this also empowers him to fill open seats if a vacancy occurs.

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It seems to me that the only way some of the fleeing Democrats can avoid bribery charges is to not break quorum, Abbott wrote in a post on X.

If the clock on the 30-day special session were to be run out, Abbott is also capable of calling another special session.

Democrats could face penalties, arrests

After Democrats 2021 flight from the state irked their Republican counterparts, the Texas House approved new punishments for quorum-breakers, including $500 daily fines per lawmaker and potential expulsion.

With more than 50 lawmakers out of the state and the timing of their protest unclear, the latest standoff could be an expensive one.

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The Texas Tribune reported last week that some Democratic Party donors appeared prepared to cover the costs if a walkout occurred. In 2021, a group aligned with former Rep. Beto ORourke (D-Texas) reportedly gave $600,000 to help fund Texas Democrats stay in Washington, D.C., during that quorum break.

The participating Democrats risk losing their seats in the House, considering Abbotts pledge to remove missing lawmakers from membership if theyre not in attendance when the state House reconvenes Monday afternoon.

Beyond threatening to kick out and replace the lawmakers, Abbott pledged to use his full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons.

He argued any state lawmaker who solicits or accepts funds to cover the fines may have violated state bribery law.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) echoed Abbott, saying the lawmakers should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.

Its unclear how long the standoff will last

Theres no clear timeline for when Democrats might return to Texas.

Quorum was broken for four days in 2003, and six weeks in 2021  but Republicans ultimately succeeded in passing both bills Democrats had sought to protest.

Since their numbers in the state chambers arent enough to kill the proposed redistricting legislatively, their move to flee simply stalls their GOP counterparts from being able to move forward with the plan. Unless Republicans change course, Democrats return would likely mean the line changes sail through.

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The state lawmakers who have fled could run out the clock on the current 30-day special session, which kicked off July 21. But Abbott has the authority to call an unlimited number of additional special sessions, including back-to-back blocks.

In theory, Democrats could try to stay out of the state until November, when the filing period for 2026 primary candidates opens in Texas, in an effort to stall the maps from taking effect before the midterms.

But Democrats absence also stalls other business that this summers special session was slated to address, including votes on aid after last months catastrophic flooding  a point Republicans have hammered home.

Other states are also getting into the fight

The Texas GOP plan to redistrict set off a domino effect across the country, prompting Democrats and Republicans alike to consider middecade redraws of their own lines in states where they have control.

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Republicans are looking to protect the partys narrow 219-212 U.S. House majority in next years midterms, while Democrats want to offset GOP gains and flip the chamber.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has been at the forefront of conversations around the Lone Star States redistricting, threatening to redraw lines in his big blue state if Texas moves forward. Newsom, whose state has led resistance efforts to Trump and the GOP, was set to hold a press conference Monday.

Democrats in New York have also floated their own efforts to redistrict, though the changes wouldnt be likely to take effect for another few election cycles. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), meeting Monday with some of the Texas lawmakers who fled to her state, said she was weighing her options.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), who has said his state will protect the Texas Democrats who fled to it, has also left the door open to redistricting.

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The redistricting tensions have offered blue state governors an opportunity for leadership at a fraught moment for the party and given some cause for hope that Democrats could counteract any GOP gains.

But some red states  like Florida, where Republicans are pushing to redraw  could also get in on the action and bolster their partys edge.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  School is starting for most APS students this Thursday, but on Monday, teachers are getting pumped up for the new year with a pep-rally. Theyre calling it TeacherPalooza.

Story continues below

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About 6,000 staff members showed up to the inaugural event to learn more from each

other in break-out sessions, and to celebrate as a school district rather than individual schools. A lot of feedback weve gotten is that school feels isolating, since we have so many campuses across the city, APD Superintendent Gabriella Blakey. So we came together as a team to really look at how can we bring our staff all together to kick off the schoolyear as one district.

Superintendent Blakey used the teacher rally to call out specific schools for their achievements.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Seven people were hurt when a car rolled into an embankment in the area of the Angola Service Area on Sunday, according to the Erie County Sheriffs Office.

Police responded around 11 a.m. Sunday, where the vehicle, being driven by 39-year-old Gyanendra Timalsina of Pickerington, Ohio went off the roadway and down into the embankment. The car came to a rest on its roof after falling approximately 150 feet.

Preliminary investigation showed that Timalsina pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while entering the ramp and lost control.

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Police utilized a rope rescue, descending to the bottom and helping the seven people in the car. A 10-year-old was airlifted to Oishei Childrens Hospital with non-life threatening head, arm and leg injuries. Two additional children, ages 6 and 13, were transported for minor injuries. Timalsina and three other passengers, ages 66, 65 and 44, were taken to ECMC for minor injuries.

Each of our Special Operations units are specially trained for scenarios exactly like this, Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said. This is why we prioritize training and experience at the Erie County Sheriffs Office. I commend all of the first responders who were on scene for their work.

No tickets were issued.

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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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 News 4 Buffalo.




NEED TO KNOW

A prison riot in Veracruz, Mexico, left 7 inmates dead and 11 injured

Prisoners protested mistreatment and control by the criminal group "Grupo Sombra."

Authorities regained control with military support after 12 hours





Seven people were killed and 11 others were injured in a Mexican prison riot on Sunday where inmates were protesting treatment inside the prison due to the activities of a criminal group, authorities said.

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The violence broke out Saturday afternoon and stretched into the night at a prison in the Mexican state of Veracruz, according to a statement from the state security ministry. Inmates maintained control of the facility for 12 hours.

Authorities in Veracruz were able to carry out a coordinated operation with support from the military to regain control of the prison. As a result of the riot, we report the tragic deaths of seven inmates and 11 injured people, the statement said.

Those who survived the prison riot are being treated in various hospitals for their injuries, authorities said. Three inmates were also relocated to a different facility as a result of the riot, the state security ministry said.

The inmates fought and set fire to the facility after demanding that authorities allow human rights activists and the press inside the prison, alleging the criminal group "Grupo Sombra" was abusing and extorting inmates, El Pais and the Associated Press reported.

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The prison was holding 778 inmates in June  more than the 735 inmates it was designed to hold, according to the AP.

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Veracruz is one of the most violent states in Mexico, El Pais reported. Days before the riot, a taxi driver was shot and hospitalized. But later, the alleged hitman pretended to be the victims relative and killed him at the hospital where he was recovering, authorities alleged, El Pais reported.

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St. Petersburg has scheduled water disconnection to two major apartment complexes because the property owner has a remaining significant delinquent balance.

The Elements on Third, 3151 Third Ave. N., and The Morgan, 2550 54th Ave. S., are scheduled for water disconnection Aug. 21, according to an email from Assistant City Administrator Tom Greene to City Council members on Friday. He wrote that the city has been working with the property owner, Lurin Real Estate Holdings based in Dallas, to resolve the matter.

Although we are encouraged by a recent payment made this week, a significant delinquent balance remains, Green wrote.

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The city posted notices at both apartment complexes, home to 735 units in total, on Friday. The notice from the citys billing and collections customer service department says the city has regretfully ... reached a critical point that will impact tenants and has scheduled a disconnection unless payment is received.

We are providing you advance notice so that you may have time to make other arrangements in the event that this remains unsolved, the notice read. We very much regret that this has reached such an extreme point but the lack of responsiveness on the part of Lurin Real Estate Holdings leaves us with no other alternative.

Lurin did not respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment. A text and a call to a phone number found for Lurin CEO Jon Venetos went unanswered. Rachel Purcell, listed as Lurins chief financial officer on its website, texted a reporter that she is no longer employed there.

Property records also show a Lurin-owned property at 411 77th Ave. N., but that site is not mentioned in Greenes email to council members. The email included a prepared statement for the news media.

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The City understands residents at these properties are experiencing stress and concern regarding this situation and we are working diligently to ensure there is not an interruption in services for residents, the statement read. For months, the City has worked with property management to resolve these outstanding balances and will remain in active communication with property management until the balances are paid.

City Council member Richie Floyd, whose district includes the Elements, said city staff told him last week that the complexs outstanding balance was around $220,000. He said he encourages tenants to reach out to his office and is putting together information on tenants rights.

Our office is aware of it and very frustrated by what seems like bad landlord behavior, he said.

Residents at the Delmar Apartments, a South Tampa property owned by Lurin, received a similar notice from city officials in May. But Lurin paid off the delinquent bills, avoiding a water shut off.

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Tom DiFiore, a managing attorney with Bay Area Legal Services, said he is hopeful for a similar outcome at the two St. Pete complexes.

Its a political issue as well, he said. The government doesnt want to be seen as the person thats turning off services leaving almost 800 people without water.

If the city does end up shutting the water off, the two buildings could be deemed uninhabitable by code enforcement and tenants could be forced to leave, DiFiore said.

Renters there have several options under Floridas landlord tenant laws. They can deliver a seven-day notice of intent to withhold rent. If the water is not turned on after seven days, that would give them legal grounds not to pay September rent until it is repaired, DiFiore said.

They could also file a notice to terminate the lease if the water is not turned on within seven days. But DiFiore noted that if the water comes back on after the lease is broken, tenants might not be able to go back on their decision.
NINOSHIMA, Japan (AP)  When the first atomic bomb detonated 80 years ago on Aug. 6, thousands of the dead and dying were brought to the small, rural island of Ninoshima, just south of Hiroshima, by military boats with crews that had trained for suicide attack missions.

Many of the victims had their clothes burned off and their flesh hung from their faces and limbs. They moaned in pain.

Because of poor medicine and care, only a few hundred were alive when the field hospital closed Aug. 25, according to historical records. They were buried in various locations in chaotic and rushed operations.

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Decades later, people in the area are looking for the remains of the missing, driven by a desire to account for and honor the victims and bring relief to survivors who are still tormented by memories of missing loved ones.

Until that happens, the war is not over for these people, said Rebun Kayo, a Hiroshima University researcher who regularly visits Ninoshima to search for remains.

Evidence of the missing is still being unearthed

On a recent morning, Kayo visited a hillside plot in the forest where he has dug for remains since 2018. He put on rubber boots and a helmet and sprayed insect repellent.

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After planting chrysanthemum flowers and praying, Kayo carefully began shoveling gravel from a hole the size of a bathtub. When the soil was soft enough, he sifted it for bone fragments.

As he worked under the scorching sun, he imagined the pain and sadness that the victims felt when they died.

Kayo so far has found about 100 bone fragments, including skull pieces and an infants jaw bone with little teeth attached. He found the bones in an area suggested by a Ninoshima resident, whose father had witnessed soldiers burying bodies that were brought to the island on boats from Hiroshima 80 years ago.

The little child buried here has been alone for all these years, he said of the bones he believes belonged to a toddler. It's just intolerable."

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Victims arrived in the bombing's chaotic aftermath

The U.S. atomic attack on Hiroshima instantly destroyed the city and killed tens of thousands near the hypocenter, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Ninoshima. The death toll by the end of that year was 140,000.

As a 3-year-old child, Tamiko Sora was with her parents and two sisters at their home just 1.4 kilometers (0.9 mile) from the hypocenter. The blast destroyed their house and Sora's face was burned, but most of her family survived.

As they made their way to a relatives' home, she met an unattended 5-year-old girl who identified herself as Hiroko and a woman with severe burns desperately asking people to save the baby she carried. Sora still thinks of them often and regrets her family could not help. Her family visited orphanages but could not find the girl.

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Sora now thinks the people she met that day, as well as her missing aunt and uncle, might have ended up on Ninoshima.

Ninoshima saw 3 weeks of chaos, deaths and rushed burials

Within two hours of the blast, victims began arriving by boat from Hiroshima at the island's No. 2 quarantine center. Its buildings filled with patients with severe wounds. Many died on the way to the island.

Imperial Army service members were on around-the-clock shifts for cremation and burials on the island, according to Hiroshima City documents.

Eiko Gishi, then an 18-year-old boat trainee, oversaw carrying patients from the pier to the quarantine area for first aid. He and other soldiers cut bamboo to make cups and trays. Many of the wounded died soon after sipping water.

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In recollections published by the city years later, Gishi wrote that soldiers carefully handled bodies one by one at the beginning, but were soon overwhelmed by the huge number of decomposing bodies and used an incinerator originally meant for military horses.

Even this wasn't enough and they soon ran out of space, eventually putting bodies into bomb shelters and in burial mounds.

I was speechless from the shock when I saw the first group of patients that landed on the island, a former army medic, Yoshitaka Kohara, wrote in 1992.

I was used to seeing many badly wounded soldiers on battlefields, but I had never seen anyone in such a cruel and tragic state," he said. It was an inferno.

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Kohara was at the facility until its closure, when only about 500 people were left alive. When he told surviving patients that the war had ended on Aug. 15, he recalled they looked emotionless and tears flowed from their crushed eyes, and nobody said a word."

Thousands of remains found on Ninoshima but more are still missing

Kazuo Miyazaki, a Ninoshima-born historian and guide, said that toward the end of WWII the island was used to train suicide attackers using wooden boats meant for deployment in the Philippine Sea and Okinawa.

Hiroshima was not a city of peace from the beginning. Actually, it was the opposite, Miyazaki said. Its essential that you learn from the older generations and keep telling the lessons to the next.

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Miyazaki, 77, lost a number of relatives in the atomic bombing. He has heard first-person stories from his relatives and neighbors about what happened on Ninoshima, which was home to a major army quarantine during Japan's militarist expansion. His mother was an army nurse who was deployed to the field hospital on the island.

The remains of about 3,000 atomic bombing victims brought to Ninoshima have been found since 1947 when many were dug out of bomb shelters. Thousands more are thought to be missing.

People visit the island to remember the missing

After learning of the search for remains on Ninoshima, Sora, the atomic bomb survivor struck by the girl and infant she met after the explosion, traveled to the island twice to pray at a cenotaph commemorating the dead.

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I feel they are waiting for me to visit, Sora said. When I pray, I speak the names of my relatives and tell them Im well and tell them happy stories.

In a recent visit to Sora at her nursing home, the researcher Kayo brought a plastic box containing the baby jaw with little teeth and skull fragments he found on Ninoshima. The bones were placed carefully on a bed of fluffy cotton.

Kayo said he wanted to show Sora the fragile fragments, which could be from a child the same age as the one Sora met 80 years ago. He plans to eventually take the bones to a Buddhist temple.

Sora prayed in silence while looking at the bones in the box and then spoke to them.

Im so happy you were finally found," she said. "Welcome back.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Eight people, including an Irish missionary and a 3-year-old child, remained missing on Monday after gunmen stormed an orphanage in Haiti, the latest attack in an area controlled by a powerful collection of armed gangs.

Authorities scrambled to relocate dozens of children and staff from the Saint-Helene orphanage, run by Nos Petits Freres et Surs, an international charity with offices in Mexico and France. The orphanage cares for more than 240 children, according to its website.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack early on Sunday. The area is controlled by a gang federation known as  Viv Ansanm, which the United States this year designated a foreign terrorist organization.

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Among those abducted was Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary who has worked in Haiti since 1993 and oversaw the orphanage's special needs program for children and adults. She was assaulted in 2013 when suspects broke into the orphanage and killed her colleague, according to Irish media.

Her family issued a statement saying they were absolutely devastated by Sunday's kidnappings: The situation is evolving and deeply worrying."

Sunday marked the latest high-profile kidnapping involving a foreign missionary. In 2021, the 400 Mawozo gang kidnapped 17 missionaries, including five children, from a U.S.-based organization in Ganthier, east of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The majority were held captive for 61 days.

Sunday's kidnapping took place in Kenscoff, a once peaceful community in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. The doors to the orphanage remained closed on Monday as Haitis Institute of Social Welfare and Research worked with UNICEF to identify sites where children and employees could be relocated.

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The lush green and incredibly steep mountains where the orphanage is located has been under attack by heavily armed gangs since January. The latest attack over the weekend forced farmers in the area to flee.

We cant work, said 41-year-old farmer Sala Desire, who fled his home and carried a small oven up a mountain as he gathered his belongings and prepared for a 30-minute trek uphill.

Joceline Souffrant, 52, said she would follow him shortly.

Everyone is running, she said. We cant say in the area because of the shooting.

Simon Harris, Irelands deputy prime minister, said in a statement that the kidnappings of Heraty and the others were deeply worrying," and called for their immediate release.

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In a past interview with the Irish Independent newspaper, Heraty recalled being threatened with death when suspects broke into the orphanage in 2013.

They were quite aggressive. One had a hammer, one had a gun, she said. Heraty said her colleague was killed with a hammer after he rushed to help her and others.

The last place you would expect a violent death to happen in Haiti would be in a house with special-needs people," she said. "Life is just not fair. We know that. We just have to accept it.

At least 175 people in Haiti were reported kidnapped from April to the end of June of this year, with 37% of those cases occurring in Port-au-Prince.

The United Nations said a majority of those kidnappings were blamed on the Grand Ravine and Village de Dieu gangs, which form part of the Viv Ansanm federation.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  An eight-year-old boy was killed during a shooting in Jackson, and police said his father has been charged in the case.

The incident occurred in the 3600 block of Lampton Avenue on Sunday, August 3.

Five in custody following shootout in Jackson neighborhood

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said Kuaron Hilliard, 29, left his son alone at the home, and the child found the unsecured gun and was shot. The childs body was transported to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for an autopsy, and a death investigation is underway. Wade said the weapon will be tested.

Kuaron Hilliard (Courtesy: Hinds County Detention Center)

The police chief said the child was staying with his father for the weekend. Hilliard, who is being held in the Hinds County Detention Center, was charged with felony child neglect. He appeared in court on August 4 and received a $50,000 bond.

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The victim has not been identified.

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A total of eight people were shot after a party in downtown Los Angeles overnight, and police say two of them are dead.

The shooting took place around 1 a.m. Monday in the area of East 14th Place and Paloma Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The address provided by authorities is located in an industrial zone just north of the 10 Freeway.

4 teens arrested in violent assault outside Simi Valley movie theater

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LAPD officers had previously been in the area around 11 p.m. Sunday to shut a party down, but it wasnt immediately clear whether the gathering of people early Monday was connected to the earlier party that was shut down. One person was detained for possessing a firearm during that interaction, authorities said.

Two hours later, officers returned to the area after a radio call of shots being fired, and when they arrived, a large crowd was blocking the roadway.

8 people shot after party shut down in Los Angeles; 2 dead, 6 injured. Aug. 4, 2025. (ANG News) 8 people shot after party shut down in Los Angeles; 2 dead, 6 injured. Aug. 4, 2025. (ANG News) 8 people shot after party shut down in Los Angeles; 2 dead, 6 injured. Aug. 4, 2025. (OnSceneTV)

A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told KTLA 5s Erin Myers early Monday morning that, in addition to the two decedents, six people were injured  including at least one in critical condition.

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The deceased victims were only described as a man and a woman. The former died at the scene while the latter was pronounced dead at a hospital.

There was a large crowd spotted outside California Hospital Medical Center; it is believed that some of the victims were taken there by ambulance, while others self-transported.

Alleged gunman in East Hollywood nightclub car rampage arrested

Video footage shows a chaotic scene unfolding in the moments after the gunfire erupted, with people heard screaming and seen fleeing the area as officers arrived and began putting up crime scene tape. Two bodies were seen in the roadway; neither were moving.

8 people shot after party shut down in Los Angeles; 2 dead, 6 injured. Aug. 4, 2025. (OnSceneTV) 8 people shot after party shut down in Los Angeles; 2 dead, 6 injured. Aug. 4, 2025. (KTLA)

The scene was still active at 6 a.m. Monday; East 14th Street remained blocked off between Paloma and Griffith Avenue.

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No information on a suspect or suspects was immediately available.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the LAPD.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
" " There's no shortage of enjoyable "Naruto" filler episodes, but sometimes you just want to get to the core of the plot. Nicole Antonio / DALL-E

Before jumping into "Naruto Shippuden," many fans start with the original "Naruto" anime. While it laid the foundation for one of anime's most iconic journeys, it also featured many filler episodes.

This "Naruto" filler list breaks down which arcs are skippable and which might be worth watching.

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The original "Naruto" series ran for 220 episodes, and a substantial chunk of that was filler. These episodes arent part of the mangas storyline but were added by the anime studio to give the manga time to stay ahead.
The Brief

A crash involving two semi-trucks shut down all westbound lanes of I-80 Monday morning near Morris.

Traffic is being diverted off the interstate at Brisbin Road.

Illinois State Police are urging drivers to use alternate routes.

MORRIS, Ill. - A crash involving two semi-trucks closed all westbound lanes of Interstate 80 in Grundy County on Monday morning, according to Illinois State Police.

What we know

The crash happened around 5:16 a.m. at milepost 113, near the Route 47 exit in Morris.

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State police say one semi is jackknifed while the other is on its side, blocking all lanes of westbound traffic, causing significant traffic disruptions.

One driver was transported to an area hospital with injuries.

Traffic is being diverted off the highway at Brisbin Road, police said.

ISP also noted that one semi was carrying dry rice.

What we don't know

Police have not released details about how the crash occurred.

What's next

The investigation is ongoing.

ISP says they hope to have the westbound lanes reopened by 2 p.m. Drivers were advised to seek alternate routes until then.

The Source

The information in this article was provided by the Illinois State Police.
Bae Kyung-mi was five years old when the Americans dropped "Little Boy", the atomic bomb that flattened Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

Like thousands of other ethnic Koreans working in the city at the time, her family kept the horror a secret.

Many feared the stigma from doing menial work for colonial ruler Japan, and false rumours that radiation sickness was contagious.

Bae recalls hearing planes overhead while she was playing at her home in Hiroshima on that day.

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Within minutes, she was buried in rubble.

"I told my mom in Japanese, 'Mom! There are airplanes!'" Bae, now 85, told AFP.

She passed out shortly after.

Her home collapsed on top of her, but the debris shielded her from the burns that killed tens of thousands of people -- including her aunt and uncle.

After the family moved back to Korea, they did not speak of their experience.

"I never told my husband that I was in Hiroshima and a victim of the bombing," Bae said.

"Back then, people often said you had married the wrong person if he or she was an atomic bombing survivor."

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Her two sons only learned she had been in Hiroshima when she registered at a special centre set up in 1996 in Hapcheon in South Korea for victims of the bombings, she said.

Bae said she feared her children would suffer from radiation-related illnesses that afflicted her, forcing her to have her ovaries and a breast removed because of the high cancer risk.

- A burning city -

She knew why she was getting sick, but did not tell her own family.

"We all hushed it up," she said.

Some 740,000 people were killed or injured in the twin bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

More than 10 percent of the victims were Korean, data suggests, the result of huge flows of people to Japan while it colonised the Korean peninsula.

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Survivors who stayed in Japan found they had to endure discrimination both as "hibakusha", or atomic bomb survivors, and as Koreans.

Many Koreans also had to choose between pro-Pyongyang and pro-Seoul groups in Japan, after the peninsula was left divided by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Kwon Joon-oh's mother and father both survived the attack on Hiroshima.

The 76-year-old's parents, like others of their generation, could only work by taking on "filthy and dangerous jobs" that the Japanese considered beneath them, he said.

Korean victims were also denied an official memorial for decades, with a cenotaph for them put up in the Hiroshima Peace Park only in the late 1990s.

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Kim Hwa-ja was four on August 6, 1945 and remembers being put on a makeshift horse-drawn trap as her family tried to flee Hiroshima after the bomb.

Smoke filled the air and the city was burning, she said, recalling how she peeped out from under a blanket covering her, and her mother screaming at her not to look.

Korean groups estimate that up to 50,000 Koreans may have been in the city that day, including tens of thousands working as forced labourers at military sites.

- Stigma -

But records are sketchy.

"The city office was devastated so completely that it wasn't possible to track down clear records," a Hiroshima official told AFP.

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Japan's colonial policy banned the use of Korean names, further complicating record-keeping.

After the attacks, tens of thousands of Korean survivors moved back to their newly-independent country.

But many have struggled with health issues and stigma ever since.

"In those days, there were unfounded rumours that radiation exposure could be contagious," said Jeong Soo-won, director of the country's Hapcheon Atomic Bomb Victim Center.

Nationwide, there are believed to be some 1,600 South Korean survivors still alive, Jeong said -- with 82 of them in residence at the center.

Seoul enacted a special law in 2016 to help the survivors -- including a monthly stipend of around $72 -- but it provides no assistance to their offspring or extended families.

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"There are many second- and third-generation descendants affected by the bombings and suffering from congenital illnesses," said Jeong.

A provision to support them "must be included" in future, he said.

A Japanese hibakusha group won the Nobel Peace Prize last year in recognition of their efforts to show the world the horrors of nuclear war.

But 80 years after the attacks, many survivors in both Japan and Korea say the world has not learned.

- 'Only talk' -

US President Donald Trump recently compared his strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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"Would he understand the tragedy of what the Hiroshima bombing has caused? Would he understand that of Nagasaki?" survivor Kim Gin-ho said.

In Korea, the Hapcheon center will hold a commemoration on August 6 -- with survivors hoping that this year the event will attract more attention.

From politicians, "there has been only talk... but no interest", she said.

oh-kjk/ceb/djw/jfx




NEED TO KNOW

Twin sisters Ava and Addison Apostolopoulos, 9, were swimming at the pool of their grandmother's apartment complex when they noticed an unresponsive young girl in the water

Ava jumped into the pool and pulled the 4-year-old, who survived, to the surface, the Wixom Police Department said

Along with maintenance worker Cody Boyette, who administered rescue breaths, the twins were honored with the Police Department Civilian Citation Award





A 4-year-old girl is recovering after being found unresponsive at the bottom of a swimming pool.

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Nine-year-old twin sisters Ava and Addison Apostolopoulos and a maintenance worker are being hailed as heroes after saving the young girl amid the incident in Detroit.

Ava and Addison were swimming at the pool of their grandmothers apartment complex on June 27 when they saw an unresponsive 4-year-old girl in the water, according to the Wixom Police Department and 23ABC News.

Both girls noticed a young child (4 years old), underwater and not moving. Ava jumped into the pool and pulled the girl to the surface, authorities said in their post on Facebook.

Saw a girl at the bottom of the pool not moving. There was stuff coming out of her nose, Ava told 23ABC News.

Wixom Police Department/Facebook Addison and Ava Apostolopoulos alongside Cody Boyette as they were honored by the Wixom Police Department Addison and Ava Apostolopoulos alongside Cody Boyette as they were honored by the Wixom Police Department

Addison went to grab goggles before Ava swam to bring the 4-year-old up to the pools surface.

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The girl was then pulled out of the pool by Cody Boyette and he saw that she was not breathing and had blue lips, Wixom Police added in their statement. Cody immediately began rescue breathing on the child and was able to get her breathing again.

The child was then taken to the hospital, according to 23ABC News.

Without the quick observations and actions of these three individuals it is believed that the child would have perished, police said.

Ava, Addison and Boyette received the Police Department Civilian Citation Award at the City of Wixom Council meeting on July 22.

The department shared pictures of the three heroes holding onto their awards.

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We're just all about helping, we're aware of our surroundings and taught them the same thing, if you see something, do something, the girls father Jason Apostolopoulos told 23ABC News. "The city of Wixom really honored them, and that was wonderful, and they were really proud of that. It's really been a wonderful thing for them and our family."

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Ava went on to say she was "proud" a little girl is alive thanks to the actions of her and sister. "I am very happy she's alive now, and I hope she's having a good time. And I'm happy," she added.

Addison told the outlet she felt happy that we were in the right situation.



Read the original article on People




NEED TO KNOW

A raid on an orphanage in Haiti resulted in nine people being taken hostage, including a 3-year-old child

The raid was reportedly carried out by armed intruders at the Sainte Helene

Gena Heraty, an Irish citizen who reportedly runs the organization, was one of the hostages taken





Nine people, including a 3-year-old child, have been kidnapped from an orphanage in Haiti, according to reports.

On Sunday, Aug. 3, the victims were taken from the Sainte Helene orphanage in Kenscoff by "armed bandits," Haitian outlet Le Nouvelliste reported, citing Kenscoff Mayor Jean Masillon and a source close to the orphanage.

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The facility  which is near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince  is operated by the humanitarian organization Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs, which translates to "Our Little Brothers and Sisters," per Irish broadcaster RTE.

Simon Harris, who is currently serving as Ireland's Tanaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, said in a statement that Irish citizen Gena Heraty and a 3-year-old child were among those kidnapped, per a news release.

Robert_Ford/Getty A photo of hillsides in the north of Port-au-Prince near Kenscoff, Haiti A photo of hillsides in the north of Port-au-Prince near Kenscoff, Haiti

RTE reported that Heraty, who is in her mid-50s and is from the town of Westport on Ireland's west coast, oversees the orphanage.

Harris said, The kidnapping of Irish citizen Gena Heraty, along with seven of her colleagues and a three-year-old child from the grounds of an orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, is deeply worrying."

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Gena has served the people of Haiti for over 30 years. She has dedicated her life to supporting the most vulnerable people in Haiti and it is imperative that she is released immediately," he added, per the release.

"This morning, I had a good conversation with Genas sister Noreen and I assured her that all is being done to ensure Gena's release," Harris continued in the post, which was shared on Monday, Aug. 4.

My Department is in close contact with the Heraty family, local authorities and Nos Petits Freres et Surs, the [organization] Gena works for," he went on, per the release.

"The countrys two ambassadors are also in close contact. We will continue to leave no stone [unturned] to ensure Gena and her colleagues are released," Harris concluded.

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Masillon called the kidnapping a "planned act," according to the Irish Independent.

"The attackers broke into the orphanage around 3:30 a.m. [local time] without opening fire," Masillon said.

"They broke through a wall to enter the property before heading to the building where the director was staying, leaving with nine hostages," the mayor continued.

Heraty has been living in Haiti since 1993, running the orphanage which accommodates up to 270 children, according to the outlet.

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Per RTE, at least 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti in the first half of this year amid growing concerns over gang violence, citing the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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In recent months, gangs have been allegedly "launching attacks on previously peaceful communities," the Irish Independent reported, citing the United Nations.

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and humanitarian organization Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.



Read the original article on People
(NewsNation)  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the arrest of Democrats who fled the state to prevent a redistricting effort by Republicans with removal from the state House.

Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate and arrest the members. The legal justification is a 2021 Texas Supreme Court decision that would allow for the arrest and forced return of lawmakers who leave to prevent a quorum in protest of legislation.

Speaker Dustin Burrows just issued a call of the Texas House and issued warrants to compel members to return to the chamber, Abbott said. To ensure compliance, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans. This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol.

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Some Texas lawmakers took refuge roughly 1,000 miles away in Illinois to prevent a quorum that would allow the state to redraw its voting map.

GOP lawmakers caution Trump, Bondi on Maxwell pardon

I am prepared to do everything in my power to hold them accountable because these liberal lawmakers are not above the law. Its imperative that they be swiftly arrested, punished, and face the full force of the law for turning their backs on the people of Texas, said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Abbott directs Texas Rangers to investigate House Democrats

Abbott also directed the Texas Rangers to investigate Democratic members of the Texas House who have fled the state, potentially violating state bribery laws by refusing to appear for a quorum.

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I ordered the Texas Rangers to immediately investigate fleeing Texas House Democrats for potential bribery and any other legal violations connected to their refusal to conduct business and cast votes, Abbott said in a statement. That investigation should extend to anyone who aided or abetted such potential crimes.

Abbott said some absentee Democrats may have solicited or accepted funds to avoid participating in legislative duties. The Texas Penal Code prohibits lawmakers from accepting money to avoid votes or other official responsibilities. The order also applies to anyone who may have provided or promised such funds.

Lawmakers from Texas have fled the state to prevent a quorum

Texas lawmakers have stood firm in their refusal to participate, backed by governors in blue states.

I and my colleagues are determined to not let Trump order Gov. Abbott to rig our congressional districts, said state Rep. Vikki Goodwin. We believe Democracy is on the line.

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has voiced his support as lawmakers object to what they say is an undemocratic and racist attempt to redraw the Texas map in order to give Republicans more districts.

Hes been supportive, hes told us that all options are on the table if Gov. Abbott doesnt back down, said Texas state Rep. John Bucy.

While about 57 lawmakers headed to Illinois, others fled to Boston and New York.

Lawmakers who walked out could face a fine of $500 per day for each day of the special session they miss, and party leaders reportedly said they fear the possibility of arrest, which Abbott has threatened.

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Abbott gave lawmakers until 3 p.m. CDT on Monday to return or risk being removed from the House.

Nancy Mace launches South Carolina governor bid

The map at the center of the controversy was proposed last week and would give Republicans a larger majority, going from a 25-13 advantage to a 30-8 split.

The map would also split districts to make it difficult for current Democrats to win in areas around Austin, Dallas and Houston, as well as south Texas.

Democrats argue the map is racially biased and targets Hispanic and Black incumbents, which Republicans have denied.

What theyre really trying to do is drive a spear through the heart of minority representation in this country, said Texas Democratic chair Kendall Scudder. If theyre successful in Texas, theyre going to try to do it all across the country. They wont stop until the U.S. Congress is whiter than it was before Reconstruction.

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Texas was once required by the 1965 Voting Rights Act to submit its redistricting plans to the federal government for review because of its history of discrimination, but the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 2013 the requirement was outdated and unconstitutional. The act requires states to have the number of districts in which minority voters can elect a candidate reflect their percentage of the population.

The plan creates five new districts without any incumbents, and sponsoring Republican state Rep. Todd Hunter noted that in four of them, at least half of the voting-age U.S. citizens are minorities, and there would be 10 Hispanic-majority districts, rather than the current nine.

Hunter acknowledged the lines were being redrawn for partisan purposes, which he said is allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. He said a law firm was consulted as the map was being drawn.

Court reaffirms ruling limiting Trumps asylum ban at US, Mexico border

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Democrats fear the push for redistricting could expand to other states, with the GOP working to redraw district maps to retain power by splitting up districts where Democratic voters are concentrated.

Some Democrats have urged blue states to fight back by doing the same, including Illinois, where the states congressional map has already faced accusations of partisan gerrymandering.

In addition to the new map, the current special session is also set to vote on flood relief following catastrophic flooding in Texas Hill Country region in July. Without a quorum, the Texas House will be unable to pass relief for those affected, something that could come back to bite absent Democrats when it is time for elections.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott is threatening to expel any Democratic legislators who dont show up to the Texas Capitol by Monday afternoonafter Democrats fled the state to stop a vote on Republicans obviously gerrymandered congressional maps.

Fifty-one Texas Democrats left the Lone Star State over the weekend, thus denying Republicans the two-thirds quorum needed for votes in the states 150-member legislature. They plan to stay away for the duration of the two-week special legislation in which the House is scheduled to vote on the GOPs new congressional maps.

Were walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent, said state Representative Gene Wu, who chairs the Texas House Democratic Caucus. As of today, this corrupt special session is over.

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In a statement Sunday, Abbott fulminated against the Democrats. This truancy ends now, he wrote. The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance when the House reconvenes at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025.

Citing a 2021 opinion by Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxtonwho, during this ongoing gerrymandering saga, has called Democrats cowards who ought to be hunt[ed] downAbbott said he may treat quorum-breakers as having forfeited their offices, in which case they, purportedly, could be removed from office and swiftly replaced.

He also accused the Democratic lawmakers of possible felonies for receiving donations to offset daily $500 fines for their absence.

The Paxton opinion, however, does not say that lawmakers who break quorum can be removed, but rather that this is a fact-specific question only resolvable by a court, noted Politicos Kyle Cheney. It also refrained from deciding on the constitutionality of breaking a quorum.

Texas Democrats replied to Abbott with a storied Texas battle cry, issuing a four-word statement: Come and take it.
With the 4 p.m. CT deadline having come and gone, Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows announced this afternoon he would sign arrest warrants against any absent Democrat lawmakers if authorized by a vote of the chamber. Shortly thereafter, the House did approve the warrants and Gov. Greg Abbott then swiftly called on the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest the "delinquent Texas House Democrats."

The Democratic lawmakers ultimately did not return to Texas in time Monday to approve a quorum amid a fight to halt GOP efforts to redraw the state's congressional maps.

The Illinois State Democratic Party put out a press release shortly before the quorum in Texas was requested, indicating that "in a bold and unified response Texas House Democrats have denied a quorum." While several state Democrats appeared at an event in Illinois on Monday, a state that critics argue is heavily gerrymandered itself, other events aimed at fighting against Texas' redistricting efforts were also held in Albany, Boston and Chicago, according to the press release.

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"Let me begin by commending the members who did show up," Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows said after the quorum was rejected. Meanwhile, Burrows slammed the absent Democrats and said he would not hesitate to sign civil arrest warrants if it is determined the lawmakers are in violation of the law.

Gov. Abott Calls Out Democrats For Outrageous Protests To Gop-led Redistricting

The Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas.

"Pursuant to the rules of the House, I am prepared to recognize a motion to place a call on the House, and any other motions necessary, to compel the return of absent members," Burrows said Monday afternoon.

Read On The Fox News App

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"Should such a motion prevail, I will immediately sign the warrants for the civil arrest of the members who have said they will not be here," he continued. "As speaker, I will do everything in my power to establish quorum and move this body forward by any and all means available to this office."

Earlier Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to expel and potentially prosecute Democratic lawmakers who have fled Texas to stop Republicans from moving ahead with efforts to redraw the state's congressional districts. GOP Texas State Sen. also filed Senate Bill 62 on Monday in an effort to fire the absent lawmakers for not showing up.

Most Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives, who Abbott has accused of potentially committing felonies, left the state on Sunday so that the House would not have enough votes for a quorum. Without a quorum, legislative proceedings cannot move forward. The lawmakers fled as Republicans have been trying to pass legislation establishing new congressional districts in the state, which Republicans argue have been unfairly gerrymandered in favor of Democrats and need to be adjusted.

Abbott told lawmakers in a letter sent Sunday that if they do not return by the time the house reconvenes at 4 p.m. ET he will "invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott suggested that those who have fled the state to stall Republicans' agenda could potentially face felony charges.

"In addition to abandoning their offices, these legislators may also have committed felonies," Abbott added in his letter. "Many absentee Democrats are soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules."

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Earlier Monday, Abbott said it would be considered bribery "if any lawmaker took money to perform or to refuse to perform an act in the legislature."

Subsequently, following GOP lawmakers' approval of the arrest warrants for the absent Democrats, Abbott called on the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest the "delinquent Texas House Democrats."

"Speaker Dustin Burrows just issued a call of the Texas House and issued warrants to compel members to return to the chamber. To ensure compliance, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans," Abbot said Monday in a press release announcing the move. "This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol."

Texas Map Fight Escalates As Jeffries Vows All Options To Stop Gop Plan

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In response to Abbott's threats, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., described the governor's actions as "all hat, no cattle," noting that there was "no basis to charge" the lawmakers. Jeffries comments came before the Texas state legislature's approval of the arrest warrants.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 6, 2025.

Democrats nationwide have responded to the GOP redistricting efforts in Texas with threats to do the same in Democratic-controlled states like New York and California.

Last week, Jeffries said during a press conference that "all options should be on the table" amid the Texas redistricting battle.

Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has said California should "fight fire with fire" when it comes to the GOP's mid-decade redistricting efforts.

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Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared Monday that "the gloves are off," adding that she intends to explore "every option" to redraw her state's congressional maps "as soon as possible."

Democratic Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York and Gavin Newsom of California vow to fight back against GOP redistricting efforts.

Congressional maps are typically redrawn once every 10 years, following the completion of the U.S. Census, but currently Texas is trying to re-draw their maps mid-decade without any new census data, or even a court order. Still, Abbott has insisted that "there's nothing illegal" about what Republicans are trying to do in Texas.

The new maps in Texas, which President Donald Trump supports, could potentially help Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives pick up five seats, the president said last month. Trump's Department of Justice previously sent Aboott a letter in early July, alleging that some congressional districts in Texas could be considered racially gerrymandered and in violation of the Constitution's 14th Amendment.





Original article source: Abbott orders arrest of AWOL Texas House Dems after warrant issued by House Speaker
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a letter Sunday night in which he said that he would seek to remove derelict Democrats from their elected offices in the Texas House of Representatives if they fail to return by Monday afternoon.

Real Texans do not run from a fight. But thats exactly what most of the Texas House Democrats just did, Abbotts letter reads. Rather than doing their job and voting on urgent legislation affecting the lives of all Texans, they have fled Texas to deprive the House of the quorum necessary to meet and conduct business.

Texas Dems explain quorum breaking, GOP demands arrests to force Trump-ordered redistricting vote

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In the letter, Abbott cites an opinion written by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Such opinions do not carry the weight of law, but do signal a willingness of the AGs office to prosecute a legal argument.

The Attorney General concluded that  through a quo warranto action, a district court may determine that a legislator has forfeited his or her office due to abandonment and can remove the legislator from office, thereby creating a vacancy,' Abbott wrote. That empowers me to swiftly fill vacancies under Article III, Section 13 of the Texas Constitution.

Removing quorum breakers has not been done in similar situations.

Denying quorum has been a Texas political strategy since 1870

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That section of the states constitution requires the governor to call for an election within 20 days of a vacancy.

Democrats hatched a deliberate plan not to show up for work, for the specific purpose of abdicating the duties of their office and thwarting the chambers business, Abbott wrote. The absconded Democrat House members were elected to meet and vote on legislation, not to prevent votes that may not go their way.

Abbott also suggested that he would seek felony charges against Democrats, claiming that some may have violated bribery laws.

I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons, he added.

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Pritzker says Texas Democrats who fled state will be protected amid arrest threats

Either action by Abbott would likely trigger lengthy court battles.

Dems react to threats: Come and take it

The Texas House Democratic Caucus issued a brief response around 11:20 p.m. Sunday. It said: Come and take it.

Democratic Rep. James Talarico spoke with KXAN around 11 p.m. Sunday. He said the 57 quorum breakers didnt make their decision lightly.

Many of our colleagues are leaving behind young children. Some are leaving behind aging parents. Were all leaving behind our day jobs, which is how we pay the bills, he said. And so this was not an easy decision, but it was a necessary one, because Donald Trump is essentially rigging the midterm elections next year. Hes trying to hold on to power despite what the American people may want.

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Talarico said that the absent state representatives are standing up for every Texan, not just Democrats. In response to GOP calls for arrests, he said the quorum breakers are committed to killing this power grab.

They may act tough on social media or when the press releases, but real strength comes from standing up to the President when he asks Texas to redraw our maps and hand him five new congressional districts, he said. When I was growing up, a Texas governor would have no problem telling the President to get lost if he tried to mess with Texas. Sadly, we dont have a governor like that anymore  Abbott is allowing Trump to mess with Texas in all kinds of ways in this redistricting process.

Abbott can always call for extra special sessions until the start of the 2027 regular session of the Texas Legislature. Talarico and the other quorum breakers are aware of this and plan to take things a session at a time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Texas Republicans have voted for the arrest of dozens of Democratic legislators who fled the state in an attempt to block a plan to re-draw electoral boundaries.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott ordered state troopers "to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans".

Abbott has also threatened to charge the absent Democrats with bribery if they raised public money to cover the daily fine they incur for boycotting the chamber.

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The re-drawn congressional map would create five more Republican-leaning seats in the US House of Representatives in Washington DC, where Republicans hold a slim majority.

At least two-thirds of the 150-member state legislative body in Texas must be present to proceed with the vote. The quorum became unreachable after more than 50 Democratic lawmakers left the state.

Most of the Democrats fled to Illinois. The state's Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said on Tuesday "we're fighting for democracy, there are no rules anymore".

At a press conference, Democrats from Texas and Illinois, as well as party leaders, spoke about the ongoing fight.

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"Make no mistake about it, the Democratic Party didn't start this fight, but we're not going to roll over," Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Ken Martin said. "They want to fight. We're going to give it to them, and we're going to put every option on the table."

The Democrats said they planned to stay away from Texas for two weeks until the end of a special legislative session.

Monday's vote was mostly symbolic as the warrants only apply within Texas state lines.

The move empowers the chamber's sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest the absent lawmakers and deliver them to the state Capitol building in Austin.

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They would not face any civil or criminal charges as a result of the warrant.

Texas Democratic legislator Ron Reynolds told BBC News from Chicago on Monday that the arrest threat was "nothing more than a scare tactic".

Members of the Texas House incur a $500 (377) fine for each day they fail to show up.

Governor Abbott has warned that those who refused to return to vote could face charges.

"It would be bribery if any lawmaker took money to perform or to refuse to perform an act in the legislature," Abbott told Fox News on Monday.

"And the reports are these legislators have both sought money and offered money to skip the vote, to leave the legislature, to take a legislative act. That would be bribery."

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After legislators voted to issue warrants against the Democrats, Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety "to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans".

He added that his order would remain in effect "until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol".

Texas Republican legislator Brian Harrison slammed Democrats for their argument that the constituencies were being redrawn along racial lines.

"Preposterous, cynical, dishonest, complete nonsense," Harrison told BBC News.

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He added "these Democrats need to be arrested" and that they "need to have all kinds of other punishments".

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, also threatened to have the absent Democrats arrested.

Paxton, who is running for the US Senate, wrote on X that the state should "use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law".

Texas Republicans currently hold 25 out of the state's 38 congressional seats.

They hope the new maps could increase that number to 30 - all in constituencies that President Donald Trump won last November by at least 10 points.

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Ahead of next year's midterm elections, the Texas redistricting could help pad the slender Republican majority in the US House of Representatives - the lower chamber of Congress.

In states where they handle the redistricting process, such as Illinois, New Mexico and Nevada, Democrats have already manipulated electoral boundaries for partisan gain just as Republicans have, according to the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.

But other Democratic-controlled states - such as New York, California, Colorado and Washington - assign redistricting to non-partisan, independent commissions, rather than state legislatures.

Some Democratic leaders in other states have suggested they may redraw their own legislative maps to counter the proposed losses of seats in Texas.

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was exploring a constitutional amendment to move up the timeline to redraw legislative lines in her state.

States typically undergo redistricting every 10 years, when voting maps are redrawn to account for population changes.

The most recent US Census was in 2020. Redrawing district lines in the middle of a decade is unusual.
A former priest accused of running an abusive cult received sexual massages to relieve terrible tension headaches, a court has heard.

Chris Brain, 68, led a group in the 1980s and 1990s in Sheffield called the Nine OClock Service (NOS), and was viewed by his alleged victims as a God-like prophet whom they worshipped.

The evangelical church movement drew crowds of hundreds of young people enticed by its visually stunning multimedia services featuring acid house rave music every Sunday at 9pm.

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Mr Brain, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, is standing trial accused of committing sexual offences against 13 women. He denies one count of rape and 36 counts of indecent assault between 1981 and 1995.

At the opening of the trial in July, Tim Clark KC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Brain ran a cult, surrounded by beautiful, lingerie-wearing women known as the Lycra Nuns, or Lycra Lovelies.

He said that Mr Brain used his position to abuse a staggering number of women.

Many of his victims were part of a homebase team tasked with cooking and cleaning for Mr Brain, as well as putting him to bed and giving him massages, which the court heard would often end in unsolicited groping.

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Giving evidence at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, Mr Brain said he received back massages from a number of women in NOS.

Artists impression of Christopher Brain, left, at Inner London Crown Court - Elizabeth Cook/PA

Asked by defence counsel Iain Simkin KC how the massages began, he told the court that it started off because I had terrible tension headaches.

He referenced one member of the homebase team who gave him massages once or twice a week and she could tell by touching me what the problem was.

Mr Brain gestured to the court, lifting his arms above his head to show where he was in discomfort and why he required massaging.

It was quite severe, I remember coming home and having to lie on the bed with my face on the pillow because the pain was so bad, he said.

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Asked whether there were occasions when the massages would develop into some form of sexual touching, Mr Brain replied: With very close friends, it may edge towards that, but both parties knew it shouldnt go there so one of us would pull back again and cool down.

And we are talking about relationships over years and years It worked having closeness with friends without having to involve close sexual contact, and of course, I was married.

He added: With some of my closest friends it would be kissing sometimes, occasionally massaging, stroking. Anything more than that we would back off.

Natural ecstasy

Mr Brain told the court that NOS was an evolving experiment around at the peak of the rave boom and embraced club culture by creating a natural ecstasy.

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As part of the new New Age, he added that there was a very laissez faire environment regarding positive sexuality as well as encouragement of tantric celibacy.

It was normal to be physical, he told the court. This was the mid-80s early 90s, he said, adding that leggings and tight clothes were the fashion.

Regarding the clothes worn by female NOS members at the time, and asked if he prescribed the dress code for the Lycra Lovelies, Mr Brain responded: All these people are completely clued-up and want to wear fashion.

This is the mid-80s, everybody was obsessed with fashion and what they wore, it was a constant topic of conversation, but that does not mean I was obsessed with what people wore.

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Mr Simkin asked: Looking back, do you accept you were some form of inspirational character?

Thats my thing, enthusiasm and ideas, Mr Brain replied.

Jurors have previously heard how Mr Brain had his ordination licence fast-tracked in 1991 because Church of England officials viewed his organisation as a success story.

NOS evolved from holding services at St Thomass Church in the Crookes area of the city, before expanding as it grew increasingly popular to a larger premises at Ponds Forge in the city centre. It collapsed in 1995 amid accusations of a sex scandal.

Over the past five weeks, his alleged victims have given evidence describing NOS as full of brainwashing, grooming, mind games and abuse.

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They claimed he told them that they cant be spiritual without being sexual. The trial continues.

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President Donald Trumps signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) includes a provision that allows employees who work more than 40 hours per week to deduct a portion of their overtime pay from their taxable income.

The 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guarantees pay of at least 1.5 times a workers regular wages for every hour worked over 40 in a given seven-day period. Traditionally, time-and-a-half pay has been subject to federal income taxes, including those that fund Medicare and Social Security. However, from 2025 through 2028, eligible taxpayers can deduct up to $12,500 in overtime pay, or $25,000 for joint filers, without itemizing, provided they earn less than $150,000, at which point the deduction begins to phase out.

However, the FLSA and its numerous subsequent updates have carved out exceptions for executives, administrative and professional employees, those in certain computer and sales occupations and others who are exempt from overtime pay protection.

Therefore, many Americans wont benefit from the new rule. This article profiles those who likely will.

Check Out: 8 Ways Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Could Offer Tax Relief

Read Next: 6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025

Nurses

According to the Lore Law Firm, at least 18 states have laws regulating mandatory overtime for nurses. In much of the country, however, these crucial healthcare workers are often required to work more than 40 hours per week, whether they want to or not, to compensate for persistent staffing shortages.

As early as 2004, the CDC was reporting on the heavy toll that mandatory overtime was taking on nurses and their patients, citing fatigue, burnout, diminished work performance and increased error rates due to long hours of stressful work. Roughly 20 years later, ShiftMed reported that little had changed.

The OBBBA stands to give millions of nonexempt nurses a break  on their taxes, at least, if not at their workplaces.

See More: 4 Ways Trumps Big Beautiful Bill Will Change How You Plan For Retirement

Law Enforcement

Like nurses, law enforcement officers play a crucial role in society that often requires them to work overtime. Also like nurses, many seek extra hours voluntarily, but often dont have a choice.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook page for police and detectives, Paid overtime is common, and shift work is necessary to protect the public at all times.

Tradespeople

Overtime is common in many trades occupations. Like police officers and nurses, the nature of their work often makes extra hours an unavoidable part of the job. The following are some of the many circumstances that can keep them working beyond 40 hours per week.
ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY)  Deputies with the Accomack County Sheriffs Office said a body found in the water near the South Branch Onancock Creek was identified as a missing 22-year-old from New Church, Virginia.

Deputies said Miles McIntyre, 22, was last seen at midnight on Sunday walking into the gravel transshipment point between the Onancock Wharf and King Street. Personal belongings of McIntyre were found near the area, resulting in a water search.

The U.S. Coast Guard assisted in search and rescue efforts. A 29-foot response boat from Station Cape Charles and an MH-60 helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City were involved in the search.

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By 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, both water and ground search operations were ceased, according to a release.

The following day, around 7:30 a.m., deputies stated that a body was found in the water. The body was later identified as McIntyre and was then transferred to the Norfolk Medical Examiners Office in order to determine the cause of death.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Accomack County Sheriffs Office at 757-787-1131.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Friends of hostage Rom Braslavski and other Israeli activists blocked humanitarian aid heading for Gaza.

Activists, including friends of Gaza hostage Rom Braslavski, blocked aid from entering the Gaza Strip while, in a separate incident, aid trucks coming from Jordan had their tires slashed on Sunday night, Israeli media reports.

One of the activists, who, like Braslavski, served as a security officer at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, referred to the footage of Braslavski published by Palestinian Islamic Jihad over the weekend.

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"Rom should have been back with me in the car after the party; he's starving in captivity while food aid is being transferred. Full assistance is provided to those in need. We will not let this happen, we are fighting against it," he said.

Otzma Yehudit MK Yitzhak Kreuzer joined protests, physically blocked aid trucks at the Allenby crossing with Jordan to protest the continued transfer of supplies to Gaza. Kreuzer called the aid policy lawlessness, accusing the government of giving Hamas oxygen and fuel while Israeli hostages remain in dire conditions.

It is unthinkable that we are sending aid, food, and medicine to Hamas, while our hostages are not receiving a single medicine, Kreuzer said. Claiming the aid is misappropriated by Hamas, Kreuzer vowed to continue his struggle until all the hostages return home and the aid no longer reaches Hamas.

A WOMAN uses a megaphone as people protest against the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and demand the immediate release of hostages, at the Nitzana border crossing in February. (credit: DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS)

Activists reportedly slashed the tires of two humanitarian aid trucks leaving Jordan for Gaza at the Allenby Bridge.

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The trucks were forced to turn back and return to Jordan.

Over the course of the war, right-wing activist groups, such as Tzav 9, have protested the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza on many occasions, referring to the convoys as death trucks.

Previous instances of aid blocking

Members of the group have previously gathered at the Ashdod Port, as well as the Kerem Shalom crossing, alongside families and friends of the hostages, to block the humanitarian aid convoys.

Supplies that reach Gaza only strengthen Hamas, Tzav 9 states on their website, Giving it breathing room and the ability to continue harming us and holding the hostages. In service to the people, we arrive at the border crossings to stop the trucks.

For the soldiers, and for the release of the hostages.

TPS-IL contributed to this report.
Activists are planning to set up a protest camp in southern Germany after a zoo in Nuremberg killed 12 healthy baboons due to a lack of space.

The organizers of Animal Rebellion said they want the camp to ensure that no more monkeys are killed.

A spokeswoman for the group said the camp will be set up in the zoo's car park until next Monday, and that the necessary authorization had already been granted.

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Nuremberg Zoo killed the baboons last week, saying the enclosure had been overcrowded for some time and it was no longer possible to keep the animals in a manner consistent with animal welfare, or to rehome them.

The activists said rather than killing the animals, their breeding should be prevented.

The zoo said last week that contraceptive measures for the female baboons had not been successful in the past.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Anti-death penalty advocates, including the son of an inmate scheduled to be executed this week, gathered Monday morning at the Tennessee Capitol, urging Gov. Bill Lee to halt the execution of Byron Black.

The son of Byron Black, Samson Childs, is asking for Lee to grant mercy by commuting his fathers death sentence to life in prison with no possibility for parole. Black is scheduled to be put to death on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Riverbend Security Institution in Nashville.

What about the pain he left us in?: Triple murder victims family speaks out ahead of Byron Blacks execution

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Black was convicted in the 1988 murders of his girlfriend Angela Clay and her two young daughters, LaToya and LaKeisha. The three were reportedly shot and killed in a Nashville home.

A petition opposing the execution of Black includes more than 5,000 signatures, which were recently gathered via online petitions hosted by Death Penalty Action.

On Monday, advocates took a moment to acknowledge that they remember the victims, but added they dont think there should be any more killings.

In addition, were concerned about the prison workers, said one advocate. They get to take on a lifelong trauma of PTSD from taking an infirmed, physically sick, intellectually disabled person who theyve come to know over decades, and take him and kill him. That damages correctional workers.

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RELATED: Tennessee inmate Byron Black selects last meal ahead of execution

There have been several legal debates ahead of Blacks execution, with attorneys arguing that the now 69-year-old suffers from dementia and severe brain damage, making him no longer mentally competent to be executed. Additionally, the inmates legal team argued that his implanted heart-regulating device should be deactivated to avoid a torturous death.

However, on Thursday, July 31, a judge ruled in the states favor to execute Black without deactivating his heart implant.

Advocates said they also plan to deliver a letter from dozens of prisoners on Tennessees death row to the governor, which reportedly invites Lee to come and pray with them.

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Our understanding is that proximity eliminates stigma. So by going, visiting and praying with them, the governor and those around him will have the understanding that these are not just people who are on the margins of society that we can just shove out of the limelight. These are people with families, friends and human beings made in the image of God. Having that as an understanding changes things, added an advocate.

A pastor in attendance at the protest described Black as a man of faith, stating he has prayed for me, I have prayed for him and we have prayed for one another.

According to the Tennessee Department of Correction, Black has selected pizza with mushrooms and sausage, donuts, and butter pecan ice cream to be served for his last meal. The meal will reportedly be served on Monday, Aug. 4.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

On Monday, Aug. 4, the United States Supreme Court denied all applications for a stay of execution and petitions for writ of certiorari.

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In addition, Gov. Lee later released a statement Monday evening regarding the execution, stating he has no plans to intervene.

The courts have universally determined that it is lawful to carry out the jurys sentence of execution given to Mr. Black for the heinous murders of Angela Clay and her daughters Lakeisha, age 6, and Latoya, age 9. Accordingly, I do not plan to intervene. Gov. Bill Lee

Black is scheduled to be executed on Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Aug. 3While New Mexico forges ahead in its process to implement more environmentally friendly fuels, some advocates are worried it could do more harm than good.

The rule would set up a market around transportation fuels, which are considered gasoline, diesel, petroleum gas, natural gas, hydrogen and electricity.

Last week, the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board announced the public meeting for the proposed rule will start Sept. 22 and run through Oct. 3. The board will convene again in November to continue hearing testimony.

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The state Environment Department, or NMED, hopes the rule could go into effect as early as next year.

But some environmental advocates are worried there's a loophole in the rule that could worsen pollution.

Nonprofit advocacy group Food and Water Watch held a virtual meeting Tuesday to discuss the potential of enabling biogas production, or the procedure of breaking down organic matter like cow manure into a fuel. That fuel is labeled as a renewable energy resource, but Food and Water Watch is worried about the methane that's generated in the process.

NMED adjusted its rule to take into account some of these concerns, said Tyler Lobdell, senior attorney with Food and Water Watch. Specifically, the proposed rule develops standard values for factory farm biogas "that are far less problematic" than California's clean fuels program. Critics raised concerns California's clean fuel program over negative environmental affects of some biofuel production, such as producing renewable diesel from crops like soybeans, among other concerns. .

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"The proposed rule requires the carbon intensity of transportation fuel decrease over time, regardless of whether it is gasoline, electricity, biogas, natural gas or any other kind of regulated fuel," NMED spokesperson Drew Goretzka said.

Anyone can submit written public comment on the rule anytime online at nmed.commentinput.com?id=Q7EpmKPeC, via email to pamela.jones@env.nm.gov or via mail New Mexico Environment Department-Harold Runnels Building, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM, 87502.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  Afghanistan is seeing its sharpest-ever surge of child malnutrition, the World Food Program said Monday, adding it needed $539 million to help the countrys most vulnerable families.

Almost 10 million people, a quarter of Afghanistans population, face acute food insecurity. One in three children is stunted.

The WFP said the rise in child malnutrition was linked to a drop in emergency food assistance over the past two years because of dwindling donor support. In April, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump cut off food aid to Afghanistan, one of the worlds poorest countries.

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The U.S. had been the largest funder of the WFP, providing $4.5 billion of the $9.8 billion in donations last year. Previous U.S. administrations viewed such aid as serving national security by alleviating conflict, poverty, extremism and curbing migration.

Food insecurity in Afghanistan is being worsened by mass returns from neighboring countries, which are deporting foreigners they say are living there illegally.

The WFP said it has supported 60,000 Afghans returning from Iran in the last two months, a fraction of those crossing the border.

Going forward, the WFP does not have sufficient funding to cover the returnee response at this time and requires $15 million to assist all eligible returnees from Iran, said WFP Communications Officer Ziauddin Safi. He said the agency needs $539 million through January to help vulnerable families across Afghanistan.

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Climate change is also hurting the population, especially those in rural areas.

Matiullah Khalis, head of the National Environmental Protection Agency, said last week that drought, water shortages, declining arable land, and flash floods were having a profound impact on peoples lives and the economy.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr speaks at the Georgia Chamber of Commerces Eggs and Issues event in Atlanta early in the 2025 legislative session. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has filed a brief in support of a lawsuit against Savannah Mayor Van Johnson over a local ordinance aimed at penalizing gun owners who leave firearms in unlocked cars, escalating an ongoing feud between Georgias top prosecutor and the mayor of the states oldest city.

The lawsuit stems from an ordinance that was unanimously passed by Johnson and the Savannah City Council in April 2024, requiring firearms to be securely stored when left in cars and establishing a maximum penalty of $1,000 in fines and 30 days in jail for people who leave them inside unlocked vehicles. It also mandates that those who have had a firearm stolen report the theft to the Savannah Police Department within 24 hours.

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This misguided attempt to punish law-abiding Georgians does absolutely nothing to address crime, and it wont hold up in Court, Carr said in a press release Monday. No matter how much the Mayor disagrees with our laws, he cannot openly infringe on the Second Amendment rights of our citizens. Progressive politics arent a defense for government overreach.

Savannah city officials hoped that by mandating that gun owners lock their cars, they could cut down on the number of firearms stolen. According to police data, 203 of the 244 guns stolen in cars in 2023 were in unlocked vehicles.

But the ordinance drew the ire of Republican state legislators during the 2025 legislative session, who tried unsuccessfully to pass a bill allowing recipients of Savannahs gun storage fine to sue the city for up to $50,000 in damages  though that was later lowered to $25,000 when the proposal was added to another bill. That measure remains alive for next year.

Carr, who is a candidate for governor next year, also sent a letter to Savannah officials warning that the city had overstepped its authority in passing the ordinance.

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Because the General Assembly has expressly designated the regulation of firearms as an issue of general, state-wide concern, no local ordinance can regulate firearms, Carr wrote in the letter.

Less than a month after the ordinance was passed, Jesup resident Clarence Belt filed a lawsuit challenging the citys ordinance. However, Chatham County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Karpf ultimately dismissed the case for lack of standing, as Belt was not a resident of Savannah and had not been cited under the law. Belts lawyer, John Monroe, is now representing Deacon Morris and the Firearms Policy Coalition in a new lawsuit against the city, in which Carr has filed an amicus curiae.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr filed a brief in support of a lawsuit against the City of Savannahs firearm regulation ordinance.

The brief is in support of plaintiffs Deacon Morris and Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc.

In April, the city of Savannah adopted two local ordinances proposed by Mayor Van Johnson that would regulate firearms left visible in unlocked cars.

Gun owners could face charges in Savannah for leaving firearms in unlocked cars, visible

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Gun owners who dont comply to these regulations could face up to a $1,000 fine or 30 days in jail.

On Monday, Attorney General Chris Carr filed brief in support of the lawsuit against the city due to the ordinances being invalid according to state law.

This misguided attempt to punish law-abiding Georgians does absolutely nothing to address crime, and it wont hold up in Court, said Carr. No matter how much the mayor disagrees with our laws, he cannot openly infringe on the Second Amendment rights of our citizens. Progressive politics arent a defense for government overreach.

According to Johnson, 244 firearms were stolen in Savannah last year; 203 of those were from cars left unlocked. By April of this year, 60 firearms had been reported stolen, 56 from unlocked vehicles.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A woman is accused of fraud tied to her deceased mothers Louisiana retirement benefits account.

According to the Attorney Generals Office, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation received an assistance request from the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) about fraud allegations.

TRSL officials learned an unknown person was getting benefits in the name of a deceased educator, Loretta Jacobs. The officials said the teacher died in December 2011. According to the affidavit, Jacobs death was not reported until April 2024.

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During the investigation, agents found evidence that Ila Marcela Jacobs, 49, was a suspect in the case. Jacobs was identified as the deceased teachers daughter. Evidence revealed that between December 2011 and April 2024, Jacobs allegedly defrauded TRSL of over $269,000.

Jacobs was arrested in Pensacola, Florida, on July 28 and was extradited to Louisiana on July 31. She was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a charge of government benefits fraud.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Attorney General Liz Murrill commented on recent government fraud arrests.

The Attorney Generals Office is on a roll with these Government Benefits Fraud arrests  protecting the money of the hard-working taxpayers of this State. If you are illegally receiving government benefits and taking advantage of the system here in Louisiana, even if you live in a completely different state like this woman, we will find you and bring you back for Louisiana justice. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill

Romeo and Juliet from Denham Springs charged with government benefits fraud

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
Washington, D.C.

Mariely Sanchez spent the last school year using generative artificial intelligence nearly every day in her classroom.

The Miami fourth-grade teacher began each morning by asking a chatbot  teachers in Miami-Dade have access not only to ChatGPT, but to Googles Gemini and Microsofts Co-Pilot  to comb through Florida state standards and create reading passages for students. Shed also ask the AI to produce multiple-choice and short-response quizzes to test how well students understood the reading.

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The assignments, she said, werent easy for students. She built them by using difficult standards that students need more practice with and prompting the AI to create materials.

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Sanchez is spending her summer break learning more about AI, including its ethics, and helping colleagues do the same, warning:

We know it's not going to go away  it's here to stay, but we want to make sure we use it the right way. Mariely Sanchez, fourth grade teacher

That effort got a big boost earlier last month, when the American Federation of Teachers announced that it would open an AI training center for educators in New York City, with $23 million in funding from OpenAI, Anthropic and Microsoft, three of the leading players in the generative AI marketplace.

AFT says itll open the National Academy for AI Instruction in Manhattan this fall, offering hands-on workshops for teachers. Over five years, it said, the academy will train 400,000 educators, or one in 10 U.S. teachers, effectively reaching the more than 7.2 million students they teach.

When she announced the academy in early July, AFT President Randi Weingarten said teachers face huge challenges, including navigating AI wisely, ethically and safely. The question was whether we would be chasing it  or whether we would be trying to harness it.

Its the Wild West

AFT, the nations second largest teachers union, envisions the academy working much like those that train carpenters, electricians and construction workers,where the companies, where the corporations actually come to the union to create the kind of standards that are needed for success, Weingarten said.

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Microsoft, for example, has said it plans to give more than $4 billion in cash and technology services to train millions of people to use AI, underwriting efforts at schools, community colleges, technical colleges and nonprofits. The tech giant already boasts an AI partnership to train members of the larger AFL-CIO labor union, of which AFT is a member. And its creating a new training program, Microsoft Elevate Academy, to help 20 million people earn certificates in AI.

Related

Expanded AI Training for Teachers, Funded by OpenAI and Microsoft

Rob Weil  AFTs director of research, policy and field programs  said the new academy will bring high-quality training to a profession that so far has seen uneven opportunity for it.

Its the Wild West, he said in an interview during a training session at the unions annual conference in July. Its all over the place. You have some school districts that are out front, and theyre doing a lot of pretty good work. But others are banning AI or simply ignoring it, he said, leaving teachers to fend for themselves at a time when students need them perhaps more than ever.

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We have to make our instruction better. We have to be better on engagement. We have a crisis of engagement in our schools, and these tools can help with that.

AFTs move has been met with equal parts cautious optimism and weary skepticism.

Writing in her Substack newsletter, ed-tech critic and AI skeptic Audrey Watters called AFTs partnership with the tech companies a gigantic public experiment that no one has asked for.

Unions, she wrote, should be one of the ways in which workers resist, rather than acquiesce to  the tech industrys vision of the future. By joining forces with big tech, she said, AFT is implicitly endorsing its products. Teaching teachers how to use a suite of Microsoft tools does not help students as much as it helps Microsoft. Teaching teachers how to use a suite of Microsoft tools is not so much an academy as a storefront.

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Benjamin Riley, who has also written critically about generative AI in education, said observers should 100% worry that the new partnerships represent a play for market share.

Its very obvious from a product standpoint that they see education as one of, if not the primary, place to go with their product, said Riley. And the fact that AFT is willing to say, Cool, lets get some of that money and well build a training center to help teachers use it, I can see why OpenAI would jump all over that.

But he questioned whether AI training is what AFT members really want. He suggested instead that the union should recommit to helping teachers more deeply understand how learning works. They havent been opposed to it, he said, noting that it has long run an Ask the Cognitive Scientist column in the magazine it mails to members. But in reality it just hasnt been a priority. Improving pedagogy hasnt really been, to my eyes, a union priority for a long time.

Riley, who in 2024 founded the think tank Cognitive Resonance to explore AI issues, said an organization like AFT should ideally be thinking about whether embracing AI will lead to better outcomes for children  or whether it could potentially erode and devalue the work of human teaching while opening up schools as customers for AI companies.

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Representatives of OpenAI and Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but in an email, Microsofts Naria Santa Lucia said, This isnt about Microsofts technology, our focus is on making AI broadly accessible, so everyone has a fair shot at the future. If we collectively get this right, AI becomes a bridge to opportunity  not a barrier.

During the academys unveiling, Chris Lehane, OpenAIs chief global affairs officer, said AI technology is coming  it is going to drive productivity gains. Can we ensure that those productivity gains are democratized so as many people as possible participate in them? And there is no better place to begin that work than in the classroom.

OpenAI has noted that many of its users are students. In February, it said that more than one-third of college-aged young adults in the U.S. use ChatGPT, with one in four of their queries related to learning and school work.

While a few observers said the tech giants are making a play for market share among the nations K-12 students, they noted that the companies are also filling an important role.

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Its welcome news that technology companies are bidding against each other  to outdo each other  to invest in public education, said Zarek Drozda, executive director of Data Science 4 Everyone, a coalition of groups advancing data science education. I think thats exciting at a time when federal investment in education is uncertain. Seeing industry step up is quite meaningful.

But he said hes concerned that the training might stop short after teaching teachers  and by extension students  simply how to use AI. Training needs to go beyond use, he said. If we want to train a generation of students to be AI-ready, internationally competitive, they have to understand how these tools work under the hood, when and why the tool might be wrong, and how they can customize LLMs [Large Language Models] or other models for their own pursuits, versus simply taking whats given.

Hes also concerned that the AFT has laid out a vision spanning just five years. We want there to be a deep investment in upskilling teachers for the skills that they will need to adapt to, not just AI, but what is the AI model five years from now? he said. What is the next emerging technology that the field should be ready to adapt to?

More than just a commitment to training, Drozda said, the union and its partners should commit to a long-term sustainability plan for teacher training to attract new, young career professionals to the field.

Ami Turner Del Aguila (left, standing) coaches Melina Espiritu-Azocar (center) and Monique Boone during a recent AI training sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers. Both former teachers, Espiritu-Azocar and Boone now lead local AFT chapters in Texas. (Greg Toppo)

Alex Kotran, founder and CEO of the AI Education Project, agreed that investing in teacher training is worthwhile. Thats a very big rock that needs to be moved. But the reported $23 million commitment from the three tech giants is a bit of a drop in the bucket considering their valuations, symbolic at best.

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That said, AFTs involvement could make the training more palatable for many school district leaders, he noted, since one of the uncertainties in training efforts typically is whether unions will allow members to attend under contract rules. By taking the lead in developing the training academy, the unions have planted a flag and said, PD [professional development] is important.

All the same, tech companies are in the business of selling their products, making them imperfect messengers for AI literacy, he said. Theyre deeply incentivized on one side, and it isnt necessarily for the benefit of students.

Other industry watchers fear the partnership could be viewed as a high-profile bid for market share at a critical time in the AI industrys history.

This is a land-grab moment, said Alex Sarlin, co-host of the Edtech Insiders podcast. I mean, this technology is only three years old. There are already three or four major players in it, if you dont count China, and they all want to be the one left standing.

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For its part, Google has said its suite of Gemini educational AI tools would become available for free to all educators with Google Workspace for Education accounts.

While it was the only major player not included in the AFT announcement, Sarlin said Google is, in some ways, playing the incumbent in this because in K-12, theyre already there. Given the dominance of Chromebook laptops, the management tool Google Classroom and its Google Certified Educator programs, the search giant is embedded in K-12, he said. Open AI and Anthropic, theyre basically consumer products that are being used by teachers.

Oh yeah, what could go wrong?

Matt Miller, an Indiana high school Spanish teacher, educational consultant and author of six books for teachers, said his colleagues are hungry for high-quality, classroom-tested training, but that what they often get from AI companies is over-the-top talk about how much the world is going to change and how were revolutionizing education, with promises to help teachers work more efficiently.

Trainings typically skim over the fact that most students are simply using generative AI for cognitive offloading, Miller said, avoiding critical thinking and skill development and letting AI do it for them. Many teachers, meanwhile, are searching for ways to AI-proof their classrooms.

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The sessions typically all end the same way, he said: It all sort of funnels back to their product.

Miller, whose latest book, in 2023, was AI for Educators, said the AFT/OpenAI/Anthropic partnership scares the crap out of me.

Whenever you get that marriage between an organization and big companies, we just keep asking ourselves, Oh, yeah, what could go wrong?

Money means influence, Miller said, so will the curriculum be tool-agnostic? Is it going to be about the technology? Is it going to be about pedagogy? Or is it going to be a customized tutorial of how you can use our tool to do X, Y and Z?

AFTs Weil said those concerns are understandable but short-sighted. AI developers, he said, dont get to engage with us if youre not going to be agnostic about the tools. The academys directors talk openly to the developers about how we have to have a practical, real relationship. This cant be about product selling.

More broadly, the partnerships are a way to exert influence upon how AI operates in schools and classrooms.

The only way we have a profession is if we control the profession. Rob Weil, AFTs director of research, policy and field programs

During the academys unveiling, Weingarten said its lessons will be as open-source as possible, not just for the unions 1.8 million members but more broadly through its free Share My Lesson platform.

For his part, Weil said AI is not going to go away. Nobodys going to put AI back in the bottle. Its here. The young people, for them to be successful in their jobs in the future, are going to have to know how to effectively and efficiently and safely use these tools. So why wouldnt the education system help with that process?

Thats likely the message that union leaders have been getting from members, said Sarlin, the podcast co-host. There was probably a moment a couple years ago where they were sort of teetering, where they could have gone anti-AI, he said. But I think at this point thats not where the puck is headed.
Amazon (AMZN) is playing catch-up in the AI arms race.

Though the company's recent earnings met Wall Street's expectations, investors are concerned about growth in its cloud division, AWS. Its revenue increased 17.5% year over year to $30.9 billion, roughly in line with the 17% to 19% pace seen over the past three quarters.

In its most recent quarters, Microsoft (MSFT) Azure clocked a 26% jump to $29.9 billion, and Google (GOOG) Cloud grew 32% to $13.6 billion.

Amazon's stock is under pressure as concerns mount that the company is losing market share to its rivals, even as it ramps up its AI investments. Shares dropped 8% last week, compared to a 2% pop for Microsoft.

AWS's revenue growth rate in recent quarters has leveled off in the high teens, following a period of faster expansion. Maxim Group analyst Tom Forte said Microsoft, through its OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) partnership, is capturing a significant share of the generative AI market, a key driver for cloud services. Amazon has invested in Anthropic, a promising but much smaller competitor.

However, "Amazon has the bigger business, so it's not surprising that Microsoft's growth rate is faster, given its smaller size," Forte told Yahoo Finance.

RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson suggested that as more developers shift to platforms other than OpenAI, Amazon could benefit. Unlike competitors, Amazon Bedrock offers multiple AI foundation models, which could attract developers looking for a more open environment.

Amazon shelled out $31 billion in capital spending in Q2, up from $24.3 billion in Q1. The investment into AI chips, data centers, and infrastructure hasn't yet proportionally translated into growth at AWS.

Supply chain constraints are playing a role. On its Q2 earnings call, CEO Andy Jassy said AWS is facing more demand than it currently has the capacity to handle, citing power constraints and server production delays as key bottlenecks.

But analysts say the bigger issue is timing. Customers appear to be testing AI tools but not scaling them aggressively, reflected in weak backlog growth. This suggests demand is building yet not skyrocketing.

Additionally, AWS's revenue can be volatile partly due to its startup customers, Forte noted. Startup spending fluctuates widely based on funding cycles and growth stages, meaning AWS's growth isn't always steady as the company builds capacity for more consistent, large-scale enterprise demand.

Forte argued the market may be underestimating Amazon's long-term strategy to build AWS's growth through AI-driven services. Analysts remain optimistic about the cloud business's long-term prospects but caution that overcoming infrastructure challenges and turning heaving capital expenditures into visible growth will require time and more cash.
[Source]

Artificial intelligence is transforming legal careers just as Asian American enrollment in U.S. law schools has reached an all-time high.

Raising the alarm on AI: In an X post on July 26, lawyer and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang cited a law firm partner who told him, AI is now doing work that used to be done by first to third year associates. AI can generate a motion in an hour that might take an associate a week. And the work is better. Someone should tell the folks applying to law school right now. Yang is one of many who forecast widespread automation reshaping opportunities for new graduates.

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Asian enrollment record: Nearly 10% of first-year law students in 2024 identify as Asian American, according to new data from the American Bar Association. This marks a sharp rise from 7.5% last year and reverses a decline that saw Asian American enrollment drop by 40% between 2009 and 2016. Experts say the current surge reflects wider recruitment, growing Asian American populations and a greater emphasis on diversity in law schools. New scholarships and outreach programs have contributed to the most diverse law school classes on record.

AI adoption in law firms: The surge in Asian American law students comes as law firms rapidly adopt AI in daily practice. At least half of the 10 largest US law firms now use generative AI tools for drafting documents, reviewing contracts and compliance. DLA Piper uses Microsoft Copilot and custom models for routine work, while Ropes & Gray relies on Harvey and Hebbia to cut the time for fund document review from 10 hours to two.

Trending on NextShark: AI is altering the legal profession as record number of Asian Americans enter law school

Current challenges: Recent surveys by the Thomson Reuters Institute show that while most lawyers now use generative AI tools weekly and 95% of law firms expect AI to be central to their workflows within five years, only about 10 % currently have formal AI policies in place. High-profile cases have exposed risks, with attorneys in New York and Texas facing court sanctions for submitting filings containing fictitious citations generated by AI programs such as ChatGPT.

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This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

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Artificial intelligence is seeping into daily routines, helping to craft emails, keep track of schedules and manage other tasks more efficiently. Much of AIs potential might still be beyond imagination, but one things clear  its power needs will be enormous.

Less certain is who will pay AIs electric bills and just how much consumers will bear.

Such questions are open to debate as big tech firms  among them Microsoft, Meta, Google and Amazon  rush to lock in long-term, clean power sources for ever-larger data centers, making deals with utilities and power plant operators in Maryland and across the U.S.

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Those include Baltimore-based Constellation Energy, the nations largest operator of nuclear reactors, which has power purchase deals with Microsoft and Meta, and Rockville-based X-energy Reactor Co., a developer of small nuclear reactors. X-energy plans to develop 64 advanced modular reactors for Amazon, a key investor, by 2039.

Current and projected increased electric demand has spurred much-needed investment in new carbon-free energy generation, both conventional and new technologies, such as small modular reactors and geothermal, energy company officials say.

Increased demand means, American businesses are succeeding, Kathleen L. Barron, Constellations chief strategy and growth officer, said in an interview. We in the electric sector need to be able to meet that demand. The alternative is to say we dont want growth, and we dont think thats good for anyone.

The AI race has led to larger, more energy-intensive data centers

The race to develop AI has accelerated the scale and energy intensity of data centers, which require a consistent and steady electricity supply. A March study from Harvard University shows facilities that will consume hundreds of megawatts of power, as much as the city of Cleveland, have been under development since 2023. By the end of last year, companies were expanding to gigawatt-scale data center campuses. Even bigger centers, demanding more energy than the nations largest nuclear power plant, are envisioned, the study said.

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Within five years, it said, data centers may consume as much as 12% of all U.S. electricity and could be largely responsible for quintupling annual demand growth.

Since the release of OpenAIs ChatGPT in late 2022, technology to create machines that can think like humans has been used in self-driving cars, customer service chatbots, programs that detect financial fraud and plenty more. AI is expected to contribute trillions to the global economy and play a role in addressing climate change, according to the University of Cincinnati, which specializes in AI business applications.

Its a paradigm shift, probably more so than the concept of the Internet or the gasoline engine, said Jeff A. Shaffer, director of the business schools Applied AI Lab. We dont yet know what that impact on society is. Its going ubiquitous, its going to be in to be in everything we do.

Proposed infrastructure faces opposition

The framework supporting the fast-changing technology is already sparking controversy. In three Maryland counties, landowners opposing a proposed 67-mile high voltage transmission line argue the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project will cut across hundreds of properties, harming or destroying cropland, conserved land and waterways, only to feed the appetite of data centers in Virginia.

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Demand from data centers sparked a nearly 10% annual jump in wholesale electricity prices set at a recent interstate capacity market auction, for a regional power grid serving 67 million people in Maryland and a dozen other states, Maryland Peoples Counsel David S. Lapp said in a recent analysis. Data centers accounted for more than 5,400 megawatts of increased demand compared with last years level.

The Harvard study raised questions about who should shoulder AIs energy costs. Utilities are prioritizing the needs of a few, energy-intensive customers to satisfy the surge in computer chip-filled warehouses, says the study, by the law schools Environmental & Energy Law Program. It argues that utilities are funding discounts to Big Tech by socializing their costs through electricity prices charged to the public.

That happens when utilities build infrastructure for new data centers but then spread the costs to everyone and when data center use impacts interstate wholesale electricity markets, trickling down to ratepayers in higher costs to ratepayers, said Ari Peskoe, director of the Harvard Electricity Law Initiative.

As societys demand for electricity grew, we all kind of paid for it under the theory that we all benefit from economic development and population growth, Peskoe said. But the growth of data centers is challenging the fundamental premise of utility regulation. Now we have massive cost increases that are being driven by just a handful of facilities being built by the worlds wealthiest corporations.

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A review of nearly 50 regulatory proceedings about data centers rates found ways in which existing and new rate structures and secret contracts are transferring Big Techs energy costs to the public. For instance, it found utility regulators frequently approved special contracts with just a cursory analysis, instead of gathering the lengthy evidence that typically comes from utilities and other parties in state regulators rate cases.

Peskoe argues that AI consumers should not be responsible for the technologys power needs any more than grocery customers should pay store electric bills.

States compete for data centers

While theres disagreement over how to allocate data center costs, most states have similar goals when it comes to attracting such facilities. At least 30 states, including Maryland, are competing with incentives to woo data center construction along with the associated tax base and jobs. Maryland, Texas and New York have taken steps recently to support new nuclear capacity and have turned to nuclear to add additional grid capacity.

Proponents of nuclear and next-generation nuclear believe the carbon-free, reliable form of energy is uniquely positioned to meet growing demand from data centers as well as electrification and onshoring of manufacturing.

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But most of the nations nuclear fleet is aging, with only one new plant built since the 1980s, and about a dozen reactors shut down in the past decade, mostly for economic reasons. Some, including two owned by Constellation outside Maryland, have stayed open thanks to state and now federal energy production tax credits. Constellation operates power plants mainly in Maryland, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania and supplies electricity on the competitive retail market.

X-energy, which plans to open a small nuclear reactor testing center in Frederick early next year, is working toward satisfying the power needs of hyper-scalers that has been rising about 100% every 18 months, said Steve Miller, executive vice president. Its customers include Dow Inc. and Amazon.

It doesnt show any signs of slowing down, Miller said in an interview. So really, in order to provide clean power for that large of a demand, I mean, nuclear is truly the only real answer.

Constellation looks to expand nuclear power capacity

Constellation is working towards expanding its fleet through restarts, by adding to the output of existing resources through updates and by seeking to relicense plants. All are lengthy and costly processes that can be better financially justified by signing up long-term customers.

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The owner or operator of 25 reactors across six states plans to add capacity at two of its plants through such deals. It will supply electricity to Microsofts Mid-Atlantic data centers by restarting Unit 1 at the former Three Mile Island, now called Crane Clean Energy Center. It will provide power to Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, for the next two decades from a nuclear plant in Chicago.

The large hyper-scalers, like most large corporate organizations, are looking to buy clean power to power their operations, after decades of investing mostly in wind and solar power, Barron said. Whats happened of late is that these companies have changed their perception of whats clean power to include all sources that are zero carbon and not just wind and solar.

That has led to deals such as Google buying hydropower from two dams in Pennsylvania to power AI operations in the PJM grid area.

In such over-the-grid deals, hyper-scalers get credit for matching consumption with clean power, Barron said, but the power is still going onto the grid every day. Its still being used by families and businesses every day. Its still helping to keep the lights on every day.

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In February, the company said it plans to invest about $100 million to boost future energy output at its Maryland nuclear power plant, Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center, formerly known as Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, in Lusby. The company will be upgrading electrical systems and plant equipment to prepare for a potential renewal of operating licenses.

Barron said both the electricity and data economy industries are looking for ways to meet demand efficiently in a way that takes advantage of the capacity that goes unused in systems built to serve peak loads, as a way to better control price increases for consumers.

Some, though, say AIs energy demands are simply too difficult to predict. Thats because efficiencies are likely to occur as yet-to-be-developed AI models, training methods and computer chips advance, presumably cutting down on energy consumption.

Im not coming from the camp of we should ignore the energy aspect of it, but I think we just need to recognize were in a fluctuating period right now where people are trying to figure it out, said Shaffer, of Cincinnatis AI lab. When the models get more advanced, were going to get to the point where the models can improve upon themselves without the humans.

Have a news tip? Contact Lorraine Mirabella at lmirabella@baltsun.com or (410) 332-6672.
(NewsNation)  Artificial intelligence is fundamentally altering Americas job landscape, prompting younger workers to reconsider career paths as automation threatens traditional white-collar positions, according to a McKinsey study.

The consulting firms research found that approximately 30% of current workplace tasks could be automated within five years, creating anxiety among job seekers and forcing widespread upskilling efforts across industries.

Cameron Vogelsang, an electrical contractor in Tennessee, told NewsNation that AI poses less of a threat to skilled trades than office jobs.

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AI isnt going to take over the hard skills, Vogelsang said. AI can take the soft skills. Thats why you see people in white collar jobs, some of them are losing their positions because AI can now do their job.

Nintendo Switch getting more expensive: Whats changing and why

More than half of Gen Z workers now consider blue-collar careers

The shift is particularly pronounced among Generation Z workers, with 65% believing their college degrees wont protect them from AI-related job displacement. More than half of Gen Z workers now seriously consider blue-collar or skilled trade careers.

One firm reported AI adoption resulted in more than 10,000 job losses in July alone.

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Vogelsang travels nationally with Energize US EDU to change perceptions about skilled trades.

Gen Z, while there is an opportunity and people are interested in joining the trades, theres also these stigmas that shun people away from the trades, he said.

Apple overcomes Trumps trade war, slow start in AI

Workdays AI hiring tools face lawsuit over discrimination claims

Beyond job elimination, AI is affecting hiring processes.

Derek Mobley, who searched unsuccessfully for work for two years, filed a lawsuit claiming Workdays AI-powered hiring tools discriminated based on age, race and mental health.

What are the chances that someone would be rejected 100% of the time? That just didnt make sense to me, Mobley said.

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Workday denied the claims, but a federal judge allowed the lawsuit to proceed as a nationwide collective action focusing on age discrimination.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Generative artificial intelligence assistants like ChatGPT are cutting into traditional online search traffic, depriving news sites of visitors and impacting the advertising revenue they desperately need, in a crushing blow to an industry already fighting for survival.

"The next three or four years will be incredibly challenging for publishers everywhere. No one is immune from the AI summaries storm gathering on the horizon," warned Matt Karolian, vice president of research and development at Boston Globe Media.

"Publishers need to build their own shelters or risk being swept away."

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While data remains limited, a recent Pew Research Center study reveals that AI-generated summaries now appearing regularly in Google searches discourage users from clicking through to source articles.

When AI summaries are present, users click on suggested links half as often compared to traditional searches.

This represents a devastating loss of visitors for online media sites that depend on traffic for both advertising revenue and subscription conversions.

According to Northeastern University professor John Wihbey, these trends "will accelerate, and pretty soon we will have an entirely different web."

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The dominance of tech giants like Google and Meta had already slashed online media advertising revenue, forcing publishers to pivot toward paid subscriptions.

But Wihbey noted that subscriptions also depend on traffic, and paying subscribers alone aren't sufficient to support major media organizations.

- Limited lifelines -

The Boston Globe group has begun seeing subscribers sign up through ChatGPT, offering a new touchpoint with potential readers, Karolian said.

However, "these remain incredibly modest compared to other platforms, including even smaller search engines."

Other AI-powered tools like Perplexity are generating even fewer new subscriptions, he added.

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To survive what many see as an inevitable shift, media companies are increasingly adopting GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) -- a technique that replaces traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

This involves providing AI models with clearly labeled content, good structure, comprehensible text, and strong presence on social networks and forums like Reddit that get crawled by AI companies.

But a fundamental question remains: "Should you allow OpenAI crawlers to basically crawl your website and your content?" asks Thomas Peham, CEO of optimization startup OtterlyAI.

Burned by aggressive data collection from major AI companies, many news publishers have chosen to fight back by blocking AI crawlers from accessing their content.

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"We just need to ensure that companies using our content are paying fair market value," argued Danielle Coffey, who heads the News/Media Alliance trade organization.

Some progress has been made on this front. Licensing agreements have emerged between major players, such as the New York Times and Amazon, Google and Associated Press, and Mistral and Agence France-Presse, among others.

But the issue is far from resolved, as several major legal battles are underway, most notably the New York Times' blockbuster lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft.

- Let them crawl -

Publishers face a dilemma: blocking AI crawlers protects their content but reduces exposure to potential new readers.

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Faced with this challenge, "media leaders are increasingly choosing to reopen access," Peham observed.

Yet even with open access, success isn't guaranteed.

According to OtterlyAI data, media outlets represent just 29 percent of citations offered by ChatGPT, trailing corporate websites at 36 percent.

And while Google search has traditionally privileged sources recognized as reliable, "we don't see this with ChatGPT," Peham noted.

The stakes extend beyond business models.

According to the Reuters Institute's 2025 Digital News Report, about 15 percent of people under 25 now use generative AI to get their news.

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Given ongoing questions about AI sourcing and reliability, this trend risks confusing readers about information origins and credibility -- much like social media did before it.

"At some point, someone has to do the reporting," Karolian said. "Without original journalism, none of these AI platforms would have anything to summarize."

Perhaps with this in mind, Google is already developing partnerships with news organizations to feed its generative AI features, suggesting potential paths forward.

"I think the platforms will realize how much they need the press," predicted Wihbey -- though whether that realization comes soon enough to save struggling newsrooms remains an open question.

tu/arp/jgc
An air quality alert is in effect in Vermont throughout Aug. 4 due to smoke from the ongoing Canadian wildfires, according to the National Weather Service.

The air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, like those with asthma, lung or heart disease, and older adults, the weather service said.

Those who could have trouble with the smoke should avoid being outdoors for extended periods, according to the NWS.

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The alert will be in effect until midnight Monday, Aug. 4.

What the air quality will be like in Vermont

Smoke is expected to impact New England most heavily from around 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the weather service said.

"A hazy sky is expected today due to smoke from a wildfire in Canada moving overhead," the weather service in Norton, Mass., said in a Facebook post. "Some of this smoke may get close to the ground later this morning into this evening."

In Burlington, widespread haze is expected all day with a high temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The smoke in Vermont is expected to linger through Tuesday.

Wildfire smoke map

https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/?lat=41.541&lon=-86.858&zoom=5

VT counties under air quality alert

Here are the Vermont counties where the air quality alert is in effect, according to the NWS:

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Addison County - western and eastern

Caledonia County - all

Chittenden County - western and eastern

Essex County - western and eastern

Franklin County - northern and southern

Grand Isle County - all

Lamoille County - all

Orange County - all

Orleans County - all

Rutland County - western and eastern

Washington County - all

Windham County - all

Windsor County - western and eastern

Smoke rises from wildfire LWF090, the Caribou Lake Wildfire, in an aerial photograph northwest of Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada June 5, 2025. Alberta Wildfire/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY

What should you do during an air quality alert

Officials urged people to stay indoors to reduce exposure, and to limit strenuous activity. Exposure can cause short-term effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, along with coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath.

It can be particularly dangerous for people in sensitive groups, such as children, older people, and those with chronic health conditions.

In Canada, several wildfires are blazing uncontrolled, according to the country's natural resources department.

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In early July, Manitoba's government declared a state of emergency for its historic fires.

Material from USA Today was used in this report.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Canadian wildfires causing air quality alert in VT. See smoke map
A slippery attempt to bypass airport security at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport was foiled after Thai officials discovered three live snakes hidden in a traveler's underwear.

This bizarre, below-the-belt bust highlights a serious and growing threat to ecosystems and communities: wildlife smuggling.

What happened?

According to The Thaiger, a Sri Lankan man was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok for attempting to smuggle three live ball pythons in his underwear.

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Thai officials were tipped off by the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Centre and identified the suspect, a man named Shehan, upon his arrival. Authorities were already aware of prior trafficking offenses he had committed in Sri Lanka and tracked him until his departure the following day.

Though his luggage appeared clean in a scan, a deeper search revealed that the man was hiding snakes tucked in a netted bag in his underwear.

Ball pythons are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, meaning international trade of these snakes requires official permits.

Shehan now faces two charges under Thai law, including violating the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Why is wildlife smuggling concerning?

According to Florida International University, wildlife trafficking is the fourth-largest illegal trade in the world, and airports have become hotspots for this underground industry. Personal baggage is the second most common method of transporting smuggled animals.

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Globally, snakes account for 4% of all recorded wildlife seizures, according to the United Nations Wildlife Crime Report.

Wildlife smuggling affects more than animals; trafficking fuels organized crime, threatens public health with infectious diseases, and introduces invasive species that can contaminate food systems and water supplies.

What is being done about wildlife trafficking?

Regional and inter-regional Wildlife Enforcement Networks exist to combat wildlife trafficking at key transit points.

In the U.S., the proposed Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 aims to stop the suffering of trafficked animals (like the confiscated ball pythons) who endure long, inhumane journeys with little food or water in extreme conditions (like people's underwear).

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At the personal level, supporting responsible pet ownership and reporting suspicious activity can help disrupt trafficking and protect communities and animals from harm.

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.
Alabama can't seem to decide whether it wants to discourage porn consumption or profit from it. Starting in September, it will levy a 10 percent tax on adult website proceeds from any porn produced or sold in the state.

Adult websites are reportedly being told to create their "Material Harmful to Minors tax accounts" now.

How the Porn Tax Works

The tax was enacted as part of a larger anti-porn effort known as House Bill 164. "Pornography is creating a public health crisis," the measure's findings section claimed.

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Alabama isn't exactly a porn industry hub, so the tax might seem at first glance like more of a P.R. effort than anything else.

But the way the law is written, it could have far-reaching implications. The tax applies to all "adult websites," which the legislation defines as digital platforms where more than a third of the content counts as "sexual material harmful to minors." (That's the convoluted term the state uses to describe content that "depicts or describes sexual conduct" or features "breast nudity or genital nudity" in a way that "lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.")

"In addition to all other taxes of every kind, there is levied and shall be collected a tax at the rate of 10 percent upon the gross receipts of any commercial entity operating an adult website for all sales, distributions, memberships, subscriptions, performances, and all other content amounting to material harmful to minors that is produced, sold, filmed, generated, or otherwise based in this state," the law says.

So a website like OnlyFans would seem to owe the state of Alabama 10 percent of any money it makes off Alabama-based content creators, as well as 10 percent of any money paid by Alabama customers.

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The same goes for webcam platforms, individuals selling adult content on their own websites, and so on.

And obviously, subscription-based porn platforms would owe money on any subscriptions paid by Alabama residents.

It's unclear what the tax will mean for porn sites that make most of their money from advertisements rather than subscriptions. Are they expected to calculate exactly how much ad money is generated by views in Alabama?

It's also unclear how adult websites might react to this tax. Will it mean higher prices for Alabama-based subscriptions? Higher cuts taken from creators in the state?

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In any event, the whole thing seems like a compliance nightmare for platforms and for independent producers and performers.

And while it's technically aimed at porn sites, it certainly seems capable of harming erotic content creators even if they don't sell on their own websites. If porn platforms can't easily pass on the tax to them in some way, they could downgrade their content or even block them entirely.

Taking away a relatively safe means of doing sex work for Alabama residents seems unlikely to make performers safer or better off. Many will move to more dangerous forms of sexual labor.

Alabama Is Eager to Start Enforcement

The state's Department of Revenue has started contacting adult websites about the tax, reports XBIZ:

One such notice, which XBIZ has seen, includes the following information: In accordance with Act 2024-97, effective September 1, 2025, there is a tax of 10 percent levied on the gross receipts of any commercial entity operating an adult website. The tax is due on the gross receipts of all sales, distributions, memberships, subscriptions, performances and all other content amounting to material harmful to minors that is produced, sold, filmed, generated, or otherwise based in this state. The entity should register for a Material Harmful to Minors (MHM) tax account through My Alabama Taxes. The tax on these gross receipts will be reported and remitted in the same manner as the sales and use taxes beginning with the September 2025 filing period due in October 2025. The adult site that shared the notice told XBIZ that it had received the letter despite the fact that it is not based in Alabama and has been blocking access there since October. According to the ALDOR rep, that is normal. "The duty of the Alabama Department of Revenue is to make those entities that may be subject to the tax aware of the new tax levy," the rep explained. "If an entity receives a notice, that does not mean that the department has determined that the entity is subject to the new tax."

A Broader Anti-Porn Package

H.B. 164, which passed last year, imposes much more than a porn tax. Most of the attention around it has focused on a requirement that websites verify the ages of people trying to watch porn from within Alabama.

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Failing to verify user ages is "considered a violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act," according to the law, and individuals can sue websites that fail to do so.

The age verification measure took effect last October, prompting some adult sitessuch as Pornhubto block access for Alabama residents.

H.B. 164 also requires adult websites to display a warning label that is absolutely steeped in pseudoscience, even though a similar requirement in Texas was found unconstitutional two years ago.

The warning label must include several unproven and in some cases false statements, including that pornography may be "biologically addictive," that it "is proven to harm human brain development," that it "weakens brain function," that it "is associated with low self-esteem and body image, eating disorders, impaired brain development, and other emotional and mental illnesses," and that it "increases the demand for prostitution, child exploitation, and child pornography."

Is the Porn Tax Constitutional?

The porn tax portion of H.B. 164 is slated to take effect on September 1.

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"Before the ruling in FSC v. Paxton, I would have said that the Alabama law is a clear example of selectively taxing adult companies because of their content, and that even a conservative court would strike it down as unconstitutional," Alison Boden, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, told XBIZ. "In a post-Paxton world where the meaning of the First Amendment is seemingly up for grabs, it's unclear." (In Paxton, decided earlier this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court said that states may demand that porn sites verify users' ages.

On one level, "sin taxes" of this sort are nothing newgovernments love to levy special taxes on products they want to discourage, as we've seen with cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and so on. But pornography is a form of legal speech, and that renders sin taxes on porn something a little different.

Attorney Lawrence Walters told XBIZ the tax "may constitute an unconstitutional content-based burden on speech," but he also pointed out that so far, nothing is preventing its enforcement.

More Sex & Tech News

Cop who fabricated sex trafficking case can't be sued: "A police officer who had a woman jailed for over two years on false charges in connection with a bogus sex-trafficking ring cannot be sued, a court confirmed last week, because she was acting under color of federal lawa puzzling reminder of the inverse relationship between power and accountability in government," Reason's Billy Binion explains.

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Online Safety Act wreaking havoc: Reason intern Tosin Akintola looks at some of the many ways the Untied Kingdom's Online Safety Act is starting to reshape the internet. X has begun restricting content related to Gaza for its U.K. users, and Reddit has implemented age-verification measures to view posts about cigars," among other things.

Sex toy surveillance: "Lovense, a maker of internet-connected sex toys, has confirmed it has fixed a pair of security vulnerabilities that exposed users' private email addresses and allowed attackers to remotely take over any user's account," reports TechCrunch.

Shame sells: "Two tech bros have come up with an app to save young men" from porn, reports The Free Press. Their big idea? Turning on your phone's front camera when you're feeling temptation. "The big thing is shame, like, look at how stupid you look," co-founder Connor McLaren said. Other ideas: "calling porn 'gay,' referring to viewers as 'losers.'" As Mike Stabile points out on Bluesky, anti-porn action is almost always "just warmed over anti-masturbation rhetoric. These guys are never 'oh, just use your imagination, my dude,' it's 'suppress sexual desire.'"

Abortion pill reversal: Colorado can't ban medical professionals from talking about so-called "abortion pill reversal," a federal court says.

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Bored Ape NFT lawsuit: "Does anyone still care about NFTs?" asks law professor Eric Goldman, prompted by a decision in a lawsuit concerning Bored Ape artwork and trademark law.

Age verification in Australia: Austrailia's "new Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill has galloped through Parliament like a runaway Shetland pony, banning under-16s from social media," writes Nicole James at The Freeman. "This is a full-blown digital eviction. And the ban isn't limited just to TikTok and Snapchat. It also extends to YouTube (yes, YouTube), where apparently autoplay is now considered a gateway drug."

Today's Image

Las Vegas | 2020 (ENB/Reason)

The post Alabama's Porn Tax Starts Soon appeared first on Reason.com.




Key Points

Alaska Airlines announced seven new routes throughout the West Coast.

Several of the new routes start in October with the remainder rolling out through January 2026.





Fall and winter vacations just got easier to plan on the West Coast.

That's thanks to Alaska Airlines, which will launch seven new routes to popular destinations across the Pacific Northwest and California starting in October, according to the carrier. The new routes include three flights from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), along with seasonal flights between San Diego and Idaho's Sun Valley, and more.



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Were the only global airline based on the West Coast, and were proud to offer the most flights and seats between California, Washington and Oregon, Kirsten Amrine, Alaska Airlines' VP of revenue management and network planning, said in a statement. These new additions further expand our ability to take our guests between growing markets in California and the Pacific Northwest for leisure and business travel.

Starting Oct. 26, the airline will fly between Burbank, CA, and both Eugene and Redmond in Oregon, as well as Pasco, Washington. Each of these flights will operate daily and year-round. That same day, the airline will also launch a new winter-only route five times per week between Palm Springs and Santa Rosa in California for those seeking sunshine and relaxation.



Then on Dec. 18, Alaska will launch flights between San Diego and Sun Valley. These flights will operate three times per week during the winter season, offering an easy connection to one of the most popular ski destinations in the country.

Finally, the airline will begin year-round daily service on Jan. 7, 2026, between both Boise and Ontario, California, as well as between Spokane, Washington, and Orange County, California.

All of the new routes will be operated by an Embraer 175 aircraft, which contains space for 76 passengers in a 2x2 configuration in economy class.



The new routes from Alaska arrive as low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines recently said it would cease all operations in the Los Angeles area, closing its base at the Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). Avelo plans to slow service from Burbank starting this month before completely ending it on Dec. 2.

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In addition to its new domestic routes, Alaska Airlines has also focused on international expansion. The carrier plans to launch new service between Seattle and Rome in May 2026, operating the flights on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.



Last year, Alaska Airlines merged with Hawaiian Airlines. Since then, the combined carrier has invested in new lounges and cabins in addition to an expanded network.



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Low clouds hang over Kodiak's St. Paul Harbor on Oct. 3, 2022. A Coast Guard response to a distress call from a fish tender sinking in the Kodiak harbor led to the discovery that oily bilge water was being discharged from the vessel, in violation of the Clean Water Act. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

A longtime Alaska fisher who was sentenced in May to a year in jail for illegally exporting crab, much of it disease infected, has now been ordered to pay $1.18 million in penalties for unrelated water pollution charges.

Corey Potter and the companies he managed  the vessel Knot EZ, Aleutian Tendering LLC and the Alaska Tendering Company LLC  were ordered to pay the combined penalty in a default judgment issued on Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason.

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The penalty was for repeated discharges of oily bilge water, which violated the Clean Water Act, according to court documents.

Potter had not responded to the charges, which were detailed in a complaint filed on Oct. 24, or appeared in court on the case, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and federal prosecutors. That triggered the default judgment by Gleason.

Potters previous case concerned thousands of pounds of king crab he and his partners harvested in Southeast Alaska and took directly to Washington state. Alaska law requires that all crabs commercially harvested in waters off Alaska be landed and processed within the state. Part of the reason for that is to ensure quality and marketability.

The Knot EZ, seen in this undated photo, had been illegally discharging oily bilge water over multiple fishing seasons, federal prosecutors said. The vessel operated as a tender, delivering harvested fish from catcher vessels to processors. It was owned by Corey Potter, a longtime Alaska fisher sentenced in May to jail time for illegal out-of-state shipment of king crab, much of which was infected with bitter crab syndrome. (Photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard)

Instead, a significant percentage of the catch that Potter and his associate brought to Washington state was infected with bitter crab syndrome. The parasitic disease, which is linked to warming waters, kills crabs and makes their meat unpalatable, though not toxic to humans.

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The water pollution case against Potter is separate. It stems from a Coast Guard rescue of the Knot EZ, which was sinking in Kodiak Harbor in July of 2022. The Knot EZ operated as a tender, a vessel that delivered fish from harvesters to processors, according to court documents.

Guardsmen who responded to the Knot EZs distress call discovered that the vessel had an illegal discharge system that was pumping oily bilge water directly into the sea, according to the complaint. Crew members hired by Potter admitted that the illegal bypass system was used daily, according to the complaint.

The vessel was declared to be unfit for service, and subsequent investigation discovered a long-running pattern of such violations in past fishing seasons as well, according to the complaint.

While neither Potter nor his companies responded to the Clean Water Act charges, a public defender representing him in the crab case asked for leniency, based on his age and on the financial hardships he has already endured. Potter, 64, has been reduced to relying upon family for assistance and has no viable means to support himself, said the defense presentencing memorandum in that case, which was filed on May 6.

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ALBANY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The Albany Independent School District will no longer offer free meals to all students for the 2025-2026 school year.

LIST: 2025-26 first day of school in the Big Country

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows high-poverty schools to offer free meals to all students without an application, is not financially suitable for our school district based on our percentage of identified students that qualify for the program, Albany ISD shared.

The district offers free or reduced-price meals to students who meet current income eligibility guidelines. To find out if your student qualifies or to apply, you can review the policy at any school campus or at the districts central office.

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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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
French insurer AXA has agreed to acquire a 51% share of Prima, a direct insurance provider in Italy, for 500m ($578m), strengthening motor insurance operations in the country.

The transaction includes provisions for call/put options pertaining to the remaining 49% of Prima, which will be subject to an exercise price correlated with the company's financial performance.

As a managing general agent, Prima operates a proprietary technology platform to distribute its products via various channels including price comparison websites, its own website and a network of more than 1,500 affiliated agents.

In fiscal year 2024, Prima reported gross written premiums totalling 1.2bn within Italy. The company operates with a workforce exceeding 1,200 individuals and has established offices in key cities such as Milan, Rome, London and Madrid.

Prima CEO George Ottathycal stated: We are delighted to become part of the Axa Group. Axa strongly believes in our strategic plan and will provide assets and expertise which will enable Prima to further unlock its potential, leveraging expertise with a leading global insurance Group."

AXA's direct distribution segment generated 3.5bn in premiums across multiple geographies in 2024.

The move is expected to enhance AXA's direct distribution capabilities in Europe, leveraging Prima's digital infrastructure and expertise.

AXA European Markets & Health CEO Patrick Cohen said: We are excited to announce the acquisition of Prima, which will not only significantly enhance our position in the Italian P&C [property and casualty] market but also bring capabilities to strengthen our direct business in European markets."

The deal is set to conclude by the end of 2025, subject to standard closing conditions and regulatory consents.

Upon the deal's completion, existing investors Blackstone, Goldman Sachs and Carlyle will relinquish their investments in Prima, with Neurone continuing to maintain its position as a key shareholder in the company.

AXA recently won a London court case against Santander, securing a 680m (781.53m) ruling for mis-sold payment protection insurance policies.

These policies, underwritten by two companies AXA acquired from Genworth in 2015, were originally sold by a company Santander bought in 2009.

"AXA to acquire 51% stake in Italian direct insurer Prima " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Brief

The state's first non-tribal retail cannabis shop opened in Albert Lea, but patrons still have to wait before any cannabis can be sold there.

The city council rejected the shop registration despite its cannabis license being approved by state authorities.

The Smoking Tree hopes to have products available later this week, but that depends on when local Native American tribes can supply it.

ALBERT LEA, Minn. (FOX 9) - After being rejected by the city council last week, the owner of The Smoking Tree cannabis shop in Albert Lea says the store is now open  but he doesn't yet have product to sell.

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The Albert Lea City Council voted to not approve the business' registration last week despite it being the first non-tribal shop in Minnesota to receive a cannabis license from the state.

The business owner says there is also a delay in getting approved, Minnesota-grown product from local tribes. Minnesota law requires retail cannabis sold in the state to be grown in the state.

READ MORE: This is Minnesota's first license for a recreational cannabis cultivation business

The Smoking Tree opens in Albert Lea

Big picture view

The Smoking Tree cannabis shop is open for business in Albert Lea on Sunday, August 3, but its owner, Jacob Schlichter, says he is currently using the space to educate people about cannabis laws in Minnesota.

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A 3-4 vote by the city council last week prevented the business from being registered in the city. However, it'sunclear if the Albert Lea decision followed state law, which says cities have little power to restrict cannabis businesses. For the most part, cities can only restrict where a cannabis business can operate.

Schlichter says he's "testing the waters" and hopes to begin selling cannabis later this week.

For now, the hurdles presented by the Albert Lea City Council and state laws regulating supply continue to prevent any legal cannabis sales at the store. State law says that retail cannabis sold in Minnesota to be grown in Minnesota.

The backstory

A bill approved in 2023 set the framework for legalizing recreational cannabis in Minnesota. So far, only tribes have been able to open dispensaries as the state worked to set up the licensing process, which has faced delays.

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This summer, the state held two lotteries for some business licenses and began issuing licenses for uncapped categories  like small retailers.

READ MORE: Minnesota tribes may soon create cannabis businesses off reservations

Tribal cannabis products could be in high demand from retail shops

Dig deeper

Tribal cannabis is where retail shops will soon get their supplies from. It's why the owner of The Smoking Tree didnt have any products yet. With other shops soon to open around the state, it could cause an issue in supply and demand with everyone going to the same sources.

"I think maybe in the beginning we'll be fine, but as more licensees actually get operational, that's where you're going to see a thinning out of the product that's available to all of us. But the tribes haven't really led on that they're maybe facing any form of shortage," said Jacob Schlichter, The Owner of the Smoking Tree.

Albert Lea owner's vision

What they're saying

Schlichter believes he will have clients who want the product. So we asked him what his vision for the store is up and running.

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"It's nothing complicated. We're going to line the walls here with some displays. This yellow line is going to be where we're going to line up more displays. We just sanctioned it off like that, just so it would be easily identifiable, so you know where the public can go and where they cannot," said Schlichter.

What's next

Schlichter tells Fox 9 that when he does get cannabis products, he plans to sell it, regardless of not having the city registration, because he says he will be following state law. As for his registration, he will have another chance for approval at the City Council meeting next week.

Albert Lea City Council cannabis shop vote

What they're saying

Before voting to reject the Smoking Tree's registration, city leaders blasted the state law for failing to give local governments more control over cannabis businesses.

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"When we had looked at this, we looked at what ways we could maintain local control," explained Albert Lea City Manager Ian Rigg. "We have always looked at whenever the state passes something ways in which we maintain local control. I've been a very big proponent of local control just for the fact that I feel that local government knows its citizenry best and can adapt and make changes as necessary to to meet the needs of its citizens. However, this process did not involve local control or people speaking on behalf or for local control. I think overall the legislature's problem  this is conjecture  hey were assuming that they were afraid of local control in this matter."

Rigg continued: "Our only option is to defy the state and see lawsuits, which they asked, Well, what could the penalty be? Well, there are a number of penalties that they can impose. One of their favorite ones is to withhold local government aid for not meeting certain other requirements."

Rigg said state aid is one-third of the city's general fund revenue. Rigg's also acknowledged the city could face lawsuits.

"I've not been a fan of this since the subject first came up a year ago," added Mayor Rich Murray. "It seems like just two years ago, we were locking people up for this very thing, smoking cannabis. And now we're promoting it. I do not like the way that the state legislature and the governor has rammed this down our throats without very little say in the whole process, all because they're hungry for more revenue. Not only are they hungry for more revenue. But in those last days of the legislature, I believe they increased the amount of revenue they're gonna take out of this by 50% I don't think two is the right number. As I've said before, I believe zero is the number."

The other side

Council member Brian Anderson made it clear the city doesn't have a choice in the matter.

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"The fact that this is on the agenda tonight is giving a lot of people the illusion that we have a choice in this matter," said Anderson. "Sixmillion [in state aid] is on the line, basically, if we think we're going to defy that. I would love to say no, too, just simply to appease the people with the emails that I've gotten. But I think it's up to me sitting up here to do the responsible thing and actually say that this is going to happen, whether we want it to or not. And I think we have to just embrace it Maybe it isn't going to be as bad as some people think it is."

The city attorney also pointed out that even if the city were to reject registration, tribes have the authority to approve themselves.

"So, in theory, we could have  even if the council said we're I'm not going to take action on any  we could still have 10 retail operations here as dictated by the state by the state legislature," the attorney explained.

The Source

This story uses information shared by Smoking Tree and past FOX 9 reporting.
Mondays Top Stories

Mondays Five Facts

[1] Family of 19-year-old bicyclist killed in crash calls for change  An Albuquerque family is calling for change after their 19-year-old daughter was hit and killed while riding her bike home. Kayla Vanlandinghams parents said Kayla was riding her bike along the Hahn Arroyo Trail when she was struck and killed by a car. This incident brings the total to nine bicyclists hit and killed by a car in the New Mexico this year. Kaylas mother is calling for infrastructure updates, mandatory stops, statute changes, and policy changes.

[2] Ruidoso flooding moves Futurity trials to Albuquerque  For the second consecutive year, the All American Futurity is being held in Albuquerque due to flooding that forced the races out of the Ruidoso Downs racetrack. Officials explain that the All American Futurity for quarter horses is equivalent to the Kentucky Derby for thoroughbreds. The trials begin Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Albuquerque Downs and will conclude on Tuesday.

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[3] Rain-free for most of New Mexico & hotter this week  Dry and hot weather will stick around into the week ahead. A stretch of triple-digit heat will continue across southern New Mexico as well though next weekend. While almost all of New Mexico will stay dry, a pop up storm or two will be possible across some of the mountain peaks.

[4] Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham addresses rural hospital fund on Face the Nation  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appeared on Face the Nation to discuss the importance of Medicare and Medicaid for New Mexicans. Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz says applications for a new rural hospital fund will open in early September. Lujan Grisham said the US should focus on connecting people to healthcare and that the fund is not enough. The Medicaid director of New Mexico confirmed with News 13 that nearly 34% of the state is on Medicaid.

[5] Pecos All-American Cheerleaders to represent New Mexico on global stage  A group of cheerleaders from the village of Pecos in San Miguel County is representing New Mexico on an international stage. Their skill and dedication to their sport catapult them to a global stage to perform at the New Years Day Parade this winter in Italy. The team is looking to raise $25,000. For those interested in supporting these teens as they look to reach their goal, they have a GoFundMe page.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  An Albuquerque man was sentenced to prison on Monday for helping cover up the kidnapping and murder of a man in the ToHajiilee area of the Navajo Nation.

The Department of Justice said Peter Paul Sandoval, 60, helped Antonio Chaco cover up the murder of Thomas Brown in June 2020 by cleaning blood in the car that was used to move Brown.

Story continues below

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Investigators said that Chaco assaulted Brown outside Chacos trailer home and then rolled Brown in a square of carpet and brought him to a remote desert location. There, Chaco continued to assault Brown before leaving him without water, food, or shelter.

Browns decayed remains were discovered in July 2020, and the Office of the Medical Investigator determined Browns cause of death to be homicidal violence, including blunt-force head trauma.

Chaco pled guilty earlier this month to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 17 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, the DOJ said. Sandoval pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to kidnapping and was sentenced to 199 days in prison. When he is released from prison, Sandoval will undergo three years of supervised release and must also pay restitution to Browns family.

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WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  A new Aldi grocery store is among the plans for a 37-acre mixed-use development proposed in Westerville near Polaris Fashion Place.

NP Limited Partnership, the Columbus-based developer of Polaris, submitted plans to the Westerville Planning Commission in July that show the development would be built at the southeast corner of Polaris Parkway and Worthington Road. Along with an Aldi, the sprawling complex would include restaurants, retail and office space, and a brewery or food court.

The development company has owned the property since 2006 and first tried to develop it with retail and offices in 2014. Franz Geiger, NP Limiteds managing partner, wrote in a letter to the city of Westerville that this new proposal reflects the ever-changing market.

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Columbus Business Beat: Data centers, Short North visitor fee

We think that the plan, while not exactly what we envisioned in 2014, is a natural evolution to our original approval, Geiger said. The mix and quality of the uses on the site should lead to stable and successful development.

A new Aldi grocery store is among the plans for NP Limiteds 37-acre Westerville development. (Courtesy Photo/City of Westerville) A new Aldi grocery store is among the plans for NP Limiteds 37-acre Westerville development. (Courtesy Photo/City of Westerville)

The proposal calls for 13 buildings to be built on the site, including the 21,000-square-foot Aldi storefront, two restaurants at about 10,000 square feet, an 8,000-square-foot retail structure, eight office buildings totaling 178,000 square feet, and one 19,000-square-foot food court or brewery.

NP Limited will return to the Westerville Planning Commission for further review before the proposal is reviewed by city council and voted upon for construction.

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The development company is also behind The Galaxy at Polaris project that was awarded $7.39 million in Ohio tax credits earlier this year. While Galaxys first phase is already under construction, the tax credit will allow NP to forge ahead on the 11 buildings that will make up the developments second phase.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop to open first Marysville location

Costing about $269 million, Galaxy is being built on a 30-acre site on the east side of Polaris between Interstate 71 and Westervilles Medical Mile. The development will span three phases, with the first expected to wrap construction in September and the second planned to kick off in the spring of next year.

The first phase is home to 289 apartments, a more than 700-space parking garage, 37,000 square feet of commercial space, a dog park and an amphitheater. The second phase will span 1.7 million square feet with retail, more apartments, office space, restaurants, a grocery store, and other community amenities.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  Ale-8-One is a popular soft drink made in Winchester, and a new flavor was inspired by Kentucky home-grown research.

A press conference had leaders from Kentucky State University, Ale-8, and even the state to celebrate the reveal of the new pawpaw flavor of Ale-8.

Pawpaw is a fruit that grows in Kentucky, and Ale-8 chief marketing officer Kevin Price, along with Kentucky State University President Dr. Koffi Akakpo, celebrated this milestone.

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Kentucky State and Ale-8 have had a long-standing relationship, admittedly not quite at this level. For us to secure this relationship and their insane hospitality throughout the entire experience, we couldnt be more thankful for them as a partner, Price said.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

I cannot thank Ale-8 enough. We thank you for this partnership. We truly thank the leadership and the team that helped design this. This is a journey, Akakpo said.

The pawpaw, also known as the Kentucky banana, is researched and harvested at KSU. Its unique for it to be in a landlocked state like Kentucky since it brings a tropical flavor, which can now be tasted in Ale-8s newest edition. Dr. Kirk Pomper is the professor of horticulture at KSU, meaning he is often involved in research with this fruit.

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Its a really unique fruit. It has kind of a banana, mango, pineapple flavor, and its a tree fruit that we can grow in Kentucky well and use for fresh fruit or for processing, Pomper said.

Representative Ryan Dotson, who represents the 73rd district, which includes Clark and Fayette counties, also came to the reveal. Dotson said Ale-8 is an example of what a supported local idea can become.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

Today has been a very historical moment as these two iconic brands came together, KSU and Ale-8. I will tell you the response, and Im looking forward to it. The very taste of Ale-8 pawpaw is very special and unique. I think people really want to take to it, Dotson said.

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Ale-8s pawpaw flavor is available in stores now.

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The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said Friday it had turned over the results of its investigation into the fatal police shooting of Jabari Peoples, 18, on June 22 to the Homewood Police Department and the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. The Homewood Police Department says the shooting took place after an altercation in which Peoples produced a gun; Peoples' family said he did not have a weapon and an attorney said an autopsy found that he was shot in the back. (Getty Images)

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has sent its findings of an investigation into the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Aliceville man by a police officer to the Homewood Police Department and the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office.

ALEA announced on Friday in a news release that it had completed its investigation that resulted in the fatal shooting of Jabari Peoples on June 22 and transferred the materials from the State Bureau of Investigative file over, which includes the body camera video of the incident. The information has not yet been released to the public.

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The Agency would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding during the ongoing investigation, ALEA said in the news release.

ALEA also thanked Gov. Kay Ivey and Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, for their support as the agency conducted its investigation.

A message was left with Givan on Monday seeking comment.

The Agency remains committed to protecting the integrity of all its investigations and ensuring that all facts are gathered and evaluated thoroughly, the news release said.

A message was sent to the attorneys representing Peoples family on Friday and Monday seeking comment.

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According to the original news release, the officer was out on patrol before noticing a parked vehicle and began to investigate.

The news release stated that one of the people in the vehicle fought with the officer and produced a firearm. The officer then fired his weapon and struck Peoples. The officer was treated for injuries and Peoples was transported to the hospital where he died.

However, Leroy Maxwell Jr., an attorney representing Peoples family, said in a statement on June 30 that an independent autopsy found that Peoples had been shot in the back. The attorney also said that Peoples did not have a weapon when the officer approached him.
This is an adapted excerpt from the Aug. 2 episode of Velshi.

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released an alarming monthly employment report, exposing that the United States job market is much more fragile than many had expected. Only 73,000 net new jobs  thats new jobs created, minus jobs lost  were added in July.

But worse were the revisions to the two previous job reports. Mays jobs report was revised from 144,000 jobs to only 19,000. Junes 147,000 jobs were mostly a mirage, too; it turns out only 14,000 jobs were added that month. Thats 258,000 fewer jobs than previously thought. The average for the last three months is 35,000, far fewer than the 150,000 or more needed for job growth to keep up with population growth in this country.

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Now, revisions to government statistics are normal in subsequent months. Its the nature of large numbers. They happen regularly, but they almost never show this dramatic a shift. It was a bad report, no doubt about it. It was particularly bad for a president who, in political terms, owns this job market and this economy, which has been roiled by the chaos of his tariffs and trade wars.

But instead of addressing the numbers and the challenge they present, Donald Trump said they were fake and fired the head of the department that collects them. The president baselessly claimed the jobs numbers were rigged and accused the fired commissioner of inflating numbers for the Biden administration and sabotaging them under his own administration.

Trump baselessly claimed that jobs reports were overstated during the previous presidency to prop up Joe Biden and are now being underestimated to hurt Trump. The president has zeroed in on the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, labeling her a Biden appointee and ignoring the fact that she was confirmed in the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 86-8, with six senators not voting. Among the 86 yeas was now-Vice President JD Vance.

This is becoming a common refrain for Trump. He has also accused Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, of being a Biden appointee. But Trump is the one who elevated him to the position in 2017.

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Friday also marked the presidents self-imposed, but often delayed, deadline for reaching trade deals with countries across the world. Back in April, Trump claimed he had already struck 200 deals, despite the fact that there arent even 200 countries in the world. The number of deals before the Aug. 1 deadline was closer to eight, though you could arguably consider the European Union, which is a single trading bloc, as 27 countries.

Deals were struck with the European Union, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Vietnam, and talks are ongoing with Mexico and China. Nowhere close to 200. That was just a lie.

An executive order signed by Trump late Thursday outlined tariff rates for 69 countries, including several changes from the rates announced on Liberation Day in April. Smaller countries like Lesotho and Guyana were originally hit with massive tariffs, simply because they are poor countries that sell more to America than they buy and as a result have large trade deficits with America, but those rates have since been cut.

The day before, Trump also jacked up tariffs on Brazil to 50% for what he views as the political persecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for attempting a coup in 2022. Trump has called that trial a witch hunt.

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Forget a deal with one of the U.S. oldest and biggest trading partners, Canada. The White House is upping the ante on our neighbor to the north, announcing a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, up from 25%. Thats on goods not included in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

Plus, on Wednesday, the Commerce Department said gross domestic product, or GDP, which is the largest measure of economic activity we have, increased at a 3% annual rate in the second quarter.

Some journalists jumped on that exciting top-line number, one that seems far more impressive than the first quarters GDP increase of just 0.5%.

But if some of those journalists had taken about 45 seconds to look under that shiny hood, theyd have found a far less impressive rebound than it initially seemed. Heres why: That upward swing in GDP growth came from a massive and fully expected decline in imports, after a massive and fully expected increase in imports in the first quarter in anticipation of tariffs. Lots of money left our economy to bring goods in before the first tariff deadlines in April, so when imports sharply dropped, the smaller resulting trade deficit boosted the GDP growth figure.

But thats not so much evidence of economic prosperity as it is the result of a math equation and how GDP is calculated.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a suspect who is accused of plowing his vehicle into late night revelers outside an East Hollywood nightclub last month.

The alleged gunman, Efrain Villalobos, a resident of Lawndale, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments inmate locator log was arrested Sunday at around 2:15 p.m. by police in Redondo Beach.

Villalobos has been the subject of a manhunt since July 19, the night 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez allegedly drove his car into a large crowd outside a popular nightclub in the 1000 block of North Vermont Avenue, sending 37 people to the hospital.

Efrain Villalobos, 28, of Lawndale, is wanted for allegedly shooting a man who was accused of intentionally driving into a crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub on July 19, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) Efrain Villalobos has multiple tattoos including his last name Villalobos on his right forearm, the phrase, Respect is earned not given on the inner part of his right arm and the name Miabella on his left inner arm. (Los Angeles Police Department) Police are searching for man suspected of shooting a driver who plowed into an East Hollywood nightclub crowd, injuring 36 people on July, 19 2025. (LAPD) Police are searching for man suspected of shooting a driver who plowed into an East Hollywood nightclub crowd, injuring 36 people on July, 19 2025. (LAPD) Police are searching for man suspected of shooting a driver who plowed into an East Hollywood nightclub crowd, injuring 36 people on July, 19 2025. (LAPD) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (okramtattoos) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (okramtattoos) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (RMGNews) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (RMGNews) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (RMGNews)

More than 120 first responders rushed to the scene and treated injuries ranging from minor pains, lacerations to serious fractures and broken bones. Several people who were struck by the car were briefly trapped.

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Fortunately, there were no fatalities.

2 stabbed in violent food court altercation inside Southern California mall

After the crash, cell phone video showed bystanders pulling Ramirez out of his vehicle and repeatedly punching and kicking him.

During the altercation, a gunman, Villalobos, allegedly approached from across the street and shot Ramirez in the lower back. He fled the scene before police arrived.

Ramirez was also taken to the hospital and later arrested. On July 22, he was charged by the L.A. County District Attorneys Office with 37 counts of attempted murder and 37 counts of assault with a deadly weapon. If convicted as charged, he could face multiple sentences of life in prison.

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It is not yet clear what charges Villalobos is facing.

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ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ)  An Altoona woman who was arrested last week has been indicted on federal drug charges along with nine others from Pennsylvania, Michigan and California.

Patti Miller, 59, who police referred to in a recent criminal complaint as Crack Patti, will be facing a federal judge over a multi-state drug ring, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.

Rivetti announced charges against the following people Monday, Aug. 4:

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Christopher Love, 28, Homestead, Pa.

Terrence Spivey, 29, Detroit, Mich.

Jonathan Toledo, 25, Turtle Creek, Pa.

Darren Cooper, 38, Los Angeles, Calif.

Raymone Grier Jr., 24, Detroit, Mich.

Patti Miller, 59, Altoona, Pa.

Calil Francois-Moon 20 Homestead, Pa.

Dolly Mullens, 54, Curwensville, Pa.

Paityn Phears, 24, Los Angeles, Calif.

Joanne Shaw, 37, Warriors Mark, Pa.

Known Altoona dealer charged with womans overdose death, PSP reports

The indictment accuses all actors of conspiring to possess with intent to sell 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, 100 grams or more of para-fluorofentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, 10 grams or more of carfentanil, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine between November 2023 and March 2025.

The accused, other than Mullens, faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and could be sentenced to life. Mullens faces a maximum sentence of 20 years if found guilty.

Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices.

Rivetti noted this was a multi-agency investigation that included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Clearfield Regional Police Department, Altoona Police Department and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

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Last week, Miller was charged in Blair County court after an investigation into the overdose death of Amanda Toohey. You can read more by clicking here.

In addition, Shaw was arrested July 22 in Centre County and charged with drug trafficking. You can read more by clicking here.

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Last month, Amazon purchased around 1,000 acres of land south of Atlanta for possible data center development as the state continues to be at the forefront of the fast-growing industry of digital storage space.

The deal was between a subsidiary of Amazon called Amazon Data Services and High Falls 75 LLC, the developer behind the Legacy 75 Trade Center, on July 25 for $270 million, according to a local news outlet.

The land is located in Lamar County, and while the tech company hasnt publicly disclosed what the land will be used for, it said in a statement to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution that it is eyeing the property for possible data center locations.

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The exact details of Amazons intended development will be presented during upcoming pre-construction meetings with the county. At these meetings, Amazon will clarify their plans, providing greater insight into the nature and scope of their project, said Lamar County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ryran Traylor in a statement.

We recognize that industrial developments can impact surrounding properties, and we are committed to ensuring that this new project brings the minimal possible disruption to neighboring areas and Lamar County as a whole, Traylor said.

Data centers, which are warehouses filled with computers, help to store, process, and manage data and applications on a large scale. These centers are utilized by companies like banks, online retailers, streaming platforms, and tech companies like Microsoft and Google.

In 2024, the city of Atlanta became the top place in the country for the most leasing activity of data centers and was also the city with the second-largest amount of active data center space, according to real estate services firm CBRE.

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Earlier this year, Amazon announced that it plans to invest $11 billion into data center development in Georgia.

Environmental advocates and lawmakers alike have raised concerns about the ramifications of the states unprecedented boom of data centers due to possible hikes these centers could cause in utility bills for residents and their overall massive energy and water use.

Read More: Black Voters Deliver PSC Win to Hubbard, Who Promises Not to Raise Power Bills

Science for Georgia, an advocacy group, estimates that as of February, all the current and planned data centers in the state would require the same amount of energy that it takes to power around 3.9 million homes.

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Data centers also need water to operate so that air conditioning can continuously run to keep the computers inside the facility from overheating. Science for Georgia estimates that all current data centers in the state require around 27 billion gallons of water a year to operate.

In June, Atlanta leaders expanded existing restrictions and limitations on data center development in the city by strengthening zoning restrictions and requiring developers to seek a special-use permit from the city before construction.

And earlier this year during Georgias 2025 legislative session, Senate Bill 34, proposed by state Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, set out to protect residents from high energy bill costs created by data centers, but it failed to pass.

As utility bills continue to rise, Black residents face some of the highest consequences as they already experience disproportionately high energy burdens due to less energy-efficient homes, historic disinvestment, and discrimination.

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It seems to me that given that water rates and electric rates are going to keep increasing, it will place a heavier burden on Black people and others who have a hard time making ends meet, Chris Manganiello, the water policy director for the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, told Capital B Atlanta in March.

Read More: Americas Digital Demand Threatens Black Communities with More Pollution

The post Amazons $270 Million Land Deal Sparks Data Center Concerns in Georgia appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
US manufacturer B&G Foods has sold its Le Sueur brand, known for premium sweet peas, green beans, and carrots, to McCall Farms.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The company will utilise the proceeds to repay long-term debt, according to a statement on 1 August.

It will also use the proceeds to buy assets for its business, and cover taxes, fees, and expenses associated with the sale.

The transaction excludes the Le Sueur brand in Canada.

Casey Keller, president and CEO of B&G Foods, said the move will sharpen focus on our core brands, adding Le Sueur brand has performed very well under its ownership.

The sale follows B&G Foods divestiture in May of its Don Pepino and Sclafani brands, offering pizza, pasta sauces, and canned tomatoes, to Violet Foods, a portfolio company of Aphora Equity Partners.

The deal included B&G Foods manufacturing facility in Williamstown, New Jersey, where the brands products are produced.

B&G Foods recorded $320m in impairment charges in 2024, described as related to intangible trademark assets for its Green Giant, Victoria, Static Guard, and McCanns brands.

These charges contributed to the companys deeper financial losses last year.

In its fiscal 2025 outlook, B&G Foods initially projected net sales of $1.89bn to $1.95bn, with adjusted EBITDA of $290m to $300m and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.65 to $0.75.

However, in May, the company revised its guidance downward, forecasting net sales of $1.86bn to $1.91bn, adjusted EBITDA of $280m to $290m, and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.55 to $0.65.

This followed a first-quarter report showing a 10.5% decline in total net sales to $425.4m.

In the Frozen & Vegetable segment, which included Le Sueur, net sales fell 11.2% year-on-year.

"B&G Foods offloads Le Sueur brand to McCall Farms" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




After an community information session and public hearing, the Lamar County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a plan for Amazon to develop a nearly 1,000 acre site on the west side of Interstate 75.

Amazon Data Services, a subsidiary of the larger Amazon company, bought the 984.89 acre site on July 25, according to officials.

Following the sale, the Lamar County Joint Planning Commission held a community information session and a public hearing.

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Afterward, the Board of Commissioners voted to approve the rezoning application for the site, though Commission Chairman Ryran Traylor said there were specific recommendations made for doing so.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

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In a statement shared by Traylor with Channel 2 Action News, the commission chair said the property is strategically located off High Falls Park Road near Exit 198, offering access for industrial use due to its proximity to the interstate.

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A pre-construction meeting with county officials is supposed to happen soon and Amazon is expected to provide development details and clarify their plans, providing greater insight into the nature and scope of their project, according to Traylor.

While details were not immediately available about the use of the site, the company said there was potential for a data center to be developed in Lamar County.

Speaking to Channel 2 Action News, an Amazon spokesman said We are constantly evaluating new locations based on customer demand. We recently purchased land in Lamar County, Georgia and are performing due diligence in exploring possible data center locations.

Moving forward, the potential data center would be roughly an hour south of Atlanta, based on the location of High Falls Park Road.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  An American Airlines flight from New York to Charlotte was diverted to Philadelphia Sunday evening.

The airline says flight AA3221 was diverted due to a possible mechanical issue.

Thankfully, the plan landed safely and the maintenance team is conducting an inspection of the aircraft.

We never want to disrupt our customers travel plans and we apologize for the inconvenience, the airline said in a statement to Queen City News.

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The flight has been rescheduled to arrive in Charlotte at 12:04 a.m., according to FlightAware.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The controversy keeps on growing regarding American Eagles now-viral ad campaign  which declares Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.

The play on words jeans and genes throughout the ads have led many to criticise the homonym implication, with some going so far as to label the advertisements as Nazi and glorifying white supremacy.

One of the campaigns most polarising clips features the 27-year-old actress saying: Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.

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Check out our explainer on the Sydney Sweeney controversy.

Some reactions to the controversy have gone viral, while US conservatives have seized on the indignation to blast woke advertising. The White House even got involved, with communications director Steven Cheung writing online: Cancel culture run amok. This warped, moronic and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. Theyre tired of this bullshit.

Now, the US fashion retailer has finally responded to the backlash surrounding its campaign featuring the Euphoria and White Lotus actress.

Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story, they posted on Instagram. Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.

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This message marked the first time the retailer responded to days of backlash, and it remains unclear if the company was purposefully courting controversy with the ads.

On the same day that American Eagle issued its statement, vice president JD Vance defended the campaign, saying: My political advice to the Democrats is continue to tell everybody who thinks Sydney Sweeney is attractive is a Nazi. That appears to be their actual strategy.

He continued: I mean, it actually reveals something pretty interesting about the Dems though, which is that you have a normal all-American beautiful girl doing like a normal jeans ad. Theyre trying to sell jeans to kids in America and they have managed to so unhinge themselves over this thing. And its like, did you learn nothing from the November 2024 election?

I actually thought that one of the lessons they might take is were going to be less crazy.," added Vance. "And the lesson they have apparently taken is were going to attack people as Nazis for thinking Sydney Sweeney is beautiful. Great strategy, guys! Thats how youre going to win the midterms! Especially [with] young American men. So much of the Democrats is oriented around hostility to basic American life. So you have a pretty girl doing a jeans ad and they cant help but freak out. It reveals a lot more about them than it does us.

Still, the backlash continues... Even those who dismiss the take that the ads promote eugenics are still feeling uncomfortable with the campaign being used to raise awareness for domestic violence.

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The term tone deaf has been doing the rounds.

Sydney Sweeney at a special screening of "Americana" on Sunday 3 August 2025 in Los Angeles - AP Photo

Sydney Sweeney has yet to address the controversy  something which some of her fans find troubling.

Not helping things is the fact that Sweeneys Republican voter registration has been revealed.

A viral post on X claimed that the actress was a registered member of the party, something subsequently confirmed by several news outlets, including the Guardian.

Indeed, the actress is registered as a Republican voter in Florida. She registered to vote on 14 June 2024 - weeks after Donald Trump was convicted in New York City of criminal falsification of business records and a few months before he won a second US presidency.

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This has galvanised those who were already slamming Sweeney in 2022 for posting a series of photos from her mothers surprise birthday party, in which guests wore MAGA hats.

Faced with growing criticism, Sweeney issued a statement on social media at the time, pleading with the public to stop making assumptions.

An innocent celebration has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention, added Sweeney.

Regardless (or most likely because of) the Sweeney campaign controversy, the market value of AEO has increased by $400 million since the 23 July launch.
American Eagle has responded to the widespread backlash over its ads featuring actor Sydney Sweeney, but noticeably missing from the brands statement was an apology or any real acknowledgement of how so many people interpreted the ads.

The company, as well as Sweeney, have come under fire since the release of a new ad campaign that features the Euphoria actor saying that genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color, and my jeans are blue.

Many people believe the wordplay in the campaign, which features the tagline Sydney Sweeney has great jeans, promotes the idea that Eurocentric features are more valuable and desirable.

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In response, American Eagle released a statement on Friday on Instagram defending its campaign. Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story, the statement read. Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.

American Eagles posted statement spurred a wide range of reactions in the comment section. Many criticized the brand for ignoring the fact that it had clearly used jeans as a double entendre for genes.

So now jeans are passed down from parents to offspring? one commenter wrote, adding, it was never about jeans.

So what is the correlation between Jeans and eye color again? wrote another.

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Others celebrated the company for its unapologetic tone, saying American Eagles response indicated the end of the woke era because the brand didnt cave to a liberal meltdown.

Dont cater to the woke  keep making great denim AE, one Instagram user wrote.

American Eagle did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment on the mixed responses to its statement on Instagram.

But the discourse surrounding the American Eagle/Sweeney controversy has been largely divided along political lines. Prominent conservatives like former Fox News host Megyn Kelly and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have passionately defended the campaign, despite critics concerns that it promotes eugenics.

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On Monday, President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the campaign was the HOTTEST ad out there.

Regardless of how anyone feels about the ad, American Eagles decision to double down amid backlash reveals a lot about our current political climate, according to experts in political science.

American Eagles response minimized, undermined and ignored the criticism about the ad, experts say.

T Smith, a postdoctoral fellow in racial politics at Johns Hopkins Universitys Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, said that American Eagles response to the backlash goes beyond merely doubling down.

It actively undermines the idea that there was anything harmful or worthy of critique in the first place, Smith told HuffPost. By framing the campaign as a wholesome story merely about jeans (and not genes) and refusing to acknowledge the detriment of their messaging, they participate in normalizing and reinforcing the very hierarchies  which are rooted in white supremacist logics  that the ad evoked.

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This kind of erasure functions to prop up eugenicist and racial hierarchy ideals as if they are normal, apolitical, and above examination, they continued. That isnt a passive avoidance. It is an attempt to preserve those power structures as a cultural baseline immune from challenge.

Tabitha Bonilla, an associate professor of political science and human development and social policy at Northwestern University, told HuffPost that she believes it seemed as though American Eagle more or less brushed the criticism off rather than directly address it or let those with negative reactions know that they have been heard.

They effectively tried to reuse their message about great jeans to say they looked good on everyone, and in this both minimized and ignored criticism that they were playing into eugenic tropes about who has good genes, she said.

What American Eagles response says about our current political climate.

Smith emphasized that Trumps response to the ads in itself says quite a lot.

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The companys refusal to apologize shows that corporate power continues to function as a stabilizing force for a capitalist, white supremacist, and patriarchal order, they said, before adding that capitalism has always depended on the elevation of whiteness as the default and the ideal.

Smith said that American Eagles refusal to engage its critics goes beyond avoiding controversy. Capitalism doesnt merely ignore white supremacist ideology, they said. It relies on it, rebrands it, and sells it back to us under the guise of fashion.

Sydney Sweeney photographed on Aug. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz via Getty Images

Furthermore, Smith thinks American Eagles response was deeply insulting and profoundly patronizing to the public.

Hierarchical, eugenicist, and sexualized messaging are not required to sell jeans, they said. This was deliberate. The messaging was intentional, and so was the denial of its implications.

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Bonilla said that in our current political climate, theres been a lot of discussion among Democrats about whether the Kamala Harris campaign spent too much time on diversity and inclusion and whether these messages made Democrats lose voters to Trump  though she noted that theres a lot of disagreement about this issue.

Nonetheless, she pointed out that the controversy surrounding the ad campaign is happening [against] the backdrop of attacks on DEI and education around race specifically and identity generally.

So unlike in 2020, when people and companies were more likely to be sensitive to issues of prejudice, we are seeing almost the opposite of that response where people feel less beholden to ideas of equality, she said.

How American Eagles response mightve been different five years ago.

I do think there has been a shift in how public entities are responding when thinking about identity [more] broadly, Bonilla said. People are emboldened to minimize (and at times antagonize) others based on race or other identities. In 2020, there was a push for people and corporations to be more thoughtful and careful about identity and inclusion, but since Trumps election in 2024, some companies have rushed to end DEI programs, and there appears to be effort to distance oneself from DEI efforts.

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Smith said that companies nowadays may not even see the performance of care to be necessary.

Five years ago, a brand like American Eagle might have issued a vague statement about listening and learning not out of conviction, but because the cultural moment demanded at least the performance of care, they said. That performance is no longer seen as necessary.

Smith emphasized that were seeing a reversal of the so-called racial reckoning.

By refusing to address the racist implications of their campaign, American Eagle is actively normalizing and reifying white supremacist narratives and the notion that white people  namely those [with] blonde hair and blue eyes  are inherently and unequivocally more valuable, they said.

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And Smith believes that the companys response signals a broader political movement where complicity with racist ideas has become an unspoken corporate strategy.

Brands, overall, are no longer afraid to align themselves, whether overtly or tacitly, with exclusionary and harmful ideologies because doing so sustains existing power structures and appeals to a particular segment of consumers, they said.

Smith said demands for accountability and change are more urgent than ever.

Related...
(NewsNation)  The industries that help keep food on Americans tables and goods on the move have been given a major blow to their operations, and those effects could soon hit consumers.

One of the biggest issues facing farmers is the current storm of rising debt. According to the Department of Agriculture, farm sector debt is expected to reach $561.8 billion, up nearly 4% from 2024.

Farmers have said the rising costs for foreign importers have lowered foreign demand, leading to more price reductions on Americas agricultural exports. Theyve said they cannot survive on low crop prices with input costs at an all-time high.

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Trump tariffs and grocery prices: What to know

A bigger challenge facing the industry is a vanishing workforce, often due to recent immigration raids. The labor shortage for U.S. farmers is expected to exceed 400,000 jobs.

When questioned about support for farmers, President Donald Trump spoke of the love they have for their jobs.

A lot of these farmers dont make a lot of money, but its a way of life for them and they love that way of life and they love that dirt, Trump said. They dont know how to do anything else, and they dont want to do anything else.

Homeowners taking houses off market as buyers refuse higher prices

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Despite the debt and workforce challenges that are testing their approval of Trump, roughly 70% of U.S. farmers believe Trumps tariffs will ultimately strengthen the agricultural industry, according to a recent poll from Purdue University. Others maintain tariffs will be bad news for the industry.

The trucking industry is facing its own challenges, such as the overall demand for freight, which is below historical averages.

The industry has also been hit with rising fuel prices and a shortage of truck drivers.

A California-based trucking company recently closed its operations after 40 years due to the continued struggles it faced.

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The ripple effect for consumers could include higher prices on goods at the grocery store and fewer items on shelves.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Roughly two years after the developers announced plans to construct a Disney-level attraction in Vinita, Oklahoma, investors now say the effort to build American Heartland Theme Park has "fallen apart."

Though the theme park would've brought attention to the northeast corner of the state, it wasn't the only big-ticket attraction coming to Oklahoma.

Announced in December 2023, the Boardwalk at Bricktown development caught national attention and appears to have slowed, which was expected to start construction in 2024, but has yet to have any permits filed with the city.

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After the news broke that American Heartland's lead investor filed a lawsuit against the park's developers and the project was apparently kaput, posters on social media were quick to ask if the Boardwalk at Bricktown project might meet the same fate.

Here's where the project stands today.

Legends Tower marked to be tallest in nation

The height of Legends Tower is set to be 1,907 feet tall, surpassing the One World Trade Center in New York City.

When the tower was announced, the Federal Aviation Administration opposed the tower's height, following warnings from local airports, pilots, and at least one airline that it would jeopardize flight operations in the area.

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Julie Morgan, manager of the FAAs Obstruction Evaluation Group in Fort Worth, notified developer Scot 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."

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"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."

Nonetheless, developers said that they are working through some of the threats that the FAA has raised.

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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."

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.

Developer says 'there's more to come' for the tower's future

In a statement to The Oklahoman, Matteson said the project has not been abandoned and instead is still being developed.

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Matteson also said there has been talk about "doing more" and expanding the project.

"There's more to come, that's all I can say," Matteson told The Oklahoman in July.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: American Heartland theme park falls apart: Is Legends Tower still on?
NEED TO KNOW

Three prisoners escaped from a prison in Grenada in 2024 and hijacked a boat occupied by an American couple, and killed them before throwing the victims overboard

The ringleader, Ron Mitchell, received two life sentences, and two other men received 50-plus year sentences

The victims, Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, were described as experienced and beloved sailors, who were spending the winter cruising the Caribbean

Three men who escaped from a prison on the island nation of Grenada and murdered an elderly U.S. couple aboard their boat while they traveled between Grenada and St. Vincent were sentenced to prison last week.

Ron Mitchell, a sailor in his 30s and the ringleader of the attack, received two life sentences for the murders of Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71, according to the AP.

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Trevon Robertson, a man in his early 20s, received 56 years for manslaughter and additional sentences for other crimes, the outlet reported.

Atiba Stanislaus, a farmer in his 20s, received 60 years for manslaughter and an additional 18 years for the rape of Brandel, along with other sentences for other crimes including kidnapping.

On Feb. 18, 2024, the three men escaped from prison and hijacked the boat the couple was on and threw them overboard, authorities said, the AP reported. The three men were arrested in St. Vincent.

Jessica Mause/GoFundMe

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.



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The couple, described by fellow sailors as devout Christians and experienced cruisers, were known to be cautious at sea. As longtime members of the tight-knit Salty Dawg Sailing Association, they had joined a rally in the fall of 2023, sailing from Hampton, Va., to Antigua.

They were always willing to give help to anyone in need, they were very giving people, family friend Will Knoll, who sailed with them on the rally, recalls in an interview with PEOPLE. Its just a tragedy that this would occur to them.

The bodies of Hendry and Brandel were never found.

Read the original article on People
Next month, beauty brand Ami Cole will shutter, marking an unfortunate reality for many Black-owned businesses  what happens when financial interest dries up?

Founder Diarrha NDiaye-Mbayes July announcement, which she detailed for The Cut, shocked many across the beauty space.

In the piece, NDiaye-Mbaye outlined the journey of starting her business, from growing up in her mothers Harlem braiding salon to pitching Ami Cole  known for their innovation in lip oils and shade-inclusive makeup  to over 150 investors in 2019. After a surge in support for Black entrepreneurship following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, NDiaye-Mbaye said she received more interest in the brand, becoming one of 30 Black women to raise $1 million for her start-up within months.

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But four years after her official launch, NDiaye-Mbaye said growth at Sephora couldnt compete with corporate brands, and scaling up production to meet potential demand came at a steep cost when online influence fluctuated.

Instead of focusing on the healthy, sustainable future of the company and meeting the needs of our loyal fan base, NDiaye-Mbaye wrote, I rode a temperamental wave of appraising investors  some of whom seemed to have an attitude toward equity and betting big on inclusivity that changed its tune a lot, to my ears, from what it sounded like in 2020.

This sentiment isnt unique among Black entrepreneurs. Five years after venture capital firms, investors and consumers alike followed a wave of support for Black-owned businesses, interest in diverse brands has waned significantly. Through TikTok and other social media platforms, access to an audience has never been greater, but the capital needed to sustain brands at a high profile has dropped off.

Diarrha NDiaye-Mbaye, Founder and CEO of Ami Cole speaks at an event on October 15, 2022 in New York City. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

Nationally, there has been a societal swing  in tandem with pressure from President Donald Trumps administration  against intentional incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in creators paths, with waning urgency to support these businesses en masse. And the amount of money flowing to Black-founded companies has hit a multiyear low, according to the business publication Crunchbase News. Only $730 million  0.4 percent of all funding  went to startups with a Black founder or co-founder last year, down more than two-thirds from 2021. The startups that did receive funding were mostly in the tech or health spaces.

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Esthetician and beauty influencer Tiara Willis said she has noticed that cultural shift in support over the last five years. Brands rushed to onboard diverse creators in the summer of 2020. Now, the long-term partnerships, increased shade ranges and targeted marketing seem to have wavered. NDiaye-Mbayes struggle to meet demand as influencers promoted her products is something that would have been covered by investors who were in it for the long haul, Willis said.

She pointed to celebrity founders like Hailey Bieber, whose Rhode makeup and skin care brand began with millions of dollars to swing big while starting her business. Rhode was acquired by e.l.f Beauty for $1 billion in May.

They rarely ever start by themselves, like the rest of us do  they already have someone on their team, Willis told The 19th. Trying to build your own brand while trying to compete with companies who are able to launch products every two seconds, and are able to fill retail space and have less obstacles than brands like Ami Cole  its not entirely surprising she wasnt able to keep up.

Black creators voiced concern immediately following NDiaye-Mbayes announcement, calling her brands shuttering disheartening and indicative of larger trends in the Black beauty space. Being able to trust that a brand like Ami Cole would have inclusive shade ranges and products by virtue of their leadership made shopping simpler, some said on social media.

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Sephora store shelves reflect a mad dash to support Ami Cole and restock on favorites before the brand officially closes in September. Sales associates told The 19th that the lip oils had sold out online and in store immediately following the announcement, though the demand for other products has slowed since.

But consumers should not feel the pressure to support Black-owned businesses when the larger issue is who has access to capital and investors, some creators pointed out. The issue isnt the lack of customers, Javon Ford, a cosmetic chemist and entrepreneur, said in a recent TikTok video.

That is not a sustainable business model. The issue is money. Its capital. Operating in a retailer like Sephora is expensive, Ford said. Thats how cutthroat retail is when you scale to a certain extent, and this is also why exit strategies are important, because its really hard to keep up with legacy brands.

Willis echoed the unstable environment in which Black influencers like herself find themselves: It creates financial insecurity, where I get the most support of brands based on whats going on in the news, versus getting support because of my work and my talent and the things I provide to the table.

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The post Ami Cole is closing. The brands story has implications for the Black beauty industry. appeared first on The 19th.

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Climate change reports, deleted. DEI initiatives, banned. Local TV and radio stations, defunded.

Books, removed from military academies. Names of civil rights leaders, erased from ships. History lessons, purged from museums.

The list goes on and on. President Trump and his government appointees keep asserting more control over ideas and information  which has the effect of taking power away from independent researchers, historians, and the real news outlets that he frequently calls fake.

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Fridays abrupt firing of the labor statistics chief is one of the most dramatic examples yet.

But this push for control has been evident all throughout his second term  and the individual headlines should be analyzed as part of a pattern, lest the memories start to fade.

Remember the headlines about vaccine data being deleted from government websites last winter? Or the bogus math on DOGEs receipts page? How about the Friday night purge of impartial watchdogs investigating abuse within the government?

Trump increasingly is playing the role of information gatekeeper, Clay Calvert of the American Enterprise Institute wrote a prophetic blog post back in February.

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Calvert said Trump was dictating access on his terms  promoting MAGA media outlets while punishing The Associated Press for not adopting Trumps Gulf of America name.

That AP dispute was about control over information. So, too, was the Trump White Houses decision to purge a database of transcripts documenting his announcements and public appearances.

The president has also objected to unflattering stories by lodging legal threats against news outlets. In one recent case, he followed through with a defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, which analysts said could have a chilling effect on reporting writ large.

The White House has framed some of its most aggressive rewrites and removals as common-sense corrections. Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History was the title of one such executive order in March.

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Another move to shut down a reliable source of information, the US-funded international broadcaster known as Voice of America, was framed by the administration as a way to curtail radical propaganda. One of the alleged examples was a six-year-old news report about transgender migrants seeking asylum in the United States.

This is really scary stuff

Every administration tries to shape reality to some degree. But Trumps statistical purges have been faster and more sweeping  picking off not just select factoids but entire troves of public information, the Washington Post asserted in March.

One glaring example involves the National Climate Assessment, a congressionally mandated report on climate change. The authors of the assessment were fired and previous versions have been hidden from view on government websites, as CNNs Zachary B. Wolf wrote last week.

Trumps dispute with the Bureau of Labor Statistics further raises the stakes  and the alarms about creeping authoritarianism.

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Suppressing statisticians is a time-honored tool for leaders trying to solidify their power and stifle dissent, George Stephanopoulos said on ABCs This Week on Sunday. Its happened throughout history, most recently in Venezuela and Turkey.

His guest, Lawrence Summers, the former treasury secretary, said that firing statisticians goes with threatening the heads of newspapers. It goes with launching assaults on universities. It goes with launching assaults on law firms.

This is really scary stuff, Summers added.

Yet some Trump aides and allies are publicly defending the firing. National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said Monday morning on CNBC that the jobs data could be politically manipulated.

Media scrutiny still matters

This battle for control isnt happening in a vacuum. There is evidence that media scrutiny and public pressure do make a difference.

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Back in March, the Associated Press revealed that an anti-DEI crusade at the Pentagon led to images of war heroes, women, minorities and even the famed Enola Gay warplane being flagged for removal. The embarrassing episode forced Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths aides into a defensive crouch.

Similarly, just last week, the Washington Post reported on the Smithsonian removing Trumps name from an impeachment exhibit at the National Museum of American History.

The whiff of scandal was so overwhelming that the museum issued a statement on Saturday denying any White House pressure and pledging to update the exhibit in the coming weeks.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa  An Ankeny man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to plow through the Independence Day parade held last month in West Des Moines.

According to court records, at around 7 p.m. on July 3 Westcom Dispatch received a 911 call from a man complaining about the traffic from the parade and claimed that there wasnt adequate traffic direction by the police department. During the call, the man, identified as 23-year-old Ascher Urquhart-McDonald, kept questioning dispatch about the traffic, and then told dispatch that theres a big crowd of people and a bunch of police officers that Im about to go plowing into if I dont get answers, court records state.

Family sues Roblox after Iowa girls kidnapping and sexual abuse

The West Des Moines Police Department announced on Monday that Urquhart-McDonald had been arrested and charged in connection to the 911 call. He now faces one count of threat of terrorism and is being held in the Polk County Jail on a $5,000 cash/surety bond.

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Police said that no acts of violence occurred during the parade or subsequent holiday celebration.

Safety is at the front of the line when we are planning these large events, Sgt. Dan Wade with the WDPD said. We look at the logistics of previous events here in West Des Moines. We also look at lessons learned from other events across the country.

Planning is already underway for the 2026 July 4th celebrations, which includes the relocation of the fireworks display to the Jordan Creek Town Center.

Metro news

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
By Pritam Biswas

(Reuters) -Class A shares of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway fell more than 3% in afternoon trading on Monday, as investors fretted over a $3.8 billion write-down and a dip in quarterly operating profit that the firm disclosed on Saturday.

The write-down of Berkshire Hathaway's 27.4% stake in Kraft Heinz, its second for the company, reflects a significant decline in the value of the investment.

Berkshire had taken a $3 billion write-down in Kraft Heinz in 2019. The conglomerate is still the largest shareholder of the food and beverage firm, as per data compiled by LSEG. Kraft Heinz, which is ranked 8th in Berkshire's portfolio by market value, has faced challenges as more consumers turn to healthier options and private-label products.

The conglomerate also reported a 4% dip in operating income, which fell from $11.6 billion the year earlier, as underwriting premiums fell and trade policy uncertainties hurt most of Berkshire's consumer businesses over delayed orders and shipments.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based company, which has not repurchased any shares since May 2024, indicated it remains cautious about market valuations amid ongoing uncertainty over tariffs and economic growth.

"The investment vehicle has stopped building up its cash pile, to end a run of eleven straight quarters that began in the third quarter of 2022 and doubled the amount of liquidity available," Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said.

Mould painted this as a worry for Berkshire in the long run.

SUCCESSION WOES

Class A shares of the company, which have gained about 2% in 2025, lagged the benchmark S&P 500 index. The stock shed gains since Buffett's announcement in May to step down as the CEO of the conglomerate at the end of the year, compared to a broader market rally.

Buffett, 94, has led the company for over five decades. Greg Abel, now a Berkshire vice chairman, is set to take up the mantle later in the year.

"The share price continues to slide, even as the U.S. stock market rallies, to perhaps suggest that investors are yet to convince themselves that Berkshire Hathaway will be the same without Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger as it was with them in charge," Mould said.

Charlie Munger, the long-time vice chairman of Berkshire and the right-hand man of Buffett, passed away in 2023 at the age of 99.

Berkshire's Class B shares were also down 3.3% in afternoon trading.

(Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
Texas Democrats fled the state over the weekend to stop a Republican proposal redrawing the states congressional maps. But their exit has also temporarily halted other conservative priorities for the special session  including new abortion restrictions and a bathroom bill that would ban transgender people from using public restrooms that match their gender.

When Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives left the state this weekend, it denied lawmakers the two-thirds quorum needed to proceed with legislative work. That move came after a House committee voted to approve the new congressional maps, a plan  crafted on President Donald Trumps request  that would likely flip five Democratic seats to favor Republicans. The redistricting effort has set off a national arms race as Democratic governors, including in New York and California, discuss changing their states congressional maps heading into the 2026 midterms.

Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened state Democrats with removal from office if they dont return to Austin. But its not clear if or how he could enforce that threat. Breaking quorum is not a crime, and whether those lawmakers could be forced out of their seats is a question likely to be settled in the courts.

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Although the redistricting effort has taken center stage in the ongoing special legislative session, Abbott tasked lawmakers with a host of other priorities. Time may be running out: The special session began July 21, and ends after no more than 30 days. Already, some are considering the possibility of lawmakers returning to the capital for a second special session to tackle now derailed items like further abortion restrictions and the anti-trans bill.

Following pressure from state and national anti-abortion activists, Abbott asked for legislation that would have let private citizens sue health providers for mailing or prescribing abortion medication to patients in Texas  an effort to block health care from groups like Aid Access, an organization through which medical professionals in other states prescribe and mail abortion pills to people living under bans. A similar proposal failed to make it in time to the House floor in the final days of the states regular lawmaking session earlier this year.

Abortion is already nearly completely outlawed in Texas and 11 other states; several more restrict abortion at various points in pregnancy. But thousands of patients have circumvented their state ban by ordering pills online to take at home. The practice is medically safe and effective but has frustrated abortion opponents, who say that the telehealth option has undercut their efforts to end abortion in their states. About 1 in 5 abortions nationally are done through telehealth, and half of those are for people living in states with bans.

Attorney General Ken Paxton has already launched a civil lawsuit against New York-based Dr. Margaret Carpenter of New York for mailing abortion pills to a Texas patient; a Texas court has found her guilty, but her home state has declined to enforce the ruling. Another Texan, a man named Jerry Rodriguez, has sued California-based Dr. Remy Coeytaux for allegedly mailing abortion medication to Rodriguezs girlfriend.

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Abbott also put on the agenda a bill that would ban trans people from using public restrooms that match their genders. The legislation would cover spaces such as restrooms, locker rooms, gym showers and changing rooms, influencing shared spaces in schools, state-contracted domestic violence shelters, correctional facilities and higher education facilities. If enacted, the bill would make Texas the largest state with such restrictions.

The bathroom bill received a Senate committee hearing Monday. But the abortion bill has not yet been introduced in the state legislature. And another top priority is waiting for lawmaker action: addresing the Kerr County floods, which have resulted in more than 100 deaths, per state tallies, including more than two dozen campers and counselors from the all-girls Camp Mystic. No legislation addressing the issue has been voted out of committee for a full vote in either legislative chamber.

Still, some in the state, including prominent anti-abortion activists, said they have confidence their proposals will pass, if not in these next two weeks, then in another targeted special session.

We definitely acknowledge the political hurdles for the bill at this point, but this is a priority for the governor, this is a priority for Republican leadership. So we still think there is a way to get this bill passed, said John Seago, the head of Texas Right to Life, a chief proponent of the abortion medication bill. It may take longer than expected but we have no reason to believe this will be the end of our bill on abortion pills.

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The Texas governor has the power to call legislators back for special sessions to address key priorities. In 2023, the last time lawmakers met, Abbott called the legislature for four special sessions, in an effort to pass bills on school vouchers and immigration enforcement. In 2021, he called three special sessions. That year, Democrats temporarily broke quorum in an effort to block a voting restrictions bill. After six weeks, three Democrats returned to the state, enough to let legislating continue.

Ultimately the priorities the governor stays dedicated to will get passed, Seago said.

The post How anti-abortion and anti-trans bills are impacted by Texas Democrats fleeing the state appeared first on The 19th.

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HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. (DC News Now)  As summer winds down, it marks the first of several concert performances in the region to celebrate a change of seasons.

The musicians performing bring a very special brand of talent to the stage as this week marks the fifth annual Appalachian Chamber Music Festival.

Frederick Keys baseball franchise renews affiliation with Baltimore Orioles

The festival will feature more than a dozen performances at scenic venues in Northern Virginia and West Virginias eastern panhandle.

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This is all to create community, Katie Tertell said. We really feel a connection with the audience who come to our concerts, but also we have these incredible artists who come from all over the country and all over the world.

Artists like Rachelle Hunt divides her time between the U.S. and performing with a symphony in Frankfort, Germany.

Amazing musicians come here every year from all over the world, Hunt said. Thats what makes it really special.

Violinist Martin Gwilym Jones is coming to perform from the United Kingdom.

Weve got something for everyone, Bach, Mozart, all the way through contemporary America, Jones said.

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Rural letter carriers concerned 250 years of service could be on chopping block in Jefferson County

Tertell said the special theme for the upcoming concerts is celebrating the history, culture and nature of the region.

The concert series kicks off Thursday evening at the 868 Estate Vineyards in Purcellville, Va.

On Friday evening, there will be free performances at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

More information is available at here.

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Fort Mill community rallies against Silfab Solars proposed facility

People packed a Fort Mill courtroom Monday in support of a lawsuit aimed at stopping a proposed solar facility, which is a case Silfab Solar is trying to get dismissed.

Former Silfab Solar employee alleges safety hazards, wrongful termination

Silfab is appealing the Board of Zoning Appeals ruling that solar panel manufacturing is banned in a light industrial district, which is what the company is in.

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Opponents of the manufacturer argued Monday that the judge should dismiss the appeal

Fort Mill students are back in class but instead of excitement in the air, there was tension as half-an-hour away, a judge heard arguments that some parents hope will power down Silfab Solar, which is the neighbor of Flint Hill Elementary and Middle schools.

The fact we have chemical manufacturing next to where kids learn their multiplication tables is disturbing and troubling, said parent Brandon Langford.

Langford was one of more than a dozen opponents in the courtroom as their attorney, Cameron Holford, argued the judge should dismiss Silfab Solars appeal.

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The land use here, its zoned light industrial, Holford said. It always has been.

Silfab is challenging the Board of Zoning Appeals unanimous decision that solar panel manufacturing is not allowed in areas zoned as light industrial.

Silfab said the board didnt have the authority to review this. It says solar panel manufacturing is allowed either as computer or electronic products manufacturing or electrical equipment manufacturing. Both are permitted uses.

Holford and opponents of Silfab dont buy that.

They have marched forward with millions in construction at the site for a use that is not permitted by code, Holford said.

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There shouldnt be hazardous materials next to two schools and up to 2,000 school children, opponent Frank Clancey said. I mean, they are our most valuable commodity.

York County has previously said the BZA decision wouldnt stop operations at Silfab but this ruling could have implications for the future.

In court, the attorney for York County said they are operating as Switzerland in this matter and staying neutral. The judge is considering the arguments and will make a decision in the coming weeks.

VIDEO: Silfab Solar picks up violations before official opening
A 40,000 appeal has been launched to repair and safeguard one of Wales' best-known piers.

The Friends of Garth Pier in Bangor, Gwynedd, want to complete essential work on the 1896-built pier's substructure in order to "protect it for generations to come".

The 1,500-ft (457m) Grade II-listed structure, the second longest pier in Wales, boasts views over the Menai Strait, Anglesey, Llandudno and the mountains of Eryri, also known as Snowdonia.

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In 2022 it was also named the National Piers Society's pier of the year, with judges saying it "boasts the best panorama of views of any pier in the UK".

Having faced threats of demolition over the years, it is owned and maintained by Bangor city council, who bought the pier for 1p in 1975.

A 1mrestoration programme to restore parts of the structure was completed in 2022, with pier supporters noting these latest works would form the last phase of the project.

Vanessa Hawkins says she is "very excited" to get the pier finished [BBC]

Vice chairwoman of Friends of Garth Pier, Vanessa Hawkins, said the 40,000 from the appeal would be matched with funding from the city council.

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"The substructure isn't a very exciting part as its underneath the planks, so you can't see it, but its vitally important to keep it safe," she said.

Medwyn Hughes, the mayor of Bangor, is confident that the 40,000 will be raised [BBC]

"The pier has always been a place that local people come to for fun, the children come to crab... its really important to the community and a lovely place to be," she said.

She said the current renovation process started in 2017 as the substructure had not been touched since the pier's previous reopening in 1988.

"Since then Bangor city council has spent 2.2m on the substructure, and now we just have the last two phases to finish out of six in total.

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"We're very excited that just 40,000, with council match funding, will get this finished."

On a wet and windy Monday morning the city's mayor Medwyn Hughes said he was confident the target would be reached.

"The climate is changing, the environment isn't favourable to a structure like this so the plan is that we strengthen the structure underneath the platform," he said.

"A day like today is about showing that we need the money to do that."

"We've completed three quarters of the work, this is the last quarter to make it safe for the next 25 years," he added.

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"The residents of Bangor have put their hands in their pockets over many years... its part of our history and heritage.

"The pier is the attraction as far as I'm concerned, we had over 100,000 visitors last year which is quite a number.

"Last week we had a couple from Hungary who found the pier were thrilled to bits with the place.

"Its a fantastic place to come."
Heres what youll learn when you read this story:

Archeologists discovered a clay seal stamped with the name of a biblical figure.

The style of the writing on the seal dates the artifact back to the First Temple period 2,600 years ago.

Experts believe the seal belonged to the son of Asayahu, one of King Josiah of Judahs senior officials.

This story is a collaboration with Biography.com.



Before drivers licenses and social media handles, seals were a primary method of identification. They helped prevent theft, marked property, and showed ownership when they were bound to goods like wine and oil. For modern historians, seals are the perfect stamp (literally) of chronology in ancient studies. And our understanding of the ancient world just got a little more complex, as archaeologists unearthed a clay seal thats 2,600 years old and marked with a Hebrew name. Perhaps even more incredibly, researchers believe the clay seal may have belonged to an important biblical official.

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Ongoing excavations led by the Temple Mount Sifting Project (TMSP) in Jerusalem, Israel, revealed the clay seal. Archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich was the one who initially discovered the rare artifact. According to a press release from TMSP, examination of the seal was fast-tracked.

Markings on the back of the seal indicate that it was used as a closure on a bag or storage vessel. According to experts, the style of writing on the clay dates the seal back to the First Temple period, which spanned from late-7th century B.C. to the early-6th century B.C. Close examination also revealed a preserved fingerprint, likely from the owner of the seal. Researchers on the studyAnat Mendel-Geberovich and Zachi Dvirahave fully deciphered the name stamped on the artifact; it reads: Belonging to Yed[a]yah (son of) Asayahu.

The name Asayahu appears in the Hebrew Bible (or the Tanakh) during the story of King Josiah of Judah. According to the tale, King Josiah ordered repairs be made to the temple 2,600 years ago. During the repairs, his workers discovered an ancient scroll that warned of punishment from God. Worried by the prophecy, King Josiah sent out members of his court to seek counsel from Huldah, a prophetess. One of these trusted consuls was a senior official named Asayahu, who is often referred to as the kings servant. Researchers believe that, because of Asayahus important position, his son, Yedayah, may have also served in a prominent role around the same time.

Biblical context in mind, a pressing question still remains: did the seal actually belong to Yedayah, son of Asayahu? According to TMSP researchers, its highly likely.

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Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible, Dvira told The Times of Israel (TOI) in an interview. However, several such artifacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people.

Researchers said the fate of the seals owner remains unknown. Luckily, technological developments in recent years have made artifacts like the clay seal easier to identify, so finds like the one at Temple Mount should hopefully become more common.

Because of their small size, clay sealings are difficult to identify, Dvira told TOI. In the past, most of the [seals] came from the antiquity market, but as we developed new techniques to sift through massive amounts of dirt, more excavations have started to either employ our sifting services or carry out their own sifting. Now, there are maybe 10 or 20 times more known [seals] found during controlled archaeological work than in the past.

In this particular study, experts used Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) photography, which creates an image by photographing the same area of an artifact under different light sources. As for the future of Yedayahs seal, a paper detailing the findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal in the coming weeks, according to the press release.

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BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentine President Javier Milei on Monday vetoed a pension boost and a bill strengthening protections for people with disabilities, which lawmakers had passed in July, saying that they put fiscal balance at risk.

The decision to veto the bills had already been announced by Milei last month, although Congress - where the libertarian president does not have a majority - can still overturn the vetoes.

The vetoes come less than three months before Argentina's mid-term elections, seen as a gauge of approval for the Milei administration, which has managed to reduce triple-digit annual inflation but whose austerity policies have had a social impact.

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After the publication of an executive order with the vetoes, the Argentine presidency said in a statement that the bills had been approved by Congress in an irresponsible manner, without identifying funding sources.

"This president prefers to tell an uncomfortable truth rather than repeat comfortable lies: there is no money," the statement said.

(Report by Maximilian Heath; Writing by Benjamin Mejias Valencia; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Gabriel Araujo and Franklin Paul)
Arkansas National Guardsmen and central Arkansas law enforcement officers completed required training on Aug. 2, 2025 at Burns Park. (Courtesy of the Arkansas National Guard)

More than 230 Arkansas National Guardsmen and law enforcement officers completed biennial civil disturbance training Saturday at North Little Rocks Burns Park, according to a press release.

Arkansas State Police, North Little Rock, Little Rock, and Conway police department officers joined guardsmen from the 189th Airlift Wing, 188th Security Forces Squadron and the 216th Military Police Company to train on de-escalation, limited visibility, gas masks, infrastructure protection, tear gas and other non-lethal systems, according to the release.

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Joint Domestic Operations preparedness is paramount to the state of Arkansas in the event our agencies are required to respond to a real-world crisis or civil disturbance in one of our urban centers, said Maj. Nathan Sosebee, 188th Security Forces Squadron commander and lead planner for the exercise. It is critical to train as a joint force to ensure the safety of our communities and the rights of our citizens are protected, while at the same time upholding law and order according to Arkansas state laws and the U.S. Constitution.

The National Guard Quick Response Force consists of the 189th Security Forces Squadron, 188th SFS, and the 216th MP Co. Those military units are required to train together annually, according to an Arkansas National Guard concept plan. The military units are required to conduct a validation exercise every other year with the Arkansas State Police since the quick response groups establishment in 2016, according to the release.

This group has been activated twice since 2020, both times after the deaths of civilians at the hands of police. It was called to duty and stationed in West Memphis, as a precautionary measure to support Arkansas State Police in January 2023 in response to the death of Memphis, Tennessee, resident Tyre Nichols. The group was also called to state active duty in May 2020 and deployed for nine days to support Arkansas State Police near the state Capitol after the death of George Floyd, according to the press release.

Biennial training events like last weekends help agencies determine whether our safety equipment, communications devices, tactics, procedures, and ability to deploy with each other and with other agencies are effective, said Sgt. Justin Cross, North Little Rock Investigations Division sergeant and commander of the North Little Rock Police Department Special Response Team.

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Exercise participants faced real-world situations, and the exercise accounted for simulated injuries to soldiers and law enforcement personnel that prompted an emergency medical response, according to the release. Opposing forces were played by on-duty military and civilian police officers dressed in civilian attire who performed as aggressors in the scenarios.

The exercise has built into the most robust event we have had since the state formed a Domestic Operations Response Force in 2016, Sosebee said.

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Police in Chicago, Illinois, are urging residents to be cautious after a slew of violent robberies targeting mainly drunk individuals in the city's River North neighborhood.

According to Fox 32, at least four incidents have taken place between June 16 and July 6, with one to three African American males beating and robbing people.

The men befriended people who appeared to be intoxicated before stealing their property and beating them, police said. The robberies occurred during the early morning hours when bars and restaurants were closing.

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One of the individuals robbed, Tori Ledzema, told FOX 32 she was forcibly pushed to the ground by four individuals in ski masks while she was headed to Pilates at 5:30 a.m. She said the men attempted to gain access to her phone.

Cincinnati Business Owners Slam Viral 'Out Of Control' Beating Amid Fight To Clean Up Downtown

Chicago police are warning people about recent robberies in the city.

Ledzema said she had a gun aimed at her head during the robbery and suffered a sprained neck.

Read On The Fox News App

"He threw me to the ground. Later found out I sprained my neck from this impact. But the four of them pulled me back up, and they held the gun to my head," Ledzema said. "There were three guns. They held one to me and then one in either direction of traffic. Not that there really was traffic, and then the driver stayed in the car. But they held the gun to my head and asked me for my password, and then I later found out that this group was looking for people's Cash App. Which is one of the other things they asked me for."

People walking in the streets of Chicago's River North neighborhood.

Police tracked down the car used by the suspects and got fingerprints. No arrests have been made.

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Chicago's Bloody July Fourth Weekend Leaves 55 Shot, 6 Dead: Report

Former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam told Fox News Digital in an interview that the suspects wanted one thing: access to the victim's phone.

Criminals are targeting people in Chicago for access to their phones, one expert said.

"But this is what it really all comes down to, is the phones. We do most of our banking on the phones, people don't carry as much cash anymore," Gilliam said. "So what they're doing, and in particular, this is where it has evolved, in particular the female that was going to Pilates. They were asking for her Cash App. They wanted to get in her Cash App and get money that way. So this is something that people have to understand is that they may not be going after cash. They may be going after your apps and how to get into your apps."

"If they can hold the phone up to your face, if they can beat you until you give them passcodes, they will go in and transfer money," he said.





Original article source: Armed robbers target bar hoppers in ritzy blue city neighborhood: Held the gun to my head
CARLISLE, Pa. (WHTM)  The United States Army announced it will dig up the graves of Carlisle Indian Industrial School indigenous students to return their remains to their families and tribes.

Disinterment operations of the 19 children are expected to begin Sept. 5 at the Carlisle Barracks, the U.S. Army said Monday. The Office of Army Cemeteries will begin operations with assistance from forensic archaeological and anthropological experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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The descendants who will be dug up are: Wallace Perryman from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Belle Cahoe, Wash E. He, Tabitha Carroll, Jane Lumpfoot, Leah Road Traveler, Percy Whitebear, George Harrison, Charles Whiteshield, Matavito Horse, Nannie Little Robe, Dora Morning, Louise Thunder, Giles Hands, Ruben Tanpeds, Henry Morning, William Sammers, Abe Lincoln, and Elsie Davis from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

The Army is honored to conduct the Carlisle Barracks Disinterment Program once again, Executive Director of Army National Military Cemeteries and the Office of Army Cemeteries Karen Durham-Aguilera said. We are deeply grateful to the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes for their brave commitment to bring their loved ones home.

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After being exhumed, the Army will give the families and tribes that can find the closest living family member custody of the childrens remains.

The cemetery at the Carlisle Barracks will be closed to visitors starting August 15 and wont reopen until operations are complete, which is expected to be October 13.

15-year-old Amish boy found dead in local pond

The Office of Army Cemeteries team truly appreciates each of these tribes for the kindness, courage, and devotion theyve shown throughout their journey to bring their children home, Director of the Office of Army Cemeteries Renea Yates said. We recognize that this is no small undertaking, and we hope that our skilled team can assist in bringing a sense of peace and closure that these families deserve.

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The Carlisle Indian Industrial School had about 8,000 Native Americans, with representation from more than 100 Native American tribes across the country enrolled in it. It was in 1879 when the school came to the Carlisle Barracks and it was operated by the Department of Interior until 1918.

A total of 9 childrens remains were reunited with families and tribes in 2024 during disinterment operations at the Carlisle Barracks, the Associated Press reported.

Those children who attended the school were taken from their families and placed in a white society as a matter of U.S. policy, according to the AP. Many of the children who died from diseases were returned to their tribes, while the rest were buried in Carlisle.

This is the eighth year the U.S. Army has conducted disinterment operations at the Carlisle Barracks.

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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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The Army is planning to grow its operational Patriot air-and-missile defense force from 15 to 18 battalions, plus a composite battalion which includes Patriot capability in Guam, an Army spokesperson told Defense News in a statement.

In 2023 the service announced a plan to add a 16th battalion, but it will now bolster a force stretched thin with two additional battalions.

Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus announced earlier this month that the Patriot force would grow by up to four battalions.

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Additionally, the Army is planning to build an Integrated Air and Missile Defense battalion for Guam. The Guam Defense System battalion is a composite battalion that will include the Integrated Fire Protection Capability, or IFPC, and the Integrated Battle Command System-enabled Patriot with the Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS.

IFPC is designed to provide defense against rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles and drone threats at fixed and semi-fixed sites. The IBCS system is the newly fielded command-and-control system meant to tie shooters and sensors together on the battlefield.

The Raytheon-developed LTAMDS radar, now in low-rate production, is designed to replace the Patriot radar, offering a 360-degree range of protection against various types of missiles.

The battalion is purpose built for the defense of Guam and not counted in the total number of 18 Patriot battalions, the Army spokesperson said.

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The Raytheon-built Patriot is in ever increasing demand globally. Ukraine has depended on the system for several years as it continues to beat back the Russian invasion which began in February 2022. The U.S. and other countries continue to make commitments to supply additional Patriot systems to the war-torn country.

The Patriot system also defended Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar against Iranian missiles in June.

All new Patriot systems that come off the line for the U.S. Army will be equipped with the LTAMDS radar and IBCS.

It greatly expands the range, the altitude, and its a 360, Mingus said recently at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. So you could take those same 15 Patriot battalions we have today, give it IBCS and LTAMDs, and fundamentally when you operationally employ it, its immediately doubling that capability.

You would have the equivalent of about 30 Patriot battalions because instead of having to deploy as batteries, you can break them up and disperse them in a much more tactical way.
Blade Air Mobility (BLDE) stock rose as much as 30% early Monday after the company struck a deal with Joby Aviation (JOBY) to sell its helicopter passenger rideshare business for $125 million.

Joby, which is developing electric air taxi technology, will not take on Blade's medical transport business, which will be spun out into a new public company called Strata Critical Medical.

Joby stock rose more than 5% following the news.

Blade offers its helicopter rideshare service on a per-seat basis from several different landing spots around New York City. It takes passengers to nearby towns such as the Hamptons or local airports like New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport. Blade flew more than 50,000 passengers in 2024 from 12 different terminals, according to Joby's press release.

Read more about today's market action.

The company, which had a market cap of just over $300 million before the deal was announced Monday morning, went public through a SPAC transaction in 2021 and has not reported an annual profit since. Blade shares are down 11% on the year and down roughly 60% since the company's public market debut.

The acquisition will see Blade founder and CEO Rob Wiesenthal stay in charge of Blade's passenger operations as the company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Joby, according to Joby's press release.

The acquisition comes as $14.4 billion Joby, backed by Toyota (TM), is working toward certification from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) for its battery-powered electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs.

Joby is planning to have five aircraft in final phases of certification by 2026 as it looks to begin commercial flights early next year, according to Bloomberg, which reported the two sides were exploring a deal over the weekend.

A traditional helicopter flies above the Joby eVTOL, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, during a demonstration of eVTOLs on Nov. 13, 2023, in New York at Manhattan's downtown heliport. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jake Conley is a breaking news reporter covering US equities for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on X at @byjakeconley or email him at jake.conley@yahooinc.com.

Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks

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A local fire company is asking for help after around $10,000 worth of equipment was stolen from them.

The Oakdale Hose Company assistant chief reported that someone stole from his truck at around 2:20 a.m. on Sunday.

Firefighters said Motorola APX 8000 All Band portable radios were inside. They said these are highly sought after in public service. They believe the total amount stolen equals around $10,000.

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An officer was called to the scene and did get into a brief foot pursuit with the suspect, but they got away.

Firefighters are asking people who live on the following roads to check their cameras for video that might help them find the person responsible:

Winslow Drive

Fayette Avenue

Vincennes Avenue

Hastings Avenue

Cottonwood Drive

1st, 2nd and 3rd Streets

The fire chief is going to search for the radio. He is expected to offer a reward for the return of the equipment or information that leads to the conviction of the person responsible.

The chief is expected to speak at the company membership meeting on Tuesday.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The arraignment for a Springdale man accused of killing a couple at Devils Den State Park last month has been moved up, according to court records.

Andrew James McGann, 28, was arrested on July 30 and charged with two counts of capital murder on Aug. 1. He is accused of fatally stabbing Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, of Prairie Grove, on July 26, who were hiking with their two daughters.

Andrew James McGann, charged with two counts of capital murder, appears in front of District Judge Terra Stephenson for his bond hearing at the Washington County Detention Center. Friday, Aug, 1, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods) Andrew James McGann, charged with two counts of capital murder, leaves the courtroom after appearing in front of District Judge Terra Stephenson for his bond hearing at the Washington County Detention Center. Friday, Aug, 1, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

McGann appeared in court on Aug. 1 for his first hearing and was appointed a public defender.

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Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter requested that McGann have no contact with the victims family.

McGann was ordered to be held without bond.

Devils Den double homicide suspect makes first court appearance; ordered to be held without bond

His arraignment was originally set for Aug. 25, but a court filing dated Aug. 4 from Washington County Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor said that McGanns arraignment was moved up to Aug. 14 at 8 a.m.

Carter has said that the state has not ruled out the death penalty in the case against McGann.

Arkansas State Police previously said that McGann confessed to the killings and that DNA found at the crime scene matched his. ASP said the attack on the couple was random.

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A preliminary report from the Washington County Prosecuting Attorneys Office said dispatch received a 911 call from Devils Den State Park on July 26 from someone saying they found two bodies on a trail, and a large amount of blood was present.

The hiker found two girls and led them off the trail before attempting to look for their parents. That hiker then found the bodies of the parents on the trail, according to the report.

ASP investigators arrived at the park and interviewed a person at the park who said they saw someone get into a black sedan with blood on his face and drive away onto State Highway 170. A second witness said the black sedan was a Kia Stinger.

We followed all of our protocols: Springdale Public Schools speaks on murder suspect hired by district

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On July 28, an autopsy was performed on the two victims bodies, and preliminary findings showed both victims died in a homicide by stabbing wounds.

On July 30, police located the suspects vehicle at Lupitas Beauty Salon in Springdale around 4:58 p.m.

Investigators walked into the barber shop and asked about the vehicle in the parking lot. A man who was receiving a haircut, later identified as McGann, said he owned the vehicle.

The report said investigators noted that while speaking with McGann, they saw cuts on his hands. McGann was then detained, and investigators entered his vehicle with his consent to get his ID.

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Once investigators got into McGanns vehicle, they found a substance appearing to be blood inside the vehicle.

McGanns vehicle was then seized and taken to Arkansas State Police Troop L Headquarters in Lowell.

McGann was taken to ASPs headquarters to be interviewed, and he made statements indicating he had committed two homicides.

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By Maria Martinez

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -State institutions should be independent and free from politics, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Monday when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"I consider this political approach to be wrong and believe that it is right for independent institutions to remain independent and for politics not to interfere," Klingbeil said.

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Trump fired BLS head Erika McEntarfer on the heels of a market-shocking weak scorecard of the U.S. job market, accusing her without evidence of manipulating the figures.

Ahead of a meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Klingbeil said democracies are on the right path when they preserve the independence and strength of institutions.

"I can only tell you that my political style is not to launch such attacks on independent, neutral, and proven institutions, as is apparently happening here," Klingbeil said.

Klingbeil also said there was a lot to clarify about the European Union's trade deal with the United States, adding that the bloc had been too weak during the negotiations.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez; Editing by Matthias Williams and Helen Popper)
Assisted-living residents impacted by unpaid staff and suspended license

Dozens of residents at an assisted living center in Avery County have been moved out after sheriff deputies said The Heritage at Sugar Mountain in Newland had its license suspended this weekend.

Channel 9s Dave Faherty spoke with workers and family members who confirmed that employees here werent being paid.

ALSO READ: Nursing home patients forced to move due to health, safety issues

Two of the workers stayed to ensure residents were fed but they were not trained to provide medication.

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An employee said that the state, paramedics and sheriff deputies went to The Heritage of Sugar Mountain last weekend to move people out.

All 28 residents were relocated to other facilities some as far away as Hickory.

Faherty learned from family members that some residents werent getting meals. Others didnt receive their medications and at one point, McDonalds was brought in to feed the residents.

Faherty watched family members Monday morning move items out of the building.

They told Faherty about their concerns.

We dont know what the status of this location is going to be, said Kevin Holden, a family member. But it has been a big impact on every family. Also, the Department of Social Services has had to intervene.

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The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services stated, The Heritage of Sugar Mountain presents an imminent danger to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and that emergency action is required to protect the residents.

State officials said that was based its decision on staffing levels and the rights of residents.

Faherty tried to contact the owner today but have not heard back.

Mark Wolfe told Faherty that his 91-year-old mother is now living in another facility in a different county.

Its tragic, Wolfe said. A sad event and Im still alarmed that no one from the facility has called us or released any information or anything like that.

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The owner has 20 days to appeal the suspension, according to the state.

Faherty also contacted the Avery County Sheriffs Office, and they said they are assisting the state with their investigation.

VIDEO: Family sues Myers Park nursing home after resident fatally hit by city truck
Crowds lined up at a Decatur Walmart on Sunday for the 9th annual Issa Back to School Drive.

Atlanta rapper 21 Savages Leading By Example Foundation hosted the event sponsored by Walmart, which donated nearly $75,000 worth of back-to-school supplies.

More than 50 Walmart volunteers helped bring in donations, hand out supplies, and staff the event.

Those attending could receive backpacks, uniforms, free haircuts, hair braiding, and more.

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The man accused of attempting to kidnap Princess Anne is freeand working to clear his name.

Ian Ball was just 26 when he stalked the princess, ambushing her limousine on Londons Pall Mall and shooting four men who attempted to help. Annes response to Balls demand that she get out of the car made headlines around the world, with the Princess reportedly telling him, Not bloody likely!

After Anne and her lady-in-waiting exited from the other side of the vehicle, a passerby who happened to be a former boxer punched Ball and safely escorted Anne away from the scene. After fleeing from police, Ball was arrested.

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Pleading guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping, Ball was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and was detained under the Mental Health Act, spending the next 45 years in mental hospitals before being released in 2019.

Princess Anne was just 23 at the time of the attempted kidnapping. / Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Having previously self-published a book in an attempt to clear his name, Ball, who is now 77, is continuing his crusade in an interview with the Daily Mail, telling the publication that the attempted kidnapping was a stunt.

Im an innocent, sane man because I had good reason to believe the gunpowder had been taken out of the bullets and another girl had been substituted for Princess Anne, Ball told the Mail.

He believes he was wrongfully imprisoned by the upper classes and that the late Queen Elizabeth was the ring-leader of a campaign against him.

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He accused the upper classes of keeping an innocent, sane man in a criminal lunatic asylum because he is a very dangerous working-class dissenter and a grave threat to their luxurious way of living.

Ian Ball plead guilty to kidnapping and the attempted murder of Princess Anne's bodyguard. / PA Images via Getty Images

He also argued that it would be a waste of time to apologize to the princess.

She wasnt bothered on the night, he said. I didnt scare her. I was more scared than she was.

Anne later told British television presenter Michael Parkinson in a 1983 interview, It was all so infuriating; I kept saying I didnt want to get out of the car, and I was not going to get out of the car.

I nearly lost my temper with him, but I knew that if I did, I should hit him and he would shoot me, she added.
Customers wait outside the DMV office in east Raleigh on Friday, May 30, 2025.(Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek called for the separation of the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles from the Department of Transportation in an audit report released Monday.

The 435-page report found average wait times exceeding 1 hour and 15 minutes, with more than 13% lasting longer than 2.5 hours. That leads to longer travel distances, with nearly half of DMV customers bypassing their local office for a farther one in search of quicker service.

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In a press conference unveiling the report Monday morning, Boliek said the economic impact to the state of a deficient DMV  including lost work days and school days from North Carolinians seeking license  justifies immediate intervention.

Fixing the DMV is going to take buy-in from all levels of government, Boliek said. Weve seen, for example, the response that our legislature and our citizens have given to western North Carolina when we have a disaster. Folks, the DMV is at that level of emergency.

State Auditor Dave Boliek compared the economic cost of the states inefficient DMV to the damage brought by Hurricane Helene, and called for a similarly extensive response on Monday, August 4, 2025. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

The report attributed inefficiency at the DMV in part to structural challenges inherent to being a division of NCDOT. It finds that the DMV has limited say in statewide decision-making, lacks budgetary autonomy, fails to consistently track performance, and has been excluded from major modernization efforts aimed at improving its functions.

Arguing that DOT needs the DMV, not the other way around, Boliek said the DMV generates roughly $2.2 billion in revenue, about 30% of the NCDOT revenue, but receives only 3% of its expenditures. He also pointed out that NCDOT has met only 31% of the DMVs staffing requests  despite an increase of about 3 million residents in 20 years, the state has only added 52 license examiner positions, with 160 vacancies at present.

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DMV Commissioner Paul Tine, who took over the agency in May, and NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins both oppose the split. In a response appended to the report, they wrote that shifting resources to managing a split would delay more immediate remedies to long wait times and staffing shortages.

Separating would require significant resources and would distract from efforts to improve customer experience and operations at DMV, they wrote. DMV faces budgetary constraints that could be more effectively solved with other mechanisms.

Instead, they requested the legislature approve an assessment of a new percentage of fees based funding model, rather than the current biennial appropriations model. That would allow the agency to receive greater funding which it could put toward new hires and other process improvements, they said.

Boliek said splitting off the DMV would not create a funding shortfall for NCDOT as state dollars are oftentimes fungible. But he argued it would better serve them by allowing the agency to report directly to the governor and communicate its budget needs through state level deliberations.

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They dont need $2.2 billion to run the DMV. However, they operate with a pretty austere budget given what theyre asked to do on behalf of the citizens at $200 million a year, Boliek said. Theyve got the capacity, for example. to have the resources to pay for what they need. They just need to work together  the DMV, the legislature, and the governors office  to parse those dollars out correctly.

Beyond structure, Boliek found that the DMV suffers from chronic employee burnout, with 160 drivers license examiners positions sitting vacant and 43% of employees reporting negative views of support from previous leadership. Workers interviewed also complained about low pay and concerns over safety  including incidents where employees were followed out of the building and where a customer kicked in a glass pane out of frustration.

He called a General Assembly proposal to create 40 additional license examiner positions a good start but said the DMV will need even more positions and greater flexibility to resolve the long waits. A potential solution to low pay, Boliek said, is implementing market-based salaries to pay workers based on regional cost of living.

Lets just be honest about it, it costs more to live in Charlotte than it does in rural eastern North Carolina, Boliek said. We need to look at it from a pay standpoint of what we pay folks to get the job done.

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The auditors office also issued a separate 159-page report regarding information technology modernization efforts at the DMV, laying out a process by which they can pursue upgrades recommended by the legislature in 2024 that have yet to be implemented. Operationally, the technology at DMV is frozen in time and it hinders efforts across the board for stakeholders.

He praised Gov. Josh Stein for taking a serious approach to reform at the DMV, calling him incredibly helpful in conversations about improving efficiency. Boliek criticized past leadership for letting the issue become so severe, noting that multiple governors have known about this.

I would assume that if the governor had been paying attention to what was going on previously, that something would have been done to assist the DMV, Boliek said. It didnt happen overnight, these lines didnt start when Gov. Stein took office, they started over time. And I quite frankly, you know, think that its just an issue of focus.

Since his time on the campaign trail, Boliek has made an audit of the beleaguered agency a priority. Folks, on day one, were starting with the DMV  a top to bottom audit of the DMV for economy and efficiency, he said at a Selma rally with then-Sen. JD Vance in November. Now seven months into his term with an initial audit completed, Boliek said hes just getting started.

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Im a dog with a bone with this DMV, Boliek said. We are going to continue to shine a light on the DMV and put this forward, front and center, on the front burner until its fixed.

This story will be updated.
Jefferson Community College is hosting an Instant Admit Week starting Monday.

The college will be hosting this enrollment event from Monday, Aug. 4, through Friday, Aug. 8, from 8 a.m. to noon each day.

What to Expect:

Personalized appointment with an Admissions Counselor

On-the-spot application review

Same-day admissions decisions for eligible students

Learn about next steps, financial aid, and student life

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During instant admit days, prospective students can meet with representatives of the colleges admissions team to receive one-on-one attention and assistance completing the admissions application. Students must bring their high school transcripts, and all official college transcripts in their original sealed envelopes.

For more information, call Enrollment Services at JCC, 315-786-2437.

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Update: Aurora police have arrested Michel Jordan Castellano-Fonesca. Full story found here.

DENVER (KDVR)  Aurora police are seeking the publics help to locate a suspect from an early morning, deadly shooting on Sunday, according to a post on X from the Aurora Police Department.

The suspect, identified as Michel Jordan Castellano-Fonesca, 30, is wanted in connection with an alleged shooting that occurred at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of Cimarron Circle in Aurora.

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Polis declares emergency for Elk Creek Fire, evacuations ordered

Preliminary information from the APDs Major Crime Homicide Unit reports that the shooting stemmed from a possible domestic violence incident, during which Castellano-Fonesca threatened to come back to the apartments with a gun.

The shooting occurred shortly after 3 a.m. on Sunday when the suspect forced his way into an apartment and fired shots. The apartment had two adults and five children from the ages of one to 15 inside it, police said.

One of the victims was a 26-year-old woman who died at the scene of the shooting, and the other victim was a 30-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

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None of the children were injured during the incident.

Castellano-Foseca drove away from the scene in a green Acura MDX with a Colorado license plate of CVO668.

Image of the vehicle an Aurora shooting suspect is reported to have fled in. (Credit: Aurora Police Department)

Police warn that he is considered armed and dangerous.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call 911 immediately or call the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may receive a reward up to $2,000, according to the department.

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Editors Note: The above video is KXAN coverage of when Austin installed new, temporary barriers on Sixth Street in May 2025.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  An August 1 memo from Austin Public Works Director Richard Mendoza says that the city will move forward with its plan to install permanent barriers between the sidewalk and roadway along Sixth Street.

May 2025 | Sixth Street to get new barriers ahead of summer crowds

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Concrete barriers will be installed next week, according to the memo. They will replace the temporary plastic barriers.

A March 2025 photo show temporary fences along 6th St. in Austin, in place to separate vehicular and pedestrian traffic. (KXAN file photo) A May 2025 photo shows the water-filled barriers that replaced temporary fencing on Austins Sixth Street. (KXAN Photo)

The concrete barriers will initially be gray, but the memo says that drab aesthetic will be temporary.

Upon installation, the Downtown Austin Alliance plans a barricade beautification project to enhance the visual experience and aesthetics of the concrete barricades through graphic design and painting, the memo said.

July 2025 | Austin considers options for two-way traffic on 6th Street

According to the memo, city workers met with Sixth Street business and property owners in June for their input on the new barriers and future long-term design changes.

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Installation will begin August 11. Traffic disruptions along Sixth Street are possible due to the work.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Boston Beer Company CEO Michael Spillane will step down from his role at the US brewer after just over a year.

In a statement late on Friday (1 August), the maker of Samuel Adams and Twisted Tea said Spillane is leaving his position to focus on important personal matters.

Jim Koch, Boston Beer's founder and chairman, will return as CEO. He was chief executive from 1984 to 2001.

Spillane took over in April 2024 from Dave Burwick. He will remain on the Boston Beer board as a non-executive director. Spillane has been a director at the Angry Orchard cider owner since 2016.

According to Koch, Spillane offered a steady leadership hand during a dynamic time for our industry, and under his guidance, we delivered one of our most profitable quarters in many years in the second quarter.

The brewers net revenue increased 1.5% to $587.9m in the second quarter ending in June. Net income reached $60.4m, up 15.5% year over year.

Koch said Spillane is going to continue to help shape our strategy as a member of our board of directors.

He added: I am confident in the strength of our management team and Boston Beer's strategic direction and remain committed to delivering long-term value."

Spillane said: "After careful reflection, I have decided to take a step back to focus on some important personal matters. Since joining Boston Beer, I have seen the company revolutionise the craft beer and flavoured malt beverage categories.

Alongside its second-quarter results, the company said it anticipates lower volumes in 2025 due to macroeconomic factors impacting industry demand.

"Boston Beer CEO to step down " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia will raise its cap on foreign students by 9% to 295,000 next year and prioritise applicants from Southeast Asia, the government said on Monday.

Limits on places were announced last year as a way to rein in record migration that had contributed to a surge in housing prices, with 270,000 places made available for 2025.

An additional 25,000 places were being granted in 2026 as the policy was successfully bringing down out of control international student numbers, the government said.

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This is about making sure international education grows in a way that supports students, universities and the national interest, Education Minister Jason Clare said in a statement.

Australia granted nearly 600,000 student visas in the 2023 financial year, as international students returned to the country in record numbers following COVID-19.

Australia's largest cohorts of students come from China and India.

As well as introducing the cap on numbers, the government also more than doubled the visa fee for foreign students in 2024 and pledged to close loopholes in rules that allowed them to continuously extend their stay.

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The governments measures to curb migration were bearing fruit and allowed for a modest increase in the cap in 2026, International Education Assistant Minister Julian Hill said.

The numbers were growing out of control, Hill told national broadcaster ABC.

The government has taken tough decisions over the last 12 months, not always loved by the sector, to get the numbers down and get them to a more sustainable footing.

Roughly two-thirds of places will be allocated to universities and one-third to the vocational skills training sector.

Larger, public universities would need to demonstrate domestic and international students had "access to safe and secure housing" and recruit more students from Southeast Asia to increase their individual allocations, the government said.

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It was important "for Australia's future soft power that we continue to bring the best and brightest from our (Southeast Asian) neighbours to have a bit of Australia with them for the rest of their life", Hill said.

Relations with Southeast Asia have been a focus of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government as it looks to reduce Australia's economic dependence on China.

Universities Australia welcomed the sensible increase in places.

Universities have called for growth in this critically important sector, and the government has honoured this, CEO Luke Sheehy said.

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Australia has one of the highest shares of international students globally. The sector contributed more than A$51 billion ($33.05 billion) to the economy in 2024, the countrys top services export.

($1 = 1.5432 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
The Australian government on Monday pledged further humanitarian aid for women and children in Gaza, a day after some 90,000 demonstrators marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to highlight conditions in the war-ravaged region.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced an additional $20 million Australian ($13 million US) in humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, bringing Australia's total pledge to "more than $130 million to help civilians in Gaza and Lebanon" since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that triggered the Gaza war.

Wong said the decision follows the announcement of new humanitarian corridors by Israel amid the dire humanitarian situation in the territory.

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The move came one day after thousands of people thronged the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge in pouring rain and windy conditions to protest against Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis.

NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna said that the protest's attendance was estimated at about 90,000 people and described the crowd as the largest he had ever seen on the iconic bridge.

Organizers put that figure at between 200,000 and 300,000 people, according to local media. Thousands more joined pro-Palestinian protests in Melbourne and Sydney on Sunday.

According to the United Nations, the Gaza Strip is on the brink of famine. Israel controls all access points to the coastal territory on the Mediterranean and, for several months, has allowed little or no aid deliveries to pass through.

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Israel said this was intended to increase pressure on the militant Palestinian organization Hamas to release the last of the hostages abducted in October 2023.

Over the past week, following growing global criticism of the dire situation faced by the Palestinian civilian population, Israel has allowed larger deliveries via land routes and supported airdrops of aid by allied nations.

More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza conflict according to the health authority controlled by Hamas.
Australia has achieved its highest military recruitment figures in 15 years, with officials crediting targeted ads on TikTok and online games for the boost.

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh told broadcaster ABC that "smarter" digital outreach, including targeted ads on social media platform TikTok and in online games, helped the Australian Defence Force (ADF) achieve its highest recruitment figures in 15 years.

Keogh explained that the ads were being placed "where our target age groups are" to showcase the wide range of careers available in the military.

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The government on Monday said in a statement that the ADF enlisted more than 7,000 full-time personnel in the 2024-25 financial year which ended in June, the most since 2009-10, while applications rose to over 75,000, a five-year high and 28% year-on-year increase.

ABC reported that the median age of new recruits was 23.

The military's departure rate also dropped to 7.9%, helping lift the permanent full-time ADF headcount to over 61,000.

Officials say the Canberra government remains on track to reach its target of 69,000 permanent personnel by the early 2030s.

"It is essential that Australia has the Defence Force it needs to help protect its strategic interests, and that is why we have made significant investments to support our current Defence workforce and grow it for the future," said Defence Minister Richard Marles.
A man was arrested after being caught illegally dumping trash in just north of London.

The 28-year-old from High Cross in Hertfordshire, England, was arrested while the dumping was in progress at a farm. Photos from the scene showed large pieces of styrofoam being dumped from a truck.

The man was given a resolution order, which allows a case to stay out of court provided the plaintiff's demands are met. Local fines can be upward of $1,300.

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"Fly-tipping blights the countryside, damages the environment and, with farmers and landowners often legally responsible for removing the rubbish despite being the victim of the crime, the clear-up costs the industry, nationally, tens of millions of pounds a year," Josh Redford of the Hertfordshire Farmers' Union told the BBC.

Trash does enough damage when it actually finds its way to a landfill. Much of it emits methane as it decomposes, contributing to destructive weather patterns. Many items shed microplastics, which find their way into water sources and food supplies.

When improperly disposed of, items can wreak havoc in natural habitats, leading to safety threats to wildlife. Animals can get caught in plastic items or even have them obstruct digestive tracts.

Depending on the garbage being left, soil can be contaminated, which is a particular threat to agriculture. Knowing how to properly deal with your trash can help avoid situations where illegal dumping seems like a solution.

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The county where this dumping took place, Hertfordshire, has an online reporting tool as well as an awareness campaign and has plugged into a volunteering platform to organize community cleanup events.

Though illegal dumping remains an ongoing issue, authorities were happy with how the situation was resolved, especially because locals took action.

"This is a great example of how police are working with the rural community to identify fly-tippers and make arrests," Sgt. David Miller of Hertfordshire Police said, per the BBC. "Fly-tipping has a hugely detrimental effect on our hard-working farmers, and we will continue to pursue these criminals and take action."

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Authorities over the weekend announced the launch of a death investigation after a Massachusetts man was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Hampshire.

Boat officers responded to an area near the Isles of Shoals on July 13, where they recovered a dead body from the water, according to New Hampshire State Police.

The Isles of Shoals are a group of nine small, rocky islands about six miles off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine.

State police investigators and the New Hampshire Medical Examiners Office identified the deceased man as David Paul Stover Shader, 35, of Boston.

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Investigators are still working to determine how and when Shader entered the water.

State police noted that Shader was last seen in the Boston area and that his death is not believed to be suspicious.

Anyone with information that could help investigators is urged to contact Sergeant Stephen OConnor at 603-556-3183 or Stephen.J.OConnor@dos.nh.gov.

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Massive flooding has forced hundreds of residents to evacuate the world's coldest inhabited settlements, The Moscow Times reported, via MSN.

What's happening?

Heavy rainfall led multiple rivers to overflow their banks in the republic of Sakha in northeast Russia, impacting roughly 700 people, including 163 children, Russian officials said, per The Moscow Times. No deaths or injuries had been reported.

Sakha, also known as Yakutia, is Russia's largest and coldest region.

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"Despite the installation of protective structures, a dam broke and flooded the village of Betenkes almost entirely," the regional government announced via Telegram, The Moscow Times reported.

In at least one location, waters reached as high as 33 feet, damaging 100 structures, including 36 homes. In the process, an estimated 100 plots of land were flooded, according to The Moscow Times.

"The main priorities are to minimize damage in the settlements and prevent threats to people's lives and health," said Aisen Nikolaev, the regional head of Sakha, at an emergency meeting, per The Moscow Times.

As aid workers rushed a reported eight tons of food and other emergency supplies to the region, emergency responders onsite rescued residents, livestock, and even a pet hamster from floodwaters, according to The Star.

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A vast region covered by swamps and forestland, Sakha has been hit by both flooding and wildfires in recent years.

What do floods in Russia mean for the rest of the world?

While recent floods in Far East Russia, Central Texas, and New York City might have taken place thousands of miles apart, they all were made more likely by rising global temperatures.

For decades, scientists have warned that rising temperatures would cause severe weather events to increase in magnitude. Those projections now have become reality in the form of deadly heat waves, fatal floods, and out-of-control wildfires.

While it cannot be scientifically proven that any single severe weather event was the result of human causes, hotter temperatures increase the likelihood of flash floods because warmer air absorbs more moisture.

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According to Climate Central, for every one degree Fahrenheit increase, air can hold 4% more water. When these larger concentrations of moisture fall back to the earth as precipitation, the result is more intense storms, delivering more rainfall per hour.

Because flood mitigation systems, both natural and human-made, can only divert so much water at a time, flash floods are more likely to occur.

These floods cost lives, destroy crops, and damage property, costing billions of dollars. These impacts reverberate far beyond the flood zones in the form of higher food prices and insurance premiums.

What is being done about rising temperatures?

In order to reverse the trend on rising global temperatures, it is necessary to drastically reduce the amount of heat-trapping pollution entering the atmosphere.

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According to the UN, the burning of nonrenewable fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas accounts for 75% of all planet-warming pollution. This makes the transition to cleaner, renewable sources of energy necessary in order to avert the worst impacts of rising global temperatures.

In the U.S., the transportation sector accounts for 29% of heat-trapping pollution, according to the EPA. This means that finding cleaner modes of transportation can make a big difference.

Walking, riding a bicycle, taking public transportation, or driving an EV are all great ways to improve local air quality while also reducing planet-warming pollution.

To take the environmental benefits of driving an EV even further, you can install solar panels on your home. Charging your EV off home solar is cheaper than off the grid or on public chargers, plus you know you are always charging your EV with cleaner, renewable energy.

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To make your home even more resilient to power outages from severe weather events or other causes, you can combine solar panels with a home battery system. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you and your family will always have power when you need it.

EnergySage offers free tools that make it easy to compare quotes from vetted solar installers in your area while also making sure that you take maximum advantage of tax rebates and other incentives, saving customers up to $10,000 in the process.

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RICHMOND, Ky. (FOX 56)  Authorities are searching for a car involved in a Monday morning hit-and-run that damaged a Madison County cruiser on I-75.

Deputy Michael Stotts said the call came in around 10:44 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4. A Madison County sheriffs deputy was assisting in a construction zone that stretches from the 86-mile marker through 92.

I-75 traffic causes long delays in Madison County, disrupting commutes; when will it be done?

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The deputy saw a 2006-2009 white Chevrolet Impala pass the barrels and enter the construction zone, so they got out of the cruiser to flag them down. Stotts said the car didnt stop and crashed into the cruisers open drivers door.

The driver reportedly continued northbound on I-75 and should have suffered significant front-end damage.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

If you have any information on the driver or the vehicles whereabouts, call the Madison County Sheriffs Office.

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The deputy was not injured.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Authorities are investigating after a man was found shot Monday morning in Tyler.

According to the Tyler Police Department, around 7:26 a.m., officers responded to the 2700 block of S. Broadway Avenue, where a man was shot.

Palestine police searching for missing K9 officer after Sunday storm

Officials said EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police spoke to the victim, who said that he had received his injuries at another location.

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This case is still under investigation and does not appear to be a random incident, police said. If anybody has any information on this case, please call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

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The law makes exceptions for short-term shelter during natural disasters, such as hurricanes or blizzards. (Photo by Dana Wormald/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a bill into law Friday banning New Hampshire public schools, colleges, and universities from being used to shelter migrants.

House Bill 71 would revoke state funding from any public school, college, or university housing migrants that violate the law. That includes both migrants being housed while the government is attempting to resettle them and migrants who are en route to deportation. The law makes exceptions for short-term shelter during natural disasters, such as hurricanes or blizzards.

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State Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia, a Tilton Republican who introduced the bill, said it was aimed at preventing school shutdowns. She cited a January 2024 incident in New York City as inspiration for the bill. There, during a severe storm, migrants living in a tent shelter were moved to a Brooklyn high school for roughly 12 hours, according to news reports from the city. Classes were held online for one day while the migrants were there.

Additionally, state Rep. Glenn Cordelli, a Tuftonboro Republican advocating for the bill, said in a committee meeting that he did a public records request for incident reports at Massachusetts facilities that housed migrants. He said those records showed fights, assaults, overdoses, rapes, and attempted suicides occuring.

The new law also includes a few unrelated provisions that were tacked onto the bill during the legislative process. It requires towns and cities in New Hampshire with 10,000 or more people to post any changes in property valuations publicly in a newspaper, online, and on social media. An earlier version of the bill required municipalities to personally notify residents, but lawmakers were concerned this would qualify as an unfunded mandate, because it would effectively require municipalities to buy stamps to notify residents via mail. The law also requires any contract that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services enters into to abide by the patients bill of rights, a previously enacted law outlining what patients at state and private health care facilities are entitled to.
ATLANTA - Tens of thousands of students across metro Atlanta are waking up early and heading to the school bus stop on Monday for the first day of the 2025-2026 school year.

Classes are back in session for Atlanta Public Schools as well as in Gwinnett, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and more.

You can find FOX 5's full list of school start dates here.

MORE: Back-to-School Weather: Rainy return to school for metro Atlanta students

Gwinnett County emphasizes student security

For the over 182,000 students learning in Gwinnett County, the new school year brings new measures to keep them safe.

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Georgia's largest school district is beginning the year with high-tech weapons detection systems installed at all of its 29 middle and 24 high schools.

Unlike metal detectors, the system pairs artificial intelligence with advanced sensors to differentiate between weapons and everyday items like keys and phones.

"The weapons detection is a component of a very comprehensive, layered mitigation strategy that we have in place," said Gwinnett County Interim Superintendent Dr. Al Taylor. "This is an important component, but it's not the only component."

PREVIOUS STORY: Gwinnett County Schools decides against clear backpacks for students

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Last year, the district used the system in its stadiums and gyms, and the program was expanded to include summer school sites. The total cost of the system is nearly $20 million.

While the district's elementary schools won't receive the system, district officials say school resource officers will be stationed at those campuses to provide a security presence.

Cobb County kicks off school year

At the state's second-largest school district in Cobb County, officials are putting their preparations to the test as drivers at the county's bus depot roll out to begin their routes.

Around 105,000 Cobb County students are heading back to school.

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Last week, kindergarten and first-grade students had the chance to do a bus ride-along to help them get familiar with their bus routine, meet their bus driver, and ease some of the first-day nerves.

The district has hired 300 new teachers to work at its 109 schools across the county.

As with other districts, safety is a top priority. Earlier this year, the Cobb County Board of Education approved hiring Vapor Wake K-9 officers, dogs tried to detect explosives and firearms.

Unlike some school districts in the area, there is no cell phone ban in Cobb Schools, but that will change next year when the Distraction Free Education Act takes effect.

Atlanta Public Schools welcoming new teachers

More than 250 new employees, including hundreds of new teachers, will greet students on the first day of class in Atlanta.

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Earlier this year, the school district announced a pay increase for frontline employees, including bus drivers, custodians, paraprofessionals, and nurses. Those raises are in addition to the district's 11% pay raise for teachers. APS Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson hopes to eventually raise the average teacher salary to $100,000.

The district says all APS employees will also receive step increases in pay.

APS officials also are emphasizing safety on its school buses. More than 200 buses will have new cameras placed on the stop-arms to help quickly identify drivers who illegally go around the buses when the arms are deployed.

The district is also reinforcing its personal electronic device policy this school year, originally put in place in 2019. It requires students to keep their phones turned off and out of sight during the school day.

Clayton County device policy changes

As with previous years, Clayton County students will need to have clear bookbags when they head back to class.

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In 2022, the district banned all backpacks through the end of the school year for safety reasons.

Then-Clayton County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Morcease Beasley said the change is in response to an increase in the number of weapons found at schools. Students were also not allowed to use lockers.

The district will not provide bookbags to all students, so parents or guardians will have to provide the bags.

This year, Clayton County officials also announced a new policy for devices that its students take home for the upcoming school year.

The new policy will limit those take-home devices to ninth through 12th grade students with "clear agreements and support policies in place."

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School officials say students in kindergarten through eighth grade will still have access to a device while at school, but they won't take them home.

Officials say the policy change is happening due to rising costs from lost, damaged, and stolen devices, as well as a push for a more sustainable approach to technology use.

DeKalb County turning off cell phones

In DeKalb County, students will have to leave their phones and other personal electronic devices off during the school day.

For the 2025-2026 school year, the DeKalb County School District announced that it is expanding its Disconnect to Reconnect initiative across all of its elementary, middle, and high schools.

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The policy change will be posted in classrooms and common areas.

Officials say the policy is to support a "a safer, more focused learning environment and ensure consistent enforcement across all schools."

Cherokee County touts increased school security

Cherokee County school leaders are touting their security measures to keep campuses safe as students head back to class.

In a video the district released, Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis explained their three-pillar approach to school safety: preparation, prevention, and response.

School officers in Cherokee wear body cameras to improve safety response, and schools are equipped with comprehensive camera systems.

The Source

Information for this article came from reports by FOX 5's Marc Teichner, Brooke Zauner, and Kim Leoffler in the field, previous FOX 5 stories, and releases from multiple metro Atlanta school districts.
Citadel boasts on its website that it does more than 30,000 meetings with corporate executives each year. Millennium's increasing allocation to externally run funds means more wallets to pay the sell-side, ensuring better access and preferential treatment from brokers. Balyasny has done educational events for corporate investor relations teams in Asia, India, and the US in the last 12 months to explain the firm's structure and introduce its broker relations leaders. Funds mentioned in this story declined to comment.

A decade ago, the connection between these firms and corporations was run solely through brokers working at investment banks, also known as the sell-side. Now, while the sell-side has not been cut out of the equation, the biggest hedge funds employ large teams of corporate access pros themselves, with personnel based in the US, Europe, and Asia helping mega funds get their ever-growing investing team members face time with CEOs.

In conversations with 15 portfolio managers, hedge fund executives, bankers, corporate access professionals, and investor relations heads, Business Insider found that access to C-suites  once a more level playing field  has become another area where the biggest firms dominate . The process is now a source of growing tension as smaller investment firms get edged out, companies are flooded with requests, and even top firms grapple with internal strains over who gets into the boardroom.

Multistrategy giants like Izzy Englander's Millennium, Ken Griffin's Citadel, Steve Cohen's Point72, and Dmitry Balyasny's eponymous firm operate with dozens  sometimes hundreds  of investment teams under one roof, each running their own strategy. These firms' stock-picking teams compete with each other and rivals for face time with leaders at the world's biggest companies.

Some of the most valuable time in the world is that of a CEO of a large public company like Jamie Dimon or Mark Zuckerberg, whose days are planned to the millisecond. They carve out time to speak to their companies' investors about strategy, expectations, and more, and it's those seconds that the biggest hedge funds in the world are increasingly monopolizing.

Citadel, for example, does more than 30,000 meetings with executives a year.

The biggest firms have teams of people handling their relationships with companies and get the most access.

Corporate access has become the latest institutional shift for the largest hedge funds in the industry.

Story continues

"A big part of the job is keeping everyone happy," said one hedge fund executive who has managed stock-picking teams for more than a decade.

'Kids' table'

Twenty-seven-year-olds in T-shirts. Cameras off during pandemic-era Zooms. Typing on laptops or phones while CEOs spoke. Twenty people on a call, all vying to ask a hyperspecific question, often related to next quarter's earnings.

Companies, especially the largest ones with the busiest executives, were getting frustrated as the headcounts of the industry's elite swelled, according to two corporate investor relations executives.

At bank-held conferences, alongside tenured portfolio managers from long-only funds and asset management giants like Fidelity and Wellington, "we were always the kids' table," one multistrategy executive admitted.

It was "pretty common" between 2018 and 2021 for executives to say no to meeting with some of these firms, or sharply curtailing the number of seats allotted to these funds, said Christopher Melito, a former corporate access pro at Cowen, Citi, and Credit Suisse. Even with how much these firms paid the sell-side, "at the end of the day, a C-suite could say 'don't confirm that request, we aren't meeting with them,'" said Melito, who is now the head of investor access at consulting firm ICR.

Though the industry started building corporate access teams as early as 2015, it took years for teams to get to their current efficiency. One early hire industry experts pointed to was when Citadel promoted Johnna Shields to the role of corporate relations manager within its Global Equities stockpicking unit.

Now, these staffers play a critical role in smoothing the path for hedge funds, which aren't always trusted by CEOs who worry about potential short-sellers and capital that'll leave at the first sign of trouble.

Similar to the growing importance of the business development role, those in corporate access have become a key cog within multistrategy firms, despite the fact that they don't manage capital themselves. Jain Global, for example, brought on Katie Vogt, a former Balyasny and Goldman Sachs staffer, to head its corporate access efforts, deeming the function important enough to hire someone pre-launch.

There's now a much healthier two-way street between funds and corporates.

For example, "a lot of top four funds stopped putting junior members in these meetings," Melito said, and started training younger investment team members on protocol.

One former PM said that at Point72, blazers are required when meeting with an executive. At other large firms, Melito said, young analysts start by meeting with smaller-cap companies before shadowing more senior investors in meetings with large-cap corporations.

Corporate access teams have shifted from booking agents to matchmakers, one person close to a big four fund said, pairing different teams and investors with the right executives.

"The large four funds have been a lot more strategic about their asks," Melito said.

Everything's political

Although the relationships between funds and companies may be solid, there is still plenty of bickering internally at the asset managers.

One portfolio manager at a large firm said the biggest fights he ever saw were between two teams wanting access to the same executive  and there would only be room for one. Firms often give more tenured teams the right of first refusal for a meeting, but sometimes big-name new hires will jump the line, causing a rift, another PM said.

All jobs have an element of internal politics to them, but in the cutthroat hedge-fund world, where a right call could mean a life-changing annual bonus and a wrong call could mean a pink slip, the stakes are magnified.

The growing staff at the biggest managers means that a potential meeting with a Fortune 500 CEO will have plenty of interested parties. At Citadel alone, there are roughly 300 stockpickers, Griffin said at a talk at his former high school in Florida earlier this year.

While the biggest funds can offer eye-popping sign-on bonuses and larger books of capital to manage, smaller funds that haven't been able to keep up with the big boys on corporate access resources are leveraging the internal tiffs to help their recruiting.

"We can say 'You're our tech guy,' and while we can't compete on upfront guarantees, we can give them better long-term incentives," said one individual who runs a smaller multistrategy firm. These incentives include automatic IPO distributions, he said, which can be hard to come by if you're lower down the totem pole in one of the bigger firms.

In the ongoing war for talent that has top moneymakers getting offers of tens of millions of dollars in total potential compensation, an important question for candidates is how many other teams trade their specialty or sector, one recruiter said.

"It's a make-or-break kind of question," he said. No one wants to be one of 20 investing in technology companies "unless the money's just stupid," he added.

Is it 'something AI could do' or a differentiator?

The reason these firms have been able to build up these teams and pay out such large commissions to the Street is because of the pass-through fee agreements that put their backers on the hook for business costs. The question limited partners need to ask: Is it worth it?

Several PMs at firms with large corporate access teams told Business Insider they could do without. One European equity investor said CEOs have become more scripted than ever, so meetings are basically a rerun of what they've previously said on earnings calls or at conferences. Another, based in the US, said the biggest value from these meetings used to be a sentiment check on how other teams were thinking about the stock  but now questions are often too specific and narrow to give any kind of indication into their thinking.

For one founder of a smaller activism fund, the meetings are a prime example of something that firms could eventually save money on by automating away.

"All these young analysts are asking questions off a sheet of paper their PM gave them and then typing into their models right there," the activist said. "It's something AI could do."

It's hard to quantify how much a 30-minute conversation with a CFO is worth to a fund's bottom line. One industry consultant believes the push for funds to adopt cash hurdles  which would require their net returns to be over that of a Treasury bond to earn performance fees  might lead to some firms cutting costs in different places, including payments to the sell-side.

Still, longtime stockpickers appreciate time with executives, and the old guard believes there's value in it. Tiger Global's billionaire founder, Chase Coleman, sees merit in these meetings and still attends them, a person close to the firm said, and funds have brought in former CIA interrogators to help investors dissect body language and read between the lines of a prepared statement.

Even beyond the informational advantages mega funds can glean from these meetings, corporate access is also a zero-sum game. The more meeting slots and conference registrations the industry's largest firms take up, the fewer everyone else can get.

"It's a finite resource," said one sell-side broker. "They don't want to share."

Read the original article on Business Insider
TRI-CITIES, Tenn./Va. (WJHL)  Monday marked the first day back at school for several school systems within the Tri-Cities.

One of the school systems that had its first day back on Monday was Johnson City Schools.

Woodland Elementary School Principal Josh Simmons said some students are ready to be back, while others may be a little nervous.

Nominate: Tri-Cities Best Bagels

WJHL Photo

Some are ready to run in the building, just want to wave at mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, and just say  goodbye, see you later, then other ones are a little bit more apprehensive and a little nervous, Simmons said. It takes a little bit of TLC to make sure they feel comfortable coming in, but it certainly is a diverse group as they come in that first day.

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Simmons said Woodland Elementary focuses on two important things for the first week of school.

Number one to make sure that all of our students feel loved, they feel valued, they feel cared for, they feel comfortable here, Simmons said. Number two, just make sure they feel safe. I think every school that you talk to that first week is just make sure theyre safe, make sure they are loved and they are valued.

School systems throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia will start back either this week or next. For a complete list of local schools first day back, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  While many kids are excited about showing off new outfits and accessories this school year, parents are facing a different kind of reality: sticker shock.

How is everything looking so far? Expensive, shopper Chenoa Lalamua said while back-to-school shopping with her child. Yeah, well, there are a lot of sales, but it still adds up.

Dont get stuck in the Back to School Jam with these DOT tips

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From backpacks and lunchboxes to sneakers and water bottles, the cost of getting ready for school is climbing.

Shoes [are] 50 to 90 dollars per set, Lalamua added.

A recent survey by U.S. News found that 85% of Americans are concerned about rising back-to-school costs due to new tariffs on imported goods. And its not just talk  the National Retail Federation says nearly 70% of consumers began shopping as early as July, a noticeable jump from 55% last year.

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I believe a lot of people were scared of the tariffs and the hike in everything, so they bought early, said Tina Yamaki, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. School supplies went on sale in early July. People were hoping prices would come down closer to school starting  deeper discounts.

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But despite the early rush, shopping centers like Pearlridge Center and Ala Moana were busy this weekend, as many families waited until the last minute.

For sure, we are on Hawaiian time, said Francine Nao, associate manager at T&C Surf in Pearlridge. This is the last weekend before school starts, so the Sunday before, we should expect a lot of foot traffic.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

T&C Surf is currently offering 25% off select Da Kine and Herschel backpacks, and for those spending $60 or more on Da Kine accessories, a free accessory tote or fanny pack is included.

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We have pencil cases, lunchboxes  and we cant forget about water bottles, Nao said.

But while many big box stores stocked up ahead of anticipated price hikes, experts warn that more price increases are likely on the way.

Youre probably going to see an increase in the price of everything, Yamaki said. Not just because of tariffs but because it just costs more to manufacture and ship things over.

Trump tariffs set to collide with back-to-school shopping

According to Yales Budget Lab, tariffs ranging from 10% to 40% on imported goods could soon push shoe prices up by 40% and clothing by 38%.

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Yamaki adds that now might be the right time to look beyond the mall. Local craft fairs and small businesses are not only a great place to shop for school essentials but also a way to support Hawaiis local economy.

So many of these local markets are going on with local crafters and small businesses, she said. People have been buying a lot of things from them as well  backpacks, back-to-school gear  and thats great for the local economy.

And with sales already happening this week, Yamaki says people are already shopping for the holiday season too.

If you see something you like at a good price, grab it, she said. Because it might not be there next time you look.

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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 KHON2.
Once a heavily guarded palace, the former official residence of Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina is being turned into a museum as a lasting reminder of her autocratic rule.

Photographs of jubilant flag-waving crowds clambering onto the rooftop of the Dhaka palace after Hasina fled by helicopter to India were a defining image of the culmination of student-led protests that toppled her government on August 5, 2024.

One year later, with the South Asian nation of around 170 million people still in political turmoil, the authorities hope the sprawling Ganabhaban palace offers a message to the future.

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Graffiti daubed on the walls condemning her regime remains untouched.

"Freedom", one message reads. "We want justice."

Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents.

Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 in her failed bid to cling to power, according to the United Nations.

The 77-year-old has defied court orders to attend her ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity in Dhaka, accusations she denies.

"Dictator", another message reads, among scores being protected for posterity. "Killer Hasina".

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Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who is leading the caretaker government until elections are held in early 2026, said the conversion to a museum would "preserve memories of her misrule and the people's anger when they removed her from power".

- 'Symbol of fascism' -

Mosfiqur Rahman Johan, 27, a rights activist and documentary photographer, was one of the thousands who stormed the luxurious palace, when crowds danced in her bedroom, feasted on food from the kitchens, and swam in the lake Hasina used to fish in.

"It will visualise and symbolise the past trauma, the past suffering -- and also the resistance," he said.

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"Ganabhaban is a symbol of fascism, the symbol of an autocratic regime".

The complex was built by Hasina's father, the first leader of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Hasina made it her official residence during her 15 years in power.

Tanzim Wahab, the curator of the under-construction museum, told AFP that exhibits would include artefacts of the protesters killed.

Their life stories will be told through films and photographs, while plaques will host the names of the people killed by the security forces during the longer period of Hasina's rule.

"The museum's deeper purpose is retrospective, looking back at the long years of misrule and oppression", said Wahab.

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"That, I believe, is one of the most important aspects of this project."

Wahab said the museum would include animation and interactive installations, as well as documenting the tiny cells where Hasina's opponents were detained in suffocating conditions.

"We want young people... to use it as a platform for discussing democratic ideas, new thinking, and how to build a new Bangladesh," Wahab said.

- 'Statues of dictatorship' -

That chimes with the promised bolstering of democratic institutions that interim leader Yunus wants to ensure before elections -- efforts slowed as political parties jostle for power.

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The challenges he faces are immense, warned Human Rights Watch ahead of the one-year anniversary of the revolution.

"The interim government appears stuck, juggling an unreformed security sector, sometimes violent religious hardliners, and political groups that seem more focused on extracting vengeance on Hasina's supporters than protecting Bangladeshis' rights," HRW said.

But while Hasina's palace is being preserved, protesters have torn down many other visible signs of her rule.

Statues of Hasina's father were toppled, and portraits of the duo torn and torched.

Protesters even used digger excavators to smash down the home of the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- that Hasina had turned into a museum to her father.

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"When the dictatorship falls, its Mecca will go too," said Muhibullah Al Mashnun, who was among the crowds that tore down the house.

The 23-year-old student believes that removing such symbols was necessary for Bangladesh to move forward to a better future.

"They were the statues of dictatorship," Mashnun said.

mma/pjm/mtp/jfx
Amid growing international outrage over an unfolding famine in Gaza, lack of aid supplies and the high death toll in the ongoing war, Israel is increasingly isolated on the world stage.

Last week, several of Israels major Western allies - the UK, France and Canada - set out a timetable for recognising a Palestinian state. In the following days, an apparently emboldened Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad both released fresh videos of hostages they kidnapped on October 7th, showing the two men in shocking conditions.

Venetia speaks to Gili Roman, brother of a released hostage and brother-in-law of a murdered hostage, about the pain of the videos and the mood on the ground in Israel amid fresh anti-government protests.

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Plus, The Telegraphs chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair looks at whether recognising a Palestinian state is the right move and what other options were available to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Beijing issued its highest alert for rainstorms on Monday, days after deadly deluges swept parts of the Chinese capital and triggered a rare apology from under-prepared officials.

The municipal weather service announced a red alert -- the highest in a four-tier system -- forecasting heavy rain from noon on Monday until Tuesday morning.

Most parts of the city are expected to see 100 millimetres (four inches) of rain during a six-hour period overnight, but outlying areas could experience between 150mm and 200mm, authorities said.

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"There is an extremely high risk of flash floods, mudslides, landslips and other natural disasters in mountain areas," the Beijing government said on an official social media account.

"Citizens are advised not to go outside unless necessary," it said.

Tens of thousands of people in northern China were evacuated as torrential rains wreaked havoc in parts of the north since last month.

Beijing was struck hard last week, when floods in its northern suburbs killed at least 44 people and left nine missing, according to official figures.

Some 31 fatalities occurred at an elderly care centre in Miyun district, prompting a local official to admit "gaps" in disaster readiness.

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Residents in flood-hit areas told AFP reporters at the scene that they had been surprised at the speed with which the rushing water inundated homes and devastated villages.

The city water authority on Monday again listed Miyun as highly vulnerable to flooding, alongside Fangshan, Mentougou and Huairou districts, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer, when some regions experience heavy rain while others bake in searing heat.

China is the world's biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that drive climate change and contribute to making extreme weather more frequent and intense.

But it is also a global renewable energy powerhouse that aims to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060.

mjw/oho/fox
By Ryan Woo and Joe Cash

BEIJING (Reuters) -Beijing had evacuated more than 70,000 residents by Monday afternoon and warned others to brace for a new round of heavy rainfall, a week after catastrophic floods killed dozens in the deadliest deluge to hit the Chinese capital since 2012.

Up to 200mm (7.9 inches) of rain could hit parts of Beijing over a six-hour period from midday, weather forecasters warned. The city of 22 million people receives on average 600mm of rainfall each year.

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The warning comes as authorities rush to reinforce ageing flood defences, fine-tune weather forecasts and update evacuation plans amid reports of bodies being pulled from raging flood waters across the country, including at least three at a wellness camp in Hebei province.

At least 44 people died in Beijing after heavy rains from July 23 to 29. Most of the dead were people unexpectedly trapped by rapidly rising waters at a nursing home in Miyun district on the city's northeastern outskirts. The fatalities led authorities to admit to shortcomings in their contingency plans for extreme weather.

By noon on Monday, Beijing had placed all of its 16 districts on the highest level of preparedness, in the first citywide state of readiness since July 28, shutting parts of the Great Wall and other outdoor leisure venues and halting operations of below-ground businesses.

The risk of flash floods and landslides is "extremely high", authorities said.

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By 2 p.m. (0600 GMT), the capital had relocated more than 70,000 residents - nearly 14,000 of them from the hilly Mentougou district in the city's west, the state broadcaster reported.

In the summer of 2012, 79 people died in Beijing in the city's deadliest flooding in living memory, with the Fangshan district the worst-hit.

Beijing's topography has been described by some as a rain "trap", with its mountains to the west and north capturing moist air and amplifying any ensuing rainfall as a result.

WELLNESS RETREAT

As of Saturday, torrential rains that swept through "Beijing Valley", a riverside wellness retreat in the Hebei city of Chengde adjacent to Beijing, had claimed three lives, with four still missing, China's state news agency Xinhua reported.

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Around 40 people had gathered on July 27 for an event at the site, where organisers directed them into tents pitched on low-lying land next to a river bend, Caixin Media reported.

By 2 a.m. the next morning, floodwaters had risen to knee height, forcing attendees to scramble towards the camp's only exit.

The site bore similarities to Camp Mystic in Texas, where at least 28 children were swept to their deaths last month by floodwaters after the Guadalupe River burst its banks amid torrential rain.

In China's southern Guangdong province over the weekend, the bodies of five people were recovered after a large-scale search operation involving more than 1,300 rescuers.

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The five people, who went missing on Friday night, were swept away by water following heavy rainfall in recent days, Xinhua reported on Sunday.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Joe Cash; Editing by Stephen Coates, Michael Perry and Helen Popper)
PORTLAND, Ore (KOIN)  A Bend man was extradited from Thailand back to the United States to face numerous child sex abuse and drug charges after he fled the country, authorities announced.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriffs Office, it began following a tip in February 2024 that a user on the chat application Discord had shared child sex abuse imagery.

The Discord account was quickly tied to Simon Lesley Hannes, 37, from Bend, authorities said.

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Portland car stolen with 1-year-old still inside found in Morrow County

On March 7, 2024, authorities said a search warrant was served at Hannes home, where they discovered a substantial quantity of dried and actively growing psilocybin mushrooms, as well as firearms.

While reviewing evidence, officials said they uncovered evidence that Hannes had been talking to an underage girl and had received sexual pictures from her. They also said they uncovered more multimedia items that showed sexual abuse of children that had been shared in online conversations.

Hannes was indicted and arrested on March 20, 2024, for sex abuse and drug charges.

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While waiting for the trial, authorities said they learned that Hannes had gone to Florida, in violation of his pretrial release conditions, which forbid him from leaving the state.

Hannes failed to appear for his trial date in April 2025, and while investigating why he had gone to Florida, officials said they learned that he had fled the country and gone to Thailand.

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Working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and law enforcement in Thailand, Hannes was taken into custody and extradited back to the United States by the U.S. Marshals Service.

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On July 28, a Deschutes County judge gave Hannes a $1.15 million pretrial bail for fleeing the country.

Hannes is facing numerous charges, including 10 counts of first-degree encouraging child sex abuse, 12 counts of second-degree encouraging child sex abuse, two counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, luring a minor, failure to appear, unlawful manufacturing of a Schedule I controlled substance and unlawful possession of psilocybin.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Benedictine Military School is celebrating one if its own after Cadet Hadden Dart was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest attainable rank in the Boy Scouts of America.

Dart earned this honor on June 10 after completing his board of review, a final step that assesses the Scouts experience and determines whether theyve met their rank requirements.

Darts achievement was shared on a social media post by the school.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
Former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke has issued a warning to Democrats of a third term for President Donald Trump if theyre unable to stop Republicans from gerrymandering another five seats out of the Lone Star State.

No longer will we have a check on his lawlessness, accountability for his corruption and crimes, and we will see a Republican-majority Congress roll out the royal red carpet for a third Trump term, ORourke, a one-time presidential candidate, said during an appearance on MSNBC on Saturday. Those are the stakes, and thats why we got to fight and we got to fight to win.

A panel in the Texas statehouse advanced the redrawn map on Friday during a special session focused on last month's deadly floods. The new map would add five new Republican seats in Texas. However, ORourke argued that its not a done deal and that Texas Democrats are still able to deny Republicans the numbers they need to certify the maps.

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The White House asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to call for a special session of the state legislature to redraw the map, with Republican lawmakers openly saying theyre attempting to gain a political advantage.

ORourke said during his MSNBC appearance that he hopes that Democrats in the state will deny Republicans the votes they need and deprive Trump of the additional Republican seats in Congress. He added that he wants the Democrats to inspire Americans, noting that voters have been looking to Democrats to fight and to fight to win.

Beto ORourke have called on Democrats to fight and to fight to win (Getty Images)

The 2020 presidential candidate went on to say that Democrats should look to redraw the maps in heavily blue states, such as California, New Jersey, and Illinois, to squeeze out more Democratic seats to counter the action taken by Texas Republicans.

There are no refs in this game anymore, he said. No courts are going to ride to the rescue. This is just an all-out bareknuckle brawl, and weve got to win it and be ruthlessly focused on it.

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Texas Democrats revealed Sunday that they would leave the state in order to stop the legislative session from going ahead, even as they face possible fines and other penalties.

ORourke argued that whats happening in Texas could be the future of every American. He slammed the states loose gun laws, abortion ban, and low minimum wage.

Some really bad stuff is happening in Texas, but some really good things have come from this state, as well, he said. Thats why we need all hands on deck in this state, or what you see right now will be your future, no matter where you live in this country.

Late on Sunday, Abbott told Texas Democrats that he would attempt to have them removed from office if they dont get back to the states capital of Austin to pass the new maps. More than 50 Democrats left the state on Sunday afternoon, meaning that the Texas House wouldnt have a quorum, which is the number of lawmakers required to pass legislation under the rules of the chamber.

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Democrats are attempting to put a stop to all legislative moves for the rest of this special session, which is set to end later this month.

This truancy ends now, Abbott said in a letter to the members. The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance when the House reconvenes at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025.

Greg Abbott called on Texas Democrats to return to the state (AP)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest the lawmakers.

Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, he said. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.

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Alongside some of the departed lawmakers, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during a press conference on Sunday that he would protect the Democratic members amid the threats.

Were going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them  because we know theyre doing the right thing, we know that theyre following the law, he said, adding that the lawmakers were left no choice but to leave their home state, block a vote from taking place, and protect their constituents.
Former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke warns Democrats of a third Donald Trump term if they dont stop Republicans from gerrymandering Texas and giving them an additional five seats in Congress.

No longer will we have a check on his lawlessness, accountability for his corruption and crimes, and we will see a Republican-majority Congress roll out the royal red carpet for a third Trump term, ORourke said Saturday on MSNBC. Those are the stakes, and thats why we got to fight and we got to fight to win.

On Friday, during a special session about last months deadly Texas flooding, a Texas House panel advanced the redrawn map, which would add five new Republican districts in Texas, but ORourke said its not a done deal and Texas Democrats can deny their Republican counterparts the numbers to certify the maps.

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Trumps team requested Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to call for a special session to redraw the map, and Republican lawmakers have been honest about their plans, saying they are redrawing the map for political advantage.

ORourke said he hopes Texas Democrats will deny Republicans the votes and deprive Trump of the five seats, but ultimately, he wants Democrats to inspire Americans, who have been waiting for Democrats to fight and to fight to win.

He continued by saying Democrats should aim to redraw districts now and gain even more seats in states that already hold a lot of Democratic seats, like California, New Jersey and Illinois.

There are no refs in this game anymore, ORourke said. No courts are going to ride to the rescue. This is just an all-out bareknuckle brawl, and weve got to win it and be ruthlessly focused on it.

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He said if Democrats do that, they have a chance of avoiding the worst possible outcome, which is Donald Trump stealing the 2026 election now in 2025 and Congress eventually letting Trump win a third term.

On Sunday, in a last-ditch effort, Texas Democrats said they would leave the state, facing possible fines and penalties, so the legislative session to redistrict the map couldnt take place.

As Texas looks to redraw the states congressional map, ORourke said Texas will be every Americans future. He praised and critiqued his home state, stating some really bad stuff is happening in Texas, like its lax gun laws leading to a high number of mass shootings each year, its abortion ban, and low minimum wage. He also mentioned that Texas led the way for Roe v. Wade in 1973 and also produced Lyndon B. Johnson, who signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law.

Some really bad stuff is happening in Texas, but some really good things have come from this state, as well, ORourke said. Thats why we need all hands on deck in this state, or what you see right now will be your future, no matter where you live in this country.

Related...
The News

Cote dIvoires 83-year-old President Alassane Ouattara is pitching his bid for a fourth term on his experience, saying he aims to lead the nation to upper middle-income status by 2030, as protests erupted around his decision to run again.

Only experienced leadership can guide the country through unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges, said Ouattara, an economist and former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, in a video released on social media last week. He also acknowledged breaking his 2020 promise to step aside for a younger generation  a transition derailed by the sudden death of his designated successor. Sometimes, duty must transcend a promise made in good faith, he said. This term will be about generational transition led by the team I will choose.

Over the weekend opposition supporters protested against Ouattaras decision to stand again. Former President Laurent Gbagbos opposition African Peoples Party of Cote dIvoire (PPA-CI) said six of its members were arrested in a wave of repression, RFI reported.

Know More

Ouattaras economic platform has so far been scant on details. However, some clues on its direction can be drawn from a document penned by one of the presidents most loyal lieutenants that was published by the IMF less than 24 hours ahead of his rerun announcement.

The government aims to bring poverty below 20%  down from 50% in 2010 and 37.5% in 2021  and maintain annual GDP growth around 6.6% through 2030, Finance and Budget Minister Adama Coulibaly wrote in a letter to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

This ambitious target would, in all likelihood, see Cote dIvoire move from its lower middle-income classification to upper middle-income status which is a longstanding goal that Ouattaras government has said it wants the country to achieve by 2030.

The World Bank determines the classifications according to gross national income (GNI) per capita  the average income earned by a nations population in a given year. Cote dIvoire, a lower middle-income country, had a GNI per capita of around $2,500 in 2024, whereas $4,495 would push it into the upper middle-income bracket, alongside wealthier African countries such as South Africa, Botswana, and Mauritius.

A chart showing Cote dIvoires gross national income per capita.

Step Back

Ouattaras rerun announcement drew condemnation from the PPA-CI opposition, which called it a very dark day for the rule of law. The presidents long silence over whether or not he would seek another five-year term in Octobers election has forced the countrys opposition parties into fragile alliances with few and unified messages. Tidjane Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse who was the main opposition frontrunner, was barred from running earlier this year, later forming a front with Gbagbo.
After a seven-month delay, Ukraines government has finally launched a competition for a State Customs Service director to tackle illegal smuggling that costs the country billions of dollars every year.

The news comes as Ukraine faces pressure at home and abroad to push ahead with delayed reforms. The governments decision to curtail the independence of two anti-corruption agencies on July 22 sparked the largest street protests since the start of the full-scale invasion and criticism from Kyivs international partners.

Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko announced on Aug. 4 that a selection committee of three Ukrainian and international experts had been established to find a director.

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The international committee members were selected in January as part of a customs reform law passed in late 2024 to align with benchmarks attached to funding programs with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

But the government derailed the first attempt to form a commission after rejecting the three initial Ukrainian candidates in February "without any explanation," opposition lawmaker from the Holos Party, Yaroslav Zhelezniak, told the Kyiv Independent.

The Finance Ministry on Aug. 4 announced it had selected three Ukrainian committee members from the business sector: Andriy Yerashov, head of the analytical center of the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs; Dmytro Oliynyk, chairman of the Council of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine; and Oleh Tymkiv, director of business development at the audit firm Moor Stevens.

"Now is better than never," said Zhelezniak, the main author of the customs reform bill, which aims to plug an estimated $2.4 to $3 billion in customs payments lost to smugglers annually.

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He says the government, particularly Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko, blocked the committee under the orders of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The customs service is one of the most corrupt institutions in Ukraine, and high-ups in government, including those close to Zelensky, benefit from illegal smuggling schemes, according to Zhelezniak.

International candidates, a mixture of anti-corruption and customs experts, will have the final say in the competitions winner to safeguard against political pressure.

"What's at stake here is billions of dollars in money that is still currently sloshing around in the shadow economy. By regaining that money for the state legitimately, you are taking it away from people who currently have their paws on it in less legitimate ways," Ukraines Business Ombudsman Roman Waschuk told the Kyiv Independent.

"Having genuinely independent people approach this means the breakdown of these long-established shadow arrangements."

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Svyrydenko praised the launch of the competition on social media, calling it "an important step in the reboot of the customs service, which must become an effective and transparent body operating according to European standards." She didnt provide an explanation for why the committee was only formed now, after the long delay.

When asked for an explanation by the Kyiv Independent, Svyrydenkos team pointed us to the prime ministers social media announcement, which does give a reason for the delay. The Finance Ministry did not respond to the Kyiv Independents request for comment by the time of publication.

The protests and international partners likely had an influence on the governments decision to kick-start the customs competition, Olena Shcherban, deputy executive director of Ukrainian non-profit the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC), told the Kyiv Independent. The customs reforms were part of the protestors demands, alongside the independence of anti-graft agencies and the appointment of the economic watchdog nominee, which the government had stonewalled.

"Before the protests, the authorities did everything to avoid any reforms, and international partners just stood by," Shcherban said.

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"Afterwards, partners started to react and demand real reforms, and the government understood it should at least make some attempts to do something  thats why we see todays decision."

Many people, including those in the security service, are siphoning off money from illicit customs schemes, Shcherban said, adding that she thinks its almost definite that there will be interference in the customs head competition.

She points to the economic watchdog winner, Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, who went through a similar competition only to be unlawfully blocked by the government over his estranged fathers Russian citizenship. After pressure from the international community, including Brussels, the government reversed its decision. Tsyvinsky will likely take the reins of the Economic Security Bureau this week.

"There could some some new methods of influence (on the customs competition)," she said.

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Read also: Ukraines law enforcement uncovers drone procurement corruption scheme involving lawmakers

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Why did Kamala Harris lose the Blue Wall, and every other swing state in 2024?

For the three leading candidates vying to win the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, providing an answer could determine their political futures.

At least one already has: Abdul El-Sayed argued on Monday that his party ran away from its voters  not towards them.

Polling within the margin of error against Rep. Haley Stevens, El-Sayed, 40, is very well positioned to pull off the historic feat of becoming the first-ever Muslim member of the United States Senate.

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A poll conducted by the NSRC, the GOPs Senate campaign arm, put him two points behind Stevens, a Democratic congresswoman and reportedly the Democratic party establishments favorite to win the seat. Mallory McMorrow, a state senator, trailed both but was nearing striking distance.

Democrats still haven't learned this lesson, El-Sayed insisted on Monday. It's frustrating because these people made a calculated decision about who they needed and who they didn't. And it turns out that that decision was way off.

Abdul El-Sayed could be the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate, thanks in part to a wave of Democratic anger over Gaza (The Independent)

El-Sayed spoke to The Independent two days before he was set to visit a Yemeni coffeeshop in Dearborn Heights for a meet-and-greet with voters, an area of Michigan that saw one of the sharpest drop offs among Democratic-leaning voters last year.

Across the state, El-Sayed is running the exact opposite kind of campaign as an increasingly frail Joe Biden ran in 2024. In some ways, his strategy contrasts with Harris, too, in ways which clearly didnt sit well with the former Detroit health commisioner.

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On a recent interview with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker (HasanAbi), the two discussed the Israel-Hamas war and starvation crisis in Gaza, which El-Sayed labels a genocide. But in the hourlong conversation  the likes of which Harris avoided to some dismay from Democrats  the two also brod out, chatting about fitness as well as the YouTube and Twitter shorts seemingly consuming social media and transforming it into slop.

I watched this campaign actively run away from certain groups of voters because they did not want to take questions that would expose the inconsistency of their values, said El-Sayed. Whether that was Joe Rogan's audience, whether that was Hasans audience, there are just groups of people that Democrats have said, you know what? We're going to give up on you, because we don't think we need you to win an election.

That's not how you do politics, he continued. Your job is not about just trying to architect a winning coalition. Your job is about trying to identify the issues that all people need, and then being able to be clear, specific and direct about how you solve them in an effort to win an election, because your agenda would deliver for the most people in the ways that they need.

He pinned much of the blame for the partys stiffness in 2024, exemplified in both Biden and Harris campaigns, on a steady stream of donor money the two-time Bernie Sanders-backed candidate argued was poisoning the party. Democratic policies were being winnowed down through a narrow lens of what would be palatable to both the partys base and their corporate-backed financiers, El-Sayed argued.

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The devastation in Gaza and the Democratic Partys complicity in not pressuring Israel over it under Biden highlighted a gulf between those two groups he argued was growing for years. The man who could very well be the Democratic Partys champion in a crucial Senate race spared no criticism for those Democratic elites he argued were responsible for the mess within which the DNC was now mired.

"Joe Biden's handling of Gaza was indicative of a general failure to be able to do the job, El-Sayed told The Independent.

"I wasn't in those rooms, said El-Sayed. What I can tell you is what I watched, and what I think the American public watched, [which] is an American president who was struggling to give a coherent statement, to get through a debate, [and] ... to manage a extremely complicated situation in Gaza.

I also know that there was this effort to silence those voices who were willing to state what was obvious before our eyes, he added.

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A disrupting voice in the party, El-Sayed is pledging to shake up the geriatric halls of the Senate as well should he become his partys nominee. Hes hoping that a phenomenon which manifested to propel Zohran Mamdani to victory in the New York City mayoral primary election can be duplicated in the Rust Belt.

There was an inversion of the demographics of the electorate in that primary, young people came out in droves, said El-Sayed.

And here in Michigan, we've got young people who have been sick and tired of the system for a very long time, and our job is to go and talk about the challenges that they're facing in their lives, he continued, offering an example of the complaints hes heard: I don't know that I'm going to be able to get a job, even though I've done everything you told me to do. I did it all. I'm stuck with $60,000 in debt, and AI is about to take the job I was supposed to have. I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to buy a home. I'm worried about the fact that I'm watching a smokestack corrupt our climate. I'm watching as oil pipelines are flowing through our Great Lakes, and I'm asking what's going to be left for me.

As senator, El-Sayed says hed back leveraging Democratic votes on legislation to fund the government: the kind of shutdown politics Chuck Schumer refused to play earlier in 2025. He also supports ending the filibuster, according to a staffer. El-Sayed also would not commit to supporting Schumer for another term as leader of the caucus, telling The Independent he wanted to look at his options as 2027 came into view.

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First hell have to win the 2026 primary as well as a general election against Mike Rogers, the Republican Trump-supporting congressman on a path to be crowned the GOP nominee. With a unified Republican Party backing Rogers, El-Sayed is well aware that his Muslim background and stance on Gaza could be weaponized by Republicans in an attempt to overshadow a Zohran Mamdani-like focus on affordability and Michiganders' financial stability.

Republicans see Michigan as a path to expanding a majority and giving Donald Trump the breathing room he needs to further his legislative agenda in 2027. The loss of Michigan would be a massive blow for a battle-weary DSCC, and a pro-Israel site has already attacked El-Sayed over his sitdown with Hasan Piker.

El-Sayed argued that the momentum was on his side, and that Democrats needed to be ready to brawl.

I think we need to stop being afraid, he said. I just think we need to punch back harder, right? They want to come after us on this issue, punch back harder.

I don't back down, I don't pull my punches, and I am more than happy to go at this issue or any other issue with lying MAGA types, El-Sayed continued.  I think we can win the American public, but we gotta stop being afraid of our own shadow.
Before Venezuelan aliens killed a man and targeted prostitutes in Garland-area motels, former President Joe Bidens administration released them into the country.

The Venezuelans  20-year-old Yosguar Aponte Jimenez, 35-year-old Jose Luis Trivino-Cruz, and 23-year-old Jesus De Nazareth Bellorin-Guzman  reportedly killed a man at a Garland motel in June, after robbing and assaulting nearby prostitutes, as The Dallas Express previously reported. They face capital murder charges and are on immigration holds.

It turns out Bidens administration released the Venezuelan aliens into the country from 2023 to 2025, according to Fox News Bill Melugin.

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Three depraved criminal illegal aliens from Venezuela were released into the U.S. under the Biden administration, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. ICE has lodged a detainer to ensure they are removed from our country after they face justice for their heinous crimes.

Jimenez crossed the border illegally on May 3, 2023, and the Biden administration released him into the United States, according to Melugin. Morales is charged with capital murder.

The Biden administration released Cruz into the country on October 9, 2024, through the CBP One app. Cruz faces charges of capital murder, aggravated robbery, and indecent assault.

Biden officials also released Guzman through the CBP One app on January 6, 2025, just before Trump took office. He faces charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery.

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All three suspects are detained in the Dallas County Jail with bonds of $1.5 million and more, as The Dallas Express previously reported. They allegedly killed 48-year-old Santiago Lopez Morales at a Garland Motel 6 in the early hours of June 20.

The Venezuelans reportedly robbed a woman earlier that morning at the Deluxe Inn on Leon Road in Garland. She told Morales, so he began messaging the suspects online, posing as a prostitute, and planned to meet them at the Motel 6.

Morales and four witnesses arrived in a pickup early that morning at 4:21 a.m., surveillance footage showed. Then a Toyota sedan arrived at 4:47 a.m., and a gray Acura arrived at 4:54 a.m.

Just after 5 a.m., one suspect left the Toyota and knocked on room 137. Morales, armed and dressed as a security guard, confronted him. A struggle ensued.

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A second suspect from the Acura shot Morales, and he fell motionless. The suspects fled the scene.

Police arrived at 5:19 a.m. and provided first aid. But according to medical examiner records, just before 6 a.m., Morales died of homicide at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Investigators found an aggravated robbery had previously taken place at the Deluxe Inn around 2 a.m., where two Hispanic men forced their way into a womans room  then held her at gunpoint, sexually assaulted her, and robbed her of cash, jewelry, and ID. They fled in the same vehicles later driven by the suspects who killed Morales.

Jimenez confessed to more than 25 robberies, and Trivino-Cruz admitted two more robberies that day, as The Dallas Express previously reported.

The Garland Police Department later identified Morales as a resident of Las Vegas and said the shooting was an isolated incident.
In a remote stretch of West Texas sky, a new eye is watching.

U.S. Border Patrol has deployed a high-tech surveillance blimp, officially known as an aerostat, last month, just outside the small town of Sanderson, Texas. The launch marks a big step in the agencys efforts to monitor one of the most rugged and difficult-to-patrol areas across the Lone Star State.

The Helen Gardner Aerostat, launched on July 26, sits on private ranch land roughly three miles east of Sanderson. Its named after the Helen Gardner Ranch that it sits on, which will host the tethered surveillance system for the time being.

What exactly is an aerostat?

Think of it as a large, unmanned blimp tethered to the ground by a heavy-duty cable. Inside, it carries advanced cameras and radar monitoring equipment that the CBP can remotely access.

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The blimps use a gas like helium to stay aloft without needing to move through the air. Because it rises using buoyant lift, it can take off and land vertically without a runway. Helium is commonly used in most aerostats due to its safety and availability, unlike other gases that are flammable, toxic, or costly, per the National Aviation Academy.

While it doesnt move much like a drone or airplane, the surveillance blimps value lies in hovering high above the terrain: giving agents a persistent birds-eye view of wide collections of land. In this case, that means near-constant surveillance of a section of the border thats both vast and historically difficult to patrol.

The successful launch of the Helen Gardner Aerostat strengthens our situational awareness and gives our agents a significant operational advantage in areas that are difficult to patrol by land, said Chief Patrol Agent Lloyd Easterling of the Big Bend Sector.

The surveillance efforts are allegedly part of a growing push to bring more advanced technology into the Border Patrols toolkit.

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With steep canyons and miles of isolated ranchland, the Big Bend area has long posed a challenge for law enforcement. According to the CBP, agents often need to cover areas of hundreds of square miles with limited manpower and visibility.

The agency now hopes that the aerostat blimp can free up some of those resources in the fight to secure the southern border.

Now, lead officials on the project say the new surveillance system in Sanderson will be monitored around the clock.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom spent the last four years provoking the Big Oil boogeyman. Now, its haunting him.

Newsom's casting of Big Oil as the villain behind the state's perpetually high fuel prices signaled the industrys waning influence in Sacramento. But the plot took a dramatic turn for the governor and his party when two refineries in the state announced closure plans.

"Refineries all across the globe are struggling," Newsom said last month in unveiling a suite of proposals to keep refineries solvent, including holding talks with potential buyers and offering incentives to boost in-state oil drilling. "We've got some challenges, and so just require some new considerations."

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The about-face is emblematic of Democrats' course correction on cost-of-living issues in the wake of the presidential election  and provides a real-time demonstration of the political risks of pursuing an aggressive transition away from fossil fuels.

The reality is, if those refineries close and we have increased gas prices, it's going to be a problem for everybody, said Andrew Acosta, a veteran California Democratic campaign consultant. Not just Gavin Newsom, but every Democrat running for office.

Democrats are grappling with that reality as they attempt to claw back voters from President Donald Trump and Republicans in an acknowledgment that conservative messaging that blue-state officials are out of touch with daily life has stuck. And while recent polling in deep-blue California shows voters still want their leaders to fight climate change, the state is not immune to this dynamic.

It represents a departure from a wave of enthusiasm around progressive climate policies that Newsom was stoking as recently as a month before the presidential election.

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They have been raking in unprecedented profits because they can, Newsom said in October while signing a bill requiring refiners to store more gas to prevent shortages, a concept the industry warned would backfire. Theyve been screwing you for years and years and years.

But then a fifth of the state's gasoline refining capacity started drying up. Phillips 66 announced in October that it would close its Southern California refinery by the end of 2025. Valero followed suit in April with the planned closure of its Northern California facility in 2026.

Fast forward to earlier this month, when Newsom announced he was taking action to stabilize in-state oil supplies. Its not rolling back anything  thats actually marching forward in a way that is thoughtful and considered, Newsom told reporters in July, after his administration proposed steering clear of the oil-profits cap the governor had championed as a way to keep refineries open.

Newsom spokespeople pointed to the governors comments during a Thursday press conference where he called the approach completely consistent with the states climate agenda, which has always been about finding a just transition.

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He also touted a 2023 law that requires oil refiners to provide data about their operations, saying it tipped off the state about Valeros closure plan.

We would not have had that benefit of having information in advance, which has given us a year to begin the process of figuring out what to do, Newsom said.

But oil companies' unexpectedly hasty retreat from the Golden State is forcing officials to reckon with their awkward transition away from gas that until now has largely been theoretical. And it has created a real threat for Democrats if they fail to respond adequately heading into the 2026 midterms after cost-conscious voters resoundingly returned Trump to office last year.

Even some environmentalists are having second thoughts.

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I think Democrats sort of failed to read the room, perhaps in a way that, unfortunately, Trump did, said Katelyn Roedner Sutter, California director for the Environmental Defense Fund. If we're not acknowledging people's day-to-day reality and the challenges they face, it's really hard for them to care about the existential threat that is climate change.

Newsom took over from former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2019 and quickly went even further than his predecessor by not only pushing for policies that reduce demand for gas  like electric vehicle incentives  but also by attempting to reduce supply. He announced a ban on fracking in 2021 and signed a law that restricts oil drilling near sensitive sites like schools and hospitals. He also spearheaded a lawsuit to hold major oil companies liable for climate change damages and legislation to consider a cap on oil industry profits, while castigating the industry as a corrupt force fleecing Californians.

[Browns] view was that we really need to change the demand and that the supply issues are less relevant, said Ken Alex, who was a climate adviser to Brown and is now the director of Project Climate at the University of California, Berkeley. Governors are always worried about gas prices because they're so visible to voters, so, of course, you have to consider where you want to pick your battles.

Now the oil industry has Newsom over a barrel. Two days after he signed a law last year authorizing state officials to require refiners to store more gas and share resupply and maintenance plans with the state, Phillips 66 announced it would close its Los Angeles-area refinery. Six months later, Valero did the same with its Bay Area refinery.

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Republicans pounced, and Newsom began his pivot. I can assure you, beginning last night, we had all hands, and were in the process of addressing any anxiety that may be created or any market disruption that may be created by that announcement, he said in April.

Andy Walz, Chevrons president of downstream, midstream and chemicals, said California officials have made the state uninvestable for companies like his and that it had been only a matter of time before a refiner pulled the plug.

I don't think they believed the industry was in trouble, Walz said of California officials. I think they misread what was really going on, and it took some real action by some competitors to get them woken up.

Walz intends to continue pressing his advantage. He called Newsoms proposal to increase in-state oil drilling a recognition that theres a problem, but is pushing to unwind key pieces of the states climate agenda, like its cap-and-trade program and rules aimed at reducing emissions from oil tankers and other ships that dock in the states ports.

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The transition is slower than a lot of people thought," he said. "We need to see some action; they've got a chance to do some good things."

While the move away from fossil fuels poses challenges to all policymakers pursuing aggressive decarbonization goals, California faces a unique set of circumstances that complicate its transition. Throughout its history, the state has operated as a fuel island isolated from the rest of the country and it doesnt have the infrastructure necessary to pipe in refined gasoline from its neighbors. That means the state cant quickly respond to gas shortages when refineries go offline, leading to price spikes like in 2022 and 2023, when average prices soared past $5 per gallon.

Colin Murphy, deputy director of the University of California, Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy, said that isolation has given the handful of oil companies that operate refineries in the state outsize power to control the market. But he also argued that California lawmakers underestimated the industrys willingness to wield that power.

The core lesson from this story is this is what happens when you let an industry gain market power and put itself in a position where there just aren't any alternatives, Murphy said.

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California leaders are still positioning the state as the front line of defense against the Trump administrations assault on clean energy and environmental programs at a national level. It is taking the lead on a slew of lawsuits to loosen the presidents stranglehold on federal grants for electric vehicle chargers and environmental justice groups, and defending its authority to set stricter-than-federal vehicle emissions standards that Trump revoked last month.

Thats all well and good, but an intense focus by voters on affordability has underpinned policy debates in Sacramento this year, leaving some allies in the environmental community feeling burned, as theyve watched their hard-fought momentum slip.

Newsoms office began circulating a draft bill last month that would ease permitting for more in-state drilling in oil-rich Kern County, an effort that environmental justice groups have fought for years. The proposal includes measures that are an olive branch to these groups  including a well stimulation ban and a requirement for drillers to plug two wells for every new well they make  but that hasnt dampened their frustration.

It seems like a lot of our elected officials are driven above all by a fear that they'll be blamed for high gas prices, said Bill Magavern, policy director at Coalition for Clean Air.

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Their odds of shifting lawmakers focus with six weeks left in the legislative session are steep, as the idea has gained traction even amongst lawmakers known as climate stalwarts.

Call me born again, but I have seen the light on exactly what youre talking about, Sen. Henry Stern told Republican colleagues during an April legislative hearing. Kern County should be unleashed, and I'm there.  Don't send that to the White House, please.
Texas Democrats are breaking quorum in an attempt to block the newly-drawn Republican map from being approved. Democratic Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher of Texas joins to discuss her colleagues' latest move and why this should matter to the rest of the American public.
Bill Maher slammed America's elite universities as "indoctrination factories" and shared support for President Donald Trumps plans to reform them, saying they need a "hot poker up the a--," on HBOs "Real Time" on Friday.

"Academia needed a hot poker up the a-- our universities have been out of control for a long time. They became indoctrination factories... There's absolutely no diversity of thought," Maher said in response to a viewer question about Trumps efforts to reform American universities.

Trump has been waging war against the countrys top colleges over antisemitism, DEI and lack of diverse thought. Trump has withheld billions of dollars in federal research funds from Columbia, Harvard, Yale and other top schools in efforts to get them to reform their campuses.



Antisemitic incidents have sharply spiked at colleges across the country since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. Additionally, studies show that intellectual diversity is in decline at universities, with liberals outnumbering conservatives.

Bill Maher slammed American universities as "indoctrination factories."

Harvard Professor Urges University To Embrace Ideological Balance Amid Clash With Trump Admin

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Trump restored research funds to Columbia after the Ivy League school settled with the administration, paying over $221 million to resolve various federal civil rights investigations against it. The deal includes $21 million to resolve antisemitism complaints. The Trump administration hailed the deal as the largest antisemitism settlement in history. Columbia also committed to several reforms to combat antisemitism and discrimination on its campus.

Maher conceded that he didnt think withholding scientific research funds wasnt the right course of action, but countered that universities had become profoundly anti-American. He also said that professors, cloistered in their "ivory towers," had become disconnected from basic moral decency.

Read On The Fox News App

"Why do you think they erupted so many of them in cheers for what happened On October 7th? Why do you have professors coming out there and saying they were exhilarated by this mass massacre of people? Okay, that didn't happen overnight, you know, they're ivory towers, and also they're just very Anti-America," Maher said.

Columbia University recently settled with the Trump administration to resolve various civil rights investigations.

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Cornell University Professor Russell J. Rickford called the Hamas terrorist attack "exhilarating" and "energizing," just days after it took place.

"It was exhilarating, it was energizing. And if it werent exhilarating by this challenge to the monopoly of violence  by this shifting to this balance of power  then they would not be human. I was exhilarated," Rickford said. He later issued an apology.

The Trump administration has been withholding federal research funds from various schools.

The "Real Time" host slammed colleges for lacking free speech on their campuses, and said that something had been "rotten" about American higher education for quite some time. He slammed universities for not permitting conservatives to speak on campus.

"You cannot speak the other side of the coin, when conservative thought, whatever you think of it. It's just verboten, which is basically what happened," Maher said.





Original article source: Bill Maher calls universities 'indoctrination factories,' partially backs Trump efforts to reform them
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  EDM star Kristine W has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration after an extremely turbulent flight heading for Amsterdam out of Salt Lake City sent 25 people to the hospital. ABC4 spoke with Kristine, her daughter Elizabeth, and Kristines lawyer Evan regarding the incident.

Kristine Weitz and her daughter Elizabeth were headed for Amsterdam when their plane suddenly began rattling uncontrollably, sending people slamming into the plastic overhangs and food and drinks spilling into laps.

Ive been flying for 40 years. Ive never experienced anything this horrific in my life, Kristine said. Ive never thought, Oh, were finished  and Ive been in terrible situations flying because thats what I do. I fly all over the planet.

Kristine Weitz and her daughter Elizabeth (via Instagram @kristinewmusic)

Her daughter Elizabeth also described the chaos, saying, A lady got burned with coffee to the left, and there was just food and drinks flying everywhere  I thought we were done. I just started praying honestly.

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25 people injured due to turbulence on Delta flight released from hospital, what happens now?

Elizabeth said she could see peoples heads hitting the ceiling, her own mother hitting the ceiling so hard with her head that it cracked the light above her. Kristine told ABC4 she blacked out for a moment from the force.

Shortly after, they said the plane ascended rapidly before dropping in what felt like a complete free fall. Luckily, the pilot was able to stabilize and make an emergency landing at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. There, 25 people were taken to hospitals in what Kristine and her daughter said was also a chaotic event.

It needs to be talked about, Kristine said. This should never happen, and they need to find out what happened on that flight.

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Kristines lawyer Evan Oshan told ABC4 the plane likely dropped the height equivalent of almost two Empire State Buildings. The FAA is now conducting an investigation to figure out what happened. Once that concludes, Evan said theyll have a better idea of how to proceed.

I dont want to get in the middle of their investigation, Evan said. What Im most interested in is getting to the truth.

Regardless, Evan said there no question this was a traumatic event, and injured victims may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

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It was a bipartisan show of unity that former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh would have appreciated.

As Nigh lay in state on Monday, Aug. 4, just outside the governors office at the state Capitol, three former governors  two Democrat, one Republican  and their wives joined Nighs wife, Donna, and their daughter, Georgeann, in a semicircle around the open casket and said a quiet prayer.

George Nigh, a Democrat, always knew the power of working with others, no matter the political party, said former Gov. Frank Keating, a Republican.

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He was a principled, decent, wonderful human being, Keating said. I don't think anybody disliked him.  I always thought he was just a very kindly, sweet-hearted, open-minded, lovely person, to the day he died.

Nigh, who died on Aug. 30 at age 98, served on four occasions as Oklahomas governor and, at the time of his death, was the nations oldest living former governor, said former Gov. David Walters, a Democrat. Nighs first period as governor came when he served nine days of the unexpired term of J. Howard Edmondson after Edmondson left the office early to take an open seat in the U.S. Senate in January 1963.

He was an extremely compassionate and loving governor that cared about people, Walters said. The first thing he'd ask is where youre from and what college you went to. He was always looking for a common connection every time he met somebody.

Walters told of taking Nigh to his last public speech, in June in Tulsa.

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He stood up and gave a rousing speech. He didn't have the ability to get up to the podium, but he stood with a microphone at his chair and talked about coming together in collaboration and all the things that he really stood for.

Nigh also served multiple terms as Oklahomas lieutenant governor and eight years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, in which he famously convinced his fellow lawmakers to adopt the song Oklahoma  from the Broadway musical Oklahoma!  as the state song in 1953. He later served five years as the president of the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

Former first families  from left, David and Rhonda Walters, Donna Nigh, Cathy and Frank Keating and Brad and Kim Henry  gather to say a prayer Aug. 4 as former Gov. George Nigh lay in state at the Capitol.

George Nigh was a cheerleader for Oklahoma: 'A modern-day Will Rogers'

Perhaps Nighs greatest role, however, was as a cheerleader for Oklahoma. For decades, both while he was in and out of political office, hed tout the positive aspects of the state.

He was a modern-day Will Rogers, said former state Rep. Joe Dorman, of Rush Springs, one of many former and current elected officials from both sides of the political aisle who came Aug. 4 to pay their respects to Nighs family.

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Keating, Walters and former Gov. Brad Henry all came at the same time. (Former Gov. Mary Fallin was traveling, Keating and Walters said, and unable to attend.) Also spotted: Corporation Commissioner Brian Bingman, state Treasurer Todd Russ, Oklahoma County Commissioners Jason Lowe and Brian Maughan, former Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, former Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger and current Justices Noma Gurich and Douglas Combs.

In addition to state officials, dozens of everyday Oklahomans also stopped to pay their respects. One, Bill Cornelson, of Fairview, added a simple message in the guest book: I always appreciated him!

Nigh appointed the first two female justices to the state Supreme Court  Alma Wilson and Kauger, the latter in 1984. Kauger said she always sent Nigh flowers each March 14, which was the anniversary of the day he appointed her.

Nighs appointments of Wilson and Kauger opened the door for all of us and all the women in the judiciary, Gurich said. We didnt do this with Title IX. We didnt have affirmative action. We were not favored. We worked hard and thats what happened and thats where we are. I think thats really important.

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Askins, a Democrat who also served as a state representative and as a judge, said Nigh served as a model for her of how to be a good public servant. She was the first to sign the guest register.

He's been an example for me of being able to take what you learn through different stages in your life and use it to connect people to resources or to education or workforce development, as you move forward, Askins said. I mean, this is the man who always wanted us to put the exclamation mark after Oklahoma!, just like the musical, because that's how he felt about our state.

Lowe, a Democrat who served in the Oklahoma House before winning election to the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners, said he took lessons from Nighs bipartisan approach to governance that have been useful in his nonpartisan role as commissioner.

Donna Nigh visits the bust of her husband, George Nigh, on Aug. 4 in the Hall of Governors at the state Capitol. The former governor, who died July 30 at 98, lay in state at the Capitol.

What I've learned from him is you have to work together to find solutions, Lowe said. Nobody cares if you're a Democrat, a Republican, an independent  fixing potholes, paving roads, the party does not matter. All the constituents care about is whether we get it done or not and that's what it's all about.  Were all human beings. We need to work together to get out of whatever situation were in, and we have to do it all together.

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Keating and Walters both noted how Nigh often would lead groups in singing Oklahoma, after he told them the story of how it became the state song. Walters wryly noted surprise that the song wasnt playing while Nigh lay in state. But fittingly, the lyrics to the song were printed on the back of a remembrance card distributed at the Capitol.

We know we belong to the land, and the land we belong to is grand, the song goes. And when we say  Yeeowp A-yip-i-o-ee ay! Were only sayin Youre doin fine, Oklahoma! Oklahoma  OK.

A memorial service for Nigh will be held Aug. 14 at Crossings Community Church.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former Gov. Nigh remembered as he lay in state at Oklahoma Capitol
As National Black Business Month highlights the contributions and challenges of Black entrepreneurs, Capital B News reported in April that the Trump administration policies have created additional hurdles for Black-owned businesses. The report noted that the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has had a disproportionately negative impact on Black Americans, particularly business owners.

As the Florida Courier reports, a February memo from SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler proposed reducing the Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) designation target from 15% to the statutory minimum of 5%. Loeffler argued the change would benefit veteran-owned businesses. However, the SDB program has historically helped address barriers faced by Black-owned businesses, and the proposed reduction could limit their access to federal contracts and resources.

In June, Black Press USA reported that a proposed settlement to dismantle the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Program was nearing approval but was ultimately rejected by a federal court.

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Despite the hostile environment for Black-owned businesses, they continue to push on, determined to thrive regardless of the obstacles placed in front of them.

In recognition of Black Business Month, the Broward County Black Chamber of Commerce will host its National Black Business Month Reception on Aug. 7. According to the events listing on Eventbrite, it will honor the contributions of Black-owned businesses across South Florida.

In Oakland, the East Oakland Youth Development Center held its 4th Annual Black Futures Ball on Aug. 2, an event that both celebrates the vibrancy of Oakland while raising money for the youth served by the center.

According to its CEO, Selena Wilson, the Ball helps the youth by providing not only financial support but also a platform to amplify imagination, creativity, and radical vision. Inspired by works like Black Panther, Ironheart, and the new Superman, the Ball offers a space for attendees to dream boldly, dress boldly, and imagine liberating futures rooted in joy and Black excellence.

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On Oct. 4-5, CultureCon 2025, the largest creative festival for creative entrepreneurs, creators, and cultural influencers, is set to descend upon the Brooklyn borough and will feature community-building, hands-on workshops, a career fair, and immersive activations.

Entrepreneurs like Mississippis Kenesha Lewis are providing hope and changing the narrative in areas that are more associated with historical disenfranchisement than Black people thriving.

As she told NPR, Im really excited for the young people to walk in, and they say, whos the owner, and theyre like, what? I had somebody do that to me. Our Black people are waking up; they know that they can do this. I think that we have helped them to understand that they can do this, they can succeed in this era.

RELATED CONTENT: Report Reveals Barriers Black Entrepreneurs Face, Despite Growth And Economic Promise
Caleres Inc. has a new lead brand in its shoe portfolio.

The St. Louis-based footwear firm said on Monday that it has closed the acquisition of the Stuart Weitzman brand from Tapestry Inc.

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Caleres also revealed that Jonathan Lelonek has been named brand president for Weitzman. Lelonek joined the brand in 2012 and was most recently senior vice president of global wholesale. He previously held senior roles in sales and merchandising at Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Paul Frank, bringing deep industry experience and a strong track record in luxury and contemporary footwear.

Stuart Weitzman is one of the most iconic names in luxury footwear, and the brands original designs have embodied elegance and modernity for decades, Jay Schmidt, Caleres president and chief executive officer, said. We are honored to welcome Stuart Weitzman as our newest lead brand and to congratulate Jonathan on his appointment as brand president.

Schmidt noted that with the addition of Stuart Weitzman, the brand portfolio segment will represent nearly half of total revenue going forward. As we integrate this iconic brand, we remain committed to preserving the artistry, quality and renowned fit at [its] core, he said.

The move further deepens Caleres position in the global footwear market. Other shoe brands in its portfolio include Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer, Vionic and Dr. Scholls Shoes, among others.

Caleres plans to use the balance of 2025 as a period of transition and integration. The Stuart Weitzman brand, which has a strong presence across North America, Europe and Asia in the wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels, generated trailing 12-month sales of $220 million. Caleres plans to leverage its capabilities and expertise in the shoe sector to use the transition period to return the global luxury brand to profitability.

The shoe deal was initially disclosed in February. At the time, the agreement was for Caleres to buy the brand for $105 million. The transaction at the close was for $120.2 million. The higher amount represents a reimbursement of $11.5 million in cash that Tapestry left in a connected Spanish entity, along with working capital in the form of inventory and accounts receivable, being transferred over. Excluding the cash reimbursement, the transaction value is $108.7 million.
Just like the workers on his construction projects, Donald Trump wrote the Black community a bad check during the campaign, said Markus Batchelor, political director at People For the American Way.

While campaigning for his return to the White House during the 2024 election, Donald Trump warned Black voters that undocumented immigrants were taking their so-called Black jobs.

Theyre taking Black jobs now, and it could be 18, it could be 19, and even 20 million people. Theyre taking Black jobs, Trump said during his June 27, 2024, presidential debate against former President Joe Biden. The remark was quickly slammed by advocates and Democrats as both false and racially divisive.

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Trump repeated the claim along the campaign trail, including his explosive interview with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Coming from the border are millions and millions of people that happen to be taking Black jobs, Trump asserted at the time, prompting gasps in the room of Black reporters. Theyre taking the employment away from Black peopletheyre coming in [and] theyre invading.

A year later, Trump is now back in the White House, where he has followed through on his campaign promise to detain and deport mass populations of undocumented immigrants. However, what has not come into fruition is his promise to secure more Black jobs.

As theGrio reported last week, the most recent jobs report revealed that the Black unemployment rate spiked to its highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

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During the most recent presidential campaign, we heard the offensive rhetoric that Black people had Black jobs and that migrants were taking those jobs from Black people, said Global Black Economic Forum President and CEO Alphonso David. He told theGrio, Those claims were categorically false then and the recent job numbers amplify that point.

He continued, Despite the aggressive and in many cases lawless attempts to deport migrants, the unemployment rate for Black people in the United States has climbed to 7.2%, representing the highest level since the pandemics peak impact and higher than the overall U.S. population.

Markus Batchelor, political director at People For the American Way, told theGrio of the latest jobs report, Just like the workers on his construction projects, Donald Trump wrote the Black community a bad check during the campaign.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA  AUGUST 03: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a round table discussion with Black business owners before his rally at the Georgia State University Convocation Center on August 03, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Trumps economic policies, most notably his tariff program, which economic experts say is causing uncertainty for investors and risks driving up prices for goods, are being blamed for the latest Black unemployment numbers. Trump has also fired or laid off tens of thousands of federal workers in an attempt to shrink the federal government, which disproportionately hires Black workers.

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Batchelor explained, For all the Black Jobs he said immigrants would take, Donald Trump has taken the most  slashing support for Black farmers, gutting a disproportionately Black federal workforce, and even forcing private businesses to end efforts that diversify their workforce.

This isnt a president who came in and said, Were going to increase funding for MWBE (Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises). This isnt a president who said were going to work on wages, said Jamarr Brown, executive director of Color of Change PAC, the political arm of the progressive social justice organization of the same name.

Brown told theGrio, This is a president who came in and [eliminated] jobs, whos fighting labor unions, which fight for the protection and dignity of workers every single day.

The political operative said Trump, who has made his anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda a major feature of his administration, has done everything to cut opportunities and doesnt care about creating an inclusive economic agenda, particularly for Black Americans who largely didnt vote for him and any of his extremist allies.

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Though Trump appeared to center Black jobs during his 2024 campaign, Brown argued that it was never an actual campaign promise but rather a campaign gimmick to confuse Black people with misinformation and disinformation about the record of President Bidens administration.

He wanted to engage Black people in some myth that they were not being helped by the previous [Biden] administration, which, if you look at the investments of that administration, billions of dollars going to the Black community, he explained. We havent seen any of that from Donald Trump.

Following Fridays jobs report, which also revealed a slowing of hiring with only 73,000 jobs added in July, Trump instead blamed Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, accusing her of falsifying statistical data without evidence to support his claim. The president immediately fired McEntarfer, who was appointed by President Biden.

So what hes doing is to eliminate people who will bring the data and the truth and the reality of where our economy sits right now, said Brown. That is even more dangerous than the low numbers that were reported.

More must-reads:
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11)  Global investment firm Blackstone is reopening its doors on Monday, one week after a gunman shot and killed one of its executives and three others, reports said.

PIX11s Justin Finch has the story.

Watch the video player for the full interview.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(NewsNation)  Editors of the Blake Lively film It Ends With Us complained about her involvement in editing the movie, citing its sex scenes, according to unsealed court documents viewed by NewsNation.

In a text chain revealed in unsealed documents from Livelys sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, editor Robb Sullivan texted SMH  shorthand for shaking my head  to co-editor Oona Flaherty and a person named Henry Grace.

Justin Baldoni attends Blake Livelys deposition: Report

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He was reacting to Lively getting approval rights for intimate scenes involving both her adult character, Lilly, and the younger version. The younger version was not played by Lively.

Editors discuss Blake Livelys control in editing

Thats gonna end up being a Blake call honestly. If you can get her to keep it in and its in the movie when I get back it can stay in, Grace said when asked by Flaherty about editing a sex scene for the film.

The text thread shows Flaherty asking if the actress gets to approve the scenes for the younger version of Livelys character.

When she claimed she was unsafe- she redid the nudity rider to get approval of young Lilly too, Grace wrote to the two editors, who seemingly expressed their disapproval.

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Desperate and narcissistic Blake Lively coming after us: Content creators

Blake Lively deposed

The documents release comes after Livelys deposition July 31 in New York City, at which Baldoni reportedly made a surprise in-person appearance.

The editors reported disapproval comes after NewsNations Paula Froelich reported that the Gossip Girl star was going after content creators who criticized or questioned her motives in the Justin Baldoni-Wayfarer lawsuit, with sources telling Froelich that Livelys behavior was desperate and narcissistic.

Lively and Baldoni co-starred in the movie It Ends With Us. In December of 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, who also served as the movies director, for alleged sexual harassment and creating a hostile environment on the movie set. She also alleged Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her.

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The judge overseeing the case threw out Baldonis $400 million countersuit against Lively and Reynolds in June. He said Baldonis team had not alleged Lively was responsible for any statements outside of her California Civil Rights Department complaint, which he said is privileged.

Lively and Baldonis trial is scheduled for March 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 NewsNation.
Sheep and cattle from Wales which have been vaccinated against bluetongue virus are to be allowed to attend English livestock markets within 12 miles of the border.

Changes to strict limits on the movement of farm animals have been announced in order to help facilitate important upcoming sales of breeding stock.

Movement of livestock from England into Wales is still restricted without a negative test, as is transporting unvaccinated animals across the border.

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The Welsh government said a balance "must be struck between the ability to trade and the increased risk of disease incursion". The changes come into effect from 18 August.

Spread by midges, bluetongue presents no threat to food safety or human health, but can be fatal for livestock, including sheep and cattle.

Welsh livestock which have been fully vaccinated will be able to attend Bishops Castle, Hereford, Kington, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Oswestry, Ross-on-Wye and Shrewsbury.

These markets will have to hold "dedicated sales of vaccinated Welsh only livestock" and adhere to specific conditions, the Welsh government said.

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Animals returning to Wales after the sales must complete the movement within the same day and are subject to the conditions of a general licence.

Further adjustments were also being considered, including allowing breeding sales at "bluetongue approved green markets" in Wales, for the sale of vaccinated livestock from both England and Wales.

Livestock markets would be able to apply for approval from mid-September.

Figures recently shared with BBC Wales suggested fewer than 1% of Wales' eight million sheep had received a jab so far, and between 5-10% of the country's cattle.

But the farming industry had warned the implications of strict movement restrictions could be "catastrophic" for cross-border trade.

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Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Richard Irvine said: "Bluetongue is a potentially devastating disease, as has unfortunately been seen in other countries.

"As part of keeping our commitment to review of our Bluetongue policy, we have held regular stakeholder discussions.

"From these, a phased approach to facilitate Autumn sales has been agreed that balances industry needs against the risk of disease incursion."

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WAYLAND, Mich.  After decades of dialogue, the Bodewadmi Confederation of Tribal Nations was formally established on Thursday during the 2025 Pottawatomi Gathering at the Gun Lake Casino Resort in Wayland, Michigan, as Potawatomi leaders came together to sign the Articles of Confederation.

The signing took place at the casino owned and operated by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi, commonly known as the Gun Lake Tribe, where the Potawatomi are gathering this week. .

[Editors Note: While most Potawatomi bands spell the name with one t, the Gun Lake Tribe uses two.]

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Thursdays historic signing follows a 2023 decision by Potawatomi leaders to form the confederacy, a vote that took place during that years Gathering, hosted by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP).

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The preamble of the Articles of Confederation begins with the words:

We, the Bodewadmi Confederation of Tribal Nations (Confederation), in affirmation of our ancestral rights and defense of our inherent sovereignty, hereby establish this Confederation to secure our future as self-determined, self-governed tribal nations (Nations).

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The preamble continues stating that the Nations of Confederation represent a diverse network of Bodewadmi that share the desire to work collectively toward furthering principles and polices that promote, defend, and enhance tribal sovereignty.

The Confederation consists of 12 tribal nationswith 8 of the 12being the United States and four in Canada.

Article V of the Articles of Confederation: Powers and Responsibilities reads: The Confederation shall promote and coordinate joint actions and initiatives among member Nations, including, but not limited to: economic development, environmental protections, cultural preservation, and political advocacy.

Historically, by the early 1500s, the Potawatomialso known as the Neshnabek or Bodewadmihad migrated from ancestral homelands along the Atlantic coast and around the St. Lawrence River into the Great Lakes region. They settled around Lake Michigan, establishing a presence across what is now southern Michigan, northern Indiana, northeastern Illinois, and southeastern Wisconsin

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Over the next centuries, they flourished in these territories, forming a robust clan-based society governed by patrilineal lineage, with seasonal cycles of agriculture, hunting, fishing, and gathering.

However, European colonization in the 17th and 18th centuriesespecially during the Beaver Wars and later U.S. expansiondisrupted their traditional lands. Through a cascade of treaties and forced removals,

The Potawatomi are known as the Keepers of the Fire because of their role within the Council of the Three Fires, a longstanding alliance among three closely related Anishinaabe nations: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi.

Currently, the Potawatomi tribes in the United States are located in Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. In Canada, the Potawatomi are located in Ontario.

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Gun Lake Tribe Chairman Peters presided over the signing of the Articles of Confederation. Each signer of the Articles was given time to speak before signing the document. Several of the leaders became emotional due to the historic significance of forming the Confederation in modern times.

Today was really historic; it was many years in the makingwell before my time, Peters said to Native News Online. Ive heard the stories from the chairmen of my tribe and my family. I attended Potawatomi Gatherings as a little guy. At the time, I didn't know what it was about. It felt like a large family reunion. But theres a lot that goes into family reunions. Its a lot of blood, sweat, and tearsliterallyfor all of us, the 12 Potawatomi tribes.

Peters sees the formation of the Confederation as a means of economic development for the 12 tribes. However, it becomes more complex because there are Potawatomi communities in both the United States and Canada.

Todays signing now allows us to get things done by coming together with a strategy to move our nations forward with the federal government, Peters said. That can be achieved through numbersby us coming together as a big group. There's power in numbers. There's power in the strength we Native Americans carry together. It runs in our blood. We're fierce. We're hunters. We're gatherers.

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For Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph Zeke Rupnick, the formation of the Confederation aligns with Peters vision. The opportunity for economic development is now stronger collectively.

One of the hopes that we talked about initially is trying to use our buying power to effect change, Rupnick said. Meaning that every one of usor almost all of ushas a casino. So can we come together, go to these vendors, and say, Look, the Potawatomi are going to buy these machines, but you have to give us a better price? We should use our buying power to benefit the whole nation.

The same goes for those brothers and sisters up north on the borderto be able to re-establish those old trade routes, so we can start working back and forth with them. And whatever legislation we pass down here in the lower 48, we can use our influence to help shape legislation in their parliament, to help bring them back to a good playing field as well.

During his remarks upon signing the Articles of Confederation, Hannahville Indian Community Tribal Chairperson Kenneth Meshigaud became emotional.

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We have wanted this day to come for decades. I have been chairman for almost 40 years, and we talked about it back then, Meshigaud said.

I wanted us to come together, and I helped and worked with people in the early days to get the Gatherings going and started. This is kind of the fruition of some of those effortsto bring the community, the Potawatomi, back together as one nation. And I think the Federations Articles of Confederation just kind of solidified that. It made me so proud today.

He added: As Keepers of the Fire, its our responsibility to pass on the traditions and teachings of our culture to our peoplewhether theyre young, old, or somewhere in between. Everyone is an elder, and everyone has the ability to teach and become keepers of the fire. And the fire is within usthats what we have to continue.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net




NEED TO KNOW

A mine located in the Andes Mountains collapsed after a 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck the region on July 31

The bodies of five trapped miners were found over the weekend, and authorities said they are investigating the incident

Chile declared three days of mourning for the fallen miners





Chile is in a state of mourning as authorities confirmed that a person was found dead following last week's mine collapse.

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Moises Pavezs body was discovered on Sunday, Aug. 3, at 3:30 p.m. local time, according to Aquiles Cubillos, a lead prosecutor in the countrys OHiggins region, the Associated Press, The Guardian and the BBC reported.

We deeply regret this outcome, said Cubillos.

The mine collapsed after the U.S. Geological Survey recorded an earthquake near where the El Teniente mine is located, just after 5:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, July 31, according to The New York Times and the Associated Press.

The National Copper Corporation of Chile, also known as Codelco, said earlier in a series of Spanish-language statements that one person, Paulo Marin Tapia, died after the 4.2 magnitude earthquake impacted the work site.

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During a press conference, El Teniente's General Manager Andres Music said the tunnels inside the mine are closed after they collapsed following the earthquake, Reuters reported.

There's no possibility of even radio communication," he added.

We are making every effort to try to rescue these five miners, Music also said, per the AP. The next 48 hours are crucial.

In addition to Pavez, the bodies of the four other trapped miners  Gonzalo Nunez, Jean Miranda, Alex Araya and Carlos Arancibia  have been located since Saturday, Aug. 2, the BBC reported. They were found through GPS devices, but searchers were unable to reach them, The Guardian added.

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Music said that around 100 rescue workers were at El Teniente when the earthquake struck, according to the Times. Nine people who were working on the Andesita project at the El Teniente mine had non-life-threatening injuries.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Local media said the victims ages ranged between 29 and 34, Reuters reported.

At a Sunday press conference, Codelco CEO Ruben Alvarado mourned the loss of the six and announced that search operations had concluded.

PEOPLE contacted Codelco for comment on Monday, Aug. 4.

With great sadness, we wish to convey our condolences to the loved ones of Paulo, Gonzalo, Alex, Carlos, Jean, and Moises, six miners who have lost their lives, Alvarado said. I also thank those who were present: authorities, workers, and the community who have supported us throughout this process.

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Music also expressed gratitude to the emergency responders.

From day one, we committed to doing everything humanly possible, he said at the press conference. It wasn't the outcome I expected, but we managed to reach them and bring them back with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Maximo Pacheco, Codelcos chairman of the board, announced that an investigation into the incident has been launched.

ELVIS GONZALEZ/EPA/Shutterstock A person holds a picture of the workers trapped in the El Teniente mine at the Los Maitenes access control in Rancagua, Chile A person holds a picture of the workers trapped in the El Teniente mine at the Los Maitenes access control in Rancagua, Chile

We will commission an international audit with the best experts to determine what we did wrong. We owe it to the workers' families, to those who work at Codelco, and to all of Chile, Pacheco said.

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The El Teniente mine is regarded as the worlds largest underground copper operation, according to Mining.com. It spans over 4,500 kilometers (about 2,800 miles) of tunnels and underground galleries in the Andes Mountains.

On Sunday, Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared that the country will observe three days of mourning through Tuesday, Aug. 5, and expressed his condolences to the victims' families.

He added, "We will closely monitor the investigation to ensure clear answers are provided regarding the causes and responsibilities for this unfortunate incident."

Meanwhile, Cubillos said that the incident is being investigated, Chilean news outlet El Mercurio reported.

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Every time there is a work-related accident, he said, translated from Spanish, we have to rule out the possibility of homicide. Given this case, we have resulted in deaths and injuries.

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To do so, we must investigate with all safety and technical regulations, Cubillos continued. This is because any regulatory or legal violations could lead to negligent liability. ... That is why the Prosecutors Office is obligated to investigate.



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More than three thousand Boeing defence workers went on strike on Monday, in a fresh blow to the embattled aviation giant.

It comes after union members at operations in Missouri and Illinois, who build F-15 fighter jets and other military aircraft, voted against the firm's latest offer over pay, work schedules and pensions.

"We're disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth", Dan Gillian, who is the vice president of Boeing's Air Dominance unit, said in a statement.

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Boeing is struggling to turn itself around after a series of problems, including safety issues and a damaging almost eight-week walkout by passenger plane workers last year.

The walkout is being led by a local branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) based in St Louis, where Boeing's defence manufacturing hub is located.

"3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough. This is about respect and dignity, not empty promises," the union posted on X.

IAM is one of America's largest unions, representing roughly 600,000 members in the aerospace, defence, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries.

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It is the first walkout at Boeing's defence business since 1996, when work stopped for more than three months.

But last week Boeing's chief executive Kelly Ortberg downplayed the potential impact of the walkout.

He highlighted that it would be a lot smaller than a strike last year involving around 30,000 passenger jet workers that cost the firm billions of dollars.

"I wouldn't worry too much about the implications of the strike. We'll manage our way through that," said Mr Ortberg.

Boeing has been hit by a series of crises in recent years, including two fatal crashes and a dramatic mid-air blowout of a piece of one of its planes.

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In 2018, a Boeing 737 crashed after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board. A few months later, another 157 people died when a Boeing plane crashed shortly after take-off in Ethiopia.

Separately in 2024, a panel fitted over an unused emergency exit of a Boeing 737 Max came off mid-flight.

The company delivered just 348 aircraft to its customers last year, its lowest output since the pandemic.
Thousands of members of a union representing Boeing defense industry workers in the US states of Missouri and Illinois went on strike Monday after rejecting a contract proposal.

In a post on X, the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers said: "3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough.

"This is about respect and dignity, not empty promises."

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It came hours after the union said in a statement that members at Boeing facilities in Missouri and Illinois had voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing.

The St. Louis local's stoppage follows a bruising Boeing strike last fall in the Pacific Northwest region of some 33,000 workers that halted production at factories that assemble Boeing commercial planes.

Local broadcast media showed footage of workers picketing outside the St. Louis factory.

Members of the union's local chapter "have spoken loud and clear, they deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation's defense," said IAM District 837 representative Tom Boelling.

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The American aerospace giant's initial proposal, which included a 20 percent wage increase over four years and more vacation time, was rejected a week earlier.

The new offer doubled the wage increase, according to Boeing.

"We're disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40 percent average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules," Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and senior St. Louis, Missouri site executive, said in a statement.

"We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers."

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The storied company has been in crisis since last year due to production quality issues and a seven-week strike that crippled two of Boeing's major assembly plants.

IAM is one of North America's largest unions, representing some 600,000 members in aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, transportation, health care, manufacturing and other industries.

Products produced at Boeing's St. Louis operation include the F-15 and F-18 combat aircraft, the T-7 Red Hawk Advanced Pilot Training System and the MQ-25 unmanned aircraft. The site was originally part of the McDonnell Douglas company, which Boeing acquired in 1997.

Boeing Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg described the business hit from the strike in Missouri as manageable, noting that the operation has a far smaller number of workers compared with those who went on the picket lines last fall.

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"I wouldn't worry too much about the implications of the strike," Ortberg said on an earnings conference call. "We'll manage our way through that."

Shares of Boeing rose 0.2 percent on Monday.

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More than 3,200 workers at a Boeing plant where Donald Trumps new stealth fighter will be made have walked out in a row over wages.

Engineers on warplane assembly lines in St Louis, Missouri, went on strike on Monday after rejecting a 40pc pay rise.

The strike, which leaves the factory idle for the first time in 30 years, represents the latest blow to Boeing after six years of setbacks and massive financial losses.

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The dispute involves members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, who are responsible for producing the F-15 Eagle, the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, the T-7 trainer and the MQ-25 refuelling drone.

Boeing also plans to make the new F-47 fighter for the US Air Force (USAF) in St Louis after it was handed the contract by Mr Trump in March.

The award represented a coup for Boeing, since the F-47 will replace the F-22 Raptor built by rival Lockheed Martin. Lockheed had come to dominate fighter production with models including the F-35 Lightning  of which more than 3,000 are being built.

The contract also provided a welcome boost following a series of crises involving Boeings best-selling 737 Max airliner. These included two fatal crashes that led the jet to be grounded for 18 months. And last year, a door-panel blowout led investigators to uncover a plethora of production issues.

Boeings factory in St Louis, Missouri is responsible for producing multiple warplanes including the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters - Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

Strikes raise the threat of possible delays to F-47 contract unless a swift resolution can be reached.

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Any impact on the F-47 risks Boeing rapidly falling out of favour with the White House, as Mr Trump has taken a keen personal interest in the project.

He showed off an artistic rendering in the Oval Office and claimed the plane was the most lethal ever built. He has also suggested a link between the name of the plane and his status as the 47th president of the United States.

The USAF later claimed that the name came from the P-47, a Second World War-era fighter known as the Thunderbolt.

Boeing endured a seven-week strike by 33,000 machinists at its main civil airliner factories in the Seattle area last year that pushed it to a $12bn (9bn) annual loss.

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Workers in St Louis and at a smaller site in Illinois rejected a four-year contract that would have lifted average pay by 40pc and included a $5,000 signing bonus, according to the company. The walkout began at 2am local time.

Dan Gillian, the general manager of the St. Louis facilities, said Boeing was disappointed with the decision to strike but was well-prepared for the stoppage and would implement a contingency plan using non-unionised workers.

Boeing has said that the F-47 will be produced in the St Louis area, though it has not specified which plant will build it or when work will start.

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Around 3,200 employees in Boeing's defence division went on strike on Monday, just nine months after the last industrial action at the crisis-stricken US aircraft manufacturer.

Workers belonging to the IAM trade union rejected a four-year labour agreement on Sunday.

"3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough," IAM wrote on X.

Among other things, the employees are responsible for building fighter jets such as the F-15 and missile systems in the states of Missouri and Illinois.

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Boeing has faced a series of setbacks in recent years. Its defence division is struggling with delays and severe cost overruns on several projects, including the conversion of two Boeing 747 aircraft into new presidential aircraft.

Last year, a strike by tens of thousands of workers brought production of Boeing's best-selling 737 model and the 777 long-haul jet to a standstill for around two months.

At the beginning of November, the employees accepted the aircraft manufacturer's offer of a 38% pay rise over a four-year period.
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK) is one of the Best Undervalued UK Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On July 24, Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK) announced a new partnership between its Princess Cruises and Starboard Group for the first time.

Under this partnership, Starboard Group will bring its retail expertise to the new Star Princess ship, which is set to launch in fall 2025. Star Princess will sail in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Alaska during its first season. Starboard Group will curate nearly 4,800 square feet of retail space across two decks, featuring premium brands and tailored shopping experiences.

Carnival Corporation (CUK) Announced a New partnership With Starboard Group

A couple entering a beach resort hotel, walking hand in hand away from the sunset.

One of the highlights of this ship is its destination retail boutique, which will showcase regional, locally sourced, and artisanal products. Allowing guests to shop for food, clothing, jewelry, souvenirs, and more inspired by the regions visited. Moreover, the ship will also host rotating events, including trunk shows and appearances by brand designers who will offer styling advice.

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK) is a global cruise company that operates multiple cruise brands across different regions, including North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

While we acknowledge the potential of CUK as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
MARION COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT)  A system-wide precautionary boil water notice has been issued for the Mt. Gilead Improve Water Association in Marion County.

According to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), water system officials reported a pressure loss due to one or more line breaks.

Temporary US 49 ramp closure planned in Forrest County

Health officials strongly recommend that all water be boiled vigorously for one minute before it is consumed. The water system will be notified when tests show that the water is safe to drink.

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The system will notify customers when this notice is lifted. For more information, customers may contact 601-731-2402.

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Law enforcement arrested three suspects after a burglary turned violent Saturday night in Boise.

Officers responded to reports of gunshots shortly after 9:30 p.m. at a business on the 6300 block of West Fairview Avenue in Boise, according to a Boise Police Department news release.

Police said evidence indicated that an 18-year-old Boise woman entered the business and began to steal alcohol when an employee confronted her and told her to leave.

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She then approached the employee and punched him in the face, police said. A physical altercation between the two occurred before two additional suspectsentered the store. They also began assaulting the employee, who was on the ground.

The two additional suspects were an 18-year-old Boise man and a juvenile.

The employee was repeatedly punched, kicked, and stomped on as he remained on the ground, backed into a corner of the store, police said.

The employee then pulled out a gun and shot at the suspects, striking the man, according to the release. Police said the three suspects then escaped the scene in a vehicle.

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The employee received treatment at a local hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

After locating the suspects vehicle near the intersection of North Curtis Road and West Irving Street, law enforcement found the three suspects inside. They transported the man to a hospital for treatment of a single gunshot wound, according to the release.

The three suspects were each booked in the Ada County Jail on a felony charge of aggravated assault. The woman also received a misdemeanor for commercial burglary.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed that the Justice Department move forward with a probe into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation following the recent release of documents aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the inquiry that established that Moscow interfered on the Republican's behalf in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Bondi has directed a prosecutor to present evidence to a grand jury after referrals from the Trump administration's top intelligence official, a person familiar with the matter said Monday. That person was not authorized to discuss it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Fox News first reported the development.

It was not clear which former officials might be the target of any grand jury activity, where the grand jury that might ultimately hear evidence will be located or which prosecutors  whether career employees or political appointees  might be involved in pursuing the investigation. It was also not clear what precise claims of misconduct Trump administration officials believe could form the basis of criminal charges, which a grand jury would have to sign off on for an indictment to be issued.

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The development is likely to heighten concerns that the Justice Department is being used to achieve political ends given longstanding grievances over the Russia investigation voiced by President Donald Trump, who has called for the jailing of perceived political adversaries, and because any criminal investigation would revisit one of the most dissected chapters of modern American political history. It is also surfacing at a time when the Trump administration is being buffeted by criticism over its handling of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

The initial, years-old investigation into Russian election interference resulted in the appointment of a special counsel, Robert Mueller, who secured multiple convictions against Trump aides and allies but did not establish proof of a criminal conspiracy between Moscow and the Trump campaign.

The inquiry shadowed much of Trump's first term in office and he has long focused his ire on senior officials from the intelligence and law enforcement community, including former FBI Director James Comey, whom he fired in May 2017, and former CIA Director John Brennan. The Justice Department appeared to confirm an investigation into both men in an unusual statement last month but offered no details.

Multiple special counsels, congressional committees and the Justice Department's own inspector general have studied and documented a multi-pronged effort by Russia to interfere in the 2016 presidential election on Trump's behalf, including through a hack-and-leak dump of Democratic emails and a covert social media operation aimed at sowing discord and swaying public opinion.

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But that conclusion has been aggressively challenged in recent weeks as Trump's director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, and other allies have released previously classified records that they hope will cast doubt on the extent of Russian interference and establish an Obama administration effort to falsely link Trump to Russia.

In one batch of documents released last month, Gabbard disclosed emails showing that senior Obama administration officials were aware in 2016 that Russians had not hacked state election systems to manipulate the votes in Trump's favor. But President Barack Obama's administration never alleged that votes were tampered with and had instead detailed other forms of election interference and foreign influence.

A new outcry surfaced last week when Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a set of emails that FBI Director Kash Patel claimed on social media proved that the Clinton campaign plotted to frame President Trump and fabricate the Russia collusion hoax.

The emails were part of a classified annex of a report issued in 2023 by John Durham, the special counsel who was appointed during the first Trump administration to hunt for any government misconduct during the Russia investigation.

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Durham did identify significant flaws in the investigation but uncovered no bombshells to disprove the existence of Russian election interference. His sprawling probe produced three criminal cases; two resulted in acquittals by a jury and the third was a guilty plea from a little-known FBI lawyer to a charge of making a false statement.

Republicans seized on a July 27, 2016, email in Durham's newly declassified annex that claimed that Hillary Clinton, then the Democratic candidate for president, had approved a plan during the heat of the campaign to link Trump with Russia.

But the purported author of the email, a senior official at a philanthropic organization founded by billionaire investor George Soros, told Durham's team he had never sent the email and the alleged recipient said she never recalled receiving it.

Durham's own report took pain to note that investigators had not corroborated the communications as authentic and said the best assessment was that the message was a composites of several emails" the Russians had obtained from hacking  raising the likelihood that it was a product of Russian disinformation.

The FBI's Russia investigation was opened on July 31, 2016, following a tip that a Trump campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos, had told an Australian diplomat that he had learned that Russia was in possession of dirt on Clinton.
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said Monday that his office has spent more than $5 million fighting the Trump administration in court over the last six months, but saved the state nearly $170 billion.

"That means that for every one dollar we've been given by the Legislature and the governor from special session funding to do this work  and we are very grateful for that funding  we've returned $33,600 for the state," Bonta said during an afternoon news conference alongside Gov. Gavin Newsom. "Just to put it in perspective, if you told a Wall Street investor they'd get a $33,000 return on every one dollar invested, they would trip over themselves to get in on that deal."

Bonta's calculations are based on a mountain of litigation his office has filed against the administration since President Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, including 37 lawsuits  many alongside other liberal-led states  and 47 amicus briefs backing other litigants' lawsuits against the administration.

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The vast majority of the savings Bonta claimed were the result of one particular lawsuit, in which California and other states successfully challenged a Trump administration effort to freeze trillions of dollars in federal funding to the states  including what Bonta said was $168 billion for California alone.

"In his first week in office, President Trump went after a full third of Californias budget  and we went to court less than 24 hours later and stopped him in his tracks," Bonta said.

Bonta also cited court orders his office has won protecting $7 billion in transportation funding to maintain roads, highways, bridges and other infrastructure; $939 million in education funding for after-school and summer learning and teacher preparation; $972 million in healthcare funding for identifying, tracking and addressing infectious diseases, ensuring immunizations and modernizing public health infrastructure; and $300 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. However, it has previously derided California's efforts to block Trump's agenda in the courts. Last month, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Times that Newsom was "destroying" the state and that Trump has been trying to "step in and save Californians from Gavins incompetence."

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The state Legislature during a special session in February allocated Bonta's office an extra $25 million to staff up and fight Trump in court. As part of that allocation, the Legislature required that Bonta provide regular reports on how the money is spent. Bonta and Newsom's news conference Monday followed the first of those reports being submitted to lawmakers.

Read more: Newsom approves millions for immigrant aid and lawsuits against Trump

Bonta said much of the $5 million his office has spent to date was used to pay for in-house attorneys and paralegals, and that none has been spent on outside counsel. He also said that, given the pace and scope of the work to date, his office will eventually need more funding.

"We're grateful for the $25 million and the ability to draw down that $5 million so far. We do think we will need more going into the future, and I'm hopeful that through the conversations that we have  talking about what we would use it for, our success so far, what the continuing threats are down the road  that we'll get to a place that will work for everybody," Bonta said.

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Newsom, citing Bonta's financially consequential wins in court already, promised he'll get the funding.

"Let me assure you, he will not be in need of resources to do his job," Newsom said. "This report only highlights why I feel very confident in his ability to execute and to deliver results for the people of this state."

Bonta's report outlined 36 lawsuits his office had brought against the Trump administration through Wednesday. Those lawsuits challenged Trump's efforts to slash the federal workforce, cut healthcare funding and research, dismantle the Department of Education and reduce education funding. They also challenged Trump administration efforts to end birthright citizenship for the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants and restrict voting access in California, among other things.

On Friday, Bonta's office filed its 37th lawsuit, challenging the administration's efforts to block gender-affirming care for transgender youths nationwide.

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Read more: After six months under Trump, California and L.A. are battlegrounds. Who benefits?

Newsom said Bonta's work to date shows exactly why it was necessary for him and other California leaders to call a special session and allocate the additional funds. California sued the first Trump administration more than 120 times, and knew it would need to sue the second Trump administration too.

"We were mindful that past is prologue," Newsom said, and the added resources provided to Bonta's office "have come to bear great fruit."

Bonta said there is no time to slow down now as the Trump administration continues to violate the law, and that his team is ready to keep fighting.

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"We know that this work is just the beginning," he said, "but we are not backing down."

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.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Indiana State Police are investigating a hit-and-run crash resulting in Boonville Mayor Charles Wyatt, 71, being summoned to court for leaving the scene of a crash.

According to ISP, the incident occurred on May 14, just before 10:45 p.m. at the Boonville VFW. During the investigation, authorities say they learned Mayor Wyatt was driving his city owned truck when he collided with another vehicle. Wyatt allegedly left the scene without contacting the other driver or police.

A release from ISP says the other driver was still inside the vehicle and was able to obtain a license plate number and provide police with a vehicle description, connecting the incident to Wyatt. The Warrick County Prosecutors Office turned the case over to a special prosecutor in Knox County.

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A criminal charge of leaving the scene of a crash was filed against Mayor Wyatt, and a summons to appear in court will be issued, according to officials. A court date has not been issued at this time.

Eyewitness News has reached out to the mayors office for comment, and are waiting to hear back.

This is a developing story.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
A Boston man was arrested last week after he tried to put a chemical-soaked handkerchief over the mouth of a 14-year-old boy on the street in Roxbury, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office.

Dorchester resident Willie Cowart, 69, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident during his arraignment in Roxbury District Court on July 29, according to court records.

On July 28, Boston and MBTA police responded to a report of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon near Dudley and Washington Streets in Roxbury shortly after 12:20 p.m., the district attorneys office said in a press release Monday.

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Officers spoke to the victim, who told them he was waiting for his brother to pick him up when an older man wearing a Hawaiian shirt came over to him, poured an unknown liquid on a red handkerchief and tried to put the handkerchief over his mouth, the district attorneys office said. The victim fled to the Nubian Square bus station and contacted police.

Shortly after, officers on Dudley Street saw a man  who was later identified as Cowart  wearing a Hawaiian shirt and carrying a red handkerchief, the district attorneys office said. Cowart was sweating profusely and denied knowing the victim or having any interaction with him.

Police brought Cowart to the victim, who positively identified him, the district attorneys office said. The victim was evaluated on scene by emergency responders.

Officers searched Cowarts car and found several chemical cleaning agents inside, the district attorneys office said. Police arrested him without incident.

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This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts. It doesnt take much imagination to appreciate how frightening it was for this young man to be standing on a street corner and suddenly be accosted in such a bizarre manner. Im grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release.

During Cowarts arraignment, a judge released him on personal recognizance bail and ordered him to stay away from the victim and the incident location, the district attorneys office said. He is due back in court on Oct. 29 for an appointment of council hearing.

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Read the original article on MassLive.
I am among the many Wisconsinites who drive to neighboring Minnesota to paddle, fish, hike, camp or simply enjoy the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Superior National Forest. For decades, generations of Wisconsin families have made memories there  scout trips, church retreats, honeymoons, family reunions, solo paddles, and bucket list adventures.

The stories are endless, and the connection runs deep. The Boundary Waters is as sacred to Midwesterners as the Grand Canyon is to South westerners and all citizens of this nation.

The Boundary Waters is once again in the crosshairs of those who would desecrate it in the name of short-term economic gain  mining interests. This time, its the Trump Administration, which would break longstanding protocols to make it happen.

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As a former northern Wisconsin fishing guide and retired Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and Director of the Bureau of Land Management, I believe deeply in our responsibility to protect the places that define who we are. Today, that responsibility includes standing up for one of the most beloved and threatened wild places in America: the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Opinion: Wisconsin leaders oblivious to issues driving AI, energy and climate change

America's great wilderness isn't out west, it's in Midwest

While many think of Americas great wilderness areas as places out West, one of the wildest, most iconic, and most visited wilderness areas in the nation is right here in the Midwest. The Boundary Waters, in northeastern Minnesota, spans 1.1 million acres and includes over 1,200 interconnected lakes. It is part of the Superior National Forest and adjoins Voyageurs National Park and Canadas Quetico Provincial Park  together forming a more than 4-million-acre refuge for bald eagles, moose, and countless other species.

The northern lights above the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Superior National Forest.

But now this place of pristine land and precious water is in real danger. A proposed copper mine, backed by a Chilean mining conglomerate, is slated for public lands immediately upstream of the Boundary Waters. This type of mining is well known for its toxic legacy. Acid mine drainage and heavy metal pollution would flow into one of the largest intact freshwater systems in the world  a system that cannot be replaced once contaminated.

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Why would we risk the clean water, wildlife, and recreation economy of the Boundary Waters for the short-term profits of a foreign company? Thats a question everyone should be askingand one our elected leaders must answer.

Trump Administration intends to revoke mineral ban on federal lands

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently announced that she and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum intend to revoke the existing mineral ban on federal lands in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters. Such a move would be unprecedented and would strip away critical, scientifically-based, and highly popular protections for the canoe country.

Letters: Bucks management should resign in shame after Holiday-Lillard trade disaster

Wisconsins elected officials are needed to help stop this give away of public lands to a foreign mining company by Congress and by the Trump administration. The Boundary Waters need us now.

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This is not a partisan issue. Its about clean water, outdoor heritage, and protecting the places that shape who we are. As President Theodore Roosevelt said on May 3, 1903, while pleading for the protection of the Grand Canyon; Leave it as it is. You can not improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children, your children's children, and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American if he can travel at all should see.

I suspect this is what he would be saying today to protect the Boundary Waters.

Mike Dombeck lives along the Wisconsin River in Portage County. He is the retired Chief, U.S. Forest Service, Director, Bureau of Land Management, and northern Wisconsin fishing guide.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Copper mine on public lands in Minnesota coud prove toxic | Opinion




NEED TO KNOW

A toddler died on July 31 after being left in the backseat of a car for "over eight hours," according to police

The boy's foster father was arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect, as well as involuntary manslaughter

The boy, Hudley Owen Hamlett, was two days shy of his 2nd birthday





A toddler was found dead in the backseat of his foster fathers car last week after the man realized he had left the child strapped in the car for more than eight hours while he went to work, police allege.

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Hudley Owen Hamlett died on July 31, just two days before his second birthday, according to local WSET, WSLS, and The Miami Herald.

The toddlers foster father, Brian Dalton, was arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect, as well as involuntary manslaughter, according to information provided by the Amherst County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriffs office alleged in a statement on social media that Hudley was left unattended in a vehicle for over eight hours before Dalton realized the child was still in the car, discovering him unresponsive in the backseat.

Hudley was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to WSET.

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https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Citing police, the outlet reported that Dalton was supposed to drop Hudley off at daycare before driving to work, but never stopped at the daycare. Dalton then allegedly went to work for eight hours, got back in his car, and drove to the daycare center to pick up the toddler. Once there, Dalton was informed he had never dropped off Hudley, at which point he realized the child was still in the backseat of his car.

WSET reported that staff at the daycare attempted to perform life-saving measures on Hudley before first responders arrived at the scene and took the toddler to the hospital.

It's just a tragedy that you never, never expect to happen, never should happen, but it's unfortunate that it did, Amherst County Sheriff Jimmy Ayers told reporters, according to WSET. As a man of faith, I would have to say that the only consolation that I can find in this is this little fella has faced many challenges in his short life. Now, he has the ability to grow and flourish without life's challenges in his eternal home.

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Sheriff Ayers told reporters that Dalton expressed remorse, according to WSET, and that there was no evidence that indicated the foster fathers allegedly actions were intentional.

"It's very unfortunate that our society today lives so fast, and to think that we would live in a life that is so fast that you would forget, that you would leave a little fellow like that in the back seat, even if they are asleep... you just have to be mindful and always, that children have to be at the forefront of whatever, whether it's our children or whether it's children that we are in custody of, taking care of, babysitting, whatever it may be," the sheriff said, according to the outlet.

WSET reported that Hudleys biological mother, Jennifer Dalton, gathered with friends and family to hold a memorial for Hudley on Saturday  what would have been the childs 2nd birthday.

Read the original article on People
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in Paris on suspicion of murder as police continue to investigate the killing of Keanu Harker.

Mr Harker, 18, was found with gunshot injuries on Great Cambridge Road in Enfield, north London, on the evening of 26 June and died in hospital.

The arrest on Sunday in the French capital came after an international arrest warrant was issued for the boy, who has not been named. The Metropolitan Police said extradition proceedings "will commence in due course".

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An 18-year-old girl was arrested on the same day at London St Pancras International railway station, on suspicion of assisting an offender, and she remains in custody, the Met said.

There have been a number of other arrests relating to Mr Harker's death and two people have been charged in connection with the murder investigation.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on 29 June and charged on 30 June with murder.

Eliezer Mbike, 25, of Oulton Road, Tottenham, was arrested and charged on 30 June with perverting the course of justice.

A trial will take place at the Old Bailey in May.

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A 39-year old man was arrested on 24 July on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

He has since been bailed to return in September pending further inquiries.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

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By Marcela Ayres, Bernardo Caram and Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's government has set aside for now plans for direct retaliation against steep U.S. tariffs taking effect this week, focusing instead on a relief package for industries hit hardest by the levies, sources familiar with the strategy said.

Wide-ranging exemptions granted in U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order last week spared some of the most vulnerable sectors of Latin America's largest economy, to the relief of many investors and business leaders.

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That has left Brasilia cautious about responding to Trump with reciprocal tariffs or other retaliation that could escalate tensions, said government officials, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential deliberations.

Talks with Washington are likely to be slow and complex, said one of the sources, so Brazil's government is prioritizing immediate relief for exporters, such as through public credit lines and other support for export finance.

Another official said the government is studying potential responses to the tariffs that would affect U.S. companies, but sees them as a last resort if negotiations fail.

Those potential countermeasures, now under review, could include suspension of royalty payments for pharmaceutical patents and media copyrights, two sources said.

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The government had also signaled last year that it was preparing a new tax that could affect big U.S. tech companies, but shelved the plan this year to avoid antagonizing Trump ahead of his April tariff announcement.

At the time, Brazil was saddled with a 10% tariff, among the lowest in the world, which many credited to a longstanding U.S. trade surplus with Brazil.

Trump then tied a steeper 50% tariff in July to what he called a political "witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing ally on trial for an alleged coup plot to overturn his 2022 election loss.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva initially said he would respond under the country's Economic Reciprocity Law, passed by Congress to provide legal grounds for countermeasures against trade sanctions, fueling speculation about retaliation.

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Talk of reciprocal action has since faded, even as Lula criticizes Trump's rationale for the tariff hike, defending the independence of Brazil's judiciary and insisting any negotiations should remain strictly focused on trade.

U.S. tariff exemptions granted last week for Brazil's aviation, energy and mining industries were taken in Brasilia as evidence that patient diplomacy and lobbying by affected U.S. companies seeking relief was the best way to get results in Washington.

Brazil also said it plans to file a formal complaint at the World Trade Organization over the tariffs, even though that dispute settlement system has been stalled since the first Trump administration.

"You still need to go through the available channels," one Brazilian official said, while acknowledging that a resolution is unlikely under the current state of the WTO.

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More immediately, the government is fine-tuning measures to shield sectors most hurt by the U.S. tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday, extending financial relief to companies already facing canceled contracts.

Officials have said the package will likely include credit lines and possible tweaks to the export credit insurance and export financing mechanisms, according to one of the sources.

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, who said relief measures could begin rolling out this week, on Friday said the government was never committed to retaliating against Washington.

"We never used that verb to characterize the actions the Brazilian government will take," he said.

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"These are actions to protect sovereignty, to protect our industry, our agribusiness, our agriculture," he told reporters. "That word (retaliation) was not present in the president's speech, nor in any minister's."

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres, Bernardo Caram and Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Brad Haynes and Bill Berkrot)
(Reuters) -Chemours, DuPont and Corteva have agreed to pay $875 million over 25 years to the State of New Jersey to settle environmental claims including pollution linked to PFAS, or "forever chemicals", the companies said on Monday.

Lawsuits accusing major chemical companies of polluting U.S. drinking water with toxic PFAS chemicals led to over $11 billion in settlements in 2023, with experts predicting that new federal regulations and a growing awareness of the breadth of the contamination will spur more litigation and settlements.

PFAS are a class of chemicals that are used in a wide range of products including non-stick cookware and firefighting foams. They are commonly called "forever chemicals" as these substances do not break down easily in the human body or nature, and are associated with certain cancers, hormonal dysfunction and other diseases.

The payments announced on Monday, whose present value is about $500 million before taxes, will start no earlier than January 1, 2026.

Chemours will make half of the settlement payments, while DuPont will pay 35.5% and Corteva the rest, the companies said in a statement.

In 2023, the three firms reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. state of Ohio for $110 million to resolve claims associated with PFAS.

That same year, 3M agreed to pay $10.3 billion to settle hundreds of claims that the company polluted public drinking water with the chemicals, while Chemours, DuPont and Corteva reached a similar deal with U.S. water providers for $1.19 billion.

Of the total settlement announced on Monday, $16.5 million is attributed to alleged PFAS contamination unrelated to the companies' operating sites.

(Reporting by Tanay Dhumal and Sumit Saha in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
By Lisandra Paraguassu and Kate Abnett

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil is resisting calls to move the global COP30 climate summit, scheduled for November, out of Belem, even as it faces mounting pressure over soaring accommodation prices in the Amazonian city.

"The COP will be in Belem, the leaders' summit will be in Belem," Andre Correa do Lago, the president of COP30, told reporters on Friday. "There is no plan B."

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Nearly every government in the world will gather at the annual U.N. summit to negotiate their joint efforts to curb climate change.

But concerns about logistics, rather than global climate policy, have dominated pre-summit chatter. Developing countries have warned that they cannot afford Belem's accommodation prices, which have soared amid a shortage of rooms.

Last week, representatives of several countries pressured Brazil to move the conference away from Belem during an emergency meeting at the United Nations' climate bureau, Correa do Lago said.

That brought to a head a steady stream of concerns raised by members of the U.N. climate secretariat, known as UNFCCC, with Brazil over the price and lack of accommodation in Belem for months.

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At the same meeting of the COP bureau last month, the UNFCCC told participants it had provided advice to Brazil on potentially moving parts of COP30  such as the section where world leaders speak  out of Belem to ease pressure on accommodation, according to a summary of the COP bureau meeting, seen by Reuters. Brazil rejected the idea, the summary said.

The UNFCCC declined to comment.

The Brazilian Presidency said in a statement "there is no discussion regarding a change in the host city for COP-30" and the Brazilian government "reiterates its commitment to holding a comprehensive, inclusive, and accessible climate conference."

Para's government told Reuters that is in constant contact with hotels, landlords and real estate agencies to "reinforce the need for responsibility and good practices", but stated that Brazilian law does not allow government interference in a process that is governed by free negotiation.

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Hotels in Belem are few, and despite requests from the government, are charging 10 or even 15 times what they charge regularly, Correa do Lago said.

"Maybe the hotels aren't aware of the crisis they are creating," he added.

Countries are not just concerned about accommodation. They are also worried about whether rooms being offered to delegations will be close enough together so negotiations can run smoothly, whether there will be enough food options and whether local airports will be able to handle the influx of visitors.

But Brazil has maintained that preparations for the conference are on track, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva showing no willingness to backtrack on his promise to present the Amazon rainforest to the world at COP30.

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His administration has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into improving infrastructure in Belem to host the conference, helping state Governor Helder Barbalho attract public and foreign investment.

An old political ally, Barbalho helped Lula win the election in Para in 2022, and will be a key element for the president's campaign next year.

Lula and Barbalho did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Brazil has offered 10 to 15 rooms at prices of up to $220 a night to delegations of countries considered to be among the least developed in the world. But that amount exceeds the $146 the United Nations offers to diplomats of such countries to pay for accommodation, meals and transport.

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Infrastructure issues, Correa do Lago told reporters on Friday, "are interfering at a time, deep down, we should be using to discuss substantive issues."

On Friday, Brazil opened a booking platform to the public. On Monday morning, the website showed a wait list of almost 2,000 people, but Reuters was able to access it after waiting an hour. It showed rates from $360 to $4,400 a night.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Kate Abnett in Brussels, writing by Manuela Andreoni; Editing by Christian Plumb and Sandra Maler)
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered that the former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro be put under house arrest.

He is standing trial over allegations he plotted a coup, which he denies.

The judge in charge of investigating Bolsonaro, Alexandre de Moraes, said the decision was because Bolsonaro hadn't complied with restraining orders put on him last month.

In response to the order, Bolsonaro's legal team denied breaching any restraining order and said they would appeal the ruling, according to Reuters news agency.

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In a statement on X, the US state department said it "condemns" the court order and "will hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct".

Donald Trump has used Bolsonaro's trial, which he calls a "witch-hunt", as a justification for imposing 50% tariffs on some Brazilian goods despite the US having a trade surplus with Brazil.

Mr Moraes, who the US has also sanctioned, said Bolsonaro had used the social networks of his allies including his sons to spread messages that encouraged attacks on the Supreme Court and foreign intervention in the Brazilian judiciary.

On Sunday, pro-Bolsonaro rallies were held in various Brazilian cities. One of his sons, Flavio, who is a senator, briefly put his father on speakerphone to the crowd in Rio de Janeiro.

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Flavio also reportedly later published a video, which he deleted afterwards, of his father on the other side of the call sending a message to supporters.

Mr Moraes cited the incident in his ruling, saying Bolsonaro "deliberately flouted" previous restrictions, according to local media.

"The flagrant disregard for the preventative measures was so obvious that - it bears repeating - the defendant's own son, senator Flavio Nantes Bolsonaro, decided to delete the post from his Instagram account in order to conceal the legal transgression," the ruling said.

Mr Moraes also banned Bolsonaro from receiving visits, except from lawyers or people authorised by the Supreme Court, and from using a mobile phone directly or through third parties.

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"Justice is blind, but it is not foolish," wrote Mr Moraes, adding that the court "will not allow a defendant to make a fool of it, thinking that he will go unpunished because he has political and economic power".

These restrictions were imposed because of allegations he was encouraging Donald Trump to interfere in the case.

Trump and Bolsonaro enjoyed a friendly relationship when their presidencies overlapped, with the pair meeting at the White House in 2019.

In a social media post last month, Trump voiced his support for the former president saying Bolsonaro "was not guilty of anything" and praised him as a "strong leader" who "truly loved his country".

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A Brazilian judge on Monday placed former president Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest for breaking a social media ban, escalating a dramatic standoff between the court and the far-right politician accused of plotting a coup.

Bolsonaro, an ally of US President Donald Trump, is on trial at the Supreme Court for allegedly orchestrating a coup after failing to win reelection in 2022 against leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Last month, he was ordered to wear an ankle bracelet and barred from using social media after being accused of trying to disrupt the trial with fiery speeches shared online by his sons and allies.

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Under the ban, third parties are barred from sharing his public remarks.

On Sunday, allies of Bolsonaro defied the court order by broadcasting a live call between the former army captain and his son at one of several solidarity rallies held across Brazil.

In Monday's ruling, seen by AFP, a furious Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the judiciary would not allow a defendant to "treat it like a fool" because of his "political and economic power."

Criticizing Bolsonaro's "repeated failure" to comply with the court's restrictions, he ordered him placed under house arrest at his home in the capital Brasilia.

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Moraes also barred the country's former leader (2019-2022) from receiving visitors, apart from his lawyers, and from using any mobile phones.

The new measures were expected to be met with fury in Washington.

Last week, Trump already imposed massive tariffs on Brazil and sanctioned Moraes for what he termed his "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro.

rsr-lg/cb/sst
By Ricardo Brito

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's Supreme Court put former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest on Monday ahead of his trial for an alleged coup plot, underscoring the court's resolve despite escalating tariffs and sanctions from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the target of U.S. Treasury sanctions last week, issued the arrest order against Bolsonaro. His decision cited a failure to comply with restraining orders he had imposed on Bolsonaro for allegedly courting Trump's interference in the case.

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Bolsonaro is on trial before the Supreme Court on charges he conspired with allies to violently overturn his 2022 electoral loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Trump has referred to the case as a "witch hunt" and called it grounds for a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods taking effect on Wednesday.

The U.S. State Department condemned the house arrest order, saying Moraes was using Brazilian institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy, adding the U.S. would "hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct."

It did not provide details, though Trump has said the U.S. could still impose even higher tariffs on Brazilian imports.

The Monday order from Moraes also banned Bolsonaro from using a cell phone or receiving visits, except for his lawyers and people authorized by the court.

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A press representative for Bolsonaro confirmed he was placed under house arrest on Monday evening at his Brasilia residence by police who seized his cell phone.

Bolsonaro's lawyers said in a statement they would appeal the decision, arguing the former president had not violated any court order.

In an interview with Reuters last month, Bolsonaro called Moraes a "dictator" and said the restraining orders against him were acts of "cowardice."

Some Bolsonaro allies have worried that Trump's tactics may be backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for Bolsonaro and rallying public support behind Lula's leftist government.

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However, Sunday demonstrations by Bolsonaro supporters  the largest in months  show that Trump's tirades and sanctions against Moraes have also fired up the far-right former army captain's political base.

Bolsonaro appeared virtually at a protest in Rio de Janeiro via phone call to his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, in what some saw as the latest test of his restraining orders.

Moraes said that the former president had repeatedly made attempts to bypass the court's orders.

"Justice is blind, but not foolish," the justice wrote in his decision.

On Monday, Senator Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil that Monday's order from Moraes was "a clear display of vengeance" for the U.S. sanctions against the judge, adding: "I hope the Supreme Court can put the brakes on this person (Moraes) causing so much upheaval."

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The judge's orders, including the restraining orders under penalty of arrest, have been upheld by the wider court.

Those orders and the larger case before the Supreme Court came after two years of investigations into Bolsonaro's role in an election-denying movement that culminated in riots by his supporters that rocked Brasilia in January 2023. That unrest drew comparisons to the January 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol after Trump's 2020 electoral defeat.

In contrast with the tangle of criminal cases which mostly stalled against Trump, Brazilian courts moved swiftly against Bolsonaro, threatening to end his political career and fracture his right-wing movement. An electoral court has already banned Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2030.

Another of Bolsonaro's sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian congressman, moved to the U.S. around the same time the former president's criminal trial kicked off to drum up support for his father in Washington. The younger Bolsonaro said the move had influenced Trump's decision to impose new tariffs on Brazil.

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In a statement after the arrest on Monday, Congressman Bolsonaro called Moraes "an out-of-control psychopath who never hesitates to double down."

Trump last month shared a letter he had sent to Bolsonaro. "I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you," he wrote. "This trial should end immediately!"

Washington based its sanctions against Moraes last week on accusations that the judge had authorized arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppressed freedom of expression.

The arrest could give Trump a pretext to pile on additional measures against Brazil, said Graziella Testa, a political science professor at the Federal University of Parana, adding that Bolsonaro seemed to be consciously provoking escalation.

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"I think things could escalate because this will be seen as a reaction to the Magnitsky sanction" against Moraes, said Leonardo Barreto, a partner at the Think Policy political risk consultancy in Brasilia, referring to the asset freeze imposed on Moraes last week.

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito in Brasilia; Additional reporting by Luciana Magalhaes in Sao Paulo and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Writing by Andre Romani and Brad Haynes; Editing by Kylie Madry, Leslie Adler and Lincoln Feast)
SAO PAULO (AP)  Brazils Supreme Court on Monday ordered the house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly masterminding a coup plot to remain in office despite his defeat in the 2022 election  a case that has gripped the South American country as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case against Bolsonaro before the top court, said in his decision that the 70-year-old former president had violated precautionary measures imposed on him by spreading content through his three lawmaker sons.

Bolsonaro's lawyers said in a statement that he will appeal the decision. They said his words good afternoon, Copacabana, good afternoon my Brazil, a hug to everyone, this is for our freedom"  broadcast from a cell phone of one of his sons during a Sunday protest in Rio de Janeiro  cannot be regarded as ignoring precautionary measures or as a criminal act.

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The trial of the far-right leader is receiving renewed attention after U.S. President Donald Trump directly tied a 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to his allys judicial situation. Trump has called the proceedings a  witch hunt, triggering nationalist reactions from leaders of all branches of power in Brazil, including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Hours after the decision, the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said on X that the Trump administration condemns (de) Moraes order imposing house arrest on Bolsonaro and will hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct.

Putting even more restrictions on Jair Bolsonaros ability to defend himself in public is not a public service. Let Bolsonaro speak! the U.S. State Department body said.

Brazil's government has not commented on the case.

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The case against Bolsonaro

Brazils prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organization that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill Lula and Justice de Moraes after the far-right leader narrowly lost his reelection bid in 2022.

Mondays order followed one from the top court last month that ordered Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are underway.

Following news of the arrest order, a staffer with Brazils federal police told The Associated Press that federal agents had seized cell phones at Bolsonaros residence in the capital of Brasilia, as ordered by de Moraes in his decision. The staffer spoke on condition of anonymity due to their lack of authorization to speak about the matter publicly.

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Bolsonaro is expected to remain in Brasilia for his house arrest as he is not allowed to travel. He also has a house in Rio de Janeiro, where he held his electoral base as a lawmaker for three decades. The former army captain is the fourth former president of Brazil to be arrested since the end of the country's military rule from 1964 to 1985, which Bolsonaro supported.

Flagrant disrespect

The move from the Brazilian justice comes a day after tens of thousands of Bolsonaro supporters took the streets in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio, pleading for Brazils congress to pardon him and hundreds of others who are either under trial or jailed for their roles in the destruction of government buildings in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023.

On Sunday, Bolsonaro addressed supporters in Rio through the phone of one of his sons, which de Moraes' described as illegal.

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The flagrant disrespect to the precautionary measures was so obvious that the defendant's son, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, decided to remove the posting in his Instagram profile, with the objective of hiding the legal transgression, de Moraes wrote.

Flavio Bolsonaro claimed on X that Brazil is officially in a dictatorship after his fathers house arrest. The persecution of de Moraes against Bolsonaro has no limits! the senator wrote.

De Moraes added in his ruling that Jair Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, has spread messages with a clear content of encouragement and instigation to attacks against the Supreme Court and a blatant support for foreign intervention in the Brazilian Judiciary  likely a veiled reference to Trump's support for Bolsonaro.

De Moraes also said that Bolsonaro addressed protesters gathered in Copacabana, in Rio on Sunday so his supporters could try to coerce the Supreme Court.

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Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on de Moraes over alleged suppression of freedom of expression regarding Bolsonaro's trial. On Monday, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs called the Brazilian justice a U.S.-sanctioned human rights abuser and accused him of using "institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy."

De Moraes said in his decision that (Brazil's) judiciary will not allow a defendant to make a fool out of it."

"Justice is the same for all. A defendant who willingly ignores precautionary measures  for the second time  must suffer legal consequences, he said.

Possible trouble ahead

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Creomar de Souza, a political analyst of Dharma Political Risk and Strategy, a political consultancy firm based in Brasilia, said Bolsonaro's house arrest opens a new moment for the country's opposition, which will could gather steam in fighting against Lula's reelection bid next year.

Now, de Souza said, the 2026 election looks like turmoil and the political debate in Brazil will likely be split between two key struggles.

One is the effort of Bolsonaro supporters to keep strong on the right, no matter if it is pushing for amnesty in congress or putting themselves physically out there, the analyst said. The second is how the Lula administration will try to show that the country has a government.

This is just the start, he concluded.

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The latest decision from the top court keeps Bolsonaro under ankle monitoring, allows only family members and lawyers to visit him and seizes all mobile phones from his home.

Lula was imprisoned for 580 days between 2018 and 2019 in a corruption conviction that was later tossed out by the Supreme Court, citing the bias of the judge in the case.

Michel Temer, who became president after Dilma Rousseff was impeached in 2016, was arrested for 10 days in 2019 in connection with a graft investigation, which later ended without a conviction.

Earlier this year, de Moraes ordered the detention of President Fernando Collor, who was in office from 1990 to 1992 until he was impeached. The 75-year-old former president was convicted for money laundering and corruption in 2023 and is now serving his more than eight-year sentence.

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Hours after the order, right-wing lawmakers criticized de Moraes decision and compared Bolsonaro's situation to that of his predecessors.

House arrest for Jair Bolsonaro by de Moraes. Reason: corruption? asked lawmaker Nikolas Ferreira. No. His kids posted his content on social media. Pathetic.

The far-right leader is already barred from next year's election due to an abuse of power conviction by the countrys top electoral court.

Leftist lawmaker Duda Salabert said Bolsonaro's house arrest boosts Brazil's democracy.

And those who attacked it are about to pay, Salabert said.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Brazils Supreme Court has issued a house arrest order for former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is standing trial for allegedly plotting a coup.

The decision, issued on Monday, comes a day after protests in support of the former far-right president were held across Brazil.

Bolsonaro is accused of seeking to overturn the 2022 election, won by his left-wing opponent and current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

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A media representative for Bolsonaro confirmed that police placed him under house arrest on Monday evening at his Brasilia residence. The police also seized his mobile phone. Supporters of the former president soon gathered outside the residential development where he lives to show their support.

Bolsonaros lawyers said in a statement that an appeal against the decision would be lodged, arguing that the former president had not violated any court order.

The house arrest order was issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is facing sanctions by the administration of United States President Donald Trump for overseeing the case against Bolsonaro.

Moraes said Bolsonaro had violated precautionary measures imposed by the court restricting the former presidents social media use and political messaging.

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The prosecution accuses Bolsonaro of leading an armed criminal organisation, attempting to stage a coup and attempting a violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, aggravated damage and deterioration of listed heritage.

A coup conviction carries a sentence of up to 12 years.

The former presidents supporters stormed and ransacked the National Congress and other state institutions in January 2023 to reject Lulas victory. After his defeat weeks earlier, Bolsonaro had declined to publicly concede his loss.

Bolsonaros supporters gathered outside the compound where he lives, after Brazils Supreme Court issued a house arrest order for him, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Monday [Adriano Machado/Reuters]

Bolsonaro forcefully rejects the allegations against him, describing his prosecution as a witch-hunt.

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Moraes said in his decision on Monday that the former president was posting content on the social media channels of his three lawmaker sons.

The judge added that Bolsonaro has spread messages with a clear content of encouragement and instigation to attacks against the Supreme Court and a blatant support for foreign intervention in the Brazilian Judiciary.

In July, Moraes froze the assets of Bolsonaros son, Eduardo, on suspicion that the funds are being used to lobby the Trump administration against the Brazilian government.

Eduardo lashed out against Moraes, accusing him of acting like a dictator.

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If he thinks this will make me stop, I make it clear: I will not be intimidated, and I will not be silenced. I prepared myself for this moment, the former presidents son said in a social media post last month.

This is just another demonstration of abuse of power and confirms everything I have been denouncing in Washington and to authorities worldwide.





The house arrest ruling will keep Bolsonaro under ankle monitoring and allow only his relatives and lawyers to visit him. All mobile phones from his home will also be seized.

The prosecution of Bolsonaro has caused a deep diplomatic rift between Brazil and the Trump administration.

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Last month, Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Brazil, directly tying the tariffs to the trial of his fellow right-wing politician Bolsonaro. Then, last week, the US administration imposed sanctions against Moraes, accusing him of arbitrary detentions that violate human rights.

President Lula has rebuked the US sanctions as unacceptable.

The Brazilian government stands in solidarity with [Moraes], who is the target of sanctions motivated by the actions of Brazilian politicians who betray our country and our people in defence of their own interests, Lula said, referring to Bolsonaro.

The US State Department swiftly condemned the decision to place Bolsonaro under house arrest on Monday.

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Justice Moraes, now a US-sanctioned human rights abuser, continues to use Brazils institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy, the departments Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said in a post on X.

Putting even more restrictions on Jair Bolsonaros ability to defend himself in public is not a public service, it added.
A Brazilian judge on Monday placed former president Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest for breaking a social media ban, escalating a dramatic standoff between the court and the politician, who is accused of plotting a coup.

Bolsonaro is on trial at the Supreme Court for allegedly plotting to cling onto power after losing 2022 elections to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

President Donald Trump has sought to punish Brazil, a longtime US ally, for what he sees as a politically motivated "witch hunt" targeting Bolsonaro by imposing eye-watering tariffs on Latin America's biggest economy.

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The 70-year-old Bolsonaro is banned from social media for the duration of the proceedings, and third parties are barred from sharing his public remarks.

But on Sunday, his allies defied the order by sharing footage online of a call between the former army captain and his eldest son Flavio at a solidarity rally in Rio de Janeiro.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes reacted furiously, declaring that the judiciary would not allow a defendant to "treat it like a fool" because of his "political and economic power."

Criticizing Bolsonaro's "repeated failure" to comply with the court's restrictions on him during the trial, he placed him under house arrest at his home in the capital Brasilia.

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He also barred the country's former leader (2019-2022) from receiving visitors, apart from his lawyers, and from using mobile phones, and warned that any new transgression would lead to him being detained.

Several mobile phones were seized at his home on Monday, the police said.

Washington condemned the new restrictions on Monday night, with the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs issuing a statement on X.

"Minister Alexandre de Moraes, already sanctioned by the United States for human rights violations, continues to use Brazilian institutions to silence the opposition and threaten democracy," the bureau posted. "Let Bolsonaro speak!"

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US officials added that they would "hold accountable all those who collaborate with or facilitate sanctioned conduct."

The US post was re-shared by Bolsonaro's politician son Eduardo Bolsonaro, who had successfully lobbied Washington to take punitive action against Brazil over the case.

In a separate post, he wrote: "Brazil is no longer a democracy."

He called Moraes, who is presiding over Bolsonaro's trial and has styled himself a defender of Brazilian democracy in the face of the far right, an "out-of-control psychopath."

Last month, Moraes ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and instituted the social media ban.

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Trump responded in unprecedented fashion by banning Moraes from the United States and freezing his assets in US banks.

- 'Thank you Trump' -

Trump's pressure campaign has angered many Brazilians but endeared him to Bolsonaro's conservative base.

At rallies in Rio, Brasilia and Sao Paulo on Sunday, some demonstrators waved US flags or held signs reading "Thank you Trump."

Bolsonaro himself did not attend the rallies, having been ordered by the Supreme Court to stay home at night and at weekends throughout the trial.

Prosecutors say he and seven co-accused tried to overturn his 2022 election defeat in a plot that only failed because the military did not get on board.

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He faces a 40-year sentence if convicted at the trial, which is expected to wrap up in the coming weeks.

Bolsonaro's supporters stormed Brazil's congress in January 2023, after Lula was inaugurated, ransacking the chambers and attacking police, in scenes reminiscent of an attack by Trump supporters on the US Capitol two years before.

Despite being barred from running, Bolsonaro hopes to mount a Trump-style comeback in Brazil's 2026 presidential election.

Lula, 79, has said he may seek a fourth term, health permitting.

Last year, he was hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage caused by a bathroom fall.

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WIXON VALLEY, Texas (FOX 44)  UPDATE: One person is dead and another is injured in a shooting at a Wixon Valley business.

Sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a disturbance at Pioneer Steel and Pipe, located in the 9400 block of E State Highway 21, at approximately 12:41 p.m. Monday. The business is across from City Hall.

When they arrived, they found two individuals with gunshot wounds. A preliminary investigation indicates that during an altercation, one person was shot and died from their injuries at the scene. The second subject, who is believed to have fired the weapon, also sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound during the incident and was transported for medical treatment.

Multiple Sheriffs Office vehicles responded to the scene. The business, parking lot and surrounding portion of E State Highway 21 were blocked off by the Sheriffs Office.

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No employees at the business location were involved, according to the Sheriffs Office. The identities of those involved are being withheld pending family notification and further investigation.

This appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety. No arrests have been made. The Sheriffs Office says this investigation remains active and ongoing.

This is a developing story. FOX 44 News will have more information as it becomes available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
The Kremlin has accused Britain of preparing mass raids to sink ships in the Russian shadow fleet.

The SVR, Moscows foreign intelligence service, claimed that London was plotting attacks on the fleet of old tankers used to avoid sanctions on oil exports.

The attacks would be designed to look like accidents, the SVR said, so that Britain and the West could claim that the ships were a danger, and move to restrict their movement.

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British intelligence services are planning to use Nato allies to launch a mass raid on the shadow fleet; for this purpose, an ecological catastrophe in international waters is being prepared, the SVR report claimed.

The report suggested that Britain planned to commission Ukrainian special forces to sink a vessel in one of the bottlenecks of sea communication.

However, the report is likely to raise concerns that Russia is preparing its own false flag  an operation designed to look like an attack on them  in order to deter the West from further crackdowns on the shadow fleet.

The SVR is a successor agency to the Soviet Unions KGB - Alexey Sazonov/AFP via Getty Images

Experts warn that many of the vessels in the fleet are hardly sea-worthy, sparking concerns that one could easily sink and cause a massive oil leak.

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The Kremlin could also be publishing the SVR report to shift the blame in the event of such a disaster, said Dr Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), a London-based think tank.

He said: One interpretation might be that the Russians are insuring themselves against something breaking down or sinking, in a way that creates a pretext for restricting [their movement across the ocean].

Under Unclos, the UN treaty governing maritime travel, states can restrict ships entering their territorial waters if they pose an environmental risk or safety hazard. As it stands, shadow fleet vessels regularly cross through the territorial waters of Western nations.

Many fly so-called flags of convenience, such as Comoros or Gabon, in an attempt to obscure their participation in funding the Russian war machine.

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The SVR report went on to state that London could also encourage Kyiv to set fire to a tanker in a port in a state friendly to Russia.

At least six tankers have been hit with mysterious explosions since the start of the year. Suspicion for the attacks has fallen on Ukraine, as all the tankers had docked in Russian ports and some were carrying Russian oil.

The US and EU sanctions regime against Russias shadow fleet has started to seriously impact its operations.

According to the Brookings Institute, a Washington-based think tank, the volume of oil carried on a tracked selection of its vessels has fallen from more than 50 million barrels per month to less than 20 million per month since the start of the year.

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Moscow has previously signalled its anger at the growing restrictions on the vessels by escorting them with military jets, the first time it explicitly acknowledged the shadow fleet as linked to its national security.

The SVR report says: The impetus for such a campaign, according to Londons plan, should be given by a resonant incident with one or several tankers.

The plan provides for the organisation of a major sabotage, the damage from which will make it possible to declare the transportation of Russian oil a threat to all international shipping.

This will untie the Wests hands in choosing methods of counteraction.

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The claimed attack plans could be a desperate attempt to deter Donald Trump from following through on his threat to enact 100 per cent tariffs on Russia and countries which buy fossil fuel from Moscow. On Monday, Mr Trump said he was set to impose harsh tariffs on India for continuing to purchase Russian oil.

Fighterbomber, a Russian war blogger, said: the countermeasures here are very simple. In a short time, several English tankers should suffer an accident... Of course it would be preferable to be closer to Great Britain.

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Ahmed Mohamed is detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after escaping custody

A British man accused of being in the US illegally broke out of a migrant detention centre with the help of Left-wing activists.

Ahmed Mohamed escaped from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Tuesday while being transferred to an immigrant detention centre in California.

Mohamed, who has been charged with narcotics and weapons offences, was shackled and being frogmarched to an ICE facility in downtown Los Angeles when a masked man, understood to be a pro-immigration protester, helped him to escape while guards were distracted, Homeland Security sources told The New York Post.

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The suspect was then loaded into a waiting van and made his getaway with the help of other protesters, according to ICE.

After a three-day manhunt, Mohamed was tracked down and swiftly arrested on Friday by ICE agents in San Diego, who shared a social media post of the suspect.

You can run from the law but you cannot hide, the post read.

After escaping ICE custody with the help of pro-illegal alien activists, Ahmed Mohamed of the UK was swiftly apprehended and placed back into ICE custody.

On top of his charges and convictions for narcotics and weapons possession, he will now be charged with escaping from confinement.

Mohamed reunited with handcuffs

The agency signed off by thanking San Diego ICE staff for reuniting Ahmed with his handcuffs.

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The detention centre was targeted by anti-ICE protesters in June, when rioters threw rocks at police and blocked off major roads in an attempt to push back against Donald Trumps deportation programme.

Mr Trump responded by deploying 2,000 members of the National Guard and 700 marines to quell the protests, with Karen Bass, the LA mayor, accusing the president of acting like a bully.

The administrations show of force sparked fury from Gavin Newsom, the states Democratic governor, who warned that Democracy is under assault before our eyes.

Mohamed is the latest British citizen to be detained by ICE agents, after Orlando Duncan Da Silva Bain, 19, was arrested in New York in May.

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On entering the US, Da Silva Bain allegedly failed to declare his UK criminal record, which included child sex offences, according to ICE.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. and Chinese officials may be able to settle many of their differences to reach a trade deal and avert punishing tariffs, but they remain far apart on one issue: the U.S. demand that China stop purchasing oil from Iran and Russia.

China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests, China's Foreign Ministry posted on X on Wednesday following two days of trade negotiations in Stockholm, responding to the U.S. threat of a 100% tariff.

Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," the ministry said.

The response is notable at a time when both Beijing and Washington are signaling optimism and goodwill about reaching a deal to keep commercial ties between the world's two largest economies stable  after climbing down from sky-high tariffs and harsh trade restrictions. It underscores China's confidence in playing hardball when dealing with the Trump administration, especially when trade is linked to its energy and foreign policies.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, emerging from the talks, told reporters that when it comes to Russian oil purchases, the "Chinese take their sovereignty very seriously.

We dont want to impede on their sovereignty, so they would like to pay a 100% tariff," Bessent said.

On Thursday, he called the Chinese tough negotiators, but said China's pushback hasn't stalled the negotiations. I believe that we have the makings of a deal, Bessent told CNBC.

Gabriel Wildau, managing director of the consultancy Teneo, said he doubts President Donald Trump would actually deploy the 100% tariff. Realizing those threats would derail all the recent progress and probably kill any chance for Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to announce a trade deal if they should meet this fall, Wildau said.

In seeking to restrict oil sales by Russia and Iran, a major source of revenue for both countries, the U.S. wants to reduce the funding available for their militaries, as Moscow pursues its war against Ukraine and Tehran funds militant groups across the Middle East.

China plays hardball

When Trump unveiled a sweeping plan for tariffs on dozens of countries in April, China was the only country that retaliated. It refused to give in to U.S. pressure.

If the U.S. is bent on imposing tariffs, China will fight to the end, and this is Chinas consistent official stance, said Tu Xinquan, director of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. WTO is the acronym for the World Trade Organization.
Uber and Lyft drivers would be considered employees, not independent contractors, under new regulations proposed by New Jersey labor officials. The companies have opposed such moves. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Business groups, gig workers, and freelancers are fighting what they say is the states latest attempt to limit the availability of independent contractor status that they say gives workers and businesses needed flexibility.

The opposition targets proposed regulations from the New Jersey Department of Labor that would regulate an examination, called the ABC test, that the state uses to determine whether workers are employees entitled to unemployment, family leave, and disability benefits  or are independent contractors not required to pay into the funds that fuel those benefits.

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The Murphy administration has previously characterized companies push to classify some workers as independent contractors as one that denies employees benefits required by law. Labor officials proposed regulations would ensnare some companies like Uber and Lyft that have fought efforts to classify their drivers as employees.

Kim Kavin is a freelance writer and co-founder of Fight for Freelancers, a group that helped defeat a 2019 bill that would have altered New Jerseys ABC test.

This is more of the same. Its all part and parcel of the same campaign that has been waged for years now trying to restrict independent contracting, and it needs to stop, Kavin said.

To be marked as an independent contractor, a worker must pass all three prongs of the ABC test, which measures whether a worker is free of their employers control, whether a workers work is performed outside a firms regular course or place of business, and whether a worker is engaged in business independent of a given firm.

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Officials could adopt the new proposal after an extended public comment period closes on Aug. 6, with or without changes.

Fighting for workers?

The proposals most substantive changes are confined to the tests second prong, which weighs whether a workers services are done outside the usual course or place of an employers business.

Examples included in the rules proposals text would designate ride-share drivers vehicles as a place of business for the companies they drive for. Because workers must meet all three prongs of the ABC test to be classed as independent contractors, that example would require ride-share drivers to be treated as employees.

New Jersey has for years insisted those drivers are employees entitled to benefits and argued they and their employers are liable for unemployment, temporary disability, and family leave payroll taxes.

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Uber in 2022 paid New Jersey $100 million to resolve claims of more than $600 million in unpaid taxes and interest the state said were owed due to worker misclassification between 2014 and 2018. The amount owed was reduced after the firm gave the state access to more records, and Uber maintains its employees are independent contractors.

New Jersey last year alleged Lyft, another ride-share company, owed the state $17 million in payroll taxes unpaid due to misclassification. Lyft, like Uber, maintains that its drivers are independent contractors under the ABC test and that its role is limited to acting as a platform that connects drivers with passengers.

Ride-share companies have typically prevailed in lawsuits challenging their drivers independent contractor classifications, though the question has not been thoroughly tested in New Jersey courts.

Roughly 20 state legislators spanning both parties have expressed concerns about the rules proposal, including that it may go beyond the statutes and case law governing worker classification. The group, which is growing, includes chairs of the Senate labor, commerce, transportation, and legislative oversight committees.

Sen. Patrick Diegnan is among the legislators who say the states push to revamp how workers are classified as independent contractors should be coming from lawmakers, not state officials. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

Democratic legislators in the 18th District said in a Thursday letter to Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo that classifying workers should be the job of lawmakers, not state regulators.

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The question of how to classify workers has been considered repeatedly by the Legislature, and similar efforts to change the standard through statute have not gained approval. The decision to implement such a major policy change through regulation, rather than legislation, risks creating confusion among both workers and employers, the letter reads.

Sen. Pat Diegnan and Assemblymen Sterley Stanley and Robert Karabinchak, all Middlesex County Democrats, added their concerns with the proposed rule are wide-ranging and substantive.

A spokesperson for the Department of Labor declined to comment on criticism of the rules proposal. In a summary attached to the proposal, the department said it is merely codifying practices stemming from statute and case law that labor commissioners have employed for years.

Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat in the final months of his second term, established a task force in 2018 to examine misclassification.

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Hardworking New Jersey workers should not be kept from receiving the pay and benefits they deserve, Murphy said last month to mark the sixth anniversary of the task forces report. Protecting our workers has always been a top priority of our administration as we maintain a strong and fair economy. Well keep fighting against those who exploit and cheat them.

A huge concern for businesses

Other changes in the proposal would classify customers homes as a place of business for drywall installers, limiting their ability to employ independent contractors to install drywall; name caddies working for country clubs as employees; and say truck drivers working for a trucking company may be classed as employees.

Elissa Frank, vice president of government affairs for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, said the states plan would create employment relationships that dont currently exist.

Those people under the examples that are cited in the rule are currently serving under independent contractor status, said Frank. Thats a huge concern because its hitting at the flexibility of the business.

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Planned changes to the ABC tests second prong note that workers outside of a firms normal course of business  say, someone hired to clean a dentists office  could still be classified as independent contractors.

Other portions of the states proposal offer fewer changes but have nonetheless alarmed freelancers and business groups.

The proposal would add a non-exhaustive list of criteria to determine whether an employer controls or directs an individuals work. That list includes questions like whether the business requires the individual to work set hours, use specific tools, or wear a particular uniform, among several others.

Some have worried the lists non-exhaustive nature  meaning officials can consider factors not listed there  would create uncertainty among contractors.

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I wouldnt say its a substantive change, but the fact that its non-exhaustive is a difference to the existing standard, Frank said, adding it could lower the bar to classify independent contractors as employees.

Courts use those criteria when adjudicating misclassification cases.

In Carpet Remnant Warehouse v. Department of Labor, a 1991 New Jersey Supreme Court decision on worker misclassification cited in the rules proposal, justices found carpet installers that did jobs for a carpet sales business were not under the business control because the installers could determine the means of installation, freely choose  or not choose  from the businesss posted jobs, and work for the businesss competitors, among other factors.

The tests final prong measures whether a worker is engaged in independently established trade, occupation, profession or business. It typically measures whether an individuals business would survive the loss of income stemming from the end of a relationship with one business.

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There, too, the proposal adds a non-exhaustive list that includes factors like how many clients the individual has, how their income breaks out among clients, and the individuals investment in their own tools and equipment, among several other factors courts use when adjudicating misclassification cases.

Frank said the proposal would make some bona fide independent contractors vulnerable to employee classification, raising the hypothetical of a heating, ventilation, and cooling technician who incorporates her own firm, secures her own tools and insurance, and gathers jobs from several clients  including one she works with frequently.

The frequent clients workload, a lack of employees at the technicians firm, and her lack of office space could make the hypothetical contractor vulnerable to an employee classification she would not seek, Frank said.

This hypothetical shows how the proposed rule shifts the bar from functional independence to structural perfection  penalizing legitimate small businesses that dont have the scale or resources to meet every new evidentiary factor, she said.

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Avant Gardner, owners of the indoor-outdoor concert complex including the Brooklyn Mirage in East Williamsburg, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday.

The companys troubles became evident when the Mirage failed to open in early May. Avant Gardner had redesigned the 6,200-person venue, but city inspectors didnt approve the new structure.

Avant Gardner also operates the Great Hall and Kings Hall at the same complex, and both locations will continue hosting shows during the bankruptcy process, the company said.

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The decision to file for Chapter 11 relief follows several months of financial distress, culminating with Avant Gardner being unable to open its newly constructed Mirage event space, Avant Gardner said in an Instagram post.

In its bankruptcy filings, Avant Gardner lists up to $500 million in debt and less than $100 million in assets, according to Gothamist. The company plans to borrow $45 million to remain afloat during the Chapter 11 process.

Avant Gardner plans to enter a stalking horse purchase agreement with its existing lender and has already secured debtor-in-possession financing from the lender, the company said on Instagram.

The Brooklyn Mirage first opened in 2015 as a popup space, but Avant Gardner established it as a permanent venue in 2017 and began expanding the operation to include other concert spaces.

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While the venue gained significant popularity and an enviously cool reputation, it was also plagued by regulatory troubles in recent years. The state Liquor Authority began monitoring the site in 2023 due to reports of drug use and at least three overdose deaths.

However, Mayor Adams pushed back against the states surveillance of Avant Gardner, at one point suggesting the city should create its own liquor licensing body. Adams had deeper ties to Avant Gardner as well; his longtime confidant Frank Carone used to be the companys attorney.

Avant Gardner was also responsible for the notorious 2023 disaster at its Electric Zoo music festival on Randalls Island, when the concert venue became too crowded and led to a stampede. The festival was supposed to last three days, but entry was halted in the middle of the final day.

Attendees compared the final day to 2017s notorious Fyre Festival, and the event did not return in 2024.
(NewsNation) Authorities in Washington state have released documents related to the investigation into Bryan Kohberger, who was sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing four Idaho college students in 2022.

The documents were posted to the website for the city of Pullman, where Kohberger studied criminology at Washington State University at the time of the killings.

Surveillance cameras recorded a white Elantra, consistent with Kohbergers car, leaving Pullman on the night of the murders and returning to the city later that morning. Cellphone tower data also tracked Kohbergers phone returning to Pullman the same night.

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Florida teen calls 911, says he killed his parents: Deputies

Bryan Kohberger wanted to work with Pullman police department

Kohberger emailed back and forth with the Pullman chief of police about a Ph.D. graduate research assistant position, records showed.

He interviewed for the position on April 12, 2022, seven months before the killings in Idaho.

In an email to former Pullman police Chief Gary Jenkins, Kohberger wrote: It was a great pleasure to meet with you today and share my thoughts and excitement regarding the research assistantship for public safety.

Bryan Kohberger briefly suspected of attack on Pullman student

According to a report from police in Pullman, Kohberger was briefly under suspicion in Pullman regarding a break-in at an apartment belonging to four university students in 2021.

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Further investigation found he was not connected to the incident.

A woman who was 20 at the time told police a male wearing a burgundy ski mask and holding a knife entered her bedroom as she slept, a report stated.

I trained in jujitsu: Kansas man saves woman from intruder

The woman said she kicked the intruder in the stomach as he got closer, and he ran out of the room. She and a roommate then called the police.

After Kohberger was arrested in 2022 for the killings in Idaho, police revisited the incident, believing he may have been the intruder in Pullman.

However, the investigation determined Kohberger did not live in the area at the time and was not on the campus for any recruiting events.

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Read the documents here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Officials in Idaho released a 3D model of the house where Bryan Kohberger killed four University of Idaho students following his guilty plea.

Kohberger pleaded guilty on July 2 to the murders of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves, in a deal which took the death penalty off the table. The four University of Idaho students were found dead on Nov. 13, 2022 at their house in Moscow, Idaho, located near campus.

In exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table, Kohberger will serve four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the four counts of first degree murder and one count of felony burglary.

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The Latah County Prosecutors Office on Friday released images of a 3D model of 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place.

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty To Idaho Murders

The King Road house was torn down in December 2023, but prosecutors planned on using the 3D replica during the now-canceled murder trial.

Read On The Fox News App

During a June hearing, Thompson described the 3D house as a "dollhouse," but later said that word was inappropriate and then referred to it as a "model house."

Images released by the prosecutor's office show a 3D model version of 1122 King Road, showing the exterior and interior of the house. The model replica includes rooms inside the house, but isn't furnished.

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According to the Idaho Statesman, the model house was approved by Hippler for use during trial, despite objections from Kohberger's defense team. However, Hippler approved the model house only for demonstrative purposes, so it couldn't be used as evidence.

Idaho Murders Timeline: Bryan Kohberger Plea Caps Yearslong Quest For Justice

Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse, for his sentencing hearing, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho, for brutally stabbing four University of Idaho students to death nearly three years ago.

4 a.m.: Suspect arrives at house

Between 4 and 4:17: Time of murders

4:19: Roommate calls three victims; no one answers

4:22 to 4:24: Surviving roommates text each other from inside house

4:27: Roommate calls victims again; no one answers

4:32: Roommate texts Goncalves, "Pls answer"

10:23: Surviving roommate texts victims; no one answers

11:39: Roommate calls her father

12 p.m.: 911 call placed from roommate's phone.

Following Kohberger's sentencing on July 23, Judge Steven Hippler lifted the gag order previously imposed on anyone involved with the quadruple murder case, which allowed for the release of investigative documents.

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Police documents released after Hippler released the gag order revealed that Goncalves and Mogen were both found together side by side.

The police report said both women were "covered by a pink blanket which was covered in blood."

A watchman parked outside 1122 King Road on Dec. 11, 2022, four weeks after four students were stabbed to death inside. A year later, the property is scheduled for demolition. Critics believe it should remain standing until the suspect goes to trial.

"It was obvious an intense struggled had occurred," police wrote in another report, describing the crime scene.

Authorities noted that they saw "what appeared to be defensive knife wounds on Xana's hands," adding that a tan leather knife sheath was also found.

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.





Original article source: Bryan Kohberger's Idaho murder scene unveiled through detailed 3D replica after death penalty struck
The Berks History Center is continuing its in-person and online Pennsylvania Dutch classes beginning the week of Sept. 15. In-person classes will take place at the center, 940 Centre Ave., Reading. Online classes will be held via Zoom.

Three experience tiers are offered. The courses span eight weeks and will conclude the week of Nov. 3.

Register by Sept. 11 at berkshistory.org. Classes cost $90 for center members and $175 for nonmembers.

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To learn more, call 610-375-4375 Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Berks parks

Berks County Parks & Recreation has scheduled the following events for August:

Wednesday, Aug. 6  Nature Scavenger Hunt with a Ranger, 10 a.m.-noon, Berks County Heritage Center, Bern Township. Free but registration required.

Friday, Aug. 8  Zydeco-A-Go-Go concert, 5:30-8 p.m. at Grings Mill Recreation Area, Spring Township. Rain date is Aug. 15. Food trucks will be on site. Free admission.

Saturday, Aug. 9  Smokeys Birthday Celebration, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Heritage Center. Food truck on site. Free admission.

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Aug. 11  Second Monday at the Wagon Works, 11 a.m.-noon, Heritage Center. Guided tours of the Gruber Wagon Works. $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for students. Registration required.

Aug. 13  Drop-In Art Camp: Botany Blitz, 9 a.m.-noon, Bingaman House, Lower Alsace Township. Create among the canopy of Antietam Lake Parks beautiful trails. This is a drop-off program. $15 per child, registration required.

Aug. 14  Close-up Photography with Ranger Jerry, 6 p.m., Antietam Lake Park, Lower Alsace Township. Learn how to shoot smaller objects in greater detail with your iPhone. Free but registration required.

Aug. 14  The Return of the Bats, 7-8:30 p.m., Heritage Center. Dr. Karen Campbell of Albright College explores and explains the lives of bats. Free.

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Aug. 17  Natures Best Hope Guided Hike and Invasive Pull, 9-10 a.m., Heritage Center. Program focuses on how we can be stewards of nature. Free and registration suggested.

Aug. 19  Bilingual storytime, 10-11 a.m., Heritage Center. Stories read in Spanish and English accompanied by activities and a craft. Geared toward ages 3-7. Free and registration suggested.

Aug. 22  Pure Jerry concert, 5:30-8 p.m., Grings Mill. Food trucks on site. Free admission.

Aug. 23  Theorem Painting Workshop, 1-3 p.m., Beidler House, Robeson Township. Create your own painting from a selection of designs. Call 610-374-8839 to learn more. Registration fee is $5; material fee is $25. Registration required.

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Register for all programs at countyofberks.recdesk.com/Community/Program. To learn more, email LGauker@BerksPa.gov or call 610-374-2944, ext 2611.

Lecture on conflict

The Jewish Cultural Center will present Armed Conflict in the Contemporary World, a lecture by Paul Staniland, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago. The talk takes place Thursday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. at the JCC, 1100 Berkshire Blvd., Suite 125, Wyomissing.

Staniland will provide an overview of trends in war and conflict, the geography of political violence, possibilities for conflict resolution and areas of emerging tension. His research focuses on political violence and international security, with a regional emphasis on South and Southeast Asia.

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Staniland sits on the faculty boards of the Center for International Social Science and Center in Delhi, India. He is a nonresident scholar in the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and co-editor of the Cornell Studies in Security Affairs book series.

RSVP by emailing info@jfreading.org or calling 610-921-0624.

Cars & Cones

The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, 85 S. Walnut St., is holding its fourth annual Cars & Cones event on Thursday, Aug. 7, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

This low-key cruise-in will be held in the parking lot adjacent to the museum entrance. No registration is required, and the event is free for participants and spectators. The Peppermint Stick Candy Store and Ice Cream Parlor will be in attendance with ice cream and other refreshments for purchase. During the event the museum will be joined by Building a Better Boyertown for its farmers market.

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For more information, call 610-367-2090 or visit www.boyertownmuseum.org.

Book launch

A book launch party will be held for Bear Fever  Its Catching: Bears of Boyertown Chapter #1 on Thursday, Aug. 7, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Chestnut Knoll, 120 W. Fifth St., Boyertown. Author Diane OSullivan will be present to sign books, and complimentary cocktails and appetizers will be available. Copies will be available for purchase.

RSVP by calling 610-473-8066 or emailing JKrasley@chestnutknoll.com.

Library yard sale

The Wyomissing Public Library will hold its end-of-summer block party and yard sale on Saturday Aug. 9, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tables will be provided by the library but must be reserved. One table in a 10-foot by 5-foot space is $20, and two tables in a 10-foot by 10-foot space is $30.

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Reservations must be paid in advance by cash, check or credit card; checks should be made payable to Wyomissing Public Library. Reservations for tables will be accepted until the day of sale. Set up begins at 7.

In the event of rain, the sale will be moved into the librarys Community Room. Table reservations may be made at www.wyopublib.org. For more information, contact Colleen Stamm, library director, at coleen@wyopublib.org, or call 610-374-2385.

For block party information, contact Daniella Yacono, childrens librarian, at daniella@wyopublib.org, or call 610-374-2385.

Heritage society

The Heidelberg Heritage Society will have an open house on Sunday, Aug. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. at 182 W. Penn Ave., Wernersville. The Historic Lerch Tavern is a museum featuring displays and artifacts representing the history and culture of the area known as the Heidelbergs.

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Ice cream social

Ephrata Cloister, 632 W. Main St., is holding an ice cream social on Sunday, Aug. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for the general public, $5 for Ephrata Cloister Associate members and free for ages 5 and under. They can be purchased in the visitor center the day of the event. The event features ice cream and brownie sundaes, scooped by celebrity dippers. The New Cloister Restaurant will provide the ice cream.

Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for members of the Ephrata Cloister Associates. hildren under 5 are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased in the visitor center the day of the event.

Guides in historic costume will greet visitors and interpret the history of the 18th-century structures. The Groove Slingers will perform from 1 to 4 p.m.

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Learn more at www.ephratacloister.org or call 717-733-6600.

Veterinarian talk

Veterinarian Dr. Katelyn Reist will be the speaker at the membership meeting of the Tulpehocken Settlement Historical Society on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. at the society, 116 N. Front St., Womelsdorf. The topic is Farming with the Use of Draft Horses and Other Livestock.

To learn more, call the society at 610-589-2527.

Caregiver support

Keystone Villa at Douglassville hosts a monthly dementia education and support group for people caring for a loved one living with memory impairment. It meets the first Thursday of each month in the Personal Care building at 1152 Ben Franklin Highway East, Amity Township

The group meets Thursday, Aug. 7, at 6:30 p.m. for Beat the Heat: Summer Safety Tips. Heat, sun exposure and dehydration are dangerous conditions that can lead to hospitalization for older adults. Learn tips to stay cool, limit sun exposure, and keep hydrated.

RSVP at 610-385-5002.

Expanded cloister tours

Ephrata Cloister is holding expanded tours on Saturday Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., rain or shine. The theme is the sites decorative arts. There will be three themed stations, each focused on a different form of craftsmanship practiced at Ephrata: textile arts, clockmaking and Fraktur calligraphy.

The program lasts up to 90 minutes and is best for those ages 12 and up. Each tour is limited to 40 participants. Tickets are $12 per person and $2 for Ephrata Cloister Associates members.

Guided tours of the Sisters House and Meetinghouse will take place at 11 a.m. and 12:30 and 3 p.m.

Advance registration is required by calling 717-733-6600 or visiting the Visitor Center. Learn more at ephratacloister.org.

Peaches and ice cream

St. Pauls UCC Amityville, 1979 Weavertown Road, Amity Township, is holding its Peach and Ice Cream Festival on Aug. 16 from 3 to 8 p.m., rain or shine. Highlights include food for purchase, peaches and ice cream, peach cobbler, childrens activities, musical performances and a white elephant yard sale.

Dog event

Keystone Villa at Douglassville is presenting Dog Days of Summer on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at 1152 Ben Franklin Highway East, Amity Township.

The outdoor celebration features hot dogs, ice cream, pup cups and a dog parade. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome; proof of vaccination is required to attend. RSVP at 610-385-5002.

Farmers market

The Antietam Valley Farmers Market is open Monday, Aug. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Carsonia Park, 905 Byram St., Pennside.

The Antietam Parent Teacher League will be collecting school supply donations to be handed out at the Aug. 18 market. Items sought include markers, notebooks, folders, crayons, pencils, etc.

Dreibelbis Farm Festival

The Dreibelbis Farm Historical Society will host its annual Farm Festival on Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the farm near Virginville, 356 Hard Hill Road. There will be demonstrations of life on the farm. The nature trail will be open along with Native American displays, a horse-drawn wagon ride and old-time games and activities.

There will be talks on history and Native American storytelling and a Civil War veterans display. Period music will be performed throughout the day. Food provided by the Virginville Grange.

Parking is $3; admission is free. A fee is charged for guided tours of the main house. For more information go to Dreibelbisfarm.org or Historic Dreibelbis Farm on Facebook or Instagram, or call 610-488-7896.

Book festival trip

The Wyomissing Public Library will offer a bus trip to the Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington on Sept. 6. The festival is held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear conversations with more than 90 authors representing a wide variety of genres.

This years headliners include: Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Ron Chernow, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, John Green, Joy Harjo, Mac Barnett, Jill Lepore, Yuval Levin, R. L. Stine and Scott Turow.

The festival includes family-friendly activities, workshops and interactive programs for all ages.

The bus will leave Wyomissing at 6:30 a.m. and depart the event at 5:30 p.m., with arrival back in Wyomissing at about 9 p.m.

The cost is $75 per person or $65 for Wyomissing Library Association members. Register by Aug. 25 at www.wyopublib.org, in-person at the library, by check made payable to the Wyomissing Public Library or by cash or credit card. Meals and snacks are on your own.

For more information call the library at 610-374-2385, or email ann@wyopublib.org.

Diversity festival

Bring The Change is holding the sixth annual Berks Cultural Diversity Festival on Sept. 27 from noon to 6 p.m. at City Park in Reading. The event includes music, dance, poetry and more in a family-friendly setting. Diverse food trucks will be present, and there will be interactive learning opportunities.

Participating organizations include the Dominican Association of Pennsylvania, Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks, Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, NAACP Reading Branch and CICOP Ministry.

To become a sponsor or vendor, host a free cultural table or request further information about the festival, visit bringthechange.net, email info@bringthechange.net or call 484-509-1145.

Bring the Change is dedicated to creating sustainable communities through education and the power of cultural diversity.

Best Kept Secrets

This years Best Kept Secrets Tour of Berks County is set for Nov. 6-22, featuring opportunities to visit 39 local businesses and get to know more about them.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Helping Harvest, a nonprofit committed to fighting hunger in the community.

Tickets are available at www.bestkeptsecretstour.com or by calling 717-721-9409.

Submit items to news@readingeagle.com.
Police in Burlington are looking for information on a shooting that happened in the city last night.

Officers from the Burlington Police Department responded to the 1100 block of Cedar Street for reports of a shooting in the area on August 3 at about 10:12 p.m. Dispatch told the responding officers that a man was running and there were reports of 13-15 shots fired in the area.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found several shell casings in the area, as well as evidence of a home had been struck. Officers were advised that a person had been taken to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The victim is currently in stable condition.

(Getty Images)

The Burlington Police Departments Crime Investigation Unit has executed multiple search warrants on residences in the Burlington area in connection with the shooting. Detectives have recovered multiple firearms, ammunition and extended magazines.

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The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information on this incident or other recent shooting incidents should call the Burlington Police Department at 319-671-7001 or Crime Stoppers at 319-753-6835. Crime Stopper tips that lead to an arrest may be eligible for a cash 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
In Palm Beach County, 69 Burmese pythons have been captured since 2006, according to the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System, or EDDMapS. In addition, four have been found dead, and 24 sightings have been reported. Countless more of the invasive snakes likely have lurked undetected or unreported.

Just to the north of Palm Beach County, on the Treasure Coast, there have been at least 25 documented sightings of Burmese pythons since 2004..

Where did the Burmese pythons come from? The conventional wisdom is they were pets that escaped or were released. But theres mounting evidence that Everglades pythons have the ability to migrate north and west from South Florida because theyre crossbreeding, evolving and adapting to other areas of Florida and the U.S.

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The question is: Have they crossed the boundaries of their established breeding range, which extends from Lake Okeechobee south to Key Largo and from western Broward County west to Collier County?

The Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Geological Survey would not speculate, and several other biologists, scientists and snake wranglers told TCPalm they just dont know.

However, a 2008 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Biological Invasions says pythons are now well established in southern Florida and spreading northward.

They are good at finding ways of sheltering, said Ken Gioeli, a Natural Resources and Environment agent at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Fort Pierce. Unfortunately, they are adapting.

Florida Burmese python habitat range

This map shows the Burmese python's established breeding ground and how the invasive snake spread from 1979 to 2021, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.

Pythons have been established in the Everglades since the 1980s, but studies and sightings show the cold-blooded snakes have adapted to cooler temperatures and different habitats.

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The USGS has confirmed their presence north of the Everglades through DNA identification of their saliva, excrement, shed skin and sloughed scales, said research geneticist Margaret Hunter.

Those areas are north of Lake Okeechobee in the Kissimmee River area from Orlando to Okeechobee and southwest of Lake Okeechobee in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County, Hunter said.

One reason theyve adapted to higher ground is theyve been crossbred with Indian rock pythons that prefer that habitat  likely before they were introduced into the Everglades, according to the USGS. Genetic evidence shows at least 13 out of 400 pythons studied were crossbred.

For evidence of how theyve adapted to the cold, look no further than a 2010 Arctic blast that blew unusually and prolonged cold weather into South Florida from January to March. Scientists found the pythons that survived have a different gene than the ones that died, Hunter said.

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A substantial portion of the mainland U.S. is potentially vulnerable to this ostensibly tropical invader, says the 2008 study in Biological Invasions.

Climate change could expand their range even more by 2100 to include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Colorado and parts of Washington state.

Coastal and Southern states with python-conducive climates similar to the snakes native range in Asia  from India to China to Pakistan  include all of Florida and most of California as well as the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana Oklahoma and Texas.

"They are going to continue to evolve and adapt," Hunter said.

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For now, the FWC staff evaluates reports of pythons outside their established breeding range and release information regarding new locations of establishment and range changes.

Removing Burmese pythons from Florida with: Python Challenge, Python Elimination Program, Python Action Team Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC)

The SFWMD's Python Elimination Program and the FWC's Florida Python Challenge and Python Action Team Removing Invasive Constrictors are among the statewide efforts to remove pythons from the environment, which is essential because they alter food webs.

Pythons have killed 85-100% of the Everglades foxes, bobcats, rabbits, raccoons, possums and white-tailed deer  species that live on the Treasure Coast too.

The FWC and SFWMD contract with 100 hunters who track and remove pythons from the Everglades year-round, and the Python Challenge that FWC launched in 2013 became an annual 10-day hunting competition in 2020.

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Through all the state's efforts, over 23,000 pythons have been removed since 2000, including 917 from the hunt alone, according to FWC. Yet trappers have caught less than 1% of Floridas python population, Hunter said, which is estimated to be in the tens of thousands and growing.

State law allows people to kill an unlimited number of pythons using humane and legal methods on 32 FWC-managed lands year-round, and on private land with the owners permission.

Every python removed from the Florida landscape is one less invasive snake impacting our native wildlife and ecosystems, FWC spokesperson Lisa Thompson said. "FWC staff encourages residents to report sightings."

Thats not happening enough, Gioeli said.

How to report Burmese python sightings in Florida

Every once in a while, there will be a news report of a police officer or animal control officer capturing one, but those reports never make it to the reporting sites, he said. Ive tried to bridge that gap to get them to report it. I will work to let people know that the reporting system is out there. I think a lot of people are not aware that there is a reporting system.

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Call 911 or Animal Control in your city or county for an immediate threat, then report the exact location to the FWCs Invasive Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (483-4681). Sending a photo is important because Burmese pythons can be easily confused with ball pythons.

There is always going to be a constant need for outreach and education about reporting pythons, Gioeli said, because there are so many new people coming to the area.

More on Burmese pythons in Florida

Tim O'Hara is TCPalm's environment reporter. Contact him at tim.ohara@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Map: Florida Burmese pythons habitats grow beyond Everglades
"Whats a warrior cairn? I wondered after reading a release about the newest monument at Rhode Island's Veterans Cemetery in Exeter. Cairn, in Scots Gaelic, means literally "a pile of stones."

The July 26 dedication of the Warriors Cairn Memorial shows it's much more than a mound of stones  it was the culmination of years of hard work, fundraising and the commitment of a small team to create an interactive memorial to all veterans.

Steve Hebert, a 74-year-old Army vet from Tiverton, is one of those Vietnam veterans who has worked for some eight years to develop the memorial, saying, The idea started during a VA-sponsored Moral Injury group discussion.

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About eight former Vietnam veterans discovered a common interest, and from those discussions, the concept of the warrior cairn took shape.

Two of them, Dru Falvi and Jeffrey Mead, had visited a warrior cairn at the VA facility in Asheville, North Carolina  the first of its kind in the nation  where a stack of stones was specifically built to honor fallen warriors or veterans. The Asheville memorial allowed people to contribute stones  over time as a form of tribute and remembrance.

Dru thought, Why not put the second one here?

According to Bob Hamel, a former Marine from Providence, Dru brought a gourd full of stones to a meeting. We would take one out, write something on it, then talk about what we wrote, said Hamel.

Five of the Vietnam veterans responsible for the creation of the Warriors Cairn Memorial at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter stand in front of their creation during the July 26 dedication ceremony. From left: Stanley Warner, Bob Hamel, Paul Nocon, Henry Caparco and Steve Hebert.

Getting off the ground

Our first plan was to locate the memorial at the VA Medical Center in Providence, Hamel told me. They offered us a slice of land between the parking garage and the parking lot.

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Eventually, that was determined to be impractical. The group went to Kasim Yarn, director of Rhode Islands Office of Veterans Services, who embraced the idea and introduced them to Jim Bessel, who runs the Veterans Cemetery. Jim walked us through the process, and we chose one of a handful of available locations, said Hebert.

But Bessel also nixed the idea of a cairn with loose stones. They created potential liability issues and were an invitation to vandalism, said Hamel.

The group decided that wood chips sliced from a 2-by-4 would work as a substitute for stone, while maintaining the interactive element that was so important. Unfortunately, that meant giving up the true idea of a "cairn."

Dru brought us the idea, said Hamel, but he was committed to the true concept of a cairn, and he withdrew when we were told we couldnt use stones.

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Plan B was to have a separate, covered container near the headstone. One side contains blank chips on which people can write a name or a short message. Then, visitors deposit them in a steel container on the other side, explained Hebert. Periodically, we will respectfully burn those messages along with old and tattered American flags.

With a design finally selected, funding became the major focal point of the Warriors Cairn Fund in June 2022.

To kick off this effort, each of us donated an average of $400, said another former Marine, Henry Caparco of East Providence. We sold paver stones at events like the Charlestown Seafood Festival, the Wickford Art Festival and any other event that would give us space, added Warner.

The first thing we bought was the big marker stone, said Hebert. The stone reads, For those who can no longer speak for themselves."

Other team members

Bob Hamel joined the Marines in 1960, right after graduation from La Salle Academy. He qualified for the Platoon Leaders course, which allowed him to complete basic training and Officer Candidate School during summers while attending Rhode Island College. Commissioned after graduation, he went to Vietnam as an artillery forward observer with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment (Artillery), providing fire support to the 9th Marines

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After returning home, Hamel went to work at Chariho High School, where he taught history and political science for 30 years. He is now 83.

East Providence native Henry Caparco joined the Marines in 1963 after graduating from Mount Pleasant High School. He served in Vietnam with the 4th Logistical Support Group from 1965 to 1966. After discharge, he operated a commercial cleaning company for many years before becoming a sales rep for USA Today publications.

Stan Butch Warner, 79, is a 1964 Warwick Veterans High School grad who also enlisted right after high school. He went to Vietnam in 1967 with the 1st Battalion, Third Marines. He endured some of the heaviest fighting of the war, including the 1968 Tet Offensive. He was wounded twice.

Back home, he took a job with the phone company. He joined the Rhode Island Army National Guard in 1972, rising through the ranks. Warner became command sergeant major of the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment. He retired in 1996 and lives in North Kingstown.

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Others involved include Paul Nocon, an Army vet from Middletown, and Michael Francis, of North Kingstown.

Two others died during the process. One was Jeffrey Mead, a Marine who had visited the cairn in North Carolina and helped get the project started. Robert Lovell Sr. was a Johnston High School grad who joined the Navy in 1966. A Seabee, he completed three deployments to Vietnam, earning two Bronze Stars. He joined the Providence Police Department and served for 21 years. He died in March 2022.

There are six of us left, said Hebert.

The headstone at the center of the Warriors Cairn Memorial at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery.

Success!

The Cairn Fund raised more than $30,000. Half of that came from legislative grants, while the balance came from the pavers and private donations.

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In addition to the headstone, the memorial features six granite columns, one for each of the service branches.

The centerpiece is a flagpole, flanked by two memorial benches dedicated to Jeffrey Mead and Robert Lovell.

Vet Center plays important role

The group members could not say enough about the help and support they received from the Providence Vet Center and its director, Heather Tarducci.

The Vet Center is the best-kept secret of the entire VA operation, said Hebert. They do great work for all veterans, no questions asked. And you dont have to be registered with the VA.

To learn more about the services of the Providence Vet Center, call 401-739-0167.

Dedication ceremony held July 26

On Saturday morning, July 26, a small but enthusiastic group gathered at the Veterans Cemetery in Exeter to formally dedicate the memorial. Warriors Cairn President Henry Caparco presided over the event.

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Word had spread about our cairn, said Hamel. People had already deposited wood chip messages before the dedication.

Director Yarn said, "I urge everyone to experience this interactive memorial sit on the benches, write down your thoughts, and let the silence speak the names and stories of the fallen.

Passing the torch

To a man, the group responsible echoed the need to involve younger veterans. Our group ranges in age from 74 to 83, said Hebert. When we are gone, who will carry on? asked Caparco.

Those who follow need to maintain the site, make sure there is always a supply of wood chips for messages and continue the process of respectful disposition that we have begun, concluded Hamel.

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Hebert says they would welcome veterans of more recent wars to get involved. We hope there are some younger veterans out there, perhaps from Kosovo, Iraq or Afghanistan, who would help ensure this effort does not die.

To help with the Warriors Cairn Memorial, call Henry Caparco at 401-439-8444, or email hcaparco29@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island veterans unveil Warriors Cairn Memorial at Exeter cemetery
A bus service is returning to parts of North Carolina nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated the area.

ALSO READ: Governor announces new program to rebuild hurricane-damaged homes in western NC

Beginning August 1, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is resuming intercity bus service to Asheville. Greyhound will operate the service, providing direct connections to major cities including Raleigh and Charlotte.

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The service will be operated under a contract with NCDOTs Integrated Mobility Division. WTVD reports that this relaunch marks a significant step forward in restoring vital transportation links for Asheville and its surrounding communities.

WATCH: How Hurricane Helene reshaped Lake Lure
Business owners around Shasta Lake have felt the benefits of a revitalized ecosystem as high lake levels have brought tourists swarming to the area.

"We had 3,645 people over three days, with our busiest day bringing 1,438 people. That's a really good day," general manager of Lake Shasta Caverns, Matt Doyle, told Redding Record Searchlight.

The national natural landmark marked the fourth-highest number of visitors in one day in early July, fueling the economy throughout Shasta County.

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More than 40 inches of rain from 2022 to 2024 is to thank for the above satisfactory lake levels. As Redding Record Searchlight reported, the lake was at 106% above average in early July, equating to about 1.2 trillion gallons.

The historic levels of tourism paint a picture of how vital environmental prosperity is to human well-being, not just for food, water, and healthy air, but for economies.

One statistic from the European Environmental Agency revealed that "weather- and climate-related extremes caused economic losses of assets estimated at EUR 738 billion during 1980-2023 in the European Union."

In the United States alone, the tourism sector contributes to about 10% of the annual GDP, according to Statista data. One study from 2021, published in the journal Climatic Change, highlighted that the United States "is expected to have a range of regional impacts [from a warming planet] some of which will have significant impacts on tourism."

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With the impacts of environmental degradation on tourism, especially in areas that rely on rich water sources, like Shasta Lake, to attract visitors, it's not surprising that when a healthy environment is present, tourism skyrockets.

The looming threat of fires that typically break out during warm seasons in Northern California has not impacted tourism levels. Where there is a healthy, appealing ecosystem, visitors will always be attracted  so long as fire is not threatening the area.

David Raun, who runs the Shasta Lakeshore Retreat, told Redding Record Searchlight, "There's some forest fires, but they're not impacting the lake. And you know, we really haven't had much problem with the forest fires as far as tourism and impacting our business like we did three or four years ago when it got pretty bad."

Beyond tourism, Shasta Lake at healthy levels means a safe, functioning environment for wildlife and agriculture. When biodiversity thrives, so too does the surrounding ecosystem.

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.
We came across a bullish thesis on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. on r/Valueinvesting subreddit by u/anonymous_sheep1. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on CMG. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.'s share was trading at $46.76 as of July 25th. CMGs trailing and forward P/E were 41.38 and 38.46 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Copyright: andreyst / 123RF Stock Photo

Chipotles shares have sold off following weaker quarterly comps and a guidance cut, leaving the stock trading near 30x free cash flow (FCF), at the lower end of its five-year EV/EBITDA and P/FCF averages. Historically, such valuations have offered attractive entry points, and a five-year discounted cash flow (DCF) model supports an 11% IRR, assuming a flat 2025 FCF of $1.5 billion with 10% CFO and 7% FCF CAGR through 2029 and a 40x FCF exit multiple.

The markets concern centers on multiple compressions, reflecting fears that Chipotles growth is maturing amid delivery-related cannibalization and overlap from new stores. However, underlying fundamentals remain robust, with average unit volumes (AUV) and total addressable market (TAM) expansion still offering significant headroom.

Management continues to target 7,500 U.S. company-owned units by 2032, up from roughly 4,000 today, underscoring confidence in sustained growth. Historical precedent suggests that similar periods of compression have proven temporary as the company demonstrated consistent execution.

For long-term investors, signs of a bottom may emerge with stabilization in same-store sales and improved visibility around unit economics as Chipotle expands its footprint. Given its durable brand, strong unit-level returns, and long runway for expansion, current valuation levels offer an appealing setup for investors willing to look through near-term volatility, with the potential for multiple re-expansion as growth concerns abate.

Previously we covered a bullish thesis on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) by FluentInQuality in March 2025, highlighting its operational efficiency, strong brand, and consistent growth. The stock has depreciated ~14% since due to earnings pressure and multiple compression. The thesis remains valid given Chipotles long-term fundamentals. anonymous_sheep1 shares a similar view but emphasizes valuation upside amid temporary concerns.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 78 hedge fund portfolios held CMG at the end of the first quarter, which was 83 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of CMG 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.
LOGAN, Utah (ABC4)  A Cache County man is under investigation after he allegedly sexually assaulted four victims, one as young as 13 years old, between 2016 and 2021.

Cameron Michael Dahle, 22, has been charged with one count of first-degree felony rape, according to court documents, though prosecutors say an investigation is still ongoing and more charges may be added.

According to charging documents, Dahle allegedly began sexually assaulting girls in 2016 when he was 13 years old and briefly dated each of the alleged victims. In each of the cases, Dahle and the victim would reportedly start getting intimate, such as kissing, when Dahle would encourage the victim to take things further.

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In each case, the victims told investigators they would tell Dahle no, with one victim saying she told him she wasnt ready. Dahle would allegedly ignore the girls and continue to encourage them, allegedly saying in one incident, Just let it happen. Dont try to fight it. One victim said she repeatedly told Dahle to stop during the alleged assault, but he kept going on with his business.

The investigation into Dahle started in 2022 after one of the victims was approached by another victims mother when she recognized Dahle while the two were at a local grocery store. The mother reportedly told the 17-year-old victim that Dahle was not a good guy. The two victims later connected on social media and agreed to come forward and talk to police.

Dahle is scheduled to make his first appearance on the charges on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Conservative activists staged a rally on the west steps of the California Capitol Sunday demanding a recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, four years after a recall election failed and 11 months after the most recent attempt to recall him went kaput.

With one month until the deadline and 1 million signatures to go, activists tried to build momentum for Newsoms ouster. About 80 people turned up for the Sacramento rally.

Before the speeches began, the events lead organizer, Edward Escobar of the Coalition for Community Engagement, asked the crowd to congregate close in the seating area so that it doesnt look so sparse.

A group of activists listen to Randy Economy, chairman of Saving California, and Edward Escobar, with the Coalition for Community Engagement on the west steps of the Capitol on Sunday, August 3, 2025 to gain support for a recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsoms second and final term ends in January 2027. Last September, Rescue California announced it had failed to gather the necessary 1.3 million signatures necessary to qualify for the ballot. In 2021, another gubernatorial recall election failed before the voters, with 62% of them siding with Newsom and only 38% coming out against him. The 2021 election cost taxpayers $200 million.

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Escobar addressed that issue, saying a lot of times, the opposition brings up the cost of the recall. Well, the cost of the recall is nothing compared to the cost of the lives that are lost, and the communities that are lost, and the businesses that are lost.  Whats the cost of that? Were talking about billions, billions of dollars.

Speakers at the rally raised various concerns about Newsoms administration.

They were critical of what they consider government overreach, as well as what they view as a lack of government response to the fires that tore through Los Angeles in January. One said that citizens do not have good enough health care, while undocumented immigrants health care is too good.

Another speaker, Ronald F. Owens Jr., railed against COVID-19 vaccines. Carol Pefley, who is running for a seat in the state Assembly, criticized Newsom for policies that allow parents and medical providers to decide whether children should receive gender-affirming treatment.

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A few speakers invoked conspiratorial thinking.

One, the podcast host CharLee Simons, brought up Newsoms story of witnessing someone shoplifting from a Target and then getting into a confrontation with a clerk who blamed the governor for the lack of shoplifting enforcement, without realizing she was speaking with the governor.

Simons posted footage of the governors comments online, and claimed that journalists didnt report on it.

Did you see any of that reporting on mainstream media news channels? Simons asked. No. Shocker.

In fact, the news was reported in the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, Politico, the Daily Mail and, among many other local outlets, The Sacramento Bee.

In addition to the current effort and the failure in 2021, the California Secretary of State lists six Newsom recall efforts that did not have enough support to qualify for the ballot.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A California man was arrested and charged in late June at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls after allegedly being found with a fake ID for himself and items that could be used to make them, the United States Attorneys Office announced Monday.

Officials said on June 28, 34-year-old Miguel Angel Guevara-Murillo, of Stockton, arrived at the crossing after he made a wrong turn from the United States. He then provided Colombian passports to border agents, who found Guevara-Murillo to be a citizen of Colombia.

Guevara-Murillo entered the U.S. without inspection in 2022 and was served with a notice to appear, the attorneys office said. He was then released on parole.

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Officers reportedly found a fake California drivers license with Guevara-Murillos photo and a name of Sean Patrick Allen. They also found a DoorDash bag in the vehicle, which allegedly contained a laptop, an access card printer, blank plastic access cards, a scanner, a paper cutter and ruler, and documents.

Guevara-Murillo told investigators he used the items to make fake IDs, which he sold for $250 to people who wanted to work as DoorDash drivers, officials said.

He was charged by criminal complaint with possession of a document-making implement, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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(NewsNation)  California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley said he is going to introduce legislation that would ban states from redrawing their congressional districts in the middle of a decade.

The proposal comes as Texas Republicans are attempting to redraw new districts to elect more Republicans to the U.S. House in the upcoming midterm election.

Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Democrats hope to leverage Americans disapproval of the Trump administrations policies to take control of the chamber.

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5 things to know about the Texas political redistricting showdown

President Donald Trump has pushed for the Texas effort to redistrict the state.

Texas Democrats fled the state over the weekend, seeking refuge in New York and Illinois in an effort to keep the state House from reaching a quorum and being able to vote on the plan. Blue states have also vowed to redraw their maps in response.

Kiley said his legislation would nullify the Texas maps as well as any others redrawn before the 2030 census.

California is one of the states that has suggested it will redraw districts in retaliation for moves by Republicans, which could potentially mean Kiley would be redistricted into a Democrat-majority district and lose re-election.

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American farmers, truckers facing toughest time in years

Kiley would be in danger of being placed in a Democrat-majority district and losing reelection if Newsom follows through with his threat of retaliatory redistricting.

Gavin Newsom is trying to subvert the will of voters and do lasting damage to democracy in California, Kiley said in a press release. Fortunately, Congress has the ability to protect California voters using its authority under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This will also stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.

He did not address Trumps push for redistricting by red states.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Parts of eastern San Diego County and Imperial County will be under an extreme heat warning later this week, while wildfires burning in central California brought hazy skies to San Diego over the weekend.

Satellite and radar showed smoke traveling south from the Gifford Fire burning in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties that mixed with coastal cirrus clouds moving east from the Pacific Ocean to create hazy conditions across San Diego County on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Much of San Diego County under heat advisory later this week. Heres where

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View the air quality in your area in real-time at Airnow.gov.

More weather:  Forecast |  Alerts |  Live Radar | Newsletter

Heat Risk/Extreme Heat Warning

Portions of Southwest Arizona and Southeast and Southern California will be under an extreme heat warning from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service reports.

High pressure will strengthen by the middle of the week, bringing temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above average in our inland areas.

The heat will peak Wednesday into Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach 106 to 118 degrees in those areas.

Warming conditions expected for the middle to end of next week. By Thursday widespread moderate HeatRisk is expected for the valleys, mountains and High Desert. Widespread major HeatRisk is expected for the low desert (PHOTO: National Weather Service)

HeatRisk serves as another NWS tool that can be used to protect lives and property from the potential risks of excessive heat, being especially useful for those who are more easily affected by heat or those who provide support to those communities of heat-sensitive individuals. HeatRisk ensures that communities have the right information at the right time to be better prepared for upcoming heat events. HeatRisk has been available in the Western United States since 2014 and was expanded across the contiguous United States in 2024 (PHOTO: National Weather Service)

The National Weather Service forecasts Ramona has a 65% chance temperatures could reach over 100 degrees on Thursday.

With a short heat wave looking increasingly likely for the mid-end of the upcoming week, here are the probabilities of seeing high temperatures over 100 degrees for the Inland Empire and inland. Thursday will likely be the hottest day of the week (PHOTO: National Weather Service)

When in an area under an extreme heat warning, the National Weather Service advises to limit time spent outdoors, drink plenty of water, wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing and to keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

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Public cooling centers are available in San Diego County for anyone needing a safe place to stay while extreme heat warnings are in 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
ST. LOUIS  A Calverton Park man was arrested last week in connection with a fatal shooting in the Walnut Park West neighborhood.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the shooting happened just before 10 p.m. on July 17 in the 5400 block of Park Lane.

Officers found the victim, Jawon Cooper, suffering from gunshot wounds. Cooper was transported to a nearby hospital after the shooting but was later pronounced dead. He was 27.

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Investigators determined DeAndre Chaney, 25, and others drove to Park Lane. Chaney and another person exited their vehicle and shot Cooper.

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Police said Chaney and the others were recorded on surveillance video just before the shooting.

On July 30, police went to a home in the 900 block of Olive Street where they believed Chaney was staying. Officers found two firearms and suspected narcotics. Though neither firearm was used in the shooting, police said Chaney admitted to being on the surveillance video with the others involved.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Chaney with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Chaney remains in custody without bond. Hes due in court on Friday, Aug. 8 for a hearing.

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Police said Chaney was already on supervised release after serving time in federal prison for drug conspiracy charges.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Thai and Cambodian officials met in Malaysia on Monday for the first round of cross-border committee talks since a tense ceasefire was brokered last week after five days of deadly armed border clashes that killed dozens and displaced over 260,000 people.

The four-day General Border Committee meetings were initially due to be hosted by Cambodia, but both sides later agreed to a neutral venue in Malaysia, the annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which mediated the halt in hostilities last month.

The July 28 ceasefire followed economic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had warned the warring nations that the U.S. would not conclude trade deals with them if the fighting persisted. Washington lowered tariffs on goods from the two countries from 36% to 19% on Aug. 1 following the truce.

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Monday's talks focused on ironing out details to avoid further clashes. Discussions of the decades-long competing territorial claims over the pockets of land near the shared border are not on the agenda.

A history of hostility

Thailand and Cambodia have been feuding neighbors for centuries, since both were mighty empires. In modern times, a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice awarding Cambodia the land on which the ancient Preah Vihear temple stands marked a new low point in relations, and other border territory remained claimed by both countries.

Fighting erupted in 2011 at Preah Vihaer, after which the ICJ in 2013 reaffirmed its earlier ruling, rankling Thailand. Relations deteriorated again sharply in May this year, when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead in a brief fracas in one of the disputed border zones, setting off diplomatic and trade sanctions, one against the other.

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Soon after two incidents last month in which Thai soldiers were wounded by land mines in disputed territory  for which Thailand blamed Cambodia  the two sides downgraded diplomatic relations and fighting broke out, each side blaming the other for starting the armed clashes.

The talks this week will include finalizing details and scope of reference for an ASEAN monitoring team, Malaysian Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Mohamad Nizam Jaffar said Monday.

Despite some reports of attacks after the ceasefire came into effect, Nizam said such incidents were typical spillover violence and both sides showed strong commitment during Monday's talks to uphold the ceasefire.

The main session of the General Border Committee on Thursday will be led by Thai Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seih, who also serves as deputy prime minister, and include observers from Malaysia, the United States and China, officials said.

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Despite the truce, tensions have persisted as both countries organized tours of the former battle areas for foreign diplomats and other observers to highlight damage allegedly caused by the other side. The two countries also continue to accuse each other of having violated international humanitarian laws with attacks on civilians and the use of illegal weapons.

The battles are now fought on the propaganda front

The propaganda war continues with accusations, denials, and cries of fake news, while supporters of each side also tangle on social media.

Each side has blamed the other for starting the fighting and for indiscriminately targeting civilian sites with long-range weapons such as artillery and rockets, and using prohibited weapons.

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The hottest issue is Cambodia's allegations that Thailand has mistreated and tortured a squad of captured Cambodian soldiers. Two wounded members of the 20-man Cambodian group were repatriated on Friday.

However, Thai officials said Monday that the soldiers qualify as prisoners of war and will be released and repatriated only when the armed conflict ends, which it considers a separate matter from last weeks ceasefire.

Thai military spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said at a news briefing Monday that Thailand has invited representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, and the U.N.s Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, OHCHR, to visit the detained Cambodian soldiers on site. Cambodia had called for such access.

Neither the ICRC nor the OHCHR responded to a query from The Associated Press asking about any communications with the two governments.

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Cambodia's king formalizes former leader Hun Sen's military role

A surprise statement on Monday night in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh announced that Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni issued a Royal Decree authorizing the countrys influential former leader Hun Sen to work together with his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, in guiding military and national defense affairs.

The kings decree said he was acting because the nation "is suffering from serious violations and threats to its territorial integrity by the Thai soldiers, and in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution of Cambodia.

King Sihamoni generally keeps a low profile and exercises no political power or influence, taking no initiative in any state or government work.

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The 72-year-old Hun Sen, who is very active on social media, maintained a high profile during the fighting, urging his countrys soldiers and hurling invective at Thailand and its leaders. He was once a guerrilla fighter with the Communist Khmer Rouge.

It was not clear why Hun Sen would need or want authorization from King Sihamoni, since there has been no open dissent inside the country criticizing his actions during the conflict.

The decree appeared to be a response to foreign news stories suggesting Hun Sen was usurping his sons authority. Hun Sen seemed to confirm this, saying on Facebook that he was exercising his rights as a five-star general with experience to fight the thieves who invaded my country," after noting criticism from Thai media.
When researchers set up trail cameras, they never quite know what they'll pick up. One team in Peru caught a sight straight out of a Disney flick.

As the New York Times reported, a camera trap at the Cocha Cashu Biological Station in the Amazon was intended to monitor birds in the area.

It turns out that this tropical research facility was hiding a bizarre interspecies friendship between an opossum and an ocelot.

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The research team initially thought the ocelot was stalking the opossum, only to see them again moments later. Strangely, the opossum was completely relaxed in the presence of a predator, and the ocelot didn't show any compulsion to eat its companion.

"Like two old friends walking home from a bar," said Isabel Damas-Moreira, a behavioral ecologist at Germany's Bielefeld University.

Here, the plot thickens, for this curious behavior was no fluke; three more instances of opossum-ocelot accord were discovered in the archival footage, and a subsequent test using the scent of an ocelot found the opossums are pretty taken with their feline friend's whiff.

The theory is that the opossum uses the ocelot's scent for "chemical camouflage" to hide itself from large predators. They can also chow down on whatever carrion the ocelot leaves behind from the hunt. As for what the ocelot gains from the arrangement, it's possible the opossum's natural resistance to venom offers a defense against the pit viper.

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Cooperation between species isn't as odd as it sounds. For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service observed a coyote and a badger teaming up in the wild. Captive cheetahs also do well with canine friends.

The story isn't just a charming tale; it perfectly illustrates the value that trail cameras can have in conservation research. Cameras have captured images of some of the planet's most elusive species, providing valuable insights into the behaviors and needs of wildlife in a non-invasive manner. The more we know about a species, the more effective local efforts to protect it can be.

In this instance, it was a chance discovery that uncovers some interesting possibilities for future study.

As Dr. Ettore Camerlenghi told the New York Times: "You search for one thing and end up finding something else, which sometimes turns out to be even more interesting than what you were originally after."



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.
A group campaigning against the expansion of London Luton Airport has been allowed to take its appeal to the High Court.

Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN) argued the government acted unlawfully when it granted the scheme permission - as the impact on climate change had not been properly assessed.

A judge has ruled LADACAN's legal challenge can be heard in the High Court either later this year or early in 2026.

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A spokesperson for Luton Rising, which owns the airport, said it was aware of the decision but "while legal proceedings are in progress it would not be appropriate to comment further".

The expansion plans - approved in April - involve building a new terminal, new taxiways and almost doubling annual passenger numbers to 32 million by 2043.

The government backed the project despite the Planning Inspectorate recommending it should be rejected over environmental concerns.

LADACAN launched its legal claim in May, writing to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to oppose her backing of the scheme.

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It later applied for a judicial review.

Luton Rising has said the expansion could create up to 11,000 jobs.

The plans would include building a new terminal and new taxiways and could almost double annual passenger numbers to 32 million by 2043 [BBC]

As well as its concerns about the impact on climate change, LADACAN has argued the decision was inconsistent with the approach taken over Gatwick expansion.

It also said it did not comply with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which requires developments in an area of outstanding beauty to seek further conservation and enhancement.

Andrew Lambourne, the chair of LADACAN, said: "The government is recklessly gambling with all our futures by continuing to permit aviation expansion without credible pathways to meet its net zero commitments.

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"Each month brings new evidence of climate change impacts, yet there is still no carbon cap for UK aviation and airports are grabbing what capacity they can while best advice from the UN and the Climate Change Committee is being ignored."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Following careful consideration, the Secretary of State approved Luton Airport's application to expand its passenger capacity via the construction of a new passenger terminal and additional aircraft stands."

The airport is owned by Luton Borough Council through economic development company Luton Rising, but it is operated by London Luton Airport, a separate company.

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Unionized mail carriers at Canada Post have overwhelmingly voted to reject the companys latest contract offer, raising questions about the potential for a strike or lockout that could further undermine delivery service and whether the government considers the troubled organization too big to fail.

The result was expected by some experts who said front-line workers feel they have the upper hand because Canada Post is state-owned and has a universal service obligation.

The union believes, probably correctly, that at least for the foreseeable future, the government will continue to backstop any losses, so why would you take that offer? said Eric Miller, president of cross-border government relations consultancy Rideau Potomac Strategy Group and a former industrial policy official in the Canadian government.

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Left unresolved is the core issue of how to run a universal mail service in an age of highly capable private carriers that are taking a bigger share of the nearly $17 billion Canadian parcel market. The government-owned postal operator is looking to a new labor deal as the permission structure for modernizing an outdated business model, with the goal of turning around its finances and improving service for residents and businesses.

Canada Posts final offer was turned down by nearly 70% of Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) participants in the referendum, according to the Canada Industrial Relations Board on Friday. About 81% of the unions 55,000 members cast ballots. The offer included a 13% wage hike and better cost-of-living adjustments over four years, but also would have allowed the use of part-time workers Canada Post said are necessary to provide parcel service seven-days a week, as well as more flexibility setting routes and spreading daily loads between mail carriers.

With the rejection of Canada Posts take-it-or-leave it proposal, Canadians and cross-border shippers face heightened delivery uncertainty as the labor dispute enters its 21st month, yo-yoing in and out of strike risk when service is already slower because of CUPWs refusal in May to work overtime hours.

Canada Post, which convinced the Canadian government to impose a vote after CUPW leaders turned down its last proposal, said it is evaluating next steps.

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CUPW worked hard to influence a no vote.

Its time for Canada Post to come back to the bargaining table and start seriously negotiating. With these votes behind us, Canada Post must now recognize that the only way forward is to negotiate ratifiable collective agreements that meet postal workers needs. The time for games is over, CUPW President Jan Simpson said in a statement. Our negotiators are ready to get back to work right away. Were committed to staying at the table until weve reached a deal. We expect the same from Canada Post. And were calling on the government to prove to postal workers that it really respects the collective bargaining process, like it says it does. If the Government truly respects unions and collective bargaining, it will keep out. No more back to work orders. No more forced votes.

Unions typically see their job as protecting jobs and benefits at all costs, not making employers more competitive. CUPW appears even more emboldened to take a hard line because Canada Post is a quasi-private entity.

I think the implicit assumption of the union is that when push comes to shove, the government will continue to cover losses at Canada Post. And so theyre focused on trying to maximize their benefits. They want the traditional model with defined benefit pension and wages, said Miller in a phone interview from his office in Washington.

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The expectation is that rejecting the contract does not lead to long term workforce reductions or any serious consequence, and that the government will ultimately subsidize the losses, so they have no incentive to think critically and strategically [about dealing with market conditions] because theyre focused on their members, he added. I think their calculus is right because, ultimately, there likely will be some sort of deal where the union is able to bring more concessions against part time workers and technology.

Bleeding parcel volumes

A government commission earlier this year said Canada Post, which has lost money for seven consecutive years, faces an existential crisis unless it overhauls its delivery model. Canada Post was slow to adapt after email reduced the need to send letters and more private couriers entered the market to support the growth in online shopping. The commission and management say changes to outdated regulatory, policy and labor constraints are also needed if Canada Post is to compete against private parcel carriers and remain self-sufficient.

Canada Post has lost $2.7 billion since 2018, while its share of the parcel market has since been halved.

Businesses, with fresh memories of a 32-day strike last year, have increasingly migrated to alternative package carriers such as FleetOptics, UniUni, GLS, FedEx and UPS to insulate themselves from a potential service stoppage, according to industry professionals. Canada Post in late May said the unresolved labor bargaining had resulted in a 65% year-over-year decline in parcel volumes.

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Alison Layfield, director of product development at ePost Global, said her customers worry another strike is possible if talks drag out, especially if Canada Post doesnt return to the bargaining table. CUPW would likely target a strike for the upcoming peak season, when people make online purchases for the holidays and any work stoppage would have the greatest impact on the postal service, she predicted.

There is also increased risk, Layfield added, that Canada Post could implement a preemptive lockout to further limit operational and financial risk.

ePost Global provides international shipping services for U.S. e-commerce sellers.

A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business showed that a postal strike could push two in three businesses (63%) to permanently abandon Canada Post.

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Were calling on the government to prevent another strike from happening by extending the current collective bargaining agreement for the foreseeable future. The government also needs to immediately give Canada Post the full authority to make the major reforms needed to ensure it is financially sustainable, the CFIB said in a statement on Friday. This will likely require tough decisions, including back-to-work legislation orders. CFIB is calling on all political parties to support the reforms suggested in the Industrial Inquiry report to allow this important service to continue for the long term.

Layfield said the highly automated Albert Jackson parcel sort facility, which opened two years ago in Toronto with capacity to handle more than 1 million parcels per day, is virtually empty.

Many shippers are now utilizing six or seven parcel carriers to match the geographic reach of Canada Post, she said.

Canada Post is hinting that it might reduce rates again to attract large parcel shippers, but I think they have to prove themselves on transit times before logistics providers will tender significant volumes again, Layfield told FreightWaves. The longer Canada Post sits back and is unable to make these network changes, the further behind theyre going to get and its going to give those alternative carriers more leverage.

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Miller downplayed prospects that Canada Post might lock out workers to force progress on a collective bargaining agreement because the Canadian government is run by the pro-labor Liberal Party, which wants to avoid labor confrontations.

This is what you could call the negative feedback loop where if you cant make the changes in the overall enterprise, it deteriorates and begins to fall apart. But if youre the union, your view is, we dont want to be the ones who bear the brunt of the change even if privately they would admit that the organization could do with some change, Miller told FreightWaves. And ultimately, the government could see Canada Post is too big to fail.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com.

RELATED STORIES:

Canadian government to force union vote on Canada Post contract offer

Canada Post makes final offer for labor deal amid growing losses

The post Is Canada Post too big to fail? appeared first on FreightWaves.
Coinbase (COIN) got downgraded by analysts at Compass Point who questioned whether its valuation was sustainable.

The analysts changed Coinbase's rating to Sell from Neutral and lowered its price target to $248 from $330 per share. The new price target represents a 21% decline from Friday's close.

"While we remain constructive on the current crypto cycle, we expect a choppy 3Q alongside weak August/September seasonality and waning retail interest in crypto treasury stocks," Compass Point analyst Ed Engel wrote on Sunday night.

"As such, we see limited support for COIN's valuation if crypto markets sell off further," he noted.

The development comes after the crypto platform's stock plunged 14% on Friday, its biggest intraday drop since April, after the company's quarterly earnings report showed that revenue last quarter took a hit from lower trading volume.

Compass Point pointed to Coinbase's Subscription & Services (S&S) revenue, which came in at $655.8 million versus Wall Street estimates for $715.2 million. S&S includes plans such as Coinbase One, a monthly subscription product that offers no trading fees and other perks

"Investors place a higher premium on these recurring fees, thus disappointing S&S fees have a more pronounced impact on COIN's valuation," Engel wrote.

The analyst also pointed out that increasing stablecoin competition will likely put downward pressure on the valuation for Coinbase and its partner, Circle (CRCL).

Read more: Can you buy crypto with a credit card? See the pros and cons.

The issuer of digital tokens backed by the US dollar shares part of its interest income revenue with Coinbase.

Engel and his team also said they believe interest in crypto treasury stocks such as Strategy (MSTR), the largest public holder of bitcoin, is declining, limiting the ability for companies to raise money for more token purchases, essentially crypto's upside in the near term.

The analyst noted Strategy has recently slowed purchases of bitcoin.

"With Strategy buying $18bn BTC YTD, MSTR's pivot removes another layer of BTC buying pressure," Engel said.

Brian Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, participates in the State of Crypto Summit in New York on June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not all analysts are so bearish. The stock has 19 analyst Buy recommendations, 16 Hold, and 5 Sell, according to Bloomberg data.

Bernstein analysts recently dubbed Coinbase a "one-stop Amazon" of crypto services. In a note last week, the analysts reaffirmed an Outperform rating on the stock with a $510 price target.

Instead, the analysts said investors should focus on crypto derivatives and the company's "everything exchange" vision for the platform.
[Watch in the player above: Doctor discusses health dangers of wildfire smoke]

CLEVELAND (WJW)  An air quality alert will be in effect through Tuesday, Aug. 5, for much of Northeast Ohio.

The alert, issued in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties, is for ground-level ozone, often called bad ozone.

Major construction project on I-90 starts Monday

The air quality levels are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, meaning children, the elderly and people with breathing problems should limit their time spent outdoors on Tuesday.

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Unlike stratospheric ozone, which protects Earth from the suns rays, ground-level ozone  often called bad ozone  is created when sunlight and heat interact with industrial emissions and car exhaust, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

A separate air quality alert was also in effect on Monday, prompted by smoke from hundreds of wildfires in Canada that had drifted south, according to a news release from the Cleveland Department of Public Health.

Clevelands Air Quality Index on Monday morning was 144 for fine particulate matter that can be inhaled. An Air Quality Index between 101 and 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the release.

Thousands of dead fish wash up on Sims Park beach in Euclid

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Older adults, children and people with heart or lung disease should limit their time spent outside, choose less strenuous activities if outdoors  like walking instead of running  and keep an eye on the air quality throughout the day, according to the health department.

Fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5 , are particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller. Clevelands Air Quality Index on Monday was 105  also unhealthy for sensitive groups  for PM 10 , particles that are 10 micrometers or smaller.

Check AirNow.gov for hourly updates on air quality in the region.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens claims President Donald Trump personally called her to ask her to stop questioning the gender of Brigitte Macron, the first lady of France.

Speaking with Tucker Carlson on his podcast, Owens, who is being sued by the Macrons for pursuing the story  which is based on a debunked conspiracy theory  said she was called by Trump in February, shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron visited the White House.

Owens said the initial request to stop talking about the French first lady came from someone pretty high up in the White House. She said she found the demand insulting and refused to comply.

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Trump later phoned Owens directly about the issue, she told Carlson, saying that the president told her Macron had pulled him aside to ask if he knew Owens. Owens said she was shocked by the request and stated that Trump had been confused as to why he was being asked to intervene.

Emmanuel Macron personally flew to D.C. and asked Trump to ask me to shut up, to just stop speaking about his wife, she told Carlson.

French President's wife Brigitte Macron kisses US President Donald Trump (Getty)

He sounded very confused, she claimed of Trump. He said he was very confused when the leader of France took him aside during negotiations for Ukraine and Russia to inquire about whether or not he knew Candace Owens.

Owens first spoke about the call from the president on her podcast, Becoming Brigitte, an eight-part documentary-style production about Frances first lady. She said that Trump was very flattering toward her.

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You must be a very powerful person, Candace, Owens said Trump had told her, before adding that her claims were distressing to Macron's wife.

She's old and this is really, really impacting her, she said the president had said.

Trump then added: I saw her up close and she looks like a woman to me, I had dinner with her at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

The Trumps and the Macrons having dinner at the Eiffel Tower (AFP/Getty)

Owens said she replied: Respectfully, Mr. President, it's not my fault that he married somebody with a penis, repeating the type of false claim that has drawn the ire of the Macrons.

Trump allegedly countered that they were working to end the war in Ukraine, and it would be helpful if she stopped questioning the gender of Macrons wife.

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Owens said she agreed to dial back on pushing the story for a while but would not agree to anything more than that.

Last month, the Macrons filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens over the far-right influencers relentless and unjustified smear campaign falsely accusing Brigitte of being born a man.

The 219-page defamation complaint, filed in Delaware state court, accuses Owens of proliferating demonstrably false claims across her platforms, including in an eight-part podcast and on social media, designed to feed a frenzied fan base in pursuit of fame.

President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, first lady Melania Trump and Brigitte Macron hold hands on the White House balcony during a State Arrival Ceremony in Washington. (AP)

These lies have caused tremendous damage to the Macrons, according to the lawsuit, which names Owens as well as her business entities, which are incorporated in Delaware.

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The false claims have subjected the Macrons to a campaign of global humiliation, turning their lives into fodder for profit-driven lies, the complaint says.

Owens has dissected their appearance, their marriage, their friends, their family, and their personal history  twisting it all into a grotesque narrative designed to inflame and degrade, the complaint alleges. The result is relentless bullying on a worldwide scale. Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust.

The podcaster doubled down after the lawsuit was filed, outrageously claiming that Brigitte Macrons death would be faked before the case reached the discovery phase, claiming that the hypothetical staged killing of Macron would shut down all discussion about her being a man anymore.

Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens declared this week that Brigitte Macron would likely be "fake" killed rather than let the Macrons' defamation lawsuit go through discovery. (Rumble)

Brigitte Macron was previously awarded $9,149 in damages last year after two other far-right influencers falsely accused her of being a transgender woman.

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In that case, Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey were ordered to pay damages to France's first lady as well as her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, after the women amplified bogus claims that Brigitte Macron had never existed and that her brother had changed gender and assumed that identity.

For years, baseless conspiracy theories have proliferated across social media accusing prominent women  from Former First Lady Michelle Obama to Taylor Swift  of secretly being transgender, so-called transvestigations that thread anti-trans rhetoric into a web of far-right conspiracy theories.

The Macrons lengthy complaint in Delaware connects the case to Owenss long history of far-right conspiracy theories  including debunked antisemitic tropes and attempts to minimize the Holocaust  to her attacks against the French first lady, which Owens has monetized on her YouTube channel, garnering millions of views.

With additional reporting from Alex Woodward
The Brief

Mason Kearns, 13, was swept into a storm drain during flash flooding.

Firefighters worked nearly 50 minutes to locate and retrieve him.

A candlelight vigil was held in Mount Airy to honor his memory.

MOUNT AIRY, Md. - A grieving community gathered this weekend to honor 13-year-old Mason Kearns, who died after being pulled into a storm drain during last weeks flash flooding.

Teen lost to flood

Kearns was reportedly playing in the rain with his brother when water surged down a hill like a river, sweeping him into the drain.

What we know

Floodwaters were waist-deep when firefighters arrived in response to emergency calls. Rescue crews worked for nearly 50 minutes to pull his body from the flood water.

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Friends, family, and neighbors held the candlelight vigil in Mount Airy to remember the teen.

READ MORE: Maryland community mourns loss of 13-year-old swept into storm drain by floodwaters

The Source

Information in this article comes from previous FOX 5 reporting.
Demonstrators gathered to support the attorney-general and call the government's decision a political and illegal attempt to remove her by those seeking to dismantle Israeli democracy.

Thousands of people gathered outside Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miaras home on Sunday night in support for her in the build-up to the anticipated vote on her dismissal, in what demonstrators called the political and illegal attempt to remove her by those seeking to dismantle Israeli democracy.

Violence appeared to break out between Israel Police officers and protesters in footage shared by Israeli public broadcaster KAN.

This is a dramatic moment in the path of (Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich, (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben-Gvir, and (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to remove all checks and balances, protesters emphasized.

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The people who abandon the hostages and soldiers in a senseless war, who back suspects of aiding the enemy during wartime, and appoint suspects of rape to head committees, will not stop themselves. They will do everything in the name of their fanatical, extreme ideology.

The protest attracted several high-profile speakers, including Professor Avishay Braverman, former president of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and retired High Court judge Ayala Procaccia. Braverman started the round of speeches by saying: You must understand that now is the time to act immediately and without hesitation.

Thousands of people gathered outside Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miaras Tel Aviv home, August 3, 2025. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)

The responsibility for stopping this process of destruction is on us, and each one of us must take this responsibility upon ourselves. We are on the eve of Tisha B'Av. We remember the destruction of the Temple, which marked nearly two thousand years of exile and the lack of independence for the Jewish people.

We remember the destruction because it is happening before our eyes once again. We must remind ourselves that destruction is a process, and it happens when there are not enough people to stop it in time, he added.

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Finally, he described Gali Baharav-Miara as a brave woman, serving a path, not a patron, and concluded, Tomorrow, we must not let the evil government fire Gali Baharav-Miara.

Procaccia: A government of disgrace, led by a defendant in criminal cases with convicted officials

Procaccia also addressed the public with a speech that described the current government as a disgrace.

Led by a defendant in criminal cases, with convicted officials who have served prison sentences, heads of committees where one is a criminal defendant and the other was appointed while being suspected of serious sex offenses, she said.

I see a leadership that has declared war on the proper democratic processesharm to the independence of the gatekeepers turns the government into a single authority controlling its citizens without checks, she added.

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Activist Yaya Fink entered the stage with a can of food and said: I want to remind the negligent government: the can of food Im holding is the only thing (Gaza hostage) Evyatar David ate last week. And tomorrow, you are holding a government meeting with rich refreshments, which wont discuss Evyatar or any of the hostages, but will focus on the dismissal of the legal advisor and increasing security for the most protected family in the world.

Do you have no shame? he asked and slammed: Do you think you can fast for the destruction of the two previous temples, and the next day continue to destroy the third one? Have you forgotten what it means to be Jewish?
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Canutillo Independent School District will provide free dinners to children starting on Monday, Aug. 4, according to the news release by the school district.

According to Canutillo ISD, as part of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, the school district will orovide free dinners to children ages 1 through 18 years old, regardless of enrollment in Canutillo ISD.

Were proud and excited to expand our meal service in this way, said Marco Macias, director of Child Nutrition Services for Canutillo ISD. This program gives all children in our community access to healthy dinners, which is a huge step towards building a stronger and healthier future.

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Meals will be served from 3:15 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following participating campuses, Canutillo ISD said:

Childress Elementary School, 7700 Cap Carter Rd.

Canutillo Elementary School, 651 Canutillo Ave.

Davenport Elementary School, 8401 Remington Dr.

Garcia Elementary School, 6550 Westside Dr.

Damian Elementary School, 6300 Strahan Rd.

Additionally, Canutillo ISD said the Texas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are funding and supporting the program.

The dinners will be prepared and served by the school districts nutrition staff and meet federal nutrition standards, Canutillo ISD said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
(DENVER)  Carie Hallford, co-owner of the Return to Nature Funeral Home, which was found to have over 190 bodies improperly stashed within as family members believed their loved ones to be properly buried, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud on Monday, Aug. 4, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, but is requesting that all other counts be dismissed, according to court documents.

As part of the guilty plea, Hallford admits to agreeing with at least one person to knowingly commit wire fraud, that she knew the objective of the conspiracy, that she voluntarily involved herself, that she intended to act for shared mutual benefit, and that she intended to defraud. A record of credit card payments was listed as evidence of interstate wire communications to carry out the scheme. Family members of the victims were in court and spoke out after the guilty plea was announced.

Shes saying what she has to do, and I know that we all know shes got her words. They dont mean anything to me, said Kelly Schloesser, a victim of the Return to Nature Funeral Home.

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Documents state that Hallford agrees to accept the applicable sentence of imprisonment handed down by the court for the count of wire fraud, as well as any restitution determined by the court, to be split with co-defendant Jon Hallford.

Funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 decaying bodies sentenced to 20 years in prison

The plea deal is dependent on the governments agreement to dismiss all other counts that were in the pending Indictment at the time of sentencing, and for the government not to request a sentence of more than 15 years of imprisonment. The maximum sentence for the count of wire fraud is 20 years.

My son laid in the corner of an inoperable refrigerator for four years with rats and maggots eating his body and his face, said Crystina Page, a victim of the Return to Nature Funeral Home. 20 years doesnt begin to count for justice, even for my son. 

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According to court documents, the minimum amount of total restitution owed by Hallford is $1,070,413, and the total amount owed will be determined at sentencing. Court documents indicated that Hallford agreed to fully cooperate in the investigation of the amount of loss and the identification of victims who should receive restitution.

According to the courtroom minutes, the guilty plea to the count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud was accepted, and approval of the remaining agreements was deferred pending an investigation and review. Sentencing is set for Dec. 3, 2025.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Carol Leonnig, a veteran investigative reporter for the Washington Post, is departing the publication for MSNBC.

Leonnig will serve as MSNBCs senior investigative correspondent as the network builds up its news division in advance of its split from Comcast and sister network NBC News.

More from Deadline

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Leonnig has been at the Post for 25 years, and shes the latest journalist to leave the publication. She was lead reporter for the Posts coverage of the January 6th attack on the Capitol, and was part of Post teams that won prizes in 2024, 2017 and 2014.

Along with Philip Rucker, she wrote two books on Trumps first term, including A Very Stable Genius and I Alone Can Fix It. Her book, Zero Fail, followed her Pulitzer Prize reporting on the Secret Service during Barack Obamas presidency. Puck first reported on Leonnigs departure.

Before the Post, Leonnig worked on the staffs of the Charlotte Observer and Philadelphia Inquirer.

A number of Post veterans have departed the paper after the publication announced buyouts earlier this year. Among those who have exited are columnist Jonathan Capehart, who appears on PBS NewsHour and co-hosts MSNBCs The Weekend; Glenn Kessler, who has been behind the Posts Fact Checker column; and Erik Wemple, the media critic who is joining the New York Times.

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MSNBC has been staffing up as it separates from Comcast, with Scott Matthews hired in January as VP Newsgathering. Earlier on Monday, the network announced that Jacob Soboroff would land at MSNBC. Others who have recently joined from NBC News/MSNBC include Brandy Zadrozny, as senior enterprise reporter; Vaughn Hillyard, as senior White House correspondent; Ken Dilanian, as justice correspondent; and David Noriega, correspondent based in Los Angeles. Other hires include Laura Barron-Lopez, previously White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour and an analyst for CNN; Marc Santia, reporter on criminal justice, security issues and investigations for NBC 4 New York; and Erielle Reshef, previously a contributor for ABC News. Eugene Daniels was hired from Politico as senior Washington correspondent and Jackie Alemany from the Post as Washington correspondent, and they also serve as co-hosts of The Weekend. Antonia Hylton joined as a correspondent and Elise Jordan as contributor, and they co-host The Weekend: Primetime.

Last week, parent company Versant announced that Meghan Rafferty, executive producer of NBC Nightly News, would join as VP News Standards at MSNBC and CNBC.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
VOLINIA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Deputies say an 18-year-old driver was taken to the hospital after a crash over the weekend in Cass County.

It happened around 2:15 p.m. Saturday at Lawrence Road and Marcellus Highway in Volinia Township.

An 18-year-old from Osceola, Indiana, was heading north on Lawrence, approaching the intersection. According to the Cass County Sheriffs Office, he did not stop at the stop sign. Thats when an eastbound car, driven by a 35-year-old from Decatur, crashed into his car, deputies said.

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The 18-year-old driver was hurt, according to the sheriffs office. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Investigators dont believe alcohol was involved in the crash. Everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.

Deputies continue to investigate.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  More than a decade after her two young children went missing, authorities said they have re-indicted Catherine Hoggle in connection with their alleged murders.

Similar charges brought against her years ago were dismissed in 2022, after she was found incompetent to stand trial for more than 5 years.

Catherine Hoggle, now 38, made her first appearance on the recently filed first-degree murder charges on Monday afternoon. She appeared in court virtually from jail, wearing a khaki jumpsuit before Judge Kevin G. Hessler.

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She was arrested in Kent County on Aug. 1, just over a week after being discharged from Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, where she was committed for years after being found incompetent to stand trial.

Her defense attorney, David Felsen, requested that the bond hearing on Monday be postponed to Tuesday due to personal matters. He also requested a gag order on both sides and said he was not notified of the indictment or arrest in the way he should have been.

The judge granted the postponement request and the bond hearing was rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Mother indicted on murder charges after 2014 disappearance of her children

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Felsen also claimed there are misstatements in the news releases from the States Attorneys Office and the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD).

The judge denied the gag order, saying the case has already been in the news.

After the hearing, Felsen told reporters that Catherine Hoggle was arrested and held at gunpoint while still civilly committed  though at the time shed been released from Perkins and was somewhere else. He said she was also interviewed by police again.

He maintained he was not notified in advance of her arrest and said he does not believe there is any new evidence against her. Court documents say police had round-the-clock surveillance on Hoggle following her release from Perkins.

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The States Attorneys Office did not comment much on the request for a gag order during the hearing, beyond saying that their office wouldnt say anything to the press that wouldnt go into the public record.

States Attorney John McCarthy, who is personally prosecuting the case, did not speak to reporters after the hearing. His office said it plans to move forward with a press conference tomorrow following the postponed bond hearing.

The father of the two missing children, Troy Turner, and Catherine Hoggles mother were both present for Mondays brief hearing, but also did not speak to reporters on the record.

In September 2014, Catherine Hoggle and two of her children, 3-year-old Sarah Hoggle and 2-year-old Jacob Hoggle, were reported missing.

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Days later, Catherine Hoggle was found wandering around a Germantown neighborhood and the children were nowhere to be found.

Despite multiple agencies searching for the children over the past 11 years, Sarah and Jacob Hoggle have yet to be found.

National Zoo celebrates giant panda Bao Lis 4th birthday, marking first birthday in DC

What happened in 2014?

According to court documents, the MCPD launched an investigation into the disappearance of Sarah and Jacob Hoggle after their father, Troy Turner, reported them and his girlfriend missing at about 6:50 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2014.

Hours before he went to the police station, Turner was woken up by his then-5-year-old son. He noticed that his girlfriend, then-27-year-old Catherine Hoggle, and their other two children were missing from his home.

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His van was also no longer parked outside.

Turner walked his son to the school bus stop, and as they arrived, he saw Catherine Hoggle pull up in his van, court documents detail.

Turner immediately asked where their two children were and she explained she tried a new daycare for a trial day. MCPD noted they had been looking for a nanny and considering daycare options at the time, which alleviated some of his concerns.

Turner drove Catherine Hoggle to her treatment center, where she attended classes and was tested to make sure she complied with her medication regimen, in line for her treatment for a mental health condition.

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United Airlines flight declared mayday at Washington Dulles: Heres why

According to witnesses at the center, Catherine Hoggle asked for directions to her stress management class and told the person, Oh, thats ironic  I just strangled my kids, and reportedly made a strangulation motion with her hands. She then told the witness she was just joking.

At the time, no one knew Sarah and Jacob Hoggle were missing  including family members and police.

Turner picked Catherine Hoggle up from treatment later that afternoon and spent several hours driving around with her in Germantown and Gaithersburg. During that time, she reportedly pointed out various daycare centers, pretending to not remember where she left the kids, court documents stated.

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She then told Turner shed take him to the children after they stopped at a Germantown Chick-fil-A.

He waited in the car while she went inside.

Then, at around 6 p.m., she ran out of the restaurant and disappeared, leaving her cell phone behind.

Thats when Turner filed a missing person report for Catherine Hoggle and their two children.

Investigators said she seemed to spend the overnight hours in a nearby Department of Energy building. Contents of her purse, including her wallet, ID and paperwork, were found in a trashcan inside the facility.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Mother of missing Montgomery County children questioned in competency hearing

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Police said they also found a drawing of a hand throwing away a minivan and three hand-drawn faces of children and a box with the words wwe vaccine.

She was charged with Child Neglect and Parental Abduction before being found days later on Sept. 13.

At the time, police said she was wearing the same clothes as she had been seen in at Chick-fil-A and had cut her hair. Missing person flyers for her and her children were found in her purse at the time of her arrest.

Catherine Hoggles interview with police

MCPD interviewed her, where she reportedly confessed to taking the children and giving them to an old high school friend named Erin. She said she didnt know her last name or address but was absolutely fine with Sarah and Jacob Hoggle staying with Erin for the past few days, according to court documents.

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Later in the interview, she directed officers to a playground at a Montessori School in Germantown, where she said she left her children alone.

She said she left her two-year-old son there and returned hours later, where she left her three-year-old daughter.

By the time she left her daughter there, she said her two-year-old son was no longer at the playground.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Murder charges against Catherine Hoggle dropped after 2014 disappearance of her children

In the weeks that followed, over 13,000 acres were searched, revealing no signs of the children.

After Catherine Hoggles arrest, she was found not competent to stand trial on the charges of Child Neglect and Parental Abduction and committed to Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center.

Three years later, on Sept. 14, 2017, she was charged with two counts of murder and again found not competent to stand trial. She remained at the hospital through that time.

In line with Maryland Criminal Procedure, the murder charges against her were dismissed in late 2022.

Subsequent investigation

Over the years, MCPD said its investigation revealed more details about what happened that September night in 2014.

At the time, Turner and Catherine Hoggles parents had an agreement not to leave her alone with the children due to concerns over their safety, court documents stated.

On Sept. 7 that year, her father allowed Catherine Hoggle to use his car and take 2-year-old Jacob Hoggle alone. When she returned a few hours later, Jacob Hoggle was no longer with her.

She told her father that she left him at a sleepover  a detail that Turner had no idea about and was unaware that Jacob Hoggle was missing when he returned home from work.

INITIAL COVERAGE: Mother deemed incompetent to stand trial in connection with missing children

By that time, Catherine Hoggle and her two other children, her five-year-old son and three-year-old Sarah Hoggle, had returned home.

Police said they believe that Catherine Hoggle abducted their three-year-old daughter while Turner was sleeping and left with her in the family van. MCPD said it is believed the daughter was murdered shortly thereafter.

MCPD noted that they believe Catherine Hoggle returned to the school bus stop on the morning of Sept. 8 to abduct their third child, who was five years old. Her plan is believed to have been interrupted by Turner, who walked their son to the bus stop that morning.

Where the case stands today

Authorities believe Catherine murdered her two children, but their bodies have never been recovered. According to court documents, FBI profilers told MCPD that they believe she strangled them before disposing of their bodies in an outside trash container.

Since her initial indictments, Hoggle has remained at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Howard County. On July 23, 2025, Turner was notified that Catherine Hoggle was discharged.

She was indicted on first-degree murder charges the following week and arrested on Aug. 1.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
A crossing guard keeps an eye out for children crossing a busy street near an Indianapolis high school. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Gunfire has echoed near Indianas K-12 campuses more than 2,700 times over the past decade  a trend that researchers, child advocates, and school safety experts say demands expanded training, stronger trauma support systems, and greater investment in community-based resources.

Data compiled by The Traces Gun Violence Data Hub found at least 2,771 shootings within earshot  about four city blocks  of an Indiana school between 2015 and 2024. The data includes traditional public, charter and private schools.

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These school-adjacent shootings dont often occur on school grounds, but instead unfolded during or shortly after school hours in surrounding communities, forcing school leaders to cope with trauma that starts beyond their fences but often ripples into classrooms.

Just hearing a gunshot in your neighborhood, knowing that violence is nearby, changes how young people interact with the world.

 Lauren Magee, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine

Data shows gun violence disproportionately affects majority-Black campuses in the urban core. The five Hoosier schools most affected  all serving majority-Black students  have each endured more than 40 nearby shootings in the past 10 years alone.

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Just hearing a gunshot in your neighborhood, knowing that violence is nearby, changes how young people interact with the world, said Lauren Magee, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. These arent isolated moments  they ripple through communities, through school culture, and into the homes of every student who walks past a memorial on their way to class.

Neighborhoods most affected

The Trace data shows most shootings are concentrated in a handful of Indiana cities  especially Indianapolis, which accounts for more than half of the incidents recorded during the 10-year span. Other heavily impacted areas include Gary, Fort Wayne and South Bend.

Within those cities, several schools were more affected by repeated gunfire.

Indianapoliss Brookside Elementary School 54, for example, was within four blocks of at least 48 separate shootings between 2015 and 2024, topping the list of schools statewide.

Several other schools saw similar numbers, including Gary Middle College with adjacent 45 shootings; Holy Angels Catholic School, in Indianapolis, also with 45 shootings; 21st Century Charter School of Gary with 43 shootings; and Ralph Waldo Emerson School, in Indianapolis, additionally with 43 adjacent shootings.

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At least 22 schools were within earshot of 20 or more gunshots in the 10-year period, according to the data. Nearly 50 Hoosier schools experienced at least 15 nearby shootings.

But these arent just isolated incidents, said Meisha Wide, executive director of the Childrens Policy and Law Initiative of Indiana. Were looking at systemic issues where families are struggling to meet basic needs, and youth are often unsupervised after school.

She pointed to The Traces data showing that many shootings occur in the after-school window  between 6 p.m. and midnight  when students are leaving school, in transit, or unwinding in their neighborhoods, and when students often lack structured activities and adult supervision.

Wide emphasized, too, that communities experiencing more frequent shootings are disproportionately affected by profound economic challenges.

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If youre not able to meet your basic needs of finances, this results in finding alternative ways to survive, Wide explained. She noted that poverty, eviction, and limited job opportunities compound cycles of violence in these neighborhoods.

Its deeper than just the proximity of the school, Wide continued. Its going to require pulling back and having a broader lens to understand what resources are like in that area.

Preparedness key for schools

Julie Smith, a school resource officer in Columbus and president of the Indiana School Resource Officers Association, warned that preparedness is critical when violence occurs near a campus.

A plan is only so good if people dont know whats in the crisis plan, she said. When its time to perform, the time to prepare has passed.

Julie Smith, president of the Indiana School Resource Officers Association (Photo courtesy Columbus Police Department)

Quesenbery stressed the importance of clear protocols for lockdowns, communication, and reunification. She emphasized the need for controlled building access, well-marked evacuation routes, and routine training for all staff.

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Indiana law currently requires schools to conduct at least one manmade disaster drill each semester and maintain a safety plan. The Indiana Department of Education and Department of Homeland Security also recommend schools form safety committees, work closely with local law enforcement, and conduct active shooter training. Still, implementation varies widely between districts.

Smith said effective school safety requires a collaborative approach involving the entire school ecosystem  not just officers, but teachers, administrators, families and community partners.

Safety is not just up to me, its not just up to you, its up to all of us, she said.

She also underscored the significance of mental health services and community partnerships in addressing and preventing violence near schools.

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We cant just react to the problem, Smith said. We have to be part of the solution.

Wide added that many schools lack the staff needed to support students in the wake of trauma.

She noted that school counselors and social workers are also in short supply. The student-to-counselor ratio in Indiana  last reported at about 497 to 1  is among the worst in the nation.

The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250 students per school counselor.

Theres just not enough staff to meet the needs of kids who are experiencing this kind of repeated trauma, Wide said. We need more mental health practitioners in schools, and we need them to be culturally responsive and trained in trauma-informed care.

Beyond the school fence

Experts emphasize that while these shootings dont occur inside school buildings, their psychological toll can be incredibly significant.

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Magees research found that students who are chronically exposed to community violence  whether they witness it, hear it, or know someone affected  show heightened signs of trauma, depression and behavioral struggles.

When we ask youth about their safety, what they talk about isnt always school-specific  its walking to the bus, or playing outside, or scrolling social media and seeing another friend killed, Magee said. It creates a chronic stress environment.

Lauren Magee, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine (Photo courtesy Indiana University)

In a recent study co-authored by Magee, which examined firearm-related injuries among youth in Indianapolis, she found that adolescent firearm injuries most commonly occurred in public settings, such as streets, parks or near schools.

Although few incidents took place inside school buildings, many happened near schools or along routes students commonly travel.

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One of the most important findings was that firearm violence doesnt only affect the immediate victim, Magee said. The psychological and academic impacts extend to their peers, families, teachers  and school climate more broadly.

Her research also found correlations between proximity to gun violence and negative academic outcomes  including lower test scores and increased disciplinary action.

ILEARN results for schools with higher numbers of adjacent shootings, for example, were below statewide averages.

Were asking kids to sit in algebra class after witnessing  or hearing  a shooting, Magee said. Its untenable.

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Her research further concluded that Black youth and families are disproportionately exposed to firearm injury and its ripple effects.

That inequity is echoed in a new, separate report from the Violence Policy Center that ranked Indiana eighth in the nation for Black homicide victimization, with a rate of 39.7 per 100,000 in 2023, the most recent year with available data.

Indiana recorded 290 Black homicide victims that year. Most, about 90%, were shot.

Forty of those killed were under 18 years old, and most were killed by someone they knew. The majority of incidents were not tied to other felonies  they were arguments, disputes or community violence turned fatal, according to the report.

Working towards solutions

Wides organization, CPLI, has launched programs like the Youth Justice Leadership Initiative to encourage and assist youth to become advocates in their communities by focusing on violence prevention, peer support and civic engagement.

CPLIs recently-published best practices report recommends broader community-school partnerships  including engaging businesses to provide mentorships or third-space opportunities, like recreation centers or co-working spaces for teens.

Meisha Wide, executive director of the Childrens Policy and Law Initiative of Indiana (Photo courtesy CPLI)

Often, these shootings are happening after school, during a gap in supervision and support, Wide said. Caregivers may be working second shifts, and young people are left with few safe places to go. We see the consequences of that.

There are so many vacant buildings in these neighborhoods  why not turn them into youth hubs? she added. We need to invest in alternatives to the street.

Wide and other advocates additionally urged policymakers to look beyond school buildings and consider the wider neighborhood context.

Its not just about whats happening inside school walls, Wide said. We need a broader lens that sees the whole ecosystem. These are intergenerational issues. And if we dont meet them with intergenerational solutions, well keep seeing the same patterns.

She pointed to policies like better tracking of school absences as a step in the right direction.

You cant solve truancy if you dont know why a student isnt in school, she said. Sometimes its violence, sometimes its poverty, sometimes its caregiving responsibilities. But all of that needs to be visible to respond to it.

Still, Magee cautioned that impact is limited without changes to gun policy itself.

We can invest in trauma-informed practices, and we should, she said. But if we dont also address the upstream causes  how guns are accessed, how theyre trafficked, how youth are being pulled into violence  then were asking schools to clean up a mess they didnt create.

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Accounting body CPA Australia has expressed concerns about the potential impact of increasing the tax burden on the country's largest companies.

The Productivity Commission suggests lowering the corporate tax rate to 20% for businesses with revenue under A$1bn ($647.4m) while imposing an additional 5% cashflow tax on larger companies.

CPA Australia CEO Chris Freeland AM acknowledges the proposals' potential to invigorate discussions on tax reform ahead of the Treasurer's Economic Reform Roundtable.

However, he urges the government to adopt a more comprehensive approach to tax reform, considering broader changes to personal income tax and GST alongside corporate tax adjustments.

Freeland notes that reducing business income tax for small and medium-sized enterprises would benefit them but warns that increasing taxes on large employers with an untested cashflow model could hinder economic growth.

He expresses concerns about the complexity of introducing cashflow taxation, highlighting issues such as the interaction with franking credits and the treatment of carried-forward losses.

According to Freeland, A well-designed tax system can stimulate economic growth, improve productivity and benefit the wider community. Conversely, a poorly structured system can be a handbrake on progress and undermine Australias international competitiveness.

It is vital that reforms to the tax system do not create barriers and deter capital investment in Australia. Australian businesses remain exposed to global trade uncertainty and any changes to domestic tax policy should aim to foster a more stable and supportive business environment.

Introducing two corporate tax systems and imposing higher taxes on the largest companies appears to be at odds with the objective of the productivity reforms.

Freeland emphasises the importance of ensuring that the tax system attracts investment rather than deters it.

He states, "High tax rates combined with complex rules are only going to make Australia a less-attractive place to invest and do business."

Despite these concerns, CPA Australia welcomed the Productivity Commission's efforts to alleviate regulatory burdens on businesses and create a more critical approach to future regulation setting.

"CPA Australia warns against tax burden on big businesses " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.




BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  CBS 42 wants to help you and your family stay healthy. This week our resident Dr. Celeste Reese-Willis joins us to talk about health issues and priorities as kids return to the classroom.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The spotlight may have moved off the Department of Government Efficiency since the departure of Elon Musk, but the Trump administration's DOGE continues to post about cost cutting on its so-called "wall of receipts." And once again, some of its claims about savings appear to be significantly overstated, according to a CBS News review.

The review of three of the largest cuts claimed so far indicates the savings from those contracts are less than 3% of what DOGE said they were.

On July 27, DOGE added 705 canceled contracts to the website it uses to track and declare savings from the agency's cost cutting across the federal government, among them three of the largest claimed cuts posted since President Trump launched DOGE in January.

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The three contracts  all from the Department of Health and Human Services  funded COVID-19 testing and treatment for people who were uninsured or underinsured during the pandemic. DOGE claims canceling those contracts saved $6.4 billion.

But CBS News' review of transaction records indicates the actual savings is just a small fraction of that  around $165 million.

That's about how much in obligated funds were left unspent in the three contracts by the time Mr. Trump took office and DOGE was launched. There was nearly $7 billion that remained, but this figure represented a ceiling that federal contracting experts say is rarely reached.

DOGE adjusted down that total potential value by a combined $6.4 billion  and then reported it as savings. But with the pandemic long over and the contracts set to expire on May 31 of this year, it is highly unlikely the contractors, which included Walgreens and CVS, would have spent anywhere near that sum on COVID-19 testing and treatment.

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The spending "was never going to reach this number," said Nat Malkus, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, referring to the total potential value. "You didn't have to terminate this contract, you are the government  just don't obligate any more money."

Since it was launched, multiple news outlets including CBS News have reported that DOGE's "Wall of Receipts" has at times vastly overstated the amount of funds cut and discovered numerous errors in the group's accounting.

DOGE now claims it has saved $52.2 billion  just from contracts canceled. Malkus, who analyzed the actual implications of the cancellations rather than the ceiling values, puts the number closer to $17.8 billion. But that would only be if Congress agreed to rescind the funds that it had already voted to spend.

The DOGE website reports a grand total of $199 billion saved, when factoring in real estate lease cancellations and other cuts such as personnel reductions. However, it provides no documentation for roughly half of that amount. According to DOGE, the savings equate to $1,236.02 per person in the U.S.

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"The amount they have per person is fiction," Malkus said. "It's transparency theater."

HHS did not respond to a CBS News request for comment about the three contracts. The White House redirected the request to the General Services Administration, which declined to comment.

A substantial portion of those purported savings is a result of cuts to USAID. A recent study in the medical journal The Lancet says those cuts could come with a human toll. By the study's estimates, the loss in humanitarian aid could lead to 14 million deaths in children younger than 5 years of age by 2030.

Malkus told CBS News, "Their claims are generally to say, 'Hey this is a lot of pain, but it's worth it.'"

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The update is only the second since Musk, who launched DOGE, departed from his role in the White House advising Mr. Trump.

Shortly before Musk's term as a special government employee expired, he told reporters, "This is not the end of DOGE, but really the beginning."

"The DOGE team will only grow stronger over time. The DOGE influence will only grow stronger," he said from the Oval Office on May 30, adding that he was confident over time DOGE would cull $1 trillion in savings.

It's unclear exactly how DOGE has functioned since then. In late June, The Washington Post reported that federal officials were instructed to stop routing the grant-making process through DOGE, revoking control of the online clearinghouse for all grant opportunities from the group. In DOGE's latest update, only one additional canceled grant was added.

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Several DOGE-associated government employees have left in recent weeks, including the Department of the Interior's Tyler Hassen, whose last day was Friday, The New York Times reported. Hassen was originally hired as a DOGE staffer, and then was later tasked with trimming costs at the Interior Department, where he was named principal deputy assistant secretary of the interior.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum had allowed him broad authority to make cuts to budgets and staffing, and under his watch, a DOGE-associated employee made the claim that a single survey costing $1 billion dollars had been cut. That claim was repeated by Elon Musk and Burgum, but no evidence was ever supplied to back it up.

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(CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo.)  The Chaffee County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) arrested a man after he allegedly drove a UTV intentionally into the Arkansas River.

At around 12:55 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3, CCSOs dispatch received a call concerning a side-by-side UTV that was stuck in the river with two people inside. Using swift water rescue techniques, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) rescued the duo from the river, and the UTV had to be pulled out with a tow truck. According to CCSO, recreational boaters also assisted with the rescue.

An investigation later showed that driving into the river was an intentional act and that alcohol was a contributing factor. The driver of the UTV, 49-year-old Jason Joseph Beltz, from Colorado Springs, was arrested and taken to the Chaffee County Sheriffs Office Detention Center.

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This is a clear example of how mixing alcohol and driving a motor vehicle is a dangerous combination, said CCSO Sheriff Andy Rohrich. Both of the occupants are very fortunate to have walked away without any injuries. The river began to sweep the UTV downstream before hanging up on a rock, so this could have certainly had a grimmer outcome. Although the river can serve recreational interests, it can be very dangerous if it isnt respected. This should also serve as a reminder to others that you dont have to be driving down a paved road while drinking to get a DUI. Drinking and driving a motor vehicle of any kind is illegal regardless of where you are, even on private property, and it will be met with life-altering ramifications when you are caught.

Beltz was being held on a $1,000 bond for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The passenger was not charged, and no one was injured.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.




NEED TO KNOW

Celebrity Cruises Constellation ship reportedly experienced a power outage on Saturday, Aug. 2

The ship was sailing off the coast of Italy during its 11-day voyage when a technical issue occurred, USA Today reports

It was reportedly left drifting without electricity for nearly three hours





A Celebrity Cruises ship was reportedly left drifting for several hours after it experienced a power outage over the weekend.

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The Constellation was sailing off the coast of Italy on Saturday, Aug. 2 when the outage occurred due to a technical issue, a spokesperson for the cruise lines parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, told USA Today.

The ship was left without air conditioning or electricity for nearly three hours, the outlet reports. The cruise line reportedly did not specify what caused the outage or what repairs were necessary to fix the issue.

Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

Tim Boyle/Bloomberg via Getty Celebrity Cruises' 'Constellation' ship Celebrity Cruises' 'Constellation' ship

The cruise line noted the ship was close enough to the coast that guests were still able to have cell phone service, per the outlet.

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According to CruiseMapper, the Constellation is currently on an 11-day cruise that departed from Porto Corsini in Ravenna, Italy on July 28. Its set to make stops in Croatia and Montenegro, and end its journey in Civitavecchia, the port closest to Rome, on Aug, 8.

Per Celebrity Cruises official website, the ship has an occupancy of 2,184 passengers.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Royal Caribbean states on its website that a ship will turn to emergency generators if the main electrical power source is lost.

These are typically located on the upper decks and they have their own fuel supply and are completely independent, the website notes. They can also power communication channels - radio, telefax, email, so the ship can continue to communicate with shoreside.

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Along with providing communication, the generators can power emergency lighting, fire detection systems, elevators and even provide power to re-start the engines, if necessary, per their website.

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.

Courtesy of Netflix 2025 Still from Netflix's 'Trainwreck: Poop Cruise.' Still from Netflix's 'Trainwreck: Poop Cruise.'

In June, a Netflix docuseries detailed a worst-case scenario a cruise ship could experience if a power outage occurred for multiple days.

Trainwreck: Poop Cruise revisited the real-life incident that passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph experienced in 2013 while traveling from Galveston, Texas to Cozumel, Mexico on a four-day cruise.

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On the last day of the sailing, a fire completely destroyed the electrical cables in the engine room, knocking out power to the entire ship. It was left drifting in the Gulf of Mexico without any lights, air conditioning, refrigeration or working toilets for multiple days.

As a result, passengers were asked to go number 2 in plastic bags and deal with sewage spills in the ship.

Read the original article on People
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis Shelby County School students returned to school Monday, and other districts in the area go back later in the week.

With this new year comes a new change. Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill this spring that bans cell phones during the instructional day.

WREG reached out to area schools to find out how the districts are complying and how schools plan to implement the policies.

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Memphis-Shelby County Schools new policy requires all devices to be powered off and stored out of sight in a designated location.

Memphis schools approve cell phone ban policy

Some districts told us they didnt have to make any changes because their current policies already complied, including Bartlett and Lakeland, where students head back to class on Thursday.

Leaders in Lakeland told News Channel 3, devices must be in off mode and out of sight unless being used for instructional purposes.

Millington Municipal Schools updated its current cell phone policy to read students must have all wireless communication devices turned off and stored for the entirety of the school day.

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A spokesperson from the Germantown Municipal School District says it made minor adjustments to its existing policy, which also requires devices to be turned off and stored, adding it will be working over the next few months to refine its procedures.

Houston High School sent a notification to parents outlining how the procedure would work. It stated students would not be allowed to use personal devices from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. They must be off, not visible, and placed in a backpack or purse. Students will be allowed to use their phones during lunch.

The school districts in Arlington nor Collierville responded to our request for comment. WREG also contacted several private schools in the area and havent heard back.

Meanwhile, News Channel 3 visited a school that had already banned cell phones ahead of the new law. Liberty Technology High School in Jackson, TN, collects cell phones as students enter the building. The principal said limiting the technology has already led to a turnaround in student discipline and success.

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School sees success after banning cell phones ahead of new state law

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
The Florida Bar has suspended an attorney out of Central Florida who was convicted on federal fraud charges.

Amaris Marie Delapena was convicted in November 2024 on 15 counts of wire fraud and 22 counts of bank fraud.

The bar association says her sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3. According to the Justice Department, she faces up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud and up to 20 years for each count of wire fraud.

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Prosecutors say Delapena used illegal wire transfers and check deposits to embezzle funds when she worked as a paralegal in Orlando.

The Justice Department says she earned her law degree and became a licensed attorney between the time she committed the offenses and her trial.

Her law firm had a Kissimmee address with a Clermont post office box.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Champaign Police Department issued 19 warnings, 61 citations and made two arrests on Speed Awareness Day. Department officials said the statewide traffic campaign was done as part of an effort to reduce speeding.

The traffic campaign was held on July 23 in partnership with Champaign Police, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 law enforcement agencies statewide.

Crime Stoppers seeking tips on July burglary in Ogden

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Every day, Champaign Police join our partners across Illinois in keeping our roads safe for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, Police Chief Timothy T. Tyler said. The joint focus of Speed Awareness Day helped to keep our communities safe from speeding and the real harm it can cause.

Champaign Police officers spent 53 hours enforcing traffic laws with a focus on high traffic roads, especially in areas that impact neighborhoods. The results included:

19 warnings issued for traffic infractions

61 citations 40 citations for speeding 7 citations for expired registration 5 citations for driving without insurance 4 citations for driving without a valid license 4 citations for moving violations, including running stop signs and failure to signal 1 citation for distracted driving

2 arrests made for outstanding warrants

Injuries reported in Monday morning crash on I-57 in Champaign

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The police department said the campaign was made possible by funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
New Mexico is bracing for more federal funding cuts that will impact K-12 services. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

The freeze of over $6 billion in federal funds for K-12 education caused interruptions to summer programming, state experts said, and more juggling of funding streams is likely to come.

At its meeting last week, state lawmakers on the New Mexico Legislatures Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee received an update on federal education funds and possible upcoming impacts to schools, students and teachers due to the Trump administrations recently passed big, beautiful bill. Legislative Education Study Committee Senior Fiscal Analyst Daniel Estupinan explained to lawmakers that because of the programmatic review announced earlier this summer, schools received federal funds four weeks late and some are now hesitant to trust that federal funds will be available in the future.

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The freeze affected programs that support migrant children, English learners and after-school programs. Estupinan noted that the impacted student groups also fall under at-risk groups identified by the Yazzie/Martinez educational equity lawsuit.

That four-week hold, along with the lack of guidance from the federal government about how to navigate that withholding, contributed to some pretty significant disruptions to summer programming and local budget planning for the next school year, to the point where we had summer programs around the state that could have had to shut down with only a few days notice, Estupinan said during the meeting. [Districts are] rethinking whether these federal funding sources are as sustainable and reliable as they used to be.

Estupinan also said that because Trump signed the GOPs reconciliation bill into law on July 4, school districts could be at risk of losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for student services, school-based Medicaid services, school meals, the states public school funding formula and other programs. He explained that the bill reduces Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment, which informs how much federal money is given to the states for such programs.

New Mexico Public Education Department Director of Strategic Services Kenneth Stowe highlighted to committee members several programs that had federal funding rescinded. These include school-based mental health centers in Silver City and several central New Mexico communities; the Education Innovation and Research Program; and several technical support centers. He added that the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant, State Personnel Development Grant and other programs are still at risk for losing federal funding support.

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I know that there are members of this committee that are former educators and should definitely know how certainty during the beginning of the year really affects the planning for the rest of the school year, Stowe said. Repeated funding delayslast minute requests to re-certify compliance in federal law, abrupt policy reversals  this has all been things that our districts and schools have had to respond to, that have affected their ability to effectively really focus on the kids, the classrooms, the teachers.

He said uncertainty created by the federal government has led local districts to create budgets to account for multiple scenarios.

Its a lot of duplication of effort for our districts and schools, Stowe said. This means a loss of time and capacity [for kids], and were just reducing the quality of educational services.

New Mexico is one of over 20 states that joined a lawsuit over the administrations freeze of federal K-12 and adult education funds, and the interpretation of federal public benefits.

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Subcommittee Co-Chair Sen. Bill Soules (D-Las Cruces) proposed that the Legislature consider overfunding department secretaries so theyve got available carryover to use when needed, like in cases of federal uncertainty, which is much more nimble than a legislative body that puts it into a specific budget line.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams general counsel on July 30 told lawmakers the governor will probably call a special session in late August or early September, in part to address the fallout from federal funding reductions.
The Halcyon Condo Association has so mismanaged its finances that a circuit court judge has gone as far as to order the appointment of a receiver to oversee the management of the 104-residence Palm Beach complex.

A receiver is a neutral third party appointed by a court to take control of a business, property, or assets in order to manage or preserve assets. It is often viewed as an extraordinary remedy, and is invoked only if other methods to protect assets are insufficient.

The Court finds that, if a receiver is not appointed, the risk of financial irregularities and transgressions will likely increase," Circuit Judge Maxine Cheesman said. "A neutral court-appointed receiver is proper to ensure the preservation of the association, its property, and its assets.

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At issue is the failure of the association to account for $15 million in expenditures, and its decision to refuse to hold a community vote on a plan to redo its air conditioning system.

Cheesman has ordered the association not to move forward with the project, which is expected to cost $2.5 million. Cheesman concluded condominium bylaws require such a project to be approved by owners.

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The association has requested Cheesman to reconsider. Meanwhile, lawyers for a condominium owner, who sued the association, have called on Cheesman to find the association in contempt for continuing to proceed with the air conditioning project.

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The Halcyon offers ocean and intracoastal views with listings prices ranging from approximately $800,000 to more than $3 million. The drama at the six-story, 104-residence beachfront condominium began about a year ago after the board first approved the air conditioning project.

All I ever wanted was for them to allow the owners to have a say as our documents require, said Michael Montanaro, an original owner who filed the lawsuit. I do not know what they are afraid of, but if I prevail, they will have to pay my legal fees, which now total more than $200,000. And they have spent just as much. The Halycon is using three law firms; Montanaro, two.

This is ridiculous. I did not want this to happen. Every ruling, including mediation, has gone against them.

Halcyon residents could feel financial impact

A Circuit Court judge has appointed a receiver to manage the finances of The Halcyon condominiums along Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach, citing problems with its oversight of $15 million in expenses.

A key issue in the dispute over the management of the Halcyon condominiums in Palm Beach is whether the replacement of the complex's air-conditioning system should have been put to a community vote.

Association lawyers argued in a recent court filing that the appointment of a receiver could have devastating consequences. Christopher Bellows, one of the lawyers representing the association, said he was unable to discuss the case.

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"Indeed, the appointment of a receiver could result in a lender declaring The Halcyon in default of over $6 million in loans and demanding those loans immediately paid. Similar risks could impact individual unit owners," association lawyers said in a court filing.

As for the air conditioning project, The Halcyon is already committed to paying a vendor more than $600,000 for equipment that has been purchased. Additionally, it may be necessary to pay storage fees, finance charges, and ongoing maintenance costs incurred by the vendor, according to the court filing.

These are just some of the potential losses The Halcyon could face in light of the Order, according to the association. The bank has already frozen its line of credit while the lawsuit is pending.

The seven-member board is deeply split over the issue. It approved the air conditioning project by a 4 to 3 vote, with its treasurer supporting a community vote. He noted in his testimony that the project's cost exceeded the associations annual budget.

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MORE: More courts or more green space? New pickleball war divides upscale West Palm community

MORE: New Florida condo laws take effect. Key 2025 changes explained

The board wants to install a rooftop fresh air machine on roofs, relocate three condensing units from the roofs to ground level, and replace the light commercial air conditioning units that serve common hallways.

Wayne Bergman, director of the town of Palm Beach Planning, Building and Zoning Department, testified that, under the Florida Building Code, the HVAC Project was an alteration and definitely not a repair.

Cheesman, citing his testimony, ruled there is no urgent need for the work to be done. She found that the association failed to produce any evidence that the air conditioning system was in need of immediate repair.

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The owners have a clear legal right to vote on the HVAC Project, Cheesman ruled. Based on testimony, Cheesman also concluded the association failed to keep proper financial records concerning $15 million in special assessments.

At a minimum, it is unclear on the face of this record how all of those funds were spent, she said, noting an independent investigator hired by the board two years ago confirmed records supplied to him by the association were inadequate to provide a full accounting of the expenditures. The current association treasurer confirmed that the projects were over budget and still haven't been completed.

The Receiver is expected to prepare monthly financial statements and status reports designed to identify any redundant or wasteful expenditures. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15 to rule on the contempt charge. Cheesman will also hear arguments from Halcyon about whether she should reconsider appointing a receiver.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Halcyon Condo fights court ruling for a receiver to take control
Grammy winner Chappell Roan's new song has unexpectedly put Saskatchewan in the spotlight, driving increased interest in Canada's sunniest province, its tourism authority told ABC News.

In her latest single "The Subway," released last week, Roan playfully suggests "movin' to Saskatchewan" as a cure for heartbreak. Even before the song's official release, Tourism Saskatchewan reported more than 230 social media mentions and nearly 40,000 interactions related to the region.

Vevo/YouTube - PHOTO: Chappell Roan in a scene from her music video, "The Subway."

"It's great news for our province," Jonathan Potts, CEO of Tourism Saskatchewan, told ABC News on Monday. "It's a lot of fun to have such a wonderful, popular artist singing our praises and giving us the opportunity to tell the story of Saskatchewan."

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When asked about the region's reception to Roan, who is a prominent voice in the LGBTQ+ community, Potts emphasized Saskatchewan's welcoming nature.

MORE: Chappell Roan evokes split response by saying she doesn't know any happy parents her age

"People are reacting very positively. It's a very open, welcome province. Everybody is welcome here, and everybody belongs here," he told ABC News.

Vevo/YouTube - PHOTO: Chappell Roan in a scene from her music video, "The Subway."

Located in Canada's prairie region and bordered by Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota, Saskatchewan boasts an impressive 2,000 to 2,500 hours of annual sunshine, according to the Canada Visa website. Home to just over 1.1 million residents, the province's largest urban centers include Saskatoon, with 300,000 residents, and the capital city Regina, with approximately 240,000 inhabitants.

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The province, which Potts described as being "almost the size of Texas," is launching a marketing campaign to capitalize on the unexpected attention.

"Half the province is covered by forests and lakes. We've got 100,000 lakes in the province, lots of space, lots of great opportunities to find yourself," Potts said. "Whether you're getting over a breakup like maybe the song implies, or whether you're coming for some peace and quiet, or some of the best freshwater fishing in the world, this is the place for you."
MILAN (Reuters) -French bank Credit Agricole has acquired a further 0.3% of Banco BPM via derivatives, raising its stake in Italy's third-biggest bank to 20.1%, a regulatory filing showed on Monday.

The stake increase comes after Italy's UniCredit last month dropped its takeover bid for BPM after running into government opposition and failing to persuade Credit Agricole to tender its stake in BPM under the offer.

Credit Agricole, a long-standing commercial partner of BPM, emerged as its single biggest shareholder in early 2022, after an earlier aborted takeover plan by UniCredit.

Credit Agricole doubled its stake in December after UniCredit bid for BPM. UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel, a veteran investment banker, said he could not afford to let his bank be sidelined in a round of consolidation sweeping Italian banking.

Echoing comments made when it first said it would raise its BPM stake just above 20%, Credit Agricole said on Monday it would not seek to acquire control of BPM and would keep its stake under a mandatory takeover threshold.

The threshold in BPM's case stands at 25% and sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters last week that Credit Agricole planned to eventually get to just below 25%.

Credit Agricole also said it would not seek changes to BPM's board of directors.

After securing European Central Bank authorisation to cross the 10% ownership threshold in BPM, which allowed it to increase its initial stake, Credit Agricole is now awaiting ECB approval to go above 20%.

It would then be able to convert the derivative contracts into shares.

It has said it then intends to book the BPM stake under an accounting method reserved for significant shareholders, which allows investors to more closely benefit from the performance of the company they have invested in.

(Reporting by Valentina ZaEditing by Mark Potter)
ESSEX  After 35 years at the helm of CFES Brilliant Pathways, founder and CEO Rick Dalton officially passed the baton to Tara Smith recently.

She joined the organization as a recent college graduate 22 years ago and has grown with the Essex-based nonprofit ever since.

This transition offers a moment to reflect  not just on how far the organization has come, but also on how much the landscape of college and career readiness has shifted.

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When Brilliant Pathways launched 35 years ago, a college degree was widely seen as the surest path to opportunity. Families across the country believed in its promise. The groups work focused on demystifying the process for students from underserved communities  especially the more than 25% who would be the first in their families to attend college. They were guided through applications, financial aid and the admissions process, believing  as most did  that if you got into college, good results would follow.

But today, that belief has faded. Seventy percent of students and families now question the value of higher education. Young men, in particular, are falling significantly behind in educational attainment.

In 1990, students often earned a degree first, then figured out what to do with it. Today, this has been reversed. Starting as early as fourth grade, students in Brilliant Pathways programs gain real-world career exposure that helps them understand not just how to go to college, but why.

They visit the offices of TransPerfect in Honolulu and New York City where they have lunch with corporate mentors. They have mentoring exposure with leaders from Colgate-Palmolive and Southwest Airlines. They explore hospitals, tech hubs, engineering firms and law offices in and around their communities. The personalized experiences give students valuable career insights, and help them choose what to study before they step onto a college campus.

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The evolution doesnt stop there. The college experience itself is nearly unrecognizable from a generation ago. More students now enroll for online courses than for in-person courses, and alternative credentials are steadily gaining ground on traditional degrees. Indeed, the pace of change in the last five years has outstripped that of the previous three decades.

The question today isnt so much about the need for education or training, its a question of how all students can find and access an educational avenue that is specifically tailored to their needs.

Brilliant Pathways has adapted to these changes to ensure that every student in the program graduates with a specific post-secondary plan, whether that means a four-year college, a two-year degree, a trade certification or another pathway.

Support systems have been expanded with virtual campus tours, e-mentoring and online tools that remove geographic barriers. Career and Technical Education has been integrated into the organizations programming, not as a separate track, but as a core component of its model.

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In addition, real-world experiences have been prioritized, such as internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing and project-based learning that connect the classroom to the workplace.

The path forward is not without its complexities, however. In recent years, the field of higher education has been systemically disparaged, often caught in a politicized debate that obscures the fundamental value of a college education.

In 2025, we believe that every student should have a personalized post-secondary plan, officials with Brilliant Pathways stated in a recent news release. Our challenge is to ensure that each students plan will thoughtfully integrate development of essential skills, definition of career aspiration and appropriate college education or training, ensuring students are equipped for success, no matter their chosen route.

This challenge has brought about a fundamental shift in our mission and strategy. We will continue to advocate and enable college for every student for whom a two or four-year degree is the optimal choice. We will be unwavering in our commitment to empower all Brilliant Pathways scholars to navigate their own unique journeys with clarity, purpose, and the essential skills needed to thrive in the world ahead, no matter where these journeys might take them.

For more information, visit https://brilliantpathways.org/.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Charges have been dismissed against a suspect in a 2019 shooting that left a 4-year-old dead.

Birmingham police investigating homicide on 86th Place N

The state of Alabama filed a motion to dismiss the case without prejudice against Raymond Shine due to the refusal/lack of cooperation of the states primary witness. Shine was originally charged with capital murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a forbidden person.

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Jurnee Coleman was shot and killed on July 28, 2019 after shots were fired into an apartment. Jurnee was walking into the kitchen to get a drink when she was shot, according to her father. Shine and Michael Coleman had reportedly gotten into an altercation before Shine allegedly began firing a gun into the apartment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
A rowing team attempting a 900-mile (1,448km) journey to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research have been forced to seek shelter from Storm Floris at Newhaven Marina.

The Row4MND crew are aiming to raise 57m with a series of rowing challenges over the next four years, inspired by rugby players Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir who both had MND.

Storm Floris is currently bringing "unseasonably strong" winds and rain to the UK.

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The crew are hoping to set off from Newhaven, East Sussex, to continue their journey - from Land's End to John O'Groats via the Irish Sea - on Tuesday morning.

Mike Bates, Matt Parker, Liz Wardley and Aaron Kneebone make up the four-person endurance team.

They plan to spend 2025 and 2026 circumnavigating the UK before a trans-Pacific row from California to Hawaii in 2027 and a world record attempt from New York to London in 2028.

Speaking to the BBC, skipper Mike Bates described the challenge so far as "the most brutal ordeal".

"We've been tested to our limits," he said. "We've got so many ocean rowing days under our belt but this makes rowing the Atlantic feel like a walk in the park."

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The group are currently moored at Newhaven Marina's visitor pontoon awaiting better weather.

"The huge Newhaven to Dieppe ferry moves past us every few hours and wakes us during the night," said Mr Bates.

The first leg of the journey has already been beset with challenges after the crew were earlier forced to divert to Milford Haven in Wales due to strong winds.

The South East coast presents unique challenges for the team and their 9m (29.5ft) boat as they head through the English Channel as they have to "dodge and weave between big ships that can't see us".

Mr Bates added: "Our hands are blistered, we're broken and we've barely slept but people suffering with MND would do anything to row at sea.

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"When you can't stand and your hands are bleeding you do it because you can, we sacrifice a bit of ourselves for them. There's no greater motivation."

The team have so far raised 105,590.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.

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A charity has apologised for the "inexcusable" destruction of around 4,800 personal records linked to adoptions in Scotland, including irreplaceable photographs and handwritten letters from birth parents.

Edinburgh-based Birthlink has been fined 18,000 after shredding the files to free up space in its filing cabinets four years ago.

The Information Commissioners' Office (ICO), which imposed the fine, described the lost material as "deeply personal pieces in the jigsaw of a person's history, some now lost for eternity".

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The charity's board said it was "deeply sorry" and that it was impossible to say how many people were affected.

A statement added: "We want to assure everyone who's interacted with Birthlink that we will do everything in our power to ensure this does not happen again."

A spokesperson for the Movement for Adoption Apology Scotland campaign said: "These items weren't stored out of administrative duty, but held in the hope that one day, someone would come looking.

"That hope has now been shredded, quite literally."

Birthlink did not keep a log of what was destroyed but it believes only "a very small proportion" of the records included personal documents, which do not exist in any form elsewhere.

Files destroyed

Since 1984, the company has operated the Adoption Contact Register for Scotland.

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It enables adopted people, birth parents and others to register their details with a view to being "linked" and potentially reunited.

If a connection was made, Birthlink retained what were called "linked records" - closed paper files stored in filing cabinets - in case they could be of further use in the future.

But by January 2021, the charity was running out of space and reviewed whether it could destroy the files.

Following a board meeting, it was agreed that only replaceable records could be disposed of.

Birthlink shredded about 4,800 personal records in 2021 (file photo) [Getty Images]

A few months later, the contents of 24 filing cabinet drawers were bagged up and shredded.

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Birthlink has estimated that personal data from around 4,800 individuals was destroyed and that less than 10% of the lost files contained "cherished items".

These include photographs, handwritten letters from birth mothers and fathers to their children and handwritten letters from birth families to siblings.

Another 8,300 files survived the process unscathed.

The culling of the records only came to light two years later, after the Care Inspectorate carried out a short-notice inspection at Birthlink in September 2023.

An internal investigation, ordered by Birthlink's interim chief executive, found that a member of staff had expressed concern about shredding photographs and other records at the time.

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But they were told "it needed to be done".

Birthlink reported itself to the ICO, who said the charity could have prevented the destruction with "cost effective and easy to implement" policies and procedures.

The regulator imposed a 45,000 fine, later reduced to 18,000, to promote compliance with data protection and deter others from "making similar mistakes".

'Poor understanding'

Sally Anne Poole, the ICO's head of investigations, said: "The destroyed records had the potential to be an unknown memory, an identity, a sense of belonging, answers.

"It is inconceivable to think, due to the very nature of its work, that Birthlink had such a poor understanding of both its data protection and records management process."

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The ICO welcomed the steps taken by Birthlink to ensure it does not happen again, including new policies and the appointment of a data protection officer.

In 2023, the then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon apologised to people affected by forced adoption [PA Media]

Birthlink's interim CEO Abbi Jackson told BBC Scotland News that the charity mainly worked with people affected by "historic forced adoption" between 1930 and 1980.

She said: "We want to reiterate our deepest and most sincere regret that this happened.

"We have failed people who put their trust in us. We want to urge anyone who thinks they should have had information on file to phone our helpline.

"We have a number of very experienced, knowledgeable staff who're there to help on each individual case."

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In 2023, the then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a "sincere, heartfelt and unreserved" apology to people affected by the practice of forced adoption.

The Movement for Adoption Apology Scotland campaign said: "The emotional and historical significance of what was lost cannot be overstated.

"These were not administrative items, but the last remaining traces of relationships shattered by policies and practices that many now acknowledge as unjust and highly traumatising."

Anyone worried about the loss of personal information can contact Birthlink's support service through dataprotection@birthlink.org.uk
Radio host Charlamagne tha God fired back at President Donald Trump, accusing the president of pushing authoritarian tactics after Trump called the radio host a dope in a recent social media post.

On Mondays episode of his radio show "The Breakfast Club," Charlamagne said Trump also failed to deliver on key campaign promises and used his show to dissect the presidents Truth Social post point by point.

Listen, my fellow Americans, we are in a strange time right now, a time we have never seen because authoritarian strategy is being used against anyone who speaks out against this administration, Charlamagne, whose given name is Lenard McKelvey, said.

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Charlamagne drew the ire of Trump after he joined Fox News "My View with Lara Trump," the presidents daughter-in-law. Charlamagne said under the new administration the least of us are still being impacted the worst. He also said the ongoing controversy around the release of information regarding the death of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is driving a wedge between the GOP and its supporters.

Soon after, the president responded by calling Charlamagne a racist sleazebag, a criticism Charlamagne defended against on Monday.

He called me a racist. I didn't mention race, not one time on Lara Trump. I didn't bring up the fact that President Trump issued an executive order directing oversight of institutions like the Smithsonian to remove or suppress narratives about systemic racism and Black history, Charlamagne said, referring to an executive order earlier this year demanding the Smithsonian remove exhibits that divided Americans "based on race."

Charlamagne added that he was just talking to your base and letting voters know Trump hasnt kept the promises he made on the campaign trail.

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The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Charlamagne also accused Trump of making the economy worse before criticizing the president's decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, after the latest monthly jobs report came in well under expectations.

It's actually hilarious to see you upset about the high unemployment rates when you let Elon Musk take a chainsaw to the federal government and fire a bunch of government workers earlier this year. You did that, President Trump, and now you're doing exactly what the Biden administration did, trying to convince America the economy is all good when it's not, he said.

Still, Charlamagne said that he is actually rooting for Trump.

President Trump, don't worry about Lenard, okay, don't worry about Charlamagne tha God. I know something I said hit a nerve and rattled you a little bit, but I don't want you rattled, Charlamagne said. I want you to end wars, okay? I want you to keep the border secure. I want you to have the economy booming, okay? I want all these things to be true. I am an American. I don't care who's in the White House. I want America to succeed. But I need you focused, and right now youre not focused.
Charlie Kirk initially made his name by being the most obnoxious of the debate me bros. As far as titles go, its like winning Most Stinky at the Litter Box Olympics, but Republicans love men who are the worst, so it turned him into an overnight MAGA star. Kirk, who wanted to seem like a young and hip Republican when he started out, claimed in 2016 to have a secular worldview. Two years later, he criticized older Republicans for ignoring the separation of church and state. His organization, Turning Point USA, cited their values as fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.

More recently, however, Kirk and TPUSA have undergone a dramatic Christian right makeover. As NBC News reported, he has become one of the nations most prominent voices calling on Christians to view conservative political activism as central to Jesus calling for their lives. By 2022, he was falsely claiming the separation of church and state is a fabrication made up by secular humanists. (In fact, it was made up by Thomas Jefferson.)

Kirks commitment to theocracy isnt half-baked. He believes in the Christian nationalist concept of the Seven Mountains Mandate, which calls on far-right Christians to control not just all government, but media, business and education. This idea drove many of the rioters to the Capitol on Jan. 6, where some displayed Appeal to Heaven flags to demonstrate their belief in total Christian right domination.

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There are many reasons that Kirk underwent this change. Religious fanaticism is central to Donald Trumps base of support; the Capitol insurrection was evidence of this. And while the religious right has steered Republicans for decades, the situation grew worse during Joe Bidens presidency, as right-wing media churned out ever-more-radical content denouncing LGBTQ rights and womens equality. By starting Turning Point Faith in 2021, Kirk was hopping on the trad trend. He denounced the LGBTQ agenda, and equated homosexuality with grooming children for sexual abuse. (He said this while partnering with a pastor who did time in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor for sex.) He has called on women to forgo education and careers so they can instead focus on being submissive housewives.

But another reason is deeply rooted in the history of white evangelicalism: Racism. Kirk, like decades of Christian right leaders before him, has found that loudly proclaiming your faith is an effective way to whitewash overt bigotry against people of color. And he has much to answer for when it comes to race-baiting. As Ali Breland of Mother Jones reported in 2024, Kirk has hosted far-right and white supremacist figures on his podcast and has tweeted in support of whiteness, earning praise from white supremacists.

This isnt by accident, either. Kirk routinely expresses his own racist views. He suggested Black pilots are unqualified. He blamed a Black fire chief in Austin, Texas, for flooding deaths that occurred a three-hour drive away from the city. He denounced the passage of the 1965 Civil Rights Act and tried to discredit the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as awful and not a good person.

Last month, Kirk devoted a chunk of his podcast to honoring the influential evangelical pastor John MacArthur, who passed away on July 14 at the age of 86. Kirk called him one of the most influential Protestant minds since the Reformation, and a legend who never bowed to the gods of this age and never apologized for Scripture. Soaring language  but its a euphemism. One of MacArthurs most famous old-fashioned beliefs was that slavery was godly.

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In 2001, MacArthur delivered an infamous sermon at his California megachurch. He argued that Black people are cursed by God to be servile people who are doomed to perpetual slavery. There have been twisted efforts to rationalize what he said here, but the context of his entire sermon made his meaning quite clear. Hes invoking an argument that white Southerners used in the 19th century, claiming Black people were descended from the biblical figure of Canaan, Noahs grandson, who is cursed by God in the Book of Genesis to be a servant of servants. MacArthur claimed the descendants of Canaan populated Africa and carried this curse with them.

Eleven years later, he had not changed his mind. In an interview, MacArthur said, It is a little strange that we have such an aversion to slavery. He agreed that some slaveowners committed abuses, but then he noted our society hasnt outlawed marriage or parenthood, institutions that have also had abuses. MacArthur argued that working for a gentle, caring, loving master was the best of all possible worlds for slaves who had no other opportunity. Then he equated being enslaved to a white man to being an obedient servant of Jesus.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Sign up for her free newsletter, Standing Room Only, now also on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

MacArthur was no outlier in his views, which is why hes received such an outpouring of praise from the Christian right since his death. As historian Randall Balmer detailed in an influential POLITICO Magazine article published in 2014, the modern religious right was formed for protecting segregated schools.

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Jerry Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority, the preeminent Christian right organization of the 1980s, got his start as an outspoken segregationist. Like Kirk, Falwell was a staunch opponent of King, preaching against him and other civil rights leaders as communists who were exploiting every incident to bring about violence and bloodshed.

Early in his career, Falwell gave a sermon in which he declared that integration will destroy our race eventually, warning that after school desegregation, legalized interracial marriage would be next. A pastor friend of mine tells me that a couple of opposite race live next door to his church as man and wife, he declared, horrified.

Falwell was wrong on the morals, but right on the facts. After Richard Loving, a white man in Virginia, was arrested for marrying Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, the couple sued the Commonwealth. Virginia, of course, is where Falwell lived and pastored the Thomas Road Baptist Church. In 1967, the Supreme Court declared interracial marriage legal nationwide. In the early 70s, he opposed the federal governments efforts to integrate private religious schools, saying, In some states its easier to open a massage parlor than to open a Christian school.

As historian Anthea Butler has argued, racism inflected almost every point of evangelicalism along the way.

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Thats the tradition Kirk is plugging into as he embraces both Christian nationalism and racist politics, which have always been deeply intertwined. In 2020, he and his favorite far-right pastor, Rob McCoy, released a podcast in which they denounced Black Lives Matter as malevolent, anti-American and anti-Christian. He has argued that the proper Christian view on immigration is not to welcome the stranger because foreigners can become your masters. When New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani ate biryani with his fingers  which is a normal practice in India, where his parents are from  Kirk used it to imply that the Muslim politician cannot be a real American because we have utensils.

Using religion as a cover for racism has long held this appeal for a simple reason: It puts an ennobling gloss on ugly feelings. It dresses up bigotry as if it were about faith and philosophy, instead of cruelty. Its also about escaping responsibility. Since the racist cannot justify their views rationally, instead they blame God, who is conveniently never around to answer questions. Its a pathetic excuse for small-minded people. No wonder Charlie Kirk embraced it so wholeheartedly.

The post How Charlie Kirk turned to religion to level up his racism appeared first on Salon.com.
The brazen partisan redistricting underway in Texas, with Republicans attempting to entrench themselves in office and Democrats weighing a counter-offensive in blue states, was greenlit by the US Supreme Court six years ago.

Chief Justice John Roberts, in an opinion for a 5-4 court, declared that federal judges could not review extreme partisan gerrymanders to determine if they violated constitutional rights.

Roberts opinion reversed cases that would have allowed such districts  drawn to advantage one political party over another irrespective of voters interests  to be challenged as violations of the First Amendments guarantee of free speech and association and the Fourteenth Amendments guarantee of equal protection.

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The justices split among the familiar ideological lines, with the five conservatives ruling against challenges to partisan gerrymanders and the four liberals dissenting.

Of all times to abandon the Courts duty to declare the law, this was not the one, dissenting justices warned in 2019, The practices challenged in these cases imperil our system of government. Part of the Courts role in that system is to defend its foundations. None is more important than free and fair elections.

That decision in Rucho v. Common Cause has generated a new era of partisan rivalry with vast repercussions for American democracy. The decision resonates as profoundly as the Roberts Courts decision last year in Trump v. United States, which granted presidents substantial immunity from criminal prosecution (also delivered among partisan lines).

Trump has taken the 2024 ruling as a blank check, tearing through democratic norms.

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The gerrymandering case also lifted a federal guardrail. Lawsuits challenging extreme partisan gerrymanders can still be brought before state court judges. But state laws vary widely in their protections for redistricting practices and state judges differ in their ability to police the thorny political process.

Roberts may have failed to foresee the consequences in 2019 and then in 2024. Or, alternatively, perhaps he understood and simply believed the effects were not properly the concern of the federal judiciary.

In his opinion, Roberts acknowledged the apparent unfairness of gerrymandered districts.

Excessive partisanship in districting leads to results that reasonably seem unjust, he wrote. But, he said, the fact that such gerrymandering is incompatible with democratic principles,  does not mean that the solution lies with the federal judiciary.

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The chief justice said no constitutional authority exists for judges to oversee the politics of redistricting, nor are there standards for their decisions, that is, to know when state lawmakers have gone too far in what is an inherently political process.

Roberts wrote: How much is too much? At what point does permissible partisanship become unconstitutional?

When should voters be allowed to pick their representatives?

The current redistricting controversy arises from Trumps pressure on fellow Republicans to generate as many GOP-controlled districts as possible before the 2026 midterm elections for the US House of Representatives.

Right now, the focus is on Texas where legislators broke from the usual cycle of post-census redistricting that happens every 10 years and suddenly proposed a new map intended to push several Democrats out of office and buttress the chances that Republicans keep their majority, now hanging by a thread, in Congress.

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The audacious Texas effort has prompted liberals to consider a counterattack in Democratic-controlled states such as California to create new maps that could boost their numbers.

But politicians effort to draw lines to their advantage have never been free of controversy.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett protests redistricting plans before the hearing of the House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting at the Capitol in Austin, on August 1. - Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman/Getty Images

The paired cases before the justices six years ago involved extreme gerrymanders by Republicans in North Carolina and by Democrats in Maryland.

Roberts was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, whose vote was crucial. A year earlier, Kavanaugh had succeeded Justice Anthony Kennedy, who had previously left the door open to federal court challenges to partisan gerrymanders.

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Justice Elena Kagan, taking the lead for dissenters, insisted workable standards existed and had been used by lower US court judges.

For the first time ever, this Court refuses to remedy a constitutional violation because it thinks the task beyond judicial capabilities. And not just any constitutional violation, she wrote, pointing up the stakes.

The partisan gerrymanders in these cases deprived citizens of the most fundamental of their constitutional rights: the rights to participate equally in the political process, to join with others to advance political beliefs, and to choose their political representatives, Kagan added.

She was joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who remains on the bench, and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in 2020, and Stephen Breyer, who retired in 2022.

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Echoing a line from redistricting precedent that appears apt as Texas legislators divide voters for predetermined results, Kagan wrote that a core principle of government is that the voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around.

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DISCLAIMER: All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A man who allegedly sexually assaulted a juvenile and left them for dead was arrested by the Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office.

Suspect in 2024 Milam Street slaying arrested in Ft. Worth

Caddo Patrol Deputies responded to a sexual assault on Farmridge Road just before 2 a.m. on Saturday. Deputies reportedly found a young child who was sexually assaulted and lying lifeless inside the home.

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The CPSO said the victim, suffering from life-threatening injuries, was brought to a local hospital. Detectives identified and arrested a suspect, 31-year-old Lucas Logan of Stonewall, who faces charges of first-degree rape and attempted first-degree murder.

After further investigation, Logan faces additional charges: 16 counts of pornography involving juveniles and one count of molestation of a juvenile.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
A children's nurse is facing jail after she admitted supplying cocaine and ecstasy.

Kiran Farooq, 35, was arrested after police followed her to a car park in the Finnieston area of Glasgow on 30 December 2023.

Officers went on to seize hauls of cocaine, ecstasy and cash worth 200,000 from a nearby flat she had the keys for.

At the High Court in Glasgow the judge described her crimes as "quite extensive drug trafficking" and deferred sentencing for reports.

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Lord Mulholland added: "You shamed yourself and your profession.

"It is a tragedy for you and for those affected by your drug dealing.

"This will inevitably result in a prison sentence, quite an extensive one."

Farooq, who was a nurse at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, has since resigned.

The court heard she was arrested over the festive season in 2023 after officers saw her briefly entering and leaving a car before returning to her own vehicle.

Prosecutor Mark Mohammed KC said: "Police suspected they had observed a drugs transaction."

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Farooq was followed to a secure car park at flats in the city's Lancefield Quay, where she was stopped.

Officers initially seized almost 12,000 inside a small carrier bag in the car.

They then looked through the letterbox of the flat and spotted an open bag, which appeared to contain drugs.

Cocaine and ecstasy were recovered from the property along with a quantity of cash and drug dealing paraphernalia.

This included a consignment of cocaine that had a purity of up to 77 per cent, thousands of ecstasy pills and the drug in crystal form.

Police also seized a substance used to bulk out narcotics to maximise profits for dealers, along with a number of sets of scales and part of a kitchen blender.

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A further 26,000 of cash in mixed notes was recovered.

Farooq, of Glasgow's Yorkhill, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and ecstasy.

She had been accused of being involved in the supply of other drugs - including ketamine, cannabis and bromazolam - but prosecutors accepted her not guilty pleas to those charges.

Farooq was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.
China is pushing back against U.S. demands to stop purchasing oil from Russia and Iran, the Associated Press reported on Aug. 4.

Beijing insists it will continue to secure its energy supplies based on national interests despite pressure from Washington and the threat of punitive tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose secondary sanctions on Russia's oil buyers, unless Moscow agrees on a ceasefire before Aug. 8.

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"China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests," Beijing's Foreign Ministry said in a post on X on July 30, following two days of trade negotiations in Stockholm. "Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that China's continued purchases of Russian oil remain a key sticking point in trade talks between the two countries.

"The Chinese take their sovereignty very seriously," Bessent reportedly told reporters after the talks. "We don't want to impede on their sovereignty, so they would like to pay a 100% tariff."

The U.S. wants to cut off key revenue streams for both Moscow and Tehran as Russia continues its war in Ukraine and Iran supports militant groups in the Middle East. China appears unwilling to treat energy purchases as negotiable, according to the Associated Press.

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China's firm stance comes as other countries appear to be shifting under U.S. pressure.

Read also: Trumps India tariffs show Russias allies he will act if Ukraine ultimatums ignored, experts say

India's largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), has paused Russian crude purchases and instead bought 7 million barrels of U.S., Canadian, and Middle Eastern crude for September delivery, according to Reuters.

Two industry sources told Reuters the move was partly to replace Russian supplies amid growing Western sanctions.

In a post on Truth Social on Aug. 4, Trump once again criticized India's imports of Russian oil.

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"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits," Trump wrote. "They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the U.S.A."

Senator Lindsey Graham is also pushing legislation that would allow tariffs as high as 500% on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy. The bipartisan bill, introduced in April, has 84 co-sponsors in the Senate and a parallel version in the House.

China shows no signs of retreating. In previous trade disputes, it was the only country to retaliate directly against U.S. tariffs  and appears prepared to do so again, the Associated Press reports.

China remains one of Russia's key allies. Following a July 15 meeting in Beijing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to expand the strategic partnership, calling it "a model for a new type of international relations."

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Xi emphasized that mutual trust had "deepened" and urged both sides to "strengthen mutual support on multilateral forums."

Despite Beijing's claims of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine War, China has emerged as a critical economic and technological lifeline for Moscow. According to Ukraine's sanctions commissioner, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, China is now the largest supplier of dual-use components found in Russian weapons, including Shahed-type drones recovered in Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has sanctioned five Chinese companies accused of supplying drone parts, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told EU officials that Beijing "cannot afford for Russia to lose the war."

Read also: Better now than never  Ukraine announces competition for anti-smuggling director 7 months late

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Ateev Bhandari

(Reuters) -Crypto exchange Bullish is targeting a valuation of up to $4.23 billion in its United States listing, the company said in a filing on Monday, launching its roadshow to capitalize on the momentum built by digital assets amid regulatory clarity.

Companies leveraging crypto and related technologies have rallied on friendly policymaking from the Trump administration, such as the recent passage of the GENIUS Act, which provides an initial regulatory framework for stablecoins.

Bullish is seeking up to $629.3 million by offering 20.3 million shares priced between $28 and $31 each, marking its second attempt to go public in four years.

At the top of its proposed range, the company will list at a more than 52% discount to its $9-billion valuation target in a 2021 blank check merger that it called off in 2022, citing regulatory hurdles.

"When an IPO begins marketing, the bankers would rather undershoot on valuation and then price up, rather than overshoot and price down," said Matt Kennedy, senior strategist at Renaissance Capital, a provider of IPO-focused research and ETFs.

Bullish, backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, plans to convert a significant portion of the IPO proceeds to U.S.-dollar-denominated stablecoins with the assistance of one or more issuers of such tokens, it said in the filing.

Major stablecoin-issuer Circle Internet had a blowout debut on the NYSE in June and currently trades at more than 400% of its IPO price.

INVESTOR FOCUS

Bullish, whose CEO Thomas Farley previously served as president of the New York Stock Exchange, operates a crypto-trading exchange targeting institutions.

It also operates crypto news website CoinDesk, which it acquired from Barry Silbert's Digital Currency Group in 2023.

Bullish swung to a $349 million loss for the quarter ended March 31, compared with a profit of $105 million a year earlier, reflecting a fall in fair value of its crypto holdings.

Meanwhile, largest public crypto exchange Coinbase reported a drop in second-quarter adjusted profit on Friday, due to a slowdown in trading, which dragged its shares down nearly 17%, even though the company recorded portfolio gains.

Some investors tend to overlook the impact of quarterly swings in crypto prices when evaluating such companies, analysts have said.

According to Renaissance Capital's Kennedy, investors will focus on "how efficient (Bullish is) and how profitable it is as a pure exchange, without the impact of quarterly price changes."

Bullish aims to list on the NYSE under the symbol "BLSH". J.P.Morgan, Jefferies and Citigroup are the lead underwriters.

(Reporting by Ateev Bhandari in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Shinjini Ganguli)
China and Russia opened joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan, the latest sign of their strengthening alliance on both tactical and strategic levels. Following the three days of exercises, the countries then plan to carry out patrols in parts of the Pacific.

Before Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, experts regarded Moscow and Beijing as uneasy neighbors united by little more than their opposition to US dominance, but that partnership has since deepened: Chinas foreign minister reportedly told European officials on a recent tour of the continent that Beijing could not countenance Russia losing in Ukraine, the two countries are increasingly using multilateral bodies to advance an anti-hegemonic narrative, and they have growing doctrinal convergence, too.
Recently emerged imagery largely confirms that China is now test-flying another tailless stealthy combat jet, although it isnt clear if this is a crewed design or one of its new advanced drones.

A high-performance, highly autonomous uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) with collaborative loyal wingman capabilities is a major possibility. Still, based on the design, this could very well be yet another sixth-generation crewed jet  one that is similar to, or even would compete more directly with Shenyangs J-XDS (also nicknamed the J-50 by some) fighter rather than Chengdus massive J-36 super-heavy tactical jet.

This latest development once again underscores the frantic pace of Beijings military aerospace developments, which include activities across a wide range of drone programs as well as advanced crewed types.

One of the first images of the new Chinese design. via X

At least five images of the new design have been noted so far. In each case, its not clear where or when the imagery was taken. The quality and angles are historically typical of the first leaks showing new advanced Chinese military aircraft, a practice dating back many years.

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None of the images provides enough detail of the upper part of the forward fuselage to reveal whether or not a cockpit is present. There are clear attributes to this design that point to the possibility that it is a more substantial aircraft, crewed or otherwise.

Attributes

The aircraft seen in the recently emerged images has a notably pointed forward fuselage and nose section that blends into the mid-set wing midway down the fuselage. The highly swept wing has cropped tips, and the trailing edge features a prominent triangular extension, with a W-like configuration. There are no vertical stabilizers or other separate tail surfaces. The broad fuselage would appear to offer a fairly significant capacity for internal fuel and stores, although details of a weapons bay are not apparent in the available views.

An apparent underside view of the new Chinese jet. via X

In all views thus far, the aircraft is seen with its tricycle-type landing gear extended, and it may feature twin-wheel nose gear, which would be indicative of a heavier design, or perhaps one intended for carrier operations. There is an air-data probe on the nose, a feature consistent with early flight testing. Overall, the design appears to be heavily optimized for low observability, in line with the two crewed combat jets that China debuted at the end of last year, and which you can read about in detail here. In various respects, it shares some striking similarities with the so-called J-36.

Another image of the new Chinese design. via X

A close-up version of the previous image. via X

Based on the frontal and rear views of the aircraft, two humps over the rear fuselage loosely point to a twin-engine configuration  which would be quite odd for a somewhat attritable loyal wingman drone  although many other details, as well as its overall scale, cannot be verified at this stage.

A rear view of the apparent Chinese CCA design. via X

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Evidence for a crewed fighter

If the new design features a cockpit, this would raise the possibility that the design may be a competitor to the Shenyang J-XDS/J-50 fighter, perhaps a product of the rival Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, which is also responsible for the much larger J-36.

The Chengdu J-36 super-heavy tactical jet. via X

It is clear that the J-36 and J-XDS are two entirely separate classes of aircraft, as we have described in great detail before, and that they are unlikely to be direct competitors in terms of basic design and mission goals. A Chengdu competitor to Shenyangs sixth-generation stealth fighter would make a lot of sense in that regard. It would also explain the similarities in the design between this new aircraft and the J-36. As we noted earlier, the general design looks similar in many ways, especially the forward fuselage and nose section, as well as the general inlet configuration, to the J-36. The overall planform is also similar. A smaller twin-engine, traditionally fighter-sized cousin to the J-36 wouldnt be a grand surprise.

A selection could be made between the J-XDS/J-50 and this new design to yield a new jet for more traditional fighter-type roles. Its also possible that this is a carrier-optimized design. A medium sixth-generation fighter is another possibility, although this seems less likely. The scale is nearly impossible to judge with the available images.

And the same one in cut-out form 



(Images via @Captain on Weibo by OPPOFind 8) pic.twitter.com/15axXJCbc8  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) April 23, 2025

Evidence for a drone

Meanwhile, there is speculation among some long-term Chinese aerospace observers that the new aircraft is one of multiple Chinese counterparts to the U.S. Air Forces Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) loyal wingman program. At the same time, it is TWZs opinion that a more substantial and advanced unmanned combat air vehicle is perhaps a strong possibility, one that could still incorporate CCA teaming capabilities, but would also be better suited for independent operations.

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Andreas Rupprecht, a Chinese aviation expert and contributor to this website, told TWZ that he thinks the new imagery shows one of the countrys CCA designs, although he notes that its significantly different from the tailless design that was spotted flying together with a pair of Y-9 turboprop transports, in imagery that emerged last month. This other design, seen in the tweets embedded below, features a modified diamond-like delta planform combined with a much simpler trailing edge.

 For the first time, one of Chinas tailless CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) UAV/UCAVs has been spotted. pic.twitter.com/R96eiM0MNX  International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) July 20, 2025

As it seems, we maybe have first footage  including a brief video  showing for the first time one of Chinas CCA UAV/UCAVs accompanied by a Y-8/9.



Heres the video: https://t.co/VdzNIIQvAD



(Image via @lyman2003 from Weibo)@HarpiaP pic.twitter.com/yMfiCxBfvW  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) July 19, 2025

Rupprecht views rumors that the new aircraft is a possible crewed fighter or strike aircraft, possibly even a carrier-based swing-wing design, as nothing more than that. He also notes that among the Chinese aerospace blogosphere, there are persistent rumors of multiple CCAs in development to serve as loyal wingmen for the new sixth-generation combat jets. Within China, these drones are informally termed teacups, in contrast to the crewed teapots.

Allegedly another image of that mysterious CCA UCAV  however it could also be again just a stupid joke!



So let us be skeptical & cautious instead of immediately assuming that it is a 3rd new "next-generation" fighter, a bomber or even a secret stealth swing-wing naval-fighter pic.twitter.com/Qat7X0y2oz  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) August 4, 2025

The emergence of the new imagery comes soon after satellite imagery showing several likely CCA designs that should be publicly unveiled at an upcoming parade to be held on Sept. 3, marking the 80th anniversary of Chinas victory over Japan in World War II.

A Google Earth satellite image taken on June 11, 2025, shows the drones at a military base in Yangfang, a suburb northwest of the Chinese capital of Beijing. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) regularly uses the facility to stage assets and train for large-scale parades.

The drones seen at Yangfang in the June 11, 2025, image. Google Earth

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Although its unclear from the satellite image whether the aircraft shown are mockups or real drones, there appear to be five new CCA-type designs, as you can read more about in our previous coverage.

In addition, the same image reveals hundreds of vehicles, including what appear to be transporter erector launchers for large ballistic missiles, as well as previously identified drone designs, such as the GJ-11 Sharp Sword stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV).

Of those new CCA-type drones in the satellite image, four of them appear to be tailless with modified diamond-like delta and cranked-kite wings, while one looks to have a more traditional wing and tail arrangement. The designs range in length from approximately 30 to 38 feet (nine to 12 meters), and in wingspan from 20 to 35 feet (six to 11 meters).

At left, a close-up showing four possibly tailless designs with modified diamond-like delta and cranked-kite wings in the June 11, 2025, image. At right, a close-up of the design that looks to have a more traditional wing and tail configuration. Google Earth

The fact that the drones in the satellite image are partly concealed by tarpaulins, as well as the relatively low resolution, means its not immediately clear if one of them matches the new imagery of the drone being test-flown. A newer image (seen below) offers greater detail, but still, there doesnt appear to be a direct match. However, with so many apparent CCA designs being developed, it wouldnt be abnormal to not include all of them in the parade.

A new image was revealed showing the supposed to be CCA (loyal wingman) designs for the upcoming military parade. pic.twitter.com/drqx7dR83U  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) August 3, 2025

Regardless, it is now inevitable that CCA-type designs will be part of the Sept. 3 parade, which officials have already said will feature unspecified new-type combat capabilities.

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It should also be noted that another next-generation fighter-like airframe or mockup with a modified diamond-like delta platform emerged at Shenyangs main plant earlier this year, as TWZ was first to report. While its unclear if this is a crewed or uncrewed design, it certainly appears to be larger (roughly 50 feet/15 meters) than any of the possible CCA drones seen in the satellite image of Yangfang. At the same time, its configuration also doesnt correspond with either of the two apparent new tailless mystery aircraft that have been seen flying.

The next-generation fighter-like airframe or mockup that was seen at Shenyangs main plant on Jan. 1, 2025. PHOTO  2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION

Very clearly, China is busily developing a range of loyal wingman type drones, as well as the crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities that will be required to operate them effectively.

Among the first Chinese drones to be associated with these efforts was the aforementioned GJ-11 UCAV. This is widely understood to be a centerpiece of Chinas uncrewed combat aircraft plans. However, the GJ-11 is as much a UCAV as a CCA and will likely have other roles, including independent operations, beyond any teaming duties with crewed aircraft. Beijing has also revealed various other lower-tier uncrewed designs that have been designed specifically to operate in conjunction with crewed aircraft. Examples include the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporations (CASC) FH-97 and FH-97A, which appear to be heavily influenced by the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie and Boeing Australia MQ-28 Ghost Bat, respectively.

At the same time, there are many signs of Chinese programs to adapt crewed aircraft to operate closely with collaborative drones. The two-seat J-20S stealth fighter has been regularly depicted in official graphics as an airborne drone controller, a role that TWZ noted would be ideal for it when it first appeared.

J-20 with loyal wingmen UCAVs pic.twitter.com/GSYQY4OOZU   (@louischeung_hk) September 21, 2021

The KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft is also widely considered to be envisaged as a key node within Chinas future crewed-uncrewed air combat ecosystem. Beijing has also explored using H-6 missile carrier aircraft as launch platforms for lower-end tactical drones, as you can read about here.

Right now, the developments in Chinese military aerospace are fascinating to watch, and the proliferation of new drone designs is likely a particular cause for concern among potential adversaries. These drones also make a highly intriguing parallel to the U.S. Air Forces CCAs.

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The first two of these, the General Atomics YFQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A, are in development, with first flights planned for next year. In the future, the U.S. Air Force and other branches of the U.S. military plan to field multiple CCA types acquired through iterative development cycles. The latest developments from China suggest that the PLA might well be planning something similar, and the Sept. 3 parade may well yield still more details in this regard.

(Anduril/General Atomics)

Ultimately, it seems China is also set on harnessing the potential of advanced autonomous aviation capabilities, aided by developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning, to field drones that will be able to operate increasingly independently from crewed platforms. This could also include networked swarms, something that Beijing is actively working on for smaller-scale drones.

With all this in mind, this aircraft could be a higher-performance counterpart to the GJ-11, capable of flying longer distances with greater payloads than smaller CCAs, as well as being more readily capable of independent operations. This would be a useful companion for longer-range aircraft, like the H-6, J-36, and future H-20 bomber. Until we get a better idea of the scale when it comes to this new aircraft, we just wont know for sure.

What we do know is that the aircraft seen in the new images once again underlines the rapid pace of development in the Chinese military aerospace sector and its capacity to spring surprises on an increasingly regular basis.

Update, August 5, 12:00 p.m. ET:

There is some dispute over the underside image among voices in the Chinese aerospace observer community. Some claim the bottom was cloned from the J-36. This is not possible. The geometry and positions/configuration of major features are different. As we discussed, it looks like elements of the design are similar to the J-36 in scaled-down form, but the central fuselage features are not identical. That doesnt mean it isnt a forgery, but it is not cloned directly.

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The wings look off to some. This may be the case due to the bank angle and the lack of features/low quality of the image combined with an exotic airframe or the image could have been altered, which would not be all that surprising. The provenance of leaked images of aircraft out of China is very murky and images are often outright altered to obscure sensitive details and create inconsistencies. As always, this is an imperfect business, so everything must be taken with a grain of salt.

We would put the status of this image at contested at this time. Considering how these roll-outs usually go, we will be getting more images of higher quality soon as the aircraft proceeds through early flight test.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Chinese students at UK universities are being pressured to spy on their classmates in an attempt to suppress the discussion of issues that are sensitive to the Chinese government, a new report suggests.

The UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank says its survey of academics in China studies also highlighted reports of Chinese government officials warning lecturers to avoid discussing certain topics in their classes.

It comes days after a new law came into force placing more responsibility on universities to uphold academic freedom and free speech.

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The Chinese embassy in London called the report "groundless and absurd", adding that China respects freedom of speech in the UK and elsewhere.

The regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), says freedom of speech and academic freedom are "fundamental" to higher education.

The new legislation, which came into force last week, says universities should do more to actively promote academic freedom and freedom of speech, including in cases where institutions have agreements in place with other countries.

Universities could be fined millions if they fail to do so, the OfS has said.

However, the UKCT report says some universities are reluctant to address the issue of Chinese interference because of their financial reliance on Chinese student fees.

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The report alleges that some Chinese academics involved in sensitive research had been denied visas by the Chinese government, while others said family members back in China had been harassed or threatened because of their work in the UK.

Those sensitive topics can range from science and tech to politics and humanities, the report says, such as alleged ethnic cleansing in China's Xinjiang region, the outbreak of Covid or the rise of Chinese technology companies.

Some academics reported intimidation by visiting scholars or other Chinese officials, as well as by staff at Confucius Institutes.

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These are partnership organisations operating at several UK universities, which bring together institutions in the UK and China, as well as a Chinese government agency which provides funding.

They promote Chinese culture and language on UK campuses, but have been criticised over alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

OfS chief executive Susan Lapworth previously said she expected Confucius Institutes to be looked into under the new free speech laws, over concerns that they could present a threat to free speech on campuses.

The OfS already has powers to ensure free speech is upheld by universities, including against any threats from the influence of foreign states or institutions.

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Those powers are due to be strengthened with a new complaints system, in which university staff members and visiting speakers will be able to raise issues directly with the OfS.

The regulator also said universities should amend or terminate any agreements which threatened free speech on campus, including scholarships or schemes funded by foreign countries.

The BBC understands the OfS expects universities to have "an appropriate level of curiosity" about any such arrangements, regardless of any potential loss of income for the university.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson said the country had always adhered to its policy of not interfering with other countries' internal affairs.

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However, the UKCT says its survey responses from academics suggested some students from China had told their lecturers they had been asked to spy on their peers by Chinese officials.

Other students, of various nationalities, reported being uncomfortable discussing issues in class deemed sensitive to the Chinese government, and were reluctant to pursue further academic interest in these subjects, the report says.

Universities UK, which represents 141 institutions, said they "take any threats to the freedom of their staff or students extremely seriously, and we work closely with the government to prevent this".

"Anyone working or studying at our universities should know that their rights to personal and academic freedom are protected when they are on British soil," a spokesperson added.

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Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK "will not be tolerated".

"We are also working directly with the Office for Students to support universities in safeguarding free speech and tackling any form of harassment on campus," she added.

She said academic freedom was "non-negotiable in our world-leading institutions", adding that the implementation of the new legislation made that "explicitly clear".

The record 585,000 fine handed down by the OfS earlier this year has "put universities on notice" that they must do their part to protect these freedoms, she added, or they will "face the consequences".

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Additional reporting by education editor Branwen Jeffreys

[BBC]

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SYDNEY (Reuters) -A Chinese woman appeared in court in Australia's capital Canberra on Monday after police charged her with "reckless foreign interference" for allegedly monitoring a Buddhist group in the city on behalf of a Chinese security agency.

It is the third time charges have been brought under foreign interference laws introduced in Australia in 2018, and the first time a Chinese national has been charged under the legislation.

The woman, who is also a permanent resident of Australia, faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment if she is convicted, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement on Monday.

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"The AFP will allege the woman ... was tasked by a Public Security Bureau of China to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association," the statement said.

The Chinese embassy in Canberra did not respond to a request for comment. There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing.

Police began investigating the woman's activities in March, acting on information provided by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the statement added.

She was arrested on Saturday after a police search of homes in Canberra.

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The introduction of the foreign interference laws sparked tension with China, Australia's largest trading partner.

Two previous foreign interference cases involved Australian citizens alleged to be working with Chinese intelligence agencies.

"Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to monitor, intimidate and potentially repatriate members of our diaspora communities should never underestimate our capabilities and resolve," Mike Burgess, director-general of the ASIO, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Additional reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing;Editing by Helen Popper)
This article is part of Pastors and Prey, a series investigating sex abuse allegations in the Assemblies of God.

HOUSTON  Daniel Savala leans back in a cloth armchair, raises his right hand and swears before God that what hes about to say is the truth.

Looking into the camera, the Pentecostal missionary speaks in slow, measured sentences, describing how, for decades, he gained the trust of college students who came to his ivy-draped bungalow in search of spiritual guidance. Using scripture, he convinced them they could open up about uncomfortable topics like pornography and masturbation. Then he would strike, touching their penises and pressuring them to touch his, all under the guise of bringing them closer to Jesus.

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I knew that I was wrong, Savala says in the video, filmed by a lawyer in 2023. But I did it anyway.

In a video recorded in April 2023, Daniel Savala said he used religion as "a cover" to sexually exploit students. (Obtained by NBC News)

Religion, he says, was the tool of his deception. People can just see that spiritual part of your life without seeing the whole of who you are.

And the person he truly was?

Manipulative, he says matter-of-factly. Cunning. Sinister.

In the two years since Savala recorded that confession at his home in Houston, lawyers, activists and whistleblowers have worked to untangle how a convicted sex offender with an eighth-grade education managed to convince scores of pastors and young Christians to put their faith in him  and why church officials repeatedly failed to stop him.

In police reports, lawsuits, online forums and interviews with NBC News, dozens of boys and young men have described how Savala spun his own twisted version of the Gospel. He taught them that seeing each other naked in his backyard sauna was essential to becoming true brothers in Christ  or, as he put it, nudity is unity. For those struggling with lustful temptation, he offered a counterintuitive solution: group masturbation, sometimes while listening to Christian worship music. He pushed some of his disciples further; in lawsuits, signed statements and criminal filings, at least 10 have accused him of sexually abusing them.

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He would say things like, Hey, you know its OK to masturbate, said Joseph Cleveland, who says Savala groomed and sexually abused him for a decade beginning in 2004, when he was 15. Because were brothers, we can do it together.

Joseph Cleveland was 15 when, he says, Savala began sexually grooming him. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

The pastors who shepherded hundreds of high school and college students to Savalas home were part of Chi Alpha, a Christian ministry that evangelizes on university campuses. Students seek out Chi Alpha to connect with God and each other, through small Bible studies and rollicking worship services  and, for more than 30 years, through Savala. Generations of Chi Alpha leaders hailed him as a spiritual savant who could answer lifes deepest mysteries.

The boys and young men who devoted themselves to Savala called him Papa Daniel, Gods vagabond and the holiest man alive. At his direction, teams of students built the backyard sauna that became the site of his alleged crimes. So wrapped up in his teachings, his followers often didn't see themselves as victims until years or decades later. At least one of the college students Savala sexually exploited later became a pastor and brought his own boys to learn from his master inside his darkened sauna.

The reward for that ministers devotion: Like Savala, he now faces the possibility of life in prison.

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Savalas ministry collapsed in early 2023 when several men came forward, some anonymously, to accuse him and some of his proteges of sexual abuse and exploitation, triggering a wave of criminal charges, lawsuits and pastor dismissals. Savala was arrested, and at least six Chi Alpha pastors, leaders and students who studied under him were charged with sexual abuse.

Savala was arrested in June 2023. (U.S. Marshals Task Force)

The revelations rocked Chi Alpha and the Pentecostal denomination that runs it, the Assemblies of God, which has nearly 3 million members at 13,000 churches across the U.S. As Savala, 69, awaits trial in Waco, Texas, Assemblies of God leaders have sought to distance themselves from the lay minister, repeatedly asserting that Savala was not employed by Chi Alpha and has never been credentialed to preach in the denomination.

But an NBC News investigation, based on interviews and a review of emails, court records, photographs and social media posts, shows that Savala was deeply entrenched in Chi Alpha, with some leaders crediting him for the ministrys rapid growth in recent decades. The reporting reveals that Assemblies of God leaders  all the way up to the denominations national superintendent  were warned repeatedly about Savalas troubling history but did not cut off his influence. These failures allowed more children and young men to be abused, the reporting shows.

It wasnt the first time officials with the Assemblies of God, the worlds largest Pentecostal denomination, have been accused of mishandling sex abuse allegations. In May, an NBC News investigation revealed how church leaders dismissed repeated abuse allegations against a charismatic childrens pastor named Joe Campbell in the 1980s, allowing him to remain in ministry for years as more alleged victims came forward.

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Do you have a story to share about the Assemblies of Gods handling of sex abuse allegations? Email reporter Mike Hixenbaugh.

Chi Alpha had a clear opportunity to break ties with Savala in 2012, when authorities in Alaska charged him with sexually abusing boys as a youth minister in the 1990s. Instead, ministry leaders in Texas rallied to his defense, sending a staff member to Alaska to pay his bail and  after Savala pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor  organizing a letter-writing campaign to ask the judge for leniency. After a stint in jail, Savala went right back to hosting Chi Alpha students at his home in Houston.

Savala mentored hundreds of teens and young men in Alaska and Texas. (Courtesy Ron Bloomingkemper Jr.)

In the decade that followed, at least half a dozen people contacted Assemblies of God officials in Texas and at the denominations national headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, alerting them that Chi Alpha was exposing students to a sex offender. These whistleblowers wrote emails, made phone calls and spoke up at internal meetings. Again and again, they were dismissed or ignored, NBC News found.

Hiddenness is the ally of abuse, said Anthony Scoma, a pastor who resigned an Assemblies of God leadership position in Texas after he said senior denomination officials failed to act on his warnings about Savala in 2023. The Bible talks about shining light into dark places. But leadership in the Assemblies of God says, Oh, dont shine light into our dark places.

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Rather than reckon with how church leaders welcomed a sex offender into the fold, Savalas accusers say the Assemblies of God has taken a defensive stance, refusing to release an internal investigation and relying on nondisclosure agreements to keep the story from spreading.

Critics, including several current and former Assemblies of God pastors, say this response exposes a church leadership culture thats more concerned with avoiding legal liability than protecting the vulnerable. Theyre calling on the Assemblies of God to commission an independent review of its handling of sex abuse allegations nationwide to ensure nothing like this happens again.

In a statement to NBC News, the Assemblies of God said it directed Chi Alpha leaders to stay away from Savala after receiving a report about him in 2018. Five years later, after receiving reports of sexual abuse, the denomination said it took appropriate actions, leading to the dismissal of more than a half dozen ministers with ties to Savala.

We have been heartbroken to hear allegations related to Daniel Savala and the pain his reported actions caused, the statement said. The Assemblies of God stands in strong opposition to the teachings and practices he followed.

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Denomination leaders declined interview requests and did not answer detailed questions.

Savala has not entered a plea on his charges in Texas, and he and his lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. But in April 2023, as the accusations mounted, he recorded the confession in his living room; its unclear what led him to do so. The grainy homemade video later circulated among Savalas accusers and was shared with NBC News.

Contemplating how he managed to conceal his misdeeds for so long, Savalas eyes shift momentarily, then his gaze returns to the camera.

I had them all very well under my spell.

Cleveland was 16 when he began driving to Savala's house, shown in 2018. (Courtesy Joseph Cleveland; Google Maps)

Joseph Cleveland was struggling with his parents separation in 2004 when his youth pastor brought him to someone he said could help.

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The walls of Daniel Savalas home were lined with pictures from around the world and books on Christian theology. Sitting in his bedroom, Savala listened intently for two hours as Cleveland told him about his turbulent home life and kids at school who bullied him over his faith. Cleveland couldnt believe a revered, world-traveling missionary was taking an interest in him, a 15-year-old.

As he and his youth pastor headed for the door, Cleveland says Savala pulled him aside with a final word of encouragement: You know, if you ever want to come back here just by yourself, youre more than welcome.

Clevelands mother was elated. This is the Lord, she told her son. The Lord gave you a father figure.

An evangelical hippie with a mop of wavy black hair, Savala had preached across Europe, Africa, Asia and the U.S. before settling in Houston in the 1990s to care for his parents. About an hour north was Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, home to a fledgling Chi Alpha chapter. Savala, having worked with a Chi Alpha group in Louisiana, set his sights on Sam Houston as his new mission field.

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Chi Alpha, or XA, is the Greek abbreviation for christou apostoloi, or Christs ambassador. With 268 chapters across the U.S., the coed ministry combines the emotional intensity of an Assemblies of God church service  clapping, jumping, speaking in tongues  with the closeness of a fraternity or sorority. Separated by gender into small groups, students find their spiritual brothers and sisters, the friends who will later be groomsmen and bridesmaids at their weddings.

Savala quickly dazzled the young pastors in charge of Chi Alpha at Sam Houston, regaling them with stories that sounded ripped out of the New Testament. He was virtually illiterate as a young man  until he picked up a Bible and began to read. He once prayed over a disabled man in Malta, then watched the mans clubbed foot grow to full strength before his eyes.

After meeting him, one senior Chi Alpha pastor described Savala as magnetic, an absolute enigma and the wisest man Id ever met in all of my life. With that endorsement, Savala became the ministrys unofficial figurehead at Sam Houston. He taught his new followers never to question their spiritual leaders, and under his influence Chi Alpha pushed students who had planned to become teachers or police officers to instead go into ministry. Huntsville became a training ground for new Assemblies of God pastors and missionaries, and as those young ministers fanned out across Texas and the nation, many brought Savalas teachings with them.

Savala, shown with protege Eli Stewart, frequently hosted boys and young men at his home in Houston. (Courtesy Olivia Wolf)

They called his home the Lions Den; traveling to it was a rite of passage for the men of Chi Alpha and the younger teens from local church groups they sometimes brought with them. Pastors who sent students for spiritual guidance encouraged them to perform free work or discreetly leave cash inside one of the books on Savalas shelves.

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Chi Alpha volunteers had not yet built the small wooden sauna in Savalas backyard when Cleveland, then 16, began driving 45 minutes to see him every other weekend in 2005. Instead, Savala took him to a sauna at the YMCA, where they got naked and discussed Scripture. The first time the conversation turned to sex, Savala spoke in the tone of a father counseling a teen struggling with lust and pornography, Cleveland said. In an evangelical culture that encouraged young people to remain pure even in their thoughts, Savalas openness felt like a revelation.

The conversations quickly turned more explicit, with Savala commenting on Clevelands penis and asking the teen what he thought of his: You know, you could touch it if you ever wanted to, Cleveland remembers him saying. Back at his home, Savala insisted he give it a try.

Cleveland says he didnt recognize what Savala did to him over the next decade as sexual abuse. Performing oral sex on an older man initially seemed wrong, but Savala was a brilliant theologian and prophet; this must have been part of what made him holy. He was dispensing secret wisdom, with an emphasis on secret. Savala told him no one else would understand, Cleveland said.

After high school, Cleveland enrolled in community college and joined Chi Alpha at Sam Houston State. He became a small group leader and later took a job on the staff.

Before long, he, too, was leading cars full of young men to Houston to learn from his mentor.

Cleveland said years passed before he began to recognize what Savala did to him as abuse. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

In the summer of 2012, Eli Stewart, one of the top Chi Alpha pastors at Sam Houston State, wrote an urgent plea to ministry leaders and alumni: Our dear friend Daniel needs you.

Savala had recently been indicted in Alaska after he was accused of sexually abusing several boys at a church in the 1990s. Two of the boys, now men, had filed police reports, and Savala traveled there to face charges. Chi Alpha leaders had already dispatched a junior staff member to Alaska to pay Savalas $10,000 bail and hired a lawyer to defend him.

Now Stewart was calling for collective action.

Describing the allegations as an absolute attack of the devil, Stewart wrote that Savala was preparing to take a plea deal  not to reduce his sentence, but to protect the families of the men falsely accusing him. He called on his Chi Alpha brothers to write letters to the judge: If you have children and would be comfortable having Daniel stay in your home or having your children at Daniels house, the judge needs to know that.

Savala poses with Eli Stewart in Alaska in 2002. (Courtesy Olivia Wolf)

At a Chi Alpha staff meeting later that year, Stewart insisted that Savala, who served 90 days in jail and was now a registered sex offender, was innocent. Stewart said he knew firsthand that the allegations were a lie because he grew up in Alaska and had been a teenager in Savalas youth group when the abuse allegedly took place, said Krystopher Scroggins, a Chi Alpha pastor who attended the meeting.

Scroggins, who now leads a Chi Alpha chapter in San Angelo, Texas, said he didnt send small groups to visit Savala after that, but he and others believed Stewart at the time. We all bought it, hook, line and sinker, he said. Because youre supposed to be able to trust your pastors.

Stewart didnt respond to messages from NBC News.

Savalas victims have come to view his 2012 conviction as a line of demarcation. With his abuses out in the open, it was the moment when ministry leaders should have broken free from Savalas influence, but instead chose the opposite path.

Eight months later, in March 2013, Kieran Salgado, a freshman Chi Alpha member at San Antonio State University, was selected for a mission trip to Houston. He and several other students spent a week with Savala to do restoration work on his house.

Each night before bed, Salgado  unaware of his hosts criminal record  said Savala told the students to undress and join him in his cramped, cedar-planked sauna. Sitting leg-to-leg, they prayed, sang worship songs and spoke in tongues. The nudity was meant to create an atmosphere of intimacy and openness, Salgado believed, ushering them closer to Jesus.

Ron Bloomingkemper Jr. returned in 2024 to the Houston home where Savala lived and recorded what remained of the backyard sauna. (Ron Bloomingkemper Jr.)

The next time Salgado visited Houston, he came alone. And what Savala did in the sauna  forcefully grabbing Salgados penis while masturbating himself  no longer felt like a spiritual awakening, he said, but a vulgar act of abuse.

In the fall of 2013, he built the courage to tell a young Chi Alpha staff member, Todd Jackson, who was training to become a minister. Salgado said Jackson cut him off.

Instantly he said, I dont believe you.Traumatized, Salgado quit Chi Alpha and transferred to another college.

In an interview with NBC News, Jackson confirmed Salgados account. He attributed his mishandling of the encounter, in part, to the ministrys culture of discouraging young men from questioning spiritual leaders. And in Chi Alpha, there was no leader more revered than Savala.

Jackson knew Savala used nudity to push students out of their comfort zones. He figured Salgado had simply misunderstood.

I defended Daniel to my shame, Jackson said, because I thought I knew Daniel better.

Under Savala's influence, the Chi Alpha chapter at Sam Houston State grew to become the largest in the country, with 1,500 student members. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

Over the next decade, the pattern repeated again and again. People came to church leaders with concerns about Savala, and those warnings went unheeded.

Ron Bloomingkemper Jr. had quit Chi Alpha at Sam Houston State in the late 1990s after he says Savala asked him to masturbate together. He was outraged years later, in 2013, when he learned of Savalas child sex abuse conviction and continued connection to the ministry.

Bloomingkemper said he called Tim Barker, a pastor and the superintendent of the Assemblies of God regional council that oversees the denomination in south Texas. Barker seemed concerned, Bloomingkemper said, and he promised to investigate. After a few months, Bloomingkemper called again.

I said, Im following up about the Daniel thing. And he goes, I completely forgot about that.

Thats when Bloomingkemper said he realized: Theyre not going to do anything about this. Frustrated, he said he dropped the issue and tried to move on.

Savala is seen reading behind Bloomingkemper at a Chi Alpha gathering in 1997; today Bloomingkemper is leading the effort to expose allegations against his former mentor. (Courtesy Ron Bloomingkemper Jr.; Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

Barker, who was later accused in a lawsuit of failing to act on warnings about Savala, didnt respond to questions from NBC News. A lawyer representing the Assemblies of Gods South Texas district council said in a letter that Barker could not comment due to pending litigation.

Although Savala never served on staff with Chi Alpha, the lawyer said that we understand the profound seriousness of these accusations and are committed to ensuring that justice is served.

Over the next several years, Chi Alpha saw explosive growth at Sam Houston State and across Texas, catching the attention of state and national Assemblies of God leaders. Chapters led by Eli Stewart and other Savala disciples were churning out dozens of new ministers every year. Those pastors went on to start new Chi Alpha chapters, plant churches and become missionaries, winning new believers  and new revenue  for the denomination.

All the while, Chi Alpha groups kept visiting Savalas sauna.

In 2016, a former Sam Houston State student filed a Title IX complaint with the university alleging that Savala had been sexually abusing him for about two years, according to a copy of the universitys investigative report and a later lawsuit.

The university closed the investigation after failing to find evidence that Savala was abusing current Sam Houston State students. But it did recommend that Chi Alpha notify leaders of its small groups about Savalas criminal record, according to the universitys report.

Nevertheless, the pilgrimages continued.

In the fall of 2017, Savala began sexually abusing a blind Sam Houston State student, according to a lawsuit filed last year. Unable to drive himself, the student, identified as John Doe, said he relied on Chi Alpha members to bring him to Houston  where Savala used language from the Bible to pressure him to have oral and anal sex.

Afraid of losing the elevated status within Chi Alpha that came with being one of Savalas favorites, the student told no one, his lawyer said.

A year later, a former Chi Alpha member named Monica Roeger gave Assemblies of God leaders another opportunity to investigate and intervene.

Roeger, who lives in Oregon, knew some of the boys who had accused Savala of abusing them in Alaska and had closely followed the 2012 criminal case. So, she was stunned when, in March 2018, a Chi Alpha missionary from Oregon posted a picture of himself on Facebook with Savala.

Roeger did some research and discovered several social media posts that suggested Savala was still closely connected to the college ministry. Over the next year and a half, Roeger sent 11 emails to national Assemblies of God leaders warning of Savalas influence. After one official responded saying he had spoken to Chi Alpha leaders in Texas and found no indication of anything but positive interactions with Savala, Roeger elevated the matter to Doug Clay, the denominations general superintendent, or top national leader.

Clay never responded directly, the emails show, but in June 2018, Donna L. Barrett, the denominations general secretary, wrote to Roeger on Clays behalf. Barrett said that Savala wasnt a credentialed Assemblies of God minister and that the national office didnt have authority to intervene in local church matters. She copied the leaders of the denominations district offices in north and south Texas and assured Roeger they would address her concerns.

Clay and Barrett didnt respond to messages from NBC News. In a statement, the Assemblies of God said that, after receiving a report about Savala in 2018, it warned Chi Alpha leaders to cease contact and not permit students or leaders to be around him.

But his connection to the ministry continued.

Roeger sent a final message to Clay in December 2019, after finding a photo online that appeared to show Savala at a recent Chi Alpha leadership event in Colorado.

Let it be noted, she wrote, that the national offices of the Assemblies of God and Chi Alpha have been notified of the continued presence of a convicted sexual predator in their leadership events.

She received no response.

Nobody warned Stephen and Jessica Holt when the man their pastor called Papa Daniel took a personal interest in their 13-year-old son in 2021.

Quite the opposite, the leaders of Mountain Valley Fellowship Church told them that Savala was a prophet and that they should be honored. Savala protege Eli Stewart had started the Assemblies of God-affiliated church a few years earlier after leaving Sam Houston State to launch a Chi Alpha chapter at Texas A&M University in College Station. Congregants referred to Savala as father to none, father to all because of his role as a church patriarch despite having no children of his own.

Unaware of Savalas criminal record, the Holts allowed a Chi Alpha staff member to bring their son to Savalas house for mentorship in the fall of 2021.

Two years passed before their son broke down in tears and revealed what happened at Savalas sauna. The fear he felt getting undressed in front of grown men. The way Savala looked at his naked body. The invitation to touch him.

Jessica and Stephen Holt's son struggled in the years after he says Savala abused him; he has found solace in skateboarding. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

This wasnt the only betrayal.

Four Chi Alpha members, young men who had taken an interest in mentoring the Holts son, had also sexually exploited the boy, the Holts said, exposing their genitals and pressuring him to do the same. (Savala and the four others were later charged with indecency with a child; all but Savala have pleaded not guilty).

The Holts were furious when they learned that Assemblies of God officials had been warned repeatedly. They sued for negligence and settled in June for an undisclosed sum.

People were hurt because they just didnt care, Stephen Holt said.

In 2021, nine years after Savalas conviction in Alaska, the youngest of his alleged Texas victims began visiting his sauna. The two boys were brought there by a Chi Alpha pastor they trusted implicitly: their own father.

The allegations would later be spelled out in arrest warrants.

Christopher Hundl, a Chi Alpha pastor at Baylor University in Waco, told police that Savala became his spiritual mentor back when he was a college student. They masturbated each other because Savala described this as a spiritual activity, the warrants said.

After Hundl became a pastor and a father, he began taking his own boys  ages 11 and 12  to learn the ways of his mentor. They thought of him as their spiritual grandfather.

Hundl, so invested in Savalas teachings that he set up a sauna at his home, later confessed to police. He declined an NBC News interview request.

His boys told an officer that their dad instructed them to strip and masturbate in front of Savala on multiple occasions. And with their father present, they said, Savala touched their genitals and told them to never tell anyone.

Both men, mentor and protege, were indicted on trafficking charges and now face up to life in prison without parole if convicted.

The secrets began spilling out in April 2023 when Bloomingkemper, Roeger and other whistleblowers launched a website and forum dedicated to exposing spiritual and sexual abuse in Chi Alpha.

The site, XA and the Lions Den, became a public repository for allegations. The Texas A&M student newspaper, The Battalion, broke the story of Savalas abuses and his enablers, followed by articles in the Christian press.

Bloomingkemper read a Bible passage about exposing sin in late 2022 and felt God calling him to uncover abuses in Chi Alpha. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

A decade after insisting Savala was innocent of abuse in Alaska, Eli Stewart told his Texas congregation that a major influence in his life had turned out to be a master manipulator. After launching an investigation, the Assemblies of God revoked Stewarts credentials and dismissed several other Chi Alpha ministers, including Jackson, who had disbelieved Salgado. Baylor and Texas A&M suspended the ministry from their campuses.

As the fallout radiated through the ranks of former Chi Alphas, some who had placed their faith in Savala began to question everything he had taught them. A cascade of lawsuits and criminal charges followed.

Joseph Cleveland, now 36, was among those who started seeing their sexual encounters with Savala differently, he said. He met with a friend who recounted being manipulated and abused by Savala  each turn of his story echoing Clevelands own memories. The full weight of the conversation hit afterward, while he was driving home.

Cleveland shared his story with police in 2023. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

He thought of his baby boy, then felt God asking him, Hey, what if somebody from the church wanted to do this with your son? Overwhelmed, Cleveland pulled over and sobbed. It was the first time he saw himself as a survivor of child sex abuse.

He told a Chi Alpha pastor, who filed a police report in Houston. Savala was charged with sexual assault of a child; the case is pending.

In the years since, like many of his Chi Alpha brothers, Cleveland has grappled with his role in perpetuating a system that also victimized him. Although he never saw or took part in the abuse of others, Cleveland said, he heard from men in his former small group who say Savala abused them.

I didnt take them down there with the thought of them getting abused, Cleveland said. But at the end of the day, thats on me. Im the one that drove them there, and I have to live with that.

Cleveland has advocated for changes in Texas law to end the use of nondisclosure agreements and extend the civil statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

Now Cleveland and other accusers say they want Assemblies of God leaders to take responsibility. Scoma, the Assemblies of God pastor who resigned his leadership post in protest, said the Chi Alpha disaster has created an opportunity for the denomination to look inward and root out the indifference that he says allowed Savala to abuse for decades.

Instead, Scoma said, the Assemblies of God has acted more like a corporation trying to appease shareholders and limit fallout. As a Pentecostal movement, the denomination teaches that God speaks through modern spiritual leaders to call out hypocrisy and injustice, much like the prophets of the Old Testament.

My prophetic word to the church, Scoma said, is that we listen to lawyers more than we listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

To regain trust, he and others say the Assemblies of God must give a full accounting of how national leaders responded to warnings about Savala and how far his depraved teachings spread. And they say the church needs to learn from its mistakes.

Thats why Stephen and Jessica Holt are speaking out.

Silence, they say, is what allowed Savala to remain in ministry long enough to abuse their son. The ordeal shook their faith in the church, but they still believe God can use tragedy to make something beautiful  if Assemblies of God leaders are willing to listen.

Every victim deserves justice, Jessica Holt said. And every victim deserves to share their story when theyre ready.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) did a digital strut on Sunday after helping Democrats stall the advancement of Donald Trumps latest nominees. As senators departed for their monthlong August recess, the failure to reach a last-minute deal left the nominations in limbo.

Following days of ultimately unsuccessful bipartisan negotiations and a furious Trump post telling Schumer to GO TO HELL!, the senator celebrated with a series of pointed and mocking social media posts.

In one, Schumer summed up Trumps tactics:

Donald Trumps style:

Posture

Cajole

Stamp your feet

 and then give up.

Another post, captioned Donald Trump caved and got nothing, featured Schumer gleefully reading aloud Trumps insults toward him.

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But the chefs kiss came in the form of a meme.

Schumer jumped on the viral Jet2 holiday TikTok trend, sharing a clip of Trump stumbling up the stairs to Air Force One with the caption, Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday!

The audio  drawn from a 2022 commercial set to Jess Glynnes song Hold My Hand  has become an online punchline for users who set it to their vacation disasters. The Trump White House itself faced backlash last week for hijacking the same meme to promote its anti-immigration agenda.

Related...
CHURCH POINT, La. (KLFY)  A fatal crash in St. Landry Parish has claimed the life of a Church Point driver.

On August 2, shortly after 2 p.m., troopers with Louisiana State Police began investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash on LA 358 near its intersection with LA 357. Officials said the crash claimed the life of 38-year-old Alex Chavis of Church Point.

Authorities said an investigation revealed Chavis was driving a 2017 Kia Optima west on LA 358. At the same time, a 2005 Dodge Ram was traveling east. For reasons still under investigation, the Kia crossed the centerline and struck the Dodge in the eastbound travel lane.

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Officials said Chavis, who was unrestrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver of the Dodge, who was properly restrained, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

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Routine toxicology samples were collected from both drivers for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

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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 KLFY.com.
The Brief

Cicero Patton, 49, has been missing since June 6 and was last seen near the 7800 block of South Drexel Avenue on Chicagos South Side.

He is described as Black, 6 feet 2 inches tall, with brown eyes and short black hair; he also suffers from seizures.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Area Two SVU detectives at (312) 747-8274 or call 911.

CHICAGO - Nearly two months after a man was reported missing on Chicago's South Side, police are asking for the publics help in locating him.

What we know

Cicero Patton, 49, was last seen June 6 near the 7800 block of South Drexel Avenue, according to the Chicago Police Department.

Pictured is Cicero Patton. (Chicago PD)

He is known to frequent the area around the 1400 block of South Canal Street.

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Patton is Black, stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, and has brown eyes and short black hair. A description of the clothing he was last seen wearing has not been provided.

Police said Patton also suffers from seizures.

What you can do

Anyone with more information on Patton's whereabouts is urged to contact Area Two SVU Detectives at 312-747-8274, or call 911.
Cincinnati City Council President Pro Tem Victoria Parks has a hot take on the First Amendment, and shes using it to avoid accountability for her despicable Facebook comment about the victims of the recent downtown brawl. Without offering evidence, Parks implied that the victims of this viral incident somehow deserved the brutal assault.

"In this country, we have freedom of speech, however, you may not run into a crowded theater and scream fire," she claimed. This was her response to those who called on her to show character and apologize for her previous social media comment that victims of the clash, like Holly, "were begging for it."

More: Woman knocked unconscious in viral video says she was waiting for an Uber when fight began

A photo Holly took of herself after the viral downtown Cincinnati fight July 26 in which she was knocked unconscious.

By claiming that an alleged racial slur somehow excuses violence, Parks has proven that shes as wrong on the law as she is by refusing to apologize for her original hateful post. As an Ohio attorney who practices First Amendment law, I regularly hear this canard. But not usually from an elected official, who ought to know better.

'You can't yell 'fire' in a crowded theater'? That's not the law anymore

The old saw "you can't yell 'fire' in a crowded theater" typically gets trotted out when someone wants to silence an adversary. But here's the rub: That phrase, from Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in a 1919 case, isn't the law anymore.

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The Supreme Court overruled that standard in 1969 in a case that, ironically, originated in Cincinnati. The new standard: mere words violate free speech protections in the First Amendment only if the person who speaks them intends to incite imminent lawless action and such language is likely to produce it.

Letters: Cincinnatians should be begging for Parks' resignation over 'beat down' post

Yelling "fire" in a theater? If theres no fire and the yeller intends to cause harm, thats unlawful. But Holmes' cast-aside metaphor no longer serves as a restriction on provocative words. It's a relic, misused to muzzle speech.

What about "hate speech?" Well, it has no clear and objective definition and  even if it did  a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that hate speech is fully protected by the First Amendment.

City Council member Victoria Parks listens to community members of Hyde Park speak during a Cincinnati City Zoning meeting on a proposed change to the zoning laws in Hyde Park Square in Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Perhaps Parks meant to refer to the "fighting words" doctrine. Born in a 1942 Supreme Court case, it allows courts to punish words "which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace."

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But racial slurs  evidence of low character when spoken by anyone of any race  aren't illegal and certainly don't greenlight assault on the speaker. Ohio's free speech protections mirror the First Amendment: Words alone, absent imminent harm, are constitutionally protected speech. If you choose to shout anti-Black or anti-White (or any other variety) slurs, youre within your legal rights, and someone who hits you for your epithet is the lawbreaker. And that assault would be punishable under Ohio criminal statutes. A slur-spewer might face disorderly conduct charges, but those who assault him for it can't claim he was "begging for it."

More: Attorney: Video shows racial slurs that 'triggered' downtown Cincinnati brawl

Sticks and stones may break bones, but names never justify violence

As someone whos prosecuted violent offenders, heres my message to Councilwoman Parks and others who think some combination of words is a free pass for a beatdown: sticks and stones may break bones, but names never justify violence.

Theres a larger point in this downtown beatdown that has gone largely ignored in the social media rancor and rashness. What the videos circulating show is less of a "fight" and more of a mass assault. Two people attempting to punch each other is a fight. But when multiple bystanders tear into someone whos already been knocked down and deliver violent kicks to the skull and other vulnerable body parts, thats a felonious assault, a second-degree felony that usually brings a prison sentence.

A video of a fight in downtown Cincinnati, posted on July 26, circulated social media.

One key theme of First Amendment jurisprudence, which Parks would be prudent to learn, is this: Use your words and youre on the right side of the law. Use your fists and youre not.

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More: Fourth arrest made in viral downtown Cincinnati fight, police say

We still dont know exactly who said what to whom. But one things clear: Punching someone for a racial slur doesnt make you a hero  it just makes you a criminal. And, because the law doesnt bend when emotions run high or crowds get perturbed, mob justice is no justice at all.

Mark Weaver

Mark R. Weaver was formerly the Deputy Attorney General of Ohio. He is the author of the book A Wordsmiths Work. X: @MarkRWeaver

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati fight isn't justified by racial slurs | Opinion
Cincinnati police are investigating Ku Klux Klan flyers found in various communities across the city.

Lt. Jonathan Cunningham confirmed on August 3 the department's intelligence unit is looking into the matter, according to a statement.

"We are committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all residents and will continue to take all necessary actions to address and prevent the spread of hate in our communities," Cunningham said in a statement.

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The president of Madisonville's community council, Kate Botos, said in a post on Facebook that flyers promoting "divide and violence" were distributed overnight in the neighborhood.

Other people posted pictures of the flyers on Facebook, which included a call for people to join the KKK in response to the viral fight in Cincinnati on July 26.

Mayor Aftab Pureval posted on Facebook he is aware of the "racist, hateful flyers" and police are investigating so residents remain safe.

"Outsiders bringing hate to our city is inexcusable," Pureval said. "We will not become a city where hate succeeds."

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Police urge anyone with information regarding the distribution of these flyers to contact Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.

The fight has spawned criticism and condemnation across the country, with many framing the incident behind a political and racial lens.

Four people have been arrested and two more charged in connection with the fight, police have said.

Kentucky man, longtime KKK leader previously fined for littering flyers

A Kentucky man was fined in March after police said he littered flyers for the hate group out his car window near Cincinnati.

Along with a group of other members, the man littered flyers across Lincoln Heights and surrounding neighborhoods in the aftermath of a neo-Nazi demonstration over Interstate 75 in February.

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When confronted by deputies, the man took credit for every flyer distributed around Greater Cincinnati since 2022, saying they had all come from his group, according to body camera footage of the traffic stop.

The longtime leader within the KKK was ordered to pay a $149 fine, which he never did, according to court records.

His debt was sent over to collections in June and remains unpaid, court records show.

The Enquirer has asked police whether the man who has previously distributed KKK flyers is connected to this most recent incident.

This story was updated with a comment from Mayor Aftab Pureval.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: KKK flyers reported across Cincinnati after viral fight, police say
Duplo has acquired UK-based Bar Graphic Machinery (BGM), which specialises in the manufacturing of finishing equipment for the labels and packaging sector.

Located in West Yorkshire, BGM has more than 30 years of experience in designing and producing inspection slitter rewinders, narrow-web label slitter rewinders, rotary die-cutting rewinders, digital label converting finishing systems, and flexible packaging finishing equipment.

This acquisition is said to represent Duplo's entry into the expanding labels market, enhancing its global presence in related print sectors.

Both Duplo and BGM will maintain their operations as separate entities, with Duplo continuing its focus on providing digital print finishing solutions for the office and graphic arts markets.

BGM managing director Annemarie Rhodes said: Since we formed BGM more than 30 years ago, we have worked hard to develop innovative products and provide excellent customer service, while retaining our family business ethos.

As we now look at our future development, we are confident that Duplo will continue with these aims, we are really excited for the opportunities that lay ahead.

BGM will retain its brand identity and operate as an independent division within the Duplo Group, with plans to appoint a new managing director in the future.

Duplo aims to collaborate closely with the BGM team to gain insights into the business, laying the groundwork for a long-term cooperative strategy.

This acquisition aligns with Duplo's objective to invest in complementary sectors and collaborate with companies that prioritise quality and customer value.

Duplo president Hideo Tanaka said: We are delighted to welcome BGM into the Duplo family. Their reputation for engineering excellence and deep customer commitment aligns perfectly with our values.

Our role will be to support BGMs next phase of growth - offering investment, strategic guidance, and access to our global expertise in sales, marketing, R&D [research and development], and manufacturing.

"Duplo acquires UKs Bar Graphic Machinery " was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.




Cincinnati residents say that the viral July 26 downtown beatdown that gripped the nation does not define their city, though some say violent crime is an issue.

"I don't think it's accurate," Josh Pels, a downtown bartender, told Fox News Digital. "I would say the crime and violent crime in particular has gone up, I would say, over the course of the last six months for sure. [The Over-the-Rhine area] usually has it worse than we have it down here, but there's definitely been an uptick in violent crime."

In the video, a group of people can be seen pummeling two victims, one of whom ended up with "very bad brain trauma." The incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 26 on the corner of Fourth and Elm Street, outside a popular nightclub.

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Doj, Fbi Investigate Brutal Cincinnati Assault Captured In Viral Video

Another angle of the fight shows a victim being beaten in the middle of the street and yelling racial slurs. Some claim the male victim slapped one of the perpetrators before the fight, sparking the beatdown.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said in a Friday press conference that there are a total of six victims. Six people have been charged with crimes, and four have been arrested. The city's fugitive task force is searching for the two suspects who are still at large.

Read On The Fox News App

Corey Mitchell is also a Cincinnati resident. He said the city doesn't typically have problems like the brawl.

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"So that was just an action-reaction type of thing," he said. "That ain't no big deal. They could put it up in the news and seem like it's a prejudiced place or something like that. But that's just an action and a reaction that happened, and disagreements. That was about it."

Robert Brown, a life-long resident, agreed. He said Cincinnati has "probably less fights than other cities," and that social media amplified the beating to a level that put the city in the spotlight.

Cincinnati Business Owners Slam Viral 'Out Of Control' Beating Amid Fight To Clean Up Downtown

He also said that while brutal, the victim who he said slapped a man in the crowd and kicked off the beatdown, should have expected repercussions.

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"Well, I mean  all the extra stuff after the smack really wasn't warranted," he said, adding that the perpetrators "may have took it too far."

Cincinnati resident Robert Brown told Fox News Digital that every city has fights like the one in Cincinnati.

"At the same time, he still shouldn't have smacked him. You know what I mean? You know, to start the whole situation off, so, you put your hands on somebody, you're going to be ready for the repercussions," said Brown.

A fourth resident described her immediate reaction after seeing the fight.

"I was in shock by what I saw," said Shirley Blair. "I was busy surfing through the internet, making calls, trying to figure out there's gotta be a backstory behind this. And apparently there were other things that happened leading up to that."

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Blair said she hopes the brawl doesn't spiral into something even more serious.

"And in the back of my mind I wonder, okay, what's gonna happen next? Can we sit down and talk about the situation? Is it gonna spring into something else?"

The corner of Fourth and Elm Street outside LoVe, a local nightclub, where the beating took place, as seen on July 28, 2025 in Cincinnati.

Police Identify Multiple Suspects In Brutal Cincinnati Street Fight: 'Cruel And Absolutely Unacceptable'

Local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are still sorting out all the actions leading up to the fight.

In a Friday press conference, Mayor Aftab Pureval warned that everyone seen fighting will face consequences, vowing "further investigation, further charges and further arrests for every single person involved."

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Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24, were arrested Tuesday night. Both face felonious assault, aggravated riot and assault charges. Merriweather is being held on a $500,000 bond, while Vernon is being held on a $200,000 bond. They remain in jail as of Monday morning.

Jermaine Matthews, 39, was released from Hamilton County Jail on Friday after paying a combined $270,000 bond. He was hit with five charges stemming from the beatdown, two counts of assault, two counts of felony assault and aggravated riot for his alleged participation in the brutal brawl.

A fourth suspect was arrested on Friday night.

Dominique Kittle faces charges of aggravated riot and misdemeanor assault. He is being held on a $150,000 bond. His attorney said he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

Fox News' Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.





Original article source: Cincinnati residents on edge after viral beatdown sparks crime concerns: 'What's gonna happen next?'
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Much of the area around Mill Creek Parks Lake Glacier in Youngstown will be closed for two and a half years starting in January to stop raw sewage from flowing into the lake when it rains too much.

The announcement came as Youngstown City Council met Monday evening at the Covelli Centre and approved the Mill Creek Park Interceptor Sewer Improvement Project.

Council met Friday to get the resolution passed to start on the project, but it did not go through due to one no vote.

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Craig Mulichak of MS Consultants is the project manager. At Mondays meeting, he explained how the sewer system was built 120 years ago, combining rainwater with raw sewage, something thats not allowed today.

In the early 1990s, all these sewers were meant to take all the combined sanitary sewage and the storm water and get it to the river as fast as possible. So, the river was effectively our treatment plan, Mulichak said.

He showed a photo of what looked like small rapids along Mill Creek Park but what was actually a sewer pipe. It will be buried underground.

There are 17 combined sewer overflows. Retired Vindicator reporter Pete Milliken was told that not all 17 would be eliminated, but they will overflow less frequently. Ideally, all the sewage should be sent to the sewage treatment plant.

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That would probably be the most cost-prohibitive. So, this is a compromise, and this is certainly, this project as described today is certainly better than the situation we have now, Milliken said.

Among those listening was Youngstown Councilman Mike Ray, who wanted to remind people that the United States Environmental Protection Agency has ordered that the sewers must be fixed.

Whether we agree with it or not, its something that the federal government has mandated us to do, and this is part of that process, Ray said.

Kathy Hickman was at the meeting representing the annual fall Youngstown Peace Race, which goes through Lake Glacier. She said the race will still take place but the path will have to change.

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Well be fine this year. Itll be 2026 and 2027 that well need to figure out, Hickman said. Well still have the race. Everything will be fine.

The Lake Glacier-area closure beginning in January  which will be centered around the boat house  is just the first of four phases to replace the sewer system. The second phase wont be finished until 2032. Youngstown Council is being asked to borrow, at most, $43 million to pay for the work.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Thousands of students in Clark County are on a waitlist for Pre-K programs, but the numbers show a drop compared to last year.

The Clark County School District said that currently, there are nearly 7,000 young learners on the waitlist. It was a slight drop for this upcoming school year compared to last, with nearly 8,500 on the waitlist.

8 News Now reached out to CCSD about its pre-k waitlist for previous years.

School Year: Number of 4-year-olds on waitlist: Number of 3-year-olds on waitlist: 2021-2022 No information available No information available 2022-2023 No information available No information available 2023-2024 2569 4868 2024-2025 2702 5626 2025-2026* 2060 4732

With continued growth, CCSD said its collaborating with the Nevada Department of Education and the organization First Five Nevada to increase awareness of early childhood education.

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This is what CCSD also had to say in response to the waitlist:

The District has increased Pre-K enrollment by 43 percent since the 2021-2022 school year, and continues to advocate for additional funding to provide additional Pre-K opportunities across the district.

Families are notified through email when their Pre-K program interest form is received and their information is verified. The child is placed on the Pre-K program interest list and is either placed in an open seat, when available, or placed on the waitlist if no seats are available in their area.

They remain on the waitlist for the remainder of the year and are notified if a seat becomes available. The waitlist and seat availability figures operate in tandem, reflecting the supply and demand dynamics across schools located in different neighborhoods.

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Families with questions about CCSD Pre-K programs can call the Early Childhood Department at (702) 799-7479.

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A volcano in Russia's far east erupted hours after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Kamchatka region, but a video of bubbling lava in a crater was in fact filmed in Iceland in 2021. The drone pilot who captured the footage told AFP it shows the Fagradalsfjall volcano near Iceland's capital Reykjavik.

"The Klyuchevskoy volcano in Russia is starting to erupt," reads a Malay-language TikTok post shared on July 31, 2025.

The accompanying video of lava bubbling up and overflowing from a crater has been viewed more than 33,000 times.

Screenshot of the false TikTok post captured on July 31, 2025, with a red X added by AFP

The same video was shared alongside a similar claim on TikTok and Facebook after Russia's Geophysical Survey said the Klyuchevskoy volcano -- the highest active in Europe and Asia -- erupted on July 30, with lava seen flowing down its slopes (archived link).

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Earlier that day, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia's far eastern Kamchatka region, triggering tsunami alerts across parts of the Pacific coast (archived link).

The circulating video, however, shows an eruption at a different volcano four years earlier.

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the falsely shared clip led to similar footage posted on Facebook in November 2024, where it was captioned, "Boiling infernal lava pond in the crater pit of an Icelandic volcano" (archived link).

The post embeds an earlier post from June 2021, and credits the video to a Bjorn Steinbekk.

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared clip (left) and the earlier Facebook posts (right)

A subsequent keyword search for "Bjorn Steinbekk" on Google led to the Instagram account of an Icelandic photographer with the same name who specialises in taking drone videos and images of volcanoes (archived link).

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The same video was also shared on the Instagram account on May 22, 2021 (archived link).

Screenshot of the falsely shared clip (left) and the video posted by Bjorn Steinbekk on Instagram (right)

Steinbekk told AFP he filmed the video used in the false posts at the Fagradalsfjall volcano near Iceland's capital Reykjavik, in 2021 (archived link).

"This is indeed my video. This is not the first or tenth time this happens," Steinbekk said in a July 31 email.

The Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted in March 2021 after lying dormant for 800 years, NASA's Earth Observatory said at the time (archived link).

AFP reported that the volcanic eruption, which drew hundreds of thousands of tourists and was the longest in 50 years, was officially declared over by authorities on December 20, 2021 (archived link).

AFP has also debunked other misinformation that has swirled online since the 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia's Far East.
Footage of a building on fire and shrouded in smoke shows the aftermath of a rocket strike in Thailand's Sisaket province, contrary to posts claiming it shows "Cambodia military positions" destroyed by Thai forces during the Southeast Asian neighbours' bloodiest military clashes in more than a decade. AFP journalists confirmed the video shows a convenience store attached to a petrol station in the northeastern Thai province, close to the border with Cambodia.

"At least two Cambodian military positions were destroyed including Brigade HQ in airstrikes by Royal Thai Airforce," reads the English-language caption of a Facebook reel shared on July 24, 2025.

The video shows a single-storey building covered in dark smoke.

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It emerged as Cambodia fired rockets and artillery shells into Thailand and the Thai military scrambled F-16 jets to carry out air strikes in a dramatic escalation in a long-standing dispute over contested ancient temples situated along their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border (archived link).

Both sides blamed the other for starting the fighting, which erupted near two temples on the border.

The countries agreed a truce starting July 29, following five days of intense clashes that killed at least 43 people and displaced more than 300,000 (archived link).

Screenshot of the false Facebook post taken on August 1, 2025, with a red X added by AFP

The same clip was also shared in similar Facebook and X posts.

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But it does not show the result of a Thai military strike in Cambodia.

Petrol station attack

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the falsely shared clip led to the same footage posted on the Facebook page of Thailand's Second Army Region on the same day (archived link).

Its Thai-language caption reads: "BM-21 rockets from the Cambodian side hit a PTT gas station in Ban Phue, Kantharalak district, Sisaket province. Many students and civilians were injured."

Screenshot comparison between the false Facebook post (L) and the Facebook post by Thailand's Second Army Region

A similar clip was posted on Facebook by Chatchak Ratsamikaeo, a 25-year-old farmer in Sisaket province (archived link).

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"I was just about to turn my car into the station when the 7-Eleven was hit," Chatchak said. "I was terrified -- my hands and feet went numb."

Google Street View imagery of the convenience store attached to the petrol station matches the falsely shared video (archived link).

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (left) and Google Street View imagery (right), with corresponding features highlighted by AFP

Moreover, AFP journalists who visited the site on July 25 confirmed it shows the PTT petrol station, located 12 kilometres from the Cambodian border (archived link).

Images taken by AFP photographer Lillian Suwanrumpha on July 25 show the damage caused to the store.

Damage from a fire caused by Cambodian artillery at a 7-11 convenience store is seen at a PTT gas station in the Thai border province of Sisaket province on July 25, 2025. Lillian SUWANRUMPHA AFP Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP

According to a report by Thai newspaper The Nation, eight people were killed in the rocket strike (archived link).

AFP has debunked other misinformation about the Thailand-Cambodia conflict.

August 5, 2025 This article was updated to correct reference to Chatchak Ratsamikaeo in paragraph 12
HOLYOKE  Mayor Joshua Garcias push to transform Holyoke into a hub for renewable energy has earned him regional acclaim  and a shot at mayor of the year honors.

The award is presented by the Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition, which credits Garcia with helping establish Holyoke as a hub for clean energy innovation.

Garcia is the first mayor in Massachusetts to be recognized by the coalition. The award will be presented to the winner during Massachusetts Clean Energy Week, which runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4.

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Clean Energy Week is dedicated to promoting a sustainable and fair energy future for the Commonwealth. The event aims to unite businesses, communities, policymakers, and residents to support clean energy solutions and encourage responsible energy practices across the state.

Under Garcias administration, the city has expanded solar infrastructure, partnered with MIT researchers and prioritized environmental justice in historically underserved neighborhoods.

The award is given by the coalition to mayors who champion renewable energy while fostering economic and community development  and Garcias efforts are putting Holyoke on the map.

This recognition isnt just about me  its about Holyoke, Garcia said in a statement. Weve shown that a small city with a big heart can lead on clean energy, equity, and innovation. This is what it looks like when community and sustainability go hand in hand.

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Garcias administration has overseen the expansion of solar installations on city buildings, supported hydroelectric upgrades along the Connecticut River and launched pilot programs with MIT researchers to test green technologies that can be used on a large scale.

These projects have reduced emissions and energy costs and created new opportunities for workforce development in a city marked by industrial decline, the coalition said.

Holyoke has become a leader in clean energy. Through community partnerships and long-term planning, Holyoke Gas & Electric has built a system that uses water and other renewable sources to power the city.

The utility installed one of the biggest battery storage systems in Massachusetts  a 6-megawatt-hour unit that helps meet high demand.

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Affordable clean energy has helped bring new businesses to Holyoke, including projects backed by MIT like the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center and Sublime Systems. These investments have made life better in the city and helped keep energy bills low, Garcia said.

In a letter to Garcia, the coalitions executive director, Kristin Rode, praised his focus on community and innovation, calling him a natural choice for recognition during Massachusetts Clean Energy Week.

Your leadership in Holyoke has caught our attention as truly exceptional, Rode wrote.

Rode said Western Massachusetts is often overlooked when it comes to statewide recognition, and the coalition hopes to help change that.

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You represent exactly the kind of community centered leadership that deserves to be celebrated and shared with mayors across the Commonwealth, Rode wrote.

The coalition plans to visit Holyoke this month.

Read the original article on MassLive.
Cobb County man gets $70,000 back after Channel 2 investigation into stolen money

A Cobb County retiree has recovered $70,000 stolen from his bank account after Channel 2 Action News intervened, prompting Bank of America to reverse its initial denial of his fraud claim.

Henry Waleczko, a 74-year-old resident of Cobb County, discovered that $70,000 had been fraudulently withdrawn from his savings accounts.

Despite multiple denial letters from Bank of America, which claimed there was no unusual activity, the bank eventually refunded the money after Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray got involved.

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They lost my money and wont give it back, Waleczko said, expressing his frustration after the bank denied his claims three times. I logged on and saw that someone had hacked out $70,000 from two savings accounts of ours.

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Waleczko, who worked for decades as a voice-over artist and musician, relies on rental properties for his retirement income.

He was concerned about his financial situation, especially with taxes due in October.

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Now Im thinking, gee, Im going to be asking the bank for a loan before this is all over because taxes are due October, Waleczko said.

The fraudulent activity involved adding the fraudsters names to Waleczkos accounts and quickly moving the money out. Despite this, the bank initially refused to acknowledge any unauthorized activity.

Waleczko contacted Channel 2 Action News after receiving multiple denial letters from Bank of America. Once Gray got involved, Bank of America changed its tune.

In a statement, Bank of America said: We take account fraud very seriously. After receiving additional information, we were able to determine criminals used malware to compromise our clients computer and access his account.
PITTSBURG, Kan.  College students are moving back into Southeast Kansas, but not onto campus just yet.

Transfer, second-year, and returning students rolled out their boxes and dollies as they moved into the Block 22 apartments in downtown Pittsburg today.

20 students into the off-campus housing, some with the help of their families and others tackling the task on their own.

All 97 single and two-bedroom apartments are rented out ahead of the first day of classes.

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One of Block 22s new tenants is Caden Chism, who transferred from Kansas City for his junior year, and is starting a new journey in his first apartment.

This is my first apartment ever. First time I ever seen it, actually. Ive only ever been to Pitt State a couple of times, so, its a real surprise today, and you know, Im excited and just ready to get used to it all, said Caden Chism, Transfer student from Kansas City.

I think Im excited for new experiences, new beginnings. Ive never lived in, like, a downtown area before, so this is all new to me, so Im excited to have some change, said Kylie Rogers, PSU Incoming Sophomore.

Move-in day is one of our funnest days on campus because we get returners a lot of times and transfer students. And the fact that, like the girls had said earlier, theyre getting to move out and be on their own and be in a downtown environment. So its one of our funnest days, said Tracy Holzem, PSU Housing Department Housing Administration Assistant director.

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Move-in for Block 22 continues tomorrow.

Students living in dorms on-campus start moving in August 15.

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COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Its back to school for more than 4,000 students in Colleton County. News 2s Octavia Mitchell sat down one-on-one with Colleton County School District Superintendent Jessica Williams to discuss new safety measures, new initiatives and partnerships, and a new way for parents to track bus routes.



Williams is in her third year as the leader of the Colleton County School District, which serves more than 4,200 students across nine schools.

Were excited about the 2025-2026 school year. Our biggest triumph last year was that all schools in the Colleton County School District, nearly all of our schools, increased points on the South Carolina State Report Card, so our academic achievement is increasing, she said.

The district received recognition from the South Carolina Department of Education for academic growth, and this year, they plan to keep the momentum going.

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We are very excited about our academic achievements. We are continuing to make sure we have a strong focus on tier-one instruction and making sure our students receive the interventions that they need, and making sure our assessments are written to the rigor of the standards, to make sure that our students achieve at high levels, said Superintendent Williams.

There are 868 employees on staff in the Colleton County School District, with around 400 teachers. Superintendent Williams says the district has fewer than ten teacher vacancies.

At this point, we are about 98 percent staffed when it comes to our teaching staff, so we are excited about that. Our HR department has worked very, very hard to make sure we are staffed fully at all of our schools.

The starting salary for new teachers $48,500. Williams says they are working to increase salaries. Were very excited! This year, all of our teaching staff will receive a step increase, plus their 15-hundred-dollar salary increase. Our classified staff and administrators will receive a step increase and a 2-percent cost-of-living raise. Very excited about the cost-of-living raise because we havent been able to provide that to our staff for a while.

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The district has six bus driver vacancies and is consolidating routes to ensure all students are provided transportation. New this year, CCSD has a new transportation app with real-time information for parents.

Also new this year for career and technical education students, an opportunity to learn about electric vehicles. We were awarded a $100,000 grant to introduce EV concepts to our students and garner interest in that particular platform of electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles. So, were excited about the opportunities for our students to delve into EV concepts.

New this year, a law enforcement course. Williams says, We will be introducing a new law enforcement course for our students to garner that interest in law enforcement. We have been working very closely with our county because law enforcement officers are scarce, and they are having difficulties filling some of those positions, so weve had conversations over the past year about how we can partner together and help each other. We are very happy that we will be providing students an opportunity to study law enforcement.

Safety and security remain top priority. We implemented new weapons detection systems last year, and we will continue with those systems at our secondary schools, and this year, we will also implement a new visitors management system as well.

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The district has School Resource Officers in all schools, and Yonder Pouches will be used for cellphones to help with the cellphone ban during the day.

Another new initiative, a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of the Lowcountry to provide after-school programs and mentorship for elementary and middle school students. The new Cougar Cafe at the high school gives students more options.



Superintendent Williams message to parents, students, and staff, Colleton County School District is ready to provide a quality education for all of our students here in the county, and I want to make sure everyone knows every day matters, attendance is very important. We need to make sure students are attending school each and every day, starting with the first day of school. We ask parents, please send your students to us on the first day of school. We will take good care of them and make sure they are engaging in a quality education.

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Colombian mercenaries are fighting for Sudanese rebels in a famine-stricken refugee camp in Sudan.

Fighters from the South American nation were seen inside Darfurs Zamzam camp, which was captured by rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April, local authorities said.

Zamzam houses hundreds of thousands displaced by Sudans civil war. It is at the centre of a humanitarian crisis engulfing Sudan and last year was subject to a rare international declaration of famine.

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Mohamed Khamis Douda, a spokesman for the camp administration, told the Sudan Tribune: We have witnessed with our own eyes a dual crime: the displacement of our people last April at the hands of the RSF militia, and now the occupation of the camp by foreign mercenaries.

Mr Douda described seeing armed, Spanish-speaking groups moving freely among the rubble of homes and the unburied bodies of victims.

Colombian mercenaries have been spotted alongside Sudanese soldiers in the Zamzam camp - La Silla Vacia

The Sudanese army earlier broadcast video footage, purportedly recovered from a dead fighters phone, which appeared to show Spanish-speaking mercenaries inside the camp.

Colombian media have reported that as many as 400 former soldiers have been employed in the African country, in a battalion known as the Desert Wolves.

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Whistleblowers from the gropu claimed they were signed up by an Emirati security company which duped them into believing they would be guarding oil facilities.

Instead they found themselves on the front line of a war which has been running for more than two years.

Fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupted in April 2023 when the former allies clashed over plans to integrate their forces.

Zamzam is only seven miles from the city of El Fasher, the last army holdout in the Darfur region.

Ground scarring at El Fasher, where fighting has intensified - Maxar

The RSF made quick gains in central Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, at the start of the war, but the army pushed it westward this year.

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That has led to heavier fighting in El Fasher.

If the city falls, the RSF will control nearly all of Darfur  a vast region bordering Libya, Chad, Central African Republic and South Sudan  and pave the way for what analysts say could be Sudans de facto division.

The war has become a free-for-all of competing regional powers, with the United Arab Emirates accused of arming and backing the RSF, because it fears Islamism within the Sudanese army.

The UAE denies supporting the RSF.

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MILAN  On the heels of a strong performance in the first half of 2025, EssilorLuxottica is continuing its acquisition spree to strengthen its supply chain.

The French Italian eyewear juggernaut said Monday that it has acquired Automation & Robotics, a Belgium-based company designed and manufacturing automated systems for quality control of optical lenses.

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The integration of A&R into EssilorLuxotticas portfolio of industrial solutions marks another milestone in our ongoing journey to set new standards of excellence in our industry. Sharing a commitment to innovation, precision and service, we will be able to better support the evolving needs of ophthalmic manufacturing, including those of new categories like wearables, said Francesco Milleri, EssilorLuxotticas chairman and chief executive officer. The executive holds executive powers alongside deputy CEO Paul du Saillant.

This move is a key step toward advancing the future of vision care through quality and performance, by strengthening our technological platform, he said.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Established in 1983, Automation & Robotics boasts proprietary technologies, supporting lens manufacturers at both industrial and laboratory-size scale in digital transformation through research and development, software development, manufacturing, distribution and deployment.

The acquisition comes two weeks after EssilorLuxottica took over a division of the South Korean company PUcore, which specializes in the development, manufacturing and sale of monomers used in the production of ophthalmic lenses.

EssilorLuxottica has been on an acquisition spree as of late, especially in the med-tech space.

In May, the eyewear group took over ophthalmology platform Optegra, which operates a network of more than 70 eye hospitals and diagnostic facilities across Europe under the Optegra, Lexum and Iris brands.

In mid-December, it revealed the acquisition of the Italy-based Espansione Group, which specializes in the design and manufacturing of noninvasive medical devices, protected by international patents for the diagnosis and treatment of dry-eye, ocular surface and retinal diseases. This followed the deal last July to acquire an 80 percent stake in Heidelberg Engineering, a German company that is a specialist in diagnostic solutions, digital surgical technologies and health care IT for clinical ophthalmology.
DENVER (AP)  A Colorado funeral home owner accused of stashing nearly 200 decomposing bodies in a room-temperature building admitted in federal court Monday that she cheated customers and defrauded the federal government out of nearly $900,000.

Carie Hallford, who ran Return to Nature Funeral Home with her husband Jon Hallford, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Carie Hallford faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, though federal prosecutors agreed to ask for 15 years at a December sentencing hearing.

Hallford already pleaded guilty once in federal court, but a judge last year rejected the agreement with prosecutors and still has to approve this one.

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Crystina Pages son David died in 2019, and his body was left in an inoperable refrigerator for four years. Standing outside the federal courthouse Monday, Page said she's disappointed about the possibility that neither Hallford goes on trial, something she hoped would have brought answers about what happened to her son and others entrusted to their care.

We still dont know the truth of what theyve done to us, she said.

The federal case brought against both Hallfords focused on two schemes: falsifying documents to siphon nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 pandemic-era financial aid from the U.S. Small Business Administration and deceiving customers by taking payments for cremations the Hallfords never did.

Instead of cremating the nearly 200 bodies between 2019 and 2023, the Hallfords allegedly stored the bodies in a decrepit building and sent some customers dry concrete instead of ashes.

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The Hallfords pocketed around $130,000 of their customers' payments meant for cremations or burial services and spent it, along with the federal funds, on luxury products  a GMC Yukon, laser body sculpting, vacations, jewelry and cryptocurrency.

In a separate case in state court, both Hallfords have been charged with 191 counts of corpse abuse, including for twice burying the wrong body and leaving others to decompose. Jon Hallford has already pleaded guilty to those 191 counts, as well as a fraud charge in the federal case for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The building packed with bodies was discovered in 2023 in Penrose, Colorado, about a two-hour drive south of Denver. It shook already grieving families. Many learned that their loved ones' remains weren't in the ashes they spread or held tight but were instead decaying in a building.

Investigators found bodies stacked atop each other, swarms of bugs and maggots, and so much liquid on the ground it had to be pumped out.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is launching a new community relations initiative called Reading Roll Call, where local officers read to children up to 12 years old at local libraries in the area.

While our PlayCOS program continues to thrive, we wanted to expand our outreach by promoting the joy of reading, wrote CSPD on Facebook.

Courtesy: FOX21 News

The police department is partnering with the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) to launch the first few Reading Roll Calls, and the kick-off event will be held at the Sand Creek Library on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

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To see the full schedule of upcoming events, click here.

To learn more about the CSPD Community Relations Unit and its programs, visit coloradosprings.gov/cspd-community-outreach.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu brushed off Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) threat to remove Democrats from the Texas Legislature after they left the Lone Star State in protest of GOP redistricting efforts.

Frankly, Democrats say, Come and take it, Wu told CNNs John Berman in an interview Monday, referring to threats against lawmakers seats.

The Democratic state House minority leader reshared a post highlighting his remarks on the social platform X.

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Wu said he doesnt think Abbotts threat will amount to much.

No, its all bluster, Wu said when asked if he thinks the governor could be successful in taking away Democratic legislators seats. Sound and fury signifying nothing.

Abbott warned Democrats they must be in attendance when the state House reconvenes Monday afternoon, adding, For any member who fails to do so, I will invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House.

Abbott also said in his statement that any Democrat who receives funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules may be in violation of felony bribery charges. He made the same threat against those who offer or give funds to the Democrats.

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The Democratic legislators left Texas on Sunday  heading to Chicago, New York City and Boston  in order to deny Republicans a necessary quorum to advance their redrawn political maps.

The redrawn congressional maps would give Republicans five additional pickup opportunities in 2026 as the party works to defend its slim majority in the midterms.

Legislative walkouts are rare but have been employed before in Texas, including in 2021 and in 2003, the last time the GOP pursued midcycle redistricting.

This is not a choice that we take lightly, Wu told CNN. To be here in Chicago, we really didnt have a choice. We tried to negotiate [with] Republicans. We tried to talk to them. We tried to reason with them. We tried to tell them that the public is very angry at what theyre doing, and they simply wouldnt listen.

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This was the only way we could protect our constituents and protect the state. What theyre doing is not just politics. Its not just affecting lives  this is going to destroy lives, he added.

Asked how long he planned to stay out of state, Wu said, Our commitment to this is one day at a time, adding hes focused on the current special session.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Democratic lawmakers from Texas are doubling down on their refusal to return to Austin to vote on a highly controversial redistricting map, even after threats from Governor Greg Abbott.

Abbott has threatened to remove the lawmakers from office if they do not return to vote on the Trump-backed redistricting of the state. The governor also suggested that the lawmakers have committed felonies by fundraising to pay off their $500-a-day fees for not being present.

This truancy ends now, Abbott said in a letter sent to each of the departed members. The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance when the House reconvenes at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025.

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In response, the Texas House Democratic Caucus issued a four word response: Come and take it.

The 51 lawmakers who left the state have gone to Illinois and New York to speak out against the governor and their Republican colleagues.

State Rep. Chris Turner called the Republican gerrymandering plan a discriminatory Congressional map demanded by Donald Trump in a statement posted to X.

This doesnt stop with Texas, state Rep. Mihaela Plesa, vice-chair of the House Democratic caucus, said on Monday. If Trump and Abbott succeed, it will give them five seats. But then where else do they go? Ohio, Missouri, any other Republican legislature with Democratic Congress people. Theyre on the chopping block, too.

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The top Democrat in the Texas legislature, state Rep. Gene Wu called the proposed map racist and gerrymandered.

Governor Abbott is doing this in submission to Donald Trump, Wu said at an Illinois press conference on Sunday. Wu said that Trump wants to steal votes from Democratic communities in Texas. We will not be complicit in the destruction in our own communities, Wu said.

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Republicans, meanwhile, are threatening consequences if Democrats do not return. State Rep. Dustin Burrows, the Republican speaker of the Texas House, earlier issued a vague threat to his Democratic colleagues.

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The Texas House will be convening at 3:00pm tomorrow, Burrows said in a Sunday post on X. If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table. . .

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton likewise called on the government of Texas to use every tool at our disposal to hunt down the errant lawmakers. Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, Paxton said on social media.

The post Come and take it: Texas Democrats brush off threat of arrest appeared first on Salon.com.
Whether and when Ghislaine Maxwell testifies to Congress depends, in part, on the Supreme Court. Thats especially so after U.S. House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., agreed Friday to delay Maxwells deposition until the justices decide whether theyre going to take up her appeal.

Comer and the committee had subpoenaed Maxwell for a deposition in prison August 11. But lawyers for the convicted Jeffrey Epstein associate replied with a list of conditions, including that they wanted to wait until the Supreme Court resolved her pending appeal. The high court then announced that it will consider Maxwells petition at its private conference on September 29, when the justices return from summer break. Comer said in Fridays letter that the committee will delay her deposition until after the Supreme Court acts.

That puts greater weight on the justices impending decision, which could be announced in the days following the conference. There is, however, no set deadline for the justices to decide. It takes four justices to grant review of an appeal, and they decline to review most of the thousands they receive annually.

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If the justices grant review of Maxwells appeal, then they could hear argument in the case by sometime in April (when they typically wrap up the terms hearings) and then issue a ruling by late June (when they typically wrap up the terms decisions).

Maxwells petition revolves around the highly unusual deal that Epstein reached with prosecutors in Florida that barred the prosecution of his co-conspirators. Maxwell argues that the agreement shouldve barred her New York prosecution. DOJs opposition, filed on July 14, predated the Trump administrations more recent Maxwell-related moves, including her highly unusual prison transfer last week.

Of course, the court could take Maxwells appeal and then rule against her. But if the justices take the case and rule in her favor, then a ruling that reads the Epstein agreement broadly could hamper any efforts to prosecute other Epstein conspirators. He died in 2019, in what the medical examiner called a suicide, while being held on sex trafficking charges in New York. Maxwell was subsequently convicted of conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors and sentenced to 20 years.

At least two other factors could make the Supreme Courts role less immediately pivotal to Maxwells potential congressional testimony.

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The first is that even if the justices quickly deny review, her lawyers also told the committee that they would file a habeas corpus petition for her release  a pending move her lawyers cited as an additional reason to delay her deposition. Comers letter Friday didnt directly address that aspect.

The second factor would be if President Donald Trump grants Maxwell clemency, which he has not ruled out and which her lawyers have said would eliminate barriers to her testimony.

Legally, the president can grant clemency at any time. The political case for him doing so here is unclear, because Maxwells reemergence comes as Trump faces unusual backlash from his supporters for his administrations failure to release all of the information it has related to Epstein. Granting a benefit to the woman at the center of the conspiracy while people still have questions about Trumps own relationship with Epstein would seem to raise additional questions without answering the ones that caused the latest political issue in the first place.

But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (previously Trumps personal defense lawyer) met with Maxwell while she was incarcerated in a Florida prison. After that meeting, the government moved Maxwell to that Texas facility with the federal prison systems lowest security level, in yet another unusual move in the Epstein affair.

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The administration hasnt provided an official explanation for why it gave this apparent benefit to Maxwell. It could signal further maneuverings ahead that might change the landscape between now and the Supreme Courts September 29 conference date. But if the status quo holds, then all eyes will be on the high court in late September.

Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in the Trump administrations legal cases.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
When the House and Senate return from their month-long August recess, lawmakers will have just four weeks to avert a government shutdown  and some kind of kick-the-can funding patch is all but guaranteed.

Before the Senate adjourned Saturday evening, the chamber passed the first bipartisan spending package of the year. But on the other side of the Capitol, House Republicans have yet to welcome government funding negotiations with Democrats, after spending the summer stiff-arming them by advancing bills with steep cuts and conservative mandates.

The mood on Capitol Hill already wasnt ripe for a major bipartisan breakthrough this fall on government funding, given the Republican capitulation to President Donald Trumps moves to undercut billions of dollars Congress has already approved. Now fiscal conservatives say House GOP leaders promised them no funding will be increased, while dozens of Republicans are demanding earmarks and Democrats are weighing ultimatums like re-upping Obamacare funding as a condition of passing legislation in September to keep federal operations afloat.

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It's a lot of uncharted territory here in terms of the posture of the minority and the majority, and the president's priorities, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said in a brief interview. If you like chaos, then youre seeing a lot of it.

Adding to the bedlam on Capitol Hill ahead of the Sept. 30 shutdown cliff, White House budget director Russ Vought is vocalizing plans to sabotage the bipartisan funding negotiations he openly scorns. His tool of choice could be to send more requests to claw back funding lawmakers previously enacted after reaching cross-party compromise.

Vought is privately strategizing with members of the House Freedom Caucus and the right flank of the Senate GOP conference, while Democrats and even some Republican senators warn such a move would poison the well before the Oct. 1 shutdown deadline.

It's hard to imagine someone being more disruptive of the appropriating process than the current OMB director, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a top appropriator, said in an interview. If he is determined to drive us into a partisan shutdown, he ought to just tell the country. In the meantime, on a bipartisan basis, the senators of the Appropriations Committee are continuing to try and do our jobs and keep the government open.

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The top Democratic congressional leaders, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to their Republican counterparts Monday demanding a meeting this week to discuss the path forward on spending.

Republicans "have the responsibility to govern for all Americans and work on a bipartisan basis to avert a painful, unnecessary shutdown at the end of September," they wrote. "Yet it is clear that the Trump Administration and many within your party are preparing to go it alone and continue to legislate on a solely Republican basis."

The best-case scenario for lawmakers rooting for a bipartisan compromise is that the Senate's passage of a three-bill package on Friday ends up spurring a deal with the House this fall. Then Congress could clear a hybrid bill that provides a full year of fresh funding for some agencies and runs the rest of the government on autopilot budgets for a few weeks or months, buying more time to wrap up the full slate of a dozen bills that fund the government each year.

The top Senate and House appropriators, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, are expected to negotiate over the next month, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he will be in touch with Speaker Mike Johnson to prepare for the fall funding fight too.

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GOP leaders are also talking with the White House. But nobody has locked in a government funding plan they can present to congressional Republicans for buy-in.

House conservatives would likely harangue Johnson if he agrees to go along with any package that doesnt cut or at least freeze funding. They are also demanding that funding clawbacks are not counted toward topline spending reductions.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said on social media last month that the deal to get House fiscal conservatives to support final passage of the GOP domestic policy megabill in July was that funding for the new fiscal year would be at or below current levels. That is already negotiated, insisted Roy, a member of the House Freedom Caucus.

The House and Senate are already endorsing drastically different funding levels in the appropriations bills they have been able to advance so far. The funding measures House Republicans rolled out earlier this summer would meet spending-cut demands by cleaving non-defense agencies by almost 6 percent overall and keeping the Pentagons budget flat. Senate lawmakers, on the other hand, have proposed $20 billion more for the military and at least modest funding increases for most non-defense agencies.

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If House conservatives get their way in September, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will be under intense pressure from his base to threaten a government shutdown unless the GOP agrees to some concessions. Republicans need Democratic votes in the Senate for any legislation to clear the 60-vote procedural hurdle to move forward, and the New York Democrat already endured a political drubbing in March after helping advance a Republican funding bill days before the start of a shutdown he worried would end up empowering Trump.

If we have to swallow a House-only radical Republican bill, that's going to be a problem, said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Schumer has to balance the desires of his progressive base with the demands of his more centrist flank. In a floor speech Saturday morning, he praised the Senate-passed funding package as "an example of how the funding process could work if the other side is willing to work in good faith, instead of listening all the time to Donald Trump and Russell Vought and the extreme right." But he also warned, "the onus is on the Republican Majority ... to ensure this process stays bipartisan in the fall."

And least one member of his caucus said he's not interested in Democrats playing hardball: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has vowed, "I'm voting to keep the government open.

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In the meantime, Thune is already mulling how to pass a second tranche of funding bills. That next bundle could include some of the largest, and most contentious, appropriations measures containing money for the Pentagon, as well as dollars for key Democratic priorities like labor, education and health agencies. He is also predicting that the Senate bill will, on the whole, freeze or cut funding compared to current levels  a possibly winning pitch to his own fiscal hawks and those in the House.

Yet even with signs pointing to future conservative strong-arming, Senate Democrats are warily leaning into bipartisan funding negotiations after Republicans burned them last month by passing Trump's request to claw back $9 billion from public broadcasting and foreign aid.

We have been demanding bipartisanship, and we've been demanding to mark up bills, said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a top appropriator. That's not to say that Republicans have done everything right, or that we're not still angry about various things. But when they behave well, I think it's on us to reward them.

Though Democrats are worried that any bipartisan agreement will be undermined by the Trump administration clawing back more funding, many are skeptical they could get Republicans to swear off approval of more rescissions packages as a condition of Democratic support.

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I think that is probably a bridge too far for them," Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii said.

Instead, Democrats are discussing how they might net more tangible wins, such as extending soon-to-expire health care subsidies that help millions of low- and middle-income Americans and are set to expire at the end of the year. Senate Democrats are going to use the summer recess to preview their messaging strategy, including holding health care events.

Congress' fiscal conservatives are beginning to hone their strategy for demanding conditions too. Members of the House Freedom Caucus are now pushing to fund the government at current levels for a year and are willing to allow earmarks in the final package as a way to avoid a massive year-end spending package filled with extraneous items they would otherwise oppose. Those earmarks are a priority of the business-friendly Main Street Caucus and its 83 GOP members.

We've been very clear with the speaker: An overwhelming majority of our members want community project funding in this budget, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.), the new chair of the Main Street Caucus, said in an interview.

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Republicans who are typically reluctant to vote for a funding patch are now making it clear that the vehicle for funding the government  a continuing resolution or a long-term package  doesn't matter as much as what concessions Republicans can extract.

I think you better not call it a CR, lets put it that way," Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), who warned in March that he wouldnt support another stopgap, said in a brief interview before leaving town for August recess. "Its got to have some wins in it for us."

Mia McCarthy and Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
Former UFC star Conor McGregor is throwing a Hail Mary in his attempt to become the next president of Ireland.

On Monday, McGregor posted a link to a petition in which he urged his social media followers to "SIGN MY PETITION NOW TO SAVE IRELAND," a sort of desperation move after it became clear that he wouldn't receive the required nominations from other Irish politicians.

"To the esteemed citizens of Ireland and the Irish diaspora," McGregor wrote, "I, Conor McGregor hereby declare my intention to seek the esteemed office of President of Ireland. The current constitutional framework however, presents a significant barrier to democratic participation. The existing regulations mandate that a candidate must secure nominations from either twenty members of the Oireachtas or four county councils to be eligible for the ballot. This system, while intended to ensure a degree of political influence among candidates, inadvertently restricts the direct voice of the Irish electorate.

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"In light of this, I propose a petition advocating for a modification of the nomination process to allow my name be included on the ballot. I contend that the citizens of Ireland, both at home and abroad, should have the unhindered right to determine the candidates who appear on the presidential ballot. Therefore, I implore you to join me in this endeavor by signing this petition. Your support will be instrumental in championing a more inclusive and democratic electoral process, thereby empowering the people of Ireland to shape their own future."

To the esteemed citizens of Ireland and the Irish diaspora,



I, Conor McGregor hereby declare my intention to seek the esteemed office of President of Ireland. The current constitutional framework however, presents a significant barrier to democratic participation. The existing  Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 4, 2025

McGregor, 37, announced his intention to run for president of Ireland in March, not long after he met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to, in his words, "raise the issues the people of Ireland face." Throughout 2025, McGregor regularly has taken to social media to paint the picture of a dire political climate in his home country, calling himself "the only logical choice" to succeed Irish President Michael D. Higgins.

McGregor last November was found liable for the 2018 sexual assault of a woman in a Dublin hotel. Last week, McGregor lost his appeal to have the decision reversed.

If McGregor makes it onto the presidential ballot, he could face an uphill battle to win. A poll earlier this year found that just 7% of people said they would vote for McGregor to be president of Ireland.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Conor McGregor gets desperate in pursuit of Irish presidency
An election integrity group has filed to dismiss a lawsuit against Tarrant Countys redistricting.

The conservative legal group Public Interest Legal Foundation is filing to dismiss a lawsuit against Tarrant Countys redistricting efforts, The Dallas Express has learned. PILF proposed new district lines, and the county adopted them in June  openly aiming to boost Republican power among county commissioners.

Plaintiffs sued in Jackson v. Tarrant County, claiming racial discrimination. But PILF, representing the defendants, filed to dismiss the suit on August 1, according to a motion obtained by The Dallas Express. They argue plaintiffs are using racially-saturated innuendo, conclusory allegations, and worn-out tropes to claim racial motives.

Claiming Racial Gerrymandering

Plaintiffs Winnie Jackson, Jarrett Jackson, Celina Vasquez, Duane Braxton, and Nadia Bhular sued in June. Since then, more plaintiffs have apparently joined. They target defendants Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare, Tarrant County, and the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. The county contracted with PILF in July for $250,000 for its legal defense.

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When they initially sued, plaintiffs claimed the final map  drawn by PILF  was racially discriminatory. They claimed it gerrymanders the county to eliminate a minority-dominated precinct.

The resulting map  in a county in which the majority of residents are non-Anglo  has three Anglo-majority precincts and one majority-minority precinct, they wrote.

They also claimed the redistricting disenfranchises more than 150,000 voters in the county who could have voted for a commissioner in 2026, but will now have to wait until 2028 since their district has changed.

Failure To Disentangle Race And Politics

But defendants argued in the motion to dismiss that plaintiffs are trying to give the courts legislative powers over redistricting.

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They said allegations of racial intent and wildly out of context or irrelevant statements cannot shift these powers. And under Americas federalist form of government, the county enjoys a strong presumption of legislative good faith.

Tarrant County adopted a redistricting plan that from conception to enactment was an unambiguous, explicit and unabashed effort to increase Republican power and decrease Democratic power, defendants argued.

They said plaintiffs last remaining avenue of attack is to claim racism, instead of partisan motives, to give Republicans a four-to-one advantage on the commissioners court.

Plaintiffs failure to disentangle race and politics is lethal to their claim, the defendants added.

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Fort Worth passed a resolution in May condemning the redistricting efforts, as The Dallas Express reported.

Shortly before the commissioners voted to redraw district lines, OHare had police remove disruptive audience members, as The Dallas Express also reported at the time. County Commissioner Alisa Simmons flipped him off and apparently tried to filibuster the vote. Redistricting ultimately passed 3-2.

The Dallas Express asked OHare and PILF Director of Communications Douglas Blair for comment, but they both declined.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn, a member of the court's conservative minority, said he was concerned about record-setting spending in judicial races during an interview Aug. 3 on WISN-TV's "Upfront."

His interview aired two days after Susan Crawford, the seven-member court's newest liberal justice, was sworn in on Aug. 1 with Hagedorn in attendance. Crawford's win maintained the court's 4-3 liberal majority, which has been in place since 2023.

Hagedorn also talked about the court's culture and what he'll do when his term ends. Here are key takeaways from his interview on "Upfront."

Judicial spending appears to be a 'vote of no-confidence in the court'

Spending in Crawford's 2025 race against conservative Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel for the seat vacated by a retiring justice exceeded a record-breaking $100 million.

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Billionaire Elon Musk, a close advisor to President Donald Trump, spent heavily to support Schimel's campaign, while Crawford's bid garnered comparably large sums from a Democratic Party-led counter-initative called "The People v Elon Musk" and other deep-pocketed liberal donors like investor George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Asked about the record amounts, Hagedorn responded: "Why do people think this is a good use of their money? What do they think they are getting from this court?"

"I think it is in many respects a vote of no-confidence in this court  that this court is not going to be a place that's just going to apply the law, at least all seven of us," he added.

"It's both sides that are pouring money into these races," Hagedorn said. "But people increasingly see this court, and courts around the country, as an extension of the political branches. It is incumbent upon us to prove them wrong, to disabuse them of that notion."

Hagedorn says clashes between state Supreme Court justices are evidence of 'culture issue'

Asked to address critics who believe the Supreme Court has become too politically divided, Hagedorn responded that such divisions predate the terms of the court's sitting justices.

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"The court has been in some state of dysfunction for 30 years," Hagedorn said, later adding: "It's a culture issue."

In past courts, previous Wisconsin justices have accused each other of shouting, slamming doors and being physically threatening. One high-profile interaction even led to a police investigation.

Hagedorn said he believes the court has a responsibility to earn the public's trust in its professionalism. He said he has made an "intentional effort" to attend events in support of his colleagues, including members of the court's liberal bloc.

He recently attended Crawford's inauguration, which conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, who campaigned for Crawford's opponent, skipped.

Hagedorn 'inclined to' run for re-election

Asked about his future plans, Hagedorn suggested that he is interested in seeking another term.

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"I'm proud of my record and proud of where I stand at the moment," Hagedorn said. "I'm inclined to (seek another term), but we've got three important races between now and then."

His term ends in July 2029.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin justice Brian Hagedorn decries spending in judicial races
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY)  According to officials with William & Mary, around 900 students will need to be moved to alternate housing due to dorm construction delays.

Construction on the three new residence halls are expected to be completed by mid-to-late October, leaving many students to have to live in alternate housing for around eight weeks.

An official with the university told 10 On Your Side that first-year students will live on campus in the buildings formerly known as the Green & Gold Village and Richmond Hall. Returning students will either be placed in the Richmond Hall or in the Woodland Hotel and Suites, located in Colonial Williamsburg.

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The university messaged impacted students, saying they will attempt to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The developers have informed William & Mary that Cedar, Pine and Oak Halls will not open in time for undergraduate move-in. As with any construction project, circumstances can arise that delay completion. We are certainly disappointed with these circumstances and regret that the delay will impact our students. Understanding that impact, we have a contingency plan in place to make the transition as smooth as possible for students and families. William & Mary

In addition to the temporary housing, impacted students will receive $22.50-per-day while the new facilities remain under construction. The funds, which account for 50% of daily room rent, will be credited to student accounts by the end of the fall semester, according to a release.

Officials also stated that William & Mary Residence Life staff will be in communication with students and parents for more information on the temporary housing. On-site residential staff and dedicated transportation services for those placed in the Woodlands will also be provided.

For more information on the temporary housing, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
European carmakers are expected to face a decline in profitability in 2025 due to the combined impact of global trade tensions, weakening demand in China, and the accelerating transition to electric vehicles (EVs), according to Fitch Ratings.

Fitch said recently announced U.S. tariffs will have negative consequences for automotive production and sales, prompting manufacturers to reassess their global manufacturing strategies and cut fixed costs. Rising raw material prices and ongoing cost pressures from suppliers are expected to further strain margins. These developments add to Fitchs prior expectation of a low-single-digit decline in European vehicle sales.

The credit rating agency warned that tariff risks are especially significant for companies exporting vehicles from Japan, Korea, and Germany to the U.S. Volkswagen is expected to be particularly affected, with its high-margin luxury brands  Audi and Porsche  likely to face pressure on free cash flow and rating headroom. Mercedes-Benz also faces downside risk, as its U.S. production hub for sport utility vehicles could be exposed to retaliatory Chinese tariffs.

Fitch noted that while the burden of higher tariffs is likely to be shared between suppliers and automakers, the latter are expected to shoulder the larger share. Disruptions in production may also hit suppliers cash flows, particularly those highly dependent on automaker volumes. Although a recently announced EU-U.S. trade agreement appears consistent with Fitchs expectations, details remain unclear and require approval from EU member states.

Structural challenges also persist. European auto production remains 15%20% below pre-pandemic levels and is unlikely to recover soon. Fitch attributes this to a slower-than-expected EV transition, growing foreign competition, and shifting consumer preferences. Carmakers like Volkswagen and Stellantis have begun rationalising operations through plant closures and layoffs, which will weigh on short-term cash generation. One-off restructuring costs are expected to amount to roughly 1% of median free cash flow.

In China, German premium brands continue to lose market share to domestic players and are experiencing intensifying price competition  even in the typically more resilient premium segment. While some European automakers are partnering with Chinese firms in areas like autonomous driving and software to stem further losses, Fitch does not expect significant improvement in competitive positioning in the near term.

On the EV front, Fitch expects European automakers to rebound from a sluggish 2024 with increased battery EV sales in 2025, driven by new model launches and competitive gains against non-EU rivals. However, this growth will come with tighter margins as Chinese brands expand their market presence and infrastructure in Europe.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Construction is expected to begin early next year on the first phase of the Mill Creek Neighborhood Initiative.

The planned site is located just west of Memorial Parkway along Governors Drive.

Mill Creek is in partnership with the Huntsville Housing Authority (HHA), which is providing $350 Million into a mixed-income community with workforce housing, medical and childcare services and retail options.

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The City of Huntsville also received a $50 million grant from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the Mill Creek project.

You can see the plan for phases 1-5 as the project continues:

Phase One: Construction of an 84-unit universal design building that will be built on the southwest corner of the site.

Phase Two: Construction of a 100-unit senior housing facility.

Phases Three- Five: 400 units of family housing are set to be built.

Separately, Huntsville Hospital will construct a facility along Seminole Drive with at least 125 housing units for its employees.

Altogether, plans are set for more than 700 units of housing at Mill Creek, which will include workforce, public and market rate housing.

Phasing plan for Mill Creek Choice Neighborhood Initiative.

Dennis Madsen, Manager of Urban and Long-Range Planning, said that will allow residents in Johnson Towers, which is also on the Mill Creek site, to relocate to the new facilities. Johnson Towers will then be destroyed to make room for future phases of Mill Creek.

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Most of the residents at Johnson Towers will move to one of those two new facilities, Madsen said. And the great thing about that is that they only have to move once into a new building. HUD prefers to minimize the disruptions for the residents who are on site.

According to Madsen, there is more to Mill Creek other than housing.

Another key part is about the atmosphere that you have, he said. It should have quality streetscaping, quality public spaces. A big part of this and the Citys participation is the Mill Creek Park.

Mill Creek has a timeline to be built out in eight to 10 years.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
In July 2025, as some critics of CBS's decision to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" questioned the network's motives, social media posts claimed the popular late-night show was losing at least $40 million per year.

The claim appeared to stem from reports published by a media outlet called Puck and the New York Post on July 18. However, Snopes could not corroborate the reporting because it relied on information from anonymous sources.

Matthew Belloni, Puck's founding partner and author of the report on Colbert's show, told Snopes he obtained the information in his article "from multiple anonymous sources with knowledge of the show's finances." He added that the $40 million number was "subsequently confirmed by multiple outlets," including The Wall Street Journal.

Snopes also emailed a CBS representative for "The Late Show" for comment on the reported losses and did not receive a response by the time of publication. We were unable to reach the author of the New York Post report.

After CBS canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in July 2025, some people speculated that the cancellation was politically motivated given Colbert's frequent criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump. But others offered another possible explanation for the network's decision: the show was bleeding money.

Social media posts alleged Colbert's late-night show was losing at least $40 million a year.

Stephen Colberts show and the WNBA each lost $40 million last year. What do they have in common? Neither they nor their fans understand basic economics: pic.twitter.com/JDtDnq9eVX  Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 29, 2025

Snopes readers searched our website to learn whether the rumor about Colbert's show losing money was true.

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The claim appeared to stem from reports published by a media outlet called Puck (archived) and the New York Post (archived) on July 18, 2025. However, Snopes could not corroborate the reporting because it relied on information provided by anonymous sources.

Snopes reached out to a CBS representative for "The Late Show" for comment on the losses and did not receive a response.

Here's a breakdown of what we know about reports that CBS was losing $40 million a year on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert":

Reports cite at least $40M in annual losses

On July 18, 2025, Puck published an article (archived) that touched on the reported losses CBS suffered, titled "CBS in Distress: Colbert's Exit & The Rhodes-Weiss ERA." Charles Gasparino, a senior correspondent for Fox Business Network, also reported (archived) on the alleged losses in a story published by the New York Post on the same day.

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Matthew Belloni, Puck's founding partner and author of the report on Colbert's show, told Snopes he obtained the information in his article "from multiple anonymous sources with knowledge of the show's finances." He added that the $40 million number was "subsequently confirmed by multiple outlets," including The Wall Street Journal (archived). Belloni did not provide additional documentation or evidence to corroborate his reporting.

Sources reportedly told Belloni that CBS executives were "discussing the future of the Late Show franchise for months" before the network announced its cancellation, according to the article. The program "has been losing more than $40 million a year for CBS," Belloni reported, adding that this "doesn't include some ancillary revenue," or the extra money a company makes apart from its main products or services.

"While the show still garners an average of 2.47 million viewers a night, leads its 11:35 rivals in total audience, and just this week scored its ninth consecutive Emmy nomination for outstanding talk/variety series, its ad revenue has plummeted precipitously since the 2021-22 season," Belloni wrote.

Some people have speculated that CBS canceled "The Late Show" for political reasons due, in part, to Colbert's frequent criticism of Trump.

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However, several sources at both CBS and Skydance, which is poised to acquire CBS' parent company Paramount Global, insisted the decision to cancel the late-night show was "based on economics, not politics," according to the Puck report.

That's not the case across the board, according to Belloni's report. He wrote that "two other people with deep ties to CBS and 'Late Show' suspect otherwise," adding that executives didn't ask key talent to take pay cuts, fire people or slash costs.

CBS said in a statement that the show's ending was "not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."

The New York Post also reported that CBS canceled "The Late Show" due to tens of millions of dollars in annual losses rather than politics, citing unnamed sources.

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"CBS brass say they pulled the plug on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' because of its punishing losses  pegged between $40 million and $50 million a year  and claim politics had nothing to do with it, The Post has learned," Gasparino wrote in the Post's report.

"Colbert gets no advertising and late night is a tough spot," a person with direct knowledge of CBS's decision reportedly told Gasparino. "Colbert might be No. 1, but who watches late night TV anymore?"

Another person close to the decision reportedly said, "Colbert loses $40 million to $50 million a year, so George Cheeks just decided to pull the plug." Cheeks is co-CEO of Paramount Global, and president and CEO of CBS.

Late-night shows have experienced significant financial setbacks in recent years. The Associated Press reported that broadcast networks took in an estimated $439 million in advertising revenue for their late-night programs as recently as 2018, citing advertising firm Guidelines. In 2024, that number dwindled to $220 million, according to the AP.

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Snopes emailed a CBS representative for "The Late Show" for comment on the reported losses but did not receive a response by the time of publication. We also reached out to Gasparino for comment on his report and will update this story if we receive a response.

Colbert addresses 'leak' about losses

In his first show back since announcing the cancellation, Colbert addressed reports about the alleged losses. He said:

Over the weekend, somebody at CBS followed up their gracious press release with a gracious anonymous leak, saying they pulled the plug on our show because of losses pegged between $40 million and $50 million a year. $40 million is a big number. I could see us losing $24 million. But where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million? Oh yeah.

Colbert was referencing the $16 million Paramount Global decided to pay Trump to settle a lawsuit over the editing of a 2024 "60 Minutes" interview with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.





This wasn't the first time Colbert expressed disapproval of the settlement. He referred to it as a "big fat bribe" during another show in mid-July 2025.

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His "bribe" comment referenced the pending sale of Paramount to Skydance, which needs approval from the Trump administration, as the AP reported. Critics of the deal that ended Trump's lawsuit "suggested it was primarily to clear a hurdle to that sale," according to the AP.

For further reading, Snopes fact-checked a claim that Colbert and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow were teaming up to launch a new show.

Have more information on this topic? Send us a tip.

Sources:

Belloni, Matthew. "CBS in Distress: Colbert's Exit & the Rhodes-Weiss Era." Puck, 18 July 2025, puck.news/was-colberts-cancellation-really-economic-for-cbs/. Accessed 22 July 2025.

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Gasparino, Charles. "CBS Canned 'the Late Show' over Tens of Millions in Financial Losses Annually  Not Stephen Colbert's Politics: Sources." New York Post, 18 July 2025, nypost.com/2025/07/18/media/cbs-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-is-more-than-just-a-financial-loss/. Accessed 22 July 2025.

https://apnews.com/author/david-bauder. "The Paramount Comics, Colbert and Stewart, Are Sharp Critics of the '60 Minutes' Deal." AP News, 15 July 2025, apnews.com/article/colbert-stewart-trump-paramount-settlement-0c4cf4688718f8bada17cba10b44bebf. Accessed 22 July 2025.

"'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' to End in May 2026." Cbsnews.com, 17 July 2025, www.cbsnews.com/news/the-late-show-stephen-colbert-end-may-2026/. Accessed 22 July 2025.

Bauder, David. "Colbert Cancellation Illustrates Challenging Economics of TV." AP News, 18 July 2025, apnews.com/article/colbert-tv-late-night-politics-economics-paramount-cbs-e2b5852238685a83ae5b6cea579e0f0b. Accessed 22 July 2025.

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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. "The Gloves Are off | 'I Absolutely Love That Colbert Got Fired' | Trump & Epstein's Wonderful Secret." YouTube, 21 July 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIZegLAvK8o. Accessed 22 July 2025.

Bauder, David. "Paramount Settles with Trump for $16 Million over '60 Minutes' Interview." AP News, 2 July 2025, apnews.com/article/trump-media-harris-minutes-paramount-6415042fe910ae60b432dd8c73ef61b2. Accessed 22 July 2025.
The 1st Amendment, and the separation of church and state, Americas best idea, is at risk as never before.

The notion that church and state should be discrete entities was unprecedented when the founders decided to embark on what one historian has called the lively experiment of disestablishment. The founders were well aware of the Wars of Religion and the English Revolution, conflicts largely over religious differences.

In addition, as the founders surveyed the religious diversity in the colonies  from Puritans and Baptists in New England to Quakers, Jews, Dutch Reformed Protestants and Presbyterians in the Middle Colonies to more Baptists in the South and Anglicans, Catholics and even Muslims throughout  they realized that designating any one faith or denomination as the American religion would be contentious.

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Read more: Contributor: When Darrow took on Bryan 100 years ago today, science got the win. Or did it?

So the founders chose the road not traveled. The 1st Amendment, drafted by James Madison and ratified in 1791, said Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion while guaranteeing free exercise for all. Another way to understand this unique configuration is economic. As Adam Smith predicted in his 1776 brief for free-market capitalism, The Wealth of Nations, religion will thrive if the government refuses to intervene or favor one faith over another.

American history has more than vindicated Smiths prediction. Religion has flourished in the United States as nowhere else precisely because the government has stayed out of the religion business.

But the corollary is also true. Religious factionalism has not impeded the functions of government. In other words, the 1st Amendment has worked remarkably well.

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Read more: Contributor: The American Revolution has not ended ... yet

As Thomas Jefferson noted in 1808: We have solved, by fair experiment, the great & interesting question Whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government, and obedience to the laws[.] & we have experienced the quiet as well as the comfort which results from leaving every one to profess freely & openly those principles of religion which are the inductions of his own reason, & the serious convictions of his own inquiries.

Others noticed as well. Half the wars of Europe, half the internal troubles that have vexed European states, James Bryce, an Oxford University historian, observed in 1893, have arisen from theological differences or from the rival claims of church and state. This whole vast chapter of debate and strife has remained virtually unopened in the United States.

Read more: Contributor: Tax dollars for religious schools? Conservative justices could be the roadblock

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The United States has survived numerous attempts to jettison the 1st Amendment. During the Civil War, an organization called the National Reform Assn. sought to amend the Constitution with a revised preamble: We, the people of the United States, humbly acknowledging Almighty God as the source of all authority and power in civil government, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Ruler among the nations, His revealed will as the supreme law of the land, in order to constitute a Christian government, and in order to form a more perfect union .

The group took its proposal all the way to the White House, where Abraham Lincoln wisely temporized, averring that the work of amending the Constitution should not be done hastily.

Other attempts include those proposed by the Christian Amendment Assn., which emerged during the Cold War. Members of Congress failed to pass that amendment, but they did add under God to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 and replaced E pluribus unum (out of many, one) with One Nation Under God as the national motto in 1956.

Read more: Supreme Court splits 4-4, blocking first religious charter school in Oklahoma

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More recent attempts to eviscerate the wall of separation between church and state have focused not so much on constitutional amendments as on incremental attacks by way of legislation, with the collusion of the judiciary. The posting of the Ten Commandments in public schoolrooms in Louisiana and Texas and, more important, the use of taxpayer money for religious education represent clear violations of the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment.

Ever since the 19th century, using public money for religious education was a bright line separating church and state. The so-called Blaine amendments, named for James Blaine, speaker of the House of Representatives, senator, secretary of State and Republican nominee for president in 1884, were adopted by 37 states. The amendments originated in anti-Catholic fervor, but their prohibition of public support for religious schools was constitutionally axiomatic for nearly a century.

Read more: Contributor: The Supreme Court demolishes another precedent separating church and state

That seems quaint now, as red states rush to dole out taxpayer-funded vouchers so parents can send their children to religious schools at public expense. Sadly, Donald Trumps "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" provides tax-credit funding for religious education, and the majority on the Supreme Court is complicit in efforts to undermine the separation of church and state.

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If only the Supreme Court had half as much deference for the 1st Amendment as it does for the 2nd Amendment, wed be in much better shape.

As Justice Sandra Day OConnor wrote in her final Supreme Court opinion on church-state matters, Those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state must therefore answer a difficult question: Why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?

Randall Balmer, one of the expert witnesses in the Alabama Ten Commandments case, teaches at Dartmouth College. His latest book, Americas Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State, will be released Aug. 5.



If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace has launched a campaign to be South Carolina's governor.

The Republican congresswoman had long been expected to enter the crowded 2026 gubernatorial race before making the announcement on Monday, Aug. 4. Mace's news comes after several months of rebranding herself as a far-right culture warrior, with her launch video recapping her headline-making year and touting her as a "firebrand" and a "fighter."

Im running to be the Governor of South Carolina!



Gods not done with South Carolina and neither am I. You and me. Our mission begins now.



South Carolina First. Nancy Mace for Governor.https://t.co/tkO1oN5G0W pic.twitter.com/odvxAKfz5b  Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) August 4, 2025

Mace, 47, was once considered a moderate Republican in Congress, joining the House of Representatives days before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and quickly using her platform to denounce President Donald Trump's role in the events.

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Her criticism earned Trump's ire at the time, leading him to back her primary challenger during the 2022 election. She won reelection anyway, and later made amends with Trump before recasting herself as a hardline MAGA Republican.

Joe Raedle/Getty South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace takes the stage at the 2024 Republican National Convention South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace takes the stage at the 2024 Republican National Convention

Since the start of the new congressional term in January, Mace has led House Republicans' attacks on the transgender community, pushing for a trans bathroom ban at the U.S. Capitol and repeatedly shouting anti-trans slurs in a House hearing, in addition to a slew of X posts that characterized transgender identities as "delusion and mental instability."

The congresswoman wasn't always engaged in the anti-trans culture wars. In 2021, she expressed regret that COVID-19 overshadowed the previous year's Pride celebrations in South Carolina and shared that she was eager to "celebrate the challenges our LGBTQ+ has overcome, and the bright future ahead."

The same year, as Mace veered from some in her party to support anti-discrimination efforts that would protect LGBTQ+ people, she posted on X, "I strongly support LGBTQ rights. No one should be discriminated against. Religious liberty, gay rights, and transgender equality can all coexist."



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In February, Mace accused four men, including her former fiance Patrick Bryant, of sexual misconduct in a nearly hour-long speech on the House floor that Bryant strongly denied.

While making the allegations, Mace also accused South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson  now one of her opponents in the governor's race  of failing to investigate, despite allegedly presenting his office with evidence.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Mace also made headlines in January for a heated exchange she shared with Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett during a House Oversight Committee hearing, in which the South Carolinian said, "If you want to take it outside, we can do that," and for a run-in with a constituent in April that led to Mace cussing the person out on video.

Kent Nishimura/Getty South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace at the U.S. Capitol in January 2024 South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace at the U.S. Capitol in January 2024

Prior to joining the U.S. House, Mace served two years in the South Carolina House of Representatives. She was previously distinguished as the first woman to graduate from the Citadel Military College's Corps of Cadets program, going on to work in public relations and journalism before entering politics.

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Mace joins a crowded field of Republican candidates for governor in 2026, including Attorney General Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and Rep. Ralph Norman, who is widely considered one of the most conservative members in the House.

Though Mace has been described as the front-runner in the race given her strong name recognition, she is not a shoo-in for the GOP nomination, as her competitors also enjoy statewide popularity.



Read the original article on People
Nick Valencias work is already having an impact.

After leaving CNN nearly two months ago, the Atlanta-based national correspondent decided to go the independent route, publishing his work via his Nick Valencia Live Substack page. And hes seeing his early stories pay off.

Among the recent highlights, Valencia published a story about corruption allegations at the immigration detention facility in Florida, commonly referred to as Alligator Alcatraz. Valencias reporting led to one of the operations contractors losing their contract at the facility.

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Already adept at using social media to elevate his journalistic profile further, Valencia is using his platforms to raise awareness about his newest venture.

He is also working with the History Channel on the Greatest Mysteries series, which is a one-hour documentary series examining the top theories surrounding unsolved mysteries.

Things happen for us, not to us, Valencia told TVNewser as he joined the growing ranks of TV journalists who have embraced the route of independent journalism. He says he is filled with youthful energy as he embarks on this new journey.

TVNewser: Why did you choose to go independent rather than join a competing news network?

Valencia: I spent 19 years there (at CNN). It was the longest first job in the history of jobs. Ive never worked anywhere else. I started as a teleprompter operator there on March 6, 2006, and my last day was June 1, 2025. Media is changing not just every year, its changing every day. For people to understand, you have to be in it. Thats what Ive learned in the last seven weeks: how the landscape was changing. The audience in the market has already told us what it wants. Its already dictated to us the demands, and weve got to meet the moment as journalists. That perspective of using journalism as an ultimate act of service, seeing what was happening starting in June, with the targeting of my community, the Latino community. I never wanted to be the Brown reporter covering Brown people. I dont want that stereotype of being a Latino journalist. Im a journalist who happens to be Latino, and so Ive been very deliberate throughout my reporting career-even though I have an expertise in an area, I wanted to be seen as a journalist who can cover everything, and I did that.

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But the fact is, these stories are personal, and Im very drawn to this. So, talking about meeting the moment, I saw an opportunity to meet the moment in a way that I dont think reporters can on a mainstream level. A lot of the stuff I was able to do in L.A. was done because I was independent. I saw how disarming it was to the people whom I talked to, and I ended up interviewing at length when I told them I was on my own. Im not a media critic. So, I saw an opportunity for myself to meet the moment and to use my platform to offer people a microphone.

What does the freedom of independent reporting provide that traditional news outlets do not, and how is it sustainable?

Im seven weeks in. Id love to say that I have all the answers, but if were talking numbers, you have the same questions my mom did on Fathers Day. This was when I was a week into this. It was Fathers Day, and I was at Piedmont Park pool with my kids. I was looking at my Substack and saw I had $300. My moms asking me, How are you going to do this? You got shot at by the police. You were nearly trampled by horses. Youve got two kids at home. At the time, I had something like 4 million views. Its somewhere towards like 10 million views now across my social media. That night, I refreshed my Substack, and I had something like $1,500, and thats in a matter of 12 hours. If I were using that pragmatic approach, How was I going to pay for this? Well then, Substack, my readers, and the viewers I have would have paid for that L.A. trip. That was technically viewer-funded. I just received the funding afterwards. So, how is it sustainable? What Ive seen is that by putting out good content and flooding the zone with great content, we can go deep on issues where broadcast and cable news typically have only three minutes for a segment.

I have been able to launch shows where I have 45-minute discussions and conversations. My first guest on Nick Valencia Live, which I air on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. ET-so my mom can watch it at noon at lunch in L.A.-was a Latino Trump voter. The idea that I can have a 45-minute conversation with somebody whom I could bring to my audience, and a perspective where these are uncomfortable and awkward conversations  I can apply all of the great lessons that I learned as a correspondent at CNN, the framework that they gave me, the education that they gave me, and apply it now to where the audience is. So, Im learning how this is all sustainable.

Nick Valenica on location reporting as an independent journalist.

Your initial focus has been on covering the immigration raids in Southern California. Was that by choice?

Its a happy coincidence. I believe in God. Im a recovered alcoholic. Four and a half years ago, I stopped drinking, and Im not blaming journalism at all, but the stuff I saw certainly didnt help. I come from a line of recovered alcoholics. My dad was one, my grandpa, my uncle literally died with a bottle in his hands on the streets of L.A.. In the four and a half years that I stopped drinking, man, Ive learned to not just believe in God, but rely on God. It just really was sincerely a coincidence that the History Channel job and the filming lined up that week. I was watching from my bedroom a local journalist whom I follow and mentor, named Ryan Mena. She was in Paramount (California) in the middle of the clash between police and as the locals were standing up to ICE, she was shot with a rubber bullet. I said, Oh my God, this is crazy! I need to go do what I can to help. I knew I was going to L.A. in a couple of days.

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So, I had planned and packed this bag secretly, and I walked out the door, and my wife was like, Hey, I know that bag! Instead of blowing up at me and getting mad, and saying, Hey, what are you doing, you have kids. She understood, and shes like, Wow, go Nick! Then I got home, and my mom was like, Go, Nicholas! Those are the God shots and the affirmations that I needed to say, Okay, let me go see what I can do to help. I have had millions of views because several of these clips have gone viral.

What other topics are you looking to cover as an independent journalist on Nick Valencia News?

I have a story where I spent the day with migrant farmers, undocumented migrant farmers in Delano, California, and they were very chatty with me, which was remarkable. I have this exclusive story coming up where I spent the day with pickers who make $16.50 an hour under triple-digit temperatures. I have this report coming up on the student athletes who pick in the mornings for 8-9 hours a day. These kids are picking in the fields, and then in practice, they play varsity football. They have practice at night to train, and theyre pretty good. Theyve won a regional championship. Mixed into all this is the granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, whom I interviewed as well. She cried on camera because she feels like shes falling short of her grandfathers legacy and sees how its being muted out and the visibility of it is being washed away.

This is also a chance for me to appeal to people to help fund it. Right now, journalism matters more than ever, and I think independent journalism matters especially. In order for that to continue, in order for me to be able to continue to do the stories that Im doing, its going to take the people to help fund it. Support journalists like me. Let me go into these communities, have these conversations for you, and bring this to you.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A convicted felon out of Sonoma County was arrested in Kern County on Friday afternoon, according to the Stallion Springs Police Department.

Officers in the Stallion Springs area received information regarding a felony vehicle entering the area around 3:10 p.m.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Edwardo Sanchez-Martinez, who had an active felony arrest warrant out of Sonoma County for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to officials.

Sanchez-Martinez is also a documented gang member, according to officials. Authorities were advised that he may be armed and dangerous.

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Police found the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in the 29800 block of Banducci Road. Sanchez-Martinez and a female passenger were both detained.

A search of the vehicle was conducted and a loaded handgun, which was reported stolen out of Washington State, was found. About 47 rounds of ammunition and marijuana were also found.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Good Monday morning! Were kicking off the new week under a gray sky, with cloudy, damp, and cool conditions dominating the region. Light showers are already dotting the area and are expected to become more widespread by mid to late morning.

Temperatures will remain well below average today as a persistent wedge of cool air holds steady over northeast Georgia. A stalled front to our south is helping funnel in moisture, keeping clouds overhead and supporting the development of additional showersand possibly a few rumbles of thunderby this afternoon.

A Flood Watch is in effect for the entire News 3 viewing area, highlighting the potential for localized flooding, particularly in low-lying and poor drainage areas. If youre heading out, use caution.

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Looking ahead, the unseasonably cool weather will linger through much of the week. Off-and-on showers and storms are likely, but well get some breaks with more sunshine expected Tuesday and Wednesday. By the end of the week, temperatures will rebound into the upper 80s as we return to a more typical summertime pattern.

Tracking the Tropics:

Late last night, Tropical Storm Dexter officially formed off the Bermuda coast. The good news? It poses no threat to the United States. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring two additional areas of interest:

One system just off the southeast coast, which currently has a low chance of development.

A more robust tropical wave emerging off the coast of Africa, which could develop further as it moves into the open Atlantic.

Well continue to keep a close eye on the forecast, both locally and in the tropics. Stay tuned and stay dry!

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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 WRBL.
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to crack down on public officials who use their position to grow their wealth.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is set to introduce legislation that would create stiffer penalties for public officials who commit federal bank fraud, tax fraud, or loan or mortgage fraud. Cornyns bill comes on the heels of two such instances where top officials and lawmakers were hit with allegations of mortgage fraud.

Federal Housing Official Submitted Schiff Criminal Referral To Doj Over Mortgage Documents

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is seen after the Senate luncheons in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Indeed, Cornyns Law Enforcement Tools to Interdict Troubling Investments in Abodes (LETITIA) Act is named for New York Attorney General Letitia James.

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The Justice Department earlier this year opened an investigation into James, who successfully won a civil case last year against President Donald Trump and his Trump Organization over allegations of faulty business practices, for alleged mortgage fraud.

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., left, and New York Attorney General Letitia James have been hit with allegations of mortgage fraud.

Department Of Justice Opens Criminal Investigation Into Ny Ag Letitia James

Read On The Fox News App

Federal Housing Finance Director Bill Pulte alleged in a letter that James could have engaged in mortgage fraud by making false or misleading statements on property records, like a loan application that said her property in Virginia is her primary residence, a building record stating her multifamily Brooklyn property incorrectly has five residences instead of four, and a mortgage application that falsely stated James was her fathers spouse.

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"This legislation would empower President Trump to hold crooked politicians like New Yorks Letitia James accountable for defrauding their constituents, violating their oath of office, and breaking the law, and Im proud to lead my Republican colleagues in introducing it," Cornyn said in a statement.

Fox News Digital reached out to James for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Taxpayers Could Be Forced To Fund Trump Foe Letitia James Legal Defense If Dem Budget Item Passes

Cornyns bill also comes after his colleague Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., was similarly hit with allegations of mortgage fraud.

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In another letter to the Justice Department, Pulte charged that Schiff falsified bank documents and property records by listing homes in Maryland and California as his primary residence out of an effort to allegedly get more favorable loans.

Marisol Samayoa, a spokesperson for Schiff, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that both Trump and Pulte's "false allegations are a transparent attempt to punish a perceived political foe who is committed to holding Trump to account."

"The facts here are simple: Senator Schiff and his wife accurately represented to their lenders that they would occupy and use the Maryland house they purchased in 2003 as a principal residence, rather than a vacation home or an investment property," she said. "He also disclosed to his lenders  repeatedly  that he maintained another home in his district in California, where he lived when not in Washington, and which was also a principal residence, not a vacation home or an investment property."

"This was done in consultation with relevant House counsel. As was proper, he claimed only a single homestead tax exemption (from California) worth approximately $70 in annual savings," she continued.

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The bill, which is so far co-sponsored by six Senate Republicans, would increase federal statutory maximum sentences and fines for public officials who abuse their offices and violate the public trust to commit bank fraud, loan or mortgage fraud, or tax fraud.

It would create new mandatory minimum sentences, including one year for bank fraud, one year for loan or mortgage fraud, and six months for tax fraud. And if a public official engages in a repeated pattern of offenses, minimum sentences increase to five years for bank or loan fraud and two years for tax fraud.





Original article source: Cornyn takes swing at James, Schiff with new LETITIA Act targeting 'crooked politicians'
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A 26-year-old tourist from Kansas City, Kansas, was identified Monday as the person who died early Sunday morning after a hit-and-run in Myrtle Beach.

Dezhon Overton died at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center after being hit while he was trying to cross Kings Highway near William Street, the Horry County Coroners Office said. Another person was also injured, but no information was available about their condition.

Myrtle Beach police arrested Bryan ONeal Thomas, 39, in connection with the incident. He is charged with two counts of hit-and-run, including one involving a death. He is being held on a $50,000 bond at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, according to online jail records.

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News13 talked to a person on Sunday who said they saw the incident happen shortly after midnight in the middle of the intersection near 21st Avenue S.

No additional information was immediately available. Myrtle Beach police are investigating.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
MUNCIE, IN  A Muncie man fatally shot by police has been identified by Delaware County Coroner Gavin Greene.

Jesse Lee Robinson, 35, had been involved in what Muncie Police Chief Nate Sloan called a "prolonged standoff" with officers  on the evening of Sunday, Aug. 3  along 23rd Street east of Mock Avenue.

Police were sent to that location at 6:23 p.m. after emergency dispatchers received a report of gunfire in the area, including bullets reportedly striking one or more houses.

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Sloan said the first officers to arrive at the scene found "an armed suspect."

More: Standoff with Muncie police ends with man's fatal shooting in southeast neighborhood

According to Indiana State Police  who are investigating the fatal shooting  the man, who was armed with a handgun, was struck by "a shot fired by police."

Robinson was taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to Greene. The coroner said an autopsy was being conducted at the Muncie hospital on Monday morning.

Toxicology testing was also planned, he said.

The officer who fired the gunshot has been placed on administrative leave, standard procedure following a police action shooting. Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman will ultimately determine whether the shooting was justified.

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Court records reflect no criminal charges had been filed against Robinson.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Name released of Muncie man fatally shot during standoff with police
As Figma went public this week to much fanfareand an almost instantaneous 250% stock popquite a few folks from Silicon Valley made money.

But the biggest winner in terms of immediate IPO proceeds is not any of the marquee Silicon Valley venture capital firms such as Index Ventures, Greylock, and Kleiner Perkins, who sold only small slivers of their stakes in the offering. Nor is it any of the Figma management team, including CEO Dylan Field, who have most of their equity locked in the company.

Instead, a Novato, Calif.-based charity took home the biggest payout. The Marin Community Foundation, located an hour north of San Francisco and focused on grantmaking around issues like education, health, economic opportunity, and environmental concerns, sold more than 13.4 million shares in the offering, making it the largest selling shareholder (Figma itself only sold 12.5 million shares).

As Figma initially priced its shares at $33 a pop, the Marin Community Foundation sold off its stake to the tune of more than $440 million. (If it had waited, of course, that stake would now be worth well over $1 billion.)

The charity received its shares in Figma over the summer from Evan Wallace, the companys elusive cofounder, a source familiar with the matter told Fortune. This isnt necessarily a common practice right before a company goes public, another source told Fortune, but is one that does crop up from time to timea founder with a connection to a charity giving shares with upside. There are adjacent examples from the past, including Mark Zuckerberg in 2013 donating $1 billion in Facebook shares to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (though Zucks gift happened after Facebooks 2012 IPO.)

A spokesperson for MCF described the foundation as one of the largest community foundations in the U.S., adding that a community foundation is a public charity that manages the philanthropy of individuals, families and institutions. The spokesperson declined to comment on anything specific about the Figma gift, citing its privacy policy regarding individual donors or nonprofits.

Why Wallace made the gift to the foundation, and whether he has any personal connection to it, is not clear. Figma declined to provide a comment on behalf of Wallace, and Fortune was unable to reach him directly. Wallace and Figma CEO Dylan Field cofounded the company in 2012 after meeting as students at Brown University. Wallace stepped away from Figma in 2021 and has tended to stay out of the public eye.

The part of the charity that Wallace gave the shares tothe MCF Gift Fundsuggests that the Figma cofounders grant may involve a so-called donor advised fund, a tax efficient structure whereby a wealthy individual puts money into a non-profit and is then able to direct the funds to various causes. The Marin Community Foundations spokesperson said that the MCF Gift Fund facilitates the acceptance of complex gifts that can be turned into philanthropic capital to enable donors to fulfill their philanthropic ambitions.
Weeks after losing $1.1 billion worth of federal funding, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it would begin an "orderly wind-down of its operations" across the U.S., including those in the Cincinnati area.

In mid-July, Republicans in the House and Senate approved $9 billion worth of spending cuts, targeting public broadcasting and foreign aid programs. President Donald Trump signed the bill on July 24.

The measure strips billions in allocations from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and foreign aid agencies including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

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A week after Trump signed the bill, Corporation for Public Broadcasting employees were told on Aug. 1 that most staff positions would be slashed as the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. Some staff would remain through January 2026 to ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations, according to a news release from the corporation.

"I am terribly disappointed for what this means for the United States, a developed, industrialized Western nation that is now, I believe, the only major Western nation that does not have some form of government-subsidized free public service broadcasting," said Richard Eiswerth, president, general manager and CEO of Cincinnati Public Radio.

WVXU, with news programming, and WMUB, with classical music, each have a recording studio.

In an email to staff after the cuts were first announced in July, Eiswerth said they "pose a truly existential threat to the continued existence of a nationwide public service media ecosystem." The cuts will likely diminish the $13.3 million in funds that Ohio public radio and TV stations receive from the coportation each year.

As for Cincinnati Public Radio, funding from the corporation comprises 5% of its budget. The federal entity also underwrites music performance rights for all public stations as well as the cost of the Public Radio Satellite System, which Cincinnati Public Radio uses to distribute and receive programs from NPR, American Public Media, BBC and more, Eiswerth explained in his message.

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The full ramifications of the cuts won't be known for several weeks or months as the move goes into effect at the start of the federal governments fiscal year Oct. 1.

Regardless, Eiswerth said, "There can be little doubt that, over the next weeks and months, we shall see some devastating impacts to individual stations across this country, especially to those serving rural, minority, and Native American populations."

The loss of federal money will be felt the hardest by those demographics, as they're served by the smaller Ohio stations most reliant on that funding. For example, federal money comprises one-fourth of the budget of WOUB in Athens, which serves Appalachia and educates Ohio University students about broadcasting, according to The Ohio Newsroom, a collaboration between the public media stations in the state.

Eiswerth told staff in the July email that "starting immediately, the management team will begin a top-down reevaluation of our annual budget that just went into effect at the start of this month."

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Plus, employees can expect "severe limits on spending across all departments," while "avoiding deficit spending as much as possible, and staying true to the maxim 'No margin, no mission,' " Eiswerth wrote.

The CEO said they will do "everything in our power" to maintain all current staff, and "staff reductions would be made only as a final, extreme resort."

Which Cincinnati radio and TV stations are affected by NPR, PBS cuts?

Here's which stations are part of Cincinnati Public Radio and thus affected by the federal funding cuts:

WGUC (90.9).

WVXU (91.7).

WMUB (88.5 MHz).

Cincinnati's PBS television station is WCET (channel 48), which received about $1.39 million in grants and other funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Corp for Public Broadcasting shutting down; Cincinnati CEO reacts
NEWPORT, Tenn. (WATE)  On Saturday, the Cosby Volunteer Fire Department held its first ever Summer Festival fundraiser in Newport.

The Summer Festival was more than just a good time; it was a chance for the Cosby Volunteer Fire Department to raise money and reconnect with the community after a tough stretch of storms, including Hurricane Helene. The festival included vendors, food trucks, live music, games, rides, a beauty pageant, a silent auction and more.

Police, TBI investigate fatal shooting in Blaine

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Weve been getting a lot of the work, landslide and all that. Its just great to be able to put something on thats not worrying about the weather, not worrying about, hey, whats going to happen in the next little while? More or less trying to get back to the normalcy in our community, trying to give them a little happiness to look at, said Ty Spann, a lieutenant for the fire department.



Like many volunteer departments, Cosby relies heavily on donations. Events like this help them stay ready to serve.



Of course we want the best equipment we can afford, to be able to go out there and do the best of a job we can for the community. Were pretty much dependent on these donations to buy all this equipment. Right now, were also recovering a lot of our buildings from all these recent storms have suffered some damage. So, weve got to get those up to snuff as well, get those fixed, added Spann.



And the departments support and work in the community hasnt gone unnoticed.



During the flood, they were just immersed in that. That actual morning of the flood, it hadnt flooded yet, but they were out at my place because I had a propane gas issue, and theyre always there. Theyre always there, said Newport community member Holly Rowe.



For Spann, the best part is connecting with the community and earning their trust.

We love being able to interact, especially with the kids, so they can come up, get to know us. So, if we ever do have to interact with them on a bad day, its Oh, hey look, its the firemen. I trust the firemen. Or weve even got our brothers and sisters at the police department and E.M.S. Hey, look, thats a policeman. I can trust a policeman or Hey, thats an EMT paramedic. I can trust them. Theyre going to know were there to help, explained Spann.

Newfound Gap Road closed until further notice after heavy rain in the Smokies

The department plans to turn the summer festival into an annual event. Unfortunately, this year, it shut down earlier than expected due to storms.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Fort Pierce Jetty, parking changes: New leadership needed

I just finished reading Laurence Reisman's column on the removal of plaques at the Fort Pierce Jetty and the fact that in the future the free parking will no longer be available.

I am sorry to say, I am very much embarrassed by what our city "leaders" are doing. Why all of a sudden no more plaques are allowed, and especially the new requirement of paying to park.

We are seniors and live to take our coffee and snack a few times a month to park and people-watch and see all the boats in the inlet. And soon we will have to pay for this.

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I am getting to the point that I am ashamed to say that I live in Fort Pierce. It appears we need a completely new overhaul of these "leaders" in office.Pam Krause, Fort Pierce

Buc-ee's management doesn't care about gas pump hogs

Laurence Reisman had a great column about the impact of Buc-ee's and Costco.

One thing missing, which is my biggest complaint and keeping me from stopping anymore at Buc-ee's, is management does not care that 70% of people pumping gas like to fill and leave the car right at the pump.

Yes, there are many pumps, but with that many abusing this, it is hard to get a pump.

Their pumps are not like Costco, where you can pump from either side. I have spoken to some managers and they say some people dont have credit cards, so they have to prepay. I told them to consult with Chik-fil-a on how they take funds outside the restaurant.

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Jeffrey Scales, Vero Beach

Immigrants good, migrants bad? It depends

The words "illegal aliens" bring up visions of thousands of unlawful border crashers and free stuff when they get here  the bad guys.

The term "immigrant"brings up visions of law-abiders waiting their turn for legal entry, and being able to take care of themselves  the good guys.

Have you noticed that the left at first quietly dropped the words "Illegal migrants" and replaced those words with migrants, dropping the illegal.

Now, in both speech and print, they replace "migrants" with the word "immigrants," bestowing them some kind of legitimacy.

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In other words, those bad Homeland Security folks rounded up thousands of immigrants for deportation.

Slick, huh?

Just a thought.

Jim Grant, Jensen Beach

Some Democrats show hypocrisy when it comes to Trump

One recent letter writer started out sounding fairly reasonable, then quickly devolved into Long Trump Derangement Syndrome.

He disparaged both our president and those of us who voted for him, calling us blind-faith followers.

Talk about hypocrisy. If ever there were blind-faith followers, Im pretty sure it wasnt the Republicans in the last election. We took Joe Biden hiding in his basement during his first campaign as a very bad sign, as were the trips, falls and inability to answer simple questions from the press with more than a yes or a no without a Teleprompter.

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Blind-faith followers? Jen Psaki got a huge job with MSNBC for being a world-class liar only to be topped by Karine Jean-Pierre, who had the tenacity to write a book disparaging her party for making her look like an idiot after she vigorously defended her boss' mental health and fitness time and again from the podium.

We recognize their methodology as being from the Democrats' well-used playbook: Demonize one side and elevate/protect the other. This works as long as you have the mainstream media on your side, which, of course, they did.

Im guessing this writer chose to highlight Matthew Shepard's horrific story because it fit his narrative, but it also illustrates the lies and untruths Americans have been fed, not only during the Biden presidency, but apparently throughout the Obama presidency and beyond.

People need to wake up to who really is sowing the seeds of hatred and dysfunction."

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Patricia Perrone, Stuart

MAGA, Trump stuck with stain of Epstein

For years, MAGA diehards shouted, Drain the swamp, only to hand Donald Trump a gold-plated snorkel and a VIP pass.

Their leader, self-styled as the scourge of elite perversion, promised to dismantle child-trafficking rings while casually reminiscing about his pal Jeffrey Epstein, who, according to Trump, liked beautiful women as much as I do, many of them on the younger side.

Charming.

The faithful waited breathlessly for Epsteins client list to drop, certain it would finally expose Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and maybe even Big Bird. But then came the gut punch: Trump wasnt just a footnote, he was a recurring character.

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According to Pam Bondi, yes, the Florida loyalist who helped argue his Supreme Court case, she told Trump back in May that his name was mentioned multiple times in the Epstein files, according to various reports.

Did Trump panic? Of course not. He did what any totally innocent man would do. He accused Obama of treason. Because when youre neck-deep in swamp muck and your names turning up in Epsteins orbit, the only move left is to scream OBAMA! like a toddler knocking over blocks and blaming the dog.

Now MAGA's in full damage-control mode, trying to rewrite the script they wrote themselves. The same crowd that screamed about pedophile elites now shrugs and says, Well, he was just in the same room. The same people who demanded justice now say Trump was framed by the deep state, the Clintons or a pizza-loving lizard.

But the rot isnt on the other side, its inside the red hat. Trump didnt drain the swamp. He bought a timeshare in it. And MAGA, hoisted on its own sanctimonious petard, is learning the hard way that when you hunt monsters with hash tags, you better be sure your guys not riding shotgun on the Lolita Express.

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Mike Milz, Vero Beach

Who hired non-essential federal employees?

In 1979 for Christmas vacation, my family went to Washington, D.C. It was during the Carter administration, and Iran was holding our people hostage. We went to a prayer service for the hostages and there was a great feeling of unity.

We planned to visit some of the sites, however the media announced that due to an ice storm all non-essential employees did not have to come to work. I thought that if they worked for me, they would be essential. If not, they would no longer be employed by me.

This winter, the phrase has been used many times. Once President Donald Trump went into office, he put the Department of Government Efficiency in place. Its purpose was to evaluate all departments in the U.S. government. Many of the non-essentials lost their jobs. It is never a good thing when anyone loses their job.

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My question is: In the last 47-plus years, how did the non-essential employees get hired in the first place?

My answer is that we can thank the bureaucrats, the presidents, both political parties and the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Maybe DOGE should evaluate the representatives and senators as they are responsible for excess spending. Elon Musk and his committee advised we should put an end to our spending. His reward was that vandals attacked Tesla cars and trucks by setting them on fire. They hoped to stop his committee from identifying more non-essential personnel in the government.

Charles Hopper, Port St. Lucie

Diversity? Inclusion? Consider context of 2025

Diversity and inclusion policies have run amok. Please consider the following:

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The largest, single mass lynching in American history was not perpetuated against Blacks, Hispanics or American Indians, but rather against Italian immigrants in the city of New Orleans in 1891.

I am bringing this up because as a retired history teacher it disturbs me that many Americans are not aware of American history. Theodore Roosevelt, one of my favorite presidents, who was then serving on the U.S. Civil Service Commission, wrote to his sister, Anna, that "personally I think (the lynchings) were rather a good thing."

In an effort to ease tensions with Italy and placate Italian Americans, President Benjamin Harrison declared the first nationwide celebration of Columbus Day in 1892, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Italian explorers landing in the New World.

Now, however, some people want to tear down statues of Columbus and erase Columbus Day without knowing the sad history and origins of Columbus Day. I am sure these people might moderate their views if they understood the history behind the establishment of Columbus Day.

Conversely, how many Americans are aware that the Aztec people called themselves the Mexica. Yes, that is where the country of Mexico gets its name. As many of us are aware, the Aztec people were brutal to the other native Americans who lived in the area at the time.

Does that mean because of their brutality we should change the name of Mexico to something else? Of course not. That was then and this is now.

Perhaps, we, as Americans, should look before we leap, and consider the following: It does not matter what ship our ancestors came over on  because we are all in the same boat now.

Joseph Florio, Port St. Lucie

Join the Conversation: TCPalm is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. Email us at TCNLetters@tcpalm.com. Letters are subject to editing, must not exceed 300 words and must include your name, address and a daytime phone number to confirm the letter is for publication. We only publish names and cities with the letters.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Costco, Buc-ee's; Fort Pierce Jetty memorials, parking woes | Letters
(KRON)  A South San Francisco mother was killed last week after her car was broadsided by a red-light runner in San Mateo. Yina Marcela Ramos Bello, 30, leaves behind her two young boys, who were seriously injured in the July 31 crash, and her husband.

The two boys, ages 5 and 7, remain hospitalized in critical condition, family said on a verified GoFundMe page. Bello was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Authorities responded to the crash at 6:17 p.m. on Alameda de las Pulgas near Highway 92. A preliminary investigation from the San Mateo Police Department indicated that a Ford SUV was exiting the highway, blew through a red light at Alameda, and broadsided the Toyota Prius that Bello and her children were in.

Yina Marcela Ramos Bello with family (Photo: GoFundMe) Yina Marcela Ramos Bello with family (Photo: GoFundMe)

The driver of the Ford has only been identified at this time by authorities as a male. He was the sole occupant of his SUV and sustained minor injuries, SMPD said. Police confirmed on Friday that he was not driving impaired.

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In the so-called Land of Opportunity, how can everything be taken from someone in an instant? family wrote on the GoFundMe page. This could be any one of us.

Yina Marcela Ramos Bello with family (Photo: GoFundMe)

Family describes Bellos widow, Alejandro Londono Rojas, as a devoted father and husband who now faces an unimaginable reality grieving the loss of his wife while caring for his injured children and managing the overwhelming financial burden left behind.

The page is raising donations to support covering funeral expenses, ongoing medical bills for the boys, loss of income and living expenses as the family grieves.

Authorities continue to investigate why the Fords driver did not stop for the red light.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Aug. 3MITCHELL  The Mitchell City Council will consider an honorary renaming of public land to recognize a former public official.

During its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 4, the Mitchell City Council will consider a resolution to rename Lake Mitchell's 2.2-acre Public Beach Park Sebert's Beach in honor of former Mitchell Mayor Lou Sebert, who died on July 27 at the age of 89. Sebert served as mayor from 2006 to 2012.

Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson invited Sebert to joint the 2025 Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo parade as part of a float honoring past and present mayors. However, Sebert was hospitalized at the time and was unable to participate. The mayors' float included Hanson, and Bob Everson, who preceded Hanson as mayor from 2018 to 2024, and Ken Tracy, who was mayor immediately following Sebert from 2012 to 2015.

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Hanson graduated from high school the same year Sebert was elected as Mitchell's mayor, the same year that council members Marty Barington and Jeff Smith were elected to the council.

The resolution states that Sebert "made significant contributions in enhancing the quality of life and well-being of the City of Mitchell."

Sebert served Mitchell as District 20 Representative in the South Dakota State Legislature from 1999 through 2006, and served on various organizations, including the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce, the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, and St. Joseph Hospital (now Avera).

"It's a big deal to give stuff that doesn't have a name, a name of someone that did great things for our community," Hanson said.

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The Mitchell City Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance amending the municipal code to

add on-sale alcohol consumption as a conditional use in a neighborhood shopping district.

The council will consider a change order No. 3 for Bar Engineering's Lake Mitchell design work at $798,500. This includes engineering and bid support for the lake drawdown, dredging, material disposal, and dam reconstruction, as well as project management services and permit applications with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The council will consider three agreements: $1.44 million in construction services from HDR at the South Wastewater Treatment Plant; a contract to build a revenue-producing hangar; and a partnership with the South Dakota Housing Authority for Tax Increment District No. 36.

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The council will review three agreements: $1.44 million in construction services from HDR at the South Wastewater Treatment Plant; a contract to build a revenue-producing hangar; and a partnership with the South Dakota Housing Authority for Tax Increment District No. 36.

The council will sit as the Board of Adjustment for two variance requests: a rear yard setback for James Bauder at 700 W. Norway Ave. and a front yard setback for an attached accessory building for Mitchell Telecom at 1524 Commerce St.

A full agenda can be read on

the city's website.

The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, at 612 N. Main St.
SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Marie Austin, the 28-year-old Sullivan woman accused of engaging in sexual exploitation of a minor, appeared in court on Monday for her initial hearing.

The initial hearing resulted in a pretrial hearing being scheduled for October 9 and a jury trial being set for December 16. A $60,000 cash bond was also set.

Two arrested in Sullivan County for child molesting and neglect

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Indiana State Police said they initiated a criminal investigation on Austin in July 2025, after receiving information from the Martin County Sheriffs Office that a minor female had been sexually exploited.

Austin was then arrested without incident and transferred to the Sullivan County Jail on charges of child sexual exploitation, a level 4 felony.

Three arrested for meth in Hymera drug bust

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
Michigan State University Professor Josh Cowen, author of "The Privateers - How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers". Photo courtesy of Josh Cowen.

Michigan 7th Congressional candidate Josh Cowen recently gained the endorsement of the Network for Public Education Action, a national advocacy group opposed to charter schools and voucher programs, which touted the candidates commitment to championing public schools and other key issues.

Cowen is a professor of education policy at Michigan State University and is one of several Democratic candidates seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte).

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Josh is a national leader in the fight against school vouchers and privatization. He has studied voucher programs and school choice policies for nearly two decades, and has testified, published, and spoken widely on their harmful effects, the group said in a news release. He was recently named the 2025 Friend of Education by the National Education Association  the organizations highest honor  and previously served as a Senior Fellow at the Education Law Center. His new book, The Privateers, exposes how voucher schemes fuel the broader culture wars.

The group said its endorsement was based on Cowens stances on using test scores to evaluate teachers and vouchers moving public funding to private schools, issues to which Cowen is opposed.

The Network for Public Education Action also noted that Cowen has emphasized that Michigans population decline is forcing tough economic choices, and public schools are feeling the strain.

As enrollment drops but fixed costs remain, many districts are left in crisis  especially in areas saturated with charter schools. Meanwhile, relentless attacks on public education and the teaching profession are eroding trust and threatening the educator pipeline, the group said of Cowen. While schools must always strive for improvement, Josh believes thats impossible without stable, long-term funding.

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The group noted the Michigan Legislatures failure to meet its July 1 budget deadline, leaving the school aid budget in limbo as districts prepare for students and the school year to begin in September.

With the school year fast approaching, districts remain uncertain about their funding, the group said. Josh calls this unacceptable and unsustainable.

The race for the Democratic nomination includes former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam, Alexandra Prieditis, Elyon Badger and Muhammed Salman Rais.

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A solo camper was living his best life, singing at the top of his lungs in the middle of the wilderness in British Columbia, Canada.

He thought no one could hear, but it turns out he was very wrong.

Two hikers were near the Boulderfields, a popular climbing area, Thursday, July 31, when they believed they heard someone yelling for help, Central Okanagan Search & Rescue said in an Aug. 1 Facebook post.

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The worried hikers called 911, and authorities contacted search and rescue, Ed Henczel, the teams search manager, told McClatchy news by phone Aug. 4.

Henczel said the team just so happened to be wrapping up training when they got the call at about 9 p.m., so 20 volunteers and two police officers went to find the person in need.

He said there have been many serious injuries in this area in the past.

Early responders even heard faint yellingbut couldnt make out what was being said. Was it help? Or worse, Nickelback? the team joked in the Facebook post.

Rescuers followed the noise and didnt find anyone in trouble.

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Instead, they found a man singing his heart out to the trees, blissfully unaware that the acoustics of the Boulderfields had turned his tent-side concert into an accidental distress signal, the post said.

The camper offered the team members some beers for their trouble, but they declined, Henczel said.

The guy was solo camping by himself having his best life, he said.

This photo shows a previous rescue in the area.

The Boulderfields is in a forested area, about a 10-mile drive southeast from Kelowna.

This is definitely going to go down in Central Okanagan Search and Rescue history, he said.

Henczel also said he wants the public to know rescues are always free.

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Wed rather be called for something like this than have people just ignore it, he said.

Hundreds of people commented on the search and rescues Facebook post to share their thoughts about the mistaken camper.

When a person sings in the forest, will anyone hear? Turns out, yes. Yes, they will, one person commented.

Note to self, dont sing along to the Beatles in the bush, another person said.

British tourist ignores landslide signs, then needs rescue in Italy, officials say

Anglers hear cries for help, leading to man missing for days at lake, AZ cops say

Hikers struck by lightning rescued from Colorado peak in record-breaking flight
Cincinnati has become central to the national debate about criminal justice and police following a viral fight video filmed on the streets of Downtown.

The larger discussion touches on issues of race and perception of safety. But politically, the fight is becoming a series of talking points as elections heat up.

The likes of Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. have weighed in, but locally, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is scheduled to hold a town hall about crime Aug. 4 in Riverside.

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More: Politics, race and crime: Why a fight in Cincinnati went viral on social media

When it comes to crime in Cincinnati, the answer isn't as simple as yes or no. But here is what the data shows:

Overall crime in Cincinnati is slightly up

Year-to-date, overall crime is up in Cincinnati less than 0.3%. However, it's down nearly 8% compared to 2023.

As of Aug. 3, violent crime was also down citywide compared to last year, but the reduction is less than 2%. Violent crime is up about 7% compared to 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Violent crime has spiked in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. At the end of July, there had been five homicides in Over-the-Rhine compared to just two during the same period last year. Downtown has seen a 50% increase in robberies, from 24 to 36, and a 46% increase in aggravated assaults, from 16 to 23.

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Property crime is also slightly elevated compared to last year. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said this is driven by thefts from vehicles. She said a significant number of vehicles are being broken into by thieves looking for guns.

The number of people who have been shot in Cincinnati is down nearly 25% compared to last year. Cincinnati police and the city government have focused on reducing shootings, particularly among juveniles, for years.

What's being done?

The city has been holding biweekly press conferences, sharing updates on major cases and presenting plans to reduce crime.

There have been discussions of curfews for teens, although many of the high-profile crime incidents, including the Downtown fight, did not involve juveniles.

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Chief Theetge's roving task force has been on the streets for about a month, reporting dozens of arrests. More high-visibility patrols have been added, particularly in Over-the-Rhine.

Is Cincinnati's police department under-staffed?

Like many law enforcement agencies across the country, the Cincinnati Police Department has struggled with recruitment and retention for years. The department is authorized to have a complement of 1,059 sworn officers. Police union president Ken Kober told The Enquirer on Aug. 4 that the department is about 110 officers short of that.

Kober said he expects the department to be 150-160 officers short by the end of the year due to retirements.

More: Without action, Cincinnati police staffing could plummet by 2029

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In 2023, police and human resources officials warned Cincinnati City Council that without drastic action, staffing would plummet at the police department by 2029. They projected a shortage of nearly 200 officers.

This summer, the city announced that it would recruit a "lateral class" to help fill the ranks. These officers would already be certified officers in other Ohio departments. While this shortens the timeline for training, Kober said these officers likely won't hit the streets until April 2026.

Is crime worse in Cincinnati than New York and Chicago?

Sen. Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican, has threatened to ask the feds to halt funds to Cincinnati if Mayor Aftab Pureval didn't figure out the crime problem in 30 days.

He blamed Pureval and "radical judges" for pulling "a great city to levels of chaos seen in New York or Chicago."

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It's hard to compare violent crime statistics between cities. Columbus, for instance, has an urban core similar to Cincinnati's but has annexed nearly all of Franklin County. This can have a drastic effect on crime rates.

Cincinnatis incompetent leadership, from its weak Mayor who doesnt back his police, to its radical judges who free criminals, has descended a great city to levels of chaos seen in New York or Chicago. @AftabPureval, you have 30 days to figure it out, or I will. pic.twitter.com/j5PT2kMwAa  Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) July 31, 2025

Cincinnati's crime rates this year from Jan. 1 to July 20 are worse in some ways than those of Chicago or New York and better in others.

Cincinnati has the worst homicide rate and shooting incident rate of the three cities. New York City is reporting its lowest year on record for homicides and shootings.

The three cities have comparable rates of robberies. However, New York City has a far higher rate of aggravated assault, which it labels as felony assault. New York City had 16,226 felony assaults compared to Cincinnati's 392.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Is crime up in Cincinnati? Here's what the data shows
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Over the past 60 days, the Muscogee County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) says they seized 37 firearms, more than $2.3 million in illegal drugs and executed 22 search warrants.

The sheriffs office says the search and seizures were a part of a joint operation with several other law enforcement agencies that focused on investigating local trafficking organizations, capturing fugitives and arresting individuals that possessed and distributed child sex materials.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: More than $1.3 million worth of drugs seized, 10 people arrested in multi-agency operation

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The MCSO seized the following over the 60-day period:

179.7 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $815,280.

11.4 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $521,320.

20.2 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $918,300.

153 grams of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $63,600.

145 grams of ecstasy with an estimated street value of $3,950.

49 grams of heroin with an estimated street value of $19,600.

$143,194.81 in U.S. currency

37 Firearms

18 Vehicles pending seizure

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two men in custody after Muscogee County Sheriffs deputies execute search warrant; 5.3 kilos of meth seized

According to the sheriffs office, the MCSO Heat Unit, MCSO Sex Offender Task Force, MCSO Special Operations Unit, and MCSO Uniform Patrol Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Harris County Sheriffs Office, Coweta County Sheriffs Office, Talbot County Sheriffs Office, Russell County Sheriffs Office, and the Lee County Sheriffs Office all contributed to the operation.

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Most of the cases have been sent to Superior Court and are awaiting prosecution. The sheriffs office says all cases are still being investigated and more charges may be pending.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two men arrested, charged with sexual exploitation of children

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Former UK Chancellor George Osborne has issued a blunt warning over Britains approach to crypto, arguing that regulatory caution is costing the country its place in the next wave of financial innovation.

In an op-ed published by the Financial Times, Osborne accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey of falling behind global peers.

On crypto and stablecoins, as on too many other things, the hard truth is this: Were being completely left behind, Osborne wrote in his op-ed. Its time to catch up.

He likened cryptos rise to the Big Bang reforms of the 1980s that cemented Londons financial dominance. Osborne also singled out the Bank of England's stablecoin policy, calling it a roadblock to innovation.

Bailey, meanwhile, had earlier warned that stablecoins should not replace traditional money, and has supported rules that critics say would make sterling-pegged coins commercially unworkable.

Osbornes comments follow renewed tensions between UK regulators and the industry. In the past week, UK broadcasters pulled a Coinbase ad that showed the financial system collapsing like a crumbling ceiling. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong responded Sunday.

"Our ad which got banned in the UK by the TV networks has sparked quite a reaction," he wrote on X. "If you can't say it, then there must be a kernel of truth in it."

The UK has stricter rules than many jurisdictions. The Financial Conduct Authority, or FCA's, 2023 regime includes 24-hour cooling-off periods for new investors, bans referral bonuses, and restricts crypto advertising, classifying it as high-risk.

CryptoUK, a digital assets trade group, echoed Osborne's concerns.

There is a call for the recognition of stablecoins in UK law and fairer banking policies, so more digital asset companies can use the same financial services other businesses in the UK can use, Su Carpenter, director of operations at CryptoUK, told Decrypt.

She added that there is a real lack of recognition of how the tax framework can and will apply, which has inhibited economic growth in the crypto sector.
Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to 20,00 for information that could lead to those responsible in a "no body" murder investigation.

Maris Ile, 54, was a seasonal worker from Latvia who had been living in the Highgate area of King's Lynn, Norfolk.

He did not arrive at work in Ely, Cambridgeshire, after setting off from home on 20 November, and was reported missing three days later.

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Norfolk Police said it believed the 54-year-old had come to harm and launched a murder investigation in March, despite not having found a body.

On 11 March, four men and a woman were arrested at addresses in King's Lynn, Norwich and Peterborough on suspicion of murder in connection with the disappearance.

They remain on bail until 11 September, police said.

Maris Ile's mother, Galina, described her son as "caring" and said he loved motorbikes [Norfolk Police]

Last month Mr Ile's mother, Galina, described her son as "caring" and said he loved motorbikes as she appealed for information over his disappearance.

In a translated appeal, she said: "This is very important to me.

"If he is no longer alive, then I want the police to find his body, so he would be cremated and brought back home to Latvia so he could rest on Latvian soil, so that he can be buried with his father in the cemetery."

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Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to 20,000 for information that leads to an arrest or conviction, which will be available until 4 November.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, is cheering on the Texas state lawmakers who fled the state in a bid to delay a vote on new congressional maps that would give Republicans a significant edge in 2026.

Crockett railed against the Republican effort and its backers, including President Donald Trump, who she called a "ridiculous tyrant" in a five-minute message to supporters on her Instagram page on Sunday night.

"My colleagues, my former colleagues in the state house, they say, 'Deuces! We out. We don't like what you doing.' So I'm really excited. And I am so thankful because this is the type of fight that the American people need to see," Crockett said.

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"We understand that this ridiculous tyrant is trying to do everything that he can to break our democracy. But there are democracy defenders that believe in absolutely standing up for the people. They understand the assignment."

Far-left Firebrand Says She 'Never Had A Concern' About Biden's Mental State As House Probe Heats Up

Rep. Jasmine Crockett unleashed a tirade against President Donald Trump and Texas Republicans' proposed new congressional maps.

Crockett herself was launched onto the national stage when she was part of a group of Texas statehouse Democrats who left the state in a bid to delay a vote on a GOP-backed elections bill in 2021.

Read On The Fox News App

Democratic state lawmakers are now accusing Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Republican lawmakers of following Trump's marching orders before acting to help people affected by the deadly floods that the Lone Star state grappled with last month.

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"Over 130 Texans died in the July 4th floods. Republicans responded with zero flood relief bills  and a mid-decade redistricting scheme to help Trump cling to power. Thats not governing. Thats exploitation. We broke quorum because Texans deserve better," state Rep. John Bucy III wrote on X.

Abbott in turn accused Democrats of holding up flood relief themselves by paralyzing the statehouse with their absence  and suggested they should lose their elected roles.

148 Democrats Back Noncitizen Voting In Dc As Gop Raises Alarm About Foreign Agents

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (L) and Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (R) listen as Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks to reporters during a press conference on August 3, 2025, in Carol Stream, Illinois. Wu and Fischer are two of the truant Democratic lawmakers.

"Our fellow Texans are being let down and not getting the flood relief they need because these Democrats have absconded from the responsibility," Abbott said on Fox News Monday afternoon. "And I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state legislature because they're not doing the job they were elected to do."

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Crockett said on Instagram that she was "excited" by the Democrats fleeing to Chicago and New York City.

"They understand the assignment. They understand who they swore an oath to. They understand that they don't serve him. We don't serve him. He not ours. He's not our constituent. He is not," Crockett said of Trump.

"Hopefully this will be the energy that more Democrats need to see so that hopefully we can start to push back in a major way, because, unfortunately, he is trampling on our rights in a major way."

Crockett also called Trump an "orangutan" and "Temu Hitler" later in the video.

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She mocked Trump and his Republican allies, "That's what makes you real MAGA, is like, you got to be about this thug life. You gotta be, like, cheating on your wife. You got to at least be going to get impeached if you ain't been impeached."

Crockett and other Democrats are accusing Texas Republicans of doing Trump's bidding.

Republicans currently control 25 of Texas' 38 seats in the House of Representatives. Trump himself won 27 in the 2024 election, though House Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez kept their seats there.

Under the new proposed lines, Trump would have won in 30 districts by at least 10% each, according to the Texas Tribune.

Crockett herself, who represents part of the Dallas area, would see her home drawn out of her current district lines.

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Abbott gave the state Democrats until 3 p.m. local time on Monday to reconvene.





Original article source: Crockett cheers Texas Dems fleeing to delay congressional maps backed by 'ridiculous tyrant' Trump: 'Deuces!'
The Brief

A popular online trend has sparked intrigue and critique, especially on platforms like TikTok.

Heading into the weekend, a "Performative Male" contest brought in hundreds of onlookers for a live contest.

Event organizers talked to us about bringing online discourse to life at Cal Anderson Park.

SEATTLE - From flyers and TikTok videos to a gathering of hundreds at Cal Anderson Park, a spontaneous contest brought young people together in one of Seattle's most vibrant cultural hubs, Capitol Hill. Some videos circulating online about the events earned hundreds of thousands of views over the weekend.

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The contest comes as more young people look for ways to bring eachother together in person for pop-up events like the celebrity lookalike competitions we saw in 2024.

"It's fun to beat the Seattle Freeze and unite people over something fun and light-hearted," said event organizers Lanna Rain and Guinevere.

Timeline

On Friday, Aug. 1, the "Performative Male Contest" brought in crowds of contestants and onlookers to the historic park for a lighthearted poke at an emerging style.

The crowd filtered in around 7 p.m. as contestants began to line up for public judgement. Participants were displayed to those gathered and sorted into groups based on the roar, or boos, coming from the crowd.

Crowds gather for Performative Male Contest on Capitol Hill

Common items worn by contestants included tote bags, Labubu dolls, vinyl records, books and baggy trousers.

Dozens of people were judged and shuffled into groups until a winner was announced. Marcus Jernigan took home the top prize with not just a vinyl, but an entire record player in tow.

"Performative Male Contest" winner Marcus Jernigan

The crowd got in on the fun too. Those who did not compete still offered their own commentary. One such example was an attendee who made their rounds with a sign that read, "put tariffs on men who like Clairo." Another sign read "men used to build houses."

Signs read "put tariffs on men who like Clairo" and "men used to build houses" at the Performative Male contest at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle on Aug. 1, 2025.

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The organizers

Lanna Rain and Guinevere organized the event in Cal Anderson Park and served as announcers throughout the competition series. Shared posts estimate a crowd size of around 300 people.

What they're saying

"Nothing could have prepared us for the size. I knew the TikToks had a ton of shares, but I honestly thought it was from people outside of Seattle," Rain said.

"I knew it would be big, but not that big," Guinevere added. They said the turnout for this event was heartwarming and will help them plan for their next one, possibly coming in September.

When asked about what inspired them to put on this contest, Rain said there was a similar event in New York City. However, the pair noted that they tried to put a unique and local spin on it by reaching out to the community for input on questions to ask during the interview portion of the contest.

Contest organizers Lanna Rain and Guinevere

What is a performative male?

Event organizer Lanna Rain gave her description of the emerging "type." "My best description of a performative male is a man who wears feminism and softness and certain music as a guy to allure women without actually knowing anything about what theyre putting on or talking about."

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Rain joked that Seattle was a great place to host such an event.

"We honestly just thought there were so many people like that in Seattle that it would be an easy event to host here, where maybe in New York people were more embarrassed to claim that about themselves. But, we knew Seattlites had a good sense of humor."

The backstory

Lanna Rain and Guinevere say they met up once before the event to plan out flyers and logistics. They say there were just about two weeks between forming the idea and the Aug. 1 contest day.

The self-funded effort was helped by organic social media buzz, a cache of community organizing materials on hand, and the donation of an authentic Labubu prize by Corteezy.

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A week prior to the contest, a flyer emerged on the r/SeattleWA subreddit. The listed prize was one handmade pearl necklace and a copy of "The Will to Change" by Bell Hooks. These are among the many staple items donned by the so-called "performative male."

Performative male contest flyer (posted by reddit user Beneficial_Diver_580)

As the post gained traction, videos began populating on TikTok and Instagram talking more about the event. Recap videos of the event garnered more than 1 million views over the weekend.

The Capitol Hill neighborhood is a bustling cultural hub in the city. FOX 13 recently reported on an unclaimed, and disputed, "Hot Rat Summer" mosaic installation in the area.

Additionally, in nearby Volunteer Park last December, another trend of pop-up celebrity lookalike competitions taking the country by storm landed on Capitol Hill with a Paul Mescal lookalike competition.

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Organizer Rain joked it was easy to remember this event, as she was dating an Irish guy who looked like the "Gladiator II" star at the time.

The Source

Information for this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle interviews, and posts to social media from cited sources.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is deploying a crew of four to assist with the Elk Creek Fire currently burning in Meeker, Colorado.

On Sunday, Aug. 3, CSFD received a request from the Colorado Mutual Aid System (CMAS) to respond to the fire that broke out in Rio Blanco County, southeast of Meeker.

CSFD Brush 3 (a type 6 wildland brush truck) with a crew of 4 are headed to the fire to assist, CSFD wrote via X (formerly known as Twitter).

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As of Sunday, Aug. 3, the fire stood at 2000 acres. According to the Rio Blanco County Sheriffs Office, the fire was caused by lightning, and evacuation orders were issued for County Road 8 from Mile Marker 11 to Mile Marker 16. Individuals are asked to stay out of the area to ensure their safety.

Polis declares emergency for Elk Creek Fire, evacuations ordered

Also on Sunday, Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for the fire.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
He fought for his country. He fought for veterans. He fought for democracy.

That is how Connecticuts now late U.S. Army Capt. Paul Bud Bucha, a Medal of Honor recipient, is described, more than a year after his death and decades after his service in the Vietnam War, where, as a U.S. Army captain, and company commander in the 101st Airborne Division, he crawled through heavy enemy fire in March 1968 to single-handedly destroy a bunker with hand grenades.

Now, the U.S. Senate has taken a step towards the West Haven VA Medical Center being named in honor of Bucha.

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U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said Bucha had been a friend of his for about two decades. Blumenthal sponsored the Senate bill on the naming, which will next go to the House of Representatives.

He lived and breathed for his fellow veterans and naming this institution of health care and caring, I think is a very appropriate honor for him and very well deserved, Blumenthal said in a phone interview. Every veteran who now uses VA healthcare in West Haven, will see his name and remember his tremendous broad service, not just as the medal of honor winner, but as a stand-up guy who spoke out for veterans every opportunity.

And I hope theyll be inspired and heartened by it, because theyre often going to that facility in pain or illness, but Bud Bucha was a fighter, Blumenthal said. He fought for his country. He fought for veterans. He fought for democracy. I will tell you to this day, I dont know how he voted Democrat or Republican. It didnt matter. I hope that that legacy will inspire fellow veterans.

Bucha was a longtime resident of Ridgefield resident who died July 31, 2024. Bucha received care at the West Haven facility after his service as well as at the end of his life.

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Bucha received the Medal of Honor in 1970 for his heroic service while on active duty during the Vietnam War.

According to a statement, he aggressively and courageously led his 89 men against an enemy force of about 1,500, taking strategic actions that resulted in the destruction of enemy fortifications and base areas and eliminated scattered resistance impeding the advance of the company. He received a painful shrapnel wound while taking actions that exposed himself to enemy gunfire.

Captain Buchas heroic leadership in Vietnam, lifelong advocacy for veterans, and principled public voice exemplify the highest ideals of the Medal of Honor, Executive Director Chad Graham of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society said in a statement. Honoring his name in this way ensures that future generations of veterans will recognize the impact of a man who stands as a lasting symbol of the courage, character, and sacrifice he carried on behalf of his fellow service members.

Bucha served as the president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society from 1995 to 1999 and also advised President Obama on foreign policy during his 2008 presidential campaign.

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Bucha was on the board of directors of Homes for Our Troops, a Veterans Service Organization that builds and donates adapted custom homes for severely injured Post-9/11 veterans. He also was chairman of the Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and Training Services at the U.S. Department of Labor.

According to a statement, Bucha received care for PTSD at West Haven hospital. Buchas brain was donated to the Center for Human Brain Discovery at Yale University.

Buchas wife Cynthia Chintz Bell-Bucha said the legislation is an honor for the family.

The family of Paul W. Buddy Bucha is humbled by this incredible honor, Bell-Bucha stated. Paul first went to the West Haven VA Hospital many years ago and did so until his final days. We will be forever grateful to the doctors and staff who took such excellent care of him during his times of need. We cannot thank you enough for recognizing Pauls service to the men and women of our United States Armed Forcesthey were his brothers and sisters.

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Blumenthal said he felt really privileged and grateful to have Bucha as a friend and rely on his advice and help personally and professionally, he was a medal of honor winner for absolutely heroic service in combat, but he also was a hero in helping veterans over these last decades, and I worked with him on many of his projects.

We had a real partnership, working for veterans military defense, but we also had a very deep, personal connection. We just click from the moment we first met, 15 or 20 years ago, and we would often get together for coffee or for meetings and coffee in Ridgefield, where he lived or in D.C., hed come by my office, to spend time together, the states senior senator said.

He came to epitomize for me the idea of public service both in uniform and in the community, and I thought that naming the West Haven facility for him was just absolutely the right thing to do for all the veterans who use it as well as for his memory and his legacy.

The VA healthcare in West Haven is a world-class facility and its only fitting that a hero will have its name on it, he added.

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Others federal lawmakers also support the legislation.

Captain Bucha was a gianton the battlefield, in the veterans community, and in his hometown of Ridgefield, where he was a beloved neighbor and friend. We will never forget his bravery in Vietnam and unwavering dedication to his country and fellow veterans. Naming the West Haven VA Medical Center after him is a fitting way to honor a man who spent his whole life serving others, building community, and helping veterans access mental health care, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. said, in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, in whose third district the West Haven VA hospital is located, said Bucha embodied the highest ideals of service to his country, his fellow soldiers, and his community.

Naming the West Haven VA Medical Center in his honor is a deserving tribute to a hero who fought for this country, earned its highest military distinction, and then continued to fight for veterans throughout his life. His legacy of courage and compassion will live on through the care provided to every veteran who walks through those doors.

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U.S. Rep. Jim Himes agreed.

Naming the West Haven VA Medical Center in honor of Captain Bucha is a fitting way to immortalize the legacy of a true American patriot, Himes said. He led an extraordinary life, marked by astounding courage in battle and advocacy for his fellow veterans. I hope everyone who passes through the doors of this facility finds inspiration in Captain Buchas story, strength in his tenacity, and comfort that, in our state, we do not forget our heroes.

At the time of his death last year, Bucha was the only living Medal of Honor recipient in the state of Connecticut, officials said. Bucha decoration was for actions he took between March 16 and March 19 in 1968 as commanding officer, Company D, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission against enemy forces near Phuoc Vinh in the Binh Duong province of Vietnam, the officials said last year.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said last year in offering condolences that she had had the privilege of meeting Mr. Bucha in Ridgefield a number of years ago. Not only was he a man of honor and distinction, but a gentleman who spent his life in service to his community. Mr. Bucha continued his public service by helping veterans by serving on a dozen military boards and organizations including the Board of Veterans Advantage and the Medal of Honor Society. Mr. Bucha was a treasure of our state and leaves a legacy of service to our country.

Captain Bucha was awarded for pushing back Vietnamese forces while his company was under heavy fire. He risked his life to rescue soldiers who had been cut off from their unit and successfully moved them to a more defensible position, she said.
Realtor Cindy Myrex (left) and Cullman City Councilman Clint Hollingsworth (right) will face each other in the Aug. 12 runoff for the Republican nomination for House District 12 in Cullman County. (Left: Courtesy Cindy Myrex; Right: Courtesy Clint Hollingsworth)

Republican voters in Cullman County will choose their nominee for the House District 12 special election for the Alabama House of Representatives on Aug. 12.

Voters narrowed their options from four candidates to Cullman City Councilman Clint Hollingsworth and realtor Cindy Myrex on July 15. Myrex received 49.81% of votes and Hollingsworth got 43.24%, according to election results.

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The district covers part of Cullman County and is solidly Republican. Former Rep. Corey Harbison, R-Cullman, took over 85% of the vote in his re-election campaign in 2022. He resigned in April after not being present for much of the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions.

The candidates

Hollingsworth, 47, said he is trying to get to places that he did not make it to before the July primary.

I just try to get in front of as many people as I can possible, Hollingsworth said in a phone interview Tuesday.

Myrex said she is prioritizing spending personal time with voters to listen to their concerns and accurately represent them.

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I just feel like Im more in tune with the people, Myrex said in a phone interview Thursday. Its about being a strong conservative voice in Montgomery, for our county, and represent the voice of the people and what they want.

Both candidates have a long list of priorities and ideas if they are elected to office, most of which stem from community concerns. Hollingsworth, who has served on the Cullman City Council for 17 years, said a lot of concerns he hears are local.

You go to different areas and some people were wanting a traffic light. Some people are wanting road work done, Hollingsworth said. Ive got one place that needs an AC for their volunteer fire department.

Myrex, a Smith Lake realtor, has heard similar concerns, but is prioritizing being a strong voice in the state legislature and reducing government overreach.

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My priority is always going to be to be the voice of the people. I dont know that you can prioritize this many needs, she said.

Myrex said Friday that voters are concerned about some land on Smith Lake in Cullman County that will be annexed to the City of Cullman, a result of SB 322, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills.

The bigger topic has been the annexation of Smith Lake property into the City of Cullman, and the fact that Poarch Creek Indians owns a portion of that property. And their concern is, could there be gambling, a casino, or whatever on Smith Lake, Myrex said. So thats been more of the issue is, Please work hard to keep that out of our community, and please work hard to stop the any kind of annexation.'

An amendment in the bills final version prohibits building a casino or another place for gambling activities.

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In the primary, 4,274 people voted, 12.4% of registered voters, according to results. Myrex is expecting most of those to return for the primary runoff.

When I say, exercise your right, I dont care what side of the aisle youre on, Myrex said. Thats your voice when you mark that box.

The Cullman Tribune, a local news outlet, plans to host a debate on Aug. 9 at Wallace State Community College. Myrex said she would not attend, but would not say on-the-record why.

Campaign Finances

More than $270,000 have been raised in the primary race, according to campaign finance records. Hollingsworth has raised $147,741.73 since the beginning of his campaign and spent $112,301.75. Almost two thirds of his donations come from political action committees (PACs), where the SV&B and SVBII PACs donated the most at $14,000 between two separate PACs that are operated by the same consulting firm: Swatek, Vaughn and Bryan.

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PACs donated $89,483.75 (60.6%), individuals gave $42,719.64 (28.9%) and businesses gave $13,750 (9.3%), according to campaign finance records. A message seeking comment from Hollingsworth about his donations was left Friday.

Myrex has raised $142,302.20 since the beginning of her campaign and spent $111,395.21. Myrex has self funded almost 40% of her campaign with more than $56,000. Businesses have contributed $42,000 (29.5%), individuals have given $35,726 (25.1%) and PACs have given $6,600 (4.6%), according to campaign finance records. The Veterans PAC and the fundraising arm of ALFA contributed a combined $6,100 and the Alabama Christian Citizens PAC gave the other $500.

Myrex said in a phone interview Friday that she wished she had gotten more support from PACs, but is glad that the voters are funding her campaign more.

To be honest, Im not the chosen one. Im not the Montgomery pick, Myrex said. Im thankful that my community has rallied around me and believe enough in me and donated for the win, because that tells me that my community believes in me.

How to vote

District 12 voters can choose between Hollingsworth and Myrex for the Republican nomination on Aug. 12. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling locations can be found here. The winner will face Democratic nominee Matthew Glover, a 40-year-old former Good Hope City councilman on Oct. 28.

Clint Hollingsworth

Clint Hollingsworth, R-Cullman, is running for the House District 12 seat in a special election. (Courtesy Clint Hollingsworth)

Age: 47

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Residence: Cullman

Occupation: Self-employed at a used car dealership

Education: Bachelors degree, K-12 physical education, Athens State University, 1999

Party: Republican

Previous political experience: Cullman City Council, 2008-present

Fundraising: Raised $147,741.73 as of Aug. 1 and spent $112,301.75.

Cindy Myrex

Cindy Myrex, R-Cullman, is running for the House District 12 seat in a special election. (Courtesy Cindy Myrex)

Age: 58

Residence: Cullman

Occupation: Realtor

Education: High school diploma; Wallace State Community College real estate license, 2007

Party: Republican

Previous political experience: First-time candidate

Fundraising: Raised $142,102.20 as of Aug. 1 and spent $111,395.21.
The tourniquet has saved many thousands of lives and limbs in war zones around the world, but misuse of the device is causing huge numbers of excess amputations and deaths in Ukraine, say top military surgeons.

Captain Rom A Stevens, a retired senior US medical navy officer who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Africa, estimates that of the roughly 100,000 amputations performed on Ukrainian soldiers since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, as many as 75,000 were caused by improper use of tourniquets.

Ive seen tourniquets that have been left on for days, often for injuries that could have been stopped by other methods. Then [the patient] has to have their limb amputated because the tissue has died, Captain Stevens told The Telegraph.

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Tourniquets are strong bands used to stop catastrophic bleeding by cutting off blood flow, and are standard issue for most modern armies.

But if left on over two hours, they can cause tissue death, meaning the arm or leg which has the tourniquet on is no longer viable and requires amputation.

The device became standard-issue in the 2000s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where rapid air evacuation to military surgical teams was possible in under 60 minutes. If the tourniquet was unnecessary it was removed, and no harm was done.

But in Ukraine, where the skies are infested with drones, injured soldiers are evacuated by land, often far exceeding the safe time window for tourniquet use.

Military medics in a frontline field hospital work on a member of the Ukrainian army with head and leg injuries caused by a mine - Chris McGrath/Getty Images

This critical delay has caused tens of thousands of amputations, say experts, many of which were unnecessary because the injuries didnt require a tourniquet in the first place.

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It has also led to a sharp rise in young Ukrainians needing dialysis, said Captain Stevens who has served as a medical volunteer in hospitals in Zaporizhzhiya, Dnipro, and Lviv since the invasion in 2022.

This is because when a tourniquet is removed after being kept on too long, toxins from dead tissue flood the bloodstream, overwhelming the kidneys.

Captain Stevens helped draft the US military guidelines for tourniquet use and now wishes greater emphasis had been placed on assessing when they were needed to stop bleeding.

He fears that their successful use in wars where rapid evacuation was possible has led to a cult-like dependence on a tool that should be used much more sparingly.

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In Ukraine, it has left a generation of men traumatised by unnecessary amputations, he said.

A prosthetics and rehabilitation centre for Ukrainian soldiers in Dnipro - Heathcliff O'Malley

The US Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) handbook was created for trained military medics operating in war zones in the 1990s and heavily promotes the use of tourniquets in war, describing their use as the best method to control life-threatening bleeding.

Widely adopted by NATO and Western armed forces in the early 2000s, the TCCC standards were quickly integrated into Ukrainian military and civilian medical training following the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014.

Captain Stevens  though an author of the TCCC  says this was a error.

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If you have a perfect battlefield, then tourniquets work. But if you dont  if you have a situation like Ukraine today  you can end up with a tragedy. And thats what the Ukrainians have, he said.

Theres now hundreds of thousands of tourniquets that have been distributed to military forces, civilians, fire departments, and police in Ukraine. Its become a cult, and because it saved lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, people think its a good idea, he added.

While most Western militaries embed specialist medics in every unit, Ukraines armed forces  made up largely of conscripts and civilian volunteers  often rely on medics with only a few weeks or even days of training who are often unable to distinguish between injuries that do and dont require tourniquets.

The Ukrainian infantry and artillery battalions are undermanned. They cant replace their medics when they get injured or killed, Captain Stevens said.

Approximately 100,000 amputations have been performed on Ukrainian soldiers since Russias invasion in 2022 - Heathcliff O'Malley

A 2022 study by a Ukrainian military vascular surgeon, Dr Vladyslav Yatsun, found that only 24.6 per cent of war wounded patients arriving at hospital with tourniquets had injuries that justified their use to stop bleeding.

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In all other cases, the use of pressure bandages was more appropriate, the study said.

They are also often being applied too high on damaged limbs, said Captain Stevens. They are often taught to place on the tourniquets well above the wounds, and the result is a very high amputation, making it difficult to later fit a prosthesis, he said.

An updated version of the Ukrainian TCCC disseminated to the armed forces in January 2024 specifically reads: Place the tourniquet high and tight on the wounded extremity.

NATO has also raised concerns about tourniquets in Ukraine.

Last year, the agency dispatched a team of medical and military experts to investigate what it described as an unacceptable high complication rate from the use of tourniquets [...] resulting in amputations, renal failure and even death.

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The organisation added: The current situation with prolonged evacuation times requires a shift in attitude towards tourniquets, although it has yet to formally publish its recommendations.

Rapid evacuation is difficult on many of Ukraines battlefields - Thomas Peter/REUTERS

Experts stress that tourniquets continue to save many lives and should not be abandoned.

Instead, they say that in places like Ukraine where rapid evacuation is difficult they should only be used in the three circumstances in which they are absolutely necessary.

The first is when a limb has been completely severed. In that situation, you need a tourniquet, but you need to put it as low down as possible to try and save as much of the limb as you can, said Captain Stevens.

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The second is when the limb is so damaged that it cannot be saved  a decision that requires judgement and medical experience.

The third is when a person has uncontrolled arterial bleeding that cannot be stopped with direct pressure or any other method.

Captain Stevens said tourniquets are often applied by panicked soldiers, who lack the knowledge or confidence to try other methods first.

When a [Ukrainian] soldier is injured in the field, theyre usually taken care of by other soldiers in a panic, he said. They see blood. They put on tourniquets because they have tourniquets. We gave them tourniquets.

Dr Ostap Zubach, an orthopaedic surgeon who works at a major trauma hospital in Lviv, agrees that while tourniquets can be life-saving, they can also be deadly when used incorrectly.

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As a doctor, I believe that in the right hands, tourniquets are a brilliant thing. But in the wrong hands, they can be very dangerous, he said.

A particular problem was that many soldiers did not know how to temporarily loosen a tourniquet periodically to extend the time of safe use.

The strategy of tourniquets [in Ukraine] is just not working, especially when [the soldiers] dont know how to convert them, said Dr Zubach. Many of our soldiers have no experience in the military or medicine.

Ukraines armed forces  made up largely of conscripts and civilian volunteers  often rely on medics with only a few weeks or even days of training - Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

Major General Anatoliy Petrovych Kazmirchuk, Commander of the Medical Forces of the Ukrainian Army, introduced tourniquet conversion into the basic military training programme last year following reports of excessive amputations and limb loss at the front.

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But both Captain Stevens and Dr Zubach are sceptical on what impact the new training is having.

The problem is that under fire, people are afraid to take the tourniquets down. Theyre in a rush to get that patient to a hospital surgeon and dont stop to convert them, said Captain Stevens.

A growing group of medics both in and outside of Ukraine are now putting pressure on the ministry of defence to move away from the TCCC handbook and develop their own set of medical guidelines for use in the Ukrainian context, factoring in long evacuation times.

Guidelines are only guidelines. They require common sense to apply, they require professional judgement. In Ukraine, they dont have a system for developing guidelines. Often they just take Western, US, British, NATO guidelines, and translate them, word for word into Ukrainian, said Captain Stevens.

But theres a lot of resistance to changing it. The Ukrainians are taking their cue from the Americans, but our protocols were not designed for this situation, he added.

If you go back to World War Two and you read what the American theatre surgeons had to say about tourniquets, they said they were dangerous because they were often placed on wounds that did not require them, and then not taken off before it was too late, he said.

You didnt have a rapid evacuation there either. Youre evacuating by land, over bumpy roads, in the middle of the night under fire, just like what the Ukrainians are doing now.

Both Dr Zubach and Captain Stevens say more emphasis needs to be put on basic casualty care, like cutting off clothes to examine the wound to see the source of bleeding, use of pressure bandages, and alginates  jelly-like dressings that can absorb heavy bleeding and pack into wounds without the long-term risks associated with a tourniquet.

Both agree that tourniquets should be used only as a last resort, when all else has failed. Soldiers and medics need to understand that when a tourniquet is placed on the Ukrainian battlefield, it usually means an amputated limb, says Stevens.

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As part of a $250 million public safety plan, Andrew Cuomo said Monday he wants to nearly double the size of a specialized NYPD unit as controversy around the division and police funding has heated up on this years mayoral race campaign trail.

In an afternoon press conference in Midtown Manhattan, Cuomo, whos running as an independent in Novembers mayoral contest, said hed if elected add 400 officers to the ranks of the NYPDs Strategic Response Group.

Cuomo also used the occasion to take a shot at Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, who following last weeks Midtown shooting said he was backing away from previous calls to defund the NYPD. Cuomo and Mayor Adams have both seized on Mamdanis past tweets about wanting to defund the department, arguing they show his true feelings.

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If he became mayor, I guarantee you would see the rate of attrition increase, Cuomo said at the Midtown news conference. What police officer wants to work for a mayor who says theyre racist and anti-queer and a threat to public safety? What police officer wants to work for a mayor who doesnt have their back?

Formed in 2015 mostly to respond to dangerous incidents like active shooter situations as well as mass protests, the SRG currently has about 500 members, so Cuomos proposed new hires would mark a significant expansion.

The SRG has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates and Democratic elected officials concerned about its members facing disproportionately high rates of excessive force accusations, especially as it relates to protest response.

Mamdani, whos polling as the favorite to win Novembers election, has said he would disband the SRG and replace it with a unit focused squarely on tactical deployment, cutting out the mass protest response component.

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I think it would be a tremendous mistake to disband them, Cuomo told reporters at his Midtown press conference, noting its members responded to last weeks horrific Park Ave. shooting that left an NYPD officer dead.

Cuomo said he believes its important the SRG retains all the functions it currently plays, including protest response, but that its also key to add an additional 400 members  over a four year period  to increase coverage in all five boroughs, especially at big transit hubs and commercial corridors.

Asked if hes at all concerned about the high rates of abuse of force accusations against SRG members, Cuomo said the NYPD needs to make sure to police their own better.

If we know the line and we know when someone steps over the line, there are discipline actions, including dismissal, sanctions, etcetera, he said. So you have to strictly enforce the line.

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Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual and professional misconduct accusations, floated his proposal for a larger SRG as part of a broader public safety plan that also included new details for how he envisions being able to hire 5,000 new officers to get the NYPDs total uniformed headcount to about 40,000.

The main proposal Cuomo floated is making new hires eligible for $15,000 sign-on bonuses thatd push their starting salaries to about $75,000, making the wage level competitive with neighboring counties and other big U.S. cities.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist who centered his Democratic primary campaign on proposals to make the city more affordable, has taken a different approach to public safety, saying he wouldnt seek to expand the ranks of the NYPD.

Instead, he has said hed keep them flat and also launch a new civilian agency, the Department of Community Safety, thatd handle mental health emergency response in order to let cops focus on fighting crime.

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In a press conference in downtown Manhattan on Monday, Mamdani said such a shift in focus would ensure officers arent forced to work overtime, which he argued is a big reason cops are leaving the department at high rates, citing conversations hes had with rank-and-file officers.

The fact that every year we ask them to take on additional responsibilities, we are making it more and more difficult for them to respond to the very responsibilities that drew them to the job in the first place, he said.

Though Mamdani now says he supports keeping the police headcount flat, he posted frequently years ago about his support for defunding and dismantling the NYPD. In one especially explosive tweet, Mamdani wrote in 2020 that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.

In recent interviews with the Daily News, the heads of four of the NYPDs five main unions  representing lieutenants, sergeants, detectives and captains  said they are skeptical about his purported change of heart and dont believe Mamdanis pledge to keep the department headcount flat.

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If he wins, hes going to dismantle the department and its going to take us 15 years to correct the damage hes going to do, said Vincent Vallelong, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, which has endorsed Adams for reelection.

The Police Benevolent Association, the NYPDs largest union representing rank-and-file officers, was alone among the departments union heads in not knocking Mamdani.

We just buried a hero police officer, said PBA President Patrick Hendry, whose union has yet to endorse in the mayoral race. We are focused on caring for his family, not on what any politician has to say.

Adams, whos also running on an independent line in November and has been largely supportive of increasing NYPD funding in his first term, contended Cuomo doesnt know what hes talking about as it relates to the SRG.

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SRG comes with specific skills and talents that you want to use, you dont want SRG riding up on our subways just doing routine patrol or responding to routine codes of service. They have a specific task, we have enough of them to do the task, Adams told The News at City Hall in arguing against an SRG expansion.

One candidate is stating he doesnt want SRG at demonstrations. Thats one candidate. Another candidate is picking an arbitrary number with no science behind it, the mayor added.
Customers receive surprise bill in mail for valet parking they say they already paid for

People who say they paid to park their car have been getting a second bill in the mail.

Customers who valet parked at C&S Seafood in Brookhaven tell Channel 2 Action News that about week later, they received parking noncompliance notices in the mail.

I followed the rules, so its very surprising, said Brookhaven resident Tamara Wakhisi, who received a $104 bill.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The bills, sent by Parking Revenue Recovery Services, threaten collection actions if not paid within 30 days.

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I stared at it, wondering where I had been, and it dawned on me that this is from the night of the restaurant, where I paid to valet park, she said.

Wakhisi told Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray she thought it was just a mix-up until her brother-in-law also received a notice and appealed the citation. Even after providing evidence that he paid the valet, his appeal was denied.

PRRS wrote the customer in an email, We have carefully reviewed your dispute. Based on the provided information, you did not pay to use the facility. As a result, this notice is valid, and the dispute is denied.

Coworkers Saundra Appleton and Rhonda Curney got notices from PRRS, too.

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The pair work in our Cox Media Group corporate offices and after comparing notes, they realized several employees who went to a dinner at C&S Seafood all got similar bills in the mail.

So how did we all get tickets? Its just baffling, Curney said.

Appleton parked in the deck and had a ticket validated in the restaurant. Other coworkers used the valet.

What kind of company will give you a ticket, whether youve valeted, self-parked, or parked in the parking deck. It didnt matter, Curney said.

MORE 2 INVESTIGATES

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So, Channel 2 Action News did some digging into PRRS.

The company uses AI technology to monitor parking lots across the country.

In 2023, the Colorado Attorney General reached a $106,000 settlement with the company over similar issues of collecting fees for parking that was already paid or not owed.

Whether they were told to pay meritless fines for parking they already paid for, or they received a notice in the mail from somewhere they never even parked, hundreds of consumers fell victim to this companys dishonest tactics, Attorney General Phil Weiser said.

PRRS denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

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This year, a proposed class action lawsuit was filed against PRRS claiming, Its systems are engineered to confuse consumers and extract unauthorized fees.

John Conway, co-founder of PRRS, acknowledged mistakes in handling the situation.

Everyone involved with this situation could have done better ... We are providing additional training to our dispute professionals ... And we are encouraging the valet company to provide additional training to their valets to assure that they are managing the validation process properly, he told Channel 2 Action News in a statement.

He blames some of the confusion with his staff on multiple other valet companies not associated with the restaurant or the property illegally parking cars in the garage.

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Conway hosts his own podcast, All things parking and this year discussed what he thinks about customer complaints in an episode.

All these complaints surrounding parking have gone up and its like well, thats because the technology now is holding people accountable, Conway said.

Wakhisi believes it is PRRS should be held accountable.

A spokesperson for C&S Seafood told Gray they are fully aware of the parking issue and have taken steps to address it.

This system began issuing fines to guests whose vehicles were not registered immediately upon arrival - an issue entirely outside of C&Ss control, the spokesperson said.

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C&S says the parking enforcement has now been stopped and encouraged affected customers to contact them directly for resolution.

The valet company, Eagle Parking, never responded to multiple calls and emails from Channel 2 Action News.

PRRS claims in their statement that, Of the millions of parking spaces that PRRS monitors, fewer than 5% are noncompliant, generating notices. And of that 5%, only a handful of notices are issued mistakenly. But when mistakes do happen, we are committed to correcting them quickly and fairly.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  An Ascension Parish man is facing child pornography charges after detectives looked into a cyber tip.

Mylon Schexnider, 32, of Prairieville, was charged with six counts of possession of pornography involving juveniles and nine counts of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13.

The ICAC Taskforce received the cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on June 3, 2025.

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The tip had to do with pornography involving juveniles.

Detectives were able to obtain a search warrant and found that Schexnider had uploaded multiple videos of child pornography online, APSO said.

They said he was arrested on Thursday, July 31, and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.

The Office of the Louisiana Attorney General collaborated with the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force detectives on the arrest.

Louisiana man accused of stealing money from terminally ill family member

The investigation remains ongoing, and APSO said additional charges are possible in this case.

Latest News

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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.
The Italian Competition Authority has fined fashion giant s Giorgio Armani and its unit GA Operations 3.5m ($4m) for engaging in deceptive commercial practices.

The sanction follows the authority's investigation into the companies' claims about their ethical and social responsibility, which it found to be inconsistent with the actual conditions at their suppliers and subcontractors where the majority of Armani-branded leather bags and accessories production was outsourced.

The companies were found to have made false statements from 22 April 2022 to 18 February 2025 regarding their commitment to ethical standards and social responsibility.

These claims were deemed unclear, unspecific, inaccurate and ambiguous by the authority, violating consumer protection laws under the Consumer Code.

The authority's investigation revealed that Giorgio Armani and its unit promoted their dedication to sustainability and social responsibility, particularly concerning worker safety, as a key aspect of their marketing strategy to align with increasing consumer expectations.

This approach was evident in the title of their corporate website, Armani Values, and in documents procured during inspections.

The companies outsourced a significant portion of the production of their leather bags and accessories to suppliers who subcontracted the work.

Investigations at several subcontractor sites revealed that safety devices had been removed from machinery to boost production, endangering workers' health and safety.

These sites were marred by poor sanitary conditions, and there were instances of workers being employed off the books or under informal arrangements.

The severity of the situation was underscored by an incident in which a GA Operations employee responsible for quality control admitted to regularly visiting one such subcontractor's facility during an inspection conducted by the Judicial Police.

This admission suggested company awareness of the substandard conditions faced by workers producing Armani-branded products.

An internal document from Giorgio Armani dated 2024, which surfaced before the commencement of judicial administration proceedings initiated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Milan, acknowledged that in the best of the situations observed, the working environment is at the limit of acceptability; in other cases, there are serious concerns regarding its adequacy and health standards.

In June 2024, the Court of Justice in Milan suggested a nationwide initiative for luxury brands to enhance their oversight of suppliers. The aim is to guarantee compliance with labour laws throughout their supply chains.
The temporary Russian occupation of part of Ukrainian territory may be the necessary price for Ukraine's survival as a sovereign state.

Source: Czech President Petr Pavel in an interview with the BBC, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Pavel said that it would be unfair for the West to pressure Ukraine to immediately liberate all occupied territories. In his words, the West does not want the destruction of the Ukrainian nation.

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The Czech president said that Ukraine is not currently in a position to liberate the areas occupied by Russia in the foreseeable future, even with Western support, without significant human losses.

"Right now, Ukraine, with all Western Support, is not in a position to liberate occupied territories in a short time frame without a significant cost to lives. And of course, it will be very unfair from the West to push Ukraine to liberate all occupied territories right now, because we dont want to exterminate the Ukrainian nation. We want them to survive as an independent sovereign country. And if there is a cost to renewing Ukraine as an independent autonomous state, if the cost is to accept that part of the territory will be temporarily occupied, without recognising it legally, then so be it. We will never recognise these occupied territories as legally Russian," Pavel said.

The Czech president believes that it is necessary to continue providing military aid to Ukraine, but, in his words, the war cannot be won on the battlefield. He believes that economic pressure from Europe and the United States is a more powerful tool to force Moscow to the negotiating table.

Pavel said that it was in the interests of both sides of the Atlantic to exert much greater economic pressure on Russia, noting that such pressure was very effective in terms of persuasion. He believed that, given the current state of the Russian economy, the Russians would not be able to withstand economic pressure for long. Therefore, he argued, if those measures were implemented, Russia would eventually have no choice but to sit down at the negotiating table, which it was currently refusing to do.

Background:

In early July, Pavel stated that he disagreed with the assertion that Russia is currently winning the war against Ukraine.

He also pointed out that both Russia and Ukraine have their own problems and limitations that prevent them from gaining an advantage in the war.

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Sir Andy Cooke, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, has told the Sunday Telegraph that there is every possibility of rioting this summer, in a repeat of last years unrest following the Southport murders, as the same ingredients that fuelled that disorder are still very much in place now.



With anger at the housing of migrants in hotels spilling over into more violent demonstrations at the weekend, as well as the Telegraphs exclusive story that pro-Palestinian supporters are co-ordinating in an attempt to overwhelm the police, are we on the brink of major civil unrest?



Gordon Rayner and Cleo Watson are joined by Martin Evans, the Telegraphs Crime Editor, whos been speaking to sources within the police to find out how braced for trouble they are, whilst Cleo reveals how Downing Street may be unprepared with Westminster in summer shutdown.

Watch episodes of The Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
When detectives with the Dallas Police Department found puppies chained to the ground, they rescued them  and busted the man suspected of using them for a dog-fighting ring.

Dallas detectives responded to a call about a horse and stumbled upon a dog-fighting ring. According to a press release, they searched multiple properties on July 28, where they rescued eight dogs. Now, 53-year-old Gerald Brooks faces five counts of dog fighting.

Police initially responded to a report of a horse that was down, Detective Hannah Tamez told The Dallas Express. When they arrived, they found an underweight horse, unable to run.

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While investigating the property, Tamez and Detective Bono heard puppies crying, discovering five in a heavily wooded area, chained. According to the release, four were emaciated and required immediate medical care.



There were chains and stakes driven into the ground, and its very common amongst dog fighters, Dallas Police Detective Jonathan Sherman told The Dallas Express. The owner of the dogs happened to show up while we were out there investigating the horse, and led us to a couple other properties.

Police conducted surveillance on the other properties, where they found more dogs, according to Sherman. There were more dogs being kept in the same manner.

In total, detectives investigated three properties in southeast Dallas. They rescued eight dogs who were cruelly confined and neglected, and officers seized evidence of dog fighting.

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Investigators confirmed to The Dallas Express that they are investigating the other property owners as well.

Dallas Animal Services took the dogs, evaluated them, and planned to adopt them out, according to Sherman. Readers can browse the shelters adoptable pets here. The shelter recently paused intake for most dogs, due to an outbreak of the serious disease distemper.

The Dallas Express reached out to Dallas Animal Services for comment, but did not hear back in time for publication.

Dog fighting has gone underground, making the crime very difficult to investigate, according to Sherman. He said attendees often need someone to vouch for them.

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Typically, when a fight is scheduled, they will change the location multiple times to try to throw the police off, he said.

If members of the public have information on dog fighting, Sherman encouraged them to contact CrimeStoppers or the police. Residents can call 214.671.TIPS, or call 911.

Most of our more proactive investigations come from somebody giving us a tip, and where to look, Sherman said.
The Brief

Severe thunderstorms moved through North Texas early Monday morning.

The storms caused widespread power outages, leaving more than 26,000 residents and businesses without electricity.

A ground delay was issued at DFW and Love Field airports, causing flight delays and cancellations.

The storms also caused flooding in many of the usual trouble spots.

DALLAS - Parts of North Texas are still feeling the impacts of powerful storms that swept through the region early Monday morning, causing widespread power outages and delays.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

All Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for North Texas have now expired, according to the National Weather Service.

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Monday's forecast calls for more high winds and thunderstorms south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex throughout the morning. Most of the rain is expected to clear the area by 11 a.m., with dry conditions by noon.

High temperatures are forecast to be in the low 90s.

Live Radar: Dallas-Fort Worth

Power Outages

More than 31,000 residents and businesses were without power early Monday. The majority of outages are concentrated in Tarrant and Dallas counties, according to Oncor.

Current outages by county:

Bell: 64

Collin: 650

Cooke: 20

Crane: 1

Dallas: 13,357

Denton: 121

Ector: 18

Ellis: 1,533

Erath: 1

Freestone: 9

Grayson: 70

Henderson: 69

Hill: 779

Hood: 1

Hopkins: 1

Johnson: 1,336

Kaufman: 360

Limestone: 582

Loving: 2

McLennan: 1,126

Navarro: 484

Parker: 38

Rockwall: 183

Tarrant: 10,407

Upton: 1

Van Zandt: 46

Wise: 31

Flight Delays and Cancellations

Storms have resulted in a ground stop at both DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport. The ground delay is expected to be lifted around 10 a.m.

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DFW Airport led the nation in delays and cancellations Sunday afternoon following earlier storms. Travelers with flights scheduled for this morning are advised to check with their airline before heading to the airport.

Total delays at DFW Airport: 80

Total cancellations at DFW Airport: 59

Total delays at Love Field Airport: 22

Total cancellations at Love Field Airport: 1

High Water in Dallas

A viewer shared video of a high-water rescue near Shady Brook Lane and East Northwest Highway, in northeast Dallas. It's a problem spot any time there are quick bursts of rain.

FOX 4 spoke to the woman who was caught in the flood water. She said it quickly filled her floor boards and rose above her feet as she called for help.

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"I was thinking as I was driving, this is probably in the top five rainstorms I've been in in my whole life and I've been driving a long time. And, it was bad!" Sande Spreng said. "So I was just going up to NorthPark. I mean, I was almost there."

Spreng said she wasn't hurt. She's just concerned about cleaning her car.

7-Day Forecast

Temperatures are expected to rise throughout the week. Tuesday and Wednesday will see a return to normal summer weather with highs in the mid to upper 90s. Temperatures are forecast to reach near 100 degrees on Thursday and Friday.

The Source

Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service, Oncor, DFW Airport, Love Field Airport, and Meteorologist Evan Andrews.
Dame Stella Rimington, the first female head of MI5 and the first to be publicly named, has died at the age of 90.

Widely regarded as the inspiration for Dame Judi Denchs version of M in the James Bond films, Dame Stella was the spy who brought the Security Service in from the cold, but then found herself frozen out by it when she took the decision to write a memoir.

She passed away on Sunday and her family said in a statement: She died surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath.

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Dame Stella was a housewife when she was initially recruited as a clerk for an MI5 liaison officer in India. Over the following 29 years she rose to the very top of the organisation, carving a career path for women within the service that had not existed before.

She transformed the image of MI5 during her tenure as its director general. With the Cold War coming to its end, and with changes in the law around MI5s status, John Majors government decided her appointment in 1992 should be announced publicly, which caused a stir at the time.

Becoming a public figure

She was told she had got the job without being interviewed for it, or asked whether she wanted it. She did not even have time to tell her daughter, who was at university, about the very public promotion before she found out about it on the television.

Dame Stella said she struggled with the adjustment to becoming a public figure.

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Having spent my career in the shadows, she said, I was plastered across the media.

She also had to move house after a picture of her home was published in a newspaper. One of Dame Judis costumes as M was even modelled on a Jaeger suit that Dame Stella had been photographed wearing.

M, the fictional MI6 chief played by Judi Dench, was widely seen to be inspired by Dame Stella Rimington - Col Pics/Rex Feature

As the first public face of MI5, she decided the organisation itself should be demystified to an extent, and published a booklet setting out facts about the service and dismissing some of the fictions that had become rooted in the public consciousness through James Bond and other spy thrillers.

She also delivered the prestigious BBC Dimbleby lecture on the role of the security services in a democracy, setting the tone for every MI5 and MI6 head that followed her.

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Dame Stella did everything she was asked to do by making MI5 more accountable and public-facing, but the Government turned on her when she decided to write a memoir after leaving her post in 1996  the first former head of a British intelligence agency to do so.

Earlier this year she told The Telegraph that when she announced her intention to write her 2001 autobiography, Open Secret, Whitehall went into full damage-limitation mode.

She said: A draft was sent to the Cabinet Office, its contents leaked to The Sun and one agency even wanted me arrested.

Unlike Baroness Manningham-Buller, who became director general of MI5 in 2002, Dame Stella was never given a peerage.

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Dame Stella also embarked on a career as a novelist, writing spy thrillers that she also submitted to MI5 to be cleared for publication until eventually the agency gave up responding.

Do you want to be a spy?

Dame Stellas auspicious career was not the result of a burning ambition to work in intelligence  in truth it was a job she fell into while she was living in New Delhi with her husband, a junior diplomat.

Having studied English at Edinburgh University, she took a course in archive administration and was working at the India Office Library in London when John Rimington was posted to India in 1965. Two years later, seeing she had time on her hands, a British official asked her if she fancied helping out in his office.

She later recalled: I was walking through the compound [in New Delhi] when someone tapped me on the shoulder and said: Psst... Do you want to be a spy?

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She accepted a job as a clerical assistant in 1967 on 5 per week, not knowing that the official in question, an aristocratic and slightly eccentric-seeming bachelor, was the senior liaison officer for MI5 in New Delhi.

She later recalled that the work was mostly clerical and not particularly exciting  I mostly typed the reports he sent back to London while he went out on interesting-sounding assignments.

Nevertheless, when the Rimingtons returned to London in 1969 she decided to seek a permanent job with the service, initially as something to keep me interested and amused until she started a family.

Strict sex discrimination

It was clearly the career she was born for. Her talent and intellect shone out, and she became director of each of the services operational branches during the 1970s and 80s, dealing with threats from the IRA, Russia and Islamists.

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She had to overcome what she described as a strict sex discrimination policy in MI5, with women confined to administrative and support roles while the front-line work  such as recruiting and running agents  was for men only.

After complaining that male graduates recruited straight from university were being put straight into more senior roles than were available to her, she persuaded her bosses to make her a full MI5 officer, and was later allowed to run agents, which often meant going undercover.

She had to combine the highly tense and secretive work with bringing up her two children, which resulted in her being dubbed the housewife superspy by the media when she was unveiled as the head of MI5 in 1992.

She and her husband became estranged, but they reconciled during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, when they moved in together during lockdown.

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Its a good recipe for marriage, Id say, she said. Split up, live separately, and return to it later.

Sir Ken McCallum, current director general, said: Dame Stella was the first publicly avowed director general of MI5. Her leadership ushered in a new era of openness and transparency about the work MI5 does to keep this country safe, a legacy that continues to this day.

As the first avowed female head of any intelligence agency in the world, Dame Stella broke through long-standing barriers and was a visible example of the importance of diversity in leadership.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her husband, two daughters and extended family.

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Dame Stella Rimington, who has died aged 90, was the first female director-general of MI5  and the first intelligence chief to become something approaching a household name.

Slender and austere-looking, with spiky hair, Stella Rimington took over as head of the agency in 1992 at a time when the collapse of the Soviet empire threatened to render it redundant. When she retired in 1996, she was acclaimed for having transformed it into a shield against terrorism and a sword against international drug traders and trans-national crime.

Effective, sharp and hard-working, she impressed ministers, notably in the Home Office whose help she needed to see off the Metropolitan Police Special Branch which in 1992 lost to MI5 the lead role in countering IRA terrorism in Britain.

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She also helped revolutionise the popular image of the service as an old-boys club populated by bowler-hatted gentleman amateurs, treacherous drunken homosexuals and Oxbridge dilettantes. Shortly before her retirement she was immortalised as James Bonds new boss in Goldeneye (1995). Bond worked, of course, for MI6, not MI5, but everyone  including Dame Stella herself  assumed that Dame Judi Dench was playing Stella Rimington.

She had never regarded herself as one of the chaps, and harboured some bitterness over the handling of her appointment when John Majors government, as part of its programme of open government, decided to break with precedent and announce it to the press.

Stella Rimington as director-general in 1993, taking part in the first photoshoot MI5 had called in its 84-year history - Sean Dempsey/PA Wire

Until then, journalists could name the KGB boss but risked prosecution if they identified the head of MI5. For Major, who had recently come under attack for not having a single woman in his Cabinet, the appointment of the housewife superspy was a PR coup. But the media frenzy that followed the announcement, about which she had not been consulted, had taken her by surprise. As she was not only Britains chief spook, but a woman and a single mother to boot, public interest knew no bounds.

When the Sunday Times identified her home address, she moved to a hotel with her younger daughter in the naive hope that the reporters and photographers camped outside her front door would lose interest. They were still there when she returned, and she was forced to move to secure accommodation and eventually to sell her home.

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Every detail of her unremarkable private life, from her bank account to her shopping habits, became a news story. The fact that she was separated (amicably, in the early 1980s) from her husband gave rise to The Suns headline MI5 wife in secret love split. She subsequently admitted to some anger that no consideration seemed to have been given to the security implications of the publicity, or to its effect on her two teenage daughters.

Yet Stella Rimington pressed on with opening MI5 to limited public scrutiny. In 1993 she became the first DG to pose openly for cameras at the launch of a brochure outlining the organisations activities, and in 1994 she gave the Dimbleby Lecture in which she sought to correct popular misconceptions about the service.

However when, in 2001, she followed the logic of open government by publishing her memoirs, she found herself the centre of a storm of obloquy, accused by old MI5 hands of being a vain, self-serving, even greedy woman who had repaid her colleagues loyalty with an act of betrayal.

In fact the book, which was generally judged a dull read, contained more about the problems of juggling life as a single mother (sitting tenants, damp courses, decorating decisions and a leaking boiler that killed her two cats, Burgess and Maclean) than disclosures of high espionage.

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Certainly, there was nothing that might be construed as threatening national security. Yet she had reportedly had to invoke her right to freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act to persuade ministers and officials that they could not block publication.

The fact that the Establishment she had long served had turned against her was just the latest twist in a life that had often been a difficult and lonely one.

The only child of a mechanical engineer, she was born Stella Whitehouse in South Norwood, south London, on May 13 1935. When war broke out and German bombers appeared in the skies over London, her father sent her to stay with her grandmother in Liverpool. Later, when his work took him to Barrow-in-Furness, Stella joined him.

We tended to live in places that were the targets for German bombing raids, she recalled. So I had a great sense of insecurity in my early life, and I have been trying to compensate for that ever since.

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For a long time after the war she suffered from migraines and claustrophobia. As a young woman she was unable to sit in the middle of a row at a concert, and when she saw she could not easily get out of a room she would break into a cold sweat. None the less journalists who interviewed Stella Rimington later on noted her remarkable self-control. My life has been dominated by a stark philosophy: that showing emotion is a weakness, she once admitted.

Later the family settled in the Midlands and Stella was educated at Nottingham High School for Girls. She did well there, but failed to get into Cambridge and went instead to Edinburgh, where she read English and graduated with a Second.

She began as an historical archivist at the Worcester Record Office. At the time she was in love with John Rimington, whom she had met on the school bus when she was 17 and whom she started dating at Edinburgh. The couple married in 1963.

He was by then a Board of Trade civil servant, and in 1965 he was posted to the British High Commission in New Delhi. Stella Rimington embarked on life as a diplomatic wife, but soon found herself at a loose end. Then, out of the blue, the local MI5 man asked her if she would like to help out and she jumped at the chance.

Stella Rimington with Home Secretary Michael Howard in 1993 - Sean Dempsey/PA Wire

In New Delhi, she worked for MI5 as a part-time clerk and typist. In 1969, when she and her husband returned to England, she joined the service full-time as a junior assistant officer in F2 branch, concerned with political subversives and terrorist organisations. Her first job was to go through the Morning Star looking for the names of Communist Party members who lived in Sussex. She became so bored that she used to read novels under her desk.

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In those days, MI5 was a male-dominated institution that treated its women employees as second-class citizens. Some of the men who ran the organisation, she recalled, seemed to do very little at all and there was a lot of heavy drinking. But she built up a reputation for hard work and, after eight years of persistent lobbying, became the first woman to break through the glass ceiling and be made an intelligence officer.

Five years later, she began running agents. Her first, a seaman from the Soviet bloc, initially refused to talk to a woman case officer. Luckily, just as she was imagining spending the rest of her career in a wasteland of boring desk work, he changed his mind.

Yet she did not seem to have been particularly committed at this point and, despite having reached an unprecedented level for a woman, she applied in the 1970s to be headmistress of Roedean. Since she had no experience of teaching, it was hardly surprising she failed to get the job.

The turning point in her career came in 1981, when she became deputy head of K3, a secret department, jointly staffed by MI5 and MI6, that ran and recruited Soviet bloc agents. Her boss was a talented MI6 officer who inspired his female officers by resigning from his London club when it refused to lift a ban on female guests in the main dining room. In the 1990s there were tabloid allegations that Stella Rimington had caused problems by becoming infatuated with him, despite the fact that he was happily married. Colleagues at the time, however, had no such recollection  and neither did she.

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In 1983 she took over as head of F2 just at the time when Michael Bettaney, an officer in the neighbouring K4 (Soviet bloc analysis), where she had had a previous posting, was detected stuffing envelopes full of MI5 secrets through the Holland Park letterbox of Arkadi Guk, head of the KGB London residency.

Although Bettaneys attempted treachery ended in low farce (Guk assumed MI5 was setting him up), it could easily have led to Soviet penetration of the agency. A subsequent investigation showed that many danger signals in Bettaneys transformation into a disaffected alcoholic had been overlooked. Stella Rimingtons critics claimed an IRA infiltrator run by Bettaney had warned her about his heavy drinking and volatile behaviour, but that she had taken no action. She denied the charge, claiming never to have met the alleged infiltrator.

In F2, Stella Rimington was said to have played a major role when MI5 allegedly mounted the biggest telephone tapping and dirty tricks operation in its history, against the NUM leadership and helped organise the strike-breaking effort. The success of this operation was said to have marked her out as a potential director-general, but she herself always claimed that reports of her role  and that of MI5  had been wildly exaggerated and that any rumours of dirty tricks were nonsense. Nevertheless, she had a good strike and in 1986 was promoted to the influential post of director of K Branch, responsible for counter-espionage.

In retirement, she would confirm that MI5 had during the 1970s and 1980s watched most of the inner circle of Jeremy Corbyn.

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Her time heading K branch was dominated by the furore over the publication of Spycatcher, the memoirs of the former counter-espionage agent Peter Wright. She regarded Wright as a ridiculous figure, though she did not dispute his depiction of the service in the 1960s and 1970s as one which bugged and burgled its way round London. She also thought Whitehalls attempt to prevent publication by court action against Wright and his publishers in Australia, where he had taken up residence, was likely to be counterproductive. So it proved.

Dame Stella Rimington at a Public Records Office open day in 2003 - Stefan Rousseau/PA

Between 1988 and 1990, she enhanced her reputation as head of G Branch, dealing with terrorism. With the increasing threat from the IRA and the growth in international terrorism (Lockerbie was in December 1988) she showed brilliance in collating intelligence and was said to have had a dramatic ability to second-guess terrorists intentions.

A protege of her boss Patrick Walker, she was promoted in 1990 to senior deputy director-general. Less than two years later, in November 1991, the Home Office announced her appointment to the 95,000-a-year director-generals job.

Until the publication of her memoirs, for which she was reported to have received an advance of up to 600,000, there was only one slight blot on her career. When Vassili Mitrokhins material identifying Britons who had spied for the KGB became available, she decided not to pursue  or to inform ministers about  the elderly Melita Norwood, who had handed over details on the construction of the atom bomb.

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In 2000 the service was censured by the parliamentary Security and Intelligence Committee for failing to refer the case to the law officers. Her colleagues saw it less as a dereliction of duty than as an indication of her lack of interest in old Cold War counter-espionage when the new priority was counter-terrorism.

By 2018, however, she was urging Britain to launch cyber attacks on Russia in retaliation for the activities of Kremlin-backed hackers.

Appointed DCB on her retirement in 1996, Stella Rimington took a clutch of non-executive directorships, serving on the board of Marks & Spencer and British Gas, and as chairman of the Institute of Cancer Research. As well as her memoirs she wrote, or co-wrote with the novelist Luke Jennings, a dozen surprisingly readable thrillers.

Stella Rimington and her husband, who had gone on to head the Health & Safety Executive, moved back under the same roof during the Covid pandemic of 2020. They had two daughters.

Dame Stella Rimington, born May 13 1935, died August 4 2025

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The extent of Donald Trumps involvement with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epsteins inner circle continues to deepen: The president reportedly had a vulgar conversation with Prince Andrew in 2000 in which he gave the royal a list of masseuses.

According to an excerpt from a new book by historian Andrew Lownie, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, Trump was seen hanging out with Prince Andrew at multiple events in 2000, where listeners overheard the two men talking about pussy.

Trump was quoted as saying about the prince, Hes not pretentious. Hes a lot of fun to be with. Trump denied knowing Prince Andrew in 2019, despite being photographed with him on numerous occasions.

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Lownie continues in his description of Trump and Prince Andrews relationship: Shortly afterwards and clearly good friends, Trump and Andrew were overheard at an event to discuss Trumps plans for a golng complex in Scotland, talking entirely about p***y, with the American producing a list of masseuses for the prince.

Trumps comfort with vulgar misogyny isnt exactly a shockthe presidents infamous Access Hollywood tape caught him bragging in 2005 that he grabbed women by the pussybut the comment about providing the prince with a list of masseuses is ominous.

Virginia Giuffre, a central figure in the Epstein case, was approached in 2000 by Epsteins girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell and hired as a masseuse for the financier. She was then repeatedly sexually abused by Epstein and his network of wealthy friends, including Prince Andrew, Giuffre said. She accused the prince of sexually assaulting her three times while she was a minor, a case that Andrew settled in 2022.

And where did Maxwell meet Giuffre? At Mar-a-Lago, Trumps Palm Beach club, where she worked as a spa attendant as a teenager.

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In July, Trump told a reporter that Epstein stole Giuffre from him. The president has recently claimed that he fell out with terrific guy Epstein because the financier poached workers from his club.

When asked if one of the people in question was Giuffre, Trump responded: I think so. I think that was one of the people. He stole her. And by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know. None whatsoever.

Giuffre committed suicide in April. Her family was shocked by Trumps disclosure, and demanded answers from the president. It makes us ask if he was aware of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwells criminal actions, especially given his statement two years later that his good friend Jeffrey likes women on the younger side  no doubt about it, Giuffres family told The Atlantic.
Photo: Getty Images

Ever since North Carolina legislators established the so-called Opportunity Scholarships school voucher program, sponsors and proponents have pitched it as a means of helping low-income students escape struggling public schools.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, a new report from the Department of Public Instruction shows that this was all baloney. The DPI researchers found that just sixty-seven hundred of the states eighty-thousand-plus vouchers in the current school year went to students who had attended a North Carolina public school in the prior year.

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And while the data for kindergartners

were not yet available, its clear that as much as ninety percent or more of new vouchers in 24-25 were for students who have never attended a public school.

In other words, the vast majority of voucher money is going to parents  most of them well-off  who never had any intention of sending their kids to public schools.

The bottom line: School vouchers in our state have nothing to do with quote opportunity and everything to do with undermining and privatizing public education. Other explanations are simply false.

For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield.
A man from Davenport is in the Scott County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond after police intentionally struck a squad car during a traffic stop.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Scott County Court, on August 3 at about 1:25 a.m., Davenport Police saw a car in the area of 1600 Ripley Street that was driving at high speeds, running stop signs, cutting through parking lots and turning abruptly. Officers lost sight of the vehicle for a few minutes, but an Iowa State Patrol aircraft was following the car. Officers found the vehicle in the 800 block of Marquette Street and activated their emergency lights and sirens to try to stop the car. The driver, identified as Michael Castaneda, 34, allegedly intentionally struck the squad car, putting officers in immediate danger of being seriously injured. The collision caused over $10,000 in damage to the squad car.

Michael Castenda (Scott County Jail)

Officers conducted an intentional vehicle contact maneuver on the vehicle and stopped it in the 600 block of Myrtle Street. Castaneda was the driver and only occupant of the car when it was stopped. Court documents say officers found a clear plastic bag containing about 2g of marijuana that was in plain view in the vehicle. They conducted a probable cause search and found another small, clear plastic bag containing about .2g of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine under the drivers seat. The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

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Castaneda was arrested and charged with felony first-degree criminal mischief and misdemeanor charges including assault while displaying a weapon, eluding and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held in the Scott County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond and has a preliminary hearing on August 8, according to court records.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.




NEED TO KNOW

David Berkowitz, a.k.a. the "Son of Sam" killer, was arrested on Aug. 10, 1977

He killed six people and injured seven over the course of a 13-month killing spree

Berkowitz is currently serving six 25 years-to-life sentences





Nearly 50 years ago, David Berkowitz, a quiet postal worker from Yonkers, N.Y., plunged New York City into fear with a chilling series of late-night shootings that left six dead and seven wounded.

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Berkowitz  who dubbed himself the "Son of Sam"  evaded capture for over a year, sparking one of the largest manhunts in NYPD history.

His killing spree began on July 29, 1976, when he fatally shot 18-year-old Donna Lauria and wounded Jodi Valenti as they sat in a parked car in the Bronx. Over the next 13 months, Berkowitz targeted a number of women and couples in secluded spots, using the same .44-caliber revolver in each attack.

The case took a darker turn in April 1977, when Berkowitz left a letter at a crime scene identifying himself as the Son of Sam. A second letter sent to New York Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin in May stoked public panic and further taunted investigators.

Berkowitz was finally arrested on Aug. 10, 1977, outside of his apartment. He later pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to six terms of 25 years-to-life. He is currently in prison for his crimes. The case is the subject of Netflix's docuseries Conversations With a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes, which was released on July 30.

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Here's everything to know about how David Berkowitz was caught.

How was David Berkowitz caught?

Bettmann/Getty Chief of Detectives John Keenan talks to reporters after releasing the latest police drawing of the .44 caliber killer. Chief of Detectives John Keenan talks to reporters after releasing the latest police drawing of the .44 caliber killer.

Ironically, it was a parking ticket that cracked the Son of Sam case. After Berkowitz parked illegally near the scene of his final attack on July 31, 1977, detectives flagged the ticket during their investigation. At first, they considered him a possible witness, but suspicions deepened when he failed to respond to their calls.

A key break came when investigators contacted the Yonkers Police Department and spoke with the Carrs, a local family whom Berkowitz had been harassing.

Police headed to Berkowitzs Yonkers apartment and spotted a duffel bag in Berkowitz's car with a rifle sticking out and an envelope addressed to Suffolk County police  all matching the killers handwriting. On Aug. 10, 1977, officers arrested him outside his building.

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Berkowitz didnt resist. Instead, he smiled and said, You got me. What took you so long?

What happened to David Berkowitz?

Hulton Archive/Getty Police mug shot of convicted New York City serial killer David Berkowitz, known as the 'Son of Sam'. Police mug shot of convicted New York City serial killer David Berkowitz, known as the 'Son of Sam'.

Berkowitz pleaded guilty to all six murders in May 1978, per The New York Times. He is currently serving six 25 years-to-life terms at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill, N.Y.

Now a born-again Christian, he goes by "Brother Dave" and participates in an online ministry.

"[He] has to wake up every day and remember what he did to innocent people. David grieves over that a lot," Roxanne Tauriello, a minister who visited Berkowitz in prison, told PEOPLE in July 2017.

He is genuinely sorrowful and does not want to get out of prison, she continued. He knows he deserved to die and deserves to be exactly where he is.

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Berkowitz became eligible for parole in 2002 and has had a hearing every two years since. His most recent parole request was denied in May 2024.

Though he briefly refused to attend the hearings, he now does so. However, Berkowitz has no desire to be released.

"To not attend a hearing can be viewed as being defiant towards authority, and that's not me," he explained to the New York Post in May 2024. "Most of all, I attend in order to openly apologize for my past crimes and to express my remorse."

Why has David Berkowitz rejected the Son of Sam moniker?

Joe Polimeni/Bettmann Archive/Getty David Berkowitz prior to criminal court arraignment in connection with the "Son of Sam" killings. David Berkowitz prior to criminal court arraignment in connection with the "Son of Sam" killings.

During the time of the murders, Berkowitz lived in a building across from his neighbor, Sam Carr, whose Labrador retriever, Harvey, frequently barked and aggravated him.

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"That dog raised hell in my life," Berkowitz said in Conversations With a Killer.

Berkowitz adopted the nickname Son of Sam in his taunting letters to police and journalists at the New York Post and New York Daily News, and even scrawled it on the walls of his apartment. He later claimed the name came from Harvey, saying demons spoke through the dog and commanded him to kill.

However, Berkowitz later revealed that he didn't actually hear voices.

"I didn't, at that time, understand any motives for what I was doing," he said in Conversations With a Killer. "I needed some type of justification. I had to convince myself that, 'No, I'm not the man that's doing this. It's some sinister force that's controlling me.'"

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Berkowitz has since rejected the Son of Sam name. These days, he claims to be a born-again Christian and has dubbed himself the Son of Hope."

"You never want to say 'Son of Sam' in front of him. He never uses that name, ever," Tauriello told PEOPLE.

What has David Berkowitz said about the murders?

AP Photo/Mike Groll David Berkowitz talks during an interview at Sullivan Correction Facility on May 29, 2009 in Fallsburg, N.Y. David Berkowitz talks during an interview at Sullivan Correction Facility on May 29, 2009 in Fallsburg, N.Y.

In the final episode of Netflix's Conversations with a Killer, Berkowitz shared his remorse for the murders with reporter Jack Jones.



"I'm so very sorry for what happened. I was in a very dark space in my life. Things were falling apart for me mentally, spiritually. My life spun out of control, and I just couldn't get on that right path," he said.

When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Berkowitz responded: "I would say, 'Dave, run for your life. Get help.' I could have gone to my dad, I could have gone to my sister. But I kept everything to myself, thinking, 'I can handle everything.' But the pull was too strong."

He added, "I wish I could start all over again and take a better path in life, but it just didn't work out that way."

Read the original article on People
Glasgow has emerged as the top city for tech professionals in the UK, according to a study by SEO agency Startup Voyager.

The research analysed the 100 most populated UK cities, focusing on metrics crucial for software developers, such as average salary, salary growth, job vacancies per 100,000 people and vacancy growth over the past year.

Glasgow achieved an index score of ten, excelling in available vacancies per 100,000 people (8.77) and vacancy growth over the past year (7.53).

This indicates a robust job market with increasing opportunities for tech professionals.

Cheltenham followed closely with a score of 9.72, leading in salary index (10) and showing strong performance in salary growth (6.21) and vacancies (8.03).

Cambridge secured the third spot with an index score of 9.69, boasting the highest vacancies per 100,000 people (10).

The city also performed well in salary index (7.43) and vacancy growth (6.14).

Portsmouth ranked fourth with a score of 9.57, driven by strong salary growth (7.89) and vacancy increase (8.03).

Northampton placed fifth with a score of 9.49, showing significant salary (8.77) and vacancy growth (8.35).

Belfast, with a score of 9.40, excelled in salary growth (9.42) and salary index (7.53), despite a lower vacancy growth score (4.04).

Lincoln ranked seventh with a score of 9.17, highlighting strong salary growth (8.54) and salary index (9.42).

High Wycombe, with a score of 8.99, demonstrated solid performance in salary index (7.89) and vacancy growth (7.33).

Bedford, scoring 8.90, showed consistent performance across salary growth (8.18), vacancies (6.90) and vacancy growth (6.60).

Manchester rounded out the top ten with a score of 8.53, excelling in vacancies (8.35) and maintaining a strong salary index (6.90) and vacancy growth (6.27).

The study underscores the emergence of cities beyond London as thriving tech hubs.

Portsmouth, Northampton and Belfast, in particular, demonstrated growth in tech salaries and job vacancies, offering expanding opportunities for professionals.

Portsmouth's vacancy growth (8.03), Northampton's salary growth (8.77) and Belfast's salary increase (9.42) reflect these cities' growing appeal to tech talent.

"Glasgow tops UK cities for tech professionals " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




LANCASTER - David Morkeh is bringing his talents and passion to Ohio University Lancaster as the new success advisor for fall 2025.

Morkeh obtained his Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Ohio University in May 2025, specializing in college student personnel. His academic journey has been shaped by coursework in student development theory, appreciative education, educational assessment, and legal and diversity issues in higher education, according to a press release.

David Morkeh

I believe in building meaningful, one-on-one relationships with students, Morkeh said. Every student deserves an advocate who will listen, guide and connect them with the resources they need to thrive, not just academically, but as whole people.

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Before joining OHIO Lancaster, Morkeh served as a graduate assistant for Academic Advising at Ohio Universitys Patton College of Education, where he advised more than 90 students, co-advised with faculty, maintained individualized graduation plans, and developed communication strategies to ensure students stayed informed and supported.

He also played a key role in events like the Majors Fair and led data assessments that helped shape future advising practices.

Morkehs research interests range from artificial intelligence in academic advising to the adoption of student success technologies and reflect a forward-thinking approach to student support. His most recent work explored the challenges advisors face when integrating new technology platforms, such as transitioning from the Starfish advising system to Slate, according to the release.

Originally from Ghana, Morkeh earned his Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies and Psychology from the University of Ghana in 2019. His professional background includes teaching and advising at Springboard College in Accra.

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As a Success Advisor, Morkeh will play a central role in helping students explore career options, identify internship opportunities and prepare for life after graduation.

David brings an incredible combination of global perspective, academic expertise, and genuine care for students, said Sarah Bogdewiecz, director of Student Services in the release. His ability to connect with students on a personal level and his forward-thinking approach to advising will be a tremendous asset to our campus. Were thrilled to welcome him to the OHIO Lancaster community.

When asked about what motivates his work, Morkeh shared, Helping students discover their purpose and equipping them with the tools to reach their potential is my greatest motivation. No matter where they start or what obstacles they face, I want them to know they belong here and can succeed.

To schedule a meeting with Morkeh or learn more about student support services at OHIO Lancaster, visit www.ohio.edu/lancaster, email damorkeh@ohio.edu or call 740.681.3330.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Morkeh joins OUL as success advisor for the fall
The most recent explanation from President Donald Trump for his falling out with serial sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein involved his Palm Beach neighbor "poaching" employees from the Mar-a-Lago spa.

The president told reporters on July 31 that he wasn't sure why Epstein would do such a thing.

"No, I don't know really why, but I said if he's taken anybody from Mar-a-Lago, he's hiring or whatever he's doing, I didn't like it. And we threw him out."

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The extraordinary scrutiny of the president and any purported involvement with Epstein has come after the Justice Department announced July 7 that it had carefully examined 300 gigabytes of evidence it held but found no reason to believe that Epstein was murdered, that he blackmailed anyone or that any third parties were involved in his crimes.

It also said it would not be releasing anything further to the public.

Jeffrey Epstein case hasn't gone away for Donald Trump

Trump continues to attract the spotlight about his association with Epstein, who lived within 2 miles of Mar-a-Lago. Trump said in 2019 that it had been 15 years since he'd been in contact. That would have been around the time Trump got into a bidding war with Epstein over a Palm Beach mansion.

It doesn't line up with the year  2000  that the late Virginia Giuffre (then Roberts) was lured to Epstein's house by Ghislaine Maxwell. When asked in 2016 whether he was a member of the Mar-a-Lago Club in 2000, Epstein asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In the deposition, he answered "Fifth" to almost every question.

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Trump said she was "stolen" from his private club. Giuffre was one of the most prominent Epstein survivors to speak publicly about the sexual abuse she suffered at Epstein's homes, including the mansion on El Brillo Way on Palm Beach.

Her family said in a scathing statement July 30 that they objected to Trump's characterization that she was "stolen" from Mar-a-Lago because it objectified her.

It makes us ask if he was aware of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwells criminal actions, especially given his statement two years later that his good friend Jeffrey likes women on the younger side  no doubt about it, " the family's statement said. "We and the public are asking for answers; survivors deserve this.

Ghislaine Maxwell spots Virginia Giuffre outside Mar-a-Lago spa in 2000

What happened that first day in 2000 that Giuffre (known as Virginia Roberts then) met Epstein after Ghislaine Maxwell spotted her reading a book about massage therapy at Mar-a-Lago?

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Roberts has said she was either 15 or 16 when she sat outside the Mar-a-Lago locker room outdoors in the summer of 2000 as she looked at the first book she'd ever read about massage therapy.

Virginia Roberts was working to get her general equivalency diploma after having attended four high schools in Palm Beach County, including Royal Palm Beach, Wellington and Forest Hill, according to her school transcript included in court documents. And she'd just come back home after running away from foster care and being held by Miami sex predator Ron Eppinger until he was arrested.

Her father, Sky Roberts, who worked maintenance at the estate, has testified that he had helped her get a job there. He hoped for better things for his daughter.

"I was hoping she would be happy," Sky Roberts, who would work at Mar-a-Lago for several years, testified in a deposition. "That way she could, you know, go back and forth to work with me."

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He said they would have lunch together when she worked there.

Maxwell tells Roberts she'd 'have to pass the interview'

Lawyer David Boies arrives with his client Virginia Giuffre for hearing in the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein, who died this month in what a New York City medical examiner ruled a suicide, at Federal Court in New York, U.S., August 27, 2019.

Epstein house manager Juan Alessi was driving Maxwell when they spotted Roberts from the driveway at Mar-a-Lago. He testified that he'd been waiting for Maxwell "to come out of the massage." It's not clear whether she'd been having a massage that day, but Alessi said that he had parked, then didn't see Maxwell for about an hour.

Then Alessi saw Maxwell speaking with Roberts that afternoon but couldn't hear what they said.

Roberts testified that she'd been working only two to three weeks at the spa when Maxwell approached.

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When they spoke, Roberts said, it was just "chitchat" about "you know, the body and the anatomy and how I was interested in it."

Maxwell said she knew somebody who was looking for a traveling masseuse, but Roberts pointed out that she wasn't licensed. Maxwell said not to worry, that Roberts would get to travel, and that she would make "good money, get an education and you'll finally get accredited one day."

"We can help you along the way, if you pass the interview," Maxwell told her.

Virginia Roberts' first visit to Epstein's house

Maxwell ended the discussion at Mar-a-Lago by giving Roberts her phone number. Roberts promised to call once she had asked her father whether she could visit Epstein.

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"I ran over, actually, to see my dad, talked to him. He said it would be OK," Roberts testified. "I used the phone from Mar-a-Lago to call her and tell her I was allowed to come over."

Sky Roberts testified that when his daughter brought it up, he said, "Well that's great, you know, because learning new jobs is all about life."

Roberts' father gave her a ride to El Brillo Way between 4 and 5 p.m. that day after she finished work. He said Epstein came out of the house to speak with him.

"He was very cordial, very nice," Sky Roberts said. He was never invited into nor did he go into Epstein's home.

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Inside, Virginia Roberts told the BBC in 2022, Epstein lay down naked and Maxwell taught her how to massage him.

"Through that time, they were asking me questions about who I was," she said. "They seemed like nice people, so I trusted them, and I told them I'd had a really hard time in my life up until then  I'd been a runaway, I'd been sexually abused, physically abused.  That was the worst thing I could have told them because now they knew how vulnerable I was."

Giuffre died from suicide in April at age 41 at a ranch in Australia. She had been estranged from her husband and not allowed to see her children.

Epstein died the same way in his jail cell in Manhattan in 2019, awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges.

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Maxwell was convicted of conspiracy to sex trafficking childen and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2022. She'd been serving her sentence in a Tallahassee prison until right after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed her about Epstein. Then she was moved to a prison camp with a lower level of supervision in Texas.

Holly Baltz is an editor at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hbaltz@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Virginia Giuffre met Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago - what happened
Nicholas Moxham was jailed for at least 19 years after being convicted of a series of sex offences [GMP]

A "gaping hole" in the law meant a convicted paedophile could lead activities for children where he used the access to abuse them, a charity has said.

Nicholas Moxham ran parties in Manchester but did not need to have to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, a common test for people working with young people which would have revealed his previous conviction, because he was self-employed.

Moxham, who was detained for four years in 1992 after wounding a woman and received a caution in 1997 for indecent exposure, was jailed for at least 19 years after being convicted of a series of sex offences against women and children in 2024, some of which took place at the parties.

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Campaigning charity Freedom from Abuse said the law should be changed to ensure "anyone" working with children underwent DBS checks.

Moxham ran party experiences involving laser tag, zorbing, go-karting and science demonstrations through companies he owned in buildings, outdoor areas and woodland he had hired from Parrs Wood High School.

Police discovered that in 2016 he had lured three children who were playing laser tag to a hidden area of the woodland being filmed by a camera he had hidden in leaves and exposed himself and acted indecently while their backs were turned.

Officers also found that between 2018 and 2019, he hid a motion-activated camera in the toilets of an outbuilding that was used by both children and adults attending his events.

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None of those filmed by Moxham have been identified by police.

He also kept devices containing indecent images of children and animals in a storage unit at the school.

'Children being harmed'

Teachers and other employees who work with children and are unsupervised by senior staff must have an enhanced DBS, which looks for criminal records and ensures they have not been banned from working with children.

However, anyone employing themselves through their own company is not legally required to have a DBS certificate, though self-employed people can obtain checks by applying through agencies, professional organisations or specialist companies.

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Some parents were usually present at Moxham's events, but regulations mean that only the presence of senior staff negates the need for an enhanced DBS certificate in such circumstances for anyone not working for their own company.

Sarah, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, booked Moxham for one of her son's birthday parties.

She said most parents "just assume that these people have been checked and that it is safe".

"I'd trusted him, it was at a school, it was a registered company, I'd done the research, I'd looked at the reviews," she said.

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"What more can you do?"

Freedom from Abuse's Marilyn Hawes said "anyone" working with children should need to undergo checks for previous convictions or cautions.

"It's a gaping hole that children are falling down and being harmed," Ms Hawes said.

Rebecca Miller from law firm Farleys said DBS checks were "there for employers" and in circumstances where self-employed people had been booked, it was "essentially left to the parents or guardians" to make sure that those providing the service had been "appropriately checked".

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The Home Office said it would not comment on individual cases but is understood to be looking at extending the scope of enhanced criminal records checks to self-employed people who work closely with children and vulnerable adults.

Police said Moxham tried to throw hard drives out of a window when he was arrested [GMP]

When Moxham was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court in July 2024, Judge John Potter said he was a "determined and predatory sexual offender" who used his businesses "as a means to sexually exploit children".

The judge also said his "random attack" in 1992 had been motivated by his "anger" towards women, because of their "disinterest" in him, and that Moxham had shown he had "a capacity to cause very serious harm".

He added that the school should review whether "appropriate checks were made" before his business was allowed to operate there.

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Head teacher Mark McElwee said Moxham "ran an independent business that was not connected to our school beyond the fact that his business held events for the wider community when the school was closed on premises he hired out from us".

He said "all correct procedures" were followed in relation to the site hire and "no concerns were raised with us in relation to this, either at the time or during a subsequent safeguarding review of our lettings procedures once the offending came to light".

He added that the school had been "shocked and appalled by the offences committed" and "additional requirements for hire arrangements" had since been brought in.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Three Sioux Falls Police Officers were justified in the July 7 shooting that injured a man who had shot at the officers, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) said in its report.

Deondre Gene Black Hawk, 24, and police exchanged gunfire after Black Hawk had fled and turned to shoot while being pursued, the investigation report said.

18 motorcycle crashes over one day at Sturgis Rally

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Officers fired 24 rounds while Black Hawk fired six. Black Hawk was shot multiple times.

Black Hawk initially fled from two officers and one of those officers saw that Black Hawk had a handgun. When Black Hawk was about 15 feet from the two officers, he turned and fired at them, according to the incident report. The two officers returned fire almost simultaneously. A third office joined the pursuit.

Photo from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Photo from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

Police were attempting to find Black Hawk who was a suspect in a July 6 shooting incident and had multiple warrants. Police say the July 6 shooting left a woman in critical condition.

Officers arriving on scene found a 19-year-old female resident with a gunshot wound to her head, and then provided medical aid while on scene, Sioux Falls Police Department spokesman Aaron Benson said July 8.

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He was located on July 7 near the 200 block of North Prairie Avenue, according to the incident report. You can read the full report attached below.

July-7-2025-OIS-SFPDDownload

Black Hawk left that area in a vehicle that stopped at an apartment building on the 100 block of South Garfield Avenue. Police found Black Hawk behind the apartment building. The pursuit started after Black Hawk fled from police.

Black Hawk had a tested blood alcohol centration of .120 and also tested positive for methamphetamine.

Black Hawk faces 13 charges in Minnehaha County for this incident. There are two counts of attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, six counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, four counts of committing a felony while carrying a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm with a prior felony drug conviction.

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The suspect fired a handgun at the law enforcement officers, and there was a clear and present danger to the officers safety, Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a news release. The officers took action to protect themselves and others.

This incident marked the fifth officer involved shooting in South Dakota this year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Much of New York State was put under another air quality advisory Sunday due to the surging wildfires in Canada.

The Department of Environmental Conservation updated an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate matter on Sunday morning for the Central New York, Western New York, Eastern Lake Ontario, and the Adirondack regions due to the impact of smoke from wildfires.

Fine particulate matter, consisting of tiny solid particles from the wildfires, can cause short-term health effects, including irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, sneezing, and coughing.

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Health and Safety Officer for the Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service, Colin Arthur, suggested those concerned should wear protective gear when going outdoors.

If you do need to be outside for any extended period of time, make sure youre drinking plenty of fluids, he said. If you feel its really necessary to wear some sort of, like, respiratory precaution like the simple face masks that we used to wear during Covid, Arthur said, Stay inside and if need be, if you have the capabilities to close your windows and keep comfortable, I would say do the same thing in your home.

Those more susceptible to these irritations, including the elderly and immunocompromised, should avoid going outdoors if possible during these times.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
A California Mini Corps tutor helps a migrant child at McKinley Elementary. The Trump administration said it would unfreeze funding for education programs. Migrant families relied on some of those funds, and some program leaders say damage has been done during the freeze and theyve had to shut down this summer. (Photo courtesy of Butte County Office of Education)

Victoria Gomez de la Torre doesnt know when  or if  the migrant children she serves are going to get the education help theyve come to rely on.

Gomez de la Torre oversees the migrant education program for 12 central Florida counties. The federally funded service helps the children of migrant agricultural workers, who move within and between states based on planting and harvesting seasons.

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Her staff identifies agricultural workers whove migrated to the area and helps them enroll their children in school. It also helps connect them with tutoring and medical care.

Earlier this summer, the Trump administration froze more than $6 billion in education funding, including money for migrant education, after-school programs, English-language programs for non-native speakers and other grants. Congress had already approved the money, but the administration said it wanted to conduct a review of the programs.

The administration announced July 25 it would release the remaining $5.5 billion of the money, after unfreezing $1.3 billion earlier last month.

But for Gomez de la Torres program, the damage had already been done: Without the money, it had to shut down this summer.

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We didnt have enough money left over to carry the program, said Joram Rejouis, the director of program development for the public schools in Alachua County, which includes Gainesville and is the largest of the 12 counties. Definitely, stopping the program caused damage.

The program came to a complete halt when Gomez de la Torres 11 staff members were offered other positions in the school district. Throughout July, about five dozen migrant children across the 12 counties were without summer services. The funds were supposed to go out before the start of the month.

Its going horrendously, said Gomez de la Torre. Migrant families depend on us, rely on our system and our help.

The Alachua County program serves about 1,000 to 1,200 children of migrant workers throughout the year, many in rural farming communities. Each year, roughly 17,000 migrant children are served by programs across Florida.

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It is a very valuable program for a very vulnerable population, Rejouis said. Definitely, stopping the program caused damage, period  for the families, for the program and for the district.

Migrant children are less likely to have regular primary care and are more likely to face health conditions such as anemia and high blood pressure. Many migrant families who harvest food in the fields dont have enough food themselves.

The program also helps with communication and translation among parents, teachers and guidance counselors. We were their go-to for whenever they needed something, Gomez de la Torre said. Now, they dont have us.

Stopping the program caused damage, period  for the families, for the program and for the district.

 Joram Rejouis, director, program development for Alachua County, Florida, public schools

The freeze in funds added to the uncertainty and fear created by the Trump administrations broader moves to target benefits for immigrants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced it had added Head Start to the list of public programs that would be closed to immigrants who are here illegally. After the funding announcement earlier this month, a senior official said the administration had established guardrails to ensure the funds are not used in violation of Executive Orders.

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Its anybodys guess when well come back, Gomez de la Torre said. If well come back. If people who chose to retire will return, if their retirement can be rescinded.  Nobody knows exactly how its going to play out.

A similar story is unfolding in California.

The statewide Mini Corps program, run by the Butte County Office of Education, north of Sacramento, connects migrant children at schools and labor camps with bilingual tutors who help them during the school day. Many of the tutors are former migrant children themselves, said Yvette Medina, who oversees the program.

The funding freeze forced the office to lay off around 400 workers statewide, according to spokesperson Travis Souders. Despite Fridays announcement, the organization is waiting for official word  in writing  before reversing layoffs.

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Theres going to be many students out there who are just going to have another disadvantage to the disadvantages that we already have, Medina said.

In Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, the program was forced to shut down altogether, according to Medina.

Medina grew up in migrant labor camps, following her parents to the fields at 4 a.m. as they picked cherries and grapes before she went to school. Her parents worked throughout the Central Valley, back in Mexico and up and down the West Coast, all the way to Oregon.

It is devastating, she said. If it wasnt for the migrant program, I know for a fact theres no way I would have graduated high school.

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Migrant families already are gripped with fear as the Trump administration ramps up immigration raids and arrests, which President Donald Trump insists are focused on those with criminal histories.

They are terrified, Gomez de la Torre said. We had families stop sending kids to school and others who fled the country.

Ruby Luis, a consultant who helps school districts across Florida identify and enroll migrant students in school, also was a migrant child. Her parents worked in orange groves, at strawberry and Christmas tree farms and produce-packing houses.

Program tutors read books with her and gave her school supplies. The program took her on college tours and she enrolled via a scholarship for migrant children  a first-generation college student. She eventually graduated with a degree in biology.

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Just having even somebody to talk to you about going to college  because you dont have anybody to talk to about [that], she said. Having that support was really impactful.

To take that away, and then now they just have to navigate it themselves, it creates these barriers, Luis said. And it can ultimately leave these children not having access to education.

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@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.
Marine animals living in the cold, dark depths of the ocean are interconnected across the world by a hidden superhighway, a groundbreaking new study suggests.

The research, published in the journal Nature, provides a detailed global map of marine creatures closely related to starfish called brittle stars.

Researchers at Australias Museums Victoria Research Institute assessed how these spiny creatures occupied every ocean, from tropical shallows to icy depths stretching from the equator to the polar regions.

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They analysed DNA from nearly 2,700 brittle star specimens taken during hundreds of research expeditions and housed in 48 natural history museums worldwide and found that these creatures had crossed entire oceans over millions of years.

The gradual migration of these deep-sea creatures led to invisible links forming between ecosystems as far apart as Iceland and Tasmania, they found.

Brittle stars have lived for over 480 million years and come to occupy all ocean floors, including at depths of over 3,500 meters.

You might think of the deep sea as remote and isolated, but for many animals on the seafloor, it is actually a connected superhighway, Tim OHara, lead author of the study, said. Over long timescales, deep-sea species have expanded their ranges by thousands of kilometres. This connectivity is a global phenomenon thats gone unnoticed, until now.

Brittle stars (Nish Nizar via Museums Victoria)

The study also examines the critical role played by these creatures in marine ecosystems across all the oceans. While life forms in shallow waters are restricted by temperature boundaries, the deep-sea environments are more stable, allowing species to disperse over vast distances.

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In such environments, brittle stars produce yolk-rich larvae that drift on currents for extended periods, giving them the ability to colonise far-flung regions.

These animals dont have fins or wings, but theyve still managed to span entire oceans. The secret lies in their biology, according to Dr OHara, their larvae can survive for a long time in cold water, hitching a ride on slow-moving deep-sea currents.

Deep-sea ecosystems are more closely related across regions than their shallow-water counterparts. Marine animals off southern Australia, for instance, share close evolutionary links with species in the North Atlantic, on the other side of the planet.

A close relationship exists between deep-sea faunas of the northern Atlantic and, on the opposite side of the globe, southern Australia, researchers said.

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But extinction events, environmental change and geography have over the millennia created a patchwork of biodiversity across the seafloor.

Its a paradox, Dr OHara explained. The deep sea is highly connected, but also incredibly fragile. Understanding how life is distributed and moves through this vast environment is essential if we want to protect it, especially as threats from deep-sea mining and climate change increase.
(QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A passenger on board the Delta Air Lines plane that crashed in Toronto is now suing the company.

Chief Transportation Correspondent and Pilot MayCay Beeler explains what the passenger, who is also a flight attendant for the airline, is alleging happened during the crash landing.

MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM

Queen City News 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 Queen City News.
ATLANTA (AP)  Anderson Clayton wanted a headline name to speak at North Carolina Democrats' summer gala  but the state party chair bypassed familiar Capitol Hill figures, looking instead to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

She described him as a real fighter against President Donald Trump, someone who gets things done because he controls levers of government  unlike any Democrat in Washington.

I wanted people to hear from one of the Democratic governors who has defended their state, who could look at the president and say, Im in a position of power right now just like you are, and Im doing good things, Clayton said.

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Indeed, some Democratic activists see the party's 23 governors as their best answer to Trump's second Republican presidency. Those statehouse chiefs provide proof voters will embrace alternatives  and could give them a roadmap for the 2026 midterms, when Democrats hope at least to reclaim a U.S. House majority. They also will likely be central to the party's hopes in the 2028 presidential race.

There is no question Democrats are down at the federal level. Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate, allowing Trump to pursue an aggressive agenda. The party lacks a singular leader, and recent polling shows Democrats are deeply pessimistic about their party's future.

Yet many governors reject the narrative that Democrats are reeling.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a 46-year-old first-term executive, points to his work on economic development, job growth and reducing crime.

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Who was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement? I mean, there were multiple people who had leadership roles, Moore said. I mean, if you want to see ... the direction that people should be going, show me a place thats delivering results.

You have to deliver for people

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, has been in congressional majorities and in the minority. Now shes the Democratic nominee for governor in one of two 2025 governors races. Her former House colleague Abigail Spanberger is the Democratic nominee in Virginia.

I can tell you what attracted me to run for governor is that theres no ability to blame anything on anybody else," Sherrill said. "You have a vision as governor, and you have to deliver for people.

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Emilys List President Jessica Mackler, whose organization backs Democratic women for public office, praised Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a possible 2028 presidential contender, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is seeking reelection in 2026, for canceling some medical debts.

Pritzker secured a $15 per hour state minimum wage. In Kansas, Democratic Governors Association chair and two-term Gov. Laura Kelly worked with Republican legislative majorities to reduce and finally eliminate state sales taxes on groceries. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who is running for the Senate, expanded Medicaid insurance coverage in states with Republican legislative majorities.

Governors are so important because they are on the front lines, Mackler said.

Democratic governors, she added, have shored up abortion access after the Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs decision ended a national right to the procedure, and they've defended access to health care for transgender patients, even in conservative states. That includes Kentuckys Beshear, elected twice in a state Trump carried three times.

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It's about more than Trump

Some governors stand out as aggressive Trump critics, including some possible 2028 contenders.

Our democracy is on the line," Pritzker said at the North Carolina event. "Are you ready to fight?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom jousts with the Trump administration on social media, and he's produced podcasts aimed at Trump voters. Newsom and Pritzker both have asserted themselves in the partisan battle over redistricting congressional district boundaries, a matter Trump is pushing as a way to help the GOP hold more House seats in 2026.

But Sherrill and others say being a Democratic governor is not simply about opposing Trump on a personal or partisan level.

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People are furious that a president who ran on affordability is actually raising costs on everyone, she said.

She cited Trump's trade wars and the GOP's tax cuts that are tilted to the wealthy while their safety net program cuts hit the poor and working class. Democrats, she said, must level attacks based on how policies affect voters, then offer plausible alternatives.

I'm talking to thousands of New Jerseyans every day, and what I'm hearing is, I just need somebody whos going to go to Trenton and deliver for me,' Sherrill said.

Republicans have defended their bill, saying it was crucial because there would've been a massive tax increase after December when tax breaks from Trumps first term would expire.

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Bright spots for Democrats

Bradley Beychok, a Democratic consultant and co-founder of the American Bridge super political action committee, said the dynamics in Washington are frustrating.

When you lose a presidential election and the House and the Senate, no one is happy, and they shouldnt be, he said.

But, Beychok added, the reality is we lost a close election" and had key down-ballot wins.

Republicans had the so-called Washington trifecta at the start of Trump's first term, and Democrats bottomed out then at just 15 out of 50 governors. But in succeeding years they flipped nine governors' seats. Only one Democratic incumbent governor has lost since, and their current slate of 23 includes five of seven presidential battlegrounds Trump swept in 2024.

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People are willing to split their ballots because they connect the results they see on the ground with their governors, said Clayton, who celebrated a win in North Carolina by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein despite Trump carrying the state. Now we just have to do a better job of localizing the federal elections the same way."

A Spanberger win in Virginia would give Democrats 24 governors heading into 2026, when 36 executive seats will be on midterm ballots. New Jersey currently has a Democratic governor.

Governors can swing the presidential pendulum

History suggests a base of state power bodes well for opposition parties in Washington.

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Bill Clinton was a longtime governor in 1992 when he ended Republicans' winning streak of three presidential election landslides. His successor, George W. Bush, was among the many Republicans governors elected in the GOP's 1994 midterm sweep. Before Clinton and Bush, Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Jimmy Carter won the presidency as former governors.

Many current Democratic executives have visited early nominating states or, like Pritzker, general election battlegrounds. Most of them, Maryland's Moore included, dismiss 2028 speculation.

We dont have the time, he said. ___ Associated Press writer Steve Peoples in Colorado Springs, Colo., contributed to this report.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doubled down on his promise to expel Texas Democrats from the legislature if they do not return to the state for its ongoing special session, where Republicans are working to push through a new congressional map that gives the GOP five more favorable seats ahead of the midterms.

These Democrats have absconded from their responsibility, the Republican governor said on "Fox News' "America's Newsroom" Monday morning. I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state legislature because they are not doing the job they were elected to do.

The call for removing the Democrats from office furthers what he said in a letter Sunday night, where he cited a 2021 nonbinding advisory opinion from GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton as justification for the effort.

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On Sunday afternoon, Democratsleft the state to travel to blue havens like Illinois, New York and Massachusetts in protest of Republicans proposed congressional map. The legislature is also working on disaster relief legislation after severe rainstorms last month caused flooding of the Guadalupe River. Democrats remain resolute in attempting to block the GOP effort to redraw the state's map.

Were not here to play games. Were here to demand an end to this corrupt process, said Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu at a press conference in the Chicago suburbs.

Democrats have so far not said precisely how long they are willing to stay away and hold up the legislature's business, and they face daily fines of $500 for breaking the quorum. Abbotts threats did not stop at removing the members from office. He also said the members  and anyone who offers to give them money to help with the fines  could be committing felonies.

It would be bribery if any lawmaker took money to perform or to refuse to perform an act in the legislature, Abbott said in his Fox News interview. And the reports are these legislators have both sought money and offered money to skip the vote, to leave the legislature, to take a legislative act."

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"That would be bribery," he added. "They face a possibility of facing bribery charges, which is a second degree felony in the state of Texas."

If Democrats return to Texas before 3 p.m. Central time  which there is so far no indication of  Abbott said they would not face any charges.

Responding directly to Abbott's threats, which face their own legal scrutiny, the Texas House Democratic Caucus put out a four word statement: "Come and take it."
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:TSM) manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices globally.

It is set to report its Q3 2025 earnings on Oct. 16. Wall Street analysts expect the company to post EPS of $2.53, up from $1.94 in the prior-year period. According to Benzinga Pro, quarterly revenue is expected to reach $32.38 billion, up from $23.50 billion a year earlier..

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If You Bought Taiwan Semiconductor Stock 10 Years Ago

The company's stock traded at approximately $22.11 per share 10 years ago. If you had invested $10,000, you could have bought roughly 452 shares. Currently, shares trade at $242.03, meaning your investment's value could have grown to $109,466 from stock price appreciation alone. However, Taiwan Semiconductor also paid dividends during these 10 years.

Taiwan Semiconductor's dividend yield is currently 1.35%. Over the last 10 years, it has paid about $17.99 in dividends per share, which means you could have made $8,137 from dividends alone.

Summing up $109,466 and $8,137, we end up with the final value of your investment, which is $117,603. This is how much you could have made if you had invested $10,000 in Taiwan Semiconductor stock 10 years ago. This means a total return of 1,076%. In comparison, the S&P 500 total return for the same period is 262.20%.

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What Could The Next 10 Years Bring?

Taiwan Semiconductor has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a price target of $212.8 based on the ratings of six analysts. The price target implies more than 12% potential downside from the current stock price.

The company on July 17 announced its Q2 2025 earnings, posting EPS of $2.47, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.37, and revenues of $30.07 billion, compared to the consensus of $30.04 billion, as reported by Benzinga.

"Our business in the second quarter was supported by continued robust AI and HPC-related demand," said CFO Wendell Huang. "Moving into third quarter 2025, we expect our business to be supported by strong demand for our leading-edge process technologies."
Texas has issued arrest warrants for the Democrats who fled the state in order to block Donald Trumps effort to implement new congressional districts favouring the Republican Party.

More than 50 Democratic lawmakers boarded chartered planes on Sunday as they sought to deny the Texas House of Representatives the quorum required to vote on the redrawn congressional map, which could create an additional five Republican seats.

On Monday, the Texas House voted 85-6 to track down and arrest those lawmakers not present in the chamber, after which House Speaker Dustin Burrows signed civil warrants for each of the legislators, empowering state troopers to bring them to the state Capitol.

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The warrants apply only within state lines, making them largely symbolic. However, they mark the latest escalation in a stand-off between Democrats and Republicans in the battle over redistricting that is likely to grow increasingly fraught in the lead up to next years midterm elections.

Earlier on Monday, Kathy Hochul, the New York governor, said the US president and his coconspirator, Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, had left the party no choice but to fight fire with fire.

Pulling the trigger on the plans, Ms Hochul said: This is a war. We are at war. And thats why the gloves are off and I say, bring it on.

Some of the 57 Democrats missing from the state legislature on Monday fled to New York, where they met with Ms Hochul, while others travelled to Illinois, where they are being supported by JB Pritzker.

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Speaking at a press conference in Albany on Monday, Ms Hochul said: If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then theyre leaving us no choice: we must do the same.

Theres a phrase, you have to fight fire with fire, that is a true statement of how were feeling right now.

And Ive said, another overused but applicable phrase, alls fair in love and war. Thats why Im exploring with our leaders every option to redraw our state congressional line as soon as possible.

She added: Were already working on a legislative process, reviewing our legal strategies and will do everything in our power to stop this brazen assault.

Heybi Mondragon, the Texas House sergeant-at-arms messenger, stands at the entrance to the House chamber after Democratic lawmakers left the state - Nuri Vallbona

The Democrats, whom Ms Hochul described as brave patriots, face a $500 (377) fine for every day they break a quorum, and under new state laws they are not allowed to use party funding to pay. Members began fundraising to cover costs ahead of the walkout.

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Texas has 38 seats in the House. The Republican party occupies 25 of those seats, and Democrats 12, with one seat vacant following the death of Sylvester Turner in March.

The delegation of Texas lawmakers who travelled to New York did not disclose where they would be travelling next, but said they would not be returning to Texas.



Mr Abbott threatened to remove the fleeing Democrats from membership in the Texas House and suggested those who fundraised or accepted donations to cover costs incurred by the stunt could be charged with felonies.

Several Texas Democrats and their allies, sheltering with Mr Pritzker in Chicago, told Politico they feared Mr Trump could mobilise the Illinois National Guard to return them to Texas.

Democrats running away like cowards

Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, threatened to have the fleeing lawmakers arrested.

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Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, Mr Paxton wrote on X.

Ms Hochul said she had hosted the Texas Democrats at the governors residence, where she fed them and took them to visit a home that Franklin D Roosevelt once lived in for inspiration.

Donald Trump came up with this scheme, perhaps with the help of AI, I dont know, Ms Hocul said, before claiming that the Republicans had redrawn the congressional map on racist lines to disenfranchise Texans.

She added: What Texas and Republican states are doing at the direction of Donald Trump, I say, is nothing short of a legal insurrection against our Capitol.

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Mihaela Plesa, a Texas State representative who was among those to travel to New York, told reporters: The playing field has changed, not just for Democrats, but all Americans, and its time to meet them on the new field.

Texas Democratic House members caught a private charter plane to Chicago on Sunday - Bob Daemmrich/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Addressing the press conference on Monday, Jolanda Jones, a Texas state representative, suggested a committee in charge of redistricting had held sham meetings about redrawing the map.

She said: My constituents demanded that I be here, so you think Im going to listen to Donald Trump and Greg Abbott... and the attorney general who cant treat his wife right and lies on documentation? So I think he needs to worry about going to jail.

While the Democrats spoke of the need to fight back against the Republican redistricting plan, such a move is limited by the states constraints.

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While the Texas redistricting plan could see new boundaries put in place by 2026, potential New York changes would take years.



The rules of redistricting can be vague and variable  each state has its own set of rules and procedures. Politicians are gauging what voters will tolerate when it comes to politically motivated mapmaking.

Texas and New York are not the only states seeking to redraw congressional lines.

Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, said he was very seriously looking to redraw the states map, claiming the 2020 US census was flawed.

Ms Hochul said the changes being explored for New York would involve amending the states constitution.

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Redistricting usually happens after the once-a-decade population count by the US Census Bureau or in response to a court ruling.

A plan being explored by New York democrats in anticipation of the Texas plan could see residents vote on changes to conduct mid-decade restructuring in the autumn of 2027, and they could be put in place in time for the 2028 election.

The New York bill would also only be applicable if another state engaged in mid-decade redistricting.

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.
More than one in three Democrats consider their party weak and ineffective as it struggles to come to terms with Donald Trumps administration, according to a new poll.

Asked to name the first word or phrase that came to mind when they considered their party in a survey for Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, only 23 percent of Democrats came up with positive attributes.

That compared to 41 percent for Republicans who had something good to say about their party, although almost one in five said they saw the GOP as greedy.

Democratic Party leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer are struggling to land a blow on Donald Trumps administration to the growing frustration of their supporters (Getty)

Among the wider public, both parties were poorly received, with four in 10 using adjectives like dishonest or stupid to characterize them and some expressing a desire for the emergence of a third major party to meet their needs such as Elon Musks America Party, which has been slow to get off the ground.

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The polls findings serve as a warning to both Democrats and Republicans ahead of elections in New Jersey and Virginia this fall and in advance of next years midterms, although it is the former that appears to be bearing the brunt of the resentment amidst the fallout from last Novembers presidential win for Trump.

Theyre spineless, Cathia Krehbiel, a 48-year-old Democrat from Indianola, Iowa, said of her party, blasting its leaderships response to the administrations policies as scattershot.

I just feel like theres so much recently thats just going abhorrently wrong, she said. And they speak up a little bit and they roll right over.

Democrats opinion of their party as recorded in a survey of 1,437 U.S. adults conducted between July 10-14 2025 by NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Associated Press (NORC Center for Public Affairs Research/AP)

Only two in 10 Democrats described their party in a positive light post-Biden, with just one in 10 valuing it as empathetic or inclusive.

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Speaking for independents, Jim Williams, a 78-year-old retiree from Harper Woods, Michigan, said that although he was disappointed by the Democrats, he was more concerned by the state of the GOP, which he said had lost it under Trump.

All he does is bully and call names, Williams said. Theyve got no morals, no ethics. And the more they back him, the less I like them.

While Republicans were more positive about their side, typically praising them as hardworking and patriotic, the phrases greedy, for the rich and even corrupt also cropped up.

Republicans opinion of their party in the same poll (NORC Center for Public Affairs Research/AP)

Theres a lot of pain, but the pain is the result of 12 years of misuse and misguided leadership from the Democratic Party, said conservative Samuel Washington, 65, of Chicago. Im feeling really good about Republicans and the direction that theyre going.

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The findings tally with another poll from the left-leaning super PAC Unite the Party last month in which Democratic voters also labelled their party weak, woke and out of touch.

A third survey, conducted for CNN by SSRS, found that 72 percent of Democrats were extremely motivated to cast their ballots in the midterms, revealing a hunger for change and the chance to register their disapproval over Trumps actions

As for the president himself, his approval rating was reported last week as having fallen to 40 percent, its lowest level so far since his return to the White House in January.
Demonstrators protest Elon Musk outside the Tesla Diner in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on Sunday. The diner, which opened in July, has become an area of interest for the Tesla Takedown movement.
Protestors smashed spoiled watermelons at the "Rage Against the Regime" protest in St. Paul on Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo by Izzy Wagener/Minnesota Reformer)

Rage was in the air as protesters took to a former Sears parking lot Saturday to pummel broken electronics and launch decaying fruit at pictures of Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Jeffrey Epstein.

Minnesota 50501, an organization formed after Trump took office, planned the protest to coincide with Rage Against the Regime events nationwide. The smashing, though, was unique to Minnesota  as was the laser-eyed loon displayed on the poster for the event, an image some may remember from the states flag contest.

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People looked ready for demolition as they lined up to take a swing at old televisions and watermelons, gearing up in hard hats and goggles.

Protestors destroyed spoiled watermelons in a makeshift tarp room at the Rage Against the Regime protest in St. Paul on Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo by Izzy Wagener/Minnesota Reformer)

[Its] a safe way to release some pent up aggression and frustrations. Because we live, I swear, just in a constant state of anxiety with the news and just all the chaos, Melissa Hagen, 44, said.

Hagen said she was not a frequent protestor but had gone to the No Kings protest in June. In my generation, or my lifetime, I have not encountered the environment to feel the need to get out. But, I mean, its just too much, she said.

The sources of frustration were varied  immigration policy, abortion rights, Environmental Protection Agency cuts and Epstein were just a few of the topics discussed by speakers and attendees.

Protestors threw old fruit and vegetables at a picture of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein that said predators in red spray paint at the Rage Against the Regime protest in St. Paul on Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo by Izzy Wagener/Minnesota Reformer)

The goal of the protest, beyond venting frustrations, was also to inspire action. Tables from local organizations were standing by for those interested in volunteering. Organizers handed out information with resources for food pantries, housing and work support.

Its just a moment where we need to come together with as many people as we can. The dangers that [Trump] presents to us are immediate and massive, said Jess Sundin, a local district organizer for Freedom Road Socialist Organization. I want to smash the system, but until we can do that, lets smash some garbage.
The Brief

A 24-year-old international tourist was killed when he was driving and hit a moose near Denali National Park in Alaska.

A 24-year-old woman was also in the car and was hospitalized.

Moose are often active at dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours, and can be difficult to see, NPS said.

A 24-year-old driver was killed in a collision with a moose near the entrance to Alaskas Denali National Park and Preserve.

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A passenger in his car was also hurt in the crash.

Denali moose crash

Local perspective

The vehicle's collision with the moose occurred around 1 a.m. Friday, just south of the entrance to the Denali Park Road near Mile 235 of the George Parks Highway, also referred to as the Parks Highway, the park said in a statement.

The 24-year-old male driver, who was from Bulgaria, was pronounced dead at the scene. The 24-year-old female passenger, who is from North Macedonia, was taken to a Fairbanks hospital.

What they're saying

"The collision serves as a sobering reminder of the hazards of wildlife along Alaskas roadways," the park said. "Moose, caribou, and other large animals are often active at dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours, and can be difficult to see."

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The park urged drivers to slow down in dark conditions and use high-beam headlights.

Big picture view

The largest member of the deer family, the average moose stands at a height of over six-feet tall at the shoulder and weighs nearly 1,000 pounds, according to NPS .

The Source

Information in this article was obtained from a statement from the National Park Service, as reported by The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Police Department released metrics regarding its activity for the second quarter of the year in a social media post on Sunday evening.

The metrics include total calls for service, traffic stops, guns recovered and arrests.

Aurora police seek public help to find shooting suspect

Calls for service

127,152 total calls

74,349 resident-initiated calls

52,803 officer-initiated calls

Traffic stops

11,301 traffic stops

Guns recovered

526 guns recovered

Arrests

8,148 total arrests

1,299 felony arrests

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The metrics and more information are available on the Denver Police Departments Performance and Transparency web page.

Denver police remain committed to reducing crime in Denver, and the metrics from the second quarter of 2025 demonstrate the departments commitment, said DPD in the post.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  Sunshine and hot temperatures are moving into Denvers weather forecast for the first full week of August.

View the latest Weather Alerts in Denver and across Colorado on FOX31

Weather tonight: Clear sky

Sunday night will stay clear and dry. Low temperatures will fall to seasonal levels around 60 degrees.

Weather tomorrow: Sunny, breezy & warm

Monday will be sunny and breezy with wind gusts out of the south reaching up to around 30 miles per hour. This will help boost high temperatures to the mid 90s, which is about five degrees above normal for this time of year.

Looking ahead:

Sunny and hot temperatures remain in the forecast for the rest of the workweek. High temperatures by Tuesday will climb to the upper 90s, then reach record territory Wednesday and Thursday.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team

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Wednesday, the record to beat is 100 degrees set in 1980, and Thursdays record is 99 degrees set in 1980. Right now, both days are forecast to fall just shy of those records by a degree of two. Then, relief is on the way over the weekend with the return of showers and cooler temperatures in the 80s.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(WBRE/WYOU)  The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an air quality warning for Monday in parts of northeastern central Pennsylvania.

DEP blames wildfires in central Canada for the Code Orange Air Quality Action Day.

Enjoying brunch with a side of jazz in Scranton

Half of the 20 counties under the advisory are in our region, which are listed below:

Bradford County

Clinton County

Lackawanna County

Luzerne County

Lycoming County

Sullivan County

Susquehanna County

Tioga County

Wayne County

Wyoming County

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Higher levels of particle pollution are expected, leaving young children, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues vulnerable to the effects, and they should limit their time outdoors.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News.
Election officials in Massachusetts are considering their response to the U.S. Department of Justices request for the states voter database.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth received a letter from the department July 22, said the offices spokeswoman, Debra OMalley. The letter asked the office for information and data regarding the states maintenance of the voter list, she said.

It also asked for a copy of the states database of voters.

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The letter is currently under review by our legal team, OMalley wrote in an email Monday. We have not responded at this time.

The request is one of several the department has made to election officials around the country, according to the Associated Press. The move has caused alarm among some officials because federal laws protect individuals data when it comes to the government obtaining it. Furthermore, the constitutional duty to run elections rests with the states.

The Republican asked the department what it planned to do with voter data and if there was a specific instance in Massachusetts that led it to request the information.

The department responded with a statement by Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the DOJs Civil Rights Division: Clean voter rolls and basic election safeguards are requisites for free, fair, and transparent elections, the statement said. The DOJ Civil Rights Division has a statutory mandate to enforce our federal voting rights laws, and ensuring the voting publics confidence in the integrity of our elections is a top priority of this administration.

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Reporting by the Associated Press said the department had requested voter data from 15 states in various formats, including by phone or to propose entering into information-sharing agreements. The election administrators of those states are a bipartisan mix of five Republicans, nine Democrats and a commission of both parties in one, according to the Associated Press.

While Massachusetts is mulling its response, Maines secretary of state already has her answer for the federal government. Sharing the information would violate the privacy of the Pine Tree States voters, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows told the Associated Press.

The Department of Justice doesnt get to know everything about you just because they want to, Bellows, a Democrat, told the Associated Press.

While the department historically has sought to protect voters who are seeking to cast their ballots, the request for the states voter rolls suggests the department is shifting its focus, the Associated Press reported. For years, President Donald Trump falsely claimed there were widespread instances of voter fraud and noncitizens casting votes.

more news from Western Massachusetts

Read the original article on MassLive.
GREENUP Six months after five families filed civil suit against a local school district, a judge heard concerns from attorneys representing both sides on Thursday afternoon.

Greenup County Circuit Court Judge Brian McCloud told attorneys the next step is a deposition process on Monday (today).

Youll have your people ready, he told both sides. The proper way to do this is to go through each one of the questions.

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Attorney Tracy Frye, who is representing families of five McKell Elementary special needs students, said she has 19 pages of questions prepared for the Greenup County superintendent, McKell principal, McKell assistant principal and the districts director of special education to field and potentially answer.

Frye said she already began the deposition on Monday, July 28, but that it was not completed.

Tia Combs, one of the attorneys representing the Greenup County Board of Education, denied Fryes claim that her side canceled the deposition because it was going badly.

Combs said during a break between questions, she approached David Flatt  Assistant Commonwealths Attorney for Greenup County  in the parking lot and asked why he was present for the deposition.

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Combs claimed Flatt alluded to additional indictments in the criminal case attached to these allegations.

Commonwealths Attorney Rhese McKenzie and Flatt both vehemently denied that accusation on Thursday in open court.

Ive tried very hard to stay out of this until one of my employees integrity was in question, McKenzie said. Im beyond angry that our integrity is being questioned. We have no targets, and Mr. Flatt said that on Monday.  We dont go sniffing around to dig up more indictments.

The criminal case involves four defendants, all former McKell Elementary employees. They are Makenzie L. Rice, Michael C. Lyons, Ashley Trissler and Faith Jordan.

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Rice faces 40 counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 and under. Lyons faces 33. Trissler has five charges, and Jordan one.

All four appeared in Greenup County Circuit Court on July 10. Theyre all due back for a pre-trial conference on Oct. 9.

Lyons is in Greenup County Detention Center on no bond. He was arrested on a contempt of court libel/slander resistance to order charge in early July.

Robert Miller, who represents Lyons, requested a change of venue for his client. That is set to be addressed on Thursday, Aug. 28.

According to McKenzie, there are two victims in the criminal case.

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Greenup County Superintendent Traysea Moresea previously told The Daily Independent that once the school system became aware of abuse allegations on Nov. 13, 2024, the three suspects who were still employees were terminated. One had already resigned.

As for the civil case, Frye said they were well into the deposition earlier this week before Ms. Combs took her client (Moresea) and left. She said some testimony had already been given that could be beneficial for the case.

In 27 years, Ive never seen anyone do this, Frye said, referring to the abrupt departure.

Frye said she doesnt want to see any more delays.

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I want to get this case to trial, Frye said. This is not just a car wreck or a bank case. This is about these little boys, ages 5 to 7, and the trauma.  This is horrific and disgusting.

Frye said these families cant transfer their children to different schools because Greenup County is the district that gets the funding required for the education they need.

Combs contended she stopped the deposition after her conversation with Flatt because she was concerned about protecting constitutional rights and was fearful of unwarranted charges.

I fully agree clients need to provide deposition, she added.

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Flatt said he never indicated there would be any sort of flow of additional indictments, and that he was simply there to learn more about the case.

Jimmy Lyon was there, too, Flatt added, saying Lyon, a local attorney, is not representing anyone in this civil matter.

Flatt did say two questions were raised that would pertain to the criminal case: whether allegations were reported in a timely manner by administration, and whether or not a server had been dismantled.

All of the sudden, they stop the deposition and blame me for it, Flatt said.  Im astounded.

Said McCloud: Im not going to keep the Commonwealth from seeing the case. Combs agreed.

The deposition will take place this week.

Its going to more than two days, Frye said.
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

1748 updates
Deputies in Volusia County said they are looking for two women involved in a fraud ring.

Deputies said Rossina Domitru, 21, and Rosaura Vaduva Domitru, 24, have active felony warrants for grand theft and organized scheme to defraud.

Investigators said the two women are identified as members of a Romanian fraud ring that used re-encoded EBT cards with stolen numbers to purchase large quantities of baby formula in hundreds of transactions across Florida.

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Deputies said their fraudulent activities in Volusia County alone have amounted to approximately $6,000 in recent transactions.

Authorities are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of Rossina and Rosaura Domitru to contact the VSO Financial Crimes Unit at 386-254-1537 or Crime Stoppers of North East Florida at 888-277-TIPS.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will stand down at next year's Holyrood election.

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP said she did not want to "seek re-election and miss any more of the precious early years of family life".

She will continue as an MSP for another nine months, with the Holyrood election scheduled for May 2026.

First Minister John Swinney thanked Forbes for her "invaluable contribution to public life over the last 10 years".

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First elected in 2016, Forbes enjoyed a rapid rise to become Scotland's first female finance secretary in 2020, but was narrowly defeated in the 2023 SNP leadership contest by Humza Yousaf.

'Total dedication'

In a letter to Swinney, the Highlands MSP said: "I am in no doubt about the scale of my duties as a local representative, an activist and campaigner, and a government minister.

"Quite rightly this job entails long days far from home, constant attention and total dedication.

"As I consider the upcoming election and the prospects of another term, I have concluded that I do not wish to seek re-election and miss any more of the precious early years of family life."

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She said she remained "wholly supportive" of the first minister and would continue to serve her constituents "with diligence".

The deputy first minister added: "I look forward to campaigning for the SNP at the next election, to return you as first minister for another term and lead Scotland to independence."
New regulations on artificial intelligence could be coming to Florida.

Voicing skepticism of the onrush of the new technology into nearly every aspect of social and economic life, Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 28 said hell debut some strong policies soon.

Im not one to say we should just turn over our humanity to AI, DeSantis told reporters in Panama City. Its one thing for technology to enhance the human experience. Its another thing for technology to try to supplant the human experience.

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At the same time, DeSantis acknowledged AI is already a vital part of the economy and will inevitably shape the future. Yet hes leery of Big Tech being the sole source doing the shaping.

DeSantis isnt the only elected leader grappling with how to approach AI, but he nearly didnt get the chance. The initial version of the major budget bill passed by Congress in the U.S. House contained a provision barring states from passing AI regulations for 10 years, but the U.S. Senate rejected it.

A ban on state-level AI regulation basically means were going to be at the beck and call of Silicon Valley tech overlords.

Signage of AI (Artificial Intelligence) is seen during the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit in Mumbai, India, May 02, 2025.

An AI-powered future

Emblematic of AIs rise to prominence is the rise of Nvidia, a tech company that other tech giants now rely on to source advanced chips that power the new technology. Tesla, Google, Meta and Microsoft have all used Nvidia chips, and the California company has risen to a multi-trillion dollar market capitalization in a short time.

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More: Nvidia reaches historic $4 trillion valuation, leads Wall Streets AI charge

Those tech giants, too, are investing billions of dollars in AI development, generating a kind of arms race for the future.

In doing so, AI is becoming pervasive. Beyond the information technology sphere, its involved in nearly every major sector of the economy  education, health care, manufacturing, the military and more.

Supporters have touted its potential to create efficiencies, but DeSantis is more concerned with potential negative effects. Hes warned AI could lead to the elimination of white-collar jobs and even affect law enforcement.

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But one of his biggest concerns is education.

In college and grad schools, are students going to have artificial intelligence just write their term paper? DeSantis said. Do we even need to think?

Florida and AI

Its Florida public universities, though, that are leading the push on the states involvement with AI. The University of Florida, University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida all have AI initiatives or institutes.

DeSantis also vetoed a bill (HB 827) this year that would have required the Department of Commerce to conduct a study on AI, automation and robotics and their effect on the workforce. The bill received one 'no' vote while passing the Legislature.

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He also vetoed $350,000 for an AI education certificate program from FilmGate Miami, an arts and tech nonprofit.

But he allowed $850,000 for Hillsborough Community Colleges AI program, $2.25 million for UFs Center for Applied AI in Agriculture and $2 million for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to use AI and other innovative technologies to find and remove Burmese pythons in the Everglades to take effect without his veto.

The details on DeSantis proposal will be released in the coming months but hes made it clear: His legislative plan is more guardrails, less gung ho.

Were going to have to look to see: How do we navigate this? How do we make sure that were protecting folks here so that they can live good, meaningful lives? DeSantis said.

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Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis warns of AI risks, vows strong policies soon
By Sisipho Skweyiya

MASERU (Reuters) -A reprieve from a 50% U.S. tariff on goods from Lesotho has come too late to prevent damage to the tiny African kingdom's textiles industry, which has been hit hard by months of trade uncertainty, officials and industry players said.

Lesotho's tariff rate was slashed to 15% in last week's executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, down from the level of 50% tariff threatened in April - which was the highest of any U.S. trading partner.

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Textile industry players in the country - which produces jeans and other garments for popular U.S. brands such as Levi's and Walmart - said the uncertainty around tariffs over the past few months had already devastated the sector, with orders cancelled and jobs cut.

"We were on the verge of building (our) American market," Teboho Kobeli, founder and managing director of Afri-Expo Textiles, told Reuters at his factory in Maseru.

He said the U.S. market made up 10% of his company's production - about $1 million a year - and that he had to lay off 200 workers, or 40% of his workforce, after the announcement in April as orders dried up.

"That is a lot lost," he said.

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Lesotho, which Trump had ridiculed in March as a country "nobody has ever heard of", is a poor and landlocked country with a gross domestic product of just over $2 billion.

Trade Minister Mokhethi Shelile said that Lesotho would struggle to compete against other African textile manufacturers such as Kenya and Eswatini, which got a lower U.S. tariff rate of 10%.

"We have close to 12,000 jobs that are directly on the firing line because of this tariff," he told Reuters.

The sector, which is the country's leading export industry and biggest private employer, was heavily dependent on the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act, a U.S. trade initiative granting duty-free access to qualifying African nations.

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It employs around 40,000 people and accounts for roughly 90% of manufacturing exports, according to Oxford Economics.

One of the people affected by the uncertainty is Matsoso Lepau, a 48-year-old who lost his job at protective outerwear maker Leo Garments in April.

"I have a big problem because the money that I was making is not there anymore," he said, adding he used to earn the equivalent of $167 a month.

"Now that Mr Trump has lowered the tariffs, I am still hoping that we will get our jobs back."

Kobeli, the head of Afri-Expo Textiles, said he was confident he could get his business back on track now that the reduced 15% rate has been set, noting the uncertainty over U.S. trade policy had weighed on investors' and retailers' decisions globally.

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"It was a global problem, even the buyers in America were stagnant as they did not know where to go... Now with the 15% we are starting to talk, it's not like we were affected alone," he said.

(Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Elon Musk's The Boring Company has partnered with officials in Tennessee to construct a tunnel connecting downtown Nashville with Nashville International Airport and to use the tunnel to take passengers between the two via Tesla vehicles, Axios reported.

If the concept sounds familiar, it might be because a similar "hyperloop" system began being constructed in Las Vegas in 2019, ferrying its first passengers in mid-2021. Musk presented the idea of hyperloop-style tunnels in 2013, though the concept is centuries old and typically involves pneumatic tubes.

On July 28, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a news release about the partnership with The Boring Company, touting "a transformative private transportation project" that would come "at zero cost to taxpayers."

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The project is expected to result in the Music City Loop, connecting Nashville's convention center and downtown with its airport. Transit time is estimated to be eight minutes, with a projected launch date of fall 2026.

The undertaking could be a boon to Tesla, as the electric vehicle maker has endured a rocky year.

If the tunnel project proves successful, it could encourage residents of and visitors to the city to make their next car an EV  but considering the history of Musk's tunnel proposals, that's a big if.

There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical that the promised tunnel project will materialize on time and as described, as similar schemes have failed to come to fruition or undershot expectations and promises.

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In its coverage of the announcement, tech news site The Verge noted that "The Boring Company has floated and quietly dropped many of its tunnel-digging plans" in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.

After a news conference announcing the partnership, state Rep. Justin Jones said he was inexplicably denied entry to the event, lambasting the intentional exclusion of "those elected by the people to serve and uphold the public good."

Jones was not alone in his concerns about the project. Mayor Freddie O'Connell is among local leaders with reservations about the state's announced partnership with Musk.

"We are aware of the state's conversations with The Boring Company, and we have a number of operational questions to understand the potential impacts on Metro and Nashvillians," O'Connell told Axios.

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.
(WFRV)  As families across Wisconsin prepare for the new school year, the Department of Heath Services (DHS) has released its latest school vaccination data for 2024-2025.

According to a press release from DHS, 86.4% of students met the states minimum immunization requirements. Thats a slight drop from last year, mainly due to a new vaccination rule that requires students in grades 7 though 12 to get the meningococcal vaccine.

Our school vaccination data tells us there are children in our schools who are not protected from an outbreak of preventable diseases like measles. Health Officer Paula Tran.

Smoky conditions remain in Wisconsin early this week

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When this new requirement is excluded, the overall vaccination rate increased slightly, reaching 89.3%, up to 0.1% last year.

Meanwhile, national data from the CDC shows Wisconsin kindergartners still lag behind many other states in protecting kids against vaccine-preventable illnesses.

Health officials urge parents to make sure their children are up to date on all required vaccine before school starts.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Is Pam Bondi covering up for President Donald Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?

So far, there is no public evidence that the president is on a "client list"  or had any involvement  in the sexual abuse or trafficking of underaged girls by the late Palm Beach financier. Nonetheless, the suspicion continues to mushroom that the president, a former cohort of Epstein in the Palm Beach social scene up to the early 2000s, is implicated in unreleased documents within the government's possession.

That's because of a July 7 announcement by U.S. Department of Justice officials claiming they did not have a purported list of Epstein's "clients"  a statement that contradicted Bondi's early assertion on Fox News that she had such a document on her desk. And it has been further propelled by reporting by media outlets that the U.S. attorney general told Trump in May that his name appeared in Epstein documents.

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Bondi, Epstein and the 'client lst': 5 things to know as MAGA-verse explodes

A month's worth of efforts by Trump in public statements, on his social media platform and via policy news, like trade deals, have failed to quell the uproar, most ubiquitous on his Truth Social platform.

"It's pretty simple," wrote one Trump supporter on Truth Social on July 22 after Trump posted again about the "Jeffrey Epstein hoax" on Truth Social. "WE THE PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF LIES AND DECEPTION! And we don't care who's doing it!!! We voted for truth and transparency and we demand justice!"

How the Epstein saga plays out remains to be seen. But what is known is that suspicion still persists about why Bondi, as Florida attorney general, swept away the Trump University scandal in Florida more than a decade ago. Here are five things to know about what the Palm Beach Post and other reported on that matter.

What was Trump University?

Trump University was a for-profit educational venture established by the then-TV and real estate mogul. The business offered real estate and other business-related educational programs and seminars. It closed in 2010.

Florida officials received complaints about Trump University

Trump University was the focus of complaints by those who paid for its instructional offerings, but were dissatisfied with the content of the courses they enrolled in and paid for. An untold number of those disappointed consumers filed complaints with state agencies.

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In August of 2013, the New York attorney general filed a civil action against Trump and the Trump University venture alleging that they engaged in "fraudulent, illegal and deceptive conduct.

Florida officials noted at the time that Trump University closed that they, too, received roughly two dozen complaints. A month after the New York action was filed, the Florida attorney general's office  led by Bondi at the time  told the Palm Beach Post it was reviewing the accusations.

Bondi asks for donation from Trump, and gets $25k

Simultaneous to the investigations of Trump University, according to Palm Beach Post and other reports at the time, Bondi acknowledged approaching Trump for a monetary donation. The New York tycoon's charitable foundation responded with a $25,000 to a political organization supporting the first-term Florida attorney general.

The payment of the donation from a philanthropic foundation was illegal, and Trump's entity ended up paying a $2,500 fine in the matter. A watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed complaints about the transaction.

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"Charitable foundations like the Trump Foundation are not allowed to engage in politics," CREW later wrote. "Even more problematic was the fact that the contribution was given as Bondis office was deciding whether to take legal action related to Trump University."

Ethics panel: Bondi's dealings raised 'suspicions' but did not violate laws

Despite the assertions by the Florida attorney general's office, they did not pursue an investigation or deeper scrutiny of the complaints by Floridians about Trump University. The timeline of the decision to not probe further coincided with the Trump donation to the organization backing Bondi.

A Florida Commission on Ethics reviewed the matter in 2017 after a Massachusetts attorney filed a complaint about Bondi's actions but the panel concluded that Bondi did not violate any state laws even if her actions "may raise suspicions" of impropriety.

Bondi defended Trump in impeachment trial

In early 2020, Bondi served on President Trump's defense team in the U.S. Senate impeachment trial that heard the case against the then-45th president.

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In her defense of Trump, Bondi argued that it was proper for Trump to have raised allegations of currupt dealings in Ukraine involving Hunter Biden, the son of the then-former vice president, Joe Biden. A subsequent investigation by House Republicans of the younger Biden's dealings found no "smoking gun" to prove bribery or any impeachable offense of President Joe Biden before he took office.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Did donation to Pam Bondi squash Florida probe of Trump University?
Good news for the Womens Marchers of 2017. The future did turn out to be female. Less good news: The females now in power are far-right and bloodthirsty.

Having appointed more women to Cabinet-level positions than any other Republican president, Donald Trump now has a quartet of harpies fronting the administrations most vicious bloodsports. Like middle-aged Manson girls, Pam Bondi, Tulsi Gabbard, Linda McMahon, and Kristi Noem take orders from a supremely nasty felon. But they have vile streaks all their own. The vileness blends their private and public actions in a filthy smoothie.

On the main stage, Attorney General Pam Bondi has proven a singularly dutiful and hollow-eyed Trump soldier. (For Manson family obsessives, shes probably closest to Lynette Squeaky Fromme.) As Bloomberg recently reported, Bondi has been covering for both Trump and Trump buddy and child rapist Jeffrey Epstein since 2011. From 2011 to 2019, as Floridas attorney general, Bondi first quashed an investigation into Trumps (corrupt, now defunct) Trump University after receiving an apparent $25,000 bribe from the Trump Foundation. Then she turned a blind eye to the lawsuits filed by Epsteins victims that challenged the nauseating plea deal that Epstein received in secret in 2008.

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Early this year, Bondi tried to cover up the cover-up, exciting the pinwheel-eyed QAnon diaspora by boasting that she had yottabytes of smoking guns and child porn that implicated deep staters in Epsteins sex trafficking. But after reportedly finding Trumps name amid the smoke, she went evasive, and finally radio silent. This kicked her Epstein-Trump cover-up into high gear. Bondis flip-flopping then boomeranged on Trump. Of Americans surveyed by YouGov in July, 46 percent said they believe Trump was involved in Epsteins crimes. (Bondi has very little time to turn this around, a House Republican told Politico.)

Gabbard, the newly minted gun fetishist who now speaks in Q drops, is concocting sham treason charges against Obama. This is probably to get back into the bosss good graces after she crossed him on the Iran bombingand to help Bondi and Trump distract from Trump-Epstein. Gabbards Q-ish nonsense detonated almost nowhere but on right-wing social media, which now resounds with predictably sick, racist calls to lynch Obama.

Education Secretary Linda McMahonwhose estranged husband, Vince, a serial sex pest and allegedly much worse, was busted a few days ago for reckless, Bentley-totaling driving and sued earlier this year for sexual assault and traffickingis being sued for her own alleged complicity in the sexual exploitation of children. In the midst of this thorny litigation, McMahon has been willfully destroying American education, imperiling the countrys future in plain sight.

And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who believes habeas corpus means Trump can do whatever the hell he wants to immigrants, continues to vamp as the national avatar of constitutionally dubious raids, renditions, and detentionsin a $50,000 Rolex.

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As for their knack for striking Instagram posesin concentration camps, on horseback and beaches, thumbs-upping with Trump, sometimes brandishing big gunsthese women have been training their whole lives for MAGA shock theater. Bondi cut her teeth in blonded-and-bronzed Fox appearances; Gabbard on social media and in a flamboyant cult in which adherents evidently ate the leaders toenails; McMahon as a heel in what Roland Barthes called pro-wrestlings spectacle of suffering; and Kristi Noem in a teen beauty pageant.

Just like reality TV, the demimonde where Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Trump himself rose to power, these spectacles all pass off fiction as fact and call for cartoony personas as contrived as the heroes and heels of McMahons garish WWE. Persona cultivation is integral to Trumps Cabinet personalities and involves everything from stage makeup to did-she-or-didnt-she cosmetic procedures to the stagey cruelty infliction.

The original Manson girls wore prairie dresses, shifts, and bare faces. Bondi, Gabbard, and Noem go for the trademark Trump-girl glam. But their cheugy hair and smeary MAGA makeup would just be a reprise of the Hicks-Guilfoyle lewk from season one, if their images werent now explicitly pressed into the service of so much disturbing political iconography.

Gabbards Instagram shows her thirstily clad in ammocarrying the kind of assault rifle she used to opposeat the Tactical Games, where fitness meets firearms. Flame emoji and catcalls for the director of national intelligence pervade the comments. And of course then theres Noem flexing outside a chainlink cage packed with shirtless men in an image that wouldnt be out of place in groyper porn.

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Only one of the Trump ladies avoids MAGA glam. McMahon, at 76, cultivates a back-office look that became her pitch to Trump as a sharp businesswoman. But that was a pro-wrestling persona too. In WWE days, founder Vince McMahon cast Linda, whom he considered drab, as his sexless wife in one especially dark storyline. In the role of Mrs. McMahon, Linda was sedated, committed, and consigned to a wheelchair by Mr. McMahon so he could sexually abuse female wrestlers, including one he forced to strip, crawl, and bark like a dog while Linda watched. At the same time, according to Josie Riesman, Vinces biographer, Linda was almost certainly aware of a massive pedophile ring that ran within the McMahons World Wrestling Federation (as it was known) from the 1970s to the early 90s.

Its all so depressing. And of course Kristi Noem shot the family puppy. I hated that dog, Noem explained in her memoir, later adding: I have always been a wolf.

MAGA makeup aside (Its giving drained, its giving dusty), all of these women are wolfish. When did Republican women, aged 44 to 76, become so savage? So proudly deviant?

In McMahons shakedown letter to Harvards president in May, she asked, Why is there so much HATE?

There it all was. The bosss shouty capital letters. The compulsive projection. And the question these women should be asking themselves.
At 08:15 on August 6, 1945, as a nuclear bomb was falling through the skies over Hiroshima, Lee Jung-soon was on her way to elementary school.

The now-88-year-old waves her hands as if trying to push the memory away.

"My father was about to leave for work, but he suddenly came running back and told us to evacuate immediately," she recalls. "They say the streets were filled with the dead  but I was so shocked all I remember is crying. I just cried and cried."

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Victims' bodies "melted away so only their eyes were visible", Ms Lee says, as a blast equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT enveloped a city of 420,000 people. What remained in the aftermath were corpses too mangled to be identified.

"The atomic bomb it's such a terrifying weapon."

It's been 80 years since the United States detonated 'Little Boy', humanity's first-ever atomic bomb used against another nation, over the centre of Hiroshima, instantly killing some 70,000 people. Tens of thousands more would die in the coming months from radiation sickness, burns and dehydration.

The devastation wrought by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki  which precipitated the end of both World War Two and Japanese imperial rule across large swaths of Asia  has been well-documented over the past eight decades.

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Less well-known is the fact that about 20% of the immediate victims were Koreans.

Korea had been a Japanese colony for 35 years when the bomb was dropped. An estimated 140,000 Koreans were living in Hiroshima at the time - many having moved there due to forced labour mobilisation, or to survive under colonial exploitation.

Those who survived the atom bomb, along with their descendants, continue to live in the long shadow of that day  wrestling with disfigurement, pain, and a decades-long fight for justice that remains unresolved.

Hapcheon has been dubbed "Korea's Hiroshima" due to the number of nuclear bomb survivors who lived there after the war [Getty Images]

"No-one takes responsibility," says Shim Jin-tae, an 83-year-old survivor. "Not the country that dropped the bomb. Not the country that failed to protect us. America never apologised. Japan pretends not to know. Korea is no better. They just pass the blame - and we're left alone."

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Mr Shim now lives in Hapcheon, South Korea: a small county which, having become the home of dozens of survivors like he and Ms Lee, has been dubbed "Korea's Hiroshima".

For Ms Lee, the shock of that day has not faded - it etched itself into her body as illness. She now lives with skin cancer, Parkinson's disease, and angina, a condition stemming from poor blood flow to the heart, which typically manifests as chest pain.

But what weighs more heavily is that the pain didn't stop with her. Her son Ho-chang, who supports her, was diagnosed with kidney failure and is undergoing dialysis while awaiting a transplant.

"I believe it's due to radiation exposure, but who can prove it?" Ho-chang Lee says. "It's hard to verify scientifically - you'd need genetic testing, which is exhausting and expensive."

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The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) told the BBC that it had gathered genetic data between 2020 and 2024 and would continue further studies until 2029. It would "consider expanding the definition of victims" to second- and- third-generation survivors only "if the results are statistically significant", it said.

The Korean toll

Of the 140,000 Koreans in Hiroshima at the time of the bombing, many were from Hapcheon.

Surrounded by mountains with little farmland, it was a difficult place to live. Crops were seized by the Japanese occupiers, droughts ravaged the land, and thousands of people left the rural country for Japan during the war. Some were forcibly conscripted; others were lured by the promise that "you could eat three meals a day and send your kids to school."

But in Japan, Koreans were second-class citizens  often given the hardest, dirtiest and most dangerous jobs. Mr Shim says his father worked in a munitions factory as a forced labourer, while his mother hammered nails into wooden ammunition crates.

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In the aftermath of the bomb, this distribution of labour translated into dangerous and often fatal work for Koreans in Hiroshima.

"Korean workers had to clean up the dead," Mr Shim, who is the director of the Hapcheon branch of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Association, tells BBC Korean. "At first they used stretchers, but there were too many bodies. Eventually, they used dustpans to gather corpses and burned them in schoolyards.

"It was mostly Koreans who did this. Most of the post-war clean-up and munitions work was done by us."

According to a study by the Gyeonggi Welfare Foundation, some survivors were forced to clear rubble and recover bodies. While Japanese evacuees fled to relatives, Koreans without local ties remained in the city, exposed to the radioactive fallout  and with limited access to medical care.

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A combination of these conditions - poor treatment, hazardous work and structural discrimination - all contributed to a disproportionately high death toll among Koreans.

According to the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Association, the Korean fatality rate was 57.1%, compared to the overall rate of about 33.7%.

About 70,000 Koreans were exposed to the bomb. By year's end, some 40,000 had died.

Outcasts at home

After the bombings, which led to Japan's surrender and Korea's subsequent liberation, about 23,000 Korean survivors returned home. But they were not welcomed. Branded as disfigured or cursed, they faced prejudice even in their homeland.

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"Hapcheon already had a leper colony," Mr Shim explains. "And because of that image, people thought the bomb survivors had skin diseases too."

Such stigma made survivors stay silent about their plight, he adds, suggesting that "survival came before pride".

Ms Lee says she saw this "with her own eyes".

"People who were badly burned or extremely poor were treated terribly," she recalls. "In our village, some people had their backs and faces so badly scarred that only their eyes were visible. They were rejected from marriage and shunned."

With stigma came poverty, and hardship. Then came illnesses with no clear cause: skin diseases, heart conditions, kidney failure, cancer. The symptoms were everywhere - but no-one could explain them.

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Over time, the focus shifted to the second and third generations.

Han Jeong-sun, a second-generation survivor, suffers from avascular necrosis in her hips, and can't walk without dragging herself. Her first son was born with cerebral palsy.

"My son has never walked a single step in his life," she says. "And my in-laws treated me horribly. They said, 'You gave birth to a crippled child and you're crippled tooare you here to ruin our family?'

"That time was absolute hell."

For decades, not even the Korean government took active interest in its own victims, as a war with the North and economic struggles were treated as higher priorities.

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It wasn't until 2019 - more than 70 years after the bombing - that MOHW released its first fact-finding report. That survey was mostly based on questionnaires.

In response to BBC inquiries, the ministry explained that prior to 2019, "There was no legal basis for funding or official investigations".

But two separate studies had found that second-generation victims were more vulnerable to illness. One, from 2005, showed that second-generation victims were far more likely than the general population to suffer depression, heart disease and anaemia, while another from 2013 found their disability registration rate was nearly double the national average.

Against this backdrop, Ms Han is incredulous that authorities keep asking for proof to recognise her and her son as victims of Hiroshima.

"My illness is the proof. My son's disability is the proof. This pain passes down generations, and it's visible," she says. "But they won't recognise it. So what are we supposed to do - just die without ever being acknowledged?"

Peace without apology

It was only last month, on 12 July, that Hiroshima officials visited Hapcheon for the first time to lay flowers at a memorial. While former PM Yukio Hatoyama and other private figures had come before, this was the first official visit by current Japanese officials.

"Now in 2025 Japan talks about peace. But peace without apology is meaningless," says Junko Ichiba, a long-time Japanese peace activist who has spent most of her life advocating for Korean Hiroshima victims.

She points out that the visiting officials gave no mention or apology for how Japan treated Korean people before and during World War Two.

Although multiple former Japanese leaders have offered their apologies and remorse, many South Koreans regard these sentiments as insincere or insufficient without formal acknowledgement.

Ms Ichiba notes that Japanese textbooks still omit the history of Korea's colonial past - as well as its atomic bomb victims  saying that "this invisibility only deepens the injustice".

This adds to what many view as a broader lack of accountability for Japan's colonial legacy.

Heo Jeong-gu, director of the Red Cross's support division, said, "These issues... must be addressed while survivors are still alive. For the second and third generations, we must gather evidence and testimonies before it's too late."

For survivors like Mr Shim it's not just about being compensated  it's about being acknowledged.

"Memory matters more than compensation," he says. "Our bodies remember what we went through If we forget, it'll happen again. And someday, there'll be no one left to tell the story."
When epidemiologist Daniela Gafita makes her rounds in the remote villages of northeastern Romania to educate communities about the risks of measles, she frequently encounters parents who hesitate to have their children vaccinated.

With measles cases in Europe hitting a 25-year high last year, Romania was the country most affected: it recorded 13,000 of the approximately 18,000 cases registered between June 2024 and May 2025 in the European Economic Area, which includes EU members as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

But the disease has also re-emerged globally, with the United States confronting its worst epidemic in 30 years, in part fuelled by anti-vaccine misinformation that has been circulating on social media since the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Despite widespread vaccine scepticism in Romania, Gafita and her colleagues from the local health department are undeterred in their mission to spread the immunisation message.

"We are trying to recover little by little what we lost" in the past decades when the situation was still at bay, said the 52-year-old.

Romania has the EU's lowest vaccination rate at 62 percent, a far cry from the 95 percent the World Health Organization (WHO) says is needed for effective control.

- Irrational fear -

But it's a fight on many fronts, due not only to poverty but also poor access to health care and persistent rumours that vaccination causes autism.

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"I heard the vaccine is dangerous," said a woman, who declined to give her name, in the village of Raucesti.

Elena Armenia, who also lives in the village of 7,500 people, told AFP that she did not want her youngest child to be vaccinated after reading "about a link to autism" online, a misconception that has been refuted by the scientific community.

"Fear crept into my mind and I can't shake it off," said the 34-year-old.

Her neighbours' children recently ended up in hospital after contracting measles, a contagious disease that causes fever, respiratory symptoms and a rash -- but can also lead to pneumonia, brain inflammation and even death.

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Romania reported eight fatalities from measles between June 2024 to May 2025. In July, a child died in Britain, with three deaths being recorded in the United States this year.

Family doctor Monica Apostol told AFP that she was less optimistic than some of her colleagues about Romania's vaccination rate being boosted soon.

"I'm hitting a brick wall," she said about her many conversations with parents.

- Far-right anti-vaxers -

Several factors have contributed to lower vaccination rates and subsequently to the resurgence of measles in Romania, where jabs are offered for free but are not mandatory.

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Millions of Romanians, including many health professionals, left the country after the end of communism in 1989. Moreover, the country has seen periods of vaccine shortages, but also an underfunded healthcare system and an increasing lack of trust in authorities.

During the Covid pandemic, public figures in Romania but also worldwide began launching or endorsing anti-vaccination campaigns, with US President Donald Trump appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr as health secretary despite his support of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

Romania's far right also seized on anger over strict pandemic measures and started promoting anti-vaccine beliefs.

Far-right leader George Simion, who topped the first round of the presidential election in May before losing in the second round, has said that parents should have the freedom to decide whether to have their children vaccinated or not.

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Pro-European President Nicusor Dan recently called on authorities to redouble their efforts to "regain people's trust", and combat a deluge of conspiracy theories and fake news that has eroded confidence.

"The recent elections have shown that misinformation campaigns are conducted in a highly professional manner," said Gindrovel Dumitra, coordinator for vaccinations at one of Romania's main doctors' associations.

Faced with a situation that is "out of control", his colleague Gafita advocates for tougher nationwide rules, including the need for children to be vaccinated to be able to attend school.

"Even if such measures are unpopular and contrary to what many people want," she said.

ani/anb-kym/gv
Loews Corporation (NYSE:L) on Monday reported its second-quarter 2025 net income of $391 million, or $1.87 per share, compared to $369 million, or $1.67 per share, in the same period last year. Total revenue rose to $4.56 billion from $4.27 billion.

CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE:CNA) contributed $274 million in net income attributable to Loews, down from $291 million a year ago. Core income rose 3% to $335 million.

Net investment income for CNA increased due to a larger invested asset base, higher reinvestment rates, and favorable returns from limited partnerships and equities. Net written premiums grew 6%, while earned premiums increased 8%.

Also Read: American Home Sellers Retreat as Buyers Push Back Against Record Prices

CNAs Property and Casualty underwriting income improved. Catastrophe losses fell to $62 million from $82 million. The combined ratio improved to 94.1% from 94.8%, while the underlying combined ratio was steady at 91.7%. Results included unfavorable development from legacy mass tort abuse reserves and higher investment losses.

Boardwalk Pipelines posted net income of $88 million, up from $70 million. EBITDA rose 14% to $274 million. Results were driven by higher re-contracting rates, growth projects, and increased revenues from storage and parking, and lending.

View more earnings on L

Loews Hotels & Co. recorded net income of $28 million, down from $35 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to $109 million. Gains came from the opening of three new Universal Orlando Resort hotels and improved performance at Loews Arlington Hotel.

Earnings declined due to lower equity income from joint ventures, higher depreciation and interest expenses, and reduced occupancy at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel during renovations.

The Corporate segment reported $1 million in net income, compared to a loss of $27 million last year. This was helped by higher investment income from the parent companys trading portfolio.

As of June 30, 2025, book value per share rose to $84.42 from $79.49 at year-end. Book value excluding AOCI increased to $91.66 from $88.18 as of December 31, 2024. The parent company held $3.4 billion in cash and investments and $1.8 billion in debt.

Loews repurchased 2.9 million shares for $251 million in Q2 and an additional 0.1 million shares for $9 million between July 1 and August 1.

Price Action: L shares closed 0.28% lower at 90.29 on Friday.

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Even as the influence of DOGE wanes across Washington, at least one initiative from the once-feared project is thriving.

The effort to digitize the federal governments paper-based retirement system, led by DOGE member and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, is progressing steadily ahead of what is expected to be an unusually busy season.

Unlike many of DOGEs controversial initiatives, this one is widely supported across President Donald Trumps administration. That's thanks to both an impending flood of retirement applications and the absurdity of the current system, which relies in large part on Iron Mountain, a decommissioned limestone mine in western Pennsylvania, to store records.

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Gebbia carries a lot of clout, said one official close to DOGE, granted anonymity to speak candidly.

The need for modernization is unquestioned. Roughly 100,000 federal workers retire every year, and their forms are largely stored on paper in the vast mine located roughly an hour outside Pittsburgh.

And this is unlikely to be a typical year. The Office of Personnel Management is bracing for a surge in retirements at the end of the year from the crush of federal employees who have opted into the administrations Voluntary Early Retirement and deferred resignation programs.

OPM on July 15 stopped accepting paper applications and launched the third iteration of its Online Retirement Application system, which is replacing the Government Benefits Platform.

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The push is led by a small coalition of DOGE members and civil servants based at OPM. Alongside Gebbia, the group includes DOGE veterans Akash Bobba and Jamie Sullivan, OPM Director Scott Kupor, and a pair of former Airbnb engineers  Yat Choi and Andrew Vilcsak  who joined over the summer, according to agency records viewed by West Wing Playbook. Theyve worked hand-in-hand with longtime OPM career staff like Kimya Lee and human resources officials from the IRS.

We started with low-hanging fruit including the automation of the retirement application process, the calculation of basic retirement annuities, and with the capability to support digital signatures on a subset of retirement-related documents, former OPM Chief Technology Officer Al Himler, who left government earlier this year, wrote in a blog post last month.

The team at OPM have been working tirelessly to take the federal retirement system digital, Kupor said in a statement. Success will be for nearly all federal employees to self retire in a matter of seconds as opposed to the antiquated process that can take several months if not years to complete.

Gebbias presence, in particular, has helped inoculate the project from the political drama that stymied other DOGE efforts. Unlike Steve Davis, the former DOGE lead who tried to stay past his welcome and had a falling out with senior White House officials as a result, Gebbia has maintained a low profile inside government.

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Joes got a name thats well recognized, and the work that hes doing is not political, said a person familiar with DOGE, also granted anonymity to speak freely.

That wasnt always obvious. When Gebbia joined DOGE in February while the group was slashing and burning its way through federal agencies, Airbnb moved quickly to distance itself from its co-founder.

Joe is joining DOGE in his personal capacity, Christopher Nulty, Airbnbs head of corporate communications, told Skift,a travel news site. His personal views don't reflect the views of Airbnb or Airbnb.org.

Though Gebbia was a longtime Democratic donor, he says he voted Republican in 2024. He embraced the Make America Healthy Again movement, including Trumps revival of the Presidential Fitness Test and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s plans to overhaul the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

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Hes also shown flashes of the pugnacious tone that has become a DOGE trademark. At this point anyone still taking time out of their life to protest @DOGE and name call using the third reich has outed themselves as having an actual disorder, Gebbia posted on X last week.

Elsewhere in the Trump administration, the DOGE effort to negotiate better rates for the federal government by forming direct relationships with IT manufacturers is also moving forward.

That project, dubbed OneGov, is being led by DOGE members Josh Gruenbaum, head of the General Services Administrations Federal Acquisition Service, and Stephen Ehikian, deputy acting administrator of GSA.

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Farmer pouring raw milk into container with dairy cows in background. (Photo by Gerry Images)

Florida Department of Health officials said Monday there have been 21 cases of Campylobacter and E. coli infections tied to raw milk consumption in the central and northeast portion of the state, and seven people have been hospitalized.

The agency said the tainted milk was linked to a particular farm but did not disclose the name or location.

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Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases, the DOH said in the Monday bulletin.

Of the 21 cases, severe complications have been reported in at least two. Six of the cases were reported in children under the age of 10.

Raw milk comes directly from the cow, sheep, goat, or other animals and doesnt go through a heating process, known as pasteurization, to kill bacteria. As such, raw milk can contain campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli), listeria, and salmonella, which can cause gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention notes that children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of serious illness from these germs.

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In Florida, raw milk can only be sold for non-human consumption as pet or animal food, which is regulated by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Florida law requires containers of raw milk to carry a label clearly stating that the raw milk is for animal consumption only.

The Ladapo way

DOH Secretary and State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo (image via the Department of Health)

The DOH, headed by Dr. Joseph Ladapo, did not recommend against drinking raw milk.

Floridians are encouraged to use this information to make informed decisions about their health and sources of raw milk should they choose to consume it, the bulletin notes.

Gov. Ron DeSantis hired Ladapo, who had been on the medical school faculty of the University of California at Los Angeles, to run the DOH in 2021. The agency secretary doubles as state surgeon general and Ladapo also fills a position at the University of Florida.

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During his time in the DeSantis administration, Ladapo has expressed deep skepticism of Covid-19 vaccines and the efficacy of face masks to limit exposure to viruses. He made national headlines in 2021 when he refused to don a mask during a meeting with state Sen. Tina Polsky, who was being treated for cancer and requested that he wear one. At the time, Ladapo was up for Senate confirmation.

Ladapo last year advised parents that it was up to them to decide whether to keep their children at home amid a measles outbreak in Broward County  counter to usual practice and guidance from the CDC urging parents to keep unvaccinated children at home. And it was Ladapos agency that before the 2024 general election sent warning letters to television stations airing ads urging passage of Amendment 4, the initiative that would have guaranteed access to abortion.

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White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Millers ideology is making it difficult for federal authorities to actually meet his deportation quota.

The Justice Department is trying to distance itself from Miller and his expectations for federal agents to arrest 3,000 undocumented immigrants per day. In the midst of a lawsuit over ICEs illegal sweeps in Los Angeles, the department informed federal judges that no such official quota existed.

DHS has confirmed that neither ICE leadership nor its field offices have been directed to meet any numerical quota or target for arrests, detentions, removals, field encounters, or any other operational activities that ICE or its components undertake in the course of enforcing federal immigration law, a Justice Department attorney reported to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

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DOJ attorney Yaakov Roth attributed the number to anonymous reports in the newspapers, but thats not true. Miller was recorded stating the goal in May, when he told Fox News unequivocally that the administration was looking to set a goal of a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day and President Trump is going to keep pushing to get that number up higher each and every day.

The discrepancy between what White House advisers are willing to say on live air versus in court could boil down to a growing gulf that may be undermining the DOJs already strained credibility with judges, reported Politico. Skeptical judges have pointed to the figure as grounds to question whether the Trump administrations immigration objectives are even legal.

Yet a Justice Department spokesperson insisted to the publication that there was no divergence between the White House and the law enforcement agency regarding its immigration stats and orders.

The entire Trump Administration is united in fully enforcing our nations immigration laws and the DOJ continues to play an important role in vigorously defending the Presidents deportation agenda in court, a DOJ spokesperson told Politico.
Ghislaines Maxwells arrival at a minimum-security prison in Texas has provoked anger among her fellow inmates.

A prisoner at Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Bryan told The Telegraph she was disgusted by Maxwells transfer and that her feelings were widely shared by other inmates at the facility.

Maxwell, the British socialite and former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, was quietly moved to the prison camp 100 miles outside Houston, Texas, this week from a stricter low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida.

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Her new prison mostly houses inmates convicted of white-collar crimes and low-level offences, and they are said to be angry that Maxwell is being held among them.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for procuring underage girls for the late financier and convicted paedophile, who took his own life in prison in 2019.

Julie Howell, 44, who is serving a one-year sentence for theft, told The Telegraph that every inmate Ive heard from is upset shes here.

This facility is supposed to house non-violent offenders, she added. Human trafficking is a violent crime.

Julie Howell (left), who is serving a one-year sentence for theft, pictured with her husband Kent

Inmates at minimum-security institutions, also known as FPCs, benefit from low prison guard-to-inmate ratio and limited-to-no perimeter fencing.

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It is the same prison facility where Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, a fraudulent blood-testing company, is serving an 11-year sentence.

It also allows inmates to play with puppies as part of a scheme to train dogs to become service animals.

Upon Maxwells arrival at the facility, prisoners were allegedly locked down and had the blinds shut in an apparent effort to shield her from view.

The transfer comes a week after she was interviewed by Todd Blanche, Donald Trumps deputy attorney general, leading to intense speculation that some sort of deal has been cut.

Mr Trump has come under pressure in recent weeks to release all information related to Epstein, after the Department of Justice and FBI concluded that he died by suicide and did not possess a client list.

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During a nine-hour interrogation with Mr Blanche, Maxwell was allegedly grilled about Epsteins connections to Bill Clinton, the Duke of York and Bill Gates, as well several other billionaires, according to the Daily Mail.

Maxwells legal team have said she is willing to testify before Congress in exchange for a presidential pardon or having her sentence commuted  a possibility Mr Trump has not ruled out.

Inmates at FPC Bryan are worried about their own safety, given the widespread threats against Maxwell and lack of tight security on the prison grounds.

Howell said: We have heard there are threats against her life and many of us are worried about our own safety because shes here.

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Her comments will only fuel concern that could be targeted at the facility, preventing her testimony about Epstein from ever seeing the light of day.

Maxwell was allegedly moved under the cover of darkness because she had been bombarded with death threats from r apists who accused her of being a snitch, according to the Mail on Sunday.

A source told the newspaper: As soon as Ghislaine spoke to the government she was considered a snitch by other inmates at Tallahassee. There were very real and very credible threats on her life.

There were real fears inside Tallahassee that they could not guarantee her safety, which is why she was moved.

Maxwell could be a flight risk

Howell, who self-surrendered in July to serve her sentence at FPC Bryan, has a daughter who was trafficked as a teenager.

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In an email sent from prison about Maxwells transfer, she wrote: I am honestly shocked she was moved to a federal prison camp with her history and charges.

The married mother-of-four said that her daughter was repeatedly trafficked from the age of 17, leading to her being beaten, choked and eventually shot.

Her daughter also allegedly became pregnant as a result and Howell said she has since adopted the child.

Julie Howell, an inmate at FPC Bryan, has spoken of her anger at Maxwells arrival

The former professor, who worked in childrens education for 22 years, said she helped the FBI and local law enforcement agencies track down the perpetrators, who are now serving federal prison sentences of more than 20 years.

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That incident changed the trajectory of my daughters life, as well as mine, she said.

Howell said that the circumstances surrounding her daughter being shot provoked her mental health spiral and addiction to gambling, which she funded by resorting to theft.

In January, she pleaded guilty to stealing almost $1m from Tarleton State University, her former employer, between 2022 and 2024. She was sentenced to one year in prison in June.

Howell said: I dont blame anyone else for the actions that brought me to FPC Bryan, but I can definitely say that the circumstances that surrounded my daughter being shot were what sparked my spiral and addiction to gambling to escape my reality.

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Having Ms Maxwell here triggered all of those feelings.

Howell also warned that Maxwell could be a flight risk, given her previous efforts to avoid detection prior to her arrest.

She said: This is a camp you can literally walk out of. I dont care how many people she turns in, it doesnt take away from her actions.

As a mother of a sex-trafficking victim, Im absolutely disgusted shes in this facility. Regardless of her reasoning, I dont think she belongs here.

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A new social media trend is sweeping across the country - and officials are fearful it will end in tragedy.

The door-kick challenge takes the ding-dong-ditch prankringing peoples doorbells and running away before they answerto new extremes. Pranksters choose a door at random in the middle of the night and kick it aggressively, sometimes until it comes off the hinges, and upload a video of it online.

Thats a good way to end up dead, Floridas Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood bluntly put it. Especially in Florida. Youve got to think youre about to become a victim of a home invasion robbery and, under the Castle doctrine, youre gonna shoot first and ask questions later.

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Online safety advocacy groups also warn that kids could lose their lives over the social media trend or end up in jail.

This trend has the potential to end in absolute tragedy, Titania Jordan, chief parenting officer at Bark Technologies, a parental control app, told The Independent. Were not just talking about property damage  kids are putting themselves at serious risk. If homeowners are armed or on high alert, its not hard to imagine how a prank like this could escalate into something irreversible.

The door-kick challenge takes the ding-dong-ditch prankringing peoples doorbells and running away before they answerto new extremes. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)

Whats at stake is more than just a viral moment gone wrong, Jordan adds. Its a childs life, a familys future, and the potential for criminal charges that could follow them for years.

Authorities are warning parents about the dangerous door kick challenge as recent incidents have cropped up in California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Wisconsin, Texas and Michigan, to name a few. Marc Berkman, CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety, said that social media has conditioned American teens to re-enact dangerous challenges and pranks.

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Social media incentivizes users, especially teens, to post content that will generate likes, shares, and views, or clout as some may call it, Berkman told The Independent.

Unfortunately, what generates that social media attention is often salacious content: violent, explicit or otherwise extreme. Our teens, spending upwards of five hours a day viewing this content, quickly become desensitized to it, and violence, cruel pranks, and challenges become normalized.

Police in Louisville, Kentucky, said that the prank was stupid and dangerous following an incident in the city over the weekend.

A woman caught masked teens kicking down her door at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Wave reports.

Authorities and online safety advocates are warning that the trend is dangerous. Two teens in Volusia County were caught by authorities after they kicked a homeowners door in. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)

Anyone participating in this type of behavior is certainly risking their own life, said Louisville Metro Police Department spokesperson John Bradley. A resident could easily assume resorting to deadly force against the person is the next appropriate course of action to protect themselves from what they believe may be an intruder. This type of behavior is stupid and dangerous.

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In Las Vegas earlier this month, homeowner Tyler Reggie and his pregnant girlfriend were asleep when pranksters kicked the door in at 3 a.m. on July 8.

Reggie told FOX5 that he assumed the worst when the banging started, but saw it was teenagers after reviewing his doorbell camera footage. They caused $5,000 worth of damage to his property, he said.

In Florida, two teenagers are facing a charge of felony burglary after taking part in the challenge in the city of DeBary, Volusia County.

The teens kicked a homeowners door in so aggressively that it broke open. The so-called door kicking challenge is a surefire way to get locked up with a felony or even worse, shot and killed by a homeowner, Sheriff Chitwood said in a social media post on July 7.

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The teens told deputies they were just being stupid. One of them, a 13-year-old girl, was found hiding in her attic after deputies searched for her inside the house.

And, let me tell you, mom was furious with her daughter after deputies told her what she had been up to, Chitwood said. Parents, use this as a reminder to TALK with your kids that this challenge is not harmless and is the dumbest way to end up with a felony charge or dead.

Similar social media trends have met a tragic end in recent years. Teenage lacrosse star Michael Bosworth Jr was allegedly shot dead by a homeowner in May during an alleged break-in, but his friend told police it was a TikTok ding-dong-ditch prank gone wrong.

Tyler Chase Butler, 27, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the 18-year-olds death, who was fatally shot in the torso in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

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Butler is being held in Rappahannock Regional Jail until a preliminary hearing in September. His family said he acted out of a genuine fear for his safety and the safety of his mother.

In another devastating case in Riverside County, California, Anurag Chandra killed three teenage boys after they played a doorbell prank on him in 2020.

The group of six teenagers pranked Chandra before running back to their vehicle. Chandra then got in his car and intentionally rammed the teenagers vehicle off the road, killing three of them, authorities said.

Online safety advocacy groups also warn that kids could lose their lives over the social media trend. (Getty Images)

Parenting expert Jordan noted that similar pranks have been around for decades, but social media has elevated them.

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Pranks like ding dong ditch have always existed, but social media has given them a megaphone, Jordan said. What used to be a local stunt can now go viral in seconds. Even if kids arent sharing their own videos, just seeing others do it on repeat can make it feel normalized or even encouraged.

Kids may take part in the challenges due to peer pressure, the simple thrill of doing something they shouldnt, or more likely, for social validation, Jordan said.

Even if theyre not filming themselves in the act, just being part of a trend gives them a sense of belonging, Jordan explained.  Its easy to forget how impulsive kids can be when theyre trying to impress their peers or prove theyre not afraid to push boundaries.

Jordan recommends parents have regular conversations with their kids, not just about what theyre posting but what theyre watching online. Ask what trends are showing up in their feeds and how they feel about them, she said.

This kind of open dialogue is your best defense, Jordan added. At the same time, it can be helpful to use tech tools that give parents a window into their childs digital world.
More than 50 police departments across the state are in need of entry level police officers, with even more seeking certified officers who could hit the streets almost right away  highlighting an issue law enforcement in Connecticut and around the nation continues to face following a shift in recent years in the publics perception toward policing.

We just have seen a tremendous disinterest in individuals entering the law enforcement career field, said Mark Morello, chief of the Bristol Police Department. And so that is obviously a huge challenge for us. Recruiting is harder today than it was five years ago.

According to PoliceApp  which assists police departments in listing job openings  56 police departments in Connecticut are looking for entry level officers. These include towns and cities such as Stonington, Old Saybrook and Stratford, as well as those in the heart of the state like New Britain, East Hartford, West Hartford and Newington, extending as far north as Suffield and Enfield. A number of towns also have multiple listings, including those of West Haven, Norwich, Waterford, New London, Orange and others.

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Numerous departments that use PoliceApp for recruiting are also seeking certified officers  which cuts down on the time it takes to get a newly-hired officer through the training process and onto the streets. About 68 agencies in the state are seeking certified officers, PoliceApp indicates. Some departments, like those in Southington, Plainville, and Stonington, have more than one listing for a certified officer.

PoliceApp does not take into account agencies like Bristol, where Morello said his department is down nearly half a dozen officers. Bristol, like some other agencies in the state, is conducting its own recruiting campaign and is not currently using PoliceApp.

The challenges facing police departments around the state are not unique to Connecticut and have been seen on a national level. The desire to join law enforcement has not been the same since a summer of demonstrations in the wake of George Floyds death in 2020, which was preceded by the Ferguson unrest years earlier.

I think a lot has to do with the perception of law enforcement, but I think weve done a very good job in countering that, Morello said. But I dont know if theres a magic formula to get us as an institution back to numbers that we once had. Years ago, youd have hundreds of applicants for one position. And now, were not seeing anywhere near that.

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What happened was law enforcement as a whole got targeted with overall a negative implication, Morello said. And thats just not the reality, so we have an uphill battle in countering that narrative. Law enforcement really is an honorable profession that serves the community at whole very well. The reality is, statistically, law enforcement does a great job in serving the communities.

Louis J. Fusaro, Jr., chief of the Town of Groton Police Department, said his department is also not seeing the applicant numbers it did before the pandemic, though it has gotten somewhat better over the past year or two. It pales in comparison, however, to the number of people who were looking to become police officers 10, 20 or even 30 years ago, he said.

Right now, the pool of applicants certainly isnt what it was, Fusaro said. And thats not unique to my department. Its kind of across the spectrum of law enforcement agencies, certainly throughout the Northeast, but throughout the country as well.

Fusaro said he recently attended a meeting with other chiefs in New England where other department leaders expressed the same concerns about finding new applicants.

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The message is all the same: It is a challenge, Fusaro said. Your recruiting, your retention in law enforcement today is challenging.

Our department isnt unique when it comes to the recruitment challenges many agencies are facing, said Capt. Joseph Murgo of the East Haven Police Department, who added that he believes a number of factors have likely contributed to the issue. While our applicant numbers have been down in recent years, weve started to see a slight rebound.

In addition to the hurdles in attracting new applicants, Murgo said, getting them through the hiring process is a challenge in itself.

The background investigation phase tends to eliminate a large portion of candidates, Murgo said. And for those who make it past that, they still have to complete a polygraph examination and a psychological evaluation to ensure they are fit to serve in a demanding, often unpredictable profession.

Midnight shifts

Mike Lawlor, who serves on the New Haven board of police commissioners and works as an associate professor at the University of New Haven Criminal Justice Department, said he agrees that the falloff in police candidates stems from a number of factors, including financial considerations. Connecticut is competitive when comparing police salaries to other states, but the pensions arent what they used to be, he said.

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data from May 2024 shows that the average police officer in the state earned an annual mean wage of $83,210. The data includes a separate category for police supervisors, whose annual mean wage was $115,310. According to Indeed, the average base salary of a Connecticut officer is 14% higher than the national average.

But Lawlor said many cities and towns over the years started to do away with defined benefit pensions and move in the direction of plans that resembled more of a 401K. It used to be common practice among police to put their 20 or 25 years in, retire with a pension, and move to another job where they could pursue a second pension, he said. In recent years, some municipalities have started moving back toward pension plans and other benefits to make their departments more attractive.

Another barrier to getting more people into law enforcement, Lawlor said, is the false narrative surrounding some elements in the police accountability laws the state passed in 2020. Perhaps the biggest falsehood, he said, surrounds the idea that an officer could lose his or her home, pension or other assets because of the loss of qualified immunity.

No, that actually cant happen, said Lawlor, who previously served as former Gov. Dannel Malloys undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning in the Office of Policy and Management. Its impossible. Its prohibited by law.

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According to Lawlor, if an officer cannot stop a lawsuit through qualified immunity and the complainant is awarded a judgment against them, long-standing Connecticut law protects them from having to pay out of their own pocket.

You pay nothing, your employer  the town, the city, the state  they pay, Lawlor said. So, theres no way youre losing a nickel because of anything thats in the police accountability bill.

Morello said the uphill recruitment battle is further complicated by the inherent risk  albeit unlikely in Connecticut  of being killed in the line of duty.

Others are less inclined to enter a profession where that risk is, while small, still a reality, he said.

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In addition to the dangers of policing being a deterrent, Lawlor said many people seem to be more drawn to jobs that offer things law enforcement simply cannot.

This phenomenon that you see is actually a global phenomenon because, at our university, we work with police departments, public safety folks around the world, and theyre all complaining that its difficult to hire people these days, Lawlor said. And if you think about it, this makes perfect sense because there are so many other options for people to get jobs which dont require you to work all night and theyre going to hold you over on a double shift, and youre not going to get killed.

If youve got your act together, theres a lot of good jobs out there, like really good jobs that pay very well and theyre closer to a 9 to 5, work-from-home type situation, Lawlor said. And so, not many people want to take a job where you start off your first five years working midnight shifts.

Fusaro said the flexibility jobs in the private sector can offer is just not feasible in law enforcement or other first responder careers.

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One of the challenges that we have when we talk to new officers is were in a 24-7-365 business, Fusaro said. Police officers, public safety officials, we dont have the luxury of working from home. Our officers are out there on the streets, theyre working weekends, holidays, good weather, bad weather.

Some of the luxuries that the rest of the working world has dont lend itself to public safety, Fusaro said. So thats one of those issues that we compete with.

Another challenge is the sheer length of time it takes to replace an officer. Entry level officers are required to train for six months once theres an opening at one of the states police academies, followed by about three months or more of field training with their department. In total, it could be about a year from the time someone is hired until they are out on patrol alone.

It takes somebody two weeks to give their notice, and it takes a year to replace them, Morello said.

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Though it appears to be a trend affecting a good chunk of law enforcement agencies, not all departments across the state see recruitment as an issue.

Were doing quite well, said Fernando Spagnolo, chief of the Waterbury Police Department.

Weve had really good luck recruiting, he said. And weve had good luck retaining. Our attrition rate is significantly lower over the last couple of years, so maybe were the outlier.

Spagnolo attributed the departments successful recruitment efforts to the terms of the citys latest collective bargaining agreement and the accompanying benefits. He said the department also began accepting lateral transfers of officers, both from within Connecticut and out of state, in 2022  when an interest in law enforcement was among its lowest.

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Waterbury currently has 296 officers, which left it only four shy of being fully staffed before the department was recently budgeted for an additional 15 officers.

So we are currently recruiting, and weve got a really strong pool of candidates to run an academy in the fall, Spagnolo said.
At least 68 migrants have died and dozens of others are missing after a boat carrying mostly Ethiopians sank off Yemen.

The vessel, with 154 people onboard, sank in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, sparking a huge search and rescue operation.

Abdusattor Esoev, the head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Yemen, said: As of last night, 68 people aboard the boat were killed, but only 12 out of 157 have been rescued so far. The fate of the missing is still unknown.

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Mr Esoev said the bodies of 54 people washed ashore in the district of Khanfar, while 14 others were found dead and taken to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan on Yemens southern coast.

The rest are missing and presumed to have died.

Despite the war that has ravaged Yemen since 2014, the impoverished country has remained a key transit point for irregular migration, in particular from Ethiopia which itself has been roiled by ethnic conflict.

Migrants ready to risk lives on deadly route

Each yeah, thousands brave the so-called Eastern Route from Djibouti to Yemen across the Red Sea, in the hope of eventually reaching oil-rich Gulf countries.

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The vessel that sank off the coast of Yemens Abyan was carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants, according to the provinces security directorate.

It said on Sunday that security forces were conducting operations to recover a significant number of bodies.

Hundreds of migrants have died or gone missing in off Yemen in recent months, including in March when two boats holding 180 people sank between Yemen and Djibouti.

Last month, at least eight people died after smugglers had forced migrants to disembark from a boat in the Red Sea, according to the UNs migration agency.

Last year, the IOM recorded at least 558 deaths on the Red Sea route, with 462 resulting from shipwrecks.

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The International Organisation for Migration says tens of thousands of migrants have become stranded in Yemen and suffer abuse and exploitation during their journeys.

More than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024, down from 97,200 in 2023, probably because of greater patrolling of the waters, according to an IOM report in March.

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A wildfire burning near the Grand Canyon has grown into what experts call a "megafire"

The Dragon Bravo fire began following a lightning strike near the North Rim on July 4, fire officials said

The fire was burning across more than 116,000 acres of land and was only 12% contained as of Aug. 4





A wildfire burning near the Grand Canyon has grown into what experts call a megafire, and it has even developed its own weather.

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The Dragon Bravo fire has been burning for a month near the Grand Canyons North Rim after it was sparked by lightning on July 4, according to a news release from the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

As of Monday, Aug. 4, the blaze is burning across more than 116,00 acres of land and is only 12% contained, according to data shared via InciWeb.

The wildfire has quickly morphed into what experts call a megafire, which the U.S. Interagency Fire Center describes as a wildfire that burns more than 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) of land.

2025 Dragon Bravo Fire Information/Facebook Fire crews arrive to battle the Dragon Bravo fire Fire crews arrive to battle the Dragon Bravo fire

The Dragon Bravo fire is now one of the 10 largest wildfires in Arizona's history, according to CBS affiliate KPHO-TV.

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The blaze has even sparked the formation of pyrocumulus clouds, which have been sitting over the blaze for at least seven straight days, the Associated Press and CBS News reported.

Pyrocumulus clouds, otherwise known as flammagenitus or fire clouds, develop due to convection initiated by heat from forest fires, wildfires or volcanic eruption activity, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

The Dragon Bravo fire has become intense enough to create its own weather, according to CNN and the AP. The pyrocumulus clouds associated with the blaze have made it more difficult for firefighters to battle the flames.

If they get high enough, they can also create downdrafts, and thats something we really watch out for because that can quickly spread the fire and can be very dangerous for firefighters who are doing their work on the ground, said fire information officer Lisa Jennings, per the AP.

2025 Dragon Bravo Fire Information/Facebook

More than 1,100 fire personnel are working to extinguish the Dragon Bravo fire, according to the news release published on Saturday, Aug. 2, by the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team.

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Critical fire weather returned to the area over the weekend after a burst of humidity on Friday, Aug. 1, fire officials said. Before that, the area impacted by the Dragon Bravo fire saw eight straight days of historically dry conditions, according to the AP.

Additionally, fire officials said that "no precipitation is expected until the middle of next week.



Read the original article on People




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A 60-year-old man has died after losing control of his land speed vehicle while attempting to set a new record

Chris Raschke was taking part in the annual "SpeedWeek" event in Utah on Aug. 3

Rashke reached almost 280 mph before crashing, race director Keith Pedersen told local media outlet KUTV







A man has died after losing control of his vehicle while attempting to set a new land speed record at the annual "SpeedWeek" event in Utah.

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Chris Raschke, 60, crashed his land speed vehicle on the Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah's Tooele County on Sunday, Aug. 3.

At approximately 3:03 p.m. Mountain Time today, driver Chris Raschke. age 60, was attempting a speed record and lost control of his land speed vehicle at approximately the 2 1/2 mile, the events organizer Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), shared in a statement on Facebook. Chris was treated by medical professionals at the scene. Unfortunately, Chris passed away from his injuries.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation, the post concluded.

Getty Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah

SpeedWeek began on Saturday, Aug. 2 and will end on Friday, Aug. 8, local media outlet Fox 13 reported.

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PEOPLE has contacted the Tooele County Sheriff's Office for comment.

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Facebook Chris Raschke Chris Raschke

Race director Keith Pedersen revealed that Raschke almost reached 280 mph before crashing.

"It's much more of a camaraderie and community, and that builds a lot of friendships and trust. He's a big part of it, and he will be sorely missed, Pedersen told local media outlet KUTV.

He added that the event will continue on Monday.

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Raschkes team Speed Demon 715 paid tribute to their late driver on social media.

At this time, we ask everyone to please respect Chriss family, friends, and the Speed Demon team. We are deeply devastated, a statement read on their Facebook page. If you come across any inappropriate comments on our pages, please let us know so we can address them. Thank you for your understanding."



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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma City Police assisted ICE agents on Sunday morning to locate a suspect who allegedly rammed into an immigration officers car.

Police investigating shooting in NW Oklahoma City

According to OKCPD, the suspect jumped out of the car and took off, but was nearby. Police searched for the suspect with canines but were unable to find him.

After zeroing in on a house in the area, police tried to talk with the homeowners, but no one answered.

The driver allegedly rammed into an ICE agents car on Sunday morning. (KFOR)

While this unfolded, police say someone who lived in the house drove by and confirmed the suspect had forced his way into the home.

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Officials said there were two people inside the home when the suspect broke in.

At that point, we were able to get a hold of the victims by phone and tell them they absolutely needed to come out, and officers were waiting for them outside, said Capt. Benjamin Weir, Oklahoma City Police. Whenever the victims came out of the house, the suspect then decided that was a good time to give up, and he was taken into custody without incident.

Police said the suspect is a 26-year-old Julio Ramirez.

Ramirez appeared to be taken away by ICE agents. However, News 4 has not been able to confirm who has Ramirez in custody or where he is being held.

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It is not clear what led up to Ramirez allegedly ramming into the agents car.

Ramirez will be charged with burglary, looting, assault, and battery on a police officer, out of Oklahoma County.

It is unknown if ICE agents will bring charges against him.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
New Mountain Capitals portfolio company Machinify has signed a definitive agreement to acquire healthcare payment integrity company Performant Healthcare for around $670m.

With the merger, Performant shareholders are set to receive $7.75 in cash for each outstanding share, a 139% premium over the 90-day volume-weighted average price of $3.25 as of 31 July 2025.

New Mountain Capital's managing director and private equity president Matt Holt said: The future of the US healthcare system requires modernisation of IT infrastructure, including patient-centric data networks.

Performant plus Machinify plus the ecosystem of companies that we are building at New Mountain Capital will unlock the potential for a new system that is aligned with a more productive care model that is both more efficient and delivers better patient outcomes.

The acquisition is anticipated to be finalised by the end of this year, subject to closing conditions, encompassing approval from Performant shareholders and regulatory clearances.

Machinify CEO David Pierre said: At Machinify, we are creating the modern, healthcare payments intelligence platform built for accuracy and transparency.

By combining our powerful payer operating system with Performants trusted domain expertise and differentiated data assets, Machinify will support a broader range of clients, including the [US] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and state and local governments. The combined company will deliver quality, timely payments at dramatically reduced administrative costs.

Performant is required to maintain its business operations as usual until the transaction is completed.

The companys board of directors has given unanimous approval for the deal.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is serving as legal counsel while Truist Securities is providing exclusive financial advisory services to Performant.

JP Morgan Securities is advising Machinify exclusively on financial aspects, with Ropes & Gray providing legal counsel.

"Machinify to acquire Performant Healthcare for $670m" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.




A driver has faced non-life-threatening injuries following a rollover crash in Attleboro.

According to Attleboro Fire Chief Scott Lachance that around 4:52 p.m., Firefighters were dispatched to the vicinity of 600 Washington Street to find a single vehicle overturned with three snapped utility poles.

The sole occupant, an elderly driver, had been pulled from the vehicle by a good Samaritan before crews arrived.

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Firefighters and paramedics provided immediate care to the driver, who was then transported to Rhode Island Hospital via an Advanced Life Support ambulance.

The driver is believed to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

A section of Washington Street, between Sullivan and Carleton streets, is temporarily closed as the Attleboro Police Department investigates the cause of the crash.

The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and the affected area of Washington Street remains closed to traffic.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  One person was killed after attempting a speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats on Sunday afternoon.

The Southern California Timing Association says in a press release that 60-year-old driver Chris Raschke was attempting a speed record around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon. During the attempt, Raschke lost control of his vehicle at the two and half mile mark.

Medical professionals treated Raschke on scene but he later died from injuries. The SCTA says the accident is under investigation.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
The Brief

A 23-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Dallas after attending a concert on the night of July 26.

Family and friends are pleading for the driver to come forward, describing the victim as a kind and selfless person.

Dallas police have not yet made an arrest, and the investigation is ongoing.

DALLAS - Family and friends of a 23-year-old man hit and killed by a car after walking home from a concert are pleading for that driver to come forward.

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So far, Dallas police have not made any arrests in the case.

Hit-and-run

What we know

This photo is the last one ever taken of 23-year-old Seth Rains. The Texas Tech graduate was with his friends at a concert in Dallas on the night of July 26.

Seth Rains (far left)

"I remember leaving the concert and feeling on top of the world, like nothing could touch us," said Seth Rains' best friend, Landen Ashby.

Landen Ashby remembers the group walking back to the hotel around 2:40 a.m. and crossing the street at the intersection of Turtle Creek Boulevard and Market Center, when a car hit his best friend.

"When I went up to him, he was in the street. Immediately, the severity clicked for me and I knew he was in critical condition, and we needed help now," said Ashby.

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Ashby called 911 while another friend chased the car. Ashby says the group tried to get the driver to stop.

The car made a U-turn back to the scene and a friend spoke to the driver.

"My friend was kind of talking to him, and he rolled down the window and was just kind of like, What happened, what happened? I dont really know what happened."

The group allegedly yelled that the driver hit their friend and that's when the driver sped off.

Remembering Seth Rains

Dig deeper

Ashby says they gave Dallas police all the information they could remember, but so far, no arrests have been made.

Rains died at the hospital before his parents got there.

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"There are no winners in this game at all. Its just sadness," said Clint Rains, Seths father.

Clint and Cyndi Rains describe their son as kind, hardworking, and selfless. He was deeply loved by his friends, who will always remember his contagious laugh and bright light.

All they want is for the driver to do the right thing and turn themselves in.

"He had an amazing soul and if anyone deserved a full life, it was Seth," said Harrison Chrane, Seths best friend.

What you can do

Anyone with information regarding this ongoing investigation is asked to contact the Dallas Police Department.

The Source

Information in this article is provided by the Dallas Police Department and interviews conducted by FOX 4's Amelia Jones.
LAS VEGAS ( KLAS )  A viewer email is one of many complaining about freeway speed demons

Charles writes:

On the 95/I-11 I clocked drivers going 95mph. Where is traffic enforcement? The police talk about saving lives. Why not hire an entire class of officers just for traffic enforcement? Youd not only save lives but also make a fortune in fines. Am I the only genius that can figure this out? For my life and my family, Im scared to drive. We have to take action now!!!!!

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Charles, youre not alone. But check this out:

With hundreds if not thousands of miles of freeways in their jurisdiction, the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol cant be everywhere, even if they were fully staffed. When Troopers spot speeders they usually do go after them, but high-speed pursuits arent always a good idea

Also: all law enforcement follow priorities set by their bosses. For NSP/NHP, its the Nevada Dept of Public Safety.

For Metro Police, their boss, the Clark County Sheriff takes direction from his bosses at the City of Las Vegas as well as Clark County Commissioners.

If the people of southern Nevada want more from police, they need to speak up to the decision makers.

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Charles, thanks for writing. And for all of us, tell everyone you know:

Buckle up, drive carefully  and please put down that phone.

You can join the Driving You Crazy conversation: traffic8@8newsnow.com.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will announce expedited plans this week to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, the first major action by the former Fox News host as the interim NASA administrator.

NASA has discussed building a reactor on the lunar surface, but this would set a more definitive timeline  according to documents obtained by POLITICO  and come just as the agency faces a massive budget cut. The move also underscores how Duffy, who faced pushback from lawmakers about handling two jobs, wants to play a role in NASA policymaking.

It is about winning the second space race, said a NASA senior official, granted anonymity to discuss the documents ahead of their wider release.

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President Donald Trump named Duffy as interim administrator in July after abruptly withdrawing the nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman amid a spat with the nominees ally, Elon Musk.

Duffy also offered a directive to more quickly replace the International Space Station, another NASA goal. The two moves could help accelerate U.S. efforts to reach the moon and Mars  a goal that China is also pursuing.

The plans align with the Trump administrations focus on crewed spaceflight. The White House has proposed a budget that would increasehuman spaceflight funds for 2026, even as it advocates for major slashes to other programs  including a nearly 50 percent cut for science missions.

The reactor directive orders the agency to solicit industry proposals for a 100 kilowatt nuclear reactor to launch by 2030, a key consideration for astronauts return to the lunar surface. NASA previously funded research into a 40 kilowatt reactor for use on the moon, with plans to have a reactor ready for launch by the early 2030s.

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The first country to have a reactor could "declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States, the directive states, a sign of the agencys concern about a joint project China and Russia have launched.

The directive also orders NASA to designate a leader for the effort and to get industry input within 60 days. The agency is seeking companies able to launch a reactor by 2030 since that's around the time China intends to land its first astronaut on the moon.

The nuclear initiative means that NASA will continue to have a hand in nuclear development even after the Pentagon's recent cancellation of a joint program on nuclear-powered rocket engines.

While the budget did not prioritize nuclear propulsion, that wasn't because nuclear propulsion is seen as a non-worthy technology, the NASA official said.

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The space station directive aims to replace the aging, leaky International Space Station with commercially run ones by changing how the agency awards contracts.

NASA plans to award at least two companies a contract within six months of the agency's request for proposals. Officials hope to put a new station in space by 2030. Otherwise, only China would have a permanently crewed space station in orbit.

Several companies have risen to meet the space station demand, including Axiom Space, Vast, and Blue Origin. But lawmakers have expressed concern in recent months that the agency is not moving fast enough to give them the funds they need.
Public health officials are warning of an outbreak of Campylobacter and E. coli-related complications linked to the consumption of raw milk from a Florida farm.

The raw milk outbreak has impacted 21 people, including six children under the age of 10, causing seven hospitalizations, according to the Florida Department of Health. Two people have faced severe complications, the department added.

Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases, the department said in an announcement on Monday, though it did not name the particular facility.

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The Independent has contacted the department for more information.

Raw milk can only be sold for non-human consumption in the state though some skirt the rule and buy milk meant for pets or animal feeds for their personal use.

Florida officials warned that poor sanitation practices at a dairy farm in the state were raising concerns after raw milk from the facility was tied to 21 cases of health impacts (Getty)

The Department of Agriculture has banned the sale of raw milk for human consumption across state lines since 1987 and federal public health officials warn that consuming the unpasteurized milk puts people at risk of exposure to germs including Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella, and Salmonella. The risk is especially high for children, the elderly, pregnant people, and those with compromised immune systems.

Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption, according to the CDC. Since the early 1900s, pasteurization has greatly reduced milk-borne illnesses.

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While the perceived nutritional and health benefits of raw milk consumption have not been scientifically substantiated, the health risks are clear, the FDA notes on its website. Since 1987, there have been 143 reported outbreaks of illness  some involving miscarriages, still births, kidney failure and deaths  associated with consumption of raw milk and raw milk products that were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli.

Last year, California regulators recalled batches of raw milk from a Fresno farm after bird flu was detected in samples.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drinks raw milk and has called for expanding access, despite warnings, including from federal health officials, that unpasteurized dairy can carry dangerous bacteria (REUTERS)

Despite the scientific consensus on the risks of unpasteurized milks recent years have seen raw milk take on a countercultural status and become popular among some conservatives and independents.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he only drinks raw milk, and raw milk backers within his Make American Healthy Again push were initially encouraged as Kennedy put raw milk on a wish list of foods and health-related topics he hoped to tackle in office.

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Since taking office, Kennedys FDA temporarily halted a quality control program for testing milk amid Trump administration staffing cuts at the health department, but the secretary hasnt delivered the kind of changes to federal milk regulation they were hoping.

Mark McAfee of Raw Farm, a California dairy that counted Kennedy as a customer, has said he was initially encouraged by Kennedy and his allies to assist federal officials with changing raw milk rules, but was later rebuffed when he sought a meeting with regulators.

Thats a bait and switch and that is really quite sad, he told the Fresno Bee last month.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ala (WHNT)  This Fall, a bald eagle sculpture will greet students returning to Geraldine School.

In collaboration with Boom Town Makers Market, a life-sized piece by Steve Baumgartner will expose students to greater learning opportunities surrounding wildlife and conservation.

CLICK HERE for News 19s Interactive Radar 

This allows us to explore the sculpture through multiple lensesour younger students might create eagle-inspired art projects, while older students can dive deeper into conservation, ecology, and the symbolic role of eagles in American history. Principal Robert Richey said.

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The sculpture, made from reclaimed wood, features two bald eagles settled on a nest. Baumgartner said that the statue represents strength, stewardship, and the natural heritage of the region. It also resembles the eagles that fly over parts of North Alabama such as Guntersville Lake, Bucks Pocket State Park and the Tennessee River Corridor.

Anytime my work can help connect kids to nature, its meaningful, Steve Baumgartner said. This isnt just about wood and toolsits about how art can lead to a deeper understanding of the world around us.

Huntsville Museum of Art reopening after 5-month closure for upgrades

The eagle will be unveiled at the Geraldine School open house Tuesday at 5 p.m. It will remain on display and students will have full access to it from August 5 to September 26.

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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 WHNT.com.
Crowds gathered on the southern shore of Kyrgyzstan's Lake Issyk-Kul on Saturday to witness the colourful spectacle of the Salbuurun Festival  a lively celebration of the countrys nomadic heritage, captured in striking images by photographer Vladimir Voronin.

Kyrgyz hunters compete in archery during the Traditional Eagle Hunting Salbuurun Festival on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul lake - Vladimir Voronin/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

The festival takes its name from a traditional form of hunting using eagles. - Vladimir Voronin/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

Set in the village of Bokonbaevo, the festival offered a whirlwind of traditional sports, art and music, all rooted in centuries-old customs.

From horseback archery to epic poetry, and falconry to throat singing, the event brought together a rich tapestry of Kyrgyz culture  both fierce and poetic.

The festival was started by the sound of the Karnay, a local instrument. - Vladimir Voronin/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

Audiences experienced traditional wrestling styles - Vladimir Voronin/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

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The festival takes its name from salbuurun, a traditional form of hunting that blends the skills of eagle handlers, archers and taigan dogs.

But its not all high-adrenaline sport. Crowds were treated to performances of ancient ballads, dramatic acrobatics on horseback, and haunting melodies played on the komuz  Kyrgyzstans national lute. Handmade crafts, sculpture exhibitions and food stalls added to the festive atmosphere, offering something for every age and interest.

A Kyrgyz rider shows his skills during the Salbuurun Festival - Vladimir Voronin/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

Scenes from the opening ceremony of the Salbuurun Festival - Vladimir Voronin/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved

Organisers say the goal is to preserve and share these traditions  not only among locals, but with curious tourists as well.

While previous editions focused more on competition, in recent years the event  running since 2006  has placed a stronger emphasis on culture, community and storytelling.
A week after news broke that the South End Fred Meyer would be closing in September, a union representing the Tacoma stores workers says the move raises serious questions about corporate responsibility.

UFCW Local 367, representing workers at the store, 7250 Pacific Ave., said in a release issued July 31 that while the union acknowledges Krogers commitment to offer impacted associates the opportunity to transfer to new locations, the union emphasizes that this does not fully address the economic and emotional hardship caused by the closure.

It noted that the closure will disproportionately impact low-income seniors and working families throughout the area, many of whom walk or take the bus to shop or pick up prescriptions.

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Michael Hines is president of Local 367. In a statement, Hines said, The news of the 72nd and Pacific Fred Meyer closure is a heavy blow, not just to the hundreds of hardworking UFCW Local 367 members who tirelessly served this community for decades, but for the entire South End neighborhood.

He added, Our members are facing uncertainty about their livelihoods and the community is losing a vital source of groceries, prescriptions, and essential services.

The unions release also noted that it was working along with Washington State Labor Council Rapid Response Team to ensure all members are treated fairly throughout this transition and that they have access to the resources and support needed to maintain stable employment.

The union did not immediately respond to further request for comment.

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Representatives for Fred Meyer and its parent company, Kroger, also did not respond to questions from The News Tribune seeking more information about plans for the site moving forward, as well as more information on reasons behind the closure.

City of Tacoma media representative Maria Lee told The News Tribune on Friday in response to questions, The Economic Development Committee has requested an update from the Community & Economic Development Department on this topic at a future meeting.

She added, At this time, we anticipate this to occur in late August.

The grocer on July 23 stated that the move to close was part of a larger company-wide decision to run more efficiently and ensure the long-term health of our business. The statement also added that Fred Meyer would offer each impacted associate the opportunity to transfer to a new location.

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The companys Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing sent to the states Employment Security Department was obtained by The News Tribune via a public records request.

The filing included a sample notice to employees and spreadsheet of job titles and number of workers affected. It did not specify a reason for the closure.

A total of 226 workers are affected by the closure.

The filing stated that Fred Meyer intended to close and permanently terminate the entirety of operations at the site.

It also stated that it anticipates that the store closure would occur no sooner than the 14-day period commencing 9/27/25.

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The representative of a separate union, BCTGM Local 9, tied to other store workers and listed in the companys WARN filing, also did not respond for comment on Friday.

Meanwhile, a local petition on Change.org seeking to stop or delay the closure had nearly 1,700 signatures by Friday morning.

Many supporters of the petition left comments on the website emphasizing how dependent the immediate vicinity is for the stores array of goods and services.

This store has been here for way longer than Ive been alive and is the only store in the area that carries most of what I need, wrote one respondent. There is no sense in closing a venue that constantly has foot traffic like this one!

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This store is a vital part of our community, wrote another. Yes, crime and violence are challenges, but wouldnt it make more sense to invest in positive change rather than tearing it down, forcing us to travel farther and pay more for basic necessities?

Closures here, construction elsewhere

It all comes months after a failed merger attempt by Kroger and Albertsons/Safeway, with Kroger and Albertsons in ongoing litigation over the fallout.

During Cincinatti-based Krogers most recent earnings call in June, Ronald Sargent, chairman and Interim CEO of the company, stated, We are making meaningful changes to the business to create a culture that benefits our customers and our associates, while improving long-term shareholder value.

About Krogers plans for 60 store closures nationwide in the next 18 months, he stated, We dont take these decisions lightly, but this will make the company more efficient.

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Elsewhere, Portlands Gateway Fred Meyer, in operation for more than 70 years, also is closing in September, affecting approximately 250 workers. The Gateway Shopping Center, which started as a Fred Meyer, is itself for sale.

A QFC in Mill Creek, Washington, also is slated for closure in September, affecting 76 workers. QFC is another Kroger-subsidiary store chain.

In contrast to its actions in the Pacific Northwest, Kroger on July 30 broke ground on a new, $40 million Kroger Marketplace in South Charleston, West Virginia. The store will feature not only groceries but home goods, apparel, and other essentials, according to WV MetroNews, which noted it would be Krogers first-of-its-kind such store for that state.

In the Spotlight is a News Tribune series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email newstips@thenewstribune.com.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  When Ecuadorians voted two years ago to block oil drilling in Yasuni National Park, it was a triumph for environmentalists seeking to protect one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. And it was in character for a country that was first to enshrine the rights of nature in its constitution and is home to parts of the Amazon rain forest and the Galapagos Islands.

But recent moves by President Daniel Noboa have alarmed environmentalists and Indigenous leaders who say the countrys green reputation  and its protections for civil society  are unraveling.

Noboa's administration has moved to scrap the countrys independent Environment Ministry. It's pushing legislation ostensibly aimed at choking off illegal mining, but which critics fear will devastate nonprofits. The National Assembly  pressed by Noboa  approved a law last month allowing private and foreign entities to comanage conservation zones that critics say weakens protections and threatens Indigenous land rights. And Ecuador just signed a new oil deal with Peru that could accelerate drilling in sensitive areas.

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Natalia Greene, an environmental advocate with the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, said Noboa's decision to fold the Environment Ministry into the Ministry of Energy and Mines will speed up mining just as Ecuador is grappling with a surge in illegal gold mining tied to organized crime. She called it like putting the wolf in charge of the sheep.

The governments intention is very clear  to be a machine gun of extractivism, she said.

Noboa has defended the ministry moves and other changes as necessary to cut costs, reduce bureaucracy and address Ecuadors financial crisis. Officials argue that consolidating ministries will make decisionmaking more efficient.

Neither the Ministry of Energy and Mines nor Noboa's office responded to questions from The Associated Press.

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Indigenous rights at risk

In July, Peru and Ecuador signed a deal for Ecuadors state oil company to sell crude directly to Petroperu and link its southern Amazon reserves to Perus Norperuano pipeline, with drilling eyed for January 2026. Environmental groups say it could fasttrack drilling in sensitive areas while skirting safeguards and Indigenous consultation.

Perus Achuar, Wampis and Chapra nations denounced the plan in a public letter, saying it would gut long-standing protections that require communities be consulted before projects move forward on their lands. They warned the pipeline already averages 146 spills a year and that expanding it would be a grave threat to the Amazon and to Indigenous livelihoods.

They are going to violate all our rights to enter our territories and extract the resources they want," said Nemo Guiquita, a Waorani leader with the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon. She said Indigenous communities fear a surge of oil and mining projects across ancestral lands, threatening both ecosystems and livelihoods.

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There will be a weakening of environmental protection, she said. There will be a lot of deforestation, contamination of rivers and destruction of the ecosystem, which is vital for our existence as Indigenous peoples.

Ricardo Buitron, president of the Quitobased environmental group Accion Ecologica, noted that the changes come just months after Ecuadorians voted to keep oil in the ground in Yasuni, a decision the government has yet to fully enforce.

We have gone back decades, he said. A development model is being prioritized that does not care about protecting ecosystems, but about extracting natural resources to the maximum.

Fears that proposed law will harm non-governmental organizations

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The proposed law that has alarmed nonprofits is formally called the Organic Law for the Control of Irregular Capital Flows. But activists call it the anti-NGO law, saying it could impose heavy burdens on nonprofits and force many to close.

The measure applies to more than 71,000 organizations nationwide, giving them six months to reregister with the government, submit detailed financial records and disclose foreign funding sources. The government says the law is needed to prevent money laundering and political destabilization. Critics warn it could instead silence dissent by placing organizations under sweeping controls.

Noboa submitted the bill to the National Assembly on July 29, giving lawmakers until Aug. 28 to act before it automatically becomes law.

This has been hard for us, Guiquita said. Practically, Indigenous organizations live mostly from donations and NGOs. The government is weakening us in every space.

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It represents a threat because they could dissolve us under any pretext, Buitron said. This reminds us of what we already lived through a decade ago, when they tried to shut down some organizations in the country.

Regional and global stakes

Kevin Koenig of Amazon Watch, a U.S.-based nonprofit that advocates for Indigenous rights and environmental protection in the Amazon, said the countrys changes are part of a wider rollback.

We are seeing a sweeping package of regressive reforms that are rolling back environmental protections, Indigenous rights guarantees, and threatening basic civil liberties like the freedom of speech and assembly, he said. What it suggests is the massive expansion of oil and mining, particularly in the Amazon region.

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Koenig said the changes send troubling signals ahead of COP30, the United Nations climate summit set for Brazil later this year.

Similar trends are unfolding in Peru and El Salvador, where governments have limited environmental oversight, and in Brazil, where licensing for Amazon projects has been weakened.

Mobilizing resistance

Civil society groups are mobilizing against the changes. Greene said organizations have reactivated the Asamblea Nacional Socioambiental, a national coalition of environmental and social movements, and are planning legal challenges, demonstrations and appeals to international bodies.

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Many fear Ecuadors role as a global green pioneer is unraveling.

Our only crime here has been protecting our territory, protecting our traditions, protecting our way of life, Guiquita said.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
While President Donald Trump's tariff war aims to spark a manufacturing boom at home, corporate America's spending focus remains firmly on "bits" rather than "bricks and mortar."

This contrast is evident in the spending patterns of the Magnificent 7 (Mag 7) stocks  a group comprising large-cap tech companies, including Alphabet (parent company of Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.

These firms are expected to cumulatively spend an astonishing $650 billion this year on capital expenditure (capex) and research and development (R&D), according to data tracked by Lloyds Bank. That amount is larger than what the U.K. government spends on public investments in a year, the bank noted in a Thursday note.

If that number alone doesn't impress you, consider this: the total economy-wide investment spending on IT equipment and software has continued to surge this year, accounting for 6.1% of GDP, while both private fixed and fixed non-residential investment, excluding IT, have shrunk for consecutive quarters.

FOMO and AI

According to Lloyds' FX Strategist Nicholas Kennedy, the decline in investments across other sectors of the economy could be due to several reasons, including the fear of missing out (FOMO) on the artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

"There might be some explanations other than a crowding out by IT spending and political/trade uncertainties that you could call on; the building boom that was triggered by Biden's CHIPS act, which boosted structures, has faded, for instance. There is also a FOMO effect at work, firms encouraged to divert investment resources from what they traditionally do towards fashionable AI-related projects. So they're just spending elsewhere," Kennedy said in a note to clients.

U.S. tech spending. (BEA, Lloyds Bank)

The chart indicates that U.S. corporate spending on IT equipment and software has increased to $1.45 trillion, representing a 13.6% year-over-year rise. The tally makes up over 40% of the total U.S. private fixed investment.

The U.S. second-quarter GDP estimate, released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis early this week, showed that private fixed investment in IT increased by 12.4% quarter-on-quarter.

Meanwhile, investment in non-IT sectors or the broader economy fell by 4.9%, extending the three-quarter declining trend.

From 'bricks' to 'bits'

This continued dominance of "bits" spending in corporate America should calm the nerves of those worried that the administration's focus on manufacturing may suck capital away from technology markets, including emerging avenues like cryptocurrencies.
The Philippine Supreme Court blocked the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte but did not clear her of charges, contrary to false online claims. The posts included a manipulated news graphic that misrepresented the tribunal's ruling.

"Du30 are (sic) innocent. It is not our duty to favor any political result. Ours is to ensure that politics are framed within the Rule of Just Law," reads text written on an apparent news graphic shared July 26, 2025 on Facebook.

The post appears to attribute the remarks to Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, whose picture is included in the image.

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He penned the tribunal's July 25 ruling that blocked Duterte's trial, saying it violated a constitutional provision against multiple impeachment proceedings within a single year (archived link).

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte in February, charging the vice president with graft, corruption and an alleged assassination plot against one-time ally and former running mate President Ferdinand Marcos.

"They just can't accept that SARA DU30 is innocent, no stain of corruption," says the image's Tagalog-language caption, using a popular nickname for the vice president.

Screenshot of the false post taken August 4, 2025, with a red X added by AFP

The top court's 13-0 ruling came just days before the Senate was to begin its new session, with the vice president's political future hanging in the balance (archived link).

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Widely expected to run for president in 2028, a Senate trial conviction would have barred Duterte permanently from public office.

The claim -- earlier debunked by Rappler -- has also spread on TikTok, YouTube and Threads (archived link).

Several users appeared to have been misled.

"Yes Dutertes are innocent," one user commented. Another user said: "Good decision, Supreme Court. Thank God!"

But the posts share a manipulated news graphic and misrepresent the Supreme Court's decision on the case.

"Our ruling does not absolve petitioner Duterte from any of the charges. Any ruling on the charges against her can only be accomplished through another impeachment process, followed by a trial and conviction by the Senate," the court said in its decision published on its official website (archived link).

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It added a new impeachment process can only be initiated against Duterte starting February 6, 2026.

A reverse image search on Google found the original graphic published on the Facebook page of local media News5 on July 25, 2025 (archived link). It does not include the quote, "Duterte are innocent".

Screenshot comparison of the false post (L) and the original News5 graphic

Duterte's impeachment trial has triggered a flurry of false posts, many of them debunked by AFP here.
Editors note: This editorial originally ran in fellow CNHI paper the Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Indiana.

Free expression is a cornerstone democratic principle that deserves periodic re-emphasis and re-commitment from institutions that carry out the responsibilities of a public entity.

Indiana State Universitys board of trustees chose to take that step last week by adding verbiage to an existing policy that states that the university values free expression for all students and faculty.

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While the adoption of such language is mostly symbolic, ISUs leaders found themselves needing to punctuate their commitment to free expression after its clumsy handling last year of a strange controversy surrounding a conservative commentator scheduled to speak on campus.

Rich Lowry, editor of National Review, found himself embroiled in a public spat a few days before he was set to appear on campus. He had been accused of using a derogatory racial term in a televised broadcast. As is common in todays hyper partisan media landscape, ideological opponents seized on the claim and attacked Lowry for his use of words. Lowry and his supporters said it was a misunderstanding based on a mispronunciation of words.

As the argument boiled, ISU wrongly succumbed to pressure and canceled Lowrys appearance out of concern that his presence on campus would be disruptive and raised security concerns. The decision made ISU a target of conservative hysteria with claims of censorship.

It was clearly an unfortunate incident that blemished ISUs reputation in some circles. The university overreacted and suffered the consequences.

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Last weeks board action added what is known as the Chicago Statement to its free expression policy. That statement, written at the University of Chicago in 2015, explicitly declares its commitment to free expression and the exchange of conflicting ideas. In part, it states that it is not the proper role of the university to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable or even deeply offensive, and that concerns about civility and mutual respect can never be used as a justification for closing off discussion of ideas, however offensive or disagreeable those ideas may be to some members of our community.

Other institutions of higher learning have also adopted the Chicago Statement, including Purdue, Ball State, Southern Indiana and DePauw in Indiana.

We applaud this board action and hope it helps ISU move beyond the ripples created by its 2024 misstep.

We continue, however, to be concerned about actions taken recently by the university administration to curtail efforts to create and sustain a welcoming environment for its diverse student community. Under pressure from state and federal conservative elected officials, ISU cut funding for programs aimed at supporting minority students and even went so far as to eliminate the words African American from the name of its cultural center facility.

Standards of inclusiveness, whether in support of free expression or in creating a campus environment that welcomes everyone equally, should be applied in widest possible forms.
Troopers are investigating a deadly crash from over the weekend involving an elderly man and woman.

Investigators said an 84-year-old man from Carlisle, Ohio, died Sunday in a motorcycle crash on southbound I-75 near the 306 Milepost.

The accident occurred as the rider exited the interstate into a rest area and failed to negotiate a curve.

Troopers said the rider, operating a Honda Goldwing, left the roadway and collided with an embankment in a drainage retention area.

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An 80-year-old woman from Eaton, Ohio, who was a passenger on the motorcycle, suffered serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

Troopers said the cause of the crash in under investigation.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
VERMILION, Ohio (WJW)  A driver was taken to the hospital after investigators said she crashed into a gas station canopy in Vermilion Monday.

The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. at the Mickey Mart BP gas station on Liberty Avenue.

According to the Vermilion Fire Department, the driver, a woman in her 70s, appeared to have a medical issue when she drove through the intersection and a grassy area before striking one of the fuel pumps.

WJW photo

More than $630K in missing money found at Ohio State Fair

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Fire chief Bill Brown said one of the support beams was knocked down, causing the canopy to partially collapse onto the vehicle.

The woman was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center with a potential head injury, fire officials said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Detroit's highly anticipated municipal primary election comes to a close Tuesday at 8 p.m. More than 40,000 absentee ballots have already been submitted and more than 900 Detroiters voted early, in person, according to the Detroit City Clerk's office.

Results will narrow fields of candidates in races for mayor and city council, with the top two performers in each race moving on to the Nov. 4 general election.

With Mayor Mike Duggan now running for governor, voters will put a new mayor in office for the first time in 12 years. Detroiters will also choose new city council members to fill two open seats, and decide whether to re-elect or replace sitting council members in another pair of competitive races.

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Below, find links to Detroit Free Press Editorial Board endorsements, along with guides, coverage and other election resources

How to vote

Absentee ballots can still be submitted until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Detroit Department of Elections, 2978 W. Grand Blvd., or at dropboxes around the city, mapped here.

Registered voters can also cast ballots in person Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Check your voter registration status or find your polling place on the Michigan Secretary of State website.

If you're not registered, you can still do so in time to vote on Election Day by visiting the Detroit Department of Elections, 2978 W Grand Blvd., or the City Clerks office at 2 Woodward Ave.

Wendy Robinson, 66, of Detroit, signs in with Poll Worker Shanice Nelson, of Detroit, to cast her vote at the voting precinct at Pasteur Elementary in Detroit on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Robinsons voting precinct changed and had to go somewhere else to vote.

More: 5 reasons we endorsed Mary Sheffield for Detroit mayor

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Voter Guide: Who's running in Detroit election? Hear from candidates in their own words.

Endorsements:

Detroit mayor

City Council, two at-Large seats

Voter Guide: Who's running in Detroit election? Hear from candidates in their own words.

More from Freep Opinion: 24 years of Detroit election data shows not enough people vote. Can we fix it?

City Council District 1

Incumbent Councilman James Tate is running unopposed.

The seven Detroit City Council districts.

City Council District 2

City Council District 3

Because there are only two candidates  Cranstana Anderson is challenging incumbent Councilman Scott Benson  both will automatically advance to the November general election.

City Council District 4

Incumbent Councilwoman Latisha Johnson is running unopposed.

City Council District 5

City Council District 6

Because there are only two candidates  Tyrone Carter is challenging incumbent Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero  both will automatically advance to the November general election.

City Council District 7

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Looking for information on other races around metro Detroit?

County clerks' offices provide candidate and ballot proposal information for Wayne County here, Macomb County here and Oakland County here.

Check Freep.com for election results Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

More: Detroit mayoral race campaign finances shape up ahead of August primary

More: Detroit mayoral candidates make plans, promises to uplift small businesses

More: Detroit mayoral candidate defiant in discussing domestic abuse case with his congregation

More: Detroit ethics officials faulted mayoral candidate for violating city's cooling-off period

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More: Detroit mayoral candidate used your tax dollars to send a birthday card to a dead woman

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Election Day guide to Aug. 5 Detroit mayor, council primary | Opinion
Please, wont somebody think of the billionaires?

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren defended mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdanis plan to tax the wealthiest New Yorkers in order to make the city more affordable for working people during a CNBC interview Monday.

Journalist David Faber repeated a common talking point about wealthy New Yorkers and businesses being chased out of the city if they were to be taxed at a higher rate, and Warren was having none of it.

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The issue is affordability. Do you know how many working families are chased out of New York City every day? she asked, resolute. What Zohran is saying is, I want people to be able to afford to live in New York City, thats what keeps it a vibrant city.

Faber interjected: Nobody disagrees with that, Senator, but raising taxes in order to do it?

Voice dripping with faux-earnestness, Warren responded, Oh my goodness! Oh dear! Are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry?

ELIZABETH WARREN: What Zohran is saying is 'I want people to be able to afford to live in NYC'



FABER: But raising taxes in order to do it?



WARREN: Oh my goodness! Oh dear! Are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry? pic.twitter.com/9FHkAKSv4X  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 4, 2025

Mamdanis affordability-centric message proved to be a winning one, landing him the New York City Democratic mayoral nomination by 12 points in ranked-choice voting, a margin that shocked the media ecosystem and Democratic establishment. Disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo had been seen as a shoo-in for the nomination, with most polls predicting his win up until the primary. But Mamdanis simple, progressive goals, grassroots strategy, and infectious energy won the day.



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The young assemblymembers proposed tax hike of 2 percent for the top 1 percent of New Yorkers has sparked hysteria among some in the business community, and much has been written about the potential mass exodus of millionaires and billionaires in search of lower taxes.

But this billionaire bogeyman isnt backed by convincing evidence, according to copious research on taxes and their impact on migration, reported USA Today. A 2023 study by the nonpartisan Fiscal Policy Institute found no evidence of significant tax-motivated migration from New York state after previous tax increases.

Meanwhile, one in four New Yorkers cant afford essentials such as housing and food, according to a report from Columbia University and an anti-poverty nonprofit.
Zohran Mamdani pulled off an inspiring 12-point victory to become the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York. How did he do it? He campaigned relentlessly on lowering costs for families, helping him build a grassroots movement so strong that millions of dollars in attack ads couldnt touch him. On primary election night, Andrew Cuomo conceded.

The people picked Mamdani, but it turns out there are some billionaires and Wall Street CEOs who cant stand the idea of a mayor who wants them to pay their fair share to create a city that everyone can afford. So the billionaires are dumping millions and millions of dollars into the race, backing either of two deeply flawed candidates: Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. Maybe we should be asking ourselves why these Wall Street executives are pouring in millions of dollars to stop Mamdani, the affordability candidate.

Cuomo and Adams are tripping over themselves to haul in millions of campaign dollars from billionaire donors. Adams raised $1 million in a single night from donors with ties to big law firms, commercial brokerages, and big real estate developers who could lose their iron-fisted grip on New York in a Mamdani administration. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman held private auditions for his support, inviting Adams and Cuomo to back-to-back meetings to tap dance for the hundreds of millions of dollars he has said he will spend to keep Mamdani out of office.

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In a democracy, billionaires should not be able to buy our elections and control our politicians. Elected officials should work for their constituents, not use their government offices to hand out favors to a well-connected few. Adams escaped prosecution on charges of bribery and fraud only after he sold out New York City in a sweetheart deal with the Trump administration. As governor, Cuomo handed control of the state Senate to Republicans in a sham backroom deal. He also vowed to clean up Albany with an anticorruption commission, but when that commission began investigating one of Cuomos buddies, Cuomo shut down the entire panel.

You dont have to look very hard to see just how out of touch with working people and the mainstream values of the Democratic Party Adams and Cuomo have become. Adams withdrew from the primary early on, and Cuomo felt so entitled to the nomination that he barely bothered to campaign. But theyve both gotten the memo from their wealthy backers to step it up: Adams is attacking Mamdani nonstop, and Cuomo is trying  and failing  to carbon copy Mamdanis man-on-the-street videos.

Mamdani has specific ideas for making New York more affordable, and hes willing to stand up to ultra-powerful special interests to turn these plans into reality.

Take the cost of housing. Mamdani has plans to build 200,000 new affordable units over the next 10 years, he intends to freeze the rent for units controlled by the city, and he is committed to cutting the red tape that drives up costs for home owners. Mamdani also has the courage to write plans  including rent control  that crack down on the citys worst landlords and push back against billionaire real estate moguls. Its no surprise then that this month, the CEO of a New York-based real-estate investment trust held a $2,000-a-ticket fundraiser for Adams to stop Mamdani.

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After housing, the biggest squeeze on New York families is the cost of child care. In the wealthiest city on Earth, access to affordable, high-quality child care and early education should be automatic. Mamdanis plan for no-cost child care would make child care a right, not a privilege reserved for the rich.

Lets do one more. Mamdani has a bold, detailed plan for protecting consumers and cracking down on the companies that try to cheat them. As mayor he would work to ban hidden fees, crack down on scammers, and end secret corporate handouts. When working people are getting gouged by giant companies, Mamdani is on their side.

Mamdani has charged ahead with plans to make New York more affordable, and hes showing how to pay for it by taxing the ultra-rich and giant corporations. That may not make him popular with the richest New Yorkers, but hes willing to let Adams and Cuomo suck up to those guys. Mamdani is fighting to make New York work for working people.

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Elon Musk donated $15 million to Donald Trumps Super PAC MAGA Inc., as well as to the Congressional Leadership Fund and the Senate Leadership Fund, according to Federal Election Commission filings published on Thursday. Both funds serve to support House and Senate Republicans.

Musk spent nearly $300 million to support Trump and Republicans in their election bids in 2024 and, much to the then-delight of Trump, openly sported a dark MAGA black hat ahead of the presidents re-election. He was brought onboard to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in November.

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But the chummy relationship began to show signs of cracking soon after Musks appointment, and the frenemies exchanged a series of written insults across social media in June. Musk accused Trump of being in the Epstein files  a point of contention that still dogs the administration  and two days later the president retaliated by accusing Musk of being a big-time drug addict.

Though Musk has since walked back many of his accusations and insults, the duo havent openly resumed the type of working relationship they once enjoyed. That coupled with Musks own insistence he would form his own political party (he announced the America Party on X on July 7) makes the sizable donations something of a surprise.

CNN reported Musk is also the largest individual contributor to the congressional PACs, and has also poured an additional $45 million into America PAC (the super PAC he supervises). Notably, the FEC filings released last week only cover his financial activity through the end of June, and its not implausible he has continued to donate to the same efforts.

The post Elon Musk Donated $5 Million to Trump Super PAC Weeks After Epstein Files Claim appeared first on TheWrap.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Oddities of all sorts filled the outside and inside of Bottle Works Saturday as cryptid fans from around the region and beyond gathered for the third annual Squonkapalooza.

The festival celebrates all things fantastical that might go bump in the night, including Pennsylvanias own cryptid the Squonk, during a one-day event full of unique art, jewelry, stickers, posters, speakers and much more.

I love it, Mariah Hines said. Its really magnificent  really cool to be around people who embrace the odd and the unusual.

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Hines and her troupe, Black Magic Circus out of Cumberland, Maryland, have been part of Squonkapalooza since its inception.

Hines said theyre thrilled to return and watch the community embrace the event.

It just looks like such a wonderful and magical event, Hines said.

The festivities kicked off at 10 a.m. with a Squonk Village set up in front of Bottle Works in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Squonkapalooza typically takes place in Johnstowns Central Park, but due to planned renovations of that space, the gathering was relocated for the 2025 year.

Joe Fogle, co-organizer and Cryptoteeology owner, said Bottle Works and its Executive Director Matthew Lamb have supported the event since its first year, so having them host Saturday was a perfect partnership.

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We got a little village that popped up  a little Squonk village, Fogle said.

A few hours into the celebration and he said that it couldnt be running any smoother.

Its more than just bringing people in to celebrate cryptids, Fogle said. Hes excited for those from out of the area to come to Johnstown and explore what the region has to offer.

I love bringing people into town to check everything out, Fogle added.

Visitors come from all around Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and further to experience Squonkapalooza.

David and Kristin Bardack made the trip from Altoona to check out the festival for the first time and said they were having a blast.

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We love cryptids, Kristin Bardack said while wearing Mothman eyes and antenna headwear. We love weird stuff.

Her husband noted that typically the couple has to travel hours to visit events that specialize in the odd and mythical, so having something take place in their backyard is something special.

I love the individualized creative aspect of everybody, David Bardack said of the vendors.

Lisa Russell, co-organizer and owner of Cryptid Comforts, said thats not by accident.

There are hundreds of vendor applications organizers pore over in preparation for the cryptid carnival and select the most unique, she said.

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That creates a great environment, Russell said, adding that shes overwhelmed by how much guests embrace Squonkapalooza.

Several vendors had compelling displays to draw in the curious, including Michael and Ksenia Salamone-McDevitt, of Crypto Zooeez.

Their booth inside Bottle Works had a multi-color light-emitting diode sign that brought droves of visitors in to explore the enamel pins of everything from Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster to Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and more.

For the Long Island, New York, residents, this was their first cryptid festival, and they were having a fantastic time.

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Were doing pretty well, Michael Salamone-McDevitt said.

Travis Bottcher and Denise Ferguson said they were enjoying themselves as well.

The Allentown residents had heard about Squonkapalooza while attending the annual Mothman Festival in West Virginia and decided to find out more about it.

Ferguson and Bottcher had never been to the Johnstown event before and were impressed by the quality of the vendors.

I love to see everyones art and different takes on the Squonk and other cryptids, Ferguson said.

Bottcher agreed, adding that everything hed seen was so unique.
Nigerian energy experts are eyeing heat deep underground as a cleaner power solution for the African nation. The news comes as governments on the continent search for answers to "energy poverty" and for alternatives to dirty fuels, according to Vanguard and the Federal University of Technology Owerri.

At issue is an oft-failing power grid plagued by aging infrastructure and outsourced electricity. Blackouts cost the country about $29 billion annually, according to Reuters.

Geothermal energy could be a solution that can power towns for decades, the newspaper reported.

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"If Nigeria commits to exploring and developing its geothermal potential, we could not only provide clean, base-load power to underserved communities but also position ourselves as a regional leader in geothermal innovation  just like Kenya has done in East Africa. The heat is beneath us. It's time to tap into it," study lead author Nnamdi Francis Okeifufe said.

Geothermal plants work by drilling into the earth to reach underground water or vapor that is up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot liquid or steam is piped topside to power a turbine, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Nigeria's electricity mostly comes from gas plants and hydropower. Pipeline vandalism, droughts, and fluctuating fuel costs are risks to those sources, according to Vanguard.

"More than 85 million Nigerians lack access to reliable electricity, and many rural communities remain off the national grid entirely," Okeifufe said.

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Geothermal doesn't produce loads of heat-trapping air pollution, which also aligns with the government's cleaner-energy plans as part of the Paris Climate Agreement, an international pact to shift to planet-friendly energy sources.

For its part, geothermal is being developed as part of numerous enterprises. Massachusetts-based Quaise Energy intends to drill 12 miles into Earth to harness what experts called a "million-year energy source."

If scaled, the underground power could reduce the pollution burden from burning nonrenewable fuels. Their continued use is contributing to planet warming linked by NASA to increased risks for life-threatening extreme weather such as floods, heat waves, and droughts.

Should we be harnessing the ocean to power our homes? Absolutely Leave it be It depends I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

In Nigeria, experts are studying conditions in abandoned oil wells to gauge heat availability. Some of those holes could even be repurposed for the work. Limited geological information, high upfront costs, and weak infrastructure in rural regions are hurdles, Okeifufe told Vanguard.

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But if successfully developed, abundant, cleaner power could be available throughout the nation thanks to deep heat reserves. A borehole of only a couple of inches in diameter can recover up to 92% of heat, according to experts researching the project. What's more, Okeifufe said in the report that geothermal could work in tandem with solar power.

"Geothermal energy is non-intermittent, making it the perfect complement to renewables like solar, which only generate during the day. Together, they can create a stable, resilient clean energy mix," he said.

Solar energy is the ultimate hack for electricity independence. A rooftop setup combined with battery storage can harness, convert, and save sunrays as clean power for later use, providing average annual savings of about $700 for most households. That's even after expenses, per a government study.

And while President Donald Trump's spending bill ends 30% tax incentives early  at the end of the year  there's still time to secure the savings. EnergySage is a trusted resource that can help you find all the breaks, and the right installer, saving you up to $10,000. Many states still offer clean energy perks, as well.

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.
Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL) is one of the Best Undervalued UK Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On July 17, Maxim raised the firms price target on Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL) from $21 to $28, while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock.

The firm highlighted that the company reported higher-than-expected gold production in Q2 from its mine in Zimbabwe. As a result, the company also raised its production forecasts. The firm expects the company to use its free cash flow to reduce its debt and pay dividends. As per the companys July 16 press release, the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe produced 21,070 ounces in Q2 2025, setting a new quarterly record. The overall first-half production reached 39,741 ounces, reflecting a 5.1% increase year-over-year. The company now expects to produce between 75,500 and 79,500 ounces of gold during the year.

Maxim Raised the Firms PT on Caledonia Mining (CMCL), Kept a Buy Rating

Drills extracting gold from a gold mine, revealing the company's gold mining operation.

Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL) is a gold production, exploration, and development company focused mainly on Zimbabwe. It owns a 64% stake in the Blanket Mine, along with other mining assets including Bilboes, Motapa, and Maligreen.

While we acknowledge the potential of CMCL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
FAIRLEE, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Vermont this weekend, to meet with other legislators, farmers, and Governor Phil Scott to talk about issues impacting agriculture.

Scott posted about the roundtable discussion yesterday, which was held at the Newmont Farm.

Specific including points included the role of farms and forests in mitigating extreme weather impacts, among other topics. Scott noted in his post that Vermonts farmers are some of the most important and valuable voices, when it came to discussing local, environmental affairs.

(Courtesy: Governor Phil Scott, Facebook)

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He concluded his post by thanking Gladstone family for their delicious sweet corn, and of course hospitality.

Vermont was one of the handful of states Zeldin visited this past weekend which included Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
Traffic near the intersection of Interstate 270 and Interstate 495 in Maryland with high-occupancy lane. | Maryland Matters

Im old enough to remember the days before the federal government regulated auto tailpipe emissions, a time when the air was stinky and Los Angeles was enveloped in perpetual smog.

My first car was one of those pollution machines, a used 1968 Buick Gran Sport that gulped a gallon of poisonous, leaded gasoline every 14 miles or so.

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It was a different time, one that the Trump administration seemingly is trying to bring back.

In what could be one of the most far-reaching deregulatory moves in U.S. history, the Environmental Protection Agency wants to stop regulating greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks long considered by most scientists to be significant contributors to climate change.

With this proposal, the Trump EPA is proposing to end 16 years of uncertainty for automakers and American consumers, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said at a Kenworth heavy truck dealership in Indianapolis on July 29.

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Zeldin said the administration plans to overturn a landmark 2009 finding by the Obama administration that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are pollutants the agency can regulate under the Clean Air Act.

That determination is known as the endangerment finding and was the basis for strict tailpipe emission rules enacted by the Biden administration that would have required about half of new vehicles sold in the U.S. being electric or plug-in hybrids by 2030.

Automakers also must meet certain fuel economy standards, which were stiffened by Biden. But Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in June the Trump administration is planning to roll back the Biden standards, calling them illegal.

And under the One Big Beautiful Bill, the tax and spending bill approved by Congress on July 3, automakers wont have to pay fines for not meeting fuel economy standards for the past three years.

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Its a big gift to automakers that pay hundreds of millions of dollars a year to the federal government for not meeting the fuel economy standards. But it will likely sting electric carmaker Tesla, which has made billions of dollars over the years selling regulatory credits to other carmakers.

Environmental groups expressed outrage over the EPAs intent to deep-six climate rules.

As Americans reel from deadly floods and heat waves, the Trump administration is trying to argue that the emissions turbocharging these disasters are not a threat, said Christy Goldfuss, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council. It boggles the mind and endangers the nations safety and welfare.

Environmental groups have vowed to sue the EPA over the proposed climate rules rollback, possibly delaying any implementation for years.

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Even Detroits automakers were muffled in their response to the EPAs move to ditch carbon dioxide rules.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an association representing dozens of automakers and suppliers including General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis N.A., did not issue a statement about the EPAs groundbreaking announcement on its website.

That might be because some top auto executives have acknowledged climate change is real and their products are contributing to it.

GM CEO Mary Barra has said electric cars are a key element in the automakers long-range plan to have zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion. Its the North Star that guides everything we do.

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Ford Motor Executive Chairman Bill Ford has supported the Paris Climate Accord, which seeks to reduce carbon dioxide levels associated with climate change. Ford Motor also has pledged to be carbon neutral across its vehicles, facilities and suppliers by 2050.

Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress are doing their best to torpedo those efforts by conducting an all-out war against electric vehicles.

Theyre ending the $7,500 tax credit to purchase EVs on September 30. And theyre eliminating tax credits for home EV charging stations, a move slated to take effect next June.

Trumps chaotic implementation of tariffs also is being used as a weapon in his war against EVs. The Commerce Department last month slapped a 93.5% tariff on Chinese graphite, a critical ingredient in manufacturing EV batteries.

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China supplies nearly all the high-grade graphite Tesla and other automakers need to make batteries. But the Commerce Department says China is dumping graphite into the U.S. at prices lower than in its home market.

Some experts say the tariff could add $1,000 or more to the price of an EV battery, another huge disincentive for consumers to buy EVs.

Trumps widespread tariffs on cars, trucks and parts are hammering Detroit automakers bottom lines, potentially hurting their ability to adequately invest in new technologies to compete with Chinese automakers that are rapidly gobbling up the global EV market.

Ford and Stellantis cited the impacts of tariffs in the companies net losses for the second quarter of the year. Combined, the Detroit Three have paid more than $2 billion in tariffs so far this year.

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Trump longs to return to an America he remembers growing up before the federal government started regulating the auto industry.

Im nostalgic, as well, for my 68 Gran Sport. But that muscle car is an anachronism best suited for events like the Woodward Dream Cruise.

And besides, todays quick-accelerating EVs could blow its doors off.
Aug. 4EPHRATA  The first Ephrata Community Resource Fair will take place Aug. 19 at the Ephrata Recreation Center, bringing together community resources in a single place.

"The Ephrata Community Resource Forum group meets monthly at Time Out Pizza, and after one of our meetings, we had a discussion about (how) every time we're there, we learn something new," said Susan Scheib, Communication Director for Columbia Basin Hospital and the organizer of the fair. "If we learn something new, that means that our community probably (doesn't know) about all the resources."

Seventeen local agencies and organizations plan to have displays and information booths at the fair as of Wednesday, and Scheib anticipated more signing up. Information will be available about health care options, pregnancy and parenting support, and services for seniors, among others.

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Molina Healthcare of Washington, the largest Apple Health provider in the Evergreen State, will be there to help people renew coverage, schedule first-time applications and find ways to maximize benefits, Growth and Community Engagement Manager Donny Guerrero wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald.

PREPARES, a volunteer organization that supports pregnant women and parents of small children, will have a presence there as well.

"Our group of volunteers works with many families in Ephrata, Soap Lake and Quincy. We accompany the families and provide some essential needs," volunteer Cyle Nielsen said.

"We will be offering information on home health and hospice services by our agency in Grant, Adams and Lincoln counties," Assured Hospice Account Executive Rachel Myrick wrote. "(We will have information on) compassionate individualized care through the spectrum of chronic illness from recovery to end of life. We have a plinko game board that people can play to win prizes."

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Action Health Partners said via email that it will have information about health care coordination and management, as well as referrals for social support services, among other things.

Columbia Basin Family Medicine will have a place there as well, Scheib said, to help with chronic care management and using the health care app MyChart, which allows patients to schedule appointments and see test results remotely.

"It's designed to connect Ephrata residents (as well as) Soap Lake and Quincy with central services and support systems all in one place," Scheib said.

Ephrata Resource Fair

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Ephrata Recreation Center

121 Alder St. SW

Aug. 19

12-6 p.m.

Exhibitors

Action Health Partners

Assured Home Health and Hospice

Columbia Basin Hospital Family Medicine

Ephrata Community Dental Clinic

Ephrata School District

Family Services of Grant County

Goodwill Family Services

Grant County Health District

Grant PUD

Molina Healthcare

NCW Libraries

New Hope

PREPARES

Renew

WorkSource
A victim of Jeffrey Epstein has condemned what they called the Trump administrations political warfare in its handling of government files on the late convicted sex offender as the Justice Department pushes for the release of grand jury transcripts in his New York federal case.

Epstein was a wealthy financier who died in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for federal sex trafficking charges. He had been accused of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls. About a decade earlier, Epstein pleaded guilty to Florida state charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.

Early last month, the DOJ and FBI came out with a memo stating there was no so-called client list of powerful people who may have partaken in Epsteins crimes; it also said Epstein did, in fact, die by suicide, and no further disclosure [of information regarding Epstein] would be appropriate or warranted.

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The memo sparked backlash, notably from Trumps own base, as it left many unanswered questions and concerns the government may be covering up materials that would be of interest to the public.

Trump then asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony from the investigations into Epstein, subject to Court approval, citing the ridiculous amount of publicity over them.

A victim of Jeffrey Epstein condemned the Trump administrations 'political warfare' in its handling of government files on the late convicted sex offender (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

A Florida judge quickly denied the DOJs request but the feds bid in New York is still being considered. Victims in the New York case were asked to respond to the DOJs request and two of them did so in court documents filed Monday. Both were unnamed as is their right to remain anonymous.

One Epstein survivor wrote to District Judge Richard Berman, Dear United States, I wish you would have handled and would handle the whole Epstein Files with more respect towards and for the victims. I am not some pawn in your political warfare.

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What you have done and continue to do is eating at me day after day as you help to perpetuate this story indefinitely. Why not be completely transparent? Show us all the files with only the necessary redactions! Be done with it and allow me/us to heal, the victim said.

In the letter to the judge the victim also seemingly called out the Trump administration for what they said was its protection of the wealthy over Epsteins victims.

You protect yourself and your powerful and wealthy friends (not enemies) over the victims, why? The victims know the truth, we know who are in the files and now so do you, the victim said.

Its unclear who exactly the victim was referring to, but Trumps decades-old relationship with Epstein has recently been scrutinized and there have been reports the president was told his name appears in the Epstein files. Trump reportedly cut ties with Epstein before his 2008 plea deal and appearing in the files does not mean there was any wrongdoing. Trump himself has denied any wrongdoing.

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The victim asked Berman to have the attorneys of the victims review any suggested redactions if the transcripts are released.

The White House did not respond to The Independent in relation to the concerns raised by the Epstein survivors after several repeated attempts for comment.The Independent also reached out to the DOJ, which responded with no comment on the matter.

Epstein was a wealthy financier who died in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for federal sex trafficking charges (New York State Sex Offender Registry)

Another victim told Berman: The latest attention on the Epstein Files, the Client List is OUT OF CONTROL and the ones that are left to suffer are not the high-profile individuals, IT IS THE VICTIMS. Why the lack of concern in handling such sensitive information for the victims sake?

That survivor also called out the feds for what they saw as protecting wealthy men.

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I feel like the DOJs and FBIs priority is protecting the third-party, the wealthy men by focusing on scrubbing their names off the files of which the victims, know who they are, they said.

The victim asked Berman to consider a third-party review of any documents that may be released  to ensure that NO victims names or likenesses are revealed.
(NewsNation)  Erik Menendez has returned to prison after he was hospitalized for a week to receive treatment for kidney stones.

Menendez, 54, was transferred from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility to a local San Diego hospital, where he underwent surgery.

Erik had his second surgery due to complications with both kidneys having multiple large stones, Menendezs stepdaughter Talia posted in an update to social media on Aug. 2, according to TMZ.

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My dad is out of the hospital and back at the prison, preparing for our upcoming parole hearing, she said.

Menendez brothers judge wants explanation on why evidence withheld

The Menendez brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1989 for fatally shooting their parents at their Beverly Hills home.

In May, Erik and Lyle were resentenced to 50 years to life in prison and will appear before the California parole board for a hearing later this month.

I think the stars are in alignment. I just think its which path we go down for them to walk out of prison finally after doing 35 years of tremendous work, the brothers attorney, Mark Geragos, previously told NewsNations Banfield.

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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 NewsNation.




NEED TO KNOW

Erik Menendez has returned to prison after being hospitalized to receive treatment for kidney stones

Erik's stepdaughter, Talia, shared in an Aug. 2 Instagram Stories post that the 54-year-old was out of the hospital after having undergone surgery

After spending decades in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents on a life sentence without the possibility of parole, Erik and his brother Lyle Menendez were resentenced in May to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole





Erik Menendez has returned to prison after being temporarily transferred to a California hospital to receive treatment for kidney stones.

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In an Instagram Stories post shared on Saturday, Aug. 2, Erik's stepdaughter, Talia, shared that the 54-year-old was out of the hospital after undergoing surgery, per TMZ.

"My dad is out of the hospital and back at the prison, preparing for our upcoming parole hearing," wrote Talia, who is the daughter of Tammi Saccoman, the woman who married Erik while he was in prison in San Diego.

ABC News previously reported that Erik had been transported from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego to a local hospital to treat a medical condition. Talia later revealed on social media that he was experiencing "complications with both kidneys having multiple large stones."



Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Erik Menendez in 1994 Erik Menendez in 1994

Erik and brother Lyle Menendez's attorney Mark Geragos told TMZ on July 22 that Erik was in the hospital for about a week, adding that it was a "serious medical condition."

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Geragos also told the outlet that Erik should be released from prison immediately after news of his condition emerged.

"Medical privacy laws restrict us from providing details," the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in an email to PEOPLE at the time.

The diagnosis came about a month ahead of a parole board hearing for Erik and 57-year-old Lyle  who were both convicted in the infamous 1989 murders of their parents  on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22.

The brothers were resentenced to 50 years to life in prison on May 13, making them eligible for parole.

Erik and Lyle were both incarcerated after killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, on Aug. 20, 1989, while they were sitting on the couch in the TV room of their $5 million Beverly Hills mansion.

Los Angeles Times via Getty Erik and Lyle Menendez Erik and Lyle Menendez

Erik, then 18, and Lyle, then 21, claimed that the murders came after their father  the chief operating officer of RCA Records  sexually abused them for years and their mother, a former pageant queen, ignored the abuse. They have maintained that they feared for their lives and that Jose had threatened to kill them if they told anyone about the alleged sexual abuse.

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Meanwhile, prosecutors said the two brothers motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the murders.

Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom could potentially seek to grant the brothers clemency and make his decision at any time, though he has said he will wait until after their final parole board hearing to decide.

The politician previously requested that the parole board conduct a comprehensive risk assessment investigation into whether the brothers could pose a risk to public safety should they be released.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The Governor has ordered the Parole Board to conduct a Comprehensive Risk Assessment of both Erik and Lyle Menendez, attorneys Geragos and Cliff Gardner wrote in a statement obtained by PEOPLE in February.

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Along with scores of Jose and Kitty Menendezs family members who have fought for years to see Erik and Lyle have a chance to finally come home, we are grateful for the Governor's decision, the statement added.

The family realizes that the Governors action does not mean he will commute the sentences. Instead, this initial step reflects the Governor's considered decision to at least obtain the information required to make a fair decision as to whether Erik and Lyle, after 35 years in prison, have done the hard work necessary to have a chance at a life outside prison. Jose and Kittys family members, as well as Erik and Lyle, can ask for nothing more, the attorneys continued.

The Menendez brothers made a virtual video appearance at their hearing in May and took full responsibility for the murders, Fox News reported at the time.



Read the original article on People
Erik Menendez is back in prison following his recent hospitalization to treat kidney stones.

On Saturday, August 2, Eriks stepdaughter, Talia  who he shares with his wife Tammi  posted an Instagram Story giving an update on his whereabouts.

My dad is out of the hospital and back at the prison, preparing for our upcoming parole hearing, Talia wrote, according to TMZ.

As Globe previously reported, Erik, 54, left R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego to undergo multiple surgeries for kidney stones last month.

Talia initially revealed her dad had problems with his kidneys on Wednesday, July 23, as she wrote on her Instagram Story, Today Erik had his second surgery due to complications with both kidneys having multiple large stones, per People.

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Tammi also took to X to explain his medical status that day.

Today Erik had a 2nd surgery. This surgery was successful, she wrote. He will need a 3rd surgery which will hopefully happen soon.

Because Erik is in prison there are a lot of complications and delays with surgery, she added. Tonight he remains nauseous and in pain however is recovering from surgery.

We thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers. Complications happen in surgery but this is a very stressful time for us, Tammi wrote in a separate post. Additionally, we are grateful to the CRT custody and medical staff who did their best during this difficult situation.

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Eriks attorney, Mark Geragos, first told TMZ on Tuesday, July 22, that Erik is having a serious medical condition right now.

Hes being treated right now  Ill leave it at that  its a serious condition, and he needs, I think, to be out so he can focus on the hearing, Geragos remarked, referring to Erik and his brother Lyles parole hearings at the end of August.

Geragos said he hoped the condition was not life-threatening, but was asking California Governor Gavin Newsom to grant his client a medical furlough.

He should be medically furloughed so he can work with the parole attorney and be up to speed and be ready, he told the outlet. It is the only fair and equitable thing to do.

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In 1996, Erik and Lyle, 57, were convicted of first-degree murder for the 1989 deaths of their parents, Jose and Kitty. However, the brothers claim they acted in self-defense and allege years of abuse at the hands of their parents.

Initially, the two men were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, but this past May, they were resentenced to 50 years to life, making them eligible.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Erik Menendez is in recovery.

After being temporarily transferred to a California hospital for a kidney stones procedure, the 54-year-old has returned to prison ahead of his and brother Lyle Menendezs parole hearing August 21.

My dad is out of the hospital and back at the prison, Eriks stepdaughter Talia Menendez, daughter to his wife Tammi Menendez, wrote in an Instagram Story August 3, per TMZ, preparing for our upcoming parole hearing.

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Talias update comes over a week after she first shared her father was undergoing several surgeries to address his kidney stones issue.

Today Erik had his second surgery due to complications with both kidneys having multiple large stones, Talia wrote on her Instagram Story July 23. Thankfully, his surgery was successful, though he will need a third surgery soon.

And Eriks trip to the hospital comes after his lawyer Mark Geragos argued for his immediate release from prison amid his serious medical condition.

More from E! Online

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Im not going to violate HIPAA or attorney/client or anything else, Mark told TMZ in a July 22 interview, but if there was ever anybody who should be furloughed, especially right now, a month before the hearing, its Erik.

As Mark put it, He needs, I think, to be out and focus on the hearing.

Indeed, Erik and Lyles upcoming hearing will determine whether they will get an early release from prison after their sentences for the murders of their parents Mary Louis Kitty Menendez and Jose Menendez were reduced to 50 years to life with eligibility for parole back in May.

1948402787

At the time, Los Angeles County Judge Michael Jesic, who reduced the sentences from life without the possibility of parole, told the courtroom, per NBC News, "I cant make a finding that they are an unreasonable risk.'

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Both Erik and Lylewhose split from wife Rebecca Sneed was announced in Novembermade statements at the resentencing hearing, expressing remorse for the brutal 1989 killings and subsequently lying about their involvement.

"I did everything I could to get away with the crime, Erik said during a virtual appearance in court. I am directly responsible for it all.

As Erik and Lyle advocate for their release, their families have continued to stand by them. Keep reading for more details...

Anna Eriksson

Lyle Menendez, then 28, married model and salon receptionist Anna Eriksson on July 2, 1996, the day he and brother Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1989 double murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Anna started writing to Lyle in 1993 during his first trial, which ended in a mistrial, and then moved to California to be near him the following year. She became a reliable presence at the months-long retrial that began in 1995 and resulted in convictions in March 1996, according to the Los Angeles Times. They couldn't take their vows in person, however, Lyle instead taking the plunge over speaker phone, the groom in custody and the bride in the office of defense attorney Leslie Abramson. He seemingly hoped to be able to wed Anna in person, once he knew where he'd end up. "We do have a marriage proceeding," California Correctional Institution spokesman Lt. Jack Pitko told the LA Times in September 1996 once Lyle and Erik had been ordered to separate prisons. "There's a waiting list...But I don't see why he shouldn't be able to get married if he follows all the rules." Anna filed for divorce in 2001 after, according to multiple reports from the time, she allegedly found out Lyle was exchanging letters with other women.





Rebecca Sneed

Lyle didn't rush into anything when he married journalist Rebecca Sneed, reportedly 33 at the time, in November 2003: He had known her for 10 years, first through letters and eventually from in-person visits, a prison spokesperson told the Associated Press in confirming the nuptials. The ceremony took place at Mule Creek State Prison near Sacramento, where Lyle resided until he was reunited with Erik in 2018 at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in southern San Diego County. "Our interaction tends to be very free of distractions and we probably have more intimate conversations than most married spouses do, who are distracted by life's events," Lyle told People in 2017. At the time, Rebecca was living in Sacramento and was said to visit weekly. "We try and talk on the phone every day, sometimes several times a day," Lyle added. "I have a very steady, involved marriage and that helps sustain me and brings a lot of peace and joy. It's a counter to the unpredictable, very stressful environment here." Rebecca "put up with a lot," he acknowledged. "But she has the courage to deal with the obstacles. It would be easier to leave, but I'm profoundly grateful that she doesn't."





The bloom has since come off the rose, however: Ahead of a decision on whether Lyle and Erik should be resentenced and possibly set free in the near future, Rebecca confirmed that she and Lyle are separated. "Lyle and I have been separated for a while now but remain best friends and family," she wrote Nov. 22 on her official Facebook page. "I continue to run his Facebook pages, with input from him, and I am forever committed to the enduring fight for Lyle and Eriks freedom, as has been so evident over the years." She added, "I'll continue to update you all on the progress of the case because I believe we all have the common goal of seeing the guys walk free! I will never stop fighting for them." And because tabloid rumors don't stop outside the prison gates, the post also noted, "This is NOT a cheating scandal."





Tammi Saccoman

Erik's wife Tammi Menendez, now 62, was married to Chuck Saccoman when she first spied the younger Menendez brother on TV in 1993 and felt a special place in her heart for the 22-year-old murder defendant. As she later told People, she informed her husband she was going to write to Erik and Chuck gave her his blessing. "I saw Tammi's letter and I felt something. I received thousands of letters, but I set this one aside. I got a feeling," Erik told the publication. "And I wrote her back. Tammi and I continued to correspond. I enjoyed writing to her. It was a slow friendship. It was special to me because it was not associated with the trial and the media. Tammi was someone not in the craziness." However, as Tammi detailed in her 2005 book They Said We'd Never Make It: My Life With Erik Menendez, she doubted the brothers' abuse defense at first. (And she told MSNBC that Erik mentioned having a girlfriend of several years early on.) But in 1996, as Tammi has detailed in her book and interviews, she found out that Chuck had abused her teenage daughter from a previous relationship. (They also shared a then-9-month-old daughter.) Chuck turned himself into police and died by suicide two days later, according to People.

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After Chuck died, "I reached out to Erik," she told the publication in 2005. "He comforted me. Our letters started taking on a more serious tone." Tammi admitted she was "really nervous" when she finally met Erik in person at Folsom State Prison in August 1997. "Erik had no idea what I looked like; I'd only sent him a tiny, 1-by-1 picture," she explained. "But when he walked into the room, he was so full of life, he hopped down the stairs. It was like I was meeting an old friend." They married in 1999, a Twinkie serving as their wedding cake.





And they've been together ever since, though Tammi has acknowledged that the lack of conjugal visits can be tough. "A kiss when you come in, a kiss when you leave," she described the routine on MSNBC in December 2005. 'You can hold hands and that part of it is very difficult, and people don't understand." Erik said he tried not to think about what was then the likelihood that he would never get out of prison. Tammi is what gets me through," he told People in 2005. "I can't think about the sentence. When I do, I do it with a great sadness and a primal fear. I break into a cold sweat. It's so frightening I just haven't come to terms with it." But on a more optimistic note, Tammi had also taught him "how to be a good husband," Erik said. "There is no makeup sex, only a 15-minute phone call, so you really have to try to make things work."



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Eurostar has warned passengers to expect disruption throughout the day on the line to Paris after a section of the French rail network was temporarily closed.

SNCF, the French high-speed train operator, urged travellers to postpone their journeys if possible.

Passengers can exchange their tickets free of charge or request a full refund, a Eurostar spokesman said, adding that the London-Amsterdam, London-Brussels and Brussels-Amsterdam routes were unaffected by the disruption.

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SNCF said the disruption was caused by a power outage near Moussy, around 30 miles north of Paris, at around 8.30am and was expected to last until late evening as major repairs were required.

Eurostar customers were unable to travel to Paris on Monday morning, but other routes were unaffected by the disruption - George Cracknell Wright

The disruption affects one of Europes busiest international rail corridors at the height of the summer travel season.

The incident is just the latest to affect Eurostar and other French rail services.

In June, nearly half a mile of cables were stolen or severed south of Lille, causing Eurostar cancellations.

Passengers described being sat on stationary trains for hours before returning to Paris and having to sleep at Gare du Nord.

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Photos showed large queues at both railway stations, while stranded passengers demanded refunds on social media.

One passenger attempting the journey from Paris to London wrote on X: 3pm check-in, sit on train for nearly six hours (all food runs out etc), finally go back to Gare du Nord and 1,000 passengers dumped in Paris with no hotels (cheapest room 2000 and they refund only up to 300). Disastrous.

Workers near the Mont-de-Terre train station tackling the cable chaos in June - Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty

In July, passengers were stranded for several hours after a Eurostar train broke down.

Footage on social media showed passengers walking next to the tracks after a London-bound train from Brussels stopped between Lille and Calais in northern France because of a power failure.

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The doors were opened and water handed out to passengers, a Eurostar spokesman confirmed, but four hours into the wait, passengers were escorted off the train.

Passengers had left Brussels at 8.52am local time and were due to arrive in London at 9.57am.

A replacement train was sent from London, but was delayed by more than three hours, arriving at 4.45pm.

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.
Thousands of passengers have been told to "postpone" their Eurostar train journeys to and from Paris with the firm expecting cancellations and delays.

Eurostar said the disruption was "due to part of the track being temporarily closed on the French network" because of a power failure.

It advised passengers to keep an eye on the Eurostar website and app for further updates.

Nine trains between London and Paris have been cancelled for Monday while a further 17 have been delayed, according to the Eurostar website.

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The firm has also cancelled and delayed several journeys between Paris and Brussels as well as Paris and Amsterdam.

"We advise passengers on these routes to postpone their journey if possible. They can exchange their ticket free of charge or request a full refund," Eurostar added.

Other Eurostar journeys, such as those between London and Amsterdam, have not been affected by the issue.

Eurostar said the problem was "due to a power failure on the highspeed line" between Moussy and Longueil in France, which it said was being dealt with by France's state-owned rail operator SNCF Reseau.

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The firm said SNCF Reseau had told it that one track will be reopened at 18:30 CET (17:30 BST) and that this will "allow trains to run again on the high-speed line but with limited service".

"Traffic should be able to resume on both tracks tomorrow morning when services start running again," Eurostar added.

It said extra staff have been sent to affected stations to help passengers.

The Eurostar delays come at one of the busiest times of year for travel, with many Britons planning holidays during August.

It is not the first time this summer the Eurostar service has been disrupted. In June, Eurostar faced two days of cancellations and disruption after two people died in separate incidents on a French railway line.
MPLX has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Northwind Delaware Holdings from Five Point Infrastructure for a cash consideration of $2.37bn.

The acquisition is poised to be immediately accretive to MPLX's distributable cash flow and represents a sevenfold multiple based on the anticipated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for 2027.

The deal, which MPLX plans to fund through debt, also includes a mid-teen unlevered return, inclusive of the capital spend for ongoing expansion activities.

Northwind Delaware, established by Five Point in 2022, addresses a critical challenge in the Northern Delaware Basin by providing essential sour gas services.

The lack of capacity for treating sour natural gas, acid-gas injection and sequestration has historically restricted upstream development in the region.

Northwind's operations also align with customer sustainability goals by sequestering and capturing CO from the natural gas stream.

Currently, Northwind's infrastructure encompasses more than 200,000 dedicated acres, over 200 miles of pipelines, and two carbon sequestration and acid gas injection wells with 20 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) of combined capacity.

A third permitted well, set to be completed in 2026, will increase total capacity to 37mcf/d.

The system's sour gas treating capacity is expected to rise from 150mcf/d to 440mcf/d by the second half of 2026, backed by minimum volume commitments from leading regional producers.

The acquisition will enable MPLX to provide prompt sour gas solutions in south-east New Mexico, US, offering access to up to 400mcf/d of incremental gas for processing and up to 70,000 barrels per day (bpd) of new natural gas liquids volumes. This move is set to expedite MPLX's growth opportunities in the region.

Five Point Infrastructure CEO and managing partner David Capobianco said: This transaction is a clear validation of our investment thesis regarding the need for critical infrastructure development across the nations most productive energy basins.

Anticipated to close in the third quarter of this year, the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, encompassing antitrust clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act of 1976.

Piper Sandler & Co and Latham & Watkins advised the seller on financial and legal matters, respectively.

Earlier in the year, Five Point Infrastructure was in talks over the potential sale of the Permian Basin gas infrastructure operator Northwind Midstream.

"MPLX signs agreement to acquire Northwind Delaware for $2.37bn" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
More than 50 different animals were taken away in "heartbreaking conditions" northeast of Phoenix, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

The animals were found on a Rio Verde property with no food or water, the Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. Rio Verde is about 40 minutes east of Scottsdale, north of Fort McDowell.

The odd bunch of animals seized consisted of horses, camels, goats, rams, sheep and tortoises. There were also more exotic ones like a cockatoo, bull and zebra, the Sheriff's Office said.

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Images shared by the Sheriff's Office showed horses with their ribs showing and a ram with matted hair.

The Rural Metro Fire Department quickly arrived at the scene and delivered over 2,000 gallons of water for the dehydrated animals. High temperatures reached about 110 degrees the day the animals were rescued, according to the National Weather Service.

The Sheriff's Office unit for mistreated animals, the Maricopa Animal Safe Haven (MASH), helped rescue the animals and provide shelter.

Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan was on site when the animals were rescued, posing for a picture with a camel.

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"Sheriff Sheridan, who assisted in the rescue, remains committed to fighting for those who cant speak for themselves," the Sheriff's Office said. "Today is another powerful reminder: neglect will not be ignored. Every life matters."

The animals were taken to the MASH unit or a veterinarian, said William Jinks, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office.

The investigation was ongoing, Jinks said Aug. 3.

The animals' recovery will be shared with the public, the Sheriff's Office said.

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: Animals rescued from heartbreaking conditions northeast of Scottsdale
On Friday, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing weak July hiring numbers and significant downward revisions to job growth for the last two months; Donald Trump responded by firing its chief.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

In a few posts on Truth Social, Trump said the report's numbers were "RIGGED" to make him look bad and suggested, without evidence, that they were "manipulated for political purposes." He ordered the removal of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, who was confirmed with bipartisan support in 2024.

Despite Trump's claims, according to reporting by the New York Times, most experts, including economists and current and former agency staff members, do not believe there has been evidence of political interference in the labor data.

Related: If You Want To Know How MAGA Feels About The Epstein Files And Trump RN, Consider This Clip Of A Fox News Host Being Booed

Voices from across the political spectrum have begun speaking out. In a post on X following the news, Senator Bernie Sanders warned about the precedent of a president firing officials simply for producing data that doesn't align with their preferences.

Joe Maher / Getty Images For Fane

"No. Mr. President. In America, you do not fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for releasing a jobs report that you don't like. That's what authoritarians do," Sen. Sanders wrote. "We need serious economists in these positions, not hacks who will only tell you what you want to hear."

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Former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed the concern: "The President sees a bad jobs report, and responds by getting rid of the person in charge of the statistics. This is how America becomes a third-rate country."

Related: "My Generation Will Never Forgive You": 25 Of The Very Best And Very True Political Tweets From The Last Week

Even William Beach, Trump's own former appointee and McEntarfers predecessor at BLS, condemned the move. "The totally groundless firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, my successor as Commissioner of Labor Statistics at BLS, sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau," he wrote on X.

His full statement with Friends of BLS, a group chaired by former BLS commissioners, calls on Congress to intervene.

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Across social media, users seem to be voicing similar criticisms.

"So what happens when the next Jobs Report is bad?" one person asked. "Either report it and get fired, or lie to the public and say it's good? Look at the precedent Trump is setting."

Related: "Btch Yall Cant Even Eat Cake Made By A Queer": 25 Political Tweets Of The Week That Are So Brutal And So True

Some compared the move to Soviet-era leadership. "also, this is very Soviet, except that Stalin then arrested and executed the statisticians," @anneapplebaum, a journalist and historian on communism, wrote on X.

"He fires anyone who brings him bad news. This is what dictators do," The Lincoln Project said in a viral tweet.

"What in the dictatorship," another added.

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After clips of Trump asking a reporter, "Why should anyone trust the numbers?" and calling the report "phony" went viral on X, many started comparing the moment to George Orwell's infamous dystopian novel, 1984.

(In case you're unfamiliar, the novel follows a totalitarian party who controls every aspect of life, including rewriting history and statistics to align with the party's goals.)

Related: Gavin Newsom Has Been Roasting MAGA Left And Right, And WOW, Is It Entertaining

"Oh my god we are at the 'numbers aren't real part' of 1984," one user said.

Oh my god we are at the numbers arent real part of 1984 https://t.co/zB5cgcAlRJ  Charles  (@charles_0730) August 1, 2025

Twitter: @charles_0730

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"'The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command,'" another added, quoting the novel.

The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.George Orwell, 1984 https://t.co/mHAlKrtC6J  Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) August 1, 2025

Twitter: @JoJoFromJerz

Well...despite growing concerns about trust in future government reports, White House economic advisers have since defended Trump's firing. And it doesn't appear that Trump is letting up, continuing his Truth Social tirades about the jobs report into Monday. He said he plans to name a new BLS commissioner within the next few days.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Also in In the News: "How Can You Possibly Be This Ignorant": 26 Tweets Calling Out The Sh*t Show That Is Politics This Week

Also in In the News: Trump Can't Stop Talking About Pete Buttigieg, And Pete Responded With One Simple Tweet

Also in In the News: President Obama Just Responded To Donald Trump's "Bizarre" Claims Of Him Committing Treason

Read it on BuzzFeed.com
Ex-officer who used Taser on deacon will not be charged in his death

A Fulton County grand jury has declined to bring criminal charges against a former Atlanta police officer in connection with the death of a local grandfather in 2023.

An official says the Fulton County DAs office Monday presented a proposed indictment of former officer Kiran Kimbrough in connection with the 2023 death of Johnny Hollman in the aftermath of a traffic stop.

Monday afternoon Fulton County Superior Court Clerk Che Alexander confirmed to Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne a grand jury declined to charge Kimbrough for involuntary manslaughter, simple battery and two counts of violation of oath of office.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Hollman, 62, died in 2023 after Kimbrough used a Taser on him.

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An autopsy found Hollman died as a result of Kimbroughs force.

Atlanta police released body camera footage that captured Hollman refusing to sign a ticket and requesting to speak with a supervisor. In the video, Kimbrough wrestles Hollman to the ground and uses his Taser on him.

Anitra Hollman, the daughter of Johnny Hollman, testified before the grand jury, the family said in a statement late Monday afternoon.

Attorney Manny Arora, who told Channel 2 he is not involved in the Kimbrough case, says under Georgia law police officers have the option of speaking to a grand jury considering charges about his or her on-duty actions

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The have a right at the end of the states presentation to testify. They can be questioned by the grand jury and or the prosecutor during that time, he said.

Arora said it absolutely makes a difference.

Weve used this on several unrelated cases and all of those have been no-billed based on the evidence we were able to present, he said.

Johnny Hollman was a grandfather and church deacon.

Hollman family attorney Rob Bozeman said Hollman repeatedly asked for a supervisor in a dispute over whether he would sign a traffic ticket for a wreck in which he was involved, a dispute which escalated into then-officer Kimbrough tasing Hollman, who was pronounced dead that night at a hospital.

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In 2023, Fulton countys chief medical examiner Dr. Karen Sullivan said an autopsy found Hollman died after his heart rhythm was disrupted as a result of being stunned by an Atlanta police Taser in combination with high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, a type of heart disease, with his COPD and diabetes as other contributing factors.

In January 2024, Hollmans family filed a federal lawsuit over his death, and about five months later, the Atlanta City Council approved a $3.8 million settlement with the family.

The familys reaction to the no-bill? The familys obviously devastated, Bozeman said. They thought today would be a step in the direction of accountability.

Late Monday afternoon, Winne got a statement from one of Kimbroughs attorneys, Lance LoRusso: Officer Kimbrough is appreciative that the grand jury was able to see the truth of this matter. While Johnny Hollmans death was tragic, in no way did Kiran Kimbrough cause the death of Johnny Hollman. Johnny Hollmans death was caused by medical complications and his felonious, unlawful resistance of a uniformed officer performing his lawful duties.

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The family also issued a statement late Monday afternoon: We are devastated. Our father should still be here. The failure to hold this officer accountable is another painful reminder of how little value is placed on his life by some citizenseven when the facts are clear and the harm is undeniable. But we will not stop. Our faith and our fight for justice will not waver.

Attorney Mawuli Davis, who represents the Hollman family, issued the following statement: This is a profoundly sad daynot only for the Hollman family, but for all who believe in justice. Despite video evidence, the unwavering courage of this family, and the thorough effort by the Fulton County District Attorneys Office, the criminal justice system has once again failed to hold law enforcement accountable for the death of a citizen. Deacon Johnny Hollman deserved better. This moment also underscores how far the fight for police accountability in this country has regressed since the uprisings of the summer of 2020. We will continue to stand with the Hollman family, and we call on the citizens of Atlanta to do the same. This is not the end of the fight for justice.

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A 65-year-old registered sex offender is facing federal charges for allegedly groping a sleeping teenager on a Spirit Airlines flight.

Indiana resident, John Daniel Fowler, later claimed to police that he had merely been reaching down to help right the thermos of the 17-year-old girl in the next seat after it tipped over.

Fowler, who pleaded guilty to molesting his step-nephews girlfriend and is required to register with authorities until November 2033, began the journey with a dust-up at the gate due to being charged $100 USD for the size of his luggage, according to an FBI probable cause affidavit reviewed by The Independent.

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This incident was not received well by Fowler, who respond[ed] by blurting out that he hoped the plane would crash, the affidavit states. Fowler then apologized and was still allowed to board the aircraft destined to Orlando.

Fowler is now persona non grata with the carrier, a Spirit Airlines spokesperson said Monday.

John David Fowler is facing more than a decade in prison after allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl on a flight from Indianapolis to Orlando (Marion County Sheriff's Office; Getty Images)

Safety is our top priority, and we have zero tolerance for the behavior as alleged, the spokesperson told The Independent. The allegations are serious, and we will provide any necessary assistance to law enforcement in their investigation. Additionally, this individual is no longer welcome on any of our flights.

Fowler does not yet have an attorney listed on the court docket, and was unable to be reached for comment.

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On July 29, Fowler was on Spirit flight NK 1523 from Indianapolis to Orlando, assigned to an aisle seat, according to the affidavit. In the middle seat was a 17-year-old girl, identified in the affidavit as Victim 1. After takeoff, the affidavit says Victim 1 asked the person seated by the window if she could take a photograph of the view. Fowler then asked Victim 1 if she could send him the photo, and gave her his phone number, the affidavit goes on.

During the two-hour-plus flight, Fowler tried to make conversation with Victim 1, but she was not interested and shut him down, the affidavit says.

Several times, Victim 1 was forced to physically move Fowlers hand, which kept creeping over to her seat, according to the affidavit.

As the plane approached Orlando, Victim 1 was asleep underneath a blanket, and had both feet up on her seat, the affidavit continues. Once the aircraft landed, but before the doors were opened, Victim 1 woke up to find Fowlers hand under her blanket, rubbing her crotch, the affidavit states.

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Victim 1 screamed until she got the attention of a flight attendant who immediately brought the teen to the front of the plane. Fowler, for his part, was taken to the rear of the aircraft. Once the plane had taxied to the gate, he was questioned by Orlando police, according to the affidavit.

During the interview, Fowler claimed that he reached down to grab Victim 1s thermos, which had fallen over and when he came back up his arm touched her leg, the affidavit states.

Fowler denied touching the girls private parts, and maintained he was not on any medication or alcohol at the time, the affidavit says.

Suspect and registered sex offender John Daniel Fowler got into a heated dispute at the gate over a baggage fee, but was still allowed to board his flight (Getty Images)

Officers interviewed Victim 1 as well as the cabin crew at the same time. The FBI, along with a childrens forensic examiner, spoke with her on August 1.

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Fowler was charged the same day with abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft, which carries up to three years in federal prison; and a potential 10-year enhancement for having committed a new crime while a registered sex offender.

The affidavit concludes with a recap of Fowlers November 2023 conviction, citing details from a probable cause affidavit that says he sexually assaulted a sleeping victim in her home.

Fowler, who the victim told police was her boyfriends step-dads brother, had been staying in the garage on an air mattress, the affidavit states. Her age is unclear.

State court records show Fowler was given a two-year suspended sentence, with credit for time served while awaiting trial, and was sentenced to probation. After an undisclosed violation in 2024, GPS location monitoring was added to Fowlers probation terms.

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In July, a Texas aerospace executive flying American Airlines from Boston to Washington, D.C. was arrested after allegedly masturbating openly while pawing at the passenger seated next to him. (The suspect told police he was stretching his arms.) In March, a 55-year-old man was banned permanently from American after his third accusation of mid-flight sexual misconduct. A month before, a traveler sued Alaska Airlines, claiming she had been sexually assaulted by an inebriated passenger.

Last year, the FBI issued an alert about sexual assault aboard commercial aircraft, a crime the bureau said was on the rise.
By Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States and Rwanda have agreed for the African country to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the U.S., the spokesperson for the Rwandan government and an official told Reuters, as President Donald Trump's administration takes a hardline approach toward immigration.

The agreement, first reported by Reuters, was signed by U.S. and Rwandan officials in Kigali in June, said the Rwandan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that Washington had already sent an initial list of 10 people to be vetted.

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"Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation," said the spokesperson for the Rwandan government, Yolande Makolo.

"Under the agreement, Rwanda has the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement. Those approved will be provided with workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade."

The White House and State Department had no immediate comment. The Department of Homeland Security referred questions to the State Department.

President Donald Trump aims to deport millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally and his administration has sought to ramp up removals to third countries, including sending convicted criminals to South Sudan and Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland.

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Rwanda has in recent years positioned itself as a destination country for migrants that Western countries would like to remove, despite concerns by rights groups that Kigali does not respect basic human rights.

In May, the foreign minister said Rwanda was in the early stages of talks to receive immigrants deported from the United States.

The Trump administration argues that third-country deportations help swiftly remove some migrants, including those with criminal convictions. Immigration hardliners see third-country removals as a way to deal with offenders who cannot easily be deported and could pose a threat to the public.

Opponents have criticized the deportations as dangerous and cruel, since people could be sent to countries where they could face violence, have no ties and do not speak the language.

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US TO PROVIDE GRANT TO RWANDA

Rwanda will be paid by the United States in the form of a grant, the official said, adding that the grant letter was finalized in July. The official declined to say how much the grant was for.

The U.S. and Rwanda could extend the agreement beyond 250 people by mutual consent, the official said, adding that those deported to Rwanda do not have to stay in the country and can leave anytime they choose.

Kigali will only accept those whose prison terms are complete or who have no criminal case against them, as there is no agreement with Washington that would allow people to serve out their U.S. sentence in Rwanda, the official said. No child sex offenders will be accepted.

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The Trump administration has pressed other countries to take migrants. It deported more than 200 Venezuelans accused of being gang members to El Salvador in March, where they were jailed until they were released in a prisoner swap last month.

The Supreme Court in June allowed the Trump administration to deport migrants to third countries without giving them a chance to show they could be harmed. But the legality of the removals is being contested in a federal lawsuit in Boston, a case that could potentially wind its way back to the conservative-leaning high court.

Western and regional leaders have praised President Paul Kagame for transforming Rwanda from the ruins of the 1994 genocide that killed more than 1 million people into a thriving economy. Rights groups have accused him of abuses and of supporting rebels in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, accusations that he denies.

Rwanda has also engaged in peace talks led by the Trump administration to bring an end to fighting in eastern Congo. The two African nations signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington in June, raising hopes for an end to fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year.

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The agreement to accept migrants deported from the U.S. is not the first such agreement Rwanda has reached. Kigali signed an agreement with Britain in 2022 to take in thousands of asylum seekers, a deal that was scrapped last year by then newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer. No one was sent to Rwanda under the plan because of years of legal challenges.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
In Lviv, a Polish-Ukrainian team has launched search and exhumation works with the aim of reburial of Polish soldiers who died at the beginning of World War II.

Source: press service for the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The exhumation works began on 4 August on the site of the former cemetery in the Zboishcha (Zboiska) area, with the goal of reburying the remains of Polish soldiers, representing various ethnic groups, who died defending Lviv from Nazi Germanys forces.

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"The works are taking place within the framework of bilateral cooperation aimed at a shared reflection on historical events," the ministry said.

There is currently no functioning cemetery at the burial site. The cemetery existed until the 1960s, and in 1987, it was completely dismantled. After the collapse of the USSR, a symbolic cross was erected on the site.

The exhumation works are expected to continue until approximately 30 August.

Background:

In June, the Ministry of Culture reported that Ukraine had granted Poland permission to carry out the exhumation of Polish soldiers killed in 1939 and buried in the territory of the former village of Zboiska, now within the city limits of Lviv.

Polands Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski recently said that exhumation works were expected to begin soon in this and another location.

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New research is warning that the most likely outcome is that human civilization is poised for collapse.

As The Guardian reports, a sweeping new historical survey that analyzes 5,000 years and the collapse of more than 400 societies makes the case that we're in for a rude awakening.

"We cant put a date on Doomsday, but by looking at the 5,000 years of [civilisation], we can understand the trajectories we face today  and self-termination is most likely," Luke Kemp, research fellow at the Center for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, told the British newspaper.

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"Im pessimistic about the future," he added. "But Im optimistic about people."

Kemp warned of narcissistic and psychopathic leaders  a powerful but small "oligarchy" working against the interests of the rest of us  who turn a blind eye to existential threats like global warming, nuclear weapons, and AI.

Scientists have long warned that escalating global temperatures caused by human activities could eventually tip us over the edge, leading to food shortages, unbearable heat, and droughts  not to mention the strain and instability that all those problems place on everything else.

To Kemp, we can learn from thousands of years of human civilization to get a sense of how things will eventually play out. In his book, he used the term "Goliaths" to refer to kingdoms and empires that dominated others using weaponry and other threatening tactics.

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"History is best told as a story of organised crime," he told the Guardian. "It is one group creating a monopoly on resources through the use of violence over a certain territory and population."

But these groups don't tend to last and eventually collapse under their own weight due to inequality, the researcher argued, and greed by those in power.

"Then as elites extract more wealth from the people and the land, they make societies more fragile, leading to infighting, corruption, immiserization of the masses, less healthy people, overexpansion, environmental degradation, and poor decision making by a small oligarchy," he said. "The hollowed-out shell of a society is eventually cracked asunder by shocks such as disease, war or climate change."

So how does this all pertain to the 21st century specifically? Kemp argued that we're suffering under "one single, interconnected global Goliath," acting within capitalism.

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Collapses in food systems, the constant threat of nuclear war, and a growing climate crisis could eventually lead to the current Goliath's demise.

And Kemt didn't hold back when singling out the leaders responsible for bringing us closer to the end.

"The three most powerful men in the world are a walking version of the dark triad: Trump is a textbook narcissist, Putin is a cold psychopath, and Xi Jinping came to rule [China] by being a master Machiavellian manipulator," he told the Guardian.

To avoid a total collapse, we need to "create genuine democratic societies to level all the forms of power" and tax the wealthy  which isn't actually as out-of-reach as it sounds, according to Kemt.

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"Today, people find it easier to imagine that we can build intelligence on silicon than we can do democracy at scale, or that we can escape arms races," he said. "Its complete bullsh*t. Of course we can do democracy at scale. Were a naturally social, altruistic, democratic species, and we all have an anti-dominance intuition."

"This is what we're built for," he added.

More on societal collapse: 15,000 Scientists Warn Society Could Collapse By 2100 Due to Climate Change


Explosions were heard in the city of Odesa amid the threat of Russian attack drones on the night of 3-4 August.

Source: Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov; local media outlets and Telegram channels; Ukraine's Air Force

Details: An air-raid warning was issued in Odesa and Odesa Oblast at 01:30 due to the threat of Russian drones.

At 02:02, Trukhanov reported explosions in the city and urged residents in certain districts to be cautious and stay in shelters.

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Later, further explosions were heard in Odesa.

Updated: At 02:30, the Air Forces reported new groups of drones approaching from the Black Sea towards Odesa Oblast, likely heading for Odesa.

At 03:47, the all-clear was given in Odesa and Odesa Oblast.

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Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a press conference on July, 31,2025 in Montgomery that the state is prepared to challenge a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed the death penalty unconstitutional for crimes that do not result in the victim's' death. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)

A horrific crime leads to get-tough policies to ensure the tragedy never happens again.

That happened in 2018, after a failure in Alabamas criminal justice system led to the mistaken parole of a man who later murdered three people, including a 7-year-old child, during a series of robberies in Guntersville.

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Gov. Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall called for major changes to the parole system. Lawmakers delivered. The Board of Pardons and Paroles was soon staffed by people largely skeptical of inmates.

As a result, parole rates plummeted into the single digits. Incarcerated people who made earnest rehabilitation efforts remained trapped in a system racked by violence, which made enrollment in training programs behind bars seem pointless, adding to the chaos. The board made dozens of cruel and ridiculous decisions, including, per al.com, denying parole to a quadriplegic man. State officials now seem to be backing away from the approach.

Today we have another horrific crime that, I fear, may lead legislators acting in good faith to enact policies that could have terrible unintended consequences.

Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, a former prosecutor of child abuse cases, is reintroducing a bill he filed last year to impose the death penalty on those convicted of sexual assault of children younger than 12.

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In support of the legislation, Simpson and his supporters are citing what can only be described as an atrocity in Bibb County. Authorities have charged seven people with running a child sex trafficking ring involving victims ranging from ages 3 to 15.

The details are hard to process. Anyone convicted of these crimes needs to be locked away and never wander outside a prison wall again. And believe me, I understand the desire to go even further and subject people who commit these evil acts to the most severe punishments we can imagine.

But extending the death penalty in this manner is a bad idea. Not because it would be bad for the abusers. Because it would be bad for the victims.

Simpson and his supporters want to overturn a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Kennedy v. Louisiana, which prohibited capital punishment for child rape. In that case, the court voted 5-4 to overturn the death sentence of a Louisiana man who had been convicted of brutally raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter. This Supreme Court may do what Simpson hopes.

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But they should pause before taking that step. In his majority opinion in Kennedy v. Louisiana, Justice Anthony Kennedy made sure to convey the horror of the crime. But he also noted that pursuing the death penalty meant the traumatized victim, a child, had to discuss her ordeal at length  first with law enforcement, and then at a public trial.

Capital cases require a long-term commitment by those who testify for the prosecution, especially when guilt and sentencing determinations are in multiple proceedings, Justice Kennedy wrote. In cases like this, the key testimony is not just from the family but from the victim herself. During formative years of her adolescence, made all the more daunting for having to come to terms with the brutality of her experience, (the victim) was required to discuss the case at length with law enforcement personnel.

Kennedy also noted concerns raised by social worker organizations. Child abuse is already an underreported crime, in part because people fear the repercussions for a family member so charged. Imposing the death penalty for child assault could further suppress reporting. Even worse, the justice wrote, making abuse a capital crime may remove a strong incentive for the rapist not to kill the victim.

And then theres the fact that the death penalty is not a deterrent. Alabama has accelerated capital punishment in recent years. Six people died in the Atmore death chamber in 2024, the most in the country.

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Despite that, Alabama has nation-leading rates of homicide. In 2022, over 700 Alabamians died at someone elses hands, a rate of 14.9 per 100,000, the fourth-highest in the country. This isnt a fluke, either. Since 2014, Alabama has been one of the top-five states in the country for homicide deaths every single year.

Some people may see all this and decide that whatever the consequences, a crime like this can only end in death.

If it sends even one child predator to an early grave, well, that works too, Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, said at a Thursday press conference.

It could do that. But only decades after the original crime. And following rounds of appeals where the victim may be forced to relive that horror, over and over again. While potentially discouraging reports of other assaults.

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Is it worth subjecting the victim to that trauma? Is it worth risking a further decline in child abuse reporting? Or putting victims in potentially greater danger?

Anyone convicted of sexually assaulting a child needs to be locked away for life.

But we cant let our outrage take precedence over the welfare of the victims. If we do, there may be terrible outcomes we dont intend and never see.
An F-15E Strike Eagle deployed to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, landed safely despite a missing landing gear wheel, the Air Forces 18th Wing said Monday morning.

The two airmen flying the fighter were uninjured in the emergency landing, the Air Force said in a statement, with emergency personnel responding to the scene.

The 18th Wing said the wheel was recovered on the flightline at U.S. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean. The wheel was discovered missing while the F-15 was in mid-flight, and landed at Kadena at about 6:40 p.m. local time  or just before dawn Monday morning in the United States.

The Air Force said more information on the mishap will be released as it becomes available.
Interview: Spanish economist says EU gains little from new tariff deal with U.S.

Xinhua) 08:11, August 04, 2025

This photo taken on Jan. 29, 2025 shows the Berlaymont Building, the European Commission headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

European leaders handled the trade deal with the United States "too weakly," said a Spanish economist, noting that the EU has tools to counter U.S. pressure.

BARCELONA, Spain, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has little to gain from its new trade deal with the United States, with Germany likely to be the bloc's biggest loser, Sergi Basco, associate professor of Economics at Barcelona University, told Xinhua recently.

Basco said the "only positive outcome for Europe" in the deal, under which the United States will impose a baseline 15 percent tariff on EU goods while many U.S. exports to Europe face no tariffs, is that "instead of 30 percent, it is 15 percent."

He noted that Germany will probably "lose the most," as it is the EU's largest exporter to the United States.

The tariffs will "likely cause the sales of German cars to the United States to go down," and hurt Spain's automotive industry as well, "because many of the vehicles Germany sells use components made in Spain," Basco added.

Basco criticized European leaders for handling the trade deal "too weakly," noting that the EU has tools to counter U.S. pressure.

"I don't know if it's because the negotiations were hampered by there being different voices, but it seems to me that their reaction was weak," he said.

Meanwhile, Basco cautioned that it is "important" to note that the trade deal is "a non-binding agreement," citing a European Commission statement stressing that the two sides "will further negotiate, in line with their relevant internal procedures, to fully implement the political agreement."

He noted that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the trade deal as a "framework," adding that the agreement will need approval from all 27 EU member states, whose ambassadors are set to meet on Monday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) is one of the Best Undervalued UK Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On July 17, Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) announced its new partnership with Amon Maritime. The joint venture between the two companies is called Navigator Amon Shipping AS.

Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) owns 80% of this new joint venture, whereas Amon Maritime owns 20%. The partnership plans to build two new ships in Norway, which will use ammonia as fuel and can also carry liquefied petroleum gas. Each ship will have a capacity of 51,530 cubic meters and will be constructed by Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd, costing around $84 million each. The ships are expected to be delivered in June and October of 2028.

Navigator Holdings (NVGS) Announced a New Partnership with Amon Maritime

A modern seaborne tanker off the coast of a major metropolitan city, transporting liquefied petroleum gas.

Both the new ships have received significant support from the Norwegian governments agency, Enova, as it has granted NOK 90 million for each ship; however, the management noted that the rest of the funding will come from bank loans. The companies plan to lease these ships to a major industry player on a 5-year contract.

Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) already owns and operates a large fleet of specialized ships that carry liquefied gases like petrochemical gases, LPG, and ammonia.

While we acknowledge the potential of NVGS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
A Singapore-based billionaire hotelier has pleaded guilty to a charge connected to a rare corruption scandal that shocked the country last year.

Ong Beng Seng has admitted to abetting the obstruction of justice by helping ex-transportation minister Subramaniam Iswaran cover up evidence while he was being investigated for corruption.

Ong gave expensive gifts, including an all-expenses paid trip which included a private jet ride, to Iswaran while they were engaged in official business.

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Ministers in Singapore cannot keep gifts unless they pay the market value of the gift to the government, and they must declare anything they receive from people they have business dealings with.

Ong will be sentenced on 15 August.

Ong Beng Seng is accused of giving expensive gifts to Singapore's former transport minister [Getty Images]

He originally faced up to two years in jail for abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts, while the maximum jail term he faced for the abetment of obstruction of justice is seven years.

However, both prosecutors and Ong's lawyers agreed that given his poor health, a fine should be imposed instead of a jail term, with the prosecution saying "judicial mercy" should be exercised.

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Ong has a rare bone marrow cancer, and the court previously allowed him to travel abroad for medical and work purposes.

Prosecutors argued that while Ong was pivotal in Iswaran's attempt to cover his tracks, he was much less culpable than Iswaran, who had been a sitting minister.

Ong's lawyers argued that he had "simply complied" with the plan thought up by Iswaran.

Ong Beng Seng helped bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Singapore [Getty Images]

At Iswaran's sentencing last October, the court heard that Iswaran requested Ong bill him for a business class flight from Doha to Singapore, after he discovered that he could have been implicated while police were investigating a separate incident.

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The judge said that he acted with deliberation and premeditation to avoid a probe.

On Monday, the 79-year-old Ong pleaded guilty to belatedly billing Iswaran for the expense.

A second charge of abetting Iswaran's acceptance of the all-expenses paid trip to Doha, said to be worth around S$20,850 ($16,188; 12,194), was also taken into account.

In December 2022, Ong had invited Iswaran on the trip to Qatar, saying he would take care of the trip's expenses, which included hotel accomodation and a flight to Doha on Ong's private jet.

Iswaran accepted the invitation but said he would need to arrive in Singapore on a specific date, with Ong responding that he would arrange for Iswaran to travel from Doha to Singapore on a commercial flight.

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It was this flight, said to be worth around S$5,700, that Iswaran belatedly made payment to Ong's company for, after he found out that Singapore's corruption bureau was investigating a separate investigation relating to Ong's associates - and had seized the flight manifest which had details of his trip to Doha as part of it.

He then asked Ong to have his company, Singapore GP, bill him for the trip.

The two men were arrested in July 2023 and charge sheets revealed that Iswaran was gifted more than S$403,000 ($311,882; 234,586) worth of flights, hotel stays, musicals and grand prix tickets.

At the time of the offences Iswaran was in the government's F1 steering committee and the chief negotiator on F1-related business matters.

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Born in Malaysia in 1946 - which was then Malaya - Ong moved to Singapore as a child and founded a hotel and property company in the 1980s.

Ong helped bring the F1 Grand Prix to Singapore and his company Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) has brands like the Four Seasons and Marriott operating under it.

Hotel Properties Limited had earlier in April said that Ong would step down as its managing director to "manage his medical conditions".

Singapore's lawmakers are among the highest-paid in the world, with leaders justifying the handsome salaries by saying it combats corruption.
OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN)  A new FAA report reveals more information about a plane crash at the North Carolina coast over the weekend.

A Jabiru experimental plane crashed Saturday evening about 200 yards off the beach from Oak Island in Brunswick County, a new FAA report Monday said.

The pilot, the only occupant, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Oak Island officials.

The plane, built in 2022, had a flight certificate issued in April 2023, and it was valid until April 2030, the FAA database said.

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The personal plane is classified as Light-Sport Kit-Built, the FAA information said.

NC pilot ditches small plane in ocean near Oak Island pier, officials say

The incident was reported just after 7:30 p.m. Saturday near the Oak Island Pier at 705 Ocean Drive, according to an Oak Island news release.

Photo courtesy: Chip Cavan

During rescue efforts, a person in a lifejacket and a lifeguard could be seen clinging to the plane as it barely floated on the waterline. The plane was recovered and was towed out of the water Saturday night.

The Monday FAA report said the plane crashed for unknown reasons and that damage to the aircraft was substantial.

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Claim:

The Public Broadcasting Service is shutting down following a government clawback of its funding.

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

The Trump administration rescinded funding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, resulting in its announcement of closure. The CPB's purpose since its creation in 1967 was to assist in funding public service media organizations, such as PBS and NPR, across the United States. Though PBS is not shutting down, its budget will be affected by the financial loss of grants funded by CPB.

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Following the U.S. Senate passing legislation in mid-July 2025 to claw back $1.1 billion of public media funding as part of a $9 billion "rescissions package," rumors flooded social media that the Public Broadcasting Service would be shutting down.

PBS has long been a public service featuring children's programming such "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow" and "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," as well as trusted news programs like "PBS NewsHour."

Users on social media platforms such as X (archived) and Facebook (archived, archived) claimed PBS was shutting down as a result of the new legislation, some lamenting how "this world will one day be truly unrecognizable and kids will never know what they truly missed."

PBS is officially shutting down citing loss of federal funding...

Is this what you voted for?  pic.twitter.com/dPlS9gs2Dk  GrrrGraphics-Ben Garrison  Cartoons  (@GrrrGraphics) August 1, 2025

However, the claims that PBS is shutting down were false.

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Many users sharing the claim conflated PBS with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a nonprofit corporation that has served as "the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting." The CPB was created in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

At the time, Johnson said the act would "give a wider and, I think, stronger voice to educational radio and television by providing new funds for broadcast facilities." He continued, "It will launch a major study of television's use in the Nation's classrooms and its potential use throughout the world. Finally  and most important  it builds a new institution: the Corporation for Public Broadcasting."

On Aug. 1, 2025, CPB released a statement confirming it would "begin an orderly wind-down of its operations following the passage of a federal rescissions package and the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee's FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations bill, which excludes funding for CPB for the first time in more than five decades."

Their statement continued:

CPB informed its employees today that the majority of staff positions will conclude with the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. A small transition team will remain through January 2026 to ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations. This team will focus on compliance, final distributions, and resolution of long-term financial obligations, including ensuring continuity for music rights and royalties that remain essential to the public media system.

A PBS spokesperson told Snopes via email:

For over half a century, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has partnered with PBS and our member stations to serve communities large and small in every corner of the country. As this remarkable institution winds down, PBS is committed to building on CPB's legacy and maintaining our service to the American people for years to come. We are grateful to Patricia Harrison [CEO of CPB], who for the last 20 years has ensured public television remained available and accessible to every American.

According to CPB's operating budget for fiscal year 2025, of its $545 million in funding, 49.1% ($267.83 million) was allotted to "direct grants to local public television stations" and 17.8% ($96.78 million) went to "television programming grants," both of which included PBS.

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In PBS' financial statements for the years ending June 30, 2024, and 2023, the organization stated "the remaining award balance on federal grants was approximately $10.9 million and $15.1 million as of June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively."

According to NPR, which also benefited from CPB grants, "PBS and its stations get around 15% of their revenue" through CPB grants, while NPR itself "gets about 1% of its funding directly from the federal government. Its member stations, which operate over 1,300 outlets, receive about 8% to 10% of their funding from the federal government."

So while PBS is not shutting down, the loss of CPB funding will have a significant effect on the organization, particularly television stations that operate to serve rural communities. Time magazine reported that "those stations may seek new funding from state governments or private donors, but these solutions are not likely to fully replace the funding CPB provided."

On July 17, 2025, following the passage of the bill that cemented the clawback of CPB's federal funding, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement:

The Senate just approved a rescissions package that goes against the will of the American people, the vast majority of whom trust PBS and believe we provide excellent value to their communities. These cuts will significantly impact all of our stations, but will be especially devastating to smaller stations and those serving large rural areas. Many of our stations that provide access to free unique local programming and emergency alerts will now be forced to make hard decisions in the weeks and months ahead. There is nothing more American than PBS. Despite today's setback, we are determined to keep fighting to preserve the essential services we provide to the American public.

Sources:

Consolidated Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report . Public Broadcasting Service and Subsidiaries , 30 Jun. 2024, https://dc79r36mj3c9w.cloudfront.net/prod/filer_public/pbsabout-bento-live-pbs/Financial%20Reports/631072c0f5_FY2024%20PBS%20Consolidated%20Audited%20Financial%20Statements.pdf.

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CPB Operating Budget. 15 Jan. 2015, https://cpb.org/aboutcpb/financials/budget.

CPB: Remarks of President Lyndon B. Johnson Upon Signing the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. 6 Feb. 2006, https://web.archive.org/web/20060206005412/http://www.cpb.org/aboutpb/act/remarks.html.

Neuman, Scott. "Congress Rolls Back $9 Billion in Public Media Funding and Foreign Aid." NPR, 18 Jul. 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/07/18/nx-s1-5469912/npr-congress-rescission-funding-trump.

---. "House Nears Vote on Cuts to NPR, PBS and Foreign Aid Programs." NPR, 17 Jul. 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/07/17/nx-s1-5469904/npr-pbs-cuts-rescission-senate-vote.

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"PBS Statement on the Senate Approval of the Rescissions Package." About PBS - Main, https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/pbs-statement-on-the-senate-approval-of-the-rescissions-package/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

Popli, Nik. "What Corp. for Public Broadcasting Shutdown Means For NPR, PBS." TIME, 1 Aug. 2025, https://time.com/7307069/corporation-for-public-broadcasting-pbs-npr/.

Quah, Nicholas. "The Future of Public Media Looks Rocky." Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025, https://www.vulture.com/article/corporation-for-public-broadcasting-shuts-down-affects-pbs-npr.html.

Zhan, Jennifer. "What's Happening to PBS and NPR's Federal Funding?" Vulture, 18 Jul. 2025, https://www.vulture.com/article/npr-pbs-rescission-funding-trump.html.
Days after he sent letters instructing top pharmaceutical manufacturers to use a most favored nation pricing model for prescription drugs, President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he had cut costs by up to 1,500%.

But Trumps grandiose claim is mathematically impossible.

Heres a closer look at the facts.

TRUMP: "You know, weve cut drug prices by 1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500%. I dont mean 50%, I mean 14  1,500%.

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THE FACTS: This is false. Cutting drug prices by more than 100% would theoretically mean that people are being paid to take medications. The Trump administration has taken steps to lower prescription drug prices, but experts say theres no indication costs have seen such a massive drop.

Geoffrey Joyce, director of health policy at the University of Southern Californias Schaeffer Center, called Trumps claim total fiction made up by the Republican president. He agreed that it would amount to drug companies paying customers, rather than the other way around.

I find it really difficult to translate those numbers into some actual estimates that patients would see at the pharmacy counter, said Mariana Socal, an associate professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University who studies the U.S. pharmaceutical market. She added that Trumps math is really hard to follow.

Asked what Trump was using to back up his claim, White House spokesman Kush Desai said: Its an objective fact that Americans are paying exponentially more for the same exact drugs as people in other developed countries pay, and its an objective fact that no other Administration has done more to rectify this unfair burden for the American people.

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The White House provided a chart of price differentials for drugs in the U.S. and comparable countries, but did not offer any other evidence. On Sunday, Trump also described cuts to drug prices as a future development, not that already happened.

So well be dropping drug prices, he said. It will start over the next two to three months by 1,200, 1,300 and even 1,400%.

Prices for most prescription drugs  unbranded generics are the exception  are higher in the U.S. than they are in other high-income countries. This is in large part due to the way drug prices are negotiated in the United States.

Trump made his recent appeal in letters to 17 pharmaceutical manufacturers, the White House announced last week. He asked them to reduce costs in the U.S. by matching the lowest prices of prescriptions drugs in other comparably developed countries. Some drugmakers have since indicated that they are open to cutting costs.

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This move follows an executive order Trump signed in May setting a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to electively lower prices in the U.S. or face new limits in the future over what the government will pay.

The federal government has the most power to shape the price it pays for drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Its unclear what  if any  impact the Trump administrations efforts will have on millions of Americans who have private health insurance.

Socal pointed out that if drug manufacturers had cut costs to the extent Trump claims, they would be shouting it from the rooftops, especially given the heat theyve taken over the years for their pricing practices.

My expectation would be that they would make announcements  public announcements  and that those announcements would come way in advance of the actual effective dates when those price cuts would come into effect, she said.

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Joyce agreed that there has been no indication of a substantial cut.

Not at all, not at all, none whatsoever, he said. And let alone 1,500.

___

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Its Monday, Aug. 4. Heres the latest in news and weather with KELOLAND On The Go.

Authorities in Rosebud are looking into an officer involved shooting that happened outside of a hospital over the weekend.

Officer-involved shooting in Rosebud

Sioux Falls police are investigating a Saturday night crash involving a truck and a house.

Truck crashes into Sioux Falls home

Now running as an independent, Brian Bengs is again seeking one of South Dakotas seats in the U.S. Senate in Washington.

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Senate candidate Bengs: I prefer to do my own thinking

Project S.O.S., or Supply our Students, is filling thousands of backpacks with supplies, to be given away to families in need in advance of the new school year.

Preparing kids for school with Project S.O.S.

So far, fairgoers have been able to avoid the typical hot and humid August weather at the Sioux Empire Fair.

Sioux Empire Fair off to a good start

Whats in store for weather.

Heat and humidity will return; More storms expected this week

Stay up-to-date with the KELOLAND News app.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) Chief Kevin Davis announced an update in a 1972 cold case murder.

The victim was identified as 4-year-old Carl Matthew Bryant born on May 26, 1968.

On Monday at 1 p.m., FCPD held a news conference to reveal the identity of the child who was found in Massey Creek under the Old Colchester Road Bridge in Lorton in 1972.

DNA evidence solves rape case after 23 years in Montgomery County

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His body was found on June 13, 1972, and an autopsy revealed he died from blunt force trauma to the head, making his death a homicide. A local church gave the child the name Charles Lee Charlet and assisted in his burial at Colman Cemetery.

I have my own son, and I think most of us are parents here, said Detective Melissa Wallace, who helped identify the remains. And to see the extent of that boys injuries, and what he had suffered through, Im happy to be here announcing today that weve at least identified him.

For more than five decades, the identity of the child was a mystery. However, through police work and advanced DNA technology, law enforcement was able to connect the dots using genetic genealogy.

This testing revealed a possible relative for Carl Bryant, and eventually, the family tree led to Pennsylvania. Teaming up with the Philadelphia Police Department, investigators found a relative who identified the childs mother as Vera Bryant.

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Vera Bryant died in 1980 and had not just one, but two sons: Carl Bryant and James Bryant, according to a family member. James Bryant died in 1980 and was confirmed to have traveled from Philadelphia to Virginia in 1972  the same year Carl Bryant was found dead.

The mothers DNA confirmed a match.

Early investigations

In 2003, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created a computer-generated sketch of the child, hoping for additional leads.

FDA upgrades butter recall alert to a higher level

When hair evidence was found in 2004 and sent to the FBI, Mitochondrial DNA was extracted and entered into a national database, but again failed to find a match. In 2016, investigators were able to rule out potential leads of two missing children, but werent much closer to identifying the John Does body.

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Limits on mitochondrial DNA incentivized detectives to seek nuclear DNA testing, but finding the John Does burial site was made challenging due to poor records and storms.

Astrea Forensics, known for their ability to extract hair DNA without the root, was able to extract a profile from a few millimeters of hair, where they would normally require a couple of centimeters.

Family confirmed Vera Bryant had a 4-year-old son who went missing after leaving for Virginia in 1972. Due to the preservation efforts for Vera Bryants remains, multiple attempts to confirm the connection failed. However, on July 1, forensics was able to confirm the boy was Carl Bryant.

Two-alarm Annandale apartment complex fire impacts 14 units, leaves pet dead

Cold Case Resolution

Detectives said they believe that Vera Bryant and her boyfriend James Hedgepeth, both now dead, were involved in Carl Bryants murder. Her other son, James Bryant, is believed to have also been killed around the same time, his body possibly dumped somewhere between Philadelphia, Pa., and Middlesex County, Va., police said.

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Hedgepeth had a violent criminal history and had been previously convicted of murder, police said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says a man was killed after a vehicle wreck on Friday morning.

According to ALEA, the multi-vehicle crash happened at about 11:15 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, on Loveless Road near McFarlen Drive, about three miles northwest of Hazel Green.

The agency identified the man killed as 50-year-old Brian K. Edmondson of Falkville. Edmondson was critically injured when the 2014 boom-lift that he was operating was hit by a minivan.

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After the initial impact, the minivan hit a parked 2005 Freightliner tractor-trailer that was unoccupied.

As a result of the impact, ALEA said Edmondson was thrown from the boom-lift.

Edmondson and the driver of the minivan were both injured and taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment.

ALEA said Edmondson later succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Nothing further is available as Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Creative Arts Network Inc. (CAN), a nonprofit based in Fall River, Massachusetts, is expanding into Rhode Island with plans to launch new cultural initiatives, according to a community announcement.

The organization, known for its arts, culture and tourism programming, was recently approved to operate in the Ocean State. CAN is expected to focus on building partnerships and sponsoring creative projects in Rhode Island communities.

Our commitment to Fall River and our work there remain unchanged, but were really proud and excited about starting this parallel effort, Sandra Dennis, executive director, said in the announcement.

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Founded in 2014 and led by Sandra Dennis and David Dennis, CAN was the first organization in Fall River dedicated to arts, culture and tourism. It played a central role in establishing the Fall River Waterfront Cultural District and has managed the district since 2020, according to the announcement.

The group is known for hosting a wide range of events, including festivals, art exhibits, concerts, walking tours, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations and lectures. We try to offer events that are entertaining, engaging and different, Sandra Dennis said. We love weaving in unexpected elements, such as period costumes, and our attendees tell us they love them too.

CAN is especially focused on historical tourism and multicultural programming that gives artists a platform to showcase their work. Past events have included Breakfast at Tiffanys, a marketplace for artisan jewelry and crafts, and a reading of Frederick Douglasss anti-slavery speech that featured music, a film about the Underground Railroad and live portrayals of Civil War-era figures such as Elizabeth Buffum Chase.

The organization, formerly known as AHA Fall River, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. It has collaborated with partners including Bristol Community College, the City of Fall River, DCR Fall River Heritage State Park, Lafayette Durfee House, MassDOT, Mass Coastal Rail and People Inc., according to the announcement.

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In 2018, CAN launched The Hydrangea Project, a beautification initiative that has resulted in hundreds of plantings in downtown Fall River and along the citys waterfront.

CAN has always had a local focus and a regional strategy, and this expansion supports our long-term mission, David Dennis said in the announcement.

The couple splits their time between Fall River and Narragansett. Sandra Dennis said their time in southern Rhode Island has helped them build relationships that will support the groups new efforts.

To learn more about Creative Arts Network Inc., visit https://creativeartsnetworks.org.

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This story was created by David DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Creative Arts Network launches in Rhode Island
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio (WJW)  In the wake of the deadly ambush attack on three Lorain police officers, people across Northeast Ohio are continuing to show their support for the community.

On Sunday in North Ridgevilles Waterbury neighborhood, residents and the children of several local officers set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the families of the officers involved in the recent tragedy.

I-TEAM: Why were Lorain officers shot? Still not clear

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Lorain Officer Phillip Wagner was killed in the attack and was memorialized during a funeral at Rocket Arena last week.

Organizers of the lemonade stand said they want to show their support for the Lorain police in any way they can for Wagner and his injured brothers in blue, Officers Peter Gale and Brent Payne.

The group said all the funds raised on Sunday will go to the Lorain Charitable Donation and will be given out to the officers families.

Charles Berry Bridge stuck in upright position

They have also started a GoFundMe called Lemonade for Lorain for those who couldnt make it out to the weekend event.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
The fatal police shooting of a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois named Max has sparked widespread outrage in Santa Ana, with the dogs owner, Luce Vega, and community advocates demanding transparency, accountability, and policy reform from the Santa Ana Police Department.

According to Vega, officers shot Max four times and struck him with a baton after the dog exited the familys property during a police response to a domestic dispute at her home on Orange Avenue on July 30. Vega said Max had never shown signs of aggression and believes officers overreacted out of fear.

Max was very playful, Vega said. He loved kids  he would always be around them. He was hyper, happy, jumpy, and curious. He was never known to bite anyone or to be aggressive with anybody.

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Santa Ana police maintain that the officer involved was attacked by the dog and fired in self-defense. However, Vega disputes that claim, stating the officers misjudged Maxs behavior.

I feel like they probably felt threatened, Vega said. Maybe they got scared because my dog is a big dog. But they didnt give us a chance to put the dog inside  they just started shooting at him.

On the night of the incident, officers arrived and exited their vehicle as they responded to a reported domestic disturbance. A driveway gate at the home was left open, and security video reportedly shows Max running out toward the officers. Within seconds, shots were fired.

He just ran out, and they shot him, Vega said. They didnt wait or warn us. They didnt let us intervene.

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38 neglected dogs found in California home; felony charges filed

Santa Ana police have not released body camera footage. The department initially said the dog did not sustain life-threatening injuries and was expected to survive. However, the family says that was false  and that Max was clearly critically wounded.

After the first round of gunfire, Vega said Max fled across the street and hid under a car. He remained there until he heard her voice.

After he heard my voice, he came out and started running toward the corner, she recalled. Thats when they shot him again.

Santa Ana police have since told KTLA there was no second round of gunfire, but witnesses and Vega insist otherwise. At least one witness reportedly observed Max being struck with batons while he lay injured.

He was hurt and he was bleeding out  thats for sure, Vega said. They carried him with sticks like he wasnt even alive.

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Vega said officers threatened to use a taser on her when she tried to approach Max. Bystanders were also allegedly told to stop recording video and return to their homes.

Police transported Max from the scene and took him to Irvine Veterinary Hospital. However, Vega said she wasnt told where her dog had been taken and spent hours calling emergency clinics before locating him at approximately 12:06 a.m., more than three hours after the initial shooting.

When she arrived, she was told Max had been brought in with gunshot wounds, and that the officer claimed the dog was in stable condition.

That was a lie, Vega said. If he did survive, he was going to have his front leg amputated. They told us later he would likely lose both legs.

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Vega and her partner, Mario, were not permitted to see Max until the following afternoon  nearly 14 hours later. By then, veterinary staff said the extent of his injuries made euthanasia the most humane option. Devastated, they made the decision to put him down.

He was only three years old, Vega said. He had a whole life ahead of him. Thats my dog  hes part of the family. Why did they have to do that?

Popular L.A. brunch spot forced to close after sudden fire

Vega now wants a formal investigation and for Santa Ana PD to reevaluate its use-of-force protocols involving animals.

I want them to take accountability for what theyve done, she said. They didnt have to shoot that many times. If there is justice for a dog who is a cop, why cant there be justice for our dogs?

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Julie Capacete, a family friend helping Vega collect witness statements, called the departments response disproportionate.

I understand why they reacted the first time, Capacete said. But as soon as the dog started fleeing  you know he was trying to get away from the people trying to harm him.

She added, The second shot wasnt necessary. The dog was already trying to flee in the opposite direction. He was just trying to get back to his owner.

What they did was excessive force  something that was so unnecessary, Capacete said. It was completely avoidable. We just want justice for him.

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The family has contacted PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which is now reviewing the case. The hashtag #JusticeForMax has been circulating online as supporters press for independent oversight and departmental reform.

Santa Ana police have not issued a follow-up statement and have not responded to additional requests for comment.

This article includes reporting by Sara Welch.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Company reported a 5% year-on-year decline in global sales to 262,133 vehicles in June 2025, including Nissan and Infiniti-branded models, with domestic and overseas volumes both weaker. Sales in Japan dropped by 3.7% to 35,035 units last month, while overseas deliveries declined by 5.1% to 227,098 units.

In the first six months of 2025, Nissans global sales fell by 5.7% to 1,613,797 units from 1,711,705 in the same period last year, with sales in Japan falling by over 10% to 220,420 units, while overseas sales declined by almost 5% to 1,393,377 units.

China was the worst-performing major overseas market for Nissan so far this year, with sales plunging by almost 18% to 279,471 units, while sales in Europe fell by 4.1% to 187,832 units. Deliveries in North America rose by 1.6% to 678,393 units, including a slight decline in US sales to 488,526 units, which was offset by a 5% rise in sales in Mexico to 128,763 units and an almost 10% rise in sales in Canada to 60,306 units. Sales in other markets combined fell by almost 6% to 247,681 units.

In terms of production, global volumes dropped by almost 11% to 1,439,040 units in the first half of 2025, with output in Japan falling by over 11% to 291,773 units, while overseas volumes dropped by just under 11% to 1,147,267 units  driven lower by a 21% plunge in Chinese output to 267,796 units and a 15% decline in US output to 244,541 units, while production in Mexico was slightly higher at 341,530 units. UK production fell by 19% to 108,541 units.

Exports from Japan declined by 18% to 158,859 units year-to-date, with shipments to North America falling by 34% to 65,735 units and exports to Europe plunging by over 37% to 17,151 units, while exports to other markets increased by 14.5% to 75,973 units.

"Nissans global vehicle sales fall by 5% in June" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




A 29-year-old father of three was one of two people killed in a shooting outside a party in downtown L.A. that left another six people hurt early Monday morning.

Family members who spoke with KTLA identified one of the decedents as Gregory Derisso. His father said he was alerted to the shooting by a phone call from a friend who had bad news for him.

His friends mom called me, and I answered the phone and she told me [she had] bad news, Judner Derisso told KTLA. She went quiet[and said] her son told her that my son was shot.

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Police said Derisso was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gregory Derisso as seen in a family photo.

The other person who died in the shooting was pronounced dead at a hospital. She was only identified as a 52-year-old woman.

Most, if not all, of the six people who were injured were taken by ambulance or self-transported to California Hospital Medical Center. A crowd of people gathered outside the hospital shortly after some of the victims were said to have arrived there.

Man hospitalized after being set on fire in downtown Los Angeles

The injured were identified as five men aged 26, 28, 34, 37 and 62; a 28-year-old woman was also hurt, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

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There was no information on a suspect or suspects connected to the fatal shooting.

In a statement posted to social media  which included a link to the KTLA article on the shooting  Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass offered her condolences to the victims families.

This senseless violence and loss of life is devastating and those who are responsible must be held accountable. There will be no tolerance for violence in this city. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I want to thank all first responders. Law enforcement is investigating this incident and working to get to the bottom of exactly what happened and prevent any future violence. Gang interventionists are providing support for families and continuing the everyday work of keeping our neighborhoods safe. We will continue to work together to keep L.A. safe.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
More than a year before the Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack, Britains Royal Navy gave the world a preview of the future of warfare when carrier-based torpedo-bombers launched a surprise attack on the Italian navy, damaging and destroying several vessels.

Now, Ukraine and Israel have both shown that small drones launched from behind enemy lines have the potential to devastate an adversarys most valuable weapons systems.

The Pentagon recently announced a series of new initiatives that are meant to catapult the U.S. military into the forefront of small drone warfare. But the Defense Department, to put it mildly, has a very long way to go.

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Currently, the U.S. military is nowhere near Ukraines ability to mass produce and use small drones, but the comparison is a bit unfair, a former defense official told Task & Purpose.

Both Ukraine and Israel face an existential threat, the official said, adding that Nothing focuses the mind like the prospect of being killed. You pick any tool that is handy, and you use it. And if it doesnt work, you throw it away and dont worry about how much it cost.

Recent changes announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about how the U.S. military acquires and fields small drones could be a step forward in how the American defense industry produces drones at the scale that Ukraine is.

Top Stories This Week

News The Marine Corps is looking for volunteers to leave the service early The Marine Corps is looking for volunteers to leave the service early By Patty Nieberg News South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves By Patty Nieberg Tech & Tactics Brutality over precision  What the Army is learning from Russia in Ukraine Brutality over precision  What the Army is learning from Russia in Ukraine By Kyle Gunn

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In a July 10 memo, Hegseth called for every squad to have low-cost, expendable drones by the end of 2026, with priority going to equipping combat units in the Indo-Pacific region. In a major change, Hegseh wrote that small drones resemble munitions more than high-end airplanes, so they should be categorized as consumables.

In other words, troops can treat small drones as munitions instead of aircraft, and that will allow the U.S. military to buy many more of them, said Caitlin Lee, of the RAND Corporation.

I think this move to treat small drones like munitions is a recognition of the fact that we dont need four FAA flight restrictions on these small drones, Lee said. We dont need triple redundancy on their software or hardware. Theyre unmanned, so lets not get wrapped around the axle with the regulation. The line between a drone, a loitering munition, and a missile is just getting blurrier and blurrier, and I think this is a recognition of that.https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9132867/drone-grenade-drop-gta

A soldier operates a small drone before a M67 grenade drop in the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, June 25, 2025. Army photo by Sgt. Collin Mackall.

In a future war, small drones would give the U.S. allies and partners to blunt an invasion, buying time for the American military to bring its more advanced weapons systems to bear, Lee explained.

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The Army has already been implementing some battlefield lessons about small drones at its training centers in recent years, said retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe. The training center at Hohenfels, Germany, for example, has pitted soldiers against an opposing force equipped with drones since 2016, based on lessons from Russias initial invasion of Ukraine two years earlier, he said.

When you really want to make change happen in the Army, you do it at the training center, because everybody wants to beat the hated OPFOR, Hodges said. And so, if the OPFOR has drones  and they do  then you have to get good at countering that and using drones on your own.

The question now is whether the U.S. military can produce and field small drones quickly enough to adapt to new battlefield realities, or whether it will be unprepared by an enemy that is much further ahead in realizing the potential of small drone attacks. Task & Purposes video producer, Kyle Gunn, discusses this issue in depth on our YouTube channel. You can watch that video here.
Nigel Farage has called on the police to release the immigration status of suspects charged with crimes following the arrest of two men in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire.

The Reform UK party leader said he "absolutely" thinks such details should be released when asked about the matter at a news conference on Monday.

It has been reported that the two men charged in connection with the alleged rape in Nuneaton last month are Afghan nationals but the police have not confirmed this.

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Warwickshire Police said once someone is charged with an offence, the force follows national guidance that does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.

The authorised professional practice followed by forces across the country, and cited by the College of Policing, says the same.

Asked by a reporter at the news conference in Westminster whether police should release the names, addresses and immigration statuses of suspects after they have been charged with a crime, Farage said: "What caused unrest on our streets after Southport last year was us not being told the status of the attacker.

"That led to crazy conspiracy theories spreading online."

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Last year's deadly attack in Southport, in which three young girls were murdered, led to the spreading of a false claim online that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker.

Linking a perceived lack of information from police about Nuneaton to what happened in Southport last July, Farage continued: "To have masses of speculation as to what might have happened makes things I think far worse than they otherwise would be".

Asked to clarify his thoughts further on whether he thought police forces should be obliged to publish such details, he said: "Yes, I absolutely think that they should."

Later in the news conference, Farage called the police's decision not to release details about the alleged Nuneaton attackers a "cover-up that in many ways is reminiscent of what happened after the Southport killings last year."

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"It is not... in any way at all a contempt of court for the British public to know the identity of those who allegedly have committed serious crimes," he added.

"I felt that in the wake of the Southport attacks, and I feel that ever more strongly today."

Ahmad Mulakhil has been charged with two counts of rape, while Mohammad Kabir has been accused of kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting the rape of a girl aged under 13.

Mr Mulakhil, 23, appeared before magistrates in Coventry on 28 July, while Mr Kabir, also 23, appeared in court on Saturday.

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Both were remanded in custody.

Leader of Warwickshire County Council George Finch told the same news conference on Monday morning that he was "begging" for information to be released following the charges.

Finch, who at 19 became the youngest council leader in the UK and represents Reform UK, said he had contacted the chief executive of the council, Monica Fogarty, saying he wished to speak to Warwickshire Police "to urge" them to release the immigration status about the first man charged.

"I was begging for this to be released, screaming, phoning, asking [for the information] to be released", he said.

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Following the charging of the second suspect, Finch said he wrote a letter addressed to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Warwickshire Police's Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith calling for the immediate release of the two suspects' details.

Finch published the letter on his social media accounts on Sunday, in which he said Ms Fogarty had told him that Mr Kabir was an asylum seeker living in a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).

Speaking on Monday, Finch said he would be working to "fight against" houses of multiple occupancy that "have been put up to house illegal immigrants".

He also claimed Reform UK needed to "change things" and are "the last line of defence against the blob, the cover-ups of the councils".

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When asked if police should release the ethnicity of people charged with offences, the prime minister's official spokesman said the police and courts were operationally independent but the principle was to be "as transparent as possible".

"We've always said and continue to say that transparency is important," he said.

"That is our position. For police up to central government, we should always be as transparent as possible when it comes to cases."

He added: "This is clearly a deeply upsetting and distressing case which the public are right to feel shocked and angry about.

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"In relation to this case, the individuals have been charged and we are now in a live investigation."

In a statement, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: "It is essential to state that policing decisions - such as whether to release details about a suspect - must follow national guidance and legal requirements."

He added that he would not speculate on the personal circumstances of those involved while court proceedings were active.

The BBC has contacted Warwickshire County Council for comment.
CEDAR POINT, N.C. (WNCT)  National Farmers Market Week honors the thousands of markets across the country and in North Carolina that help local communities.

According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, the week spotlights the important role farmers markets play in supporting local agriculture, boosting rural economies, strengthening communities and expanding access to fresh food.

In Cedar Point, Mary Miller and her husband started their market nearly eight years ago as a way for the community to connect with farmers. They expanded to include craft vendors during the pandemic in 2020.

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I think its special in the fact that we provide a space for small local businesses, farmers, bakers, artists, crafters, makers, a place to come and make a living, Miller said. It is so important that most of these people arent here need this to actually make ends meet.

They now run a farmers market ever Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. year-round and often get up to 60 vendors at a time.

It gives our community a place to come and feel safe with their children, with their fur babies and it gives them a sense of community where they can come out and see their neighbors or see their friends, sit and listen to music, shop the vendors and make a day of it, Miller said.

Check out their social media for more information 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 WNCT.
Tumultuous weather in Parana and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, could wreck the country's wheat production this year, and it has sent farmers scrambling for solutions.

What happened?

In some parts of Brazil, excess rainfall and floods are forcing farmers to delay their wheat planting this season, according to a report by Valor International.

This will affect the harvest and could lead to lower output than usual. In other regions, early frosts are also threatening the crop quality.

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Brazil's initial wheat production forecast was up 7.4% from last year, but due to this severe weather, it's unlikely that those targets will be met.

"Fields in poor condition cover more than 50,000 hectares and are expected to produce well below the initial forecast at harvest," Parana's Department of Rural Economics said, per Valor International.

Why is it concerning?

The rapid heating of the planet  in part due to human-caused pollution  is severely impacting crops around the world, which affects the farmers whose livelihoods depend on them and the food supply for all of us.

Ruined crops and shorter harvest seasons lead to more expensive groceries on a local scale, and disrupt ecosystems and food chains on a global scale.

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Cherry farmers in California are dealing with the same struggles, as excessive heat decimated the state's cherry trees last year and cut production nearly in half. An early monsoon season in India also caused more fruit fly infestations that damaged mango plants.

What's being done about it?

Farmers in Brazil who have been impacted by the weather are now rushing to repair their fields and plant quickly to catch up to the average pace.

"The crop is in good shape, but it would be better without so much rain," said Fauro Rocha, a farmer in Rio Grande do Sul, per Valor International. "The rainfall was intense and really delayed our ability to get machinery into the fields."

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.

Meanwhile, reducing the production of planet-warming gases is essential to avoid exacerbating extreme weather conditions that destroy crops.

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Installing solar panels, swapping a gas-guzzling car for an electric vehicle, and eating more plant-based meals are among the changes we can make to encourage a cooler, cleaner planet.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The grand opening of Farrens at The Inman will be temporarily delayed after last-minute equipment malfunctions, the owners announced.

Previously, the restaurant planned to open its new location at the historic Inman building on Monday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m.

Stephens Family YMCA adding new 24-hour gym in Champaign

But, during final preparations for the move, a critical piece of kitchen equipment experienced an unexpected failure. Out of an abundance of caution, the team decided to pause the opening until they are sure the space is fully operational.

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We know the community is just as excited as we are to open our doors, owner Carolyn Farren said. This delay is frustrating, but our top priority is safety and ensuring everything is working exactly as it should when we welcome you in. Were incredibly grateful for everyones patience and support as we work through these final steps.

Once repairs and inspections are completed, the restaurant will announce a new opening date.

Farrens Pub and Eatery announced that it planned to relocate to the historic Inman building, located at 17 East University Avenue, back in February.

Farrens at The Inman plans to open its doors with its current menu and lunch and dinner service. Eventually, breakfast and cafe service will follow. The owners are also planning to include a weekday light buffet breakfast, weekend brunch and a lunch buffet option in the future.

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This is still Farrens  it just fits us better, Farren said in a news release. Weve grown alongside our community, and this new space gives us room to do what we love  offering good food, good drinks, and a place you want to come back to.

Sunflowers at Clearview Farm in Champaign on display; hosting celebration event

For the first few weeks, Farrens kitchen will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There will also be a late-night menu available until 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Once its up and running, the cafe will open daily at 7:30 a.m., followed by lunch and dinner service from 11:00 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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The Inman was built in 1915, and was restored by Royse + Brinkmeyer as a modern apartment hotel. Farrens will also provide room service for guests staying upstairs.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
UPDATE: This article has been updated to correct the location of the rockslide.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, Tenn. (WATE)  Over the weekend, a dangerous rockslide wiped out part of Newfound Gap Road in the Great Smoky Mountains. 6 News found out how a brave father and son stepped in that night, making sure no one got hurt.

The Tennessee side of Newfound Gap Road is still closed due to a rockslide that happened late on Friday, shortly after Seth Shuler came across the damage and quickly jumped into action. He was heading home to North Carolina after a fly-fishing trip when he passed mile marker 12 and noticed something wasnt right.

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I come around the corner right there because its a right bearing corner, explained Seth. Come around the corner and notice the whole shoulder was gone. Theres no grass, no trees, no nothing thats actually supposed to be there. Its just a hole, a total darkness. So, I kept going. I noticed the road had kind of started to slide off at that point, but I wasnt sure if its for sure what I had saw.

Bearden embraces question mark heading into 2025-26 season

He then called his dad, Eugene Schuler, owner of Fly Fishing the Smokies, for backup. He brought him to the location, and sure enough, the road had structural damage. They decided it was best to alert a park ranger. But, with the darkness and traffic still coming, the father-son duo took matters into their own hands, directing vehicles for nearly an hour and a half until help arrived.



We own a fly-fishing outfitter, and were authorized park concessioners. So, we kind of try to be good stewards of the national park. And you just dont want to see somebody get hurt or somebody get killed up there in the park, too and just trying to help, I mean, it was the right thing to do, said Eugene.



They used flashlights and cell phone lights to stop traffic and warn drivers. Other community members even joined in, turning on their hazard lights to help slow cars down.

Cosby Volunteer Fire Department holds first ever Summer Festival fundraiser event

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Just dont get complacent when youre driving, added Eugene. Thats a big thing people do is get distracted or get complacent, especially at night somewhere like this in the park. I mean its really, really dark out there. Theres no streetlights. Theres nothing but your headlights or the oncoming traffic coming towards you. Just kind of just be vigilant, just kind of dont go too fast for the conditions, that type of thing. Just pay attention.

Eventually Park Rangers took control of the situation. Travelers are now advised to take an alternative route, follow signage and not enter any closed areas.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
A screen capture shows Fayette County School Board Chair Warner Speakman gesturing to a Sheriff's deputy in the doorway as Lamar Hobson speaks during public comment at a school board meeting on April 9, 2025. (Fayette County Public Schools)

At a Fayette County School Board meeting in April, Lamar Hobson decided hed had enough.

He had unanswered questions about the school systems proposed budget, which was being put together without the involvement of a finance director. The district has been without one for several months.

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Before he could start speaking during public comment, Board Chair Warner Speakman cut him off. Im gonna ask you. Are you from this county?  Do you vote here?

You go up to the courthouse and check. Im on the register, Hobson, a 1981 graduate of Fayette-Ware High School, said before turning to Board Member Becky Trimm. I sent you an email this morning. Im in your district. You aint never spoke to me. Not one time.

Speakman waved a Sheriffs deputy toward the front of the room as Hobson turned to address a cheering audience.

The board shows that they are not for us  Theyre supposed to be representing us  the people  not a certain  hidden agenda, Hobson shouted.

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Speakman banged the gavel.

Tension has been palpable between the crowd and the school board this year, though Speakman told Tennessee Lookout that there has been no friction after he read aloud a letter from the Sheriffs Office concerning rules for crowd decorum at a June meeting.

This atmosphere comes as the board continues to push toward dissolving the consent decree that has held the school system accountable to the federal government for integrating public schools since 1965. The order was put in place after the government found that Fayette County failed to appropriately desegregate its schools.

Charles Watkins, Sr.  husband of Civil Miller-Watkins, a former Fayette County School Board member and middle school math teacher  speaks at a Fayette County School Board meeting on June 5, 2025 as audience members continue to trickle into West Junior High School. (Photo: Cassandra Stephenson)

By 2023, the school system had worked to eliminate discrimination in staffing, facilities, transportation and extracurricular activities, according to an order from U.S. District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson.

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In recognition of the districts progress, Anderson approved a new consent decree in October 2023 that restricts desegregation obligations to a few remaining areas. This order requires the district to improve its efforts to recruit and retain diverse faculty, revise discipline policies to prevent racial discrimination and better identify and serve students through gifted programs and dual-enrollment classes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

It also requires the district to hold parent information and listening sessions multiple times each year and listen and respond to questions, comments and concerns.

Repeated comments from Hobson and other community members who attend school board meetings indicate a lack of trust in the school boards decision-making processes and consideration of public feedback.

The majority of attendees at many of the boards meetings are Black, mirroring the demographics of the school system itself. Nearly 55% of the school systems 3,283 students in the 2020-2021 school year were Black, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Educations Civil Rights Data Collection Office.

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Six of the eight sitting school board members are white.

Continued scrutiny over minority representation

In February, the board voted to declare unitary status, asserting that federal monitoring is no longer necessary and the school systems difficulties with representation are in the past. For that decision to take effect, either the plaintiffs  including the NAACPs Legal Defense Fund  would have to agree that the district implemented the order in good faith, or the court would need to schedule an evidentiary hearing to determine the districts compliance.

Fayette County School District has continued to file the required reports so its progress toward a unitary system can be monitored, court records show. The district has not filed a motion for declaration of full unitary status and case dismissal.

In multiple social media posts, Speakman states that ending the ongoing desegregation case is among his top priorities. He said the case and its requirements are costing the district money that could be better used elsewhere.

Some community members responded to the school boards vote with apprehension that removing federal accountability could lead to a backslide in progress.

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Fayette County has continued to fall under scrutiny for issues of discrimination in recent years. The U.S. Department of Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund separately sued the county earlier this year over its 2021 electoral map, which the lawsuits said illegally diluted the power of Black voters to elect candidates of their choice.

Both of the lawsuits were voluntarily dismissed after the county commission approved a new electoral map with three majority-Black, single-member districts in late June. The new map will be used in the 2026 election cycle.

Sitting school board member David Reeves drafted a letter to U.S. Rep. David Kustoff in April, asking the Memphis Republican to (engage) the Department of Justice to help Fayette County Public Schools end the consent decree.

Tennessee Lookout obtained the letter through a public records request that was initially denied by the boards legal counsel. The letter was never shared with the public despite being reviewed by at least one other board member.

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Letter to Congress

Using Fayette County Public Schools letterhead, Reeves wrote that the district has made significant progress in the decades since the case began.

The ongoing legal oversight poses a considerable obstacle to our mission, Reeves wrote. The constraints imposed by the case restrict our operational flexibility, limiting our ability to make decisions best suited to the current needs of our community.

Reeves signed the letter using his school board title. Legal counsel stated that Reeves was not authorized to write the letter as a representative of the school board and acted without the boards permission.

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Its not clear if Reeves sent the letter. Reeves did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Representatives for Kustoff did not respond to questions about the letter.

They shut (discussion) down

Latoya Parker, who describes herself as a teachers advocate, started attending school board meetings in person in May. Like Hobson, she described the boards function as a hidden agenda.

She said the board votes on big items  like the budget, which was ultimately approved this summer  without much discussion at the full board meeting.

When something is going to have to come out, they shut (discussion) down, Parker said.

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Multiple public speakers over the course of several meetings said board members failed to respond to or acknowledge emails from constituents.

Tennessee Lookout reached out to the eight sitting board members via email. Kevin Powers, a former Fayette County commissioner who was appointed by the County Commission to fill a vacancy on the board in May, declined to comment, citing his short time in the seat. Speakman also responded, referencing the Sheriffs Office letter and declining to comment further. The remaining six members did not respond.

Fayette County Sheriffs Office

School board members have made some steps toward building a relationship with the community.

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Parker said the boards responses to public comment at a meeting on June 5 were markedly different from the norm. Board members said they had taken down a list of questions voiced by speakers during public comment. One board member suggested the board review rules of order to improve how meetings are run. The suggestion drew applause from the audience.

NAACP Fayette-Somerville Branch President Elton Holmes frequently attends and speaks at meetings. In early July, he entreated the board and newly selected Superintendent Don McPherson to create a policy for answering questions from community members.

The only way were going to be able to work together is were gonna have to communicate, Holmes said at a July 2 meeting. By giving the answers to the questions  it probably will cut down on some of the animosity that the constituents have right now for the school board.

At a committee meeting on July 22, Powers said he is fully in favor of creating a policy regarding addressing public comments.

Theres nothing worse than putting up your thoughts about something and then having it look like, eh, we dont care whats going on. We do, he said, asking community members to email all board members their ideas for such a policy.

Speakman echoed Powers as he closed the meeting.

Anything that you have that youd like to see, just let us know, Speakman said.

Hobson said he keeps speaking at meetings because he feels the board isnt listening.

Somebody has to step up and put a voice out there and let the people in the community know that youve got a voice, he said. All you got to do is come together  and protest this. This is not right.

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(WHTM)  The FBI is warning Pennsylvania international college students of a recent rise in government impersonation scams.

The FBI Philadelphia Field Office is advising international student communities in Pennsylvania of a scam in which criminal actors impersonate Chinese police officers to defraud the U.S.-based Chinese community, in particular Chinese students attending Pennsylvania colleges.

The office says in the scam, criminal actors tell victims they are under investigation for an alleged financial crime in China and need to pay to avoid arrest.

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According to the FBI Office, the criminal actors inform victims that their personally identifiable information is linked to either a subject or a victim of a financial fraud investigation, then transfer the call to a criminal actor posing as a Chinese police officer who gives details on the alleged crime. The office says the actors typically pressure victims to consent to 24/7 video and audio surveillance due to the sensitivity of the investigation and wire a large sum of money to a Chinese bank account or return to China to face trial.

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We are actively engaging with the public, academic institutions, and our law enforcement partners to identify and support those impacted by this scheme, said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Field Office. These scams inflict more than just financial harmmany victims endure lasting emotional and psychological distress. If you or someone you know has been affected, we urge you to contact our office. Every day, we remain committed to holding these criminals accountable, delivering justice for the victims, and connecting those harmed with the resources they need to recover.

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The FBI Philadelphia Field Office says victims or attempted victims of this type of scheme should report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or your local FBI field office. In addition, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office recommends taking the following actions:

Report the activity to the payment service provider used for the financial transaction.

Contact your financial institution immediately to stop or reverse the transaction. Ask the financial institution to contact the corresponding financial institution where the funds were sent.

Report activity to your campus security or public safety office to elevate awareness within the student population.

Submit an online report to the FBI at www.ic3.gov.

The FBI Philadelphia Field Office can be reached at 215-418-4000.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Housing affordability in the U.S. remains at crisis levels due to a combination of stubbornly high mortgage rates and home prices. Even if mortgage rates dropped substantially, the core problem is persistently high prices, particularly in major metro areas. Affordable inventory remains tight as current homeowners hold onto low-rate mortgages.

There are several factors affecting housing affordability in the U.S.and stubbornly high mortgage rates are something felt across the country.

During the pandemic, buyers enjoyed sub-3% mortgage rates, which ushered in a wave of first-time homeowners. But by late 2023, mortgage rates had peaked at 8%, and today still remain near 6.5% to 7%. Thatin combination with home prices that are more than 50% higher than 2020has locked out new home buyers from entering the market and current homeowners from selling.

Zillow reported this week it would take mortgage rates dropping to about 4.43% to make an average home affordable for a typical buyer. But Zillow economic analyst Anushna Prakash said this was unrealistic considering the massive dip required to get there.

But even if mortgage rates dropped to 0%, Prakash said, an average home would remain unaffordable in some major metro areas, according to Zillow.

Those include:

New York

Los Angeles

Miami

San Francisco

San Diego

San Jose

Thats because high home prices are the bigger hurdle, Michelle Griffith, a luxury real-estate broker with Douglas Elliman based in New York City, told Fortune.

The reality is that buying into the market especially in Manhattan or prime Brooklyn still requires a significant amount of cash upfront, Griffith said. Inventory is tight and competition is high, so the cost of the property itself is what keeps most buyers on the sidelines.

Between May 2020 and May 2025, the Case-Shiller Home Price Index, which is widely used to measure U.S. residential real estate prices, jumped more than 51%.

While mortgage rates certainly make monthly payments more expensive, Griffith said, affordability is more about the overall price tag.

Buyers care about rates, of course, but what really matters is having enough for the down payment and closing costs, she added. A small shift in rates doesnt suddenly make that million-dollar apartment feel attainable.

Another issue contributing to the housing crisis is a lack of lower-priced inventory. Salim Chraibi, founder and CEO of homebuilding company Bluenest Development, told Fortune he sees pre-approved and motivated buyers in Miami, but there just arent enough homes available in their price range. Chraibis company focuses on building homes for lower- and middle-income families.
Aug. 4 (UPI) -- FBI officials in Philadelphia on Monday issued an advisory warning international college students about a scam that involves foreign impersonators. They advised potential victims to report it.

Officials at the Philadelphia office of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation say that college and university students studying abroad in the United States -- particularly Chinese citizens -- are at risk of an ongoing scheme that involves a foreign government impersonator.

"We are actively engaging with the public, academic institutions, and our law enforcement partners to identify and support those impacted by this scheme," Wayne Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Field Office, said in a statement.

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According to FBI officials, since 2022 the Philadelphia office has seen an uptick in criminal activity with actors attempting to make a victim believe they are a Chinese police officer in order to defraud them.

A scammer will tell a victim they are under investigation for an alleged financial crime in China and will need to pay in order to to avoid arrest.

The typically four-phase scam will see a fraudster call from what appears to be a legitimate phone number associated with a mobile telephone service provider. They will inform a victim their private information had been "linked to either a subject or a victim of a financial fraud investigation," officials say.

They added that a criminal actor will involve another person who acts as a provincial Chinese police officer and will seek to apply further pressure in attempts to get a potential victim to "return to China to face trial or threaten them with arrest."

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"Criminal actors direct victims to consent to 24/7 video and audio monitoring due to the alleged sensitivity of the investigation and/or to demonstrate the victims' innocence," the FBI's Philadelphia field office stated Monday.

"Victims are instructed not to discuss the details of the case, not to conduct Internet searches, and to report all their daily activities," it added.

The bureau gave a similar notice last year about China-based imposters seeking to extort money from victims.

Other scams in the past also have affected Chinese victims. In 2019, the Chinese mother of a Stanford University student expelled in the college admissions scandal said she was duped into paying over $6 million in the belief the money was for college-related costs.

Jacobs, the FBI's Philadelphia field office chief, says the scams "inflict more than just financial harm." He said many victims "endure lasting emotional and psychological distress."
(NewsNation)  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has escalated a recent nationwide recall of 64,800 pounds of butter to a higher risk level.

The risk classification for one of Bunge North America Inc.s butter products was raised to Class II, which is the second highest warning level, due to an ingredient not listed on the food packaging: milk.

Milk is one of nine major food allergens, according to U.S. food safety laws, along with eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame seeds. According to the FDA, manufacturers are required to declare the name of the food source of a major food allergen.

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The FDA did not say whether anyone had been adversely affected in connection with the recall.

Sams Club freeze dried fruit recalled over possible Listeria contamination

In a July 14 report, the FDA said more than 1,800 cases of the NH European Style Butter Blend were distributed at 12 centers across the U.S. and one in the Dominican Republic. The lot code number for the butter is 5064036503.

According to the FDAs website, a Class II recall indicates a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

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Nexstars NewsNation has reached out to Bunge North America for comment.

Bunge North America Inc., based in Chesterfield, Missouri, is an agribusiness and food ingredient company that also produces corn, wheat, rice, soybeans and feed peas, among other items.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A protester holds a sign in support of funding for public media during a May 1, 2025, rally at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka as part of a 50501 national day of action. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Millions of dollars in federal budget cuts to public media have been finalized by President Donald Trump, but state lawmakers in Ohio also made budget cuts in funds mean for public broadcasting, including services for the blind.

Trump signed away $9 billion in previously approved spending on July 24, which included more than $1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the next two fiscal years. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting distributes federal funds to public media stations including NPR and PBS affiliates in Ohio.

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The U.S. House cleared the legislation on a mostly party-line vote, with only one Ohio Republican, Rep. Mike Turner, voting against the measure. All House Democrats voted against it.

But lesser known cuts were made in the state budget, via earmarks in the Broadcast Educational Media Commission.

The commission is a independent state agency that has been around for 60 years. The mission statement for the commission says it seeks to support and fund public television and radio services, including delivering educational programming and broadcasting solutions statewide.

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The commission seeks to expand the knowledge of Ohios citizens through promotion of educational broadcasting products, funding of the states broadcast affiliates and organizations, and collaboration with stakeholders and advocates of technology-driven education, according to the states official website on the commission.

The site states the commission provides financial assistance and technical services to eight public TV stations, 15 public radio stations, and six radio reading services for the blind.

Those receiving operating subsidies distributed through the commission include The Ohio Channel, which provides recorded and livestream access to government press conferences and meetings, including Ohio General Assembly hearings and sessions.

In total, the state budgeted $10.6 million each to the commission in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

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The newest state budget, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine at the end of June, reduces the commissions budget by 3% in 2026 and 5% in 2027. While it still includes support for The Ohio Channel and Ohios Statehouse News Bureau, among others, earmarks for specific resources have been cut.

DeWines budget proposed up to $965,000 in each fiscal year to be distributed equally among Ohios educational television stations for the production of interactive instructional programming, with priority given to resources aligned with state academic content standards, according to budget documents.

But the final budget included Ohio Senate-introduced changes, providing more than $120,000 less than the governors proposal in fiscal year 2026, and more than $240,000 less in 2027.

More funding intended to support public educational television and radio operations was cut from DeWines proposed $2.65 million in each fiscal year, to $2.3 million in 2026 and $1.9 million in 2027.

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A third line item under the Broadcast Educational Media Commissions budget is specifically intended for radio reading services for the blind. While DeWines budget set the earmark at up to $294,000 each for the next two years, the legislature ended up cutting that appropriation by more than $37,000 in 2026 and more than $75,000 in 2027.

Outlets in the state are now preparing to lose their shares of the federal funding, with many worried about smaller local stations who serve as the only news outlets for certain areas, and as emergency alert stations as well.

Luke Dennis, general manager of WYSO in Yellow Springs, told the Capital Journal earlier this month that public media is, in many places, the only media, and for those without internet access or the ability to afford it, public media can mean the only source of needed information.

Theres a very well-established infrastructure for emergency alerts that are made possible through public media, Dennis said as the federal funding cuts were still being discussed.

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WYSO could be looking at about $300,000 in cuts on the federal side, and that may mean a new budget plan. Dennis said that back up plan for funding comes at a time when the station is newly independent, and working on a lean and mean budget.

Ideastream, which partners with the state to provide The Ohio Channels services, said in June they may have to look at consolidation because of the cuts.

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The entrance to the Office of Personnel Management headquarters in a 2015 file photo. OPM recently issued new, looser rules on observance of religion in federal workplaces. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

By Drew Friedman

Federal employees may start seeing and hearing more about religion in the workplace, following new guidance from the Trump administration.

All federal employees must be allowed to express their religion at work, the Office of Personnel Management told agencies in a memo last week  as long as it doesnt interfere with business operations.

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Park rangers, for instance, can join a group in prayer when leading a national park tour. And doctors working at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital can pray over patients for their recovery, OPM explained. Security guards are also allowed to display religious items at the front desk of a federal office building.

And as long as it doesnt rise to the level of harassment, OPM said federal employees are also allowed to try to persuade their coworkers of the correctness of their own religious views.

During a break, an employee may engage another in polite discussion of why his faith is correct and why the non-adherent should re-think his religious beliefs, OPM said. However, if the non-adherent requests such attempts to stop, the employee should honor the request.

OPM Director Scott Kupor said in the memo that agencies should robustly protect and enforce federal employees religious expressions in the workplace to the greatest extent possible.

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Federal employees should never have to choose between their faith and their career, Kupor said. This guidance ensures the federal workplace is not just compliant with the law but welcoming to Americans of all faiths. Under President Trumps leadership, we are restoring constitutional freedoms and making government a place where people of faith are respected, not sidelined.

OPM clarified that agencies cannot punish federal employees for expressing their religious beliefs at the office  for instance, by having religious items displayed on their desks, wearing clothing or jewelry with religious symbols, or discussing religion with coworkers. Federal employees can also display upcoming religious events on communal bulletin boards in the workplace.

Federal supervisors and non-supervisors should also be treated the same when it comes to the ability to freely express their religion, according to OPMs new guidance. If an employee is unwilling to engage in religious conversations with a supervisor, however, OPM said that the employee cannot be disciplined for it.

Jim Eisenmann, a federal employment attorney and partner at Alden Law Group, said affording more flexibility to federal supervisors in their religious expressions may still lead to some blurred lines in the workplace.

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Supervisors are in a special position in the federal workforce. They hold power and control over employees, employee assignments and employee performance appraisals, Eisenmann said. In the past, supervisors had to be very discerning and careful about having any discussions about religion or having religious displays in their offices. They were discouraged from doing that because people could perceive it a certain way, and it could lead to complaints of religious discrimination.

Under the new guidance, agencies also have to let federal employees privately engage in religious expressions in the workplace. But agencies can still limit the amount of time and determine the places that federal employees are allowed to do so, OPM said.

Federal employees are allowed to engage in religious expressions in groups as well  as long as those expressions dont happen during on-duty time, OPM said. For instance, OPM explained that if an employee asks a supervisor to shut down a coworkers gathering for prayer in an empty conference room, the supervisor should politely say that the coworkers gathering is allowed, and that it can continue.

The guidance for on-duty time, however, may also lead to some confusion about when employees are or arent technically working, and when they are allowed to express their religion, Eisenmann said.

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The vast majority of federal employees are not punching a clock, so its not going to be clear, Eisenmann said. If I knock on my boss office door and ask to chat, and theyre just reading the Bible, do I know theyre on a break? To me, the distinction can be lost.

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OPMs guidance comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February, calling for the eradication of anti-Christian bias. Trumps order established a new task force responsible, in part, for reviewing agencies activities to identify and eliminate any anti-Christian policies, practices or conduct, the White House said in a Feb. 6 fact sheet.

The VA, for one, launched a task force in April to investigate instances of anti-Christian bias  in particular, seeking cases where employees believed they were denied promotions for religious reasons, or faced retaliation for seeking a religious exemption to vaccine mandates.

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The new guidance aligns with the unanimous June 2023 Supreme Court decision in Groff v. DeJoy, which determined that all employers, including federal agencies, must grant religious accommodations to employees, unless doing so would create an undue hardship to business operations. The courts decision made it harder for employers in and out of government to deny religious accommodations in the workplace.

OPM additionally referenced protections of religious freedom for individuals, including federal employees, afforded under Title VII and the Constitution.

The new guidance is OPMs second action this month, calling for more flexibility for federal employees of faith. On July 16, OPM also encouraged agencies to grant telework exemptions to federal employees for religious purposes  carving out some limited exceptions to Trumps broad return-to-office orders across the executive branch. The Trump administration said federal employees can request exemptions to telework, for instance, when observing religious holidays, attending services or fasting.

The federal workforce should be a welcoming place for federal employees who practice a religious faith, Kupor said. Allowing religious discrimination in the federal workplace violates the law. It also threatens to adversely impact recruitment and retention of highly-qualified employees of faith.
Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The FBI in Alaska is offering up a $10,000 reward for details that lead federal authorities to an alleged meth dealer.

On Monday, federal officials said in a statement that Esthepen Delossantos Pebenito, 50, was wanted by authorities for alleged involvement in a scheme to distribute methamphetamine in 2019 in the Anchorage area.

At roughly 5'4 with black hair and tattoos on his back and abdomen, he also goes by "Pepe" or "Stephen Pebenito," according to the bureau.

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He is considered to be armed, dangerous and is tagged as an "escape risk."

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Pebenito in July 2021 by Alaska's U.S. district court after he was charged with a federal crime of distribution of controlled substances.

FBI officials added that "Pepe" has ties that extend beyond the Anchorage region of the state to California, Nevada, Hawaii and to south-east Asia in the Philippines.

Results of a 2021 study suggested that rates of fatal U.S. overdoses via methamphetamine increased five-fold from 2011 to 2018. The use of naloxone to administer life-saving medicine to people who overdose on opioids has saved thousands of American lives.

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Federal officials' fight against meth in Alaska is nothing new. In 2013 a 25-year-old Anchorage man was arrested and charged after it was discovered he received over four pounds in the mail of meth after police located another 117 grams, $8,478 in cash, around a half-ounce of marijuana and two guns.

The 2021 study highlighted that the highest number of overdose deaths among racial or other ethnic groups was seen in the Alaskan and American Native population, which had a 25% increase at the time.

The extra initiative to catch Pebenito is being implemented as part of a nationwide summertime effort to crack down on violent crime.

"By surging resources alongside state and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide," the bureau said in its statement, "we are aggressively restoring safety in our communities across the country."

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Any individual with information on Esthepen Pebenito is urged to call the FBI's Anchorage field office in south-central Alaska at: (907) 276-4441, or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). An anonymous online tip can be submitted, or a person may contact a local FBI field office or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

His FBI wanted poster can be viewed along with a full list of others wanted by federal authorities for various crimes.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A criminal complaint unsealed late Friday in federal court says investigators last week found methamphetamine, fentanyl, a marijuana grow operation and five guns while serving a search warrant at a New Court home in Youngstown.

Arrested when the warrant was served Thursday was Tyrone Crafter, 31, who lived there, according to the complaint. He was arraigned Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Camen E. Henderson in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio on a charge of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Crafter is being held in federal detention pending a Tuesday detention hearing before Judge Henderson.

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The complaint said the warrant was served Thursday after federal agents made two undercover buys of methamphetamine in July from Crafter as part of an investigation into drug sales.

The marijuana grow was found in the attic, the complaint said. Investigators also found a digital scale inside the home.

The complaint did not say what types of guns were found.

The complaint said Crafter told investigators after he was arrested that the fentanyl and methamphetamine had been in the home for some months, and if he had a way to move it, or sell it, he would.

The drugs that were found were in amounts that are too large to be for personal use, the complaint said.

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Crafter was booked into the Mahoning County jail, where he will be held pending his detention hearing.



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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Concession workers at Fenway Park may go back on strikepotentially indefinitelyif food and beverage vendor Aramark doesnt offer a new labor contract.

On Wednesday, ahead of the Boston Red Soxs series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Unite Here Local 26 will give Aramark a formal notice of a potential strike. It comes over a week after the unionized concession workers walked off the job on July 25 for three days during the series against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Aramark hired replacement workers for the series, some of whom were involved in a confrontation with picketing union members outside the stadium after Saturdays game, according to NBC Boston.

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The union employees returned to the job for this past weekends series against the Houston Astros without incident; the Red Sox host the Royals for three games starting Monday.

The two sides have been at odds since Dec. 31, 2024, when the previous contract expired. On June 15, while the Red Sox hosted the rival New York Yankees, Local 26 authorized a strike that could take place at any point during the regular season, with 95% of its members voting in favor. A few weeks later on July 23, the union gave Aramark 48 hours to offer a new contract before walking off the job; the company let the deadline pass, leading to the three-day strike.

Peter Dankens, a beer server who began working at the ballpark in 1976 as a 14-year-old porter, is the longest-tenured vendor at Fenway and a member of the unions bargaining committee. In the last talks between the two sides prior to the July strike, Dankens said that he was taken aback by a comment from one of Aramarks negotiators.

I wasnt that hyped up about the whole thing until I went to the bargaining meeting, he said, and the person who represented Aramark said, Well, you people make enough money. I couldnt believe someone said that. I make at the top very good money, sure, but my money doesnt come from Aramark. My money comes from the fans.

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Dankens said he walked off the job in support of the people in the back of the house who deliver, stock and cook the food. Theyre unrecognized. I dont think anybody in management, other than the floor supervisors, know their names individually. I dont think its not the way they used to be. It really used to be family, and its not that way anymore.

Last Thursday, the bargaining committee discussed next steps, thinking that negotiations towards a new deal could go into the 2026 MLB regular season. Neither side has spoken to one another since the strike during the Red Sox/Dodgers series, though the union continues to say that its up to Aramark to offer what it believes to be a fair proposal.

Another point of contention, according to Dankens, was about Juneteenth, which was declared a federal holiday in 2021. The committee said it asked Aramark to make that a paid holiday for its employees, but that request was denied.

Thats a slap in the face to every person of color that works there, saying well discuss it with you in 2030, Dankens said. Who discusses a national holiday in honor of people of color in 2030? Its a national holiday.

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Aramark didnt reply to a request for comment.

The negotiations could play out the same way as it did in Philadelphia when that citys union chapter representing concession workers across the three venues of the stadium complex went on strike in late September 2024, long after its own contract expired. Some concession workers picketed as the Phillies played their final regular-season series before the playoffs. Though the strike lasted four days, Aramark and the union did not come to terms on a new contract until this past April.

While there has been little common ground at the negotiating table, there was a moment when both sides put their hostilities aside. One of the union members who worked at the ballpark passed away in June after a battle with esophageal cancer. At the funeral, Dankens said he saw two members of Aramarks senior management team among the attendees.

I think they thought I was going to say something about this strike, he said. And I said to them, you know, it meant a lot to see you coming to [the] funeral. And believe me, it was not unnoticed.

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I think they were kind of taken aback that I said that to them, but it did mean something to see them there. It was almost like we went back to the olden days.

(This story has been updated in the first paragraph to accurately reflect the unions intentions around the strike. This story has been corrected in the second paragraph to note the Red Sox will play the Royals on Wednesday, and in the fifth paragraph to clarify who is speaking.)

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Another dispute was brewing between Germany's bickering coalition partners on Monday over the issue of restricting benefits for Ukrainian refugees.

Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, from the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), slammed calls from Bavarian Premier Markus Soder for Ukrainians to no longer receive the basic income support, known as Burgergeld, in light of rising costs.

"Some of the proposals that have been made in recent days do not, I believe, help us to make progress together in the coalition," said Klingbeil on a visit to Washington.

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Soder - the leader of the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU), which is part of the governing coalition with the SPD and Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) - on Sunday suggested Ukrainians should only receive benefits for asylum seekers, which are lower and often provided in kind or on a payment card.

The comments came after official figures showed that Burgergeld payments rose by 4 billion ($4.64 billion) to 46.9 billion in 2024. Ukrainian nationals, a large majority of whom fled their homeland following the Russian invasion in 2022, claimed 6.3 billion of this amount.

In response, SPD parliamentary secretary Dirk Wiese told dpa that the savings from cutting benefits for Ukrainian refugees would be minimal due to the bureaucratic effort involved.

"The increase in bureaucracy effectively cancels out savings," he argued.

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Social Affairs Minister Barbel Bas from the SPD refused to comment on Soder's proposal on Monday.

A spokeswoman for her office pointed to the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD, which pledged to reform the Burgergeld system, but only committed to restricting benefits for Ukrainian nationals arriving in Germany after April 1, 2025.

Klingbeil backed the decision in the coalition agreement, which he said was being "implemented as quickly as possible," and pleaded for the coalition partners not to fall into bickering.

However, Soder's comments have received backing from his centre-right colleagues.

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Top CDU lawmaker Thorsten Frei, the head of Merz's office, criticized the fact that only one in three Ukrainians in Germany who are fit for employment are currently working.

The rate is far lower that in other European countries, CDU premiers have warned.

But labour market researcher Enzo Weber from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) said "the integration of refugees in the labour market requires time," highlighting long waiting times for language and integration courses for Ukrainians in Germany.

"This could be done more quickly if language training and qualifications were offered alongside work," Weber argued.

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The brewing dispute comes amid a difficult honeymoon period for Germany's new government, which only took office in May.

The coalition partners have clashed over issues such as nuclear policy and the nomination of judges to the country's Constitutional Court.

Reiche calls for reform

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche also highlighted the importance of rewarding employment during a visit to the semiconductor company Infineon on Monday.

"It must be the case that working is more worthwhile than staying at home," the CDU minister said. "Those who go to work must feel that they have more in their pockets at the end of the day than those who do not."

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Wiese meanwhile insisted that "those who exploit the system must be met with clear sanctions" in comments to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group.

He stressed that the majority of recipients want to be in employment. He also said many people are working, but have to supplement their income to make ends meet.

This is a clear sign that a higher minimum wage and better collective bargaining provisions are necessary, Wiese said.
Fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a civilian plane Sunday after it entered restricted airspace over President Trump's property in Bedminster, New Jersey, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said, one of seven aircraft to violate the airspace over the weekend.

Three civilian planes flew in the restricted airspace Saturday, and there were four more violations on Sunday, including one that was intercepted by fighter aircraft, NORAD said in a statement.

Flares were deployed to get the pilot's attention, NORAD said on social media, and the plane was safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft.

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"The flares  which may have been visible to the public  are employed with the highest regard for the safety of the intercepted aircraft and people on the ground," NORAD said in a separate statement. "Flares burn out quickly and completely and there is no danger to the people on the ground when dispensed."

According to the president's schedule, Mr. Trump was at Bedminster on Sunday and scheduled to leave Sunday evening for the White House.

NORAD, which noted previously that 11 aircraft violated the same airspace over July 4 weekend, urged pilots to pay attention to Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, issued by the FAA.

"Ignorance is not a defense," NORAD warned before the weekend when announcing the airspace restrictions.

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The command routinely issues temporary flight restriction zones for Mr. Trump's Bedminster retreat as well as his property at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Air Force fighter jets have also intercepted civilian aircraft flying in the temporarily restricted airspace over Mr. Trump's Florida home this year, after the president took office on Jan. 20.

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HARRISBURG  Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros 2023 inauguration and the celebrity-studded ball that followed it cost more than $4 million, but the identity of the benefactors who paid the bill has remained a secret.

Now, through a first-of-its-kind analysis, Spotlight PA has identified a portion of those donors, which include influential lobbying firms, unions, and corporations with interests before the commonwealths government.

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A fundraising pitch prepared by Shapiros inauguration committee and reviewed by Spotlight PA promised high-dollar contributors face time with the governor.

VIP tickets to the Inaugural Celebration include access to the VIP lounge through the evening, fine print on the document states. A clutch with Governor-Elect Shapiro and Lt. Governor-Elect [Austin] Davis will be held in the VIP lounge at the start of the event.

Unlike some states, cities, and the federal government, Pennsylvania does not require top elected officials to disclose who contributes to celebrations held to mark their entrance into office. Shapiro has declined to do so voluntarily.

The Democrats inaugural committee told the IRS that it raised $5.4 million from Dec. 1, 2022, to Nov. 30, 2023, but not the sources of the money. Using other nonprofits filings and campaign finance information, Spotlight PA identified where 15% of that total came from.

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In an email, Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder said private fundraising for an inauguration is completely customary, and that the celebration rallied folks from all walks of life all across our Commonwealth to celebrate the beginning of an Administration focused on fighting and delivering for all Pennsylvanians.

But campaign finance experts said the limited transparency goes against the spirit of laws designed to quell the influence of money in politics.

When private dollars are supporting a public official or a candidate, theres always going to be a question about whether those private dollars are influencing or putting undue influence on the decisions that that elected official is making, Aaron McKean, a senior legal counsel with the Campaign Legal Center, told Spotlight PA. Thats the whole reason for having limits on contributions and transparency.

Federal tax filings also show that the Shapiro inaugural committee donated money not spent on the celebrations to Team PA, a nonprofit that bills itself as a public-private partnership to bolster Pennsylvanias economic development.

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Team PA, which keeps its donors secret, frequently pays for Shapiro to attend high-profile sporting events. The organization is also collecting donations to restore the governors mansion after an arson attack.

Donating leftover inaugural money to Team PA, Bonder said, follows the lead of previous administrations.

Spotlight PA was able to identify one previous governor who donated inaugural dollars to the group: Shapiros Democratic predecessor, Tom Wolf.

In an email, a Wolf spokesperson said that leftover funds from the governors inaugural committee were contributed to Team Pennsylvania in order to fund economic development work and Governors Residence operations and decor.

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There is longstanding precedent for governors to work with Team Pennsylvania to fund those areas that should not come at a cost to the taxpayer, the spokesperson added. They did not say how much Wolf contributed to the group.

Shapiros inaugural committee was organized as a 501(c)4 nonprofit under federal tax law, which means it is not required to reveal its donors.

However, state law requires political committees  like those that lawmakers use to raise money or unions use to give it  to reveal their spending, and federal law mandates that nonprofits note how they spend their money on annual tax forms.

A Spotlight PA analysis using these publicly available documents revealed the source of 15% of the money Shapiros inaugural committee received. Among the contributors were lobby shops, trade unions, universities, and corporations.

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Labor was by far the largest donor class, totaling $535,000. Checks came from a wide range of unions, including ones for police and corrections officers, the construction trades, and health care workers. The carpenters union provided the single biggest check, $150,000.

According to a sponsorship document viewed by Spotlight PA, the committee offered packages of perks for donations between $5,000 and $150,000. The latter donation level came with a limited-edition commemorative gift and eight photo ops with Shapiro, as well as access to a pre-inaugural VIP reception, the swearing-in ceremony, and the inaugural celebration.

Firms registered to lobby the state government also donated, according to campaign finance records, including law firms Eckert Seamans and Duane Morris, as well as Harrisburg lobby shop Versant Strategies. Clients of the three are diverse and include agriculture, energy, real estate interests, as well as the School District of Philadelphia.

Other donors identified by Spotlight PA include Erie Insurance, Motorola, Sheetz, the states orthopedic surgeons association, and a horse breeders trade group. Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Pennsylvania also chipped in.

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The source of the remaining 85% of Shapiros inaugural funding remains unknown. A spokesperson for Shapiro declined to provide the information.

Stronger rules outside of Pa.

Shapiro has been previously asked to disclose the donors to his inauguration, but refused, saying, Were going to follow all of the laws required with reporting and disclosure, and thats the approach were going to take.

But in Pennsylvania, where loose ethics and campaign finance laws have frequently drawn criticisms from good-government advocates, theres no statute addressing this particular fundraising.

Other state and local governments require the disclosure of donors or limit how dollars are spent, McKean told Spotlight PA.

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That includes Philadelphias city government, which mandates the disclosure of inaugural donors and imposes the same donation limits it places on political committees  $3,700 from an individual and $14,800 from a political committee.

Even in the absence of such rules, statewide elected officials have embraced transparency in the past. Wolf voluntarily capped donations to his inaugural committee at $50,000 and disclosed the name of every donor who gave more than $500.

He raised $2.7 million for his 2015 opening soiree, including cash from a number of the same donors as Shapiro did eight years later.

Theres no reason why we cant do this, McKean said. The question is whether officials are actually interested in doing it.

Leftover funds

Shapiros committee spent $4.3 million on four days of festivities, according to the IRS report. The headlining event was held at Rock Lititz in Lancaster County, a rehearsal space often used by national touring artists, and included multiple music acts, including Smokey Robinson, as well as a Shapiro-branded dance floor and a smorgasbord of catered eats.

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Approximately $1.1 million was left over, and the majority  $750,000  went to Team PA.

Founded in the 1990s by former Gov. Tom Ridge, the group has accepted state contracts to conduct economic studies and underwritten a handful of foreign trade missions. In recent years, its also served as fiscal sponsor for a number of state commissions, such as one overseeing the governors mansion; this title effectively gives Team PA oversight of the commissions bank accounts.

Shapiro and his administration operate under a self-imposed gift ban, which says that no executive branch employee shall accept any gift from anyone seeking to obtain business or an outcome from the commonwealth.

Despite this, Shapiro and other top officials have attended multiple high-profile sporting events on Team PAs dime, including two Super Bowls.

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Team PA CEO Abby Smith previously told Spotlight PA that Shapiros tickets are paid for out of the Pennsylvania Growth Partnership, one of the funds the organization oversees. Bonder, the Shapiro spokesperson, has previously argued that the group and its bank accounts paying for tickets dont violate the gift ban because of Team PAs decades-long history of collaborating with the state, and that it is completely incomparable to a private actor.

It is still not clear who solicits money for, or donates to, the Pennsylvania Growth Partnership, or who decides which events Shapiro attends at Team PAs expense.

Smith said when Team PA gets requests to use money from the various funds it manages, it approves them and cuts a check. However, Bonder has previously said that the governor does not have sole discretion over funds in the Pennsylvania Growth Partnership.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Palantir (PLTR) was set to report quarterly earnings Monday after the bell, with Wall Street expecting another period of double-digit growth for the defense tech firm.

Wall Street analysts tracked by Bloomberg expect the company to report second quarter adjusted earnings per share of $0.14, up from $0.09 the prior year. They expect revenue to hit $939.25 billion, up roughly 39% from last year, according to Bloomberg data.

Expectations for Palantir headed into earnings are as high as ever, DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria told Yahoo Finance in an email. The company has easily exceeded expectations for several recent quarters and appears to have more momentum than any other publicly traded software company.

Read more: Live coverage of corporate earnings

Palantir sells its artificial intelligence software to businesses and governments in the US and abroad. Its tech does everything from supply chain analysis to surveillance and identifying military targets, the latter of which has drawn backlash from human rights advocates.

In May, Palantir stock fell 12% the day after its first quarter results as investors scrutinized the company's valuation and declining sales in its international commercial business, which sells software to businesses abroad, even as its first quarter revenue blew past Wall Street's forecasts.

While analysts expect revenue from sales to governments and US businesses to continue soaring in the second quarter, they see sales in its international commercial segment declining slightly to about $147.1 billion from $148 billion last year.

Boosting optimism for the future of its revenue from the US government, Palantir announced Thursday that it had inked a deal with the US Army worth up to $10 billion over the next 10 years.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, a notable Palantir bull, said the deal is one of the largest ever DOD [Department of Defense] software contracts in US history.

We believe this deal represents an additional tailwind for PLTR with AI initiatives across the US government accelerating with AI a strategic focus on the federal front and Palantir in the sweet spot to benefit from a tidal wave of federal spending on AI, Ives wrote in a note to investors Friday.

Overall, Wall Street remains mixed on Palantir stock, however. Ives is one of 10 analysts who hold a Buy rating on shares, while 16 have a Hold rating, and five recommend selling the stock, according to Bloomberg data.

Bears remain concerned that Palantir is overvalued. Palantir stock currently trades at levels 24 times the historical market multiple of the S&P 500 (^GSPC). Shares of Palantir are up more than 105% this year, relative to the S&P 500's 6.3% gain, and the stock has far outperformed the "Magnificent Seven" Big Tech stocks in 2025.
COLFAX, N.C. (WGHP)  Most people love to stop by their local farmers market to pick up some fresh fruits or vegetables. But they often find something that they werent expecting.

FOX 8s Brad Jones says those great discoveries are just part of the business of agriculture thats Made in North Carolina.

We visited the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Colfax for Watermelon Day, a great opportunity for people to sample some of the best melons around.

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Its also a chance to discover different types that wont show up in a grocery store. Daniel Johnson is the manager of this sprawling market just off Interstate 40 and says its a vital link between North Carolina growers and customers who want the best food they can buy.

Its also a chance for kids to learn more about the locally grown produce they enjoy by getting a snack and the opportunity to meet the Watermelon Queen, Elle Steinlage from Mooresville.

The crown and the sash draw people in, but it also gets people excited about watermelon and excited about eating healthy and excited about agriculture, Steinlage says.

The people who work to market North Carolina growers and their crops are really teachers. They feature different types of melons and let visitors know why things that are locally grown really are better. This farmers market alone has about 1.8 million visitors each year, and each one of those customers is spending money on food, plants and other products.

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Were supporting our local economies, Johnson told us, adding that were supporting our friends, our families, our neighbors, and that of course makes us a stronger, more resilient community.

Watermelon Day may be a time to taste and celebrate, but its also a chance to let customers know how theyre investing in the farm families who showcase their best at the market every week.

Stop by and visit the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market at 2914 Sandy Ridge Road in Colfax, NC. Theyre open every day from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
LEHI, Utah (ABC4)  A new fire near Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork Canyon forced the closure of SR-144 near Alpine Loop early Monday morning.

Utah Department of Transportation cameras near Tibble Fork Reservoir show white smoke rising over the mountainside.

Another camera shows an emergency vehicle blocking access to American Fork Canyon Road at Alpine Loop. Due to the closure, there is no access to Tibble Fork Reservoir, UDOT confirms.

Sgt. Raymond Ormond with the Utah County Sheriffs Office said evacuations were completed for the Granite Flats Campground, the Silver Lake area, and most of the camping areas off Snake Creek Road as a safety precaution.

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Dan Pendleton, a camper up near Tibble Fork Reservoir, said he received a call from a neighboring camper that the Sheriffs Office was ordering people out of the canyon. He was able to get back to his camper and get out of the canyon in 15 minutes.

It was just really appreciated that we could get in here and be able to get our stuff out because its a lot of money, said Pendleton.

Fire crews used helicopters to tackle the fire, which reportedly sparked in a difficult-to-access area. The fire reportedly grew to about a quarter-acre in size before helicopters stopped flying. Ormond said hand crews will get to the area next and check for smoldering embers that they can put out by hand.

Then theyll just observe and keep an eye on the fire in the burn area to make sure it doesnt reignite, said Ormond.

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Pendleton told ABC4 that he frequents the area every summer, and this is one of the driest years he has seen.

When you go camping, you want a fire and all of that, but there is a time not to. And this is a time not to have fires. At all, said Pendleton.

The cause of the fire, which Utah Fire Info dubbed the Mill Canyon Fire, still remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
(FOX40.COM)  Cal Fire shared on Facebook the passing of Mendocino Unit Firefighter One, Christion Schoenfeld, who passed away in an off-duty accident.

 Video above: Northern California firefighters heading to Santa Barbara to battle wildfire

According to Cal Fire, this was Schoenfelds third year with Cal Fire, with two previous fire years as a Handcrew Firefighter in the Amador-El Dorado Unit. He was recently assigned to Woodlands Fire Station in the Mendocino Unit.

Lake Fire burns over 300 acres in Clearlake prompting evacuation warnings, 25% contained

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Firefighter Schoenfeld will be remembered as a motivated, goal-oriented public servant, whose exceptional physical fitness and dedication inspired those around him, Cal Fire officials said.

At this time, Cal Fire officials ask the public to keep Christions family, friends, and his CAL FIRE brothers and sisters in your thoughts during this difficult time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
The Brief

A Saturday night fire in Hobart, Indiana, destroyed a home on Cavender Street; all residents and a dog escaped safely, while one firefighter sustained a minor injury.

The home was declared a total loss, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

HOBART, Ind. - A late-night fire in northwest Indiana destroyed a home and left one firefighter injured, authorities said.

What we know

The blaze broke out Saturday night at a residence in the 300 block of Cavender Street in Hobart.

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Firefighters were initially told the home was fully engulfed, according to the Hobart Fire Department.

Crews arrived quickly and were able to extinguish the flames. All occupants of the home, including a dog, escaped safely and were not injured. One firefighter sustained a minor injury and is expected to fully recover, the department said.

The home was deemed a total loss.

What they're saying

"Our thoughts are with the homeowner and residents during this difficult time as they deal with the aftermath of this loss. We are grateful no lives were lost and that everyone made it out safely," the department said in a statement.

What's next

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A fire broke out at a village school - with the plume of smoke reportedly visible from a major road.

Firefighters were called to East Bergholt VC Primary, on School Lane, in East Bergholt, Suffolk, at about 11:16 BST.

The crews - from both Suffolk and Essex - found a fire in a single-storey building approximately 30m (90ft) x 50m (165ft) in size which had spread under a flat roof.

The Suffolk Fire Service said the school was unoccupied and no casualties have been reported.

'Worse than a bonfire'

Images shared on social media appeared to show flames in the school grounds and thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky from behind nearby homes.

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The fire service said the smoke could be seen as far away as the A12.

Emma Chinnery told the BBC she saw clouds of smoke near her house.

"I thought it looked worse than a bonfire smoke so went to inspect, [I} went to the road and staff came out explaining that it could be toxic," she said.

Five fire crews from Suffolk and Essex are battling a blaze at a primary school [Emma Chinnery]

Firefighters used breathing apparatus and hose reel jets to tackle the flames.

The fire service said that because of the scale of the incident, additional fire vehicles had been mobilised, including from across the border.

A spokesperson said: "The Environment Agency and Suffolk Police have been informed.

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"Our colleagues at the Joint Emergency Planning Unit are coordinating with Suffolk County Council's education team."

'Under control'

Nigel Roberts, vice chair of East Bergholt Parish Council, told the BBC he believed the source of the fire was the solar panels on the roof of the school.

He said it had been put out by about 13:00 but firefighters had stayed at the school into the afternoon.

He added his "concerns about the gravity of it, or about the fire spreading, were alleviated because it was under control quite quickly".

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Related internet links
Atlanta firefighters rescued a man from a duplex fire Sunday evening.

Shortly after 8 p.m., firefighters responded to reports of a fire at 1100 Ira Street SW.

Crews found a 60-year-old man inside and rescued him from the fire.

Firefighters began performing CPR on the victim, and he was hospitalized at Grady Memorial Hospital.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

There is no word on his current condition.

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On the other side of the duplex, the residents safely escaped. The entire building was damaged by the fire.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly, so neighboring buildings were not affected.

Fire investigators are working to determine what caused the fire.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Heres what the First Alert Weather Team said you can expect for the First Alert Weather forecast:

It rained cats and dogs in Jacksonville on Sunday

Even some neighborhoods outside of Jax received 2-3 of rain so far today

Intense storms are lifting up through our SE GA counties as of 4:30-5 PM

A few showers/storms may redevelop west of Jax this evening

For the most part, rain & storm activity should wind down after sunset

We transition back to the summer-time swing of daily sea breeze storms this week

Heads up each afternoon & evening for heavy rain & lightning

Hwy 301 to I-95 will be the spots to watch for the heaviest rain

Rain may drift back toward the beaches each evening, especially Mon/Tue

Temperatures will be hot, but not nearly as hot as it was this past week

WATCH THE FORECAST | DOWNLOAD THE APPS

Tropics:

There are a few areas to watch, but concern for Florida is basically zero this week

Low pressure is starting to organize off the Carolina coast in the W. Atlantic

This area will head away from the U.S. It may become Dexter, but it is of no concern.

Another low-pressure, area is forecast to develop off the Carolina/GA coast late this week

If it develops, it would slowly drift to the north, not toward Florida

This thing may increase the long-term low-pressure onshore wind at our beaches, but that would be it

A tropical wave is about to move off Africa, and well have to watch that one in the long term

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Follow Action News Jax Meteorologists on Twitter for updates:

Mike Buresh | Garrett Bedenbaugh | Corey Simma | Trevor Gibbs

First Alert Weather 7-day forecast:

TONIGHT: Shower Early, Partly Cloudy. Low: 74

TOMORROW: Partly Sunny, Afternoon & Evening Storms. High: 92

TUE: Partly Cloudy, Scattered Storms. 73/92

WED: Partly Sunny, Scattered Storms. 74/91

THU: Partly Sunny, A Few Storms. 75/92

FRI: Partly Sunny, A Few Storms. 74/91

SAT: Partly Sunny, A Few Storms. 74/92

SUN: Partly Cloudy, Scattered Storms. 74/91

INTERACTIVE RADAR: Keep track of the rain as it moves through your neighborhood

SHARE WITH US: Send us photos of the weather youre seeing in your area 
[Source]

Chizuko Kimura honored a promise to her dying husband by taking over Sushi Shunei in Paris and mastering the art of Edomae-style sushi. In March, Kimura, 54, became the first female sushi chef to earn a Michelin star, just three years after her husbands death.

Vow fulfilled: Sushi Shunei, located in Paris, is known for its traditional omakase or multi-course tasting menu and meticulous attention to detail. Kimura learned every step from her husband Shunei, who opened the restaurant with her in 2021 and taught her the art of Edomae-style sushi while silently battling liver cancer. He never said to me, Learn how to make sushi, but he showed me everything, Kimura said. After Shuneis death in 2022, she honored his legacy by stepping into the kitchen, driven by her promise to keep the restaurant alive.

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Return of a star: Sushi Shunei earned its first Michelin star in 2022, three months before Shunei died at age 65. Kimura lost the star in 2023, which she described as losing him a second time. She deepened her training, working with sushi master Takeshi Morooka and visiting Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan. When the star was awarded again in 2025, Kimura said, I felt, deep inside, that I had not betrayed his memory. For me, this is not a new star. Its Shuneis star that I managed to win back.

Breaking barriers: Kimuras accomplishment stands out in Pariss competitive sushi scene, where traditional Japanese kitchens have long excluded women from senior roles. She leads Sushi Shunei with strict attention to Edomae tradition, overseeing a team that sources fish from Tokyos Toyosu Market and prepares an omakase menu of up to 18 courses, including specialties like akami tuna and sea bream nigiri. Kimura now mentors apprentices in her kitchen and hopes her story will encourage others to pursue their ambitions regardless of age or background.

Trending on NextShark: AI is altering the legal profession as record number of Asian Americans enter law school

This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  This story takes us to the south end of Canandaigua Lake and the treacherous rescue operation to save an injured 75-year-old hiker stranded in a gully.

One morning last month, a 911 call came in. The woman had spent the night alone at the bottom of a 90-foot drop in Clark Gully. She fell the day before while hiking, and it took hours overnight for her to reach her phone.

Several agencies rushed out to save her. It took about an hour to find the victim, then another 45 minutes or so to pull off the rescue operation. They got her to the hospital for further treatment of head and neck injuries.

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We spoke with John Hebding, Assistant Chief with the Naples Fire Department. They get multiple calls a year for trapped or stranded hikers, which is why they spend a lot of time focusing on vital training for rope rescues.

The most challenging part is the terrain and the areas youre going into, Hebding explained. Each rescue is different  nothing is exactly the same, so you take some of the experiences youve done in the past and implement the different parts of the scenarios into what you have on hand.

As for his message to hikers?

The biggest key when hiking, especially if youre solo, is before you go out, just let somebody know where you plan on going and youre estimated time of when youll be out, Hebding said. Just check in with them once youve completed your hike so they know youre out.

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In addition to recognizing Naples firefighters, we also thank the Dundee and Middlesex fire rope rescue teams, Rushville staff, and others there that from Ontario and Yates Counties for answering these calls.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
The loved ones of those killed in a catastrophic explosion at Beirut's port five years ago gathered to demand justice on the anniversary of the blast Monday, as Lebanon's president vowed to hold those responsible to account.

The August 4, 2020 disaster was one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions, and devastated swathes of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring over 6,500.

Authorities have said the blast was triggered by a fire in a warehouse where tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored haphazardly for years after arriving by ship, despite repeated warnings to senior officials.

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Hundreds gathered in Beirut on Monday afternoon to mark the anniversary, some brandishing signs reading "No compromises on justice" and "The crime of August 4 was not an accident".

Georgette Khoury, 68, was there to honour the memory of three of her loved ones who perished in the blast.

"Five years have passed, but it still feels like the explosion just happened. It's a gaping wound in the heart of every Lebanese person," she said, attending the commemoration for the first time.

"We demand justice, and if it is not delivered here, it will be served above."

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A few steps away, Youssef Romanos, 44, raised a photo of his neighbour, a nun killed in the explosion.

"We are waiting for justice to take its course," he said. "It will not bring back our martyrs but it will be a relief."

- 'Transparency' -

Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation into the blast this year as Lebanon's balance of power shifted following a war between Israel and Hezbollah that weakened the Iran-backed militant group, which had spearheaded a campaign for Bitar's resignation.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that the state was "committed to uncovering the whole truth, no matter the obstacles or how high the positions" involved.

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"The law applies to all, without exception," he added.

"The blood of your loved ones will not be in vain," the president told victims' families, adding: "Justice is coming, accountability is coming."

After resuming work following a more than two-year impasse, Bitar has finished questioning defendants and suspects, a judicial official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Those questioned include former prime minister Hassan Diab, as well as military and security officials, while several former ministers did not appear for questioning, the official said.

Bitar is waiting for some procedures to be completed, including receiving responses from several Arab and European countries following a request for "information on specific incidents", the official added, without elaborating.

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The judge will then finalise the investigation and refer the file to the public prosecution for its opinion before he issues an indictment, the official said.

President Aoun said "we are working with all available means to ensure the investigations are completed with transparency and integrity".

Officials named in the investigation had filed a flurry of lawsuits seeking to prevent it from going forward.

Nobody is currently in custody in relation to the case.

- 'Chain of responsibility' -

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint statement on Monday that "despite the resumption of the investigation, the road to justice remains littered with political and legal challenges".

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They urged authorities to ensure a comprehensive, unobstructed investigation that establishes "the facts and circumstances surrounding the explosion, encompassing the full chain of responsibility", whether domestic or international.

Mariana Fodoulian from the association of victims' families said that "for five years, officials have been trying to evade accountability, always thinking they are above the law".

"We're not asking for anything more than the truth," she told AFP.

"We won't stop until we get comprehensive justice."

On Sunday, Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said the port's gutted and partially collapsed wheat silos would be included on a list of historic buildings.

Victims' families have long demanded their preservation as a memorial of the catastrophe.

"The silos are the only witness to what happened on August 4," said Fodoulian.

str-lar-lg/jsa/smw
(Reuters) -Skydance Media CEO David Ellison will lead the new company as chief executive after its merger with Paramount Global is completed by August 7, the independent studio said on Monday.

After the deal closes, the company is expected to be structured into three primary business segments - studios, direct-to-consumer and TV media.

Former NBCUniversal chief executive, Jeff Shell, will become president of Paramount, overseeing day-to-day operations. Andy Gordon, a veteran of Goldman Sachs, will serve as chief operating officer. Both join the media company from RedBird Capital Partners, Skydance's financial partner on the Paramount transaction.

Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks will remain with the company as its chair of media, overseeing its broadcast and cable television business.

Netflix veteran Cindy Holland will chair its direct-to-consumer business, overseeing the company's Paramount+ and PlutoTV streaming services.

Skydance's chief creative officer, Dana Goldberg, was will serve as co-chair of Paramount Pictures with Josh Greenstein, the former president of Sony Pictures' motion picture group.

Tom Ryan, the president and CEO of Paramount Streaming, will be leaving the company. He co-founded PlutoTV, the free streaming service that helped popularize so-called FAST channels, for free ad-supported streaming television.

In a statement, Ellison hailed the new executive team as equipped "to deliver on our bold vision for a new Paramount." He has previously pitched his view of Paramount as a "tech hybrid" media firm that will prioritize expanding the Paramount+ streaming service to better compete in the crowded direct-to-consumer video market.

The Federal Communications Commission cleared the merger last month, just weeks after Paramount settled a lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump over CBS' editing of a "60 Minutes" interview with his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris.

The merger was largely necessitated by the persistent decline of the traditional cable TV business as audiences rapidly abandon linear TV in favor of streaming platforms, forcing Paramount to take nearly $6 billion in write-downs on cable assets.

(Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles. Editing by Anil D'Silva, Pooja Desai and Nick Zieminski)
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Lebanon, long plagued by impunity and a lack of accountability, marked the fifth anniversary Monday of the Beirut port explosion that devastated large parts of the capital. The day brought cautious hope that truth and justice may finally be achieved.

The investigation into the blast -- one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, which killed 218 people, wounded more than 6,000, and destroyed entire neighborhoods on Aug. 4, 2020 - is reportedly nearing completion after years of delay due to political interference.

The painful memories of that day remain vivid, as victims' families have never stopped fighting to uncover what caused the massive explosion and who was responsible for the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored at the port for seven years before igniting.

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A separate investigation by the Lebanese Army and the FBI estimated that 500 to 600 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded at the port, raising questions about what happened to the remaining quantity.

On Monday, the victims' families -- most of them dressed in white and black-- gathered again close to the blast site to mark the anniversary, carrying photos of their loved ones and holding placards that read: "August 4 is a crime, not an accident" and "Independent judiciary = just truth."

They were joined by a large crowd, and for the first time, by several government ministers, including Minister of Justice Adel Nassar and Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed, who lost her mother in the explosion.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun renewed his pledge Monday to uncover the "full truth," saying that "justice will not die" and that holding those responsible for this "great crime" accountable would be a top priority.

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"No one who contributed to this humanitarian disaster through negligence, failure or corruption would escape punishment," Aoun said in a statement.

Aoun's election and the formation of a reformist government led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a renowned judge who headed the International Court of Justice at the time of his nomination last January, paved the way for the resumption of the port blast investigation.

Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator who was forced to halt his work three years ago due to political pressure, resumed proceedings earlier this year. He has since summoned additional high-ranking officials, including former ministers, political figures and security personnel for questioning regarding their failure to act on the dangerous storage of ammonium nitrate at the port.

A former public prosecutor, Ghassan Oueidat, and a deputy in parliament, Ghazi Zuaiter, still refuse to be questioned.

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According to Cecile Roukoz, a lawyer whose brother, Joseph, was killed in the port explosion, Oueidat and Zuaiter are like "all politicians and people of influence, who are used to impunity -- to having protection and avoiding accountability."

"They believe there will be a compromise in their favor, but the port explosion case will be different," Roukoz told UPI.

After five years of "great pain," she said she believes those responsible will be brought to trial, justice will be served and the truth will finally be known.

Others still have doubts.

Ibrahim Hoteit, whose 46-year-old firefighter brother was killed in the explosion, said that truth and justice cannot be achieved unless the judiciary is fully independent and free from political influence.

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Hoteit argued that Judge Bitar has been "selective" in his approach, failing to summon all former suspected government, security, military and army intelligence officials for questioning. This, he added, has led to a division among the victims' families.

"How would he close the investigation and issue his indictment if he hasn't questioned all those people?" he told UPI.

The indictment should clarify not only who brought in and authorized the storage of the ammonium nitrate, but also who was smuggling it over the course of seven years, how it was used and what ultimately triggered the explosion.

Despite facing threats and repeated attempts to obstruct his work over the past years, Bitar was determined to resume the investigation and is now close to concluding it, with plans to issue the indictment by year's end, according to a well-informed judicial source.

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The investigative judge, however, is still awaiting responses from seven Arab and European countries regarding "requests for assistance" related to "certain undisclosed information," according to Youssef Diab, a journalist who specializes in judicial affairs.

Diab told UPI that Bitar is also seeking a French technical report that will determine whether samples taken from the port scene contain explosive materials other than ammonium nitrate, and if there is any trace of a missile or bomb.

That would clarify whether the port blast was due to negligence, systemic corruption or possibly an Israeli strike, as suggested by witnesses and media reports at the time.

"I am confident that we will know what happened," Diab said, adding that the indictment will include details about how the blast occurred, what caused it and who was responsible.

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The port explosion case will then be transferred to the Judicial Council, which will rule on whether the judge was right or wrong -- partially or fully -- in his conclusions.

The hope is that this case will put justice back on track and "mark an end to the long-standing culture of impunity and lack of accountability in Lebanon," Roukoz said.
Expedia and Lastminute.com, two of Europes largest online travel booking platforms, have pledged to improve their refund process and provide clearer information about passenger rights.

The change is designed to help passengers more easily claim refunds for these third-party platforms when their flights are cancelled by airlines and provide clearer information about what rights passengers have under EU law.

The move follows discussions with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network - a network of national consumer agencies responsible for the enforcement of EU consumer protection laws.

What changes for travellers?

If you book a flight through Expedia or LastMinute.com and your airline cancels it, youll now be entitled to a refund within 14 days. This includes a seven-day limit for the airline to return the money to the travel agent and then another seven days for the agent to pass this money on to you.

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Previously, many travellers experienced long delays, sometimes lasting months, before seeing their money returned from cancelled flights. Both companies have said they have now cleared any backlogs for reimbursements.

It will also be easier for passengers to get in touch with these two travel agencies. Their contact details, including phone numbers and email addresses, will be provided in or via the support or contact us sections of their websites.

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Both companies have also pledged to clearly explain passenger rights when a flight is cancelled. This includes the right to choose between rerouting or a refund under the EUs air passenger rights rules.

Youll also be clearly informed of how buying multiple legs of a flight through different carriers could impact your ability to claim compensation if just one leg is cancelled. This is particularly important for passengers booking complex journeys or looking for budget options.

When will the changes take effect?

Lastminute.com has said it began implementing the new measures from 1 July 2025 and will have fully implemented them by 1 September 2025. Expedia says its current practices already match the commitments it has made.

It is part of a broader effort by the EU to improve customer protections in the travel sector, and they join three other travel agencies, Edreams ODIGEO, Etraveli Group, and Kiwi.com, which committed to the same best practices back in 2023.

What are your rights to a refund under EU law?

Under current EU rules, if an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to rerouting or a full refund within seven days when requested. You may also be entitled to compensation if the airline is to blame for the cancellation.

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But it can be harder to get a refund if your flight was booked through a third-party platform such as an online travel agent. The commitment from Expedia and Lastminute.com aims to bridge that gap, meaning youll wait a maximum of 14 days even if a third party is involved.

Related

In 2023, the European Commission proposed new rules for trips that use more than one form of transport, such as a journey using both trains and buses. These new regulations, if adopted, would include the same timeframe for reimbursement via intermediaries for the cancellation of flights.

The proposal for these new rules is still being negotiated by EU lawmakers.
Related video: Governor announces Florida DOGE audit in Manatee County

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has identified Pinellas County and Hillsborough County as the next locations for further auditing and on-site review.

Representatives of both counties said they received letters last week requesting access to their counties physical premises, data systems, and responsive personnel.

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Having entrusted the governments with the power to tax, the citizens of Florida have a right to expect that their elected officials will spend the collected funds responsibly, and on truly necessary programs, the letters, sent by DOGE advisors, said. Through the DOGE effort, Governor DeSantis has charged us to identify and report on this type of excessive spending at the county and municipal level, and the citizens of Florida have responded with enthusiasm.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announces Florida D.O.G.E. audit of Manatee County

Regarding the aforementioned letter, Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise gave the following statement:

Hillsborough County concurs with the calculations presented in the cover letter of the EOG DOGE request. On April 2, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution confirming the Countys full and transparent participation in the EOG DOGE Team process, as established by Executive Order #25-44. 

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The County welcomes the opportunity to meet with the EOG DOGE Team and share the story of how we have made meaningful, strategic investments in public safety, transportation, and infrastructure projects since Fiscal Year 2019, Wise said.

The audit for Pinellas County will take place Aug. 78, and the one for Hillsborough County will be Aug. 1112.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The Florida Department of Education announced today that teacher vacancies for the 2025-2026 school year have decreased by 17.7% compared to the previous year, marking a nearly 30% reduction over the past two years.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

This decrease in vacancies is attributed to several initiatives aimed at attracting teaching talent to Florida. The state has invested over $5.9 billion in teacher pay increases and created new pathways for individuals to enter the teaching profession.

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Florida continues to attract the best teaching talent because we have raised teacher pay, empowered our teachers in the classroom, and created new pathways for Floridians to enter the teaching profession, said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas.

I am proud of the work Florida has done to dramatically reduce the number of vacancies across the state thanks to the policies Governor Ron DeSantis has championed.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is one of the initiatives contributing to the reduction in vacancies. More than 80 individuals are currently receiving on-the-job training from veteran teachers while pursuing their teaching certification, and nearly 500 have applied for the program.

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Additionally, the Military Veterans Certification Pathway has enabled over 100 military veterans to begin their teaching careers through a temporary teaching certificate, with nearly 700 applicants for the program.

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Floridas Department of Government Efficiency is coming to St. Petersburg next week to learn more about the citys diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, environmental goals and homeless services.

St. Petersburg received a seven-page letter from the state department Friday night addressed to Mayor Ken Welch. It puts the city on notice for a 75% increase in property taxes over the past six years with spending going up 50% in that same time period.

Following up on the states July 11 letter for information, which Clearwater, Tampa and Hillsborough and Pinellas counties also received, Florida DOGE flagged additional items needed for its review of St. Petersburg. Auditors requested access for onsite visits Aug. 13 and 14.

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The letter noted that St. Petersburg could be fined for failing to comply with Florida DOGEs requests for access on those dates.

State auditors identified nine topics they want to know more about and requested access to information, documents and data systems. They also asked to speak to individuals with appropriate expertise to describe the citys actions and decisions available.

Those topics include diversity, equity and inclusion; homeless services; sustainability and environmental resiliency under a category the state labeled Green New Deal; utilities; personnel compensation; procurement and contracting; management practices; grants and financial management; and transportation.

Auditors described DEI as any form of preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, gender, or the like (including the use of substitutes such as cultural competence or lived experience to conceal such preferential treatment).

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They also want specifics on traffic calming devices such as speed tables and speed humps and bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Auditors named four city staffers theyd like to speak with: George Smith, chief equity officer; Lendel Bright, ADA and diversity coordinator; Kourey Hendryx-Bell, supplier diversity manager; and Sharon Wright, the citys former director of the Office of Sustainability and Resilience.

Wright quit in October 2022, and the city is on its second director since then. Maeven Rodgers took over that role last fall after Allison Mihalich left in July 2024.

In a written statement provided by a spokesperson, Welch said he is reviewing the states letter carefully and will fully cooperate, providing any additional information or clarification as requested.

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My administrations Principles for Accountable and Responsible Government continue to guide our work, Welch said. We will address any questions that may arise from the States process and move forward with clarity and accountability in the best interest of the residents of St. Petersburg.

In a statement, State Rep. Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, called the states effort political retaliation.

If were serious about responsible budgeting, we should be solving Floridas housing and insurance crisis, investing in strong public education, and working around the clock to bring down everyday costs, she said. Thats how we build a Florida that works for all of us.

City Council member Mike Harting, who is not registered to a political party, said he thinks the effort is a good check and balance, but the states scope is too big. He said he wasnt concerned because St. Petersburg operates well.

The amount of information theyre asking for is months and months worth of work, Harting said. It would seem logical to limit their oversight power to bites that are more easily presented by the counties and municipalities.
The big story: Florida education commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas continued to flex his authority on Friday, this time with threats to punish the Alachua County school board over public comments at its meetings.

A resident who spoke about chairperson Sarah Rockwells recent disparaging remarks about Hulk Hogan was approached by deputies after returning to his seat, but ultimately was allowed to remain at the meeting, according to several reports.

Kamoutsas sent a letter to the board, in which he accused members of violating the parents First Amendment rights. Given the circus at the latest meeting, my recommendation is that the State Board of Education withhold the entire school boards salaries until they follow the law and respect parental rights in Alachua, he wrote on X, where he also shared the letter.

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The board issued a statement asserting that every person who wished to speak was allowed to do so. Meanwhile, Rockwell continued to apologize for what she said, the Gainesville Sun reports.

Its not the first time the Department of Education has gone after the Alachua board, which leans Democrat. Members also faced the potential withholding of their pay over their masking policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its also not the new commissioners first threatening letter of his brief tenure. On July 14  his first day in office  Kamoutsas warned school and district leaders to protect parent and teacher rights or face repercussions. This past Wednesday, he cautioned teacher unions against delay tactics in getting state-funded raises into paychecks.

He made such comments without providing any specifics of anyone taking the actions he advised against. Reaction on social media has been mixed, with supporters cheering his willingness to boldly enforce state expectations and detractors decrying his unnecessary stepping into local affairs. Read more from WCJB and MainStreet Daily News.

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In related news, Brevard County governmental bodies including the school board are trying to find the best way to include public comment in their sessions, Florida Today reports.

Hot topics

College turmoil: Pasco-Hernando State College students and faculty see politics at work as their school leadership is upended.

Library books: Education commissioner Kamoutsas sent a letter to school districts telling them to stop using an online book catalog platform called Beanstack, claiming it promotes a left-wing agenda, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Meanwhile, the state has a $15 million contract with Trinity Education Group to create its own online platform.

School leaders: Nearly two dozen Palm Beach County schools will have new principals for the new school year, the Palm Beach Post reports.

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Special education: Osceola County schools will do more to integrate students with special needs into mainstream classes, WKMG reports.

University presidents: Florida A&M University outgoing interim president Timothy Beard urged school supporters to do all they can to ensure the success of new leader Marva Johnson, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Johnson issued a video Friday aiming to reassure the FAMU community about her plans, WFSU reports.

Teacher vacancies: Tampa Bay area schools are seeing a decrease in job openings as the academic year approaches, WFTS reports.  The Pinellas County school district offers alternative paths for non-teachers to transition into the profession, Bay News 9 reports.

Turnaround efforts: The Childrens Literacy Project spent a year creating a 10-part documentary about the Indian River County school districts efforts to improve student performance, TC Palm reports.

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From the police blotter ... The newly promoted principal of Hillsborough Countys Leto High was arrested on allegations of cocaine possession.

Dont miss a story. Heres a link to Fridays roundup.

Before you go ... Jon Batiste called on Randy Newman for this new version of Lonely Avenue. It works.
The Brief

A Melbourne man is charged with murdering his grandparents in a shooting police say he claimed was divinely inspired.

One neighbor and her daughter were also caught in the gunfire.

Jeremyah Campbell remains in jail without bond on murder and attempted murder charges.

MELBOURNE, Fla. - A 22-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his grandparents in Brevard County last week told investigators he did so because "God told him to send his grandparents to him," according to newly released court documents.

What we know

Jeremyah Campbell, 22, is accused of killing his grandparents, George and Mary White, in a shooting that took place last Wednesday night in Melbourne, Florida.

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Police say Campbell told investigators he carried out the killings because "God told him to send his grandparents to him." He is facing two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder and is being held without bond at the Brevard County Jail.

The backstory

According to newly released court records, George White ran to a neighbors home claiming his wife had been shot. As the neighbor called 911, more shots were fired through the door, striking George White. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital, while Mary White was found dead inside their home. The neighbors daughter was also injured by gunfire.

What we don't know

Authorities have not commented on Campbells mental health status or whether any history of mental illness played a role. A formal motive has not been released beyond the statements Campbell reportedly made to police during his arrest.

What they're saying

During questioning, Campbell allegedly told detectives, "Now Satan sees. I am a valuable man of the kingdom," in reference to the killings.

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His comments have raised further concerns about his mental state at the time of the incident.

What's next

Campbell remains in custody at the Brevard County Jail. Authorities have not released further details about his mental health or a possible motive beyond his statements to police.

The Source

This story was written based on information shared by the Melbourne Police Department.
The Florida Department of Health is warning about the risks of drinking raw, unpasteurized milk after 21 people, including six children under the age of 10, were sickened by E. coli and campylobacter bacteria linked to raw milk from the same farm. Seven people have been hospitalized, and two have developed severe complications.

"Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases," the department said in a news release. Officials did not identify the farm, but indicated its products were available in Northeast and Central Florida.

The health department told CBS News it continues to investigate the reported infections, and said it "does not comment on ongoing or active epidemiological investigations."

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Although it is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in Florida, it can be sold in the state if it's labeled as a pet food. Raw milk has been promoted by online wellness influencers and raw food advocates, boosting sales in recent years, but public health officials say it can be risky.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say raw milk can carry life-threatening bacteria, such as E. coli, campylobacter, listeria or salmonella.

These can cause symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Severe cases can result in a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which can lead to kidney failure.

Since 1987, 143 outbreaks have been linked to raw milk or raw milk products, some involving miscarriages, stillbirths, kidney failure and even deaths, according to the FDA.

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Pasteurization  a process of heating the milk  kills these bacteria. Pasteurization is required by federal law for any milk sold across state lines. Some individual states also restrict or ban the sale of raw milk, but others allow it.

In an interview with CBS News Miami earlier this year, Mark McAfee, founder of one of the world's largest raw milk producers and head of an advocacy group called the Raw Milk Institute, claimed raw milk offers health benefits such as bioactives that boost the immune system. McAfee sells his raw milk legally in California, where no state law prohibits its sale.

But the CDC says such claims are unfounded. "Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption," the agency says.

The Florida Department of Health noted in its statement that "many people consume raw milk safely." But it also advised, "Floridians should be aware of potential risks associated with consumption, which may vary depending on the source of milk. The producer's handling of raw milk and milking procedures are vital in prevention of contamination."

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Quadruple murder suspect captured in Tennessee, officials confirm

DOGE savings are a fraction of what the department claims, CBS News analysis finds

Zelenskyy says he had a productive talk with Trump about war with Russia




NEED TO KNOW

A Florida high school teacher was arrested after authorities allege she had an inappropriate relationship with a student

Molly Mersereau, a teacher employed by the Santa Rosa County School District, was arrested on July 29 and charged with multiple felony offenses

Mersereau was released from custody on July 30 after posting bail





A Florida high school teacher was arrested on accusations she had an inappropriate relationship with a student, authorities said.

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Molly Mersereau, a teacher employed by the Santa Rosa County School District, was arrested on July 29 and charged with multiple felony offenses, including engagement in a romantic relationship with a student by a school authority, the Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

Mersereau is also facing charges of criminal solicitation, using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, and a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, per the post.

Online inmate records show Mersereau was released from jail custody on July 30 after posting a combined $41,000 bail. Its unclear if she has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf.

"The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office takes all allegations involving the welfare of minors and the integrity of public trust seriously," the post reads.

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According to an arrest report obtained by the Pensacola News Journal, Mersereau had been the subject of an internal investigation during the 2024-2025 school year after administration at Gulf Breeze High School became aware she had been texting a student and giving them rides in her personal vehicle  which was against school policy.

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.

Mersereau's arrest came after the teacher's friend told Gulf Breeze police that Mersereau allegedly admitted to "having sex" with a student, the outlet reported, citing the arrest report. The student claimed to investigators with the Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office that they did not have a sexual relationship with Mersereau.

During a search of Mersereau's home, investigators found purported love notes similar to ones they found in the alleged victim's home, per the report.

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The student's phone allegedly contained "text messages and group notes shared or exchanged by Molly and (the student) which were of an intimate nature, text messages exhibiting grooming speech from Molly directed toward (the student), photographs of Molly and (the student) on outings outside of the school," and more, the News Journal reported, citing the report.



Read the original article on People
There are things that happen in life that dont make sensetragedies that happen. And as we reflect through our own practices of hiringthe way we research references, the way we interviewwe followed all of our protocols. The biggest thing that I personally think about are those little girls and those families that are impacted. And I tell you, personally, my heart breaks for them. It is really, really hard to make sense of something thats senselessthats why we say senseless. Trying to put a really square cube in a round hole that doesnt fit doesnt make any sense. And for people who are really sickto be fooled the way other districts, and even us, appear to have been fooledbecause references were good, credentials were goodwere going back to square one to look at anything that we could have possibly missed. Because when someone is in the public trust, like we are, its important to us that we remain in the public trust. And I am focusedhighly intentionalthat we stay in good standing with our public. And, you know, its a tough, tough position to be in. We love Springdale. We love our kids. And were focused on making sure that we continue to be in a position of trustand we value that position. Im very thankful to our law enforcement for their quick actions and their miraculous moves in such a short period of time. We may have the best there is in the country right here locally. And Im confident that they saved other lives. Im just sorry that there was any aspect, or any part, that was played by that young man coming to Northwest Arkansas. If I could take it back, I would. There are a lot of things in life that you wish you could take back that have happened. Even in my own personal lifeI lost a brother years ago in a car wreck. I wish there were things I could do, that conversation I could take that day, to change those things. If there was anything I could do to take back what happened on that particular day for him not to be hereI would. But well do the best we can to improve any aspects that we need to in our hiring practices moving forward. And everythings under review. So, I appreciate the delicateness in which youve asked the question. And I appreciate our communitys support. And again, I appreciate all the things that our governor, the state police, the FBI, Washington County Sheriffs Office, and others have done. And know that we will support themand we will be at the ready, should they need anything from us.

Superintendent Dr. Jared Cleveland, Springdale Public Schools
San Diego, California-based QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is a fabless semiconductor company. With a market cap of $159.9 billion, QUALCOMM operates through Qualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT), Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), and Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI) segments.

The semiconductor giant has significantly underperformed the broader market over the past year. QCOM stock has dropped 9.6% over the past 52 weeks and 3.5% on a YTD basis, compared to the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 14.5% gains over the past year and 6.1% returns on a YTD basis.

More News from Barchart

Narrowing the focus, QCOM stock has also underperformed the Technology Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLK) 22% surge over the past 52 weeks and 10.6% gains in 2025.

www.barchart.com

QUALCOMMs stock prices plunged 7.7% in the trading session after the release of its mixed Q3 results on Jul. 30. Supported by its diversification into different areas and growth in IoT revenues, the companys total revenues for the quarter surged 10.3% year-over-year to $10.4 billion, surpassing the consensus estimates by 39 bps. However, the companys handset revenues of $6.3 billion and automotive revenues of $984 million both fell short of Street expectations, which likely unsettled investor confidence.

On a more positive note, the companys adjusted net income surged 14.8% year-over-year to $3 billion, and its adjusted EPS of $2.77 beat the consensus estimates by a significant margin.

For the full fiscal 2025, ending in September, analysts expect QCOM to deliver an adjusted EPS of $9.54, up 12.8% year-over-year. Furthermore, the company has a solid earnings surprise history. It has surpassed the Streets bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters.

The stock has a consensus Moderate Buy rating overall. Of the 32 analysts covering the stock, opinions include 15 Strong Buys, one Moderate Buy, 15 Holds, and one Strong Sell.

www.barchart.com

This configuration has been mostly stable over the past three months.

On Jul. 31, Piper Sandler analyst Harsh Kumar lowered the firm's price target on QCOM from $190 to $175, but maintained an Overweight rating on the stock.
A fire destroyed four buildings in the village of Milford on July 18, a little more than two weeks ago. Now, the community is coming together to help those directly affected.

Keith Darragh, the director of the Otsego County Code Enforcement Department, said that the county code office was requested on the scene the day of the incident. The office did its best to speak with the property owners to decide the best steps moving forward.

The code office typically works with the local fire department and emergency services to follow the investigation stage and understand when the property will be cleared.

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We dont want to hinder their operation if theyre still investigating at that time, Darragh said.

Darragh added that while he does not yet know exactly what the clean up process will look like at the downtown Milford properties, county local law usually permits 30 days for clean up procedure to be completed.

In this case, however, if the property is still being investigated, code enforcement can give leeway to the owners, adjusting the 30-day timeline.

We try to work with the people that this happens to and have conversations with them and get something done in a timely manner, Darragh said, but sometimes insurance companies are notorious for fighting with their clients which can take longer than the 30-days timeframe.

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You lost your business, you lost everything you own, and now you dont have anything to go back on, to fall on, he continued. People got to understand that you need to take that into consideration when it comes to these types of situations.

There are different steps in place for rebuilding commercial and residential buildings, Darragh said. Owners are told to coordinate with the village to ensure they are complying with any land regulations and setbacks. Then, after receiving a set of plans from an architect or an engineer, a person can apply with the code enforcement office.

Following the application process, a project would likely go into review. For residential buildings, a permit would usually either be issued or an applicant would be contacted to answer any remaining questions within seven to 10 business days. With commercial buildings, the process can sometimes take up to 30 days, Darragh added.

After an owner receives a permit, an inspection with code enforcement must be scheduled. Once any remaining documents are completed, a final inspection is performed and if all goes successfully, code enforcement would issue a certificate for the property.

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The fire broke out in the early morning. The four buildings destroyed included the {span}Milford Corner Store at 69 S. Main St., {span}Sybils Yarn Shop at 65 S. Main St, a vacant house and a residential home.{/span}{/span}

The South Main and West Main street properties are fenced off to prevent kids or animals from getting inside, especially with potential for a collapse, Darragh added.

Though Darragh said his office was not aware of any grant funding available to assist those impacted in the fire, the community has rallied together during the last two weeks to help raise money for these individuals.

Village Clerk Pat Winsor, who has lived in Milford for her entire adult life, said several events are planned for the upcoming weeks to help raise money for those affected.

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On Aug. 16, a music event will be held at the Elm Inn in Milford. At Rigby Hand Craft in Cooperstown, there will be a yarn sale on Aug. 16 to raise money for Sybils Yarn Shop.

Additionally, a special two-hour train ride is scheduled to be held at the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad from 3-5 p.m. Aug. 17. Boarding is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Milford Depot, and tickets will be sold by donation.

Last week, community leaders held a meeting at the Milford Methodist Church for those interested in becoming part of the community-wide relief efforts, which saw more than 80 people attend. Even young people in the local neighborhood are doing their part, Winsor said, with one girl setting up a lemonade stand on state Route 166 to donate the proceeds.

Donations are being sent to the Milford Methodist Church.

Community organizations and local people could work together to make this happen for the people affected, Winsor said.
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  On Monday, August 4, Food Lion Feeds partnered with Feeding Southwest Virginia and Kellanova to host its Summer Without Hunger campaign. Meals and backpacks filled with snacks were packed and distributed to local families.

One in five children in the region face hunger, according to Feeding Southwest Virginia. The event hoped to support one of the food banks summer mobile feeding stops, providing more than 100 children with nourishing meals and backpacks filled with snacks to help fight hunger.

Beyond this event, Food Lion Feeds says it plans to amplify its support throughout the summer by matching community donations to Feeding Southwest Virginia, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000.

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Kellanova was also on-site donating snacks for the backpacks and will contribute $10,000 to strengthen Feeding Southwest Virginias ongoing hunger relief efforts, according to officials.

Food Lion hopes this partnership demonstrates how collective action can provide nutrition to children during the summer months.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
A documentary produced in the QCA is a finalist in two categories at France USA International Film Festival in Cannes.

Forever Families is about the gratitude of families in other nations who have adopted the graves of our fallen heroes buried in other nations. Ten thousand service members are buried or on the wall of missing in Margraten Cemetery in Germany. That inspired Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center founder Lola VanDeWalle to come up with the idea for the documentary. Gary Metivier traveled to Europe to shoot the documentary.

Several involved with the project are headed to Cannes for the awards and to see the documentary screened.

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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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
The High Anti-Corruption Court has detained Serhii Haidai, Head of the Mukachevo District State Administration and former head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, as part of an investigation into an alleged corruption scheme involving the inflation of prices in state contracts for the purchase of drones and electronic warfare equipment.

Source: Slidstvo.Info, an independent team of professional journalists; Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne; court hearing broadcast; the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office

Details: The court remanded Haidai in custody for 60 days, with bail set at UAH 10 million (about US$239,700).

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The High Anti-Corruption Court also imposed a pre-trial restriction in the form of detention on drone manufacturing company owner Vladyslav Marchenko, with bail set at UAH 15 million (about US$359,400).

Earlier, the High Anti-Corruption Court remanded MP Oleksii Kuznietsov, who was detained by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO), in custody for 60 days, with bail set at UAH 8 million (about US$191,700).

Background:

On 2 August, following a report from NABU director Semen Kryvonos and SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a corrupt MP, several heads of local government and members of the National Guard had been caught accepting bribes.

NABU and SAPO exposed these individuals as having been involved in bribery in relation to the procurement of drones and electronic warfare equipment. The scheme involved entering into state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices.

Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that Oleksii Kuznietsov, an MP from the Servant of the People party, Serhii Haidai, Head of the Mukachevo District State Administration in Zakarpattia Oblast and former head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, and Andrii Yurchenko, Head of the Rubizhne City Military Administration in Luhansk Oblast, were among those who had been exposed by NABU and SAPO as having been involved in large-scale corruption.

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Former high-profile members of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and various Israeli security agencies have called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war, amid growing global concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

In a video shared online, more than a dozen retired Israeli chiefs of staff and intelligence, including former IDF chief of staff and Prime Minister Ehud Barak, united to air their grievances about the ongoing conflict that started after Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.

Read More: Ehud Barak: Israel Must Back Donald Trumps Deal To End the War in Gaza

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Calling for an end to the military operations, former military intelligence chief Amos Malka said that Israel is well over a year past the point where we could have ended the war with a sufficient operational achievement.

Nadav Argaman, the former head of Israeli security agency Shin Bet, said: The direction the government is currently heading to [is] an extremist, fundamentalist world view it has taken us all hostage.

The stark warnings came after Hamas on Saturday released a propaganda video of Israeli hostage Evyatar David in captivity in Gaza. David, who was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, 2023, could be seen looking severely emaciated in what appeared to be an underground tunnel.

Netanyahu urges Red Cross to intervene for hostages, but maintains starvation in Gaza is "libel"

The warnings came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross, urging its regional chief, Julien Lerisson, to help facilitate the delivery of food and medical aid to Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

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The Israeli leader also doubled down on his claims about the starvation in Gaza, calling it Hamas libel that is reverberating around the world, while the systematic starvation is carried out against our hostages.

The Al-Qassam Brigade, Hamas military wing, has said that it would cooperate with any request from the Red Cross to provide food and medicine to enemy prisoners.

But the spokesperson stipulated that any such cooperation would need to come with a permanent opening of humanitarian corridors to allow the passage of food and medicine to all our people in all areas of the Gaza Strip.

A U.N.-backed food security body last week warned that a worst-case famine scenario is unfolding in Gaza. As of Monday morning, 180 people, including 93 children, have died as a result of starvation and malnutrition according to Gazas Health Ministry.

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In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures cannot be independently verified by TIME.

Read More: The Malnutrition Crisis in Gaza Will Outlive the War, Experts Warn

Palestine Red Crescent Society says its headquarters targeted by Israeli airstrikes

Over the weekend, violence in southern Gaza further escalated tensions. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said its headquarters were targeted by Israeli airstrikes on Sunday, killing one member of staff named as Omar Isleem, and injuring two others along with a civilian. The headquarters in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, was reportedly hit twice again after the initial strike as staff evacuated the building.

Despite being clearly marked with the internationally-recognized Red Crescent emblem, the building was deliberately targeted by Israeli forces. This is a blatant breach of international humanitarian law, the PRCS said.

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In a statement to TIME, the IDF said it is reviewing the claim and the incident remains under examination.

Elsewhere in Gaza, hospital officials reported that at least 33 Palestinians had been killed on Sunday while seeking food from aid distribution sites. TIME has reached out to the IDF for comment regarding the reports of deaths nearby aid distribution sites on Sunday.

Far-right Israeli politician visits the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem

Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir meanwhile visited Jerusalems most holy site on Sunday, known by the Jewish community as Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.

At the site in Jerusalem, Ben-Gvir said that the only way to end the war in Gaza was to ensure that we conquer all of the Gaza Strip, declare sovereignty over the entire Gaza Strip, take down every Hamas member, and encourage voluntary migration.

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Palestinian authorities condemned the visit, calling it a dangerous escalation that reflects organized terror under the protection and support of the Israeli occupation authorities.

It is currently forbidden for Jewish people to openly pray at the site in order to avoid provoking conflict with other, non-Jewish worshippers, but they are allowed to visit alongside Israeli security.

Ben-Gvir was recently sanctioned by a number of Western governments for inciting extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.

Demonstrators march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney on Aug. 3, 2025. Saeed KhanGetty Images

Read More: Journalists In Gaza Are Documenting Their Own Starvation

Global pro-Palestinian marches garner attention

As international criticism of Israels military campaign in Gaza intensified, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered across major cities over the weekend to demand a cease-fire.

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In Sydney, an estimated 90,000 people marched across the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas, according to local police.

I know it's the other side of the world, but it affects us here massively as well. We could be helping a lot more with aid, protester Alec Belville told the BBC. People also marched in other Australian cities, including Melbourne.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has faced mounting calls to recognize a Palestinian state. On Thursday, he said that he would not be pressured into making the decision earlier than planned, adding that recognition would depend on the conditions of a reform of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers parts of the West Bank, and the end of Hamas control over Gaza.

Those stipulations need to be advanced. That's the point. We want to make sure it's not just a gesture, he told ABC. The decision to recognize [a Palestinian state] on the path to two states being created would make a positive difference but in order for that to be achieved, there needs to be security for the state of Israel.

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France, the United Kingdom, and Canada have all recently announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, with the latter two nations saying that their proposals come with certain conditions that Israel and Hamas must both meet.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Matthew Morrisons children, Matt, 37, and Katie, 34, on July 22, the day after he self-deported (Katie Moore/The Marshall Project).

Trump administration officials aim to pressure some noncitizens into self-deporting. It worked on Matthew Morrison. In mid-July, the 69-year-old former psychiatric nurse supervisor quietly fled the United States.

Morrison had been threatened by an aggressive government before. When he was a teenager, he fought against what he and others in the Irish Republican Army saw as an occupying British government that discriminated against marginalized Catholics in Northern Ireland.

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For his efforts then, Morrison said he was beaten by interrogators and wound up in prison, where some of his comrades died in a hunger strike protesting the revocation of their political status.

This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project  St. Louis, a nonprofit news team covering Missouris criminal justice systems. Subscribe to their email list, and follow The Marshall Project on Instagram, Reddit and YouTube.

Upon his release in 1985, he feared for his safety. He came to St. Louis, married his American pen pal and had two children. Eventually, he overstayed his tourist visa, divorced his pen pal and remarried. Hes had the spectre of deportation hanging over him for decades. His family has endured the highs and lows of his battle along the way.

Now, Morrison leans on a cane. Hes had several strokes. He said that the fear and uncertainty that he might be picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was more than he could bear.

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I would bite the dust in an ICE holding cell, Morrison told The Marshall Project  St. Louis before he left the U.S. There is nothing to stop them from deporting me to Ecuador, South Sudan or whatever. Its really gotten insane here. Its crazy what they are doing now, the Trump administration. You know what I mean?

Many noncitizens have faced similar unknowns in hiding. Morrison has been in the public eye for a long time. Hes been in and out of the news since the 1990s. He was even the grand marshal of a parade. But the U.S. government denied his petition for an adjustment in immigration status because of crimes he was convicted of during The Troubles conflict in Northern Ireland. Morrison had omitted those from his original tourist visa application.

In 2000, the Clinton administration terminated the deportation process against Morrison and five other named deportees, as the group of former Irish Republican Army prisoners was called, after the American spouses of the Irish men testified before Congress. The president himself weighed in on the issue.

While in no way approving or condoning their past criminal acts, Bill Clinton said then, according to a Washington Post story at the time, I believe that removing the threat of deportation for these individuals will contribute to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

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The deportees were momentarily relieved. But because they werent on a path to citizenship, the six men still had to live with restrictions and regularly check in with the government.

In May, Noel Gaynor, who had a heart condition, died at home in Olean, New York. Waiting months without annual work authorization approval, his Medicare and Social Security benefits were cut off, according to a video of statements made at his wake. In June, Gabriel Megahey received a letter from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that The Marshall Project  St. Louis reviewed. It began: Its time for you to leave the United States.

Morrison expected a similar letter. Though his work authorization expires in October, he didnt want to sit around waiting and worrying.

On July 21, he limped onto a one-way flight from Cleveland to Dublin, Ireland, with his wife, leaving behind a life that hed built in the St. Louis area, including grown children, grandchildren and many friends.

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Ive come full circle, Morrison said while still in the United States. I came here as an immigrant and I am leaving as an immigrant, despite everything in between. The whole thing is a crazy, stressful situation.

Matt Morrison holds a framed picture of his father, Matthew, in St. Louis on July 22, 2025. Matthew Morrison, an Irish immigrant who resided in the U.S. for 40 years, self-deported to Ireland on July 21 (Katie Moore/The Marshall Project).

Theres a city in Northern Ireland with two names. Protestants call it Londonderry. Catholics, like Morrison, call it Derry.

Catholics felt discriminated against there. Without better options, Morrison said his childhood home didnt have an indoor bathroom or hot water. He said the cramped home was raided by British soldiers stationed there to keep the peace between Protestants and Catholics and to ensure Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.

To resist, he helped build barricades around his neighborhood. On Jan. 30, 1972, 16-year-old Morrison and his father joined thousands of others in the streets of their city. The march for Catholic civil rights became known as Bloody Sunday after British troops fatally shot 14 unarmed people and injured others.

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To fight back, Morrison said he joined the Irish Republican Army.

There was no way to be indifferent, he said.

Three years later, while in college, he said he was arrested with two others for trying to gun down a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer. Again, there were two ways to look at it. To Morrison, it was an act of war. Others saw it as terrorism.

Later, hed claim he was choked and beaten during police interrogations, which left him deaf in one ear. Convicted of attempted murder, he was sent to a prison outside Belfast that became widely known for a hunger strike where 10 people died.

Released in 1985, Morrison fled to St. Louis, where he soon married Francie Broderick, an American pen pal whod protested in Northern Ireland. They had a son, Matt, then a daughter, Katie. For years, the family and their supporters rallied to bring awareness to their own troubles with immigration authorities.

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In 1998, CBS featured the Morrison family in a documentary titled Before Your Eyes: Dont Take My Daddy.

I always felt that our campaign was an extension of the hunger strike, said Broderick, now 77.

They had a major breakthrough in 2000 when then-Attorney General Janet Reno said in a prepared statement that she had been advised by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to drop deportation proceedings against the deportees to support and promote the process of reconciliation that has begun in Northern Ireland.

Matthew Morrison, with Francie Broderick and their children, at a 24-hour vigil in downtown St. Louis in 1996 (photo submitted).

The men could stay, but they still couldnt apply for a green card, let alone U.S. citizenship, because of their deferred immigration status.

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People dont realize how much of a minefield U.S. immigration law is, Morrison said.

Over the years, delayed work authorizations sidelined him from his job for months at a time, he said. He worked about 20 years as a nurse in Missouri, including stints at a childrens hospital and several state mental health facilities. He said he presented at the St. Louis County Police Academy on topics including mental health and deescalation tactics.

It doesnt matter what I did, Immigration gave me no credit for it, Morrison said.

Homeland Security and ICE officials didnt respond to requests for comment.

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In June, before Morrison self-deported, a scheduled check-in with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in St. Louis put him and his family on edge. Their fears were heightened by stories about immigrants being detained at routine appointments, regardless of legal status. At the appointment, authorities took a photo of Morrison and he was free to go.

We were terrified that they were just going to take him right there, said his son, Matt, 37.

He said the uncertainty weighed on his father more than hed ever seen.

He has to live under that fear of somebody knocking on the door and dragging him out of the house, just like they did in Derry when he was young, Matt said. I hate it. I am just worried about him. Until recently, I hadnt heard him cry about it.

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He has mixed feelings about his fathers departure.

Hes got brothers and sisters over there, but we are all here  and his grandkids, Matt said. He spends a lot of time with his grandkids.

Morrisons daughter, Katie Bradley, 34, said a recent farewell gathering, held in a backyard, felt like a funeral. She panicked because her U.S. passport had expired.

Even though hes still alive, I feel like I am grieving, she said. Its a huge loss for me and my children.

Morrisons wife, Sandra Riley Swift, has a house in St. Charles, Missouri, as well as her mother and many grandchildren. After helping Morrison transition into an apartment in the town where he grew up, she said in a social media post that shes going to straddle both countries for a while.

This was not an easy choice, but a necessary one for his health and safety, she wrote a few days after they left the U.S.
More than a dozen former Israeli security officials issued a video appeal on Monday calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

"This war started as a just war. It was a defensive war," says former director of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service Ami Ayalon in the video.

"But once we achieved all its military objectives, once we achieved a brilliant military victory against all our enemies, this war stopped being a just war."

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"It is leading the State of Israel to the loss of its security and identity," he adds.

The video shows the men sat around a long table in what appears to be an empty office. Among the 19 former senior officials featured are former chief of staff and prime minister Ehud Barak, former chiefs of staff Moshe Ya'alon and Dan Halutz, and three former heads of the Mossad foreign intelligence service.

In the video, the men say the war is being continued for political reasons only and called for an agreement that returns all of the 50 remaining hostages in one go.

"We are on the precipice of defeat," former Mossad director Tamir Pardo warns.

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Several of them say Israel is being led by a fundamentalist, extremist government that no longer has the support of the majority.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the military campaign in the Gaza Strip in October 2023 in response to the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and saw another 250 abducted into Gaza.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages through indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have dragged on for months without results.
UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  Following former Union Grove ISD Superintendent Kelly Moores voluntary resignation earlier this summer, more information has come out regarding the voluntary exit agreement between Moore and the district.

The Union Grove ISD Board of Trustees accepted Moores resignation during a board meeting on July 22. Moores decision to resign stemmed from a criminal investigation she has been under since June for failing to report a crime that occurred on campus. The investigation remains active, and Moore could potentially face charges for failure to report, which is a misdemeanor.

Palestine police searching for missing K9 officer after Sunday storm

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Before her resignation, Moores contract was expected to run through June 2029. In the voluntary exit agreement provided by Union Grove ISD, it was revealed that she will still be paid her full salary of $130,500.00 in a lump sum.

The exit agreement also states that Moore will provide assistance and cooperate with the district during this transition period. In accordance with the agreement, More will discharge the district and all of its employees and board members from any claims, attorney fees, and compensation whatsoever.

Following Moores voluntary resignation, Union Grove named Brian Gray, who has previously served as superintendent of Union Grove, as the interim superintendent as the district enters into this transition period.

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

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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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Fort Worth City Council members will vote on the future of the citys diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on August 5.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, with President Trump cutting back on DEI programs and initiatives nationwide, cities such as Fort Worth are now discussing ending minority business incentive programs.

The Fort Worth City Council was originally scheduled to vote in late June on whether to dissolve the Fort Worth Business Equity Ordinance and end incentives for minority- and women-owned business enterprise-certified businesses.

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However, after a tense June meeting among council members, the vote was postponed until August 5.

The proposed suspension is intended to protect the $277.1 million the city receives in federal funding, which is at risk if Fort Worth does not comply with the Trump administrations elimination of DEI efforts.

Since the vote was delayed, City Manager Jay Chapa said in June that the city would seek to create new general incentives to help small businesses that may be affected by the DEI suspension, according to the Fort Worth Report.

Local leaders such as Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French have previously criticized the citys DEI programs and strongly support eliminating the department.

More and more, we keep finding out that our beloved red county is promoting radical Marxism. Diversity and inclusion programs do the opposite of what they claim. They only seek to divide us and promote racism against white people. I call on the City of Fort Worth to immediately disavow these programs, or the good people in this community will mobilize like never before to run the Marxists out of office, French told DX last year.
LORDSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Foxconn has sold its Lordstown plant, but the company says it will still operate at the facility.

Read next: 1 dead, 1 hurt after Warren convenience store shooting: Police

According to a statement from Foxconn, after selling the plant and all of its equipment to a firm called Crescent Dune, money from the sale will be reinvested in the United States. Published reports say the sale price of the Lordstown plant was $375 million.

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Foxconn says the transaction is designed to provide greater flexibility and operational efficiency, and the company is expected to grow. Foxconn executives also said they will remain committed to the electric vehicle market.

In the release, the company says, in part:

This adjustment being made to our fixed assets will enable greater financial flexibility and operational efficiency for the company. Foxconn will be involved in the manufacturing of products for customers at the Lordstown facility.

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber said Foxconns announcement marks a pivotal moment for the Mahoning Valley and positions the site for a new chapter for advanced manufacturing and economic opportunity.

Im always an optimist, so Im going to assume its because they want to come hire more people and produce economic activity there, but lets see, said Senator Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, although Moreno also commented on Foxconns previous promises.



Foxconn made a lot of promises, of which they kept very little of them, Moreno said. Only about a quarter of the facility is occupied.

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Everything in the sources out there that we see would indicate something along the lines of AI infrastructure for data centers and things like that. They certainly have some great manufacturing partners that are exciting to think about. Some of their partners include Apple and NVIDIA, and so all of that really makes things very exciting, said Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber President Guy Coviello.

We knew we needed to shift our focus to growing population, growing talent, growing housing, Coviello said. And weve made that our priority for the last three years. This, I think, is validation that we chose the right priorities three years ago and we need to make sure that we are ready for the jobs gain



I think there probably will be some more announcements over the next few months, and eventually well get a good feeling about how many jobs were talking about, Coviello said.

The chamber said Foxconn has been an outstanding corporate citizen and it looks forward to the future, saying the chamber remains a committed partner in the companys success.

The chambers statement says, in part:

This announcement also affirms the Regional Chambers vision to help condition the landscape for forward-looking investment. Its why were focused on housing, talent and population expansion, and removing barriers to workforce  initiatives that create an environment necessary for innovation, business attraction and long-term economic strength. These efforts build on a foundation of strong regional advocacy and community-driven action, including the Drive It Home campaign  a hard, but worthwhile effort that united community, business and public leadership. That campaign helped elevate the plants strategic importance and laid the groundwork for the transformation we are now witnessing. This is a defining moment for the Valley and our regional economy  and we are ready. Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber

Foxconn purchased the former General Motors facility in 2022.

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The Taiwanese company manufactures cloud and networking products, smart consumer electronics, computing products, components and more in six states. It has expanded its capabilities into the development of electric cars, digital health and robotics.

In July, Foxconn and TECO Electric & Machinery, a company that makes electric motors, announced they will be working together.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
With the price of gold hitting all-time-highs in 2024, Goldman Sachs suggests the trend wont falter in 2025.

To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold , making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold .

For instance, in March 2024, Kiyosaki raved on X, I love gold and silver. It underscores his preference for alternative assets during times of economic uncertainty.

However, not all of Kiyosaki and Cardones advice is based on get rich quick schemes.

Sethi believes in regular, boring, and disciplined action to make money. Thats not exactly Kiyosaki nor Cardones advice of choice.

Sethi has a different take. He often emphasizes simple, consistent, and disciplined financial habits rather than risky investments. And thats the ethos behind Sethis list of warnings he says hes identified through working with couples. He claims these habits could indicate money troubles ahead for those who dont address the issues head on.

Kiyosaki is the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and a big advocate for investing in non-traditional assets, like gold and cryptocurrencies. Cardone, on the other hand, is all about property  claiming in a 2022 interview for Jetset magazine, In real estate, its not if you make money; the question is when.

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

I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement  what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)

Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100  and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how

He even put Robert Kiyosaki and Grant Cardone fans on blast, saying that if your partner follows either of the financial gurus, its a bad sign.

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

Story Continues

In contrast, Kiyosaki also champions cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin, which is a significantly riskier asset. This dual strategy reflects Kiyosaki's broader philosophy of diversifying investments across both conservative and speculative asset classes to navigate uncertain economic conditions.

If youre interested in accepting that level of risk, Gemini is a full-reserve and regulated cryptocurrency exchange and custodian, which allows users to buy, sell and store bitcoin and 70 other cryptocurrencies.

You can place instant, recurring and limit buys on their growing and vetted list of available cryptos.

But if you're not ready to buy just yet, you can still invest in crypto with their Gemini credit card.

Red flag 2: They have a money guy

During a recent Diary of a CEO episode, Sethi clarified that having a financial advisor isnt inherently bad. In fact, a 2022 Vanguard study showed that financial advisors can add up to 3% in annual returns.

But, Sethi flags that advisors who charge a percentage of assets under management (AUM) for fees might be an issue. A seemingly small 1% annual fee can compound into significant losses over time, draining your overall returns. To avoid those growing fees, Sethi suggests choosing advisors who charge a flat fee instead.

With Advisor.com, you can find the best advisor for your needs  both in terms of what they can offer your finances, and what theyll charge to work for you.

Advisor.com is a free service that helps you find a financial advisor who can co-create a plan to reach your financial goals. By matching you with a curated list of the best options for you from their database of thousands, you get a pre-screened financial advisor you can trust.

You can then set up a free, no obligation consultation to see if theyre the right fit for you.

Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

Red flag 3: Theyre cheap

Sethi also believes that excessive frugality is a red flag. On Diary of a CEO, he said it sucks the life out of every room. He believes that fixating on price, at all costs, means youll end up hoarding money instead of using it.

In a recent interview with Moneywise, Sethi said couples make the mistake of focusing on restrictions when it comes to money.

No, you can't buy coffee. No, you can't buy jeans. No, you can't go on vacation. Save your money until you're 96 years old and then maybe you can take a trip in economy seats.

The point of money is to use it to live your rich lifeeverybody teaches you how to save, but very few people teach you how to spend money meaningfully, he shared.

There are also tools out there to balance spending with saving, meaning you can avoid falling into a scarcity mindset.

Sethi is a proponent of automatic investing. It's easier to invest than it is to brush my teeth everyday because it's totally automated, he said.

With Acorns, you can save and invest while you spend on the things you need. Acorns automatically rounds up the price to the nearest dollar and places the excess into a smart investment portfolio. This way, even the smallest spending translates to money saved for the future.

Sign up now and you can get a $20 bonus investment.

Red flag 4: They think that renting is throwing money away

Many see it as a waste of money, but Sethi and Cardone would actually agree that it can be a wiser choice.

Sethi explained on his blog that renting is beneficial because you get the value and convenience of having a landlord manage the property and all of the associated maintenance.

Cardone agrees, posting on X that homeowners insurance and property taxes are exploding for homeowners, making renting a more attractive decision for some.

However, they both frame renting primarily as a lifestyle choice rather than an investment, because the home you want to live in might not be the best investment opportunity.

But thats not to say there arent properties worth investing in.

And with Arrived, you can add rental properties into your investment portfolio without needing to do any of the heavy lifting or legwork. Homeshares allows accredited investors to gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund  without the headaches of buying, owning, or managing property.

The fund focuses on homes with substantial equity, utilizing Home Equity Agreements (HEAs) to help homeowners access liquidity without incurring debt or additional interest payments. This approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in high-quality residential properties, along with the added advantage of diversification across various regional markets  all with a minimum investment of $25,000.

With risk-adjusted internal returns ranging from 12% to 18%, the U.S. Home Equity Fund offers accredited investors a low-maintenance alternative to traditional property ownership.

Similarly, First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited individual investors to access necessity-based commercial real estate investments  without having to manage tenants.

FNRP has relationships with some of Americas biggest names, from Walmart to Whole Foods. They provide insights into the best properties both on- and off-market, and you can engage with FNRPs experts while exploring deals and making investments in their personalized portal.

Red flag 5: They refuse to talk about money

Lastly, Sethi believes that financial honesty is integral to a healthy relationship. He says couples need a clear understanding of their combined household income and shared goals to make smart financial decisions.

The biggest red flag with money and couples is if one person is not willing to talk about money. We can work with somebody who has debt. We can work with somebody who has a spending problem, Sethi told Moneywise in a recent interview.

We can even work with somebody who sees money differently. But if one person will not talk about money, that's a dead end.

But just because your partner isnt open to discussing finances doesnt mean you need to close yourself off, too.

For instance, platforms like Moby provide actionable investment insights that help you improve your financial literacy.

With research from former hedge fund analysts and financial experts, Moby simplifies complex financial data into easy-to-understand recommendations.

Their strategies have historically outperformed the S&P 500 by nearly 12%, making it a valuable resource for novice and seasoned investors alike.

 with files from Victoria Vesovski

What to read next

Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  After decades of inaction and frozen negotiations, the issue of an independent Palestinian state living in peace with Israel returned to the spotlight at a high-level U.N. conference  and France and Saudi Arabia, which spearheaded the effort, are determined to keep up the momentum.

But hurdles for a two-state solution that would see Israel living side-by-side with an independent Palestine are very high.

War in Gaza  a crucial part of a hoped-for Palestinian state  drags on with escalating violence in the West Bank, the other main component. And Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government vehemently oppose an independent Palestinian state, which the Israeli leader says would be a reward for terrorism after Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against his country.

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Nonetheless, after eight decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians, pressure is growing for a two-state solution, as last weeks high-level U.N. conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia demonstrated  even if it was boycotted by Israel and its close ally, the United States.

The conference illustrated that many believe a political solution is possible

The French U.N. ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, conceded in an Associated Press interview that without a Gaza ceasefire and massive humanitarian aid for over 2 million Palestinians sliding toward famine, it will be extremely difficult to move forward to define a new way of administering Gaza as part of Palestine  and he said these are priority issues.

But the conference demonstrated that a majority of the U.N.s 193 member nations are convinced that there is a possibility of a political solution," he said, and that is "what its follow-up will continue to promote.

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About 160 of the U.N.s 193 member nations participated, 125 spoke in support of a two-state solution (forcing the meeting into an unexpected third day), and between 40 and 50 were represented by a government minister.

An independent state of Palestine is recognized by over 145 countries, and the meeting sparked new pledges of recognition by three of the seven members of the powerful Group of Seven  France, United Kingdom and Canada  as well as Malta. A statement by seven others, including Australia, New Zealand, Finland and Portugal, expressed positive consideration of following suit.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farham are determined not to let the spotlight fade. They are planning an event during the annual gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly, which starts Sept. 23, when the new pledges are expected to be officially announced.

The conference was notable for being co-chaired by an Arab and Western nation, and for setting up eight working groups with diverse chairs to make proposals on key issues for a two state solution  security for Israel and an independent Palestine, political reforms, legal problems, humanitarian assistance, economic development and Gaza reconstruction, to name some.

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The result was a seven-page New York Declaration. The French and Saudi foreign ministers sent the declaration, with a lengthy annex of recommendations from the working groups, to all 193 U.N. members and asked them to endorse it by early September, before the world leaders gathering. The declaration, which also was endorsed by the European Union and Arab League, urges Israel to commit to a Palestinian state, and urges further recognitions as an essential and indispensable component of the achievement of the two-state solution.

The declaration contains some stronger language

For the first time, the Arab Leagues 22 member nations condemned the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians in southern Israel on Oct. 7, and agree that Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.

It sets out a plan to then move to an independent, demilitarized Palestine, including deployment of a U.N. Security Council-mandated temporary international stabilization mission supported by the Palestinian Authority. It would protect civilians, help build support for a Palestinian state and its security forces, and provide security guarantees for Palestine and Israel.

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Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Groups U.N. director, gave French President Emmanuel Macron credit for raising the level of ambition for the conference, and helping make it more symbolically significant than many diplomats expected.

The meeting gave weighty states including France, Britain and Canada the opportunity to signal their discontent with Israeli policy, he said, and it gave Palestinians seeking a peaceful road to statehood some political ammunition."

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who hosted a Hamas delegation in Istanbul last week to discuss Gazas humanitarian crisis and stalled ceasefire talks, noted growing global support for the Palestinians and a Palestinian state  and Israels increasing isolation.

Bonnafont, the French ambassador, had messages for Israels opponents and Israelis seeking more territory.

We say to those who are hostile to Israel, the way to peace is certainly not to deny the right of existence to Israel. This is the way to perpetual war, Bonnafont said. And the real way to defend the Palestinians is to give them a state, and the only way to give them a state is a two-state solution  and we have demonstrated concretely that this solution exists and is feasible.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  Officials with Franklin County Schools are working to fill their final open bus driver and bus monitor positions the district has open.

Director of Transportation Brad McKinney said the district is about five bus drivers & monitors short of where they need to be with the school year a little more than a week away.

That may not seem like much, but it can be a huge difference.

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McKinney said most of the openings stem from people who have retired or moved to a place outside of Kentucky.

While the shortages dont impact students and families directly right away, they greatly impact the transportation office.

McKinney said he will have to pull members of his team out of the office, including himself, when needed, if the district cant fill its open positions.

Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news

If a bus were to break down or there was a problem that would take someone out of commission who could fix that problem promptly, thats where it could impact students.

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The reason for the shortage, McKinney believes, is quite simple.

I think a lot is people are scared of the big yellow bus with kids behind them, McKinney described. Another thing is the responsibility that a driver has to endure in during their route with students on board. So, I think that some of it.

McKinney said another possible reason for the shortage is that some people do not want a job that is considered part-time.

He did mention, though, that while you may only work 5.5 hours a day as a bus driver/monitor in Franklin County, you still get full-time benefits.

In order to be a great bus driver/monitor, McKinney said the district is looking for someone who loves kids and wants to make a difference in a childs life, among other qualities.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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He claimed this isnt a job thats just about driving a big yellow bus, but also about helping your community.

McKinney himself was a bus driver for 14 years and said it was one of the hardest decisions of his career to move to an office role full-time, due to the bonds he had built with kids and their families.

For Lee Meadows, hes been driving buses for the district for seven years.

He said on his bus, he has students as young as first graders and as old as seniors in high school.

Meadows said Frankfort and Franklin County are not big communities, and everybody knows everybody.

You see the kids at Walmart or even in their jobs, Meadows explained. I actually went to Wendys the other day, and the girl serving me was one of my former students on the bus. So, you run into him everywhere; its good to build those relationships. And then I live on my route. Not everybody does that, but I live in the middle of my route. So, I see those kids. Trick-or-treating. I see those kids playing with my kids in the neighborhood, so you run into them. Its great to build those relationships with those kids, and then in turn, you build them with those families, and it just kind of creates a sense of community.

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If youre interested in applying to be a bus driver or monitor, you can do so here.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Colorados continued hot weather and sudden rainstorms come at the height of the summer travel season before school starts.

Colorado Parks and Recreation will grant free entry to state parks on Monday, Aug. 4, only to celebrate Colorados 149th birthday on Colorado Day. All other park fees remain in effect, including camping reservations, boat and off-highway vehicle registrations and hunting and fishing licenses.

Puppies found abandoned in Denver ditch during cold snap reunited

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Everyone deserves a chance to see this beauty, one tourist told FOX31.

First responders warn that creeks, lakes, reservoirs and trails can become more dangerous during extreme heat and sudden storms.

Larimer County Search and Rescue has already conducted more than 50 rescue missions this year, including 10 in July.

Lost and stranded hikers, people who are out in the mountains and find that theres either a medical condition or the conditions exceed their abilities, and they need to call for help, theyre not able to get out on their own, said Larimer County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Kate Kimble.

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First responders tell FOX31 hikers should always take a friend along and share their route with someone they can check in with. Choose trails that match your physical ability, and if on the water, always wear a life jacket.





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Furious farmers have sprayed squatters with manure in a bid to drive them off their land in eastern France.

A convoy of tractors spread a mixture of faeces and water across fields where caravans were parked in Hautes-Vosges after reportedly receiving no help from police to remove what they described as an illegal gypsy camp.

Footage posted to YouTube shows the farmers tractors circling rows of white caravans, leaving a trail of slurry in their wake. Some people from the caravans can be seen chasing the tractors, trying to halt the stinking onslaught.

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One man jumps on to a moving vehicle and bangs on the drivers window.

At least six tractors were involved in the action, which was filmed by an anonymous farmer and uploaded on a popular farming website.

Local media reported that about 400 travelling caravans had set up camp in the area without permission at the beginning of July.

The caption on the video said the farmers had sprayed manure on the fields around the encampment to prevent it expanding further.

Pascal Claude, the mayor, said the travellers returned every year despite repeated requests to leave.

The problem is that we find ourselves alone, powerless. They come back every year. We asked them to leave, but they wont. There have been clashes with the farmers. We understand why they are not happy, Mr Claude said.

At least six tractors were involved in the action, which was filmed by an anonymous farmer

The travellers reportedly arrived from eastern France as part of an evangelical mission, according to the La Depeche newspaper.

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They are said to have formed a human barrier around their caravans to prevent the tractors advancing, with some climbing on the vehicles themselves.

One farmer claimed to have received death threats. They can settle there without any problem, while we are bound by regulations, he complained.

The trail of manure surrounding the encampment can be clearly seen in the video

A similar incident occurred last month in south-western France, when 250 caravans occupied farmland in Saint-Jean-de-Marsacq without authorisation.

Around 500 caravans were reportedly based in the surrounding area, prompting several mayors from nearby towns to issue a joint statement backing the landowners.

Some of the tractors driving in convoy towards the caravans

They pledged to unite, to show solidarity and common desire to act against a resurgence of illegal installations in the region.

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In Tavistock, Devon, last year, a British farmer doused a camper in slurry after catching him in his field.

I left him there covered in slurry. He never said a word. He couldnt really argue with that, Jack Bellamy told The Sun at the time. They come up from the towns and think they can do what they want.

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It is more than 50 years since Zhou Enlai said that it was too early to say how the French Revolution had turned out. However, in this well-researched, detailed, though sometimes dense book, simply titled The French Revolution, John Hardman appears to have brought us nearer a conclusion: although change had to come in a country where feudalism survived long after it had disappeared in England, and absolute monarchy was unsustainable, it would have been far better that matters changed in a different way to what actually occurred.

Hardman claims, justifiably, to have written the first purely political history of the revolution for over a century. This does not mean that the colour of extraneous events is entirely eliminated; but if you want the full drama you would do better to start with a more generalised history that takes a bottom-up view of the proceedings, for Hardmans is unashamedly top-down. (Although it was written nearly 190 years ago, and has, in terms of material available, long since been surpassed, Thomas Carlyles French Revolution, which in parts reads rather like a screenplay, still gives the reader all the atmosphere he or she could need.)

Hardman does not write for the uninitiated. Although he begins his book helpfully with a dramatis personae, and ends it equally helpfully with a retrospective timeline, some basic idea of what happened in the years before and after 1789 is broadly assumed. New readers should not start here, but those who know the general story, or think they do, will find his book adds a thorough and different dimension to the events.

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Some, but not all, assumptions turn out to be true. King Louis XVI harmed his cause by his reluctance to end Frances caste-based politics and system of rule, for castes that had been long excluded were only more determined to have a part in the running of their country. As for Louiss wife, Marie Antoinette of Austria (lAutrichienne was one of the more charming sobriquets the French people found for her), she really never was quoted uttering quils mangent de la brioche  let them eat cake  when the mismanagement of the economy by the ancien regime has caused grain and therefore bread shortages.

King Louis XVI harmed his cause by his reluctance to end Frances caste-based politics and system of rule - Gerhard Trumler/Hulton Archive

However, her extravagance, her colourful private life (she was not faithful to her husband) and her willingness to become involved in the government of the country in which she had no constitutional right to interfere became well known beyond the court, and made her deeply unpopular.

Hardman makes the useful point early on that other revolutions have, regrettably, largely followed the template of Frances; and one is constantly reminded of what happened in Russia after 1917, though that was, if anything, even more violent and divorced from anything approaching the rule of law than what had happened 130 years earlier. In both instances, the people rose up and some from what had not traditionally been the governing class took over.

Once that happened, the ideology of those who ruled moved steadily to the Left (which in the end became largely indiscernible from what we now think of as the fascist Right), factions developed, and (to use a well-worn metaphor) the revolution began to devour its own children. Something that began in defence of liberty, and freedom of speech ended up creating a polity in which there appeared to be no liberty at all, and where free expression could easily lead to the guillotine.

A detail from Jean-Jacques Hauers Les Adieux de Louis XVI (1794): Louis bids adieu to Marie Antoinette and their children - Getty

One conspicuous difference between the French and Russian revolutions, as Hardman outlines, was the fate of the monarchy. Although Louis was reluctant to cede rights as an absolute monarch he soon understood the practicalities and began to yield powers, albeit through an attempt at negotiation. In Russia, the Romanovs were simply arrested, imprisoned and, without any attempt at a trial, slaughtered. Louis XVI was eventually put on trial as the people in charge of the French government became more extreme and motivated by class hatred, and steadily imprisoned and executed members of those factions who were happy to retain a constitutional, as opposed to an absolute, monarchy.

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Louiss trial was, as Hardman points out, entirely unfair; he was charged with crimes against liberty, which could mean everything and nothing, and was predictably found guilty  though the decision to give him the death penalty was made by the margin of only one vote.

There was then a vote on a reprieve for the King, which was rejected by 70 votes. Not only did the assembly that tried him seem reluctant to overturn the previous, albeit narrow, decision, but the roots of the bloody Reign of Terror were already taking hold: people disposed to take a lenient view of those deemed enemies of the revolution risked being viewed not simply as compassionate, but as enemies of it themselves.

Tsar Nicholas II and his family were arrested, imprisoned and slaughtered without a trial - Getty

Louis went to the guillotine in January 1793; his wife followed a few months later after a trial that was less unfair but more grotesque than his. Not least to see whether she could be provoked into an act of treachery by revealing military secrets to the country of her birth, France had declared war on Austria. She duly obliged and passed secrets on to her Austrian contacts. The other charges she faced were as absurd and unprovable as those her husband had faced, and the grotesquerie came when entirely fabricated charges of her having sexually interfered with their son, the Dauphin, were presented. It was wholly unnecessary, as treason alone would have sufficed to send her to the guillotine, entrapped though she had been. At least the Bolsheviks who shot and bayoneted a cellar full of Romanovs in 1918 made no pretence of following the rule of law.

The show trials of the King and Queen led to a rash of such outrages in the year or two afterwards, and massacres of large numbers in cities such as Lyon where people were deemed recalcitrant. Factions split into further factions  Girondins, Dantonists, Montagnards, Jacobins and so on  as those who found themselves temporarily in charge decided to kill many of those who were not. Something approaching civil war came when the Commune took on the Convention; a climax of sorts followed when Robespierre was put to death, in the wake of which a degree of sanity and order were eventually restored.

John Hardman is the author of The French Revolution

A great lesson of the French Revolution is that, when much of the population of a polity has nothing to lose, they can behave rashly and accordingly. Louis should have realised this long before 1789. Hardman, leaving all possibilities open, invites us to question whether he failed because his upbringing and his place in Frances constitution made him inflexible, or whether his wifes dominance undid him, or whether he was simply obtuse.

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This is a book of exceptional clarity and analytical force, reliant on evidence and not on supposition, and tells the story with great conviction. Hardman also astutely compares Louiss fate with those of Charles I  brought down not by a mob but by losing two civil wars and for refusing to accept the will of his people  and James II, forced to flee in 1688 at the Glorious Revolution for wilfully ignoring the reality of the Reformation and the move towards constitutional monarchy.

But it is also clear that 17th century England was a happier country than France, with nascent democracy and social mobility. These were examples France, and above all the Capetian dynasty, ignored until far too late: and some of the scars are still visible in France today.



The French Revolution is published by Yale University Press at 25. To order your copy, call 0330 173 0523 or visit Telegraph Books

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FRONTENAC, Kan.  The city of Frontenac is breaking ground in early childcare with a brand-new facility serving working parents, local businesses, and schools alike.

Construction has begun on the building that will serve as an early childhood center. This is the first of many childcare centers that marry the education system with the private sector because the center will also serve Frontenac schools.

The school districts preschool program will move into the new building when its complete.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly who spoke at the ceremony, stressed just how important she says this is, and other projects like it, are for everyone involved.

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The private sector cant do this all alone. Neither can the public sector. So, its imperative that we team up like we are doing here, to provide that absolutely critical service to our families and children, but also to our businesses, said Governor Laura Kelly (D-Kan.)

Officials say the facility was made possible by bipartisan legislation enacted earlier this year to expand access to affordable early childcare programs.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man who was wanted by U.S. Marshals for a parole violation is now in the Mahoning County Jail.

Read next: Youngstown police searching for missing man on South Side

Deion Edwards, 27, was wanted by the United States Marshals Service for a federal supervised release violation.

U.S. Marshals put an alert out on Monday, but he was booked into the jail later that day.

Chelsea Simeon contributed to this report.

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The mobile black lung screening unit parked outside of the Hazel & J.W. Ruby Community Center at Mylan Park in Morgantown, W.Va., on July 31, 2025. Dozens of miners received free screenings at the unit while they were there for the National Mine Rescue Associations Post 5 Mine Rescue Contest. (Photo by Payton Mandell for West Virginia Watch)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  On a turf field in Morgantown, West Virginia, last week, mine rescue teams from across the state put their training to use as they worked together to respond to simulated hazards that can occur in coal mines as part of the National Mine Rescue Associations Post 5 Mine Rescue Contest.

The hazards, according to Josh Brady, include what to do if there is an unstable structure, water flooding a mine, a methane bubble or areas with low oxygen  all things that threaten miners safety while underground and can, potentially, cost them their lives.

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Mine rescue teams are the ones called in when things go wrong in a mine, said Brady, who is the director of the department of Mining and Industrial Extension at West Virginia University.

Usually, these situations are clear and the danger they pose apparent. Having individuals trained to correct them, Brady said, means lives are saved and disasters avoided.

Nearby, in the parking lot of the Hazel & J.W. Ruby Community Center at Mylan Park, a different kind of team was working to help miners stay safe from a less obvious but just as dangerous threat: black lung.

Employees with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were there staffing the Coal Workers Health Surveillance Programs mobile black lung screening unit. Its the first time the mobile unit has been back in the field since federal government cuts shut it down earlier this year.

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Now, following a court mandate ordering the full restoration of services at the CWHSP, Laura Reynolds, the supervisory programs management officer with the NIOSH Respiratory Health Division, said everything is back to normal.

It did take some time  first to stop everything [in April] and then, you know, getting everything back going again, Reynolds said. But were fully operational again now. Everything is staffed, weve got the mobile unit going, and were just happy to be back in the community meeting miners where they are.

The mobile black lung screening unit provides miners with free screenings to test their lung function and see if there is evidence of black lung. Screenings take roughly 30 minutes per person and include a health and work history questionnaire, a chest X-ray, a blood pressure screening and a spirometry test.

It takes about five people to staff the unit  one to drive and four others who run the tests and see miners.

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Joene Patterson, a health technician at NIOSH who works on the unit, said being able to take services to miners directly is critical.

For a lot of folks, too many, this might be the only time they really come and get their health checked, Patterson said. You know, people  men especially  can be stubborn about their health. They dont think that something bad will happen to them, but we know it does.

The screenings are fully confidential and available to both current and retired miners. Reynolds said the check-ins allow miners to make up their own minds about what they want to do depending on the results. There arent any mandates that stop someone from working if they do have black lung, but knowing the diagnosis allows them to have options.

Its about giving them choices, making sure theyre aware of their health and any risks they might be taking, Reynolds said. We arent here to force anyone to do anything, but we want to make sure that theyre being educated about what could happen and their own risk level.

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If a current miner shows a positive black lung X-ray, then they can apply for a Part 90 transfer, which allows them to move to a less dusty part of the mine without facing retribution  like a cut in pay or hours  from employers.

For retired miners, the X-rays can be used to apply for black lung benefit payments.

Over the course of three days last week, Reynolds said the mobile unit saw dozens of miners.

A few people told us they were happy to see us back out here and that was great to hear, Reynolds said. Were happy anytime anyone comes in and decides to get checked out.

Real lungs on display inside the NIOSH black lung screening mobile unit show what black lung looks like when it progresses. (Payton Mandell for West Virginia Watch)

The screenings are critical for early detection of black lung disease. The earlier a case is caught, the more steps people can take to prevent the disease from evolving into a more complicated and debilitating form.

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There is no cure for black lung. The best intervention, according to experts, is to limit exposure to dangerous silica dust.

But limiting that exposure is becoming difficult as dust is more common in mines now due to miners needing to dig through silica-rich sandstone to reach the little coal that remains in existing seams.

In central Appalachia, black lung rates are on the rise; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 20% of coal miners here are suffering from black lung  the highest rate detected in more than 25 years.

One in 20 of the regions coal miners are living with the most severe form of the condition.

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The resurgence of black lung is hitting coal miners at younger ages than ever before due to the increased exposure to silica dust.

Jennifer Orrahood, who also works on the mobile unit, said theyre seeing these statistics in real life all the time. Its difficult, however, since younger coal miners tend to be more resistant to getting screened, Reynolds said.

They tend not to worry about it, and I guess thats part of being young, Reynolds said.

Orrahood said she wants young miners to understand that they arent invincible. Risks exist and, if nothing else, its important to be knowledgeable about your own health.

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If youre young, even if you believe youre totally healthy you should still be getting screened to set a baseline, Orrahood said. We hope theyre right, that theres nothing wrong, but that baseline is critical for knowing thats the case.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -Emergency funding to help hundreds of thousands of refugees in Uganda will run out next month unless more support comes in, a United Nations agency said on Monday.

A funding crisis is threatening programmes for people fleeing there from strife-torn countries in the region including Sudan, and Uganda's neighbours South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said.

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"Emergency funding runs out in September," Dominique Hyde, the agency's Director for External Relations, said in a statement.

"More children will die of malnutrition, more girls will fall victim to sexual violence, and families will be left without shelter or protection unless the world steps up."

UNHCR and other UN agencies face one of the worst funding crises in decades, compounded by U.S. and other donor states' decisions to slash foreign aid funding.

Uganda is home to 1.93 million refugees, more than a million of them under 18, according to UNHCR figures.

An average 600 people are still coming in every day and the overall figure, already the largest in Africa, is due to rise to 2 million by the end of the year, the agency says.

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It said it would only be able to meet a third of the costs associated with supporting Sudanese refugees in Uganda - and would have to cut its monthly funding to $5 per refugee from $16 unless more money is found.

Malnutrition rates are rising as food, water, and medicine supplies shrink, while the risk of suicide is increasing among young refugees due to a reduction in mental health staff, the agency added.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
The government is slated today to push through a final vote to dismiss Baharav-Miara. What will likely happen next is that the High Court of Justice will provide a judicial review of the decision.

The way that the government has gone about dismissing Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara is against the law, riddled with disingenuous political motivations, and a glaring red flag for the future of the role, its independence, and the rule of law, the A-G said on Monday, ahead of the expected final vote to seal her dismissal.

Baharav-Miara pointed out that this aggressively fast dismissal process could not be divorced from the challenge that the government is currently facing: coalition cohesion.

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Undermining this cohesion are issues pertaining, for example, to the draft-exemption law, faulty cases concerning political intervention in law enforcement, sectoral budgets that do not align with the law, and political appointments made based on personal connections, not merit, she continued.

As for the firing process of Baharav-Miara, High Court Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg ruled in July, following petitions against the decision, that this will require judicial review and will not come into effect immediately.

In essence, Sohlbergs ruling cooled down some of the intense flames surrounding the unprecedented move against the person serving both as the chief legal adviser to the government and as its head of prosecution.

Protestors gather in Tel Aviv to support A-G Gali Baharav-Miara. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)

Sohlbergs compromise on timing opens the door to petitions against the decision. Soon after the news broke of the committees decision, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, for one, petitioned to challenge it in court. In all probability, petitioners will also request that the court issue an injunction against the decision, effectively stopping it from taking immediate effect.

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Dismissing her is the removal of one of the main and last checks that existed in Israeli jurisprudence on the power of the government, Baharav-Miara wrote on Monday.

In her sharply-worded letter, the A-G surmised that the reasons provided by Justice Minister Yariv Levin in his insistence on her dismissal indicate that he is looking for an attorney-general who will simply obey the government and legalize its intended violations of the law.

Levin, for instance, is seeking to make it possible for eligible haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men to avoid being drafted into the military, as well as allowing for political interference in police matters, she continued.

Not only that, but in dismissing and replacing the A-G, the government is directly challenging her as the chief prosecutor in the cases against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or other ministers. These cases may be affected by the dismissal, she wrote.

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The government has stated time and again that the working relationship between it and the legal advisory has become so strained that it is impossible to continue like this; replacing Baharav-Miara is the only possible solution.

Opponents view the move as aggressive and drastic, as well as dangerous in rendering powerless one of the last remaining checks on the governments power.

The current legal protocol for hiring or dismissing an attorney-general was codified in the year 2000, following the Shamgar Commission and the Bar-On-Hebron affair. The conditions assume that a hiring or dismissal could happen relatively quickly to avoid leaving the post vacant.

In January 1997, lawyer Roni Bar-On was appointed attorney-general by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He was not qualified for the position and resigned two days later after public and political outrage.

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About a week later, it was revealed that Bar-Ons appointment was part of a deal between Netanyahu and Shas head Arye Deri, who was then the internal security minister, to advance a plea bargain in Deris corruption trial.

Deri pushed for the appointment in exchange for his partys support of the controversial Hebron Agreement for the withdrawal of IDF forces from some parts of the city. He was later indicted and was barred from politics for a decade.

Deri was later indicted and was barred from politics for a decade

The Shamgar Commission was then created to establish the criteria for a committee that would ensure this would not happen again. Today, there is the public-professional committee, which must approve the candidate and provide the government with recommendations before any decision is made on the matter.

Levin, however, failed to fill in all the necessary positions.

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The panel should be made up of a retired Supreme Court justice as chairperson, appointed by the Supreme Court president and by the approval of the justice minister; a former justice minister or attorney-general, chosen by the government; an MK, selected by the Knessets Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee; a lawyer, determined by the Israel Bar Association; and a legal academic, chosen by the deans of the law faculties.

BAHARAV-MIARA noted on Monday that the decision ensures that there will be no objective third-party weighing in on the matter.

Moreover, she said, the decision itself contradicts Israeli legal precedence, has no factual or legal support, was rushed and not thorough, and effectively erases and ignores everything studied and gleaned from the Bar-On-Hebron affair.

After the government failed to staff the committee based on the accepted and precedented protocols, it simply moved to change them in a hasty and faulty method, wrote the A-G.

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What is so dangerous about this method is that it grants complete political control over the process. From now on, any government will be able to dismiss any attorney-general with a simple ministerial committee vote, she said.

Without any checks and balances or a filtering system against foreign influences over a process that must remain objective and not bend to the vision of any one government, Baharav-Miara continued, the government will, in this, be operating against the law.

The government wrote last month in its position, penned by Levin and by Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud)  who chairs the selection committee  that it could fill the positions for this panel because all relevant former attorneys-general and justice ministers opposed the governments decision.

This decision will affect the corpus of the role itself, Baharav-Miara wrote, changing it from an objective, merit-based role to one that is dependent on loyalty to the sitting government.

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In Israel, the legislative and executive branches of the government are not truly split. The parliament (Knesset), which is the legislative branch, has 120 permanent members elected by proportional representation, while the government, which is the executive branch, is comprised of ministers.

All these ministers, including the premier, are typically also MKs. Further, members of the executive branch are part of the legislature, and the executive constantly depends on Knesset support to manifest its policies.

This is the basis for the argument for a strong judiciary, including the legal advisory.

As mentioned, proponents argue that the work relationship between the legal advisory and the government has become alarmingly unproductive, necessitating the A-Gs dismissal.

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Furthermore, they claim that, over the years, the legal advisory has usurped more power than it should have, and that the Shamgar Commission conditioned the hiring and dismissal of an A-G on its timeliness. In other words, the process should be efficient and flow smoothly.

Baharav-Miara addressed this point by saying that the commission was not faced with the situation where the sitting prime minister was knee-deep in a criminal trial.

What her dismissal means in this case, the A-G wrote, is an attempt to replace the chief prosecutor against a prime minister who is under trial, right in the middle of the cross-examination section of the proceedings.

This points to a clear and alarming conflict of interest by the government toward the A-G, Baharav-Miara said.
MILAN  Shein has been fined by the Italian Competition Authority, or AGCM, for alleged misleading and omissive green claims, marking the second financial sanction by a European authority in a little more than a month.

The Italian authority is imposing sanctions of 1 million euros on the ultra-fast-fashion giant claiming that statements available on its website and other informative or promotional online pages were in some cases vague, generic and/or overly emphatic; in others, misleading by omission or deception.

More from WWD

Contacted by WWD, Shein issued a statement saying: Shein actively cooperated with the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) throughout the entire proceeding, promptly taking all necessary steps to address the concerns raised as soon as it became aware of them. We have strengthened our internal review processes and improved our website to ensure that all environmental claims are clear, specific and fully compliant with applicable regulations.

The AGCM refers particularly to Sheins sustainability claims on the Social Responsibility, #SheinTheKnow and evoluShein pages. In the latter the authority uncovered misleading information on circular economy practices and product recyclability, deeming them false or at least confusionary

The authority also highlighted that descriptions and promotional copy about the evoluShein by Design line emphasized the use of green fibers without detailing their sustainability credentials nor highlighting that they represent a small portion of the Shein product offering. These claims may lead consumers to believe not only that the evoluShein by Design collection is made exclusively from eco-friendly materials, but also that its products are fully recyclable  a notion that, given the fibers used and the recycling systems currently available, is not accurate, the AGCM stated.

It also refuted Sheins ambition to reduce GHG emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, stating that they are contradicted by an increase in the e-tailers emissions in 2024.

To this end, the 2024 Sustainability and Social Impact Report released in June revealed growing carbon emissions. In particular, transport-related emissions rose 13.7 percent year-over-year to 8.54 million metric tons of CO2, largely due to increased reliance on air freight. This increase occurred despite Sheins stated commitment to optimizing logistics and shifting to lower-emission transport options.
ROME, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Cinephiles both local and afar can look forward to three days of early silent and talkie films in Rome.

The Capitol Theatre is holding its 22nd annual Capitolfest from Aug. 8 to Aug.10. This years festival curates rare films from as early as 1917 until the 30s, most of which are on 35mm celluloid film.

The festivals roster includes 14 silent films and shorts and 12 talkies (films from when Hollywood was first adapting to synchronized sound). Three pianists  Philip Carli, Ben Model, and David Peckham  will play the Capitols 97-year-old theater organ to accompany the silent films.

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You can buy tickets online here. Admission for the full three days is available for $98, but prices are reduced depending on how many sessions you plan to attend (details on each session are listed below).

Following the tradition of focusing on two classic Hollywood stars for each festival, this years fest highlights silent-era actresses Laura La Plante and Zasu Pitts.

On Aug. 7, the evening before Capitolfest, the theater is kicking off the festival with a mixer, a sale of old movie memorabilia, and a screening of The Ruggles of Red Gap, a 1935 comedy starring Pitts.

Some of the films are obscure among classic cinema. Film restorationist Louis Despres told the Capitol that Help Yourself, a rare silent short from 1927, may very well be the films public premiere, and this is almost certainly the first time it has been screened for a paying audience. The film, previously lost media, was directed by Billy Wilkerson, best known as the founder of film industry publication The Hollywood Reporter.

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The Man I Marry, a Universal film from 1936, is another rarity. Initially intended to boost the film career of Broadway actress Doris Nolan, it has never been screened on television, nor was it distributed even on pirate home video. Variety described the film as thus: Gags and wacky situations arrive in such blasts that the opus merits the subtitle of goofus.

The lineup also includes a blooper reel of Fox films from the 30s and the recently discovered The Gorilla from 1927, a mystery surrounding several murders with a gorilla as a suspect.

A full schedule of Capitol Fest is available below. Those who seek more information can check out the Capitolfest Facebook page or the Rome Capitol website.

Friday, Aug. 8:

Session 1:

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9:30 a.m. The Deputys Double Cross (Universal, 1922) 20 minutes, silent.

9:50 a.m. Man and Wife (Effanem, 1923) 50 minutes, silent.

10:40 a.m. Intermission.

11:05 a.m. Fox blooper reel (1930-1933) 20 minutes.

11:25 a.m. Love, Honor, and Oh, Baby! (Universal, 1933) 65 minutes.

Session 2:

1:50 p.m. Rob Stone silent comedy rarities show no. 1, 60 minutes.

2:55 p.m. Intermission.

3:10 p.m. Little Mickey Grogan (F.B.O., 1927) 60 minutes, silent.

4:15 p.m. Intermission.

4:30 p.m. The Luckiest Girl in the World (Universal, 1936) 68 minutes.

Session 3:

7:50 p.m. Laura La Plante documentary short, 5 minutes.

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8 p.m. Butterfly (Universal, 1924) 80 minutes, silent.

9:25 p.m. Intermission.

9:40 p.m. King of Jazz (Universal, 1930) 98 minutes.

Saturday, Aug. 9

Session 4:

9:30 a.m. Zasu Pitts documentary short, 5 minutes.

9:40 a.m. Why They Left Home (Universal, 1917) 2 minutes, silent.

9:45 a.m. The Re-Creation of Brian Kent (Principal, 1925) 70 minutes, silent.

11 a.m. Intermission.

11:20 a.m. Mothers Helper (Fox, 1933) 2 minutes.

11:25 a.m. The Affair of Susan (Universal, 1935) 62 minutes.

Session 5:

1:45 p.m. Rob Stone silent comedy rarities show no. 2, 30 minutes.

2:10 p.m. Intermission.

2:25 p.m. The Squealer (Columbia, 1930) 67 minutes.

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3:40 p.m. Intermission.

4 p.m. The Night Mayor (Columbia, 1932) 65 minutes.

Session 6:

7:30 p.m. Fathers Close Shave (Christie, 1920) 18 minutes, silent.

7:50 p.m. The Gorilla (First National, 1927) 80 minutes, silent.

9:20 p.m. Intermission.

9:35 p.m. Menace (Paramount, 1934) 58 minutes, silent.

Sunday, Aug. 10

Session 7:

9:40 a.m. Love Birds (Universal, 1934) 61 minutes.

10:45 a.m. Intermission.

11:15 a.m. Rob Stone silent comedy rarities show no. 3, 30 minutes.

11:45 a.m. Finder Keepers (Universal, 1928) 65 minutes, silent.

Session 8:

2:10 p.m. The Philadelphia-Lancaster Counterfeiters (George Clifford Reid Productions, 1931) 10 minutes.

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2:20 p.m. The Man I Marry (Universal, 1936) 79 minutes.

3:45 p.m. Intermission.

4 p.m. Help Yourself (Wilkerson, 1927) 21 minutes, silent.

4:25 p.m. Dead Game (Universal 1923) 50 minutes, silent.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
UPDATE: According to the Lindale Fire Department, Jim Hogg Road has been reopened following the gas line break Monday morning.

LINDALE, Texas (KETK)  The City of Lindale announced on Monday afternoon that Jim Hogg Road is closed due to a gas line break.

The city said that Jim Hogg Road, just south of Sand Flat Road to CR 474, is temporarily closed because of a gas line leak.

Photo courtesy of Lindale Fire Department

Officials are asking the public to avoid this area while emergency services are on scene, and they will update once the roadway is reopened.

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

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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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter.

The Gates Foundation on Monday said it is committing to invest $2.5 billion over the next five years to accelerate research and development in neglected areas of womens health.

The funding will be channeled toward five priority areas of research that are particularly important to low- and middle-income countries. Among the targets for investment are contraception, maternal health, obstetric care, maternal immunization and sexually transmitted infections.

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This is the largest investment weve ever made in womens health research and development, but it still falls far short of what is needed in a neglected and underfunded area of huge human need and opportunity, Anita Zaidi, president of the Gates Foundations Gender Equality Division, said in a statement.

Health conditions that primarily or disproportionately affect women have long been neglected. Lack of investment often slows the research necessary for biotechnology companies to develop new medicines, leaving common disorders such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and preeclampsia without good treatment options.

The Gates Foundation highlighted non-hormonal contraception, preeclampsia treatment and research into the vaginal microbiome as areas of breakthrough potential.

Some of the investment will also go to supporting data collection and advocacy when products are approved for market.

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According to a McKinsey Health Institute report, closing the gender health gap could boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040.

This commitment brings much-needed attention to the health challenges women face in places where resources are most limited and the burden is highest. It reflects a recognition that womens livesand the innovations that support themmust be prioritized everywhere, said Bosede Afolabi, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the College of Medicine at the University of Lagos, in a statement provided by the foundation.

The Gates Foundation is also urging public and private sectors to co-invest in womens health innovations, [to] help shape product development, and ensure access to treatments for the women and girls who need them most.

We cant do this alone, said Ru-fong Cheng, director of Womens Health Innovation at the Gates Foundation, in an email to BioPharma Dive. Addressing the health needs of all women will require more co-investment from the private sector, investors, philanthropy and others. Its so important because when we improve health outcomes for women, not only do they have the opportunity to live fuller lives, but we can also strengthen entire families, communities and economies.

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While private investment in womens health research has increased in the U.S., the field faces threats from funding cuts, federal layoffs and new policies that worry physicians, researchers and other experts.

The new commitment from the Gates Foundation are also designed to support the organizations 2045 goals, which aim to end preventable deaths of mothers and infants.

Recommended Reading
Courtney Hale

Its no secret that womens health has historically been under-prioritized. Womens symptoms are often dismissed, their pain is disbelieved, and their treatments are outdated. That last point is particularly troubling. There are many surprising statistics that highlight the research gap around womens health  like that women make up only 41% of clinical trial participants in the U.S.  but perhaps none as shocking as this: only 1% of non-cancer research and innovation goes toward female-specific conditions, according to a 2021 analysis from McKinsey & Company.

Basically, the state of research and development in womens health specifically is in disrepair. But that may be about to change. The Gates Foundation announced a new $2.5 billion commitment meant to to accelerate research and development focused exclusively on womens health, according to a press release on August 4. The goal, according to a statement from Dr. Anita Zaidi, president of the Gates Foundations Gender Equality Division, is to finally prioritize women, making tangible steps toward improving womens health globally.

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For too long, women have suffered from health conditions that are misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or ignored, Dr. Zaidi said. We want this investment to spark a new era of women-centered innovation  one where women's lives, bodies, and voices are prioritized in health R&D [research and development].

Related: Women Were Long Left Out of Scientific Research, and It's Led to the Proliferation of Our Pain

The five main objectives of this funding are to offer more accessible and effective contraceptive options for women across the globe; improving diagnosis and treatment of STIs, which disproportionately impact women; to make advancements in gynecological health; supporting healthier pregnancies and infants; and to make pregnancy and childbirth safer. These objectives may be achieved through efforts like developing new and more accessible birth control options, new treatments for maternal health issues like preeclampsia, research on the vaginal microbiome that could shed light on bacterial vaginosis diagnoses, and research that could yield a better ability to diagnose endometriosis.

Just to underscore the need of funding like this, lets focus on that last point. Right now, endometriosis impacts about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, according to the American Medical Association. Though its fairly common, it can take between four to 11 years to get an accurate diagnosis for endometriosis  and as many as six in 10 cases are still undiagnosed, according to an article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, there was only $13 million directed toward endometriosis research in 2019, which equates to $1 per year for each patient diagnosed with the condition.

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Though $2.5 billion is an undeniably huge amount of money, the Gates Foundation says its not enough. This is the largest investment we've ever made in womens health research and development, but it still falls far short of what is needed in a neglected and underfunded area of huge human need and opportunity, Zaidi in a statement. To close the funding gap even further, the organization is urging other key players  from governments to the private sector  to put their focus toward innovations in womens health.

For Bill Gates, the chair of the Gates Foundation, theres a clear reason to fund womens health research, and hes calling for help in doing so.

Investing in womens health has a lasting impact across generations. It leads to healthier families, stronger economies, and a more just world, Gates said in a statement. Yet womens health continues to be ignored, underfunded, and sidelined. Too many women still die from preventable causes or live in poor health. That must change. But we cant do it alone.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Warner Robins on Sunday. During the incident, the suspect set a shed on fire.

One man was injured during the incident, the GBI said.

The incident happened early Sunday morning when Warner Robins police responded to a domestic violence call on Louis Street.

When they got there, officers encountered Jesus Chavez-Ledesma, who was armed and involved in the domestic incident, according to the GBI.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

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Chavez-Ledesma, 46, opened fire at the officers, then barricaded himself inside a small storage shed behind the house.

GBI said during the standoff, Chavez-Ledesma set the shed on fire and kept shooting at police.

In response, an officer fired back, hitting Chavez-Ledesma.

He was subsequently taken to a local hospital for treatment and is expected to survive his injuries, according to the GBI.

Warner Robins Fire units were able to put out the fire. No officers were injured during the incident.

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Ukraines defence forces successfully struck a fuel and lubricant facility at Sochi Airport in Russias Krasnodar Krai on the night of 2-3 August.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "The Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in coordination with other components of the defence forces, struck the fuel and lubricant facility at Sochi Airport in Krasnodar Krai. A large fire broke out on site. It is known that Russian aircraft was also stationed at the airfield."

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Details: The General Staff emphasised that Ukraines defence forces continue taking all necessary measures to undermine the military and economic potential of the Russian Federation and to put an end to its armed aggression against Ukraine.

Background:

Russian media outlets, social media channels and local authorities reported that a drone attack caused a fire at an oil depot in the Russian city of Sochi.

Reports indicate the drone strike began shortly after 02:00 local time, and more than 20 explosions were heard across the city.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Restoration experts renovate the floor of the Georgia Senate chambers. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Lawmakers may be gone, but work is still being accomplished underneath Georgias Gold Dome this summer. With legislators away, architects have started to give both the House and Senate chambers a makeover.

A restoration expert repairs artistic details on the ceiling of the Georgia House chamber. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Construction is also underway across the street, where a new legislative office is being built to house lawmaker offices and committee rooms. Both projects are a part of a $392 million renovation plan the Georgia General Assembly approved last year.

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The Gold Dome has been a symbol of the state since its construction in 1889. Renovation plans are designed to preserve this history while simultaneously celebrating a new chapter.

Its a place of history as well as a place of government, and so the building itself should reflect that, said Timothy Crimmins, co-author of Democracy Restored: A History of the Georgia State Capitol.

When the state Capitol was initially constructed, there was a strict $1 million dollar budget and a requirement that Georgia materials should be utilized when possible. Financial restraints made it difficult to locally source some construction materials. This led to Indiana limestone being used for the exterior of the Capitol and European carpets being imported for interior chambers.

The current renovation of the Capitol is being done in the same spirit. Backed by a $83 million restoration budget for the historic Capitol building alone, the project has already incorporated local materials from floor to ceiling.

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Shaw Contract, which is based in Cartersville, provided the new carpet being installed in both the House and Senate chambers. Long dubbed the Carpet Capital of the World, Dalton is known for producing between 85 to 90% of U.S. carpet, according to state Rep. Kasey Carpenter, a Republican who represents Dalton.

Its a sense of pride obviously for northwest Georgia to make sure that we have a place in the Capitol, Carpenter said.

A close-up of a nearly finished portion of the House chamber ceiling. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

Dalton isnt the only city that has found a place to shine at the Capitol. Dahlonega gold was used last year when Georgias iconic dome was regilded during initial renovation stages.

While a lot of change has happened at the Capitol since 1889, Gerald Pilgrim, the Georgia Building Authority chief of staff who is overseeing renovations, said he hopes that by the end of the project, the Capitol will look and feel a lot like its early days.

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To bring this vision back to life, Pilgrim and his team have emphasized historical accuracy by hiring historical preservation architects and a preservationist subtractor. Together, even small details like lighting and color schemes have been fact checked. Numerous light studies were conducted after restoring chandeliers from the 1900s to ensure that each bulb emits an appropriate glow.

Lawmakers desks are currently being refinished and will all receive a new USB port before returning to the Capitol. Chairs have been replaced with replicas, but old chairs will be kept in storage and be made available by seat-holders request.

Skybridge debate lingers

Construction at the new legislative office building has progressed and is on track to be finished by the end of next year.

At the (Coverdell building) the offices were very small and cramped, Pilgrim said. Everybodys (new) office is going to be the same size. Theyre all going to be 226 square feet, which is about double what they currently have, and all (offices) have a window view of either the Capitol or downtown Atlanta, theres not an obstructed view in the building.

The Georgia House chamber filled with scaffolding for a renovation. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

The eight-story building will also feature a skybridge meant to create an accessible way to move between the new offices on Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW and the Capitol building.

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Constructing a bridge or tunnel has been a decades-long conversation at the statehouse. Crimmins said an earlier proposal to add a bridge from the Capitol to the current legislative office across Mitchell Street was ultimately rejected. Officials instead reduced traffic with street closures.

When conversations about a skybridge reemerged, the idea was met with concerns from preservationists. Pilgrim said the Georgia Building Authority considered alternatives before deciding that the skybridge was the best option.

We looked at doing a tunnel with the cost being about four times more expensive, Pilgrim said. But more importantly, the tunnel was not going to improve accessibility.

To address preservationists concerns, Pilgrim said the skybridge will bear its own weight and wont require any demolition. This allows the bridge to be easily removed in future years if the project does not prove to be as successful as anticipated. Construction will use similar materials that match the Capitols existing aesthetic and include arches that mimic the buildings renaissance style architecture.

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David Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center, has been a vocal opponent of the skybridge. Comparing it to a bizarre umbilical cord, he argues that claims of improved accessibility are ironic considering the limited public awareness and outreach about renovations.

Youre telling me youre spending $10 million for something to be used for four months, if even, Mitchell said, referring to the skybridge. Its not like its being used 12 months out of the year, and is helping multiple handicapped accessible people. Were not talking about something like an ADA compliance, were talking about during the session when the greatest usage of this will take place.

Despite continued debate over the skybridge, construction was approved in June when the Atlanta City Council signed over the air rights that will allow the bridge to be built next year.

Original library will be restored

A photo of the original state Capitol library. Photo provided by Gerald Pilgrim

If entering the Capitol from the skybridge, pedestrians will be welcomed through a soon-to-be-restored state library that was part of the original Capitol. The two-story library will bring a variety of books back to the statehouse and offer additional meeting spaces for public affairs.

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The library was converted into office space around 1910 and was completely eliminated by 1950, according to Pilgrim. After the restoration, the current offices and copy room occupying the space will relocate to the first floor. An observation space is planned to give visitors a chance to watch the restoration process.

Well have Plexiglas partitions in there so when school groups come in and tour, theyre going to see the artisans in there doing the work, Pilgrim said.

Renovations and new construction are all on track to be completed by the end of 2027. The three-year project is not expected to interfere with next years legislative session.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the company behind the new carpet in the House and Senate chambers. The company is Shaw Contract.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Germany's federal government has responded cautiously to city-level initiatives aimed at evacuating vulnerable children from the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Thorsten Frei, chief of staff to the German chancellor and a senior member of the centre-right Christian Democrats, emphasized that helping people on the ground remains the priority.

Frei, speaking on Monday to broadcaster RTL/ntv, said the goal should be to provide assistance that can help as many people as possible.

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"That's why I'm cautious when it comes to the idea of flying out individuals. In such cases, wed only be talking about a handful of people, and there would be numerous other questions to clarify," he said.

Germany's Interior Ministry has also voiced reservations.

"The feasibility of such initiatives depends significantly on the security situation, the possibility of departure, and other factors," a spokesman said in response to a query from dpa.

Despite federal hesitation, the cities of Hanover and Dusseldorf announced plans last week to take in children from Gaza and Israel who are especially vulnerable or traumatized. Hanover, for example, proposed offering help to up to 20 children.

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However, city officials acknowledged that any such initiative would require political support at the federal level, particularly for entry procedures, selection criteria and medical coordination.

On Monday, Bonn said it was also interested in participating in effort.
Markus Soder, Prime Minister of the German state of Bavaria, has called for an end to citizen's allowance payments for Ukrainian refugees, proposing that new arrivals instead receive reduced benefits under the country's Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF on Aug. 3, Soder said Ukrainian refugees should no longer be eligible for the same welfare benefits as German citizens and should instead receive only asylum-level support.

The citizen's allowance is a federal welfare payment granted to individuals with little or no income to ensure a minimum standard of living.

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Soder said it must be ensured that "there is no more citizen's allowance for all those who have come from Ukraine," adding that the policy should apply not just to future arrivals, but to all Ukrainian refugees in Germany.

Soder argued that Germany is the only country providing Ukrainian refugees with benefits comparable to the citizen's allowance. He also alleged that, because of the high level of support, Ukrainian refugees were unwilling to look for work despite their high qualifications.

Under a previous agreement between the governing coalition parties  the center-right Christian Democrats and the center-left Social Democrats  Ukrainian refugees arriving after April 1, 2025 are to receive benefits in accordance with the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, aligning them with other refugee groups.

However, the policy has yet to be legally implemented. For now, Ukrainian refugees arriving after the proposed cut off date continue to receive the citizen's allowance.

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Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. According to UNHCR, more than 5 million Ukrainian refugees are currently living in Europe  1.2 million of which are hosted by Germany.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones target Shahed storage site, industrial facilities in Russia; Strikes hit oil depot in Sochi

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Markus Wacket

BERLIN (Reuters) -A senior lawmaker in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition on Monday said Berlin should consider sanctions on Israel including a partial suspension of weapons exports or the suspension of a European Union-wide political agreement.

The call by Siemtje Moeller, the deputy leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) parliamentary faction, reflects a sharpening of rhetoric from Berlin against Israel which has yet to yield any major policy changes however.

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Moeller, whose SPD joined a coalition with Merz's conservatives this year, wrote a letter to SPD lawmakers after returning from a trip to Israel with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul last week.

"My assessment is that the Israeli government will move little without pressure. If such concrete improvements fail to materialize in the near future, there must be consequences," she said in the letter, seen by Reuters.

Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be "taboo", she said, adding that Israeli statements that there were no restrictions on aid to Gaza were not convincing.

At the same time, Moeller demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas. She said Hamas must no longer play a role in a political future in Gaza. "It must be disarmed, its reign of terror must end."

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Western nations have intensified efforts to exert pressure on Israel, with Britain, Canada and France signalling their readiness to recognise a Palestinian state in Israeli-occupied territory at the United Nations General Assembly this September.

Israel has criticised France, Britain and Canada, saying their decision will reward Hamas.

Critics argue that Germanys response remains overly cautious, shaped by an enduring sense of historical guilt for the Holocaust and reinforced by pro-Israel sentiment in influential media circles, weakening the Wests collective ability to apply meaningful pressure on Israel.

The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures.

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Israel's air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials. A growing number of civilians are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say, with images of starving children shocking the world and intensifying criticism of Israel over its curbs on aid into the enclave.

Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international outcry, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.

(Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Sila Realty Trust has acquired two medical outpatient buildings (MOBs) in Southlake, Texas, US, in a deal valued at $16.15m.

The acquired portfolio consists of a gastroenterology centre and an ambulatory surgery centre (ASC), both of which cater to a shared physician group and patient demographic.

The gastroenterology facility is leased to Cardinal Health subsidiary GI Alliance.

GI Alliance is said to be the largest gastroenterology group in the US, with a network of over 1,000 physicians.

In January this year, Cardinal Health secured a 73% stake in GI Alliance for nearly $2.8bn.

Cardinal Health operates as a publicly traded entity, providing a range of healthcare services and products, and serves a significant portion of hospitals across the US.

The ASC is leased to a joint venture that includes United Surgical Partners International and Baylor Scott & White Health, along with a group of physicians.

Baylor Scott & White Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas. United Surgical Partners International is Tenet Healthcares for-profit subsidiary.

Sila Realty Trust president and CEO Michael Seton said: The operational integration of the Southlake Healthcare Facilities paired with the strong institutional support of the tenancies are key characteristics that we seek in the triple-net lease healthcare facilities that we endeavour to own.

The ASCs affiliation with Baylor Scott & White Health and the tenants focus on the best possible outcomes for patients result in strong operating performance and, consequently, durable income streams for Sila. Sila Realty Trust focuses on making investments in the healthcare sector.

"Sila Realty Trust acquires two medical outpatient facilities in Texas, US" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.




Just days ago in Germany, Michael Ballweg was convicted after a 44-day court case for tax evasion. The sum: 19.53. For this, Ballweg was arrested in 2022 and spent nine months in a high-security prison. His home was searched and he was accused of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of euros, charges that were not substantiated in court. The prosecution demanded three years in prison and half a million euros as a fine, which was then rejected.

The immensely harsh treatment of Ballweg cannot be separated in the minds of many Germans from his past as the most popular anti-lockdown organiser during the Covid pandemic. Many will suggest it is striking how efficient and uncompromising the German state can be when dealing with critics and political dissenters, and yet how lenient it appears in response to widespread theft.

According to a new study by the EHI Retail Institute, shoplifters caused billions of euros in losses for German retailers. The data, gathered from 98 major retail chains operating over 17,000 stores, which represent more than 20 per cent of all retail sales in Germany, revealed that nearly 3bn worth of goods were stolen in 2024. This marks the third consecutive year of rising shoplifting-related losses and the highest figure ever recorded. Consumers must bear the financial burden of paying higher prices to cover the growing costs of surveillance, private security, and anti-theft measures.

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A new phenomenon in Germany is the rise of highly organised criminal gangs and clans. These groups are believed to be responsible for a significant portion of shoplifting crimes, focusing on alcohol, trainers, tech products, and cigarettes, which they then sell on the grey market. Estimates suggest that one in three thefts is committed by organised crime. Interestingly, while official police statistics report a 5 per cent decrease in shoplifting, many retailers have observed an increase. This discrepancy may stem from the fact that 98 per cent of incidents are not even reported to the police due to low conviction rates.

Instead, many retailers opt to issue exclusion orders, banning known thieves from entering their premises, as a more practical response. According to Stefan Genth, general manager of the German Trade Association: Many retailers are frustrated because reports rarely lead to the perpetrators being convicted and sanctioned, and therefore they avoid the bureaucratic effort involved in filing criminal charges. He also warned that Germany may be heading toward a situation similar to that in the United States, where many products are locked behind security cases. The lax sentencing and response to shoplifting seems to have made many criminals completely brazen. Store managers report that thieves walk out with shopping worth 200. An increase in violence by thieves has led some stores to forbid employees to stop the criminals.

The nature of crime in Germany has changed dramatically. Traditionally not known for spectacular heists or entrenched organised crime, the country has, over the past five years, seen a rise in both. One of the most notorious examples involves the Remmo clan, a powerful Arab crime syndicate whose members immigrated to Germany between 1975 and 1990. Five members were convicted in connection with the audacious 2019 burglary of the Green Vault in Saxony, during which they stole jewels and artefacts of immense historical and cultural value.

They were also behind the 2017 theft of a massive gold coin bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth II from a museum in Berlin, a crime facilitated by an accomplice they had infiltrated into the museums security staff. Despite the scale of the crime, the criminals got away with a fine and only four and a half years in jail. Worryingly, the reach of the clans appears to extend beyond theft: there have been documented cases of infiltration into the police, job centres, and local government immigration offices, raising concerns about institutional vulnerability.

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What remains is a feeling that Germany is capable of prosecuting and punishing dissenters and politically inconvenient people, while organised crime, much of it foreign, is allowed to grow. Its small solace to know that, while our economy has been without any meaningful growth for five years, at least the private security firms have record revenues. It surely wont be long until the shops in Germany have the same ubiquitous locked cabinets and security tags that are already such a feature of places like San Francisco and London.

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The German Air Force is to station five Eurofighter combat aircraft in Poland for several weeks.

From Tuesday, the Eurofighter jets will be deployed from the Minsk Mazowiecki military airfield, an air force spokesman told dpa.

According to the air force, the mission at the airfield east of Warsaw will last just under a month.

Around 150 soldiers from the Bundeswehr, Germany's military, are on site.

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Poland is an important political and military supporter of Ukraine, which has been under attack from Russia for more than three years.

It also plays a central role as a hub for the West's military aid to Kiev.

The country also sees itself as threatened by Russia and is currently undergoing a massive rearmament programme.

Since April, the German Air Force has been supporting the Polish armed forces in monitoring Poland's airspace.

Until now, however, the fighter jets took off from Rostock, in north-eastern Germany.

The transfer was in response to a Polish request, the spokesman said.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had announced the move in January.

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The aircraft will support the protection of airspace on the eastern flank of NATO, the Polish military's high command announced on X.

"This is another example of cooperation between the alliance partners and their genuine commitment to the security of Central Eastern Europe."
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Jeffrey Epsteins co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, was recently moved into a new federal prison where another high-profile inmate already resides, according to Bureau of Prisons inmate records.

Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker and Epsteins former girlfriend, was transferred to Federal Prison Camp Bryan. The minimum-security womens prison camp, located in Bryan, Texas, is also home to inmate Elizabeth Holmes.

Maxwell, 63, was sentenced by a federal judge to serve 20 years in prison for her role in a scheme to sexual exploit and abuse multiple minor girls with Epstein.

Ghislaine Maxwell attends the WIE Symposium at Center 548 on September 20, 2013 in New York City. (Laura Cavanaugh / Getty)

During Maxwells 2022 sentencing, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law. Maxwell is scheduled to be freed from prison in the summer of 2037, according to federal inmate records.

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Holmes, 41, was once a star in Silicon Valleys biotech industry as the CEO of Theranos. A jury found Holmes guilty in 2022 of defrauding investors who poured hundreds of millions of dollars into her blood testing company.

Ex-Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes leaves a federal courthouse in San Jose on March 17, 2023. (Photo by Philip Pacheco /Getty Images)

Holmes is serving an 11-year sentence, and shes slated to be released in 2032, according to federal inmate records. She reportedly passes the time by exercising, reading books, attending therapy sessions, and writing patents for new inventions. Her children, ages 2 and 3, visit the prison twice a week, People magazine reported.

Holmes earns 31 cents an hour working as a law clerk helping her fellow inmates prepare for life outside prison. The former CEO told People magazine, So many of these women dont have anyone, and once theyre in there, theyre forgotten. Human beings are not made to be in cells.

Elizabeth Holmes reveals her new life goals from behind bars

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FPC Bryan has about 650 female inmates, and is designated for convicts who are considered to be the lowest security risk.

In addition to Holmes and Maxwell, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jennifer Shah is also incarcerated at FPC Bryan. Shah is serving a 6-year sentence for defrauding victims through a telemarketing scam.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Convicted sexual abuser Ghislaine Maxwell has been moved to a lower security prison in Texas  and now has at least two famous faces for fellow inmates.

On Friday, August 1, the longtime associate of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein  who died by suicide in 2019  was moved from a federal prison in Florida to a lower-security prison camp in Texas, her lawyer confirmed to The New York Times.

Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah are also housed at the same Texas facility, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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Holmes, 41, is currently serving a 11 year prison sentence for fraud after she was convicted of intentionally misleading investors of her now-defunct blood testing company. Meanwhile, Shah, 51, is carrying out a six-and-a-half year sentence after she pled guilty to wire fraud in connection to a telemarketing scheme.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citys Jen Shah Surrenders to Begin 6.5-Year Prison Sentence

In 2022, Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors, including children as young as 14 years of age.

Todays sentence holds Ghislaine Maxwell accountable for perpetrating heinous crimes against children, U.S. attorney Damian Williams said in a Department of Justice statement at the time. This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law and it is never too late for justice. We again express our gratitude to Epstein and Maxwells victims for their courage in coming forward, in testifying at trial, and in sharing their stories as part of todays sentencing.

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There has been a renewed interest in Maxwell and the late Epsteins case, after then-presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed he would release the so-called Epstein files, an alleged list of all the late sex offenders clients, if he made it back to the White House for a second time.

Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images; Philip Pacheco/Getty Images; Jen Shah/Instagram

After Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed earlier this month that Epstein did not maintain a client list, despite previously claiming she had the so-called files on her desk, reports surfaced alleging the president  who had a documented friendship with Epstein and Maxwell  was named as one of Epsteins clients. (According to The Wall Street Journal, the Department of Justice informed Trump his name was in the files. Bondi claimed the DOJ will not release the files due to the presence of child pornography.)

Maxwell was moved to the Texas prison camp just days after she met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Maxwell has claimed via her attorney that she is willing to testify about her and Epsteins crimes in front of Congress, if granted immunity and a slew of other demands. President Donald Trump has also floated the possibility of issuing Maxwell a presidential pardon.

Well, Im allowed to give her a pardon, but I  nobodys approached me with it. Nobodys asked me about it, the president told reporters last week. Its in the news about that, that aspect of it, but right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.

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Holmes started serving her 11 year sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, on May 30, 2023. In addition to her incarceration, she was ordered to pay $452 million in restitution.

Jeffrey Epstein Court Documents Unsealed: Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and More Associates Named

Shah, for her part, began her sentence in February 2023.

Jen has been doing very well  working on her personal self and focused on her journey towards positive rehabilitation, Shahs rep wrote in a December 2024 journal entry via her website. Jen is currently focused on her next holiday beauty showcase within FPC Bryan Prison and continues to send love to her family, fans and friends who continuously message her in support. She is thankful for everyone who continues to pray and uphold her in a positive light.

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Shah has since had her prison sentence reduced four times. She is scheduled for release on September 19, 2026, nearly two months earlier than expected.

If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more.
The Trump administration made interviewing Jeffrey Epsteins accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, a key part of its efforts to climb out from beneath its Epstein files problems.

Over a week later, we still dont know what transpired during that meeting. But the Maxwell situation has only grown to epitomize a series of very curious maneuvers that call into question precisely what everyone in the administration is thinking and suggest the controversy is going nowhere fast.

Indeed, its almost as if those involved are trying to make this look bad.

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We learned Friday that Maxwell had been moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas called Camp Bryan  a significant upgrade for an inmate serving a 20-year sentence.

Neither the Justice Department, the Bureau of Prisons nor Maxwells lawyer has addressed precisely why the transfer was made. We dont know who was involved. But its conspicuous for a host of reasons.

To wit:

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There is plenty we dont know about all of this, in large part because the key players arent talking. Its theoretically possible this is all just a major coincidence.

But it certainly raises questions that the key officials involved would seem to have motivation to put to rest  and quickly. Maxwells testimony could bear on Trump personally, given continuing revelations about his ties to Epstein and his desire to put the entire Epstein files fiasco to rest. Now we learn she got a highly unusual perk.

And its merely the latest in a series of very questionable developments.

A tree shades the entrance to the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, on Friday. - Adrees Latif/Reuters

The other concession the Trump administration made after failing to produce the Epstein documents that it had promised was moving to unseal grand jury testimony. But its own filing last week reinforced that information is likely to be quite limited, if it even sees the light of day.

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Trump has been very slow to acknowledge his own proximity to Epstein. Last week, after days of confusion, the president ultimately said he had been aware in real time that Epstein stole one of his Mar-a-Lago employees, a then-minor named Virginia Giuffre who became one of Epsteins highest-profile accusers.

Given Giuffres age at the time and a paper trail that suggests Trumps awareness of Epsteins affinity for young women and girls, that raises valid questions about what Trump knew or might have suspected at the time. Family members of Giuffres have raised the possibility that Trump knows more than he has let on, but the president has balked at expanding on his statements about why this episode made him decide Epstein was a creep.

Trump, who has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, claimed Thursday that I dont know really why Epstein was taking his employees.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on Friday. - Win McNamee/Getty Images

But hes repeatedly made false and misleading claims about his past ties to Epstein. Most recently, he denied that Attorney General Pam Bondi had told him his name was in the Epstein files, which CNN later reported she had  back in May.

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Whats more, the timeline suggests the administrations reversal on promising full disclosure coincided with Trump being told he was in the files.

And then there is the Maxwell situation. Even before the news of her prison transfer, the administration took very little care to make its handling of her appear proper.

It sent Blanche, Trumps former personal lawyer, to meet with her. Blanche has called Maxwells lawyer his friend. Maxwells lawyer has been solicitous of Trump. And, of course, Trump has repeatedly left open a pardon.

Trump late last week said he didnt know what would be produced from the Blanche meeting, saying, I dont know because I havent spoken about it.

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But he again suggested it might be limited by a desire not to create suspicion of people who havent been charged with crimes.

The confusion around all of this only seems to be growing, in large part because of Trumps and the administrations own actions and lack of transparency.

And perhaps nothing looms larger right now than the unanswered questions about the prison transfer.

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CHICAGO  Bike safety advocates held a vigil on Sunday for an 18-year-old who was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on a bike in the Loop earlier this year.

Family and friends joined Bike Lane Uprising to place a ghost bike at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street in honor of Yader Castaneda.

Just before 5 a.m. on Memorial Day, Castaneda was crossing the road on an electric Divvy bike when he was hit by a Hummer SUV.

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The driver, who was uninjured, was charged with failure to reduce speed, police say.

Attendees of Sundays vigil wore yellow because it was Castanedas favorite color.

Your sisters, your brothers, your friends speak of you so much with so much love as if you were here and never left, a speaker at the vigil said.

The ghost bikes symbolize cyclists who have lost their lives to vehicles.

Organizers with Bike Lane Uprising say theyve put three ghost bikes in the area over the last four years.

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Over 1,000 firefighters continue to battle a wildfire in California that has burned over 72,000 acres, prompted evacuation orders and caused three injuries, according to officials.

The Gifford Fire, which began on Friday afternoon, is situated within the Los Padres National Forest in Solvang, California, impacting those within Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, officials said. As of Monday, the fire has engulfed 72,460 acres and is only 3% contained, according to Cal Fire.

While the flames have been centered around thick brush and rugged terrain, officials said 460 structures are threatened by this wildfire.

Los Padres National Forest Service - PHOTO: A wildfire in Southern California impacting the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties has burned over 65,000 acres as of Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, officials said.

On Sunday, officials said the fire "showed significant growth as it aligned with topographical features, especially in grass-dominated areas."

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Evacuation orders and warnings are in effect for areas in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and Highway 166 has been closed due to flames burning on both sides of the road, officials said.

MORE: Canada wildfires prompt air quality warnings for Upper Midwest, Northeast

Three people have been injured by the wildfire, including one civilian who was hospitalized for burn injuries and two contractor employees who were injured in a UTV rollover incident, officials said on Saturday.

An air quality alert in Cuyama, California, and an air quality watch for the rest of Santa Barbara County will remain in effect "until conditions improve," the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District said on Saturday.

Los Padres National Forest Service - PHOTO: A wildfire in Southern California impacting the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties has burned over 65,000 acres as of Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, officials said.

"If you see or smell smoke in the air, be cautious and use common sense to protect your and your family's health. Everyone, especially people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant women and children, should limit time spent outdoors and avoid outdoor exercise when high concentrations of smoke and particles are in the air," the air pollution control district said.

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The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Cal Fire.

The fire is located west of the Madre Fire, which burned over 80,000 acres and was fully contained on July 26, officials said.

Two more fires erupted in Southern California on Monday afternoon.

The Rosa Fire in Riverside County started just after noon local time and has burned over 1,200 acres.

In San Bernardino County, the Gold Fire has spread 348 acres with 0% containment.
The Gifford Fire continued to burn Monday in Californias Central Coast region, prompting expanded evacuation orders and road closures as the blaze grew to more than 65,000 acres.

The fire, which ignited Friday afternoon northeast of Santa Maria in the Los Padres National Forest, is only 3% contained. At least three people have also been injured. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Officials have issued evacuation orders for:

South of Highway 166, east of School House Road, and west of Aliso Canyon Road

South of Highway 166, east of Cottonwood Canyon Road, and west of School House Road

Upper Tepusquet Canyon, south of Highway 166

South of Highway 166, east of the Willow Springs trailhead, and west of Cottonwood Canyon Road

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An evacuation map is available here.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for the following areas:

South of Highway 166, east of Aliso Canyon Road, and west of Perkins Road

Lower Tepusquet Canyon, north of the Sisquoc River

Authorities emphasized that residents requiring additional time to evacuate  including those with disabilities or those with animals  should leave immediately.

Highway 166 remains closed between Highway 101 and the southern junction of Highway 33. Travel in the area is restricted to evacuation purposes only.

Temporary Evacuation Points and Community Resource Centers

Two temporary evacuation points and community information centers have been established for residents affected by the Gifford Fire:

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Benjamin Foxen Elementary School , 4949 Foxen Canyon Road, Santa Maria

Open Monday, Aug. 3, and Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Offers relief from heat and smoke. N95 masks, bottled water and fire updates are available onsite.

Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center, 4689 Highway 166, New Cuyama

Open Monday, Aug. 3, and Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Provides the same services as above.

Additional Resources

For shelter assistance, call the American Red Cross at 805-678-3073.

For large animal evacuation support, call the County Animal Services Disaster Hotline at 805-681-4332. Large animals can be taken to the Elks Rodeo Grounds, 4040 Highway 101, Santa Maria (enter through Morningside Drive Gate 2).



Small/domestic animal evacuation locations

548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria  until 6 p.m.

1501 W. Central Ave., Lompoc  until 6 p.m.

5473 Overpass Road, Goleta  until 6 p.m.

111 Commerce Drive, Buellton  until 5 p.m.

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A teenager left alone at a mental health hospital should have been under constant supervision when she self-harmed and later died, an inquest heard.

Ruth Szymankiewicz was being cared for by a member of staff on his first shift at Huntercombe Hospital, near Maidenhead, on 12 February 2022.

The 14-year-old, from Salisbury, was unaccompanied for about 15 minutes and left alone to walk around the hospital and to her room, assistant coroner Ian Wade KC said.

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Shortly afterwards, she was found unconscious and died at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford two days later.

Ruth was cared for on Thames ward, a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) at the hospital, from October 2021. She had been diagnosed with an eating disorder.

The hospital, which has since shut down, was rated inadequate and later requires improvement in two separate inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2021.

Her parents Kate and Mark said Ruth loved animals and reading and had a "fiery, determined" personality and a "huge heart".

They said she "was and still is deeply loved" and that her death "shattered us".

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The jury heard she had climbed Kilimanjaro aged 11. She had lived for a time in Tanzania with her mother and father, a GP and surgeon respectively, and her two sisters.

'Incredibly difficult to navigate'

Ruth was initially cared for on the children's ward at Salisbury Hospital but was hurt when a nasogastric tube fed contents into a lung rather than her stomach in September 2021. She was transferred to Southampton for further care.

Days afterwards, her parents said they were told Ruth would be moved to Huntercombe Hospital, which they found had been poorly rated and was a two-hour drive away from their home.

Dr Szymankiewicz said the process for why Ruth needed to be moved to the hospital and onto a PICU was "opaque" and that the system was "incredibly difficult to navigate".

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"We wish we had fought harder. We had no idea how awful it would be," she said in a statement.

She said there was "never any sense that staff thought it was important to communicate" with them about Ruth's care.

Serious problems, such as Ruth drinking cleaning fluid and having black eyes, were not raised with them, Dr Szymankiewicz added.

It is thought the hospital worker, who was subsequently found to have false papers, returned to Ghana, where it is thought he was from.

The inquest, at Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court in Beaconsfield, is expected to last for about two weeks.

You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

More on this story
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Good Samaritan Ministries 30th annual back-to-school bash was held Sunday evening at Freedom Hall.

The organization distributed 2,000 backpacks to children in the community as they prepared to return to school on Monday.

Good Samaritan Ministries CEO and Executive Director Aaron Murphy said they host the event to give everyone an opportunity.

We see theres a need for our children and our teens, Murphy said. They need us. And we believe that educational equality should be afforded to everyone.

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The backpacks were filled with all the necessary essentials students will need going into the school year.

When it comes to school and having school supplies and backpacks, and other amenities, weve taken upon that call, to respond, Murphy told News Channel 11. By way of providing them what they need for the upcoming school year.

If you would like to donate, volunteer, or need supplies, you can find more information here.

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October NY world sugar #11 (SBV25) today is up +0.10 (+0.62%), and October London ICE white sugar #5 (SWV25) is up +4.00 (+0.86%).

Sugar prices are moving higher today as short covering emerged after reports said that Pakistan is looking to buy 100,000 MT of sugar this week after buying a similar amount last week. Pakistan is boosting its sugar imports in an attempt to stabilize domestic prices.

More News from Barchart

Last Friday, NY sugar slid to a 1.5-week low and London sugar fell to a 4-week low on signs of stronger sugar production in Brazil. Last Thursday, Unica reported Brazil's Center-South sugar output in the first half of July rose +15% y/y to 3.4 MMT. Also, the amount of sugarcane being crushed for sugar by Brazil's sugar mills has increased to 54% from 50% the same time last year.

The outlook for higher sugar production in Brazil is bearish for sugar prices. Datagro said last Monday that dry weather in Brazil has encouraged the country's sugar mills to increase their cane crushing, diverting more of the cane crush toward more profitable sugar production rather than ethanol.

The outlook for higher sugar exports from India is negative for prices after Bloomberg reported that India may permit local sugar mills to export sugar in the next season, which starts in October, as abundant monsoon rains may produce a bumper sugar crop. India's Meteorological Department reported today that cumulative monsoon rain in India is at 500.8 mm, or 4% above normal as of August 4. Also, the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association said last Thursday that it will seek permission to export 2 MMT of sugar in 2025/26.

The outlook for higher sugar production in India, the world's second-largest producer, is bearish for prices. On June 2, India's National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories projected that India's 2025/26 sugar production would climb +19% y/y to 35 MMT, citing larger planted cane acreage. That would follow a -17.5% y/y decline in India's sugar production in 2024/25 to a 5-year low of 26.2 MMT, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).

Sugar prices have retreated over the past four months, with NY sugar falling to a 4.25-year low last month and London sugar sliding to a 4-year low, driven by expectations of a sugar surplus in the 2025/26 season. On June 30, commodities trader Czarnikow projected a 7.5 MMT global sugar surplus for the 2025/26 season, the largest surplus in 8 years. On May 22, the USDA, in its biannual report, projected that global 2025/26 sugar production would increase by +4.7% y/y to a record 189.318 MMT, with global sugar ending stocks at 41.188 MMT, up 7.5% y/y.
Vice President JD Vances waistline may have gotten a digital nip and tuck courtesy of the GOP.

To mark his 41st birthday on Saturday, the partys official X account posted a photo of Vance overlaid with the message: Happy Birthday Vice President J.D. Vance.

But internet sleuths quickly zeroed in on a number of oddities in the image they claim proves that the vice president had been retouched.

Vances thumb appears to be cut off, while the stars on the flag behind himparticularly around his headlook strangely distorted and blurred. His right triceps seem almost to vanish, blending into a misshapen arm that doesnt quite align with the rest of his physique.

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And compared to the original image, which was taken on Inauguration Day in January as Vance arrived to take the oath of office at the Capitol, the space between his waist and right arm appears widenedpossibly to make his torso look slimmer.

This appears to be the original photo, taken from Inauguration Day in January as Vance arrives to take the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda. / White House Handout/White House Photo/Alamy Live News

The Daily Beast reached out to JD Vances office and the Republican National Committee for comment.

If true, it wouldnt be the first time that Vance had his photos doctored.

Back in 2024, MAGA Rep. Mike Collinswho is currently running to become a senator for Georgiaposted a heavily edited image of Vance, featuring a chiseled jawline and a noticeably slimmer face, that transformed him into the Chad archetype favored in some far-right corners of the internet. Intended as a tribute, the post instead became instant fodder for ridicule, as reported by The New Republic.

A digitally altered image depicting a bald and bloated Vance first appeared in February and has haunted the vice president ever since, although he told the right-wing outlet Blaze Media in March that he has seen the various memes created with the image and thinks its a funny trend.

The meme depicting a digitally altered JD Vance became popular in February. / X

Vance has spoken candidly about his weight-loss journey, telling Daily Mail while on the campaign trail last year that he lost 30 pounds after becoming a senator in 2022.

He denied taking weight-loss medications like Ozempic. I havent taken any drugs. Obviously, you eat a little bit less, but its also just eating better, he said. I tend to skip breakfast, whereas before I would have, like, you know, three waffles and scrambled eggs and bacon.
Republican lawmakers are cautioning President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to be very careful about granting a pardon to Ghislaine Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein confidante, or commuting her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

Republican senators are waving the caution flag after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell in Florida recently to gather more information on what she knows about Epsteins illicit activities.

The meeting came while Trump and Bondi were under pressure from MAGA-aligned activists to order the Justice Department to release all of its files related to Epstein.

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GOP lawmakers say Trump and Bondi need to proceed carefully on any decision to pardon Maxwell or lighten her sentence for sexually exploiting teenage girls.

They worry it could be seen as rewarding her for making statements to distance the president from Epsteins activities, or further fuel conspiracy theories about a government cover-up to protect powerful people who were in Epsteins orbit.

Its ridiculous that he would consider shortening a sentence for somebody who aided and abetted sexual trafficking as she did, said a Republican senator who requested anonymity to comment on the sensitive topic.

Shes trafficking underage children. I cant imagine anything she could say could nullify her heinous crimes, the senator added.

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The senator said Maxwell has incentive to lie to reduce her sentence.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Maxwell has lied under oath before, citing the perjury charge that was filed against her for making false statements during a civil deposition in 2016.

They ended up dropping the perjury charge against her, but we know shes a liar because even though they dropped that charge  because it was a lesser charge  she demonstrated that she lied, he said. What will a demonstrated liar do if they know that they can get a break? Lie more?

I dont think that her testimony is worth the paper its written on, because shes a liar, he said. She also exploited young girls.

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I think shes not a trustworthy witness, he added. She has a vested interest in lying so she can get relieved of some amount of her 20-year sentence.

Blanche, the No. 2-ranking official at the Justice Department, met with Maxwell on July 24 and July 25 to discuss Epsteins crimes and other people who may have been involved in them. He wrote on social media that no one is above the law  and no lead is off limits.

Maxwell has told House lawmakers that if she were to receive clemency, she would testify openly and honestly before Congress about Epstein, according to a letter her attorney David Oscar Markus sent to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Markus told ABC News that Maxwell did not ask Blanche for a pardon but confirmed she is seeking relief from her prison sentence.

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Maxwells attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to overturn her 2021 conviction.

Prison officials confirmed Friday that they moved Maxwell from a federal prison in Florida to a lower security federal prison camp in Texas, where inmates are allowed to move around relatively freely.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she has no idea what to expect out of the conversations between Maxwell and the Department of Justice but questioned if she could provide any new evidence that would merit a pardon or a significant reduction of her sentence.

Just because she comes and gives testimony doesnt necessarily mean [she] should be given any kind of a pardon, I dont think. Theres a lot more that has to be looked at, she said.

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Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said the president and the attorney general would need to come up with a strong explanation for pardoning Maxwell or commuting her sentence.

I honestly think it would be difficult to grant Maxwell a pardon or sentence reduction, he said. But, once again, its a prerogative that every president has on a federal crime.

If these are federal crimes, the president has the ability to offer a pardon or approve clemency, he said. Every executive officer has to make up their own mind, and then they have to be able to justify how they did it, and why they did it.

Rounds, a former governor, said pardons and paroles can be a good thing, but the executive, whether the president or a governor, has to know the reason why youre giving a pardon.

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If Maxwell gets a lighter sentence, Trump would have to explain why, he said.

On a political basis, you just simply have to explain your actions and justify your actions, he added.

Rounds noted the difficulty of justifying leniency toward Maxwell is probably one of the reasons it would be difficult to do in the first place.

Trump told Newsmax on Friday that he hasnt been asked to grant Maxwell a pardon, but he noted he has the power to do so.

Im allowed to do it, but nobodys asked me to do it, he said. I know nothing about the case.

Trump said he thought Blanche, his former defense attorney, was meeting with Maxwell to make sure that innocent people arent hurt if the Justice Department releases the Epstein files.

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The president has faced backlash from activists in his MAGA base after the Justice Department and the FBI announced in an unsigned memo last month that they would not release additional information and denied the existence of an Epstein client list, even though Bondi said in February that the list was sitting on her desk.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Bondi and her deputy told Trump in May that his name was in the Epstein files.

Democrats have sought to use the Epstein controversy against Republicans and Trump.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has demanded an all-senators briefing on the Epstein files and criticized Blanche for meeting with Maxwell.

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There is every reason to fear that Donald Trump could offer Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon in exchange for silence, or even worse, phony exoneration, Schumer said on the Senate floor.

Let me be clear: Trump is sending his personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, to try and execute a corrupt cover-up, potentially offering leniency to a woman who also abused the victims, he said. Enough. Enough. Enough with the hiding. Enough with the excuses. And enough with the cover-up.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expressed skepticism last week that a pardon for Maxwell is on the table.

Asked if Trump should rule out a pardon, Thune said, Thats up to him, but it looks to me like shes going to spend a good, long time in jail.

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A Republican representative has waded into the redistricting warbut not on Donald Trumps side.

California Representative Kevin Kiley introduced legislation Monday to prevent congressional districts from being redrawn mid-decade. The bill, though ostensibly targeted at California Governor Gavin Newsom, would nullify any new districts drawn before the 2030 census.

This is already the law in California under our State Constitution, which provides that redistricting is done once a decade by an Independent Commission, Kiley posted on X about his new bills boundaries. But Newsom is planning to blow all of this up so he can impose his own partisan map on voters before the next election.

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Fortunately, Congress has the ability to protect California voters using its authority under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This will also stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country, he continued.

Kiley conveniently left out the reason this war has broken out in the first place: President Donald Trumps push for Texas to gerrymander its districts beyond recognition in a quest to maintain a Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

Some powerful blue-state governors, such as Newsom and Kathy Hochul of New York, have abandoned their traditional resistance to gerrymandering, threatening to redraw their own districts to create more Democratic representatives in response.

This is war. We are at war. And thats why the gloves are off, and I say, bring it on, Hochul said Monday.

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Democratic representatives from Texas arent playing around, either. Theyve fled the state, making it impossible for the Texas House to reach a quorum and vote on the new maps.

Despite his stated focus on fighting Newsom in California, if Kiley were to pass his bill, it would also nullify any new districts drawn in Texas.

And to be fair, Kileys loud silence on Texass redistricting may not just be an attempt to fly under the radar of a vengeful, gerrymander-happy president: It could also be a purely self-motivated attempt to keep his seat!
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and John Curtis (R-Utah) have placed holds on three of President Donald Trumps nominees to the Treasury Department, a significant escalation of the battle between key Republican lawmakers and the administration over renewable energy tax breaks in the sprawling megalaw.

The actions follow a so-far unsuccessful effort by a handful of Senate Republicans to meet with Treasury Department officials to express their unhappiness with the agencys expected clampdown on wind and solar projects use of the tax credits. Trump ordered the restrictions in an executive order issued days after Congress enacted the law July 3  much to the dismay of the senators whose yes votes had been crucial to getting the president's top legislative priority through the Senate.

Even if they ultimately lift the hold, the move represents an unusually forceful rebuke by GOP lawmakers against the assertions of executive power that have marked Trump's second term. Last week, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) held up confirmation of the Navys top officer for hours while pressing the Pentagon to reopen a naval air station in his home state.

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Grassley, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, announced in Friday's Congressional Record that he had placed holds on three Treasury nominees: Brian Morrissey to be general counsel, Francis Brooke to be assistant Treasury secretary and Jonathan McKernan, who is nominated to become an undersecretary at the department.

A person familiar with the effort granted anonymity because the move was not made public told POLITICO Monday that Curtis has also placed holds on the same three nominees.

Two Republicans would not be enough to block the nominees on the floor.

But the pair, alongside other GOP senators such as Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), have escalated their pressure on the Trump administration in recent days to back off its efforts to strangle new solar and wind energy projects, warning that potential cancellations would make it harder to meet growing power demand, as POLITICO has detailed.

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The White House and Treasury Department did not immediately comment about the holds.

GOP senators including Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Mike Rounds of South Dakota have also objected to Interior Department efforts to restrict approvals of wind and solar projects.

Grassley said he would object to consideration of the Treasury nominees until he can be certain that such rules and regulations adhere to the law and congressional intent.

His comments follow the July executive order from Trump that injected new uncertainty for solar and wind developers facing already onerous new deadlines under Republicans mega tax and spending law, H.R. 1 (119).

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The order called on Treasury to strictly enforce the termination of the production and investment tax credits for wind and solar facilities, including by issuing new guidance related to when a project is deemed to have begun construction  a potential outcome that Grassley and other GOP senators said they sought to safeguard against.

While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ends the tax credits for projects that start producing electricity after 2027, those GOP senators added a last-minute compromise to offer more time for projects that begin construction in the next 12 months.

What it means for a project to begin construction has been well established by Treasury guidance for more than a decade. Moreover, Congress specifically references current Treasury guidance to set that term's meaning in law, Grassley said in the Congressional Record. This is a case where both the law and congressional intent are clear.

Trumps executive order targeting the long-standing metric followed pushback by hard-right House Republicans who briefly withheld their votes for the tax and spending package over the Senates easing of the clean energy credit rollbacks. Trump has also specifically criticized wind energy and his administration has taken steps to stunt the development of the industry.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had a message Sunday for the dozens of Democratic legislators who fled the state to derail a mega-partisan gerrymander: This truancy ends now.

But Abbotts options to compel those Democrats  whose departure to Illinois and other states is preventing the state Legislature from conducting any business  to return and vote are more constrained and legally uncertain than he let on. And they may take significant time to resolve in court.

Abbott and other Texas Republicans face a hard deadline as they are preparing to adopt maps that could net the GOP five seats in the U.S. House, potentially cementing the partys majority in Congress. Maps need to be completed before the end of the year so that election officials can prepare for the state's March 3 primaries. The move has also prompted retaliation threats by Democratic governors in other states and roiled expectations for the 2026 elections, when Democrats hope to take the House and act as a check on President Donald Trump.

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Heres a look at the central questions as Abbotts standoff with Texas House Democrats deepens into a monumental political and legal brawl.

Why did Texas Democrats leave the state?

Texas constitution requires two-thirds of the states 150 House members to be present to conduct business. That gives the 62-member House Democratic minority a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option to grind the Capitol's business to a halt even if they would be outnumbered on an up-or-down vote.

By absconding from Austin  and the state altogether  Democrats ensured that the Legislature lacked a quorum to convene for a special session called by Abbott to address redistricting. There is some recent history on this: Democrats mounted a similar effort to break quorum in 2021 in protest of election-related legislation. The effort ended after Democrats gradually trickled back into the state, amid a similar flurry of arrest threats and lawsuits.

Importantly, breaking quorum is not a crime. However, if the absentee Democratic lawmakers remained in Texas, Abbott could order state troopers to haul them to the Capitol. Thats why they fled for the friendlier confines of Illinois and other blue states, where Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and other allies have vowed to shelter them from Texas demands to bring them back.

What are Abbotts legal options?

Federal laws allow states to demand the return, or extradition, of criminal fugitives from other states. But because breaking quorum is not illegal, Abbott cant seek help from the courts to compel the Democrats return.

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Instead, Abbott threatened to take another action against the absentee lawmakers: Ask Texas courts to remove them from office altogether. State law permits a Texas district court to determine whether a public official has abandoned his or her office, declaring it vacant  enabling the governor to set new elections to fill the empty seats.

Come and take it, dared state Rep. Gene Wu, the Texas House Democratic Caucus leader, in an appearance Monday morning on CNN. Wu declared Abbotts threat to be all bluster.

The governors threat is rooted in a nonbinding legal opinion issued in 2021 by Attorney General Ken Paxton, amid the last attempt by Democrats to break quorum. Paxton, notably, took no position on whether breaking quorum is constitutional.

The republican AG also declined to say whether fleeing Democrats could or should be removed from office. Rather, he called it a fact question for a court that he said was beyond the scope of his office to decide. He noted instead that he could file what are known as quo warranto actions in court, asking a judge to determine whether the missing lawmakers had officially vacated their seats.

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How would a judge make that call? Paxton said he wasnt certain.

We find no constitutional provision or statute establishing an exhaustive list for why a vacancy occurs or the grounds under which an officer may be judicially removed from office, he wrote.

How long could it take Abbott to force the Legislature back into session?

This is the most uncertain aspect of Abbotts gambit. Paxtons office would need to file quo warranto actions in various judicial districts for more than 50 fleeing lawmakers. Judges may take up these cases on different timelines and reach different conclusions, requiring appeals that could wind their way to the Texas Supreme Court.

Paxton acknowledged in an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that the timeline would be problematic.

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The challenge is that [it] wouldn't necessarily be an immediate answer, right? he said. We'd have to go through the court process, and we'd have to file  in districts that are not friendly to Republicans, Paxton said. So it's a challenge because every, every district would be different. We'd have to go sue in every legislators home district to try to execute on that idea."

And even if Abbott and Paxton win a clean sweep in removing the Democrats from office, it would then require a time-intensive process of calling special elections to fill the vacancies  and guaranteeing that the winners of those elections also remain in the state as well.

That timing matters when the GOP-led redistricting plan is on a fixed timeline: A new map must be adopted by early December in order to be in place for the 2026 midterm cycle. That would require Democrats to remain out of state for about four months while they accumulate $500-per-day civil fines. The current special Legislative session is slated to end on Aug. 19, but Abbott could call another one.

Could the Democrats be charged with crimes?

Abbotts letter, though sharply critical, stopped short of actually accusing Democrats of breaking the law. Rather, he suggested that if outsiders are helping them fundraise to cover their fines, they might run afoul of bribery laws.

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It would be bribery if any lawmaker took money to perform or to refuse to perform an act in the legislature, Abbott said in a Fox News interview Monday. And the reports are these legislators have both sought money and offered money to skip the vote, to leave the legislature, to take a legislative act."

If Texas prosecutors in fact level any such charges, then Abbotts authority to return them grows stronger. He could then ask courts in Texas and Illinois to seek the return of the missing lawmakers.

I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons, he said in his Sunday statement.

Liz Crampton contributed reporting.
Gov. Greg Abbott informed Texas House Democrats late Sunday that he would attempt to have them removed from office if they do not return to Austin to pass the GOPs proposed new congressional maps.

The Republican governors late-night missive came after more than 50 Democrats left the state Sunday afternoon so the Texas House would not have a quorum  the number of lawmakers needed to consider and pass legislation under chamber rules  aiming to halt all legislative activity for the remainder of the special session slated to end later this month. They are hoping to stop the passage of a new congressional map, drawn at the direction of President Donald Trump, that could net five additional seats for Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

This truancy ends now, Abbott said in a letter sent to each of the departed members. The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance when the House reconvenes at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025.

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If they are not back by then, Abbott said, he would initiate legal action to remove them from office, kicking off a potentially lengthy and complicated legal process. Under state law, the attorney general or a local district attorney would have to file what's known as a quo warranto lawsuit against each member, seeking their removal on the grounds that they have abandoned their office.

Legal experts say there would be no grounds for a judge to rule that participating in a quorum break warrants removal from office. In 2021, in ruling that the Legislature could order the arrest of lawmakers who were absent without excuse, the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court acknowledged that the Texas Constitution allows for members to deprive the House or Senate of a quorum. In alleging that he would seek to oust Democrats from office, Abbott cited a nonbinding 2021 legal opinion from Attorney General Ken Paxton, who merely said it would be up to a court to decide whether a lawmaker who had left the state to deny quorum had forfeited their office.

The founding fathers of Texas very intentionally wrote a constitution that gave a minority of legislators the ability to influence legislation in this way, said Charles Rocky Rhodes, a constitutional law expert at the University of Missouri law school. The constitution also provides consequences, which was part of a calculation to ensure if this was done, it wasnt done all the time.

The absconded Democrats will face a $500 fine for every day they are absent, as well as possible reprimand, censure or expulsion, per House rules. But to expel a member, the House must have a quorum.

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Even if Abbott did get a judge to rule that the Democrats seats are vacant, he would still have to call an election to fill each vacancy. That would likely produce few opportunities for Republican pickups, with most of Texas' 150 House districts  including the 62 controlled by Democrats  crafted by Republicans in 2021 to protect GOP incumbents, leaving few competitive seats for either party to challenge.

The vacancies could temporarily reduce the number of legislators required to reach a quorum, but experts say the legal process to establish those vacancies would likely drag out long enough to become moot for the 2026 elections.

Abbott further alleged members could face felony charges for fundraising to pay their fines. Lawmakers who are soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules may be violating bribery laws, Abbott said, adding that anyone who donates to the cause could also be liable.

The governor said he would move to extradite any potential out-of-state felons. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said at Sundays press conference that he would do whatever he could to help Texas lawmakers while they were on the lam.

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[Denying quorum has been a Texas political strategy since 1870]

Were going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them, Pritzker said.

The Texas House Democratic Caucus, the organizing group for House Democrats, responded to Abbott's threats with a four-word statement that read, "Come and take it."

Democrats have condemned the mid-cycle redistricting as a racist and partisan attack on Black and Hispanic voters, as well as an unnecessary distraction from passing legislation to address the devastating Hill Country floods that left 130 people dead. The proposed map, which is expected to be brought to the House floor for a vote Monday, carves up existing districts in Houston, Dallas and Austin, and is expected to net five additional seats for Republicans.

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GOP state lawmakers have defended the process, arguing they are permitted to redraw maps for partisan gain between the usual once-a-decade redistricting process that happens after each U.S. census.

The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 1315. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today!

TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.

Correction, Aug. 4, 2025 at 11:44 a.m. : A previous version of this story misstated the mechanism for replacing Texas House members who had their seats declared vacant by the courts. The Texas Constitution states that the governor would have to call an election to replace the members.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WRBL)  Gov. Kay Ivey released a video message on Monday for Alabama students as they return to school.

In the video message, Ivey encouraged students to dream big and work hard during the new academic year.

As Ivey addressed Alabama students, she emphasized having a fresh start on the first day of school and acknowledged that it is the time to set goals. She related to students by reflecting on her time as a student and teacher where she also experienced how the classroom shaped paths ahead and helped lay the foundation for the future.

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Ivey then highlighted the celebration of Americas 250th birthday and explained the importance of the next 250 years depending on the work being done in Alabamas classrooms.

She ends her video message with a challenge.

This year, be bold enough to raise your hand, said Ivey. Be kind enough to lift someone up. Be brave enough to fail, then try again.

She added, Because one day, someone just might look back and say, That student changed Alabama. And I wouldnt be a bit surprised if that student is you.

Ivey encourages students to get to work and make this school year the strongest one yet.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
The Home Office has announced it will fund a further 300 National Crime Agency (NCA) officers to help tackle people smugglers behind English Channel crossings.

The officers will be funded by a 100m allocation from within the department's budget, along with investment in new technology and equipment.

More than 25,000 people made the journey from France to the UK in small boats before the end of July, a record for this point in the year.

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Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the move would help the UK better "track the [smuggling] gangs and bring them down". The Conservative Party called it a "desperate grab for headlines which will make no real difference".

The record number of crossings mean the government is eager to show that it is working to reduce the numbers of people making the journey across the Channel.

While Sir Keir Starmer has been careful to avoid making a specific pledge to "stop the boats" like Conservative predecessor Rishi Sunak, his advisers know that his promise to "smash the gangs" needs to bear fruit at some point.

The government is also trying to tackle some of the most visible signs of the issue in the UK, committing to close all asylum hotels before the next general election and speed up the appeals process for failed asylum seekers.

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A "one in, one out" pilot scheme will be signed with France later this week, which aims to deter migrants from crossing the Channel.

Under the scheme, some arrivals would be returned to France, and in exchange the UK would accept an equivalent number of asylum seekers, subject to security checks.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Border Security and Asylum Minister Angela Eagle would not be drawn on how many people would be returned to France.

Adding that a returns agreement with the EU was not put in place after Brexit, she told the programme: "At the moment, we're not in a position from a standing start to return absolutely everybody".

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"There is no easy, one-step solution - it's a complex problem that's been allowed to take hold of our borders for six years."

The Home Office will target smuggling kingpins who have operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere.

Cooper said gangs had shown "a ruthless ability to adapt their tactics and maximise their profits, no matter how many lives they put at risk".

The NCA has 91 ongoing investigations into people-smuggling networks affecting the UK, the agency's director general of operations Rob Jones said.

Downing Street said the 300 further NCA posts would be in addition to extra specialist investigators and intelligence officers announced last year.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of having "no serious plan" to tackle the issue.

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"The British public deserves real action, not empty slogans and tinkering at the edges," he said.

Writing in the Daily Express, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it was an effort to "throw taxpayer money at the illegal immigration crisis and hope it will go away".

"Another 100 million here or there won't move the needle. It won't stop the boats or the gangs," he added.

Labour and previous Conservative governments have both struggled to reduce the number of people coming to the UK illegally in small boats.

The Conservatives had proposed sending arrivals to Rwanda, but the scheme was delayed by legal challenges. The general election was called before it could be implemented.

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One of Sir Keir Starmer's first acts as prime minister was to scrap the plan, calling it a gimmick.

In another measure, which was revealed on Sunday, people advertising illegal Channel crossings online could face up to five years in prison under a new offence the government plans to introduce.

Assisting illegal immigration to the UK is already a crime, but officials believe the new offence would give police and other agencies more power to disrupt criminal gangs.

It would criminalise the creation of material for publication online which promotes or offers services that facilitate a breach of UK immigration law.

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This would include people using social media to advertise fake passports or visas, or the promise of illegal work opportunities in the UK, and as well as jail time could carry a large fine.

The government has also confirmed that from next month, it will tighten rules that aim to stop migrants using university study as a way to enter the UK, in order to later claim asylum.

Under the plans, the visa refusal and course completion rates that universities have to meet in order not to risk losing their ability to sponsor future visas are to be made stricter.

Universities UK has called for "improved, real-time data sharing" with the Home Office to allow institutions to "respond proactively to emerging risks".

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appeared on national news Sunday to discuss the importance of Medicare and Medicaid for New Mexicans. Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz says applications for a new rural hospital fund will open in early September.

The $50 billion fund comes after Medicaid cuts in President Trumps Big Beautiful Bill passed last month to boost border and defense spending. Some GOP senators pushed for the fund to offset the impact on rural hospitals.

Concerns rise over impact of Big, Beautiful Bill on New Mexico healthcare, Medicaid

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Governor Lujan Grisham told CBSs Face the Nation that the US should focus on connecting people to healthcare and that the fund is not enough. When Face the Nations Margaret Brennan asked whether the governor had figured out how to implement everything Dr. Oz has laid out, she responded, Absolutely not. There is no real way to implement this. Its more paperwork for everyone. Its more paperwork for federal government, for state governments, for county governments, for local hospitals, for independent providers. And you know what Americans really hate, Margaret? When you go to your primary care physician and you spend 20 minutes sitting at a chair, not even on the exam table, while they are inputting data into a computer. So this doesnt make any sense.

The Medicaid director of New Mexico confirmed with News 13 that nearly 34% of the state is on Medicaid, and the Big Beautiful Bill could close six to eight rural hospitals in its first year. Dr. Oz says applications for the fund will start going out in early September.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Editors Note: The video above originally aired on April 30, 2024.

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11)  Graduate student Christopher Holmes was sitting on the ground at a protest at Columbia Universitys Hamilton Hall when an NYPD officer kicked him in the face, according to a new lawsuit.

He was disoriented and lying on the ground when another officer grabbed his hair and violently slammed his face into the ground, the 26-year-old graduate student described in the suit filed last week in Manhattan Supreme Court. His left orbital floor was fractured, he said.

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The lawsuit names the city, NYPD and Detective Michael Abbruzzese, who Holmes claims participated in his violent arrest during the high-profile pro-Palestinian protest on April 30, 2024. The citys Law Department said it would review the lawsuit and respond in litigation.

Holmes, a graduate student at Union Theological Seminary, was one of 119 people arrested at Columbia University that night, NYPD officials said in a news conference the next day. Some 46 people were arrested inside Hamilton Hall, at least nine of whom were injured, Reuters reported.

Once in police custody, Homes said he was held in crowded, filthy, and unsanitary conditions and denied medical attention. He was denied meaningful access to food and water during his detention, according to the lawsuit.

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This is just the latest in NYPDs strategy of brutalizing pro-Palestine voices for the purpose of silencing them, said Holmes lawyers in a statement to PIX11 News.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

Holmes criminal proceeding was dismissed and sealed after he accepted an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, according to his lawyers.

Protests at Columbia University garnered significant attention after students created an encampment in April, the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. On April 30, 2024, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik made a controversial ask for the NYPD to clear out Hamilton Hall and the encampment.

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In a news conference the next morning, Mayor Eric Adams celebrated NYPD operations at Columbia University and City College of New York as organized, calm, and resulting in no injuries or violent clashes.

Advocates and students told a different story. Holmes lawsuit describes a chaotic scene as the NYPD deployed flashbangs and entered the building in riot gear. Holmes was struck in the face and upper chest with a riot shield before he was kicked, according to the lawsuit.

The NYCLU called the NYPDs crackdown violent, repressive and militaristic. The NYCLU reported officers used pepper spray and drew weapons, causing injuries.

Columbia University and the NYPD did not respond to PIX11 News request for comment.

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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.
By Isabel Demetz

(Reuters) -Swiss luxury watchmakers' shares, including Richemont and Swatch, were volatile in early trade on Monday, reflecting the challenge for the industry after U.S. President Donald Trump set a 39% tariff on Swiss imports.

The sector, which exported watches worth 26 billion Swiss francs ($33 billion) in 2024, is already under pressure from a stronger franc and falling global demand.

Watch exports are on track to hit their lowest levels since the pandemic in 2020.

"The impact of the U.S. tariffs, if they stay at 39%, could be devastating for numerous brands in Switzerland," said Jean-Philippe Bertschy, an analyst at Vontobel.

Shares in Richemont and Swatch were both down around 1% at 0906 GMT, paring back losses after earlier falling as much as 3.4%, and 5%, respectively.

Bertschy linked the move to hopes of Switzerland still getting a better deal - the tariffs are effective as of August 7.

Swatch Group Chief Executive Nick Hayek called on Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter to meet Trump.

"Tariffs can change at any moment due to the unpredictability of the Trump administration," said Georges Mari, co-owner of Zurich-based investment firm Rossier, Mari & Associates, which holds shares in Swatch, adding that it is "impossible to make a serious forecast".

Monday was the first day of trading following the U.S. tariff announcement, as markets were closed on Friday for the Swiss National Day holiday.

The U.S. is Switzerland's leading foreign market for watches, accounting for 16.8% of exports worth about 4.4 billion francs, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.

While Richemont generated 32% of its full-year 2025 sales in the watches category, its exposure to the United States market should be just below 10% of overall sales, analysts at Jefferies said.

Swatch, meanwhile, generated 18% of its 2024 sales in the United States, with its CEO saying the company had raised prices by 5% following the first tariffs announcement in April.

(Reporting by Isabel Demetz and Helen Reid; Editing by Adam Jourdan, Joe Bavier and Toby Chopra)
The grandfather of a Woburn boy who went missing over the weekend may face charges, Woburn police told Boston 25 News on Monday.

The eight-year-old boys mother first reported her son missing late on Saturday night.

After 24 hours, the 8-year-old and his grandfather were located leaving Cambridge, according to Woburn police. Police say the boy was tired but unharmed.

The childs grandfather may be facing criminal charges as an investigation is underway; however, charges are still be determined by detectives, the police department said.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Aug. 4Staff report

The Lawrence County Community Foundation (LCCF), in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), is accepting grant applications for projects and programs benefiting the people and communities of Lawrence County.

The 2025 application period for grant funding closes Sept. 9.

Nonprofits, schools and public organizations serving Lawrence County are eligible for this grant opportunity. Other groups working in fiscal agent partnership with a nonprofit or public organization are eligible to apply. If you need help finding a fiscal agent, contact LCCF for assistance.

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Funding requests should be limited to a maximum of $5,000, but larger requests may be considered based on potential impact. Priority will be given to Lawrence County-based organizations not previously funded during the 2024 grant cycle. Approximately $70,000 in grant funding is available to be awarded this year.

Additional information and the 2025 grant application can be found at www.AppalachianOhio.org/Lawrence.

LCCF will award grants that advance opportunities across five funding areas: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services. Emphasis is on supporting individuals of all ages who are spearheading projects and programs that create opportunities, meet pressing needs and unleash the potential within Lawrence County.

Each year, earnings from charitable giving to LCCF's endowment fund are reinvested in Lawrence County through grants that meet the county's greatest needs and most promising opportunities. In 2024, LCCF, one of FAO's 15 affiliate foundation partners, awarded six grants to organizations serving Lawrence County.

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To learn more about LCCF and how to support its work, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org/Lawrence, email Lawrence@ffao.org or call 740-753-1111.

About the Lawrence County Community Foundation

The Lawrence County Community Foundation (LCCF) was established in July 2022 by the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation, Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization and Lawrence County Commission as a vehicle for attracting resources that can be invested to benefit Lawrence County residents today and into the future. A local foundation affiliate of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, LCCF is committed to increasing opportunities for Lawrence County communities and residents by inspiring and supporting philanthropy. To learn more, visit www.appalachianohio.org/Lawrence.

About the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio

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The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. In partnership with 15 affiliate foundations, FAO works to unleash the collective potential within Appalachian Ohio by encouraging and supporting philanthropy. For more information, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org and follow FAO on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
Californias Texas-thwarting gerrymander has swiftly transformed from fantasy to reality.

Democrats in the House and the state Legislature are coalescing around a plan to draw a half-dozen Republican incumbents into oblivion  and persuade California voters to approve the new congressional maps before next years midterms. Party leaders are closely tracking the dual-track developments in which lawmakers in Texas and California are moving, in partisan parallel, to shore up their respective partys House majorities. California Republicans are casting about for a way to avoid extinction.

It all points to a high-stakes, big-dollar brawl thrusting California to the center of the political universe.

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Legally, we can do it, said Xavier Becerra, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Biden Cabinet secretary who is working with a voting rights institute that has briefed lawmakers . Politically, we must do it.

It could result in as many as five new blue seats and Democrats holding all but four of Californias 52 congressional districts, according to a slide presented to members of Congress and viewed by POLITICO. That analysis tracks with the presentation to Democrats in Sacramento, which envisioned forcing out GOP incumbents including Reps. David Valadao, Kevin Kiley and Darrell Issa.

The redistricting sprint has accelerated over the last week. On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed he intended to call a special election, likely in November. Over the weekend, as Texas Democrats sought to forestall a vote by fleeing the state, California House delegation leaders gave state lawmakers their most extensive briefing to date, including internal polling that found the gambit starting with a slender lead.

On Monday, members of the California delegation discussed their plan for mounting a redistricting campaign in the deep-blue state, according to five people familiar with the situation.

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Trump wants to change the rules so he can continue to use the full power of the federal government to punish California with zero congressional oversight, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who briefed state and federal colleagues, said in a statement. If these GOP mid-decade redistricting efforts do come to pass, our congressional delegation stands ready to work with our state legislative partners to respond. We will fight back.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has been in close touch with Newsom, also recently met with Democratic members of the California delegation to discuss redrawing the maps, and lawmakers emerged largely supportive of the effort. California House incumbents  even those who would be drawn into more competitive districts  are presenting a united front and downplaying any reservations about shifting lines complicating reelection.

In a mirror-image inversion of the situation in Texas, members of Californias shrunken Republican delegation are trying to stave off defeat. Kiley has introduced a bill to bar mid-decade redistricting, and targeted Rep. Ken Calvert asked his local registrar to analyze the cost of a special election. California's last Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is weighing how to respond to a tactic he vehemently opposes.

I know the last thing Riverside County residents want is to eliminate the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and replace it with insider Sacramento politicians gerrymandering district lines behind closed doors, Calvert said in a statement.

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When Newsom initially floated a California gerrymander to neutralize Texas, the reaction last month was a mix of enthusiasm and deep skepticism about the legal and political hurdles, given Californias use of an independent redistricting commission.

But as it became clear that Texas Republicans were unlikely to back down, Newsom pressed the issue, making California the tip of the spear for a counteroffensive embraced by Democrats at all levels of the party.

Those dynamics make it likely the Democratic-dominated Legislature votes this month to put a new map on the ballot. While some expressed misgivings Sunday about a rushed process  to secure a November election, lawmakers will need to act quickly  several statehouse Democrats predicted they would muster the necessary two-thirds votes in each house.

Its not a fight any of us want to be in, but were in it, so were going to fight, said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, a Democrat from Oakland.

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Nothing, she added, unites the California Democratic caucus quite like Donald Trump.

But getting Sacramento Democrats on board is one thing. Persuading California voters will be entirely different  particularly because they would be asked to return line-drawing power to politicians, letting the Legislature craft new lines until the commission takes over again in 2031 after the next census.

Voters want to weigh in on redistricting because they dont trust politicians, said Chris Lehman, a political consultant who has worked on redistricting ballot initiatives.

A survey conducted by Newsom pollster David Binder found that 52 percent of California voters would approve of state lawmakers redrawing its congressional district lines if Texas Republicans pulled off a similar gambit.

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The measure becomes more popular if the fight becomes more overtly partisan; 60 percent of voters back rejecting Trumps power grab. Roughly eight in 10 Democrats and six in 10 independents are in favor of the effort, according to a person who was briefed on the polls findings.

The messages tested in the poll underscore how California Democrats will portray this as a fight they have no choice but to take on. The proposed ballot measure would be contingent on Texas new districts being enacted.

The polling shows that Californians overwhelmingly reject Trumps blatant power grab in Texas and want to fight back. The basic components of the program we are considering has strong support," said Los Angeles-area Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, another Democrat.

A successful ballot campaign would still require a titanic political effort. Assuming the Legislature acts, Newsom and allies will have just a few months to raise tens of millions of dollars and educate voters on a sudden, off-year election. Republican foes could be motivated to throw down. With little else on the ballot, that could yield an enormously expensive showdown.

Thatll be the big question mark, said Brandon Castillo, a political consultant who specializes in ballot initiatives. Does that national money pour in, on both sides?


Aug. 3PECOS  It was standing room only inside Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe on Saturday as people from northern New Mexico and across the U.S. came to celebrate its grand reopening.

The Catholic mission church, located 9 miles north of Pecos off N.M. 63, had been shut down since 2021 due to COVID and structural issues.

The church serves several small communities and pueblos in northern New Mexico, where Catholicism has been practiced for more than 400 years and is deeply linked to the culture, particularly for Hispanics.

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"It is a great joy that we gather today in (giving thanks) to God ... for the grace he has given us to have completed this project, and we're here to say thank you all," Rev. Christopher Nnonyelu, pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Pecos, said during Mass. Our Lady of Guadalupe is administered by St. Anthony's.

On Saturday, about 100 people sang "Las Apariciones Guadalupanas," "Recibe, Padre Eterno" and "Adios, Oh Virgen de Guadalupe" and received Communion.

Some had traveled hundreds of miles, like Ron Atchley, who came from New Orleans for his first service at the church in over 50 years. Others, including 92-year-old Pecos resident Maria Julia Valencia, went inside the building for the first time.

"It's definitely a beautiful church," she said.

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Carrying on the traditions

Built about 1857, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, or Our Lady of Guadalupe, is made of adobe. It has no water or electricity. It is lighted by candles and lanterns and warmed by a wood-burning stove. The building is surrounded by a low stone wall and graves.

Over the years, it hosted Masses, weddings and baptisms. Rosary services for the recently deceased have been held there. The church is also a popular setting for Las Posadas, a Catholic devotion practiced during the Christmas season, that recreates Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem.

"We are families of faith who are carrying on the traditions of those who came before us," said Pecos resident Corrine Roybal.

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But severe cracking discovered in the church's south wall in 2021, caused by moisture and soil erosion, threatened the structure's stability. This and COVID forced the church to be closed to the public.

To address the damage, siblings Irene Romero, Lucille Quintana, Emily Ortiz and Mary Helen Biles, majordomos, or caretakers, for Our Lady of Guadalupe, spearheaded a fundraiser in honor of their father, Ramon J. Vigil, who was born and raised in El Macho Canyon and attended the church.

The women collected close to $175,000. Most of which came from donations, she said. The rest came from a Catholic Foundation grant.

"We went door to door, telling residents of the dire need of our church and left them with envelopes to donate," Ortiz said. "They were so gracious and excited. Without their generosity, this project probably would not have happened."

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"I would have hated for the church to shut down because we couldn't repair it," Romero said.

Work included putting up 1,600 mud bricks on the south wall and adding a cement foundation that Victor Ortiz, Emily Ortiz's husband, said he hopes will allow the building to last longer.

"I'm kind of just proud that we were able to finish this and not have to close the church permanently and kind of give up," Emily Ortiz said. "I think the faith they (family) instilled in us kind of kept us going to make this happen."

But Emily Ortiz and her sisters know they won't be able to watch over the church forever.

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"I want the younger generation to carry on that tradition of being caretakers," she said.

Her son, Anthony Ortiz, 43, said he hopes to one day take the baton from his mom and aunts.

"They've been caretakers for years," he said. "So, I think for us, for my generation, it's going to be our turn soon to step in and help care for this mission.

"It's a part of our culture, part of our ancestry and, for sure, our responsibility."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to remove Democratic members of the state legislature from their offices and charge them with felonies after they fled the state. Two dozen Texas Democrats traveled to Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday to deny the Republicancontrolled legislature the quorum it needs to pass an off-cycle redistricting measure aimed at securing Republicans additional seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance

when the House reconvenes at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025, Abbott wrote in a letter issued on Sunday. For any member who fails to do so, I will invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House.

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That same afternoon, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to have the lawmakers arrested. Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law, he wrote on X.

Abbott added the potential of felony charges to his own ultimatum, writing that Democrats who solicited or accepted donations to help cover fines incurred by their absence may have committed felonies, and violated bribery laws

The same could be true for any other person who offers, confers, or agrees to confer such funds to fleeing Democrat House members. I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons, Abbott wrote.

Democrats responded with a succinct challenge to the governor: Come and take it.

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Abbotts threat against those who aid the missing Democrats is a barely veiled challenge to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire who has announced he will be providing lodging and other logistical support for the group during their time in Chicago.

Donald Trump is trying to cheat the system in Texas, but these Democratic legislators refuse to let it happen without a fight, Pritzker wrote in a post on X. Their fight is our fight. Im proud to stand side-by-side with them as they protect their constituents.

Theyre here in Illinois. Were going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that  because we know theyre doing the right thing  we know that theyre following the law, Pritzker added. Its Ken Paxton who doesnt follow the law. Its the leaders of Texas who are attempting not to follow the law.

Trump has supported Texas Republicans redrawing the congressional map to squeeze out Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms, and Democrats in Congress have been urging their colleagues in the state legislature to block the effort. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) visited Texas last week, and California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have met with Texas Democrats and indicated their states could respond with redistricting efforts of their own.

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This will have implications, not just in Texas, but for our entire nation and its future, Hochul said at a press conference Monday, alongside some of the Texas Democrats who fled the state. The gloves are off, and I say, bring it on.

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ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  From tomato sandwiches to summer salads and fried green tomatoes, tomatoes are a summer staple in Alabama. However, some farmers tell News 19 that they hope a policy change in Washington, D.C., helps build back demand for locally grown tomatoes.

Isom Orchard in Athens is best known for its apples and peaches, but right now its market is full of fresh off-the-vine tomatoes.

CLICK HERE for News 19s Interactive Radar 

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Kent Isom, Assistant Manager at Isoms Orchard, said, Tomatoes in the summertime is a very popular item.

Isom said that while his farm doesnt rely on tomatoes as a main crop, he sees the benefit of the new tariff on fresh imported tomatoes. I think its probably a good thing that its happening, he said.

Isom is referring to a new 17.09% tariff on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico that was imposed on July 14th. It comes as a result of the United States withdrawing from the 2019 Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Commerce says under the previous agreement, Mexican tomatoes were sold in the United States at unfair prices, making it hard for domestic producers to compete.

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I think terminating the agreement would probably create a more sustainable, even playing field for all farmers, especially in Alabama, Isom said.

The Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association agrees. Executive Director, Blake Thaxton told News 19, likely, the Mexican tomatoes will still be cheaper, thats just the realities of the cost of production, but it gives a better chance for domestic producers to compete.

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Thaxton said the previous agreement negatively impacted the domestic tomato industry.

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When the agreement was originally put in place, about 30% of the tomatoes consumed in the U.S. were imported, and now 70% of the tomatoes are imports and only 30% are grown domestically, Thaxton said.

He said he hopes the domestic market will start to bounce back as a result of the new tariff.

Were excited for this decision and hope that we can have further decisions that protect our industry, he said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
HOLYOKE  A search warrant executed just after dawn Friday led to the arrest of a 33-year-old man and the seizure of two large-capacity firearms, thousands of bags of heroin and fentanyl and a large amount of cocaine.

Police Chief Brian Keenan said detectives searched an apartment at 694 Dwight Street around 6 a.m. on Friday after working with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration on the case.

Inside, police said they found about 5,000 bags of heroin and fentanyl, more than 100 grams of cocaine and nearly $7,000 in cash.

Adiel Velez, 33, of Holyoke was arrested at the scene.

Read the original article on MassLive.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made a stark assessment of what will define President Donald Trumps legacy, saying the president amassing executive power could be what people remember most about his time in office.

Comedian Russell Brand began the interview on Rumble by asking Paul whether the Big Beautiful Bill, the Epstein files, or something else entirely will be what defines Trumps presidency.

I think if we step back and we look at the Trump administration and Trump in history, the big debate will be over executive power, said the senator. And this isnt a new debate. We had it with the Kings of England. We tried to form a republic where we limited the power of the executive.

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But Donald Trump has grabbed up a lot of executive power and is operating through emergency, he added. So basically, one of the big items I think he will be remembered for is tariffs. But its not tariffs being done through Congress, its tariffs being done by royal edict or executive edict.

I think the court will ultimately rule against him, said Paul, an avowed libertarian. Theres a possibility that the legal rug is torn out from under them and that there will be a legal prohibition on what hes doing. That would be extraordinary. I dont think many people are talking about it.

Kentucky Republican Rand Paul argued that the courts may overrule Trumps tariffs (Getty Images)

The senator went on to argue that American consumers end up paying for any tariffs, not the American companies and not the country that the tariffs are directed at.

Ultimately, theyre taxes on Americans, said Paul, who added later in the Rumble appearance that Trump is the best person to interrupt the military-industrial complex.

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Paul also criticized the unfairness of the lawfare against Trump.

However, he also faced criticism from many for his comments about a Trump power grab.

He has every right to impose tariffs, said one X user.

Rand Paul was perfectly fine with trade deals that screwed America over, another added.
On a searing Wednesday in July, Viles Dorsainvil, leader of the Haitian Community Support Center in Springfield, Ohio, drove an hour to the town of Lewis Center, just north of Columbus, to be honored at the Ohio Conference of Community Developments Annual Summer Meeting. Dorsainvil, clad in business casual and flanked by fellow leaders of the support center, received a plaque recognizing their work to support Haitian immigrants in Springfield, a community that came under attack by Donald Trump and his supporters during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Dorsainvil cradled the plaque as he walked the brick-lined street outside the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center, but the moment seemed bittersweet. His manner was reserved when he spoke with Salon in the lobby of a nearby conference hall, saying that he was grateful for the recognition he and his colleagues had received for helping members of the Haitian immigrant community acclimate to life in central Ohio  and navigate a deluge of attacks after Trump spread false claims about them during a nationally televised debate last September.

Just a day earlier, Dorsainvil had tried to support some 20 Haitian workers facing layoffs at a company near Springfield after their work authorizations had lapsed, a result of the federal governments effort to terminate their immigration status.

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The challenge such immigrants face, he said, was really inhuman. No one  no one  should be going through that tough time when it comes to your survival in the community, while youre not a criminal or not doing anything wrong.

Haitian immigrants in the U.S. are navigating a chaotic mix of relief and foreboding as their futures in the country hang in the balance. Many of the Haitians in Springfield have received temporary protected status or TPS, the result of a humanitarian program enacted by Congress in 1990 under which immigrants from specific designated nations are granted legal status and work authorization in the U.S. due to political unrest, ecological disaster or governmental collapse in their home countries.

The Trump administration wants to end TPS for Haitians, but a federal judges ruling against the Department of Homeland Security in July has extended the expiration until February 2026, offering thousands an additional five months to strategize their next move  at least for now.

With DHS likely to appeal the ruling and perhaps seek other ways of terminating Haitians protected status, many members of the community feel they are facing a ticking clock. Most say they would not be safe returning to Haiti, where civil society is in chaos, and have few or no other options outside the U.S.

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Haitian students at Clark State College in Springfield have broken down in tears in front of him, Dorsainvil said. They came here believing that they should have had a life, and all of a sudden, everything is turned upside down. The future is so uncertain that they do not know what six months down the road may look like for them. The judges ruling offers some kind of relief, he added, but the new deadline of Feb. 3 is just around the corner.

The lawsuit against DHS was filed by a group of Haitian evangelical clergy members in New York, seeking a postponement of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems decision to vacate part of the TPS designation extension for Haitian immigrants. The Biden administrations latest extension was set to expire on Feb. 3, 2026, a date that Noem earlier this year rolled back to Aug. 3, 2025. Then, on July 1, Noem published a notice that DHS would eliminate TPS for Haitians effective Sept. 2.

In a 23-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan ruled that Noem lacked the legal authority to partially vacate a countrys TPS designation and granted the nine Haitian plaintiffs request for a postponement of the Aug. 3 deadline, citing the irreparable injury they would suffer in having to prepare to lose their rights five months earlier than they thought legally possible.

In a statement, DHS press secretary Tricia McLaughlin described Cogans decision as a move that delays justice and seeks to kneecap the Presidents constitutionally vested powers under Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The Trump administration has repeatedly alleged that Article II grants the president nearly unlimited powers, a view that has been partially bolstered by the conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

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Haitis TPS was granted following an earthquake that took place over 15 years ago, it was never intended to be a de facto asylum program, McLaughlin continued. The Trump administration is restoring integrity to our immigration system to keep our homeland and its people safe, and we expect a higher court to vindicate us in this. We have the law, the facts, and common sense on our side.

Noem is likely to appeal the decision and attempt to maintain the earlier expiration date, so for now Haitians and other immigrants from TPS-designated countries remain in limbo, according to Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Since Trumps return to office last January, Dalal-Dheini said, Theyve been living under fear of, What could happen next to my status, to my life? So, yes, this gives them more time. But the question is, really, how long will it buy them?

Dorsainvil said he believes the Trump administration is trying to squeeze Haitian immigrants toward so-called self-deportation, or voluntary departure from the U.S. But the options for most Haitians are limited. Canada has tightened its immigration pathways, and Brazil, where many Haitians have historically gone for refuge, is refusing to accept more immigrants. For most, he said, going back to Haiti is entirely out of the question.

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Though DHS now claims that the humanitarian crisis in Haiti that necessitated a TPS designation no longer exists, the State Department does not seem to agree. It recently reissued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti, urging Americans not to visit the Caribbean nation because of high crime and terrorist activity, continuing civil unrest and limited health care. Haiti remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere and has been in sustained political and humanitarian crisis since the assassination of President Jovenal Moise in 2021. Recent media reports suggest that the government has failed to maintain order, criminal gangs control much of Port-au-Prince, the capital city, and shortages of food and basic supplies are widespread.

Dorsainvil said that the Haitian Community Support Center is still encouraging recipients of TPS and humanitarian parole  a different form of temporary legal status  to apply for political asylum. The Trump administration aims to sharply restrict asylum claims as well.

As for humanitarian parole, in May the Supreme Court lifted a stay on Noems March decision to terminate that program, thereby stripping legal status from more than half a million Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans and Cubans now living in the U.S.

Dorsainvil is also helping people secure U.S. passports for their American-born children and set up guardianship plans for families in the event a non-citizen parent is deported. The center is also partnering with local advocacy organizations like Springfield Neighbors United and Springfield G92, which work to support the towns Haitian community, to hold know your rights trainings in preparation for ICE raids and to create networks that can mobilize on behalf of detainees.

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Regardless of what has been happening, we have to keep going, Dorsainvil said. At the end of the day, we have ourselves to feed, we have rent to pay, we have utility bills to pay, we have our kids to send to school.

Start your day with essential news from Salon.

Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Carl Ruby, senior pastor of Central Christian Church and a leader of Springfield G92, a coalition of 20 churches and faith-based groups who seek to provide physical refuge for anyone who needs it, told Salon that the group is focusing its current efforts on helping families with children, while two churches are preparing to offer shelter after the Feb. 3 expiration date. The organization held a Love Thy Neighbor rally this weekend outside Springfields city hall plaza to show solidarity with the Haitian community, platforming nearly 20 speakers and asking attendees to donate diapers and other infant supplies.

Springfield G92s efforts are trying to send the message loud and clear that the faith community is against this, Ruby said in a phone interview. We feel that we have a moral obligation to oppose this peacefully, but as strongly as we can.

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The fear in Springfield prior to Judge Cogans ruling was palpable, Ruby said. But since the decision, whats left is a temporary sense of relief: He says ICE has told him it has no current plans to carry out enforcement actions, but that could change at any moment. The talk of mass deportation and anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from the White House and its supporters has not ended.

This entire situation has inflicted incredible damage to our community, Ruby said. Its hurt our businesses. Its hurting our tax revenue. It is inflaming some of the white supremacy groups that are around. Its been very harmful to our community.

Ruby ended with a direct message to President Trump. We understand that border security is really important. We understand that deporting violent criminals is important, he said. But we cannot be supportive of deporting people who came here legally and whose lives are at risk if theyre sent back to Haiti.

The post Haitians in Ohio, mocked by Trump, get a reprieve  but face uncertain future appeared first on Salon.com.
(NewsNation)  Hamas recently said its prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to Israeli hostages it holds in Gaza.

The announcement comes after Hamas released video of two hostages who are suffering from malnutrition. Hamas said its offer stands only if Israel agrees to two demands: permanently open corridors to humanitarian aid into Gaza and halt all strikes during aid distribution.

Journalist tries to set record straight on Gaza food distribution

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People who have seen the videos of the hostages said the state theyre in is reminiscent of what Jews went through in concentration camps under the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. According to Reuters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested the Red Cross involvement in providing food and immediate medical care to the hostages.

Hamass starvation libel is reverberating around the world, while the systematic starvation is carried out against our hostages, who are being subjected to inhumane physical and mental abuse, Netanyahu said in a statement.

The Red Cross has reiterated its calls to be granted access to the hostages so it can assess their conditions, provide support and facilitate communication with their families. It has not been able to access any hostages since Oct. 7, 2023.

Why not enough food is reaching Gaza after Israel eased blockade

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The release of the video also comes on the heels of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoffs visit to Gaza, where he oversaw aid distribution from American and Israeli-backed humanitarian groups. Israel has faced scrutiny for a mass hunger crisis in the region.

Netanyahu is meeting with his cabinet sometime this week to talk about next steps in the ongoing conflict, as Witkoff said he is working on a plan to end the war and bring home the hostages.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Musk won't receive the award if courts change course and give approval to his 2018 compensation package worth some $56 billion

Key Takeaways

Tesla's board approved paying CEO Elon Musk 96 million shares in an "Interim Award" under the electric vehicle maker's 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.

At Friday's closing price, that values the package at approximately $29 billion.

Musk won't receive the award if courts change course and give approval to his 2018 compensation package worth some $56 billion.





The world's richest man just got a lot richer.

In a regulatory filing, Tesla (TSLA) reported that CEO Elon Musk would receive 96 million shares of restricted stock as part of an "Interim Award" under the electric vehicle makers 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. At Friday's closing price of $302.63, that would value the agreement at about $29 billion.

The company noted the decision came after the board earlier this year "established a special committee ... to consider certain compensation matters involving Elon Musk." That committee, consisting of disinterested directors Robyn Denholm and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, made the recommendation, which was approved by the board yesterday.

Tesla noted the stock will vest two years from now, providing Musk remains CEO or holds another key executive position, and he will have to pay $23.34 per share for them. However, he will forfeit all the award if the courts eventually decide he can receive the estimated $56 billion pay package from 2018 that was approved by shareholders. A Delaware judge struck down that deal, agreeing with plaintiffs who argued that it was excessive.

Tesla shares were up about 1% today, but they've lost nearly a quarter of their value year-to-date.



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The war in Gaza should end because Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel, hundreds of former spies, soldiers and police have told Donald Trump, the US president.

In an open letter to the White House, the retired officials said the campaign, now approaching its 23rd month, has ceased to be a just war and that it was leading the State of Israel to lose its security and identity as a result.

The 550 signatories urge Mr Trump to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, to agree to a ceasefire that would return the remaining hostages.

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They include former heads of Shin Bet, Israels internal security service, the Mossad, its foreign spy agency, three former chiefs of the military, including a former prime minister, Ehud Barak, and two former defence ministers.

It comes amid speculation that the government will announce a new direction for the campaign in Gaza in the coming days, in the absence of a hostage-return deal.

Operation Gideons Chariot, a dramatic expansion of the IDFs offensive, which was launched in May, has now effectively concluded.

However, it has not succeeded either in defeating Hamas or in pressuring them to release the hostages, aims which were given as justification at the start.

The open letter to the White House called on Mr Trump to put pressure on Mr Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire - Saul Loeb

At the same time, Israels international reputation has deteriorated as the humanitarian crisis, including mass displacement and widespread hunger, has worsened.

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Military analysts generally agree that Israel smashed Hamass ability to fight as an organised terror army last year.

Since then, the group has been operating as small groups of guerrilla fighters, but still inflicting a painful death toll on the IDF.

It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel, the letter stated.

At first this war was a just war, a defensive war, but when we achieved all military objectives, this war ceased to be a just war, said Ami Aylon, a former Shin Bet director and one of the senior signatories.

The letter argued that Israel has long accomplished the objectives that can be achieved by military force, namely dismantling Hamass military formations and governance.

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The third, and most important, can only be achieved through a deal: bringing the hostages home, it read.

On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel was seeking a decisive military victory, in a message that elicited concern from hostage families.

Mr Trump criticised the plight of ordinary Gazans in recent weeks and made it clear he wants the conflict to end - Ebrahim Hajjaj

Using the momentum from the perceived victory over Iran in June, the White House put both Israel and Hamas under huge pressure to restart talks.

The negotiations lasted for weeks, the longest round of talks in the war so far, but fell apart without a deal, with both sides accusing the other of making unrealistic demands.

Although staunch in his support for Israel and Mr Netanyahu personally, Mr Trump criticised the plight of ordinary Gazans in recent weeks and made it clear he wants the conflict to end.

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However, it is not known whether he would go so far as effectively ordering Mr Netanyahu to stop fighting, or, if he did, whether the Israeli prime minister would comply.

On Monday the Israeli press reported that the future of the campaign could be decided at a security cabinet later this week.

Options said to be on the table are a reduced offensive that allows in more military aid, total military occupation of the strip, or an encirclement strategy, whereby the IDF withdraws to a number of zones around key Hamas areas and launches raids from those.

Some of the senior names who signed the letter to Mr Trump also released a slickly edited video.

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In it, they emphasised their authority to criticise the conduct of the war, claiming, collectively, more than a thousand years experience of such matters.

Praising the victories over Hezbollah in Lebanon and against Iran, they said: We are now offsetting losses; we are burying achievements.

Our achievements [in Gaza] are quite limited. Internationally the damage is severe.

The comments come as Israeli society reels from the publication of hostage videos by their captors over recent days.

In one video, hostage Evyatar David was filmed digging what he said he believed was his own grave.

On Monday, foreign minister Gideon Saar likened Hamass behaviour to that of the Nazis, and said Britain and Frances plans to recognise a Palestinian state was a pure prize for terror.

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Hamas has said it is open to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivering aid to Israeli captives in Gaza after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he requested the Geneva-based international organisation to step in.

The statements from Hamas and Netanyahu came after Palestinian groups last week released videos showing two emaciated Israeli captives held in Gaza, where some 2 million Palestinians are struggling to survive the Israeli-induced starvation crisis.

Netanyahu said on Sunday he had spoken to Julian Larson, the head of the ICRC delegation to Israel, requesting the groups immediate involvement in providing food and medical treatment to captives still held in Gaza.

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In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote in Hebrew that he told Larson that Hamas was propagating a lie of starvation in the enclave, but the reality was that systematic starvation is being carried out against our hostages.

Later on Sunday, the spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, Hamass armed wing, said in a statement that Israeli captives held in Gaza eat what our fighters and all our people eat.

They will not receive any special privilege amid the crime of starvation and siege, the spokesman, known as Abu Obeida, said.

But, he added, the group is ready to act positively and respond to any request from the Red Cross to deliver food and medicine to enemy prisoners.

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In order for requests to aid captives to be accepted, humanitarian corridors must be opened in a normal and permanent manner for the passage of food and medicine to all our people in all areas of the Gaza Strip, Abu Obeida said.

Israeli attacks of all forms must cease during the receipt of packages for the prisoners, he added.





The ICRC said in a statement on Sunday that it was appalled by the harrowing videos of the captives held in Gaza and reiterated its call to be granted access to the hostages.

These videos are stark evidence of the life-threatening conditions in which the hostages are being held, the ICRC said in the statement shared on X.

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We know families watching these videos are horrified and heartbroken by the conditions they see their loved ones held in, the ICRC added.

On its website, the ICRC says that securing access requires the cooperation of all parties involved. The ICRC also says on its website that it has not been able to visit any Palestinian detainees held in Israeli places of detention since 7 October 2023.

In a separate statement on Sunday, the ICRC said it was also appalled that a Palestine Red Crescent Society staff member had been killed in a clearly marked Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) building in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

The PRCS had earlier said the attack was perpetrated by Israeli forces, but the ICRC statement did not refer to who was responsible.

One million women and girls starving

Meanwhile, the families of Israeli captives held in Gaza said on Sunday that Netanyahus continued insistence that a military resolution was the only solution was a direct danger to the lives of our sons, who live in the hell of tunnels and are threatened by starvation and immediate death.

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For 22 months, the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure will bring back the hostages, and today, even before reaching a comprehensive draft agreement, it is said that an agreement is futile, the families said in a statement.

There are about 50 captives still in Gaza. Fewer than half are believed to be still alive.

The latest developments come as the Government Media Office in Gaza said that Israeli authorities allowed just 36 aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip on Saturday, while 22,000 aid trucks continue to sit outside the Strip waiting to bring much-needed food to Palestinians there.

The United Nations office in Geneva on Sunday also warned that 1 million women and girls in Gaza are now starving.

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In a post on X, the UN said: One million. Thats how many women and girls are starving in Gaza. This horrific situation is unacceptable and must end.

We continue to demand the delivery of lifesaving aid for all women and girls, an immediate ceasefire, and the release of all hostages.

At least 175 people, including 93 children, have now been confirmed dead from forced starvation, according to the territorys Ministry of Health, including 17-year-old Atef Abu Khater, whose weight had dropped to just 25kg (55lbs) before he died on Saturday.




State officials have argued there is a place for AI in schools, with limits. (Photo illustration by tolgart/Getty Images)

As educators prepare for the next school year, one consideration is becoming increasingly pressing: whether and how to embrace AI in schools.

The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter last month reminding educators  including those in New Hampshire  of the opportunity to use federal funds toward artificial intelligence learning tools.

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And this summer, a coalition of New Hampshire groups has produced 77 pages of guidelines for teachers and school administrators to responsibly use those AI tools.

We have to buckle down and understand it, so that we can help kids be prepared for it, said Ellen Hume-Howard, the executive director of the New Hampshire Learning Institute, which helped create the guidelines. And people dont like change  they dont like to do things they havent done, but thats what it means to be an educator.

The letter and guidance have come as New Hampshire schools have increased their use of AI. The state Department of Education has partnered with Khan Academy to provide Khanmigo, an AIpowered tutoring program for children, in New Hampshire schools. That program is provided for free by Khan Academy, with no state or local funding required.

But a number of other programs for schools have emerged that are powered by generative AI, such as Curipod, Book Creator AI, WriteReader, MagicSchool.ai, Eduaide.ai, and Class Companion.

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State officials have argued there is a place for AI in schools, with limits. Caitlin Davis, the new Department of Education commissioner, was asked at a hearing what she thought of AI.

I see it akin to a pocket calculator 50 years ago. Now, we would never say that there shouldnt be calculators in classrooms. AI is a tool. It doesnt replace educators. It doesnt replace learning. And so we need to ensure that AI is instructor-led and most importantly that student privacy is at the center of all of those learning opportunities.

In its July 22 Dear Colleague letter, the federal department has listed a number of ways in which it says schools can use the federal funds, from tutoring programs to career and college guidance to learning materials.

Meanwhile, the guidelines, published in June, are designed to give schools a vision of how to proactively introduce children to AI, Hume-Howard said. She argued the technology will soon be ubiquitous, and that children should understand its benefits and risks.

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And Hume-Howard said that while cheating with AI is a problem, if schools are focused only on cracking down on student AI use, they will miss the opportunity to get ahead of the trend.

Running away from this would be a mistake, because we would be short-changing our learners, she said.

The guidelines, which were created by a team that included the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, the New Hampshire School Boards Association, New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators, and the New Hampshire Supporting Tech-using Educators, feature a roadmap for schools to implement AI policies. That includes forming an AI task force in each school, coming up with policies and rules to govern the use of AI, and developing training plans to bring educators on board.

The guidelines also have suggestions for appropriate uses of AI. In English classes, students could use AI to have simulated conversations with characters, or to generate writing prompts, the guidelines say. In math classes, AI can help break down complicated problems, and in science class, students could use AI to analyze lab data and compare an AI interpretation of scientific findings with peer reviewed journals.

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They also name a number of concerns with AI that teachers should take into account during assignments. For instance, AI can hallucinate and give wrong information, or be biased, depending on the source material it was trained on. It can aid academic dishonesty, and it can undermine a students critical thinking skills if it is overused.

The guidelines have a number of suggestions for teachers to combat these risks. Be purposeful. Align AI use with instructional goals and outcomes  not novelty or convenience, the guidelines state. Be critical. Always preview and verify AI outputs for accuracy, bias, and developmental appropriateness and Be ethical. Model equitable, respectful, and secure uses of AI tools, they continue.

It is not yet clear how many New Hampshire school districts will adopt more AI-based instruction. But some teachers and administrators are showing independent interest.

In March, dozens of teachers assembled at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord to attend a daylong workshop on the topic. Day of AI, an MIT-founded initiative, provides presentations to public school staff demonstrating what AI is, how to harness it in the classroom, and how to avoid its pitfalls.

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You think of a shop where theres hammers and saws and other tools, and theres certain jobs you should use the hammer for, and certain jobs to use the saw for, and certain jobs you should use the ruler for, said Ethan Berman, the founder of Day of AI, in an interview.

Administrators and teachers attending the conference said they recognized the importance of AI, even if they were wary of it. And they agreed that more schools should adopt policies regulating how to use it.

The AI is here, and its not going away, said Eric Larcomb, the principal of Memorial School in the Sanborn Regional School District.
Collin Jones, 14, has always had an innovative mindset. So when he approached his mother, Leslie Jones, about starting a food business, the whole family jumped at the opportunity.

I was bored and just wanted to do something, Collin said.

Chicos Cart  a tribute to Collins nickname, Chico, which means boy in Spanish  is a Hampton-based mobile food vendor. Launched earlier this summer, the family-run business sells beef and chicken empanadas, street corn, fresh-squeezed lemonade and more. Prices range from $1 to $17.

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Leslie Jones said much of the menu is inspired by her Puerto Rican heritage.

Im hoping to add more Puerto Rican street food to the business, she added. Its our culture.

Collin said he has grown closer to his parents and siblings since starting Chicos Cart. While Collin is responsible for the lemonade, his mother and 16-year-old brother, Aaron, help with the food. His father, Brandon Jones, handles the businesss finances, and his 20-year-old sister, Emiley Rittenour, manages its social media accounts.

Its a huge learning opportunity for all of us, the mother said. We have to remember whats age-appropriate for a 14-year-old.

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While Chicos Cart operates under a mobile tent, Collin hopes to use its funds to purchase a food truck and motorcycle.

Thus far, the business has hosted a private rollout and a Fox Hill neighborhood pop-up outside the Jones house. At the second event, everything  including 50 lemonades, 60 hot dogs and about 90 empanadas  sold out within three hours.

Chicos Cart was also featured as a vendor at the 2025 Butterfly Walk for Lupus & Fibromyalgia at Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton on Saturday. This marked the businesss first public appearance, where it made around $450.

Its a little nerve-wracking because you just want to make sure the quality is great and the customers are happy, but we did great, Leslie Jones said.

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A donation from Marshall and Anadee Tucker, family friends of the Joneses, made it possible for Chicos Cart to attend the event.

Its a beautiful thing, Anadee Tucker said. To see them being cohesive and being together and taking this on as a family just melts my heart.

Information about Chicos Carts pop-up events are available on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Maddie Mohamadi, madeleineleila.mohamadi@virginiamedia.com
AUSTIN, Texas (NewsNation)  Texas Democrats fled the state Sunday to deny Republicans a legislative quorum as part of an effort to prevent the GOP from redrawing the Lone Star States congressional maps.

The move deprives the Texas Legislature of the numbers it needs to function, stalling progress on the maps, but comes with big risks for the state Democrats, including steep fines and the threat of arrest.

American farmers, truckers facing toughest time in years

Democrats have tried the maneuver before

Democrats twice denied the GOP a quorum in 2003 to stop Republican efforts to redraw voting maps, at one point leaving for Oklahoma and later for New Mexico. In 2021, Democrats left the state in the final days of the session over an elections bill and new voting restrictions. They stayed away for 38 days.

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Both efforts only delayed the Republican-led measures that were ultimately passed once Democrats eventually returned to Austin.

Abbott defended the redistricting plan as an effort to redraw lines to better reflect voters who supported Trump in the 2024 election, when he easily won Texas.

Gerrymandering can be done, or drawing lines, can be done on the basis of political makeup, as in Republicans versus Democrats. And theres nothing illegal about that, Abbott said Monday in an interview with Fox News. All of these districts that are being added are districts that were won by Trump.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Editors note: This story has been updated at 6:25 p.m. on Aug. 4 to clarify the type of citation the owner will face.

On Aug. 2, Capt. Scott Amati of the Massachusetts Environmental Police spent his afternoon in Douglas with some hard-boiled eggs and pieces of chicken.

The food, however, was not for a picnic. The food was used for capturing a water monitor lizard named Goose, who had escaped its home in Webster on July 18.

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A search was launched for the runaway 4-foot reptile, which had been spotted in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. The search officially ended on Saturday, with Amati and others catching the lizard, who was hiding in a hole near Southwest Main Street.

Amati, along with members of the Webster Police Department, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the nonprofit animal sanctuary, Rainforest Reptile Shows' Oasis Foundation, held a press conference on Monday about the lizards capture and its current condition.

The lizard itself made an appearance at the press conference that afternoon, being held by one of the Rainforest Reptile Shows employees.

At first, Goose squirmed in the persons hands but it soon calmed down and was very still as it looked at members of the press.

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Very strong animal for its size, Amati said. Fairly well behaved all things considered.

Goose was first spotted in Douglas on Saturday afternoon by Zachary Poidras and Ethan Prario  two employees for the DCR.

The two were on the lookout for Goose but neither expected to see the lizard that afternoon.

When Poidras saw the lizard on Southwest Main Street, he thought it was a tire.

He was walking up and I actually saw the tail, he said.

The two contacted Amati and the Environmental Police and the Department of Conservation and Recreation began searching the area.

Soon, they found Goose hiding in a hole in the area away from the street.

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At first, Amati tried to use hard-boiled eggs to lure Goose out, but that didnt work.

He then tried luring it with pieces of chicken, a snack Goose found much more appetizing. After Goose stuck his head out of the hole, he was snared with a catch pole, according to Amati.

The lizard put up a fight but he was placed into a container, Amati said.

Footage of the capture will be released by the Webster Police Department later on Monday, according to Amati.

Following his capture, Goose will have a health checkup before he returns to his new home at the Oasis Foundation.

Gooses owner, whom Amati did not name, will face a non-criminal citation for illegally owning the lizard. Goose originally had an owner from New Hampshire before coming to Massachusetts, Amati said.

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Even though the search for Goose has drawn to an end, Chief of Police Michael Shaw said he was a little sad to see the lizard leave.

Hes kind of our unofficial mascot of Webster, Shaw said to laughs.

More Worcester Stories

Read the original article on MassLive.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo wants voters to approve a tax increase to extend the countys efforts to improve the regions child care landscape, work that began following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Families in the nations third-largest county have benefited from this program that increased the number of child care programs and trained professionals, Hidalgo said, which has been funded by pandemic stimulus money  until now. That money is expected to run out next year, prompting Hidalgo's effort to find a new revenue stream.

But first, Hidalgo must convince her fellow commissioners to put the question on the ballot. A preliminary vote is scheduled later this week.

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Forget whether you support it or not, just let the people decide whether or not they want to see this investment, Hidalgo said in an interview with The Texas Tribune.

Child care is one of the nations most intractable problems. Demand is high, even as many families struggle to cover the cost. Worker pay is low, and so is the profit margin. And there is a wide spectrum of quality care.

Earlier this year, Texas lawmakers added $100 million to a scholarship fund meant to help families pay for care. They stopped short of taking on other issues, such as training and improving access for children living with disabilities.

The debate over whether to ask Harris County voters to cover the cost of the program comes as the county faces financial hardship. The county is considering cuts to libraries, animal control and public health. And Hidalgo, who has been Harris Countys top executive since 2019, weighs whether to run for a third term. She declined to say whether she would seek reelection.

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Now is not the time to consider adding another county program, opponents to the idea say.

We need to use common sense and focus funding on our statutory responsibilities, not extracurricular programs we cant afford, said Commissioner Tom Ramsey, who represents northern Harris County, including the cities of Cypress, Baytown and Tomball.

Harris County allocated $150 million in federal COVID stimulus money to help families pay for child care, create new facilities and improve quality at existing programs. At least 800 slots opened at child care centers, according to the Greater Houston Community Foundation.

The county also helped home-based child care programs register and be licensed with the state, and trained child care staff to promote kindergarten readiness. And the county also invested in summer educational programs for kids, and specialized training for workers who care for children with disabilities.

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Hidalgo said they knew funding would eventually run out. The goal was always to see if the county could make a difference, she said.

Many of these efforts mirrored what other major cities and counties in Texas have done. San Antonio set the bar ten years ago, said Kim Kofron, the senior director of early childhood education for Children At Risk. Travis County in 2024 approved a tax increase to expand child care and after-school and summer programs.

I really do hope that this is something that becomes on more and more radars of cities, both large and small, Kofron said. Yes, our big Metroplex areas are contemplating it, but what's happening in our smaller communities across Texas, and how do they play in? That the answer may be different, but I still think there needs to be a conversation.

Harris County wants to prioritize three initiatives it believes have the most benefits for families. The county wants to increase the number of child care slots, improve the quality at existing programs and provide more after-school and summer education programs.

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As we're facing a budget deficit, we can't absorb that into our standard budget, Hidalgo said. The only option is to go to the voters.

The original program cost $30 million a year. She hopes to double the sizes of the three programs with the new tax.

With voter approval, Hidalgo would add one penny to the property tax rate that would go directly to pay for this program. For a home worth $100,000 the cost would equate to $10 per year. The average value of a property in Harris County is $286,622, according to Zillow. So the cost would average around $28 per year per property.

Hidalgos colleagues have called out the county judge for her handling of the proposal, saying she didnt discuss it with anyone else on the commissioners court before she announced it.

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Ramsey took to social media and multiple media outlets to decry his distaste for the proposal.

This is something I have opposed and warned everyone about over the last four years, Ramsey told The Texas Tribune in an email. Funds should have been used for one-time or short-term expenses, not starting programs, like child care, that we would not be able to sustain.

The county is facing a more than $270 million projected budget shortfall in fiscal year 2026, according to Houston Public Media.

Hidalgo acknowledged the countys current financial situation and there are tough choices ahead for commissioners as they work through the budget. But she also wants to learn from a mistake she said the commissioners made last year by not taking a proposal to increase the tax rate to pay for law enforcement to voters.

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Regardless of personal opinion, the commissioners should allow the voters to decide, Hidalgo said.

Give the people the choice before you cut programs for children, she said.

Disclosure: Houston Public Media has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 1315. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today!

TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  The City of New Haven is prohibiting the use of public funds for any travel on Avelo Airlines, according to a memorandum sent to city employees on July 25.

In addition to prohibiting travel, city officials said that no financial resources may be used to promote, market or partner with Avelo Airlines in any capacity.

Protesters at Tweed rally against Avelo deportation flights out of Arizona

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New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker (D) released a statement about the decision.

New Haven is proudly a welcoming city for all our residents. Avelo Airlines continued participation and profiteering from the Trump Administrations inhumane and often illegal immigration policies and ICEs deplorable tactics is antithetical to our values as a city, and not something we will support with city funds or taxpayer dollars. Until Avelo Airlines changes it policies and practices, municipal employees are prohibited from using public funds for any travel on Avelo Airlines or using city resources to promote, market or partner with Avelo Airlines. Travel should be about bringing people together, not tearing families apart. Prior to Avelos decision to contract with ICE to charter deportation flights, the City of New Haven had a very strong partnership with Avelo and its truly unfortunate that they have chosen this path, and we continue to urge Avelo to reconsider this unethical and misguided business decision. Justin Elicker (D), mayor of New Haven

Protests against Avelos deportation flights out of Arizona took place during previous months at New Havens Tweed Airport.

In a statement, Avelo said:

It is unfortunate the City of New Haven has chosen to direct its employees to not fly Avelo for official travel, due to Avelos business decision to operate flights on behalf of the federal government. We hope in the future the City will change its mind. In the meantime, Avelo will continue to provide affordable, convenient and reliable air service to its millions of Customers in Connecticut and throughout the country.

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In July, Avelo announced that it would be shutting down its West Coast operations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Hawkins County Health Department will host a family and maternal health walk-in clinic on Monday.

The clinic will run from 4-6 p.m. at 247 Silver Lake Road in Church Hill.

No appointment is necessary, and the clinic is open to all.

Anyone with questions is asked to call the health department at (423) 357-5341.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Hampton Cove Middle School released a statement regarding concerns about a teachers prior assault arrest.

Huntsville City Schools Chief Communications Officer Craig Williams said the concerns surround Brandy Taylor. According to court records, Taylor was arrested on Dec. 1, 2017, and charged with third-degree assault in Marshall County.

Prelim hearing set for woman charged in Huntsville realtors kidnapping

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HCMSs website says Taylor is a special education teacher and has taught in the area of collaborative education for 24 years.

The school released the following statement to parents on Monday.

Dear Hampton Cove Middle families and staff, Our administrative team is aware of concerns involving a special education teacher currently assigned to our school. These concerns stem from an incident that occurred in 2017, prior to the individuals employment with HCS. The employee joined the district in 2020 and passed the required Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) background check as part of the hiring process. Out of an abundance of caution, the employee will not be present on the Hampton Cove campus or any other HCS campus during the course of an internal personnel review. The employee will not have any contact with students during this time. HCS is committed to conducting a thorough review of the matter. As a result, affected students will be assigned a substitute teacher while this matter is resolved. We ask our families and community for their understanding as we allow the internal process to proceed. We remain committed to student safety and will provide updates as appropriate. Very respectfully,

Kris Martinez

HCMS Principal

Documents say around Nov. 22, 2017, Taylor was accused of grabbing a child and hitting them, punching them and biting them on the face. The document also says Taylor picked up the child and started beating them with the belt.

Huntsville man armed with knife charged with kidnapping, domestic violence

The additional incident narrative says the childs injuries were inconsistent with disciplinary action.

The complaint says an officer saw welp marks on the childs lower back, left side of their back and the back of the childs right leg. The child also had a deep bruise on their upper left thigh and bruising on their right thigh, along with a mark on the upper left side of their face, documents state. Moreso, the child was seen to have redness around both eyes.

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Photos were taken of the childs injuries and sent to the Department of Human Resources.

Documents say she was convicted of third-degree assault on January 24, 2018, and sentenced to 60 days, split to serve 30 days in jail and 24 months of probation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Tesla has been ordered to pay $243m in a landmark lawsuit concerning a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system in Florida, US, in 2019.

A federal jury in Miami attributed 33% of the responsibility for the collision to Tesla after a Model S failed to stop at a sign and collided with a Chevrolet Tahoe.

The jury deliberated for less than a day after a three-week trial before reaching its verdict.

They assigned the majority of the blame to the Tesla Model S driver but also ruled that Tesla should compensate the victims with $42.5m for their losses and pay an additional $200m in punitive damages.

Tesla anticipates that the punitive damages awarded will be minimised by the court.

Tesla argued: the driver, George McGee, was entirely at fault because he was distracted when he dropped his mobile phone on the floorboard."

The companys statement was quoted by Bloomberg as saying: Todays verdict is wrong and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardise Teslas and the entire industrys efforts to develop and implement life-saving technology.

We plan to appeal given the substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial.

The outcome of the Miami lawsuit is said to tarnish the companys near-immaculate court record. The company had won two Autopilot-related crash trials in California, US, and settled several other cases confidentially.

The verdict arrives amid heightened investor scrutiny of the EV makers CEO, Elon Musk, following a tumultuous period for the company's stock.

During the trial, jurors heard from the Model S driver, relatives of the deceased, Tesla engineers, and external experts about the role of Autopilot in the crash.

The driver had activated the driver-assistance system while driving home and had overridden the vehicle's adaptive cruise control by accelerating beyond the speed limit moments before the crash.

McGee testified about being distracted by his phone and expecting Autopilot to assist him. The family of the deceased, Naibel Benavides Leon, had previously reached a confidential settlement with McGee in 2021.

The plaintiffs' lawyers argued that Tesla's Autopilot promotes a false sense of security and that the company, along with Musk, has exaggerated the system's capabilities. They also claimed that Tesla neglected to implement safeguards to restrict the software's use to appropriate roadways and to monitor driver attentiveness.

Tesla's defence emphasised driver error as the cause of the collision, pointing to McGee's history of aggressive driving and his failure to remain attentive despite warnings in the owner's manual. The company insisted that there were no defects in the software and that Autopilot functioned as intended.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  A dangerousness hearing was held for the juvenile involved in the shooting incident at the Holyoke Mall last month.

17-year-old held without bail after Holyoke Mall shooting

In a news release sent to 22News from the Hampden District Attorneys Office, at around 4:30 p.m. on July 25th, a Holyoke Mall security officer observed an individual allegedly shoplifting and alerted Holyoke Police Officers working a detail assignment inside the mall.

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The suspect was approached by officers near the Round 1 entrance, where he allegedly showed a firearm. The suspect and an officer exchanged gunfire. Holyoke Police say that the suspect, a juvenile, was shot in the leg. The suspect was provided first aid and brought to the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. The suspects firearm was recovered. The suspect, whose name is not released due to their age, was arrested.

The teenage suspect was arraigned virtually in juvenile court on July 28th and was being held without the right to bail pending a dangerousness hearing. The juvenile will continue to be held without the right to bail following Mondays hearing.

During the hearing, the defendant stipulated to dangerousness and agreed to be held without the right to bail, without prejudice. The juveniles next court date is scheduled for August 21st for a pretrial hearing.

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HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM)  Were three days into August, but one community is already on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree.

Every year, a Hanover community member donates a tree to display in Center Square.

The tree must be at least 30 feet tall and 20 feet in diameter.

Once a tree is selected, the borough will take care of the rest  cutting it down and transporting it to Center Square.

It works really nicely for both the residents [and the borough,], Moriah Tyler, executive director of Main Street Hanover said. If you have a tree, youre like, its kind of big, it needs cut down. But I want it to go to a good cause. This is kind of that perfect fit. And then the person who is selected, they get to light the tree during the holiday season.

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The goal is to select the tree by the beginning of September.

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For more details on the tree specifications and how to donate, visit Main Street Hanovers website.

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The Brief

Southern California is preparing for its hottest weather of the summer, with temperatures expected to rise significantly starting on Wednesday.

The heat is caused by a high-pressure system, which will push inland temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal and create a heightened fire risk.

The peak of the heat wave is forecast for Thursday, with a cooldown expected to begin by Saturday.

LOS ANGELES - Southern California this week is bracing for what appears to be the hottest weather so far this summer.

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According to the National Weather Service, warmer-than-normal temperatures will begin on Wednesday and peak on Thursday across Southern California. Temperatures will rise sharply, as much as 10 degrees above normal, especially inland.

"This warming will push many interior areas to 4 to 6 degrees over normal, with 90s in the valleys and 100-103 degree readings in the western San Fernando Valley," the agency said.

The agency warns that potentially hazardous heat is possible on Friday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 10.

"Most areas will end up 5 to 10 degrees above normal. Two exceptions will be the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Calabasas area where max temps will be 10 to 12 degrees above normal."

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Max temps in the valleys will range from 95 to 106 degrees, with the deserts sizzling with max temps from 105 to 107 degrees.

The hot temperatures are the result of a high-pressure system expanding over the region.

Graphic courtesy National Weather Service Los Angeles

Accompanying the heat will be widespread strong winds, elevating fire weather danger.

The NWS has issued an elevated fire weather warning for Santa Barbara County from Wednesday, Aug. 6 to Saturday, Aug. 9 due to this increased heat.

Officials said heat advisories are likely for most of the Los Angeles area but will be issued towards the end of the week when temperatures will be hottest.

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A cooldown is expected by Saturday, Aug. 9. According to the NWS, the only triple-digit heat will be found in the Antelope Valley, with the warmest valley locations reaching the mid-90s.

The Source

This weather report is based on information provided by the National Weather Service, including their official forecasts and statements. The details on temperature increases, fire weather warnings, and the cause of the heat wave are all directly attributed to the agency.
Herzogs visit to these three small EU states, with a combined population of 6.1 million, reflects Israels effort to secure dependable allies as its standing in Western Europe declines.

Call it Israels pivot to the Baltics.

All right, that may be a bit overstated, but President Isaac Herzogs three-day trip that began Monday to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia  coming just a month after Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited the same three countries  signals something significant: Jerusalem is actively shoring up ties with the friendlier parts of an increasingly unfriendly European Union.

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Herzogs visit to these three small EU states  together they have a combined population of 6.1 million  is more than a round of bilateral niceties. It tells a deeper story about Israels search for dependable allies as its standing in Western Europe deteriorates and global isolation looms.

Why the urgency? Because the diplomatic avalanche Israel is facing is real and gathering momentum. Following France, several other EU countries  in addition to non-EU states such as the UK and Canada  have signaled intent to recognize a Palestinian state, including Portugal, Luxembourg, and Malta.

Calls for punitive measures against Israel are growing louder in EU corridors. In that environment, courting sympathetic voices in the Baltics  where the diplomatic weather is noticeably warmer  isnt just smart; its necessary.

Whether this diplomatic offensive translates into concrete diplomatic wins  blocking future EU sanctions or rallying support in international forums  remains to be seen. But in the current climate, maintenance of strong ties with friendly countries is itself important.

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The EU is split on Israel, meaning that what Jerusalem needs to do is stitch together a patchwork of reliable allies that can be counted on to temper the tone of EU statements, slow punitive initiatives, or inject nuance into what often becomes a binary moral narrative.

That Herzog is heading to Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn  and not Brussels, Paris, or Madrid  is revealing. It reflects a geographic and diplomatic shift.

While countries such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden  and, of course, anti-Israel stalwarts Ireland and Spain  are leading the charge against Israel in the EU, others  such as Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Bulgaria  have emerged as steadfast allies.

The three Baltic nations, though not always entirely aligned with Israel, are part of that friendlier cohort. In recent years, the Baltic states have quietly helped blunt particularly harsh EU moves targeting Israeli policies, whether by abstaining, voting against, or watering down proposed language.

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That said, the support hasnt been uniform. Lithuania has emerged as the strongest ally of the three, followed by Latvia, with Estonia showing more mixed behavior  at times backing Israel in Brussels and at other times backing steps Israel views as hostile, such as supporting the Netherlands May 2025 request to launch a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Lithuania opposed this review, and Latvia took a neutral position.

And in late July, all three Baltic countries signed a declaration  along with 17 other EU states and close allies such as Canada, Australia, and Japan  calling on Israel to halt the war and blaming it for Gazas humanitarian crisis, with barely a mention of Hamas.

That the Baltics didnt break ranks on that issue and join together with the countries that pointedly did not sign  Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and Romania  highlights the limits of their alignment. Still, in the broader context of Israeli-European relations, the Baltic countries remain more open to Israels arguments and positions than some of their Western European counterparts in the EU.

EU-Israel economic agreements hang in the balance

Whats at stake here is more than just goodwill. There are real, high-stakes policy implications. The EU is currently debating whether to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a framework governing economic and political cooperation between Israel and the EU. Saars visit to the Baltics in June  before going to Brussels  was part of an effort to prevent such a move, and Herzogs visit now continues that effort.

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Last month, 10 countries opposed suspending the agreement: Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy. These countries, together with the Baltic states, form the diplomatic firewall inside the EU that Israel is trying to maintain, and Herzogs visit must be seen within this light.

The thread connecting many of these nations is the shared legacy of Soviet occupation, which colors how these countries view security, sovereignty, and the threat posed by authoritarian regimes  something that creates a certain kinship with Israel that does not exist in places such as Ireland or Belgium.

The Baltics history of Soviet occupation and their present-day anxiety over Russian aggression foster a certain ideological kinship with Israel. These countries understand existential threats in a way that Western European nations, enjoying postwar peace and prosperity, often do not.

For the Baltic states, the threat is Russia. For Israel, its Iran and its proxies. The geography is different, but the instinct to treat threats seriously and prepare accordingly is the same.

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This shared experience also impacts how these states view Israels security challenges. They'd better understand why Israel insists on defending itself aggressively. Theyre more skeptical of international bodies that often issue one-sided condemnations. In addition, they are more skeptical of quick-fix diplomatic solutions that dont take into account the underlying threat.

This doesnt mean they always vote with Israel or refrain from criticism, as the Israel-Hamas War has shown. But it does mean they operate from a different starting point than many Western European countries, whose worldview is shaped more by human-rights frameworks and post-colonial narratives.

In some ways, Herzogs trip is as much about optics as it is about policy. With the Gaza war now stretching into its 22nd month and pressure mounting over civilian casualties and humanitarian fallout, his visit sends a quiet but clear message: Not all of Europe is turning its back on Israel.

This is a message aimed at multiple audiences. For Israelis, it offers reassurance that the country still has friends abroad.

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For Brussels and beyond, its a reminder that Israel isnt entirely isolated. And for the US  Israels indispensable ally  it signals that Jerusalem is not relying solely on Washington but trying to broaden its coalition of support.

It also stands in contrast to the growing push in Western Europe for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.

While several EU countries have already taken that step or are set to do so in September, the Baltic countries have not. On Sunday, Estonian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Marko Mihkelson posted on X/Twitter: The barbarity of Hamas makes it impossible for Estonia and like-minded countries to recognize Palestine.

Israels cultivation of close ties with the Baltic states and other Central and Eastern European states is a pragmatic approach. As relations with traditional European powers fray, Jerusalem is pursuing other relationships and avenues. That might not produce sweeping diplomatic victories. But in an era of growing isolation, even quiet, incremental gains count for something.
Residents of New Braunfels successfully stopped a local witch store from receiving $1,739.25 in taxpayer funding after a viral social media post sparked community outrage.

Concerns were raised when the July 28 city council agenda included an item to award business improvement grants to two entities, including the occult shop The Empress by Altar Space. The citys website listed the proposed allocation: $1,739.25 for the witch store and $11,225 for the New Braunfels Elks Lodge #2279.

The Empress by Altar Space promotes events offering free ritual materials, sells occult books, and markets items such as pentacle poison rings, according to its website. One of the books available at the store, Magic Child, is described as a bedtime spell for spiritual families and encourages children to learn grounding, breathwork, herbalism, casting a circle of protection, and talking to spirits, according to publisher Red Wheel Weiser.

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Local activist and New Braunfels resident Chase Taylor first sounded the alarm on his Substack, detailing the stores offerings and alerting the community to the potential use of taxpayer dollars to support the business. His post quickly went viral, prompting a wave of backlash from local residents. Shortly afterward, the stores owner withdrew her grant application, and the item was pulled from the council agenda.

The applicant has WITHDRAWN her application for funds and is no longer seeking grant funding. As a result, the item has been pulled from the city councils agenda for tonights meeting, Joelynn Mesaros posted on Facebook.

Taylor told The Dallas Express that the incident reflects a broader disconnect between city leadership and the communitys values.

The fact that the City of New Braunfels placed an item on the consent agenda which would have awarded tax dollars to go toward facilitating nighttime tarot card readings and seances just shows the disconnect between our city leadership and the majority Christian, conservative citizens who live here, Taylor said. I hope that this is a wake-up call for people.

The Dallas Express reached out to store owner Elizabeth Dixon and the City of New Braunfels for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Attorney-general Gali Baharav-Miara attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, April 27, 2025 (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The decision still has to pass a judicial review, so Baharav-Miara has not officially been ousted from her role.

The government on Monday unanimously approved Justice Minister Yariv Levins proposal to dismiss Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara. In response, the High Court of Justice issued an injunction against the decision.

In the latest clash between the judiciary and the government, the court said no aspect of the attorney-generals position is to be changed until a future decision is handed down and that the government cannot name a replacement.

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The government and Attorney-Generals Office have until Thursday to respond. The court said a hearing on the matter would take place within 30 days.

In a ruling last month, Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg said no measure to dismiss the attorney-general would be valid until the decision is reviewed by the court.

Although Baharav-Miara has not officially been ousted from her role, cabinet ministers have said they would stop inviting her to government hearings and committee meetings effective immediately.

Democrats party chairman MK Yair Golan speaking at a protest outside the Prime Minister's Office demanding the release of Gaza hostages, supporting A-G Baharav-Miara, and opposing the govt's decision to fire her, August 4, 2025. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The government had reached its redline with the attorney-general, Levin said at the beginning of the meeting to dismiss her, following large protests surrounding the issue.

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During the meeting, Levin said the government had conducted a very lengthy process before reaching todays discussion. For a very long time, attempts were made to work with her [Baharav-Miara] cooperatively.

He rejected accusations that the attorney-generals firing was related to the ongoing trial against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying such claims were an extremely dangerous insinuation.

Since one of the roles of the attorney-general is to be the chief prosecutor for Netanyahus trial, a main issue in her firing has been that there might be a conflict of interest.

Following the governments decision to fire Baharav-Miara, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel said it had already submitted a petition to the High Court that was signed by more than 15,000 people.

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The petition exposes the clear flaws in the decision, including a clear conflict of interest of the prime minister, who is accused of crimes, said the nonprofit organization, which aims to promote democracy in Israel.

The government will meet us in court, it said.

The NGO also added that while it welcomed the High Court's decision to freeze the illegal dismissal, it criticized the move for coming too late.

The NGO also said it welcomed the High Courts decision to freeze the illegal dismissal, but it criticized the move for coming too late.

This invalid and unconstitutional procedure should not have been allowed in the first place, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel said.

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Protests outside of the government meeting were held throughout Monday. Thousands of protesters attended demonstrations in Tel Aviv on Sunday in support of Baharav-Miara.

The protest on Monday outside the government meeting was led by The Democrats MKs.

At the protest, The Democrats chairman Yair Golan criticized the government for firing the attorney-general while hostages remain captive in Gaza and the Israel-Hamas War continues.

Just beyond the fences around the nearby building, a government meeting is taking place right now  a meeting that is not dealing with the release of the hostages, the end of the war, replacing Hamas rule in Gaza, Israels security, the rehabilitation of the Gaza border communities, the cost of living, or the recovery of our healthcare system, he said.

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Even in these harsh times, the government of Israel focuses only on itself, Golan said.

Ahead of the cabinets vote, Baharav-Miara, in a letter to the government, said the way it has gone about dismissing her is against the law and riddled with disingenuous political motivations.

A-G chose not to attend her dismissal hearing

She did not attend the meeting.

Levin criticized Baharav-Miara for not attending this meeting and previous meetings regarding her position.

When a civil servant, no matter how senior, is invited to appear before the government and chooses not to come, it shows disrespect, he said at the meeting. It also shows that the legal adviser exploited her rights.

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The legal protocol for hiring or dismissing an attorney-general was codified in 2000, following the Shamgar Commission and the Bar-On-Hebron Affair. The hiring or dismissal could happen relatively quickly so that the position can be filled promptly, according to the code.

The government was unable to fulfill the necessary requirements to establish a committee to fire the A-G.

According to protocol, the committee must be made up of a retired Supreme Court justice as chairperson, appointed by the Supreme Court president and by approval of the justice minister; a former justice minister or attorney-general, chosen by the government; an MK, chosen by the Knessets Constitution, Law and Justice Committee; a lawyer, chosen by the Israel Bar Association; and a legal academic, selected by the deans of the law faculties.

Due to being unable to fill the positions, a new committee was created by the government to fire the A-G.

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The government wrote last month in its position penned by Levin and Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud), who chairs the committee, that it could not fill the positions because all relevant former attorneys-general and justice ministers opposed the governments decision.

The dismissal is the removal of one of the main and last checks that existed in Israeli jurisprudence on the power of the government, Baharav-Miara wrote Monday ahead of the vote.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A person hiking with friends on a San Diego County trail had to be rescued by a helicopter Sunday afternoon.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department received distress calls around 2:40 p.m. and rescue crews were able to locate one person who was suffering from heat exhaustion while hiking on a Los Penasquitos Canyon trail with three friends.

Rescue crews hoisted the person into a helicopter to remove them from the trail, then took them by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation. Authorities did not release any details on their condition as of Sunday evening.

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Three local parks to close due to heat this month

Just this past week, the County of San Diego closed three parks for the month of August as the summer temperatures rise  El Capitan Preserve near Lakeside, Hellhole Canyon Preserve in Valley Center and Mt. Gower Preserve in Ramona.

In May, the county also closed two other parks located in or near Anza Borrego desert, Agua Caliente Regional Park and Vallecito County Park.

The parks will reopen Labor Day weekend.

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Hilary M. Weston, retail mogul, socialite, philanthropist, and a former lieutenant governor of Ontario, Canada, died Saturday at the age of 83.

Westons passing was confirmed by her children Galen G. Weston and Alannah Weston Cochrane.

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Our mother lived with unwavering devotion to her family and a belief in the power and importance of community and service, Galen Weston said in a statement. Brilliant, brave, companionate, and beautiful, she brought a touch of magic to everything she did  in her decades of public service, philanthropy, and her remarkable business career. Her greatest joy was the life she created for her family and friends  filled with warmth, love and fun.

Alannah Weston Cochrane added: Our mothers elegance and high standards were matched by her warmth and sense of humor. She loved a challenge and brought her innate creativity and style to everything she did. But it was her vision, coupled with her enormous capacity for hard work that made her a great female leader. Her insight, wisdom, and strength as well as her belief in individuals made almost anything possible.

Weston was the widow of the late W. Galen Weston, the retailer who died in 2021 and helmed food, retail and real estate companies in North America, the U.K. and Europe. Among his holdings was the Selfridges Group, comprising the eponymous store in the U.K., Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland, De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, and the Holt Renfrew luxury chain in Canada. Several of Westons holdings were sold off, but the familys business remains quite substantial and includes in Canada the Loblaw food chain; Shoppers Drug Mart, a pharmacy and convenience chain, and Holt Renfrew.

As a young woman, Weston worked as a fashion model to support her family beginning in the 1950s when Irish designer Sybil Connelly asked her to model her couture styles. The Irish Times once quoted her saying: I was a sort of muse. In a way, at that time, one was representing Irish fashion. Chanel always used Irish tweed. Poplin, silk poplin, it was all made in Ireland. Sybil Connolly made these incredible dresses and ball gowns in fine hand-pleated linen. Everyone in America loved those things.

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Weston met the man she would marry at a dinner party in her native Ireland, though, as the story goes, her husband was prone to saying that he first spotted her on a billboard in Dublin in which she appeared in HotPants. She was in her early 20s when they got married, and not long after, she became an integral participant in the Weston business empire. Among the roles she filled, she served as deputy chair of Holt Renfrew and director of Brown Thomas. She was also quite influential in shaping the offering at Primark. In their decades together, the billionaire couple divided their time primarily between London and Toronto, shaping their business holding and the retail/fashion landscape in the territories they covered. They were considered Canadian royalty.

Weston served as Ontarios lieutenant governor from 1997 to 2002, the second woman to hold the position and the first from Ireland. According to Wikipedia, during her five-year tenure as lieutenant governor, Weston spotlighted the contributions of volunteers, women and youth, while focusing on the homeless, hospices and at-risk youth. She also donated her $92,000 annual government salary to charity. In 1979, Weston founded the Ireland Fund of Canada, which supports community projects in Ireland promoting peace.

Born Hilary Frayne in Dun Laoghaire in 1942, Weston attended Loreto Abbey Dalkey, a prestigious Catholic school in Ireland. Her lifelong passion for the arts, education, health research and volunteerism culminated in recent years with the creation of The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation. Since 2021, the foundation has committed close to $150 million to charities for health care, education, women, refugees and the environment in Canada, Ireland, and the U.K. With her husband, in the 90s, the two created Windsor, a luxurious private residential community in Vero Beach, Fla., reflecting their appreciation for design, architecture, nature and sustainability. They also lived there. She was given the Order of Canada in 2003 for outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service.

Editors Note: An earlier version of this obituary incorrectly indicated the Westons control Wittington Investments, a holding company for Associated British Foods, which includes international value retailer Primark and Twinings Tea. The story should have indicated that a different arm of the Weston family, separate from Galen and Hilary Weston, controls Wittington.

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Students celebrate graduation in 2024 at Cleveland High School in Liberty County, Texas, one of the fastest-changing counties in the country. Hispanic, Asian and multiracial people drove population growth in the United States last year, according to a new analysis by the Brookings Institution. (Photo by Vanesa Brashier/Bluebonnetnews.com)

Hispanic, Asian and multiracial residents drove population growth in the United States last year, and 16 states would have lost population without gains in those groups, according to a new analysis published by the Brookings Institution.

In three states where the number of residents declined  Mississippi, Vermont and West Virginia  growth in those communities prevented even greater population loss, according to the analysis.

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Nationwide, the 1% population growth for the year was mostly fueled by immigration, representing a much-needed uptick from the historically low population growth of the COVID-19 period, along with the diminishing growth of recent decades, the Brookings report said.

Recent Census Bureau data breaking down changes by race and Hispanic status show that Hispanic, Asian and multiracial categories made up 93% of the nations population growth. The number of Black and Native people also grew but at a much slower rate, while the white population declined.

Hispanic, Asian and multiracial people made up 86% of the growth in Texas, which had the largest population growth for the year at almost 563,000, and 78% of the growth in Florida, which ranked second for growth at about 467,000. California, which grew by about 233,000, would have lost population without growth in those groups.

In addition to California, 15 other states would have lost population, but grew instead, because of larger numbers of Hispanic, Asian and multiracial people: Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington.

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Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@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.

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On a rainy evening in June 2001, abortion pirates sailed into Dublin harbor. Their converted fishing trawler had a portable clinic bolted to the deck, and the cargo included 20 doses of medication abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol), thousands of condoms, 120 IUDs, and 250 morning-after pills. The ships nearly all-female crew included a nurse and a gynecologist and was led by Rebecca Gomperts, a freckled and dark-haired Dutch doctor in her mid-thirties. The boat made its way up the River Liffey and docked close to a waiting crowd of activists and journalists.

The ship was Gompertss brainchild. At the time, the World Health Organization estimated that 78,000 women died each year from unsafe abortions, many of them in countries where abortion was criminalized or inaccessible. Using maritime law, which holds that a ship in international waters is governed by the laws of its home port, Gomperts thought she could sail a vessel from her home in the Netherlands, where abortion was legal, and provide abortion care offshore from countries where it wasnt. It was a provocative and daring thing to doabortion pirates was what conservative opponents called thembut Gomperts, who had served as a doctor on a Greenpeace ship in the late 1990s, knew the publicity power of direct-action campaigns and believed it was well worth creating a stir over 78,000 womens lives.

In Ireland, a last-minute bureaucratic hold prevented the ship from handing out pills, but the crew began to take calls from women needing abortions and directed them to clinics in England or the Netherlands. They invited the public on board and cheerily handed out contraceptives, condoms, and information on safe, self-managed medication abortion. Gompertss organization, Women on Waves, has since sailed an abortion ship to Poland, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Guatemala, and Mexico, and traveled to Venezuela, Ecuador, Tanzania, Chile, and Pakistan, where they worked with local activists to launch safe abortion hotlines or conduct trainings on self-managed abortion. Women on Waves has also sent drones carrying abortion pills into Poland and Northern Ireland, and robots carrying abortion pills, controlled from Amsterdam, into Northern Ireland and Mexico. On their website, you can see pictures of bewildered police officers trying to figure out how to arrest a robot.

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Though the hotlines were long-term projects, the drones and robots in particular werent set up as sustainable models for abortion access. Instead, they were stunts intended to send a message: Access to abortion cant be stopped, and women couldand wouldself-manage their abortions safely, law be damned. As Gomperts put it, the project was this: How could we create a space where the only permission a woman needed was her own?

If Women on Waves was about making headlines, they were only the most visible part of a transnational and multigenerational movement, sensitively documented in Rebecca Grants new book, Access: Inside the Abortion Underground and the Sixty-Year Battle for Reproductive Freedom. Based on a decade of work as a reporter, Grant offers an immensely readable and deeply researched history, equal parts enraging and moving. Access interweaves profiles of activists around the world with deftly narrated context on science, politics, and history. We move from antebellum New York to 1960s Chicago, from Mexico in the 2000s to pharmacies in India, from the internet to an undisclosed location in the American South just before and after the Supreme Court drastically changed the legal landscape with its decision in Dobbs.

The conversation about abortion politics in the United States often focuses on lawson winning rights and taking them awayand on morals. Grant, adamantly, focuses on access: getting people the reproductive care they seek. As the activists she profiles believe, and as her book illustrates, to focus on access is to wholly transform the conversation about what abortion is: a decision a woman makes, a procedure a woman has, something women will always seek regardless of laws. This is no small feat in a country where the anti-abortion right has successfully weaponized terms like life and heartbeat and baby, and where mainstream abortion politics have been stuck in a defensive crouch of lobbying and debating choice. Reading Grants history raises the question: If Planned Parenthood had sent abortion boats down the Mississippi and into the Gulf of Mexico, working with local activists to build safe abortion hotlines in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, would things look different today?





Abortion in the United States has moved between eras of criminalization and eras of legality, but at no point have women ever stopped needing them or having them. In this sense, womens lives have always rendered any abortion bans or restrictions illegitimate. Another way to say this is, by virtue of being women, we have always lived outside the law.

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Through the midnineteenth century, abortion until quickeningwhen the fetus is felt to move, usually during the second trimesterwas common practice and legally permitted. This changed in 1847, with the founding of the American Medical Association, which sought to institutionalize medicine and put power in the hands of (male) doctors. Its members were particularly incensed about midwives, and it was in the 1850s that the movement to criminalize reproductive care, from contraception to pregnancy to abortion to birth, began. The AMA formally adopted an anti-abortion stance in 1859, and criminalization laws really began to enter the books in 1860.

Abortion then became illegal for a century, though of course abortions continued. American literature from the 1910s through the 1940s is full of characters having abortions or trying to have abortions. Women of means traveled to Mexico or were connected to local doctors who did clean work, as is Joan Didions fragile heroine in the 1970 novel Play It as It Lays. Women without means resorted to these more desperate methods, among others: douches of powdered kitchen mustard or glycerin; flooding the uterus with kerosene and vinegar; inserting into the cervix paintbrushes, knitting needles, cocktail stirrers, telephone wire, pencils, chopsticks, bicycle pumps, or gramophone needles.

Grants story begins in 1966, when three women known as the Army of Three begin challenging Californias abortion restrictions by handing out lists of reputable abortion providers on San Francisco sidewalks. Just a few years prior, a sophomore at the University of Chicago had used her civil rights movement connections to help a friend access an illegal abortion, and the calls kept coming. With fellow feminist activists, she started an abortion counseling service to connect women to safe providers. Security was of the utmost concern, and so the women chose the most generic name for themselves: the Jane Collective.

By 1972, the Janes had developed a sophisticated security protocol, a list of reputable doctors, taught themselves how to perform surgical abortions safely and dispense with doctors entirely, offered a sliding scale payment program to make abortion accessible to everyone who called, and provided around 11,000 abortions. In May of that year, a police operation raided their rented apartment, arresting seven Janes, who spent the time in their paddy wagons from apartment to station ripping up and eating the patient contact cards they carried on them.

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They were taking abortion care out of the hands of doctors, politicians, and menand putting it back in the hands of women.

Along with the womens liberation movement, the story of abortion access snowballs from here. On the West Coast, a handful of feminist activists drew from ob-gyn research to develop a menstrual extraction device, known as the Del-Em (a tongue-in-cheek abbreviation for dirty little machine, which one doctor called it), which allowed women in early pregnancy to self-abort safely. Packing 200 specula, they hit the road on a Greyhound Bus tour, traveling to 23 cities and giving live demonstrations of how to use it. These second-wave feminists were intuitively reversing the legacy of the AMA that had criminalized abortion in the first place: They were taking abortion care out of the hands of doctors, politicians, and menand putting it back in the hands of women. The laws followed. In 1973, Roe v. Wade ruled that the government could not interfere in private medical decisions, and abortion became a federal right.

One of the revelations of Grants book is that Roe is a sidenote, rather than, as with liberal rightsbased stories of abortion, the central story. Rights only matter if they are enforced and only if people can exercise them freely: Roe made no provision for either. At the same time that abortion clinics began to pop up across the country, anti-abortion politicians sought to limit the law, eventually winning passage of the Hyde Amendment in 1977, which banned use of federal Medicaid funding for abortions. Womenespecially poor women and women of colorbegan dying.

The restrictions kept coming, led by the ascension of the religious right into Ronald Reagans political coalition. After his election, violent incidents against clinics and clinic staff jumped by 450 percent. Clinic staff were sent death threats, clinics were blockaded, and abortion providers were shot and kidnapped by anti-abortion terrorists. In 1993, a clinic in Corpus Christi, Texas, was firebombed. Feminist protesters mobilized in cities targeted by the antis and kept clinics open, but the terrain of struggle had shifted in the United States. Beginning under Bill Clintons leadership, Democrats moderated their support, calling for abortion to be safe, legal, and rare, while major feminist organizations like Planned Parenthood and Emilys List continued to put their substantial resources toward lobbying politicians.

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Meanwhile, the anti-abortion right organized, town by town and state by state, to make abortion harder to access and harder to provide. Between 2011 and 2013, over 200 abortion restrictions were passed. In the United States, activists organized abortion funds to help local women pay to travel out of state, pay for procedures, and cover costs of childcare or lost wages. But the need was overwhelming: By 2014, 90 percent of counties in the United States had no abortion clinic.





In 1986, Brazil approved the drug misoprostol for the treatment of stomach ulcers. The drug, under the brand name Cytotec, was sold over the counter and carried the warning Avoid taking while pregnant. With this tip-off, women in Brazil began creatively misusing it to self-manage their own abortions. A box of Cytotec cost the equivalent of $5 to $6, while a surgical abortion in one of Brazils underground clinics cost $300 to $1,000. Word spread among women and sympathetic pharmacists that this method worked to end pregnancies, and, noticeably, women stopped dying from unsafe abortions in the poorer towns of northeast Brazil.

This was groundbreaking, Grant writes, and the development of medication abortionthe drugs misoprostol and mifepristoneis the watershed moment in the story she tells. Rather than hinging on finding safe and trustworthy abortion providers, medication abortion made it possible for women without specialized training to safely end their pregnancy on their own terms and in their own communities. All a woman needed was the pills, usage instructions, and a support system in case there were complications. And now, feminists had the internet.

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A gynecologist attending an international conference brought this news back home to Mexico to share with local activists, most notably Las Libres, a feminist collective in the conservative state of Guanajuato that organized access to abortion care for rape survivors. As Las Libres founder Veronica Cruz Sanchez stood in the clinic watching the gynecologist provide medication abortions, she thought: There is no reason this needs to happen in a doctors office, or under a doctors supervision.

Medication abortion is a simple, common, and safe procedure, according to the World Health Organization and decades of data-driven research, but the experience lasts over several days, and can be painful, frightening, and lonelyespecially for a woman trying to keep her abortion secret from a disapproving or abusive family member. Las Libres didnt want anyone to be alone and, in order to combat shame or stigma, wanted each woman to be guided by someone who had also gone through the process. Often, women would come to the collective after the abortion in gratitude and ask, What can I do to ensure another woman can have this freedom? That, Cruz told Grant, was the lightbulb moment. Each woman would accompany the next woman, and on and on, creating a sisterhood of compassionate and judgment-free abortion care, a practice known as acompanamiento, or accompaniment. In 2009, Las Libres began seeding accompaniment collectives across Mexico.

In 2006, Gomperts helped launch Women on Web, an international safe abortion service that functioned like a kind of global hotline. Gomperts registered as a doctor in Austria, where medication could be prescribed without an in-person visit. Payments are processed by a feminist foundation in Amsterdam, and medication is shipped from pharmaceutical partners in India, the worlds home of generic medicine. Teams of volunteers log on each day from around the world to answer, read, and translate requests for abortion, and to stay in touch with each woman as she goes through the procedure.

Heres what one interaction, quoted in Vessel, a documentary about Women on Waves and Women on Web, looks like:

MAY 27, 7:20PM Dear Women on Web,

I retrieved the pills from the post in Nairobi yesterday

I kissed the medicine when it fell into my hands.

I am in the hotel and have just taken the second medicine now



MAY 27, 8:35PM Dear Emma,

How are you doing now?

Has the process started?

MAY 27, 8:55PM My stomach aches, really bad, it is really painful

Is this normal?

MAY 27, 9:16PM Cramping is normal, it means the misoprostol pushing the pregnancy out.

You can take Ibuprofen for the pain.

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MAY 28, 12:17AM This by far is the loneliest I have been.

I am not a monster,

I just cannot have the baby.

MAY 28, 12:29AM Emma,

You are not a monster for wanting an abortion.

1 in 3 women worldwide will have an abortion in her lifetime and we are not monsters!

You are being so incredibly strong and even if you feel alone you are taking good care of yourself.

That is something to be very proud of.

MAY 28, 10:33AM Good morning. It was a long 15 hours but I feel ok now. I will go for an ultrasound to confirm. I am overwhelmed by your kindness. I thought it would be some automated reply, and instead there was a real human being there, who wanted to help me.

May I know your name? Just to keep you in my prayers?

MAY 28, 11:30AM Thank you for your kind words, Emma.

We cannot tell you the name of the woman who was with you as we are a collective and many of us have been working last night.

We are always here if you ever want to write us again.

Hugs, Women on Web

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One of the great developments in twenty-first-century feminism is that the global south has become the global inspiration for whats possible, providing the developed countries of the global northmost notably, the United Stateswith strategies, protocols, resources, and support. Around 2017, a wave of anger against high rates of gender violence swept across Latin America, the so-called green tide, named for the signature green bandannas activists wore. A mass mobilization, termed Ni Una Menos (not one less), spread from Argentina across the region, through Central America and into Puerto Rico. Among many other gains, the movement forced through the legalization or decriminalization of abortion in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.

As the world expanded for women across Latin America, it contracted for women in the United States, who were headed down the tunnel of increasing abortion criminalization. One of the strengths of Grants book is that she follows activists in both Mexico and the United States through the 2010s and into the 2020s, making the disparity painfully clear. In the same year that Ni Una Menos exploded, two American reproductive health workers, stunned by the ease of getting over-the-counter medication abortion at an Ethiopian pharmacy, launched Plan C, a nonprofit website guiding pregnant people in each U.S. state through the complex and changing route to access. A few years later, Women on Web launched a U.S.-focused service, Aid Access, to do the same. Existing abortion activist groups, like the irreverent Shout Your Abortion, based in Seattle, began sharing resources in English and Spanish for people to self-manage their own abortions.

When the Dobbs decision came down in 2022, invalidating Roe, one-third of reproductive-age women in the country lost legal access to abortion within two months, as red states enforced near-total bans. But the abortion pill had changed everything, and while activists looked to early heroines like the Janes, it was the work of groups like Las Libres that began to make the national news. Cruz told Grant she found her phone ringing nonstop after a major New York Times profile of Las Libres, as Americans called hoping to volunteer and offering to help ferry abortion medication from Mexico across the border.

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Alana, an American expat living in Mexico, was friendly with Cruz, and asked if she might create a network of expat volunteers who could function as an American wing of Las Libres and handle all the new requests from the north. Cruz loved the idea, and Alana convened a summit of the old hippies, who sipped hibiscus tea while Alana told them she needed people to buy misoprostol in Mexico and smuggle it into Texas. One of the first to volunteer was Katie, a retiree in her sixtiesand once Katie had success, it led to a trickle, and soon a stream, of older white women, nicknamed the Juanas after the Janes, carrying pills into the United States so that their granddaughters could enjoy bodily autonomy.

Grants book traces only a few of the many underground networks that likely existabortions actually increased nationwide in the year and half after Dobbs, with the flowering of telemedicineand the book is itself an excellent guide to starting one of your own. As with the Janes, security protocol is paramount: Activists now use encrypted text messaging apps, no-log VPNs, encrypted email services like Proton Mail, and tracker-free browsers (helpfully listed, along with other abortion access resources, in an afterword to Access). These activists show in practice that to put womens need for abortion at the center of the story is to see that abortion is about democracy, autonomy, and the ability to participate wholly in civic society. Unjust laws only change when people refuse to obey them, they argue, and it is to them that American women, now reduced to second-class citizenship after the loss of federal protections for abortion, are turning en masse. As such, Grants book should be required reading for every American.

In that Texas post office, Katie might have mailed the pills she carried to an activist in Louisiana, or New York, or Ohio, or Georgia, who would then carefully count the loose pills into proper dosages, package them, and ship them out to a list of addresses given to them by another member of the network. Packagers send along instructions, of course, but also sometimes handwritten notes or festive packaging; sometimes with earrings to disguise the pills jangling; sometimes with tea and ibuprofenanything to help the person receiving them know that they are not alone.
And for good reason. See, it's Alibaba's cloud computing arm that developed the conversational artificial intelligence platform called Qwen. Not only is this tech just as capable as familiar options, such as ChatGPT, Microsoft 's Copilot, and Alphabet 's Google Gemini, but Alibaba arguably has a competitive advantage as well. That is, Qwen's underlying software is open-source, meaning other developers can see its coding and optimize their use of it.

The most exciting and most bullish among these others, however, is Alibaba's cloud computing arm. It's not a big business, at least not yet; cloud drives on the order of only 13% of the company's total top line. It is Alibaba's fastest-growing business, though, improving its sales to the tune of 11% in fiscal 2024, thanks to a quickening pace later in the year.

Then there's the Alibaba you (probably) don't know. That's digital entertainment platform Youku, a logistics arm called Cainiao, and a handful of other businesses.

Its international e-commerce business makes up another 13% of companywide sales, growing 29% year over year last fiscal year to outpace its domestic e-commerce growth of 3%. Not bad, especially considering that the growth of its domestic online sales finally accelerated later in the year, thanks to rekindled strength in China's consumerism.

There's the Alibaba you know. That's the parent to China's e-commerce sites Tmall and Taobao, which collectively account for about 40% of the nation's online shopping, as well as 40% of Alibaba's total revenue.

Not every growth stock, though. If you're willing to look a bit off the beaten path, you'll still find opportunity. And one of the best of these overlooked prospects at this time is Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA).

This extreme bullishness, however, now presents a problem to investors. Not only are these companies' stories fully priced into their stocks, but these popular picks have also become uncomfortably expensive, crowded trades.

The past three years have been fantastic for growth stocks. Names like Nvidia , Palantir Technologies , and Arista Networks haven't just led the way. They've blazed a trail, logging enormous triple-digit gains fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

One in particular has been held back by worries that no longer appear to apply.

However, there are some solid growth names not on most investors' radars and that aren't uncomfortably overvalued.

AI-centered companies like Palantir and Nvidia may be growing at incredible speed, but their stocks are also incredibly expensive.

Story Continues

This should, in theory, encourage its usage even more. In this vein, as of the end of April, Qwen had been downloaded more than 300 million times. Even without knowing exactly how all these downloads will be monetized, this wide reach will funnel developers and consumers toward Alibaba's AI ecosystem.

All told, the analyst community is calling for companywide sales growth of just over 8% every year for at least the next three years. That's not huge, but it's respectably solid and will be paired with slightly stronger earnings growth that's likely to persist well beyond 2027.

It's undervalued because it's underestimated

The curious part to all of this is that none of it seems to be reflected in the company's stock price.

Sure, Alibaba shares are up from their 2024 low. Unlike most of the best-known U.S. growth stocks, though, this one remains under its February high and is still more than 60% below its 2020 pandemic-prompted peak.

Much of that weakness can be chalked up to 2020's regulatory crackdowns on several of China's higher-profile technology companies, including Alibaba. It was unclear then how difficult Beijing's scrutiny might become or how long it would last, keeping plenty of would-be buyers cautiously on the sidelines.

It would also be short-sighted to ignore that this company was agonizingly indecisive for much of the past couple of years. Early last year, for example, it cancelled plans to spin off its logistics arm just a few months after it called off the spinoff of its cloud computing business that had only just begun to develop Qwen in earnest. A big corporate reconfiguration and management shakeup in between those two decision reversals further chipped away at investor confidence.

Now, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. It's been a while since Alibaba's dished out any real drama.

Sure, the tariff war between China and the United States is supposed to be taking a toll on China's economy. If it is, though, somebody forgot to tell China and its consumers. The nation's retail spending was up 4.8% (year over year) in June following May's 6.4% growth. The first estimate of China's second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth was also up a healthy 5.2%, topping expectations.

And yet, there are still talks of injecting stimulus into the country's economy. Not that it actually needs it, but if it gets that stimulus, there's every reason to believe Alibaba will be a significant and immediate beneficiary.

The kicker: This stock's trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is in the ballpark of 16 at this time. For comparison, the S&P 500's P/E currently stands at just under 25.

It's all about balancing risk and reward

To be clear, Alibaba isn't the company with the highest growth expectations right now. There are lots of companies capable of producing (and likely to) stronger growth for a long while. Shares of those other companies are steeply valued, however, if not outright priced for perfection. This limits their upside and even makes them vulnerable to sizable sell-offs.

That's not the case with Alibaba stock. While it may be a slower-growing growth name, it's also the ultimate growth stock to buy right now because it brings considerably less risk to the table than more familiar growth names do and, arguably, more upside. The consensus price target near $150 is 25% above the stock's present price, which is more implied upside than the aforementioned Palantir, Nvidia, and Arista Networks offer at this time. In fact, Palantir and Arista are both currently trading above their consensus targets.

Bottom line? Your chief job as an investor is to balance risk and reward in a way that makes the most sense for you. Alibaba's got less of the former and more of the latter than most of the other growth names that may be on your radar at this time. Just don't tarry if you agree. Alibaba shares are starting to climb, suggesting more investors are buying into the bullishness.

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The Ultimate Growth Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool
ASHLAND, Ohio (WJW)  Two motorcyclists were seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash in Ashland County over the weekend.

According to a Sunday press release, the Ohio State Highway Patrol was called to a crash between a motorcycle and a pick-up truck in the roundabout at US 42 and State Route 302.

Overnight fire damages several apartments

The white pick-up truck fled the scene, according to the release.

The operator of the motorcycle and a female passenger were both seriously injured in the crash. According to troopers, the motorcyclists were identified as Hurry Turner, 60, and Candace Turner, 59, both from Mansfield.

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Popular 1980s actor Loni Anderson has died

Harry Turner was flown from the scene by medical helicopter to Akron City Hospital. Candace Turner was transported by a local first responders to Ohio Health Mansfield.

The roundabout was closed to traffic for about 45 minutes while the crash was investigated.

Anyone with information on the white pick-up truck is asked to call the Ashland Highway Patrol Post at (419) 289-0911.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALBANY, New York  Gov. Kathy Hochul openly embraced the full-fledged gerrymandering of congressional districts in New York to favor Democrats on Monday, marking a significant shift in her push to combat similar pro-Republican changes in states like Texas.

Her escalation in the political arms race to redraw the boundaries of congressional maps comes at a dramatic moment. Hochul was flanked by a delegation of six Texas lawmakers who fled their home state to block Republicans there from pushing through their own gerrymander.

Im tired of fighting this fight with my hand tied behind my back, Hochul said at a Capitol press briefing. With all due respect to the good government groups, politics is a political process.

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The redistricting skirmish in New York is one front in a much larger battle nationwide. Aside from Texas and New York, California, Ohio and Missouri are also considering similar changes to gain a political advantage ahead of next year's midterm elections, which will determine which party controls the House and how President Donald Trump will implement his agenda. It also comes as Hochul is increasingly being drawn into the national spotlight. Over the weekend, she publicly feuded with Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz on social media over his criticism that she wore a headscarf at a Muslim NYPD officer's funeral. Hochul's reelection run next year coincides with the midterm elections.

The redistricting effort she's pushing in New York could open the door to a new set of maps that give Democrats an edge in 22 of the states 26 congressional districts by 2028. They won 19 of the 26 seats in 2024.

The six Texas Democrats who stood with her Monday morning fled the state to block a quorum for a planned redistricting vote. That plan would create five new Republican-friendly congressional districts.

Hochul has embraced changing New Yorks process since the fight over the Lone Star State maps escalated last month. Other Democrats have gone along as well: New York lawmakers introduced a state constitutional amendment last week that would let Democrats make mid-decade adjustments to their maps before the 2028 election cycle.

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Hochuls latest comments show she and state Democrats are looking to go much further, though. The amendment still would have prohibited maps drawn with the intent of disadvantaging Republicans and would have left an independent redistricting commission in place for 2032.

On Monday, Hochul said rules like those are a relic.

Were sick and tired of being pushed around when other states dont have the same aspirations that we always have, Hochul said. And I hold those dear. But I cannot ignore that the playing field has changed dramatically, and shame on us if we ignore that fact and cling tight to the vestiges of the past. That era is over  Donald Trump eliminated it forever.

Any amendment that changes the rules would need to be approved by the state Legislature in 2026 and again the following year. It would likely be brought to voters as a referendum in Nov. 2027.

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Other top New York Democrats indicated Monday theyre willing to go along with a more aggressive approach than whats already on the table.

Democratic states have gone to independent redistricting, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said. Its difficult to ask New York, California, and other Democratic-leaning states to play nonpartisan while Republicans play very partisan.

Were open to fighting back any way we can, Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy said.

Hochul has supported using the congressional maps for partisan purposes well before the Texas plan emerged.

I am also the leader of the New York State Democratic Party. I embrace that, she said when asked about helping Democrats through redistricting in 2021.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) vowed Monday to explore every option to redraw the states congressional maps in response to Texass midcycle redistricting push.

Theres a phrase, You have to fight fire with fire. That is a true statement of how were feeling right now, Hochul told reporters alongside New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D) and several Texas Democrats.

And as Ive said, another overused but applicable phrase, Alls fair in love and war. Thats why Im exploring with our leaders every option to redraw our state congressional lines as soon as possible, she continued, noting state legislative leaders were on board.

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Were already working on a legislative process, reviewing our legal strategies, and well do everything in our power to stop this brazen assault, she added.

Texas state House Democrats fled their state Sunday to deny Republicans a quorum  the minimum number of lawmakers needed in order to conduct business  blocking the House from passing a map that would offer the GOP five additional pickup opportunities. The current maps in Texas already given Republicans a strong partisan advantage.

A Texas House panel had advanced the maps last week, teeing up a vote on the House floor.

Texas Democrats traveled to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, all of which are Democratic-led states. Speaking to reporters Sunday night, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said the state would protect Texas Democrats who are facing arrest  in addition to incurring a daily $500 fine  over breaking quorum.

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New York, where House maps were struck down by a court in 2022 for giving a partisan advantage to Democrats, faces a conundrum over middecade redistricting.

For one, the Empire State uses a redistricting commission to draw its maps, though they are subject to the state Legislatures approval. A second issue is that any amendment to the state constitution requires it to be passed in two consecutive sessions before going before voters, meaning New York Democrats wouldnt be able to change their maps in time for the 2026 cycle.

Hochul acknowledged those constraints, saying, it is not the timeline that I would have preferred.

Were going to also look at litigation strategies, Hochul said. Were in close conversations about options there, and so I would say this  were considering all options right now.

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Hochul notably agreed with the idea that the redistricting commission approved by voters in 2014 should be disbanded or changed.

Im tired of fighting this fight with my hand tied behind my back, she said.

New York is not the only Democratic-led state to explore options over midcycle redistricting in response to Texass move  California is also weighing several avenues over how to ultimately change its House map. Florida is doing so, too, on the GOP side.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to "fight fire with fire" amid Republican efforts to enact redistricting in Texas on Monday, condemning the move even while promising to pursue it herself.

Hochul hosted Texas Democrats who fled their state in an effort to block a redistricting vote on Monday. The New York Democrat argued that President Donald Trump and Republicans are engaged in a "legal insurrection" to subvert the upcoming 2026 elections, leaving Democrats with "no choice" but to embrace the same tactics.

"What Texas and Republican states are doing at the direction of Donald Trump, I say, is nothing short of a legal insurrection against our Capitol," Hochul said. "Legal meaning they're using the legal process. It does not mean it's legal, and it must be stopped."

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"If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then they're leaving us no choice. We must do the same," she continued. "All is fair in love and war. That's why I'm exploring, with our leaders, every option to redraw our state congressional lines as soon as possible."

Texas Democrats Flee State To Block Trump-backed Redistricting Vote In Dramatic Legislative Move

A split of Trump and Hochul

Hochul went on to say that New York's state legislative leaders have told her they are on board with any redistricting plan.

Read On The Fox News App

New York and Illinois are both playing host to Texas Democrats who absconded from the state legislature in an attempt to prevent Republicans from having a quorum necessary to pass their redistricting plan.

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Trump, Republicans Race To Redraw Texas Congressional Map As Democrats Threaten Legal War

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to arrest and expel the lawmakers if they do not return by Monday afternoon.

Gov. Greg Abbott warned Texas House Democrats that they will be expelled from office if they don't return to the Lone Star State to vote on Republicans' proposed redistricting map.

Dozens of Texas' Democratic state representatives arrived in Chicago and New York Sunday night to stall the vote. Shortly after Abbott released his statement, the Texas House Democratic Caucus issued a simple response, writing: "Come and take it."

The statement also described Republicans' proposed districts, which would potentially secure five new GOP U.S. House seats in next year's midterm elections, as a "racist mid-decade redistricting scheme."

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Abbott criticized the Democrats' dramatic departure, saying that "real Texans don't run from a fight."

The Texas State Capitol in Austin, where Republicans are seeking a vote on redistricting.

Removal from office is not the only threat facing the lawmakers on the run, as Abbott warned that "soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules" is potentially a felony.

"Any Democrat who solicits, accepts or agrees to accept such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote may have violated bribery laws," he wrote, citing the Texas Penal Code. He added that anyone who "offers, confers or agrees to confer" money to the fleeing lawmakers could also face charges.

Fox News' Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report





Original article source: Hochul vows to 'fight fire with fire' on redistricting while hosting Texas Democrats who fled state
If anyone questioned whether Davis County residents would be excited to see the Kaysville outdoor shooting range reopen, the crowd on reopening day was their answer.

Prior to August 2024, a company managed the shooting range, welcoming between five and 20 residents each day to use the shooting bays. The management group opted not to continue its relationship with Davis County, however, allowing the county to take the reins. The Davis County Sheriffs Office oversees the range.

The range temporarily closed in August 2024 to prepare for the transition and opened on June 28 after 10 months of work.

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Staff estimate between 300 and 450 people strolled in on reopening day, ready to shoot, see people they havent seen in a while and speak with various representatives from shooting training groups in the area.

When people leave, theyll say, Thank you for keeping me safe. Theres a lot of gratitude from people who come to the range, said Paul Hubenthal, range master. We want people to be aware of risks, but also know the staff is paying attention in order to keep everyone safe.

Keeping guests safe means everyone knows how to handle firearms properly. Staff and volunteers watch each guest to ensure no one gets hurt, including themselves. They have not had any problems in the past, but visitor safety is key.

There are thousands of shooting ranges across the United States, 8,439 to be exact, according to IBISWorld, an industry research firm. Each state has a range, whether it is publicly or privately owned, with indoor and/or outdoor facilities.

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Some ranges have been closed since before the pandemic, but IBISWorld predicts that ranges will earn $5.8 billion throughout 2025. The firm also expects that, since the pandemic, more people will return to shooting and spending time at the ranges, increasing the need for more locations.

The number of visitors to the Davis County Shooting Range has slowed since its reopening, but there are still plenty of people coming, according to Hubenthal. There are 30 shooting bays at the range and Hubenthal estimates 20-30 people are coming each day, with more coming when there are other activities at the site.

Visitors must bring their gun when they come to the range and they also must complete a waiver. But Hupenthal has seen a true community spirit between shooters, with guests loaning firearms to each other.

Davis County Shooting Range

Location: 1649 E. 650 North in Kaysville

Cost: $15 per person for a day pass; $87.50 for an adult annual pass and $75 for senior citizens

Schedule: Open Fridays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but hours will change in September.

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Patrons must complete a waiver on the range's website at https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/sheriff/shooting-range/home

This sense of community is what Hubenthal thinks guests really missed when the range closed. Shooting may be an individual experience for some, but there are also several who enjoy being with others with similar interests, or who are learning.

Hubenthal was not always interested in shooting or shooting sports, but little by little, he learned more and became not only a fan but also an advocate. He has worked at the range for nearly 10 years, starting as a volunteer and now managing the site. He believes guns shouldnt be seen as violent.

Theres a skill with shooting. Skeet-shooting, plates ... theres a skill, and it should be seen that way, he said. High schools have shooting clubs, people hunt. This is not about hurting anyone.

In fact, if we didnt exist  a place that is watching everyone and is keeping people safe  we know people would go shoot somewhere else. So, its a good thing that were here.
DES MOINES, Iowa  On this weeks episode of Homewi$e Amanda Krenz and mortgage expert Tyler Osby discuss Mortgage Calculators, when they should be used, and how to best use them in your home buying process.

Past Episodes:

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A horse was euthanized after falling during a race at Del Mar over the weekend and the jockey was thrown from the horse but able to walk away.

Three-year-old Thoroughbred colt Uncrowned King fell during Race 7 at the Del Mar Racetrack on Saturday and was seriously injured.

According to the official race chart, Uncrowned King chased from between, stumbled near the quarter pole, was pulled up and transported off the course via equine ambulance.

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Officials with the Del Mar Racetrack confirmed the horse was humanely euthanized after suffering from a fractured shoulder following a fall during Race 7 on Saturday. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Jockey Alfredo Bautista was thrown from the horse but did not appear to be seriously injured.

Horse and jockey injured after fall in race at Del Mar Racetrack during opening weekend

We offer our sincere condolences to the connections of Uncrowned King who was humanely euthanized by the attending veterinarians after Saturdays seventh race due to the nature of his injury. For the last several years, Del Mar has been recognized as one of the safest racetracks in the country and we will continue our work to ensure the safest environment possible here for racing and training, Del Mar Racetrack officials said in a statement to FOX 5/KUSI.

Uncrowned King had only raced twice during his career including on Saturday, his horse profile shows.

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This first horse death of the 2025 season comes just a few weeks after Jockey Tiago Pereira was seriously injured after his horse fell during an opening weekend race. The horse was minorly injured.

Del Mar Racetracks summer season runs through September 7.

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CLINTONVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  Hot Chicken Takeover has shuttered another central Ohio location, marking the chains third closure since it was acquired by a new owner last year.

The Columbus-founded chain announced on July 30 that the Clintonville storefront at 4203 N. High St. is no longer welcoming customers. In a social media post, the brand said, closing this shop was a tough call, but its part of a bigger plan to keep growing the right way: with heart, intention, and the kind of hospitality HCT is known for.

Columbus Business Beat: Data centers, Short North visitor fee

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From our first day to our last, you made us feel like family. Were so grateful for every meal shared and memory made, the post said. Were beyond grateful for your support in Clintonville and hope to see you at one of our other Columbus locations soon.

Hot Chicken Takeovers Clintonville storefront at 4203 N. High St. is no longer welcoming customers. (Courtesy Photo/Hot Chicken Takeover)

Clintonvilles location opened in June 2017, and its closure dwindles Hot Chicken Takeover to four central Ohio restaurants in Gahanna, Grandview Heights, the North Market and Westerville. The chains Easton storefront that stood at 4198 Worth Ave. closed in March, and the Lewis Center eatery at 8715 Owenfield Drive shuttered in January.

The closures come after Untamed Brands, Hot Chicken Takeovers former parent company, was purchased in May 2024 by Craveworthy, which also owns BDs Mongolian Grill, Dirty Dough, Flat Top Grill, Genghis Grill and more. Craveworthy then announced plans to fold Chicago-based chicken concept Budlong into Hot Chicken Takeover.

Since then, Budlong and Hot Chicken Takeover have merged to create a refreshed brand called HCT: Southern Chicken, Gregg Majewski, founder of Craveworthy and the former CEO of Jimmy Johns, told NBC4 at the time.

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Potbelly Sandwich Shop to open first Marysville location

However, the chain is remaining as Hot Chicken Takeover in Columbus, though customers may see the Southern Chicken branding used in certain parts of the restaurants and in advertising. Majewski explained Budlongs Chicago locations will bear the HCT: Southern Chicken name, as will new eateries outside of central Ohio.

Hot Chicken Takeover then rolled out a new menu last October for central Ohio storefronts that features hand-breaded chicken prepared using a recipe that is similar to how the chicken was made when the brand first launched 10 years ago. Other menu additions include chicken-fried steak, homemade hushpuppies, crispy fried cornbread and sweet hand pies.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A British woman who died in a hotel swimming pool in Crete has been named as Margaret Winifred Davies.

The 78-year-old tourist was staying at the five-star Knossos Royal hotel in the town of Hersonissos when she lost consciousness.

She was dragged from the water and received first aid before being taken to hospital, but was pronounced dead.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, including a 21-year-old female lifeguard who was supposed to be on duty at the time.

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The Cretapost website reported that the lifeguard was not at her post at the time of the incident.

The Knossos Royal Hotel occupies a prime position on the northern coast of Crete and promises rolling lawns, lush landscaping and impeccable facilities

The hotels director, 51, and general manager, 41, were also arrested.

All three suspects have been released.

Safety complaints

The hotel occupies a prime position on the northern coast of Crete and promises rolling lawns, lush landscaping and impeccable facilities, according to its website.

It boasts several swimming pools, which are designed to appeal to all senses and play an important role in the resorts architectural structure.

In a statement, the Knossos Royal expressed its sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to the family of the deceased and denied any wrongdoing.

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From the very first moment we were informed about the guests discomfort, the hotel management responded to the incident with complete responsibility, seriousness, and professionalism, providing immediate assistance, support, and every possible medical aid to her, it added.

It also urged against speculation over the womans cause of death before the release of an official forensic report by the Greek authorities.

Hersonissos, a popular resort town in the north of Crete where the incident happened - Moment RF

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Crete and are in touch with local authorities.

The incident comes after a British tourist was found dead on his sun lounger on a beach near Hersonissos on July 20.

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The 74-year-old man had lost consciousness shortly after going swimming in the sea on Stalis Beach and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, a search for a British woman is continuing after she went missing from a beach in northern Greece.

Michele Bourda, 59, is reported to have disappeared while her husband slept on a beach in Kavala.

Michele Bourda, 59, is reported to have disappeared while her husband slept on a beach in Kavala

Her family raised the alarm, but police have so far been unable to find her.

She had been swimming at midday on Friday and was wearing a two-piece swimsuit featuring rhinestones, as well as yellow beach shoes and red bone-rimmed sunglasses when she went missing.

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According to local media, she lived with her husband, who is of Greek origin.

She had reportedly gone to the beach with him and disappeared while he was sleeping on a deckchair.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Drier weather has moved into almost all of New Mexico as temperatures continue to heat up. Many locations in southern New Mexico climbed into the triple-digits this afternoon.

Forecast Continues Below

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Dry and hot weather will stick around into the week ahead. A stretch of triple-digit heat will continue across southern New Mexico as well, though next weekend. While almost all of New Mexico will stay dry, a pop-up storm or two will be possible across some of the mountain peaks. That chance for rain will increase slightly with more isolated afternoon storms starting Wednesday. But the heat will continue with near-record heat.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Ignacio Caride is resigning from his role as CEO of Walmart de Mexico y Centroamerica, known as Walmex, and from the company's board of directors, after a tenure of slightly more than one year.

Cristian Barrientos Pozo, currently serving as CEO of Walmart Chile, will step in as acting CEO while the company conducts a search for a permanent successor.

Caride, who has led the company's operations across six countries since April 2024, has stepped down from his role for undisclosed reasons.

He has been instrumental in evolving the omnichannel shopping experience for customers in the region.

The resignation comes as the company has reported a 0.2% decrease in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the second quarter (Q2) of 2025 - a margin contraction of 90 basis points to 9.5%.

The companys Q2 operating income dropped 4%, reaching a 7% margin, but consolidated revenue increased 8.3%.

As of June 2025, it has 4,124 stores.

Walmart Mexico chairman of the board of directors Guilherme Loureiro will continue overseeing Mexico, Central America, Canada and Chile, providing support during the leadership transition.

Barrientos Pozo previously served as senior vice-president of operations for Walmart de Mexico. His efforts include the opening of additional stores and distribution centres, and the digitalisation and strengthening of e-commerce, positioning the company as a key omnichannel player in the Mexican market.

With a career spanning 26 years in retail, Barrientos Pozo's journey began as a wine buyer with Walmart Chile.

His career includes creating and leading the SuperBodega aCuenta brand and serving as vice-president of operations of Bodega Aurrera.

In 2017, he took on the role of CEO and general manager of Central America.

"Walmarts Mexico CEO resigns and Barrientos Pozo becomes interim" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




After watching Israel massacre innocents, demolish infrastructure, and incite famine in Gaza for almost two years, at least some congressional Democrats acknowledge its time to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Axios has reported that over a dozen House Democrats have signed a letter calling on President Trump to recognize the state of Palestine.

This tragic moment has highlighted for the world the long overdue need to recognize Palestinian self-determination, reads the letter addressed to Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. We encourage the governments of other countries that have yet to recognize Palestinian statehood, including the United States, to do so as well.

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The United Kingdom, France, and Canada last week all moved to recognize Palestine as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza becomes undeniable. But in the United States, both Democratic and Republican leadership have remained staunch advocates of Israel, essentially signing blank check after blank check so that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can continue his indiscriminate assault on Gaza. This letter, although its unlikely to move the needle in any tangible way, is the most significant break from that course of action to date. Even Trump last week expressed mild displeasure at the carnage, claiming that he wants to find a way to end the starvation crisis.

The recognition would come by embracing the 22 state Arab League Plan just passed this week that calls for a Palestinian state and the recognition of Israel as a Jewish democratic state, said Representative Ro Khanna, who is spearheading the effort. We cannot be isolated from the rest of the free world.

Progressive and vocal pro-Palestinian Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar are surprisingly absent from the list of current signatories.

The signers are as follows:
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A House Springs man was killed Sunday afternoon following a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Missouri Route 30.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), the crash occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m. on westbound Missouri Route 30, east of Main Drive, involving a Victory Cross Country motorcycle.

The crash happened while the motorcyclist was traveling westbound on Missouri Route 30. According to MSHP, the motorcycle had defects in its front end, causing the vehicle to shake uncontrollably.

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Boy still in coma six days after rescue

At some point, MSHP says the motorcycle driver traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a large patch of gravel, and was ejected from the bike.

The motorcyclist, a 42-year-old man from House Springs, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment after the crash but would later succumb to his injuries.

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, MSHP said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
State Rep. Houston Gaines, an Athens Republican, became the first major contender to announce a bid for Georgia's 10th Congressional District. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder (file photo)

It had only been roughly 72 hours since U.S. Rep. Mike Collins launched his run for U.S. Senate before we landed our first big candidate for his congressional seat.

State Rep. Houston Gaines, a Republican from Athens, announced Thursday that hes running in what is likely to become a crowded primary for Collins District 10 congressional seat, which reaches across 18 counties from the eastern edges of metro Atlanta to the South Carolina state line.

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Being your State Representative for the last seven years has been the honor of a lifetime, Gaines said in a note on social media announcing his congressional run. Together, weve accomplished so much. But its time to take the fight to Washington, D.C. If were ever going to turn this country around, we need good, common sense people to run for Congress to help President Trump continue to deliver for the American people.

Gaines candidacy is far from a surprise. A former student body president at the University of Georgia, the young legislator was always thought to have congressional aspirations but had declined to run in previous open races for this seat.

The then-23-year-old Gaines first arrived at the state Capitol in 2018 after defeating Democratic State Rep. Deborah Gonzalez in a competitive district that combined liberal Athens-Clarke County with a trio of Republican-friendly counties nearby. He has routinely won re-election by wide margins in the years since.

In the statehouse, Gaines wasted no time climbing the Republican ranks: He now serves as the vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee and also holds a caucus leadership role. As a Republican lawmaker from a left-leaning college town, Gaines has repeatedly butted heads with his hometowns liberal city officials over immigration and law enforcement. He is also an important political ally and personal friend of Gov. Brian Kemp, whose Athens home lies in Gaines legislative district.

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Gaines is hoping to cement his status as an early frontrunner, raising more than half a million dollars in his first 24 hours in the race. But other Republicans are likely to join the race soon.

Topping the list of potential candidates is Collins predecessor, former U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, who left Congress in 2022 to wage a Trump-backed bid for Secretary of State. And Paul Broun, another ex-congressman who ironically gave up his seat for an ill-fated Senate run, is said to be eyeing a return to Washington.

Two names you cant expect to hear? State Sens. Brian Strickland of McDonough and Bill Cowsert of Athens, who are both running in the Republican primary for state attorney general and just so happen to be residents of GA-10.

On the Democratic side, 2024 nominee Lexy Doherty is running for the second time. But any Democrat will face long odds in a district where roughly three of every five voters backed President Donald Trump last year over Vice President Kamala Harris.

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We need our government to work with us, not against us, to make a better life for us and our families, Doherty told the AJC. And all weve gotten this year from extremists like Collins is chaos and corruption while the ultrarich take tighter control of Washington.

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Yemens Houthis are again saber-rattling in the Red Sea, having declared a fourth phase of escalation in the region on July 27, threatening to attack any ship from companies docking at Israel ports or tied to Israeli interests.

The Houthi threat had been dormant throughout the first half of the year before attacking multiple ships in the waterway to kick off July. The Yemini group killed four seafarers in an attack on one of those vessels, the bulk carrier MV Eternity C, before taking 11 others as hostages.

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The merchant ship had tried to fight off the repeated grenade, missile and drone attacks over a 16-hour stretch, but no naval ship from the U.S. or a partner had defended the vessel. Another commercial ship helped rescue four mariners from the Red Sea.

According to the Houthis, its military blockade would target ships regardless of nationality of their operating company, and that they will be targeted anywhere that can be reached or within the reach of our missiles and drones.

Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Yahya Saree had said the recent attacks and escalation were in response to rapid developments of events in Gaza in solidarity with Palestinian citizens amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The Houthi military campaign in the Red Sea and neighboring Gulf of Aden began in November 2023 weeks after the Haas-orchestrated Oct. 7 terrorist attacks and Israels offensive against the group.

The Houthis and the U.S. have an apparent ceasefire in effect in the wake of the American air campaign against the Iran-backed group, as long as the Houthis do not attack U.S. ships. But that truce has not covered non-U.S.-flagged ships.

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Ocean carriers have largely avoided the Red Sea and the surrounding bodies of water since the attacks began in late 2023, even after the Houthis had stopped their onslaught in the first half of 2025. Instead, major carriers have often opted to travel around southern Africas Cape of Good Hope, which adds 10-14 days of ocean travel time in most instances.

Many of these carriers have cited safety concerns, while the costs of war-risk insurance premiums escalated throughout the crisis. The aftermath of last months Houthi attacks resulted in a new spike, with the premiums rising to around 0.7 percent of the value of a ship as of July 10. This escalated from around 0.3 percent before the attacks took place, with some underwriters pausing cover for some voyages, according to a report from Reuters.

Transits are still down in the Suez Canal as cargo ships and tankers remain hesitant to return. As of Sunday, the canal saw a seven-day moving average of 32 ships per day, down from 39 the year prior when the attacks were more prevalent, according to data from IMF PortWatch.

But the Red Sea is seeing a recent quiet revival of sorts among regional carriers, according to a market update from maritime intelligence firm eeSea.

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The number of unique service versions on the trade has doubled since the 2024 third quarter, from eight services to 16, according to chief analyst Destine Ozuygur.

In mid-July, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said 10 container ships had thus far taken advantage of the waterway operators 15 percent rebate program to transit the canal. That program applied to all container ships exceeding 130,000 tons as an incentive to get traffic to return to the trade artery. The plan was implemented in May and was originally set to last three months, but the rebate was recently extended to remain in force through Dec. 31.

According to the SCA, the incentives have attracted six transits of CMA CGM ships, alongside the passage of four vessels from Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

On July 19, the 11,800 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) CMA CGM Zephyr was the latest to travel through the canal using the rebate program.

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CMA CGM has been more open about making returns to the Suez Canal than its peers, as its ships are escorted through the waterway by the French Navy. In June, the 15,536-TEU CMA CGM Osiris was the first large vessel to pass through the canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in 15 months.

The French container shipping giant rerouted its Med Express (MEDEX) service to the Suez Canal in June and is set to launch a new regional service, the Levant Red Sea Express focused on linking Eastern Mediterranean ports with the Red Sea.
This story was originally posted to MyNorthwest.com

Amid declining sales, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is urging employees to support the companys new leadership and turnaround plan.

Bloomberg reviewed a recording of an internal meeting held in Seattle this week. During the meeting, Schultz told employees, There has to be a sense of urgency about the work. He encouraged them to buy into Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccols strategy, which includes increasing the required number of in-office days from three to four.

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We cant afford to do this part-time, Schultz said. We have to commit to the company.

Starbucks is trying to recover from six straight quarters of same-store sales declines, Bloomberg reported.

The transformation of Starbucks  its not guaranteed, he said in the meeting recording cited by Bloomberg. Were not entitled to it. Were not entitled to success. We have to succeed every single day.

Niccol announced the new four-day in-office requirement last month.

At Starbucks, coffee and human connection are at our core. We believe in the power of connection, not just in our coffeehouses, but in how we work together as support partners, he stated in a message to employees posted on the companys website.

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We understand not everyone will agree with this approach. Weve listened and thought carefully, he continued. But as a company built on human connection, and given the scale of the turnaround ahead, we believe this is the right path for Starbucks.

Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.
Aug. 3A 52-year-old Hoover man was arrested Saturday after a months-long investigation into human trafficking led by the Limestone County Sheriff's Office.

Hayel Fadhlesaleh Hasson, of Hoover, was taken into custody after traveling to Athens for a meeting with what he believed to be a male juvenile, according to the Sheriff's Office. The juvenile was, in fact, an undercover investigator with the department's Criminal Investigation Division.

The investigation began in July when Hasson initiated contact on social media with the undercover investigator posing as a child, the Sheriff's Office said. During the online conversations, Hasson allegedly offered cash in exchange for sexual contact and agreed to meet in person in Limestone County.

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Upon his arrival in Athens on Saturday, Hasson was arrested without incident. He faces charges of Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, and Human Trafficking in the First Degree.

Hasson is being held at the Limestone County Jail. He will have an Aniah's Law hearing at a later date.
By Maya Gebeily

BEIRUT (Reuters) -Hundreds of Lebanese gathered solemnly near Beirut's coast on Monday to commemorate a half-decade since the cataclysmic port blast of 2020, when more than 200 people were killed in one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history.

Carrying Lebanese flags and portraits of some of the victims, many of those standing said they felt deeply disappointed that no one has been held to account for the devastating explosion.

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"Can someone tell me why five years on we're still standing here? If everyone stands with this cause, then who's against us? said William Noun, whose brother Joseph, a firefighter, was killed by the blast.

"This file needs to close. It's been five years and we don't want to have a sixth," Noun said from a stage set up near the port.

The blast destroyed large swathes of Beirut, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.

The names of all those killed were read out as protesters stood facing the wreckage of the Beirut grain silos, which were heavily damaged in the blast and continued to deteriorate and collapse for years after.

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At 6:07 p.m. - the time of the blast five years ago - the few hundred gathered stood for a moment of silence.

"I'm here because I find it crazy that five years later, we still don't know exactly what happened," said Catherine Otayek, 30. "I had hope for answers in 2020. I didn't think we'd still be here."

Although she did not lose anyone herself, the Lebanese expatriate living in France said she made it a point to return to Beirut every year for the commemoration as a duty to fellow Lebanese.

The port blast came nearly a year into Lebanon's catastrophic economic collapse, and was followed by a political crisis that paralysed government and a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel starting in 2023.

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INVESTIGATION STYMIED

The blast is thought to have been set off by a fire at a warehouse on the evening of August 4, 2020, detonating hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate.

Lebanese officials promised at the time that an investigation into the blast's root causes would be completed in five days.

But years of political interference stymied the probe, with judicial officials and then-ministers continually raising legal challenges against the investigating judges, effectively paralysing the investigation.

Some Lebanese have drawn hope from pledges by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam - both of whom came to power at the beginning of this year - to prioritize justice for blast victims.

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On Monday, Aoun pledged to hold those responsible for the blast accountable, regardless of their position or political affiliation. "Justice will not die, and accountability will inevitably come," he said.

The president and prime minister did not attend Monday's commemoration.

Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation earlier this year and has questioned several officials in recent months - but he has yet to issue a preliminary indictment, which many Lebanese were hoping for ahead of the fifth anniversary.

"We want a preliminary indictment that is complete and comprehensive," said Paul Naggear, whose three-year-old daughter Alexandra was killed in the blast. "We want to know who was supposed to evacuate our neighbourhoods, so that we could get to the hospital, and so my daughter could have survived."

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Naggear and his wife Tracy have been among the most vocal advocates for accountability for the blast.

Rights groups have pressed for a full investigation that will establish the full chain of responsibility.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," said Reina Wehbi, Amnesty International's Lebanon campaigner.

"The families of those killed and injured in the Beirut explosion have waited an intolerable five years. They must not be forced to endure another year of impunity."

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The winds are shifting in congressional attitudes toward Israel.

Traditional bipartisan support is eroding on Capitol Hill as Israels war with Hamas in Gaza has dragged on and the Palestinian casualties have soared.

The pushback is surfacing in different forms and varying degrees of formality. There have been votes to block U.S. weapons sales and proposals to recognize a Palestinian state. Many lawmakers have issued statements of public condemnation. Others have gone a long step further with accusations of genocide. And unlike debates of the past, some of the harshest rebukes are coming from conservative Republicans who have traditionally been stalwart defenders of Israels military exploits.

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It remains unclear if the blowback signals a hardened, durable philosophical shift in thinking on U.S.-Israel policy, or if its merely a temporary protest of a specific episode that will dissipate when the fighting in Gaza subsides.

But this much is clear: Something is changing on Capitol Hill, and its influencing lawmakers in both parties. Some said Congress is simply reflecting shifting sentiments back in their districts.

Theres been an attitudinal change on Capitol Hill because the Israeli governments approval ratings by the people of the United States of America have been sinking. And they continue to sink, not just among Democratic voters but among Republican voters, as well, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) said Friday by phone.

The problem for the Israeli government is that the American people know genocide when they see it.

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Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), one of Israels most vocal congressional defenders, said theres always been a natural ebb and flow in U.S.-Israel relations  a vacillation occurring when the politics of the United States intersects with the reality of whats going on in Israel, he said. But the Israeli government, he added, is helping drive the current ebb through its actions in Gaza.

Two things can be true. Hamas has the power to end this war  this war is an absolute crisis for the Palestinian people  and Israel  has a responsibility to do everything it can to ensure that the people in Gaza are able to get the sustaining aid that they need, he said Friday in a phone interview.

Though the concerns are bipartisan, they also seem to be rooted in different places.

For Democrats, the relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels conservative prime minister, has been strained for many years. Many condemned his visit to the Capitol in 2015, when he used a rare address to a joint session of Congress to blast former President Obamas effort to forge a nuclear deal with Iran. And the tensions have only grown since Netanyahu formed the most far-right coalition government in Israeli history, one which is opposed to the two-state blueprint Democrats deem the only workable way to achieve a lasting peace in the region.

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The worst thing for Israel, and the U.S.-Israel relationship, is for that relationship to become a partisan issue. And were finding it becoming a partisan issue, Schneider said. In no small part, a lot of the blame rests on the shoulders of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the actions hes taken across many years.

The Democratic critics are all quick to emphasize their support for the state of Israel and its right to self-defense, particularly in the wake of Hamass attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, in which the group killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others. But given their fraught history with Netanyahu, theres been little surprise Democrats would pounce on his retaliatory response, as the Israeli military has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, and recent images of starving children have horrified the world.

Should another government be voted into power that is interested in peace, I think the American people will support that government and the state of Israel, Johnson said, emphasizing that the beef is with the current Israeli government, not Israel itself.

More stunning have been the criticisms from the Republican side of the aisle, where support for Israel has been routine and GOP leaders have long sought to highlight Democratic divisions by staging tough votes on the issue.

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That GOP unity has cracked in recent weeks. And the trend might be more lasting, because some of the Republican critics are invoking the America First mantra that helped propel Trump to the presidency, where his unique brand of populist isolationism has shaken the foundations of the GOPs traditional support for a muscular foreign policy in defense of global democracy.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has been a leading opponent of U.S. intervention abroad, even in support of allies. As the news of a hunger crisis has filtered out of Gaza, hes stepped up those criticisms with more pointed denouncements of Israels conduct of the war.

Israels war in Gaza is so lopsided that theres no rational argument American taxpayers should be paying for it, Massie posted recently on the social platform X. With tens of thousands of civilian casualties, theres a moral dilemma too. I vote to stop funding their war and lobbyists for Israel pay for campaign ads against me.

If that was the extent of the GOP opposition, few would blink an eye. But last month, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a staunch conservative and close ally of President Trump, made waves when she forced a vote on legislation to block roughly $500 million in U.S. military aid to Israel; Massie also voted for it. And she made waves again last week when she accused Israel of orchestrating a genocide against Palestinians. In doing so, she became the first Republican in Congress to apply the term to the war in Gaza.

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There are children starving. And Christians have been killed and injured, as well as many innocent people. If you are an American Christian, this should be absolutely unacceptable to you. Just as we said that Hamas killing and kidnapping innocent people on Oct 7th is absolutely unacceptable, Greene posted Thursday on X.

Are innocent Israeli lives more valuable than innocent Palestinian and Christian lives? And why should America continue funding this?

Trump has given his GOP allies plenty of space to broadcast their condemnations. While the president has urged Israeli leaders to finish the job of eliminating Hamas, he also pointedly rejected Netanyahus claims there is no hunger crisis in Gaza.

Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry, Trump said last week in Scotland, where he was meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. There is real starvation in Gaza  you cant fake that.

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The humanitarian crisis has sparked a wave of congressional activity pushing back against Israels actions.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) forced a vote last week on a resolution to block weapons sales to Israel, similar to Greenes proposal. It failed on the Senate floor, but not before it won the support of a majority of Democratic senators  a record number.

In the House, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is circulating a letter urging the U.S. government to recognize a Palestinian state for the first time  an effort thats already won the endorsements of roughly a dozen liberal Democrats.

This month, a number of House lawmakers will be visiting Israel on separate congressional trips, one led by GOP leaders and the other by Democrats. The participants are largely Israel allies, but other lawmakers are warning that, if Israel doesnt act swiftly to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, its opponents on Capitol Hill will only grow.

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If Netanyahu continues to overstep and intensifies the genocide, I think political support in the Congress will continue to drop on both sides of the aisle, Johnson said.

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(Reuters) -Hundreds of thousands of people under siege in the Sudanese army's last holdout in the western Darfur region are running out of food and coming under constant artillery and drone barrages, while those who flee risk cholera and violent attacks.

Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, is the biggest remaining frontline in the region between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under fire at a pivotal point in a civil war now well into its third year.

"The RSF's artillery and drones are shelling al-Fashir morning and night," one resident told Reuters. Electricity was completely shut down, bakeries were closed and medical supplies scarce, he added.

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"The number of people dying has increased every day and the cemeteries are expanding," he said.

The war between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupted in April 2023 when the former allies clashed over plans to integrate their forces.

The RSF made quick gains in central Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, but the army pushed them westward this year, leading to an intensification in fighting in al-Fashir.

The city's fall would give the RSF control over nearly all of Darfur - a vast region bordering Libya, Chad, Central African Republic and South Sudan - and pave the way for what analysts say could be Sudan's de facto division.

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Besieged along with the army and its allies are hundreds of thousands of al-Fashir's residents and people displaced by previous attacks, many living in camps that monitors say are already in famine.

One doctor, who asked not to be named for her safety, said hunger was an even bigger problem than the shelling.

"The children are malnourished, the adults are malnourished. Even I today haven't had any breakfast because I can't find anything," she said.

The RSF has blocked food supplies and aid convoys trying to reach the city have been attacked, locals said. Prices for the goods traders are able to smuggle in cost more than five times the national average.

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Many people have resorted to eating hay or ambaz, a type of animal feed made out of peanut shells, residents told Reuters. One advocacy group said even ambaz was running out.

The RSF, which has its roots in the Janjaweed militias accused of atrocities in Darfur in the early 2000s, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

RISKS OF FLIGHT

Many residents fleeing the city have sought shelter in Tawila, about 60 km (40 miles) west. Some of those who made it told Reuters they were attacked by groups of RSF fighters along the way.

"We fled to Shagra (village) first before getting to Tawila and they attacked us again," 19-year-old Enaam Abdallah said.

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"If they find your phone, they take it. Money, they take it. A donkey or anything, they'll take it. They killed people in front of us and kidnapped girls in front of us," she said.

On Monday, Emergency Lawyers, a human rights group, said at least 14 people fleeing al-Fashir were killed and dozens injured when they were attacked in a village along the route.

Tawila is hosting more than half a million displaced people, most of whom have arrived since April, when the RSF stepped up its assault on al-Fashir and attacked the massive Zamzam displacement camp to the city's south.

But Tawila offers little aid or shelter, as humanitarian organisations are stretched by foreign aid cuts. People who arrived there told Reuters they receive small amounts of grain, including sorghum and rice, but amounts were varying and insufficient.

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Sudan is in the throes of the rainy season, which in combination with poor living conditions and inadequate sanitation has led to an outbreak of cholera.

Since mid-June, aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres has treated 2,500 cases of cholera, a spokesperson told Reuters.

Some 52 people have died from the disease, according to the Coordinating Committee for Displaced People, a Sudanese advocacy group that operates across Darfur.

Vaccines needed to stem the outbreak, if provided, will take time to arrive given the rains.

An assessment by the Norwegian Refugee Council found that only 10% of people in Tawila had reliable access to water, and even fewer had access to latrines. Most families report eating one meal a day or less, the organisation said.

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"We don't have houses to protect us from the rain and we don't have tarps. We have to wait for the rain to stop for the children to sleep," mother-of-four Huda Ali said as she sat among roofless shelters made of straw.

She said she tried to make sure her children washed their hands and only ate food that had been properly heated.

The United Nations called for a humanitarian pause to fighting in al-Fashir last month as the rainy season began, but the RSF rejected the call.

Fighting has also raged across Sudan's Kordofan region, which borders Darfur, as the two sides fight to demarcate clear zones of control amid stalled mediation efforts.

(Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir, Khalid Abdelaziz, and Mohamed Jamal; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer's badge is seen as federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court in New York City on June 10, 2025. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Correction: This story was corrected at 12:35 p.m. with updated ICE detention figures in Idaho.

Immigration arrests and detentions in Idaho sharply increased in 2025, following trends across the U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in Idaho increased 797% in 2025 from the same time period in 2024, according to an Idaho Capital Sun review of ICE data collected by the Deportation Data Project. The project is led by attorneys and professors from multiple states who obtain public data sets through Freedom of Information Act requests.

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From Jan. 1, 2024, to June 26, 2024, there were 41 reported arrests by ICE agents in Idaho, the data shows. For that time period in 2025, there were 368 arrests.

ICE detentions in Idaho also rose by 54% in the first half of this year, compared to the first half of last year. In the first six months of 2024, there were 321 detentions reported in immigration detention centers in Elmore, Jefferson, Gooding, Blaine, Cassia and Jefferson counties. For that same period in 2025, there were 496 detentions reported in Idaho.

Weve seen an increased number of calls, typically from loved ones whose loved one has been detained, said Chris Christensen, a Boise immigration attorney. We have seen a lot more immigration holds  and weve also seen a lot more aggressive tactics used by local ICE.

Christensen, who has worked in various areas of immigration law since 2009, said he was aware of three recent incidents where ICE agents broke the window of a vehicle to remove someone inside.

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The ages of those detained in Idaho ranged from 18 to 64 years old.

Definitions of common immigration terms

ICE arrest: Immigration officials locate and apprehend someone they suspect is in the U.S. illegally. These do not always lead to detentions.

Detention: Some people arrested by ICE agents are detained in facilities such as a county jail or federal detention center.

Immigration hold: ICE may be notified if an inmate in a local jail or prison is likely in the country illegally and will ask the local law enforcement to hold the inmate beyond their release date and transfer custody to immigration authorities.

The youngest people arrested in Idaho were a 6-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, both from Peru. The two children were arrested at the same time as a 33-year-old woman on Jan. 28 in the Twin Falls area. There is no record showing the woman and children were detained.

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Christensen said in a February meeting with ICE agents in Idaho, local immigration lawyers were told that the agency tries to avoid detaining minors because there is nowhere to hold them in Idaho. Many of those arrested in southern Idaho end up going to a detention facility in Las Vegas, Christensen said.

The share of those arrested who had criminal convictions declined in 2025 from the year prior.

Of the arrests made this year, 250, or nearly 68%, of all arrests, were of people with criminal convictions. There were 84 arrests of those with pending charges, and 34 people with other immigration violations, according to the data.

In 2024, 34 of the 41 arrests were of those with a criminal conviction, or 82%, and five were of those with pending charges.

ICE arrests are up across the U.S., many without prior criminal convictions

Nationwide, the share of immigrants with criminal convictions has declined overall since January, Stateline reported. From January to late-June, ICE has made nearly 112,000 arrests, and 40% of them were of convicted criminals, the outlet reported. For the same time period in 2024, 53% of the approximately 51,000 arrests were of those with criminal convictions.

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Arrests in Washington state rose 35% in the first five months of Donald Trumps presidency, the Washington State Standard reported, with 782 arrests in 2025 compared to 581 the same period last year.

Trump administration officials have stated a goal of 3,000 immigration arrests per day; the current average is 711 as of June, the Stateline analysis of data found.

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For those who have been in the U.S. for less than two years, officials under the current administration are using a process called expedited removal, Christensen said, which means they may be deported without the opportunity to see an immigration judge.

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As of July, ICE issued a new policy that required those arrested by the agency to remain in detention while challenging their removal, NPR reported. The policy was challenged in court Monday in a class action lawsuit.

Christensen said this policy reverses a longtime interpretation of the law that allowed those who were considered a low or no threat to the community and a low flight risk to bond out of detention while their case went on in court.

Personally, I think its the Trump administration using detention to wear immigrants down, Christensen said. If youve never been in jail before, and you are locked up in an ICE detention facility  which dont get me wrong, looks exactly like a jail and feels exactly like a jail  people are pretty inclined to give up hope, and maybe give up on their case and return to where theyre from.

Idahos law requires cooperation with immigration authorities

Through a law passed this year and an executive order by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, the states regulations largely require cooperation with immigration authorities.

On Feb. 18, Little issued an order requiring Idaho State Police and all state agencies to collaborate fully with federal immigration authorities. The order also directed the states prison and parole systems to confirm immigration status prior to releasing incarcerated individuals.

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The Idaho Legislature this year also passed House Bill 83, which created new state-level immigration crimes and required cooperation among local authorities and federal agencies for enforcement.

The ACLU of Idaho challenged the law in court, arguing it superseded the federal governments authority to enforce federal crimes, the Sun reported.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the portion of the law that wouldve created state crimes for illegal entry and illegal re-entry, but District Judge Amanda Brailsford did allow the parts of the bill requiring cooperation to go into effect.

In June, Idaho State Police announced it would enter into an agreement with ICE to assist with transporting undocumented immigrants from Idaho jails to ICE detention facilities. Under the agreement, the state police agreed to spend up to $300,000 for 100 transports, the Sun reported.

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Little supported the effort by utilizing his offices Emergency Fund to reimburse state police for personnel.

Idaho is stepping up to help the Trump administration transport dangerous illegal alien criminals to ICE facilities instead of being released back into our communities, Little said in a written statement June 5.

There have been no transports under this agreement as of June 30, an ISP spokesperson told the Sun.

What can be done after an ICE arrest or detention?

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The options available to someone whos been arrested by ICE are different in every case, Christensen said.

I think (immigration law) is the most complex body of law out there, he said.

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The factors at play include a prior criminal history, community ties, the persons flight risk, and others, he said. For those afraid to return to their country of origin, they could apply for asylum or protection under the international human rights treaty, the Convention Against Torture. Some may qualify for protection under the Violence Against Women Act.

Christensen said hes also been receiving calls from people who are in the country lawfully, but who fear that may be revoked. His office has additionally seen an increased scrutiny and slower processing of green card applications.

I think there is an assault on immigration at all levels, Christensen said.

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Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its Baron Real Estate Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund rose 3.61% (Institutional Shares) in the quarter compared to a 1.46% decline for the MSCI US REIT Index (the REIT Index) and a 6.13% gain for the MSCI USA IMI Extended Real Estate Index (the MSCI Real Estate Index). In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Baron Real Estate Fund highlighted stocks such as BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP). BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP) is a traded developer, owner, and manager of premier workplaces. The one-month return of BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP) was -6.12%, and its shares lost 3.45% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On August 1, 2025, BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP) stock closed at $64.62 per share, with a market capitalization of $11.424 billion.

Baron Real Estate Fund stated the following regarding BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:

"During the quarter we acquired shares of BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP) (formerly known as Boston Properties), a blue-chip office REIT that owns a portfolio of premier office properties concentrated in coastal U.S. markets including Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and Seattle. We are excited about BXPs prospects for several reasons:

A bird's eye view of a Class A office building, reflecting the height of modern architecture.

BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 30 hedge fund portfolios held BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP) at the end of the first quarter which was 27 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP) 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.
For the record:

8:29 p.m. Aug. 4, 2025: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to Ricardo Diaz as Ricardo Ruiz.



Federal immigration authorities are attempting to quickly deport an Arizona woman who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 30 years, in what her lawyers are calling the first test of a federal law holding that longtime immigrants cannot be removed until they've had a chance to plead their case before a judge.

Lawyers for Mirta Amarilis Co Tupul filed a lawsuit Saturday night in U.S. district court in Arizona seeking to stop Co Tupul's imminent deportation to Guatemala.

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On Wednesday night, the court granted their emergency request to temporarily pause the deportation while the case plays out in court.

"Only this administration would go this far," said Co Tupul's lead attorney, Chris Godshall-Bennet, "because at the core of it is an underlying complete disrespect for the rule of law."

Godshall-Bennet said the government's move against Co Tupul is just the latest of many illegal actions being attempted by the Trump administration in its effort to remove as many immigrants as possible. If Co Tupul's deportation is allowed to proceed, her defenders said, it could have wide implications for millions of other immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for many years and are at risk of deportation.

The lawsuit was filed against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons and Phoenix ICE Field Office Director John Cantu.

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In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Co Tupul has not claimed or provided documentation to ICE that she lived in the U.S. for more than 2 years  let alone 30 years.

If she can provide documentation to lCE law enforcement that shes lived in the U.S. for more than 2 years, ICE will of course follow the law and place her in normal removal proceedings, McLaughlin said.

Co Tupuls lawyers said they provided extensive evidence of her longtime residence and were told she would remain in expedited removal proceedings anyway.

Read more: 9th Circuit keeps freeze on Southern California ICE patrols

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Federal law since 1996 allows the government to place immigrants in expedited removal proceedings if they have lived in the U.S. for under two years. The Trump administration appears to be using that law beyond its limits.

"They are going to start going around, grabbing people who have been here for decades and throwing them out without immigration court hearings," said Eric Lee, another of Co Tupul's attorneys.

Co Tupul's lawyers don't deny that she lacks legal status. At issue, they say, is how much due process she should receive.

Co Tupul, 38, entered the U.S. around 1996. She is a single mother of three U.S. citizens, ages 8, 16 and 18, and lives in Phoenix.

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She was driving to work at a laundromat on July 22 when an officer wearing a green uniform  believed to be a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent  pulled her over and quickly asked about her immigration status. When Co Tupul declined to answer, the agent held her while he called ICE, who transported her to the Eloy Detention Center about 65 miles southeast of Phoenix.

Three days later, her attorney Mindy Butler-Christensen called Co Tupul's deportation officer, who explained that her client had been placed in expedited removal proceedings and would be removed within one to three weeks.

Read more: Marchers, teachers union demand LAUSD provide more protection for immigrants

"I asked the Deportation Officer to share with me why she would be placed in Expedited Removal," Butler-Christensen wrote in a sworn declaration. "He told me that this was a 'new policy' that ICE would be implementing with immigrants who have just had 'their first contact with ICE.'"

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He refused to provide documentation of the policy, she said.

Under regular deportation proceedings, immigrants are entitled to plead their case before an immigration judge, with rights to appeal. Because of significant court backlogs, that process can be drawn out for years.

Under expedited removal, the immigration court process is bypassed and immigrants cannot appeal, though they are entitled to an asylum screening.

Initially, the faster process was only applied to immigrants who arrived at ports of entry, such as airports. By the mid-2000s, it had expanded to those who entered illegally by sea or land and were caught by border agents within two weeks of arrival.

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Read more: I already want to cry. Undocumented parents prepare for the unthinkable: giving up their kids

Use of expedited removal was expanded again in June 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to those present in the U.S. for under two years.

In January, the Trump administration announced that the government would now seek expedited deportation for those arrested not just within 100 miles of the border, but to those arrested anywhere in the U.S. The policy still applied only to those in the U.S. for under two years.

In the Federal Register notice announcing the change, then-acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman wrote that it "restores the scope of expedited removal to the fullest extent authorized by Congress."

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"First they expanded the geographical area, and now they seem to be challenging the two years," said Godshall-Bennet.

Co Tupul's brother assembled a large collection of documents, including 16 signed affidavits of close friends and family and vaccine records dating back to July 1996, proving that she has lived in the U.S. for decades, that she has no criminal history and that she is an upstanding member of her community.

According to emails reviewed by The Times, Butler-Christensen sent the evidence to Eloy Detention Center staff and to Cantu, the ICE regional field office director, saying that Co Tupul should be placed in regular deportation proceedings immediately.

The response came July 29 in an email from a deportation officer who said "the case was reviewed and she will remain in Expedited Removal proceedings."

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On a call the next day, a supervisory detention and deportation officer asked Butler-Christensen why she was so insistent that Co Tupul be placed in regular proceedings, telling her, "What is the difference?" according to her declaration.

"He told me that during the arrest, she refused to disclose to the officers how long she had lived here," Butler-Christensen wrote.

She added: "I responded that according to the law, she doesnt have to share that information, and that I, as her lawyer, had supplied plenty of evidence to [ICE] regarding how long she had resided in Arizona."

The officer didn't budge.

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Read more: A dozen Democrats sue ICE for preventing detention center oversight visits

Another ICE official confirmed what that officer had suggested  that Co Tupul was being placed in expedited removal proceedings because she had declined to share her immigration status with the officer who arrested her.

"Upon the administrative arrest of your client, she invoked her right to not make a statement," the official wrote in an email to Butler-Christensen. "Based on this, officers processed her as an Expedited Removal."

Co Tupul's eldest son, Ricardo Diaz, said his mother had prepared him for the possibility of her being detained. She frequently watched the news and was afraid the reported ICE raids would eventually reach her doorstep.

In short calls from the detention center, Diaz said she told him to look out for his brothers and to stay focused on his own school work as a freshman in college.

Diaz works at Walmart and split the bills with his mother. Without her help, he said he's quickly feeling the pressure to keep their family afloat. Diaz described Co Tupul as a dedicated and hardworking woman who raised her kids to be good citizens who respect the law.

He said it's unfair that immigration officials aren't respecting the law themselves.

"I just don't think she deserves this," he said. "No one does."

On Monday, Co Tupul's youngest sons started their first day of the new school year. For the first time, it was Diaz dropping them off instead of their mother.

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged detainers against three migrants from Venezuela who have been charged with capital murder in Texas.

Yosguar Aponte Jimenez, Jose Trivino-Cruz and Jesus Bellorin-Guzman allegedly were involved in the June 20 shooting death of 48-year-old Santiago Lopez Morales at a Motel 6 in Garland, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Three depraved criminal illegal aliens from Venezuela were released into the U.S. under the Biden administration and are now facing capital murder and robbery charges for shooting and killing a man at a motel in Dallas County, Texas," Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement provided to Fox News.

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"Thanks to the brave men and women of ICE law enforcement, these criminal illegal aliens' crime spree is OVER. These vicious criminals have no place in the U.S. ICE has lodged a detainer to ensure they are removed from our country after they face justice for their heinous crimes," she added.

Ice Lodges Detainer Against Illegal Migrant Charged With Kidnapping, Sexually Assaulting Neighbor In Texas

The DHS, citing local media reports, said investigators linked the June 20 shooting to an aggravated robbery at a Deluxe Inn located about a mile away from the Motel 6.

Read On The Fox News App

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In that incident, the victim said two Hispanic males were banging on her door and when she opened it, they forced their way inside at gunpoint, made her undress and assaulted her before stealing jewelry, cash and an ID, KDFW reported, citing a police report.

The station added that the suspects later allegedly admitted to Garland detectives that they would arrange meetings with prostitutes to rob them of their money and valuables, with Jimenez allegedly claiming they performed more than 25 robberies.

Republican Governor Greenlights State Troopers To Join Ice In Immigration Crackdown

Jimenez also allegedly said the group targeted prostitutes because they were less likely to head to police to report their alleged crimes, according to KDFW.

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Bonds for Jimenez, Bellorin-Guzman and Trivino-Cruz were set at $1.5 million, $2.25 million and $3.25 million, respectively, the station also reported.

Homeland Security said Jimenez "crossed the southern border illegally on May 3, 2023, and was released into the U.S. by the Biden administration."

"Jose Trivino-Cruz entered the U.S. illegally unvetted via the CBP One app on October 9, 2024, and was released into the country by the Biden administration," the department added.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with other federal law enforcement agencies, attend a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

"Jesus Bellorin-Guzman illegally entered the U.S. unvetted via the CBP One app on January 6, 2025, and was released into the country by the Biden administration," DHS also said.





Original article source: ICE lodges detainers against 3 Venezuelans charged with capital murder in Texas
Protester holds a small globe during the global climate strike on March 3, 2023 in Turin, Italy. Credit - Stefano GuidiGetty Images

We were told the law is only for the powerful. That courts do not recognize climate justice. And that our islands, our voices, and our ability to create change do not matter.

But last week, the worlds highest court proved otherwise.

The International Court of Justice has handed down its unanimous opinion on climate change. It affirms what so many of us have been demanding for years: that all governments, regardless of which treaties theyve signed, have a shared responsibility to protect our common home.

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As one of the young people who first imagined this in a law school classroom at the University of the South Pacific six years ago, it has been incredibly humbling to see this moment come to life.

But while news headlines have poured in about what this means for future lawsuits or whether countries will now take each other to court, this narrow lens misses a bigger truth.

At the heart of this opinion is not a call to litigate; it is a call to unite in action.

The World Court clearly and unequivocally tells us that the climate crisis cannot be resolved by blame or finger-pointing, but through shared responsibility. After the courts two-hour reading, it is the final words of the judge that continue to ring clearly in my ear: Above all, a lasting and satisfactory solution requires human will and wisdomat the individual, social, and political levelsto change our habits, comforts, and current way of life in order to secure a future for ourselves and those who are yet to come.

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Looking around the world we live in today, this idea might seem distant and unimaginable. But we have to ask ourselves: why do we find it easier to imagine the endless suffering caused by the climate crisis than to envision that we could come together to confront it?

For me, the story of the youth who united behind this idea of taking the worlds most urgent problem to our highest court, despite all the worlds foremost international lawyers and experts telling us for years it was vain to hope, is proof that we are capable of achieving the impossible.

Our breakthrough was thanks to the power of solidarity.

In the Pacific, we are raised to see ourselves not as isolated individuals, but as a wider collective, connected not only to each other but to all those who came before and those who will come next.

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That is how our story began, with a group of Pacific law students asking: what if the worlds highest court recognized that inaction on climate change is an injustice, not only for current generations but for those who will come after?

Growing up, Ive seen the sea slowly ebb in and consume our homes and ways of life. I knew of climate change before I had the words to describe it, and as my knowledge grew, so did my frustration. It was impossible to reconcile how those of us who have done so little to cause this crisis are denied the agency to stop its harm.

So I studied law. Not as a weapon to blame and punish those who were responsible, but as a way to protect my islands and my people. In my culture, law is more than a tool for repair; it connects the world as it is to the world as it could be.

Throughout history, people have used the law to build bridges to a more just world. From the lawyers who took climate lawsuits to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to our brothers and sisters in Palau who paved the way for this ideathe collective struggles of those who came before us gave us the courage to move forward.

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Yet, as law students who could not always get photocopies of the required textbooks, we knew we needed the help of many others to take this idea beyond our classroom.

So we reached out, and the world reached back.

From the Pacific to the Caribbean, from Africa to Latin America, young and stubborn optimists found each otherpeople who refused to believe that powerful nations should have the final word on how the world responds to the climate crisis.

Now, thanks to the wisdom of the courts opinion, they dont.

Together, we built something greater than ourselves: a global community where solidarity was both our strategy and our savior. We did not have money, but we did have power because we had each other.

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That is how we took climate justice from a message that had been barred from being heard in the rooms where countries negotiated climate agreements to where the worlds highest court has now placed it: at the heart of how every country must now respond to climate change.

To every young person wondering if the law could speak your truth, this ruling is your echo. But for it to be heard and acted on, we now need more of you to speak its truth. This is no longer the Pacifics advisory opinion. It belongs to the world.

So join us, because we need each other now more than ever.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise shines in the sunlight on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

A new Idaho legislative task force is wading into the complicated and emotional territory of child custody laws with the possibility of making changes.

The Child Custody and Domestic Relations Task Force has met twice since the Legislature adjourned for the year, and co-Chairs Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, and Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, said the group came about because of complaints from constituents.

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Our purpose here is to study how child custody and family laws are being interpreted and applied by Idaho courts, Nichols said at the first meeting on July 7.

Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, works from the Senate floor on the morning of March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Nichols said the group of lawmakers will look into recommending changes to the states laws to provide courts and citizens with more clarity.

Scott told the Idaho Capital Sun in a text message that many legislators had been hearing reports of parents losing full custody of their children to co-parents with serious criminal records and some who had been stuck in the system for several years spending lots of money to fight for their children with no end in sight.

The two meetings have been marked by detailed explanations of current practices from law enforcement, state child welfare staff, and judges who work in the area. The meetings have also been attended by those who feel strongly that theyve been wronged by the system  in some cases fighting for custody against a parent with more legal resources, or others who didnt believe the judge spent the time to consider their evidence and perspective before deciding.

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Child advocates disagree on whether parental consent law hampers child abuse investigations

The groups second meeting on July 31 in Hayden, Idaho, prompted discussion over the states parental consent law, passed in 2024. Senate Bill 1329 requires parental consent before a health care service is provided to minors under 18 in most circumstances.

Scott Coleman, director of Safe Passage Childrens Advocacy Center in Coeur dAlene, said the law hampered the centers ability to provide medical treatment to children whose parents may have abused them.

If we have a parent thats accused of sexual abuse, we cannot perform a forensic interview, basically just an exploratory interview on that child, without a signature from the parent, Coleman said. And if the parent is the perpetrator, thats a problem.

Idaho state Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, talks with attendees during the House State Affairs Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, a task force member and one of the authors of the bill, argued this wasnt the case. She said there was an exemption that allows for treatment in an emergency.

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The law absolutely allows for that, Ehardt said.

Under the bill, treatment may be provided without consent if the provider reasonably determines that a medical emergency exists and if the service is necessary to prevent death or imminent, irreparable physical injury.

The bill also requires that minors health information be released to parents upon request, with an exemption for cases in which the parent is under investigation for a crime against the child and law enforcement requested the information not be shared with that parent. The medical records also would not need to be shared if doing so would violate a court order.

An effort to clarify the law to allow for sexual assault exams without parental consent passed the Idaho Senate this year, but failed to advance in the House before the end of the legislative session, Idaho Reports reported.

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Another speaker at the meeting, who has a background in forensic science and working with survivors of abuse, Conrad Woodall, director of operations at the public charter school Kootenai Classical Academy, argued the law was being misinterpreted in regards to sexual assault investigations.

He said that a forensic exam is not a treatment and therefore should not fall under the parental consent requirements in the bill.

So theres no reason for these organizations to not be conducting forensic exams based on this bill, he said. What you get is people in risk management that read something, they get all scary, and then they dont do what they should be doing.

Ehardt said there would be another bill brought to clarify the intention of the bill during the 2026 legislative session, which will begin in January.

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SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Lawmakers question judicial oversight in custody proceedings

The legislative panel during its day-long meeting also heard from those in the judiciary and questioned them about the oversight regarding conduct and decisions.

Idaho Judicial Council Executive Director Jeff Brudie, a retired district judge, told lawmakers about the councils role in investigating and disciplining judges for violations of its Code of Conduct and its role in helping select options for the governor to appoint judges to fill vacancies.

Magistrate judges oversee child custody and family relations cases, Brudie said, and the council does not play a role in selecting those judges. Local jurisdictions around Idaho each have their own magistrate council, which appoints judges in those districts.

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The councils may recommend suspension or removal of judges if their conduct in and out of the court are deemed unethical. It may also recommend retirement of judges if a disability would substantially interfere with the performance of duties. These recommendations go to the Idaho Supreme Court.

The council cannot take actions regarding complaints against a particular judges ruling  those must be appealed to a higher court.

Kootenai County Magistrate Judge Mayli Walsh said she oversees a number of types of cases, including family law and domestic relations, guardianships and others. The North Idaho county has the third largest number of family law filings out of all 44 counties, she said.

She said that she often encourages parents to use a mediator to resolve issues without a trial, and for parents to create their own parenting plans through the courts Focus on Children Class.

We as judges encourage families to make their own decisions on what parenting (should look like), Walsh said.  These individuals are often in relationships that are newly fractured, going through divorce, separation, and so they need additional tools.

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Revoking a parents rights to their child requires a high burden for courts, Walsh said, usually to demonstrate that the child is unsafe due to mental health issues, incarceration or substance abuse.

The right to parent is fundamental, she said. Its enshrined in the Constitution.

Ehardt asked Walsh what happens if a judge makes the wrong decision in one of these custody cases.

The judge responded that the parent may ask the judge to reconsider or appeal to district court.

Many parents represent themselves in court, Walsh said. A law passed during this years legislative session may have inadvertently removed the right to a public defender for parents facing termination of parental rights, the Sun reported. The change places Idaho among four states that do not guarantee a right to counsel for parents facing termination of parental rights, according to a national child welfare attorney.

Lawmakers eye reforms to improve outcomes for Idaho children and parents

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, speaks from the House floor on March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. Also pictured is Rep. James Holtzclaw, R-Meridian. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Scott told the Sun that shes considering changes to state law that may include utilizing mediation more to reduce judges workload and lessen costs for parents, and creating policies to ensure children stay out of custody of abusive parents.

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The task force is scheduled to meet monthly through October. The group has been taking public input, which on Thursday included some tearful testimony from parents who lost some or all of their rights to see their children, or who have been fighting in court for years and spent thousands of dollars.

During the meeting, Nichols emphasized that the Legislatures power was limited when it came to the courts.

We are not here to second-guess decisions of individual judges or undermine the integrity of the court, she said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The amount of reservists seeking treatment for trauma jumped from 270 per year to around 3,000, according to IDF Lt.-Col. Uzi Bechor.

The volume of reservists seeking treatment for trauma has jumped from 270 per year to around 3,000, a jump of more than 1,000%, Lt.-Col. Uzi Bechor, head of the Combat Mental Health Unit for reservist soldiers, has told The Jerusalem Post.

Bechors unit is ready to help any soldier experiencing trauma, whether due to post-traumatic stress disorder, general depression, or physical symptoms, such as shaking.

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Explaining the difference between his unit and other arms of the IDF and the Defense Ministry that handle trauma-related issues for soldiers, he said, We do not deal with active soldiers. We deal with discharged or reservist soldiers who are now civilians. This is an unusual situation compared to the rest of the world.

In 1982 [following the First Lebanon War], we took responsibility for those in the hardest situations, even after their discharge, so they would get the most professional mental and emotional treatment within the IDF, said Bechor.

Someone comes to us, and there is no bureaucracy. They get a quick initial evaluation, and then we can immediately offer them individualized treatment. There are many different types of treatment."

Depression (illustrative) (credit: ING IMAGE)

There has been a huge increase in treatment since the start of the war. But we were also on the way to being prepared for this as the war started, he noted.

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Distinguishing between his unit and the Defense Ministry, he said, We give quality care. We give treatment, not financial support rights. But just addressing trauma does not need all of these bureaucratic processes.

Using Bechors services does not restrict applying to the Defense Ministry for seeking financial support rights. There are soldiers who receive support from both.

For Bechors unit, the evaluation determines how long their treatment should be.

Many soldiers who receive treatment will get between 12 to 15 psychological treatment sessions, while others may receive a full year or more of such sessions.

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However, the treatment Bechors unit provides is not lifelong, so in cases where lifelong treatment is needed, his unit will even recommend coverage to the Defense Ministry.

Treatment also offered to combat support soldiers, incl. medics, drivers

The treatment is offered not only to combat fighters, but also to combat-support soldiers, including medics and drivers.

There is also a special provision for the unit to provide treatment to desk-job soldiers who were impacted by Hamas's October 7 massacre.

In essence, Bechor said his unit is concerned about the substance of the traumas impact on soldiers ability to function, not bureaucratic formalities.

He said his team has multidisciplinary expertise: from clinical psychologists to social workers to therapists to psychiatrists.

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His unit includes a mix of mandatory service-trained care providers and reservist care providers, all relating to assisting with trauma.

In addition, his unit is open to creative therapies like music therapy, as long as there is a proven track record for such therapies.

Previously, we dealt with 270 patients per year. Since the war, this has increased dramatically to 3,000. Part of this, he said, is the increased trauma from such a long and intense war, but some of it is that soldiers are shifting to being more ready to seek treatment earlier on after experiencing trauma.

He said some soldiers have even called in from the battle zone in Gaza to set up appointments for after their release from active duty.

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According to Bechor, the average time for soldiers to seek treatment after a traumatic event used to be 10 years.

Today, he said the average time is closer to one to two weeks.

In the past, he said, there were commanders who delegitimized receiving treatment.

However, after years of social campaigns on the issue, he said most commanders and soldiers now view receiving treatment for trauma as a normal aspect of many soldiers service.

His staff now includes up to 800 reservists who can provide treatment also in more peripheral parts of the country.

Bechor was questioned about allegations that both operational commanders and IDF health professionals emphasize sending soldiers back to the front as a self-evident standard of success instead of looking at the question of whether a traumatized soldier should return to combat.

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He responded, arguing that there are academic studies that say that patients recover from certain categories of trauma better if they return to their normal activities, including soldiers.

Further, he cited studies stating that many of those traumatized by the Yom Kippur War were pulled out of military service and that many of them fared more poorly than those who returned to service.

Such conclusions are hard to prove, given that who returns and does not return to service can also be self-selecting and self-confirming of one view or another, but they are still serious arguments to contend with.

Next, he was pressed further about whether returning traumatized soldiers to combat in a much longer war, like the current one, where there is an increased chance of cumulative trauma, is still a wise move, especially in light of an escalating suicide rate for reservists.

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He responded, recognizing the unique nature of the current extra-long war and its impact on the suicide rate. We have to do our best in this very complex situation. We need to carry out treatment mid-war and be on guard for symptoms of being under desperate stress, which increases the rate of suicide, he said.

Most of the soldiers who took their lives had not been identified by the military therapists or other parts of the health care system. In contrast, when someone in danger of potential suicide comes to a professional, we can deal with it. This is why we talk to the media, to increase awareness, stated Bechor.

He also noted there is an emergency 24/7 hotline, *6990, followed by the #4, to call for military therapists if a soldier needs immediate help and cannot wait for a business hours appointment.

Bechor was also asked about the recent high-profile court martial of Givati soldiers who had served over 300 days through traumas and were almost thrown in military jail when they requested to be reassigned to desk jobs instead of serving in Gaza because of their emotional trauma.

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Being unable to address the specific case, he responded to the general problem, saying, Commanders are not perfect. We are not 100% right, now. We have lost commanders and soldiers, and we see burnout. The commanders are speaking about this more openly  encouraging people to seek treatment and demonstrating by personal example.

These are processes that did not happen in the past. Five years ago, many soldiers were embarrassed if they spoke to an army therapist or psychologist for treatment, he added.

Now it is completely different, and it is not just because there is a more significant burden on soldiers due to the longer war. There are also deeper changes in Israel and in the IDF socially. I see this every day. We get calls all the time. We are always asking how we can do better. And every episode needs to be reviewed.
A stretcher and medical vehicle on IDF

The burns affected G's head, face, ears, chest, back, and hands, and he was evacuated to hospital, where he is currently in critical condition in intensive care, according to his sister.

A soldier in the IDF's Caracal Battalion was badly burned while waiting for a conversation with one of his commanders on Tuesday, according to statements on Sunday.

The soldier, who is identified as G, is 20 years old and suffered third-degree burns to 30% of his body in an incident believed to be an accident when the base's Chief Sergeant First Class lit a cigarette nearby with a soldier pouring gasoline at the scene, leading to an ignition.

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G was likely injured as a result of the burning of flammable material leaking from a gasoline container. The incident is under investigation.

The burns affected G's head, face, ears, chest, back, and hands, and he was evacuated to the hospital, where he is currently in critical condition in intensive care, according to his sister.

The Chief Sgt. First Class ordered his soldiers to pour the gasoline, but there are no reports that they knew G was at the scene.

Two soldiers from IDF's Caracal Battalion stand guard on base; illustrative. (credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit via Maariv)

Sources close to G say he had previously suffered significant hearing loss as a result of prolonged exposure to noise during his earlier military service, which resulted in lowering his medical profile, and removing him from a combat position, placing him as kitchen staff on the army base, which he reportedly felt contradicted his aspirations and abilities.

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Fighting to change this issue is reportedly why G was planning to meet with his commander. He had been attempting to change his status for the past six months. His attempts included requesting a meeting with an IDF mental health officer (Kaban), but was denied. He also previously asked for meetings with commanders, but did not receive a response.

The IDF corroborated the event, stating that "an IDF soldier was moderately injured at a military base in the south of the country. The soldier was taken to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family was notified. Following the incident, an investigation was opened by the Military Police, and upon its completion, the findings will be referred to the military prosecution for review."

Soldier's sister comments publicly

G's sister posted about the event on her personal Instagram page over the weekend.

"He always wanted to contribute. He wanted to serve the country. He had insane motivation for everything," she wrote.

"30% of his body was covered, third-degree burns. His head, face, ears, chest, back, and hands. He is in intensive care. He is fighting for his life. And we ask, how could something like this happen to a soldier in the IDF? Share. Let him be recognized. Let the truth be known," she concluded.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board announced Monday its intention to implement Annas Law.

Annas Law was recently signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker. Annas Law intends to significantly enhance trauma-informed training requirements for law enforcement officers, especially in cases with victims of sexual assault or abuse.

Annas law mandates that the curriculum for probationary law enforcement officers will now include a dedicated block of instruction on trauma-informed programs, procedures, and practices to minimize victim traumatization. In addition, critical trauma-informed principles will be added to the minimum in-service training requirements for all officers that they have to complete every three years. The law also allows ILETSB to conduct or approve training programs that address trauma-informed responses and investigations, including identifying and addressing conflicts of interest.

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Illinois announces change in standards for military transitioning to police

The signing of Annas Law marks a pivotal moment for law enforcement in Illinois, said Sean Smoot, Board Chairman of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. This legislation underscores our collective commitment to ensuring that every officer is equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond to victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse with the utmost sensitivity, empathy, and professionalism.

ILETSB said they have been preparing for the addition of Annas Law, and they are in the midst of expanding their resources and training programs to support officers and agencies in meeting the new requirements. The board said it will work closely with law enforcement agencies, training academies, and community groups to ensure a seamless transition with consistent application of the new standards.

As a teacher, it is extremely important to me to come from a position of helping people learn and grow. The intent of this legislation is to focus attention on how law enforcement handles survivors of sexual assault, said Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). While we have come a long way, there is still much work to be done to address this issue. And when we know better, we do better.

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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 MyWabashValley.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO)  Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a law limiting artificial intelligence models ability to give mental health advice in Illinois.

The governors office said the legislation, HB1806, protects patients by ensuring AI is not used in mental health and therapeutic decision-making.

However, the new law allows for AI to be used in administrative and support services for licensed behavioral health professionals.

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The law is aimed at protecting Illinois residents from unregulated or unqualified AI models, and reserve psychotherapy positions for humans.

With Governor Pritzker signing this into law, Illinois residents are now protected from unregulated AI bots while ensuring access to qualified mental health professionals, said Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield). With increasing frequency, we are learning how harmful unqualified, unlicensed chatbots can be in providing dangerous, non-clinical advice when people are in a time of great need. Illinoisans will still have access to many helpful, therapeutic relaxation and calming apps, but we are going to put a stop to those trying to prey on our most vulnerable in need of true mental health services.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will have authority to investigate suspected violations of the new law, with confirmed violations resulting in a fine of up to $10,000.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Gonorrhoea vaccines will be widely available from today in sexual health clinics across the UK, in a bid to tackle record-breaking levels of infections.

The jabs will first be offered to those at highest risk - mostly gay and bisexual men who have a history of multiple sexual partners or sexually transmitted infections.

NHS England say the roll out is a world-first, and predict it could prevent as many as 100,000 cases, potentially saving the NHS almost 8m over the next decade.

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The Terrence Higgins Trust, who campaigned for the vaccine to be introduced in the UK, told the BBC it was "a huge win" for sexual health.

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through unprotected sex.

Symptoms can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility, but in some cases it can have no symptoms at all.

The NHS says it can be avoided by the proper use of condoms and by accepting the vaccine if offered.

Doctors are becoming increasingly worried about the number of infections, and hope the vaccine, which is 30-40% effective, will also help slow the growing number of antibiotic-resistant cases.

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The vaccine, known as the 4CMenB vaccine, was designed for preventing meningitis B in babies, but the bacteria that causes the two diseases are so closely related that the jab is also effective against gonorrhoea.

There were more than 85,000 cases of gonorrhoea in 2023 - the highest since records began almost 100 years ago.

One of those diagnosed was Joey Knock, who says the infection gave him diarrhoea, made him feel "wiped out" and led to him taking time off work to recover.

He told BBC News: "I discussed it with my friends and I definitely had worse symptoms [than them] with it.

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"I felt really bad, I couldn't keep food down and I just felt totally run down."

Joey says the severity of his gonorrhoea symptoms interfered with daily life [Joey Knock]

Because he has many sexual partners, the 35-year-old decided to pay a private pharmacy for a course of gonorrhoea vaccinations in February 2024 before travelling abroad to a festival.

He paid 220 and says he's glad he did it.

"It helps knowing that I'm taking control of my sexual health and doing what I can to stay safe and practise safer sex and be much less worried about the severity of the symptoms," he says.

Joey says he uses the protection the vaccine offers him alongside other methods of safer sex, including taking PrEP, a drug which helps prevent HIV, and DoxyPep - antibiotics taken after sex to prevent bacterial STIs, a treatment not widely available on the NHS.

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He says he also occasionally uses condoms - but sees the vaccine as an extra tool to keep him safe in situations where he or his partner doesn't want to use them.

Since being vaccinated, Joey has been re-infected with gonorrhoea but says the symptoms were much less severe.

He told the BBC: "I've been able to get on with my day and it has just become something much more manageable, and getting tested regularly and knowing my body really helps too."

Joey says having the vaccine has given him more confidence and has reduced the severity of his symptoms [Joey Knock]

Matthew, a 63-year-old from East Scotland, was diagnosed with gonorrhoea 10 years ago and had a reaction known as reactive arthritis - extreme pain in your joints caused by your body's reaction to an infection.

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He told the BBC that the experience, which has caused lasting damage to some of his fingers and toes, was so painful it's left him fearful of becoming re-infected and has impacted his mental health.

He says: "I'm constantly looking for symptoms and I'm constantly aware of it, and I feel a bit like I used to do in the 1980s when I was constantly fretting about HIV.

"I'd get some sort of cough and think 'oh my god, what's happening?'"

He is hoping to be one of the first people to get a vaccine in order to give himself and his sexual partners more protection.

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"You're not just protecting yourself, you're protecting your partners.

"I think it will also relieve some of the burden on sexual health services, it's getting difficult to get appointments so if it can work to reduce the incidence of STIs I think it's really worth it."

Richard Angell, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, a leading sexual health charity, told the BBC the vaccine was a "remarkable addition to our toolkit on sexual health".

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS national director for primary care and community services, said it was important "everyone eligible takes up the offer through sexual health services" in order to "keep each other safe".

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"It's a real step forward for sexual health," she added.

People who may be eligible for the vaccine are being asked to contact their local sexual health clinic for more information.
In just one decade, a longtime fashion mainstay has been relegated to the sidelines of both haute couture runways and bargain clothing racks: fur.

In 2014, over 140 million minks, foxes, chinchillas, and raccoon dogs  a small, fox-like East Asian species  around the world were farmed and killed for their fur. By 2024, that number plummeted to 20.5 million, according to an analysis from the nonprofit Humane World for Animals using data from governments and industry. (Disclosure: I worked at Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States, from 2012 to 2017, but I didnt work on fur issues.)

The data encompasses the vast majority of animals raised on fur farms, though it doesnt include the number of animals painfully ensnared in traps, which account for a small share of global fur production. It also doesnt include fur from rabbits.

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The rapid transformation represents a shift in the perception of fur from a luxury good that signals wealth and status to an ethical faux pas. Its perhaps the biggest animal welfare campaign success story of the 21st century, achieved by pressuring major fashion brands to drop fur from product lines and persuading lawmakers across Europe and elsewhere to ban the production and even sale of fur.

Covid-19 hastened Europes move away from fur production, as mink  the species farmed for fur in the greatest numbers around the world  were found to be especially susceptible to the virus, and mink-associated strains spilled back over to infect humans. Economic headwinds and shifting political dynamics in Russia and China, two of the worlds biggest fur producers and consumers, helped change the course of the global industry, too.

The outlook for billions of animals used by humans every year, in industries from meat production to scientific research, is largely bleak. But the fall of fur shows progress is possible.

The brutality of fur farming, briefly explained

A lot of factors have contributed to the global decline in fur production, but theres a key reason why it was possible to make progress against the industry. It produces an unnecessary luxury product that is, unlike meat, financially out of reach for most people. And that its so unnecessary makes its cruelty all the more horrific.

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Animals farmed for fur are confined in tiny wire-bottom cages that are often stacked atop one another, causing feces and urine to fall through to the animals below them. Farms range in size from a few hundred, to a few thousand, to over 100,000 animals who are typically born in the spring and then slaughtered in the fall or winter. Mink are killed by carbon dioxide gassing, while foxes and raccoon dogs are anally electrocuted.

In Finland, some foxes  nicknamed monster foxes  have been selectively bred to have large folds of fat so they produce more fur, which causes a range of welfare issues.

A small fur farm in Poland with foxes and raccoon dogs. | Andrew Skowron/We Animals

Mink crowded into a cage on a fur farm in Sweden. | Jo-Anne McArthur/Djurrattsalliansen/We Animals

The conditions and practices are terrible enough, but fur farming is especially cruel considering that these are wild, non-domesticated species. In the wild, their home ranges encompass several square miles, but on fur farms, they barely have any room to move around at all, much less express natural behaviors. Mink are semi-aquatic animals, yet have no access to water on fur farms. They also prefer to be solitary, yet theyre caged with other minks. Foxes, meanwhile, naturally burrow and create dens where they care for their young, but they cant do so in captivity.

These bleak conditions cause the animals to engage in what are called stereotypical behaviors  repetitive motions that are a sign of stress. When caged, mink will pace or bob their heads  even perform somersaults  while foxes might constantly scratch at the corner of their cages in a fruitless attempt to dig and burrow.

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Theyve literally gone insane in these operations, because theyre not fulfilling their natural behaviors, PJ Smith, director of fashion policy at Humane World For Animals, told me.

How animal advocates  and shifting political and economic conditions  put fur out of fashion

Todays animal rights movement is largely focused on cruelty to animals raised for meat, milk, and eggs. But in the 1980s and 90s, ending the fur industry was the cause du jour. PETA put the issue on the cultural map, stigmatizing fur by throwing fake blood on runways and recruiting A-list celebrities to wear next to nothing for its Id Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur campaign.

In 1991, The Go-Gos launched PETAs Id Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur campaign. | Greg Gorman/Courtesy of PETA

The impact of that early advocacy, however, is hard to discern; Calvin Klein committed to going fur-free in 1994, while other brands resisted PETAs campaign. US fur sales declined from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, though its unclear how much of that was attributable to animal rights campaigning.

By the late 1990s, animal advocates had largely moved on to other issues, while US fur sales began to recover. At the same time, China joined the World Trade Organization, which opened up its capacity to export fur, while the countrys growing prosperity led it to become a major fur consumer.

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Fur production boomed, and fur trim became a popular lining for winter coat hoods. But some advocates maintained pressure against the industry, and in the 2000s, a few mid-level brands, like Ralph Lauren and J.Crew, went fur-free. Meanwhile, some European countries, including Croatia, Austria, and the United Kingdom, banned fur production. Terrifying undercover investigations into the fur trade  especially one video from a Chinese market in which a raccoon dog is skinned alive  reignited occasional momentum on the issue.

In the mid-2010s, Armani, NET-A-PORTER, and Hugo Boss committed to going fur-free. Before then, Smith told me, it was hard to get companies to take meetings with him. And then, everything changed when, in 2017, Gucci announced a fur-free policy. After Gucci, other major brands followed  like Versace, Burberry, Prada, Chanel, and Michael Kors, to name a few. In 2019, California banned fur sales.

Around this same time, more countries in Europe banned fur production, which had become a trend that accelerated after Covid broke out. Research found that mink are highly susceptible to the disease, and evidence emerged that mink-adapted viruses have spilled back over to humans. Economic downturns in Russia and China over the last decade, European sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, and Chinas crackdown on corruption (furs had been a common gift to government officials) likely affected fur sales and production in those countries, too.

And as major fashion brands moved away from animal fur, faux fur got a lot better.

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Until the mid-2000s, faux fur was this thing that was acrylic  it looked plastic. Not many people saw it as luxury, Smith told me. But the political and corporate progress created a gap in the marketplace, he said, which helped startups get funding to create better-looking, higher-quality alternatives.

Is the end of fur nigh?

That progress appears likely to continue.

Switzerland just effectively banned fur imports, and the UK is considering doing the same. In 2023, European activists delivered over 1.5 million signatures in support of a ban on the production and sale of fur to the European Commission, which is currently weighing the measure.

Last week, in a major boost for the effort, the EUs food safety agency issued a damning report on the welfare of fur-farmed animals. And earlier this month, the European Commission listed the American mink  which was brought to Europe for fur production  as an invasive species, which will restrict mink breeding and sales in the EU.

Otto, a fox rescued from the fur farming industry stands on Piia Attonen's lap, awaiting a treat. Anttonen is the Director of Tuulispaa Animal Sanctuary in Finland, an organization that cares for and provides a home for many different kinds of farmed and companion animals. | Jo-Anne McArthur/#unboundproject/We Animals

But there have also been recent setbacks. In 2019, New York City considered a ban on fur sales, but it didnt pass. Politicians in some of Europes top fur-producing countries  Finland, Poland, and Greece  have resisted calls for fur bans, too. And there are some still big-name fashion holdouts, including Hermes and LVMH  the company behind Fendi, Dior, and Louis Vuitton.

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In February, the New York Times reported on a vibe shift around the stigma on wearing fur, though its unclear whether that helped boost sales  the fashion worlds focus has largely revolved around reclaiming vintage and used pelts.

And despite the significant progress, 20.5 million animals in fur farms annually means theres still a lot of work to be done. Smith hopes that doesnt lead fellow animal advocates to become complacent and move on to other issues too soon, like what happened with fur in the late 1990s.

The hardest part is going to be closing out an industry for good, said Smith. Its going to be convincing those final fashion brands and retailers to move away from fur. And its going to be the case that we need to make to legislators and policymakers that we need to implement policy change, he said, to ensure the future is fur-free once and for all.
Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its Baron Real Estate Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund rose 3.61% (Institutional Shares) in the quarter compared to a 1.46% decline for the MSCI US REIT Index (the REIT Index) and a 6.13% gain for the MSCI USA IMI Extended Real Estate Index (the MSCI Real Estate Index). In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Baron Real Estate Fund highlighted stocks such as Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR). Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) is a self-administered and self-managed REIT. The one-month return of Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) was -8.88%, and its shares lost 15.55% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On August 1, 2025, Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) stock closed at $139.30 per share, with a market capitalization of $30.87 billion.

Baron Real Estate Fund stated the following regarding Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:

"We also sold our position in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) during the quarter. While we are long-term bullish on the prospects for self storage real estate (excellent real estate businesses with less cyclical demand, pricing power, low capital intensity, scale advantages), we are concerned that lackluster existing home sales caused by the well-known lock in effect may weigh on self-storage demand and market rents for longer than is widely believed. We view current share price valuations as fair, not overly cheap. As such, for now we opted to reallocate capital to other investments with superior return potential. We may revisit Extra Space Storage, a best-in-class company, in the future."

Is Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR) the Best REIT Stock to Buy According to Billionaires?

An aerial view of a self-storage facility, its parking lot full with cars and RV's.

Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 40 hedge fund portfolios held Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) at the end of the first quarter which was 36 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

In another article, we covered Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) and shared the list of best REIT stocks to buy according to billionaires. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
Donald Trump doubled down on his threats against India on Monday, vowing to penalize nations profiting from Russian oil.

He vowed to substantially raise tariffs on imports from India, which is facing a 25% levy, and accused New Delhi of buying massive amounts of Russian oil, and reselling it for big profits.

India and China  among the biggest importers of Russian oil  have pushed back against the White Houses threats of secondary sanctions on countries that buy oil from Moscow.

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Despite positive signs of a US-China trade deal, Beijing has refused to budge over Russian energy imports, signaling its willingness to play hardball, while US-India relations  until recently on the upswing  have soured over the oil tariff threats, as well as heavy US duties on imports from India.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  India and the Philippines have staged joint naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea for the first time, a high-profile military deployment that antagonized China. Beijing has separate territorial disputes with the two Asian democracies and a long-running regional rivalry with New Delhi.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner said Monday that the two-day joint naval sail and exercises which began Sunday went successfully, and expressed hopes that Filipino forces could engage Indias military in more joint maneuvers in the future.

Asked if Chinese forces carried out any action in response, Brawner said without elaborating that we did not experience any untoward incident but we were still shadowed. We expected that already.

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Two Chinese navy ships, including a guided-missile destroyer, were spotted about 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) from one of two Philippine navy frigates that participated in the joint sail on Sunday, the Philippine military said.

The Chinese military's Southern Theater Command said it conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea on Sunday and Monday and added that it remains resolute in defending Chinas territory and maritime rights and interests.

Without mentioning India by name, the Southern Theater Command accused the Philippines of drawing in outside countries to organize joint patrols that it said undermine regional peace and stability.

Chinas Foreign Ministry said territorial disputes should be resolved by those directly involved without any third-party intervention.

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China has a longstanding land border dispute with India in the Himalayas, which sparked a monthlong war in 1962 and a number of deadly firefights since then.

Separately, Beijings expansive claims to virtually the entire South China Sea, a key global trade route, have led to tense confrontations with other claimant states, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam. Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay claims to parts of the contested waters.

The Philippines has staged naval patrols in the disputed waters with its treaty ally, the United States, and other strategic partners including Japan, Australia, New Zealand and France to promote freedom of navigation and overflight and strengthen deterrence against China.

It has allowed journalists to join territorial sea and aerial patrols to witness Chinas increasingly aggressive actions, provoking angry Chinese reactions.

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In response to a question last week about Manila's plans to build up military cooperation, Chinas Ministry of National Defense called the Philippines a troublemaker that has aligned itself with foreign forces to stir up trouble in what China deems its own territorial waters.

Brawner said the Philippines has to boost deterrence to prevent war. The way to do that is, number one, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has to be strengthened through modernization, and secondly, we need to partner with like-minded nations and thats what were doing with India, he said last week.

During a reception on board an Indian navy tanker, the INS Shakti, on Thursday, Brawner said the vessel's port call in Manila was more than ceremonial. It sends a powerful signal of solidarity, strength in partnership and the energy of cooperation between two vibrant democracies in the Indo-Pacific, he said.

Brawner welcomed the deepening of relations between the two Asian countries and reaffirmed the shared commitment to maritime security, regional stability and a rules-based international order in one of the worlds most geopolitically sensitive regions.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos left Monday for a five-day state visit to India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials to boost defense, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and pharmaceutical industry engagements.

___

Associated Press journalist Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.
Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have opened an investigation against an Indian army officer for allegedly assaulting an airline's staff, after he was asked to pay for excess baggage.

The incident took place on 26 July at the Srinagar airport but made headlines over the weekend, after a video showing the man hitting the ground staff of SpiceJet with a metal stand went viral online.

The carrier said that one of the employees had suffered a "spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries" in the assault.

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The army officer, Ritesh Kumar Singh, has denied the allegations, claiming he was "provoked" by the staff. He has also reportedly filed a police complaint against SpiceJet for allegedly assaulting him.

The Indian army said it was looking into the incident and would decide on the further course of action based on the outcome of the investigation.

"The Indian Army is committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline and conduct and takes all allegations seriously," its public relations office said on Sunday.

SpiceJet said in a statement that the incident took place when Mr Singh was about to board a flight to Delhi from Srinagar.

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The airline said Mr Singh was carrying cabin luggage that weighed twice the permissible limit.

When the staff asked him to pay for the excess luggage, he allegedly refused and forcefully entered the aerobridge - a passageway that connects the airport terminal to the aircraft - without completing the boarding process, it added.

Some staff members escorted Mr Singh back to the gate where he "grew increasingly aggressive and assaulted four members of SpiceJet ground staff", the airline said.

Clips shared online show Mr Singh hitting one of the employees with a metal stand.

A security guard grabs the stand from Mr Singh and tries to push him away. Despite this, Mr Singh continues to lash out at the staff with punches and expletives. A policeman then steps in, intervening and separating him from the crew.

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According to the airline, one employee fell unconscious on the floor but Mr Singh continued kicking and hitting him.

"Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a forceful kick to the jaw while bending down to assist the colleague who had fainted," it alleged.

SpiceJet said it has submitted the CCTV footage of the incident to the police and initiated the process of placing the passenger on the no-fly list.

Mr Singh, however, told The Indian Express newspaper that the SpiceJet staff had allegedly harassed and provoked him.

Police in Kashmir have registered a case against Mr Singh for criminal intimidation and for criminal assault or force.

Meanwhile, Mr Singh has filed a police complaint against SpiceJet staff for use of force or violence by an assembly.
An Indiana mayor will have to appear in court after state troopers investigated a report of leaving the scene of an accident, according to Indiana State Police.

Mayor Charles Wyatt, 71, of Boonville, will be issued a summons in regard to a crash about 10:43 a.m. May 14 at the VFW in Boonville, ISP-Evansville said in a news release issued Monday.

The incident resulted in a charge of leaving the scene of a crash, a Class B Misdemeanor.

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ISP alleges Wyatt was attending an event at the VFW in Boonville when he backed out of a parking spot and struck another vehicle. He was reportedly driving his city-owned 2016 Ford F150 truck at the time.

After hitting the other vehicle, the mayor allegedly left the scene without contacting the other driver or police, ISP said.

At the time, the other driver was still inside his vehicle and was able to obtain a license plate number and provide police with a vehicle description. Police later went to Wyatts residence in Boonville and located the truck, which had visible damage.

Police said they attempted to contact someone at the residence, but no one answered the door.

The Warrick County Prosecutors Office turned the case over to a special prosecutor in Knox County. After reviewing the case, a criminal charge of leaving the scene of a crash was filed and a summons will be issued, ISP said.
A former federal minister, Shibu Soren represented the tribal-dominant state of Jharkhand [Getty Images]

Shibu Soren, a prominent Indian tribal leader and a three-time chief minister of the eastern state of Jharkhand, has died at the age of 81.

He was undergoing treatment in Delhi for a kidney ailment and had been on life support after he suffered a stroke last month.

In a political career of more than 40 years, Soren co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), an influential regional party that has been at the forefront of the creation of the tribal-dominated eastern state.

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He became the chief minister of Jharkhand three times, but failed to complete his any of these terms in office due to political instability in the state.

His son Hemant Soren, who is the current chief minister of Jharkhand, announced the leader's death on Monday.

"Our respected Dishom Guru has left us, I have nothing left," he wrote on X, referring to Soren by his moniker, which means "great leader" in Santhali, the language spoken by the Santhal tribe  one of India's largest tribal communities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, calling Soren "a grassroot leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people".

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Born in 1944, Soren grew up in a small village in present-day Jharkhand at a time when the state was still a part of Bihar.

He founded the JMM in 1973 with the main objective to carve out a separate state for tribespeople from Bihar's southern districts.

After Jharkhand was granted statehood in 2000, Soren became an influential figure in the region's politics.

In 2004, he became the federal coal minister in the Congress party's cabinet but quit a few months later, after he was convicted in a murder case.

He returned to the cabinet after getting bail later that year. In 2005, he resigned from the position to become the chief minister of Jharkhand, but had to step down within 10 days after his party failed to prove its majority in the state assembly.

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Soren was re-inducted into the federal government as the coal minister later that year. But he had to resign again, after he was convicted in another murder case, this time in connection with the kidnapping and murder of his personal secretary Shashinath Jha in 1994. He was eventually cleared of those charges in 2018.

On Monday, as the news of his death broke, leaders across political parties paid tributes to the leader.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called him "the pivotal figure" who led the movement for the creation of Jharkhand. "He was truly a legend whose passion for social and economic justice was inspirational," Ramesh wrote on X.

"For the people of Jharkhand, he was no less than a god," said Sanjay Raut, a member of the influential Shiv Sena (UBT) party of Maharashtra state.

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Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, who had opposed the creation of Jharkhand state but later allied with Soren, said his death was a matter of "deep sorrow" and called him a great leader who fought for the rights of tribespeople and Dalits (formerly untouchables).
KAUAI, Hawaii (KHON2)  The Kauai Fire Department rescued a 32-year old woman who was injured while hiking Waipoo Falls on Aug. 2.

According to KFD officials, the California woman had injured her ankle while traversing the trail. First responders first got word of the distressed hiker shortly after 1:20 p.m.

9 tips for a safe, fun hike in Hawaii

First responders from the Waimea fire station arrived at the scene, where they hiked about a quarter mile along the falls. Firefighters located the hiker, where they say she was responsive but unable to walk due to her injury.

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The firefighters were able to stabilize her injury with a splint and carried the hiker off the trail, officials said.

After being taken out of the scene, the woman was evaluated by American Medical Response personnel, and was then taken to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital via a private vehicle, KFD said.

Authorities say they were able to clear the scene shortly before 4 p.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
A seriously injured hiker was found screaming for help after plunging about halfway down a popular hiking destination and crashing onto rocks, officials confirmed Monday.

The fall happened Sunday afternoon at Big Falls near Forest Falls in the San Bernardino Mountains.

According to a post from San Bernardino County Fire, emergency crews were dispatched around 3:45 p.m. after someone reported hearing cries for help coming from the waterfall. The reporting party couldnt see the injured person but said the screams were coming from midway up the falls.

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Officials say the hiker lost his footing while trying to cross a wet, slippery section of the waterfall and plummeted roughly 25 feet into a rocky pool below.

Firefighters hiked in and located the man, who had sustained serious injuries. After performing a medical assessment, crews called in a hoist-capable rescue helicopter, which was deemed the safest and most efficient way to extract the patient from the rugged terrain.

The helicopter lowered a paramedic into the area, and together with ground personnel, the team secured the hiker into a stokes basket. Video captured the moment he was airlifted from the scene, before being flown to a nearby trauma center. His current condition is unknown.

No other injuries were reported.

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San Bernardino County Fire reminded visitors to stay on marked trails and exercise caution near waterfalls.

We respond to incidents at this popular location often, where people are seriously injured, the department wrote. Please make smart choices and stay safe.

Multiple units responded to the incident, including a rescue unit, fire engine, battalion chief, rescue helicopter and a public information officer.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
As Texas Republicans move to redraw the congressional map, Democrats are taking their fight beyond state lines. In a high-stakes attempt to block a GOP redistricting plan, more than 50 Democratic lawmakers fled to cities like Chicago and New York this week, grinding the Texas House to a halt and igniting a legal and political firestorm.

With Republicans pushing a map that would give them five more winnable seats, Democrats argue the proposal threatens to silence voters of color and rig future elections in their favor.

Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to bring them back  by force if necessary. Hes floated everything from civil arrest warrants to felony charges and even extradition. But Democrats say theyre prepared to stay out until the session ends.

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Heres what happens next that could reshape not just Texas politics, but redistricting fights across the country.

Why did Texas Democrats leave the state?

In a dramatic bid to block a GOP-backed redistricting plan that would give Republicans five additional winnable seats, 57 of the 62 Texas House Democrats fled the state.

The plan, which had already cleared a House committee, was set to be fast-tracked during a special session called by Abbott. But with nearly all Democrats absent, the House was left without the two-thirds quorum required to move the legislation forward, effectively paralyzing the process.

While Texas state Rep. Todd Hunter, who sponsored the redistricting legislation, described it as a good plan for Texas, Democrats pushed back, saying the proposal would weaken the voting power of Black and Latino communities. If Trump is allowed to rip the Voting Rights Act to shreds here in Central Texas, his ploy will spread like wildfire across the country, Texas Rep. Greg Casar said in a statement.

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The quorum-busting tactic isnt new: Democrats mounted a similar effort in 2021 to stall election-related legislation. That protest ended after lawmakers gradually returned to Texas amid a flurry of arrest threats and lawsuits.

This time, many plan to remain out of state through the end of the special session on Aug. 19  even though doing so could result in fines of up to $500 per day.

Behind the scenes, Democrats have been in touch with national party leaders about support for their walkout. According to The Washington Post, members of the delegation have talked with House Democratic leadership and the Texas congressional delegation about possible financial assistance to offset mounting fines.

Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu has said the group has also received an outpouring of support from people, from Americans around the country, offering to help cover their penalties.

Could the Democrats face legal consequences?

Abbott has threatened to remove Democratic lawmakers from office, calling them derelict in their duties for fleeing Texas. In a letter released Sunday night, he also floated the idea of extraditing them  a move that would require cooperation from officials in the states where many are now staying.

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So far, officials in other parts of the country are pushing back. Were going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them, said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whose state is hosting several members of the delegation. Meanwhile, the Texas House has authorized civil arrest warrants in an attempt to bring them back. But heres the catch: Those orders hold no legal weight beyond state lines, meaning they cant be enforced unless the lawmakers return voluntarily.

But Abbott isnt stopping there. Hes also suggested that some lawmakers may have violated bribery laws, though he hasnt specified what actions might qualify. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has acknowledged that pursuing felony charges would be legally difficult and time-consuming. Wed have to go through a court process, and wed have to file that maybe in districts that are not friendly to Republicans, he said in an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson. Wed have to go sue in every legislators home district.

Legal experts interviewed by The Washington Post have cast doubt on Abbotts broader threats. Even if you go to a court, youre going to have to make a showing that I think its going to be tough to make, said Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame. Samuel Issacharoff, a constitutional law professor at NYU, described the governors legal authority to remove lawmakers as at best, unclear, and said any attempt would likely trigger a lengthy legal battle.

Still, Paxton seemed confident the pressure campaign could work. If [Abbott] keeps calling them back, its going to be a challenge for all 51 of them to stay out of the state for the rest of their lives, he said.

How have Democrats responded?

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries applauded Texas Democrats for standing firm, promising, We have their backs.

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Democratic leaders in states like New York have threatened to retaliate by redrawing their own maps if Texas Republicans move forward, warning the move could have national consequences.

We are at war, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a press conference. And thats why the gloves are off, and I say bring it on.

That same day, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee urged lawmakers across blue states to begin preparing their own redistricting offensives.

All options must be on the table  including Democratic state legislatures using their power to fight back and pursue redistricting mid-cycle in order to protect our democracy, the groups president, Heather Williams, said in a statement.

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Despite pressure from national Democrats, lawmakers in many blue states have limited power to redraw congressional maps. States like California use independent redistricting commissions, which restrict partisan influence, though Gov. Gavin Newsom has suggested hes open to revisiting that system.

Think of us as the Inglourious Basterds of the House Democrats. We will do anything to win this, Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez said, referring to the Quentin Tarantino film. Trump has fundamentally changed the rules of political engagement in this country. If they attack, you attack back.







The post Inside the Fight Brewing Over Texass Redistricting Plan appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Inside the urgent effort to save endangered coral reefs

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, more than 1 billion people worldwide benefit either directly or indirectly from the ecosystem services coral reefs provide. Preserving those benefits, threatened by climate change and disease, is the mission of a pioneering research facility opened in June in the Bahamas.

The Bahamas Coral Gene Bank at Atlantis Paradise Island is a temporary refuge for more than 15 coral species endangered by rising ocean temperatures and the aggressive stony coral tissue loss disease. This devastating disease causes rapid tissue loss in hard corals, often killing colonies within weeks.

The rescued coral species have been carefully placed in laboratory aquariums to grow and reproduce, saving them from potential extinction. The ultimate goal is to outplant the safeguarded coral on damaged reefs, fostering new generations that are more resilient to disease and other dangers.

A Collaborative Effort to Address a Global Emergency

Few places feel the stakes of coral extinction more keenly than the Bahamas. Coral reefs are vital to the islands economy, culture and coastal protection. This deep reliance is rooted in geography: The Bahamas is home to one of Earths largest barrier reefs, located off Andros Island, and extensive fringing reefs surrounding most of the nations 700 islands and 2,400 cays.

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These underwater habitats, now under unprecedented pressures, were built over thousands of years by colonies of tiny coral organisms. The reef structures they create support extraordinary biodiversity, providing shelter and breeding grounds for over 25% of all marine life, despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor.

The initiative to collect endangered coral underway in the nations first coral gene bank is a cornerstone of the Bahamas commitment to coral conservation and marine resilience. The effort is a collaboration of the Bahamas Departments of Marine Resources, Environmental Planning and Protection, the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as Atlantis Paradise Island, the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, the Perry Institute for Marine Science, the University of the Bahamas, and the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute.

A Race to Reverse Cascading Damage

Time is running out to reverse the accelerating damage to coral reefs. Promising treatments are emerging, but while these methods are being perfected, corals need to be captured and isolated from disease. Thats what is happening in the Gene Bank, which can accommodate up to 200 large, mature coral colonies plus smaller fragments and juvenile corals. The goal is to ensure that no coral species in the Bahamas is lost due to disease, bleaching, or other environmental stressors.

A Longstanding Environmental Commitment

The Atlantis Blue Project Foundation was established 20 years ago to preserve the Bahamas as a haven for rare and endangered aquatic species for generations to come.

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As a result of the work done through the foundation in partnership with the Bahamas National Trust and The Nature Conservancy, marine park boundaries on the west side of Andros Island increased from 185,000 acres to 1.4 million acres of pristine marine habitat and important nursery grounds.

Foundation funding for scientific research, conservation programs and community outreach comes from guest participation in the resorts popular marine experiences.

Everyone Has a Role to Play

As people enjoy the summer months, everyone can do their part to protect fragile coral reefs by adhering to local beach and marine park rules, which are designed to maintain the health of these delicate ecosystems. While enjoying the wonders of nature, refrain from touching or standing on coral, never handle marine life, and resist the urge to take home reef pieces or shells that are important animal homes.

The corals in the Bahamas Coral Gene Bank may be small, but their impact is immense. As part of a small group of surviving reef-builders, their journeyfrom the lab back to the seais vital to restoring coral ecosystems and preserving their benefits in the Bahamas and around the world. This effort is a testament to what collaboration can achieve when scientists, conservationists, and partners come together to protect our planets biodiversity.

This story was produced by Atlantis Paradise Island and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
In late July 2025, posts claimed an ex-CIA whistleblower alleged that the National Security Agency audited the 2024 presidential election and found that former Vice President Kamala Harris actually won.

The claims stem from an article published by a Substack account called This Will Hold on July 31, 2025. However, Snopes did not find any documentation or other evidence proving that such an audit occurred. No credible news outlet had reported on it, and the Substack article did not offer proof that it took place.

Snopes reached out to the NSA for comment on the veracity of the Substack article's claims and did not receive a response. This Will Hold also did not respond to our questions about its report and the alleged audit.

The Substack article identified a person by the name of Adam Zarnowski as the ex-CIA agent who was involved in the audit. However, Snopes could not independently verify Zarnowski's employment with the CIA or his alleged involvement in such an NSA audit.



Since Donald Trump won a second term as U.S. president in 2024, unsubstantiated claims that the election was "stolen" and that former Vice President Kamala Harris was the rightful winner have circulated widely on social media.

In late July 2025, a new rumor related to election integrity gained traction. Posts claimed an ex-CIA whistleblower alleged that the National Security Agency audited the 2024 presidential election and found that Harris actually won.

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In a post on July 31, 2025, one X user wrote:

A former CIA Whistleblower now claims that the NSA DID audit the 2024 election and Kamala Harris won, BUT it was buried. Adam Zarnowski is apparently prepared to speak this cover-up in court that apparently was covered up.

Scores of Snopes readers emailed us and searched our website for information about the alleged ex-CIA whistleblower's purported account of the alleged NSA audit.

The claims stem from an article (archived) published by a Substack account called This Will Hold on July 31, 2025.

According to the article, a person named Adam Zarnowski, who was identified as an ex-CIA agent, alleged that he was "personally involved in an NSA-authorized forensic audit of the 2024 election." That audit supposedly revealed that Harris won the 2024 presidential election "by a wide margin" while Trump "lost dramatically," Zarnowski was quoted as saying.

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However, Snopes did not find any documentation or other evidence proving that such an audit occurred. No credible news outlets had reported on it, and the Substack article did not offer proof that it took place at the time of publication.

Here's what we know about the the Substack article's claims and Zarnowski's background:

NSA audit concluded Harris won, Substack report alleges

The online claims about an ex-CIA whistleblower alleging the NSA conducted an audit that found Harris won the 2024 presidential election stem from a Substack article (archived) published on July 31, 2025, titled, "Ex-CIA Whistleblower: 'The NSA Audited The 2024 Election, Kamala Harris Won.'"

Zarnowski, who was named as the alleged whistleblower, was quoted as saying:

In December 2024, I was personally involved in an NSAauthorized forensic audit of the 2024 election. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz won  by a wide margin. Trump lost dramatically. There are multiple layers of complexity to this coverup, including transnational organized crime syndicates that extend far beyond the United States and our elections. To that point, I work in the human trafficking sector, which intersects with the stolen election(s) and has ties to Trump and Epsteinnot to President Biden, Vice President Harris, or Governor Walz, but to the Democrats and other allied interests responsible for burying the audit.

However, the article offered few details about the alleged audit's findings and provided no verifiable proof that it actually took place.

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According to the article, Zarnowski "laid out pieces of an intricate network of bad actors and covert operations behind transnational organized crime and the stolen 2024 election."

"Some of his disclosures confirmed long-held suspicions; others were shocking, exposing connections between organized crime, political operatives, and global power brokers," the article continued. The article didn't offer any concrete evidence to back up these supposed connections or the alleged "network of bad actors and covert operations."

The article claimed Zarnowski said "none of his revelations are classified," and that he has "full authorization to speak and is prepared to testify under oath."

However, the article did not say that Zarnowski had already testified. It's also worth noting that if the information wasn't classified, other media outlets likely would have reported on it.

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The article also alleged that Zarnowski helped the NSA collect data for the supposed audit, though it didn't offer any details on what kind of data was involved or how it was obtained.

The article then appeared to link electronic voting machines and changes to election software to claims of election fraud. It's unclear how this information was connected to the supposed NSA audit. Additionally, there's no credible evidence to support claims that faulty voting machines or election software rigged the election in Trump's favor, as the article suggested.

Snopes reached out to the NSA for comment on the veracity of the Substack article's claims and will update this article if we receive a response. We also sent our questions about the alleged audit to This Will Hold via Substack and did not receive a response by the time of publication.

What we know about Zarnowski's background

At the time of publication, Snopes could not independently verify Zarnowski's employment with the CIA or his alleged involvement in an NSA audit.

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According to Zarnowski's Substack bio and LinkedIn profile, he has worked on cases involving human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and crimes against children for organizations that aren't affiliated with the federal government.

Both his bio and the Substack article also listed him as the author of a book titled "Jrmungandr: A Study in Global Human Trafficking." The Substack article suggested that Zarnowski's book detailed allegations of election fraud. However, Snopes didn't find any evidence to support that claim.

We searched an archived version of Zarnowski's book for the term "NSA" and found a footnote mentioning a forensic audit of the 2024 presidential election. But the comment within the footnote appeared to be speculation rather than a factual report. It read, in part:

It would be very interesting, and unfortunate, if there had been an NSA-authorized forensic audit of the 2024 presidential election showing Kamala Harris, not Donald Trump, to be the winner  an audit which the Democratic Party itself scuttled.

In a message to Snopes sent via Substack, Zarnowski suggested this statement was meant to be sarcastic, writing, "I would suggest that even you yourself has mistaken sarcasm for mere 'speculation,' having missed key figures and references." However, he did not expand upon those references and figures.

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Zarnowski also did not provide Snopes with any definitive proof that he worked for the CIA or participated in an NSA audit. Instead, he said a woman with a group called the Common Coalition verified his service with the CIA "to a degree that I am admittedly a bit uncomfortable with." Zarnowski went on to say:

I certainly welcome the public's skepticism when it comes to extraordinary claims. In fact, having been met with such questions was a welcome and refreshing change from what I and many have witnessed in society over the years. Make no mistake, a lot of my claims are absolutely extraordinary. However, there is much more included in the book than has been acknowledged to date.

In sum 

There's no evidence that an NSA audit concluded Harris actually won the 2024 presidential election.

The rumor originated from a Substack article that did not offer documentation or other proof to substantiate its claims. The article also quoted a self-identified former CIA agent, but his employment with the agency and any involvement in an alleged NSA audit remained unverified at the time of publication.

Additionally, there's no credible evidence to support claims that faulty voting machines or election software rigged the election in Trump's favor, as the article suggested.

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For further reading, Snopes previously investigated claims that a lawsuit was challenging the results of the 2024 general election in Rockland County, New York.

Sources:

This Will Hold. "Ex-CIA Whistleblower: 'the NSA Audited the 2024 Election, Kamala Harris Won.'" Substack.com, This Will Hold, 31 July 2025, thiswillhold.substack.com/p/ex-cia-whistleblower-the-nsa-audited?r=57k1uv&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

Substack. "This Will Hold." Substack.com, substack.com/@thiswillhold. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

Substack. "Adam Zarnowski." Substack.com, substack.com/@adamzarnowski. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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Zarnowski, Adam. "Jrmungandr: A Study in Global Human Trafficking: Internet Archive." Internet Archive, 20 July 2025, archive.org/details/jormungandr_azarnowski/page/n429/mode/2up?q=NSA. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

Updates:

Aug. 6, 2025: This article was updated to include comment from Adam Zarnowski.
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Companies with a long history of paying dividends and consistently hiking them remain appealing to income-focused investors. Black Hills, Portland General Electric, and Restaurant Brands have rewarded shareholders for years and recently announced dividend increases. These companies currently offer dividend yields of up to 5%.

Black Hills

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE:BKH) operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the U.S.

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Black Hills has increased its dividends every year for the last 55 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Jan. 24, the board raised the quarterly payout from $0.65 to $0.676 per share, equal to an annual figure of $2.70 per share. More recently, in its dividend announcement on July 22, the company maintained the payout at the same level. Currently, the dividend yield on the stock is 4.73%.

Black Hills' annual revenue as of March 31 stood at $2.21 billion. The company on July 30 posted Q2 2025 revenues of $439 million, above the consensus estimate of $412.68 million, while EPS of $0.38 came in below the consensus of $0.39.

Portland General Electric

Portland General Electric Co. (NYSE:POR) is an integrated electric utility company that generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity in the state of Oregon.

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Portland General Electric has increased its dividends consecutively for the last 19 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement last April 18, it raised the quarterly payout by 5% to $0.525 per share, equaling $2.10 per share annually. More recently, in its dividend announcement on July 18, the company maintained the payout at the same level. The current dividend yield on the stock stands at 5.08%.

The company's annual revenue as of June 30 stood at $3.49 billion. In its most recent earnings report on July 25, it posted Q2 2025 revenues of $807 million, beating the consensus estimate of $797.97, while EPS of $0.66 came in below the consensus of $0.68.

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Restaurant Brands International

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR) is a quick-service restaurant company that owns and franchises four well-known brands: Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Personnel and equipment from the Interior Voluneer Fire Department will be sent to help with wildfire response and attack in southern Calilfornia.

A Facebook post said the department will be sending two engines, and a chase truck with an operations chief, division, task force and several other overhead positions.

Rapid City firefighters contain garage fire

There are several wildfires buring in southern California. One fire is the Gifford Fire. Media reported on Monday that this fire covered 65,000 Acres in Californias Los Padres Forest.

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South Dakota crews and equipment went to help California earlier this year. Fire officials said in January that crews and equipment from California helped South Dakota with its wildfires in 2024.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The International Red Cross and the World Health Organization call for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages.

Following the publication of hostage videos of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, the International Red Cross (ICRC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages in statements released on Monday.

"These videos are stark evidence of the life-threatening conditions in which the hostages are being held," the ICRC stated. "We have said from day one, and we reiterate, that all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally."

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"All forms of public exposure that humiliate persons deprived of liberty and endanger their safety must be avoided. This dire situation must come to an end," the statement concluded.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, echoedthe ICRC's statement in a post on X/Twitter, saying that "all those being held must receive access to food and medical care, and must be treated without any form of humiliation."

Israeli hostage Evyatar David as he appears in a Hamas propaganda video, August 2, 2025. (credit: Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

Hamas hostage videos of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavksi

In the videos published by Hamas over the weekend, both David and Braslavski appear weak and emaciated.

On Saturday night, thousands showed up in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to protest for a comprehensive deal to bring them back, along with the other 48 remaining hostages in Gaza.

This is a developing story.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird spoke to supporters at her annual Bird Barn Bash fundraiser at the Dallas County Fairgrounds in Adel Aug. 2, 2025. (Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said her office was going to shed sunlight on the University of Iowas DEI policies through her offices investigation following a request from Gov. Kim Reynolds earlier this week.

Bird spoke on the issue at the annual Bird Barn Bash, a fundraiser for the attorney general as she looks ahead to running for another term in 2026. Bird, who was first elected in 2022, spoke about her time challenging federal policies during former President Joe Bidens tenure, but also spoke on a more recent issue  investigating UI for potential noncompliance with state and federal policies banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

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Fox News published an undercover video Tuesday of a person identified as Andrea Tinoco, the assistant director of UI Leadership and Student Organization Development, who said her department was still committed to working on DEI despite directives from university leadership.

After the video was posted, Reynolds issued a statement saying she was appalled by the comments made in the video and would be filing a complaint to the Attorney Generals office for further action. On Friday, a second video was posted by Townhall, a conservative outlet, of another UI employee identified as Cory Lockwood, senior associate director of the Iowa Union Memorial, making similar comments about continued work on DEI initiatives.

Both employees featured in the videos have been placed on administrative leave.

At the fundraiser Saturday, Bird said her office has launched an investigation into the situation and is going to get to the bottom of it  but asked the crowd for patience.

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Please know  the investigations going to take a little bit, Bird said. I know all of us want it to be fast  and we will not make it be slow  but Ill tell you, to do something right, it takes time. And were going to do it right, were going to do it by the book and by the law.

She also reiterated her commitment to upholding the ban on DEI at Iowas regents universities, saying here in Iowa, our taxpayer-funded universities are supposed to be about education, not indoctrination.

Talk radio host Simon Conway, who spoke in support of Bird at the event, said the UI investigation shows the importance of having Bird in office  and reelecting her for another term. He said former Attorney General Tom Miller, the longtime Democratic incumbent who Bird defeated in 2022, would not have followed up on Reynolds request to investigate the university if he was in office.

If we had Tom Miller, or a Tom Miller, in the attorney generals chair right now, with what is going on in our state in regards to DEI  I think first of all, thered be a really good chance that regents universities would be losing federal funding, Conway said. They still might, by the way. But I think its an absolute given if he was there. And you dont want to see that, do you?

Cruz, Schmitt stay in D.C.

U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Eric Schmitt of Missouri were also scheduled to speak at the event, but both were unable to attend. The U.S. Senate was in session Saturday, with Senate Republicans aiming to confirm more than 100 of President Donald Trumps nominees despite a breakdown in negotiations with Senate Democrats.

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Bird said she was disappointed the two Republican senators could not be at the event, but that she told them on behalf of attendees, we want you to do your job like youre doing, confirming President Trumps nominees.

Schmitt will be back in the state later in the month, Aug. 23, for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinsons fundraiser in Cedar Rapids.

Bird was considered a top choice to become the next Republican nominee for governor in the 2026 election cycle, following Gov. Kim Reynolds announcement that she would not seek reelection after finishing her current term. But in July, Bird announced she would not run for governor, instead running for reelection for her current position.

At the event, Bird said she had spoken with many people in the crowd about her plans in 2026  and that her decision to run for reelection was because she believed there was still more she had to accomplish in the role.

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Weve done some good things in the attorney generals office to help Iowa but we are not done, Bird said. The work is not done. And Im not going to leave that unfinished to run for something else.

Iowa Capital Dispatch and the Nebraska Examiner are part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  According to experts, over 60 Iowa counties corn fields are infected with the Southern Rust fungus. Farmers are busy working hard to combat the spreading disease.

Matt Chambers, a Farmer from Hamlin, Iowa, said that over the past week, his fields have been infected by the Southern Rust.

I was in a field a week ago last Sunday, and there was no evidence in southern rust. And at that time, I did see the map that it was just east of here in Guthrie County. So I was it was on my radar. I walked in the same field, same spot this morning. And its, it was an explosion of southern rust just everywhere, mostly in the lower canopy, Chambers said.

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Southern Rust and Tar Spot are fungal diseases that spread through spores in the air.

Dan Bjorklund, a Technical Agronomy Advisor at Landus, said that Julys weather made perfect conditions for Southern Rust and Tar Spot to spread.

WATCH: Car catches fire along Interstate 35, north of Ankeny

The two diseases that weve been seeing are Tar Spot and Southern Rust, and they are carried by the wind and spores. They land on the corn leaves, the wet corn leaves, and then thats how they infect the plant. So wet saturated leaves for 4 to 6 hours is what really gets it going in when it rains like every two or three days, like we had in July. It just was the perfect storm, Bjorklund said.

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Chambers said he will need to apply additional fungicide to his fields to reduce losses due to disease.

Now, with the amount of disease that were seeing, its more like ten days to two weeks, probably, that it that its going to protect these fields. And so, you know, its likely in order to get maximum yield, were going to have to spray maybe twice. Weve never had to spray twice before, Chambers said.

Bjorklund has been researching drone surveillance technology that could help reduce the spread of disease in corn fields.

If you think about it for next year, if we could actually get to catch disease early and then take a spray drone out and just spray three acres or five acres of the field instead of having to treat the whole thing, you could actually reduce input costs for the farmer, knock these diseases out earlier. To me, that is the beauty of this program that we should look at going forward, because right now people find disease in an area and they spray the entire field, Bjorklund said.

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The defense council will be chaired by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and consists of the heads of the three government branches, senior armed forces commanders, and relevant ministries.

Iran's top security body approved the establishment of a National Defense Council on Sunday, according to state media, following the war with Israel in June that was Iran's most acute military challenge since the 1980s Iran-Iraq War.

"The new defense body will review defense plans and enhance the capabilities of Iran's armed forces in a centralized manner," the Supreme National Security Council's Secretariat was quoted as saying by state media.

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The defense council will be chaired by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and consists of the heads of the three government branches, senior armed forces commanders, and relevant ministries.

On Sunday, the commander-in-chief of Iran's military, Amir Hatami, warned that threats from Israel persist and should not be underestimated.

This is a developing story.
Nine people, including an Irish missionary and a three-year-old child, were kidnapped from an orphanage near Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince on Sunday, an official has said.

Gena Heraty, the facility's director, was among those taken from the privately-run Sainte-Helene orphanage in Kenscoff during the early hours of the morning, according to Mayor Massillon Jean.

Seven employees and a child were also taken from the orphanage, which cares for more than 240 children, some with disabilities.

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Attackers broke into the orphanage at about 15:30 local time (07:30 GMT) "without opening fire," Jean said, describing it as a "planned act".

The attackers had broken through a wall to enter the property, Jean said, before heading to the building where Ms Heraty was staying.

Gang members are thought to be responsible for the attack, Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported.

Ireland's Foreign Minister, Simon Harris, released a statement saying "intensive and ongoing efforts" to secure Ms Heraty's release were ongoing.

"This evening, I want to reiterate our commitment to ensuring everything possible is done to bring about the release of Gena, her co-workers and indeed the three-year-old child at the centre of this case," he said.

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Harris added that teams have also been in "close contact" with Ms Heraty's family and in touch with local authorities and the organisation she works for.

Ms Heraty, who has lived in Haiti since 1993, called the organisation that runs the orphanage - Our little brothers and sisters - early on Sunday to confirm she was among those kidnapped, a source told the AFP news agency.

No demands or ransom requests have been made, the source said.

Ireland's foreign affairs department said it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance.

Gena Heraty, who was born in Liscarney, County Mayo, has received numerous awards for her humanitarian work, including the Oireachtas Human Dignity Award.

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She previously told the Irish Times that she had no intention of leaving Haiti, despite growing gang violence and threats to her own safety.

"The children are why I'm still here. We're in this together," she told the newspaper in 2022.

Since early 2025, Kenscoff commune, on the southern outskirts of Port-au-Prince, has been one of the city's districts suffering from constant incursions and raids by Haiti's criminal gangs, which already control most of the capital and large swathes of the interior of the country.

Haiti's police, along with its Kenyan police allies and foreign contractors using weaponised drones, have repeatedly sought to dislodge the gangs from their positions and bases, but have not succeeded in pushing them back.

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Gang violence and kidnappings are also common in other areas in and around Port-au-Prince, where the UN says armed groups control about 85% of the city.

On 7 July, six Unicef employees were kidnapped during an authorised mission in an area controlled by armed groups in Port-au-Prince. Although one employee was released the following day, five others were held captive by a gang for a further three weeks.

A breakdown in social order has left families in Haiti "struggling to survive in makeshift shelters while facing mounting health and protection risks", the UN has said [Getty Images]

In the first half of 2025, UN figures show that almost 350 people were kidnapped in Haiti. At least 3,141 people were also killed in the same period, the UN Human Rights Office said.

UN Human Rights chief, Volker Turk, has warned that a surge in gang violence is threatening to further destabilise the nation, with a record 1.3 million people displaced by the disorder as of June.

The UN has said families are "struggling to survive in makeshift shelters while facing mounting health and protection risks".
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  Attacks by insurgents in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province displaced more than 46,000 people in the space of eight days last month, the United Nations migration agency said Monday.

The International Organization for Migration said nearly 60% of those forced from their homes were children. There have been no reports of deaths in the attacks.

In a separate report, the U.N.'s humanitarian office said the wave of attacks between July 20 and July 28 across three districts in Cabo Delgado caused the surge in displacements.

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The southern African nation has been fighting an insurgency by Islamic State-affiliated militants in the north for at least eight years. Rwandan soldiers have been deployed to help Mozambique fight them.

The jihadis have been accused of beheading villagers and kidnapping children to be used as laborers or child soldiers. The U.N. estimates that the violence, and the impact of drought and several cyclones in recent years, has led to the displacement of more than 1 million people in northern Mozambique.

Doctors Without Borders said it has launched an emergency response to help thousands of recently displaced people who now live in camps in Chiure, the district that experienced the worst of the attacks.

Cabo Delgado has large offshore natural gas reserves, and the insurgency caused the suspension of a $20 billion extraction project by French company TotalEnergies in 2021.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
Negotiations on a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza appear to be at an impasse, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaning towards expanded military operations and Hamas demanding the humanitarian situation be addressed before it returns to talks.

Netanyahu will urge a meeting of the security cabinet to support the full conquest of the Strip according to reports in Israeli media that were described as accurate by a source familiar with the matter.

Israels Ynet cited senior officials close to Netanyahu as saying: The die is cast  were going for full conquest. If the Chief of Staff doesnt agree  he should resign.

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The source told CNN that the defense establishment opposes an expansion of ground operations in areas where the hostages are believed to be held, as it would risk putting them in harms way.

Asked about plans to widen the military campaign, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Monday it reflected a wish to see all the hostages come back, and the wish to see the end of this war after the talks for a partial deal were not successful.

US President Donald Trump voiced no concern about the reported plans and said its up to Israel whether to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, even as he said he wanted more aid to enter the enclave. I dont know what the suggestion is. I know that we are there now trying to get people fed, Trump said on Tuesday when questioned whether he supported Israel occupying Gaza.

The alleged plans were criticized by a group of mothers of Israeli soldiers, saying it would be fatal for both hostages and soldiers. The Palestinian Authority called on the international community to intervene.

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Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Tuesday the proposed direction will lead to all the hostages dying from starvation, beatings, and torture, and being at risk due to IDF operations.

Miroslav Jenca, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, described the reports of the possible military expansion as deeply alarming if true.

This would risk catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza, Jenca said at a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday.

But Trump said he would leave the decision to Israel, saying his goal was to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I know Israel is going to help us with that in terms of distribution and also money, he said. The Arab states are going to help us with that, in terms of the money and possibly distribution. So thats what Im focused on.

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As far as the rest of it, I really, I really cant say, he concluded. Thats going to be pretty much up to Israel.

Humanitarian crisis continues

Trumps comments comes after his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spent three hours with the families of Israeli hostages on Saturday. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum quoted him as saying that the plan is not to expand the war but to end it. We think the negotiations should be changed to all or nothing. End the war and bring all 50 hostages home at the same time  thats the only way.

We have a plan to end the war and bring everyone home, Witkoff reportedly added. Someone will be to blame if the remaining living hostages do not return to Israel still alive, he said, according to the forum.

When asked, Witkoffs team did not offer any further information on the special envoys comments.

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, center, arrives to meet families of hostages in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday. - Ariel Schalit/AP

Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. There was widespread shock in Israel at the release of images by Hamas at the weekend of two of the hostages  Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski  looking weak and emaciated.

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Davids brother, Ilay, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that he and his mother could not bring themselves to watch the video of his brother, but that his father and sister did. They had to see him, to hear his voice, to feel him somehow. Now those images haunt them. My father cannot sleep, and my mother has not stopped crying ever since, he said.

Netanyahu said the images demonstrated that Hamas dont want a deal. They want to break us with these horrifying videos, with the false horror propaganda theyre spreading around the world.

However, the families forum warned the government against expanding the military campaign in Gaza. Netanyahu is preparing the greatest deception of all. The repeated claims of freeing hostages through military victory are a lie and a public fraud, the forum said Sunday.

The forum called on Israel and Hamas to commit to bringing the 50 hostages home, ending the war, and then rebuilding and reviving Israel, the statement said.

A video released by Hamas of hostage Evyatar David is displayed at a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday. - Ammar Awad/Reuters

Hamas has insisted it is committed to negotiations but only when the catastrophic humanitarian situation is addressed, according to Basem Naim, a senior Hamas political official.

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Another Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, told CNN last week there was no point in continuing talks as long as Gazas starvation crisis persists.

Hunger-related deaths in Gaza spiked in July, the World Health Organization said last week. Malnutrition rates reached alarming levels, with more than 5,000 children under five admitted for outpatient treatment of malnutrition in just the first two weeks of July, WHO said.

The Hamas-controlled Government Media Office in Gaza said Monday that 600 truckloads of aid were needed every day to alleviate the hunger crisis and claimed that in the past week an average of 84 trucks a day had entered the territory.

COGAT, the Israeli agency supervising the delivery of aid into Gaza, said Monday that more than 200 trucks were collected and distributed by the UN and international organizations on Sunday.

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But many of the trucks that do get in are looted, either by desperate civilians or organized gangs.

The United Nations said on Friday that nearly 1,400 people have been killed since the end of May while seeking food; 859 in the vicinity of sites run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and 514 along the routes of food convoys.

Palestinians leave a food distribution point run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), near the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday. - Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images

The UN said that most of the killings were committed by the Israeli military.

Thirty people were killed on Sunday while trying to get food, 19 of them in the north and 11 in the vicinity of an aid site run by the GHF in Rafah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

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CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for comment.

Opinion polls in Israel have consistently shown a large majority in favor of ending the conflict in Gaza and securing the release of the hostages. A new survey by the Institute for National Security Studies found that 38% of Israeli Jews thought it was not possible to disarm Hamas; 57% thought it was possible.

On Monday, hundreds of retired Israeli security officials urged Trump to pressure Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.

It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel, the former officials wrote in an open letter shared with the media on Monday.

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At first this war was a just war, a defensive war, but when we achieved all military objectives, this war ceased to be a just war, said Ami Ayalon, former director of the Shin Bet security service.

But far-right members of the government are pushing for the occupation of much of Gaza and measures to encourage its population to leave the territory altogether.

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The High Court of Israel has issued a temporary order freezing an attempt by the government to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, in the latest instance of the far-right coalition closing ranks.

The courts decision on Monday came immediately after the Israeli cabinet voted unanimously to fire Baharav-Miara, the countrys most senior legal official, who has been leading the prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his corruption trial.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced the cabinets decision and addressed a letter to Baharav-Miara saying she should not try to impose herself on a government that has no trust in her and cannot work with her effectively.

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However, immediately after the decision, opposition party Yesh Atid and activist groups filed urgent petitions to Israels High Court seeking to halt the dismissal.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a prominent watchdog group, cited the conflict of interest over Netanyahus corruption trial and said the dismissal effectively turned the role of attorney general into a political appointment.

In response, the court issued an injunction suspending the decision, clarifying that the government could not strip Baharav-Miara of her authority or name a replacement until further review, with a court hearing set to take place within 30 days.

Immediately after the court ruling, hardline Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi vowed on X not to obey the court order, declaring it invalid.

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A replacement for her must be appointed immediately! he said. We obey the law! We say to the High Court  no!

Baharav-Miara said the governments move to dismiss her was illegal, adding that political pressures and actions contrary to law will not deter us from continuing to perform our duties with statesmanship, professionalism and integrity.





Escalating tensions

Baharav-Miara has been at loggerheads with the government since it took office, with tensions escalating over the governments divisive judicial reform package, which was first unveiled in 2023, sparking major street protests.

Back in March, the Israeli cabinet had passed a vote of no confidence against Baharav-Miara. Netanyahus office accused the legal official of inappropriate behaviour, claiming that her ongoing substantial differences of opinion with the government prevented effective collaboration.

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The attorney general had refuted the claims and said the vote of no confidence was aimed at gaining limitless power, as part of a wider move to weaken the judicial branch and to promote loyalty to the government.

Days later, the Israeli parliament passed a key component of the plans, which critics have branded as a judicial coup, effectively giving politicians more power over the appointments of judges, including Supreme Court justices.

Baharav-Miara had also challenged the legality of Netanyahus attempt to fire Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet security agency, which the Supreme Court declared unlawful.

Bar, who stepped down from his role when his term ended in June, had been conducting a probe into alleged ties between the prime ministers close aides and Qatar, a case known in the Israeli press as Qatargate.

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The former Shin Bet head had also refused to sign off on a security request aimed at relieving Netanyahu from testifying at his ongoing corruption trial.

Serious charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust  including for allegedly taking lavish gifts from businessmen in return for political favours and striking policy and regulatory deals for more favourable news coverage  mean he could be facing up to 10 years in prison.

Netanyahu has been accused of dragging out and even exacerbating the Gaza war to stay in power and avoid the trial, which began in 2020.

US President Donald Trump, however, has come to Netanyahus defence, urging Israel to pardon him and calling the prosecutors targeting him out of control. Trump has even suggested the US could leverage its aid to Israel to protect Netanyahu.




By Maayan Lubell

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his security cabinet this week to decide on Israel's next steps in Gaza following the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas, with one senior Israeli source suggesting more force could be an option.

Last Saturday, during a visit to the country, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had said he was working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza.

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But Israeli officials have also floated ideas including expanding the military offensive in Gaza and annexing parts of the shattered enclave.

The failed ceasefire talks in Doha had aimed to clinch agreements on a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day truce, during which aid would be flown into Gaza and half of the hostages Hamas is holding would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel.

After Netanyahu met Witkoff last Thursday, a senior Israeli official said that "an understanding was emerging between Washington and Israel," of a need to shift from a truce to a comprehensive deal that would "release all the hostages, disarm Hamas, and demilitarize the Gaza Strip," - Israel's key conditions for ending the war.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday that the envoy's visit was seen in Israel as "very significant."

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But later on Sunday, the Israeli official signalled that pursuit of a deal would be pointless, threatening more force:

"An understanding is emerging that Hamas is not interested in a deal and therefore the prime minister is pushing to release the hostages while pressing for military defeat.

Israel's Channel 12 on Monday cited an official from his office as saying that Netanyahu was inclining towards expanding the offensive and seizing the entire Palestinian enclave.

"STRATEGIC CLARITY"

What a "military defeat" might mean, however, is up for debate within the Israeli leadership. Some Israeli officials have suggested that Israel might declare it was annexing parts of Gaza as a means to pressure the militant group.

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Others, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir want to see Israel impose military rule in Gaza before annexing it and re-establishing the Jewish settlements Israel evicted 20 years ago.

The Israeli military, which has pushed back at such ideas throughout the war, was expected on Tuesday to present alternatives that include extending into areas of Gaza where it has not yet operated, according to two defence officials.

While some in the political leadership are pushing for expanding the offensive, the military is concerned that doing so will endanger the 20 hostages who are still alive, the officials said.

Israeli Army Radio reported on Monday that military chief Eyal Zamir has become increasingly frustrated with what he describes as a lack of strategic clarity by the political leadership, concerned about being dragged into a war of attrition with Hamas militants.

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A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declined to comment on the report but said that the military has plans in store.

"We have different ways to fight the terror organization, and that's what the army does," Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said.

On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which included a call on Hamas to hand over its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.

Hamas has repeatedly said it won't lay down arms. But it has told mediators it was willing to quit governance in Gaza for a non-partisan ruling body, according to three Hamas officials.

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It insists that the post-war Gaza arrangement must be agreed upon among the Palestinians themselves and not dictated by foreign powers.

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar suggested on Monday that the gaps were still too wide to bridge.

"We would like to have all our hostages back. We would like to see the end of this war. We always prefer to get there by diplomatic means, if possible. But of course, the big question is, what will be the conditions for the end of the war?" he told journalists in Jerusalem.

(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo and Emily rose in Tel Aviv; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
WIN Metals has signed a binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to acquire the Radio gold mine from Top Global Mining.

The acquisition encompasses a suite of tenements, mining and processing assets, accommodation facilities, vehicles, and other equipment.

WIN aims to leverage the A$30m ($19.3m) investment by previous owners to implement a strategy that includes underground development and potential shallow open pits.

The transaction terms include an upfront payment of A$500,000 and a share consideration of A$400,000, with a deferred stepped royalty on gold sales.

Completion is subject to regulatory and third-party approvals, and the consideration shares will be issued under WIN's placement capacity.

The Radio gold mine, situated 38km north of Southern Cross in Western Australia's Yilgarn region and approximately 400km east of Perth, is ready to restart operations, with essential infrastructure in place.

This includes development to the second level, mobile mining equipment, power generators, compressed air and a processing facility that is 70% complete.

The 2018 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) reports a total resource of 210,000 tonnes (t) at 4.23 grams per tonne of gold, equating to 28,600oz of gold.

WIN Metals managing director and CEO Steve Norregaard said: Radio represents a fantastic opportunity for WIN to acquire a fully permitted gold mine capable of generating near term cash flow harnessing the current elevated gold price.

The site is fully prepared to restart underground production, with a partially completed processing facility and significant operations-ready infrastructure that has the potential to allow WIN to consider the option of processing its own ore and reducing dependence on delayed payments often associated with toll milling."

WIN has identified open-pit opportunities and plans approximately 7,000m of shallow drilling to delineate resources. An updated MRE will inform mining studies to exploit these gold targets.

The company also intends to assess the potential of processing plant investment by the previous owners and explore underground mining opportunities at the Radio deposit.

The deposit remains open, with no drill-holes exceeding 260m, indicating potential for further mineralisation at depth.

WIN will initially evaluate short-term open-pit opportunities near existing workings at Radio Repeater, Radio South and the central near-surface Radio resource. These targets, believed to have been previously overlooked, could potentially deliver immediate cash flow, Norregaard added.

"WIN Metals to buy Western Australias Radio gold mine" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
(Reuters) -The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile from Yemen early on Tuesday after air raid sirens sounded in several areas across the country.

The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, later said the group had attacked Israel with a missile.

The Iran-aligned group, which controls the most populous parts of Yemen, has been firing at Israel and attacking shipping lanes in what it says are acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

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Most of the missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.

(Reporting by Enas Alashray in Cairo; Editing by Chris Reese and Andrew Heavens)
PETZAEL, West Bank (AP)  A bask of crocodiles brought to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank decades ago is meeting its end, as authorities euthanize the aging reptiles after years of their repeated escapes from a long-neglected farm.

Israeli authorities said Monday that government veterinarians had culled the crocodiles because they threatened the area's residents and were themselves suffering from inhumane treatment. The exact number of crocodiles euthanized and the method of culling were not immediately clear.

"The Nile crocodiles at the farm were being kept in an abandoned compound under poor conditions that constitute animal abuse, with insufficient access to food, which had driven them to cannibalistic behavior, COGAT, the Israeli defense body that administers civilian affairs in the West Bank, said.

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The crocodiles were initially brought to the town of Petzael as a tourist attraction  a business adventure derailed by violence between Israel and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. They were later purchased by an entrepreneur who hoped to sell their skin. Their fate has been an open question since Israel in 2012 passed a law classifying the reptiles as protected animals and banned raising them for sale as meat or merchandise.

I dont want to think of what will happen if a crocodile manages to escape and reaches the Jordan River, and then well have an international incident, the head of the local community told The Associated Press in 2018, referencing the border with Jordan 4.2 miles (6.8 kilometers) away.

COGAT said that authorities had spent hundreds of thousands of Israeli shekels (more than $29,000) to re-fence the dilapidated farm, which has been in a state of disrepair since it was shut down in 2013. It said that veterinarians were consulted on how to humanely exterminate the animals.
Israels Security Cabinet is set to meet on Tuesday to discuss next steps in the nearly two-year-old war with the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip, including the possibility of taking full control of the Palestinian enclave and operating militarily in areas they have refrained from entering until now, the local media reported.

Israeli journalist Amit Segal, a commentator for Channel 12, the countrys highest-rated news broadcast, quoted a source from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that the "decision has been made we are going to occupy the Gaza Strip."

"Hamas will not release hostages without total surrender, if we do not operate now the hostages will die of starvation and Gaza will stay under Hamas control," Segal quoted the official as saying.

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Huckabee, Witkoff Went Inside Gaza To Assess Growing Famine Concerns

"Israel for months was at a crossroad and, lets be honest, it was not achieving victory or the hostages. The mandate for a deal was broad, but we did not get agreement, so we will go for occupation," he quoted.

The reports of deepening the military operation in Gaza come after months of mediated ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas appeared to have collapsed this week and despite assurances by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited Israel over the weekend, that he was working on a plan that would end the war.

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It also comes after Hamas, the designated terror group whose October 7, 2023, mass attack in Israel sparked the war, shocked the Israeli public with propaganda videos of emaciated hostages, including one who was forced to dig his own grave.

Additionally, international pressure on Israel to end the war has ramped up in recent weeks amid accusations that is aid policy is causing famine in Gaza and after images of severely malnourished children  some of whom were later proven to be children with pre-existing medical conditions  went viral.

European Leaders Decry Hamas Video Of Israeli Captives: Unlimited Inhumanity

Pressure in Israel to end the war and return home some 50 hostages, both dead and alive, who remain in Gaza has also been growing, with the countrys leadership divided over the best way to achieve this.

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Some ministers in Netanyahus government, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have been pushing for Israel to re-occupy Gaza and rebuild Jewish settlements that were dismantled 20 years ago.

The Israeli military, however, has argued against that plan and, according to media reports, is expected to present some alternatives at Tuesdays cabinet meeting.





Original article source: Israels government likely to approve plan to re-occupy Gaza, Israeli media reports
One person was killed and four others injured in a new Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese sources.

The Health Ministry in Beirut confirmed the injuries, while security officials said the fatality was a member of Hezbollah.

The Israeli military later confirmed that its forces attacked and killed a "Hezbollah terrorist" in southern Lebanon.

There are growing fears in Lebanon of a renewed war with Israel.

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The Lebanese Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, with talks expected to centre on the state's authority over all weapons within its borders - specifically the disarmament of Hezbollah.

The Iran-backed group has so far rejected any binding agreement that includes a timetable for disarmament.

Although a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has technically been in place since late November, Israeli forces have continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon, often resulting in casualties.

Hezbollah has stated it will not consider disarmament as long as these attacks persist.

Israeli troops also remain stationed at five positions in southern Lebanon despite the truce.

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Lebanon faces mounting international pressure to rein in Hezbollah's arsenal - a key demand from both Israel and the United States, who are acting as mediators in the ongoing stand-off.

Observers are sceptical that Tuesday's Cabinet session will yield a breakthrough. Concerns are growing that if Hezbollah, which holds seats in the government, chooses to withdraw from the coalition, Lebanon could be plunged into a fresh political crisis.
JERUSALEM (AP)  The Israeli Cabinet on Monday voted unanimously to fire the attorney general, escalating a long-running standoff between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judiciary that critics see as a threat to the country's democratic institutions.

The Supreme Court froze the move while it considers the legality.

Netanyahu and his supporters accuse Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of exceeding her powers by blocking decisions by the elected government, including a move to fire the head of Israel's domestic security agency, another ostensibly apolitical office. She has said there is a conflict of interest because Netanyahu and several former aides face a series of criminal investigations.

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Critics accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, of undermining judicial independence and seeking to concentrate power in the hands of his coalition government, the most nationalist and religious in Israel's history. Netanyahu denies the allegations and says he is the victim of a witch hunt by hostile judicial officials egged on by the media.

An attempt by Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judiciary in 2023 sparked months of mass protests, and many believe it weakened the country ahead of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack later that year that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a prominent watchdog group, said it filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court following Monday's vote. It said more than 15,000 citizens have joined the petition, calling the dismissal illegal and unprecedented.

In a statement, the group accused the government of changing dismissal procedures only after failing to legally remove Baharav-Miara under the existing rules. It also cited a conflict of interest related to Netanyahu's ongoing trial.

This decision turns the role of the attorney general into a political appointment, the group said. The legal battle will continue until this flawed decision is overturned.
A hard-right Israeli minister sparked fury by praying at a disputed holy site in Jerusalem.

By decades-old agreement, Jews can visit the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Al-Aqsa mosque, but not pray there. Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been convicted of supporting terrorism and is subject to several foreign travel bans, led 1,250 Jews in prayer there, while calling for Israel to conquer the entire Gaza Strip.

Jordan and Saudi Arabia condemned the visit, which one leading Israeli analyst said aimed to scupper a potential Gaza ceasefire deal. And while the Israeli government reiterated its support for the status quo over the Temple Mount, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on Ben-Gvirs party to maintain his slim parliamentary majority.
Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Israel Prime Minister's Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Monday unanimously voted to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miari, who is prosecuting the country's leader, prompting demonstrators to protest the decision in Jerusalem.

This is the first time the Israeli government fired an attorney general in the 78-year history of the Jewish state. In February 2022, the government unanimously approved her appointment, the first woman to serve in the role.

The dismissal is on hold because of a injunction by the High Court of Justice. The judges have ruled that they must first decide on the legality amid pending petitions by government watchdog groups and the attorney general. Haaretz reported the court is likely to strike it down because the rules were changed during the process.

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"The government has just unanimously approved the proposal of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin to immediately terminate the tenure of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara," according to a spokesperson for.

In March, Levin sought to remove her, which led to a legal challenge and opposition among Israeli residents.

Yair Golan, head of the Democrats Party, speaks at a protest Monday in Jerusalem outside the Prime Minister's Office. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI

Netanyahu, who didn't take part in the vote, has accused Baharav-Miari of abusing her power to undermine his policies and endanger the nation's rule of law. She also is accused of blocking the firing of Israel's domestic security agency.

In Israel, the attorney general is not a political appointment and serves as the government's legal adviser and public watchdog.

A boy holds a photo of Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski at a protest for the release of hostage and the cabinet firing the attorney general Monday in Jerusalem. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI

Baharav-Miari, in a letter to the minister, wrote that "through new rules to designed to ensure a desire outcome," the chief prosecutor in the case against Netanyahu is being dismissed.

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"From now on, the government will be able to fire any attorney general -- the state's top prosecutor -- without any oversight mechanisms, and even on improper grounds," she wrote. "For example, in retaliation for warning against illegal actions, ordering an investigation of a minister, refusing to halt a criminal case against a government member, or as part of a political deal.

A man holds a placard reading "Oppose The War" at a protest for the release of hostages held in Gaza and the end of Benjamin Netanyahu government on Monday outside his office. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI

"This is deeply troubling in general, and especially so given that dismissing the attorney general and appointing a replacement could influence the prime minister's criminal trial and ongoing investigations involving other ministers and associates."

The existing law requires the vote of the professional committee that initially approved her to agree to fire her.

Israel's Attorney General of Israel Gali Baharav-Miara (left) and Orit Malka Strook, an Israeli minister and Knesset member, attend a memorial ceremony in 2024 for Israelis killed one year after the Hamas attack File Pool Photo by Gil Cohen-Magen/UPI

Instead, the cabinet established a new committee, which summoned her for a hearing. She refused calling the panel "corrupt and illegitimate."

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Senior government officials were offering a compromise: she would step down voluntarily and choose her successor, Haaretz reported. But she is unlikely to agree to this, Haaretz reported.

"This conduct undermines the guarantees of independence and integrity across the entire civil service, especially for gatekeepers, and causes both immediate and cumulative harm," she said last week.

Netanyahu was indicted in November 2019 for charges that include bribery, fraud and breach of trust, including allegedly accepting $200,000 in gifts from wealthy businessmen for favorable media coverage.

The trial began in May 2020. The prosecution rested its case in July 2024. The defense's case has been continually delayed.

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Protesters appeared outside the prime minister's Office, waving Israeli flags, and holding signs and posters.

Democrats party chairman Yair Golan said the cabinet meeting took place "as our hostages are dying in the tunnels, as Israeli society is tearing itself apart."

He said "the Israeli government in these difficult times is only busy with itself."

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the cancellation of the trial, drawing parallels to his trial, calling it a "witch hunt" and "travesty of justice."

Also Monday, about 600 former Israeli security officials urged Trump to pressure Israel to end the war against Hamas in Gaza.

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The open letter reads: "Your credibility with the vast majority of Israelis augments your ability to steer prime minister Netanyahu and his government in the right direction: end the war, return the hostages, stop the suffering."

Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2003, with 1,200 Israelis, mainly civilians, initially killed with 251 abducted and an estimate 50 remain, including 33 presumed dead.

More than 60,900 Palestinians, including more than half women and children, have died according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
ROME (Reuters) -An Italian judicial body has dropped a case against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had been placed under investigation following the release of a Libyan police officer wanted by the International Criminal Court, she said on Monday.

Osama Elmasry Njeem was freed in January and flown home in an Italian state aircraft just days after being detained in the northern city of Turin under an ICC arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and rape.

"The judges dismissed the case only against me," Meloni said in a post on social media X. She was under investigation for allegedly aiding and abetting a crime and misuse of public funds.

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Meloni added that based on the document she received, magistrates will pursue the case against Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio and Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, who had been placed under investigation with her.

"I maintain that this government acts cohesively under my leadership: every decision, especially one so important, is agreed upon. It is therefore absurd to request that Piantedosi, Nordio and Mantovano stand trial, but not myself, before them," Meloni wrote on X.

The ICC has been investigating allegations of serious crimes committed in Libya since the country's 2011 civil war following a referral by the U.N. Security Council.

Justice Minister Nordio told parliament in February that Italy had no choice but to free Elmasry due to mistakes and inaccuracies in the arrest warrant.

(Reporting by Angelo AmanteEditing by Sandra Maler)
By Alvise Armellini

ROME (Reuters) -Italian police arrested 13 people following a nationwide sweep against Chinese mafia groups, on charges including involvement in crimes such as drug dealing, sex trafficking and aggravated robbery, they said on Monday.

Raids were conducted in 25 provinces, including Milan, Rome, Florence, Prato and Catania, anti-organised crime police official Andrea Olivadese said.

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Police reported a further 31 people to judicial authorities without arresting them, and seized 550 grams (1.2 pounds) or around 5,500 doses of "shabu" crystal methamphetamines, and checked hundreds of shops and vehicles.

The gangs' crimes tend to exclusively target fellow Chinese, and, like traditional mafias, they "resort to intimidation and/or violence to achieve their goals" and seek to dominate the territory where they operate, police said.

The Chinese mob groups operate "with a deeply rooted concept of revenge that can take the form of a feud," they added.

In April, a senior figure in the Chinese underworld and a companion were shot dead in Rome, in what police suspected was part of a turf war within Chinese criminal networks in Italy.

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Chinese gangs use the informal Hawala payment system to transfer money, and are "in constant dialogue" with other criminal organisations in Italy to share business and zones of influence, police said.

The gang members tend to hail from the same region in China and have a stronger foothold in parts of Italy with more Chinese residents, such as Tuscany, police noted.

Prato, a Tuscan city famous for its textile industry and its large Chinese community, has a long-running problem with labour exploitation, particularly among undocumented immigrants.

The arrests announced on Monday follow separate investigations exposing alleged worker abuse among Italian but Chinese-owned workshops in the supply chain of luxury brands such as Valentino, Giorgio Armani and Loro Piana.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
When Zhang Dayong lay in a pool of blood on a sidewalk in Rome after being shot six times, few suspected a link to Italy's storied textile hub of Prato.

But a "hanger war" is raging in the city near Florence -- turning Europe's largest apparel manufacturing centre and a pillar of Made in Italy production into a battleground for warring Chinese mafia groups.

The situation has become so urgent that Prato's prosecutor, Luca Tescaroli, has appealed to Rome for help, calling for an anti-mafia division and reinforcements for judges and police.

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Tescaroli has warned that the escalation in crime has become a huge business operation and moved beyond Italy, particularly to France and Spain.

The gangs are battling to control the production of hundreds of millions of clothes hangers each year -- the market is estimated to be worth 100 million euros ($115 million) -- and the bigger prize of transporting apparel.

The Chinese mafia also "promotes the illegal immigration of workers of various nationalities" for Prato, Tescaroli told AFP.

The veteran anti-mafia prosecutor said the "phenomenon has been underestimated", allowing the mafia to expand its reach.

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With one of Europe's largest Chinese communities, the city of nearly 200,000 people has seen Chinese business owners and factory workers beaten or threatened in recent months, with cars and warehouses burned.

The ex-head of Prato's police investigative unit, Francesco Nannucci, said the Chinese mafia run betting dens, prostitution and drugs -- and provide their Italian counterparts with under-the-radar money transfers.

For mafia leaders, "to be able to command in Prato means being able to lead in much of Europe," Nannucci told AFP.

- 'Well-oiled system' -

Chinese groups in the district thrive on the so-called "Prato system", long rife with corruption and irregularities, particularly in the fast-fashion sector, such as labour and safety violations plus tax and customs fraud.

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Prato's 5,000-odd apparel and knitwear businesses, mostly small, Chinese-run subcontractors, churn out low-priced items that end up in shops across Europe.

They pop up quickly and shut down just as fast, playing a cat-and-mouse game with authorities to avoid taxes or fines. Fabric is smuggled from China, evading customs duties and taxes, while profits are returned to China via illegal money transfers.

To stay competitive, the sector relies on cheap, around-the-clock labour, mostly from China and Pakistan, which Tescaroli told a Senate committee in January was "essential for its proper functioning".

"It's not just one or two bad apples, but a well-oiled system they use, and do very well -- closing, reopening, not paying taxes," said Riccardo Tamborrino, a Sudd Cobas union organiser leading strikes on behalf of immigrants.

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Investigators say the immigrants work seven days a week, 13 hours a day for about three euros ($3.40) an hour.

Tamborrino said Prato's apparel industry was "free from laws, from contracts".

"It's no secret," he said. "All this is well known."

- 'Miss Fashion' -

Trucks lumber day and night through the streets of Prato's industrial zone, an endless sprawl of asphalt lined with warehouses and apparel showrooms with names like "Miss Fashion" and "Ohlala Pronto Moda".

Open metal doors reveal loaded garment racks, rolls of fabric and stacks of boxes awaiting shipment -- the final step controlled by Zhang Naizhong, whom prosecutors dub the "boss of bosses" within Italy's Chinese mafia.

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A 2017 court document described Zhang as the "leading figure in the unscrupulous circles of the Chinese community" in Europe, with a monopoly on the transport sector and operations in France, Spain, Portugal and Germany.

Zhang Dayong, the man killed in Rome alongside his girlfriend in April, was Zhang Naizhong's deputy. The shootings followed three massive fires set at his warehouses outside Paris and Madrid in previous months.

Nannucci believes Naizhong could be in China, after his 2022 acquittal for usury in a huge ongoing Chinese mafia trial plagued by problems -- including a lack of translators and missing files.

On a recent weekday, a handful of Pakistani men picketed outside the company that had employed them, after it shut down overnight having just agreed to give workers a contract under Italian law.

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Muhammed Akram, 44, saw his boss quietly emptying the factory of sewing machines, irons and other equipment. "Sneaky boss," he said, in broken Italian.

Chinese garment workers, who are in the majority in Prato and often brought to Italy by the mafia, never picket, union activists say -- they are too frightened to protest.

- Trading favours -

Changes in apparel manufacturing, globalisation and migration have all contributed to the so-called "Prato system".

So has corruption.

In May 2024, the second-in-command within Prato's Carabinieri police was accused of giving Italian and Chinese entrepreneurs -- among them a chamber of commerce businessman -- access to the police database for information, including on workers.

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Police complaints from attacked workers "ended up in a drawer, never reaching the court", Sudd Cobas organiser Francesca Ciuffi told AFP.

Prato's mayor resigned in June in a corruption investigation, accused of trading favours with the businessman for votes.

In recent months, the union has secured regular contracts under national law for workers at over 70 companies.

That will not help those caught in Prato's mafia war, however, where "bombs have exploded and warehouses have been burned down", said Ciuffi.

"People who wake up in the morning, quietly going to work, risk getting seriously injured, if not worse, because of a war that doesn't concern them."

ams/oc/rlp/tc
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will begin trying to remove Democratic lawmakers from office if they do not return to the state
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  One of the main opposition parties in Ivory Coast has denounced what it says are arbitrary arrests of six party members, calling the arrests part of a broader crackdown following the disqualification of key rivals to President Alassane Ouattara and his bid for a fourth term.

Sebastien Dano Djedje, the executive president of the African Peoples PartyCote dIvoire, or PPA-CI, the party of former President Laurent Gbagbo, said during a news conference Sunday that the party members were abducted and taken to unknown locations overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

Among them are party members from Youpougon, a suburb of the capital Abdijan, where armed attackers torched a bus and assaulted police days before, he said.

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Interior Minister Vagondo Diomande released a video to a televion news broadcast Sunday showing a man identifying himself as a PPA-CI member confessing involvement in the attack and saying he acted on the party's behalf with 15 others.

The confession was obtained legally, Diomande said, rebuffing PPA-CI claims that party members were illegally arrested.

In our country, no arrests are made arbitrarily, he said. The ministry ensures due legal proceedings for all offenses, ending the era of summary and arbitrary detentions that once marred our nation.

The PPA-CI condemned the bus attack and denied involvement.

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Ivory Coast is set to hold a presidential election Oct. 12. Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, is likely to stay in office with little or no challenge from a weakened opposition.

Dissent has grown in the West African nation, fueled by the exclusion of main opposition candidates from the voter roll, including the PPA-CI's Laurent Gbabgo and the president's most prominent rival, Tidjane Thiam.

Ivory Coast elections have previously been fraught with tension and violence. When Ouattara announced his bid for a third term in 2020, several people were killed in the ensuing violence.
A Janesville man who once threatened to use chlorine gas against government agents if they attempted to take his guns is headed to federal prison for nearly 2 1/2 years.

James Morgan, 33, pleaded guilty on April 21 in federal court in Milwaukee to one count of possession of chemical weapon precursors  or chemicals that combine to create chlorine and chlorine gas, court records show.

U.S. District Court Judge Brett H. Ludwig on Aug. 1 sentenced him to spend the next 29 months behind bars for the crime.

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More: Madison man pleads guilty to smuggling lab equipment to Russian companies

Prosecutors say in court papers Morgan, formerly known as Karactus Blome, studied chemistry at the University of WisconsinWhitewater, and had described himself as a weapon designer who did not need a conventional weapon, Richard G. Frohling, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, said in an Aug. 4 statement.

How did James Morgan get on authorities' radar?

Morgan posted a video that displayed the chemicals and said a lot of chlorine was being made rapidly.

In other messages in 2022, Morgan said that what he had was scary, and that the chemicals react to produce a lot of chlorine gas, which can be effective if your enemy is not ready for it. He sent links for purchasing the chemicals and discussed the amounts needed to make a lot of chlorine gas quickly.

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Morgan discussed in a set of messages in 2023 a plan to defeat the government, if it came for his guns, by producing a large amount of chlorine that he claimed could be used against roughly 20 government agents, court records show.

Court records show the FBI executed a search warrant at Morgan's storage unit on Dec. 21, 2023 and found the chemicals. Morgan also previously entered a guilty plea in 2024 to possession of six homemade pipe bombs.

More: Lies, empty promises fueled man's 'iron condor' scheme that defrauded Wisconsin investors

How dangerous were these chemicals?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says exposure to precursor chemicals can irritate a person's breathing, blur vision and, in severe cases, result in respiratory failure.

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Frohling said in his statement the FBI Laboratory determined the chemicals Morgan possessed were capable of producing enough chlorine to sicken people or even kill them.

The defendants conduct posed a serious risk to others and the community as a whole, Frohling said. This individual spent substantial time discussing and constructing weapons and expressing opposition to law enforcement and individuals whose race, ethnic origin, or backgrounds differed from his."

The FBI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney John Scully prosecuted, with assistance from Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Janesville man gets prison time for threatening agents with chlorine
Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett has gone scorched earth on President Donald Trump, labeling her nemesis a piece of s--t during an on-stage rant that sent the crowd at a progressive political event wild.

The Texas Democrat, who recently dubbed the president a wannabe Hitler, unloaded on him once more, blasting the institutions she says have enabled him.

During the fiery speech in Phoenix on Sunday, which was hosted by the progressive group MoveOn, she aimed at the Supreme Court for enabling Trumps supposedly anti-democratic behavior. However, she reserved her harshest criticism for Trump himself.

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Listen, Donald Trump is a piece of s--t, OK? Crockett told the cheering crowd, adding, We know that. Yes, yes! He is, he is! But in a functioning democracy, he still would not be able to get away with this.

Hes been able to get away with this because the House Republicans are complicit, she said. Hes been able to get away with this because Senate Republicans are complicit. But most importantly, the courtsespecially the Supreme Courtare complicit!

Trump has yet to publicly respond to Crockett's jibe. / Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/Getty Images

Calling out the lack of accountability at the highest levels of the judiciary, Crockett took aim at what she sees as a double standard.

They are the highest court in the land and they have no ethics guardrails. Now you go down to the lower courts, and they do. How much sense does that make? she said.

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Well, we know that theyre taking money. We have the paper trail. And they refuse to put guardrails on themselves. So its time for us to do it for them.

Crockett also sounded the alarm on redistricting efforts in her home state. The Texas legislature is considering a Republican-led map that could net the GOP up to five additional House seatsand potentially force Crockett out of her own district.

The Dallas congresswoman has sharply criticized the plan as racist and anti-democratic, arguing that it dilutes minority voting power and rigs the system in Republicans favor ahead of 2026.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) says President Donald Trumps clear lack of character shouldnt distract from those complicit in his corruption.

Speaking Sunday during MoveOns Wont Back Down tour stop in Phoenix, the rising Democratic star called on her party to fight not just Trump but also his enablers in Congress and on the Supreme Court.

Donald Trump is a piece of shit. OK, we know that, Crockett said, earning thunderous cheers. But in a functioning democracy, he still would not be able to get away with this.

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She pointed squarely at the conservative-majority Supreme Court, accusing the justices of enabling Trumps abuses of power and urging swift action to crack down on their cozy ties to right-wing donors.

We know that theyre taking money. We have the paper trail, she said. And they refuse to put guardrails on themselves, so its time for us to do it for them.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett had some strong words for President Donald Trump and his allies during the "Won't Back Down" event in Phoenix on Sunday. John Medina via Getty Images

Concerns about the Supreme Courts integrity surged after a set of 2023 ProPublica investigations revealed billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crows decades-long relationship with Justice Clarence Thomas.

Crows friendly generosity included luxury trips, private school tuition for Thomas grand-nephew, and real estate purchases involving the justices family. None of it was disclosed.

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In response to the uproar, the court adopted a new ethics code in late 2023, one critics have dismissed for its absence of enforcement mechanisms.

Since then, the courts 63 conservative supermajority has issued a string of rulings that appear to benefit Trump directly, including broad interpretations of presidential immunity, backing his brutal mass deportation policies, giving him sweeping power to fire federal officials, and upholding a ban on transgender service members

Earlier this year, Democrats tried to revive a Biden-era bill known as the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, or SCERT, which would impose an enforceable code of ethics on the highest court in the nation.

When it was first introduced in 2023, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called it politically motivated legal garbage.

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And with Republicans back in control of both chambers, the bills chances appear even more slim this go-around.

Related...
Hillsborough County Republican state Sen. Jay Collins speaking in Tampa on May 12, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

Will Byron Donalds get a serious GOP challenger in his bid to become the next governor of Florida?

That question remains unresolved with more than a year before Republican primary voters will decide on their standard bearer to succeed Ron DeSantis and attempt to keep the governors mansion under conservative control for another four years.

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A man whose name has been floated as possibly challenging Donalds for the nomination  Hillsborough County state Sen. Jay Collins  is not saying that hell be that candidate, but does argue that someone needs to take on the Naples-based U.S. representative next year.

I think that theres a lot of time in any election between now and then, he told a small group of reporters Saturday during the Florida Freedom Forum, a Republican event, in Orlando. And historically, you dont ever have just one candidate in a primary. Whether I ever decide to step into the arena or somebody else does, I think theres a high chance that somebody will step in.

Collins told the Phoenix in May that if DeSantis were to appoint him to serve as lieutenant governor, it would be an honor and that hed be happy to do it. Since then, rumors have spread that the governors choice for LG would be considered his hand-picked challenger to Donalds.

But that was nearly three months ago, and DeSantis still hasnt decided publicly his choice to succeed Jeanette Nunez, who departed the position to lead Florida International University in February.

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Another name that has been floated in the interim is former House Speaker Paul Renner, who participated in a panel discussion held at the Forum Saturday on school choice.

And then of course theres Casey DeSantis, whom the governor has been pumping up for the race  although she and the governor have been relatively low-key on that matter in recent weeks.

Collins, an ally of the governor who was granted a prime spot to speak to the attendees at the Forum on Saturday, says that at the end of the day its about getting the best candidate forward for the Republican Party of Florida.

I think competitions good for anybody, he said. And look, I dont want anybody to say anything. I have no umbrage with Byron. I dont. I believe we should have a choice. Byron is a conservative leader. His family have done great things in the community. And in the end, you know, what I think our government, our people, our world works better with choice, and will see where life goes, but in the end, were going to be okay. Floridas in a great position.

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Donalds also appeared at the Forum on Saturday. He engaged in a 40-minute discussion with conservative influencer Benny Johnson, who asked how we would continue Trump policies in Florida?

Donalds responded by saying that he gave a lot of the credit to Gov. DeSantis for where we are as a state.

When asked about the only major Democrat to enter the gubernatorial race, former GOP U.S. Rep. David Jolly, Donalds was dismissive. Bless his heart, he said of his potential 2026 opponent. Bless his heart. Thats all Im going to say.

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The report in question details the internal affairs probe of a Jersey City lieutenant arrested in 2019 after authorities say he fired his gun at guests at his home. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)

The expungement of a Jersey City police lieutenants 2019 arrest does not prevent the city from releasing an internal affairs report about the matter, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday in a case that pitted the New Jersey Monitor against the states second biggest city.

But, the court ruled in its unanimous decision, the states expungement statute bars the release of any information related to the lieutenants criminal case, so the justices sent the case back to lower courts for a judge to redact any such information from the internal report.

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Justice Rachel Wainer Apters decision rejects Jersey Citys arguments that it could not release the report, but also rejects the New Jersey Monitors argument that a court could require release of the details of the lieutenants expunged criminal record under the common law even if their disclosure is barred by statute.

The expungement statute bars a law enforcement agency from releasing any information that would reveal an arrest, conviction, or related proceeding that it knows has been expunged. We must respect and enforce the Legislatures judgment, Wainer Apter wrote (Chief Justice Stuart Rabner did not participate in the case).

Attorney CJ Griffin, who represented the New Jersey Monitor, said Mondays ruling expands access to information about police misconduct by barring Jersey City from shielding the public from knowing more about the officer in questions wildly dangerous actions that could have easily killed someone.

But Griffin noted that the ruling also requires a judge to redact from the report any references to Timmins arrest and criminal case.

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We know what occurred in this case because of prior public disclosures, but what if we didnt? The redactions would keep the public from monitoring how prosecutors give officers special treatment. Or it could even lead the public to assume that this officer engaged in this lawless behavior, yet was not arrested like any other civilian would be, she said.

CJ Griffin arguing before the New Jersey Supreme Court on April 29, 2025. (Ed Murray for New Jersey Monitor)

States Newsroom, the New Jersey Monitors parent nonprofit, sued Jersey City in 2022 after the city denied an Open Public Records Act request seeking the internal affairs report, which documents the incident that spurred criminal charges against Jersey City Police Lt. Michael Timmins.

Authorities charged Timmins with terroristic threats and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose after they say he fired a shotgun at party guests after consuming six to eight beers at his Sussex County home in August 2019.

Jersey City officials rejected the records request, saying the internal report is confidential. Timmins subsequently had his record expunged after pleading guilty to a lesser charge and entering a pretrial intervention program. Afterward the city said it would be unlawful for them to hand over the report.

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Though internal affairs reports are not releasable under the Open Public Records Act, New Jerseys Supreme Court in 2022 ruled they can be disclosed under the common law right of access when the public interest outweighs officers privacy interests.

Mondays decision says Timmins expungement does not shield the release of the internal affairs report because that report is not a criminal investigatory document subject to expungement. That means that, while the arresting police department could not disclose documents concerning the incident or even acknowledge the arrest, the Jersey City Police Department could not wholly withhold its report on its internal investigation of Timmins behavior.

The JCPD need not, however, refrain from revealing information about the underlying incident that led to both the lieutenants arrest and its IA investigation, Wainer Apter wrote. And it need not refrain from revealing information about its IA investigation into whether JCPD rules or regulations were violated.

The justices ordered a trial court judge to review the internal affairs report and redact any information it contains related to Timmins arrest, charges, and the disposition thereof before conducting a balancing test to determine whether the public interest in releasing the internal affairs report outweighs the officers privacy interests.

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Timmins arrest was first made public in 2021 pursuant to a state attorney general order requiring towns to identify officers who face discipline of more than five days (Timmins was suspended for 90 days). That report said only that Timmins negligently discharged a firearm while off duty and on his personal property.

More details emerged because prosecutors were forced to share details of his arrest with defense attorneys as part of an unrelated murder case because Timmins responded to the scene of that homicide. A police report shared with defense attorneys said witnesses at Timmins 2019 party told police Timmins got in a fight with his girlfriends son, then fired a gun at party guests.

Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story misidentified the person police say fought with Timmins in 2019.

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A man has been missing for over a week after reportedly hiking along one of the most challenging trails in the Grand Canyon, according to the National Park Service.

Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, from Freehold, New Jersey, was reported missing on July 28 by his family and friends, according to a press release shared by the National Park Service.

Gibbs was last heard from on July 22 and is believed to have been traveling along the Grandview Trail, which is one of the most difficult paths in the Grand Canyon, according to the National Park Service.

National Park Service - PHOTO: Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, seen in this undated photo released by the National Park Service, was reported missing on July 28, 2025, after allegedly hiking along one of the most challenging trails in the Grand Canyon, according to NPS.

The hiker's Tesla Cybertruck was discovered in the Grandview Point parking lot on the South Rim of the canyon the same day he was reported missing, officials said.

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Gibbs is described as 6 feet, 1 inch tall with brown hair and brown eyes, officials said.

MORE: Hiker dies on Grand Canyon trail amid extremely high summer temperatures

Officials said anyone who was "in the Grandview Trail around July 22 and who may have seen Gibbs or has information on his whereabouts" should contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch Tip line at 888-653-0009. Tips can also be submitted online or via email at nps_isb@nps.gov.

National Park Service - PHOTO: Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, seen in this undated photo released by the National Park Service, was reported missing on July 28, 2025, after allegedly hiking along one of the most challenging trails in the Grand Canyon, according to NPS.

Updates regarding the search for Gibbs will be provided "as soon as they become available," officials said.

Gibbs' disappearance comes as a fire continues to burn along the canyon's North Rim. The Dragon Bravo Fire has now burned over 116,000 acres and is 12% contained as of Sunday, officials said.

ABC News requests for comment sent to Grand Canyon National Park and National Park Service officials did not immediately receive a response.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  DuPont and two other companies will pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims stemming from PFAS, commonly referred to as forever chemicals," the companies announced Monday.

State Environmental Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the deal with DuPont, Chemours and Corteva is the largest such settlement in the state's history. It calls for the companies to pay $875 million over 25 years and create a remediation fund of up $1.2 billion. The companies will split the costs under the deal, which must still be approved by the courts.

PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the nations air, water and soil. They are commonly referred to as forever chemicals.

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DuPont said the settlement will resolve all pending environmental and other claims for legacy" contamination claims at four sites where the companies operated in the state. It comes just months after the state said chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay up $450 million to resolve lawsuits over natural resource contamination stemming from PFAS.

"Polluters who place profit above public well-being by releasing poisonous PFAS and other contamination in our State can expect to be held responsible to clean up their mess and fully compensate the State and its citizens for the precious natural resources theyve damaged or destroyed," LaTourette said.

PFAS were manufactured by companies such as 3M, Chemours and others because they were incredibly useful. They helped eggs slide across non-stick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped clothes withstand rain and keep people dry.

The chemicals resist breaking down, though, meaning they linger in the environment.

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Environmental activists say PFAS makers knew about the health harms of PFAS long before they were made public. The same attributes that make the chemicals so valuable  resistance to breakdown  make them hazardous to people.

PFAS accumulate in the body, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency set their limits for drinking water at 4 parts per trillion for two common types  PFOA and PFOS  that are phased out of manufacturing but still are present in the environment.
Aug. 4Jet's Pizza is coming to Middletown, with a prospective opening date late this year at 4778 Roosevelt Blvd.

Jake Kogelman, franchise owner, said the 1,350-square-foot restaurant will be delivery and carry-out only. It will employ 15-20 people, split between part-time and full-time positions.

"Middletown has a lot of hungry people; it's a very populated community," Kogelman said. "We felt that we could probably find some great team members and we could have an awesome staff over here."

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The average wage is expected to be $12-15/hour plus tips for full-time and part-time hourly workers. Full-time, salaried manager positions will be available.

Kogelman also owns the six Jet's Pizza locations in the Dayton area, and another location in Troy is expected to open at 1285 S. Dorset Road within the next six weeks.

Construction on the Middletown location will start after Labor Day.

"(This is) a chance to introduce our product...to a new community," Kogelman said. "And also, to continue to expand ourselves."

Jet's Pizza offers Detroit-style deep dish, hand-tossed round, thin, New York style, seasoned cauliflower and gluten-free pizza. Crust flavors are available, including butter, Cajun, garlic, Romano cheese, sesame seed and Jet's Turbo Crust  a combo of butter, garlic and Romano cheese.

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Breadsticks, boneless and bone-in wings, salads, calzones and desserts are also available.

"We're excited to get started, we're excited to get in Middletown. I truly believe that the residents and the community there will enjoy it," Kogelman said.
FIRST ON FOX: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson dined with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Judea and Samaria on Monday, in a visit that marked the most senior visit from a U.S. official to what is still internationally considered the occupied West Bank, but which has become a highly divisive topic in the U.S.

Though the dinner discussion largely focused on the ongoing war in Gaza and how to better secure aid deliveries as Hamas continues wreck on food access, Fox News Digital confirmed with Heather Johnston, the founder of the U.S. Israel Education Association  whose organization planned Johnson's trip  that he and his delegation will also be meeting with Palestinian leaders during his Middle East visit.

Johnson, whose visit is considered a "private" trip and not an official state visit as it was organized by the association, also met with Israeli officials in the city of Ariel ealier on Tuesday  just over 10 miles from the Green Line, the armistice line marking the borders between Israel and the disputed Palestinian territories.

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Though it is not unusual for members of Congress to travel to Israel under private means, including previous Speakers of the House like Kevin McCarthy who also met with Netanyahu in 2023, the location of the Johnson-Netanyahu dinner is significant.

European Leaders Decry Hamas Video Of Israeli Captives: Unlimited Inhumanity

US House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, right, and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, shake hands during a meeting at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Republicans in Congress have introduced legislation that would require all official U.S. documents to use the name "Judea and Samaria" rather than the West Bank, which it argues has become a "highly divisive label."

Read On The Fox News App

Judea and Samaria refers to the historical and religious ties Israel has to an area that is internationally recognized as the West Bank, and which Israel captured from Jordan during the 1967 war after Amman first seized the territory of Mandatory Palestine, now dubbed the West Bank, during the Israel-Arab war of 1948.

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It has since been deemed illegally occupied by the UN and the international community, though the U.S. has fluctuated over its views of the occupation status since President Donald Trump first entered office in 2017.

An Israeli soldier is seen during a protest in the town of Beita, in West Bank on July 26, 2024.

Netanyahu Responds After Israeli Hostage Seen Emaciated, Digging Grave: 'Cruelty Of Hamas Has No Boundaries'

Trump evaded questions earlier this year over whether he would support Israels annexation of parts of the West Bank despite his strong support for Jerusalem.

But regardless of whether it has the backing of Israels chief ally, top officials in Netanyahus administration have made clear they intend to annex territory officially and less than two weeks ago the Israeli government passed a non-binding resolution that said Jerusalem should "apply Israeli sovereignty, law, judgment and administration" to the West Bank.

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Johnsons office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals questions about the significance of his visit.

Though it could suggest U.S. lawmakers may take a more decisive role in backing Israels expansionist plans as the Trump administration looks to end Israels war in Gaza while still opposing European and Arab nations increased push for an independent state of Palestine.

Israel's (L to R) Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, and Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen applaud during a session of the Israeli parliament (Knesset) at its headquarters in Jerusalem on June 11, 2025.

The Times of Israel also reported last week that Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the latter of which who Johnson met with on Sunday, believe that "at this very moment, there is a moment of opportunity that must not be missed" to implement "Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria."

The report did not confirm why this moment in time is so significant.





Original article source: Johnson dines with Netanyahu in landmark visit, highest US official to visit disputed West Bank
A fast-growing chicken franchise is set to open a new location this month on the city's north side.
The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office has arrested a 36-year-old man after police say he stole three vehicles from the Wolfson High School driving track earlier this month.

According to JSO, William Hutchins was caught on surveillance video breaking into a portable classroom, stealing three sets of keys, and driving off with the cars.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

JSO says community tips helped quickly identify Hutchins, leading to his arrest with help from the Duval County School Police.

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Investigators continue to seek information on other suspects involved in unsolved crimes.

They encourage the public to visit UnsolvedCrimes.JaxSheriff.org to help identify individuals who may be familiar.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

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Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Federal and state officials in Florida must produce agreements showing which government agency or private contractor has legal authority to detain people or perform immigration officer roles at Alligator Alcatraz, the immigration detention facility in the Everglades, a federal judge said Monday.

Officials must provide by Thursday all written agreements and contracts showing who has legal custody of the hundreds of detainees at the facility that was hastily constructed more than a month ago on an isolated airstrip in South Florida's Everglades wilderness, said U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz, an appointee of President Donald Trump.

Ruiz's order was part of an ongoing civil rights lawsuit against the state and federal governments by immigration attorneys who say Alligator Alcatraz detainees' constitutional rights are being violated since they are barred from meeting lawyers, are being held without any charges, and a federal immigration court has canceled bond hearings.

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Who has authority over the detention center has been a murky issue since it opened at the beginning of July.

The federal government and Florida had asked that any disclosures be limited to agreements between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and three Florida agencies  the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida National Guard and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The detainees' attorneys had requested documents showing who was responsible for removal proceedings, as well as information on the number of employees at Alligator Alcatraz, but Ruiz said those requests from the detainees' lawyers were too broad.

The lawsuit is the second to challenge Alligator Alcatraz. Environmental groups have sued federal and state officials, asking that the project be halted because the process didnt follow state and federal environmental laws. A hearing on that lawsuit is set for Wednesday.

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Separately, the Archdiocese of Miami said it celebrated the first Mass at the detention center on Saturday following weeks of negotiations.

I am pleased that our request to provide for the pastoral care of the detainees has been accommodated, Archdiocese of Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said Monday in a statement.

___

Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social.
The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire burn scar viewed from the Hermits Peak summit in May 2023. After a judge reaffirmed his earlier ruling ordering FEMA to pay fire victims "noneconomic" damages, the agency has until mid-September to appeal. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source New Mexico)

A nearly two-year court battle finally came to an end late last month, with a federal judge ruling  again  that the Federal Emergency Management Agency must pay Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire victims for the emotional toll of the states biggest-ever wildfire.

The agency told Source New Mexico on Friday that it is still deciding whether to appeal the ruling, potentially beginning another multi-year court battle.

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Plaintiffs initially sued FEMA in October 2023 for illegally withholding payments for the noneconomic damages they suffered in the wildfire, which means they werent compensated for the emotional toll of the fire.

Judge James Browning ruled in favor of plaintiffs in December 2024 and, in a 142-page opinion issued July 18, denied FEMA and federal prosecutors push for him to reconsider key aspects of the prior ruling, which orders FEMA to immediately pay both economic and noneconomic damages to victims.

The July 18 opinion could signal an end to the legal battle spanning two years in Brownings courtroom, but it also could mean the beginning of a new one: FEMA and the United States Attorneys Office have 60 days from the date of Brownings latest ruling  Sept. 16  to decide whether to appeal the case to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, according to FEMA and plaintiffs attorney Brian S. Colon.

An appeal could mean an additional delay of around two years, according to Ty Tosdal, another plaintiffs lawyer.

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Neither the FEMA office overseeing a multi-billion-dollar compensation fund nor federal prosecutors would say whether they intend to appeal. In statements provided to Source NM, both offices said they are evaluating the decision.

FEMA will determine next steps and provide further information as it becomes available, a spokesperson told Source via email on Friday. Acting United States Attorney Ryan Ellison is reviewing the Courts opinion, said spokesperson Tessa Duberry.

Congress awarded FEMA $5.45 billion to compensate victims of the 2022 wildfire, minus administrative costs, because it resulted from two botched prescribed burns that the United States Forest Service ignited. The fire burned an area roughly 534 square miles, along with several hundred homes, and resulted in ongoing post-fire flooding in communities in and around the burn scar, including Las Vegas, N.M.

Lawyers estimate that the total paid in noneconomic damages would be about one-tenth of the amount Congress awarded, amounting to about $545 million. According to the latest figures from the claims office, FEMA had paid out $2.782 billion in roughly 20,000 claims for damage as of July 29.

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Tosdal recently raised concerns about the long wait for resolution and compensation. He highlighted the case of one of his clients, Marianna Lands, who is dealing with the aftermath of a stroke that she said was caused by the stress of the fire.

While fire victims wait for an answer, a claims office spokesperson said they dont need to take any additional action on their claims regarding noneconomic damages and that it is steadily paying out other types of losses.

The Claims Office continues to compensate claimants for compensable losses, the spokesperson said, and is doing so to the maximum extent permissible.
A voter leaves a polling place after casting a ballot in the state's primary election on March 5, 2024, in Mountain Brook, Ala. Before the November 2024 election, the Alabama secretary of state initiated a purge of thousands of registered voters but was blocked by a federal judge. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Alabama resident Roald Hazelhoff treasures his newly won right to vote. When election officials flagged the naturalized U.S. citizens voter registration for possible removal last August, the Dutch native fought back.

Hazelhoff, then a 67-year-old college instructor, sued to stop Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a Republican, from seeking to kick him and more than 3,200 other registered voters off the rolls. The lawsuit was part of a multifront legal challenge led by him and three other voters, along with voting rights groups and the Biden-era U.S. Department of Justice.

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A federal judge halted Alabamas effort within weeks  and Hazelhoff voted in his first presidential election last November without incident.

Ten months later, Hazelhoff is watching with deep concern as the Department of Justice, in President Donald Trumps second term, is demanding that states turn over their voter registration lists and other election information, citing unspecified concerns with voter list maintenance.

My initial reaction was of sadness that this could happen but that still a mistake could be made, Hazelhoff, who lives in the Birmingham area, told Stateline. Now, Im more in a stance of saying this is the most fundamental right afforded to citizens of the United States, and I am a legal citizen of this country and I will fight for that right.

The Trump administrations effort to scoop up voter registration lists and other information from a growing number of states underscores how state-controlled voter lists are a major battleground in fights over access to the polls. The Justice Department told the National Association of Secretaries of State that it will eventually contact all states, an association spokesperson wrote in an email.

Roald Hazelhoff, a naturalized U.S. citizen, voted in the 2024 election. (Photo courtesy of Roald Hazelhoff)

Minnesota, New Hampshire and Wisconsin have so far declined to provide full voter registration lists to the department amid questions over the legality of the requests and uncertainty over how the information will be used. Maine Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows plans to deny a similar request, telling the Maine Morning Star that federal officials can go jump in the Gulf of Maine.

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The Justice Department declined a Stateline request for comment.

Even before states began tangling with the department, how election officials oversee these lists  including when and why voters can be removed  was under increasing scrutiny. The stakes for voters are foundational: How states maintain the lists determines who is on them  and therefore who is able to vote. Power over voter registration lists is the power to shape the electorate.

Voting should be easy, not akin to trying to get a U.S. passport when its been lost or stolen and youre in Nicaragua, you know what Im saying? Hazelhoff said. It should be something that we encourage and this is not encouraged. This is the exact opposite.

Some states in recent years have signed up for competing systems to help identify duplicate or noncitizen voter registrations, after the largest operation came under fire from Trump. Election officials in some states have also entered into ad hoc agreements with some of their counterparts to share data.

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Other states continue to tighten voter list maintenance requirements as well. New Hampshire legislators in June approved a bill requiring local officials to verify voter lists annually instead of once a decade; the governor signed the bill on Friday. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill, signed by the governor in April, that requires state agencies to share data with the state secretary of state to help check the accuracy of voter registrations.

Chief election officials in some states tout their annual or regular elimination of registrations.

Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced in mid-July that his office was sending cancellation mailers to 477,883 inactive registrants. Last week, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, directed local election officials to begin a new round of removals. The registrations will be eligible for cancellation in 2029 following a federally mandated notification process, he said in a news release.

The Trump administration is also pushing states to use a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services tool, typically used to determine the immigration status of people seeking government benefits, to identify noncitizen registered voters. The agency now allows state and local officials to conduct bulk searches using the tool, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program, instead of one at a time.

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I am a legal citizen of this country and I will fight for that right.

 Roald Hazelhoff, a naturalized U.S. citizen who sued after his Alabama voter registration was made inactive

Voter fraud and noncitizen voting rarely occur. But Trumps false claims of a stolen election in 2020, along with an uptick in anti-immigrant sentiment among conservatives before last years election, has driven attention to the voter registration lists.

Election officials and voting rights activists across the political spectrum agree accurate, up-to-date voter rolls ensure that elections remain secure. They split over how to balance cleaning the lists with protecting voters from accidental deletion  and where to draw the line between legitimate maintenance and politically driven purges.

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It has to be done fairly. It has to be done transparently. And it has to be done legally, said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan group that often challenges voter restrictions in court, including the Alabama effort.

I think that any time you are doing voter list maintenance in a way that disenfranchises more people or is careless, then there has to be a hard no on things like that, Stewart said in an interview.

New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan, a Republican, said he wants to find a middle ground where everything is balanced.

Scanlan declined to provide the Justice Department with his states voter rolls. He wrote in a July 25 letter that state law doesnt authorize him to release the list to the department. Still, he noted that under the law the department could obtain voter lists by contacting local election officials.

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In an interview, Scanlan also predicted the New Hampshire legislation requiring annual verification wouldnt be an onerous change and would improve the accuracy of the rolls. He said he wants a system that makes voting easy, but one thats also transparent and ensures everyone casting a ballot is a legitimate voter.

I think thats where were headed, Scanlan said. Its not a straight line to get there.

Undermining ERIC

Trump helped usher in the current era of division over cleaning voter rolls in March 2023 by attacking the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, and calling on states to pull out of the group. He posted on social media at the time that it pumps the rolls for Democrats and does nothing to clean them up.

Within months, eight Republican-led states had withdrawn.

The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit allows member states to submit voter registration and motor vehicle department data. It also has access to Social Security death data and address change information from the U.S. Postal Service.

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ERIC then identifies potential duplicate and out-of-date registrations, dead voters and possible illegal voting. Member states also reach out to individuals who are likely eligible to vote but havent registered, a requirement that angers some Republicans.

Some Democrats are now quick to point out what they see as the irony of Trumps Justice Department voicing concerns with voter list maintenance practices after the president undermined ERIC  a system they say is effective in helping states clean their voter rolls.

It is an extra layer of  hypocrisy and ridiculousness that they would turn around and be critical of the one organization ensuring voter rolls are clean and up to date in its member states, said New York state Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat who sponsored a bill passed by the state legislature to require New York to join ERIC. The measure hasnt been delivered to the governor.

Twenty-five states  a mix of red and blue states, as well as presidential swing states such as Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania  and the District of Columbia currently use ERIC. In an email, ERIC Executive Director Shane Hamlin wrote that the organization remains committed to attracting new members. Hamlin cited the New York legislation and noted that Hawaii recently joined.

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Republican states havent coalesced around a single alternative to ERIC, but an Alabama-led system comes closest. The Alabama Voter Integrity Database, or AVID, includes Alabama and 10 other mostly Southern states; the latest state, Virginia, joined in late May.

The Alabama secretary of states office, which maintains the database, didnt respond to multiple interview requests or written questions from Stateline.

Voter file maintenance is the foundation of election integrity, Allen, the Alabama secretary of state, said in a June news release. Ensuring that Alabamas voter file is the cleanest and most accurate voter file in the country has been a top priority of mine since day one.

As states weigh the value of ERIC and AVID, some election officials arent racing to pick a side.

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Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane, a Republican, said ERIC likely isnt the right solution, though he said he had no reason to criticize it. To have an effective system, every state needs information from their neighboring states, as well as the states where their snow birds go, he said.

He identified those states as Florida in the East, Texas in the Midwest and California and Arizona in the West. Florida and Texas belong to AVID, while Arizona belongs to ERIC. California belongs to neither.

We need a broader solution.  Its tough in this environment, where everyones guards are up on the political spectrum, McGrane said in an interview.

A total shock

In Alabama, Hazelhoff said his experience demonstrates the nightmare that can unfold when voter roll cleaning crosses the line into an illegal purge.

That was a total shock when that happened, said Hazelhoff, who was born in the Netherlands, moved to the United States in 1977 and became a citizen in 2022.

In August 2024, he received a letter from the Board of Registrars in Jefferson County, where he lives, informing him his voter registration had been made inactive and that you have been placed on a path for removal from the statewide voter list.

The reason, the letter said, was that Allen had provided information showing Hazelhoff was issued a noncitizen identification number by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security while also being a registered voter.

After Hazelhoff and others sued, U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco, a Trump appointee, ruled that Allen had blown past a deadline in federal law that prohibits systematic purges of ineligible voters less than 90 days before a federal election.

Allen had announced his purge 84 days before the election, she wrote, and had later admitted his purge list included thousands of U.S. citizens. He had also referred everyone on the list to the Alabama attorney generals office for criminal investigation, despite the inclusion of citizens.

When Hazelhoff went to his polling place last year, he said he still felt some trepidation, even after the court ruling. He questioned whether he would be escorted out for casting an illegal vote.

It worried me, Hazelhoff said. But then the actual voting experience was great and the people were polite. The system seemed to be working.

Stateline reporter Jonathan Shorman can be reached at jshorman@stateline.org.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
MOUNTAIN BROOK, ALABAMA - MARCH 5: A voter leaves a polling place after casting their ballot in the state's primary on March 5, 2024 in Mountain Brook, Alabama. 15 States and one U.S. Territory hold their primary elections on Super Tuesday, awarding more delegates than any other day in the presidential nominating calendar. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Alabama resident Roald Hazelhoff treasures his newly won right to vote. When election officials flagged the naturalized U.S. citizens voter registration for possible removal last August, the Dutch native fought back.

Hazelhoff, then a 67-year-old college instructor, sued to stop Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a Republican, from seeking to kick him and more than 3,200 other registered voters off the rolls. The lawsuit was part of a multifront legal challenge led by him and three other voters, along with voting rights groups and the Biden-era U.S. Department of Justice.

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A federal judge halted Alabamas effort within weeks  and Hazelhoff voted in his first presidential election last November without incident.

Ten months later, Hazelhoff is watching with deep concern as the Department of Justice, in President Donald Trumps second term, is demanding that states turn over their voter registration lists and other election information, citing unspecified concerns with voter list maintenance.

My initial reaction was of sadness that this could happen but that still a mistake could be made, Hazelhoff, who lives in the Birmingham area, told Stateline. Now, Im more in a stance of saying this is the most fundamental right afforded to citizens of the United States, and I am a legal citizen of this country and I will fight for that right.

The Trump administrations effort to scoop up voter registration lists and other information from a growing number of states underscores how state-controlled voter lists are a major battleground in fights over access to the polls. The Justice Department told the National Association of Secretaries of State that it will eventually contact all states, an association spokesperson wrote in an email.

Roald Hazelhoff, a naturalized U.S. citizen, voted in the 2024 election. (Photo courtesy of Roald Hazelhoff)

Minnesota, New Hampshire and Wisconsin have so far declined to provide full voter registration lists to the department amid questions over the legality of the requests and uncertainty over how the information will be used. Maine Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows plans to deny a similar request, telling the Maine Morning Star that federal officials can go jump in the Gulf of Maine.

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The Justice Department declined a Stateline request for comment.

Even before states began tangling with the department, how election officials oversee these lists  including when and why voters can be removed  was under increasing scrutiny. The stakes for voters are foundational: How states maintain the lists determines who is on them  and therefore who is able to vote. Power over voter registration lists is the power to shape the electorate.

Voting should be easy, not akin to trying to get a U.S. passport when its been lost or stolen and youre in Nicaragua, you know what Im saying? Hazelhoff said. It should be something that we encourage and this is not encouraged. This is the exact opposite.

Some states in recent years have signed up for competing systems to help identify duplicate or noncitizen voter registrations, after the largest operation came under fire from Trump. Election officials in some states have also entered into ad hoc agreements with some of their counterparts to share data.

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Other states continue to tighten voter list maintenance requirements as well. New Hampshire legislators in June approved a bill requiring local officials to verify voter lists annually instead of once a decade; the governor signed the bill on Friday. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill, signed by the governor in April, that requires state agencies to share data with the state secretary of state to help check the accuracy of voter registrations.

Chief election officials in some states tout their annual or regular elimination of registrations.

Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced in mid-July that his office was sending cancellation mailers to 477,883 inactive registrants. Last week, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, directed local election officials to begin a new round of removals. The registrations will be eligible for cancellation in 2029 following a federally mandated notification process, he said in a news release.

The Trump administration is also pushing states to use a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services tool, typically used to determine the immigration status of people seeking government benefits, to identify noncitizen registered voters. The agency now allows state and local officials to conduct bulk searches using the tool, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program, instead of one at a time.

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I am a legal citizen of this country and I will fight for that right.

 Roald Hazelhoff, a naturalized U.S. citizen who sued after his Alabama voter registration was made inactive

Voter fraud and noncitizen voting rarely occur. But Trumps false claims of a stolen election in 2020, along with an uptick in anti-immigrant sentiment among conservatives before last years election, has driven attention to the voter registration lists.

Election officials and voting rights activists across the political spectrum agree accurate, up-to-date voter rolls ensure that elections remain secure. They split over how to balance cleaning the lists with protecting voters from accidental deletion  and where to draw the line between legitimate maintenance and politically driven purges.

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It has to be done fairly. It has to be done transparently. And it has to be done legally, said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan group that often challenges voter restrictions in court, including the Alabama effort.

I think that any time you are doing voter list maintenance in a way that disenfranchises more people or is careless, then there has to be a hard no on things like that, Stewart said in an interview.

New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan, a Republican, said he wants to find a middle ground where everything is balanced.

Scanlan declined to provide the Justice Department with his states voter rolls. He wrote in a July 25 letter that state law doesnt authorize him to release the list to the department. Still, he noted that under the law the department could obtain voter lists by contacting local election officials.

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In an interview, Scanlan also predicted the New Hampshire legislation requiring annual verification wouldnt be an onerous change and would improve the accuracy of the rolls. He said he wants a system that makes voting easy, but one thats also transparent and ensures everyone casting a ballot is a legitimate voter.

I think thats where were headed, Scanlan said. Its not a straight line to get there.

Undermining ERIC

Trump helped usher in the current era of division over cleaning voter rolls in March 2023 by attacking the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, and calling on states to pull out of the group. He posted on social media at the time that it pumps the rolls for Democrats and does nothing to clean them up.

Within months, eight Republican-led states had withdrawn.

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The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit allows member states to submit voter registration and motor vehicle department data. It also has access to Social Security death data and address change information from the U.S. Postal Service.

ERIC then identifies potential duplicate and out-of-date registrations, dead voters and possible illegal voting. Member states also reach out to individuals who are likely eligible to vote but havent registered, a requirement that angers some Republicans.

Some Democrats are now quick to point out what they see as the irony of Trumps Justice Department voicing concerns with voter list maintenance practices after the president undermined ERIC  a system they say is effective in helping states clean their voter rolls.

It is an extra layer of  hypocrisy and ridiculousness that they would turn around and be critical of the one organization ensuring voter rolls are clean and up to date in its member states, said New York state Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat who sponsored a bill passed by the state legislature to require New York to join ERIC. The measure hasnt been delivered to the governor.

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Twenty-five states  a mix of red and blue states, as well as presidential swing states such as Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania  and the District of Columbia currently use ERIC. In an email, ERIC Executive Director Shane Hamlin wrote that the organization remains committed to attracting new members. Hamlin cited the New York legislation and noted that Hawaii recently joined.

Republican states havent coalesced around a single alternative to ERIC, but an Alabama-led system comes closest. The Alabama Voter Integrity Database, or AVID, includes Alabama and 10 other mostly Southern states; the latest state, Virginia, joined in late May.

The Alabama secretary of states office, which maintains the database, didnt respond to multiple interview requests or written questions from Stateline.

Voter file maintenance is the foundation of election integrity, Allen, the Alabama secretary of state, said in a June news release. Ensuring that Alabamas voter file is the cleanest and most accurate voter file in the country has been a top priority of mine since day one.

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As states weigh the value of ERIC and AVID, some election officials arent racing to pick a side.

Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane, a Republican, said ERIC likely isnt the right solution, though he said he had no reason to criticize it. To have an effective system, every state needs information from their neighboring states, as well as the states where their snow birds go, he said.

He identified those states as Florida in the East, Texas in the Midwest and California and Arizona in the West. Florida and Texas belong to AVID, while Arizona belongs to ERIC. California belongs to neither.

We need a broader solution.  Its tough in this environment, where everyones guards are up on the political spectrum, McGrane said in an interview.

A total shock

In Alabama, Hazelhoff said his experience demonstrates the nightmare that can unfold when voter roll cleaning crosses the line into an illegal purge.

That was a total shock when that happened, said Hazelhoff, who was born in the Netherlands, moved to the United States in 1977 and became a citizen in 2022.

In August 2024, he received a letter from the Board of Registrars in Jefferson County, where he lives, informing him his voter registration had been made inactive and that you have been placed on a path for removal from the statewide voter list.

The reason, the letter said, was that Allen had provided information showing Hazelhoff was issued a noncitizen identification number by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security while also being a registered voter.

After Hazelhoff and others sued, U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco, a Trump appointee, ruled that Allen had blown past a deadline in federal law that prohibits systematic purges of ineligible voters less than 90 days before a federal election.

Allen had announced his purge 84 days before the election, she wrote, and had later admitted his purge list included thousands of U.S. citizens. He had also referred everyone on the list to the Alabama attorney generals office for criminal investigation, despite the inclusion of citizens.

When Hazelhoff went to his polling place last year, he said he still felt some trepidation, even after the court ruling. He questioned whether he would be escorted out for casting an illegal vote.

It worried me, Hazelhoff said. But then the actual voting experience was great and the people were polite. The system seemed to be working.

Stateline reporter Jonathan Shorman can be reached at jshorman@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.
A voter leaves a polling place after casting their ballot in the state's primary on March 5, 2024 in Mountain Brook, Alabama. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Alabama resident Roald Hazelhoff treasures his newly won right to vote. When election officials flagged the naturalized U.S. citizens voter registration for possible removal last August, the Dutch native fought back.

Hazelhoff, then a 67-year-old college instructor, sued to stop Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a Republican, from seeking to kick him and more than 3,200 other registered voters off the rolls. The lawsuit was part of a multifront legal challenge led by him and three other voters, along with voting rights groups and the Biden-era U.S. Department of Justice.

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A federal judge halted Alabamas effort within weeks  and Hazelhoff voted in his first presidential election last November without incident.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Ten months later, Hazelhoff is watching with deep concern as the Department of Justice, in President Donald Trumps second term, is demanding that states turn over their voter registration lists and other election information, citing unspecified concerns with voter list maintenance.

My initial reaction was of sadness that this could happen but that still a mistake could be made, Hazelhoff, who lives in the Birmingham area, told Stateline. Now, Im more in a stance of saying this is the most fundamental right afforded to citizens of the United States, and I am a legal citizen of this country and I will fight for that right.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The Trump administrations effort to scoop up voter registration lists and other information from a growing number of states underscores how state-controlled voter lists are a major battleground in fights over access to the polls. The Justice Department told the National Association of Secretaries of State that it will eventually contact all states, an association spokesperson wrote in an email.

Roald Hazelhoff, a naturalized U.S. citizen, voted in the 2024 election. (Photo courtesy of Roald Hazelhoff)

Minnesota, New Hampshire and Wisconsin have so far declined to provide full voter registration lists to the department amid questions over the legality of the requests and uncertainty over how the information will be used. Maine Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows plans to deny a similar request, telling the Maine Morning Star that federal officials can go jump in the Gulf of Maine.

The Justice Department declined a Stateline request for comment.

Even before states began tangling with the department, how election officials oversee these lists  including when and why voters can be removed  was under increasing scrutiny. The stakes for voters are foundational: How states maintain the lists determines who is on them  and therefore who is able to vote. Power over voter registration lists is the power to shape the electorate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Voting should be easy, not akin to trying to get a U.S. passport when its been lost or stolen and youre in Nicaragua, you know what Im saying? Hazelhoff said. It should be something that we encourage and this is not encouraged. This is the exact opposite.

Some states in recent years have signed up for competing systems to help identify duplicate or noncitizen voter registrations, after the largest operation came under fire from Trump. Election officials in some states have also entered into ad hoc agreements with some of their counterparts to share data.

Other states continue to tighten voter list maintenance requirements as well. New Hampshire legislators in June approved a bill requiring local officials to verify voter lists annually instead of once a decade; the governor signed the bill on Friday. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill, signed by the governor in April, that requires state agencies to share data with the state secretary of state to help check the accuracy of voter registrations.

Chief election officials in some states tout their annual or regular elimination of registrations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced in mid-July that his office was sending cancellation mailers to 477,883 inactive registrants. Last week, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, directed local election officials to begin a new round of removals. The registrations will be eligible for cancellation in 2029 following a federally mandated notification process, he said in a news release.

The Trump administration is also pushing states to use a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services tool, typically used to determine the immigration status of people seeking government benefits, to identify noncitizen registered voters. The agency now allows state and local officials to conduct bulk searches using the tool, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program, instead of one at a time.

I am a legal citizen of this country and I will fight for that right.

 Roald Hazelhoff, a naturalized U.S. citizen who sued after his Alabama voter registration was made inactive.

Voter fraud and noncitizen voting rarely occur. But Trumps false claims of a stolen election in 2020, along with an uptick in anti-immigrant sentiment among conservatives before last years election, has driven attention to the voter registration lists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Election officials and voting rights activists across the political spectrum agree accurate, up-to-date voter rolls ensure that elections remain secure. They split over how to balance cleaning the lists with protecting voters from accidental deletion  and where to draw the line between legitimate maintenance and politically driven purges.

It has to be done fairly. It has to be done transparently. And it has to be done legally, said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan group that often challenges voter restrictions in court, including the Alabama effort.

I think that any time you are doing voter list maintenance in a way that disenfranchises more people or is careless, then there has to be a hard no on things like that, Stewart said in an interview.

New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan, a Republican, said he wants to find a middle ground where everything is balanced.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Scanlan declined to provide the Justice Department with his states voter rolls. He wrote in a July 25 letter that state law doesnt authorize him to release the list to the department. Still, he noted that under the law the department could obtain voter lists by contacting local election officials.

In an interview, Scanlan also predicted the New Hampshire legislation requiring annual verification wouldnt be an onerous change and would improve the accuracy of the rolls. He said he wants a system that makes voting easy, but one thats also transparent and ensures everyone casting a ballot is a legitimate voter.

I think thats where were headed, Scanlan said. Its not a straight line to get there.

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Undermining ERIC

Trump helped usher in the current era of division over cleaning voter rolls in March 2023 by attacking the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, and calling on states to pull out of the group. He posted on social media at the time that it pumps the rolls for Democrats and does nothing to clean them up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Within months, eight Republican-led states had withdrawn.

The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit allows member states to submit voter registration and motor vehicle department data. It also has access to Social Security death data and address change information from the U.S. Postal Service.

ERIC then identifies potential duplicate and out-of-date registrations, dead voters and possible illegal voting. Member states also reach out to individuals who are likely eligible to vote but havent registered, a requirement that angers some Republicans.

Some Democrats are now quick to point out what they see as the irony of Trumps Justice Department voicing concerns with voter list maintenance practices after the president undermined ERIC  a system they say is effective in helping states clean their voter rolls.

It is an extra layer of  hypocrisy and ridiculousness that they would turn around and be critical of the one organization ensuring voter rolls are clean and up to date in its member states, said New York state Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat who sponsored a bill passed by the state legislature to require New York to join ERIC. The measure hasnt been delivered to the governor.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Twenty-five states  a mix of red and blue states, as well as presidential swing states such as Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania  and the District of Columbia currently use ERIC. In an email, ERIC Executive Director Shane Hamlin wrote that the organization remains committed to attracting new members. Hamlin cited the New York legislation and noted that Hawaii recently joined.

Republican states havent coalesced around a single alternative to ERIC, but an Alabama-led system comes closest. The Alabama Voter Integrity Database, or AVID, includes Alabama and 10 other mostly Southern states; the latest state, Virginia, joined in late May.

The Alabama secretary of states office, which maintains the database, didnt respond to multiple interview requests or written questions from Stateline.

Voter file maintenance is the foundation of election integrity, Allen, the Alabama secretary of state, said in a June news release. Ensuring that Alabamas voter file is the cleanest and most accurate voter file in the country has been a top priority of mine since day one.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

As states weigh the value of ERIC and AVID, some election officials arent racing to pick a side.

Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane, a Republican, said ERIC likely isnt the right solution, though he said he had no reason to criticize it. To have an effective system, every state needs information from their neighboring states, as well as the states where their snow birds go, he said.

He identified those states as Florida in the East, Texas in the Midwest and California and Arizona in the West. Florida and Texas belong to AVID, while Arizona belongs to ERIC. California belongs to neither.

We need a broader solution.  Its tough in this environment, where everyones guards are up on the political spectrum, McGrane said in an interview.

A total shock

In Alabama, Hazelhoff said his experience demonstrates the nightmare that can unfold when voter roll cleaning crosses the line into an illegal purge.

That was a total shock when that happened, said Hazelhoff, who was born in the Netherlands, moved to the United States in 1977 and became a citizen in 2022.

In August 2024, he received a letter from the Board of Registrars in Jefferson County, where he lives, informing him his voter registration had been made inactive and that you have been placed on a path for removal from the statewide voter list.

The reason, the letter said, was that Allen had provided information showing Hazelhoff was issued a noncitizen identification number by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security while also being a registered voter.

After Hazelhoff and others sued, U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco, a Trump appointee, ruled that Allen had blown past a deadline in federal law that prohibits systematic purges of ineligible voters less than 90 days before a federal election.

Allen had announced his purge 84 days before the election, she wrote, and had later admitted his purge list included thousands of U.S. citizens. He had also referred everyone on the list to the Alabama attorney generals office for criminal investigation, despite the inclusion of citizens.

When Hazelhoff went to his polling place last year, he said he still felt some trepidation, even after the court ruling. He questioned whether he would be escorted out for casting an illegal vote.

It worried me, Hazelhoff said. But then the actual voting experience was great and the people were polite. The system seemed to be working.

Stateline reporter Jonathan Shorman can be reached at jshorman@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.
The Justice Department announced that a D.C. judge terminated a 44-year-old consent decree that required federal agencies to seek approval before using employment tests, marking a significant shift in federal hiring practices.

The move dismantles a Carter-era policy that critics say prioritized racial outcomes over merit in government recruitment.

The 1981 consent decree in Luevano v. Ezell imposed strict testing procedures on the Office of Personnel Management and all federal agencies, requiring permission before implementing employee tests to ensure equal outcomes across racial groups. The OPM oversees federal workforce policies affecting 2.2 million civilian employees.

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For over four decades, this decree has hampered the federal government from hiring the top talent of our nation, said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. Today, the Justice Department removed that barrier and reopened federal employment opportunities based on meritnot race.

The original lawsuit was brought by interest groups representing federal employees in 1979. The resulting decree established what officials now call draconian review procedures for employment testing.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia echoed Dhillons sentiment.

Its simple, competence and merit are the standards by which we should all be judged; nothing more and nothing less, Pirro said.

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She added: Its about time people are judged, not by their identity, but instead by the content of their character.'

Were making civil service great again, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor told The Daily Wire on Friday.

Kupor predicted the change would attract higher-quality candidates to government positions. Were going to be able to attract really, really good people, because theyre going to be fairly tested for their merit, he said.

The director also emphasized reduced hiring bias through objective standards.

It also really does eliminate a lot of potential for a bias in the hiring process if you actually use objective standards, Kupor stated. This is a win for fairness, as well as a win for getting American people the ability to get people with the appropriate skills into the right jobs.

The dismissal represents a broader shift in federal diversity policies. The Justice Department characterized the original decree as based on flawed and outdated theories of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks at a rally on May 29, 2025, in Topeka. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)

Amid all the ominous signs for the unraveling of our constitutional republic  and the 50 state governments contained therein  one last month struck me as particularly bleak.

The Atlantic first reported that Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz would be leaving the National Governors Association. The bipartisan group claims that it serves as the voice of the nations Governors and a leading forum for bipartisan policy solutions. Democrats Kelly and Walz apparently didnt see it that way.

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Meanwhile, Kelly has raised her national profile as chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association and has called for a robust response to potential gerrymandering in Texas.

The cliche response to this storm of news would be: I dont think were in Kansas anymore. But we are in Kansas, and in every other state besides. The notion that officials might benefit from listening to one another and working together has been thrown on the partisan bonfire. As Republicans attempt to extract maximum advantage from government, Democrats find themselves forced to react in kind.

None of this reflects reality. According to Pew, the United States splits right down the middle between Republican and Democrat party registration. Theres a similar division between governors, with 27 Republicans and 23 Democrats. But what does the real word have to do with politics?

Apparently Democratic governors have grouched about the national group for some time.

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Michael Scherer and Ashley Parker of the Atlantic wrote July 24 that some Democratic members of the group have privately been fuming in recent months over the organizations tepid reaction to President Donald Trumps federal incursions into state matters. They complain that the group did not respond forcefully enough when Trumps Office of Management and Budget briefly ordered a disruptive pause on the disbursement of all federal funds in January; when Maine Governor Janet Mills and her staff clashed with the White House the following month, over transgender sports; and in June, when Trump deployed the California National Guard to the streets of Los Angeles over the objections of local authorities.

That makes sense. But what an unfortunate situation for governance in this country. What an unfortunate lack of spine as the federal government spirals.

Kelly decided not to privately fume any longer, making her unhappiness public. Remember, were not talking about a stereotypical wild-eyed leftist here. Were talking about Laura Kelly, a politician whose primary skill has always been demonstrating her sanity in an otherwise insane world of political maneuvering.

I just felt like Kansas was not getting a return on investment, and we will keep our eyes on it, Kelly said, according to KSNT. Dues for the organization run about $100,000 a year. The NGA does some very good things particularly in the area of training for governors staff, but there also needs to be a state rights advocate, and I think theyve sort of fallen down on that role.

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In the meantime, political tensions have flared over mid-decade redistricting for congressional seats. Lawmakers usually draw maps every decade, following U.S. Census results. However, Texas legislators have been pressed by Trump to create new maps earlier, making it more difficult for Democrats to win U.S. House seats. Given that the governing party usually loses seats in midterm elections, this redistricting could cushion the expected blow for Republicans.

This has enraged Democrats, and leaders of blue states like California have threatened their own gerrymanders in retaliation. Guess whos OK with that? Laura Kelly.

I have never believed in unilateral disarmament, and so while I may not want to participate in certain activities, if I have to, in order to level the playing field, I would support my Democratic colleagues who decide to answer in kind, she told ABC News at a policy retreat last week.

She added: If the other side is going to pursue this, regardless of the obvious unconstitutionality of it, then I dont think we have any other choice but to go there. You just dont go to the front lines without your bullets.

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By running and governing as authoritarian wanna-bes, Republicans have pushed moderate Democrats like Kelly toward bare-knuckle political combat. They have alienated would-be allies, all in the service of the dime-store strongman living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We live in a narrowly divided country, but the GOP has chosen to eschew rules, norms or the barest sense of shame.

Kelly will do fine. I wish I could say the same for our state and nation.

Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Gov. Laura Kelly tours the Axe Shedd during an April 25, 2024, visit to Emporia. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly joined 22 other states and Washington, D.C., in suing the Trump administration for terminating federal funding, which she said has led to cuts to state agriculture, health and safety programs on a whim.

The federal lawsuit, initially filed in June in Massachusetts, targets decisions from President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency that are rooted in a regulation allowing the administration to eliminate funding if it no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.

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Kelly said in a news release that the decisions have made no sense.

I joined this lawsuit on behalf of Kansas to ensure funds going towards critical programs our state depends on are not ripped away by the Trump administration  or any presidential administration  on a whim, she said.

Kelly joined the lawsuit in an amended complaint filed July 31.

States are suing the Office of Management and Budget and a slate of other federal agencies that have relied on the regulation to eliminate billions in funding.

Those decisions have been devastating, the states said in the lawsuit, depriving states of resources used to equip law enforcement, conduct medical and scientific research, address food insecurity, secure clean drinking water and educate students.

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Federal agencies have done all of this without any advance notice, without any explanation to the state recipients and in direct contravention of the will of Congress, the lawsuit said. The state recipients sole offense has been that they used the grant funding precisely how they had promised in the grant applications  and as they were instructed by the agencies at the time of the grant award.

The governors office said the Trump administration has used the regulation to terminate millions of dollars used to purchase goods from Kansas farmers, to mitigate natural disasters and to enhance childhood education.

The states and D.C. want a judgment from the court that agrees the regulation does not embolden the administration to terminate funding based on priorities created after funding has been awarded. If that isnt possible, the parties want the court to vacate the administrations decision to rely on the regulation as the reasoning for terminating billions in federal funding.

The case is one of hundreds against the Trump administrations actions, according to a public tracker by Just Security.
LAST WEEK BROUGHT A DOOZY of a Trump administration scandal, one that deserves a special place in the record books for its perfect combination of lying and gullibility, desperation and conspiracy theorizing. Its at once so brazen and so dumb that future generations looking back on it will have trouble believing it could have happened at all.

The background here is Donald Trumps obsession with proving that the accusations of collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russia were a hoax and a witch-hunt concocted by Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and the Deep State. Last week, the staggeringly unqualified toady serving as Trumps director of the FBI, Kash Patel, breathlessly announced that his team had uncovered long-ignored proof buried in a back room at the FBI. It is a smoking gun: evidence that the Clinton campaign plotted to frame President Trump and fabricate the Russia collusion hoax.

Hot damn! Its like a real-life re-enactment of Patels childrens book, The Plot Against the King, in which Wizard Kash thwarts a plot by the evil Hillary Queenton to unseat good King Donald by accusing him of working with the Russionians to steal the throne. (I am not making that up.)

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But wait: As Patel notes, this evidence had already been included as a classified annex to the 2023 report by special counsel John Durham, who had been hired as a special prosecutor in 2020 by Trump and his then-attorney general, Bill Barr. If this evidence is as potent as Patel says, then why would Durhamwho was hired to blow the lid off the supposed Russiagate hoaxhave relegated it to a mere annex?

Because, it turns out, Wizard Kashs smoking gun is not only ridiculously fake (as Durham concluded), it actually blows a massive hole in the Trump/Patel Russia hoax theory.

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THE SUPPOSED SMOKING GUN comes from materials provided to U.S. intelligence by a Dutch spy agency that had hacked a Russian spy agency and copied a trove of materials, including memos and reports based on American emails obtained by Russian hackers. (Got that?) Some of them had to do with confidential conversations between then-Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and two staffers of the George Soros-funded Open Society Foundations, Leonard Benardo and Jeffrey Goldstein. Among this trove were some emails purporting to be from Benardo discussing a Clinton campaign plan to smear Donald Trump by tying him to the Russian hackers who were (correctly) believed to have broken into Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign emails.

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Here is the first of those emails:

(There is a second version of the same email which includes an added line after as far as credibility is concerned: Anyway it should last as long as the Olympics accusations, presumably referring to a controversy about bribery at the 2016 Rio Olympics.)

The second email is dated two days later:

These emails, it should be noted, were mentioned in the recently declassified 2020 report of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, revealed by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard last month in her own flailing (and failed) attempt at an expose of the Russia Hoax. That report, originally drafted in 2017 under the auspices of none other than Kash Patel (then senior counsel for the HPSCI), asserted that the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, the SVR, 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.

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My first thought was that if such an email existed, it had to be a Russian forgery: Even allowing for arguments sake that such a plan was really discussed, no Clinton campaign staffer could have been dumb enough to send an email about it amid intense concerns about hacking. My first thought was, it turns out, correct. Even so, I had not imagined that the SVR could have been dumb enough to plant so crude and obvious a fake.

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Honestly, Im disappointed in you, Russian spymasters. This is not like they showed us on The Americans. Couldnt you have found an actual speaker of American English to vet your Hillary fanfic? Were you using Google Translate, 2016 vintage? Politicization is on the table? A long-term affair to demonize Putin and Trump? (A tip for the SVR: No sane American would be talking about the challenge of demonizing Vladimir Putin in 2016, when he had already unleashed a war in Eastern Ukraine, grabbed Crimea, and killed scads of journalists and political opponents.) Americans are more keen on their own woes? (Hahahaha.) Hillary is hardly good-looking as far as credibility is concerned? And the cherry on top: The FBI will put more oil into the fire. Thats a literal translation of the Russian phrase podlit masla v ogon. The common English phrase is add fuel to the fire; theres also the more rarely used pour oil on the fire. Its amusing that the second fake email has Benardo referring to the Russian spies as incompetent bumbling idiots. Why, yes, tovarishchi; youre telling on yourselves.

Since Durham (whatever his biases) is not a bumbling idiot, his assessmentaccording to the newly declassified annex to his reportwas that the emails, of which no traces were found in the Open Societys records, were most likely not authentic; instead, they were a composite of several emails that were obtained through Russian intelligence hacking of the U.S.-based Think Tanks, including the Open Society Foundations, the Carnegie Endowment, and others. Indeed, as the annex notes, the first two paragraphs of the July 25 email purporting to be from Benardo is lifted almost word for wordexcept for the line, At the same [sic], politicization is on the tablefrom an email sent on the same date by Tim Maurer, a cyber expert at the Carnegie Endowment for Democracy, to someone soliciting his opinion on a Vice article about the Russian connection to the DNC hack. For anyone with more than three working brain cells, this should put to rest any chance of the Benardo email not being fakeunless we believe that Maurer and Benardo had a psychic link and wrote emails with identical text on the same day.

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IN AN ATTEMPT to kinda, sorta validate the possible existence of a Clinton Plan to smear Trump, the Durham annex points out that around that time, in late July 2016, Clinton staffers really did discuss a strategy of (1) bringing attention to the Russian hacking of American political organizations in an apparent attempt to interfere in the election, (2) pointing out Trumps disturbing Russia-friendly rhetoric and hostility to NATO as well as similarities between Trumps language and methods and those of Putin-supported European right-wing candidates.

But that conclusion hardly takes a lot of detective work, considering that this strategy was completely out in the open. On August 5, 2016, the Clinton campaign ran an almost two-minute video ad on the Trump/Putin connection, with superimposed text that said, We dont know why Russia is trying to influence this election . . . or why Donald is inviting them to. The video highlighted Trumps praise for Putin and disparagement of NATO, Kremlin-connected Trump campaign advisers such as Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, Russian attempts at election-meddling via the DNC hack and email dumpand, of course, Trumps infamous Russia, if youre listening. . . invitation to find Clintons missing emails at a news conference on July 27.

So yes, the plan existed, but there was nothing insidious about itand it followed on the heels of media coverage such as a June 17 Washington Post article exploring the Trump-Putin bromance and Trumps financial ties to Russia. Franklin Foers article titled Putins Puppet had appeared in Slate on July 4, discussing Trumps odes to Putin, the Kremlin-controlled Russian medias Trump cheerleading, the DNC hack, and the presence of advisers and operatives who have long careers advancing the interests of the Kremlin in Trumps inner circle. Team Clinton would have been extremely negligent not to capitalize on all this, especially after the Russia, if youre listening. . . remark.

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What would make the Benardo emails compromisingif they were realis the suggestion that the strategy involved (1) the deliberate concoction of a Trump/Putin link as a smear tactic against Trump and (2) the intent to distract public attention from the issue of Clintons emails. But none of that is present in the actually existing messages from Clinton staffers, who discuss the issue of Russian election interference and Trumps Russia friendliness as a matter of genuine concernand never mention Clintons emails in the same context.

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THE OBVIOUS FAKENESS of the evidence here hasnt stopped the MAGA media from trying to validate Patels smoking gun. An article in the Federalist takes great umbrage at a New York Times story which correctly notes that the declassified Durham annex disproves the Clinton plan allegations. Look: Heres a passage that says some intelligence officers interviewed by Durhams team, well-versed in the Sensitive Intelligence assessment, said that their best assessment was that the Benardo emails were likely authentic! (First: That was early in the Durham investigation, before evidence to the contrary emerged. Second: If these officers believed a native English speaker could have written the purported Benardo emails, maybe not all the incompetence is on the Russian side of the business.) The Federalist also latches on to a heavily redacted passage which seems to say that a 2017 CIA assessment did not assess the hacked emails to be the product of Russian fabrications. Maybe it didntin which case, again, the CIA needs to hire better language experts. But whatever CIA analysts may have said in 2017 is irrelevant. In 2025, we know these messages were Russian fabrications, because they were partly patched together from identical passages lifted from real emails by other people.

Claims that American intelligence agencies had known all along about a Clinton Plan to concoct a Trump/Russia conspiracy are hardly new; they have circulated since the fall of 2020. On September 29 of that year, then-DNI John Ratcliffe declassified the information that, as of July 2016, U.S. intelligence agencies had been in possession of Russian intelligence analysis alleging that U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had approved a campaign plan to stir up a scandal against U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump by tying him to Putin and the Russians hacking of the Democratic National Committee and the CIA chief John Brennan had briefed President Obama and other intelligence chiefs about it. (Ratcliffe did add that the extent to which the Russian intelligence analysis may reflect exaggeration or fabrication was unknown.) Sen. Lindsey Graham, to whom Ratcliffe wrote about this declassification, publicly released the Ratcliffe letter the next dayhours before the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

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Outside the MAGA camp, most people were appalled that Ratcliffe and Graham were laundering unverified intelligence at best and Russian disinformation at worst. But for Trump supporters, Hillarys evil plan was self-evidently real, as was the Deep State conspiracy to aid and abet itand John Ratcliffe had provided the receipts.

And now, the plot twist: Kash Patel, a man so passionately devoted to this theory that he literally wrote a kids book about it, unveils the document that should supply the final proofbut instead, it provides a definitive debunking. Its like a mystery novel where the murderer almost succeeds in implicating someone else, only to plant a clue so obviously fake it gives him away.

Of course, in a mystery novel, the truth comes out and the story is over. In our reality, pro-Trump media (and their left-wing useful idiots like Matt Taibbi) will continue to insist that the fake clue is real, and Wizard Kash will say hes got even more magic up his sleevethat is, more explosive evidence from that FBI backroom. No doubt it will be enough to keep the base distracted for a little while longer.

Pop this article into a friends inbox or post it to some social media platform where itll piss off Russian botfarmers:

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A federal judge on Friday considered whether to release a man in custody who suffered torture at the hands of government authorities in his home country and who remains detained, even after prevailing on multiple occasions in recent immigration proceedings.
Kauais beaches are on the front lines of a growing marine debris crisis.

In 2024, Surfrider Foundation recorded the largest amount of trash ever picked up during beach cleanups across the country with more than 365, 000 pounds. Of that, nearly half172, 564 poundswas collected in Hawaii, and over 162, 000 pounds came from Kauai, Surfrider Kauai reported. That means Kauai alone collected more than the next leading state, Washington state, which logged 76, 407 pounds.

Three of Surfriders top 10 heaviest cleanups in the nation took place on Kauai beaches :Kitchens Beach on Oct. 30 : 3, 715 poundsMahaulepu Beach on Nov. 25 : 3, 600 poundsAnahola Net Cove on Dec. 18 : 2, 190 pounds While Hawaii has long struggled with plastic pollution, Kauais cleanup data was only recently added to the national dataset, according to Surfriders Hawaii Regional Manager Hanna Lilley.

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For years, Kauais records have shown persistent plastic pollution on beaches, particularly marine debris. The spike in 2024 reflects both this expanded data inclusion and an actual increase in debris, driven by ocean currents pushing the Great Pacific Garbage Patcha vast, swirling mass of plastic and fishing gearcloser to the Hawaiian Islands.

Kauais position as the northernmost major island places it directly in the path of prevailing easterly tradewinds and westward-moving currents that funnel marine debris ashore.

Kauai is often the first island to receive debris pushed westward from the Garbage Patch,  explained Cynthia Welti, longtime Kauai cleanup coordinator.

She noted that the east-shore beaches from Nukolii to Rock Quarry in Kilauea, plus popular sites like Lydgate and Kealia, bear the brunt of debris accumulation.

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The prevailing ocean winds correspond with the currents bringing debris from the North Pacific Garbage Patch,  Welti said. Anytime there is a storm, we see a lot more debris washing in.

More than 75 % of the debris by weight on Kauai consists of derelict fishing gearlarge net masses, buoys and heavy plastic crates.

These ghost nets are not local, Welti confirmed. Others have observed that some marine debris found on Kauai comes all the way from Japan, while debris originating locally in Hawaii is rarely found.

The nets are large masses from Asia,  she said. U.S. and Canadian fishermen tag their nets with Fish and Wildlife tags. We rarely receive nets with such tags on them.

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Despite the huge scale of debris, Kauais cleanup efforts remain volunteer-driven.

We have a wonderful core team of dedicated volunteers, as well as locals and visitors who come out to our events,  Welti said. School groups of kids make for enthusiastic workers. The main issue is people not knowing about the issue.

Kauais challenges with cleanup logistics are significant : many debris hot spots are remote, accessible only by foot or boat, and the sheer volume can overwhelm volunteer capacity.

We can get discouraged when we clean a beach such as Donkey and get reports a couple weeks later that it is full of debris,  she said.

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Kauais fight against ocean trash has a long history.

The Net Patrol program began in 2006 with an Earth Day cleanup led by Barbara Wiedner, a Surfrider Kauai co-founder, and its goal is to quickly remove derelict fishing nets washing ashore before tides could sweep them back into the ocean, where they threaten marine life and coral reefs.

From 2007 to 2013, small groups of volunteers made targeted trips two to three times per month to remove nets. In 2013, volunteer Scott McCubbins committed to leading Net Patrols every Wednesday at 3 :30 p.m., attracting both locals and visitors who want to help protect Kauais ocean.

In 2021, the Kauai chapter launched the North Pacific Hagfish /Eel Trap Project to address pollution from trap entrances used in East Asian and U.S. West Coast fisheries. Though Hawaii has no such fisheries, these traps frequently wash up on local shores and threaten marine life, including endangered monk seal pups.

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In 2021 alone, Surfrider Hawaii chapters, community members, and cleanup groups documented and removed 6, 400 trap entrances from Hawaiis shores. Working with computer science students from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, they developed a model to categorize trap entrances by characteristics to trace their origins.

Since 2013, volunteers have removed an average of 85, 500 pounds of debris per year from Kauais coastline, underscoring the relentless nature of the problem fueled by Hawaiis oceanic location.

Across Hawaii, other islands also grapple with marine debristhough patterns and quantities differ.

Surfriders Maureen Brock reported that from January 2019 to mid-2025, the Maui chapter conducted 48 cleanups, removing nearly 79, 600 pounds of debris with help from 2, 326 volunteers.

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She noted that plastics made up the majority of items collectedabout half were plastic fragmentsfollowed by cigarette butts, foam pieces, bottle caps, glass shards, and food wrappers.

Brock noted that they havent identified any major food or drink brands consistently showing up in the debris, and cigarette brands arent tracked. However, she said the team does monitor hagfish traps, which they find from time to time.

The heaviest Maui debris sites include harbors like Kahului and Maalaea, plus Sugar Beach and Westside shores near Lahaina, where debris spikes during Kona storms.

Maui has seen growing volunteer numbers, helped by social media, rising voluntourism, and partnerships with organizations like Malama Maui Nui and Pacific Whale Foundation. Yet, some sites have been dropped due to safety concerns involving homeless encampments.

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On Oahu, according to Surfriders Ryan Dadds, the northeast beaches near Campbell National Wildlife Refuge and Kahuku Point see the most debris, driven by currents and their northern location. The most common items there are cigarette butts.

Dadds pointed out that tourism and urban development contribute to marine debris, explaining that increased visitor activity leads to more commercial runoff and pollution entering waterwayswith the Ala Wai Canal serving as a prime example.

Despite many cleanup groups, Dadds said pollution continues to pile up. She also pointed to promising programs like Sustainable Coastlines, Parley for the Ocean, and Bottles 4 College, while noting that enforcement gaps in policies like Bill 40which restricts polystyrene and disposable plasticshave allowed some plastic items to resurge.

Jennifer Harrah, a representative of Surfriders national team, highlighted Hawaiis disproportionate burden in ocean trash cleanup efforts. She noted that last year, Hawaii alone accounted for over 172, 000 pounds of debris removednearly half of the total weight collected from beaches across the entire United States.

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Harrah pointed to Kauais unique challenge with abandoned fishing gear, explaining that the islands chapter runs a specialized program called Net Patrol, dedicated to swiftly removing nets that wash ashore before tides can carry them back into the ocean.

Emphasizing the broader scale of plastic pollution, Harrah shared that 83 % of items collected during Surfrider beach cleanups were plasticmore than 700, 000 individual pieces logged in our Beach Cleanup Database. Plastic pollution is a huge issue nationwide.

Beyond cleanups, she stressed the necessity of systemic change.

We know we cant rely on beach cleanups alone to address plastic pollution,  Harrah said. Surfrider is fighting back with policy solutions that tackle the problem at its source. Were pushing for Extended Producer Responsibility legislation that forces manufacturers to pay for the cleanup costs of their own products. Were also advancing plastic reduction laws like Skip the Stuff,  strengthening plastic bag bans, and passing balloon release prohibitions across the country.

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The debris is more than an eyesore. It poses grave risks to marine wildlife. According to the International Whaling Commission, an estimated 300, 000 marine mammals die annually from entanglement in ghost fishing gear, with total deaths nearing one million when fish and turtles are included.

Kauais volunteers frequently find large net masses entangled on reefs or washed into tide poolsplaces critical to endangered species like Hawaiian monk seals and honu turtles. In 2023, a dead sperm whale washed ashore at Lydgate Park with nets and eel traps in its stomach ; a monk seal also was found wounded from an eel trap shortly after.

Surfrider Kauai tallied 5, 615 volunteers and 6, 424 person-hours in 2024, including 444 local keiki participating in cleanup events.

Still, the amount of debris coming ashore sometimes outpaces removal capacity.

Volunteers get overwhelmed or need a break, but more people step forward,  Welti said.

As Kauai and the rest of Hawaii face an ongoing onslaught of ocean plastic, Surfrider advocates say lasting change requires more than cleanup crews.

Were excited about adding Hawaii-specific data to the national dataset to bring attention to the issue,  Lilley said. But this must be coupled with state, federal, and international cooperation to stop plastic pollution at the source.

GARBAGE HAULS Beaches with the largest single-day trash collections in 2024. Three of the top 10 dirtiest beaches were in Kauai :

1. Ocean Shores, Wash.

65, 343 pounds (July 5 )

2. Ormond Beach, Calif.

6, 000 pounds (Sept. 21 )

3. Kitchens Beach, Kauai 3, 715 pounds (Oct. 30 )

4. Mahaulepu Beach, Kauai 3, 600 pounds (Nov. 25 )

5. Damariscove Island, Maine (Bar Cove )

3, 220 pounds (June 8 )

6. Twin Harbors State Park, Wash.

3, 153 pounds (July 5 )

7. Little Damariscove Island, Maine 2, 931 pounds (June 8 )

8. Little Drisko Island, Maine 2, 523 pounds (Aug. 24 )

9. Adams St., Long Beach, Calif.

2, 331 pounds (May 25 )

10.Anahola Net Cove, Kauai 2, 190 pounds (Dec. 18 )
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a multistate lawsuit Aug. 1 suing the Trump administration for "relentlessly, cruelly and unlawfully" targeting transgender people.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, comes six months after Kaul vowed to pursue legal actions should the federal government attempt to impede funding for gender-affirming health care.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a multistate lawsuit on Aug. 1 that seeks to block Trump's executive order on access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth and adults.

Recent federal actions have sought to deter health care providers from treating transgender patients under the age of 19, despite states like Wisconsin having laws in place that allow for medically appropriate procedures. President Donald Trump's Jan. 28 order oversteps its authority, the lawsuit states, by intimidating providers through threats of civil and criminal prosecution.

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The lawsuit emphasizes the order not only "has no basis in law" but is unconstitutional. Ultimately, the lawsuit is requesting the court to block the administration's actions and cease enforcing the order.

The Trump administration shouldnt be interfering with the provision of health care, Kaul said in a press release last week. The administration should be respecting individual liberty and equal rights, not shamefully targeting transgender people.

Trump's directive, signed early in his second term, aims to strip funds from medical institutions that provide gender-affirming care, and would require federal health programs like Medicaid and TRICARE (for military families) to exclude coverage of gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments for young people by 2026.

Gender-affirming medical care supports people whose gender identity is out of sync with the sex they were assigned at birth. Health care may include the use of hormones to delay puberty in adolescents, behavioral health counseling to support and promote the gender identity with which a person aligns, and hormone replacement therapy. In very rare cases for young people, it may involve surgery.

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Access to gender-affirming services has been associated with lower suicide risks for transgender people. Research has also shown that people encountering anti-transgender bias and a denial of services had more than double the prevalence of suicide attempts than those who didn't have such experiences, according to the Williams Institute.

The attorneys general warn the administration's tactics have had a chilling effect on states' ability to provide gender-affirming services. Despite protective laws being on the books, health care providers have already scaled back the services they offer to transgender youth. Other gender clinics have shuttered services completely in an attempt to avoid civil or criminal investigations and actions.

Joining Kaul in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia, as well as the Governor of Pennsylvania.

Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her X (Twitter) profile at @natalie_eilbert.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin AG Kaul joins suit claiming Trump deters transgender care
As the Senate prepared to vote last week to confirm Emil Bove to a lifetime seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, one familiar name kept cropping up: Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

It will be seven years this October since senators confirmed Kavanaugh in the culmination of a politically fraught and highly emotional ordeal that tested personal beliefs and partisan loyalties. And while Boves confirmation process was nowhere near as explosive, Democrats and Republicans made comparisons to the Kavanaugh affair throughout.

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley of Iowa accused Democrats of dust[ing] off the playbook that they devised for Kavanaugh in order to vilify Bove. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who is next in line to be the top Democrat on the committee in the next Congress, said Trump allies attempted to paper over ethical questions around Boves qualifications in the same way they shrugged off a sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh.

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There's a similarity here, said Whitehouse. [It] smells like political maneuver.

It illustrates how one of the Senate's most painful moments continues to haunt lawmakers  particularly those who sit on the Judiciary Committee, which has historically operated on a bipartisan basis at the frontlines of helping the legislative body fulfill its obligations to advise and consent.

Kavanaugh has kinda become a verb, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a senior member of the Judiciary panel whose defense of the Supreme Court nominee in 2018 catapulted him to conservative stardom.

At least three different whistleblowers came forward ahead of Boves confirmation vote with allegations against the nominee, who served as President Donald Trumps former criminal defense attorney before becoming a senior Justice Department official. Democrats pressed Bove about his role in facilitating the dismissal of federal corruption charges against New York City mayor Eric Adams, and whether he suggested the administration ignore court orders that would undercut the president's immigration agenda.

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In Boves case, the allegations were markedly different from those lodged by Christine Blasey Ford against Kavanaugh, who she said sexually assaulted her in high school  an offense Kavanaugh unequivocally denied. But the tactics deployed by Democrats and Republicans in these cases mirror each other.

In the fights over Kavanaugh and Bove, Democrats and Republicans accused each other of acting in bad faith. With Bove, each party leveraged the others behavior during the Kavanaugh episode to undermine the opposite sides credibility.

I think it was an embarrassment to the Republicans, with Kavanaugh, that someone would come before us and literally tell her story under oath, a very credible presentation, said the panels ranking member Dick Durbin of Illinois, who was a senior member of the panel when it considered Kavanaughs nomination. I think the same thing is true of these whistleblowers.

Blasey Fords allegations were submitted to Democrats long before they came to light, completely upending Kavanaughs anticipated glidepath to party-line confirmation. The new information forced the Judiciary Committee to regroup to hear testimony from Blasey Ford and hold another round of questioning for Kavanaugh.

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Still, Democrats complained that Republicans, and the Trump administration, cut corners to expedite a final vote on Kavanaugh. Democrats, in Boves case, also accused Republicans of acting too hastily to confirm their nominee, including by refusing to hold an additional hearing with at least one of the whistleblowers who went public.

Conversely, Republicans accused Democrats of waiting until the immediate leadup to Boves scheduled confirmation vote to highlight potentially damaging claims against him.

I felt like it was Kavanaugh-esque, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). [The whistleblowers might have] thought at the eleventh hour, without time to complete due diligence, that maybe they could get through.

Tillis, who is not running for reelection, had previously announced he would oppose nominees who expressed support for the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; Bove was involved in the dismissal of prosecutors who worked on DOJ cases tied to the attack and advised on White House pardons of the rioters. Tillis was seen as a potential no vote who might have blocked Bove from being reported favorably out of the Judiciary Committee; he ended up voting yes.

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When you call everyone corrupt, nobody's corrupt; when the Democrats bring forward whistleblowers every other Thursday, coincidentally just before the vote  to confirm somebody that they oppose, people just tend not to pay attention to the whistleblowers, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). The last minute whistleblowers look contrived and are getting old.

Ultimately, Bove was confirmed last week in a narrow 50-49 vote, over objections from two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Notably, neither of them formally opposed Kavanaugh on the Senate floor, with Collins deciding to support him and Murkowski voting present.

As the shadow of the Kavanaugh saga lingered over the Bove proceedings, its possible the bad feelings between the two parties from both episodes will continue to worsen: Democrats are already bracing for the possibility that Trump could be in a position to appoint another justice on the Supreme Court if a vacancy occurs, which would set up another monumental political battle.

And while the confirmation of conservative jurists was a key pillar of Trumps first term, Trump is making clear that, in his second term, loyalty is the driving factor in his selection process, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

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Trump is also now pressuring Grassley to abandon the practice of allowing home state senators to effectively veto potential U.S. attorneys or district court judges for their own state, and Senate GOP leadership is considering changing the chambers rules in the fall to speed up the process for confirming some nominees. Both would further shake up institutional precedent just as Democrats say the Kavanaugh and Bove cases challenged the status quo.

I do think that the sense of frustration and even anger has become more pronounced simply because there are so many rules and norms that they are defying and disregarding without even a pretense of fairness, Blumenthal, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said of the chambers judicial confirmation process.

I think the partisan divide may have deepened somewhat, he continued. The issue is the same that is, the denial of a full and fair investigation of the nominee, whether it was Kavanaugh or Bove.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  It is said that where theres smoke, theres fire. Over the past week, that metaphorical smoke has been in greater abundance at the state capital, where Missouri Republicans grow ever eager to redraw the congressional map to their partys advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Two weeks ago, the Trump White House reportedly pressured Missouri Republicans to redraw the borders of its eight districts to give the party a 7-1 seat advantage, up from the current 6-2 delegation. According to reports, the effort would likely focus on splitting the Missouris 5th Congressional District, currently held by Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, to spread thin supporters in the Democratic stronghold.

The Missouri Freedom Caucus issued a statement on July 25 urging Governor Mike Kehoe to call a special session with the intent to redraw Missouris Congressional map in a way that is consistent with Trumps recommendations.

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This past week, the governor rallied behind the presidents idea.

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Is Missouri represented properly in Washington, D.C., and, quite frankly, what can we do to support President Trumps agenda? And Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, whos done a very good job, Kehoe told FOX 2 News during a trip to St. Louis County.

Redistricting is conducted every 10 years in the aftermath of the U.S. Census. The state finalized its latest congressional redistricting map in 2022.

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.

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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.

Over the weekend, the Missouri Independent quoted Senate President Pro Tem Cindy OLaughlin from interview with a Columbia radio station, saying it was likely that Gov. Kehoe would call a special session. Democrats who spoke with the Missouri Independent indicated the move a foregone conclusion.

The growing push to reshape Missouris political landscape is part of the growing furor over redistricting efforts in the countrys two most populous statesTexas and Californiaand elsewhere.

During Sundays episode of Hancock & Kelley on FOX 2, Republican consultant John Hancock and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley opined that the push to redraw districts across Missouri and the country goes against the spirit of its intended purpose, and warned Republicans that the move could backfire in the long run.

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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 2.
Third-party logistics provider Kenco Group recognized a milestone of 75 years of business with a celebration at its headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Friday.

According to a news release from the company, the event featured remarks from CEO Denis Reilly and other executives.

Only about 3% of family-owned businesses make it to their 75th anniversary, Reilly said during the event. Its a powerful testament to our resilience, our values and our ability to

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adapt and lead through change.

Founded as Cherokee Warehouses in 1950, the company was renamed to Kenco in 1979. Today the companys team of over 7,500 employees at 140 locations across North America help provide integrated logistics solutions to major brands around the world.

In May, Kenco expanded into Canada with four warehouse locations after acquiring the 3PL arm of Drexel Industries.

Kenco offers distribution, eCommerce fulfillment, comprehensive transportation management, material handling equipment services and customized supply chain solutions. The company serves as an economic cornerstone to its home city of Chattanooga, where 800 of its employees are located.

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Kencos focus is to support customers business needs and redefine third-party logistics by offering innovative, connected solutions, the release stated.

The post Kenco celebrates 75 years in 3PL appeared first on FreightWaves.
The Marshall County Public Library is one of four libraries in Kentucky launching programs with grant money to strengthen families and prevent unnecessary removals. (Photo provided)

When children are unnecessarily removed from their homes, experts say the separation puts them at risk of chronic mental and physical ailments.

With that in mind, four Kentucky libraries are launching programs to keep families together, well resourced and educated, aided with $200,000 in grant money from the national nonprofit Youth Villages.

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Libraries in Jackson, Johnson, Marshall and Spencer counties received around $45,000 each for a variety of programs to help parents meet their childrens needs.

Britany Binkowski, the executive director of the Youth Village initiative New Allies, said libraries are a low stigma, high access point of contact for all communities and make sense for grassroots outreach.

They pretty consistently exist in most counties where they can be reached by lots of families, especially those in rural areas, and theyre (places) people trust to get information, to get access to resources, she said. They dont carry the stigma, for example, of going to a child welfare department and asking for resources in a way that might feel very vulnerable.

Among other things, the libraries are using the grant month to host trainings on growing food in an apartment setting, teaching parents how to deal with challenging behaviors and how to cook basic recipes, and connecting families to other community resources where they can get car seats and other necessities.

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Libraries are also a more natural place to host visitations for parents who are working toward reunification, Binkowski said.

Its often not the case that a child is removed from a home because the parents are outright bad, she said. Most of the time, parents lack the resources to properly feed, clothe or otherwise care for their children, she said. In fact, about 70% of all Child Protective Services allegations are related to neglect and poverty, the Lantern previously reported.

We see substance use disorder and parents who are struggling with that as a significant driver of entries into foster care  not only in Kentucky, but across the country, Binkowski said.

Other preventable issues contribute to removal, she said, like a parent not being able to buy a car seat or access safe child care.

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Things like that can cause safety issues that have to be resolved for a child to remain safe and stable, Binkowski said.

Before theres a problem, lets fix it.

Tammy Blackwell, an author and the director of the Marshall County Public Library, said libraries working in this space is just logical.

Libraries are already reaching families and just doing a lot of good work giving families a place to be and form bonds, she said.

Tammy Blackwell is an author and the director of the Marshall County Public Library. (Photo provided)

Marshall Countys grant supported a renovation of the Hardin branch to create a more child-friendly space and funded an eight-week program for mothers of young children called Moms Night Out.

During the Moms Night Out program, which will start the first week in September, mothers who are referred by Court Appointed Special Advocates will gather weekly and have a meal together. During the meal, representatives from the Marshall County Extension Office and the health department will lead discussions about stress management, home upkeep and how to cook recipes with staples handed out at food distribution centers like rice and beans.

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Because this is grant-funded, its not affected by recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program, Blackwell said. Congress recently passed the Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut funding for the SNAP Education program, among other things.

The Moms Night Out discussions will be in a very non-judgmental way, and not in a lecturing kind of way, but as a conversation and getting those families very comfortable in that space, very comfortable with library staff, comfortable with community partners who they may need to call on at some point, Blackwell explained.

Were hoping that they build a bond with each other; other people with similar lived experiences, and to really give them a sense of community and resources in order to help the mothers thrive, so that the children may thrive, she added. I love that its before theres a problem, lets fix it.

The first round of the program will only include mothers  Blackwell hopes between 12 to 15  who have children of preschool to early elementary school age. Should it be successful and receive funding for a repeat, shed like to expand it to fathers as well.

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Theres been some coverage of how many kids in Kentucky are in either foster or kinship care situations, Blackwell said. Its a lot of kids, and that really impacts their ability to be successful in life. And anything that we can do to strengthen those families and give those kids, then we need to at least try. And I think libraries are in a perfect position to really make a difference.

The 2024 Kids Count report, from Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, showed there were nearly 46,000 youth in foster care in the state from 2021-2023. In that same time period, the number of children leaving foster care and reunited with their families dropped to 32%. Pre-pandemic, from 2016-2018, it was 36%.

Additionally, in 2024 there were around 55,000 Kentucky children being raised with a relative in a kinship care arrangement.

The Department for Community Based Services came up with the idea to partner with libraries, Binkowski said. Lesa Dennis, the DCBS commissioner, wasnt available for an interview but said in a statement that by meeting families where they are, were building pathways to stability, resilience and well-being so no family has to face challenges alone.

Removal is traumatizing

Children play in the Marshall County librarys Hardin branch. (Photo provided)

Binkowski, who previously worked as Assistant General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services, said that a foster care intervention, even if necessary, is traumatizing to everyone involved. It can damage bonds between parents and their children and upend daily routine and connections, she said.

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We have a substantial body of evidence that tells us that children do best when they are with their families of origin  when it can be safe, she said. We know that connections to biological family, knowing where you came from, feeling like you belong  those are really critical emotional stabilization and safety factors that support childrens growth and development.

Experiencing brokenness in the home, abuse or neglect are Adverse Childhood Experiences, which refers to traumas or stressors in a persons life before their 18th birthday. They include, but are not limited to, parental divorce, abuse, parental incarceration, substance use issues in the home and more. The more such experiences a person has, the more likely they are to have poor health, lower education and economic hardships. Childhood trauma also cost Kentucky around $300 million a year.

Enough stressors on a child at early ages without protective capacities to keep them from having negative outcomes can literally take years off of their lives, Binkowski said. So, while we dont want children to experience abuse and neglect  we also dont want them unnecessarily being removed from their home if the issues are not creating those kinds of negative impacts and we can stabilize a family without requiring removal.

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Aug. 4After nearly three decades in elected office at the municipal and state level, Kettering Mayor Peggy Lehner will not seek another term.

Her husband, Dr. James Lehner, is retired, so Lehner said she is going to enjoy retirement with him.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed serving in the city, both as mayor and previously as council member and certainly as state legislator. I've enjoyed every minute of it," said Lehner, 75, who said it's time to give younger people a chance to step up.

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Although she will not hold political office, Lehner said there are still a lot of issues and needs in the greater community, particularly those affecting children and the poor.

"I don't think any of us can afford to walk away from some of these public issues, and I don't intend to. I just won't do it as mayor, but I will serve as called and where I think I can make a difference," Lehner said.

Elected mayor in November 2021, Lehner returned to the Kettering City Council where she was an at-large councilwoman from 1998-2008.

She succeeded her longtime friend Don Patterson, the city's longest-serving mayor who spent 16 years in the role. They were both first elected to council seats in 1997 and served together for 10 years.

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"Peggy was impactful on everything she did," said Patterson, who added that he was honored to have served with her.

During their shared time, the city of Kettering experienced a growth in population with new and expanded businesses to provide jobs for residents and the revenue needed to benefit the community.

"We had a shared vision of what needed to be done," Patterson said.

Returning to familiar surroundings as mayor, the issues facing the city were not. She provided leadership as the city navigated COVID-related health issues and the impact of the work-from-home trend.

In the Ohio Statehouse, Lehner served for 12 years in Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate, where she led the education committee.

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As a state senator, the Republican in 2015 unveiled a bipartisan bill to overhaul Ohio's charter school system to bring more accountability and background checks. She also co-sponsored a bill requiring schools to notify parents within two hours if a child doesn't show up for school.

"Peggy is the definition of a true public servant. She leads with heart, cares deeply about others, and has dedicated her career to improving and saving the lives of children through her work in education and health care," said U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio. "Tina and I wish her and Jim all the best in a well-earned retirement."

Lehner said her first introduction to public issues was on the Ohio Ethics Commission, where she served from 1991-97.

Before that, the mother of five children and grandmother of 14, including a grandson who died in October 2021 in a rowing accident, was president of Ohio Right to Life from 1984-88 and active at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, where she served on the parish council from 1984-87.

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She credits Husted among others for encouraging her to run for Kettering City Council.

She followed Husted to the Ohio Statehouse, where she was elected first to the House seat he vacated, then to his former Senate seat.

After her election to the Ohio House, Lehner was in a unique situation when she was appointed to the Ohio Senate to fill out the last month of Jeff Jacobson's "lame duck" session before she assumed her House seat. Husted was House speaker so he was not able to fill his new seat early.

She quit following his political path because he went up too high, she joked, serving as Ohio's secretary of state and lieutenant governor before his appointment to the U.S. Senate to fill Vice President JD Vance's seat.

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As she is winding down her public role, Lehner said the political climate is worrisome and that she is concerned it will deter people from stepping forward.

"It's my sincerest hope that good people will continue to run for these public offices," she said. "We shape our own lives and we shape our own communities. And if we fail to do that, then I'm just fearful of the quality of communities we will have. So I really really encourage people to get involved and be part of finding solutions instead of creating problems."

Three seek mayor's post

Kyle Boze, a Fairmont High School teacher, and councilmen Bob Scott and Bryan Suddith have pulled petitions to run in the mayor's race, according to the Montgomery County Board of Elections website.

Only Boze's petitions have been filed and certified, records show.

The filing deadline is Aug. 21 for the Nov. 4 general election.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - James Crenshaw, 34, was shot and killed in his home on July 30, 2018.

The house, which was located at 14444 Park Grove, has since been razed. But on that night a masked suspect forced their way in, shot the person who answered the door and killed Crenshaw.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call 1-800-SPEAKUP, there is a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  The annual KIPONA Festival is returning to the streets of Harrisburg for the 109th time this August.

The multicultural celebration, which features a family fun zone, live music, art in the park, food trucks, a giant puppy parade, and more, will run from August 30 to September 1 on Front Street in Harrisburg. There will be fireworks and a drone show on Saturday.

The Harrisburg Bureau of Police said Front Street will be closed from Forester to Walnut Street from 9 a.m. Friday, August 29, until midnight on Monday, Sept. 1.

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Police added that there will be a free ADA accessible shuttle bus that will loop between the City Island parking garage and the riverfront festival throughout each day.

Drivers can check the parking map online. Parking in downtown Harrisburg will be free after 5 p.m.

Harrisburg Police said that attendees should anticipate tighter security this year. There will be bag checks and more officers present.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Here are the top headlines from this morning.

The town of Ponca was hopping with excitement over the weekend for the 5th annual Ponca Frog Days.

Ponca drew in a big crowd for the Ponca Frog Days

The North Sioux City Fire Department has renamed its training facility to honor its fire chief, who served the community for over three decades.

North Sioux City training facility renamed for their fire chief

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A local radio personality signed off the airwaves for the last time.

99.5 DJ signs off after two decades of entertaining listeners

Watch more stories in the video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
For the second consecutive year, Gov. Jared Polis has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited landlords from using specific algorithms to determine rent prices and occupancy levels.
In todays edition: Mark Zuckerbergs raid on Mira Muratis startup, the end of the CPB, and the latest woman fired by Trump.



 Youre fired. President Donald Trump was unhappy with Julys U.S. jobs report, which showed hiring slowing (with 73,000 jobs added, compared to 100,000 predicted) and revised past months numbers. The Wall Street Journal called the results surprisingly dismal. So, on Friday Trump said he would fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer.

McEntarfer was nominated to lead the BLS in 2023. At the time, it was an overwhelmingly non-controversial appointment. She was confirmed 86-8 in a bipartisan vote.

Shes a longtime labor economist with more than 20 years experience in the federal government, who had worked at the Census Bureaus Center for Economic Studies, the Treasury Departments Office of Tax Policy and the White House Council of Economic Advisers in a nonpolitical role. Her research focused on job loss, retirement, worker mobility, and wage rigidity, according to the AP.

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Trump accused McEntarfer of manipulating jobs data and said that the data was being produced by a Biden appointee. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they cant be manipulated for political purposes, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The BLS produces data relied on by businesses and policymakers, including the Fed.

McEntarfer joins a growing list of female officials fired during Trump 2.0 (and lot of fired men, too). There was Admiral Linda Fagan, the leader of the Coast Guard and the first woman to lead a military branch who was removed on Trumps second day back on the job. Gwynne Wilcox, who Trump attempted to dismiss from the National Labor Relations Board (she sued, and a back-and-forth over her dismissal reached the Supreme Court). Federal Elections Committee (FEC) chair Ellen Weintraub was let go. Phyllis Fong, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, refused to comply with her firing in January and was escorted out by security. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, was fired via email.

McEntarfers colleagues have jumped to her defense. Her predecessor William Beach, who was appointed by Trump in 2019 and served until 2023, said that the groundless firing sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said there was no conceivable way the numbers could have been manipulated, relying as they do on strict processes and hundreds of staffers. Janet Yellen said that the firing of the head of the bureau charged with accurately reporting economic data is the kind of thing you would only expect to see in a banana republic.

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McEntarfers firing is part of a bigger plan for the BLS, the Journal reports. The president wants his own people there, so that when we see the jobs numbers, they are more transparent and more reliable, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said.

McEntarfer responded to her firing in a post on Bluesky. It has been the honor of my life to serve as Commissioner of BLS alongside the many dedicated civil servants tasked with measuring a vast and dynamic economy, she wrote. It is vital and important work and I thank them for their service to this nation.

On Sunday, Trump officials homed in on the revised May and June numbers as the reason for McEntarfers firing. I think what we need is a fresh set of eyes at the BLS, somebody who can clean this thing up, Hassett said.

Emma Hinchliffe

emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com

The Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter is Fortunes daily briefing for and about the women leading the business world. Subscribe here.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.)  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is looking for a previously convicted man who was allegedly involved in an attack on ICE officers in Black Forest on Thursday, July 31.

Jose Mendez-Chavez was allegedly in the car that attempted to ram into ICE officers during a targeted enforcement operation on Thursday in El Paso County.

ICE: Convicted felon at large after officer attack in Black Forest

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Mendez-Chavez and passenger Francisco Zapata-Pacheco were inside the vehicle when an officer fired three shots into the car in response to the attack. Per ICE, the two suspects escaped and later abandoned the car. No one was injured during the incident. Zapata-Pacheco was arrested on Thursday and is cooperating with law enforcement, but a manhunt for Mendez-Chavez continues.

Jose Mendez-Chavez.

According to ICE, Mendez-Chavez is a convicted child abuser who also has convictions for domestic violence. He has allegedly re-entered the U.S. illegally on different occasions.

He knows hes not supposed to be here, since weve removed him six times previously, ICE wrote.

According to FOX News, Mendez-Chavez was previously convicted in Ohio of domestic violence and was sentenced to 180 days in jail in 2013. Most recently, Mendez-Chavez was arrested for reckless endangerment and child abuse in 2019 in Colorado Springs. According to court papers, he pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in 2020.

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ICE confirmed to FOX21 News the following criminal history:

June 2013 : Arrested in Willard, Ohio, for domestic violence.

July 2013 : Mendez-Chavez was convicted of domestic violence and sentenced to 180 days in jail with 170 days suspended.

December 2013 : The Southern District of Texas convicted Chavez-Mendez of illegal entry and sentenced him to 15 days of imprisonment.

January 2014 : The Western District of Texas convicted Chavez-Mendez of illegal entry and sentenced him to 60 days of imprisonment.

Late-January 2014 : The Western District of Texas convicted Mendez for illegal re-entry into the United States and sentenced him to 8 months imprisonment with credit for time served.

January 2020 : Colorado Springs Police Department arrests Chavez-Mendez for child abuse.

August 2020: The El Paso County Court convicted Chavez-Mendez of reckless endangerment and sentenced him to 12 months of probation.

Now, Mendez is wanted for assault on a federal officer. If seen, people can call the tip line anonymously at 866-347-2423 or submit a tip at ICEs website.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
The search for a former U.S. soldier suspected of killing four people at a bar in Montana stretched into a fourth day Monday, with deputies scouring the mountainous terrain by foot and air after the man escaped in a stolen vehicle containing camping gear.

Authorities say Michael Paul Brown, 45, fatally shot four people Friday morning at The Owl Bar in the small town of Anaconda with a rifle that police believe was his personal weapon. He fled in a white pickup that he later ditched and stole another white vehicle stocked with clothes, shoes and other supplies.

A female bartender and three male patrons were killed. The shooting rattled the tight-knit town of about 9,000 people, and many residents remain on high alert with the suspect still at large.

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Here's what is known about the search.

How is the search progressing?

Law enforcement officers from across the state have been brought in to assist with the search for Brown, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. Search teams include multiple local, state, and federal agencies and are surveying the area both on the ground and by air. Helicopters whirred overhead as Anaconda residents adjusted to daily life after the shooting.

The effort initially concentrated on an area off Stumptown Road, west of Anaconda. By Saturday, they had expanded the search to the Barker Lakes area and had more than 250 people out searching, plus canine detection units and drones using heat-detection technology, authorities said.

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Knudsen said investigators are now searching all possible options for Browns whereabouts, including the woods where he hunted and camped in his youth. About 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) of forest southwest of Anaconda have been closed to the public by the National Forest System as the manhunt carries on, District Ranger Cameron Rasor said Monday.

Business owners locked their doors Friday and sheltered inside with customers. A lockdown of the Stumptown Road area was lifted on Saturday, but many local businesses were slow to reopen.

On Monday, the U.S. Marshals Service announced a reward of up to $10,000 for any information leading to Browns capture. They said he is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Who were the victims?

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The victims were identified on Sunday as bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and patrons Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

All four were residents of Anaconda, which is situated between rugged mountains about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Butte.

Robert Wyatt, 70, told The Associated Press he was neighbors with Leach at a public housing complex for elderly people and people with disabilities. Leach was deaf and kept mostly to himself, Wyatt said, but he was always happy to help his neighbors.

Kelley's daughter, Kristian Kelley, told NBC News her mother was a recently retired oncology nurse who picked up the bartending job to fill some of her free time. The daughter said she was shocked to hear about the shooting in a text message from a friend and grew worried when her mother didn't answer the phone. Upon driving into town, she learned her mother was among the victims.

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In a town where everybody knows everybody, the entire community is hurting, said resident David Jabarek, 70.

What is known about the suspect?

Brown served in the Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005, said Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson. Brown was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009 and left military service at the rank of sergeant, Castro said.

Brown lived next door to The Owl Bar, according to owner David Gwerder, who was not present during the shooting Friday morning. It was widely believed that Brown knew at least some of the victims.

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In a photo released by law enforcement, Brown appears gaunt, barefoot and wearing nothing but black boxer briefs.

Browns niece, Clare Boyle, told The AP that her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years, and she and other family members repeatedly sought help for him. She described him as "a sick man who doesnt know who he is sometimes and frequently doesnt know where or when he is either.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that Russia is "very cautious" about any statements related to nuclear issues. He made this comment after US President Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to be moved closer to Russia in response to remarks made by Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev.

Source: Russian news agency Interfax

Quote: "American submarines are already on combat duty. This is a continuous process. That is the first point. In general, of course, we would not like to be drawn into such polemics and would prefer not to comment on this.

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We treat any statements concerning nuclear issues with great caution. You know that Russia holds a responsible position, and President Putins position is well known. [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president  ed.]

Russia is very attentive to nuclear non-proliferation. We believe that everyone must be extremely careful with nuclear rhetoric."

Details: Commenting on Medvedevs statements, Peskov said that "in every country, members of the leadership may hold different views on current events. There are people in the US and European countries who are very hardline, so this is always the case."

Peskov stressed that what matters most is Putins position: "In our country, foreign policy is defined by the head of state  President Putin."

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Peskov was asked whether the Kremlin intended to advise Medvedev to tone down his statements on foreign policy.

Medvedev himself wrote on social media on 31 July that "if some words of the former Russian president [Medvedev] provoke such a nervous reaction in such a formidable US president, it means that Russia is right in everything and will continue on its path".

Following Trumps decision regarding the nuclear submarines, Medvedev has not posted anything further.

Background:

Trump announced that the United States will begin imposing tariffs and resorting to other measures against Russia within 10 days unless Moscow demonstrates progress in ending the war in Ukraine.

Medvedev said that Trump was playing a game of ultimatums with Russia. He also stated that each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war, specifying that it would not be a war between Russia and Ukraine, but with the US.

In response, the US president said that Medvedev should "watch his words", as his remarks are "entering very dangerous territory".

On 1 August, Trump ordered the relocation of two nuclear submarines in case Medvedevs provocative statements turned out to be more than just words.

On 2 August, he announced that the submarines were already positioned closer to Russia.

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By Dmitry Antonov and Mark Trevelyan

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Monday that everyone should be "very, very careful" about nuclear rhetoric, responding to a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump that he had ordered a repositioning of U.S. nuclear submarines.

In its first public reaction to Trump's comments, the Kremlin played down their significance and said it was not looking to get into a public argument with him.

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Trump said on Friday he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be moved to "the appropriate regions" in response to remarks from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries.

"In this case, it is obvious that American submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process, thats the first thing," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"But in general, of course, we would not want to get involved in such a controversy and would not want to comment on it in any way," he added. "Of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric."

The episode comes at a delicate moment, with Trump threatening to impose new sanctions on Russia and buyers of its oil, including India and China, unless President Vladimir Putin agrees by Friday to end the 3-1/2-year war in Ukraine.

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Putin said last week that peace talks had made some positive progress but that Russia had the momentum in the war, signalling no shift in his position despite the looming deadline.

Trump has said he may send his envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia on Wednesday or Thursday. Witkoff has held long conversations with Putin on several previous visits but failed to persuade him to agree to a ceasefire.

The Kremlin declined to say if his latest proposed trip was taking place at Moscow's request, and did not say what it hoped might emerge from it.

"We are always happy to see Mr Witkoff in Moscow and we are always happy to have contacts with Mr Witkoff. We consider them important, meaningful and very useful," Peskov said.

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ONLINE SPAT

Trump, who frequently promised to end the war within 24 hours while campaigning for the U.S. presidency last year, has spoken admiringly of Putin in the past but voiced increasing frustration with him of late.

Russia has stepped up the ferocity of its bombing attacks on Ukrainian cities, while three brief sessions of direct peace talks in Turkey have yielded no progress beyond exchanges of prisoners and war dead.

Some security analysts in both Russia and the West have criticised Trump for escalating an online spat with former president Medvedev - an arch-hawk whose statements are frequently designed to shock and provoke - to the point of publicly discussing U.S. nuclear deployments.

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Peskov, however, said Russia did not see Trump's statement as marking an escalation in nuclear tension.

"We do not believe that we are talking about any escalation now. It is clear that very complex, very sensitive issues are being discussed, which, of course, are perceived very emotionally by many people," he said.

Peskov declined to answer directly when asked whether the Kremlin had tried to warn Medvedev to tone down his online statements.

"The main thing, of course, is the position of President Putin," he said.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow and Mark Trevelyan in London; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Two Angelenos are among 10 people indicted in Pittsburgh on charges they possessed and intended to distribute a litany of drugs.

Darren Cooper, 38, and Paityn Phears, 24, were indicted Monday on four counts by a federal grand jury, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. The pair was charged alongside eight others, two of whom are from Michigan, with the remaining six hailing from Pennsylvania.

Prosecutors allege Cooper, Phears and their codefendants allegedly conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distributed the following between November 2023 and March of this year:

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50 grams or more of methamphetamine

500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine

100 grams or more of para-fluorofentanyl

100 grams or more of heroin

10 grams or more of carfentanil

40 grams or more of fentanyl

An undisclosed quantity of cocaine

Para-fluorofentanyl is similar to but even stronger than fentanyl, and as the state of Michigan details, it is not detected during routine toxicology testing and requires specialized forensic toxicology testing.

Carfentanil is even stronger yet, something the National Institutes of Health calls one of the most potent opioids known (also the most potent opioid used commercially).

Carfentanil is intended for large-animal use only as its extreme potency makes it inappropriate for use in humans, the NIH added.

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If convicted, the Angelenos face minimum sentences of 10 years in prison and maximum sentences of life, as well as fines of up to $20 million.

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In the aftermath of Sunday nights fatal shooting at an unsanctioned afterparty for the HARD Summer electronic music festival in Downtown Los Angeles, the father of the one of the victims told reporters that he told his son to stay away form the event before getting a call early Monday about the tragedy.

Gregory Derisso was one of the two confirmed deceased victims of the shooting. A 29-year-old music producer and father of three, he was told by his father Judner Derisso to not attend the event, the elder Derisso told KTLA.

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His friends mom called me and I answered my phone and she tells me bad news, Derisso said about learning his son was one of the victims. I said, Whats the bad news? and she said her son tell her that my son got shot. I told him to stay away from here.

Watch the KTLA news segment below:

Gregory had three children all under each younger than five years old, Judner said. According to authorities, a second victim  an unidentified 52-year-old woman  was shot and took herself to the hospital before later succumbing to her wounds. Six other victims aging 26-62 are currently in the hospital suffering injuries. Two remain in critical condition while the other four are stable.

The LAPD is investigating the shooting as gang-related. Around 11 p.m. Sunday, officers observed an armed man running into the warehouse where an after party for the annual music festival was said to be thrown. Police shut down the event and arrested the man, but two hours later more than a dozen shots were reported fired back at the same location.

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A flier for the event first shared by Fox News advertised it as an unofficial HARD after party called Way After You Go. It began at 10 p.m. and was scheduled to operate into the late night.

Upwards of 60 people remained gathered at an intersection near where the warehouse after party was originally shut down. When police returned they found a number of victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

LAPD continues to investigate the shooting.

The post LA Festival Shooting Victims Father Says He Told Music Producer Son to Stay Away From Downtown Event | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
More than 50 independent schools have closed or announced they are set to close following Labour imposing VAT on private education. The prevailing narrative from the Left frames this as a necessary tax on the ultra-rich; a way to make society more equal. But that story misses a more complex reality.

As someone whose parents made sacrifices to send me to a private school, Ive seen first-hand how deeply this aspiration runs within many ethnic minority families. For us, education wasnt a luxury; it was a strategy for survival, stability and success.

It is no surprise that, according to the Independent Schools Council, ethnic minority representation in independent schools is higher than that in the state sector. In many urban centres across the UK, where state education can at times struggle with quality and consistency, private schools appeal to some immigrant families.

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These families often come from cultures that place a high value on moral and intellectual formation. They prioritise academic achievement and upward mobility  values they believe independent schools are better equipped to deliver.

There is a common presumption that independent schools are largely populated by the upper-middle class or, at minimum, comfortably placed professionals. But my experience at a private school in inner-city London didnt fully reflect that.

While some pupils did come from affluent backgrounds, a noticeable number, particularly from ethnic minority families like my own, were there because their parents had made real sacrifices: working multiple jobs, living frugally, and prioritising education above all else.

I worry about how these families will absorb the substantial fee increases that has followed Labours VAT policy. Many of these children earned their place not through wealth but academic ability. We forget that many independent schools are selective, and for some they have been a ladder of opportunity rather than a preserve of privilege.

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With closures underway, many children will be forced into entering overstretched state schools. This will disrupt hard-won educational progress.

While it is no doubt motivated by a desire for fairness  a redistribution from rich to poor  in practice it undermines families who have taken noble and sacrificial steps to invest in their childrens education. Far from narrowing inequality, the policy risks widening it.

Wealthier families will absorb the extra cost or seek alternatives abroad. It is the middle-and lower-income aspirants, often from black and Asian backgrounds, who are being squeezed out.

But perhaps most damaging of all is that this policy undermines one of Britains great success stories: the integration of aspirational minority families into the fabric of national life.

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In its rush to appear fair, Labour is betraying those who have believed most in this country; who have trusted the system to reward effort and sacrifice. Multi-ethnic Britain deserves better.

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Sir Keir Starmers Government is digging itself into an ever deeper hole over its plan to recognise Palestine as a state. At home, this cowardly gesture has unleashed a hornets nest; abroad, it has gratified the butchers of Hamas.

Supporters of Palestine Action, which was proscribed after its attack on RAF Brize Norton, are calling for mass civil disobedience next Saturday in order to overwhelm the police and courts.

One of their leaders is Moazzam Begg, who spent three years as a detainee in Guantanamo Bay. Speaking in Birmingham at the weekend, Mr Begg told what he called the resistance that we have a massive presence in this city and must engage our leaders, our imams, our habits, those in positions of power, to join, there is strength in numbers.

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In 2010 Mr Begg was paid an undisclosed sum in compensation for his time in Guantanamo, reported at the time to be 1m or more. In 2014 he was arrested for Syria-related terrorism offences, although charges were subsequently dropped. Will he now once more face the law? Supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation such as Palestine Action is a criminal offence.

Meanwhile, those who warned against rewarding Hamas for rape, massacre and hostage-taking have been vindicated. Last week, Basem Naim, one of the terrorist organisations leaders, exulted in the UKs support for the Palestinian cause: Victory and liberation are closer than we expected. Hamas is still running Gaza; British recognition of Palestine would hand them a huge propaganda victory.

Yesterday, the Prime Ministers spokesman refused to say whether such a state would be recognised if Hamas remains in control of Gaza. Downing Street repeats the mantra that Hamas can have no role in the future governance of Gaza. But it insists that it cannot make recognition conditional on the actions of Hamas, a terrorist group, as the UK does not negotiate with terrorists and such demands would be tantamount to negotiation. Conditions seemingly only apply to democratic states.

The legal knots in which this Government has tied itself would be comical if the consequences were not so tragic. Starmer and Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, are both lawyers to their fingertips. Yet they have conjured up a policy that is legally incoherent, morally indefensible and pleases nobody.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man will avoid prison time for beating his neighbor in a racially motivated attack.

In May 2023, Christian Lentz attacked his neighbor, Amadeo Quindara, then 75, in Quindaras garage. Prosecutors said Lentz targeted Quindara because he is Filipino.

In court Monday, Clark County District Court Judge Jennifer Schwartz sent Lentz to jail for 90 days and ordered him to serve probation for five years, warning him he will go to prison for at least 12 years if he fails to comply.

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This is a crossroads between mental health and justice, Schwartz said. This is your only chance.

The attack happened in a southwest valley neighborhood. Lentz was arrested the following day and charged with residential burglary. The district attorneys office later upgraded the charges.

Video showed Lentz entering the garage and yelling, police said. When Lentz exited the garage, with what appears to be blood on his right hand, he yelled die repeatedly.

In April, Lentz pleaded guilty but mentally ill to residential burglary motivated by bias or hatred and abuse of an older person. He told the court he was in a manic episode at the time of the attack.

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Lentz was released from custody in 2023 while his case progressed, Schwartz said, noting Lentz stayed out of trouble and attended therapy. Should he violate his probation, Lentz would go to prison for 12-30 years, Schwartz ordered.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A judge sentenced a former Metro police sergeant to at least four years in prison Monday for orchestrating phony arrests, which mainly targeted men of color.

In May, Sgt. Kevin Menon pleaded guilty to eight counts after a grand jury indicted him in three separate cases. The charges include oppression under the color of office with immediate threat or use of physical force, subornation of perjury, and capturing the image of the private area of another person.

Menon agreed to serve 4-10 years in prison as part of the plea agreement. He will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release.

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I am not the man these charges reflect, Menon said in court as Clark County District Court Judge Ron Israel sentenced him. For any harm I have done, I beg for forgiveness.

Israel sentenced Menon to 4-10 years as per the plea, questioning why Menon accepted the plea if he maintained his innocence. The plea deal drastically reduced the amount of time Menon could have spent in prison if the case had gone to trial and a jury had convicted him.

Since his arrest last year, which ultimately culminated in more than 50 charges, Menon has been in and out of jail. A judge recently increased his bail to $1 million, though Menon was allowed to await sentencing on house arrest.

In the first case, a grand jury indicted Menon for illegal stops and searches of mainly Black men on the Las Vegas Strip while Menon worked as a sergeant in plain clothes. Metro investigators said Menon instigated situations with the public without probable cause. In one case, Menon ordered the search of a car without any reason, police said. In another, the sergeant, who often worked in a plain clothes capacity, intentionally collided with a person on a pedestrian bridge, leading to that mans arrest.

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After a search of Menons home related to the first case, police said they found numerous images of child sexual abuse material on Menons devices. This resulted in the second case.

Police returned to Menons home, where they found hidden cameras that Menon installed in a bathroom to record family members using the toilet. This resulted in the third criminal case.

Robert Draskovich, Menons defense attorney, submitted documents from the police department showing that supervisors recognized him for good police work, including finding a missing teen, arresting gang members and maintaining his calm during tense situations.

Video shown to the grand jury in Menons first case shows Menon directing a team of officers to target individuals, pulling maneuvers such as a shoulder check to agitate the target and then arrest him.

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Menons wife and sister-in-law, identified as victims in his third criminal case, have stayed by his side through various court appearances. Both spoke at the sentencing and maintained Menons innocence.

I was never asked if I was a victim, I was told I was a victim, Natasha Menon, Kevin Menons wife, said. I am not a victim of my husband. I am a victim of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department.

After his initial arrest, the department placed Menon on leave with pay and suspended his police powers pending an investigation. The department later stopped paying him. Menon separated from Metro in June, a spokesperson said.

Menon tried to have Israel removed from the case, citing allegations of abuse from his adult daughter. Israel issued a response stating he should remain on the case, but could not discuss certain issues about his daughter due to HIPAA. Clark County District Court Chief Judge Jerry Wiese decided Israel should remain on the case.

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Menon will be eligible for parole in 2029.

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Latvias National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) has decided to block access to ten more websites that disseminate Russian propaganda.

Source: LSM, a Latvian public broadcaster, as reported by European Pravda,

Details: NEPLP reported that these websites justify Russias war against Ukraine, glorify the occupation and provide informational support to the aggressor.

Latvia has been blocking such websites since 2022, with the total number now reaching 413.

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Council member Ieva Kalderauska explained that the highest number of blockings occurred in the first year, with 169 sites shut down. In 2023, 137 more were blocked and as of July this year, 88 additional resources have been taken offline.

The Council believes these measures are effective. Its estimates indicate if access were not restricted, such content could reach between 40,000 and 68,000 users per month. Attempted visits to the blocked websites reportedly reach up to half a million per month  often by the same user trying multiple times.

NEPLP monitors such resources through various channels, including citizen complaints, reports from state authorities and internal monitoring.

Quote from Kalderauska: "We examine what is being published on the website  what news is covered, how much and how the information is presented. If our assessment is confirmed by law enforcement agencies, we make a final decision. This is not a simple procedure  all our decisions must be legally justified, because any blocked website can file a complaint."

Background:

At the end of July, NEPLP also blocked access to several Russian sites involved in military recruitment for Russias war against Ukraine.

The Council has previously issued similar decisions to restrict access to websites spreading Russian propaganda.

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Far-right activist Laura Loomer has reignited her feud with conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson in a string of posts on X.

Loomer, a vocal ally of President Donald Trump, called the former Fox News host a terrible person and a fraud. Reposting an article from The Independent that quotes Carlson calling her a child wielding a loaded firearm called Twitter, Loomer commented: I am so glad so many people are starting to see what a terrible person Tucker Carlson is. Im glad peoples eyes are opening to what a fraud this guy is.

She followed that up with a post asking: Do you want to know something about Tucker Carlson that nobody knows about (except me and about 3 other people)? Something that should be the nail in his coffin that makes everyone realize what a fraud he is.

Laura Loomer has reignited her feud with Tucker Carlson (AFP/Getty)

What came next was a 13-post thread alleging that Carlson had sought to suppress a story about a compromising laptop supposedly belonging to President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden in the runup to the 2020 presidential election in order to protect his own relationships and interests.

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Carlson has yet to respond to Loomer on X but The Independent has reached out to him for comment.

The former Fox News primetime host has not been shy about criticizing Loomer in the past, however, calling her the worlds creepiest human on an appearance on the After Party podcast in June.

I dont even know where she came from or who she is exactly, but shes running around saying, Im Donald Trumps defender, he said. Its bizarre.

The war of words between the two MAGA influencers first erupted just prior to that when Carlson came out against Trumps decision to bomb Irans nuclear facilities in support of Israel, opposing further American involvement in conflicts overseas and going viral when he challenged Texas Sen. Ted Cruz over his ignorance of Tehran.

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Loomer, much more hawkish in outlook, threatened to screenshot anyone s*** talking Trump right now and pass their comments on to the White House during that tense moment and attacked Carlson by accusing him of taking lobbying money from Qatar, an allegation he vehemently denied.

Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson campaigning together in Glendale, Arizona, during last years presidential election (AP)

She also derided him over his claim last fall that he was mauled by a demon in his sleep and was left with physical scars from the assault.

President Trump was asked about Loomer by the press corps as he returned to the White House on Sunday and was complimentary.

Shes very nice, he said. I mean, I know shes known as radical right, but I think Laura Loomer is a very nice person.

Ive known her for a long time, and, you know, personally, I think shes a patriot, and she gets excited because of the fact that shes a patriot, and she doesnt like things going on that she thinks are bad for the country.
New Hampshire will become the second state in the nation to invalidate driving privileges for anyone issued an out-of-state license who is an illegal immigrant.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed the bill into law late last week ,along with another to deny temporary shelter or housing in public schools or colleges to anyone in this country illegally absent the state declaration of a specific disaster.

Gannon authored change to out-of-state drive license privileges for illegals

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State Sen. Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, authored the law Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed last week to deny driving privileges to any illegal immigrant who obtains one from another state.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, the author of the state's ban on sanctuary city policies, also authored this crackdown on undocumented immigrants who are able to get driver licenses in other states.

New Hampshire law already banned illegal immigrants from being able to receive a drivers license here.

States may elect to grant licenses as they please. Accordingly, New Hampshire reserved the right to decide who accessed its roadways, Gannon said during the first hearing on his original bill last winter.

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Florida became the first state to adopt the policy, with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis pursuing the change during the midst of his GOP presidential primary bid in 2023. DeSantis dropped out of the race days before the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire that Donald Trump won by double digits over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Gannon stressed that tourism-heavy Florid ahas seen no adverse economic impact from it.

Gilles Bissonnette, legal director with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, argued that the Granite State lacked legal standing to contest the validity of any documents lawfully issued by another state.

Adopting such a change would be New Hampshires first change to the an interstate compact it joined in 1986 in which all states agree to have their motor vehicle agencies cooperate with one another, he said.

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Bissonnette maintained this could have other adverse consequences.

Licenses identify people, inform authorities of their vetted background and operative capabilities, Bissonnette testified. Licensed drivers are more likely to be insured and less likely to flee the scene of an accident.

John Morasco, director of the Division of Motor Vehicles, said making this change would not invalidate New Hampshires membership in the compact.

Florida has remained in the group since adopting its law, Morasco said.

Many don't ask for immigrant status

Many states, including Massachusetts, do not ask license applicants about their immigration status.

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But Jennifer Bailey, DMVs assistant director, said Delaware and Connecticut would be the only states at issue because they are the only two that issue distinct ID cards or licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Last fall, officials announced Florida would also deny driving privileges to illegal immigrants holding licenses from the states of Vermont, Rhode Island and Hawaii.

New Hampshire's new law had strong support in the caucuses of House and Senate Republicans.

But Gov. Kelly Ayotte didnt get to sign it until late last week because Gannon convinced the Senate to kill his original bill (SB 13) after concluding that the House had gone too far with it.

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The Senate passed that bill along partisan lines 15-8 with all Senate Republicans in attendance backing it.

At the urging of House Transportation Committee Chairman Tom Walsh, R-Hooksett, the House added to the ban a license for any immigrant granted temporary asylum status here.

In response, Gannon asked and the Senate agreed on a voice vote to kill his bill with the House changes.

Days later, the Senate attached Gannons bill to an unrelated one that also became law which lays out the process to return firearms to anyone who has a court take them away due a restraining order once that order has been lifted (HB 506).

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The House voted largely along party lines, 197-159, for that amended bill and the Senate endorsed it by a 16-8 count.

Rep. Juliet Harvey-Boulia, R-Tilton, proposed the ban (HB 71) on illegals staying in temporary shelter in response to occurrences in other states.

House Deputy Majority Leader Joe Sweeney, R-Salem, was also on the bill.

Both changes to laws affecting illegal immigrants take effect on Sept. 30.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Communities around the country and in western Massachusetts celebrate National Night Out, a chance for law enforcement and the people they serve to join together.

This is a nationwide event with events planned all over western Massachusetts as well, giving local police and law enforcement agencies a chance to bond with communities. Its organized every year on the first Tuesday of August. It dates back to 1984, having been held nationwide every year since its inception to connect law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, and crime prevention organizations.

Black bear spotted standing on deck in Westfield

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The goal of the event is community building, promoting partnerships, and connecting law enforcement and the communities they serve to make neighborhoods safer based on previous years.

Some cities and towns are holding their National Night Out events this week, including the City of Springfield will have some celebrations at various locations.

Springfield

Tuesday, August 5:

Forest Park  440 Tiffany Street from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Lower Liberty  Emily Bill Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Old Hill, Upper Hill  Sam Bolden Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Indian Orchard  Myrtle Street Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Allen Park  251 Allen Park Road from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Pine Point  Nahorniak Park from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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Tuesday, August 19:

East Springfield  Marshall Roy Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sixteen Acres  Greenleaf Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 26:

North End  Jaime Ulloa Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wedensday, September 10:

East Forest Park  Nathan Bill Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Belchertown

Belchertown is also having its National Night Out on Tuesday at Chestnut Hill Community School. From 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the police department is serving free hot dogs, a LifeFlight landing at 4:30 p.m., a K9 demonstration from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and a dunk tank to help raise funds for future events.

Chicopee

Chicopee is holding its National Night Out on Wednesday, August 6, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sara Jane Sherman Park. The city says that it will be a record-breaking year with 120 vendors. There will be activities, games, food, and interactive engagements with first responders.

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For an interactive map of participants, visit the City of Chicopee NNO 2025.

Pittsfield

The Pittsfield Police Department is hosting the National Night Out on Wednesday, August 6, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Common Park on First Street. The free event is open to the public, featuring face painting, a balloon artist, bounce houses, music, as well as games for the whole family. Free food will also be provided.

A small Touch A Truck display with emergency vehicles will be on site.

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.
A quartet of bipartisan members of Congress has proposed a bill that would help to research the primary causes of a major form of pollution that is becoming a growing concern.

According to the Oregon Capital Chronicle, Oregon Representative Janelle Bynum and Senator Jeff Merkley (Democrat) and Florida Representative Greg Steube and Senator Rick Scott (Republican) introduced the Microplastics Safety Act.

The bill would require Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to study and identify the major causes of microplastic exposure and study the impact that exposure to microplastics can have on everything from children's health to cancer, reproductive health, and chronic illness.

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Kennedy is then expected to report on those findings to Congress within a year.

"The Microplastics Safety Act is a critical step toward understanding the full scope of these risks," Scott said. "As exposure continues to grow through food, water, air, and everyday products, this legislation will help ensure we're guided by sound science to protect public health and our next generation."

Microplastics have very quickly become an endemic problem around the globe. Microplastics are the byproduct of plastic, which doesn't biodegrade, but instead breaks down into progressively smaller and smaller pieces as it ages, while leaching toxic chemicals into the soil. They have spread like wildfire throughout the environment, traveling via bodies of water to parts of the world thought to be safe from their influence.

While we still don't know much about their impact on our health, initial findings haven't been promising. They've been linked to respiratory problems, liver fibrosis, and could be linked to fertility issues.

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The members of Congress proposing this bill hope further research can spur smarter, more effective legislation to keep people safe, and that its bipartisan, bicameral support will increase the chances of it passing.

"Ultimately, I think it is important for us to ask the question about what microplastics are doing to our bodies and to our environment, and we should continue pushing on that, whoever's in charge of the administration," Bynum said.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.








The Brief

The family of Malachi Mitchell, a 21-year-old shot and killed during a firearm sale in January, held a news conference with state lawmakers to demand answers and action.

Six months after the shooting, no charges have been filed; the alleged shooter was released after cooperating with investigators, and the case remains under review.

Mitchells mother has launched a Change.org petition and filed a wrongful death lawsuit, urging state officials to intervene and questioning the handling of the investigation.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - Six months after the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Malachi Mitchell, his family says they are still waiting for justice  and theyre going public with their frustration.

Death of Malachi Mitchell

The backstory

Malachi Mitchell was found shot to death in the front seat of a car during a traffic stop in Lithia Springs on Jan. 29. According to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Mitchell had arranged to sell a firearm to a 19-year-old acquaintance. Investigators say an altercation broke out inside the vehicle, and the teen allegedly shot Mitchell with a second gun before driving off. The teen later cooperated with law enforcement and was released. No charges have been filed in the case.

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Despite repeated assurances from investigators that the case remains open, the family says theyve received few updates  and no answers.

The familys frustration has led to increased public pressure. Kenya Mitchell started a Change.org petition urging Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to take over the investigation. However, Carrs office has said it lacks jurisdiction. The family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the alleged shooter, though they are still working to have him served.

Calls for accountability

What they're saying

On Monday, Mitchells mother, Kenya Mitchell, spoke passionately at a news conference alongside two Georgia state lawmakers, calling for transparency, accountability, and possible state intervention in her sons case.

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"I don't know where Malachai Mitchell was shot. I don't know why Malachai Mitchell was shot," said one speaker during the rally.

Mitchells mother, Kenya Mitchell, voiced frustration with the lack of action and communication from authorities.

"So is that the message you send in Douglas County? Douglas County? Are you sending a message that we can kill somebody and ride around with them recklessly and walk away and go live our life? Is that what you're telling us? Douglas County?" she asked.

Adding urgency to the case, Mitchells mother says the driver accused of shooting her son is now "on the run," though that has not been confirmed by the sheriffs office.

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Detectives say the shooting may have been self-defense, but no determination has been made. In the meantime, threats against the drivers family have reportedly prompted heightened patrols and surveillance around their home.

Mitchells death has sparked broader concerns about how cases involving young Black men are investigated.

"I will stand out here in the rain. I will stand out here in the snow. I will stand out here in sunshine. I will stand out here no matter what. Douglas County," another speaker declared during the demonstration.

State Rep. Sylvia Wayfer Baker, a Democrat representing House District 64, joined the rally and criticized the silence from officials.

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"That's why I'm standing here today. That's why these people are standing to the left and the right of me today. There is nothing. Silence. Crickets. No answers, no accountability. It's nothing. That's why we're here today. Seeking answers," Baker said.

Mitchells supporters say theyve waited long enough.

"It'll be wrapped up in 30 days, but I haven't heard from them in six months," said one speaker.

Chants of "Justice for Malachai" rang out at the rally, as family and community members vowed to keep pressing for answers.

Douglas County Sheriff's response

The other side

The Douglas County Sheriffs Office released a statement one week after the shooting, saying the incident stemmed from a gun sale involving Mitchell and the alleged shooter. According to the sheriffs office, the shooter used a second firearm to kill Mitchell and fled the scene, claiming he feared he was being set up.

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Since then, no further updates have been made public.

PREVIOUS STORIES

DA's review

What's next

The Douglas County District Attorneys Office recently received the case. A spokesperson has said a review should be completed within 30 days.
Ryan Gehrig (center), president of Mercy Arkansas Hospitals, and Troy Wells, (at right) president and CEO of Baptist Health, prepared to testify Jan. 22, 2025. on a bill to allow nonprofit hospitals in Arkansas to operate retail pharmacies. The bill was signed into law as Act 52 of 2025. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas lawmakers overwhelmingly approved three laws during the 2025 legislative session meant to increase patients access to prescription medication.

One of those laws has since been blocked in federal court, but the other two will go into effect Tuesday.

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Act 52 removes the states ban on nonprofit hospitals holding pharmacy permits. Supporters of the law, including some of the states largest hospital systems, said patients should benefit from hospital pharmacies capacity to afford more expensive drugs and remain open at all hours compared to local independent pharmacies.

Additionally, Act 630 prohibits drug manufacturers from restricting the availability of medication to a limited distribution network of out-of-state pharmacies.

Rep. Brandon Achor, R-Maumelle (Arkansas Secretary of State)

Republican Rep. Brandon Achor of Maumelle, a practicing pharmacist and the lead sponsor of Act 630, said in an interview that manufacturers have the power to limit which pharmacies can purchase their drugs. He called this a huge public safety issue, especially when the availability of some drugs is limited to mail-order pharmacies.

These patients should not be contingent on an airplane or a FedEx truck, Achor told a House committee in March. They should be contingent on being able to access [pharmacies] in real time.

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Achor was a co-sponsor and vocal supporter of Act 624 of 2025, which would have banned pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from holding a permit to operate a drug store in Arkansas after Jan. 1, 2026. PBMs negotiate prescription benefits among drug manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies and health insurance providers, and the biggest ones also own pharmacies and insurers.

A federal judge temporarily blocked Act 624 in July after four PBMs and the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association filed lawsuits against it. Supporters of the law said it would prevent PBMs from financially straining local pharmacies to the point of forcing them to close, but U.S. District Judge Brian Miller ruled that the law likely violates the U.S. Constitutions commerce clause. The state filed a notice of appeal with the court on Thursday, and both plaintiffs and defendants asked Miller to stay further proceedings until the appeal is decided.

The Arkansas Pharmacists Association supported Act 624. CEO John Vinson told a Senate committee in April that Act 52 will create new pharmacy jobs that could make up for any job loss brought about by Act 624.

The initial version of Act 52 would have simply removed the portion of state code banning hospitals from having retail pharmacies. It failed in committee in January after Vinson and others expressed concerns that competition from hospitals in-house pharmacies could snuff out independent pharmacies. A 2023 bill similar to Act 52 did not advance in the Legislature.

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Lawmakers amended the eventual Act 52 to replace the deleted code with specific provisions, such as allowing the State Board of Pharmacy to issue permits for retail pharmacies within 250 yards of a nonprofit hospitals physical location in Arkansas, plus one additional pharmacy permit per 100 beds in the hospital.

Additionally, Act 52 does not place a limit on the number of retail pharmacies that nonprofit hospitals could operate in conjunction with infusion centers, and it allows these hospitals to direct their pharmacies services to underserved areas.

Projected impacts on patients

The Arkansas Pharmacists Association was neutral on the final version of Act 52. Vinson said in an interview last week that the combined impact of Acts 52, 624 and 630 will benefit a whole lot more people than just this one law alone.

Its not just [about] how many pharmacies there are, but [whether] the patients have a fair market where they can access drugs at the lowest cost where they want to, rather than where a fox guarding the henhouse forces the patients to a pharmacy they dont want to use through the mail at a higher price, Vinson said.

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Vinson and independent pharmacists have repeatedly denounced PBMs ability to set their competitors prices and steer clients to their own affiliate pharmacies. They have also claimed PBMs routinely break or skirt around Arkansas existing laws meant to regulate them.

Act 900 of 2015 required PBMs to pay pharmacies at least the national average of what drugstores pay wholesalers for drugs, and two 2018 laws prohibited PBMs from reimbursing their affiliated pharmacies in Arkansas at a higher rate than their locally owned competitors.

These patients should not be contingent on an airplane or a FedEx truck. They should be contingent on being able to access (pharmacies) in real time.

 Rep. Brandon Achor, R-Maumelle, lead sponsor of Act 630

Three pharmacy benefit managers  OptumRx, Express Scripts and CVS Caremark, all of whom sued Arkansas over Act 624  manage 79% of prescription drug insurance claims for approximately 270 million people, according to a July 2024 Federal Trade Commission report.

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Vinson noted that even if Act 624s lack of enforcement means nonprofit hospital pharmacies cant provide patients with specific drugs, the existence of those pharmacies due to Act 52 still broadens patient access to other drugs.

Administrators from Baptist Health and Mercy Arkansas Hospitals both expressed support for Act 52 before lawmakers in January.

Baptist does not plan to submit an application for a retail pharmacy permit immediately but still broadly supports the concept that hospitals should have that opportunity to fulfill the need for more accessible medications, particularly for infusion drugs, said Jordan Burgess, Baptists vice president of government relations and public affairs.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center is in the process of becoming a nonprofit hospital, said Clay Hobbs, chief operating officer of Pafford Health Systems, the locally-owned medical service company that runs the hospital in Hope.

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The hospital plans to take advantage of Act 52 upon becoming a nonprofit, and providing reliable access to prescription drugs in an area with few existing pharmacies will be a great opportunity for our rural communities in Southwest Arkansas, Hobbs said.

The State Board of Pharmacy is required to process pharmacy permit applications within a month of receiving them, and processing includes an on-site inspection of the facility, board executive director John Kirtley said in an email.

CARTI Cancer Center has 18 locations statewide, including 11 licensed pharmacies. Some of those locations are limited in what cancer drugs they can provide thanks to limited distribution networks, and Act 630 will alleviate that, CARTI CEO Adam Head told a House committee in March, speaking in favor of the legislation.

The only opponent of Act 630 before the Legislature was Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a trade organization representing drug manufacturers. PHRMA supported the intent of the legislation but wanted more time to make sure theres no harm with this new [drug] delivery system, Sharon Lamberton, the organizations deputy vice president of state policy and external outreach, told the same House committee.

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However, Act 630 will make it easier for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to provide patients with specialized cancer drugs, including those from clinical trials in which UAMS participates, spokesperson Leslie Taylor said Friday.

Were able to get them during the clinical trials, but then once weve done our part to help with this, thats over with, and we have trouble accessing the drugs directly, Taylor said.

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The Brief

A new lawsuit accuses Emory University of unlawfully discriminating against a Palestinian-American student who was critical of a professor's service as a volunteer medic in the Israeli Defense Force.

Umaymah Mohammad was found to have violated the school's code of conduct by a committee and suspended from the Emory University School of Medicine for a year.

Her attorneys argue that the university illegally discriminated against Mohammad under Title VI and "ignored their own free speech policy."

ATLANTA - The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia) is filing a lawsuit against Emory University on behalf of a Palestinian-American student they say was suspended for speaking out about Gaza.

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The lawsuit also names the Emory University Board of Trustees and Emory School of Medicine Dean Dr. John William Eley.

The backstory

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Umaymah Mohammad, an MD/PhD student at Emory who has been suspended from the Emory School of Medicine until the end of the 2027-2028 school year and under probation until her possible graduation date in 2029.

According to the complaint, Mohammad was accused by university officials of violating Emory School of Medicine Code of Conduct after going on the radio show "Democracy Now!" During her interview, Mohammad discussed the firing of assistant professor Dr. Abeer AbouYabis after she made comments that appeared to praise members of Hamas as "resistance fighters."

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In the interview, Mohammad mentioned another professor at the university who had recently served as a medic in the Israeli Defense Force.

"This man participated in aiding and abetting a genocide, in aiding and abetting the destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza and the murder of over 400 healthcare workers and is now back at Emory so-called teaching medical students and residents how to take care of patients," she said.

SEE MORE: Emory University under federal investigation over alleged anti-Muslim discrimination

In response, the professor filed a complaint, saying that her language put him and his family at risk.

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The complaint claims that Mohammad attempted to argue that an investigation into her statements was flawed, but it was approved anyway. Months later, the university allegedly charged her with a different set of violations, telling her that she needed to accept guilt on the charges or proceed to a hearing in front of a committee appointed by the dean. The charges were then reportedly changed again after she agreed to the hearing, the lawsuit says.

After the hearing on Nov. 12, 2024, the committee found that Mohammad violated "the standards and expectations of the medical profession" as well as the expectation of Professional Communication and Demeanor and the expectation of Respect for the Rights of Others and decided to suspend her for a year effective at the end of her PhD program.

What they're saying

In their lawsuit, attorneys argue that the university illegally discriminated against Mohammad under Title VI and "ignored their own free speech policy."

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"Emorys continued punishment of students who speak out against the genocide in Gaza is an act of complicity. Disguising this repression as a matter of professionalism or conduct is a moral failureone that stains not only Emory, but the entire U.S. healthcare and education system" Mohammad said. "It is the duty of healthcare workers and students to speak out against mass atrocities. Emory has chosen silence, disciplinary action, and erasure over justice, effectively standing on the wrong side of history."

"Much like what led to our filing of a Title VI complaint with the Department of Education in 2023, Emory University has once again tried to quell pro-Palestinian advocacy," CAIR-Georgia Staff Attorney Keon Grant said. "This lawsuit on behalf of Ms. Mohammad challenges not only the latest incident in their well-documented history of discriminatory treatment toward Palestinian students and their advocacy, but an intensification of this behavior - not only ignoring outside pleas for justice but also disregarding their own internal policies in pursuit of silencing pro-Palestinian advocacy, as well as criticism of Emory University's own shortcomings and institutional biases."

Mohammad and her attorneys are asking for a jury trial, compensatory and punitive damages, and for Emory to rescind the suspension and expungeall records related to the disciplinary investigation.

The other side

A spokesperson for Emory University did not comment on the lawsuit, telling FOX 5 that the university "declines to discuss pending litigation."

The Source

Information for this article came from a lawsuit filed by CAIR-Georgia and Jonathan Wallace.
SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56)  After a child was hospitalized after a trip to the Pulaski County Fair went wrong, a Somerset law office is looking for witnesses.

Somerset-Pulaski County EMS told FOX 56 that on July 25, a child attending the county fair was hit in the head by a wheel that came off of a ride. The boy was taken to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for treatment and monitoring.

Child hospitalized after getting hit by fair ride wheel in Pulaski County

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He was treated by EMS at the fair. Weve received a lot of pictures and statements regarding that, said William Thompson with Thompson & Thompson Attorneys at Law. He was transported to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. He was medically air-evaced to the University of Kentucky to a higher-level trauma center. From there, he was treated, assessed, and released.

A little over a week later, Thompson & Thompson Attorneys at Law announced that their office is representing the family affected.

We are looking for individuals that can present eyewitness testimony and/or pictures or video of the wheel/object, the law office wrote.

The wheel reportedly came off the Hell Taxi.

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Everybody wants these rides to be safe, and everybody always has a question of how safe they are, Thompson said. Because the community at large doesnt know the precautions, how theyre set up, or how theyre taken down. Nobody knows how that works. So everybody just has this overwhelming question of, Are they safe?

Thompson said the law is clear and that if someone is injured because of negligence, theyre entitled to be made whole.

Weve got a young individual in the developmental stages of life, and weve got this head injury now occurred, so even head injuries to small degrees or large degrees can have lasting effects on people, Thompson added.

If you have any information, please call (606) 679-LAWS.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground on its third temple in New Zealand Saturday.

The Wellington New Zealand Temple began construction on Saturday, Aug. 2 with the ceremonial groundbreaking. Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, a general authority for the church, presided over the ceremony, which took place on the grounds of the future temple in Porirua.

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo of the LDS Churchs Pacific Area Presidency presides over a groundbreaking in New Zealand. (Courtesy//Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints) LDS Church leaders break ground on New Zealands third LDS temple. (Courtesy//Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints) Over 500 community members attended the groundbreaking of the Wellington New Zealand temple. (Courtesy//Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints)

What we will see and witness from this day forth is a mighty change in our communities and our cities, Elder Wakolo said during the ceremony.

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Community members and government leaders alike joined over 500 members of the church to take part in the groundbreaking.

Shoshone Nation takes action to restore water to the Great Salt Lake and their own ancestral lands

In his speech, Wakolo referenced the churchs first convert baptism in New Zealand which took place near the temple grounds in 1854. Local church leaders also paid homage to early missionaries and converts to the church.

Wakolo said the temple would not only be a symbol of church membership, but also a sign of faith in life after death and as a sacred step toward living with family members who have passed on.

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Russel M. Nielson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, originally announced the temple during the April 2022 general conference.

The building will stand on a three-acre site overlooking a lagoon.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday vowed that "justice is coming", five years after a catastrophic explosion at Beirut's port for which nobody has been held to account.

The blast on August 4, 2020 was one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions, devastating swathes of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring over 6,500.

The explosion was triggered by a fire in a warehouse where tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored haphazardly for years after arriving by ship, despite repeated warnings to senior officials.

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Aoun said that the Lebanese state "is committed to uncovering the whole truth, no matter the obstacles or how high the positions" involved.

"The law applies to all, without exception," Aoun said in a statement.

Monday has been declared a day of national mourning, and rallies demanding justice are planned later in the day, converging on the port.

"The blood of your loved ones will not be in vain," the president told victims' families, adding: "Justice is coming, accountability is coming."

After more than a two-year impasse following political and judicial obstruction, investigating judge Tarek Bitar has finished questioning defendants and suspects, a judicial official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

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Bitar is waiting for some procedures to be completed and for a response to requests last month to several Arab and European countries for "information on specific incidents", the official added, without elaborating.

- Impunity -

The judge will then finalise the investigation and refer the file to the public prosecution for its opinion before he issues an indictment decision, the official said.

President Aoun said that "we are working with all available means to ensure the investigations are completed with transparency and integrity."

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a former International Court of Justice judge, said on Sunday that knowing the truth and ensuring accountability were national issues, decrying decades of official impunity.

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Bitar resumed his inquiry after Aoun and Salam took office this year pledging to uphold judicial independence, after the balance of power shifted following a devastating war between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.

Bitar's probe stalled after the Iran-backed group, long a dominant force in Lebanese politics but weakened by the latest war, had accused him of bias and demanded his removal.

Mariana Fodoulian from the association of victims' families said that "for five years, officials have been trying to evade accountability, always thinking they are above the law."

"We're not asking for anything more than the truth," she told AFP.

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"We won't stop until we get comprehensive justice."

On Sunday, Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said the port's gutted and partially collapsed wheat silos would be included on a list of historic buildings.

Victims' families have long demanded their preservation as a memorial of the catastrophe.

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On the fifth anniversary of the catastrophic explosion at the Beirut port, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has renewed his pledge to pursue a full investigation and deliver justice for the victims.

Aoun vowed to maintain the pressure on all relevant institutions to ensure that "everyone responsible, regardless of their rank or affiliation, is brought to justice."

Addressing the families of the victims, he said: "Your pain will not go unanswered. The promise of justice remains."

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The explosion on August 4, 2020, killed more than 200 people, injured around 6,000 and devastated large parts of the Lebanese capital. To date, no one has been held accountable for the tragedy.

The blast was caused by hundreds of tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate, which was kept for years in a port warehouse. It was one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions ever recorded.

The investigation into the incident has largely stalled due to political interference, judicial paralysis and deep-rooted corruption. Key suspects have evaded questioning and judges have been obstructed.

At the beginning of the year, the government announced a new investigation attempt, partly spurred by the weakening influence of Hezbollah due to the conflict with Israel.

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"Survivors and victims, and their families, deserve full accountability. And, they deserve it now," UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert wrote on X.

Lebanese Energy Minister Joe Saddi described the blast as a "crime against humanity," adding that the years-long obstruction of justice may be an even greater offence.

The families of the victims are scheduled to hold a sit-in near the port later on Monday.
A legal advocacy group has accused New Jerseys flagship public university, Rutgers, of discrimination for excluding white students from scholarship programs that recruit African American, Native American and Hispanic students.



The Equal Protection Project filed a civil rights complaint against Rutgers University with the US Department of Education, claiming the scholarship programs violate federal anti-discrimination laws and are unconstitutional.

The Equal Protection Project filed a civil rights complaint against Rutgers University with the US Department of Education. RICHARD HARBUS

What doesnt Rutgers understand about non-discrimination? Discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin is barred under federal law, state law, and even under Rutgers own rules. At the Equal Protection Project, we are calling on Rutgers to live up to its own set of rules  that shouldnt be controversial, said William Jacobson, a Cornell University law professor and founder of the Equal Protection Project.



Where were the administrators and staff whose jobs supposedly are devoted to preventing discrimination? Why was there no intervention to uphold the legally required equal access to education?

At the Equal Protection Project, we are calling on Rutgers to live up to its own set of rules  that shouldnt be controversial, said William Jacobson.

The groups Aug. 1 complaint filed with the Education Department accuses four different Rutgers programs of discrimination by excluding white students, a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Law of 1964, as well as the 14th Amendments equal protection clause.



The Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship is designated for minority students enrolled in their final year of a health care management graduate program.



The GEM Fellowship Program provides both financial support and internship opportunities to highly qualified, underrepresented students who wish to pursue graduate study in engineering or science.

The groups Aug. 1 complaint filed with the Education Department accuses four different Rutgers programs of discrimination by excluding white students. Robert Kalfus

The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering scholarships are for under-represented students identified as African American, American Indian, or Latino and/or first generation.



Lastly, General Motors offers an endowed scholarship at Rutgers for GM workers or their spouses and children and students of underrepresented minorities.



According to the complaint, Rutgers considers minorities to be those who designate themselves as Black, non-Hispanic; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or Hispanic.



Educational institutions that receive federal funding must comply with laws against discrimination. The US Education Department monitors compliance and investigates complaints.

Rutgers, in a statement Sunday, said it will review the complaint but indicated it has already scrapped two of the programs. RICHARD HARBUS

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President Trump also issued an executive order directing federal agencies to scrap funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Rutgers, in a statement Sunday, said it will review the complaint but indicated it has already scrapped two of the programs.

Rutgers University remains firmly committed to equal protections afforded under law and rejects discrimination in all its forms. The university will closely review the complaint, but based on preliminary information, two of the scholarships are not administered by the university and the remaining two are no longer being awarded, the university said in a statement.

The group has challenged over 100 colleges and universities for 500 alleged discriminatory scholarships and programs. Robert Kalfus

As a best practice, the university continuously reviews its websites, programs, and practices to ensure compliance with federal and state law.

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The Equal Protection Project asked in the complaint that the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights promptly open a formal investigation, impose such remedial relief as the law permits for the benefit of those who have been illegally excluded from Rutgers various scholarships based on discriminatory criteria, and ensure that all ongoing and future scholarships and programming at Rutgers comports with the Constitution and federal civil rights laws.

The department has taken action against Columbia University and the City University of New York for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students from discrimination, leading to settlements.



The legal advocacy group has filed similar discrimination complaints or lawsuits against the New York State Education Department; State University of New York campuses including SUNY-Albany and SUNY-Buffalo Law; and Fordham University and Alfred University.



The group has challenged over 100 colleges and universities for 500 alleged discriminatory scholarships and programs.

Unfortunately, there is a culture on many campuses that excuses racial discrimination against white students. Racial discrimination in education is wrong and unlawful, no matter who benefits or who is harmed, Jacobson said.

The US Education Department had no immediate comment.
The city of Lehi is one step closer to receiving $2.5 million in federal funding for a critical congestion migration study, city officials announced Thursday.

For over seven years, we have been working on transportation solutions that will serve the entire region. We know what improvements need to be made, and this study is a big step in the federal process, said Lehi Mayor Mark Johnson.

Lehi city officials have been advocating in Washington, D.C., for the funding request to support a transportation study that would address growing traffic challenges, the city said. The studys funding was included in the fiscal year 2026 transportation, housing and urban development appropriation bills, which were recently approved by the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, city officials said in a statement.

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Lehis location along the I-15 corridor makes it a vital transit hub for northern Utah County, and rapid growth to the west in cities like Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain has significantly increased daily commuter traffic through the area. This increased demand has placed a strain on local infrastructure, reinforcing the need for long-term, data-driven solutions, the city statement said.

Utah Department of Transportation projects already in development include expanding Pioneer Crossing to include flex lanes and converting Mountain View Corridor and 2100 South into freeways to connect Salt Lake County to Utah County and I-15 to western Utah County. The Utah Transportation Commission in 2024 directed nearly $1.4 billion in new funds toward those projects.

The challenge is that the solutions are costly, and we must continue working to secure the necessary funding. Were grateful for the strong partnerships we have built with our representatives in D.C., and their support in helping us pursue federal resources, Johnson said.

The bill will need to be passed by the Senate and House to secure the funding for the city to move forward on a study analyzing transportation routes to create in-depth planning and analysis that will guide future projects aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and improving mobility for residents and commuters.

The Utah Department of Transportation and the Utah Transit Authority also recently advanced a nearly $1-billion light rail project to address increasing congestion and rapid growth in the corridor between Draper and Lehi. This proposal, however, elicited a strong response from Johnson, who said it was wrong for the city and failed to serve residents effectively.
Spare a thought for the demise of the prompt whisperer. Two years ago, companies were reportedly offering annual salaries of over $200,000 (150,000) to candidates who possessed this mysterious new elusive skill, which was also called prompt engineering.

Not any more, though  demand for the whisperers has crashed.

Look closer, and this anecdote reveals a lot more under the surface. For a start, it shows how obscurity can be lucrative. Prompt engineering turned out to be just a fancy name for the simplest task in the world: expressing a few words to a chatbot clearly in plain English.

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But by obfuscating this in jargon, consultants could then profit from all the confusion they had created.

The hucksters then popped up in your LinkedIn feed, either offering companies advice on how to hire whisperers, or how to acquire whispering skills yourself. In reality, it was a non-story.

Maybe they talked about the value of prompt engineers, but they werent then actually hiring for that, one consultant reflected earlier this year.

So fads come and go, and people profit from them. Nothing new here, you may argue. In the 19th century gold rush, Mark Twain is said to have observed that the smart people sold shovels, while the fools looked for gold  an observation much repeated during the dotcom boom. But today, the boom is all shovels, and theres no gold in sight.

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The story also illustrates on of the biggest mysteries of our time: the productivity puzzle. Huge amounts have been invested in new technology, but the output per employee stubbornly refuses to go up very much, if at all.

You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics, lamented economist Robert Solow in 1987. But with growth now so torpid, we need to ask it again, and get some answers this time.

Could it be that digital technology creates more bureaucracy than it destroys, and the creation of new and unproductive labour cancels out any real productivity gains? Is it all being splurged on silly tech fads?

Many economists find this acutely painful to discuss, as they overestimate the importance of technology in human progress, while downplaying the brilliant human creations that contribute to our advancement  things like markets and new instruments that pool risk, like the invention of the joint stock company and insurance.

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For whatever reason, once digital technology is embedded into the workplace, into a 21st century firm or organisation, the transformative potential just seems to vanish.

And where did all the new white-collar non-jobs come from? This taboo was explored by the late anthropologist and anarchist provocateur David Graeber, in his book Bulls--it Jobs: A Theory. These are jobs so pointless that the employees doing them dont think they should exist, but that employee and employer must both pretend are vitally important.

Graeber devised five categories of non-job, such as duct tapers, who fix things that dont need fixing, and taskmasters, who supervise people who dont need supervision. There were also ornamental flunkies and what he called goons, who could be found in public relations.

Corporate prestige depends on the size of your department, Graeber explained, so the more people you can hire, the more important you are. In a market which isnt really competitive, but pretends to be, this is not a game to play.

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Another proposition comes from the Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu, who argues we have excessive automation. Technology is used to cut costs, he argues, but doesnt improve productivity, and results in a huge societal cost, particularly to the working class.

Young, low-educated men have experienced a 15pc real wage decline since 1980. Customers are another loser here  few of us can come away from the self-checkout, or after spending hours on the phone to a utility or bank, and think were getting better service.

Then there are the legions of non-jobs that thrive on LinkedIn, the petri dish of the modern hustler, where people style themselves as influencers, engagement farmers, growth hackers and brand whisperers. And of course, the vast hordes of compliance apparatchiks to be found in human resources departments, and specifically diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Note how mystification and jargon is evident here too  the policing of workplace behaviour is conducted through intimidation. Chris Bayliss, an energy infrastructure consultant, recently described the powerful authority of DEI in the public sector for The Critic magazine.

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Progressive theories get such a strong foothold in local government, because off-the-shelf answers and convoluted terminology convey authority on the part of people who dont possess it naturally, he says. Just like the prompt whisperers, who nimbly jump from fad to fad.

In reality, it seems, we have two welfare states. The public one we already know, and its increasingly expensive to maintain, with over 9m economically inactive adults, according to the recent figures. This is funded through ever-rising taxes.

But another welfare state can be found in the private sector, and we all pay for it through higher prices and worse service. Perhaps this welfare system is a way of hiding surplus graduate labour  by paying people to do not very much in an office. But we need to recognise that there are costs.

In 1942, William Beveridge identified idleness as one of the five scourges of society. Whos going to peer into the modern organisation and tackle it there? We should have a thought shower and find out.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
It is often remarked that the United States has become a very uncivil society. In light of this, colleagues and I hosted a conference in July at the University of Kansas titled Civility and Politics in a Changing World. The conference brought together scholars in various academic fields from around the globe, including Spain, India, Australia and the United Kingdom.

During the wrap-up session, I confessed to my colleagues that I was dissatisfied. It seemed to me that we had missed an important aspect needed for understanding incivility  what causes it.

Many things can cause incivility. Some of these factors can be attributed to uncivil people, such as a lack of patience, anger management issues, being under sustained stress, not knowing how to disagree, or hatred for people who are not in their in-group. Other factors have to do with how our society is structured, and the frustrations that those structures can cause.

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More: President Trump is behaving like a dictator contrary to the U.S. Constitution | Opinion

Consider government. One of the key sources of incivility in public life is the lack of transparency and responsiveness on the part of some government officials. In my town, public comment at city commission meetings is limited to three minutes per person. Open commentary is reserved until the very end of meetings, and is no longer broadcast online by the city. A local newspaper provides that service.

The city commission formerly held open commentary at the beginning of meetings, but they thought that caused the meetings to run too long. So they switched to the very end. Because of cases of incivility, they stopped broadcasting open commentary. The mayor, who chairs meetings, has on occasion interrupted people during their three minutes at the expense of their time. Commissioners simply listen; they do not engage with the public. Written commentary for a meeting can be offered and is posted on the citys website.

Civility to others is an important ingredient in government and daily life. Columnist suggests we all learn to understand incivility  what causes it and how to lessen its impact.

The commission has reversed some of their own decisions. One such reversal came after the publication of newspaper articles by notable business leaders. Another came after a group protested a decision regarding a public swimming pool. One civic-minded person started a group, the Coalition for Collaborative Governance, to lobby for transparency with the budget. According to them, the city is facing a $6.5 million deficit for 2026.

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The latest issues are fees for residents' use of city recreational facilities and a program by the police department to use, on a voluntary basis, private residents' and businesses' security cameras to provide surveillance footage. One community activist has written that, The city should immediately pause this program  no registration, no streaming, no expansion  until there has been full public disclosure, democratic oversight and a formal vote.

Authoritarianism in government is expanding  not only in Washington, D.C., but at state and local levels. I am not suggesting that incivility in the face of this expansion is always justified. However, the lack of transparency and democratic processes can breed distrust, and makes it easier for people to become hostile toward government instead of hopeful.

Incivility is not always a matter of people behaving badly for no reason or because of anger management issues. It can be an expression of frustration when elected officials fail in their duty to serve the public. Sometimes incivility can be, to use a phrase from the late Rep. John Lewis, good trouble.

Nancy E. Snow

Nancy E. Snow is a professor of philosophy at the University of Kansas. She formerly was a philosophy professor at the University of Oklahoma and director of the Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lack of transparency in government one cause of incivility | Opinion
Now that the big ugly bill is the law of the land, what are the health consequences?

This year, veterans will have a longer wait time for treatment and may have to travel further to get it. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, the number of veterans living in Berks County is 7,719. Cuts made to nutrition benefits are hitting children, people with disabilities and seniors the hardest. In Berks there are 8,185 recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The biggest cuts will come from Medicaid, and 17,967 Berks Medicaid beneficiaries may find their health insurance ripped from them in 2026. The Congressional Budget Office estimates higher premiums for the Affordable Care Act will push 4.7 million off that plan. The GOP bill does not include the Biden subsidies for the ACA, which will eliminate another 4 million from the program. Nationwide the bill is projected to remove 18 million from the health care rolls.

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Why are the health care cuts taking effect after the 2026 election? While this bill was being prepared the Republicans claimed they could achieve President Donald Trumps promised savings by eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. It was a lie, of course, but it kept the voters confused.

Once voters find out how badly they were betrayed, it will be too late to take their anger out on the Republicans in 2026. Many GOP leaders believe as Sen. Mitch McConnell stated that the voters would forget about it come the 2028 election. Rep. Dan Meuser and Sen. Dave McCormick are hoping they do.

Tom Posey

Yardley, Bucks County
Nobodys opinion is any better, or any worse, than their sources of information. The disinformation and lies that people are willing to swallow is terrifying. Fox News paid $787 million for knowingly lying over 700 times. It is still the number one cable news station.

Morality used to matter. Did voters who elected President Donald Trump know, or care, that he cheated on all three wives, was convicted of 34 financial felonies. That he was found liable for sexual assault and defamation.

Trumps business was convicted on 17 counts of tax fraud, he declared bankruptcy six times and his charity and university were shut down for fraud. He has 12 indictments still pending for attempting to overthrow the 2020 election, and another 40 for mishandling hundreds of classified documents.

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Not one of Hillary Clintons emails ever leaked.

Trump says hes making America safer by deporting illegal immigrants. But hes also deporting legal immigrants. Theyre not criminals, theyre just brown. Cruelty is the point. But he turned loose almost 1,600 legally convicted criminals. Over 600 convictions were for violently attacking law officers. Law and order has become a joke, but taxpayer funded private prisons are making a fortune.

Many Trump supporters claim theyre Christians, but Christ said we should love our neighbors and welcome strangers.

Now every day is a new TV reality show, starring Trump. Elected Republicans are his supporting actors and bit players. Any who dont play their part get kicked off his stage. So far, theyre all bowing.

MaryEllen Davidson

Reading
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  If you visit Monica Terry at her Nicholasville salon, Keeping It Fresh at Monicas, youre going to walk out with a fresh haircut, just like the name promises.

But Sunday evening was a little different. Instead of haircuts, kids got some fresh kicks.

I had a child that was like, Well, I just went to school and Im fresh and everybody doesnt have fresh shoes on, and they look raggedy,' said Monica Terry, owner of Keeping It Fresh at Monicas. Im like, Baby, everybody cant afford it. Youre blessed. And so I just decided, like, you know what? Im going to show you better than I can tell you. So Ill show you that people really need this and its a necessity.

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Terry partnered with Project Ricochets Barber Shop Initiative for its second annual Back-to-School Shoe Giveaway that was set up in the parking lot outside of Terrys salon.

The event is a way to help kids start the school year off right, from head to toe.

We believe barber and beauty shops are big sectors within the community, said Bilal El-Amin, project manager for Project Ricochets African American Barbershop & Beauty Salon Public Health Initiative (BBSI). So we feel like its a place where we can connect to many different people, diverse communities, and things of that sort.

This is a big part of expense for the parents, Terry added. So we like to just give back and let them not have to worry sometimes.

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With more than 400 new pairs of shoes to choose from, families had plenty of options.

But the event wasnt just limited to shoes. There were also clothes, on-site health information, pizza, and freshly grown foods.

Having this and providing this is just another easy way for them not to have to think about something, at least for the day. It might not spread out for the whole entire week, but at least for the day, the kids will have shoes, clothing, and other resources that they have. Food is a major resource to all of that, Tatum Lewis, coordinator for Project Ricochets Farm Rx Program, told FOX 56.

And for the Mrvichin family, the event made a meaningful difference.

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We recently moved here from Arizona in June, and we are waiting for our stuff on the moving truck to arrive, said Hannah Mrvichin. And so were kind of working with what weve got.

Child severely injured in Lexington overnight shooting near churches, restaurant

With the new school year just a week away, sisters Liana and Alexi Mrvichin were able to check one thing off their to-do list.

Project Ricochet will have another back-to-school event from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday, August 11. There will be free haircuts at Well Groomed Barbershop Parlor for kids in eighth grade and under.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
While Pulpit Rock is the open space's centerpiece, Pulpit Valley Loop also showcases the quiet beauty here between the city bustle.
Forget, Florida  come out East!

Suffolk County will offer tax breaks to Big Apple companies to relocate there if Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor of New York City, the Long Island regions top official said Sunday.

If Mr. Mamdani wins, Im going to encourage many of the corporations that do business in New York City [to] come to Suffolk about 70 miles east, County Executive Ed Romaine said on WABC 770 AMs Cats Roundtable show.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine is urging New York City corporations to relocate to Suffolk if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor. Dennis A. Clark

Were going to give them tax breaks. Theyre going to be able to do better, Romaine told host John Catsimatidis.

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Romaine made his alluring pitch to CEOs after Catsimatidis told him that Florida officials are trying to recruit Big Apple CEOs to relocate their firms to the Sunshine State, where many New York transplants already live.

Romaine said theres no need to travel that far south.

Come out to Suffolk, Romaine said.

Romaine, a Republican, said he doesnt believe that Mamdani, currently a 33-year-old state assemblyman representing Astoria and western Queens, has the experience and wisdom to run the nations largest metropolis.

Mamdani has proposed raising taxes on billionaires and corporations in the city. LP Media

He noted that Mamdanis proposed free-bus fare program for the city sounds great  but said someone has to pay for it.

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Mamdani has proposed $9 billion in higher taxes on billionaires and corporations to subsidize such initiatives as free bus fares, expanded free childcare and more affordable housing.

Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Posts signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here!

The taxpayers who pay the taxes, how much are they going to put up with? Romaine said.

He said New York state is already suffering from an exodus because of the high cost of living that includes hefty taxes.

Mamdani campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec responded in a statement to The Post, Working people are being pushed out of the city they built, and its because of corrupt politicians like [former Gov.] Andrew Cuomo and [current Mayor] Eric Adams, who are running against her boss in November.

Zohran will make this city affordable, and deliver a quality of life that ensures New York City is a magnet for workers, businesses, and opportunity, the rep said.
Nathan Simington

By Josh Kosman

Republican FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington was uncomfortable approving Skydances controversial acquisition of CBS parent Paramount Global, and his resignation may have cleared the path for the merger, a DC FCC insider believed.

The Federal Communications Commission on July 24 approved the Skydance-Paramount merger which is expected to get completed this week.

Simington on June 6 resigned from the FCC just weeks before there was a vote on whether to approve the Ellison-controlled Skydances $8 billion merger and the transfer of its 28 CBS-owned station broadcast licenses.

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Until last month Simington was a swing vote, though most were not aware of it.

I think Simington was in a difficult position, the source told CorpGov. He didnt care for the theatrics.

He was finding the whole thing awkward.

That included Trumps suit against Paramount that resulted in a $16 million settlement that was largely seen as necessary first before FCC approval.

And the other concession Skydance made was to place a monitor at CBS to examine complaints of editorial bias for two years. The cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was possibly another one, according to reports.

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Simington was frustrated with the FCC and its unusual handling of the Paramount merger and felt he was shut out of the process, a source who spoke recently with the former Republican Commissioner told CorpGov.

He didnt like the way things were going.

Simington is 45 years old, his wife is a piano teacher, and the couple who have children also felt they could use the extra income he would get from working in the private sector, the source said

Simington does not like conditions placed on mergers  perhaps including the cancellation of the Stephen Colbert show.

After Simington resigned, the US Senate quickly approved Republican Olvia Trusty to replace him by a 53-to-45 margin.

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It is time for a change, FCC Chair Brendan Carr said after the FCC voted two-to-one to approve the merger referring to the appointment of the CBS monitor. That is why I welcome Skydances commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network.

Simington does not like conditions put on mergers, the DC insider said.

He is more libertarian than MAGA, a former FCC commissioner said.

So much so that Simington also doesnt like the FCC fining people.

In fact, Simington in August 2024 voted against Carr saying it was unclear if the Commission could levy fines in a separate FCC case.

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One could argue that Paramounts $16 million payment to President Trump over the lightly edited Kamala Harris interview on 60 Minutes was if not a bribe, at least a fine.

When the US Senate questioned Simington before confirming him as an FCC Commissioner on Nov. 10, 2020, he asserted his independence.

I acknowledge and fully agree that it would be inappropriate for the FCC to help any party (whether the White House or otherwise) to retaliate against any other party for any reason whatsoever, he told the US Senate.

Our Founding Fathers protected this sacred right with the First Amendment to the Constitution. The freedom to express and debate ideas is the foundation for all of our rights as a free people. If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed, I will be an impartial and independent voice on the Commission and follow the law regardless of the political context, Simington said.

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When we are talking about a CBS monitor it strikes me as influencing the media and we are heading down a road of kissing our democracy goodbye, former Democratic FCC Chair Michael Copps told CorpGov. The FCC now is nothing but designed to do what the White House wants.

To be clear, Simington likely would have approved Skydances acquisition of Paramount if there were no conditions attached, the insider said.

If none of this happened, he would have been a reliable yes, the source told CorpGov.

Brendan Carr

I cannot support this order approving this transaction in light of the payout and other troubling concessions Paramount made to settle a baseless lawsuit, Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez in her dissent said.

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Carr said the FCC was not influenced by Trumps settlement.

The mystery of Simingtons resignation deepens when considering an odd April hire.

Simington had wanted to leave the FCC for some time as Carr was doing everything essentially by himself without including him, a Democratic FCC source said, but he made a big hire just a few months before resigning.

Simington added 31-year-old MAGA firebrand Gavin Wax as his Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor. Wax is a Trump loyalist who headed the New York Young Republicans Club.

Total MAGA and no FCC related experience, the Democratic source said.

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Once President Trump is back in office, Wax in 2023 reportedly said, we wont be playing nice anymore. It will be a time for retribution.

Then, oddly, Simington started writing editorials with Wax espousing very Trumpian views. Simington had written op-eds before, including on November 24, 2024, for The Hill, but never with a co-writer, an FCC insider told CorpGov.

A commissioner does not usually write an op-ed with his staff, the source who spoke to Simington said.

Simington was seen as more nerd than firebrand, the Democratic FCC source said.

Trump has once again thrown down the gauntlet against the corporate mediathis time by taking CBS to court, a May 1 op-ed in the National Pulse from Simington and Wax said. His bold litigation has exposed what millions of Americans already know: the mainstream media is not a neutral institution, but a political weapon used to silence, smear, and control. But we must go beyond the courtroom to move from outrage to reform. Its time to hit fake news where it hurts most: financially.

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Then there was a May 9 op-ed from both saying the FCC needed to reduce its staff and implement DOGE-like reforms.

On July 22 Wax said on X, Big congratulations to President Trump on his massive victory against CBS, Paramount and 60 Minutes.

Simington did make efforts on his own to court the MAGA wing.

In November, he said publicly that government funded discount broadband for low-income households should not be available to undocumented immigrants.

Since resigning, he has also said Wax would be a good FCC Commissioner. There are now two open positions (a full FCC would have five voting members).

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Trump nominated Simington to the FCC in the closing days of his first term in November 2020 shortly after the Canadian became a US citizen and pushed hard for his confirmation.

Olivia Trusty

Late last year there was some belief Simington, who had worked at the Department of Commerce in Trumps first term, might be in line to be the FCC Chair.

Simington was closer to Trump, a media executive said. Carr didnt know Trump.

Still, Republican FCC Commissioner Carr long coveted the Chairmanship but did not know the President, sources told CorpGov.

Carr booked a dinner ticket at Mar-A-Lago and waited in the hallway for Trump [shortly after the 2024 Presidential election].

He introduced himself to Trump and said he would make a great Chair.

Id like the job. Im your man!

The charismatic Carr, whose father Thomas was a white-collar defense attorney who once represented President Nixon, got the position.

Sometimes, the guy who is not as close to you works twice as hard to prove they are the right person, the media executive said.

Now, Simington is a visiting fellow at the conservative-leaning Hudson Institute.

Simington, the FCC, and Chair Carr did not return messages.

Read more from Josh Kosman at https://joshonbusiness.substack.com

Contact

CorpGov

www.CorGov.com

Editor@CorpGov.com

The post Libertarian FCC Commissioner Was Believed to Be Uncomfortable with Paramount Deal: Exclusive appeared first on CorpGov.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County announced Monday that it will temporarily adjust the hours at one of its branches following an internal review of security measures after an incident two weeks ago.

As a follow-up to the security incident involving a person with a sword that occurred on July 25, the Michael Kusalaba Library will temporarily operate under adjusted hours to ensure enhanced staffing during peak times.

The updated schedule is as follows:

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Monday & Tuesday: 9 a.m.  8 p.m.

Wednesday  Saturday: 9 a.m.  5:30 p.m.

This temporary change is intended to increase staff presence during high-traffic periods, according to a release from the library. At this time, the duration of the updated schedule has yet to be determined.

PLYMC will evaluate the effectiveness of these revised hours and decide on their continuation later, the library release states.

The library says it will also conduct a comprehensive, system-wide security review across all locations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential has suspended the license of a family child care home near Zeeland and has issued a notice of intent to revoke the license.

Carolyn DeBoer operated the home on Riley Street near 100th Avenue, MiLEAP said. The complaint investigation concluded on Thursday and found the following violations, according to the department:

Failure to act in a manner that is conducive to the welfare of children

Failure to provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times

Failure to securely store dangerous and hazardous items out of the reach of children

Failure to operate within licensed capacity and ratio rules

Failure to comply with safe sleep rules for infants

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MiLEAP said DeBoer is prohibited from operating the family child care home in Holland Township or at any other location. The order took effect Friday at 6 p.m.

Accordingly, DeBoer may not accept children for care after that date and time. The order also requires the licensee to inform all parents of children in her care that the license has been suspended and that she can no longer provide child care, MiLEAP said in a release.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo.  A woman from Moscow Mills, Missouri, has been charged for fraudulently obtaining over $30,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

According to court documents, Kristin Kilgore, 55, allegedly made false statements about her household income to obtain the SNAP benefits from March 2021 through September 2024.

Police said Kilgore made false statements to the Family Support Division during recorded interviews and submitted documents that did not include all household income.

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Some students will be exempt from new student phone ban

Kilgore was residing with Jason Kilgore, who earned income from two drug packaging and medical supply companies, which she did not report.

Court documents state Kilgore intentionally did not report the additional income to FSD and received $30,054 in SNAP benefits and an additional $2,878 in Medicaid coverage.

Kilgores fraud was discovered on April 18, 2025, and she was served a warrant for her arrest on Jul. 30. She was charged with two counts of stealing $750 or more and one count of forgery.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas confirmed his resignation on Monday, forcing the resignation of the entire government in line with the country's constitution.

Paluckas, 45, had announced on Thursday he would step down in response to allegations of dubious business dealings and conflicts of interest, which sparked public protests and calls for his departure, including from one of his two coalition partners in the centre-left government.

He has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as politically motivated attacks by his opponents.

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Paluckas has now formally informed President Gitanas Nauseda of his resignation. The president has since appointed Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius to lead the interim government until a new Cabinet is confirmed.

Paluckas also stepped down as leader of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), which is the strongest force in parliament. Nauseda has already met with the party's new leader.

Nauseda now has 15 days to propose a candidate for prime minister to parliament. The LSDP plans to select its candidate to succeed Paluckas on Wednesday.
Scroll through social media and you will see multiple accounts where farmers are turning their talents to filming.

Some are angry, campaigning against government policies, or informative, keen to show followers the impact of climate change on their daily lives.

But many say they just want to show people the reality of their trade.

High on the Marlborough Downs, Mike Wilkins was testing his winter barley when I met him, breaking off their ears and grinding them in a small machine to see how dry the grain is.

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As he worked, he explained everything to his phone camera, set up on the bonnet of his dusty farm truck.

"Now the moment of truth," he smiled to the camera, with a touch of drama.

"We need under 15% and... (pause for effect)... it's 13.9!

"So that's fantastic, we can go harvesting!"

Cue music, and a fast cut sequence of aerial shots of the combine, cutting through the barley.

This, he explained, was Episode 19 of "What we've been up to on the farm", a series of 90 second short films, covering everything from haymaking and barley planting, to piglets, goats and the farm ducks.

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Mr Wilkins is unusually natural on camera, happily introducing an episode while bottle-feeding two lambs.

But then, he was a contestant on the Great British Bake Off, so he's not your typical farmer.

But his intent is the same as the thousands of farmers who now stream their farming lives on social media.

Mr Wilkins shows his social media followers fresh ears of barley [BBC]

"People are so interested now in where their food comes from," Mr Wilkins explained.

"So it's nice for them to have something direct from the farmer's mouth, literally. What we're doing and how and why we're doing it."

Scrolling through TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and the other platforms, I found hundreds of farmers having a go.

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There are videos of tractors in Westminster, protesting the government's changes to farm grants and taxes and plenty of dramatic shots of fields on fire, dried out by the record dry spring.

But Mr Wilkins tends to avoid the thornier issues on his feed.

"All of those things are really important," he said, "but what we do every day matters too.

"I think people think farmers complain all the time, but actually we farm because we love it, and I genuinely love every single day.

"It's nice to be able to get across that passion and the positivity about all the great things we're doing too."

Ancient and modern: Chloe Burke flies her drone to film the tractors at work [BBC]

Down on the Mendip hills in Somerset, Farmer Dom Northmore was driving his tractor when I met him and topping out some overgrown weeds on a pasture, like generations of farmers have done before him here.

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But in a new twist, one of the farmhands was launching a drone, to film it all

"People love the drone," said Chloe Burke.

"We like to get the drone out, see what it's looking like from the sky, and then we can, like, post it on our social media."

Miss Burke has casually become the social media manager for Lane End Farm.

Owners Dom and Rachel Northmore had actually tried hiring a professional firm, from Bristol.

"It didn't really work," Mrs Northmore explained. "They just didn't get it, it wasn't authentic."

Miss Burke already worked on the farm every day, driving the tractor, haymaking, helping with the horses, sheep, ducks and goats and as a typical 25-year-old, she was posting films on her own account.

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Mrs Northmore realised they were much more authentic, so now they make all the videos together as they go along.

"It's all about fun", say Dom and Rachel Northmore, with their 'social media manager' Chloe Burke. [BBC]

"I don't really have a plan, If I see something fun, I just film it," said Miss Burke.

They said haymaking videos have done well for them this year, reaching thousands of people as many farmers bemoaned the low yields and the long, dry spring.

Mr Northmore agreed that their fields have produced less hay too, but the films are just a celebration of the craft.

"We got some really good ones of raking up and baling," Miss Burke said.

"Everyone really liked the videos of stacking the bales and bringing them in, that was the favourite, a big hit."

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They mainly post on TikTok, where the vibe is very much short fun-packed videos, rather than lengthy explanations of farming practices.

Underneath the fun, Mr Northmore hopes there is a serious benefit as well.

He said: "It's hard to get on to a farm these days, and with social media thousands of people can see it all, and it's a great way to feel a bit more connected."

Robin Aird has agreed to have "combine cam" fitted to his harvester to be streamed live across the UK [BBC]

In the same spirit, the BBC's Farmwatch project will be dipping into countless farms across the country, on Thursday August 7.

On a farm near Malmesbury in Wiltshire, Robin Aird is preparing to have his combine harvester streamed live across the country as he cuts his corn.

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Mr Aird agreed to have BBC cameras fixed to his combine as he gathers in this year's harvest.

"We hope to show people just what harvest involves, and they'll be able to ask us questions live in the cab too, which will be fun," he said.

It's part of a BBC project called Farmwatch, when for 24 hours journalists across Britain will shine a light on farming.

Mr Aird's combine harvester will, weather willing, be harvesting all day, live on the website.

Reporters will be sharing their days on local radio and BBC Sounds, and there are even some job swaps with farmer Mike Wilkins as one of the presenters on a special evening show on BBC Local Radio.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday directed the arrests of state House Democrats who fled the Lone Star State for blue states in an effort to stop the GOPs redistricting legislation.

Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, Abbott said in a statement. By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief. There are consequences for dereliction of duty.

Earlier, he had threatened to remove them from office if they dont show up to work. That prompted a strong reaction from Democrats, who left Texas to keep the chamber from reaching a quorum to allow a vote.

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We, the Democratic contingent, we are paying attention to what our constituents are demanding of us, Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones (D) said at a press conference with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in Albany on Monday.

Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a radio interview on Monday that hes confident the Republicans will accomplish their redistricting goal. Eventually they are going to have to come back. They have jobs and families, he said.

The Texas Democrats had fanned out across blue states, including Illinois and New York, where those states governors have vowed to stand with them in their effort to prevent new congressional maps from being approved.

Meanwhile, President Trump said Sunday he would appoint a new statistician this week after firing the Bureau of Labor Statistics chief Friday following dramatic revisions in recent jobs reports.

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And he weighed in on the culture war swirling around a controversial Sydney Sweeney ad for jeans. Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Its for American Eagle, and the jeans are flying off the shelves. Go get em Sydney! Trump said on Truth Social.

Catch up here:

Follow along here all day for updates.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Texas House Democrats have fled the state to block Republicans from redrawing congressional districts in a bid to flip five U.S. House seats held by Democrats. Their departure deprives the Texas Legislatures lower chamber from the number of members needed to pass legislation and leaves the current special legislative session in limbo.

Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from office, an unprecedented escalation in Republicans efforts to resume business in the Legislature and advance new congressional districts. Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have threatened to initiate removal proceedings against all Democrats who fled.

Texas Democrats are in Illinois, Massachusetts and New York to discuss their options with governors and legislators sympathetic to their case. In Austin, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, has said that all options are on the table to compel Democrats to return or punish them for their absence.

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Republicans introduced a new congressional map last week, which passed through a committee early Saturday. Democrats left before the redistricting bill could receive a full floor vote.

Bomb threat made at Texas House Democrats hotel, members say

Aug. 6, 2025 at 10:53 a.m.

Texas House Democrats said a bomb threat was made at the hotel outside of Chicago where they are staying, prompting an evacuation Wednesday morning.

We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu of Houston, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Rep. Ramon Romero of Fort Worth and Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair Rep. Barbara Gervin Hawkins of San Antonio said in a joint statement.

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We are grateful for Governor Pritzker, local, and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety."

Some members including state Reps. John Bucy of Austin and Ann Johnson of Houston also blamed the rhetoric from Texas Republican leaders, such as Attorney General Ken Paxton, for the threat.

Paxton told his supporters to 'hunt us down'  but we won't be silenced, Johnson said in a post on X.

The attorney generals office didnt immediately respond to a comment request.

 Alex Nguyen

Abbott asks Texas Supreme Court to expel House Democratic leader

Aug. 5, 2025 at 9:03 p.m.

In an unprecedented escalation in GOP efforts to resume legislative business and redraw congressional districts, Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from office.

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Wu said the Democrats would stay out of the state long enough to allow the special legislative session's remaining two weeks to run out. In his legal filing, Abbott argued that amounts to an abandonment of office and is sufficient grounds to have Wus seat vacated.

What is at stake here? Nothing less than the future of Texas, Abbott wrote. If a small fraction of recalcitrant lawmakers choose to run out the clock today, they can do so for any, and every, Regular or Special Session, potentially bankrupting the State in an attempt to get their way.

Wu argued that denying a quorum "was not an abandonment of my office," but "a fulfillment of my oath" of office to abide by the Constitution.

"When a governor conspires with a disgraced president to ram through a racist gerrymandered map, my constitutional duty is to not be a willing participant," Wu said in a statement, in which he accused Abbott of seeking to "silence my dissent by removing a duly-elected official from office."

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 Eleanor Klibanoff

Paxton says he'll ask court to declare vacancies in seats of absent Dems

Aug. 5, 2025 at 2:24 p.m.

A private plane headed to Chicago sits on the tarmac after loading luggage at Signature Aviation in Austin with Texas Democratic legislators headed to Illinois August 3, 2025. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott has warned Texas House Democrats that he would initiate removal proceedings if they do not return to Austin to pass the GOPs proposed new congressional maps.

The Republican governors Sunday threat came after more than 50 Democrats left the state Sunday afternoon so the Texas House would not have the necessary number of members present to pass legislation.

This truancy ends now, Abbott said in a letter sent to each of the departed members, telling them to return to the Texas Capitol by 3 p.m. Monday.

In threatening to remove the elected officials from office, Abbott cited a nonbinding 2021 legal opinion from Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said it would be up to a court to decide whether a lawmaker who had left the state to deny quorum had forfeited their office.

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 Eleanor Klibanoff

DNC chair: More blue states could consider redistricting

Aug. 5, 2025 at 12:52 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Al Green, right, listens as Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, surrounded by members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, speaks during a press conference at Painters District Council 30 in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said on Tuesday that more Democratic governors around the country could consider mid-decade redistricting in retaliation for Texas' plan.

"Every governor and other electeds are going to have to make their own decisions about what they do," Martin said after appearing at a news conference Tuesday with Texas Democrats. "All of them feel, as I do, that this is a serious matter that requires us to put every option on the table."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have already said they are looking at plans to redraw their states' congressional maps to further advantage Democrats.

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Martin also said that the DNC was committed to "doing everything we can to help resource" Texas Democrats during their walkout. He dismissed claims by Gov. Greg Abbott that Democrats, in addition to anyone fundraising or donating to their cause, could be committing felony bribery crimes.

"Every one of these veiled threats that he has made is an empty threat," Martin said about Abbott.

"There are millions of people around the country who are giving money to this cause right now because they're sick and tired of this despotic, authoritarian regime basically doing whatever the hell they want to run roughshod on our Constitution and the rights of Americans," he added. "So you know what? Bring it.

 Kayla Guo

Trump says GOP entitled to more Texas seats

Aug. 5, 2025 at 8:54 a.m.

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President Donald Trump said Republicans are entitled to more congressional seats in Texas in a Tuesday morning interview on CNBC.

I won Texas, Trump said. I got the highest vote in the history of Texas. And we are entitled to five more seats.

Trump last year had the highest-ever number of votes in a presidential election in Texas, whose number of voters have grown along with its overall population. But Trump didnt set a record for his margin of victory in Texas.

Trump pushed Texas Republicans to pursue mid-decade congressional redistricting, including personally lobbying Gov. Greg Abbott on the issue. Texas pursuit of more GOP-friendly seats spurred state House Democrats to flee the state to block the Legislature from passing new maps. The redistricting effort has also kicked off a redistricting arms race between red and blue states around the country.

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In the CNBC interview, Trump praised Abbott and lambasted Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat who helped Texas House Democrats coordinate the logistics of their trip to Illinois and has participated in press conferences with them.

Calling Pritzker, the dumbest of all governors, Trump said Democrats fleeing to Illinois, where Democrats drew a congressional map that heavily favors their party, was hypocritical.

They go to Illinois for safety, but thats all gerrymandered, he said.

Trump further complained about the lack of Republican congressional representation in states like California and Massachusetts, despite winning close to 40% of the vote, echoing comments made by Vice President JD Vance.

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Trump won 56% of the 2024 presidential vote in Texas. Under the current map, Republicans hold two-thirds of Texas congressional seats; the new map aims to raise that to 79%.

 Gabby Birenbaum

Dems who remain earn an audience with the speaker

Aug. 4, 2025 at 10:05 p.m.

This article was adapted from our premium politics newsletter, The Blast, which delivers exclusive reporting, nonpartisan analysis and the first word on political moves across the state. Subscribe today.

At least six Texas House Democrats are in Austin, as sergeants fan out to bring truant members back to the Capitol.

Speaker Pro Tempore Joe Moody, D-El Paso, checked in at the quorum call. So did Democratic Reps. Terry Canales of Edinburg, Oscar Longoria of Mission, Armando Martinez of Weslaco and Richard Raymond of Laredo. Sergio Munoz of Mission failed to register present but was on the floor. Multiple members say Bobby Guerra of Mission was also in the Capitol.

Canales and at least two other Democrats have met with Speaker Dustin Burrows to talk about what sort of changes we could institute to the maps, Canales told The Blast. During his press conference later, Burrows declined to comment on his conversations with Democrats, and the speakers office did not confirm Canales claim.

Theres different ways to fight, and one of them is to show up and try to negotiate, Canales said.

Canales told The Blast he cant leave because he has five children and, as a practicing attorney, he has court obligations.

I applaud what my colleagues are doing and I stand with them, but leaving is not an option for me, Canales said.

He added that the outcome is inevitable, that the quorum break will eventually end, and that its important for some members to remain to keep a dialogue with the speaker.

For what its worth, Canales predicted that the House wont have a quorum tomorrow.

 Renzo Downey

Texas lawmakers seek support of Democratic governors

Aug. 4, 2025 at 8:27 p.m.

Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, speaks during a press conference with members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, on Monday called on Democratic governors from New Jersey, Maryland, Washington and Oregon to lend their support to Texas Democrats in their fight against a new congressional map designed to give the GOP five new congressional seats next year.

We are going to match Donald Trumps energy when it comes to redistricting, Veasey said at a news conference in Illinois on the first full day of the Democrats walkout from Austin, a move meant to bring the Texas House to a standstill and delay adoption of the map. We are not going to unilaterally disarm, and thats whats different this time around.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York have already indicated their interest in taking up mid-decade redistricting in their states as retaliation for Texas plan, which was demanded by Trump ahead of a potentially difficult midterm election for Republicans next year.

Texas Democrats at Mondays news conference reiterated their determination to fight the effort, adding that they were representing their constituents by walking out on the ongoing special session. Republicans have blasted Democrats for leaving Texas, suggesting that they are abdicating their duties as elected officials.

Were not running away  were running into the fight, state Rep. John Bucy of Austin said. This isnt political theater. Its survival, because if we lose the power to choose our leaders, we lose everything.

 Kayla Guo

Anti-redistricting protesters target Governors Mansion

Aug. 4, 2025 at 6:56 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, speaks to protestors at a rally outside the Governor's Mansion in Austin on Aug. 4, 2025. Credit: Ronaldo Bolanos/The Texas Tribune

More than 100 people picketed in front of the governor's mansion Monday night in protest of what some demonstrators described as the latest escalation from Republican state leaders to silence members of the state's minority party and the people they represent.

Led by U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, the crowd marched in circles in a parking lot in front of Gov. Greg Abbott's home chanting and waving signs with messages like: "Fight The Trump Takeover," "Put Texans First," and "Hey Greg Come and Take It."

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, also joined the demonstration.

Susan Nayak, a 56-year-old Austinite, helped hold up a banner at the foot of the steps leading to the governor's mansion, whose gates had been shut.

"He's taking away the voice of the people," Nayak said. "I would like them to withdraw this illegal redistricting and not go after the Democrats for trying to call attention to their illegal activities."

Across the way stood Cliff Kaplan with an alfaia drum, concerned about what he said was an escalating division in the state's politics. He banged the drum, ringing a hollow sound, as the crowd marched in front of him.

"The state of Texas in this case appears to be putting the president's interests ahead of Texas'," Kaplan, of Austin, said.

 Alejandro Serrano

Lawmakers have a long list of unfinished business

Aug. 4, 2025 at 4:38 p.m.

The Texas House of Representative chamber on Aug. 4, 2025. Credit: Ronaldo Bolanos/The Texas Tribune

Redistricting was not the only matter facing Texas lawmakers before House Democrats left the state Sunday. Gov. Greg Abbott, in calling lawmakers back to Austin this summer, gave them a lengthy to-do list. Most is unresolved.

Most notable is the states response to the July 4 Hill Country floods. Also on the agenda is:

Regulating THC

Limiting property taxes

Cracking down on abortion pills

Eliminating the STAAR test

Abbotts office did not immediately respond to questions about whether he plans to call additional special sessions later this year if Democrats run out the clock on the current session, scheduled to end on Aug. 19. The governor is authorized to call as many special sessions as he wants. And he has called several in the past. In 2023, he called four.

Continue reading here.

 Colleen DeGuzman

Burrows, Abbott vow to track down Democrats

Aug. 4, 2025 at 4:26 p.m.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows speaks at a news conference Monday after the chamber failed to reach a quorum to do business. Most Democrats in the chamber left the state to block Republicans from approving a map that would redraw the state's congressional boundaries. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

Texas Republican leaders on Monday vowed to track down and arrest more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block the GOP from redrawing the states congressional boundaries.

Shortly after 3 p.m., state House members voted to give House Speaker Dustin Burrows the power to issue civil warrants for each of the legislators, which in turn empowers the chambers sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest and bring them to the Capitol.

The Democrats will not face civil or criminal charges from the arrests. And the warrants apply on in Texas, making them mostly symbolic. Most Democrats who left the state are in Illinois, New York and Massachusetts.

Democrats left the state Sunday afternoon to deny the House a quorum  the number of people necessary for the chamber to advance legislation  and delay passage of a new congressional map. A vote by the entire chamber was expected today.

The House used the same tactic to try to force Democrats back to work in 2021, when a majority of them left for Washington, D.C., to protest GOP voting restrictions. Some of the lawmakers challenged the warrants in court, obtaining an injunction against arrests that was later struck down by the Texas Supreme Court.

Gov. Greg Abbott reaffirmed his commitment to bring the Democrats back. saying in a statement he had mobilized the Texas Department of Public Safety to assist in the effort to bring the missing members back to the chamber.

Continue reading the story here.

 Eleanor Klibanoff

New York governor pledges redistricting retribution

Aug. 4, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.

Appearing alongside five Texas House Democrats in Albany, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she and Democratic state legislators there are exploring ways to quickly pursue mid-decade redistricting.

Hochul slammed the Texas redistricting effort as a racist attempt to disenfranchise voters of color and hold onto congressional power. Calling out Abbott and Republican President Donald Trump, who pushed for the mid-decade redistricting, she said redrawing districts now is legal insurrection  meaning Republicans are using the legal process  meant to drag us towards authoritarianism.

New York has an independent redistricting commission which would be legislatively complicated to undo. But Hochul said the Texas threat is dangerous enough to warrant abandoning the principle of independent map-drawing. New York, she said, should not have to abide by rules that Republican states do not have.

I cannot ignore that the playing field has changed overnight, she said. Shame on us if we ignore that fact and cling tight to the vestiges of the past. That era is over. Donald Trump eliminated that forever.

To do so, New York Democrats are exploring a constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to redraw congressional maps if another state pursues it first. It would need to pass through the Legislature twice and then be approved by voters in a ballot referendum, meaning new maps could not be used until the 2028 election cycle  a full cycle later than Texas, if the Texas Legislature is able to pass its redistricting bill. That would coincide with the next presidential election.

Hochul also said that the Texas House Democrats in Albany plan to leave New York this afternoon, though they did not say what their next destination will be.

At the press conference, Texas Democrats panned the notion that Abbott or any other Texas Republican could compel them to return or arrest them for leaving.

State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, said denying a quorum is not a felony.

Respectfully, hes making up some shit, Jones said.  Hes trying to get soundbites, and he has no legal mechanism. And if he did, subpoenas from Texas dont work in New York.

 Gabby Birenbaum

Republican map could take five U.S. House seats from Democrats

Aug. 4, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.

The Texas Houses redistricting committee approved a proposed congressional map Saturday that could flip five U.S. House seats currently held by Democrats. The proposed new district boundaries target Democratic members in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas.

The 12-6 vote to send the proposal to the full Texas House fell along party lines and came after the committee heard from Texans who are largely opposed to the plan. That vote happened after Republicans acknowledged they are redrawing the congressional map to advantage Republican candidates, setting aside a legal justification offered by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Different from everyone else, Im telling you, Im not beating around the bush, said state Rep. Todd Hunter, the Corpus Christi Republican carrying the bill. We have five new districts, and these five new districts are based on political performance.

Currently, Republicans hold 25 of Texas 38 House seats. Trump carried 27 of those districts in 2024, including those won by Democratic U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen.

 Eleanor Klibanoff, Kayla Guo and Gabby Birenbaum
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The man convicted of killing four people  including the son of state Rep. Shaundelle Brooks (D-Hermitage)  in the Antioch Waffle House shooting seven years ago is asking for a new trial.

Brooks sons, Abede and Akilah Dasilva, were both at the Waffle House during the 2018 mass shooting, but only Abede survived.

I came out there, the first thing I [saw] was the magazine, people laying there, Abede recalled.

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Abede said going to Waffle House that day was supposed to be a celebratory moment after he and Akilah finished their new music video, but then he heard the gunshots.

PREVIOUS: Convicted Waffle House mass shooter requests new trial, citing mental illness and legal missteps

Travis Reinking was found guilty of 16 charges for the shooting that killed Akilah and three others, in 2022. Reinkings lawyers recently filed a motion arguing he never had a fair chance to present evidence about his mental illness. The motion also claims the state misled the jury about the legal definition of insanity and played into racial and emotional biases.

Were over here trying to live our lives and trying to readjust to Akilah not being here, and here we are again, having to relive that moment, Brooks told News 2. After going through so much to bring ourselves to be able to withstand that time for trial and then went through that, and then now having to face this again. This man is asking for a second chance after taking four lives.

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Prosecutors in this case argue Reinking was not insane and the attack was calculated, adding that he hid from police for more than 30 hours after the attack and packed a go-bag.

I dont think that [Reinking] could get it overturned, or he has a chance. It is disturbing for my mom and them to have to deal with it, but I just dont see him being able to get it overturned, and Im just saying, I dont see him getting out of jail, Abede explained.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Brooks said having to go through the legal process again brings up trauma, anger, and heartbreak. Shes been fighting for gun reform since losing her son, even introducing a bill called Akilahs Law in the General Assembly.

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Mental illness should never be an excuse for murder. You took four lives. Are you saying that you dont want to be held accountable? Brooks said, referring to Reinking. Their lives matterso the fact that hes sitting in prison and able to waste taxpayers spending to come here to say that you want a second chance? Mm-mm.

A hearing for Reinkings case is set for 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Colorado Springs police recently arrested a man suspected of robbing a bank in late May.

Jourdain Espinoza, 28, is being held on $25,000 bail at the El Paso County Jail, according to court records.

Just before 1 p.m. on May 27, police responded to a call about a bank robbery in the 1700 block of East Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard, authorities said. Witnesses told arriving officers that a lone male entered the bank and demanded money. The man reportedly left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The CSPD Robbery Unit investigated the incident for nearly two months before identifying Espinoza as the primary suspect, according to a Monday news release. Police obtained an arrest warrant for Espinoza on July 22, and on July 31, a group of officers including SWAT team members, robbery detectives, and K-9 units arrested Espinoza without incident, police said.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A man from Livonia has been indicted for alleged sexual abuse against two children.

The Livingston County DAs Office says 70-year-old James Froehlich was involved in three incidents of sexual conduct with children.

Investigators said that between January 2017, Froehlich engaged in two or more acts of sexual conduct with a child younger than 13. They add two other instances happened between 2014 and March 2020 with a second child younger than 13, and two more instances happened between May 2023 and January 2024 with a third child younger than 14.

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On July 23, 2025, Froehlich was indicted by a grand jury for two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, two counts of first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Froehlich is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. If he is convicted, he will return to court on September 30, 2025.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
A local contractor has secured a $2 million U.S. Army contract to design and prototype a lightweight electric motor/generator system for hybrid-electric military vehicles.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The contract, awarded to CRG Defense in Miamisburg, is part of a broader $17.25 million initiative aimed at accelerating hybrid-electric propulsion technologies for next-generation ground and air platforms, according to a spokesperson for the contractor.

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This is a clean-sheet design tailored to meet Army mission needs, said Jake Monat, vice president of innovation at CRG Defense.

TRENDING STORIES:

Chris Hemmelgarn, chief technology officer, said the investment will help fill a critical industrial gap.

Under the contract, CRG Defense will develop a 50-kilowatt-class permanent magnet machine optimized for high-voltage military systems. The system will be designed, sourced, and manufactured entirely in the United States.

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Few U.S. suppliers currently offer high-voltage, high-power electric motors suitable for military use, with most being foreign-made or designed for low-voltage systems. This creates strategic vulnerabilities in the defense supply chain.

CRG Defense has nearly three decades of experience developing integrated power and propulsion systems.

The contract further strengthens Ohios role in defense electrification and high-tech manufacturing, aligning with regional efforts to attract investment and grow the industrial base for dual-use propulsion technologies.

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[Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage in the player above.]

CLEVELAND (WJW)  A local doctor charged with threatening to kill U.S. Rep. Max Miller (R-Rocky River) and his family in an antisemitic rant on a local highway appeared in a Cuyahoga County courtroom on Monday morning.

Feras Hamdan, 36, of Westlake, is facing felony counts of ethnic intimidation and tampering with evidence and misdemeanor counts of aggravated menacing and menacing, court records show.

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Crocodiles euthanized after repeated escapes from abandoned compound, cannibalistic behavior

Miller, who is Jewish-American, in a June social media post claimed that while he was on his way to work, the man tried to run him off the highway, while showing him a photo of a Palestinian flag on a cell phone and yelling Death to Israel and another profane remark against Jewish people.

It happened just before 9:30 a.m. on June 19, on Interstate 90 East in Rocky River, according to authorities.

The windows are down and hes just screaming at me at the top of his lungs, saying he wants to kill me, and he knows who I am, and he knows where I live, Miller told police.

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Hamdan on Monday pleaded not guilty and was released on a $10,000 personal bond, ordered to have no contact with Miller or his family, court records show.

Major construction project on I-90 starts Monday

Hamdan is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on Aug. 11. A trial date has not yet been set, court records show.

Hamdans attorney, Issa Elkhatib of Cleveland, at an arraignment in the lower court in Rocky River said the man is a natural-born U.S. citizen, a licensed physician with his own private practice and a model community member who has never committed a crime in his life.

Elkhatib also has said Miller is playing up the incident to score political points.

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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 8 Cleveland WJW.
SALEM, Ohio (WKBN)  Local women attended a class Sunday to learn how to safely use firearms.

Women On Target is teaching women how to shoot and feel more comfortable doing it. The class is supported by the National Rifle Association nationwide, but Sundays lesson in Salem was led by Trumbull County native Angela Vincent.

We are bringing to this area a program that is geared for women by women to empower them to become more familiar with firearms, to learn all of the fundamentals of safe shooting and to practice safe-range etiquette, Vincent said.

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Vincent leads the six-hour class about every other month in different gun clubs and practice ranges. Its geared toward any woman who wants to get involved, regardless of their experience level.

To see them come in and never have handled it properly or at all, and then at the end of the day, theyre so comfortable, and theyre so empowered. Then, they want to keep learning more, Vincent said.

We need to look to people that have the knowledge to be able to help us know what to do and given situations, and if we are going to have a firearm, we need to know how to do it safely and correctly, said Holley Stephens, a participant.

Safety is a crucial part of the program. Before they get to the range, participants are taught the pillars of gun safety: Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger, and do not load your gun until youre ready to shoot.

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That is something that we pretty much say all day long, and at the end of the day, the ladies are completely like, its memorized and ingrained in their brain, Vincent said.

Participants in the class learn to shoot with 22 caliber handguns, but they learn about a wide variety of firearms. For anyone looking to go deeper, they invite all participants to join A Girl and A Gun, a nationwide womens shooting league with a chapter based in the Valley.

It allows us to learn new things and allows us to try different calibers of handguns, and its a great women camaraderie, and the support between the ladies is a really, really great, rewarding experience, especially for the newbies who come in, Vincent said.

If youre interested in Women On Target classes, they are listed on the NRAs website.

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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 WKBN.com.
Two sea turtles deeply entangled in abandoned fishing nets washed up on a Phuket beach in late June, according to the Bangkok Post.

What happened?

A distressing photo provided by the Bangkok Post shows locals and tourists frantically trying to cut a large mound of fishing net, containing two sea turtles, that washed up on the shoreline on Layan Beach, Phuket.

In the photo, among the tangled mess, a sea turtle can be seen lying helplessly on its back as the community attempts to pull the turtle out of the fishing nets. While they successfully saved one, releasing it back into the sea, the other sea turtle was beyond saving.

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It is unclear what species the sea turtles were. However, the most common sea turtles in Phuket, Thailand, are the Green sea turtle and the Hawksbill sea turtle, according to Snorkeling Thailand.

On average, adult green turtles weigh between 250 and 400 pounds, according to NOAA Fisheries, and adult Hawksbill turtles weigh between 100 and 150 pounds, according to NOAA Fisheries.

Each of the beached sea turtles that washed up on shore weighed between 66 and 88 pounds, per the Bangkok Post, indicating either juvenile sea turtles or adult sea turtles that had starved significantly, being stranded by the abandoned fishing nets.

Why is ghost fishing gear concerning?

This isn't the first time that sea turtles and other marine life have washed up on shore on this Phuket beach, according to the Bangkok Post. The local community is known to be vigilant heroes in rescuing stranded marine life.

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Despite these rescues, however, the root of the problem remains: Abandoned fishing gear continues to jeopardize innocent marine life in large bodies of water everywhere, potentially leading to injury, illness, or death.

Whales, dolphins, and even young seals have been caught in plastic fishing netting, hindering their ability to swim, hunt for food, and reproduce.

The plastic waste left in the ocean also contaminates the water with microplastics that can harm aquatic life and nearby coastal communities.

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.

What's being done about ghost fishing gear?

Reducing the amount of lost fishing gear in the ocean starts with educating fisheries and individuals who fish at sea on the best fishing and gear management practices to avoid losing gear. If gear has been lost, these parties should report it to the appropriate channels to effectively retrieve the gear before it negatively impacts aquatic life.

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On the manufacturing and production side of fishing gear  especially for commercial fisheries  companies can help reduce the amount of ghost fishing gear in the water by incorporating a tracker of sorts to tag the gear so that it may be retrieved if lost.

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 Brief

Charla Pendergrass, the mother of London Thomas' boyfriend, was charged with lying to police during the girl's disappearance and murder investigation.

Thomas was found dead in Southfield after she was reported missing out of Inkster in April.

However, charges were dismissed because the person she allegedly lied to is not a lic3ensed peace officer in the state of Michigan.

INKSTER, Mich. (FOX 2) - At the request of prosecution, charges were dismissed Monday against a woman accused of lying to investigators during the investigation into the disappearance and death of London Thomas.

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Charla Rashida Pendergrass, 48, was charged with lying to a peace officer for comments she made to police after the teen's suspected murder earlier this year. However, that charge was dropped after prosecutors noted that the person she allegedly lied to was a federal agent. According to the prosecution, a federal agent does not meet the definition of a "peace officer" under Michigan statute, so the case could not proceed.

However, the case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning that Pendergrass could be recharged in the future.

The backstory

Thomas was last seen on April 5 when her sister dropped her off at her 23-year-old boyfriend's Inkster home. On April 26, her body was found in Southfield.

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After Thomas' body was discovered, the boyfriend's mother, Pendergrass, 48, was arrested and charged with lying to police. Pendergrass allegedly told an investigator that she saw Thomas leave the Inkster home where she was last seen on April 5, a fact that authorities say was a lie.

Charla Rashida Pendergrass

Authorities say phone records and video confirm that she lied to investigators.

Her bond was set at $50,000 cash/surety, and until Monday morning, she remained in custody at the Wayne County Jail.

Dig deeper

Thomas' boyfriend was considered a person of interest in the teen's disappearance and murder. However, he has not been taken into custody, and police have not provided an update on the investigation.

The Source

Previous FOX 2 reporting was used in this story.
Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA, spoke at a rally in Annapolis in March 2023. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

As immigrant rights are threatened daily by federal policies under the Trump administration, one of the countrys most influential immigration advocacy groups is losing its leader of more than three decades.

Gustavo Torres, who has served as executive director for 31 of his 34 years with the organization, plans to retire in November.

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Before the 64-year-old civil rights advocate steps away, hes going to strategize with his team on how to provide affordable housing, workplace rights and other services for the immigrant community.

But My next chapter is  going to dedicate my time to my family, Torres, who is now the youngest living sibling among eight brothers and sisters, said during a Zoom interview Tuesday while with family in Colombia, South America. I know CASA will be in good hands.

While a national search is underway to replace Torres, he will be honored during the organizations 40th anniversary celebration Sept. 18.

Torres started working with the organization with three people in a church basement in Montgomery County in 1991.

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Today, he said CASA has 250 staff members with its headquarters in Prince Georges Countys Langley Park neighborhood, home to one of the D.C. areas largest concentration of Latinos. The organization also has offices in Virginia, Pennsylvania and a welcome center in Georgia that opened in 2022.

The staff, Torres said, balloons with up to 500 temporary employees hired during election seasons because we need to keep building power in particular elections where we are located.

Torres and his team have also increased CASAs membership base to almost 200,000 people in 46 states and Puerto Rico.

He made CASA the most influential immigrant rights and immigrant services organization in the mid-Atlantic region, and hes advocated on those topics with national television appearances on C-SPAN, and a national rally, which he helped organize, in 2013 in Washington, D.C.

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Hes absolutely synonymous with CASA, said Del. Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince Georges), who chairs the Legislative Latino Caucus.

Before Martinezs election to the House of Delegates, he worked as a research and policy analyst for CASA from 2020 to 2022. During that time, he spent a month in Georgia with CASAs sister organization, CASA In Action, helping to mobilize Latino voters during the 2020 election to get Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff elected to the U.S. Senate.

I think the biggest lesson that Gustavo taught me was about courage. He always took on fights that were worth it. He was always focused on the most marginalized among us, because he understood, if we improve their conditions, all of our lives become better, Martinez, 29, said in an interview Thursday. Ive always taken that courage is the center of leadership.

That courage from Torres continues to ensure immigration topics remain in the public discourse in Maryland. The organization has built coalitions with other advocacy groups to expand other services and programs for immigrants such as health care, voting rights and legal services.

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Del. Deni Taveras (D-Prince Georges), whose legislative district includes the organizations headquarters, said under Torres fearless leadership, several pieces of legislation became state law. Some of those include allowing residents to obtain a drivers license regardless of their immigration status; expanding Medicaid to cover prenatal and postpartum care to those who are pregnant regardless of immigration status; and educating residents on how to deal with immigration enforcement agents at sensitive locations such as a public library, public school and hospitals.

In terms of the immediate future, Taveras said, This is an opportunity to be introspective and strategic in their [CASA leadership] thinking on how they would like to move forward. Were going to be right there alongside them as we celebrate Gustavo, and as we work with them to see what their next chapter will look like.

Fighting Trump, winning elections

Before President Donald Trump (R) was sworn into office in January for a second time, CASA held a Know Your Rights events to prepare for enforcement actions from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

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The organization gained experience during the first Trump administration. However, the president signed executive orders on the first day of his second term ratcheting up the fight against immigration, including an order to deny citizenship to certain U.S.-born children whose parents are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

I never imagined that we are going to have that kind of leadership in this country, Torres said. We say, Oh my God, we made a mistake [the first time]. But now twice. That is no longer a mistake. Something is very rooted in our country that we need to think about what happened and why this kind of situation is happening.

One strategy Torres proposes is simple: have politicians speak directly to Black and brown communities where they are. One person who he said did that was New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assembly member who won the citys Democratic primary last month.

What this gentleman did in New York was something very, very powerful, Torres said. He went to listen to them. As a good organizer, that is exactly what we need to do.

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He continued: The leadership in the Democratic Party and other different institutions just go and do those polls and [look at] numbers and hire these big corporate, big companies to do the assessment and [spend] millions of dollars in the campaigns. They dont speak about affordability. You need to listen to our community. That is how you build power and the capacity to win elections.

Tough moment

Not all 34 years with the organization have been easy.

It endured controversy in November 2023, after some members issued statements and social media posts expressing solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza that began Oct. 7 of that year.

It led some lawmakers, including Montgomery Countys Senate delegation to publicly scrutinize CASA and threaten to pull public funding. Private donors also announced they would withdraw funding. CASA released a public apology from Torres in response.

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Torres acknowledged that it was a very tough moment for the organization.

What Ive learned from that, it was a very difficult moment, but we are going to keep demanding  peace and dignity for everybody, for Palestinian and for Israel, he said. We are going to keep doing that, and that is going to be our position about that forever.

During this years 90-day legislative session, CASA leaders lobbied in Annapolis for legislation to prohibit local police from entering into 287(g) agreements with ICE. On the last day of the legislative session in April, lawmakers passed a watered-down version of a bill that does not include the 287(g) ban, the biggest loss for immigration advocates this year.

Although that part of the legislation wasnt included in the bill, the sensitive locations provision was.

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This is an extraordinary victory that we got to celebrate. We are very grateful for what [the legislature] did in protection of our community, Torres said.

And, he said advocates will be back next year to push for restriction of 287(g) agreements. One main reason, he said, stems from the Trump administration using that as a loophole  to arrest and kidnap people who live in Maryland such as Kilmar Abrego Garica. Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador, is both a union worker and member of CASA.

We are going back in 2026 to convince our policy makers, our friends, the governor, that its the right thing to do, Torres said.

Family time

Well, Torres himself may not come back right away after his retirement becomes official. He plans to spend time with family for at least six months. He may do some work as a consultant.

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But right now, Im focused on my family, he said.

Torres and his wife, Sonia Mora, an assistant chief administrative officer for the Montgomery County government, dont have children of their own, but he plans to enjoy some time with his nieces and nephews.

But before he does that, he has a message to share with Marylands immigrant community, including its 250,000 green card holders.

I beg you. This is so very, very important that you become U.S. citizens to protect your rights and your familys rights, he said. When you are U.S. citizen, you have more rights for you and your family, and then you can register to vote and make a decision to vote for whatever you want to vote.

Some residents, who speak limited English, fear the Trump administrations tactics to arrest people for simply being from a Black or brown community.

That is the reason why CASA exists to help you in that. We navigate all of those systems. Just call us and we take care of that, he said. Were here to help.
A new report from Harvards student newspaper suggests that Trump administration officials planted a lie in The New York Times about the university capitulating to the president.

The Times reported last Monday that Harvard has signaled a willingness to shell out up to $500 million to settle with the Trump administration, which accuses the university of being run by antisemitism and DEI. The story, based on four people familiar with the negotiations, seemingly detailed a prominent domino falling as Ivy League universities and other institutions increasingly submit to the presidents shakedowns.

But reporting by The Harvard Crimson cuts against the Times story and even suggests that it may have been based on misinformation propagated by Trumps team.

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Citing anonymous Harvard faculty members, the Crimson reported Sunday that President Alan Garber told others that its false that the university is considering a $500 million settlement, and a deal is not imminent. In fact, per the Crimson, the university is actively considering fighting the matter out in court rather than settling. The president also reportedly told a faculty member that the rumor about a hefty potential payment was leaked to the media by the Trump administration. (The Crimson notes that a Harvard spokesperson declined to provide comment but, after the story was published, disputed the characterization of Garbers remarks.)

The Trump White House lying about its battle with Harvard to give a false impression of victory would certainly track with its strategy elsewhere; take, for example, its misleading braggadocio on tariffs and trade deals. It also underscores yet again how the claims of Trump officials warrant extreme suspicion.

This story has been updated.
The News

The social media activist Laura Loomer seems to show up whenever a Trump administration officials career is nearing its end, and shes helped end the tenure of several mid-level aides.

But as the right-wing provocateur gets closer to President Donald Trump, Republicans are trying to figure out whether shes delivering finishing blows or just mopping up easy targets.

Loomer operated for a decade on the political fringe. She was known for crashing a Hill hearing and losing a Florida congressional campaign where she ran as a self-described proud Islamophobe. But as she draws nearer to the center of power, and after she caused a stir among Trumps allies by traveling with him, Loomer is now cementing a new reputation as his loyalty enforcer.

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Trump fired several National Security Council officials after meeting with Loomer this spring, and the National Security Agencys chief also lost his post. Just last week, Trump fired the Food and Drug Administrations top vaccine official after a broadside by Loomer.

Those successes made plenty of headlines for Loomer. Her failures are less frequently documented: She was unable to shield NASA hopeful Jared Isaacman from getting sacked as Trumps relationship with Elon Musk frayed. Attorney General Pam Bondi has also (so far) survived her Loomering, in the form of fierce criticism at Blondi for the Justice Departments handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Behind the scenes, some Republicans are impressed with her. Others are dismissive.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., likened her to a callus that appears only after the works done.

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She can say whatever she wants to, to get follows or monetize her following, said Tillis, a past member of GOP leaderships whip team who last month fell out with Trump over his megabill and is now retiring. She may be getting information, so that lets her get ahead of it.

But I doubt seriously shes driving it, he added. Because theres a lot of quality people in this administration [who] I think would have a real problem with that.

One person close to the White House told Semafor that Loomer is all over too many issues.

Shes become so ubiquitous in Trumps second term that some of her complaints have become noise as a result, this person added: One thing shes good at is just creating headaches. And there is some value in that.

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In an interview with Semafor, Loomer asked why the f*ck should I care about Tillis assessment.

The only easy target I see is Thom Tillis, she said. Such an easy target that he decided to announce his early retirement from the Senate on his anniversary after screwing Trump ahead of the vote on the Big Beautiful Bill instead of actually running for reelection again. He is irrelevant.

Loomer is, however, well aware that she has detractors within the Republican Party and the administration itself. She said she still wants a job inside the Trump White House as a special government employee (the same title Musk held earlier this year), a position that would give her more access and proximity to the president.

You dont have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that there are people that clearly dont want me around, right? Loomer told Semafor.

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At the very least, she wants a White House press pass.

I think that my reporting is probably some of the most consequential reporting in the country right now. And yet, wheres my press pass? I applied for one, Loomer said.

The White House did not return a request for comment on Loomers sway.

Know More

Despite her critics in the party, Loomer talks to the president frequently  a fact that alone gives her sway. Her access to Trump ruffles feathers in the administration where officials are focused on the proximity game to the president, as another person close to Trump put it.

When youre trying to place 4-5,000 people in an administration, youre going to drop a stitch here and there, the person told Semafor. She specializes in finding those stitches.

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On Sunday, the president praised Loomer as very nice, reinforcing his fondness for a woman who frustrates some inside his own administration.

I know shes known as a radical right, but I think Laura Loomer is a very nice person, Trump said. Ive known her for a very long time, and personally I think shes a patriot.

One of Loomers most recent targets was top FDA official Vinay Prasad, who resigned last week following pressure from the White House. Loomer described him as a progressive leftist saboteur and publicly accused him of undermining the presidents agenda.

In interviews, senators close to the issue said it was not clear what prompted the ouster  whether it was Loomers efforts, a real difference of opinion over Prasads handling of Covid vaccine and other treatment policy, or some combination of the two.

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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a senior member of the health committee, conceded that I dont have any particular insight but praised Prasads past advocacy for narrower use of the Covid vaccine.

Loomer said Prasad was fired for both policy and personal loyalty reasons, arguing that he missed three deadlines to approve treatments.

But its clear that other conservatives in Congress were also nudging Trump at the same time as Loomer, about Prasads timeliness when it came to experimental treatments for muscular dystrophy.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he contacted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary about Prasads handling of the approval.

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I finally texted President Trump just to make sure he was aware of the situation  I think others certainly had an issue with him, Johnson said, adding that he had no direct knowledge of the reason for the firing.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the ranking member of the chambers health committee, traced the attacks on Prasad to a more conventional source: I hear hes a Bernie Sanders acolyte. Thats what The Wall Street Journal said.

So how does Loomer choose her quarry, and whos next on her hit list? She described her evaluation of worthy Trump personnel as a varying litmus test depending on the person, focused on campaign contributions, public statements, business associations, things like that but also extending to conversations with colleagues of those officials.

Shes shifting her aim to David LaCerte, who Trump recently tapped to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack  among others.

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You aint seen nothing yet, the second person close to Trump declared.

Shelby, Burgess, and Davids View

Loomers ascent tracks Trumps 10-year remaking of a Republican Party that finds as much power in riding the waves of social media as it does in legislating. Shes a pure product of that social media age who is also becoming more well-known through conventional channels  and is now regularly quoted as a person with serious sway over, and closeness to, the president.

In the old Republican Party, social media influencers would have been laughed out of the room.

At this point, Loomers real pull with Trump is now well established. And thats more important than any win-loss record on firings she claims to have orchestrated.

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Loomers arc from what she once called a stance of pro-white nationalism to Trump whisperer also sums up the presidents talent for tugging the establishment closer to the fringe.

When she disrupted that hearing in 2018 with former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, she was ushered out by then-Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo., who used his former auctioneers pipes to finish the job.

Today, Loomer has a seat in the room with the president. And Long  well, hes now the IRS commissioner.

Room for Disagreement

Tucker Carlson, another recent target of Loomers whos also broken with Trump somewhat in recent weeks, argued last month that shes like a child wielding a loaded firearm called Twitter.

Carlson said the blame for her rising influence is because of the adults who take her seriously.

Notable
The News

Its hot China summer in Americas booming new media. The hyperactive streamer IShowSpeed drew 9 million viewers to his rapturous visit to Shenzhen. A bit higher-brow, the celebrity academic Adam Tooze marveled from Yunnan Province at Chinese urban development.

Beijings influence campaign is going well: China recently caught up to a fading US in its perception in high-income countries, according to Pew, and plans to expand the program.

The US hasnt really competed hard in the official propaganda space since the end of the Cold War, operating on the theory that Disney and Netflix do a far better job of selling American culture than ham-handed government campaigns. Successive administrations let the old broadcast arms of American government abroad  Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia  slide into well-meaning obsolescence. Meanwhile, China methodically built a massive if somewhat wooden global broadcast network, CGTN, across Africa and elsewhere, and Russia mastered social media.

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There was one exception: When ISIS propaganda swept over Twitter, the initial US response was hilariously inept, a campaign of tweeting at terror sympathizers to think again, turn away. That grew into the State Departments strategic counterterrorism center that initially focused on getting ISIS accounts pulled off big American social media platforms. In 2016, it broadened its focus to the hazy categories of mis- and disinformation, and became the Global Engagement Center.

The GEC disastrously strayed into trying to fight an information war with Russians whose modus operandi was mostly to amplify divisive American messages and entangle themselves with American political movements. By the time Donald Trump returned to office this January, his followers viewed the whole industry of combating (mostly Russian) misinformation as a cover for censoring views popular among right-wing Americans  and indeed, they viewed social media censorship as one of the biggest problems for their movement and the world. Marco Rubio formally shut down the GEC, then called the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Office, in April.

Indeed, when I pressed the acting undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, Darren Beattie, on the Trump administrations theory of the information war with China, he told me that freeing social media platforms is itself a form of public diplomacy.

Censorship like that is a fundamental ideological concession to the superiority of the Chinese system, said Beattie  himself an avid poster with, per the current lingo, a history of incendiary remarks. He continued: Having a robust culture of free speech in the US is essential to having a society worth winning.

Know More

While the hot American debate over censorship and propaganda has centered almost entirely on Russia, the long-term competition for global goodwill is in fact with China. And so for Washington legislators focused on that competition, the Trump administrations slash-and-burn approach to public diplomacy has been particularly hard to figure out.

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We are losing this war badly, the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on the CCP, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., , said in an interview. This is craziness  its utter stupidity  and its the opposite of what we need in terms of winning the strategic competition with the Chinese Communist Party for global influence.

To be fair, the US was already losing. A main experience of trying to counter Chinese propaganda inside States defunct information hub, according to four former officials there I spoke to, was of being wildly outspent. In the grand scheme of things, we were playing at the margins, a former top official said. One previously unreported GEC initiative, for instance, offered Associated Press subscriptions for Asian outlets to whom the Chinese government had provided free subscriptions to Xinhua, and with it a Chinese view on the news. It was funded to the tune of the low-six figures, a pittance compared to hundreds of millions of dollars in annual Chinese spending on everything from buying broadcast spectrum to hiring up African journalists to hosting trips for global media.

One of GECs most interesting initiatives in the Biden years was to preemptively reveal that Russian actors were planning to seed false claims of American biological testing in Africa. There are two ways to approach propaganda  offense and active defense. You need to do both well, James Rubin, a special envoy and coordinator of the center at the Biden State Department (who now hosts a podcast with his ex-wife, Christiane Amanpour) told me.

The plan was in year two to do the same thing with Chinese information operations, Rubin said.

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Those plans appear to have been shelved, along with most of the funding for Radio Free Asia, whose impact on much of China may be modest  residents of big coastal cities can pick up better-produced Western TV from Hong Kong  but whose Tibetan and Uyghur-language services offered a vital link to those those communities and a major irritant to Chinas ruling Communist Party. When Trump announced cuts to public broadcasting, the Chinese state-run Global Times celebrated the end of the lie factory.

The Chinese government is investing massive resources in information and propaganda efforts, while the US has abandoned some of its most vital tools in this space, said Li Qiang, a New York-based activist and Chinese government critic who founded China Labor Watch, whose funding was frozen in February but later restored. The long-term damage to Americas global influence may not become fully apparent until a year or more from now.

Bens view

A decade ago, the Chinese tried out a new propaganda strategy, unleashing wolf warrior diplomats to confront Americans on Twitter. I met the most vocal of them, Zhao Lijian, in Beijing in 2019, and he told me he was sick of his country being badmouthed. He reminded me then of many of the frustrated, combative figures who now lead the US government. But the countrys leadership soon got sick of his style, and by 2023 hed been reassigned to an office managing Chinas maritime boundaries.

Now, one former State Department official noted ruefully, were the wolf warriors tweeting aggressive sh*t and theyre doing classic public diplomacy. Mostly, said Krishnamoorthi, the White House sees soft power as an irritant to their other negotiations.

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China still isnt running its propaganda with the mischievous tactical brilliance of the Russians or the global cultural dominance of Hollywood. But its clear whos gaining ground, and whos losing it.

At the height of its 20th-century power, the US played aggressively in the space, from its then-powerful broadcast arms to the covert spending highlighted in Frances Stonor Saunders 1999 history, Who Paid the Piper. Now Trump Republicans, in their fury at what they see as a conspiracy against them, have slashed the foreign aid and democracy promotion that accompanied messaging across the vast contested spaces of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

One of the main lessons of 20th-century major power competition is that information wars are absolutely critical, Christopher Nichols, the Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies at the Ohio State University, told me. The information war often determined winners, losers, and if and when conflicts turned into conflagrations.

Room for Disagreement

In our conversation, Beattie didnt buy my suggestion that the US government is absenting itself from making much of a case at all in the large-scale global tug-of-war with China. He noted that the State Department remains focused on academic exchanges and cultural heritage issues, and pointed to the diplomatic push and pull with China on fronts from Brazil to Greece.

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The bottom line, he argued, is that the US wont win its international arguments unless Trumps presidency succeeds on its transformative promises.

The most effective messaging is truthful messaging that corresponds to the fundamentals, he said. Thats why its so important to have a president like Trump focused on the fundamentals like trade, economy, technology, ending wars, etc.

Notable
Only 51 homeowners have signed up so far for the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan, Colorado's newly created insurance of last resort for property owners with repeated denials from traditional insurers.

The low numbers are in some ways by design. The website, which launched along with the program in April, is full of "turn back now" warnings. Plans have "substantially higher premiums" and are "the most expensive way to insure a property," warns the website.

The insurance plan is state-backed, the product of the FAIR Act signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis in 2023. It is the first insurance of last resort created by a state in decades. It is also one of the first specifically set up to address insurability problems caused by natural disasters, said Executive Director Kelly Campbell.

"We are one of the first catastrophe-related plans to be created," she said.

The program's lack of self-advertising is not stopping some from looking into coverage as wildfire risk continues to increase in Colorado's wildland-urban interface. Gage Struble, a Farmers Insurance agent based in Woodland Park, said he was writing his first FAIR Plan policy this past week.

"It's probably a good stopgap for higher-risk homes up here," he said.

Not for everybody

Modeled after insurers of last resort in California and Florida, the FAIR Plan is meant for homes and commercial properties that are too high risk for traditional insurance. To get covered, a property owner must prove they have been rejected by three insurance companies on the admitted market.

Campbell said that the majority of plans written have been for property in areas of high risk for wildfires.

Another large group are properties with preexisting claims history.

"They aren't just in mountain areas," she said.

FAIR Plan coverage is likely to net a property owner less than market value in the event of a total loss. It covers the actual cash value of a property, something that depreciates over time with things like aging appliances and wear and tear. Most traditional insurance policies cover the replacement cost of a home, which is usually much higher.

Struble said that the gap, while different for every structure, can be major. He said he was telling clients that a total-loss claim on a $300,000 home covered under the FAIR Plan would likely net about $150,000 to $180,000.

The coverage cap for the FAIR Plan also is just $750,000, a nonstarter for more expensive mountain properties in Colorado.

"It's not a plan for everybody," Struble said.

Still, Campbell said the plan was seeing fewer policies than the state anticipated based on market research.

"We are seeing demand significantly less than we were expecting," she said.

She attributes some of the lack of interest to a strong non-admitted market in Colorado. Non-admitted carriers are insurance companies that do not have to meet Colorado's regulations and are not covered by the state in the case of insolvency.

A plan with a non-admitted carrier is riskier but still often a better option than the FAIR Plan, according to Campbell.

Actuarially sound

Featured Local Savings

Colorado's insurance of last resort launches into a fraught landscape for similar providers.

California's FAIR Plan is facing scrutiny this year as it navigates thousands of claims related to the Los Angeles wildfires in January. The state's insurance of last resort is facing over $4 billion in estimated total payouts.

In February, facing a "substantial risk of insolvency," the California FAIR Plan asked for and received authorization to collect $1 billion to pay claims outstripping its earnings for the year in February.

The money comes from member insurers, California's admitted carriers that have state backing and agree to follow state regulations. Part of the cost of such assessments can be passed along to consumers.

Financial backing for Colorado's FAIR Plan works similarly, with admitted carriers operating in the state bearing the cost of claims. Campbell said that the FAIR Plan put two assessments on the admitted market totaling $1 billion for operating expenses, anticipated claims and surplus for emergencies.

"Those carriers are essentially our financial backbone," she said.

She said that one of the things that distinguishes Colorado's insurance of last resort is that premiums incorporate the cost of reinsurance  basically insurance for insurance companies.

She said that California's rates are "not actuarially sound," meaning it does not have the funds to meet its potential financial obligations.

Colorado has had dozens of billion-dollar disasters since 1980, however, and the yearly costs have risen sharply in the past decade. An average year sees over $3 billion in damages from wildfires, hailstorms, drought, flooding and other natural disasters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"A billion-dollar disaster is definitely within the realm of possibility in Colorado," said Campbell.

Florissant

The Pikes Peak Historical Society operates out of a wood-sided building in the small community of Florissant, about 45 minutes away from Colorado Springs. President John Rakowski said it was dropped from its insurance earlier this year, at the same time multiple Florissant homeowners also got nonrenewal letters.

"All these cancellations have really started hammering us in the area around six or eight months ago," he said.

After a "tough battle," he said he found another carrier willing to insure the museum at a substantial increase. At the same time, his homeowners insurance went up 40%, accompanied by a letter saying profits were up for the company.

"It's just putting a little salt in the wound," he said.

According to Campbell, Florissant has just one FAIR Plan policy so far. With carriers intermittently dropping policies and raising rates because of wildfire risk, the area might soon become a prime location for the insurer. Struble said his agency sees a high percentage of rejections there.

"They get 'no's' from everybody," he said.

Rakowski said he felt rising insurance costs were pushing out long-term residents. Which companies are still writing policies and whether to consider the FAIR Plan are things the community is discussing.

"It's a common topic of conversation out here when you meet people," he said.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisiana Key Academy is hosting an event to give parents insight into how to enroll their child in a school for students with dyslexia.

Families can get a chance to meet the staff, receive assistance with their application, learn more about the school, and get a free dyslexia screening. Co-founder and board chair of the school, Laura Cassidy, said she hopes this event is a step towards educating and erasing the stigma around learning challenges.

If youre child failed one of those literacy screeners, struggling to read in school, you notice theyre not happy, cause a lot of times they wont tell you, you notice they cant read, their spelling is bad, but theyre smart  were the place to look, said Cassidy.

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School zone safety reminders for Louisiana drivers

Chief Operating Officer Nichola Hall said theyre striving to bridge the gap in communication and collaboration. At this one-day event, there will be Q&A sessions and a time for parents to meet with evaluators to get more in-depth support.

The population of the kids that we serve, they are very specialized students, they need that love and attention, and support to thrive. But our parents sometimes lack the resources and education, so the goal of tomorrows event is to meet the parents where theyre at and provide on-site support, said Hall.

Louisiana Key Academy is a tuition-free charter school for elementary students with dyslexia in grades 1 -8. The open house and enrollment event is set for 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the school on 5015 Auto Plex Drive.

Latest News

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Robin Ross: the British commander of Operation Haven, which protected and resettled Kurdish refugees fleeing persecution in 1991

Lieutenant General Sir Robin Ross, who has died aged 85, was a dynamic and unconventional leader whose career spanned nearly four decades and culminated in his appointment as Commandant General Royal Marines; he led Operation Haven in Northern Iraq in 1991, and later was instrumental in ensuring the future of Britains amphibious warfare capability.

Ross was appointed the British commander of Operation Haven when, after the First Gulf War, some 6,000 Allied troops were tasked with safeguarding the people of Northern Iraq after Saddam Hussein had crushed their rebellion in March 1991.

The bulk of the force was provided by 3 Commando Brigade, incorporating 40 and 45 Royal Marines Commandos and 400 Dutch Marines, on a large-scale humanitarian mission aimed at protecting and resettling Kurdish refugees fleeing persecution. One participant described it as the most rewarding experience of his career, and the Royal Marines efforts were credited with saving thousands of lives when British and Dutch units, operating in small teams and working directly with local Kurdish leaders and Peshmerga forces, assessed refugee camps for urgent needs and organised humanitarian aid.

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The Daily Telegraph reported that in 38 days more humanitarian relief was provided to the Kurds facing reprisals from Saddam Hussein than in the whole of the Berlin airlift. The operation not only offered immediate relief but also became a defining moment in Kurdish history.

Ross diplomatic skill and leadership, tested amid a complex international and humanitarian crisis, earned him great respect, and he was decorated with the Legion of Merit from the United States and the Medal of Merit in Gold from the Queen of the Netherlands.

Ross on parade: stories abounded of telephones hurled through windows and aides de camp being dispatched to remote postings, but he commanded utter loyalty

Robert (Robin) Jeremy Ross was born on November 28 1939, to Lt-Col Gerald Ross, Royal Marines, and his wife Margaret. An ancestor, Major General Robert Ross, with an army of 4,500 men including 1,000 Royal Marines from the fleet, captured Washington during the War of 1812 and set fire to the White House.

Robin was educated at Wellington College and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where his early taste for adventure was whetted, pre-National Service, in the Royal Marines Forces Volunteer Reserve before being commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1957.

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Rosss progress through the Corps was meteoric. During his commando and sea service (1959-69), he served in every postwar commando unit and developed a reputation for animated leadership and idiosyncratic methods. As a young officer commanding Royal Marines (OCRM), he led his detachment to join their ship, the frigate Mohawk, in Newcastle in November 1963 by marching them in full fighting order across country from Portsmouth, a feat that became the talk of the ships company and the making of his legend.

He was, by instinct, a trainer and mentor, whether instructing junior marines and young officers, or instilling a sense of esprit de corps among subordinates. Specialising early as a unit intelligence officer and qualifying as a combat survival instructor with the SAS, Rosss operational acumen was forged in the Far East as adjutant of 40 Commando, and then as brigade major, for which he was appointed OBE in 1971.

In the years that followed, Ross alternated between command and instruction. A student at the Army Staff College at Camberley in 1970, he returned as directing staff in 1978-79, before eventually commanding 40 Commando RM (1979-81) and 3 Commando Brigade (1986-88), a succession of appointments that reflected both his professional standing and his restless energy. In between, in 1982, at an age when many might have chosen to rest on their laurels, Ross returned as a student to Cambridge to read for an MPhil in international relations, and then to the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Thereafter, he rose inexorably through the senior ranks. Rosss time as brigade commander of an Arctic warfare formation was particularly notable. Where men half his age found the winter training in Norway a severe physical ordeal, Ross insisted, at the comparatively advanced age of 46, upon carrying out the whole basic course with a team of novices from all elements of his brigade, to become an enthusiastic and increasingly accomplished cross-country skier. He expected visitors to brigade headquarters to join in the races which he relished, which  perhaps unsurprisingly  marked a decline in staff officer visits.

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He was lively, clever, quick, very sociable and much admired, with a mercurial temperament. His favourite weapon when under pressure was the office telephone, heedless of the fact that it was plugged to the wall. Stories abounded of telephones hurled through windows and aides de camp being dispatched to remote postings. Beneath the flamboyance, however, lay an unwavering professionalism and deep loyalty to his men, and he attracted a brat pack of young officers who were utterly loyal to him in return.

At the strategic and political level, when debate broke out about the need for specialist amphibious shipping and the very future of a British amphibious warfare capability, despite the lessons of the Falklands War, Rosss cogent arguments, his vigorous advocacy, and persuasive demonstrations to sceptical senior officers were crucial in preserving the Corps capabilities at a critical period in its history.

He was Major General Training Reserve and Special Forces (1988-90), Major General Commando Forces (1990-93), and Commandant General Royal Marines (1993-96), the last to serve in the rank of Lieutenant-General.

He was appointed KCB in 1994.

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Ross was chairman of SSAFA Forces Help from 2000-10, and a liveryman of the Plaisterers Company. His recreations included fishing, which provided a balm to an otherwise energetic existence.

He married Sara Curtis in 1965; she predeceased him in 2023 and he is survived by a son and a daughter.

Lt-Gen Sir Robin Ross, born November 28 1939, died July 29 2025

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who represents parts of Pinellas County, is making a push to ban stock trading by members of Congress and their families.

If you want to be a stock trader, get into a different career field, but dont do it in Congress, Luna said in an interview with Fox News Jesse Watters.

Similar efforts have been made by multiple members of Congress over the years, though legislation on the issue hasnt been passed since 2012, which saw the enactment of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act.

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The STOCK Act required members of Congress to file financial disclosures on their stock trades and implemented new penalties for members who took part in insider trading. Though in the decade since its passage, no member of Congress has been prosecuted under the STOCK Act, according to Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan watchdog group.

U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) proposed legislation earlier this year, the End Congressional Stock Trading Act (H.R. 1908), that would tighten restrictions on members of Congress. The act would have prohibited lawmakers, their spouses and any dependent children from investing in or trading stocks. Burchett introduced the act in March, but it never made it off the committee floor.

Now, Luna said shes prepared to force a vote on the legislation by using a discharge petition, which forces a bill out of the committee and onto the House floor for a vote. To do so, she would need 218 votes from her fellow representatives, a simple majority.

Im currently trying to do a discharge petition because Congress has continually messaged on this but refuses to actually bring a bill to the floor, Luna said in the interview on Fox News.

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Congress is on recess for the month of August, so any vote on the petition or bill wouldnt come until they return in September.

Luna indicated in the interview with Watters that shes gotten plenty of pushback on the legislation and petition, but isnt prepared to back down.

Ill be honest with you, Im taking a lot of heat not just from my own party, but were going to see it from the other side, and Im ready to name names, she said.

When asked about House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Luna declined to name him specifically, but said shes been getting pushback from House leadership. She also said other lawmakers have told her shes putting the republic in jeopardy by moving forward on the issue.

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What Im trying to do is actually save the republic, and so if you think that thats the biggest problem that we have in this country, maybe you shouldnt be in a leadership position, Luna said in response.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The News

The Main Street Caucus has a bit of a misleading reputation in the House: Its known as more moderate among Republican groups, but thats largely by comparison with the hardline Freedom Caucus. And its new chair, Rep. Mike Flood, wants to demolish that assumption for good.

Flood, who took over as Main Street chief last month after just three years in office, told Semafor that the group is more conservative than weve ever been, while getting tighter than ever with key players like President Donald Trump and the Freedom Caucus.

With Flood at the helm, Main Street is poised to play a pivotal role headed into Congress fall fight over government funding. Its 83 members are already making the case to GOP leaders that the best-case scenario is passing a budget  and, if that proves elusive, a lengthy stopgap that includes spending for district- or state-specific priorities known as earmarks.

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Flood said the caucus close ties to leadership, plus the president and hardliners, could position Main Street to be as influential as possible in the policy fights to come.

And when it comes to priorities in the partys tax and spending cuts bill that Trump muscled through this summer, he positioned them squarely on the right flank of the GOP.

We have pretty tense discussions about the direction of the conference, Flood told Semafor. And anytime I hear somebody use the M-word [moderate], Im like, I wish people could see where our members are. We are very conservative.

The men and women of Main Street are the ones that are making things happen, Flood added.

The View From Mike Flood

Eleanor Mueller: How are you seeking to build on the Main Street Caucus past wins headed into the rest of this Congress?

Rep. Mike Flood: When Speaker [Kevin] McCarthy was ousted, a lot of those conversations that happened to get us back on our feet, happened with Main Street. Weve got folks very much in favor of making sure the government is funded and willing to vote to do that  and that gives us a lot of credibility.

Youve said a priority for the caucus when it comes to the looming fight over government funding is making sure any continuing resolution includes earmarks. How will you guys make that happen?

Were raising it with leadership. A lot of those frontline members are ready to deliver for their districts, and Id much rather have a member of Congress help direct that funding than a bureaucrat in a Washington agency.

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Weve communicated that to both the speaker, the majority leader and the White House  and one of the things that I dont know thats come out is, our relationship with the White House is very strong. President Trump sees us as allies. Were there; hes inviting our members to the White House. He says, I know youre there when we need you.

What do you think that engagement from Trump shows you about the role of moderates within the GOP more broadly?

Whats changed with Main Street is, we are more conservative than weve ever been, and I think the fact that weve gotten more conservative has drawn more members.

Do you think frustrations over the hardline Freedom Caucus have attracted more people to the Main Street Caucus?

Our relationship with the Freedom Caucus is greatly improved. I meet with them once a week for breakfast. In fact, they agree with us that community project funding should be included in the bill. Now, their preference is a CR with community project funding; our preference is a budget with community project funding.

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But yes, Main Street Caucus has realized that we will put ourselves in the room when we want to be there. And the White House knows it; the White House wants us in the room. The White House invited a great number of our members to meet with the president minutes before they met with the Freedom Caucus [on the reconciliation package].

What are your groups priorities for a second reconciliation package?

A lot of what happens in a second reconciliation package will depend on how we work with the Democrats on the budget. If the approach from Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries is to refuse to come to the table  expect a second reconciliation to get bigger and bigger and bigger. Expect rescissions, expect other things like that.

You also chair the panel that oversees housing and insurance on the House Financial Services Committee. Can we expect the House to move soon on housing legislation?

The chairman has communicated to me directly that housing is going to be a priority when we get back. The Senate version has some value to it, but we have bipartisan support in the House to address what I call the four horsemen of the housing apocalypse, and that is environmental reviews, prevailing wages, hiring requirements, and Build America Buy America provisions.

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We want to talk about that, and we have bipartisan support. Mr. Cleaver and I have been working on this.

What about flood insurance?

Im hopeful that we can hold a hearing on it towards the end of this year. [But] I dont know that theres any consensus on our side about what we would change.

Who do you expect to replace your fellow Nebraska Republican, retiring Rep. Don Bacon?

There are folks out there that say, No way this will be a Republican seat. Its going to flip. But as Don Bacon has demonstrated, there is a district there that is willing to listen, despite having voted for Kamala Harris in the last election. We have two excellent candidates, and I would put either one of them up against whoever the Democrats pick.

There are like five or six people on the Democratic side; theyre going to have a slugfest; and its going to be a race to the left, which is not where Nebraskans are.
Around 3,200 workers at three different Boeing factories went on strike on Monday, marking the companys second strike in less than a year.

The strike started on Monday at 12:59 a.m. EDT, after members of the International Association of Machinists voted to authorize the strike at three different defense plants, according to CNN.

IAM Union District 837 members are on strike against Boeing, standing up for their UNMATCHED EXPERTISE in safeguarding national security and supporting U.S. and allied defense operations.  pic.twitter.com/eaZn61D25Z  IAM Union (@IAM_Union) August 4, 2025

This strike comes after machinists rejected a contract that was offered by Boeing last week. The workers are largely based in the St. Louis area and are part of the IAM District 837 union.

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This is the unions first strike since 1996, per CNBC.

IAM District 837 members have spoken loud and clear, they deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nations defense, said Tom Boelling, a representative of IAM District 837, according to CNBC. We stand shoulder to shoulder with these working families as they fight for fairness and respect on the job.

The strike has started at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; St. Charles, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois.

Our membership spoke loud and clear.



Were on STRIKE at Boeing Defense in St. Louis.



One day longer, one day stronger. pic.twitter.com/sPKDH9FBtq  IAM Union (@IAM_Union) August 4, 2025

What did the rejected contract include?

The vote to start the strike came after the machinists rejected a proposed contract from Boeing, per The Associated Press. The contract included a 20% wage increase over four years and $5,000 ratification bonuses.

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On Sunday, the workers rejected Boeings latest offer as well, which included improved retirement benefits and wage rises for employees at the top of the pay scale, according to CNBC. This proposal also removed a scheduling provision that would have impacted the ability for workers to earn overtime pay, but it did not boost the proposed wage hike.

Over the weekend, Boeing said it anticipated a strike after the latest offer was rejected.

Were disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules, said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager, and senior St. Louis site executive, per the AP. We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.

This strike is the latest in recent issues for Boeing

According to the AP, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said that the impact from this strike would be a lot less than the strike that happened last year.

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Toward the end of last year, over 32,000 unionized machinists working on commercial aircraft walked off the job after failed contract talks, per CNBC.

The strike ended after seven weeks after workers approved a contract that included 38% raises over four years along with other improvements.

Over the last six years, Boeing has experienced massive financial losses and setbacks in multiple areas of its business. Since the second quarter of 2019, the company has had a total of $42.2 billion in core operating losses, per CNN.

Despite these financial problems, the company is still one of the countrys largest manufacturers with contractors in all 50 states. It also has a large backlog of contracts that will keep it in business.

These workers build military aircraft

According to CNN, the workers at these three facilities build a variety of military aircraft such as F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets, the T-7A Red Hawk trainer, and the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned refueler.

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The Pentagons next-generation fighter plane, the F-47 stealth fighter jet, is due to begin production at one of the plants in the future, but it is unknown when exactly that will start.

There are also some nonunion plants in the area operated by Boeing.

Boeings Defense, Space & Security business makes up over one-third of the companys revenue, per the AP.
Its a serious enough problem when Donald Trump publicly endorses investigations into his perceived political foes. But when the presidents targets actually become the subject of investigations, its far worse. NBC News reported:

Federal officials are investigating former special counsel Jack Smith after President Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans have alleged that his investigations into then-candidate Trump amounted to illegal political activity. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency, confirmed to NBC News on Saturday that its investigating Smith for alleged violations of the Hatch Act, a law that prohibits certain political activities by government officials.

Right off the bat, lets not overlook the most glaring problem with these developments: Theres literally no evidence whatsoever of Smith engaging in any kind of wrongdoing. Then-Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Smith to serve as a special counsel in November 2022  two years before the 2024 presidential election  at which point he oversaw the federal investigations into Trump.

The prosecutor proceeded to collect voluminous evidence, secure indictments and charge Trump with a great many felonies, but at no point did Smith engage in any partisan political activities, making the basis for such an investigation from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel absurd.

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Just as notably, it seems rather obvious that this move against Smith is part of a larger partisan vendetta from a party thats eager to retaliate against those who dared to try to hold Trump accountable for his alleged crimes. Indeed, it was Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a close White House ally, who requested that the OSC investigate Smith for unprecedented interference in the 2024 election, despite the complete lack of evidence pointing to any interference.

But even if we put these relevant angles aside, theres a broader point thats hanging overhead: Since when does the Trump administration care about alleged Hatch Act violations? Im reminded of this New York Times report from nearly four years ago:

Thirteen of President Donald J. Trumps most senior aides  including his son-in-law and his chief of staff  campaigned illegally for Mr. Trumps re-election in violation of a law designed to prevent federal employees from abusing the power of their offices on behalf of candidates, a government watchdog agency said Tuesday. Henry Kerner, who heads the Office of Special Counsel, made the assertion in a withering report that followed a nearly yearlong investigation into myriad violations of the law, known as the Hatch Act.

In a 63-page report, the Office of Special Counsel concluded, Senior Trump administration officials chose to use their official authority not for the legitimate functions of the government, but to promote the re-election of President Trump in violation of the law.

Richard Painter, who served as the chief White House ethics lawyer in the Bush/Cheney White House, described Team Trumps routine transgressions at the time as disgusting and unprecedented in the history of the Hatch Act. Painter added that the entire Trump administration, at the most senior levels, was devoted to illegally using federal offices to promote the presidents political campaign.

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As Trump scandals go, this one was relatively easy to overlook, but what was striking about the Hatch Act controversies was the degree to which the Republican presidents operation broke the rules knowingly and shamelessly, expressing indifference to the ethics law and at times treating it as the punch-line to a joke.

The rules exist for a reason: The idea of taxpayer-funded political operations is at odds with the basic principles of good government. Its why walls are supposed to exist between official and political duties  walls that have existed for decades to prevent abuses in administrations of both parties.

In Trumps first term, those walls were torn down, and members of his White House team decided that rules and limits just didnt apply to them. In Trumps second term, as the former special counsel finds himself on a partisan enemies list, the public is apparently supposed to believe that Republicans have suddenly rediscovered their interest in ethics laws, while they target a former special counsel who was always careful to play by the rules.

No one should be fooled.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Though Senate Republicans have long positioned themselves as rubber stamps for Donald Trumps nominees, there have been infrequent exceptions over the course of the presidents five years in the White House. In early 2017, for example, Trump wanted fast-food executive Andrew Puzder to serve as the secretary of labor, but his Cabinet nomination ultimately collapsed in the face of bipartisan opposition.

Eight years later, the president nominated Puzder for a different position, and this time, GOP senators apparently put aside the concerns they had during Trumps first term. The Hill reported:

Andrew Puzder, a former fast-food chain CEO, was confirmed by the Senate on Saturday as the U.S. ambassador to the European Union (EU). ... President Trump picked Puzder as his selection for ambassador to the EU in January, praising him as steering fast-food chains like Carls Jr. and Hardees away from serious financial difficulty and claiming Puzder would do an excellent job as ambassador.

The final 53-44 confirmation vote fell largely along party lines, but not entirely: Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against Puzder, while New Hampshires Democratic senators, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, voted with the GOP majority to confirm him.

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But as Puzder prepares to relocate to Brussels, Im struck by the familiarity of the circumstances.

A few weeks ahead of Puzders confirmation vote, Senate Republicans also voted to approve retired Army Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata to a leadership position at the Pentagon. In Trumps first term, the president also nominated Tata to a senior DOD post; but after senators learned about Tatas record as a radical conspiracy theorist  among other things, the retired general called Barack Obama a terrorist leader  his nomination collapsed.

In Trumps second term, Senate Republicans  including ostensible moderates like Murkowski and Maines Susan Collins  confirmed him anyway.

Other first-term rejects have also landed on their feet recently. In 2018, officials in the Trump White House started receiving media calls about Darren Beattie, a speechwriter and policy aide at the time, and journalists wanted to know whether Beatties colleagues were aware of his role at a conference regularly attended by well-known white nationalists.

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He was fired soon after, but hes returned in Trumps second term. Despite Beatties record of racism, the White House recently appointed him to lead the embattled U.S. Institute of Peace.

Mark Green probably belongs on this list, too. Eight years ago, Trump tapped the Tennessee Republican to serve as secretary of the U.S. Army. But after Greens radical worldview was exposed, some GOP senators felt compelled to raise concerns about his nomination, deeming him a bit too radical to be confirmed. On a Friday afternoon in May 2017, Green quietly withdrew from consideration.

Green has not only made a comeback in Trumps second term, the Republican also managed to climb the ranks on Capitol Hill, becoming the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee (before his unexpected resignation from Congress).

No one should be surprised if this list keeps growing in the coming months.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays edition of quick hits.

* In Gaza: Israeli forces opened fire near two aid distribution sites run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as crowds of hungry Palestinians again sought food, killing at least 10 people, witnesses and health workers said Saturday  a day after U.S. officials visited a GHF site and the U.S. ambassador called the troubled system an incredible feat.

* New Delhi appears displeased: Indias foreign ministry on Monday responded to a declaration from President Trump on social media that he would be applying additional tariffs on the country by calling the targeting of New Delhi unjustified and unreasonable.

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* The latest from Austin: Gov. Greg Abbott has warned Texas House Democrats that he would initiate removal proceedings if they do not return to Austin to pass the GOPs proposed new congressional maps.

* In Israel: The Israeli Cabinet on Monday voted unanimously to fire the attorney general, escalating a long-running standoff between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judiciary that critics see as a threat to the countrys democratic institutions. The Supreme Court froze the move while it considers the legality.

* Wholl defend this? As the administration seeks to fulfill President Donald Trumps pledge to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, attorneys for the men say their clients  Afghans who fear retribution from the Taliban for their work assisting the United States in its 20-year war in Afghanistan  have found themselves in the crosshairs of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

* A deeply unsettling report out of Florida: A culture of fear has persisted at a Florida nuclear power plant owned and operated by the states largest utility, according to a federal inspection report completed last fall. Workers were hesitant to report safety concerns to upper management lest they face retaliation. Inspectors came to this conclusion after interviewing more than 75 employees at the St. Lucie plant, located on a barrier island an hour north of West Palm Beach.

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* A notable result from the latest Pew Research Center survey: Eight-in-ten U.S. adults say that when it comes to important issues facing the country, Republican and Democratic voters not only disagree on plans and policies, but also cannot agree on basic facts.

See you tomorrow.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Donald Trumps first choice to serve as the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., was Ed Martin, a hyperpartisan Republican lawyer whose nomination collapsed in the face of bipartisan opposition.

After Martins bid failed, the president assured the public that his second choice would be great, and soon after, Trump announced that he wanted Jeanine Pirro  perhaps best known for work as a Fox News host  to be the top federal prosecutor in the nations capital.

Shortly before leaving for their summer break, Senate Republicans rubberstamped the White Houses choice. The New York Times reported:

The former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, whose false statements about the 2020 election were part of a lawsuit against the network, was confirmed as the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Ms. Pirro has been serving as interim U.S. attorney, and the Senate voted 50 to 45 on Saturday to formalize her role, with all Democrats present opposed.

Five senators  two Democrats and three Republicans  missed the vote. With unanimous GOP support for the nominee, their participation wouldnt have affected the outcome.

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Revisiting our earlier coverage, Democratic concerns about Pirros background are easy to understand, especially given her work on Fox News. Before her television career, Pirro served as a judge in Westchester County, New York, in the early 1990s. She went on to serve as the county's district attorney for roughly a decade until 2005. She later hosted a weekday television show on The CW network before joining Fox News in 2011.

Its unrealistic to try to summarize her rhetorical record in a single blog post, but broadly speaking, there are two key elements of Pirros career as a television personality to keep in mind.

The first is that Pirro, during her tenure as a Fox News host, was as much of a sycophantic Trump loyalist as anyone in conservative media. As The Washington Post noted after the president announced her nomination, Jeanine Pirro has long stood out as one of his most reliable backers, often taking his critics to task in stark and colorful language.

The affection has been mutual. In 2019, when the network found it necessary to publicly condemn anti-Muslim statements Pirro made, it was Trump who leapt to her defense.

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This kind of partisan unity between the president and Pirro helped explain why she was nominated, and why GOP senators were eager to confirm her, but its hardly reassuring given the powers of the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, D.C.

The other angle of note is that the Republican lawyers worldview appears to be rooted in a series of outlandish conspiracy theories. Way back in 2014, for example, Pirro launched into a truly unhinged rant against Barack Obama, suggesting to viewers that the Democratic president was secretly training ISIS radicals, prompting BuzzFeed to publish a memorable headline: Is This The Craziest Rant A Fox News Host Has Ever Done?

In the years that followed, Pirro continued to peddle one ludicrous conspiracy theory after another. Indeed, after Trumps 2020 election defeat, it reached the point that Fox News felt the need to temporarily remove Pirro from the air. According to court filings, one executive who oversaw her show at the time privately explained, I dont trust her to be responsible.

As Media Matters noted, internal Fox communications revealed by court filings also showed that her executive producer described Pirro as a reckless maniac who is nuts, promotes conspiracy theories and should never be on live television.

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In theory, these details might give senators pause before backing her nomination to serve as one of the United States most important prosecutors. Republican senators  including Maines Susan Collins and Alaskas Lisa Murkowski, the chambers so-called GOP moderates  did what Trump told them to do.

MSNBCs Barbara McQuade, a University of Michigan Law School professor and a former U.S. attorney, recently made the case that the president will use Pirro as a tool of retribution in our nations capital. Given that she has, among things, endorsed possible criminal investigations into Jan. 6 prosecutors, its an unsettling prospect.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
UPDATE (Aug. 4, 2025, 5:18 p.m. ET): The Texas House of Representatives voted Monday to issue civil arrest warrants for more than 50 Democratic state lawmakers. The warrants are only enforceable within state limits, making them largely symbolic, The Texas Tribune reported.

Ordinarily, during a special legislative session in Texas, one might expect to see state lawmakers in the State Capitol in Austin. But as the Republican majority tries to force through a scheme to rig Texas congressional map, the circumstances are far from ordinary  and as The Texas Tribune reported, thats led the Democratic minority to respond in kind:

Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state Sunday in a bid to block passage of a new congressional map designed to give the GOP five additional seats in the U.S. House next year, raising the stakes in whats poised to be a national fight over redistricting ahead of next years midterm election. The maneuver, undertaken by most of the Texas Houses 62 Democrats, deprives the Republican-controlled chamber of a quorum  the number of lawmakers needed to function under House rules  ahead of a scheduled Monday vote on the draft map.

At this point, the basic elements of this story are probably familiar, but to briefly review, for generations, theres been a standard approach to decennial redistricting in the United States: Once every 10 years, after the Census is complete and states know how many congressional seats theyll have, state legislatures draw up new district lines, ostensibly to remain in place for a decade.

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But following a model first embraced by then-Republican Rep. Tom DeLay more than 20 years ago, Donald Trump directed GOP officials in Texas to engage in mid-decade redistricting  or re-redistricting  so that Republicans would enjoy nearly 80% control over Texas U.S. House delegation, instead of the current 66%.

Its a strategy rooted in the idea that Republicans, whose commitment to democracy has waned dramatically in recent years, dont want to wait for voters before they win elections.

When Texas pursued this course a couple of decades ago, Democratic state legislators, after exhausting all other alternatives, took the only available step: They fled Texas, denying the legislature a quorum, which halted policymaking in the state capitol  a strategy periodically employed by Texas lawmakers for the last 155 years.

Now, Texas Democrats are doing the same thing.

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The legislators have gone to a handful of locations, but many have gone to Illinois, where Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has offered refuge to the fleeing Texans.

Texas Republicans, predictably annoyed, have been unsubtle in their over-the-top complaints, threatening to arrest the Democratic officials and accusing them of being felons.

I wont pretend to know what might happen next, when Texas Democrats will be able to return home, or when or whether the newly gerrymandered map will become law. What I do know is that the hyper-partisan effort is reverberating across the country. The New York Times summarized:

The aggressive push by President Trump and Republicans in Texas to squeeze as many as five House Democrats out of office before a single vote is cast in the 2026 midterm elections has opened up a new chapter in an era of unconstrained partisan warfare. ... [T]he bald attempt to redraw the Texas congressional map to shore up House Republicans has pushed many Democrats, including some longtime institutionalists, to a breaking point. Now, they are vowing to fight fire with fire and even to embrace some of the very gerrymandering tactics they have long decried as anti-democratic.

If the discussion were limited to Texas, it would still be a dramatically important story that would likely help dictate control of Congress. But its not limited to Texas at all.

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At the presidents behest, Republicans in a variety of other red states, including Florida and Missouri, are moving forward with partisan mid-decade redistricting schemes, too, hoping to win elections before voters are able to cast ballots. Democrats  who, incidentally, tried at the federal level to eliminate partisan gerrymandering altogether in a democracy-reform package unveiled in 2021  arent taking this lying down.

On the contrary, even Democrats whove long opposed gerrymandering have concluded that asymmetric partisan warfare is untenable. With this in mind, and with few other options, the party has begun making plans to combat GOP gambits in red states with comparable efforts in blue states.

My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier, Trump said in his second inaugural address. Thats what I want to be: a peacemaker and a unifier. Roughly six months later, such talk has been replaced with an era of unconstrained partisan warfare.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
DENVER  Carie Hallford, who was ready to go to trial on more than a dozen counts of wire fraud connected to a case of deception that resulted in the decomposition of nearly 190 bodies at the Return to Nature Funeral Home, entered a guilty plea in federal court Monday while accepting a deal that dismisses a majority of her charges.

Hallford, 48, ran the funeral home south of Colorado Springs in Penrose with husband Jon Hallford.

The co-owner appeared without emotion Monday and now faces a federal prison term of no more than 20 years after admitting guilt to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Kelly Schleosser, whose mother was found in the since-demolished building, said it didn't give her any satisfaction to hear Carie Hallford admit her guilt, calling her a "liar" anyway.

"Every time we go back to court, it's like spiraling us to the beginning," said Schleosser.

Carie Hallford has gone back and forth with her federal plea. She pleaded guilty in October 2024, then withdrew the plea when Judge Nina Wang added a plea agreement stipulation in March that meant her time in prison could exceed 15 years. Co-owner Jon Hallford maintained his guilty plea despite the change.

Carie Hallford's plea agreement, accepted by the court Monday, dismissed the remaining 14 federal counts. According to her defense counsel, her prison sentence cannot exceed 20 years, but the prosecution is likely to recommend 15 years in federal prison.

Jon Hallford's plea agreement was nearly identical, with him also pleading guilty to the single conspiracy charge. However, prosecutors asked for a 20-year prison sentence.

The case started in early October 2023 after complaints of a "foul" odor led to a search warrant on the Penrose location. Shortly after the gruesome discovery of 189 bodies, Jon and Carie Hallford were arrested and charged in both state and federal courts.

Jon Hallford received the maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison in late July, but a motion filed July 3 showed his defense has appealed the sentence to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Less than two weeks after his sentencing, Carie Hallford requested a change-of-plea hearing and her September trial dates were vacated.

It was a quiet courtroom Monday, with only a handful of victim families in the gallery. Carie Hallford appeared in custody with cuffs around her ankles and wrists.

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Crystina Page, whose son David was found in the Penrose building, said she hopes Wang delivers the same sentence received by Jon Hallford.

"I'm pretty confident the judge will give her the maximum," Page said. "But 20 years doesn't come close to justice."

The wire fraud charges came down after further investigation revealed the Hallfords' misuse of cremation and burial payments as well as COVID relief funds. According to the April 2024 federal indictment, the Hallfords collected "in excess of" $130,000 from victims for cremation or burial services that were never provided.

On at least two occasions, the wrong body was buried. "In a number of instances," the Hallfords provided dry concrete mix to families instead of their loved one's ashes, the indictment stated.

The indictment also alleged that the Hallfords provided false information to the U.S. Small Business Administration to obtain COVID relief funds totaling $882,300. The couple allegedly used those funds for personal benefit by spending the money on things such as vehicles, multiple vacations, tuition, a cosmetic medical procedure and more.

Carie Hallford's federal sentencing date is set for Dec. 3. No state sentencing date has been set because of the ongoing nature of her federal case.

While some victims have expressed frustration and concern over the case dragging on into next year, others are indifferent.

"For me, I don't think a timeline matters," Page said. "As long as they're behind bars."

Page said she would've liked the case to go to trial like planned, because many victims are still in the dark about details of the funeral home.

"I think her pulling the plea has been damaging to a lot of us," Page said. "We believe that by going to trial, we would've been able to hear the evidence and be able to hear what they actually did to us.

"We still don't know the truth."

Both funeral home owners have already pleaded guilty on the state level. Jon Hallford is scheduled for state sentencing Aug. 22.

The pair are expected to receive 20 years in prison on the state level, to run concurrent with their federal sentences, court records show.
One year ago, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won a landslide victory in Venezuelas presidential election, defeating President Nicolas Maduro by over 40 percentage points according to voting receipts independently collected from over 80 percent of the precincts in the country. Gonzalez took a majority of votes in every state in the country as well as in neighborhoods that had long been ruling party strongholds. Venezuelas population turned out in force to demonstrate its disappointment with the ruling Chavista party that has been in office since the late 1990s and express its anger over the corruption, mismanagement and economic ruin the country has experienced in that time.

Despite that overwhelming electoral defeat, Maduro remains the de facto president of the country. In the hours following the closing of the polls, Venezuelas national electoral council, known by its Spanish-language acronym CNE, announced fraudulent results showing a narrow victory for the president. Violating its own rules, the CNE never followed up by publishing the precinct-level voter data to support its claim, because the data would simply have been further proof of the governments defeat. Ignoring international condemnations of the election, including from Colombia and Brazil, the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, or PSUV, rallied around Maduro, as did the Chavista-controlled military, with government security forces and paramilitaries violently repressing attempts to protest the electoral fraud. In early January 2025, Maduro was installed as the reelected president in a brief 30-minute ceremony in a tiny room with just a few allies in attendance.

In the months that followed, Gonzalez was forced to flee the country to Spain, where he remains in exile. Maria Corina Machado, the popular opposition leader who was prevented from running as a candidate but spearheaded support for Gonzalez as her replacement, has gone into hiding in Venezuela. Waves of detentions and threats have decimated the oppositions political organization in the country. And Venezuelas citizens have gone back to their lives with a level of disillusionment about whether and how change may be possible after such a clearly successful electoral mobilization failed to remove the current leadership.

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Bolstered by his ability to win elections without winning votes, Maduro has held two more rounds of elections in recent months. In May, his government held regional and legislative elections, in which most opposition politicians refused to participate and most Venezuelan voters didnt bother to cast their ballots. The CNE announced results showing the PSUV winning all but one state governorship and a supermajority of the legislative seats. It was of little concern that the math did not add up properly on some of the vote counts. Nobody thought the actual numbers mattered.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

It was even worse in the municipal elections held in late July. After the CNE announced initial results showing that PSUV candidates had won 258 mayoral posts, with counting continuing in some municipalities, Maduro himselfand not the electoral authorityannounced the final results, which ultimately gave the ruling party 285 of the 335 positions up for grabs. This time around, the CNE didnt even bother publishing the results of any of the elections, instead simply announcing the winners. Posting made-up voting data in each municipality would have made the fraud easier to pick apart, so it was better for Maduro to post no data at all. Any opposition candidates who participated in the elections went along with the charade. The Machado-led opposition that boycotted them had no real options for responding that could change the situation.

Reflecting the resignation that has taken hold within the country, Venezuelas slide into all-out dictatorship no longer features on the hemispheric agenda.

Reflecting the resignation that has taken hold within the country, the topic of Venezuela and its slide into all-out dictatorship has disappeared from the hemispheric agenda. It was not mentioned in the declaration released by the Organization of American States General Assembly in June. The recent Democracy Always summit of leftwing leaders in Santiago, which was hosted by Chilean President Gabriel Boric and focused on strengthening democracy in the hemisphere, didnt even bother to mention Venezuela. A meeting of leftwing politicians from across the hemisphere held in Mexico last week did not include any major attendees from Venezuela at all on its list of invited guests, which was at least an improvement on similar meetings in the past, which often featured Maduro allies. Colombian President Gustavo Petro spends more time posting criticisms on social media about conditions in Gaza than he does about the conditions in neighboring Venezuela, which have led millions of Venezuelan migrants and refugees to flee over their shared border since the mid-2010s.

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That is quite a contrast from recent decades, when so much of the hemispheric debate centered around Venezuela, its regional influence and its declining conditions. The international community has backed away from the Venezuela question because, like Venezuelan voters, they dont see a path forward. Over the past decade, every policy intended to change the Maduro regimes behavior has failed, from hardline sanctions and diplomatic isolation to more conciliatory efforts at diplomacy and cooperation. The dozen Latin American presidents of the Lima Group who in 2019 rejected Venezuelas presidential election results from the previous year and recognized Juan Guaido as Venezuelas interim de jure president have all left office, while Maduro remains in power in Caracas and Guaido, like Gonzalez, has fled Venezuela.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who during his first term adopted a maximum pressure policy of sanctions to attempt to remove Maduro from power, has taken a much more conciliatory approach this time around. It has allowed U.S. oil companies to continue operating in Venezuela and agreed to prisoner exchanges with the Maduro regime. Trumps special envoy to Venezuela shook hands with Maduro back in January and has insisted that regime change is not part of the administrations strategy. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio has used some harsh rhetoric, most of the administrations focus has been on Venezuelan gangs allegedly operating in the U.S., including the Tren de Aragua and more recently the Cartel de los Soles, both of which have now been designated as terrorist organizations.

But the actual policies the Trump administration has implemented and the sanctions it has enforced to pressure Maduro have been even lighter than those adopted under former President Joe Biden, who put most of his effort into sealing a diplomatic deal that was meant to improve the oppositions chances in last years presidential election. The Trump team did threaten to impose secondary tariffs against purchasers of Venezuelan oil, such as China, but never implemented them. And in recent months, when it comes to trade tariffs and sanctions, Trump has dealt more harshly with Brazil and Canada than Venezuela.

With his domestic opposition fragmented and directionless, and the international community exhausted and distracted, Maduros grip on power would appear to be unassailable. But the regimes own corruption and economic mismanagement remain its weakness. In recent months, the currency has fallen even further, local prices have increased and economic opportunities for the average citizen have disappeared. Even as some migrants who previously fled the country have started to return due to tougher conditions facing Venezuelan refugees across the hemisphere, a new wave of migrants is starting to flow out of Venezuela to escape the poverty and despair. Meanwhile, armed groups and violent criminal gangs within Venezuela engage in extortion and illegal mining in ways that involve territorial control and sometimes undermine the governments claim to be an all-controlling sovereign power.

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The weak economy and presence of so many illegal gangs across Venezuelas territory mean that Maduros hold on power can never be considered to be strong. However, he has quite successfully eliminated or outlasted his domestic and international opponents, while neutralizing every strategy they might use to force him out, from elections and protests at home to sanctions and diplomacy abroad. For Venezuelas citizens, the resulting political stagnation is particularly dispiriting, as it condemns them to live under a government that lacks the capacity to improve their lives but successfully resists the threats that might allow them to replace it.

James Bosworth is the founder of Hxagon, a firm that does political risk analysis and bespoke research in emerging and frontier markets, as well as a global fellow at the Wilson Centers Latin America Program. He has two decades of experience analyzing politics, economics and security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The post Maduro Has Disappeared Venezuela From the Regional Agenda appeared first on World Politics Review.
Lilac Lotus (center), an artist from Farmington, demonstrates in the State House in Augusta against proposed bills that would restrict transgender rights. At right is Jodi O'Connor from Starks. The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the bills on May 8, 2025. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)

A group of state attorneys general, led by New York, has filed a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of mounting an unconstitutional pressure campaign against gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, challenges actions taken by the Justice Department to investigate and halt gender-affirming care across the country.

The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration is pursuing a backdoor strategy to restrict gender-affirming care at the federal level through threats of criminal and civil penalties, while skirting state laws that protect transgender patients health care.

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This report was first published by The 19th. Maine Morning Star is a member of The 19th News Network.

As federal investigations and funding threats roll out, hospitals across the country are shutting down their gender-affirming care programs for minors  including in areas where access to this care is protected by state law. Clinics and medical programs have shuttered in California, Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois and Washington, D.C., among others  despite state laws that protect the cares legality. Multiple hospitals have attributed shuttering or pausing their gender-affirming care programs to President Donald Trumps executive orders and federal administrative actions, including the Yale health system and Denver Health in Colorado.

The White House recently celebrated these closures as a direct result of Trumps executive orders.

The administrations actions put providers in an impossible position: either comply with unlawful federal threats or violate state laws that require nondiscriminatory access to medical care, New York Attorney General Letitia James office said in a statement.

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James and other attorneys general suing the Trump administration argue that these actions are not based in law, since no federal statute prohibits gender-affirming care in the United States. Instead, these actions are an intimidation tactic to suppress the health care, the lawsuit alleges. Through the courts, they are attempting to halt the Justice Departments actions.

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Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the attorneys general of states where gender clinics have recently shuttered, as well as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. They assert that gender-affirming care is legally protected in all of their states and that federal efforts to block that care violate states rights provided by the 10th Amendment.

Over the past few months, federal agencies have begun to follow through on Trumps executive orders regarding gender-affirming care.

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In early July, Chad Mizelle, chief of staff at the Justice Department, announced that the agency had launched at least 20 subpoenas into clinics involved in gender transition care, alongside subpoenas to drug manufacturers and investigations into hospitals providing the care. Doctors are being subpoenaed for patients private information, the New York Times reports. The agency is following the White House directive it received in January, via executive order, to broadly investigate gender-affirming care. In these directives, the Trump administration has incorrectly conflated the care with female genital mutilation.

The New York lawsuit challenges these actions, as well as FBI criminal investigations into three childrens hospitals that currently provide gender-affirming care or have done so in the past. Although the lawsuit is being brought against Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department, it also references other actions taken by federal agencies targeting gender-affirming care  including an all-day event hosted by the Federal Trade Commission. That event, titled the dangers of gender-affirming care for minors, is where the Justice Department first announced its subpoenas for confidential patient information.

Major medical groups including the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have endorsed gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The new president of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which sets global standards for doctors and nurses providing health care to trans patients, has expressed concerns that banning gender-affirming care will simply drive the care underground and endanger patients.

Transgender people, as well as the families and parents of transgender youth, are feeling increasingly worried and scared as the Trump administration targets their identities and their health care. For years, states have banned gender-affirming care for minors in red states and through Republican-controlled legislatures; but now, with the crackdown taking place on a national level, trans people living in blue states and liberal cities face the same threat.

This story was originally reported by Orion Rummler of The 19th. Meet Orion and read more of his reporting on gender, politics and policy.
Maine imports 2.3 million tons of wood products annually, most of which comes from Canada, according to a 2025 report from the Maine Forest Service. (Photo by Getty Images)

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce has been following the Trump administrations actions on tariffs since the start of the year, said President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Woodcock.

Initially, the chambers biggest concern was the potential for few exemptions and retaliatory steps that would drive up costs of everyday products for Mainers.

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But while the overall effect so far has been more limited than anticipated, Woodcock said Monday that some individual companies and industries are already seeing a dramatic impact. For example, he said lumber product prices have increased. Similarly, tariffs have driven up the cost of cars, which Woodcock said has been hugely consequential for consumers.

In Maine, our forest products industry is the one that is most affected with these specific industry, sector-level tariffs, Woodcock said. The state imports 2.3 million tons of wood products annually, most of which comes from Canada, according to a recent industry report from the Maine Forest Service.

The Maine Forest Products Council did not respond to a request for comment from Maine Morning Star by the time of publication.

Prices for softwood lumber, which can be used in construction or furniture making, were up more than 2% over the past month and nearly 17% higher than they were a year ago, according to a July 25 report from the National Association of Home Builders.

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The report attributes recent lumber price volatility to rising tariffs, as well as increased demand, supply chain issues and insufficient domestic production. One way to address the high prices would be a long-term deal with Canada to reduce tariffs and boost imported lumber, the report goes on to say.

However, on Thursday  one day before the deadline President Donald Trump set for reaching trade agreements with dozens of countries  Trump issued an executive order raising the tariff rate on goods imported from Canada to 35%.

Trump said earlier that day it would be hard to reach an agreement with the country because of Canadas announcement that it will recognize a Palestinian state.

The executive order outlining the tariff increase also said Canada, which Trump previously suggested should become the 51st state, failed to do more to address the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through the northern border. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and other Democratic state attorneys general are currently challenging that argument in the U.S. Court of International Trade, which last week ruled in their favor.

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Since the start of Trumps second term, many Maine industries have expressed concerns about a potential trade war with Canada, given how deeply interconnected the states economy is with its northern neighbor. Every year, Maine exports $1.4 billion in goods to Canada and in turn imports more than $5 billion worth of goods.

In April, Maine farmers and brewers shared their worries about increased costs from the tax on imported goods being passed onto consumers.

Woodcock said Trumps executive orders have narrowed the scope of the tariffs by excluding products that are certified by the existing free trade agreement for North American countries, known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement or USMCA.

The executive order issued last Thursday reiterates that some goods from Canada are still protected by that agreement, which is up for renegotiation next year.

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That limits the number of products that are affected, Woodcock explained, so the consequences of the tariffs will be more company-by-company and will not encompass some of the consumer products commodities that we were very concerned about, including heating oil and electricity.

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EXCLUSIVE: A major pro-business group will intervene Monday on the side of the federal government as California leads several other states in trying to undo Congress rescission of several electric vehicle (EV) mandates.

The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce (AmFree)  a pro-limited-government alternative to the older U.S. Chamber of Commerce  will file suit in Oakland federal court to intervene in Californias challenge to three bipartisan Congressional Review Act resolutions signed by President Donald Trump that blocked the Golden State from enforcing what AmFree calls "radical" and commercially damaging EV mandates.

AmFree and several agricultural and trade organizations backing its intervention said they intend to help make the case that California and the other blue states it is leading as plaintiffs against the government remain preempted from enforcing the mandates and that the mooted restrictions were stifling American commerce.

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"[The] entire complaint should be dismissed with prejudice," AmFree wrote in its filing, as the Congressional Review Act (CRA) itself  the tool that Congress used to block the mandates  shields any aspect of the situation from a judicial review.

Ca Drops Green Big-rig Mandates, Ending Legal Fight With Bill Barr-linked Group

American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce intervenes in California's lawsuit challenging Congressional Review Act resolutions that blocked electric vehicle mandates.

Therefore, AmFree argues, California lacks standing and courts have no constitutional authority to interfere with internal congressional processes like CRA.

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Congress properly used its power to invalidate the Biden-era waivers granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to California, they argue.

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"President Trump and members of Congress deserve tremendous credit for putting Californias EV mandates on the trash heap where they belong," said AmFree CEO Gentry Collins. "If allowed to move forward, these onerous regulations would have been catastrophic for the U.S. economy.

"Just because Governor Newsom doesnt like the outcome doesnt mean he can weaponize the courts to subvert the will of elected representatives who answer to voters."

Michael Buschbacher, the lead attorney in the case and a partner at Boyden Gray, told Fox News Digital in a Monday interview that the law is clear when it comes to challenging CRAs like those passed to blunt the EV mandates.

Dozens Of States Lobby Epa To Deny California Waiver Forcing Out-of-state Strucks To Comply With Green Mandate

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"Congress said that there's no judicial review for CRA resolutions. So that alone should end things, and then, when you think about what they're doing, theyre trying to undo a law  as best I can tell, their theory is theyre constitutionally entitled to the filibuster, but the filibusters not in the Constitution and I dont see any viable legal arguments that they have," Buschbacher said.

"Thats why, along with our motion to intervene, were including a motion to dismiss with prejudice."

He also noted that because lawsuits against the government often drag on through multiple presidential administrations, having AmFree and its trade association partners as intervenors helps prevent "collusive settlements"  which can happen when new officeholders bring shifting priorities or legal interpretations.

When asked about the case under the lens of ongoing debates on federal judicial activism and overreach, Buschbacher added that the blue-state plaintiffs are "definitely trying to get the judiciary to step way out of line into second-guessing the core parts of the institutional prerogatives of the House and Senate."

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"I'm not aware of any lawsuit that has tried to go this far [regarding] the separation of powers.

"It's clear this is not one of those issues that is like the Trump administration doing something completely novel and courts having to wrestle with that. This is like squarely, Congress passed the law. You can't undo that law unless it's unconstitutional and there's nothing unconstitutional here."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Robert Bonta defended the merits of their suit, claiming EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and the Trump administration defied "decades of precedent" by approving Congress CRAs.

"Trumps all-out assault on California continues  and this time hes destroying our clean air and Americas global competitiveness in the process. We are suing to stop this latest illegal action by a President who is a wholly-owned subsidiary of big polluters," Newsom said in a statement.

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Newsom and Bonta argued in a June statement when filing the suit that it was actually Republican icon then-Gov. Ronald Reagan who first accelerated Californias clean-air efforts when he sought waivers from then-President Richard Nixon.

"[Trumps] reckless, politically motivated, and illegal attacks on California continue, this time with his attempt to trample on our longstanding authority to maintain more stringent clean vehicle standards," Bonta said.

"The President is busy playing partisan games with lives on the line and yanking away good jobs that would bolster the economy  ignoring that these actions have life or death consequences for California communities breathing dirty, toxic air. Ive said it before.

"Ill say it again: California will not back down," Bonta said.

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Several blue states, including Pennsylvania, remain tied to some of Californias EV mandates, with the owner of a Lenhartsville trucking company warning journalist John Stossel in a recent interview that without breaking from the Golden State, the industry would have problems.

Virginia is one state that was able to break with California. As Buschbacher said, Richmond found a technicality in their own statute  where it assumed California was going to enshrine its EV mandate in one statutory subsection versus another in the state code. That helped Virginia back out of the pact previously approved by former Gov. Ralph Northam.





Original article source: Major business group intervenes to blunt Newsom lawsuit attempting to reinstate EV mandates
The Marion County Sheriffs Office reported that a man shot and killed in Silver Springs on Saturday evening has been identified.

Deputies arrived at the scene to find Stephen John Jones, a 56-year-old white male, suffering from a gunshot wound. The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. at NE 54th Place, which can be seen on the map below.
[Source]

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdanis campaign prepared for possible trouble at John F. Kennedy airport as he returned Wednesday from a vacation in Uganda.

What happened: Mamdani left for Uganda on July 20 to celebrate his recent marriage to Rama Duwaji with family. He returned Wednesday morning, and amid concerns over potential issues, passed through the U.S. Customs without incident.

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I did not have issues getting through customs, though I was prepared for the potential of those issues, he told reporters. This is a sad reality of living in our presidents United States. The 33-year-old Queens assemblyman, who calls himself a democratic socialist, has lived in the U.S. since age 7 and became a citizen in 2018.

How they prepared: Mamdanis campaign reportedly stayed in touch with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Atty. Gen. Letitia James offices, which both pledged assistance in the event immigration officials detained Mamdani.

Trending on NextShark: AI is altering the legal profession as record number of Asian Americans enter law school

These precautions follow attacks from Republican officials such as Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, who argued on social media that he needs to be DEPORTED while calling him little muhammad [sic]. President Donald Trump, for his part, has not explicitly called for Mamdanis deportation but has made statements casting doubt on his citizenship. A lot of people are saying hes here illegally. Were going to look at everything, Trump told reporters on July 1.

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Why this matters: Mamdanis absence came amid New Yorks deadliest mass shooting in 25 years that killed four victims Monday, including NYPD officer and fellow Muslim Didarul Islam. His adviser, Morris Katz, reportedly woke him at 4 a.m. in Uganda to alert him of the incident.

Speaking to CNN, Mamdani said he went directly from Kennedy airport to Islams home in Parkchester, where his family refused to let me leave until I had breakfast with them. At Wednesdays press conference with Smith Etienne, brother of security guard Aland Etienne  another shooting victim  and union leaders, scrutiny intensified over Mamdanis past statements on defunding the police, including We dont need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD. He has also defended eliminating the NYPDs Strategic Response Group, which responded to Mondays shooting.

Trending on NextShark: Mamdani braced for US reentry confrontation after deportation calls from GOP

Despite the controversy, Mamdani maintains his lead in recent polls, including 50% support in a Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions poll released this week.

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This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

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Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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Trending on NextShark: NYC Chinatown deaths at hands of repeat offender cast light on stalled safety promises

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New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdanis campaign is studying another far-left figures rapid rise in city politics  not to emulate it, but to avoid the missteps that earned him the "Americas Worst Mayor" moniker, according to a new report.

Mamdani has a lot of parallels with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. While Johnson is not an explicit member of the Democratic Socialists of America, as Mamdani is  according to the groups New York chapter  the two exude similar progressive politics.

But, Johnson  despite holding office in a city without a single Republican alderman  has earned reported single-digit approval numbers, following his rise from teachers' union organizer and Cook County legislator to the Windy Citys mayorship.

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Those snafus are something Mamdanis campaign wants to avoid, according to NBC News.

Chicago Mayor Calls Ice Raids Terrorism, Says Trump's America Appears As If The Confederacy Won

NBC News cited a source close to both Democrats camps, who said Mamdani is "tracking Johnsons challenges" and instead hopes to be more like another progressive with a less nationally-infamous track record: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

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The source told NBC News that Johnson "lost the plot" and suggested Mamdani is more "pragmatic" than the firebrand Chicagoan.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune editorial board has warned New York City voters against selecting Mamdani, writing they've "seen this movie before and the ending isn't pretty"  referring to Johnson.

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Johnson has repeatedly clashed with reporters at press conferences, branded ICE officers as agents of "terrorism," and characterized President Donald Trump as a neoconfederate dictator.

When Trump called Mamdani a communist, he responded that he is getting used to having Trump criticize him.

Chicago Mayor Calls Doge Act Of War, Compares Second Trump Term To Third Reich

He told "Meet the Press" in a more measured response in June that he is a democratic socialist "in many ways inspired by the words of Dr. [Martin Luther] King from decades ago."

In an interview with NY1, Mamdani also highlighted how he is only two years younger than Wu was when she began her own mayoral campaign, contrasting younger Democrats like himself and the Beantown mayor with old guard like Andrew Cuomo.

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"I think what we see in our politics is a desire to turn the page on the failed leadership that delivered us these crises," he said.

Like Johnson, Mamdanis rise was similarly sudden.

He emigrated from Uganda at age 7, later had brief stints with MoveOn and other activist groups, was elected assemblyman in 2020 and is now the frontrunner for Americas largest citys mayorship.

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa has repeatedly called for Mamdanis critics to unify behind his Republican candidacy to save New York City, in his words, while Cuomo remains in the race, albeit as an Independent.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdanis campaign and Johnsons office for comment.

Fox News Digital's Marc Tamasco contributed to this report.





Original article source: Mamdani studies 'America's Worst Mayor' Brandon Johnson to avoid his political pitfalls: report
A 19-year-old who was stabbed to death in a car park has been named by police as they have made a total of five arrests on suspicion of his murder.

Mohammed Afzal died after the attack on Market Street in Bury at about 21:00 BST on Friday, Greater Manchester Police said.

Five men, all aged 19, have been held over the attack with one of the suspects since released on bail, the force added.

One was arrested at Manchester Airport early on Sunday, while two others were arrested in Bury and Bolton on Saturday and a further two arrested earlier, the force said.

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Mr Afzal, know by his loved ones as Isa, died from stab wounds at the scene.

His family have been given support by specialist officers, a police spokesman said.

Det Ch Insp John Charlton said: "Officers have worked non-stop for the past few days, resulting the arrest of five people on suspicion of murder.

"While our investigation is still in its very early days, we are making good progress with our various lines of enquiry, and I want thank those who have come forward with information to assist us."

He urged anyone with information on the incident to contact the force.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

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A man has been charged with murder following the death of a student from Saudi Arabia.

Cambridgeshire Police was called to Mill Park in Cambridge on Friday at about 23:27 BST.

Twenty-year-old Mohammed Algasim - in the city on a 10-week study placement - was pronounced dead at the scene.

Chas Corrigan, 21, of Holbrook Road, Cambridge, has been charged with murder and possession of a knife in a public place.

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He appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court today.

Mr Corrigan was remanded in custody to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday.

A 50-year-old man, also from Cambridge, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and remains in custody.

The victim, Mohammed Algasim, had been studying in Cambridge on a 10-week placement [Robbie Kalus/BBC]

A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Tuesday.

In a statement, EF International Language Campus, a Cambridge-based language school that teaches English to overseas students, said it was "deeply saddened" by the death of one of its students.

"We are providing support to all students and staff affected by this tragic event and have organised counselling sessions," it added.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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The man charged with the killing Aniah Blanchard in October 2019 will now face trial.

Ibraheem Yazeed faces three charges of capital murder for allegedly kidnapping and murdering Blanchard, the stepdaughter of former UFC heavyweight Walt Harris.

Yazeed will face trial March 2 in Macon County (Ala.) court, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

What happened to Aniah Blanchard?

Blanchard, 19, was a college student at Auburn University when she went missing. Her disappearance was reported and an extensive search from authorities and volunteers ensued.

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Through surveillance camera and witness interviews, police concluded Blanchard and Yazeed ran into one another at a local convenience store. Footage showed Yazeed entering and exiting Blanchard's car.

Yazeed, then 29, was eventually located and arrested. Blanchard's remains were located, as was her car. A "life-threatening amount of blood" was found in the vehicle.

An autopsy showed Blanchard was shot to death.

At the time of the alleged murder, Yazeed was out on $295,000 bail for multiple charges, including kidnapping and attempted murder from a prior incident.

Since his arrest, Yazeed has been incarcerated without bond. He faces the death penalty.

Aniah's Law

Following Blanchard's death, "Aniah's Law" was passed in Alabama.

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The amendment tweaked laws that said only capital offenders would not have a right to reasonable bail. "Aniah's Law" added a series of serious crimes for which bail would not be allowed for accused offenders, like Yazeed was.

Such offenses include first-degree rape, sexual torture, sodomy, terrorism, robbery, human trafficking and more.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Man accused of Aniah Blanchard killing faces trial for capital murder
Man accused of hijacking trash truck near Encore Casino arraigned from hospital bed

A man who police say hijacked a trash truck and crashed on a busy bridge near the Encore Casino in Everett before being shot by police last week faced a judge from his hospital bed on Monday morning.

Admilson Vizcaino, 33, of Malden, was arraigned via Zoom on nine charges, including four counts of attempted armed carjacking, two counts of armed carjacking, armed assault to rob, leaving the scene of property damage, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of Vizcaino, who only moved his head and blinked his eyes as he rested in his hospital bed, still connected to a heartbeat monitor and breathing tube.

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Vizcaino was tased, shot, and arrested after the alleged carjacking on Thursday, July 31.

It all started around 12:45 p.m. when police in Medford received a call about a man acting erratically at a Sunoco gas station, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

The man, later identified as Vizcaino, had already left the gas station in a black Chevrolet SUV by the time police arrived.

Medford police issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for the vehicle, and around 1 p.m., Stoneham police spotted the SUV and tried to pull over the driver, who didnt stop, according to Ryan.

About an hour later, around 2 p.m., the car was spotted at a 7-Eleven in Billerica, where reports of a shoplifting incident had taken place, Ryan said.

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Then, around 3:15 p.m., authorities received a phone call from one of Vizcainos family members alerting the police that he was in Malden, according to Ryan. By the time officers arrived, the suspect had left, and Malden officers began to give chase but lost sight of the car and notified Everett police.

Shortly after, Vizcaino crashed the SUV on Broadway in Everett near the Encore Casino and drove a short distance before it became completely disabled.

Vizcaino then ran off, allegedly attempting to enter several cars in traffic. Massachusetts State Police troopers swarmed the area, later finding a gas container inside the SUV that the suspect was seen carrying at the 7/11.

At that point, Vizcaino bolted out into the roadway and hijacked a Republic Services trash truck, according to Ryan.

At least one police officer opened fire on Vizcaino as he forced the operator of the truck out of the drivers seat, according to Ryan.

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He proceeded to drive the truck for about a half mile, with police on hot pursuit, striking light poles, fire hydrants, and several other things before crashing on the sidewalk on the Alford Street Bridge, Ryan said.

Vizcaino was then taken into custody and rushed to a local hospital with critical injuries.

Vizcainos mother told Boston 25 News she became worried with the way he was expressing himself and that some of the things he was communicating did not make sense. Thats when she says she called the police for help.

Trash

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Everett Police Chief Paul Strong said that the officer who shot the suspect has been placed on administrative leave as per their policy.

A witness told Boston 25 News that they heard about 10, 11, 12 gunshots ring out.

All of Thursdays incidents remain under investigation, including the Everett Police Departments use of force.

Vizcaino is due back in court for a dangerousness hearing on Aug. 13. His attorney said she hopes her client will be released from the hospital by then.

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NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI)  The Pawtucket man accused of running a North Kingstown detective over with his car last week faced a judge on Monday.

Alec Perry, 30, was arrested Friday night and charged with solicitation of a child, felony assault, eluding police, assault on an officer, obstruction and resisting arrest.

The North Kingstown detective was among several investigators working an undercover sting operation involving Perry, according to the Rhode Island State Police.

Alec Perry (Courtesy: RI State Police)

Police said the investigation into Perry began once he started engaging in an extended series of text messages soliciting sex from an undercover police officer who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.

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Perry exchanged numerous text messages and sent a photograph of himself, thinking he was talking to the teenager, according to police. He then planned to meet her at the North Kingstown Park & Ride Lot off Boston Neck Road, not realizing he was actually speaking with an undercover investigator.

Police said officers attempted to arrest Perry once he pulled into the parking lot Friday evening, but the situation quickly escalated.

Perry aggressively accelerated his vehicle and hit the North Kingstown detective, identified as J. Dylan Navakauskas, before speeding out of the parking lot, according to police.

Officers opened fire on Perrys vehicle as a result, though its unclear exactly how many rounds were fired.

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TARGET 12: North Kingstown officer hit by car in undercover sting arrest

Perry crashed his car into a pole near North Kingstown Town Beach, which is a short distance away from the Park & Ride. He took off running after the crash, but he didnt get far and was apprehended after a brief struggle.

Police said Navakauskas, a 17-year veteran of the North Kingstown Police Department, was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries. He has since been released and is now recovering at home.

Investigators found eight shell casings on the ground at the Park & Ride and noticed that Perrys back windshield had been shattered before the crash, according to court documents.

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Perry was brought to Kent Hospital as a precaution, where doctors determined he wasnt hit by gunfire or injured in the crash.

Court records indicate that Perry has had several brushes with the law dating back to 2013, when the Johnston Police Department charged him with breaking and entering into a home.

Perry was out on probation for first-degree robbery, felony assault and possession of a stolen vehicle at the time of last weeks incident, per court records.

He was ordered held without bail as a probation violator on Monday. Perry has also been barred from using the internet and having contact with minors.

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His next court date is slated for Oct. 7.

The incident is being investigated by the Rhode Island State Police, North Kingstown Police Department and Attorney Generals Office as required by the states protocols for officer-involved shootings.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Luis Soto-Espinoza told police he drank too much at a party and blacked out, claiming he had no memory of stabbing an ex-girlfriend to death and wounding her friend before stabbing himself in the neck.

I dont know what to say, I dont remember any of that, Soto-Espinoza said according to newly-released court documents.

Days later, he made a call to family that was recorded by a Bakersfield police officer guarding him at Kern Medical, where he remained while recovering from his injuries.

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Police investigators said Soto-Espinoza made statements indicating he knew what hed done.

Ima (sic) do whats right, Ima do the time, Soto-Espinoza told a family member. I f up.

And when his father asked how he was, he gave a one-word response: Evil.

Where the summer COVID-19 infections are hitting hardest

The surviving victim identified Soto-Espinoza as the attacker  saying he had a history of domestic violence with the slain woman.

The 26-year-old is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder, among other crimes, and is being held without bail. Hes due back in court Thursday.

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The stabbings occurred just before 5 a.m. on July 5 outside a home in the 6400 block of Springtime Court. Police found two victims, including Adrienne Monique Ramos, 28, who was pronounced dead at Kern Medical.

An autopsy determined shed been stabbed in the neck ten times. There were three cuts to her left hand.

Police said Soto-Espinoza was armed with a knife and stabbing himself when officers arrived. He refused to drop the knife, and a less lethal round fired from a 40mm launcher and a Taser were used to take him into custody.

The surviving victim  who had just arrived with Ramos when the attack occurred  identified Soto-Espinoza as the assailant, according to the documents. She said he went to their car and argued with Ramos then attacked them both.

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Ramos and Soto-Espinoza had a very toxic relationship, she told police. There was a prior occasion where Soto-Espinoza had cut Ramos, she said, and hed attempted to kill Ramos and himself before.

He murdered my best friend, she told police while crying.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  An investigation by the Baton Rouge Fire Department led to the arrest of a man on multiple charges, including attempted simple arson of a religious building.

Lloyd Carlos, 32, was also charged with simple arson and obstruction of justice. His arrest came after a truck fire near St. Alphonsus Catholic School on July 28. On that day, the Central Fire Department was called to a reported vehicle fire a little after 3:50 a.m. in the 14000 block of Greenwell Springs Road.

LLoyd Carlos

Firefighters found a truck on fire next to a church building. After putting the fire out, the Baton Rouge Fire Departments Fire Investigations Division was summoned to look into the suspicious nature of the fire, BRFD said.

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As the investigation unfolded, Carlos was identified as a suspect. He is accused of stealing the truck in East Baton Rouge Parish and driving it to a convenience store.

Carlos allegedly took an ATM and stole from the convenience store. Investigators think he took the ATM to his home and cleaned it out before heading to the location near St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

He is accused of setting the truck on fire after wiping it down.

Carlos was already in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison in connection with the ATM theft and convenience store burglary when the additional charges were added on Aug. 1, BRFD said.

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Zachary man arrested in deadly trail ride shooting in Ascension Parish

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A man is facing several charges after an early morning standoff in Butler County.

On Sunday around 8:12 p.m., Butler County sheriffs deputies were called to the 5100 block of Kennedy Camp Road in St. Clair Township.

When authorities arrived, they found a man inside of a home with another person. The other person exited the home, but the man allegedly stayed inside with a rifle.

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Although authorities had started negotiations the sheriffs office claims the man shot through a window in the direction of deputies on scene, which prompted a SWAT response.

The sheriffs office provided photos of what appears to be a damaged cruiser.

Photo/Butler County Sheriffs Office Photo/Butler County Sheriffs Office Photo/Butler County Sheriffs Office Photo/Butler County Sheriffs Office Photo/Butler County Sheriffs Office

The man eventually exited the residence, where he was taken into custody. He is charged with felonious assault, vandalism, inducing panic and using weapons while intoxicated.

According to the sheriffs office, roughly 41 shots were fired at its personnel.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, according to officials.

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(FOX40.COM)  Two women are dead after a crash in West Sacramento on Saturday, according to the West Sacramento Police Department.

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Police said officers responded to the incident after 9 p.m. on Jefersson Boulevard and Bevan Road.

The suspect has been identified as David Alison Walker, 71, of Fair Oaks, with the assistance of the Vacaville Police Department, WSPD stated.

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Northern California firefighters head to Santa Barbara to battle wildfire

At this time, officers said they will be working with the Yolo County District Attorneys Office to pursue prosecution in this case.

Our deepest condolences go out to the victims families and loved ones, WSPD said. We appreciate the continued support of our community and will share further updates as they become available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
The West Sacramento Police Department announced the arrest of a 71-year-old Fair Oaks man Sunday in connection with a hit and run collision that resulted in the deaths of two people Saturday night.

The incident occurred on Jefferson Boulevard near Bevan Road at around 9 p.m., the department said. Investigators worked through the night to identify the vehicle and driver.

On Sunday, officers arrested David Alison Walker of Fair Oaks with the assistance of the Vacaville Police Department, the news release said.

The victims, both female, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names and ages have not yet been released.
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  local man arrested after posting racially motivated threats towards federal employees.

On August 2, 50-year-old Edward J. Connors of Endicott was allegedly charged for making racially motivated terroristic threats as a hate crime which is classified as a class C felony.

Police say that the threats were made through the social media platform X targeting former and current federal employees who are African American.

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The arrest was allegedly made at Connors home where he was taken into custody by State Police and transported first to SP Endwell and then the Broome County Jail for centralized arraignment.

The investigation for this case remains ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the New York State Police at (607) 775-1241

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A man was arrested on OVI charges after he crashed into a mailbox and a utility pole in Darke County Sunday night.

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Around 6:21 p.m. Sunday, Darke County Deputies were dispatched to the 2900 block of SR 571 West in Greenville on reports of a single-vehicle crash.

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The preliminary investigation showed a pickup truck driven by 45-year-old Justin Taylor of Greenville was traveling southeast-bound on SR 571 West.

The truck then traveled off the right side of the road, struck a mailbox, entered the ditch, and struck a utility pole.

While on scene, Taylor presented several indicators of being under the influence of alcohol, according to deputies.

Taylor was not injured as a result of the crash.

Taylor was placed under arrest for suspicion of Operating a Vehicle while under the Influence of Alcohol (OVI) and was taken to Darke County Jail.

He later submitted to a breathalyzer test and was booked into jail.

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Taylor is being charged with two counts of OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor, and Failure to Control a Motor Vehicle, a minor misdemeanor.

He has since posted bond pending his arraignment with the Darke County Municipal Court.

The crash remains under investigation.

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UNION, S.C. (WSPA)  An Upstate man was arrested Thursday for allegedly shooting at a woman and her grandchildren.

The Union Police Department identified Kemahgee ONeal Jeter, of Union, as the suspected shooter during an incident that took place on Saturday, June 7, within city limits.

According to the arrest warrants, Jeter reportedly discharged his firearm from a moving vehicle at the victim and her two grandchildren, a two-year-old and a two-month-old, while they were standing in the front yard of her home on the 400 block of Foster Street.

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No injuries were reported.

Police records did not disclose if the suspect and the victims were acquainted with one another prior to the crime.

Officers arrested Jeter at his place of employment on July 31.

The 22-year-old is facing three attempted murder charges, along with discharging firearms into a dwelling and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Jeter was booked into the detention center following his arrest.

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DENVER  Shackled at the ankles and wrists, Jon Hallford  co-owner of the infamous Penrose Return to Nature Funeral home  appeared calm in federal court Friday morning as a Denver judge handed down a 20-year prison sentence, with three years of supervision, for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the maximum possible sentence.

Jon and Carie Hallford face both state and federal charges related to their funeral home business, which came under a multi-agency investigation after nearly 190 decomposing bodies were found in the Penrose Return to Nature Funeral Home.

The courtroom Friday was packed with victims and reporters  standing room only by the hearing's start time.

Ahead of Judge Nina Wang's decision on sentencing, Jon Hallford's defense counsel requested a sentence of 120 months, or 10 years, saying he feels remorse for what he did.

The prosecution, as expected, requested the maximum sentence as agreed upon in the plea agreement. During their closing arguments, prosecutors shared more details about the investigation, specifically mentioning how dangerous it was for officials to spend any time inside the Penrose building.

Federal agents could only spend 40 minutes inside the home at a time. Camera equipment used to take crime scene photos had to be destroyed due to the exposure. Paper notes taken by investigators had to be thrown out because they reeked of the stench of decomposing bodies.

Jon Hallford gave a statement as well, expressing his guilt and remorse for his actions. He apologized to his family, the victims and all the investigators and first responders "who have to live with the horrible memories of that place."

"We opened Return to Nature to make a difference," Jon Hallford said. "Everything just got completely out of control."

In addition, the funeral home owner said nothing could have justified his actions.

"I am so deeply sorry for my actions, please believe me when I say this is not me," Jon Hallford said. "Living with the guilt of my actions has destroyed my soul."

Kailynn Page, a sister to one of the victims found inside the funeral home, said she feels "mixed" about Jon Hallford's statements.

"It was nice to hear him apologize, even if we don't know if it's true," Kailynn Page said while walking out of the courthouse. "I think it's a huge step for him and it was nice to see a bit of remorse."

Friday marked the beginning of the end for some of the victims, over a dozen of which gave victim impact statements ahead of Jon Hallford's sentencing.

The October 2023 investigation into the funeral home left hundreds of families heartbroken, but they aren't the only ones who feel traumatized from the ordeal. While nearly 190 bodies were recovered during the search warrant, more than 1,100 families used Return to Nature for cremation and burial services between November 2017 and August 2023, according to death certificates filed with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

To honor those who remain in limbo and unsure if their loved ones were buried or cremated properly, Crystina Page, whose son David's remains were identified in the home, brought a large vase and well over 1,000 beads for her victim statement. The clattering of the beads echoed through the near-silent courtroom as Page filled the container with shaky hands as part of her statement.

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The wire fraud charges stem from the Hallfords' misuse of cremation and burial payments as well as Covid relief funds. According to the April 2024 federal indictment, the Hallfords collected "in excess of" $130,000 from victims for cremation or burial services that were never provided.

On at least two occasions, the wrong body was buried. "In a number of instances," the Hallfords provided dry concrete mix to families instead of their loved one's ashes, the indictment stated.

The indictment also alleged that the Hallfords provided false information to the U.S. Small Business Administration to obtain COVID relief funds totaling $882,300. The couple allegedly used those funds for personal benefit by spending the money on things such as vehicles, multiple vacations, tuition, a cosmetic medical procedure and more.

In October, the Hallfords pleaded guilty on the federal level to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with the remaining 14 federal counts to be dismissed via a plea agreement. In March, Wang told the pair the plea agreement that would see the funeral home owners sentenced to 78 months to 15 years in prison was "not in the public's best interest," and added a stipulation the sentence could now exceed 15 years.

Carie Hallford opted to withdraw her plea and is set for trial in September.

Both Cori Sperry and her son, Colton Sperry, cried while giving their statements. Cori Sperry's mother was one of the first victims of the funeral home, her body sitting inside the Penrose location for nearly four years. She spoke about how her son fell into a deep depression and required professional mental health treatment.

"Please give Jon Hallford the longest sentence possible," Colton Sperry urged Wang through tears. "He didn't care about the victims or the families."

Immediately upon finishing his speech, Colton Sperry embraces his father, who holds him tightly as he sheds a few of his own tears.

Many of the victims traveled significant distances to give their impact statement. Derrick Johnson, whose mother was identified inside the funeral home, traveled from Hawaii. He described Return to Nature as a "tomb of lies" and a "house of horror."

I lie awake at night wondering, was she naked? She was stacked like lumber? Was she at the bottom being crushed by strangers? Johnson said.

This nightmare was not a mistake, it was calculated, Jon and Carie made this their lifestyle ... my mother's cremation money likely helped pay for a cocktail."

Wang spoke for nearly 30 minutes before delivering the sentence. She read through text messages Jon Hallford sent throughout his time with Return to Nature and highlighted specific parts of the case that were particularly gruesome. Victims in the gallery audibly gasped when Wang mentioned how Jon Hallford tried to decompose the bodies faster by leaving the door open during hot weather after the building's air conditioning broke.

"This was no ordinary fraud case," Wang said.

Jon Hallford is expected to be sentenced on his state charges regarding the abuse of a corpse in late August. Carie Hallford will begin her federal trial in September, with no sentencing date announced yet for the state charges she has already pleaded guilty to.
The Brief

San Francisco Police Department officers on patrol near the park found an open trailer near the area of Fulton Street and 35th Avenue.

Officers ultimately seized about 100 metal tanks and several balloons from the scene. The trailer was also towed as evidence.

32-year-old Thomas Siderio of Philadelphia was booked into jail on suspicion of distributing nitrous oxide and possessing nitrous oxide "with intent to ingest for toxication," police said.

SAN FRANCISCO - A Philadelphia man was arrested near Golden Gate Park on Saturday after police allegedly found him in a trailer with several tanks of nitrous oxide.

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San Francisco Police Department officers on patrol near the park around 11 p.m. on Saturday found an open trailer near the area of Fulton Street and 35th Avenue, on the northern side of the park near Spreckels Lake, according to a department statement.

As officers approached the trailer and a man who was inside, they saw numerous tanks "filled with suspected nitrous oxide" within.

Officers ultimately seized about 100 metal tanks and several balloons from the scene. The trailer was also towed as evidence.

The SFPD arrested the man in the trailer, who was later identified as 32-year-old Thomas Siderio of Philadelphia. He was booked into jail on suspicion of distributing nitrous oxide and possessing nitrous oxide "with intent to ingest for toxication," police said.

Big picture view

The SFPD said officers will continue to patrol all areas of Golden Gate Park and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Dead & Company is playing a trio of concerts in the park this weekend in honor of the 60th anniversary of The Grateful Dead.

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San Francisco Police Department
GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  A man accused of stabbing a stranger at a metro Grand Rapids Walmart last week first denied the assault, but then told detectives he thought the victim might have something to do with his truck being stolen, court records show.

Christian Thompson, 29, on Monday appeared in a Kent County courtroom via video linkup from jail to be arraigned on a charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony. A not guilty plea was entered, which is standard at arraignment.

Christian Thompson is arraigned via video linkup on Aug. 4, 2025.

The stabbing happened around 9 p.m. Friday at the Walmart on Alpine Avenue north of 4 Mile Road in Alpine Township.

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The victim and his brother told Kent County Sheriffs Office detectives they were there to look at car stereos, a court document shows.

Suddenly, (the victim) felt something on his back and turned around, only to be stabbed two more times, the document reads. (The victim) thought that he was being punched at first, but then he noticed that he was bleeding

He and his brother said they hurried to the front of the store, where they got help. The victim was seriously injured with stab wounds to the back, chest and front of the neck and remained in the hospital Monday. He was able to tell detectives what happened after he underwent surgery.

After the stabbing, deputies said, Thompson ran outside, pursued by another man.

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The (other man) was yelling, stating that Christian had just stabbed someone, a bystander told detectives, according to court records. (The bystander) then got into his vehicle and used his car to hit Christian in order to stop him, going approximately 20 MPH.

Thompson kept running toward a cart return area, the bystander said. The document says a bystander hit Thompson with a shopping cart, knocking him down before deputies arrived to arrest him.

The victims brother said they hadnt had any contact with the attacker before the stabbing happened. Deputies said the victim and Thompson do not know one another and the attack was believed to be random.

Detectives said when they questioned Thompson, he first told them there was no altercation and he didnt speak with anyone inside the store, according to the court document.

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He said that while he was looking for his truck, which he thought was stolen, he was randomly struck by a vehicle and attacked by multiple subjects. Christian was unsure of the reason for this attack the document said.

Detectives told Thompson about the evidence they had against him, at which point he admitted there was an altercation, the document says  though he initially said he only punched the man and there was no weapon. They showed him the video they had of the assault and told him the victim had to undergo surgery.

Christian eventually admitted that he did in fact have a knife in his hand and attacked the closest of the three out of the group, the document says.

Christians explanation for the attack was that he doesnt like bullies and felt that the group my have had something to do with his truck being stolen,' the court document continues. He wanted to scare the subjects in the store and never had any intention of hurting anyone. Christian also advised that he didnt come to the Walmart to get into the altercation, it was just a spur of the moment incident due to him being frustrated about not being able to locate his truck.

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Thompson has a previous criminal history in California, attorneys said in court. He came to Michigan for work, but the job fell through and he is unemployed. He does not have family ties in Kent County.

Thompson sought a personal recognizance bond, but was denied and bond was set at $500,000. He is expected back in court for hearings on Aug. 13 and Aug. 20.

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A man has been charged with attempting to murder a police officer in Greenock on Sunday.

The officer is in a stable condition in hospital after being stabbed during the incident in the town's East India harbour shortly after 02:00.

A 31-year-old man is then alleged to have fled the scene in a dinghy, before being arrested at Rhu Marina near Helensburgh.

He will appear at Greenock Sheriff Court later.

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Police Scotland Supt Emma MacKay praised her colleagues for their efforts and for ensuring there was no further risk to the public.

She said: "The officer and his colleagues showed incredible bravery and professionalism during this difficult and challenging incident and I would like to thank them for their efforts.

"We'd like to thank our emergency services colleagues and partner agencies who were on the scene and provided vital assistance during the incident."

She added that the force's thoughts were with the injured officer.
Christopher Robertson, 42, of Fairburn, Georgia, appeared in federal court on Monday after posting videos threatening Jews and Blacks on social media, as well as visiting several Jewish facilities across metro Atlanta.

Federal authorities said Robertson posted a series of videos online, where he made racial threats and claimed to be the official spokesperson for the white race.

On July 30, Robertson was seen wandering inside the secure parking area of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, where he claimed he wanted to speak with a high-ranking Jewish official.

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The allegations against Robertson, which include menacing visits to Jewish facilities and vile online threats against Jews and Blacks, are of great concern, said United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.

After being asked to leave, Robertson drove to The Temple, a Jewish synagogue, where he made derogatory remarks about Jewish people and ranted about the decline of the white race.

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Following these incidents, authorities discovered Robertsons social media accounts containing antisemitic and threatening posts, including a video where he sang about violence against Jews.

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On July 31, Robertson entered a Jewish Chabad building in Peachtree City, where staff barricaded themselves in an office while Robertson recorded the encounter and posted it online.

A federal warrant for Robertsons arrest was issued on Aug. 1, after he posted another video threatening to murder Black people.

When the FBI attempted to arrest Robertson at his home, he barricaded himself inside before eventually surrendering.

In response to Robertsons actions, increased security was implemented at approximately 80 Jewish facilities in and around Atlanta.

Mr. Robertsons alleged actions serve as a disturbing reminder of the terrifying hatred our Jewish communities encounter simply because of their beliefs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Paul Brown said.

Robertson is being held in custody until his next hearing on Aug. 7. He is being charged with communicating interstate threats.




NEED TO KNOW

Quinten Knight, 40, was accused of driving a boat into a group of swimmers, leaving a 10-year-old girl dead and a woman in critical condition

The accident occurred on Aug. 2 on Harris Lake in North Carolina

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission confirmed that Knight had been charged with Operating While Impaired and Death by Impaired Boating







A man is being charged with driving under the influence after allegedly crashing his boat, killing a 10-year-old girl and injuring a woman.

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Quinten Knight, 40, is accused of driving into a group of swimmers on Harris Lake in Chatham County, N.C. He tragically collided with Jennifer Stehle and Brooklyn Mae Carroll, 10, while they were in the lake before 4:35 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 2, according to WRAL News and CBS 17.

Carroll died as a result of injuries she sustained, and Jennifer was severely injured and airlifted to the hospital, where her leg was amputated above the knee, CBS 17 and ABC11 reported.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission confirmed in a statement sent to PEOPLE that Jennifer's right leg was also injured. However, surgeons "believed they have saved" it.

Her sister-in-law Kristie Stehle told WRAL News that she was in critical condition.

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Carroll and Jennifer were reportedly not related, according to ABC11.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Knight was under the influence of an impairing substance, an arrest warrant and a N.C. Wildlife spokesperson said, per CBS17 and WRAL News.

The warrant added that he unintentionally caused the death of the child, per CBS 17.

N.C. Wildlife Commissions Sgt Claude Smith told the outlet that Knight drove his girlfriend's Tiger Wake Boat into three swimmers. Officers then arrested him at the Cross Point Access Area.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission confirmed that Knight had been charged with Operating While Impaired and Death by Impaired Boating.

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WRAL News reported that Knight has a pending hit-and-run charge from two years ago.

Andy Fogelsonger/Shutterstock Harris Lake, North Carolina Harris Lake, North Carolina

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This was a heartbreaking accident, but one that was preventable, Sheriff Mike Roberson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. Alcohol was a factor, and the decision to operate a boat while impaired had devastating consequences. We urge everyone to think twice before mixing alcohol with watercraft operation. It only takes a moment for lives to be changed forever.

He continued, adding, We ask the public to keep the families and loved ones of those involved in your thoughts and prayers. We are also grateful to the deputies, first responders, and medical professionals who responded swiftly and courageously in an incredibly difficult situation.

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Jennifers sister-in-law Kristie also released a statement to WRAL News.

"Please keep both families in your thoughts and prayers for strength as they try to cope and heal from this terrible tragedy, one that should've never happened, she said. My family and friend did everything right, but because of a series of reckless and selfish decisions, both families are now left traumatized and forever changed.

She added, This is a heartbreaking reminder that every choice we make can deeply affect the lives of others.

Please think before you act. Your decision, no matter how small they seem, can have life-altering consequences for good, loving, hardworking, Christian people who deserve peace, not pain, Kirstie concluded.

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A GoFundMe page created to help with Jennifers medical costs has so far raised $13,094 out of a $35,000 goal.

On August 2, 2025, tragedy struck when Jennifer Stehle, a wife, mother, and WCPSS school social worker, became one of the victims in a devastating accident at Harris Lake, the description read. She sustained severe injuries and now faces a long and challenging road to recovery.

They added, As Jennifer begins this difficult journey, her familyespecially her husband, Justinis doing everything they can to support her, but they need our help. The emotional and financial burden is immense, and any support will make a significant difference in her recovery process.

Many boaters on Harris Lake expressed their thoughts following the tragic incident.

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Drinking and driving in a car is totally unacceptable but drinking on a boat is a totally different level, boater Craig Schnier told CBS 17. Absolutely absurd its hard to believe somebody can do something of that nature, boating is supposed to be fun, its supposed to be about being with family and friends. Its just horrible to hear."

You just have to make sure that youre always looking out  it doesnt matter what other people are doing  just make sure that you can see, especially if theres people wakeboarding or doing something else in the water, boater Mark Macchioni added.

The investigation remains ongoing, and Knight is due in court on Sept. 22, per WRAL News.



PEOPLE contacted the Moncure Fire Department for comment.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Detectives in D.C. have opened a homicide investigation after a man was shot multiple times inside a parking garage of a hotel near the United States Capitol building.

Details about what led up to the shooting remain limited. However, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) noted that just minutes after 11 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3, officers responded to the Yotel garage in the 400 block of New Jersey Avenue NW.

Man, woman injured during shooting in Southeast DC

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Once on the scene, first responders found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Medics took the man to the hospital, where staff tried to save him.

The victim, identified as 27-year-old Akim Toure, of Riverdale, MD, died shortly after.

As the investigation continues, MPD has released lookout details for a man with dreadlocks, wearing a white shirt and shorts, and driving a black car.

Man, woman hospitalized after 2 separate Southeast DC shootings

This deadly shooting comes after a series of shootings across the District over the weekend that left more than four people hospitalized.

Anyone with information that can help detectives in this case and others should call 202-727-9099 or text MPD at 50411. Calls and texts can remain anonymous.

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NEED TO KNOW

A driver in Alaska died on Aug. 1 after his car hit a moose near the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve

The driver, a 24-year-old man from Bulgaria, was pronounced dead at the scene, and his 24-year-old female passenger from North Macedonia was taken to a hospital in Fairbanks

"The collision serves as a sobering reminder of the hazards of wildlife along Alaskas roadways," the National Park Service said





A driver in Alaska died and his passenger was injured after his car hit a moose near the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve.

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The collision occurred at around 1 a.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 1, just south of the park's entrance on Denali Park Road near Mile 235 of the George Parks Highway, also known as the Parks Highway, according to reports from CNN, the Anchorage Daily News and CBS News.

The National Park Service told the outlets that a 24-year-old man from Bulgaria was driving at the time of the accident, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 24-year-old female passenger from North Macedonia was taken to a hospital in Fairbanks, about 120 miles away.

"The collision serves as a sobering reminder of the hazards of wildlife along Alaskas roadways," the park said in a statement. "Moose, caribou, and other large animals are often active at dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours, and can be difficult to see."

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The National Park Service also said that it is working with the Bulgarian Embassy to notify the driver's next of kin, and then he will be identified.

Getty A moose at Denali National Park A moose at Denali National Park

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In its statement, the park also asked drivers in the area to reduce their speed in dark conditions and to use high-beam headlights whenever possible.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports that more than 800 vehicle accidents are caused by moose collisions each year, and moose often don't survive collisions with cars. Although vegetation can attract moose year-round, the department also reports that most collisions take place in the winter months.



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The Department of Fish and Game urges anyone driving through "moose country" to take a number of precautions to stay safe, including slowing down, particularly in poor weather conditions and at night, keeping windows and headlights clean for the best visibility possible, and to look for more moose if you spot one, as cows often have calves nearby.

The agency also warned drivers to stay alert by scanning the sides of roads for wildlife, keeping a large distance in between vehicles, looking up local moose hot spots  or "local places where moose often cross the road"  and to use hazard lights while driving to warn other drivers about moose.

Read the original article on People
A suspect in an Arden Arcade office building break-in died after falling from a sixth-floor balcony Sunday, a Sacramento County sheriff spokesperson said.

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Captain Mark Nunez said that firefighters responded to a fire alarm at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning at 1750 Howe Ave. The building is a six-story office complex at the intersection with Arden Way. The firefighters spotted a man on the sixth-floor balcony.

A spokesperson for the sheriff said that deputies arrived at the building just before 3 a.m. The sheriffs spokesperson said that about a minute after deputies arrived, the man fell from the balcony and sustained major injuries. Trained personnel from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District performed CPR, and paramedics rushed him to the hospital.

Deputies investigated, and said that the man who died had broken into the building and pulled the fire alarm. The spokesperson said that he had caused $100,000 in damages without specifying how he had done so. Deputies reported that the man forced his way onto the balcony and climbed over the railing before his fatal fall.
Theres one thing that Walter Hood likes most about his new, open-plan office in Oakland. Theres always someone hanging around the kitchen, Hood says. Its like the old water cooler ideaits where people get to know each other.

Hood, 67, is a landscape and urban designer, architect, and artist. He says he fought suggestions to section off his new space into traditional rooms. Vindication came when it made his 20-person staff more excited to return to work, he says, after years of fractured schedules. After all, communityon a small or large scaleis part of Hoods expertise, as he has designed such high-profile public projects as the landscapes at the International African American Museum in Charleston, the Broad Museum Plaza in Los Angeles, and New Yorks Cooper Hewitt.

This is Hoods second office space in Oakland, where he has been based for 25 years, after growing up in North Carolina. Im trying to really just show people that this place is worth investing in, he says.

HOOD Design Studio

Before Hood took over the building in 2024 it was previously used to store marijuana. Now vines cover the exterior, and crepe myrtles are planted down one side, while vitrines along another side of the building exhibit work by local artists. Sixty-year-old olive trees were planted in the courtyard. Inside, at the center of the studios workspace, hangs a map from Hoods 2020 Museum of Modern Art exhibition Black Towers/Black Power.

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Hood, a MacArthur fellow and Rome prize winner, calls what he creates hybrid landscapes. Major projects currently underway include an outdoor workplace for the $4 trillion chip company Nvidia. In Miami hes in the early stages of Crown Overtown, a reenergizing of an outdoor walkway in the Overtown neighborhood. In September, he'll unveil a sculpture installation, Migrations, at the San Diego airport, and hes also working on MacGregor Park in Houston as well as the Charlotte Museum of Nature in North Carolina.

HOOD Design Studio

A few years from now he will unveil a major overhaul of New York Citys Lincoln Center plaza and Damrosch Park, including breaking down a wall that previously separated the complex from low- and moderate-income housing developments. Its all part of a $335 million project with architecture firms Weiss/Manfredi and Moody Nolan. This is probably going to be the most visible project to date once its done, he says, because its in the middle of a city of millions.

But some of his work is still small-scale: his paintings, which he does in a private space near his new studio. Its like my batcave, he says.

Hood spoke with ELLE Decor recently about his new space and his practice.

HOOD Design Studio

ELLE Decor: Why have you preserved the open space in this studio?

Walter Hood: When I was in school for architecture, one of the things that I was always inspired by was Le Corbusiers When the Cathedrals Were White. And I remember reading that book and he was saying, clean your baseboards. I think that Ive always been a modernistnot being a packrat, but just having space open. When you move into an apartment, you go, Wow, this space is great. After two years its like, I gotta move. The space sucks. Right? Then you move your furniture out and you go, This space is great. So, really thinking about that kind of modernist aesthetic versus a kind of collecting aesthetic.

ED: Do you have the same approach to your landscape design?

WH: I love ruins. I love old things outside because they can exist beside new things. And I think thats the thing I learned most about in the environment with memory. Within the environment, there is this ecology that is not about always starting anew, versus a building is basically a box that we make that I can keep things out.

HOOD Design Studio

ED: What role does history play in your work?

WH: The building were in, even though its spartan and modern, is a 1920s furniture store. So it has a kind of presence through this brick and wood, which, again, is that history. But when you clean it up with our new concrete floor, it speaks to a different time, but also a different place.

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A lot of people, they dont ask the questions. They start with a kind of blank slate. To me theres always something there, and if youre curious you can find it. It doesnt mean youre always looking back, but youre having to decide where to start. Because most of the time, people choose to begin in places where they want to forget.

ED: How do you understand that history?

WH: We want to listen to as many different voices as possible. And I say listening, I don't mean asking questions. Its just really listening to people which is a really, really hard skill, because as a designer, you really want to react to things.

Also, I think an interest in place. I worked in many different places. When I first started working in Wyoming, I was like, Okay, I need a way in. So I read a lot of geographical books. John McPhee gave me a completely different take on the place, which was more about a kind of geological history, but also a cultural history. I use literature a lot. I use mapping, but again, trying to find that hybridity between culture and ecology. And culture, to me, is highly anthropological and also sociological.

HOOD Design Studio

ED: Is there a connection among your different practices?

WH: Im at a place now where theres very little difference between when I make art, when I make landscape, and when I make architecture. The same DNA is there that appreciation for form and beauty is there, also the appreciation for people in the workspace, really thinking of a space conducive to humans working.

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I dont like being pigeonholed in any place. I spent time in architecture, time in landscape, and now spending more time in sculpture and art allows me to draw on those things in different ways. Im finding that I revel in having this complete plate.

ED: I dont know how you do it all.

WH: I dont either, and thats why I say I must be living the dream.

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Oil dumping in Central Texas has put local drinking water at risk, as a man allegedly tossed gallons of used motor oil along a rural roadside, KWTX reported.

Law enforcement picked up Blane Travis Featherston, a 21-year-old Gatesville resident, on June 17. He was charged with breaking a law about unauthorized waste disposal under the Texas Water Code.

The mess was reported June 12, when the Coryell County Sheriff's Office was notified about the accumulation of trash. When officers arrived, they found oil-soaked ground along with gas containers, wood, plastic items, and other debris.

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Oil tossed on open ground doesn't just stay put. It can spread through soil and contaminate drinking water. The liquid can slowly work its way downward, eventually flowing into streams or mixing with underground water that feeds wells and springs.

"A significant amount of used oil had leaked onto the ground and will 'pollute local water courses and water supplies,'" KWTX reported, citing the sheriff's office.

This type of careless behavior hurts everyone who shares local water resources. If the Featherston is found guilty, he could end up behind bars for as long as five years, per KWTX. He might also have to pay up to $100,000. Police are working to identify and apprehend another person they believe assisted with the dumping.

To prevent similar problems, never pour oil down drains or onto the ground. Drive your used oil to an auto parts shop that collects old fluids. Car service centers often accept old oil, usually without a fee.

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Ask your city council members about the possibility of allocating more funds for environmental law enforcement and waste collection programs. More places to legally dispose of trash means less damage to shared water supplies.

Do you think sewage pollution is a major problem in America? Yes In most states In a few states No 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.
Britpop stars Oasis said on Sunday that its members are shocked and saddened after a man fell to his death during a concert by the band at Londons Wembley Stadium.

The tragedy took place on Saturday night and reports have suggested that the fan fell from the stadiums upper tier of the 90,000-capacity venue.

The band went on to say: Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved.

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The Metropolitan Police confirmed the news on Sunday, saying that officers and medics at the stadium and the London Ambulance Service responded to reports that a person had sustained injuries at 10:19pm, towards the end of the bands set.

A man  aged in his 40s  was found with injuries consistent with a fall, a police statement said. He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The stadium was busy, and we believe it is likely a number of people witnessed the incident, or may knowingly or unknowingly have caught it on mobile phone video footage.

If you have any information that could help us to confirm what happened, please call 101.

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Saturday nights gig was the fourth in a run of five shows at Wembley for Oasis  the final one being last night. The concert went ahead as planned.

The band will go on to play three shows in Edinburgh and two in Dublin before heading across the Atlantic for the North American leg of the Oasis Live 25 reunion tour. They will then head back to the UK for two final Wembley shows in September, and it has been reported that negotiations are currently underway to bring the sell-out tour to mainland Europe.
The Brief

A man was shot and killed in D.C. garage Sunday night.

The victim had multiple gunshot wounds and died at the hospital.

Police are searching for suspect in black sedan, possibly a Honda.

WASHINGTON - A man died Sunday night following a shooting at a Northwest D.C. parking garage, according to police.

Shooting incident details

What we know

Officers responded around 11 p.m. to the 400 block of New Jersey Avenue NW near the Yotel hotel, where they found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

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Police have confirmed to FOX 5 DC that the victim in the shooting is Akim Toure, 27, from Riverdale, MD.

Authorities are searching for a suspect described as a Black male with dreadlocks, wearing a white shirt and shorts, and driving a black sedan, possibly a Honda.

The Source

Information in this article comes from The Metropolitan Police Department.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  A 34-year-old man was shot and killed Friday night in a west side Cleveland neighborhood, according to police and the medical examiner.

According to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office, Michael Christopher Allen of Cleveland was found dead in a driveway in the 3300 block of West 32nd Street on Friday, Aug. 1.

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Officers from the Cleveland Division of Polices Second District responded to the scene around 9:20 p.m. after receiving a report of a shooting.

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When they arrived, they found Allen outside the residence suffering from a gunshot wound, according to police.

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Preliminary information suggests Allen had been inside the home shortly before the shooting, police said.

The Cleveland Division of Police has not released any information about possible suspects.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
RICHMOND COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Deputies are investigating after a man was shot and killed near a home in Ellerbe, according to the Richmond County Sheriffs Office.

Early Sunday morning, deputies received a call from someone who came home to find a man on the ground beside his house. When they arrived, they found the man with a fatal gunshot wound.

Man fatally shoots himself while officers try to detain him for allegedly killing a woman in Statesville: Police

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The victims name has not been made public. No other information on the shooting or a possible suspect has been released.

Anyone with information should contact the Richmond County Sheriffs Office or Richmond County Crime Stoppers.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
TYLER, Texas (KETK) A man was sentenced to 10 years probation after he pleaded guilty to stabbing his coworkers husband at a Smith County event center in 2023.

Palestine police searching for missing K9 officer after Sunday storm

Mugshot of Abiel Alberto Correa, courtesy of Smith County Jail

On July 8, 2023, around 10:15 p.m., Abiel Alberto Correa stabbed his co-workers husband at the Flamingos Event Center on 10749 FM 14 south of I-20. The victims wife said they were at the event center for another coworkers graduation celebration.

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According to Correas arrest affidavit, the victims wife explained that Correa was extremely intoxicated, and that he stabbed her husband for no reason. She also said he started speaking strangely to her and another coworker, telling them they needed to leave because something was going to happen to them.

Her husband then tried to explain to Correa that everything was fine and there was no need to worry about anyone at the party. Correa was acting paranoid and kept saying that something bad was going to happen to them, the affidavit said.

Flamingos Event Center

While the wife was in the bathroom, her husband called her to tell her that he could not calm down Correa and was trying to stop him from walking out into FM 14 for his safety. After the call ended, the wife received another call from her husband, where she heard the commotion, and then the call ended again. Her husband called her back again and told her, he stabbed me.

Authorities seek publics help after Tyler shooting

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She then went outside to find her husband in the parking lot, where he told her that Correa had stabbed him and told her that Correa had fled from the scene. She got in their vehicle and started driving him to the hospital, where he had to undergo surgery for his injuries. Correa was arrested the following day.

On Monday, Correa pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 10 years of community service, according to a disposition.

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

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The Brief

Authorities are searching for 18-year-old Giovonni Pelletier, who went missing while traveling to visit family in Florida.

Based on anonymous tips, crews are now searching near Hammock Road in Mims.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials urge anyone with information to come forward.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A search is underway in Brevard County for an 18-year-old man who went missing while traveling to visit family in Florida.

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Family members of Giovanni Pelletier, from North Carolina, began searching off Hammock Road in Mims after reportedly receiving an anonymous tip.

On Monday morning, around 20 people joined the search effort, using ATVs, drones, and conducting a ground search on foot.

Giovanni Pelletier reported missing

What we know

Authorities said Pelletier was vacationing with his family in Englewood, Florida in Charlotte County before leaving Aug. 1, around 1:30 a.m. to visit more family in Brevard County.

Pictured: Giovonni Pelletier (Credit: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Pelletier was traveling on Interstate 75 North with his cousins when they said he began acting erratically and exited the vehicle, walking away near State Road 70 in Manatee County.

We just want him to come home

What they're saying

FOX 35's Esther Bower spoke with Morgan Hull, Pelletier's cousin. She said the family has been searching for Pelletier in Bradenton County  where he was picked up before heading to Brevard County  for at least three days, but they have not found anything.

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Hull said they received several anonymous tips directing them to check along Hammock Road in Mims.

"We had just got a bunch of anonymous tips to check this road," Hull said. "Were just hoping to find him. We dont care about anything other than finding him. Literally, nothing else matters. We just want him to come home," she added.

When asked if they believe Pelletier was harmed, Hull replied: "I dont know. I dont want to answer that one."

Tiarra Hadley, another cousin of Pelletier, does not believe he left on his own.

"He didnt leave on his own. He would have been calling his mom," Hadley said. "We just want to know if anybody knows anything, tell us and let us know something."

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What's next

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is working in collaboration with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office on the missing person investigation.

Photos of Giovonni Pelletier (Credit: Family handout)

What you can do

If you have any information regarding Pelletier's whereabouts, you're asked to call the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office's non-emergency number at (941) 639-2101.

SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS

The Source

This story was written based on information shared by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. Additional details were provided by Giovanni Pelletier's family members, Morgan Hull and Tiarra Hadley, on August 4, 2025.
A man who was allegedly set on fire was hospitalized in critical condition in downtown L.A. late Sunday night, according to authorities.

The Los Angeles Fire Department stated that the call regarding a person being set on fire came in around 10:15 p.m. in the 200 block of 6th Street.

8 people shot after party shut down in Los Angeles, 2 dead

Arriving first responders located a man who had sustained burns to his face and hair. It was not clear if the flames had been extinguished by the time they got to the scene or whether the man, or someone else, put them out somehow.

A man who was on fire was hospitalized in critical condition in downtown L.A. late Sunday night, according to authorities. Aug. 3, 2025. (KNN) A man who was on fire was hospitalized in critical condition in downtown L.A. late Sunday night, according to authorities. Aug. 3, 2025. (KNN)

The man was transported to a nearby burn center by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics with severe injuries; LAPD said the man indicated to investigators that he had been stabbed.

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Despite his injuries, the man is expected to survive, officials said.

Video from the scene shows what appears to be the mans clothes and an unknown liquid on the sidewalk in front of a smoke shop.

No description of a suspect or suspects was available right away. The LAPDs Major Crime Unit is handling the investigation.

Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.




NEED TO KNOW

William Jerome Adams, 29, was found guilty of two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault for the fatal shooting of Mary Lindsay, 39, and her son Atif Muhammad, Jr. March of 2021

Lindsay and her son were found dead in a locked bedroom

Adams attempted to flee to Mexico





A Georgia man was found guilty of fatally shooting his girlfriend and her 15-year-old son and then attempting to flee to Mexico.

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William Jerome Adams, 29, was convicted of two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault for the killing of Mary Lindsay, 39, and her son Atif Muhammad, Jr. March 2021.

Adams was sentenced to two life sentences without the possibility of parole, the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office said in a press release on Friday, August 1.

The verdict and sentence are fitting for a defendant who violently took the life of a mother and son and stole from them, District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. We mourn with the victims family and hope that the outcome of the trial gives them some closure and justice.

The case came to light on March 26, 2021, when Lindsays 19-year-old daughter went to check on the welfare of her mother after she hadnt been heard from in several days.

Gwinnett County Jail William Jerome Adams William Jerome Adams

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The daughter crawled through a window to get into the home in Flowery Branch and discovered her mother and brother deceased inside a locked bedroom.

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She also found her 8-year-old brother sleeping in their mothers bedroom. The boy had been home alone for two days and unaware of the murders.

Investigators found shell casings at the scene and concluded that Lindsay and Atif were killed two days earlier, on March 24, per prosecutors.

Adams was arrested the following day in Laredo, Texas, after he tried to cross the border into Mexico under a different name and without a passport, according to prosecutors.

Investigators also discovered that Adams stole $2,000 from Lindsays bank account.

According to prosecutors, Muhammad's twin sister testified that 10 days prior to the attack, her siblings found a handgun in their mother's room and took a photo of it, prosecutors said. When they asked Lindsay about the weapon, she told them that it was owned by Adams.

Jurors were also shown a photo Lindsay emailed to herself that showed an injury to her arm, which had allegedly been caused by Adams.



Read the original article on People
A man is dead after a shooting Sunday night in the Ribault area of Jacksonville. Police were called to the 2600 block of Palmdale Street at about 8:55 p.m. in response to a shooting.

Officer arrived finding a man in his 20s suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, a Jacksonville police news release states. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department brought the victim to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, the news release states.

No arrests were announced.

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SWANTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  A Sheldon man is facing multiple charges after reportedly colliding with a police cruiser, with his child inside the car, and fleeing the scene Sunday.

State police initially responded to a citizen dispute on Tyler Branch Road in Enosburgh. There authorities were told that 35-year-old Tyler Andersen had taken his child, from his wife, before leaving her without transportation.

Officers later made contact with Anderson, who agreed to meet regarding the welfare of his child at the barracks. St. Albans Police arrived to provide help, but Anderson reportedly fled, hitting a St. Albans cruiser while his child was in the back seat.

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Anderson was perused, and he eventually stopped near Pond Rd in the Town of Swanton. He was taken into custody, and faces multiple charges.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man charged with throwing debris at passing cars pleaded guilty last week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to vandalism charges.

Hector Orlando Torres, 40, entered guilty pleas Wednesday to two counts of vehicular vandalism, a fourth-degree felony, before Judge John Durkin.

The attorneys in the case recommended that Torres be sentenced to time served, and Judge Durkin followed that recommendation.

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Restitution was not ordered because no one wanted restitution.

Torres was arrested Feb. 10 by Youngstown Police, who were called about 8 a.m. to Oak Street and N. Garland Avenue. A woman told them someone at a home in the 1200 block of Oak Street had thrown a piece of concrete that damaged her car.

Reports said the officer who was called tried to go to the house but it appeared no one was home, so he went nearby to write a report. As he was working on the report, police got another call from someone who said they could see a person on the second floor of the home throwing something out of the window.

The officer then parked his cruiser so he could see the home and saw concrete chunks being hurled out of the second floor of the home.

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Police received a third call from someone who said the windshield of their car was broken by a piece of concrete that was thrown out of the home.

The original officer was joined by another and as they walked up to the house, a man later identified as Torres was seen in the window where the concrete was being thrown.

He was taken into custody, reports said.

Reports said there were pieces of concrete in the street near the home.

No one was injured.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Wyandotte County judge has sentenced a man for the 2023 killing of 23-year-old Diamond Steen outside an OReilly Auto Parts store in Kansas City, Kansas.

Carl Ryan Kemppainen, 41, a manager at the store, was sentenced last week to more than four years in prison. He was found guilty by a jury back in May of involuntary manslaughter. He was originally charged with second-degree murder, which was later amended.

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The incident happened on Sept. 18, 2023, outside the store near N. 47th Street and Parallel Parkway.

Officials said the deadly incident began when two men in their 20s walked into the OReilly Auto Parts store and allegedly stole something.

Kansas City, Kansas, police officers who responded to the incident found two men, including Steen, taped, bound and zip-tied outside the store. Investigators said Steen was reportedly put in a chokehold before he died, according to court documents.

Kemppainen told detectives he was aware of a shoplifting at a different OReilly location days earlier and believed the two Black men who arrived at his OReilly location were the same men involved in the case. He also believed they were driving the same car described in the previous incident, court records say.

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Kemppainen said he saw the man who was with Steen put a can of car paint in his pocket and take a package of sandpaper, which had a total value of $73. Detectives say Steen and the other man were seen on surveillance leaving the store without stopping at the front counter registers.

The video showed Kemppainen run after them and try to get them to stop by shutting a car door and taking a key fob from Steen.

After he threw the key fob across the parking lot, court documents say Kemppainen placed Steen in a chokehold when Steen tried to get the keys.

Detectives said the video then showed the other man attempting to diffuse the situation by dropping a paint can to get Kemppainen to release Steen from the chokehold. At that point, Ford pulled the man away and attempted to detain him, according to court records.

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A third employee went into the store and returned with tape, detectives say, and they attempted to wrap the other mans wrists and ankles.

In a review of in-store cameras and witness video, detectives said they never saw Steen or the other man punch or fight Kemppainen.

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A witness who gave detectives video corroborated the struggle between the suspects and employees. The witness also said that after Steens body appeared lifeless, Kemppainen let his body fall to the ground face down, and then sat on his back.

According to the Wyandotte County District Attorneys Office, Kemppainen must register as a violent offender for 15 years following his release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Deandre Miles, 30, was sentenced last week for his involvement in the death of 28-year-old Davon Fuller in October 2023.

At the time, Fuller was a former staffer for D.C. Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau. He worked as a constituent services coordinator in 2018 and 2029.

In a statement released shortly after the deadly shooting, Nadeau said, in part, Davon grew up in Ward 1, was well-loved in our community, and worked incredibly hard in our office. He was a proud and caring father of two young children. His murder is a tragic loss and I sincerely hope there is justice for him.

Image courtesy of Brianne K. Nadeaus office

Miles turned himself in to the police weeks after the shooting. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with armed and destruction of property (felony).

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man arrested in connection to October murder of former DC Council staffer

He was sentenced to 15 years for the manslaughter charge and will serve a concurrent sentence of 1 year for destruction of property.

According to evidence presented at court, the two got in a verbal fight on the afternoon of Oct. 16, 2023, at the Hechinger Mall in the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue NE.

The two separated briefly before running into each other at a different business and resumed fighting. After exiting the store, Miles pulled out a gun and the victim pulled out a knife.

After repeating demands to stop following him, Fuller was fatally shot. He sustained five gunshot wounds to the body, including to his shoulder, torso, buttocks and upper extremities.

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After all life-saving measures were attempted, Fuller was pronounced dead.

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AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  A man was shot multiple times at a drive-through in Akron Friday afternoon.

According to a press release from the Akron Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting on the 1200 block of Newton Street around 4:50 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a 33-year-old who had been shot multiple times.

Woman shot, killed at Bedford AutoZone

According to the release, the victim was waiting to give his friend a ride home inside the Goodyear Drive Thru when two people entered the store and shot him multiple times.

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The suspects fled the scene on foot and were last seen headed west on Newton Street. They were described as two males wearing black hoodies, gray sweatpants and black ski masks. One was seen wearing black shoes, while the other was wearing white, the release said.

The victim of the shooting was taken to an area hospital where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the release said.

7 charged in local child sex sting

Anyone with information is asked to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490.

The investigation into this shooting is ongoing.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A quarrel between neighbors over loud music resulted in a deadly shooting early Sunday in northwest Bakersfield, police said.

Around 12:30 a.m., police were called to a report of a peace disturbance on Rhone Drive, south of Hageman Road and west of Fruitvale Avenue, in which neighbors were arguing over loud music.

Sheriffs office seeks information in 2024 homicide

The confrontation turned physical, and the neighbors were separated, police said.

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Another call came in an hour later.

The caller said hed armed himself with a gun because his neighbor was trying to break down his front door, police said. He urged officers to hurry.

Minutes later, a call came in saying a shooting had occurred. Officers arrived and found a man with apparent gunshot wounds dead in a backyard.

Trial date set for mom charged in toddlers hot car death

Police said others involved had been identified and were cooperating. Neither the name of the man killed nor the shooter had been released.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111.

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A Bangladeshi man has been arrested for illegally cutting down a palm tree planted on government land in Jhalakathi, Bangladesh, killing nearly 100 endangered weaver chicks and eggs in the process, Asia News Network reported.

Mobarak Ali Fakir, 70, was promptly arrested at his residence in Guaton village after the Jhalakathi District Police found compelling evidence linking him to the incident involving the fallen tree.

According to ANN, on June 27, Mizanur Rahman hired Fakir to cut down the tree, despite the tree falling within government property.

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The tree housed multiple nests of the weaver bird, also known as "babui pakhi," which is an endangered bird species that is rapidly losing its habitat to human development and the effects of a warming climate.

A University of Cape Town study on sparrow-weaver nests found that these dwellings offer birds significant protection against extreme weather, keeping them warmer during cooler months and cooler during warmer months, thereby providing a buffer against increasingly frequent extreme weather conditions associated with rising global temperatures.

Regulating the temperature within the nest also increases the survival rate of embryos, according to a study published in the journal Animals (Basel), contributing to population growth.

According to local resident Mostafa, Fakir sold the palm tree to Rahman and Farid Hossain despite not having the authority to do so.

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The fallen tree left no chance of survival for the chicks and unhatched birds.

"The destruction of such a large number of birds and nests is inhuman. We demand justice for this cruelty against nature," Mostafa said, per ANN.

Masudur Rahman, a union parishad member of Shekherhat Union, part of the larger Jhalakathi District, filed a complaint with the district police on June 29, two days after the incident.

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At the same time, Jhalakathi District Forest Officer Md Arifur Rahman also filed a formal court case against Fakir and the two other individuals involved on the grounds of violating the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012.

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"They didn't just cut down a tree; they destroyed a vital habitat and took the lives of over 100 birds," said Lincoln Bayen, the Barishal divisional coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, per ANN. "This is a serious act of environmental destruction and must be dealt with accordingly."

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HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11)  A man with a history of domestic violence is suspected of killing his husband after his partner was found covered in blood and slumped over on the toilet in their Manhattan apartment on Friday, authorities said.

Donald Zieben-Hood, 40, allegedly stabbed Jacob Zieben-Hood, 34, in the leg multiple times after the two got into a fight in their Harlem apartment on West 138th Street at around 7 p.m. Thursday, according to court records.

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During the confrontation, the victim called his father and told him the defendant was threatening him with a knife and preventing him from leaving the apartment, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors alleged Donald Zieben-Hood cut his partner with a knife on the head and leg before calling 911 at around 4 a.m. Friday.

The defendant told the operator he had an order of protection against him and seemed worried he would be arrested for violating the order, authorities said. He also told the operator he was bleeding but did not mention his husbands injuries.

I had an order of protection placed against me. Im getting arrested, right? prosecutors said.

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When officers got to the scene, Donald Zieben-Hood was sitting on a sofa and claimed his husband came at him with a knife. The defendant had three gashes on his arm that needed stitches.

The victim was found slumped over on the toilet, covered in blood with a gash on his head and multiple stab wounds to the back of his leg, including a wide stab wound on the back of his calf that had penetrated his muscle, prosecutors said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Donald Zieben-Hood was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal contempt while investigators pursued homicide charges, officials said.

He was arraigned Sunday and is being held without bail until his next court appearance on Thursday.

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Donald Zieben-Hood has two open criminal contempt cases, including one for allegedly strangling his husband twice in one night, prosecutors said.

His attorney could not be reached Monday.

Domestic and family health violence are common problems estimated to affect 10 million people in the United States every year. Anyone looking for help can find resources here.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here.

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Credit: Graham Bezant/Toronto Star via Getty Images

On March 20, 1974, a man attempted to abduct Princess Anne, injuring four people, including her chauffeur, Alex Callender, and a private detective named James Beaton. Now, Princess Anne's attempted kidnapper, Ian Ball, has spoken about the ordeal an interview, revealing he was "scared" during the incident.

As reported by the Daily Mail, a then-26-year-old Ball "was detained 'without limit of time' under the Mental Health Act after admitting attempted kidnap and two attempted murders." After being sent to a high-security psychiatric hospital, Ball was released in 2019, and has since claimed his innocence, per the outlet.

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"I'm an innocent, sane man because I had good reason to believe the gunpowder had been taken out of the bullets and another girl had been substituted for Princess Anne," Ball told the Daily Mail in an interview.

Ball also shockingly discussed Princess Anne's supposed reaction during his attempted abduction, telling the publication, "She wasn't bothered on the night...I didn't scare her. I was more scared than she was."

The aftermath of Ian Ball's attempt to kidnap Princess Anne on March 20, 1974. | Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Claiming that the entire incident was a "hoax," Ball told the Daily Mail in his new interview, "[Princess Anne] said, 'You just go away and nobody will think any more about it', which fueled the belief that I thought it was a hoax." He continued, "At the time I thought it wasn't Princess Anne in the car. She looked nothing like Princess Anne. The personality was nothing like Princess Anne."

Princess Anne in 1974. | Credit: Graham Bezant/Toronto Star via Getty Images

The Guardian further reported, "In the attempt to drag Anne away, [Ball] shot her bodyguard, chauffeur, a police officer, and a journalist. The princess was said to have infamously retorted 'not bloody likely' [when Ball tried to kidnap her]."

According to the Daily Mail, "It was only by chance that no-one died" during the attack, when "a passing boxer helped police to subdue" Ball before he could allegedly cause any more injuries.
A man who was suspected in multiple armed robberies and in a recent shooting died Sunday after a shooting with a Hollywood Police officer, the police department said.

Donald Taylor, 32, was allegedly involved in five different crimes in Hollywood and Miramar within the span of a few days last week and had a warrant for his arrest as of Sunday afternoon, Deanna Bettineschi, a spokesperson for Hollywood Police, said in a news release Monday.

While surveilling Taylor about 4 p.m. Sunday near Southwest 61st Avenue and Southwest 19th Street in Miramar, detectives tried to make contact with him, Bettineschi said.

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The suspect was armed and refused to listen to officers verbal commands. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred, the news release said.

Taylor was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital and pronounced dead.

Officers recovered a gun from the scene of the shooting.

Surveillance cameras recorded Taylor first breaking into a car parked in the 1400 block of South State Road 7 by smashing the back passengers side window and crawling through it on Wednesday. The police department said a gun was stolen during the burglary. At a business about a mile away in Miramar, Taylor allegedly pointed a gun at a customer about 30 minutes after the car burglary.

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He was accused in three separate crimes on Friday, beginning with a shooting in the 1200 block of Hollywood Boulevard about 1:30 a.m. where the victim, who Taylor knew, was critically injured, Bettineschi said.

That evening, he went into a Dollar General in the 800 block of South State Road 7 with a gun and pointed it at a cashier before running away, surveillance video released Monday showed. Taylor then allegedly robbed a Walgreens in the 5900 block of Pembroke Road while armed with a gun on Saturday evening, the police department said.

Taylor, of Miramar, had no criminal history in Broward County, court records show. He had two active warrants in pending misdemeanor cases from 2023 and 2024 in Palm Beach County, one from allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriends house in Riviera Beach and another for shooting a gun into the air at her home while arguing with one of her relatives, according to probable cause affidavits.

Bettineschi said one officer was involved in the shooting Sunday and has been placed on administrative duty.

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It is at least the 11th shooting with officers in South Florida since the start of the year.

Most recently in July, a man was critically injured in a shooting with Wilton Manors Police officers who responded to a call of a domestic disturbance. In early May, a woman carrying a gun was shot and killed by Broward Sheriffs deputies in Deerfield Beach.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a shooting in the District that left two people hospitalized Sunday night.

The shooting happened around 9:15 p.m. on Aug. 3 in Southeast.

According to D.C. police, officers responded to the 4200 block of 4th Street, where they found a man who had been shot, conscious and breathing. A woman was also located at the scene, with a graze wound.

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Family holds vigil for 13-year-old boy who drowned after being swept away by floodwater in Mount Airy

Medics with the DC Fire and EMS took both victims to the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

As of Monday morning, MPD has not issued a lookout for a suspect.

Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android.

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Maria Scruggs, a former president of the St. Petersburg branch of the NAACP and longtime community activist, has filed to run for St. Petersburg mayor in 2026.

Scruggs, 67, filed paperwork with the city clerks office Friday, becoming the first mayoral candidate to do so. She will presumably challenge Mayor Ken Welch, who said last year he would seek reelection but has not filed to run yet.

I believe that the city of St. Petersburg can be going in a different direction, Scruggs told the Tampa Bay Times. While I think we have made some strides forward, our conversations throughout the community is an overall dissatisfaction with the way the city is going.

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Scruggs said she consistently hears concerns on five issues: The pros and cons that come with potentially losing the Tampa Bay Rays, cost of living, affordable housing, flooding and the handling of the aftermath of hurricanes.

I certainly believe that the preparation through training, through certification, through education, has certainly prepared me to become the mayor of St. Petersburg, she said. Scruggs entered the states deferred retirement program after 19 years with Orange County Corrections Department.

This is Scruggs sixth time seeking public office. She ran unsuccessfully for St. Petersburg City Council in 2017 and 2005 and for Pinellas County Commission in 2020 and 2004. She has run for St. Petersburg mayor once before in 2001. She supported Welchs bid for mayor in 2021.

Welch declined to comment through a city spokesperson. He opened a new political action committee in January after the state in November revoked his old one, Pelican PAC, for failing to file reports. The new Pelican Political Action Committee has raised $87,175 since April.

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Scruggs official campaign kickoff will take place Sept. 27 at Black Leaf Cigar and Wine Lounge downtown.

Four City Council seats are also on the ballot next year. Two candidates have filed for the downtown and southeast seat, District 6: Childrens Network of Hillsborough CEO Terri Balliet and public health practitioner Linsey Grove.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene talks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol after a meeting of the House Republican Conference on July 22, 2025. Credit - Tom WilliamsCQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has historically been closely aligned with President Donald Trumps MAGA movement, is proclaiming her discontent with the current trajectory of the Republican Party.

I dont know what the hell happened with the Republican Party, Greene told the Daily Mail in an interview published over the weekend. But Ill tell you one thing, the course that its on, I dont want to have anything to do with it, and I, I just dont care anymore.

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While Greene said that she is still loyal to Trump, she told the outlet that she thinks the party has turned its back on America First and the workers and just regular Americans.

On Monday, the Georgia lawmaker appeared to criticize the Trump Administrations handling of various issues on social media. In one post, she included an image that said number of arrests and listed several incidents or eventsincluding an apparent reference to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, pedophile arrests related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and the 2020 electionwith the number zero next to each one. Greene captioned the post, Dont talk about it if you arent going to do it.

In another post the same day, she noted that our Republican controlled Congress is no where near completing our appropriations bills ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline, and that lawmakers are on recess until Sept. 2. The American people pay ALL the taxes and deserve their representatives to do our jobs and put Americans needs and interests FIRST, she wrote.

Greene has made a handful of other critical comments toward her fellow Republican lawmakers or the Trump Administration in recent weeks. On July 28, Greene became the first Republican in Congress to call the situation in Gaza a genocide, taking the step in a post denouncing what she called an awful statement from her Republican colleague Rep. Randy Fine of Florida regarding the conflict. Earlier that month, she criticized the Trump Administrations handling of files related to Epsteins case, calling it a red line that it crosses for many people.

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Both issues have been the subject of broader tensions within the Republican Party, as deepening divides have emerged between lawmakers over the conflict in Gaza and as the Trump Administration has faced fierce backlash from the Presidents MAGA base over Epstein.

Polling has also suggested other trouble for Trump and congressional Republicans. The President hit the lowest approval rating of his second term late last month as he lost support from Independents. And the massive tax and spending bill the GOP passed earlier in Julya signature piece of Trumps agendaappears to be the most unpopular piece of major legislation in decades.

In her interview with the Daily Mail, Greene said she wants to stop foreign aid, cut down on government spending via the Department of Government Efficiency, and reign in the national debt.

The Georgia lawmaker also told the outlet that she thinks Republican women are really sick and tired of the way men treat them. She said that Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, whose nomination to serve as the U.S. representative at the United Nations was pulled by the Trump Administration earlier this year, got shafted.

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Greene didnt blame the President specifically for the move, but rather the people in the White House. She called it weird that Mike Waltz was then tapped for the role, being reassigned from his position as National Security Adviser, even after The Atlantic revealed that he had apparently added its editor in chief to a private Signal group chat that was being used to discuss sensitive military operations.

How does he get awarded after Signalgate? Greene told the Daily Mail.

I don't know if the Republican Party is leaving me, or if I'm kind of not relating to Republican Party as much anymore, she said. I don't know which one it is.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is on a collision course with the Republican Party as she suggested it has abandoned President Donald Trumps MAGA base.

In an interview with the Daily Mail published on Saturday, the one-time Trump loyalist made clear her frustration with the GOPs direction.

I think the Republican Party has turned its back on America First and the workers and just regular Americans, she reportedly said, adding she feared for the partys drift back to its neocon past influenced by the good ole boys network.

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Greene, who did not criticize Trump but said she was not afraid of Speaker Mike Johnson, signaled her unhappiness with continued overseas aid spending, the end of Elon Musk-style federal government cost-cutting and failing to bring down the cost-of-living.

Like what happened to all those issues? she said. You know that I dont know what the hell happened with the Republican Party. I really dont.

She added: But Ill tell you one thing, the course that its on, I dont want to have anything to do with it, and I, I just dont care anymore.

Greene, who has ruled herself out of a run against Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) in the 2026 midterms, hinted at a deep split within Republican ranks.

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I dont know if the Republican Party is leaving me, or if Im kind of not relating to Republican Party as much any more, Greene said. I dont know which one it is.

On Monday, Greene, who last week became the first congressional Republican to label the growing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip a genocide, appeared to suggest unease specifically with Trump.

In a post on X, the 51-year-old shared a table showing no arrests for a series of Trump talking points, including Biden Autopen, 2020 Election and Epstein Pedophile Arrests.

Greene wrote, Dont talk about it if you arent going to do it.

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The Trump administration has faced criticism from within the MAGA orbit over a failure to release more details on the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation as promised.

Greene has previously warned Trump that dangling bits of red meat on Epstein will no longer do.

In another post on her official House account on Monday, she took issue with a Trump message on his Truth Social platform that promised sanctions on India for selling oil to Russia.

She wrote: End Indian H1-B visas replacing American jobs instead and stop funding and sending weapons to the Obama/Biden/Neocon Ukraine Russia war.

Related...
Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg has again sparked outrage, this time for secretly snatching up hundreds of acres of land to add to his mysterious compound on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

As Wired reported, the 962-acre acquisition was Zuckerberg's largest yet on the island. While the purchase price was not revealed publicly, experts estimated the value of the deal at roughly $65 million.

While Zuckerberg's massive land acquisitions and secretive construction projects have proved highly controversial among locals, he is hardly alone among the ultrawealthy.

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According to Forbes, 37 billionaires collectively own 218,000 acres of Hawaiian land, which accounts for 11.1% of all privately owned land in the state.

"If our island has any hope of remaining Hawaii, this kind of activity has got to stop," said Pualii Rossi, a professor of Native Hawaiian studies at the Kauai Community College, according to Wired.

"Eventually Hawaii isn't going to look like Hawaii anymore  it's going to look like a resort community."

Parts of Zuckerberg's sprawling estate include burial grounds that hold the remains of local residents' ancestors.

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Julian Ako, whose family has resided in the area for generations, endured months of back-and-forth conversations with Zuckerberg's representatives before he was allowed access to the grave sites of his great-grandmother and her brother, he told Wired.

Though Ako ultimately was able to register those sites with Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources, he believes Zuckerberg's land holds the remains of other ancestors that he has not been given the opportunity to locate and identify, Wired reported.

While law requires construction workers and others to disclose any discovery of human remains, Ako expressed concern that the compound's extreme secrecy, which includes the extensive use of non-disclosure agreements, would lead to discoveries being kept under wraps.

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"If all the workers have signed these nondisclosure agreements, then basically they're sworn to silence," Ako, who serves on the Oahu Island Burial Council, told Wired.

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"If they uncover iwi  or bones  it's going to be a challenge for that to ever become public knowledge, because they're putting their jobs in jeopardy."

Zuckerberg's massive purchase increased his total ownership of Kauai lands from around 1,400 acres to over 2,300 acres, or about 3.6 square miles, making him one of the largest landowners in the island state, per Wired.

Satellite imagery and public records requests have revealed the massive extent of the construction taking place at Zuckerberg's compound, which Wired estimated will cost upwards of $300 million to build and will be able to house at least 100 people once complete.

As Zuckerberg and other billionaires snatch up huge swathes of land, it drives up the price of housing for locals, making home ownership a financial impossibility for many native Kauaians.

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Meanwhile, Zuckerberg's $300-million compound includes massive structures, the construction of which has permanently altered the natural landscape while cutting off locals' access to ancestral burial sites.

The changes have left many natives contemplating the future of their beloved Kauai.

"Are we thinking about 100 years from now, what this island is going to look like?" Rossi asked.

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The Brief

Market Street in Old City will be closed for months due to construction.

Local businesses are experiencing significant drops in sales.

The construction is part of the Old City improvement project.

PHILADELPHIA - Market Street in Old City is facing a prolonged closure of its westbound lanes, causing detours for drivers and frustration for pedestrians and local businesses.

The construction, part of Philadelphia's Old City improvement project, is set to last for months.

Market Street improvement project

What we know

From Aug. 4 to Nov. 17 westbound Market Street will be closed for road work between 2nd and 6th streets.

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One lane of eastbound traffic will remain open from 6th Street to Front Street during the months of construction.

The construction is part of the Old City improvement project, which aims to add bike lanes, bus boarding bump outs, and left turn lanes. The eastbound side of Market Street was previously affected, and now the westbound side will be closed until November for utility and road work, according to PennDOT.

What we don't know

The exact timeline for the completion of the entire project remains unclear, leaving businesses and residents uncertain about when normalcy will return.

Impact on Old City businesses

What they're saying

Local businesses are feeling the strain as Market Street undergoes construction.

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"Sales went down 50-60 percent, so it was heartbreaking for us," explained Anser Bhatti, co-owner of Coffee Tea and Company.

Bhatti added that the construction has forced him to take a personal loan to keep the business afloat.

Vinny Palermo from Angelos Pizza echoed similar concerns, stating that the construction has made it difficult to receive deliveries and maintain foot traffic.

"We already have a tough time getting our deliveries and stuff, and you know, foot traffics down, deliveries down," Palermo said. "They took away all the parking spots. They took away everything."

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Cindy Castro from Oh Brother Cheesesteaks expressed frustration over the project's impact on foot traffic and business operations.

"Really frustrated because not only, foot traffic is gonna be incredibly, really difficult, but we also work at a very...our cheesesteak place you know we need business!" Cindy Castro said. Kieley Ponzo, also from Oh Brother Cheesesteaks, added, "I hope we can get through it I hope it would just be this but now hearing that, like, you cant even get to the bank right there - it doesnt make any sense!"

The Source

This story uses information from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the City of Philadelphia, as well as interviews with local business owners.
MCCOLL, S.C. (WBTW)  A fourth person is facing charges in connection with a June shooting that wounded three people at the Ashlyn Park apartments in McColl, the Marlboro County Sheriffs Office said.

Daquwan Shekal Stuckey was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree assault and battery, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and aggravated breach of peace. He also had warrants for a domestic violence charge and six counts of failure to appear, deputies said. He is being held at the Marlboro County Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

The June 29 shooting happened at about 3 a.m. at the apartments on Arcadia Drive and stemmed from something that happened earlier in the night at a club in McColl, Chief Deputy Larry Turner told News13. All three victims were taken to Scotland Memorial Hospitals emergency room, and two were later transferred to hospitals in Florence and Charleston.

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Three people turned themselves in to authorities on July 2, three days after the shooting. Brittany Hinson, Geronimo Jackson and Braeden Webster were all charged with first-degree assault and battery, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and aggravated breach of peace.

Webster was also charged with third-degree assault and battery, the sheriffs office said.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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Roadworks which have brought traffic to a standstill are set to continue through August.

They have infuriated business owners and residents and are down to work being done on the gas network in Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Temporary traffic lights were installed near George Lane and London Road by Wales and West Utilities, which has apologised for the disruption.

It said work was essential to keep gas flowing and to prepare the network to transport hydrogen and biomethane.

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Barry Hayworth, who has lived in Marlborough all his life called the works "terrible".

He said: "You sit in the traffic all the time, you don't go shopping. When it builds up, it just goes crazy.

"People cannot get from A to B, it takes hours, it's just a joke. Just keep away from Marlborough when there are roadworks."

Nova Fine Art manager Alison Taylor, said the jams stopped people coming to Marlborough.

She said: "That has a knock on effect with the shopping. The market has decreased in the last few months and there has been just solid traffic on the high street."

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Framemakers gallery manager, Becky Davies, said: "The thing we find hardest is when all of Facebook Marlborough notice board is saying to everyone to avoid the town."

Alison Taylor said traffic jams stopped people coming to Marlborough [BBC]

"We appreciate it is chaos but from a business point of view it is a very negative thing to see."

Charity shop manager and resident, Adam Roche, said every route in Marlborough was "throttled".

And it was so noisy at his home he had "special" windows fitted.

Mr Roche added: "There is always the smell of diesel. Our windows are filthy.

"Getting out of our parking space is always a nightmare as well."

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Wales & West Utilities' Ryan Barkway said: "We are sorry for any inconvenience our work may cause.

"We know working on roads like this is not ideal, but the work really is essential to upgrade the network and to keep the gas flowing safely."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
A Salem man already convicted of killing a Bedford woman in 1971 has pleaded guilty to more charges, including loansharking, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office said Monday.

Arthur Massei pleaded guilty to attempted extortion, solicitation to commit usury and threatening to cause physical injury or death, Ryans office said in a statement. Massei was already convicted on May 14, 2024, of the first-degree murder of Natalie Scheublin at her home decades ago.

While in open court, Massei admitted to each of the charges, Ryans office said. Justice Lynn Rooney sentenced Massei to 15 years in state prison on the charge of attempted extortion; 10 years in state prison on the charge of solicitation to commit usury; and six months in the House of Correction on each of three counts alleging threats to commit a crime.

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These will run concurrently with the life without parole sentence he is currently serving for Natalie Schueblins death.

The Middlesex Sheriffs Office in Billerica had Massei in custody in October 2022 when Massachusetts State Police and Bedford police detectives found that Massei was sending letters to a woman outside of prison, Ryans office said.

Investigators reviewed Masseis letters, where he asked for help in recruiting someone who would pretend to be a witness for his trial and could falsely testify, Ryans office said. He also offered to pay $1,000 to someone who could give a fake testimony with instructions about what that person should say.

But the letters contained escalating threats from Massei to the woman if she did not do what he said to his satisfaction, Ryans office said. At one point, Massei told her if she did not do something fast, he would be like a bullet heading for you  full steam ahead with no stops until I get on you  youll see how I feel really soon  good luck," with the letter ending with Like a bullet for you.

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While he was in custody facing a first-degree murder charge, Arthur Massei continued to pursue criminal schemes and to make threats of criminal violence to people in the outside world, Ryan said in her statement. These deliberate and premeditated attempts to obstruct justice are serious crimes in their own right that strike at the very core of our legal system.

Massei also told other people to collect loansharking debts he was owed, Ryans office said. He directed others to collect his illegal debts, instructing the woman who received one of his letters to approach a loansharking victim as soon as she received her government check, before the victim could spend the money on herself.

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A Seekonk man died following a crash on Route 1 in Wrentham on Sunday, Massachusetts State Police said on Monday.

State Police identified Paul Caouette, 72, as the man killed in the crash on Sunday afternoon, a State Police spokesperson told MassLive.

At around 3:15 p.m., Wrentham police reached out to State Police troopers at the Foxborough Barracks about a fatal crash between a tractor-trailer and a motorcycle, State Police said.

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The crash was in the area of the northbound lane of Route 1, which prompted troopers to close the left lane, according to MassDOT. By 8:09 p.m., all lanes were reopened, MassDOT stated in a post on X.

When first responders arrived, they found Caouette unresponsive.

State Police continue to investigate the crash.

More stories about state police

Read the original article on MassLive.
Massachusetts nurse claims her identity was stolen by North Carolina woman to land a job

A Hyde Park woman says shes been the victim of identity theft for over a year now by a North Carolina woman posing as her for credentials to land a job.

Jean Alessi-Chinetti has worked as an ultrasound tech at Tufts Medical Center for 17 years. Shes lived in the Boston area, she says, all her life.

Sunday night, she told Boston 25 she received a duplicate license in the mail last July.

She claims the registry of motor vehicles told her a woman called over the phone requesting the duplicate license for travel.

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Alessi-Chinetti said she was forced to renew her license.

In January, she had to renew her cars registration.

Two weeks later, she says, it still hadnt arrived at her home.

She asked the RMV, What mailing address? They go, In Delaware!

The RMV allegedly told her that a woman had called them in October to have her address changed for contracting work in Delaware.

In March, she reportedly received an unexpected 1095-C in the mail from a medical staffing agency.

Oh yes, thats because you work at a hospital in Maryland, recalled Alessi-Chinetti. Yeah, youre a travelling nurse in Maryland. I said One, Im not a nurse. Two, I dont work in Maryland. Im in Boston, I live in Boston. Ive had the same job for 17 years.

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She told Boston 25 the next month, she realized her social security statement wasnt consistent with her W-2.

Days later, she received a collection notice from Maryland property managers for $10,000 in overdue rent.

The company, she says, sent her the North Carolina drivers license of Jenine Marie Ellis.

She explained, Same maiden last name. She was an ultrasound tech. She had her credentials revoked. She probably went on to the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and did a verification.

Alessi-Chinetti claims she has been working with Raleighs police department. She told Boston 25, Jenine Marie Ellis was arrested on Friday in North Carolina.

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She finished, Hopefully shes there for a long time.

Boston 25 has reached out to Raleigh police and is waiting to hear back.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Healey-Driscoll administration has selected 272 schools across the state to receive free literacy tutoring for the upcoming school year, with a focus on improving early reading skills.

This initiative is funded through a $25 million investment, designed for students in kindergarten through third grade to build foundational reading skills. This type of high-dosage early literacy tutoring will be implemented through individual or small group sessions multiple times a week for at least ten weeks.

Law enforcment agencies to host National Night Out across multiple cities in western Massachusetts

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The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will offer this tutoring program to participating school districts for free, with both in-person and virtual options. The program seeks to prioritize first-graders, with officials stating that this is a vital development stage for solidifying literacy skills.

Its crucial for our teachers and schools to have access to the resources they need to support every young reader, said Governor Maura Healey. This initiative will help bring high-dosage early literacy tutoring directly to students who need it most, giving them the foundational skills essential for long-term success. With the partnership of the Legislature, we are delivering schools the support they need to reach all their learners.

Governor Healey has also created the Literacy Launch: Reading Success from Age 3 through Grade 3 initiative to provide educator training, district grants, and curriculum support to school districts throughout Massachusetts.

Through Literacy Launch and other initiatives like high-dosage tutoring, we are advancing our commitment to improve literacy education in Massachusetts, said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. This type of tutoring has been proven to be highly effective. Were investing in early literacy practices to strengthen the foundation of our education system.

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Western Massachusetts school districts and charter schools that were among the 272 schools awarded free literacy tutoring include:

Belchertown Public Schools

Holyoke Public Schools

East Longmeadow Public Schools

Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District

Hoosac Valley Regional School District

Springfield Prep Charter

Springfield Public Schools

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.
A massive, crumbling concrete hotel marquee suddenly collapsed onto a Brooklyn sidewalk Sunday morning in a terrifying scene that onlookers said was straight out of a Final Destination movie.

This historic 10-by-20-foot Hotel St. George awning, perched above the Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn Heights, came crashing down in a thunderous roar just after 7 a.m., according to witnesses and startling footage obtained by The Post.

No one was injured or walking near the Henry Street subway entrance when the collapse occurred  but a city council member warned the outcome could have been far worse during the weekday rush hour.

The collapsed awning and hotel sign at Hotel St. George on Sunday. Instagram / Lincoln Restler

I was shocked by the collapse, Councilmember Lincoln Restler told Gothamist.

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We are very lucky that this happened at 7 a.m. on a Sunday, because if it happened at 7 a.m. any other day of the week, we wouldve in all likelihood encountered serious injuries, if not fatalities.

The historic marquee suddenly collapsed just after 7 a.m. Sunday. Instagram / Lincoln Restler

Restler, who shared video and images of the dramatic scene on social media, said hes received complaints from constituents about the grimy and abysmal station for years.

He added that the head of New York City Transit toured the property Friday  just days before the near disaster  at the city councils request.

A witness said it sounded like a thunderstorm when it smashed down on the sidewalk. Instagram / Lincoln Restler

Its grimy. Its very rarely cleaned and we have a number of small businesses that are based in that space and its often so hot that they struggle to stay open on the warmest days of the summer, Restler told Eyewitness News.

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So this is not a landlord that has been investing or caring for or properly maintaining the Clark Street subway station, and clearly theyre not maintaining the exterior of the building either.

City building officials said a similar marquee above the stations other Clark Street entrance is also showing signs of neglect and poor maintenance, Gothamist reported.

The overhang was left dangling off the building, covering nearly the entire sidewalk. Instagram / Lincoln Restler

The famed Hotel St. George was once the largest hotel in New York City, with sections dating back to the 1800s. Today, it houses retailers and apartments, with its former lobby serving as an entrance to No. 2 and No. 3 trains  which reportedly bypassed the mangled station all day Sunday.

Alyeen Rojas, a 19-year-old New York Film Academy student who lives at the iconic hotel, said it sounded like a thunderstorm when the facade crashed down onto the sidewalk.

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Imagine that someone went to that station in the morning, Rojas told The Post.

Officials said no one was hurt, but a city council member said the situation could have been deadly during rush hour. Steven Vago/NY Post

Someone could have died. The building is so old, I think thats why [the awning collapsed].

The steel and concrete overhang is now dangling from the building, nearly covering the entire sidewalk, with debris scattered across the cordoned-off site, according to photos taken at the scene.

Thank God it didnt happen at 7 a.m. on a Monday, Jamie Dalton, a 21-year-old Brooklyn Heights resident, said.

Its very Final Destination.

Restler could not immediately be reached.
A massive search is under way for a British woman who went missing from a beach in northern Greece.

Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, disappeared from her sunbed while her husband slept on Ofrynio beach near Kavala, according to reports.

The Hellenic Coastguard said the port authority received reports of a missing person on the evening of Aug 1.

Mrs Bourdas family soon raised the alarm but police have so far been unable to find her as fears for her life grow.

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She had been swimming at about 12pm on Friday and was last seen wearing a two-piece swimsuit featuring rhinestones, yellow beach shoes and sunglasses with red bone frames.

Her life is in danger

Lifeline Hellas, a Greek missing persons charity, issued a Silver Alert on Saturday after the police were unable to locate her.

The charitys alert said: Her life is in danger. If you know anything, contact the Silver Alert service, 24 hours a day, at the National SOS Line 1065.

Mrs Bourda is described as having straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, 5ft 6in tall and of slim build.

The Hellenic Coastguard is reportedly conducting a search operation at sea and investigating reports that her belongings were left on the beach.

Ofrynio beach near Kavala where Michele Bourda disappeared from her sunbed - Enterprise News

On Sunday, three recreational craft, five fishing boats and two patrol boats were involved in the search, according to Sky News.

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Local media reported that Mrs Bourda lived with her husband, who is thought to be of Greek origin, in nearby Serres.

The British embassy in Greece shared a notice on Facebook which read: Michele Ann Bourda went missing on Aug 1 2025 at the beach of Ofrynio near Kavala.

On the day she went missing, she was wearing a swimsuit with decorative stones, yellow water shoes and red plastic sunglasses. Her life is in danger.

It comes after a 60-year-old British tourist went missing while on holiday in the country last month.

He was last seen in Tristomo, a village on the island of Karpathos, and his car was abandoned in 38C heat.

Michael Mosley, whose body was found after he went missing on the Greek island of Symi - Dragonfly TV

Michael Mosley, the television doctor, died after going missing while walking on the Greek island of Symi last summer.

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The broadcaster and columnists body was found after a four-day search in June 2024. CCTV footage appeared to show him falling over close to where his body was eventually located.

Crispin Butler, the senior coroner for Buckinghamshire, said that Mosleys death was most likely attributable either to heatstroke (accidental) or [a] non-identified pathological cause.

Meanwhile, a 48-year-old British tourist was found dead after going missing on Theologos beach on the island of Rhodes.

He was reported to have been on holiday with his family and went for a swim with his niece, who left early to return to the hotel.

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MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA)  The AMC theater in Mattoon will dim its lights for one final time on Thursday.

A spokesperson for AMC confirmed that the movie theater, located at 2509 Hurst Dr., will cease operations after Thursday, Aug. 7.

Lake Mattoon in the clear; swimming, boating allowed at own risk

AMC routinely reviews the theatres in our circuit, as well as opportunities outside of our circuit, and makes decisions based on what will best strengthen the Company going forward, AMC said in a statement sent to WCIA.

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AMC Decatur 10 and AMC Champaign 13 will remain open.

Its just upsetting because I really wanted to be able to come and still watch movies as Ive gotten older and be able to come to the same place, said Charleston resident Sofia Murray. And its just somewhere that its easier to access, not even 10 minutes away. Quick drive over and I can go watch whatevers in the theater. But now that its going away, I wish I would have come more, almost.

WCIA has reached out to AMC to learn if other theaters in Central Illinois will be closing, but did not immediately receive a response back.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
ST. LOUIS  A Central West End couple who gained national attention for pointing guns at protestors in 2020 are again in ownership of their semi-automatic rifle.

According to a post on X, Mark McCloskey picked up his AR-15 from St. Louis police on Friday at the police department.

It only took 3 lawsuits, 2 trips to the Court of Appeals, and 1,847 days, but I got my AR-15 back! McCloskey wrote.

Boy still in coma six days after rescue

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The McCloskeys claimed they felt threatened when demonstrators walked onto their private street during global protests that followed the death of George Floyd in 2020.

During the incident, Mark McCloskey emerged from his home with an AR-15-style rifle, and Patricia McCloskey waved a semi-automatic pistol.

Following the incident, Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor fourth-degree assault charge in 2021, while his wife, Patricia, pleaded guilty to a harassment charge. Both avoided jail time, but courts ordered them to surrender their firearms.

In July, the Eastern District Missouri Court of Appeals expunged the McCloskeys convictions and dismissed claims that the couple posed a threat to public safety. The decision came after the couple was pardoned by former Governor Mike Parson.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
PORTLAND, Ore (KOIN)  An employee at a McMinnville nursing home is accused of stealing two patients debit cards and spending hundreds of dollars.

According to court documents, Jeanette Collins, an employee at Life Care Center in McMinnville, on two separate occasions, took debit cards from patients rooms and used them at a local Walmart.

On June 28, a probable cause statement said that McMinnville police were first contacted after a patient at Life Care noticed that someone had used her debit card multiple times, totaling $382.66.

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Vandalism to fortify Oregon Jewish Museums mission

Police visited the Walmart and, working with asset protection, were able to retrieve multiple videos of the suspect using the card.

After showing a photo of the suspect to the victim, they said that she worked at Life Center.

The following week, another patient at Life Care reported fraudulent purchases using their debit card, once again at Walmart.

After the suspect was identified, on July 15, police said they contacted Collins, who admitted to taking the debit cards and using them multiple times.

When asked why she did, court documents said that she said she did it because she was broke.

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Collins is facing numerous charges, including two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of identity theft, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and two counts of second-degree theft.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The News

The New York Times is acutely aware of managing its readers reaction to the crisis in Gaza, as Max scooped on Friday. New media figures are learning different lessons from a younger audience.

Take in particular the Nelk Boys, bro-ey pranksters whose recent dabbling in Trumpy politics led them to an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They asked him whether he prefers Burger King or McDonalds.

The wave of backlash theyve faced from their fans, and their pained reaction, offers a glimpse of a new intersection of global politics and media. Journalists sometimes wring our hands about audience capture, but YouTubers operate on a far deeper level of organic connection to their followers. And, as polling makes clear, the younger people who make up most of those followers, left and right, are increasingly pro-Palestinian.

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Their apology tour continued Thursday when the Nelk Boys invited the Egyptian comic Bassem Youssef on to their YouTube show, where he chided them like a disappointed uncle. He lamented their total lack of critical thinking and told them: Youre 30 years old, and you need to be aware of whats happening in the world, and that your reach and your platforms mean something and it affects people. One of the shows co-founders, Kyle Forgeard, abjectly apologized for a move well always regret and proceeded to cede the channel to Youssef for an hour of criticism of Israels war.

This is the bottom-up populist politics of new media, and I think the first rather than the last episode in an increasingly wild ride.

Notable

Nine percent of young Americans approve of Israels actions in Gaza, according to a recent Gallup survey.

Younger Republicans are deeply divided on Israel.

Room for Disagreement

Some blame left-wing education for shifting young Americans to the left: The campuses normalized hate and anathematized Jews, said Rabbi David Wolpe. Against that backdrop, violence is as unsurprising as it is appalling.
The New York Times remains, by any measure, our greatest newspaper. As much as liberals complain about the way it covers Donald Trumpwhich I did pretty aggressively during last years campaignit still behooves us to remember that a lot of what we know about the bad stuff Trump has done, we know from the Times. So the scoops division of the paper is working more or less as it should, and we should all be glad for that.

However, its in the way the paper chooses to explain and interpret our nations politics that it so often falters. The excess of caution, the relentless urge to be fair, the no-doubt painstaking search for the perfect headline word that will appear objective. Oy, those headlines. Trump, Claiming Weak Jobs Numbers Were Rigged, Fires Labor Official. Really? Claiming? Without mentioning that Trump offered no evidence to support this claim? I suppose it may be too much to ask the Times editors to emphasize what a brazenly corrupt move this was (although it shouldnt be!), but surely they could at least sneak in the fact that Trumps claim was backed by no evidence whatsoever.

All of which brings me to a piece of news analysis that ran Sunday about tariffs. The headline was Trumps Tariffs Are Making Money. That May Make Them Hard to Quit. Under it, Andrew Duehren reported that tariffs have already started to generate a significant amount of money for the federal government, a new source of revenue for a heavily indebted nation that American policymakers may start to rely on.

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Hmm. OK. Interesting, maybe. But what are the numbers? Well, it turns out that so far this year, through July, customs duties and excise taxes have brought in $152 billion, roughly double the $78 billion during the same period last year.

Double! Thats a lot! It seems to lend credence to Trumps claims that his tariffs will generate so much revenue that we wont know what to do with the money, and hell be able to eliminate the IRS, a claim hes made many times. So gosh, maybe Trump really was right about this.

Uh, no. Here are a few facts and figures, none of which appear in the article. Federal revenue from all sources in recent years has been around $4.7 trillion (it varies from year to year depending on the strength of the economy). Typically, customs fees account for about 2 percent of that revenue. Commit that to memory, please: 2 percent. So that even if tariff revenue doubles, it will account for 4 percent of all federal revenue. It could double againwhich, incidentally, would mean tariffs so high as to stifle much international tradeand still account for only 8 percent of all federal revenue.

So where does federal revenue come from? About halfthat is, around $2.4 trillion or socomes from the personal income tax. Another third, or roughly $1.6 trillion, comes from payroll taxes. And then about 10 percent, or just under $500 billion, comes from corporate taxes. I know all these numbers off the top of my head, and if I know them, the guy who covers tax policy from Washington for The New York Times ought to know them too. Maybe he does, which would make his decision not to include them in a piece like this all the more bewildering because they provide vital context. But all Duehren has to say on this point is that income and payroll taxes remain by far the most important sources of government revenue.

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Thats a very vague and fuzzy way of putting it. It obscures reality and gives no sense of the scale of what a laughably tiny amount of money Trumps doubling of tariff revenue amounts to. A billion here, a trillion there; people dont know the difference. If a reader bothers to stop and think about it, she might think that a trillion is what, 10 times larger than a billion, kind of like 1,000 to 100? No. A trillion is one thousand times larger than a billion. So the idea that this new tariff revenue is remotely meaningful next to the revenue taken in from income and payroll taxes is absurd. It would be as if the Times culture desk noticed that Yanni had suddenly doubled his sales in 2025 and ran a story saying hey, Taylor Swift, lookout!

Also absurd is Trumps claim that he can get rid of the IRS someday. For that to happen, Trump would need to somehow generate eight times as much revenue from tariffs as he is now. Tariffs will never generate that kind of income. And besides, a tariff regime that brought in as much money as even the payroll tax would stop international trade cold and destroy the global economy. On top of all that, theres the widely held concern that these tariffs are going to raise prices and hurt the economyin one recent poll, nearly eight in 10 Americans, including 70 percent of Republicans, think the tariffs will raise prices.

The premise of the New York Times article is that the $152 billion figure, which of course will be around $300 billion by years end if things keep pace, has some people thinking that maybe tariff revenue will be substantial enough that even a Democratic president might be loath to give it up. Really? I would certainly hope that any Democratic president would rather just rescind Trumps tax cuts. Those are costing the Treasury around $400 billion a year. Itll be a test of Democrats mettle, once theyre in power again, to see if theyll choose the wiser course of paring back Trumps tariffs and raising taxes on the rich. And it practically goes without saying that when that day comes, Republicans will suddenly start caring about deficits againthe deficits they, as usual, created.

The article does have a couple of redeeming qualities. It notes that a shift from taxing earnings to taxing goods will be regressive. And it does quote a couple of liberals as the skunks at this picnic. Ernie Tedeschi of the Yale Budget Lab avers that there are more efficient ways to raise revenue, and Alex Jacquez of the Groundwork Collaborative sneaks in, in the pieces very last paragraph, to say it more bluntly: This is clearly not an efficient way to gather revenue. So that viewpoint is represented.

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But the piece is framed in a way that will suggest to the average reader that Trump is onto something, that hes delivering. And its a subtle but constant thing, not only in the Times interpretive pieces but across the mainstream media: Things Trump does that are obviously corrupt or brazen are controversial or debatable; autocratic steps taken against political foes are aggressive; locking up innocent people and defying judicial orders arent direct assaults on the Constitution but rather highly unusual assertions of executive power. It happens every day, and it cant help but have the effect of normalizing behavior that if it continues will result in the end of American democracy.

Its not enough for the nations most important newspaper to chronicle democracys decline. It must, at some point, affirmatively oppose it. Without democracy, after all, there will be no New York Times, in any meaningful sense. That cant be the world the Times wants.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Friday ruled that a federal judge in Tacoma wrongly dismissed parts of a lawsuit against Pierce County brought by former members of a Sheriffs Office drug investigation unit.

The federal appeals court ruled that three actions of the Prosecuting Attorneys Office were not entitled to absolute immunity, a defense from civil liability for government officials carrying out the functions of their office. Western Washingtons U.S. District Court will now take back up that aspect of the case to determine if qualified immunity applies to the defendants.

The basis of the lawsuit goes back to at least April 2020 when a narcotics-trafficking investigation team known as the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was shut down by former Sheriff Paul Pastor after the Prosecuting Attorneys Office raised concerns about possible protocol violations. They included writing false police reports to protect the life of an informant.

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The SIU was relaunched amid an external investigation, then shut down again after The News Tribune published a story identifying drug investigators who prosecutors had placed on a list of witnesses with credibility problems commonly known as the Brady list. Hours after it was published, Prosecutor Mary Robnett emailed then-Undersheriff Brent Bomkamp that she was concerned by the SIU members public statements that were critical of prosecutors, stating that they seemed to minimize and distract from the issues being investigated.

Nine former members of the SIU sued Pierce County, alleging that their reputations had been permanently damaged and that Pastor and Bomkamp had targeted them with investigations to influence the 2020 sheriff election. One former SIU member was then-Lt. Cynthia Fajardo, who was running for sheriff, and she lost the race to Ed Troyer. Fajardo is now Sheriff Keith Swanks second-in-command as undersheriff.

Last year, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright found that the former SIU members had failed to show sufficient evidence proving their claims and dismissed the lawsuit, writing that there was no evidence connecting Pastors April 2020 decision to shut down the unit to Fajardos campaign plans.

An attorney representing the former SIU members, Joan Mell, appealed to the Ninth Circuit, arguing that the District Court had too broadly granted prosecutorial immunity to the defendants.

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Mell contended that Pierce County officials should be liable for allegedly fabricating materials used to place the SIU members on the Brady list, revealing their identities to the news media, testifying in the external investigation of the SIU done by the Kitsap County Sheriffs Office and involving the FBI. The Kitsap investigation found dozens of possible policy breaches, but a subsequent review by the Clark County Sheriffs Office largely cleared SIU investigators of wrongdoing, attributing issues to communication breakdowns and a poor relationship with prosecutors

In oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit in July, Mell told judges Mary M. McKeown, Richard Paez and Gabriel Sanchez that the number one most damaging thing to the former SIU members was that their names were published in the newspaper.

Once this shadow came over them that they were corrupt somehow, they couldnt get rid of that stink, and nobody would even talk to them, so they were shunned in a way that was particularly harmful emotionally and professionally, Mell told the judges.

Fridays decision by the three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit appears to narrow the civil case to claims related to the functions of the Prosecuting Attorneys Office, which has defended the county, Pastor and Bomkamp in the lawsuit.

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The panel reversed the District Courts dismissal of all claims against defendants with the Prosecuting Attorneys Office. It also sent the case back to the District Court level for a judge to determine whether those defendants are entitled to qualified immunity, rather than absolute immunity, for acts that fall outside of prosecutorial functions.

Both Mell and Pierce County found wins in the judges ruling.

Our office is pleased with the ruling, Adam Faber, a spokesperson for the Prosecuting Attorneys Office, said in an email. Most of the claims remain dismissed. Were ready to address the remaining issues in the trial court.

Mell said the beauty of the judges decision is that now she can get at the heart of the case, which she said is the fabrication that the former SIU members had ever been doing something wrong.

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The panel agreed with Mell on three issues. They wrote that two now-retired deputy prosecuting attorneys, Fred Wist and Jim Schacht, took actions that did not serve prosecutorial functions and therefore were not protected by absolute immunity.

We agree with Plaintiffs that Schacht and Wists alleged communication with the press, statements to Kitsap County investigators, and referral of a criminal investigation to the FBI did not serve prosecutorial functions, the panel wrote.

Mell said the fact that theres no prosecutorial immunity also means that she can restart her claims against Prosecuting Attorneys Office officials with respect to defamation, false light and outrage, meaning intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress.

[Robnett] and her prosecutors have to quit abusing their power, and now theyve been told they can be liable for it  again, Mell said. They dont have as much power to step on law enforcement as they think they do.

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Elated to be backed by the Ninth Circuit in that ruling, Mell added.

The Prosecuting Attorneys Office doesnt agree with Mells assessment of the ruling and doesnt believe she can restart those claims.

We dont read it that way, Faber said.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.Its back to school day for high schoolers at Memphis Shelby County Schools, and for the first time cell phones have been banned during school hours.

This all comes after Tennessee State Lawmakers gave their final approval to ban the use of cell phones across the state.

I think they had the right idea, but making it a law where you can get in a lot of trouble for it, I think they could have taken a different approach you know, said Dalia Taylor, a student at Central High School.

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Another Central High student said hes against the policy.

Cell Phone Ban: How will it be enforced at your childs school?

Some teachers say that they know were not supposed to have them. Some say dont have them at all. Some say if you have it were going to warn you. Second time were going to tell you to put it on our desk and third is if you dont want to give it up, theyll just write you up, said Zachary Manns-Cherry.

While many students were against the cell phone ban, one was in support of it.

I believe overall, it could be a good thing for people because you know we get to study more, we get to be into our future more, see what we want to become, Henry Lopez said.

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Instead of being on our phone, watching people be successful, we be successful ourselves.

As far as the ban affecting a good school year, Manns-Cherry says hes still planning on graduating regardless.

I dont really need a phone to not graduate, its still livable, I can do it, he said.

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Two men have appeared in court charged in connection with the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

Ahmad Mulakhil faces two rape charges, while Mohammad Kabir is accused of kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting the rape of a girl aged under 13.

Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch has alleged the two men were asylum seekers, which the BBC has been unable to verify independently, and accused Warwickshire Police and the Home Office of covering up their immigration status.

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Police refused to disclose further details, saying: "Once someone is charged with an offence, we follow national guidance. This guidance does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status."

In a statement to the BBC the Home Office said: "Foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and justice delivered."

Mr Mulakhil, 23, appeared before magistrates in Coventry on 28 July, with Mr Kabir, also aged 23, appearing before magistrates on Saturday.

The pair, both from the Warwickshire town, will next appear at Warwick Crown Court on 26 August.

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Anyone who was in the Cheverel Street area of Nuneaton between 20:30 and 21:45 BST on 22 July and saw anything of interest is urged to come forward by Warwickshire Police.

'Risk to public order'

Finch, who at 19 became the youngest council leader in the UK and represents Reform UK, published a letter on his social media accounts on Sunday, addressed to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, Alex Franklin-Smith, and the chief executive of the council, Monica Fogarty.

He said Ms Fogarty had told him that Mr Kabir was an asylum seeker living in a house of multiple occupancy.

Residents had "very easily been able to join the dots together" and conclude that the men were asylum seekers, he said.

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"Residents of Warwickshire can see they have not been told the full story," he said.

"I am disgusted that one year on from the social unrest that we saw in parts of the UK in 2024, the Home Office and the police have clearly not learned any lessons from the handling of similar incidents last year."

He added: "I strongly believe that the only risk to public order from this case in Warwickshire comes from the cover-up itself."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told a press conference he wanted to discuss what he described as a "cover-up" [Reuters]

Speaking alongside Finch at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage linked a perceived lack of information from police to what happened in Southport last July.

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Farage told the event he wanted to discuss a "cover-up that in many ways is reminiscent of what happened after the Southport killings last year".

"It is not... in any way at all a contempt of court for the British public to know the identity of those who allegedly have committed serious crimes," he added.

"I felt that in the wake of the Southport attacks, and I feel that ever more strongly today."

When asked if police should release the ethnicity of people charged with offences, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the police and courts were operationally independent but the principle was to be "as transparent as possible".

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"This is clearly a deeply upsetting and distressing case which the public are right to feel shocked and angry about," he added.

"In relation to this case, the individuals have been charged and we are now in a live investigation."

In a statement, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: "It is essential to state that policing decisionssuch as whether to release details about a suspectmust follow national guidance and legal requirements."

He added that he would not speculate on the personal circumstances of those involved while court proceedings were active.

The BBC has contacted Warwickshire County Council for comment.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  New Mexico State Police announced that its three-month-long drug operation in Roosevelt and Curry Counties resulted in six arrests, and pending charges for three others.

Story continues below

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New Mexico State Police Crime Suppression Burea operation took place from April through July 2025, and its goal was to identify, infiltrate, and arrest suspected drug traffickers operating in the region.

As a result, the following individuals were arrested for various drug-related charges:

Roland Rodriguez  CSB agents carried out a search warrant on a home in Clovis following prior undercover purchases of drugs. Agents found approximately 5.6 grams of methamphetamine and 46.5 grams of non-prescribed prescription pills. Rodriguez was arrested and booked into the Curry County Detention Center on the charges of trafficking a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Juan Martinez  CSB agents conducted an undercover cocaine purchase from Martinez and linked drug activity to his home in Portales. While there, agents seized approximately 18.4 grams of suspected cocaine and 1.6 grams of Xanax. Martinez was taken to the Roosevelt County Detention Center and charged with trafficking and distribution of a controlled substance.

Magnolia Prince  CSB agents previously purchased drugs from Prince. A felony warrant was obtained for five counts of trafficking a controlled substance, and she was served at the Roosevelt County Detention Center, where she was already being held on unrelated charges.

Michael Ruiz  After multiple drug buys, CSB agents obtained a felony warrant for Ruiz on the charges of trafficking a controlled substance, three counts. He was taken into custody and taken to the Roosevelt County Detention Center.

Ruben Alfaro Jr.  After undercover purchases of drugs were made from Alfaro in Clovis, a felony warrant was obtained for one count of trafficking a controlled substance. Alfaro was taken into custody and booked into the Curry County Detention Center.

Alonzo Munoz  Agents bought drugs from Munoz in Portales, and obtained a felony warrant for his arrest for one count of trafficking a controlled substance. Munoz was booked into the Roosevelt County Detention Center.

In total, NMSP said they seized 141. 7 grams of methamphetamine, 430.9 grams of cocaine, 88.2 grams of marijuana, and 67.1 grams of prescription pills.

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In addition to the arrests, state police said one person is pending charges for trafficking a controlled substance (conspiracy), and another is pending possession charges; both are under review by the district attorneys office.

In a separate case, CSB agents purchased a large amount of cocaine from a Clovis-area man. NMSP said the DEA has taken the case for federal prosecution.

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Michael Proctors bid to get job back two-pronged

A hearing Monday provided a glimpse of how former Massachusetts State Police detective Michael Proctor plans to appeal his termination.

Proctors lawyer, Daniel J. Moynihan, indicated Proctors firing lacked just cause and that he has been treated unfairly compared to other troopers. The arguments were discussed before the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission.

Proctor, who was fired by the State Police in March, appeared via video before the independent commission, which is tasked with ensuring fair public employment decisions. While Proctor did not speak at the hearing, his legal team outlined the two-pronged strategy to get him reinstated.

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The first argument his lawyers plan to pursue is that the State Police lacked a legitimate reason to terminate Proctor. The second is that Proctors punishment was disproportionate and that he was treated differently than other troopers who have faced disciplinary action.

Among the items Moynihan has requested from State Police is, 269 disciplinary files. Moynihan said hes received 5 files so far.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor shows the jury a broken tail light while testifying, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., during the trial for Karen Read. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Proctor was the lead investigator in the Karen Read case. His firing came weeks before Reads re-trial where she was found not guilty of 2nd degree murder for the death of Boston Police Officer John OKeefe.

Michael Proctor breaks silence hours after verdict in Karen Reads retrial

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A State Police panel concluded that Proctors crude text messages about Read and other actions created an appearance of bias, damaging the agencys public image.

At the beginning of the hearing, Civil Service Commission Chair Christopher C. Bowman said recording or transcribing the hearing was prohibited. One of Proctors lawyers also inquired about the possibility of closing future aspects of the case to the public.

Proctor is expected to appear again before the Civil Service Commission later this month as the case continues.

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Michael Proctor, fired Karen Read investigator, fighting to get job back

Michael Proctor, a fired Massachusetts State Police trooper who served as the lead investigator in the Karen Read murder case, is fighting to get his job back.

25 Investigates: Karen Reads legal team subpoenas state police, DAs office for records

Proctor will make a remote court appearance for a status conference on Monday as both sides work out issues ahead of five scheduled civil service hearings later this month.

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Colonel Geoffrey Noble accepted the Massachusetts State Police Trial Boards recommendation to terminate Proctor from his position as a trooper back in March.

The Trial Board found Proctor guilty of two charges, unsatisfactory performance and alcoholic beverages, which were presented over three disciplinary hearings.

Proctors firing came months after he came under fire for a series of disparaging texts he sent about Read, which he read aloud in court during witness testimony at her first trial. Proctor admitted on the stand that the texts were unprofessional.

He called Read things like a whack job and other derogatory words. He also talked about her medical issues and wrote, No nudes so far, while going through her phone.

Michael Proctor

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor opens an evidence box to show the jury a broken tail light while testifying, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., during the trial for Karen Read. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

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Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor shows the jury a broken tail light while testifying, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., during the trial for Karen Read. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

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Proctor was assigned to investigate the death of Reads Boston police officer boyfriend, John OKeefe. He was relieved of his duty without pay this past summer after a mistrial was declared in Reads murder case and his last day with the Norfolk District Attorneys Office followed soon thereafter.

Read was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in OKeefes death in June. Proctor wasnt called to testify in the second trial.

Proctor also served as the lead investigator in the case against Brian Walshe, who is accused of killing and dismembering his wife Ana Walshe.

The first hearing regarding Proctors push to get reinstated is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 19.

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Subsequent hearings are slated for Aug. 20, 21, 26, and 27.

RELATED:

Michael Proctors phone data will remain private, new court filing says

Michael Proctor criticized by defense attorney after skipping court hearing

Michael Proctor breaks silence hours after verdict in Karen Reads retrial

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Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and other Wisconsinites took part in a city celebration for Transgender Day of Visibility in March. Wisconsin and 14 other states are suing in opposition to a Trump administration executive order blocking gender-affirming care for people under 19. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

A coalition including 15 state attorneys general have filed a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations effort to restrict access to medically-necessary care for transgender, intersex and nonbinary youth.

The lawsuit challenges recent federal action to deter doctors and medical providers from offering gender affirming care to youth under the age of 19 years old, including states like Michigan where that care is legal and protected.

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Joining the suit are the attorneys general of Michigan, New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

The Trump administration shouldnt be interfering with the provision of health care, said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul in a statement Friday. The administration should be respecting individual liberty and equal rights, not shamefully targeting transgender people.

The attorneys general have asserted that President Donald Trumps White House is overstepping its authority, using threats of criminal prosecution and federal investigations to pressure health care providers.

The Trump Administration is attempting to strip away lawful, essential healthcare from vulnerable youth. These orders are illegal and dangerous and have no medical or scientific basis, said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in a statement. I will continue to protect families, defend doctors, and stop politicians from putting our kids lives at risk.

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Trump in the beginning of his second administration signed an executive order stating that the U.S. would only recognize two sexes, and called for an end to what Trump labeled gender ideology. A second order focused on medical restrictions, directing the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue enforcement actions related to that care.

Since then, Nessels office said the Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to providers under the guise of criminal law enforcement, but the attorneys general filing the lawsuit Friday argue those efforts lack legal standing and are intended only to intimidate.

Health care decisions for kids should be made by parents and doctors, not by politicians, said Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan, a LGBTQ+ advocacy group, in a statement. The federal government is using funding as a weapon to force providers to abandon their patients and override parents rights to make health care decisions for their own children.

Patricia Wells, a doctor and the medical director of The Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan, said in a statement that she and her colleagues are distressed by new punitive changes to funding and regulations, which threaten to dismantle essential care.

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These policies do not protect children; they endanger them, Wells said. They undermine trust in the medical system and place affirming providers in an impossible position, forcing hospitals to close clinics and providers to stop offering the very care that helps young people survive and thrive. The loss of these services would not simply be a policy failure; it would be a moral one.

Wells said the nation must do better.

These young people deserve our compassion, our evidence-based care, and our unwavering commitment to their well-being, she said. I applaud the leadership of the state of Michigan for protecting transgender and gender nonconforming youth, their families, and the caregivers who are saving lives every day.

Erik Gunn of Wisconsin Examiner contributed to this report.

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Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jon King for questions: info@michiganadvance.com.

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Erie, Pa (WJET/WFXP) Police in Millcreek Township are asking the public to be on the lookout for a man accused of kidnapping his biological daughter from his ex-wifes home on Sunday.

Police said 39-year-old Jafar Almaarej of Dearborn, MI, took the 7-year-old girl from her home in Millcreek Township around 2:30 Sunday afternoon while her mother was at work and is believed to be fleeing back to Michigan.

He was last seen driving a black Jeep Wrangler with a Michigan license plate reading 050G994.

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According to the criminal complaint, Almaarej sent a text to the girls mother saying that if she contacted law enforcement, they would have to search for their bones before turning off his phone.

Almaarej already had an order of protection against him for both his ex-wife and daughter.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest on charges of one count each of felony kidnapping and interference with custody of children and misdemeanor terroristic threats.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 911 immediately.

Jafar Almaarej vehicle Jafar Almaarej

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
The Brief

Voters can view their ballot before they head to the polls for the Aug. 5 primary election.

Though the primary election isn't statewide, a number of communities have issues on the ballot, such as Detroit.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Before heading to the polls Tuesday, see what you'll be voting for by taking a look at your ballot ahead of time.

Though the primary election isn't statewide, a number of communities have issues on the ballot, such as Detroit, where voters will be narrowing down the list of mayoral candidates.

Before you vote

What's on the ballot

Voters are able to view exactly what they will see at the polls online.

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Visit this State of Michigan website, where you will be prompted to select the election, your county, city or township, and precinct.

If you are unsure if your community has an election on Aug. 5, visit this website and enter your information to see if an election is coming up.

Am I registered to vote?

Not sure if you are registered to vote? Check your registration status now.

Preparing to vote

How to register to vote

Registering by mail and online for the Aug. 5 election has closed, but people can still register in person.

The state of Michigan makes it simple to register to vote  just go to the Secretary of States website and fill out the information.

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If youve moved recently, you should check that your address is correct so that youll be able to vote in person or receive your mailed ballot.

Poll hours

In Michigan, polls open at 7 a.m. local time and remain open until 8 p.m.

Polls in Michigan close at 8 p.m. local time.

For most of the state, that's 8 p.m. ET. However, there's the far west corner of the Upper Peninsula that's in central time  which means those polls will close at 8 p.m. CT, (9 p.m. ET).
Max Nesterak/States Newsroom

A luxury community in Commerce Township will help provide affordable housing elsewhere in Oakland County, according to the Michigan State Land Bank Authority.

In a press release, the authority said a total of $400,000 in tax revenue that was captured from former land bank-owned properties will be directed to the Oakland County Housing Trust Fund. The first $250,000 of that total has already been contributed after the state land bank authority partnered with the Oakland County Brownfield Development Authority to convert a former sand and gravel pit in Commerce Township to The Reserve at Crystal Lake, a 203-lot market rate housing development currently under construction.

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The Reserve at Crystal Lake provides another exceptional example of the State Land Bank Authoritys commitment to putting unproductive property back on tax rolls, Joseph Rivet, director of the Michigan State Land Bank Authority said. At the same time, we are creatively targeting our resources to further workforce housing development here and throughout Michigan.

The funding is obtained by the authority by collecting a share of property tax revenue for five years after selling land bank-owned properties. Although the Commerce Township site wasnt developed as affordable housing, the authority says it is upholding its broader commitment to housing access by redirecting tax revenue from the project. Spokesperson Chelsea Wuth tells Michigan Advance that it is the first time the authority has used this type of arrangement to further affordable housing efforts.

This investment from the State Land Bank Authority will have a meaningful impact on addressing the demand for affordable housing in Oakland County, Oakland County Housing Officer Khadija Walker-Fobbs said. By reinvesting tax revenue from a market-rate development into our Housing Trust Fund, we are strengthening our communities and making them more livable.

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Aug. 3A wildfire burning east of Navajo Lake in the Jicarilla Ranger District of Carson National Forest grew to 700 acres on Sunday as fire crews added air support to fight the blaze.

The Middle Mesa Fire ignited due to lightning strikes on Friday, according to a news release issued on Sunday by Zach Behrens, public affairs officer for the Carson. The fire was initially estimated at 500 acres but grew moderately due to strong winds from nearby thunderstorms on Friday, burning through the crowns of pinon, juniper, ponderosa and mixed conifer. The fire was 0% contained as of Sunday morning.

Increasing humidity levels and calmer weather over the weekend enabled fire ground crews, deployed on Friday, to expand their attack to include air support. A total of 79 personnel, two fire engines, one water tender, three hand crews, one helicopter, one air attack and tankers were engaged in fire suppression efforts on Sunday. More support was expected to arrive throughout the day.

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"Ground crews patrolled and monitored the fire's edge, especially along Forest Service roads 218 and 218B, extinguishing spots and slopovers," reads Sunday's news release. "By air, very large air tankers from the Durango Air Tanker Base (dropped retardant) on the fire's northern and southern flanks."

On Sunday night, crews are planning to "conduct a strategic firing operation in front of the fire's head, where retardant drops are planned for Sunday."

A flight restriction remains in effect for the area. The release noted that "two small aircraft incursions" into the firefighting airspace on Sunday caused the temporary suspension of air support for the Middle Mesa Fire. Pilots are asked to check Notice to Air Missions before and during flights to remain aware of flight restrictions.

For updates on the fire, visit the Carson's Current Wildfire Activity webpage. More information can also be found on nmfireinfo.com and InciWeb.
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland man accused of secretly tracking his estranged wife, harassing her for weeks, and ultimately firing multiple shots at her SUV while their children were inside is now being held on $600,000 bond and a federal detainer.

According to a probable cause affidavit, 34-year-old Robert Garza Jr. was arrested on Friday, August 1, 2025, following an investigation by the Midland Police Department into a shooting reported the evening prior near the intersection of Griffin Avenue and Moran Street.

The victim, Garzas wife, told officers she was driving to the Boys and Girls Club on Goode Street with her children while following her oldest daughter, who was driving to the same place in a separate vehicle. The victim told police that she then spotted Garza on a street corner, and said he pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired at her gray SUV, prompting her to flee the area.

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Officers later confirmed visible bullet impacts on the passenger door and rear quarter panel. A total of six shell casings were recovered at the scene. No injuries were reported.

The affidavit states the couple was still legally married but separated due to Garzas behavior changing, which she attributed to methamphetamine use. The victim also said Garza had been stalking and harassing her for months, including:

Sending threatening texts such as Im going to give you what you deserve, showing up at her residence uninvited on multiple occasions, sending photos of weapons, and surveillance images showing her location and allegedly placing a tracking device on her car, which was later found and removed.

Detectives noted in the affidavit that Garza had sent messages referencing her exact whereabouts, and surveillance footage appeared to confirm his presence at the residence and workplace on multiple days leading up to the shooting.

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The victim also reported previous threats, including an incident on July 13, when she heard gunshots outside her home, and a June 6 incident when Garza reportedly knocked on her windows and stared at her vehicle for an extended time.

The day before the shooting, the woman said Garza had been following her around town and waiting near her job. She later received a screenshot of her vehicles location and a video showing a pile of dirt with a message suggesting he would kill her.

The victim has since requested a protective order.

Garza was arrested and booked into the Midland County Detention Center on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, each a second-degree felony, where he remains as of Monday afternoon. His total bond is set at $600,000, with an additional federal hold placed by the U.S. Marshals Service for unknown charges.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You are not alone.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or chat online at thehotline.org.

In Midland, local support services may also be available through Safe Place of the Permian Basin, which offers emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, and assistance with protective orders. Call their 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-967-8928.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
From Godzilla's fiery atomic breath to post-apocalyptic anime and harrowing depictions of radiation sickness, the influence of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki runs deep in Japanese popular culture.

In the 80 years since the World War II attacks, stories of destruction and mutation have been fused with fears around natural disasters and, more recently, the Fukushima crisis.

Classic manga and anime series "Astro Boy" is called "Mighty Atom" in Japanese, while city-levelling explosions loom large in other titles such as "Akira", "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Attack on Titan".

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"Living through tremendous pain" and overcoming trauma is a recurrent theme in Japan's cultural output "that global audiences have found fascinating", said William Tsutsui, a history professor at Ottawa University.

The US nuclear bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 left around 140,000 people dead. It was followed days later by the bombing of Nagasaki that killed around 74,000 people.

Some poetry "portrays the sheer terror of the atomic bomb at the moment it was dropped", but many novels and artworks address the topic indirectly, said author Yoko Tawada.

"It's very difficult for the experience of the atomic bomb, which had never existed in history before, to find a place in the human heart as a memory," she told AFP.

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Tawada's 2014 book "The Emissary" focuses on the aftermath of an unspecified terrible event.

She was inspired by connections between the atomic bombs, the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and "Minamata disease" -- mass mercury poisoning caused by industrial pollution in southwest Japan from the 1950s.

The story "is less of a warning, and more a message to say: things may get bad, but we'll find a way to survive", Tawada said.

- Godzilla's skin -

Narratives reflecting Japan's complex relationship with nuclear technologies abound, but the most famous example is Godzilla, a prehistoric creature awakened by US hydrogen bomb testing in the Pacific.

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"We need monsters to give a face and form to abstract fears," said professor Tsutsui, author of the book "Godzilla on My Mind".

"In the 1950s, Godzilla fulfilled that role for the Japanese -- with atomic energy, with radiation, with memories of the A-bombs."

Many people who watched Godzilla rampage through Tokyo in the original 1954 film left theatres in tears, he said.

And "it's said that the special effects people working on Godzilla modelled the monster's heavily furrowed skin after the keloid scars on the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

In the nearly 40 Godzilla movies released since, nuclear themes are present but often given less prominence, partly to appease American audiences, Tsutsui said.

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Even so, the series remains hugely popular, with 2016 megahit "Shin Godzilla" seen as a critique of Japan's response to the tsunami-triggered Fukushima disaster.

- 'Black Rain' -

"Black Rain", a 1965 novel by Masuji Ibuse about radiation sickness and discrimination, is one of Japan's best-known novels about the Hiroshima bombing.

But the fact Ibuse was not an A-bomb survivor is part of a "big debate about who is permitted to write these stories", said Victoria Young of the University of Cambridge.

"How we talk about or create literature out of real life is always going to be difficult," she said.

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"Are you allowed to write about it if you didn't directly experience it?"

Nobel-winning author Kenzaburo Oe collected survivor accounts in "Hiroshima Notes", essays written on visits to the city in the 1960s.

"He's confronting reality, but tries to approach it from a personal angle" including his relationship with his disabled son, said Tawada, who has lived in Germany for four decades after growing up in Japan.

"The anti-war education I received sometimes gave the impression that Japan was solely a victim" in World War II, she said.

"When it comes to the bombings, Japan was a victim -- no doubt" but "it's important to look at the bigger picture" including Japan's wartime atrocities, she said.

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As a child, illustrations of the nuclear bombings in contemporary picture books reminded her of depictions of hell in historical Japanese art.

This "made me consider whether human civilisation itself harboured inherent dangers", making atomic weapons feel less like "developments in technology, and more like something latent within humanity".

kaf-kh/stu/djw/jfx
A migrant staying in a hotel in Greater Manchester has been charged with attempting to kidnap a 10-year-old girl.

Edris Abdelrazig, 30, allegedly tried to abduct the girl in Stockport on July 13, while she was out with her father.

Mr Abdelrazig is a Sudanese national who had been staying in a three-star, 100-a-night hotel, The Sun reported.

He appeared at Stockport magistrates court after being arrested by Greater Manchester Police, and was remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Aug 26.

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A spokesman for the force said: A man has been charged in connection with an incident which occurred on Algreave Road, Stockport, at around 8pm on July 13.

Edris Abdelrazig ... of Wilmslow Road, Manchester, has been charged with attempted child abduction.

George Finch, the leader of Warwickshire county council, who has demanded details of the immigration status of two men charged in connection with the rape of a 12-year-old girl - Andrew Fox

Meanwhile, Warwickshire Police has been accused of a cover-up in the case of two men charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

George Finch, 19, the Reform UK leader of Warwickshire county council, complained that the force did not reveal the mens immigration status, and has written to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to demand that it is disclosed.

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A Government spokesman told the Sun: These are deeply concerning cases and we are in touch with local police and communities. Foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and justice delivered.

Thirty-five thousand people with no right to be here have been removed in the Governments first year, including over 5,000 foreign criminals  a 14 per cent increase on the previous year.

From over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost 9m a day, there are now less than 210, and we want them all closed by the end of this Parliament.

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A shipwreck off Yemens southern coast has killed at least 76 people, with dozens still missing. Most of those on board were Ethiopian migrants fleeing poverty and conflict in search of work in wealthy Gulf countries.

Yemeni security officials said 76 bodies had been recovered so far and 32 survivors rescued from the wreck in the Gulf of Aden.

According to the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the vessel was carrying 157 people when it sank.

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The disaster took place near the coast of Abyan governorate  an area often used by smugglers moving migrants from East Africa to Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Yemeni officials said some of the survivors had been taken to the port city of Aden for medical care and support.

Earlier figures from the IOM reported 68 deaths, but the toll has since risen.

The fate of the missing is still unknown, said Abdusattor Esoev, IOMs Chief of Mission in Yemen.

Saudi security forces accused of killing of Ethiopian migrants on Yemen border

Yemen remains hub for migrants

Despite being in the middle of a civil war since 2014, Yemen remains a key transit route for migrants, especially from Ethiopia.

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Many take whats known as the Eastern Route  crossing from Djibouti over the Red Sea and into Yemen, hoping to reach wealthier countries.

The IOM said at least 558 people died on this route last year. Of those, 462 were killed in boat accidents.

Last month, at least eight migrants died after smugglers forced them to jump into the sea before reaching the coast.

The IOM and Yemeni authorities confirmed that most of the passengers on the most recent boat were from Ethiopia.

Fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray ends truce as millions need humanitarian aid

Tigray conflict drives displacement

Ethiopias brutal civil war in the Tigray region has been a major reason behind the growing number of people leaving the country.

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The conflict broke out in 2020 between government forces and fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front. It left tens of thousands dead and forced millions from their homes.

Despite a formal peace agreement signed in November 2022, the situation remains fragile, with intermittent violence and a dire lack of access to food, healthcare, and essential services in affected areas.

Many Ethiopians  especially from the Tigray and Oromia regions  have been driven to flee the country in search of safety and stability abroad.

Migration routes through Djibouti and across the Red Sea into Yemen have seen increased traffic as a result  despite the known dangers.

(with AFP)
MADISON  Milwaukee will host the Young Republican National Convention in August 2027, the announcement coming a little over a year after the city hosted the 2024 Republican National Convention.

The Young Republican National Federation expects the convention to draw more that 1,200 attendees to Milwaukee, generating close to $1 million in economic activity for city, the organization estimated.

Once again, Wisconsin will be in the national spotlight as Young Republicans from across the country gather in Milwaukee to organize, energize, and help elect Republicans up and down the ballot, Kyle Schroeder, chairman of the Wisconsin Young Republicans, said in an Aug. 3 press release.

Thats a wrap on #YRNC2025! A huge thank you to the Tennessee Young Republicans, we had an absolute blast! 



Next up Were excited to officially announce that the 2027 Young Republican National Convention is headed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hosted by the @WIYRs !  pic.twitter.com/Hufk7lyeOs  Young Republicans (@yrnational) August 3, 2025

The 2024 RNC drew an estimated 50,000 delegates and other visitors to Milwaukee and had a total economic impact of $321.5 million on the city and the greater state, according to a Tourism Economics report published in May.

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In Wisconsin, the youth vote holds weight, with both parties looking to mobilize Gen Z voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election through on-campus events and social media influencers.

In 2020 and 2016, Wisconsin was decided by 20,000 votes  roughly 1% of the vote and a mere fraction of the more than 160,000 four-year students attending University of Wisconsin System campuses and Marquette University at the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

The Young Republican National Federation hopes that bringing the national convention to Milwaukee will be a "testament to the strength and commitment" of young Republicans in Wisconsin.

Their tireless efforts to grow the party and win elections made hosting this exciting convention in Milwaukee possible," Vice Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation Nik Rettinger said.

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Jake Williams, chair of the Young Democrats of Wisconsin, said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the RNC drove away regular patrons from businesses across the city by the "constant insults and attacks" Milwaukee receives from the Republican Party.

"They insult Milwaukee and its residents; they try to steal Milwaukees funding; and then they show up during election season only to take advantage of the city and then leave it hurting  its the same playbook just a different year," Williams said.

In 2024, young voters as a whole favored former Vice President Kamala Harris over President Donald Trump 52% to 46%, according to Tuffs University's Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

While the young voter bloc, defined as ages 18-29, were the age group with the highest support for the Democratic candidate in 2024, Trump saw a 10-point jump in youth support compared to 2020 data. Republicans made inroads in campus-heavy voting wards in 2024, a Journal Sentinel analysis found.

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Anna Kleiber can be reached at akleiber@gannett.com.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 2027 Young Republicans National Convention to take place in Milwaukee
A man who pled guilty to five counts of animal mistreatment after city inspectors found more than 50 dog corpses at a house he once owned has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Michael Ellis, 45, turned himself in to police in September 2024 after being charged with fatal animal mistreatment. His sentencing hearing on July 31 marks nearly a year since authorities discovered dozens of dead and critically injured dogs, birds and reptiles at a city-owned North Teutonia Avenue home under consideration for demolition, launching an investigation in August 2024.

An animal nuisance complaint from 2023 identified Ellis as the house's former owner.

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The investigation into the North Teutonia Avenue home marked Milwaukee's first major animal abuse investigation in years. Inspectors ultimately recovered 53 dog corpses across the house's basement and first floor. A necropsy on one of the dogs indicated it had died from starvation.

The case against Ellis made waves in Milwaukee's animal rights activist circles. Volunteers with the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animals Control Commission, or MADACC, attended Ellis's court hearings and submitted letters to the court, urging Judge Jonathan Richards to value animal lives by not treating the case with leniency.

It is not uncommon for concerned citizens to submit impact statements ahead of a sentencing hearing, but the letters from animal advocates have poured in since October 2024, nearly eight months before Ellis ultimately took a plea deal on June 9. In the letters, Wisconsin residents called the charges against Ellis "disturbing."

"It's incredibly concerning to the general public when an individual can do something like this to 'man's best friend,'" Katie Czaplewski wrote in one such statement.

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Czaplewski wrote that she believes individuals willing to hurt animals are more likely to later harm humans.

According to a MADACC statement, the judge acknowledged having received 651 letters from the public related to Ellis' case.

Not all of the letters were from animal advocates. Six people close to Ellis  a pastor, relatives and friends  also wrote heartfelt messages to the judge, urging him to be lenient with Ellis' sentence.

"Michael is not the cruel figure portrayed by some activists," Krystal Davis, Ellis' sibling, wrote. She described how Michael rescued her dog, Lola, from an abusive breeder.

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Davis urged the judge to consider that Ellis has been grieving the loss of a close friend and multiple family members, as well as the end of his marriage. She described her brother as a devoted and protective family member, "a compassionate advocate for animals, and a man deserving of understanding."

According to a criminal complaint, Ellis told detectives in a September interview that he had hoarded dogs following his divorce. He admitted to struggling to keep up with their care, but was "embarrassed" to seek help.

As a condition of Ellis' plea deal, prosecutors promised not to press charges related to any new information that might come to light through an ongoing investigation into dozens of animals found dead or in critical condition at the scene.

For the five felony counts he pled to, Ellis will serve three years in prison, followed by five years of extended supervision. Ellis is barred from owning or training animals during his supervision period.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man convicted of killing, mistreating dogs will serve time in prison
A 20-foot Minke whale stranded in very shallow waters in Barnegat Bay this weekend in the Jersey Shore area later died before marine rescuers could make it to the distressed whale.

Video from nearby boaters showed the black-and-white Minke whale in Barnegat Bay near the Double Creek Channel on Saturday splashing in shallow waters.

Witnesses told FOX Weather the whale came in contact with at least two boats while in the bay. Boater John Barrett said the whale was "flopping around" and flopped onto a pontoon boat. Another video showed the whale coming in contact with a boat, causing it to tip and a passenger to fall off the vessel.

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Barrett told FOX Weather he saw the whale around noon in the inlet, where the water is about 20 feet deep, but several hours later, it was in the Double Creek Channel, where the water is only a few feet deep.

"Some boats were trying to get a picture, getting closer and closer," Barrett said. "They were getting too close to get a picture."

Experienced boaters like Barrett, who is out on the water four days a week, said encountering whales in Barnegat Bay is rare.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine was contacted by the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit about the whale in Barnegat Bay near the inlet. A multiple-agency response was coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation, marine police and Sea Tow with a stranding coordinator from MMSC.

A Minke whale in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025.

Sea Tow remained on scene while the stranding coordinator was on the way.

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According to the MMSC, at 3:40 p.m., a boater reported that a vessel had struck the whale, causing the boat to nearly capsize.

Before MMSC could arrive, Sea Tow officials reported the whale was dead.

Video: Shark, Stingray Get Into Tussle Off The Coast Of Panama City Beach, Florida

MMSC and New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers arrived to find the whale "resting on a sandbar in very shallow water outside of the channel."

Due to the tidal conditions, teams could not reach the whale on Saturday. The whale will be moved to a nearby New Jersey state park on Monday by Sea Tow and a necropsy will be performed.

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"Boaters should be advised to use caution in the area north of Double Creek Channel in Barnegat Bay and to keep a minimum of 150 feet away from the whale carcass for your safety," the MMSC said.

Any whale or marine distress sightings can be reported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center Hotline at 609-266-0538.

According to the MMSC, this is the third whale stranding this year in New Jersey. A long-finned pilot whale and a humpback whale were also stranded this year.





Original article source: Minke whale dies in New Jerseys Barnegat Bay after being stranded on sandbar, surrounded by boats
The Brief

Minneapolis police issued an alert for a missing 12-year-old girl.

Victoria Jackson was last seen around 8 p.m. on Saturday near Minnehaha Falls.

Anyone with information on her whereabout is asked to call 911.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minneapolis Police Department is asking for the public's help finding a missing 12-year-old girl last seen near Minnehaha Falls.

Missing child

The backstory

Minneapolis police issued an alert for 12-year-old Victoria Jackson on Sunday morning.

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Victoria was last seen Saturday night around 8 p.m., walking away from Minnehaha Falls.

What we know

Vitoria is about 5-foot-1-inch tall, 140 pounds, and has black hair with twists. She was last seen wearing a tan "Rugrats" shirt, blue jeans, and red and black shoes.

Police say Victoria has diabetes and an insulin pump.

What they're saying

"[Im in] total disbelief about whats going on right now," Victorias mother Briana told FOX 9. "I appreciate all the help that everyone has given. I feel like a sitting duck looking for a needle in a haystack to be honest. I just have no idea where she is."

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"She is loved and everyone wants her to be safe and healthy and find support and come home," search organizer Danielle Matthias said.

What you can do

If you see Victoria or have information on her whereabouts, you are asked to call 911. Tips can also be made through CrimeStoppers online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The Source

This story uses information from an alert issued by the Minneapolis Police Department.
Rep. Kaohly Vang Her, DFL-St. Paul, speaks on the House floor in 2024. (Photo by Andrew VonBank/Minnesota House Info)

With just three months to Election Day, Minnesota Democratic Rep. Kaohly Her announced on Monday shes running for mayor of St. Paul.

Her previously worked as policy director for St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, whom shell challenge on Nov. 4, during his first term and has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2018.

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We need a mayor who is ready to step up, engage with the community, and provide focused leadership that will move our city forward, Her said in a press release announcing her candidacy. My story is the story of the American Dream  but for many, that dream is no longer attainable.

With so little time before the election, Her will have to move quickly to raise money and assemble a campaign to challenge a two-term incumbent.

Her recently drew nationwide attention during the Minnesota Legislatures June special session when she said she was illegal on the House floor.

I am illegal in this country. My parents are illegal here in this country, Her said.

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In an interview with the Reformer, Her later said she was trying to inspire empathy in her Republican colleagues who were about to vote to take away state-funded health insurance for undocumented adults in Minnesota. She said that she and her parents are U.S. citizens who came to the U.S. as refugees from Laos.

In 2024, Her was chief author of a bill to pass the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment that would protect Minnesotans from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability and sex. The DFL-controlled Legislature failed to pass the bill.

In the press release, Her criticized President Donald Trumps immigration and tariff policies and said that St. Paul residents need leadership that meets this challenging time.

I am the right leader for this moment. That is why I am running to be your Saint Paul Mayor, Her said.
The Brief

Thirty-seven-year-old Tyler Schommer is charged with sexually assaulting and drugging a woman in Sherburne County.

The criminal complaint states the assault happened at a property referred to as "the compound."

Police became aware of the assault after a video was sent out in a mass text message.

(FOX 9) - A Minnesota man is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a passed-out woman at a property known as "the compound" in Sherburne County, after a video of the assault was sent out in a mass text message, according to a criminal complaint filed last week.

Mass text exposes assault

The backstory

St. Cloud police were notified about the assault after a mass text message was sent out in June, including videos of the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Tyler Schommer, having sex with passed-out women.

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Police say the videos showed Schommer having sex with two unconscious women. One video was recorded as a piece of property in Sherburne County referred to only as "the compound." Police were unable to identify the second woman or determine where that video was recorded.

Officers were later to make contact with the identified victim and her uncle  who was among the people who had received the text message.

Victim speaks with police

What they're saying

Speaking with police, the victim said she had been to "the compound" several times and, at the time, had known Schommer for about two to three months. She told police it was during a visit in March when Schommer drugged and assaulted her. On that night, the victim said she became sleepy and Schommer carried her up to his bed. She said she went to sleep fully clothed but woke up in the morning without pants or underwear and soreness in her hip.

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The victim then viewed the video and confirmed she was one of the women. She also told police she never consented to having sex with Schommer.

The victim said she learned Schommer was "known to give women GHB" to put them in a deep sleep to have sex with them, the complaint alleges. The victim also claimed Schommer had choked her until she passed out, and she woke up to him trying to have sex with her.

She told police she hadn't reported the attacks because Schommer's girlfriend had threatened her. On June 9, after the videos were sent out, the victim said Schommer's girlfriend had come to a residence in Stearns County with a gun and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone about the videos.

Police also spoke with a witness who said he was there when that threat was made.

Dig deeper

Schommer is being held in Sherburne County Jail on the charges. Schommer has a lengthy criminal record, including multiple drug convictions.

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In the criminal complaint, "the compound" is only described as a property off Highway 10 in Sherburne County. The criminal complaint lists Schommer's address as what appears to be a trucking business off Highway 10 in Haven Township, Minn.  between St. Cloud and Clear Lake.

The Source

This story was pulled from a criminal complaint filed last Thursday in Sherburne County.
Minnesota Rep. Kaohly Vang Her announces bid for mayor of St. Paul originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

DFL state Rep. Kaohly Vang Her is running for mayor of St. Paul, challenging her former boss, two-term incumbent Melvin Carter.

Her, a former Carter policy director, declared her candidacy for mayor on Monday. She declined to directly comment on her former boss' performance, but told the Sahan Journal that she was moved to join the race following the June 14 assassination of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, her colleague and friend.

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"We need a mayor who is ready to step up, engage with the community, and provide focused leadership that will move our city forward," Her said in an announcement.

Her serves as speaker pro tempore of the Minnesota House and co-chair of the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee. She was first elected in 2018 to represent District 64A, which covers St. Paul's Union Park and Summit-University neighborhoods, and was reelected for a fourth term in 2024.

Minnesota Rep. Kaohly Vang HerMinnesota House of Representatives

Her came to the Midwest as a Hmong refugee in 1976 at the age of 3. She said in her announcement that hers is the story of the American Dream, but claims it's no longer attainable for many people due to Trump administration policies.

"Everyone deserves that chance," she said. "Now, the ladder is being pulled up while the safety net is ripped out from underneath us."

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Her's announcement continues: "Our city needs safe streets, strong schools, and thriving neighborhoods. The cost of living continues to rise, our emergency services are stretched to the limit, housing is expensive and out of reach for many, and economic growth is at a standstill.

"We need leadership that meets this challenging time. We must expect more from our leaders to deal with the cruelty and volatility of Trump's tariffs, immigration policies, and cuts to the federal level that threaten the livelihood of our community."

DFL Rep. Kaohly Her, who used to work in St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's office, announces she's running for mayor of Minnesota's capital city. #mnleg pic.twitter.com/2UJsqJzvZF  Caroline Cummings (@CaroRCummings) August 4, 2025

The Minnesota Reformer notes that Her will have to move quickly to raise money and assemble a campaign with just three months until Election Day. Axios reports that she is likely to draw notable support from organized labor.

Other candidates running in November for mayor of St. Paul include biochemist Yan Chen, a Democrat who previously ran for the Ward 1 City Council seat, and businessman Mike Hilborn, a Republican who unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega.

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The filing period for mayoral candidates runs through Aug. 12. Early voting begins Aug. 19, and the election takes place Nov. 4.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Brief

The GBI said 2-month-old Montez Harris was found in Florida after being abducted just before 11 a.m. Sunday.

Officials said they believed Harris was taken by 23-year-old Maurtez Edwards and may be in a silver 2016 Ford F-150 with Georgia license tag ZKF875.

Harris was arrested in Liberty County, Florida.

MACON, Ga. - An infant has been found after being abducted in Macon on Sunday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

What we know

The GBI said 2-month-old Montez Harris was abducted just before 11 a.m. Sunday. Officials said they believed Harris was taken by 23-year-old Maurtez Edwards and may be in a silver 2016 Ford F-150 with Georgia license tag ZKF875.

The GBI said Maurtez Rashaad Edwards took a 2-month-old baby from Macon on August 3, 2025.

At 5:20 p.m. on Sunday, officials from state and federal law enforcement found the 2-month-old, according to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office. Edwards was stopped in Liberty County, Florida and taken into custody.

The Source

Information in this article came from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. It was updated to add that the toddler was found in Florida.
The famous Satoshi Nakamoto statue, an ingenious line-of-sight illusion envisioned by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, that was reported missing on Sunday was recovered from a nearby lake, Satoshigallery, the artistic project run by Picozzi, said in a post on X.

The gallery reported the statue missing on Aug. 3 with a photo showing only empty ground where the layers of disappearing stripes that fade into code had stood since late 2024. The statue representing the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin was unveiled on Oct. 25, 2024 at Plan Bs Bitcoin forum as SwissTether and Lugano raced to brand the city a global bitcoin (BTC) hub.

The theft was first reported by X user @Grittoshi, who suspected it had been thrown in a lake beside the sculpture. Satoshigallery offered a reward of 0.1 BTC to anyone who could help find the statue.

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We are offering 0.1 btc to whoever will help us recovering the Statue of Satoshi Nakamoto that was stolen yesterday in Lugano, the X post said. You can steal our symbol but you will never be able to steal our souls. We are all in this together and committed to place the statue in 21 places round the world.

Grittoshi had suggested the theft was an act of vandalism resulting from celebrations related to Swiss National day, which falls on Aug. 1.

There are cameras everywhere in the city so i assume, they just threw it inside the lake beside, before going home. No way, they could have carried it unnoticed in the city. Grittoshi wrote shortly before the statue was indeed found in the lake.

What damage the statue has taken hasnt yet been determined.

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Picozzi shared images on social media of the statue being recovered, and suggested Kintsugi-style repairs may be in order. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken items with specific coating mixed with powered precious metals such as gold, silver or platinum.

A petition asking the city of Lugano for logistical and security support to restore the statue has been launched. Picozzi has offered to do things at her own expense, the petition said.

The theft occurred just over a week after Satoshi Gallery unveiled its third Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Tokyo, Japan.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Law enforcement has located a missing man from Butler County.

The Butler County Sheriffs Office had originally said a man was last seen Aug. 3 in Middletown, where he was headed to visit relatives in Carlisle, according to the Butler County Sheriffs Office.

County reallocates $1M to The Foodbank

Around 1 p.m. on Aug. 4, a dispatcher from the Butler County Sheriffs Office confirmed the man had been found and is safe.

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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 WDTN.com.
Missing Woburn boy, grandfather found safe, police say

A Woburn boy who was reported missing over the weekend was found safe with his grandfather on Monday morning, authorities said.

Micah Jones, 8, and his 52-year-old grandfather, Anthony Banks, were located in Cambridge, according to Massachusetts State Police.

On Sunday night, state police announced that Jones was last seen on Saturday when his mother entrusted him to the care of Banks.

State police then asked the public for help with tracking Jones and Banks down.

There were no additional details immediately available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW




NEED TO KNOW

Michele Bourda was last seen on Ofryni beach in the city of Kavala in northern Greece at midday local time on Friday, Aug. 1, according to local charity Lifeline Hellas.

The 59-year-old disappeared from the beach where she had gone swimming with her husband, according to the report

Her husband was sleeping on a lounge chair when she vanished, reported multiple outlets







Authorities in Greece are searching for a 59-year-old woman who vanished while visiting a beach with her husband.

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Michele Bourda was last seen on Ofryni beach in the city of Kavala in northern Greece at midday local time on Friday, Aug. 1, according to a translated missing persons report released by the local charity Lifeline Hellas.

The British citizen disappeared from the beach where she had gone swimming with her husband, according to the report. She is described as being slim with straight blonde shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes, and is 5 feet 6 inches tall.

Lifeline Hellas Bourda went missing while visiting a beach in Greece on Friday, Aug. 1 Bourda went missing while visiting a beach in Greece on Friday, Aug. 1

On the day she disappeared, she was wearing a two-piece swimsuit with rhinestones, yellow beach shoes and red, bone-rimmed sunglasses, Lifeline Hellas added. The organization first issued an alert for Bourda on Saturday, Aug. 2.

Bourda reportedly lived with her husband, who is of Greek origin, in the city of Serres in Macedonia, according to Sky News.

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The 59-year-old is believed to have vanished from the beach as her husband slept on a sunbed, the U.K. newspaper The Standard reported. Her belongings were reportedly left on the beach at the time she went missing.

Kavalas central port authority received reports of Bourda's disappearance on the evening of Aug. 1, according to Sky News.

GoogleMaps Ofrynio Beach in Kavala, Greece Ofrynio Beach in Kavala, Greece

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The Hellenic Coast Guard and local police are currently conducting a search on the beach and in the sea to try and locate her.



Her life is in danger, Lifeline Hellas added in the missing persons report, which has urged anyone with information to contact their Silver Alert service via the Greek SOS Line 1065.

PEOPLE has contacted Lifeline Hellas, the Hellenic Coastguard and Hellenic Police for comment.

Read the original article on People
Researchers have embarked on a mission to save what some consider to be the world's most beautiful snails, and also unlock their biological secrets.

Endangered Polymita tree snails, which are disappearing from their native forest habitats in Eastern Cuba, have vibrant, colourful and extravagantly patterned shells.

Unfortunately, those shells are desirable for collectors, and conservation experts say the shell trade is pushing the snails towards extinction.

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Biologists in Cuba, and specialists at the University of Nottingham in the UK, have now teamed up with the goal of saving the six known species of Polymita.

The shells are used to make colourful jewellery [Angus Davison]

The most endangered of those is Polymita sulphurosa, which is lime green with blue flame patterns around its coils and bright orange and yellow bands across its shell.

But all the Polymita species are strikingly bright and colourful, which is an evolutionary mystery in itself.

"One of the reasons I'm interested in these snails is because they're so beautiful," explained evolutionary geneticist and mollusc expert Prof Angus Davison from the University of Nottingham.

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The irony, he said, is that this is the reason the snails are so threatened.

"Their beauty attracts people who collect and trade shells. So the very thing that makes them different and interesting to me as a scientist is, unfortunately, what's endangering them as well."

Searching online with Prof Davison, we found several platforms where sellers, based in the UK, were offering Polymita shells for sale. On one site a collection of seven shells was being advertised for 160.

"For some of these species, we know they're really quite endangered. So it wouldn't take much [if] someone collects them in Cuba and trades them, to cause some species to go extinct."

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Shells are bought and sold as decorative objects, but every empty shell was once a living animal.

The team gathered some of the snails to bring into captivity for breeding and research [Bernardo Reyes-Tur]

While there are international rules to protect Polymita snails, they are difficult to enforce. It is illegal - under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species - to take the snails or their shells out of Cuba without a permit. But it is legal to sell the shells elsewhere.

Prof Davison says that, with pressures like climate change and forest loss affecting their natural habitat in Cuba, "you can easily imagine where people collecting shells would tip a population over into local extinction".

Prof Angus Davison with a Polymita snail on his finger [Angus Davison]

To try to prevent this, Prof Davison is working closely with Prof Bernardo Reyes-Tur at the Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, who is a conservation biologist.

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The aim of this international project is to better understand how the snails evolved and to provide information that will help conservation.

Prof Reyes-Tur's part of the endeavour is perhaps the most challenging: Working with unreliable power supplies and in a hot climate, he has brought Polymita snails into his own home for captive breeding.

"They have not bred yet, but they're doing well," he told us on a video call.

"It's challenging though - we have blackouts all the time."

Conservation scientist Prof Bernardo Reyes-Tur at his home in Eastern Cuba with some of the snails he is rearing in captivity [Bernardo Reyes-Tur]

Meanwhile, at the well-equipped labs at the University of Nottingham, genetic research is being carried out.

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Here, Prof Davison and his team can keep tiny samples of snail tissue in cryogenic freezers to preserve them. They are able to use that material to read the animals' genome - the biological set of coded instructions that makes each snail what it is.

The team aims to use this information to confirm how many species there are, how they are related to each other and what part of their genetic code gives them their extraordinary, unique colour patterns.

Polymita sulphurosa is critically endangered [Angus Davison]

The hope is that they can reveal those biological secrets before these colourful creatures are bought and sold into extinction.

"Eastern Cuba is the the only place in the world where these snails are found," Prof Davison told BBC News.

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"That's where the expertise is - where the people who know these snails, love them and understand them, live and work.

"We hope we can use the genetic information that we can bring to contribute to their conservation."
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Mental health professionals are often the only people that children can talk to, but a new report revealed that this vital connection is not always present in Mississippi.

VocoVision is a website that connects employers and jobs to licensed therapy professionals who work remotely. In its 2025 Youth Mental Health Care Deserts report, it aimed to address the often-overlooked issue of childrens mental health and highlight areas of concern across all states. It found that Mississippi had the countrys second-worst mental health desert nationally.

VocoVision found that education departments in the state are struggling with a combination of limited provider availability and rural populations that compound access issues for students in crisis.

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Mississippi has the tenth most severe provider shortage, with one provider per 543 people statewide. The ratio of healthcare providers in school systems statewide is even more limited: Mississippi has more than 7,500 students per school psychologist, one of the worst ratios nationally. Mississippi also experienced the 15th-worst school counselor staffing shortage, meeting roughly 83% of projected demand.

UnitedHealth falls short of second quarter expectations and offers weak outlook for 2025

Nearly half (47.5%) of Mississippis students attend rural schools where in-person mental health support is often limitedthe third-highest rural rate in the country. VocoVision found that over half (56.6%) of youths who experienced a major depressive episode in the past year did not receive any mental health services, the 19th highest rate nationwide.

According to Jessica Marlow, VocoVision Vice President, the problem is not one of lack of need, but rather an inability for those in need to access resources.

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Rural communities, in particular, are often left behind because there simply arent enough professionals nearby. But it doesnt have to stay that way, Marlow said.

Outside of the classroom, youth and adults relied on virtual resources for support. In its fiscal year 2024 report, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (MDMH) reported that Mississippi received 15,467 calls to 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The agency reported 5,745 calls to the DMH Helpline. That roughly translates to 297 and 110 calls each week made by Mississippians toward each service, respectively.

According to Marlow, the problems seen in Mississippi are part of a larger national issue.

Students are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, depression and emotional distress than ever before, yet in many schools, there simply arent enough professionals to support them, Marlow said.

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For those interested in pursuing a degree in youth counseling, most of Mississippis Institutions of Higher Learning and several private universities statewide have graduate-level programs in counseling or social work. To see which degree program may work best for you, visit their respective websites.

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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 WJTV.
STARKVILLE, Miss (WJTV)  Hunters have been warned to look out for a rapidly spreading disease among deer populations in Mississippi.

Cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Mississippi continue rise. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), 128 deer tested positive for CWD from July 2024 to June 2025. This number is up from the 110 deer that tested positive during the same period the previous year.

2025 Velvet Buck Season permits now available in Mississippi

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According to the MDWFP website, the agency has tested 58,854 deer since July 1, 2018. There has been a total of 446 positive tests since 2018 in Mississippi. About 270,000 deer are harvested each year in the state from a deer population estimated at 1.75 million.

Eighteen counties have reported positive cases, with Union County being the latest county to report a case. Most cases have been reported in northern counties in the state, with cases in the Delta region also reporting multiple counties with deer that have this disease.

The highest prevalence area is in Benton and Marshall counties along the Tennessee line, said Jacob Dykes, wildlife specialist with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service. This is part of a larger regional outbreak covering multiple states.

CWD, also known online as zombie deer disease, is a prion disease that is easily transmissible to deer. According to MDWFP, symptoms can include drastic weight loss (wasting), stumbling, listlessness, and other neurologic symptoms in deer. One challenge of detecting the disease is until deer enter the last stages of CWD, they often appear completely healthy.

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CWD in deer: What are the signs, and is the meat safe to eat?

The disease spreads through saliva, feces, urine or a contaminated environment, Dykes said. If left unmanaged, chronic wasting disease can devastate the deer population as it is 100% fatal to any deer that contracts the disease.

No cases have been reported in humans by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but they have found some studies in monkeys that suggest they can get CWD by eating meat or brain tissues of infected deer or elk.

Hunters are required to report any harvest and submit chronic wasting disease (CWD) samples.

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MDWFP allows more deer to be harvested in CWD zones and forbids supplemental feeding in these areas. Hunters can check the CWD Management Zones and the Hunting Season CWD Guide for zone maps and specific regulations.

During deer season, hunters are asked to leave the heads of harvested deer at one of the states drop-off sites.

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PERKINSTON, Miss. (AP)  In the embrace of a cheerfully chittering spider monkey named Louie, an Army veteran who grappled for decades with post-traumatic stress disorder says he finally feels at peace.

Being out here has brought a lot of faith back to me, said John Richard. There's no feeling like it.

The bond began last fall when Richard was helping two married veterans set up the Gulf Coast Primate Sanctuary, volunteering his time to build the enclosure that's now Louie's home in rural southeast Mississippi.

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During a recent visit, Louie quickly scampered up Richard's body, wrapping his arms and tail around him in a sort of hug. Richard, in turn, placed his hand on the primate's back and whispered sweetly until Louie disentangled himself and swung away.

He's making his little sounds in my ear, and you know, he's always telling you, Oh, I love you, Richard said. I know you're OK. I know you're not going to hurt me.

Richard said his connection with Louie helped more than any other PTSD treatment he received since being diagnosed more than 20 years ago.

It's a similar story for the sanctuary's founder, April Stewart, an Air Force veteran who said she developed PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma.

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It was destroying my life. It was like a cancer, she said. It was a trauma that was never properly healed.

Stewart's love of animals was a way to cope. She didnt necessarily set out to create a place of healing for veterans with PTSD, but thats what the sanctuary has become for some volunteers.

By helping the primates learning to trust, were also reteaching ourselves how to trust, and were giving ourselves grace with people, she said.

Her 15-acre property, nestled amid woods and farmland, is filled with rescue dogs, two rather noisy geese and a black cat. It's also now home to three spider monkeys, two squirrel monkeys and two kinkajous, a tropical mammal that is closely related to raccoons.

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The sanctuary in the town of Perkinston, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) due north of the Gulf coast, includes three large enclosures for the different species. Each has a smaller, air-conditioned area and a large fenced-in outdoor zone, where the primates swing from platforms and lounge in the sun. Checking on the animals  changing their blankets, bringing food and water  is one of the first and last things Stewart does each day.

However, she can't do it alone. She relies on a group of volunteers for help, including several other veterans, and hopes to open the sanctuary to the public next summer for guided educational tours.

Stewart and her husband, also a veteran, decided to open the sanctuary in October after first rescuing and rehoming monkeys. With the help of two exotic-animal veterinarians, they formed a foundation that governs the sanctuary  which she said is the only primate sanctuary in Mississippi licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture  and ensures the animals will be cared for even when the Stewarts are no longer able to run it themselves.

All the animals were once somebody's pet, but their owners eventually couldn't take care of them. Stewart stressed that primates do not make good or easy pets. They need lots of space and socialization, which is often difficult for families to provide.

The sanctuary's goal is to provide as natural a habitat as possible for the animals, Stewart said, and bring them together with their own species.

This is their family, she said.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Though some state leaders expect the seafood labeling law to positively impact Mississippi, the current agricultural landscape and numerous lines of research suggest otherwise.

Starting July 1, all seafood and crawfish sold in Mississippi must be clearly labeled as imported or domestic. Leaders like Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson (R-Miss.) recently asserted that the new legislation would strengthen the states agricultural economy and influence Mississippians buying habits. However, market realities and research assert the contrary.

According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippis agriculture industry production value was approximately $9 billion in 2024. Mississippi leads the nation in catfish production, generating 65% of the U.S. supply, but catfish acreage has decreased more than 70% over the last two decades. Additionally, it made up less than 2.4% of the entire economic impact of agriculture that year.

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Mississippis crawfish industry is extremely small. It is mainly due to the states existing catfish industry, the proximity of Louisianas large crawfish industry and a significantly smaller demand among Mississippians. As a result, it is unclear how the new labelling law will change consumer interest in crawfish statewide.

Louisiana cancels $3 billion coastal restoration project funded by oil spill settlement

Additionally, research regarding labelling shows that implementing labels to influence the type of food you buy may not be effective. A study from the National Institutes of Health revealled ineffective results from attempting to do so with nutrition information.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited research that indicated consumers are broadly indifferent to country-of-origin labels for seafood. Put another way, most consumers are not concerned about where the food comes from. The USDA explained that a much stronger influence on food purchases for consumers is cost.

Country of origin notification for seafood served at Aha Donuts & More in Pearl, Mississippi (WJTV) The special fried rice dish at Aha Donuts & More in Pearl, Mississippi. It features chicken, shrimp, crawfish and blue crab meat. The restaurant opts to use imported seafood on its menu in order to reduce costs for its customers. (WJTV)

Cost is also an important factor for businesses. Aha Donuts & More has several locations throughout the Jackson metro. Under the new Mississippi law, it must describe where the seafood it cooks with originates. The restaurant location in Pearl informed its customers that it uses imported seafood to help save money. Signage explicitly mentions that using domestic seafood would increase costs for customers.

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In addition to economic considerations, food safety from other countries may be a major concern for some consumers. However, not all local seafood is even safe to eat. A 2025 Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence study found that some wild-caught fish in the Lower Mississippi River Basin around Warren County have unsafe levels of toxic metals. This included catfish and crappie, which are popular fish in the state.

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Attorney General Andrew Bailey answers reporters' questions on Jan. 13 in the Missouri Capitol (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey may have a bad track record in court, but hes winning anyway. This is especially true of his crusade to make the workforce and higher education less diverse.

Hes had success using losing lawsuits, investigations that do nothing but burn Missouri taxpayer dollars and threatening letters that misstate the law.

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On the day that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled traditional affirmative action programs in higher education unconstitutional, Bailey sent threatening letters to Missouri universities and municipalities in which he overstated what the ruling did and implied that all efforts at fostering diversity and inclusion in Missouri must be halted.

In April, Bailey excoriated the Business Roundtable for having racist DEI initiatives. He wrote he would fight woke political trends and blatant racial discrimination. In an impressive act of government jawboning that Bailey has claimed to oppose in other contexts, he threatened that such policies risk exposing your organizations to substantial liability.

Bailey is suing IBM, alleging the company did too much to recruit non-white and female hires.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts (the DEI much maligned by the far-right) help companies hire and retain qualified people who they wouldnt easily find through traditional white male networks. Many studies and companies have explained that diversity is good for profits and innovation, and that you dont get a diverse workforce without making an effort to recruit one.

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Baileys court filings come shockingly close to outright stating his contrary premise: women and non-white people are inherently inferior so any increase in their representation is bad.

IBM argued that Bailey hasnt pleaded that any Missouri employee or job applicant was discriminated against. Indeed, this looks like Bailey preening for the national anti-diversity warriors rather than addressing a Missouri problem.

Though you wouldnt know it from listening to Bailey, diversity is still a permissible goal under Supreme Court precedent. And it is typical for companies to reward executives for advancing corporate goals.

But the IBM lawsuit looks like another one where Bailey could win with a loser of a case. IBM has long been known for being a model for inclusive policies and a great place to work. IBMs diversity council began in the 90s. It has touted hiring a disabled employee in 1914. But this year it ended most of its diversity efforts. Well see whether IBM continues to fight back against Bailey.

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Whatever happens, say goodbye to IBM and similarly situated companies employing more people here. Bailey has made it clear that employers should expect legal harassment for exercising their rights to association and free speech in Missouri.

Bailey has also sued Starbucks. His brief argues that the Starbucks workforce has become more female and less white  and that this is unacceptable.

Starbucks appears to be defending the values that the company professes. The company is also likely aware that if it were to abandon its reasonable efforts to have a workforce more representative of its customer base, it could lead to a boycott and a massive stock hit like Target experienced.

Shareholders have realized that reversing inclusive policies is bad for business. Shareholders voted down anti-diversity proposals overwhelmingly this proxy season.

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The market has spoken. So Baileys latest ploy is to punish free speech in the market.

Bailey filed lawsuits against two firms that give shareholders advice on how to vote. He claims that they have engaged in deceptive practices by recommending inclusive policies. This is one of his many attempts to weaponize the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, which was meant to protect Missourians from actual fraud.

But frivolous lawsuits against out-of-state corporations are not the only way to light taxpayer dollars on fire.

Bailey can burn up twice the Missouri tax dollars by having Missouri wage legal warfare against itself. See for example, Baileys investigation of the Hazelwood School District over an off-campus fight between students of different races, the three year lawsuit against the Springfield School District over demands to search thousands of documents for a list of possibly DEI-related terms that the District estimated would cost $170,000, or his new investigation of the City of Columbia over whether it might be trying to advance diversity and equity.

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How does a successful, powerful white man come to have such resentment towards women and people of color for the modest gains we have made that he treats it as Missouris biggest problem? How does someone once known as a reasonable and smart attorney become a warrior in the culture wars? What could compel him to regularly use dehumanizing language about diversity proponents who merely want more people to have opportunities?

Did he get radicalized online? Bailey has filed a surprising number of lawsuits based on tweeted statements or videos.

His IBM lawsuit cites a video circulated online. He sued Media Matters in response to an Elon Musk tweet (that lawsuit was thrown out as I predicted, but Media Matters had to cut staff due to the costs of Bailey and Musk lawsuits, so thats another extra-legal win for Bailey). Bailey sued Planned Parenthood over a Project Veritas video, without bothering to get the unedited tape.

Another possibility is that this is how Republicans feel they need to make a name and impress Trump and MAGA. Still, I just cant muster the cynicism to make it make sense.

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Sometimes I wonder what Baileys mom thinks.

I learned that Dr. Jessica Bailey was the first female dean of the University of Mississippi Medical Centers School of Health Related Professions and a revered and beloved leader there  and a champion of diversity efforts.

A 2022 article about her retirement describes Dr. Baileys mentorship and recruitment of the schools then chief diversity and inclusion officer. In an earlier article, Dr. Bailey extolls that colleague for being committed to providing opportunities for students who might otherwise not imagine themselves in a health care profession, and having the vision to recognize opportunities to make our health care work force be more representative of our Mississippi population.

These are goals that her son claims are unconstitutional and racist.

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During Dr. Baileys tenure as dean, she oversaw the development of a Diversity and Inclusion Champion Professional Development and Certificate Program. She supervised PhD theses concerning the need to diversify the health work force and bone marrow donors. She was lauded for her personal involvement in a program that recruited young Black men into medical professions.

I asked Baileys office whether the attorney general thinks his mother was engaged in illegal woke political trends and blatant racial discrimination in general, or specifically with the mentorship program for Black men.

His office responded:

Attorney General Bailey has no knowledge of these programs administered in another state, years ago, when he was not in office. What he does know is this: DEI programs that condition opportunity on skin color violate the Missouri Constitution and the foundational American promise of equality under the law. Whether its in corporate boardrooms, public universities, or government contracting, he will continue to fight race-based discrimination in any form. He has led on this issue since taking office.

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Thats a clearer yes, my mother did illegal, racist things than I was expecting.

Bailey is not just disavowing the work of his highly accomplished mother, who has referenced the barriers she overcame as a woman in a male dominated field and who worked to help others up the ladder. He is twisting the law to claim all such efforts are illegal.
CALVERT CITY, Ky. (AP)  Republican Nate Morris had deftly warmed up a crowd of party faithful, gushing about President Donald Trump and recounting his own lifes journey  from hardscrabble childhood to wealthy entrepreneur  when he turned his attention to the man he wants to replace, Sen. Mitch McConnell.

That's when things got feisty. While bashing Kentucky's longest-serving senator at a GOP dinner on the eve of Saturday's Fancy Farm picnic, a tradition-laden stop on the state's political circuit, Morris was cut off in midsentence by a party activist in the crowd, who noted that McConnell isn't seeking reelection and pointedly asked Morris: What are you running on?

Morris touted his hard line stance on immigration and defended Trump's tariffs as a boon for American manufacturing. But he didn't retreat from his harsh critique of McConnell.

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Weve seen 40 years of doing it the same way," Morris said. "And, yes, hes not on the ballot, but his legacy is on the ballot. Do you want 40 more years of that? I dont think you do.

McConnell's blunt-force approach used against him

The pushback from a county GOP chairman revealed the political risks of attacking the 83-year-old McConnell in the twilight of his career. Towering over Kentucky politics for decades, McConnell is regarded as the master strategist behind the GOP's rise to power in a state long dominated by Democrats. The state Republican headquarters bears McConnell's name. As the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, McConnell guided Republican policymaking and helped forge a conservative Supreme Court. Back home, his appropriating skills showered Kentucky with federal funding.

Now, his blunt-force style of campaigning  which undercut so many foes  is being used against him.

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Morris is running against two other prominent Republicans  U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron  for McConnell's seat. The outcome will be decided in the spring primary next year. Kentucky hasnt elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992.

All three Republican hopefuls lavish praise on Trump  in hopes of landing his endorsement  but also have ties to McConnell, who mentored generations of aspirational Republicans. Cameron and Barr have chided McConnell at times, but it's been mild compared to Morris' attacks. Morris interned for McConnell but glosses over that connection.

McConnell pushes back

At events surrounding the Fancy Farm picnic, an event long known for caustic zingers that he has always relished, McConnell showed no sign of backing down.

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Surely this isnt true, but Ive heard that one of the candidates running for my office wants to be different, McConnell told a Republican crowd that included Morris at a pre-picnic breakfast in Mayfield. Now, Im wondering how youd want to be different from the longest-serving Senate leader in American history. Im wondering how youd want to be different in supporting President Trump.

McConnell received multiple standing ovations. Morris stayed seated.

McConnell has consistently voted for Trump's policies more often than Kentucky's other Republican senator, Rand Paul, according to a Congressional Quarterly voting analysis. McConnell recently supported Trump's signature tax and spending measure. Paul opposed it, saying it would drive up debt.

Yet Morris has taken on McConnell, who has famously had an up-and-down relationship with Trump.

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McConnell teamed with Trump to put conservatives on the federal bench and pass tax cuts during the president's first term. McConnell also guided the Senate  and Trump  through two impeachment trials that ended in acquittals. But the relationship was severed after McConnell blamed Trump for disgraceful acts in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack by Trump's supporters.

McConnell endorsed Trump in 2024, but in a biography by Michael Tackett of The Associated Press, released shortly before the election, McConnell described him as a despicable human being.

Running against career politicians

Morris, who started a waste management technology company, says the senator has been insufficiently loyal to Trump and allowed festering issues like immigration and the national debt to grow worse during his years in Senate leadership.

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Morris wants to tether his opponents to McConnell while running on anti-establishment themes that his campaign thinks will appeal to legions of Trump supporters in the Bluegrass State.

Lets face it, folks, career politicians have run this country off a cliff, Morris said.

Morris' rivals sum up the anti-McConnell attacks as an angry, backward-looking message. Cameron called it a diversionary tactic to obscure what he said is Morris' lack of both a message and credibility as a supporter of Trump's MAGA movement.

"He cant talk about his actual record. So he has to choose to pick on an 83-year-old, Cameron said.

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At Fancy Farm, where candidates hurl insults at one another against a backdrop of bingo games and barbecue feasts, Morris took a swipe at McConnell's health.

I have a serious question: who here can honestly tell me that its a good thing to have a senior citizen who freezes on national television during his press conferences as our U.S. senator? Morris said. "It seems, to me, maybe just maybe, Mitchs time to leave the Senate was a long time ago."

McConnell had his customary front-row seat for much of the event but wasn't there for Morris' remarks. He typically leaves before all the speeches are delivered and exited before his would-be successors spoke.

Living by the sword

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McConnell complimented Trump in his speech, singling out Trump's bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.

He turned Iran's nuclear program into a pile of rocks, McConnell, a steadfast advocate for a muscular U.S. foreign policy, said to cheers.

At the GOP dinner the night before in Calvert City, where candidates typically are more politely received, party activist Frank Amaro confronted Morris for his anti-McConnell barrage.

He keeps bashing Mitch McConnell like hes running against Mitch McConnell, Amaro, a county Republican chairman, said afterward. Overall, hes helped Kentucky and the United States, especially our Supreme Court, more than any other U.S. senator in this country.

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But Morris' blistering assessment of McConnell hit the mark with Trump supporter Patrick Marion, who applied the dreaded Republican-in-Name-Only label to McConnell.

Personally, I think Mitch has been a RINO for way too long, Marion said later. I don't think he was a true MAGA supporter of President Trump.

Afterward, Morris was in no mood to back off.

Hes the nastiest politician maybe in the history of this state if not in the history of this country, Morris said of McConnell. "Look, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.
New York Rep. Ritchie Torres  one of the Democratic Partys most ardent Zionists  has begun questioning Israel as recent images of starving Palestinian children shock leaders across the world.

Torres shift is slight and nuanced. Yet coming from such a vocal defender of Israel, it signifies how moderate Democrats are backing away from the unqualified support for the Jewish state thats underscored the party for decades. And it comes as countries around the globe are reacting in horror at the famine gripping the region and reports of thousands of children dying of starvation as the Israeli military continues its offensive following Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

All parties, including the U.S. and Israel, have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to ease the hardship and hunger thats taken hold in the Gaza Strip, Torres said in an interview last week.

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He insisted his long-held defense of Israel still stands. I feel its possible to be an unapologetic Zionist while at the same time recognizing theres a crisis in Gaza and recognizing the war has poorly defined strategic objectives, he said.

Torres is not alone in his remarks.

Throughout the country, moderate Democrats, who have long resisted pressure to reject Zionism on their left flank, are increasingly speaking out against Israels actions in Gaza as they react to anger among constituents ahead of the midterms next year. Its a shift in attitude percolating from the halls of Congress to governors' mansions. How Democrats speak about Israel is bound to be a litmus test in battleground Democratic primaries next year as the party fights to retake control of the House and pick up several Senate seats.

In recent days, a majority of Democratic senators voted for a resolution to bar the sale of assault rifles to Israeli police, a marked change in the party since the start of the military conflict. Their unprecedented rebuke comes as polling shows slipping support for Israel among Democratic voters, signaling the prolonged war has potentially caused permanent damage to the countrys relationship with the Democratic Party. And on Sunday, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said, What's happening now isn't working.

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Its a dynamic thats also emerging on the right, as the most isolationist voices in MAGA are more forcefully condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.

The facts on the ground are that militarily, they have significant tactical advantages and are sufficient enough to be able to effectively deliver food. So the question arises, why can't you get food in there and health care services and basically follow humanitarian laws, said Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, who joined 11 new Democrats in voting for the resolution from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) after opposing two versions only supported by a handful of progressives.

Another resolution to block the sale of heavy-grade munitions earned the support of 24 Democrats, though it failed. All Republicans opposed both resolutions brought to the floor Wednesday  but Sanders hinted GOP support may come as public opinion moves further against Netanyahu

You're going to see fairly soon, a number of Republicans beginning to understand that their constituents don't want taxpayer dollars to go to an Israeli government starving children, Sanders said.

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In the interview, Torres said, all parties, including the U.S. and Israel, have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to ease the hardship and hunger thats taken hold in the Gaza Strip.

Torres has also tried to keep attention on the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The worlds silence about the deliberate starvation of Israeli hostagesat the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad  is as deafening as its hypocrisy, he posted on X on Saturday. Expect the images of emaciated Israeli bodies, starved in captivity, to appear nowhere in the pages of most major American newspapers.

Pro-Israel donors and operatives defended Torres, with three people expressing appreciation for his continued support for Israel, while one person  who was not authorized to speak on the record  voiced concern with the frequency of his messages on social media.

Its precisely because Congressman Torres has been so proactive about calling out antisemitism that masquerades as antizionism that when he has constructive advice about Israel its listened to in a way that a statement from the member of congress who reps an adjacent district isnt, Stu Loeser  a New York-based consultant who represents Mike Bloomberg and a host of pro-Israel donors  said in reference to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

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On the GOP side, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene became the first Republican in Congress to describe the situation in Gaza, where more than 60,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict, as a genocide. Prominent MAGA media figure Tucker Carlson hosted retired Green Beret Lt. Col. Tony Aguilar, who said he witnessed war crimes while working at Gaza food sites, on his show last week.

And even President Donald Trump, who has closely aligned himself with Netanyahu, implied that Israel bore primary responsibility for the situation in Gaza. A few days later, he reversed course, calling for Hamas to surrender and release hostages  deeming it the fastest way to end the humanitarian crisis.

Everybody, left, right and center should react viscerally against starvation imposed by another government, said Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat. Whatever one's views about this war, this is beyond the pale and unacceptable, and it does nothing to make Israel safe, or Israelis safe, or Jews safe.

Hardline Israel supporter Sen. John Fetterman said Thursday he viewed the resolutions  which he opposed  as his fellow Democrats blaming Israel for the circumstances, while he blamed Hamas and Iran. And that explains my vote, and my ongoing support. And that's not going to change, he said. The Pennsylvania Democrat said hes seen the photos of starving children circulating online, but that no one ever declared that it was an actual famine, to be clear.

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Some former Biden administration officials argue Netanyahus actions, rather than the political winds, are driving this change. They blame Netanyahu for hurting Israels credibility with Democrats in the United States, given his aggressive military action. Former President Joe Biden, a self-described Zionist, repeatedly called for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, but didnt heed calls from the left for an arms embargo.

Yes, the political incentives for Democrats are shifting, but even more powerful for many Democrats is the recognition that a blank check approach to Israel, especially with this Israeli government, is fundamentally in contravention to our interests and values, said Ned Price, who served as State Department spokesperson and deputy to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during the Biden administration. Bibi's prosecution of this war has, I think, made this shift in many ways irreversible.

A former Biden administration official, granted anonymity to speak freely about the political stakes, said a majority of Democratic senators voting to block weapons sales to Israel was unimaginable even a few months ago and speaks to "how badly Netanyahu has played this." But the official cautioned this crisis is not as politically charged as was the Iraq War for many Democratic voters.

A Gallup poll released this week found approval of Israels military actions in Gaza had dropped to 8 percent among Democrats, the lowest rating to date. In contrast, 71 percent of Republicans said they approve of Israels military force in Gaza, up from 66 percent in September.

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Changing public opinion on Gaza is most striking in New York, where Democratic primary voters nominated Zohran Mamdani for mayor despite millions of dollars spent attacking him for his anti-Israel posture in a heavily Jewish city. A vast majority believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Torres noted that if there is an erosion of support for Israel in the United States, thats not something the Israeli government should take lightly.

Chris Coffey, a New York-based consultant and longtime Torres ally, said the deepening split between the left and moderate factions of the Democratic party can be attributed to images of starving children, and criticism of Israels military action was a minority view now feels like the majority view in the Democratic party.

When (people like) Richie Torres, who is arguably the most pro-Israel Democrat in the country and certainly in New York, are asking tough questions then its going to cause there to be some reflection and some ripples, he said. Its going to force people to ask tough questions.

Eric Bazail-Eimil and Joe Gould contributed to this report.
Moderate Democrats who have staunchly backed Israel have begun to question Benjamin Netanyahus actions in Gaza as images come out of the region showing children starving, Politico reported.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) has been one of the most vocal defenders of Israel during his time in Congress, quitting the Congressional Progressive Caucus partially because of it. But hes begun to question Netanyahus Gaza response two years on from the Oct. 7 Hamas terror strike on Israel.

All parties, including the U.S. and Israel, have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to ease the hardship and hunger thats taken hold in the Gaza Strip, Torres told Politico last week.

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The New York Democrats tone represents a larger shift. Last week, a handful of moderate Democrats joined Sen. Bernie Sanders motions to restrict weapons sales to Israel.

Along with more progressive members like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), moderates like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) joined the motions. In the end, a majority of Democrats supported both resolutions, with three Democrats not voting on them.

US Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), one of the biggest supporters of Israel in the Democratic caucus, has started criticizing Israels prosecution of the war in Gaza. (Getty)

The facts on the ground are that militarily, they have significant tactical advantages and are sufficient enough to be able to effectively deliver food. So the question arises, why cant you get food in there and health care services and basically follow humanitarian laws, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) told Politico.

Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, had previously opposed similar motions to restrict arms sales to Israel by Sanders.

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Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who is Jewish, also excoriated Israel. Specifically, he criticized the use of the US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, to handle distribution of food.

They kicked out all the organizations that know how to do this, they stood up a new organization that's never done this before, that's mostly comprised of military contractors, and it is flatly failing, and people are dying Schatz told The Independent last week.

Multiple people have been killed at aid distribution sites, either by being trampled, stabbed or shot at. The Israeli military says that it only fires warning shots and GHF says it only uses pepper spray or fires warning shots to prevent crowding.

At the same time, moderate Democrats like Torres want to keep attention to the hostages who remain in Gaza after Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7, 2023 that led to them killing 1,200 people and taking 251 people captive. Some of the hostages have already died in captivity.

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The worlds silence about the deliberate starvation of Israeli hostagesat the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad  is as deafening as its hypocrisy, Torres said on X.

Pro-Israel Democratic consultants and donors also seemed to give Torres a pass and not say he was being a hypocrite for his actions.

Its precisely because Congressman Torres has been so proactive about calling out antisemitism that masquerades as antizionism that when he has constructive advice about Israel its listened to in a way that a statement from the member of congress who reps an adjacent district isnt, Stu Loeser, a New York-based consultant who worked for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, told Politico.

Loesers words were a dig at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), the outspoken democratic socialist who has called Israels war against Gaza a genocide.

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Some former Biden administration officials have said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus execution of the war have driven the shift among Democrats.

Yes, the political incentives for Democrats are shifting, but even more powerful for many Democrats is the recognition that a blank check approach to Israel, especially with this Israeli government, is fundamentally in contravention to our interests and values, Ned Price, who served as a spokesman for the State Department during the Biden administration, told Politico.

Another reason for the split: Democratic voters are breaking with Israel. A Gallup poll released last week showed that only 32 percent of Americans back Israels actions in Gaza and only 8 percent of Democrats do.
NEW DELHI (AP)  The men shared bear hugs, showered praise on each other and made appearances side by side at stadium rallies  a big optics boost for two populist leaders with ideological similarities. Each called the other a good friend.

In India, the bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump was seen as a relationship like no other. That is, until a series of events gummed up the works.

From Trumps tariffs and Indias purchase of oil from Russia to a U.S. tilt toward Pakistan, friction between New Delhi and Washington has been hard to miss. And much of it has happened far from the corridors of power and, unsurprisingly, through Trumps posts on social media.

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It has left policy experts wondering whether the camaraderie the two leaders shared may be a thing of the past, even though Trump has stopped short of referring to Modi directly on social media. The dip in rapport, some say, puts a strategic bilateral relationship built over decades at risk.

This is a testing time for the relationship, said Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in Indias Foreign Ministry.

The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Simmering tensions over trade and tariffs

The latest hiccup between India and the U.S. emerged last week when Trump announced that he was slapping 25% tariffs on India as well as an unspecified penalty because of Indias purchasing of Russian oil. For New Delhi, such a move from its largest trading partner is expected to be felt across sectors, but it also led to a sense of unease in India  even more so when Trump, on social media, called Indias economy dead.

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Trumps recent statements reflect his frustration with the pace of trade talks with India, according to a White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal administration thinking. The Republican president has not been pursuing any strategic realignment with Pakistan, according to the official, but is instead trying to play hardball in negotiations.

Trump doubled down on the pressure Monday with a fresh post on Truth Social, in which he accused India of buying massive amounts of oil from Russia and then selling it on the Open Market for big profits.

They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA, he said.

The messaging appears to have stung Modis administration, which has been hard-selling negotiations with Trumps team over a trade deal by balancing between Indias protectionist system while also opening up the countrys market to more American goods.

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Strenuous, uninterrupted and bipartisan efforts in both capitals over the past 25 years are being put at risk by not just the tariffs but by fast and loose statements and social media posts, said Malik, who now heads the India chapter of The Asia Group, a U.S. advisory firm .

Malik also said the trade deal the Indian side has offered to the U.S. is the most expansive in this countrys history, referring to reports that India was willing to open up to some American agricultural products. That is a politically sensitive issue for Modi, who faced a yearlong farmers protest a few years ago.

Trump appears to be tilting toward Pakistan

The unraveling may have gained momentum over tariffs, but the tensions have been palpable for a while. Much of it has to do with Trump growing closer to Pakistan, Indias nuclear rival in the neighborhood.

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In May, India and Pakistan traded a series of military strikes over a gun massacre in disputed Kashmir that New Delhi blamed Islamabad for. Pakistan denied the accusations. The four-day conflict made the possibility of a nuclear conflagration between the two sides seem real and the fighting only stopped when global powers intervened.

But it was Trumps claims of mediation and an offer to work to provide a solution regarding the dispute over Kashmir that made Modis administration uneasy. Since then, Trump has repeated nearly two dozen times that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan.

For Modi, that is a risky  even nervy  territory. Domestically, he has positioned himself as a leader who is tough on Pakistan. Internationally, he has made huge diplomatic efforts to isolate the country. So Trumps claims cut a deep wound, prompting a sense in India that the U.S. may no longer be its strategic partner.

India insists that Kashmir is Indias internal issue and had opposed any third-party intervention. Last week Modi appeared to dismiss Trumps claims after Indias Opposition began demanding answers from him. Modi said that no country in the world stopped the fighting between India and Pakistan, but he did not name Trump.

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Trump has also appeared to be warming up to Pakistan, even praising its counterterrorism efforts. Hours after levying tariffs on India, Trump announced a massive oil exploration deal with Pakistan, saying that some day, India might have to buy oil from Islamabad. Earlier, he also hosted one of Pakistans top military officials at a private lunch.

Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an expert at New Delhis Jindal School of International Affairs, said Trumps sudden admiration for Pakistan as a great partner in counterterrorism has definitely soured the mood in India.

Chaulia said the best-case scenario is that this is just a passing Trump whim, but he also warned that if financial and energy deals are indeed being struck between the U.S. and Pakistan, it will dent the U.S.-India strategic partnership and lead to loss of confidence in the U.S. in Indian eyes.

Indias oil purchases from Russia are an irritant

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The strain in relations has also to do with oil.

India had faced strong pressure from the Biden administration to cut back its oil purchases from Moscow during the early months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Instead, India bought more, making it the second-biggest buyer of Russian oil after China. That pressure sputtered over time and the U.S. focused more on building strategic ties with India, which is seen as a bulwark against a rising China.

Trumps threat to penalize India over oil, however, brought back those issues.

On Sunday, the Trump administration made its frustrations over ties between India and Russia ever more public. Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House, accused India of financing Russias war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, saying it was not acceptable.

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Miller's remarks were followed by another Trump social media post on Monday in which he again threatened to raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases.

India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump wrote.

Some experts, though, suspect Trump's remarks are mere pressure tactics. Given the wild fluctuations in Trumps policies, Chaulia said, it may return to high fives and hugs again.

India says it will safeguard its interests

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Many expected India to react strongly over Trump's tariff threats considering Modis carefully crafted reputation of strength. Instead, the announcement prompted a rather careful response from Indias commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, who said the two countries are working toward a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement.

Initially, Indias Foreign Ministry also played down suggestions of any strain. But in a statement late Monday, it called Trumps criticism unjustified and unreasonable and said it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

It said India began importing oil from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, calling it a necessity compelled by global market situation.

The statement also noted U.S. trade with Russia.

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It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia, the statement said.

___

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed reporting.
Police in Moldova have warned of a new scheme for illegal funding and voter bribery orchestrated from Russia through a mobile application.

Source: Moldovan media outlet NewsMaker, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Law enforcement authorities warned the public that a new scheme for illegal funding and voter bribery is being coordinated from Russia through the Taito app, which operates on the Telegram platform.

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The General Police Inspectorate urged citizens not to access the app or provide their personal information.

"People are promised tens of thousands of lei per month for participating in illegal activities, but in the end, they receive no money. Do not enter this app and do not give away your personal data," police said.

Background:

Recently, Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that Russia is preparing an unprecedented interference in the parliamentary elections.

Sandu expects disinformation campaigns and manipulation of public opinion organised from abroad, the orchestration of paid protests and attempts to sabotage voting among the diaspora.

Stanislav Secrieru, National Security Advisor to Moldovas president, also warned that Russia will intensify its efforts to influence Moldovan voters living across Europe as part of its attempts to interfere in the elections.

Parliamentary elections in Moldova are scheduled to take place on 28 September.

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Moldovan authorities have warned that Russia will step up its efforts to interfere in the countrys parliamentary elections by targeting Moldovan voters living throughout Europe.

Source: Politico, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Stanislav Secrieru, National Security Advisor to Moldovas president, stated in an interview with Politico that Moldovan officials have observed a sharp increase in disinformation targeting the nearly quarter of a million Moldovan diaspora voters.

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"Russia and its proxies are now actively focusing their efforts on the Moldovan diaspora," he said, specifically pointing to renewed activity of the Kremlin-backed Matryoshka network, which creates fake media outlets and uses them to spread false narratives.

"The campaign is designed to demobilise diaspora voters  encouraging them to stay home  and to manipulate those who do vote into supporting a fake pro-EU force," Secrieru said.

He added that fabricated reports are being used to undermine trust in Moldovas democratic institutions and to sow confusion among Moldovans living abroad.

Secrieru warned that similar disruptions to those seen in previous elections could happen again during the upcoming 28 September vote, for example, "hoax bomb threats at polling stations in European cities  or staged protests abroad aimed at projecting false dissatisfaction".

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He emphasised that other countries must strengthen monitoring and be prepared to respond to any attempts to interfere before, during and after the election.

Background:

Recently, President Maia Sandu also warned of an unprecedented attempt by Russia to meddle in Moldovas parliamentary elections.

Sandu anticipates disinformation campaigns and public opinion manipulation from abroad, the organisation of paid protests and sabotage of diaspora voting.

Moldovas parliamentary elections are scheduled for 28 September.

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Summer is a busy season filled with activity. Whether attending traditional ceremonies, taking part in powwows, or spending time with relatives and friends, our days are full and meaningful.

Here are three stories you may have missed this weekend:

Sen. Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Support Native Children & Families

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has released a comprehensive draft bill designed to improve the well-being and future opportunities of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children.

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The discussion draft builds on the findings and recommendations of The Way Forwardthe final report of the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, published in February 2024.

The proposed legislation tackles a broad range of issues, including child welfare, justice, health (physical, behavioral, and environmental), housing and homelessness, education, child care, and improved research and data infrastructure.

Read Article

Native News Weekly (August 3, 2025): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 3, 2025): D.C. Briefs

The US Senate Passed FY26 Appropriations that provides $235 million for the Food Distribution on Indian Reservation Program (FDPIR) and $3 million for a FDPIR pilot program that allows Tribes participating in FDPIR to purchase traditional food from small Tribal producers.

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The bill also provides $700,000 for processing and federal inspection of Tribal bison, which will help support Tribal food sovereignty by enabling Tribes to include bison raised on their own lands to be included in federal nutrition programs like school meals.

Additionally, bill provides $5.1 million for the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Office of Tribal Relations, which is responsible for government-to-government relations between USDA and Tribal governments.

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Photos of the 2025 Pottawaomi Gathering Friday Night's Powwow Grand Entry

Powwow dancers from Potawatomi (Bodewadmi) nations in the United States and Canada entered the dance arena for Friday nights Grand Entry of the 2025 Pottawatomi Gatherings powwow at Jijak Camp, owned by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi, commonly known as the Gun Lake Tribe.

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On Friday evening, August 1, the powwows Grand Entry at Camp Jijak unfolded. Hundreds of dancersgleaming regalia filling the arenaentered during a procession that lasted approximately 45 minutes. Military veterans from multiple conflicts carried eagle staffs and tribal flags, representing Potawatomi nations across the U.S. and Canada. Among them was a veteran who identified himself as a survivor of the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation on South Dakotas Pine Ridge Reservation.

Read Article

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.

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
Great white sharks, particularly juveniles, are common in Southern California.

The young ones are partial to the regions, thanks mostly in part to the favorable conditions  a buffet of their preffered food (stingrays and small fish), the warmer water, and the relative lack of predators. Its like little league for the young ones, before they enter the big leagues offshore and up north on the California coast.

However, during a recent scan of Santa Monica, shark documenter Carlos Gauna (aka The Malibu Artist) spotted something peculiar  an adult great white, measuring in around 15-feet, cruising just near the Los Angeles County pier.

Gauna captioned the clip: While searching for juvenile white sharks near Santa Monica, I spotted something completely unexpecteda massive great white shark just offshore. This individual, estimated at 15 feet long, was cruising less than a mile from the Santa Monica Pier. In this video, I break down the sighting, show a live screen recording from my drone, and compare this shark to known juveniles and a confirmed 15-footer filmed in Cape Cod.

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As far as shark activity goes, this area is nothing new to Gauna. But an adult? Thats an anomaly.

Ive had a lot of people on Instagram and YouTube reach out to me, saying that theyve seen white sharks breaching in this area, he says in the video. I put the drone up, and I find the 15, 16-foot white shark. So, Im gonna go let the lifeguards know real quick.

Related: I Did Not Kill the Shark: Bethany Hamilton Denies Shark Attack Rumors (Video)

And by comparison, the juveniles act differently than the adults. Gauna continues:

Most of the white sharks I film here are small, typically in the five-to-six-foot range. And when you spend time observing them, you start to notice the differences, not just in size, but in movement, posture, and presence. Yes, its mainly these juveniles near shore. That much is evident. But there are distinct differences between juveniles and adults. These juveniles are lean, and quite often they dont have these battle scars. Most notably is the lack of girth. Compare that to the adults. This shark is around 16-feet long; notice how thick it is.

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Just in case it needs to be said once again, the chances of getting attacked by one of these sharks is very, very low. So, dont let this footage deter you from your traditional ocean activities.

Related: Boat Hits Great White Shark: First-Ever Caught on Camera?

Monster 15ft Great White Shark Stalks Santa Monica Pier (Video) first appeared on Surfer on Aug 4, 2025
(NewsNation)  Four victims killed at a Montana bar have been identified as police continue to search for the man accused of gunning them down.

Daniel Edwin Ballie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelly, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74, were shot dead at The Owl Bar in Anaconda on Friday.

A manhunt is underway for Michael Brown, 45, a former U.S. Army soldier and Montana National Guardsman who lives next to the bar. He ran off after the shooting and escaped in a stolen car with clothes and camping gear, police said.

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YouTuber who allegedly livestreamed killing of rival faces death penalty

This photo provided by Montana Department of Justice shows Michael Brown, who authorities say opened fire at a bar, killing four people on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 in Anaconda, Mont. ( Montana Department of Justice via AP) Anaconda, Montana, shooting suspect Michael Paul Brown (Granite County Sheriffs Office) Anaconda, Montana, shooting suspect Michael Paul Brown (Granite County Sheriffs Office)

Police released the victims names and a new photo of the suspect on Sunday as Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen warned locals to be on alert.

Police are searching the mountainous region for him and warned he could come back to Anaconda, a small town with a population just over 9,000.

This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever. So there absolutely is concern for the public, Knudsen said.

The U.S Marshals Service is offering a $7,500 reward for any information that leads to Browns capture.

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Drink-spiking concerns taint Americas country music capital

Daniel Edwin Ballie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelly, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74, were shot dead at The Owl Bar in Anaconda on Friday. (Photos released by Montana Department of Justice) Michael Paul Brown, the suspect accused of shooting four dead in Montana (Granite County Sheriffs Office) Four people are dead after a shooting at a bar in Anaconda, Montana (Source: NBC Montana) Police have warned the public to stay indoors and avoid the area until the suspect is caught (Source: NBC Montana) SWAT vehicles and armed police have descended upon the town in search of the shooter (Source: NBC Montana) Police are searching for the gunman after the killings at Owl Bar in Deer Lodge County (Source: NBC Montana)

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Authorities in Montana are continuing the search for a suspect accused of killing four people at a local bar Wednesday morning.

The shooting occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. on August 1 inside The Owl Bar in Anaconda, a town of about 10,000 residents in southwest Montana, according to CBS News.

Law enforcement officials have identified Michael Paul Brown, 45, as the suspect. He is described as armed and dangerous and remains at large as of Saturday.

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The Granite County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook:

There is an active shooter in Anaconda Deer Lodge.

Brown was last seen in Anacondas Stumptown neighborhood. He was reportedly wearing a tie-dyed shirt, blue jeans, and an orange bandana. Authorities believe he may now be traveling in a stolen pickup truck stocked with camping gear and supplies. A $7,500 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.

Officials said SWAT cleared Browns home in Anaconda, but the suspect was not located. Search efforts have expanded into rugged terrain around Stumptown Road using both ground teams and aircraft. Authorities have warned that Brown may attempt to return to the area.

The four victims have been publicly identified as:

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Nancy Lauretta Kelley , 64

Daniel Edwin Baillie , 59

David Allen Leach , 70

Tony Wayne Palm, 74

All four were residents of Anaconda. According to Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Brown was reportedly a former neighbor of the victims. He also said the weapon used may have been a rifle.

Officials noted that Brown previously served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005 and in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to 2009. Family members have told reporters that Brown has a history of mental illness, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Gov. Greg Gianforte posted a statement on social media following the shooting:

Im closely monitoring the situation involving an active shooter in Anaconda. Please join Susan and me in praying for the victims, their loved ones, and the brave law enforcement officers responding to this tragedy.

Multiple public events in Anaconda were canceled over the weekend as a precaution. As of publication, no additional updates had been provided by law enforcement.
Montana authorities are expanding a rugged, multi-agency manhunt for a former soldier accused of gunning down four people at a local bar, warning the suspect may be armed with camping gear and survival supplies stolen from a second vehicle.

The Montana Department of Justice revealed Sunday that Michael Paul Brown, 45, fled the Owl Bar shooting Friday night shirtless and barefoot, only to later be seen near a stolen white Ford F-150 loaded with clothing, food and outdoor gear.

"We know Michael Paul Brown was shirtless and barefoot when he fled," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said on Sunday. "We have very good reason to believe that he is clothed now and possibly carrying camping gear. He is probably able to get around undetected."

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Brown remained at large as of Monday, with the manhunt carrying on over the weekend.

Victims Of Montana Bar Shooting Identified As Manhunt For Military Veteran Suspect Continues

The Department of Criminal Investigations in Montana released a new photo of Michael Brown fleeing the scene after allegedly shooting and killing four people at a bar on Aug. 1, 2025.

Authorities said that the manhunt for Brown has expanded, with hundreds of local, state and federal officers, including the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, ATF, FBI, U.S. Marshals and local county agencies. Fox News Digital has reached out to the lead agency in the manhunt, the Montana Department of Justice, for comment.

Read On The Fox News App

Brown was last seen in "Stump Town," which lies just west of the town of Anaconda, Montana, which is in southwestern Montana. Authorities said that the terrain is steep, remote and heavily wooded.

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"Theyre dealing with extremely rugged terrain," Knudsen said. "Local law enforcement is stretched thin right now."

Gunman Shoots Multiple People At Montana Business, Authorities Launch Intensive Manhunt

The four victims, 64-year-old Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 59-year-old Daniel Edwin Baillie, 70-year-old David Allen Leach and 74-year-old Tony Wayne Palm, were locals known in the small town of Anaconda, which has a population of approximately 9,000. Kelley was a bartender at the local establishment, with the three other victims patrons, authorities said.

Brown, authorities revealed, lived next door to the bar.

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"Everybody knows everybody in a town like this," one resident told The Associated Press.

Police tape surrounds The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 following a fatal shooting.

Browns niece, Clare Boyle, said that her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years, and she and other family members repeatedly sought help.

"This isnt just a drunk/high man going wild," she said in a Facebook message to the AP. "Its a sick man who doesnt know who he is sometimes and frequently doesnt know where or when he is either."

WATCH:

Manhunt Intensifies For Army Veteran Suspected Of Killing 4 In Bar Shooting After Truck Found Abandoned

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of $7,500 for any information that leads to the arrest or capture of Brown. Residents are encouraged to call 1-877-926-8332 to report a tip.

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Residents in the area have been told to stay inside their homes and remain on high alert. He has been described as 5-foot, 10-inches and about 170 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.

The state's attorney general told residents to not approach the armed and dangerous murder suspect, saying, "This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever."

Brown was an armor crewman in the Army from January 2001 to May 2005 and served in the National Guard from April 2006 to March 2008, Army Public Affairs confirmed to Fox News Digital. He deployed to Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005 and left the service with the rank of sergeant.

He also served as an armor crewman in the Montana National Guard from April 2006 to March 2009, officials said.





Original article source: Montana manhunt expands for ex-soldier suspect seen with stolen survival gear after bar massacre
More than 10,000 European hotels are joining collective legal action against Amsterdam-based Booking.com to seek compensation for losses caused by the online travel agency's use of so-called "best price" clauses.

According to reports, the best price clauses could be in violation of antitrust law, but a court in Amsterdam must ultimately resolve the case. These clauses had prevented hotels from offering their rooms at a lower price outside the platform, such as on their own website. The aim is to prevent so-called "free-rider" bookings where customers find the hotel on Booking.com and then go to the hotel's own website to make their booking.

The hotels cite a ruling by the European Court of Justice dated September 19, 2024 that essentially states that the best-price clause is illegal.

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The court found that platforms like Booking.com could operate without rules of this kind. This made little difference to travellers. Booking.com had abolished the clauses in Europe following the European Union's Digital Markets Act of 2024.

"European hoteliers have long suffered from unfair conditions and excessive costs. Now is the time to stand together and demand redress," Alexandros Vassilikos, president of the HOTREC hospitality sector association, said.

"This joint initiative sends a clear message: abusive practices in the digital market will not be tolerated by the hospitality industry in Europe," he added.

The aim of the collective action, known as a class action lawsuit, is to secure compensation for damages incurred between 2004 and 2024.

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The action, which is being supported by HOTREC and more than 30 national hotel associations, will be heard by a Dutch court and coordinated by the Hotel Claims Alliance.

Despite the criticism, Booking.com is essential for many hotels, as it allows them to reach a large customer base.

According to a study conducted by HOTREC and a Swiss hoteliers' college, Booking Holdings held a market share of 71% across Europe in 2023, while the share of direct bookings has declined considerably over recent years.
More than 10,000 European hotels are joining up to take legal action against Booking.com, accusing the world's largest hotel booking platform of having prevented them for years from offering lower direct prices to customers and demanding compensation.

The initiative announced on Monday is backed by the European hotel alliance HOTREC and more than 30 national associations - including the German Hotel Association (IHA).

The effort is being coordinated by the Hotel Claims Alliance foundation, according to statements from HOTREC and the IHA.

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At the centre of the dispute, the facts of which Booking.com has challenged, are the online travel agency's so-called "best price clauses."

These clauses required hotels, for many years, not to offer their rooms at lower prices on other channels - including their own websites - than on Booking.com. According to the hotel associations, such clauses undermined hotels' control over pricing, limited competition and discouraged direct bookings.

"European hoteliers have long suffered from unfair conditions and excessive costs. Now is the time to stand together and demand redress," Alexandros Vassilikos, president of the HOTREC hospitality sector association, said.

"This joint initiative sends a clear message: abusive practices in the digital market will not be tolerated by the hospitality industry in Europe," he added.

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According to HOTREC, the class action's claims for damages relate to the period from 2004 to 2024, with participation free and risk-free for hotels.

"The class action is receiving overwhelming support," said IHA Managing Director Markus Luthe. Due to strong demand, the registration deadline has been extended to August 29.

Booking.com pushes back

Booking.com denies the accusations - both in form and content.

The company says it has not yet received any official lawsuit. "This is a statement from HOTREC, not a filed class action," the company said in response to an inquiry.

It also rejects the hotel associations' key legal arguments - especially their interpretation of a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling from September 2024.

What the ECJ ruled

The hotel associations are basing their claims on an ECJ ruling from September 2024. The European Union's top court clarified that price parity clauses can, in principle, violate EU competition law.

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The ECJ rejected the general legality of such clauses - a decision that bolstered the position of many hotels. However, a court in Amsterdam must make the final determination in the specific case.

Booking.com further argued that its platform is a voluntary distribution channel for hotels: "Each of our accommodation partners is free to set their own distribution and pricing strategies and can offer their rooms wherever they choose."

The company said it supports hotels with marketing, technology and global visibility - which is where the the platform's value lies.

According to a study conducted by HOTREC and a Swiss hoteliers' college, Booking Holdings held a market share of 71% across Europe in 2023, while the share of direct bookings has declined considerably over recent years.
Over 3,000 Boeing workers will begin striking Monday in Missouri and Illinois, after members rejected a four-year labor agreement with the aviation company.

The strike follows a landslide vote against a revised job contract on July 27, where 3,200 workers who build fighter jets declined the deal.

Workers assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18 jets, along with a range of missile and defense technologies.

The IAM Union represents 600,000 active and retired members  including Boeing workers who build and assemble military jets (Getty/iStock)

The strike is the latest blow for the aviation giant, which has faced a string of issues including fatal air disasters, machinery malfunctions, and an almost two-month walkout by almost 30,000 workers in 2024.

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IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe, said IAM Midwest Territory General vice president Sam Cicinelli on Sunday.

They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise, he added.

The IAM Union is one of the largest trade unions in the U.S., representing nearly 600,000 active and retired members from Lockheed Martin to United Airlines and an array of employees at numerous railroad, transit, healthcare, and automotive companies.

Workers at Boeing defence hubs in St. Louis, St. Charles, Mo., and Mascoutah, Ill., said the proposal fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled IAM Union workforce.

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Our members are standing together to demand a contract that respects their work and ensures a secure future, an IAM statement read on July 27.

Boeing said they were disappointed by their employees' decision in a statement.

They said the deal was an offer that featured 40 percent average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules.

We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers, they added.

In June, 260 people died after a London-bound Air India 787 Boeing Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from the Ahmedabad airport in India's western state of Gujarat.
At least 68 migrants have died after a boat with about 157 people on board sank off the coast of Yemen in bad weather.

The vessel capsized off the southern province of Abyan on Sunday, Yemen's chief for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) told the BBC. Twelve people had been rescued, Abdusattor Esoev said, but dozens were still missing.

Most of the victims are believed to be Ethiopian nationals, the IOM said.

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Yemen is a major pathway for migrants from the Horn of Africa travelling to Gulf states in search of work. The IOM estimates that hundreds have died or gone missing in shipwrecks in recent months.

Abyan security officials said that a large search-and-rescue mission had been launched and many bodies had been found across a wide area of shoreline.

Mr Esoev said the boat was on a dangerous route in the vast coastal area which is often used by people smugglers. He also emphasised the importance of strengthening legal safeguards for migrants, to prevent them from being exploited by smugglers.

[BBC]

"What we are advocating for all member states is to enhance their regular pathways so people can take legal ways in order to migrate, instead of being trapped or deceived by smugglers and taking those dangerous journeys," he said.

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The IOM previously described the journey from the Horn of Africa - composed of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea - to Yemen as "one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes". For many the final destination is Saudi Arabia.

In March, two boats carrying more than 180 migrants sank off the coast of Yemen's Dhubab district due to rough seas, with only two crew members rescued.

Migrants arriving at Migrant Response Points in Yemen have also reported people-smugglers becoming more reckless by knowingly sending boats into dangerous conditions to avoid patrols, according to an IOM report.

Despite the risks, many migrants continue to make the trip, with more than 60,000 arriving in Yemen in 2024 alone.

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In the past decade, the IOM's Missing Migrants Project recorded more than 3,400 deaths and missing people along the route - 1,400 of those deaths were due to drowning.

Yemen remains engulfed in a devastating civil war which has lasted more than a decade. The Iran-backed Houthi group has controlled much of north-western Yemen since 2014, when they ousted the internationally-recognised government from the capital, Sanaa.

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

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More than 600 former Israeli senior security officials have urged United States President Donald Trump to bring an end to Israels war on Gaza as deaths of dozens of Palestinians from Israeli-induced starvation have caused global outrage.

The appeal was made in a letter sent to Trump on Sunday. Its signatories include former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon and former deputy Israeli army chief Matan Vilnai. They called for pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the nearly two-year conflict, which has devastated Gaza.

The letter was sent as a furore grows over videos released by Palestinian groups showing two emaciated Israeli captives held in Gaza, where more than two million Palestinians are struggling to survive the starvation crisis.

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Everything that could be achieved by force has been achieved. The hostages cannot wait any longer, the Commanders for Israels Security (CIS) group said in a post on X, where it shared the letter.

The letter said the Israeli army has achieved two of its three objectives by force, dismantling Hamas military formations and governance, but the third, bringing back all Israeli captives, can only be achieved through a deal.

Stop the Gaza War! On behalf of CIS, Israels largest group of former [military] generals and Mossad, Shin Bet, Police, and Diplomatic Corps equivalents, we urge you to end the Gaza war, the letter read.

You did it in Lebanon. Time to do it in Gaza as well, it added.

           .

     .  550           :      .       .     . pic.twitter.com/4gWFC0W9PV      (@cisorgil) August 3, 2025

Translation: We are at a rare window of opportunity to lead a regional and international move for a fundamental change in the Gaza Strip. Trump has the ability to do this. On behalf of 550 former senior officials from all branches of security and foreign service, we sent a letter to President Trump: Stop the war and bring back the hostages. Everything that could be achieved by force has been achieved. The hostages cannot wait any longer. This is the moment of truth. We call on President Trump to exert his full influence and do this  now!

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The security chiefs said Trumps credibility rests on his ability to steer Netanyahu in the right direction.

Gaza turned into rubble

On Sunday, Hamas said it was open to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivering aid to Israeli captives in Gaza after Netanyahu said he requested the Geneva-based international organisation to step in.

Netanyahu has denied starvation is taking place in Gaza among Palestinians, instead claiming that Israeli captives held there are facing systematic starvation.

The Qassam Brigades, Hamass armed wing, has said the captives eat what our fighters and all our people eat.

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They will not receive any special privilege amid the crime of starvation and siege, the groups spokesman, known as Abu Obeida, said.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has conducted a war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, killing more than 60,800 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

The military campaign has reduced the enclave to rubble and brought it to the verge of famine.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defence 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. Multiple rights organisations have called Israels war a genocide.




Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Two more suspects have been arrested in the murder of four people in Tennessee, as primary suspect Austin Drummond remains on the run, police announced Monday.

Dearrah Sanders and Brandon Powell were arrested in connection with the murders as Sanders was charged with being an accessory to the killings after the fact and Powell was charged with criminal conspiracy.

Dyer County District Attorney Danny Goodman announced the latest arrests Monday during the arraignment of Tanaka Brown, who is charged with tampering with evidence and also being an accessory after the fact. Giovante Thomas was arrested earlier and is also facing accessory charges.

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Primary suspect, Drummond, is accused of killing the family of four in northwestern Tennessee last week. The 28-year-old remains on the run and is considered armed and dangerous. A $17,500 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest, with part of the funding coming from TBI.

"USMS Memphis is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Austin Drummond," the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced in a post on X Sunday.

UPDATE: @USMSMemphis is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Austin Drummond. Spot him? Call 1-800-TBI-FIND. For more info: https://t.co/Rq8oxf2AGR pic.twitter.com/7CWbP1FWde Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) August 3, 2025

Authorities believe Drummond is in Jackson, Tenn., where a residents have been told to stay alert and keep their doors locked. A white Audi, Drummond was last seen driving, was located in the area. Drummond faces four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and weapons charges.

The bodies of James M. Wilson, 21, Adrianna Williams, 20, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15, were found Tuesday along Carrington Road in Tiptonville, near the northwestern Tennessee Border. Investigators believe the murders were a targeted attack.

A baby, belonging to Wilson and Williams was found in a car seat "at a random individual's front yard," according to the Dyer County Sheriff's Office. The baby had been dropped off unharmed by someone driving a minivan or SUV.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law July 23 legislation making it easier and more affordable for New Yorkers to upgrade to advanced septic systems that significantly reduce water pollution, protect public health and improve water quality.

Hochuls office also announced a $30 million investment for Round 5 of the State Septic System Replacement Fund Program to help homeowners upgrade or replace failing septic systems, particularly those impacting water bodies designated as priority areas.

Eligible waterbodies for Round 5 will be posted once counties have been notified of their funding amount, according to a news release. Delaware and Chenango counties are among the eligible counties for the program currently, under Round 4. Homeowners and businesses should reach out to their county representative to determine if their properties are eligible at https://efc.ny.gov/septic-replacement.

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Access to clean water is a basic right, and communities from Montauk to Buffalo deserve safe, reliable water infrastructure, Hochul said in a statement. I am committed to protecting the health of all New Yorkers, and this bill is a promise to future generations that we will keep building a more resilient, sustainable state while ensuring clean water for all.

The $30 million in grants announced Wednesday are awarded by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, in coordination with the state Health and Environmental Conservation departments, and are part of the states nation-leading commitment to modernize aging water and sewer systems. New York state will provide funds to counties to reimburse eligible property owners for a portion of the cost of replacing cesspools and septic systems and installing more environmentally effective systems, like enhanced septic systems, the release stated.

Under the new law, eligible property owners can be reimbursed 50 percent of eligible costs up to $10,000 for the installation of a conventional system, or up to 75 percent of eligible costs up to $25,000 for the installation of an enhanced septic system, to help make these more enhanced systems equal or even more affordable than the regular systems. Counties may also set graduated incentive reimbursement rates for septic system projects to maximize program participation and pollution reduction goals.

Outdated or failing septic systems are a significant contributor to nutrient pollution in New York, fueling harmful algal blooms and negatively impacting water quality. These advanced systems are specifically designed to significantly reduce nitrogen, helping to also mitigate the environmental and public health impacts of phosphorus and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, ultimately improving water quality and combating HABs, the release stated.

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In 2017, New York State launched a comprehensive, multi-year clean water infrastructure initiative to improve water quality and to assist homeowners with the cost to replace aging septic systems in targeted communities across New York. This rebate program was created to give homeowners and small businesses an incentive to replace and upgrade aging septic systems and eliminate cesspools that can harm water quality and threaten public health by releasing pathogens or nutrient pollution such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

This includes areas with existing or potential public water supply intakes, as well as those already experiencing water quality impairments directly attributable to failing septic systems. To ensure the most efficient and impactful allocation of funds DEC and DOH along with participating counties collaborate closely to identify and prioritize eligible waterbodies. This coordinated approach maximizes the programs effectiveness in protecting and improving New Yorks water resources.
The Morning Joe crew on Monday warned that Donald Trumps firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer will raise further scrutiny into the employment numbers released under the new leadership.

The president fired McEntarfer on Friday after suggesting that weaker-than-expected jobs report was rigged.

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When the numbers are good, he praises them, Jonathan Lemire said on Morning Joe Monday. When the numbers are bad, he gets angry, and he fires the person in charge.

Earlier this year, Trump praised the bureaus job reports  but after Fridays numbers were released he said they were rigged in favor of Democrats, noting that he is looking for an exceptional replacement after he deemed the numbers subpar.

This would have been unthinkable a decade ago before Trump came on the scene, NYT Opinion writer Mara Gay told Lemire.This is another example of American exceptionalism out the window.

She said that the implications of this decision will affect the credibility of the United States as a democracy. She pointed to other examples in modern history of Greece, Argentina and China, stating that their leaders fudged the numbers to appease their world leaders. Gay added that inflating publicly reported numbers will not affect the American economy  it will only cause more unrest internally.

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What Americans can expect is to see the United States lose its sense of confidence in facts and also just excellence  the political reality will catch up with him, Gay said of Trumps refusal to accept that the economy is weakening because of his tariffs.

Andrew Ross Sorkin warned that Trumps decision will stir greater distrust of facts amongst world leaders.

Invariably when those numbers [reported by the Chinese government] come out, there are conversations about what are the real numbers, Sorkin said. Nobody believes the numbers that the Chinese government provides. That is the fear about whats about to happen here in the United States.

Senior writer at The Dispatch David Drucker rebutted Trumps claim that the numbers are in favor of Democrats, pointing specifically to what he called a horrendous job report from President Joe Bidens administration ahead of the 2024 election.

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When the president talks about rigged numbers and that it was rigged in favor of the Democrats right before the last election, its just flatly untrue, David Drucker said. He said the September report ahead of the election reported worse employment numbers than Fridays report that caused Trump to fire the data chief.

Morning Joe anchor Joe Scarborough added that there are several examples in modern history of the practical impacts of misconstruing numbers in favor of the individual in power.

You dont have to go to the Soviet Union to just look at the practical impacts of when leaders start to fudge the numbers, Scarborough said.

The post Morning Joe: Trumps Handling of Weak Jobs Report Would Be Unthinkable a Decade Ago | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
The German ambassador to Russia, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In a protest note, the ministry on Monday warned Germany not to cast doubt on the results of World War II by recognizing Japanese claims on Russia's southern Kuril Islands.

The islands' status is part of the post-war order recognized by the United Nations, it added. "Russian sovereignty is undisputed here."

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Moscow accused Germany's ambassador to Japan, Petra Sigmund, of questioning Russian sovereignty over the islands, and said the issue was "particularly mocking" in the year of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Germany's embassy in Moscow rebuffed the criticism. "We reject the accusation that the statements allegedly violated Russia's sovereignty."

The comments were believed to be linked to a visit by Sigmund and another diplomat to the Japanese city of Nemuro, on the island of Hokkaido, which is near the southern Kuril Islands.

Lambsdorff highlighted that the visit was being used as an occasion for protest "while at the same time Russia is violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the most serious way every day with several hundred thousand soldiers."

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The ambassador has repeatedly denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Russia's revisionism is the problem of international politics of our time, because it is Moscow that knowingly and continuously disregards and violates both the basic principles of the European peace order and those of the UN Charter," the statement said.

Lambsdorff was last summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry in late June to inform him of "retaliatory measures" in response to the alleged persecution of Russian journalists in Germany.
Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother of Ahmaud Arbery, is turning her sons tragic death into a legacy of hope and support for young Black men through the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation.

Arbery was killed while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia, in 2020, a case that garnered national attention.

His mother started the foundation to mentor young Black men and provide scholarships to Black boys who are graduating and have been accepted into institutions.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

I knew I needed to start building his legacy, Cooper-Jones told Channel 2s Lori Wilson, reflecting on her sons impact beyond being a jogger who was killed.

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Cooper-Jones said she still speaks with her son daily, finding strength through prayer and meditation.

I pray a lot ... I meditate ... and I know I just have to keep moving forward, Cooper-Jones said.

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The foundation not only mentors young Black men but also offers scholarships to those who are registered to vote and participate in community service.

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We give scholarships to Black boys ... who are graduating ... they have been accepted into an institution ... they are registered to vote ... and they give 15 hours of community service, Cooper-Jones told Channel 2 Action News.

Arberys family is still awaiting the civil trial related to his case, but through the foundation and community events, his legacy continues to inspire hope and change.

It makes me feel hopeful and encouraged that people have not forgotten what happened in 2020, Cooper-Jones said.

The Run with Maud 5K fundraiser is scheduled for Aug. 23 at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park in Atlanta, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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MOUNTAIN TOP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A Mountain Top business is getting some help from the community after a big setback.

The womens boutique shop has been sidelined since May following a fire. On Sunday, a good crowd turned out for a show-stopping car and motorcycle show fundraiser.

The funds from the car and motorcycle show will help the owner as she starts from square one.

People packed the parking lots of Kings Pizza and Caribbean Smokehouse on Sunday, but they were not there just for food.

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They turned out to see a car and motorcycle show that benefits another business in Mountain Top, the Womens Boutique and Consignment Shop.

Bikers like Bobby Ent of Wilkes-Barre with the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club showed off their rides to raise funds for the beleaguered business.

Weve got buckets out for people to donate whatever they can, Ent explained.

Besides the buckets, there were baskets. Community members donated raffle baskets and gift certificates.

A 50/50 drawing was also held.

Crews continue river search in Columbia County for missing man

20 motorcycles and roughly 40 cars of all sorts were on display to support the boutique, temporarily out of business.

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In May, the smoky fire badly damaged the boutique. Much of the shops inventory had to be discarded.

It was in the back, up in the rafters. It was an electrical fire, and it just took off, Womens Boutique and Consignment Owner Misty Kazmierski stated.

Kazmierski hoped her business would have reopened by now, but with some insurance issues, getting the business up and running again is taking longer than expected.

While Sundays event did not have a fundraising goal, those on hand hoped it would be enough.

I believe its going to make a big impact, its not only showing that our communities can pull together, and not only that we give a lot of money outside of the community when somebodys in trouble. You know the old saying, the valley with the heart? We can also help each other out, Ent added.

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I just want to thank our community for everybody who did donate baskets and gift certificates, and we really appreciate everyone who has helped us out, Kazmierski continued.

Womens Boutique and Consignment has managed to keep business flowing on social media and its website.

Once the rebuilding is complete, the owner plans to have a grand re-opening for her shoppers and consignors.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. (WROC)  A Greece resident has died after crashing a motorcycle on Lakeshore Boulevard in Irondequoit on Sunday.

According to the Irondequoit Police Department, an officer observed a motorcyclist on a 2006 Suzuki speeding north on Titus Avenue around 12:14 p.m. When the officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, the motorcyclist reportedly refused to pull over and continued to speed on Culver Road. The officer then lost sight of the motorcycle near the area of Sweet Fern Road and Culver Road.

As officers searched the area for the motorcycle, another officer located the scene of a motor vehicle accident at 1500 Lakeshore Boulevard that involved an SUV and a motorcycle.

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At the scene, it was found that the motorcycle had struck a Nissan SUV that was attempting to park at Durand Eastman Beach.

Man dies after colliding into car with scooter on Dewey Avenue

Officers proceeded to provide aid, including CPR to the motorcyclist, but measures were unsuccessful. The motorcyclist, identified as a 24-year-old from Greece, was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the victim has not been released at this time.

There were no other reports of injuries in the incident.

Lakeshore Boulevard near Horseshoe Road was closed due to a heavy police presence in the investigation.

New York State Police and multiple emergency response vehicles were reported at the scene by News 8 crews.

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The Monroe County Sheriffs Department and Rochester Police Department assisted Irondequoit Police with the scene, as New York State Police assisted with reconstructing the accident.

Police have confirmed that the New York State Attorney Generals Office will be taking over the investigation at this time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
MAGA isnt MAGA enough anymore for Marjorie Taylor Greene, who seems as surprised as we do at her break with the party that gave her a pulpit.

I dont know if the Republican Party is leaving me, or if Im kind of not relating to the Republican Party as much anymore, she told The Daily Mail over the weekend. I dont know which one it is.

I think the Republican Party has turned its back on America First and the workers and just regular Americans, she added.

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Greene has been a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump since she was elected to Congress in 2020. A megaphone for the conspiracy-addled, shes promoted a number of antisemitic and white supremacist theories, and recently introduced a bill to ban weather modification.

She told The Daily Mail that her fellow Georgia Republicans are just a good ole boys network, and expressed frustration at perceived sexism within the party.

I think theres other women in our party that are really sick and tired of the way men treat Republican women, she said. Greene specifically mentioned Elise Stefanik, whose nomination for U.N. ambassador Greene thinks was unjustly rescinded. The post ultimately went to Mike Waltz, who accidentally included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg in his Signal chat.

How does he get awarded after Signalgate? Greene asked. Isnt that weird?

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Greene was careful not to criticize Trump specifically, and largely directed her frustration at the party. But she feels that her priorities, such as eliminating funding for the Obama/Biden/Neocon Ukraine Russia war, are no longer the priorities of the GOP.

Like what happened to all those issues? she asked. You know that I dont know what the hell happened with the Republican Party. I really dont.

Greene has recently split from Trump on major issues, including continued military aid to Israel and releasing the Epstein files.
Here's the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University.

Middle Tennessee State Universitys Kevin Krahenbul, director of the Ed.D. Program and professor in the College of Education, welcomes the 17 Master Teaching Fellows for their daylong orientation into the Leaders in Education Advancing Data Science, or LEADS, initiative held Wednesday, July 23, in the Tennessee Stem Education Center on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the program seeks to improve data science education with advanced training for K-12 educators in middle-level grades.

Middle Tennessee State University faculty with the Tennessee STEM Education Center on campus recently hosted a daylong orientation for the first cohort of Midstate educators participating in the newly funded LEADS initiative to improve data science education and instruction in K-12 classrooms.

LEADS, which stands for Leaders in Education Advancing Data Science, is an initiative that aims to bridge the gap in educators and education by providing fully funded Ed.S. graduate degrees to specially selected math and science teachers from area school districts in Bedford, Cannon, Warren and Williamson counties and Murfreesboro City Schools.

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The National Science Foundation awarded MTSU nearly $3 million to fund the five-year program for 17 Master Teacher Fellows within the College of Education. The LEADS initiative aims not only to improve data literacy within middle-level grades but also train teachers to become better leaders both in and out of the classroom.

Master Teaching Fellow Meredith Mitchell from Williamson County Schools discusses the core values of her classroom during an icebreaker exercise at the daylong orientation for the Leaders in Education Advancing Data Science, or LEADS, initiative held Wednesday, July 23, at the center on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Williamson County Schools fifth grade math teacher JoEllen Schubmehl from Scales Elementary in Brentwood looks forward to the opportunities that can be provided through her extended learning.

I am thrilled for the opportunity to continue my education. I'm a learner every day in my classroom, but this is a different type of learning and I'm excited about that, Schubmehl said. I know that the things that I learn, I'm going to be able to bring back not only to my classroom, but to share with the other teachers in my building and my district.

The Ed. S. program is built around an existing degree program in education leadership from the College of Education and will be a hybrid on-campus experience. The first two years of the program will focus on coursework required for the fellows to obtain their graduate degree, so then in three to five years these teachers can implement their knowledge into their classrooms and their districts.

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The LEADS team principle investigators include Greg Rushton, director of MTSUs Tennessee STEM Education Center; Keith Gamble, director of MTSUs Data Science Institute; Ryan Seth Jones, associate professor and member of MTSUs Integrated Data Research Team; Kevin Krahenbuhl, director of MTSUs Ed.D. Program; and Kate Miller, research associate with The Concord Consortium. In total, the team is comprised of 14 members.

LEADS Research Project Manager Aspen Malone touches on the importance of educators staying in positions that benefit students learning, rather than move to higher positions.

So, one of our main things that we want is we want a 100% teacher retention for the program. And so, we've noticed that a lot of times, you have these really good teachers in the classrooms and then they leave and become great principals or great district leaders, Malone said.

The goal with this is to keep these really great teachers in their classroom. And so, we're hoping this program will equip them with the skills to do that, such as our teacher leadership skills, to feel empowered as a teacher, to lead from their classroom. As well as our data science skills to learn new ways to teach math and science with data science concepts.

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The program is designed to coordinate with teachers schedules, granting substitute teachers during any required class time.

To learn more about the LEADS program, visit their website at https://bit.ly/MTSULEADS.

MTSU to celebrate 700-plus grads at 2025 summer commencement

Dr. Suzanne Sutherland, history professor, 2024-25 Faculty Senate president

MTSUs Murphy Center will soon be buzzing with excitement and pride to celebrate more than 709 new graduates receiving their degrees during the 2025 summer commencement Saturday, Aug. 9, on campus.

The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Central Aug. 9 in Hale Arena inside Murphy Center at 2650 Middle Tennessee Blvd. and is open to the public. The event also will stream live at mtsu.edu/live and on the universitys Facebook channel, and will be broadcast on MTSUs True Blue TV station on local cable channels and at mtsu.edu/TrueBlueTV.

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Of the 709 students set to graduate in the ceremony, 486 are undergraduates and 223 are graduate students, including 197 masters candidates, five education-specialist recipients and 21 doctoral candidates. In addition, three graduate students will be receiving graduate certificates, according to the latest information from the Registrars Office.

Graduates and their supporters will hear congratulatory remarks from MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and keynote remarks from Suzanne Sutherland, a professor in the Department of History and immediate past president of the Faculty Senate.

MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU Mondays: Boosting K-12 data science; summer commencement
The Brief

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating multiple home break-ins in the San Fernando Valley.

In one incident, a Studio City homeowner fired at a burglar who ultimately escaped with a second suspect.

A separate burglary in Sherman Oaks saw four suspects flee from a home that was being monitored by security cameras.

LOS ANGELES - An increasing number of burglaries are occurring throughout the San Fernando Valley, with two recent incidents taking place in Studio City and Sherman Oaks, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

What we know

One of the break-ins occurred on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 11 p.m. in Studio City. A homeowner, alerted by alarms, grabbed his gun and went downstairs, where he encountered a burglar.

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The homeowner fired multiple times at the suspect, who then ran outside to a waiting getaway car with a second suspect and escaped, police said.

Police searched the area for a blood trail but did not find any evidence that the suspect was hit.

SUGGESTED: CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Thieves run away with safe from Woodland Hills home

A few hours later, at 2:20 a.m., four suspects broke into a home in the 4000 block of Longridge Avenue in Sherman Oaks.

The house was unoccupied at the time, but security alarms and cameras detected the suspects inside, alerting the homeowner to call police. The suspects were gone by the time police arrived.

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It's unclear if anything was stolen from the home.

The backstory

Last week, in a separate incident in the San Fernando Valley, a homeowner confronted a burglar and held them at gunpoint until police arrived. A neighbor also came to assist, holding the suspect with another gun.

SUGGESTED: San Fernando Valley businesses targeted in burglary spree

The LAPD's North Hollywood station has been working closely with the residents on the block where the Studio City burglary occurred to strengthen their neighborhood watch program in an effort aimed at preventing future incidents.

The Source

This article is based on information from the Los Angeles Police Department's investigation into recent burglaries in the San Fernando Valley. Details regarding the incidents in Studio City and Sherman Oaks, as well as the LAPD's ongoing efforts to strengthen a neighborhood watch program, are directly sourced from their official reporting.
Aug. 4 (UPI) -- People with multiple sclerosis, or MS, begin experiencing new health issues up to 15 years before the classic signs of the illness appear, Canadian research shows.

"MS can be difficult to recognize as many of the earliest signs -- like fatigue, headache, pain and mental health concerns -- can be quite general and easily mistaken for other conditions," study senior author Helen Tremlett noted.

"Our findings dramatically shift the timeline for when these early warning signs are thought to begin, potentially opening the door to opportunities for earlier detection and intervention," said Tremlett, a professor of neurology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

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Her team published its findings Friday in JAMA Network Open.

MS is an autoimmune illness in which the body's immune system goes awry, attacking the protective myelin sheath that surrounds nerves within the brain and along the spinal cord.

Communication breaks down between the brain and the body, leading to progressive disability.

The new study that suggests MS may begin more than a decade before a clinical diagnosis.

Tremlett's group combed through British Columbia health data for 12,000 people with or without MS. Records went back as far as 25 years prior to an MS patient's diagnosis.

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That's far longer than the five to 10 years covered in earlier studies looking at disease onset.

The main findings:

Fifteen years before the onset of classic MS symptoms, there was a noticeable uptick in patient visits to their general practitioner, or in visits to specialists for issues like fatigue, pain and dizziness, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Twelve years before symptom onset, visits to psychiatrists began to rise.

Eight to nine years before, visits to neurologists and eye specialists rose, perhaps linked to issues such as blurred vision or eye pain.

Three to five years before, researchers noted a rise in visits to emergency departments and/or radiology facilities.

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One year before, visits peaked for a wide range of different physician types, such as neurologists, radiologists and emergency doctors.

"These patterns suggest that MS has a long and complex prodromal phase -- where something is happening beneath the surface but hasn't yet declared itself as MS," said study first author Dr. Marta Ruiz-Alguero, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC.

"We're only now starting to understand what these early warning signs are, with mental health-related issues appearing to be among the earliest indicators," she added in a news release.

The researchers stressed that the early issues that drove MS patients to seek out care can be caused by a myriad of health conditions. Simply experiencing these conditions does not mean a person will go on to develop MS.

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Nevertheless, "By identifying these earlier red flags, we may eventually be able to intervene sooner -- whether that's through monitoring, support or preventive strategies," Tremlett said a university news release. "It opens new avenues for research into early biomarkers, lifestyle factors and other potential triggers that may be at play during this previously overlooked phase of the disease."

More information

Find out more about multiple sclerosis at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Copyright  2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
MONTICELLO, Ky. (FOX 56)  Crews with two different Wayne County fire departments worked alongside other first responders on Sunday morning to battle a large farm fire.

Just before 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 3, the Monticello Fire Department posted on social media that crews were sent to an agricultural property off East KY-92.

Kentucky is home to 33 kinds of snakes; which ones are venomous?

The Susie Volunteer Fire Department reportedly helped and provided manpower.

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While battling the fire, officials said that crews were sent to respond to a crash on Morris Hill Road. While returning from that scene, another crash happened on Damron Drive.

Just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, the department said, while still working at the KY 92 fire, crews were dispatched to a fourth call for a utility line on fire at 1275 North.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

KY-92 East was reportedly shut down during the fire so a supply line could be laid across the road from the hydrant to the scene.

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Around 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, fire officials said crews cleared the scene. They thanked Wayne County emergency personnel, rescue team members, and sheriffs deputies for helping crews during the fire. An investigation into what caused it remains ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
The family of a 26-year-old man who died in police custody after collapsing in his cell have said "nothing can fix the pain we feel".

Ellis Rocks was arrested by Greater Manchester Police on Thursday at a hotel in Wigan on suspicion of a drug offence, before he was searched and placed in a cell.

He was later found unresponsive and suffered a cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital where he died on Sunday, triggering an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

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His mother Paula Wilkie said in a tribute that his family had been left "broken" by his death and thanked the paramedics who attended to him.

She said she had spent the weekend by his side along with his sister "and held his hands as he took his last breath" on Sunday morning.

The mother said she wanted "justice" for her son and to "make sure this never happens to anyone's child again".

"May my little boy rest in peace and we will fight for justice till the day we die," she said.

'Full facts'

An IOPC spokesman said a "thorough and independent investigation" into what had happened was needed.

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It would include probing the interactions officers had with Mr Rocks before he was taken into custody, and what happened after he was detained, the watchdog added.

Mr Rocks was arrested on Thursday at the Britannia Hotel in Almond Brook Road, Standish after reports of a man trying to deal drugs on the premises.

Detention officers found him unresponsive in his cell at about 02:30 BST on Friday, and he was taken to hospital by paramedics.

He suffered a cardiac arrest en route and later died in the hospital.

The IOPC declared an official investigation would take place after his death and it has reviewed CCTV from the custody suite and body-worn video footage from officers.

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Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes of GMP said the force would cooperate fully with the IOPC probe.

He also urged people to "not rush to judgement before the full facts are established".

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Tech billionaire Elon Musk donated $5 million to the main super PAC affiliated with President Trump in late June despite an ongoing public feud, according to recent campaign finance filings.

Musk gave the sum to MAGA Inc. on June 27  the same day he also donated $5 million each to the Senate Leadership Fund and Congressional Leadership Fund, the main super PACs dedicated to boosting Senate and House Republicans.

The donations appear to have come during a lull in the Tesla CEOs spat with Trump.

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After spending at least $250 million to boost Trumps 2024 White House campaign, Musk joined the administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Following a controversial four-month stint, the tech mogul announced his plans to step away in late May.

Musks decision coincided with his growing criticism of Trumps tax and spending bill, a schism that exploded into a public feud once he left the administration. The conflict turned personal, as Musk accused the president of ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Trump threatened to cut the Tesla and SpaceX CEOs government contracts.

The two men appeared to hint at peace in mid-June, with Trump saying he had no hard feelings and Musk suggesting he went too far.

However, just one day after his donations to the president and congressional Republicans in late June, Musk was once again lambasting Trumps tax and spending bill and reigniting the feud.

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The tech billionaire also followed through on threats to launch a new third political party called the America Party, though he has done little since to establish it.

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Building Americas Future, a dark-money group that has been supported by Elon Musk, is shelling out more than a million dollars to promote recent White House wins, including a GOP domestic policy package the Tesla CEO and former Trump administration employee once called "a disgusting abomination."

The 30-second ad, titled "Independence," is set to run nationally on Fox News and will congratulate President Donald Trump on the passage of Republicans' "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which extends his 2017 tax cuts alongside other GOP wins at the expense of nearly $1 trillion in coming Medicaid cuts.

"This Independence Day, President Trump and Congress made the working family tax cuts law," the spot, which is to debut Monday, will say. "Freeing Americans from taxes on their tips and overtime, doubling the child tax credit, and cutting taxes for seniors. Republicans know that our country is better off when working families keep more of what they earn. Now, they will."

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Musk, who has donated extensively to BAF, assailed the megabill when it reached Congress. Calling it "utterly insane and destructive," he promised to fund primary challengers to all Republicans who voted for the bill and declared the arrival of a new America Party" after Trump signed it.

As the pair's rift escalated in June, Trump responded by threatening his former backer's government contracts. And Musk, the world's richest man, perhaps presciently wrote that Trump was in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

But the group that Musk has backed doesn't agree with his assessment of the megabill.

President Trump, Leader John Thune, and Speaker Mike Johnson all showed tremendous strength and vision to get historic tax cuts for working families across the finish line this summer, and their remarkable achievement will put America on a path to prosperity for years to come," said Generra Peck, senior advisor to the group. "At Building Americas Future, we could not be more proud to stand with an administration and GOP Congress that is truly building a brighter future for America.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct that Building Americas Future is a political non-profit.
(Boring Co. promotional photo)

Elon Musks underground transit system, billed as a fix for traffic congestion on the Las Vegas Strip and beyond, is seeking regulatory approval to bring its Teslas up for air, where theyd directly compete for passengers with taxis, rideshares, and buses. A request by Musks company to operate while the application is pending was denied by then-Nevada Transportation Commissioner David Groover, who was removed from his appointed position last month, according to sources.

The effort by Paradise Transportation Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Musks Boring Company, is intended to let Vegas Loop, a project that could take decades to complete, take immediate advantage of traffic at Harry Reid International Airport.

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Thanks to Musks deep pockets, the above-ground service seeks to undercut competition with fares other modes of transportation cant match: $5 for trips up to three miles, $10 for four to six miles, and $12 for trips of more than six miles.

While rideshare rates vary, a two-mile Lyft ride runs about $11 while a 13-mile trip is roughly $23, both about twice as much as Paradises proposed fare. Taxis charge a base fee of $3.50 plus about $2.75 per mile, according to the Taxicab Authority.

Musks application says there is currently a gap in the market and no regular transportation servicer between the Harry Reid International Airport (and other resorts) and the Vegas Loop, as well a gap in service to properties with approved entitlements for Vegas Loop stations.

Paradise is seeking licenses to transport passengers between definite points of origin and destination, at a per capita rate, according to state regulation. Whether the points of origin and destination are confined to the airport, resorts, or any of 104 tunnel stations approved by local governments, as outlined in the application to provide service, and whether the stations would have to be operational, are points of contention, according to insiders.

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Our only concern is that they get properly licensed, said Jonathan Schwartz, Director of Yellow Checker Star Transportation (YCS) and Newcab, whose companies collectively put about half of the cabs in Southern Nevada on the streets. Theyre essentially operating a taxicab company, and they need to be licensed and permitted as such. They need to charge a compensable rate.

Industry insiders, who declined to speak on the record for fear of retaliation, say Musk is willing to lose money by undercutting competitors and potentially putting them out of business in order to prove his underground transit concept works.

An initial, heavily redacted application filed by Paradise with the Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA) in September 2024, attempted to conceal from the public the projects connection to the Vegas Loop. A revised version filed two months later revealed the relationship between Musks Boring Company and Paradise, its subsidiary.

Groover, the former state transportation commissioner, approved a bid from Musks company in April for interim authority to shuttle passengers on surface streets between the airport and 4744 Paradise Road (a proposed Vegas Loop station that has yet to be built) while the application is pending, but denied the companys interim request to provide transportation for special events, according to a document obtained by the Current.

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Groover confirmed Friday he is no longer with the NTA, and as the former hearing master in an ongoing case, declined to comment.

Gov. Joe Lombardo, who appointed Groover to the NTA, did not respond to requests for comment.

Paradise has not complied with NTA requirements and interim authority for airport transit has not been issued, NTA official Liz Babcock said via email.

The airport is the holy grail for the Vegas Loop. Its the reason Strip properties are eager to set aside valuable property for Loop stations. But unlike pliant local officials, who have largely allowed Musks Boring Company to tunnel without impediment, the Federal Aviation Administration and federal environmental reviews stand between the proposed airport tunnel and some 58 million passengers a year.

Soul-destroying traffic

Steve Hill, executive director of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, has hailed going underground as a means of alleviating traffic congestion since 2019, when the LVCVA granted Musks Boring Company a $52.5 million contract to connect its expanding convention facility via tunnels. Hill also planted the seeds for expanding the labyrinth to run beneath Strip and downtown casinos, with Musk footing the bill and collecting the revenue.

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This project is exceptionally important to Las Vegas. Its really an opportunity to make a dent in traffic congestion, Hill said in a 2024 LVCVA news release.

Now, traffic concerns are taking a back seat to accelerating Borings plans to augment ridership at its only publicly operating project in the U.S. The Vegas Loop currently moves more than 30,000 passengers per day across five stations and 2.2 miles of tunnel, the company says. When fully constructed, daily ridership is expected to reach 90,000.

Its not going to be a transportation system that they rely on, Hill said during a phone interview of the surface street version of the Vegas Loop. Its just intended to provide them some flexibility while the systems being built. Theyll stay in the tunnels to the extent they are available. This just gives them some options in the event that they are not complete.

It took Boring one year to dig 1.7 miles for two convention center tunnels. At that rate, it could take 40 years to complete the entire 68-mile system and 104 stations.

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There is no way mathematically that this could be the kind of grand solution to a citys transportation problems that theyre pitching, Jarrett Walker, an international public transit planning consultant told Bloomberg in a story published last week.

Even Borings employees, according to Bloomberg, are feeling frustrated working on a downgraded mission to develop an underground taxi network in Sin City.

Hill says only about 15 to 20 of the 104 locations approved by local governments for tunnel stations have agreements with Boring. Its not the kind of thing you do until you are ready to build, he said.

The NTA declined to comment on whether Paradises lack of entitlement to all station locations would affect the application.

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The company and its subsidiary, Paradise, did not respond to requests for an interview.

The Boring Company just doesnt talk, said Hill. Its not you, its everybody

Cars, taxis, and tunnels

The LVCVAs 2019 deal with Boring came as the Regional Transportation Commission coped with rideshare-induced cuts to bus revenue along the Strip, once its bread-and-butter route.

We certainly dont feel the Boring Companys system in the community would be exclusive or crowd out others, Hill said at the time.

Paradises application notes the company is providing affordable point-to-point transportation service to supplement existing transportation in Las Vegas and meet the expected growing demand for these services. But common carriers fear Musks endeavor will supplant, rather than supplement, existing services.

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Its going to put me out of business, said a Lyft driver, who noted ridership is down and driver earnings, determined by the platforms algorithm, are on the decline.

Visitation to Las Vegas was off by more than 11% in June, according to the LVCVA.

If theyre going to operate as a taxicab company, they should be licensed as a taxicab company, Schwartz says of the entire Vegas Loop, above and below ground. Theyre operating cars. Its not a rail. Theyre just operating cars through a tunnel. Its no different than a taxicab.

The companys projections for ridership, revenue, and expenses are redacted in its application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the NTA.

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Hill contends the NTA intends to regulate the above-ground Loop as a Transportation Network Company (TNC), the same designation as a rideshare. The NTA, however, says the above-ground Loop would operate as a special service and airport transfer service.

Hiil acknowledges the Vegas Loop is competitive with taxis and rideshares, but the vast majority of what theyre going to do is in the tunnels. He says its up to the NTA to determine whether the Loops above-ground component will pose too much competition to taxis and rideshares.

Nevada law permits the NTA to grant a CPCN if, in addition to other requirements, the applicant is financially viable and the approval will foster sound economic conditions within the applicable industry and will not unreasonably and adversely affect other carriers operating in the territory.

The reason we have the statute that says these companies need to be financially viable is so you dont have a business model where you build it out, use pricing power like that, and then youre the only game in town, said the industry insider who asked not to be identified. Musk can undercut everybody for as long as he wants. Hes financially viable. But does the business model work?

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An NTA spokesperson says the state is mostly concerned with the applicants fitness to operate within the regulatory framework. Interested parties can file a petition to intervene regarding the applicants impact on the market.

We do not do market impact studies, NTA attorney Yoneet Wilburn said via email. We do not have studies on the financial impact.

Musk has long hailed tunneling as the answer to the soul-destroying traffic in metropolitan areas.

Several industry experts suggest that If reducing traffic congestion is the true purpose of the tunnels, Boring Company should allow all electric vehicles to use them.

Thats silly, Hill said in response to the suggestion. The Boring Company built the tunnels. They own them. Whoever has that idea has a misunderstanding of how that works.

Clark County and the City of Las Vegas, Hill noted, have revenue sharing agreements with Vegas Loop.

But toll roads are popular in a number of states, including California. Boring, experts say, could easily impose a toll tunnel on unaffiliated drivers, with local governments getting a cut of the action.

The city and Clark County have franchise agreements with TBC that entitle the governments to revenue from rides originating in their jurisdictions. Clark County receives .5% of quarterly gross revenue up to $17.5 million and 5% of gross revenue in excess of that amount. The city has a similar agreement.

Public transportation experts suggest Paradises application is a fait accompli and is likely to be approved by the NTA, which some suggest is subject to regulatory capture.

Musk enjoys unofficial favorite son status in Nevada, where his Tesla Corporation is reaping the benefits of more than $1.6 billion in tax breaks. Hill shepherded the initial portion of that deal in his former job as executive director of the Governors Office of Economic Development, where he worked with Kris Sanchez, director of the states Department of Business and Industry, which oversees the NTA.

Boring again did not respond to requests for comment.

I notified the attorney for Paradise Transportation yesterday that you requested the applications, NTA attorney Wilburn said Wednesday, adding that doing so is her personal practice. Asked if shed notify the attorney that the Current is trying to get in touch, Wilburn declined. Id never do that.
Keir Starmers reckless plan to recognise a Palestinian state without any precondition on hostage release is bearing strange fruit at home and abroad. Hamas terrorists welcomed the commitment by the UK and France as an endorsement of the October 7 atrocity, and have recently paraded one of their emaciated captives on a video and told him to dig his own grave. But in the grim and cynical political calculation Labour has made, one factor endures: Jews dont count.

Here at home, too, the now proscribed Palestine Action group has taken heart from Starmers cave-in. There is blood in the water. They are planning acts of mass civil disobedience over the coming weeks to protest the ban on the organisation on July 5 after four of their activists breached an RAF base and vandalised two aircraft at an estimated cost of 7million.

The strategy is not a new one. The goal is to overwhelm the criminal justice system, which is already struggling under the strain of failing front line cops, jammed up courts and overflowing jails.

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Mass peaceful disobedience trying to change laws has historical resonance. Think of the Montgomery Bus boycott in the US civil rights struggle or the anti-colonial protests in pre-independence India. The Suffragettes used both peaceful and then violent acts of civil disobedience to achieve the same ends.

The thing that you notice about these examples is that they had both numbers and morality on their side. While plenty of people are discomfited by Palestine Actions activities, there is an argument that an organisation that targets things, not people, should not be labelled as terrorists.

That argument is due to be tested in court as lawyers for the group have successfully argued for a judicial review of the ban. The judge hearing the original appeal said the Government had not consulted Palestine Action on the ban: this is like a farmer consulting turkeys on their welfare ahead of Christmas.

Whatever your position on proscription, we are in more than enough trouble as it is policing public order around illegal migration. It is perfectly rational for the leaders of PA to seek to add to this woe by staging protests where people will be deliberately and clearly in breach of the Terrorism Act 2000 in numbers that will make enforcement a mockery.

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The offence of supporting a terror organisation is punishable by up to 14 years in prison, and even arrest can have profound future consequences for foreign travel and employment. These facts are likely to be glossed over by zealots within the movement who see their actions as martyrdom in terms of what many in their ranks would style as the resistance movement in Gaza. The trouble with these people is their tendency to mobilise others, the naive and credulous in particular, to take the hit for them.

Our enduring problem here is the collapse of trust in our law enforcement agencies to enforce existing laws, not the lack of new ones. The next month is looking rocky for public order. We have already seen protests, some violent, against migrant hotels and some occupants charged with sexual offences.

The public mood is febrile across the country. This additional stress could be alleviated if the Government acts decisively against mass protests by people who simply believe the law does not apply to them. This means identifying the ringleaders of the PA strategy and dealing with them first.

Whether the state is ultimately right or wrong about proscription is secondary to the public order risk. We cannot let activists of any group organise in plain sight to bring down the criminal justice system in a democracy.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Its Mutt Monday at KTSM!

This week, our friends from El Paso Animal Services brought this adorable 2-3 months old female puppy for us to meet and hang out with!

Would you like to be best friends with this adorable little pup? Shes just 2 to 3 months old, full of love, and still in need of the perfect name!

Help us find her a furever home and the name she deserves. 

Tune in to KTSM 9 News at Noon to meet this sweet, tail-wagging pic.twitter.com/GS9zNwd9Xg  KTSM 9 News (@KTSMtv) August 4, 2025

This week is the start of the nationwide Clear the Shelters campaign. At El Paso Animal Services, theyre hosting a number of events in August to help get their pets to a loving home.

This is the 11th year El Paso Animal Services has partnered up with KTSM for this national adoption event. In previous years, we have been able to find homes for hundreds of pets.

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With close to 1,000 pets currently in the shelter looking for homes, El Paso Animal Services is urgently asking for the communitys support to adopt or foster a pet in need. To help, the shelter is offering free adoptions on all pets throughout the campaign.

For anyone not looking to commit long-term to a pet, fostering is also a great option. Fostering a pet is free, and El Paso Animal Services provides all the supplies and medical care the pet would need.

To view adoptable pets ahead of time, you can always visit ElPasoAnimalServices.org.

You can also tune in every Monday on KTSM to see a pet that is looking for a loving home.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A 40-year-old Myrtle Beach man will spend the next four-plus years in a federal prison after being sentenced for a child sex crime.

James Edward Moss, Jr. was sentenced to 55 months in prison in U.S. District Court in Florence for transporting an individual with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, the U.S. attorneys office said in a news release. Judge Joseph Dawson III also sentenced Moss to 10 years of court-ordered supervision after his release from prison.

The U.S. attorneys office said Moss met a young girl online in April 2022 and then picked her up, took her to a hotel room and engaged in sexual activity. He also recorded several videos of the sexual activity.

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There is no parole in the federal system, and Moss must also register as a sex offender and pay $3,000 restitution to the victim.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia field office and Horry County police.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The destruction caused by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, October 20, 2023. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The June decision came following military estimates that there is no immediate security threat to civilians living so close to the Gaza Strip.

The governments decision to repopulate some of the Gaza border communities while the Israel-Hamas War rages on and 50 hostages remain in Hamas captivity is not appropriate and should be reversed to allow the communities agency in the matter, Kibbutz Nahal Oz said in a petition it submitted to the High Court of Justice on Monday.

The governments decision, which passed in June, came following military estimates that there is no immediate security threat to civilians living near the Gaza Strip. Nahal Oz was one of 12 towns cleared for repopulation at the time.

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In response, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum had said, If, security-wise, there is no reason as to why one should not go back to living in the Gaza border communities, then there is no reason for the Israel-Gaza war to continue.

On Monday, Nahal Oz said, As long as there is a war in Gaza and hostages are being held captive in Hamass torture tunnels, it is impossible to live a normal life 800 meters from the border fence.

It added that it felt it was left with no choice but to petition the court after sensing that the government was not meeting its needs.

The destruction caused by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, October 20, 2023 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Omri Miran, from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, is still being held in Hamas captivity. Lishay Miran Lavi, his wife, is one of the 120 signatories to the petition.

Kibbutz Nahal Oz devastated by October 7 massacre

Nahal Oz is geographically the closest to the Palestinian enclave, and on October 7, terrorists led by Hamas attacked the kibbutz for hours on end. Fifteen residents were killed and eight people were taken captive, out of the larger tally of 251 kidnapped on that day.

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The petition reflects the desire everyone in Nahal Oz has to return to a life of productivity and growth. The first step toward that end goal cannot be forceful. Residents should be given the agency to decide when and how to return to their ruined homes to rebuild, said the kibbutz.

The petition calls to extend the temporary residency conditions for the kibbutz members (they were evacuated after the attacks) until the war in Gaza ends, given the kibbutzs close proximity to operative locations in northern Gaza, as well as the collective trauma that the residents carry, the kibbutz added.

Other signatories included Gali Idan, the widow of Tsachi Idan, who was kidnapped on October 7 and killed in captivity, and also the mother of 18-year-old Maayan, who was killed on October 7. Yehuda and Nurit Fiorentino, the parents of Ilan, who was the chief security officer for the kibbutz and was killed on October 7, also signed the petition.
She describes herself as Trump in heels and is embroiled in an ugly legal battle with her ex over alleged sexual abuse.

Now, controversial MAGA Congresswoman Nancy Mace has set her sights on being the next governor of South Carolina, announcing her long-awaited bid for the states top job with a not-so-humble brag about annoying her own colleagues.

Im running to be the Governor of South Carolina!



Gods not done with South Carolina and neither am I. You and me. Our mission begins now.



South Carolina First. Nancy Mace for Governor.https://t.co/tkO1oN5G0W pic.twitter.com/odvxAKfz5b  Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) August 4, 2025

The House Republican has drawn the ire of both Democrats and members of her own party, declares the voice-over in Maces campaign video announcement released on Monday morning. She has a way of getting under their skin

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Mace indeed has a way of getting under the skin of Republicans. In 2023, for instance, the 47-year-old was one of a small group of GOP rebels who voted to oust then Speaker Kevin McCarthy, in a coup that left Congress paralyzed for days.

Shes also no stranger to the limelight: earlier this year, during a scorched earth speech on the House floor, Mace set off an ongoing legal battle by accusing her former fiance, Patrick Bryant, and three other men of sexual misconduct, allegations that the men have repeatedly denied.

Tensions escalated in May, when an explosive deposition by her former political adviser claimed she planned to use naked photos found on her exs phone as leverage for two lucrative properties she wanted him to give her.

And last month, attorneys representing a company owned by Bryant filed a scathing motion in court accusing Mace of leveraging her platform to delegitimize public officials and institutions while simultaneously shielding herself from accountability.

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However, Mace makes no apologies for her firebrand nature, declaring during her campaign launch on Monday: I wasnt built to kiss the ring - I just wear one.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) caused quite a stir after she used a House subcommittee hearing to publicly call out her ex-fiance. / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

I didnt come to join the club. They dont want me, and I dont want them, she said in a speech at the Citadel, the Charleston military college where she made history as the first woman to graduate from the Corps of Cadets.

I came to hold the line. They said stay quiet; I spoke up. They said sit down; I stood up. They said play nice, and I fought back.

Mace now joins a crowded field in the GOP primary race to succeed term-limited Governor Henry McMaster.

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Her platform includes banning pronouns in the classroom, creating tech free school zones, and her pet project: preventing transgender women from using womens restrooms or entering womens sports.

US Congresswoman Nancy Mace likened herself to Trump

Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate, but Maces campaign video includes a clip of the president describing her as a fighter.

However, the relationship with Trump has evolved. In 2022, for instance, Trump endorsed Maces challenger in the GOP primary for her House seat, describing her as an absolutely terrible candidate.

She was also critical of Trump after the January 6 attack at the US Capitol, saying the party should hold the president accountable. Now, her pitch is that South Carolina needs a Governor like Trump but in high heels.

Mace will face Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, state Attorney General Alan Wilson and Representative Ralph Norman in the primary.
Rep. Nancy Mace officially launched her bid for governor of South Carolina, joining a competitive GOP primary to follow term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.

Gods not done with South Carolina and neither am I, Mace wrote in an X post announcing the launch. You and me. Our mission begins now.

Mace (R-S.C.), who is in her third term in Congress, has branded herself as a protector of womens rights.

In May, she shared a photo of a naked silhouette she said her ex-fiance took of her without her consent in a House subcomittee hearing as part of an effort to gain legal protections for victims of nonconsensual recording.

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She has also led the charge in advocating for banning transgender women from using the womens restroom in the Capitol. The move came after Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), a transgender woman, was elected to Congress.

Shes a fighter, I know about that, President Donald Trump said in a clip added to Mace's campaign launch video .

Despite now touting Trumps allyship, Maces relationship with the president has not always been perfect. Mace had previously indicated she felt Republicans needed to rebuild and hold the president accountable after the Jan. 6 insurrection.

And in 2022, Trump endorsed her challenger in the GOP primary for her House seat. At the time, he called Mace an absolutely terrible candidate.

Mace will face Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, state Attorney General Alan Wilson and Rep. Ralph Norman in the primary. The candidates will likely vie for Trumps endorsement, who could be key in securing the votes necessary to gain an edge in the crowded race.


BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  An investigation by the Assumption Parish Sheriffs Office into money being stolen from an elderly woman led to the arrest of a Louisiana man.

Junious Henderson III, 34, of Napoleonville, was charged with exploitation of the infirmed, theft and probation/parole detainer.

The Governors Office of Elderly Affairs alerted the sheriffs office on Feb. 3 about a large amount of money being taken out of an elderly womans bank account. The sheriffs office said the woman could not take care of herself and was terminally ill.

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Henderson, a relative of the woman, allegedly used the money for personal use. Financial documents led to Henderson being identified as a suspect in this case.

Henderson was arrested in Plattenville on July 29. He was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center.

He remains in jail after being given a bond amount of $100,000 for the exploitation of the infirmed and theft charges. APSO said he was also ordered to be held without bond for the probation and parole detainer.

Man accused of stealing ATM, burning truck near Catholic church

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NASA astronaut Don Pettit has spent 590 days living in space, and even back on Earth, he continues to share breathtaking images from his time off the planet.

Over the weekend, Pettit shared a long-exposure photograph that captured the soft curve of Earth below, the glow of the planet's atmosphere, streaks of city lights and flashes of lightning from a thunderstorm. Hovering above it all: three galaxies.

3 galaxies at once! I photographed the Milky Way and both Magellanic Clouds in this star field from the SpaceX Crew 9 Dragon, on my new mission to the ISS. pic.twitter.com/tj0aula6b2  Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) August 3, 2025

Front and center is the Milky Way, the galaxy we call home. Two fainter companions appeared near the top of the image: the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

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These two galaxies orbit the Milky Way like distant cousins. Although they're visible from the Southern Hemisphere, they're far too faint to spot with the naked eye from most locations on Earth. From Pettit's vantage point more than 250 miles above the surface, they shined a bit more clearly.

In the foreground of the photo sits a SpaceX Dragon capsule, one of the vehicles that ferries astronauts to and from the space station.

This is just the latest in a series of extraordinary images Pettit has captured during his time in orbit. Over the course of his missions, he's documented satellites shining above the horizon, auroras dancing below his feet and the everyday routines of life in space.
Kansas state Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat, addressed a crowd that gathered outside the Lenexa El Toro Loco Mexican Bar and Grill on July 30 after some of the employees were arrested earlier in the day by agents with Homeland Security (Mary Sanchez/The Beacon).

The economic power of the Latino population in the United States is as massive as it is misunderstood.

Latinos contribute more than $3.7 trillion annually to the economy, more than the gross domestic product of all but four countries in the world.

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Latinos are the nations largest minority group with 64 million people.

The vast majority, eight out of 10, are U.S. citizens.

By 2030, one out of every three people entering the workforce will be Latino.

But acknowledgement of those facts is lacking, studies show, especially among policymakers and politicians.

The vacuum leaves space for false narratives to flourish.

One example for the leader of the nations largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization is the Trump administrations inaccurate labeling of Latinos as criminals and outsiders who dont contribute to the nation.

If were going to have an economy that really moves the country forward and sustains all of us, it has to include the Latino community from a demographics perspective, said Janet Murguia.

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Murguia, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, is president and CEO of UnidosUS, which is holding its annual conference in Kansas City Aug. 4-7.

The conference opens days after nearly a dozen people were taken from their jobs at two Kansas El Toro Loco Mexican Bar and Grill locations in morning raids by Homeland Security Investigations, a unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The detentions of the employees were filmed and witnessed by community members and sparked a protest later in the day.

Videos show the employees as they were being taken from the restaurants in handcuffs and with chains around their waists. Food was left cooking at the Lenexa location and a handwritten note Closed was taped to the front door, which was left unlocked.

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Murguia is critical of some tactics that Homeland Security is using in its efforts to meet the administrations goal of removing 3,000 undocumented immigrants daily.

Increasingly, she said, whats happening is unlawful and unconstitutional.

This is not about immigration, Murguia said. Its about civil rights.

Negative narratives about Latinos that are unsubstantiated by data are being used to justify the actions, including some actions that shred due process, she said.

UnidosUS is the umbrella organization for more than 300 affiliates spread across virtually every state. Three are in the Greater Kansas City area: El Centro, the Guadalupe Centers and Mattie Rhodes Center.

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The nearly 60-year-old organizations current strategy is three-pronged  to protect, defend and advance the Latino community.

Murguia served in former President Bill Clintons administration and also once served as an executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas.

She said abuse of power and government overreach in immigration enforcement must be challenged.

We intend to do everything we can to provide the advocacy to push back against this and demand accountability in the courts and through the administration and in Congress, Murguia said.

Partnerships with other civil rights organizations will be key, she said, noting deep connections with the leadership of the National Urban League, the National Action Network and the Legal Defense Fund.

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This is about our civil rights being destroyed, she said. Partners and allies can be really critically important in communicating that to the broader public and understanding that were all threatened in this country when actions happen.

There is no American agenda without a Latino agenda

UnidosUS is linking with some of the leading researchers in the nation.

Documenting the social and economic impact of mass deportation will be crucial.

Some immigrant families are of mixed status, with at least one family member who might be undocumented and others who are not.

Approximately 6.6 million American citizens, including 5.5 million U.S. children  over 8% of all children in the U.S.  live in a household with at least one undocumented family member.

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A 2017 study predicted that removing one family member from every mixed-status household through deportation would drop the median income of those households by nearly 50%.

The report was written with data compiled by the Center for Migration Studies of New York and published by the Journal on Migration and Human Security.

Removing undocumented residents from mixed-status households would reduce median household income from $41,300 to $22,000, a drop of $19,300, or 47%, which would plunge millions of US families into poverty, the report noted.

The ramifications on homeownership, businesses and taxes paid could be dramatic.

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If the U.S. removed all of its undocumented residents, gross domestic product (GDP) would be reduced by 1.4% in the first year, and cumulative GDP would be reduced by $4.7 trillion over 10 years, the report said.

Updated data will be key to track not only the outcomes of current immigration policy but also the Trump administrations recently approved budget bill. UnidosUS called it a stunning betrayal to working families, vulnerable communities and the American electorate who entrusted them with their votes due to its cuts to health programs and food assistance.

Studies can also inform a wide range of initiatives that have long been the focus of UnidosUS: homeownership, educational attainment, health, voting rights and political empowerment.

Data to support policy, based on understanding Latino history

UnidosUS has partnered with the Latino Politics & Policy Institute) at the University of California Los Angeles.

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The institutes motto is there is no American agenda without a Latino agenda, a statement that underscores the relevance of Latinos historically, by population, economic output and future projections as a young demographic.

Latinos are contributing nearly $4 trillion annually to the economy, said Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, director of research at the UCLA institute.

Yet Latinos hold only 12% of the nations household wealth while comprising nearly 20% of the population, he said.

Theres a disconnect that reveals a system where Latino labor and entrepreneurship are fueling economic growth in the country, but the wealth thats generated through Latino labor and entrepreneurship is held elsewhere, he said.

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Dominguez-Villegas is leading a project to find out why.

In a partnership with UnidosUS, the institute is completing an analysis of how public policy has shaped Latino wealth.

The economic mobility study will be released in October.

We are telling the story of Latino communities across the country and what Latinos contribute, and also how Latinos struggle because of systemic and historical disadvantages, he said.

A map of 304 UnidosUS affiliates in the United States. (Courtesy/UnidosUS)

Mattie Rhodes, one of the Kansas City-based UnidosUS affiliates, will release the Hispanic/Latino Equity Index for the Kansas City areas Latino population during the convention on Aug. 4.

The report was developed with the University of Missouri-Kansas Citys Center for Economic Information and the Urban League of Greater Kansas City.

It will highlight disparities in economic opportunity, health, education, social justice and civic engagement.

Similar local reports can be aided by another initiative at the UCLA institute, the Latino Data Hub.

Its an interactive platform to analyze conditions affecting Latinos nationwide, drawing from the 2023 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census.

An updated hub was released in mid-July. And tutorials on how to use the hub are ongoing.

We have tried to build it in a way that is as intuitive as possible, said Dominguez-Villegas, who will be attending the UnidosUs conference. Our target audiences are, of course, policymakers, but also community-based organizations and the media.

Information can be broken down nationally, by state or county and soon, by congressional districts.

Built into the platform are 130 indicators, with filters for people to search for detailed information such as homeownership, health care access and educational attainment. The information can be searched in English or Spanish.

The Latino Data Hub grew out of the COVID pandemic, when Latino communities were disproportionately impacted in terms of hospitalizations and deaths.

Policymakers were surprised and slow to react, said Dominguez-Villegas, because they hadnt understood Latino health disparities and access to health care that predated the pandemic.

Policymakers were like, Oh, we didnt have this data, so we didnt understand really, how to incorporate that into the response, said Dominguez-Villegas.

Researchers, he said, vowed never again.

Strong data can help tell the stories of Latinos and build understanding of past struggles that have led to current inequities, while also addressing the demographics contributions. The goal is a more nuanced telling of the nations extremely diverse Latino communities.

Sharing the American Dream

Previous work between UnidosUS and the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy found deep gaps in the inclusion of Latinos in U.S. history curriculum.

The lack of accurate information undercuts awareness.

The buying power of the Hispanic market can be shown in telling stories of entrepreneurship and those who find prosperity by catering to the demographic, in all of its vast diversity.

A prime local example is the success of the El Mercado Fresco supermarkets, which began catering primarily to the Latino immigrant communities in northeast Kansas City about a decade ago.

The companys ninth store opened July 17 in a former Big Lots at 7533 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas.

Hundreds of people, many of them Latino, gathered in the parking lot for the ribbon cutting and then formed a long line, patiently waiting to file into the store to shop as a mariachi band serenaded.

Carlos Gomez, president/CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, helped with the honors.

Gomez said the El Mercado groceries are successful, in part, because of the owners respectful relationship with the Latino community, giving back philanthropically and through hiring.

The owner, Eddie Musallet, said he sources products through a wide range of vendors to cater to the culinary preferences of many ethnicities, including Asian and African people.

Musallet said hes conscientious of peoples budgets and tries to use local farmers for some products.

Packages of 30 eggs, locally sourced, were marked $6.99 at the State Avenue opening.

Soon, a group of leaders gathered outside the store, chatting as friends found one another in the crowd.

David Carranza, economic development director for the city of Grandview, Missouri, said that Latinos know how to make something from nothing, guided by entrepreneurial efforts and often working not only one, but two jobs.

Were survivors, Carranza said.

Murguia echoed the sentiments of local leadership in her resolve to advocate and organize through current political and policy challenges.

Latinos, she said, are known for optimism and resilience, holding a deep belief in the promise of the nation and its ability to allow people to carve out their American Dream.

If you fundamentally believe that about this country, youre not going to give up, even in the most daunting times, Murguia said. Were leaning into every bit of resilience and optimism in this moment.

This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
This article has been archived. For the latest updates on Tropical Storm Dexter and the areas of disturbance in the Atlantic, click here.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The National Hurricane Center is now monitoring three systems in the Atlantic Ocean.

The chance of showers and thunderstorms has increased off the coast of North Carolina due to a non-tropical area of low pressure. Satellite wind data now indicates that gale-force winds are being generated, increasing the likelihood of a tropical storm forming by Monday to 80%.

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A tropical wave is forecast to move off the west coast of Africa by Monday, and a tropical depression could form later this week, with a 40% probability.

An area of low pressure could form over the next few days southeast of the Carolinas, with the chance of formation at 20%.

Watch Tracking the Tropics on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT

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Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security, by Andrew Preston, Belknap Press, 336 pages, $29.95

The idea of "national security" is so ubiquitous that it is hard to imagine an American political culture without it. But as the Cambridge historian Andrew Preston shows in Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security, the concept and its universal usage have not always been with us. They have a history firmly rooted in New Deal liberalism, its anxieties about economic insecurity at home, and its fears of illiberal forces abroad.

Despite the framing suggested by the subtitle, this well-argued and often provocative book stretches from the 19th century through the early Cold War. Preston's purpose, he writes, is "to find the source of the idea, now axiomatic, that the security of the United States often had little to do with the immediate safety of the continental United States itself." He argues that the modern ideology of national security, one where security is unmoored from strict dictates of Americans' physical safety from immediate danger, was primarily an elite project. That elite pushed, cajoled, and scared a nation that once prided itself on having the luxury of distance into seeing its interests as global. America, the new thinking held, belongs at the center of a "horizonless world."

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Early in the life of the republic, the American foreign policy consciousness had an ever-moving but nevertheless discernible westward horizon. After the War of 1812, Preston argues, the young nation enjoyed what was retroactively known as "free security"an unrivaled combination of fortunate geography and fortunate geopolitics. He acknowledges that the U.S. had its share of security concerns that emanated from abroad, such as war scares with Peru in 1852 or Chile in 1891, but those fears never rose to the level of the existential competitions of Europe. Free from major outside threats, Americans came to envision self-defense as nothing more than fending off attacks against the country itself. And that could be accomplished with a comparatively small military establishment and a minor tax base.

America's first blush with extrahemispheric ambition and its entry into the Great War tested the idea of free security, but they did not extinguish it. When President Woodrow Wilson was roused to intervene in Europe's war, he privately conceded that "if Germany won, she would not be in a condition to menace our country for many years to come." Instead, Wilson sold American involvement as an idealistic crusade to make the world safe for democracy.

Despite the deviation of the Wilson years, the war to end all wars did not eliminate the notion of free security or create a new national security paradigm. Indeed, our sense of free security emerged from the war stronger than ever, as the Allies' victory removed an ambitious imperial Germany from the global stage. And Wilson's high-minded ideals failed to take hold. Instead, the end of World War I gave Republican Warren Harding a smooth path to the White House on a promise to "safeguard America first."

But under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a new national security ethos buried free security for good. Preston argues that the Roosevelt administration used World War I as a "model of efficient, centralized planning in a crisis environment"; the country's leaders adopted an atmosphere of wartime rhetoric that cast the Depression as a threat worthy of aggressive action. Preston argues that the New Dealers' domestic logicthe idea of using planning to mitigate riskprovided the ideological lattice upon which the idea of national security was grafted. With the coming of total war in Europe, a crisis exacerbated by technological change, Roosevelt and his advisers asserted that the era of free security, like the supposed era of unconstrained capitalism, was now history.

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This combination of apprehension and uncertainty led to a national security posture predicated on possible threats rather than immediate dangers, thereby "turning anarchic uncertainty into manageable risk." Before entering World War II, Rooseveltlike Wilsonpitched Americans on the fighting in idealistic terms. Since "geopolitical logic came down on the side of [the] anti-interventionists," Preston argues, interventionists argued that in an "interdependent world, American values were just as much a part of national defense as US territory."

Of course, it took an actual attack on U.S. territory to bring the country into the war. But even after that, Preston argues, the White House saw a need to educate Americans on the rationale for fighting and knowingly infused its wartime messaging with New Deal politics. Preston cites Frank Capra's Why We Fight documentaries, which presented World War II not merely as a defensive enterprise but as a Manichaean struggle that strengthened Americans at home through progressive policies. Preston argues that even after Pearl Harbor, the nation's distance from the heart of horror demanded messaging like Why We Fightfor "while Hawai'i had been attacked, Iowa remained safe."

In the book's final chapters, Preston argues that America's prosecution of the Cold War grew out of World War II and the Great Depression. The conflict with the Soviets, he writes bluntly, "didn't result from departing from Roosevelt's principles but from applying them." Preston cites the career of George Marshalla New Dealer and military leader under President Roosevelt, a secretary of state and secretary of defense under President Harry Trumanas essential to this continuity. Marshall and those who supported his eponymously named plan to rebuild Europe sold it as a way to insure against potential Soviet aggression, a carryover from the logic of social insurance.

Marshall also echoed an emerging liberal shibboleth: that because Washington had withdrawn from the world in the interwar period, the Second World War was on some level America's fault. If the U.S. again failed to "fulfill her responsibility" of global leadership, Marshall argued, America courted "disaster for herself and the world."

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On the domestic front, Cold War liberals like Marshall and Truman saw the showdown with the Soviets, much as they saw America's previous war with fascism, as a chance to remake the nation's economy and societyagain in the name of national security. Both men favored universal military training, a labor regime that Marshall promised would instill "the ideals of responsible American citizenship" into every American male. The Cold War was an opportunity to reorder the economy, too. Truman argued in his 1947 State of the Union address that national security did not consist only of a military: It depended "on continued industrial harmony and production," which to Truman meant wage and price controls as well as sweeping interventions in housing, agriculture, and health care.

Preston's book joins a growing body of scholarship that shifts the genesis of the national security state and its related foreign policy from the early Cold War to the FDR administration. Such scholarship has often argued that the formation of the national security state was not merely reactive but lay within the New Deal, its assumptions about modernity, and its implications for liberalism. While earlier works such as James T. Sparrow's Warfare State focus on the domestic economy and Ira Katznelson's Fear Itself on domestic politics, Preston centers his book on how an elite progressive idea of national security became a bipartisan and ubiquitous social norm that spanned the challenges of fascism, communism, and beyond.

This wasn't the only source of the national security state, of courseit also grew out of interparty politics, the material push of the military-industrial complex, and the pull of overseas crises. But Preston makes a compelling case that New Deal liberalism was a big part of the picture. If his account is in some ways disheartening for civil libertarians, it also shows that the present paradigm was not natural and inevitable: It is a product of history, and it could be changed.

The post How 'National Security' Came Unmoored From Americans' Actual Security appeared first on Reason.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Bao Li, one of two of the Districts beloved giant pandas, celebrated his fourth birthday Monday morning with a beary special treat.

Panda keepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo presented Bao Li with a custom fruit-based ice cake made by the zoos commissary team. Panda lovers were welcome to celebrate with the unbearably cute bear by visiting his habitat as he ate his birthday treat, or by watching the festivities live through the Giant Panda Cam.

United Airlines flight declared mayday at Washington Dulles: Heres why

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Bao Lis fourth birthday marks his first one at the Smithsonian National Zoo since he arrived in the nations capital from China nearly 10 months ago with female giant panda Qing Bao. The pair arrived nearly a year after Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and their cub Xia Qi Ji left National Zoo, returning to China.

The first pair of pandas arrived in D.C. in 1972 after the China Wildlife and Conservation Association and the U.S. agreed to work toward preventing the species extinction. Since then, pandas have been one of the biggest attractions at the zoo, attracting around 1.9 million visitors annually, according to Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
The Brief

The 42-year-old Detroit man charged in the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old girl Na'Ziyah Harris is due in court Monday facing new charges in two separate cases.

Jarvis Ramon Butts has been charged in connection with the sexual assault of a then-12-year-old girl in 2013.

Court records show that Butts also previously served time in prison for sexually assaulting a child in 2004.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - The 42-year-old Detroit man charged in the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old girl Na'Ziyah Harris is due in court Monday for a hearing on charges in two separate cases.

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Jarvis Ramon Butts has been charged in connection with the sexual assault of a then-12-year-old girl in 2013. He is scheduled for a final conference at 9 a.m. at Detroits Third Circuit Court.

Jarvis Butts (MDOC)

The backstory

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said that Butts sexually assaulted the girl at a residence in Allen Park. The victim is now 24 years old.

The new charges are first-degree criminal sexual conduct (person under 13), and third-degree criminal sexual conduct (person 13 through 15).

The cases are the latest in a string of cases against Butts who has been called a classic expert groomer and pedophile by Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

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Butts has also been charged with sexually abusing two other children who were under 13 at the time. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said one of the victims, who is now 20, was allegedly abused between April 2012 and April 14, while the other victim, who is now 11, was abused from July 2015 until July 2017.

He has been charged with five counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for those assaults.

Court records show that Butts also previously served time in prison for sexually assaulting a child in 2004.

"Mr. Butts targeted and befriended women to have sexual relationships with their young daughters," Worthy said.

What's next

In a separate case, Butts is scheduled for an October trial in the death of Harris.

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In that matter, he is facing charges of first-degree premeditated murder, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and child sexually abusive material.

MORE: What happened to Na'Ziyah Harris?

Harris was last seen getting off a bus in Detroit last January. Her disappearance led to police searching areas around Southeast Michigan.

While Harris's body was never found, prosecutors charged Butts with murder and rape in September 2024.

Na'Ziyah Harris

The Source

Information from Wayne County's Third Circuit Court and previous reporting was used to write this story.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  NBC4 would like to offer a big congratulations to two of its own being honored for their work serving central Ohio viewers for more than 40 years.

NBC4s Colleen Marshall and Storm Team 4 meteorologist Ben Gelber were inducted into the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors (APME) Hall of Fame on Sunday, the first two Columbus television anchors to be given the honor.

The hall of fame honors people who served with exceptional distinction and honor in the field of journalism.

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They were among a class of four honorees, joined by Paul Swapich of WTOL-TV and Rob Powers from WEWS-TV in Cleveland.

The Ohio APME launched its Hall of Fame in 2014 to honor individuals who served with exceptional distinction and honor in the field of journalism.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A new principal will welcome students at 23 Palm Beach County schools when the 2025-26 school year begins on Aug. 11.

Several of the new principals are new to the top job. Others held it at a previous location. More than a few of the new principals  Ann Hembrook of Barton Elementary in Lake Worth Beach; Gina North of Wynebrook Elementary in West Palm Beach; Monique Coyle at Whispering Pines Elementary in Boca Raton; Sean Bohne at Woodlands Middle in Lake Worth Beach and Joshua Davidow at Boca Raton High  will be looking to guide their schools to a successful year in the aftermath of tragedy or trauma.

The 23 new principals hired or promoted so far this year exceeds the 17 new principals hired in 2024, and it's more than the 13 new principals hired to lead their schools in 2023.

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The Palm Beach County School District announced each of the new principal hires/promotions on Facebook, allowing well-wishers to offer their congratulations.

Here's a brief look at the new principals:

Ann Hembrook, Barton Elementary, Lake Worth Beach: Hembrook became principal at Barton on Feb. 17. She comes to the district from Marion County, where she was a senior executive director and an area superintendent. She had previously worked as an associate superintendent in Clark County, Nevada, and as a middle school principal in Orange County. In February, former Barton teacher Joshua Hablo pleaded guilty to traveling to meet a minor for sex. He was sentenced to two years in prison, required to register as a sex offender and ordered to surrender his Florida education certificate.

Andrea Walker, Westward Elementary, West Palm Beach: Walker became principal at Westward on March 13 after a stint as assistant principal at Lincoln Elementary. In 2021, Walker was a nominee for assistant principal of the year.

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Gina North, Wynnebrook Elementary, West Palm Beach: North became principal at Wynnebook on May 29, succeeding Suzanne Berry, who was charged with DUI in December.

Gloria Salazar, New Horizons Elementary, Wellington: Salazar was one of six people hired across the district as principals on June 3. She had previously been principal at Jupiter Elementary.

Allyson Manning, Equestrian Trails Elementary, Wellington: Manning, previously principal at Rolling Green Elementary, was hired on June 3. She succeeds Michele Chorniewy.

Deborah McNichols, Jupiter Elementary: McNichols, hired on June 3, returns to Jupiter Elementary, where she was assistant principal before serving as principal at Greenacres Elementary.

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Shaquala Walls, Rolling Green Elementary, Boynton Beach: Walls took over as principal on June 3, succeeding Manning. She was assistant principal at Rolling Green before being promoted to principal.

Danny Moya, Greenacres Elementary: Moya was hired as principal at Greenacres on June 3 after previously serving as principal at Palmetto Elementary.

The new school year begins Aug. 11 in Palm Beach County. In all, 23 schools will see new principals on the always-busy first day of classes, like this one seen here at Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School on its opening day in 2023.

Principal whose husband was arrested is replaced

Monique Coyle, Whispering Pines Elementary, Boca Raton: Coyle was hired as principal at Whispering Pines on June 3 after previously serving as principal at Sandpiper Shores Elementary. She succeeds Barbara Riemer, who asked for a leave of absence on the same day her husband, former science teacher Norman Riemer, resigned following his arrest in April on charges of child molestation. In August 2024, absences at Whispering Pines spiked after a parent made antisemitic comments to the school's front desk staff. That parent was banned from campus.

Kristina Sanford, Palmetto Elementary, West Palm Beach: Sanford was hired as principal at Palmetto Elementary on July 14. She had previously served as assistant principal at Jupiter Farms Elementary.

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Robera Walker Thompson, Pierce Hammock Elementary, The Acreage: Walker Thompson, hired on June 9, moves over to Pierce Hammock after serving as principal at Belle Glade Elementary.

Jeannie Placil, Sandpiper Shores Elementary, Boca Raton: Placil was hired on July 14 at Sandpiper Shores after serving as assistant principal at Don Estridge High Tech Middle. She was a nominee for assistant principal of the year in 2021, when she worked at Banyan Creek Elementary.

Sean Bohne, Woodlands Middle, Lake Worth Beach: Bohne was hired as principal at Woodlands Middle on June 16 after serving as principal at Coral Reef Elementary. Woodlands suffered a tragedy in January when a 13-year-old student was killed and a 12-year-old student was seriously injured after their bicycles crashed and they were sent onto Lyons Road, where they were struck by a truck.

Rachel Roche, Coral Reef Elementary, Lake Worth Beach: Roche was hired as principal at Coral Reef Elementary on July 14. She had previously served as assistant principal at Jerry Thomas Elementary.

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Derrick Hibler, Crossroads Academy (grades 6-12), Belle Glade: Hibler, hired on June 17, moves over to Crossroads Academy after serving as principal at K.E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary. He succeeds Diane Howard, who has retired.

Some students across Palm Beach County will see familiar faces becoming principals at their schools when the new year begins Aug. 11.

New principal returns to Jupiter High

Amber Saunders, Jupiter High: Saunders was hired as principal at Jupiter High on June 9. She had previously served as principal at Independence Middle. The new job gives Saunders an opportunity to return to Jupiter High, where she was an assistant principal for more than seven years.

Shari Bremekamp, Independence Middle, Jupiter: Bremekamp, hired on June 9, steps in to succeed Saunders. Bremekamp had previously served as principal at Hidden Oaks Elementary.

Joshua Davidow, Boca Raton High: Davidow was hired on June 5 as principal at Boca Raton High after previously serving in the same capacity at Don Estridge High Tech Middle. Like Bohne at Woodlands Middle, Davidow takes over months after a tragedy  the death of 18-year-old Hendry Aceituno Gudino hours after he had graduated. Gudino was one of two people killed in a car crash on Interstate 95 on May 17.

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Seth Moldovan, Don Estridge High Tech Middle, Boca Raton: Moldovan was hired on June 9 to serve as principal at Don Estridge. He had previously served as principal at Blue Lake Elementary and now steps in to succeed Davidow.

Jamie Evans, Belle Glade Elementary: Evans, hired on June 9, comes to Belle Glade from Glade View Elementary, where she was assistant principal. She was the district's assistant principal of the year in 2024 and now succeeds Walker Thompson.

Stacey Wenisch, Blue Lake Elementary, Boca Raton: Wenisch was hired on June 9 to serve as principal at Blue Lake Elementary. She previously worked as a curriculum development and school improvement program planner for early childhood education. Wenisch succeeds Moldovan.

Altoria Henley, K.E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary: Henley was promoted to principal on July 14 after serving as KEC/Canal Point Elementary's assistant principal. She succeeds Hibler.

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Jenalee Hess, Hidden Oaks K-8, Lake Worth Beach: Hess, hired on July 14, comes to Hidden Oaks after previously serving as assistant principal at John I. Leonard High. Hidden Oaks was named a 2025 Florida School to Watch by the Florida League of Middle Schools, which noted its academic excellence and administrative leadership.

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County School District hires, promotes 23 to principal jobs
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers speaks about his 2025 legislative priorities. He is partnering with State Sens. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha and Tanya Storer of Whitman, who will shepherd the bills through the Legislature. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers efforts to crack down on delta-8, marijuana and other THC products crossed state lines Friday with a new lawsuit against a nationwide manufacturer and distributor.

Hilgers and his office filed a lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court against Savage Enterprises, a Wyoming corporation based in California. The lawsuit accuses Savage of falling woefully short on Nebraska labeling and safety laws and argues that it aims to entice and ultimately ensnare children and teenagers.

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A Nebraska consumer alerted the Attorney Generals Office to Savage Enterprises, leading to the investigation, according to the lawsuit.

The investigation included the testing of at least seven vape, gummy or edible products that purported to include certain types or levels of THC that were ultimately inaccurate. The lawsuit alleges the corporation also recklessly ignored health warning signs against delta-8 and other tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products and did not appropriately warn consumers.

Nebraska consumers cannot predict with any degree of certainty which ingredients Savage Enterprises puts into its products, nor understand the potential intoxicating or other adverse effects that may result from their consumption, the lawsuit states.

Savage Enterprises did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers hosts a press conference in October 2023 on what he called a major, unprecedented consumer protection action in the state targeting deceptive labeling of delta-8 products. (Courtesy of Nebraska Attorney Generals Office)

The lawsuit included a section that specified how many products Savage Enterprises has provided to how many retail smoke and vape shops throughout Nebraska, including in Lancaster County, but the specific numbers were redacted from the filing, including in the official court documents. An attorney generals spokesperson did not answer a reporters question on why the numbers were redacted.

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Among the allegations in the lawsuit is that Savage Enterprises offers online purchases without age verification and has used advertising that Hilgers office says is geared toward minors.

Hilgers office says the advertising included a Black Friday promotion in November 2023 promoting a free Nintendo Switch or Sony Playstation 5, social media content creators promoting Savage Enterprises products on various platforms, a Discord server where employees promote products and offer prizes, funny memes posted to appear trendy and cool and packaging with fruity flavors, cartoons, bright colors and childish fonts.

The lawsuit also accuses Savage Enterprises of using sex appeal through young, attractive models who it argues posted sexually provocative or scantily clad images or videos while using THC-containing products from Savage Enterprises.

Savage Enterprises recklessly disregarded the fact that its strategies would appeal to adolescents and teens and would induce them to try Savage Enterprises THC products, the lawsuit states.

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This is the 16th Hilgers-led lawsuit alleging violations of Nebraskas Consumer Protection Act and Nebraska Pure Food Act since he took office in 2023. His office has sent 225 cease and desist letters, too, including 21 in the last month.

Those letters have been sent to shops from Ralston to Scottsbluff, including 104 to smoke and vape shops in Omaha, 82 in Lincoln, four in Kearney and three in Nebraska City.

Hilgers has tried to partner with state lawmakers in legislative attempts to take such products off Nebraska shelves that he maintains are already illegal under state and federal law. Past legislative attempts have stalled but will likely be revived in 2026.

The latest, in a partnership with State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, would classify most hemp products as marijuana and severely limit, if not ban, most hemp and THC-containing products in Nebraska.

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Hilgers is asking Lancaster County District Court to stop Savage Enterprises and anyone in active concert or participation with the corporation from continuing the allegedly illegal behavior. The lawsuit seeks $2,000 for each violation of state law.

The Attorney General will not sit idly by while Savage Enterprises enriches itself and its owners by endangering the health and well-being of Nebraskas most valuable asset: its children and teenagers, the lawsuit states.

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State senators join together after adjourning for the year at the end of the 2025 legislative session. Not pictured: State Sens. Christy Armendariz of Omaha, Myron Dorn of Adams, Rob Dover of Norfolk and Glen Meyer of Pender. June 2, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  After a labor-dominated 89-day legislative session, Nebraska lawmakers are looking ahead to a little time off to reset before coming back for a 60-day session in January.

The Nebraska Examiner invited all 49 senators to review the most recent legislative session. All responded, with one declining to participate at this time. The collection of reflections, in lawmakers own words, is available below or see the full project in its own tab here.

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Among the responses, lawmakers described the 2025 session as a mixed bag, very successful, deeply disappointing, highly productive or decent. Some early priorities identified for 2026 include the state budget, property taxes and economic development.

While the Legislature will conduct interim studies and hold hearings this summer and fall, official action is on pause  at least for a while  after state lawmakers adjourned June 2. No plans have been announced for a special session. Some laws took effect immediately during the session. Others will be enacted this fall, most on Sept. 3, or later on.

Lawmakers are expected to return for the 2026 session beginning Jan. 7.

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Police said complaints about loud music escalated into a fight between neighbors that left one man dead early Sunday in northwest Bakersfield.

Officers with the Bakersfield Police Department responded to a call about a disturbance of the peace half an hour after midnight in the 7200 block of Rhone Drive, according to a news release. It said a fight broke out between neighbors and they had to be separated.

About an hour later, BPD got a call someone was trying to break down a neighbor's door. The release said the caller had armed himself and asked officers to hurry.

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At 1:40 a.m., another call came in saying there had been a shooting, the release said. When officers arrived, they found a man dead from apparent gunshot wounds in a back yard.

BPD said its investigation continues and that all parties involved were cooperating.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call BPD 661-327-7111.
An Israeli official told the 'Post' that Netanyahu will convene a meeting on Gaza and a hostage deal, noting that "the prime minister is considering all available options regarding next steps.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached a decision for the full occupation of the Gaza Strip, including operations in areas where hostages are held, a source in the Prime Minister's Office told TheJerusalem Post on Monday.

Additionally, on Tuesday morning, an Israeli official told the Post that Netanyahu will convene an extensive meeting on Gaza and a hostage deal, noting that "the prime minister is considering all available options regarding the next steps."

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The Israeli official added that US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff returned to the US to meet with the president and "a broad consensus that a deal must include all the hostages."

Hamas responds to reports of Israeli occupation of Gaza

Hamas responded to the reports about the intent to conquer Gaza, saying, "Israel's threats are repetitive, worthless, and have no influence on our decisions."

A screengrab from a Hamas propaganda video with Israeli hostage Evyatar David. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X, SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)

The announcement comes after months of talks in Doha between Hamas, Israel, and mediators to reach a ceasefire-hostage deal.

Hamas demanded thathundreds of trucks of aid would need to enter the Gaza Strip for the terror group to return to negotiations, despite increased international efforts to deliver resources to the Palestinian enclave in a way that would bypass the Islamist rulers of the strip.

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Hamas also released videos over the weekend, showing emaciated hostages and claiming that they were starving as a result of widespread famine in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas holds aid to hostages as bargaining chip

While the Red Cross agreed to increase efforts to deliver aid directly to the hostages, in addition to the aid being delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Hamas responded that the resources would only be allowed to reach the men if Israel opens the humanitarian corridors permanently and halts "all forms of air traffic" during the delivery of packages to the hostages.

This is a developing story.
Unable to find a diplomatic answer to the hostage crisis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a "military solution" to free the remaining hostages being held by Hamas terrorists, an Israeli official told ABC News on Sunday.

Netanyahu has suggested expanding the Israeli military operation in Gaza and using military force to extract the final hostages who have been in captivity since being kidnapped in the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists.

It is believed there are about 20 living hostages still being held by Hamas.

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the press, on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 8, 2025.

The Israeli official told ABC News that Israel and U.S. officials are in constant dialogue.

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The official said there is a growing understanding on the Israeli side that Hamas is not interested in a deal on the hostages.

"Therefore, Prime Minister Netanyahu is pushing to expand military operations to release the hostages through a military solution," the Israeli official said.

On Saturday, thousands of protesters filled the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding their government end the war and bring the last hostages home.

"They are on the absolute brink of death," Ilay David, whose brother, Evyatar David, is believed to be among the remaining Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, told protesters gathered in Tel Aviv. "In the current unimaginable condition, they may have only days left to live.

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MORE: 28 countries sign statement calling for end of war in Gaza

Hamas released a video over the weekend showing Evyatar David looking painfully emaciated.

The protest erupted hours after Steve Witcoff, Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, met in Israel with the families of hostages still in captivity.

As global concern over the hunger crisis in Gaza intensifies, Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee traveled to the Middle East on Friday to inspect the U.S. and Israel-backed aid distribution system there.

MORE: Timeline of Israel's actions in Gaza after end of ceasefire with Hamas

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For months, humanitarian aid organizations and international bodies have warned that Gaza is facing "critical" levels of hunger and that famine is "imminent" in parts of the Gaza Strip.

An increasing number of deaths due to malnutrition have also been reported, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.

At least 175 people, including 93 children, have died from malnutrition in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Throughout the conflict, Israel has maintained that it is sending enough aid into Gaza, but international aid organizations have repeatedly said there is not enough aid, and the United Nations has reported conditions of malnutrition inside Gaza.

The Israeli source who spoke to ABC News said humanitarian aid will continue to enter Gaza in areas outside combat zones and areas no longer controlled by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that the Palestinian militant group Hamas has no interest in reaching a ceasefire deal or releasing the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

"I understand exactly what Hamas wants. It doesn't want a deal," Netanyahu said in a video message, according to an English translation by The Times of Israel.

He added that recent videos released by Hamas had only strengthened his determination to defeat the group and bring the hostages home.

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Netanyahu's remarks were met with sharp criticism from the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which represents most of the families of the 50 hostages still believed to be in Gaza.

"For 22 months now the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure and intense fighting will bring the hostages back," the group said in a statement.

"The truth must be told: Expanding the war endangers the lives of the hostages who are at risk of imminent death. We saw the chilling images of the hostages in the tunnels, they won't survive more long days of horror."

In recent days, Hamas has released videos showing two of the hostages in a state of acute malnutrition.

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The images have shocked the Israeli public and many people around the world over the weekend, with leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France's Emmanuel Macron expressing their horror.

In Israel, it is suspected that Hamas deliberately brought the hostages to the brink of starvation in order to exert pressure on the Netanyahu government.

"They [Hamas] want to break us  with these horrifying videos, with the false horror propaganda it spreads across the world," Netanyahu said. "But we will not break."

Israeli leadership weighing military options

According to Israeli media, the Israeli government is considering military action to rescue the remaining hostages.

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An unnamed Israeli official told several newspapers that Netanyahu is seeking to secure their release "through decisive military victory." Talks with the United States are ongoing, the official added, amid signs that Hamas remains unwilling to reach a deal through indirect negotiations.

However, humanitarian aid for the Palestinian civilian population would be guaranteed, except in combat zones and areas under Hamas control.

Israel believes at least 50 hostages are still being held by Hamas and allied groups, with around 20 presumed to be alive.

Months of indirect talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire and hostage release have so far failed to produce a breakthrough.

Hamas: Red Cross can treat hostages under certain conditions

Hamas on Sunday said it is prepared under certain conditions to allow the Red Cross to supply food and medicine to the Israeli hostages it is holding, after a video of an emaciated captive prompted international condemnation.

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A spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the organization's military wing, said on Telegram that they would respond positively to a request from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

However, he added that Israel must, in return, enable the comprehensive and permanent supply of aid for the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

In addition, Israel must cease all aerial reconnaissance during the period in which help reaches the hostages, Hamas said.

Netanyahu's office said he has spoken to the ICRC's regional head of delegation, Julien Lerisson, and asked him to ensure that the Red Cross immediately supplies the Israeli hostages with food and medicine.
Israel's right-wing government voted on Monday to dismiss Gali Baharav-Miara as attorney general, citing a lack of confidence in her ability to perform the job's duties.

The decision was unanimous, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not participate in the vote, local media reported.

Her removal is expected to be reviewed by the Supreme Court, with many observers anticipating it will be overturned.

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The attorney general plays a crucial role in overseeing the legality of government actions, and Baharav-Miara has frequently clashed with Netanyahu over measures she deemed unlawful.

Tensions escalated earlier this year when Baharav-Miara challenged the legality of Netanyahu's appointment of David Zini as head of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence agency.

In her view, Netanyahu faced a conflict of interest in this decision because Shin Bet was looking into the prime minister's advisers as part of a corruption case. The investigation centres on allegations that these associates were paid by Qatar for lobbying efforts.

Qatar is highly controversial due to its backing of Hamas, the Islamist group that launched the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

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Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and has dismissed the proceedings as a "judicial witch hunt."

Netanyahu and his allies have long accused Israel's judiciary of wielding excessive power and interfering in executive decisions.

His government's controversial push for a judicial overhaul sparked months of mass protests in 2023, with critics warning it would erode the country's democratic checks and balances. The reform effort was put on hold after the outbreak of the Gaza war.

Baharav-Miara, appointed under a previous government, has remained a central figure in the defence of judicial independence amid the current administration's efforts to curtail it.
Editor's note: This article was updated with a statement by U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker.

The Netherlands will deliver a 500 million euros (around $579 million) military aid package to Ukraine consisting of U.S.-made weapon systems, including Patriot missile components, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced on Aug. 4.

The announcement comes amid a sharp escalation in Russian air attacks and calls from Kyiv to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities.

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"Ukraine needs more air defence and ammunition now," Brekelmans wrote on X. "As the first NATO ally, the Netherlands will deliver a 500 million package of U.S. weapon systems (including Patriot parts and missiles). This helps Ukraine to defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression."

President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the decision, saying Ukraine and Europe "will receive greater protection from Russian terror."

"I am sincerely grateful to the Netherlands for their substantial contribution to strengthening Ukraine's air shield," Zelensky wrote, saying this is "the first such step" among NATO countries.

In June, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed a scheme under which NATO countries will purchase advanced arms from Washington, including air defense systems, and deliver some of them to Ukraine.

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Zelensky added that the move was one of the practical outcomes of the June NATO summit in The Hague. He thanked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

In July, Russia launched a record 6,129 drones against Ukraine.

Russia launched record 728 drones in a single night on July 9, striking targets across western Ukraine. At least six civilians were killed and 39 injured, Ukrainian officials said. The latest attack on Kyiv on July 31 killed 31 people and left more than 150 injured.

Later in the day, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker noted that the Netherlands is the "first of many" to purchase weapons for Ukraine under the new scheme.

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"You're going to see a series of announcements. In the coming weeks, when we announced this facility that allowed our NATO allies to buy U.S. equipment and provide that to Ukraine for their defense, we had a lot of our allies raise their hand and line up," he said.

"A lot of them are coming together in groups to pool their money and their resources together to provide those armaments and munitions," Whitaker added.

Russian drones launched against Ukraine May-2024  June 2025 (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

Germany also announced on Aug. 1 that it would send two additional Patriot launchers "in the coming days," with more components expected to arrive "within the next two to three months."

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin had secured a commitment from the U.S. manufacturer to replenish German stockpiles quickly, allowing Germany to send the systems to Ukraine without compromising its NATO commitments.

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Read also: 5 Russian fighter jets hit by Ukraines SBU in drone operation in occupied Crimea, one destroyed

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine on 4 August, which includes components and missiles for the Patriot air defence system.

Source: Brekelmans on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Brekelmans stressed that Ukraine "needs more air defence and ammunition now".

Quote: "The Netherlands will deliver a 500 million package of US weapon systems (incl. Patriot parts and missiles). This helps Ukraine to defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression."

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Details: He did not provide any further details, including the exact content or timeline of the military aid.

Background:

Earlier, Brekelmans confirmed his countrys readiness to co-finance the delivery of additional Patriot systems for Ukraine.

Last week, Germany announced it will deliver two Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, following an agreement with the United States under which Berlin will be first in line to receive replacements for the systems it sends.

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Part of Newfound Gap Road/U.S. 441 remained closed Aug. 4 to all traffic on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, days after a landslide prompted the closure.

And officials don't know when the major road through the busy national park might reopen.

"The National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration continue to assess the road damage resulting from the road washout and landslide on Aug. 1," park spokesperson Katie Liming told Knox News Aug. 4 via email.

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"We are making plans for emergency repairs, but don't have an estimated timeline yet," she added.

The road remained closed between Sugarlands and Newfound Gap, according to the National Park Service. Drivers should follow posted signage to avoid the closed section. Drivers should not enter any closed areas.

On the North Carolina side, Newfound Gap reopened Aug. 3 between Cherokee, North Carolina, and the Newfound Gap Overlook. Visitors can drive along that section of the road but must turn around at the Newfound Gap Overlook.

Visitors can access Kuwohi from the North Carolina side.

The Smokies is the most-visited national park in the country, with over 12 million visitors in 2024. More than 1.5 million vehicles travel on Newfound Gap Road each year, according to the park's website.

Where did the landslide happen?

The landslide occurred south of the Alum Cave trailhead on Newfound Gap Road between mile markers 12 and 13 on the Tennessee side of the park.

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The park collaborated with the Federal Highway Administration to assess the structural integrity of the damaged section, which spans approximately 100 feet. Heavy rainfall on Aug. 1 caused the Walker Camp Prong creek to swell, and the water washed out part of the roadway, especially on the southbound side, the park service said.

A rockslide closed Newfound Gap Road/U.S. 441 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the Alum Cave trailhead on Aug. 2. 2025.

What's an alternate route between states when Newfound Gap Road is closed?

Newfound Gap is a major national park thoroughfare between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina.

The park advises travelers planning to cross the border to use Interstate 40 as an alternative route.

"Visitors are reminded to follow detour and closure signs for their own safety," Liming said.

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I-40 is down to one lane in each direction near the border, and has had its own series of closures and ongoing construction after Hurricane Helene washed it out. An alternate interstate route is I-81 to I-26.

What parts of the park can you get to only from Tennessee?

There are two main entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. One is in Gatlinburg and the other is in Townsend. Popular areas on the Tennessee side include Abrams Creek, Elkmont, Cades Cove, the Foothills Parkway and Sugarlands.

Kuwohi straddles the border, but the tallest peak in the park is on the Tennessee side.

Gatlinburg entrance

The Sugarlands entrance is the busiest entrance on the Tennessee side of the park. The Gatlinburg entrance is near several tourist attractions just outside the park and, within the park, the entrance leads to trails, waterfalls and historic cabins. Some of the areas include Cataract Falls, Grotto Falls and Chimney Tops trail.

Townsend entrance

Removed from the tourist hub of Gatlinburg, the Townsend entrance to the park is known as the peaceful side of the Smokies. Areas near this entrance include Cades Cove, Elkmont, Abrams Falls trail, Townsend Wye, Meigs Falls and The Sinks.

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Other less-travelled park entrances from Tennessee include, Wears Valley (Wears Valley Road/U.S. 321), Greenbrier (Greenbrier Road) and Cosby (Cosby Entrance Road). The smaller entrances might have ranger stations, but not visitor centers.

Updated Great Smoky Mountains National Park road closures and other updates are available on the park website and via the @GreatSmokyNPS social media account on X.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: When will Newfound Gap Road reopen in Smoky Mountains after landslide?
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The next court date for a Denham Springs man accused of a hit-and-run that left a 20-year-old woman dead is set for October.

Brandon Chenevert, 30, is accused of hitting Jody Mann on Louisiana Highway 1023 as she was walking to a friends house. He was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, failure to seek assistance, obstruction of justice, among other charges.

Mann was hospitalized in critical condition before dying from her injuries weeks later.

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Chenevert is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 20 after discoveries for his Aug. 4 court appearance were not completed.

Man dead after being hit by car during fight in Baton Rouge

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
NIXA, Mo.  The first day of school is just around the corner for many districts in the Ozarks, including Nixa.

The Nixa community is welcoming 73 new teachers to the district this year with the annual Chamber of Commerce New Teacher Luncheon.

This is the first day of a full week-long training for the teachers. They will be taken on a tour of the district and end at Nixa High School, where they are welcomed by the school band and cheerleaders before local businesses are ready to treat them to lunch.

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Nixa Chamber of Commerce President Whitney Guison says its an opportunity for area businesses to connect with the teachers and show theyre support.

These businesses want to do it. So thats why the chamber is the one who hosts this, Guison said. Because we want to show outside of the school, theres a whole community of businesses who are supporting our teachers.

Its a big deal: Shoppers make final back-to-school purchases for last day of tax-free holiday

In addition to the grand welcome wagon and lunch, each teacher will walk away with a gift basket. The gift baskets have been donated by businesses and community members over the last couple of weeks. Guison says they exceeded their goal, and any extra baskets will be gifted to new paraprofessionals in Nixa.

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Weve had teachers who come through this who have taught in other places, and they have their feedback is theyve never had that experience before. Theyve never felt that kind of welcome before. And thats what we want, Guison said. We want them to see that Nixa is unique, that we support our teachers uniquely and we appreciate them, and I think they feel that.

Other areas have similar events happening today, including the Ozark Chamber of Commerce, and the Republic Chamber of Commerce will be having a similar event later this week.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
New Jersey say the settlement with DuPont-related firms is the largest ever reached by an American state. (Getty Images)

A series of firms related to DuPont agreed to a more than $2 billion settlement with the state to resolve contamination involving so-called forever chemicals at four sites across New Jersey in what officials called the largest environmental settlement ever reached by a single American state.

The firms would pay $875 million under the proposed settlement, which the Department of Environmental Protection must approve in a rulemaking process that begins in September, and would be required to put another $1.2 billion into a fund to clean up environmental damages related to four New Jersey sites.

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Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said companies that put profit above public well-being can be expected to be held responsible.

When you turn on your water every morning in the state of New Jersey to make a coffee, to iron your shirt, to feed your dogs, you deserve for that water  unquestionably  to be safe and clean and reliably so, LaTourette told reporters Monday This funding source will help ensure that these synthetic chemicals, which have no place in our environment, are rooted out.

DuPont declined to comment on the deal.

The settlement covers contamination stemming from firefighting foam containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, called PFAS. Those substances take hundreds of years to decompose and have found their way into the blood of nearly all Americans.

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PFAS substances can cause cancer, autoimmune disorders, and liver and kidney damage. They can spur developmental delays and behavioral issues in children.

If the settlement is affirmed, the payments would be made over 25 years. Of the $855 million in damages, about $125 million would go toward costs, fees, penalties, and punitive damages, while $750 million would be held in a trust account for the remediation of PFAS and other types of contamination, including through water treatment, according to LaTourette.

The settlement would cover contamination at two PFAS sites  a DuPont chemical plant in Parlin, and Chambers Works, a manufacturing facility in Deepwater that spread contaminants into nearby wells.

It would also provide for the remediation of contamination caused at Pompton Lake Works, a shuttered munitions production plant in Pompton Lakes, and a facility that manufactured dynamite in Parlin.

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The settlement would resolve claims against E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co.; the Chemours Company and The Chemours Company FC, LLC; DuPont Specialty Products USA, LLC; Corteva Inc.; and DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

The settlement calls for the firms to establish a $475 million reserve fund that could cover remediation expenses if one of the firms involved in the settlement goes bankrupt or otherwise shuts down.

The proposed settlement will be published in the New Jersey register with a 60-day public comment period in the first week of September, in line with a requirement that the public be given time to comment on proposed environmental justice settlements before the courts are asked to approve them, LaTourette said.

The settlement announced Monday follows a $450 million settlement with the conglomerate 3M in May that was, at the time, the largest PFAS settlement in state history. That agreement was printed in the New Jersey register on July 21 and is awaiting the close of its public comment period.

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Sen. Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) is shown on the floor of the New Mexico Senate during the 2025 legislative session. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM)

A state senator wants New Mexico to adopt a more rehabilitative model for incarcerating and treating young people who are accused of crimes and whom the state deems in need of mental health treatment.

As young people await trial in their delinquent or criminal cases, New Mexico holds them in four county-run youth detention centers in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Farmington and Roswell.

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Sen. Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) told the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee on Wednesday this leaves communities in northeastern New Mexico, including her district, without any youth detention centers. As a result, the county transports children from Santa Fe who are charged with crimes all the way to Farmington, she said.

Its so far away for our families, and its just not good for them to be so far away, Trujillo said. I think that we, as a state, should take responsibility for ensuring that we have detention centers that meet a standard and that provide the resources that we need to, and that are local and in our communities.

The problem is statewide, according to Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce and Law Offices of the Public Defender Deputy Chief of Operations Jennifer Barela, who discussed juvenile justice and treatment with the committee on Thursday.

Luce and Barela told the committee its difficult if not impossible to place children facing criminal charges into mental health treatment. Barela said public defenders who represent children in courts across the state tell her theres nowhere to place young people for treatment.

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We need to look at more localized treatment, Barela said. These kids need to be close to their families.

Trujillo said she wants to see the state government start building small, non-institutional youth detention facilities close to home. She said she wants a system inspired by the state of Missouris Division of Youth Services, which she called a national model and said considers not only a young persons alleged crime but also their treatment needs.

New Mexicos own child welfare agency, the Children Youth and Families Department, hired a contractor to implement the Missouri model in 2007, according to Trujillos presentation to the committee.

State officials in 2010 adopted a plan to implement the Missouri model which included creating regional youth detention centers, according to Trujillos presentation, however, she said counties still havent built the facilities because they cant afford to.

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After courts resolve young peoples cases, CYFD provides mental health treatment to girls and boys held in the Youth Development and Diagnostic Center in Albuquerque and boys in the John Paul Taylor Center in Las Cruces, if they meet the criteria to get in, Luce said.

Im proposing that we have more of those, and that they look more like a home, Trujillo told Source NM in an interview on Friday. Its not just to detain youth  its to provide them intense therapy, to provide them the resources they need.

The facilities Trujillo is proposing would have the same security measures any detention center would, but would hold smaller numbers of children and be built to not look so institutional.

Trujillos two proposals are part of a larger package of juvenile justice reforms she wants Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to consider in the 30-day legislative session next year.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says "Alligator Alcatraz" will serve as a model for state-run migrant detention centers, and she told CBS News in an interview that she hopes to launch a handful of similar detention centers in multiple airports and jails across the country, in the coming months. Potential sites are already under consideration in Arizona, Nebraska and Louisiana.

"The locations we're looking at are right by airport runways that will help give us an efficiency that we've never had before," Noem said, adding that she's appealed directly to governors and state leaders nationwide to gauge their interest in contributing to the Trump administration's program to detain and deport more unauthorized migrants.

"Most of them are interested," Noem said, adding that in states that support President Trump's mission of securing the southern border, "many of them have facilities that may be empty or underutilized."

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The Department of Homeland Security strategy builds on the opening of a 3,000-bed immigration detention center at a jetport in South Florida last month. Dubbed Alligator Alcatraz by state and federal officials, the makeshift facility will cost an estimated $450 million to operate in its first year. Up and running in just 8 days, the tents and trailers at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport are surrounded by 39 square miles of isolated swampland, boasting treacherous terrain and wildlife

Last month, President Trump toured the facility, seeing rows of bunk beds lined up behind chain fences and encircled by razor wire. Mr. Trump joked to reporters there that "we're going to teach them how to run away from an alligator if they escape prison." Asked if the temporary facility would be a model of what's to come, the president said he'd like to see similar operations in "many states."

The entrance to the state-managed immigration detention center dubbed Alligator Alcatraz, located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Florida Everglades on August 03, 2025 in Ochopee, Florida. / Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

The Arizona's governor's office told CBS News it has not been approached about a state-run facility.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen's office said in a statement that his administration "continues to be in communication with federal partners on how Nebraska can best assist in these efforts," but added that for now, "it is premature to comment" and the governor would "make details public at the appropriate time."

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For her part, Noem called the Alligator Alcatraz model "much better" than the current detention prototype, which largely contracts out its Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity to for-profit prison companies and county jails. ICE is an agency that falls under DHS. This model relies on intergovernmental service agreements (IGSAs) negotiated and signed between ICE and individual localities. She called the Florida facility  with an eventual price tag of $245 per inmate bed, per night, according to DHS officials  a cost-effective option. "Obviously it was much less per-bed cost than what some of the previous contracts under the Department of Homeland Security were."

According to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics, the estimated average daily cost of detaining an adult migrant in fiscal year 2024 was about $165, though the actual cost of detention typically varies based on region, length of stay and facility type.

Still, Noem argued that the new venues, all with close proximity to airports or runways, will help ICE to cut costs by "facilitating quick turnarounds."

"They're all strategically designed to make sure that people are in beds for less days," Noem said, adding that some of the facilities being considered are still undergoing vetting by the department and subject to ongoing negotiations. "It can be much more efficient once they get their hearings, due process, paperwork."

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Unlike Alligator Alcatraz, which uses funds from a shelter, food and transportation program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Noem said the state-based initiative will tap into a new $45 billion funding pool for ICE prompted by President Trump's "big, beautiful bill", which was signed into law last month. The pool of money is allocated specifically to the expansion of ICE's detention network and will nearly double the agency's bedspace capacity of 61,000 beds, based on cost analysis. As of Saturday, ICE was holding just over 57,000 individuals in its detention network in more than 150 facilities nationwide.

Noem  who has implemented a department-wide policy across DHS of personally approving each and every contract and grant over $100,000  said keeping ICE detention contracts to a duration of under five years is now "the model we've pushed for." For instance, she added, Alligator Alcatraz is a one-year contract that can be renewed.

"For me personally, the question that I've asked of every one of these contracts is, why are we signing 15-year deals?" Noem said. "I have to look at our mission. If we're still building out and processing 100,000 detention beds 15 years from now, then we didn't do our job."

The new policy is a departure from earlier agreements made under the Trump administration. In February, ICE signed a 15-year, $1 billion deal with the GEO Group, a private prison company, to reopen Delaney Hall, a two-story, 1,000-bed facility that ranks among the largest detention centers in the Northeast.

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Still, Noem said she doesn't feel the U.S. is moving away from a private detention model. "I mean, these are competitive contracts," she said. "I want everybody to be at the table, giving us solutions. I just want them to give us a contract that actually does the job  a contract that doesn't put more money in their pockets while keeping people in detention beds just for the sake of that contract."

But Alligator Alcatraz has also come under fire from attorneys claiming that both the Trump and DeSantis administrations are holding detainees without charge or access to immigration courts, violating their constitutional rights. Attorneys argued in a legal filing last month that unauthorized migrants held at the Florida-run site have no legal recourse to challenge their detention.

Lawyers and experts have also called into question the very legality of a state-run immigration detention center, given the federal government's authority over immigration enforcement. Opening the detention center in the Everglades under Florida's emergency state powers marked a departure from the federal government's role of housing migrant detainees, an option typically reserved for those who've recently entered the country illegally or those with criminal convictions.

A U.S. district judge last week ordered state and federal officials to provide a copy of the agreement showing "who's running the show" at the Everglades immigrant-detention center.

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"Florida does not have the legal authority to detain undocumented immigrants in the absence of a contract with ICE," said Kevin Landy, the director of detention policy and planning for ICE under President Barack Obama. "A state government can't do that."

Detainees held at Alligator Alcatraz have also claimed unsanitary and inhumane conditions, including food with maggots, denial of religious rights and limited access to both legal assistance and water. Florida officials have denied the accusations.

Still, tucked away in the Florida Everglades 45 miles west of Miami, if its location sounds treacherous, Noem concedes, that's kind of the point. "There definitely is a message that it sends," the secretary said. "President Trump wants people to know if you are a violent criminal and you're in this country illegally, there will be consequences."

Noem offered that deterrence is an effective strategy based on U.S. gathered intelligence "from three letter agencies, from other intelligence officials throughout the federal government and in a lot of the Latin American and South American countries" that indicates "overwhelmingly, what encourages people to go back home voluntarily is the consequences."

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"They see the laws being enforced in the United States," Noem said. "They know when they are here illegally and if they are detained, they'll be removed. They see that they may never get the chance to come back to America. And they're voluntarily coming home."

The DHS secretary met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in March. "One of the questions I asked President Scheinbaum when I was in Mexico is, 'Do you have any idea how many people may have come back to Mexico that we may not know about,'" Noem said.

"[Sheinbaum] said 500,000 to 600,000 people have come back to Mexico voluntarily since President Trump's been in office," Noem continued, explaining that the Mexican president believes her reluctant citizens fear losing the chance to return to the U.S. on a visa or work program.

It's a datapoint she solicits from many of the foreign leaders she meets with, including Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who shared a 90-minute lunch with the DHS secretary in Quito, last Thursday. "I asked him the same question," Noem recalled. "He doesn't have as many illegal immigrants in the United States as in Mexico and Venezuela, but he said he thinks over 100,000 of his citizens have come back to Ecuador. And that's a huge number."

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Noem reasoned that her Ecuadorian counterpart's rough estimate is based on two factors  a strengthening Ecuadorian economy and a DHS television campaign launched across Latin and South America, warning prospective migrants not to enter or remain in the U.S. illegally.

"He was very proud of the fact that he's doing better with his economy. So there's jobs," Noem recounted. "But he said, you know, our ads are running in Ecuador. We're telling people that, if you have family in the United States that are there illegally, it's time to come home."

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem envisions more Alligator Alcatraz-like immigration detention centers across the country, including near airport runways, to boost the efficiency of Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda.

The Florida facility is serving as a model for state-run detention centers, and the locations were looking at are right by airport runways that will help give us an efficiency that we've never had before, Noem told CBS News.

Noem told the network she has appealed directly to state officials, and most of them are interested.

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She added: Many of them have facilities that may be empty or underutilized.

The administration has reportedly sought out facilities in Arizona, Nebraska and Louisiana, which currently houses the only Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center on a tarmac. The Alexandria Staging Facility sits across from the Alexandria International Airport, which has emerged as the nations deportation capital under the Trump administration.

For more than a decade, ICE  which operates under Homeland Security  has turned to corporate shipping and logistics companies for inspiration for rounding up and deporting immigrants. Shortly after he was tapped to lead the agency in March, ICEs acting director, Todd Lyons, bluntly compared the movement of people to packages.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem envisions more Alligator Alcatraz-like immigration detention centers across the country, including near airport runways, in an effort to boost the efficiency of Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda. (via REUTERS)

We need to get better at treating this like a business, where this mass deportation operation is something like you would see and say, like, Amazon trying to get your Prime delivery within 24 hours, Lyons told a law enforcement conference in Phoenix in April.

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So, trying to figure out how to do that with human beings, he said.

Lyons later expanded on his remarks about treating immigrants like packages in an interview with Boston 25 News that same month.

The key part that got left out of that statement was, I said, they deal with boxes, we deal with human beings, which is totally different, he said.

ICE should be run like a corporation, he told the outlet.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wants to boost deportation efficiency with state-run, Alligator Alcatraz-like detention centers near airports across the US (AFP via Getty Images)

We need to be better about removing those individuals who have been lawfully ordered out of the country in a safe, efficient manner, Lyons continued. We cant trade innovation and efficiency for how we treat the people in our custody.

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In a statement to The Independent, Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the agency is working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American peoples mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens.

With the opening of Alligator Alcatraz, we expanded facilities and bed space in just days, she added. We look forward to partnering with other states to open other similar facilities to house some the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.

Named Alligator Alcatraz by state and federal officials, a 3,000-bed detention center opened in south Florida last month within the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, roughly 43 miles from Miami in the middle of the Everglades.

A federal lawsuit accuses the facility of blocking detainees from legal counsel and forcing people into overcrowded, unsanitary, and harsh conditions with inadequate food, flood-prone cells, and excessive use of force from guards that sent at least one man to a hospital.

A federal lawsuit accuses the makeshift facility in Floridas Everglades of blocking detainees from legal access while forcing them to endure overcrowded, unsanitary, and harsh conditions (REUTERS)

Its also unclear who is actually running the facility and who wants to take responsibility for it. Government lawyers could not immediately answer in court whether the federal government or Florida is responsible.

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In court filings, immigration officials claimed that the facility is operating through the federal 287(g) program, which allows local and state law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law. ICE has inked nearly 800 such agreements covering 40 states.

We need to get to the bottom of the interplay between the federal and state authorities on whos running this thing, Florida District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II said during a recent court hearing in a lawsuit against the facility.

The makeshift facility is expected to cost roughly $450 million within its first year, at roughly $245 per inmate bed per night, according to DHS. ICE spent roughly $187 per adult detainee per day in 2023.

Still, Noem claims that the Alligator Alcatraz model is much better than ICEs current arrangement with local jails and for-profit prison companies, which operate a vast majority of the nations detention centers.

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Funding for Alligator Alcatraz largely comes from FEMAs Shelter and Services Program.

The incoming wave of state-run detention centers is expected to tap into $45 billion in new funding for ICE as part of Trumps big, beautiful bill. The bill also allocates $30 billion for an aggressive recruitment campaign to hire another 10,000 ICE agents.

Altogether, the bill earmarks more than $170 billion for immigration enforcement  a boon to for-profit contractors and cash-strapped states looking to tap into billions of taxpayer dollars.

Putting those new facilities near airports and runways will help ICE cut costs by facilitating quick turnarounds, Noem told CBS.

Theyre all strategically designed to make sure that people are in beds for less days, Noem said. It can be much more efficient once they get their hearings, due process, paperwork.
NORFOLK, Neb. (KCAU)  The Norfolk Police Division (NPD) stated one of their officers was arrested for driving under the influence.

NPD said on Saturday, around 2:30 a.m., they were contacted by an off-duty officer identified as Officer Joshua Schlote. Authorities claimed he was highly intoxicated and had been involved in a disturbance with his spouse, Jordan Schlote.

Story continues below

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Law enforcement determined both Joshua and Jordan had been drinking and drove earlier in the night. NPD arrested Jordan Schlote and charged her with driving under the influence (DUI). Joshua Schlote was also arrested by Nebraska State Patrol for DUI.

The Norfolk Police Division holds its officers to a high standard of conduct both on and off duty. The officers behavior does not reflect the values of our department, and we are taking this matter seriously in alignment with our commitment to integrity, accountability, and public trust, said Chief Brian Tighe.

On Monday afternoon, NPD announced Joshua Schlote has resigned.

Officer Schlote had been serving in a probationary capacity with the department. His resignation has been accepted, and no further comment will be provided at this time. The Norfolk Police Division remains committed to the principles of integrity, accountability, and public trust, and continues to serve the Norfolk community with professionalism and dedication, reads the press release.

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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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Customers at North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles are waiting longer in lines that are often far away from home, while agency staffing fails to keep pace with the state's surging population, according to agency reviews that also recommend major reforms.

Elected Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek on Monday released two audits totaling nearly 600 pages that scrutinize the DMV  the bane of motorists in many states. But long lines and frustrations are acute in the ninth-largest state.

Our DMV affects the economy. It affects people having to take off of work unnecessarily. It takes our students out of the classroom, Boliek told reporters. This has to be fixed and it has to be a top priority.

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Constituent complaints, REAL ID brings problems to fore

Boliek promised during last years campaign to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the DMV if elected.

Elected leaders' constituents have complained about the inability to book appointments online close to home and the struggles for their teenagers to complete driving tests.

Its not unusual for customers to camp outside drivers license offices in the wee hours hoping to get seen later that day. Problems continued as federal REAL ID license security requirements took effect in May.

Erin Van Dorn of Holly Springs said at Boliek's news conference it took her and her teenage son four trips to the DMV  the last time 130 miles (209 kilometers) away in Mount Airy  to obtain his license. Information technology and staffing shortages were to blame.

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My son has missed a total of four days of school, Van Horn said while mentioning additonal delays. Its just been a very big ordeal for us.

New Democratic Gov. Josh Steins administration brought in former state legislator Paul Tine as the new Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner and has pledged a turnaround.

Longer waits, continued examiner shortages

A DMV performance audit Monday said average wait times for customers at the states drivers license locations increased by over 15% since 2019 to 1 hour and 15 minutes. And close to 14% of the visits lasted over 2 hours and 30 minutes  a 79% increase from 2019.

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And nearly half of all transactions by customers aren't happening at the license office closest to where they live.

The employee experience has diminished as well, Boliek said.

The audit said there were 160 vacant license examiner positions as of April. And while the state's population has grown by 29% over the last 20 years, the number of examiner positions has grown by just 10%. Boliek's staff heard DMV employee complaints about burnout, security and low pay  average examiner position salaries were well below $50,000 last year.

The audit attributes many problems to DMV's relationship with the Cabinet-level state Department of Transportation that oversees the agency. The auditor said DMV has undersized influence within DOT when it comes to decision-making and getting budget requests approved by the legislature.

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Agency independence among recommendations

Boliek's most significant recommendation is for policymakers to consider turning DMV into an autonomous agency separate from DOT.

Boliek said the recommendation is no slight upon Tine and current Teansportation Secretary Joey Hopkins, whom he said are taking steps toward reform. But he said a permanent change is needed to address situations where the commissioner and secretary wouldn't cooperate as well.

Other recommendations include creating a public online dashboard measuring keys performance goals and initiating nonconventional initiatives to reduce wait times and backlogs.

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Boliek said outside driving school instructors could administer road tests required of new drivers. The DMV could open pop-up license offices at a vacant mall anchor store or create fast-pass options for customers who pay extra to reach the front of the line.

We cant keep doing things the same old way," he said.

DMV, DOT chiefs back most recommendations

In a written response to the audits, Tine and Hopkins agreed with nearly all of the recommendations and said many already getting carried out.

But they opposed the recommendation to separate DMV, saying the agency's core functions align with the Transportation Department's mission to improve highway safety.

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We know that with the right leadership and follow-through, we will get results - getting people out of lines and empowering our hard-working DMV employees," Stein spokesperson Morgan Hopkins said.

The GOP-controlled General Assembly could still attempt to implement the change.

A stopgap budget measure on Steins desk provides funds to hire over 60 license examiners. And a new state law has established a temporary moratorium on renewing standard licenses, allowing them to remain valid within North Carolina for up to two years beyond the expiration date.
Frozen in time: North Carolina auditor releases new DMV audits

A 400-page report details the deteriorating service quality at DMVs in North Carolina.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Preliminary DMV audit findings emphasize insufficient staffing, plans to raise pay

People have been waiting in long lines for hours and appointments are scarce just to get a new ID. The goal of the report is to prevent these negative experiences.

To ensure better service for customers, the state auditor recommended for the DMV to partner with an industry expert to improve the customer experience. Despite 46 projects at a cost of $42 million in just the last decade, outside experts determined the current DMV mainframe systems are still outdated and overdue for replacement.

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Aubrey Wheeler is just one of 120 people a day who are moving to the Charlotte area and getting introduced to the states DMV. Hes from Georgia and is trying to get his license in North Carolina. He said he got to the DMV at 7:00 a.m. Channel 9 caught him leaving at 3:30 p.m.

I waited all day, came and went, Wheeler said. I think this is my third time here today, and still leaving here without a license, so its unfortunate. I think theyre understaffed.

Two new audits of the North Carolina DMV by the state auditor found those offices are severely understaffed. North Carolinas population has grown nearly 30% in the last 20 years (about 2.5 million people), but the DMV only increased the number of drivers license examiners by 10%. Of the 710 positions that do exist for examiners, only 505 are filled.

I just tried to walk in here, and Im surprised they let me do it, right away, said Malia Cruz, a DMV customer. Yeah, I just walked in.

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The audit found that the average wait time is one hour and 15 minutes, which is up 15% since 2019. One in seven visits exceeded two and a half hours, an 80% increase in that timeframe.

Over the past five years, customer experience has been measurably declining, said State Auditor Dave Boliek.

The employee experience has diminished as well.

The state auditor recommended the following five changes to ensure better service at North Carolina DMVs:

Policymakers should consider establishing DMV as an autonomous agency or authority with direct control over its budget, strategic planning, and operations.

DMV leadership should adopt a comprehensive strategic plan independent of DOT.

DMV should conduct an in-depth staffing analysis to inform a multi-year, phased staffing plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.

DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.

DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.

DMV audit quick facts:

Two different audits were done by the state auditor, one on IT, one on performance.

What we found is that IT modernization efforts at the DMV have not produced meaningful customer service improvements.

Since 2014, despite 46 projects at a cost of $42 million, outside experts determined the current DMV mainframe systems are outdated and overdue for replacement.

These legacy systems support all operations...but they keep the DMV operationally frozen in time

Looked at DMV operations up through April 22, 2025

Big problem -- DMV is part of DOT, but should be independent.

DMV generates 30% of DOTs overall revenue, but accounts for only 2.8% of DOTs expenditures.

Of the 45 performance milestones in the DOT strategic plan for the 2023-2025 biennium, only two directly pertained to DMV operations.

DOT left out DMV customer satisfaction data in its performance report.

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The state auditor listed out specific timelines for implementing recommendations and promised that his team will be following up to check on them.

You can see the DMV performance audit at this link.

See the DMV IT Systems audit at this link.

VIDEO: NC DMV expands all-day walk-ins to help customers avoid summer heat
In the past decade, mineral owners in North Dakota, including Bob and Diana Skarphol, left, Curtis Trulson, center, and Brian Anderson, have tried to get help from state leaders as oil and gas companies take some of their share of the earnings from selling their oil. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica)

This article was produced for ProPublicas Local Reporting Network in partnership with the North Dakota Monitor. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories in your inbox every week.

For more than half a century, Diana Skarphols family received a check every month from the company that drilled the first successful oil well in North Dakota on their land in 1951.

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The checks, from the company that became Hess Corp., were straightforward. Her family, which owns the oil and gas underground, received a percentage of the revenue generated from the companys sale of the minerals, called a royalty.

But in April 2015, when she opened that months check and looked at the accompanying statement detailing her share, she noticed for the first time that a significant portion of the payment had been deducted. About 35% of what she thought she was owed was gone, and she didnt know why.

She was so taken aback that she called her husband, Bob Skarphol, a state lawmaker on the verge of retirement, as he drove from the Capitol in Bismarck to their home in Tioga, a small community in the oil-rich Bakken in the western part of the state.

Why are there minuses? Diana Skarphol recalls asking. Rather than being added in, things were being subtracted. I was puzzled and confused.

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The couple remembers that call because it was the start of a frustrating, decade-long search for answers from the company and of a string of unanswered pleas for help from the state, which has not taken action to help royalty recipients even as other states have. Over the past decade, Hess has withheld about 31%, or $137,635, of the Skarphols royalty income to cover the companys costs to move oil and gas from the well site to market, records show.

Oil and gas companies owed the states private mineral owners, like the Skarphols, an estimated $4.6 billion in 2023 before deductions, according to North Dakota State University research. But those deductions  which can vary greatly  are deeply contentious in the state: The companies claim certain costs should be shared with royalty owners, while owners say that in most circumstances, the deductions shouldnt be permitted at all. The state itself doesnt regulate what can be deducted and there is no official accounting of how much of that money is withheld.

The North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica spoke with 18 mineral owners, interviewed experts and lawmakers, and reviewed court records and royalty statements to understand the extent of deductions. A dozen owners provided records of companies withholding 20% or more of their oil and gas royalties. Some monthly statements showed deductions as high as 50%. Similarly, at least one energy company and one independent researcher have found the deductions to be around 20% in recent years.

The industrys chief lobbyist said percentages that high are atypical. Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said it would be impossible to calculate an average deduction but suggested it couldnt be more than 7% to 10% based on the cost of transporting oil out of state. If deductions were in that range, North Dakota royalty owners collectively would have lost between $322 million and $460 million in 2023.

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The Skarphols leases with Hess were signed during a time when oil and gas was often sold at or near well sites. The leases didnt say anything about deductions.

Its a matter of fairness, Diana Skarphol said. We didnt get any say in it. They just up and changed it. You feel like youre being cheated. Its not right.

Bob and Diana Skarphol have kept records of payments for their mineral rights going back decades. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica)

While the language in the leases has not changed, the industry has. Most companies now choose to move the commodities away from the well site before selling them, incurring additional transportation and processing costs. They pass on a share of those costs to the royalty owners, which the North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled is legal.

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By contrast, North Dakota officials have taken steps to safeguard state-owned royalties. Since 1979, all state leases with oil and gas companies prohibit deductions. When state trustees noticed deductions were being taken anyway, they fought back and have spent years negotiating settlements to recoup those missing royalties.

But the majority of the oil and gas in North Dakota is privately owned by about 300,000 individuals, according to the industry. And North Dakota policymakers have not taken action that would protect private minerals, an investigation by the North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica has found.

Theres a double standard, said Rep. Keith Kempenich, a Republican from Bowman, a community in the oil field. He has co-sponsored several pieces of unsuccessful legislation aimed at helping private owners.

Lawmakers have rejected efforts to rein in deductions and to make it easier for royalty owners to understand what costs are being deducted and why. And oil and gas regulators have claimed they have no jurisdiction to help.

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Its ridiculous, said Bob Skarphol, who has led the advocacy efforts by private mineral owners. The industry has an incredible amount of influence in North Dakota.

The state, which owns about 6% of the minerals in North Dakota, has advantages that private mineral owners dont have. It has the resources to audit companies that pay royalties and to litigate disputes. State law also requires that companies provide electronic copies of royalty and production data to regulators, but private royalty owners are guaranteed access only if they travel to the companys office, which could be out of state.

And unlike the state, private mineral owners rarely have the leverage to negotiate a lease that prohibits deductions, and leases dont expire unless oil production lapses.

In responses to questions from the North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica, officials from three companies that operate in North Dakota  Hess Corp., Slawson Exploration Co. and Zavanna Energy  said they follow the language in the leases. In fact, most leases, like the Skarphols, dont explicitly mention deductions. The companies also said that while there are additional expenses to selling the oil and gas farther away from the well site, doing so also leads to a better price for both the companies and the owners.

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The companies, as well as the organization that advocates for the industry, blamed some of the fees charged to private owners on costly state regulations enacted a decade ago.

Basically it got really, really expensive and really, really challenging. And I think it put the economics of gas in a whole different position, said Ness of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, which represents more than 550 oil and gas companies in the state. Pure and simple, the world changed.

Saddled with expenses

Diana Skarphol was less than a year old when her mothers family, the Iversons, first leased the rights to any oil found under their land to Amerada Petroleum, which later merged with Hess, in 1949. The Iverson family had immigrated from Norway at the turn of the century. Theyd farmed the land for decades, survived the dust bowl of the hard 30s and were still feeling the effects of the Great Depression.

The discovery of oil in 1951, setting off the states first oil boom, changed everything. Oil executives and workers flooded the small community. Diana Skarphol said her relatives welcomed them and invited them over for coffee.

The Clarence Iverson Well #1 on April 4, 1951, its first night of operation. The well was the first in North Dakota to produce oil. Clarence Iverson was a relative of Diana Skarphol. (William Shemorry, courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota. SHSND 10958-0059-00001)

It was a change in fortune for the Iversons and many other families. They werent very rich farmers. They were just getting by. And this supplemented their income, she said. The leases promised a 12.5% royalty on the oils market value the day it left the well site, free of cost. That means that the mineral owner is not responsible for costs to drill or operate a well or other production expenses.

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Thats why families like the Skarphols say they were perplexed when the deductions began.

The Skarphols keep decades of monthly royalty checks, so they can track when Hess began deducting money. A column titled other deductions first appeared in 1998 but remained blank until April 2007, when the company began to deduct less than 2% of their royalty, an amount they said was too small to notice at the time.

North Dakotas oil and gas industry was on the verge of momentous change. The shale oil boom, triggered by new technologies, had arrived. Crude oil was fetching $100 a barrel by 2008, and the drill, baby, drill spirit took hold before the phrase was ever uttered in the White House.

But the oil was leaving the surface intermingled with vast quantities of wet natural gas, which the companies often disposed of by burning it. The sight of small flames, called flares, became ubiquitous in the Bakken.

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Flaring looked unsightly, polluted the air and wasted a natural resource that could be sold. State officials enacted regulations in 2014 that required companies to curtail the flaring. The industry, in turn, said it has spent an estimated $25 billion so far to build the necessary infrastructure to collect the gas, process it and export it through pipelines.

Flares burn off natural gas at a production site in Williams County, North Dakota, in June 2025. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica)

Companies pass on to owners a share of those infrastructure costs, as well as the expenses associated with processing and transporting oil and gas, sometimes to far-flung markets. Whether owners ought to share in these costs is the heart of the debate.

The industry justifies the shared costs by citing a North Dakota Supreme Court ruling that empowered companies to deduct expenses. That 2009 ruling, which addressed a narrow issue related to natural gas, concluded that the value of the gas for royalty purposes should be calculated at the well, where it leaves the ground.

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That laid the groundwork for postproduction deductions. The ruling meant that when calculating royalties, companies could start with the sale price and then deduct the costs incurred after the minerals were extracted  what has been called the postproduction phase  to determine how the resources would have been valued at the well. But to royalty owners whose leases promise a royalty free of cost, the fact that companies incur expenses before selling the oil and gas is not their problem.

Mineral owners are being saddled with expenses, said Neil Christensen, the agent for his three sisters who inherited mineral rights in McKenzie County that they lease to Hess. Those expenses, he suggested, should reduce stockholder dividends, not reduce mineral owner income.

Private royalties in North Dakota, estimated in the billions

Royalties fluctuate based on the price of oil and the amount produced. The figures are prior to deductions.

Source: North Dakota State University research, Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Theres a lot of money at stake. North Dakota Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, a Republican who routinely sponsors bills advocating for the interests of both the industry and royalty owners, estimates that companies deduct at least hundreds of millions of dollars every year. He says companies should use their revenues to cover the postproduction costs  as they did before the most recent oil boom.

An executive with XTO Energy told lawmakers in 2021 that the oil and gas company deducts on average $30 million annually, or about 21% of the royalties owed to private leaseholders in North Dakota. Mary Ellen Denomy, a forensic accountant who has audited royalty statements across the country and for at least 30 North Dakotans in the last decade, said that about 22% of royalties are deducted on average  which would have amounted to $1 billion in 2023. These figures are in line with royalty statements that mineral owners shared with the North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica.

Its difficult to verify what specific costs each company deducts because companies dont detail those, either for royalty owners or for the state, instead providing only broad categories on the statements that accompany their checks.

Hess said it is a common industry practice to pass on some infrastructure costs, such as the $1.5 billion the company spent on pipelines, the expansion of a gas processing plant and construction of other facilities in the early 2010s. Hillary Durgin Harmon, a Hess spokesperson, said those investments support economic growth by increasing oil and gas production and transporting it to more markets, benefiting royalty owners and the state overall.

Zavanna Energy also attributed the increased deductions to infrastructure expenses, including the cost of getting landowners permission to install pipelines in the state, according to the companys general counsel.

Ive seen the costs associated with obtaining pipeline easements in some parts of North Dakota increase as much as 3000% over the last 10 years, Zavannas Gillian Wilkin said. Those increased costs can substantially influence the price that must be paid to get oil and gas to downstream markets.

Todd Slawson, chairman of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, defended owners sharing the costs to move and enhance oil and gas after leaving the well site. Such post-marketability costs, he said, benefit the owners, too.

The objective of the operator is also to obtain the best prices for all parties, said Slawson, who owns Slawson Exploration Co., another energy company. We are all in this together, so everyone wants the best price.

He called royalty owners like the Skarphols, who inherited leases, very lucky and fortunate. What a great country we live in where minerals can be privately owned  I do not know of another country where that occurs, but there probably are some, he said. In most countries, oil and gas are largely owned by the government.

Bob and Diana Skarphol didnt feel fortunate when Hess began taking unexpected deductions in 2015. Nor did Brian Anderson, who also inherited a lease with Hess that his father signed in 1949. Donald Anderson was then a 21-year-old farmer who worked in a coal mine on his property to support his younger siblings.

The family started getting royalties soon after. But since the company began taking deductions a decade ago, Brian Anderson said his family has lost more than $600,000.

The fact that they just arbitrarily started taking it just sticks in my craw so bad, said Anderson, who at one time worked for Hess. You dont take anything for 60 years, and then all of a sudden you, abracadabra, can do it?

Brian Anderson inherited an oil and gas lease from his father. He began noticing deductions on his royalty statements a decade ago. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica)

Andersons property in Tioga in the 1950s in an old photograph hanging in his dining room, first image; his family home still stands on that land. Second image: An oil well on his property in June. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica)

By the fall of 2018, Skarphol had talked to enough other mineral owners to realize that deductions had begun appearing on many of their royalty statements  and they werent stopping.

Skarphol called a meeting at City Hall in Williston on a brisk October evening to discuss what they could do about it. Dozens of mineral owners filled every seat and stood shoulder to shoulder in the back of the room.

Janice Arnson, who along with her seven siblings inherited mineral rights from their mother, stood up and declared that deductions were out of control. One particular lease, signed by her mother in 2009, began paying royalties a few years later when Hess drilled a well. The deductions were minuscule at first and then skyrocketed to 23% of Arnsons royalty check in February 2015. We just want to be paid our fair share, she said at the meeting.

I want the Legislature to take this seriously, said Linda Meyer, a mineral owner in Williams County.

Skarphol, who called the meeting, responded. Do we want to get angry enough to do something about it? Skarphol asked the crowd. I do.

That night, the mineral owners formed the Williston Basin Royalty Owners Association.

Bob Skarphol shows a group of mineral royalty owners the breakdown of a royalty statement. At that October 2018 meeting, Skarphol and other mineral owners founded the Williston Basin Royalty Owners Association. (Jamie Kelly/Williston Herald)

Such a hopeless feeling

The group started with a request at the beginning of the 2019 legislative session for the state to study the issue and consider potential solutions. Lawmakers approved the request, but the committee that selects which studies should be completed discarded the proposal.

In 2021, royalty owners worked with legislators to draft a bill to directly address their concerns. Among other changes, the legislation would have prohibited deductions unless they were explicitly allowed for in a lease and would have permitted royalty owners to audit a companys records, at the royalty owners expense, to ensure they are being paid correctly.

Curtis Trulson, a retired farmer, shared concerns about the deductions with lawmakers during that session. He receives royalty payments through leases with multiple companies, and he first started noticing his royalty payments were diminishing during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nobody ever called and said, Well, were going to start taking these costs and heres why. It just started disappearing, Trulson said. Almost every operator is doing the same thing now. They didnt all do it to start with.

Curtis Trulson on his farmland near Stanley, North Dakota. He has asked lawmakers to help mineral owners. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica)

Trulson emailed details of his situation, and a royalty statement, to seven senators on the committee considering the bill drafted by the royalty owners. Some deductions go totally unexplained! he told them. The only legislator who responded was the one Democrat, Merrill Piepkorn.

I hate to say this because I lean a little more on the Republican side and Im more conservative, Trulson said. Other ones didnt even bother to respond or say thanks for the information or anything. He added: The state of North Dakota doesnt want to help us out.

The legislation was turned into a study, which ultimately recommended no changes to state law.

I had a hard time keeping from screaming, Anderson said of his frustration during the hearings, which he attended in person.

The mineral owners tried for more modest changes in 2023. That year, they pushed for a bill that would have required companies to provide royalty statements in spreadsheets. While state law requires that companies provide them that way for publicly owned minerals, there is no such requirement for private owners.

That legislation failed, too.

Every time we make any kind of an attempt it seems like the industry has a whole lot more influence over the Legislature in North Dakota than the people do, Christensen said.

Arnson, who worked with Skarphol to bring concerns about this issue to legislators attention, said she feels betrayed by her representatives.

It was such a hopeless feeling, Arnson said. Have I lost a lot of faith? Yes I have.

Janice Arnson on land once owned by her family. Arnson and her siblings inherited mineral rights from their mother in Williams County, North Dakota. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica)

Legislators from both parties who were involved in the efforts to amend state law told the North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica that repeated legislative measures have failed because of the industrys impact on the state economy and subsequent influence in state politics. State and local governments took in about $32 billion in oil and gas taxes between 2008 and 2024, according to a study by the Western Dakota Energy Association. That same study found that more than 50% of all local tax collections are tied to oil and gas.

The industrys influence has curtailed any investigation or legislation regarding looking into the validity of the deductions, Piepkorn said. Ron Ness is a pretty smooth talker, he said of the industrys chief lobbyist. We just take what he says for gospel. Ness said his reputation with policymakers as a trusted and respected voice for the industry has been hard earned over 27 years.

Bekkedahl, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee that crafts the state budget, said more than half the states revenues are tied to oil and gas activity. He called the energy industrys lobbying efforts on this issue very aggressive but said lawmakers need to address concerns about royalty deductions.

Ive always maintained that we should, as the Legislature, provide some clarity to this issue so that the courts can make the interpretations with clear statutes in place, which they dont have now, Bekkedahl said.

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North Dakota Petroleum Council staff have testified to lawmakers that the state should not get involved in what it describes as private contract disputes.

But the Legislature has gotten involved in other contract issues championed by the energy industry, including this year when it approved legislation related to coal leases. The new state law allows the companies to extract critical minerals from coal without having to negotiate amendments to existing leases.

Joseph Schremmer, a University of Oklahoma law professor who specializes in the energy industry, said the Legislature can take action on other issues affecting private contracts as long as there is a legitimate state interest.

The Legislature has the power to do many things that would potentially modify the operation of existing contracts, he said.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, a Republican who is both a royalty owner and a former executive in his familys oil company, declined to comment for this story. He said in an interview last year that royalty owners should rely on the courts, though litigation is expensive and not feasible for most.

If you think you have a litigation issue, litigate it, Armstrong said. Youre trying to use the state of North Dakota as your private lawyer. If you are in a contract dispute, there is a better place to settle that.

North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness, left, talks to North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong, center, and North Dakota State University researcher Dean Bangsund during a March 2025 event to highlight the economic impact of the oil and gas industry. (Kyle Martin for North Dakota Monitor)

Diana Skarphol is doing just that. She is one of 34 plaintiffs from the extended Iverson family who sued Hess in 2021 for $10 billion in damages, arguing that the company breached their contracts by taking deductions.

Northwest Judicial District Judge Robin Schmidt ruled in favor of Hess and dismissed the case last week. North Dakota law, which the Skarphols and other families have been asking the Legislature to change for years, is not on your side, she told the plaintiffs in a June hearing.

But where this will end is unclear: The North Dakota Supreme Court has overturned this judges rulings on a different case related to deductions. And the Skarphols attorney said they will likely appeal. Schmidt also told the plaintiffs they could bring a new lawsuit over a different set of oil wells.

Meanwhile, Bob and Diana Skarphol continue to open the checks each month and calculate their losses. So far this year, Hess has deducted 36%.

North Dakota Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge can be reached at jorledge@northdakotamonitor.com.

This is the first story in a series. Next week, read about a state program that North Dakota lawmakers established to help royalty owners. But with limited authority, the program has not lived up to its name.
The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) has expanded its conservation efforts by purchasing over 79 acres in Bradford County, Florida, within the Ocala to Osceola (O2O) Wildlife Corridor.

This acquisition, located west of the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, aims to protect the natural habitat for various wildlife and plant species while buffering the military training center from incompatible development.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

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This is another conservation win for Florida and for our staff, who are leading the charge to protect the natural spaces within the O2O because it is now or never, said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT.

We continue to preserve the last remaining natural spaces within the O2O, acre by acre. We appreciate the landowners willingness to sell us the property, and we will continue to work with other willing landowners to save these natural spaces.

The property, purchased from Brian and Meghan Nicoletti for $757,705, was funded by the Department of Defenses Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program and the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program.

The land consists of forested wetlands, cypress swamps, mixed hardwood hammock, and improved pasture, providing habitat for species such as the Florida black bear, deer, turkey, and sandhill cranes.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Meghan and I would like to thank everyone involved in the process of preserving our forest property, said Brian Nicoletti, who sold the land to NFLT. The NFLT folks will be excellent stewards so the people of the great state of Florida may rest assured that land will remain wild & free forever.

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NFLT plans to manage and restore the natural habitats on the property, potentially including public access to trails, as part of their efforts to enhance the O2O Wildlife Corridor, a 1.6-million-acre network connecting the Ocala and Osceola National Forests.

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The North Korean IT worker conspiracy is ramping up in intensity, with the regimes software developers getting hired at hundreds of new companies in the past year, despite scrutiny from law enforcement and security firms. CrowdStrike cybersecurity expert Adam Meyers said the company investigates about one incident a day at this point because the attacks have grown so prolific.

Terrifying new fronts have emerged in a highly successful employment-fraud scheme in which trained North Korean operatives get jobs at companies around the globe under fake or stolen identities.

The number of companies that hired North Korean software developers grew a staggering 220% during the past 12 monthsand most of their success is owing to automating and optimizing the workflow involved in fraudulently obtaining and holding tech jobs, CrowdStrikes 2025 Threat Hunting Report released on Monday revealed. The IT workers infiltrated more than 320 companies in the past 12 months.

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To level set: The North Korean IT worker scheme is a vast conspiracy to evade punishing financial sanctions on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the result of authoritarian ruler Kim Jong Uns human-rights abuses and relentless quest to develop weapons of mass destruction. To dodge the sanctions and make money to keep funding its nuclear program, North Korea now trains young men and boys in tech, sends them to elite schools in and around Pyongyang, and then deploys them in teams of four or five to locations around the world including China, Russia, Nigeria, Cambodia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The workers are each required to earn $10,000 a month, according to a defector, and have managed to do so by getting remote jobs doing IT work at U.S. and European companies while earning good salaries, court records show. Since 2018, the UN estimates, the scheme has generated between $250 million to $600 million per year on the backs of thousands of North Korean men.

For the Fortune 500, the IT worker scheme has been a flashing red alert about the evolution of employment-fraud schemes. Court records show hundreds of Fortune 500 companies have unknowingly hired thousands of North Korean IT workers, in violation of sanctions, in recent years. In some cases, the IT worker scheme is purely about generating stable revenues for the regime. In others, FBI investigators have found evidence IT workers share information with more malicious hackers that have stolen nearly $3 billion in crypto, according to the UN.

Under siege

CrowdStrikes investigations revealed North Koreas tech workers, an adversary CrowdStrike dubs Famous Chollima, used AI to scale every aspect of the operation. The North Koreans have used generative AI to help them forge thousands of synthetic identities, alter photos, and build tech tools to research jobs and track and manage their applications. In interviews, North Koreans used AI to mask their appearance in video calls, guide them in answering questions, and pass technical coding challenges associated with getting software jobs.

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Critically, they now rely on AI to help them appear more fluent in English and well-versed in the companies where theyre interviewing. Once they get hired, the IT workers use AI chatbots to help with their daily workresponding in Slack, drafting emailsto make sure their written offerings appear technically and grammatically sound and to help them hold down multiple jobs simultaneously, CrowdStrike found.

Famous Chollima operatives very likely use real-time deepfake technology to mask their true identities in video interviews, the report states. Using a real-time deepfake plausibly allows a single operator to interview for the same position multiple times using different synthetic personas, enhancing the odds that the operator will get hired.

CrowdStrike investigators have observed North Korean IT workers searching for AI face-swapping applications and paying premium prices for subscriptions to deepfake services during active operations.

Laptop farms move beyond U.S. borders

Adam Meyers, senior vice president of CrowdStrikes counter adversary operations, told Fortune his team generally investigates one incident a day related to the North Korean IT worker scheme. The program has broadened beyond U.S. borders as U.S. law enforcement has cracked down on domestic operations with indictments and advisories, and as more U.S. companies have tightened their security practices and girded their defenses.

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Last month, a 50-year-old Arizona woman, Christina Chapman, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison in July after pleading guilty for her role in operating a laptop farm from her home. Prosecutors said she accepted and maintained 90 laptops and installed remote-access software so North Koreans could work for U.S. companies, prosecutors said. Authorities revealed Chapmans operation alone helped the workers get 309 jobs that generated $17.1 million in revenue through their salaries. Nearly 70 Americans had their identities stolen in the operation, authorities said. These werent just attacking smaller companies with looser hiring infrastructure; Nike was one of the companies impacted, according to its victim impact statement in Chapmans case. The sneaker and activewear giant unwittingly hired a North Korean operative affiliated with Chapman. Nike did not respond to Fortunes requests for comment.

U.S. law enforcement has put a big dent in their ability to operate the laptop farms, so as it gets increasingly expensive or difficult to get remote jobs here in the U.S., theyre pivoting to other locations, said Meyers. Theyre getting more traction in Europe.

Meyers said CrowdStrike has seen new laptop farms established in Western Europe, accessing Romania and Poland, which means North Korean workers are getting jobstypically as full-stack developersin those countries and then having laptops shipped to farms there. The scheme matches what takes place in the U.S.: A supposedly Romanian or Polish developer will interview with a company, get hired, and a laptop will get shipped to a known laptop-farm destination in those countries, he said. In other words, instead of shipping devices and onboarding materials to an actual residence where the supposed developer works, the laptop gets shipped to a known farm address based in Poland or Romania. Typically, the excuse is the same type that has proved effective at U.S. companies, said Meyers. The developer will claim to be having a medical or family emergency necessitating a change in the shipping address.

Companies need to stay vigilant if theyre hiring overseas, said Meyers. They need to understand these risks exist not just domestically, but overseas as well.

AI advancements will neutralize defenses

Amir Landau, malware research team leader at defense firm CyberArk, told Fortune traditional cyber defenses are likely to eventually become insufficient against the threat as gen AI used by the North Koreans becomes advanced enough to break through companies defense wards. Therefore, what companies need to do to defend themselves requires a fundamental shift in thinking in terms of how much trust and access companies grant their own employees.

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The military and intelligence principle of a need-to-know basis, which originated during World War II, will become more important, said Landau. Not every developer needs to know or have access to certain assets or documents, even after theyve been with a company for a certain amount of time, he explained.

Landau also advocates for minimum and limited-time privileges for developers, giving them a short window of time for work, rather than unlimited access that could eventually make a company vulnerable.

Landau also said companies should take some additional commonsense measures in the hiring process. If a job applicant gives a reference, dont call the phone number or message the email address youve been given. Look them up and get in touch with what you see from public databases, he advised. If someones personal information sounds bizarre or inconsistent, pay attention. Use the internet to double check what you can find against what youve been told.

There are a lot of small things you can do to defend against these threats, he said.

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And ultimately, while small companies are typically more vulnerable, that doesnt mean larger companies arent also susceptible to fraud schemes, Landau said. Meyers said as long as the IT workers can find work, theyll keep evolving their tactics through the use of gen AI.

These are basically exploited people from North Korea making money for the regime, said Meyers. As long as they can continue to generate revenue, theyre going to keep doing this.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The last member of a notorious Chilean bank robbery crew that stole millions in a West Coast crime spree was nabbed last week in Newport Beach, federal officials announced.

In a news release, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice said the crew made off with more than $ 4 million in cash between May and October 2024, hitting more than 29 banks and credit unions in California, Oregon and Washington while allegedly using an Airbnb in Welches, Ore. as their base of operation.

A well organized and equipped team, prosecutors said they would stay in other rentals near ATMs they were targeting and were armed with sledgehammers, blowtorches, surgical masks while disguised as construction workers in vests and construction hats.

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Using rental cars from the black market, the South American crew were known to use signal jammers that interfered with Wi-Fi-enabled alarm systems and used spray paint to cover surveillance cameras.

On Oct. 31, 2024, 11 of the 12 suspects were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery.

Members of an alleged Chilean bank robbery crew seen in undated surveillance footage disguised as construction workers. (DOJ)

Federal agents arrested crew members in California, Florida and Chile, while their equipment in the Oregon Airbnb was seized. Investigators recovered clothing in the rental that could be used for DNA matching and also located a GoPro camera with a memory card.

Woman, 8-month-old girl from California vanish after routine doctor visit

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In May, agents found video files on the memory card with one of the named defendants  Camilo Guzman Sepulveda  and the 12th suspect. Using facial recognition technology, he was later identified as Diego Ananias Arellano Diaz.

Arellano Diaz had been going by the alias Fabio Hernandez and had been the subject of a February arrest in L.A. County for assault with a deadly weapon on a firefighter or police officer. After his release on $75,000 bond, he disappeared for five months.

He resurfaced on July 20 after police in the Bay Area City of San Ramon identified him as a suspect involved in blowing up an ATM at a Target store in the area.

Though details are limited and its unclear how law enforcement tracked him, he was taken into custody July 29 in Newport Beach.

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If convicted as charged, Arellano Diaz faces a maximum 25 years in federal prison.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
We tend to think of Pap smears as something younger women need, but theyre definitely still important in midlife. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, the average age of diagnosis for cervical cancer is 50. Additionally, the percentage of cervical cancer deaths is highest (24.8%) among women ages 55 to 64, the National Cancer Institute reports.

Women in midlife are at significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer, says Dr. Varsha Manucha, professor of anatomic pathology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the vice chair of the College of American Pathologists Cytopathology Committee. Cervical cancer screening provides an opportunity for the cancer to be caught early or in the early stages without signs or symptoms before the disease becomes invasive, enabling timely intervention and reducing mortality.

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Heres what to know about pap smears in midlife, including the potential abnormal results.

Why Do Women Still Need Pap Smears in Midlife?

Pap smears are screening tests for cervical cancer, which is most often linked to HPV (human papillomavirus)a sexually transmitted infection. Anyone who is sexually active with new partners can be at risk for HPV exposure. While most peoples immune systems clear the virus on their own, in some cases, HPV can persist for years and cause abnormal changes in cervical cells, says Dr. Mindy Goldman, an OB-GYN and chief clinical officer at Midi Health.

Even in midlife, women remain at risk for developing cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer, which can progress silently over many years, Goldman says. Pap smears help detect these abnormalities early, before they become cancerous, she explains. Keeping up with recommended screening is an important part of preventive health care, both during and after menopause.

When Do Women Stop Getting Pap Smears?

Most women can stop routine Pap smears and HPV testing at age 65, if they have a consistent history of normal results, no evidence of high-grade abnormalities in the past 20 years and no new sexual partners, Goldman says. If someones screening history is unclear, or they have multiple partners, or other risk factors, ongoing screening may be recommended, she explains. Its important to discuss your individual situation with your healthcare provider to determine the best plan for you.

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Those who have undergone a total hysterectomythe removal of the uterus and cervixfor non-cancerous conditions also dont need further Pap testing, Manucha adds.

One reason why women 65 and older may forgo a Pap smear test is that doctors now understand that most cervical cancers take years to develop and may not impact women as much after a certain age, says Dr. Josh Cohen, a gynecologic oncologist and the medical director of the gynecologic cancer program at City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, California. That being said, people are living longer, and continued testing may be appropriate for women depending on their clinical history, he explains.

For example, those who were exposed to a chemical called DES when they were in the mothers uterus have a higher risk of vaginal and cervical cancer, and they should continue screening, Cohen says. Before stopping Pap tests, speak with your doctor about whether they may no longer be necessary in light of your individual risk factors, he advises.

What Do Doctors Look for on Midlife Womens Pap Smears?

The main purpose of a Pap smear is to detect abnormal cervical cells, and this goal does not change over time, Goldman says. If test results of the cells are abnormal, doctors will try to look for the cause, which may include infection from the HPV virus, Cohen notes.

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Its important to understand that women can still acquire HPV infections and have abnormal pap smears as they get older, Goldman says. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 20% of cervical cancers are found in women over 65. When cervical cancer develops in older women, it is often diagnosed at a more advanced stage, she explains. There are also racial disparities, with Black women in the U.S. experiencing higher rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality.

That said, hormonal changes during menopause can make Pap smears harder to interpret. These hormonal changes can affect cervical cells, says Dr. Sameena Rahman, OB-GYN, sex-med gynecologist, menopause specialist and founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics.

Additionally, the persistence of HPV becomes more relevant, and the likelihood of detecting glandular abnormalities from the cervix or uterus increases with age, she explains. Thinning of the vaginal and cervical tissue can also make it more difficult to collect an adequate sample, Goldman explains. Because of these factors, recommendations may include Pap testing, HPV testing or both.

Age-related medical issues like autoimmune conditions can also impact how your body fights infections like HPV, Rahman says. Menopause alters the vaginal microbiome, potentially increasing the risk of co-infections, she explains. Glandular cell abnormalities, which are more common midlife, can indicate issues in the cervix or uterus and warrant close follow-up.

What Are Some of the Possible Abnormal Results of a Pap Smear for Women in Midlife?

Receiving an abnormal result from a Pap smear test can understandably raise anxiety, but Cohen says that there are several reasons why this may happen which are not cancer. These include:

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Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) : A common abnormal Pap test result. It means that some cells dont look normal and could be due to HPV infection or yeast infection, growths or hormone changes that take place in menopause, Cohen says.

Atypical glandular cells (AGC) : Some abnormal-looking glandular cells were found, and this may require further testing to determine whether or not the uterus is involved. For AGC on a Pap smear, this usually involves biopsies of the cervix, the uterus and a pelvic, Cohen explains.

Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) : Typically indicates HPV infection and that more testing is needed.

Low-grade and high-grade dysplasia : Pre-cancerous changes that require monitoring or treatment, Rahman says.

High-risk HPV subtypes (particularly 16 and 18): These are responsible for more than 70% of cervical cancers and require immediate follow-up with procedures like colposcopy or biopsy, Rahman says.

Its important to understand the anatomy and why Pap smears are done at the cervical opening, Rahman says. There is a junction of cells that are two different cell typesthe outer cervical cells are the squamous cells, and the inner cervical cells are the glandular cells, she explains. The area where they meet is called the transformation zone or the squamocolumnar junction and that is where HPV has great impact to change the cell types and cause abnormal cells or dysplasia.

If cancer cells are found, a biopsy may be necessary as well as other tests to find out if the cancer has spread. The earlier an issue is found, the better, Cohen says. It is important to follow up with the results of your test and make sure you understand if there are abnormal findings that the next step is to keep you safe.

Its also important to note that after menopause, the loss of estrogen leads to thinning of the cervical tissue, which can make interpreting Pap results more difficult and increase the likelihood of an ASC-US diagnosis, Goldman says. When ASC-US is found, testing for HPV is important to decide whether further evaluation is needed. Additionally, some abnormalitiessuch as atypical glandular cellsare more common in women over 40 and may require closer evaluation with colposcopy or biopsy, she notes.

What Else Should Midlife Women Know About Pap Smears?

First, Pap smears shouldnt be painful. If they are, you might be experiencing Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), which is highly treatable, Rahma says. Local estrogen therapy, DHEA, vaginal dilators or pelvic floor physical therapy can all help. This can happen because the loss of estrogen after menopause can lead to vaginal atrophy, which may make Pap smears uncomfortable and can affect how results are interpreted, Goldman says.

Also, if you havent been vaccinated for HPV and are under age 45, talk to your healthcare providerespecially if youre dating again or have new sexual partners, Rahman says. Many insurance plans will cover the vaccine at midlife if youre at risk, she explains. Condoms reduce but dont eliminate HPV transmission, so screenings remain important. Midlife can be a time of joyful, empowered sexualityand staying proactive about your health is a vital part of that, she says.
An anti-nuclear billboard near the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County, Virginia. (Photo by Charlie Paullin/Virginia Mercury)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants to bring a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) to Southwest Virginia in the course of the next decade. The administration has put together a small amount of funding to search for a larger amount of funding to pay for a study. One of the study questions is what they would use the reactor for  research, possibly, and to provide electricity for the University of Virginia at Wise, or perhaps a data center that the region has yet to attract.

If this all sounds a little sketchy, thats because SMRs remain a little sketchy. Nuclear companies havent yet demonstrated they can attain the holy grail of safe, 24/7 carbon-free power at a competitive cost.

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Its not for lack of trying. At last count, the Nuclear Energy Agency was tracking some 98 different design technologies around the world for SMRs ranging in size from 1 MW microreactors to utility-scale reactors of more than 300 MW. Only a handful of these have reached the construction phase, and none are operational in the U.S.

This meager track record hardly reflects the enthusiasm surrounding the industry. Its not just politicians and profit-seekers; many climate advocates believe the industry must succeed if the world is to have any hope of transitioning our energy supply away from fossil fuels. And polling shows that 56% of the public supports building more nuclear plants. Thats way less than the levels of support for wind and solar but more than support for fracking and coal mining. Still, concerns remain about safety and the proliferation of nuclear waste, a problem neither the industry nor the government yet has a strategy to deal with.

And then theres the cost. SMRs havent shown an ability to compete in the energy marketplace, even against other carbon-free alternatives. As renewable energy and storage technologies continue to drop in price, the economic case for new nuclear remains an open question.

Nonetheless, both of Virginias publicly-owned utilities are exploring SMRs, having secured legislation last year that will allow them to charge customers for millions of dollars in early development costs. Appalachian Power is targeting a site near Lynchburg (not Southwest Virginia), while Dominion Energy says it is evaluating the feasibility of an SMR next to its existing conventional reactors at North Anna.

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Dominions 2024 integrated resource plan shows an SMR could be part of its power mix as early as 2035; APCo has no timeline. For either utility, actually building an SMR will require making the economic case to the State Corporation Commission.

The slow timeline and cloudy cost picture have not dampened enthusiasm for nuclear among Virginias elected leaders. The data center boom is exacerbating a shortage of energy and causing utility bills to skyrocket. Keeping the party going means making messy tradeoffs between polluting fuels with volatile prices and low-cost but land-hungry solar. No wonder Youngkin and other leaders hope nuclear will magically allow them to sidestep the hard decisions and party on.

But wishful thinking doesnt put megawatts on the grid. A recent article surveying the state of the nuclear industry makes it clear that these are early times in the nuclear renaissance, if such it is. The industry wont be able to scale unless and until production-line manufacturing becomes a reality, and that will be years from now.

Fortunately for the nuclear industry, it has always been a darling of U.S. policymakers, and that remains true. Nuclear subsidies survived the axe in this years Republican budget law, while tax credits for wind and solar were revoked.

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Indeed, President Donald J. Trump is doing his best to further the industrys prospects, albeit in a ham-handed fashion that almost seems calculated to erode public trust.

Last month a representative of his Department of Government Efficiency reportedly told the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, charged with ensuring the safety of the industry, that it was expected to provide rubber stamp approval to nuclear plant applications after they were tested by the Department of Energy or Defense. A few days later, Trump dismissed all but one of the members of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, which provides oversight of spent fuel storage.

These alarming moves may not do much to dampen the enthusiasm of the Youngkin administration and other boosters. The administration even hopes to lure nuclear manufacturing to Virginia  but it would be in Lynchburg, not Southwest Virginia.

That calls into question Youngkins claims of economic benefits for an SMR in Wise County. If the SMR would be just a one-off for research purposes and needs a rich company or state-supported customer to buy the electricity, is it really an investment in the region, or a solution in search of a problem?

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Many local residents are skeptical of the administrations plans, trusting neither the governor nor the nuclear industry. Sharon Fisher, one of the leaders of the Southwest Virginia Nuclear Watch grassroots movement, told me in an email that her group has extensively researched the nuclear industry with its enormous costs and contaminations.

She pointed me to a 2023 study of health trends in a Tennessee county where a company called Nuclear Fuel Services generates highly enriched uranium fuels for naval reactors. Over the years, unintended releases of enriched uranium, plutonium and other substances have caused an accumulation of radioactivity in the local air, water, and food. The study documented rising cancer and mortality rates in the county, including a rate of premature deaths that is 61% above the U.S. average.

Rees Shearer, an activist with the Appalachian Peace Education Center, told me in a phone call that SMRs are the next wave of exploitation of Southwest Virginias resources.

First they came for the timber, then they came for the coal, now they are coming with radioactivity, Shearer said.

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He explained, Coal left a terrible legacy of abandoned mines, polluted creeks, and leaking methane. But this pales compared to the potential legacy of high-level nuclear waste stored on site. With SMRs, the amount of this waste can be 100 times more per megawatt than conventional nuclear. This is waste that will last millions of years. This isnt a fair trade.

An SMR would also come with the risk of terrorism, either from hacking or a drone attack. It makes a place that was never a target into a target, he noted.

Both Fisher and Shearer challenged the notion that SMRs would provide jobs for Wise County residents, even in the construction phase. Modular facilities would be manufactured offsite and assembled by an expert crew from out of the area. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has even approved remote operation of nuclear reactors from an offsite facility, they pointed out.

Well-paying jobs are certainly a priority for the area. Unemployment rates for Southwest Virginia counties have risen only slightly from their Biden-era lows, but poverty rates in some counties remain stubbornly high.

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But Fisher says the key to a healthy economy lies in diversification.

Wise County was once a major producer of apples. We have vineyards and breweries, and fields for growing grains. Tourism is growing. (We should be) investing in local entrepreneurs and farmers. (And) getting equitable tax revenues from the thousands of large absentee landholdings, which should be used for housing and development.

Energy jobs neednt be off the table, but, said Shearer, We think the better approach is to put solar on the abandoned mines. We have a ready workforce already trained to do this. He pointed to an effort already underway thats being spearheaded by the environmental group Appalachian Voices.

What the region shouldnt do, concluded Fisher, is rely on one industry again that puts our lives and land at tremendous risk.

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The number of deaths of babies and children dying in hot cars continues to increase.

Nineteen babies and children have died across the United States, including one in Florida and five in Texas, so far this year.

"Since 1990, at least 1,148 children have died in hot cars in the United States and at least another 7,500 survived with varying degrees of injury" according to data compiled by Kids and Car Safety.

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Children are extremely susceptible to death if left in a vehicle or if they manage to get into one undetected. What some may find surprising is that it doesn't take a 90-degree-plus day for temperatures inside a car to become deadly.

A childs body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adults and when a child is left in a hot vehicle, the situation could become life-threatening very quickly, says Lori Cook, safety advisor, AAA East Central.

AAA said heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle fatalities for kids 14 and younger.

How many babies, children have died this year in hot cars?

As of 9 a.m. Aug. 4, 19 have died so far this year, according to Kids and Car Safety. Ages range from 3 months to 9 years old.

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While some were intentionally left in a vehicle, eight were unknowingly left behind.

Kids and Car Safety emphasizes this can happen to anyone.

Map: Deaths of babies, children from pediatric vehicular heatstroke not limited to southern states

Florida father charged after 18-month-old boy dies in truck

An 18-month-old boy had been dead for at least an hour by the time he was taken to a hospital after his father left him in a truck, got a haircut, and then drank beer and shots at a bar, according to a charging affidavit.

Scott Allen Gardner, 33, of Ormond Beach, was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect causing great bodily harm.

 Boy lay dead in hot car for at least an hour before dad called 911

Gardner left his son, Sebastian, in a child seat in the back of his vehicle for about three hours in the middle of the day on June 6 when the temperature was about 90 degrees, according to a charging affidavit.

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I don't think there's a penalty on this earth that could ever fit for the crime that was committed here. It absolutely shocks the conscience, said Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

Table shows locations, ages, circumstances of children who has died in hot cars in 2025

Can't see the table? Open in a new browser.

Hot car deaths '100% preventable.' How to prevent deaths of children in vehicles

Kids and Car Safety provided these suggestions to prevent children from being forgotten and dying of pediatric vehicular heatstroke:

Place the childs diaper bag or item in the front passenger seat as a visual cue the child is with you.

Make it a habit of opening the back door every time you park to ensure no one is left behind. Do not assume you'll remember your child. Enforce the habit by putting an item you must have in the back seat: employee badge, laptop, phone, purse, keys, shoe, etc.)

Ask your childcare provider to call you right away if your child hasnt arrived as scheduled.

Clearly announce and confirm who is getting each child out of the vehicle. Miscommunication can lead to thinking someone else has the child.

Make sure children cannot get into a parked car

Keep vehicles locked at all times, especially in the garage or driveway. Ask neighbors and visitors to do the same.

Never leave car keys within reach of children.

Use childproofing knob covers and door alarms to prevent children from leaving your home unnoticed.

Teach children to honk the horn or turn on hazard lights if they become stuck inside a car.

If a child is missing, immediately check the inside, floorboards and trunk of all vehicles in the area, even if theyre locked.

Heat death can happen fast inside a vehicle and cracking a window doesn't help

On a 72-degree day, a car's interior can be deadly in less than 30 minutes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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The danger from high temperatures is particularly acute for young children because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adult bodies, the American Academy of Pediatrics said.

Heatstroke in children can happen when their core temperature reaches about 104 degrees. A child can die if their internal body temperature reaches 107 degrees, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Leaving a window open is not enough. Temperatures inside the car can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes, even with a window cracked open, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Signs of heatstroke in children

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, signs of heatstroke that require immediate medical attention include:

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shock

collapse

a temperature over 104 degrees

fainting

seizures

not being able to walk

"Before severe heatstroke, children in hot cars suffer from heat illness symptoms, including weakness, dizziness, nausea, feeling faint, headache and an increased body temperature."

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We provide tropical weather coverage daily and other weather stories as conditions warrant.

Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.

This story has been update to include a searchable table.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hot car deaths of children hits 19. See list locations in Florida, US
The number of organic farms in Germany fell in 2024, official figures showed on Monday.

Data from the Agriculture Ministry suggests the number of organic farms fell by 2.2% to 35,881, primarily due to retirement and issues with succession.

On the other hand, there was slight growth in the total area of organically farmed land, which rose 1.3% to 1.91 million hectares.

In total, 11.5% of Germany's agricultural area is now organic, according to the ministry.

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"Organic farming is a driver of innovation for sustainable agriculture," said Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer.

"The area figures show: Organic farming is in demand," the minister added. "At the same time, we must not ignore the reality on the farms: Structural change, difficult generational change and economic pressure also hit the organic sector."

Organic farming prioritizes using natural resources to produce food while minimizing or eliminating synthetic inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by former Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif) against MSNBC personality Rachel Maddow nearly five years ago.

U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel ruled last week that Nunes failed to prove Maddow and her team at the network acted with actual malice during a discussion about a package Nunes received addressed to him from Andrii Derkach, a Ukrainian legislator with ties to Russian officials and intelligence services, while he was the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The Court concludes that no reasonable jury could find that NBCU made the statement with constitutionally-defined actual malice, Castel wrote.

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MSNBC is owned by NBC Universal as part of the Comcast corporate umbrella.

Nunes, a longtime ally of President Trump, sued Maddow in 2021 alleging she and the network harbor an institutional hostility, hatred, extreme bias, spite and ill-will toward the Republican.

The suit specifically took issue with statements made by Maddow during her show on March 18 of that year, during which she suggested that Nunes refused to turn over a package he reportedly received from the suspected Russian agent to the FBI.

Castel in 2022 ruled Nuness case could proceed, writing his attorneys had plausibly allege[d] actual malice but did not make a determination about the merits of the former congressmans claim against the network.

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Maddow has for years attacked Trump, who has blasted Comcast over NBC News coverage of his administration and suggested critics such as Maddow be taken off the air.

After leaving Congress, Nunes joined Trump as CEO of Truth Social.

Updated at 1:47 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Editors note: The video above aired on Aug. 2, 2025.

NEW YORK (PIX11)  A New York high school graduate detained by ICE during a routine visa hearing had overstayed her welcome in the United States by two years, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Yeonsoo Go, 20, graduated from Scarsdale High School in 2023. She came to the United States four years ago on a religious visa with her mother, an Episcopal priest.

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During her visa hearing on Thursday, Go was detained by ICE agents and taken to the detention center inside 26 Federal Plaza. Organizers and protestors quickly gathered outside the immigration court on Saturday, calling for Gos release.

We are calling for her release. Were calling for due process. Were calling for a return to sanity in the immigration system, Rev. Matthew Heyd said at the rally.

DHS claims Gos visa expired two years ago, calling her an illegal alien.

Yeonsoo Go, an illegal alien from South Korea, overstayed her visa that expired more than two years ago. President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S. ICE arrested her on July 31 and placed her in expedited removal proceedings, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.

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More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choicethey can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported, McLauglin added.

Gos next scheduled court appearance was set for October by an immigration court judge just before she was taken away by agents.

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.
Hazy skies and low air quality returned to the five boroughs Monday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires again created a gray scene in the New York skies.

All of New York State and almost all of New England was under an air quality alert from the National Weather Service on Monday afternoon. The warning for New York City extended until midnight.

Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including older adults, children and people with heart or lung conditions, the citys emergency department wrote on social media. You may notice a faint smell of smoke, and low visibility conditions.

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It has become a depressingly familiar story for New Yorkers in recent years. Smoke from uncontrolled wildfires in Canada, most of them in Manitoba Province, has been carried south and east by common wind patterns.

The worst air quality in recent years occurred in June 2023, when the smoke became so thick it created an orange haze over the city. However, the subpar air quality has returned to the city in each of the past two summers as well, including multiple times this year.

Limit outdoor activity, close windows, use air purifiers if available, and consider wearing a high-quality mask if you must go outside and are in a sensitive group, NYC Emergency Management warned.

New York was hardly alone in dealing with poor air quality Monday. All of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware, along with most of Vermont, were also under air quality alerts.
NEW YORK  Hazy skies and low air quality returned to the five boroughs on Monday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires again created a gray scene in the New York skies.

All of New York state and almost all of New England was under an air quality alert from the National Weather Service on Monday afternoon. The warning for New York City extended until midnight.

Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including older adults, children, and people with heart or lung conditions, NYCs emergency department wrote on social media. You may notice a faint smell of smoke, and low visibility conditions.

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It has become a depressingly familiar story for New Yorkers in recent years. Smoke from uncontrolled wildfires in Canada, most of them in the province of Manitoba, has been carried south and east by common wind patterns.

The worst air quality in recent years occurred in June 2023, when the smoke became so thick it created an orange haze over the city. However, the subpar air quality has returned to the city in each of the past two summers as well, including multiple times earlier this year.

Limit outdoor activity, close windows, use air purifiers if available, and consider wearing a high-quality mask if you must go outside and are in a sensitive group, NYC Emergency Management warned.

New York was hardly alone in dealing with poor air quality on Monday. All of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware, along with the majority of Vermont were also under air quality alerts.

_____
The man who fatally stabbed a beloved Brooklyn bodega worker Saturday went crazy because the victim thought he might be a cop and didnt want to illegally sell him a loosie, witnesses told The Post.

The fugitive killer was wearing dark shades and a blue-and-white-striped long-sleeve button-down when he strolled into the East New York store and tossed a dollar on the counter, according to bystanders Sunday and a photo taken moments before the deadly assault.

The fugitive killer was wearing dark shades and a blue-and-white-striped long-sleeve button-down when he strolled into the store. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post

He came in, he asked for a cigarette, said the storeowner, who gave his name only as Omar, of the suspect.

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But the guy working the counter didnt know him, so he didnt want to sell him a cigarette. He wanted to be careful. He didnt want to get a ticket, you know?

After that, the [customer] starts getting mad, Omar said. He starts saying, What do you think, Im a cop? Im not a cop! He was going crazy. He just went crazy, wouldnt calm down. He wanted to fight.

Selling loosies, or individual cigarettes, is a violation in the Big Apple.

An image of Diego Sandoval Nava. Diego Sandoval-Nava / Facebook

Witnesses said the suspect, who has not been publicly identified, then hurled a credit-card machine at worker and dad-of-three Diego Sandoval Nava, threatened to kill him and stormed outside.

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Nava followed him outside to try to calm him down, witnesses said.

Diego came out and said, What happened? Why are you mad? We gave you want you want,  Omar said. But the guy keeps saying, Do I look like the cops? Why do you think Im a cop? 

The two then got into a scuffle, with Nava stabbed and the suspect fleeing the scene. The accused killer is still in the wind.

Nava followed him outside to try to calm him down, witnesses said. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post

Nava was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where he died.

The victims friends and coworkers said he had worked at the Deli & Mini Market on the corner of Hegeman and Van Siclen avenues for at least six months, taking the bus to the store and making sandwiches.

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Diego was a great person who always helped out others, and sometimes, when kids didnt have money to pay for the sandwiches, he paid for them because he trusted that people pay him back, Navas friend, Nasser, 15, said at the deli. He was always nice to everyone.

Nava was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where he died. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post

A group of people at the scene, including several who identified themselves the suspects friends and family, maintained Sunday that deli workers spit on the killer and attacked him and that he acted in self-defense.

According to witnesses after the incident, the accused killers own mother screamed for her son to stop.

His mom was outside shouting at him as he was going back, a man said Saturday.  What the fk are you doing? What the hell are you doing? 
Operators of a city drug-treatment program say they are seeing more patients addicted to marijuana since New York legalized the sale of weed for adult recreational use.

Its one of the stupidest things our society has done  they legalized cannabis during the opioid crisis, said Luke Nasta, president and CEO of Camelot Counseling of Staten Island, to the Post.

Camelot said 20% of its patients are addicted potheads, with an increase of clients with marijuana-related abuse at its outpatient clinics since before the state legalized it.

Its one of the stupidest things our society has done  they legalized cannabis during the opioid crisis, said Luke Nasta. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

The Post interviewed three of Camelots patients who are hooked on weed  and who warned about the nightmare theyre living with, given the increased availability of cannabis.

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I know it sounds cliche. Its hard. But, Just say no,  said Dillet Delancey, a 23-year-old Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, resident in residential rehab treatment at Camelot.

Delancey, who has smoked pot since he was 11 and been in treatment for four months, said the negatives outweigh the positives of legalizing cannabis.

Weed is the new cigarette. But its considered more fun because you can get high, he said.

Its a gateway drug. Eventually it wont get you high any more, and youre going to look for something greater. It tears families apart. I can testify to that.

Shaquan Shannon, 19, said hes been smoking weed since he was 12.

I know it sounds cliche. Its hard. But, Just say no,  said Dillet Delancey, a 23-year-old Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, resident. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

It made me feel invincible, Shannon said.

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In the midst of brushing my teeth, I would have a blunt, ready to spark it, ready to smoke it. I would smoke when I woke up. I wouldnt eat all day without smoking, said Shannon, a Staten Island resident who has been in treatment more than a month.

He said he would get so stoned on doobies that I forgot who I was.

Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Posts signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here!

Chance Buckner, 20, said hes in rehab as an alternative to spending time in jail for actions tied to his drug abuse.

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He eventually mixed his pot with opioids and other drugs to chase the higher high and initially used weed as a coping mechanism.

I became disconnected from myself and reality. I became a person who seeks chaos, said Buckner of Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Chance Buckner, Jaquan Shannon, and Delancy are participating in a program for marijuana addiction at Camelot Counseling. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

I became numb. It was a long dark road.  I started to lose my mind.

All three noted that pot is now more accessible than ever, including even the most potent cannabis, with it coming from licensed and unlicensed stores including local delis and not just from street dealers anymore.

I see a lot of things happening Ive never seen before. The local stores are selling marijuana, Shannon said.

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Theres more flavored cannabis that attracts young people, and the weed that is accessible is way more potent than what was the most readily available before, he said.

Shaquan Shannon, 19, said hes been smoking weed since he was 12. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

Legalization has de-stigmatized weed in societys eyes  seemingly giving the green light for youths to fire up the blunts, too, the addicts said.

There are now 444 licensed cannabis stores in the state, nearly half in the citys five boroughs.

You dont have to hide it anymore, Shannon said.

Buckner called the legalization of the sale of cannabis a double edge sword.

It clouds the brain, he said of pot.

Delancey said he consumed marijuana at 14 to deal with personality disorder and later mixed it with ecstasy. Meanwhile, his mom grappled with drug addiction.

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He has been in rehab three previous times.

There are now 444 licensed cannabis stores in the state, nearly half in the citys five boroughs. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

Its very hard to stop once you start. Now, we have easy access to it. Theres a dispensary on every corner in New York. Youve got delis cashing food stamps [for cannabis], Delancey said.

He said he sees more pot addicts in the city post-legalization.

The peer pressure is thick out there to use, Delancey said.

A new federal study shows there are 11 million more cannabis users in the US than just a few years ago, after 24 states including New York legalized cannabis for recreational use and 40 states for medicinal use.

The percentage of Americans age 12 and older doing ganja increased from 19% of the population, or 53.2 million, in 2021 to 22.3%, or to 64.2 million, in 2024, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

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The percentage of US residents age 26 or older consuming weed increased from 17.3% or 38.2 million people in 2021 to 21.7% or 49.3 million in 2024.

Nearly a quarter of New York City adults age 21 and older consumed cannabis in 2023, second only to alcohol, according to a study included in the city Health Departments The State of Mental Health of New Yorkers report.

The same report said 15% of city public high-school students used marijuana that year.

Proponents push to legalize marijuana downplayed the risk, said Tamara Levin, Camelots clinical director on Staten Island.

A new federal study shows there are 11 million more cannabis users in the US than just a few years ago. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

Marijuana is addictive. It causes a lot of issues, Levin said.

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The perception is that because its legal, its Ok. But for some people, it destroys their lives.

The impact of cannabis on young peoples brain is among the reasons the Medical Society of New York opposed legalization.

The citys district attorneys, now on the sidelines in terms of prosecution since marijuana has been legalized, are now monitoring abuse.

Marijuana, like any drug, legal or illegal, has the potential to be used and abused to deleterious effects Staten Island DA Michael McMahon said in a statement.

As co-chairman of the Staten Island Fentanyl & Overdose Task Force, I know that addiction illness comes in many forms and I strongly believe that now is the time for the government to increase not decrease funding for our boroughs treatment providers.
ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM)  New York State Police in Ithaca are searching for a man who they say stole a bottle of liquor from a store in the town, as stated in a release from New York State Police.

Officials say that on June 25, 2025, around 2:23 p.m., a man was seen in security camera footage taking an expensive bottle of liquor from Top Shelf Liquor on Danby Road. Officials say the suspect is a white man who is heavier set, about six feet tall, with black short hair.

Pictures of the man can be found below.

Anyone who has any information regarding this incident or the man involved is asked to contact NYSP at 607-561-7400. The case number for the incident is NY2500562006.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
A man fell to his death at the Oasis concert on Saturday at Wembley Stadium, British Metropolitan Police have confirmed.

In a statement given to the BBC, officials said they responded to a report that a man in his 40s had been injured at the show around 10:19 p.m. BST. After discovering injuries consistent with a fall, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The stadium was busy, and we believe it is likely a number of people witnessed the incident, or may knowingly or unknowingly have caught it on mobile phone video footage, officials said.

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They then called for any information regarding the incident to be reported. It is believed the man fell from the stadiums upper tier.

No additional details were added concerning the cause of the fall, though some attendees who witnessed the incident suggested that the man may have slipped.

"So much beer was being thrown throughout the whole concert," one woman told the Guardian. "I was surprised they allowed people to bring drinks into the stands. It made the floor really slippy.

Another fan, John, says he saw many fans leaning against the balcony from block 511, where witnesses claim the fall took place.

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"There were loads of people who just kept going down to the front and leaning right over. One guy was stopped, but after that, no security came down," he said. "Theres a rail and a small guard, but it did make me think someone could quite easily get knocked off there.

He was also critical of alcohol consumption at the show, adding that he "constantly saw people with cardboard cup holders full of pints."

The Times reported on Friday that Oasis fans had drank 250,000 pints of beer during one show at Wembley, breaking a stadium record. Last year's Coldplay gigs saw 120,000 pints sold, and 40,000 for Taylor Swift.

Representatives of Wembley Stadium told the BBC that paramedics attempted to revive the man on the scene, but to no avail.

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"Despite their efforts, the fan very sadly died." they said.

Oasis addressed the tragedy, telling NME they were shocked and saddened to hear the news.

Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved, they added.

The concert was the fourth show in Oasis quartet of sold-out appearances at Wembley; theyll close out the historical run on Monday. The North American leg of their tour will kick off on Aug. 24 in Toronto and make its way to Los Angeles for two nights at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 6 and 7.

The Gallagher brothers shocked the world when they reunited after 15 years, following a widely publicized and bitter fallout in 2009.

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Read more: Oasis launches new tour. How long till the breakup? 6 famous but brief band reunions

The reunion rollout began with a teaser video posted on Aug. 25, 2024, on the bands Instagram account. It contained a date and time: "08.27.24, 8 a.m." It would end up being the official announcement of their 2025 tour.

This is it, the band wrote . This is happening.

Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Oasis is mourning the loss of a fan.

The band expressed its grief after a concertgoer had fallen from the upper tier of London's Wembley Stadium during their reunion tour show on Aug. 2.

"We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan at the show last night," the band shared in a statement to The Guardian. "Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved."

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After the tragic incident at the venuewhere Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher will perform for seven days during their Oasis Live '25 Tourthe venue confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the concert went "ahead as planned."

The venue also commended first responders for quickly tending to the fan, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Despite their efforts, the fan very sadly died," a rep for Wembley Stadium added. "Our thoughts go out to his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers."

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Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police confirmed the 40-year-old man was "found with injuries consistent with a fall" during the fourth night at the venue.

"The stadium was busy, and we believe it is likely a number of people witnessed the incident," the authorities told BBC, "or may knowingly or unknowingly have caught it on mobile phone video footage."

They urged fans who may have additional information to reach out to their office.

E! News has reached out to reps for Oasis and the Metropolitan Police Department for comment and has not yet heard back.

Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Oasis will finish their first set of dates at Wembley Stadium on Aug. 4 before spending three days in Scotland. After making their way to Canada, the United States and Mexico, the brothers will return to Wembley in September for two more dates.

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For Noel and Liam, who are back on the stage together after 16 years, their reunion tour marks a major milestone in their relationship. Indeed, it was their very public, strained dynamic that was the demise of the successful band.

For years, fans begged for the pair to bring "Wonderwall" back to life, with Liam eventually telling MOJO last February before their reunion tour announcement, "It's down to the universe. It'll happen when it happens, it's not in our hands anymore."

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Odessa man was arrested last week after his girlfriend went through his phone and called 911 after discovering some illegal images. John F. White has been charged with Possession of Child Pornography, a third-degree felony.

According to an Odessa Police Department report, on July 30, a woman called 911 and said she went through Whites phone and found videos of young children engaging in sex acts with adult men. OPD detectives on the scene confirmed that the videos were illegal and met the definition of child pornography.

In a subsequent interview with White, he reportedly admitted to obtaining and storing the videos on his phone for his own gratification. He was arrested and booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center; hes since been released on a combined $18,500 bond.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  An officer-involved shooting on Saturday was reported by the Rosebud Police Department.

A suspect had serious, life-threatening injuries and as of Saturday night, was receiving medical treatment. Police were responding to an incident in the parking lot of the Indian Health Service facility.

Truck crashes into Sioux Falls home

The officer involved was not injured. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will serve as the primary investigative agency for this incident.

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(FOX40.COM)  City of Sacramento Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes spoke with FOX40s Bianca Ventura about the resources that are most in demand as students head back to the classroom.

You can find more details on 3rd annual Backpack Giveaway happening Monday, August 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Talamantess Instagram.

The event is happening at Northgate Park, 2825 Mendel Way, Sacramento.

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New European Union rules will require stores to eliminate single-use plastic condiment packages and plastic nets on produce by 2030.

Supermarkets and other businesses have been alerted to prepare for the upcoming changes, according to The Journal. Stores that don't have many loose fruit and vegetable options, like Aldi, will have to make adjustments.

"Reducing our plastic and packaging footprint  is a key priority," representatives for Aldi said, per The Journal. "We are fully committed to complying with these new regulations."

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Any plastic containers or wraps that are not for the purposes of safety or preventing food loss will likely be banned as well, sustainability nonprofit Repak told The Journal. However, there may be exemptions for soft fruits.

From Europe to the United States, plastic bans have increased in popularity around the world  and the impact is significant. According to Environment America, policies banning single-use plastic bags could eliminate an average of about 300 bags per person each year.

Although efforts to eliminate plastic from stores have ramped up, plastic production shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, plastic production is expected to double in the next 25 years, according to National Geographic.

About 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. Additionally, plastic products can take hundreds of years to decompose, creating dangerous conditions for wildlife. One study found that more than 1,500 species have ingested plastic waste, which can lead to endangerment or even extinction.

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Plastic pollution can be harmful to human health, too. Microplastics are created when larger pieces of plastic break down into tiny particles that are less than one-fifth of an inch in length. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the particles can invade the human body and have been found in the liver and kidneys.

According to The Journal, an EU survey found that the majority of people in Ireland considered plastic waste the nation's biggest waste problem. Many commenters seemed to agree.

"The amount of McDonald's ketchup sachets that get put in a bag with a take away and end up in the side of roads without ever being opened is not insignificant!" one commenter wrote. "Multiply this worldwide, it's a lot of litter."

Another said: "Finally! Well done EU."

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Western Australia's state government has implemented a new ban on molded expanded plastic packaging.

It's WA's latest effort to combat plastic pollution, benefiting the health of people, wildlife, and the environment.

As Examiner Newspapers reported, packaging made from molded plastics cut to shape, such as expanded polystyrene, is now outlawed in Western Australia. These products can no longer be sold or supplied in the state.

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This ban is part of Stage 2 of the government's plan to reduce plastic. Before the ban's recent passage, a 28-month transition period was in place, allowing businesses to receive support while exploring alternative packaging materials.

The local government and the National Retail Association collaborated with businesses to prepare them for the ban, providing resources and guides to follow.

Western Australia introduced the new ban to mark the start of Plastic Free July, a local initiative launched in 2011 that has since evolved into a global sustainability movement.

"Plastic Free July inspires people around the world to take practical and meaningful actions to cut down on plastic waste, and this new ban shows WA is serious about doing our bit to cut plastic pollution," said State Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn, per the Examiner.

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Western Australia's newest plastic ban is inspiring because it demonstrates how governments, industry organizations, and local businesses can work together to find better solutions than plastic. Swinbourn commended the local retailers, manufacturers, and distributors for their dedication to making the transition to a plastic-free environment a success.

Molded plastics and polystyrene are notorious for being difficult to recycle and commonly littered in the environment. Because of their lightweight and disposable construction, these materials often blow away from trash bins, creating hazards for wildlife. Meanwhile, polystyrene products are linked to toxic exposure in food packaging, increasing human health risks.

While bans like this may initially be challenging for businesses to work around, they are a significant step in the right direction toward curbing our global pollution problem. Pro-climate bans on plastics and other harmful materials drive environmental progress and pave the way for broader, national legislation.

Regardless of whether your community has a plastic ban in place, you can set a positive example by reducing your own plastic use in daily life.

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Fortunately, plastic alternatives are becoming widely available for many of the everyday products you rely on. Also, an increasing number of brands are prioritizing plastic-free packaging for the items they sell.

"Foamed plastics like EPS [expanded polystyrene] break into tiny pieces that are harmful to wildlife and difficult to clean up," Swinbourn explained. "By removing them from circulation, we're protecting our natural spaces and encouraging smarter, more sustainable packaging choices."

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Video: Initial coverage.

FAIRBORN (WDTN)  The Division of State Fire Marshal is considering a fire late last week to be a result of arson.

Fire in Fairborn prompts large fire crew response

Our 2 NEWS crew saw several crews at the intersection of Xenia Drive and Broad Street, including Enon, Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Fairborn and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base fire departments.

The building where the fire occurred was vacant at the time; no injuries were reported.

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Officials with the Division of State Fire Marshal are continuing the investigation as an intentionally set fire at the business.

After locating multiple suspected points of origin for the fire, local officials requested assistance from the Divisions Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau (FEIB), the agency said in a press release. FEIB investigators recovered numerous pieces of evidence from the scene and are now investigating this fire as an arson.

Anyone with information is asked to contact their information tip line at 800-589-2728. The Blue Ribbon Arson Committee is offering a $5,000 reward.

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Supply and demand may dictate markets, but stepping back to discern before following the crowd might be your best move when considering a dairy-beef calf purchase. University of Minnesota professor Brad Heins considered the value proposition of these expensive animals in a recent podcast, exploring potential economic outcomes for producers who buy into a beef-on-dairy calf program these days.

Sticker shock

With prices skyrocketing  Heins noted that in central Minnesota, a 116-pound dairy-beef crossbred calf recently went for $1,450  pursuing a beef-on-dairy plan to finish cattle could be cost prohibitive. When I started in the beef and dairy world in 2018 or 2019, those calves were maybe $350 to $400. And they kept increasing; this past spring they were $800 to $900, but now $1,400 for the top ones? Thats crazy. And when this upfront cost is tallied in with subsequent expenses, the current numbers might not add up to economic feasibility.

How do we raise them, market them  what do you do once these calves get weaned? Heins listed off some of the additional questions hes heard from producers. Earlier this year, hed run the numbers for a podcast series and had come up with $2,700 grossed per dairy-beef steer on what we sent for processing. But that doesnt account for labor, feed, or for the calfs value, he noted. In addition to his own research, Heins cited a study done by a Michigan State University (MSU) Ph.D. student that took a more nuanced approach to the costs-benefit analysis of beef-on-dairy, factoring in growth traits as well as liver abscesses. The latter is a major sticking point when it comes to these crossbreeds; Texas A&M and other institutions have put the liver abscess occurrence percentage at 50% for dairy-beef crosses, compared to around 20% for their traditional beef cattle counterparts.

The MSU economics-focused study showed a 21-day shorter time to market for Holstein-beef crosses compared to Holstein steers  a big economic advantage, Heins pointed out. Also, when compared to Holsteins, The crosses were more feed efficient, more pounds of gain with less feed, and had 20% larger ribeye area and better yield grades  which meant better muscling, he said. The study bears out the assumption driving the market right now: that dairy-beef Holstein crosses provide more value at market than purebred Holsteins.

Here to stay

However, inflated calf prices could easily wipe out feedlot performance superiority. Heins also broke down a study that factored in the premium producers are shelling out for the dairy-beef crosses; that extra cost for a dairy-beef cross hovered around $353, but the breakeven came in at $281. Thats roughly $70 to $75 more than they should have paid, based on what the market conditions suggested they should get, he noted. And although the study results amount to a snapshot of a moment in time rather than a narrative, he pointed out that dairy-beef crosses are here to stay  some reports now have them at 15% to 20% of national total beef production. But theres more affecting the market than just momentum. Heins ticked down a list of variables that ranged from New World screwworm-prompted Mexican import bans to corn prices. These factors are out of producers control, and Heins advised that farmers sit down and figure out their true cost of production based on their known realities, right down to where their animals will be going for processing. Some of these plants can handle bigger carcasses than others, so thats a consideration as well. If you know your cost of production, you can decide how much youre willing to pay for these calves, he said.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.
Kazakhstan has taken a major step in addressing human health and environmental concerns after enacting a sweeping ban on vape products.

In April 2024, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, signed a law banning the sale, production, and distribution of heated tobacco products, including vaping products and e-cigarettes. This was done to combat the spread of nicotine-based substances, particularly among young people in the country.

According to a report from 2 Firsts, President Tokayev signed a Republic Law in July that amends the original legislation to significantly increase the penalties for anyone in violation of the ban.

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Following the amendment, the sale and distribution of vapes and e-cigarettes may now result in a fine of up $1,716, up to 200 days of community service, or even 50 days in prison. Those found guilty of importing or producing vape products will be hit with even more severe punishments, with fines of nearly $15,000.

Violators may also have their assets seized and face the possibility of up to two years in prison. However, for crimes committed by a group or repeat offenders, sentences are pushed even further, resulting in some "violators facing up to five years in prison."

Throughout the world, many mainstream criticisms of total vape bans have centered around concerns that the measures could drive users back to traditional cigarettes and other tobacco products. Many businesses are also wary of vape bans, as it can lead to substantial profit loss and a decrease in active customers.

Vaping has been linked to several significant health risks, especially to the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. It can cause inflammation and scarring in the lungs and increase the risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Vaping also poses risks of nicotine addiction, especially for adolescents.

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There are also significant concerns for the environment. The improper disposal of vaping products can ultimately contribute to plastic waste, thanks to used pens and pods. It can also lead to electronic waste from batteries and circuit boards, and the potential for chemical leaks from e-liquids into the environment.

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A Washington dog park was shut down after an enormous animal jumped the fence  here's who showed up.

What happened?

Residents of Soap Lake, Washington, were urged to avoid the city's dog park after a moose wandered inside, according to the Columbia Basin Herald. The dog park was subsequently closed, and parkgoers were advised to walk their dogs elsewhere until the moose left.

While moose are majestic creatures, it's best to stay at least 25 yards (75 feet) away. Moose can weigh anywhere from 500 to 1,500 pounds and stand over 6 feet tall. They aren't generally aggressive, but they are defensive and will charge if threatened, especially by dogs.

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"Moose consider dogs, which are close relatives of wolves, to be a direct threat," Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife contact Nicole Jordan said, per the Columbia Basin Herald. "Moose have been known to go out of their way to kick a dog, even one on a leash or in a fenced yard."

Why is this moose spotting concerning?

Human-wildlife interactions are increasing, and this isn't a good thing. Habitat loss  deforestation, degradation, and destruction  is displacing and pushing desperate animals into human settlements. Loss of resources and food due to the climate crisis is worsening the problem.

While some animals are simply wandering, like the Soap Lake moose, other animals become habituated to humans and go out of their way to find food. For example, a hungry bear broke into a South Carolina homeowner's screened-in patio for some cat food.

These interactions put both the human and the animal at risk of injury or death. Although uncommon, moose, bears, wolves, and other wildlife can harm or kill humans. If they do become aggressive, whether out of hunger or fear, the animal is deemed dangerous to society and often euthanized.

What's being done to prevent human-wildlife interactions?

One of the best ways to prevent these interactions is to address the root of the problem itself: habitat loss. Protecting existing habitats and restoring lost land helps wildlife stay wild. City rewilding projects have seen plenty of success.

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Urbanization isn't easy to slow or stop, but designing cities with wildlife in mind can help lessen our impact. Building wildlife-friendly infrastructure, such as crossings and underpasses, significantly reduces interactions and collisions.

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Wind turbines generate electricity at the Block Island Wind Farm in 2022 near Block Island, Rhode Island. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

This story was originally published by Canary Media.

Offshore wind leasing is effectively dead in the U.S. following a Trump administration order issued last week.

Large swaths of U.S. waters that had been identified by federal agencies as ideal for offshore wind are no longer eligible for such developments under an Interior Department statement released Wednesday.

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In the four-sentence statement, the Interiors Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said the U.S. government is de-designating over 3.5 million acres of unleased federal waters previously targeted for offshore wind development across the Gulf of America, Gulf of Maine, the New York Bight, California, Oregon, and the Central Atlantic.

The move comes just a day after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered his staff to stop preferential treatment for wind projects and falsely called wind energy unreliable. Analysts say that offshore wind power can be a reliable form of carbon-free energy, especially in New England, where the regions grid operator has called it critical to grid stability. It also follows the Trump administrations monthslong assault on the industry, which has included multiple attacks on in-progress projects.

The outlook was already grim for new offshore wind leasing activity following President Donald Trumps executive order in January that introduced a temporary ban on the practice. Wednesdays announcement makes that policy more definitive. Wind power advocates say it will erase several years of work from federal agencies and local communities to determine the best possible areas for wind development.

My read on this is that there is not going to be any leasing for offshore wind in the near future, said a career employee at the Interior Department, who Canary Media granted anonymity to speak freely for fear of retribution.

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Figuring out the best spot to place offshore wind is an involved undertaking. The proposed areas start off enormous and, according to the Interior staffer, undergo a careful, multiyear winnowing process to settle on the official wind energy area. Smaller lease areas are later carved out of these broader expanses.

Take the process for designating the wind energy area known as Central Atlantic 2, which started back in 2023 and is now dead in the water.

The draft area  or call area  started out as a thick belt roughly 40 miles wide and reached from the southernmost tip of New Jersey to the northern border of South Carolina, according to maps on BOEMs website. Multiple agencies, including the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, and NASA, then provided input on where that initial area might have been problematic. NASA, for example, maintains a launch site on Virginias Wallops Island and in 2024 found that nearby wind turbines could interfere with the agencys instrumentation and radio frequencies.

The winnowing didnt stop there. By 2024, according to BOEMs website, its staff was hosting in-person public meetings from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Morehead City, North Carolina, to gather input from fishermen, tourism outfitters, and other stakeholders. Under a wind-friendly administration, a final designation and lease sale notice would have likely been released this year or by 2026, based on a timeline posted to BOEMs website.

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But the Trump administration is no friend to offshore wind.

Trump officials have repeatedly targeted wind projects by pulling permits and even halting one wind farm during construction. Last month, Trumps big, beautiful bill sent federal tax credits to an early grave, requiring wind developers who want to use the incentives to either start construction by July 2026 or place turbines in service by the end of 2027. The move is particularly devastating for offshore projects not already underway. Currently, five major offshore wind farms are under construction in the U.S., and when they come online, they will help states from Virginia to Massachusetts meet their rising energy demand with carbon-free power.

Wednesdays order halts all work on Central Atlantic 2 and similar areas, like one near Guam, and also revokes completely finalized wind energy areas with strong state support. One example is in the Gulf of Maine, where Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, has been a fierce advocate for the emerging renewable sector.

These wind energy areas could hypothetically be re-designated by a future administration or the policy reversed, according to the Interior Department employee. Still, in the best case, that means developers will have to wait several more years for new lease areas to become available, further slowing down an industry whose projects already take many years to go through permitting and construction.

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John Oliver didnt hold back Sunday as he tore into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chorus of right-wing commentators who are downplaying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The Last Week Tonight host first slammed Netanyahus claim of no starvation in Gaza.

Are you sure about that, though? Oliver asked. Because we can all see it right in front of us, and its frankly insulting to think that you can deflect our attention with all the skill of a shitty magician.

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Oh, fuck off, he added.

Oliver then turned his focus to conservative figures  like Fox News Mark Levin, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and former Fox personality Megyn Kelly  who have questioned images of starvation in Gaza after The New York Times amended a story to note that the starving child they had pictured had a pre-existing health condition.

Oh, fuck that shit, said Oliver. For what its worth, a child can have a pre-existing condition and be starving. Sick children  and this is true  need food to live.

I kind of hoped we were done with Megyn Kelly as a society, he added.

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Oliver also pushed back on the scrutiny of photos depicting famine, noting the overwhelming evidence from international aid organizations, Israeli human rights groups and firsthand accounts.

Whats happening in Gaza right now is a famine, Oliver said. All the information we have points to that  except for this fucking guy [Netanyahu] and a few adult junior detectives squinting at each photo of a skeletal child to figure out if theyre the right kind of dying.

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Ohio Elections Commission Executive Director Phil Richter setting up before a recent meeting. (Photo Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.)

The Ohio General Assembly tacked an expiration date on the states independent campaign finance watchdog as part of the latest state budget. On Jan. 1, the Ohio Elections Commissions responsibilities shift to a new office under the Secretary of States umbrella. Beyond that date-certain transfer, much of what happens next is still up in the air. In the meantime, their work continues.

The commission meets

The Ohio Elections Commission meets in a basement hearing room at the Vern Riffe Center, just across the street from the Ohio statehouse. Commissioners sit at a long table on a dais in front of several rows of sparsely filled chairs. The mood among commissioners is light-hearted and collegial. They trade jokes and tease one another about who seconded a motion first.

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By and large, the cases coming before them are honest mistakes  part-time treasurers who forgot to file reports or filed them incorrectly. In one case the candidate passed away and the treasurer didnt realize there was more he needed to do. Many of those incidents receive no penalty or a modest fine of $50-$100.

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But commissioners also try to put a foot down after repeated delays. One organization has been struggling to reconstruct its books after a previous treasurer took off with their records. The commission agreed to give them another 30 days. But Commissioner Stephen Caraway warned, I would be in favor of moving to a substantially higher fine violation, from $50 into the $1000s, if its still not resolved.

In another case commissioners had to throw up their hands. Township trustee candidate Justin Peroli criticized a political mailer sent out by a multitude of concerned citizens of Lafayette township. Its a bogus disclaimer, he argued, because theres no committee with that name and no campaign finance filings for the mailer.

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Commissioners were frustrated but had to dismiss the complaint because they couldnt serve notice to the non-existent group. A representative from the Secretary of States office urged Peroli to file another complaint with them so they could follow up.

The Ohio Election Commission at a recent hearing. From left: Commissioner Stephen Caraway, Commissioner Ernie Knight, Vice Chair Shayla Davis, Chair Christina Hagan, Executive Director Phil Richter, Commissioner Karl Kerschner. Not pictured: Commissioners John Lyall and Charleta Tavares. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.)

Where were headed

For the OECs critics in the state legislature, that feeble response to obvious violations and repeated extensions for straggling treasurers only underscore the commissions obsolescence.

Ive had a four-year front row seat to how inept this process is, state Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, said back in April.

The commissions perceived shortcomings, though, are a function of the laws governing it. They can impose fines and refer cases for prosecution, but after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out Ohios false statement statutes, a substantial chunk of the commissions job went away.

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Referring to that case, Stewart said lawmakers never right sized the operation in response. As the Houses chief budget negotiator, he pushed to abolish the OEC and transfer its duties to the new Election Integrity Unit with the Secretary of State.

Instead of the Ohio Elections Commission, the budget directs the secretary to set up a new Ohio Election Integrity Commission. That unit will investigate campaign finance complaints as well as election law violations like improper registration. It will have five members instead of the current seven, and at least three of the five must be attorneys. Commissioners will be chosen by the secretary and legislative leaders of both parties.

Thats a departure from the current structure where the governor names three Republican and three Democratic members who in turn select a seventh independent member. In all likelihood, the new arrangement will set up the secretarys designee as the tie-breaking vote. In cases of a potential conflict of interest, the attorney general is meant designate someone else to investigate a complaint.

Ohio Capital Journal reached out to Sec. LaRose for this story, but his office did not respond.

How do we get there?

At the close of the most recent OEC hearing, commissioners took a moment to discuss what it will look like to wind down their operation. Commissioner Ernie Knight cut to chase.

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So, for me, the most important part, first and foremost, for the next meeting is to understand at a very granular level, if we have enough capital to get through the end of the year, he said.

In an interview, Executive Director Phil Richter wasnt particularly optimistic about funding lasting until the handoff.

Depending on how you mean, get through the rest of the year, not necessarily, no, he said.

The problem is the funding typically appropriated to the commission lands in April or May in an ordinary budget cycle. Thats obviously too late if theyre handing things off at the beginning of January. Richter said theyre still working through the figures, and if it looks like theyll fall short, that would be worked out between me, my budget analyst, (the Office of Budget and Management) and the Controlling Board.

Ohio Elections Commission Executive Director Phil Richter speaking during an OEC hearing. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.)

In the next couple of weeks Richter is going to tell county boards to pause new referrals. He wants the commission to clear as much of its docket as possible before handing things over. Right now, theyve got roughly 150 cases.

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Of the about 150, I feel like well get through most of those, Richter explained.

But beyond abstract questions about funding or the transferring of cases, theres the very tangible question of what to do with the office. What happens with the cabinets full of paper files? Or the desks? Or the staff?

Great question, Richter said with a grin. There isnt an answer right now  lets put it that way.

The budget carries a provision transferring existing staff to the secretary, and Richter is hopeful theyll be kept on. Hed already been contemplating retirement and said he expects to finish the year and move on, although he left the door open to other opportunities.

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As for the files and furniture, Richter has had preliminary conversations with the secretarys staff but thats about it.

I dont know that they want all this stuff, he said. but all this stuff at one level becomes their stuff.

It could be it all just gets taken and put out to storage, out on Surface Road, and put into the next auction, he added.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky.

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MEDINA CO., Ohio (WKBN)  Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery will host a wreath-laying ceremony next week in commemoration of the end of World War II.

The Spirit of 45 event honors World War II veterans on the 80th anniversary of former President Trumans announcement of the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan, marking the end of World War II.

The ceremony will include remarks by officials, a wreath dedication and military honors. Participation will include Taps by Tawny Smith, and a Rifle Salute and Color Guard by 555th Honors Detachment.

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The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Aug. 13 at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. Parking is available for the public on-site.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration traditionally holds Spirit of 45 commemoration events every five years at its 156 cemeteries, commemorating the service and sacrifice of World War II veterans.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Okemos Public Schools reports that it will no longer offer free meals to all students at the start of the 202526 school year due to a delay in state funding.

Michigan lawmakers have not yet created a budget for the upcoming school year; therefore, guaranteed funding is unavailable for districts across the state.

Schools scrambling to budget without state appropriations passed

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The district reports that due to differences in community income levels that determine eligibility for additional meal program funding, some area school districts are unable to offer free meals to all students, including Okemos.

Students and families who qualify can still apply for free or reduced price meals by completing the school meal application and returning it to your school, or by applying online.

If you do not qualify for the meal plan, money can be added to a students account online or by sending cash or a check to the school.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz speaks at an Oklahoma Turnpike Authority board meeting on January 9, 2024. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma has made drastic improvements in reducing the number of structurally deficient bridges and now ranks fourth in the nation for favorable conditions, the head of the states transportation agency said Monday.

The new ranking is a marked improvement from over two decades ago when Oklahoma ranked 49th and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation had nearly 1,200 structurally deficient bridges, said Tim Gatz, the agencys executive director.

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That is the highest ranking we have ever achieved, Gatz told the Oklahoma Transportation Commission, which oversees Gatzs agency.

The 2025 report by the Federal Highway Administration, found that 35 bridges  or 0.52%  maintained by ODOT were structurally deficient, Gatz said.

The 35 bridges are addressed in the states eight-year construction plan, he said.

Every public bridge in the state is inspected at least once every two years, he said.

Bringing highway bridges into good condition and preserving them for the future allows the department to put more resources toward other priorities such as improving pavement conditions, adding shoulders to rural, two-lane highways and tackling urban traffic congestion, said Brenda Perry Clark, an ODOT spokeswoman.

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The federal report does not include bridges maintained by counties and cities, he said.

The state agency is responsible for maintaining nearly 6,800 bridges, Gatz said.

A decision by state leaders about 20 years ago to pump tens of millions into the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety fund, made a significant impact, he said.

It is going to take continued diligence for us to stay there, Gatz said.

Oklahoma has about 1,000 bridges that are classified as at risk, or have conditional elements the agency is watching, Gatz said.

Transportation Commissioner Bobby Alexander called the ranking increase an incredible feat, adding that efforts to improve bridges have saved lives.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A man was shot and killed after a fight broke out inside a downtown San Diego rooftop bar Sunday evening, and one person is in custody after being detained by bystanders.

San Diego Police officers responded to reports of a shooting at 5:18 p.m. at Cielo Rooftop Lounge at 701 Sixth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Pepper balls used during standoff with driver on I-15 near Fallbrook: CHP

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When officers arrived at the scene, they found one person suffering from gunshot wounds in a third-floor hallway inside the bar. The 46-year-old man died at the scene despite lifesaving measures from officers and paramedics. He has not yet been identified.

San Diego Police reports 37-year-old Brian Tyner was taken into custody following the shooting. Officers found Tyner on the sidewalk in front of the bar being detained by several bystanders. He faces a murder charge and will be booked in the County Jail.

One in custody as homicide investigation underway following downtown shooting (FOX 5/KUSI)

Officers were still processing the scene and interviewing witnesses Sunday night.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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Juliette Vara contributed to this report. Check back for updates on this breaking story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
One dead, another injured in two separate overnight shootings in Boston

One person is dead and another injured in two separate overnight shootings in Boston.

According to Boston police, around 11:57 p.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of 289 Dudley Street.

Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

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Police also responded to the area of 80 Wrentham Street for a report of a person shot around 12:04 a.m.

The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

No arrests have been made in either shooting, and an investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  One person is dead following a two-vehicle accident that happened in Hymera on Saturday night.

According to the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office, authorities responded to the report of an accident with injuries near the intersection of Jackson and Oak Street.

One individual was extricated from the vehicle and later transported to a local hospital. The driver later passed away.

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The other involved driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. No names have been released at this time.

A crash reconstruction team was called to the scene. Indiana State Police, Sullivan County Sheriffs Office, Thunderbird Fire, Hymera Fire, SCAT, and Farmersburg Police assisted in the incident.

The crash remains under investigation and is being led by the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office.

WTWO will continue to update you as information becomes available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
PERU, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44)  New York State Police said Monday they were investigating an early-morning house fire in Peru.

Local fire departments were able to put out that fire, which began some time before 4:34 a.m. Monday morning on Cayea Road. Unfortunately, they found one man dead after entering the residence.

He was identified as Scott A. Booth, 50, of Morrisonville. Authorities say the fire appears accidental at this time, but an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.




NEED TO KNOW

A Florida man was sentenced on July 31 after pleading guilty to a felony bigamy charge in May

Henry Betsey Jr. married three women in the span of two years in different counties across Florida

His wives all confronted him in court last week before he was sentenced





A Florida man who said I do not one, but two too many times has been sentenced for his felony bigamy conviction.

Henry Betsey Jr. was sentenced to two years probation on July 31 after being convicted of being married to three separate women at the same time, ABC Action News and WKRC reported. The Deccan Herald reported that none of the women were aware Betsey was married to any of the other women, and that he married the women in separate counties, helping him avoid detection from the state as well.

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Betsey, 50, pleaded guilty to the felony bigamy charge in May, according to ABC Action News. The outlet reported that he attended that court hearing with a new girlfriend by his side  but at his sentencing, he was along when he was confronted by all three women he'd married.

He sold the perfect person, when in reality, he was none of those things, said wife Tonya Betsey, who unraveled her husbands deceptive plot when she began searching his name in county databases across the state, revealing he was still married to two other women: Michele Betsey and Brandy Betsey.

She found me and she messaged me, and I had no idea that she was actually still married to him, Michele told ABC Action News earlier this year.

At the sentencing, the wives all said they met Betsey on dating websites and married him at their local courthouses. He said all the right things, Brandy told the court.

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https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

According to the Deccan Herald, Betseys dating profile read: Looking for a beautiful woman who understands the ups and downs of life, is trustworthy and no games."

But the women told the court last week that Betsey's own games began in November 2020 when he first married Tanya after meeting her on Tinder. Betsey then married Brandy in February 2022 after they met on Stir, and then tied a third knot with Michele in November 2022, three weeks after they met on Match.com, according to WKRC. The three women told the court they believed Betsey married them to gain access to their finances.

Betsey reportedly apologized to the three women and their families, as well as his, at his sentencing, ABC Action News reported.

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I want to apologize to the ladies and I want to apologize to the court administration and to my family and friends that had to be involved in this, because ultimately this is something that I didnt wish to be part of, the three-time husband told the court.

The judge sentenced him to two years probation, meaning Betsey avoids jail time but is still logged as a convicted felon.

Betseys wives didnt buy his apology.

I'm sure that it was only said because it was recommended by his attorney to say, Tonya told ABC Action News in an email after her husbands sentencing. Do I think he has any remorse? Absolutely not.

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Hernando County inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE showed Betsey was released from custody on July 31 after his sentencing. ABC Action News reported that Judge Merritt ordered Betsey to stay off social media and not have contact with his three wives.

Read the original article on People
An adventurer who lost a leg in an accident is preparing to climb one of the highest peaks ever attempted by people with disabilities.

Twenty-nine-year-old Luke Tarrant, from Bedford, was in a motorcycle crash in 2024 while travelling solo through Colombia on his way to Antarctica from the US.

On 15 August, alongside former professional rugby player Ed Jackson, 36, from Bath, he will attempt to scale a mountain more than 5,000m (16,500ft) high in the ranges of Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia.

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Mr Tarrant said: "It was not really my thing, climbing mountains before my accident, so now I'm trying to sort my head around doing it with one leg."

"I'd like to think it's risky but not reckless," he laughed. "It just depends whether we're up to it, I think it's possible"

The pair expect the climb to take 10 days to reach the summit but have set three weeks aside in Kyrgyzstan for the challenge.

They are hoping to raise money for the charity Millimetres 2 Mountains, an out-door focused mental health charity.

It will take the climbers 10 days to reach the summit [TOBY RONEY]

Mr Tarrant explained training sessions in the gym are great for cardio preperations but make his prosthetic "awful to wear" for days afterwards.

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He said: "It's kind of a balancing act between prosthetic wear and fitness, which has been pretty tough."

When they reach the top of the mountain they will be allowed to name it, as it has previously never successfully climbed.

If this happens the duo will instead allow a local children's charity in Kyrgyzstan to pick a name for the peak.

The adventurer said: "I'm not a huge fan of people from foreign countries turning up in other people's lands and just going and being like 'this is called this now'.

"We'll let them name their own mountain but hopefully we're the ones who climb it first."

Ed Jackson (left) is joining Luke Tarrant on the climb [TOBY RONEY]

His mother had hoped his motorbike crash would be "the end of him doing stupid things" but it has instead motivated him to keep challenging himself.

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He explained: "Initially after my injury, I thought I want to make sure this this doesn't hold me back and it doesn't mean that I can't complete things I would have done before.

"Now I've kind of gone full circle where I'm actually going to try and do things which I would never have done if I hadn't had my injury.

"It almost makes the whole thing worth it. It's like I need to try and make the most out of the cards I've been dealt to the point where I actually have a better life than I would have had before the injury."

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
LEEDS, Utah (ABC4)  One person was injured after a three vehicle collision on southbound Interstate 15 near Leeds on Sunday afternoon.

Trooper Davies Sanchez with the Utah Highway Patrol says the incident occurred near milepost 23 after a pickup truck with a trailer attempted to avoid a collision with a semi. The pickup truck fishtailed and ended up striking an RV.

The RV driver attempted to regain control of the vehicle but ended up crashing into the front of the pickup truck. The front passenger of the pickup was transported to the hospital with a broken arm.

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The crash briefly blocked the southbound lanes of traffic before the accident was moved to the off-ramp. All lanes of I-15 are open but the off-ramp remains closed for clean up.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
READING, N.Y. (WETM)  One woman is dead after a crash that happened Monday morning at an intersection in the Town of Reading.

Emily Hoover, 19, was declared dead at the scene of the crash that occurred on Monday, August 4, according to a release from the Schuyler County Sheriffs Office.

On Monday, around 8:57 a.m., deputies explained they investigated a fatal car crash involving a town of Reading highway vehicle and a bicyclist, later identified as Hoover, at the intersection of County Route 29 and Spencer Road, in the Town of Reading.

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Upon further investigation, deputies learned that Hoover did not stop at a stop sign on Spencer Road and rode into the side of the oncoming Town of Reading Highway vehicle, the release stated. Hoover was declared dead at the scene, the release explained.

Watkins Glen Fire, Schuyler Ambulance, New York State Police accident reconstruction, and New York State commercial vehicle enforcement also assisted the sheriffs department at the scene.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Editors note: This article was a winning story idea, voted on by members of the Kyiv Independents community. Join our community today and join our exclusive members-only Discord channel, where you can discuss and suggest stories, ask our journalists questions, and more.

Following World War II and the subsequent redrawing of borders in Europe, Polish authorities forced out roughly 700,000 Ukrainians from their homes in what became Poland's new southeastern frontier.

It was this act that the Ukrainian parliament condemned on July 29 as an unlawful deportation.

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The expulsions, carried out between 1944 and 1951 primarily in what is today Poland's Subcarpathia, Lublin, and Lesser Poland regions, culminated in Operation Vistula, which saw some 140,000-150,000 Ukrainians forcibly resettled under the guise of combating Ukrainian nationalist insurgents.

The Ukrainian condemnation comes a few months after the Polish authorities recognized July 11 as the day of remembrance for the victims of the "genocide committed by the OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists) and the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army)," making it an official holiday.

The genocide in question refers to the Volyn Massacre of 1943-1944, carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army against Poles living in what is today Ukraine, underscoring the resurgent role of historical grievances in Polish-Ukrainian relations.

People hold flags and a banner reading "Volyn. 1943. We remember" during a commemoration of Polish victims of the Volhynian Massacre in Krakow, Poland on July 10, 2022. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

As Polish President-elect Karol Nawrocki and other Polish leaders continue to oppose Ukraine's EU membership based on decades-old conflicts, history once again shapes the contours of modern politics.

Soviet-Polish population exchange

The end of World War II saw the entire Polish state move westward. Multiethnic regions of Volyn and Galicia, home to almost 5 million Ukrainians and 2 million Poles before the war, found themselves part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR), while roughly 700,000 Ukrainians remained within the confines of the renewed Polish state.

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However, the ethnic violence that accompanied World War II meant there was little appetite for multiethnic states after the conflict.

Violent clashes between Poles and Ukrainians peaked during the Volyn Massacres of 1943-44, when the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) killed tens of thousands of Poles in the Volyn region and elsewhere. Thousands of Ukrainians were killed in reprisals.

Victors of World War II sought to prevent these conflicts from repeating by evicting millions of people from their homes and forging new nation-states.

On Sept. 9, 1944, Nikita Khrushchev, the communist chief of the Ukrainian SSR who would later become the Soviet leader, signed a deal with the Soviet-backed Polish authorities in Lublin on a mass cross-border population exchange.

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According to the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, the initial phase of the resettlement  carried out between October and December 1944  was largely voluntary.

But things took a violent turn the following year. As more and more Ukrainians refused to leave, the military and security forces of the communist-ruled Poland began arresting men, attacking villages, and even killing civilians, historian Timothy Snyder writes in his 1999 work, "To Resolve the Ukrainian Problem Once and for All: The Ethnic Cleansing of Ukrainians in Poland, 19431947."

Soldiers of the Polish Army pose for a photo in front of Ukrainians they have forcibly displaced during the Operation Vistula, as the villagers leave their homes in an unknown location, 1947. (IPN Archive / Wikimedia)

For example, 56 residents of the Zawadka Morochowska village were killed by Polish troops on Jan. 25, 1946, the Ukrainian Institute for the National Memory says.

Remnants of UPA and other Ukrainian nationalist groups still operating in Poland responded by attacking Polish officers and burning evacuated Ukrainian villages to prevent Polish resettlement. These attacks only further fueled the Polish crackdown.

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Polish authorities' real goal: making sure "that Ukrainian communities could never arise again in Poland."

Over 482,000 Ukrainians were resettled from Poland to the USSR in 1944-1946. Rusyn, Boyko, and Lemko peoples, ethnic groups closely related to Ukrainians living in or around the Carpathian Mountains, had to find new life in the unfamiliar environs of the industrialized eastern Ukraine or the Black Sea coast.

A house in the village of Mushyna, Poland, bears a farewell message in Ukrainian left by residents forcibly displaced during Operation Vistula: Farewell, dear home, farewell, dear village Mushyna, farewell village youth, farewell all. in an undated photo. (IPN Archive / Wikimedia)

Forced deportation of the Ukrainian population from a village in the Western Beskids by soldiers of the Polish Armys Poznan battalion in 1947. (Wikimedia)

As the Soviet-Polish agreement did not specify the criteria for determining one's nationality, the Nazi Kennkarte identification card often served as the main indicator for eviction.

Simultaneously, over 1 million Poles were resettled from western Ukraine to Poland. According to Snyder, many Poles left voluntarily  driven by fear of looming Stalinist repression and haunted by the recent memory of UPA violence.

Operation Vistula

The forced expulsion of Ukrainians from the Polish borderlands would culminate in 1947 with Operation Vistula (originally dubbed Operation East).

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Following the killing of Polish General Karol Swierczewski in an ambush on March 28, 1947, the Polish authorities escalated their eviction campaign.

According to Snyder, the general's death was "probably a pretext" for the Polish authorities' real goal: making sure "that Ukrainian communities could never arise again in Poland."

Between April and July, Poland deployed approximately 20,000 soldiers and internal security forces to forcibly remove the Ukrainian population from the Bieszczady and Lower Beskids mountain areas.

A unit of the Citizens Militia (Milicja Obywatelska) stands in formation for inspection in the Pogorze Dynowskie, Poland, in 1946 during operations against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). (IPN Archive)

Officials justified the operation by claiming that eliminating the insurgents' support base  the local Ukrainian communities  was the most effective way to suppress the resistance.

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Entire families were evicted, while their homes, churches, and cemeteries were destroyed, according to researchers from the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.

"The forced resettlement led to the destruction of the historical, material, moral, and cultural heritage of the Lemko, Boyko, Nadsanie, Chelm, and Podlasie regions, and put entire ethnographic groups of the Ukrainian people at risk of extinction."

Up to 150,000 Ukrainians were violently driven from their homes during the operation. As Moscow was no longer interested in resettling them in the Ukrainian SSR, they were instead dispersed across western and northern territories that Poland gained from Germany.

A crackdown against UPA forces went hand-in-hand with the expulsions. Polish forces "eliminated" over 1,500 Ukrainian insurgents and destroyed nearly 1,200 of their hideouts, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory said.

The fence of the Jaworzno concentration camp, Poland, where 3,936 victims of Operation Vistula were imprisoned in an undated photo. (Wikimedia)

Close to 4,000 Ukrainians suspected of collaborating with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army were imprisoned in the Jaworzno concentration camp, of whom around 200 died of torture, according to the institute.

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To make sure that no UPA fighters escape, Czechoslovak and Soviet forces sealed off the Polish border. The Soviet security force, the NKVD, carried out a parallel Operation West in western Ukraine, deporting tens of thousands of families of suspected UPA members to Siberian camps.

While the Operation Vistula was officially justified as solely a means to root out the insurgents, "communities that had not supported the UPA, mixed families, Lemkos returning from Red Army service, loyal Communist party members trained in the Soviet Union, and Communists who had helped 'repatriate' Ukrainians in the previous wave were all forcibly resettled," Snyder writes.

Polish authorities achieved what they set out to do  UPA activities in Poland effectively ceased. However, expulsions would continue all the way until 1951, by which time some 700,000 Ukrainians  most of what remained of the Ukrainian community in the country  were driven out to the USSR or other Polish regions.

The legacy of expulsion

Centuries-old communities of Ukrainians, Boykos, and Lemkos ceased to exist as a result of the expulsions. The exiles lost most of their property, as the Soviet state provided only limited compensation, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory says.

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"The forced resettlement led to the destruction of the historical, material, moral, and cultural heritage of the Lemko, Boyko, Nadsanie, Chelm, and Podlasie regions, and put entire ethnographic groups of the Ukrainian people at risk of extinction," the researchers noted.

While Operation Vistula is broadly denounced in Ukraine as ethnic cleansing, the Polish perspective is more complex. One narrative that dates back to the Stalinist-era propaganda argues that the expulsions were justified as a response to the Volyn massacre carried out by the UPA.

After the fall of ommunism, the leadership in Kyiv and Warsaw attempted to start a new chapter of their history and reconcile their past grievances.

"This is another step in our ongoing effort to dismantle the shadow of Soviet totalitarianism, to call things by their real names, to stitch together a torn history."

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Then-Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski voiced regret for the operation in 2002. Calling it a "symbol of the abominable deeds perpetrated by the communist authorities," the Polish president dismissed the narrative that Operation Vistula was a revenge for the Volyn Massacre as "ethically inadmissible."

Five years later, Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his Ukrainian counterpart, Viktor Yushchenko, jointly condemned the operation as a violation of human rights.

Then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (R) and Then-Polish President Lech Kaczynski in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 28, 2006. (Sergei Supinsky / AFP via Getty Images)

However, the controversial legacy has resurfaced in recent years as history has overshadowed Polish-Ukrainian relations.

In a shocking move for Ukraine, the prosecutor's office of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance declared in 2023 that the Operation Vistula "was a preventative and protective, not repressive" measure. The prosecutors concluded there were "no grounds" to call the resettlement a crime against humanity.

Following an appeal from the Association of Ukrainians in Poland, a Warsaw court overruled the decision a year later, arguing that some of the institute's reasoning was "taken straight from the Stalinist propaganda."

Despite the court ruling, the case demonstrated that competing narratives continue to persist in Poland.

Ukrainian politics also wasn't spared from historical battles. In 2019, Ukrainian lawmakers submitted a bill officially recognizing the expulsion of Ukrainians as illegal and criminal deportations. By then, the relationship between Ukraine and Poland's Law and Justice-led conservative government was already strained.

The legislation rested in the Verkhovna Rada until it was finally approved in 2025, amid the Russian full-scale invasion.

"...(This) is not just a format act  it is a recognition of the fate of thousands whose lives were broken by an irreversible border line drawn without their consent," Oleksandr Alfiorov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, said on Facebook.

"This is another step in our ongoing effort to dismantle the shadow of Soviet totalitarianism, to call things by their real names, to stitch together a torn history."

The move was not merely symbolic  it granted victims and their families the legal right to seek compensation for both material losses and emotional suffering.

Polish historian and political analyst Lukasz Adamski said on X that the passage of the years-old law is a response to a recent decision by the Polish authorities to recognize the "genocide committed by the OUN and UPA" at the national level.

While it does not directly harm Polish-Ukrainian relations, Adamski called the move "another manifestation of the Ukrainian political class's conviction that in relations with Poland, a 'dignity policy' should be pursued."

It also shows that Kyiv believes that "matters related to Volyn should be answered with at least some form of symmetry," he added.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Martin Fornusek. I hope you enjoyed this article.

At the Kyiv Independent, our team strives to bring you in-depth insight into Ukraine's history and culture.

This work is only possible thanks to the support of readers like you. If you value independent journalism, please consider joining the Kyiv Independent's community.

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The Better Outfitting Our Troops or BOOTS Act has a noble-sounding name, but it is the exact opposite in practice.

Introduced earlier this year, the proposed legislation would prohibit U.S. servicemembers in uniform from wearing any optional boot  that is, boots not formally issued but still permitted  unless the footwear is manufactured entirely in the U.S. Supporters claim the measure promotes quality and readiness, but its really just a protectionist giveaway to domestic bootmakers that will limit soldiers choices, increase their costs, and put their well-being at risk.

At the BOOTS Acts core is an age-old protectionist formula: It would restrict the market under the guise of patriotism and funnel profits to politically connected industries.

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In this case, the primary beneficiaries are U.S. boot manufacturers who, unsurprisingly, are lobbying hard for the bills passage. They stand to gain handsomely by locking out foreign competitors and forcing tens of thousands of American troops to buy from a narrow set of approved vendors.

Although protectionism as a general proposition is contemptible, this is far worse. You cant get much lower than trying to make a buck off servicemembers at the expense of their health and performance, which is exactly what restrictions on their footwear options will do.

Claims by the bills supporters that the measure ensures high-quality footwear or that its good for the troops are laughable when confronted with basic facts.

Reducing the range of available boots makes it less likely that soldiers will find the best fit for their unique needs  no small matter when spending long hours in rugged terrain or combat environments.

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Indeed, the Marine Corps own combat support systems office recently disclosed that a review of U.S.-made boots yielded a startling 25 percent failure rate. Thats not just embarrassing  its a red flag. The bills congressional sponsors surely wouldnt spend their own money on footwear of such questionable quality, so why would they force U.S. servicemembers to do so?

And this bizarre insistence that fewer choices will ensure more reliable and durable footwear isnt even the most absurd claim they make. One lobbying group behind the BOOTS Act, the U.S. Footwear Manufacturers Association, even argues that eliminating foreign-made options will reduce confusion among servicemembers. Apparently, American troops who operate advanced weapons systems and execute complex battlefield maneuvers are baffled by an excess of footwear choices.

The notion is as insulting as it is ridiculous.

The bills backers do, however, raise one superficially plausible argument: A reliance on foreign-made boots erodes the supply chain needed to meet wartime demands. But skepticism is warranted here, too.

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Marine Corps Colonel Paul Gillikin, the current program manager for Marine combat support systems, argues that having multiple supply sources is vital  particularly in a future conflict where contested environments could make traditional supply lines untenable. The veteran infantry and special operations officer says he wants to see all options kept on the table.

Consider a hypothetical conflict in East Asia. In such a scenario, boots manufactured in Southeast Asia might be easier to procure and deliver to frontline forces than those shipped from the continental U.S. A rigid U.S.-only policy could leave troops struggling with insufficient gear.

Capacity constraints add to concerns about boot protectionism. In a 2023 wargame exploring vulnerabilities in the defense clothing supply chain, industry representatives revealed they could produce no more than 525,000 pairs of boots per year. Asked whether they could add another 456,000 pairs annually  hardly a far-fetched scenario in a major conflict  they admitted it would only be feasible with advance investment. Thats a polite way of saying: Were not ready.

So what happens if we close off foreign sources and a surge in demand occurs unexpectedly? We either send troops into the field with inadequate footwear or scramble to rebuild a diversified supply chain we will have intentionally dismantled by passing this bill.

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Relying solely on domestic suppliers puts all our eggs in one basket  a risky and short-sighted move when it comes to national defense.

After surveying the evidence, the more cynically minded might suspect the BOOTS Act is more about bolstering profits than readiness. Each of the six members of Congress who introduced the bill represents a district or state home to (or in close proximity of) members of the American Combat Boot Alliance, an industry coalition that supports the legislation and stands to reap the rewards. The appearance of self-interest is hard to ignore, and the incentives are clear: limit competition, boost profits and wrap it all in the flag.

Import restrictions are a well-documented economic loser that force Americans to pay more and get less. But as the BOOTS Act shows, their harm can extend to national security as well. In this case, they endanger troop readiness, reduce operational flexibility, and weaken our ability to respond to future threats. Supporting American industry is a worthy goal, but doing so by shackling our servicemembers to potentially subpar products and higher costs  all while hollowing out our strategic options  is not the way to do it.

Our troops deserve the best boots available  wherever theyre made. The BOOTS Act ensures they wont get them.

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Colin Grabow is an associate director at the Cato Institutes Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has launched the biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history, involving more than 30 environmental protection rules. He says it will result in the Great American Comeback.

Its more like the great American backslide into the 1960s, when dirty air, massive oil spills, and a burning river demonstrated what happens when corporations prioritize profits over people and the planet.

In those days, a book about dangerous pesticides served as a wake-up call for the government to regulate the industry. The Trump administration is influenced by another book, Project 2025, which calls for weakening or killing the rules that protect public health and the environment.

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As the Trump administration implements recommendations like these, it boasts that laissez-faire government will save money. However, it doesnt mention the many costs of deregulation. According to the Associated Press, the rules Zeldin is targeting prevent 30,000 deaths and save society $275 billion every year they remain in effect.

EPA regulations are designed to prevent industrys pursuit of profits from causing maladies such as cancer, asthma, strokes, heart disease, pneumonia, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal problems, kidney and liver diseases, skin disease, bronchitis, and more. They protect the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.

If all corporations had social consciences, or if all industries were self-regulated, there would be little need for government regulations. But as one organization that trains business executives observes, the corporate sector harbors the capacity for immense damage when ethical lines are crossed. The biggest business scandals in historydriven by greed, negligence, or the pursuit of unchecked growth, reveal the vulnerabilities that exist within corporate structures and the profound consequences when integrity is compromised.

Numerous scandals have proven this point. One of the biggest in memory was the tobacco industrys behavior in the 1990s. The industry knew its products were linked to cancer, and that nicotine was addictive, but it denied both of those realities. Its advertising strategy was to encourage young people to smoke (presumably because its older customers were dying of smoking-related diseases).

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State attorneys general sued the industry to recover health-care costs. The result in 1998 was the largest civil litigation settlement in American history. More than 40 cigarette companies and trade associations eventually agreed to pay states billions of dollars annually for as long as the companies continued selling cigarettes.

Today, the fossil-energy industry has employed a similar tactic of denial and distraction with regard to global climate change. The difference is that all people of all ages and countries are harmed, not just those who consume its products.

Several states and cities are suing major oil producers for damages. In this case, however, the president and the Republican-controlled Congress are siding with the polluters and against the health and welfare of the people who elected them.

Zeldin says, We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion. But their dagger is actually aimed at the heart of the American people. Nearly 316 million Americans  95.5 percent of us  live in counties that have suffered major weather disasters since 2011. Disasters displaced 2.5 million Americans from their homes in 2023. Three of four Americans say they have experienced extreme weather in the last 12 months.

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The broader issue is what the American people deserve and expect from their government. Although the best corporations serve society as well as shareholders, profits are the principal goal of business. The governments job is to protect the health and welfare of the people. Regulations are a critical tool.

President Trump is trying to release corporations from any social responsibility. He is using the powers of his office to punish companies and other organizations that adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, or environmental, social, and governance goals. He has ordered the attorney general to investigate states with climate policies.

Because governments in the U.S. and worldwide are doing too little about climate change, people are turning to the courts again. As of last fall, 122 of the worlds largest oil companies faced 86 active lawsuits attempting to hold them accountable for damages resulting from climate-altering pollution. Fifty-eight percent of the cases are in U.S. courts. Theyve had mixed results so far.

However, the worlds highest court, the International Court of Justice, ruled on July 23 that nations are obligated under international law to take action against climate change, and countries can be held liable for failing to do so. Their obligations include necessary regulatory and legislative measures to prevent greenhouse gas pollution.

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As consumers, Americans have some leverage over corporate behavior, but it is limited. So long as corporations try to profit from environmental degradation and human misery, we must insist that governments protect us. And any elected official who serves corporations at the expense of people should be shown the revolving door.

William S. Becker is a former U.S. Department of Energy central regional director and executive director of the Presidential Climate Action Project.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Iranian Americans are still reeling from Israels attack on Iran in June. For 12 days, we were frantically trying to reach our loved ones across Iran hoping that Israeli attacks would not kill our families as they fled cities, spurred on by cryptic social media threats from President Trump.

Ultimately, more than a thousand Iranians were killed, most of them civilians, and it is likely that Israeli and American bombs will soon fall again if there is no diplomatic settlement.

As the fog of war clears, an important truth has once again been exposed, which powerful voices in Washington and Tel Aviv have spent years and enormous resources distorting: Iranian Americans firmly believe that diplomacy  not war and sanctions that destroy innocent lives  is the most effective path for the U.S. to deal with Irans government, whether on nuclear policy, regional stability, or its human rights abuses.

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For years now, an echo chamber on social media has sought to portray Iranian Americans as united in begging Trump and Netanyahu to bomb Iran and Make Iran Great Again. On Persian-language satellite networks like Iran International  created and long funded by individuals closely tied to the Saudi royal family  viewers are led to believe that most Iranians view Netanyahu as a liberator and welcome U.S. bombs and sanctions on Iran as tools of freedom.

Meanwhile, voices opposed to war and sanctions have been viciously silenced. Our organization, NIAC, along with countless independent researchers, grassroots advocates, and prominent experts, has long been demonized, including by an oped author in this very publication, falsely smeared as part of a vast pro-Tehran conspiracy because of our anti-war, pro-diplomacy stance.

In reality, our organization and those opposed to war and supportive of diplomacy put the interests of ordinary Americans first, guided by the belief that more war is not good for American security and prosperity  or for the people and future of Iran.

Reports from Middle East Eye and Politico Magazine have detailed some of the scale of the campaign against pro-peace Iranian Americans  from doctored videos and anonymous bomb threats, to rape and death threats that have driven many out of the public debate.

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Until May 2019, the U.S. State Department was even funding an operation, the Iran Disinformation Project, until it was exposed defaming Iranian American journalists, human rights experts, and NIAC as mouthpieces and supporters of the Iranian government.

The New York Times recently reported that Israel had used social media posts and AI-generated videos during the war on Iran to attempt to incite unrest there, raising urgent questions about the extent of these tactics deployment in what Netanyahu has called the second battlefield of information and public discourse. Politico also reported that a $2 million Israeli government-linked disinformation campaign targeted 128 U.S. lawmakers through hundreds of fake social media profiles, demonstrating that Americans are also on the target list.

The intent behind a campaign to portray Iranian Americans as supportive of military invasion  and to silence those who disagree  echoes the same strategy used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Once again, violence is being repackaged as popularly supported liberation and humanitarianism.

But when the war long pushed by hawks finally came, many of the Islamic Republics staunchest critics inside Iran stood against the foreign bombs falling on their communities. Outside Iran, pro-war figures and outlets like Iran International watched their own bases turn against them. Those who opposed this violence werent regime sympathizers  they were, and are, the majority of ordinary Iranians and Iranian Americans.

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Thats why, before this illegal war began, our organization launched an independent, comprehensive poll to determine where Iranian Americans actually stand on war, sanctions, and diplomacy. We were driven by concern that outside political interests were distorting our communitys views to sell yet another U.S.-backed regime change war.

Contrary to what the propaganda machine was churning out, the views of Iranian Americans are clear. Most of us are anti-war, anti-broad sanctions, and pro-diplomacy. In the poll, conducted by YouGov in May and June, we found that:

53 percent of Iranian Americans oppose military action against Iran, versus just 36 percent in support.

62 percent support a new U.S. nuclear agreement with Iran.

49 percent say diplomacy is the most effective way to prevent a nuclear Iran  compared to just 22 percent who favor war.

Only 21 percentsupport broad-based economic sanctions.

60 percent oppose Israels military actions in Gaza.

This is not a community calling for more bombs or the fantasy of cruel sanctions and liberating Iran through airstrikes or invasion. It is a community calling for smarter, more humane policies that advance peace and protect people.

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In a time when truth is under siege and lives hang in the balance, this campaign of smears, disinformation, and intimidation are not just attacks on one community or organization. They are an attack on the idea that people should have a say in matters of war and peace in our democracy. The goal isnt just to manufacture consent for war, but to manufacture fear and surrender to the idea that war is inevitable. We reject that premise wholeheartedly and remain committed to advancing peace  which is supported not just by most Iranian Americans, but by most Americans as well.

Jamal Abdi is president of the National Iranian American Council and executive director of NIAC Action, the groups sister organization.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Oklahoma parents are sending their kids back to school this month with a gutpunch reality: Our state just ranked 50th in the nation for public education. (Only New Mexico ranked worse; the list included the District of Columbia.) And steering this sinking ship is the ultra-conservative MAGA star state superintendent, Ryan Walters, whos been promoting himself and getting mired in scandals as 700,000 public school students in Oklahoma pay the price for his failures.

The latest Walters scandal? The Oklahoman reported that two state Board of Education members told the newspaper that they saw images of naked women on Walters office television during an executive session of the board. The Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office is investigating, a spokesperson for that office said.

Though these board members were appointed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, Walters called their claims politically motivated attacks. He said, These are desperate lies from a broken establishment terrified of real change. At a subsequent news conference, he tried to divert attention onto Stitt: The governor needs to answer the questions, he said. Did he tell these board members to come in here and do this? Did you coordinate with them afterwards to set all this up after the fact when you couldnt disrupt the meeting? He also cast aspersions on teachers unions and the press.

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In March 2023, Walters ignored an Oklahoma law prohibiting the distribution of sexually explicit material through government email, and deliberately emailed pornographic images to state legislators that he said was meant to expose material available in the schools. However, despite requests from lawmakers that he do so, Walters never provided evidence linking the images to schools in Oklahoma.

The public official who recorded himself inside his car screaming that pornography is available in our schools is now being accused of playing images of naked women in his government office in sight of other people.

Meanwhile, the scoreboard doesnt lie: Under Walters, Oklahoma slid from 47th to 50th in national education rankings. Average teacher pay lags some neighboring states. Emergency certifications are being rubberstamped at record levels just to keep classrooms staffed.

And whats Walters solution? He tried unsuccessfully to get Oklahoma lawmakers to appropriate $3 million in tax dollars to fund Trump Bibles for every classroom. He tried to force school districts to show students a video of Walters with his head bowed at his desk in his government office praying for Donald Trump. Hes working with PragerU to develop an America First certification test, complete with Biblebased history questions, to keep out woke teachers. He even sneaked conspiracy theories about the 2020 election into the states social studies standards.

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Walters isnt just incompetent. Hes following a deliberate farright playbook: Create chaos, invent enemies, demoralize teachers and convince the public that public schools cant work. Then swoop in with the solution. Privatize everything, funnel tax dollars to political allies and leave parents scrambling while kids pay the price.

I saw it coming. In 2023, I was the first lawmaker to publicly call for Walters to be impeached. The pattern was already clear. He has more self-serving ambition than competence and more loyalty to Trump than to Oklahomas students. Every scandal since has been more confirmation.

Yes, the ongoing investigation into the accusation that Walters was playing pornography in his office needs to play out. But Oklahomans can already see whats right in front of us. Walters has dragged our education system to the bottom while blaming everyone else, including the governor who helped put him in the position, instead of taking responsibility himself. Hes turned Oklahoma into a national punchline at the expense of our kids futures.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Education savings accounts in Texas. Open enrollment in Missouri. Each week seems to bring a new story and more education options for American students.

But to make the most of these new opportunities, families need the full picture.

So, what information do they have currently? And what additional data would it make sense for them to have?

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When it comes to public schools, whether neighborhood schools, magnets, or charters, the most common data points are academic achievement and year-to-year growth in math and reading, as measured on standardized tests.

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Although this information is crucial  something is very wrong if the kids cant pass the tests  critics from both sides of the aisle rightly note that it doesnt capture everything that families should want to know about a schools academics.

For example, what about subjects like history and science, which are tested less frequently than reading and math? What about foreign languages, the arts and other subjects that arent tested at all? And what about all the stuff that good schools impart that tests dont capture, like critical thinking, teamwork, self-discipline and respect for others?

Related

Amid National Voucher Push, Missouri Once Again Turns to Open Enrollment

For years, education reformers who believe that data are critical to improving Americas schools but recognize the limitations of standardized tests have struggled to answer these questions. Thats why a recent analysis that explores a new and potentially powerful measure of school quality called high school readiness is so exciting.

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As the name suggests, the basic idea is to capture how well a middle school prepares its students for the next stage of their education by quantifying its effects on high school gradesor to be more precise, ninth-grade grade-point averages.

The report finds that middle schools have a significant impact on students future grades. For example, in North Carolina and Maryland, attending a middle school with a strong high school readiness score boosted a students ninth-grade GPA by approximately one-tenth of a grade point.

Effect of Attending a Middle School with a Higher High School Readiness Score on Ninth-Grade GPA

Note: This figure shows the estimated effect of attending a middle school with a GPA value-added score that is one standard deviation above the average middle schools score on the average students ninth-grade GPA in North Carolina and Maryland.

One-tenth of a grade point may not sound like much, but its enough to keep a marginal student out of the University of California or Texas A&M. And that increase is fairly impressive when you consider the number of factors that can affect GPA, from the quality of a students elementary school to his or her socioeconomic circumstances and home life.

Related

Pondiscio: Its Time to End the Testing Culture in Americas Schools  and Start Playing the Long Game to Produce Better Life Outcomes for At-Risk Kids

Importantly, schools influences on GPAs arent necessarily the same as their effects on test scores. In fact, the two are only weakly correlated.

Middle Schools That Boost Students Test Scores Dont Necessarily Boost Their High School GPAs

Note: This figure shows the correlation between value-added to ninth-grade GPA and value-added to ninth-grade math achievement for Maryland middle schools. Data come from the Maryland Department of Education.

In other words, analyzing middle schools effects on grades reveals something new and different about how schools serve students  which the many families who dont care exclusively about test scores might want to consider when choosing a school.

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While it may seem strange to suggest evaluating middle schools based on their students high school readiness, many states already do something similar at the high school level, where indicators of college and career readiness have long been an accepted part of school report cards.

And while there are technical challenges associated with isolating middle schools effects on high school grades, most states already provide publicly available school report cards, and most already collect data on students high school GPAs. So, with a bit of number-crunching and some clear messaging, a new high school readiness indicator could give families the information theyre looking for  and begin to move Americas education system away from its obsession with standardized tests and toward a broader concept of student success.

As educational options expand, so should the information available to families. Test scores alone will never paint a complete picture of school quality or student success. But in the age of big data, there is no shortage of paint.
What do Putins most notorious warmongering propagandist, his foreign minister sanctioned by the U.S. and several other countries for his role in the Ukraine War, and a distinguished American economist have in common?

Their names are Aleksandr Dugin, Sergei Lavrov and Jeffrey Sachs, and they all appeared as featured speakers at the Tsargrad Institutes June conference in Moscow, which was titled Forum of the Future 2050.

According to the Moscow Times, the event also featured conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, right-wing influencer Jackson Hinkle  British politician George Galloway and Elon Musks father Errol Musk, as well as the American journalist Max Blumenthal.

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Konstantin Malofeyev, a proponent of Russias use of nuclear weapons and the deputy head of the World Russian Peoples Council, founded the Institute  named after the Russian equivalent of Constantinople  in 2023. Dugin is the institutes director.

The meeting took place at the same time that Tsargrad issued its report, Russia 2050. A picture of the Future. The following snippets, translated by Google, will give you a sense of what the Institutes aspirations are.

The main reason for what is taking place in the world today is the fundamental crisis of liberalism, the report reads. Liberalism has not only led humanity into a dead end of ideological, cultural, scientific, technological and economic development, but it has also created a threat to its very existence.

The symbol of the anti-liberal turn in the West is the Trump revolution and Trumpism, it states. The final victory of the Trumpists will lead to the strengthening of presidential power and the transformation of the political regime of the USA into an autocracy.

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Once 2050 rolls along, Russia is a sovereign power pursuing a truly independent domestic and foreign policy. All territories of the former Russian Empire and the Soviet Union are part of the zone of vital interests and exclusive influence of Russia. The existence of Russophobic political regimes hostile to Russia and its people in these territories is completely excluded. In addition to the countries of the former USSR, the macroregion created by Russia includes some countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, as well as individual countries in Africa and Latin America.

In short, by 2050, Russia will have been made great again, while the degenerate West will have been reduced to third-rate status.

One could object by suggesting that so rosy a scenario could happen only if Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves office before fully succeeding in transporting his country into the Stone Age. But no matter: Tsargrad is entitled to dream.

As may the Russian people. A recent poll conducted by the Levada Center asked Russians to rank the most outstanding people of all times. The top 10 were all Russians: Stalin took first place with 42 percent, Putin was second with 31 percent and Lenin took third with 28 percent. Poor Albert Einstein managed 11th place with 8 percent. Isaac Newton came in 18th with just 5 percent.

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The numbers speak for themselves: Russians believe they are superior and they worship at the altar of autocracy. In that sense, the Tsargrad report is an accurate reflection of Russian political culture.

So why did prominent Americans like Sachs and Blumenthal decide to give the event their imprimatur? It is doubtful that they would accept an invitation to a conference organized by the Ku Klux Klan or the Proud Boys. And yet, in speaking at such a questionable forum, they have done something quite similar.

To be sure, they, like Galloway, are already tainted by their willingness to appear on Putins propaganda television network, RT. But its a big step up from going on TV to sit in the same room as Dugin and Lavrov and engage them in chitchat.

No, let me take that back  this is far worse than attending a KKK or Proud Boys event. After all, the KKK is yesterdays news. The Proud Boys are too small to matter. The Tsargrad conference, in contrast, reflects the ideas of a regime which, as Sachs and Blumenthal know, invaded Ukraine and is systematically killing Ukrainians and destroying their culture.

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Thats not just war. Its genocide.

Sachs and Blumenthal should be ashamed. The West in general and liberals in particular should be prepared. The Russian assault on civilization has only just begun.

Alexander J. Motyl is a professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires and theory, he is the author of 10 books of nonfiction, as well as Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires and Why Empires Reemerge: Imperial Collapse and Imperial Revival in Comparative Perspective.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Orange County commissioners to discuss ratifying ICE agreement this week

On Tuesday, Orange County commissioners will discuss ratifying a new agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The agreement would allow ICE to request the transportation of detainees to the Everglades facility Alligator Alcatraz by correctional officers in Orange County.

Mayor Jerry Demings signed the agreement on Friday but expressed concerns about the jails capacity to assist ICE.

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Demings signed the agreement after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier threatened his the commissioners removal from office if they did not sign the agreement.

Demings stated that the state used intimidation tactics in securing the agreement, but said he was not intimidated.

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The grantees will help Oregonians understand their health insurance and financial assistance options, transition from the Oregon Health Plan to private coverage and enroll during the next enrollment period beginning Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. (Getty Images)

Nearly $1.8 million in grants are coming to 37 community-based organizations and licensed insurance agents across Oregon to offer free, expert help to people enrolling in health coverage through OregonHealthCare.gov.

The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, the state agency responsible for helping Oregonians understand their private health coverage, is awarding these grants throughout 2025-27 to organizations and insurance agents who focus on reaching diverse populations, including many who offer support in multiple languages. The grantees will help Oregonians understand their health insurance and financial assistance options, transition from the Oregon Health Plan to private coverage and enroll during the next enrollment period beginning Nov. 1 to Jan. 15.

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The grants are especially meant to help people who dont qualify for job-based coverage, the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare.

This support is critical to ensuring all Oregonians  regardless of income, location, or language  have access to the coverage and care they need, marketplace director Chiqui Flowers said in a news release.

To connect with a local Marketplace partner or insurance agent, visit OregonHealthCare.gov/gethelp.

The community partner organizations receiving grants include:

Arcoiris Cultural  Lincoln County

Asian Health and Service Center  Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties

Cascade AIDS Project  Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)  Baker, Clackamas, Malheur, Multnomah, and Washington counties

Interface Network  Marion County

Northeast Oregon Network (NEON)  Baker, Union and Wallowa counties

One Community Health  Hood River and Wasco counties

Oregon L.E.A.D.  Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties

Oregon Latino Health Coalition  Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties

Project Access NOW  Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties

Tayas Yawks  Deschutes, Klamath and Lake counties

Waterfall Clinic Inc.  Coos, Curry and Douglas counties

We Care  Benton, Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties

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The licensed insurance agents receiving grants include:

Aaron Burns Insurance  Eugene

Abel Insurance  Coos Bay, Florence, Gold Beach and Newport

Bancorp Insurance  La Pine

Boone Insurance Associates  Eugene

Chehalem Insurance  Newberg

Gordon Wood Insurance  Roseburg

Grace Insurance  Portland

HE Cross Company  Portland

Health Plans in Oregon  Beaverton and Portland

Healthwise Insurance  Portland

Healthy, Wealthy & Wise  Tualatin

High Desert Insurance  Bend

Highstreet Insurance Services West  Hermiston, Klamath Falls, Medford, Oregon City and Sandy

Hillock Insurance Agency  Enterprise

iCover Oregon  Albany

Insurance By Design  Wilsonville

K Insurance Group  Independence

Linda Dugan Insurance  Astoria

Littlejohn Insurance  Eugene

Matthew Woodbridge Insurance  Salem and Woodburn

Next Step Benefits  Pendleton

RJS & Associates  Philomath

Saldivar Insurance  Hood River and The Dalles

Valley Insurance  La Grande

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Today marks six years since the tragic mass shooting in Daytons Oregon District, where nine people were killed and dozens injured.

On August 4, 2019, a gunman opened fire in the bustling Oregon District of Dayton, Ohio, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals and injuries to many others. The attack left a lasting impact on the community.

All I did was try to get people inside, said Jeremy Ganger, a bouncer at Ned Peppers during the shooting. I didnt want no one to get hurt.

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Ganger, who was working as a bouncer at Ned Peppers on the night of the shooting, played a crucial role in guiding people to safety. Security footage shows Ganger directing patrons inside as the gunman approached.

Despite being injured himself, Gangers quick actions helped prevent further casualties. He sustained shrapnel injuries during the incident, which have had lasting effects on his health.

Ganger, who has been a bouncer in the Oregon District for nearly two decades, considers the Dayton police officers who responded that night as the true heroes. Our heroes were the Dayton Police Department, he stated.

Although he doesnt view himself as a hero, Gangers daughter calls him a hero without a cape. His decision to return to work in the Oregon District was driven by his love for the community and his determination not to let the shooter take away what he cherished.

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In addition to his role as a bouncer, Ganger works as a housing director at Armada, where he helps individuals with mental health disorders and addictions. He finds this work fulfilling and a way to give back to the community.

Ganger believes its important to remember the lives lost in the shooting and continues to honor their memory.

The Oregon District shooting remains a poignant reminder of the impact of gun violence on communities. As the community reflects on the anniversary, the memorial stands as a testament to the resilience and unity of those affected.

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Orlando woman accused of unlicensed laser treatment that left patient disfigured

An Orlando woman is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say she performed a medical procedure without a license.

Investigators said 29-year-old Gabriela Pereira is charged with 20 felonies after a patient suffered severe burns from a laser treatment.

Detectives said Pereira is licensed to practice medicine in Florida and performed a laser treatment on a woman in 2024.

According to court records, the procedure resulted in burns and necrosis on the womans chin.

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According to the investigation, Pereira presented herself as medically licensed and administered the laser treatment, which requires a prescription from a licensed physician.

Investigators said the treatment caused a blister and necrosis due to the laser being left on the womans chin for too long.

Detectives said Pereira saw the woman eight more times between April 22 and May 3, 2024, in an attempt to treat the damage caused.

During these visits, Pereira continued to pose as a medically trained professional, according to a report.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
PAWHUSKA, Okla. (KFOR)  Authorities in Osage County are investigating a cattle rustling on the Osage Nation Ranch located north of Tulsa.

According to police, more than 12 cows were found dead alongside five cows and 12 calves stolen. Tribal members report the cattle rustlers were trying to steal all the animals but got scared off.

OSBI investigating suspicious death in Fort Cobb

Police cited, the cows died from dehydration.

Authorities investigating cattle rustling in Osage Nation, Image Osage Police Department Facebook page

Authorities investigating cattle rustling in Osage Nation, Image Osage Police Department Facebook page

The Osage tribe is asking anyone with information to contact the Osage County Sheriffs Office at 918-287-3131.

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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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Update: 11:45 a.m. Miami Police confirmed the teenager has been located and is safe.

MIAMI, Okla.  The Miami Police Department is asking for help locating a missing Ottawa County teenager.

Kengrian Chura, 18, of Miami, was last seen on Saturday, August 2, around 12:30 p.m. at 22337 A. Street NE in Miami.

According to Miami police, Chura is a native Hawaiian or an Alaska native, with black hair, brown eyes, and is 56 tall and weighs 260 pounds.

She was not present at the residence when a family member arrived to pick her up, police said.

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If you have information regarding Churas whereabouts, please contact the Miami Police Department at (918) 542-5585.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
By Dan Catchpole

(Reuters) -More than 3,200 union members who assemble Boeing's fighter jets in the St. Louis area and Illinois went on strike on Monday after rejecting a second contract offer the previous day.

Boeing Defense said it was ready for the work stoppage and it will implement a contingency plan that uses non-labor workers.

According to the company, the rejected four-year contract would have raised the average wage by roughly 40% and included a 20% general wage increase and a $5,000 ratification bonus. It also included increasing periodic raises, more vacation time and sick leave.

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"We're disappointed our employees in St. Louis rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth," Dan Gillian, Boeing vice president and general manager of the St. Louis facilities, said in a statement.

The offer was largely the same as the first offer that was overwhelmingly rejected one week earlier.

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' District 837 "deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation's defense," District 837 head Tom Boelling said in a statement.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg downplayed the impact of a strike when talking with analysts on Tuesday about second-quarter earnings, noting that the company had weathered a seven-week strike last year by District 751 members, who build commercial jets in the Northwest and number 33,000.

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"I wouldn't worry too much about the implications of the strike. We'll manage our way through that," he said.

District 837 workers assemble Boeing's F-15 and F/A-18 fighters, the T-7 trainer, and the MQ-25, an aerial refueling drone being developed for the U.S. Navy.

Boeing's defense division is expanding manufacturing facilities in the St. Louis area for the new U.S. Air Force fighter jet, the F-47A, after it won the contract this year.

District 751's strike ended with approval of a four-year contract that included a 38% wage increase.

(Reporting by Dan Catchpole in Seattle; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
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The Trump administration's legal assault on so-called sanctuary cities took a hit last week when a court refused to order Chicago officials to cooperate with immigration officers in detaining noncitizens.

More precisely, the judge dismissed a federal lawsuit challenging provisions that, in the court's words, "prohibit state and local government support of civil immigration activities."

The timing proved to be a bit awkward for the administration, given that the decision was handed down just as the Justice Department was announcing, with great fanfare, a similar lawsuit against the city of New York.

Now, I don't know whether the ruling by District Court Judge Lindsay Jenkins will stand up on appeal, but my libertarian soul is heartened by the language of the 64-page opinion, words that whisper of a path toward a better democracy. Two cheers for dual sovereignty. And localism. Also states' rights.

Stuff like that, but more elegantly put.

"Sanctuary city," as courts and commentators have pointed out, is a poorly chosen term. It gathers under a single, wide roof a broad variety of policies that share one key feature: what advocates like to call the prioritization of local over national interests in the deployment of law-enforcement personnel.

In today's argot, of course, the reference is primarily to immigration policy - specifically, the extent to which local officials will assist in efforts to detain noncitizens who are the subjects of administrative warrants. (Most localities will cooperate in the service of criminal warrants.)

I confess to being a bit of an agnostic on the legality of sanctuary cities, but I am always fascinated by the steady rotation of history's wheel. And rotate it has. I'm old enough to remember when the fiery and divisive question was whether individual states - alleged to be overwhelmed as the feds did nothing to curb illegal immigration - could adopt their own restrictions on those who entered the country without permission. (Spoiler alert: No.) (Well, maybe a little bit - um, depending.)

Now the roles are reversed. In United States v. Illinois, the just-decided case, the federal government argued that the Immigration and Naturalization Act preempts Chicago's policies limiting the information that municipal and county employees may share with immigration authorities.

Judge Jenkins rejected this view.

Chicago's sanctuary rules, she wrote, "don't make ICE's job more difficult; they just don't make it easier." (Emphasis in the original.) More important, if the Immigration and Naturalization Act indeed does require local officials to assist federal agents in enforcement of civil immigration warrants, it runs afoul of the anti-commandeering doctrine.

This marvelously named rule restricts the ability of the federal government to require state and local officials to enforce federal law. As the US Supreme Court explained in 1997, the federalist system, dividing sovereignty between the state and federal governments, does not permit "impressing state police officers into federal service." At the time, critics derided the rule as just another hoary right-wing invention to stifle the administrative state. Goose, meet gander.

To be sure, Judge Jenkins' opinion is correct only if she has properly drawn the murky line between declining to cooperate with federal agents and actively interfering with their work. I'm not saying the outcome is wrong; I'm pointing out where the argument pivots. If the ruling in Chicago's favor ends up being reversed, the question of cooperation-versus-interference would seem the most promising ground.

But whether or not the decision is ultimately upheld - and regardless of one's position on any particular immigration issue - the judge's opinion reinforces a profound and oft-forgotten aspect of democracy, an aspect on which the anti-commandeering doctrine rests. The rule, she writes, is "a bulwark against abuse of government power."

The inability of the federal government to conscript state officials into enforcing federal law is in and of itself a check on unbridled federal authority. Perhaps more importantly, the doctrine "also promotes political accountability by enabling voters to distinguish which sovereign is responsible for a specific policy."

The implication is that the lawgivers should be close to the people.

Geographically close.

Many words have been spilled arguing over government size. But the crucial question in today's whirligig politics shouldn't be small versus large; it should be near versus far. In the 19th century, the people were often referred to collectively as "the democracy" - a plural. No one doubted that government should be close to "the democracy." Close enough that voters literally encountered the lawgivers in the street.

There were high-sounding rationales for this theory, many of them masks for terrible crimes. But there is also a practical political aspect to keeping as much government as possible close to the people. Were the rules made by people we see every day, perhaps we'd be less likely to develop the resentments and alienation that vulgarize our public life. And perhaps the lawgivers themselves would consider more thoughtfully what their constituents believe.

Yes, it's true, state and local governments have in their time enacted odious and oppressive laws. But that historical truth is no more an argument against localism than today's flood of often reckless and terrible executive orders is an argument against the presidency.

In short, whatever one's views on immigration policy generally or sanctuary cities in particular, the Trumpian tidal wave itself suggests the importance of lodging more sovereignty closer to the people.

Stephen Lisle Carter is an American legal scholar who serves as the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Yale Law School. He writes on legal and social issues.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  Three men were arrested after Greenville County deputies rescued over 30 dogs in a dog fighting investigation.

On June 12, 2025, officers with Greenville Animal Control were called to a residence after a report of barking dogs with concerns of their well being, deputies said.

Animal control officers and deputies uncovered a large number of mistreated dogs at homes on Holland Road, White Circle, and Gantt Drive.

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7News spoke with a neighbor who wishes to remain anonymous. They said there was a consistent issue of lighter colored pit bulls running into the street and causing car accidents.

The neighbor said that for two years, it was a common occurrence for them to see dogs roaming around and to hear barking.

35 dogs and six puppies were rescued, deputies said.

Three men were arrested and charged with the following:

Jamie Greer, 45

17 counts of ill treatment of animals

17 counts of animal fighting

Criminal conspiracy

Jhamual Greer, 25

17 counts of ill treatment of animals

17 counts of animal fighting

Criminal conspiracy

Khalil Kasson Ibn-Thorpe, 56

18 counts of ill treatment of animals

7 counts of animal fighting

This case is a heartbreaking example of the cruelty and exploitation animals endure at the hands of individuals involved in dog fighting, said Sheriff Hobart Lewis. Im proud of our Animal Cruelty Unit for their diligent work in holding these individuals accountable and for ensuring these animals are no longer subjected to abuse.

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Torrential rainfall in China's capital region delivered a year's worth of precipitation in under a week, causing massive flooding that forced the relocation of over 80,000 people and left more than 30 dead, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

The deluge prompted some Chinese officials to call the city of Beijing a rain "trap," according to Reuters.

"It's truly heartbreaking," Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs in Beijing, told The Washington Post. "The extremity of this event is undeniable."

What's happening?

From July 23 through July 28, as much as 22.6 inches of rain fell on certain parts of the Beijing region, which, on average, receives 23.6 inches of rain for an entire year. At its peak, the storm dumped 3.75 inches of rain in just one hour, Reuters reported.

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Locals described floodwaters as striking so suddenly that there was no time to prepare.

"The flood came in an instant, you just had no buffer," said Zhai, a 33-year-old who runs a grocery shop in hard-hit Miyun, per Reuters.

"It was too sudden," described Chen Jinlan, who told The New York Times that she had to walk 40 minutes before she found the first segment of road passable by car.

The massive amounts of rainfall proved far too much for the region's flood-mitigation measures, with the most destruction taking place in the regions outside Beijing.

"Very few systems are designed to handle such an intense volume of rainfall over such a short period," explained Xuebin Zhang, CEO of the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, per Reuters.

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Worryingly, forecasters predicted additional rain for the area in the coming days, the Post reported.

"The flood is still coming, and there is still no power or signal, and I still can't get in touch with my family!" a user posted to the Chinese social media site Weibo, per Reuters.

What do floods in China mean for the rest of the world?

For decades, scientists have forecast that rising global temperatures would make extreme weather events more severe. Warmer air can absorb more moisture, and when that moisture comes falling back down as rain, the result is more intense rainstorms, which, in turn, cause floods and landslides.

"Extreme weather events are on the rise," Ma told the Post. "High temperatures and heat waves are indeed becoming more frequent, and so are extreme heavy rainfall events.

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"Over the past 60 years, there has clearly been an increasing trend, and this pattern aligns with the broader global trend of climate change."

These extreme weather events cost lives, destroy livelihoods, and damage property.

One woman described to The New York Times how floodwaters had ruined the small corn crop that she relied on for food and money.

"It's not easy for ordinary people to earn money," she told the Times.

These losses add up. In the first half of 2025 alone, natural disasters cost China $7.6 billion in direct economic losses, according to the Post.

These impacts are felt far beyond the disaster areas in the form of higher insurance premiums and food prices.

What's being done about more severe weather?

While making infrastructure more resilient can mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events over the short term, the only way to truly reverse the trend is to reduce the amount of heat-trapping pollution entering the atmosphere.

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With 75% of planet-heating pollution coming from the burning of nonrenewable fuels like oil, coal, and gas, the best way to combat extreme weather is to reduce society's reliance on these energy sources.

While weaning the world's economy off dirty-burning fuels will require action at the international level as well as large-scale collaborations between government and industry, there still are plenty of ways to make a difference as an individual.

For example, choosing cleaner transportation options like walking, riding a bicycle, taking public transit, or driving an EV all are great ways to improve local air quality while reducing planet-heating pollution.

To take things a step further, you can install solar panels on your home. Powering your home with solar can drop your energy bill to practically nothing while also helping the environment. Pairing solar with a home battery system makes your home more resilient in the event of a power outage. Check the TCD Guide for more.

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.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo.  The Maryland Heights Police Departments Bureau of Investigations (BOI), as well as law enforcement agencies in Arkansas, assisted in the arrest of four men who allegedly burglarized a pharmacy.

Officials say the burglary happened on July 31 in Maryland Heights, where over 284 bottles of medicationtotaling up to 26,000 pillswere stolen.

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Detectives identified the controlled substances as Morphine, Oxycodone, OxyContin, Adderall and Methadone. The value of these drugs ranges from $750,000 to $1 million.

In a collaborative effort with out-of-state officials, the alleged suspects, Erik Lyons, Johnathan Fore, Omar Bartley White Jr. and Anthony Vanwright, were taken into custody in Clark County, Arkansasthe same day the alleged crimes occurred.

The Clark County Circuit Court charged all four men, who are natives of Houston, on Aug. 1. They all face eight counts of trafficking controlled substances, which is considered a Class Y felony under Arkansas law.

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Maryland Heights Police says its working with attorneys in Missouri for federal charges, and their investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Nearly two-thirds of Germans would probably not defend their homeland from invaders, a survey has found, in a blow to the governments rearmament plans.

In a survey carried out for RND, a German broadcaster, 59 per cent of respondents said they were probably or definitely unwilling to defend the country from an attack.

Only 16 per cent of Germans were definitely willing to take up arms to defend Germany, while 22 per cent said they would probably do it.

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The new figures are a headache for Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, as he leads efforts to rearm Germany and turn it into a serious European security power, following decades of under-investment in the army.

In July, Mr Pistorius unveiled plans to recruit 40,000 young adults per year into the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, by 2031 as part of a new military service scheme.

The same scheme plans to send out compulsory questionnaires to young male Germans to fill in once they turn 18, and could be followed by compulsory health screenings of young men to check their suitability for the army.

Bundeswehr officials say that the overall size of the army needs to grow from 182,000 soldiers to at least 260,000 by 2035. The Bundeswehr reserve forces also need to be increased from 60,000 to 200,000 people.

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The German military has struggled for decades with recruitment, partly due to Germans wartime guilt and a widely held view that their country no longer needed an army. Conscription in Germany, which was deeply unpopular, ended in 2011.

But the Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted a major rethink on security in Berlin, known as the Zeitenwende, or turning of the times.

Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, declared that Germany is back after his election victory in February, as he vowed to stand up to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Bundeswehr officials say that the overall size of the army needs to grow from 182,000 soldiers to at least 260,000 by 2035 - Florian Gaertner/Getty

The centre-Right Christian Democrats party leader has introduced historic debt reforms, which allow potentially unlimited government defence spending on projects costing more than 1 per cent of GDP.

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The Merz government has also created a 500bn euro (435bn) special infrastructure fund, which will rebuild the countrys crumbling road and rail networks.

The fund is a crucial part of Natos wider security planning for a potential war with Russia, as Germany would serve as a transit zone for troops and tanks en route to the eastern front.

Germany is not the only country having difficulties drumming up recruits: in Italy, a similar survey also found that only 16 per cent of citizens were willing to defend their nation  despite defence spending increasing by 46 per cent over the past decade.

In Britain, the army and navy have missed nearly every annual recruitment target since 2010, according to government statistics. The shortfall has been blamed on stagnant pay, poor military housing, a wider downward trend in young people being interested in fighting for their country.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
An alleged Palestine Action activist accused of vandalising two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in a 7m attack has been remanded in custody on Monday.

Muhammad Umer Khalid, 22, was charged by anti-terror police after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at the Oxfordshire base on June 20.

Palestine Action, which has since been proscribed by the Government, said it was behind the incident.

Mr Khalid, of Stockport, appeared at Westminster magistrates court charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for the purposes prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK, between June 1 and June 21.

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Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and family address.

Prosecutor Peter Ratliff said: At approximately 1.40am on June 20, activists travelled to a RAF base at Brize Norton in two vehicles which were bearing false number plates.

A significant quantity of red paint is alleged to have been sprayed into the engine of each aircraft - X

He said the protesters used two e-scooters to travel to two RAF Voyager aircraft before spraying a significant quantity of red paint into the engine of each aircraft.

Mr Ratliff said the activists had put metal crowbars into engine rotors of the aircraft.

The full cost of repairs is not yet known, but is estimated to be in the region of 7m, which will be paid for in all likelihood by the taxpayer, he said.

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The prosecutor added: Palestine Action group formed in 2020 and have since been responsible for multiple criminal offences in the course of purported direct action protests.

Protests typically involve the damaging of property and premises they consider to be linked to or supportive of Israel in respect of Israels approach to Palestinian people and territory, and more recently the active conflict in Gaza.

The action was claimed by the group Palestine Action - X

Mr Khalid was remanded in custody ahead of a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on Aug 22.

District Judge John Zani said: These are serious allegations and in the event of conviction, as the law stands, a lengthy prison sentence cannot be ruled out.

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Mr Khalid waved and saluted towards his friends and family in the public gallery before being led from the dock.

Last month, Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Jony Cink, 24, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22, appeared in court charged with the same offences.

The full cost of repairs is estimated to be about 7m - X

They were remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at the Old Bailey on Jan 16 2026.

Their eight-week trial was fixed for Jan 18 2027.

The Ministry of Defence had said at the time of the incident: The UKs defence estate is vital to our national security and this Government will not tolerate those who put that security at risk.

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This Government is taking the strong step of proscribing Palestine Action due to its activities, which are a threat to our national security.

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PALESTINE, Texas (KETK)  The Palestine Police Department is still searching for a K9 officer who escaped from his enclosure after Sunday nights storm.

Brookshire Grocery Co. donates $100K for Texas flood relief

According to the Palestine PD, their police K9 Hondo managed to escape from his handlers enclosure in the Fort Houston addition area of Palestine. Hondo is not kept outside and was not outside during the time of the storm.

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Despite the heat of the day, Palestine resident Justin Smith continued searching. As soon as I saw the post, I threw my shoes on and got in my car and started driving around and see if I could find him, Smith said.

Smith is one of many Palestine residents looking to bring Hondo back home. This is not just a dog, this is a police officer, Smith said. So I feel like as a community, we should be grouping together, try to help out any way we can, just like the police do for us.

Smith is creating a social media page, hoping to coordinate peoples efforts and bring as many boots on the ground as possible.

K9 Hondo, courtesy of Palestine PD

K9 Hondo is not just a police dog  he is a highly trained law enforcement partner and a beloved member of the Palestine Police Department, police said. We believe someone may have taken him in without realizing he is a working K9.

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Officials said Hondo is a German Shepard and microchipped. If anyone sees him, they are asked to call Palestine PD at 903-729-2254.

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Jordanian and UAE planes drop humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on July 27, 2025. Earlier in the day, Israel announced tactical pauses and its first airdrops of aid. (photo credit: TPS-IL)

136 aid pallets were dropped by six countries on Monday.

Oday Al-Quraan, a Palestinian nurse in the Gaza Strip, was killed when an aid pallet dropped from the sky fell on him, The Independent reported on Monday.

Like all the young men, Oday waited in the scorching sun for four hours. But when the planes arrived, he couldnt get out of the way in time, said Al-Quraans cousin, Moatasem, to the Independent.

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He is married and has two children. He was like every citizen in Gaza. He has been hungry for four months, Moatasem reportedly said at the funeral. The plane that dropped the aid that killed Oday was carrying 12 boxes, inside each were 36 cartons of food. Where will we distribute them? The aid on the plane isnt enough for the 20,000 people who were waiting there.

136 aid pallets were dropped by six countries on Monday.

This is a developing story.
More than 60 Palestinian women are staging a hunger strike to demand the release of the body of Palestinian activist and English teacher Awdah Hathaleen, who was shot dead last week in the village of Umm al-Kheir, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.

Two women have received medical treatment as a result of the collective action, which started on Thursday.

The group is demanding the unconditional release of the body of the 31-year-old community leader who was a consultant for No Other Land, a documentary film that won an Oscar award this year. Israeli police set several conditions, including holding a quick and quiet burial at night outside the village, with no more than 15 people in attendance.

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The protesters are also demanding the release of seven Umm al-Kheir residents arrested by Israeli forces who remain in administrative detention  a quasi-judicial process under which Palestinians are held without charge or trial.

Umm al-Kheir is part of Masafer Yatta, a string of Palestinian hamlets located on the hills south of Hebron, where residents have fought for decades to remain in their homes after Israel declared the area an Israeli military firing or training zone.

Iman Hathaleen, Awdahs cousin, said women aged 13 to 70 were taking part in the hunger strike. Now, as Im talking, I am starving and I am breastfeeding, she told Al Jazeera. We will continue this until they release the body, so that we can honour him with the right Islamic tradition. We have to grieve him as our religion told us to.

Awdah was taken by an ambulance to Soroka hospital in Beer Sheva on July 28, where he was pronounced dead after allegedly having been shot by an Israeli settler. The police transferred his body to the Abu Kabir National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Jaffa for an autopsy, which was completed on Wednesday. They then refused to return the body unless the family agreed to restrictive conditions on the funeral and burial.

A tactic to break their spirit

Fathi Nimer, a researcher at the Al-Shabaka think tank, said Israels policy of withholding the body of a Palestinian was common practice. This is not an isolated incident; there are hundreds of Palestinians whose bodies are used as bargaining chips so that their families stop any kind of activism or resistance or to break the spirit of resistance, Nimer told Al Jazeera.

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Awdah was very loved in the village, so this is a tactic to break their spirit, he added.

Meanwhile, Yinon Levi, the Israeli settler accused of firing the deadly shots, was released after spending a few days on house arrest. A video of the incident filmed by local activists shows Levi opening fire on Awdah, who died from a gunshot wound to his chest.

An Israeli settler just shot Odeh Hadalin in the lungs, a remarkable activist who helped us film No Other Land in Masafer Yatta. Residents identified Yinon Levi, sanctioned by the EU and US, as the shooter. This is him in the video firing like crazy. pic.twitter.com/xH1Uo6L1wN  Yuval Abraham   (@yuval_abraham) July 28, 2025

Residents in Umm al-Kheir on Monday documented Levis return to the area. Pictures shared on social media groups depicted him overseeing bulldozing work alongside army officers at the nearby Carmel settlement.

Levi is among several Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank who were previously sanctioned under the former administration of United States President Joe Biden for perpetrating violence against Palestinians.

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US President Donald Trump reversed those sanctions in an executive order shortly after taking office for a second term in January. The United Kingdom and the European Union, however, maintain sanctions against Levi.

Nimer said sanctions against individuals do little to stop settler violence and the expansion of Israels illegal outposts. Its not just individuals  there needs to be real international action to sanction Israel and to stop any of this kind of behaviour, he said.

A continuous trauma

Iman, Awdahs cousin, said Levis return makes her worried about her familys safety. Today, we are afraid that hes back and can do this again, maybe he will shoot someone else, she told Al Jazeera. Her father, Suleiman Hathaleen, was killed by an Israeli bulldozer in 2022.

Oneg Ben Dror, a Jaffa-based activist and friend of the Hathaleen family, said the hunger strike was a desperate gesture for a community that has lost all hope of obtaining justice via legal means.

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The women feel that its their way to protest, its a last resort to bring back the body, she said. The community needs the possibility to mourn and start the recovery from this horrible murder.

She added that the presence of Levi and other settlers on the ground in Umm al-Kheir was a continuous trauma and a nightmare for the community and for his wife, who has been widowed while caring for three young children.

Dozens of left-wing Israeli and international activists on Sunday took part in a march in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to echo the demands voiced by the hunger strikers. Four activists were arrested during the demonstrations.

The United Nations office has reported 757 settler attacks on Palestinians since January, up 13 percent from 2024, as deaths since January near 1,000.

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The Israeli army has also intensified raids across the occupied West Bank and the demolition of hundreds of homes. On Monday, two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin. The Israeli municipality also issued a demolition order targeting the home of Palestinian residents in Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem.

Palestinian authorities say 198 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank since the beginning of the year, while 538 were killed in 2024. At least 188 bodies are still being withheld by Israeli authorities.




As Israels forced starvation tightens its grip on Gazas entire population, an increasing number of Palestinian families are frantically searching for news of relatives who undertook perilous journeys to get food from aid distribution points, never to return.

Khaled Obaid has been searching for his beloved son, Ahmed, for two months, scanning every passing vehicle on the coastal road in Deir-el-Balah, hoping against all odds that one of them might bring him home.

The boy had left the displaced familys tent in the central town to find food for his parents and sister, who had lost her husband during the war, and headed to the Zikim crossing point, where aid trucks enter northern Gaza.

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He hasnt returned until now. He went because he was hungry. We have nothing to eat, the distraught father told Al Jazeera, breaking down in tears with his wife under the blue tarpaulin where they are sheltering.

Khaled reported his sons disappearance to the International Committee of the Red Cross, and every official body he could reach, to radio silence. To this day, he has received no answers on Ahmeds whereabouts.

Khaleds story is all too common under Israels ongoing punishing blockade of Gaza, where the largely displaced population faces a stark choice between starvation and braving the bullets fired by Israeli soldiers and United States security contractors in a bid to get food from Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites. These distribution points have been dubbed death traps and human slaughterhouses by the United Nations and rights groups.

It is a life-or-death gamble that has taken the lives of nearly 1,400 people, shot dead mainly by the Israeli army, at the aid sites since they started operations in late May and along food convoy routes, according to figures released by the UN last week. That is, without counting the untold numbers of missing aid seekers, like Ahmed.

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Human rights monitors have been collecting harrowing firsthand accounts of people who have gone missing in Gaza, only to be found later, killed by Israeli forces.

In many cases, those who went missing are apparently killed near the aid distribution points, but due to the Israeli targeting, their bodies remained unreachable, Maha Hussaini, the head of media at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, told Al Jazeera.

Many Palestinians left home with empty hands, hoping to return with a bag of flour. But many never came back, said Al Jazeeras Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir-el-Balah. In Gaza, the line between survival and disappearance is now heartbreakingly thin.





As the number of missing aid seekers mounts, famine stalks the enclave, with more than 80 adults reportedly dying of starvation over the past five weeks alone, and 93 children succumbing to man-made malnutrition since the war began.

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Authorities in Gaza say an average of 84 trucks have entered the besieged enclave each day since Israel eased restrictions on July 27. But aid organisations say at least 600 aid trucks are needed per day to meet the territorys basic needs.

Death circle

On Monday, amid growing international condemnation over the mass starvation, seen by many as being deliberately engineered by Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to double down on his war goals.

Netanyahu announced that he would convene a meeting of his cabinet on Tuesday to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. Israels Channel 12 cited an official as saying that Netanyahu was tending towards expanding the offensive.

The announcement came on another bloody day in the Strip, with at least 74 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks since dawn on Monday, including 36 aid seekers, according to medical sources.

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Among the attacks, at least three people were killed by an Israeli strike on a house in Deir el-Balah, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

A source at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City reported that seven people were killed in Israeli shelling on multiple areas in the Shujayea neighbourhood, east of Gaza City.

Emergency services said that two were killed in an Israeli bombing of Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza.

It also emerged on Monday that a nurse at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah was killed when he was hit by an airdropped box of aid.

This week, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, described the dangerous airdrops as a distraction and smokescreen.

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On Monday, UNICEF warned that 28 children  essentially an entire classroom  are dying each day from Israeli bombardment and lack of aid.

Gazas children need food, water, medicine and protection. More than anything, they need a ceasefire, NOW, said the UN agency on X.

Death by bombardments.

Death by malnutrition and starvation.

Death by lack of aid and vital services.

In Gaza, an average of 28 children a day - the size of a classroom - have been killed. Gaza's children need food, water, medicine and protection. More than anything, they need a pic.twitter.com/7QIQQ6IAoG  UNICEF (@UNICEF) August 4, 2025

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities by enforcing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, conducting an official visit to the territory and implementing calls at a recent UN conference in New York for a two-state solution.

In a statement posted on social media on Monday, the ministry warned that more than two million Palestinians in Gaza are living in a tight death circle of killing, starvation, thirst, and deprivation of medicine, treatment, and all basic human rights.




WEST PALM BEACH  Two years after a gunman shot and killed a father in front of his son at a Lake Worth Beach apartment complex, jurors acquitted the man who pulled the trigger.

They deliberated for about three hours on July 25 before clearing Jason Nozistene, 24, of all charges. Persuaded by his self-defense claim, the jury's verdict spared Nozistene a potential life sentence and paved the way for his release after more than 800 days in jail.

"As a team, we were all very grateful for the jurys work in this case, for their diligent application of the facts to the law, and that they took their roles as jurors very seriously, said Assistant Public Defender Megan Eaton. Were grateful that they got it right.

Trial testimony painted a different picture than one told in arrest report

Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies initially said Nozistene murdered Leonardo Hernandez-Ramirez and tried to kill Mario Lopez-Miguel after a botched attempt to rob them outside of their Lake Worth Beach apartments on May 5, 2023.

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Lopez-Miguel described Nozistene as a masked gunman who demanded money and began firing when he refused. A bullet struck Hernandez-Ramirez in the head, igniting a foot chase to the masked man's motel several hundred feet away.

Jurors didn't hear those robbery allegations; Assistant State Attorney Mathri Thannikkotu dropped all but the murder and attempted murder charges ahead of the trial.

Instead, Nozistene and his team of attorneys focused on the moments that preceded the shooting. They told jurors he wasn't wearing a ski mask, but instead a "skully," a tight-fitting cap that covers the hair and forehead.

They said he wasn't the aggressor, either. Nozistene testified that he was crossing through the apartment complex on his way to the Travel Inn Motel on South Dixie Highway when he encountered Lopez-Miguel, a stranger.

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Nozistene said Lopez-Miguel called him a racial slur, prompting Nozistene to turn and face him. When he did, Nozistene said Lopez-Miguel drew a knife and stepped toward him. Nozistene said he pulled a gun from his waistband, hoping to scare the man off.

When Lopez-Miguel reportedly continued to advance, Nozistene said he fired about three times at the ground, then ran. Lopez-Miguel followed close behind, the chase captured on nearby surveillance cameras.

The shooting itself happened out of view of those cameras. Lopez-Miguel, who might have disputed Nozistene's account, died nine months before the trial.

Gunman chased to motel room after shooting

Prosecutors instead called upon Hernandez-Ramirez's son, who was present that night in front of the apartment. He testified that his father stepped out of their apartment the same moment the gunfire began and collapsed.

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Deputies arrived within minutes. They found Hernandez-Ramirez lying unresponsive on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the head, a single .22-caliber shell casing on the ground nearby. He'd celebrated his 54th birthday the day before.

Surveillance cameras captured the chase from the apartment to the motel, as well as Nozistene's entry to Room 11. Inside, he told Denzel Cross, the 25-year-old man with whom he'd been staying for several days, that he was being chased.

He emerged from the room moments later and confronted Lopez-Miguel again in the parking lot, drawing a firearm and gesturing for him to leave.

Nozistene said he fired more shots into the ground, at which point Lopez-Miguel, seen on video with a knife in hand, began to scream for help and wave down responding deputies.

Deputies found ID and pistol in motel room registered to Nozistene

Deputies got a warrant to search the motel room five hours later. They said Nozistene had fled through a back window ahead of the search.

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Inside, deputies found the same clothing seen in videos of the gunman, a black bag containing Nozistene's ID and a semi-automatic pistol.

Detectives interviewed Cross, who said he watched the second confrontation between Nozistene and the man in the motel parking lot but said he never saw Nozistene with a gun.

"I don't know what the f*** is going on, and I don't know what the f*** he did," Cross said, according to court records. "I don't have nothing to do with none of that."

Nozistene, interviewed later by deputies, said the same thing he told jurors in July: He pulled the trigger to protect himself, he said. The bullet that struck Hernandez-Ramirez ricocheted and was never meant to kill.

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Detectives disagreed. The jury did not.

Prosecutors charged Cross this year with evidence tampering and acting as an accessory to murder for allegedly trying to hide the gun Nozistene used in the shooting. He is scheduled to appear in court for a plea conference in August.

Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jason Nozistene found not guilty in fatal Lake Worth Beach shooting
Once viewed as a thorn in the side of tech giants such as Oracle and SAP, Rimini Street has steadily carved out a position as a bold challenger, offering a third-party alternative that enterprises are increasingly seeing as a viable option.

Celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year, it is almost a perfect storm for Rimini Street with companies grappling with the impact and expectations of Gen AI, ongoing innovation, transformations and skills shortages. On top of that are the impact of SAPs S/4 HANA upgrade and Broadcoms acquisition of VMWare which has seen a shift from perpetual licenses to subscription-based pricing which in many cases has increased prices.

ITWire sat down with David Rowe, the companys EVP and CMO, who is visiting Australia to talk to clients, prospects and the companys growing Australian team, and Ant Withers, the companys VP of Sales and Marketing in Australia.

Interestingly, Rowe is one of Rimini Streets earliest employees having joined 19 years ago on the companys 1st birthday as employee number 11. When I joined in 2006 we had just 10 employees and five customers. Today, we have more than 2,000 staff - most of them engineers - serving clients around the globe, he said.

Withers says Rimini Street is now challenging the $300 plus billion software support market. In ANZ alone, ASX 200 and NZX companies are spending an estimated $4 to $6 billion annually on software support. A conservative 40% to 50% cost reduction - within Rimini Streets typical savings range says Withers - represents more than $2.5 billion in annual capital that could be redirected into transformation, AI, or customer innovation.

Rowe says that while Rimini Street began as a cost-saving disruptor, it now plays a far more proactive role. Strategic alliances with platforms such as ServiceNow and Workday enable the company to help clients optimise as well as modernise.

In the past, we didnt really help companies innovate. We freed up a lot of resources for them and created a lot of budget availability, but it was like heres your savings, let us know how it goes. Now we have a whole new set of capabilities, services and products and can deliver roadmaps, execution, and AI transformation, Rowe said. Were helping customers extend the life of core systems as well as helping deploy modern enterprise layers over the top, especially for AI and automation.

According to ADAPTs 2025 research, technology modernisation, simplification, and cost reduction are the top priorities for companies. But theres a major roadblock: legacy systems and sunken infrastructure costs.

Technical debt, the sunken costs in legacy and ineffective architectures are major roadblocks to delivering cost-effective and efficient IT solutions, said Gabby Fredkin, Head of Analytics at ADAPT. At the same time ADAPT says, 70% of CIOs plan to invest in generative AI within the next 12 months.

Rowe quotes Gartner numbers that 90% of a companys IT spend goes on just keeping the lights on. With all the upgrades and migrations, companies are ending up with just 10% of their budgets for innovation. Our mission is to increase the amount of innovation budget because that is what moves the needle for companies.

That is not done just by reducing costs, but by modernising support, eliminating forced upgrades, and freeing up budget for AI and automation initiatives.

In a separate ADAPT survey of 99 leading Australian CFOs, respondents estimated that 40% of their deployed tech isnt being used effectively - if at all.

CIOs lack cost visibility and struggle to track the value of tech investments, said Fredkin. Duplication and vendor lock-in can lead to wasted technology assets.

Additionally, 50% of CFOs say unclear fiscal responsibility is a critical barrier to managing cloud costs, and nearly half (48%) report ineffective collaboration with IT teams when developing FinOps strategies.

That misalignment is exactly what Rimini Street is targeting, says Rowe. With 44% of CFOs now playing a strategic role in tech decisions (a 29% increase), third-party support has become a critical lever.

Withers said major software vendors are tightening their grip with SAPs S/4HANA migration; Broadcom taking over VMware are just a couple of examples.

But companies are done with reactive, vendor-driven roadmaps. They want flexibility, cost control, and strategic alignment.

He said that some of the firms Australian clients are facing a unique generational challenge: in-house support engineers who have been maintaining legacy systems for decades are approaching retirement. Theyve self-supported Oracle or SAP for 10 to 15 years. Now theyre asking us to help them sustain those applications into the future while also driving innovation.

Michael Warrilow, an independent technology strategist, agrees: Ive talked to many organisations in Australia that feel as though theyre becoming hostages to their incumbent software vendors. Broadcom is a popular example right now, but there are many others. If an organisation is experiencing poor quality support and receiving few or no upgrades, then they should consider third-party software support.

For Rimini Street, Rowe says, the endgame is clear: ERP, as we know it, is fading. Monolithic, single-vendor systems are giving way to composable architectures supported by modular, best-of-breed platforms. Most companies have 300 plus  on average  applications. It is going to be a composable world. It is going to break down these old monolithic approaches and companies will have greater flexibility.

So, yes, it is a perfect storm, but I think companies need help figuring out how to sort through all of this.

And the best time to start is now. You dont have to perfectly transform every little piece of the underlying system. Layer AI over what you have, drive value now, and phase in change at your own pace.
A plan to more than double childcare fees for some students at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has been reversed.

The university has said existing students who currently use its childcare will not see their fees rise.

Students at QUB with children were set to pay 66 a day for full-time childcare from September 2025, compared to 28 a day at present.

Students who currently pay 31 a day for part-time childcare were set to see that rise to 69 a day.

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When BBC News NI initially reported the rises, Queen's Students' Union called the fee hike "unsustainable".

In a statement, a university spokesperson said QUB had "listened to concerns" from affected students.

"We are pleased to confirm that existing students who use the service and have also registered for the 2025-26 academic year will continue to pay the existing rate for the next three years or until their study period ends, whichever is sooner," they said.

New students to pay higher fees

However, students enrolling their children with QUB childcare for the first time in September 2025 will have to pay the higher fees.

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As students are not in full-time work, they cannot claim existing childcare subsidies set up by Stormont.

Queen's Students' Union had said the increase in childcare would particularly affect postgraduate students with families, and warned that some might have to drop out of university as a result.

That was a decision being considered by PhD student Christian Nsonwu until QUB's U-turn.

"It's really made us look at our finances and think 'is this something that we can continue? Can I continue to study and afford this?'" he told BBC News NI.

Mr Nsonwu is originally from the United States, but has been in Northern Ireland for about 10 years.

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He has a three-year old son and his wife is expecting their second child in August.

He told BBC News NI the rise in childcare fees would present "significant challenges" for him and other students with children.

Christian Nsonwu is undertaking his PhD at QUB, where his son uses the childcare service [BBC]

Mr Nsonwu also said QUB's childcare services were one of the main reasons he chose to study for his PhD at the university.

"We were looking at different universities and really decided that Queen's was the right place for us because it was closer to family and really because their childcare scheme was a huge factor within that," he said.

Mr Nsonwu said childcare was essential for his family and for other students with children.

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"My wife works full-time and there's no possible way to child-rear or take care of your kids while also trying to study full-time," he said.

Reversal brings 'significant relief' for parents

If the planned rise in fees had gone ahead, Mr Nsonwu said his family's childcare bill would have increased from about 360 a month for childcare three days a week, to about 800 a month for part-time care.

He welcomed the university's decision to freeze fees for students like him, who have re-enrolled their children in QUB childcare for 2025-26.

"That will give us the next year or so until my son goes on to primary school paying a consistent amount we expected," he said.

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"I think it brings a significant amount of relief to parents who are already in use of this service.

"I think it demonstrates a bit of compassion when it comes to the financial situation these students are in."

Queen's University Belfast said an increase in National Insurance contributions forced it to up its childcare fees [Getty Images]

But Mr Nsonwu said his family, and others, would face paying higher bills for children who were starting in QUB childcare in September.

"It alleviates a lot of the pressure for one of my children," he said.

"However for my second child we will be paying this new exorbitant fee, they will not benefit from that reversal in fee increases.

"My main concern is for parents, or students, who are just starting out."

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The QUB statement to BBC News NI said the university was "the only higher education provider in Northern Ireland to offer on-site childcare specifically for students".

"We remain committed to supporting students to avail of this service - underpinned by a 300,000 annual university subsidy," it continued.

"In response to wider financial pressures, including a 4.6m increase in National Insurance contributions, we have made the difficult decision to adjust childcare fees while keeping broadly in line with other providers in south Belfast."
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Parkville, Missouri, man has been charged in connection with the 2024 death of his 2-month-old son.

Platte County prosecutors last week charged Adrian Horton with one count of first-degree endanger the welfare of a child.

Man sentenced for 2023 killing outside KCK OReilly Auto Parts store

According to court documents, Kansas City police officers were called to Childrens Mercy Hospital on Oct. 26, 2024, to investigate an assault that occurred on Northwest Milrey Drive, near Northwest 80th Street in the Northland.

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Detectives arrived at the hospital and were notified that the infant had sustained a brain bleed, along with multiple other severe injuries.

The child, identified by Kansas City police as Mateo Rideout, died on Nov. 5, 2024. The investigation was upgraded to a homicide.

Detectives interviewed the victims mother, who stated on Oct. 25, 2024, she and Horton took the child to Hortons parents house so she and Horton could go grocery shopping. Upon returning, Horton was changing the babys diaper when Hortons mothers told him to stop being rough and aggressive with the baby, according to court documents.

The mother said back at home and on Oct. 26, 2024, the baby woke up and began to get fussy. She got out of bed, made a bottle and gave it to the child in his bassinette located next to her bed. The child drank an ounce and began to play with it, so she took the bottle from him and laid back down for about an hour, according to court documents.

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During that hour, the mother said the baby was making noises and appeared to be fine. Later that morning, he became fussy and started to cry. The mother woke Horton up and asked him to change the baby while she used the restroom. Court documents say as Horton got up, the mother heard him say in a frustrated tone, why you always crying bro?

Court documents say as the mother was walking into the bathroom, she saw Horton remove the baby from the bassinet, walk out of the room, then she heard Horton slam the door. She was finishing up using the bathroom when she heard a loud patting noise coming from the other room. When the patting noise eased, she heard Horton yell her name and for her to come to the room. She took the child from Horton and noticed him gasping for air. She told Horton to call 911, and the child was taken to the hospital by EMS to be evaluated.

The mother told detectives Horton was always frustrated or annoyed when he had to do anything with the baby, according to court documents.

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Court documents say Hortons account of what happened with the baby changed several times. At one point, he said after he changed the babys diaper, the baby started to choke. He tried to rub on the babys chest, then realized the child was gasping for air. Horton started to apply more pressure then started performing CPR the adult way. When he was performing CPR on the child, that is when he called the mother into the room. Horton said, I might have used a little more force than I should have.

Detectives received a final report back in June from Forensic Medical of Kansas City and Topeka. The cause of death was labeled as complications of blunt force trauma to head and neck  and ruled the death as a homicide.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
NEWPORT, N.J. (PIX11)  PATH train service was partially suspended on Monday due to a fire near Newport, according to Port Authority.

Officials said the blaze started under an eastbound train at the Newport PATH station around 6:20 a.m. At least 13 people suffered from smoke inhalation, according to Port Authority.

More Transit News

A video from Joseph Nikhil Reddy showed passengers rushing off a train at the Newport station as smoke filled the cabin. Once outside, a large red plume could be seen shooting up from the tracks.

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The agency wrote on X that service for Journal Square33rd Street and HobokenWorld Trade Center and Hoboken33rd Street was suspended for most of the morning commute.

Trains for NewarkWorld Trade Center were also delayed due to a signal problem, according to Port Authority. Regular service has since been restored.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

NJ Transit cross-honored PATH tickets at Hoboken, New York Penn Station and Newark. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail also cross-honored tickets at Newport, Exchange Place and Hoboken.

NJ Transit buses Nos. 87 and 126 cross-honored tickets, as did New York Waterway at Hoboken, Brookfield and Midtown.

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Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The Pentagon awarded $7.8 billion in contracts to Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation at the end of July to produce thousands of new missiles for the Air Force and Navy, as well as a host of international allies.

The contracts include $3.5 billion to RTX Corporation for the AMRAAM Air-to-Air missile, reported to be the largest contract in the history of the AMRAAM missile program. The contract also includes telemetry systems and engineering support products.

The AMRAAM is a flexible, powerful and lightweight missile that can be equipped by a wide breadth of warplanes for air-to-air combat strikes. It can also be used as a ground-launch weapon for air defense. It excels at a wide variety of altitudes and can easily intercept elusive targets.

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The AMRAAM missiles will be supplied  not only to the U.S. Air Force and Navy  but also sold to an array of global allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. NATO nations buying the AMRAAMs include: the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Finland. Ukraine is also set to purchase AMRAAMs, as will Switzerland.

In the Indo-Pacific region, allies Australia, Japan and Taiwan will also be equipped with AMRAAMs, in addition to Israel and Kuwait in the Middle East.

In another notable missile contract, Lockheed will receive $4.3 billion to produce the Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile, or JASSM, and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile, LRASM.

Both of these munitions types will be used by the U.S. Air Force and Navy and sent to international allies, including Poland, the Netherlands and Finland  all NATO nations  as well as Japan.

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The JASSM is a long-range cruise missile that can travel over 500 nautical miles, has a GPS system resistant to jamming and a warhead that delivers about 1,000 pounds of penetrating blast power with pinpoint accuracy. Its made for air strikes on ground targets, and it has a low-profile design that makes it ideal for stealth attacks.

The LRASM is designed to destroy maritime targets and vessels, targeting them from well beyond the range of opposing fire and striking at subsonic speed. It is semi-autonomous and can penetrate air defense systems.

Equipped with intelligent navigation that allows it to change direction and maneuver with precision after launch, the LRASM has been described by the Navy as a next-generation offensive anti-surface weapon.
We're living in strange, high-stakes times, and sometimes, it feels like the long-term risks we face don't always make headlines. So, when someone recently asked Reddit: "What is, in your opinion, the biggest silent threat the world is facing right now?" I was curious to see what people had to say.

The responses were unsettling, surprisingly aligned, and deeply relevant. Here's what everyone shared:

1."The erosion of trust in information."

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Dollabillhooman

2."I don't know if it's technically the same thing or slightly different, but in a similar vein, the rejection of science and trained professionals."

ceiling_roof_champs

3."Probably misinformation. Not just the fake news, but how easy it is to manipulate what people believe."

Jorg Greuel / Getty Images

CheekyClair

4."Anti-intellectualism. By far one of the greatest threats to humanity and the world as we know it."

captainrv

5."We're losing the lessons we learned after the world wars, and are slowly making the same mistakes again."

Vault-71

6."The disappearance of many pollinator species. We hear a lot about global warming, but the extinction of species is also super dangerous for life on earth."

Kathrin Ziegler / Getty Images

oifghkoper

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Without pollinators, we risk losing more than 80% of flowering plants that rely on them to reproduce, a loss that could trigger ripple effects up the food chain. Today, research suggests that more than 22% of native pollinators in North America are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. Planting native flowering plants can help support their survival.

7."Multiresistant bacteria."

unheilpraktiker

The overuse of antibiotics in both healthcare and agriculture is accelerating the evolution of drug-resistant bacteria. Experts warn that if antimicrobial resistance goes unchecked, it could have devastating consequences, with estimates suggesting death rates could double by 2050, with nearly 40 million deaths over the next 25 years.

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8."Social media and its influence on the younger generations, especially."

Israel Sebastian / Getty Images

tuhermosa

9."AI. I'm not kidding either."

roppunzel

Some leading AI scientists warn that AI "agents" or "agentic AI," aka AI systems that operate autonomously without constant human supervision, could prove dangerous if they do not behave in line with human goals. AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, notably called one of the "godfathers of AI," has warned that some agentic AI models are already edging towards "dangerous behaviors" traits such as "deception, cheating, lying, hacking, self-preservation, and more generally, goal misalignment."

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10."Lack of empathy in favor of power and money."

XAnnoyed_OctopusX

11."Private equity buying housing. In 20 years, you'll either have to get land/property passed down to you through inheritance or rent property for the rest of your life."

Ajax9 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Aggressive_Ruin759

12."Propaganda. Information is becoming more and more centralized every day. The same megacorps own all the news networks, the same oligarchs own all of the social media platforms, and the same holding companies own all of traditional media. This makes it ludicrously easy to brainwash the masses, to mislead them, to 'steer' them."

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"Let me give a few examples. How many of you can name five brands of headphones? How many of you get your news from a non-centralized website? ... We live in a much, MUCH darker timeline than anyone realizes. We've eradicated critical thinking, cynicism, and skepticism and replaced it with force-fed slop, served hot and ready to quite literally everyone. The consequences of this will be magnified exponentially as AI slop continues to saturate the internet."

CyberSmith31337

13."Wealth inequality. It is the cause of many things mentioned here. After WW2, wealth inequality was at a low because most people in the west had lost a lot, if not everything, which created the role of the state as a provider for those in need. This was supported by a broad sense of community and camaraderie. Now, we're slowly moving toward the system (as was the case in most of our history) where the 1% owns everything."

DNY59 / Getty Images

"Since the '80s, we've started moving to a system where individualism and personal accumulation of status and wealth are more important than societal and community support. As a result, it's become an everyone-for-themselves-and-fuck-the-rest system. As a result, wealth has started accumulating slowly at a select group of people who were able to make it (entrepreneurs, politicians) or had a head start (born into wealth). This has resulted in the top 1% class of people owning more wealth than the nation's entire middle class."

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Rednavoguh

14."The wealth gap. The richest are on pace to become trillionaires within a decade, while the average American cannot afford to buy a home. A plan that's been in motion by the elites for some time."

Haunting_Leader_6797

"And poor people defending the wealth gap. It's pretty crazy."

Itsyoulorraine

15."Fascist/autocratic ideas fomenting among their supporters in online circles. Yes, the loudest of them are feeling emboldened to be more public with their views because they feel safe in their online spaces, but the algorithms are definitely providing fertile grounds for hateful tribalism."

Beth Kuchera / Getty Images/iStockphoto

mcclaneberg

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16.And lastly, "The perfect storm of climate change, infectious diseases, economic disparity, and the prosperity doctrine."

ImaginaryRole2946

What are your thoughts? Have any others to add? Let us know in the comments.

Note: Some responses have been edited for length, clarity, and accuracy.
The UN's main food agency has warned that families trapped within the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher face starvation.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said it had not been able to deliver food to the city in the western Darfur region by road for more than a year.

El-Fasher has been surrounded by paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for nearly16 months - determined to seize it from Sudan's army.

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The WFP warning comes as local activists have already begun reporting deaths by starvation in the city, which is home to about 250,000 people.

Sudan's civil war that erupted in April 2023 has created what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The WFP said severe food shortages had drastically driven up prices for scarce supplies in el-Fasher, and cited reports that people were eating animal fodder and food waste to try to survive.

The agency did not name the party responsible - but the RSF has cut trade routes and blocked supply lines to the only city in Darfur currently controlled by the army.

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"Everyone in el-Fasher is facing a daily struggle to survive," said Eric Perdison, WFP's regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa.

"People's coping mechanisms have been completely exhausted by over two years of war. Without immediate and sustained access, lives will be lost," he added.

The agency quoted an eight-year-old girl, Sondos, who had fled el-Fasher with five family members.

"In el-Fasher there was a lot of shelling and hunger. Only hunger and bombs," the girl said, adding that the family had been surviving on only millet.

The WFP said it had trucks loaded with food and nutrition assistance ready to go if it got guarantees of safe passage.

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It sent such a convoy in early June: but that was attacked, with the army and the RSF blaming each other for the strike.

Since then, the UN has been pushing for a week-long humanitarian truce in el-Fasher.

But it is not clear how either side would respond to another attempt for an aid convoy to break the siege.

Sudan's civil war has also led to claims of a genocide in Darfur.

More than 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country since 2023, and about 12 million have fled their homes.
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill (WMBD)  Food, music, and beverages and music all inspired with a German twist brings the Peoria together.

On Sunday, an estimated 400 people from the community came together to celebrate German culture. The event was put on by Harmonie Concordia German American Central Society and went from noon to 8 p.m.

The President of Harmonie Daniel Fuertges said that this event is meant to add to Peorias inclusive nature of different cultures.

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We have a very active and vibrant multicultural city here in Peoria, and the Germans are just one of many cultural groups that we have here, Fuertges said. But our German club, we put on an event almost every single month. And its not just German culture.

Its Swiss, its Austrian and northern Italy. You know, that whole region that we celebrate, he said.

One of the city of Peorias sisters cities is a town in Germany named Friedrichshafen, which allows for a cultural exchange program. Sophie Sutter, one of the exchange program participants, attended the festival and got a little taste of home away from home.

Its so fun because its so German, like the music is so authentic and the food and the beer and it feels like Im in Germany. Yeah, its like in Bavaria, Sutter said

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Harmonie is a membership club that hosts other events throughout the year and helps put together Peorias annual Oktoberfest. If you are interested in learning more about the membership club, click here

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  More than 30 homeowner associations, neighborhood groups and community centers will be participating in a national community building campaign.

National Night Out is an annual campaign that looks to build on police-community relationships to attempt to make communities safer and more caring place to live, the events website said.

Groups participating in the night outs will host events such as block parties, cookouts, games and music among many others, according to a post on the Peoria Police Departments Facebook page.

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Neighborhoods throughout Peoria will be hosting events designed to bring residents together and take a positive stand against crime, the post said.

One of the groups hosting an event is the East Bluff Community Center, who decided to play host as a way to get those in the East Bluff together, said Christian McKinney, the EBCC executive director.

A flyer for the East BLuff Community Centers night out

Their event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 and will have music, food, limbo and even a dance battle, he said.

The police departments post said they are looking forward to celebrating this year with the community.

The Peoria Police Department is excited to join 31 neighborhoods across the city in celebrating this years National Night Out, it said.

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For more information on the associations hosting events and the times, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA)  Its Monday and that means another Pet of the Week! This weeks featured pet is Kingston.

Kingston is a 3-month-old kitty who is ready to find his fur-ever home!

According to the humane societys Angel Cox, Kingston is a purring machine who will bring joy to any home he enters. Cox does suggest anyone interested in adopting a kitten to consider two, if you can, as they learn from and lean on each other.

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Kingston is already neutered and microchipped and can be adopted as soon as Monday!

It costs $95 to adopt Kingston. Adoption fees include six nights of boarding at Southport Kennel, five days of daycare at Hounds Town and an engraved tag from Paisley Paw. It also includes six months of heartworm prevention.

If you are interested in adopting Kingston, or any animal needing a home, visit the Spartanburg Humane Society at 150 Dexter Road.

To view all the dogs and cats at the humane society, click here. For more pets of the week, visit our page 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
Far-right extremist Laura Loomer says that she is now working with the federal government to identify individuals within the Department of Defense who are leaking information to the press.

Speaking with CNN in an interview published Monday, Loomer claimed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had personally turned to her for help quieting down the noise coming from his department. The self-appointed loyalty enforcer has had enormous success influencing the Trump administration from the outside: An analysis by The Daily Beast found that at least 16 individuals were fired from the federal government after Loomer singled them out.

And the White House has noticed her efforts: Following months of Loomer blasting federal employees and political appointees to her 1.7 million followers on X, the president praised her Sunday as a patriot.

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Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Beast that Hegseth appreciates Laura Loomers outside advocacy.

Personnel is policy, and Laura has taken that motto to heart. At the Department of Defense, we will never stop working to deliver on the Presidents America First agenda, Parnell said. Qualified individuals who love our country and support the Administrations priorities will continue to be integral to our efforts.

Hegseths tenure atop the Pentagon has been riddled with scandal. The reputed alcoholics foray into national politics started on a dour note, when the former Fox News star was accused of sexual assault. Nearly a dozen of his former network co-workers also claimed that Hegseths drinking habits were concerning.

Some of Hegseths failures include Signalgatewhen Hegseth shared sensitive military plans about an imminent bombing in Yemen in a group chat that accidentally included The Atlantics editor in chiefand his failure to notify the president before he stalled aid to Ukraine. He also was reamed out by Trump over the presidents seriously expensive and lackluster military birthday parade in June, fumbled questions from lawmakers regarding Trumps authority (or lack thereof) to deploy troops to Los Angeles to quell the citys anti-ICE protests, and refused to tell Congress that he wanted Ukraine to win in its ongoing offensive against Russias invasion, among countless other seismic offenses.

The 45-year-olds world has continued to shrink in recent months, with Hegseth reportedly only trusting his wife and a small inner circle, as paranoia over his departments nonstop scandals has consumed him. Mounting frustration and fear has compelled Hegseth to do outrageous things, such as mandate polygraph tests for his own staff. (The polygraphs have ceased since the White House intervened.)
Indonesian digital infrastructure provider Surge has deployed Nokias subsea optical solution to connect Jakarta and Singapore.

Surge says the solution will boost regional data centre interconnectivity and support its mission to expand affordable broadband access to underserved communities across Indonesia.

The new subsea network is part of Surge's broader infrastructure expansion to extend fibre-based broadband to 40 million households.

The network, powered by Nokias 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS), will deliver a claimed initial capacity of 20.8 terabits.

Surge says this will enable it to offer high-speed optical transmission services between Indonesia and Singapore of up to 800GE for Tier-1 and Tier-2 enterprise customers.

This strategic deployment underscores our commitment to digital equity and building a more connected, inclusive future," said Shannedy Ong, Director, Surge.

"With Nokias advanced optical transmission technology, we can efficiently scale our network to deliver reliable, high-speed, and affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities across Indonesia.

James Watt, Vice President and General Manager, Optical Networks, Nokia said connecting up to 40 million people with affordable broadband access is a huge honour and responsibility.

"With Surge, we are building a high-performance network and providing solutions that will unlock new opportunities for growth across Indonesia, Watt said.
The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.

Last month, a group of seven U.S. generals and admiralsincluding the top admiral in charge of U.S. military operations in the Asia-Pacific regionprepared to travel to the Aspen Security Forum, in Colorado. Security officials had spoken at the annual conference for years, including during Donald Trumps first term, and were set to discuss topics such as the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the future of AI, and threats from China. But a day before the forum began, the officers staff got calls from the Pentagon telling them to stay away. On social media, Sean Parnell, the Defense Departments top spokesperson, later made clear why: The forum, he said, was hosted by an organization that promotes the evils of globalism, disdain for America, and hatred for our great president, Donald J. Trump.

Aspen, it turned out, was only the beginning. Within days, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the DOD to vet all future event attendance by any defense official. In a statement to Politico, Parnell declared that the move was meant to ensure the Department of Defense is not lending its name and credibility to organizations, forums, and events that run counter to the values of this administration. (The Aspen Institute, which sponsors the security forum, describes itself as nonpartisan.)

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Parnells characterization of the new policy was vague, but it represented an abrupt departure from long-established DOD practices, and an important shift in the way that the military engages with the outside world: A Pentagon that has already grown more insular under Hegseth could end up cutting itself off from thinkers and ideas beyond the building, or at least those with which the administration disagrees.

[Tom Nichols: The Pentagon against the think tanks]

Military personnel and conference planners I spoke with described the decision as the latest battle in a broader war on ideas at the Pentagon under Hegseth. Earlier this year, the DOD eliminated the Office of Net Assessment, which had been created in the 1970s as a hub for strategic analysts to produce internal assessments of U.S. readiness against potential foes. Hegseth, who himself keeps a small group of advisers, was behind both decisions, defense officials told me.

Troops and civilians attend hundreds of events annually on behalf of the Pentagon, and have been doing so for decades. Whether gatherings on heady topics such as economic warfare and gray zone tactics or highly technical symposia about combatting rust on ships and the future of drone warfare, these events keep the military plugged into ideas from scholars and industry. Particularly since the Iraq War, the military has said that it wants to seek out ways to challenge its assumptions and solicit outside viewsto make officers think through their plans and strategies and the second- and third-order effects of their decisions. Conferences are some of the main venues for this kind of exchange, though not the only ones; officers from dozens of other nations sit alongside American counterparts at U.S. war colleges, for example.

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Previous administrations have required military personnel to secure approval to attend conferences. The difference, this time, is the apparently partisan slant to the vetting process. By prohibiting DOD personnel from engaging with viewpoints that the administration disagrees with, defense officials and conference planners told me, the Pentagon risks groupthink that could have real consequences.

Pete Mansoor, a retired Army colonel who served as executive officer to General David Petraeus during the 2007 surge in Iraq, told me he believes that Hegseths emphasis on lethality over the kind of strategic thinking often fostered at conferences and think tanks could prove dangerous. The fact that officers stopped thinking strategically and only thought about lethality resulted in a war that was almost lost in Iraq, Mansoor, now a senior faculty fellow at Ohio State Universitys Mershon Center for International Security Studies, said. Im sure the Russian army also stresses lethality, he continued, but they have educated their generals on the basis of a million casualties in Ukraine.

[Read: Trumps cosplay Cabinet]

If the department continues to ban conference attendance in a substantial way, it will also make U.S. forces more like their Russian and Chinese counterparts, which in many cases can seek outside views only through state-sanctioned academics. When did our ideas become so fragile that they cant stand up to someone who has alternate views? one defense official asked me. (The official requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about this issue.)

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The Defense Department review of conference attendance is having an immediate impact. Only after the policy was announced did Pentagon officials realize how many conferences military personnel attend, leading to a scramble to draft formal guidance across the force, defense officials told me. A DOD spokesperson was unable to tell me when such guidance will be released, and responded to a request for comment by pointing me to Parnells statement about the review. In the meantime, military personnel are preemptively canceling their attendance at conferences. Some inside the Pentagon have even canceled internal meetings, fearful of running afoul of the new ban on events and forums not approved beforehand. National-security experts at think tanks, which often host security conferences, told me they are now unsure how much they can engage with American service members and the civilians working alongside them.

Also unclear is whether the policy applies to industry-related conferences, some of which are sponsored by private companies that spend millions of dollars to host them. Adding to the confusion, it was not initially clear whether the policy applied to one of the services, the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, not the DOD; a Coast Guard spokesperson told me that the service is working to align its policy with current DOD guidance.

Some military leaders dislike attending conferences and think-tank events, of course. Appearing in public forums can mean facing political questions and potentially giving a career-ending answer. Moreover, some leaders argue, think tanks are not always the best source of new ideas, particularly given that so many of their staff members once worked in government themselves. To tackle national-security threats, generals and admirals should be focused on warfare, not speaking to those who have never been on the front lines, the argument goes.

[Read: The Pentagons policy guy is all in on China]

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But the U.S. military has had a symbiotic relationship with think tanks for years. While government employees and military officers are mired in day-to-day operations and focused on tactical warfare, outside scholars have the time and space for engaging in strategic thinking and coming up with solutions to thorny problems. Some think tanks have created positions for serving officers, and the Pentagon has also created internal positions for think tankers, in part to facilitate an exchange of ideas. So often in government, you are choosing between awful options. You think you have found the least-bad options, and places like think tanks allow you to test that conclusion, Mara Karlin, a former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities, told me.

Several real policy changes have emerged from that arrangement. Scholars at the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank, produced a proposal that served as a blueprint for the 2007 surge in Iraq, at a time when the security situation in the country was deteriorating. A 2022 Center for Strategic and International Studies war-game exercise found that, in a hypothetical situation in which China invaded Taiwan, the United States would be in grave jeopardy in a matter of weeksthe Chinese could successfully sink an aircraft carrier, attack U.S. bases in the region, and bring down American fighter jets. The exercise spurred Pentagon officials to reassess the military planning for a potential conflict in the region.

American officials have also made important statements and announcements at security-focused conferences. In the days before Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, thenVice President Kamala Harris appeared at the Munich Security Conference to outline U.S. fears of imminent war. Earlier this year, Vice President J. D. Vance also attended the Munich Security Conference, where he blasted American allies and cast doubt on the idea that the United States would remain Europes security guarantor. This year, Hegseth himself appeared at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore, where he outlined U.S. strategy to combat threats from China. (Breaking with long-standing military norms of nonpartisanship, Hegseth also spoke to young conservatives at Turning Point USAs Student Action Summit last month.)

Later this year, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum will host a major national-security conference that usually draws Cabinet secretaries, industry leaders, and Americas top generals and admirals. Several past defense secretaries have delivered the keynote speech. A phrase often invoked at the conference is peace through strength, which Reagan introduced into the modern lexicon during the 1980 presidential election, and which became a mantra of his administrations defense policy. It has also become one of Hegseths favorite phrases for describing the military under Trump. And yet, by Hegseths own directive, no one knows whether he or the troops he urges to embrace that approach will be able to attend the conference that celebrates it.

*Illustration Sources: Marat Musabirov / Getty; Javier Zayas Photography / Getty; cveltri / Getty; Svetlana Ievleva / Getty.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Indian Navy warships have begun patrolling areas of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time, Manila's military said Monday, as President Ferdinand Marcos departed for a state visit to New Delhi.

The two-day sail includes three Indian vessels and started Sunday, a day before Marcos left on a trip that will include talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Philippines has heightened defence cooperation with a range of allies over the past year after a series of clashes in the South China Sea.

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Beijing claims nearly the entirety of the waterway despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

India's naval vessels, including the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, arrived in Manila for a port visit late last week.

The patrol "started yesterday afternoon, then it's ongoing up to this moment... the activity at the moment is replenishment at sea," Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Salgado told AFP.

China in response accused Manila of "drawing in external countries to stir up trouble" in the South China Sea.

The joint patrol "undermines regional peace and stability", said Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson of the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command.

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He said Beijing had conducted "routine patrols" in the South China Sea on Sunday and Monday, and remained on "high alert".

While in India, Marcos is expected to sign pacts in such fields as law, culture and technology, according to foreign affairs assistant secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, but all eyes will be on any potential defence agreements.

Before departing Monday, Marcos praised the two countries' "steadfastness in upholding international maritime law, including the UNCLOS", the UN treaty granting an exclusive economic zone within 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) of a country's shores.

The Philippines has previously purchased BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India, a weapon which has a top speed of 3,450 kilometres (2,140 miles) per hour.

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India, which has engaged in border clashes with China in the Himalayas, is a member of the so-called Quad, a group that includes fellow democracies the United States, Japan and Australia.

Beijing has repeatedly alleged that the four-way partnership, first conceived by late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, was created as a way of containing China.

cwl-pam-isk/mtp
India and the Philippines have staged their first joint sail and naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea.

The two-day joint military deployment that kicked off on Sunday is likely to anger China, which claims nearly the entire key waterway and has separate territorial disputes with the two Asian countries.

Philippine Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr said on Monday that the joint sail took place inside his countrys exclusive economic zone.

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We did not experience any untoward incidents, but there are still those shadowing us  as we had already expected, Brawner told reporters, without naming China.

In past joint patrols with other foreign navies, Chinese navy and coastguard ships have kept watch from a distance, according to the Philippine military.

Indian navy ships that took part included guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, tanker INS Shakti and corvette INS Kiltan. The Philippines deployed two frigates, BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal.

The exercise coincided with President Ferdinand Marcoss departure for a five-day trip to India, where he said he would look to deepen maritime ties and seek cooperation on sectors including defence, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

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Brawner, meanwhile, expressed hope that Filipino forces could engage Indias military in more joint manoeuvres in the future.

The drill sends a powerful signal of solidarity, strength in partnership and the energy of cooperation between two vibrant democracies in the Indo-Pacific, he said.





Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that territorial and maritime disputes should be resolved between the countries directly involved, and no third party should intervene.

Later on Monday, a spokesperson for the Southern Theatre Command said that Chinas military conducted patrols in the disputed waterway from August 3 to 4.

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The spokesperson stated the Chinese patrol was routine but said the Philippines so-called joint patrol disrupted regional peace and stability.

In response to a question last week about the Philippines plans to build up military cooperation, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense called the country a troublemaker that has aligned itself with foreign forces to stir up trouble, in what China deems its own territorial waters.

China never wavers in its resolve and will safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and take resolute countermeasures against any provocations by the Philippine side, spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang had told reporters.

The South China Sea is a strategic shipping route where $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce takes place.

A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal found Chinas sweeping claims have no basis under international law, a decision Beijing rejects.




LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A car crashed into an iconic bar on the Las Vegas Strip Monday morning, and now, the owner of 30 years is left to pick up the pieces.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan police, the car crashed into Dinos Lounge around 6:30 a.m., leaving a massive hole in the wall. Its been boarded up for now, but the damage goes far beyond bricks.

We are the oldest bar in Vegas. Somebody said its just a building and I said, Its just so much more than a building to me, owner Kristin Bartolo said.

A car crashed into Dinos Lounge on Las Vegas Boulevard on Aug. 4, 2025. (KLAS) A car crashed into Dinos Lounge on Las Vegas Boulevard on Aug. 4, 2025. (KLAS) A car crashed into Dinos Lounge on Las Vegas Boulevard on Aug. 4, 2025. (KLAS) A car crashed into Dinos Lounge on Las Vegas Boulevard on Aug. 4, 2025. (KLAS)

For Bartolo, the landmark dive bar known for karaoke and community, the damage is personal. Dinos, which opened in 1962, is often called The Last Neighborhood Bar in Las Vegas. She got a call from an employee early this morning with the unimaginable news.

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He called me and said the building collapsed; he didnt know what was going on, Bartolo said. He heard some guys in the car talking like We gotta get out of here, we gotta get out of here.

Four people were reportedly inside the car  two men in the back and two women up front.

The driver was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the investigation is still in the early stages.

It was a pretty big force. Enough force that it took one of my slot machines and moved it across the bar so it was quite an impact into the building, Bartolo said.

One employee was working in the bartending area  the exact spot where the car crashed through. But moments before the impact, he stepped into the back to restock some items  a decision Bartolo believes saved his life.

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He just had a baby two days ago, and thank God he was in the back, Bartolo said.

Thankfully, most of the damage is cosmetic with no structural issues.

This part right there was actually cinderblock. It stopped it pretty good, Bartolo explained. You can see how the outside bricks are just coming off right there and then theres just some cinder block pieces.

Now, Bartolo is focused on rebuilding with family, friends, and the community by her side.

To have a locals bar this big on the strip is huge. We are all like one big family, Bartolo said. Its a staple. Its been here since day one.

She hopes to reopen Dinos within the next week, but for now, there is no set date.

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NINOSHIMA, Japan (AP)  When the first atomic bomb detonated 80 years ago on Aug. 6, thousands of the dead and dying were brought to the small, rural island of Ninoshima, just south of Hiroshima, by military boats with crews that had trained for suicide attack missions.

Because of poor medicine and care, only a few hundred were alive when the field hospital closed Aug. 25, according to historical records. They were buried in various locations in chaotic and rushed operations.

Decades later, people in the area are looking for the remains of the missing, driven by a desire to account for and honor the victims and bring relief to survivors who are still tormented by memories of missing loved ones.

Rebun Kayo, a Hiroshima University researcher, regularly visits Ninoshima to search for remains.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Drivers traveling on state Route 302 in Wauna will experience traffic delays from Monday, Aug. 4, to Thursday, Aug. 14, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Crews will be making improvements to an embankment near 118th Avenue Northwest.

The work is being performed during the day for safety, according to the news release.

Roadwork will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, the advisory states.

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Day commuters can expect a delay of up to 15 minutes as crews work. The advisory asks that drivers plan ahead when traveling during the day, drive at the given speed limit and pay attention to their surroundings.
HOME AGAIN: Retailer and entrepreneur Simon Burstein has moved his store, The Place London, to a familiar place, South Molton Street in Mayfair. Hes opened the store on the former site of Browns, the landmark luxury retailer founded by his family in 1970.

Browns left South Molton Street during the pandemic, and in 2021 it moved into a high-tech store on nearby Brook Street, not far from Claridges.

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The old Browns was a higgledy-piggledy lineup of interconnected shops with an Alice in Wonderland style and had been a retail institution for nearly 50 years. The Burstein family sold the business to Farfetch in 2015, and the move to Brook Street was announced four years later.

The Place is located at 26 South Molton Street and spans 1,200 square feet over three floors. The ground floor and mezzanine are dedicated to womenswear, while the Leathersmith of London diary and journals are on the lower ground floor. Leathersmith is also owned by Burstein.

Leathersmith menswear has its own entrance at 67 Davies Street, opposite the Bond Street Underground station.

The Place London was formerly located in Connaught village near Marble Arch, but Burstein said the footfall wasnt ideal so when the lease expired he decided to move to the old Browns space.

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Grosvenor, which owns much of Mayfair, is also refurbishing South Molton Street and turning the other units that once made up Browns into a mix of retail and residential properties.

Burstein said The Place will continue to focus on affordable luxury, with the emphasis on creativity, craftsmanship and uniqueness from international under-the-radar designers.

The store carries names including Cord, a sustainable clothing label that produces one-off designs that are like wearable pieces of art; luxe silk tailored creations by Pierre-Louis Mascia, and romantic pieces from Les Filles dAilleurs by the Romanian designer Gabriela Lissillour.

Accessories include bags from the Italian label Zanellato, and the Ghanaian brand AAKS. The Place also has two Paris shops that carry similar assortments for men and women.

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As you probably know by now, Texas is trying to gerrymander its voting districts and essentially eliminate five Democratic House seats:

Why? Trump told 'em so!

Related: I'm Crying Laughing Over These Hilarious Job Tweets From June

In response, Texas Democrats fled to Illinois to block a vote, and now Texas Governor Greg Abbott is threatening to remove them from office over it.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Blue states like California, New York, and Maryland are now looking into redistricting to keep up with Texas.

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Related: "Both Sides Of The Family Don't Talk Anymore": Here Are 16 Wildly Unhinged Stories From People Who Had Sex With Their Partner's Family Members

Gov. Kathy Hochul from New York told the media on Monday, "We are at war. That's why the gloves are off, and I say bring it on."

Gov. @KathyHochul on Texas gerrymandering: We are at war. That's why the gloves are off, and I say bring it on pic.twitter.com/tlYg89Mc5P  FactPost (@factpostnews) August 4, 2025

Twitter: @factpostnews

After all of this, airplanes have been spotted over the Illinois State Capitol with a message to politicians:

Related: 50 People Who Came Up With The Greatest "Life Hacks" Of All Time

"MESS WITH TEXAS"

A plane carrying that same banner was spotted over the New York State Capitol in Albany:

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Annapolis, Maryland saw it, too:

Related: 32 "Why Would You Put That In Writing?!?!?" Photos That Prove Some People Are The Worst

And yep, another one was flying over California's State Capitol in Sacramento:

Now, let's see if these Dem leaders actually do something about it.

Also in Internet Finds: 51 Wildly Fascinating Photos Of Disorders, Injuries, And Variations In The Human Body That I Cannot Stop Staring At

Also in Internet Finds: "I Still Feel Like A Horrible Person Nearly 20 Years Later": 19 Giant "Dark Secrets" People Kept To Themselves

Also in Internet Finds: Sick And Twisted Stories Some People Believe Actually Happened, And Dear God, We'd Better Hope They're Wrong

Read it on BuzzFeed.com
Palm Beach Countys animal shelter still euthanizes animals, but at a much lower rate than in previous years.

Jan Steele, the director of Animal Care & Control, recently appeared before county commissioners to discuss the agencys operation. Among the topics discussed was the euthanization rate.

The shelter would rather not kill any animal, but sometimes it has no choice, Steele said. The county shelter, unlike private ones, must accept any animal that is dropped off, she noted. Some have behavioral problems; others are sick. Efforts to find those animals adoptive homes pose a challenge.

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There is also a space problem. The facility, along Belvedere Road west of Florida's Turnpike in suburban West Palm Beach, is over capacity. As of July 20, the facility had 193 dogs with only enough space for 144. It had 172 cats with space for 100

Pets had to be either doubled or tripled up or housed in temporary crates while calls are placed to other shelters to take some of the animals.

We need to have four or five kennels available to accommodate law enforcement, Steele said.

Once all options are exhausted, animals are put on the proposed euthanasia list, which Steele and a veterinarian review. Nonetheless, Steele noted, the agency has significantly improved its release rate, the percentage of animals released from the shelter without having to be euthanized.

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In 2023, the release rate was 86%. Five years earlier, it was just 69%. In 2013, more than 9,300 animals had to be killed; the figure was 1,221 in 2024.

A taste of Royal Palm Beach: Decadent Cuban sandwiches, savory bowls of pho, even oxtail

How has Animal Control cut back on its euthanization rates?

Kingsford and Daisy, in kennel at right, are housed together at Animal Care and Control facilities in unincorporated Palm Beach County, Fla., on August 22, 2023.

Steele said the community is more aware of what is being done at the shelter, which provides for nearly 10,000 animals each year.

More people are volunteering. And the county has expanded its offering of free sterilizations for both cats and dogs. The agency has also increased the number of community partners that take in pets at the shelter.

The county had hoped to meet its goal of zero euthanizations in 2024. In 2014, county commissioners adopted a resolution that set a goal of ending euthanasia of all adoptable dogs and cats by that year. Recognizing that was not going to happen, the county extended the deadline for The Countdown to Zero animal kills by an additional 10 years.

Chart shows that fewer animals are being euthanized at Animal Care & Control

MORE: Animal Care and Control is getting a new $48M facility with needed air-conditioned kennels

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The county has approved plans to build a new facility for Animal Care & Control. Construction is expected to begin sometime this winter.

The facility's $48 million facelift will more than double its size and include air-conditioned kennels. It will allow for more animals to be accommodated. Steele noted that sick animals will be housed in a quarantine-isolation facility, allowing for veterinary care to be provided at a higher level.

We will not have to euthanize pets simply because theres no place to house them, she said.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County animal shelter euthanization rate down
Plastic pollution is a "grave, growing and under-recognized danger" to health that is costing the world at least $1.5 trillion a year, a report published Monday in the Lancet medical journal said.

The new review of existing evidence, which was carried out by leading health researchers and doctors, was published one day ahead of fresh talks in Geneva aiming at getting the world's first treaty on plastic pollution. The experts called for the delegates from nearly 180 nations expected to attend the gathering to finally agree on a treaty after previous failed attempts.

Comparing plastic to air and lead pollution, the report said the impact on health of plastic pollution could be mitigated by laws and policies.

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"Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually," it said.

A recent umbrella review of epidemiological research on the health impacts of plastic chemicals showed "consistent evidence for multiple health effects at all stages of human life for many plastic chemicals" and found that infants and young children were especially at risk, the report said. "These effects include impaired reproductive potential (eg, polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis), perinatal effects (eg, miscarriage, reduced birthweight, and malformations of the genital organs), diminished cognitive function (eg, intelligence quotient loss), insulin resistance, hypertension and obesity in children, and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, and cancer in adults."

"It is incumbent on us to act in response," Philip Landrigan, a doctor and researcher at Boston College, said in a statement responding to the report. "To those meeting in Geneva: please take up the challenge and the opportunity of finding the common ground that will enable meaningful and effective international cooperation in response to this global crisis."

The researchers also warned about tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics that have been found throughout nature  and throughout human bodies. The full effect of microplastics on health are not yet fully known, but researchers have sounded the alarm about the potential impact of this ubiquitous plastic.

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The amount of plastic produced by the world has risen from two million tons in 1950 to 475 million tons in 2022, the report said.

The number is projected to triple by 2060, yet currently less than 10% of all plastic is recycled, it added.

Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and Landrigan said that the world's plastic "crisis" is connected to its climate crisis.

"There is no understating the magnitude of both the climate crisis and the plastic crisis," Landrigan said.

"They are both causing disease, death and disability today in tens of thousands of people, and these harms will become more severe in the years ahead as the planet continues to warm and plastic production continues to increase," he said.

How safe is our Social Security safety net?

Full Interview: 3 Democratic Texas lawmakers on fleeing state amid GOP redistricting push

Number of butterflies decreasing across U.S.
A Harvey Norman franchisor in Queensland, HN Macgregor Franchisor Pty Ltd, has paid a $15,650 penalty for allegedly breaching the Franchising Code of Conduct.

HN Macgregor paid the penalty after the competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), issued it with an infringement notice for allegedly failing to include mandatory information on the Franchise Disclosure Register before entering into an agreement with a franchisee in July 2024.

The ACCC notes that the Franchise Disclosure Register, which is hosted by the Australian Government, exists to increase transparency in franchising and assist prospective franchisees in making an informed business decision - and information on the register includes set-up costs and ongoing payments that the franchisee will need to make.

A franchisors failure to publish up-to-date information on the disclosure register undermines transparency for prospective franchisees, and the reliability and integrity of the register, ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

Many of the laws governing the franchising sector relate to information disclosure and are necessary because of the power imbalance between franchisor and franchisee.

Entering a franchise agreement is a significant financial decision and the register contains important information to inform this decision. Franchisees should be able to rely on the fact that all relevant information has been disclosed on the register, Lowe said.

The franchising sector should be on notice that failure to comply with the Franchising Code of Conduct may result in enforcement action by the ACCC.

One of the ACCCs current compliance and enforcement priorities is to ensure small businesses receive the protections of competition and consumer laws, including industry codes of conduct.

In a background note the ACCC says:

HN Macgregor is the franchisor for the Harvey Norman complex in Macgregor, Queensland. There are approximately 200 franchised Harvey Norman stores operating in Australia.

The ACCC is responsible for regulating industry codes that are prescribed under the Competition and Consumer Act, including the Franchising Code of Conduct. The Franchising Code of Conduct is a mandatory national code that regulates the conduct of franchising participants towards each other.

The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain provisions of an industry code.

A person or business is not regarded as having contravened the provision of the industry code merely by paying the penalty specified in an infringement notice.

On 18 March 2025, the Government announced it will provide $7.1 million over two years to strengthen the ACCCs enforcement of the Franchising Code of Conduct. This funding uplift enables the ACCC to undertake more education, enforcement and engagement in the franchising sector.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A playground in St. Annes Hill was heavily damaged after a fire, and community members say it was arson.

The playground at Bomberger Park, located at the intersection of Fifth and Keowee streets, caught fire around 4 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Community raising money to replace playground destroyed by arson

The play area is roped off, with plastic parts appearing melted, and ash and smoke damage apparent throughout the structure.

WDTN Photo

The vice president of St. Annes Hill Historic Society says kids from all over the city use the space, and to see it destroyed is upsetting.

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When I heard the news that it had been destroyed early yesterday morning, I was sick. I cried all morning and I didnt hardly sleep at all last night. I cant stop thinking about it, said Justine Kelly, St. Annes Hill Historic Society vice president.

The park was built from community funds, with the new playground opening in 2023 after three years of planning.

Kelly says to see the communitys hard work ruined is heartbreaking.

We have so much energy and love for where we live, and this neighborhood is very scrappy. We care deeply about where we are, said Kelly. We wanted to improve our neighborhood, but we also just wanted there to be a good, safe space for the kids.

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2 NEWS reached out to the Dayton Fire Department, who say the fire is under active investigation as suspected arson. No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact investigators at 937-333-TIPS or Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP.

To help support the community as they fundraise for a new playground, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ)  The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) announced that residents will have the opportunity to purchase bottles of rare whiskeys through its Limited-Release Lottery.

Pennsylvania residents will have until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, to opt into one or more of the lotteries by visiting the Limited-Release Lottery website. In total, there are 3,705 bottles being offered, with ten products in nine lotteries being featured. Participants can opt into just one, several, or all of the lotteries and drawings.

If someone wins the right to purchase a bottle in the first drawing, they will be removed from the subsequent drawing in that lottery. Purchase is limited to one bottle per person per lottery. The PLCB noted that only one entry per household per lottery is allowed; any duplicate entries will be disqualified.

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Lotteries will be held in the following order:

Lottery one Blantons Straight From the Barrel Bourbon, $157.99 each  213 bottles for individual consumers, 70 bottles for licensees. Blantons Gold Straight Bourbon, $144.99 each  423 bottles for individual consumers, 141 bottles for licensees.

Lottery two Heaven Hill Heritage Collection Straight Corn Whiskey 20 Year Old 2023 Edition, $289.99 each  3 bottles for individual consumers.

Lottery three Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition Straight Bourbon, $2,199.99 each  4 bottles for individual consumers, 1 bottle for licensees.

Lottery four Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection Number 2 5375 mL Bottles, $999.99 each  6 collections for individual consumers, 2 collections for licensees.

Lottery five Eagle Rare Double Eagle Very Rare Straight Bourbon, $2,999.99 each  8 bottles for individual consumers, 2 bottles for licensees.

Lottery six Russells Reserve Straight Bourbon 13 Year Old Barrel Proof, $149.99 each  10 bottles for individual consumers, 3 bottles for licensees.

Lottery seven Weller Millennium Straight Bourbon, $7,499.99 each  45 bottles for individual consumers, 15 bottles for licensees.

Lottery eight Old Forester Birthday Straight Bourbon 2024, $199.99 each  54 bottles for individual consumers, 18 bottles for licensees.

Lottery nine Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof, $59.99 each  2,016 bottles for individual consumers, 671 bottles for licensees.



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For more information on the drawings, including rules and regulations for both retail entrants and licensee entrants, visit the Fine Wines and Good Spirits website.

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A few weeks ago, my colleague Francis Farrell and I were in Pokrovsk.

As a war reporter, Im used to seeing war-torn towns. Last year, we saw glide bombs raining down on Vovchansk, filmed interviews with soldiers in the ruins of Lyman, and joined a volunteer evacuation mission taking civilians out of Selydove, which was on the verge of occupation.

But this time was different: Pokrovsk isn't just another city for me.

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My native city is just a half-hour drive away from Pokrovsk, and its a much smaller one. Pokrovsk, with its pre-war population of more than 80,000 people, is the closest real city to where I grew up.

Every year, before school started, my parents would bring me to Pokrovsk for my back-to-school shopping  to buy stationery, school clothes, and shoes.

Back then, the city was still called Krasnoarmiysk, after the Red Army. Years later, the citys name was changed to Pokrovsk  part of a national effort to get rid of all Communist names.

I didn't know the city well  in fact, I barely knew it at all. Just the road from the train station to the central market, where every August we bought the supplies for school.

A locomotive passes under a destroyed bridge on a heavily damaged railway track in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on Nov. 16, 2024. (Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images)

It was at that market that I got my first school uniform before starting first grade. We took an exciting trip to Pokrovsk by car with my future classmate and our parents. We passed by a terrikon  one of those towering coal waste hills common in the Donbas region. It was the first time I saw it. I asked my mom, Wow, are those mountains?

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Because almost all families from my town went to Pokrovsk to buy something fashionable for their kids, we all ended up with nearly the same outfits. In the photo from the first day of school, a lot of girls from my class wear similar white lace collars, blue jackets, and skirts.

Here, at this market in Pokrovsk, we bought me a silly red-and-black fur coat. Here, I tried a hot dog for the first time, served with corn and Korean-style carrot salad, popular in Ukraine. Here, we got me a fantastically beautiful pink homework planner with Barbie on the cover, for my third grade.

Here, we picked out my graduation dress. And guess what happened? My classmate and I bought the same dress, but in different colors: I got a white-and-rose one, and my classmate a white-and-black one. There were a lot of girls looking for beautiful dresses, but there was only one market in Pokrovsk.

There have been some non-shopping trips. Once, my grandmother and I came to Pokrovsk to visit relatives who lived in Dinas, a neighborhood in Pokrovsk. Another time, I came to visit my former classmates  they had entered a local vocational school. That was pretty much all I knew about Pokrovsk: the central market, Dinas, the vocational school.

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In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine for the first time, and occupied Donetsk, the capital of Donetsk Oblast, where Pokrovsk is located. At the time, I studied in Donetsk, and I saw the whole thing play out in front of my eyes  the invasion masked as a pro-Russian separatist rebellion.

The month after that, my family and I once again came to Pokrovsk to shop.

Although it still bore its Communist name, there were a lot of Ukrainian flags and banners. I took some photos of it  I felt so proud of that city. All these years, it was a small, ordinary city. Now the war was 45 kilometers away from it  less than an hours drive. And Pokrovsk was rising to its newfound significance.

I felt so proud of that city.

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As we lost Donetsk, the big regional capital, I saw that the small Pokrovsk has its own identity and temperament, and wants to be a Ukrainian city, not Russian. I remember that I took those photos and posted them on Facebook as a symbol of resistance.

I had never thought that 10 years after that, I would be filming what seemed like the start of the apocalypse in Pokrovsk.

And then Russia invaded Ukraine for the second time  in February 2022. By then, I hadn't lived in the area for a long time. When I returned to Pokrovsk in February 2024 for the first time in a decade, I came in a new capacity  as a war videographer, documenting the war in my country.

At that time, Pokrovsk was still relatively deep in the rear. It was a convenient place to stay on reporting trips  a base where we could rest in-between field trips to the front line. Another such city was Kramatorsk.

The Kyiv Independent's war reporters Olena Zashko (L) and Francis Farrell in the center of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Sept. 9, 2024, as mandatory evacuation of the population begins and the city grows emptier than ever. (Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent)

A destroyed building in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on June 29, 2025. (Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent)

The Pokrovsk I returned to in 2024 was nothing like the city I used to come to for back-to-school shopping. Gone were the market clamor and the excitement. The new Pokrovsk was the city of war, filled with soldiers, reporters, and locals  more often unwelcoming than happy to see you.

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I remember finding it ugly and dirty, with brazen landlords charging high rent for apartments in terrible condition. Still, there was a lot of life. The soldiers and journalists crowded a popular local cafe, Bulvar. It felt like a place from another universe: bright, modern, and stylish, it was an alien presence in this small post-Soviet city.

But a few months after that trip, in August 2024, Russian forces came closer to the city. In September, we returned to Pokrovsk. The change was astonishing. It looked like it was on the brink of the apocalypse  the forced evacuation started, and Russian bombs started to fall on the city. Pokrovsk became emptier, and most shops were closed. So was Bulvar.

We met people who decided to stay in Pokrovsk. A nail technician with absolutely stunning nails. I remember the sound of a glide bomb whooshing through the air while she was doing nails for a client. It was such a strange moment.

Or a woman who sold fruits at a street market  the same market where I would buy my school clothes. She was scared, but she said she hoped that everything would be fine.

Fruit vendor Lidia sits by her stall at the corner of the market in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Sept. 9, 2024. Most of her fellow salespeople and her relatives had already left as Russian troops approached the city, leaving her among the last vendors at the market. (Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent)

People shop at the last working market in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on June 19, 2025. (Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images)

We met a man who survived after one of the first glide bomb attacks on the city, which hit his house. We met a miner who had worked his whole life in a nearby mine.

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The last time we came back to Pokrovsk was in June 2025. The city was mostly destroyed. People who stayed lived in basements or destroyed apartments, or were buried right in the courtyards of their houses.

Is it normal that people in Ukraine think about how not to die during the night?

At one point, I was lying in a cold basement, listening to the explosions outside, and watching soldiers from a drone unit at work. And I thought: Is it normal for me to be here?

Less than a year ago, during our last trip to Pokrovsk, we rented an apartment in a neighboring building to where I was now, and our biggest problem was that the place was too hot. And now I was lying in the basement and the challenge for the night was not to die from the Russian shelling or glide bombs.

Olena Zashko (R) and Francis Farrell (L) in a sleeping area in a basement in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on June 28, 2025. (Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent)

Francis Farrel in a basement of an abandoned building that serves as shelter for soldiers and journalists during their rotations in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on June 28, 2025. (Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent)

Is it normal that people in Ukraine think about how not to die during the night? Its not normal. But here we are. The apartments above us are all abandoned. Where are all those people? What happened to everyone we met here last year?

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There were still people in Pokrovsk. One woman didnt want me to film her. She started screaming at us.

Why are you filming me and the city? she screamed.

We want to show the reality to the world, I replied, my camera in my hands.

The world knows about the situation in Pokrovsk, doesnt it? she snapped angrily. It was the anger of despair.

The world knows about the situation in Pokrovsk, doesnt it?

After our last visit, the situation in Pokrovsk got worse. Soldiers say that a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group was spotted in the part of Pokrovsk that we visited.

This city is one of the most scarred places that I have seen during this war. But perhaps, the reason for that is that I have known this city for 19 years. And now I see it dying.

A view of the destruction along the road to Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on May 27, 2025. (Jose Colon / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Its not just sad  sad doesnt really capture it. Its personal.

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Our exit from Pokrovsk was memorable  as we were driving out, we spotted a Russian strike drone flying straight at our car. For a few moments, I thought it would hit us, but it went away.

I remember thinking: This is our last trip to Pokrovsk. I wont see this city again in the near future, if ever.

The next thought is one I cant get away from: Is my hometown next?

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  Police have arrested the man suspected of shooting the driver who rammed his car into a crowd outside a Los Angeles nightclub last month.

The car crashed into a crowd of patrons leaving the Vermont Hollywood venue in the early hours of July 19 along a busy boulevard in East Hollywood, leading bystanders to attack the driver, authorities said.

The driver was later found to have been shot in the lower back and the suspect escaped on foot, according to police.

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Efrain Villalobos, 28, was arrested Sunday afternoon in Redondo Beach, about 12 miles (19.3 kilometers) south of LA. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder without bail.

A phone number for Villalobos or family members could not be found in an online database search and the public defender's office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The driver, 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, was initially taken to a hospital. His car came to a stop after colliding with several food carts, which became lodged underneath the vehicle.

Some people were briefly trapped beneath the vehicle, police said. At least 23 people were taken to the hospital, with injuries ranging from minor pain to serious fractures and lacerations.

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Police have not released information on whether Villalobos knew the driver, or what the driver's motive was in the crash.

Ramirez was charged with 37 felony counts of attempted murder and 37 felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon. If convicted, he could face multiple sentences of life imprisonment.
MARION, N.C. (WSPA)  Police officers asked the public for information related to a hit-and-run that occurred on Monday.

According to the Marion Police Department, the hit-and-run took place around 2:50 a.m., when a white sedan hit a bicyclist heading north on U.S. 221 Business North.

The cyclist was found unresponsive at the scene and was transferred to Mission Hospital in Asheville for his injuries, police said. His condition remains unknown at this time.

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The sedan, police added, was last seen traveling north and turning onto Hankins Road.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing at this time. Anyone with information about the car is asked to call MPD at (828) 652-5205, or the McDowell County Communications Center ay (828) 652-4000.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Rochester police have provided an update on the letter sent to businesses in the area of the Puerto Rican Festival this past weekend, where memos detailed a required closure to close for the day at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

N. Clinton businesses criticize order to close after Puerto Rican Festival

Officials said while businesses complied with the order, multiple incidents unfolded late Saturday night 10 minutes from where the Puerto Rican Festival wrapped up downtown.

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According to police, a crowd of several hundred people gathered in the street near Clinton and Morrill. Officers responded to multiple incidents in that area between midnight and 2 a.m.

Shortly before midnight Saturday, a woman approached a police detail officer at Joseph Avenue and Clifford Avenue, claiming that 22-year-old Kyjion Carter had assaulted her and fired a gun near Clinton and Morrill. A second report from the 900 block of North Street also described a man firing a gun and matched Carters description.

Officers located Carter nearby and took him into custody without incident. Police say he was in possession of a loaded .45 caliber Kimber handgun. Investigators also found evidence of gunfire on Watkin Terrace. Carter was taken to the Monroe County Jail on charges related to the Watkin Terrace incident. Additional charges related to the Clinton and Morrill area are pending.

At approximately 1:30 a.m., officers detected gunfire in the area of Morrill Street. Soon after, a man approached officers and said he had been shot. He was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the upper body.

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When officers moved onto Morrill Street to investigate, police say individuals in the crowd began throwing bottles and other objects at them. Officers used crowd control tactics to disperse the crowd by around 2 a.m. No officers were injured, but one police vehicle sustained a cracked windshield and dents.

During the dispersal, 29-year-old Jamel Smith was arrested for failing to comply with officers commands. He was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration. Police say he also had an outstanding warrant for second-degree harassment and was taken to the Monroe County Jail.

Police say there were no major incidents at the Puerto Rican Festival itself.

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The Brief

Man killed Saturday in Route 202 hit-and-run.

Suspect may have driven a GMC or Chevy SUV.

Police seek tips at 301-345-3101.

KETTERING, Md. - Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal hit-and-run that occurred Saturday morning in Prince Georges County.

Victim identified

What we know

Leroy Wedge, 43, of Upper Marlboro, was struck and killed while attempting to cross Maryland Route 202 near Wood Branch Court around 6:20 a.m., according to Maryland State Police.

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Investigators believe the vehicle involved may be a 20122014 GMC Terrain or Chevrolet Equinox. The driver fled the scene, and no arrests have been made.

SUV sought by police

The crash closed Maryland Route 202 for more than three hours.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Maryland State Police Crash Team at 301-345-3101.

The Source

Information in this article comes from The Prince George's County Police Department.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Police have identitied a 28-year-old woman as the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a 77-year-old woman last month in South-Central El Paso.

Police confirmed to KTSM that Melanie Christine Cuellar is wanted in connection with a July 19 crash that killed mother and grandmother, Maria Lopez.

Family seeks justice after woman killed in hit-and-run in South-Central El Paso

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Cuellar was featured in this past weekends Most Wanted, but was not formally connected to that crash in that weekly feature.

Most Wanted fugitives for week of Aug. 1, 2025

Cuellar is wanted for collision involving death, police said.

Police said Maria Lopez was crossing the 6800 block of Alameda in South-Central. She was struck by a light-colored SUV that was traveling west on Alameda.

Woman pedestrian killed in hit-and-run near El Pasos Ascarate Park

The driver of the SUV did not stop and continued west on Alameda, police said at the time. Lopez died at the scene.

Police earlier said they found the vehicle that was involved in that crash. On July 24, they said they had a suspect, whom they didnt identify, and were continuing to investigate the case.

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Over the weekend, the daughter of the victim, Viviana Lopez, went on social media with a photo of the suspect asking for the publics help. You can click here to watch.

We just buried my mother. I say buried, because she is not at rest, Viviana Lopez said in the social media clip. She will rest when we catch the driver.

She is hiding and I need your help to find her, Viviana Lopez added in the same social media clip. She has been on the run and she has been hiding.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Editors note: This report has been updated to reflect that a person was hurt.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Youngstown Police are investigating after a man was hit by gunfire on the citys North Side.

It happened Sunday night just before 10 p.m. on Burlington Street.

When officers arrived, they found a man lying in the grass with a gunshot wound to his lower back, according to a police report. He was taken to the hospital, and police say he was stable.

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Police on the scene said someone shot near a home and drove off.

The investigation is ongoing.

Patty Coller and Abigail Cloutier contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after a possible shots-fired incident at a Lancaster County barn last month.

According to PSP, on the evening of July 7, a resident in the 400 block of King Pen Road in Little Britain Township said they heard a loud bang outside of their residence before watching a white pickup truck drive by.

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The victim told police that they went outside and located a shotgun shell casing inches from the roadway. Police said the victim also found a broken windowpane on the second floor of their barn.

Police said they searched the area but were unable to locate the described pickup truck.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
GUEST EVENT: One of the worlds most influential computer scientists - and the pioneer behind an entire category of enterprise technology - is headed to Australia.

Professor Wil van der Aalst, known globally as the godfather of process mining, will visit Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne this August as part of a national academic tour, including a keynote at Celonis inaugural Process Intelligence Forum in Sydney on August 12.

The Origins of a billion-dollar idea

In the 1990s, frustrated by the gap between process models and the messy reality of how businesses actually operate, Professor van der Aalst began a new line of research: instead of imagining how work should happen, what if you mined data to understand how it really does?

That question sparked a movement - and ultimately an entire field.

Working out of the Netherlands and later RWTH Aachen University in Germany, he built the first academic research group dedicated to process mining. He also inspired a generation of students, including three German university peers who would go on to co-found Celonis in 2011, now a global leader in Process Mining.

Celonis uses van der Aalsts research at massive scale, helping some of the worlds largest companies uncover inefficiencies, automate work, and unlock billions in business value. The company now operates in more than 20 countries, employs nearly 4,000 people, and was most recently valued at $US13 billion.

Process Mining: The secret ingredient for successful AI

As AI adoption accelerates, van der Aalst says that Process Intelligence is more critical than ever. Most AI operates in the dark, he explains. Without context - without understanding how processes actually run - AI will struggle to deliver real value. Process Intelligence changes that.

Celonis has identified more than $US18 billion in value across thousands of business processes, and according to Gartner, holds nearly 50% market share in the growing process mining sector. The company estimates the Process Intelligence market will surpass $110 billion by 2030, fuelled by new business models emerging from the AI revolution.

Building a global talent pipeline - with Australian roots

Now serving as Chief Scientist at Celonis, Professor van der Aalst is also the driving force behind the Celonis Academic Alliance, a global initiative that partners with over 800 institutions to train the next generation of process experts. More than 500,000 students have already participated, and Australia has been part of that journey from the beginning.

Van der Aalst is also an Adjunct Professor at QUT, with a 25-year relationship with the university, and has helped bring the Celonis Academic Alliance to both QUT and the University of NSW, where more than 200 undergraduate and 20 postgraduate students are now learning with Celonis technology.

Professor van der Aalst and members of the Process Science group have made significant research contributions to workflow management, process automation, and mining, said Professor Moe Thandar Wynn, Co-Director of the QUT Centre for Data Science.

We are thrilled to welcome him back to Brisbane and continue our joint research, education, and partnership with Celonis.

During his visit, Professor van der Aalst will:
<p>In dozens of U.S. cities, the next time you call 911, a drone might show up before an officer does.</p> <p>The technology behind that - Drone as First Responder, or DFR - has skyrocketed in popularity among police departments nationwide since the Federal Aviation Administration streamlined<b> </b>the process for agencies to adopt the program this spring. While it could previously take up to a year to get approval, it now often takes just days.</p> <p>Law enforcement and drone industry leaders praise the technology as lifesaving, with the potential to help authorities in situations ranging from missing persons cases to active shooter incidents. But critics worry the programs encourage<b> </b>mass surveillance and violate the publics privacy.</p> <p>When you have a camera in the sky that can see things that police officers cant normally see, that offers a huge potential for privacy invasion, said Beryl Lipton, a senior researcher with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group.</p> <p>DFRs serve as an<b> </b>eye in the sky, police say, streaming footage to officers before they enter a potentially dangerous situation.<b> </b>One of the hardest aspects of policing is that in calls for service, we dont have crystal balls, we dont know what were going into, said Roxana Kennedy, chief of the police department in Chula Vista, California.</p> <p>There is no public list of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the programs, and gray areas around what constitutes a DFR versus a different kind of drone program makes creating a definitive count difficult. Around 50 agencies launched DFR programs between 2018 and 2024, said Charles Werner, a retired<b> </b>Charlottesville fire chief who founded DRONERESPONDERS, an advocacy group that promotes responsible drone use. But the technology is gaining ground fast: A handful of departments per week are adopting it, said Divy Shrivastava, CEO of Paladin Drones, a DFR manufacturer.</p> <p>The FAA has approved waivers for at least 300 agencies to adopt drone first responder programs so far this year, according to Werner, who said he meets regularly with representatives of the federal regulatory agency.</p> <p>The FAA made the review process faster by removing duplicate steps and giving first responders updated guidance on how to submit waiver requests,<b> </b>an FAA spokesperson said in an unsigned statement to The Washington Post.</p> <p>Capt. John English, who leads the DFR program for the Chula Vista Police Department, called the drones the single greatest integrated piece of technology for policing. His agency became the nations first adopter of the program in 2018.</p> <p>DFRs are different from the tactical drones long used in policing, drone experts said. Unlike some earlier drones, DFRs<b> </b>can be launched from docks positioned around a city and controlled from inside police stations. They dont need to be within an officers line of sight, which is why they require a special waiver from the FAA as part of a regulatory process meant to prevent collisions and other hazards.</p> <p>The drones can arrive on the scene of emergencies far faster than squad cars, police chiefs told The Post. Kennedys department, Chula Vista, said its drones average response time is under two minutes, consistently outpacing patrol units. In Redmond, Washington, drones arrive to the scene before an officer about 75 percent of the time they are deployed, according to municipal data.<b> </b>In Elk Grove, California, that rate is 70 percent.</p> <p>The incident that changed everything for Kennedy, she said, was<b> </b>when a drone responded in 2019<b> </b>to a call about a man who appeared to be erratically waving a gun. Before officers arrived, the drone footage showed the object was not a gun, but a cigarette lighter.</p> <p>It could have ended up in a shooting, Kennedy said.</p> <p>Police officials whose<b> </b>departments have adopted DFRs said the programs are invaluable. In May, a drone in Redmond helped locate a missing diabetic elderly man. Officers on foot had searched the area where he was ultimately found but couldnt see or hear him, said Darrell Lowe, the citys police<b> </b>chief.</p> <p>Lt. Romy Mutuc, who heads the new DFR program in Laredo, Texas, said his department has equipped its drones with Narcan - a nasal spray that can treat narcotic overdoses. In an overdose scenario, Mutuc said, an officer could drop a dose onto the scene and talk a bystander through the process of applying it through the drones loudspeaker.</p> <p>DFRs are also widely deployed for low-priority calls,<b> </b>like about a suspicious person walking near private property. Sometimes the drones help police realize its unnecessary to send an officer to the scene in-person. In nearly 20 percent of incidents where the Chula Vista department has deployed a DFR, the agency has canceled officer response after the drones arrival, according to English.</p> <p>But there are concerns among critics, who say drone first responders can encourage police intrusion in places they couldnt normally view.</p> <p>Drones and aerial cameras could be used to surveil political protests, and it could even be deployed for other purposes to see who is seeking health care in California from another state, or used to track whos coming and going at an immigration courthouse, said Jacob Snow, a technology and civil liberties attorney at the ACLU of Northern California.<b> </b>So the idea that we should all be assured that law enforcement is just saying, Dont worry, its only for a narrow purpose flies in the face of whats happened historically.</p> <p>In Chula Vista, a lawsuit filed by a local newspaper publisher seeks to force the police department to release<b> </b>the drone video footage collected in one month of 2021. The publisher, Art Castanares, is concerned that police could be infringing on peoples privacy, said Cory Briggs, his attorney.</p> <p>Privacy advocates<b> </b>say police departments may promise to only use the DFRs to respond to calls for service or certain kinds of emergencies, but once the technology is out of the bottle, it will be hard to put it back in.</p> <p>Drone industry representatives and cities that have adopted DFR programs have offered assurances that they have implemented guardrails to address privacy concerns. Some departments said they keep the cameras pointed toward the horizon while in route to an incident. Some dont turn on the cameras recording function until the drone arrives at its destination, said Werner. And agencies said they aim to be transparent about the technologys use, including through public dashboards that log flight maps.</p> <p>Skydio, a DFR manufacturer, works with agencies to help develop policies surrounding drone use, and more importantly, how they do not intend on using drones, said Noreen Charlton, the senior manager of public safety marketing at the firm. In Redmond, the citys policy prohibits the department from using drones for general surveillance, harassing or discriminating against individuals or groups, or conducting personal business.</p> <p>But those concerned about excessive surveillance remain skeptical. Lipton, of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said she hopes there are consequences for when there is abuse or misuse of DFRs. Part of that, she said, could involve annual reviews by the city council and public meetings to discuss what reasons the surveillance tools were used for and whether there were any violations.</p> <p>In the same vein,<b> </b>independent oversight bodies and local government could help assuage some of the concerns by imposing strict limits on the programs, said Jay Stanley, a privacy and technology policy analyst at the ACLU.</p> <p>This is really a brand new technology, he said, and the jury is still out on it.</p>
Motorcyclist dead following serious crash on Route 1 in Wrentham

A motorcyclist is dead following a serious crash on Route 1 in Wrentham.

According to the Wrentham Police Department, around 3 p.m. on Sunday, the accident occurred in the area of Thurston Street and the Massachusetts State Police Foxboro barracks

Wrentham Fire Chief Antonio Marino told Boston 25 that a motorcyclist left the roadway, striking a parked trailer around 101 Washington Street.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead on the scene.

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Since then, all lanes of traffic have reopened.

Boston 25 will update you when additional details are available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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A large-scale search conducted Monday at the Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve for a Naperville woman missing since last week turned up empty-handed, according to a Monday press release from the Naperville Police Department.

Police said that the search, conducted with the assistance of the Naperville Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), included more than 40 trained volunteers, eight K9 teams and multiple experienced police drone operators to help locate 46-year-old Olasinmibo Sinmi Abosede, the release said.

Abosede was last seen about 9:20 a.m. July 30 walking away from her home in the 2100 block of Sudbury Street, police said.

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The search of the preserve on 83rd Street began about 9 a.m., according to a social media announcement from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

Naperville police said Abosede is 5-foot-6 and weighs 190 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

Foul play is not suspected in her disappearance, police said.

Camera footage shows Abosede walking away wearing a long-sleeved black Adidas jacket, gray sweatpants, a black head scarf and black Crocs sandals. She was carrying a white water bottle and apparently left her cell phone, credit cards and other personal items behind, Mondays release said.

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Naperville police said that detectives have been following leads, searching the area and investigating Abosedes whereabouts since her family reported her missing on Wednesday.

I understand that the uncertainty surrounding Sinmis disappearance is concerning, and I assure you that this department is doing everything we can to find Sinmi, said Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres. We will continue to follow up on any leads and lean on the expertise of our partners at NEMA and surrounding law enforcement agencies, who I want to thank for their dedicated efforts today.

Arres also said that community members who want to help in the search should continue to circulate Abosedes picture and keep an eye out for her when traveling throughout the region.

The more eyes we have looking out for her, the better, Arres said.

Anyone with about Abosede is asked to call 911 or the Naperville Police Investigations Division at 630-548-1421.

cstein@chicagotribune.com
Seattle Police Department (SPD) says that they are searching for suspects in a carjacking that happened on the 1400 block of 1st Avenue on Saturday.

Two men jumped out of a white car and a silver car and started trying to take the victims car at gunpoint.

The white car was stolen early, before the carjacking.

They drove off with all three cars going down 1st Avenue toward the stadiums, but police lost track of them.

They have asked for the state and other local agencies help in finding the suspects and the cars.
ROCHESTER HILLS, MICH (Fox 2) - Police in Rochester Hills are looking for a man who allegedly exposed himself to a group of pre-teen girls who were at the Shake Shack, and later Barnes and Noble on N. Adams Road in June.

The suspect is a white man, aged approximately 20- to 30-years-old, with blondish-brown hair. He was wearing sunglasses, a gray collared shirt, and greenish-gray cargo shorts at the time.

"We are asking for the publics assistance in identifying and apprehending this disturbing individual," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "Repeatedly targeting young girls and exposing oneself is not only vile  its a serious crime. History has shown that this kind of behavior can escalate into even more dangerous acts, including sexual violence. Now is the time to intervene and stop it before it goes any further."

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The girls said the man walked past them, and lifted his shirt. That's when they noticed that the zipper on his shorts was down and he exposed himself. A few minutes later, the girls were in front of a Barnes and Noble, and he did the same thing again.

The girls said they yelled at him the second time, and he started walking faster. When some adult women asked if they needed help, he started running.

The same man is thought to have been involved in a similar incident in Auburn Hills earlier that day.

Anyone who can identify the man is asked to call the Sheriffs Office at 248-858-4950.
ST. MARY PARISH, La. (KLFY)  Police are searching for several individuals believed to be responsible for a fire at an abandoned trailer that occurred Friday.

Around 10 p.m., Aug. 1, St. Mary Fire District #11 was dispatched to the area of Jones No. 1 Road and Sorrell R.R. Road in reference to a trailer on fire.

When fire officials arrived, they encountered a fully involved structure fire in an abandoned trailer, with heavy flames visible from the center of the structure.

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Officials said witnesses reported seeing multiple males fleeing the scene in a white vehicle just before the fire was observed. The St. Mary Parish Sheriffs Office was immediately contacted, and the Louisiana State Fire Marshals Office has been called in to assist with the investigation.

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Officials declared the scene under control at 10:12 p.m., no injuries were reported.

St. Mary Fire District #11 received automatic aid from Jeanerette Fire Department and Chitimacha Fire Protection, totaling 16 firefighters and 7 fire apparatuses on scene.

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Anyone with information on the fire is urged to contact the St. Mary Parish Sheriffs Office.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A man is dead following a shooting over the weekend in Baton Rouge.

The Baton Rouge Police Department confirmed Frank Johnson, 41, was shot around 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, in the 3200 block of Byron Avenue.

Johnson was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

A possible suspect and motive are unknown at this time.

Anyone with information about this shooting incident is urged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at 225-389-4869 or Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.

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1 dead, 1 in critical condition after shooting in Baker, officials say

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
A massive law enforcement presence was deployed in Jackson on Aug. 4 as authorities followed up on a lead about the whereabouts of Austin Drummond, the man believed by law enforcement to have killed four people in Lake County late last month.

Since being identified as a suspect in the murders, Drummond, 28, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

A little before noon on Aug. 4, dozens of state and local law enforcement agencies gathered on the lawn of West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, deploying drones and K-9s in search of Drummond. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said around 12:15 p.m. that Drummond had not been arrested, but that the police presence was related to the search for the suspect.

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Half a dozen state troopers drove down Oil Well Drive to block traffic at the intersection of Oil Well Drive and Pleasant Plains Road. A helicopter was actively circling the area around the Union University and Jackson Christian School as the search continued.

SWAT officials and West Tennessee Medical Services were on site as well.

Photos depicting Austin Robert Drummond, the key suspect for a quadruple murder that took place in Lake County shown during a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation press conference in Jackson, Tenn., on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.

Three other people have been arrested in connection with the quadruple murder. On Aug. 1, 29-year-old Tanaka Brown was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. A day later, 29-year-old Giovonte Thomas was charged with the same offense. Brown was also charged with tampering with evidence shortly after.

Dearrah Sanders, 23, was arrested Aug. 4 and charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. TBI said she will be booked into the Lake County Jail.

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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation did not specify how Brown, Thomas or Sanders aided Drummond.

Thomas had already been booked into the Madison County jail on a separate, unrelated failure to appear charge. TBI said he was being moved to the Lake County Jail to be arraigned in the murder case.

How did the manhunt for Austin Drummond begin?

A search was launched after a baby was found left in a car seat on a front lawn in Tigrett. Four people  Adrianna Williams and Matthew Wilson, the baby's parents, Braydon Williams, the baby's uncle, and Cortney Rose, the baby's grandmother  were identified as people police wanted to question.

In the nighttime hours of July 29, however, all four were found dead in Lake County.

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Earlier on July 29, witnesses had reported seeing someone in an SUV leave a child in a car seat on someone's front lawn in Tigrett. The 7-month-old child was picked up by first responders, and authorities later said there was no relationship between the baby and the person whose property it was left on.

Hours later, investigators said they had identified the baby and wanted to speak with the child's parents, Adrianna Williams and Wilson, along with the baby's uncle, Braydon Williams, and the baby's grandmother, Rose.

All four were later found dead.

Drummond was eventually identified as a suspect in the case, with TBI Director David Rausch describing the relationship between the four dead people and Drummond as "familial." Rausch also said he believed Drummond could feel some sense of remorse, noting that the baby was left on a lawn instead of being killed, during an Aug. 1 press conference.

Danny Goodman, District Attorney General for the 29th Judicial District, speaks during a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation press conference concerning a quadruple homicide that took place in Lake County in Jackson, Tenn., on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.

Immediately after being identified as a suspect, TBI said Drummond was driving a white 2016 Audi A3. That vehicle was found abandoned on July 31 in Jackson. Another vehicle was later linked to Drummond, a 1988 white Ford pickup truck with a red stripe. That vehicle was found abandoned in Dyer County on Aug. 2.

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On Aug. 4, The Commercial Appeal reported on an Aug. 1 affidavit filed by the U.S. Marshals Service in federal court. In that affidavit, Deputy Marshal Darrel Weldon wrote that "it is believed that Austin Drummond possibly fled the state of Tennessee."

What is Austin Drummond's history?

Drummond was sentenced to 13 years in prison for aggravated robbery and retaliation in 2014. He was released in September 2024.

Someone bearing the same name as Drummond was charged with several counts of possessing contraband, including possession of meth and a handgun in 2023. In November 2024, that same person was charged with attempted first-degree murder.

During the Aug. 1 press conference, District Attorney General for the 29th Judicial District Danny Goodman confirmed those charges were against the same Drummond as authorities were searching for.

Tyreece Miller, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, speaks on the bounty issued for information leading to Austin Drummond's arrest during a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation press conference concerning a quadruple homicide that took place in Lake County in Jackson, Tenn., on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.

"We actually took him to [the] grand jury in Lake County because, since it occurred at the prison, it was in our jurisdiction," Goodman said.

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This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Lucas Finton covers crime, policing, jails, the courts and criminal justice policy for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by phone or email: (901)208-3922 and Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com, and followed on X @LucasFinton.

Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Law enforcement search in Jackson, TN for suspect Austin Drummond
Editors Note: This story has been updated to correct the last name of the victim. We regret the error.

BLAINE, Tenn. (WATE)  A man was found dead after a shooting in Grainger County on Friday, according to the Blaine Police Department.

BPD officers went to Little Valley Road after a shooting. They found a man on the scene who had died from a gunshot wound, police said. He was identified as Joseph Guy Crisp, 54.

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Father and son help direct traffic following dangerous rockslide in Smokies

Police Chief Richard Collins told 6 News that one person was detained for questioning but was released. At this time, no charges have been filed. He added that the call was domestic in nature.

This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates.

Court records: Knoxville man charged with attempted murder after stabbing

The investigation is ongoing, BPD wrote on Saturday. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the case. The Grainger County Sheriffs Department and Rutledge Police Department also helped at the scene.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
The police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland has defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK, giving the party its first PCC.

Rupert Matthews has held the position since 2021 and served as an MEP for the East Midlands for the Tories between 2017 and 2019.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, he said the "dark heart of wokeness" needed to be cut out of the criminal justice system.

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"The self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite who have let our country down time after time are now on notice their day is almost done," he said.

"Be they Conservative or Labour governments, everyone knows our politicians have failed us all. They have let this country down. They have let the British people down. Enough. Now is the time for Reform."

[BBC]

Analysis

By Henry Zeffman, chief political correspondent, BBC News

Rupert Matthews is hardly a big figure in the national Conservative Party.

But his defection will still cause some anxiety. It adds to the sense that at the local level  the bedrock of any political party  the institutional Conservative Party is fraying, and that the energy on the right of British politics is with Reform UK instead.

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For Reform, after they gained control of 10 councils in the local elections in May, gaining their first police and crime commissioner is another local government milestone, and a useful office from which to make arguments about what they claim to be Britain's "lawlessness".

That said, there is a risk for Reform in acquiring too many ex-Conservatives that they incorporate too many of the politicians who they claim have left Britain in a mess.

[BBC]

Matthews was re-elected as PCC in May 2024, beating Labour's Rory Palmer by 860 votes.

Announcing the defection on Monday, Farage told the conference: "He's twice been elected as a Conservative but today he comes across to us as our first police and crime commissioner."

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He added: "Welcome on board."

The switch could consolidate Reform UK's power base locally, with the party having led Leicestershire County Council since May after forming a minority administration.

Labour accused Farage of "swelling the Reform ranks" with "the ghost of Tory past" and said his party offered "anger, but no answers".

Additional reporting by Gavin Bevis.

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

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He was originally going to say that "the war situation has deteriorated day by day," but that was considered too strong  even after the United States had dropped the atom bomb on two Japanese cities.

Whether it was justified to use the bomb constitutes one of the most controversial historical questions in American history, but it was clearly the right call.

It's nice to think that Imperial Japan would have decided to surrender on the same timeline without Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but there is no evidence of it.

The Japanese had a strong strategic commitment to defeating or inflicting a severe blow against a prospective American invasion.

Then, they'd have the leverage for a negotiated peace on favorable terms.

The A-bomb scuppered these plans.

Critics of President Harry Truman's decision have suggested it was the start of a Soviet invasion at the end that convinced Imperial Japan to capitulate.

Or, if only we'd offered more temperate terms rather than demanding unconditional surrender, Tokyo would have been much more reasonable.

In his definitive account, "Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire," Richard Frank dismantles these notions, noting that nothing in the record supports them.

"Not only has no relevant document been recovered from the wartime period, but none of them," he writes of Japan's top leaders, "even as they faced potential death sentences in war-crimes trials, testified that Japan would have surrendered earlier upon an offer of modified terms, coupled to Soviet intervention or some other combination of events, excluding the use of atomic bombs."

In his message, Hirohito said that "the enemy has begun to employ a new and cruel bomb, causing immense and indiscriminate destruction, the extent of which is beyond all estimation."

The Japanese prime minister at the end of the war, Kantaro Suzuki, recalled in December 1945 that the war cabinet didn't believe the Americans could win the war based on air power alone.

Then, the atomic bomb demonstrated that, to the contrary, the United States "need not land," and "so at that point they decided that it would be best to sue for peace."

Even after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there were divisions in the war cabinet about surrender, which is why the intervention of the emperor was necessary.

There was still resistance after he made his decision and a coup attempt.

The end of the war made unnecessary a US invasion that could have meant hundreds of thousands of American casualties; saved millions of Japanese lives that would have been lost in combat on the home islands and to starvation; cut short the brief Soviet invasion (that alone accounted for hundreds of thousands of Japanese deaths); and ended the agony that Imperial Japan brought to the region, especially a China that suffered perhaps 20 million casualties.

Bequeathed with untold power by the new weapon, it is telling that we used the bomb to bring an end to a terrible war and didn't use it to dominate Europe, or for other cynical purposes.

Instead, our nuclear umbrella became part of a security arrangement that endured for decades, defending the free world from the Soviets and preventing the re-occurrence of world war.

Now, with further nuclear proliferation in prospect (although thankfully delayed in Iran) and the chances of great power conflict rising, it is becoming more likely that nuclear weapons will be used again.

This is why President Donald Trump's vision of a Golden Dome to protect the U.S. from missile attack is so important, and why we need a robust nuclear force to deter our enemies.

Eighty years ago, the atom bomb was the peacemaker in a horrific conflict that killed millions.

Next time, it could be an instrument in the hands of an irrational regime, or rival nation bent on the destruction of American power.

Beware.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
DENVER (KDVR)  Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for the Elk Creek Fire as Colorado continues to battle wildfires across the state, according to a spokesperson for the Governors Office.

The Elk Creek Fire is located in Rio Blanco County, just southeast of Meeker.

Evacuation orders have been issued by the Rio Blanco County Sheriffs Office for areas near the fire.

The evacuation order is in place for areas between Mile Marker 11, County Road 57, Miller Creek and Mile Marker 16 on County Road 8 for both the north and south side of the road.

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Evacuees can be at the Fairfield Center at 200 Main Street, Meeker, according to a social media post from the sheriffs office.

Evacuations ordered near Carbondale for wildfire

The Rio Blanco County Sheriffs Office assumed responsibility for the fire from the local fire department and requested assistance from the state to combat the fire.

The order provides for additional external resources and state support to more effectively manage and suppress the fire and to protect the values at risk, said the office.

As of Sunday afternoon, the fire has burned over 600 acres on private and state-owned lands, which crews report was started by a lightning strike.

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A Type 3 Incident Team is commanding the fire and is using interagency aviation and ground resources to help, including support from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, which has been working on the fire since Saturday.

Fire conditions in the area are at near-record levels, and fire risk will continue to be high for the upcoming week.

The emergency declaration sees the State Emergency Operations and Resource Mobilization Plans activated, which will be coordinated by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at the State Emergency Operations Center.

Field operations staff will directly support emergency managers.

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The Division of Fire Prevention and Control is leading the suppression response.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A majority of Utah voters continue to support President Donald Trumps decision to bomb Iranian nuclear sites a month later, believing it severely damaged the nuclear program and reestablished deterrence, according to a Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX.

Approval for the presidents actions appears to be largely determined by partisan affiliation, with overwhelming support among Republicans  suggesting that infighting among MAGA influencers over Trumps Middle East policy may be isolated mostly to social media.

Some of the nations top experts on foreign policy told the Deseret News they were not surprised by the popularity of Trumps peace-through-strength approach. But there are still unanswered questions about how the administration will resolve nuclear negotiations and Israels war in Gaza.

Is the GOP divided over Trump foreign policy?

More than 6 in 10 Utah voters said they supported the Trump administrations strike on three Iranian nuclear enrichment laboratories earlier this summer, the Deseret News/Hinckley Institute poll found.

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Utahns have always stood at the crossroads of conviction and courage, and its no surprise that we overwhelmingly support decisive action to defend America and our allies, Utah Sen. John Curtis said in a statement to the Deseret News.

With assets like Hill Air Force Base, our state plays a vital role in advancing national security and projecting strength abroad. Peace through strength works  and Utah is proud to be a cornerstone of Americas deterrence strategy."

Anna Owens, Deseret News

Roughly the same percentage of voters said they are closely following the conflict between Iran and Israel. A slightly smaller share, 58%, said the United States has done the right amount to respond to the conflict between the two countries.

Views on Trumps foreign policy correlate heavily with party identification: 83% of Republican respondents said they support Trumps move, compared to 28% of Democrats and 49% of independents.

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For many, this response seems less about long term views on nuclear issues and more about confidence in the leadership making those decisions, said Jason Perry, director of the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute.

But it also indicates Republicans are more united on Trumps approach than online infighting would suggest.

Shortly before, and immediately after, Americas stealth bombing operation on June 21, some of the loudest voices in the America First ecosystem criticized Trumps support for Israel and intervention in the Middle East.

Podcast host Tucker Carlson said if Trump intervened in Iran it would represent a profound betrayal of his supporters, could end his presidency and might spark a world war. These talking points were highlighted by Tehran Times.

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Trump subsequently took to his Truth Social platform to call the former Fox News personality kooky Tucker Carlson. But Carlson has continued to split with the president, along with some Republicans like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

While there are disagreements among conservative voices on social media, the support we see in the poll suggests that those divisions may be overstated, at least in Utah, Perry said.

Was the Iran air strike effective?

The Deseret News/Hinckley Institute poll, conducted by HarrisX from July 9-16, showed a majority of Utah voters who believed the attacks on Iran were successful in accomplishing their objectives.

Of the 802 respondents, 55% said they thought the strike did severe damage to the Iran nuclear program, including 68% of Republicans, 30% of Democrats and 47% of independents.

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The same share said the strike served to restore American deterrence in the region and elsewhere. Again, support was polarized, driven by three out of four Republicans, while just 21% of Democrats and 35% of independents felt the same.

After Iran rejected a great deal to end their nuclear program, the Iranians learned the hard way that Trump clearly is not Biden or Obama, said Amb. Robert OBrien, who served as Trumps national security adviser from 2019-2021.

In an interview with the Deseret News, OBrien said that Iran had no choice but to deescalate after Trump took his aggressive stance, which, in turn, will help to deter other foreign adversaries around the world moving forward.

I think that Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un were watching very carefully, and what they saw was an incredibly disciplined operation, OBrien said. Trump showed he could strike anyone, any platform, any weapon system, anywhere on earth.

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What some of the MAGA folks dont understand, according to OBrien, is that Trumps forceful, but precise, operation was never going to produce troops on the ground in Iran or an effort at nation building, like in Iraq or Afghanistan.

OBrien shared the view of the most recent American intelligence assessments that the bombings set back the Iranian nuclear weapons program by at least several years. But the program will likely slowly rebuild, OBrien said.

Are negotiations still possible?

Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake agreed that Trumps decision does establish deterrence, and was justified if the intelligence showed Iran moving toward the development of nuclear warheads.

But there wont be a lasting guarantee of nuclear non-proliferation unless the U.S. can negotiate the return of international watchdogs to monitor Iran, Flake said, because the country retains many of the experts behind their nuclear ambitions.

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The good thing is because of Israels bombing and our assistance Iran has a very, very weak hand, Flake told the Deseret News. Theyre in a position where theyre going to have to make a political agreement.

In Utah, voters of both parties agree on what form nuclear negotiations should eventually take. According to the poll, 94% of Republicans and 83% of Democrats said Iran should not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

A majority of each group  74% of Republicans and 57% of Democrats  said a negotiated deal with Iran should permanently block nuclear weapons development, and not just delay it for a number of years.

Neither group is confident that U.S. negotiations to keep nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands will succeed: 51% of Republicans and 61% of Democrats said it is likely that Iran develops a nuclear weapon within the next year.

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However, professor Quinn Mecham, the associate director of Brigham Young Universitys Kennedy Center, is confident that Trumps decision to bomb Iran at the request of Israel has left the administrations nuclear talks in tatters.

Iranian domestic politics cant effectively move back to where it was in the negotiations after this, Mecham said. The calculation seemed to be that even though that might be the case, it might be worth it to degrade their nuclear capability. But I think in the long term, there are negative foreign policy consequences.

Prior to Israels 12-day war against Iran, the Trump administration held a series of high-level meetings with Iranian officials that Mecham said promised to curtail their nuclear program in exchange for reentry into the world economy.

Israel likely hoped their attacks on Iran would push the U.S. to back them up, according to Mecham, scuttling the American negotiations and ultimately empowering extremist voices in the Iranian political system.

Future U.S. aid for Israel

Over the past 21 months, as Israel has expanded its military operations from Gaza, fighting Iranian proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iran, the American ally, and sole democracy in the region, has faced calls from around the world to scale back.

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Trump, like his predecessor former President Joe Biden, has largely held firm in his support for Israel. Utah voters also show a continued commitment to supporting Israels operations, with more than 60% saying the U.S. should defend Israel if Iran strikes again.

Anna Owens, Deseret News

Israel is our most important ally in the Middle East, and weve shown again and again that well stand by our ally, Flake said. Having said that, ... I think you would find American support broadly for the U.S. to use its influence with Israel to push them harder to open up aid corridors.

Information coming out of the Gaza Strip has repeatedly proven difficult to verify, as the Deseret News has detailed. But recent reports tell a consistent story of an emerging hunger crisis in Gaza, with flour prices increasing up to 80-fold and food distribution failing to reach certain areas.

Israeli authorities have accused Hamas, the terrorist organization that previously governed Gaza, of stealing or diverting aid. While the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has accused Israel Defense Forces of attacking residents gathering to collect it.

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President Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited an aid distribution site in Gaza on Friday. Witkoff and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said they were there to help Trump plan how to deliver more food and medical aid to Gaza.

There are 100% signs of the beginnings of famine in Gaza, Mecham said, adding that the U.S. is one of the few countries in the world that has leverage over Israel to help prioritize alleviating the problem.

According to OBrien, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza rests squarely on the shoulders of Hamas, which has refused to return the 50 remaining Israeli hostages as part of a U.S.-brokered cease-fire deal.

Images were released Saturday of two emaciated Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, leading to a public outcry in Israel and beyond.

OBrien dismissed recent news from France, the U.K. and Canada that they would officially recognize a Palestinian state for the first time to pressure Israel to change its policy in Gaza, calling the announcements politically motivated.

Theres no way that the threat of recognizing a Palestinian state that doesnt exist is going to change Israeli behavior, OBrien said.

But two things can be true at once, according to Flake: Hamas can be blamed for starting the war with its slaughter of 1,200 innocent Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023  and its decades-long immiseration of Gazans  and Israel can be held accountable for averting a famine in Gaza.

The U.S. should not allow children to starve, Flake said.
Cowboy and former Marine Richard Adcock recently shared his Chickasaw heritage and veteran status at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. During the organizations Military Appreciation night, Adcock rode into the rodeo arena wearing his Chickasaw Warrior Society Pendleton Grateful Nation vest.

A photo of me in my Chickasaw warrior vest was taken during the Fort Worth Stockyards Military Appreciation night. Working with this rodeo for nearly 20 years, its always an honor to ride during the rodeos Grand Entry with my vest on.

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 Chickasaw Warrior Society Pendleton Grateful Nation vest holds deep symbolism for those who wear it. According to the Chickasaw Warrior Society, the red color symbolizes the blood and sacrifice made by veterans. The stars separate the colors of past wars and conflicts where Chickasaw veterans fought.

As well as being a Chickasaw warrior, Adcock celebrates his familys rich western heritage and cowboy traditions as owner of R/A Rodeo Help Company. With a mixture of Chickasaw and Mexican heritage, Adcocks ancestors have worked with cattle and horses for generations.

Working and competing with this group of people is like working with family, Adcock said. I have been at the Fort Worth Stock Show since 2007. I worked my way into the arena. For the last 12 years I have been entrusted with opening the bucking chutes.

Along with Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo events, R/A Rodeo Help Company works numerous other livestock and rodeo competitions. Adcock has traveled to locations across the country at the request of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) stock contractors.



PRCA is the largest and oldest sanctioning rodeo in the world, with events in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. At its peak, the R/A Rodeo Help Company averaged working more than 30 weekends per year for PRCA.

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Adcocks career highlight occurred when PRCA awarded the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo the title of Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year in 2022. The award is given to rodeo organizers who perform at the peak of excellence. Other winners of this award include the famed San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Rodeo Houston and Rodeo Rapid City.

As a former bullfighter, safety is always at the forefront of Adcocks mind. The animals Adcock works with are often aggressive and weigh thousands of pounds. Adcock must ensure that his team, rodeo competitors and livestock  worth tens of thousands of dollars  do not get injured.

Me and my partners jobs are to watch the riders as they are inside (the chute) while sitting on top of the animal, Adcock said. When the rider signals, we make sure to open the gate correctly, letting them out. Popping latches and pulling gates is what we call it.

With more than 35 years of experience in the rodeo and livestock industry, Adcock started his career at 10 years old, helping load animals into chutes. Chutes are small pens where bulls, steers, horses or calves are held safely in position before being released into the rodeo arena.

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We are watching everything from horses acting up to animals trying to lay down. We make sure everything is safe when they come out of the chute, trying to make sure the animal or the rider doesnt get injured upon release, Adcock said.

Adcock took part in three of the most dangerous categories within a rodeo during his competitive career, including bull riding, steer wrestling and bareback riding.

My uncle got me into rodeos, Adcock said. He was a bullfighter. I decided to start competing when I was a sophomore in high school.

I think I was best at bull riding, Adcock said. Out of the three, I was most consistent with bull riding. It was my best category.

A Chickasaw Warrior

Adcock is also a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist. He was 23 years old when he enlisted. He spent most of his 12-year military career in Texas, with a deployment to Iraq in 2008.

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The Marines taught Adcock how to work on diesel engines, a job he continues to perform when not working livestock or rodeo events. He separated as a noncommissioned officer with the rank of sergeant.

I would recommend service any day of the week to young people, Adcock said. When I joined the Marine Corps, I needed a new outlook, a new start. The Marines helped clear my head and get refocused. It was everything for me.

Adcock was told of the Chickasaw Veterans Lodge while in Ada visiting the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center. He made the short walk to the lodge, where he learned of the Chickasaw Warrior Society.

The (Veterans) Lodge is unreal. It makes me wish I lived in Oklahoma, Adcock said. It caught me off guard. The amount of effort the tribe put behind it. Our lodge is well made. It is well presented. It is set up to show that we are veterans and what we have done.

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Adcock said he receives his Chickasaw heritage from his mother. After Removal from the Chickasaws historic Homeland, his elders settled in a community near Durant, Oklahoma. Adcocks family relocated to his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, generations ago.

Also proud of his Mexican American heritage, he identifies as Chickasaw, Hispanic and Texan.

I didnt learn about my Chickasaw heritage until I was a teenager, Adcock said. That explains why we have so much family in Oklahoma.

What the tribe does for everybody, not just us, but for everybody, is unreal. When I must use a hospital, I drive to Ada.

Adcock is a proud father of four. His oldest daughter is Larissa, followed by Sydney, Corbin and Annabelle.
A popular weekly summer roller-disco event in Brooklyns Prospect Park has gotten the wheels pulled out from under it  and locals are in an uproar.

The Dreamland Roller Disco  filled with DJs, dancers and drag queens  was scrapped earlier this month when organizer Lola Star refused to accept a 50% pay cut from the new operator of the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, according to a Change.org petition to save the event.

The center, where Roller Disco was held for 11 years during the summer, underwent a roughly $1 million renovation and opened again this past weekend  without the disco on its calendar.

Dreamland Roller Disco will no longer be offered at Prospect Parks LeFrak Center at Lakeside. Dreamland Roller Disco

It was like a three-ring circus  it was a vibe and energy that I honestly have not seen anywhere else, longtime Dreamland attendee and skate guard Billy Tyler Smith, 60, told The Post, referring to Roller Disco.

Roller Disco fans have flocked to the event for 11 years. Dreamland Roller Disco

They were my other family.

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Scott Lindeman, who had been skating at Dreamland events with his wife since 2015, said, It blows my mind that they would throw something away like that.

People are going to lose out on one of the greatest social events that occurred every Friday night.

The petition to try to save the event has amassed more than 1,200 supporters so far.

Locals have launched a petition to try to save the event. Dreamland Roller Disco

Star claimed to The Post that the rinks lowball offer was an act of retaliation because she previously called out safety issues at the venue such as understaffing, hazardous debris and a significant decline in security.

When it would rain, they wouldnt want to cancel the event because they didnt want to lose money, but water from the rain would blow onto the rink and be slippery, she said.

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In a statement to The Post about the nixed Dreamland event season, the Prospect Park Alliance, a nonprofit that works with the city to help maintain the famed green space, said it is looking to work with a range of producers on a rotating schedule of Roller Disco events.

The thing that I love about Dreamland is the community that Lola has created over the years, a fan said of operator Lola Star. Dreamland Roller Disco

The alliance claimed it attempted to engage in good faith with Lola Star to bring back the Dreamland Disco, but at every step she has made this untenable.

Star retorted that she was ignored after an in-person meeting in July in which new rink operator Ekstein Development Group demanded to see our financial history  despite our proven success  and said their accounting department would decide if and how Dreamland would be allowed to return to our home for 11 years.

Star said she is already in search of a new home, visiting potential spaces for the larger-than-life event series.

Fans flock to the colorful event. Dreamland Roller Disco

Smith said of Stars opponents, Its classic penny wise, pound foolish business practices.

New York City cannot lose Lola.  Shes majorly responsible for the popularity of roller skating and its slow resurgence.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was elected in 2018 on a reform agenda, but domestic conflicts and diplomatic tensions have piled on the pressure during his time in office. A Facebook account has shared two videos, claiming one shows police vehicles responding after Abiy was shot by a bodyguard, and the second a clip of an Ethiopian Airlines plane with the country's leader and his wife onboard, fleeing. However, these posts are false: the video of the plane taking off at night is more than four years old, while Abiy attended an international conference in the capital of Addis Ababa after he was purportedly shot. Neither claim has been reported by local or international media.

The post, published on Facebook on July 22, 2025, includes a video with text overlays in Amharic that translate to: Arat Kilo is in turmoil following the shooting of Abiy by one of his security guards.

Screenshot of the false post, taken on July 29, 2025

Arat Kilo is the location of the Ethiopian prime ministers office. The post has been shared more than 230 times.

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Another post shared by the same Facebook account a day later claims a secretly recorded video shows Abiy Ahmed fleeing the country with his wife following yesterdays protest.

Screenshot of the false post, taken on July 29, 2025

The post has been shared more than 140 times.

The Facebook account spreading these claims is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to information in the bio. The account regularly publishes posts on political developments in the Sidama region  one of Ethiopias 12 regional states.

Despite the end of the brutal two-year war in the northern region of Tigray in November 2022, Ethiopia is still plagued by conflict, including in the Oromia and Amhara regions.

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Oromia, Ethiopias most populous region, has been dominated by an insurgency involving the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) since 2018, despite attempted peace talks that have failed (archived here).

More recently, a local militia known as Fano was initially allied with the Ethiopian federal government before launching an armed rebellion in the Amhara region in April 2023 (archived here).

The armed conflicts have posed major challenges for Abiy and his government.

However, the videos do not show Abiy fleeing the country after being shot.

Ethiopian cargo flight

AFP Fact Check used the video verification tool InVID-WeVerify to conduct reverse image searches on keyframes from the video showing an aeroplane taking off at night.

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The results established that the video was first published on TikTok in 2021, with the caption that it shows an Ethiopian Airlines cargo Boeing 777 leaving for Liege in Belgium (archived here).

An official statement issued in 2024 by Ethiopian Airlines confirms how the airports in Ethiopia and Liege have maintained a partnership for the transport of goods between Europe, Africa and the rest of the world for more than 17 years (archived here).

Despite claims in the post that Abiy had fled the country following a protest in the capital on July 21, 2025, searches revealed there were no demonstrations in Addis Ababa on that day.

We could not find the source of the second video, which appears to be user-generated content (UGC) -- meaning it was filmed by a bystander -- of police cars racing through a street, purportedly after Abiy was shot by a bodyguard.

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AFP Fact Check compared the images of the vehicles, some of them marked with the letters EFP in yellow, and found they resemble the fleet used by the Ethiopian Federal Police.

Screenshots of the false video (left) and matching image of vehicle from Ethiopian federal police official Facebook page

We have reached out to the Ethiopian Federal Police for comment. The article will be updated accordingly.

A keyword search confirmed that Abiy delivered a public speech at the World Food Systems event, co-hosted with Italy and held in Addis Ababa, on July 28, 2025 -- days after the posts were published (archived here).

Notably, there are no credible media reports of Abiy being shot by one of his security guards, the day before he purportedly fled the country with his wife.
A cannabis peddler planning to open a licensed pot store on Manhattans East Side was forced to abruptly pull its application last week thanks to the latest state debacle over the process.

Joshua Gleiber, the owner of HF Dispensary LLC, sent a note to Community Board 6 on July 31 requesting that his application to open a cannabis dispensary at 998-1000 First Ave. between East 54th and 55th Streets be removed from its agenda because of controversy over the state rule governing how close such shops can be to schools.

A sign outside a smoke shop advertises THC and CBD gummies, carts, edibles, and flower. Getty Images

The state Office of Cannabis Management last week sent notices to 100 operators of licensed dispensaries now telling them they cannot legally operate in their current location because New York regulators incorrectly calculated how far they were from schools and churches.

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The OCM had ruled in recent years that the locations complied with its 500-foot-distance requirement between shops and schools.

The measurement used was the distance from the entrance of a cannabis shop to the entrance of a school.

Gov. Hochul at a cannabis enforcement announcement, with a New York State Licensed Cannabis Dispensary sign. Paul Martinka

But OCM Executive Director Felicia Reid then said last week that those rulings were made in error.

The 500-feet rule should be measured from the entrance of a licensed pot store to the beginning of the property line or boundary of a school or 200 feet from a house of worship.

That means, through no fault of their own, the pot merchants are now out of compliance with the law.

Sign reading Its 4:20 Somewhere with marijuana leaf illustrations. Helayne Seidman

The snafu is just the latest glitch with the problem-riddled program, which has suffered from everything from lack of enforcement against rogue shops to major lags in licensing times  with even Gov. Kathy Hochul calling its rollout a disaster.

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Please withdraw our application from the hearing this evening, Gleiber wrote to the local community board, which reviews cannabis store locations within its jurisdiction. We are sorry for the late notice, but we just received a communication from the OCM that the location we were applying about is not compliant with the new interpretation of the law.

As previously stated we will not proceed if the location was not legally permissible under the NYS Cannabis Laws and Regulations, the letter added.

Gov. Hochul speaking at a cannabis enforcement announcement. Paul Martinka

CB6 coordinator Brian Laffery subsequently asked Gleiber for clarification on whether he was completely withdrawing the application for the pot store on First Avenue.

Gleiber said the fate of the project is up in the air.

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I can tell you that I do not plan to appear/present at tonights Business Affairs & Licensing Committee meeting, so I can be taken off the agenda, Gleiber said.

Please know I am not trying to be difficult or evasive in answering your questions. The OCM gave me several options, none of which talks about me withdrawing my Notice to Municipality [application], he wrote.

Neon marijuana leaf sign that says Where the Fun Begins. ZUMAPRESS.com

I am still considering my next steps which include, but are not limited to, proceeding with opening a dispensary where I am already licensed or deciding if I will be submitting a different alternative location application in the boundaries of Community Board Six or otherwise in the state. Thus, I do not want to negatively impact myself by withdrawing the Notice to Municipality, until I get guidance from OCM or our attorney.

HF Dispensary has signed a 10-year lease at the location and invested a substantial sum to prepare for its opening.

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CB6s Business Affairs and Licensing Committee, during its meeting last week, voted against the proposed location anyway. The committee drafted a resolution urging the full CB6 to oppose the location, citing neighborhood opposition.

Street view of a closed cannabis dispensary, Smoke Stars, located between 54th and 55th streets. Google maps

In its draft resolution, CB6 said the HF Dispensary is actually only 215 feet in a straight-line measurement from The Montessori School of New York International  a pre-school, kindergarten, elementary and junior high school for students ages 2 to 14 at 347 E. 55th St.

The proposed pot-store location is also just 177 feet from the New York Kids Club, a private, licensed pre-school at 401 E. 55th St.

Hochul vowed that pot merchants wont be punished for a bureaucratic screw-up committed by one of her state agencies.

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Im going to stand up for them. Will find a path forward. Dont worry, Hochul said on ABC 7s Up Close With Bill Ritter program on Sunday.

I dont want anyone who who worked so hard, who put their heart and soul into their business into their business to be subjected to something for a bureaucratic screwup with real life consequences, Hochul said.
It was 2016 when Christiane Kraetsch's life slowly began to fall apart.

Kraetsch, 65, used to work as an educator at different schools and kindergartens in south-western Germany, when she began starting to feel unwell. It would be years before she was diagnosed with leukaemia during the coronavirus pandemic.

Virus-related restrictions meant that it was not possible for potential stem cell donors to travel from abroad, she recalls, making it all the more difficult for her to find a match.

Left without jobs

In 2021, the family, who lives in the sleepy town of Ingelheim near the Rhine river, was dealt another severe blow.

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Kraetsch's husband was diagnosed with lung cancer, meaning he too had to give up his job at a tech firm in nearby Mainz and begin relying on disability benefits.

Kraetsch got lucky when one of her three children was unexpectedly found to be a suitable stem cell donor in an extremely rare turn of events, she says.

But despite her improved health, she is no longer able to work her old job.

The lack of an income meant the couple's life as they knew it - two cars, going on holidays, outings with families and friends - came to an end.

Their circle of friends grew smaller and smaller as it became clear who their true friends were, Kraetsch says. "We couldn't afford to keep participating."

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As she says this, leaning on a cane, Kraetsch's voice is free of resentment.

But she wants others to know her story, she says. "I hope that people open their eyes a bit and question themselves."

Financial hardships

"We were forced to dip into our savings," Kraetsch says, noting that the money they had put aside dwindled rapidly.

Payments for medication, costs for hospital stays, increased living expenses, and costs for the car needed for doctor's appointments and shopping kept piling up.

"We haven't been on holiday for years," says Kraetsch. "It's falling apart piece by piece, it's like a spiral, you can't see a way out," she says of the couple's new reality.

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Asking her children for financial help is a red line for the 65-year-old, not out of pride or shame, but because of a clear inner conviction, as she puts it. "They shouldn't have to take on things we can no longer afford."

On the contrary, it's important to Kraetsch to at least be able to give her children something for their birthdays, even if it's just a small gift.

When it comes to food shopping, she takes great care not to waste money, noting that eating healthily is a challenge for people on a tight budget.

Their limited income means the couple has around 150 ($175) to spare each month after fixed costs including rent and the car.

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At the end of the month, Kraetsch regularly slips into her overdraft due to financial constraints, she says.

Things she used to enjoy doing in her free time often fall by the wayside, like going swimming. When shopping for clothes, she now often turns to second-hand shops.

One of many

The Kraetsch family is no isolated case. A recent exhibition in Mainz highlighted the fates of people living in poverty in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Kraetsch's testimony is the only one that features a photo - in a clear sign of the stigma that still surrounds the issue.

A former lorry driver portrayed in the exhibition had to give up his job at age 50 after suffering a slipped disc, and ended up running into debt.

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Another woman significantly reduced her hours to be able to care for her parents for years, which meant that her pension rate fell below the poverty line.

Others detail the feeling of panic they experience when imagining their washing machine might break, because they simply wouldn't be able to afford a new one.

The struggle to get help

In 2022, some 92,000 people in Rhineland-Palatinate received state payments intended to secure the livelihoods of those unable to continue working due to health reasons, according to a report by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB).

But in reality, the benefits still left more than 79% of women and over 61% of men below the poverty risk threshold.

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Anyone who has to get by on less than 60% of the median income is considered at risk of poverty.

According to the state's statistical office, 18.4% of women and 15.7% of men were at risk of poverty in Rhineland-Palatinate in 2023.

That means a significant share of the population is dependent on outside help, but getting help isn't easy, Kraetsch knows.

She cites excessive red tape and a lack of information, whether by hospitals or the authorities, as the main barriers for people in her situation. "You are really being left alone."

She is currently fighting to get dental treatment at a price she can afford.

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"You fear for your existence," says Kraetsch  and you have to cope with it alone.

She doesn't want to burden her husband, who is already suffering greatly from his illness. "It often keeps me awake at night."

Taking time for herself helps, she says. Kraetsch likes to leave it all behind and walk along the Rhine river, which winds through the lush valleys of the wine-growing region she calls home.
Matteson recently appointed the villages first African American police and fire chiefs, with both having extensive experience in the south suburbs.

Mikal Elamin, previously police chief in Chicago Heights, was sworn in as police chief last month and Derek Bryant, who had been fire chief in suburban Broadview, was sworn in as fire chief.

Nearly 80% of Mattesons population is African American, and Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin said their appointments reflect Mattesons continued commitment to excellence in public safety.

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The chiefs were sworn in at the Village Boards July 21 meeting.

These outstanding industry professionals will not only enhance our regional reputation as a safe and well-rounded community, but will also create opportunities for growth, extended training, and a renewed spirit of community engagement, the mayor said.

Bryant was fire chief in suburban Broadview since January 2024 and was that suburbs first African American fire chief. Broadviews population includes about 68% African American residents.

Bryant was also a firefighter for 22 years in Calumet City, with his retirement from that city effective the day he was sworn in as Broadviews chief.

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While with Calumet City, Bryant was operations commander, and he was also a police officer in Hazel Crest from 2004 to 2021. He was the safety and security director for Bremen High School District 228 from 2004 to 2021, according to his resume.

Elamin had been with the Chicago Heights Police Department for 28 years, holding positions including deputy chief, operations commander and chief of investigations, according to his resume.

Bryant earned a masters degree in public administration from the International University. He has held a prominent role with the Chicago Black Fire Brigade, where he actively recruited young African American men and women to learn more about potential careers in fire service, according to Matteson.

Elamin holds a bachelor of science degree in administration of justice from Southern Illinois University. He also holds a certificate of completion from the Northwestern Universitys Staff and Command Institute.

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Bryant, a Chicago resident, Bryant, specialized and has overseen upgrades, grants management and the procurement of essential fire apparatus, Matteson said in announcing the appointments.

In Broadview, he oversaw the villages fire prevention bureau, and in that role led fire code enforcement, inspection operations, plan reviews and public education initiatives, Matteson said.

In Chicago Heights, Elamin, a Flossmoor resident, set the Police Departments vision, goals and policies in alignment with legal requirements, community needs and best practices in law enforcement, Matteson officials said.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  One of the key suspects in the disappearance of Ronald Dumas Jr. will appear in court again in a few weeks, court documents say.

Kierra Clark was recently extradited from the Shelby County Jail in Memphis, Tennessee, to the Madison County jail to face a judge for her role in the kidnapping of Dumas.

Clark is one of five suspects wanted in this case.

On Friday, she had her first appearance in front of a Madison County Judge for an Aniahs Law hearing, where Judge Alan Mann denied her pretrial bond, saying she posed a significant threat to the community.

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HPD Investigator Robert Brady shared some details that were uncovered, saying the department believes that Clark and Quintarius Shikelion White, another suspect in the case, thought Dumas had money. The investigator said that through uncovered text messages, it was found that Clark encouraged White to torture Dumas to get information about his bank account.

According to court documents, Clark is set for a preliminary hearing on August 20.

In April, both Clark and White were arrested in Tennessee by the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Memphis Police Department Fugitive Unit and the Shelby County Fugitive Apprehension Team.

Shelby County Jail officials told News 19 earlier in the day on July 30 that Clark was released to be transferred to the custody of the Huntsville Police Department. The official said she was being brought to Huntsville by another agency.

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Jail records show she was booked into the Madison County Jail around 4:40 p.m. the same day.

Clark is facing other charges, including aggravated kidnapping related to another case in Memphis. While she has yet to go on trial for those charges, the state of Alabama says that the case is very similar to this one.

Now, we can move forward with our case against her, and hopefully, the rest of the people involved in this case will be in Madison County soon so we can move forward on them, Madison County Chief Deputy District Attorney Tim Gann said.

Dumas was last seen on Dec. 15, 2024. A missing persons report was filed on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, and he was placed on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Missing Persons List as a missing adult on Dec. 23.

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The family of Ronald Dumas announced an increase in their privately funded rewardnow offering $7,500 for information that leads to his safe return or provides credible details regarding his whereabouts.

Huntsville Police say the three other people wanted in Dumass disappearance are:

Toure Laron McLaurin, 33, of Memphis, TN, is wanted for first-degree kidnapping.

Sabrina Rochelle Chambers, 27, of Huntsville, AL, is wanted for first-degree kidnapping.

Carissa Cash, 33, of Memphis, TN, is wanted for first-degree receiving stolen property.

Court records show that White, Clark and McLaurin all have a history of kidnapping, among other charges.

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In Feb. 2024, White was indicted on the following charges:

Especially aggravated kidnapping

Aggravated kidnapping

Aggravated kidnapping

Trafficking for commercial sex act

Trafficking for commercial sex act

Aggravated assault- act in concert

Convicted felon in possession of a firearm

Aggravated burglary

Aggravated kidnapping

Robbery

Those charges stem from events that took place in May 2023.

News 19s sister station, WREG in Memphis, reported that at that time, White and Clark were arrested after Memphis police said they kidnapped a mother and her child and began sex trafficking the mother.

Clark was charged with:

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Especially aggravated kidnapping

Aggravated kidnapping

Trafficking for commercial sex act

Aggravated kidnapping

Trafficking for commercial sex act

Trafficking for commercial sex act

Aggravated assault- act in concert

Aggravated burglary

Aggravated kidnapping

Assault-bodily harm

McLaurin was arrested in 2016 for warrants out of Shelby County for kidnapping, robbery and aggravated kidnapping, according to court records.

We know someone out there has answers, said a family spokesperson. This reward is not just about moneyits about bringing a father home to his children and a son back to his parents. We wont stop until we find him.

The Dumas familys private investigator, James Andrews, said now that Clark is in Huntsville, the family is hopeful it will lead to more answers regarding Ronnies whereabouts.

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Its gonna be up to the suspects whether they are willing to cooperate and talk to HPD, but its always better to have them local, that way the investigators that are actively working the case has access to them if they are willing to talk or willing to help, Andrews said. By her being away from Quintarius, that might be something that might work in our favor.

If anyone has information, you can report it to the Huntsville Police Department, visit www.crimedesk.tips or call (256) 254-4240.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Donald Trump is standing by a high-profile firing, removing the head of the federal agency that reports monthly jobs numbers. This comes after new data showed that hiring in July slowed significantly.

President Trump says the firing was about leadership and accountability, but critics worry it sets a dangerous precedent, especially when it comes to the independence of government data.

Well be announcing a new statistician sometime over the next 3, 4 days. We had no confidence, said Trump.

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The firing comes just after the latest report showed hiring slowed dramatically in July and job gains from earlier this summer were revised down by tens of thousands.

The presidents allies on Capitol Hill support the move.

I think that president has been very big about removing people from the Biden administration, and had challenges with their numbers, of course last year., said Rep, Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.).

Democrats see it differently, raising concerns about political influence over a government agency.

I think an investigation is certainly in order, said Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

California Senator Alex Padilla calls it a dangerous overreach by the president.

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Hes trying to weaponize the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That tells you a lot about their insecurities about the economy, said Padilla.

With another jobs report just weeks away, questions remain about whether this shake-up will boost confidence or hurt it.

An interim deputy is expected to oversee the august report, but transparency groups are calling for outside oversight to guarantee integrity.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
(NewsNation)  Prince Harry has denied a new books claims that he got into a physical fight with his uncle, Prince Andrew, over comments made behind his back.

The book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by royal biographer Andrew Lownie, claimed the royals were involved in a physical altercation at a 2013 family gathering over something Andrew said behind Harrys back, according to The Independent.

Prince Andrew insulted Meghan, book claims

The book says Harry got the better of Andrew and left his uncle with a bloody nose following the remark, according to the outlet.

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Royals who abdicated the throne or stepped back

Lownie also alleges Andrew called Harrys wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, an opportunist and that their marriage wouldnt last more than a month.

Harry and Meghan have been married since 2018.

Prince Harry taking legal action over gross inaccuracies

I can confirm neither of those things are true. Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Andrew ever make those comments about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry, a spokesperson for Harry told People magazine in a statement.

Harrys team is planning to take legal action over the books claims.

Meghan, Prince Harry Netflix deal done; new season of With Love, Meghan likely

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Such are the gross inaccuracies, damaging and defamatory remarks made in the Daily Mails story, I can confirm a legal letter from Prince Harrys counsel has been sent to the Mail, his team said.

While Harry denied the fight with his uncle, he previously admitted in his 2023 autobiography Spare that he fought with his brother, Prince William, over his relationship with Meghan.

(William) called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor, Harry wrote.

Entitled looks into Andrews ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Britains Prince Andrew is seen in this April 5, 2015, photo in London. (Neil Hall/PA via AP)

Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York explores the intertwined lives of Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York. It also delves into Andrews relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to Amazon.

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In January, emails published in court documents from the United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority showed Andrew was in contact with Epstein after claiming he ended their friendship in 2010, according to the BBC.

Prince Andrews Jeffrey Epstein scandal: Timeline

In a February 2011 email, Andrew reportedly wrote to Epstein, Keep in close touch and well play some more soon!!!!

Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
The newly promoted principal of Tampas Leto High School was arrested Saturday on charges of cocaine and drug paraphernalia possession and driving under the influence.

Scott Michael Hazlett, 40, was pulled over for speeding at the intersection of East Fowler Avenue and North 60th Street by Temple Terrace police just after 1 a.m., according to a news release from the agency.

Hazlett exhibited multiple signs of impairment during a field sobriety test and was arrested, the release states. He later told police he drank an unspecified amount of vodka, according to an affidavit.

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Officers found several plastic bags in the center console of Hazletts Kia sedan, one of which contained a white, powdery substance that field tests showed was cocaine, police said. Hazlett was carrying approximately 5 grams of cocaine, according to the affidavit.

He refused to provide a breath or urine sample at the scene, according to the affidavit.

Hazlett was booked into Hillsborough Countys Falkenburg Road Jail and released later that day after posting a $3,500 bond, records show.

He did not immediately return a voicemail message seeking comment Monday.

Hazlett was promoted to the position of principal in July.

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He began working for Hillsborough County Public Schools in 2007 at Alonso High School, where he taught psychology and American history and later served as assistant principal, the school district wrote in a post on X.

Hazlett helped open an international school in Vietnam as principal before returning to Tampa in 2019 to serve as magnet lead at Leto High School.

Hazlett has been placed on administrative leave, according to a prepared statement released by a school district spokesperson.

These allegations are deeply concerning, and we understand the impact this may have on our students and staff, the statement said. We remain committed to providing the students and staff with the appropriate support during this time.

Babita Artabasy, an assistant principal at Leto, is serving as acting principal, the spokesperson said.

Times staff writer Tony Marrero contributed to this report.
A pair of property owners in Washington are now on the hook for a $204,000 fine after being caught "building unauthorized structures in protected areas" along the Deschutes River.

In a news release, the Washington Department of Ecology reported that Chuck and Austin Rogers, two property owners in Thurston County, took part in "unpermitted shoreline development" after building a series of structures within 200 feet of the Deschutes River's ordinary high water mark.

According to the department, the property owners used the protected and environmentally sensitive area to "support a recreational vehicle park and commercial hauling business where they store large volumes of construction debris next to the river."

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In addition to the construction of unauthorized buildings, the property owners were caught illegally placing fill in the Deschutes River as well as clearing land near the river's banks.

Authorities at the Washington Department of Ecology and Thurston County previously spoke to the Rogers regarding the laws and environmental regulations put in place in the area. Despite this, the property owners continued to develop buildings on the shoreline.

The Washington Department of Ecology stated the shoreline used by the Rogers was "designated to be in a 'conservancy environment.'"

In 2021, the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan was finalized and implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The initiative aims to protect and improve fish and wildlife habitats and ensure water quality throughout the river.

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Bobbak Talebi, the Southwest Region Director at the Washington State Department of Ecology, explained the significance of the Rogers' actions following the department's initial warnings.

"They demonstrated they are unwilling to follow through with local and state regulators to restore the damage they have caused," Talebi said. "Instead, they chose to expand their unpermitted development activities, knowing full well they are threatening human health and the environment."

Talebi also noted that the Rogers had "harmed aquatic habitat, increased the threats of streambank erosion and floods in the area, and degraded local water quality."

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he wants to oust and replace Democratic lawmakers who fled the state in an attempt to prevent Republican redistricting efforts and charge them with felonies. But that might be a challenge and take some time, the state's attorney general said Monday.

Abbott said if legislators did not return to Texas by 3 p.m. CT, he would remove them then "swiftly" fill the vacancies.

MORE: Abbott threatens to oust Democrats who fled Texas over redistricting

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"I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state legislature because they're not doing the job they were elected to do," he said Monday on Fox News.

Pool/Getty Images - PHOTO: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton arrives with Donald Trump to court during Trump's trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 30, 2024 in New York City.

The governor also said the Democrats could be committing felonies if they solicit funds to pay the $500 daily fines they face for skipping the session.

Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton said those threats might not be practical.

"We'd have to go through a court process, and we'd have to file that maybe in districts that are not friendly to Republicans. So it's a challenge because every district would be different. We'd have to go sue in every legislator's home district," Paxton said in a Monday interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson.

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Democratic Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones, an attorney, said Abbott's threat was merely "smoke and mirrors" during a press conference on Monday from Albany, New York.

"There is no felony in the Texas penal code for what he says. So respectfully, he's making up some s---," Jones said. "Subpoenas from Texas don't work in New York, so he's going to come get us how?"

Nuri Vallbona/Reuters - PHOTO: Texas Democratic Rep. Jolanda Jones looks over a map during a hearing on the effort by Texas Republicans, backed by President Donald Trump, to redraw congressional lines in the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, Aug. 1, 2025.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said at the news conference that Democrats were "not breaking the law."

"This is a legitimate process that has been used before," Hochul said.

Democratic Texas state Rep. Mihaela Plesa, also speaking from Albany, said Abbott is "trying to manipulate the situation to make it play in his favor. It's not going to work."

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Experts say Abbotts threats are more effective as intimidation than as legally enforceable action.

The governor doesn't have unilateral power to charge members with bribery or to vacate their seats, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston.

But, Even if it's not the case that he can do this, it's certainly the case that he's made the high stakes very obvious to Democrats, he added.

Rice University political science professor Mark Jones told ABC News there would be "no legitimate way" under current law for other states' law enforcement to collaborate with Texas to force the Democrats back to the state.

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Neither other states nor the federal government would have any authority or ability to detain these representatives simply because they have left Texas and are not providing quorum in the Texas House, Jones said.

Despite the challenge, Paxton said he was "optimistic" the governor would prevail in the standoff with Democrats. Texas Democrats have said they plan to stay out of state until the end of this special session in two weeks, but Abbott is able to call another special session after that.

"If he keeps calling them back, it's going to be a challenge for all 51 of them to stay out of the state for the rest of their lives," Paxton said.

State Rep. Gene Wu, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair, said Sunday that the lawmakers have received an outpouring of support from people, from Americans around the country to help pay their fines.

My phone has not stopped ringing of people texting us, like, keep going, tell us what you need, give me the donation link, Wu said during a press conference with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
(Photo: Jeniffer Solis/Nevada Current)

A proposed airport on a dry lakebed near the Nevada-California border is gaining traction as a solution to passenger demand  and raising questions about the potential impact on water, wildlife, and air quality.

Federal officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Bureau of Land Management held one of their first public meetings on the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport Wednesday a project nearly three-decades in the making.

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The airport would be one of the largest in the nation by land area, sprawling across 23,000 acres of public land in the Ivanpah Valley north of Primm.

Nearly a hundred people attended the meeting to provide public comments on the proposed airport  input that will help guide the federal government as they work through the environmental review process.

That review will likely center on the airports potential impact on two endangered species who call the area home: the desert tortoise and the white-margined penstemon, a small pink bell-shaped flower.

Proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport. Credit: Federal Aviation Administration

Early maps of the project show that desert tortoises will likely need to be relocated to accommodate the construction of the airport. However, recent studies have suggested that relocating desert tortoises can be detrimental to their survival.

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One long-term study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that in the first three years of relocating 158 desert tortoises less than 10 miles from their habitat about 50% died, mostly due to predators.

The airport would also encroach on one of the sole known populations of the white-margined penstemon. A 2021 study commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found a 50% chance of extinction for the wildflower in the next 50 years due to climate change and habitat destruction.

The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter held a press conference outside the meeting to speak on the airports potential impact on desert habitat and wildlife.

If we destroy our desert for sprawl, we will end up harming our ecosystems, harming our air quality, diminishing our water supplies, and affecting people here in Las Vegas very substantially, said Patrick Donnelly, the Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity.

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Critics of the multi-billion dollar project said the airport was a sign of reckless sprawl in Southern Nevada, a region experiencing severe long-term drought.

State officials have suggested the new airport could lead to further development. In 2023, state lawmakers unanimously approved Senate Bill 19 which would allow Clark County to put aside at least 5,000 acres for a new commercial and residential development in the vicinity of the new airport.

We cannot afford to sprawl all the way down to Jean. We cannot afford the wildlife impacts or the water impacts or the air quality impacts from adding a second gigantic commercial airport, said Vinny Spotleson, the president of the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter.

Several locals who spoke at the meeting questioned the need for a second airport, noting the development of high-speed rail between Nevada and California, and the presence of several other airports in southern Nevada that could be expanded to meet demand.

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James Chrisley, the senior director for the Clark County Department of Aviation, said the Harry Reid International Airport will not be able to keep up with projected demand for air travel without the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport.

According to estimates by the agency, the Harry Reid International Airport will reach its full capacity of 63 million to 65 million passengers annually by 2030. The airport would accommodate both passenger and cargo flights.

Decades-old decisions have also left the county with limited options when it comes to the location of an additional airport.

Were landlocked, Chrisley said.

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The Harry Reid Airport was initially built in 1942 outside the city of Las Vegas, in a relatively undeveloped area. However, the rapid growth of the Las Vegas metropolitan area over subsequent decades led to the citys suburbs surrounding the airport, effectively landlocking it.

The Clark County Department of Aviation has evaluated several locations and looked into potentially modifying smaller airports to meet their needs, but concluded Ivanpah Valley was the only feasible option.

More than a dozen sites were evaluated by 2005 as potential locations for the airport before being whittled down to four: Apex, Eldorado Valley, Moapa Reservation, and Ivanpah Valley.

Nellis Air Force Base, Moapa Reservation, and Apex were eventually eliminated due to airspace constraints. Between Eldorado Valley and Ivanpah Valley, the latter won out.

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Weve revalidated that study recently and continue to look at it just to make sure this is truly the only feasible site, Chrisley said.

Plans for the airport were first initiated in 2000 when the Ivanpah Valley Airport Public Lands Act, championed by U.S. Senator Harry Reid and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, transferred about 6,000 acres of public land to Clark County for a new airport.

The Clark County Department of Aviation submitted their first draft by 2006, but local economic conditions following the Great Recession and other local budgetary constraints stalled the project for decades. In 2010 the Clark County Department of Aviation asked the federal government to suspend any work on the environmental review.

Chrisley said things changed this year after the Harry Reid International Airport recorded 58.4 million passengers last year, a 1.39% increase over 2023s previous high.

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Weve been planning this for 25 years, and I personally have been on this for the last almost 10 years. Its time. The Valley continues to grow and we need to support the innovation of this community, Chrisley said.

Preliminary plans show the airport would include a central terminal, two runways, a taxiway system, and an air traffic control tower. The plan would also require an expansion of the Interstate-15 and a new dedicated interchange.
The opioid case against Publix claiming its pharmacies had over-dispensed opioid painkillers is expected to be closed based on a federal judges order signed on July 28.

The judges order said both sides have agreed on a settlement. The terms of the settlement were not listed in the order made by U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division.

Publix Director of Communications Maria Brois did not return an email July 30 requesting comment about the status of the case. In an email from the plaintiffs spokeswoman, she said the terms of the settlement were not yet available.

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"The parties have announced that this case has settled," the judge's order said. "The Court DIRECTS the Clerk to administratively close this case. The parties shall file a dismissal or other filing disposing of this case uponfinalization of the settlement. If settlement negotiations fail, the parties shall promptly move to reopen the case."

Publix swept up in national litigation

Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. was sued in federal court by attorneys with the National Prescription Opiate Litigation alleging its pharmacies over-dispensed opioids due to inadequate monitoring systems.

Meanwhile, opioid sales skyrocketed at Publix while the sales of the highly addictive drugs at other grocers and national pharmacy chains declined once they had settled.

A trial in the case had been set for Nov. 3 in Atlanta. The outcome of the trial could have had implications for Publix pharmacies in other states, including Florida.

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Citing data from the Drug Enforcement Agency, The Tampa Bay Times first reported in January 2024 that Publix was the second-largest seller of oxycodone in Florida by 2019.

In 2017, the National Prescription Opiate Litigation first sued opioid manufacturers, including family-owned Purdue Pharma, and then distributors. Its attorneys have also gained settlements with well-known pharmacy brands, including CVS, Walgreens and grocers such as Kroger and Albertsons.

The lawsuit against Publix originated in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division in Cleveland, where the earliest lawsuits were filed, including the one against Purdue Pharma.

The case against Publix was then moved to the federal court in Atlanta, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Allegations against Publix

In a motion for partial summary judgment filed on May 13, the plaintiff's attorneys argued that Publix breached its duties under the Controlled Substance Act and the Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

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Among multiple allegations in court documents, the plaintiffs alleged Publix fulfilled orders to distribute the pills to a pharmacist who had been arrested for overprescribing opioids.

And after other chains were sued successfully, Publix started a monitoring program but despite red flags in its monitoring system its pharmacists filled prescriptions anyway, the plaintiffs alleged in court records.

The national attorneys suing Publix in Cobb County with evidence and testimony for that case were also considering lawsuits beyond Georgia and possibly in Florida, where Publix has the most grocery stores in a single state.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Judge orders opioid case against Publix closed due to settlement
The pass rate for exams in Scotland has risen slightly on last year, it has been announced.

Young people across the country are receiving their results - although mail deliveries to some island communities have been delayed due to Storm Floris.

The number of pupils achieving an A, B or C grade at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher was up across the board when compared with last year.

The SQA also reported a reduction in the attainment gap between candidates from the most and least deprived areas.

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More than 147,000 candidates are getting their marks for those qualifications, as well as Skills for Work Awards, National Progression Awards and National Certificates.

Admissions service Ucas said a record number of young Scots had been offered university or college places.

The number of pupils with an A, B or C for National 5 qualifications rose from 77.2% last year to 78.4% this year.

The rate for Higher increased from 74.9% to 75.9%, while the rate for Advanced Higher rose from 75.3% to 76.7%.

The number of pupils with an A, B or C in their National 5 and Higher exam results was similar to pre-pandemic levels.

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However, the number of students receiving the same grades in Advanced Higher was 3% lower when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The SQA said the attainment gap  between the level of qualifications achieved by children from the most affluent and the least affluent areas  narrowed at National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher levels.

The difference in attainment of A to C grades between pupils from the most deprived and least deprived areas stood at 16.6% for National 5 qualifications, 12.8% for Higher and 17.1% for Advanced Higher.

There were more than 200,000 Higher entries for the first time since Curriculum for Excellence qualifications were introduced in 2014, while the number of vocational and technical qualifications also passed 100,000 for first time.

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Donna Stewart, Scotland's chief examining officer, said: "All of those achievements are to be celebrated - and they belong to Scotland's learners."

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: "These results are evidence of a strong recovery in Scotland's schools, following the pandemic, with more passes at every level compared to last year.

"They are a testament to the hard work of learners, teachers and parents and carers."

Ucas said 17,350 university and college places had been offered to 17 and 18-year-olds, up from 16,650 last year.

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However, the total number of applicants from Scotland who secured a place at university fell slightly from 31,970 last year to 31,850 this year as a result of a drop in mature student applications.

Ucas said 3,660 students from overseas had been given places - an increase of 180 on last year.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth welcomed this year's exam results [PA Media]

Ahead of results day, Royal Mail had warned that deliveries of certificates to the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Arran and Shetland could face delays due to weather disruption.

BBC Scotland News has been told that Shetland and Orkney flights have departed with mailbags and that students there should receive their results on Tuesday.

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It is likely that students on Arran could see their results arrive after the 11:00 ferry docks.

Results sent via email and text are unaffected.

The SQA's Candidate Advice Line is open from 08:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday, then open between 08:30 and 17:00 from Wednesday to Friday.

Further advice can be found on the SQA website.

A Skills Development Scotland helpline will offer advice to anyone with questions about the next steps in their education.

'Nerve-wracking'

Earlier, Gilruth told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that delays to mail deliveries would be "disappointing" and "nerve-wracking" for some candidates.

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She added: "But those signed up for the text and email service should still receive their results by that route and certificates when they do arrive in the post.

"They can also contact their school or college or the SQA helpline, but the first port of call is to contact the school or college directly."

Gilruth also insisted the government was making progress on its pledge to cut the attainment gap - which has been a government priority since 2015.

Last year, the difference widened for pupils sitting National 4s, National 5s and Highers.

The education secretary said: "This is the pandemic generation. These children and young people's experience of school was disrupted at regular points and I think that has impacted on some of what we have seen in recent years in terms of attainment.

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"But there is also evidence of recovery."

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Miles Briggs said: "SNP ministers have no room for complacency.

"Frankly, no amount of spin from them can avoid the fact that Nicola Sturgeon's promises in relation to the attainment gap lie in tatters."

Scottish Labour education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy said: "While any progress closing the attainment gap should be welcomed, the truth is it remains stubbornly wide.

"The SNP has gone from promising to close the attainment gap entirely to congratulating itself for the most incremental progress."
ASHTABULA  Eleven veterans who received the Purple Heart after being wounded in action were celebrated this weekend during the 14th Wounded Warriors in Action event.

The veterans came from all over the country, as the organization continues to honor veterans for their service, and encourage them in their work of healing and just having a great weekend.

Joe Kalley, an organizer of the event, said he has been involved in all 14 events in Ashtabula. He said one Purple Heart recipient was not able to make it to Ashtabula from Alaska because of travel issues.

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The participants were from Mississippi, Georgia, Minnesota, Texas and many other states, Kalley said while preparing a fish dinner for the veterans. He said he got involved with the organization when he realized the bond of firefighters and military members was similar.

I never served in the military but I was a career firefighter, Kalley said. He said there were times when they left the fire station not knowing if theyd return.

He said the event can be draining, but by Sunday evening, when the veterans go back home, he is flying off the ground.

The Team Erie portion of Wounded Warriors in Action coordinates the event, securing donations from businesses and individuals to make the event happen every year.

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A caravan of motorcycles escorted the veterans through town Friday evening with area residents along the way cheering the heroes on at Lake Shore Park and intersections where traffic was stopped to allow the caravan to pass by unimpeded.

Alexander Fort, of Georgia, said he had one of his best experiences ever.

I never fished at that level, he said after returning from a morning on Lake Erie.

Fort, who served from 1999 to 2017, said the men from all over the country bonded quickly.

Family, thats what it is, he said.

Ellis Martin, of Summit, Mississippi, said he served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 2007 and spent time in Iraq.

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You couldnt have a better time, he said of the weekend. It is like family, ... you all come together.

Mark Carr, a fishing boat captain, donated his time.

It is very humbling experience. I didnt serve so this is my way to serve [the veterans], he said while chatting after the fishing trip.

Cody S. Mormann, of Manban, North Dakota, said he really enjoyed the fishing trip.

Its pretty cool, he said. Lake Erie was on my bucket list.

Mormann served from 2005 to 2011 in the U.S. Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. He said he served in Iraq on two different occasions.

Jackson Gaudette, of Charleston, South Carolina, attended the event with his father, but will soon be starting his military experience.

The Ashtabula American Legion donated to the event and hosted a steak dinner on Friday evening after the tour of the town. Kister Marina hosted the veterans as well.
A new statement from a conservative think tank is shedding light on what critics of higher education want from the Trump administration  and who some of them are.

The push comes as President Donald Trump launches a series of attacks against colleges and universities, including at Harvard University, where $2.6 billion in federal funding has been pulled, and two lawsuits are in court. A potential deal between the federal government and Harvard is said to be in the works.

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Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the right-wing New York City think tank the Manhattan Institute, organized the statement, and it was signed by dozens of educators, politicians and activists.

The Trump administration has appeared to follow the direction of Rufo as he has called for the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion departments and the U.S. Department of Education and adjusting or cutting federal funding to institutions in an effort to change their ways.

Rufo has said higher education should be the first field of battle.

He notably led a campaign in 2024 against Claudine Gay, the former president at Harvard and its first Black president. After facing accusations of plagiarism from Rufo and following her congressional hearing on antisemitism, she later resigned.

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Ive been working on these issues for five years. At the beginning, it felt like I was the only one fighting. And now, fast-forward five years, some of the ideas that I had cobbled together suddenly become reality. They become policy. They affect billions of dollars in the flow of funds. And so thats a great feeling. I think as an activist, theres really nothing better than seeing the ideas that you fought for, against the odds, triumph and become reality, Rufo told the New York Times.

The Manhattan Institute statement lays out a new contract for universities and colleges and calls for the Trump administration to adopt it. If institutions dont accept the contract, that should result in the revocation of all public benefits, the statement suggests.

Despite support from some educators, Jon Fansmith of the American Council on Education said he believes the implementation of the policy could be devastating and would be illegal.

The contract is similar to what the Trump administration sent to Harvard in April, which demanded an overhaul of Harvards leadership structure, admissions and hiring. If it didnt comply, the federal government warned the school that it could risk losing $9 billion in funding.

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Linda McMahon, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, described the Manhattan Institutes statement and contract as a compelling roadmap to restore integrity and rigor to the American academy in an X post.

Rufo told Bloomberg that he is optimistic about the plan becoming policy in the next several months.

Among those who signed onto the statement are Omar Sultan Haque, who works at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., who was the former House Education and Workforce Committee Chairperson.

In that role, Foxx led the charge against Harvard University as she issued subpoenas in 2024, saying theyd failed to produce priority documents related to an ongoing investigation into campus antisemitism.

What is in the contract?

In the statement, Rufo and the signees state that American higher education has long been the bright lights of our civilization but that for the past 50 years, universities and colleges have discarded their founding principles and burned down their accumulated prestige, all in pursuit of ideologies that corrupt knowledge and point the nation toward nihilism.

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This has occurred in waves through protests during the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and the celebration of the Hamas terror campaign  referring to October 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza, according to the statement.

As a result, institutions have capitulated to the radical left, turning them into places with narrow political agendas, the signees state.

In order for this to be fixed, a new contract with universities must be made.

The signees said universities, as part of the contract, should:

control for academic fraud and merit-based decision-making

cease direct participation in social and political activism

adhere to colorblind equality in hiring, admissions, promotions and contracting and abolish DEI programs

allow for freedom of speech and public dissent

implement standards for civil discourse where students are suspended or expelled for disrupting speakers, vandalizing property, occupying buildings, calling for violence or interrupting the operations of the university

publish data on race, admissions and class rank; employment and financial returns by major; and campus attitudes on ideology, free speech, and civil discourse

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Although some academics will balk at any kind of intervention, the reality is that American taxpayers subsidize the universities to the tune of more than $150 billion per year. In exchange, those institutions have a responsibility to follow the law and to uphold basic academic standards, beginning with the most important of all: an orientation toward truth, Rufo wrote in an op-ed.

The principles set out in the statement are good for universities, conducive to the public good, and consistent with existing law, according to Rufo.

The intention is to set a baseline of minimum standards that will rein in the worst instincts of the universities, empower administrators who want to prioritize academic excellence, and ensure that taxpayer funding is devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, rather than ideological crusades, Rufo said.

Why sign on?

Higher education has been criticized for decades, but the core values of liberal education have been badly damaged over the past 10 years in particular, according to Peter Wood, the president of the National Association of Scholars, who signed onto the Manhattan Institute statement.

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The association is a membership group of about 3,500 mostly academics whose mission is to promote liberal arts education with a focus on the pursuit of truth, academic freedom and the cultivation of virtuous citizenship.

Its been my long-term goal  that and also the goal of the National Association of Scholars  to try to win the attention of political leaders to the problem that higher education has betrayed its fundamental commitment to intellectual freedom and pursuit of truth and the upholding of important standards. For the most part, that complaint has gone unheeded, Wood told MassLive.

I think when Donald Trump was elected to his second term, he got the message that higher education, and not just higher education, but K-12 education as well, have been corrupted, and that it is a pretty strong imperative that he do something about it, he said.

Read more: Harvard hands over employee ID verification info after Trump subpoena

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In higher education, Wood takes issue with the implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion as a means of lowering academic standards, not teaching certain topics in classrooms and said movements like Black Lives Matter intimidate large groups of people into thinking society is inherently racist, he said.

These topics are widely debated. To some, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, DEI is seen as a means of providing equal opportunities to all students and eliminating stigmatization.

Wood believes higher education, as it stands, attempts to commandeer higher education into a path of indoctrinating young people into a false set of beliefs about the country and our broader civilization, he said.

As a result, there is a cohort of young people who, as they grow up, become committed supporters and voters for politicians who share their contempt for America, Wood said.

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While Wood said some of Trumps actions toward higher education have been heavy-handed, he also finds it difficult to see alternatives for creating reform.

I dont think that there is a single body of people who, in some organized fashion, have the ear of President Trump, or if there is, I dont know what it would be. But there are many of us who are bidding for his attention and hoping that he takes the sorts of actions that he has been taking, Wood said.

Wood said the Manhattan Institute, which is larger and wealthier than his association, has more avenues to the Trump administration.

Sultan Haque, who works at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, referred MassLive to a Substack article he wrote about his criticisms of higher education and the need for the Manhattan statement.

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In it, Sultan Haque argues that universities and colleges need reform but can only do so through external pressure.

Self-aware and mature leaders would see the crisis for what it is, accept the need for external accountability, engage in negotiation, and find common ground reforms from any source, loved or despised, that makes progress more likely, he said.

He describes academia as an ideological monoculture with substantially more liberal Harvard faculty than conservatives and ultimately a place that rewards and protects the status quo.

Many of the reforms being demanded from the outside now are things elite universities themselves admit they should have implemented decades ago, but never got around to, and were actively resisted until external pressure and shame arrived, Sultan Haque said.

Pushback on the statement

Jon Fansmith, of the American Council on Education, said he takes Rufo at his word that he speaks to the Trump administration regularly  and acknowledges the potential sway he has on federal officials.

At the same time, he believes Trump is going after higher education not because of Rufo but because it is the topic that Trumps voter base takes issue with.

Its one of these culture war issues where Trump needed something to draw lines of distinction between what left-leaning people believe and what conservatives think  and higher education has only become more hotly debated as the price tag to attend increases, Fansmith said.

Trumps actions arent intended to do what is best for higher education but instead are part of an all-out battle to defeat the current higher education system, Fansmith said.

At the end of the day, the Manhattan Institutes statement isnt anything surprising or new to Fansmith  they are similar criticisms he has heard over the years.

Read more: State Department announces investigation into Harvard international visas

While he agrees with the statement in some ways, such as civil debate and a diversity of opinions on campuses as important, he believes that those practices are already happening on college campuses.

If the Trump administration implements the policy as laid out by the Manhattan Institutes statement, Fansmith said it would be bad for democracy and deeply concerning. He said it would likely wind up in court, as it is illegal, he said.

The attempt at implementing such a policy feels contradictory to Fansmith, who said the signees might be up in arms if left-leaning politicians adopted a widespread federal policy that forced institutions to do what they wanted.

Its a very short-sighted view, Fansmith said.

More Higher Ed

Read the original article on MassLive.
The Kremlin has urged Donald Trump to be extremely careful after the American president said hed ordered two nuclear submarines to be repositioned in response to statements made by the former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev, a close ally of Putin who now serves as deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, angered Trump by likening him to Sleepy Joe Biden and boasting about Russias nuclear strike capabilities on social media. Trump wrote in a furious tirade on Truth Social that hed sent the subs to the appropriate regions in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.

Responding on Monday to Trumps announcement, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: We approach any statements related to nuclear issues with great caution. Russia is firmly committed to nuclear non-proliferation, and we believe that all parties should exercise the utmost restraint when it comes to nuclear rhetoric.

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In this case, it is obvious that American submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process, Peskov continued. This is the first thing. In general, of course, we would not like to get involved in such a controversy in any way and would not like to comment on it in any way.

Trump has given Russia until Friday to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face severe economic recriminationshis previous attempts to bring an end to the conflict have failed, despite promising that he could stop the war even before he returned to office. / MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

Of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric, he added.

Peskov later declined to answer a question from reporters when asked whether the Kremlin had told Medvedev to tone down his rhetoric following his altercation with Trump.

Listen, in every country, members of the leadership... have different points of view on events that are taking place, different attitudes, he said. There are people who are very, very tough-minded in the United States of America and in European countries, so this is always the case.

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But the main thing, of course, is the position of President Putin, he said. You know that in our country, foreign policy is formulated by the head of state, that is, President Putin.

The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Tennessee returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia in this February 6, 2013its not clear which submarines were ordered to be repositioned by Trump, if any. / Handout . / Reuters

Despite previously lavishing Putin with praiseincluding for invading Ukraine in 2022Trump has become increasingly frustrated with the Russian leader for refusing to end the conflict.

Trump initially imposed a 50-day deadline for Russia and Ukraine to agree to his ceasefire terms, but later slashed it to 10 to 12 days last week after claiming he no longer believed Russia was serious about ending the war. He later clarified that the new deadline is this Friday, August 8.

The escalation came following a war of words between Trump and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. / Contributor / Getty Images

If Putin continues to reject Trumps terms, the next step could see the U.S. impose further sanctions on Russia and provide further military aid to Ukraine.

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Trump has already said hes ready to sell Europe as much weapons as they want [to pass to Ukraine]. Before he didnt say that  This is already a different conception of the world, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week.

Putin said on Friday he was in favor of a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries.

Trump has ordered Putin to

Steve Witkoff, Trumps envoy for peace missions, is expected to travel to Russia on Wednesday ahead of Trumps Friday deadline, according to Russian state media. When asked on Sunday what Putin could do to avoid facing new sanctions, Trump responded: Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.

The Daily Beast has reached out to The White House for comment.
Qatar is funding the piping of natural gas from Azerbaijan through Turkiye to boost power generation in northern Syria.

Its the third initiative by Doha to address the countrys crippling 20-hour daily power shortages, following earlier efforts to supply gas via Jordan and a $7 billion investment to build four gas plants and a solar farm, the latter executed by Qatari, Turkish, and US companies.

Qatars support for Syrias former rebels has also translated into business deals. Baladna, the Qatari food and beverage company, plans to invest $250 million in dairy, juice, plastics, and water treatment plants. Reliable electricity is essential for such projects. The Azeri gas is expected to raise power availability in northern Syria, but still to just five hours a day.
I sat on a granite ledge in Inyo National Forest earlier this summer, listening to the rhythmic scraping of trail workers' saws on overgrown pine branches and coming to the pleasant realization that this was my first time being around other trans people in the wilderness. Car camping trips with friends don't count; on that ledge we were truly out there, overlooking a miles-long chain of alpine lakes surrounded by the jagged snowcapped mountains emblematic of the Eastern Sierra Nevada. As I gawked at the splendor in front of me, my friend Rentaro Shinohara returned the grin that was plastered on my face before grabbing a saw and getting to work.

Rentaro and I met in our hometown of Long Beach, where we grew up in many of the same ways: Asian American and transmasculine, with a thirst for the mountains that felt unquenchable from our homes deep in the urban sprawl of Los Angeles County. Complicating that thirst was a fear held by many marginalized people  that life in America's wild places was simply not meant for those like us.

Now, Rentaro leads a crew of trail workers made almost entirely of young queer people. For months at a time, he and his crew members live, breathe and work the hiking trails of California's mountainous backcountry with the Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps. ESCC is one of several organizations in California working to fill the void left by recent federal staffing cuts of seasonal trail workers, and the only one with a core mission of getting people out there who have historically been excluded from the world of public land conservation.

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Forging, growing

ESCC's executive director, Agnes Vianzon, founded the nonprofit in 2016, after years of leading trail crews for agencies like the National Park Service, the California Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps. Vianzon said that their vision for ESCC was born out of what they viewed as a necessary departure from the oftentimes toxic cultures harbored in other trail work environments, many of which are overwhelmingly white, male and straight.

"It was a long evolution of just being in it, doing DEI work before it was called DEI," Vianzon said, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion. "Eventually, I didn't want to fight. I couldn't fight anymore."

At the start of a season, new members first learn the basics of backpacking and camping to prepare themselves for an entire summer of living outdoors. They then dive into restoration and trail work: digging drains, removing obstacles, using hand tools and mastering cross-cutting and stone masonry techniques. Out with Rentaro's crew, I learned that much of what us hikers think of as accidental or natural features are actually the meticulous work of trail crews. That huge branch that somehow ended up right next to the trail? It was placed there by workers so that hikers naturally stay on the right path to avoid stepping on it. Those random, slanted rocks protruding from the dirt on a trail every half mile or so? Those are called water bars, and were placed there when the trail was built to guide rainwater away from its path.

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A typical season lasts from May to September, and during that time members live and work entirely outdoors, moving from one camp to the next while maintaining and repairing some of California's most frequented hiking and backpacking trails. While ESCC is named for the Sierra, its crews work all over the state, from as far as the Trinity Alps and Klamath Basin to the north and Los Padres National Forest to the south.

The history of America's conservation corps goes back to the Great Depression, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps as a way to improve the country's public land infrastructure while simultaneously employing millions of young men. Many of the country's most beloved hiking trails, campgrounds and park facilities were first built by these crews between 1933 and 1942.

The experiences of many CCC workers were shaped by racism: Black corpsmen were segregated into different camps, oftentimes in more remote areas than their white counterparts. Black workers often faced hostile work environments, which included "racial slurs and jokes, forcing Black corpsmen to the back of the line, and giving them the least desirable quarters and equipment," Ashley McNeil wrote for the Corps Network.

While the Civilian Conservation Corps no longer exists, it inspired the formation of a network of conservation corps throughout the country during the 20th century. A number of ESCC's workers came to the organization after working for different conservation corps, where many of them say a culture of separation along the lines of race, gender and sexuality still runs strong.

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Lucero Valenzuela, an assistant crew lead at ESCC, joined the organization after working at different conservation corps throughout the West. While Valenzuela enjoyed learning the basics elsewhere, the workplace environment left a bad taste in their mouth, they told me as they adjusted a water bar along the trail we were on.

"I've been in other corps where I arrived and I was one of only two brown people out of the 30-something people that were there," Valenzuela said. "I experienced a lot of toxic masculinity, a lot of machismo mindset, and that can also be discouraging for folks who are coming from underrepresented communities. That's why ESCC was created, because we're going to do things differently."

For Valenzuela, much of that difference lies in the community-focused culture at ESCC. From the moment new members arrive, they're provided with backpacks, tents, hiking boots and any other gear they might need  crucial and expensive equipment that most other trail work employers expect hires to source on their own. Valenzuela and Vianzon told me that for someone new to this line of work, especially those from lower-income backgrounds, that requirement alone is often enough to dissuade them.

Interpersonal skills, like conflict resolution and stress management, are also a focus at ESCC, alongside the tenets of sustainability, geology, botany and environmental stewardship. Crews have access to transportation stipends and mental health services, including weekly counseling sessions from an outsourced mental health care provider. For ESCC's workers coming from different conservation corps, it all sounds unimaginable at first.

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"The whole atmosphere is better. In other corps, it's like a swim or drown kind of situation," said Tayi Ramirez, a member of Rentaro's crew. "Here, it feels like you're growing. You don't get yelled at for dumb st, which happens a lot in other places."

Burned flag and strange looks

What also shapes the culture of ESCC is a shared queer identity among most of its staff and crews, something that's hard to find in many other trail work environments. Pronouns are shared along with names at the start of each morning's stretching circle. Rainbow flags hang from tents at base camps. Shovels and saws are gripped by nail polish-adorned fingers, and colorful, patterned bandanas protect workers' faces and necks from sun and dust. At ESCC, queerness isn't just tolerated: It's celebrated, loudly.

"ESCC is probably the most welcoming organization for queer folk out there who want to do trail work," said Liam Gegenheimer, a first-year crew member from Louisiana. "I was pretty intimidated by being queer myself, and very worried about throwing myself into this very masculine work environment. But ESCC totally takes that stereotype and flips it on its head. I felt safe from the moment I got here."

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The risks associated with being openly queer in rural California, especially in today's political climate, aren't lost on ESCC's staff. While many of the crew members I spoke with expressed feeling somewhat removed from the outside world while working in the backcountry, fears of run-ins with hostile people are still always present.

In Inyo National Forest last summer, an ESCC trail crew noticed a group of young people circling their camp. The crew was at a frontcountry campground with other campers nearby, and had a pride flag hanging near their tents, as usual. The group circled around for the better part of an hour before someone rushed into ESCC's camp, stole the flag and ran off.

The next morning, a crew member found it at a nearby campsite, burned to ash inside a campfire ring.

"They didn't physically harm anyone or anything like that, but to have one of us find something like that is real sty," Vianzon said.

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Some crew members said they regularly receive strange looks from people while shopping in nearby stores or hiking on more populated trails. Admittedly, these are things most queer people and people of color  myself included  eventually learn to expect after spending enough time in California's mountain towns.

ESCC crew lead Marta Cigalla led an all-trans trail crew in the deep Trump country of Klamath National Forest last summer, where animosity from the public was not uncommon. Once, at a gas station, a group of people noticed Cigalla's crew and shouted at them: Using a slur, they asked what "all these" transgender people were doing there.

"That was unsettling," Cigalla said. "There'd definitely be a sense of all eyes being on us whenever we'd walk into a public place."

Despite these experiences, Cigalla said ESCC's tight-knit environment provides a sense of safety in numbers that often makes instances like this feel inconsequential.

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"Having a trans crew, honestly, it was the most beautiful, gratifying thing I've ever done in my life," Cigalla said.

The looming government issue

The occasional bigoted stranger aside, ESCC is also contending with a much broader threat: a presidential administration currently wreaking havoc on both public land management and DEI efforts, two worlds the organization sits directly at the intersection of.

So far, ESCC has avoided much of the fallout that larger agencies are battling. Vianzon credits this to the work they've put into "signing every contract we could get our hands on"  a wealth of federal and state grants with national forests, state parks and other agencies that have budgets set aside in order to partner with local nonprofits.

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These partnerships have played a crucial role in filling voids left by staffing cuts in national parks and forests this year, but the federal regulations surrounding which partnerships are approved continue to get stricter, and Vianzon fears ESCC won't be able to fly under the radar forever. To be clear, though, flying under the radar is hardly something they're interested in. While other land stewardship nonprofits have taken measures like scrubbing their websites of anything related to race, gender, sexuality and even climate change for fear of losing federal funding, Vianzon said ESCC making similar changes "would essentially be giving up."

"The thing with ESCC is, yeah, we're loud," Vianzon said. "We're visible. We're here, and we want to be here."

The fear of government backlash affecting land management agencies and nonprofits is especially palpable when it comes to ESCC. Some groups have deleted or withdrawn any public-facing mentions of their partnerships with the organization in recent months, creating a new air of secrecy around the work they do together. On my second day out with Rentaro's trail crew, workers from a local organization were so reluctant to be in any way connected to this story that they threatened to end a routine annual training session simply due to my presence. Driving down the mountain in a huff, I reminded myself that these are the factors Vianzon and other ESCC staff members deal with on almost a daily basis. (And while I really do empathize with those workers' concerns, being brusquely thrown out of a meeting about trail maintenance and wildfire safety wasn't exactly on my journalist bingo card this year.)

In order to prepare for any potential funding cuts, Vianzon is getting creative. ESCC recently launched a new campaign aimed at raising $1 million to expand its programs and ultimately "put as many boots on the ground as we can," Vianzon said. The nonprofit also holds an annual fundraiser with Pattie Gonia, a drag queen and outdoors social media influencer, that brings in thousands of dollars in donations.

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"I just want folks to understand that we have a model here that works. It benefits all parties," Vianzon said. "We're paying people for their labor through a social justice, equity lens, and we want to elevate everyone to help us out, because we need it in all those ways."

For many of ESCC's crew members, the need goes deeper than job security or trail access.

"I view this program as not only life-changing, but potentially life-saving," Cigalla said. "It helps people find their why: Like, why choose to still be here? Why wake up in a world that doesn't want you here every day? It gives folks the confidence to believe that they deserve to be here and that they have something to offer."

I learned from my time spent with Rentaro and his crew that during summers out in the backcountry, especially those weeks when crew members are around only each other, a certain freedom is created. The mountains become a sanctuary, where ESCC's crew members can live their truths however they choose to  albeit with a little more dirt on their faces.

"It's different with us. There's magic here," Vianzon told me. "You can see it, right?"

I could.

A star over the Death Valley National Park. Groups in California are trying to enable people who have historically been excluded tp join the world of public land conservation. David Becker/ZUMA Wire/dpa
A transgender pride flag. (Photo by Vladimir Vladimirov/Getty Images)

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha has joined a coalition of 16 states and the District of Columbia seeking to stop the Trump administration from disallowing treatments for transgender youth, including surgeries and drug-based treatments like puberty blockers.

The 111-page complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi targets Executive Order 14,187  signed by Trump within a week of his taking office  and enforcement actions taken since then by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The multistate coalition is seeking an injunction to block the orders enforcement.

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The Jan. 28 executive order directed federal agencies to halt funding, insurance coverage, and institutional support for gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 19. Gender-affirming care can include pharmacological and surgical treatments, or, in the orders language, chemical and surgical mutilation.

The Federal Register titles the executive order as Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, but the multistate suit calls it the Denial of Care Order and criticizes it as an unlawful maneuver which intimidates providers and overrides states own authority to regulate medical treatments.

On April 22, Bondi issued a directive asking federal prosecutors to investigate providers for off-label use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy, encouraging whistleblower suits, and purging federal acknowledgement of transgender health guidelines from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The six-page memo also proposed legislation that would enable families to retroactively sue providers for transgender surgeries, with eventual penalties modeled on existing ones for female genital mutilation.

The suit cites a mix of 13 providers, health systems, and insurers nationwide that discontinued, paused, or scaled back gender-affirming care in the wake of Bondis order. It also cited California insurer Kaiser Permanentes announcement that it will stop covering gender-affirming surgeries on Aug. 29, 2025,

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This dangerous trend will be a stain on our Nations history, and it must end, Trumps executive order reads. Countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own or nurture their children through breastfeeding.

Neronha, in a statement Friday, rejected that interpretation.

Lets get clear on what gender affirming care is, and what it isnt, Neronha said. Gender affirming care is medically necessary, and in some cases lifesaving treatment for kids who, with their parents, are just trying to find their way in this world, no different than anyone else.

The decision of whether or not a child should receive gender affirming care needs to be made between the child, their family, and their doctor  not the federal government, Neronha continued. It isnt a decision these kids and their families take lightly, it isnt mutilation, and it isnt dangerous.

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The lawsuit marks the 32nd multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration Neronha has led or joined.

Attorneys general involved in the latest lawsuit over gender affirming care include those in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Wisconsin. Also a plaintiff on behalf of his state is Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

The lawsuit cites recent estimates of the trans population in the U.S. as about 1.3 million adults, or 0.5% of the nations population. In the age group of 13- to 17-year-olds, that number is proportionally much higher, with about 1.4%, or 300,000 youths, identifying as transgender.

In all Plaintiff States, residents who are 18 years old are legal adults who have legal authority to make medical decisions for themselves, the suit reads.

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The lawsuit notes that puberty blockers and hormone therapy are prescribed based on clinical appropriateness and a patients age, while interventions like chest masculinization, also known as top surgery, are uncommon and reserved for older teenagers and adults. Children who havent entered puberty are only recommended for social transition, which can consist of changes in name, pronouns, or clothing, the lawsuit states

The federal narrative, however, cites examples of recipients later regretting their choice, such as the case of Chloe Cole, a California teenager who underwent a double mastectomy at 15 and has since publicly detransitioned. Data from a 2021 meta-analysis of nearly 8,000 patients who received gender-affirming surgery has regret rates of less than 1%.

Included in Neronhas Friday statement were sentiments of support for the suit from Care New England and the Rhode Island Medical Society.

No hearing date has been scheduled yet, but the case has been assigned to District Judge Angel Kelley in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

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The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County is monitoring rabies after a raccoon tested positive for the virus in the Chuluota area on July 30.

Residents and visitors in Seminole County are advised to avoid contact with wild animals, as rabies may be present in the local wildlife population.

The confirmed rabies case was found in a raccoon killed on Lake Mills Road in Seminole County. This incident has prompted health officials to issue warnings about the potential risk of rabies in the area.
Multiple radioactive wasp nests have recently been discovered at a South Carolina site that once played a central role in U.S. nuclear bomb production, according to federal officials and media reports.

As of Aug. 1, at least four nests had been found at the Savannah River Site, a nuclear facility near Aiken known for producing plutonium and tritium during the Cold War.

Workers found the first nest on July 3, the Associated Press reported, on a post near tanks of stored liquid nuclear waste. The nest was sprayed with insecticide, removed, and disposed of as radioactive waste. No wasps were found inside.

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Testing revealed contamination levels 10 times higher than the limit allowed under federal regulations.

The U.S. Department of Energy, which owns the facility, stated in an official report that the nest was contaminated with onsite legacy radioactive contamination  a term referring to residual radiation left over from the sites weapons production era. The report emphasized that the contamination was not caused by a leak or loss of control.

Three additional nests have since been discovered at the nuclear facility, according to the New York Times.

Workers at the Savannah River Sites K Area Complex nuclear material management facility, an integral part of the Department of Energys nonproliferation and environmental cleanup mission. (Photo: Business Wire)

The U.S. Department of Energy is managing the discovery of four wasp nests with very low levels of radioactive contamination, Edwin Deshong, manager of the DOEs Savannah River Operations Office, said in a statement to the Times. The nests do not pose a health risk to SRS workers, the community, or the environment.

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Timothy Mousseau, a biologist at the University of South Carolina who has studied radiations impact on wildlife at Chernobyl and Fukushima, told the Times the discovery of the nests should be seen as a red flag. This is an indicator that there are contaminants spread across this area that have not been completely encased and protected, Mousseau said.

However, any potentially contaminated wasps  which Mousseau referred to as hot wasps  most likely posed little direct risk to the public. Officials told the BBC that any wasps inside the nest would have significantly lower radiation levels than the nest itself. Furthermore, wasps typically do not travel far from their nests.

While there is no evidence of public danger, Mousseau said the presence of radioactive nests raises the possibility that previously undetected contaminants may exist  or that older radioactive material is resurfacing in unexpected ways.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
By Noemie Olive

PARIS (Reuters) -A 73-year-old newspaper vendor originally from Pakistan is set to receive one of France's most prestigious honours after more than 50 years of selling dailies on the terraces of cafes and restaurants in Paris' fashionable Latin Quarter.

Ali Akbar began hawking newspapers after moving to France in 1973, employing a blend of humour and energy to charm locals and ward off falling sales.

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In September, President Emmanuel Macron will make him a knight of the National Order of Merit, which recognises distinguished service to France in a civilian or military capacity.

A native of Rawalpindi in northern Pakistan, Akbar began by hawking copies of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo to students in the Sorbonne and neighbouring institutions.

Kerb-side newspaper sellers were already a dying breed in Paris in the 1970s as television steadily replaced the printed word as the main source of news - a process that only accelerated with the advent of the internet.

But Akbar, the last remaining newspaper vendor still walking the streets of the French capital, has managed to keep the tradition alive with his ready smile, cheeky sense of humour and sheer dedication.

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"I just love the feel of paper," Akbar said. "I dont like tablets and all that kind of stuff. But I do like reading. Whatever the type. Real books. But never on screens."

"I have a certain way of selling newspapers. I try to make jokes. So people laugh. I try to be positive and I create an atmosphere... I try and get into people's hearts, not their pockets," he said.

But the job has become much harder in the era of digital publishing.

"I sell about 20 copies of Le Monde in eight hours. Everything is digital now. People just dont buy newspapers," he said.

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Despite such challenges, Akbar intends to sell newspapers as long as his health permits.

In a district where high-end fashion boutiques and eateries have largely replaced the bookstores that once nourished some of the worlds most renowned 20th century philosophers, many locals say hes one of the things that keeps the Latin Quarter genuine.

"Ali is an institution. I buy Le Monde from him every day. In fact, we do a little more than buy Le Monde for him. We have coffee with him, sometimes we have lunch with him," said one grateful customer, Marie-Laure Carriere.

(Reporting by Noemie Olive; writing by Yann Tessier; Editing by Richard Lough and Gareth Jones)
For our ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) neighbors, life often feels like balancing on a tight rope.

The alarm rings early for work, but sleep is short, and exhaustion looms large over ever-accumulating bills and a monthly paycheck that wont stretch far enough. With fingers crossed, the car  on its last legs but too expensive to repair  starts up. Otherwise, it could have been a late arrival to the office or a full day of missed wages. These experiences arent an anomaly for ALICE. Theyre an everyday reality.

Despite facing persistent challenges, our ALICE neighbors continually step up and serve our communities, including on the front lines of local nonprofits.

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According to Zip Recruiter, the average nonprofit salary in Arkansas is $36,000. Meanwhile, for a Pulaski County household with just one adult and a child under the age of two, the survival budget  the minimum cost to live and work in todays economy  is $49,380.

Today, our ALICE neighbors are working harder than ever, particularly those in the nonprofit sector. When economic uncertainty rises, so does our collective need for services. Combine that with dwindling federal funding, and charitable organizations already under tight budgets are now doing more with fewer resources. At the same time, employees of these organizations, who often wear multiple hats, are taking on additional responsibilities for the same pay.

So, how can we better support ALICE employees while advancing their efforts on behalf of our community? A great place to start is empowering nonprofits  and organizations of all sectors  to implement policies and procedures that create environments where all employees can thrive. With a more equitable workplace, data shows that individuals feel more engaged, which in turn improves productivity, reduces turnover and creates stronger organizations.

Thats just what ALICE@Work aims to do. With the support of the Heart of Arkansas United Way, Blue & You Foundation, Entergy Arkansas, Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation and Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, business and nonprofit leaders are uncovering the unique challenges that their ALICE employees face.

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First up were financial institutions. Now, Central Arkansas nonprofits are participating in the second ALICE@Work cohort. During the process, theyll complete a workforce assessment and receive regular education in five key areas: benefits and compensation, scheduling and flexibility, professional development, work support and resources, and financial wellness. This hands-on training will enable organizations to develop individualized action plans in alignment with their culture and values.

ALICE@Work is a pragmatic solution to tackling systemic challenges for our state, where nearly half of Arkansas households struggle to make ends meet. As our neighbors needs grow and the federal funding landscape continues to evolve, this initiative benefits not only ALICE workers but participating organizations and the broader community. By recognizing the vital role ALICE workers play in our organizations, we can help strengthen our state together.
A newly-released audio recording has revealed the dramatic moment that a United Airlines flight with over 200 people on board suffered engine failure.

The pilot on Munich-bound flight UA108 said his left engine had failed and he was declaring an emergency, mayday, mayday, mayday, during the July 25 flight, according to cockpit and air traffic control audio.

The Boeing 787-8 was carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew members when it was forced to turn around and head back to Dulles International Airport in Washington DC, United said.

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Following calls of mayday, the pilot and air traffic control discussed plans for the planes return, including how much fuel the aircraft would need to dump to become the proper weight for landing, according to audio posted to YouTube channel You can see ATC.

The tower cleared all nearby traffic for the planes return and stayed in close contact with the pilot to ensure a safe landing.

Munich-bound United flight was carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew members when it made a mayday call last month following engine failure (stock image) (Getty/iStock)

Speed at your discretion, air traffic control said in the clip. Nobody behind you, nobody in front, sir.

Flightradar24 footage showed the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner circling northwest of the airport before returning safely to the ground.

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The pilot said it would take about six minutes to adjust their weight, before traffic control guided the plane to land on the runway.

While the air traffic controller guided the United flight, there was another emergency aircraft on the runway that the controller was helping, according to the video.

Tower, United 108 Heavy, emergency, were clear, the pilot can be heard saying as the footage shows the plane had landed safely.

The plane returned to Washington Dulles shortly after takeoff to address a mechanical issue, United said in a statement to The Independent.

The plane landed safely, and all passengers deplaned normally at the gate, the airline continued. The flight was subsequently canceled and we arranged alternate travel arrangements to take customers to their destination as soon as possible.

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In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of engine issues on the flight and was investigating.

Footage from FlightRadar24 shows the plane circling above Washington Dulles airport (FlightRadar24)

The flight, which was supposed to depart Dulles at 5:40 p.m. EST and land at Munich International Airport at 5:40 a.m. CEST the next day, ended up leaving Dulles at 6:11 p.m. and returning by 8:49 p.m., according to data from FlightAware

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed last week that the plane had experienced a mechanical issue.

The plane landed safely, was checked by Airports Authority Fire and Rescue personnel, then towed to a gate, the spokesperson said. There was no disruption to other flights.

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The mechanical issue occurred as Boeing has faced scrutiny following the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad, where the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner experienced a severe engine malfunction soon after take-off.

The incident saw the London-bound flight plummet to the ground just minutes after taking off and killing all but one of the 242 people onboard, along with several others inside the buildings struck by the aircraft.

Official investigations as to the exact cause of the tragedy are underway. All Boeing 787s in India were inspected following the crash.

There are currently around 1,200 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide, and this was the first fatal crash in 16 years of operation, The Independent previously reported.
To help boost Republican chances in the 2026 midterms, President Trump said he wanted his party to pick up five more House seats in Texas after unusual mid-decade redistricting.

Democrats call it cheating. Republicans say theyre hypocrites.

Over two dozen Texas Democratic lawmakers spent the day in Chicagoland after fleeing the state in a last-ditch effort to stop Republicans from overhauling their states congressional map.

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After the Democrats left Texas, the Republican-dominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business on Monday.

The redistricting plan, requested by President Trump, would give the GOP an edge in five Democratic districts.

The fight has galvanized both parties.

Texas Democrats arrive in Illinois to block vote back home on redrawn House maps sought by Trump

The president is trying to inspire a naked power grab in Texas, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) said.

Democratic caucus chair declined to say how long the Texas democrats will stay in Illinois.

They owe it to the people who they represent to get back to their state and to legislate and to support what the fine people who elected them expect them to do, Kathy Salvi, Illinois Republican Party chair, said.

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Texas Democrats remain in Illinois amid redistricting controversy

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott has urged the House members to return home, and hes threatening to remove them from office if they dont.

The House issued civil arrest warrants intended to compel the return of absent members, but it was not immediately clearly whether those can or will be enforced beyond Texas borders.

The controversy has shined a spotlight on Illinoiss congressional map.

As a candidate, Gov. JB Pritzker vowed to veto redistricting drawn by legislators or their staff, but he went on to approve a map that gave his party a 14-3 advantage in the congressional delegation.

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Governor Pritzker inserting himself into whats going on in Texas is the height of hypocrisy, Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) said. He broke his promise to Illinois voters not once but twice in signing the most gerrymandered map in the nation.

The fact that we are very good in Illinois at delivering for the people of Illinois and that people react to that and vote for our candidates is very different than cheating mid-decade by rewriting the rules because their cult leader Donald Trump tells them to do that, Gov. Pritzker said.

This situation is a slippery slope as the Democratic governor of New York said the state would begin the process of redistricting to benefit Democrats in response to what Texas is doing. California is also exploring options.

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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.
As Democrats search for ways to delay, if not defeat, Republican efforts to redraw election maps for political gain ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, they say, they may not find much help from federal courts.

A landmark 2019 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court -- Rucho v. Common Cause -- removed federal judges almost entirely from the business of mediating disputes over partisan gerrymandering.

"Excessive partisanship in districting leads to results that reasonably seem unjust. But the fact that such gerrymandering is incompatible with democratic principles does not mean that the solution lies with the federal judiciary," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts.

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The ruling effectively shut the courthouse door on legal challenges to creatively-drawn electoral maps that dilute the influence of certain voters based on party affiliation.

MORE: How redistricting in Texas and other states could change the game for US House elections

"Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution, and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions," Roberts concluded in the opinion.

Race, however, is a different matter -- and one that the Supreme Court has recognized a limited role for judges in examining under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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Section 2 of the Act prohibits the denial or abridgment of the right to vote on account of race, which has historically been interpreted to include the drawing of congressional districts that "crack" or "pack" communities of color in order to limit their influence.

As recently as 2023, the high court said lower courts could intervene in "instances of intensive racial politics where the excessive role [of race] in the electoral process ... den[ies] minority voters equal opportunity to participate."

Eric Gay/AP - PHOTO: Member of the public wait to testify as Texas legislators hold a public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Aug. 1, 2025.

MORE: Abbott threatens to oust Democrats who fled Texas over redistricting

Some Democrats have begun alleging that the Texas GOP effort (and those in other states) is racially motivated.

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"They're coming in and cracking up parts of Austin voters and then merging my district with [Democratic] Congressman [Lloyd] Doggett's district, all with the intended effect of making it so that voters of color have less of a say in their elections, and so that Donald Trump gets his preferred member of Congress," Texas Democratic Rep. Greg Casar told ABC's Selina Wang on Sunday.

Former Obama attorney general turned voting rights advocate Eric Holder told ABC News "This Week" co-anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday he is contemplating the possibility of new litigation under the Voting Rights Act. "This really exacerbates that which they've already done and strengthens the case that we have brought," Holder said of Texas' Republicans' redistricting efforts.

A race-based challenge to any new Texas congressional map would get through the courthouse door, but it could ultimately face a skeptical Supreme Court, which has increasingly looked to eliminate any racial considerations under the Constitution.

The justices are already considering a case from Louisiana involving the competing interests of the Equal Protection Clause and Voting Rights Act when it comes to race. Plaintiffs allege race was impermissibly used to create a discriminatory districts under Section 2; opponents argue that requiring a creation of new map that explicitly accounts for race is itself a violation of colorblind equal protection.

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When the court hears arguments this fall, there are signs several of the justices could seek to have Section 2 strictly limited or struck down entirely.

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images - PHOTO: Eric Holder attends Lambda Legal Hosts 2024 National Liberty Awards at The Glasshouse on May 30, 2024 in New York City.

"For over three decades, I have called for a systematic reassessment of our interpretation of 2," wrote Justice Clarence Thomas in June. "I am hopeful that this Court will soon realize that the conflict its 2 jurisprudence has sown with the Constitution is too severe to ignore."

Ultimately, despite widespread public complaints about gerrymandering and the challenges it creates, the most likely and lasting solution may lie in legislatures and Congress.

"The avenue for reform established by the Framers, and used by Congress in the past, remains open," Chief Justice Roberts wrote in Rucho.

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Proposals for fair districting criteria and independent commissions have circulated in statehouses and Congress for years.

On Monday, one Republican lawmaker  Rep. Kevin Kiley of California  introduced a bill to ban mid-decade redrawing of congressional maps nationwide. Such a proposal could halt the state redistricting "arms race" now underway if it was adopted, though that looks highly unlikely.
The Texas state House briefly reconvened Monday afternoon amid a nationally watched clash over the GOP majoritys plan to redraw the states congressional lines, with Republican lawmakers voting to approve civil arrest warrants targeting the dozens of Democrats who fled the state, blocking Republicans from proceeding with the plan.

The bulk of the 50-plus Democrats who left the state are in Illinois, where theyve been welcomed by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. Others are in Boston and in Albany, New York, where Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, in response to Texas, is pushing for a change in state law to allow redistricting in future years.

There, beyond the reach of the state sergeant-at-arms and the Texas Department of Public Safety, the warrants may have little practical effect. But back home, the Democrats face mounting fines, and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to boot the Democratic lawmakers from office or send law enforcement to force them to return to the state.

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Because House business requires a quorum, 51 out of the states 62 Democratic House members can, by remaining out of state, prevent the Republican-led state House from moving forward with legislation.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows pounds the gavel to start proceedings at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Monday. The session was adjourned shortly due to the lack of quorum. (Nuri Vallbona / Reuters)

The absences deprived the House of its quorum, a reality confirmed quickly after legislators gaveled in Monday afternoon.

Republican Speaker Dustin Burrows admonished the dozens of Democrats who fled the state as having "abandoned their post and turned their backs on the constituents they swore to represent.

"They've shirked their responsibilities under the direction and pressure of out-of-state politicians and activists who don't know the first thing about what's right for Texas," he said.

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"Leaving the state does not stop this House from doing its work. It only delays it," he added.

Republican lawmakers immediately, under House rules, locked the chamber doors and moved for the sergeant-at-arms to "send for" the absconded lawmakers "under warrant of arrest, if necessary." Burrows adjourned the chamber until Tuesday and told reporters shortly afterward that he followed through on the House vote and signed the civil arrest warrants.

It's not the first time Democrats in Texas have fled the state to gum up the legislative works in protest of legislation they oppose  they did so in 2021 over GOP-backed changes to voting laws. Democrats faced similar threats from Republicans that time, but this time, Abbott has raised the prospect of not only sending law enforcement after the Democrats but, asserting untested and tenuous legal authority, also pushing courts to declare their seats vacant and call for new elections to fill them.

Abbott has also suggested that Democrats who are raising money to support their quorum break may be committing felony bribery. (The Legislature enacted a $500-a-day punishment for breaking quorum after the Democratic effort in 2021.)

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I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons, Abbott said in a statement Sunday.

So far, Democrats have dismissed those threats. Trey Martinez Fischer, a prominent state House Democrat, told NBC News that Abbott's attempts were "desperate" and said, "I'll frame this arrest warrant on my wall with the rest," a reference to previous quorum breaks in 2021 and 2003.

It's possible Democrats don't have just Republicans back home to worry about.

Asked whether President Donald Trump would call upon federal agents to arrest the Texas lawmakers, an administration official told NBC News: Abbott can handle his own state.

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Asked whether he would welcome help from the Trump administration bringing the lawmakers back to the House, Burrows replied: "There is nothing off the table."

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker with Texas State Reps. Gene Wu and Trey Martinez, in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday. (Tom Krawczyk / Reuters)

The clash stems from Abbotts decision to call a special session of the Legislature this summer to address, among other topics, redistricting. Trump has pushed for a rare mid-decade redistricting, which he has said would allow Republicans to pick up five more seats and pad their slim majority in the U.S. House ahead of next years national elections, when Democrats will try to flip the chamber.

The proposed map a Republican state lawmaker released last week opened a path toward a five-seat GOP gain, shifting boundaries around major cities and in South Texas to create 30 districts that Trump carried by double digits in last falls presidential election. Texas Republicans currently control 25 of the states 38 congressional seats.

Democrats have decried the move as a power play and criticized Republicans for moving on the redistricting bill before having responded legislatively to the devastating floods this summer that killed more than 100 people in Kerr County, outside San Antonio. On Monday, Burrows shot back by arguing that Democrats are delaying their ability to move on other legislative priorities, like addressing the floods.

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Democratic state Rep. Ann Johnson of Houston, speaking Sunday evening after she arrived at a news conference at a strip mall about 30 miles west of Chicago, said the redistricting bill is happening only because Trump is afraid of the electorate next November.

Nobody wants this mid-redistrict draw. Nobody is asking for this. There is one human that wants this, and that is Donald Trump, she said. And Abbott has turned over the state of Texas to try to serve his purpose. This does no good for the people of Texas. In fact, it takes away the voice of millions of Texas.

But while many Republicans acknowledge the politics of the situation, they point to their partys significant majority in the Legislature and control of Texas statewide offices as justification. Republican state Rep. Cody Vasut told NBC News over the weekend that he evaluated the map by asking himself this question: Does this improve the political performance of Republicans in Texas?

When weve seen all of these blue states overperform with their maps and Texas is underperforming, that puts Republicans at a distinct disadvantage nationwide, said Vasut, who chairs the state House Redistricting Committee.

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State Rep. Mitch Little, another Republican, said that the party is pursuing redistricting because "we have the time, we have the opportunity, we have the advantage. ... This is about the opportunity for Texas to right-size its Republican representation and were going to take it.

Democrats, meanwhile, called for retaliation in blue states if Texas Republicans are successful with redistricting.

"Were having a national conversation over voter rights, and I want to encourage California and New York and Maryland and Washington state to say, 'You know what, gloves are off,'" Rep. Julie Johnson, a former state representative now in her first term in Congress, said at an event in Illinois.

For everyone thats been asking, 'Where are the Democrats?' Well, here they are, said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, another former state legislator-turned-member of Congress, who swept her arm as she spoke, taking in the throng of Texas lawmakers around her. For everyone thats been asking, Where is the fight? Well, here it is.

What happens next?

The full scope of the Texas Democrats plans isnt clear. The special legislative session cannot last more than 30 days, but Abbott could continue to call new ones indefinitely.

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While Pritzker has asked his staff to give the runaway Democrats logistical support and the high-profile nature of the fight could help them raise funds to extend their trip, eventually one side has to cave.

Democrats are looking to this as a messaging opportunity more than as a political or legal or legislative strategy, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. The options they have are pretty limited, so the best they can hope for is to use this as a spotlight moment to shine a light on some of the issues that they have with the Republicans in Texas and Donald Trump.

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat representing Austin who helped to organize the Democratic walkout in 2021 in response to election legislation, told NBC News last week that the effort four years ago was wildly successful because it led Republicans to remove parts of the legislation  though the bills eventually became law.

We could have never anticipated that the amount of publicity we brought onto Republicans would have shamed them into taking out those most egregious parts  so heres what I know: I know well fight with everything weve got. This is situational. Well take it day by day, see what our best play is, she said.

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State Reps. Armando Walle and Ana Hernandez, who represent Houston-area districts, were the only two state House members to go to Boston. They had planned to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures annual summit there. After the quorum break was announced, we decided that it was a great opportunity to spread the word to our colleagues across the state, across the country, Walle said on the sidelines of the summit.

The pair will fly to Chicago after the summit and consider the logistics of travel plans beyond the special session, which has already been called day by day, Hernandez said.

Responding to the threats of arrest by Texas Republican officials, Walle reiterated the refrain used by his fellow Texas Democrats.

Come and take it, he said.

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A group of state Senate Democrats, who also went to Boston for the summit, told NBC News that while theyd remain in the city through Wednesday, their plans werent yet determined.

I dont know how long we can do this, but you know, we dont win every battle, Sen. Sarah Eckhardt said. We dont know how this comes out, but to not fight this is simply not an option.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Democrats looking to keep up with the GOPs push to redraw House lines are grappling with how to circumvent the same independent redistricting commissions they once championed.

The movement to set up nonpartisan commissions for redistricting caught steam over the last decade, with Democrats at the forefront of the movement. Many in the party argued the commissions were essential to ensuring fair elections at a time when gerrymandering has led to fewer and fewer competitive contests on the federal level.

But as Republicans barrel forth with their efforts to create friendlier maps in multiple states in the hopes of holding onto their slim House majority next year, many Democrats now see the commissions as a hindrance and argue the party needs to go around them. Doing so, however, could prove challenging.

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Just look at the math. Nationally, if we do tit for tat, were going to lose, California Democratic strategist Steven Maviglio said. Other states will do this, and then well be further in the hole.

State legislatures and governors had been each states arbiters of redistricting throughout most of U.S. history, with partisans ultimately deciding how the lines would be drawn, often favoring their own side.

That started to change in some states, particularly during the 2000s and 2010s, as leaders were interested in the idea of good governance on the issue, emphasizing transparency and fairness. Voters approved referenda to create bipartisan or nonpartisan commissions to create maps that are intended to fully represent different groups political power.

But an issue that some expressed concern about when the commissions were being set up will likely come into play as states take a look at redrawing their congressional lines ahead of next years midterms, a move that is uncommon but not prohibited.

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Most states that have implemented these commissions are Democratic-leaning, while their Republican counterparts mostly kept their state legislatures fully in charge of the process.

The states with independent commissions at least playing a role in redistricting include California and New York, two of the three largest in the country, while the only fully Republican-led ones with them are Montana and Idaho, two of the smallest, according to Ballotpedia.

Other Democratic-led states including Washington and Colorado also have such commissions.

While Democrats said they believe the commissions may be the morally idealistic choice in theory, they acknowledged their existence could be an obstacle to the party keeping up with the GOP.

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Maviglio, who was involved in the campaign against the creation of Californias commission when it was up for a vote, said the same idea that was pitched as helping to support democracy could contribute to undermining it.

In practice, as usual, Democrats try to have the upper ground, he said, but theyre disadvantaged when Republicans arent interested in taking the same approach.

The existence of the commissions doesnt necessarily prevent the states from advancing a redistricting plan that could theoretically go into effect ahead of the midterms. But they add more time to the process and an extra hurdle to overcome that states such as Texas, which is set to vote on a new map during a special legislative session this month, and Florida, which could also revise its lines, dont have to address.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) raised the idea of putting a new map up for a vote in a special election in November, allowing that map to be in place for the rest of the decade. He said the initiative would go around the commission, but the state could use the commissions next proposed map after the 2030 census.

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Maviglio said the process may be complex, with the time required to get the proposal on the ballot, a very expensive campaign likely to oppose it and possible lawsuits to follow if it passes.

I think it really breaks trust with voters, he said. [The commission] was sold as essential for democracy, and now were being told, Well, dissolving it is essential for democracy.

Newsom said at a press conference last week that Democrats want a fair playing field where all play by the same rules, but that President Trumps call to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ensured that wouldnt happen. He said he believes Californians understand whats at stake.

New York Democrats introduced a bill Tuesday to create a new map if another state does middecade redistricting first, but it likely wouldnt go into effect until ahead of the 2028 elections.

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Colorado Democratic strategist Alvina Vasquez said she doesnt believe her state is likely to push for redistricting, and the commissions gave Republicans more voice in Democratic-led states than they otherwise would have had.

She said efforts to push for these commissions are essentially frozen for now, given the push for redistricting to benefit a party as much as possible. But she said the voters overall are the ones likely to lose the most from what may be to come in the various states.

Its 50 [governors] deciding what the direction of the country is, as opposed to the American people deciding, and then it creates more distrust in our government, more distrust in our voting systems, more distrust in how our systems work, Vasquez said.

She said efforts to implement commissions in the future could be renewed, but it would need to start from the ground up, particularly with younger people.

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Meanwhile, advocates for these types of commissions defend their position that they are the best method for fair elections, at least in the longer term.

John Bisognano, the president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said the group has worked to stop Republicans from drawing extreme gerrymanders that silence voters and found success in states such as Michigan and Colorado. But he said it recognizes the current moment, and states are taking necessary steps to respond.

Our ultimate commitment to fairness will not and has never wavered, but we are clear-eyed about the current moment that Donald Trump is forcing on America, he said in a statement. Our democracy is under attack, and we will not oppose those doing what may be necessary to defend it and using every tool available to protect voters and the values they believe in.

Dan Vicuna, senior policy director for the nonpartisan Common Cause, said his organization is still committed to getting redistricting processes enacted that are based on community feedback, nonpartisan and not controlled by politicians.

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One potential silver lining in a really difficult situation is that this will create a very clear narrative about what has always gone on in redistricting, that its not simply Democrats versus Republicans, its politicians versus the people, he said. Youve got elected officials of both major parties  who are willing to focus solely on partisan gain.

Both Bisognano and Vicuna indicated their organizations will be ready to pursue legal action if Texas ultimately passes a new map that they argue would disenfranchise minority voters.

Vicuna acknowledged the difficulty facing reform efforts but pointed to the U.S. Houses 2021 passage of a bill that would have set up independent commissions in all 50 states as progress. The bill failed to advance in the Senate.

Vicuna added that he believes these current efforts will spur more stories from disenfranchised communities that provoke backlash against politician-controlled efforts.

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This is not power that the public can ask politicians to give up nicely, he said. Its a power they have to take from them, and regardless of how this plays out, we will be there to make sure communities are represented, and we will continue to fight for reform across the country, even if its a difficult moment to do so.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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House Democrats have fled Texas to prevent Republicans in the state House from having a quorum to vote on redrawing the state's 38 congressional districts and locking in the GOP advantage in next year's midterm elections.

President Donald Trump told reporters he expected the plan to add as many as five additional House Republicans and called for other Republican-led states to do the same. Republicans hold a narrow 220-212 majority in the House of Representatives, and three Democratic-held seats are vacant after members' deaths this year.

Texas Democratic Rep. James Talarico said the redistricting plan was a "power grab" that amounted to "rigging" the 2026 elections by creating new Republican House seats where they didn't exist before.

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What about Florida? Gov. Ron DeSantis is fresh from a win on the new district map he demanded to be drawn in 2022 after vetoing the one the GOP-led Legislature originally passed.

DeSantis' new map provided more districts likely to elect Republicans to Congress from Florida and cut the districts represented by Black Democrats in half, down to just two. The plan was so aggressive that the Republican-controlled Legislature fought against it for months before it passed in a special legislative session. A state judge blocked the map for being unconstitional and discriminatory against minorities, an appeals court overturned his ruling, and the Florida Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Republicans added four seats from Florida in the next election, helping the GOP win control of the U.S. House.

On July 17, the Florida Supreme Court  with five of the seven justices appointed by DeSantis  upheld the appeals court ruling. Now DeSantis has said "it would be appropriate" to redistrict once again. I think there's ample justification to do it, DeSantis told reporters July 24 at an event in Bradenton. My guys are going through the court's opinion to look at different avenues but I think thats something that I certainly would look favorably on."

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Here's what all this means.

What is redistricting?

Redistricting means redrawing electoral district lines. While every state gets two U.S. senators, the U.S. Constitution requires seats to be appointed to the House of Representatives based on each state's population. Each state can draw its own map of electoral districts in which candidates can run to represent their district.

Maps are generally redrawn every ten years after the U.S. Census releases the latest data on the shifting state and county populations. The House has 435 Representatives and, as populations change, some states may get more and some may get less.

In a few states, that process is controlled by independent commissions to ensure that the districts are drawn fairly and do not advantage a particular party. In most states, including Florida, state legislators draw up maps, and the governor has the power to veto them.

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That process often leads to gerrymandering.

What is gerrymandering? How is it different from redistricting?

Gerrymandering is what it's called when legislative bodies or electoral commissions intentionally create district boundaries specifically to make it easier for one party to win, or to diminish the political power of a group of voters.

Voters in one party or in a minority group may get spread too thinly across multiple districts to be able to ever choose the representative they want, or they may get packed into a single district to minimize their effects on the state or their seats in Congress.

It often creates bizarrely-shaped districts drawn across widespead areas to collect the voters the creators want the districts to have, rather than using geographical boundaries that would force candidates to appeal to voters of all parties.

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In some cases, this allows the party controlling the districting map to effectively decide who will win future elections despite the will of the voters by deciding where those voters will be counted. In some heavily gerrymandered districts, opposing party members may not bother running for office since the odds are stacked against them before they even begin.

Gerrymandering was named after 19th century Massachussetts Governor Elbridge Gerry after he said one of the districts in an 1812 map looked like a mythological salamander, according to the Library of Congress. The Boston Gazette called the resulting map a "Gerry-mander."

Gerrymandering has been an ongoing issue for many years, but over the last few decades developments in computer-aided voter research has allowed redistricting with pin-point accuracy creating newly drawn districts that can slice through neighborhoods.

When Leon County Judge J. Layne Smith initially blocked DeSantis' 2022 map, he said, "By dismantling a congressional district that enabled Black voters to elect their candidates of choice under the previous plan, the enacted plan violates  the Florida Constitution." He also noted that throughout history, "Florida has been a state home to discrimination in voting."

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It's hardly a one-sided phenomenon. For years, former U.S. Rep. and Democrat Corrine Brown was famous for leading a district that was called "the most gerrymandered in the country." It stretched across eight counties from Jacksonville to Orlando before it was changed after Florida voters approved an anti-gerrymandering amendment in 2010.

What is Florida's Fair Districts Amendment?

In 2010, 62.9% of Florida voters approved Amendment 6, the Fair Districts Amendment, which set guidelines for congressional redistricting. Under the amendment:

Districts may not be drawn to favor or disfavor incumbents or political parties

Districts shall not be drawn to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice

Districts must be contiguous

Unless otherwise required, districts must be compact, as equal in population as feasible, and where feasible must make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries

Florida Republican leaders responded to the Fair District's passage by crafting a new GOP-friendly map anyway and recruiting civilians to submit the maps as their own. After the scheme was revealed years later, the Florida Supreme Court made it clear that practices that have been acceptable in the past were now illegal in the state of Florida and imposed a new map.

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In 2021, the Florida Legislature worked harder to make a more nonpartisan map, conscious of the likelihood of a legal challenge, but DeSantis vetoed it as being D.O.A., or dead on arrival.

A ProPublica report revealed that in 2022 DeSantis worked with out-of-state operatives to craft his own redistricting maps that were favorable to Republicans and wiped out half of the states Black-dominated congressional districts. The Black voters in the eliminated districts were moved to majority-white, mostly Republican districts.

DeSantis has said that the Fair Districts Amendment violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment and that a previous U.S. Supreme Court ruling found it unconstitutional to racially gerrymander a seat, except in narrow instances. This would define measures taken to help minorities historically prevented from exercising political power as being themselves discriminatory.

How has the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on redistricting?

All over the place, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, but largely in favor of state legislators.

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1962, Baker v. Carr, that federal courts had jurisdiction to consider constitutional challenges to state legislative redistricting plans and in 1964, Wesberry v. Sanders, it ruled that the constitutionality of congressional districts could be decided by the courts.

In later rulings the court said that legislative districts should be redrawn to reflect population shifts at least every 10 years and that state legislators must be apportioned substantially according to population (1964, Reynolds v. Sims) and that Congressional districts must be mathematically equal in population unless necessary to achieve a legitimate state objective (1983, Karcher v. Daggett).

The court also ruled in 1986, Davis v. Bandemer, that partisan gerrymandering cases could be brought in federal courts. But the standards established were so difficult to satisfy that no gerrymandered map was struck down for nearly 20 years before a plurality of the justices in 2004 (Vieth v. Jubelirer) said that partisan gerrymandering claims should be excluded from federal courts. That was reaffirmed in 2019, Rucho v. Common Cause.

In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that in cases of racial gerrymandering, courts must presume that state legislatures act in good faith and challengers bear the burden of demonstrating that race, rather than politics, was the predomineant factor in a new map.

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Last May, the court allowed a South Carolina congressional map that critics and a lower court said discriminated against Black voters to make Rep. Nancy Mace's district friendlier to Republicans because the 6-3 conservative majority said there was no direct evidence that race was the major reason for the change.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Redistricting: GOP-led states eying plans to hold power in US House
WALKER, Mich. (WOOD)  New renderings show some of the ideas for what a proposed aquarium along the Grand River in Walker might look like.

The renderings from John Ball Zoo  which a spokesperson noted are early conceptual drawings that are subject to change  appear to show the site could include at least one central building, some smaller satellite buildings and walkways through wetlands.

John Ball Zoo eyes site in Walker for aquarium

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John Ball Zoo is a leader in animal care with a mission of saving wildlife and wild places. The proposed aquarium advances our mission and values by bringing a world-class attraction to our community that will foster educational opportunities for generations to come, zoo CEO Peter DArienzo said in a statement released to News 8 Monday.

A conceptual rendering of what a proposed aquarium by John Ball Zoo might look like, subject to change as plans move forward. (Courtesy John Ball Zoo) A conceptual rendering of what a proposed aquarium by John Ball Zoo might look like, subject to change as plans move forward. (Courtesy John Ball Zoo) A conceptual rendering of what a proposed aquarium by John Ball Zoo might look like, subject to change as plans move forward. (Courtesy John Ball Zoo)

The zoo is looking at a 190-acre site for the aquarium, though it has not yet bought the land. Much of the site is wetlands and floodway and as much as 40 acres is the the former Fenske Landfill off Wilson Avenue The zoo, the Michigan environmental agency and the city of Grand Rapids are in talks about implementing a brownfield project to clean up the site  though its not yet clear exactly what that would look like or how long it would take.

We are currently working with experts and the State of Michigan to perform due diligence on the potential aquarium site to ensure the project has a positive impact on our air, land and water while expanding our mission of saving wildlife and wild places and bringing huge economic benefits to our region, DArienzo stated. We look forward to working with our partners and Kent County on many other aspects of this project, so it can bring jobs, educational opportunities and economic impact that will benefit our community for generations to come.

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Big animatronics at zoo highlight programs to protect small species

He said the aquarium is expected to draw 1 million visitors in its first year as well as have a $3.4 billion economic impact and generate $268 million in state and local taxes in its first decade.

The zoo is eyeing 2031 to complete the project.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, spoke on the Iowa House floor Jan. 30, 2025, in support of a bill implementing a moratorium on new casinos in Iowa. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, was officially elected Iowa House majority leader on Monday, taking over the position from Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley.

Iowa House Republicans elected Kaufmann to lead the caucus through the remainder of the 91st General Assembly. Though the announcement makes the leadership change official, the news was expected as President Donald Trump referred to Kaufmann as majority leader-elect during his July 3 speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, more than a month in advance of the actual vote.

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Kaufmann, the son of Iowa Republican Party chair Jeff Kaufmann, began serving in the Iowa House in 2013. He has held multiple leadership roles as chairs of the House State Government and Government Oversight committees, and most recently has served as the Ways and Means Committee chair since 2022. Outside of the Legislature, he served as a senior advisor for Trumps 2024 Iowa caucus campaign.

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House Speaker Pat Grassley said in a statement Monday he is looking forward to working with Kaufmann to advance our caucuss shared vision for Iowa.

Ive served in the Iowa House with Representative Kaufmann for many years now and have seen him grow into a leader for our caucus, Grassley said. I have seen many examples of how his bold leadership style has brought the caucus together toward meaningful legislation to move our state forward.

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Since 2019, the House GOP leadership was led by Grassley as speaker and Windschitl as majority leader. But Windschitl is stepping down from legislative leadership role as the Missouri Valley veteran seeks election to the U.S. House. In July, Windschitl announced his run for Iowas 4th Congressional District. The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who launched an exploratory committee running for Iowa governor following Gov. Kim Reynolds decision to not seek reelection.

As he takes over Windschitls position as majority leader, Kaufmann said he will work through the position on issues that matter to Iowans.

I am honored by the trust placed in me by my colleagues to serve as Majority Leader, Kaufmann said in a statement. This is a role I will not take lightly. I am committed to uniting our caucus to advance policies that strengthen our economy, support our families, and ensure our children will have bright futures. I look forward to working with Speaker Grassley to address the challenges and opportunities facing Iowa with bold, practical solutions.

Iowa House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer, who took over as the minority party leader from Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Des Moines, as she runs for Iowas 3rd Congressional District, congratulated Kaufmanns election in a Monday statement.

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I have served alongside Representative Kaufmann for many years, and I trust he will ensure every voice, including those across the aisle, is heard, Meyer said. I look forward to a respectful and constructive working relationship with the new Majority Leader. Iowa faces critical issues, like property tax reform, public education funding, and economic struggles, and these challenges demand bipartisan solutions. It is my sincere hope that the Iowa House can rise above partisan divisions and deliver meaningful results for all Iowans.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran was interviewed on NewsNation last week to discuss redistricting efforts in Texas and trade talks in Europe.

Texas Democrats explain quorum breaking, Republicans demand arrests to force Trump-ordered redistricting vote

I think its pretty laughable that Governor Newsom should be talking about stacking the deck or playing by a different set of rules. California right now is 43 Democrats and 9 Republicans, Moran said in a July 28 interview.

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Moran, a Republican and the U.S. Congressman for Texas District 1-Tyler, was commenting on California Governor Gavin Newsom, whos come out against Republican efforts to redraw the Texas congressional map in order to create more Republican-leaning seats in Congress.

This moment requires us to be prepared to fight fire with fire  and we wont hesitate to act if Texas Republicans move ahead with this ridiculous power grab, Newsom said.

The Texas Tribune reported that Newsom has proposed redistricting California to include fewer Republican-leaning districts in response to those efforts to redistrict Texas congressional maps.

If you look at Illinois, they basically already redistricted out all but just a handful, I think just three Republicans, Moran said. So for Democrats to cry foul in this circumstance is pretty laughable because they they have done this exact measure.

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Texas House Committee debates congressional redistricting bill targeting five seats

On Sunday, several Texas State House Democrats said they were leaving the state in order to prevent the new congressional maps from coming to a vote, prompting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to call for their arrest.

I support the immediate arrest of these rogue lawmakers whove fled their duties. These radical Democrats are spitting in the face of every Texan they swore to represent, Paxton said. This is cowardice and dereliction of duty, and they should face the full force of the law without apology.

Moran also commented on President Trumps ongoing trade negotiations with Europe and the United Kingdom.

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Youre not going to solve every problem that exists between those two large entities. Just in a couple months, Moran said. But you could come up with a framework that would hopefully get us past this August deadline so that we can keep tariffs lower, give more certainty to both sides of the Atlantic, and allow businesses to make decisions going forward, knowing that were getting closer and closer to a more fair and more reciprocal trade relationship.

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U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace officially launches her 2026 bid for governor on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Photo by David Wren/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolinas coastal 1st Congressional District became the fifth GOP candidate to enter the 2026 governors race Monday, saying shes running to hold the line.

Mace, the first female cadet to graduate from The Citadel, officially launched her campaign during an early morning event at her alma mater. She has been teasing an impending bid for months on social media and talking to voters across the state to prepare for an announcement.

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They said stay quiet. I spoke up. They said sit down. I stood up. They said play nice, and I fought back, Mace told about 100 supporters gathered in the courtyard of Capers Hall at the states military college.

Im running for governor because South Carolina doesnt need another empty suit, she continued. It needs a governor who will fight for you and your values.

She pointed to her years at The Citadel as giving her the courage and discipline Id need to take on lifes toughest battles, noting she entered the Corps of Cadets after dropping out of high school at age 17 and initially going to work at Waffle House. She graduated in 1999, three years after The Citadel changed its male-only admission policy for cadets.

Thats where I learned what it means to hold the line  no matter the pressure, no matter the odds, she said.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace officially launched her bid for governor on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in the courtyard of Capers Hall at The Citadel. (Photo by David Wren/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Mace joins an already crowded field for the primary. Republicans who have already announced bids over the last month are Attorney General Alan Wilson, state Sen. Josh Kimbrell of Spartanburg County, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and most recently, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman of Rock Hill.

Attacks and accusations

While the 47-year-old single mother only just made it official, she has been sniping at the competition, both on social media and in front of voters.

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Mace has taken shots at Evette as a glorified ribbon cutter who only smiles and waves.

Shes a nice lady, Mace wrote on social media in June. No edge. No guts. No shot.

But Wilson, whos in his fourth term as South Carolinas top prosecutor, has been the primary focus of Maces criticism. At the start of the year she began calling Wilson a do-nothing attorney general.

Then in February, Mace took to the House floor and accused four men, including her ex-fiance, of some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable during a nearly hour-long prepared speech.

The congresswoman said she discovered thousands of photos taken with hidden cameras as well as recordings the predators made of themselves sexually assaulting women over years. She was among the victims.

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The State Law Enforcement Division confirmed after her speech that it was investigating at least one of the men for assault, harassment and voyeurism. The investigation started Dec. 14, 2023, after SLED was contacted by U.S. Capitol Police.

Mace also accused Wilson of not addressing the crimes against her and other women.

All four men accused have denied the accusations and one has sued for libel and defamation.

Reporters and supporters gather ahead of U.S. Rep. Nancy Maces announcement in the courtyard of Capers Hall at The Citadel on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Photo by David Wren/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Wilson said neither he nor anyone in his office had any knowledge of the accusations until her speech. It also is not the attorney generals job to start a police investigation, his office said in a statement.

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Since then, Mace has sued one of the other men for defamation. And a woman, identified as Jane Doe, who says she was a victim of three of the men has filed her own civil suit.

All of those lawsuits are ongoing.

Maces political career

Mace unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in 2014. She placed fifth in that seven-way GOP primary, which Graham won without needing a runoff.

In January 2018, she won a special election to the South Carolina House representing parts of Charleston and Berkeley counties. She replaced a GOP legislator who resigned amid a yearslong Statehouse corruption investigation.

In 2020, Mace ousted one-term Democrat Joe Cunningham for the 1st congressional seat, flipping the district back into Republican control. The district was then redrawn as part of the Legislatures redistricting process following the 2020 census to favor a Republican and Mace easily won re-election with more than 58% of the vote.

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Mace won her last GOP primary with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. But during her early days in Congress, the two had a rocky relationship.

Mace condemned Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol and was among House Republicans who voted to impeach him in the aftermath. In her first re-election bid, Trump backed her GOP challenger, though Mace ultimately won that primary.

Shes since become one of Trumps most fervent allies.

I think that anyone that wants to run statewide or any election, really, in 2026 or 2028 beyond, will need the Presidents support, Mace previously told reporters.

A firebrand

Her first campaign ad touts her firebrand reputation and includes Trump calling her a fighter. On Monday morning, she didnt directly talk about Trump, but her fiery speech focused on his policies, including immigration.

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She promised to fine businesses that hire immigrants living in the U.S. illegally $1,000 a day and work closely with federal immigration officers to round up illegals who are flooding our state.

Anyone who is here illegally will get deported immediately, Mace said.

1st District race

Maces announcement that shell run for governor creates a second opening in South Carolinas congressional delegation.

State Rep. Mark Smith told the SC Daily Gazette on Monday that he will run to replace Mace.

The Lowcountry needs a proven leader in the 1st Congressional District and Im ready to step up, the Daniel Island Republican wrote in a statement.

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Voters first elected Smith, CEO of McAlister-Smith Funeral Homes, in 2020 to the state House seat previously held by Mace.

Last week, GOP state Sen. Wes Climer of Rock Hill announced hes running for the 5th District.

She promised to sign a bathroom bill into law, saying mentally ill men dont belong in womens spaces. She didnt give specifics. But South Carolina already has such a law for K-12 public schools, which remains in place pending a final ruling on a challenge in federal court.

She also promised to rid libraries of what she termed pornography and ban the use of pronouns in classrooms.

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I want kids coming home with As and Bs not they and them,' she said.

State law already restricts childrens access to sexual books in public libraries, as per a state budget directive proposed by Kimbrell, one of her GOP primary opponents. A separate state regulation in effect since June 2024 bars books with sexual conduct from public school libraries and classrooms. The latest decisions by the State Board of Education brought to 21 the total number of books librarians have been required to remove from shelves.

Her message resonated with supporters at the 7:30 a.m. event, many of them waving Hold the Line signs or wearing Get Maced stickers.

Im a sixth-generation Charlestonian and Id like to see a woman in the governors office, said Francis Beylotte. Men in South Carolina have messed it up forever.  I think she has the character and experience now. Shes paid her dues, and its justified.

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In 2010, then state Rep. Nikki Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, became South Carolinas first female and first minority governor. Her departure in 2017 to become Trumps first United Nations ambassador put then-Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster in the governors office. Having won two full terms since, McMaster is South Carolina longest-serving elected governor. He cant seek a third.

We need change in South Carolina, added Jenson Estey of Daniel Island. Kind of like President Trump  change up the norms.

Mace was introduced by Kaitlyn Czuar, whose 10-year-old son Tanner was one of three people hit by a car during a May 1 hit-and-run on Sullivans Island. Mace awarded Tanner the Congressional Patriot Award for his courage in the wake of the incident.

Kaitlin Czuar said Mace is someone who understands that protecting families and defending children isnt political  its a priority.

Czuar said Mace notices people. She hears them and she stands with them. Shes a trailblazer and a servant leader who puts South Carolina families first.

More controversy

Mace has made headlines for her conflicts with multiple transgender people.

It began with the election last November of Delawares Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress. Mace introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from using womens restrooms in the U.S. Capitol and House office buildings, later seeking to expand that to all federal property.

She was then criticized for using a slur to the LGBTQ community during a House Oversight Committee hearing in February.

In April, Mace got in a conflict with a transgender student at the University of South Carolina when the student asked Mace to apologize for using the word tranny during an April event hosted by USCs chapter of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that advocates for conservative viewpoints on high school and college campuses across the country.

Following that exchange, an Upstate transgender woman threatened on social media to kill Mace. The woman was arrested and charged with threatening the life of a public official. That case is still pending.

Town hall series announced

Ahead of officially launching her campaign, Mace also announced a statewide series of speaking engagements that her team is calling the Mother of All Town Halls, starting in Myrtle Beach Wednesday.

No questions off limits, no topics too tough, Maces spokeswoman Sydney Long said in a statement to NBC affiliate WCBD News 2 . Shell be traveling across South Carolina to speak directly with residents.

Mace has previously been criticized for not holding in-person town halls, including a profanity-laden conflict with a man in an Ulta Beauty store who questioned her for her lack of events.
Rep. Nancy Mace launches campaign for SC governor

South Carolina congresswoman Nancy Mace announced her decision to enter the race for governor in a video announcement on Monday.

The Republican representative made a special announcement at The Citadel military college in Charleston Monday morning making it official.

She plans to start a statewide series of town halls later this week with an event in Myrtle Beach.

ALSO READ >> SC passes hands-free driving law

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In January, Mace said she was seriously considering the idea of running to replace current Gov. Henry McMaster.

McMaster cant seek reelection due to term limits.

Mace, calling herself Trump in high heels, said she is seeking the presidents support and endorsement in the race. She said she is best positioned to carry out his agenda in South Carolina.

Im running for governor because South Carolina doesnt need another empty suit and needs a governor who will fight for you and your values, Mace said. South Carolina needs a governor who will drag the truth into sunlight and flip the tables if thats what it takes.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

VIDEO: SC governor asks for $21.1M for elementary school SROs, lawmakers provide only $3.7M
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A boater has reportedly survived a 2-mile swim after recently falling overboard on Lake Superior.

Minneapolis NBC affiliate KARE-TV reported that local authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard were notified shortly before 10 p.m. Friday of a boater who had gone overboard.

The captain, identified by the Cook County (Minnesota) Sheriffs Office as Joe Modec, was reportedly talking with his friend, Peter Joice, while they were on their way to Isle Royale to meet up with other people. Sometime between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., Modec noticed that Joice had stopped responding to him.

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Modec told law enforcement he was a couple of miles from shore when he realized his friend was no longer on the boat. He said he began circling the area looking for Joice, was unable to find him, and then pressed the distress button his boat and headed for the marina, KARE reported.

Later that night, Joice was found on nearby Grand Portage Island. He told investigators that he fell overboard when a wave hit the boat and then swam an estimated 2 miles to reach the island.

Joice told deputies that he stripped off all of his clothes except his boxer shorts so he wouldnt get hypothermia, KARE reported. He then began waving sticks to get the attention of passing boats.

Investigators say there was no indication Joice was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He declined medical treatment.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided that his forces should occupy the entire Gaza Strip, media reports said on Monday, amid mounting criticism of the dire humanitarian situation in the coastal territory.

Netanyahu reportedly plans to consult with his Cabinet and military leadership in the coming days to garner support for the plan.

News portal Ynetnews.com quoted a senior official said to be close to Netanyahu as saying: "The die is cast, we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip."

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The Israeli prime minister himself said earlier that he was planning to convene the Security Cabinet to discuss further actions in Gaza, as the conflict nears 22 months.

In a video message published on Sunday, Netanyahu said that Palestinian extremist group Hamas refuses to agree to a negotiated solution.

Netanyahu launched a military campaign in the Gaza Strip in October 2023 in response to the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and saw another 250 abducted into Gaza.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages through indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have dragged on for months without results.

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More than 60,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza. Meanwhile, a global outcry is growing as the embattled territory appears on the brink of famine after Israel imposed a near-total blockage on aid in March.

Israeli forces currently control about 75% of Gaza. The remaining 50 hostages, of whom about 20 are believed to be still alive, are suspected to be held in areas still under the control of Hamas.

Military critical of full occupation

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have repeatedly opposed a full occupation of the Gaza Strip, warning that demolishing all Hamas tunnels and bunkers could take years, according to the Times of Israel newspaper.

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Military leaders have also warned that an offensive aimed at capturing all of Gaza could endanger the lives of the hostages, who they fear might be killed as soon as Israeli troops approach.

According to the reports, Netanyahu is now willing to accept that risk, however.

"There will be activity also in areas where hostages are being held," the official quoted by ynetnews.com goes on to say. "If this doesn't suit the IDF chief of staff [Eyal Zamir], he can resign."

Until now, it was primarily ministers from the far-right and ultra-religious coalition partners in Netanyahu's government who had called for the complete capture of the Gaza Strip.

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They also demand the deportation of the Palestinian population to other countries and the establishment of Jewish settlements in the coastal strip.

According to media reports, Zamir is said to have engaged in heated discussions with the ultra-right ministers at previous meetings of the Security Cabinet.

Former security chiefs call for war to end

Meanwhile, more than a dozen former Israeli security officials issued a video appeal on Monday calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

"This war started as a just war. It was a defensive war," says Ami Ayalon, former director of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, in the video.

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"But once we achieved all its military objectives, once we achieved a brilliant military victory against all our enemies, this war stopped being a just war."

"It is leading the State of Israel to the loss of its security and identity," he adds.

The video shows the men sat around a long table in what appears to be an empty office. Among the 19 former senior officials featured are former chief of staff and prime minister Ehud Barak, former chiefs of staff Moshe Ya'alon and Dan Halutz, and three former heads of the Mossad foreign intelligence service.

In the video, the men say the war is being continued for political reasons only and called for an agreement that returns all of the 50 remaining hostages in one go.

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"We are on the precipice of defeat," former Mossad director Tamir Pardo warns.

Several of them say Israel is being led by a fundamentalist, extremist government that no longer has the support of the majority.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Police Sunday morning arrested a man on a gun charge after reports said he harassed a parishioner at a South Side church.

Read next: 1 dead, 1 hurt after Warren convenience store shooting: Police

Robert Earl Wilson, 35, was arraigned in municipal court on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a third-degree felony; carrying concealed weapons, a fourth-degree felony; and obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony.

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Bond information is not yet available. He has a preliminary hearing set for Aug. 11.

Reports said a city police officer about 9:25 a.m. working an off-duty security detail at St. Dominics Church on East Lucius Avenue was told that Wilson threw a bottle at a man and challenged him to a fight before walking away, then he came back.

The officer called for backup and found Wilson, who matched the description of the man who harassed the church goer, on Southern Boulevard.

Wilson ran but was taken to the ground by the officer, reports said. Reports said he told police he had a gun.

Officers searched Wilson and found a .44-caliber Desert Eagle semiautomatic pistol that had two rounds in the magazine.

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Wilson had warrants in Boardman and Medina, reports said. Because he has warrants, he is not allowed to have a gun.

Reports did not say why Wilson was threatening the other man.

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Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on Monday announced she is running for governor of South Carolina, joining a competitive field of GOP candidates to succeed outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster (R), who is term-limited.

In a speech at the Citadel military college in Charleston, her alma mater, Mace, who is currently serving her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, said she was ready to make her long-anticipated gubernatorial bid official.

South Carolina is tired of politicians who smile for the cameras, lie to your face and then vanish when its time to lead, she said. Im not one of them. Im running for governor because South Carolina doesnt need another empty suit, and needs a governor who will fight for you and your values.

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Mace has yet to secure Trumps support but has made it clear that she would fight for his endorsement.

Ill be working very hard if I get in to earn his support, she said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

Mace also included an old clip of Trump calling her a fighter in her campaign announcement video posted on social media.

Mace, who was first elected to Congress in 2020, criticized Trumps role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, telling Fox News at the time that every accomplishment that the president had over the past four years has been wiped out. Mace also voted to certify former President Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election, earning Trumps rebuke.

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However, after Mace managed to defeat her Trump-endorsed opponent in the 2022 GOP primary for her House seat, and went on to win the general election, she eventually made peace with the president, becoming one of his staunchest supporters in the House. She endorsed him in the 2024 presidential race and has even described herself as Trump in high heels.

Mace has also been one of the faces of the GOPs assault on transgender Americans, despite once calling herself pro-transgender rights. She has launched a series of attacks against Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first transgender member of Congress, misgendering her colleague, mocking her on social media and trying to block her from using single-sex bathrooms in the Capitol.

On Monday, Mace made clear she has no plans to abandon her divisive rhetoric as part of her new campaign.

We are going to ban pronouns in the classroom. I dont want to see any glitter parties. I want kids coming home with As and Bs, not they and them, she said.

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Other GOP candidates who will compete against Mace include state Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, Lieutenant Gov. Pamela Evette and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell. The winner of the GOP gubernatorial primary is widely expected to go on to win the general election in the solidly red state, which went for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

Mace has previously accused her ex-fiance and three other men of committing sex crimes against her and other women. All four men denied her allegations to NBC News.

Mace also accused Wilson of failing to take action after she reached out to his office with the allegations. Wilson denied her accusations regarding his conduct as categorically false.

Related...
Republicans on the House Ethics Committee have reprimanded New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after she reportedly said in government filings that her fiance, Riley Roberts, both is and isnt her spouse.

In its July 2025 report, the ethics committee criticized Ocasio-Cortez for listing Roberts as her spouse on federal documents that she filed before attending the 2021 Met Gala. Roberts and Ocasio-Cortez are not yet legally married.

The Committee also found evidence that Representative Ocasio-Cortez listed Mr. Roberts as her 'spouse' on paperwork filed with the House relating to privately sponsored travel, although the two were not legally married at the time of the gifted travel, the report states.

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Similarly, the ethics panel stated that Roberts was listed as a spouse on the documents to attend the gala, but that he wasnt listed as a spouse in Ocasio-Cortezs financial filings, The Daily Mail noted. If he had been listed as a spouse, he would have been forced to disclose stock and other financial holdings.

The Committee further notes that at the same time Representative Ocasio-Cortez was seeking to take advantage of exceptions to the Gift Rule only applicable to spouses and/or certain relatives, she was not disclosing Mr. Roberts's financial interests as is required of Members who are legally married, the report adds.

Ocasio-Cortez and Roberts have been engaged since 2022 (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Last month, Ocasio-Cortez was ordered to pay back thousands of dollars after the ethics panel determined that she had not been paying market rates in connection with her appearance at the Met Gala in 2021. The panel found that the 35-year-old had underpaid for her dress, which said tax the rich across the back, as well as for jewelry and accessories.

In the July 2025 report, the committee states the investigation will be closed after Ocasio-Cortez has paid another $2,700 to vendors for clothing and accessories. The panel said the congresswoman has been cooperating with the investigation.

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The committee also criticized that Met Gala organizer and Vogue editor Anna Wintour personally invited Ocasio-Cortez and Roberts to the event.

Ocasio-Cortez and Roberts met while they were both studying at Boston University and have been engaged since April 2022, The Mail noted.

A lawyer for Ocasio-Cortez, David Mitrani, argued in the filings that Roberts is not subject to the financial disclosure rules as hes not considered a spouse.

Ocasio-Cortez attended the 2021 Met Gala in a dress stating tax the rich (Getty)

The committee states that Roberts still enjoyed some of the benefits of being a spouse, such as receiving a spouses congressional pin, which allowed him to access certain restricted parts of the congressional complex.

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Mr. Roberts and the Congresswoman have been together since 2014, and have lived together since 2016, the committee states. Mr. Roberts has had a spouse pin since the Congresswoman entered Congress in 2019.

It is clear that the term 'spouse'  as utilized in this former rule and as seemingly accepted by the Committee by expanding 'spouse or dependent' to any guest  was intended to allow a Member of Congress to bring the individual that they've decided to share their lives with to a charity event, regardless of whether they had taken steps to bring the law or religion into their relationship, it adds.
Should independent contractors get employment benefits? The question has fueled decades of legal and political battles  and it might finally be coming to an end for the roughly 58 million people who currently work as freelancers, contractors and gig workers across America.

Three Republican senators  led by Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who chairs the chambers Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee  have introduced bills to expand benefits like health insurance and retirement savings for contractors. The legislation would protect companies from worker misclassification lawsuits if they offered contractors non-salary perks, and Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley (CA) introduced companion bills back in February.

Advocates of these so-called portable benefits argue that they support the realities of the current workplace. In 1947, Congress explicitly carved out independent contractors from the National Labor Relations Acts definition of employee. Today, most contractors say theyd prefer to keep their independent arrangements but want more financial stability. Cassidy has hailed passing these bills a top priority for him this year.

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The portable benefits most likely to pass now, however, are less robust and worker-friendly than some progressive Democrats were envisioning ten years ago. Back in 2015, tech entrepreneur Nick Hanauer and David Rolf, former SEIU president of the Seattle Local 775, pitched a proposal where employers would contribute $2 an hour to a shared security system.

Benefits would accrue by the hour, pool across multiple jobs, and be accessible whether someone worked for one company full-time or five part-time. A year later, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) outlined a different approach: Instead of requiring employers to pay in, she proposed building public systems that would let workers take benefits like health care and retirement from job to job. In his final State of the Union address that year, Barack Obama also endorsed the general idea, emphasizing that basic benefits should be just as mobile as everything else is today.

But unions strongly opposed these efforts. Labor groups have long fought against worker misclassification, where wrongly designating employees as contractors allows employers to sidestep payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, minimum wage laws and other obligations. Unions view codifying portable benefits largely as a way to keep misclassifying workers and therefore cut them off from core workplace protections, including the right to unionize.

Unions and union-funded nonprofits argue that portable benefits offer a false choice between job security and flexibility, and point to examples like nurses and restaurant workers where employees can still enjoy more flexible environments. The portable benefits approach, they warn, will just hasten the outsourcing of work to contractors or encourage more companies to misclassify their staff. They point to lobbying efforts by companies reliant on contractors, like DoorDash and Lyft, as well as lobbying by advocacy groups funded by Instacart, Uber, and Grubhub.

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For a time, it seemed that Democrats might fight for a more progressive version of portable benefits: Warren in her 2016 speech talked about extending union rights to temp and gig workers, and the Hanauer/Rolf proposal resembled how most European countries administer job protections. But the politics of the last seven years have instead shifted the partys focus toward narrowing the legal definition of independent contracting and reclassifying more workers as traditional employees.

This approach is a cornerstone of the Protecting Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a union-backed federal labor reform bill that passed the House in 2021, was enthusiastically endorsed by President Joe Biden, and currently has 44 Democratic sponsors in the Senate. Yet the bill stands little chance of becoming law any time soon  and in the meantime, Republicans have taken up the issue with a more employer-friendly bent.

With a few exceptions, most Democrats have stopped talking about securing portable benefits for freelancers who want to remain independent. But the need to protect gig workers hasnt gone away; both their numbers and their vulnerability continue to rise. The long-running policy battle may finally be winding downjust not in a way that necessarily helps them.

Federal whiplash over the independent contractor question

The fight over worker classification stretches back decades, but a good starting place is 2006, when a group of FedEx Home Delivery drivers in Massachusetts voted to unionize. The company refused to bargain, arguing the drivers were independent contractors and therefore ineligible for a union. Although the National Labor Relations Board sided with the drivers in 2007, deeming them employees eligible to unionize, the DC Circuit overturned that ruling in 2009, and asserted the NLRB has no authority whatsoever over independent contractors.

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Undeterred, the Obama-era NLRB ruled in favor of a different group of FedEx drivers in 2014, declaring them to be employees, not contractors. (The NLRB does not treat rulings other than those from the US Supreme Court as binding.) By 2015, the Obama Labor Department also issued guidance clarifying that most workers should be considered employees. But the Trump administration reversed both efforts, and in 2017 the DC Circuit again sided with FedEx.

The pendulum swung back  to classifying more workers as employees  under Biden, only to shift again under Trump in his second term.

Turning points

The politics started to change in 2018, when the California Supreme Court issued a landmark decision sharply limiting when companies could classify workers as contractors. In response, California lawmakers in 2019 passed a law known as AB 5, functionally codifying the decisions stringent ABC test a standard that defines most workers as employees. Under the ABC test, one can only be considered a contractor if they do work that falls outside the companys typical line of business.

Gig companies began fighting back. In 2020, tech giants like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash successfully spent $200 million on a California ballot measure to exempt drivers from AB 5 in exchange for requiring companies to provide contractors with some limited benefits. The gig companies also turned their attention outside of California, working aggressively to prevent laws like AB 5 from spreading.

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In 2022 they prevailed in Washington state, which passed a law that provides limited benefits to gig workers in exchange for maintaining their independent contractor status. The Washington law was backed by the local Teamsters affiliate of drivers and the Washington State Labor Council, but vocally opposed by Sean OBrien, the Teamsters international president.

Labor groups seeking to slow the momentum of portable benefits scored a win in 2021, when the strict ABC standard was included in the Democratic Partys PRO Act. While a few tech-friendly Democrats continue to elevate the issue of protecting gig workers with portable benefits, most in the party have gone quiet on the subject, as doing so would be seen as undercutting a core goal of the PRO Act. The Democrats central focus now is on reclassifying gig workers as employees, not protecting contractors with flexible benefits.

Another political turning point came in 2023, when Utah lawmakers passed the countrys first voluntary portable benefits law, enabling companies to contribute benefits to independent contractors without affecting their contractor status or implying employer liability. Companies like Shipt and Lyft started piloting new benefits for Utah workers months after the law took effect.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro last year initiated a portable benefits pilot with DoorDash, and Georgia, Maryland, and Tennessee have taken their own steps this year. Supporters say these new voluntary laws will give companies the confidence to provide workers with more competitive working conditions, and they point to preliminary results from Pennsylvania, where 4,400 DoorDash drivers signed up for the savings account program, and earned $400 on average in their first year.

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Labor leaders remain skeptical, warning this all may amount to little more than PR  or a way to treat workers like employees without providing real support.

The new benefits may be pretty lackluster

Independent contractors already have the ability to contribute to tax-deductible retirement savings plans known as Simplified Employee Pension plans, or SEP-IRAs. But under current law, employers cant also contribute to those plans without risking legal challenges.

Cassidys new proposal, the Independent Retirement Fairness Act, would amend federal law to allow employers to voluntarily contribute, while shielding businesses from having to provide broader employment benefits or protections. Its unclear whether companies would actually take advantage of this new freedom, though supporters point out that most private-sector retirement plans in the US are voluntary.

In terms of health insurance, independent workers can already obtain portable coverage via the Affordable Care Act but a quarter of contractors lack coverage, typically because its too expensive. This year, the average 40-year-old buying unsubsidized health insurance on the exchanges paid nearly $500 per month, while a family of four paid close to $1,600.

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Yet Republicans are not proposing to increase subsidies to independent contractors seeking health insurance on the exchanges. Indeed they just approved slashing subsidies to the Affordable Care Act, meaning those with coverage could see their premiums skyrocket, and millions more lose insurance altogether.

Rather, Cassidy is looking to allow contractors to purchase pooled options known as Association Health Plans (AHPs), which might provide lower premiums but come with far fewer protections, for example, AHPs frequently lack coverage for preexisting conditions and preventative services. AHPs were originally meant to be options for businesses in the same industry or geographic area but in 2018 the Trump administration tried to expand them to let loosely affiliated groups  like freelancers  buy coverage together and avoid many Affordable Care Act requirements. A federal judge struck down that effort in 2019, saying it unlawfully stretched the definition of employer and was clearly designed to evade the ACAs consumer protections.

Republicans reviving that effort now could both skim healthy, young individuals off the ACA exchanges, and mislead workers into plans far more skimpy and unregulated than they realized.

In an ideal system employers would have no role in health insurance, but even in our current system, it typically would be better for workers to get subsidized health care on the individual exchanges than AHPs, said Matt Bruenig, the head of the left-wing Peoples Policy Project think tank. These benefits dont seem like they would be much improvement at all, and could make things worse if they are a trojan horse for badly regulated AHPs.

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Warren criticized Cassidys proposal, but did not elaborate regarding where she falls today on portable benefits. I have always believed that all workers deserve access to quality health care and benefits, but unfortunately this Republican effort isnt about getting workers the benefits they deserve, she told Vox in an emailed statement. This GOP legislation is about giving employers freedom to misclassify workers and deprive them of crucial workplace rights  including the right to form a union and be free from harassment.

After nearly two decades of legal battles, Congress may finally be ready to declare victory on aiding contractors. But the workers at the center of the fight may end up with little more than they started with.
A study published Monday offers clarity on a more than decade-long marine mystery: What has been killing the velvety sunflower sea star?

In 2013, something began ravaging sea stars along the West Coast, turning them into decaying, fragmented carcasses. Over the next few years, the wasting disease (SSWD) killed billions of animals along the shore, transforming entire marine ecosystems. A network of researchers formed to focus on recovery.

One species was hit especially hard: Pycnopodia helianthoides, more commonly known as the sunflower sea star. Scientists estimate the global population has plummeted by 94% since 2013. California alone lost about 99% of its sunflower sea stars. For over a decade, nobody knew what was responsible.

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In their paper in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers have now identified the culprit behind the devastating epidemic  and with it, a path forward for restoration.

This was a big deal for us, said Alyssa Gehman, a marine disease ecologist at Hakai Institute and the University of British Columbia and senior author on the study. When we started these experiments, I knew we would learn more, but I honestly wasn't convinced we would actually find the causative agent of disease.

The breakthrough came during a routine meeting between Gehman and two collaborators, Grace Crandall and Melanie Prentice. They had recently tested whether heat-treated coelomic fluid  the internal body fluid of a sea star  could still trigger the disease when injected into a healthy sea star. When it didn't, and the injected sea stars stayed healthy, it confirmed that the disease was being caused by something that was alive.

To find out what that "something" was, the team turned to a set of techniques that reveals which genes are being expressed by what microorganisms. When they compared healthy and infected animals, one group consistently stood out  the Vibrios, a type of bacteria commonly found in marine environments.

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Knowing there are many Vibrios, the researchers were curious whether the wasting sickness could be tied to one in particular. Prentice ran the species-level analysis, and the result floored them.

The whole list was Vibrio pectinocida. And it was in all of our six stars and it was in none of our controls, Gehman said. It was "mind-blowingly clear" that this bacteria was causing the disease, she said.

For Californias kelp forests, and the conservation groups trying to save them, this news is a major turning point.

Sunflower sea stars are considered a keystone species, meaning they are critical in regulating the stability and diversity of their ecosystems. One of their most important roles is controlling purple sea urchin populations, a species with a notoriously voracious appetite.

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They can mow down a kelp forest and then actually remain in that ecosystem without a food source, said Prentice, a marine biologist and study co-author. They enter almost like a zombie state until the kelp regrows, and then they eradicate it again.

Sunflower sea stars used to prey on the urchins, keeping them in check. But when wasting disease in effect wiped out their main predator, the sea urchins exploded in number, decimating kelp forests and transforming once-lush underwater habitats into so-called urchin barrens.

Kelp forests are the most important ecosystem on our coast because they house over 800 species of animals, said Nancy Caruso, marine biologist and founder of the nonprofit Get Inspired. Essentially, theyre the condos and apartment complexes of the animals that live on our coastline. When they disappear, the animals have no place to live.

Kelp forests also filter water, store carbon, and protect coastal communities from storms and erosion, making them an ally in addressing climate change, Prentice said.

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Since the 2013 outbreak, areas such as Northern California have lost more than 95% of their kelp forest cover. Several sites are still considered ecological collapse zones.

Some scientists trying to recover sunflower sea stars see the finding as a strong guide for future research  and efforts to boost the decimated keystone species.

For example, it could help address concerns California wildlife officials have had that stars bred in captivity might have the disease and carry it into wild waters if they are moved, conservationists said.

Prentice is currently developing something similar to a COVID rapid test that could help screen animals and seawater for the presence of Vibrio pectinocida before they're introduced into the ocean. That beats the cumbersome process of monitoring them to make sure theyre healthy enough to be released.

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Thats going to be powerful not just for research, but for management, she said. Now we can actually test animals before we move them, or test the water at a potential outplanting site and say, is this a good place for reintroduction?

Researchers also plan to investigate whether certain stars are resistant to the disease, opening the door to breeding animals that are more resilient. Could exposing them to a low dose of the disease do the trick?

Already there have been promising strides in conservation.

Starting in 2019, Jason Hodin, a senior research scientist at the University of Washingtons Friday Harbor Laboratories, spearheaded an effort to see whether the hefty stars could be raised in captivity. They could, and the success paved the way for a network of scientists trying to recover the species.

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Last year, his team became the first (and currently only) to unleash lab-bred stars into the ocean, dispatching 10 1-year-olds and 10 2-year-olds near the dock of their lab on San Juan Island. None have been seen sick or dying. At least three of the 2-year-olds were spotted just a few months ago.

Its not only showing that the stars can thrive in the wild, but that if you put them into an area that they like, then they stick around, he said.

Now hes hoping for approval from Washingtons wildlife agency to release stars in a small urchin barren developing on the west side of the island where his lab is located. The idea is to see whether introducing them where urchins have taken over, and where the kelp is getting hit, can help restore the kelp.

That work could begin this fall.

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Scientists in California are moving in the same direction, but havent yet planted stars in the wild.

Researchers with the Nature Conservancy may release stars in cages in Monterey Bay as soon as September, replicating a step Hodins team took before sending them out on their own. Theyre waiting on approval from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

There also have been hopeful sightings of wild stars in California waters. Recently, a sunflower sea star was spotted in Sonoma County, which Hodin estimated is the farthest south anyone has spotted them in seven years.

It takes a lot of stars to make a healthy population, so just having a few around isn't necessarily enough to get a good sort of population going, Hodin said, but at least it's a sign that the species is still around and that with some assistance, we might be able to bolster these populations.

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At the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, which cares for some of the surviving sunflower stars, the new findings could help reshape priorities.

It sharpens our focus on what it might take to reintroduce these animals in a way that is thoughtful, informed, and sustainable, said Johnathan Casey, the aquariums curator of fish and invertebrates.

With each new piece of the puzzle, we feel were getting closer to a future where sunflower stars can once again thrive along our coastline.

Sunflower sea stars used to be everywhere  on sand, rocks, kelp beds, and seagrass beds. For Gehman, that's the point. She hopes the findings help people realize that even the most abundant species can disappear very quickly.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
July's passage of the "Big Beautiful Bill" could send energy prices soaring, an analysis finds, with residents of 10 states facing average increases of more than $400 a year.

How do energy prices work?

Just like most things in the United States, energy prices are a product of supply and demand. In particular, the supply of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can play a huge role in consumers' monthly bills.

Renewable energy is considerably cheaper to produce than dirty energy from sources like coal and gas. So when legislation like the "Big Beautiful Bill"  passed in July by Congress  strips funding for renewable-energy projects, it means demand for more expensive energy options will increase.

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That's one reason why at-home solar energy can be a good option for people looking to lower their monthly energy bills, while also lowering their reliance on the grid. Palmetto's LightReach leasing program can make that a reality, offering homeowners a chance to install solar panels with minimal (and sometimes zero) upfront costs.

Why you should care about energy prices

Simply put, any legislation that hikes energy prices means less money in your bank account each month. And in the case of President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill", that hike could be significant.

A new analysis from Energy Innovation shows that, by cutting support for wind and solar production and boosting dirty-fuel funding, the bill could cause electricity rates to rise by as much as 18% by 2035, the Guardian reported. For the average U.S. household, that would mean an extra $170 in energy costs each year.

The spike will be most dramatic in states that don't have their own renewable-energy policies in place, which also tend to be Republican-leaning states that voted for Trump. Missouri is projected to be hit the hardest, with families paying an extra $640 per year, followed closely by Kentucky, South Carolina, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Texas.

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As temperatures continue to get hotter worldwide, experts fear those soaring prices could prove to be fatal.

"People are reluctant to put on their AC because of the fear of a high bill," Columbia University energy researcher Diana Hernandez told the Guardian. "It's easy for them to get into a debt spiral and hard for them to get out of it. This can end up as a life-or-death matter."

How to help lower energy prices

Even if the government restricts funding for large-scale renewable-energy projects, that doesn't mean that you have to rely on dirty energy.

Palmetto's solar-leasing plans are one option to bring clean energy to your house. If buying solar panels instead sounds like the best option for you, EnergySage offers free tools that allow homeowners to easily compare quotes from local, verified installers.

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And if you're not sure which option is right for you, check out the pros and cons of leasing and buying solar panels.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Residents are disturbed by a man trying to break into Roxbury apartments

Boston police are seeking the publics help in identifying a suspect in connection with multiple burglaries in Roxbury last week.

People living along Washington St. near Westminster Ave. say theyve seen the man multiple times going around to different front doors. Theyre thankful a ring camera from one of the units captured the man on video.

A man who didnt want to share his name lives inside the apartment with the Ring doorbell camera. He came face-to-face with the suspect.

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I open the door and hes fumbling through a tool bag. Like what the heck," he said.

Video shows the man on his knees fidgeting with something at the bottom of the front door by the stairs. When the man living inside opened the door and asked the man what he needed, the suspect responded asking can I use that washing machine back there?

The man said no, and the response was very strange. He and his family were creeped out. The man eventually went down the stoop and turned to go to the basement.

I see a guy on the lower level standing ripping the metal gate off the window. He just turns around, looks at me and says What? Im like, Thats not the right response.

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Other neighbors are on alert after seeing this man during the day and night. They dont want to see him again.

He came and went to another door and thats when your suspicions are raised a little bit, a neighbor named Sam said.

Police are using the Ring Doorbell video to ask the public for help identifying the suspect. The owners of the video hope the man is caught if he comes back.

We werent sleeping good because of that fear, the man said. Its scary because I want to keep my family safe.

I hope that they catch him, and I wont have to worry about that in my neighborhood anymore, neighbor Thomas Chavez said.

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According to Boston police, the most recent incident occurred at around 7:30 a.m. on July 27th. During the incident, the suspect was observed attempting to gain entry into the basement of an apartment building while carrying a bag containing suspected burglary tools.

Investigators believe the same individual also attempted to break into the same location on July 23. The suspect is known to frequent the area.

The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a slim build, believed to be in his mid-30s.

He was last seen wearing all-black clothing, including a black hat and black hoodie.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact District B-2 Detectives at (617) 343-4275.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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DEER LAKE  Suspended high in the air, Zoltan Zuberecz worked on the bell tower at Zions Red Church Monday morning.

With three other steeplejacks from Highclimbers Company in Chester County, 62-year-old Zuberecz was sprucing up the tower on a historic church founded 21 years before the American Revolution.

Enduring heat indexes over 100 degrees, the crew has scraped away aging paint and is applying a rubberized coating that should be good for 20 or more years.

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Jane Tamiolonis, a board member, said the Red Church steeple is a southern Schuylkill County landmark.

Its an icon, she said, to people who drive by and see it lit every night.

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A worker paints the steeple of Zions Red Church in Deer Lake, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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A worker paints the steeple of Zions Red Church in Deer Lake, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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A crew paints the steeple of Zions Red Church in Deer Lake, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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A crew paints the steeple of Zions Red Church in Deer Lake, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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A worker paints the steeple of Zions Red Church in Deer Lake, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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The Red Church tower is also legendary in the annals of the regions history.

When a propane truck exploded a short distance away on June 2, 1959, 10 people died and 11 were injured.

The force of the blast was so severe it tilted the church tower on a slight angle.

In 1991, 32 years later, Zuberecz led a crew that straightened the tower.

Using jacks, they straightened its infrastructure and shored it up with new beams, making it upright once more, said Zuberecz, then 30 years old.

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With his brother, Zuberecz formed the company in Budapest, Hungary, in 1983. They relocated to the U.S. in 1987.

A seasoned climber of Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Zuberecz is no stranger to height. With proper safety measures, he says, the risk is minimal.

Zolton Zuberecz Jr., 30, will take over the business when his father retires later this year.

Over the years, Highclimbers has dismantled about 100 smokestacks in Philadelphia. It also has installed carillon systems in church steeples and refurbished church bells.

The crew was able to access the towers exterior from inside Red Church. A wooden ladder leads to the tower, which the crew was able to exit through arched openings.

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A narrow ledge surrounding the four-sided tower offered some support, but crew members still wore safety harnesses.

Founded in 1755, the Red Church congregation is the oldest in Schuylkill County.

Its original log cabin was burned during the French & Indian War in 1756.

The original church was rebuilt on a permit granted by John Penn, Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Pennsylvania province, then under King James II of Great Britain, according to a church history.

A third church was dedicated in 1803 and the existing structure was dedicated in 1884.

Under the current renovation project, Highclimbers replaced a wooden beam in the church tower last year.

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Vicki Oswald, Red Church board president, said the church received widespread community support in funding the renovations.

Rev. Jan Remer-Osborn, pastor, announced that a dedication ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 12 in the church. A plaque with the names of donors will be erected on the church grounds.
Aug. 4Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is opening its 20th store in the state.

The new West Side store, which broke ground six months ago and spans 18,500 square feet, will open to the public with a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning.

The festivities will continue through the weekend, with Raising Cane's lemonade gift cards available to the first 250 shoppers on Friday and free popsicles for the first 500 shoppers on Saturday. Shoppers who bring donations on Friday are eligible to receive two gift cards.

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Goodwill has been helping New Mexicans find jobs and connect to social services since 1941, according to its website, and its free programs are largely funded by revenue generated by its retail stores, which put 88 cents of every dollar made toward its services.

The nonprofit opened its first New Mexico store in Albuquerque in 1941, and the new location is the city's 10th.

"We are so very proud to be able to offer our local nonprofit's services in a new area of the city," said Melissa Stock, Goodwill New Mexico's chief administrative officer. "Now more than ever, people need a hand up, and Goodwill is here to help our communities through the dignity of work."

Free job training, career services, skills classes and housing support are among the services Goodwill provides to the state. Last year, the local nonprofit served 21,947 people and helped employ 1,678 people, according to its 2024 annual report.

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The new store will employ about 23 people and will feature retail, office and job training spaces in addition to a donation drop-off spot for gently used items.

"Everything we do stays local. It helps your friends, my friends, our community (and) anybody who needs services," Stock said. "We are here to help them."

The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Lexus of Albuquerque debuts freshly renovated dealership

After nearly two years of renovations, Lexus of Albuquerque now has a fully refreshed facility for its lineup of luxury cars, those servicing them and the sales team ready to send them home.

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The Albuquerque dealership, which operates under Houston-based Group 1 Automotive Inc., debuted the new facility at 4821 Pan American NE on Tuesday. The 20-month overhaul cost millions and expanded the facility by more than 17,000 square feet, a news release said.

At 25 years old, the original facility was due for a refresh, said Mont Porter, general manager of Lexus of Albuquerque, in a news release.

The new facility features a new car wash, electric vehicle chargers, new landscaping and a new showroom and waiting area designed to reflect Albuquerque and the Southwest.

The renovation doubled the number of service bays from 16 to 32. The added space will allow the dealership to grow its team of 21 service technicians by nine people, according to the news release.

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"We are so super excited about it," Porter told the Journal. "We had to work out of trailers for those 20 months, so we are so happy that it's done, along with a lot of customers."

Ethan Allen opens new design center at Winrock

A company with a longtime presence in Albuquerque has established new roots and purpose in Uptown's ever-growing Winrock Town Center.

Ethan Allen, a Connecticut-based furniture and interior design company with manufacturing plants and design centers across the country, opened a new design center at Winrock a little over a week ago, said Kat DiFede, Ethan Allen's territory design leader for the Southwest region.

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The more than 7,000-square-foot space, at 2100 Louisiana NE in Suite 310, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The brand has a long history in Albuquerque. It conducted business as an independent franchise on the corner of Montgomery and Tramway for nearly 40 years, according to DiFede and a news release from Goodman Realty Group, the agency behind developing and leasing Winrock.

That retail-oriented franchise closed more than a year ago and the new design center is a corporate-owned venture geared toward offering a design experience versus selling experience, DiFede explained.

The company operated out of a temporary location at Winrock the past year while waiting to move into a more permanent, custom-made space in Suite 310.

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"This is such an up-and-coming location. What I've heard from clients is how much Winrock has changed and grown," DiFede said. "And I honestly feel like Ethan Allen just adds to the level of quality and the joy of the experience clients can have here."

The center features a gallery showroom and a workspace for designers and clients to collaborate on custom home furnishings made by Ethan Allen. The company's designers can offer guidance related to design choices and space planning, as well as create three-dimensional room previews.

"We are honored to have this respected retailer, whose presence further animates Winrock's offerings," said Sheila Smith, director of leasing and marketing at Goodman Realty Group.
OLATHE, Kan.  Police have identified the victim of a deadly motorcycle crash over the weekend as retired Olathe police detective Brian Peters.

According to previous reporting, Peters, 58, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Saturday morning in Gardner.

Recall election date set for Jackson County Executive Frank White

He retired in June 2020 after serving 31 years in law enforcement, a post from the Olathe Police Department said.

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Peters spent 24 of those years with Olathe, finishing his career as the longest tenured detective in Olathe Police Department history.

In a statement Monday, Olathe Police Chief Mike Butaud said:

The Olathe Police Department is deeply saddened to announce the tragic loss of retired Detective Brian Peters. Detective Peters began his career with the Olathe Police Department in October of 1996. During his tenure, he served in several crucial roles, culminating in his retirement as a Detective in June of 2020. Brian was an exemplary officer and an exceptional individual, and he will be profoundly missed.

People who knew Peters say they could always count on him.

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Always happy, always smiling, always laughing. He (Brian Peters) had a fantastic laugh and just the type of person who would do anything for anybody at any point in time, Lindsay Rutten said.

Rutten is the general manager of Ava Raes Pizzeria and Pub in Olathe, where Brian Peters retired Olathe police uniform is on display.

Ive known Brian for about 15 years. I worked at Old Chicago for a long time, and he was one of my regulars there with his wife, Rutten explained. He became a great friend, a great mentor, an amazing person. He was a great mentor to my children, to my boys.

Rutten said Peters and other officers and first responders inspired the open kitchen design in Ava Raes.

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Hes the reason we built the restaurant the way that we did. He loved Old Chicago, and he loved the people there and felt safe going in there with his wife, and that was one of their biggest things. A lot of places they would go into, and they just felt like they werent safe. They were afraid to eat the food. So we designed the restaurant, with the glass open kitchen because of his stories and the other officers as well, Rutten said. I know thats something thats really important to all officers and first responders.

A celebration of life honoring Brian Peters will be held on Saturday at Ava Raes Pizzeria.

My boyfriend and I, hes the owner here. We offered our space up for a celebration of life, and we will be having that on Saturday from 2 to 8. Were currently working with the police department and the city to get permits to allow us to have some tents and stuff outside, because he did know a lot of people, Rutten said. Hes an amazing person and hes going to be deeply missed, especially by me and my children for sure.

Gardner police want to speak with anyone who witnessed the crash. The police department posted on Facebook Monday asking anyone who saw the crash to please contact Detective Deer at 913-884-8527.

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The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and once it is complete, it will be turned over to the Johnson County District Attorneys Office for review.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
 On April 25, an employee at the Avalon Theater in Marysville, Ohio, who had noticed a person acting suspiciously the night before, discovered a treasure in the restroom: $25,000 in cash, WBNS-TV reported.

Two days later, $12,000 turned up in a KFC restroom.

"I would absolutely say they are connected in some way," said police Capt. Nate Sachs.

Authorities determined that the money is legitimate.

"One is just weird in and of itself," Sachs said, "but two times in one week is definitely another level."

He encouraged citizens to call police if they find any more cash to "help us with our investigation." [WBNS, 5/3/2024]
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services secretary, is making changes that threaten the public health system, from telling lies about the childhood vaccine schedule to replacing credible members of a vaccine advisory panel with people known to spread misinformation.

Groups like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have spoken out against these changes, and some major medical associations are even suing Kennedy in response to his changes to the COVID-19 vaccine schedule.

Kennedys attack on vaccines isnt exactly a surprise  he has a history of anti-vaccine remarks, which was a major talking point throughout his Senate confirmation hearings earlier this year. Specifically, his beliefs were front and center during a heated exchange in which Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) brought up a comment that Kennedy once made about vaccinations and the Black community.

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In 2021, Kennedy had said, We should not be giving Black people the same vaccine schedule thats given to whites, because their immune system is better than ours.

Alsobrooks asked Kennedy to explain what he meant by that remark, and he went on to reference a series of studies while saying research shows that Blacks need fewer antigens. (For the record, experts say that this is not true.)

Right now, how vaccine schedules are tailored is based on things like your age, your exposure risk, if you have other chronic underlying health conditions  but race isnt one of them, and there isnt research that suggests that it should be, Joel Bervell, a recent medical graduate and medical myth-buster on social media, told HuffPost.

What especially bothered Bervell about Kennedys exchange with Alsobrooks was the fact that he doubled down on his comment from 2021.

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Kennedy could have used this as an opportunity to admit that he needs to do more research and understand the vaccine schedule, but instead, he defended what he said, which I think, for me, thats where the problem lies in, Bervell told HuffPost. Not necessarily the fact of the misinformation is out there, but the fact that he wasnt willing to at least confront it or admit that onstage.

Below, experts like Bervell share their concerns about Kennedys statement and how it reflects a larger problematic picture:

Kennedys comment can be considered scientific racism, experts say.

In medicine, in science, we know that race is a social construct, meaning that you cant look at someones genes and identify what race they are, Bervell said.

That means differences in vaccine timelines just dont make scientific sense.

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The comment that [Kennedy] made about the vaccine schedule, its basically scientific racism, which has been debunked, Dr. Oni Blackstock, a primary care and HIV physician who is the founder and executive director of Health Justice, a racial and health equity consulting company, told HuffPost.

Hes really perpetuating this false belief that Black people are somehow biologically different from white people and, in that way, justifying differential and ultimately unequal treatment for Black people versus white people, Blackstock added.

By saying that, he was putting on one of the larger stages in health care this notion that race-based medicine should still exist, when thats actually what many scientists recently have been trying to root out, Bervell said.

Race-based medicine and scientific racism has led to undertreatment of Black patients, dismissal of pain and even death, Blackstock stressed.

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Both experts pointed to real-life examples of this, like the false belief that Black people have better-functioning kidneys than white people. This made it harder for Black people to get the treatment they needed, like kidney transplants, according to Bervell. And this thought pattern isnt from some faraway time  a medical equation that reinforced this bias wasnt changed until 2021, Bervell said.

Whats more, during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, Black people were believed to be resistant to yellow fever, which was not true and led to high mortality rates among Black people, Blackstock explained.

The importance of understanding the problem with the myths is that they can literally lead to regulations being written into medicine that treat populations differently just based on race, Bervell said. It can actually change the care that people receive.

While its easy to look at a particular viewpoint as a one-off, medical racism has real-world consequences that irresponsible comments can make worse. Promoting debunked beliefs distracts us from really doing the work that we need to do, which is dismantling systemic racism in health care and ensuring that everyone has equitable access to preventive care and treatments that they need, Blackstock added.

Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s comment about vaccines in the Black community has medical experts worried. Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images

Such stances may lead to more mistrust in the health care system.

One thing that is also kind of strange about him [Kennedy] is hes someone who for a long time has said that he doesnt support vaccines, Bervell said. Apparently, now hes changed his mind, but for a long time he said he hasnt supported vaccines, and then hes also saying that Black people should get a different vaccine schedule. So you have to wonder, what is your goal in saying that if you dont even believe in vaccines?

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Bervell said comments like those from Kennedy can sow vaccine hesitancy in the Black population, which is dangerous and can erode trust in evidence-based medicine.

Its not the first time that this has happened, either, Blackstock added. In 2021, Kennedy produced a documentary called Medical Racism: The New Apartheid, which Blackstock said promoted misinformation about health and vaccines to the Black community, along with other marginalized groups.

Its interesting how some of his efforts have been focused on taking advantage of [and] exploiting the mistrust that some in the Black community have around vaccines and the health care system because of structural racism and medical racism, Blackstock said.

With misinformation and scare tactics rampant on social media, misinformation from government leaders will only make it harder to tell whats real and whats fake in medicine. Trust needs to be paramount for health care as an institution, Bervell said.

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The trust is already eroded in health care, Bervell explained. We need to have someone that is going to work with scientists, researchers, doctors that are on the ground seeing these problems every day, not someone thats in an ivory tower watching from above without understanding of whats actually happening on the ground.

Experts say this rhetoric aligns with messaging from Donald Trump.

Blackstock stressed that while such false beliefs are very problematic, they track with much of the messaging from Donald Trump and his presidential administration.

It echoes some of the rhetoric that [Trump] has shared around eugenics and immigrants, Blackstock said. Hes talked about immigrants having bad genes or poisoning the blood of our country. It just speaks to this idea of racial purity or genetic purity, and this false idea that certain groups of people are inherently inferior or predisposed to certain behaviors because of their genetics.

And, again, race is a social construct and does not equal genetic differences. Its just really shocking that in the year 2025 we are still dealing with these beliefs being propagated that have been around for several centuries that have been used to justify slavery, used to justify inequitable treatment, used to justify forced sterilization, Blackstock said.

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Blackstock added that she thinks individuals get away with this kind of rhetoric because people become accustomed to outlandish comments and bad behavior.

But we need to really flag this and say this is really dangerous and really concerning rhetoric that can have real health implications, Blackstock said.

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RINCON, Ga. (WSAV)  A video spreading rapidly on social media shows a Rincon police officer using force on someone on the ground, and its a scene that has left the community deeply divided.

A video taken Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of a Rincon Walmart, viewed by WSAV is raising questions about the officers actions:

It should never kind of come to that point. I mean, the tasing, hitting him when he was already on the ground. That kind of stirs you the wrong way, Tyrone Bush, who lives near the Walmart, said.

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The Facebook video shows an RPD officer using force to restrain a person lying on the ground. The officer is shown sitting on top of the man, punching him continuously on his lower back and head repeating put your hands behind your back.

The officer is also shown using a taser on the individuals back.

Nobody didnt say anything, nothing, Nikki Brown, who works near the Walmart, said. When I saw the video, I shared the video with a couple of my relatives, and they also said it was sad because how the police handled him. He was already on the ground, and they were hitting him, and they tased him and all of that. I thought that was just so sad.

Nikki Brown wasnt the only one who shared the clip.

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The post was recorded and shared in several local groups, but reactions were mixed.

Some sided with the officer or called for the full bodycam footage of the incident to be released.

Still, those WSAV spoke to largely condemned the use of force, calling into question the entire Rincon Police Department.

I dont know if I can call them. Something like that could happen to me. I dont know. We look kind of the same. So, its likeI dont know what he did or what happened, but I know for something like that to happen, it couldnt have been that serious.

On Monday, RPD released a statement on a Facebook post:

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Several persons were taken into custody in connection with this event, the post reads. This incident is being thoroughly reviewed through our internal review process to ensure that all actions taken were in accordance with department policy and applicable law.

The comments on that post have now been closed.

Some punishment needs to take place because the way that they did him, it was just wrong, Brown said.

The statement also indicated that the officer involved was placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.

Under investigation, thats good but a lot of things are under investigation. I need a little more than that, some type of results, Bush said.

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Aug. 4ROCHESTER  Rochester Police are investigating the death of a 38-year-old Rochester man who died on Salem Road early Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.

According to the Rochester Police Department, a "driver reported hitting a person" who was "lying in the roadway" on the 2700 block of Salem Road Southwest at about 5 a.m. Sunday morning. Police and first responders found the man laying in the eastbound lanes and applied life saving measures. However, the man died at the scene despite those efforts, police say.

The incident is still under investigation.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Murphy Doss, 52, a known Rockford gang member, has been convicted of murder for killing a man in a shooting at a gas station on Kilburn Avenue in 2024.

Around 10:08 p.m., on September 27th, 2024, officials responded to the MaxMart at 922 Kilburn Avenue to find Damien Roberts, 34, and Randy Johnson, 30, suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were taken to local hospitals, where Johnson died.

Witnesses told authorities that an argument was taking place between the suspect and a group of people. Doss then allegedly shot at the two victims and fled the scene, according to a RPD press release.

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The Winnebago County States Attorneys Office said surveillance video from the crime scene showed Doss shoot at the two victims, striking Johnson, who fell to the ground. Roberts was seen tripping over Johnson as the other people in the group ran away. Doss is then seen shooting Roberts, hitting him in the leg.

Authorities said Doss returned to where Johnson was lying on the ground and shot him again.

Later, Illinois State Police found the suspected vehicle at the Belvidere Oasis, where Doss was arrested. A handgun and ammunition were found inside the vehicle, according to police.

Doss faces up to life in prison for his murder conviction. He is scheduled to learn his sentence on August 22nd, 2025.

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In 2019, Doss shot a 27-year-old man under similar circumstances.

On May 31st, 2019, Doss shot a man after an argument broke out among a large group of people in a parking lot in the 400 block of South Henrietta Street.

The victim survived, and Doss later accepted a negotiated plea on the charges of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. In 2020, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with credit given for 10 months he was held in jail, awaiting trial.

He was also fined $549 but did not pay; the case was sent to a collections agency, court records show.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Rockford Police have arrested a 26-year-old man as part of an initiative to take guns off the streets.

On Saturday, August 2nd, officers with the departments Specialized Community Oriented Policing Enforcement stopped a vehicle in the area of E. State and 9th Street around 11:50 p.m.

Inside the car, police said a loaded handgun and an ammunition magazine were found.

An occupant of the car, Alontae Murray, 26, was arrested and charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, and no valid Firearm Owners Identification.

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He was booked into the Winnebago County Jail.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Livingston Parish couple is accused of defrauding the Medicaid program of over $133,000.

Keith and Sheryl Duncan, of Denham Springs, were arrested on Wednesday, July 30, and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Sheryl Duncan was charged with one count of government benefits fraud, and Keith Duncan was charged with three counts of government benefits fraud. Her bond was set at $5,000 while her husband received a bond amount of $12,000.

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The Louisiana Department of Health sent a criminal referral to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation related to the Denham Springs couple.

The referral had to do with allegations that the couple had intentionally underreported their income for purposes to receive Medicaid benefits, according to Attorney General Liz Murrills office.

As the investigation unfolded, agents found out that the couple had given false information between November 1, 2021, and October 31, 2024.

The AGs office said, they did not accurately report that they were married or their household income.

Murrill said, Last week we arrested the Medicaid Millionaire from Slidell, today weve arrested Romeo and Juliet from Denham Springs, who kept their marriage a secret to defraud the hardworking taxpayers of Louisiana for over $130,000. Were not stopping, these funds are for those in need. If you cheat the system, you will be arrested and prosecuted.

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The investigation remains ongoing.

Man accused of stealing ATM, burning truck near Catholic church

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DES MOINES, Iowa  Polk County and the Harkin Institute will hold a highly anticipated public forum on Iowas water quality at Drake Universitys Sheslow Auditorium on Monday.

The event has already garnered high interest with over 1,000 people registering for the discussion.

Dr. Adam Shriver is the Director of Wellness at the Harkin Institute, who helped organize this event with Polk County officials. Shriver said the interest in this event is unprecedented in his experience.

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Iowa farmers battle Southern Rust, Tar Spot epidemic

Were really excited to see the turnout and the energy level on Monday. This is, you know, compared to any other event Ive organized, the interest in this and the signing up and registrations is just through the roof, he said.

This will be the first official presentation on the Central Iowa Resource Water Research Assessment that was released on July 1st and reported research from a group of 16 scientists who analyzed the contaminants affecting the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers. For two years, these scientists worked for over 4,000 hours to compile this unbiased and comprehensive report.

Now, Iowans will get to directly hear from four of the scientists at the public forum and discuss key takeaways from the over 200-page report.

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This research confirmed that 80 percent of the nitrates in the rivers are directly linked to agriculture. It also analyzed bacteria levels in the rivers and outlined two dozen recommendations to improve water quality.

Even though it spent quite a bit of time on the nitrate issues, there are actually a host of different issues, said Shriver. And the report was really impressive in telling the whole story about Iowas practices and rivers.

Shriver said the recent lawn watering ban, periodic fish kills, and frequent beach closures may all be reasons why Iowans have an elevated interest in the event.

The presentation will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sheslow Auditorium. Participants can register for free to attend the event in person or online.

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The Sheslow Auditorium is located at 2507 University Avenue in Des Moines.

Iowa news

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Roof of tractor-trailer torn off after attempting to pass under Boston bridge

A tractor-trailer caused delays during Mondays commute after trying to navigate under the Fairfield Street Footbridge.

Aerials around 4 p.m. show a Feed More services truck with its roof completely torn asunder.

The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the roadway with State Police troopers assisting the driver.

Its unclear if anyone was injured.

No further information was immediately available.

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The Royal Ballet and Opera has caved in to pro-Palestine activists and cancelled a planned production in Israel.

A 2026 run of Tosca in partnership with the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv will no longer go ahead because of pressure from staff.

It comes after Daniel Perry, a queer dance artist and alumnus of a 48,000-a-year dance school, pulled out a Palestinian flag during a curtain call at the Royal Opera House last month.

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The Royal Opera, part of the newly combined Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO), which receives public funding from the Arts Council, condemned the stunt at the time as inappropriate and contrary to its commitment to political neutrality.

Following the on-stage protest on July 19, the RBO faced internal pressure from staff, who demanded the cancellation of the Tosca production.

Credit: @sydcas/X

Almost 200 staff signed a letter to Sir Alex Beard, the RBOs chief executive, calling the curtain call protest an act of courage and moral clarity.

The letter demanded that the RBO withholds our productions from institutions that legitimise and economically support a state engaged in the mass killing of civilians.

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Announcing that the production would be cancelled, Sir Alex said: I am appalled by the crisis in Gaza and recognise the deep emotional impact this has had across our community and wider society.

On this issue, we acknowledge and respect the full range of views held by our staff, artists and audiences.

He added that following Mr Perrys on-stage stunt, which Oliver Mears, the director of the Royal Opera House, attempted to end by snatching at the Palestinian flag, the RBO would review its stance on political messaging.

Sir Alex added: The events at the curtain call on July 19 were without precedent. We have reflected carefully and reviewed our internal protocols. We always endeavour to act with integrity and compassion.

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We want our stage to remain a space for shared cultural appreciation, free from individual political statements.

Sir Alex went on to refer to Ukraine, saying: Our support for Ukraine was aligned with the global consensus at the time. As the worlds geopolitics have become more complex, our stance has changed to ensure that our actions reflect our purpose and values.

The RBO has not confirmed whether this means that further pro-Palestine protests will be tolerated, or if pro-Ukraine messaging will be limited to ensure neutrality.

The RBOs decision has been welcomed by pro-Palestine activists.

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Artists for Palestine, which has lobbied for cultural institutions to sever ties with Israel, said: This is a welcome breakthrough for institutional accountability  and a victory for grass-roots organising. Across the cultural sector too many institutions, faced with genocide, have opted for silence or worse.



The RBO staffs open letter is an essential ethical uprising against this refusal to speak out.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A Regional Transportation District A Line commuter rail train collided with a semitrailer in Aurora on its way to Denver International Airport Monday morning, prompting extended street and train line closures, according to the Aurora Police Department.

Two people were injured on the train, including the trains operator taken to a hospital as a precaution. Police had initially said three people were injured, but later clarified that only two suffered injuries.

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The intersection of Smith Road and Sable Boulevard is closed, Aurora police spokesperson Matthew Longshore told FOX31 at the scene of the crash, and the RTD A Line as well as the Union Pacific train lines in the area are shut down as well.

The RTD said the A Line is running from 40th Avenue and Airport Boulevard station to DIA. Shuttles are replacing eastbound trains between Central Park Station and Peoria Station and westbound between 40th Avenue and Airport Boulevard  Gateway Park Station and Peoria Station.

Longshore said the semitrailer was on Sable Boulevard, making a left turn onto Smith Road, when the train hit the back end of the trailer. An RTD spokesperson said the crash happened at 9:21 a.m. Monday.

In the process of making that turn is when he was struck by the commuter rail train that was heading out to the airport, Longshore said. Thats the RTD A Line.

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The RTD spokesperson said 57 people were on the train, and Longshore said most of them were evacuated by Aurora firefighters and taken to the airport.

Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer. Smith Road and Sable Boulevard in Aurora are closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after a crash involving a train and a semitrailer.

Longshore said its unclear exactly what happened that caused the crash or who was at fault, and investigators will be looking at traffic cameras in the area to further develop information.

Too early to tell, Longshore said when asked who may be at fault. Theres some conflicting information were getting right now, which is why were going to use that video evidence to determine.

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He said the intersection and train crossing will be closed for quite a bit of time, and Sable Boulevard may not reopen until Tuesday.

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Steven Mark frequents the intersection.

I try to stay away from that intersection. I know its dangerous, Mark told FOX31s Alliyah Sims.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Russell Road Church of Christ wanted to do something to ease the burden on parents with kids returning to school. Members got together and decided to host a backpack drive-thru giveaway at the church.

Shreveport business collects school supply donations for backpack giveaway

From 10 am to noon, people drove through with kids, and they were able to pick out the color of the backpack they wanted. They were grouped by age, so the children got age-appropriate school supplies in their backpacks.

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Brother Vincent Gordon said, We felt that it was a need for the neighborhood, for this community to do some outreach, especially during this time when kids are going back to school. You know its hard on parents pocketbook, so we thought it was a good deal or time to do this.

David Raines Community Health center back-to-school drives

This was their first back-to-school event, but they hope to host it again next year.

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Moscow is ending its unilateral moratorium on the deployment of short- and intermediate-range missiles, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Aug. 4.

Under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the U.S. and Russia agreed not to deploy short- and intermediate-range ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles. The U.S. withdrew from the INF in 2019, after which Russia maintained that it would not deploy such missiles as long as Washington did not either.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Aug. 4 that it no longer considered itself bound by the moratorium due to recent actions by the U.S.

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"Since the situation is developing towards the actual deployment of U.S.-made land-based medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared," the ministry said in its statement.

The announcement is the latest signal of heightening tensions between the Kremlin and Washington as U.S. President Donald Trump's peace deal deadline nears.

Trump, who initially signaled a desire to improve relations with Russia, has recently toughened his rhetoric towards Moscow following a dramatic escalation in aerial strikes against Ukraine throughout spring and summer.

Trump announced on July 29 that tariffs on Russian exports would be implemented within 10 days if the Kremlin failed to end its war in Ukraine. Moscow now has until Aug. 8 to make a peace deal under Trump's new deadline.

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The U.S. also moved its nuclear submarines "closer to Russia" in response to threatening rhetoric from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Trump said on Aug. 2.

During his first term as president, Trump formally withdrew the U.S. from the INF, citing Russian noncompliance and a Chinese arms buildup. The treaty, originally signed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, banned both nations from deploying missiles with with ranges between 1,000-5,500 km (620-3,420 miles) and 500-1,000 kilometers (310-620 miles).

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in December 2024 that Moscow would reassess its commitment to the moratorium due to "destablizing actions" from the U.S.

"The U.S. has arrogantly ignored the warnings of Russia and China and in practice has moved on to the deployment of weapons of this class in various regions of the world," Lavrov said.

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Read also: Operation Vistula  Expulsion of Ukrainians from post-war Poland

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The Russian and Chinese navies are conducting joint artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan as part of scheduled military exercises, Russian officials said Aug. 3.

The maneuvers, part of the "Maritime Interaction-2025" exercise, began two days after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be deployed to "appropriate regions" in response to what he called "foolish and inflammatory" nuclear threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Russian authorities said the drills were planned well before Trump's remarks.

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Russian state media reported that the exercises involve a joint detachment of Russian and Chinese warships, including a large Russian anti-submarine vessel and two Chinese destroyers. Diesel-electric submarines from both countries are participating, along with a Chinese submarine rescue ship.

The drills, which are scheduled to conclude Aug. 5, include artillery fire exercises, anti-submarine warfare training, air defense operations, and joint search and rescue missions.

Russia and China signed a "no limits" strategic partnership shortly before Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the two countries have deepened their military and economic ties.

While Beijing has claimed neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war, it has become one of Moscow's most critical lifelines  supplying defense equipment and purchasing large quantities of Russian oil.

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Trump said Aug. 1 his submarine order was in response to what he described as "highly provocative" statements from Medvedev about the possibility of war between the nuclear-armed rivals.

The United States and Russia hold the world's largest nuclear arsenals and rarely disclose movements or deployments of their submarines.

Trump's remarks come amid heightened tensions with Moscow and frustration over a lack of progress in ending the war in Ukraine.

Read also: Trump aide accuses India of financing Russias war in Ukraine

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The Kremlin has dismissed concerns of a nuclear escalation following US President Donald Trump's decision to reposition two nuclear submarines closer to Russia.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the move as an emotional reaction rather than a significant shift in military dynamics between the rival powers.

"It's clear that US submarines are always on alert in any case," Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency TASS.

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He cautioned all sides to exercise restraint when it comes to nuclear rhetoric.

Trump said on Friday he ordered the deployment in response to threats made by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, has drawn attention for his hardline and provocative statements since the start of the war in Ukraine.

"In any country, members of its leadership have different working points of view on current events and have different attitudes. There are people who are very, very harshly minded both in the United States of America and in European countries," Peskov said, referring to Medvedev.

"In our country, foreign policy is formulated by the head of state:

President Putin."

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Peskov also acknowledged efforts by Trump and the US to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. He said it was possible that Putin might meet Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, later this week.

Trump has given Moscow a deadline to end the conflict, initially 50 days, which he has since shortened. According to US officials, the revised deadline is set to expire on Friday. Trump has threatened sanctions if Russia does not comply.
In late June, as part of a police raid in Yekaterinburg, Russian security forces arrested a dozen ethnic Azerbaijanis, two of whom died in custody, with a subsequent autopsy reportedly showing signs they had been beaten. To register the seriousness with which it viewed the incident, the government of Azerbaijan arrested Russian nationals it said were illegally living and working in Baku, while also rolling back all Russia-related cultural activities and downgrading interparliamentary work. Both sides subsequently summoned their ambassadors to file official protests.

Far from being an isolated incident, the diplomatic spat between Moscow and Baku reflects a broader shift in the balance of power in the South Caucasus, where Russias position is in flux. Long considered one of the core spaces of Moscows geopolitical sphere of influence and an anchor of its claim to great power status, the region is now being increasingly contested by other actors. From China, the European Union and the U.S., to Turkey, Iran and even the wealthy Gulf states, external powers are playing a greater economic and geopolitical role in the South Caucasus.

Yet Russias influence is not only being eroded due to competition from players from outside the region. Azerbaijan as well as Armenia, both officially allies of Russia, are actively diversifying their foreign policy portfolios away from reliance on Moscow. The dispute in June was just the latest in a series of recent events that reveal these shifts, signaling a period of managed decline for Russias role in the South Caucasus.

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The tensions in June came just six months after the downing of an Azerbaijani airplane that was allegedly hit by Russian missiles defending against a Ukrainian drone strike in the North Caucasus. The plane crashed in Kazakhstan, leading to multiple deaths. While Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the incident and regretted the loss of life, he did not offer an apology or assume responsibilityincluding financial damages for the victims families and the airlineas Baku demanded. Nevertheless, both sides managed to smooth things over, with relations improved by a combination of bilateral visits and softened rhetoric. The Yekaterinburg raid has now overturned all these efforts.

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At first glance, the deterioration of ties between Moscow and Baku might be mistaken for a short-term irritation between two long-time partners, but that would be to overlook the shifting geopolitical realities in the South Caucasus that highlight Russias weakening position in the region. As a result of the war in Ukraine, Moscow has diverted its attention and resources away from the South Caucasus, evident in the drawdown of Russian troops stationed in Abkhazia and South Ossetiathe two breakaway territories of Georgia that Moscow recognizes as independent statesand the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan seized back control of the region in September 2023.

The military resolution of Azerbaijans dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh has removed Moscows single most powerful tool of political influence over Baku. Since then, Azerbaijan has actively engaged in deepening relations with other important players. In the past few months alone, Baku has expanded ties with the European Union, Central Asian countries, Israel and Pakistan, among others. And it has thawed relations with Iran, while making strides toward improving ties with the United States, which has even offered to include Azerbaijan in the Abraham Accords. To all of this can be added Bakus historical alliance with Turkey. Azerbaijans multi-vector approach now provides it with a necessary strategic cushion to withstand Russian pressure.

In an increasingly multipolar order, the South Caucasus is no longer subject to the exclusive influence of any single power.

Yet Russias weakening position in the South Caucasus is not limited to Azerbaijan. Over the past few years, Armenia has also been contesting its influence. Yerevan has historically been a staunch treaty ally of Moscows, hosting a Russian base in Giumry and allowing Russian forces to patrol its borders with Turkey and Iran. It has also remained firmly within Russian-led multilateral initiatives such as the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO. But relations quickly deteriorated, especially from 2023 onward, after Moscow refused to support Yerevan in its confrontation with Baku over Nagorno-Karabakh, even when Azerbaijan bombed Armenias sovereign territory.

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As a result, Armenia has similarly begun to diversify its international partnerships in a bid to become less dependent on its historical patron. Its purchases of Russian weaponry have declined precipitously, with plans to replace them with Indian and French alternatives, and its engagement within the CSTO was reduced to a minimum. As part of this effort to adopt a more flexible foreign policy, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently visited Ankara, in what amounts to the third major attempt by both countries to normalize relations. Previous efforts failed, in part due to the historical tensions over the Armenian genocide, but also because of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in which Turkey has been a longstanding supporter of Azerbaijan. Yerevans political and security dependence on Moscow also played a role in torpedoing those prior attempts at a thaw.

Now Armenia has already made a number of concessions to Turkey to push things forward. In March, Pashinyan said in an interview with Turkish journalists that Yerevan would no longer consider international recognition of the Armenian genocide a political priority, suggesting that Armenia is ready to remove the issue from the bilateral agenda as well. Pashinyan also questioned Armenians historically-based identity claims, pointing as an example to the national attachment to Mount Ararat, which though in Turkey is still portrayed on Armenias coat of arms. This is part of a broader new program known as Real Armenia, which seeks to define the country and its strategic interests based on its current borders, rather than its much larger historical map.

Improved and ultimately normalized relations with Turkey will provide Armenia with major economic opportunities. If their border is opened, Armenian products will find their way not only into Turkeys large market but also to the EU through Turkeys Black Sea and Mediterranean ports. This is at least the view prevailing in Yerevan.

However, Turkey insists that progress on normalizing bilateral relations depends on the conclusion of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both Yerevan and Baku have confirmed that work on the agreement has been completed. Nevertheless, Baku refuses to sign it until Armenia amends its constitution to remove a section that codifies unification between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh as a core objective for Yerevan.

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Further highlighting the shift in regional geopolitics away from its Russian-centric tilt is the growing engagement by Middle Eastern states. Iran, Tukey and the Gulf states are all now increasingly engaged in developing infrastructure projects in the South Caucasus. Yet this engagement reflects an even deeper geopolitical challenge for Russia. Geographically, the South Caucasus has always been more closely linked to the wider Middle East than to the Russian heartland, with the Caucasus Mountains historically serving as a formidable natural barrier. As a result, the regions turn toward the Middle East can be seen as a reversion to the historical norm, in which the Ottomans, Persians, Byzantines and Arabs dominated the South Caucasus for far longer timespans than Russia.

To be sure, Russia is far from losing the South Caucasus or withdrawing from it altogether. Moscows respective ties with Baku and Yerevan are unlikely to break down completely. For Russia, Azerbaijan remains an important commercial partner and transit corridor. A big portion of the International North-South Transport Corridor, or INSTC, passes through Azerbaijan, allowing Russian goods to reach Iran, the Persian Gulf and India.

Baku well understands the leverage this provides, which partly explains its unexpectedly tough reaction to the events in Yekaterinburg. At the same time, that leverage works both ways, as the potential negative economic and political impact in the event of a major destabilization or breakdown in relations would be highly damaging for Azerbaijan. Baku therefore recognizes the limits of how far it can challenge Moscow, which perhaps explains its decision on July 3 to release five of the Russian citizens it had detained in the aftermath of the Yekaterinburg incident in an effort ratchet down tensions.

Nor is Armenia ready to leave the CSTO and the Eurasian Economic Union, as doing so would complicate its security posture at a time when relations with Azerbaijan have not yet been fully mended and the potential of another military confrontation persists. So while it is pursuing a multi-vector foreign policy, that would still require active ties with Russia as one of those vectors.

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That said, in an increasingly multipolar order, the South Caucasus is no longer subject to the exclusive influence of any single power. Instead, there is a multiplicity of actors that vie for influence. And for as long as Russia remains preoccupied with Ukraine, it will be just one of several powers seeking to advance their interests in the South Caucasus.

Emil Avdaliani is a professor of international relations at the European University in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a scholar of Silk Roads. He can be reached on Twitter/X at @emilavdaliani.

The post Russia Isnt Calling the Shots in the South Caucasus Anymore appeared first on World Politics Review.
Russia has announced that it will no longer adhere to "self-restrictions" on deploying medium- and short-range missiles, which it declared after the collapse of the corresponding missile treaty with the United States.

Source: European Pravda; Russian Foreign Ministry

Details: The Russian Foreign Ministry voluntarily adopted "unilateral self-restraints" on deploying such ground-based missiles after withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty).

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"However, it must be stated that Russian initiatives have not met reciprocity," the Russian Foreign Ministry complains, listing several examples of "violations".

That's why Russia's foreign ministry said that "the conditions for keeping the one-sided moratorium on deploying similar weapons are gone and that the Russian Federation no longer feels tied to the self-imposed restrictions it agreed to before".

Background: The United States and Russia withdrew from the Cold War-era INF Treaty in August 2019, after each accused the other of violating the agreement.

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The Center for Countering Disinformation has warned that Russian propagandists are preparing new disinformation campaigns regarding prisoner exchanges.

Source: Center for Countering Disinformation

Quote: "The enemy is preparing new disinformation campaigns on a topic which may include calls and lies claiming that the Ukrainian side is supposedly refusing to conduct exchanges on an 'all-for-all' basis and only does so with certain prisoners.

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By spreading such fake news, Russia is aiming to manipulate the exchange process and shift responsibility for its unwillingness to conduct it transparently."

Details: The Center for Countering Disinformation noted that it had debunked the fake claim that Ukraine is allegedly refusing to pick up its citizens at the Verkhny Lars checkpoint in North Ossetia.

The Center for Countering Disinformation added that Russian propagandists are spreading the claim that Kyiv is supposedly not retrieving its own citizens from neutral territory, including 90 prisoners of war and former detainees.

Quote: "In reality, this information was false."

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Background: Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has conducted 66 prisoner exchanges, resulting in the release of 5,857 Ukrainian citizens from Russian captivity. In addition, over 1,000 prisoners have returned as part of an "all-for-all" exchange agreed during the second round of negotiations in Istanbul, which is still ongoing.

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Russia is repairing the runway at Donetsk airport, occupied since 2015, to expand its use of attack drones launched from Russian-held territories, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Aug. 3, citing the OSINT group Cyberboroshno.

Russia routinely uses occupied Ukrainian territory as a staging ground for attacks on areas under Ukrainian control.

Satellite imagery captured in July 2025 shows visible changes at the airport, the ISW said.

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According to the OSINT group Cyberboroshno, Russia is constructing infrastructure at the site to support the deployment of Shahed-type drones, including models with jet engines, as well as Gerbera drones, which are primarily used as decoys during airstrikes.

Near the destroyed terminal, closed storage facilities are reportedly being built for the drones, along with manual control stations, unloading zones for combat payloads, false positions, air observation posts, and a reconstructed runway, the Cyberboroshno's report read.

Russian authorities have also partially removed fortifications from the runway and begun construction on adjacent parking areas, possibly in preparation for installing fuel storage tanks, the ISW said.

OSINT analysts suggested that drone launches are currently being planned from within Donetsk Oblast.

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Donetsk Airport ceased operations in May 2014 following the beginning of the Russian occupation of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Ukrainian forces defended the airport for 242 days before withdrawing completely on Jan. 23, 2015, after Russian troops destroyed the control tower and one of the terminals. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, 97 Ukrainian soldiers were killed during the battles for control of Donetsk Airport.

Since the start of the occupation, the airport has remained closed to civilian air traffic.

Read also: 5 Russian fighter jets hit by Ukraines SBU in drone operation in occupied Crimea, one destroyed

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Russia on Monday said it is no longer adhering to a key nuclear disarmament treaty, years after the United States withdrew from the accord.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow is ending a moratorium under which it had been reportedly adhering to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty since the US left in 2019.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to respond to the planned deployment of US missiles in Germany from 2026 in a "mirror-like" manner.

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The weapons for the Russian response were already close to being finalized a year ago, according to the Kremlin.

The INF Treaty, signed in 1987 by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US president Ronald Reagan, provided for the elimination of all land-based ballistic missiles and cruise missiles with a shorter range of 500 to 1,000 kilometres and an intermediate range of 1,000 to 5,500 kilometres.

However, Washington withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing Russian violations.

According to the German military, the stationing of US nuclear weapons in Germany is meant to serve as a deterrent in response to Russia's deployment of nuclear-armed Iskander rockets in its exclave of Kaliningrad, which have sufficient range to reach German cities.

The US weapons are to include Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can technically also be equipped with nuclear weapons, SM-6 air defence missiles and newly developed hypersonic weapons, which are intended to reach further than previously stationed land systems.
Part of a road has been damaged following a Russian attack on Khmelnytskyi Oblast.

Source: Serhii Tiurin, Head of Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Overnight, in the morning and throughout the day, the oblast was once again subjected to enemy attacks using missiles and drones."

Details: As a result of the strikes, part of the road surface had been damaged. Relevant services have already begun repair works, the statement said.

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Tiurin confirmed that there were no casualties as a result of the attacks.

He added that Ukrainian air defence shot down two Russian UAVs, while one other drone disappeared from radar.

Background:

It was previously reported that a first-of-its-kind anti-drone tunnel has been built in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to protect both civilian and military transport from attacks by Russian FPV drones.

Earlier, Ekonomichna Pravda wrote that NASAs FIRMS satellite system (Fire Information for Resource Management System), originally designed to monitor wildfires, is now also detecting thermal anomalies caused by the war.

A month ago, three-quarters of all such incidents were recorded in frontline Zaporizhzhia. The city of Dnipro  a major industrial and logistical hub in central Ukraine  ranked second in terms of reported fires.

In Mykolaiv, Russian attacks were most intense in 2022 but later subsided. Kherson came under heavy fire after its liberation in autumn 2022 and continues to be bombarded almost daily by artillery and guided aerial bombs launched from the opposite bank of the Dnipro River.

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Editor's note: The story was updated with the latest Air Forces' report.

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least seven civilians and injured at least 13 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on Aug. 4.

Russian forces launched one Kinzhal aeroballistic missile and 162 Shahed-type drones from Russia's Millerovo, Kursk, Bryansk, and Orel, as well as from Russian-occupied Crimea against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

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Ukraine's air defense and electronic warfare intercepted 161 drones, while another one reached its target. Drone debris was reported at nine locations across Kyiv and Odesa oblasts.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian attacks killed three people in the Stepnohirsk community. Russian forces launched 405 strikes across 10 localities in the region in the past day, according to the local military administration.

In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 33 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, two people were killed and another five suffered injuries, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed one person and injured two in the town of Dobropillia, while another person was killed in the town of Kostiantynivka. Three people also suffered injuries in the village of Rubizhne, as well as in the towns of Pokrovsk and Lyman, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

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In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian FPV (first-person-view) drones and artillery attacked the Nikopol district, injuring two women, aged 40 and 46, and a 4-month-old girl, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Read also: Inside the Battle of Kostiantynivka, as Ukrainian forces brace for three-sided Russian assault

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(Reuters) -A Russian drone attack on Monday killed two people on a moped in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region near the border, regional police said.

A police report on the Telegram messaging app said a man and a woman were killed near Vovchansk, an area that was visited during the day by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Russian forces staged a brief incursion into the region near Vovchansk in May 2024, but Ukrainian troops later recaptured most of the area.

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Separately, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said that the number of dead had risen to seven in a Russian strike last Thursday on an apartment building in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Donetsk region.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Russian forces have temporarily decreased the number of assault operations in Kherson Oblast over the past day as they regroup in preparation for more active assaults on islands in the Dnipro River, a Ukrainian military spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent on Aug. 4.

Ukraine's southern Kherson Oblast is still partially occupied, with Russian troops entrenched on the Dnipro's left bank. From there, they continue to launch strikes on Ukrainian-controlled territory, including the city of Kherson.

Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Army's Southern Division, told the Kyiv Independent that Russian attacks on civilians in the region remain high, but there has been "a certain reduction" in assaults as Russian forces regroup.

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"If we talk about a certain decrease in the number of assault operations, they are related to the regrouping of the relevant Russian units in order to eventually resume more active assaults on the island zone of the right bank of Kherson Oblast, in particular near Kherson," Bratchuk said.

"And this 'island war' continues."

Bratchuk said that while Russian troops are regrouping for more active combat operations, this does not indicate a major new offensive in Kherson Oblast.

"There is currently no reason to talk about the Russians creating a large group capable of conducting a major military operation," he said.

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Read also: Taking back what is theirs  Ukrainian special forces successfully raid Russian-occupied island in Black Sea

Earlier on Aug. 4, Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine's Southern Armed Forces, told the news outlet Suspilne that the momentary lull in assaults follows a recent spike in Russian activity across the Dnipro River's island zones.

According to Voloshyn, Russian troops were acting more actively a week ago. They carried out operations throughout the island zone  from the southern islands of Zabych and Nestyha to the area near the Antonivsky railway bridge. Each island saw one or two combat engagements, Voloshyn said.

Voloshyn noted that Russian forces were likely probing Ukrainian defenses, trying to locate firing positions and study the layout of minefields and engineering barriers.

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"We cannot say there is high assault intensity, but there is a fairly high density of shelling in the Prydniprovske direction," Voloshyn added.

Both Voloshyn and Bratchuk stressed that Russian troops continue to shell civilian targets in Kherson Oblast intensively. Each day, Ukrainian forces record between 200 and 250 FPV (first-person-view) drone strikes on the right bank of the Dnipro River, along with artillery and guided aerial bomb attacks.

Kherson Oblast, located in southern Ukraine just north of Russian-occupied Crimea, has been a constant target since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainian forces liberated the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast in November, 2022.

On Aug. 2, Russian forces targeted a key bridge in Kherson, prompting local authorities to urge civilians to evacuate. The airstrike occurred around 6 p.m. local time when two guided bombs were dropped on the city, damaging the bridge connecting Kherson to the Korabel neighborhood, regional officials reported.

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Read also: We spot them, we destroy them  Ukraine fights for Kostiantynivka as Russia closes in on three sides

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A Russian FPV drone has hit a motorcycle, killing a man and a woman in Kharkiv Oblast on the afternoon of 4 August.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast police on Telegram

Quote: "A Russian FPV drone struck a motorcycle carrying a man and a woman in the Vovchansk hromada at around 14:00." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town along with their adjacent territories  ed.]

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Details: The man and woman are reported to have died from their injuries at the scene of the attack.

Investigators have launched a criminal investigation under Article 438.2 of the Criminal Code (War crimes).

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Three people, including a four-month-old baby, have been injured in Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "[The city of] Nikopol as well as the Marhanets, Myrove and Pokrovske hromadas came under fire. Three people have been injured and taken to hospital. A four-month-old girl is in a critical condition. Two women, aged 40 and 46, are in a moderate condition." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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Details: Lysak said the Russians had shelled the Nikopol district with artillery, attacked with FPV drones and dropped munitions from UAVs.

A transport company was damaged in the city of Marhanets.

"Air defence forces destroyed two drones over the oblast," he added.

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Russian propaganda media outlets have claimed that Russian forces have captured the Hoptivka checkpoint in Kharkiv Oblast, but local authorities report that the Russian assault was repelled.

Source: Viacheslav Zadorenko, Head of Derhachi City Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Dear citizens! This morning, Russian propaganda outlets began spreading fake reports that the occupation army had supposedly captured the Hoptivka checkpoint.

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Since this news is starting to gain public attention, I find it necessary to inform you that the occupiers did indeed launch an assault on this checkpoint. As a result, soldiers of the 58th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade killed more than ten invaders, and dozens of others fled back to Russia."

Details: Zadorenko confirmed that the Hoptivka checkpoint remains fully under the control of the Ukrainian defence forces and thanked the fighters of the 58th Brigade.

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One person has been killed in a Russian attack on the village of Antonivka in Kherson Oblast on the morning of 4 August.

Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The Russians took the life of a Kherson resident early in the morning.

The enemy shelled Antonivka with artillery at around 06:00, as a result of which a 46-year-old man suffered fatal injuries."

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Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 migrant deportees from the U.S., making it the latest country to acquiesce to diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration to take in some of the thousands of migrants it has detained.

"Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation," said Yolande Makolo, a Rwandan government spokesperson. Rwandas recovery from the 1994 genocide that killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus has made the country a standout in Africa.

A number of African countries have seen the Trump administrations focus on immigration as an opportunity to build goodwill with Washington, which has not always prioritized the continent.

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Rwanda took the action in part to strengthen relations with the U.S., according to a second Rwandan official, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic relations.

When youre a small country, any time you can find a way consistent with your own policies and values, to be able to talk to a major country about something that it is interested in and not just asking them to take an interest in your issues, it just creates a more productive, obviously not equal, but a more balanced relationship and thats good for both sides, the official said.

The State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The State Department has already sent Kigali a list of people it wants to send in the first tranche. Rwanda expects to receive the first 10 deportees soon and will accept deportees in small groups, the second Rwandan official said. The nationality of the deportees was not immediately clear.

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The administration has asked at least 15 African countries, including Eswatini and South Sudan, to accept migrants who cannot return to their home countries as part of its sweeping immigration strategy.

The U.S. will provide money to support these efforts, according to the second Rwandan official, who declined to say how much. El Salvador received $6 million to incarcerate Venezuelan and Salvadoran nationals. Rwanda, unlike El Salvador, will not be imprisoning anyone. The funds from the U.S. to Kigali will support extra work by Rwandan immigration authorities and the training programs.

Reuters previously reported that Rwanda had agreed to accept the migrants but did not provide details about the payment from the U.S. or the Rwandan governments motivations.

Per the terms of the memorandum of understanding agreed between the U.S. and Rwanda, Rwanda can approve each person who will arrive and will offer additional support.

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Those approved will be provided with workforce training, health care and accommodation support to jump start their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest growing economies in the world over the last decade, Makolo, the government spokesperson, said.

The U.S. and Rwanda began discussing the matter in the early days of the administration, the second Rwandan official said. Kigali has positioned itself as a place for Western countries to send migrants it wants to remove from their countries, though some human rights organizations have expressed concerns about the countrys human rights record, including the countrys repression of dissenters. Rwanda has denied human rights abuses.

The migrant deal comes as the U.S. is mediating a peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to help end decades of deadly fighting in eastern Congo that would also help American companies gain access to the regions critical minerals. The leaders of both countries are expected at the White House later this year to sign the deal.

This would not be the first deal Rwanda has struck to take in deportees from other countries. The U.K. struck a since failed deal with Rwanda in 2022 under which Kigali would accept third-country migrants who arrived in the U.K. through improper channels. Under the scheme, the migrants asylum claims would be processed and successful applicants could ultimately stay, but the plan collapsed when Keir Starmers Labor government took power and after it was stalled by legal challenges. Rwanda in 2019 also took migrants from Libya who tried to get to Europe and were deported.
(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento Police Department is investigating a shooting that left one person injured on Sunday night.

Video Above: Understanding Common Gun Terms

Police said officers responded to reports of a shooting around 9:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of W. El Camino Avenue.

SPD arrived to find a man with at least one gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

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Homicide investigation underway after man dies of a gunshot wound in Stockton

There is no suspect information, and police are investigating.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Applications for My Safe Florida Home opened up again on Aug. 4, and Florida homeowners once again have a shot at getting help to harden their homes against storms, up to $10,000.

The My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program offers free wind mitigation inspections to identify areas where homes can be upgraded and the chance for matching state funds to help do so.

The wildly popular state program, relaunched in 2022, keeps running out of money as homeowners sign up in droves to both strengthen their homes and lower their insurance premiums. The 2025-2026 budget pumped in another $280 million  about half of what Gov. Ron DeSantis asked for  to cover grants for the estimated 45,000 homeowners who applied for the program last year but didn't get approved in time.

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Just getting the free inspection can help homeowners save money on their insurance premiums if they have existing wind mitigation features and have never submitted a claim. Of the homeowners who have received grants, completed improvements and disclosed their insurance premium discounts, they report an average savings of $1,014 per year, the News Service of Florida said in 2024.

Application deadlines are staggered by groups, with low-income Florida homeowners 60 years of age and older getting first priority. Every two weeks, another group detemined by age and income will get their turn.

Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. "We strongly encourage eligible homeowners to complete their applications as early as possible to maximize their chances," the MSFH site says. If you have prevously applied for a grant and have not yet filled out the age and income questionnaire, do that right away.

The new budget includes $94 million for MSFH mitigation grants, $1.5 million for inspections, $4.7 million for administrative costs, and a nonrecurring sum of $180 million for the program moving forward for fiscal year 2025-2026.

What is the My Safe Florida Home program?

The My Safe Florida Home Program provides eligible Florida homeowners with free home inspections for hurricane readiness and offers recommendations for wind mitigation features such as roofing materials, better exterior and garage doors, storm shutters, attachments for walls and roofs like hurricane clips and more.

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Homeowners who receive the inspection may then also apply for matching grant funds to help pay for any recommended improvements, with the state matching $2 for every dollar the homeowners spend, up to a cap of $10,000. You must get the inspection completed before applying for a grant.

MSFH was originally started in 2006 but the Legislature stopped funding it about three years later. It was brought back during a 2022 legislative special session on the state's property insurance crisis amid complaints over the state having the highest homeowner premiums in the nation.

According to former Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, as of May the Legislature has appropriated $576 million in funding for grants and over $28.5 million for 178,184 homes to be inspected.

How can I get a free wind mitigation inspection through My Safe Florida Home?

Anyone who owns a site-built, single-family residential house or townhouse can apply for and receive an inspection. Applying for a grant is not required.

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You can apply for a free wind mitigation inspection here.

How do I get discounts on my home insurance with my free MSFH inspection?

Once you get a report showing the existing wind mitigation features on your home (if any), share it with your insurance carrier to make sure you are receiving all available discounts in your home insurance premium.

If you received a grant and had improvements done, contact your insurance carrier again for any new discounts that may be available. Wind upgrade discounts are required by law in Florida.

Who is eligible for a My Safe Florida Home grant?

Once funding is approved and the grant application portal is reopened, homeowners who have received a wind mitigation inspection will be able to apply for a matching grant if they meet the following criteria:

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The homeowner must have applied for, been approved for and received a free home hurricane inspection through the program

The home must be a single-family, detached residential property or townhouse and must be site-built and owner-occupied

Homeowners must provide proof of homestead exemption

The home must be insured to a maximum of $700,000

The building permit for the home must have been issued before Jan. 1, 2008

The homeowner must allow the home to be reinspected after the work is completed

What types of mitigation projects are eligible for My Safe Florida Home grants?

ROOFS AND STRUCTURES

Improving the strength of roof deck attachments

Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections

Installing a secondary water barrier for the roof

OPENINGS

Upgrading exterior doors

Upgrading garage doors

Upgrading windows

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In 2024, townhouses were made eligible for upgrades on openings (doors and windows) but not for roof repairs.

Will the My Safe Florida Home program pay for a roof replacement?

Grants will not typically cover roof replacements. However, inspection reports that recommend adding a secondary water barrier can be used to justify funds covering the replacement, according to the official site.

When can I apply for a My Safe Florida Home grant?

Starting in 2024, new grant applications are weighted toward residents ages 60 and older, and residents who qualify as low- or moderate-income, with a staggered application schedule giving them priority. This year's schedule is:

Group 1, Aug. 4: Age 60+, low-income

Group 2, Aug. 18: Under age 60, low-income

Group 3, Sept. 1: Age 60+, moderate-income

Group 4, Sept. 15: Under age 60, moderate-income

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If there are funds left after low and moderate income households have been served, MSFH may open up inspection applications for higher income households on a limited basis. Higher income households will not be eligible for grants, however, the MSFH site said.

How can I tell if I need to complete my grant application?

If you log into the MSFH portal and your status says, "Grant App Prioritization Open," you need to complete the prioritization questionnaire to be eligible for a grant application when available.

If I applied for the My Safe Florida Home program but haven't received a grant, what happens next?

If your application status in the application portal is labeled "submitted," your application will remain on hold until the agency begins processing grants again. Grant applications will be approved in the same order they were received.

Make sure to log into your account and make sure your application is completely filled out.

Contributing: Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida's home-hardening grant program now accepting applications again
San Diego County Sheriffs Office hosts National Night Out in local areas, promotes fire safety in Alpine

(FOX 5/KUSI)  While San Diego is a vast county, there is still always room for camaraderie. To promote a strong connection between the community and law enforcement, while encouraging neighborhood camaraderie, the San Diego County Sheriffs Office is hosting its free annual campaign, National Night Out, in several parts of the county throughout early August.

The community-building event features giveaways, music, games, and food, while allowing people throughout San Diego to meet and interact with local sheriffs deputies and crime prevention specialists.

National Night Out in Fallbrook, Saturday, Aug. 2. National Night Out in Fallbrook, Saturday, Aug. 2. National Night Out in Fallbrook, Saturday, Aug. 2. National Night Out in Fallbrook, Saturday, Aug. 2.

Community members attending the event will learn crime prevention tips and receive public safety resources. It also spotlights crucial topics among San Diegians that are at times overlooked.

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On Tuesday, Aug. 5, National Night Out will happen in a handful of different places in the county, including in Alpine at the Boulder Oaks Elementary School, where the Alpine Sheriffs Station will set up shop from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to meet with locals and also showcase a vital topic: Pet Fire Safety.

San Diego County Office kicks off National Night Out in Fallbrook

With Alpine being in a high-risk fire zone area, fire safety is a critical topic for not only residents, but their beloved pets as well. During the event, officials will introduce the Rescue Retriever, a smoke detector for pets that is shaped like a dogs paw.

The smoke detector aids firefighters and first responders in safely evacuating pets during a smoke or fire emergency.

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To use it, pet owners place the device in the area where their pet spends most of its time, such as attached to a crate or near its favorite hiding spot. When smoke is detected, the Rescue Retriever emits a bright strobing light that firefighters can use to help locate your pet and know there is one on the premises.

With this search here first approach, firefighters are alerted to a pets location, potentially saving precious seconds and minutes in the rescue process.

Community educators will be at the event to provide demonstrations and share information about fire and pet safety.

In addition to Alpine, National Night Out will also be holding the event in several other counties Tuesday evening:

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Imperial Beach Sheriffs Substation : 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Robert Egger Sr Recreation Center and Veterans Park

Lemon Grove Sheriffs Substation : 5 p.m. to 8p.m. at Treganza Park

North Coastal Sheriffs Station : 4 p.m.to 6 p.m. at Moonlight Beach

Poway Sheriffs Station : 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Poway Sheriffs Station

San Marcos Sheriffs Station : 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the San Marcos Sheriffs Station

Valley Center Sheriffs Substation : 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Robert Adams Community Park

Vista Sheriffs Station: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 200 Civic Center Drive

You can visit the San Diego County Sheriffs Office official calendar for more information regarding the events.

This year, the campaign kicked off with Ramoma Sheriffs Substation, Thursday, July 24, and will end at the Santees Sheriffs Station this Friday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A warning from area law enforcement: Beware of a computer scam showing up in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. This scam targets a specific demographic, a certain gender, and an age group.

Just when you think youve heard it all when it comes to scams, nd quite frankly, we have all heard a lot in recent years, theres a new scam. It targets older men, usually single older men.

In Lycoming County, weve had four of these situations. The fourth one came in not too long ago, and a total of $6,000,000 has been stolen from these men, Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino stated.

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DA Marino says all of the victims say their computers were hacked by the scammers.

What they do is send a picture, actually a picture, to the person. They were able to get some of their early computer information. of a beautiful young 18-year-old wearing a bikini, starts a conversation with this older gentleman, DA Marino explained.

Eventually, the con-artists gain access to the targets financial information.

Its sad to see what these men go through. Its even more sad, on what their families go through and the fact that what these men have saved or accumulate in their pensions, whatever their jobs are, that money is gone, DA Marino added.

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Canadian wildfire smoke impacts portions of Pennsylvania

Spencer Rappaport is a computer engineer who owns Evolutionary Computers. He says these computer attacks can be prevented.

He suggests going to a computer store and having them check out the software protection.

Have them check the machines, check the network, check everything out because in this day and age we live in, if security is not up to date, your protocols are not right. Youre going to get compromised, Rappaport explained.

DA Marino says his detectives are working with the FBI, and they believe the scammers are operating out of India and China.

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He admits that if youve been taken, you will likely never see your money again. Thats why he is trying to get the word out about this scam.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News.
RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) is warning the Upstate about recent text scams that demand payment for traffic violations.

The SCDMV said they are aware of multiple scams impersonating their department through text, including a link that imitates the SCDMV address and webpage. The texts usually say that the recipient has an overdue toll violation or an unpaid traffic ticket, and will threaten suspension unless paid off.

The SCDMV advises residents that their department does not collect toll fees, nor would they ever demand payment through texts. The SCDMV would also not threaten suspensions for toll violations.

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Officials recommend to delete the text or to report it to the Federal Trade Commission.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Jersey's government has launched a long-term island wide programme to improve the island's public infrastructure.

Officials said the Investing in Jersey scheme would address the island's high cost of housing, ageing infrastructure and the "need to invest in future generations".

Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said it would focus on homes, schools and essential services in a bid to support families and create new opportunities for islanders.

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Officials said it would be supported by the new Jersey Capital Investment Fund, designed to protect infrastructure projects from economic volatility.

Farnham said the scheme marked a "significant step forward", adding "investing in Jersey is about making the right decisions today so that future generations can thrive".

Officials said the priorities in the programme would increase the supply of affordable homes and modern schools.

They also said investment would focus on improving roads, expanding mains water and drainage networks, as well as community focus spaces.

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Officials added it would prioritise a structured capital fund to ensure future investment was properly planned and safeguarded.

'Hope and confidence'

Farnham said funding for the programme would come from an existing capital budget of about 70m to 80m per year.

He said: "We've been working on this for a year. The top priority is dealing with our demographic challenges."

He said the population of the island was set to grow because of longevity, while the working population was decreasing and a there was a fall in birth rates.

He said he hoped the plan would offer "hope and confidence" to young people.

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He said: "This is about re-prioritising our expenditure into the things we really need, the things that are going to make Jersey more attractive, more affordable, provide more family homes.

"Make it a place where people can be, once again, proud to call home."

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.

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A school will increase the number of special educational needs and disabilities (Send) classrooms it can offer after plans for a pair of new buildings were approved.

Wrenn School in Wellingborough operates across two sites and had plans it submitted to North Northamptonshire Council approved last week.

A new two-storey teaching block for the school at Doddington Road will provide four extra classrooms on an existing staff car park, while the London Road site will get six new classrooms.

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A planning document relating to the London Road site states that "the school has an increasing Send cohort".

It said the classrooms were designed "to enable the space needed for "multi-agency working and counselling support students with additional needs".

It added: "These rooms will be multi-use ensuring both students and staff have spaces to meet the specific needs of students to encourage them to meet their full potential."

The Doddington Road site will also feature toilets and office or storage space.

The London Road's six classrooms will be divided between four on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

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It will also feature facilities including a dining area and a sixth form common room.

Wellingborough Town Council had no objections to the development of either building.

Wrenn School is named after Harold Wrenn, the final headmaster of the former boys' grammar school.

The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marking its formation in September 1975 through the merger of Wellingborough Grammar School and Wellingborough Grammar School for Girls.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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JACKSON, Tenn.  A veteran educator, Dr. LaDonna Braswell considers herself a courageous leader.

So its with that spirit, she and her team at Liberty Technology High School in Jackson, Tennessee took a bold step last school year and banned cell phones.

We had to put a system in place thats going to remove as many barriers as possible so that teaching and learning could take place. So we looked at the cell phone policy, explained Dr. Braswell.

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Braswell had implemented a similar policy at a middle school where she was principal and now, for the second year at Liberty, cell phones will be taken up at the beginning of the day and given back at the end.

When asked how it worked out last year, Dr. Braswell responded, Seamlessly. It was the best. If you ever ask any of our teachers and some scholars, theyll tell you its the best thing that has happened.

Prior to Braswells arrival at Liberty, she explained there was already a policy in place that required students to put their cell phones away during class, however, that didnt always work out.

Throughout class theyre still finding a way to text and so it was just a distraction. So we knew that we had to create a system that removed the completely out, and off the teacher from having this tug of war with children, added Dr. Braswell.

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So, Liberty created a new policy that requires students to turn in their cell phones as soon as they enter the building, prior to going through the metal detector. Phones are returned at the end of the school day.

The administrators converted the concession stand, into the cell phone room which is where the phones are collected in the morning.

Students cell phones and all wearable devices are placed in a large plastic bag. They receive a numbered ticket and a corresponding ticket is placed in the plastic bag. Those plastic bags are placed into boxes labeled with the students 4th block teacher. The cell phone room is locked until the boxes are delivered to the teachers at the end of the school day. The teachers then pull the tickets to return the devices.

Match the ticket, hell call this number and if they match, the kid gets the cell phone, said Braswell.

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The first time a student violates the policy, the school keeps the phone until the next day.

Two strikes, its three days. A third offense leaves discretion to the principal.

Braswell told WREG, Usually, we dont get to the third.

She added, Our children bought in quicker than parents, believe it or not.

Parents, were mainly concerned about safety, something Braswell says she completely understands.

We had to educate the parents on the system because Im a parent as well.

She continued, We had to explain to the parents, regardless of what may happen at the school. The cell phone is not going to be an extra layer of safety. Meaning, God forbid we had an active shooter, you cant come on site, no one can come on site, explained Dr. Braswell when discussing safety protocol.

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Liberty wont be alone this school year. State lawmakers passed a law this spring banning cell phones during instructional time. School districts across Tennessee are having to adjust their policies for electronic device usage as the new school year begins.

Memphis Shelby County School parents, like Tamara Burnett, who oppose the idea expressed similar worries about safety.

I think its a little bit absurd because emergencies do happen at the school. Sometimes theres bomb threats, active shooters and the kids are afraid and they need to call their parents, said Burnett who has children in elementary and middle school.

Burnett says shed rather see teachers strictly enforce rules already in place designed to keep students off their phones.

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Just last week the Memphis Shelby County School Board approved a new policy requiring devices be powered off and stored out of sight in a designated location.

Memphis schools approve cell phone ban policy

Austin Hall is an 11th grader who hopes to get around the new rule his mom supports.

I also do understand why yall are banning cell phones because a lot of students have been cheating lately, you know ChatGPT, taking pictures of the test and stuff, I understand why yall want to get rid of that but Im still gonna have my phone, said Hall to WREG.

Meanwhile, Austins mother, Cynthia Furdge-Rogers told NewsChannel3, Im 100 percent in with there being the ban. I feel like the students are so distracted while theyre in school, they have their headphones in and theyre always not focused on their school work so I feel like the ban would allow them to completely focus.

Focus is exactly what Dr. Braswell says students at Liberty Tech have found.

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Braswell explained, We dont have a lot of distractions.

She continued, And we dont have a lot of disciplinary issues. Our disciplinary infractions were down about 33 percent just in this first year.

Furthermore, what the data cant say, but Braswell sees she says, is kids are connecting.

Dr. Braswell exclaimed, If you walk by the classroom, theyre having a small group conversation. You go in the cafeteria, they are talking to one another. They are having school!

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Monday called on their Republican counterparts to meet immediately to avert a government shutdown looming as soon as the end of next month.

The Democratic congressional leaders, both of whom are from Brooklyn, called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to sit down this week to discuss a plan to pass next years budget, which would normally require negotiation with the minority party to secure the 60 votes needed in the Senate to avoid a filibuster.

We have the responsibility to govern for all Americans and work on a bipartisan basis to avert a painful, unnecessary shutdown at the end of September, Schumer and Jeffries wrote.

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The Democratic leaders noted they are willing to work with Republicans on a bipartisan basis to negotiate a budget deal that would keep the government open past Sept. 30.

But they accused President Trump and GOP leaders of plotting to govern without any input from Democrats and shut down the government if they dont get their way.

Many within your party are preparing to go it alone and continue to legislate on a solely Republican basis, the Democratic leaders wrote.

Government funding will expire Sept. 30. Lawmakers say to prevent a shutdown Congress will likely need to pass a stopgap funding measure when lawmakers return to Washington D.C. after Labor Day.

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In exchange for their cooperation in passing new budget measures, Democrats want Republicans to agree not to turn around later in the year and pass a rescissions package cutting some of that same funding.

Republicans recently voted to claw back $9 billion in previously appropriated funding and defunded the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, taking advantage of the legislative loophole that rescissions only require a simple majority in the Senate, not a 60-vote bipartisan supermajority.

Schumer and Jeffries are also pressing for the administration to release funding it has unilaterally held up even though it was allocated by Congress last year.

Republicans have suggested they may seek to pass one or more policy bills before the midterm elections using the arcane reconciliation process, like they successfully did with Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill. That measure, which polls say is very unpopular with voters, enacted draconian cuts to health care spending to bankroll tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations.
Steve Soltys was just 24 years old when he was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1990.

At first, Soltys said, dealing with the chronic autoimmune disorder that keeps a persons body from producing insulin and regulating blood sugar wasnt too bad. He was able to keep it at bay for 13 or 14 years.

But around 2015 the disorder starting making more of an impact on his life, and starting in 2019 it began progressing quickly, Soltys said.

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By the end of 2021, my kidney function had dropped below 20%, said Soltys, who lives just outside Pine Grove in Schuylkill County.

Soltys needed a new kidney. Without one, his life would be cut short.

Because of the level at which his kidney was functioning, he met the criteria to go on the transplant list. He went through months of lab work and testing before becoming active on the list in August 2022  officially awaiting a kidney and pancreas, which would eliminate his need to use insulin.

Soltys joined more than 100,000 people across the U.S.  and about 5,000 in southeastern Pennsylvania  awaiting a lifesaving organ.

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He was told it would take two to three years until his turn would come up. About two weeks later he was stunned to get a call telling him a match was available.

I was shocked, I was not prepared in any way, he said. So I didnt take it.

Organ donation recipient Steve Soltys at a Donor Dash event in April help to mark National Organ Donation Month. (Courtesy of Gift of Life)

About a month later, he got another call. He went to the hospital and was prepped for surgery.

He waited for about 15 hours before being informed the organs werent viable.

It was a little discouraging, Soltys said. I just had to drive home and await another call.

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This past November, Soltys got the call again. After a 12-hour wait, the result was the same.

Again, he had to go home and wait.

Youre just attached to your phone, said Soltys, who teaches math in the Manheim Central School District in Lancaster County. As a teacher I never took my phone to class with me. Now, I had to have it on me 24-7.

When I went into the shower my wife had to watch my phone. Its a little nerve-racking.

In December, his much-watched phone rang once more. The voice on the line told him organs were again available and he needed to be ready for surgery in three hours.

This time, everything worked out.

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Thoughts of donor

Soltys transplant surgery was a success. At 57 years old, he had a new lease on life.

Of course, that meant someone else had lost theirs.

Soltys said the donor is always on his mind. Even if he doesnt know who it is.

They wont give you any information about your donor, he said, adding that the donors family does have the option to reach out to the recipient. Its hard. Id like to be able to identify them by name, to know what they were like, their interests, because theyre physically a part of you now.

Soltys said he understands why a donors family may not want to have contact with the person who received their loved ones organ. Its a reminder of something tragic, of a loss they suffered.

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Patients like Soltys are able to write to their donors family through Gift of Life, the organization that performed the transplant. He has done that and said he will continue to do so for the rest of his life to express his appreciation.

How do you thank somebody for giving you life? he said, trying to fight back tears. It still makes me a little emotional. I just want them to know how grateful I am.

I know I can never repay this gift. I dont know how you say thank you for something like this, I dont know what the words are to say that.

Soltys said hes not typically one to speak publicly about his experience. But because of the magnitude of the gift he received and the impact it has had on his life, he feels responsible to do so and to stress the importance of organ donation.

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This isnt about me, I didnt do anything but lay on the table, he said. The credit goes to the donor and doctors.

Soltys is now 60. He hasnt had to use insulin in 2 1/2 years, something he never thought hed be able to say.

Hes seen his son and daughter grow up and even welcomed a grandchild into the world. All thanks to someone who, in death, decided to provide life.

And thousands of others across the U.S. can say the same.

While each transplant story is unique, they also share some important similarities. Theyre often miraculous tales of generosity and hope.

For those who have not experienced them  either themselves or through a loved ones experience  organ donations might be a bit mysterious.

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Saturday was Pennsylvania Organ Donor Day. In recognition of that, heres what you need to know about organ donation.

How organ transplants work

Dr. Filip Moshkovsky, who works in trauma and surgical critical care at Reading Hospital, said the staff there isnt directly involved in the transplant process. The hospital works with an organ procurement organization. At Reading, the organization is the Philadelphia-based Gift of Life.

Organs come from a recently deceased patient or one who has been deemed brain dead. Whenever someone dies in the hospital or is ruled brain dead, hospital staff are required by law to contact Gift of Life.

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They reach out and connect with a patients family to start the process of requesting an organ donation, Moshkovsky said.

Moshkovsky said Gift of Life has an almost constant presence at the hospital, which is needed because time is of the essence when it comes to organ donation. The hospital typically has at least one patient going through the process at all times.

We average a donation about once every 10 days, he said.

Once Gift of Life has reached an agreement with a patients family to donate, the organizations doctors do the transplant. Hospital staff remain focused on the normal care of the patient, Moshkovsky said.

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Donations are done outside of the medical treatment that is being received, he said. We continue treating the patient while the organ request is being completed by Gift of Life. That is done on purpose so that there is no perceived or real confusion about who is doing what.

Its my patient, I will be there until the end caring for them.

Moshkovsky said knowing that a patient intends to donate organs doesnt impact their treatment.

You hear people say a lot, If I put that Im an organ donor on my license they wont take care of me, theyll just let me die to take my organs, he said. That is completely untrue. My primary goal is that patient, I will do everything in my power to help them.

Dwendy Johnson, community relations supervisor for Gift of Life, agreed that separating the hospital from the donation process is important.

The hospital is doing everything possible to save that persons life, thats their job, she said. When it comes to when someone is brain dead, thats when they make the call to us.

Gift of Life is the organ procurement organization the works with Reading Hospital.

Once the organs from a donor are removed, Gift of Life works with a transplant hospital to get them to a patient who needs them. Moshkovsky said Pennsylvania is the worlds epicenter for the procedure, with transplant hospitals located across the state.

Organs are first made available locally, but if a matching recipient cant be found the search will be extended throughout the East Coast and even the rest of the U.S.

The people from this region have touched the lives of countless people around the country, Moshkovsky said.

Why it matters

Donating an organ is a heroic act, Johnson said.

Someone can leave a legacy, can save or improve someone elses life, she said.

Johnson said a single donor can provide organs for up to eight people. That number rises to between 75 and 100 if you include tissue donation, which involves things such as skin, bone marrow, valves and corneas.

And there are a lot of people who need organs.

Johnson said more than 100,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, including about 5,000 in this region. Many of them will die without receiving a new organ.

This is neighbors helping neighbors, she said. Its a heroic and selfless decision, and it really does transform lives.

Moshkovsky agreed.

It really is a beacon of hope out there, he said. It really is giving someone else a new lease on life.

Of course, he added, that doesnt mean the decision is an easy one for grieving family members. Sometimes it takes someone elses tragic situation to make it happen.

Moshkovsky said that a few years ago he had a family friend whose 18-year-old brother was brain dead after a motorcycle accident. His family was not familiar with organ donation and initially resisted the idea.

At the same time, Moshkovsky had another family friend in need of new kidneys. The mother of three young children had severely infected kidneys and had been on dialysis for three years.

Hearing about the mother in need was the spark the motorcycle accident victims family needed.

It showed them that its actually real people youre helping, heres an example, Moshkovsky said. It opened their eyes. They decided to donate his kidneys to her. It turns out they were a match and they did the transplant and got her off of dialysis.

Today, shes full of life. Her kids are now in high school and she has a completely new life.

Moshkovsky said the process changed the life of the donors family, as well.

They had tears in their eyes and thanked me for telling them what donation is, he said. They said that they know that their brother, their son, continues to live because she is living. They said that hes not with us, but he is with us.

Thats a powerful thing you cant get anywhere else.

How to become a donor

One of the most important things someone can do to make the donation process easier is to communicate, Johnson said.

That can be as simple as checking the box to become an organ donor when getting or renewing your drivers license. Or it can be a conversation with family members or drafting a living will.

Too often there isnt any communication with each other, she said. Sharing that decision is really important.

If family members havent had that conversation, theyre left guessing the wishes of their loved one. And figuring out what to do can be a heavy burden for family members dealing with tragedy.

Dr. Filip Moshkovsky

It makes it much easier when theres an awareness, Moshkovsky said. We wish everyone who comes in has a living will and clear discussions with their family. Otherwise you can have situations where people dont agree, it can create tension among family members  and that can delay a process that needs to happen quickly.

As for who can donate, Johnson said the list is large.

Age is not really a factor. A young child can donate to another child, and theres no upper age limit.

The oldest donor weve had was 94 years old, she said. They donated a liver and saved someones life.

Even cancer patients can donate unless cancer has metastasized. Cancer patients in remission can donate.

And, Johnson said, donation is supported by all major religions.

It truly is a gift, she said. And we cant take them with us.
Sharks and other cartilaginous fish are moving to shorelines in the Sea of Marmara as oxygen amounts fall in deeper waters, Turkiye Today reported.

What's happening?

Pollution and warmer waters have reduced oxygen in the sea's deeper sections. In parts below 200 meters in the eastern area, oxygen is now at zero, said Hakan Kabasakal, fish advisor at World Wide Fund for Nature-Turkiye.

This change pushes sharks and similar fish toward shallow shore areas, where they encounter dangers. These fish need at least 4.5 milligrams of oxygen per liter of seawater to stay alive, but many areas of the Sea of Marmara now have less than 2 milligrams per liter.

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"Due to continued deoxygenation in deep waters, these fish can't return, but they also can't thrive in their new coastal environments because of overfishing," Kabasakal explained.

Why is this marine oxygen drop concerning?

When sharks swim to shore, it creates a problem for sea life and people who rely on healthy oceans.

Out of 1,266 known cartilaginous fish, one-third could die out this century if nothing changes. These animals are top hunters in seafood chains, and when they vanish, whole food webs can fall apart.

The issue is bigger than just sharks. Low oxygen creates "dead zones" where most marine animals can't survive. This harms fishing jobs and food sources for towns near the Sea of Marmara.

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In a three-year study, scientists observed an initial rise in shore shark numbers, but they then dropped rapidly in 2024. This shows that new areas can't keep these moved fish healthy over time.

For humans, losing these sea animals means fewer natural hunters of pests and less mix of life in waters that coastal towns need for food and jobs.

What's being done about this marine oxygen drop?

Work is growing to help these at-risk fish and boost oxygen in sea waters.

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.

WWF-Turkiye built a wildlife tracking app called Gozum Dogada (My Eye on Nature) so people can report shark sightings along Turkiye's almost 9,000 kilometers of shore.

"The more data we have, the stronger our conservation efforts become," Kabasakal noted.

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Scientists also combat misconceptions about sharks that instill fear instead of fostering care. He's looking at old shark attack records from the Mediterranean Sea to show they happen much less than people think.

If you live by the sea, help by reporting unusual sea life sightings to local nature groups or by using a wildlife app. This gives important information to scientists tracking these changes.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Heres what youll learn when you read this story:

In the physical world, time marches in one direction, but things arent so straight forward in the quantum realm.

Researchers have discovered that its possible to speed up, slow down, or reverse the flow of time in a quantum system.

This isnt exactly time travel, but is instead implementing or reverting to different quantum states from different points in time.

In the subatomic universe of quantum physics, you can achieve things considered impossible in our flesh-and-blood physical world. Things like superposition, entanglement, and even teleportation all seem possible when things go quantum. Now, scientists from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OAW) and University of Vienna are adding a kind of time travel to the list.

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In a series of papers published on preprint servers and in various online journals (including Optica, arXiv, and Quantum), researchers including OAWs Miguel Navascues and University of Viennas Philip Walther explain the possibility of speeding up, slowing down, and even reversing the flow of time within a quantum system.

Navascues compares the phenomenon to different movie-watching experiences. In a theater [classical physics], a movie is projected from beginning to end, regardless of what the audience wants, he told the Spanish-language newspaper El Pais . But at home [the quantum world], we have a remote control to manipulate the movie. We can rewind to a previous scene or skip several scenes ahead.

The researchers achieved this by evolving a single photon as it passes through a crystal. Using an experimental device called a quantum switch, the single photon of light returns to its previous state before it ever makes the journey. In a way, this is less Doc Brown-style time travel and more about reverting or otherwise altering the states of quantum particles, or time translation as Navascues described in 2020.

However, this isnt exactly like a rewind button on your TV because usually, viewers can see how things got from plot point A to Bjust sped up and in reverse. In quantum mechanics, however, simply observing a system causes it to change, which makes it impossible to track a systems progress through time. Crucially, these rewinding protocols still work because they can be performed without knowing what the changes were or its internal dynamics, according to the scientists.

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And this quantum time machine doesnt just go one directionNavascues said theyve also hit upon a method for going forward in evolutionary time as well. He told El Pais:

To make a system age 10 years in one year, you must get the other nine years from somewhere. In a year-long experiment with 10 systems, you can steal one year from each of the first nine systems and give them all to the tenth. At the end of the year, the tenth system will have aged 10 years; the other nine will remain the same as when the experiment began.

Sadly, these sci-fi findings in the quantum world cant be sized up to send humans backward and forward in time, because a single human represents a mind-boggling amount of information to rejuvenatein fact, the scientists estimate it would take millions of years to pull it off for just one second.

But for the teams at OAW and the University of Vienna, the point isnt jetting off to the distant future, but the ability to increase the capability of quantum processors by arming them with the possibility of reversing errors in a system. After all, if life had a rewind button, wouldnt you use it?

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A large California wetland has shrunk significantly, new research showed, and faces a major threat because of rising sea levels.

What's happening?

The Suisun Marsh, California's largest tidal wetland, is a part of the San Francisco Estuary, which provides water to millions of people and a home to thousands of wildlife species. In short, it's a vital ecological system in one of the United States' most populated areas.

A new study showed that the marsh has undergone drastic changes since California achieved statehood, according to Maven's Notebook, a publication dedicated to California water issues.

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Since the mid-19th century, the study stated, the Suisun's tidal marsh area has shrunk by roughly 80%, and more than 33,000 acres of diked wetland have fallen below mean tide levels.

Most concerning, however, may be the effect that rising sea levels have had on the marsh and the impact they seem likely to have on its future. The report showed that, as global waters continue to rise, the Suisun's diked wetlands lose soil each year, making the marshes "vulnerable to submergence."

Why are rising sea levels concerning?

Rising sea levels are one of the many environmental effects of our rapidly warming planet. Last year, NASA data showed, global sea levels rose by nearly a quarter-inch.

Although that doesn't sound like much on its own, it's considerably higher than the 0.17 inches that had been predicted. Since 1993, sea levels have risen by 4 inches, with the rate of rise more than doubling.

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This rise is driven by two primary causes. As temperatures increase, glaciers and ice caps melt, raising levels. Those temperatures, along with windy weather, can also cause water in our oceans to get hotter and expand.

As sea levels rise, coastal communities and wildlife could be at risk. Flood-prone communities will also be more prone to damage from extreme weather  and, as temperatures increase, so does the frequency and severity of weather events like floods and hurricanes.

What's being done to protect the Suisun Marsh?

More than a decade ago, officials adopted a 30-year Suisun Marsh restoration plan. It set goals of improving diked-land management, strengthening levees, and keeping waters brackish.

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.

Since then, there are nearly 2,000 new acres of tidal marsh in the Suisun, the study showed. That's a step in the right direction, but as sea levels continue to rise, there's still much work to be done to reach the plan's lofty goals.

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"I wouldn't say that the ship has sailed," study author Lydia Vaughn told Maven's Notebook. "But we don't have a lot of time. If we wait, it becomes much more stark."

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.




In this courtroom sketch, Sean Diddy Combs listens June 17 as U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian threatens to sanction attorneys for a potential leak during Combs sex-trafficking trial in New York City. - Credit: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters/Redux

Follow all of our Sean Combs trial coverage

Sean Diddy Combs lost his second bid to be released from jail pending sentencing when a federal judge ruled today that the hip-hop mogul failed to prove he wasnt a flight risk or a danger to the community.

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Increasing the amount of the bond or devising additional conditions doesnt change the calculus given the circumstances and heavy burden of proof that Combs bears, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian wrote in his two-page ruling obtained by Rolling Stone. The judge said Combs and his lawyers conceded during Combs recent criminal trial that the music mogul has a history of violence in his personal relationships. This type of violence, which happens behind closed doors  is impossible to police with conditions, Subramanian wrote, reiterating comments he made in court on July 2. On this basis alone, Combs application is denied.

Combs, 55, has been trying to secure his release from Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) since his arrest last September. He renewed his effort last month, when a jury in Manhattan acquitted him on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Although the Bad Boy founder was cleared of the most serious charges leveled against him, which carried up to life in prison, he was found guilty on two lesser counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. On the same day the jury returned its verdict, Subramanian heard arguments regarding possible release and ruled Combs should remain in custody until his sentencing on Oct. 3.

For their part, Combs attorneys have argued the father ofvseven should be with his family in the interim. Last week, they once again renewed their request for bail, saying exceptional circumstances warranted release. In a kitchen sink-style approach, the defense team offered a $50 million bail package, raised issues about dire conditions at MDC, and argued Combs was inappropriately charged with the Mann Act. In a separate motion, they asked the judge to set aside Combs conviction as a matter of law or rule that he be retried on the prostitution charges alone.

Subramanian flatly rejected Combs arguments in the new decision. While Combs may contend at sentencing that this evidence should be discounted and that what happened was nothing more than a case of willing swingers utilizing the voluntary services of escorts for their mutual pleasure, the Government takes the opposite view: that Cassie Ventura and Jane were beaten, coerced, threatened, lied to, and victimized by Combs as part of their participation in these events, Subramanian wrote. That makes this case unlike any of the cases Combs points to and places it outside the narrow exception to detention that Congress otherwise deemed mandatory.

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Subramanian also noted that Combs attorneys have admitted MDC officials have kept Combs safe and attend[ed] to his needs, even during an incident of threatened violence from an inmate. (Rolling Stone has reached out to Combs representatives for more information on the incident.)

Over the weekend, before the judges ruling, Combs attorneys filed more paperwork trying to reassure Subramanian over his stated concerns regarding Combs admitted temper. Apart from a lone, isolated incident with Combs ex-girlfriend Jane in June 2024, the attorneys claimed Combs has not been violent with anyone following the end of his relationship with Ventura in 2018.

Prosecutors rebutted that assertion in their own filing, saying the claim was simply not true. Though their filing was redacted, they claimed Combs did engage in several acts of violence between 2018 and 2024. It wasnt clear precisely what alleged incidents prosecutors were referring to, but as Rolling Stone previously reported, Combs ex-girlfriend Gina Huynh previously told gossip vlogger Tasha K that Combs shoved her to the ground and dragged her by her hair in 2018. She said he also stomped on her stomach in a jealous rage.

Over the weekend, Huynh submitted a letter to the judge advocating for Combs release. She confirmed she was listed as Victim-3 in Combs indictment. Huynh, who has been in an on-off relationship with Combs since 2014, was not called as a witness. Weeks before opening statements started May 12, prosecutors admitted they were having trouble getting in touch with Huynh. They ultimately conceded she was out of the trial.

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Still, Huynhs name continually popped up in testimony. Both Ventura and Jane acknowledged Combs not-so-secret dalliance with Huynh, saying it caused problems in their respective relationships. Jurors also heard accusations Combs was violent with Huynh. Combs assistant George Kaplan testified he once saw Combs hurling decorative apples at Huynh. And in October 2015, Combs former head of security warned Combs that he could go to jail if word leaked about an apparent violent incident between the pair.

Huynhs letter to the judge didnt get specific about her previous claims about violence in the relationship. She simply acknowledged they experienced ups and downs.

Mistakes were made, but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future, Huynh wrote to the court. Over the years that followed, he made visible efforts to become a better person and to address the harm he had caused. By the time our relationship ended, he embodied an energy of love, patience, and gentleness that was markedly different from his past behavior. To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first.

The judges rejection of Combs bail request comes as the hip-hop mogul is hoping for a minimum sentence, no more than 27 months with credit for the 11 months that hes already served. Prosecutors claim Combs should face at least 51 months behind bars, per their interpretation of sentencing guidelines.

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Theres also speculation Combs might have another avenue to avoid a possible prison sentence. His team is exploring all options, including appeals and even a presidential pardon. Last week, Rolling Stone reported that Combs allies have ramped up their efforts in lobbying President Donald Trump for a pardon, feeling emboldened by his partial acquittal. Members of Combs camp have approached people close to the Trump administration and floated paying large sums of money if they agreed to help with a potential Trump pardon, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.

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Sean Combs will stay in jail as he awaits sentencing for prostitution-related crimes, a court has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on Monday denied Combs bid to be released, finding that this history of violence shows that he could pose a dangers to others.

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Increasing the amount of the bond or devising additional conditions doesnt change the calculus given the circumstances and heavy burden of proof that Combs bears, the judge wrote.

The order comes after a former girlfriend of Combs  who was at one point set to participate in the governments case against him as Victim-3  urged the court on Sunday to grant bail. The woman, Viginia Huynh, said Combs is a family man committed to becoming a better person and address the harm he had caused.

To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first, the letter read. I am writing because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community.

The filing was part of the defenses latest effort to release Combs, this time on a $50 million bond, after he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges but found guilty of prostitution-related offenses under the Mann Act, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.

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In Mondays order, the court stressed extensive evidence of Combs assaulting two former long-term girlfriends, among other things indicating his inclination toward violence, coercion and subjugation. It said the rap mogul needs to present exceptional circumstances requiring his immediate release.

The judge also rebuffed arguments that Combs should be allowed to await sentencing at home because of the dangerous conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

The public outcry concerning these conditions has come from all corners, Subramanian wrote. But as Combs acknowledges, MDC staff has been able to keep him safe and attend to his needs, even during an incident of threatened violence from an inmate.

Combs is set to be sentenced in October.

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By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Sean "Diddy" Combs on Monday lost his bid to be released from jail ahead of his October 3 sentencing, despite a jury having found the hip-hop mogul not guilty of the most serious charges at his sex crimes trial.

Combs' lawyers had asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on July 29 to release Combs on $50 million bond, saying conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn were dangerous and other defendants convicted of prostitution-related charges similar to Combs' were usually released before sentencing.

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In a written ruling, the judge said Combs' arguments "might have traction in a case that didn't involve evidence of violence, coercion or subjugation in connection with the acts of prostitution at issue, but the record here contains evidence of all three."

Subramanian said his decision did not foreshadow what sentence he might impose against Combs, who has been jailed at the MDC since his September 2024 arrest.

Combs' lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office in an August 1 filing said staffing, medical services and conditions at the MDC had improved since Combs' arrest, and evidence of Combs' physical violence presented at trial showed he remained a danger to the community.

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Combs, 55, was found not guilty on July 2 of three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, and convicted on two lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Prosecutors alleged Combs forced two former girlfriends to participate in days-long, drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers sometimes called "freak-offs." Defense lawyers said the women were willing participants.

Each prostitution charge carries a maximum 10-year sentence, but prosecutors have acknowledged that federal sentencing guidelines appear to recommend a sentence of at most 5-1/4 years total.

Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, pleaded not guilty to all counts. The trial lasted seven weeks.

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Subramanian denied Combs' initial request for release immediately after the verdict, citing the ample evidence presented at trial of violent acts he committed.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Chris Reese)
A 28-year-old man being sought in the homicides of four people in Tennessee has been captured on a home security camera, police said Monday, as the search for the suspect continued.

Austin Robert Drummond was seen late Sunday night in Jackson, Tennessee, according to local police. The sighting was captured on a citizen's camera system on the 700 block of Pipkin Road, police said.

The suspect is believed to still be in the area, the Jackson Police Department said while warning people to "remain vigilant" and "exercise extra caution."

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Drummond is considered armed and dangerous following the killings of 38-year-old Cortney Rose, Rose's children, 20-year-old Adrianna Williams and 15-year-old Braydon Williams, and Adrianna Williams' boyfriend, 21-year-old James "Michael" Wilson, according to authorities and family.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - PHOTO: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released this image in the search for Austin Robert Drummond, 29, who is wanted in connection with a quadruple homicide in Tiptonville, TN.

The victims were killed on July 29 and found along a road in Lake County, in northwest Tennessee, authorities said.

The same day, Wilson and Williams' baby was left in a car seat in a "random individuals front yard" in nearby Dyer County, according to the Dyer County Sheriffs Office.

MORE: 2 killed, 6 hurt in mass shooting at apparent after-party in Los Angeles: Police

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A motive for the killings remains under investigation.

Drummond is wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

A total reward of up to $30,000 has been offered for information leading to Drummond's arrest.

MORE: As manhunt intensifies for suspect, officials ID 4 victims in Montana bar shooting

Amid the search, two additional individuals have been arrested on charges linked to the killings, authorities said.

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Dyer County, Tennessee, District Attorney Danny Goodman said Dearrah Sanders and Brandon Powell were the latest suspects arrested in connection with the quadruple killing that included three victims from the same family. Goodman made the announcement at the arraignment on Monday of Tanaka Brown, who is charged with being an accessory to the killings after the fact and tampering with evidence.

Sanders is also charged with being an accessory after the fact, while Powell is charged with possession of schedule six drugs and criminal conspiracy, Goodman said. Also arrested in the homicide case was Giovante Thomas, who has been charged with being an accessory after the fact, authorities said.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes released a statement on the recent gun violence in Seattle that took place over the last four days.

The statement came from a blotter post on the Seattle Police Departments website on Sunday.

In the statement, Barnes acknowledged that the shooting has had an impact on the great Seattle community.

He also reassured residents that SPD would do its best to handle the recent gun violence.

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We want to reassure the community that we are committed to preventing further incidents of gun violence. Achieving this goal requires collaboration between the criminal justice system and the community, Barnes said.

The statement comes after shootings that took place within a couple of hours of each other in the SODO neighborhood on Sunday.

There were also additional shootings that happened the week prior in University District, Northgate Transit Center, the Capital Hill Neighborhood and a shooting that occurred on the 8600 block of Aurora Ave North.

Barnes urged people with information about the University District and SODO shootings to contact SPDs Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
Four suspects were arrested after allegedly robbing a QFC store just before midnight on Saturday, according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD).

The robbery happened at a QFC on Broadway in the Capitol Hill neighborhood around 11:51 p.m.

Police say three people entered the store and stole a liquor bottle from the alcohol section.

When they brushed past the security at the store, the security tried to stop them.

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The security and two of the suspects began to fight until one of the three suspects pulled out a gun.

The three people ran away after OC spray was used by security.

SPD responded with their K-9 unit and were able to find all four suspects quickly.

They were unable to find the gun.

Police gave no information on the suspects arrest or what charges they were booked under.
The Brief

Three deadly incidents over the past four days in Seattle has prompted response from the Seattle Police Department's top official.

A shooting outside a church just before the weekend, and two more instances of violence on Sunday preceded the statement.

Chief Barnes says there are many resources tackling not only these cases, but the overall larger issue of gun violence in Seattle.

SEATTLE - Seattle Police Department's recently-hired Chief Shon Barnes has released a statement following a string of shootings in the Seattle area heading into and over the weekend.

The backstory

First, a parishioner was gunned down in front of a church in Seattle's U District neighborhood on Thursday evening. There is now a $50,000 reward for information on the suspect who killed LeBron Givan.

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Then, there was a shooting in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 3. That left one man dead and sent a minor to the hospital with gunshot wounds. The juvenile is expected to survive.

Later in the morning on Sunday, Chief Barnes confirmed there was a third, unconnected, shooting incident. Officers reportedly found a man dead in a parking lot in South Seattle. Initial reports point to a theory that the shooting was potentially linked to a car crash or some other road rage incident.

What they're saying

"Over the past four days, the Seattle community tragically experienced three separate incidents of gun violence, resulting in the loss of lives," Chief Barnes begins his statement with, before offering more details about plans to combat gun violence in the city.

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"The Seattle Police Department continuously analyzes and screens all incidents of violence in our city, refining our strategies to enhance safety and prevent future occurrences. Our department holds meetings twice a week to discuss violent crime trends and to determine resource allocations based on data-driven approaches and assessed needs," Chief Barnes continued.

He reassured the public that the department's officers, detectives, and crime scene investigators are, "actively engaged in all three investigations, pursuing leads with utmost diligenceWe want to reassure the community that we are committed to preventing further incidents of gun violence. Achieving this goal requires collaboration between the criminal justice system and the community. We encourage everyone to report any indicators of potential violence they may observe, as early intervention is crucial for prevention."

The full statement can be read here.

What you can do

Anoyone with information about any of these shootings is asked to contact the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

The Source

Information in this story came from the Seattle Police Department's official blog.

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Shortly after filing previous legislation to revoke the congressional charter of the nations oldest teachers' union, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., has doubled down on her efforts to limit the organizations reach.

After filing a bill on July 16 to revoke the congressional charter of the National Education Association alongside U.S. Rep. Mark Harris, R-North Carolina, Blackburn has filed a second piece of legislation titled the Terminating Education Association Congressional Handouts (TEACH) Act.

The bill seeks to ban the group from influencing the decisions of the federal government.

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The move comes amid a volatile few weeks for American public education, following a legal fight over billions of dollars in federal funding for public schools being withheld across the nation and a July 14 Supreme Court ruling that gave the Trump administration the green light to lay off more than 1,300 Education Department workers.

Blackburns bill would ban the NEA from lobbying activities, and require the organization to submit an annual certification to the secretary of education affirming that it is not engaging in lobbying.

The National Education Association has abandoned its mission of supporting Americas teachers and students in the name of pushing its far-left political agenda, Blackburn said in a news release. The NEA has become nothing more than a radical-left activist group, and it has no business using its status as a congressionally chartered entity to push woke gender ideology, antisemitism, and propaganda on Americas students.

The NEA is one of around 90 congressionally chartered organizations in the United States, including organizations like the American Red Cross, Boy and Girl Scouts of America and the American Legion.

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The NEA was granted a charter in 1906, and is the only labor union to be congressionally chartered.

In her news release, Blackburn cites multiple instances of alleged political bias as reasons to remove the education unions lobbying abilities, stating that 98 percent of NEA political donations went to Democrats in 2024, and accusing the organization of (standing) in the way of reopening schools in 2020 and 2021.

In a statement to The Tennessean, a spokesperson for the NEA said politicians are trying to silence the voices of educators and take away our ability to advocate for students.

Across the nation, public school educators dedicate their lives to helping their students thrive, the spokesperson said. We work to inspire their students and keep them safe. We deliver nutritious meals and ensure students have clean and healthy learning environments, and we partner with parents and families to empower students to reach their dreams. Educators deserve to have a voice through our union to advocate for better learning conditions, smaller class sizes, and stronger schools.

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Let me be clearpublic school educators will never stop advocating for our students and communities. And the National Education Association will never stop lifting the voices of the educators who dedicate our lives to the success of all students.

Blackburns new bill is the third bill this year taking aim at the NEA for its organizational activities.

Just days previously, U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wisconsin, and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming), filed a much more thorough bill seeking to restructure its federal charter in a number of ways.

The bill, which includes many initiatives, includes items to prevent the NEA from calling for strikes or work stoppages, require all NEA members to be U.S. citizens, establish that assets belonging to the NEA would go to the Department of the Treasury if ever dissolved, and prohibits the union from encouraging or requiring members to adhere to any critical race theory concept, and more.

Congresional Charter's lobbying rights historically debated

The practice of recognizing certain organizationsusually those with education, patriotic, charitable or historical valuebegan in the 1791 and grants the organizations a more official stamp of approval for which to fundraise, but no other tangible privilege.

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Almost all chartered corporations, known as Title 36 corporations under United States Code, are not agencies of the government, while a select few are quasi-governmental.

Whether congressionally chartered organizations can lobby seems to be a murky issue for the federal government.

While most chartered organizations still retain their rights, and limits, of a regular nonprofit regarding lobbying, there are some groups that have self-imposed bans on the activity.

For example, AMVETS' (American Veterans') charter states that the corporation and its leaders "may not contribute to, support, or assist a political party or candidate for elective public office."

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Some organizations that have bans on political activity have asked Congress to remove them from their charters. On May 21, 2008, former Rep. James P. Moran (D-Virginia) introduced legislation which would have removed such a ban from the charter of the Gold Star Wives organization, according to the congressional records.

Moran stated that the ban against attempting to influence legislation  nearly identical wording to that of Blackburns bill  hurt the groups "advocacy on behalf of military families."

He also said that the ban was "punitive, not practically enforceable, and potentially an unconstitutional infringement upon the (First Amendment) freedom to petition the Government."

According to the Congressional Research Service, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, which took no action on it.

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There have also been congressional debates over the years as to whether Congressional chartership implies governmental endorsement. One such debate led to a House Judiciary Committees subcommittee of jurisdiction instituting a freeze on granting new charters in 1989, though this moratorium was broken a few times to charter organizations like the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety.

The same 1989 subcommittee also considered legislation that would have given broad powers to the attorney general to perform oversight and termination of chartered organizations.

The legislation never passed following opposition from the Department of Justice, which listedamong many reasonsthat the proposed legislation would create greater restrictions on political activity and lobbying for future charter organizations"a set of activities that (had) been considered central to the mission of many previous federally chartered organizations," according to congressional record.

The USA TODAY Network - The South region's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

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Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Blackburn moves to limit lobbying of National Education Association
A BBC Africa Eye investigation has revealed how girls as young as 13 are being trafficked for sex in Kenya, with the help of women known as "madams".

In the transit town of Maai Mahiu, in Kenya's Rift Valley, trucks and lorries pound the streets day and night transporting goods and people across the country into Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The key transport hub, just 50km (31 miles) west of the capital, Nairobi, is known for prostitution, but children are also being sexually abused there.

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Two undercover investigators, posing as sex workers wanting to learn how to become madams, spent months earlier this year infiltrating the sex trade in the town.

Their secret filming reveals two different women who say they know it is illegal and then introduce the investigators to underage girls in the sex industry.

The BBC gave all its evidence to the Kenyan police in March. The BBC believes the madams have moved location since then. The police said the women and young girls we filmed could not be traced. To date there have been no arrests.

Convictions are rare in Kenya. For successful prosecutions, police need testimonies from children. Often vulnerable minors are too afraid to testify.

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The BBC's grainy footage filmed on the street in the dark showed one woman, who calls herself Nyambura, laughing as she says: "They're still children, so it's easy to manipulate them by just handing them sweets."

"Prostitution is a cash crop in Maai Mahiu; the truckers basically fuel it. And that's how we benefit. It's been normalised in Maai Mahiu," she explained, adding that she had one girl as young as 13, who had already been "working" for six months.

"It becomes very risky when you're dealing with minors. You can't just bring them out openly in town. I only sneak them out at night in great secrecy," Nyambura said.

The act of prostitution by a consenting adult is not explicitly criminalised under Kenyan national law but it is banned by many municipal by-laws. It is not banned in Maai Mahiu, which is part of Nakuru county.

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Under the penal code it is illegal to live from the earnings of prostitution, either as a sex worker or third party facilitating or profiting from prostitution.

The trafficking or sale of minors under the age of 18 carries a prison sentence ranging from 10 years to life.

When asked whether the clients wear condoms, Nyambura said she usually made sure they had protection but the odd one did not.

"Some children want to earn more [so don't use them]. Some are forced [not to use them]," she said.

In another meeting, she led the undercover investigator to a house where three young girls sat huddled on a sofa, another on a hard-backed chair.

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Nyambura then left the room, giving the investigator an opportunity to speak to the girls alone.

They described being repeatedly abused for sex, on a daily basis.

"Sometimes you have sex with multiple people. The clients force you to do unimaginable things," said one of the girls.

There are no recent statistics on the number of children forced to work in Kenya's sex industry. In 2012, the US State Department Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Kenya cited an estimate of 30,000, a figure derived from the Kenyan government and now defunct non-governmental organisation (NGO), Eradicate Child Prostitution in Kenya.

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Other studies have focused on specific areas, especially along the country's coast - known for its tourist resorts. A 2022 report for the NGO Global Fund to End Modern Slavery found almost 2,500 children were forced into sex work in Kilifi and Kwale counties.

A second undercover investigator gained the trust of a woman who called herself Cheptoo and had multiple meetings with her.

She said selling young girls meant she could "earn a living and be comfortable".

"You carry out this kind of business in great secrecy because it is illegal," she said.

"If anyone says they want a young girl, I ask them to pay me. We also have our regulars who always come back for them."

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Cheptoo took the undercover investigator to a club to meet four of her girls. The youngest said she was 13 years old. The others said they were 15.

She opened up about the profit she makes from them, saying for every 3,000 Kenyan shillings ($23; 17) the girls deliver, her share was 2,500 shillings ($19; 14).

At another meeting, in a house in Maai Mahiu, Cheptoo left the undercover investigator alone with two underage girls.

One of them told her she had, on average, sex with five men a day.

When asked what happened if she refused to have sex without a condom, she said she had no choice.

"I have to [have sex without a condom]. I will be chased away, and I have nowhere to run to. I am an orphan."

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Kenya's sex industry is a complex, murky world where both men and women are involved in facilitating child prostitution.

It is not known how many children are forced into sex work in Maai Mahiu, but in this small town of around 50,000 people it is easy to find them.

People outside the UK can watch here

A former sex worker, known as "Baby Girl", now provides refuge in Maai Mahiu for girls who have escaped sexual abuse.

The 61-year-old worked in the sex industry for 40 years - first finding herself on the streets in her early twenties. She was pregnant and had her three young children with her after fleeing her husband because of domestic violence.

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At her wooden kitchen table in a bright parlour at the front of her house, she introduced the BBC to four young women who were all forced into sex work by madams in Maai Mahiu when they were children.

Each girl shared similar stories of broken families or abuse at home - they came to Maai Mahiu to escape, only to be violently abused again.

Michelle described how, at 12 years old, she lost her parents to HIV and was evicted on to the streets where she met a man who gave her somewhere to live and began sexually abusing her.

"I literally had to pay him in kind for educating me. I reached my limit, but I had no-one," she said.

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Two years later, she was approached by a woman who turned out to be a madam in Maai Mahiu and forced her into sex work.

"I am not afraid any more, because Baby Girl is there for me. She is helping us bury the past"", Source: Lilian, a 19-year-old orphan studying photography as she recovers from abuse, Source description: , Image:

Lilian, who is now 19, also lost her parents at a very young age. She was left with an uncle who filmed her in the shower and sold the images to his friends. The voyeurism soon turned into rape.

"That was my worst day. I was 12 then."

When she escaped, she was raped again by a truck driver who took her to Maai Mahiu. It was here, like Michelle, where she was approached by a woman who forced her into sex work.

These young women's short lives have been fuelled by violence, neglect and abuse.

Now, housed by Baby Girl, they are learning new skills - two in a photography studio and two in a beauty salon.

They also assist Baby Girl with her outreach work in the community.

Nakuru county has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in Kenya, and Baby Girl, supported by US aid agency USAID, is on a mission to educate people about the risks of unprotected sex.

She has an office at Karagita Community Health Centre, near Lake Naivasha, where she works providing condoms and advice.

However, with US President Donald Trump's decision to pull USAID funding, her outreach programmes are about to stop.

As part of her outreach work, Baby Girl hands out condoms on the streets near Lake Naivasha in Nakuru county [BBC]

"From September we will be unemployed," she told the BBC World Service, adding how worried she was about the young women and girls who depend on her.

"You see how vulnerable these children are. How would they survive on their own? They are still healing."

The US government did not respond to comments in this investigation about the likely impact of its funding cuts. USAID officially closed last month.

For now, Lilian is focused on learning photography and recovering from abuse.

"I am not afraid any more, because Baby Girl is there for me," she said. "She is helping us bury the past."

More from BBC Africa Eye:

[Getty Images/BBC]

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The Woburn Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in searching for an 8-year-old.

Micah Jones was last seen on August 2, at approximately 9:45 p.m., entering a light green Nissan Altima with Massachusetts registration 2VLM16, accompanied by his grandfather.

Authorities believe they may be in the Boston or Cambridge area.

Jones is described as having brown eyes, black hair, standing 4 feet 4 inches tall, and weighing 68 pounds.

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The Woburn Police Department is handling the case and is urging anyone with information about Micahs whereabouts to contact them at (781) 933-1212 Ext. 0.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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WINKLER COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  A commercial truck driver was killed and two other men were injured early Sunday morning in a three-vehicle crash in Winkler County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The crash occurred just before 6 a.m. on August 3 at the intersection of State Highway 115 and County Road 302.

Investigators said 24-year-old Teodricke Alexander Lamar Miller of Marlin, Texas, was driving a 2019 GMC Acadia northbound on SH 115 when he began to slow down to make a left turn onto County Road 302. Behind him, 26-year-old Raheem Griffin, also of Marlin, was driving a 2015 Ford F-350. DPS said Griffin failed to control his speed and struck the rear of Millers vehicle, pushing the Acadia into the east barrow ditch, where it caught fire.

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Griffins Ford became disabled in the southbound lane of traffic. At that point, 48-year-old Areal Casanas, a professional truck driver from Lehigh Acres, Florida, was traveling southbound on SH 115 in a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia with a towed trailer. Casanas semi-truck collided with the disabled Ford pickup, causing the Freightliner to roll over.

Casanas, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as the driver of the commercial truck and is the only fatality in the crash.

Griffin, who was driving the Ford F-350 and was also not wearing a seatbelt, was transported to Winkler County Memorial Hospital in serious condition.

Miller, the driver of the GMC Acadia, was wearing a seatbelt and suffered minor injuries. He was also taken to Winkler County Memorial Hospital for treatment.

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Authorities say the crash remains under investigation, and no additional details have been released.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno is spending the next couple of days traveling around the state and talking about the positive impact he claims people will see now that President Trumps Big Beautiful Bill has been signed into law.

Moreno passed through Youngstown Monday, stopping at City Machine Technologies. He and Congressman Michael Rulli spoke with owners of the company, which specializes in repairing and rebuilding electric motors.

Moreno says the new spending plan will put money back into the hands of working people.

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By the time they do all the math, its about $7,500 in the hands of working Americans per year. Its a big difference, child tax credit, save the standard deduction, no income tax on tips or overtime, relief for seniors, Moreno said.

Moreno says the new spending plan will also mean new investments in natural gas exploration and production. He plans to make similar stops this week in western and southern Ohio, touting what he sees as the benefits of the Big Beautiful Bill.

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Monday that Democratic Party leaders whove been slow to back mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani need to get on board because the upstart candidates focus on affordability offers a blueprint as Dems across the country are facing electoral setbacks.

Mamdani has struggled to shore up support from establishment New York Democrats, including U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Hochul, despite winning the June 24 Democratic primary.

New York City is the place to start the conversation for Democrats on how affordability is the central issue, the central reason to be a Democrat, and that delivering on it in meaningful, tangible ways that will touch working families is why were here, Warren said at a Mamdani campaign stop in Manhattan on Monday.

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The progressive, who ran for president in 2020, said her message was to elected officials hesitating to back Mamdani, while slamming former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whos running as an independent in Novembers mayoral election, as bending a knee to billionaires.

New York City is seen as a bellwether for the countrys politics, and the success to date of Mamdanis campaign, which features policy proposals aimed at affordability, populist messaging and ground outreach, has attracted attention from across the country as national Democrats struggle to find a clear vision.

But, citing concerns about Mamdanis pro-Palestinian stance and call to raise taxes, some mainstream party leaders have been slow to embrace his candidacy.

Mamdani and Warren appeared together Monday at a childcare campaign event at the DC37 unions downtown Manhattan headquarters. Childcare advocates gathered to talk about the high cost of childcare and the need for more affordable, or free, options. Expanding free childcare has been a core tenet of Mamdanis campaign.

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Contrasting Mamdani with Cuomo, the Massachusetts senator said the former governors strategy is to go to a handful of billionaires, have em give you a bunch of money and hope that you will be able to flood the city with a bunch of negative ads and somehow thats going to float him to the top.

That strategy, Warren said, is ripped from a tired political playbook. Mamdani also attacked Cuomos reliance on wealthy donors, including some who support President Trump, during the primary race.

What New Yorkers showed by a record margin in a democratic primary was that they wanted a vision of this city that would make it affordable for each and every New Yorker, Mamdani said.

Talking to reporters in Midtown Manhattan, Cuomo challenged Warrens claim that hes focused on catering to billionaires.

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I dont even know what that means  I represented the people of this state, I fought more for the working families of this state and accomplished more for the working families of this state than either of them, frankly, he said before listing off some of his gubernatorial accomplishments, like raising New Yorks minimum wage and jacking up taxes on millionaires in 2021.

What did they actually do? he continued. Im a pragmatic progressive. I dont just talk about it, I do it.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno is predicting the Valley will soon see positive developments concerning the hospitals in Trumbull County owned by Insight Health Systems.

Both Trumbull Regional and Hillside closed last March, throwing hundreds of employees out of work and forcing thousands to go elsewhere for their healthcare.

Moreno said Monday that thanks to efforts by local leaders, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and federal officials, Insight is getting closer to reopening.

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At the end of the day, what I wanted was these hospitals back up and running, employing people in those facilities with good, high-paying jobs, Moreno said.

Moreno says he and others worked with the hospitals landlord, Medical Properties Trust, to come up with a plan to allow administrators with Insight to keep the hospitals operating. He believes more announcements on the hospitals future will be coming in the days ahead.

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(NewsNation)  Sending the Juno spacecraft to investigate a newly-discovered interstellar object that a professor suggested could be alien tech isnt a good idea, according to Ross Coulthart.

Coulthart, an investigative journalist and NewsNation Special Correspondent, joined NewsNation Prime on Sunday to discuss Harvard professor Avi Loebs claim that 3I/ATLAS could be alien tech.

Comet could be alien tech, should be investigated: Avi Loeb

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Loeb co-wrote a paper submitted last month suggesting the space object, only the third such object to enter our solar system, could be possibly hostile. He called for it to be investigated to determine whether its a threat to Earth.

Comet could be alien tech, should be investigated: Avi Loeb

Loeb wants to send NASAs Juno spacecraft, which is currently orbiting Jupiter, to intercept the 3I/ATLAS path and study it as it comes into proximity with Jupiter on March 16, 2026.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., even called him to talk about the theory, and she asked NASA to use Juno to look into it.

Its inflammatory and frankly, theres not a lot of evidence for it, Coulthart said of Loebs theory that the object could be of alien origin.

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Ross Coulthart answers questions on Lockheed Martin bombshell, protecting whistleblowers and more

I just dont think, from talking to many astronomers, that its a good idea to go diverting existing space craft  for example, Juno in orbit around Jupiter  or suggesting these are necessarily alien probes with hostile intent.

Loeb cited the trajectory and speed of the object as reasons why it could be alien tech. However, he labeled his paper a pedagogical, or thought, exercise. He also wrote on his blog that the most likely outcome by far is that 3I/ATLAS is a completely natural interstellar object, probably a comet.

Motive behind alien tech theory

Coulthart believes Loeb may have floated his alien tech theory to draw more attention to an area of science that he would like to see investigated more thoroughly.

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Whitley Strieber on abduction experience, extreme medical testing

Theres a frustration among a lot of people in science, including Professor Loeb, that not enough resources are going toward looking for other techno signatures, Coulthart said.

I think, personally, there is a lot of merit in the broad idea of what Professor Loeb is suggesting, which is that we do need to resource the investigation of so-called techno signatures more rigidly.

As for sending Juno to investigate 3I/ATLAS, Coulthart said it would be too big an expense and a huge diversion from its originally assigned task, which is to investigate Jupiter.

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[Source]

Authorities are investigating the abbot of Chinas iconic Shaolin Temple for suspected embezzlement and improper relationships with women, reviving similar allegations from 2015.

The allegations: Shi Yongxin, 59, also known as CEO monk, is accused of embezzling project funds and temple assets while breaking Buddhist vows by having relationships with multiple women and fathering children. Police reportedly detained him last week as the probe began, while Chinas Buddhist Association revoked his ordination certificate Monday. His Weibo page, which has nearly 900,000 followers, went silent after July 24. A now-debunked fake police notice also claimed that he had 174 illegitimate children, illegally transferred $41.3 billion and tried to flee to the U.S. with mistresses and some kids.

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About the temple and Shi: The historic Shaolin Temple, founded more than 1,500 years ago in Henan province, holds UNESCO World Heritage status as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and kung fu martial arts. Since becoming abbot in 1999, Shi earned his CEO monk reputation by building a commercial empire that operates across 40 countries. His business ventures included touring kung fu shows, licensing deals for movies and games, and running companies in publishing, traditional Chinese medicine and property development. Addressing criticism of his business approach, Shi once told state media, If China can import Disney resorts, why cant other countries import the Shaolin Monastery?

Why this matters: The scandal raises questions about oversight within Buddhism in Asia. Thai authorities recently arrested a woman who extorted nine monks she allegedly had sex with for $11.9 million, leading to temple investigations nationwide.

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Vendors near the Shaolin Temple now say fewer tourists are visiting, with one describing Shi as a monk whose personal conduct hurt Buddhisms reputation. Now, the abbots quarters have been sealed off with barriers and inscriptions on a 1999 monument honoring his leadership have been covered. Authorities promise to release further information as the multi-agency investigation continues. Temple officials appointed Shi Yinle as the new abbot Tuesday.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Shawnee County Board of Commissioners voted to move forward Monday with a resolution to issue $48 million in industrial revenue bonds for West Ridge Mall.

Shawnee County Commissioners voted unanimously to express intent to issue Industrial Revenue Bonds for a West Ridge Mall renovation project. Commissioner Kevin Cook voted to approve the motion, with County Commissioner Bill Riphan seconding the motion.

State law allows for IRBs to develop the general welfare and economic prosperity of the state through the promotion and advancement of industrial development, according to the Kansas Department of Commerce.

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Stay late, Topeka Zoo introducing Roam Wild

Advisors Excel purchased the mall in 2023 with plans to turn part of it into the companys new headquarters while enhancing commercial and retail space. The mall is requesting taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) to help finance the construction, renovation, improvement and furnishing of the property.

You can read Resolution 2025-59 as presented to the board below:

08-04-2025 Packet (1)-pages by thecoltster1234 on Scribd

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Sioux Falls Police said Monday that shots were fired at house near 10th Street and Elmwood Avenue on Sunday night.

The incident was reported at about 11 p.m. Officers found bullet holes in the house and shell casings. There were three people in the house but no one was injured, police information officer Aaron Benson said during Mondays briefing.

Truck crashes into Sioux Falls home

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Benson said a witness reported seeing a gray or tan SUV leaving the area after the shooting.

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A woman who was swept up in the June immigration raid at Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha says a Nebraska sheriff has refused to release her from jail despite an immigration judge granting her bail, which she paid.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Floribertha Mayo Anicasio, who has no criminal record, asked a federal judge to order Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer to immediately release her from the detention center in North Platte or, in the alternative, to order them to file a response within three days to say why she shouldn't be released.

In an order Wednesday, Senior United States District Judge Joseph Bataillon granted the latter.

"The court cannot say from the face of the application that petitioner is not entitled to relief. Accordingly, it orders Mayo Anicasio to serve her petition and a copy of this order on respondents forthwith and file proof of service with the court," he said.

He gave Kramer and the others named in the lawsuit, a list that includes Peter Berg, the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Kristi Noem, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and President Donald Trump, three business days after they're served to file a return saying why she shouldn't be released.

Then, Mayo Anicasio's attorney, Sydney Hayes, will have three days to respond, before a hearing is set on the matter.

Bataillon ordered that she not be removed from the United States or Nebraska, until further order of the court.

The decision starts the clock ticking on what began June 10.

In Mayo Anicasio's petition for a writ of habeas corpus  a legal proceeding requiring law enforcement officials to explain the reason for the prisoner's detention  Hayes said Mayo Anicasio has lived in Nebraska for nearly 25 years, has no criminal record and poses no danger to the public.

Yet, her attorney said, she's been detained for over a month, separated from her children and grandchildren, for more than a month.

"Because of her clean criminal record and strong community ties, an immigration judge ordered Mayo Anicasios release on a $15,000 bond," Hayes said.

The judge's decision came on July 10.

Mayo Anicasio posted bond the next day.

But, she said, ICE refuses to release her from custody, relying on a federal regulation that gives DHS unilateral authority to block an immigration judge's custody order under an automatic stay, originally enacted in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"In other words, the prosecuting officials who failed to convince the IJ (immigration judge) to keep Mayo Anicasio detained in the first place can unilaterally block the IJs order and force continued detention," Hayes said in the petition.

She said her client now languishes in jail during the appeal, which will take at least 90 days, or even longer, "despite a valid order mandating her release."

Hayes said Mayo Anicasio was born in Mexico but fled the country with her children in 1999 to escape domestic violence. She said for 25 years, she has worked hard, paid taxes and contributed to the Nebraska community.

Before the raid June 10 at Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, Mayo Anicasio she was working long hours and helping her son with child care so he can work two jobs to support his family.

Hayes called Mayo Anicasio a "pillar of her family and the community."

"She has no criminal record and has never had any legal issues whatsoever, until the current civil proceedings," she said.

Hayes said after the raid, which led to the arrests of nearly 100 people and more than 70 ultimately being taken into custody, some were immediately deported or relocated. The remaining detainees, including Mayo Anicasio, were taken to the Lincoln County Detention Center in North Platte, where she has been since June 12 on civil immigration charges.

In arguing for her release, Hayes said: "Mayo Anicasio cannot move freely, eat the food that she wants, sleep in her own bed, or spend time with her loved ones. She has very little privacy. She has witnessed an assault  an inmate physically attacked other inmates near her. She faces months in continued detention pending the bond appeal. And her next immigration hearing date is not until 2027."

Neither Kramer nor his attorney, Ryan Kunhart, responded to the Journal Star's requests for comment on the lawsuit.
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center has confirmed the death of the newborn who passed away during a planned home birth near Hadera. The mother is recovering from emergency surgery.

A baby born at home near Hadera has died, according to a statement from Hillel Yaffe Medical Center on Monday. The mother is currently recovering after undergoing emergency gynecological surgery.

The tragedy occurred after Magen David Adom (MDA) was called to a home in a village near Hadera on Sunday. The MDA team found the baby with no pulse or breath and transported her to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in critical condition.

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She was resuscitated for an extended period of time, but her condition continued to deteriorate overnight, and the medical team had no choice but to pronounce her dead.

Home births are not uncommon in Israel, though they carry significant risks.

A home birth takes place in the womans home or a similar environment and requires the presence of a certified midwife. Most of the time, home births are planned by the couple in advance, seeking a natural and peaceful birth experience without medical intervention.

An opportunity arises to pause, breathe, and listen inward (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Guidelines for home births

However, the Health Ministry has clear guidelines regarding home births. According to these guidelines, only women who have had a healthy, complication-free pregnancy and are without risk factors are allowed to give birth at home.

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Even then, there are strict conditions, including the presence of a certified midwife with experience of at least 100 births, basic medical equipment for monitoring and first aid, and the homes proximity to a hospital in case an immediate evacuation is necessary.

The guidelines also specify that sterile conditions must be ensured beforehand and that the birth must be closely monitored. Additionally, the midwife is required to document the birth process, report to relevant health authorities, and be prepared to perform basic medical interventions in case of fetal distress, bleeding, or any other complications.

Despite these guidelines, there have been several tragic cases in Israel in recent years where home births ended in disaster. In some instances, complications during labor were not detected in time. In others, the delay in medical personnel arriving or transferring the mother to a hospital caused irreversible harm to the mother or baby.

In recent decades, modern medicine has significantly reduced perinatal mortality rates, thanks to precise monitoring, rapid response, and life-saving medical interventions, with the added benefit of being physically close to neonatal intensive care units.
With a teacher being fired from his role after saying that Lucy Connollys prison sentence was a case of two-tier justice, there are growing fears of what the impact of a new Islamophobia definition could have on freedom of expression in modern Britain.

In a post on social media, 56-year-old Simon Pearson, a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (Esol) at Preston College, said Connollys unquestionably inflammatory comments were obviously wrong but she should not have been jailed. Pearson was subsequently dismissed after an internal investigation  prompted by a complaint from a Muslim representative of the National Education Union (NEU) at the college  concluded that his online posts had the potential to bring it into disrepute.

If truth be told, I have found much of the online Rights lionisation of the imprisoned Lucy Connolly  who has been depicted as some kind of persecuted free-speech heroine  totally bizarre. But surely Pearson, living in a supposedly free and democratic society, has the right to express his opinion that her prison sentence was harsh, when compared to the lenient sentences provided to others for offences considered to be more serious in nature?

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In another post on the Manchester Airport incident, over which Mohammed Fahir Amaaz has now been found guilty of assaulting two female police officers, Pearson claimed that if these people have no respect for the police and UK laws, they need deporting back to their ancestral home. There is no evidence that Pearson made these comments on the grounds of Amaazs specific racial and religious background, and he may well have made them if the two brothers involved in the fracas were white Christian men originating from the Balkans.

Pearson, as an Esol teacher in Preston, is likely to have provided support to Muslim students and asylum seekers whilst serving in this role. This certainly does not strike me as the choice of profession by an anti-Muslim racist bigot. Some may find his opinions disagreeable, perhaps even offensive  but no one has the right to be protected from views which they may find uncomfortable but are causing them no direct harm.

His sacking also serves as a warning  a new Islamophobia definition could be used as an instrument of censorship by tribal activists to threaten the livelihoods of those expressing political views which are not even directly anti-Muslim in nature. Such a development will only further undermine Britains previous reputation for being the home of free speech.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A single-vehicle crash in the west Las Vegas valley left a 69-year-old man hospitalized early Sunday morning, according to Metro police.

Just before 3 a.m., police responded to the area of West Flamingo Road and Sandalwood Drive near Rainbow Boulevard after a report of a single-vehicle crash.

Evidence at the scene showed that a Kia Soul was driving eastbound on Flamingo Road, east of Sandalwood Drive, when, for unknown reasons, it drifted to the left and crashed into the raised median.

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The Kia continued to drive eastbound, straddling the median, until the front of the vehicle crashed into a light pole, police said.

The driver, identified as a 69-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

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BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  A sinkhole is impacting a portion of Red Bank Road, Berkeley County officials said.

People were asked to avoid the area of Red Bank Road in front of the OReilly Auto Parts story due to a 33-foot sinkhole in the lane closest to the sidewalk.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation will assess the damage before repairs are made.

Drivers should use caution in the area.

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Sir David Garrard, who has died aged 86, was a property developer, philanthropist, promoter of UK-Israel relations and Labour donor who became entangled in the cash for honours scandal before leaving the party in protest at Corbyn-era antisemitism.

Garrards wealth derived from his property company Minerva, which developed London office schemes and later acquired the Allders department store chain with an eye to its property development potential. A supporter of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s  he called her fantastic and wonderful  his allegiance shifted to New Labour after the 1997 election.

Friendship with Andrew Adonis, Tony Blairs education guru, led Garrard to give 2.5 million for the foundation of a landmark City Academy secondary school (now Harris Garrard Academy) at Bexley, in buildings designed by Norman Foster. He was also connected through Jewish charity work to the party fundraiser Lord Levy, sometimes known as Lord Cashpoint; after a first 200,000 donation in 2003, Garrard followed with a loan of 2.3 million in 2005  at a time when loans to party coffers, unlike donations, did not have to be disclosed.

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It transpired that Levy had raised 14 million for Labour by the secret loan mechanism (also well used by Tory treasurers) and that several lenders, including Garrard, had been nominated for peerages but rejected by the House of Lords Appointments Committee. Garrard was interviewed by the police under caution, but no charges ensued.

Part of his loan was later converted to a donation. When he gave another 500,000 in 2014 he said he had come to respect and admire the then leader, Ed Miliband. The total of his donations had reached 1.5 million by the time the baton passed to Jeremy Corbyn, but as a leading figure in Labour Friends of Israel, Garrard was appalled by what he observed with dismay and foreboding as a rising tide of Left-wing antisemitism. Resigning in 2018, he declared that he no longer felt any affinity or connection with Labour; the party he had joined, he said, no longer exists.

But when Sir Keir Starmer succeeded Corbyn as the party leader in April 2020 and apologised to the Jewish community, promising to tear out this poison by its roots and Corbyns membership was duly suspended, Garrard declared: It should be taken for granted that I will almost happily rejoin  and contacts were duly re-established.

David Eardley Garrard was born in Streatham, south London, on January 12 1939. He was the son of Albert Garrard, an upholsterer of Ukrainian Jewish descent, and his wife Margaret, nee Jenkins  but his non-observant parents did not explain Davids Jewish heritage to him until he was 11. After leaving Battersea grammar school he travelled to Israel, volunteered for military service and formed a lifelong attachment to the Israeli cause.

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Back in England, he made his way as an estate agent and financial adviser under the mentorship of his sisters husband Philip Rose, whose family owned Land Investors, a commercial property business, and whose guidance he credited for much of his later success.

In 1986, Garrard led a 70 million takeover of Land Investors, subsequently selling his stake to fund a new property venture, Minerva, which floated on the stock exchange, became a FTSE 250 company and achieved a value of 300 million by the turn of the century. When he retired as chairman of Minerva in 2005, Garrard sold a 35 million shareholding and moved for some years to Switzerland, where he lived in a suite at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Geneva.

Besides his interests in education, Garrard was a trustee of the Police Federation and a patron of childrens charities. In Israel he was involved in social housing projects and as a benefactor of Reichman Universitys International Institute for Counter-Terrorism. He was widely saluted for his contributions to UK-Israel relations.

David Garrard was knighted for philanthropy in 2003. His wife Maureen died in 2011; he is survived by their daughters Hannah and Alanah and by Ava, the partner of his later years.

Sir David Garrard, born January 12 1939, died June 21 2025

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BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Human skeletal remains were found in Marlboro County last week, the sheriffs office reported.

The Marlboro County Sheriffs Office said Friday it had begun an investigation after the remains were discovered on a vacant farm property during mowing operations in the Adamsville area, near the North Carolina state line.

Charlotte man accused of kidnapping woman for a second time, found with her in Marlboro County

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The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Marlboro County Coroners Office are providing assistance. This case is ongoing, and details will be released as the investigation continues.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin visited Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital on Monday, meeting with patients and staff to discuss the impact of the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill on health care delivery.

Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat who voted against the legislation, outlined three conditions she says must be met before she would support the federal budget this fall: restoration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, reversal of Medicaid cuts and renewed funding for cancer research.

She warned the current framework could cost Michigan hospitals $6 billion over the next decade, particularly threatening services in rural communities.

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What that really means is really hard conversations around the state on whether we can keep services open, like labor and delivery, she said. You tell a rural hospital theyre going to lose money, they start cutting services. You start cutting services in a rural area, people will drive hours and hours just to deliver a baby.

Big, beautiful bill signed

In a Tuesday statement, the White House defended the bill, arguing rural hospitals account for only 7% of Medicaid spending, illustrating that they have not benefited from the massive increase in waste, fraud, and abuse under the Biden administration.

We are expanding rural hospital protection, providing targeted funds for rural care, and giving states flexibility to support local providers, the statement continued.

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Slotkin said she remains open to negotiations but emphasized her priorities.

Im willing to talk with anyone. But yeah, Im going to care about health care, yeah, Im going to fight for health care and if youre not going to do anything to help restore some of that health care to Americans or lower the price to Americans, its going to be tough to get my vote, she said.

Congress faces an Oct. 1 deadline to finalize the federal budget.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
The Smithsonian Institution is promising to bring back a display referencing US President Donald Trump's two impeachments  just in a new, updated form.

That announcement, posted to the Smithsonians official X account on Saturday, comes after a quiet removal of the Trump placard from the National Museum of American History triggered concern that political pressure may be reshaping the public record.

But according to the museum, there was no nudge from the White House to scrub Trumps name.

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We were not asked by any Administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit, the institutions statement read.

Still, the timing raised eyebrows  particularly as Trump continues his campaign to restore truth to what he sees as anti-American cultural spaces, including the Smithsonian itself.

The removed placard had been part of a display called Limits of Presidential Power, which documents moments in US history where presidents have been challenged or checked  including the impeachments of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, and the Watergate scandal.

Trump, uniquely, is the only president to have been impeached twice.

In this image from video, the final vote total of 57-43 to acquit Trump of the impeachment charge, incitement of insurrection, in the Senate in 2021. - Senate Television via AP/Copyright 2021

His first impeachment, in 2019, centred on allegations he pressured Ukraines president to investigate political rival Joe Biden. The second, in 2021, followed the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, and accused Trump of incitement of insurrection.

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In both cases, the House voted to impeach, and the Senate voted to acquit.

Protesters display "Impeach Trump" signs during a rally near Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, as part of the "Good Trouble Lives On" national day of action - 17 July 2025 - AP Photo

The Smithsonian says the Trump placard, added in 2021, had been a temporary measure. The placard did not meet the museums standards in appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation, the museums statement read. It reportedly blocked the view of some objects inside its case.

While the museum has now promised a new display in the coming weeks that will reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nations history, it hasnt said exactly when or how the exhibit will change.

A spokesperson, Phillip Zimmerman, said earlier that a future version would include all impeachments  but specifics remain hazy.

Donald Trump - Sunday 3 August 2025 - AP Photo

All of this is playing out as Trump sharpens his focus on reshaping public institutions.

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In March, he signed an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History", which explicitly targets the Smithsonian. The order puts Vice President JD Vance  who sits on the Smithsonians Board of Regents  in charge of scrubbing what Trump calls improper ideology from the institution.

Trump has said he wants to eliminate divisive narratives and protect the countrys founding principles. He claims theres been a campaign to rewrite US history in a way that casts America in a negative light.

And while Trump is not on the board himself, he has taken aim at the institution before  most notably when he declared hed fired Kim Sajet, then director of the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery. She continued to report to work, but later resigned on her own.
Canadian wildfire smoke is continuing to cause hazy skies across Michigan and create health issues for some people.

A statewide air quality advisory because of the smoke has again been extended, this time through, Monday, Aug. 4, as officials forecast the smoke may slowly clear later in the week.

"Going into Monday, the high-pressure slowly moves off to the northeast, but will take additional time for smoke to move out with it. We are seeing the possibility of smoke returning from the south, which is the same smoke we experienced late last week due to changing wind patterns becoming more southerly in flow," Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's MiAir Division said.

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The air quality readings range from unhealthy to acceptable throughout the state, with the west side of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan's thumb and Grand Rapids seeing the worst readings in the unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy for everyone ranges  151-200.

A screenshot of the Mackinac Bridge Authority's website shows the poor conditions at the Straits of Mackinac on Aug. 4.

The the remainder of the Lower Peninsula is experiencing particulate matter 2.5 readings of 101-150. Most of the Upper Peninsula is seeing moderate air quality.

"Concentrations-wise, it is still unclear on how thick the returning plume will be, but as we see the light at the end of this smokey tunnel, smoke concentrations will slowly dissipate going into Tuesday," MiAir Division said.

Statewide, residents who fall within a sensitive group should reduce outdoor time as much as possible.

MiAir's air quality map as of 8:50 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4.

"It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes." the National Weather Service said.

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The hazy conditions on Aug. 4 were making the Mackinac Bridge difficult to see.

As of July 30, Canadian officials said 59 wildfires were burning across much of northwestern Canada.

Here is more on the air quality in Michigan:

How bad is the air in the Upper Peninsula?

As of 8 a.m. Aug. 4, the air quality in Marquette was moderate, measuring 84 on AirNow's air quality index  meaning, the air is acceptable for the general public, but sensitive groups could experience adverse health effects.

The worst air is in Iron County, with Watersmeet and Iron River reporting 161 on the index. Readings over 151 are considered unhealthy for all individuals.

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Seney, in the central U.P., reported a reading of 75. Ironwood, in the western edge of Michigan, had a reading of 87.

What is the air quality across Michigan?

Here are the air quality readings across the state for Aug. 4:

Grand Rapids, 152

Midland, 151

Bay City, 151

Detroit, 154

Holland, 152

Lansing, 126

Ann Arbor, 110

Adrian, 110

Houghton Lake, 98

Manistee, 98

Marquette, 84

Newberry, 74

How can I check the air quality in my area?

Michigan residents can check current conditions through EGLE's MiAir Quality Index Dashboard. The interactive map provides AQI scores for cities across the state.

Residents can also use AirNow, a part of the U.S. Air Quality Index, and check local conditions by searching their ZIP Code or city. AccuWeather also has an AQI feature that lists the current pollutants in the air.

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In addition, Michigan's HHS Department has a Facebook and X account. The department allows for residents to subscribe for alerts through the EnviroFlash system.

Check the air quality map

Good

Moderate

Unhealthy for sensitive groups

Unhealthy

Very unhealthy

Hazardous

Where are the wildfires in Canada?

Canada's National Wildland Fire Situation Report (current as of July 30) says there were 59 uncontrolled active fires; 30 held; 108 controlled; and 92 modified responses.

The priority fires are located in Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces.

What is the air quality index?

The air quality index ratings.

The AQI shows the outdoor air quality for public health. It features six color-coded categories, from good (0-50) to hazardous (301 plus).

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The AQI takes into account five air pollutants:

Ground-level ozone

Particle pollution (also known as particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10)

Carbon monoxide

Sulfur dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide

What does PM2.5 mean on the air quality index?

This unit is used to measure the fine particulate matter in the air, such as smoke, dust, soot or dirt.

The "2.5" figure means particles are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, according to the EPA  that is 30 times smaller than the average human hair, which is about 70 micrometers in diameter.

Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's air quality on Aug 4: Advisory, smoke forecast and map
More than a dozen people were treated for smoke inhalation and service was suspended on several New Jersey PATH lines for several hours Monday morning after a fire broke out underneath an eastbound train in Newport station, officials said.

The blaze started at 6:19 a.m., filling the train with smoke, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a short statement. Passengers were evacuated from the platform, an agency spokesman said.

Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation as a result of the fire, according to the Port Authority. Nine of those people were transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.

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Service was suspended between Hoboken and the World Trade Center and 33rd St., as well as between Journal Square and 33rd St. The lines between World Trade Center and Newark, and Hoboken and 33rd St. were operational, the Port Authority said.

New York City Emergency Management also alerted commuters to the snarled service.

The Hoboken to World Trade Center line and the Journal Square to 33rd St. line resumed service around 11 a.m.

NJ Transit was expected to cross-honor PATH tickets at Hoboken, Newark and New York Penn stations, and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail until noon.

New York Waterway ferries are also cross-honoring PATH tickets at Hoboken, Battery Park City and Midtown.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  Camels have long been the backbone of Somalia 's pastoralist culture, feeding families, transporting goods and standing tall in local folklore. But on the dusty outskirts of the capital, the camel now finds itself at the center of an agricultural revolution that could redefine Somali farming.

On a breezy Wednesday morning in mid-June, The Associated Press visited Beder Camel Farm  one of a new generation of camel dairies springing up around Mogadishu.

Dozens of camels sauntered around sandy paddocks while others nibbled on fresh fodder under the watchful eyes of herders. In a nearby shed, workers carefully milked the animals and collected the frothy yield in sanitized containers.

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Demand for camel milk is growing, buoyed by a wave of local entrepreneurs who see untapped potential in a traditional resource.

Modernizing camel milk production

Somalia is home to over 7 million camels  more than any other country on Earth  but only a fraction of that milk has ever reached urban grocery shelves, according to industry estimates.

At the heart of the shift toward a modern approach to camel milk production is Dr. Abdirisak Mire Hashi, a veterinarian and the farms manager. For Hashi, it's not only about profit  it's about preserving heritage while embracing progress.

Somalis take pride in their heritage of raising camels. However, the way camels are raised has changed significantly over time," Hashi told The Associated Press as he inspected a milking herd.

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Each camel at Beder now produces up to 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of milk daily  double what traditional herders typically yield. The increase is attributed to new investments in veterinary care, better feed, and modern milking practices. The camels are routinely checked by vets, given nutritional supplements, and grazed on scientifically blended fodder, a far cry from the roaming nomadic herds of decades gone by.

We were among the first to establish this kind of farm back in 2006, when very few people even knew about commercial camel milk production, said Jama Omar, CEO of Beder Camel Farm. Other farms have entered the market since then, but we currently hold around 40% of the market share.

We employ nearly 200 full-time staff, he added. In addition, we bring in seasonal workers during key periods such as planting and harvest.

Pioneering camel milk yogurt

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The farms biggest leap may be its yogurt factory  the first in Somalia dedicated to processing camel milk into yogurt.

Inside the factory, workers in white coats oversee stainless steel vats as fresh milk is cultured and packed. The final product is sold under the Beder brand which now retails in urban supermarkets across Mogadishu.

Nelson Njoki Githu, a Kenyan-born food engineer overseeing the production line, says camel milk yogurt isnt just a novelty  it fills an important nutritional gap for local consumers.

The number one benefit compared to cow milk is that camel milk has lower levels of lactose, Githu explained. People with lactose intolerance can consume this milk without any issue. Again, the vitamin levels are higher, especially vitamin C, iron and zinc, compared to cow milk.

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For nutritionist Dr. Yahye Sholle, camel milk yogurt is a public health boost in a country where malnutrition remains a challenge.

It is rich in magnesium and calcium, which support bone health. Additionally, it contains vitamins B12, C, and D. It also includes friendly bacteria known as probiotics, which are beneficial for gut health, he said.

Such benefits have helped Beders yogurt stand out in Mogadishus increasingly competitive dairy market.

Hashi said the next step is scaling up the business. He hopes to expand Beders network of collection points beyond Mogadishu and plans to train pastoralists in remote areas on modern milking and hygiene practices so that more milk can be safely processed and sold.

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If we can modernize how we raise camels and handle the milk, we can create jobs, improve nutrition, and build pride in our own local products, Hashi said.

Somali government encourages more investment

The Somali government is encouraging more investment in the industry.

The benefits of camel milk are countless, said Dr. Kasim Abdi Moalim, Director of Animal Health at Somalias Ministry of Livestock. In countries like the UAE, camel milk is also used for cosmetics. Somalia must catch up and develop the full value chain.

He said that government support is growing, with the establishment of a Dairy Act and a strategy for livestock sector development. A master investment plan is also in progress, he added.

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Back at the paddock, a line of camels stretches into the golden afternoon light, their steady, patient footsteps a reminder that progress in Somalia often moves at the pace of tradition  slow but unstoppable.

From ancient caravans that crossed deserts to supermarket shelves stocked with yogurt, the Somali camels journey continues, one cup at a time.

___

For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
The parents of a five-year-old boy say they "constantly worry every day" because he has a rare condition, which means "there is always a chance of cardiac arrest".

Harrison's dad Kelham and stepmother Shannon say they were shocked when they were told their son had a condition only 15 people in the world had.

Harrison has a rare mutation in the Filamin C gene, also known as FLNC, which impacts his spine, heart and lungs.

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The family, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, are now fundraising for a specialist car seat to make his weekly 260-mile round trips to Great Ormond Street in London more comfortable.

Kelham, 30, says due to the rarity of the condition, there is not a lot of a research, and it is "difficult to know what the future holds" for his son.

He noticed something was not right when he stopped one afternoon with Harrison in the car.

Aged two at the time, Harrison began to vomit in his car seat. Arriving home five minutes later, Kelham said he noticed a curve in his back while he was changing him.

After taking him to A&E, medics diagnosed Harrison with scoliosis. But further examinations were later carried out, and after a number of trips to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, Harrison took part in genetic testing.

The family said the specialist car seat would improve Harrison's wellbeing [Steve Beech/BBC]

"There was nothing to suggest something was wrong when he was born and was just a normal little boy," added Kelham.

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"The hospital tests came back as a gene mutation called FLNC (Filamin C); it's very rare, and 15 people in the world have what he has. We were really shocked when we were told."

The condition has led to Harrison developing a curved bend in his spine, so his shoulders and the bottom of his back are no longer in line.

In turn, this has meant Harrison is at higher risk of further complications.

Harrison has restrictive cardiomyopathy - a heart muscle disease where the heart muscle becomes stiff, preventing it from relaxing and filling with blood properly.

The scoliosis also puts pressure on the lungs and has decreased his respiratory function, causing lung disease.

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The family said Harrison now faced an arduous surgery to remove vertebrae and have metal rods fused to his spine to straighten it, after wearing a halo device fixed to his skull and leg bones to slowly pull his spine into a straighter position.

Dad Kelham said the family were shocked when they were told about the condition [Steve Beech/BBC]

"It's a struggle in day-to-day life, because there's not a lot of information about the condition, there isn't a lot of research we can look at," Kelham said.

"We both constantly worry every day because with FNLC there's always a chance of cardiac arrest.

"We don't want that to happen, so we take every day as it comes, and put a smile on Harrison's face and we do the best we can as parents.

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"But Harrison doesn't stop doing what he does, and we keep going."

Due to his condition, Kelham and Shannon, 31, have to take Harrison to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for treatment. Something the family struggle with.

"His current car seat isn't right for him, he gets agitated trying to get comfortable, and we have to keep stopping every 30 to 45 minutes," Kelham added.

"Car journeys are a problem in general, and he works himself up and can be sick because of it."

Harrison attends Great Ormond Street Hospital up to four times a month for specialist treatment [PA Media]

The family have partnered up with children's disability charity Newlife in raising money for a specialist car seat moulded in the curve of his spine.

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This would enable Harrison to have comfortable journeys and give the family more confidence in having more trips out with the rest of the children.

Shannon said despite his condition, Harrison still lived life to the fullest.

"He will try his best in everything that he does, like what any other child does.

"Harrison has his challenges, but he's a happy little boy, and we love him for who he is."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

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Logo for the "Sons of Patriarchy" Podcast (Courtesy of Sons of Patriarchy)

This story originally published Monday on FaVS.News.

Peter Bell, producer of the Sons of Patriarchy podcast, and reporter Sarah Stankorb will host a live recording and Q&A session at the Kenworthy Theater in Moscow, Idaho, on Friday at 4 p.m.  deliberately timed to coincide with Christ Churchs Grace Agenda conference.

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Bells podcast, which launched in October 2024, focuses on exposing what he describes as abuse and Christian nationalism within Christ Church Moscow and the broader Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches denomination.

Christ Church in Moscow, led by Wilson for more than 40 years, boasts about 3,000 congregants in the town of 25,000 and operates what critics describe as a communal ecosystem of affiliated businesses and institutions throughout Moscows downtown.

Bell said the event is strategically planned to crash Grace Agenda, which he described as the biggest recruiting conference for the church. The Grace Agenda conference runs Aug. 8-9 and features seminars, concerts and community events throughout Moscow, all themed around C.S. Lewis Narnia series.

The Sons of Patriarchy event will feature a live podcast recording with Bell and Stankorb discussing her upcoming book about women leaving churches  women who have been hurt by church, hurt in church, according to Bell. He also said the book relays how these women deal with this, stats behind it [and] best practices for leaving/resources. This will be followed by an unfiltered Q&A session.

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Any question that comes in, well do our best to answer, or provide resources, Bell said.

Stankorb has emerged as a key figure in exposing Christ Church Moscows culture. Her 2021 VICE article detailed allegations of abuse within the church community, including accounts of marital rape and spiritual abuse, under the headline Inside the Church That Preaches Wives Need to Be Led with a Firm Hand.'

The article opened many eyes to the churchs teachings and practices, Bell said.

Stankorb, who identifies as agnostic while Bell is Christian, brings extensive journalistic work on the subject.

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Bell said they have multiple objectives for the visit.

We want to meet the people weve talked about, talked to and see how theyre doing since all this has come out, he said.

Bell also said he wants to plant seeds of disillusionment in the Moscow community, especially with Kirkers and those in the church by showing theres a bigger and brighter world outside of this that has better answers to the questions youre asking.

He said he hopes Wilson will reach out and invite him for a discussion, though he did not notify Wilson in advance about their visit.

This is the Sons of Patriarchys first visit to Moscow, and Bell plans to spend the weekend in the area throughout Grace Agenda. The crew plans to return for future visits.

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This is not the only visit. We want to make this as much of a regular thing as we can, Bell said.

Wilson has previously dismissed the podcast, telling media he expected Sons of Patriarchy to consist of recycled (and refuted) defamation and slander.

Bell said Wilson knows they exist and has mentioned the podcast in a few blog posts, making jokes about it. However, he has not engaged directly with the producers.

The free Sons of Patriarchy event at the Kenworthy Theater has 250-300 seats available, though Bell expects those to go fast. Overflow viewing will be available at Cafe Artista via YouTube livestream. A donor paid for the venue space.

Free tickets go live Monday on EventBrite.

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If you want a Covid-19 shot this fall, will your employers health insurance plan pay for it? Theres no clear answer.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, has upended the way Covid vaccines are approved and for whom theyre recommended, creating uncertainty where coverage was routine.

Agencies within HHS responsible for spelling out who should get vaccinated arent necessarily in sync, issuing seemingly contradictory recommendations based on age or risk factors for serious disease.

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But the ambiguity may not affect your coverage, at least this year.

I think in 2025 its highly likely that the employer plans will cover the Covid vaccines, said Jeff Levin-Scherz, a primary care doctor who is the population health leader for the management consultancy WTW and an assistant professor at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Theyve already budgeted for it, and it would be a large administrative effort to try to exclude coverage for those not at increased risk, he said.

With so much in flux, its important to check with your employer or insurer about coverage policies before you roll up your sleeve.

Heres what we know so far, and what remains unclear.

Q: How have the recommendations changed?

What used to be straightforward is now much murkier. Last year, the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccines were recommended for anyone at least 6 months old.

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This year, the recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is narrower. Although the vaccines are broadly recommended for adults 19 and older, they are no longer recommended for healthy pregnant people or for healthy children 6 months through 17 years old.

Kennedy announced the changes in a video in May, citing safety risks for young people and pregnant people as justification.

But his claims have been widely disputed by experts in vaccines, pediatrics, and womens health. An analysis by FactCheck.org found that the secretary misrepresented scientific research to make unfounded claims about vaccine safety for pregnant people and children.

In addition, recently announced changes to the vaccine approval framework have further chipped away at eligibility.

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Moderna announced July 10 that the FDA had fully approved its Spikevax Covid vaccine  but approval is restricted to adults 65 and older, and for people from 6 months through 64 years old who are at increased risk of developing a serious case of Covid.

Two other Covid vaccines expected to be available this fall, Novavaxs Nuvaxovid and Modernas mNexspike, are also restricted. They are approved for people 65 or older and those 12 to 64 who have underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of developing severe Covid.

Notably, Pfizers Comirnaty Covid vaccine is still approved or authorized for people 6 months of age and older without any restrictions based on risk factors for Covid  at least for now. But the FDA could change that at any time, experts said.

Increasing restrictions is definitely the direction they are moving, said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at KFF who authored a KFF analysis of vaccine insurance coverage rules. KFF is a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

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HHS did not provide an on-the-record comment for this article.

Q: How might these changes alter my insurance coverage for the vaccine?

Thats the big question, and the answer is uncertain. Without insurance coverage, people could owe hundreds of dollars for the shot.

I dont think an employer or insurer would deny coverage. But they could say: You have to get this product. Jen Kates, a senior vice president at KFF

Most private health plans are required by law to cover recommended vaccines, whether for Covid, measles, or the flu, without charging their members. But that requirement kicks in after the shots are recommended by a federal panel  the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices  and adopted by the CDC director, according to the KFF analysis. The committee hasnt yet voted on Covid vaccine recommendations for this fall. Its next meeting is expected to occur in August or September.

Still, employers and insurers can opt to cover the vaccines on their own, as many did before the law required them to do so. But they may require people to pay something for it.

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In addition, the narrower recommendations from different HHS agencies might result in some health plans declining to pay for certain categories of people to get certain vaccines, experts said.

I dont think an employer or insurer would deny coverage, Kates said. But they could say: You have to get this product.

That could mean a 45-year-old with no underlying health conditions raising their Covid risk might have to get the Pfizer shot rather than the Moderna version if they want their health plan to pay for it, experts said.

In addition, up to 200 million people may qualify for the vaccines because they have health conditions such as asthma or diabetes that increase their risk of severe disease, according to a commentary published by FDA officials in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Health care professionals can help people determine whether they qualify for the shot based on health conditions.

Tina Stow, a spokesperson for AHIP, which represents health plans, said in a statement that plans will continue to follow federal requirements for vaccine coverage.

Outside of any requirements, vaccines have always been provided through shared decision-making. Amanda Jezek, senior vice president of public policy and government relations at the Infectious Diseases Society of America

Q: What are the options for people who are pregnant or have children they want to have vaccinated?

Many parents are confused about getting their kids vaccinated, according to a KFF poll released on Aug. 1. About half said they dont know whether federal agencies recommend healthy children get the vaccine this fall. Among the other half, more said the vaccine is not recommended than recommended.

Meanwhile, Kennedys recommendation that healthy children not get vaccinated has a notable caveat: If a parent wishes a child to get a Covid vaccine and a health care provider recommends it, the child can receive it under the shared clinical decision-making model, and it should be covered without cost sharing.

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Some policy experts point out that this is the way care for kids is typically provided anyway.

Outside of any requirements, vaccines have always been provided through shared decision-making, said Amanda Jezek, senior vice president of public policy and government relations at the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Theres no similar allowance for pregnant people. However, even though Kennedy has stated that Covid vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy pregnant people, pregnancy is one of the underlying medical conditions that put people at high risk for getting very sick from Covid, according to the CDC. That could make pregnant people eligible for the shot.

Depending on the stage of someones pregnancy, it could be difficult to know whether someone should be denied the shot based on their condition. This is uncharted territory, said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of Georgetown Universitys Center on Health Insurance Reforms.

Q: How will these changes affect access to the vaccine? Will I still be able to go to the pharmacy for the shot?

If far fewer are expected to be vaccinated, fewer sites will offer the vaccinations, Levin-Scherz said. This could be an especially notable hurdle for people looking for pediatric doses of a Covid vaccine, he said.

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In addition, pharmacists authority to administer vaccines depends on several factors. For example, in some states they can administer shots that have been approved by the FDA, while in others the shots must have been recommended by the ACIP, said Hannah Fish, senior director of strategic initiatives at the National Community Pharmacists Association. Since ACIP hasnt yet recommended Covid shots for the fall, that could create a speed bump in some states.

Depending on the rules, you still may be able to get the shot at the pharmacy, but they might have to call the physician to send over a prescription, Fish said.

Q: What do these changes mean long-term?

Getty Images

Its impossible to know. But given Kennedys vocal skepticism of vaccines and his embrace of long-disproven theories about connections between vaccines and autism, among other things, medical and public health professionals are concerned those views will shape future policies.

The recommendation changes that were made with respect to children and pregnant women were not necessarily made in good science, Corlette said.

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Its already a challenge to convince people they need annual Covid shots, and shifting guidelines may make it tougher, some public health experts warn.

Whats concerning is that this could even further depress the uptake of the covid vaccines, Jezek said.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

The post Sorting Out Covid Vaccine Confusion: New and Conflicting Federal Policies Raise Questions appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The South Korean military on Monday began removing loudspeakers that had been installed along the DMZ to blast anti-Pyongyang messages across the border, Seoul's Defense Ministry said.

"This is a practical measure that will help ease tensions between the South and the North, as long as it does not affect the military's readiness posture," the ministry said in a text message sent to reporters.

In June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered the suspension of the broadcasts, which included news, K-pop music, and information about democracy and life in South Korea.

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The removal of the speakers was a follow-up to the June suspension and is expected to be completed this week, ministry spokesman Col. Lee Kyung-ho said at a press briefing.

"There was no prior consultation with North Korea," Lee added.

The move was a "practical measure that will help ease tensions between the South and the North," the Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday. Photo courtesy of South Korea Ministry of Defense

The move comes roughly a year after Seoul had resumed Cold War-style propaganda broadcasts in response to a series of provocations by North Korea that included floating thousands of trash-filled balloons across the border.

The North countered by broadcasting bizarre noises such as metallic screeching and animal sounds, disturbing residents in areas near the DMZ. Pyongyang quieted its own speakers after the initial suspension but has not yet appeared to take corresponding action to remove them.

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"North Korea has been seen repairing some of its loudspeakers, but has not been seen removing them," Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Col. Lee Sung-jun said at the briefing. "Since we've already begun the removal process, there haven't been any other signs of activity from the North Korean military."

President Lee has made an effort to improve inter-Korean relations since taking office. In addition to the loudspeaker suspension, his administration has also cracked down on activists floating balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

Last month, Seoul repatriated six North Koreans who drifted into southern waters on wooden boats and announced plans to return the remains of another North Korean national found near the maritime border.

North Korea has so far dismissed any notion of reconciliation with Seoul, however. Last week, Kim Yo Jong -- the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- said Pyongyang had "no interest" in responding to efforts by the Lee administration to thaw relations, citing Seoul's "blind trust" in military ties with the United States.
South Korea said on Monday it has started removing loudspeakers used to blare K-pop and news reports into the North, as a new administration in Seoul tries to ease tensions with its bellicose neighbour.

The nations, still technically at war, had already halted propaganda broadcasts along the demilitarised zone, Seoul's military said in June after the election of President Lee Jae Myung.

It said in June that Pyongyang had stopped transmitting bizarre, unsettling noises along the border that had become a major nuisance for South Korean locals, a day after the South's loudspeakers fell silent.

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"Starting today, the military has begun removing the loudspeakers," Lee Kyung-ho, spokesman of the South's defence ministry, told reporters on Monday.

"It is a practical measure aimed at helping ease tensions with the North, provided that such actions do not compromise the military's state of readiness."

All loudspeakers set up along the border will be dismantled by the end of the week, he added, but did not disclose the exact number that would be removed.

President Lee, recently elected after his predecessor was impeached over an abortive martial law declaration, had ordered the military to stop the broadcasts in a bid to "restore trust".

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Relations between the two Koreas had been at one of their lowest points in years, with Seoul taking a hard line towards Pyongyang, which has drawn ever closer to Moscow in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The previous government started the broadcasts last year in response to a barrage of trash-filled balloons flown southward by Pyongyang.

But Lee vowed to improve relations with the North and reduce tensions on the peninsula.

Despite his diplomatic overtures, the North has rejected pursuing dialogue with its neighbour.

"If the ROK... expected that it could reverse all the results it had made with a few sentimental words, nothing is more serious miscalculation than it," Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said last week using the South's official name.

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Lee has said he would seek talks with the North without preconditions, following a deep freeze under his predecessor.

The two countries technically remain at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

kjk/jfx/tym
South Korea said Monday it was removing loudspeakers used to blare K-pop and news reports to the North, as the new administration in Seoul tries to ease tensions with its bellicose neighbour.

The nations, still technically at war, had already halted propaganda broadcasts along the demilitarised zone, Seoul's military said in June after the election of President Lee Jae Myung.

It said in June that Pyongyang stopped transmitting bizarre, unsettling noises along the border that had become a major nuisance for South Korean locals, a day after the South's loudspeakers fell silent.

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"Starting today, the military has begun removing the loudspeakers," Lee Kyung-ho, spokesman of the South's defence ministry, told reporters on Monday.

"It is a practical measure aimed at helping ease tensions with the North, provided that such actions do not compromise the military's state of readiness."

All loudspeakers set up along the border will be dismantled by the end of the week, he added.

He did not disclose the number to be removed, but a Yonhap news agency report -- which the defence ministry declined to verify -- said it was about 20.

Handout photos released by the ministry show soldiers wearing body armour unloading sets of speakers as part of the process.

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Newly elected President Lee ordered the military to stop the broadcasts in a bid to "restore trust".

Relations between the two Koreas had been at one of their lowest points in years, with Seoul taking a hard line towards Pyongyang, which has drawn ever closer to Moscow in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

-Overture-

Last year, the two Koreas were in a tit-for-tat propaganda war, as the North sent thousands of trash-filled balloons southwards, saying they were retaliation for propaganda balloons launched by South Korean activists.

In response, South's then-president Yoon Suk Yeol ordered to turn on border loudspeaker broadcasts -- including K-pop tunes and international news.

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Shortly afterwards, North Korea started transmitting strange sounds along the frontier, unsettling South Korean residents.

Lee has taken a different approach in dealing with the North since his June election, including requesting civic groups to stop sending anti-North propaganda leaflets.

"We have strongly urged civic groups to halt leaflet activities in order to foster peace and ensure the safety of residents in border areas," Koo Byung-sam, spokesman of the Unification Ministry, said at a press briefing on Monday.

Lee has said he would seek talks with the North without preconditions, following a deep freeze under his predecessor.

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Despite his diplomatic overtures, the North has rejected pursuing dialogue with its neighbour.

"If the ROK... expected that it could reverse all the results it had made with a few sentimental words, nothing is more serious miscalculation than it," Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said last week using the South's official name.

The two countries technically remain at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

kjk/fox
By Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean authorities began removing on Monday loudspeakers blaring anti-North Korea broadcasts along the country's border, Seoul's defence ministry said, as the new government of President Lee Jae Myung seeks to ease tensions with Pyongyang.

Shortly after he took office in June, Lee's administration switched off propaganda broadcasts criticising the North Korean regime as it looks to revive stalled dialogue with its neighbour.

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But North Korea recently rebuffed the overtures and said it had no interest in talking to South Korea.

South Korea's dismantling of the loudspeakers from Monday is just a "practical measure to help ease tensions between the South and the North," the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Soldiers could be seen unplugging loudspeakers, mounted together like a wall, and taking them down, photographs provided by the defence ministry show.

The countries remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and relations have deteriorated in the last few years.

Propaganda broadcast through loudspeakers across the border has been used by both sides as relations between South and North Korea have ebbed and flowed over the years.

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In 2018, the then President Moon Jae-in dismantled the loudspeakers as his administration agreed to stop every hostile act that could be a source for military tensions.

But last year former conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol restarted propaganda broadcasts and blasts of K-pop music in retaliation for North Korea sending balloons to the South filled with trash amid heightened tensions.

Since Seoul suspended its own loudspeaker broadcasts in June, North Korea appears to have stopped its broadcasts, which had disturbed South Korean border residents for months, officials in the South say.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, recently said, however, that South Korea's decision to stop the broadcasts was "not the work worthy of appreciation".

(Reporting by Ju-min Park, Joyce Lee; Editing by Ed Davies)
South Korea has started to remove propaganda loudspeakers along its border with North Korea in an effort to reduce tensions, Seouls military said.

The South's ministry clarified that the move marked a "practical measure aimed at easing tensions", but did not affect its military's readiness.

The ministry did not provide specifics on the removal process, nor did it clarify whether the loudspeakers may be reinstalled if tensions rise again.

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Prior to the dismantling of the speakers, there had been no communication between the two Koreas, spokesperson for the ministry Lee Kyung-ho said.

The speakers used to blare anti-North Korean propaganda and K-pop songs across the border, a move that hit a nerve as Kim Jong-un's government had been intensifying its campaign to remove the influence of South Korean pop culture and language.

After the election in June, the South's new liberal government decided to switch off the speakers, in a move to revive dialogue and rebuild trust with Pyongyang.

The previous conservative government had turned them on in June 2024 and played daily broadcasts, in retaliation for North Korea flying trash-filled balloons across the border.

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The Cold War-style psychological warfare campaigns further heightened tensions already inflamed by North Koreas advancing nuclear programme and South Korean efforts to expand joint military exercises with the United States and their trilateral security cooperation with Japan.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung replaced ousted conservative Yoon Suk-yeol after winning an early election in June. He had vowed to improve ties with Pyongyang, which reacted angrily to Yoons hard-line policies and refused to engage in dialogue.

North Korea has not yet commented on South Korea's decision to remove the speakers.
About 147,000 pupils and students across Scotland will soon receive their exam results.

Here is everything you need to know about SQA results day.

What time will Scottish exam results arrive?

The results for Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers - as well as the more vocational National Progression Awards, Skills for Work Awards, and National Certificates - will be issued on Tuesday.

They are sent out by first-class post but many students have opted to receive their grades digitally.

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Text messages and emails are due to be sent to candidates who had an activated MySQA account from 08:00 onwards.

Last year, there were some delays to text results and some pupils receiving blank emails. The problem led to an anxious wait for some but was quickly rectified.

If you have opted to receive your results by post, it will depend on when your mail normally arrives.

The SQA has warned that the disruption caused by Storm Floris means there will be delays to the delivery of results in several areas, including the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland.

Pupils at Madras College in St Andrews celebrated their results last year [Getty Images]

What percentage is an A grade?

Courses at National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher are graded A-D.

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National 2, National 3, and National 4 courses are not graded  the units that make up these courses are assessed as pass or fail.

Grade boundaries vary from year to year and the exact percentages for 2025 won't be published until results day.

However, the SQA sets initial grade boundaries for their assessments at 50% for a C, 70% for an A, and 85% for an Upper A.

These boundaries are the starting point for deciding the final grade boundaries each year.

Is a grade D at National 5 a pass?

A grade D is a pass.

If you receive a grade D result this usually means you scored between 40 and 49% in the course assessment.

Candidates who score less than 40% are not awarded a national course and will receive a no award result.

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What were the SQA national average marks for 2024?

The number of pupils achieving an A, B or C grade at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher was down across the board last year.

The Higher A-C attainment dropped from 77.1% in 2023 to 74.9%, while the A-C attainment for National 5 exams fell from 78.8% in 2023 to 77.2%.

The biggest drop in A-C grades came from Advanced Highers, which fell from 79.8% in 2023 to 75.3%.

The SQA noted that there had been different approaches to awarding in each year since 2019 which did not allow for "meaningful conclusions to be drawn on changes in education performance".

Results will be known on 5 August [Getty Images]

What happens if you fail your exams?

There is lots of support available if you don't get the results you are hoping for.

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The SQA's candidate advice line can be reached on 0345 279 1000.

It will open at 08:00 on results day and will stay open until 18:00. It will then be available from 08:30 until 17:00 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Guidance staff at your school will also be on hand to provide help.

If you have a conditional offer for university or college that you don't meet, you can apply to Ucas' clearing process which is used by universities and colleges to fill empty places.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the agency which supports training and skills for work, will also operate an advice line from 5 to 8 August.

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If you need help and advice about the next steps in your career or education or if you didn't get the results you hoped for you can phone the SDS results helpline number on 0808 100 8000.

Can I appeal my SQA grade?

Yes, and every year thousands of pupils do.

Before anyone sits an exam their school, college or training centre submits estimated grades for every candidate to the SQA.

If you don't think your grade is correct, you should first talk to your school or college.

It will contact the exam board on your behalf and ask for your marks to be reviewed.

You can also submit your own appeal.

Appeals will be subject to a marking review - a check that marks have been added up and submitted correctly and a check that the marking meets the national standard.

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An appeal can be prioritised if you have a conditional place at university or college, or are in training or employment that depends on your grade.

The deadline for individuals to submit a priority appeal is 12 August, or 26 August for other appeals. If the appeal is being lodged by your school or college, the deadlines are 21 August for priority cases and 29 August for others.

What was the success rate of SQA appeals in 2024?

In 2024, 44,855 of the 552,695 certificated grades for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher were appealed. This was a 7% increase from the year before.

A total of 3,990 appeal requests resulted in an upgrade while five resulted in a downgrade.

This means the success rate is just under 9%.
A St. Paul man with a history of violence against law enforcement has pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder of a peace officer and other charges for firing shots at Oakdale police officers who were investigating a report he was with a woman in violation of a no-contact order.

At a pretrial hearing Thursday, Devione Leeante Malone, 26, admitted to all six felony charges against him in connection with the March 2024 incident. An Oakdale police officer returned gunfire, but no one was injured.

Malone entered a Norgaard guilty plea, which means a defendant says they cannot remember what happened because of intoxication or amnesia but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to convict beyond a reasonable doubt.

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A plea deal he reached with Washington County prosecutors does not include the length of his prison term at his sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 7. Two other felony cases will be dismissed at sentencing as part of the deal.

In September, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension concluded Officer Andrew Dickman was legally justified to use deadly force when he fired one shot toward Malone through the windshield of his squad car on March 11, 2024. Malone had shot once at Dickman, with the bullet hitting the squad cars right front fender and ricocheting into the passenger mirror.

According to the criminal complaint and BCAs investigation memo:

Dickman and other officers responded to a 911 call in which the caller said Malone was threatening a woman with a gun. Malone was prohibited from having contact with the woman by a domestic abuse no-contact order; the woman texted a friend that she needed help, and another friend called 911, the memo states.

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The woman and her 1-year-old granddaughter were in a Volkswagen hatchback with Malone near some businesses at Bergen Plaza by Hadley Avenue and 10th Street. Four Oakdale squad cars responded to the area and attempted to surround Malones car in the parking lot, but he sped off and evaded officers before turning south onto Hadley Avenue North.

Officers determined that Malone was likely driving back to the womans home in the 100 block of Greystone Avenue, so Dickman and another officer broke off and tried to get ahead of him.

As Malone pulled into the driveway, he got out  without putting his car into park  and fired a shot at Dickman, who was behind him. Dickman then fired at Malone, who ran into the house. The woman then got out of the car, got her grandchild out of the out, and ran to waiting officers.

All four officers lined up their squad cars in front of the home, using them for cover.

Standoff

Squad camera footage showed a window opening in the home and, about seven seconds later, Malone fired three shots at the officers from the window. One shot hit the top of an officers squad car windshield on the drivers side just to the right of where he was standing, the complaint says.

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The Washington County SWAT team responded with an armored vehicle and eventually took Malone into custody after a several-hour standoff. Officers recovered a black .22-caliber handgun and spent shell casings from inside the home.

Officers interviewed the woman, who said Malone went to her home earlier that day. She said Malones mood was fine, until it changed. She said she knew he was carrying a gun and that she had to get her granddaughter away from him, the complaint says.

She said when Malone saw squad cars pull up to Bergen Plaza, he told her, Ill die before I go back to prison.

Once in custody, Malone admitted the handgun was his and said he always carried it with him, the complaint says. He said he assumed he was going to jail on the no-contact order violation, and that he did not remember shooting at officers.

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In addition to the two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, Malone was charged with four counts of first-degree assault for using deadly force against peace officers and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

The incident happened just under a month after two Burnsville police officers and a firefighter/paramedic were shot and killed. The Burnsville officers were responding to a 911 call about a domestic dispute when a gunman barricaded himself in a home with seven children on Feb. 18.

Crimes of violence

Malone has several prior convictions for crimes of violence going back to his teenage years.

When he was 16, he was charged with first-degree arson and later sent to the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Red Wing, court records show. He was subsequently charged in assaults involving two correctional officers at Red Wing in 2016, six at the Lino Lakes prison in 2016 and four at the Oak Park Heights prison in 2018. In one case, a correctional officer sustained a brain bleed and facial fractures.

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The two cases being dismissed as part of last weeks plea deal stemmed from incidents on Dec. 14, 2023.

Charges say Malone had become agitated and grabbed a knife and threatened the woman at the same Oakdale house. She ran outside and Malone followed, which is what officers saw when they arrived on scene. As Malone was being taken into custody, he head-butted an officer. He also spit in two other officers faces.

While being booked into the Washington County Jail, Malone suddenly and without provocation punched a Washington County Jail correctional officer in his face with a closed fist, charges in that case say. Malone then spit in the officers face, and in the eyes of a second officer.

Malone had posted bond in both cases by early January 2024 and was released from jail, with conditions, pending future court hearings.
Photo from Visit St. Petersburg, FL Facebook page

The City of St. Petersburg is the next target of the state of Floridas Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts.

In a nine-page letter dated Aug. 1, state auditors say that among the programs the city has implemented that they want more information about are those addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion; transportation; homelessness; and the environment  or, as described in the letter, The Green New Deal.

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The letter alleges that St. Pete taxpayers have seen their annual burden from property taxes increase by over $95 million in the past six years, an increase of over 75%.

Is that accurate? The city isnt saying.

We have received a follow-up letter from the State Division of Governmental Oversight and Efficiency and are reviewing it carefully, Mayor Ken Welch said in a written statement. The City of St. Petersburg will fully cooperate, providing any additional information or clarification as requested.

DEI in the crosshairs

Officials from Broward County and Gainesville  the first two local governments targeted by Florida DOGE last month  said that the state had erred in some of its calculations about the level of local spending in the letters they received.

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Regarding St. Petersburgs DEI programs, the first ask by DOGE auditors is to find out all jobs with the responsibility to advance diversity, equity and inclusion, or so-called anti-racism, whether or not within the Office of Equity or elsewhere.

Officials also want to see all official goals, policy statements, mission statements, positions, or commitments made by any office or department within St. Petersburg that included diversity, equity or inclusion, and all actions taken by those offices or department in support of those activities.

Florida DOGE also wants to know of the names and qualifications of those who conducted DEI training and the names of those who attended those trainings.

Targeting the environment

Regarding environmental initiatives, during former Mayor Rick Krisemans administration the city signed a pledge to transition from fossil fuels and toward a 100% renewable, zero-emissions energy future. Now Florida DOGE wants any documentation related to that pledge and all expenses associated with attempting to reach that goal.

Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman in St. Petersburg on January 3, 2019. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

In January 2019, the city was selected to participate in the American Cities Climate Challenge, an initiative backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies to tackle climate change and promote a sustainable future. Florida DOGE is now requesting all actions, communications and expenditures to date in support of that program.

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And officials would like to know of any purchases or leases of electric vehicles (EV), EV infrastructure, energy purchases associated with EV infrastructure, solar power systems, carbon credits, carbon charges, or other reduction mechanisms. 

Mayor Welch added that we will address any questions that may arise from the States process and move forward with clarity and accountability in the best interest of the residents of St. Petersburg.

This is serious

Some city council members expressed concern upon learning of the DOGE requests.

This is serious. Theres a major chance that funding for DEI roles and parades can be cut, said St. Petersburg City Councilmember Corey Givens Jr., referring to funding the city gives every year to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day and St. Pete Pride events.

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Tampa Bay-area state Democratic Rep. Michele Rayner ripped the DeSantis administration after learning of the audit, scheduled to take place on Aug. 13 and 14.

This isnt fiscal oversight, its political retaliation. And the cost falls on working families who depend on local services to survive and thrive, Rayner said in a statement. If were serious about responsible budgeting, we should be solving Floridas housing and insurance crisis, investing in strong public education, and working around the clock to bring down everyday costs. Thats how we build a Florida that works for all of us.

She went on to say that if Desantis and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia were serious about reducing wasteful spending and helping working-class Floridians, they would start with cutting all tax breaks to billionaires and publicly traded companies, then they would help underserved communities throughout the state recover from storms and work to fix our states broken insurance system so people can still afford to live here.

DOGE emerged from a DeSantis executive order and legislation signed by the governor earlier this year. Failure by municipal leaders to cooperate could bring costly fines.

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The coming week could mark a pivotal moment in the war between Russia and Ukraine, as U.S. President Donald Trumps deadline for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal approaches  or it could quietly pass without consequence.

Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected in Moscow midweek, just before Trumps Friday deadline for the Kremlin to stop the killing or face potentially severe economic penalties from Washington.

So far Trump's promises, threats and cajoling have failed to shift the Kremlin's position, and the stubborn diplomatic stalemate remains in place. Meanwhile, Ukraine is losing more territory on the front line, although there is no sign of a looming collapse of its defenses.

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Trump's envoy is expected in Moscow

Witkoff is expected to land in the Russian capital on Wednesday or Thursday, according to Trump, following his trip to Israel and Gaza.

They would like to see (Witkoff), Trump said Sunday of the Russians. Theyve asked that he meet so well see what happens.

Trump, exasperated that Russian President Vladimir Putin hasnt heeded his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, a week ago moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia as well as introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil, including China and India.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that officials are happy to meet with Trumps envoy. We are always glad to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow, he said. We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful.

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Trump is not sure sanctions will work

Trump said Sunday that Russia has proven to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions.

Theyre wily characters, he said of the Russians.

The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have had a limited impact.

Ukraine insists the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscows war machine and wants Western allies to ramp them up. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday urged the United States, Europe and other nations to impose stronger secondary sanctions on Moscows energy, trade and banking sectors.

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Trumps comments appeared to signal he doesnt have much hope that sanctions will force Putins hand.

The secondary sanctions also complicate Washingtons relations with China and India, who stand accused of helping finance Russias war effort by buying its oil.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has found that stopping the war is harder than he perhaps imagined.

Senior American officials have warned that the U.S. could walk away from the conflict if peace efforts make no progress.

Putin shows no signs of making concessions

The diplomatic atmosphere has become more heated as Trumps deadline approaches.

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Putin announced last Friday that Russias new hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, has entered service.

The Russian leader has hailed its capabilities, saying its multiple warheads that plunge to a target at speeds of up to Mach 10 cannot be intercepted. He claimed that they are so powerful that the use of several of them in one conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack.

Separately, one of Putins top lieutenants warned that the Ukraine war could nudge Russia and the U.S. into armed conflict.

Trump responded to what he called the highly provocative statements by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev by ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines.

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Putin has repeated the same message throughout the war: He will only accept a settlement on his terms and will keep fighting until theyre met.

The war is killing thousands of troops and civilians

Russias relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line have killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations. It has pushed on with that tactic despite Trumps public calls for it to stop over the past three months.

On the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, Russias bigger army has made slow and costly progress. It is carrying out a sustained operation to take the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub whose fall could open the way for a deeper drive into Ukraine.

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Ukraine has developed technology that has allowed it to launch long-range drone attacks deep inside Russia. In its latest strike it hit an oil depot near Russias Black Sea resort of Sochi, starting a major fire.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer should take a page out of Donald Trumps playbook to solve Britains immigration crisis, Americas border tsar has said.

Tom Homan encouraged the Prime Minister to mimic the pugnacious tactics of the Trump admiration by catching and deporting migrants that arrive on Britains shores.

Take a page out of the Trump playbook. Two months ago, we had the lowest numbers of crossings in the history of the nation, Mr Homan told The Telegraph.

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The next month, we broke that record, and this month were gonna break it again. I would simply look at the Trump playbook...catch and release.

If they enter the country illegally, they should be detained and put in front of the judge. And if they get voted to be removed, remove them.

Sir Keir is bound by a series of diplomatic and legal constraints that hamper his ability to replicate Mr Trumps tactics.

Mr Homan encouraged the Prime Minister to mimic the pugnacious tactics of the Trump admiration - Lenin Nolly

Mr Homan, a former police officer who has also served as acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is the public face of Mr Trumps operation to deport as many as a million people in a year.

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So far, he and his team have deported around 207,000 illegal migrants who illegally crossed Americas southern border with Mexico onto US soil in the last three months, a new record.

In Britain, more than 25,000 people have crossed the English Channel to the UK in 2025, the highest total this early in the year.

There has to be consequences. One of the reasons we have the most secure border in the history of this nation.. [is because] we also send a message to the whole world that theres gonna [sic] be consequences, Mr Homan added.

Most attempted illegal crossings into the US take place along its 2,000-land border with Mexico, whereas the UK sees illegal immigration via small boats heading across the Channel, for which the response is dictated by maritime law.

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Vessels are legally obliged to rescue persons in distress at sea, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Maritime crossings into the US are significantly rarer  though cases are increasing with migrants heading from Mexico via the Pacific  and Washington has not signed up to UNCLOS.

The treaty also means migrants are not allowed to be taken to another country without the agreement of that state.

While Sir Keir recently struck a one in, one out deal with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, it will only return around 50 migrants to France a week.

Mr Trump has used a rarely-invoked wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to deport suspected gang members to El Salvador, a move critics say violates their right to a fair trial.

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A British plan to deport migrants to Rwanda, proposed during the previous Conservative government, faltered in the Supreme Court when five judges ruled against it.

The Court ruled that doing so would mean they could face persecution or harm, potentially breaching Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights  another international treaty the US is not subject to.

The US Supreme Court, which is dominated by conservative justices, has largely upheld the Trump administrations attempts to deport migrants to third countries, such as South Sudan.

Since returning to the Oval Office, Mr Trump has effectively shut down the USs southern border and ordered the round-up and deportation of undocumented migrants.

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The National Guard and US Marines have been called in to quell protests and support immigration agents carrying out the round-ups in cities like Los Angeles.

In Britain, figures such as Nigel Farage, the Reform Party leader, have repeatedly accused Sir Keir of failing to follow a similar course.

You cant have strong national security if you dont have border security, Mr Homan added.

President Trump has the most secure border of my lifetime. I suggest your government, look at what Trump did and take a page out of his playbook and I guarantee its going to be the same outcome.

Fresh protests erupted in Britain this week amid growing frustration with the decision to house illegal migrants in taxpayer funded hotels.

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Sir Keir has pledged to end their use by 2029 amid concerns that they are costing taxpayers 4m a day and causing tensions in communities.

Tensions over the hotels reached boiling point last month when demonstrations broke out at a hotel in Epping after a migrant tried to kiss a teenager.

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, has told the Cabinet the Government must take concerns about immigration seriously and do more to alleviate them.

Mr Trumps administration has grown increasingly concerned with migration in Europe. JD Vance, the vice-president, accused the continent of engaging in civilisational suicide by refusing to control its borders.

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Offering the Prime Minister some advice, Mr Trump told him he would have a better chance of holding back the threat posed by Mr Farage if he made it a priority to tackle immigration.

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Aid agencies say the limited amount of aid Israel has allowed into Gaza in the last week is unlikely to avert the famine experts have warned about for months.

While at first most of the starvation-related deaths were among children and infants, increasingly, older people are succumbing to the hunger that Israel has imposed upon the enclave since March.

On Sunday, six more adults died from malnutrition, bringing the number of adults to die from hunger in Gaza to 82 over the last five weeks, when such deaths were first recorded.

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Ninety-three children have also been killed by Israel through the man-made malnutrition it has imposed upon the enclave since its war began.

So, how does starvation happen? Are we seeing the whole picture?

Heres what we know.

What does starving to death feel like?

Its awful, Dr James Smith, an emergency doctor who has volunteered twice in Gaza, said.

In the early stages, after being deprived of food for days, the body begins to break down muscle and other tissues.

Its one of the most undignified and barbaric ways to kill. Starvation is always something that is done by one person to another. Its intended to be protracted and to maximise suffering, he said.





Soon, metabolism slows, the ability to regulate temperature is lost, kidney function becomes impaired and, critically in Gaza, the immune system begins to falter and the bodys ability to heal from injury is reduced.

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Once the bodys reserves are used up, it loses the ability to channel nutrients to vital organs and tissues. As a result, essential organs like the heart and lungs become less effective. Muscles shrink and people feel weak.

Eventually, as the bodys protein stores are ravaged, the bodys tissues are broken down, with death not far away.

How long does it take the human body to die of starvation?

While scientific research on the subject has been limited for ethical reasons, its estimated that a typically well-nourished and otherwise healthy adult could survive without food for between 45 and 61 days.

However, after 22 months of war, few people in Gaza could be described as well nourished or healthy, leaving them susceptible to malnutrition and the many infectious diseases prevalent in the enclave.

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With starvation, the body loses the ability to launch an immune response to diseases or injuries it could normally deal with, such as gastroenteritis, trauma or a respiratory infection, so its often malnutrition plus an infection that kills, Dr Smith continued.

(Al Jazeera)

Who are the people who are most at risk of starving to death?

The old, the young, those already ill and, cruelly, those who are alone.

A child will die earlier from starvation. The loss of muscle and fat occurs almost immediately. Equally, those in older age groups will also die quicker, Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a Palestinian British surgeon who spent 43 days working in Gaza, said.

However, it isnt just age. There are social differences, too, he continued.

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There are currently thousands of orphans roaming Gaza. There is no one to feed them or risk their lives to get food for them, so theyre also more likely to die, he said.

Who are the people who are dying of hunger in Gaza?

There is overwhelming evidence that, through the various blockades Israel has imposed on Gaza, the threat of death by starvation has spread from the vulnerable to everyone in Gaza.

In February 2024, five months into Israels war on Gaza, the World Health Organization estimated that one in six children under the age of two, especially in Gazas north  at the time under Israeli siege  were acutely malnourished.

As of August 2025, 82 adults have starved to death over the last five weeks.





Israel has been limiting Gazas food for years. How has that affected the people there?

Israel has been controlling the amount of food it allows into Gaza for decades, suggesting it already knows precisely how much is needed to avert, or cause, starvation in Gaza.

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In 2007, following Hamass takeover of the enclave, Israel instituted its first blockade on Gazas population, reducing the aid it allowed into the enclave while still giving public assurances that it was not starving people.

However, documents uncovered after a legal battle between an Israeli NGO and the government confirmed that, between 2007 to 2010, Israel deliberately reduced the food it allowed into Gaza to minimal subsistence levels.

Generationally, the damage [of malnutrition] is lasting, Dr Abu-Sittah said, citing the lasting impact of starvation on brain function, and the prevalence of other ailments, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease among survivors.

Dr Smith pointed out the increased frequency with which malnourished mothers give birth to underweight babies, the effects of which cascade through the generations.

A child waits to receive food from a charity kitchen in Gaza City, August 2, 2025 [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]

Can famine in Gaza still be avoided?

Its unlikely.

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Just under a week ago, the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued its gravest warning yet: that a worst-case famine scenario was unfolding in Gaza.

However, other observers feel famine has already arrived in Gaza.

There are three rigid criteria for a famine to be officially declared, Dr Jones explained.

The first two: widespread extreme food shortages and high levels of acute malnutrition, had already been met, he said. Data to confirm the third  the extent of malnutrition-related mortality  is difficult to confirm, he added.

Some of those most at risk of dying from malnutrition probably dont have the ability to reach a hospital where deaths are typically recorded, he said.

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Similarly, while many children in Gaza now show signs of malnutrition, theyre also at high risk of being killed by Israeli shells and gunfire, which will be recorded as their primary cause of death.

However, whatever term we use to describe the situation, people are still being killed by starvation throughout Gaza, as the world looks on, he said.

This is worse than famine. This is the most grotesque spectacle of suffering.




Washington  The State Department is set to roll out a pilot program that may require foreign nationals from certain countries seeking business or tourism visas to post a bond of up to $15,000, according to a public notice set to be published Tuesday.

The notice lays out the details of a 12-month "visa bond pilot program" that would allow consular officers to require visa bonds. Under the program, the bonds may be required for travelers from countries that the State Department says have high rates of visa overstays, or where screening and vetting information is considered deficient, according to the document.

The notice does not specify the countries covered by the pilot program, but said the State Department will announce the list at least 15 days before it takes effect. The agency will also provide an explanation of why the bonds are required, according to the listing, which will be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday.

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The program will take effect 15 days after the notice is officially published and will run through August 2026, the document states.

The program comes in response to an executive order issued by President Trump on the first day of his second term that sought to stem illegal immigration into the U.S., a major focus of the president's policy agenda. The measure directed the treasury secretary, along with the secretaries of state and homeland security, to take action to implement a visa bond program.

As part of his immigration agenda, the president has sought to roll back humanitarian programs for migrants from certain countries, and signed a proclamation in June banning foreign nationals from a dozen countries from traveling to the U.S. The Trump administration has also targeted immigrants on student visas and taken steps to tighten the rules for visa applicants.

A new tax-and-spending bill signed by Mr. Trump last month also subjects many travelers to the U.S. to a $250 "visa integrity fee."

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Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute, said the latest measures from the Trump administration will deter travel to the U.S. from foreign countries.

"Bonds on tourist and business visas will convince most foreigners not to bother coming," Nowrasteh said in a statement to CBS News. "The result will be a decimated tourist industry. Tourists spend over $200 billion annually in the U.S., spending that counts as exports. The administration's proposal will not only undermine much of the tourist industry, but it will counteract the administration's goals to reduce the trade deficit. The Trump administration's talent is proposing and enacting the most punitive, expensive, and unnecessary migration restrictions imaginable."

The State Department described the pilot program as a "tool of diplomacy" and said it will help inform future decisions regarding the potential use of visa bonds "to address the national security and foreign policy priorities" raised in Mr. Trump's executive order.

"The Pilot Program is further designed to serve as a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to take all appropriate actions to ensure robust screening and vetting for all citizens in matters of identity verification and public safety, to create safeguards in [Citizenship by Investment] programs that provide citizenship without any residency in the country, and to encourage specified countries with visa overstays to ensure their nationals timely depart the United States after making temporary visits," according to the notice.

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Who may be included in the visa bond pilot program?

The State Department did not say which countries with high overstay rates would trigger the visa bond requirement. But an August 2024 report from the Department of Homeland Security found that in fiscal year 2023, there were more than 300,000 foreign nationals admitted for business or pleasure who were still in the U.S. after their authorized stay ended.

The pilot program will focus on countries that have high visa overstay rates among those allowed into the U.S. for business or pleasure  through B-1 or B-2 visas, according to the notice. A B-1 visa is for those temporarily traveling to the U.S. for business activities. A B-2 visa is for foreign nationals who want to come to the U.S. temporarily for tourism or pleasure.

Travelers entering the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program will not have to post a bond, according to the State Department's notice. That program allows residents of more than 40 countries to enter the U.S. for fewer than 90 days without a visa.

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While the countries subject to the program will be announced in the future, the list may also be modified on a rolling basis, the State Department said. The countries with the highest overstay rates for people with business and tourism visas in fiscal year 2023 were Chad, Laos, Haiti and Congo, according to the Department of Homeland Security's report.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Tuesday that beginning Aug. 20, travelers from Malawi and Zambia seeking business and tourist visas will have to post a bond of up to $15,000.

"This targeted, common-sense measure reinforces the administration's commitment to U.S. immigration law while deterring visa overstays," she said.

Only foreign nationals who are applying for B-1 or B-2 nonimmigrant visas, and who are from the countries identified by the State Department, may be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 as a condition of receiving a visa. The bond can be canceled if the person meets certain criteria, including leaving the U.S. by the date their authorization expires, according to the terms of the program detailed in the notice.

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The new requirement for certain foreign nationals seeking to come to the U.S. for business or tourism could have negative consequences for cities that rely on travelers from abroad. A June report from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority found that Sin City experienced an 11% drop in visitation year-over-year, hosting nearly 3.5 million visitors in June 2024 and nearly 3.1 million this June.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Travel Association said the pilot program appears to effect roughly 2,000 applicants, most likely from a few countries with low travel volume to the U.S. But the group is more concerned with the $250 "Visa Integrity Fee" included in the tax-and-spending plan, the spokesperson said.

"If this fee is implemented, the U.S. will have one of, if not the highest, visitor visa fees in the world," the spokesperson said. "If we are to maintain a competitive position in the global travel market, it's critical that U.S. visa policy reflects both national security priorities and the significant economic value of international visitation."

David Bier, the Cato Institute's director of immigration studies, called the bond requirement "draconian."

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"Although we can't know for certain the scale of this rule because the administration isn't saying which countries it will apply to, the rule will add what is likely an insurmountable barrier to travel for many applicants who end up being targeted who are often family members of U.S. citizens," he said in a statement. "Its argument that this will pressure governments to somehow force their visa holders to comply with the terms of their visas is incoherent, and it appears to be an admission that it will likely just ban people from coming, not just result in compliance. Most visa overstays leave after some time or end up qualifying for legal status in the United States another way. There is no reason to impose such a draconian rule."

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SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  State troopers have safely located a woman missing in Franklin County.

Before being found, she was last seen in the area of Means Hollow Road in Franklin County around 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

Officials say she was safely located.

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Guernsey's education committee will back plans to introduce a board responsible for the oversight of schools in the island.

The idea for boards of governors was introduced by the last States.

Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) said the boards would give States schools and The Guernsey Institute "more autonomy".

Deputy Paul Montague, president of ESC, said the committee was "determined to put communities at the heart of education".

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Montague added the plan would ensure schools and headteachers were "well-supported...and accountable".

He said he wanted to make sure each board of governors would "make a positive contribution to the lives of the children, young people and adult learners they support".

A spokesperson for ESC said they also wanted to explore ways to strengthen ties between schools and douzaines.

The States will consider new legislation in September to formally introduce the boards, ESC added.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.

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The pandemic sent state lawmakers a very clear message: child care is vital, and when it disappears, it creates chaos for families, providers and employers. But just because they realized its important doesnt mean its easy to fund. Now some states have embarked on a novel approach: creating trust funds that can serve as ongoing, stable sources of money for early care and education.

Rather than states annually shaking their couch cushions to find extra money to put toward child care and early education, these trusts create dedicated, permanent funding streams, said Diane Girouard, state policy analyst at Child Care Aware of America.

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During the pandemic, states received billions of dollars in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, which they put to a number of creative and effective uses like increasing compensation for staff and lowering the price tag for families. With that funding now gone, many have been trying to figure out how they can keep these investments going. Some states have implemented dedicated taxes to fund child care, such as a new payroll tax in Vermont, the so-called millionaires tax in Massachusetts and a capital gains tax in Washington state. Trust funds represent a new way to do something similar without raising taxes.

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New Mexico was ahead of the curve. In 2022, voters approved a ballot measure to devote some of the states existing Land Grant Permanent Fund, which collects money from oil and gas development, to child care and early education. The money allowed the governor to make child care free for nearly all families in the state. The state has also increased teacher pay and reimbursements for providers who accept subsidies while creating more slots. In April, state lawmakers passed legislation doubling the minimum amount the fund will spend on early education each year.

This idea has spread. Last year, Connecticut lawmakers created an early childhood endowment but didnt put any money into it. This year they passed legislation to fill it with any surplus revenues that havent been committed at the end of every year. In Connecticut, that will add up quickly thanks to self-imposed caps that force legislators to spend less than they otherwise could. Much of the excess money has been flowing into the states rainy day fund, but the fund is flush with money and the state is in fairly good fiscal shape, said Merrill Gay, executive director of the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance. So lawmakers decided to route it into a separate fund for early care and education.

Related

New Mexicos Investments in Early Care and Education Begin to Show Progress

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont called the funding the largest expansion of access to early childhood education in Connecticut history. The fund received $300 million in July, and it could get as much as $300 million annually in subsequent years. Gay anticipates it will have nearly $1 billion by 2028.

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At that point, lawmakers will draw down a portion and use it to ensure that families making $100,000 or less pay nothing for child care and those who earn more will pay no more than 7% of their income. It is also supposed to create 16,000 new slots by 2030.

The money will be invested by the state treasurer, which means it will grow with investment returns. Eventually, it should generate enough money that it can be self-sustaining, Gay said, meaning it wont have to compete with other issues like Medicaid or higher education for revenue.

But Gay noted that its nowhere close to creating a truly universal system. His organizations estimate of the cost of guaranteeing universal pre-K and infant and toddler care, while paying providers equivalent to public school teachers, is $2.8 billion. I dont think were ever going to get to having $2.8 billion in the endowment, he said. Meanwhile, if the state budget craters  which it could, for example, once the enormous Medicaid cuts Republicans recently passed take effect  there may be no surplus to put in the fund at all.

Montana lawmakers also created a trust for early care and education this session, though unlike Connecticuts, Montanas is part of a much bigger structure. Dubbed the Growth and Opportunity Trust, or the GO Trust, it will receive about $600 million in state money the first year and $400 million in the second. Half of the interest that money generates will be spent on a variety of priorities, including infrastructure projects, a property tax credit and grants for child care providers. The child care portion received an initial investment of $10 million and its share of the interest is expected to be about $5 million a year after two years.

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A state senator had proposed a standalone trust for early childhood that would have received $150 million this year, but that instead got sucked up into the larger legislation. It isnt a new idea for the state. Legislation to create a trust fund for child care was proposed in 2021 and 2023, said Alex DuBois, policy and engagement director at Zero to Five, but neither panned out.

In the 2023 legislative session, as the American Rescue Plan money the state had used to support child care programs and families began to fade, conversations started up about how to keep some of it going, said Grace Decker, coordinator at Montana Advocates for Children. Its not just the loss of those dollars; before the pandemic, the state received federal preschool development grants that it used to set up pilot preschool programs, but when the state didnt find ongoing funding the classrooms closed. A trust was seen as a way to keep promising initiatives going.

The effort to create a trust was aided by the fact that the state had a budget surplus in both the 2023 and 2025 legislative sessions. Lawmakers wanted to find a way to make an enduring investment in key priorities, Decker said, that could survive potential fiscal downturns. Lawmakers saw child care as one of those priorities alongside others like housing and infrastructure. In fact, DuBoiss organization was successful in arguing that child care should be included alongside infrastructure investment because it, too, is part of our states infrastructure, she said.

DuBois also advocated for the child care trust by pointing to other states that have passed similar legislation. New Mexico was a big inspiration, she said, but so were Louisiana, which created a fund in 2017 to match money spent at the local level; Kentucky, which created a fund in 2022 with money from a tobacco settlement alongside state revenues and private funding; and similar structures in a handful of other states.

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Exclusive: As Pandemic Funding Ends, Parents Face Host of Child Care Challenges

Decker cautioned, however, against the trust being seen as a final solution for the child care system. When Governor Greg Gianforte vetoed another priority for her coalition, a bill to expand child care scholarships for the children of providers, he pointed in part to the creation of the trust in his rationale. Its concerning to think that lawmakers may look at the trust as a sufficient source of funding for the kinds of things we know we need to see as investments in the early childhood system, she said. Thats particularly true, she said, in a state that doesnt invest as much as others. Its a long time before that trust would deliver enough resources to get to an equitable system.

Even so, advocates are excited about the legislative win. The trust really shows a commitment to child care and early childhood, DuBois said. Montana is a particularly significant example, Girouard said, because its a more conservative state. If lawmakers there can get on board, others in purple and red states could, too.

These trust funds should stand up against the fluctuations in federal funding and state budget revenues. This absolutely ensures that funding keeps flowing, Girouard said. That is just so important to making sure that we have a vital and long-term child care system in place for families to count on.

It is something every single state can look into, she added. Its a really great idea.
A statue of a Confederate general that was torn down in 2020 during racial injustice protests will be restored in Washington, D.C., the National Park Service has announced.

In June 2020, the Albert Pike statue near D.C. police headquarters was toppled and vandalized by protesters. NBC4 Washington was there when protesters used ropes to pull the statue down.

Many of these protesters say that the Confederacy represents racism, slavery and here on Juneteenth they are trying to pull downthis statue, local reporter Shomari Stone said during a broadcast at the time. People have spray-painted BLM, for Black Lives Matter, they have written Black Lives Matter on it, and they are continuing to try to pull this down.

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Protesters later poured lighter fluid on the statue and set it on fire.

A statue of a Confederate general that was torn down in 2020 during racial injustice protests will be restored in Washington, D.C., the National Park Service has announced (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images)

On Monday, the National Park Service said it will restore and reinstall the statue.

The restoration aligns with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law as well as recent executive orders to beautify the nations capital and re-instate pre-existing statues, the service wrote in a press release.

The release cited two executive orders signed by Trump in March, including Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.

In this executive order, Trump ordered the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to determine whether, since January 2020, public statues and other monuments have been removed or changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology, and to take action to reinstate these statues as appropriate.

On Monday, the National Park Service said it will restore the statue with the hopes it will be reinstalled by October 2025 (National Park Service)

Pikes statue was dedicated in 1901 and has sat in storage since its removal in 2020. It is currently being restored.

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Site preparation to repair the statues damaged masonry plinth will begin shortly, with crews repairing broken stone, mortar joints, and mounting elements, the National Park Service said.

The service hopes to reinstall the statue by October 2025.

Pikes statue was vandalized nearly a month after George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died in Minneapolis after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck.

Demonstrators hold signs while standing in front of the statue of Confederate General Albert Pike on August 13, 2017, in Washington, DC. (Zach Gibson/AFP via Getty Images)

Floyds death sparked nationwide protests, some of which turned violent, against racial injustice, particularly police violence against Black Americans.

Journalist Geoff Bennett reported in June 2020 Trump, who was nearing the end of his first term, had moved to reinstall Pikes statue.

Two sources tell NBC News that Pres. Trump personally called Interior Sec. Bernhardt and asked the Park Service to put back up the statue of Gen. Albert Pike  Washington, D.C.s only outdoor Confederate statue, which protesters tore down and set on fire the night of Juneteenth, Bennett wrote on X.
LONDON (AP)  Stella Rimington, the first female chief of Britains MI5 intelligence agency and later a successful thriller writer, has died, her family said Monday. She was 90.

The first woman to head a U.K. intelligence agency, Rimington was the inspiration for Judi Denchs portrayal of MI6 chief M in seven James Bond films.

Her family said in a statement that Rimington died on Sunday surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath.

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MI5s current director-general, Ken McCallum, said that as the first avowed female head of any intelligence agency in the world, Dame Stella broke through long-standing barriers and was a visible example of the importance of diversity in leadership.

Born in London in 1935, Rimington studied English at Edinburgh University and later worked as an archivist. She was living in India with her diplomat husband in the mid-1960s when she was recruited by MI5, Britains domestic security service, as a part-time clerk and typist in its New Delhi office.

She joined the agency full-time after moving back to London in 1969 and rose through the ranks, overcoming rules that kept the most prestigious roles, such as recruiting and running agents, for men only.

She worked in each of MI5s operational branches  counterespionage, counterterrorism and counter-subversion  at a time when MI5s work included sniffing out Soviet spies, infiltrating Northern Ireland militant groups and, controversially, spying on leftists, trade union leaders and other alleged subversives.

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Rimington acknowledged in 2001 that the organization may have been a bit over-enthusiastic in some of its snooping on domestic targets during the Cold War.

Rimington was appointed MI5 director-general in 1992, the first head of the organization to be named in public, and her tenure saw the secretive organization become slightly more open.

Denchs first appearance as M, a role formerly played by men, was in GoldenEye in 1995. The films producers said the casting was inspired by Rimingtons appointment.

After stepping down in 1996, Rimington was made a dame, the female equivalent of a knight, by Queen Elizabeth II.

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Rimington later published a memoir, Open Secret  to the displeasure of the government  and a series of spy thrillers featuring fictional MI5 officer Liz Carlyle.

The Devils Bargain, published in 2022, introduced a new heroine, CIA officer Manon Tyler.

Other women followed her top intelligence jobs. Eliza Manningham-Buller led MI5 between 2002 and 2007. Anne Keast-Butler became head of electronic and cyber-intelligence agency GCHQ in 2023.Blaise Metreweli was named in June as the first female head of the overseas intelligence agency, MI6.

Rimington and her husband, John Rimington, separated in the 1980s, but moved back in together during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Its a good recipe for marriage, Id say, she said. Split up, live separately, and return to it later.

She is survived by her husband, two daughters and five grandchildren.
(This Aug. 4 story has been refiled to remove the images)

By William James

LONDON (Reuters) -Stella Rimington, the first female director general of Britain's MI5 security and counter-intelligence service who ushered in an era of greater transparency at the agency, has died aged 90.

Rimington, who ran the domestic security agency between 1992 and 1996, was its first head to be publicly named and later wrote a memoir "Open Secret" about her career at the formerly secretive organisation.

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She went on to write a series of espionage novels and is also widely thought to have inspired actor Judy Dench's tough but playful characterisation of the fictional spymaster 'M' in several James Bond movies.

"She died surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath," a family statement quoted by local media said.

Rimington was given one of the British state's highest honours when she was made a dame in 1996.

She joined MI5 in 1969 and worked in roles including counter-subversion and counter-terrorism. Under her leadership MI5 took a more prominent role in Britain's fight against Irish republican militants, according to a profile on the MI5 website.

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"As the first avowed female head of any intelligence agency in the world, Dame Stella broke through long-standing barriers and was a visible example of the importance of diversity in leadership," current MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said in a statement.

She committed the agency to a more transparent approach to its work, softening its post-Cold War image.

"We are, of course, obliged to keep information secret in order to be effective, this is not to say that we should necessarily be a wholly secret organisation," she said in a publicly broadcast 1994 lecture.

"Secrecy is not imposed for its own sake. It is not an end in itself."

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Foreshadowing her later literary career, Rimington opened that same speech with a nod to the British spy novel tradition and the fascination with the security services it had inspired among the general public.

"It is exciting stuff and has led to the creation of many myths - and some lurid speculation - about our work. I must admit that it is with some hesitation that I set out tonight to shed some daylight," she said.

"I have a sneaking feeling that the fiction may turn out to be more fun than the reality."

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Sandra Maler)
ABC News host George Stephanopoulos says President Donald Trumps administration resembles the authoritarian regimes in Venezuela and Turkey after the president fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On Friday, the president fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after the agency released its July jobs report showing that the economy added a mere 73,000 jobs last monthfar fewer than the 109,000 jobs the White House forecasted. Trump claimed BLS had RIGGED the numbers to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.

Suppressing statisticians is a time-honored tool for leaders trying to solidify their power and stifle dissent, Stephanopoulos said on Sundays edition of This Week. Its happened throughout history. Most recently in Venezuela and Turkey, where presidents punished officials and economists who do not tow the party line.

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Calling the firing baseless, Stephanopoulos said firing economists for political reasons has not been part of the American tradition.

President Donald Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statitics over a weak jobs report on Friday. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Stephanopoulos also noted that the administration refused to offer a guest to discuss McEntarfers dismissal.

After the president fired the head of the BLS on Friday, we invited the White House to provide a guest to respond, Stephanopoulos revealed. They declined.

The White House did not respond to an immediate request for comment on why it rebuffed ABCs request, including whether it would have provided a guest had Sundays This Week featured one of its other hosts, correspondents Jonathan Karl and Martha Raddatz.

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Trumps contemptuous relationship with Stephanopoulos runs deep.

President Donald Trump and ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos have had a tumultuous relationship, which culminated in an expensive defamation lawsuit last year. / Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty

Trump has frequently derided the ABC anchor as Liddle George and George Slopadopolus over Stephanopoulos scathing commentary and tough questioning of GOP officials.

The anger reached new heights last year after Stephanopoulos pressed GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, a rape survivor, on her support for Trump, who was found liable by a jury last year for sexual abuse. Stephanopoulos mistakenly said Trump had been found liable for rape, prompting Trump to sue Stephanopoulos and ABC News for defamation.

After a monthslong court exchange that threatened to reveal Stephanopoulos personal records through discovery, Disney, ABCs parent company, settled the lawsuit for $16 million in donations to the Trump presidential library and toward Trumps legal fees.

Since then, Stephanopoulos has continued to use his monthly perch on This Week to highlight Trumps expansive and norm-shattering usage of executive power during his second term.
Stephen A Smith says he took major offense over remarks made by Michelle Obama during the 2024 presidential election, when the former First Lady seemingly scolded young Black men for considering to vote for Donald Trump.

The ESPN host said that while he thought of Obama as the greatest first lady in American history, her rhetoric while campaigning for former Vice President Kamala Harris had left him feeling pretty salty.

Smith made the comments on Saturdays episode of The Stephen A Smith show, in response to being name-checked by Obama in an episode of her own podcast, IMO, in which she compared ESPN to reality television.

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If I listen to ESPN for an hour, it's like watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Obama said. I mean, you know, it's the same drama, and they're yelling at each other and they don't get along, you know? I mean, Stephen A Smith, he's just like every other talk show host.

Stephen A Smith says he took major offense over remarks made by Michelle Obama during the 2024 presidential election, when the former First Lady seemingly scolded young Black men over considering a vote for Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Smith made it clear that, while he disagreed with the parallel drawn, other remarks by the first lady had irritated him more.

You said a vote for Trump was a vote against you and a vote against y'all as women, Smith said. I want to stay for the record, I took major offense to that. Black men don't just love our black women, we revere y'all.

It's who we are. And to say what you said back then, I think to this day, is the only thing that I didn't like that you said, I didn't appreciate it.

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At a rally in Michigan in October, Obama told rally-goers that she was a little frustrated by things she had heard about why people were not fully getting behind Harris shot at the presidency.

Speaking directly to men, she emphasized how further restrictions on abortion and other aspects of womens health care, proposed by the Trump campaign, would impact them and their sons, too.

At a campaign rally for Kamala Harris in Michigan in October, Obama told rally-goers that she was a little frustrated by things she had heard about why people were not fully getting behind Harris shot at the presidency (Getty)

I am asking y'all from the core of my being to take our lives seriously  please, Obama said. Do not put our lives in the hands of politicians  mostly men  who have no clue or do not care about what we, as women, are going through.

This struck a chord with Smith, who pointed out in his podcast episode that there were many other reasons that such men may have chosen not to vote for Harris, including the economy, national security and even immigration.

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You will never hear me utter a negative word about you, but I respectfully disagreed and still remain pretty salty about what you said about us.

He added that he was even more adamant about what your husband, Barack Obama said, referring to the former presidents berating of young Black male voters, who he subtly accused of being misogynistic with their voting habits.

He pundit, who himself has been linked with a presidential run, added that he though Michelle Obama would have beaten Trump in 2024, and any other GOP candidate if she chooses to run for office.
El Monte Police announced Monday morning theyve located and recovered a stolen airplane at a Southern California airport.

In a social media post shared Monday morning, the department said officers from its overnight graveyard patrol shift responded to the airport after learning of a reported aircraft theft. Once on scene, they located the stolen plane on the tarmac.

Authorities told KTLA that La Verne Police had notified nearby agencies around 3 p.m. Sunday that a plane had been reported stolen from La Verne Airport. The owner of the small aircraft had contacted police to report it missing.

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Later that evening, around 10:23 p.m., a security guard at San Gabriel Valley Airport  which is formerly known as El Monte Airport  spotted the plane parked outside a hangar. El Monte officers responded and confirmed the plane was the stolen aircraft.

A photo shared by the department shows the recovered aircraft  a small single-engine plane marked with the tail number N4182F, painted in red, yellow, and purple stripes. The aircraft appears to be a Cessna, a model commonly used by flight schools and private pilots.

A stolen plane is seen at the San Gabriel Valley Airport. August 2025. (El Monte Police)

No one was found inside the plane, and El Monte police took a stolen vehicle report. The department says it is now investigating to determine who took the aircraft, flew it, and parked it at the airport.

Police credited their Criminal Enforcement team and Team 1 patrol officers with the recovery.

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San Gabriel Valley Airport, situated just north of the 10 Freeway, supports flight training, aircraft maintenance, and fuel services, and plays a vital role in the nations integrated system of general aviation airports, according to Los Angeles County Public Works.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Thousands of homes are expected to spend a second night without power as the clean-up continues in the aftermath of Storm Floris.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it had restored supplies to more than 65,000 homes but that 6,300 remained cut off.

Network Rail said teams had been working "tirelessly" to clear debris from tracks, following gusts of up to 90mph in some parts on Monday.

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The operator said 31 out of 34 routes had now reopened, with some final checks being made.

There was widespread disruption across the UK on Monday including cancelled trains and flights, as well as road closures due to fallen trees.

A total of 119 incidents were reported on railway lines across Scotland, where an amber weather alert was in effect.

SSEN, which delivers electricity in the north of Scotland, said Floris was "the most damaging summer storm in recent memory" with thousands of properties hit in the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire.

Graeme Keddie, SSEN's director of corporate affairs, told BBC Scotland News it had made "really good progress" restoring power.

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"Storm Floris is clearly an exceptional storm," he said. "Wind speeds of 80mph in summer is more akin to wind speeds of 100mph in winter, in terms of the damage it can cause from fallen trees."

He said the "prolonged nature" of the storm led to the scale of damage caused, which was mainly tree-related.

"Today has really been about getting an accurate assessment of network damage," he said.

"We've had helicopters out this morning doing aerial views of the worst affected circuits.

"That's given us a clear plan of how we can restore power for customers and we've got an army of engineers doing so as we speak and will continue until every customer is restored."

Trees fell across Scotland as the storm hit [JasperImage]

He said there were 600 engineers out in the field on Tuesday and 200 more were travelling from other network areas which had not been as badly hit.

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"It is going to take some time," he said.

"We expect to restore the vast majority of customers over Tuesday and Wednesday, but some customers will be without power until Thursday."

Mr Keddie added: "We will keep in touch with our customers. We are offering reimbursement for the cost of meals, up to 30 per person per day.

"People can contact us. We also have welfare vans offering hot food and drink at key points."

Power lines damaged by trees were being fixed in the Highlands on Tuesday [BBC]

SSEN said free hot food and drinks would be provided on Tuesday in areas where homes were awaiting reconnection.

Confirmed food locations are:

DINGWALL - Maryburgh Hub Hall

HUNTLY - Market Muir Car Park

WICK - Bilbster Hall

LAIRG - Village car park

KYLE OF LOCHALSH - Lochalsh Leisure Centre

In Clackmannanshire, Network Rail cleared trees from lines near Alloa [Network Rail Scotland]

The Scottish government held an emergency meeting on Monday night in response to the "significant disruption" caused by the storm.

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Justice and Home Affairs Secretary Angela Constance said the power cuts had affected a "significant" number of properties, and that the recovery period would take time despite an improving forecast over the rest of the week.

The Met Office has warned that a further period of unseasonable wet and windy weather is on the way late on Wednesday and into Thursday for those in north-western parts of the UK.

Network Rail reported 75 tree-related incidents across the network, including trees falling on to overhead lines at King's Park in Glasgow, Cornton near Stirling and Bishopton near Paisley.

On Tuesday its focus switched to inspecting routes which had been closed by fallen trees, debris and other damage.

A lorry with a crane attached had been in the queue of traffic caused by the tree fall [JasperImage]

Flights and ferries had been suspended across Scotland on Monday and people were urged to avoid travel, with most of the country's major road bridges closed to high-sided vehicles.

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The roads affected on Monday included the A96 in Moray.

A large tree fell across the road near its junction to Burghead, but was cleared with the use of power saws and a lorry.

Freelance photographer Brian Smith said he understood that the lorry, which usually carried logs and had a crane attached, had been in the queue of traffic caused by the tree fall.

He added that joiners and a local man with a power saw had also helped to clear the road.

A number of events were cancelled on Monday, including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and about 110 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The SQA also warned that the weather would delay the delivery of exam results letters on Tuesday for pupils on Scotland's islands.
A nations army readiness is typically defined by its troop strength and training, weapons and equipment, strategic planning and, of course, military budget.

But a new resource recently released by the U.S. Army is anchored to the belief that the spiritual domain also is fundamental to fortifying a soldiers will to fight  and the spirit to endure.

The 112-page U.S. Army Spiritual Fitness Guide champions spiritual fitness as a vital component of overall well-being and operational sustainment.

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Besides introducing concepts that nurture the spirit and foster a sense of purpose within the ranks, the guide emphasizes the critical role of leaders in prioritizing spiritual training within their units.

Our Army leaders, especially in teams and squads, must be equipped to lead soldiers to success in war and life, wrote Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., who directs the Armys Chaplain Corps.

This guide serves as an operational application of doctrine, giving field-tested definition to the spiritual domain while clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each soldier.

The Armys spiritual fitness motto  Purpose Leads, Strength Follows  embodies the 250-year-old organizations commitment to building a foundation of spiritually healthy, purpose-driven soldiers and families, added Regimental Sgt. Maj. Meaghan B. Simmons of the Chaplain Corps.

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This guide offers perspective into strengthening the spirit through field-validated lessons learned that prepare formations for war and life, wrote Simmons.

And its designed for every American soldier, regardless of religious background.

Whether religious or not, every soldier will find tools here to strengthen their will to fight and the spirit to endure, notes the guide.

The soldiers spirit

A soldiers spirit, according to the Armys spiritual fitness guide, is like a guiding compass needle. It informs values and beliefs while providing purpose and motivation.

Its comprised of three primary components: consciousness, creativity and connection.

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 Consciousness, according to the guide, is the awareness of ones thoughts, feelings and surroundings  shaped by purpose, beliefs, identity, intuition and science  which influence decision-making and actions.

 Creativity is the ability to generate novel ideas and solutions, encompassing innovation, imagination, ethics, playfulness and art to help soldiers adapt to challenges.

 And, finally, connection emphasizes relationships and fosters bonds through values, mindfulness, community, accountability and growth, which are crucial for resilience and unit cohesion.

According to the guide, the U.S. Army utilizes eight principles to effectively sustain global combat power: Simplicity. Consistency. Flexibility. Sustainability. Unity of Effort. Responsiveness. Integration. Economy.

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Those same eight principles are needed to ensure spiritual fitness for individual soldiers and units.

Simplicity in spiritual fitness, for example, ensures that a soldiers spiritual activities are manageable and straightforward.

The guide recommends that soldiers spend a few minutes in daily meditation or contemplation, while also focusing on gratitude or mindfulness or attending a spiritual service.

Meanwhile, unity of effort highlights the importance of community and accountability in achieving a soldiers spiritual goals. Soldiers benefit from having people around them who understand their spiritual aspirations. They can help one another keep on track.

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Examples of unity of effort include forming small accountability groups where soldiers discuss their spiritual goals, share experiences, and provide mutual support to the team, the guide noted.

These partnerships ensure that each member remains committed and motivated to pursue their growth.

Other chapters in the guide focus on stages of spiritual development, the spiritual fitness duties of soldiers and leaders  and the role of Army chaplains and religious affairs specialists in supporting soldiers and unit spiritual fitness.

Fort Hoods III Armored Corps in Killeen, Texas, piloted an eight-month study to develop the spiritual fitness guide, according to Army Times.

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Every unit on post goes through the Phantom Forge Center, with about 400 soldiers each week. A dedicated chaplain teaches spiritual fitness stages and principles to soldiers. They also conduct surveys to revise and validate the concepts.

I encourage each of you to get after the spiritual work beneath the surface of your lives, using the guide as a standard for personal growth and spiritual fitness within your units, concluded chaplain Green in his message to soldiers and Army leaders.
More than 13 million people worldwide owe their lives to in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to the first estimates of their kind.

Since the original 'test tube' baby was born in 1978, the number of children brought into the world by IVF technologies  collectively known as assisted reproductive technology (ART)  has exploded into the millions.

Today, an ART-conceived baby is born every 35 seconds, and IVF, where an egg is fertilized by sperm in a test tube, is the most commonly used method.

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To figure out how many ART babies have been born since the technology's infancy, an international team of researchers compiled health data from 101 different nations.

Related: 8 Babies Born in UK Using Radical 'Three Parent' IVF Technique

As of 2018, the team estimates between 10 and 13 million babies have been born via ART, while preliminary data from 2018 to 2023 adds another 3 to 4 million children.

"Every year we estimate how many babies were born in the previous 12 months  but we've never actually gone back and used a consistent methodology and extrapolation for missing data to estimate the total number of babies born in the world," says lead author Georgina Chambers, an epidemiologist from the University of New South Wales.

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The estimates are not perfect, but Chambers and her colleagues argue they are "a reasonable and sound approximation" based on the "most robust data available in the literature."

The information comes from the International Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART), of which Chambers is the data custodian.

Back in the early 1980s, Australia became the first country in the world to establish an IVF registry. While many high-income nations have since followed suit, some countries, like Singapore,either lack formal registries that report to ICMART or the registries have been delayed for many years, as in China.

Even when formal lists are kept, some regional clinics do not report to ICMART, as in the United States, India, and some African countries.

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To make up for these gaps in knowledge, researchers tallied the number of clinics within a nation, using that coverage rate to predict ART rates. They also accounted for miscarriage rates where only ART pregnancies were reported.

Their findings reveal that in the 40 years since the dawn of ART, between 9.4 million and 12.4 million infants from 101 countries were born using reproductive technology, with an exponential increase starting around the turn of the century.

Global number of infants born from ART. (Adamson et al., Fertil Steril, 2025)

Europe tops the charts with 3.6 to 4.5 million infants born via IVF, followed by Asia with 3 to 4 million IVF infants, and North America with 1.4 to 1.6 million IVF infants.

In the last two decades, IVF technology has come a long way, providing cheaper, safer, and more successful routes to parenthood.

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The chances of IVF succeeding are far from guaranteed, but health data from the UK show that the average IVF pregnancy rate using frozen embryos has gone from 7 percent in the 1990s to 36 percent in 2021.

No longer is it necessary to transfer several fertilized eggs to increase the odds of pregnancy. As a result, the number of IVF twins and triplets being born is on a steep downward trend.

"Today, more than 93 percent of IVF cycles involve a single embryo transfer, resulting in a multiple birth rate of below 3 percent," says Chambers.

"Most IVF babies in Australia now come from frozen embryos."

Cumulative number of ART-conceived infants born by region, 19782018. (Adamson et al., Fertil Steril, 2025)

"As more babies are born through IVF," Chambers adds, "we hope access to safe, high quality care will become more equitable  and based on human rights  across the world."

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The study was published in Fertility and Sterility.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools Dr. Mark Sullivan joined CBS 42 Morning News to discuss the upcoming school year, including changes brought on by the FOCUS Act.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
One of the biggest mysteries that has emerged from the Trump-era Supreme Court is the 2023 decision in Allen v. Milligan.

In Milligan, two of the Republican justices  Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh  voted with the Courts Democratic minority to strike down Alabamas racially gerrymandered congressional maps, ordering the state to redraw those maps to include an additional district with a Black majority.

As Roberts emphasized in his opinion for the Court in Milligan, a lower court that also struck down these maps faithfully applied our precedents. But the Roberts Court frequently overrules or ignores precedents that interpret the Voting Rights Act  the federal law at issue in Milligan  to do more than block the most egregious forms of Jim Crow-like voter suppression. And the Courts Republican majority is normally hostile to lawsuits challenging gerrymanders of any kind.

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Most notably, in Rucho v. Common Cause (2019), the Republican justices held that federal courts may not hear suits challenging partisan gerrymanders. Among other things, Rucho enables tactics like Texas Republicans current plans to redraw that states congressional maps to maximize GOP power in Congress.

So why did two Republican justices break with their previous skepticism of gerrymandering suits in the Milligan case? A new order that the Supreme Court handed down Friday evening appears to answer that question.

The new order, in a case known as Louisiana v. Callais, suggests that the Courts decision in Milligan was merely a minor detour, and that Roberts and Kavanaughs votes in Milligan were largely driven by unwise legal decisions by Alabamas lawyers. The legal issues in the Callais case are virtually identical to the ones presented in Milligan, but the Courts new order indicates it is likely to use Callais to strike down the Voting Rights Acts safeguards against gerrymandering altogether.

The Callais order, in other words, doesnt simply suggest that Milligan was a one-off decision that is unlikely to be repeated. It also suggests that the Courts Republican majority will resume its laissez-faire approach to gerrymandering, just as the redistricting wars appear to be heating up.

A brief history of the Supreme Courts approach to gerrymandering

Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of lawsuits alleging that a legislative map is illegally gerrymandered. Partisan gerrymandering suits claim that a map was drawn to maximize one major political partys power at the expense of the other. Racial gerrymandering suits, meanwhile, allege that a states legislative maps improperly dilute the voting power of voters of a particular race.

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Prior to Rucho, the Court imposed minimal  but not entirely nonexistent  limits on partisan gerrymandering. It has historically been more aggressive in policing racial gerrymanders.

The Supreme Court held in Davis v. Bandemer (1986) that federal courts may hear claims alleging that a states maps are so egregiously partisan that they amount to unconstitutional discrimination. The idea is that maps that intentionally inflate Democratic voters power, while minimizing Republican voters power (or vice-versa) violate the Constitutions guarantee that all voters should have an equal say in elections.

Notably, however, no five justices agreed to a single legal standard that would allow courts to determine which maps are illegal partisan gerrymanders in Davis. Nor did a majority of the Court set such a standard in later lawsuits challenging partisan gerrymanders. In Rucho, the Republican justices essentially announced that the Court would give up its quest to find such a standard. A few years later, in Alexander v. NAACP (2024), those justices went even further, declaring that as far as the Federal Constitution is concerned, a legislature may pursue partisan ends when it engages in redistricting.

Though Daviss limits on partisan gerrymandering were always fuzzy, it is likely that this ambiguity deterred at least some states from enacting extreme gerrymanders that might have caused the courts to intervene. At the very least, Rucho changed how states litigate gerrymandering suits. Before Rucho, states accused of gerrymandering would often try to offer another explanation for why their maps benefited one party or the other. Now, they will openly state in their briefs that they drew maps for partisan reasons  confident that federal judges will do nothing, despite these confessions.

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Historically, however, the Court has imposed more concrete limits on racial gerrymanders. In Milligan, for example, the Court struck down Alabama congressional maps that would have given Black voters a majority in just one of the states seven districts (or 14 percent of the districts), despite the fact that Black people make up about 27 percent of the states population. The Court ordered the state to draw new maps with two Black-majority districts.

The linchpin of Milligan and similar cases is the Courts decision in Thornburg v. Gingles (1986), which laid out the rules governing when an alleged racial gerrymander violates the Voting Rights Act (which broadly prohibits race discrimination in elections). The framework laid out in Gingles is notoriously complicated, but it turns on whether voters in a particular state vote in racially cohesive blocs.

Thus, for example, in a state where the white majority supports Republicans nearly all of the time, while the Black minority supports Democrats nearly all of the time, Gingles sometimes requires courts to redraw the states maps to ensure that the Black minority is adequately represented. This is because, in such a state, the white majority can wield its near-unanimous support for Republicans to cut Black voters (and Democrats) out of power altogether.

In a different state, where both Black and white voters sometimes vote for either party, Gingles tells courts to stay out of redistricting. Black voters, after all, are United States citizens who have as much of a right to choose their leaders as anyone else. So, if they choose to be represented by a white Republican in a free and fair election, thats their choice and the courts should honor it.

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Because Gingles only kicks in when an electorates racial demographics closely match its partisan voting patterns, it places some practical limits on both partisan and racial gerrymandering. In Milligan, for example, Alabama was not able to draw maps that maximized Republican voting power because doing so required the state to dilute Black voting power. So, even though Rucho prevents lawsuits that challenge partisan gerrymandering directly, Gingles sometimes allows suits which target it indirectly by alleging that a partisan gerrymander is also an impermissible racial gerrymander.

But now the Court is signaling that it is likely to overrule Gingles and abolish suits alleging that racial gerrymanders violate the Voting Rights Act altogether.

So whats the deal with the Courts new order in Callais?

The Callais case is virtually identical to Milligan  indeed, the cases are so similar that Louisiana said in a brief to the justices that Callais presents the same question as the Alabama redistricting case. Before the Callais case reached the justices, a lower court determined that Louisianas congressional maps violate Gingles, and ordered the state to draw an additional Black-majority district.

Nevertheless, when the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Callais last March, all six of the Republican justices appeared to disagree with this lower courts decision  although the lower courts decision merely applied the same legal rules that the Supreme Court applied two years earlier in Milligan. Then, at the end of June, the Court issued a brief order announcing that it would hold an unusual second oral argument in Callais, and that it would seek additional briefing from the parties in this case.

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On Friday, the Court issued a new order laying out what these parties should address in those briefs. Those briefs should examine whether the lower court order requiring Louisiana to draw an additional Black-majority district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The justices, in other words, want briefing on whether Gingles  and the Voting Rights Acts safeguards against racial gerrymandering more broadly  are unconstitutional.

This suggestion that the Voting Rights Act may be unconstitutional  or, at least, that it violates the Republican justices vision of the Constitution  should not surprise anyone who has followed the Courts voting rights cases.

In Shelby County v. Holder (2013), the Republican justices neutralized a different provision of the Voting Rights Act, which required states with a history of racist election practices to preclear new election laws with federal officials before they take effect. The Courts Republican majority labeled this provision strong medicine that could be justified to combat the kind of widespread racial voting discrimination that existed during Jim Crow. But they argued that the United States was not racist enough in 2013 to justify letting preclearance remain in place.

There is no denying, Roberts wrote for the Court in Shelby County, that the conditions that originally justified these measures no longer characterize voting in the covered jurisdictions.

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Although Kavanaugh joined nearly all of the majority opinion in Milligan, he also wrote a separate opinion indicating that he wanted to extend Shelby County to gerrymandering cases in a future ruling. Even if Congress in 1982 could constitutionally authorize race-based redistricting under [the Voting Rights Act] for some period of time, Kavanaugh wrote, the authority to conduct race-based redistricting cannot extend indefinitely into the future.

Gingles also suggests that Voting Rights Act suits challenging racial gerrymanders should eventually cease to exist. If the electorate ceases to be racially polarized  something that appears to be slowly happening  then Gingles plaintiffs will no longer be able to win cases, and the federal judiciarys role in redistricting will diminish. But Kavanaugh seems to be impatient to end these suits while many states remain racially polarized.

Read in the context of Kavanaughs Milligan opinion, in other words, the new Callais order suggests that a majority of the justices have decided the Voting Rights Acts safeguards against racial gerrymandering have reached their expiration date, and they are looking for arguments to justify striking them down.

It now looks like Milligan was Gingless last gasp. The Republican justices remain hostile both to the Voting Rights Act and toward gerrymandering suits more broadly. And they appear very likely to use Callais to remove one of the few remaining safeguards against gerrymanders.
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An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kan., to Washington, D.C., was on its final approach into Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29 when it collided in midair with a US Army helicopter on a training mission. Both aircraft were engulfed in flames and plunged into the Potomac River. All 67 people aboard the two aircraft were killed. It was the deadliest domestic aviation disaster in nearly 25 years.

A few days later, 10 people died when a regional airline flight crashed off the coast of Alaska. Shortly after that, there was a near-disaster in Chicago when a Southwest Airlines jet barely avoided colliding with a private plane that had entered the runway at Midway Airport without authorization. In May, the control center at Newark's Liberty Airport experienced a communications blackout when a burnt-out wire triggered an equipment failure, leaving air traffic controllers blind to arriving and departing aircraft for a minute and a half. It was one of three outages in the space of two weeks at Newark, where a shortage of controllers routinely causes flights to be delayed or cancelled.

Some of these tragedies and alarming incidents are still being investigated. But all of them are reminders that America's air traffic control system is in desperate need of reform.

There is no mystery about what ails air traffic control in this country: It is run by the government, which is ill-suited to the task. Worse yet, the agency that's in charge of providing air traffic control, the Federal Aviation Administration, is also the agency that regulates it  an inherent conflict of interest. As journalist John Tierney put it in a recent essay for City Journal: "The FAA is supposed to be a watchdog, but we've put it in charge of watching itself."

That's only part of the problem. Because the FAA is an arm of the government, its operations, including air traffic control, are inevitably politicized. Since the agency has to be reauthorized annually, its funding is tied not to market forces but to the priorities of politicians, lobbyists, and interest groups. That chronic budgetary uncertainty has often forced the FAA to defer system upgrades and limit hiring  which is why the system is beset by outdated hardware and perpetually understaffed towers.

Happily, there is a straightforward solution: Get the federal government out of the air traffic control business.

For decades, policy makers, economists, industry experts, and even members of Congress have called for spinning off air traffic control into a standalone, user-funded corporation  either a nonprofit company or a public utility, one that would be regulated, but not operated, by the government. When President Clinton first proposed the idea in the mid-1990s, it was largely untested. At the time, only four countries had adopted such a policy. Thirty years later, roughly 80 countries have done so.

"Countless studies have shown that other countries' ATC systems are better-managed, better-funded, and better-supplied with advanced technology," Robert Poole, the Reason Foundation's director of transportation policy, points out. So archaic are air traffic control operations in the United States, he notes, that controllers in US airport towers "still use paper flight strips to follow departing flights instead of having electronic handoffs."

Not much has changed since Clinton lamented in 1995 that the FAA's "air traffic control system in many places still depends upon Stone Age technology that's often older than the flight controllers using it." This past June, FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau told the House Appropriations Committee that ATC operations still rely on floppy disks and computers running Windows 95.

Our neighbor to the north long ago made the leap to nongovernmental air traffic control. In 1996, Canada created Nav Canada, a not-for-profit corporation that is fully funded by users of the system  that is, airlines and other aircraft operators  and thus doesn't cost taxpayers a cent. The results have been almost uniformly positive. Nav Canada funds its own modernization and operates on a solid financial footing. The company has hundreds of millions of dollars in reserve  a stark contrast to the FAA's perennial shortfalls.

Canada boasts state-of-the-art satellite navigation systems. Almost 10 years ago, The Wall Street Journal's aviation columnist, Scott McCartney, marveled at how flying south from Canada to the United States was "like time travel for pilots ... you leave a modern air-traffic control system run by a company and enter one run by the government struggling to catch up."

In Canadian ATC towers, there are no strips of paper to shuffle. Instead, controllers update information about each flight on touch screens and pass the information to one another electronically. "Requests for altitude changes are automatically checked for conflicts before they even pop up on controllers' screens," McCartney wrote. "Computers look 20 minutes ahead for any planes potentially getting too close to each other. Flights are monitored by a system more accurate than radar, allowing them to be safely spaced closer together to add capacity and reduce delays."

The FAA, meanwhile, has been working on upgrading its technology for more than 20 years, but its efforts, as the trade group Airlines for America testified at a Senate hearing in 2019, "have been plagued by significant cost overruns, delays, and lack of benefits to users of the system." Even with the best of intentions, the FAA's insulation from market feedback ensures that every budget cycle, political skirmish, and procurement whim will affect the pace at which it modernizes. Without direct accountability to those who pay for and rely on its services, there is neither urgency to cut costs nor a penalty for slipping timelines  so projects balloon, roll out late, or simply stall in a maze of red tape.

America's antiquated air traffic control system is both embarrassing and unnecessary. The wheel doesn't need to be reinvented. In 2017, legislation to privatize ATC operations along the lines of the Canadian model passed the House Transportation Committee. It had the support of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the controllers' labor union, and was strongly endorsed by President Trump, who was then in his first term. At the time, alas, the bill went no farther.

This would be a fine time to revive that legislation. Is it naive to imagine that fixing air traffic control is one way to "make America great again" that doesn't have to involve polarizing rhetoric or angry culture wars? The formula is clear: Carve air traffic control out of the FAA, move it to an independent, user-funded corporation, and let market needs  not politics  dictate priorities. Under such a "separation of ATC and state," safety oversight would remain with the FAA, but the era of paper strips and floppy disks would finally end.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission.

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More than three years after the Marshall Fire tore through Colorado, many of the people affected are still stuck in limbo, reported Denver7.

At a gathering in Louisville, survivors shared that rebuilding has been more difficult than they could have ever imagined. Some people have had to leave their communities, and others are still living with financial stress and confusion about insurance.

The wildfire, which destroyed over 1,000 homes and businesses, left people scrambling for help and answers in Boulder County, and now survivors are calling for major changes to the insurance system that was supposed to help them rebuild. They are asking for clearer policies, accountability, and support that meets the cost of rebuilding.

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"We had about 50% of the home dwelling coverage needed actually to rebuild our home," said Judi Kern, who lost her home in the fire and now serves on Louisville's City Council, per Denver7.

What's happening?

On July 8, around 50 Marshall Fire survivors met with state lawmakers to talk about how hard it's been to rebuild. Many say their insurance payouts fell short of the actual cost to replace a home. One study, which included University of Colorado Boulder researchers, found that 74% of policyholders were underinsured, and 36% were severely underinsured.

Some survivors said their insurance companies paid out their policy in full, but still, it wasn't enough to rebuild. Others shared that they're still paying interest on mortgages for homes that no longer exist. "There are still people in this community that are struggling to rebuild," State Rep. Kyle Brown told Denver7.

Why is the extreme weather concerning?

Extreme weather events like the Marshall Fire are becoming more common and more destructive, much of which is fueled by the burning of dirty energy sources.

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The pollution from coal, oil, and gas traps heat, making wildfires worse and longer-lasting. This leads to more communities being at risk, and insurance companies are pulling back from covering those areas. Homeowners are more exposed and uncertain about the future.

Without insurance, it's nearly impossible to rebuild and recover. After major fires in California and Colorado, many residents have faced the same uphill battle.

According to a Vox report, insurers have declined coverage for millions in vulnerable regions over the last few years. Many homeowners have turned to the state's FAIR plan as a last resort.

How concerned are you about the plastic waste in our oceans? Extremely I'm pretty concerned A little Not much Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

What's being done about insurance coverage?

Colorado lawmakers created House Bill 25-1182, which requires insurance companies to be more transparent about wildfire risk scores and to consider steps homeowners have taken to reduce their risk. But lawmakers also warned that if regulations go too far, companies might stop offering coverage in the state altogether.

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The Colorado FAIR Plan, much like the California FAIR Plan, offers limited coverage to people who have had insurance denied by at least three carriers. Groups like Extreme Weather Survivors are working to connect disaster survivors across the country, providing support and pushing for reforms that protect people and not just profits.

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.
Eighty years ago, in August 1945, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were incinerated by the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war. By the end of that year, approximately 140,000 people had died in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki.

Those who survived  known as Hibakusha  have carried their suffering as living testimony to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear war, with one key wish: that no one else will suffer as they have.

Now, in 2025, as the world marks 80 years of remembrance since those bombings, the voices of the Hibakusha offer not only memory, but also moral clarity in an age of growing peril.

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As someone who focuses on nuclear disarmament and has heard Hibakusha testimonies in my native Japanese language, I have been enthusiastically promoting disarmament education grounded in their voices and experience. I believe their message is more vital than ever at a time of rising nuclear risk. Nuclear threats have reemerged in global discourse, breaking long-standing taboos against even talking about their use. From Russia and Europe to the Middle East and East Asia, the possibility of nuclear escalation is no longer unthinkable.

The Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall was one of the few buildings not totally demolished in the Aug. 6, 1945, U.S. atomic bombing of Japan. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Japans deepening reliance on deterrence

Ironically, increasing nuclear threats are contributing to further reliance on nuclear deterrence, the strategy of preventing attack by threatening nuclear retaliation, rather than renewed efforts toward nuclear disarmament, which seeks to eliminate nuclear weapons entirely.

Nowhere is this contradiction more visible than in Japan. While the Hibakusha have long stood as global advocates for nuclear abolition, Japans approach to national security has placed growing emphasis on the role of nuclear deterrence.

In the face of regional threats, the Japanese government has strengthened its dependence on U.S. nuclear protection  even as the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki warn not only of the dangers of relying on nuclear weapons for security, but also of the profound moral failure such reliance represents.

Listen to Hibakusha voices

For eight decades, the Hibakusha have shared their stories to prevent future tragedy  not to assign blame, but to awaken conscience and spark action.

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Masako Wada, assistant secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, a nationwide organization of atomic bomb survivors working for the abolition of nuclear weapons, was just under 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Her home, 1.8 miles from the blast center, was shielded by surrounding mountains, sparing her from burns or injury. Though too young to remember the bombing herself, she grew up hearing about it from her mother and grandfather, who witnessed the devastation firsthand.

In July 2025 at a nuclear risk reduction conference in Chicago, Wada told the attendees:

The risk of using nuclear weapons has never been higher than it is now.  Nuclear deterrence, which intimidates other countries by possessing nuclear weapons, cannot save humanity.

In a piece she wrote for Arms Control Today that same month, she further implored:

The Hibakusha are the ones who know the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. We will continue to convey that reality. Please listen to us, please empathize with us. Find out what you can do and take action together with us. Nuclear weapons cannot coexist with human beings. They were created by humans; let us assume the responsibility to abolish them with the wisdom of public conscience.

This plea  rooted in lived experience and moral responsibility  was recognized globally when the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo. The award honored not only the survivors suffering, but their decades-long commitment to preventing future use of nuclear weapons through education, activism and testimony.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial stands as it has since 1945, partially destroyed by the atomic bomb blast and serving as a reminder of the 140,000 people who died in the attack and its aftermath. Masako Toki, CC BY-ND

A dwindling number

But time is running out. Most Hibakusha were children or young adults in 1945. Today, their average age is over 86. In March 2025, the number of officially recognized Hibakusha fell below 100,000, according to Japans Ministry of Health.

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As Terumi Tanaka, a Hiroshima survivor and longtime leader of Nihon Hidankyo, said at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony:

Ten years from now, there may only be a handful of us able to give testimony as firsthand survivors. From now on, I hope that the next generation will find ways to build on our efforts and develop the movement even further.

The role of empathy in disarmament education

Empathy is not a luxury in disarmament education  it is a necessity. Without it, nuclear weapons remain abstract. With it, they become personal, real and morally unacceptable.

Thats why disarmament education begins with human stories. The Hibakusha testimonies illuminate not only the physical destruction caused by nuclear weapons, but also the long-term trauma, discrimination and intergenerational pain that follow. They remind us that nuclear policy is not just a matter of strategy  it is a question of human survival. Nuclear weapons are the only weapons ever created with the power to annihilate all of humanity  and that makes disarmament not just a political issue, but a moral imperative.

Yet opportunities for young people to learn about nuclear risks, or hear from the Hibakusha directly, are extremely limited. In most countries, these issues are absent from school and university classrooms. This lack of education feeds ignorance and, in turn, complacency  allowing the flawed logic of deterrence to remain unchallenged.

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Disarmament education that puts empathy and ethics at its center, along with survivors voices, can empower the next generation not only with knowledge, but with moral strength to choose their path.

Masako Wada, a Hibakusha who survived the U.S. bombing of Nagasaki in August 1945, speaks at a church in California in 2019, spreading the message of the horror of the attack and its aftermath, and urging people to promote nuclear disarmament. Masako Toki, CC BY-ND

From remembrance to responsibility

Commemorating 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not about history alone. It is about the future. It is about what people choose to remember  and what people choose to do with that memory.

The Hibakusha have never sought revenge. Their message is clear: This can happen again. But it doesnt have to.

The Hibakushas journey shows that human beings are not destined to remain divided, nor are they doomed to repeat cycles of destruction. In the face of unimaginable loss, many Hibakusha chose not to dwell on anger or seek retribution, but instead to speak out for the good of all humanity. Their activism has been marked not by bitterness, but by an unwavering commitment to peace, empathy and the prevention of future suffering. Rather than directing their pain toward blame, they have transformed it into a powerful appeal to conscience and global solidarity. Their concern has never been only for Japan  but for the future of the entire human race.

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That moral clarity, grounded in lived experience, remains profoundly instructive. In a world increasingly filled with conflict and fear, I believe there is much to learn from the Hibakusha. Their testimony is not just a warning  it is a guide.

I try to listen, and urge others, as well, to truly listen to what they have to say. I seek the company of people who also refuse complacency, question the legitimacy of nuclear deterrence, and work for a future where human dignity, not mutual destruction, defines human security.

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: Masako Toki, Middlebury

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Masako Toki 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  A man was arrested after allegedly assaulting someone with a pipe or crowbar, according to the Aurora Police Department.

At 4:41 p.m. on Sunday, Aurora police received a call about an assault with a pipe or crowbar that occurred in the 1200 block of South Buckley Road.

RTD A Line train, semitrailer collide in Aurora, extended closures in place: Police

While officers were responding to the scene, witnesses told Aurora 911 that the suspect in the alleged assault sped away in a green Toyota RAV4.

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Police said that the witnesss detailed description of the suspect and the fleeing vehicle was integral information for the officers assigned to the Real-Time Information Center. Those officers were able to locate the vehicle traveling near East Colfax Avenue and Airport Boulevard.

Additional officers were dispatched to that area and located the suspects vehicle.

The responding officers conducted a traffic stop, and the suspect pulled over for the lights and sirens, police said.

The man was identified as 27-year-old Karl Marquez.

Marquez was arrested on charges of second-degree assault and was booked into the Aurora Municipal Detention Center.

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(FOX40.COM)  A person was arrested on attempted rape charges in Placer County on Sunday afternoon.

 Video above: Suspected serial thief arrested by the sheriffs office in Sacramento County

Around 5:30 p.m., the Placer County Sheriffs Office responded to an attempted rape call at Dry Creek Park. While responding to the scene, a patrol vehicle was involved in a traffic collision at the intersection of Baseline Road and Walerga Road.

Lake Fire burns over 300 acres in Clearlake prompting evacuation warnings, 5% contained

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The two deputies inside the patrol vehicle had minor injuries and the collision is being investigated by the Roseville Police Department, according to the PCSO.

Deputies found and arrested the suspect in the attempted rape; the investigation remains ongoing.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Aurora police said they arrested a suspect Monday morning after a weekend double shooting that killed one woman and injured another.

Police had been searching for Michel Jordan Castellano-Fonseca, 30, since an early Sunday morning shooting at an apartment in the 1000 block of Cimarron Circle in north central Aurora. Police said the two women who were shot were in the apartment, as were five children between 1 and 15 years old.

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Castellano-Fonseca was captured at about 6 a.m. Monday morning near Mississippi Avenue and Chambers Road and put into police custody, an Aurora Police Department spokesperson said.

APD will not stand for any amount of gun violence in our community and is fully committed to bringing those responsible to justice, police said as they were working around the clock to find Castellano-Fonseca.

Investigators believe the shooting started from a possible domestic violence incident after which Castellano-Fonseca threatened to return to the apartment complex with a firearm. Police allege Castellano-Fonseca forced his way into the apartment and fired several shots just after 3 a.m. Sunday morning.

A 26-year-old woman died at the scene, and a 30-year-old woman is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. None of the children were injured, police said.

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OSHKOSH  The suspect from a weapons incident remains at large following a non-fatal shooting over the weekend.

Police said they are still searching for someone in connection to the shooting of a 19-year-old male in the 1000 block of Wisconsin Street at 2:53 a.m. Aug. 2 in what is being described as an isolated incident between two individuals.

According to the Oshkosh Police Department, officers responded to a weapons call after receiving reports a man was shot in the shoulder in the 1000 block of Wisconsin Street.

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Read more: Oshkosh police, US Marshals arrest 3 after serving warrant at Jackson Street residence

The victim has been released from the hospital after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident remains under investigation and authorities are asking anyone with information about the disturbance to call 920-236-5700.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Suspect in non-fatal Oshkosh shooting still at large, police say
A man accused of trying to break into a home was shot Monday afternoon by a Jacksonville homeowner, according to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office.

JSO says that it responded to Cahoon Road South at around 12:10 pm after receiving a report about a person shot.

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A homeowner told police that he had confronted someone who was trying to burglarize his home.

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A short time later, a man in his mid-30s walked into a local urgent care with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to JSO, before being taken to a hospital by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue. He is now listed as being in stable condition.

JSO said that it is unclear if the homeowner will face any charges, as the investigation is still ongoing.

Investigators are collecting video and witness accounts to confirm details of the incident.

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WASHINGTON  Some Republicans representing competitive districts in blue states are speaking out against their partys push to redraw congressional lines in Texas in an attempt give the GOP up to five more House seats.

Reps. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., and Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., have called to impose nationwide limits on partisan gerrymandering, a rare move for Republicans in Washington who have thwarted proposed bans for years.

Democratic governors like Californias Gavin Newsom and New Yorks Kathy Hochul have threatened to retaliate against Texas by pursuing their own redistricting plans that could knock out GOP-held swing districts, like those Lawler and Kiley represent.

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Kiley announced he will introduce legislation Tuesday to nullify new House maps states adopt before the 2030 census, including any that might be approved this year.

That would block the ongoing Texas effort and any potential push in California, his office said.

Gavin Newsom is trying to subvert the will of voters and do lasting damage to democracy in California, Kiley said in a statement Monday. Fortunately, Congress has the ability to protect California voters using its authority under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This will also stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.

Lawler, a fellow second-term Republican who represents a swing district, also said he will introduce legislation to prohibit gerrymandering in every state.

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Gerrymandering is wrong and should be banned everywhere  including in New York, Texas, California, and Illinois. Im introducing legislation to ban it, Lawler said Monday on X, inviting Democrats to sign on.

Still, its unlikely that House Republican leaders would allow a vote on any legislation to limit partisan redistricting. That would be an about-face from the partys long-standing view that Washington shouldn't impose any such limits on states. The office of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., didn't immediately comment on the idea.

Speaking to reporters recently in the Capitol, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., chair of House Republicans campaign operation this cycle, kept his distance from the Texas push and wouldnt say whether he supports it.

Well, its up to the states. I mean, I have nothing to do with it. I found out about it when you all wrote about it, Hudson said. Asked whether hes worried about California retaliating, he replied: Im not concerned. Some of the states, they can do what they want to do.

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Newsom has mounted an aggressive push in recent days, on podcasts and social media, to build support for doing away with California's redistricting commission and allowing the states supermajority-Democratic Legislature to draw its own maps for House districts. He even reposted a users hypothetical suggestion to create an extremely gerrymandered map with 52 Democratic-friendly seats, which would knock out all nine Republicans currently representing California, including Kiley.

And Democrats in Washington have tried to pass legislation to prohibit partisan gerrymandering, some of it in recent years during the Biden administration. A section of the sweeping For the People Act of 2021 would have required all states to set up independent redistricting commissions with balanced partisan representation. Democrats passed it in the House along party lines during the Biden administration, but a different version of the bill failed to overcome a Senate GOP filibuster.

Fighting to win back the majority and become speaker, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has turned his focus to combating the GOPs efforts in Texas in recent weeks. On Capitol Hill, Jeffries privately met with members of the California congressional delegation to discuss options for responding to Texas Republicans, a Democratic lawmaker said.

Lawler said its just a pretext.

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New York Dems have been trying to gerrymander and rig the elections for years, well before what Texas is doing, he told NBC News. They are not doing this in response; they are using this as cover to justify what they have wanted to do.

Last week, Jeffries traveled to the Texas State Capitol in Austin to meet with Democrats in both the congressional delegation and the statehouse to draw attention to the matter. He said the Texas special legislative session should have focused on fixing the states broken energy grid and relief, recovery and resiliency in the wake of deadly floods in the Hill Country.

Donald Trump has ordered Greg Abbott and compliant Texas Republicans to race back to Austin have a special session in order to rig the congressional map and undermine the ability of Texans to have a free and fair midterm election. That is wrong, Jeffries said at a news conference, flanked by Democrats.

Its an all-hands-on-deck moment, and all options should be on the table to protect the people of Texas, he continued. We will fight them politically. We will fight them governmentally. We will fight them in court. We will fight them in terms of winning the hearts and minds of the people of Texas and beyond.

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Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said that if Republicans use the redistricting tactic, Democrats must fight with the same firepower.

I hate what Texas is doing. But if theyre going to do it, of course we have to fight back, Murphy told NBC News. Democracies die when the regime plays outside the box and the opposition decides to stay inside the box. So as norms change, we cant just cry about it complain about it. Weve got to fight fire with fire.

Another Democrat, Rep. Mark Takano of California, who is set to become chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee again if Democrats take back the House next year, said hes confident California voters would have Democrats backs if they pursue mid-decade redistricting.

The voters of California are pretty clear that ... not just California but the future of our country is harmed by Donald Trump not having any checks put on him, Takano said. I think California is very interested in seeing a check being put on Donald Trumps power; hes voracious. He doesnt see any limits to himself. Its all very personal to him, and its, frankly, just corrupt.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have said that armed factions associated with the countrys security forces have attacked some of its positions in the northern province of Aleppo, as efforts by Syrias fledgling government to unify the nation have been hit on several fronts.

In a post on X, the group, which controls much of northeastern Syria, claimed the incident took place early on Monday morning in the Deir Hafer area.

The allegation comes just months after the SDF and the Syrian interim government signed a landmark integration agreement in March.

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Government-linked factions launched an assault on four of the SDFs positions in the village of Al-Imam at 3am on Monday morning, the SDF said, noting that the ensuing clashes lasted for 20 minutes.

We hold the Damascus government fully responsible for this behaviour, and reaffirm that our forces are now more prepared than ever to exercise their legitimate right to respond with full force and determination, the SDF added.

The latest incident came after the Syrian government accused the SDF of injuring four soldiers and three civilians in the northern city of Manbij on Saturday.

The Defence Ministry called the attack irresponsible, saying it had been carried out for unknown reasons, according to Syrias state news agency SANA.

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Meanwhile, the SDF, which allied with the United States to help defeat ISIL (ISIS) in the region, blamed the Syrian government, saying it had responded to an unprovoked artillery assault against civilians.

Such skirmishes have cast a shadow over the integration pact the SDF made with Damascus in March, following the fall of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December.

As part of efforts to reunify the country after almost 14 years of ruinous war, which killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, the agreement seeks to merge Kurdish-led military and civilian institutions with the state.

As well as its clashes with the SDF, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaas new government is grappling with the fallout from sectarian violence that broke out on July 13 in the southern province of Suwayda between Bedouin and Druze groups, during which government troops were deployed to quell the fighting. The bloodshed worsened and Israel carried out strikes on Syrian troops, and also bombed the heart of the capital Damascus, under the pretext of protecting the Druze.

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Despite the ongoing ceasefire there, four deaths were reported in the province over the weekend, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights saying that three of the victims were government soldiers and one was a local fighter. Syrias state media reported on deaths among security forces.

The Syrian government said in a statement that gangs in the area had resorted to violating the ceasefire agreement by launching treacherous attacks against internal security forces on several fronts.




DUBAI (Reuters) -The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said on Monday its fighters had clashed with government forces in Aleppo province in the country's north, in the latest incident to cast a shadow over a landmark integration deal they signed in March.

The SDF was the main fighting force allied to the United States in Syria during fighting that defeated Islamic State in 2019 after the group declared a caliphate across swathes of Syria and Iraq.

In March, the SDF signed a deal with the new Islamist-led government in Damascus to join Syria's state institutions, following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

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The deal aimed to stitch back together a country fractured by 14 years of war, paving the way for Kurdish-led forces that hold a quarter of Syria to merge with Damascus, along with regional Kurdish governing bodies.

On Monday, the SDF said government forces had carried out attacks against four of its posts in Dayr Hafir.

"We hold the Damascus government fully responsible for this behaviour, and reaffirm that our forces are now more prepared than ever to exercise their legitimate right to respond with full force and determination," the SDF said in a statement.

At the weekend, the government and SDF had traded blame over an attack in the nearby city of Manbij, where the Syrian defence ministry accused the SDF of carrying out a rocket attack against an army outpost in the countryside. The SDF said it had responded to an unprovoked artillery assault against civilians.

(Reporting by Tala Ramadan and Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Alison Williams and Alex Richardson)
[Source]

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has reportedly shelved his planned August trip to diplomatic allies in the Americas amid reports that the Trump administration blocked a New York stopover after Beijing raised objections.

State of play: Lai was expected to travel to Belize, Guatemala and Paraguay  Taiwans remaining diplomatic allies in the region  with U.S. stopovers planned for New York and Dallas. But on Monday, his office cited recovery from recent typhoon damage and ongoing U.S. tariff discussions as reasons he has no plans to travel overseas in the near future. Embassy officials in Guatemala and Paraguay later confirmed the visit was postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, sources reportedly told the Financial Times that the U.S. blocked Lais New York visit after Beijing objected to Washington.

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Trade talk timing: The move comes amid Treasury Secretary Scott Bessents trade talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Stockholm as the Trump administration sets its eyes on a possible summit with President Xi Jinping. Bessent, however, denied any link between the travel matter and trade negotiations, saying, We are very careful to keep trade and national security separate. Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce dismissed the reports, saying the situation is hypothetical and that there have been no plans  travel plans for the president.

The big picture: The reported decision has drawn bipartisan criticism, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warning that it sends a dangerous signal showing the U.S. can be bullied by Beijing into silence on Taiwan. House Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi called it another example of the Trump administration caving to China in hopes of reaching a trade deal. Paraguay, for its part, also faces domestic pressure, with ruling party congressman Hugo Meza saying the country is wasting time maintaining ties with Taiwan.

Trending on NextShark: AI is altering the legal profession as record number of Asian Americans enter law school

The tensions follow Lais declaration in June that Taiwan is of course an independent country," prompting Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office to denounce his statements as heresy, hostile and separatist.

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NEW YORK  Elizabeth Warren doesnt have a problem with Zohran Mamdani being the face of the Democrats. In fact, she wants the rest of the party to follow his example on affordability.

The progressive senator from Massachusetts swung by New York City on Monday to pay homage to Mamdani, who overwhelmingly won the Democratic nomination for mayor in June  but still hasnt secured endorsements from many of New Yorks party leaders.

Come talk about affordability for families, Warren said at an affordable childcare event, when asked to respond to the democratic socialists many detractors. This is who Democrats fight for, and Zohran is on the front lines in that fight out there fighting for families.

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Asked if Mamdani is what the Democratic Party should look like, the senator responded with an emphatic and signature you bet.

Warren is the latest from the partys liberal wing to fall fully behind Mamdani  in stark contrast to Gov. Kathy Hochul, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who are all treading more carefully. The mainstream Democrats concern, among many, is that Mamdani will be a liability in the midterms, with the party desperate to retake the House majority and moderate Democrats battling for their political lives in swing districts.

Since his stunning primary victory, the Queens state lawmaker has been a key political foil for President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans who portray him as emblematic of a Democratic Party that has shifted too far to the left.

Some Democratic leaders have also been worried about associating too closely with a literal socialist amid competitive races where Republicans label all Democrats with that tag. Mamdanis criticism of Israel, his past calls to defund the police (which he has walked back) and his push to raise the states top corporate tax rate are just a few reasons why establishment Dems are keeping their distance.

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Jeffries, Schumer and others have also referenced Mamdanis refusal to reject the phrase globalize the intifada as reason for concern. Jeffries met last month with Mamdani in Brooklyn but committed only to a continued dialogue.

While mainstream elected officials are taking a wait-and-see approach, progressives have embraced Mamdani.

Warren  a 2020 candidate for president who has built her political brand on a push for universal childcare  boosted Mamdani on Monday in a Rolling Stone opinion piece. And she made clear at the childcare event that she believes Mamdanis focus on driving down the cost of living should be the way forward for Democrats. Many political strategists believe the party lost the White House and both chambers of Congress last year over their failure to adequately address that priority.

Mondays event on the need for publicly funded childcare, held at the lower Manhattan headquarters of the District Council 37 labor union, included advocates for immigrant and low-income communities sharing stories about choosing between paying for groceries and daycare  and also served as a reminder of what fueled Mamdanis 12-point win over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the primary. In a nod to the scarcity of coverage for families who need low-cost childcare, toddlers ran around the room as Warren, Mamdani and DC 37 executive director Henry Garrido spoke.

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Warren and Mamdani appeared together while congressional Democrats, led by Jeffries, plan to spend their recess weeks spotlighting rollbacks to health care and food aid in Trumps spending megabill.

Warren joins Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in boosting Mamdani and his message as the way forward for the Democratic Party. Establishment Democrats have applauded Mamdanis focus on making New York less expensive for working-class families but have been reluctant to publicly support him.

If we want this city to be a place where New Yorkers can raise their kids, then we have to make it so, Mamdani said. And the context that we are in today is one where, after housing, childcare is the cost that is pushing New Yorkers out of these five boroughs.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The newly-promoted principal of Leto High School in Tampa was arrested this weekend and charged with cocaine possession.

Scott Hazlett, 40, has worked in the Hillsborough County Public School system for almost two decades, starting his career at Alonso High in 2007.

Arrest records from the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office showed Hazlett was arrested by the Temple Terrace Police Department in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 2.

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He has been charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and felony possession of cocaine.

A post on X from Hillsborough County Schools celebrated his promotion to principal of Leto High less than a month ago, though it did not say exactly when he started in the new position.

HCPS released a statement following his arrest:

He has served in the district since 2007 and is currently on administrative leave following the recent charges. These allegations are deeply concerning, and we appreciate the prompt response from law enforcement. We understand the impact this may have on our students and staff, and we remain committed to providing them with the appropriate support during this time. Hillsborough County Public Schools

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In 1904, the British geographer and strategist Sir Halford Mackinder delivered a paper to the Royal Geographical Society in London titled, The Geographic Pivot of History. In it, he argued that control over the Eurasian heartlandwhat he called the pivot areawould determine the future of world power. His theory became foundational to modern geopolitical thought, influencing everything from British imperial strategy to Cold War containment doctrine.

Mackinders central premise was simple but profound: geography shapes destiny. Railroads, industrialization, and continental-scale military logistics were transforming the old maritime balance of power, and Mackinder believed that the vast landmass of Eurasiawith its resources, manpower, and central positionwould become the key to global dominance.

More than a century later, the world looks radically different. Great power competition is no longer solely a contest over territory or physical access to critical chokepoints. Today, while geography still matters and will continue to shape strategic realities, technology is playing an increasingly central role in defining geopolitical competition in the 21st century. Rather than fully replacing geography, technology is becoming the critical complement to ittransforming the way states project power, protect their interests, and influence global affairs.

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In the 21st century, the new pivot of history is not a placebut a set of technologies.

I was recently reminded of Mackinders relevance by an excellent article from my colleague Hal Brands at Johns Hopkins SAIS. In revisiting Mackinders insights, Brands shows how deeply geography shaped 20th-century grand strategyand how much of that thinking still permeates defense and foreign policy today.

Pentagon unit seeks Ukraine-like conditions for drone testing

Yet as I read it, I found myself thinking: What would Mackinder say if he were alive now? Would he still see the Eurasian heartland as the strategic center of gravityor would he look instead to the frontiers of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, outer space, undersea cables, and biotechnology?

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In my view, these technologiesrather than any patch of terrainwill likely define who leads and who follows in the 21st century. They are the modern equivalents of the railroads and battleships that reshaped the balance of power in Mackinders day. And unlike a landmass, technological advantage is not fixed. It must be cultivated, protected, and renewed constantly.

Consider artificial intelligence. AI is already transforming warfare, intelligence collection, logistics, and decision-making. The country that best harnesses AI will be able to dominate in everything from autonomous systems and electronic warfare to cyber defense and space operations. As Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated, whoever dominates the development of AI, will rule the world.

Likewise, quantum computing promises to render todays encryption obsolete while creating new frontiers in simulation and data analysis. Biotechnology will reshape medicine, agriculture, and human performance. Semiconductors remain the irreplaceable backbone of all these domains.

It is no coincidence that these sectors are at the heart of the current strategic competition between the United States and China. Beijing has made technological supremacy a national priority. Through its Made in China 2025 strategy and other initiatives, China is pouring resources into scientific research, tightening control over supply chains, and investing heavily in its universities and tech sectors. According to the most recent Annual Threat Assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, China is pursuing a whole-of-government strategy to become the worlds leading science and technology power.

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This should concern every American policymaker. For decades, the United States maintained its global leadership in part because of a unique ecosystem that combined government R&D, leading research universities, and a dynamic private sector. This federal-university-industry partnershipfirst forged during World War II with programs like the Manhattan Project and refined during the Cold Warproduced many of the technological breakthroughs that powered U.S. military and economic dominance.

But that ecosystem is now under strain. Funding for basic scientific research has stagnated in relative terms. As I have written elsewhere, political attacks on universitiesmost recently the Trump administrations proposal to cut federal research funding over campus responses to antisemitismthreaten to undermine the long-term scientific base that sustains American innovation.

Let me be clear: antisemitism, like all forms of bigotry, must be condemned and confronted. But we must find ways to address these cultural and political issues without destroying one of the crown jewels of our national security architecture.

Meanwhile, our adversaries are not waiting. China is racing ahead with aggressive investments in STEM education, advanced manufacturing, and dual-use technologies. It is also working to dominate critical infrastructure like undersea cables, satellite networks, and 5G systemsdigital equivalents of Mackinders railroads and ports. Control over these domains translates directly into geopolitical influence, economic leverage, and military advantage.

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This is why I believe we must update Mackinders thesis for the modern era. Instead of just asking who controls the Eurasian heartland, we must also ask: who controls the semiconductor supply chain? Who leads in quantum research? Who sets the global standards for AI ethics and cybersecurity? These are the questions that will determine global power in the coming decades.

To compete effectively in this new strategic environment, the United States must take several key steps:

Reinvest in Basic Scientific Research: We need a significant and sustained increase in federal research and development funding, particularly in foundational science and engineering fields. This must include long-term support for university-based basic research, which is often the seedbed of breakthrough innovation. Revitalize the Federal-University Partnership: There is no doubt that American universities have made significant political mistakes over the past decade that they must address. That said, Washington must rebuild trust with academia, not wage culture wars against it. On the other hand, universities must do their part by reaffirming commitments to free inquiry, rigorous scholarship, and national service. In return, they deserve stable support and meaningful engagement from policymakers. Strengthen Public-Private Collaboration: The government should act as a catalyst and customer for emerging technologies. Programs and organizations like the Defense Innovation Unit, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, In-Q-Tel, and the CHIPS and Science Act point in the right directionbut they must be scaled and institutionalized. Additionally, Congress and the administration should take the opportunity to fundamentally overhaul the federal acquisition process in ways that ensures capabilities can be quickly deployed. Safeguard Critical Supply Chains: The U.S. and its allies must reduce dependence on adversarial nations for key technologies, especially rare earth minerals and semiconductors. Friend-shoring and secure innovation networks will be essential. Lead in Setting Global Norms: In AI, biotech, and cyber, the U.S. must work with democratic allies to shape the rules of the road. These technologies are not neutralthey reflect values. If we do not lead, others with very different worldviews will. Promote Legal Immigration Pathways. The U.S. military has long benefited from the talent and innovation of immigrants. During the Cold War, immigrant physicists and mathematicians played a foundational role in advancing missile defense, satellite reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence. In more recent decades, immigrants have driven breakthroughs in cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and AI-enabled defense technologies. To sustain its competitive edge in emerging technologies, the United States must maintainand strengthenlegal immigration pathways that attract top scientific and technical talent from around the world. An open and strategic immigration system is not just a domestic policy choice; it is a national security imperative.

In many ways, our future depends not on reclaiming lost terrain but on winning the race for ideas. The new pivot area is likely not a continentit is a constellation of labs, startups, and academic institutions. And like Mackinders heartland, these domains are where early advances can confer long-lasting dominance.

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Mackinder helped his contemporaries understand the world they were entering. We must do the same. Todays policymakers need a new geopolitical frameworkone that recognizes that the strategic high ground of the 21st century is no longer just land or sea, but technology.

The nations that lead in innovation will shape the rules, win the wars, and dominate the future.

The only question that remains is this: Will the United States seize this momentor surrender it?

Frank A. Rose is President of Chevalier Strategic Advisors, a strategic advisory firm focused on the intersection of geopolitics and defense technology. He previously served as Principal Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (2021-2024), U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control (2014-2017), a Professional Staff Member on the House Armed Services Committee (2007-2009), and as a Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Defense (1999-2006).
A 12-year-old girl died from her wounds, and another one is in critical condition after falling from a tall building in Rishon Lezion.

Milena Bobkova, a 12-year-old girl, died from her wounds, and another girl, approximately 13 years old, is in critical condition after falling from a tall building in Rishon Lezion, Shamir Medical Center announced on Sunday.

Magen David Adom (MDA) clarified that both girls suffered multiple injuries, with Milena pronounced dead when she arrived at the hospital, while the older one was connected to a ventilator.

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Both girls allegedly fell from the roof of an abandoned building, according to the police report. While still under investigation, it is not believed to be of a criminal nature.

"This is a very serious incident. The two girls suffered very serious multi-system injuries and were unconscious, anMDA paramedic said.

We provided them with medical treatment and evacuated them in MDA intensive care vehicles to the hospital. One of them was in critical condition and we performed CPR on her, while the other was in serious condition," he added.

A Magen David Adom ambulance; illustrative. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Another fall was reported in Jerusalem, two-year-old in serious condition

Additionally, MDA confirmed that a two-year-old fell down the stairs in Jerusalem and was rushed to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center to treat their injuries.

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"We arrived at the stairwell and saw the agitated neighbors holding a two-year-old baby who was unconscious, an MDA paramedic explained.

They told us that she fell through the safety railing on the second floor. We began providing first aid on the spot and evacuated him to the hospital in serious condition," they added

Israel Police opened an investigation into this incident.
Florida law enforcement said a teenager was reported missing while he was going to visit family in Brevard County.

The Charlotte County Sheriffs Office said it is investigating the disappearance of 18-year-old Giovonni Pelletier.

Deputies said Pelletier went missing after leaving a family vacation in Englewood around 1:30 a.m. Friday.

Pelletier was reportedly traveling north on I-75 with his cousins when he began acting erratically and exited the vehicle near State Road 70 in Manatee County.

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The Charlotte County Sheriffs Office said it is working collaboratively with the Brevard County Sheriffs Office to locate Pelletier.

Authorities are urging anyone with information on Pelletiers whereabouts to contact their non-emergency number at (941) 639-2101.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty in connection to a high-speed police chase that ended in a crash killing a 92-year-old Brighton man.

On Monday, Theodice Parks pleaded guilty to first-degree assault for driving a stolen Kia during a 2024 police pursuit that ended in the death of Thomas Chase. The charge, a class B violent felony, is tied to Parks role in causing serious physical injury in furtherance of a felony.

The incident began on August 22, 2024, when Rochester police responded to a report of shots fired near Clifford Avenue and Maria Street. Officers say they encountered 20-year-old Trevan Simmons, who fled on foot, discarded an illegal firearm in a backyard, and then jumped into the backseat of a stolen Kia.

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The vehicle was driven by Theodice Parks, with his brother, 20-year-old Theophilus Parks in the front passenger seat. Investigators say Parks, who did not have a license, nearly struck a police officer before leading authorities on a high-speed chase. Officers say the vehicle reached speeds near 100 mph, ignored multiple traffic signals, and went off-road several times.

The chase ended when Parks crashed into Thomas Chases vehicle as Chase was making a lawful left turn from East Avenue onto Elmwood Avenue in Brighton. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

All three suspects were arrested at the crash site by Rochester police, with assistance from New York State Police and the Brighton Police Department.

Theophilus Parks has since pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Simmons pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for the illegal firearm he dropped during the incident.

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Theodice Parks is expected to receive a determinate sentence of 20 to 25 years in state prison. Sentencing for both Theodice and Theophilus Parks is scheduled for October 24, 2025.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.




NEED TO KNOW

In February 2023, Zackery Nazario died riding on top of a subway train in front of his girlfriend

His mother, Norma, felt compelled to do something when she found Zackerys phone intact at the scene, telling PEOPLE "that was a sign"

On the one-year anniversary of his death, his mom filed suit against various companies (who deny wrongdoing) and she is speaking out publicly







Zackery Nazario always looked forward to spending Christmas in his native New York City  because of the snowfall, the visits to the Rockefeller Center tree and, of course, the presents.

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But since the teen died more than two years ago while attempting to "subway surf," that once-joyous season has been shadowed by grief, his mom, Norma Nazario, says.

Last year was harder than this year as I learned how to cope, she tells PEOPLE in this week's issue.

On Feb. 20, 2023, 15-year-old Zackery, a young history buff who dreamed of becoming a Marine, boarded the J line with his girlfriend, another teenager, according to his family. They opened the unlocked train doors, walked in between two moving cars and climbed on top.

As the train crossed over the Williamsburg Bridge approaching the East River, Zackery was struck in the head by a beam while his girlfriend watched, then he fell between the subway cars and was run over. He died at the scene.

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Norma, 54, says she realized too late that her son had become consumed by what he saw online, including content about an increasingly popular  and deadly  stunt known as subway surfing that has led to incidents around the country in recent years.

Gary Hershorn/Getty Stock Images A J line train pulls into the Marcy Avenue subway station on Feb. 3, 2020, in New York City. A J line train pulls into the Marcy Avenue subway station on Feb. 3, 2020, in New York City.

Norma says she initially gave Zackery a cellphone for when he attended after-school programs. He played with Snapchat filters, then he asked his mom if he could download Instagram, which she had, too.

I thought that social media was just good to communicate, she says. But the boy became addicted to Instagram and TikTok  though Norma says she was unaware he had even downloaded the latter app until after his death.

He wasn't letting go of the phone, she says.

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She believes Zackery was introduced to subway surfing via his Instagram and TikToks algorithms, though both platforms maintain that such videos are prohibited.

Surprisingly, Zackery's phone was found intact at the site of his death.

I felt like that was a sign for me," Norma says. Almost like her son was telling her, "Eventually, you're going to open it, you're going to see what I did and everything and maybe try to put a stop to it."

Major cities across the U.S. have had issues with subway surfing  albeit in smaller numbers compared to New York City.

San Francisco had two fatal incidents in 2024, the city's Bay Area Rapid Transit tells PEOPLE, while the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in the nation's capital says two people have died since 2023. Transit officials in Chicago say train surfing is "extremely rare" and they have only received reports of "a few incidents each year among the millions of train trips" over the past few years.

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Statistics show a grimmer reality for New York City: From 2018 to 2022, there were five subway surfing deaths, the city said. In 2023 alone, five more people died followed by six in 2014 and three so far in 2025.

Hundreds have also been arrested, many of them juveniles and young adults.



David Dee Delgado/Getty Stock Images An unidentified person walks on top of a car on the 5 train on March 16, 2023, in the Bronx. An unidentified person walks on top of a car on the 5 train on March 16, 2023, in the Bronx.

In September 2023, officials launched the "Ride Inside, Stay Alive" public service campaign across the city's subway system to try and stop surfing. (The MTA rolled out a new anti-surfing campaign in June.)

In 2024, the city said police would escalate their intervention using "911 call data to deploy joint drone and field response teams of officers to areas experiencing the highest complaints of subway surfing."

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority declined to comment to PEOPLE, but the agency has invested in open-gangway trains, which are expected to make it more difficult for people to climb on top.

The MTA has also introduced laser and infrared sensors to detect when riders have entered the tracks between stations, in tunnels or in other restricted areas and has worked with social media companies to flag and remove over 11,000 posts that depict subway surfing.

Norma Nazario is speaking out, too. Finding son Zackery's phone, she says, meant she needed to do something herself.



On the one-year anniversary of her son's death, Norma filed suit against Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, its parent company, ByteDance, and the MTA.

courtesy of Norma Nazario Zackery Nazario Zackery Nazario

Norma argued in court papers that Zackery was targeted, goaded and encouraged to subway surf. The companies deny those allegations, and the complaint against the MTA was dismissed; other parts of the suit remain ongoing.

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Matthew Bergman, Norma's attorney, contends that what happened to Zackery was neither an accident nor a coincidence.

It was a direct and foreseeable result of the programming and design decisions that Instagram and TikTok made to prioritize engagement over safety, says Bergman, founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Center.

Teenagers make bad decisions," Bergman says. "They don't deserve to die from them.

courtesy of Norma Nazario Zackery Nazario. Zackery Nazario.

Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, tells PEOPLE that "well-known research" in neuroscience and psychology indicates that adolescents transitioning into young adulthood take risks with an impulse control that's not always "fully developed."

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There's the desire to show off to friends, says Twenge, the author of the upcoming book 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World. Those things have always been there. But now in the age of social media, it's kind of next-level what people are doing and where they get their ideas about what risky thing would be fun and cool to do.

She adds: What social media does is just gives kids and teens more ideas for how to do risky things they shouldn't be doing.

Twenge, a mom of three teenagers, suggests parents not allow their children to have a smartphone until they get their drivers license or "can make their way around your town on their own speed." She also feels kids should not have social media until they're at least 16.

courtesy of Norma Nazario Zackery Nazario (second from left) with his family. Zackery Nazario (second from left) with his family.

Major internet platforms have long said they are protected from liability arising from the content created by their users under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

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On June 27, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge ruled that Norma's claims of negligence, product liability and wrongful death can proceed  rejecting immunity under Section 230 and the First Amendment.

Take PEOPLE with you! Subscribe to PEOPLE magazine to get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more  right to your mailbox.

The judge found that Norma conceivably alleged that the social media companies actively directed dangerous content to Zackery based on his age and did not just serve as neutral platforms.

Her son was barely buried when she started doing this, Bergman, her lawyer, says. The hopeful side of me says, Maybe we would've had more than six fatalities if we hadn't encouraged this. The sad part of me says, Look how this viral challenge is still going on. They could stop this, and they're not. 



Norma Nazario; Heat Initiative Norma Nazario accepted son Zackerys diploma posthumously with Ida Cesarano of The Clinton School (left); he was also honored at a Social Media Victims Day of Remembrance event in Washington, D.C. Norma Nazario accepted son Zackerys diploma posthumously with Ida Cesarano of The Clinton School (left); he was also honored at a Social Media Victims Day of Remembrance event in Washington, D.C.

Norma says her ability to push through her pain has allowed her to fight for other victims and her son's legacy. On June 23, she accepted Zackery's high school diploma posthumously.

"I'm not going to stop," she says, "until it stops forever."



Read the original article on People
A teenagers family is searching for him in Brevard County after he went missing on Friday.

Giovonni Pelletier, 18, was last seen traveling from North Carolina to Brevard County to visit relatives there. However, his family has not heard from him since earlier that day and believes he never made it to his destination.

Were just hoping to find him. We dont care about anything other than finding him, said Morgan Hull, Pelletiers cousin. Literally nothing else matters to us. We just want him to come home.

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Family members and volunteers searched along Hammock Road in Mims Monday as part of the ongoing efforts to locate Pelletier.

The Charlotte County Sheriffs Office reported that Pelletier left Englewood around 1:30 a.m. Friday, traveling north on Interstate 75 with his cousins.

According to his cousins, Pelletier began to act erratically before exiting the vehicle and walking away near State Road 70. Around the same time, he texted his mother and other family members asking for help.

Tiarra Hadley, another cousin, expressed the familys desire for Pelletiers safe return, saying, We just want him to come home. If anybody knows anything, just tell us, let us know something.

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Hadley also dismissed the idea that Pelletier left on his own, saying, He didnt leave on his own. He would have called his mother.

The Brevard County Sheriffs Office is involved in the investigation, as investigators in Charlotte County requested the agency to make contact with some people locally to obtain basic information.

Pelletier was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, black pants and red shoes.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office nonemergency line at 941-639-2101.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested three "associates" accused of helping a fugitive quadruple murder suspect.

Giovonte Thomas, 28, Tanaka Brown, 29, and Dearrah Sanders, 23, were all charged with accessory after the fact to 1st Degree Murder in connection with the manhunt for Austin Drummond. Brown also faces one count of tampering with evidence, the agency said.

Drummond, 28, remains on the run Monday after he allegedly killed four people last week in Tiptonville, a town located roughly 125 miles from Memphis. Police said an infant later found on the front lawn of a random individual's house is related to all four victims, identified as family members of Drummonds girlfriend.

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"Getting Austin Drummond in custody is a priority. Anyone with information about where we can find him should call us immediately. You will remain anonymous," U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller said in a statement last week before the reward for information leading to Drummonds arrest was increased to $17,500.

Vehicle Of Tennessee Quadruple Murder Suspect Found As Details Of Criminal Past Emerge

It is unclear how Thomas, Brown and Sanders allegedly helped Drummond, but the TBI described them as "associates." All three individuals are from Jackson.

Read On The Fox News App

"Thomas was already being held in the Madison County Jail on an unrelated charge for Failure to Appear. He will be transferred to the Lake County Jail to be arraigned on the new charges," the TBI added.

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Brown  who was arrested Friday  is being held at the Lake County Jail without bond. Sanders, who was detained Monday, is heading to the Lake County Jail as well.

Tennessee Manhunt For Quadruple Murder Suspect Tied To Targeted Attack After Baby Found Abandoned: Da

Drummond is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses.

The TBI said he "should be considered armed and dangerous."

Last Friday, the Jackson Police Department said it found a vehicle driven by Drummond abandoned along a dead-end road in Jackson, a city about 70 miles southeast of Tiptonville.

Police said Austin Drummond killed four people.

The victims  James M. Wilson, 21, Adrianna Williams, 20, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15  were discovered in Tiptonville on Tuesday.

Fox News Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.





Original article source: Tennessee 'associates' of quadruple murder suspect arrested
This year marks a bold shift in how Tennessee supports students on their path to college and career. For the first time, students will have access to a simpler and clearer path to college and technical training beyond high school, impacting more than 41,000 high school seniors in the class of 2026.

Tennessees Direct Admissions pilot, also known as automatic admissions, is a process where colleges offer admission to students who meet specific academic performance criteria, without requiring them to formally apply.

The program bypasses the traditional application fees and process, saving time and money and reducing some of the stress for both students and our colleges. This is important because students often face a college admissions process that can be overly complicated and cluttered with multiple applications, fees, essays and deadlines.

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For years, weve watched too many young Tennesseans stop short of their potential because the path to college felt too confusing, too uncertain or simply too overwhelming.

Letters: How Nashville is helping young people transition out of foster care

In fact, nearly one in four students start the college application process but never finish it.

This burden falls hardest on low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students  those who stand to gain the most from higher education, and whose talents our workforce cant afford to lose.

With Tennessee's Direct Admissions, these students will not be left guessing. They will see a clear path to education after high school.

Graduates participate in the recessional during Lebanon High Schools graduation ceremony Saturday, May 24, 2025 at MTSUs Murphy Center.

TN Direct Admissions has partnered with 53 public and private institutions

This November, thousands of high school seniors will receive a Tennessee Direct Admissions letter from Gov. Bill Lee with a powerful message:

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Youve already been accepted. No applications. No fees. Just opportunity.

And for nearly half of those students, their personalized letter will also include an estimated financial aid offer  replacing uncertainty with clarity about how to pay for college. That offer will show that college isnt just possible, its within reach. And every student who receives a letter will be accepted into at least one participating institution.

Opinion: Why we must confront the ugliness of capital punishment in Tennessee

Fifty-three higher education institutions are involved in Tennessees Direct Admissions Pilot this year, including all 23 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), all 13 of the states community colleges and 17 of our public and private universities. These institutions span urban and rural areas, ensuring that students from every corner of Tennessee have access to college and technical training opportunities.

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Tennessee's Direct Admissions is more than a pilot. Its a promise. And its the first of its kind to pair direct admissions with financial aid estimates, earning national attention as a model for whats possible when we put students first.

How to participate in Tennessee's Direct Admissions program

Apply for the TN Promise by November 3, 2025. This is the single most important step seniors can take right now. Tennessee Promise unlocks last-dollar scholarships and ensures students are eligible for this direct admission opportunity. Students can visit www.collegefortn.org/tnpromise/ to get started.

Watch your mailbox. For eligible students, the TN Direct Admissions letters will arrive in November. Please open them, talk with your guardians and school counselors, and take action.

Talk about it. Whether you're a parent, pastor, teacher, neighbor or mentor  bring up TN Direct Admissions with your student. One conversation could change a student's future.

Its an exciting moment for Tennessees young people who want to take the next step toward a credential or degree  and one weve worked hard to make simple. No applications. No fees. Just opportunity.

Lets help make sure our Class of 2026 high school seniors hear the message loud and clear: You belong in college. Your future is waiting  and it starts right here in Tennessee.

Tara Scarlett

Tara Scarlett is Chair of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and CEO of the Scarlett Family Foundation in Nashville.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: With TN Direct Admissions, going to college just got easier | Opinion
Tennessee plans to execute Byron Black on Tuesday for the 1988 murders of a woman and her two young daughters, despite concerns from his attorneys that a device implanted to restore his heartbeat could repeatedly shock him as hes put to death.

The device  an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or ICD  is at the center of a court battle that has been unfolding for several weeks. Blacks attorneys want the device deactivated at or immediately before his lethal injection Tuesday morning.

If it isnt, they say, the effects of the lethal injection drugs will cause the ICD to shock Blacks heart, perhaps repeatedly, in an attempt to restore it to a normal rhythm. This will cause Black a prolonged and torturous execution, the attorneys argue, violating Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

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I dont want him to suffer. I do not want him tortured, said Kelley Henry, one of Blacks attorneys and the chief of the capital habeas unit for the Federal Public Defender based in Nashville. She described her 69-year-old clients case as the first of its kind.

The case illustrates the complex ethical and practical dilemmas that emerge when medicine and capital punishment intersect. The American Medical Associations Code of Medical Ethics says physicians must not participate in a legally authorized execution, because their profession calls on them to preserve life.

Indeed, Tennessee officials have indicated in court filings they do not have a medical professional available to turn off the implant after staff at a Nashville hospital refused to participate. They have also argued Black will not suffer, saying he would be unconscious if the ICD were activated and unable to perceive pain, according to The Associated Press.

Friday, Blacks attorneys said they appealed to the US Supreme Court, asking the justices to halt his execution after the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Blacks execution could proceed without deactivating his ICD.

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But the high court on Monday denied a stay of execution request from Blacks team. And despite his attorneys calling on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to intervene, the governor said in a statement Monday afternoon that he would not.

Kelley Henry, defense attorney for Pervis Payne, participates in a hearing on his intellectual disability claim at Shelby County Criminal Court on July 16, 2021. - Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

The ICD issue was never about a stay of execution, Henry told CNN, but about securing a plan with state officials to prevent Black from suffering a torturous death if his execution proceeds. When you get a client with an actual execution date that could go forward, you have to start looking at his end of life, and what are the issues you need to raise to protect him.

Reached for comment last week on the decision to move forward, the Tennessee Department of Correction referred CNN to the office of Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. In a statement, Skrmetti, a Republican, noted testimony from the states experts refutes the suggestion that Black would suffer severe pain if executed.

Thirty-seven years have passed since Black brutally murdered six-year-old Lakeisha Clay, nine-year-old Latoya Clay, and their mother Angela Clay, Skrmetti said, adding courts have repeatedly denied Blacks other appeals.

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Our office will continue fighting to seek justice for the Clay family and to hold Black accountable for his horrific crimes, Skrmetti said.

The murders of Angela, Lakeisha and Latoya Clay

Black was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1988 murders of his then-girlfriend, Angela Clay, and her two daughters, Latoya and Lakeisha.

Byron Lewis Black, right, listens to testimony during his murder trial alongside his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Ross Alderman, in Metros Circuit Court at the Davidson County Courthouse on March 9, 1989. - Billy Easley/The Tennessean/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

At the time, Clay was separated from her husband and the girls father, according to a summary of the crime included in a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling. About 15 months before the killings, court records say, Black and Clays husband were in an altercation in which Black shot the man, who survived. Black was sentenced to two years in the Davidson County Metropolitan Workhouse, with weekend furloughs.

Prosecutors accused Black of murdering Clay and her girls early on the morning of March 28, 1988, while he was out on furlough. All three victims were found dead in their apartment around 9:30 p.m. that day, each with gunshot wounds.

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At trial, a firearms expert for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation testified bullets recovered from the scene of the murders matched those recovered from Blacks earlier shooting of Clays husband. The .44 caliber bullets found at Clays apartment and a .44 caliber bullet removed from her husband were all fired from the same weapon, the expert said.

Black was sentenced to two life terms for the murders of Angela Clay and Latoya, court records show. He received a death sentence for the murder of Lakeisha.

Bennie Clay, Angelas husband and the girls father, declined to comment for this story.

Bennie Clay sits on March 4, 2025, with a photo of his wife, Angela Clay, and their daughters, Latoya, 9, and Lakeisha, 6, who were killed in 1988 by Byron Lewis Black. - Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

Implant delivers powerful shocks

Blacks attorneys say he is very sick, describing him in a statement as a frail, wheelchair-bound man suffering numerous health issues, including dementia and congestive heart failure. They asked for a stay of execution for reasons aside from his ICD, arguing he has an intellectual disability that should make him ineligible for execution under the Eighth Amendment.

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Blacks attorneys had also asked Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, to grant him clemency, citing his disability, or to issue a reprieve so TDOC can find someone to deactivate his ICD. Lee said in a statement Monday he wouldnt intervene in the execution.

Black received his implant in May 2024, court records indicate. The device includes both pacemaker and defibrillator functions: The pacemaker sends electrical impulses to Blacks heart if his heart rate drops too low, while the defibrillator delivers more powerful shocks if his heart rate becomes too high.

This type of shock is powerful, and people describe it as getting punched in the chest or kicked in the chest, said Dr. Jonathan Groner, a professor emeritus of surgery at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, recalling a patients description. Groner, who has been critical of the medicalization of capital punishment, emphasized he is not a cardiologist.

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or ICD, is seen with leads and a modem for home telemonitoring. The device regularly sends data to the hospital. - ArjanL/iStockphoto/Getty Images

The implant can be deactivated in one of two ways, according to a ruling by Davidson County Chancery Court Chancellor Russell Perkins after a two-day hearing on Blacks case last month: by placing a medical instrument or a magnet above the device from outside Blacks body. Both methods require a trained medical professional, Perkins wrote.

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In Blacks case, the timing is key, according to his lawyers: If turned off too early, they argue the device would expose their client to the risk of suffering an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, that might kill him while the courts are still considering his appeals and a ruling to delay the execution could be imminent.

According to Perkins ruling, experts for the state testified the lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, would render Black unconscious, so he would not feel any shocks if they occurred. An expert for Black, however, argued the drug would only make him unresponsive, not unconscious, meaning he would feel the pain but be unable to respond.

The state wants to say hell be unconscious, but thats just not where the science is, Henry said. The science tells us that he may not be able to respond, but hell be experiencing everything.

Hospital refuses to deactivate implant

After hearing dueling expert testimony, Perkins ruled in Blacks favor and ordered state officials to arrange for a medical professional to deactivate the implant at Blacks execution.

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Perkins later modified the order to allow the deactivation early Tuesday, after state officials said in a court filing doctors at Nashville General Hospital would not come to the execution chamber but were willing to do so a day earlier if Black were transported there.

The hospital, however, denies this, and the state acknowledged in court records last week there had been an error.

Nashville General Hospital is pictured on November 19, 2019. - Courtney Pedroza/The Tennessea/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

An assistant TDOC commissioner said she was told a medical vendor for the department had secured an appointment to deactivate Blacks implant. The vendor later informed TDOC its legal team did not recommend any further involvement in Blacks execution, the assistant commissioner said in a court filing.

When the assistant commissioner contacted Nashville General, her calls and voicemails were not returned, and the TDOC learned the hospital was unwilling to participate, the filing said.

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Nashville General Hospital confirmed its refusal to cooperate in Blacks execution, telling CNN in a statement that earlier reports suggesting otherwise were inaccurate.

NGH has no role in State executions, the statement said. The correctional healthcare provider contracted by the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), did not contact appropriate Nashville General Hospital leadership with its request to deactivate the implanted defibrillator. Any assertion the hospital would participate in the procedure was premature.

Our contract with the correctional healthcare provider is to support the ongoing medical care of its patients, the statement added, describing the request to deactivate Blacks device as well outside of that agreement.

The Tennessee Supreme Court subsequently overruled Perkins order, siding with the attorney generals office. The court agreed Perkins order to deactivate Blacks implant was effectively a stay of execution that exceeded the authority of the Davidson County Chancery Court.

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The Tennessee Supreme Court added, Nothing in our decision today prevents the parties from reaching an agreement regarding deactivation of Mr. Blacks ICD should it become feasible for the procedure to be performed at an appropriate time.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee is set to execute a man Tuesday without deactivating his implanted defibrillator, as uncertainty lingers about whether the device will shock his heart when a lethal drug takes effect.

Gov. Bill Lee declined Monday to grant a reprieve, meaning that Byron Black's execution is all but certain to go forward after a legal battle over whether the state would need to turn off his implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or ICD. The nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center said its unaware of any other cases in which an inmate made similar claims to Black's about ICDs or pacemakers. Black's attorneys said they haven't found a comparable case, either.

Lee said the courts have "universally determined that it is lawful to carry out the jurys sentence of execution given to Mr. Black for the heinous murders of Angela Clay and her daughters Lakeisha, age 6, and Latoya, age 9."

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected Black's appeals. The execution would be Tennessees second since May, after a pause for five years, first because of COVID-19 and then because of missteps by state corrections officials.

Twenty-seven men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and nine other people are scheduled to be put to death in seven states during the remainder of 2025. The number of executions this year exceeds the 25 carried out last year and in 2018. It is the highest total since 2015, when 28 people were put to death.

Black's condition

Black, 69, is in a wheelchair, suffering from dementia, brain damage, kidney failure, congestive heart failure and other conditions, his attorneys have said.

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In mid-July, a trial court judge agreed with Black's attorneys that officials must have the instrument deactivated to avert the risk that it could cause unnecessary pain and prolong the execution. But the state Supreme Court intervened July 31 to overturn that decision, saying the other judge lacked the authority to order the change.

The state has disputed that the lethal injection would cause Black's defibrillator to shock him. Even if shocks were triggered, Black wouldnt feel them, the state said.

Black's attorneys have countered that even if the lethal drug being used, pentobarbital, renders someone unresponsive, they aren't necessarily unaware or unable to feel pain.

Kelley Henry, Black's attorney, said the execution could become a grotesque spectacle.

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Black's case

Black was convicted in the 1988 shooting deaths of his girlfriend Angela Clay, 29, and her two daughters, Latoya Clay, 9, and Lakeisha Clay, 6. Prosecutors said he was in a jealous rage when he shot the three at their home. At the time, Black was on work-release while serving time for shooting Clays estranged husband.

Linette Bell, whose sister and two nieces were killed, recently told WKRN-TV: He didnt have mercy on them, so why should we have mercy on him?

Medical considerations

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is a small, battery-powered electronic device that is surgically implanted in the chest, typically near the left collarbone. It serves as a pacemaker and an emergency defibrillator. Black's attorneys say the only way to be sure it's off is for a doctor to place a programming device over the implant site, sending it a deactivation command, with no surgery required.

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The legal case also spurred a reminder that most medical professionals consider participation in executions a violation of health care ethics.

While the judge's order to deactivate the device was in place, state officials said Nashville General Hospital practitioners would do the procedure the day before at the hospital, but wouldn't travel to the prison on execution day as the court required. The judge offered some leeway, allowing the procedure at the hospital on the morning of the execution.

But Nashville General then released a statement saying the state's contractor didn't reach out to proper hospital leadership and that there had been no agreement to do the work.

Intellectual disability claim

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In recent years, Black's legal team has unsuccessfully tried get a new hearing over whether he is intellectually disabled and ineligible for the death penalty under U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

His attorneys have said that if they had delayed a prior attempt to seek his intellectual disability claim, he would have been spared under a 2021 state law.

Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk contended in 2022 that Black is intellectually disabled and deserves a hearing under that 2021 law, but the judge denied it. That is because the 2021 law denies a hearing to inmates who have already filed a similar request and a court has ruled on it on the merits."

In Funk's attempt, he focused on input from an expert for the state in 2004 who determined back then that Black didnt meet the criteria for what was then called "mental retardation. But she concluded that Black met the new laws criteria for a diagnosis of intellectual disability.

Black also sought a determination by the courts that he is incompetent to be executed.
The Brief

Texas Democrats have reportedly fled the state to Chicago to break a legislative quorum and block a vote on a new congressional redistricting map.

The proposed map, approved by a committee, would add five new Republican seats to Congress. A vote was scheduled for Monday.

Governor Greg Abbott has given the Democrats a Monday deadline to return, citing a legal opinion that could allow for their removal from office.

CHICAGO - Texas Democrats have reportedly fled to Chicago to stop any further progress on congressional redistricting for the state.

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Gov. Greg Abbott says he will look to remove the lawmakers from office if they have not returned by the time the House reconvenes on Monday afternoon.

Texas Democrats break quorum over redistricting

What we know

According to statements from multiple Democrats, they fled the state in order to break the two-thirds quorum requirement for the Texas Legislature to conduct business.

The break is in response to the process of redistricting congressional lines for Texas. The first draft of the congressional map was approved on Saturday by a Texas House committee.

By leaving the state, Democrats are looking to block Republicans from the needed quorum to hold votes on the map set for Monday.

Illinois Governor offers support to Texas Democrats

Dig deeper

Democrats have been strongly opposed to the process, claiming it was an attempt at gerrymandering led by President Donald Trump. In mid-July, the president said he expects Republicans to gain five seats in Texas.

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A large chunk of Texas Democrats are heading to Illinois, where Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker had been in quiet talks with them for weeks about offering support if they chose to leave the state to break quorum.

Statements from the Democrats say the special legislative session was supposed to focus on the deadly July flooding in Central Texas, but the focus shifted to redistricting.

The Texas House has rules to fine lawmakers $500 each day they break a quorum.

What they're saying

After Gov. Greg Abbott issued the lawmakers a deadline to return, the Texas House Democratic Caucus issued the following statement: "Come and take it."

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The following quotes are excerpted from Democrats' statements:

State Rep. Ann Johnson (Houston) - "Weve reached a line I wont cross. Abbotts map is a direct assault on our constitution. If were not willing to put ourselves in the way of that, we shouldnt be here."

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (central Travis County) - "We should be in Austin right now, working to support grieving communities devastated by the July 4th floods that took more than 135 of our fellow Texans  many of them families and children. Thats what Texans deserve in the wake of a horrific tragedy."

State Rep. James Talarico (Travis County) - "Were not just fighting for Democrats  were fighting for Independents and Republicans too. Because in a democracy, voters are supposed to choose their politicians  not the other way around."

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder - "Your right to representation in your government is under attack, and Texas Democrats will protect your rights through any means necessary. Were backing our Democratic lawmakers who are fighting against Trumps Texas Takeover nationwide."

The choice was clear:

Stand by while Abbott silences millions of Black and Latino voters, or use every tool available to stop this assault on our democracy.



This corrupt special session is over.#txlegepic.twitter.com/zjs2Qz4nku  Texas House Democrats (@TexasHDC) August 3, 2025

Gov. Abbott issues deadline

Local perspective

Governor Abbott issued a statement outlining the legal consequences that House Democrat members face for breaking quorum, following the conclusion of the Texas Democrat press conference in Chicago on Sunday night.

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"Real Texans do not run from a fight. But thats exactly what most of the Texas House Democrats just did. Rather than doing their job and voting on urgent legislation affecting the lives of all Texans, they have fled Texas to deprive the House of the quorum necessary to meet and conduct business."

Abbott issued a deadline for Texas Democrats to return to the state and attend the special session.

"The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance when the House reconvenes at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025. For any member who fails to do so, I will invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House."

Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows said the chamber would still meet as planned on Monday afternoon.

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"If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table," said Burrows.

In mid-July, GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton had said previously that if Democrats break quorum, "they should be found and arrested no matter where they go."

If Democrats ignore their duty to their constituents by breaking quorum, they should be found and arrested no matter where they go. The people of Texas elected them to do a job, not run away and hide like cowards. Lawmakers must answer the special session call and pass the https://t.co/sxLvZCIOB1  Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) July 15, 2025

Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382

Big picture view

Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382, issued in 2021, addresses whether a Texas legislator can be considered to have abandoned their office, thereby creating a vacancy, if they intentionally break a quorum.

The opinion concluded that while a vacancy may occur by abandonment of office, whether a specific legislator has done so is a "fact question for a court" to decide. It further states that a district court can, through a "quo warranto" action, determine that a legislator has forfeited their office due to abandonment and remove them, thereby creating a vacancy.

It seems to me that the only way some of the fleeing Democrats can avoid bribery charges is to not break quorum.



It seems that would eliminate any potential quid pro quo connected to any payment they received to deny a quorum and skip a vote. https://t.co/eyTbgybLvW  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 4, 2025

The Source

Information in this report comes from Texas House Democrats and previous reports from FOX Texas stations.
A group of Democrats has fled Texas in an attempt to block a Donald Trump-backed redistricting plan that could reshape the balance of power in Washington.

Lawmakers boarded chartered planes on Sunday evening as they sought to deny the Texas House of Representatives the quorum required to vote on a redrawn congressional map, which could create an additional five Republican-leaning seats.

Gene Wu, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, said the members were walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent.

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As of today, this corrupt special session is over, Mr Wu said.

Republicans hold 25 of Texass 38 seats in the US House, and the president has demanded a simple redrawing of congressional lines to create more GOP-friendly districts.

There could be some other states were going to get another three, or four or five in addition. Texas would be the biggest one, Mr Trump said in July.

Just a simple redrawing, we pick up five seats.

Redistricting typically takes place every 10 years to account for population changes documented in the census. Redrawing the districts mid-decade is considered unusual.

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The Texas House was set to debate the new map on Monday  but to conduct official business, at least 100 of the 150 members must be present in the chamber. Democrats hold 62 of the seats, and when the House reconvenes on Monday afternoon, it will be 57 Democrats short of a quorum.

It means the Republicans will not have the numbers to proceed with redrawing the map while the group of objecting members is out of state.

Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, threatened to have the fleeing lawmakers arrested.

Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, Mr Paxton wrote on X.

Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.



We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.  Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 3, 2025

The Democrats face fines of $500 each for every day they break a quorum, and under new state laws they are not allowed to use party funding to pay. Anticipating the walkout, the members have been fundraising to cover costs.

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Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, threatened to remove the fleeing Democrats from membership in the Texas House and suggested those who fundraised or accepted donations to cover costs incurred by the stunt could be charged with felonies.

Several Texas Democrats and their allies told Politico they feared Mr Trump could nationalise the Illinois National Guard to return them to Texas.

James Talarico, the state representative for Texas, who was among those who fled the Lone Star State over the weekend, said: I wouldnt put anything past them at this point.

If the president is able to rig the midterms in Texas, hell be able to rig the midterms in every red state and that means theyll be able to hold on to power without any accountability from voters.

The proposed map, pictured here with Representative Jolanda Jones, was introduced by Republicans last month - AP

On Sunday evening, Democrats posted photographs and videos to social media confirming they were flying interstate.

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Some Democrats fled to New York, where they were expected to meet with governor Kathy Hochul, while others travelled to Illinois where JB Pritzker is helping them logistically.

Mr Pritzker, the billionaire Hyatt Hotel heir, declined to say whether he would be donating to pay for the fines incurred, saying I havent done that.

We didnt start this fight  Donald Trump started it, said Democrat representative Ramon Romero Jr in a video posted to X.

He asked the Texas legislature to get rid of your voice.

My Democratic colleagues and I just left the state of Texas to break quorum and stop Trump's redistricting power grab.



Trump is trying to rig the midterm elections right before our eyes. But first he'll have to come through us.



It's time to fight back. pic.twitter.com/xOshwmy2eA  James Talarico (@jamestalarico) August 3, 2025

Josh Rush Nisenson, spokesperson for the House Democratic Caucus said apathy is complicity, and we will not be complicit in the silencing of hard-working communities who have spent decades fighting for the power that Trump wants to steal.

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In a video posted from an airport, Democratic Representative James Talarico accused Republicans of a power grab and claimed the plan would manipulate electoral boundaries to gain political control.

If youre seeing this video, my Democratic colleagues and I have just left our beloved state to break quorum and stop Trumps redistricting power grab, Mr Talarico said in the video posted on X on Sunday.

Theyre turning our districts into crazy shapes to guarantee the outcome they want in the 2026 elections

But Texas Democrats are fighting back. [Were] preventing Republicans from silencing our voices and rigging the next election.

Texans deserve better! I won't help pass a racist map drawn by Donald Trump and Washington D.C. to silence the voices of Texans. #txlege #redistricting pic.twitter.com/BjLe6BTpqL  Rep Ramon (@RepRamonRomero) August 3, 2025

This is not the first time Texas Democrats have used this tactic. In 2003, they left the state in an attempt to stop a Republican-led redistricting plan.

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In 2021, they staged a 38-day walkout by fleeing to Washington, DC, in protest against new GOP-backed voting restrictions.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Illinois have suggested that they could fight back against Texas Republicans by pushing to have their blue states congressional maps redrawn.

The tit-for-tat tactics may be limited, however, given many Democrat-led states use independent commissions to draw district boundaries.

These commissions were designed to make redistricting fairer but they also limit the ability to fight back when Republicans use their legislative power to redraw maps in their favour.

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Texas House Democrats on Sunday left the state in a bid to stop Republicans from advancing House maps that would give the GOP five more pickup opportunities ahead of 2026.

The Texas Democrats said they were denying Republicans a quorum, or the minimum number of lawmakers needed present in order to conduct legislative business, following a similar tactic they employed the last time the GOP pursued midcycle redistricting in 2003. Most of them traveled to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, all of which are Democratic-led states.

Were not here to have fun. Were not here because this is easy, and we did not make a decision to come here today, we did not make a decision lightly, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu told reporters in Illinois, with members of his delegation and Gov. JB Pritzker (D) behind him.

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But we come here today with absolute moral clarity that this is the absolutely the right thing to do to protect the people of the state of Texas, he continued.

Texas Democrats are receiving additional national support in their bid to deny their GOP counterparts a quorum.

The DNC is proud to support these legislators in standing up and showing real leadership. We will fight alongside them to stop this anti-democratic assault, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. And, after this fight is done, were coming full force for the Republicans House majority.

Their move to break quorum underscores how the party is willing to use all of the tools at its disposal in order to stop Republicans from passing a friendlier GOP House map before the end of the 30-day special session.

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The Texas House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting advanced the proposed set of new House lines on Saturday, teeing up for a vote before the entire House this week. Because the Texas GOP holds majorities in both chambers and governors mansion, Democrats face few good options in order to stop them from passing.

Breaking quorum could be costly for the more than 50 state lawmakers who left the state: Each faces a daily penalty of $500 and the possibility of being arrested.

The Texas House will be convening at 3:00pm tomorrow, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (D) said in a post on X. If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table. . .

Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his own post on X argued that Democrats should be arrested over breaking quorum.

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Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, he wrote. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.

During the Sunday press conference, Pritzker made clear that he would protect Texas Democrats who fled to his state amid the threat of arrests.

Theyre here in Illinois. Were going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that  cause we know theyre doing the right thing, we know that theyre following the law, Pritzker told reporters.

Texas Republicans are redrawing their House maps ahead of 2026 as President Trump is eyeing pick-up opportunities in the Lone Star State ahead of whats expected to be a difficult election cycle for the GOP.

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Mid-decade redistricting is unusual in that most states draw their House once every 10 years following the U.S. Census. Ohio was originally the only state expected to redraw its maps this year after the ones used in 2022 did not receive bipartisan support. Sometimes mid-cycle redistricting can happen as a result of litigation over a states maps.

The effort to redraw the maps  which will impact lawmakers in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Houstin and Rio Grande Valley areas  has set off a chain reaction, with red and blue states alike considering redrawing their own maps in response.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is considering redrawing the states maps, with options of the use of a ballot measure or through the state legislature itself to achieve that goal. Other blue-state governors in New York, Illinois and New Jersey have similarly left the door open to redrawing their map.

Other GOP states like Florida could also see their maps changed ahead of 2026, too.

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The redistricting tit-for-tat, however, is threatening to upend an already chaotic election cycle and sow more uncertainty  raising questions about which districts candidates and lawmakers will be running in and whether it could impact primary dates and candidate deadlines.

Updated: 11:06 p.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Democratic lawmakers in Texas are leaving the state in a last-ditch bid to prevent Republicans from further gerrymandering their congressional map at the request of President Donald Trump. If successful, the GOPs redistricting effort could potentially give the party an additional five seats in the 2026 midterms.

Facing the possibility of arrest under the orders of Republican Governor Greg Abbott, as well as steep financial penalties for their absence, 30 Texas Democrats have fled the state to Chicago, Illinois. Their absconding will deny the state legislature the necessary quorum needed to maintain a legislative session, a strategy they used (to no great effect) when Republicans aggressively gerrymandered the states maps in 2021.

The choice was clear: Stand by while Abbott silences millions of Black and Latino voters, or use every tool available to stop this assault on our democracy. This corrupt special session is over, Texas House Democrats wrote Sunday afternoon in a statement on X.

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Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) threatened to forcibly return the lawmakers to the capitol. Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law, he wrote on X. State Republicans have rushed through what is supposed to be a once-in-a-decade redistricting process under the cover of a special session, with little time for public review.

With Trump and Republicans looking to maintain their majority in Congress through redistricting in Texas, Democrats have in turn begun considering redistricting efforts in Democratic-led states, such as California and Colorado, as a countermeasure.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told News Nation on Sunday that were going to fight fire with fire. If Texas wants a showdown  which they clearly do  were going to give them the showdown. And I talked with a number of Democratic governors around the country and theyre already preparing to follow suit here.

Texas state representative and chair of the House Democratic Caucus Gene Wu said on Sunday that this is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity,

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Were not walking out on our responsibilities; were walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent, he said. As of today, this corrupt special session is over.

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Dozens of Democrats in the Texas legislature faced possible arrest Monday after fleeing the US state to block a redrawing of districts in Republicans' favor ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The state's Republican leaders, following a push by President Donald Trump, plan to shift congressional district borders such that five seats become likely to flip from Democratic control.

The contentious but legally permitted move, known as gerrymandering, seeks to help Republicans retain control of the US House of Representatives in next year's midterms, when the opposition party usually does more favorably.

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State lawmakers draw legislative maps themselves in Texas, like in many other states across the country, but usually only do so once every 10 years following the national census.

Democrats are in the minority in the Texas legislature, but enough members have fled the state to deprive the body of a quorum necessary to do business.

"This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity," Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said in a statement.

The lawmakers left the state Sunday and most headed to Democratic-controlled Illinois, whose Governor JB Pritzker told a news conference that he would "protect" them.

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They face at minimum a $500 fine per day of absence. But Texas Republicans raised the stakes, passing a motion to issue warrants for the missing Democrats' arrests.

The warrants apply only within the state, however, meaning the missing legislators could only be detained on their return.

Governor Greg Abbott, a close Trump ally, has also threatened to push for the lawmakers to be expelled, saying their absences amount to "an abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office."

Democratic lawmakers have dismissed Abbott's threats as bluster, with state representative Ann Johnson on Monday telling CNN, "I think it shows how desperate they are."

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Abbott, who ordered the special session on redistricting, has sought to pile on the political pressure by concurrently calling for votes on disaster relief related to the state's catastrophic flooding last month, which killed over 130 people.

Wu said the move by Abbott "has turned the victims of a historic tragedy into political hostages."

"We're not walking out on our responsibilities; we're walking out on a rigged system," he added.

- Domino effect -

Gerrymandering has been at the center of long-running political dispute in the United States, especially as computer-assisted analysis helps refine map-making.

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Some Democratic-led states have also drawn maps steeply favoring their party -- including Illinois -- but the conservative-dominated US Supreme Court has ruled for now that only state courts can decide on the legality of partisan redistricting.

The Texas push to redraw its maps mid-decade has set off a scramble of other states to potentially follow suit.

Democratic-led New York and California are considering moves to pencil out Republican seats -- but, unlike Texas, they have previously enacted legal constraints against such practices, deeming them undemocratic.

Leaders in those state have signalled they would seek to push through those measures to respond to Texas.

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"This is a war. We are at war," New York Governor Kathy Hochul told a press conference, as she welcomed some Texas legislators to her state.

"That's why the gloves are off. And I say, bring it on."

All 435 US House seats are up for election in 2026, with Republicans currently narrowly controlling the chamber by single digits.

des-ft/des
Dozens of Texas Democrats are fleeing the state to block a redistricting vote that could benefit Republicans, marking a dramatic effort to derail an upcoming legislative process.

The lawmakers flew to Chicago where they plan to hold a press conference with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker later on Sunday, according to local Austin station KVUE.

At least 100 members of the 150-member Texas House must be present to conduct business. Josh Rush Nisenson, the spokesperson for the House Democratic Caucus, told The Associated Press that at least 51 Democratic members are leaving the state.

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Republicans currently hold 25 of the states 38 seats. They are being supported in their efforts to redistrict by President Donald Trump.

Texas Map Fight Escalates As Jeffries Vows All Options To Stop Gop Plan

The Texas State Capitol has become the focus of national attention amid a heated redistricting battle.

The redistricting proposal, which was introduced by Texas House Republicans last week, would likely net five new Republican U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

Read On The Fox News App

Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, defended the Democrats' last-ditch effort in a statement on Sunday.

"This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity," Wu said.

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But leaving the state could expose the Democrats to penalties, including fines, and Attorney General Ken Paxton previously threatened to arrest them over the civil violation.

"[T]hey should be found and arrested no matter where they go," the attorney general said.

Trump, Republicans Race To Redraw Texas Congressional Map As Democrats Threaten Legal War

Although the proposal could still change, its current design would tilt traditionally Democratic cities like Dallas and Houston in favor of Republicans.

A previous Fox News Digital report found that the new gerrymandered map would move Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett out of her own district.

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DNC Chair Ken Martin showed support for Texas Democrats on Sunday, writing that "[f]or too long, Donald Trump and Republicans have tried to get away with rigging the system, breaking the rules, and scheming to hold onto power."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest Democratic lawmakers who fled the state.

"The DNC is proud to support these legislators in standing up and showing real leadership," he said. "We will fight alongside them to stop this anti-democratic assault. And, after this fight is done, were coming full force for the Republicans House majority."

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dustin Burrows issued a warning to Democrats on Sunday.

"The Texas House will be convening at 3:00pm tomorrow," he wrote on X. "If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table. . ."

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Fox News Digital's Amanda Macias, Maggie Kerkman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Texas Democrats flee state to block Trump-backed redistricting vote in dramatic legislative move
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would begin exploring options to redraw congressional maps in the Empire State as Texas Republicans push ahead with plans to reconfigure district lines and secure five extra House seats next year.

Hochul said she would meet with Texas state Democratic lawmakers after dozens of legislators fled the Lone Star State on Sunday evening to block Republicans from voting on their latest map proposal this week. The New York governor announced she would speak with other Democratic leaders about actions the party can take to counteract a new map in Texas  possibly including redrawing maps in other states to guarantee Democratic gains in the 2026 midterm elections.

If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage then theyre leaving us no choice. We must do the same, Hochul said on Monday. Im exploring with our leaders every option to redraw our state congressional lines as soon as possible.

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has been suggesting for months retaliatory measures to thwart Texas Republicans efforts, reiterating those plans on Monday.

Democrats are going to respond from coast to coast and at all points in between to this effort to steal the midterm elections, Jeffries told CNN. Perhaps Donald Trump and Mike Johnson and Republicans in Washington and Texas thought that Democrats would not respond. Were going to respond forcefully, aggressively and relentlessly.

Texas Democrats also traveled to blue states such as Illinois and Massachusetts, which have similarly been at the center of discussions to redraw congressional maps before next November. With their absence, the Texas state Legislature cannot reach a quorum, the minimum number of lawmakers required to conduct business.

That puts the state government at a standstill during its emergency session to address the deadly floods that killed at least 135 people last month. Republican lawmakers sought to tie the newly proposed maps to emergency relief to ensure its passage, pushing Democrats into a corner as they oppose any changes to the states congressional districts.

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The Texas state Legislature revealed the new boundaries last week, altering the map to create new districts in areas that President Donald Trump carried by more than 10 points in the 2024 election. Most of the new districts are in heavily Hispanic areas, a crucial demographic shift that helped secure Trumps victory in November  a risky gamble if Hispanic voters lean back toward Democratic candidates next year.

Democrats departure from the state has not been received well by GOP leaders, with top state Republicans threatening to remove the lawmakers from office if they do not return for the legislative session.

These Democrats have absconded from their responsibility, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told Fox News on Monday. I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state legislature because they are not doing the job they were elected to do.

Its not clear how long Democrats plan to remain out of state, but each of the lawmakers face daily fines of $500 for withholding a quorum. Abbott warned that anyone who tries to help pay those fines in support of the political boycott could be faced with felony charges  as well as any lawmakers who accepted funds.

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It would be bribery if any lawmaker took money to perform or to refuse to perform an act in the legislature, Abbott told the outlet. And the reports are these legislators have both sought money and offered money to skip the vote, to leave the legislature, to take a legislative act.

Abbott gave the lawmakers an ultimatum, telling the Democrats if they returned to the state by 3 p.m. local time they would not face any fines. So far, the state lawmakers have not shown any signs of backing down  and Democratic governors in states where the legislators have fled have publicly supported their efforts.

Were going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that  cause we know theyre doing the right thing, we know that theyre following the law, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at a press conference on Sunday.

Republicans currently hold a 219-212 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, a historically slim margin that has often made it difficult for the party to advance legislation even with a Republican trifecta. With control of the White House and Senate, Republicans have enjoyed total control of Washington  something that is at risk next November.

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Historical trends show that the party of the sitting president typically loses control of the House during midterm elections. If Democrats manage to flip the House, it would deal a massive blow to Trump and likely thwart his agenda for his final two years.

But Democratic threats of retaliation may be easier said than done. Each state has different processes for adjusting congressional districts, and it may not be feasible to make major changes ahead of the 2026 elections.

For example, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened to redraw maps, has strict laws on redistricting that could make it difficult for Democrats to adjust boundaries before next November. State law restricts mid-decade redistricting, meaning the state would likely need to pass a constitutional amendment to allow for any changes.

Even then, state law requires California to utilize an independent redistricting commission to draw maps, which requires a lengthy vetting process and is designed to ensure little political leverage.

Democrats could look at other states for new maps, but many have similar restrictions on mid-decade changes  possibly throwing a wrench in plans to alter electoral outcomes.
Texas Democrats left the state Sunday in an attempt to prevent the state House from holding a vote Monday on new congressional maps that Republicans hope will net them several additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

The dramatic move could expose Democrats to fines and other penalties  with the states attorney general having previously threatened to arrest them if they took such an action. Refusing to attend legislative session is a civil violation, however, so Democrats legally could not be jailed and its unclear who has the power to carry out the warrants.

Democrats have cast the decision to leave the state as a last-ditch effort to stop Republicans who hold full control of the Texas government from pushing through a rare mid-decade redrawing of the congressional map at the direction of President Donald Trump.

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This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity, said Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, in a statement.

To conduct official business, at least 100 members of the 150-member Texas House must be present. Democrats hold 62 of the seats in the majority-Republican chamber. At least 51 Democratic members are leaving the state, said Josh Rush Nisenson, spokesperson for the House Democratic Caucus.

Apathy is complicity, and we will not be complicit in the silencing of hard-working communities who have spent decades fighting for the power that Trump wants to steal, he said.

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The move marks the second time in four years that Texas Democrats have fled the state to block a vote. In 2021, a 38-day standoff took place when Democrats left for Washington, D.C. in opposition to new voting restrictions.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session of the Legislature that started last month to take up the redistricting effort, as well as to respond to flooding in Texas Hill Country that killed at least 135 people in July. Trump has urged Texas Republicans to redraw the map to help the party net a handful of seats in the midterms next year.

For weeks, weve been warning that if Republicans in Texas want a showdown  if they want to delay flood relief to cravenly protect Donald Trump from an inevitable midterm meltdown  then wed give them that showdown, Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. Thats exactly what Texas Democrats did today: blowing up Republicans sham special session thats virtually ignored the plight of flood victims in Kerr County.

Attorney General Ken Paxton on X said the state should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.

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Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, he wrote.

Abbotts office and House Speaker Dustin Burrows did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday afternoon.

Texas Republicans last week unveiled their planned new U.S. House map that would create five new Republican-leaning seats. Republicans currently hold 25 of the states 38 seats.

By leaving the state, Democrats are looking to block Republicans from the needed quorum to hold votes on the map set for Monday. The Texas House has rules to fine lawmakers $500 each day they break a quorum. GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton has said previously that if Democrats break quorum, they should be found and arrested no matter where they go.

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My office stands ready to assist local, state, and federal authorities in hunting down and compelling the attendance of anyone who abandons their office and their constituents for cheap political theater, Paxton said on the social media platform X on July 15.

A large chunk of the Texas Democrats are heading to Illinois, where Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker had been in quiet talks with them for weeks about offering support if they chose to leave the state to break quorum. Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, has been one of Trumps most outspoken critics during his second term.

Last week, Pritzker hosted several Texas Democrats in Illinois to publicly oppose the redistricting effort. California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a similar event in his own state.

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Pritzker also met privately with Texas Democratic Chair Kendall Scudder in June to begin planning for the possibility that lawmakers would depart for Illinois if they did decide to break quorum to block the map, according to a source with direct knowledge who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Now, with Texas Democrats holed up in Illinois and blocking the Trump-backed congressional map, the stage may be set for a high-profile showdown between Pritzker and the president.

Trump is looking to avoid a repeat of his first term, when Democrats flipped the House just two years into his presidency, and hopes the new Texas map will aid that effort. Trump officials have also looked at redrawing lines in other states, such as Missouri, according to a person familiar with conversations but unauthorized to speak publicly about them.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
In an extraordinary move to counter Republican redistricting in Texas, dozens of Democrats in the state House of Representatives headed to Illinois to deny a necessary quorum for the GOP to move forward with those efforts.

It culminated with Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott threatening to expel the Democrats from the Texas state House and potentially extradite them, saying they may be felons.

The Texas state House Democrats filed off of buses and Ubers into a crammed county party headquarters at a strip mall Sunday night, standing alongside Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to rail against what they charged was a racist, unfair and undemocratic attempt to overhaul the Lone Star States political map.

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Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said that he believed about 57 Democrats have left the state, with the bulk staying in Illinois for at least the immediate future. Other House Democrats were in Boston and Albany, N.Y.

Gov. Abbott is doing this in submission to Donald Trump so that Donald Trump can steal these communities power and voice, Wu said. We will not be complicit in the destruction of our own communities. Were not here to play political games, were here to demand an end to this corrupt process.

Last week, Texas Republicans released a proposed congressional map that would give the GOP a path to pick up five seats in next years midterm elections. It followed President Donald Trumps public pressure for a new map in the state as he works to retain a majority in Congress in what historically is a difficult year for the party holding the White House.

Food trickles into Gaza, but not enough to stop a famine, aid groups say

Humanitarian organizations say the amount of aid that has entered Gaza since Israel said it would pause military action in some areas is insufficient to stop a growing number of Palestinians dying from hunger.

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Israel has allowed only a limited amount of aid to enter the enclave since it lifted a total blockade this year. Most of the aid has been distributed by the Israel-backed group known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and other humanitarian organizations have said Israeli restrictions have hampered their efforts to distribute aid.

This is not an adequate response, Jeanette Bailey, the International Rescue Committees global practice lead and director of research for nutrition, said in a phone interview.

A gradual entry of aid here or there, she said, is not going to be adequate to prevent us from entering into a full-blown famine where the numbers of deaths go way, way up.

Hamas sparked outcry in Israel over the weekend when it released video appearing to show a visibly gaunt Israeli hostage alongside images of emaciated Palestinian babies.

Meet the Press

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett defended President Donald Trumps decision to fire Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, as well as Trumps claim that weaker-than-expected jobs reports were rigged, but he failed to produce any evidence to support the claim.

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Hassett said on NBC News Meet the Press that installing Trumps own people will help achieve more transparent and reliable jobs reports in the future.

What we need is a fresh set of eyes over the BLS, Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council, told moderator Kristen Welker.

Several Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul, of Kentucky, questioned the firing.

We have to look somewhere for objective statistics. When the people providing the statistics are fired, it makes it much harder to make judgments that, you know, the statistics wont be politicized, Paul told NBC News on Friday.

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Meanwhile, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., accused Trump of trying to weaponize labor statistics for his own agenda. Padilla said the Senate would evaluate the independence of a new BLS commissioner when it comes time to confirm a new one.

When [Trumps] trying to weaponize the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that tells you a lot about their insecurity about the economy and the state of economic affairs, Padilla told Welker.

Politics in brief

Investigated: Federal officials are investigating former special counsel Jack Smith after prominent Republicans alleged his investigations into then-presidential candidate Donald Trump amounted to illegal political activity.

Confirmed: The Senate voted to confirm former Fox News host and prosecutor Jeanine Pirro as the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., in a 50-45 party-line vote.

On a break: As members of Congress prepare to head home for summer recess, Republicans will look to sell the unpopular big, beautiful bill in their home states, while Democrats are working on their big brand problem .

Windy City warning: New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdanis team hopes to avoid the missteps of Chicagos progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson as it works to win in November.

Impeached again? The Smithsonians National Museum of American History will once again mention Trump in an exhibit about presidential impeachments after the removal of a placard noting his two Senate trials sparked concerns.

Its a good time to be a nostalgic millennial

Tilde Oyster / NBC News ; Getty Images

The Backstreet Boys are playing to sold-out crowds.

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Lindsay Lohan is starring in a new Freaky Friday movie.

And former Dawsons Creek co-stars and exes Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson were recently spotted filming a new project in New York City.

No, its not the early 2000s  but millennials feel like theyre so back.

A recent surge in millennial-focused pop culture serves as the next level of escapism for an uncertain generation, said Kate Kennedy, author of One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In.

It returns us to a time when our biggest worry was getting in line for a CD, not whether we would be able to afford a house, Kennedy said.

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I think were a more lonely and isolated generation as adults than we ever anticipated that we would be in our youth, she said, adding that millennials straddle two very different eras in terms of technology and information.

Notable quote

I cant be doing this forever, just waiting for the dust to settle and things to kind of normalize again  I need a job. Adam Mitchell, 23, UNEMPLOYED

Recent college graduates searching for jobs are finding that practical degrees, work experience and even connections are no match for sluggish hiring  with a bleak labor market, ghosting employers and a black hole into which 1,000 applications can fall unanswered.

In case you missed it

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Texas Democrats spent their first full day in Illinois on Monday after leaving their state in an attempt to block a Republican redistricting plan.

Democratic caucus chair declined to say how long the Texas democrats will stay.

The Texas House is scheduled to reconvene at 3 p.m. Governor Greg Abbott is threatening to remove derelict Democrats from office if they dont return by that time.



Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the groups actions a righteous act of courage.

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At least, 50 Democrats left Texas for Illinois, Albany, New York and Boston to deny Republicans the quorum needed to vote Monday.

Recent: Texas Democrats arrive in Illinois to block vote back home on redrawn House maps sought by Trump

The new congressional map would create five republican districts.

A Republican-led house panel advanced it following a 15-hour public hearing.

The measure aims to help President Trump and the GOP maintain a narrow majority in congress in next years mid- term elections.

Abbott vowed to seek the removal of absent lawmakers for vacating their office, then use his gubernatorial powers to name their successors.

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Illinois senate Republican John Curran says Pritzkers hosting of the democrats is the height of hypocrisy. He calls the states current congressional map shameless in its attempt to remove choice from voters.  Illinois democrats should be focused on strengthening democracy here in our state with fair maps instead of chasing national headlines by intervening in other states.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
One day after Texas House Democrats fled the state in a bid to stop redistricting, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state troopers to arrest them.

I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans, Abbott said in an August 4 press release.

This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol.

Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty and are holding flood relief and property tax cuts hostage. I ordered Texas DPS to arrest and return every derelict House Democrat to the Texas Capitol. This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrats are accounted for. pic.twitter.com/A87u2JxYU7  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 4, 2025

Abbott said the absent House Democrats were holding up critical legislation for flood victims and property tax relief. The Democrats fled the state Sunday, attempting to stall a vote on the upcoming Republican-friendly redistricting.

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Abbott signed the order to ensure compliance with Republican Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, he said.

Burrows announced civil arrest warrants for the absent Democrats earlier that afternoon.

Theyve left the state, abandoned their posts, and turned their backs on the constituents they swore to represent, Burrows said in the chamber. I will immediately sign the warrants for the civil arrest of the members who have said they will not be here.

Burrows previously warned that if the Democrats did not return, all options will be on the table. Attorney General Ken Paxton said on August 3 that he supports their immediate arrest.

I support the immediate arrest of these rogue lawmakers whove fled their duties. These radical Democrats are spitting in the face of every Texan they swore to represent. This is cowardice and dereliction of duty, and they should face the full force of the law without apology. https://t.co/cE6fZowNmR  Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 3, 2025

To those who are absent  return now. Show the courage to face the issues you were elected to solve. Come back and fulfill your duty, Burrows said when announcing the warrants. Because this House will not sit quietly while you obstruct the work of the people.
A 4 p.m. deadline having come and gone, Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows announced this afternoon that he would sign arrest warrants against any absent Democrat lawmakers if he is permitted to do so.

The Democratic lawmakers ultimately did not return to Texas in time Monday to approve a quorum amid a fight to halt GOP efforts to redraw the state's congressional maps.

The Illinois State Democratic Party put out a press release shortly before the quorum in Texas was requested, indicating that "in a bold and unified response Texas House Democrats have denied a quorum." While several state Democrats appeared at an event in Illinois on Monday, a state that critics argue is heavily gerrymandered itself, other events aimed at fighting against Texas' redistricting efforts were also held in Albany, Boston and Chicago, according to the press release.

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"Let me begin by commending the members who did show up," Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows said after the quorum was rejected. Meanwhile, Burrows slammed the absent Democrats and said he would not hesitate to sign civil arrest warrants if it is determined the lawmakers are in violation of the law.

Gov. Abott Calls Out Democrats For Outrageous Protests To Gop-led Redistricting

The Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas.

"Pursuant to the rules of the House, I am prepared to recognize a motion to place a call on the House, and any other motions necessary, to compel the return of absent members," Burrows said Monday afternoon.

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"Should such a motion prevail, I will immediately sign the warrants for the civil arrest of the members who have said they will not be here," he continued. "As speaker, I will do everything in my power to establish quorum and move this body forward by any and all means available to this office."

Earlier Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to expel Democratic lawmakers who have fled Texas to stop Republicans from moving ahead with efforts to redraw the state's congressional districts. GOP Texas State Sen. also filed Senate Bill 62 on Monday in an effort to fire the absent lawmakers for not showing up.

Most Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives, who Abbott has accused of potentially committing felonies, left the state on Sunday so that the House would not have enough votes for a quorum. Without a quorum, legislative proceedings cannot move forward. The lawmakers fled as Republicans have been trying to pass legislation establishing new congressional districts in the state, which Republicans argue have been unfairly gerrymandered in favor of Democrats and need to be adjusted.

Abbott told lawmakers in a letter sent Sunday that if they do not return by the time the house reconvenes at 4 p.m. ET he will "invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott suggested that those who have fled the state to stall Republicans' agenda could potentially face felony charges.

"In addition to abandoning their offices, these legislators may also have committed felonies," Abbott added in his letter. "Many absentee Democrats are soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules."

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Earlier Monday, Abbott said it would be considered bribery "if any lawmaker took money to perform or to refuse to perform an act in the legislature."

In response to Abbott's threats, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., described the governor's actions as "all hat, no cattle," noting that there was "no basis to charge" the lawmakers.

"Gov. Abbott is making idle threats," Jeffries insisted during an interview Monday with CNN.

Texas Map Fight Escalates As Jeffries Vows All Options To Stop Gop Plan

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 6, 2025.

Democrats nationwide have responded to the GOP redistricting efforts in Texas with threats to do the same in Democratic-controlled states like New York and California.

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Last week, Jeffries said during a press conference that "all options should be on the table" amid the Texas redistricting battle.

Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has said California should "fight fire with fire" when it comes to the GOP's mid-decade redistricting efforts.

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared Monday that "the gloves are off," adding that she intends to explore "every option" to redraw her state's congressional maps "as soon as possible."

Democratic Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York and Gavin Newsom of California vow to fight back against GOP redistricting efforts.

Congressional maps are typically redrawn once every 10 years, following the completion of the U.S. Census, but currently Texas is trying to re-draw their maps mid-decade without any new census data, or even a court order. Still, Abbott has insisted that "there's nothing illegal" about what Republicans are trying to do in Texas.

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The new maps in Texas, which President Donald Trump supports, could potentially help Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives pick up five seats, the president said last month. Trump's Department of Justice previously sent Aboott a letter in early July, alleging that some congressional districts in Texas could be considered racially gerrymandered and in violation of the Constitution's 14th Amendment.

This is a developing news story. Check back for updates.





Original article source: Texas Dems gone AWOL may soon be subject to arrest warrants, House Speaker says
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is rolling out the red carpet for Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas as they push back against a move by President Donald Trump to add five Republican-controlled congressional seats in their state.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that they're welcome here, that they have the ability to stay as long as they need to and want to," Pritzker, a Democrat, said on Sunday evening as the lawmakers arrived in Illinois.

The lawmakers fled Texas in order to prevent the quorum needed in the Republican-dominated state legislature to vote on Monday on the new redistricting maps, which passed a committee vote this past weekend along party lines.

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Texas' Conservative Governor Vows To Remove Fleeing Democrat State Lawmakers From Office

Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu spoke during a news conference in Chicago after Texas Democrats fled the state to avoid voting on a redistricting proposal. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, called Wu and the other Texas lawmakers "courageous."

The redistricting push in Texas is part of a broader effort by the GOP across the country to keep control of the House and cushion losses elsewhere in the country, as the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats in midterm elections.

But veteran Republican strategist Matt Whitlock argued that the decision by most of the Democratic lawmakers to head to Illinois - with a few others decamping in two other blue states, New York and Massachusetts - was "cartoonishly dumb."

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Tom Bevan, the RealClearPolitics co-founder and president, wrote on X, "The idea that Texas Democrats would flee to Illinois, a state where Dems have abused gerrymandering to comical levels, is perfection."

"To protest partisan gerrymandering Texas Democrats are fleeing toIllinois," Republican Missouri Senator Eric Scmitt wrote on X. "You cant make this up."

Texas Democrats Flee State To Block Trump-backed Redistricting Vote In Dramatic Legislative Move

Pritzker, the two-term Illinois governor who is seen as a potential 2028 Democratic Party White House hopeful, has criticized Trump and Republicans for "cheating" as they push for rare mid-decade congressional redistricting.

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"Texas Democrats were left with no choice but to leave their home state to block a vote from taking place and protect their constituents. This is a righteous act of courage," the governor claimed.

Texas House Democrats join Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks about the Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.

But Republicans point to the move four years ago by Pritzker and Illinois Democrats to eliminate two Republican congressional seats in the state, to help bolster the party.

Illinois, which lost a seat in Congress due to population changes in the last census, went from 13 Democrats and 5 Republicans to 14 Democrats and 3 Republicans in their congressional delegation.

And Whitlock, a longtime GOP communicator and veteran of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, questioned the optics of the Texas Democrats fleeing to Illinois, which he called "the Mecca of partisan Gerrymandering."

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Trump, Republicans Race To Redraw Texas Congressional Map As Democrats Threaten Legal War

By breaking the quorum - the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct legislative business - the fleeing Democrats will be fined $500 per day and conservative Gov. Greg Abbott threatened them with arrest upon their return to Texas.

Trump and his political team are aiming to prevent what happened during his first term in the White House, when Democrats stormed back to grab the House majority in the 2018 midterms.

"Texas will be the biggest one," the president told reporters recently, as he predicted the number of GOP-friendly seats that could be added through redistricting in the reliably red state. "Just a simple redrawing, we pick up five seats."

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Democrats control just 12 of the state's 38 congressional districts, with a blue-leaning seat vacant after the death in March of Rep. Sylvester Turner.

The GOP plan relocates Democratic voters from competitive seats into nearby GOP-leaning districts, and moves Republican voters into neighboring districts the Democrats currently control.

Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, both Trump allies, said they needed to redistrict because of constitutional concerns raised by the Justice Department over a handful of minority-dominated districts.

Redistricting typically takes place at the start of each decade, based on the latest U.S. Census data. Mid-decade redistricting is uncommonbut not without precedent.

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Democrats are slamming Trump and Texas Republicans for what they describe as a power grab, and vowing to take legal action to prevent any shift in the current congressional maps.

And Democrats in blue-dominated states are now trying to fight fire with fire.

"Two can play this game," California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on social media recently.

The next day, after a meeting, Democrats in California's congressional delegation said they were on board with an ambitious plan to try and gain at least five seats through redistricting. Democrats currently control 43 of the Golden State's 52 congressional districts.

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But it won't be easy to enact the change, because in California, congressional maps are drawn by an independent commission that is not supposed to let partisanship influence their work.

Democrats in other heavily populated blue statesincluding Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, are also considering making changes to their maps, but have redistricting limits enshrined in their state constitutions.

Meanwhile, Ohio is required by law to redistrict this year, and a redrawing of the maps in the red-leaning state could provide the GOP with up to three more congressional seats.

And Republicans are also mulling mid-decade redistricting that might give the GOP a couple of more House seats in red states such as Florida, Missouri, and Indiana.





Original article source: Texas Dems ripped for 'cartoonishly dumb' strategy to flee to blue state notorious for gerrymandering




NEED TO KNOW

A Harris County sheriff's deputy said everyone is getting a ticket after she didnt get cracked"  slang for having sex, in a now-deleted video

Internal affairs launched a probe after the video spread widely on TikTok, though no disciplinary action has been announced

The deputy in question was identified by the Houston Chronicle and AOL as Jennifer Escalera, hired by the department in 2021







A Texas sheriffs deputy is under investigation after posting a viral TikTok suggesting she might write more traffic tickets because she didnt get cracked the night before  which is slang for having sex.

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The now-deleted clip shows a uniformed Harris County deputy writing in a notepad beneath the caption: Didnt get cracked last night so everyone is getting a ticket

Her name tag was visible, and though parts of her badge were blurred, the department confirmed that internal affairs had opened an investigation, according to Fox 26 and the Houston Chronicle.

In a statement obtained by Fox 26, the Precinct 5 Constables Office said: Our administration is aware and internal affairs has opened an investigation. We have no other comment at this time."

The deputy has not been officially named by the department, but the Chronicle and AOL identified her as Jennifer Escalera, who reportedly joined the Harris County Constables Office in September 2021.

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Her TikTok account, now deleted, included multiple other in-uniform videos  including ones about motherhood and working in law enforcement  though its unclear whether those are part of the current investigation, according to AOL and the Houston Chronicle.

Escaleras TikTok account, under the handle @ms.escaleraaa, reportedly featured a number of videos in which she appeared in uniform before it was taken down.

While some clips blurred her badge, her name tag remained visible  raising questions about departmental policy and professionalism in public-facing posts, per the Chronicle.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

"It's very unprofessional," a Precinct 5 resident told Fox 26. "You shouldn't be doing things like that. When you're a professional, you carry yourself a certain way. What you do outside of work is cool, but I don't think she should've done that."

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"It makes them look unprofessional when they start posting videos like that," another resident, Alex Fitch, told the outlet. "You can't take them seriously. Then they wonder why, when you see them, they say, Why dont you respect me?' or Why are you talking to me like that? Well, you don't treat yourself like a woman, and you ain't treating yourself like a police officer."



The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and has not confirmed whether Escalera remains on active duty during the review.

No disciplinary actions have been announced, and the scope of the internal probe remains unclear  including whether it extends to the deputy's other TikTok content.

Read the original article on People
When Democratic lawmakers left Texas to try to prevent the Republican-led Legislature from redrawing the state's congressional districts, it marked the latest episode in a long national history of gerrymandering.

The word gerrymander" was coined in America more than 200 years ago as an unflattering means of describing political manipulation in legislative map-making.

The word has stood the test of time, in part, because American politics has remained fiercely competitive.

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Who is responsible for gerrymandering?

In many states, like Texas, the state legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts, subject to the approval or veto of the governor. District maps must be redrawn every 10 years, after each census, to balance the population in districts.

But in some states, nothing prevents legislatures from conducting redistricting more often.

In an effort to limit gerrymandering, some states have entrusted redistricting to special commissions composed of citizens or bipartisan panels of politicians. Democratic officials in some states with commissions are now talking of trying to sidestep them to counter Republican redistricting in Texas.

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How does a gerrymander work?

If a political party controls both the legislature and governors office  or has such a large legislative majority that it can override vetoes  it can effectively draw districts to its advantage.

One common method of gerrymandering is for a majority party to draw maps that pack voters who support the opposing party into a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts.

Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing partys voters by spreading them among multiple districts.

Why is it called gerrymandering?

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The term dates to 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to benefit the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander. A newspaper illustration dubbed it The Gerry-mander  a term that later came to describe any district drawn for political advantage. Gerry lost re-election as governor in 1812 but won election that same year as vice president with President James Madison.

Is political gerrymandering illegal?

Not under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court, in a 2019 case originating from North Carolina, ruled that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: The Constitution supplies no objective measure for assessing whether a districting map treats a political party fairly.

The Supreme Court noted that partisan gerrymandering claims could continue to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws. But some state courts, including North Carolina's highest court, have ruled that they also have no authority to decide partisan gerrymandering claims.

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Are there any limits on redistricting?

Yes. Though it's difficult to challenge legislative districts on political grounds, the Supreme Court has upheld challenges on racial grounds. In a 2023 case from Alabama, the high court said the congressional districts drawn by the state's Republican-led Legislature likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting strength of Black residents. The court let a similar claim proceed in Louisiana. Both states subsequently redrew their districts.

What does data show about gerrymandering?

Statisticians and political scientists have developed a variety of ways to try to quantify the partisan advantage that may be attributable to gerrymandering.

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Republicans, who control redistricting in more states than Democrats, used the 2010 census data to create a strong gerrymander. An Associated Press analysis of that decade's redistricting found that Republicans enjoyed a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years.

But Democrats responded to match Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census. The adoption of redistricting commissions also limited gerrymandering in some states. An AP analysis of the 2022 elections  the first under new maps  found that Republicans won just one more U.S. House seat than would have been expected based on the average share of the vote they received nationwide. That was one of the most politically balanced outcomes in years.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the states Department of Public Safety to arrest Democratic legislators who failed to appear for a special redistricting session on Monday.

State-level Democrats have fled the state to deny the GOP-controlled legislature a quorum as they consider new congressional maps. Abbotts order follows a motion passed by Republicans in Austin that allowed civil arrest warrants to be issued for their colleagues.

Abbott asked the DPS to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans and said the order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol.

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Abbotts statement is in line with one issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton earlier in the day. Paxton accused the Democrats of a cowardly desertion of their responsibilities as elected officials.

These jet-setting runaways abandoned Texas, abdicated their duties in the House, and sacrificed their constituents for a publicity stunt, Paxton said in a statement.Its imperative that they be swiftly arrested, punished, and face the full force of the law for turning their backs on the people of Texas.

The arrest warrants and Abbotts order are largely for show. The governor and state police do not have the authority to arrest the absent Democrats, as they have fled to other states.

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Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The Texas GOP is pushing a Trump-approved redistricting map that could add five Republican seats to the states delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Redrawing congressional maps in the middle of the decade is extremely unusual, as redistricting typically occurs around the time of the U.S. Census. The draft map packs Democratic voters into more condensed districts while pushing some voters in safely Republican districts into contested areas currently held by Democrats.

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The Texas Democratic Caucus spent Monday taunting Abbott and frustrated Republicans. When the governor threatened to remove the absent lawmakers from office, the minority party issued a four-word statement: Come and take it.

The post Texas Gov. Abbott orders arrest of Democratic lawmakers who fled the state appeared first on Salon.com.
Opting to use what Texas politicians called a nuclear option, Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives arrived in Chicago on Sunday under threat of fines and arrest to deny Republicans the quorum they need to redraw five congressional districts aimed at helping President Donald Trump and the national GOP maintain a U.S. House majority in next years midterm elections.

A supportive Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was meeting the Texas Democrats when they landed Sunday evening at OHare International Airport. Pritzker issued a statement echoing Texas Democratic arguments that Republicans were using a special legislative session in Austin, aimed at providing relief for last months flood victims in the states Hill Country, to please Trump and as political cover to push through a racially gerrymandered congressional map.

This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity, state Rep. Gene Wu, the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said in a statement.

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Were leaving Texas to fight for Texans, Wu said. We will not allow disaster relief to be held hostage for a Trump gerrymander. Were not walking out on our responsibilities; were walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent. As of today, this corrupt special session is over.

By coming to Illinois, the Democrats from Texas left a place where Republicans dominate and now find themselves in a state where the opposite is true.

The 150-member Texas House has 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats, with 100 members required to be present for a quorum call to conduct legislative business. It was not immediately clear Sunday evening precisely how many Democrats made the trip to Chicago. After the group landed Sunday evening at OHare, the Texas Democrats were expected to hold a news conference with Pritzker at the DuPage County Democratic headquarters in west suburban Carol Stream.

The Texas Democrats left the state after a House panel on Sunday scheduled the full chamber to vote on the new map on Monday  a roll call that now seems unlikely to occur.

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Pritzker, in his statement, said the walkout denies Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott a quorum to pass his rigged redistricting scheme, which was encouraged by Trumps political allies.

Pritzker and Abbott clashed often in the last few years over the Texas governors decision to bus and fly thousands of immigrants from the southern border to Chicago, in part to mock state and city sanctuary policies, resulting in Illinois and the city spending tens of millions of dollars for services.

A source close to Pritzker said discussions about Texas Democrats seeking help from the governor began June 28, when Pritzker attended a dinner for the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

There, Pritzker met with Kendall Scudder, the head of the Texas Democratic Party, and the two spoke about the challenges facing Texas Democrats. Pritzker vowed to support and defend them if they came to Illinois, the source said.

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The topic came up again a little more than a week ago when the governor met on Chicagos South Side with some Texas Democratic lawmakers to discuss that states GOP midterm redistricting effort, the source said.

Its not the first time that Texas House Democrats have fled the state capital in Austin to deny a quorum. In July 2021, when Republicans in the state pushed for tighter restrictions on voting, they spent five weeks in Washington, D.C. The move prompted a Texas House rule of $500 per day fines for any such future absences.

But the Texas Tribune reported that in recent days, members of the states Democratic congressional delegation were contacting their campaign donor base to put together funds to compensate missing members for fines as well as their accommodations in Illinois. One estimate put the cost at $1 million per month.

Additionally, Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is mounting a primary challenge to GOP U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, has offered the services of his office in hunting down and compelling the attendance of anyone who abandons their office to deny a quorum.

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Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, Paxton wrote on X. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.

Pritzker, who is a billionaire, has no plans to pay for the Texas Democrats stay in the Chicago area, but his campaign staff would make hotel recommendations and help with other logistics, according to the Pritzker source.

The move by Democrats came a day after a Republican-led Texas House panel voted along party lines to advance a draft congressional map altering current district boundaries to create five districts that favor Republicans. The GOP currently holds a 25-12 advantage among the 38-member congressional delegation, with one vacancy.

While the U.S. Department of Justice under Trump sought to offer legal justification for redrawing the map, contending four districts were unconstitutionally racially gerrymandered, Texas House Republicans flatly stated their goal was to increase GOP representation in the states congressional delegation.

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Different from everyone else, Im telling you, Im not beating around the bush, said state Rep. Todd Hunter, the Corpus Christi Republican who sponsored the remap legislation. We have five new districts, and these five new districts are based on political performance.

Texas Democrats said the new map would come at the expense of representation for Black and Latino voters who would either be packed into new districts or widely dispersed among them.

Its not the first time that Illinois has become home for another states Democratic lawmakers. In 2011, Indiana Democrats crossed the border and stayed for five weeks in the Champaign-Urbana area to deny a quorum over a Republican push for union-weakening legislation and creation of a school voucher program. A right-to-work bill passed the following year under GOP majorities achieved through the 2011 remap.

Also in 2011, a contingent of 14 Democratic Wisconsin state senators fled Madison and gathered in Rockford to block a quorum on a GOP effort to strip collective bargaining rights for public employees. They returned nearly a month later, the Senate having already convened and the bill signed into law.

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Illinois is no stranger to congressional district controversy. When Illinois Democrats drew and enacted the most recent congressional map, they pushed Republicans into three downstate seats, while giving themselves 14 members in the 17-member U.S. House delegation.

John Curran of Downers Grove, the Illinois Senates Republican leader, called Pritzkers hosting of the Texas Democrats the height of hypocrisy since the Democratic governor has supported independent mapmaking and pledged to veto a gerrymandered map.

Curran called the current Illinois congressional map shameless in its attempt to remove choice from voters. Illinois Democrats, he said, should be focused on strengthening democracy here in our state with fair maps instead of chasing national headlines by intervening in other states.
(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju, the cultural capital of Jeonbuk State, offers an immersive experience of Korean history, culture, cuisine, and traditional arts. With over 700 hanok (traditional Korean houses), Jeonju Hanok Village has been designated an international Slow City. The citys rich heritage and scenic spots throughout the downtown area make it perfect for a leisurely stroll.

Every spring, Jeonju hosts the Jeonju International Film Festival, a vibrant celebration of independent cinema. In autumn, the Jeonju Intl Sori Festivala world-renowned music eventattracts countless visitors. Filming locations for global hits such as the movie Parasite (2019) and K-dramas Our Beloved Summer (2021) and Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022) are especially popular among tourists looking to snap memorable photos.

The Jeolla region is also renowned for its outstanding cuisine, and Jeonju, in particular, is Koreas first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The city is famous for signature dishes like Jeonju bibimbap, hanjeongsik (Korean table dhote), and kongnamulgukbap (bean sprout and rice soup). In the evening, head to the lively Makgeolli Alley, where a kettle of makgeolli (Korean rice wine) is served with an abundant spread of side dishesa must-try local experience.

(Map by Stripes Korea)



Popular Attractions

#jeonju hanok village_top attractions

Jeonjus most iconic attraction, Jeonju Hanok Village, is best explored on foot. As the largest traditional hanok cluster in Korea, this charming village in the heart of the city offers a striking contrast between tradition and modernity. At night, it becomes even more enchanting, softly lit by cheongsa chorongtraditional Korean lanterns once used for royal banquets and festive occasions.

Jeonju Hanok Village [Slow City] (   [])

Jeonju Hanok Village [Slow City] (Photo courtesy of KTO Photo Korea - Hwang Sunghoon)



Gyeonggijeon Shrine ()

Gyeonggijeon Shrine (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju Jeondong Catholic Cathedral()

Jeonju Jeondong Catholic Cathedral (Photo courtesy of KTO Photo Korea - Kim Jiho)



Omokdae and Imokdae Historic Sites ( )

Omokdae (Photo courtesy of KTO Photo Korea - Hwang Sunghoon)



#jeonju local favorites

Looking to escape the crowds of Jeonju Hanok Village? Discover some of Jeonjus hidden gems loved by locals. Visit Jeonju Zoo, the third-largest zoo in Korea; Jeonju Arboretum, home to a wide variety of seasonal plants; Jaman Mural Village, where over 40 homes are adorned with paintings of flowers, landscapes, and fairy tales; and Wansan Chilbong Ridge, where hills burst into bloom with over 1,500 flowering treesa perfect place to relax and take in the scenery.

Jeonju Zoo()

Jeonju Zoo (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Korea Expressway Corporation Arboretum()

Korea Expressway Corporation Arboretum. (Photo courtesy of KTO Photo Korea - DNA Studio)



Jaman Mural Village ( )

Jaman Mural Village (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Wansan Park ()

Wansan Park (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



#traditional markets #local food alleys

The true charm of local travel lies in traditional markets. Jeonjus vibrant markets are filled with beloved local eateries serving fried chicken, dumplings, steamed buns, and kongnamulgukbapall at affordable prices and brimming with lively energy.

Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market ( )

Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju Moraenae Market ( )

Jeonju Moraenae Market (Photo courtesy of KTO Photo Korea - DNA Studio)



Jeonju New Jungang Market ( )

Jeonju New Jungang Market (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Samcheon 2(i)-dong Makgeolli Street ( 2 )

Samcheon 2(i)-dong Makgeolli Street (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



#drama filming locations

How about tracing the exact scenes from your favorite K-dramas? Capture unforgettable moments at one of Jeonjus most romantic and photogenic spots.

Seohak Art Village Library ()

Filming location of the drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)

Seohak Art Village Library (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



2521 ()

Filming location of the drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)

2521 (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonjuhyanggyo Local Confucian School ()

Filming location of the drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Jeonjuhyanggyo Local Confucian School (Photo courtesy of KTO Photo Korea - Jeon Hyeongjun)



#taste of jeonju_korean flavors #unesco creative city of gastronomy

Jeonju Bibimbap

A feast for the eyesand then for the palate. Jeonju bibimbap is one of the most beloved Korean dishes among international visitors, celebrated for its vibrant ingredients and clean, well-balanced flavor.

Jeonju Bibimbap (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju Hanjeongsik

Dont be surprised by the endless spread of side dishes! Jeolla-style hanjeongsik is the ultimate expression of Korean generosity and culinary heritage.

Jeonju Hanjeongsik (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju Choco Pie

A must-have souvenir snack when visiting Jeonju. This handmade choco pie from PNB Pungnyeon Bakery, located in Jeonju Hanok Village, features soft chocolate cake filled with strawberry jam and cream for a delightfully sweet treat.

Jeonju Choco Pie (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Kalguksu (Noodle Soup)

Kalguksu is a comforting bowl of knife-cut wheat noodles in a light, clean broth with assorted vegetables. Its mild flavor and soft texture make it a favorite even among first-time visitors to Korean cuisine.

Kalguksu (Noodle Soup) (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Kongnamulgukbap

A beloved Korean hangover cure, kongnamulgukbap is known for its light, invigorating broth that clears your head with just one sip. And theres no better place to enjoy it than Jeonju.

Kongnamulgukbap (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Major Festivals in Jeonju

Held every spring, the Jeonju International Film Festival draws cinephiles from around the world. Missed it this year? Dont worrysummer nights in Jeonju are just as vibrant, with the Jeonju Gamaek Festival, where you can sip local beer in a laid-back, neighborhood setting, and the Jeonju Intl Sori Festival, where youll experience pansori (Korean traditional vocal storytelling) alongside music from around the world. Dont miss the Jeonju Bibimbap Festival, where you can witness a giant bibimbap-making performanceboth a feast for the eyes and the appetite!

Jeonju International Film Festival April 30  May 9, 2025

Jeonju International Film Festival (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju Gamaek Festival August 7-9, 2025

Jeonju Gamaek Festival (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju Intl Sori Festival August 13-17, 2025

Jeonju Intl Sori Festival (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju Bibimbap Festival October 24-26, 2025

Jeonju Bibimbap Festival (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Recommended Travel Itineraries

A must for K-culture loversexplore the Jeonju Traditional Liquor Museum, where BTS once made their own makgeolli; filming locations for Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022) and Mr. Sunshine (2018); and Jeonju Cinema Street, home of the Jeonju International Film Festival.

Experience Jeonju like BTS!

(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



A Look Back at the Innocent Youth, Twenty-Five Twenty-One Filming Spots

(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



The Center of Korean Films, Jeonju!

(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Film Tour, the Rising Theme in Jeonju

(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Jeonju in Video

YouTube: The Moments of Jeonju

Getting to Jeonju from International Airports

1. From Incheon International Airport

- By airport limousine bus: Approx. 3 hr 10 min from Incheon Airport Terminal to Jeonju Express Bus Terminal

2. From Seoul

- By train: Take the KTX from Yongsan Station (Seoul) to Jeonju Station (approx. 1 hr 40 min)

- By express bus: From Seoul Central City Terminal to Jeonju Express Bus Terminal (approx. 2 hr 40 min)

Estimated travel time may change; make sure to check the latest schedules on the official websites below.

 Go to KORAIL

 Go to Incheon International Airport

Tips on Getting Around Korea

Train Travel

Express Bus Travel

More for Less: Smart Ways to Save during Your Korean Vacation

Go to Visit Jeonju Website >>

COPYRIGHTS KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.visitkorea.or.kr
Opting to use what Texas politicians called a nuclear option, dozens of Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives arrived in Chicago on Sunday under threat of fines, arrest and removal from office to deny Republicans the quorum they need to redraw five congressional districts aimed at helping President Donald Trump and the national GOP maintain its narrow U.S. House majority in next years midterm elections.

A supportive Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker met the Texas Democrats after they landed Sunday evening at OHare International Airport. At a late-night news conference, Pritzker praised the Texans for displaying a righteous act of courage as he called Trump a cult leader and would-be dictator. The Illinois governor also criticized Texas Republicans for using a special legislative session in Austin, aimed at providing relief for last months flood victims in the states Hill Country, to please Trump and use it as political cover to push through a racially gerrymandered congressional map.

Lets be clear, this is not just rigging the system in Texas. Its about rigging the system against the rights of all Americans for years to come, Pritzker said at the news conference, held at the west suburban Carol Stream headquarters of the DuPage County Democratic Party.

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Pritzker vowed to do everything we can to protect the visiting Texas Democrats from threats of arrest by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton because theyre doing the right thing.

They are attempting to cheat. And you know, I think we all know, Donald Trump is a cheater. So is the attorney general of Texas, Ken Paxton, in so many ways, the Illinois governor said, referring to Paxtons wife alleging adultery against her husband in court papers filed in June. The cheating here is the fact that we are midstream in 2025, and they want to rewrite the map and for only one reason  the cult leader of their party tells them to do it because he knows hes going to lose control of the (U.S.) House of Representatives.

Texas state Rep. Gene Wu of Houston, the chair of the states House Democratic caucus, said the decision of his members to leave the state was not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity.

The only thing we have in our minds is, what do we need to do to protect Texans? What do we need to do to protect Americans? And what each and every one of us has said is that we will do whatever it takes, Wu said. What that looks like? We dont know but were here. Were committed to this.

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Wu added that the group of lamakers was leaving Texas to fight for Texans.

We will not allow disaster relief to be held hostage for a Trump gerrymander. Were not walking out on our responsibilities; were walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent, Wu said. As of today, this corrupt special session is over.

Although Wu did not have an exact count of Texas House Democrats who came to Illinois, he acknowledged some were traveling to the New York state capital of Albany and others were headed to Boston for the National Conference of State Legislatures annual conference.

By coming to Illinois, the Democrats from Texas left a place where Republicans dominate and now find themselves in a state where the opposite is true.

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The 150-member Texas House has 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats, with 100 members required to be present for a quorum call to conduct legislative business. The Texas Democrats left the state after a House panel on Sunday scheduled the full chamber to vote on the new map on Monday  a roll call that now seems unlikely to occur.

Pritzker blasted Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, saying the walkout denies a quorum to pass his rigged redistricting scheme, which was encouraged by Trumps political allies.

The tool theyre using is a racist, gerrymandered map, a map that seeks to use racial lines to divide hard-working communities who have spent decades building up their power and strengthening their voices, Wu said of the Republican governor and the GOP members of the legislature. And Governor Abbott is doing this in submission to Donald Trump so that Donald Trump could steal these communities power and voice.

In a statement, the Texas governor belittled the House Democrats by saying, Real Texans do not run from a fight and then warned he would seek to remove them from office and use his gubernatorial power to name their successors.

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Setting a deadline of 3 p.m. Monday when the Texas House is to reconvene, Abbott warned that for any member who fails to show up, he would invoke an attorney generals opinion to remove them for having vacated their office for breaking quorum. Abbott acknowledged a district court would have to deem whether they had abandoned their office.

Abbott also contended the absent legislators risked felony bribery prosecution for soliciting and accepting funds to cover any fines levied against them.

I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons, Abbott wrote.

Pritzker and Abbott have clashed often in the last few years over the Texas governors decision to bus and fly thousands of immigrants from the southern border to Chicago, in part to mock state and city sanctuary policies, resulting in Illinois and the city spending tens of millions of dollars for services.

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Pritzker said discussions about Texas Democrats seeking help from the governor began on June 28, when Pritzker attended a dinner for the Oklahoma Democratic Party. There, Pritzker met with Kendall Scudder, the head of the Texas Democratic Party, and the two spoke about the challenges facing Texas Democrats. Pritzker said he vowed to support and defend them if they came to Illinois.

The topic came up again a little more than a week ago when the governor met on Chicagos South Side with some Texas Democratic lawmakers to discuss that states GOP midterm redistricting effort.

Its not the first time Texas House Democrats have fled the state capital in Austin to deny a quorum. In July 2021, when Republicans in the state pushed for tighter restrictions on voting, they spent five weeks in Washington, D.C. The move prompted a Texas House rule of $500 per day fines for any such future absences.

But the Texas Tribune reported that in recent days, members of the states Democratic congressional delegation were contacting their campaign donor base to put together funds to compensate missing members for fines as well as their accommodations in Illinois. One estimate put the cost at $1 million per month.

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Paxton, the Texas attorney general who is mounting a primary challenge to GOP U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, offered the services of his office in hunting down and compelling the attendance of anyone who abandons their office to deny a quorum.

Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately, Paxton wrote on X. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.

Pritzker, who is a billionaire, said he has no plans to pay for the Texas Democrats stay in the Chicago area, but his campaign staff was working to make hotel recommendations and helping with other logistics, according to a source close to Pritzker. Pritzker did not indicate if he would be among the fundraising donors to help.

The move by Democrats came a day after a Republican-led Texas House panel voted along party lines to advance a draft congressional map altering current district boundaries to create five districts that favor Republicans at the expense of Democratic seats. The GOP currently holds a 25-12 advantage among the 38-member congressional delegation, with one vacancy.

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While the U.S. Department of Justice under Trump sought to offer legal justification for redrawing the map, contending four districts were unconstitutionally racially gerrymandered, Texas House Republicans flatly stated their goal was to increase GOP representation in the states congressional delegation.

Different from everyone else, Im telling you, Im not beating around the bush, said state Rep. Todd Hunter, the Corpus Christi Republican who sponsored the remap legislation. We have five new districts, and these five new districts are based on political performance.

Texas Democrats said the new map would come at the expense of representation for Black and Latino voters who would either be packed into new districts or widely dispersed among them.

Its not the first time Illinois has become home for another states Democratic lawmakers. In 2011, Indiana Democrats crossed the border and stayed for five weeks in the Champaign-Urbana area to deny a quorum over a Republican push for union-weakening legislation and creation of a school voucher program. A right-to-work bill passed the following year under GOP majorities achieved through the 2011 remap.

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Also in 2011, a contingent of 14 Democratic Wisconsin state senators fled Madison and gathered in Rockford to block a quorum on a GOP effort to strip collective bargaining rights for public employees. They returned nearly a month later, the Senate having already convened and the bill signed into law.

Illinois is no stranger to congressional district controversy. When Illinois Democrats drew and enacted the most recent congressional map, they pushed Republicans into three downstate seats, while giving themselves 14 members in the 17-member U.S. House delegation.

John Curran of Downers Grove, the Illinois Senates Republican leader, called Pritzkers hosting of the Texas Democrats the height of hypocrisy since the Democratic governor has supported independent mapmaking and pledged to veto a gerrymandered map.

Curran called the current Illinois congressional map shameless in its attempt to remove choice from voters. Illinois Democrats, he said, should be focused on strengthening democracy here in our state with fair maps instead of chasing national headlines by intervening in other states.

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But Pritzker defended the post-2020 federal census map that he signed into law, saying it follows the Constitution and contended the congressional delegations huge Democratic majority showed the party was good at delivering for the people of Illinois and was different than trying to redraw districts in the middle of a decade.

As for other Democratic-led states engaging in mid-decennial redistricting to counter the efforts of Texas Republicans, Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said, all bets are off when the cult leader and would-be dictator of the United States tells Texas to midstream change the game when they know theyre going to lose in 2026. All bets are off. Everythings got to be on the table.
Opting to use what Texas politicians called a nuclear option, Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives left for Chicago on Sunday under threat of fines and arrest to deny Republicans the quorum they need to redraw five congressional districts aimed at helping President Donald Trump and the national GOP maintain a U.S. House majority in next years midterm elections.

The Texas Democrats were scheduled to be met by a supportive Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker upon their arrival in Chicago. Pritzker issued a statement echoing Texas Democratic arguments that Republicans were using a special legislative session in Austin, aimed at providing relief for last months flood victims in the states Hill Country, to please Trump and as political cover to push through a racially gerrymandered congressional map.

This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity, state Rep. Gene Wu, the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said in a statement.

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Were leaving Texas to fight for Texans, Wu said. We will not allow disaster relief to be held hostage for a Trump gerrymander. Were not walking out on our responsibilities; were walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent. As of today, this corrupt special session is over.

By coming to Illinois, the Democrats from Texas are leaving a state where Republicans dominate and will find themselves in a state where the opposite is true.

The 150-member Texas House has 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats, with 100 members required to be present for a quorum call to conduct legislative business. It was not immediately clear how many Democrats were making the trip to Chicago. The group was scheduled to land Sunday night at OHare International Airport. The Texas Democrats were then expected to hold a news conference with Pritzker at the DuPage County Democratic headquarters in west suburban Carol Stream.

Pritzker, in his statement, said the walkout denies Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott a quorum to pass his rigged redistricting scheme, which was encouraged by Trumps political allies.

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Pritzker and Abbott clashed often in the last few years over the Texas governors decision to bus and fly thousands of immigrants from the southern border to Chicago in part to mock state and city sanctuary policies, resulting in Illinois and the city spending tens of millions of dollars for services.

A source close to Pritzker said discussions about Texas Democrats seeking help from the governor began June 28, when Pritzker attended a dinner for the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

There, Pritzker met with Kendall Scudder, the head of the Texas Democratic Party, and the two spoke about the challenges facing Texas Democrats. Pritzker vowed to support and defend them if they came to Illinois, the source said.

The topic came up again a little more than a week ago when the governor met on Chicagos South Side with some Texas Democratic lawmakers to discuss that states GOP midterm redistricting effort, the source said.

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Its not the first time that Texas House Democrats fled the state capital in Austin to deny a quorum. In July 2021, when Republicans in the state pushed for tighter restrictions on voting, they spent five weeks in Washington, D.C. The move prompted a Texas House rule of $500 per day fines for any such future absences.

But the Texas Tribune reported that in recent days, members of the states Democratic congressional delegation were contacting their campaign donor base to put together funds to compensate missing members for fines as well as their accommodations in Illinois. One estimate put the cost at $1 million per month.

Additionally, Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is mounting a primary challenge to GOP U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, has offered the services of his office in hunting down and compelling the attendance of anyone who abandons their office to deny quorum.

Pritzker, who is a billionaire, has no plans to pay for the Texas Democrats stay in the Chicago area, but his campaign staff would make hotel recommendations and help with other logistics, according to the Pritzker source.

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The move by Democrats came a day after a Republican-led Texas House panel voted along party lines to advance a draft congressional map altering current district boundaries to create five districts that favor Republicans. The GOP currently holds a 25-12 advantage among the 38-member congressional delegation, with one vacancy.

While the U.S. Department of Justice under Trump sought to offer legal justification for redrawing the map, contending four districts were unconstitutionally racially gerrymandered, Texas House Republicans flatly stated their goal was to increase GOP representation in the states congressional delegation.

Different from everyone else, Im telling you, Im not beating around the bush, said state Rep. Todd Hunter, the Corpus Christi Republican who sponsored the remap legislation. We have five new districts, and these five new districts are based on political performance.

Texas Democrats said the new map would come at the expense of representation for Black and Latino voters who would either be packed into new districts or widely dispersed among them.

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Its not the first time that Illinois has become home for another states Democratic lawmakers. In 2011, Indiana Democrats crossed the border and stayed for five weeks in the Champaign-Urbana area to deny a quorum over a Republican push for union-weakening legislation and creation of a school voucher program. A right-to-work bill passed the following year under GOP majorities achieved through the 2011 remap.

Also in 2011, a contingent of 14 Democratic Wisconsin state senators fled Madison and gathered in Rockford to block a quorum on a GOP effort to strip collective bargaining rights for public employees. They returned nearly a month later, the Senate having already convened and the bill signed into law.

Illinois is no stranger to congressional district controversy. When Illinois Democrats drew and enacted the most recent congressional map, they pushed Republicans into three downstate seats, while giving themselves 14 members in the 17-member U.S. House delegation.

John Curran of Downers Grove, the Illinois Senates Republican leader, called Pritzkers hosting of the Texas Democrats the height of hypocrisy since the Democratic governor has supported independent mapmaking and pledged to veto a gerrymandered map.

Curran called the current Illinois congressional map shameless in its attempt to remove choice from voters. Illinois Democrats, he said, should be focused on strengthening democracy here in our state with fair maps instead of chasing national headlines by intervening in other states.
Texas House Democrats, including representatives from Tarrant County, are leaving the state to make a quorum impossible as a mid-decade redistricting push reaches a boiling point in the state Legislature.

There are 150 members of the Texas House, but 100  a quorum  are needed to conduct business. The House Democratic Caucus announced Sunday afternoon that the majority of Democratic members would break quorum and leave the state ahead of floor debate scheduled for Monday on a proposed congressional map.

The redrawn map positions Republicans to pick up five seats in Congress, and has been blasted by Democrats as a power grab by President Donald Trump that would disenfranchise voters.

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House Democrats held a news conference around 9 p.m. Sunday, where lawmakers were joined by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker in Carol Stream, a Chicago suburb. In addition to Chicago, there are also delegations of House Democrats meeting with leaders in Albany and Boston, Rep. Chris Turner, a Grand Prairie Democrat, said to reporters in Illinois.

We also have several other members who are elsewhere, but theyre not in Austin, and theyre not going back to the Capitol, Turner said. Together we are united in this fight, and we are working to spread the word about whats happening in Texas. Donald Trump wants more power. Thats what this is about.

Among other changes, the map would push Congressional District 33 represented by U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey fully into Dallas County. Currently, it spans both Dallas and Tarrant counties. The proposal advanced from a House committee Saturday after a hearing Friday on the proposed boundaries.

Let the courage of these leaders be an example to the rest of the country, said Pritzker, a Democrat, who met with a handful of House Democrats last month.

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Illinois has 17 representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives, all but three of whom are Democrats.

More than 51 but less than 62 members of the Democratic caucus are breaking quorum, a spokesperson said in a Sunday text. There are currently 62 Democrats serving in the chamber.

This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said in a statememt. Governor Abbott has turned the victims of a historic tragedy into political hostages in his submission to Donald Trump.

He is using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans, all to execute a corrupt political deal. Apathy is complicity, and we will not be complicit in the silencing of hard-working communities who have spent decades fighting for the power that Trump wants to steal.

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House members could be arrested for breaking quorum and would be subjected to a $500 fine for each day theyre gone, according to House rules.

The Texas House will be convening at 3:00 pm tomorrow, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said in a post on X. If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table. . .

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he is in favor of arresting the lawmakers.

I support the immediate arrest of these rogue lawmakers whove fled their duties, Paxton said on X. These radical Democrats are spitting in the face of every Texan they swore to represent. This is cowardice and dereliction of duty, and they should face the full force of the law without apology.

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Democratic lawmakers last broke quorum in 2021 to try and block an election bill.

Tarrant County Democrats among those breaking quorum

At least three of Tarrant Countys four Democratic House members are among those breaking quorum.

Right now Im on a plane to Illinois, Rep. Nicole Collier, a Fort Worth Democrat, said in a post on X. Republicans want to rig our elections but HD95 will not go down without a fight. Republicans may have ignored the people during the field hearings, but I bet they can hear us loud and clear now. #wheelsup #txlege

Rep. Ramon Romero Jr. on Sunday shared a video on X where he looked prepared to board a plane. He confirmed in a text that he was traveling to Chicago.

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We didnt start this fight, Romero said in the video. Donald Trump started it. He asked the Texas Legislature to get rid of your voice. So, for me, Im not going to do that. Im not going to go to work to silence you.

In a statement, Turner of Grand Prairie said he was breaking quorum to deny Republicans the ability to pass the outrageous and discriminatory Congressional map demanded by Donald Trump. Turner, who is a member of the Houses select committee on congressional redistricting, said he does not take breaking quorum lightly.

As an elected official, it is my solemn duty to protect the voices and rights of Texas voters, he said. I will not stand by and let Donald Trump circumvent democracy and erase the voting power of minority Texans, all to protect Republicans from facing the electoral consequences of the disastrous policies and damage to [t]his country that Trump and his enablers have inflicted.

Rep. Salman Bhojani, a Euless Democrat, did not immediately return text messages seeking comment.

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The House Democrats had the support of their Senate Democratic colleagues as they left the state.

Theyre using the power they have  and the only tool left to them  to stand up for the Texans they represent and protect the principle of fair elections for all, the Senate Democratic Caucus said in a statement. The contrast is stark. Texans need solutions  on flooding, health care, schools, jobs, the costs of housing and groceries. Yet, the Houses first scheduled floor vote this special session is on a rigged redistricting map that disenfranchises millions of voters, especially minorities.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said the DNC is also behind the lawmakers.

Republicans thought they could just rig the maps and change the rules without the American people taking notice, Martin said. They were dead wrong. The DNC is proud to support these legislators in standing up and showing real leadership. We will fight alongside them to stop this anti-democratic assault. And, after this fight is done, were coming full force for the Republicans House majority.

Responses to House Democrats leaving Texas

Veasey said the House Democrats showed extraordinary courage and heroism by breaking quorum.

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They didnt do it for politics they did it for principle, Veasey said in a statement. They risked their safety and livelihoods to stop Donald Trump and Governor Abbotts coordinate assault on the voting rights of Texans, especially communities of color who have always bore the brunt of voter suppression.

Some Republicans voiced support for penalties for leaving mid-special session. Abbott called lawmakers to Austin starting on July 21, with items like THC laws, flood relief, abortion restrictions and eliminating the STAAR test among the issues on a special session agenda.

Special sessions last up to 30 days, and Abbott can call subsequent special sessions once the current one ends.

Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican, on X said a starting point could be revoking the vice chairmanships of any Democrats who broke quorum. Rep. John McQueeney, a Fort Worth Republican, shared a similar view.

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If House Democrats walk out on their duty, their leaders should be stripped of vice chairmanships, McQueeney said on X. Texans expect results. Strip the leadership of their titles, enforce the fines, and hold them accountable.

The Republican Party of Texas called the quorum break a transparent attempt to weaponize chaos and rewrite reality, in a statement Sunday. Democrats who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested and returned to the Texas Capitol in Austin, the statement reads.

While Texas Republicans are working to ensure fair and lawful redistricting that reflects the will of Texans, Democrats are choosing obstruction over representation, denying voters their voice to score political headlines, the statement reads. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responds to redistricting quorum break

Lawmakers who break quorum could lose their elected offices and may be committing crimes, Abbott said in a Sunday night statement.

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Abbott said hell invoke a 2021 Texas attorney general opinion to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House if they do not return by 3 p.m. Monday, when the House is scheduled to next meet.

Abbott said: In that Opinion, the Attorney General considered whether Texas law allows for a determination that a legislator has vacated office if they intentionally break quorum. The Attorney General concluded that whether a specific legislator abandoned his or her office such that a vacancy occurred will be a fact question for a court. He further concluded that through a quo warranto action, a district court may determine that a legislator has forfeited his or her office due to abandonment and can remove the legislator from office, thereby creating a vacancy. That empowers me to swiftly fill vacancies under Article III, Section 13 of the Texas Constitution.

In addition to abandoning their offices, these legislators may also have committed felonies. Many absentee Democrats are soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules. Any Democrat who solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote may have violated bribery laws. See TEX. PENAL CODE  36.02. The same could be true for any other person who offers, confers, or agrees to confer such funds to fleeing Democrat House members. I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons.

The Dallas Morning News reports that Abbott is also launching a $750,000 ad buy targeting House Democrats who broke quorum.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Texas Legislature must have whats called a quorum in order to do business proposing, discussing and voting on bills. But what does that mean, and why would you ever break it?

A quorum is the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid, according to the Oxford English Dictionary  basically, the number of lawmakers needed to be present to take action on bills, including voting. For Texas, that number of people is defined in the state constitution and rules are set each legislative session.

Texas Democrats explain quorum breaking, Republicans demand arrests to force Trump-ordered redistricting vote

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The House must have two-thirds of its members, or 100 people, present. The Senate also needs two-thirds, or 21 members, present.

House rules say if members do not show up, they are subject to fines of $500 for each day they are absent, payment of costs incurred by the sergeant-at-arms, reprimand, censure or expulsion.

Senate rules say, Those for whom no sufficient excuse is made, by order of the majority of those present, may be sent for and arrested wherever they may be found and their attendance secured and retained by the Sergeant-at-Arms or officers appointed by the Sergeant for that purpose. The President of the Senate shall request a writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court of Texas compelling their return.

Why break quorum?

Breaking quorum halts the legislatures ability to do its normal business, including passing bills. While some functions do not require a quorum, others do require it.

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The Texas House and Senate are both controlled by Republicans. There are 19 Republicans and 11 Democrats in the Senate, and there are 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats in the House. The Republicans have enough votes to pass legislation without Democrats. Breaking quorum may come into play to stop passage of legislation because there needs to be a set amount of lawmakers present in order to hold a vote at all.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 outcome of the political battle over Texas redistricting effort is already having major implications across the country.

Other Republican-dominated states are considering following Texas lead as Democratic governors weigh their options to retaliate with their own mid-decade redistricting efforts. The Texas legislature, meanwhile, is at a standstill after House Democrats fled the state in a bid to block the Republican effort to redraw congressional districts in the GOPs favor.

President Donald Trump has pushed the redistricting effort, and Gov. Greg Abbott called the 30-day special session in which the GOP unveiled proposed maps that could shift as many as five US House seats into the Republican column. Abbott is now threatening to remove the Democratic lawmakers who left the state in a bid to block the House from voting on those new maps.

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Heres a look at whats happening in Texas, and why it matters:

Why redraw districts now?

Congressional district lines are required to be redrawn once a decade, after the census. But mid-decade maneuvers like the one in Texas are unusual.

Texas Republicans want to pad the US House GOP majority ahead of next Novembers midterm elections by increasing the number of seats Democrats need to flip  currently three  to claim House control.

Democrats face a much stiffer challenge in winning back the Senate. But if they win the House majority, it would give the party a foothold for Trumps final two years in office. Democrats could slow or halt the presidents legislative agenda and use House committees to investigate his administrations actions, much as they did in the last two years of Trumps first term, from early 2019 to early 2021.

New maps vs. existing maps

The proposed maps unveiled last week by Texas majority-Republican legislature would aggressively redraw the states congressional districts to make five seats much more likely to favor GOP candidates.

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The new Texas map features 30 districts that Trump would have won in 2024 if the map was in place, up from 27 under the current district lines. In total, there are five more seats that Trump won by more than 10 percentage points, according to data from the Texas Legislative Council.

The proposed map eliminates the seat of Rep. Greg Casar, who would likely be forced into a primary with another liberal Democrat, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, in the Austin area.

Republicans also propose merging the Houston-area seat of Rep. Al Green with a vacant seat held by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in office earlier this year. Greens district was altered more than any other sitting member in the plan.

The map would also make two south Texas seats held by Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez more Republican-leaning. But multiple Democrats view the seats as still in reach for the two centrist members who typically performed ahead of statewide or national Democrats.

Democrats push back and search for payback

Democrats are in the minority in the Texas House, but they hold enough seats that they can deprive the chamber of the number of legislators necessary to do business under House rules. Thats why many fled the state on Sunday, with most flying to Illinois and others traveling to New York, outside the reach of Texas law enforcement.

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The departed lawmakers could face $500-a-day fines that cant be paid with campaign funds  though the House Democrats and their supporters are already raising money to help cover those fines. Former US Rep. Beto ORourke told CNN his political action committee, Powered By People, which raised more than $700,000 for state House Democrats during a quorum break in 2021, will raise whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to help these Texas Democrats with their lodging, with being able to feed themselves, supporting them with these $500-a-day fines.

We have their backs all the way, he said.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks alongside Texas House Democrats during a press conference in Carol Stream, Illinois, on Sunday. Asked about the potential redistricting efforts led by Democratic governors in California and New York, Pritzker said, Everythings got to be on the table. - Mark Black/AP

Meanwhile, Democratic governors in deep-blue states are plotting retribution. The governors of California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and New York have suggested they will explore redrawing their own congressional district maps to add more Democratic-leaning seats, or left the door open to doing so.

The gloves are off, and I say, bring it on, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday.

Could other Republican-led states follow Abbott?

Once a critical swing state, increasingly red Ohio is required to redraw its congressional districts this fall because the 2022 map was struck down as unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court. The makeup of the Buckeye States high court has changed since that ruling, and the new court is seen as much more likely to green-light a map that favors Republicans, who hold 10 of the states 15 congressional seats.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently floated the idea of a mid-cycle redistricting in his state, too. I think the state malapportioned, he told reporters in July, adding it would be appropriate to do a redistricting here in the mid-decade.

Punchbowl News reported the White House is pushing Missouri to redraw its districts to target one of just two Democratic-held seats, that of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, in a state where the GOP holds the other six House seats. The White House has also urged Indiana to redraw districts in which Democrats hold two of nine seats. Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvans northwest Indiana district would likely be the target if the Hoosier State were to do so.

The redistricting battles cannot carry on without deadlines. In many states, including Texas, candidates must file for next years primary ballots before the end of this year.

Abbotts next move

Abbott on Monday sought more extreme measures than daily $500 fines to try to force Democrats hands or circumvent their quorum break.

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He threatened to remove Democrats from the state House if they didnt return by 4 p.m. ET, when the legislature was scheduled to convene in Austin.

Abbott told Fox News that the Democratic lawmakers had absconded from their responsibilities. I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state legislature because theyre not doing the job they were elected to do, he said.

Abbott Monday evening ordered the states Department of Public Safety to arrest House Democrats who did not show up for the special legislative session. I ordered Texas DPS to arrest and return every derelict House Democrat to the Texas Capitol, Abbott said in a post on X. This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrats are accounted for.

Its unclear how the directive will work for lawmakers who are out of state.

Have quorum breaks worked before?

Four years ago, Texas House Democrats used similar tactics  bolting to Washington, DC, for six weeks as they blocked Abbott and Republicans push to enact restrictive new voting laws during a special session.

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Abbott called a second special session, and ultimately, House Democrats caved about two weeks into it.

After that quorum break, the Texas House imposed new rules that allow for $500-a-day fines and prohibit members from paying those fines from their campaign accounts.

It was part of a long history of quorum breaks in Austin that dates to the 1800s and includes at least two high-profile modern incidents. In 2003, Democrats fled to Oklahoma to block then-Gov. Rick Perrys mid-decade redistricting effort  another quorum break that ultimately failed. In 1979, 12 Democratic state senators succeeded when they held out for four days to block an attempt to move the Texas presidential primary to boost former Gov. John Connallys candidacy.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs David Wright, Kaanita Iyer, Sarah Ferris and Ethan Cohen contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A last-ditch effort by California Democrats to redraw the state's congressional map for the 2026 election, countering a similar push by Texas Republicans, is now up against the clock.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that Democrats are moving forward with a plan to put a rare mid-decade redistricting plan before voters on Nov. 4. But state lawmakers will craft a "trigger," he said, meaning California voters would only vote on the measure if Texas moved forward with its own plans to redraw Congressional boundaries to add five more Republican seats.

"It's cause and effect, triggered on the basis of what occurs or doesn't occur in Texas," Newsom said. "I hope they do the right thing, and if they do, then there'll be no cause for us to have to move forward."

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Democratic lawmakers in Texas on Monday left the state to deprive Republicans of the quorum needed to pass the new maps. Republican lawmakers voted 85 to 6 to send state troopers to arrest them and bring them back to the Capitol, a move that is largely symbolic, since the lawmakers won't face criminal or civil charges.

The outcome of the dueling efforts between Texas and California could determine which party controls the House of Representatives after the 2026 midterm elections, which Democrats see as the last bulwark to President Trump's actions in his second term. Trump has pushed Republicans to add more GOP seats in Texas, hoping to stave off a midterm defeat.

Democrats hold 43 of California's 52 congressional seats. Early discussions among California politicians and strategists suggest that redrawn lines could shore up some vulnerable incumbent Democrats by making their purple districts more blue, while forcing five or six of the state's nine Republican members into tougher reelection fights.

But nothing official can be done until state lawmakers return from recess to Sacramento on Aug. 18.

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Democrats, who hold a supermajority in the Legislature, would have less than a month to draw a new map, hold hearings and negotiate the language of a bill calling for the special November election, leaving just enough time for voter guides to be mailed and ballots to be printed.

Read more: Texas governor threatens to remove Democrats who left state over Trump-backed redistricting

Democratic lawmakers and operatives said Monday that the timeline is doable, but they would have to act quickly.

Californias Democratic congressional delegation expressed consensus during a video meeting Monday with moving forward with a ballot measure that would allow mid-decade redistricting only if another state moves forward with it, according to a person familiar with the virtual meeting, and that the change would be temporary. They expressed their support for the independent commission.

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California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said the Democratic caucus met Sunday night "to discuss the urgent threat of a continued, blatant Trumpian power grab  a coordinated effort to undermine our democracy and silence Californians."

Democrats in the California Senate and Assembly held separate meetings to discuss redistricting. David Binder, a pollster who works with Newsom, presented internal polling that showed tepid early support among voters for temporarily changing state laws to allow the Legislature to draw new maps for elections in 2026, 2028 and 2030.

"Our voters must be empowered to push back," Rivas said. "California has never backed down  and we wont start now."

Texas Democrats resist

Democratic lawmakers' exodus from Austin on Monday denied Republicans the quorum necessary to proceed with a vote on a redrawn state map that could net Republicans five congressional seats.

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Democratic lawmakers balked at threats from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The Texas House Democratic Caucus put out a statement riffing on a slogan made famous during the Texas Revolution: "Come and take it." One member of the caucus noted that being absent was not a crime and that Texas warrants can't be served in Illinois or New York, where many lawmakers have gone.

"There is no felony in the Texas penal code for what he says," said Rep. Jolanda Jones, a Democrat. "He's trying to get soundbites, and he has no legal mechanism."

The Texas House Republican speaker, Dustin Burrows, said that Democrats leaving does not "stop this House from doing its work. It only delays it."

But Abbott's legal options to get his redistricting bill passed, by expelling Democrats or compelling their return, appear narrow, likely forcing the governor's office to make challenges in courtrooms based in Democratic districts. Abbott has until the end of the year to secure new maps for them to be used in the state's March 3 primaries.

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At a news conference last week in Sacramento, Newsom compared Trump's pressure on Abbott to add five Republican congressional seats as akin to his efforts to "find" 12,000 votes to win Georgia after the 2020 election.

"We're not here to eliminate the commission," he said. "We're here to provide a pathway in 26, 28 and in 2030 for congressional maps on the basis of a response to the rigging of the system by the president of the United States. It won't just happen in Texas. I imagine he's making similar calls all across this country. It's a big deal. I don't think it gets much bigger."

Escalation on a deadline

For decades, redrawing California's electoral maps amounted to political warfare. In 1971, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan vetoed a redistricting plan that he called "a mockery of good government." The California Supreme Court ultimately drew the lines, and did so again in 1991, when then-Gov. Pete Wilson rejected maps drawn by Democrats.

California's state lawmakers last drew their own district lines in 2001, after members of both parties signed off on a plan drawn up to protect incumbents.

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In 2008, California voters stripped state lawmakers of the power to draw their own districts by passing Proposition 11, which created an independent redistricting commission. Two years later, voters handed the power to redraw congressional district maps to the same panel by passing Proposition 20. That group drew the lines before the 2012 elections, and again after the 2020 census.

California set the date for its last statewide special election  the 2021 attempted recall of Newsom  75 days in advance. County election officials would need at least that much time to find voting locations and prepare ballots for overseas and military voters, which must be mailed 45 days before election day, one elections official said.

We need at least a similar timeline and calendar to what took place in 2021 for the gubernatorial recall election, said Dean Logan, the top elections official in Los Angeles County.

Read more: Commentary: Political ploy or bold move to save democracy? Our columnists debate Newsom redistricting threat

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Similarly, he said, counties will need the funding provided upfront by the state to conduct this election, and the funding to do the redistricting associated with it, because counties are not prepared financially."

The 2021 recall election cost California taxpayers about $200 million. The preliminary estimate for Los Angeles County to administer the redistricting election is about $60 million.

National fight over state lines

Republican strategist Jon Fleischman, former executive director of the California Republican Party, said Republicans nationally need to take state Democrats' efforts to redraw the maps seriously  by pulling out their checkbooks.

Our statewide Republican fundraising has atrophied because it has been over a generation since we had a viable statewide candidate in California, he said. The kind of money that it would take to battle this  it would have to be national funding effort.

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While Texas prompted California Democrats to take action, Fleischman said, the issue has enough momentum here that it ultimately doesnt matter what Texas does.

If Gavin Newsom places this on the ballot, it means hes already done his polling and has figured out that it will pass because he cares more running for president that redistricting in California, Fleischman said. And he knows he cant afford to make this play and lose.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican who championed the ballot measure that created the independent redistricting commission, has not weighed in on the mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas and California. But a spokesperson for the former governor made clear that he vehemently opposes both.

Since leaving office, Schwarzenegger has fought for independent map-drawing across the nation. Redistricting is among the political reforms that are the focus of the Schwarzenegger Institute at USC.

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His take on all of this is everyone learned in preschool or kindergarten that two wrongs dont make a right. He thinks gerrymandering is evil, said Daniel Ketchell, a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger. It takes power from the people and gives it to politicians. He thinks it's evil, no matter where they do it.

Wilner reported from Washington, Nelson and Mehta from Los Angeles and Luna from Sacramento.

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Brief

The Texas Senate has passed a bill that would ban all THC in hemp-derived products, a move that could set up a veto showdown with Governor Greg Abbott.

This is the second time the Senate has passed this legislation, which Abbott previously vetoed, citing concerns about legal challenges.

Other bills that moved forward include measures to ban local governments from hiring lobbyists, let the attorney general intervene in election cases, and strengthen protections against deed fraud.

AUSTIN - The Texas Senate has once again passed a bill that would enact a full ban on THC in hemp-derived consumables, setting up a potential showdown with Gov. Greg Abbott, who previously vetoed a similar measure.

Senate Passes THC ban

What we know

The legislation, Senate Bill 5, passed the chamber Friday and now heads to the House. It would prohibit the sale of products containing any amount of THC, while still allowing for the sale of non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD and CBG.

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Abbott vetoed an identical bill during the regular session, citing concerns about legal challenges and urging lawmakers to instead regulate the products. Following the veto, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick vowed the Senate would pass a full ban again.

The House has filed legislation identical to SB 5 but has not yet held a hearing. Should the House pass the bill, Abbott would again have the choice of whether to veto the measure or call lawmakers back for another special session.

Other Legislation Moves Forward

In other legislative action, the Senate gave final approval to two other bills from the governor's special session call. Senate Bill 12 would ban political subdivisions from using public funds to hire professional lobbyists. Senate Bill 11 would allow the state attorney general to intervene in election law cases if local prosecutors do not pursue charges within six months.

The Senate Local Government Committee advanced a bill that would lower the rollback rate on property taxes from 3.5% to 2.5%, making the municipal threshold the same as for school district property taxes. The Senate Business and Commerce Committee approved a bill that strengthens protections against real property and deed fraud by requiring valid photo ID for over-the-counter transactions and sharing information with county prosecutors.

Hearing Addresses Hill Country Flooding

In response to the recent deadly flooding in the Texas Hill Country over the July 4th weekend, the Senate and House Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding held a public hearing in Kerrville. Lawmakers heard from county officials and residents for nearly 14 hours as they consider legislation to improve flood recovery efforts, prediction and prevention strategies, and warning systems.

The Source

Information in this article is from the Texas Senate.
A third nationwide air-raid warning of the morning was issued in Ukraine at 11:45 on 4 August due to the takeoff of a Russian MiG-31K fighter jet, capable of carrying Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. High-speed aerial assets are being detected in the sky.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force

Quote: "ATTENTION! Missile threat across all of Ukraine! A MiG-31K has taken off."

Details: A few minutes later the Air Force reported on aerial assets in the Ukrainian sky towards the city of Kyiv, as well as Zhytomyr, Sumy and Khmelnytsky oblasts.

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When an air-raid warning is issued, people are urged to take shelter immediately.

Updated: At 12:12, the all-clear was given. The Air Force reported that there was no further threat at the moment.

Background:

Around 09:00 on 4 August, Russia launched a missile attack on Ukraine using Kinzhal missiles.

At 10:00, a second air-raid warning was issued due to the take-off of another MiG-31K.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman was arrested and charged on Monday morning in the ongoing fugitive search for Austin Drummond, a man wanted in a quadruple murder in West Tennessee.

Dearrah Sanders, 23, of Jackson, Tennessee, is charged with Accessory After the Fact to First Degree Murder. She is the third person arrested in the case.

Tanaka Brown, 29, is also charged with Accessory After the Fact to First Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence.

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Giovontie Thomas, 29, is charged with Accessory After the Fact to First Degree Murder.

Two arrested, charged as accessories in TN quadruple murder

TBI identified Sanders as an associate of Drummond who assisted him following the murders. She is now booked in the Lake County Jail.

Drummond is wanted on several charges, including first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping in the deaths of four Dyer County family members whose bodies were found Tuesday, after an infant relative was found abandoned in front of a house.

It has been a week since he has been on the run.

The Marshals Service said it will now pay up to $10,000 for information that leads to Drummonds arrest. TBI and USMS had previously announced rewards of $7,500 each for information; the increased total reward is now $17,500.

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Austin Drummond has possibly fled the state: U.S. Marshals

USMS asked anyone with information to call 901-406-2044, 901-661-2955, or TBI at 731-415-7962, 731-333-0811, or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Miamis sailing community is shattered by grief after a third child died Sunday, six days after a sailboat and barge collision in Biscayne Bay, the Miami Yacht Club said.

The collision happened between Monument and Hibiscus Islands around 11 a.m. July 28. Five girls between the ages of 7 and 13, as well as a 19-year-old woman, went into the water, according to a Coast Guard news release.

The sailing vessel went under the barge after the collision, Petty Officer Nicholas Strasburg told CNN.

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Two girls from the sailboat, ages 7 and 13, were declared dead on arrival at a hospital, and two others were in critical condition after their rescue, the Coast Guard said.

It is with heavy hearts that Coast Guard investigators announce the passing of the 10-year-old child that was in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital, the Coast Guard said in a statement Sunday.

The Miami Yacht Club said it and the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation were deeply heartbroken by the young sailors death.

Emergency crews on Hibiscus Island respond to the boating incident July 28. - Carl Juste/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

This devastating news comes after two young sailors lost their lives in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Now, with the passing of a third sailor, the entire sailing community is shattered by grief, the yacht club said in a statement posted to Facebook.

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Our hearts are broken for these families. There are no words that can ease this pain, but we stand in full solidarity with the families, counselors, and every member of the YSF during this unthinkable nightmare, the statement continued.

The yacht club said it and the sailing foundation were working to support the families affected. This is a tragedy that has touched not only the sailing community but everyone who cherishes our Bay and the young lives who brought such joy to it, it said.

Our hearts continue to mourn with all those impacted by Mondays tragic incident, especially with the passing of another one of Miamis children today, Capt. Frank Florio, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Miami, said in Sundays statement.

Florio said the Coast Guard would conduct a thorough investigation and would be joined by investigators from Argentina, the home nation of one of the victims. The Chilean National Maritime Authority (DIRECTEMAR) had also been invited to join the investigation, the Coast Guard said.

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In a statement July 31, the Coast Guard said both people on the tug and barge as well as the sailboat operator had tested negative for drugs and alcohol.

The yacht club said the children were in their last week of a sailing camp for children aged 7-15, The Associated Press previously reported.

The AP said family friends had identified one of the girls who died as being the granddaughter of prominent Argentine television producers.

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BENTON COUNTY, Mo.  A third person was arrested in connection with the death of Cody Garrett of Columbia in 2021.

The Benton County Sheriffs Office (BCSO) said Jack Allan Wagner, 70, of Springfield, faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

On June 12, 2021, 28-year-old Cody Garrett from Columbia was reported missing after his mother was unable to contact him.

Later that day, Benton County deputies found the body of Garrett at the Truman Lake Mountain Bike Park near Warsaw. A preliminary investigation and a medical examiners report ruled Garretts death a homicide. However, no arrests were made.

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A renewed investigation began in May 2025 after previously untested items were brought in for DNA analysis. This led to the arrests of 35-year-old Kayley Birnbaum and 28-year-old Michael Birnbaum in Springfield.

On July 29, BCSO interviewed Wagnerwho was not in custodyat the Springfield Police Headquarters. Wagner was asked multiple questions, including whether or not he helped plan the murder and how to get away with it, to which he admitted he did do those things.

Wagner signed a written statement saying he helped with the demise of Cody Garrett.

A judge set his bond at $2 million.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.




NEED TO KNOW

A woman was arrested and accused of assisting quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond

Previously, two men were also arrested and charged as accessories

Drummond is accused of murdering Adrianna Williams, 20, James M. Wilson, 21, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15, and abandoning an infant.





A woman was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, with authorities alleging that she assisted the man suspected of murdering four people in rural Tennessee.

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Austin Robert Drummond is accused of killing four family members and abandoning a 7-month-old baby before leading authorities on a manhunt. He remains at large.

Adrianna Williams, 20, James M. Wilson, 21, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15, were found dead in rural Tennessee on July 29, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The bodies were found after James and Adrianna's baby was found in a yard 25 miles away.

Authorities subsequently put out a warrant for Drummond on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

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The TBI announced on Monday, Aug. 4 that Dearrah Sanders had been arrested and charged as an accessory.

Previously, authorities arrested Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, in connection with the case.

Related: 2 Arrests Made in Connection to Tenn. Quadruple Murder Suspect Who Allegedly Abandoned 7-Month-Old Baby

Both men were charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, according to the TBI.

On Friday, Aug. 1, Drummonds empty car was found over an hours drive away from where the four deceased individuals were located, the Dyer County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.

Cortney Rose/Facebook; Adrianna Williams/Facebook(2) Cortney Rose, Adrianna Williams and Matthew Wilson, Braydon Williams Cortney Rose, Adrianna Williams and Matthew Wilson, Braydon Williams

The four victims were the mother, father, grandmother and uncle of the abandoned infant. Fox News reported that the four were related to Drummond's current girlfriend.

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The DCSO previously said officers were alerted to an abandoned infant.

"A dark-colored minivan or a white mid-size SUV was reported to have dropped off an infant in a car seat at a random individuals front yard," police said. "Thankfully a witness saw the car seat with the child and called 911."

The Associated Press, citing authorities, reported that Drummond had been behind bars after robbing a convenience store at age 16 and for threatening to go after jurors.

At the time of the alleged quadruple murder, the AP reported, Drummond was out on bond for allegedly attempting to kill someone while in prison in December 2024.



Read the original article on People
Roughly 3,200 machinists at Boeings defense hub in the St. Louis area went on strike Monday, the first time the union has done so in nearly three decades, after it rejected the latest contract offer from the aerospace giant.

The machinists, who work in Missouri and Illinois building and maintaining F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets and munitions, voted Sunday to reject Boeings offer of a four-year contract that included a 20 percent wage increase, $5,000 ratification bonus and other improvements such as better retirement benefits.

The group went on strike at midnight Monday.

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International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837, which represents the employees, said any contract should reflect the workers skill and the critical role they play in U.S. national defense.

Our union is built on democracy, and our members have every right to demand a contract worthy of their contributions, IAM International President Brian Bryant said in a statement. We will be there on the picket lines, ensuring Boeing hears the collective power of working people.

Dan Gillian, a vice president at Boeing and senior St. Louis site executive, said the company is disappointed the offer was rejected but is prepared for the strike.

We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers, he said in a statement.

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IAM last went on strike in 1996.

The strike presents another headache for Boeing, which is struggling to rebound from a spate of safety issues, major financial losses and production delays.

Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration placed restrictions on the number of 737 Max jets Boeing could build after a door panel blew out of a 737 Max midair. An ensuing investigation revealed safety oversight shortcomings at the company.

The latest strike also follows one that started last September, when a Seattle-based union that represents more that 33,000 Boeing workers essentially halted production of some of the companys best-selling commercial aircraft for nearly two months.

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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 The Hill.
3,200 workers at Boeing's military aircraft facilities went on strike on Monday.

These plants make the F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Hornet, and are expected to be central to the F-47.

Boeing said it's prepared for the strike and has a contingency plan with its non-union staff.

About 3,200 workers at three Boeing facilities in Missouri and Illinois went on strike Monday over a contract dispute.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said in a statement on Sunday that the strike involves its members at Boeing's plants in St. Louis and St. Charles in Missouri and Mascoutah in Illinois.

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These facilities build and maintain the US military's F-15 Eagle, the F/A-18 Hornet, and some missile technologies.

Boeing's St. Louis facility, as the company's primary military aircraft manufacturing hub, is also expected to be a central site for building the new sixth-generation F-47 fighter.

On early Monday morning, the union said the strike began at midnight Central Time.

"IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe," IAM's Midwest Territory general vice president, Sam Cicinelli, said in the union's initial statement. "They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise."

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Last week, the union members said they could not reach an agreement on a four-year contract with Boeing before their previous terms expired on July 27. Now, they said the strike will proceed after a seven-day cooling-off period.

Boeing said in a statement to the media that the company was "prepared for a strike" and had arranged a contingency plan to continue work at its facilities with non-union staff.

"We're disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules," said Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager of Boeing's air dominance division and a senior executive at its St. Louis facility.

Boeing faced a far larger strike last fall, which involved 30,000 of its machinists in the northwestern US who rejected their labor contract. That strike lasted seven weeks and ended in early November.

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In an earnings call last Tuesday, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg downplayed the effects of the latest strike, saying its scale was "much, much less" than last year's.

"I wouldn't worry too much about the implications of the strike. We'll manage our way through that," Ortberg said.

Still, the strike is yet another challenge for Boeing, which is trying to turn around its reputation in the years after two of its 737 Max passenger airliners crashed  one in 2018 and another in 2019.

More recently, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flown by Air India crashed in June, killing all but one of at least 242 people on board and another 19 people on the ground.

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On Friday, four flight attendants filed a lawsuit against Boeing over a 737 Max incident in January 2024, when a door plug blew out midflight. The attendants, who were on board the Alaska Airlines flight, said they received mental and physical injuries.

August 4, 2025: This story was updated to reflect the union's confirmation on Monday that the strike began at midnight Central Time.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrated in several cities against the rightist leaders prosecution over an alleged coup plot.

Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest, did not join the marches. The case could determine the future of democracy in Latin Americas biggest nation, and may also further fray Brasilias ties with Washington: US President Donald Trump said imports from Brazil would be subject to a 50% tariff because of the witch hunt against Bolsonaro, and Washington has imposed sanctions on the Supreme Court judge prosecuting the case against the former Brazilian leader.

On Saturday Trump signaled a potential thawing in his stance: Brazils current president can talk to me anytime he wants, he said.
PEARL HARBOR, Hi. (WGN)  A Tinley Park native achieved one of the militarys highest honors last month on board a naval ship in Pearl Harbor.

Capt. Joshua Wenker took command of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Wednesday, July 30, relieving Capt. Matthew Thomas in a time-honored tradition on the ships flight deck.

Wheeling native takes command of worlds largest aircraft carrier

I am deeply honored and humbled to have the privilege of leading the amazing men and women of Carl Vinson, said Wenker. You represent the best that this country has to offer, and it shows every day in what you do and how you do it. You are the proud. You are the mighty. You are Americas favorite Sailors.

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (July 30, 2025) The color guard parades the colors on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a change of command ceremony, July 30, 2025. Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, is pierside in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a scheduled port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elizabeth Grubbs) Sideboys render honors to Capt. Joshua Wenker, prospective commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), as he arrives at the ships change of command ceremony, July 30, 2025. Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, is pierside in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a scheduled port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nate Jordan) JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (July 30, 2025) Sideboys render honors to Capt. Matthew Thomas, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), as he arrives at the ships change of command ceremony, July 30, 2025. Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, is pierside in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a scheduled port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elizabeth Grubbs) JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (July 30, 2025) Capt. Joshua Wenker, left, relieves Capt. Matthew Thomas as commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a change of command ceremony on Vinsons flight deck, July 30, 2025. Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, is pierside in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a scheduled port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elizabeth Grubbs)

Wenker previously served as the commanding officer of the USS Anchorage (LPD 23).

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The Tinley Park native graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in History. Capt. Wenker earned his Wings of Gold in 2001 as an E-2C Hawkeye naval flight officer. Assignments as a naval aviator included the Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 117 safety officer, VAW-113 maintenance officer, commanding officer of VAW-116, and executive officer of USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Fireworks may trigger PTSD in veterans. Tips on how to cope

The USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), homeported in San Diego, California, is currently deployed overseas. Earning the nickname of Americas Favorite Carrier for its role in delivering the body of Osama Bin Laden, the aircraft honors Georgia Congressman Carl Vinson.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
It's not often I find myself sending a standing ovation to a school board, but the Williamson County Board of Education deserves a round of applause for their updated cell phone policy. Thanks to a state law signed by Gov. Bill Lee on March 28, 2025, schools across Tennessee are taking a significant step towards reclaiming the classroom from the chaos of constant digital distraction.

The new policy bans wireless communication devices during the school day with a handful of eminently reasonable exceptions. Honestly, its about damn time.

Cell phones aren't as "smart" as we thought they were

For years, we've watched as smartphones, once heralded as tools for learning and connection, put us and many of our children onto attention treadmills. We havent been able to step off ever since.

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Excessive screen time has been linked to a litany of issues in adolescents, from increased risks of mental health problems like anxiety and depression, to impaired attention spans and even structural changes in the brain. The brains of an entire generation are quite literally being rewired by constant connectivity devoid of meaningful relationships.

Opinion: Musk's tunnel proposal is reminder of Nashville's past infrastructure injustices

Think about what that means for learning. How can a student truly engage with a history lesson when there's a cleverly concealed earbud playing a constant stream of YouTube videos? Each buzz, blip or ding signals the accompanying fear of missing out and breaks the focus necessary to write a coherent paragraph.

Kids struggle to keep up with homework assignments because they clearly arent the most compelling notifications coming their way.

A counselor at Emerald Academy in Knox County, Tennesee, holds an unlocking device as students unlock their Yondr pouch so they can lock their phone away as they arrive for school on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. The school bans the use of cell phones by students during the school day.

Learning loss due to classroom distractions from cell phones is a real and pervasive problem. When teachers are constantly battling for attention against the glowing screens, the entire educational environment suffers. It's not just about missing a specific fact; it's about the erosion of focus, critical thinking and the ability to engage deeply with material.

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Before the pearl-clutching starts about emergencies, let's be clear: This policy, like the state law it mirrors, isn't about cutting off communication entirely. In the event of an emergency, students may access their phones. In high school, Williamson County students will even be able to check their phones during lunch.

This is about prioritizing education during instructional hours, not creating an information vacuum.

Tennessee's school cell phone ban can only be effective with parents' help

Heres the rub: Enforcing this new policy will be about as easy as herding cats on roller skates. Kids, particularly teenagers, are masters of subterfuge when it comes to their devices. As an example, one of my sons recently ran out of screen time and started using a shared document on his school computer to communicate with his girlfriend. Thankfully, the school offered his parents a friendly reminder about acceptable technology use.

Kids will find ways to sneak glances, send texts and scroll through social media under desks and behind textbooks. Parental support isn't just helpful; it's absolutely crucial.

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Let me frame this in a manner thats a little more familiar to those of us with grey in our hair.

For adults, a glass of wine or a cold beer can be a pleasant way to unwind after a long day. But we also understand its addictive nature, the damage it can cause when consumed excessively and the importance of responsible use. Were also acutely aware of the harmful effects alcohol can have on developing minds and bodies. No sane adult hands a bottle of Jack Daniels to a teenager and tells them to "be responsible." We set boundaries, educate them on the risks and, hopefully, model healthy behavior.

Opinion: Why we must confront the ugliness of capital punishment in Tennessee

Why, then, do we treat cell phones and screen time so differently for our kids? The dopamine rush from a "like" or a new notification on social media can be as potent as the high from a substance. We're seeing a generation struggling with digital addiction, yet many parents are hesitant to set the same firm boundaries they would for, say, sugary drinks or late bedtimes.

Senior Saniyah Morris, 17, center, enters KIPP Nashville Collegiate High School, cell phone in hand, with classmates in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. The school uses YONDR pouches for students to lock up their phones during school hours.

So here's my challenge to parents across Tennessee: School boards are doing their part to create an environment conducive to learning and healthy development. Now its our turn. What are you doing at home to manage screen time? Are you modeling responsible use? Do you even know what it looks like? Have you taught them how to introduce themselves and carry a conversation?

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A few days ago, I noticed my five boys were running up against their screen limits, so I paused the internet to our entire house. For the evening, our smart home was dumb. My five boys were not entertained, so they got on their bikes and took an eight mile round trip to the local Mexican restaurant. When my wife and I came back from our date night, they regaled us with stories about the journey and howled about the fun they had.

For a minute, I remembered what it was like to be young, bored and free.

Our kids deserve that treasure. Schools can set the rules during the day, but the habits, the understanding of balance and the appreciation for human connection  those happen at home.

Let's not applaud school board policies and then undermine their efforts the moment the bell rings for dismissal.

Cameron Smith, columnist for The Tennessean and the USA TODAY Network Tennessee

USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney raising four boys in Nolensville, Tennessee, with his particularly patient wife, Justine. Direct outrage or agreement to smith.david.cameron@gmail.com or @DCameronSmith on Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to letters@tennessean.com

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Your kid's cell phone will be confiscated at school. Finally | Opinion
Correction: This story was updated to correct the date the Kentucky Department of Corrections concluded its investigation into messages sent by former employee Taylor Kapusta.

The warden at Tennessees womens prison in Nashville has resigned after the results of an investigation at a former workplace surfaced, showing she sent sexually explicit messages to an inmate while employed at a Kentucky prison.

Taylor Rae Kapusta, former warden at Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, resigned effective Aug. 4, according to Dorinda Carter, spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Correction.

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Records show TDOC hired Kapusta in September 2023. A spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Corrections said the investigation regarding the messages was closed July 23, 2023, and referred to the Kentucky State Police. The Kentucky Department of Correction said it does not have a record of the Tennessee Department of Correction contacting it for an employment record check on Kapusta.

Guards patrol the Tennessee Prison for Women in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018. The prison was renamed in 2020 to honor Debra K. Johnson, a former correctional administrator who was killed by an incarcerated man.

Carter said the internal investigation in Kentucky was "not disclosed during the hiring process" and that TDOC is taking steps to "enhance the process" going forward.

The Kentucky investigation and its results were first reported July 30 by the Lexington Herald Leader newspaper. A spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Investigations confirmed the investigation and its findings July 31.

Kapusta was a unit administrator at medium-to-maximum security prison Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in LaGrange, Kentucky, when she sent the messages, according to Morgan Hall, communications director for the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, which houses the department of correction. Kapusta used JPay, a messaging system for communicating with incarcerated people, to send the messages, Hall said.

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"On May 22, 2023, a (Prison Rape Elimination Act) investigation was initiated by the Kentucky Department of Corrections after former unit administrator Taylor Kapusta sent sexually explicit JPAY messages to an inmate," Hall said in an emailed statement.

Kapusta resigned while under investigation and worked her last day May 23, 2023. She cannot be rehired by any department in the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet as a result, Hall said.

Hall said in a follow-up email that the investigation was closed July 23, 2023, and referred to the Kentucky State Police. Kapusta was hired as superintendent at TDOC's Mark Luttrell Transition Center in Memphis in September 2023, according to an interview she had with a federal auditor.

Hall said the Kentucky Department of Correction "has been unable to locate any record of being contacted by the Tennessee Department of Corrections to conduct an employment record check on Taylor Kapusta," Hall said.

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The Tennessean requested a copy of Kentucky's report on Kapusta, but it had not received it as of publication.

Kapusta was later appointed warden at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center.

TDOC highlighted Kapusta's employment with the department in a post celebrating Women's History Month in March 2024.

Kapusta did not return a call and voicemail left to her office at the Nashville prison on July 31.

Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN warden resigns after sexual chats with inmate at former job surface
Credit: @CrimeLDN / X

Tommy Robinson has been arrested in connection with an alleged assault at St Pancras station last week.

The 42-year-old, far-Right activist was arrested at Luton airport after landing on a flight from Faro in Portugal.

A British Transport Police spokesman said on Monday: Officers from BTP have tonight arrested a 42-year-old man from Bedfordshire in connection to an assault at St Pancras station on July 28.

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The arrest took place at Luton airport shortly after 6.30pm, following a notification that the man had boarded an incoming flight from Faro.

The man had been wanted for questioning after leaving the country to Tenerife in the early hours of July 29 following the incident at St Pancras.

He was arrested on suspicion of GBH [Grievous Bodily Harm] and will now be taken to custody for questioning.

Video footage obtained by The Sun shows Robinson being arrested by five police officers on arrival in Britain.

Tommy Robinson, the far-Right activist, was arrested at Luton airport after landing on a flight from Faro in Portugal - The Sun

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was wanted for questioning following the incident, which was partly filmed and posted to social media.

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British Transport Police initially said they were making arrest inquiries, but in an update last Tuesday, said a suspect had boarded a flight and was no longer in the UK.

The alleged assault occurred at St Pancras on July 28, around 8.40pm. Footage posted on social media appeared to show a man at the scene looking agitated, while the victim lay on the floor.

In the clip, the man can be heard saying: He f------ come at me. He come at me bruv.

As two members of station staff attend to the man, he approaches an apparent witness and adds: He come at me bruv, you saw that.

A spokesman for British Transport Police (BTP) said the victim had suffered serious injuries and had been taken to hospital.

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He was later released from hospital and is understood to have given a statement to police.

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Tommy Robinsons announcement that he is joining Ben Habibs Advance UK Party will have Nigel Farage jumping for joy. For the Reform leader, it kills two troublesome birds with one stone.

Firstly, it draws a line under those endless awkward questions  from outsiders and insiders  about what Reforms relationship with Robinson should be.

While Reforms activists are mostly angry, working-class and lower-middle-class ex-Tories  with mainstream, if old-fashioned views  there is a minority within the movement that wants a closer relationship with Robinson.

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Having the former EDL leader in the party would have been a disaster. A big personality with followers even more devoted than those that follow Farage, Robinson would have made Reform unmanageable.

Now that Robinson has joined another party  with a leader who publicly criticises Farage, and with critical words on Farage of his own  these questions about the relationship are finally dealt with.

More importantly, it allows Farage to put a clear gap between Reform and Robinson. The leader of Reform can now credibly draw a distinction between the mainstream Right, which he seeks to represent, and the hard Right of Tommy Robinson.

This is critical for Reform, as it seeks to move from a protest party to a prospective party of Government. To gain power, they need to start polling consistently in the mid-30s  up from the high-20s and low-30s now. Where can they look for additional voters?

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They will likely continue to eat into the white working-class vote; indeed, it is likely they will totally dominate this group soon. While the affluent working-class  the working-working-class  is currently aligned with Reform, poorer working-class voters who currently vote Labour on welfare and the economy are only slowly coming over to the party.

Clearly, there is a big chunk of the electorate, around a third, who would never vote Reform. This third is a mixed bag, but there are a massive number of middle-class, pro-remain Lib Dems who are positive about immigration and multiculturalism and who hate what they perceive as populism. Reform can forget this lot.

The next obvious big chunk of voters are those establishment Tories; old-fashioned, older, middle-class, self-consciously decent Conservatives who think there is a particular way of conducting politics and wider public life. They tend to be worried about populist parties and anything which might up-end the way we normally do politics in Britain.

If most working-class voters would recognise Robinson as someone visibly from their world, this group of middle-class Tories find him horrifying. In fact, they even find Farage a bit off-putting, because they were never sure that he was not, deep-down, politically extreme himself.

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Now there is clear blue water between Robinson and Farage, Reform has the ability to go after these voters in earnest  arguing that they are a mainstream party, not so different from the Conservative Party of the 1980s, with a bit more of an edge for the times we live in.

These Tory voters are hardly satisfied with the status quo  either with British politics, or with the Conservative Party. While they are less Eurosceptic than Reforms base, and less angry about immigration levels, they share Reforms view that the country is in a bad place. Because they obsess about a rules-based society and order, Reforms message on crime will particularly resonate.

Farage has always claimed he and his various political projects can be trusted; he has always warned that ignoring what his parties are talking about risks something far worse coming down the line. With Robinsons announcement, he can argue this with greater credibility. And with this, he can try to court their next great electoral target: middle-class Tories.

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GRANTSVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  A man in Tooele County is facing first-degree felony attempted murder charges after he allegedly chased two victims throughout Grantsville, firing multiple gunshots toward the victims in the chase.

Mark Alan McGehee, 53, was booked into the Tooele County Jail on two counts of first-degree felony attempted murder, one count of second-degree felony prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, four counts of third-degree felony aggravated assault, and two counts of third-degree felony discharge of a firearm. Court records show he also faces misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and reckless driving.

According to court documents, McGehee and the victims allegedly got into a verbal altercation. During the altercation, McGehee reportedly struck the victims car twice, causing minor damage and prompting the victims to flee the area.

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McGehee allegedly chased the victims onto SR-138, driving into oncoming traffic while attempting to get the victim to stop and pull over.

During one of these attempts, [McGehee] produced a handgun and fired a single round at the driver of the victims vehicle, police reported in court documents. Oncoming traffic then reportedly forced McGehee to fall back behind the victims, where he allegedly fired another seven to eight rounds.

The chase reportedly continued until the victims left SR-138 and fled west on I-80.

McGehee has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing, after police said he showed no concern for the victims or general publics safety. Several of his charges, including the attempted murder charges, face road rage enhancements.

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Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  South Dakotas top elections official has apologized for the state releasing information about voters who also were seeking public assistance, such as food aid.

Secretary of State Monae Johnson made the voter registration rolls of more than 600,000 voters public last month to comply with a new state law. But the spreadsheet of voter information also included a field for source of registration, which disclosed whether an individual registered to vote at a public assistance agency, such as those offering housing help and food assistance.

Federal law prohibits the government from releasing information about those receiving public assistance.

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The data leak drew condemnation from across the state, and the American Civil Liberties Union called it an egregious violation of voters privacy rights.

Johnson apologized on Friday.

As Secretary of State, I take full responsibility for the release of this information. My office is committed to both transparency and protecting voter privacy," Johnson said in statement. Upon discovering the issue, we acted immediately to remove the data and prevent further dissemination.

The information was taken off the website Friday, the day after the ACLU sent a letter to the office demanding the state fix the issue. Individuals who had their information disclosed have been notified by mail, and those with access to the information will be asked to delete it.

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The secretary of state also clarified that registering at a public assistance agency does not necessarily mean an individual is receiving benefits. In South Dakota, a person can register to vote at driver's license exam stations, disability service offices, military recruitment centers and county auditor offices in addition to public assistance agencies.

The ACLU is now encouraging those who were impacted to fill out their legal intake form.

"Essentially, voters who exercised their right to register to vote at public benefits offices were punished for it through this substantial privacy violation, ACLU South Dakota Advocacy Manager Samantha Chapman said.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is appointing legal counsel to represent the Secretary of State's office and the state legislature in case of potential lawsuits.
A top aide to Donald Trump accused India of aiding Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil as tensions between New Delhi and Washington soared over ties with Moscow.

India is lately facing relentless American pressure over its relations with Russia, a longstanding defence and trade partner.

Just last week, Mr Trump threatened New Delhi with unspecified penalties over and above a new 25 per cent import tariff for buying oil and weapons from Russia.

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Mr Trump, who had listed ending the war in Ukraine a top priority for his second presidential term, has been threatening sanctions on countries trading with Moscow after accusing Mr Putin of stalling ceasefire talks. The US president has also resumed sending weapons to Ukraine.

Mr Trump is threatening to impose a 100 per cent tariff on exports to the US from any nation purchasing Russian oil in defiance of Western sanctions unless Moscow agrees a peace deal with Ukraine and ends the war.

What he said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told Fox News, referring to the US president. "People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. Thats an astonishing fact."

Mr Millers remarks constitute Washingtons strongest criticism yet of one of its key partners in the Indo-Pacific. India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world, but they don't accept our products. They impose massive tariffs on us, he said. We also know they engage in a lot of cheating on immigration policies that is very harmful to American workers.

Stephen Miller says Donald Trump wants a tremendous relationship with India but we need to get real about dealing with the financing of this war (Getty)

The White House aide said Mr Trump sought a tremendous relationship with India and its leader Narendra Modi but we need to get real about dealing with the financing of this war. All options are on the table, to deal diplomatically, financially and otherwise with the ongoing war in Ukraine so we can achieve peace, Mr Miller said.

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Russia is the leading oil supplier to India, the worlds third-largest consumer of the commodity, accounting for some 35 per cent of its imports. Russia exported nearly 1.75 million barrels of oil to India per day between January and June this year, a rise of about one per cent from a year ago, Reuters reported.

And despite Mr Trumps threats, Indian officials said the country would keep purchasing oil from Russia.

These are long-term oil contracts," a government source told Reuters on Saturday. "It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight.

Justifying oil purchases from Russia, another official said India's imports from Russia helped avoid a global surge in prices, which remained subdued despite Western curbs on the Russian oil sector.

Unlike Iranian and Venezuelan oil, Russian crude is not subject to direct sanctions and India is buying it below the current price cap fixed by the European Union, the official told Reuters.
A bronze statue of a Confederate general that was torn off its pedestal in Washingtons Judiciary Square by demonstrators during the civil justice protests in 2020 will be restored and reinstalled, the National Park Service said Monday.

Albert Pike was the only Confederate leader memorialized with an outdoor statue in Washington until it was toppled in the protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd, which sparked a nationwide reckoning with racism and calls for the removal of monuments to the Confederacy.

But the National Park Service says its obligated to restore the Pike statue by executive orders issued by President Donald Trump, including one calling for restoring truth and sanity to American history as under well federal preservation law.

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The restoration aligns with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law as well as recent executive orders to beautify the nations capital and re-instate pre-existing statues, the park service said in a statement announcing its plan.

Pike led a regiment of Native Americans in Arkansas who sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War and were accused of scalping Union troops in an 1862 battle. He later received a pardon from President Andrew Johnson for his wartime actions and went on to become a prominent member of the Freemasons in Washington.

Protesters, using ropes and chains, pulled down the statue in June 2020 and set it on fire.

Trump, then in his first term, accused police of not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down & burn.

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The park service said the statue is being repaired at its Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick, Maryland.

In the hours after NPS announced it was returning the statue to its place in the district, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washingtons nonvoting House delegate, announced plans to reintroduce her bill to remove the statue and donate it to a museum.

"I've long believed Confederate statues should be placed in museums as historical artifacts, not remain in parks and locations that imply honor," Norton said in a press release. "The decision to honor Albert Pike by reinstalling the Pike statue is as odd and indefensible as it is morally objectionable. Pike served dishonorably.
Surrounded by a hubbub of blaring music, restaurant terraces and rumbling suitcase wheels slaloming between overflowing litter bins, Giorgos Zafeiriou believes surging tourism has made his historic Athens neighbourhood unrecognisable.

The Greek capital's Plaka district "is threatened by overtourism", said Zafeiriou, who has lived there for more than three decades and leads its residents' association.

This year, 10 million people are expected to visit Athens, an increase of two million from 2024 which reflects the city's growing popularity as a tourist destination since the Covid-19 pandemic ended.

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Despite its label as the cradle of Western civilisation, Athens was previously regarded as a mere stopping point between the airport and the port of Piraeus, from where tourists explore Greece's myriad of picturesque islands.

Nicknamed "the neighbourhood of the gods", Plaka is nestled below the ancient Acropolis hill, a world heritage site hosting the millennia-old Parthenon temple which welcomed almost 4.5 million visitors last year.

Plaka is now awash with tourists who navigate its warren of narrow streets lined with cafes, taverns, souvenir shops, small Byzantine churches and relics from Antiquity and the Ottoman era.

Plaka "is Europe's oldest neighbourhood which has been inhabited continuously since Antiquity", said Lydia Carras, head of the Ellet association working to preserve the environment and cultural heritage.

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"We cannot see it lose its soul," she added.

- 'Saturated with tourists' -

Tourism is a pillar of the Greek economy, which endured years of painful austerity following the 2008 global financial crash and the ensuing eurozone debt crisis.

For souvenir shop seller Konstantinos Marinakis, "Greece is finally doing better thanks to the good health of tourism which allowed the economy to recover and create jobs."

But the flourishing sector has generated a backlash in Europe's most sought-after locations, with locals complaining of soaring housing prices and the impact on their neighbourhoods.

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Protesters have targeted tourists with water pistols in Spain's Barcelona, while the Italian city of Venice has introduced a charge in a bid to control visitor numbers.

Mayor Haris Doukas told AFP with pride that Athens was now one of the world's 10 most-visited cities, but acknowledged "areas like Plaka which are saturated with tourists".

"We are not yet at the stage of Barcelona, but we must act before it is too late," he said.

An "intervention unit" for Plaka was recently created to enforce rules with the support of the police.

Any resident who spots a restaurant terrace encroaching on public space or cars parked on the pavement can report the offenders to this team.

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"Between 1960 and 1980, Plaka was overwhelmed by discos and bouzoukias," and "many residents had already left," explained Carras, referring to clubs that play traditional Greek music.

A 1993 presidential decree shut the clubs, protected homes and specified the use of each building in the neighbourhood, with hotels only allowed on certain streets.

- Rules 'dodged' -

But "these rules have been dodged", with "entire houses converted into several apartments" advertised on short-term rental platforms, said Dimitris Melissas, a lawyer specialising in urban planning.

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Plaka's population of 2,000 can be swamped by up to four times as many tourists in the summer, added Melissas, although no official statistics exist because the census measures Athens as a whole.

Representing Ellet, the lawyer has taken a case over the legality of 16 buildings converted entirely into seasonal rentals to the Council of State, Greece's top administrative court.

He argued they are actually hotel premises in disguise because they have receptions or serve breakfast on terraces. A decision, which could set an important legal precedent, is expected by the end of September.

The conservative government has banned new registrations of apartments on short-term rental platforms for at least a year in central Athens, where more than 12,000 seasonal lets existed in 2024, fuelling rent rises.

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"But when I still read adverts in newspapers to invest in apartments that can be converted into Airbnbs, I doubt the effectiveness of this measure," said Melissas.

"The problem in Greece is not voting laws but enforcing them."

mr/imm/sbk
Tropical Storm Dexter has became the fourth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

Dexter strengthened into a tropical storm late Sunday night, Aug. 3, off the coast of North Carolina.

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The storm is not expected to impact Florida or the U.S. as it moves away from the coast and into the northern Atlantic.

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Historically, the fourth named storm in the Atlantic develops Aug. 15, with the first hurricane developing Aug. 11. The last three storms in the Atlantic have formed ahead of historical averages.

Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Dexter. See expected path

Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

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Will Dexter become a hurricane?

While some slight strengthening is possible, Dexter is not expected to become a hurricane.

Wind shear and dry air are forecast to keep Dexter from strengthening as it moves farther from the U.S. into the northern Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center.

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This story has been updated to provide new information.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Tropical Storm Dexter spaghetti models, map. Tropics update from NHC
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas transportation officials say Topeka drivers can expect some changes starting this week in an ongoing reconstruction project on Highway 24.

Kate Craft with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) said in a press release that traffic changes will go into effect starting at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5 on Highway 24. She said the right lane of westbound Highway 24 will close between Kansas Avenue and Topeka Boulevard.

Craft said access to and from Kansas Avenue and Topeka Boulevard will remain in place. Drivers can expect the lane closure to stay in effect until the morning of Thursday, Aug. 7 while a pipe is installed along the road.

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KDOT will keep the inside lanes closed for another six weeks. Workers will close the outside lanes of Highway 24 for pavement replacement work following this period. You can keep up with KDOTs road work projects in Kansas by calling 511 or by visiting KanDrive.

I-70 construction scratches old wounds in Topeka

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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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 KSNT 27 News.
The town of Cramerton has received a $500,000 grant to begin work on greenway extensions that will connect it to McAdenville.

ALSO READ: NCDOT is seeking public input for upcoming projects

The project, which will cost more than $2 million to complete, is fully funded by grants, according to Cramerton Mayor Nelson Wills.

Mayor Wills said he hopes the town will be able to start the project by the end of the year, our partners at the Gaston Gazette reported.

WATCH: Woman says lightning strike caused fire at Gastonia home
A school which could not provide an autistic boy with education after his "lifeline" minibus was destroyed in a break-in says it is overwhelmed by donations to help him travel again.

The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre school in South Bank, Middlesbrough, had its 50,000 minibus targeted by a thief on 19 July.

The Ford Tourneo van was stripped of its parts, causing 16,000 worth of damage.

But the centre, run by the North East Autism Society (NEAS), said the donations meant its 12-year-old pupil Caleb could continue to be taken to and from school.

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The van, which had its bonnet, engine and tyres stolen during the break-in, was used to take Caleb on trips to local attractions, leisure facilities and parks.

The school's interim principal Corrina McEwan said thanks to the "magnificent community response", Caleb could continue learning.

The money, which includes a 10,000 donation from The Teesside Family Foundation, will go towards leasing a replacement vehicle for him until a permanent replacement is ready.

She said: "We are incredibly grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity shown to us. We were devastated by what happened, but this means there will be limited disruption."

Corrina McEwan, from the Mackenzie Thorpe Centre school, said to steal from a charity that was a lifeline for so many was disheartening [North East Autism Society]

Caleb's mum Sarah Bowman said the donation had helped "restore my faith in human nature".

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"They accepted Caleb when he was expelled from a different special needs school because of his extreme challenging behaviour, offering a more 'bespoke' community school environment, and this bus is his lifeline in accessing activities  it is his safe space," she said.

The school, which is named after Middlesbrough-born artist Mackenzie Thorpe, provides specialist education and care for autistic and neurodivergent children and adults across the region.

Tony Wedlake, from the volunteer-run Teesside Family Foundation, said: "As well as helping the school and NEAS, it is also a way of acknowledging the fantastic support Mackenzie Thorpe has given the foundation over the years."

The foundation provides free holidays to families and specialist equipment for disabled children.

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A further 1,500 was donated by the Wainstones Hotel, at Great Broughton, while additional public donations were made through a GoFundMe appeal.

Cleveland Police said it was still investigating and urged anyone with information to contact the force.

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MOSCOW (AP)  A trial began Monday under tight security for 19 defendants accused of involvement in last years shooting rampage in a Moscow concert hall that killed 149 people and wounded over 600 in one of the deadliest attacks in the capital in years.

A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22, 2024, massacre at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in which four gunmen shot people who were waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire.

President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine had a role in the attack. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement.

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The Investigative Committee, Russia's top criminal investigation agency, said in June that it concluded that the attack had been planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to destabilize political situation in our country. It also noted the four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine afterward.

The four, all identified as citizens of Tajikistan, were arrested hours after the attack and later appeared in a Moscow court with signs of being severely beaten.

The defendants appearing in court on Monday kept their heads bowed as they sat in the defendants' cage.

The committee said earlier this year that six other suspects were charged in absentia and placed on Russias wanted list for allegedly recruiting and organizing the training of the four. Other defendants in the trial were accused of helping them.
Aristocratic nonsense

It appears Clive Pinder  British citizen, self-said reformed conservative Tory, emigre living the wine hobbyists life on a hill in Templeton  hasnt quite gotten over the Boston Tea Party.

Protesting against violent, oppressive, lawless government is embedded in the American DNA. Its the rock upon which our national character was founded, a cornerstone of the American psyche.

Its unsurprising an English royalist might not understand or appreciate this fundamental feature of Americanism, given his former life under the class-based monarchy on which the once-expansive British empire perches.

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Pinders recent screed in the SLO Tribune mocks local street activists who are demanding due process, the rule of law, adherence to the Constitution, common decency from an outlaw federal government. He distracts from what the protests are all about with a whataboutism tour de force: homelessness, high housing costs, drug addiction, etc.

Without offering a whiff of solution, Pinder recites a litany of easily Googleable ills besetting his newfound home state  the largest, wealthiest, most politically progressive in the nation, bastion of anti-Trumpism resistance to actual, documentable tyranny  a place hes chosen to live free from monarchy, for now.

Pinder blows past the needlessly violent, masked kidnappings and disappearings, the warrantless searches, the demand for papers! from brown people, the heavily armed militarization of American streets. He scolds us never to reference 1930s Germany when discussing government atrocities in the United States today, never to remind anyone that the fascist rise to power in Europe then is the template the Trump government is following now.

No thanks, Clive. Keep your foreign, patrician distain for the American character. Clutch your contempt for the American tradition of rebelling against oppressors. Don your smoking jacket, stuff your apologia for dictatorship into your pipe, then puff on it. Like the Americans who dumped British tea into Boston Harbor some 251 years ago, well do just fine without anyones aristocratic advice.

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Tom Fulks, chair

SLO County Democratic Party

Are you part of the solution?

So, dear Clive Pinder, what are you doing to make California a better place for all of us? If youre a member of the Republican Party, not much. If you approve of the criminal administration we now find ourselves stuck with, then youre doing nothing. Instead of demonizing Sacramento politicians, why dont you run for office yourself and see how you do!

Victoria Grostic

San Luis Obispo

No groupthinkers here

Regarding: SLO Countys Good Trouble protests ignore a state in crisis The idea that activists in SLO County or elsewhere shouldnt protest because this isnt Selma ignores John Lewis actual message. He believed democracy requires constant participation  not just when its convenient, not just when the issues are dramatic enough to warrant bloodshed. Its not virtue signaling to care about inequity, poverty or injustice. Its not groupthink to challenge systems that repeatedly fail working people. Its called being engaged. Cynicism may feel cool and clever, but it doesnt build homes, heal patients or educate children. California is imperfect. It is messy. But its also trying  imperfectly but earnestly  to address deep structural problems other states pretend dont exist. And its full of people, including those Good Trouble protesters, who are committed to making it better, not mocking those who try. It seems like the California conservative call is to bash California without offering solutions. Lets spend less time sneering at yard signs promising equity and more time asking what we can build together.

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Jill Stegman

Grover Beach

Why we protest

Mr. Pinders critique of local Good Trouble protests suggests activists aim their fire at the two decades of Democratic rule in Sacramento, instead of speaking out against authoritarianism in Washington, DC.

Although he makes a few solid points regarding poverty, access to healthcare and K-12 school funding, it is hard to imagine that he wouldnt prefer to spend even less trying to address Californias structural inequality.

As the Trump administration assaults American democracy almost daily, enabled by cowards in Congress and on SCOTUS, Pinder is lost in the trees while the forrest burns. We need leaders from both parties who care about improving the loves of the American people, not condescending blowhards belittling their fellow citizens for protesting tyranny.

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We are Americans; we can work for better leadership on bread and butter issues while expressing outrage at the destruction of our political system. These two are not mutually exclusive.

Rebecca Bernhardt

Austin, Texas

Editors note: The writer is a San Luis Obispo Senior High graduate, class of 1989.

Your assignment: Thank a teacher

Just got home from the San Luis Obispo High Class of 95 reunion. It was great to see former students, hear about their lives and receive compliments about my teaching. I came away flattered and pumped. I have a request for all of you who had a favorite teacher during your education: Please take the steps to contact them in whatever way works best. Explain how they were important in your life. Thank them for being the right person at the right time. Praise from former students is the highest honor any teacher can achieve. Please repay your teacher(s) efforts by letting them know they are remembered and valued. It will make both of you feel great. Mark Lopez Arroyo Grande

Silence is acquiescence

Ray Weymann (letters, July 26) is right. The intentional blockade of food aid to Palestinians in Gaza is a war crime, of which the Netanyahu regime is guilty, and in which the U.S. government and we taxpayers are complicit.

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Not only is it a violation of international law (Geneva Convention), it also violates the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, which outlaws shipment of military equipment to any entity that blocks U.S. humanitarian aid to those in need and violates human rights.

The Biden/Harris administration blocked funding for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), long the most effective organization at delivering aid, based on false claims that its infested with Hamas agents. The Trump/Vance regime has continued that denial of assistance.

Not only is the Netanyahu regime an outlaw, so are we outlaws, in supplying the machinery for genocide and denying food to its remaining survivors. Silence is acquiescence.

David Broadwater

Atascadero
A federal judge will hear arguments Aug. 6 from the San Carlos Apache Tribe and a group of environmentalists who want to halt a land exchange that would allow the construction of a huge copper mine at Oak Flat, a site held sacred by Indigenous communities.

San Carlos asked the court to stop the exchange in response to the Trump administrations June 20 publication of a final environmental impact statement that set a 60-day deadline for the U.S. Forest Service to trade 2,200 acres in the Tonto National Forest for private lands owned by Resolution Copper.

A 2014 law requires the Forest Service to trade Oak Flat to the mining company within 60 days of publication of a legal environmental impact statement.

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San Carlos Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler said the newest statement published by the Forest Service in June violated several federal laws and "must not be used as the basis to illegally transfer ownership of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper."

The mining company said the land exchange can't be stopped because it was authorized by Congress in 2014, and that the new EIS was a "rigorous, independent review" by the Forest Service, including consultation with several tribes and other governments.

The tribes lawsuit also argues the San Carlos Apache Tribe holds Indian title to Oak Flat based on its longstanding use and occupancy of the land.

The 2014 law did not extinguish our title, nor did it amend the Apache Treaty of 1852 (known as the Treaty of Santa Fe), and we do not consent to its taking today, Rambler said.

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Saving the land: Indigenous people find legal, cultural barriers to protect sacred spaces off tribal lands

How Oak Flat became Ground Zero in a long fight

For more than two decades, Oak Flat Campground, known to Apaches as Chichil Bidagoteel, "the place where the Emory oak grows," has been ground zero in a battle over Native religious rights on public lands as well as preservation of one of Arizona's most scarce commodities, a wetland.

The 2,200-acre primitive campground and riparian zone, within the Tonto National Forest about 60 miles east of Phoenix, also lies over one of the nation's largest remaining bodies of copper ore.

Tribes, environmentalists and their allies have been fighting to prevent Oak Flat from being given to Resolution Copper in exchange for other environmentally sensitive lands in Arizona. The company had pursued the land exchange with the Forest Service for about 10 years before it became attached to a defense bill by lawmakers led by the late Sen. John McCain in December 2014.

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To obtain the copper ore, Resolution, which is owned by multinational firms Rio Tinto and BHP, will use a method known as block cave mining in which tunnels are drilled beneath the ore body, and then collapsed, leaving the ore to be moved to a crushing facility. Eventually, the ground will subside, leaving behind a crater about 1,000 feet deep and nearly 2 miles across, obliterating Oak Flat and its religious and environmental significance.

Grassroots group Apache Stronghold filed a lawsuit in January 2021 in federal court to stop the land swap, citing religious rights guarantees under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a religious freedom nonprofit law firm, accepted the case and, along with a group of private attorneys and law professors, has represented Apache Stronghold, which includes Apache and other Native peoples and their allies.

The Biden administration rescinded the environmental impact statement in March 2021 for further consultation with tribes. The Forest Service announced consultation was concluded in 2023. Resolution was granted permission to join the lawsuit in 2023.

In 2024, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Apache Stronghold in a narrow 6-5 decision. That fall, the group appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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The Forest Service's announcement in April that the process would move forward again set off a flurry of court filings to stop or at least put on hold the move, which would open up a 60-day period when the land exchange could take place. Apache Stronghold won a temporary halt to the proceedings until the high court either decided not to take the case or issued a decision.

The Supreme Court turned Apache Stronghold down in May.

On June 9, U.S. District Court Judge Dominic W. Lanza barred the Forest Service from completing the land exchange until a full 60 days after the new document is issued to give parties from the other two lawsuits sufficient time to review the environmental impact statement and revive their litigation. The 60-day period ends August 19, after which the land exchange can be completed unless the court issues a new halt to the proceedings.

In July, Apache Stronghold asked the high court to reconsider its decision and agree to hear the case.

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Also in July, a group of Apache women filed their own lawsuit to halt the land exchange at Oak Flat. The four women, who have spiritual and cultural connections to the site, filed their suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia July 24. Their litigation said that the exchange violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the First Amendment's religious rights protections and two environmental laws.

The lawsuit also brought two new factors into play: a recent high court decision that affirms parental rights to direct their children's religious education and references to Justice Neil Gorsuch's blistering dissent to the Supreme Court's refusal to hear Apache Stronghold's case.

Limited capacity: Why can't the US mine and refine all its copper? What to know about new Trump order

Resolution touts economic benefits, but critics fear the mine will drain aquifers

Resolution said the Forest Service's 11-year review led the company to make major changes to its mining plan "to preserve and reduce potential impacts on Tribal, social, environmental and cultural interests." A company spokesperson also said that they see strong local support for the mine and that ongoing dialogue with stakeholders will continue to inform the mining plan as it moves forward.

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The company also said that the mine would eventually contribute $1 billion annually to Arizonas economy and create thousands of local jobs in the Copper Triangle, where mining has played an important role for more than a century.

"Copper is a crucial resource for America's energy future, modern infrastructure needs, and national defense," the company said. "Ensuring a domestic supply of this critical mineral supports not only Arizonas economy but also the nations broader economic and security goals.

A 2020 study by the University of Arizona found that copper is Arizona's leading export, including $1.6 billion of copper ore and an additional $251 million of copper products, including copper concentrate.

And the Forest Service's 2023 appraisal of the project concluded the most likely copper smelting location for the copper is southeast Asia. The few smelters in the U.S. do not have the capacity to accept the mine's maximum output of about 58,000 tons per day.

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One longtime opponent of the mine said he's worried that central and eastern Arizona water will be used up, not to be replaced.

"Arizona is presently in a 25-year-long drought, and this Resolution mine will use 250 billion gallons of scarce Arizona water we don't have," said Henry Munoz, former Superior councilmember and head of Concerned Citizens Retired Miners Coalition.

He said he was also concerned that the land exchange continued the federal government's longtime mistreatment of Native peoples.

"For over 150 years of breaking treaties, the U.S. government has been giving away sacred Native American land for its natural resources, this time for the financial benefit of two foreign mining companies," he said. "Wake up, Arizona."

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Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @debkrol and on Bluesky at @debkrol.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Apache tribe, environmentalists to ask court to stop copper mine at Oak Flat
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  The Springfield Township Police Department is actively addressing a violent trend of shootings at and around the Waffle House located on South Arlington Road.

According to a press release from the department, There has been a troubling pattern of public safety incidents involving large gatherings and gunfire at the restaurant.

Woman shot, killed at Bedford AutoZone

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These events pose a serious and escalating threat to public safety, impacting residents, business patrons and responding officers, the release said.

The most recent incident happened on Sunday around 4:30 a.m.

According to the release, a vehicle stopped on the Interstate 77 northbound exit ramp to Arlighton Road when shots were fired toward the restaurant. Gunshots hit the building, shattering windows and damaging vehicles in the parking lot.

According to the release, the restaurant was open at the time of the shooting, but no injuries were reported.

Kelly Osbourne says I will not be OK for awhile, following famous dads death

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According to police, prior incidents include the following:

Officers responded to gunfire at the restaurants on Sept. 28, 2024, around 2:30 a.m. Two vehicles heading north on Arlington Road fired multiple shots at a crowd that was gathered outside the restaurant. People within the crowd fired back at the moving vehicles. No injuries were reported.

Crowds of over 200 people were congregated in the parking lot of the Waffle House, CarMax and nearby businesses between 1 and 2 a.m. on July 5. Officers were able to disperse the crowd.

Officers responded to another large gathering in the area that needed to be dispersed on July 6 around 2 a.m. Unfortunately, it is our understanding that many of these individuals, who appeared to be predominantly juveniles, eventually relocated to the city of Akron. There, several individuals reportedly discharged firearms, resulting in multiple injuries, the release said.

According to the release, the recurring gatherings have involved disorderly conduct, fireworks being discharged from vehicles, loud music and gunfire.

The Springfield Township Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of our community and will continue to work with Waffle House management to explore cooperative strategies to address and mitigate these issues, the release said. Public safety remains our highest priority.

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7 charged in local child sex sting

Anyone with information related to these incidents is asked to contact Springfield Township Detective Sergeant Troyer at 330-734-4106.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
This story has been updated with more information about the arrest.

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO)  Sioux Falls police are investigating a Saturday night crash involving a truck and a house.

It happened just before 10 p.m. on the 1900 block of South Euclid Avenue. Police arrested Derek John Arment, 41, of Sioux Falls for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and another charge, Sioux Falls Police Public Information Officer Aaron Benson said during Mondays briefing.

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18 motorcycle crashes over one day at Sturgis Rally

A viewer told us the truck crashed into their neighbors house, passing through their front yard directly into the neighbors garage. Benson said the truck was a 2016 GEMC that was southbound when it struck a vehicle and then, hit the garage.

There were no injuries.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
The US National Park Service (NPS) announced Monday that it will reinstall a statue in Washington of a Confederate general that was torn down amid the racial justice protests of 2020.

Reinstalling the statue of Albert Pike supports two executive orders issued by President Donald Trump early in his second term, the NPS said in a statement: one "on Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful" and another on "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History."

The statue, which honors Pike's contributions to freemasonry, was the only memorial to a Confederate general in the US capital before it was toppled.

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Statues honoring the Confederacy -- which seceded from the United States to preserve slavery, prompting the 1861-1865 Civil War -- were a prime target of vandalism during the mid-2020 racial justice movement.

Protests broke out nationwide in June 2020 following the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Trump, who was president at the time, called the toppling of the Pike statue a "disgrace."

"The D.C. police are not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down & burn. These people should be immediately arrested," Trump wrote on Twitter.

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The NPS said the Pike statue has "been in secure storage since its removal and is currently undergoing restoration."

It aims to reinstall the statue by October 2025.

After losing re-election later in 2020, Trump went on to run again in 2024, winning on pledges to harshly crackdown on illegal immigration and to reverse many of the social justice policies enacted in the wake Floyd's death.

bur-des/sla
Donald Trumps administration has plans to impose one of the most severe anti-abortion policies nationwide, critics fear.

The proposal would eliminate access to abortion care and counseling for U.S. military veterans through the federal governments health system, even in instances of rape, incest or to protect the health of the patient  coverage that has been available to veterans and their beneficiaries for nearly three years.

The rule change would apply to all veterans receiving care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, even those living in more than a dozen states where abortion care is legally protected and a constitutional right.

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A statement accompanying the proposal says the rule change is designed to ensure the VA provides only needed medical services to our nations heroes and their families.

Three months after the Supreme Court revoked a constitutional right to abortion care in 2022 by overturning the landmark ruling in Roe v Wade, then-President Joe Biden allowed the VA to provide abortion services for veterans and beneficiaries on federal property, even in states where abortion was outlawed. Advocates hailed the move as a lifeline for coverage.

A proposed rule at the Department of Veterans Affairs would strip access to abortion care and counseling for VA health care recipients and their beneficiaries (AP)

The rule also allowed VA physicians to discuss abortion options or referrals with patients for the first time.

However, VA officials under the Trump administration now argue that the Biden-era rule was politically motivated and contradicted decades of federal policy against forced taxpayer funding for abortion.

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The administration claims that the rule change will not prevent physicians from providing life-saving abortion care in cases of ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages, since other provisions within the law already mandate those protections. But the proposal also states that claims in the prior administrations rule that abortions throughout pregnancy are needed to save the lives of pregnant women are incorrect.

The Trump administration also claims there isnt any demand for abortion care. Roughly 100 veterans and 40 beneficiaries received abortion care through VA medical centers since the policy change, according to government data.

But the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee noted that 500,000 women veterans of reproductive age are enrolled in VA health care, with more than half of them living in states with abortion restrictions.

We cannot let VA stop providing this care to veterans by ripping away this narrow, targeted protection, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in a statement.

More than half of women veterans of reproductive age live in states that have banned abortion or imposed severe restrictions (Getty)

There are at least 2 million women veterans in the United States, the fastest-growing group of veterans, according to the VA. As of 2024, more than half of women veterans of reproductive age lived in states that banned abortion or faced severe restrictions, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families.

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Last year, enrollment of women veterans in VA health care increased in every state, including significant increases in Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina  states where abortion is effectively outlawed.

The new Trump administration proposal must first go through a public comment period before becoming policy. That period is open until September 5.

Abortion rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers blasted the move as an attack on abortion access for veterans and their families.

"After veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, the Trump administration is trying to rob them of their own freedoms and putting their health at risk, according to Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which has led several high-profile legal battles defending access to abortion care.

Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, who sits on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said the proposal shows the Trump administrations callous disregard for veterans lives, their health care, and their livelihoods (Getty Images)

This administration is sending a clear message to veterans  that their health and dignity arent worth defending, she added. To devalue veterans in this way and take away life-changing health care would be unconscionable. This shows you just how extreme this administrations anti-abortion stance is  they would rather a veteran suffer severely than receive an abortion.

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Skye Perryman, president of legal advocacy group Democracy Forward and a former general counsel for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, called the rule change a smack in the face to those who have served our country and their loved ones, stripping pregnant women of their bodily autonomy and restricting their access to abortion.

Washington Sen. Patty Murray, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said that Republicans dont care if your health is in danger, if youre a veteran, or if youve been raped  they want abortion outlawed everywhere, in every circumstance, for everyone.

This administration has shown nothing but callous disregard for veterans lives, their health care, and their livelihoods  especially when those veterans happen to be women, she added.

Republican lawmakers accused the Biden administration of overreach and defended the Trump administrations move to stand up for the sanctity of life.

Taxpayers do not want their hard-earned money spent on paying for abortions and VAs sole focus should always be providing service-connected health care and benefits to the veterans they serve, according to a statement from a group of House Republicans led by House Veterans Affairs Committee chair Mike Bost.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration has given no explanation for its transfer of sex offender and Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security federal prison camp.

Maxwells lawyer confirmed Friday that she had been transferred from a low-security facility in Florida to a minimum-security facility in Bryan, Texas. The federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed the move.

But nobody in the Trump administration has explained why Maxwell was transferred. President Donald Trump himself ignored a question about the transfer on Friday, though he has said he is allowed to pardon Maxwell, and her attorney has said she would be eager to provide public testimony in exchange for clemency.

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Maxwells transfer occurred after Todd Blanche, the Justice Departments No. 2 official and Trumps former personal lawyer, interviewed Maxwell for two days in July, prompting widespread speculation that Trump will somehow use Maxwell to get out of a political jam after refusing to release the governments files on Epstein.

There is every reason to fear that Donald Trump could offer Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon in exchange for silence or, even worse, phony exoneration, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said last month.

In response to a request for an explanation of the transfer sent to the White House, a senior administration official said: Any false assertion this individual was given preferential treatment is absurd. Prisoners are routinely moved in some instances due to death threats, and significant safety and danger concerns.

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of helping Epstein recruit, groom and sexually assault underage girls. Specifically, a jury found her guilty of conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors to participate in illegal sex acts, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts, sex trafficking conspiracy, and sex trafficking of a minor. Shes serving a 20-year prison sentence.

American real estate developer Donald Trump, from left, and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 12, 2000. Davidoff Studios Photography via Getty Images

Trump was a longtime friend of Maxwell and Epstein. In the 1980s, Trump was an acquaintance and business rival of Maxwells father, Robert Maxwell, a British business titan revealed to be a crook and a fraud after his death in 1991. Ghislaine, who worked for her father, befriended Trump in the late 1980s and the two popped up at parties in New York and Florida, often with Epstein, then Maxwells supposed boyfriend.

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Ghislaine and Trump could be seen chatting it up at a Ford Models event in 1997 in the New York Daily News. That same year, Ghislaine appears as a passenger on Trumps 727 jet bound for Palm Beach, Florida  where Trumps Mar-a-Lago and Epsteins home sat close by each other  in a New Yorker profile of the recently divorced Trump. And British model Anouska De Georgiou, then 20 years old, attended a Manhattan party alongside Ghislaine, who has introduced several of her attractive friends to Trump, the Sunday Mirror reported in November 1997.

After their meeting, Trump flew Madam Maxwell and the model south to the sunshine state, where all three enjoyed a happy weekend together, according to the Sunday Mirror report. When they returned to New York, Anouska was installed in one of Donalds many apartments there.

But whatever tryst De Georgiou and Trump may have had didnt last. Instead, she found herself sucked into Epsteins orbit. She said in court, during a 2019 hearing in Epsteins federal case after his death, that Epstein raped and sexually abused her for years.

De Georgiou wasnt the only woman who crossed paths with Trump, Epstein and Maxwell. Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025, testified that Maxwell groomed her when she worked as a teenage spa attendant at Trumps Mar-a-Lago.

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Russian beauty pageant contestant Anna Malova found herself with a penthouse suite at Trump Tower in the mid-1990s and a controversial repeat performance as Miss Russia for the Trump-owned Miss Universe contest in 1998. Malova subsequently signed a contract with Jean-Luc Brunel, a modeling agent closely tied to Epstein. Brunel died by suicide in prison in 2022 while facing charges involving minors of rape, trafficking and sexual assault. The next year, Malova appeared in Epsteins flight records sharing a ride from Little St. James, Epsteins private Caribbean island, with Epstein, Maxwell and British Prince Andrew in 1999.

When Maxwell was arrested and charged as an accomplice in Epsteins crimes in 2020, Trump said that he had met her numerous times over the years, adding, I just wish her well, frankly.

Moving Maxwell to a minimum-security facility appears contrary to Bureau of Prisons policy. In a 2019 memo on inmate security designation and custody classification, the bureau says anyone with a history of sexual assault or sexual contact with a minor should be housed in at least a Low security level institution.

The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to a request for comment. Neither did the Justice Department, which oversees the bureau.

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The BOP describes minimum-security facilities as camps, explaining on its website they have dormitory housing, a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing. Low-security facilities feature double-fenced perimeters and higher staff-to-inmate ratios.

After her arrest, Maxwell repeatedly petitioned a judge to be let out on bail, claiming in pretrial motions she was mistreated by guards and deprived of sleep. The motions were denied; the government argued her foreign ties and substantial resources made her a flight risk.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said over the weekend that the transfer looked suspicious.

Sexual predators shouldnt be afforded preferential treatment, Reed said. President Trump needs to come clean about his past personal relationship with Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell.

S.V. Date contributed reporting.
The White House has continued to resist calls from Congress and President Donald Trump's own base to release the FBI's investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, it has asked courts to release grand jury testimony and has interviewed convicted Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to try to satisfy demands for transparency.

So far, those alternatives haven't satisfied conservatives who believe  as Trump allies suggested for years  that Epstein was involved in a sex trafficking conspiracy with many other rich and powerful people. Top Trump officials came into office promising a new level of transparency in the Epstein case, and many Trump supporters maintain the administration should release all of the files it has.

But what exactly is in those sought-after files? What would the public learn from their release? To answer those questions, USA TODAY talked to former FBI agents and prosecutors. They said the files are likely to be much more expansive than what's in the grand jury testimony, including records on witness interviews and investigative trails.

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"It could be an enormous universe of original documents, interview notes, memos of analysis," said Michell Epner, a former New Jersey federal prosecutor who handled sex trafficking cases.

Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, cosponsored legislation in mid-July to release the government's Epstein records, with redactions to protect victims, active investigations and the national defense. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, announced July 22 that he was shutting down the House early for its summer recess to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files.

Here's a look at what sorts of material the government is keeping hidden and the arguments for and against transparency:

What could be in the FBI's 'Epstein files'?

The FBI's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a Manhattan federal jail cell in 2019 while awaiting a federal sex trafficking trial, goes back decades, and could include a wide swath of material.

A protester holds a sign calling for the release of files regarding late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as part of the 'Good Trouble Lives On' national day of action against the administration of US President Donald Trump in Houston, Texas, on July 17, 2025.

Around 2006, federal investigators looked into allegations that Epstein was paying several minor girls to perform sex acts with him. That inquiry led to what many regard as a sweetheart deal for Epstein, in which he pleaded guilty in 2008 to two Florida state prostitution charges, avoided a sex trafficking charge, and served just 13 months in a local jail.

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The case related to criminal activities in Epstein's Palm Beach mansion, which was about 2 miles away from Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. The federal prosecutor who negotiated the deal, Alex Acosta, became the labor secretary in Trump's first administration but resigned after fallout from a 2018 Miami Herald investigation that revealed Acosta's role in the deal.

In July 2019, the convicted sex offender was arrested on the more serious charge of sex trafficking a minor. That same day, the FBI raided Epstein's Manhattan mansion, collecting computer hard drives and other potential evidence. After Epstein died, law enforcement also raided his property in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Those investigations would have produced a range of materials and documents, according to former law enforcement officials. It would include records of various witness interviews and details that could span well beyond information that was relevant to the criminal charges brought against Epstein and Maxwell.

"People volunteer whatever they want and and sometimes people are very vocal, and they tell you personal things that have nothing to do with the investigation," said Katherine Schweit, a former FBI special agent and former Illinois state prosecutor.

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That could mean the files contain information or allegations dealing with third parties who have never been charged with a crime.

A billboard in Times Square on July 23, 2025, in New York City calls for the release of the Epstein files.

In a news release in February, the Justice Department said it planned to release "thousands of pages" of never-before-disclosed documents after reviewing and redacting them to protect the identities of Epsteins victims.

In a memo in July, however, the department reversed course and said no further disclosure was warranted.

Trump was reportedly told in May that he is named multiple time in the files. Trump and Epstein were friends for many years, living near each other and partying together as far back as the early 1990s. Archived video footage and photos revealed by CNN July 22 show Epstein attending Trump's wedding to his second wife, Marla Maples, at the Plaza Hotel in 1993.

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The two men's friendship ended in about 2004, around the time they battled over an oceanfront Palm Beach mansion, according to The Washington Post. Trump recently said he banned Epstein from his Florida Mar-a-Lago club because Epstein "stole" staffers from the spa, including Virginia Giuffre, a well-known victim of Epstein who died by suicide earlier this year.

Will grand jury transcripts cover the Epstein files?

The grand jury transcripts requested by the Justice Department probably amount to just a sliver of what the FBI has in its possession, Epner said.

"Grand jury testimony  while it could be, in theory, very broad  in this case, is very narrow," Epner said.

A federal judge in Florida already rejected the Justice Department's request for the release of grand jury transcripts from around 2006. Two separate requests for the grand jury transcripts that led to charges against Epstein and Maxwell in New York more than a decade later are still pending.

An image of U.S. President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, along with the words, "President Trump: Release All the Epstein Files," is projected onto the U.S. Department of Commerce headquarters on July 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Epner explained that grand jury materials are just a subset of the work product the FBI and DOJ likely put together in the course of their Epstein-related investigations. And the Justice Department isn't even seeking all grand jury materials  only the grand jury transcripts. That wouldn't include, for instance, bank records obtained through a grand jury subpoena.

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Theoretically, a list of grand jury witnesses can be long. Prosecutors may call many witnesses before a grand jury so they can be confident of what the witnesses will say under oath at trial. Some grand juries also conduct investigations and call a wide range of witnesses for that purpose.

But that's not what happened in Maxwell and Epstein's New York criminal cases. Only two witnesses testified before the grand juries, according to the Justice Department. They were an FBI agent and a New York police detective who, at the time, was working with the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Those witnesses summarized what interview subjects said.

That means the transcripts wouldn't include direct testimony from victims. It also suggests the grand jury processes in the two cases were streamlined rather than sprawling.

In addition, if the Manhattan federal court agrees to release the transcripts, the Justice Department has said it plans to redact not just victim-related information, but also "other personal identifying information." That may mean blocking out identifiers for third parties tied to Epstein  the type of people whom members of the public may want to investigate as potential clients of Epstein.

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"I don't think the people that are behind all this, people that are have so much of an outcry about this, that they're going to be satisfied with just grand jury information, unless they don't know what it is," said Rick Smith, a former FBI special agent who now provides investigative services to law firms.

That doesn't mean the grand jury transcripts couldn't contain revelations. Schweit noted that court rules that restrict testimony at trial are relaxed before grand juries, so the jurors who charged Maxwell and Epstein may have heard things that weren't discussed at Maxwell's public trial in 2021.

"You might include in a grand jury somebody's criminal background, or ask questions about where they went to college and who their roommates were, and did they know this person or that person? Some things that in a regular court might be hearsay, it might be secondary information," Schweit said.

Why not release the files?

There are arguments against releasing the files. The Justice Department has said its review of the files didn't produce evidence to justify investigating anyone who hasn't been charged already. Assuming that was a fair assessment of the evidence, releasing the files could unfairly tie third parties to Epstein's suspected crimes.

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"The thing that happens with something like this is there are a lot of people out there that are scared to death of this thing, who had nothing to do with anything untoward," Smith said.

Trump isn't the only famous person who has been tied to Epstein in ways that fueled speculation  without proof  of Epstein-related criminal conduct. Former President Bill Clinton flew repeatedly on Epstein's private jet, according to flight logs reported on by The Palm Beach Post. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak met with Epstein dozens of times and also took flights on the jet, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation. Others may simply have been present at one of the many glamorous parties Epstein attended in his social heyday.

If the Justice Department one day finds new evidence and concludes investigating someone else is appropriate, releasing the evidence it has could jeopardize that investigation. There is no statute of limitations that would restrict federal prosecutors from going after someone else for suspected sex trafficking.

"We want to ensure that we can continue to truthfully look for whether somebody is guilty or innocent, whether further investigation needs to be done," Schweit said.

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Still, releasing the files also could clear people who have come under suspicion in some corners of the court of public opinion. Actor Kevin Spacey, who  according to Law & Crime  acknowledged in court testimony flying on Epstein's plane along with Clinton, wants the files released so he can clear his name.

"Release the Epstein files. All of them," Spacey, 65, posted on X July 15. "For those of us with nothing to fear, the truth can't come soon enough. I hate to make this about me  but the media already has."

And part of what makes the Epstein-related investigations different is the level and spread of conspiracy theories surrounding how Epstein died and who may have also been involved in his crimes. Several members of Trump's own administration fanned the flames of those conspiracy theories for years.

Now, those same officials are facing a wide segment of the public that doesn't trust that all investigative leads have been followed.

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"If there wasn't so much of an outcry that there was a conspiracy, I don't think we'd be where we are right now," Smith said. "But now that the people that had the most say about it are in the position to do something about it, it becomes a problem."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: If Epstein files were released, what would be in them?
President Donald Trump on Monday again threatened to raise tariffs on India over its Russian oil purchases, once again infusing geopolitics and international security into his trade war economic policy.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!"

Trumps post comes just days before the Aug. 8 deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in its war on Ukraine. The president has threatened to impose "secondary tariffs" of up to 100 percent on countries that buy goods  primarily energy  from the country if President Vladimir Putin doesnt quickly cease hostilities.

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But Russias closest trading partners are China and India  with whom the administration currently trying to negotiate its own trade deals.

The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable, Indias Ministry of External Affairs saud in a statement . The statement also accused the United States and the European Union of hypocrisy in targeting New Delhi. It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion, the statement added.

Indias imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer, New Delhi said.

Trump's threat marks the second time in under a week that he has attacked India for its dealings with Russia. Last Wednesday, Trump announced he was issuing 25 percent tariffs on New Delhi due to what he identified as longstanding trade barriers. But he previewed an additional penalty for India's trade with Moscow in military equipment.

The promised tariff hikes come even as the White House has hinted for months that it was close to a trade deal with India. Vice President JD Vance's trip to the country in April  mere weeks after Trump's tariff "liberation day"  only fueled optimism that an agreement was coming.


A top aide to President Trump on Sunday accused India of financing Russias war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, remarks that come days ahead of possible White House action to impose major sanctions on countries buying Russian oil.

What he [Trump] said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia, said Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House and one of Trumps most influential aides.

People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. Thats an astonishing fact, Miller said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures.

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Trump threatened last week a 25 percent tariff on India over its purchase of Russian oil, which is set to go into effect on Aug. 7, a White House official told The Hill. A bipartisan bill in the Senate calls for a 500 percent tariff on India if Russia fails to halt its war against Ukraine, but sponsors of the bill said they would support Trump imposing one-fifth of that penalty.

While some state-owned refineries reportedly paused Russian oil imports in the wake of Trumps threat, Indias Foreign Ministry on Saturday signaled it was not going to accept conditions on which countries it sources energy from.

We take decisions based on the price at which oil is available in the international market and depending on the global situation at that time, Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters Friday.

As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership.

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India bought 68,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Russia in January 2022, but by June of that year, oil imports rose to 1.12 million barrels per day, The Associated Press reported. The daily imports peaked at 2.15 million in May 2023 and have varied since.

The country began increasing its imports of Russian oil after an international price cap  imposed to punish Russia over its war in Ukraine  made it a more affordable option over imports of oil from the Middle East.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A senior Trump administration official on Aug. 3 accused India of helping fund Russia's war in Ukraine by continuing to import oil from Moscow.

Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff and a close adviser to United States President Donald Trump, made the comments during an appearance on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures.

"What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia," Miller said.

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Miller's criticism was some of the strongest yet by the Trump administration about one of the United States' major partners in the Indo-Pacific, and came just days after Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports.

The policy took effect Aug. 1 in response to India's continued purchases of Russian military equipment and energy.

"People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil," he said. "That's an astonishing fact."

New Delhi's reliance on Russian crude oil grew after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the beginning of that year, Russian oil accounted for just 0.2% of India's imports.

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The Indian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, Indian government officials told Reuters on Aug. 2 that the country intends to continue buying Russian oil despite U.S. warnings.

Despite the tensions, Miller emphasized the president's relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it "tremendous."

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones target Shahed storage site, industrial facilities in Russia; Strikes hit oil depot in Sochi

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
US President Donald Trump has said that Steve Witkoff, his Special Envoy for the Middle East, is likely to visit Russia on 6 or 7 August.

Source: Trump speaking to journalists in New Jersey; CBS News journalist Jennifer Jacobs on X (Twitter); The Jerusalem Post

Details: Trump said Witkoff might visit Russia, possibly on 6 or 7 August, adding that the Russians asked for a meeting with Witkoff.

When asked by journalists what would happen on Friday 8 August if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire, Trump replied that "there'll be sanctions".

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Quote from Trump: "There'll be sanctions, but they [the Russians] seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions."

"They're wily characters and they're pretty good at avoiding sanctions, so we'll see what happens."

Details: Trump once again emphasised that Russias war against Ukraine is claiming many lives. "That's a really horrible war," he added.

Quote from Trump: "We stopped a lot of countries from war. India and Pakistan, we stopped a lot of countries. And we're going to get that one stopped, too, somehow we're going to get that one stopped."

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Previously: Earlier, Trump announced Witkoff would visit Russia.

Background:

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The ongoing controversy around Jeffrey Epstein has roiled the Trump administration for weeks, and at least one poll shows most Americans are not approving of how it is being handled.

The Justice Department on July 7 released a memo saying no further disclosure of the criminal case documents was needed after teasing a "truckload" of Epstein files in March. In a rare moment of discord among Trump's supporters, many Republicans have pushed for more transparency around the files.

President Donald Trump's approval rating in his second term did not fall as far as quickly compared to his first term. But between both terms, his ratings have been the lowest in modern history. Late July polls from Reuters/Ipsos and Economist/YouGov show this is a particularly challenging time for the president as his approval ratings hit new lows in his second term.

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Here is what to know:

Is Trump in the Epstein files? Before Bondi's reported alert, here is where he appeared

What is Trump's approval rating?

RealClearPolitics Poll Average shows Trump's approval rating was becoming more negative throughout the first few weeks of July before buoying in the last week. Aggregated polls by the New York Times show a similar trend.

As of Jan. 27, Trump received a +6.2 percentage point approval rating, but as of March 13, it flipped to slightly negative, the RealClearPolitics graphics shows. The approval rating reached its most negative on April 29 at -7.2 percentage points, which fell around Trump's 100-day mark. It came close to that low again on July 22 and 23 at -7.1 percentage points, as the controversy over Epstein carried into its third week.

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His average approval rating margin as of Aug. 4, according to RealClearPolitics, is -4.8 percentage points. The approval margin according to the New York Times aggregator on Aug. 4 is -8 percentage points.

Economist/YouGov poll shows Americans' response to Epstein files

Controversy over late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his criminal case files has dogged the Trump administration for weeks, as both political parties have called for more transparency.

In an Economist/YouGov poll conducted July 25-28, 61% of respondents disapproved of Trump's handling of the investigation versus 21% who approve.

The survey also found 82% of Americans believe the government should release all the documents it has on the case.

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Trump's overall approval rating was -15 percentage points in this poll, which surveyed 1,777 U.S. adult citizens and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. That is the lowest approval rating Trump has seen from this poll in his second term.

Trump's approval rating is low compared to other presidents

A historical analysis by Gallup shows Trump's approval ratings in July of his first years in office  both as the 45th and 47th presidents  are lower than any other modern president at the same time in their administrations.

In a Gallup poll conducted from July 7-21, 37% approved of Trump's job performance. Here is how that compares to other presidents in July of their first year of their term, according to Gallup:

Joe Biden (July 2021) - 50% approve

Trump (July 2017) - 38% approve

Barack Obama (July 2009) - 57% approve

George W. Bush (July 2001) - 55% approve

Bill Clinton (July 1993) - 43% approve

George H.W. Bush (July 1989) - 66% approve

Ronald Reagan (July 1981) - 59% approve

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Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump approval rating: Polls show new lows in 2nd term amid Epstein
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

Trumps IVF Flip-Flop a Sign of His Continued Reliance on Christian Right

President Donald Trump is no longer planning to require the government or insurance carriers to cover the cost of in vitro fertilization, the Washington Post reports, despite having promised during the 2024 campaign he would do so.

The promise was part of his campaigns effort  much like Trumps supposed distancing from Project 2025  to paint Christian nationalists revered candidate as far more moderate than his extreme anti-abortion base. The move came in the aftermath of a February 2024 Alabama Supreme Court decision holding that frozen embryos created by IVF are considered children under a 19th century state law and a 2018 state constitutional amendment banning abortion. That stunning decision meant anyone involved in destroying a frozen embryo in the state could potentially be liable for wrongful death.

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This judicial embrace of the concept of personhood (and therefore rights) for fertilized eggs, or extrauterine children, as the court referred to them, jolted even the deep red Alabama legislature. Lawmakers then passed a law granting IVF patients and providers immunity, although they left the question of personhood unaddressed.

Throughout 2024, Trumps campaign presented him to the press and wider public as a supporter of IVF, even as he unabashedly aligned himself with anti-abortion radicals and IVF opponents. Now, as Trump is facing declining approval numbers, he seems to be turning to his most reliable supporters for a little boost.

With MAGA influencers in turmoil over the Epstein files and even Trumps position on the war in Gaza, he needs to keep his most dependable bloc of support  the Christian right  close at hand. If theres anything he could do right now that would roil Christian nationalists, it would be using government power to make IVF, which they consider to be immoral meddling with divine plans for humanity, more widely available.

To anyone who might have believed a government subsidy for their fertility treatments was in the offing, anonymous administration officials tell the Post this laughable doozy of an excuse:

A senior administration official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal talks, said that while expanding IVF access remains a huge priority for Trump, the president cant legally make IVF an essential health benefit without Congress first approving legislation to do so. It is unclear whether the administration plans to ask lawmakers to take up a bill, but the two people said that forcing insurance companies to cover IVF is not currently on the table.

Cracks in Trumps Inner Circle

Rolling Stones Asawin Suebsaeng reports that Trumps ham-fisted efforts to change the subject from Epstein by threatening to prosecute former President Barack Obama for treason are doing next to nothing right now to dig the president out of this Epstein-shaped hole that he and his loyalists dug for themselves. Instead, they are worried that it is massively backfiring.

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Trumps bungling of the Epstein situation by refusing to release the files that he knows include mentions of his name has MAGA influencers up in arms, and has drawn wider public disfavor. It is not going away, no matter how flamboyantly Trump tries to deflect it. Now, according to Suebsaengs reporting, people close to Trump are admitting that his impulsive, rake-stepping reactions are a disaster for him.

MAGAs entire disappointment with the Epstein files is that they expected their hero Trump to expose the supposed deep state by releasing all the documentation of its nefarious inner workings. His attempts at misdirection have prompted a dismissive reaction. One administration official told Suebsaeng people arent buying it, after receiving messages from high-profile Trump allies and MAGA-aligned influencers insisting that this Obamagate reboot will not get them to move on from Epstein.

Ooops

To further distract from the Epstein debacle, Trump and administration officials have attempted to resurrect bogus claims that the Russia investigation was a hoax and a witch hunt of Trump, engineered by Hillary Clinton. Last week, FBI Director Kash Patel tried to claim an annex to the investigation of former Special Counsel John Durham contained evidence that the Clinton campaign plotted to frame President Trump and fabricate the Russia collusion hoax. But the New York Times reports the annex shows the opposite, because the supposed evidence of a Clinton campaign plot was almost certainly a product of Russian disinformation, a conclusion Durham sought to bury in the annex.

You read that right. The annex had been in the deep freeze until the Trump administration dug it out, only to have it disprove the very claim it had released the annex to prove.

Will We Ever See How Trump Appears in the Epstein Files?

Freedom of Information Act expert Jason Leopold has stunning details about how Trumps name ended up getting redacted from the massive trove of Epstein documents reviewed by a team of a thousand employees at the FBI. According to Leopolds sources, the rationale for the redaction was that during the time period covered by the files, Trump was a private citizen and therefore subject to FOIAs privacy exemptions. Thats a standard FOIA procedure supported by the law, Leopold explains, although it is directly at odds with the administrations promises of maximum transparency.

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After the review was finished, the Department of Justice and FBI reversed course and announced they would not be releasing the Epstein files after all.

Leopold concludes that overcoming a privacy-based FOIA redaction is a really high bar. Of course if Trump were maximally transparent as he claims, he could order the files release without his name redacted. Otherwise the public will likely have to wait until after he is dead to see how he is mentioned.

DOJ Flailing to Deny 3,000-A-Day Deportation Quota Stephen Miller Bragged About

Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has gone on television to boast of an administration goal of deporting 3,000 undocumented immigrants a day. Now that some trial courts have ruled that its detention methods are illegal, DOJ is trying to claim the quota doesnt exist. In a court filing to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last week, DOJ attorney Yaakov Roth attributed the quota claim to anonymous reports in the newspapers, Politico reports.

House Republicans Now Panicking Trumps Deportations Will Hurt Them in 2026

Latino members of the House GOP are desperately signalling to Trump and Miller that their mass deportations will hurt them with voters that they won over in 2024. President Trump, sir, the same God who saved you from death in Pennsylvania one year ago and who put you back in the Oval Office against all odds, is the same God Almighty who millions and millions are begging to for some type of dignity, not amnesty, said Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), as she introduced a bill to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers (immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children), and protected status for some other undocumented immigrants.

Democratic Lawmakers Flee Texas

With shrinking options, Democrats are attempting to deprive Republicans of a quorum to vote today on their proposed gerrymandered Congressional maps by leaving the state. Governor Greg Abbott has now threatened to remove them from office.

Not Just Eggs

A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds the vast majority of U.S. adults are at least somewhat stressed about the cost of groceries.

Tell Me Again About Trumps Brilliant Outreach to Influential Podcasters

After Charlamagne Tha God criticized Trump on his daughter-in-law Lara Trumps Fox News program, Trump called him a dope and a racist sleazebag.

Trump Also Ruined Summer Vacation

Tourism and vacations are down this year, thanks to consumers opting for budget travel due to economic concerns amid tariff uncertainty, and foreign travelers repelled by Trumps xenophobic policies.

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!


Aug. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada are expected in the coming days to talk trade, according to Ottawa's U.S.-Canada trade minister.

"I would expect the prime minister will have a conversation with the president in the coming days," Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said during an interview with CBS' Face The Nation on Sunday, after Trump on Thursday increased tariffs on goods from the Great White North not under the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement from 25% to 35% amid trade negotiations between the two countries.

Relations between the once strong partners have frayed under the Trump administration, which has repeatedly imposed tariffs on Canada as punishment over alleged fentanyl making its way into the United States over their shared border and in an attempt to right what the U.S. president sees as an unfair trade relationship. Trump has also publicly toyed with the idea of annexing Canada.

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Canada has responded with retaliatory tariffs of its own, while also seeking to strengthen relationships elsewhere and lessening its dependency on the United States. It has also rebutted the accusation that it is contributing to the United States' opioid crisis, as Carney pointed out in a statement Friday that it accounts for only 1% of U.S. fentanyl imports while implementing policies to continue reducing that amount.

"We were obviously disappointed by that decision," LeBlanc said Sunday, referring to the imposition of additional tariffs on Thursday amid ongoing trade negotiations. "We believe there's a great deal of common ground between the United States and Canada in terms of building two strong economies that work well together. That's been the history of the 40-year free trade agreement that goes back to [U.S. President Roland] Reagan."

Trump imposed tariffs of 10% on dozens of nations that had not worked out trade deals with the U.S. president beforehand. Canada was in the middle of talks with the United States when the new levies were announced.

LeBlanc added that they are "pleased" the United States is "respecting" the terms of the USMCA as the tariffs do not affect goods that fall under that agreement.

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"That's vital, we think, to the cost of living and affordability, certainly in the United States," he said.

He was speaking to Face The Nation from Moncton, N.B., but had been in Washington working on a deal, and he left Washington "with a better understanding of the American concerns in the trading relationship."

"So, we're prepared to stick around and do the work needed," he said.

"We remain very optimistic."
WASHINGTON  The Senate was on the verge of a bipartisan deal with the White House on confirming dozens of Trump administration nominees in exchange for unfreezing billions of dollars in spending until President Donald Trump blew it up  twice.

The dramatic collapse in talks over the weekend doesnt bode well for the tougher job lawmakers are facing of funding the government ahead of next months Sept. 30 deadline. The White House is pushing for massive spending cuts that Democrats have dismissed as a nonstarter, increasing the odds of a costly government shutdown.

In Saturdays skirmish, Senate Democrats held firm and refused to quickly confirm Trumps nominees without extracting concessions from the administration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blamed the president for ultimately walking away and telling Republicans to leave town for the August recess without agreeing to terms the GOP had seemed amenable to.

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Is this the Art of the deal? Posture, cajole, stamp your feet, and then give up? Schumer said in a press conference. This says it all. Donald Trump tried to bully us, go around us, threaten us, call us names  but he got nothing, and he walked away with his tail between his legs.

When it looked like we were getting close a day before, he again called in and screwed it all up, the senator continued, chiding Republicans for kowtowing to Trump. They should stop listening to him. If they want to do whats good for the American people, they shouldnt be in blind obeisance to Donald Trump.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) arrive for a news conference in the U.S. Capitol. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

In exchange for agreeing to quickly confirm a batch of Trump nominees before the August break, Democrats asked the administration to release spending Congress had already passed  including $5 billion for the National Institutes of Health and over $1 billion in foreign aid funding, $300 million for the World Food Program, $50 million to fight HIV in developing countries and $142 million for the United Nations Childrens Fund. Most of those programs have bipartisan support.

Democrats also offered to approve a second round of Trump nominees later this year if the Trump administration committed not to send more partisan rescissions to Congress, like the bill that Republicans unilaterally approved that claws back $9 billion in spending on PBS, NPR, and foreign aid. The White House objected to those terms, however, sources told HuffPost.

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But senators still believed on Saturday that they had an agreement on the initial deal involving nominations for spending until an irate Trump blew up the deal and told Republicans to go home empty-handed.

There were several different times when maybe both sides thought maybe there was a deal. But in the end, you gotta be able to close it out, and we never got there, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters afterward.

Trump was more blunt about the episode, however, urging Schumer to GO TO HELL! instead.

Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL! Trump posted on Truth Social. Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country.

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Unanimous consent is required to speed up confirmations of nominees in the Senate. Democrats have insisted that the Senate hold procedural votes to cut off debate on nearly every Trump nomination, forcing Republicans to burn valuable floor time, as a way to protest the Trump administrations policies and its freezing of federal funding to many government programs.

Republicans complained repeatedly about the unprecedented obstruction and threatened to go nuclear by unilaterally changing the Senates rules on confirming nominees, but they left town without doing so on Saturday. They also blocked Trump from making recess appointments, as some GOP senators had demanded, by agreeing to hold pro forma sessions every three days until Sept. 2.

There was some talk of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) bringing the House back from its recess to formally adjourn Congress so Trump could make recess appointments, as required under the U.S. Constitution. But that would have likely complicated matters even more for Trump, since a number of House Republicans are demanding votes in that chamber on the release of more information regarding the death and activities of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Nevertheless, GOP senators are vowing to go forward with rules changes upon the Senates return next month. Doing so would only require a simple majority of votes, but would also benefit Democrats if and when they return to power.

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I look forward to changing Senate rules to expedite the confirmation of all of the pending nominations by POTUS on our return, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) wrote in a post online.

Changing the Senates rules would only add to lawmakers to-do list when they return in September, however. They have only four weeks to negotiate a bipartisan spending deal on keeping the government open, requiring approval from the White House, Senate Democrats and conservatives in the House  a tall order. Already, some lawmakers are discussing the likelihood of short-term funding patch to give Congress more time to fund the government.

Schumer, meanwhile, is urging Johnson and Thune to meet this week to discuss the path forward for government funding.

As Leaders of the House and Senate, you have the responsibility to govern for all Americans and work on a bipartisan basis to avert a painful, unnecessary shutdown at the end of September, the senator wrote in a letter alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Monday. Yet it is clear that the Trump Administration and many within your party are preparing to go it alone and continue to legislate on a solely Republican basis.

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Therefore, we request you swiftly convene a so-called Four Corners meeting this week, for the four of us to discuss the government funding deadline and the health care crisis you have visited upon the American people, they added.

Related...
The Kremlin said Monday it was anticipating "important" talks with Donald Trump's special envoy later this week, ahead of the US president's looming deadline to impose fresh sanctions on Moscow if it does not make progress towards a peace deal with Ukraine.

Trump confirmed a day earlier that Steve Witkoff will visit Russia, likely on "Wednesday or Thursday", where he is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin.

Despite pressure from Washington, Russia has continued its onslaught against its pro-Western neighbour.

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Three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul have failed to make headway on a possible ceasefire, with the two sides appearing as far apart as ever.

Moscow has demanded that Ukraine cede more territory and renounce Western support.

Kyiv is calling for an immediate ceasefire and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week urged his allies to push for "regime change" in Moscow.

Trump's deadline is set to expire on Friday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday it considered the talks with Witkoff to be "important, substantial and helpful" and valued US efforts to end the conflict.

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Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow, before Trump's efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt.

When reporters asked what Witkoff's message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."

- Nuclear stand-off -

The visit comes after Trump said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now "in the region".

Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.

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Russia, in its first comments on the deployment, urged "caution".

"Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric," the Kremlin's Peskov said.

The chief of staff to Zelensky on Monday backed Trump's actions.

"The concept of peace through strength works," Andriy Yermak wrote on social media.

"The moment American nuclear submarines appeared, one Russian drunk -- who had just been threatening nuclear war on X -- suddenly went silent," he added.

Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean "secondary tariffs" targeting Russia's remaining trade partners, such as China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption.

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Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said Friday that he wants peace but that his demands, dismissed by Kyiv as "old ultimatums", for ending his nearly three-and-a-half-year offensive were "unchanged".

Russia has frequently called on Ukraine to effectively cede control of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable.

Putin also wants Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join NATO.

- Zelensky visits troops -

Russia fired a record number of drones at Ukraine last month, AFP analysis of Kyiv's air force data showed, escalating its attacks as peace talks stalled.

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Kyiv has also said it will intensify its air strikes against Russia in response.

Both sides said Monday they had downed dozens of enemy drones overnight in the latest barrage.

Separate Russian strikes on the southern Zaporizhzhia region, part of which it controls, killed four people, Ukrainian officials said Monday.

One more was killed by Russian shelling in the southern Kherson region.

Zelensky was visiting troops at the front in the Kharkiv region, he said, posting a video of him awarding soldiers with medals and walking through bunkers.

Russia is seeking to establish what it calls a "buffer zone" inside the Kharkiv region along the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Zelensky also said Sunday that the two sides were preparing a prisoner exchange that would see 1,200 Ukrainian troops return home, following the latest round of talks in Istanbul last month.

burs/sbk
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, right, talks to reporters alongside National Renewable Energy Laboratory Director Martin Keller on April 3, 2025, at the NREL campus in Golden. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline)

National research laboratories in Colorado, Oregon and Washington focused on addressing climate change and its impacts and improving energy efficiency and affordability for Americans would be gutted under budgets proposed by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, based in Richland, Washington and Portland, Oregon, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, based in Golden, Colorado, would see their funding in the year ahead nearly halved under the Trump administrations proposed 2026 budget for the U.S. Department of Energy. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are negotiating spending bills for the next fiscal year that begins in October and will decide on the energy agencys budget after Sept. 2, when they return from their August recess.

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The national labs are meant to lead research and scientific experimentation in climate and clean energy strategies, including measuring extreme weather risks by collecting and analyzing atmospheric data from around the world and improving battery and grid technologies to get more wind and solar energy flowing to homes and businesses. They also study energy efficiency across U.S. infrastructure and commerce, all of which is meant to save Americans and businesses money and to curb climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Andrea McMakin, a former communications specialist and 34-year veteran of the Northwest Laboratory in Richland, said the U.S. risks losing its best scientists if the proposed funding cuts go through.

McMakin is part of the group Friends of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which has been raising concerns about the cuts. McMakin said the group learned in June that the labs former director told staff in a meeting that up to 1,000 people could be cut if the current budget passes, a number thats been echoed by state leaders.

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Those people leave. They have to find jobs someplace. And were seeing that a lot of other countries are stepping up their recruiting to get U.S. scientists and engineers, McMakin said. We dont want to see that. We want to keep our energy competitiveness and we want to keep our brain power here in the U.S.

This administration is defying the law right now by redirecting millions of dollars away from wind and solar research and development happening at our national labs.

 U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington

A recent report from Politico cites two sources familiar with U.S. Department of Energy facilities who said up to 1,000 people could be cut from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado.

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Heather Lammers, a spokesperson for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, said in an email that the lab is talking with the federal energy department to fully understand the impacts of its proposed spending cuts.

The Northwest Laboratorys public affairs officer, Dawn Zimmerman, did not confirm figures for potential staff cuts and said the U.S. Department of Energy requires all queries involving the federal budget to be directed to its public affairs office. An unnamed energy department spokesperson said in an email that personnel decisions are dictated by the labs directly, not the federal government.

The Department of Energy is committed to making the American peoples government more efficient while also growing the output of top-quality science at our national labs, the spokesperson wrote.

Proposed cuts

Trump proposed in May cutting next years budget for the U.S. energy department by about $3.5 billion. Of that, $2.5 billion would be cut from the agencys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy  a 74% reduction from its current budget.

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The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office, established following the 1973 oil crisis, in recent years has focused on researching, developing and deploying technologies meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the countrys electricity sector. That technology includes batteries that can hold large amounts of wind and solar power, and white LED light bulbs that require far less energy than incandescent and fluorescent lights.

The budget also cuts 14%, or $1.15 billion, from the departments Biological and Environmental Research program, meant to collect and analyze climate change data.

Both the Colorado lab and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory get most of their funding from those two programs. But under Trumps proposed 2026 budget, the Renewable Energy Lab would lose $387 million in funding  more than half of its current budget.

Lammers, the spokesperson for the National Renewable Energy Lab, said it also receives funding from state and tribal governments and some private industry partners.

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We remain committed to our mission of delivering integrated solutions for an affordable, secure and reliable energy future through research, innovation and strategic collaboration, she said.

The Northwest National Lab would lose about $280 million, a third of its current budget.

The lab, which employs more than 5,000 people, is the largest employer in Washingtons Tri-Cities area, which includes Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, according to the areas development council.

State lawmakers weigh in

Washingtons U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, said the Republican budget for the energy department would be a devastating blow to the Northwest National Lab.

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Make no mistake: if Trumps budget request were to become law, it would result in the loss of over 1,000 jobs at PNNL. On top of that, this administration is defying the law right now by redirecting millions of dollars away from wind and solar research and development happening at our national labs  this move alone could force major layoffs at PNNL, she said in a statement.

Murray, the lead Democrat and vice chair on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she would fight the proposed cuts.

President Trumps budget is dead on arrival in the Senate as far as Im concerned, she said. Im working to write a bipartisan funding bill that will protect investments in our national labs and save the jobs President Trump is thoughtlessly seeking to eliminate.

Oregons U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, also a Democrat, said in an email the Republican budget is anti-science and will harm clean energy industries gaining traction and growing in parts of the state.

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I just had five town halls in eastern Oregon where wind turbines and solar panels are taking full advantage of renewable energy options that lower prices for consumers and fight the climate crisis, Wyden said. Thats but one clear example of how this latest Republican scheme to slash research investments in clean energy would be both nonsense and anti-science.

Wyden said he voted against confirming oil executive Audrey Robertson as Trumps appointee for assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the federal energy agency, in large part because Trump said he wanted to cut renewable energy investments.

Trump threatened nearly identical cuts for the energy department during his first presidency in 2017, but Congress ultimately ignored the presidents suggested budget for the agency. McMakin said she remembers staff of the Northwest National Lab starting to change the way they talked about their work so they wouldnt draw Trumps attention.

I remember at that time it was like, we have to change. We cant say atmospheric climate science anymore, we have to say earth sciences, because it was just one of those language things that if you said climate science or anything about climate you are in danger of getting your funding cut, she said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Washington's U.S Sen. Patty Murray visits the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2019 to learn about battery research and other lab research. (Photo by Andrea Starr/ Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

National research laboratories in Colorado, Oregon and Washington focused on addressing climate change and its impacts and improving energy efficiency and affordability for Americans would be gutted under budgets proposed by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, based in Richland, Washington and Portland, Oregon, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, based in Golden, Colorado, would see their funding in the year ahead nearly halved under the Trump administrations proposed 2026 budget for the U.S. Department of Energy. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are negotiating spending bills for the next fiscal year that begins in October and will decide on the energy agencys budget after Sept. 2, when they return from their August recess.

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The national labs are meant to lead research and scientific experimentation in climate and clean energy strategies, including measuring extreme weather risks by collecting and analyzing atmospheric data from around the world and improving battery and grid technologies to get more wind and solar energy flowing to homes and businesses. They also study energy efficiency across U.S. infrastructure and commerce, all of which is meant to save Americans and businesses money and to curb climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Andrea McMakin, a former communications specialist and 34-year veteran of the Northwest Laboratory in Richland, said the U.S. risks losing its best scientists if the proposed funding cuts go through.

McMakin is part of the group Friends of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which has been raising concerns about the cuts. McMakin said the group learned in June that the labs former director told staff in a meeting that up to 1,000 people could be cut if the current budget passes, a number thats been echoed by state leaders.

Those people leave. They have to find jobs someplace. And were seeing that a lot of other countries are stepping up their recruiting to get U.S. scientists and engineers, McMakin said. We dont want to see that. We want to keep our energy competitiveness and we want to keep our brain power here in the U.S.

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A recent report from Politico cites two sources familiar with U.S. Department of Energy facilities who said up to 1,000 people could be cut from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado.

Heather Lammers, a spokesperson for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, said in an email that the lab is talking with the federal energy department to fully understand the impacts of its proposed spending cuts.

The Northwest Laboratorys public affairs officer, Dawn Zimmerman, did not confirm figures for potential staff cuts and said the U.S. Department of Energy requires all queries involving the federal budget to be directed to its public affairs office. An unnamed energy department spokesperson said in an email that personnel decisions are dictated by the labs directly, not the federal government.

The Department of Energy is committed to making the American peoples government more efficient while also growing the output of top-quality science at our national labs, the spokesperson wrote.

Proposed cuts

Trump proposed in May cutting next years budget for the U.S. energy department by about $3.5 billion. Of that, $2.5 billion would be cut from the agencys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy  a 74% reduction from its current budget.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office, established following the 1973 oil crisis, in recent years has focused on researching, developing and deploying technologies meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the countrys electricity sector. That technology includes batteries that can hold large amounts of wind and solar power, and white LED light bulbs that require far less energy than incandescent and fluorescent lights.

The budget also cuts 14%, or $1.15 billion, from the departments Biological and Environmental Research program, meant to collect and analyze climate change data.

Both the Colorado lab and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory get most of their funding from those two programs. But under Trumps proposed 2026 budget, the Renewable Energy Lab would lose $387 million in funding  more than half of its current budget.

Lammers, the spokesperson for the National Renewable Energy Lab, said it also receives funding from state and tribal governments and some private industry partners.

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We remain committed to our mission of delivering integrated solutions for an affordable, secure and reliable energy future through research, innovation and strategic collaboration, she said.

The Northwest National Lab would lose about $280 million, a third of its current budget.

The lab, which employs more than 5,000 people, is the largest employer in Washingtons Tri-Cities area, which includes Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, according to the areas development council.

State lawmakers weigh in

Washingtons U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, said the Republican budget for the energy department would be a devastating blow to the Northwest National Lab.

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Make no mistake: if Trumps budget request were to become law, it would result in the loss of over 1,000 jobs at PNNL. On top of that, this administration is defying the law right now by redirecting millions of dollars away from wind and solar research and development happening at our national labs  this move alone could force major layoffs at PNNL, she said in a statement.

Murray, the lead Democrat and vice chair on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she would fight the proposed cuts.

President Trumps budget is dead on arrival in the Senate as far as Im concerned, she said. Im working to write a bipartisan funding bill that will protect investments in our national labs and save the jobs President Trump is thoughtlessly seeking to eliminate.

Oregons U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, also a Democrat, said in an email the Republican budget is anti-science and will harm clean energy industries gaining traction and growing in parts of the state.

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I just had five town halls in eastern Oregon where wind turbines and solar panels are taking full advantage of renewable energy options that lower prices for consumers and fight the climate crisis, Wyden said. Thats but one clear example of how this latest Republican scheme to slash research investments in clean energy would be both nonsense and anti-science.

Wyden said he voted against confirming oil executive Audrey Robertson as Trumps appointee for assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the federal energy agency, in large part because Trump said he wanted to cut renewable energy investments.

Trump threatened nearly identical cuts for the energy department during his first presidency in 2017, but Congress ultimately ignored the presidents suggested budget for the agency. McMakin said she remembers staff of the Northwest National Lab starting to change the way they talked about their work so they wouldnt draw Trumps attention.

I remember at that time it was like, we have to change. We cant say atmospheric climate science anymore, we have to say earth sciences, because it was just one of those language things that if you said climate science or anything about climate you are in danger of getting your funding cut, she said.

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Washingtons U.S Sen. Patty Murray visits the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2019 to learn about battery research and other lab research. (Photo by Andrea Starr/ Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

National research laboratories in Colorado, Oregon and Washington focused on addressing climate change and its impacts and improving energy efficiency and affordability for Americans would be gutted under budgets proposed by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, based in Richland, Washington and Portland, Oregon, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, based in Golden, Colorado, would see their funding in the year ahead nearly halved under the Trump administrations proposed 2026 budget for the U.S. Department of Energy. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are negotiating spending bills for the next fiscal year that begins in October and will decide on the energy agencys budget after Sept. 2, when they return from their August recess.

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The national labs are meant to lead research and scientific experimentation in climate and clean energy strategies, including measuring extreme weather risks by collecting and analyzing atmospheric data from around the world and improving battery and grid technologies to get more wind and solar energy flowing to homes and businesses. They also study energy efficiency across U.S. infrastructure and commerce, all of which is meant to save Americans and businesses money and to curb climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Andrea McMakin, a former communications specialist and 34-year veteran of the Northwest Laboratory in Richland, said the U.S. risks losing its best scientists if the proposed funding cuts go through.

McMakin is part of the group Friends of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which has been raising concerns about the cuts. McMakin said the group learned in June that the labs former director told staff in a meeting that up to 1,000 people could be cut if the current budget passes, a number thats been echoed by state leaders.

Those people leave. They have to find jobs someplace. And were seeing that a lot of other countries are stepping up their recruiting to get U.S. scientists and engineers, McMakin said. We dont want to see that. We want to keep our energy competitiveness and we want to keep our brain power here in the U.S.

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A recent report from Politico cites two sources familiar with U.S. Department of Energy facilities who said up to 1,000 people could be cut from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado.

Heather Lammers, a spokesperson for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, said in an email that the lab is talking with the federal energy department to fully understand the impacts of its proposed spending cuts.

The Northwest Laboratorys public affairs officer, Dawn Zimmerman, did not confirm figures for potential staff cuts and said the U.S. Department of Energy requires all queries involving the federal budget to be directed to its public affairs office. An unnamed energy department spokesperson said in an email that personnel decisions are dictated by the labs directly, not the federal government.

The Department of Energy is committed to making the American peoples government more efficient while also growing the output of top-quality science at our national labs, the spokesperson wrote.

Proposed cuts

Trump proposed in May cutting next years budget for the U.S. energy department by about $3.5 billion. Of that, $2.5 billion would be cut from the agencys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy  a 74% reduction from its current budget.

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The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office, established following the 1973 oil crisis, in recent years has focused on researching, developing and deploying technologies meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the countrys electricity sector. That technology includes batteries that can hold large amounts of wind and solar power, and white LED light bulbs that require far less energy than incandescent and fluorescent lights.

The budget also cuts 14%, or $1.15 billion, from the departments Biological and Environmental Research program, meant to collect and analyze climate change data.

Both the Colorado lab and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory get most of their funding from those two programs. But under Trumps proposed 2026 budget, the Renewable Energy Lab would lose $387 million in funding  more than half of its current budget.

Lammers, the spokesperson for the National Renewable Energy Lab, said it also receives funding from state and tribal governments and some private industry partners.

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We remain committed to our mission of delivering integrated solutions for an affordable, secure and reliable energy future through research, innovation and strategic collaboration, she said.

The Northwest National Lab would lose about $280 million, a third of its current budget.

The lab, which employs more than 5,000 people, is the largest employer in Washingtons Tri-Cities area, which includes Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, according to the areas development council.

State lawmakers weigh in

Washingtons U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, said the Republican budget for the energy department would be a devastating blow to the Northwest National Lab.

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Make no mistake: if Trumps budget request were to become law, it would result in the loss of over 1,000 jobs at PNNL. On top of that, this administration is defying the law right now by redirecting millions of dollars away from wind and solar research and development happening at our national labs  this move alone could force major layoffs at PNNL, she said in a statement.

Murray, the lead Democrat and vice chair on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she would fight the proposed cuts.

President Trumps budget is dead on arrival in the Senate as far as Im concerned, she said. Im working to write a bipartisan funding bill that will protect investments in our national labs and save the jobs President Trump is thoughtlessly seeking to eliminate.

Oregons U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, also a Democrat, said in an email the Republican budget is anti-science and will harm clean energy industries gaining traction and growing in parts of the state.

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I just had five town halls in eastern Oregon where wind turbines and solar panels are taking full advantage of renewable energy options that lower prices for consumers and fight the climate crisis, Wyden said. Thats but one clear example of how this latest Republican scheme to slash research investments in clean energy would be both nonsense and anti-science.

Wyden said he voted against confirming oil executive Audrey Robertson as Trumps appointee for assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the federal energy agency, in large part because Trump said he wanted to cut renewable energy investments.

Trump threatened nearly identical cuts for the energy department during his first presidency in 2017, but Congress ultimately ignored the presidents suggested budget for the agency. McMakin said she remembers staff of the Northwest National Lab starting to change the way they talked about their work so they wouldnt draw Trumps attention.

I remember at that time it was like, we have to change. We cant say atmospheric climate science anymore, we have to say earth sciences, because it was just one of those language things that if you said climate science or anything about climate you are in danger of getting your funding cut, she said.

This article was first published by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Shumway for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
[Source]

Lim Menghour, director general of the Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Cambodias National Assembly, credited former U.S. President Donald Trump with helping secure a ceasefire that took effect at midnight on July 28 after five days of deadly clashes on the Cambodia-Thailand border.

Speaking to ABC News that same day, Lim said Prime Minister Hun Manet accepted Trumps offer to mediate immediately during a phone call and described Trumps intervention as decisive in bringing about peace.

Ceasefire breakthrough

Negotiations in Putrajaya, Malaysia, were led by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and included U.S. and Chinese diplomats. The talks produced an unconditional ceasefire that took effect the same night, ending fierce artillery exchanges and airstrikes in Oddar Meanchey and Surin provinces. At least 43 people were killed during the conflict, including civilians and soldiers and more than 300,000 were forced to flee their homes as schools, homes and public infrastructure suffered severe damage.

Trending on NextShark: Trump credited by Cambodian official with brokering ceasefire with Thailand

Trump warned both sides that U.S. trade talks would end and a 36% tariff would be imposed if hostilities continued. This threat led Thailand to drop its opposition to outside mediation and agree to international monitoring. Following the ceasefire, U.S. Commerce officials confirmed new trade deals with both Cambodia and Thailand were signed just before the August 1 deadline.

Decades of conflict

Tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border have simmered for decades, rooted in competing claims over land and historic temple sites dating back to the colonial era. The most prominent disputes center around areas near Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples. The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, but surrounding land remains contested, fueling periodic confrontations.

Trending on NextShark: Sixth-largest earthquake in world history caused whales to beach on Japanese coast

The latest escalation follows years of unresolved border demarcation and a series of military standoffs in the past two decades. Skirmishes broke out in 2008, 2011 and subsequent years, often triggered by troop movements or nationalist rhetoric. The two countries have yet to finalize a mutually accepted boundary for several stretches of their 800-kilometer frontier. Both governments have used the issue to rally domestic support at times of political pressure, contributing to cycles of tension and violence.

Next steps

A General Border Committee meeting is scheduled for August 4 to monitor compliance and address ongoing disputes.

Trending on NextShark: South Asian NYPD officer killed in mass shooting is honored nationwide

Thousands of displaced families remain in temporary shelters as schools and infrastructure in border areas await repairs. International relief organizations are delivering aid while foreign diplomats and journalists have visited the region to assess the aftermath and verify adherence to the ceasefire. Analysts caution that unresolved territorial disputes could threaten long-term stability if not addressed through ongoing regional diplomacy.

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This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

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Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.)  a former critic of President Donald Trump who became one of his most outspoken defenders on Capitol Hill while also becoming one of the most virulent voices against transgender people  announced she would is running to be governor of South Carolina.

Despite having a thin legislative record, Mace has largely built a name for herself for bombastic stunts such as pushing to ban Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, from using the womens restroom and voting to eject Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House.

I don't answer to the establishment, she said during her speech. I don't know those in the back room a single thing. I answer to the people.

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Mace made her announcement at the Citadel, South Carolinas military college, where she became the first woman to graduate. That came after she had initially dropped out of high school following being raped as a teenager, an ordeal she has publicly recounted.

During her announcement, Mace mentioned a series of hardline policies, mostly focusing on immigration and cutting the states income tax to zero in five years.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) announced her campaign for governor. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

They are all here, and we will work with ICE better than ever to ensure that anyone who is here illegally gets deported immediately, we will work with ICE in every respect, she said of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

If we need housing price we have it, if we need to have boots on the ground to help ICE, we will do it everything in our power, and we will not let another sanctuary share it dictate who gets to stay here when they're here illegally.

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Unsurprisingly, Mace also said that she would oppose what she called the gender cult, citing how she called out Clemson University for having 15 gender options.

I hold the line on women and kids, Insanity and education by vetoing any funding to any college that pushes gender ideology and refuses to define what a woman is, Mace said. If a school erases women, it erases its right to your tax dollars.

But Mace faces a crowded primary. Fellow Rep. Ralph Norman, who endorsed Nikki Haley during the 2024 preisdential primary, is also running. Another opponent is state attorney general Al Wilson, whom Mace accused on the House floor of ignoring her report of sexual assault, though Wilson said that Maces report never made it to his office.

Mace first came to Washington after serving in South Carolinas state legislature. In 2014, she staged a primary challenge to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) at the peak of the Tea Party movement. She later worked on the 2016 Trump campaign in the Palmetto State.

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In 2020, she beat former Democratic congressman Joe Cunningham in South Carolinas 1st district. Initially, after the January 6 riot, Mace criticized Trump and said she held him responsible for the riot, though she voted against impeaching him.

That led to Trump endorsing her Republican primary opponent Katie Arrington in 2022. In response, Mace posted a video of herself infront of Trump Tower in New York.

Mace initially billed herself as a moderate Republican who was part of a Caucus of One, telling The Independent in 2023 that she was pro-baby, pro-gun, pro-pot, pro-gay. She initially worked on legislation to decriminalize cannabis and voted with Democrats to legalize protections for same-sex and interracial married couples.

But after her primary win, she moved significantly to the right. After initially voting for McCarthy as speaker, when former congressman Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate, Mace joined Gaetz and six other Republicans to eject McCarthy alongside every Democrat present at the time.

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Given many of her opponents within the GOP, Mace would likely need to win the support of the president. While Trump has not made an endorsement in the race yet, her announcement ad features Trump praising her.

South Carolinas gubernatorial primary will take place in June of next year.
To hear President Donald Trump tell it, he wields an almost magical ability to lower Americans health care costs. Yet that doesnt seem to extend to one area where he made explicit 2024 campaign promises: in vitro fertilization.

Just this weekend, Trump claimed he had lowered prescription drug costs as much as 1,500%. I dont mean 50%, Trump clarified. I mean 14, 1,500%.

This is obviously false and innumerate. You cant cut something more than 100%. It would mean drug companies were not only giving their drugs away for free, but actually paying people exorbitant sums to take them.

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But the self-proclaimed father of IVF appears to be an absentee dad.

His past vows to make the expensive and arduous IVF process free, or at least require insurers to cover it, would fall under that seemingly magical umbrella as well, of course. But contrasting with his repeated pressure on drugmakers to lower costs  regardless of whether its in his power to do so  Trump and his administration havent done much of anything to make his IVF promises a reality. And it sounds like theyve given up trying, to the extent they meant to pursue this policy in the first place.

Indeed, this looked a whole lot like a cynical pander during the 2024 campaign. And the administrations actions since then only seem to confirm it.

The Washington Post reported this weekend that the Trump administration has no actual plan to get insurers to cover IVF, more than six months into the new administration. The only concrete action Trump has taken on this front was back in February, when Trump instructed his domestic policy council to submit recommendations on aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment. He gave it 90 days.

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Those recommendations were due in mid-May. But there is still no word on what, if any, recommendations were produced, and the administration last week reportedly declined to comment on the situation.

Fast forward to today, and the White House is apparently waving the white flag on Trumps biggest IVF promise. White House officials reportedly blamed inaction on the fact that Trump cant legally do this on his own and would need Congress to pass a law.

But thats not exactly the kind of impediment that Trump usually respects. His first six-plus months back in the presidency are rife with attempts to take bold and legally dubious executive actions that challenge the courts to stop him and companies to defy him. Thats even applied to health care specifically.

Just last week, Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical company CEOs giving them 60 days to comply with an executive order that sought to lower prescription drug prices  even as experts say he has no such authority.

Medications are stored on shelves at a pharmacy on May 12 in Los Angeles. In May, Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals. - Eric Thayer/Getty Images/File

Trump has also sought to squeeze drugmakers in other ways, including threatening tariffs on pharmaceutical imports.

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But the White House hasnt engaged in those hardball tactics to make insurers cover IVF. Administration officials arent putting any public pressure on Congress to pass the law it says it needs, either, and they dont even seem to want to talk about the situation.

And if thats the new reality, it was entirely predictable  and predicted.

It was almost exactly a year ago when Trump debuted this promise.

The government is going to pay for [IVF], or were going to get  well mandate your insurance company to pay for it, which is going to be great. Were going to do that, Trump said in August 2024. We want to produce babies in this country, right?

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Thats not a well try to make this happen promise. Thats a were going to make this happen promise.

By October, Trump had declared himself the father of IVF (something his campaign later labeled a joke). And Vice President JD Vance at his 2024 debate declared that making IVF more accessible was core to the GOPs health agenda.

Even at the time, though, many dismissed the promises as hot air. Trump and his campaign were dealing with political fallout from strict red-state abortion bans, some of which had imperiled IVF access and coverage. Rhetorically bear-hugging IVF, a practice thats widely popular with voters, made sense.

But free IVF or ubiquitous insurance coverage never seemed an especially serious idea. Not only are IVF costs very expensive, stretching into tens of thousands of dollars per treatment, but many anti-abortion conservatives are starkly opposed to it. The process involves producing embryos that are never used and are often destroyed, creating a moral quandary for anti-abortion blocs that believe life begins at conception.

Images of cells dividing are seen at West Coast Fertility Centers in February 2024 in Fountain Valley, California. - Jay L Clendenin/The Washington Post/Getty Images

The idea that a Republican administration would spearhead making that cheaper  or even making the government pay for the creation of later-discarded embryos  was always far-fetched.

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Because of all of this, many Republican lawmakers strongly rejected Trumps proposal when he debuted it. Some even acknowledged that it appeared to be a rather transparent bit of pandering that was not to be taken seriously.

People get emotional about an issue, so they decide to completely pander and go way over a position they never really supported because theyre afraid people accuse them, Conservative Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said at the time.

It appears thats precisely what happened here.

Thats bad news for anybody who might have been counting on this proposal. These issues, after all, deal with one of the most heart-wrenching circumstances that many families will ever confront: problems conceiving children. The cost is prohibitive for many people.

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An October Ipsos poll also showed many Americans supported the idea. They said by a 55-26% margin that Congress should pass a law requiring insurers to cover IVF.

The Washington Post back in February profiled a young woman who had heard Trump deliver the promise and reluctantly voted for him. When the White House in February announced its limited IVF recommendations, saying it was delivering on Trumps promises, she called it bullsh*t.

Its getting more and more difficult to quibble with that summary.

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President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Russia later this week, the president told reporters on Sunday, in a bid to secure an elusive ceasefire deal "where people stop getting killed."

Witkoff will travel to Moscow on either Wednesday or Thursday, Trump told reporters.

Witkoff heads to Russia amid building frustration in the White House, with six months of diplomacy under Trump having failed to achieve a peace deal -- or even a ceasefire -- to end Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor, which began in February 2022.

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Last month, Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening sanctions and tariffs -- including secondary sanctions on top customers for Russian energy exports like China and India -- if the Kremlin failed to agree to a ceasefire.

Last week, the president cut the window to 10 days, citing continued Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine. That 10-day deadline is set to expire on Friday.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images - PHOTO: Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff attends a meeting between President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House on July 14, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Russia will "not rule out the possibility" of Witkoff visiting Moscow later this week.

"We are always happy to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow and are always happy to have contact," Peskov said. "We consider these contacts important, meaningful and very useful."

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"The dialogue continues and the United States continues its efforts to mediate in the search for a Ukrainian settlement," he added. "These efforts are very important, including in the context of the ongoing process of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations. Work is continuing, and we remain committed to the idea that a political and diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian problem is, of course, our preferred option."

Russia's state-affiliated Tass news agency reported that Peskov said Putin would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- a meeting Kyiv has repeatedly proposed but been rebuffed by Moscow -- once "preparatory work" at the "expert level" was completed.

Ukraine is backing the U.S. demand for an immediate ceasefire, after which negotiations as to a full peace deal can take place.

Zelenskyy posted to Telegram on Monday urging stronger action against Moscow by Kyiv's Western partners.

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"The world has enough power to stop this and protect people," the president wrote. "We rely on strong decisions from the U.S., Europe and the world regarding secondary sanctions on trade in Russian energy resources, on Moscow's banking sector."

MORE: Russia launches 6,400 drones, missiles into Ukraine in record-breaking month

Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Counter-Disinformation Center operating as part of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, suggested in a post to Telegram that Witkoff's expected visit later this week represents Russia's "last chance to stop the war."

"If the visit is not successful, there will be sanctions," Kovalenko wrote.

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But Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of Zelenskyy's party and the chair of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, told ABC News he does not expect Trump to impose sanctions on Russia's biggest fossil fuel customers -- China and India -- even if Putin again refuses a ceasefire.

"My guess is that Trump might impose some kind of tariffs, which won't stop China and India from buying Russian oil and gas," Merezhko said.

"The key problem is how to deny Russia revenues for selling its oil and gas to China and India, who are the biggest buyers," he added. "On the one hand, Trump doesn't want to look weak, yet on the other hand, he doesn't want to spoil relations with China and India by imposing serious sanctions."

U.S.-Russian relations dipped last week ahead of the looming ceasefire deadline, with Trump engaging in a public spat with Dmitry Medvedev -- the former Russian president and prime minister now serving as the deputy chairman of the country's Security Council.

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Medvedev framed Trump's ultimatum as "a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country."

Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: People wait for transportation at a bus stop next to a recruitment advert of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 3, 2025, 2025.

Medvedev's comments prompted Trump to then order two nuclear submarines to move to "appropriate regions," citing "highly provocative statements" from Medvedev, who has become known as a particularly hawkish voice within Putin's security establishment.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump fired the nations top labor statistics official over the weekend while igniting a political firestorm regarding the integrity of government economic data.

On Friday, Trump dismissed Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer just hours after her agency reported a sharp slowdown in U.S. job creation, sparking concern about the health of the labor market and market volatility.

Trump accused McEntarfer, a Biden appointee, of manipulating employment numbers for political purposes, writing on social media that she faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamalas chances of Victory.

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This is the same Bureau of Labor Statistics that overstated the Jobs Growth in March 2024 by approximately 818,000 and, then again, right before the 2024 Presidential Election, in August and September, by 112,000. These were Records  No one can be that wrong? We need accurate Jobs Numbers, he added on Truth Social.

I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they cant be manipulated for political purposes.

Fridays BLS report showed that U.S. employers added only 73,000 jobs in July, far below projections.

The agency also revised job creation for May and June downward by a combined 258,000, marking the sharpest two-month reduction since the early pandemic.

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Many Republican officials have now spoken out in favor of this move, with Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer writing on X to state that she wholeheartedly supports Trumps statement and the firing of McEntarfer.

A recent string of major revisions have come to light and raised concerns about decisions being made by the Biden-appointed Labor Commissioner, she wrote. I support the Presidents decision to replace Bidens Commissioner and ensure the American People can trust the important and influential data coming from BLS.

Similarly, Kevin Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council, made multiple appearances over the weekend to defend the Presidents move, explaining that there were partisan patterns in the data and that the information cant be propaganda.

The President wants his own people there, so that when we see the numbers, theyre more transparent and more reliable, he said, according to The New York Times.

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Although no exact timeline has been announced at the current point, the expectation is that Trump will name replacements for both the BLS commissioner and the Federal Reserve Governor in the coming days, per CNBC.

Despite support from Republicans within the federal government, multiple democratic leaders have called out the move to part ways with McEntarfer.

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said the firing is way beyond anything that Richard Nixon ever did, saying that Trumps statement was a preposterous charge.

Theres no conceivable way that the head of the BLS could have manipulated this number, Summer added, as reported by The Hill.

The numbers are in line with what were seeing from all kinds of private sector sources.
President Donald Trump on Sunday reacted to the news that actor Sydney Sweeney, whose appearance in a new and controversial American Eagle ad has stirred criticism, is a registered Republican voter.

When Sweeney registered to vote in Florida in June 2024, nearly five months before Trumps victory in last years presidential race, she listed her party affiliation as Republican, according to public records reviewed by BuzzFeed.

Asked to offer his reaction to the news, Trump said: Oh, now I love her ad.

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Youd be surprised at how many people are Republicans, Trump continued. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.

Sweeney has yet to comment on the revelation.

Both Sweeney and American Eagle have faced backlash over a new ad campaign that features the Euphoria actress, who has blond hair and blue eyes, wearing the brands denim alongside a tagline featuring wordplay on jeans and genes, which some critics interpreted as an allusion to eugenics, while others said glorified whiteness.

Many conservatives, though, including Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), fiercely defended it. Trumps White House Communications Director Steven Cheung labeled the criticism of the campaign as cancel culture run amok.

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This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024, Cheung wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Theyre tired of this bullshit.

On Friday, American Eagle issued a statement defending the campaign.

Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story, the brand said. Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.

Sweeney had previously drawn fire in 2022 after her brother, Trent Sweeney, posted photos of guests at their mothers 60th birthday party wearing MAGA-style hats and Blue Lives Matter tops.

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Sweeney sought to quell the criticism, claiming the reaction the pictures received was wild.

An innocent celebration for my moms milestone 60th birthday has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention, she wrote on X at the time. Please stop making assumptions.

Related...
Some Latino Republican lawmakers worry the Trump Administrations deportation push could hurt the GOPs inroads with Latino voters, according to the Washington Post. Washington Post Congressional Reporter Marianna Sotomayor joins Chris Jansing to share more on what Latino lawmakers told her, and Brendan Buck, former aide to House Speakers Ryan and Boehner, joins with his reaction.
The Trump administration will no longer distribute disaster relief funds to statesunless their cities pledge not to boycott Israeli companies.

The revision targets the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which aims to curb Israels violence in Gaza by peeling financial support away from the nation and its businesses.

Trumps condition will affect $1.9 billion that is supposed to be distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and that would apply to grants for search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries, backup power systems, and other emergency-related equipment, according to nearly a dozen grant notices reviewed by Reuters. More than a quarter of the fundsapproximately $553.5 millionare earmarked for terrorism prevention in high-risk areas such as New York, which stands to receive the largest chunk at $92.2 million.

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In order to access the funds, states or cities must certify that they would not avoid or end commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies, the grant notices state.

But the FEMA notice is just the latest in a long line of warnings from the Trump administration regarding its alliance with Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Department of Homeland Security announced in April that boycotting Israel was forbidden for any state or city intending to receive federal funding, and the White House has rescinded billions of dollars from universities around the country for failing to meet Trumps metric of support for Americas genocidal Middle Eastern ally.

Specifically targeting New York is another way to challenge New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdanis chances of running the countrys most populous city. Mamdanis support for the divestment movement has fueled the ire of the president, who has issued several sharp threats to Mamdani since the 33-year-old Democratic Socialist swept the primary. Those include telling the Queens lawmaker that he better behave or face big problems. Trump has also baselessly accused Mamdani of being an illegal immigrant.
Trump Media CEO and former Representative Devin Nunes has lost yet another lawsuit, this time against Rachel Maddow and NBC Universal.

This case, which has dragged on for more than four years, hinged on Nuness accusation that the MSNBC host was acting with malicious intent and malice when she mistakenly stated that Nunes refused to hand to the FBI documents given to him by a suspected Russian spy.

Nunes argued that Maddow and MSNBC hold an institutional hostility, hatred, extreme bias, spite and ill-will toward him. Maddow and the network simply stated that the Politico reporting they were following at the time of the statement was not up to date.

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U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel dismissed the case on Friday, arguing that Nunes failed to prove that Maddow demonstrated actual malice toward him.

Nunes has had two other high-profile, highly unsuccessful lawsuits. In 2019, he tried to sue Twitter and two parody accounts on the siteone pretending to be his mother and another pretending to be his cow. He lost, and the cow account is still active on X. That same year, Nunes sued Esquire for libel after the magazine published a story stating that Nuness family dairy farm employed undocumented workers, a massive political contradiction for the Trump confidant. Nuness case was tossed four years later, as a judge deemed Esquires reporting to be correct.
Devin Nunes, the former GOP lawmaker who now serves as chief executive for Donald Trumps media company, has lost his defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal over comments MSNBC star Rachel Maddow made about his interaction with a pro-Russian operative.

In dismissing the lawsuit, which centered on remarks Maddow made during a March 2021 broadcast, U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel concluded that no reasonable jury could find that Maddow engaged in constitutionally-defined actual malice against Nunes in the segment, which focused on a package he received from Ukrainian businessman Andrii Derkach.

When Nunes was still in Congress and served as the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee in 2019, Derkach  who intelligence agencies described as a Russian agent  addressed a package to Nunes. According to Nunes, the package was promptly handed over the the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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In July 2020, however, Politico published a piece with the headline Democrats: Packets sent to Trump allies are part of foreign plot to damage Biden. The outlet reported that Nunes declined repeated requests for comment but that one person familiar with the matter said the information was not turned over to the FBI.

Eight months later, Maddow and her shows executive producer Cory Gnazzo relied upon that Politico article for a segment that covered an ODNI report and Nunes conduct with the Derkach package.

A federal judge ruled that comments made by Rachel Maddow about Devin Nunes in 2021 did not constitute actual malice. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Furthermore, in a separate appearance on MSNBC the day before the Maddow segment, then-Rep. Sean Maloney (D-NY) remarked about Nunes: And the fact is that [the Russians] were so comfortable using people like Devin Nunes that Andrii Derkach, a known Russian asset, sent information to Devin Nunes at the Intelligence Committee. We literally had the package receipt.

Meanwhile, in the Maddow segment, the MSNBC host claimed that Nunes has refused to hand it over to the FBI, which is what you should do if you get something from somebody who is sanctioned by the U.S. as a Russian agent.

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In the lawsuit, Nunes said that both Maddow and Gnazzo knew that he had handed the package over to the FBI right away, but they both asserted that they were unaware of other reporting that contradicted their segment. Maddow and Gnazzo were not named defendants in the case, as the complaint was instead directed at NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast. MSNBC will soon be spun off from NBCU into a separate company called Versant.

Nunes, who left Congress in 2022 and is now the CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, contended in his complaint that Maddow and the network harbored an institutional hostility, hatred, extreme bias, spite and ill-will towards him.

However, Castel said that there was no clear evidence that the defendant's admitted political bias caused defendant to act with a reckless disregard of the truth or that Maddow was aware of probable falsity as it related to a separate Politico article that reported the FBI received the package from Nunes.

The Independent has reached out to Nunes and Trump Media. MSNBC declined to comment.

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Unlike his boss, Nunes hasnt been quite so lucky when it comes to his many defamation lawsuits against media organizations and personalities. Between 2019 and 2021, judges tossed out three other complaints that Nunes filed against CNN, the Washington Post, and two parody social media accounts that mocked him online.

Derkach, meanwhile, was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in September 2020 for attempting to interfere on Trumps behalf in that years presidential election. He was later indicted for sanctions violations by federal prosecutors in 2022.
The News in Brief Monday, August 4, 2025

Georgia's fifth president Salome Zourabichvili issued a strong statement in support of imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaglobeli and activist Nino Datashvili, saying the government has "laid bare itself" through its treatment of the two women.Zourabichvili said the authorities are exposing their true character by pursuing what she described as unjust and disproportionate actions."Mzia Amaglobeli, Nino Datashvili. The regime has completely laid bare before you. And those people who can justify it and who are not even ashamed have laid bare themselves. Those who do not dare to express even the slightest sympathy," she said.Zourabichvili pointed to the treatment of both women as evidence of political abuse. "Those who can today not notice this injustice, how the regime is trying to break two women: it asks one to confess to a crime, and prepares the other for a cruel and inhuman punishment."She expressed confidence that the public would ultimately recognize what is happening and judge it correctly. "Society has the ability to make the right verdict, Mzia and Nino are the winners, and the regime is weak," Zourabichvili said.Mzia Amaglobeli, a journalist, is awaiting a verdict on charges that have drawn criticism from press freedom groups, while Nino Datashvili, an activist, has been ordered by the court to undergo a 20-day involuntary psychiatric evaluation. Both cases have sparked concern over the state of political freedoms and the rule of law in Georgia.Irakli Kupradze, General Secretary of the opposition party Lelo - Strong Georgia, accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of singling out Lelo as its main political target and vowed that pressure from the opposition would continue to grow.Kupradze said Georgian Dream's focus on Lelo had become increasingly evident in recent weeks."We all know the saying - don't be offended by a donkey's kick - it is already very obvious that, especially recently, the main and I think only target of the Dream has become Lelo - Strong Georgia," he wrote. "Not a day goes without Dream trying to slander and attack Lelo specifically."Kupradze alleged that the ruling party is trying to silence opposition to protect its interests. "Dream is a party that itself admits that it is completely corrupt. They earn money through call centers, drug trafficking, corruption, and then they choose cases in a mafia-like manner to distribute this money," he claimed.He argued that the ruling party wants the public to disengage from politics so that it can continue unchecked. "It is understandable that they want the Georgian people to surrender, not to interfere with their corruption, drug trafficking, and taking away the future of the country," he wrote.Kupradze said that Lelo's growing influence and initiatives were the real reason for the attacks. "It is precisely because of these decisions and effective steps of Lelo that we see Dream's hysteria against Lelo," he stated.He concluded by promising more pressure on the government. "I can tell you that the pressure against them from our side will only intensify and Tbilisi will definitely become a European capital!"
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit by Devin Nunes, the former California congressman and now chief executive of Trump Media and Technology Group, against NBCUniversal over a comment by Rachel Maddow about his dealings with a suspected Russian agent.

U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan ruled on Friday that no reasonable jury could find Maddow demonstrated actual malice toward Nunes in March 2021 when discussing a package addressed to him from pro-Russia Ukrainian legislator Andrii Derkach on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show."

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Nunes received the package in December 2019, when the Republican was the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Maddow told viewers that Nunes "refused to hand it over to the FBI, which is what you should do if you get something from somebody who is sanctioned by the U.S. as a Russian agent."

Nunes said Maddow knew the package was turned over promptly. She and her executive producer, who were not defendants, claimed to rely on other sources when creating the segment. NBCUniversal is a unit of Comcast.

In a 24-page decision, Castel said Nunes, a longtime supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, failed to show Maddow was aware of a July 2020 article in Politico saying the FBI had received the package.

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The judge found no clear and convincing evidence that Maddow had a "high degree of awareness of probable falsity," or any evidence that "defendant's admitted political bias caused defendant to act with a reckless disregard of the truth."

Nunes' lawyers and Trump Media did not immediately respond on Monday to requests for comment. Lawyers for NBCUniversal did not immediately respond to similar requests.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Derkach in September 2020 for trying to interfere in that year's U.S. presidential election to help Trump, who lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York charged Derkach in December 2022 with unrelated money laundering and sanctions violations. He remains at large.

The case is Nunes v NBCUniversal Media Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-01633.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New YorkEditing by Nick Zieminski)
President Donald Trump called Senate Democrats crazed lunatics while claiming they are delaying his nominees in exchange for money.

Democrats, lead by Cryin Chuck Schumer, are slow walking my Nominees, more than 150 of them, Trump wrote in a fiery Truth Social post Sunday night, naming the Senate Democratic leader from New York.

They wanted us to pay, originally, two billion dollars for approvals. The Dems are CRAZED LUNATICS!!! the post continued, possibly referring to reports that Democrats asked Republican leaders to release billions of dollars of government funds in exchange for a vote on some of the presidents nominees.

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Trumps comments came after he praised Republican senators for fighting to get his nominees confirmed by the upper chamber.

Very proud of our great Republican Senators for fighting, over the Weekend and far beyond, if necessary, in order to get my great Appointments approved, and on their way to helping us MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, Trump wrote in a separate Truth Social post on Saturday.

The president went on to accuse the Radical Left Democrat Senators of doing everything possible to DELAY these wonderful and talented people from being approved.

If George Washington or Abraham Lincoln were up for approval, the Dems would delay, as long as possible, then vote them out, he continued.

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Alleging that the Democrats want our Country to fail, because they have failed, Trump added, Thank you to Senator John Thune and our Republican Warriors in the Senate. Fight and WIN. I am with you all the way!!!

On Saturday, the Senate took off for a monthlong August recess without reaching a deal on advancing dozens of nominees. The move, which has caused tensions between Senate Democrats and the White House, sent Trump spiraling, prompting him to tell Schumer to GO TO HELL in another post on Truth Social.

Meanwhile, Schumer has voiced support for the Democratic Partys handling of Trumps nominees. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Saturday, Schumer said, Historically bad nominees deserve historic levels of scrutiny.

We have never seen nominees as flawed, as compromised, as unqualified as Trumps, Schumer wrote. And they know that.

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Schumer also responded to Trumps heated social media commentary with a video in an additional post on X.

Donald Trump attempted to steamroll the Senate to put in place his historically unqualified nominees, but Senate Democrats wouldnt let him, Schumer said while standing at a lectern. In a fit of rage, Trump threw in the towel, sent Republicans home, and was unable to do the basic work of negotiating. Is this the art of the deal?

He added: Trump tried to bully us, go around us, threaten us, call us names, but he got nothing. He walked away with his tail between his legs.

Related...
The president is stoking conspiracies in the wake of last weeks jobs report, apparently still writhing around in an attempt to find a beneficial angle on the abysmal economic figures.

Last weeks Jobs Report was RIGGED, just like the numbers prior to the Presidential Election were Rigged, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday. Thats why, in both cases, there was massive, record setting revisions, in favor of the Radical Left Democrats.

Those big adjustments were made to cover up, and level out, the FAKE political numbers that were CONCOCTED in order to make a great Republican Success look less stellar!!! the president added. I will pick an exceptional replacement. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAGA!

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Trump abruptly fired Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer on Friday after the release of the report, claiming that the Biden-era appointees work analyzing the granular data of Americas economy was faked and could not be trusted.

At the core of Trumps gripe with the July report was its revision of figures from the preceding months, which moved the three-month growth average to 35,000, a lag that hasnt emerged since 2010 and that makes his first six months in officeand his controversial tariff overhaullook particularly bad. The reports downsizing also suggested that while some sectors, such as health care and social assistance, gained jobs, the vast majority of the market lost employment.

Americas most prominent economists suggested that the weak jobs report could be the first major indicator that a recession is on the horizon.

Trumps favor toward the people producing the jobs report has been anything but consistent, apparently entirely dependent on whether the bureau helps him look good and feel good about his administration. In March, when the BLS released a better-than-expected report, Trump elevated and praised the department, claiming that the great job numbers were evidence that his trade policies were already working. But mere months later, Trump and his top allies are now insisting that the data is phony and cant be trusted.
US President Donald Trump said Monday that he would pick an "exceptional replacement" to his labor statistics chief -- after ordering her dismissal as a new report showed weakness in the US jobs market.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump reiterated -- without immediately providing evidence -- that an employment report released last Friday "was rigged."

He alleged that the official had manipulated data to diminish his administration's economic accomplishments.

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"We'll be announcing a new (labor) statistician some time over the next three-four days," Trump earlier told reporters.

He added Monday: "I will pick an exceptional replacement."

US job growth missed expectations in July, figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Friday, and sharp revisions to hiring figures in recent months brought them to the weakest levels since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shortly afterwards, Trump ordered the removal of Erika McEntarfer, the department's commissioner of labor statistics.

Trump told reporters Sunday: "We had no confidence. I mean the numbers were ridiculous."

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Trump added that the same official, just before the 2024 election, "came out with these phenomenal numbers on (Joe) Biden's economy."

He claimed those job numbers were "a scam."

The United States added 73,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent, the Department of Labor reported.

Hiring numbers for May were revised down from 144,000 to 19,000. The figure for June was shifted from 147,000 to 14,000.

This was notably lower than job creation levels in recent years. During the pandemic, the economy lost jobs.

The employment data points to challenges in the labor market as companies took a cautious approach in hiring and investment while grappling with Trump's sweeping -- and rapidly changing -- tariffs this year.

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White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett defended McEntarfer's firing in an NBC News interview Saturday.

Asked if the president was prepared to fire anyone who reports data he disagrees with, Hassett said: "Absolutely not. The president wants his own people there so that when we see the numbers they are more transparent and more reliable."

Trump's decision was criticized as setting a "dangerous precedent" by William Beach, who previously held McEntarfer's post at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The National Association for Business Economics condemned her dismissal, saying large revisions in jobs numbers "reflect not manipulation, but rather the dwindling resources afforded to statistical agencies."

McEntarfer, a labor economist, had been in the commissioner role for just over a year after being confirmed by the US Senate in January 2024.

abs-bys/mlm
US President Donald Trump said Monday that he would pick an "exceptional replacement" for his labor statistics chief, days after ordering her dismissal after a report showed weakness in the jobs market.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump reiterated -- without providing evidence -- that Friday's employment report "was rigged."

He alleged that commissioner of labor statistics Erika McEntarfer had manipulated data to diminish his administration's accomplishments, drawing sharp criticism from economists and a professional association.

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"We'll be announcing a new (labor) statistician some time over the next three-four days," Trump told reporters Sunday.

He added Monday: "I will pick an exceptional replacement."

US job growth missed expectations in July, figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed, and sharp revisions to hiring figures in recent months brought them to the weakest levels since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trump ordered the removal of McEntarfer hours after the figures were published.

"We had no confidence. I mean the numbers were ridiculous," Trump told reporters Sunday. He charged that McEntarfer came up with "phenomenal" numbers on his predecessor Joe Biden's economy before the 2024 election.

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- Hiring slowdown -

Even as he called for more reliable data Monday, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett conceded that the jobs market was indeed cooling.

But Hassett maintained in a CNBC interview that this softening did not reflect the incoming effects of Trump's flagship tax and spending legislation -- signed into law early last month.

US employment data point to challenges as companies took a cautious approach in hiring and investment while grappling with Trump's sweeping -- and rapidly changing -- tariffs this year.

The United States added 73,000 jobs in July, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent, the Department of Labor reported.

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Hiring numbers for May were revised down from 144,000 to 19,000. The figure for June was shifted from 147,000 to 14,000.

These were notably lower than job creation levels in recent years. During the pandemic, the economy lost jobs.

Over the weekend, Hassett defended McEntarfer's firing in an NBC News interview: "The president wants his own people there so that when we see the numbers they are more transparent and more reliable."

Trump's decision has come under fire. William Beach, who previously held McEntarfer's post, said the move set a "dangerous precedent."

The National Association for Business Economics condemned her dismissal, saying large revisions in jobs numbers "reflect not manipulation, but rather the dwindling resources afforded to statistical agencies."

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In addition to a successor to McEntarfer, Trump is also expected to name a replacement for Federal Reserve governor Adriana Kugler.

Kugler's early resignation, effective Friday, allows Trump a vacancy to fill as he pushes the independent central bank to lower interest rates.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on Monday emphasized the importance of supporting "independent, neutral and proven institutions."

He said: "It is right that independent institutions remain independent and that politics do not interfere with them."

McEntarfer, a labor economist, was confirmed to the commissioner role in January 2024.

abs-lob-bys/aha
President Trump confirmed Sunday that nuclear submarines are in the region two days after saying the U.S. was positioning two nuclear submarines close to Russia.

Ive already put out a statement, and the answer is, they are in the region, yeah, where they have to be, Trump told reporters while traveling back to Washington when asked if the submarines had been deployed yet.

The president announced Friday he was positioning the two nuclear submarines in appropriate regions near Russia following highly provocative statements from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

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Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that, Trump had written in a Truth Social post.

Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances, Trump added.

The president had issued a warning to Medvedev on Thursday to watch his words after he criticized Trumps foreign policy.

Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Lets keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks hes still President, to watch his words. Hes entering very dangerous territory! Trump wrote Thursday.

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The president reiterated Sunday that his special envoy Steve Witkoff planned to visit Russia in the coming days ahead of plans to impose sanctions on Russia over its war with Ukraine.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Washington, DC  United States President Donald Trump says he will substantially raise tariffs on India, intensifying the row between the two countries after years of rapprochement.

Trump accused India in a social media post on Monday of buying and reselling massive amounts of Russian oil for big profits.

They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine, the US president wrote. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!

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He did not specify the rate of the tariffs or when they would take effect. The US imported $87.4bn in Indian goods in 2024, according to US government data.

Last week, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods, citing New Delhis levies on US products and purchases of Russian oil and military equipment.

Later on Monday, India rejected Western criticism of its business dealings with Russia, noting that the US and European countries have continued to import Russian goods and energy products after the war.

Indias Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhis imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer.

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In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable, Jaiswal said in a statement. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.





India and Russias steady partnership

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), India has been buying Russian oil at a discount since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, which unleashed heavy Western sanctions on Russia, including its energy sector.

India increased its purchases of Russian oil more than sixfold after the conflict broke out, an EIA report said.

On Saturday, Indias Jaiswal suggested that his country would maintain its relations with Russia despite Trumps criticisms.

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Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country, Jaiswal told reporters. India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership.

While campaigning last year, Trump promised to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine, but the conflict continues to rage on more than six months into his presidency.

Trump initially took a neutral approach to try to mediate an end to the war, but in recent weeks, he has been increasingly critical of Russia and has threatened further sanctions against Moscow.





On Sunday, White House envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that he will visit Russia in the coming days for talks to end the war.

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Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but its initial assault to capture the capital, Kyiv, was fended off. Since then, the fighting has turned into a protracted conflict for control of the eastern part of the country.

On Sunday, top White House aide Stephen Miller accused India of financing Russias war in Ukraine.

People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. Thats an astonishing fact, Miller told Fox News.
US President Donald Trump has said he will "substantially" raise the tariffs imposed on Indian imports, claiming the country continues to buy "massive amounts" of oil from Russia.

It comes after he announced a 25% tariff on goods from India last week, sharply criticizing New Delhi for its military and energy ties with Russia.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday.

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"They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," he charged. "Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA."

He did not initially say by how much the levy, set to come into force on August 7, would be raised.

In the past, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end reliance on cheap Russian oil and halt defence-sector purchases from Moscow, saying such steps would help bring an end to the war.

Trump had originally announced a 26% tariff rate for India on April 2, unveiling country-specific rates on what he called "Liberation Day." That tariff was later suspended pending negotiations, with a new deadline set for Friday, August 1.

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On July 31, the White House published a new list with altered tariffs for a slew of trading partners, including the 25% levy for India, and pushed back the deadline to August 7.

On Wednesday, Trump accused the world's most populous country of helping to bankroll Moscow's all-out invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year.

After initially appearing to take a favourable stance toward Russia, Trump has since threatened to impose sanctions on Moscow's trading partners if the Kremlin does not agree to a peace deal by the end of this week.
"There'll be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions," Trump told reporters.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Special Envoy Steve Witkoff may travel to Russia, potentially on Wednesday or Thursday, as he warned that he would impose sanctions if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine before Friday.

"There'll be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions," Trump told reporters in New Jersey.

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"They're wily characters and they're pretty good at avoiding sanctions, so we'll see what happens."

"Is there anything [Russia] can do to avoid sanctions at this point?" a reporter asked. "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed," Trump responded.

"Have those nuclear submarines been deployed yet to face Russia?" a reporter asked.

"They are in the region, yeah, where they have to be," Trump answered.

Trump orders nuclear submarines to reposition near Russia

This was in reference to Trump on Friday saying that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in regions near Russia in response to threats from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.

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"I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Tennessee, part of the US nuclear deterrent, transits the St. Marys Channel as it departs Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia in this February 6, 2013 handout photo. (credit: REUTERS/MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS JAMES KIMBER/U.S. NAVY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Trump and Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, traded taunts in recent days after Trump on Tuesday said Russia had "10 days from today" to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or be hit, along with its oil buyers, with tariffs.

Moscow, which has set out its own terms for peace in Ukraine, has shown no sign that it will comply with Trump's deadline.

This is a developing story.
President Trump on Sunday weighed in on actor Sydney Sweeney and her recent controversial ad campaign with American Eagle.

Youd be surprised at how many people are Republicans, the president said after a reporter stated that the White Lotus and Euphoria star is a registered Republican.

Thats what I wouldnt have known, but Im glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic, the president said while en route back to Washington on Sunday evening from Bedminster, N.J.

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BuzzFeed reported over the weekend that Sweeney has been registered to the Republican Party of Florida since June 2024.

The ad featuring Sweeney has caused backlash online, with social media users criticizing what they claim are racist undertones surrounding the campaigns message that Sweeney has great jeans, a riff on the idea of good genes.

Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color, Sweeney says in one video. My jeans are blue.

Vice President Vance mocked critics of the ad in a recent interview, blaming Democrats for those who argue the commercial backs eugenics.

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So you have a pretty girl doing a jeans ad and they cant help but freak out. It reveals a lot more about them than it does us. No question, Vance said on the Ruthless Podcast.

White House communications director Steven Cheung pointed to the backlash as an example of cancel culture run amok.

The Hill has reached out to a contact for Sweeney for comment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On 1 August the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned the day-earlier decision by a federal judge in California to postpone the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras and Nicaragua.

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India has called Donald Trump's threat of "substantially" higher tariffs over its purchase of oil from Russia "unjustified and unreasonable".

In a post on Truth Social, the US president warned he would raise levies, saying India "don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine".

India is currently among the largest buyers of Russian oil. It has become an important export market for Moscow after several European countries cut trade when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Trump did not specify what the new tariff would be, but it comes just days after he unveiled a hefty 25% levy on India.

In a statement, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, said the US had encouraged India to import Russian gas at the start of the conflict, "for strengthening global energy markets stability".

He said India "began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict".

India also criticised the US - its largest trading partner - for introducing the tariffs, when the US itself is still doing trade with Russia. Last year, the US traded goods worth an estimated $3.5bn (2.6bn) with Russia, despite tough sanctions and tariffs.

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"Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," the foreign ministry statement said.

"The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable," it added.

Last week, Trump had described India as a "friend" but said its tariffs on US products "are far too high" and he warned of an unspecified "penalty" over its trade with Russia.

His latest Truth Social post again struck a critical tone.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits," he wrote.

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"Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not ordered India's oil refineries to stop buying Russian oil, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

Ajay Srivastava, a former Indian trade official and head of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a Delhi-based think tank, said Trump's claims about India's oil trade with Russia are misleading for several reasons.

He told the BBC that the trade has been transparent and broadly understood by the US.

Mr Srivastava said India ramped up purchases of oil to help stabilise global markets after Western sanctions disrupted supplies - helping to stop a global oil price shock.

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He also said that India's oil refineries - both public and private - decide where to buy crude oil based on factors like price, supply security, and export rules. They operate independently of the government and do not need its approval to buy from Russia or other countries.

Though relations between the US and Russia warmed after Trump returned to the White house in January, the US president has more recently toughened his rhetoric against the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump has questioned whether Putin is truly committed to peace with Ukraine. In Monday's Truth Social post he used stern language, describing the Russian military as the "Russian War Machine".

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Russia's leader has repeatedly said he is ready for peace but only if Kyiv meets certain conditions, such as recognising Ukrainian territories that Russia has occupied.

Trump has threatened Moscow with severe tariffs targeting its oil and other exports if a ceasefire with Ukraine is not agreed by 8 August.

US envoy Steve Witkoff is due to visit Russia later this week, where he is expected to meet Putin.

Additional reporting by Soutik Biswas
President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he may send US special envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia in the middle of the following week.

"I think next week Wednesday or Thursday [Witkoff] may be going to Russia," Trump told journalists before a flight to Washington, adding that Russia had asked for the meeting.

That would be just before the expiry of a 10-day deadline that Trump had set for Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire or peace agreement with Ukraine. Trump threatened to hit Russia's trading partners with major tariffs if the deadline is not met.

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In July, Trump threatened to hit Russia's trading partners with "severe" tariffs if Moscow did not agree to a ceasefire within 50 days, with a deadline set for September 2.

But during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer later in the month, Trump said he would reduce the 50 days he gave Putin "to a lesser number," saying this could be "10 or 12 days."

Trump justified the move by saying he was disappointed with the Russian leader, who had shown no willingness to compromise.

The Kremlin has repeatedly emphasized that it will not be pressured into a deal.

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With his tariff threats, Trump wants to further weaken the Kremlin's economic base by putting more pressure on Moscow's main trading partners such as China and India, although the US president has not yet specified which countries would be targeted.

Russia has been waging war against neighbouring Ukraine for more than three years.
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump has given his take on Sydney Sweeneys American Eagle ad that sparked outrage online.

Trump was boarding Air Force One en route back to the White House on Sunday when he was asked about the blonde hair, blue-eyed actress and the revelation that shes a registered Republican.

Popular 1980s actor Loni Anderson of the hit TV series WKRP in Cincinnati has died

Shes a registered Republican? the president said. Oh, now I love her ad! Is that right? Youd be surprised at how many people are Republicans. I wouldnt have known, Im glad you told me that.

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If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.

Some were critical of American Eagle Outfitters new ad campaign featuring Sweeney, claiming that it promotes eugenics. The tagline is Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.

In one video, she crosses out the word genes and replaces it with jeans.

The ad sparked debate about Western beauty standards and race.

Woman knocked unconscious in Cincinnati brawl posts tearful video

Vice President JD Vance also came to Sweeneys defense earlier in the week, sarcastically encouraging Democrats to continue to tell everyone who thinks Sydney Sweeney is attractive is a Nazi.

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American Eagle stood by its campaign in a statement on Friday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Back in April, President Donald Trump said he would absolutely sign a bill banning members of Congress from trading stocks. Amid declining poll numbers and poor economic news, signing a ban would provide Trump an easy political victory ahead of the falls government funding fights. The public overwhelmingly supports a ban, and there are multiple bills with bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. But when one proposed ban cleared a Senate committee vote last week, instead of hailing the result, Trump attacked one of the bills chief Republican supporters, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. Why?

Until not too long ago, insider trading laws did not apply to members of Congress. This went about as you would expect: Investigations revealed that lawmakers profited off of stock transactions made during the 2008 recession and the 2010 health care debate. In 2012, Congress passed the STOCK Act, which made insider trading laws applicable to members of Congress and their staffs, and required disclosures of trades within 45 days for both transparency and enforcement.

It didnt work. Dozens of lawmakers (not to mention their staffers) have violated the law, according to a 2021 Business Insider investigation. Members of Congress and their family members continue to purchase assets in industries that could be affected by their legislative committee work, The New York Times found in 2022.

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Last week, the House Ethics Committee issued a report criticizing Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., for a lack of candor in its inquiry into his wifes 2020 purchase of shares in a steel company in his district. Victoria Kelly made the transaction a day after the congressman learned the first Trump administration would intervene to protect the company, days before that information was public. The committee urged the couple to sell their holdings. Kelly rejected the suggestion, saying we got completely exonerated.

As for the timeliness of disclosures, lawmakers routinely file late to an extent thats almost comical. NOTUS reported this week that Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., disclosed hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock and bond trades anywhere between one and a half and two and a half years after they occurred.

In short, the STOCK Act has been a failure, and its shortcomings have been apparent for some time. For several years, an ideologically diverse group of lawmakers ranging from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, have pushed a trading ban. But in both Democratic- and Republican-controlled Congresses, their efforts have stalled out. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., first opposed and was later cool to a ban. Current Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has recently expressed guarded support, but like Pelosi has not shown any interest in actually letting legislation come to the floor.

But efforts continue, including from Republicans: In the House, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., says she will file whats known as a discharge petition to try to force the full House to vote on a ban proposed by Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. In the Senate, after Trump expressed support for a ban, Hawley introduced a bill to ban trades and require lawmakers to sell financial holdings by the start of their next term. On Wednesday, the bill cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee with support from Hawley and every Democratic member of the panel. Rather than hail the vote, though, Trump laid into Hawley on social media, calling him a second-tier Senator.

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Hawley told reporters Thursday that Trumps anger was based on a misunderstanding. After he told the president it did not apply to the presidency or vice presidency until 2029, Hawley said, he was like, Oh, that is not what he had been told.

Lets give Trump the benefit of the doubt  a fraught exercise at any time  and assume his post was indeed a case of miscommunication. Now that thats cleared up, the president could pick up the phone tomorrow and get a ban passed. He could pick Hawleys bill, Burchetts or whichever other Republican he wants to receive credit. He could tell Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to give him something to sign, and theyd obey. Its the only way any law passes in this Congress anyway.

But he hasnt, because the president doesnt care about politicians self-enriching. Sure, Hawleys bill wouldnt apply to him, and sure, hed love to get one over on Pelosi. But this president is spending roughly $1 billion in taxpayer funds renovating a plane that hell keep after leaving office. This president has dived headlong into crypto products  including his personal $TRUMP meme coin  that have added billions to his familys net worth. This president, according to an analysis from Bloomberg News, has more than doubled his personal net worth since the start of his re-election campaign.

His presidency was never about draining the swamp; he is the swamp. And even the tiniest effort to rebut that image is, for him, a bridge too far.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The Trump administration has been on a monthslong campaign railing against what it says are draconian censorship regulations in Europe that have not only stifled free speech, but have also served as another roadblock amid the artificial intelligence evolution.

"In Europe, thousands are being convicted for the crime of criticizing their own governments," the State Department recently posted to X, accompanied by a graphic slamming Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA). "This Orwellian message won't fool the United States. Censorship is not freedom."

The EU adopted the DSA in 2022 to regulate online platforms such as social networks, content-sharing platforms and app stores, and is intended to "prevent illegal and harmful activities online and the spread of disinformation." The law has since faced opposition from the Trump administration amid its free speech promotion on the global stage.

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The State Department's X post follows a monthslong campaign of Trump officials lambasting Europe for its strict rules that limit free speech  most notably online and in the world of AI and evolving tech.

Fox News Digital spoke with Darren Beattie, acting under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, who explained that as the Trump administration takes a hatchet to restrictions and censorship  most notably online and left over from the Biden era  Europe has moved to intensify its censorship with laws such as DSA.

Details Of Trump's Highly Anticipated Ai Plan Revealed By White House Ahead Of Major Speech

Read On The Fox News App

Trump administration officials such as Secretary Rubio and VP Vance have slammed Europe over its free speech and tech restrictions.

"As we are rolling back the censorship industry in the United States by actions like what the State Department did, what we did at the State Department killing the (Global Engagement Center), but it's happening all across the administration," he said. "What's happening is Europe, the European Union and the UK are moving to pick up the slack. That is to say, as we're pushing back the censorship regime domestically, it's intensifying in Europe."

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The Global Engagement Center was an office established within the State Department during the Obama era that was plagued by accusations of censorship while positioning itself as focused on countering foreign propaganda and disinformation. The Trump administration State Department shuttered the office earlier in 2025.

Beattie added that the U.S. is not taking a "holier than thou" approach to the issue, noting that censorship loomed large throughout the U.S. under the Biden administration. He pointed to cases such as social media user Douglass Mackey, who was convicted in 2023 of conspiring to suppress voter turnout in 2016 after posting phony voting messages.

"We were, under Biden, moving in that direction in a very dangerous way," he said. "The weaponization of government that occurred under Biden was severe."

President Donald Trump delivered his highly anticipated AI speech at the end of July, unveiling his administration's plan of action, which included protecting AI systems from bias. The White House Office of Science and Technology policy director Michael Kratsios previewed the plan to the media, which included warning that the U.S. will not go down the same technology path as Europe, citing its strict regulations on the tech.

President Donald Trump signed a trio of executive orders on July 23, 2025, related to AI, including one that bars the federal government from procuring artificial intelligence built with "woke" ideology.

"The action plan calls for freeing American AI innovation from unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, ensuring all Americans reap the benefits of AI technologies and leveraging AI to drive new scientific breakthroughs," he said.

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"On deregulation, we cannot afford to go down Europe's innovation-killing regulatory path. Federal agencies will now review their rules on the books and repeal those that hinder AI development and deployment across industries, from financial services and agriculture to health and transportation."

The AI plan is focused on three pillars, one of which is centered on ensuring bias is not included in U.S. systems.

"The second is that we believe that AI systems should be free of ideological bias and not be designed to pursue socially engineered agendas," AI and crypto czar David Sacks said in a press call July 23. "And so we have a number of proposals there on how to make sure that AI remains truth-seeking and trustworthy."

Vice President JD Vance has been at the forefront of admin leaders lambasting Europe's restrictions on AI and free speech, including the EU's Digital Services Act.

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Federal Ai Power Grab Could End State Protections For Kids And Workers

"The U.S. innovators of all sizes already know what it's like to deal with onerous international rules," Vance said at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris in February. "Many of our most productive tech companies are forced to deal with the EU's Digital Services Act and the massive regulations it created about taking down content and policing so-called misinformation."

"The AI future is not going to be won by hand-wringing about safety. It will be won by building  from reliable power plants to the manufacturing facilities that can produce the chips of the future," he added.

Vance traveled to the Munich Security Conference days after his Paris address and delivered another fiery speech chastising Europe for employing "Soviet-style" tactics that chill free speech.

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Jonathan Turley: Democrats, Clintons And Globalists Work Together To Censor Americans  For Democracy

"To many of us on the other side of the Atlantic, it looks more and more like old, entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation, simply because they don't like the idea that someone with an alternative viewpoint might express a different opinion, vote a different way, or even worse, win an election," he said in the address.

The speech set off criticisms in Europe and the U.S., including CBS host Margaret Brennan suggesting during an interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on "Face the Nation" in February that free speech had been "weaponized" to bring about the Holocaust in Nazi Germany.

The State Department, which is led by Secretary Marco Rubio, lambasted Europe's "Orwellian" free speech restrictions.

Rubio launched a fierce defense of Vance while noting his concern that Europe hold the same values as the U.S., such as protecting free speech and democracy.

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Trump Praised By Faith Leaders For Ai Leadership As They Warn Of Technology's 'Potential Peril'

"Why would our allies or anybody be irritated by free speech and by someone giving their opinion? We are, after all, democracies," Rubio said. "The Munich Security Conference is largely a conference of democracies in which one of the things that we cherish and value is the ability to speak freely and provide your opinions. And so, I think if anyone's angry about his words, they don't have to agree with him, but to be angry about it, I think actually makes his point."

"I think the valid points hes making to Europe is: We are concerned that the true values that we share, the values that bind us together with Europe, are things like free speech and democracy and our shared history in winning two world wars," Rubio added of Vance's speech.

FCC chief Brendan Carr slammed Europe's DSA law, saying its rules are not compatible with U.S. free speech traditions.

Federal Communication Commission chief Brendan Carr in March said the DSA's monitoring of online content is incompatible with U.S. free speech.

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"There's a risk that (EU) regulatory regime imposes excessive rules with respect to free speech," he told the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March. "The censorship that is potentially coming down the pipe from the [Digital Services Act] is something that is incompatible with... our free speech tradition."

The White House laid out at the end of July that among its top efforts while unleashing artificial intelligence  which it said will usher in the next "industrial revolution"  would be focusing on preserving free speech while also encouraging tech innovation through regulation cuts.

The White House said it would update its "Federal procurement guidelines to ensure that the government only contracts with frontier large language model developers who ensure that their systems are objective and free from top-down ideological bias," as well as remove "onerous Federal regulations that hinder AI development and deployment, and seek private sector input on rules to remove."

Trump signed a trio of executive orders aimed at implementing his AI agenda, including one that bars the federal government from procuring artificial intelligence built with "woke" ideology.

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"I will be signing an order banning the federal government from procuring AI technology that has been infused with partisan bias or ideological agendas, such as critical race theory, which is ridiculous. And from now on, the U.S. government will deal only with AI that pursues truth, fairness and strict impartiality," he said.

"We're not going to go through the craziness that we've gone through for the last four years. Now it's not hanging around at all now. It's actually very uncool, as somebody told me the other day, It's so uncool to be woke." he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the EU's press team for comment on the Trump administration's ongoing crusade against European censorship, but did not immediately receive a reply.





Original article source: Trump's full-court press against 'Orwellian' European censorship intensifies amid US efforts to unleash AI
The presidents boasts about his pharmaceutical cuts arent just imaginarytheyre also gibberish.

Speaking with reporters in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Sunday evening, Donald Trump suggested that one of the administrative wins that Republican lawmakers should hinge their campaigns on during midterm elections is the tremendous drop in drug prices.

You know weve cut drug prices by 1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500 percent, Trump said. Because were going favored nations, we want the same price as Europe gets, we want the same price as other country gets.

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If Trumps boast were true, drug companies would actually be paying consumers to take prescription drugs.

Over the years, 25-30 years ago, it started where they were charging us much more and I put an end to it with a letter that you saw last week, Trump said.

But the president has not tangibly lowered drug costs. Instead, his office issued letters Thursday to pharmaceutical companies, plainly asking them to lower their prices while vaguely threatening to deploy every tool in our arsenal to combat abusive prices should they refuse.

Trump has previously posited that the affordable price tags on pharmaceuticals in other countries were due to American federal subsidies that he claimed were financially offsetting their prices. But thats not reality: The U.S. pays more for drugs because its an outlier among high-income, developed countries, which predominantly support universal public health coverage.

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Trumps first-term ruleMost Favored Nationwas focused on lowering the cost of Medicare payments on certain drugs, but the plan barely made it out of the White House. The policy was blocked by federal courts shortly after it was announced in late 2020 and was then rescinded by President Joe Biden in 2021.

In May, Trump penned an executive order that set a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to negotiate lower prices. If there was no deal, the U.S. would tie its drug prices to the costs set by other countries. But despite that threat, there hasnt been any noticeable movement in either direction.

I dont know how anybody could win an election if theyre on the other side of that issue, Trump said Sunday. So well be dropping drug prices, it will start over the next two to three months.

But not just 50 percent or 25 percent, which normally would be a lot, because the rest of the world pays much less for the identical drug, and were going to be paying the same thing, Trump said, promising that Americans would pay the same price for drugs as the companys lowest international cost.

Trump: You know, we've cut drug prices by 1200, 1300, 1400, 1,500%. I don't mean 50%. I mean 1400, 1,500% pic.twitter.com/eoHv49DUyX  Acyn (@Acyn) August 4, 2025

Other things that researchers point to as potentially resolving high drug prices in the U.S. include restricting pharmaceutical monopolies within the country, reworking insurance benefits to restrict out-of-pocket, and recentralizing price negotiations through the leverage of a single-payer system (such as Australia, Germany, the U.K., or any number of other wealthy nations), according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund, a private American foundation focused on health care reform.


Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Two people were arrested over the weekend with helping a suspect accused of quadruple murder, according to authorities who on Sunday said they have increased the reward for information leading to the arrest and location of Austin Robert Drummond.

Drummond, 28, is accused of killing a family of four in northwestern Tennessee last week, and has been on the run since.

The U.S. Marshals Service on Sunday announced a reward of $10,000 for information that leads to his arrest for a total of $17,500 when combined with the money being offered by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

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"It's past time -- let's get Drummond into custody," the Dyer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement in response to the announcement. "See something, say something. We can't get distracted -- stay focused on the singular mission of finding Austin Drummond. Keep his name and face all over social media."

Drummond has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of a felon in possession of a firearm and one count each of aggravated kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony in connection with the deaths of James M. Wilson, 21, Adrianna Williams, 20, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15.

Rose is the mother of Adrianna and Braydon. Wilson is Adrianna's boyfriend.

Their bodies were found Tuesday along Carrington Road in Tiptonville, located along the northwestern Tennessee border with both Missouri and Kentucky.

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That same afternoon, the infant child of Wilson and Adrianna was found in a car seat that had been dropped off by a dark-colored minivan or a white mid-sized SUV "at a random individual's front yard," the Dyer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Authorities have said the baby is safe and is being cared for.

On Saturday, authorities arrested Giovonte Thomas, 29, on charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. On Friday, Tanaka Brown, 29, was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and an additional charge of tampering with evidence was later filed.

Authorities said they have discovered the white Audi that Drummond was last seen in. It was located in Jackson, Tenn. Nearby residents were instructed to lock their doors and stay alert.

TBI Director David Rausch said they believe that Drummond is in the Jackson area.

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Drummond has a criminal history and should be considered armed and dangerous. Authorities said the latest crime occurred while he was out on bond for attempted murder in connection with an alleged incident that occurred in prison where he was serving time for attempted robbery.

Authorities have said that this quadruple murder is not a random act.

"This incident has this community on edge," the TBI said in a statement online. "I can assure that state, local and federal agencies have been working around the clock to determine all of the facts of the case and to bring the identified individual, Austin Robert Drummond, in to determine what he may know."
SUNFLOWER COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  Two men were arrested at a Mississippi airport for trafficking marijuana, authorities said.

Agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), with assistance from the Sunflower County Sheriffs Office and the Winona Police Department K-9 Unit, arrested William Claren, 63, of California, and Mark Bailey, 66, of Mississippi, at the Ruleville-Drew Airport in Drew on July 29.

8-year-old killed in Jackson shooting, father charged

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According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS), Claren and Bailey were both charged with trafficking marijuana and conspiracy after agents seized a large quantity of marijuana.

As part of the ongoing investigation, agents executed a search warrant at a residence in Drew, resulting in the additional seizure of bulk marijuana and U.S. currency.

(L-R) William Claren and Mark Bailey (Courtesy: MDPS) Two men were arrested at a Mississippi airport for trafficking marijuana, authorities said. (Courtesy: MDPS)

Items seized from the airplane and residence:

Seized cash amount of $295,495.00

Approximately 247 pounds of marijuana

Piper/Comanche fixed wing single engine airplane

Taurus PT-22 caliber pistol

Springfield Model 67VR Shotgun

This operation highlights the strong collaboration between state and local law enforcement agencies in the fight against drug trafficking, said Sean Tindell, the commissioner of MDPS. We remain committed to identifying and dismantling criminal networks that bring illegal drugs into our communities. I want to commend the agents and officers involved for their continued dedication to keeping Mississippi safe.

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The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests and seizures are expected.

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CALHOUN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation arrested two Calhoun County residents in connection with an extensive poaching operation spanning multiple Panhandle counties.

According to a news release, 23-year-old Hunter Layfield of Blountstown and 40-year-old Patrick Layfield of Clarksville were arrested for illegally taking deer over the legal bag limit.

Officials stated that this illegal activity occurred during the 2024-25 Florida hunting season.

The alleged poaching activity occurred across Calhoun, Liberty, and Franklin counties and involved numerous serious wildlife violations.

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Liberty County chase ends with suspect caught, baby found safe

Search warrants executed at the suspects residence uncovered significant evidence, including 10 mounted deer, two rifles, an infrared scope, and other illegal hunting equipment.

Investigators said they believe the brothers illegally took 20 deer during closed seasons on public wildlife management areas, private land without permission, and their private property.

The suspects are accused of using unlawful methods to harvest deer, such as hunting at night with artificial light and using firearms during closed seasons, officials wrote.

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Additional charges are anticipated as the investigation concludes.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
A man and woman have been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of a man in south-east London.

Ayowale Aladejana was found with stab wounds at a residential address in Monson Road, New Cross, shortly after 19:25 BST on Saturday.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, the 26-year-old from South Norwood, Croydon died at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said.

Ben Wazabanga, 23, of Fairfax Road, Bedford, and Ronique Belfon, also 23, of Morinsbury Road, Bedford, have both been charged with murder.

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Mr Wazabang was also charged with possession of a knife.

Both were remanded in custody and are due to appear at separate magistrates' courts in Croydon and Westminster on Monday.

A post-mortem examination gave a preliminary cause of death as a stab wound to the chest.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

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On 3 August authorities in Mexicos Veracruz state announced that seven inmates had been killed during a riot at a prison facility in Tuxpan municipality the previous day.

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Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Two people died and six were injured after a shooting in downtown Los Angeles overnight at a musical festival's after-party, police said.

The event, which was promoted on social media, took place after the Hard Summer music festival of house and techno music at Hollywood Park, next to SoFi Stadium, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The shooting occurred at 1 a.m. down the street from the party in the industrial zone just north of the Santa Monica Freeway's Interstate 10, the Los Angeles Police Department said. All of the victims were adults.

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Two hours earlier, officers were in the area to break up a party of 50 to 60 people, a police official told ABC News. One person was in custody in possession of a firearm.

It was unclear whether they were the same gathering.

When police arrived in the area again, a large crowd was blocking the roadway when several people fled when shots were fired, police said.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene and a woman died at a hospital, police said.

Among the six injured, at least one person was in critical condition, a spokesperson told KTLA-TV.

No arrests have been made.

Mayor Karen Bass posted on Threads: "The senseless violence and loss of life in Downtown Los Angeles this morning is devastating and those who are responsible must be held accountable. There will be no tolerance for violence in this city. My thoughts are with the victims and their families."
Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, police said, as Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky paid a visit to the front line in the area.

The man and the woman were travelling on a scooter when they were hit by a drone near the Russian border in Vovchansk, north-east of the regional capital Kharkiv, local police said on Telegram.

It came as the president announced on Telegram that he had visited the front-line region, thanking the soldiers stationed there for their efforts in the defence against the all-out Russian invasion.

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According to Zelensky, Russia has deployed mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and African countries in this section of the front.

The Ukrainian leader, who has visited the front line on several occasions, then travelled to Kharkiv, where he visited an educational institution and spoke to pupils and students.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 39-year-old man at Campbell Park last week, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Larrion Boyd, 18, and Keshaun Lamb, 19, were arrested Saturday on charges of first-degree murder and armed kidnapping, according to the agency.

Officers responded shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday to a shooting call in the 1200 block of Ninth Avenue South and found Reginald L. Booth suffering from gunshot wounds, according to police.

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Booth was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg, where he died.

Boyd and Lamb held the victim at gunpoint with other codefendants and helped steal items from his home, according to police reports.

They then chased Booth down the street at gunpoint and brought him back to Boyds car, according to police.

The reports indicate that a third man shot Booth before all three men fled the scene. The third man has not yet been charged, records show.

The men wore masks and scouted the area before kidnapping Booth at gunpoint, according to police reports.

The investigation is ongoing, and police asked anyone with information to call 727-893-7780 or text SPPD and a tip to TIP411.
Two more men have been charged in connection with disorder linked to protests outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Essex Police said a demonstration outside The Bell Hotel, Epping, Essex, on Sunday was peaceful.

A 23-year-old man from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, has been charged with violent disorder and criminal damage and a 21-year-old from Buckhurst Hill, Essex, was charged with violent disorder, all charges were in connection with previous protests.

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They are both due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Essex Police said the men were arrested on Sunday and the 23-year-old was remanded in custody and the 21-year-old had been released on bail.

The force said a Section 14 order stating where and when the protest could take place, a Section 34 order giving officers the power to remove anyone carrying out or believed to be carrying out anti-social behaviour and a Section 60AA order banning face coverings, were put in place in Epping on Sunday.

Ch Supt Simon Anslow, from Essex Police, said on Sunday: "I want to thank those who attended for the peaceful nature of this evening's protest.

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"Our role is to ensure that you can do so safely and lawfully, without being stopped by those trying to disrupt it.

"Today's two arrests are the latest in our ongoing work to identify and locate those who have brought crime to Epping while others protested peacefully."

The protests - against the use of the hotel - have followed a man living in the hotel being arrested, and subsequently charged, with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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Two people rushed to hospital from two separate scenes in Boston

Two people were rushed to the hospital after two separate crime scenes, three miles apart.

Police are investigating two scenes, one in Roxbury and one in Dorchester.

Just after midnight, Boston Police rushed over to the 280 block of Dudley Street. Thats where one person was taken to the hospital. There was a large police presence there with tape set up.

And around the same time, police in Dorchester responded to a scene at the corner of Wrentham and Florida streets. A similar situation with a tape set up and police investigating. Again, one person from this scene was taken to the hospital.

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The conditions of each person transported are unknown.

Boston 25 has reached out to Boston police for more information.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Republican Alexander Asermely, left, and Democrat Stefano Famiglietti, right, are running against each other in Tuesday's special election to fill the Rhode Island Senate District 4 seat left open after the death of former Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. (Left photo via Asermely for RI; right photo via Stefano Famiglietti)

Stefano Famiglietti and Alexander Asermely share a lot in common: age bracket (30s), hometown (North Providence) and profession (personal injury law).

And both think they are the best person to represent Rhode Islands Senate District 4.

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A special election Tuesday will decide which candidate will fill the seat left open after the death of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio in April. It marks the first time the 22,214 registered voters in the district spanning North Providence and a section of northern Providence will have a new state senator in 40 years; Ruggerio held the seat for 20 consecutive terms starting in 1984.

Famiglietti, the Democratic candidate, pledged to follow in his predecessors footsteps, touting Ruggerios collaborative approach and devotion to his town.

Like the Senate president, I have a long history of being very active in the community, Famiglietti, 33, said in an interview on Monday. I think thats what voters really want to see.

Polling information

Polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

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North Providence will open three polling places for district voters: James L. McGuire Elementary School, Dr. Joseph Whelan Elementary School and Dr. Edward A. Ricci Middle School. Information about which voters are assigned to which polling place is available online.

Eligible Providence voters will all vote at Veazie Street Elementary School.

Famiglietti has served on the North Providence Town Council since 2018, and started his own law practice in Providence earlier this year. He swept a four-way Democratic primary in July with 69% of the vote, finishing more than 50 percentage points ahead of the second highest vote-getter.

Famiglietti also tripled the size of his campaign war chest in the four months leading up to the special election, with $36,000 cash on hand as of July 28, including a $1,800 personal loan, according to reports filed with the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

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He raised more than $60,000 in donations since April, primarily from individuals, including $2,000 from Ruggerios campaign account, controlled by Ruggerios brother-in-law who was also Ruggerios treasurer; $1,000 from Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian; and $500 from Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone. His $30,000 in campaign expenses since April includes $6,500 for the printing of yard signs and mailers and $5,600 to advertise in The Valley Breeze.

His endorsements include the Rhode Island Senate District 4 Democratic Committee, the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and Ciccone. And his campaign manager is Charles Ruggerio, son of Dominick Ruggerio.

A campaign sign in a North Providence front yard supports Stefano Famiglietti in the race to fill the vacant Rhode Island Senate District 4 seat. (Photo by Janine Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

Different in their online presence

While Famiglietti campaign yard signs blanket the district, he has not set up a campaign website. A self-described old school candidate, he explained that he thought face time with voters was more important than a website to win a special election.

Its about getting out there and introducing yourself, and reintroducing yourself, Famiglietti said.

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Republican Alexander Asermely, by contrast, has a multi-page campaign website with photos, news coverage and a sign up form for volunteers.

A first-time candidate backed by the Rhode Island GOP, Asermely, 39, works for Rubenstein Law out of its Boston office. He raised more than $10,000 since opening a campaign account on June 2, including $1,000 from the Rhode Island Republican Conservative Caucus and $750 from Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz. Asermely has spent nearly $8,000 on his inaugural campaign, with more than $6,800 shelled out in the last two-week period that ended July 28, according to campaign finance reports.

He had $2,000 cash on hand, with a $2,700 unpaid personal loan, as of July 28.

Asermely did not respond to inquiries for comment on Monday.

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Asermelys website cites crumbling infrastructure, rising taxes and eroding Constitutional rights as problems he wants to address if elected.

Famiglietti has also centered his campaign on local taxes, and wants to increase state aid to Providence and North Providence to relieve district residents from shouldering the burden of municipal revenue shortfalls.

Describing himself as pro-Second Amendment, Famiglietti did not support an initial version of a state assault weapons ban considered by the Rhode Island General Assembly this year. He said he still needed to read through the amended version signed into law  which does not ban possession  before taking a position.

As an attorney, I am always focused on personal rights, he said.

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Famiglietti, who is Catholic, also personally opposes abortion, but had no plans to challenge the states existing inclusion of abortion access in the constitution. He also signaled openness to revisiting the newly enacted smoking ban in Rhode Islands two casinos, which as approved does not take effect until January 2027, and still allows smoking in designated areas.

I am always willing to listen, Famiglietti said. I may not change my mind, but I am open.

More than 820 voters have already cast ballots by mail or in-person through 4 p.m. Monday, the last day of early voting, according to information from the Rhode Island Department of State and Board of Elections.

The winner of the election will serve the rest of Ruggerios two-year term, through 2026.

State lawmakers are paid $20,391.97 a year.

Updated to reflect final early voting totals after the Monday deadline.

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VERMILION, Ohio (WJW)  Two people were rescued from a sailboat that had run aground on Lake Erie over the weekend.

According to the Vermilion Police Department, the marine patrol unit responded to a distress call just offshore from Sherod Park at about 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Major construction project on I-90 starts Monday

The sailboat was approximately 500 yards offshore in waves that were about 2 to 3 high, according to the departments post on Facebook.

Two crew members were safely transferred onto the patrol boat, and a tow boat was eventually able to unground the sailboat and tow it back to Vermilion for a damage assessment.

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How much daylight NE Ohio will lose this month

Boaters should be aware that this area of the Vermilion shoreline is notorious for this type of incident. The depth of Lake Erie is very shallow in this area, and the depth increases very slowly, warned Vermillion police on Facebook.

The post goes on to explain that 500 yards from the shoreline is only about 4 deep. There are also several old submerged piers and many large boulders scattered throughout this area, said officials.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
The Brief

Two people were shot Friday afternoon in Logan Square by a man who fled on foot.

The suspect was last seen running through a backyard and has not been identified.

Chicago police are asking for the publics help and released a photo and description of the suspect and his clothing.

CHICAGO - Chicago police are asking for the publics help in identifying a man who allegedly shot two people Friday afternoon in the citys Logan Square neighborhood.

What we know

The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. in the 2000 block of North St. Louis Avenue.

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Police said the suspect was walking southbound when he fired shots northbound at the end of an alley, hitting two people.

After the shooting, the man ran west through the alley south of Dickens Avenue, then was last seen heading north through a residence in the 3500 block of West Shakespeare Avenue.

Chicago police described the suspect as a White or Hispanic man, likely in his late teens to early 20s, with a medium build and long black hair. He was wearing a distinctive hoodie with a Chrome Hearts Rolling Stones blue tongue logo on the back.

What we don't know

Authorities havent released the condition of the two people who were shot, and it's unclear if the shooter and victims knew each other.

What you can do

Anyone with information is asked to contact Area Five detectives at 312-746-6554 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com using case number JJ-358077.

The Source

The information in this article was provided by the Chicago Police Department.
Its been two years since recreational cannabis became legal in Maryland. While revenue has increased and arrests for cannabis possession have decreased, health experts and school officials say theres an often-overlooked impact  many kids dont see the drug as risky.

Marijuana legalization has normalized adult use and lessened surrounding stigma. National trends show a decline in cannabis use among kids, but Maryland-specific long-term data isnt available yet.

A survey conducted about six months after adult-use legalization, however, found that many Maryland teens think their peers are using more cannabis since adult-use legalization.

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What is clear from the perspectives of teachers and other academic professionals  like Baltimore County Councilman and public high school teacher David Marks  is that they believe more kids are showing up to school under the influence of cannabis.

I definitely observed more students getting high, and also the just general pervasive smell of marijuana use in the school building, Marks said, noting the negative impact it will have on their academic success.

Marijuana use in adolescents and young adults can affect brain development, leading to problems in learning, memory, coordination, reaction time and judgment, according to Mayo Clinic, and frequent use can cause hallucinations, paranoia, and a range of emotional problems.

Diagnosing the problem

The change in risk perception of cannabis is key to understanding how kids consider its use.

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Kara Skelton, an assistant scientist in the department of health behavior and society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that risk perception has gone down as states have legalized it for recreational use.

Theres this growing social normalization of use and decreasing risk perceptions, both for youth and then as they transition into adults, Skelton said.

Normalization of the drug snowballed and some school resource officers have observed a slight uptick in students using cannabis and highlighted children vaping as a serious substance use concern, according to Michael Casamento, a Maryland training coordinator with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program.

DARE is a program created in 1983 that placed police officers in schools to teach drug and violence prevention lessons.

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Janet Bailey, a cafeteria manager for Baltimore City Public Schools and the president of the Laburt Improvement Community Association, is also concerned about the drugs impact on youth, even though she thinks legalization is largely beneficial for adults. She said shes witnessed kids who get high in the morning, fall asleep and miss school. Too many of them are indulging, and starting at a younger age. Too many of them [are] indulging, and its messing with their mind.

Developing solutions

Teachers want to help, but there isnt much they can do, Marks said. Educators have their hands tied. Its difficult to enforce marijuana use outside the building, he said.

Over a third of Maryland teenagers also reported getting cannabis directly from unregulated sources (defined as another store or online) or they were unsure of source, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA).

In an email to The Baltimore Sun, an MCA representative said that this suggests that cannabis has been easier for teens to access outside of Marylands state-licensed dispensaries.

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Unregulated cannabis products pose greater risks to kids because they arent subject to the states testing standards. Products may actually be higher or lower in THC than what is on the label and could contain other harmful contaminants, an MCA representative said.

A multi-faceted collaborative effort to address associated threats to kids seems to inadvertently be happening across the state.

The citys improved youth activities for kids make them less likely to try dangerous substances. It seems like a lot of crime in Baltimore City is going down. And you kind of have to look at some of the changes that the city government has made, Casamento said.

After-school programs for kids, offering greater swimming pool access and cleaning up public spaces, are important steps. Theres just more options out therethats when you start seeing a lot of the substance abuse go down, Casamento added.

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Kal Shah, the owner of two cannabis dispensaries  Waave in Prince Georges County and Summit Wellness in Baltimore County  said his dispensary, and the cannabis industry more broadly, takes measures to safeguard kids, including childproof packaging, conspicuous warning labels, and educating adults about speaking with kids about cannabis.

Ultimately, the lessons learned from controlling other potentially dangerous substances will also have to be implemented alongside new lessons on cannabis use to protect children, Skelton said.

We have decades of research from alcohol and tobacco control that we can leverage as we look to protect youth and other vulnerable populations. she said. Its imperative to do so.

Have a news tip? Contact Gabriella Fine at gfine@baltsun.com
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  A man from Arkansas was arrested on Monday morning after police responded to a burglary alarm at a Classic Toyota in Tyler, according to the department.

Lake O the Pines jet boat crash victim identified by Texas Game Wardens

The Tyler Police Department said they witnessed 26-year-old Levon Gates Jr. of Arkansas run from the scene of a suspected burglary at a business in the 1700 block of West Southwest Loop 323 in Tyler. According to Tyler PD Detective Israel Camarena, the business was a Classic Toyota in the area.

Mugshot of Levon Gates Jr., courtesy of Smith County Jail

According to the department, Gates immediately ran from officers and was captured without incident. During the process of verifying Gates identity, it was discovered that several arrest warrants had been issued for him by multiple agencies throughout the surrounding areas and outside of Texas.

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Rains County fire departments battle fire at Kearney Trailers in Emory

Gates was booked into the Smith County Jail for multiple onsite offenses and warrants, including the following:

Burglary of a building

Possession of marijuana

Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon

Evading arrest/detention

Fail to identify a fugitive with the intent to give false information

Evading arrest/detention with vehicle: Anderson County

Evading arrest/detention: Anderson County

Possession of marijuana: Anderson County

Fleeing: Arkansas

Two counts of theft by receiving: Arkansas

Theft of property: Arkansas

Burglary of habitation: Arkansas

Unclassified offense: Arkansas

Terroristic threat: Arkansas

Possession of a firearm by a certain person: Arkansas

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

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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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Feb. 13, 2025. Credit - Jim WatsonAFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump seems unafraid to burn India, a longtime friend of the U.S., over its Russian oil purchases.

India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits. They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine, Trump said via Truth Social on Monday, referring to Russias war with Ukraine. The President warned that he would substantially raise the tariff rate on Indian products entering the U.S. as a result.

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Indias foreign ministry said in a statement that the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. The ministry stated that India was actively encouraged by the U.S. to buy Russian oil, which American officials said at the time was meant to keep Russian oil in the global supply so that oil prices would not surge.

He wants a tremendous relationship and has had always a tremendous relationship with India and the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi], White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said on Fox News over the weekend. But we need to get real about dealing with the financing of this war.

The Trump Administration has recently shifted from the Presidents earlier friendly tone towards Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump, who said repeatedly during his presidential campaign that he would end the war in 24 hours, has apparently grown fed up with Putin, issuing sharp criticisms of the Russian President as well as of former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. Last month, Trump announced that the U.S. would continue to supply Ukraine militarily (after earlier announcing a pause), and he threatened tariffs and other measures on Russia if it does not reach a peace deal with Ukraine by Aug. 8.

But Trump is also shifting his approach toward India, which has long served as a regional buffer against China and whose leader has had a close relationship with Trump. I dont care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care, Trump posted on Truth Social on July 31.

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India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world, but they dont accept our products, they impose massive tariffs on us,  and of course we see again the purchasing of [Russian] oil. Miller said on Fox News, adding that all options are on the table for Trump to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Indias ties to Russia

India and Russia have a track record of supporting each other that goes back decades. When former U.S. President Richard Nixon sent a warship to intimidate India during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, Russia sent its navy to the Indian Ocean. In December 2021, Modi and Putin signed a number of trade and arms deals, while Russian oil producer Rosneft is expanding its investment in India. India has also repeatedly abstained from voting on United Nations resolutions to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine.

People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. Thats an astonishing fact, Miller said.

India imports around two million barrels of crude oil per day from Russia, making it the second largest purchaser of Russian oil after China, according to the New York Times. Russias share of Indian oil imports has increased from less than 1% before the war to more than a third.

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Russia has for years also been Indias top arms supplier. While the war in Ukraine lowered Russias arms exports due in part to the need for weapons on its own battlefield, India was still Russias top arms buyer between 2020 and 2024, purchasing 38% of Russian arms exports, according to a 2024 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Trumps short-term shifts

After months of trade talks between the U.S. and India, which Trump had hinted came very close to a deal, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on the South Asian country.

In a July 30 post announcing the new rate, Trump griped about Indias strenuous and obnoxious trade barriers and the countrys financial ties to Russia: Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russias largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE  ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!

In addition to the 25% tariff, Trump said India would pay a penalty for its Russia ties. Trump has separately threatened a 100% tariff on imports from countries that buy Russian oil, unless Russia and Ukraine reach a peace deal.

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India has also come under Trumps fire as a member of intergovernmental grouping BRICS, which is led by U.S.-sanctioned countries Russia, China and Iran, as well as Brazil and South Africa. Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff on BRICS members, which he said were aligning themselves against the U.S.

Meanwhile, Trump has moved closer to Pakistan, with which India has hostile relations and the U.S. has historically had a complex and sometimes tense relationship, especially as Pakistan has grown closer to and is primarily armed by China.

Earlier this year, India and Pakistan were on the brink of war after a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir prompted an Indian missile strike on Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Pakistans eastern Punjab province. India accused the Pakistani government of being involved in the attack, which Pakistan denied.

After days of the escalating conflict, Trump announced a cease-fire between the two neighborsa development that Trump has repeatedly taken credit for since. Pakistan thanked Trump for his part in brokering the peace, going so far as to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize. India, on the other hand, has rejected Trumps claim as baseless and entirely incorrect that India called off its military campaign under U.S. pressure.

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Hours after announcing the 25% tariff on India, Trump said the U.S. concluded a trade deal with Pakistan, which would involve an oil partnership, quipping that, Who knows, maybe theyll be selling Oil to India some day!

Experts have said that the Trump Administrations more transactional approach to international diplomacy has meant that longtime friends can abruptly be bucked in favor of short-term U.S. interests.

The U.S. administration has tended to focus on its immediate concerns, and Pakistan has been quick to respond to these. India seeks to convince the U.S. to take a longer-term view and make decisions accordingly, retired American diplomat Jon Danilowicz told the South China Morning Post. For the present, it seems that New Delhi is holding the short end of the stick.

India doubles down

I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia, Trump told reporters last week. Thats what I heard. I dont know if thats right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens.

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It seems, at least for now, that Trump heard wrong.

Our ties with any country or all the ties that we have with various countries, they have, they stand on their own merit and they should not be seen from the prism of a third country, Indias foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a news conference on Aug. 1 without directly addressing Trumps comments. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership.

Bloomberg reported last week that the Indian government had told state-owned oil refiners to prepare alternatives to Russian crude, although one person familiar with the matter told the outlet that the instruction was meant as scenario planning in the event that Russian crude oil becomes unavailable. Other sources told Bloomberg that the Indian government is still assessing its position. Two senior Indian officials told the Times on Saturday that there has been no change in policy and that India would continue purchasing oil from Russia.

Indias foreign ministry also pointed out in its Monday statement that the U.S. and the European Unionwhich has also criticized India over its trade with Russiahave continued to import products from Russia. U.S. goods trade with Russia in 2024 amounted to around $3.5 billion, down from around $36 billion in 2021, according to Census data, although the U.S. reportedly still imports fertilizers from Russia.

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In its statement, Indias foreign ministry vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

Modi also struck a critical tone of Trumps tariffs, after months of Indian officials seeming to cast the policy in a more cautiously optimistic light.The world economy is going through many apprehensions, there is an atmosphere of instability, Modi said at a rally in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. In such a situation, the countries of the world are focusing on their respective interests. They are focusing on the interests of their respective countries, he added, referencing how the government believes India is on track to become the third largest economy in the world, behind the U.S. and China. Therefore, India also has to be vigilant about its economic interests.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
U.S. Issues New Travel Warning For Popular Vacation Destinations originally appeared on Parade.

With an uncertain border dispute raging between Thailand and Cambodia, the U.S. State Department has recently revised their travel advisories for each respective nation, urging American travelers to "exercise increased caution" when venturing to the popular vacation hotspots.

In late July, the government agency officially updated their travel level warnings for both Southeast Asian countries, designating them with a Level 2 advisory.

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Currently, the State Department uses a total of four travel warnings for international destinations, ranging from Level 1 ("exercise normal precautions"), to Level 2 ("exercised increased caution), to Level 3 ("reconsider travel"), to the highly severe Level 4 ("do not travel").

In their evaluation of the international conflict, the State Department specifically mentioned that "unrest" in Thailand may cause issues for some international travelers, with certain designated areas in the country suffering from "increased risk."

"Periodic violence between Thai security services and armed insurgents has been known to occur in Thailands three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat," the State Department said.

"Seventeen districts in these provinces remain under a declared state of emergency due to ongoing violent conflict," the agency continued. "There is a collateral risk of violence for U.S. citizens in Thailands southernmost provinces due to low intensity conflict.

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Meanwhile, the State Department has cautioned visitors to Cambodia to watch out for increased street crime and undetonated landmines throughout the country.

"Street crime, particularly phone and bag snatchings, occurs frequently in areas where foreigners gather; resistance can result in injury," the State Department observed. "Violent crimes, such as sexual assault and homicide do occur and sometimes are committed against foreigners."

"Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote areas throughout Cambodia, and especially in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, and Kampong Thom provinces," the department went on to say.

More pointedly, the agency emphatically urges American tourists to avoid areas along the Cambodian and Thai border, owing to the armed conflict between the two neighboring countries.

U.S. Issues New Travel Warning For Popular Vacation Destinations first appeared on Parade on Aug 4, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, says the National Transportation Safety Board hearings on the January midair crash in Washington, D.C., of a commercial jet out of Wichita and a military helicopter based in Virginia revealed failure to address known safety challenges. The accident killed 67 people, including Kansans. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of U.S. Senate YouTube channel)

TOPEKA  U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran castigated the Federal Aviation Administration for failing to respond to warning signs and improve safety of airspace in the Washington, D.C., area before American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter collided in January.

Moran, a Kansas Republican who chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation, said three days of National Transportation Safety Board hearings indicated unresolved staffing issues and a record of near misses were contributing factors in the Jan. 29 accident.

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Despite numerous warning signs of serious problems over the last several years, little was done to try and correct them, and these failures by the FAA, the Army and air traffic control cost 67 lives, Moran said.

The airliner departed Wichita and fell into the Potomac River after slamming into the helicopter near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, known as DCA.

I know the last few days have been painful for the families of the victims, and I assure them that Congress will not let these failures go unanswered. We cannot undo the tragic loss of life, but we can work to make certain it never happens again, the senator said.

During the hearings, federal investigators said air traffic controllers responsible for the busy airport were pressured to make it work. Former DCA tower operations manager Clark Allen said the system was pushing the line on safety.

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FAA administrators said the national shortage of traffic controllers had to be considered. On the night of the midair collision, one DCA tower controller was handling both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter traffic. Typically, two controllers divided that workload.

The NTSB uncovered long-term staffing issues at the control tower that were compounded by a culture of distrust among DCA air traffic controllers and a toleration for unacceptable risks, Moran said. It is alarming that FAA failed to act on years of data and near misses indicating serious problems with the design of the mixed airspace around DCA.

Before the accident, FAA staff said a concern had been raised about Army helicopters taking a route in proximity to commercial jet landings at the airport.

The Army helicopter involved in the collision flew above its ceiling of 200 feet, possibly due to an imprecise altimeter. The impact occurred at 278 feet and killed the three-person helicopter crew as well as 60 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants on the American Airlines jet.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, says the National Transportation Safety Board hearings on the January midair crash in Washington, D.C., of a commercial jet out of Wichita and a military helicopter based in Virginia revealed failure to address known safety challenges. The accident killed 67 people, including Kansans. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of U.S. Senate YouTube channel)

TOPEKA  U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran castigated the Federal Aviation Administration for failing to respond to warning signs and improve safety of airspace in the Washington, D.C., area before American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter collided in January.

Moran, a Kansas Republican who chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation, said three days of National Transportation Safety Board hearings indicated unresolved staffing issues and a record of near misses were contributing factors in the Jan. 29 accident.

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Despite numerous warning signs of serious problems over the last several years, little was done to try and correct them, and these failures by the FAA, the Army and air traffic control cost 67 lives, Moran said.

The airliner departed Wichita and fell into the Potomac River after slamming into the helicopter near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, known as DCA.

I know the last few days have been painful for the families of the victims, and I assure them that Congress will not let these failures go unanswered. We cannot undo the tragic loss of life, but we can work to make certain it never happens again, the senator said.

During the hearings, federal investigators said air traffic controllers responsible for the busy airport were pressured to make it work. Former DCA tower operations manager Clark Allen said the system was pushing the line on safety.

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FAA administrators said the national shortage of traffic controllers had to be considered. On the night of the midair collision, one DCA tower controller was handling both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter traffic. Typically, two controllers divided that workload.

The NTSB uncovered long-term staffing issues at the control tower that were compounded by a culture of distrust among DCA air traffic controllers and a toleration for unacceptable risks, Moran said. It is alarming that FAA failed to act on years of data and near misses indicating serious problems with the design of the mixed airspace around DCA.

Before the accident, FAA staff said a concern had been raised about Army helicopters taking a route in proximity to commercial jet landings at the airport.

The Army helicopter involved in the collision flew above its ceiling of 200 feet, possibly due to an imprecise altimeter. The impact occurred at 278 feet and killed the three-person helicopter crew as well as 60 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants on the American Airlines jet.

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A British couple detained in Iran for seven months on espionage charges have been moved to separate prisons in and near Tehran, heightening fears for their welfare, their son told AFP on Monday.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 52 and who previously split their time between southeast England and Spain, were seized in Kerman, in central Iran, in early January while on a round-the-world motorbike trip.

Their family has known little about their whereabouts since then, but say they learned Sunday via the UK Foreign Office that Lindsay has been transferred to Qarchak women's prison near the capital.

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It has a dubious reputation, with human rights groups repeatedly criticising dire conditions reported there.

"It's one of the worst prisons in the world," Lindsay's son Joe Bennett said in an interview Monday near his home in Folkestone, southeast England.

Meanwhile, his stepdad Craig has been moved to Tehran's infamous central prison, also known as Fashafouyeh, which is about 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the capital and has similar notoriety.

Bennett, who has yet to talk to his parents since they were detained more than 200 days ago, called the developments "unbelievably tough".

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"Because of where they are, I'm worrying more than I was ever," he added, urging Iranian authorities to allow British officials fresh access to the couple and to let his parents call home.

"You're just thinking, 'is she OK'," he said of the seven-month ordeal, adding "it's like you feel sick all the time".

- Fears -

"I do have confidence in their resilience, they are mentally strong," Bennett told AFP.

But the 31-year-old sales manager, who used to speak to his mum nearly daily, fears overcrowding at their new prisons and that they may be abused, as well as a fallout from their enforced separation.

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"I believe they will be, together, as strong as possible, but now they've been separated... that lifeline has been taken."

The couple, who were on a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip, entered Iran from Armenia and had only intended to stay four days before crossing into Pakistan.

The UK government advises against all travel to Iran, after a string of British and UK-Iranian dual nationals have been detained over the last decade.

Western governments have accused Tehran of using them as bargaining chips amid perpetually fraught relations between Iran and the West.

Bennett noted the family -- which includes three other siblings -- were confident they "knew what they were doing" given they are "experienced travelers".

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He said the couple took "every means possible" to travel safely and compliantly through the country, including getting tourist visas, hiring tour guides, keeping to main roads and staying in hotels.

Relatives first realised something was wrong when the couple stopped communicating but their messages on WhatsApp and other platforms showed as having been read.

Iran then said in February that the Foremans were accused of entering Iran "posing as tourists" to gather information.

It claimed to have established links between the couple and foreign intelligence services and that they were being held on "espionage charges".

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- 'Crazy' -

Bennett dismissed the claim that his parents are spies as "crazy".

"They're not spies or political players. They are just two people who are traveling around the world."

He also renewed his criticism Monday of the UK government, saying it felt like ministers and officials were just going "through the motions" in their response.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said it was "deeply concerned" at Iran's espionage allegations and that it continues to raise the case "directly with the Iranian authorities".

"We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members," she added.

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But Bennett claimed the family's letters to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had gone unanswered, while meetings with junior ministers left them feeling underwhelmed.

"If you're not taking accountability for two UK citizens abroad, and you're not acknowledging us as a family, we don't feel like we're getting supported in the right way," he said.

Bennett said the family had been receiving support and advice from former British detainees in Iran and their relatives, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was held there for several years, and her husband Richard Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe mounted a years-long campaign for his wife's release, which eventually occurred in 2022.

jj/jkb/gv
By Alistair Smout

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain said it will start work within days to implement a deal to return some migrants who arrive on small boats to France, a key part of its plans to cut illegal migration, after a treaty on the arrangement was ratified on Tuesday.

Under the new "one in, one out" pilot scheme agreed in principle last month, France will accept the return of undocumented people arriving in Britain by small boats, in exchange for Britain agreeing to accept an equal number of legitimate asylum seekers with British family connections.

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More than 25,000 people have come to Britain on small boats so far in 2025, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to "smash the gangs" of people smugglers to try to reduce the number of arrivals.

Starmer, whose popularity has fallen since winning an election landslide last year, is facing pressure to stop small boats from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which leads national opinion polls.

In recent weeks in England, there have been protests near hotels housing asylum seekers who have arrived on small boats, attended by both anti-immigration groups and supporters of immigration.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on X that the deal has a "clear objective" to break up the people-smuggling networks.

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His British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, would not say how many people would be returned under the scheme.

"The numbers will start lower and then build up," she told Sky News on Tuesday, adding that the scheme would return new arrivals, rather than people already in Britain.

The treaty text said there would be a target timeframe of no more than three months from someone's arrival in Britain to transfer to France, and Britain's interior ministry said it expected detentions to begin within days.

Britain must make the request to return an individual within 14 days of their arrival, and France does not have to accept unaccompanied minors or people who pose a pre-existing security threat, the treaty said.

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Government sources previously said the agreement would involve about 50 returns a week, or 2,600 a year, a fraction of the more than 35,000 arrivals reported last year.

Critics of the scheme have said its small scale will not act as a deterrent, but Cooper said the agreement was just one part of a wider plan.

The government has also used sanctions, measures against social media adverts and coordination with delivery firms to tackle people smuggling.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Additional reporting by Sarah Young and Sudip Kar-Gupta;Editing by William James and Helen Popper)
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has declined to put a figure on how many migrants will be returned to France under a new agreement that comes into force tomorrow.

Some migrants arriving in the UK on small boats will be detained and returned to France under a pilot scheme lasting 11 months.

In return, the UK will accept an equal number of asylum seekers who have not tried to cross and can pass security and eligibility checks.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the plan was a "product of months of grown-up diplomacy" which would "deliver real results" but the Conservatives said it would prove "unworkable and wide open to abuse".

As of 30 July, more than 25,000 people had crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025 - about 49% higher than at the same point in 2024.

UK and international law prevents the government from sending asylum seekers back to their country of origin before their claim has been considered and turned down. However, they can be sent to safe countries prepared to consider their claim.

Under a new treaty published on Tuesday, France has agreed to take back adults or accompanied children who make a journey to the UK by small boat, once any asylum claim is withdrawn or declared inadmissible.

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Both countries have agreed to work towards making transfers with three months after small boat arrivals have entered the UK.

However, Cooper would not be drawn on how many returns were likely to be made, stressing the scheme starting up was a trial.

"The numbers will start lower and then build," she told BBC Breakfast, adding that precise details could be used as "operational information" by criminal gangs.

There have been reports that 50 people per week could be returned, compared with the weekly average of more than 800 people currently making the crossing.

Peter Walsh, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory, said the number of returns would need to be higher to have a deterrent effect.

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Asked whether 50 returns a week would have an impact on crossings, he said: "On the current rate of arrivals, that would be roughly a 5% chance of being returned.

"People are already taking such a big risk, they're risking their lives by getting in a small boat, so you'd have to imagine that that kind of percentage might not be enough to move the needle."

[BBC]

The government has also disclosed details of how people will apply to come to the UK from France under the scheme.

Successful applicants will initially be granted the right to come to the UK for three months, to "consider how to regularise their stay".

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Applicants will apply online  but have to submit proof to the Home Office they are applying from within France.

The UK has agreed to pay the transportation costs both of those migrants it sends to France, and those it accepts back in return.

Sir Keir has previously said the "one-in-one-out" returns pilot scheme with France is not "a silver bullet" but he believes it will deter people from making the dangerous journey following a big increase in the numbers so far this year.

He announced the agreement with Emmanuel Macron in July, but it was still subject to legal scrutiny by the European Commission and EU member states.

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At that point, the charity Asylum Matters criticised the measure, arguing: "The only way to stop people from making dangerous journeys is to give them real safe routes to seek sanctuary."

The UK government has now said that the "EU Commission, Germany and other member states have given the green light on this innovative approach" meaning the scheme can go ahead.

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the government's deal with the French would be less effective than the Rwanda plan proposed by the previous Conservative government.

"This is a pathetic deal, which simply won't work," he added.

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"There are no numbers specified, presumably because they are so small they would embarrass the home secretary.

"It's exactly what we've been warning about  a bureaucrat's dream and a lawyer's paradise set to prevent people ever being returned to France."
By Max Hunder

DNIPROPETROVSK REGION, Ukraine (Reuters) -When President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at the end of last month that Ukraine needs $6 billion to fund the production of interceptor drones, setting a target of 1,000 a day, he had his reasons.

Having already reshaped the battlefield by doing work once reserved for long-range missiles, field artillery and human intelligence, drones are now fighting Russian drones - a boon for Ukraine's dwindling stock of air defence missile systems.

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In the last two months, just one Ukrainian charity supplying aerial interceptor drones says its devices have downed around 1,500 of the drones that Russia has been sending to reconnoitre the battlefield or to bomb Ukraine's towns and cities.

INTERCEPTORS HELP TO SAVE VALUABLE MISSILE STOCK

Most importantly, such interceptors have the potential to be a cheap, plentiful alternative to using Western or Soviet-made air defence missiles, depleted by allies' inability, or reluctance, to replenish them.

Colonel Serhiy Nonka's 1,129th air defence regiment, which started using them a year ago to ram and blow up enemy drones, estimated that they could down a Russian spotter drone at about a fifth of the cost of doing so with a missile.

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As a result, the depth to which these enemy reconnaissance drones can fly behind Ukrainian lines has decreased sharply, Nonka said.

Some estimates put the interceptors' speed at over 300 kph (190 mph), although the precise figures are closely guarded.

Other units are using interceptors to hit the long-range Shahed "kamikaze" drones that Russia launches at Kyiv and other cities, sometimes downing dozens a night, according to Zelenskiy.

In the three and a half years since Russia invaded Ukraine at scale, drones have gone from an auxiliary tool to one of the primary means of waging war for both sides.

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To chase them down, interceptor drones need to be faster and more powerful than those that have already revolutionised long-range precision strikes and aerial reconnaissance.

INTERCEPTOR DRONES TO BECOME UBIQUITOUS

Like the First-Person View drones that now dominate the battlefield, interceptor drones are flown by a pilot on the ground through the video feed from an onboard camera.

When we started to work (with these drones), the enemy would fly at 800 or a thousand metres," the officer who spearheaded their adoption by the 1,129th regiment, Oleksiy Barsuk. "Now it's three, four or five thousand  but their (camera) zoom is not infinite.

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Most of the regiments interceptor drones are provided by military charities that crowdfund weapons and equipment through donations from civilians.

Taras Tymochko, from the largest of these, Come Back Alive, said it now supplies interceptors to 90 units.

Since the project began a year ago, the organisation says over 3,000 drones have been downed by equipment it provided, nearly half of them in the last two months.

However, such interceptors are still no match for incoming missiles or the fast jet-powered attack drones that Moscow has recently started deploying.

The organisation reports the value of the downed Russian craft at $195 million, over a dozen times the cost of the drones and equipment handed over under the project.

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Sam Bendett, adjunct senior fellow at the Centre for a New American Security, said Russian forces were complaining about the effectiveness of large Ukrainian interceptors, but were also developing their own.

We're starting to see more and more videos of various types of interceptions by both sides ... I think this is going to accelerate and it's going to become more and more ubiquitous in the coming weeks."

(Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Vladimir Putin started it. Joe Biden didnt stop it. But, no matter his efforts to the contrary, this is the week in which Russias invasion of Ukraine becomes US President Donald Trumps war.

The most powerful office in the world doesnt always invite choices. Trump is mandated to address the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II because the United States was involved, under his predecessor, as Ukraines key ally and sponsor.

Trump could have dropped the war entirely. But instead, he chose to impose the force of his personality, initially through the idea he could end it in 24 hours, or a revised deadline of 100 days. Then he tried to navigate its personalities, cozying up to the Russian president initially, echoing his narratives and then berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly in the Oval Office.

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He hit his NATO allies hard, demanding they pay more for Europes defense, which they did. And then the hard slog of diplomacy sputtered into gear, ultimately yielding very little.

But it is in the last fortnight that Trumps decisions  and realizations  have turned this into a problem he now owns. He has seen Putin does not want peace. He has seen Ukraine urgently needs arms, and he tried to help, albeit in a lackluster way. He made the remarkable choice of responding to the usually dismissed nuclear saber-rattling of former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, with harder nuclear threats about positioning US nuclear submarines closer to Russia. The US went from pausing military aid to Ukraine to threatening nuclear force against Russia in less than a month.

As this week ends, with Trumps shortened deadline for a peace deal coming into view, he must make perhaps the most consequential decision of the conflict yet. Does he impose penalties  secondary tariffs against Russias energy customers  that really hurt? Does he accept the US and its allies might need to endure a little pain economically, to inflict pain?

Imposing serious secondary sanctions on India and China could roil the global energy market. Trump posted Monday he would be increasing tariffs on India because it was selling Russian crude on at a profit, and he didnt care how many people are being killed by the Russian War Machine, although he did not provide details as to the new measures. India has not made it publicly clear if it intends to stop buying Russian energy products. China is utterly dependent on Russian oil and gas and simply cannot afford to stop buying it.

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To avoid another a TACO moment  short for Trump Always Chickens Out  Trump will have to cause some discomfort and will likely feel some back. Or he can look for an off-ramp, if one is offered to his special envoy Steve Witkoff in an expected Moscow visit this week. Trump could perhaps accept a bilateral meeting with Putin as a sign of progress toward peace. But even this backing down would still mean he has left his indelible imprint on the war  that, in the words of former US Secretary of State Colin Powell regarding Iraq, if the United States breaks it, they own it.

Trump cannot have it both ways. It is in his nature to seek to be the fulcrum of all decisions, and the lightning rod of attention, on any given issue. Every turning point so far has been based around his personal choice and fancy. And with this comes a key lesson of the American presidency.

Trump does not get to choose which problems are his, and which he can ignore. MAGAs America First platform may be about reducing Washingtons global footprint, but it doesnt permit Trump to own solely his successes  and not his failures. Unless Trump reduces the footprint of American power globally to zero  incompatible with a presidential personality compelled to do and agitate  there will always be some problems that are Americas.

He says he wants wars to stop. But that is not enough in itself. The wars have not all complied.

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Former US President Barack Obama inherited wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He ducked fast out of the former, and doubled down with a surge in the latter, which did not work. Afghanistan became Obamas war, even though it was a mess he had inherited. Trump in turn was passed that mess, and he handed his quick fix to Biden to execute, in the chaotic collapse of August 2021, widely paraded by Republicans as a Democrat failing.

Trump faces the same problem of inheriting a crisis. He cannot wish or cajole the conflict to an end. The very battlefield deaths he mourns have sewn damage and grief afar, turning this into an existential war of survival for the Kremlin, and for the soul of Ukrainian society.

Ukrainians want to live in peace, without nightly air raid sirens. Putin does not want peace, and instead his most recent maximalist demands amount to something tantamount to Ukrainian surrender.

Ultimately, it is reflection of a harsh reality that this should be seen as Trumps war. It is the defining conflict of his presidency and of the post-9/11 era. Its outcome defines European security and Chinese belligerence over the next decade. China understands that and needs Russia to win. Europe understands that, and is arming itself so Russia does not see opportunity in the blocs weakness. Whether Trump understands this and accepts discomforting, strident decisions with the consequences that follow, we will learn in the week ahead.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's domestic security service said on Monday that it destroyed one Russian jet fighter and damaged four other military aircraft during an overnight drone strike on Russian-occupied Crimea.

In a statement, it said it had struck a military aviation depot, "completely" destroying one Su-30, damaging another, and also damaging three Su-24 jet bombers.

Reuters could not independently verify the report.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Ukraine is negotiating with Poland over a possible 120 million loan to purchase military equipment produced by the Polish defence industry.

Source: European Pravda, citing an interview with the Ukrinform news agency featuring Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha

Details: Sybiha stated that during his recent meeting with the Polish foreign minister, he discussed Ukraines interest in several Polish-made systems and the possibility of obtaining a 120 million credit line for such purchases.

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As examples of successful systems already in use on the battlefield, he named the Polish Piorun man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and Krab self-propelled artillery systems.

Quote: "Obviously, during wartime, a country at war never has enough weapons. Thats why we will certainly continue discussions, including on joint production  both in Ukraine and in Poland. This is a shared interest, a mutually beneficial interest and an investment in our common future."

More details: Kyiv has also raised the possibility of receiving additional Soviet-era fighter jets from Poland, but according to available information, Warsaw is currently not ready to provide them.

Background: Earlier reports indicated that Poland is working with Lithuania to further develop the capabilities of its Piorun MANPADS.

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Key developments on August 4:

5 Russian fighter jets hit by Ukraine's SBU with drones in occupied Crimea, one destroyed

'Massive' Ukrainian drone strike targets Russian railway station in Volgograd Oblast, local official claims

Ukrainian strike destroys Russian S-300 in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, General Staff says

Ukrainian lawmaker, ex-governor jailed in drone procurement corruption case

Netherlands to deliver $579 million in US weapon systems to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles

Drones operated by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) struck five Russian fighter jets overnight on Aug. 4 at an airfield in Saky, a city in Russian-occupied Crimea, the service said.

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Ukrainian drones, in a Special Operations Center "A" mission, destroyed a Su-30SM aircraft, damaged another, hit three Su-24s, and struck an aviation weapons depot.

The Saky airbase plays a critical role in Russia's military operations in the Black Sea, and the damage from the Ukrainian strike is considered "significant," with a single Su-30SM jet valued between $35 million and $50 million, according to the SBU.

"The successful special operation carried out by the SBU in Saky marks another step toward weakening the enemy's capacity to wage its war of aggression against Ukraine," SBU said.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

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Russia has not officially commented on the reported strikes.

The Su-30MS is a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter aircraft developed by Russia, with production beginning in the early 2010s. Meanwhile, the Su-24 is a twin-engine, all-weather supersonic strike bomber developed by the Soviet Union, with production starting in the early 1970s.

Russia deploys these fighter jets for regular attacks on Ukraine, as well as for patrols, radar surveillance, target guidance, and escorting long-range aircraft.

This is not Ukraine's first successful drone operation against Russian aircraft.

Read also: Operation Vistula  Expulsion of Ukrainians from post-war Poland

'Massive' Ukrainian drone strike targets Russian railway station in Volgograd Oblast, local official claims

A "massive" Ukrainian drone strike targeted the Archeda railway station in the town of Frolovo in Russia's Volgograd Oblast overnight on Aug. 4, causing rail travel disruptions and temporarily closing a regional airport.

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Volgograd Oblast is located some 900 kilometers (560 miles) southeast of Moscow and nearly 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the border with Ukraine, next to the almost completely occupied Luhansk Oblast.

Independent media outlet Astra reported that a fire broke out at the Archeda railway station.

Volgograd Oblast Governor Andrei Bocharov claimed that drones targeted transport and energy facilities in the oblast and as a result, rail traffic in the Frolovo district has been restricted, describing the attack as "massive."

Russian Railways, the state-owned railway operator, also reported a suspension of train services in Frolovo.

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Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that a total of 61 Ukrainian drones were shot down over various regions of the country overnight.

Ukraine's military rarely comments on drone strikes on Russian territory, although it has regularly targeted the region with drones.

The Kyiv Independent cannot verify claims made by Russian officials.

Read also: Better now than never  Ukraine announces competition for anti-smuggling director 7 months late

Ukraine destroys Russian S-300 in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, General Staff says

Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile system in the Russian-occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine's General Staff said on Aug. 4.

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The S-300 is a long-range surface-to-air missile system that intercepts aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles. Developed by the Soviet Union, it remains a key component of Russia's air defense and, depending on the variant, can engage multiple targets at ranges of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles).

Russian forces also use the system to attack Ukrainian-controlled territory and target front line military positions of the Ukrainian army.

The destruction of this target deals a significant blow to the Russian long-range fire capabilities, limiting its ability to strike Ukrainian positions and civilian infrastructure in the region, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

"Ukrainian forces continue to systematically destroy key elements of Russia's military capabilities, weakening the enemy's ability to carry out combat operations, hold illegally occupied territories, and sustain the occupation," the General Staff said.

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Read also: China rejects US demands to halt Russian, Iranian oil imports

Ukrainian lawmaker, ex-governor jailed in drone procurement corruption case



Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court has ordered lawmaker Oleksii Kuznetsov to be held in custody for the next 60 days with the option to be released on a Hr 8 million ($192,000) bail.

Kuznetsov, representing President Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party, is suspected of taking part in a high-level corruption scheme tied to military procurement, Suspilne reported from the courtroom on Aug. 4.

Also on Aug. 4, the court jailed former Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhii Haidai for 60 days, with bail set at Hr 10 million ($240,000), in connection with the same investigation.

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Kuznetsov and Haidai are among six individuals named in the ongoing probe by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

The agencies on Aug. 2 revealed a scheme involving inflated state contracts for drones and electronic warfare (EW) equipment tied to state contracts signed in 2024 and 2025.

According to investigators, officials involved in the scheme allegedly received up to 30% of contract funds as kickbacks.

Read also: Zelensky says mercenaries from Asia and Africa fighting for Russia in northeastern Ukraine

Netherlands to deliver $579 million in US weapon systems to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles

The Netherlands will deliver a 500 million euros (around $579 million) military aid package to Ukraine consisting of U.S.-made weapon systems, including Patriot missile components, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced on Aug. 4.

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The announcement comes amid a sharp escalation in Russian air attacks and calls from Kyiv to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities.

"Ukraine needs more air defence and ammunition now," Brekelmans wrote on X. "As the first NATO ally, the Netherlands will deliver a 500 million package of U.S. weapon systems (including Patriot parts and missiles). This helps Ukraine to defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression."

President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the decision, saying Ukraine and Europe "will receive greater protection from Russian terror."

"I am sincerely grateful to the Netherlands for their substantial contribution to strengthening Ukraine's air shield," Zelensky wrote, saying this is "the first such step" among NATO countries.

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In June, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed a scheme under which NATO countries will purchase advanced arms from Washington, including air defense systems, and deliver some of them to Ukraine.

Zelensky added that the move was one of the practical outcomes of the June NATO summit in The Hague. He thanked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

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Ukrainian forces have destroyed a Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile system in temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Details: The General Staff noted that on 2 August, the Ukrainian defence forces carried out a precision strike on Russian military targets in the temporarily occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. As a result of the operation, a Russian S-300 missile system was destroyed using long-range firepower.

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Quote: "The elimination of this target significantly reduces the enemys long-range fire capabilities and weakens its ability to shell positions of Ukraines defence forces and civilian infrastructure in the region.

This strike once again confirms the effectiveness and accuracy of Ukrainian units in detecting and destroying critical enemy assets, including those in temporarily occupied territories.

Ukraine will continue the fight until the complete withdrawal of Russian occupying forces, the restoration of territorial integrity, and the establishment of a just and lasting peace."

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev has commented on Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Soders call to cancel Burgergeld (from German  money for citizens) social benefits for Ukrainian refugees.

Source: Makeiev on Deutschlandfunk radio, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Makeiev said Soders statements about the need to deprive Ukrainian refugees of Burgergeld are "difficult to understand".

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The ambassador added that "the problem with financial aid is not because of Ukrainians" and called on Germans not to scapegoat them.

Background:

Earlier, Soder called for the abolition of Burgergeld payments for Ukrainian refugees. These benefits are granted to those seeking employment or whose income is insufficient for self-support.

The official believes that due to these social benefits, many Ukrainians do not want to find employment in Germany.

This call was supported by Minister-President of Saxony Michael Kretschmer, who backed a review of the social assistance payment system, including for Ukrainian refugees.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the introduction of stricter rules for receiving social benefits.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has outlined what Kyiv plans to propose to unblock the work of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Source: Sybiha in an interview with the Ukrinform news agency, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sybiha was asked about the five steps he outlined in Helsinki that Ukraine plans to present to its partners to take the OSCE out of deadlock.

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Quote: "Firstly, we must get rid of the outdated consensus rule, which, due to Russias abuse, similar to the veto rule in the UN Security Council, condemns the OSCE to dysfunctionality. Therefore, it is important to abolish it, and Ukraine will be one of the countries advocating this aspect."

Details: Secondly, he noted, the OSCE should be allowed, by a qualified two-thirds majority, to suspend the membership of states that violate the organisations principles or the fundamental principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

Quote: "Thirdly, we believe that the chairmanship should be improved. In particular, the powers of the OSCE Troika, as well as the institution of chairmanship in the Organisation, should be expanded. Fourthly, the mechanism for appointing the OSCE leadership should be improved, as this has direct consequences for defining priorities and ensuring the organisations functionality."

Details: Sybiha added that work should also be done to ensure that the OSCE corresponds to the original idea at the time of its creation.

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"At that time, there was the Cold War, and in our view, there is now a huge gap between the Organisations current functionality and todays realities: there is a hot war in Europe All this should be reflected in the OSCEs activities," the minister said.

Background:

Earlier, Sybiha stressed that Russia cannot remain an OSCE member after all it has done and cannot keep blocking the organisations work.

At the events marking the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, which established the OSCE, the Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, whose country currently holds the chairmanship, stated the need to reform the organisation to make it capable of fulfilling its functions.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Editor's note: This story was updated to include information about the detention of former Luhansk Oblast Governor and former head of the Mukachevo District Administration Serhii Haidai.

Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court has ordered lawmaker Oleksii Kuznetsov to be held in custody for the next 60 days with the option to be released on a Hr 8 million ($192,000) bail.

Kuznetsov, representing President Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party, is suspected of taking part in a high-level corruption scheme tied to military procurement, Suspilne reported from the courtroom on Aug. 4.

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Also on Aug. 4, the court jailed former Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhii Haidai for 60 days, with bail set at Hr 10 million ($240,000), in connection with the same investigation.

Kuznetsov and Haidai are among six individuals named in the ongoing probe by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

The agencies on Aug. 2 revealed a scheme involving inflated state contracts for drones and electronic warfare (EW) equipment tied to state contracts signed in 2024 and 2025.

According to investigators, officials involved in the scheme allegedly received up to 30% of contract funds as kickbacks.

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Kuznetsov was elected to parliament in 2019 representing Luhansk Oblast and served on the parliamentary human rights committee and the temporary commission on tariff policy.

The corruption revelations come days after Ukraine's parliament reversed course on the law limiting the independence of NABU and SAPO. Zelensky signed a bill restoring the agencies' independence on July 31, following widespread protests and international criticism over a prior law passed on July 22 that had constrained their powers.

According to NABU, the corruption network involved a current lawmaker, a former regional governor, leaders of city and district military administrations, a National Guard commander, and a drone supplier. Ukrainian media identified other suspects as Andrii Yurchenko, head of Luhansk's Rubizhne district, and several other officials.

Officials reportedly used a coordinated method of inflating government contracts and taking bribes in return. The pattern was repeated with both drone and EW system procurement during 20242025, the investigation found.

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David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction in parliament, said Kuznetsov would be expelled from the faction during the investigation. "Those guilty of corruption crimes must be punished fairly, regardless of their status or position," he said.

Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko convened an emergency Cabinet meeting following the revelations. Zelensky later dismissed Haidai from his latest role as head of the Mukachevo district administration.

During the court hearing, Haidai expressed a willingness to go to the front lines once the case is resolved, according to Suspilne. Several State Border Guard Service members reportedly offered to post sureties on his behalf.



If Haidai posts bail, he will be subject to a range of restrictions, including travel bans, surrendering his passport, and a prohibition on contacting witnesses or co-defendants.

Read also: Explosions, smoke reported near Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

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Ukraines anti-corruption authorities have filed charges against members of an organised crime group involved in a corruption scheme related to the procurement of drones and electronic warfare systems. Investigators are seeking to place a sitting MP under arrest with bail set at UAH 30 million (approx. US$720,000).

Source: Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO)

Quote: "With the consent of the prosecutor general, a motion has been submitted to the court seeking pre-trial detention for the suspected MP, with an alternative of bail set at UAH 30 million. Motions requesting pre-trial restraint measures for the other suspects involved in the case have also been submitted to the court."

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Details: As previously reported by Ukrainska Pravda, the individuals exposed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and SAPO include:

MP Oleksii Kuznietsov of the Servant of the People party;

Serhii Haidai, former head of Luhansk Oblast Military Administration and current head of Mukachevo District State Administration;

Andrii Yurchenko, Head of Rubizhne City Military Administration in Luhansk Oblast.





Charges brought against:

Serhii Haidai;

MP Oleksii Kuznietsov;

Andrii Yurchenko;

a National Guard unit commander;

de facto beneficiary of a drone-manufacturing company;

director of the drone-manufacturing company.

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Additionally, the beneficiary and director of the drone company are accused of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Investigators say they accepted bribes to hire individuals and secure military deferments, effectively blocking their mobilisation.

The investigators stated that in 2024-2025 this organised group systematically embezzled state funds allocated by local governments for defence needs.

One confirmed episode involves the procurement of electronic warfare systems: group members received up to 30% of the contract value as a bribe for signing overpriced deals. A similar scheme was used in the purchase of FPV drones worth nearly UAH 10 million (approx. US$242,000), with prices inflated by around US$80,000. The supplier delivered the drones, and part of the funds was later kicked back to members of the group.

For reference: Kuznietsov was among the MPs who voted on 22 July in favour of controversial draft law No. 12414, which included provisions that would place independent anti-corruption bodies under the control of the prosecutor general.

Background:

On 2 August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a briefing by National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Director Semen Kryvonos and SAPO Head Oleksandr Klymenko, announced the exposure of a corruption scheme involving a sitting MP, heads of district and city administrations, and National Guard personnel.

NABU and SAPO stated that the scheme involved awarding inflated government contracts for the supply of drones and electronic warfare equipment, with kickbacks paid to members of the criminal group.

Davyd Arakhamiia, leader of the Servant of the People faction, stated that MP Oleksii Kuznetsov's membership in the Servant of the People faction will be suspended for the duration of the investigation.

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Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile system in the Russian-occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine's General Staff said on Aug. 4.

The S-300 is a long-range surface-to-air missile system that intercepts aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles. Developed by the Soviet Union, it remains a key component of Russia's air defense and, depending on the variant, can engage multiple targets at ranges of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles).

Russian forces also use the system to attack Ukrainian-controlled territory and target frontline military positions of the Ukrainian army.

Map of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast. (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

The destruction of this target deals a significant blow to the Russian long-range fire capabilities, limiting its ability to strike Ukrainian positions and civilian infrastructure in the region, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

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"Ukrainian forces continue to systematically destroy key elements of Russia's military capabilities, weakening the enemy's ability to carry out combat operations, hold illegally occupied territories, and sustain the occupation," the General Staff said.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the report.

Russia has occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast since the onset of its full-scale invasion in 2022, subjecting the rest of its territories to daily aerial and artillery attacks.

Read also: We spot them, we destroy them  Ukraine fights for Kostiantynivka as Russia closes in on three sides

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the issue

The demand for housing in the US has for years outpaced supply, fueling an affordability crisis that leaves a growing number of people unable to comfortably buy a home or pay rent.

As Congress faces mounting pressure to act, Republicans and Democrats have struggled to coalesce around a legislative solution. Democrats have long advocated for spending more federal dollars on the sector, while Republicans would rather roll back restrictions on it.

the bond

A major breakthrough happened last week in the Senate Banking Committee, which advanced bipartisan housing legislation for the first time in over a decade. The package included a new proposal from Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and John Kennedy, R-La., that would attempt to boost housing supply by incentivizing communities to build more.

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Were basically telling folks in local government, Were not telling you how to do your job, were just telling you what we want as an end result, Kennedy told Semafor. We want more houses, and those of you who do build more houses will get extra money. Those of you who dont will lose money.

That money would come out of the Community Development Block Grant program, which funnels federal funds to state and local governments. Communities would have two years to speed up their current pace of home-building in exchange for extra cash; if they dont, they would see their share of the grants reduced.

It fundamentally changes the role of the federal government in developing more housing in America, Warren told Semafor. It starts from the premise that we need more housing  but it also incorporates the idea that the federal government shouldnt tell you how to get there.

Communities on track for a funding reduction would receive guidance from HUD on how to turn things around. There would be exclusions for communities facing low demand, economic distress, natural disasters and other extenuating circumstances.

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There was a lot about who gets scoped in, who gets scoped out, Warren said. We dont want to punish cities that are already in terrible financial trouble. And some cities actually have adequate building supply.

Know More

The idea stemmed from a hearing on housing the Banking Committee held earlier this year, Warren recounted.

Ive been working for years on housing supply and lots of ideas to push in that direction, including an innovation fund, Warren said.

Kennedy, in this hearing, says he thinks its time not just for some carrots, but for some sticks, she added, focused on federal funds.

So when Kennedy gets up to leave, I said to him, Are you serious about that approach? and he said, Well, yes, Warren added. We never varied from the initial idea of carrots and sticks.

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The bill now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. Kennedy told Semafor hes not sure when that might happen.

It depends on how much controversy it is, Kennedy said. Once people digest it, its not going to be universally popular.  Youll have some folks in local government saying, Why is the federal government telling us what we have to do?

I sympathize with that point of view, Kennedy added. But were not telling them what to do  they dont have to do anything. But if they dont, they lose some of their federal money.

Notable
An air quality advisory was sent out to New Yorkers for Monday, when smoke from wildfires in Canada is expected to reach the state.

Unhealthy air quality conditions continued in the Upper Midwest and Northeast on Sunday afternoon, with the worst of it in eastern Wisconsin and Michigan.

Alerts were in effect for nine states Sunday and included the cities of Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit, as well as Syracuse and Buffalo in New York and Burlington, Vermont.

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The smoke will make its way to New York City on Monday. The state Department of Environmental Conservation sent an alert Sunday warning of unhealthy air for some people.

The air quality index is expected to be between 101 and 150, which is known as Level Orange and is unhealthy for sensitive groups and may be unhealthy for those sensitive to air pollution, the alert said.

Those groups include adults over 65 and children younger than 14, people who are pregnant, outdoor workers and those with medical conditions like heart or lung disease, or those with respiratory issues like asthma. Sensitive groups should manage outdoor activities and monitor for symptoms related to air quality.

Healthy individuals should not be strongly affected by the air quality, the alert said.

Heat and flooding elsewhere

Flood alerts are in place for 13 million people in the Southeast including in Atlanta and the Florida cities of Jacksonville and Tallahassee through Monday.

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Slow-moving storms are dumping 2 to 5 inches of rain over the area, with up to 8 inches possible in some places.

In the High Plains, from Colorado through West Texas, 1 million people were at risk for very large hail and damaging wind gusts Sunday afternoon.

Heat alerts are in effect for 14 million in the Southwest, Texas and Miami, where heat indexes were predicted to top 105 to 109 degrees. In Arizona and California, the heat indexes could reach 110 to 115 degrees.

The heat alerts in the Southwest will remain in effect through Friday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A United Airlines plane heading to Germany had to return to Washington, DC, shortly after takeoff.

An air traffic control recording shows the pilots declaring an emergency as an engine failed.

The Boeing 787 landed safely after just 30 minutes in the air, having dumped fuel near the airport.

A United Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing after one of its engines stopped working.

Flight 108 departed Washington Dulles around 8 p.m. on Friday, July 25, more than two hours behind schedule.

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The 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner then spent around 30 minutes in the air before returning to the airport, which is just outside the nation's capital.

In separate statements, United and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said this was due to "a mechanical issue."

Air traffic control audio published by LiveATC.net and later uploaded to YouTube provides more insight into the incident.

It shows how the pilots declared an emergency, having only ascended to around 5,000 feet.

"Engine failure, left engine," a pilot can be heard saying. "Mayday, mayday, mayday."

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The wide-body plane was carrying 230 people and enough fuel to reach Munich, a seven-hour, over 4,000-mile flight away.

Before it could land, the controller guided the pilots a few miles away from the airport where it could safely dump fuel.

"Attention all aircraft, fuel dumping in progress, 10 miles west of Dulles," the tower can be heard announcing.

While losing an engine can be scary, modern twin-engine jets like the 787 are designed to be able to fly safely with just one. Such scenarios are also practiced in pilot training.

"The plane landed safely, and all passengers deplaned normally at the gate," United's statement said.

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The MWAA added that the plane was checked by fire and rescue personnel, then towed to a gate.

"The flight was subsequently canceled and we arranged alternate travel arrangements to take customers to their destination as soon as possible," said United.

The plane involved in the incident, registered as N27901, returned to service three days later. It has since flown eleven times with destinations in Greece and West Africa.

Have you recently experienced a flight diversion? Reach out to this reporter at psyme@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Universities will be banned from accepting foreign students if too many claim asylum in Britain.

The Home Office outlined plans to crack down on the misuse and exploitation of student visas in its immigration white paper in May.

It now says universities will be penalised if fewer than 95 per cent of international students accepted onto a course go on to start their studies, if fewer than 90 per cent finish, or if more than 5 per cent have their visas rejected.

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Increasing numbers of students are making asylum claims at the end of their course, despite nothing substantive having changed in their home countries during their studies, according to The Times.

The Government has said student visas are being used as an entry point for getting to the UK to work without any intention to complete the course.

The worst-performing universities will be named and shamed by the Government under the rules to be unveiled in September, the newspaper reported.

They will face a limit on the number of new international students they can recruit until they have improved.

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Institutions that fail to do so will be stripped of their ability to sponsor study visas.

Foreign students are a significant boon to university coffers. They contributed more than 12bn in tuition fees in Britain in the year 2022-23.

The number of sponsored study visa grants to foreign students has soared from around 200,000 in 2016 to almost half a million in the year to June 2023.

Government statistics showed that the number of asylum claims made by a visa holder had increased since mid-2021, with almost half of them coming from students.

Visas for lower-ranking universities increased by 49 per cent in two years from 2021, while the number of visas for the top 100 ranked institutions fell by 7 per cent.

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Nearly 10,000 asylum seekers who initially came to the UK on a visa were living in taxpayer-funded accommodation, such as hotels, at some point last year.

Home Office officials have said that Pakistani, Nigerian and Sri Lankan visa holders are the most likely to go on to apply for asylum.

Dame Angela Eagle wants to see tighter visa controls where necessary - PA

Dame Angela Eagle, the border security minister, told The Times: The UK will always welcome genuine visitors, workers and students, but we will not tolerate this kind of systematic abuse

The rules must be respected and enforced, and we will not hesitate to impose even tighter visa controls where necessary.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the changes amounted to minor tinkering around the edges and would make little real difference.

He told the newspaper: Far too many foreign students are using the pretext of study as a route into the UK. Some courses are extremely low quality and have students who barely speak any English.

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A number of universities are essentially selling UK visas rather than selling an education. This abuse needs to be shut down.

The last Conservative government rightly ended the farce of students being able to bring family in with them but a lot more real action is now needed.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Brief

Robert J. Jones began his term as the 34th president of the University of Washington, bringing extensive experience from leadership roles at other major universities.

A distinguished scholar in crop physiology, he expressed his honor and excitement to lead the university in its mission of serving students and the broader community.

SEATTLE - Robert J. Jones officially began his tenure as the 34th president of the University of Washington last week.

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Jones, a distinguished scholar in crop physiology, also holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Biology within the College of Arts & Sciences.

Prior to his appointment at the University of Washington, Jones served as the chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He previously held the position of president at the State University of New York at Albany.

"I am honored to be joining the University of Washington and excited to lead this extraordinary public University in its mission serving students, families and communities across Washington and beyond," Jones said. "The UW is globally renowned as a home of outstanding teaching, research, innovation and patient care. I look forward to working with the UWs talented and dedicated faculty and staff to support and accelerate their work, and to partnering with the UWs supporters to advance students success, economic opportunity and discovery for the public good."

Throughout his career, Jones has been a leader in national academic organizations and the Big Ten Conference.

The Source

Information in this story came from the University of Washington.

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Japan this week marks 80 years since the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.

The first on August 6, 1945 killed around 140,000 people in Hiroshima and three days later another 74,000 perished in Nagasaki.

Here are some facts about the devastating attacks:

- The bombs -

The first atomic bomb was dropped on the western city of Hiroshima by the US bomber Enola Gay, nicknamed "Little Boy".

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It detonated about 600 metres from the ground, with a force equivalent to 15,000 tonnes of TNT.

Tens of thousands died instantly, while others succumbed to injuries or illness in the weeks, months and years that followed.

Three days later the US dropped a second bomb, dubbed "Fat Man", on the southern city of Nagasaki.

The attacks remain the only time atomic bombs have been used in wartime.

- The attacks -

In Hiroshima, the first thing people noticed was an "intense ball of fire", according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Temperatures near the blast reached an estimated 7,000 degrees Celsius (12,632 degrees Fahrenheit), which incinerated everything within a radius of about three kilometres (five miles).

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"I remember the charred bodies of little children lying around the hypocentre area like black rocks," Koichi Wada, a witness who was 18 at the time of the Nagasaki attack, has said of the bombing.

ICRC experts say there were cases of temporary or permanent blindness due to the intense flash of light, and subsequent related damage such as cataracts.

A whirlwind of heat generated also ignited thousands of fires that ravaged large parts of the mostly wooden city. A firestorm that consumed all available oxygen caused more deaths by suffocation.

It has been estimated that burn- and fire-related casualties accounted for more than half of the immediate deaths in Hiroshima.

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The explosion generated an enormous shock wave that blew people through the air. Others were crushed to death inside collapsed buildings or injured or killed by flying debris.

- Radiation effects -

Radiation sickness was reported in the aftermath by many who survived the initial blasts and firestorms.

Acute symptoms included vomiting, headaches, nausea, diarrhoea, haemorrhaging and hair loss, with radiation sickness fatal for many within a few weeks or months.

Survivors, known as "hibakusha", also experienced longer-term effects including elevated risks of thyroid cancer and leukaemia, and both Hiroshima and Nagasaki have seen elevated cancer rates.

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Of 50,000 radiation victims from both cities studied by the Japanese-US Radiation Effects Research Foundation, about 100 died of leukaemia and 850 suffered from radiation-induced cancers.

The group found no evidence however of a "significant increase" in serious birth defects among survivors' children.

- The aftermath -

The twin bombings dealt the final blow to imperial Japan, which surrendered on August 15, 1945, bringing an end to World War II.

Historians have debated whether the bombings ultimately saved lives by bringing an end to the conflict and averting a ground invasion.

But those calculations meant little to survivors, many of whom battled decades of physical and psychological trauma, as well as the stigma that sometimes came with being a hibakusha.

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Despite their suffering, many survivors were shunned -- in particular for marriage -- because of prejudice over radiation exposure.

Survivors and their supporters have become some of the loudest and most powerful voices opposing nuclear weapons, including meeting world leaders to press their case.

Last year, the Japanese anti-nuclear group Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of hibakusha, won the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2019, Pope Francis met several hibakusha in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, decrying the "unspeakable horror" and calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

In 2016, Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima. He offered no apology for the attack, but embraced survivors and called for a world free of nuclear weapons.

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Russia is one of around 100 countries expected to attend this year's memorial in Nagasaki, the first time Moscow has been invited to commemorations in the city since the start of the war with Ukraine.

bur-aph/stu/jfx
Defending COVID-19 policies against legal challenges, government officials relied heavily on Jacobson v. Massachusetts, a 1905 case in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a smallpox vaccine mandate imposed by the Cambridge Board of Health. But the breadth of the license granted by that decision is a matter of dispute, even as applied to superficially similar COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Critics of those mandates argued that COVID-19 shots, unlike smallpox vaccination, do not prevent transmission of the disease, which means that requiring them amounts to paternalistic intervention rather than protection of the general public.

Last week in Health Freedom Fund v. Carvalho, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit dismissed that distinction as constitutionally irrelevant. Rejecting a challenge to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) imposed on its employees in 2021, the majority held that the district "could have reasonably concluded that COVID-19 vaccines would protect the health and safety of its employees and students." The implications of the 9th Circuit's decision for the right to bodily integrity are alarmingly broad, since the court's logic would seem to bless all manner of medical mandates that the government views as beneficial to the patient, regardless of any purported effect on third parties.

The plaintiffs in the 9th Circuit case, including LAUSD employees who were fired because they refused to comply with the vaccine requirement, argued that Jacobson did not authorize that policy. Their case features dueling interpretations of Jacobson that in turn reflect different understandings of "public health." Is that rationale for government action limited to external threats such as those posed by disease carriers and air pollution, or does it extend to self-regarding decisions such as lifestyle choices and consent to medical treatment? The 9th Circuit's ruling implicitly embraces the latter view, which invites far-ranging, open-ended interference with individual freedom.

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The 120-year-old Supreme Court case at the center of this controversy involved Henning Jacobson, a minister of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cambridge, who refused to comply with the city's vaccination mandate, citing a bad smallpox vaccine reaction he had experienced as a child. He also refused to pay the resulting $5 fine, arguing that the Massachusetts law violated the 14th Amendment's guarantees of due process, equal protection, and "privileges or immunities."

In Jacobson, the Supreme Court weighed "the inherent right of every freeman to care for his own body and health in such way as to him seems best" against the government's interest in "preventing the spread of smallpox." The majority repeatedly referred to the latter danger and noted "the common belief," supported by "high medical authority," that vaccination was effective at addressing it.

"There are manifold restraints to which every person is necessarily subject for the common good," Justice John Marshall Harlan said in the majority opinion. "Real liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual person to use his own, whether in respect of his person or his property, regardless of the injury that may be done to others."

But the Court also said a state's public health authority has limits. "An acknowledged power of a local community to protect itself against an epidemic threatening the safety of all might be exercised in particular circumstances and in reference to particular persons in such an arbitrary, unreasonable manner, or might go so far beyond what was reasonably required for the safety of the public, as to authorize or compel the courts to interfere for the protection of such persons," Harlan wrote. "If a statute purporting to have been enacted to protect the public health, the public morals, or the public safety, has no real or substantial relation to those objects, or is, beyond all question, a plain, palpable invasion of rights secured by the fundamental law, it is the duty of the courts to so adjudge, and thereby give effect to the Constitution."

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The plaintiffs in Health Freedom Fund v. Carvalho argued that the LAUSD's vaccine mandate presented such a situation because the policy had no "substantial relation" to the goal that the Supreme Court thought justified Cambridge's requirement. While smallpox vaccination was effective at curtailing the spread of disease, they said, COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent infection or transmission, although they may reduce symptom severity in people who take them. The LAUSD disputed that characterization to some extent, arguing that COVID-19 vaccination does make transmission less likely, or at least that it was reasonable to think so when the mandate was adopted. But this much is clear: Initial expectations, based on clinical trials, that the vaccines would be highly effective at retarding the spread of COVID-19 were contradicted by real-world experience, especially with emerging variants of the virus.

That realization was reflected in messaging from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of July 2021, the CDC was saying "fully vaccinated people are less likely to become infected" and "less likely to get and spread" COVID-19. By August 2024, the CDC was no longer touting those purported benefits, instead saying that COVID-19 vaccines "are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying."

That shift, the plaintiffs who sued the LAUSD argued, showed that COVID-19 shots are "designed to reduce symptoms in the infected vaccine recipient rather than to prevent transmission and infection," meaning they should be viewed as a "medical treatment" rather than a "traditional" vaccine. Dale Fischer, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, did not think that difference mattered.

"Jacobson does not require that a vaccine have the specific purpose of preventing disease," Fischer wrote in September 2022, when he issued a judgment in the LAUSD's favor. He also rejected the plaintiffs' claim that the vaccine mandate impinged on a fundamental right to bodily autonomy, making it subject to "strict scrutiny" as an alleged violation of substantive due process.

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Under Jacobson, Fischer said, the proper test was whether the LAUSD had a "rational basis" for its policy. That highly deferential test asks only whether there is a "rational connection" between a policy and a legitimate government purpose. As Fischer noted, quoting the Supreme Court, judges "hardly ever" strike down a policy under that standard. In this case, Fischer thought it was easily met. Even if COVID-19 shots do no more than protect recipients from serious illness and death, he concluded, "these features of the vaccine further the purpose of protecting LAUSD students and employees from COVID-19," so "the Court finds the Policy survives rational basis review."

A 9th Circuit panel took a different view of the matter. "Jacobson held that mandatory vaccinations were rationally related to 'preventing the spread' of smallpox," the two-judge majority said when it revived the lawsuit in June 2024. "Jacobson, however, did not involve a claim in which the compelled vaccine was 'designed to reduce symptoms in the infected vaccine recipient rather than to prevent transmission and infection.' The district court thus erred in holding that Jacobson extends beyond its public health rationalegovernment's power to mandate prophylactic measures aimed at preventing the recipient from spreading disease to othersto also govern 'forced medical treatment' for the recipient's benefit."

The LAUSD successfully sought review by an 11-judge 9th Circuit panel, which last week agreed with Fischer that Jacobson defeated the plaintiffs' constitutional claim. "Jacobson holds that the constitutionality of a vaccine mandate, like the Policy here, turns on what reasonable legislative and executive decisionmakers could have rationally concluded about whether a vaccine protects the public's health and safety, not whether a vaccine actually provides immunity to or prevents transmission of a disease," Judge Mark Bennett wrote in the majority opinion. "Whether a vaccine protects the public's health and safety is committed to policymakers, not a court or a jury. Further, alleged scientific uncertainty over a vaccine's efficacy is irrelevant under Jacobson."

That decision "simply does not allow debate in the courts over whether a mandated vaccine prevents the spread of disease," Bennett said. "Jacobson makes clear that it

is up to the political branches, within the parameters of rational basis review, to decide whether a vaccine effectively protects public health and safety."

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The LAUSD's vaccine mandate "easily survives such review because (even assuming the truth of Plaintiffs' allegations) it was more than reasonable for the LAUSD to conclude that COVID-19 vaccines would protect the health and safety of its employees and students," Bennett wrote. "The [complaint] concedes that COVID-19 vaccines 'lessen the severity of symptoms for individuals who receive them.' From this, the LAUSD could have reasonably determined that the vaccines would protect the health of its employees."

Like Fischer, in other words, the 9th Circuit concluded that it does not legally matter whether COVID-19 vaccination prevents transmission of the disease. Even if the plaintiffs are right that it does not, the majority said, the expected benefits to vaccine recipients would be enough to justify the policy.

That was too much for dissenting Judge Kenneth Lee. "The majority's opinion comes perilously close to giving the government carte blanche to require a vaccine or even

medical treatment against people's will so long as it assertseven if incorrectlythat it would promote 'public health and safety,'" Lee wrote in an opinion joined by Judge Daniel Collins. "But the many mistakes and missteps by our government and the scientific establishment over the past five years counsel caution: Their errors underscore the importance of carefully evaluating the sort of sweeping claims of public-health authority asserted by the [LAUSD] here."

Lee and Collins agreed with the plaintiffs that Jacobson applies "only if a vaccine

prevents transmission and contraction of a disease." The plaintiffs "have plausibly claimedat least at the pleading stage where we must accept the truth of the allegationsthat the COVID-19 vaccine mitigates serious symptoms but does not 'prevent transmission or contraction of COVID-19,'" Lee wrote. "And if that is true, then Jacobson's rational basis review does not apply, and we must examine the vaccine mandate under a more stringent standard. Ultimately, the plaintiffs may be wrong about the COVID-19 vaccine, but they should be given a chance to challenge the government's assertions about it."

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The majority "suggests that Jacobson's reference to 'public health and public safety' is so capacious that merely 'lessen[ing] the severity of symptoms' is enough to justify a vaccine mandate," Lee said. "But nothing in Jacobson hints that just mitigating symptoms alone can count as 'public health and public safety.' The entire thrust of Jacobson is that 'public health and public safety' means protecting the mass public from the spread of smallpox. Aside from the repeated references to 'preventing the spread' of smallpox, the opinion makes many allusions to the dangers of widespread transmission of the disease among the public."

Lee noted the troubling implications of the "public health" rationale endorsed by the majority. "If we accept the majority's holding that a state can impose a vaccine mandate just to 'lessen the severity of symptoms' of sick personswithout considering whether it lessens transmission and contraction of this diseasethen we are opening the door for compulsory medical treatment against people's wishes..As a practical matter, I fear we are giving the government a blank check to foist health treatment mandates on the peopledespite its checkered track recordwhen we should be imposing a check against the government's incursion into our liberties."

Although the 9th Circuit judges disagreed about when Jacobson applies, they all assumed that "rational basis" is the appropriate test when it does. Yet Jacobson predates the tiers of judicial review that courts today apply in constitutional cases, and the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) argues that the 1905 decision actually applied a more demanding standard.

"Jacobson explicitly required the government to demonstrate a 'substantial relation' between its articulated goal and the law in question," the NCLA says in a brief supporting the plaintiffs in the 9th Circuit case. "That is a far more exacting standard than rational basis, which requires only that the government posit some interest and a rational connection between the challenged law and the alleged interest. Put otherwise, a 'substantial relation' is a higher bar than a 'rational connection.'"

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The NCLA brief adds that "rational basis does not entail any assessment of the individual's liberty rights." Yet in Jacobson, the Supreme Court "took into account the significant liberty interests at stake, explaining that it was balancing Jacobson's liberty interest in declining the unwanted vaccine against the State's interest in preventing smallpox from spreading. It was only because 'the spread of smallpox' 'imperiled an entire population' that the State's interest in 'stamp[ing] out the disease of smallpox' outweighed Rev. Jacobson's liberty interests."

Subsequent Supreme Court decisions have made it clear that "Americans possess a

constitutionally protected liberty interest in consenting to treatment and refusing

unwanted medication," the NCLA notes. "Government employers cannot simply require (on pain of termination) their employees to take any medication, regardless of consent, medical necessity, or various other circumstances, merely because [the government] asserts that the treatment may be beneficial to the employee."

The LAUSD argued that Jacobson "permits mandatory vaccination for reasons other than inhibiting transmission to third parties, such as for the benefit of the recipient or ensuring the hospitals are not overwhelmed," the NCLA notes. But "if ensuring the medical system is not overburdened (and with no showing of an emergency on that front) constituted a valid reason to mandate health measures, the government could mandate alcohol abstention, staying within a certain weight range, and exercising regularly." That approach, the brief says, "would eviscerate all limits on governmental powers to intrude on medical and bodily autonomy."

The 9th Circuit's reasoning, in short, endorses a sweeping view of what it means to protect "public health and safety." That understanding obliterates the distinction between public and private, justifying forcible intervention whenever the government thinks it will protect recalcitrant individuals from disease or injury.

The post Upholding a Vaccine Mandate, the 9th Circuit Embraces an Alarmingly Broad Definition of 'Public Health' appeared first on Reason.com.
The Environmental Protection Agency is opposing Colorado's plan to close its remaining coal-fired power plants by 2031.

What's happening?

In a preliminary decision released in the Federal Register on July 16, the EPA detailed its argument that the closure of a few remaining coal plants in Colorado would violate federal law and could negatively impact grid reliability.

According to The Colorado Sun, there are six coal-fired power plants still operating in the state. In an effort to transition to clean and renewable energy sources, the plants were set to close by 2031.

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A spokesperson for Colorado Springs Utilities noted that, although the closure date of the Nixon 1 coal plant has not officially changed, the EPA's decision could complicate things in the near future.

"Moving forward with the 2029 date poses serious reliability challenges, and we are in discussions with the state on how best to address this," they told the Sun.

According to Cyrus Western, the EPA Mountains and Plains Regional Administrator, those discussions are of no concern to the agency.

"Whatever the conversations that go on between the state of Colorado and those utilities, that's their business," Western explained, per the Sun. "But we've made it really clear that these shutdowns are not going to happen on our watch, and the Clean Air Act does not allow for these federal steps to be shut down against the will of the power generation owner."

Why is the EPA's decision important?

The EPA's stance could allow plant operators more flexibility to keep plants running well past the state's original deadline. The agency noted that its "partial disapproval" of Colorado's long-term strategy does not align with the Trump administration's push for increased energy production. This could throw a wrench into many of the State Implementation Plans throughout Colorado, raising questions over future air quality standards.

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Jeremy Nichols, a senior advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed disappointment in the EPA's decision.

"There's every reason to be concerned that this proposal could be the opening salvo of a broader attack on Colorado's efforts to move away from costly and dirty coal," Nichols told the Sun. "This is a major slap in the face to the state's ability to protect clean air on its terms."

Coal power plants have long been considered to be significant contributors to air pollution and public health problems. Burning coal releases gases such as carbon dioxide, which leads to the increasing global temperature.

Coal plants also emit harmful pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other fine particulate matter, which can lead to respiratory illnesses and other health concerns.

What's being done about Colorado's push for energy alternatives?

Despite the apparent roadblock, air pollution experts in Colorado remain optimistic that utility companies in the state will continue to transition to renewable resources. Michael Ogletree, a director of the state's Air Pollution Control Division, said that companies had begun to shift away from coal long before the EPA's recent decision.

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"Utilities are moving away from coal because it's no longer the most affordable or reliable option," Ogletree told the Sun. "Many coal plants have already shut down or are on track to retire, driven by economics and cost savings for consumers, not federal mandates."

According to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Colorado had 11 coal-powered plants in operation in 2015. These plants were responsible for around 5,100 megawatts of electric generating capacity. That represented 52% of the state's entire energy production.

Less than 10 years later, coal-fired power plants accounted for just 27% of Colorado's total energy generation, per the Energy Information Administration.

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.




By Ted Hesson and David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. could require bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a pilot program launching in two weeks, a government notice said on Monday, an effort that aims to crack down on visitors who overstay their visas.

The program gives U.S. consular officers the discretion to impose bonds on visitors from countries with high rates of visa overstays, according to a Federal Register notice. Bonds could also be applied to people coming from countries where screening and vetting information is deemed insufficient, the notice said.

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President Donald Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a focus of his presidency, boosting resources to secure the border and arresting people in the U.S. illegally.

He issued a travel ban in June that fully or partially blocks citizens of 19 nations from entering the U.S. on national security grounds.

Trump's immigration policies have led some visitors to skip travel to the United States. Transatlantic airfares dropped to rates last seen before the COVID-19 pandemic in May and travel from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. fell by 20% year-over-year.

Effective August 20, the new visa program will last for approximately a year, the government notice said. Consular officers will have three options for visa applicants subjected to the bonds: $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, but will generally be expected to require at least $10,000, it said.

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The funds will be returned to travelers if they depart in accordance with the terms of their visas, the notice said.

A similar pilot program was launched in November 2020 during the last months of Trump's first term in office, but it was not fully implemented due to the drop in global travel associated with the pandemic, the notice said.

A State Department spokesperson listed the criteria that will be used to identify the countries that will be affected, adding that the country list may be updated.

"Countries will be identified based on high overstay rates, screening and vetting deficiencies, concerns regarding acquisition of citizenship by investment without a residency requirement, and foreign policy considerations," the spokesperson said.

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The State Department was unable to estimate the number of visa applicants who could be affected by the change. Many of the countries targeted by Trump's travel ban also have high rates of visa overstays, including Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar and Yemen.

U.S. Travel Association, which represents major tourism-related companies, estimated the "scope of the visa bond pilot program appears to be limited, with an estimated 2,000 applicants affected, most likely from only a few countries with relatively low travel volume to the United States."

Numerous countries in Africa, including Burundi, Djibouti and Togo also had high overstay rates, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data from fiscal year 2023.

A provision in a sweeping spending package passed in the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress in July also created a $250 "visa integrity fee" for anyone approved for a non-immigrant visa that could potentially be reimbursable for those who comply with visa rules. The $250 fee goes into effect on October 1.

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U.S. Travel said that fee could hinder travel and said "if implemented, the U.S. will have one of, if not the highest, visitor visa fees in the world."

(Reporting by Ted Hesson and David Shepardson; Editing by Helen Popper and Stephen Coates)
By Sarah N. Lynch and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into allegations that members of Democratic former President Barack Obama's administration manufactured intelligence on Russia's interference in the 2016 elections, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The Justice Department said late last month it was forming a strike force to assess claims made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about "alleged weaponization of the U.S. intelligence community."

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Republican U.S. President Donald Trump has leaped on comments from Gabbard in which she threatened to refer Obama administration officials to the Justice Department for prosecution over an intelligence assessment of Russian interference.

Fox News first reported that Bondi personally ordered an unnamed federal prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings and the prosecutor is expected to present department evidence to a grand jury, which could consider an indictment if the Justice Department pursued a criminal case. The report cited a letter from Bondi and a source. A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment.

Referring to the probe in a post on Truth Social, Trump said: "The TRUTH always wins out. This is great news."

Last month, Trump accused Obama of treason, alleging, without providing evidence, that the Democrat led an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump won the 2016 election against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

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A spokesperson for Obama had denounced Trump's claims, saying "these bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction."

Gabbard had declassified documents and said the information she released showed a "treasonous conspiracy" in 2016 by top Obama officials to undermine Trump, claims that Democrats called false and politically motivated.

An assessment by the U.S. intelligence community published in January 2017 concluded that Russia, using social media disinformation, hacking, and Russian bot farms, sought to damage Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and bolster Trump, who won that election.

The assessment determined the actual impact was likely limited and showed no evidence that Moscow's efforts actually changed voting outcomes. Russia has denied it attempted to interfere in U.S. elections.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Mike Johnson, the top legislator in the United States Congress, has visited an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, drawing condemnation from Palestinians.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called the trip by the speaker of the US House of Representatives on Monday a blatant violation of international law.

Johnson, who is next in line for the US presidency after the president and vice president, is the highest-ranking US official to visit a West Bank Israeli settlement.

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His trip comes amid escalating settler violence against Palestinian communities that killed two US citizens in July.

The Israeli military has also been intensifying its deadly raids, home demolitions and displacement campaigns in the West Bank as it carries out its brutal assault and blockade on Gaza.

Johnsons visit contradicts Arab and US efforts to end the cycle of violence as well as Washingtons public stance against settlers aggressions, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry affirms that all settlement activity is invalid and illegal and undermines the opportunity to implement the two-state solution and achieve peace, it added.

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According to Israeli media reports, Johnson visited the settlement of Ariel, north of Ramallah, on Monday.

Judea and Samaria are the front lines of the state of Israel and must remain an integral part of it, Johnson was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Post newspaper, using a biblical name for the West Bank.

Even if the world thinks otherwise, we stand with you.

The House speakers comments appear to be in reference to recent moves by some Western countries  including close allies of the US and Israel  to recognise a Palestinian state.





Illegal under international law

Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law. The International Court of Justice, the top United Nations tribunal, reaffirmed that position last year, saying that Israels presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and must end as rapidly as possible.

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Asked about Johnsons visit, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters on Monday: Our standpoint on the settlements, as you know, is that they are illegal under international law.

Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967, and annexed the entire holy city in 1980.

Successive Israeli governments have been building Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank on land that would be the home of a Palestinian state if a two-state solution were to materialise.

Hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers now live in the occupied West Bank.

The Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory, bans the occupying power from transferring parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.

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While the Oslo Accords granted the Palestinian Authority some municipal powers over parts of the West Bank, the entire area remains under full Israeli security control.

Israel also controls the airspace and ports of entry in the territory.

Israeli settlers in the West Bank have full citizenship rights, while Palestinians live under Israels military rule, where they can be detained indefinitely without charges.

Leading rights groups have accused Israel of imposing a system of apartheid on Palestinians.

Its a matter of faith for us

For decades, the US has publicly rejected West Bank settlements and called for a two-state solution despite providing Israel with billions of dollars in military aid.

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However, US President Donald Trump has taken US policy further in favour of Israel, refusing to criticise settlement expansion or commit to backing a Palestinian state.

Many Republicans, meanwhile, have long expressed support for Israel from a theological perspective, arguing that it is a Christian religious duty to back the US ally.

Our prayer is that America will always stand with Israel. We pray for the preservation and the peace of Jerusalem. Thats what scripture tells us to do. Its a matter of faith for us, Johnson said on Sunday during a visit to the Western Wall.

In a social media post, Marc Zell, chair of the US Republicans Overseas Israel, cited Johnson as saying on Monday that the mountains of the West Bank are the rightful property of the Jewish People.
U.S. troops have withdrawn from the outpost in Syria where a handful of American special operators and Marines fought off an assault by Russian mercenaries in 2018, a battle in which the American troops left a force 10 times their size scattered across the desert battlefield.

The end of the U.S. presence at Mission Support Site Euphrates came as part of a wider drawdown in Syria in May, with American troops withdrawing from multiple bases used in the fight against ISIS, according to a new quarterly report from the Department of Defenses Office of Inspector General on Operation Inherent Resolve.

Mission Support Site Euphrates is an outpost on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River in Khasham, Deir ez-Zor province. In 2018, a small group of U.S. troops and Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, were at the base, along a line of demarcation along the Euphrates River meant to help avoid conflict with Russian military elements backing the Assad regime. But in February 2018, the outpost was attacked by a force of roughly 500 pro-regime forces. That included members of the Russian mercenary firm the Wagner Group.

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What ensued over the subsequent hours came to be known as the Battle of Khasham, or Battle of the Conoco Fields. U.S. Army Green Berets and Delta Force soldiers, Air Force Combat Controllers and Marines held the outpost as American war planes and helicopters poured bombs and rockets onto the Russian and Syrian troops.

The Department of Defense  as well as the Wagner Group and the now-deposed Assad regime  have been historically tight-lipped about the events of the battle in the years since, although some details have come out. One of the most revealing reports came from the citation for an Air Force Cross given in 2020 to an Air Force combat controller who participated in the fight. On Feb. 7, 2018, a professionally trained and technically proficient combined arms enemy assault comprised of main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, heavy artillery tubes and a battalion of infantry soldiers advanced across the river and attacked the outpost. Roughly 30 American special operations forces were there with Kurdish SDF fighters.

When Delta Force soldiers and Army Rangers at the outpost came under attack, a platoon-sized force of Marines and Green Berets were about 20 miles away and began making their way toward the fight. But it took them far longer to get to the outpost than they imagined, in part due to poor visibility and damaged roads. Meanwhile, the combat controller called in air support, which arrived in force, with several fighter jets, drones, helicopters and AC-130 gunships pummeling the assaulting enemy. No Americans were harmed and several hundred attackers were killed. Leaked audio recordings from the Wagner Group painted a blunt picture of the battle.

To make it short, weve had our fucking asses kicked, one Wagner mercenary was recorded saying.

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The United States military is currently in the process of reducing its presence in Syria down from roughly 2,000 troops to 1,000. According to the report on the progress of Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. forces either dismantled and closed the bases or handed them over to the SDF. Its unclear if Mission Support Site Euphrates was closed or handed over. American troops remain active in Deir ez-Zor, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a nonprofit monitoring group, reporting frequent exercises with SDF forces in the region in recent weeks.

The Deir ez-Zor base has been a frequent target of militants since the Battle of Khasham, taking small mortar and rocket fire from pro-Assad groups over the years. CENTCOM reported in late 2024 that it had been attacked several dozen times since October 2023.

American forces have remained focused on ISIS in Syria in recent years, even as the Assad regime was toppled by rebel forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa in December 2024 after more than a decade of civil war. The U.S. did take advantage of the collapse of the Assad regime to launch major airstrikes on ISIS in central Syria that month. The U.S. has maintained a presence in the northeast of Syria, which is largely under SDF control.

Despite the drawdown, U.S. troops remain active in Syria, carrying out operations against ISIS in the country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has tracked several raids against militants, including ones that killed a senior ISIS leader in Aleppo. According to the report, the troop reduction in the country is not the end of Operation Inherent Resolve in Syria.

U.S. forces will work closely to ensure partner forces sustain their abilities to maintain pressure on ISIS and deny it the ability to find safe havens or regain strength, it notes.
Donald Trump said he would substantially raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil.

Ahead of talks with Vladimir Putin, the US president accused New Delhi of purchasing massive amounts of oil and selling it on the open market for big profits.

Mr Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday: India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits.

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They dont care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.

Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps top negotiator, is preparing to travel to Russia for showdown talks with Vladimir Putin, as the Friday deadline to agree a ceasefire with Ukraine or face further sanctions, approaches.

Mr Trump announced earlier this week that he planned to impose an unspecified penalty on India if it did not cut off imports of Russian crude oil, in addition to a general 25 per cent tariff.

Steve Witkoff, Donald Trumps special envoy, is preparing for talks with Vladimir Putin - Gavriil Grigorov/Reuters

Despite the threats, India still plans to buy Russian oil, according to multiple sources.

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Two senior Indian officials told The New York Times that there had been no change in policy, adding that New Delhi had not given any direction to oil companies to cut back on imports.

These are long-term oil contracts, another source told Reuters. It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight.

Mr Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow on Wednesday or Thursday to meet the Russian president, Mr Trump said.

His task is to get a deal where people stop getting killed, according to the US president.

Putin has already met Mr Witkoff four times in Moscow in an attempt to broker a peace deal.

But this trip to the Russian capital comes ahead of the shortened deadline set by Mr Trump for Putin to reach a ceasefire or face crippling new sanctions.

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The US president has said the new measures could mean secondary tariffs targeting Russias main trading partners, which include China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption.

Avoiding sanctions

India has dramatically increased its purchases of Russian oil since Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It now sources over a third of its oil from Moscow  up from less than 1 per cent before the war.

Mr Trump told reporters on Sunday: Therell be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions.

He confirmed that US nuclear submarines were now in the region where they have to be after he announced on Friday that two underwater vessels would be moved towards Russian waters.

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The answer is, they are in the region, yeah, where they have to be, he said on Sunday.

The decision to move US nuclear submarines came in response to an escalating war of words online between Mr Trump and Russias former president.

Dmitry Medvedev, a key Putin ally now on Russias security council, had aggressively criticised Mr Trumps sanctions ultimatum and reminded him of the strength of Moscows nuclear arsenal.

Foolish and inflammatory statements

Mr Trump said on social media that Medvedevs highly provocative statements led him to dispatch the submarines just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.

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It is not clear which nuclear submarines have been moved, but experts said it was likely to be nuclear-armed vessels. It is extremely rare for a US president to signal their movements, which are usually shrouded in secrecy.

In response, Medvedev, one of Russias most outspoken anti-Western hawks who has long been at odds with Mr Trump, has stayed unusually quiet.

Noting his silence, Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff, said the reaction of the Russian drunk who had been threatening nuclear war made it clear that Russia only understands one thing: strength.

The shift in Washingtons nuclear posture towards Russia reflects its growing frustration with Moscow over its intensifying bombardment of Ukraine.

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Mr Trump, who is said to have lost patience with Putin, said on Thursday he was disgusted by Russias deadly drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Putins demands unchanged

Russia fired a record number of drones in July, killing hundreds of civilians, while its forces grind forward in the countrys east and have accelerated their gains for the fourth consecutive month, according to analysis.

Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said on Friday that he wants peace but that his demands for ending his nearly three-and-a-half year invasion were unchanged.

He has demanded that Ukraine cede complete control of four regions that Moscow has invaded and claimed to have annexed  a demand that Kyiv says is tantamount to surrender.

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Ukrainian drone attacks on Sunday sparked a massive fire at an oil depot in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a massive fire at a Russian oil depot

It was a rare strike on the city, which is some 400 miles from the front line in Ukraine, and was part of a series of wider weekend attacks on oil refineries across Russia.

Kyiv said it would intensify its air strikes against Russia in response to an increase in Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians in recent weeks.

In an indication that Mr Trump had called Russias bluff, the Kremlin on Monday called for caution.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said: Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric.

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The Kremlin also welcomed the announcement of Mr Witkoffs probable meeting with Putin this week, calling it an important and helpful step.

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US House Speaker Mike Johnson visits the West Bank, August 4, 2025. (photo credit: VIA AMICHAI STEIN)

Johnson was originally planning to visit Israel on June 22, but announced on June 16 that he would be postponing his visit due to the outbreak of the Israel-Iran war.

Mike Johnson visited the West Bank, including Ariel, on Monday in the first-ever official visit by a US House speaker to the area.

Judea and Samaria are the front lines of the State of Israel and must remain an integral part of it, Johnson said during his visit. Even if the world thinks otherwise, we stand with you, he added.

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The visit was organized by the Yesha Council, with senior council officials, including the governor of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council and the chairman of the Yesha Council, Israel Ganz, CEO Omer Rahamim, and other local authority leaders, meeting with Johnson.

This is a historic moment. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said that while America has many allies and friends in the world, it has only one true partner: Israel. Todays visit proves this beyond any doubt, the chair of Republicans Overseas Israel, Marc Zell, said.

Zell participated in Johnsons visit to Ariel University.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson visits the West Bank, August 4, 2025. (credit: VIA AMICHAI STEIN)

This is a clear expression of US President Donald Trumps unwavering support for Israel, and recognition that Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria is not an obstacle to peace, but rather an expression of the Jewish peoples historical and legal right to their land, Zell added.

Johnson originally slated to address Knesset plenum

Johnson originally planned to visit Israel on June 22. He announced on June 16 that he would be postponing his visit due to the outbreak of the Israel-Iran war.

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When Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana initially confirmed Johnsons plans to visit Israel on June 11, the US House speaker responded by saying that this will be one of the greatest moments of honor in my life.

Per the original plans for the trip, Johnson is slated to become the third House speaker in history to address the Knesset plenum, following Newt Gingrich in 1998 and Kevin McCarthy in 2023. Notably, all three are members of the Republican Party.

Today, the State of Israel and the Jewish people around the world are facing serious threats, and it is our moral duty to stand by our democratic sister. As terrorism and the vile antisemitic ideology threaten Western civilization, Israel must know that when America said never again, we meant it, Johnson said in June.

Reuters contributed to this report.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  The July 2025 newsletter from UT Tylers Hibbs Institute for Business & Economic Research gave an interesting snapshot of East Texas economic growth from 2015 to 2023.

2025 State of Economy event held in Longview discuss new laws to help East Texans

According to the Hibbs Institute, the value of all goods and services produced in East Texas, also known as the real gross domestic product, increased by 32.4% between 2015 and 2023. For the same period, the East Texas job market grew by 5.62%, adding around 26,000 jobs for East Texas workers.

Image courtesy of the Hibbs Institute.

In 2018, East Texas grew by 9.1%, slightly ahead of Texas at 8.4%. Growth slowed in 2019, with East Texas expanding by just 0.2% and Texas by 2.9%. The 2020 pandemic caused major declines: 6.2% for East Texas and 3.3% for Texas, the Hibbs Institute newsletter said. Both regions rebounded strongly in 2021 and 2022. East Texas grew by 15.6% in 2021  just behind Texas at 16.1%  and surpassed the state in 2022 with 15.5% growth compared to Texass 15.1%. In 2023, growth moderated to 4.6% for East Texas and 6.7% for Texas.

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On top of growth in GDP, the newsletter also details the East Texas job market which has reached a record number of jobs but still trails behind the states average real wage level.

Image courtesy of the Hibbs Institute.

In 2020, employment dropped nearly 4%, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the lowest point of the period, the Hibbs Institute said. A strong rebound followed in 2021 and 2022, with growth rates of 3% and 2%, respectively. Growth slowed to just over 1% in 2023, but total employment still reached a record high of 493,417.

For wages, the Hibbs Institute said East Texas has continued to trail behind wages across Texas. In 2015, the average East Texas real wage was $39,583, more than $13,000 below the state average of $52,270.

In 2023, that gap had widened to $18,700 with East Texass average real wages reaching $51,270 while the statewide average was at $69,968, according to the Hibbs Institute.

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LIST: Unemployment rates across East Texas for May

The institutes newsletter said the main contributors to GDP in Tyler, Longview and Texarkana are healthcare and social assistance jobs, the manufacturing industry and the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction industry.

As a native of East Texas, I am proud to contribute to this report and highlight the regions strengths. Its truly remarkable to observe how industries like healthcare, energy and manufacturing drive the economy and provide jobs for the community, Hibbs Institute intern Pedro Gallardo-Toledo said in the newsletter. As someone who has lived in East Texas my whole life, I am glad and grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on the place I call home.

Healthcare makes up the largest sector of industries in Tyler with 17.5% while Longview is led by manufacturing at 18.3%, followed by mining at 16.9%. In Texarkana, manufacturing also leads their top ten industries with 16.4%, followed by healthcare at 11.6%.

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In all three cities, healthcare professions make up the top 10 highest earning occupations, according to the Hibbs institute. To learn more, click here to read the full Hibbs Institute newsletter.

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AMERICAN FORK, Utah (ABC4)  The winners of the 2025 Utah Treasure Hunt are speaking out the day after finding the treasure on the Temple Quarry Trail in Sandy.

TREASURE FOUND: Married couple finds $25,000 treasure at Temple Quarry Trail in Sandy

The winners of this years treasure hunt are a married couple out of American Fork named Hunter and Corinne. In an interview with ABC4, Hunter explains how he was able to link the music references in the first hint to The Beatles, whose original name was The Quarrymen.

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It was all in the first two lines of the poem that was referencing standing stairs, Hunter said. And if you know anything about The Beatles discography, the first studio album was Please Please Me, and its a picture of them standing on a staircase, all four of them.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: $25,000 is up for grabs as 6th annual Utah Treasure Hunt begins with first hint

This was not the first treasure hunt for Hunter and Corinne. Hunter first started with the 2021 Treasure Hunt, while his wife has joined him for the last few hunts.

I feel like, year after year, theres a bit of familarity with the poem itself and how they lay it out, Hunter said. This year, we knew it was going to be a music theme, and that really helped out.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: First round of hints released as Utah Treasure Hunt for $25,000 enters second week

In terms of the search, Hunter says there was only one other trail they checked south of the Temple Quarry Trail before they found the treasure. Once on the Little Cottonwood Trail, he says they hiked the trail four or five times before they found the spot of the treasure.

The more we hiked it [the trail], the more it felt like it [the poem] lined up, Hunter said. These incremental things were really lining up and giving us confidence. And by the time we hiked it three times, we were like, This is the trail, we just need to figure out when to get off and where to look.'

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Music is the theme of the 2025 Utah Treasure Hunt, second hint says

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Hunter says he and Corinne were actually searching in different areas when he spotted the stones, which was the last line of the poem. He says he could see the top of the treasure chest when he looked behind the stones.

I was like, Theres no way I actually found it!' Hunter said. I called David and John right away after I found it, then called my wife. It was surreal, for sure.

As for what they will do with the $25,000, Hunter says he and Corinne are moving across the country for a graduate school program, and the money will help with the move and the program.

Its a big weight off of our shoulders, Hunter said.

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Ballots await processing at the Davis County Administrative Building in Farmington on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

This month most counties in Utah will oversee primary elections for local offices ahead of the Nov. 4 general election. With a portion of a new election law now effective, clerks will have less time to receive mail-in ballots. But, those planning to vote in advance can still cast their votes in various methods.

Every county  except for Daggett, Grand, Morgan, Piute, Rich and Uintah  have at least one primary race for mayors offices and city councils happening on Aug. 12, according to the Utah Lt. Governors Office. Utah County residents are also electing candidates for school board.

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A lot of these people that were electing at the local level are making decisions on things like roads, parks, schools in some cases, and zoning, and permits, and libraries, and police and fire, and setting your tax rates and fees, Cambria Cantrell, elections coordinator at the lieutenant governors office said. So local elections matter as much as, if not, sometimes more than any other.

The deadline to register to receive a by-mail ballot has passed. However, voters can still send in their ballots by mail. Unlike other elections, there isnt a specific last day to postmark a ballot, but Cantrell warns, voters should send them in as soon as possible.

Thats because a phase of HB300, an election law the Utah Legislature passed this year, now requires clerks to receive any votes sent by mail by 8 p.m. on election night.

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We are encouraging people, if they plan to mail their ballot, to do it early, just to allow plenty of time for it to get through the Postal Service system, Cantrell said.

Dropboxes in every city across the state are also a good option to submit the ballots that may not make it on time in the mail.

Let us know what you think...

This is also the first election under HB69, a 2025 law banning clerks from accessing and disclosing voter records for personal purposes.

Utahns may also notice a change in their ballot envelope design. Utah County and other jurisdictions that hadnt made the change yet implemented privacy tabs to cover personal information so that only elections officials are able to see it.

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In another change, while it isnt required yet, some counties started adding a spot where voters can provide the last four digits of their social security or drivers license numbers for verification, a phase of HB300 that will officially become effective statewide in 2029.

Voters who are registered to vote but havent received their ballots in their mail have until Tuesday, Aug. 5, to request one, Cantrell said. The deadline for voters using the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act is Aug. 11.

Same-day registration is also available for those voting in person. Voters may visit the states election website to read more about the candidates running for public office in their cities. Early voting times vary depending on the county.

Municipal primaries like these are generally less popular among voters. Turnout in most counties is often in the 20% to 30% range, Cantrell said. Thats a little lower than turnout in primary elections for statewide offices, which last year was in the 46% to 47% range.

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Because some races will be defined in primaries, state election officials encourage Utahns to participate.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct an inaccurate description of privacy tabs and to clarify that the August primaries are non-partisan.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Utahns have lost $32 million in construction fraud over the last three years, according to the Utah Department of Commerce. Now, the state said its taking an aggressive stance to tackle the problem.

On Monday, the Department of Commerce announced the creation of a new task force with a full-time prosecutor dedicated exclusively to cases surrounding residential construction fraud.

Creating the Residential Construction Fraud Task Force is a transformative step toward safeguarding consumers and restoring confidence in our construction industry, said Utah Department of Commerce Executive Director Margaret Woolley Busse. This initiative also puts bad actors on notice that Utah is committed to aggressively pursuing and prosecuting those who defraud our citizens, ensuring accountability and justice.

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Earlier this year, the Department of Commerce filed a lawsuit against Action Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electric over alleged business practices they say abused homeowners and elderly adults and put homes at risk.

The lawsuit alleges in one instance a technician quoted a homeowner $11,000 for a new air conditioning unit to replace one that he claimed was beyond repairing and too small to cool the home. The homeowner denied the quote and sought a different opinion. According to the lawsuit, the homeowner was able to find a different repairman who fixed the unit for $50.

The Department of Commerce said complaints like the one against Action are escalating rapidly in the Beehive State. In 2024, the department reported 2,146 construction complaints. So far in 2025, the department has already processed 1,047 complaints. The average loss per consumer for construction fraud has reached a devastating $302,000, according to the Department of Commerce.

The new task force will have three main objectives in battling the rise in alleged construction fraud. The first is to foster cooperation among agencies, including law enforcement and local attorneys. The second is to educate consumers on best practices and provide training for industry professionals. Finally, the task force will research regulations in other states and work with industry groups to adopt new policies in Utah that can help protect consumers.

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Utah leaders say they hope the work of the new task force will also help make Utah housing more affordable.

Construction fraud is a direct threat to our efforts to put homeownership back in reach for our kids and grandkids, said Utah State Sen. Cal Musselman (R-West Haven), who sits on the Senate Business and Labor Committee. This Task Force is a transformative step to safeguarding the investments of Utahs families today and in the future.

As the Department of Commerce takes its more aggressive stance against construction fraud, it encouraged Utahns to move forward with their construction projects using several available resources, such as finding the right trusted contractor for the job.

For more information on the available resources, visit the Department of Professional Licensings website here.

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Veterans Affairs officials on Monday formally moved to end all abortions at department facilities, calling policies that provided the services at federal hospitals them legally questionable and unnecessary.

The decision  outlined in a post in the Federal Register  would undo the September 2022 order by the previous presidential administration allowing VA medical personnel to conduct abortions in cases of rape, incest and pregnancies that endanger the life or health of an individual.

That policy marked the first time VA physicians were permitted to perform abortions on federal property, even in states where it had been outlawed. The new interim rule revokes that authority, and will require patients seeking abortions to seek that medical care outside the VA system.

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In a statement accompanying the proposal, department officials said the move is designed to ensure that VA provides only needed medical services to our nations heroes and their families. They argued that the decision to provide abortion services was a political one, and not a response to need.

VA secretary nominee promises more medical care options and upgrades

In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion nationwide. Since then, 20 states have outlawed or severely restricted abortion services, prompting a national debate over federal departments responsibilities and limits in regards to reproductive health services for women veterans.

The rule has been in the works since late July, but has not been publicized by department leaders or White House officials. Per federal regulations, the proposal will now undergo public comment and additional review before becoming permanent policy, but is essentially already being enforced within the department.

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It impacts individuals using both VA health care services and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Abortion rights advocates decried the move as an attack on critical medical options for veterans and their family members.

This proposed rule is a smack in the face to those who have served our country and their loved ones, stripping pregnant women of their bodily autonomy and restricting their access to abortion, said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward.

Once again, extreme politicians are attempting to interfere in patient-doctor decision-making, intentionally eroding the trust between pregnant people and their medical providers.

Nancy Northup, president and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the move deprives veterans of life-changing health care options.

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After veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, the Trump administration is trying to rob them of their own freedoms and putting their health at risk, she said. This administration is sending a clear message to veterans: that their health and dignity arent worth defending.

Democratic lawmakers voiced similar concerns.

The bottom line is, Republicans dont care if your health is in danger, if youre a veteran, or if youve been raped  they want abortion outlawed everywhere, in every circumstance, for everyone, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. and a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said in a statement over the weekend.

This administration has shown nothing but callous disregard for veterans lives, their health care, and their livelihoodsespecially when those veterans happen to be women.

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But Republican lawmakers praised the move, accusing President Joe Bidens administration of overreach with the changes made three years ago.

Taxpayers do not want their hard-earned money spent on paying for abortions and VAs sole focus should always be providing service-connected health care and benefits to the veterans they serve, a group of six House lawmakers led by House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., said in a statement. House Republicans, alongside President Trump, will always stand up for the sanctity of life.

In their Federal Register filing, VA leaders said the change will not prevent physicians from providing life-saving care in cases of ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages, since other provisions within the law already mandate those protections.

They also pushed back on the presumed demand for abortion services within the veterans community. Department statistics show that roughly 100 veterans and 40 CHAMPVA beneficiaries have received abortions through VA medical centers annually since the policy change in 2022.

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But Senate Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., noted in his criticism of the rule change that nearly 500,000 women veterans of reproductive age are enrolled in VA health care, with more than half of them living in states with abortion restrictions.

We cannot let VA stop providing this care to veterans by ripping away this narrow, targeted protection, he said in a statement. I will be fighting as hard and long as possible to reverse this cruel, dangerous new policy.

The public comment period on the new rule change is open until Sept. 5.
Vaccination rates for Wisconsin K-12 students fell last school year, driven by a new meningitis vaccine requirement that many middle and high schoolers are behind on, said state health officials.

Last school year, about 86.4% of students were up-to-date on all vaccines required for attending school, a decrease of nearly 3 percentage points from the prior school year, according to new data reported by public and private schools to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

The drop is likely due to unfamiliarity with a new rule that students get vaccinated against meningitis, a disease affecting the brain and spinal cord, which went into effect last year, according to a press release issued Aug. 4 by state health officials.

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Rates for other school-required vaccines were steady in the 2024-'25 school year, when compared to the prior year, DHS reported.

But Wisconsin's rates continue to lag behind the rest of the country, just as the nation's worst measles outbreak in more than three decades  with more than 1,300 reported cases and counting  has reached the state.

Measles outbreak reaches Wisconsin

Nine cases of measles  the first in Wisconsin in 2025  were confirmed in Oconto County last week.

Health officials have been warning that Wisconsin is susceptible to a measles outbreak.

Wisconsin kindergartners have one of the nation's lowest vaccination rates against measles, which can cause serious illness in young children.

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Last school year, less than 85% of Wisconsin kindergartners were up-to-date on the measles vaccine, compared to about 92.5% of kindergartners nationwide, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Only Idaho and Alaska reported having lower vaccination rates against measles, though some states were missing data.

Measles, which is caused by a virus, is spread through the air and is highly contagious.

It is characterized by a rash that spreads over the face and body. Other symptoms typically occur at least a few days before the rash, such as fever, cough, runny nose and inflamed eyes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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In severe cases, the disease can cause life-threatening complications, such as brain swelling and pneumonia.

Vaccines "first line of defense" for children's health

The measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine is among many routine immunizations children receive under a schedule adopted by the CDC. It recommends children receive a first dose at 12 to15 months and a second dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years.

"Vaccination is the first line of defense for your child's health," Stephanie Schauer, director of the Wisconsin Immunization Program, said in the news release. "Routine vaccines don't just protect your child  they help keep classrooms and the whole community safe."

For the past few years, public health officials have been raising the alarm about a nationwide trend of slipping vaccination rates, especially for measles, among school-age children. They worried slipping rates could lead to a resurgence of the disease.

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In some school districts, fewer than half of the students are up-to-date on routine vaccines.

When it comes to preventing very contagious diseases, seemingly small slips in vaccination rates can make a big difference. That's because it takes a high level of group immunity to keep the diseases from taking hold and spreading.

The drops in vaccination rates coincide with a rise in parents seeking exemptions from vaccine requirements for their children since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Wisconsin, about 6.7% of students had an exemption for one or more required vaccines in the 2024-'25 school year, according to DHS data.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Vaccine rates for Wisconsin students remain lower than other states
UPDATE: The missing man has been found.

VAN BUREN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Van Buren police are searching for a man last seen last week.

The department said in a social media post that the man was last seen at his home at 8 p.m. on Aug. 1.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Antisemitic vandalism on the front doors and facade at the Oregon Jewish Museum in Portland will fortify the organizations dedication to dialogue, education and truth-telling, Executive Director Rebekah Sobel said in a statement.

When swastikas were seen on the museums front doors and building on July 29, Sobel said, they immediately notified Portland police. Though they shared surveillance photos and footage, the case remains under investigation.

A swastika is cruel: Jewish business vandalized in Portland

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The vandalism is a painful reminder of why our work matters, Sobel said. This act of antisemitism will fortify OJMCHEs dedication to dialogue, education, and truth-telling, while standing in solidarity with communities targeted by hate. The museum remains committed to building a more just and compassionate world.

Ibrahim Hooper, the national communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said they condemn this vile act of neo-Nazi hate targeting a center dedicated to the preservation of Jewish history. Such cowardly acts have no place in our society and serve as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by growing bigotry nationwide.

In June, a man painted a swastika on the door of the Pulse Wellness Cooperative in Northeast Portland. Surveillance video shows a man spray painting the swastika on the door of the clinic near 2700 NE Broadway. That incident also remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Portland police.

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23:47 'Kamal Haasan working to defame Hindus': VHP on actor's Sanatan remarks The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Monday slammed Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan over his controversial remarks on Sanatan' and accused him of working with an agenda to defame Hindu society. This came after actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Haasan stoked a political row with his remarks that... Read more >

23:39 Security forces recover arms, explosives from J-K's Kupwara File image Security forces have recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and explosives from the forest area of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Monday.During a three-day joint search operation by BSF, Army and JKP (police) in forest areas of Kalaroos, District Kupwara, a terrorist... Read more >

23:32 Will protect economic security: India on Trump threat Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security, the ministry of external affairs said on Monday. The government's reply came soon after US President Donald Trump threatened to increase tariff 'substantially' on India... Read more >

22:48 Shiv Sena leader alleges 'housing jihad' in two slum redevelopment projects in Mumbai suburb File image Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday claimed some builders have conspired to allot houses belonging to Hindus to Muslims in two slum redevelopment projects in Jogeshwari area of Mumbai as part of housing jihad.Addressing a news conference, Nirupam alleged these builders were attempting to... Read more >

22:22 Five children drown in separate incidents in Chhattisgarh Five children drowned in two separate incidents in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki and Bastar districts in Chhattisgarh, police officials said on Monday. Both the incidents took place on Sunday, they added. Three children drowned in a pond in Chhachhanpahri village in... Read more >

22:00 NSA, IB chief meet Shah on Art 370 anniv eve File image On the eve of the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, the top security brass closeted with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and is believed to have discussed the security situation in the country. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary... Read more >

21:36 Modi to make statement in LS tomorrow amid J-K buzz Omar Abdullah Is something afoot in Jammu-Kashmir on August 5, Tuesday? On this date six years ago, Article 370 was abrogated, and two months after that the state was converted into a Union territory and Ladakh hived off as a separate entity. On the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370... Read more >

21:06 Trump vows substantial tariff hike on India over Russian oil President Donald Trump on Monday said he will substantially raise US tariffs on India, accusing the country of buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it for big profits. India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling... Read more >

21:00 Tharoor apologises to Team India for doubts about Oval Test outcome Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday apologised to Team India for expressing a spasm of doubt about the outcome of the cricket Test match at the Oval in London, as he hailed the team's series-levelling victory against England. Paceman's Mohammed Siraj's warrior spirit steered India to a... Read more >

20:52 If we can come together...: Raj asks partymen to end feuds MNS chief Raj Thackeray/File image Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday asked party activists to take a cue from himself and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray, who came together after 20 years, and stop intra-party bickering. The MNS chief addressed a gathering of party workers in Mumbai. An MNS... Read more >

20:36 Large cache of arms, ammo seized from apartment near Kolkata, 1 held File image A large cache of arms and ammunition were seized from a flat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Monday, a senior police official said. The detective department of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate arrested one Madhusudan Mukherjee, who was allegedly in possession of the flat, in... Read more >

20:06 IndiGo flight develops flat tyre at Jabalpur airport A Mumbai-bound IndiGo aircraft developed a flat tyre in the apron of the Dumna airport in Jabalpur on Monday, delaying its take-off by more than four hours, an airport official said.Most of the passengers of the stranded flight were later flown to their destination via Bengaluru and Delhi after a... Read more >

19:21 Shibu Soren's mortal remains taken to Ranchi Mortal remains of veteran tribal leader and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch Shibu Soren reached state capital Ranchi on Monday evening, with thousands of people waiting outside the airport and lining the streets to pay their final respects to the iconic leader, affectionately known as... Read more >

18:51 Rupee plunges 52 paise to close at 87.70 against US dollar The rupee depreciated 52 paise to close at 87.70 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday, as sustained foreign fund outflows and trade tariff uncertainties dented investors' sentiment.Forex traders said US President Donald Trump's tariffs triggered fresh concerns over a much wider... Read more >

18:49 BSE Sensex: Top gainers today Among Sensex firms, Tata Steel was the lead gainer, humping by 4.31 per cent. BEL, Adani Ports, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Bharti Airtel, HCL Technologies, Trent, Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Industries, UltraTech Cement and Larsen & Toubro were the major gainers.However,... Read more >

18:48 Sensex rises 419 points to close above 81k level Benchmark BSE Sensex rose by nearly 419 points to close above the 81,000 level on Monday following gains in metal, commodities and auto shares amid a firm trend in global markets.Snapping the two-day falling streak, the 30-share Sensex gained 418.81 points or 0.52 per cent to settle at 81,018.72... Read more >

18:34 CBI closure report in Satyendar Jain case accepted In a major relief for Aam Aadmi Party leader Satyendar Jain, a special court on Monday accepted Central Bureau of Investigation's closure report filed in a 2018 case against the former Delhi PWD minister and others related to alleged corruption in the hiring of a creative team for the department,... Read more >

18:25 TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee resigns as party's chief whip in Lok Sabha Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Monday said he has resigned as the chief whip of the party in Lok Sabha, amid run-ins with colleague Mahua Moitra.He announced his resignation after attending a virtual meeting of TMC MPs, chaired by party chief Mamata Banerjee.I have quit as the party's... Read more >

18:12 Hamas agrees to Red Cross aid for Israeli hostages Hamas has expressed openness to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivering aid to Israeli captives held in Gaza, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request for the Geneva-based organisation's involvement, Al Jazeera reported.Netanyahu said on Sunday that he... Read more >

17:01 Evicted people should not be given shelter: Himanta Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said people should not give shelter to evicted persons, else the 'position of our people', which has improved through evictions and other measures, will become 'bad again'.He asserted that the government will continue with its anti-encroachment... Read more >

16:47 Cow stranded on 4th floor sends locals in panic A cow which on Monday found itself stranded on the fourth floor of a building was brought down by authorities in Lucknow after locals sent a panic alert.The incident took place near Manju Tandon dhaal in Ali Colony (Malaahi Tola-2 ward).Residents near the building, afraid that the cow may fall on... Read more >

15:49 Difficult to make another: Hema Malini on Sholay@50 The iconic 'Sholay' has completed 50 years of its release, marking a significant milestone in its cinematic journey. Written by the epic Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan, the 1975 film features the legendary Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in the lead alongside Amjad Khan, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan,... Read more >

15:44 Congress hates our armed forces: BJP on SC's rap for Rahul After the Supreme Court rapped Rahul Gandhi over his alleged derogatory remarks about the Army, the BJP on Monday claimed that the China guru and his party hate Indian armed forces and that he is being remote controlled by foreign forces. The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the proceedings... Read more >

15:33 How wife-killer on the run for 21 years was nabbed Representational image A 60-year-old man on the run for more than two decades after allegedly bludgeoning his wife to death with a brick in Delhi was arrested in Lucknow, police said on Monday. Veerpal alias Maiju had been evading arrest since 2004 and was declared a Proclaimed Offender in 2005. He had assumed... Read more >

15:23 President pays last respects to Soren President Murmu with Kalpana Soren President Droupadi Murmu visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi and paid her last respects to Shibu Soren. She offered her condolences to his son and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. Read more >

15:14 'India has NO friends left because...' After the US President Donald Trump announce a 25 percent Tariffs on India, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Monday expressed concerns over India being left with no friends, claiming that US President Donald Trump has grown closer to... Read more >

14:59 Modi's answers on China after Galwan is DDLJ: Cong The Congress on Monday said every patriotic Indian has sought answers on China since the 2020 Galwan incident but the Modi government has chosen to obfuscate and hide the truth with its policy of DDLJ -- deny, distract, lie, and justify. The opposition party also alleged that the Modi... Read more >

14:36 Shibu Soren's body to be brought to Ranchi in evening The mortal remains of the former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren will be brought to Ranchi from Delhi around 5.30 pm on Monday, a JMM leader said. His body will be taken to his native village in Ramgarh district on Tuesday and his last rites will be performed there, he said. The mortal... Read more >

14:29 350 Afghan detainees including women and children repatriated from Pakistan At least 350 Afghan nationals, including women, children, and the elderly, were released from Pakistani prisons and handed over to Afghan authorities through the Torkham border crossing in the last 24 hours, Tolo News reported. According to officials in Nangarhar, the released individuals... Read more >

14:12 Insects can enter, says Air India after roaches on flight Air India passengers spotted small cockroaches onboard the plane flying from San Francisco to Mumbai, and the aircraft underwent deep cleaning during the scheduled stop over at Kolkata airport on Monday early morning. The airline said it will carry out a comprehensive probe to determine the... Read more >

14:09 Devotees throng Shiva temples across UP on final Monday of Shravan Flower petals being showered on devotees from a chopper in UP Shiva temples across Uttar Pradesh witnessed a huge rush of devotees on the fourth and final Monday of the holy month of Shravan, with chants of Har Har Mahadev and Bam Bam Bhole echoing in the air. In Varanasi, thousands of devotees queued up since early morning to offer prayers at the Shri... Read more >

14:01 The big fat 'fake' Indian wedding - Gen Z's latest party trend What comes to mind when you think of a big fat Indian wedding?Dazzling lights, glittering outfits, Bollywood hits, a lavish spread of food and an atmosphere soaked in celebration. Everything feels extravagant, emotional and larger than life.Now imagine all of that without the bride and groom. No... Read more >

13:56 SpiceJet staffer's spine fractured after army man assault SpiceJet employee Mudasir Ahmad, who was assaulted by an Army officer at Srinagar airport, recalled the violent incident on Monday and said the Army officer hit him in the face with baggage after he asked him to pay for extra baggage.Describing the assault, Mudasir Ahmad told ANI, He hit me on... Read more >

13:23 Man slits woman's throat for refusing to convert Representational image In a chilling crime that has sent shockwaves across Madhya Pradesh, a 35-year-old woman was brutally murdered in Navara, Nepanagar police station area in Burhanpur, for allegedly refusing to convert to Islam and marry her tormentor, reports NDTV.The victim, Bhagyashree Namdev Dhanuk, was attacked... Read more >

13:07 I want Israel to feed starving Gazans: Trump Pic: WHO US President Donald Trump has said that he wants Israel to feed the hungry people of Gaza. Trump said before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Sunday (local time) that the US wanted the Gazans to be fed and they are actually doing it. We want the people fed -- and we're... Read more >

12:51 Air India Express flight returns to Bengaluru airport due to technical issue Air India Express flight IX2718, which took off from Bengaluru, was forced to return to the airport on Sunday after encountering a technical issue mid-air, the airline said on Monday. According to a spokesperson from Air India Express, the aircraft executed a precautionary landing after... Read more >

12:19 Schoolboy in playground: Tharoor on Trump's 'dead economy' Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said US President Donald Trump's remark terming India a dead economy was meant to be an insult and must not be taken literally. Tharoor on Sunday said that when wars are being conducted with the active involvement of some of the biggest powers, and people who... Read more >

12:10 Nuclear submarines are in Russian region: Trump US President Donald Trump has said that nuclear submarines have been deployed in Russia. They are in the region, yeah -- where they have to be, Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Sunday. When asked if there was anything Russia could do to... Read more >

11:58 Dad ends life over inability to fund son's engineering admission Representational image A 47-year-old man took his own life in a forest in this district after becoming upset that he could not arrange money for his son's engineering college admission, police said here on Monday. The man, identified as V T Shijo, was found hanging in the Moongampara forest on Sunday evening. His... Read more >

11:54 Afghanistan faces soaring hunger crisis as WFP seeks urgent aid 3.5 mn Afghan children are malnourished Hunger in Afghanistan is worsening, with the World Food Programme (WFP) warning it needs $539 million over the next six months to address the country's growing food crisis, Khaama Press reported. The agency said on Sunday that returning women and children are among the most vulnerable,... Read more >

11:50 RS adjourned for the day over Shibu Soren's death Shibu Soren was 81 Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday were adjourned for the day as a mark of respect following the death of sitting MP Shibu Soren. JMM founder and three time Jharkhand chief minister Soren, 81, died on Monday. Deputy Chairman Harivansh read out an obituary reference after which MPs stood... Read more >

11:47 If you're a true Indian you wouldn't say it: SC slams Rahul If you are a true Indian, you wouldn't say such a thing, the Supreme Court remarked on Monday while slamming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged derogatory remarks about the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.The top court, however, stayed proceedings against Gandhi before a... Read more >

11:42 At least 299 dead including 140 children in floods in... File pic At least 299 people, including 140 children, have died and over 700 others injured due to flash floods and torrential rains that have swept through multiple parts of Pakistan since late June, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Sunday, Dawn reported. The NDMA said the... Read more >

11:36 LS adjourned till 2 pm due to oppn protests on SIR The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Monday due to noisy protests by opposition parties demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise carried out by the Election Commission in Bihar and other issues.When the House met at 11 am, opposition MPs, including Congress,... Read more >

11:20 Woman held after toddler found alive in suitcase stowed in bus luggage Representational image A New Zealand woman was arrested on a child neglect charge Sunday after a bus driver found a 2-year-old girl alive in a suitcase that was stowed in the vehicle's luggage compartment, authorities said.The bus driver noticed movement inside the bag during a planned stop at the settlement of... Read more >

11:07 Monsoon havoc in Himachal: 184 dead, roads and utilities severely hit Himachal Pradesh remains severely affected by the ongoing 2025 monsoon, with heavy rainfall triggering widespread damage to life and infrastructure. On Tuesday, a total of 309 roads -- including National Highway 305 -- were blocked due to landslides and flash floods. Additionally, 236... Read more >

10:57 Pahalgam terrorists identified via digital footprint, DNA The ammunition found on the Pahalgam terrorists Chocolate wrappers, Pakistani ID cards, satellite phone logs and more have linked Pahalgam attackers with Pakistan, sources say. The evidences recovered by the Indian agencies between July 28-29 echo Union Home Minister Amit Shah's speech in the Lok Sabha on July 29, which said that the... Read more >

10:45 Soren was passionate about empowering tribals: PM Shibu and Hemant Soren Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren, saying he was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, and the poor and downtrodden.Jharkhand Mukti Morcha co-founder Soren, who was undergoing treatment at the Sir Ganga Ram... Read more >

10:41 22 people lost in Rishikesh rescued The swollen Ganga in Rishikesh. File pic Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), with the help of the forest team, rescued 22 people who were reportedly lost on the Neelkanth road in Rishikesh region of Uttarakhand's Dehradun district, according to SDRF. According to Uttarakhand SDRF, Upon receiving information about a... Read more >

10:22 Man swept away by swollen river during picnic in Meghalaya Tourists swim in the waters of Krang Suri Waterfall in Meghalaya An official of the Meghalaya Agriculture Department was swept away by strong currents of the Ganol River in West Garo Hills district while attempting to cross the water body during a family picnic, police said on Monday. The missing official, identified as Teseng M Sangma, was posted at... Read more >

10:09 Ayodhya flooded after Saryu river overflows Residents wade through a flooded street in Prayagraj In view of the prevailing inclement weather and consistent rainfall in several districts, all government and private schools from Classes 1 to 12 will remain shut today in Lucknow, District Magistrate Visakh G. Iyer announced on Monday. In Ayodhya's Jalwanpura locality, residents were seen... Read more >

09:51 Former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren passes away Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren passes away, confirms his son and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. Soren was on ventilator support and in critical condition at the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi for over a month. He was hospitalised in the last week of June... Read more >

09:34 What Are FPIs Up To? Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have taken a two-track approach this year: Pulling money from listed equities while quietly investing in IPOs and other primary market deals like rights issues and qualified institutional placements. This has blurred the true extent of their selling in... Read more >

09:32 Grip Eases, Gaze Holds For Fund Managers A new institutional mechanism to check market abuse is expected to relax certain compliance rules for fund managers starting next month, including the requirement to record or hold face-to-face meetings during market hours. However, phone call recording will still be mandatory. Sources say... Read more >

09:31 Phantom Trader Returns To The Floor With the Sebi formally lifting its ban on Jane Street, there's renewed curiosity around the trading strategies the high-frequency trading giant might now deploy. Market watchers are dissecting shifts in trading patterns before, during, and after the ban.One market post pointed out that Jane... Read more >

09:19 Several areas of Varanasi flooded as Ganga overflows The area near the Nakkhi ghat in Benares Several areas in Varanasi city in Uttar Pradesh were flooded on Monday following incessant heavy rainfall and a rise in the water level of the River Ganga. The water level of the river has been continuously rising since Saturday. In response to the deteriorating situation, plying boats on... Read more >

09:09 SRK does a Tharoor Shah Rukh Khan did a Shashi Tharoor in a witty reply to a post on X by the politician congratulating him for winning his first National Award -- the actor thanked Tharoor by using difficult English words, as the Congress MP is wont to do. 'Jawan' earned SRK the Best Actor accolade at the... Read more >

09:04 Govt Plans National Survey For Children The ministry of statistics and programme implementation (Mospi) is set to conduct a national child survey in collaboration with the ministry of women and child development (MoWCD) to help policymakers get timely and reliable statistics to ensure better protection of the children's rights.The... Read more >

09:01 Great ties with Modi but...:Trump aide on India-Russia trade Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House on Sunday (local time) said that it was not acceptable for India to purchase Russian oil, alleging that it 'financed' the crisis in Ukraine. Miller, in an interview with Fox News alleged that India has 'ties' with China in purchasing oil... Read more >

08:53 Mortal remains of girl burnt alive by thugs arrives in Odisha The mortal remains of a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly set on fire by miscreants on July 19 in Balanga from Puri district, arrived in Odisha on Sunday evening. The 15-year-old girl succumbed to her burn injuries on Saturday while undergoing treatment at AIIMS in the national capital,... Read more >

08:47 1 terrorist killed in Kulgam, search ops continue Security forces are continuing their operation in the Akhal Devsar area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district for the fourth day. So far, one terrorist has been neutralised in the operation. On Saturday, security forces neutralised one terrorist during a gunfight that continued overnight in... Read more >

08:39 BJP top brass to vacate offices Home Minister Amit Shah vacates the North Block which used to be occupied by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel earlier and has moved his office to the Central Vista. FM Nirmala Sitharaman will also move out next month, with defence minister Rajnath Singh and EAM Dr S Jaishankar moving out of... Read more >
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Warren police are investigating and reviewing surveillance video after flowers were destroyed outside the entrance of Willard pre-K-8 school.

According to a police report, the damage was discovered Friday morning when a worker noticed that the flowers outside the front entrance of the school were missing.

The surveillance video showed a female cutting the flowers with a knife about 10:20 p.m. the night before. After cutting up the flowers, the female threw the flowers in a garbage can near the front doors, where she tried to set the flowers on fire inside the garbage can.

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The video then showed the female urinating in the grass near the front doors, the report stated.

A second female is seen in the video urinating on the concrete at the front doors.

The report said that the females spent about 45 minutes at the school.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A person was seriously injured after an overnight shooting near the Lynnhaven Mall, police said.

According to officials, around 2:15 a.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Lynnhaven Mall Loop and Northeast Mall Drive for reports of a shooting. This is near the Dicks Sporting Goods.

Upon arrival to the scene, officers located one person, who was later transported to a local hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

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The incident remains under investigation.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Sin City is facing a summer swoon, and Californians  by far the largest tourist contingent, data show  are partially to blame.

Visits to Las Vegas were down 11.3% in June 2025 versus a year earlier, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Traffic on Interstate 15 at the California-Nevada border was down 4.3% over the same period, suggesting fewer visitors from the Golden State heading for Vegas casinos.

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The number of air travelers into Las Vegas overall declined 6.3% over the previous June. In 2024, Californians made up more than a fifth of air travelers into Vegas, with nearly half of those coming from the Los Angeles metro area.

A demographic report from the visitors authority estimated that Southern California provided 30% of all visitors to the city in 2024.

Add it all up, and Californians could be responsible for a significant portion of the decline in Vegas tourism.

Tourism within the U.S. is only part of the picture, though, as experts previously predicted slumps in international tourism across the country. The convention and visitors authority estimates that 12% of the city's visitors are international.

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A report from the World Travel and Tourism Council projected that the U.S. would lose $12.5 billion in international travel spending in 2025.

"While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the closed sign, Julia Simpson, the council's president, said in a statement.

The report cited air-travel booking data from March that showed a 15% to 20% drop in expected travel from major tourism sources including the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada.

Visitors from Canada and Mexico made up more than half of international tourists to Las Vegas in 2024, according to data from the visitors authority.

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But President Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st state and his decision to hit Canada with tariffs have not endeared him to Canadian travelers. Meanwhile, media overseas have been bombarded with stories of capricious denials and detentions at U.S. border crossings.

Las Vegas is not alone in its travel woes. In May, Gov. Gavin Newsom predicted a "Trump Slump" in international travel to California brought on in part by the president's tariff regime.

"Las Vegas thrives on tourism," Rep. Steven Horsford wrote last week on X, "but under the Trump slump, the numbers are tanking." Horsford, a Democrat represents Nevada's 4th Congressional District, which includes a portion of Las Vegas.

By many metrics  including visitor totals, convention attendance and room occupancy rates  Las Vegas has yet to recover fully since the onset of the pandemic.

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In dollar terms, however, Sin City continues to profit even as visitor numbers drop: Clark County collected $1.16 billion in gambling revenue in June 2025, up 3.5% from a year earlier.

In the end, the house always wins.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
If there was an annual award for anti-tourism then surely this years prize would have to go to Venice. Yes, the usual suspects in Barcelona and the Canary Islands may have been busy with their water pistols again but its their counterparts in the Floating City who have truly upstaged them this time around.

Maybe organising a weekend of street protests against Jeff Bezoss wedding was always going to seize the news agenda, given the hordes of reporters already heading to Venice to cover it. But the protests also deserve some credit for just how effectively they revealed the true face of anti-tourism protests as another iteration of the same old politics of envy.

Venice as a billionaires playground for the weekend? What on earth would the great old Doge have made of it all? While the ancient Venetian rulers might have other concerns (like why their name has been pinched by a US government department), does anyone believe they wouldnt be delighted to see that the city they built is still able to court the ultra-wealthy?

Jeff Bezoss wedding triggered protests across Venice - REUTERS

In truth, the Venice naysayers show the hypocrisy of the anti-tourism movement. In Barcelona, protesters point to the deluge of Airbnbs across the city contributing to the housing affordability crisis as well as dumping drunken party-goers into residential neighbourhoods. But the idea that this applies to the ultra-rich who visit Venice is frankly ludicrous.

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Everyone knows the super rich love Venice, which is exactly why so many of them flock there every year for the Venice Film Festival or the Biennale. And when they get there they stay in dreamy hotels that were built for their custom  quite literally in some cases. Did you know the Four Seasons spent more than $30 million to restore the glorious Hotel Danieli as a five-star hotel. What would have happened to that building if it werent for the roaring demand from high-net-worth travellers?

In some ways, its a tale as old as Venice itself. Like its modern-day equivalent in Dubai, much of the city was built to cater to the super rich of the 13th and 14th centuries. And you can bet those glorious palazzos were pretty controversial in their heyday too. Just look at the famous Ca dOro (House of Gold). Built by one of Venices founding families, the Contarini, it was practically the antidote to old-fashioned Christian modesty.

Still, thats what Venice does: it attracts the rich and famous, and those who want to walk in their footsteps. Remember the iconic images of Princess Diana in her gondola? How many trips to Venice do you think they inspired in the decade that followed? Within a year, shed probably put most of those gondoliers future children through university with the extra business.

And dont listen to anyone tell you that overtourism is ruining Venice either. In fact, the truth remains that the city is actually much less crowded than it was 500 years ago  even when you factor in those cruise ships. These days, the city has just 20,000 residents, and attracts around 15,000 tourist per day, on average. But this compares to 180,000 residents back in the Renaissance days. That means it isnt difficult to find a quiet bistro or bar, provided youre happy to wander ten minutes away from St Marks Square.

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Even the most visited parts of Venice still have a seductive charm. Perhaps its the constraints that come with being a canal city, but Im always struck by how well modern Venice seems to have managed to maintain not just its character, but also the kind of characters who frequent it  particularly after the sun goes down and the cruise ship day-trippers disappear.

Many of Venices tourists are day-trippers from cruise ships - Marco Secchi/Getty

Last time I was there, I dined at the Club del Doge in the famous Gritti Palace. As I was perusing the menu, a hushed silence fell over the room. When I looked up, I saw a rather famous designer followed by what appeared to be their two romantic partners (an arrangement that the TikTok generation calls a polycule) in tow.

Witnessing the rich and famous with their guard down is always interesting. But in Venice it is something else entirely. In those scandalous seconds, I felt the same thrill that well-heeled Venetian traders must have experienced when catching a glimpse of the most powerful nobles peeking from behind their carnival masks.

Its that sort of magic that makes Venice such an intoxicating place. And while certain locals might pull their hair about the citys all-year-round popularity, the truth is that none of the kind of gimmicks weve seen in recent years  like the tourism tax on day-trippers or the ban on groups of over 25 people  will put a dent in its appeal to the rest of us, and certainly not to the super rich.

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Still, at least Venice makes for a stunning backdrop for those who do still want to protest. Lets just hope they leave the water pistols behind for now.

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Virginia "Gina" Huynh, the woman known as "Victim 3" during the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial, said that Combs should be released from prison.

The letter from Huynh is included as an attachment in a response from Combs' legal team filed on Sunday.

In the letter, Huynh says she wants to share her observations about Combs' character. "Our relationship, like many, was not always perfect, we experienced ups and downs, and mistakes were made but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future," Huynh wrote.

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MORE: Hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted on most serious charges in historic racketeering case

The letter goes on to say Huynh believes Combs has not been violent for many years and releasing him would allow him to better support his children.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images - PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs attends Day 1 of 2023 Invest Fest at Georgia World Congress Center on August 26, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

"He has substantial ties to his family and community, including children who depend on him for emotional and financial support. Granting him bond would allow him to continue caring for his family and fulfilling his responsibilities while still subject to the Courts supervision... Allowing him to be at home will also support the healing process for all involved."

In the indictment against Combs, "Victim 3" was described as someone subjected to sexual coercion by Combs. Huynh was expected to be a key witness but was not called to the stand during the trial.

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Combs has been incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn for 11 months.

MORE: Everyone who testified for the prosecution in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial

This response from Combs' legal team is their latest attempt to convince Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs should be allowed to get out of prison while he awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Combs' attorneys have argued there are "exceptional reasons" why he should be allowed out on a $50 million bond, but prosecutors say the rap mogul has an "extensive history of violence" that makes it impossible for him to prove he would not pose a danger to the community if released.

Following an eight-week federal trial, a jury convicted Combs of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted him of more serious sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
Two victims of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse have filed letters to the court condemning the Justice Departments request to unseal grand jury testimony and cited the lack of respect they feel has been showed toward them by President Donald Trump and his administration.

Both of the victims remained anonymous in their writings sent on Monday, with one calling the latest handling of the so-called Epstein Files political warfare.

Dear United States, I wish you would have handled and would handle the whole Epstein Files with more respect towards and for the victims. I am not some pawn in your political warfare. What you have done and continue to do is eating at me day after day as you help to perpetuate this story indefinitely, one of the victims wrote.

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Another victim argued that priority has only been on protecting wealthy men.

(I) feel like the DOJs and FBIs priority is protecting the third-party, the wealthy men by focusing on scrubbing their names off the files of which the victims, know who they are, one of the victims wrote.

While neither letter outwardly requests federal Judge Richard Berman in New York to keep the transcripts under seal, both strongly urge him to take all necessary precautions in concealing victims identities.

One of the victims suggested that a third party review the release of the documents to ensure that no information related to the victims is revealed. The other victim told the judge that it is an upmost priority for any information regarding identify of the victims be redacted.

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Both emotional letters submitted to the judge showed clear frustration towards the administrations handling of the files.

I appreciate your time reading my short thoughts and feeling and my anxiety and frustration is NOT aimed at you, obviously. It is aimed at the very government here, the ones asking to release these transcripts, exhibits, etc., of which the victims are not privy to while they have concluded that there is nothing more to see on the files they hold. Yet no one has seen them, but them, one of the letters read. I am beside myself.

Victims in the case were asked to respond to the governments request to release grand jury transcripts by August 5.

The Epstein files have become a mounting problem for the Trump administration as the demand for them to be released has only increased over the past few months.

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Both the Justice Department and the FBI have struggled for months on how to release material related to the Epstein investigation. The documents require heavy redaction in order to protect victims and witnesses that were involved in the probe.

In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi promoted the release of the documents, giving out information in binders to right-wing media influencers at the White House. Those influencers criticized the information, saying that much of it was old news.

After two months of promising to release more information, the administration turned quiet. CNN recently reported that in May, Bondi had briefed Trump on the files and that his name appeared several times.

On July 7, the Justice Department released an unsigned memo about the files saying that it does not plan to release more information. The letter also said that there was no client list.

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Trump has continued to experience backlash from members of Congress, his political base and the public on the lack of transparency.

The Justice Department asked the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York to unseal grand jury transcripts in the investigation on July 18. The department also asked a judge in the Southern District of Florida to release grand jury transcripts, but the request was swiftly denied.

The judge overseeing the Justice Departments request for the unsealing of grand jury transcripts has asked the government additional questions to answer before Tuesday as to why he should grant their request.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Evan Perez, Kara Scannell and Aaron Blake contributed to this report.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) The Vigo County Sheriffs Office announced that they will have a detective join the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, or ICAC.

This detective will be helping the Indiana State Police, the Terre Haute Police Department, along with other organizations, investigate and prosecute people who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children.

Vigo County Sheriff Derek Fell knew he had the right detective for such a crucial job.

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Shes very experienced as a detective, does great work, and is organized, Sheriff Fell said. A very solid detective who were very pleased with her being assigned to this unit. I look forward to the efforts that we know shes going to be very successful.

Sheriff Fell also mentioned how this detectives work will help stop serious crime and rescue victims in the area.

Our goal is to limit those predators who are out to take advantage of our children, Sheriff Fell said. If we can stop someone you know, they may have gotten to a child or 2, but if we can stop them from exploiting or soliciting 10, 20, 100 other children, then thats a win. Anything we can do to protect our children, were going to continue to find ways to do that.

Keeping the children of Vigo County safe is a passion of Sheriff Fell, and he jumped at the idea of having someone join this task force, and how it will be great for the community.

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I think those would agree, I dont have zero tolerance, I have negative tolerance for those who target our children, Sheriff Fell said. Whether theyre 5-year-olds, 10-year-olds, 15-year-olds. This is something Ive been passionate about for quite some time. The opportunity arose here in the last year or so, and we started having conversations with our local law enforcement partners, including the state police.

The detective shall remain anonymous for the time being and will now focus mainly on investigating crimes against children. When the detective completes their training in September, they will be able to lead investigations for ICAC.

To learn more about ICAC, what they stand for, and to report anyone sexually exploiting or enticing children, just visit their website.

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Warning: Discussion of drug abuse.

Misha Brown, who typically shares vlog-style conversational TikToks with his 3 million followers under the handle @yourbestiemisha, recently went viral for a different topic entirely.

Misha Brown / Via tiktok.com

No joking in this video...this is a warning, specifically for parents, but I guess really for anybody. Something truly disturbing just happened to me, he begins in the TikTok, which has since been viewed over 19 million times and details how, earlier that day, he was approached by a child who was maybe 14 years old at a gas station. He comes up to me and he says, Hey, can you buy me some Feel Free?

Misha Brown / Via tiktok.com

Related: I'm Crying Laughing Over These Hilarious Job Tweets From June

Misha had no idea what Feel Free was, and after he declined the persons request, he says the aftermath was swift: This young kid lunged at me and tried to take my wallet out of my hand. He also says he told the gas station attendant about the incident, who replied that some customers would purchase Feel Free five [or] six times a day.

Misha Brown / Via tiktok.com

I think that is very telling of how scary this substance is, especially when its marketed as safe, Misha says to BuzzFeed about the response his TikTok received. One positive that has come from my video is the amount of parents Ive seen who said they, like me, had never heard of this product and will be talking to their children about avoiding it.

Misha Brown / Via tiktok.com

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Feel Frees most well-known variant  the Classic tonic made by the company Botanic Tonics, which also makes a Kava Mate and capsules  is advertised as a feel-good tonic that features kava root and other plant ingredients known to help with relaxation, productivity and focus.

"Mike"

A bottle contains two servings, and the website does tell buyers to consume responsibly and not take more than a bottle every 24 hours. Their ingredients label lists kava root extract, a depressant, and ground leaf kratom, a drug that can provide both stimulant and sedative effects depending on the quantity. In the FAQ section of the site, it tells consumers that most commonly, youll feel more social and a calm, focused boost of energy.

If you look at the front of the bottle, youll notice the words consume responsibly" near the bottom; according to the company, that advisory was added to the packaging last year along with a warning that reads, This product contains leaf kratom which, like caffeine and alcohol, can become habit-forming and harmful to your health if consumed irresponsibly. Consider avoiding any potentially habit-forming substances if you have a history of substance abuse. If consumed in recommended quantities, feel free CLASSIC has not been shown to cause any serious physical or social harm. Caution: This product is not for consumption by or sale to persons under the age of 21.

Both kava and kratom are legal on a federal level, though some states have banned kratom. The FDA has warned consumers not to use kratom because of the risk of serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder (SUD) and the DEA has listed kratom as a Drug and Chemical of Concern. Its estimated that 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021.

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Botanic Tonics was previously sued in 2023 due to allegations that the brand falsely advertised itself and did not warn consumers of the risks of kratom. They settled earlier this year for $8.75 million, with the company saying in a press release, Botanic Tonics acknowledges that its early marketing practices fell short of the high standards of transparency and consumer education that the company now champions. While these practices did not violate any laws, the company recognized the concerns raised by consumers and took significant steps to address them.

In response to Mishas TikTok, a spokesperson for Botanic Tonics said, We reached out to @yourbestiemisha about the experience he shared across his social platforms with detailed info about Botanic Tonics commitment to the safety and responsible use, which includes our products being specifically formulated, marketed, and labeled for adults 21 and over only. We take any reports involving minors extremely seriously and are committed to working with retailers to ensure proper age verification and responsible sales practices.

Misha isnt the only person whos gone viral for their anecdotes about Feel Free. Jasmine Adeoye, a 30-year-old based in Austin, has had numerous TikToks about her experiences with the tonic pass the million-view mark. She first bought Feel Free in 2022, after hearing it advertised on numerous major podcasts as a safe alternative to alcohol. She told BuzzFeed that she initially used the product occasionally for around a year, until she found herself in an incredibly stressful job. At the most, it was 12 [bottles] a day. That was like just taking them to feel normal in any way, shape, or form, she said. It was like, Oh, I can't physically get out of bed unless I take this.

Related: "Both Sides Of The Family Don't Talk Anymore": Here Are 16 Wildly Unhinged Stories From People Who Had Sex With Their Partner's Family Members

At the height of what she says was her addiction, Jasmine claimed that she had super, super dry and flaky skin, adding, It was like alligator skin, I would take my clothes off, and flakes of skin would fall off of my body. She further said that chunks of [her] teeth were falling out as a result of throwing up so often.

Jasmine Adeoye

After telling her mother and now-husband the extent of her use in 2024, Jasmine was able to find sobriety. She began making TikToks shortly afterwards. When I got sober, I knew that I wanted to talk about it publicly. I was, like, I cannot be the only person going through this, she said. I expected some people to resonate with it, but not on the level that it actually did, which makes me sad.

Jasmine Adeoye

So, what does Feel Free have to say about the users claimed experiences? When asked for comment on these users' alleged experience, Botanic Tonics directed BuzzFeed to a statement that said, Botanic Tonics is leading the industry in our commitment to providing consumer education and transparency and we will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our customers above all else."

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"Highlights of our efforts include voluntarily implementing substantial improvements to our product labeling. Additionally, we voluntarily raised the minimum purchase age for all products to 21+ and added visible serving size indicators, clearer ingredient information, and comprehensive warnings."

Related: 50 People Who Came Up With The Greatest "Life Hacks" Of All Time

Our website features a comprehensive 'Learn' section with detailed resources about our ingredients, including dedicated information about kratom. We believe informed consumers make better choices, and we're committed to providing clear, accurate information. All Botanic Tonics products are manufactured in our FDA-registered, cGMP-certified Oklahoma facility, ensuring uncompromising quality and potency, they continued.

Its not just TikTok where users are claiming negative experiences. There are 5k members in the subreddit R/Quittingfeelfree, where users talk about their sobriety experiences. Amongst those who spoke to BuzzFeed, some were previous opioid users who found themselves caught up in what they claim was the cycle of addiction again.

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Justin, a 43-year-old who was previously sober for six years, said he saw a Feel Free ad offering energy and calm in a gas station before work. He quickly bought two, despite having read about kratom addiction previously. It did what it said it would do, he claimed. Meth wasn't this hard to quit. This stuff is a special kind of bad.

Justin

But some say they had no problems with substance abuse whatsoever. Lisa, a 63-year-old mother of three from South Jersey, said that a friend suggested Feel Free just over three years ago as an alternative to a cocktail. I don't have an alcohol problem. I just thought it would be fun to have something else that was natural, she said, opting to order the drink online after watching a podcast interview with the companys creator. It was marketed as being safe and healthy, and that you would get a natural euphoric feeling from it. I was using it sporadically, and I was using it safely.

Justin

Things changed when two things happened in quick succession: Lisa broke her shoulder and one of her daughters became estranged from her. Amid the stress and pain, her Feel Free intake rose to five a day, purchased from her local 7-Eleven. Realizing she had a problem around a year ago, shes now consulting with drug addiction professionals to find the best way forward. Your skin gets so dry and itchy. If you don't take it and you are trying to sleep, you get restless legs. It wakes you up, she claimed. But when you try to take it, sometimes you vomit. It's horrific, and for somebody like me, who was a professional and a mom, I can't believe this has happened to me.

Related: 32 "Why Would You Put That In Writing?!?!?" Photos That Prove Some People Are The Worst

Similarly, 30-year-old Detroit resident Anthony said he previously used kratom and kava in moderation. He tried Feel Free after seeing it advertised in a gas station. It tasted horrible, but within a matter of minutes, I felt a rush that I've never felt before using regular kratom, he said. After a few months, he said his use escalated to 1012 bottles a day. Roughly $120 a day addiction. Before I knew it, I was spending my entire paycheck on these blue devils.

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But it wasnt just Feel Free that was available to him. 7-hydroxymitragynine, a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant also known as 7-OH, can bind itself to opioid receptors in the brain. Its been found to be more potent than morphine in treating pain. It was during his time on Feel Free that Anthony said he started using 7-OH tablets as well, using cash advance apps and a $2,000 loan to fund his addiction. I'm currently in the process of tapering both the 7-OHs and the Feel Free. I'm in a better place mentally and financially, but have a mountain to climb, he said. The withdrawals are unfathomable.

Kevin, a previous opioid user from North Carolina, found himself in a similar situation after many years of sobriety from opioids. He said he had no idea what kratom was when he saw the bottles. I initially saw it at the register along with the 5-hour energy drinks. I liked kombuchas and stuff like that, he said. Slowly over time, I began taking more  and made the switch to other gas station dope. He credits Suboxone, a drug used for opioid addiction, as a lifesaver.

When asked for comment, HHS pointed BuzzFeed to recent news that the FDA is now taking steps to limit the availability of 7-OH. But a product like Feel Free, which claims not to artificially inflate its 7-OH levels, doesnt fall under these proposed regulations. "Our products contain trace amounts of 7-OH that occur naturally during the traditional drying process  levels that are dramatically different from the concentrated synthetic products now under FDA scrutiny, Botanic Tonics said in a statement after the FDA announced its new plans on 7-OH.

SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

"Leaf kratom is different than concentrated 7-OH, a kratom synthetic that the FDA announced that they are moving to ban. Botanic Tonics should not be included when referring to 7-OH products," they further said in a statement to BuzzFeed.

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Recovery from kratom products can be a challenging road. Mike, a 37-year-old based near Sacramento, found himself in a financial disaster after at times using over 12 bottles a day. Ive maxed out four credit cards and taken out loans totaling over $50,000. I had to enroll in a debt relief program last year because I couldnt make my minimum payments, he said.

In recent days, he says that hes been trying to quit Feel Free, but relapsed before a big work day after only getting a handful of hours of sleep the previous few nights. Hes found that some people in 12-step programs dont take kratom addiction seriously and has had difficulties abusing Suboxone and Feel Free simultaneously. Hes considered rehab, but he works for a cutthroat major company that he says can look down on taking leave. As he put it, I'm not sure if I'm at the point yet where I'm willing to lose my job because I don't want to screw things up for my kid.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, you can call SAMHSAs National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and find more resources here.

Also in Internet Finds: 51 Wildly Fascinating Photos Of Disorders, Injuries, And Variations In The Human Body That I Cannot Stop Staring At

Also in Internet Finds: "I Still Feel Like A Horrible Person Nearly 20 Years Later": 19 Giant "Dark Secrets" People Kept To Themselves

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Read it on BuzzFeed.com
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)at a committee hearing in the U.S. Capitol in December 2021. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, recalls how over the years, he and colleagues in Congress used to say were gonna get to housing next, were gonna get to housing next. But it never really came, he said, and now housing shortages are a real crisis.

Last week, he called himself and his colleagues out for kicking the can on housing since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Though he and others had introduced proposals, the proposals havent always succeeded. But hes encouraged this year, as a package of housing bills he helped craft advanced unanimously through the Senates Banking Committee.

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He said that the overall goal is helping states cut through red tape and build more housing to fit their residents needs.

Okay, locality, you dont want the feds snooping into your zoning  but here, if we give you extra money or extra flexibility, will you be willing to lean in on speeding up the zoning and permitting process? Warner said the package proposes hypothetically.

For example, the package includes an Innovation Fund that would authorize $800 million to support locally-driven initiatives to expand housing supply and reduce costs. The Housing Supply Frameworks Act would direct the U.S. Housing and Urban Development department to create best-practice zoning and land-use frameworks as guidance for localities. The HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act reauthorizes and updates HUDs HOME Investments Partnerships Program to help localities facilitate construction of more affordable housing.

The first bit of the housing bills Warner spoke of on a call with the Mercury was the RESIDE Act, which he co-authored with Indiana Republican Jim Banks. That bill would create a new pilot program to help communities convert vacant commercial buildings  derelict hotels, warehouses, or strip malls  into residential ones.

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Youve got deserted strip centers  theyve got water, theyve got power, theyve got broadband, theyve got parking, Warner said.

Federal assistance can help communities get conversion projects over the finish line, he suggested. To achieve this, the program would operate under HUD to give grants to local governments seeking to acquire, site prep and rehabilitate blighted properties.

Its low hanging fruit, state senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, said. Like the U.S. senator, he is also focused on housing legislation and no stranger to introducing it in Virginia.

Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic governor candidate Abigail Spanberger on June 16, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods / Virginia Mercury)

Some advancing legislation in Warners package is similar to measures introduced by VanValkenburg and others at the state level. Not all of the ideas came to fruition, though, as they met concern or pushback from local governments.

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Such was the case for a bill by VanValkenburg that would have required localities to adopt by-right zoning for multifamily housing near commercial and business districts, which are often also corridors with public transit. The bill failed, as did his proposal to give state government authority to step in when local governments failed to take steps to create affordable housing.

Meanwhile, Warners Build More Housing Near Transit Act would amend a federal grant program to allow the Federal Transit Administration to give transit projects a higher rating if they are located in areas that adopt policies to encourage more housing near public transportation hubs.

VanValkenburg noted that federal lawmakers can help accentuate state and local lawmakers efforts.

Subsidies are things that the federal government can really do to help jump start housing that state or local governments cant always do in the same way, he said. Solutions are going to be solved, fastest, if all three levels of government are working together, and each level of government can bring something different.

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Other measures included in Warners housing package streamline efforts between different federal agencies to reduce funding or approval delays for things like new rural housing or preservation of existing rural homes, enhance transparency on loans for veteran homebuyers, and fund a pilot program for grants and loans to help low-and-moderate-income homeowners or certain landlords address critical home repairs and health hazards to preserve affordable housing stock.

With an estimated shortage of 4.5 million homes nationally, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, lawmakers at all levels are exploring how the public sector can help the private sector.

Dubbed the Bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, Warner is hopeful that the housing package stands a good chance to become law.

The fact that the committee voted unanimously, he said, is something he feels pretty darn good about.





SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Virginia House of Delegates during its 2025 legislative session, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

As the battle for Virginias House of Delegates heats up, both major parties are zeroing in on a small number of suburban swing districts that could ultimately decide which side holds the majority come January.

Among the most closely watched races this year are contests in Chesterfield, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Prince William, and Hampton  five competitive districts that reflect broader political shifts in Virginia and where both parties are making heavy investments in money, message, and manpower, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project.

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While Democrats currently hold the majority, their grip on the 100-seat chamber is slim.

With every seat on the ballot this November  along with races for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general  the stakes are unusually high. And both sides say theyre ready.

House Democrats are touting historic momentum this cycle, running candidates in all 100 districts for the first time in recent history  including in reliably Republican areas where they havent competed in years.

Their campaign arm recently announced a $9 million TV ad reservation, covering the states four biggest media markets  Washington, Richmond, Norfolk, and Roanoke  with more than $8.5 million slated for the final three weeks of the campaign.

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This is how we not only protect our majority, but expand it, said House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, in a statement. House Democrats arent just reacting  were setting the pace. This ad buy is about making sure voters hear directly from us, early and often, about what were doing to protect their freedoms, lower costs, and move Virginia forward.

Republicans, meanwhile, are focused on the districts most likely to determine the balance of power.

While theyre fielding candidates in 83 districts  short of a full slate  party leaders say thats by design. They argue Democrats are spreading themselves thin in unwinnable territory, while Republicans are concentrating on a narrower, more winnable map.

Theyve got candidates in 20 of the reddest districts who are going to raise $1,000  do you think that concerns us even a little bit? Republican Party of Virginia Chair Mark Peake told The Mercury. I dont think (Democrats) have as much enthusiasm as we do.

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Peake said GOP House Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, is working hard to raise funds and support candidates across the state, particularly in the 10 to 15 districts seen as most contested.

We are fully competitive in all of those, with fundraising and quality candidates who are well known in their communities and working extremely hard, he said.

Political analysts say the terrain slightly favors Democrats this year, especially in fast-changing outer suburban areas.

Its no surprise that the most competitive districts right now are in Republican hands, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. This is an environment where Republicans are facing significant headwinds for a bunch of reasons, and thats creating a tailwind that would help Democrats who, in other years, might be more vulnerable.

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Farnsworth pointed to the suburbs of Chesterfield County and Prince William as key bellwethers.

The action in this election cycle in Virginia is largely in these outer-ring suburban counties, he said. The rural areas tend to be very red, and the urban areas more Democratic. But those transitional places are where Republican fortunes are particularly at risk this year.

Democrats and Republicans alike agree that a few closely contested races will likely determine the House majority  and perhaps the direction of state government under a new governor.

Heres a closer look at five of the most competitive House districts in Virginia this year.

House District 75

In a high-stakes rematch, Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, faces Democrat Lindsey Dougherty once again in a district thats seen its political balance shift in recent years and that is shaping up to be this cycles most competitive contest.

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Covering parts of Chesterfield and Prince George counties and the city of Hopewell, this district leans slightly Republican, but not decisively.

Vice President Kamala Harris carried it in 2024 with 52.3%, while GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump pulled 46.2%. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., performed even better, winning 54.6% to Hung Caos 45.2%. Yet just three years earlier, in Virginias previous gubernatorial election, Republican Glenn Youngkin bested Democrat Terry McAuliffe here by a solid 8-point margin.

Coyner, a moderate Republican and attorney who previously served on the Chesterfield County School Board, was first elected in 2019 after defeating Dougherty with 55.1%. Shes known for occasionally bucking her party, notably voting to abolish the death penalty and protect same-sex marriage in Virginia.

Dougherty, originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, has made her mark in Virginia as a dedicated volunteer advocating for childrens health care and support for single mothers.

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Coyner enters the fall with a financial advantage, raising $546,436 to Doughertys $227,774  despite Democrats broader statewide edge in campaign cash.

House District 71

Del. Amanda Batten, R-James City County, is seeking reelection in a district where the GOP holds a narrow edge  but recent Democratic victories suggest the race could go either way.

The 71st spans parts of James City and New Kent counties, as well as Williamsburg. Harris narrowly won the district in 2024 with 51.5%, and Kaine topped Cao here 52.3% to 47.5%. However, Youngkin beat McAuliffe in 2021 by nearly 8 points, and the area has reliably leaned red in most past cycles.

Batten, first elected in 2019, chairs the House Republican Caucus and leads the Purple Caucus, an informal coalition of Republicans in politically vulnerable districts. She previously worked for GOP leaders in the General Assembly.

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Her Democratic challenger, Jessica Anderson, is a lifelong Virginian from Newport News with a background in education.

This cycle, Democrats are signaling they see an opportunity: Anderson has narrowly outraised Batten, pulling in $356,915 compared to the incumbents $305,863.

House District 89

With Del. Baxter Ennis, R-Chesapeake, stepping down after one term, the open-seat contest in District 89 is drawing serious attention from both parties. The district, covering parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk, leans Republican by just over two points  and recent election results paint a mixed picture.

Harris edged Trump here in 2024, 50.1% to 47.2%, and Kaine performed even better, winning by over five points. Youngkin, however, beat McAuliffe by more than 7 points in 2021.

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Republican Mike Lamonea, a retired Homeland Security special agent, is facing Democrat Karen Carnegie, an attorney and community activist with deep ties to local civic groups, including the Girl Scouts and the Ruritan Club. Carnegies strong community presence and local activism make her a formidable opponent in a competitive landscape.

Shes also ahead in fundraising, with $205,436 to Lamoneas $194,811  a tight margin that mirrors the race itself.

House District 22

Del. Ian Lovejoy, R-Prince William, is looking to hold onto his seat in one of the most closely watched matchups in Northern Virginia. He faces a challenge from Elizabeth Guzman, who represented a neighboring district from 2018 to 2024 and is aiming for a return to the House.

District 22 includes parts of Prince William County and leans slightly Republican.

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The margins here have been razor-thin. In 2024, Harris edged Trump 49% to 47.9%, and Kaine carried the district by just over 2 points. Guzman, who unseated a longtime Republican in 2017, ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2022 but remains a well-known figure in the region.

Shes also leading financially, with $402,989 raised compared to Lovejoys $250,858. Lovejoy, a former Manassas City Council member and small business owner, won his first term in 2023 and is now defending it in what could become a costly, hard-fought race.

House District 86

Del. A.C. Cordoza, R-Hampton, the only Black Republican in the House of Delegates, is in a tough reelection battle against Democrat Virgil Thornton in a district that has become a top target for Democrats. Covering Poquoson, parts of Hampton and York County, the 86th leans Republican  but just barely. In 2024, Harris eked out a win over Trump by 1.1 points, and Kaine took it by a margin of less than 3 points over Cao.

Cordoza won the seat in 2021 and has since attracted statewide GOP support. Concerned about holding the district, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the full Republican statewide ticket  including Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, AG Jason Miyares, and GOP lieutenant governor nominee John Reid  recently headlined a joint fundraiser for him in Hampton, despite internal fractions between the candidates.

Thornton, a community leader running on a platform of economic justice and public safety reform, has outraised Cordoza with $149,805 to the incumbents $106,283  another sign Democrats believe this district could be a sleeper flip.

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The bodies of three civil rights workers missing for six weeks have been found buried in a partially constructed dam near Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation found the three young men  two white and one black man  about six miles from the town in a wooded area near where they were last seen on the night of 21 June.

They were Michael Schwerner, aged 24, Andrew Goodman, 20, both from New York and James Chaney, 22, from Meridian, Mississippi. All were members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) dedicated to non-violent direct action against racial discrimination.

As soon as the men were reported missing, the case was made top priority and codenamed Miburn (Mississippi burning). FBI agents headed by Major Case Inspector Joseph Sullivan were sent down to Mississippi to investigate the matter.

After a tip-off they found the mens burnt-out car two days after their disappearance.

The bodies have been taken to Jackson, Mississippi, for further examination into the cause of death. It is believed all three had been shot and the finger of blame is pointing at the Ku Klux Klan white supremacist group.

The three young men had left the CORE office in Meridian six weeks ago to investigate the destruction of a black congregation church in Longdale, Neshoba County because it was used as the site for a freedom school.

The school was set up by Mr Schwerner as part of a wider civil rights campaign in Mississippi teaching black children, among other things, black history and the philosophy of the civil rights movement.

The Mount Zion Church was burned down on 16 June by members of the KKK searching for Mr Schwerner.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

On 13 October 1964 James Jordan, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, told FBI agents he had witnessed the murder and was willing to testify. A total of 19 men were arrested and charged.

On 24 February 1967 Judge William Cox dismissed 17 of the 19 indictments but he was overruled by the Supreme Court and the so-called Mississippi Burning trial took place in October 1967.

It emerged that the three young men had been arrested by Deputy Sheriff Cecil Price on 21 June, then released from Neshoba jail in the middle of the night and attacked and killed by the KKK as they drove out of town.

Among those convicted were Deputy Sheriff Price, who got six years in jail. Ku Klux Klan leader Sam Bowers and KKK member Wayne Roberts were sentenced to 10 years each.

A film based on the FBI investigation was made in 1988 called Mississippi Burning.

In June 2005 Edgar Ray Killen, 80, was convicted of recruiting the killers. Killen was sentenced to 60 years in jail for the three manslaughters.

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NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is seeking qualified freelance artists or graphic design firms to design a logo for the zoos 125th anniversary. The logo would be used for anniversary marketing materials, with plans to unveil the design in December.

The zoo is asking all prospective applicants to submit an

Overview of yourself/company with contact information

 Resume of your education, experience, and qualifications

 A sketch of proposed designs (attached rendering preferred)

 Artist/Designer retains the rights to any concepts or imagery provided until

purchased by the Virginia Zoo.

 3-5 work samples, or link to online portfolio

 Design references

 Estimated timeline for completion.

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The zoo also emphasized the logo should featured the words Virginia Zoo in Norfolk and the number 125 in the design, and should easily translate to digital and print formats.

Applications are due by Aug. 30 at 4 p.m., and applicants should know the status of their submissions by Sept. 17.

Any proposals and questions regarding submissions should be directed to the Senior Marketing & Digital Specialist, Kirstin Pendleton, at kirstin.pendleton@norfolk.gov.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Time is critical when someone's heart stops beating - and resuscitation is key.

Bystanders action can be crucial for survival but what if there is no one nearby who knows how?

Capacities vary widely across Europe.

Many countries are trying to increase lay resuscitation rates, teaching people cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills who are not health-care professionals such as bystanders or first responders.

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The aim is to have "nations of life-savers, communities with the readiness to respond to cardiac arrest. This is the vision of the future," says the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), a non-profit promoting the issue across Europe.

It is calling for training, education, guidelines and "motivated people ready to change hearts and minds."

But while some Scandinavian nations have rates greater than 80%, Germany's is around 40% and even lower in Britain.

The Resuscitation Council UK is working towards a day when every person in society has the skills they need to save a life, "driving CPR education, and encouraging everyone, from healthcare workers to the general public, to learn life-saving resuscitation skills."

Faster response = better outcomes

The aim is for more people to reach hospital with their best chance of surviving a cardiac arrest, "and with an opportunity to receive the care they deserve both during the event and while they recover."

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The urgency of the issue is familiar to volunteer firefighters who attended training recently in Essen, Germany.

All were paying close attention this evening at the fire station as they learned how to become potential lifesavers with first aid knowledge, smartphones and a bit of luck.

They are part of a mobile rescue initiative, which involves an app to notify those who are trained nearby if an emergency arises.

Technology can help

When someone notifies the emergency services that a person has had a heart attack, the volunteers will also be alerted through an app, in case they happen to be near where the situation is unfolding.

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The firemen sitting in the station are part of a growing network though officials say this must become far denser.

Launched in 2013 as the first first responder alert system of its kind in Germany, the Mobile Retter app - meaning mobile rescuer - links 22,500 participants in almost 40 cities and districts in six federal states.

The math is simple. More than 120,000 people nationwide suffer sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital every year, according to the German Resuscitation Council.

Only one in 10 survives  partly because it takes the emergency services an average of 9 minutes to arrive on the scene.

Much of Europe playing catch up

First responder apps  long established in Scandinavia and the Netherlands  can be crucial, say specialists from the Bjorn Steiger Foundation in a position paper.

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"The brain starts to die after 3 minutes. We have to fill this gap," says fire chief Jan Kuhlmann, who is responsible for mobile rescuer training at the Essen fire brigade.

Essen is one of the first major cities to adopt the mobile rescuer principle, established some years ago.

In rural areas, long distances make it difficult to provide rapid assistance, while in cities, heavy traffic makes it even more challenging  which makes the system all the more valuable, says Kuhlmann.

Essen's community of registered first responders include firefighters, nurses, paramedics and doctors. "A first aid course for a driving licence is not enough," says Kuhlmann. "The control centre must be sure that the person they send out is capable of doing the job."

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The training therefore focuses not on resuscitation techniques, but on technical procedures  and success: since its introduction in 2019, the more than 1,000 helpers in Essen have been called out around 1,900 times, responding to almost 550 of those calls  and arriving at the scene within three and a half minutes on average, often before the emergency services.

The life-saving idea for the app came from East Westphalian emergency physician Ralf Stroop when he saw the blue lights of an ambulance in his neighbourhood.

He realized that he could have helped earlier  if only he had known about the emergency in time. That was the initial spark.

Common standards needed

A number of imitators have long since established themselves: According to the Bjorn Steiger Foundation, at least six different systems are used in Germany, and vary from one state to the next.

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"So far, these are all isolated solutions  with different standards in the details and without cross-technology alert options," says Mobile-Retter managing director Stefan Prasse. "But we are all united by the goal of saving lives."

Efforts are under way to reach common standards. "This doesn't mean that everyone has to use the same system, but the systems must be compatible with each other."

However, technology alone is not enough. "If nothing happens for months after registration, there is an increased risk that participants will delete the app. Active volunteer management can help prevent this," says Prasse.

He says anything related to the project to motivate volunteers is conceivable, from joint activities to networking via social media and sharing success stories.

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Emergency medics support the rescuer approach and would like to see it established nationwide and enshrined in law. "These apps are currently the most effective means of improving the chances of survival in cases of cardiac arrest," says Clemens Kill, head of the Centre for Emergency Medicine in Essen and chairman of the German Society for Rescue Services and Preclinical Emergency Medicine (DGRN).

"Ideally, every citizen would know what to do  and actually do it," he says.

But Germany's lay resuscitation rate still lags behind that of other countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands, despite numerous efforts to intensify training in schools.

"It is of course difficult to teach people something they will probably only need decades later," says Kill. The approach of having emergency call centre staff guide callers through CPR over the phone is not practised reliably at all call centres, he adds. "We need to involve the entire emergency services in such first responder systems. Police officers and firefighters also know how to perform CPR."

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Whether an emergency call centre works with an app should also no longer be left to the random commitment of individuals. "It cannot be that when it comes to life and death, the state simply hopes that people will get together and do something," he says. "This must be included in the legal framework for emergency services."
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Secretary of State Michael Watson (R-Miss.) announced a new I Voted sticker contest, which is open to all registered voters in Mississippi.

Anyone 18 years and older who is registered to vote in Mississippi is encouraged to design and submit artwork to be used as the I Voted sticker for all 82 counties during the 2026 election cycle.

Key reminders for Mississippis 2025 Special Primary Election

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I am thrilled to bring this contest to Mississippi voters through the expansion of Promote the Vote. Combining artistic expression and pride for our beloved state is a great way to engage our voters while highlighting the creative talent of Mississippians, said Watson.

Submissions must fit on a two-inch circular sticker and cannot be derogatory or negative in any way. The design must include the following:

The words I Voted (quotation marks not included)

2026

A title for the design

The deadline to submit entries is October 31, 2025. All eligible submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges including:

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A representative from the Mississippi Economic Council

A representative from the Mississippi Arts Commission

A representative from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History

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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 WJTV.
Crews put in stripes on a stretch of express lanes on Interstate 405 in 2015. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation.)

Thousands of Washington motorists have been caught speeding through highway work zones by new cameras the state deployed this year.

Since the cameras turned on in April, the Washington State Patrol says theyve been used to issue 7,599 infractions, with nearly 4,000 more being processed, as of last week.

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But only 262 of those thousands have resulted in fines, according to state patrol. First-time violators dont have to pay anything, but the next infraction carries a $248 penalty.

Starting next July, drivers wont get a grace period. The first violation will bring a $125 penalty, followed by $248 for subsequent offenses.

Washington averages over 1,300 work zone crashes annually, according to the state Department of Transportation. Last year, seven people were killed in crashes in work zones across the state, while another 38 incidents caused serious injuries. Speeding was a factor in about a fifth of those crashes.

A 2024 study from the Associated General Contractors of America found that 64% of highway contractors reported cars crashing into construction sites within the past year.

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The first few months of the program confirm what statistics show and what our workers have been saying  too many people speed through work zones, said Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith in a statement.

In 2023, lawmakers unanimously authorized installing the cameras in work zones, at the request of the state transportation department. At the time, the state estimated over 250,000 infractions per year once the new cameras were fully implemented.

The states latest transportation budget, passed in April, counts on $138 million in fines over the next six years from infractions captured by the cameras. The money goes toward keeping the program afloat, along with supporting DUI patrols and other safety programs.

Officials hope the cameras will get drivers to slow down, and keep workers safe.

A new speed camera mounted on a trailer is shown in February in Olympia. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

While the number of infractions has been high during the first 90 days of operation, we hope to see a reduction of speeding through work zones as the word gets out about this new safety tool, state patrol Chief John Batiste said. This isnt about writing tickets and fining motorists; this is about slowing inattentive drivers down and saving lives.

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The new camera program is set to last until 2030, unless the Legislature extends it.

The cameras mounted on orange trailers have been rotating through work zones across the state. So far, the state has deployed three of the cameras. Theyve surveilled construction on Interstate 5 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, state routes 16, 18, and 522, Interstate 90 and U.S. 12, according to state patrol.

The state plans on rolling out as many as 15 cameras in total by 2027.

Signs alert drivers to their presence. Cameras are only active when workers are present.

Recorded infractions go for review to state troopers, who then send them to the vehicles registered owner. The photos dont capture the drivers.

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Car owners must respond to the infraction notice online or by mail. They can contest it with the state Office of Administrative Hearings, request a fine reduction or set up a payment plan.

The infractions are considered non-moving violations, so they dont impact driving records or insurance costs.

This legislative session, lawmakers in Olympia also approved legislation requiring an online course on work zone and first responder safety as a prerequisite for getting a drivers license.

Correction: This article was updated to clarify that legislation requiring an online course on work zone and first responder safety did pass the Legislature this year.

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An LNG tanker is docked at an export terminal. (Getty Images)

Heres yet another story about how the powerful have a leg up on common folks when it comes to tax policy pitched as some sort of panacea. Whether intended for the economically disadvantaged or a nascent industry, it always seems like the big dogs end up with larger pieces of the bone.

Cheniere Energy, the largest liquified natural exporter in the U.S., wants to claim a nine-figure federal tax credit for the fuel used to power the vessels that ship the commodity around the world from its LNG terminals in Sabine Pass, Louisiana and Corpus Christi, Texas. The massive tankers power themselves with a byproduct of the LNG they transport, and its this source that Cheniere considers an alternative fuel that qualifies for a tax break

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The company seeks a $140 million credit from the Internal Revenue Service, according to an Inside Climate News analysis of the companys Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Those records show Cheniere reported a $3 billion profit last year.

The $140 million is the diesel fuel-equivalent value of the boiled-off LNG Cheniere used from 2018-24, when the tax credit expired. Keep in mind LNG tankers must boil off this gas in order to safely hold the liquified version it stores at temperatures that are at least minus-175 degrees Fahrenheit. Rather than just venting that gas, the LNG export industry has adapted its tankers to run off of it.

The tax break Cheniere wants is from an alternative fuel incentive Congress and President George W. Bush created in 2005. It was intended to spur use of power sources other than gasoline and diesel, but there were no parameters set to make sure the encouraged options were environmentally friendly ones. That meant LNG, biofuels such as corn ethanol and even fuels derived from coal qualified for the perk.

So Cheniere is simply following the letter of the law in its application for the incentive. Nothing to get too bent out of shape over, right?

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Not so fast, environmentalists and government watchdogs say.

Those critics contend it would be fiscally foolish for Cheniere and other LNG exporters not to use the boiled-off gas to power their tankers. Why spend money on diesel when theres a free fuel source available that you have to create anyway?

Their arguably more legitimate beef with Chenieres tax credit request is that they feel it stretches well past the original intent of the 2005 measure. As written, the incentive applied to fuel used in a motor vehicle or motorboat.

That an LNG tanker, which can equal the size of a military aircraft carrier, would be considered a motorboat is preposterous, Chenieres detractors say. They point to federal shipping regulations that define a motorboat as no longer than 65 feet. The typical LNG tanker is nearly 1,000 feet long.

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Cheniere and a leading oil and gas industry organization did not respond to multiple requests from Inside Climate News to comment on its report.

As to whether LNG tankers benefited the environment when they use boiled-off gas, Inside Climate News dove deeper into the science and math. They compared the carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions of the boiled-off gas with hypothetical diesel-fueled journeys and found the greenhouse gas from the byproduct was 12.5% less  a difference not terribly notable to clean energy advocates.

A bigger concern is if the Cheniere tax credit application with the IRS is a canary in the regulatory coal mine that not only survives but thrives, as the Trump administration tends to favor all things fossil fuel.

Case in point, the president ended all subsidies for wind energy development through a July executive order, and last week rescinded approval for all wind farm proposals in federal waters.

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It should be noted Cheniere employees and affiliated political action committees contributed more than $343,000 to the Republican National Committee during the 2024 election cycle, according to OpenSecrets.org. Its largest individual recipient, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, received $21,000.

Cheniere reported $3 billion in profits last year. A $140 million tax break would equal 4.7% of that net income  an amount certainly eye-catching to company shareholders.

If granted, good government and climate interests fear the Cheniere tax credit will be the first of many.

You can rest assured that if Cheniere gets approved, anyone else in the same situation will file refund claims, William Henck, a former IRS tax attorney and agency whistleblower, told Inside Climate News. I guarantee you that.
The Brief

The GBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Warner Robins after a man fired at police and barricaded himself in a burning shed.

Jesus Chavez-Ledesma, 46, was shot by an officer after allegedly shooting at police and setting fire to the structure; he is expected to survive.

No officers were injured, and the incident remains under investigation by the GBI and the Houston County District Attorneys Office.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has launched an inquiry into a shooting by a police officer that occurred early Sunday morning in Warner Robins. The incident left one man injured, though no officers were harmed.

What we know

According to preliminary details, officers with the Warner Robins Police Department responded to a domestic violence call in the 100 block of Louis Street around 2:37 a.m. on Aug. 3. When they arrived, officers found 46-year-old Jesus Chavez-Ledesma, of Warner Robins, armed with a gun inside a small storage shed behind the residence. He was also identified as a suspect in the domestic violence incident.

What they're saying

Police say Chavez-Ledesma fired at officers and then barricaded himself inside the shed. During the standoff, he reportedly set the structure on fire while continuing to shoot at law enforcement. In response, one officer returned fire, striking Chavez-Ledesma.

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Officers provided medical aid at the scene, and Chavez-Ledesma was taken to a local hospital, where he is expected to recover. Warner Robins Fire Department personnel extinguished the blaze.

What we don't know

The names of the officers involved were not released.

What's next

The GBI is conducting an independent investigation. Once complete, the findings will be submitted to the Houston County District Attorneys Office for review.
As the Donald Trump administration ramps up the mass-firings of public servants, its not a great time to be looking for work in Washington  unless youre an attorney who defends public servants against mass firings.

In that case, the job market is red-hot: Openings for employment lawyers are up by four to five times compared to the first half of 2024, according to Amy Savage, a legal recruiter and expert on the ebbs and flows of legal hiring in the capital.

There are a large number of firms known for representing federal employees who are looking for talent right now, Savage said. Its a very busy time.

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Its an exception that proves the rule in a region reeling from unprecedented federal cutbacks.

D.C.s chief financial officer has projected a multi-year loss of 40,000 jobs  a fifth of the 200,000 federal positions currently based inside the city limits. The dynamic has already glutted the market with international-aid specialists, environmental-regulation experts and education-grant administrators  the sort of highly-skilled, narrow expertise that abounds in the public sector.

But now the sheer scale of the cuts means a lot of those folks are going to be seeking yet another type of obscure Washington expert: The specialist in the intricacies of the Merit Systems Protection Board, the body thats supposed to protect the federal workforce against illegal or political firings. Some of the lawyers jumping into the fray are doing it in order to stick it to the Trump administration. Others are interested for a more old-fashioned reason: Its where the business is.

Obviously theres a tremendous demand, said Pamela Hicks, a longtime federal lawyer who this year hung out a shingle for a new firm built around representing feds against their bosses. And its a demand thats being outpaced by the supply of people whove been wrongfully terminated, demoted, transferred, harassed, targeted, pick your word.

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Hicks is an interesting case. A former chief counsel of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, she had a 23-year Department of Justice career that included senior jobs like head of the departments money laundering and forfeiture bureau. Its a CV that could fetch a big payday at a corporate law firm representing businesses on the wrong side of DOJ investigations.

Instead of doing that, Hicks, who herself was ousted by the Trump administration shortly after the inauguration, said she wasnt interested in big law. It just didn't speak to me the way trying to protect the federal workforce and my former colleagues and serving the American public did, she told me. But Hicks also figures that this particular form of idealism would not have led to all that many clients at a different moment in history.

As it happens, shes hardly the only ex-fed to set up shop representing government employees caught up in the Trump-era downsizing . The scale is unprecedented, said Clayton Bailey, a former Justice Department litigator who launched a firm this spring that brings class-action suits on behalf of federal workers. There are things about the area that make it difficult to litigate in, and we thought we could bring sort of an interesting new litigation perspective to the problem as a whole.

The established players in the formerly quiet field of federal employment law are also seeing a spike in business. Weve been very very busy since January, said Stephanie Rapp-Tully, who has handled employment cases for a decade. She said that some weeks in 2025, shes had double the hours she did a year earlier. There were months, and I'm still going through it, where I feel like I didn't sleep. Ive never stopped working.

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Rapp-Tully said shes also seen a spike in interest from job-seekers, motivated by wanting to be where the action is in a newly newsy sector. A lot of the recent entrants are themselves former federal attorneys who until recently may have been on the other side of employment cases. The firm has just taken in its largest-ever class of summer law clerks coming out of law school.

In a District where the unemployment rate eclipses all fifty states, its not universally bad for job seekers. Savage, the legal recruiter, said plenty of sectors of law are still holding their own, even if reduced Trump administration prosecutions have lessened demand for some white-collar defense specialties.

But the particular surge in this one sector of the law is a bit like how soup-kitchen employment grew like gangbusters during the Great Depression. In the process, it provides an early glimpse of the scale of job losses. According to the dozen or so employment attorneys I spoke with, a lot of their calls are from people who remain employed but are worried about getting their documentation together before the axe falls.

There are also a number of new philanthropic initiatives that link feds with free legal help. The federal sector labor bar is very small, just a handful of firms concentrated in D.C. even though federal sector workers are for the most part not in the DMV, said Deborah Greenfield, the executive director of Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, launched earlier this year by a coalition of labor unions. Theyre absolutely swamped.

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Every lawyer has a colorful story about a firing booboo: The plaintiff in the NOAA case who had probationary status merely because she had just gotten a promotion; the workaday employees whose dismissals were based on errors in their resumes or job descriptions. The injustice thats going on is unbelievable, said Greg Pinto, Hicks co-founder at the firm theyre calling DC Law Collective.

The work, though, isnt always just about litigating terminations. In serving people cast out of what many had assumed would be career-long vocations, lawyers also find themselves playing job-hunt advisor, financial strategist and psychologist. Living in a region built on a bedrock of stable federal jobs, D.C.-area feds are particularly ill-equipped for the turmoil that hits private-sector industries more often.

As the lions share of federal reductions in force have yet to happen, the sorts of reactions the employment lawyers are seeing also offers an early sense of what the capital may experience as the Trump job cuts go into full effect. Right now, a reported 154,000 departing feds are still being paid under the fork-in-the-road deferred resignation plan. But that will end next month.

I kind of expected more anger and was surprised that it was more just a deep, deep sadness, said Jessica Samuels, a former Justice Department litigator who now working with Bailey on class-action suits on behalf of employees ousted from the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Theres a deep grief on behalf of these people who have poured their heart and soul into these careers that arent going to be there anymore.

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Thats a feeling that will be familiar in parts of the country where once-robust manufacturing industries cratered in the late 20th century. Since cities like Washington prospered even as the rust belt struggled, there likely wont be a lot of sympathy for people going through the same thing.

Another cohort wonders whether they should even push back. Theres a very destructive thing where a lot of people are saying, Do I really want my job back?, which is really what [administration leaders] want, said Greenfield. She said she counsels against this because she thinks the chaotic terminations often mean people have pretty good cases if they want to be reinstated.

All the same, Rapp-Tully, whos been in the field awhile, cautions against thinking of the administration as a gang who cant shoot straight.

What I thought months ago is we would see a huge influx of RIFs, quickly done and with a lot of error, she said. Instead, we saw two rounds of the [deferred resignation program]. We saw many emails that said RIFs are coming, resign now, get out. But if youre looking at the whole federal government, there are not a lot of actual RIFs, which tells me that the administration is aware that these are things that get litigated.  They keep telling us it's coming, but not every agency has had one yet. That tells me that many agencies are taking that into consideration and trying to work through that process.

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Which isnt to say there wont be grounds to litigate when the biggest RIFs come.

It's a very complicated process, Rapp-Tully said. So even when you are trying to do it correctly, there still are many opportunities to make mistakes.
A veteran Washington Post columnist who quit the newspaper last month has spoken out against owner Jeff Bezos's Trump-friendly transformation of the opinion pages.

Jonathan Capehart, who joined the Post in 2007 and served on its editorial board until 2023, said on MSNBC on Friday that he had chosen to leave because the new demand for "unapologetically patriotic" articles left "[no] room for a voice like mine".

He was among several high-profile journalists and editors who accepted a buyout offered by the Post's new CEO William Lewis to any employees who "do not feel aligned" with Bezos's new order.

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The news comes after the Amazon founder and chairman decreed this February that the Post's opinion pages would now pivot to supporting "personal liberties and free markets", while excluding any contrary views.

Asked on air why he had chosen to leave, Capehart said that Bezos  who had a prominent seat at Donald Trump's inauguration and is currently the world's fourth richest person, according to Forbes  had the "right" to make those changes but that they left no space for his perspective.

Jonathan Capehart, who had been with the Washington Post since 2007 and previously served on the paper's editorial board (NBC)

"It became clear, as time went along, and especially when he chose a new leader for the section, that there was just not going to be any room for a voice like mine, especially when we were told that we would have to be unapologetically patriotic in talking about the positive things happening in the country," Capehart said.

"How can you talk about the positive things happening in the country when the rest of the house is engulfed in flames and the foundation is flooding? he asked.

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"I wanted to go someplace where my voice would be heard."

By "new leader", Capehart was referring to the paper's new opinion editor Adam O'Neal, who vowed in June to publish "unapologetically patriotic" articles "rooted in fundamental optimism about the future of this country".

Capehart had previously quit the Posts editorial board in 2023 after an editorial that he felt minimized systemic racism was published over his objections. At the time, he was the boards only Black member.

When Bezos bought the 147-year-old newspaper in 2013, he promised that its "values... [did] not need changing" and that it would not be beholden "to the private interests of its owners".

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"I wont be leading The Washington Post day-to-day," he added.

That all changed starting in October 2024, 11 days before election day, when Bezos reportedly intervened personally in order to block the editorial board's planned endorsement of Kamala Harris, breaking with decades of tradition.

Since then there has been an exodus of longtime workers, with many complaining that they were subject to increased editorial meddling or even directly blocked from criticizing Bezos.

"I believe we face a very real threat of autocracy in the candidacy of Donald Trump. I find it untenable and unconscionable that we have lost our voice at this perilous moment," wrote former editorial board member and Pulitzer Prize winner David Hoffman when he resigned last October.

The Washington Post has been asked for comment.
Tuesdays primary elections in King County will include a position that hasnt been on the ballot for more than a decade.

Seven candidates are vying for King County Executive, one of the highest-ranking elected offices in the county, which guides policy and budget.

It will mark the first time since 2009 that the County Executive position is on the ballot. Current CEO of Sound Transit, Dow Constantine, held the King County Executive seat for fifteen years before stepping down on March 27 to become the public transit companys chief executive.

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The seven candidates aiming to succeed current County Executive Shannon Braddock are:

Claudia Balducci

Girmay Zahilay

Amiya Ingram

Bill Hirt

Don L Rivers

Derek Chartrand

Rebecca Williamson

Who are the candidates?

Claudia Balducci

Photo: King County

Balducci is the former mayor of Bellevue and currently serves on the King County Council, focusing on transportation accessibility and safety, as well as creating an affordable housing task force that established housing projects on the east side of the county, according to kingcounty.gov.

As County Executive, Balducci says she plans to focus on housing affordability, crisis intervention, transit safety, and expanding mental health services, according to her campaign website.

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She has been endorsed by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, the Seattle Times Editorial Board, and the SEIU Local 925 Union.

Balducci has raised $713,000 for her campaign.

Girmay Zahilay

Photo: King County

Zahllay is a former attorney who currently serves as the Chair of the King County Council and sits on the Sound Transit board. He has been endorsed by Governor Bob Ferguson, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and Attorney General Nick Brown, according to KingCounty.gov.

As Chair of the King County Council, he has worked to develop crisis care centers, affordable housing, and gun violence prevention strategies.

His policy plan is focused on building affordable housing, reducing gun violence, supporting small businesses, and expanding access to behavioral health programs, according to his campaign website.

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His campaign has raised $905,700.

Amiya Ingram

Photo: Amiya Ingram for King County

A former cybersecurity analyst and Microsoft AI employee, Ingram is proposing to offer up to $1,000 monthly stipends for small businesses, converting retired train cars and buses into transient housing, and bolstering background checks for gun purchases.

Imgram has raised $13,090 for her campaign, according to the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC).

Bill Hirt

Photo: King County

Hirt is retired after working at Boeing for 36 years. His primary campaign platform is reducing spending for Sound Transit projects. Hirt has proposed to stop the East Link light rail program and claims it will not ease congestion on I-5, according to his website.

Don L Rivers

Photo: King County

Rivers is retired after working for King County Metro and has served as an adviser for community and law enforcement officials in Washington State, according to his campaign website.

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His policy proposals for County Executive include investing in affordable housing, increasing public safety by fostering relationships between law enforcement and members of the community, as well as investing in local businesses, his campaign website says.

Rivers has raised $4,500 for his campaign.

Derek Chartrand

Photo: King County

Chartrand is a manufacturing manager and former president of the Washington Trucking Association, according to KingCounty.gov.

He is running on decreasing county spending, funding law enforcement, reducing crime, and building homeless shelters to remove encampments, according to his campaign.

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Chartrand has raised $8,000 for his campaign.

Rebecca Williamson

Photo: King County

Williamson is a freight rail conductor, and she highlights her twenty-five years of experience as a member of a union.

She is running on supporting working-class voters, raising wages, building affordable housing, and proposing a shorter work week for public works employees, according to KingCounty.gov.
For Washingtons Aug. 5 Primary Election, the race for Seattle mayor will look a little crowded on voters ballots.

Eight hopefuls, including current mayor Bruce Harrell who is seeking re-election, will appear on the ballot.

The two hopefuls with the highest number of votes in their respective races will move on to the General Election in November.

Though the election is non-partisan, most candidates publicly lean to the Democratic party.

Who are the candidates for Seattle City Mayor?

Ry Armstrong

Ry Armstrong is a labor organizer and non-profit co-executive at Sustainable Seattle.

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According to Armstrongs website, their priorities if elected are building more housing, investing in safety, workers rights, and affordable child care for all.

Armstrong has been endorsed by organizations like LPAC, Run for Something and the National Womens Political Caucus of Washington, among others.

Statement: We live in one of the wealthiest cities in history, yet people are still homeless. This is a choice made by our leaders. Born and raised here, I know what this city needs to be for its people, and Im tired of broken promises from career politicians who are all talk and no action.

I am a labor organizer and nonprofit executive who believes Seattle has a future worth fighting for. I will deliver bold, practical leadership that puts working families, renters, and small businesses at the center of policy decisions. Ive spent years organizing with unions and currently serve as an elected National Councilor for the AFL-CIO-affiliated Actors Equity Association, representing over 50,000 unionized creative economy workers in the fight for living wages, workplace safety, and benefits. As Co-Executive Director of Sustainable Seattle, my days are spent managing a multi-million-dollar budget that allows us to fight for environmental justice in our community.

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To address our livability crisis, Ill prioritize building affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing while safeguarding Seattleites from displacement, including further social housing investments and expanding affordable childcare. To solve homelessness, I will add 1,000 shelter beds in my first 100 days while simultaneously investing in data-driven, long-term wraparound solutions. To improve our citys public safety, I believe in refocusing our efforts on providing the right response to promptly address the needs of our neighbors, so we can help people instead of perpetuating a broken system.

Lets build a Seattle that listens to everyone and leads with compassion. This election is an unapologetic fight for not One Seattle, but all of Seattle.

Real change takes real courage. I ask for your vote to build a city that works for all of us.

Read more about the candidate on their website here.

Clinton Bliss

Dr. Clinton Bill is a small business owner and Primary Care Physician in Wallingford.

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His stated top priorities include restoring public safety and civility, using public funds to benefit all, and ending economic favoritism in government.

Statement: Hello, I am Doctor Bliss, a primary care physician in Seattle and small business owner. Our business values are Quality, Compassion, Service, and Integrity and you can see them reflected in our Google reviews. I have a lifetime of leadership and public service.

I am running for mayor to end the tearing down of our lives, families, country and our system of governance and replace these with a new paradigm of positive change.

One of our biggest problems is that we blame each other for problems that are based on our system of economic inequality and favoritism in our government, our courts and our schools. Our system of legalized bribery of public officials through campaign donations followed by payback with public funds is inherently unjust and wasteful. When we rectify this problem, there will be less waste, more cooperation, and real representative government.

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My top priorities are to restore public safety and civility, use public funds to benefit all, and end economic favoritism in government. My campaign does not rely on donations from any group or business and is entirely volunteer driven so I am free to fully represent you the voter. If elected I would work to:

Build shelter space so anyone experiencing homelessness has somewhere to go; help those struggling with addiction and mental illness; arrest criminals; end graffiti; end the wasteful and ineffective war on drugs; use our libraries and community centers as a resource for students where our public schools fail to educate; create zoning that values density, green spaces, planting trees, and mixed use with close proximity of housing, businesses and shopping; and, last but not least, replace noisy, dirty, and unsafe transportation with clean, quiet affordable transportation now!

Read more about the candidate on their website here.

Bruce Harrell, incumbent

Harrell has said that he was to continue working on public safety, and will continue work on addressing housing affordability and issues faced by small business owners.

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He has been endorsed by Gov. Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown and three former Democratic governors, among others.

Statement: With your support, we will continue overcoming challenges and building a brighter, more equitable future. Since 2022, weve helped thousands of vulnerable people access housing and shelter supporting an 80% reduction in unauthorized tent encampments citywide. Crime rates are lower, were rebuilding police staffing, and CARE Department responders trained in de-escalation are assisting people in crisis. Weve made unprecedented investments in affordable housing, climate action, transit and transportation. Lets keep working together for a stronger, united Seattle.

I am a Seattle Public Schools and UW graduate, lifelong Seattle resident, and father deeply committed to the diversity and dynamism of our city. With your vote Ill continue to focus on outcomes, make no excuses, and seek bold, transformative change.

I am committed to action on housing directing over $1 billion to create thousands of affordable homes, and improve supportive housing availability and staffing. Ive eliminated barriers to housing construction, and passed nation-leading Green Building standards. I will continue working for affordable communities, while connecting unsheltered neighbors with resources.

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Ill keep improving public safety having delivered on promises to establish an unarmed behavioral health response unit, hire more and more diverse officers, reduce response times, and crack down on drug trafficking. A lifelong advocate for youth, Im committed to reducing gun violence in our schools and communities. Moving forward, we will accelerate programs that keep us safe and healthy.

I will continue protecting Seattle challenging Trump administration efforts to disrupt Seattles stance as a welcoming city for immigrants, LGBTQ, and BIPOC communities. Ill ensure our rights and laws are respected.

Endorsements: Governor Ferguson; Attorney General Brown; Senator Cantwell; Congressmembers Jayapal, Smith, Strickland; former Governors Inslee, Locke, Gregoire; MLK Labor, Building Trades, ATU 587, Machinists 751, Seattle Fire Fighters; Environmental and Housing leaders; Transportation4Washington; WA Bikes, and more!

Read more about the candidate on his website here.

Joe Mallahan

As a former Senior Executive at T-Mobile and a UW Alum, Joe Mallahan hopes to improve public safety, reduce homelessness, and improve affordability.

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Statement: Seattle is a city with strong valuesbut city government has fallen behind on acting on those values. Im running for Mayor because I believe we can live up to our ideals. With a highly efficient city government, Seattle can be a progressive model for the nationan alternative to the chaos and cruelty of MAGA politics.

As Mayor, Ill make the city work for all of us. We need to vastly improve public safety, and we need civilian oversight of our police department. Ill complete 50 patrol ride-alongs in my first year to get grounded in the realities of public safety.

We need to improve affordability and radically reduce homelessness. Ill cut red tape that delays building housing, invest in projects that serve working families, and leverage federal tax credits to build affordable homes faster. I will expand access to mental health and addiction treatment, and I will deliver 5,000 more emergency shelter beds within my first yearyou cant treat addiction and mental health when people are living on the streets.

I have always been a change agent. As a business president, I turned around two different mid-size businesses by working shoulder-to-shoulder with frontline employees. As a VP at T-Mobile, I transformed how we served millions of low-income customers by listening to frontline employees and driving bold innovation. And as a community organizer, I brought people together to solve big urban problems.

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I care deeply about Seattle and the people who call it home. We can tackle homelessness with compassion and accountability. We can reform public safety with urgency and integrity. And we can make Seattle affordable againwithout sacrificing who we are.

I would be honored to earn your vote. Joe Mallahan

Read more about the candidate on his website here.

Joe Molloy

Joe Molloy is a self-proclaimed housing and disability advocate with a Bachelors degree in Public Administration, with a Concentration in Community Development. He was previously employed as an Operations Manager, Current Concessions at T-Mobile Park.

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Statement: Im Joe Molloy  a housing and disability advocate, a visionary systems-thinker, and a leader shaped by lived experience on the frontlines of broken systems. Im not a career politician, but a public servant  running for Mayor with a profound sense of urgency and purpose.

I moved to Seattle with intention  believing it to be one of the few places in the world where people like me could fully be themselves. Many of us came here drawn by that same promise. But the truth is clear: our systems dont reflect our values. Not yet. I believe they can  if we are brave, willing, and committed to real change.

This campaign isnt just about ending homelessness. Its about making sure the possibility of becoming homeless no longer exists. That means building a city with universal access to housing, health care, crisis response, and social support  a city that works for all of us.

Seattle can be the first city in the nation to eliminate homelessness  and show the world how its done. When we do that, we dont just solve one crisis. We build a foundation for a safe, sustainable, and thriving future.

I have lived the consequences of our citys and our nations broken systems  from housing to health care to public safety. That lived experience informs my leadership and drives my clarity of vision. Our campaign is here to transform that pain into policy, and build systems rooted in dignity, equity, and care.

This is not just about policy  its about purpose. Seattle is ready for leadership that knows the stakes, sees the path forward, and refuses to leave anyone behind.

Read more about the candidate on his website here.

Thaddeus Whelan

As a Management Program Analyst for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Thaddeus Whelan has a background in Army Intelligence and a B.A. from the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

He hopes to focus on affordable housing, public transit, safety, and security for Seattle.

Statement: Seattle, much like the rest of the nation, is going through a crisis of identity in the modern era. Even as corporate profits soar, the people of the city see none of the benefits as they are priced out of their homes, further isolated by lessened public transit, and depressed by a system that seemingly isnt interested in caring for them. We have to decide if we are going to be a city for the richest among us or for everyone, and I wholeheartedly choose the latter.

I am running for Mayor for many reasons, but my overall goal is one of service. Ive spent my entire young life in service to the people, and I see this as a continuation of that aim. I want to build a city that welcomes its citizens with affordable housing, robust public transit, safety, and security in the future for both them and their family.

That means attacking housing costs problems at their source; supply. It means expansion of the Light Rail and bus routes faster than ever before. It means holding our public safety and government entities to a higher standard. It means supporting and expanding the personal liberties of the citizens of Seattle, and protecting them and their rights from being infringed upon, whether that be from the federal government or their landlord.

For far too long we have been forced to treat our government with contempt, hoping that the decisions made by them dont hurt us too much. Its time we flipped that paradigm, and fight for every inch we can get for our people.

Its time to believe in something better. Its time to believe in Seattle.

Read more about the candidate on his website here.

Isaiah Willoughby

Isaiah Willoughby is an entrepreneur who is running on a platform of restoring power to the people. He hopes to rely on transparency, grassroots collaboration, and data-driven solutions to champion affordable housing, public safety, and an economy that uplifts working families and small businesses.

Statement: My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.

This passage from Isaiah 42 not only anchors my faithit shapes my calling. Like the servant described in this scripture, I am moved by a deep purpose: to bring justice to our city, to uplift those who feel unheard, and to walk in humility and strength as a light in challenging times. My campaign is rooted in these valuescompassion, courage, and a steadfast commitment to the people of Seattle.

Im Isaiah Willoughby, and Im running for Mayor of Seattle to restore power to the peoplewhere it rightfully belongs.

As a graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Real Estate from North Seattle College, I bring both lived experience and technical knowledge to tackle one of our citys greatest challenges: housing. I understand the systems, the barriers, and the opportunitiesand Im ready to use that insight to create real, lasting change.

My mission is to build a city that works for everyone, not just the well-connected few. Through transparency, grassroots collaboration, and data-driven solutions, I will champion: Housing thats truly affordable; Public safety rooted in community trust; A city economy that uplifts working families and small businesses

This campaign is more than a bid for officeits a movement. A movement to make government accountable, accessible, and responsive to the voices of everyday residents of Seattle. With The Peoples Voice as our banner, we will ensure that policy decisions are shaped not in backrooms, but in open forumsby the people, for the people. Together, we will lead Seattle toward a just, vibrant, and inclusive futureone where justice flows like a river, and the voices of the overlooked are heard and empowered.

Read more about the candidate on his website here.

Katie Wilson

Katie Wilson is the founder and Executive Director of the Transit Riders Union. She studied physics and philosophy at Oxford University before moving to Seattle in 2004.

Since moving to Seattle, Wilson has led campaigns to raise the minimum wage and win stronger renter protections across Seattle, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, Burien, SeaTac, Shoreline, Tukwila, and unincorporated King County.

Her platform includes tackling skyrocketing living costs, homelessness, public safety, and Trumps cruel and chaotic attacks.

Statement: Career politicians want to protect the status quo, but its clear the status quo isnt working. Seattle is a great city, but its becoming less livable. Working families are struggling. More people are unsheltered than ever before. We deserve a mayor whos not distracted by cronyism and scandals, one who will focus on tackling the major challenges Seattle faces: skyrocketing living costs, homelessness, public safety, and Trumps cruel and chaotic attacks.

This is your city  and we can do better.

Ive spent my career fighting alongside the people who make our city run to win major victories for working families: the highest minimum wage in the country, stronger protections for renters, affordable fares for transit riders, and the landmark JumpStart tax on wealthy corporations, which prevented devastating cuts during the pandemic.

As your mayor, Ill create 4,000 units of emergency housing to reduce unsheltered homelessness. Ill invest in alternatives to police response for nonviolent calls so SPD can focus on serious crime. Ill expand mental health and addiction treatment. Ill support small businesses and create good, green jobs. Ill build on the gains weve made for our citys workers, and raise new progressive revenue to protect vulnerable communities from Trumps cuts. Voters have twice supported social housing, by a landslide; Seattle deserves a mayor who will work to make it successful, not undermine it.

Seattle can have abundant and affordable housing, great public spaces, high-quality schools, world-class mass transit, and vibrant neighborhoods. You shouldnt need a six-figure income to feel at home here. This is your city  a city that we can build, together.

With your vote, we can have a true champion for working families and a coalition-builder in the mayors office. Endorsed by King County Democrats, UAW 4121, and many more listed at wilsonforseattle.com/endorse.

Read more about the candidate on his website here.

When do polls close?

You can check your voter registration status here.

If you are registered to vote, your ballot will be mailed to you automatically.

Typically, you will have until 8 p.m. on Primary Election day to either have your ballot postmarked or dropped off in one of the ballot drop boxes.
A Japanese woman living in China was attacked and injured by a man in a Suzhou subway station, Japanese media outlets said, hours after two Chinese men were seriously injured in violence in Tokyo.

The attacks last week raised concern about xenophobic sentiment in both China and Japan that have been blamed for assaults in both countries. It was the third attack involving Japanese living in China since last year. In the two previous cases in China, Chinese authorities have insisted they were isolated incidents.

The Japanese broadcaster NHK did not identify the woman injured in Suzhou by name but, citing the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai, said she was with her child inside a subway station when the attack took place. The child was not injured, and the mother had returned home after reportedly getting treated at a hospital, NHK reported.

A phone call to the Suzhou Police went unanswered on Friday evening, and the local police were yet to release any official statement. But the Japanese news agency Kyodo said the suspect had been detained.

In Tokyo Thursday, two Chinese men were seriously injured in attacks, and four male assailants wielding unspecified weapons remained at large, according to a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Japan. The identities of the assailants were unclear.

The Chinese Embassy urged the Japanese authorities to take action to catch the assailants in the Tokyo attack and to ensure the safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens in Japan in response to the recent surge in xenophobic sentiment in Japanese society.

In southern China last September, a 10-year-old Japanese student died after being stabbed by a Chinese man not far from the gate of the Shenzhen Japanese School in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. The man was sentenced to death.

In June 2024, a Japanese woman and her child were injured in an attack by a Chinese man, also in Suzhou. A Chinese bus attendant who tried to protect them from the attack was killed. The man was sentenced to death.

On Friday, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China called for Chinese authorities to ensure Japanese citizens safety and security in China.

It is extremely regrettable that such an incident has happened again. Ensuring the safety of employees and their families is fundamental for doing business in China, the statement said.

FU TING, MDT/AP

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Editors Note: You can watch the full video in its entirety by clicking here. Viewer discretion is advised.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Rochester police have released the bodycam footage of officers shooting and killing an armed man on Ernestine Street.

The footage from July 31 shows officers following a man in red as they try to restrain him, which results in one of the officers being knocked down. The individual was seen with at least one of his hands in his hoodie pockets.

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Officers were heard asking what was in his hand. It appears he pulls something out of his pocket as the officers yell at him to put the gun down before officers fired shots at the suspect, causing him to fall. RPD said the man pulled a handgun out of his pocket.

The officers approached the man, handcuffed him, and said he had been hit in the chest. One officer said about two or three shots were fired. A handgun can be seen on the ground before the video cuts off, saying Medical aid starts to be administered.

Part of the footage did not have audio until the officer was seen getting off the ground. RPD says the cameras feature pre-event recording that captures 30 seconds of soundless footage before activation.

According to RPD, there were reports of a suspicious person on Ernestine Street and Milton Street. The reports alleged a man was walking on the deck of a home, wandered from door to door, tried getting into a car, and sat on the hood of a car.

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Police said they found the suspect on Ernestine Street and attempted to stop him. After a confrontation, the suspect allegedly pulled a loaded gun from his pocket and refused to comply with demands to drop it. The officers fired their handguns and struck him multiple times.

Aid was rendered at the scene, but the man was pronounced dead. Nobody else was injured as a result, and a loaded handgun was recovered. Two of the officers involved were placed on administrative leave.

Rochester Police Accountability Board Executive Director Dr. Lesli Myers-Small responded to the release of the footage, calling it a tragic loss.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family and community affected by the fatal police shooting in the 19th Ward on July 31st. This is a tragic loss, and we remain committed to transparency and accountability. We recognize the ongoing investigations by the Rochester Police Department and the New York State Attorney Generals Office. Body-worn camera footage and witness accounts will be key to understanding what occurred. During this time, the Police Accountability Board remains a resource for the community providing information, listening to concerns, and helping residents navigate this difficult moment. We will continue to monitor developments and support access to information. Anyone with relevant details is encouraged to come forward to assist the investigation. PAB Executive Director Dr. Lesli Myers-Small



Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SENECA ROCKS, W.Va. (WBOY)  A climber fell from Seneca Rocks on Saturday and was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital with injuries.

The person fell around 2:20 p.m. on Aug. 2 while rock climbing in a remote area of Pendleton County, West Virginia, at the base of the famous Seneca Rocks, according to a press release form the Maryland State Police. Because the area was so remote and because of the nature of their injuries, the Maryland State Police (MSP) Aviation Command was requested to rescue the injured climber.

West Virginia first responders cared for the patient on the ground while the MSP Trooper 5 flight crew lowered a rescue technician down through a gap in the trees.

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PHOTOS: Train derailment closes multiple crossings in St. Albans overnight

A video shared by Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides/Tom Cecil that can be watched in the player above shows the climber being hoisted up to the helicopter.

Helicopter rescue at Seneca Rocks on Aug. 2, 2025 (Courtesy: Tom Cecil/Senecarocks.com) Seneca Rocks rescue on Aug. 2, 2025 (Courtesy) Seneca Rocks rescue on Aug. 2, 2025 (Courtesy)

The patient was transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital. Details about their condition have not been released.

Editors note: This article has been updated to correct information regarding the date of the incident.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
A power outage turned one Wawa store into a walk-in fridge full of trash.

What's happening?

A Reddit post ignited frustration over food waste at convenience stores after a Wawa employee shared the aftermath of a power outage that forced their store to toss all perishable goods.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Photo Credit: Reddit

"So much food wasted," the post reads, blaming a tractor-trailer for knocking out the power.

The employee said the store lost power around 8 a.m. and wasn't restored until 8 p.m.  during which refrigerators lost their chill, causing full crates of drinks, deli meats, and prepared foods to be deemed unsafe and discarded.

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The store, located in Pennsylvania, had to discard crates of food due to temperature safety concerns, despite the original poster reporting that employees sat around for hours before the cleanup began.

"We sat around all day and even DoorDashed food and then proceeded to throw away thousands of dollars in food," the employee said in a comment.

Why is food waste important?

Food waste from power outages like this one reflects a larger environmental crisis.

In the U.S., up to 40% of all food is wasted, in turn wasting the resources it took to grow, process, and transport that food. Increased waste also means increased methane emissions from landfills, which are linked to rising global temperatures. When large businesses like Wawa are forced to throw away mass quantities of food after outages, the waste not only adds to carbon emissions, but it also represents a missed opportunity to donate edible goods or compost perishables, both of which can soften the blow to the planet.

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In this case, the food may have been too unsafe to donate, which is a real concern when dealing with unrefrigerated meats or dairy. But employees' comments suggest some goods may have been discarded preemptively.

"It sucks to waste so much food," said one commenter. "There needs to be an emergency line to call to pickup food so we can donate it or store it in a dairy truck temporarily."

Is Wawa doing anything about this?

While Wawa does tout local donations and sustainability, there is little publicly available information about how it handles spoilage during emergencies like power outages.

Unlike Trader Joe's, which has partnered with local food banks to donate food after power loss, or Kroger, which has donated refrigerated goods during storms, Wawa has not been spotlighted for adopting similar post-outage recovery efforts.

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That said, the company's ability to act may depend on local health regulations, which often prevent the donation of food that has sat unrefrigerated for several hours. This makes proactive planning, like having backup generators or donation partners in place, really important.

What's being done about food waste more broadly?

Several major grocery and convenience chains have created structured donation programs and emergency food rescue plans for when outages or overstock lead to surplus or unsellable products.

For businesses like Wawa, solutions could include installing backup generators to maintain safe temperatures during outages, pre-arranging partnerships with local food rescue organizations or shelters, or training staff to distinguish food that must be discarded versus items safe for donation or employee consumption.

Everyday consumers can also help by supporting businesses that prioritize food waste reduction and pushing for policies that protect and enable food donations, even in emergency situations.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
A fire burns in Sand Hollow State Park after a man abandoned a burning ATV on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue)

A number of new fires started over the weekend in already smokey Utah, bringing the summers total to 717 blazes, the majority of them human-caused.

On Friday, the Little Cottonwood Fire was reported along Johns Valley Road in Garfield County, burning about 20 acres on state-owned land before it was suppressed. Officials say it was human-caused, possibly from roadside sparks, dragging chains or other vehicle maintenance issues.

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On Saturday, a glider crashed into Mahogany Mountain in Mountain Green, located in Morgan County, killing the pilot and sparking a fire at 7,000 feet, according to the Mountain Green Fire Protection District. After working until about 1:30 a.m., crews were able to hold the fire to about 3 acres.

That same day, a 32-year-old man was arrested for abandoning a fire, a class A misdemeanor, and driving under the influence, a class B misdemeanor, after police say he abandoned an ATV that had caught fire at Sand Hollow State Park, according to an affidavit filed by the Washington County Sheriffs Office. The incident resulted in a 3.5-acre fire.

On Sunday, a grass fire in Tremonton nearly took out several structures before the Garland and Tremonton fire departments were able to contain it. The 2-acre fire was sparked by someone welding in dry grass.

On Monday, officials worked to evacuate American Fork Canyon in Utah County following a fire that had grown to about a quarter-acre. Tibble Fork Reservoir, the nearby campgrounds and summer home areas had all been evacuated Monday. The fire was reported at about 7 a.m., and the cause is under investigation.

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All that comes as the state is dealing with several large fires and a red flag warning that conditions could worsen as the week goes on. The red flag warning  issued during periods of hot, dry and windy weather  remains in effect until Wednesday for most of Utah, excluding the eastern part of the state along the Colorado border, and parts of Tooele and Box Elder counties.

Utah has seen at least 717 fires this year, 495 of them caused by humans. At least 135 fires were determined to be natural, and the remaining 87 are unknown or still under investigation. A total of 140,416 acres have burned.

Utahs largest fire this year is the Monroe Canyon Fire, burning at 62,700 acres in between Interstate 70 and state Route 24 in the Richfield area. More than 1,500 firefighters are working around the clock to control the fire, which as of Monday is only 13% contained. At least seven structures have been destroyed.

This is a big one. Its been a long time since weve had a big one like this. The odds of us putting it out anytime soon are pretty low, just to be honest. We know that the forecast is not great right now, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Friday.

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Over the weekend, crews made progress fighting the Little Pole Fire in Box Elder County, which is now 90% and 461 acres. The Deer Creek Fire, which is estimated at 17,724 acres along the Utah-Colorado border in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, is also now 95% contained.

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A 20-foot-long Minke whale has died after it collided and nearly capsized a pleasure boat in New Jersey's Barnegat Bay on Saturday, an incident that knocked one boater overboard, officials said.

The scary wildlife encounter unfolded in an area north of the Double Creek Channel in Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, officials said.

"At approximately 3:40 p.m., a boater in the area reported that a vessel had struck the whale, causing the vessel to nearly capsize and a passenger to go overboard," according to a statement from the New jersey Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC).

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The person who was knocked into the water was not injured, officials said.

Kim Mancini of Lacey Township told ABC Philadelphia station WPVI that she witnessed the incident and recorded video of the distressed Minke whale coming up under the boat and nearly tipping it over.

Mancini told WPVI that there appeared to be something visibly wrong with the mammal.

Whale tips boat, knocking woman into Barnegat Bay https://t.co/StuSDU0pkO  Action News on 6abc (@6abc) August 3, 2025

"It was really in distress. That's when it would go under boats, it was a crazy experience," Mancini said.

Mancini said it appeared the whale was trying desperately to get to deeper water.

MORE: Marine researchers concerned over uptick in whale deaths in San Francisco Bay Area

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The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said that about 50 minutes before the accident, it received a call that a whale had been spotted in Barnegat Bay near the inlet. Staff from the center, the Coast Guard, New Jersey Marine Police and the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers responded to the area.

Officials said that after the collision, the whale was spotted resting on a sandbar in shallow water.

MORE: 6 gray whales have died in San Francisco in the past week as authorities scramble for answers

An MMSC employee and Fish and Wildlife officers approached the whale by boat but could only get within 30 yards of the mammal. Tidal conditions at the time prevented them from reaching the sandbar to examine the whale, officials said.

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The whale was later pronounced dead on the sandbar, according to MMSC.

Officials said they will try again on Monday to move the whale with the help of Sea Tow, a boat towing company. MMSC said a necropsy will be preformed to determine an exact cause of death.

Meanwhile, MMSC is advising boaters to keep minimum of 150 feet away from the whale carcass.
The Wilson County  Tennessee State Fair will debut a long-awaited attraction in 2025 as one of two new rides that show the sky as no limit after shattering attendance records a year ago.

The 2024 fair drew more than 861,000 people, and organizers are hopeful the continued growth streak continues this year.

The new TN Lift Sky Ride is expected to be ready when the fairs 10-day run begins Aug. 14.

Lightning is another ride billed as the fairs tallest ride ever when the festivities launch this year. Here's a look at what attendees can expect in 2025:

A new sky ride is part of the 2025 Wilson County Fair  Tennessee State Fair.

TN Lift Sky Ride

Wilson County Promotions reached an agreement with Reithoffer Shows in 2023 with tentative hopes to be ready in time for last years fair, but the timetable wasn't feasible. The sky ride is ready now and has been tested with volunteers.

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The ride operates like a ski lift with seats that are suspended in the air.

It reaches 40 feet at its highest point and spans 1,050 feet. The sky ride has 70 chairs that can seat two people each for 140 total riders at any time and provides a birds eye view of the fairgrounds. The ride can also be used as air transportation and getting from one side of the fairgrounds to the other.

Its going to be a ride for babies all the way to 100-year-olds, Wilson County  Tennessee State Fair President Randall Clemons said. Everyone can see from the air the whole complex  Its a family event where a parent and a child, a boyfriend and girlfriend, can ride. Its something that appeals to all ages.

Lightning is a new ride scheduled to be at the 2025 Wilson County  Tennessee State Fair.

Lightning and other new adult rides

A thrill ride with rotating arms like a windmill is classified as a super spectacular thrill that goes 131 feet into the air. The ride for eight riders is crafted by Fabbri in Italy.

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Joker is another new ride adult ride that has four arms, each with four cars arranged on a circular disc that tilts while the arms rotate.

Joker is one a new ride scheduled to be at the 2025 Wilson County  Tennessee State Fair starting Aug. 14.

New kiddie rides

Four new kiddie rides include Samba Balloon will consists of four hot air balloon cars that gently rise and fall in a circular motion while floating through the air. The Red Baron is likened to an airplane ride and Star Jet features space jets. Treasure Island offers a walk-through obstacle course.

What returns

Reithoffer Shows is returning as carnival operator.

They will bring 63 rides to the fair this year.

The Euro Slide returns as one of the fairs most popular carnival attractions. Hulk, Sky Flyer and Galaxy Coaster are among other rides returning.

Carnival hours

4-11 p.m., Monday-Thursday

4 p.m.-midnight Fridays

10 a.m.-midnight Saturdays and noon-11 p.m., Sunday.

More than 860,000 attended the Wilson County  Tennessee State Fair in 2024.

2025 Wilson County  Tennessee State Fair

When: Aug. 14-23

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Where: James E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon.

Agricultural commodity: Year of Pork.

Theme: Goin Hog Wild & Bacon Memories at the Fair.

Hours: Gates open at 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m., Saturdays and noon on Sunday. Buildings and exhibits close around 10 p.m. Rides close around midnight or 1 a.m., on the weekdays and usually earlier depending on demand during the week.

Venue: James E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon.

Tennessee State Fair tickets

Daily gate admission: Adults  $15. Ages 6-12  $6. 5-under  free. Daily gate admission is available for $13.50 if purchased online by Aug. 13.

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Season tickets: $45.

Mega ticket: $30 and includes one admission ticket and one ride armband good for any day at the fair. Must be purchased by Aug. 13.

Rides: Armband Monday-Thursday  $25. Sunday and Fridays  $30. Saturdays  Individual ride tickets only. Sky Ride (tickets sold separately  $10 roundtrip, $8 one-way. Euro Slide (tickets sold separately  $5 for one ride and $10 for three rides.

Specials: Opening Day $10 for adults and $3 for ages 6-12. $1 per ride with $10 sheet of tickets. No ride armbands sold. Aug. 19 is Tuesday Senior Day: Ages 60 and up  $10 admission. Last Saturday Ford Day (Aug. 23)  $2 off admission for adults only with a Ford hat and/or keychain present.

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Check back at Tennessean.com as The Tennessean provides more updates on what you need to know about this year's Wilson County  Tennessee State Fair.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What's new at the 2025 Wilson County Tennessee State Fair
White House attorneys have denied that the Department of Homeland Security gave ICE agents specific targets for immigrant arrests, despite previous statements from senior advisor Stephen Miller.

In a court filing last week, reported by The Guardian, lawyers said that although an advisor may have made the remarks, that no such goal has been set as a matter of policy, and no such directive has been issued to or by DHS or ICE.

Miller told Fox News in June that agents had been set a target of a minimum of 3,000 arrests a day, as well as reportedly advising officials to target community hubs, Home Depot parking lots and 7-Eleven convenience stores to find suspects, according to The Wall Street Journal.

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A report in Axios also detailed a tense meeting attended by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Miller in late May, in which they told senior ICE agents to supercharge arrests in order to hit the 3,000 target.

DHS has confirmed that neither ICE leadership nor its field offices have been directed to meet any numerical quota or target for arrests, detentions, removals, field encounters, or any other operational activities that ICE or its components undertake in the course of enforcing federal immigration law, the court filing read.

White House attorneys have denied that the Department of Homeland Security gave ICE agents specific targets for immigrant arrests, despite previous statements from senior advisor Stephen Miller (Getty)

[The] allegation that the government maintains a policy mandating 3,000 arrests per day appears to originate from media reports quoting a White House advisor who described that figure as a goal that the Administration was looking to set.

That quotation may have been accurate, but no such goal has been set as a matter of policy, and no such directive has been issued to or by DHS or ICE.

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The filing added that, while enforcement of federal immigration law was top priority for DHS, ICE, and the Administration, that all government enforcement activities were based on individualized assessments, available resources, and evolving operational priorities  not volume metrics.

Despite this claim, the WSJ previously reported that Miller had asked top ICE officials in June if they believed it was possible to reach one million deportations by the end of the year, citing people with knowledge of the meeting.

Workers stand handcuffed after being arrested by ICE agents at Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel and Casino in Calcasieu Parish, near Vinton, Louisiana. Miller told Fox News in June that agents had been set a target of a minimum of 3,000 arrests a day (AP)

To achieve this, he told law enforcement to just go out there and arrest illegal aliens, the outlet reported.

However, such a hardline stance has been defended previously by the Trump administration, including Donald Trumps border czar Tom Homan.

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Last month Homan said that although public safety threats were a priority, those who were in the country illegally were not off the table, in regards to deportation. Were gonna enforce immigration law, he said.

In a statement shared with The Independent, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: "Under Secretary [Kristi] Noem, we are delivering on President Trumps and the American peoples mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens to make American safe.

Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst and carry out the largest deportation operation of criminal aliens in American history."
The White House has instructed NASA employees to terminate two major, climate change-focused satellite missions.

As NPR reports, Trump officials reached out to the space agency to draw up plans for terminating the two missions, called the Orbiting Carbon Observatories. They've been collecting widely-used data, providing both oil and gas companies and farmers with detailed information about the distribution of carbon dioxide and how it can affect crop health.

One is attached to the International Space Station, and the other is collecting data as a stand-alone satellite. The latter would meet its permanent demise after burning up in the atmosphere if the mission were to be terminated.

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We can only speculate as to why the Trump administration wants to end the missions. But considering president Donald Trump's staunch climate change denial and his administration's efforts to deal the agency's science directorate a potentially existential blow, it's not difficult to speculate.

Worse yet, the two observatories had been expected to function for many more years, scientists working on them told NPR. A 2023 review by NASA concluded that the data they'd been providing had been "of exceptionally high quality."

The observatories provide detailed carbon dioxide measurements across various locations, allowing scientists to get a detailed glimpse of how human activity is affecting greenhouse gas emissions.

Former NASA employee David Crisp, who worked on the Orbiting Carbon Observatories' instruments, told NPR that current staffers reached out to him.

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"They were asking me very sharp questions," he said. "The only thing that would have motivated those questions was [that] somebody told them to come up with a termination plan."

Crisp said it "makes no economic sense to terminate NASA missions that are returning incredibly valuable data," pointing out it costs only $15 million per year to maintain both observatories, a tiny fraction of the agency's $25.4 billion budget.

Other scientists who've used data from the missions have also been asked questions related to terminating the missions.

The two observatories are only two of dozens of space missions facing existential threats in the form of the Trump administration's proposed 2026 fiscal year budget. Countless scientists have been outraged by the proposal, arguing it could precipitate an end to the United States' leadership in space.

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Lawmakers have since drawn up a counteroffer that would keep NASA's budget roughly in line with this year's.

"We rejected cuts that would have devastated NASA science by 47 percent and would have terminated 55 operating and planned missions," said senator and top appropriator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in a July statement, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Simply terminating Earth-monitoring missions to pursue an anti-science agenda could be a massive self-own, lawmakers say  and potentially breaking laws as well by overriding existing, allocated budgets.

"Eliminating funds or scaling down the operations of Earth-observing satellites would be catastrophic and would severely impair our ability to forecast, manage, and respond to severe weather and climate disasters," House representative and Committee on Science, Space and Technology ranking member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) told NPR.

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"The Trump administration is forcing the proposed cuts in its FY26 budget request on already appropriated FY25 funds," she added. "This is illegal."

More on NASA: NASA Announces It Will Be Randomly Searching Employees
A White South African farm owner and two employees are facing trial over the alleged murder of two Black women who prosecutors say were shot dead for trespassing last August and their bodies fed to pigs  stoking fury in a nation already reeling from racial tensions.

The women were said to have been killed by Zachariah Olivier, 60, and his workers, Adrian De Wet, 19, and 45-year-old foreign national William Musoro.

The men appeared at the Limpopo Polokwane High Court on Monday, in the northern Limpopo province, a regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA) told CNN.

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The trio are facing two counts of murder, attempted murder, three counts of defeating the ends of justice, and possession of firearms and ammunition, the NPA said in an earlier statement.

Musoro, described by police as an illegal immigrant, was additionally charged with contravening sections of the illegal immigration act, a police statement said.

They were not asked to enter a plea before the hearing was shifted to Thursday, NPA spokesperson in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said.

The men were arrested after police investigations led to the discovery of the decomposed bodies of the women in a pigsty on a farm in Sebayeng, outside Mankweng, on August 20, 2024, the police statement said at the time.

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The investigation began when a 45-year-old South African woman went missing after visiting the farm on 17 August (2024), accompanied by a 35-year-old foreign national woman, police said. Both women sustained gunshot wounds, and a 47-year-old foreign national man, who was with them escaped but was also shot and hospitalized.

The survivor told reporters that one of the murdered women was his wife. The other woman was their neighbor. They had entered the farm to collect expired and abandoned dairy products, he said.

Many South Africans outraged by the killings have called for justice for the victims.

Similar murders have been recorded in South Africa in recent years. In Mpumalanga, in the countrys east, four men, including a 24-year-old farm manager, are facing charges of murder and kidnapping for allegedly killing and burning the bodies of three people accused of stealing sheep last August, the NPA said.

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In 2019, a South African High Court handed down lengthy prison sentences to two White farmers for throwing a 16-year-old teenager out of a moving truck in Coligny, in the North West Province, for allegedly stealing sunflowers. The men were, however, acquitted two years later by a higher court, which overturned their sentencing, citing a lack of evidence.

Violent crime is rife in the southern African nation of just over 60 million people, where nearly 20,000 murders were recorded between April and December last year, according to police data.

Farm murders, involving both White and Black South Africans, make up a small part, about 0.2% of those killings, even though White nationalist groups make widely disputed claims of a genocide against White farmers.

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A petition demanding changes to the AMBER Alert system is gaining traction online.

Whitneys Law would ensure that the alert system includes all at-risk children  regardless of whether a parent is the abductor.

Its named after Whitney Decker, a Wenatchee mother of three children who were abducted in May by their father, Travis  after he picked them up for a scheduled visit.

Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia were found dead a few days later at a campground outside of Leavenworth.

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Travis has yet to be found.

An AMBER Alert wasnt issued for the Decker girls because authorities said the case did not meet the criteria for one.

Each state has its own AMBER Alert plan, but the U.S. Department of Justice recommends:

There must be reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.

The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.

There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.

The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger.

The childs name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.

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Instead, law enforcement issued an Endangered Missing Persons Advisory for the Decker girls.

Had an AMBER Alert been issued, a Wireless Emergency Alert wouldve been automatically pushed out to millions of cellphone users, asking people to keep an eye out for them.

The online petition, addressed to Washington State police, argues that the current Amber Alert standards are too narrow.

Right now, the AMBER Alert criteria exclude too many high-risk situations, especially involving non-stranger parental abductions, even when a history of abuse or red flags are present, the petition states. If the rules remain unchanged, we risk allowing more children to fall through the crackschildren who could be saved if only their cases were treated with the urgency they deserve. We must not let another parent feel Whitneys unimaginable pain. The system failed her familyand it can fail others too if we dont act.

As of Monday morning, there are more than 4,700 signatures on the petition.

You can view the full petition here.
On August 1, 2025, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with President of Nepal Ramchandra Poudel to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers, and the two countries' friendly exchanges have a long history. Over the past 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation regardless of changes in the international and regional landscape, setting an example of friendly coexistence between countries with different social systems and of different sizes. In recent years, China-Nepal relations have witnessed sound and steady development, with political mutual trust continuously strengthened, Belt and Road cooperation and cooperation in various fields increasingly expanded, and the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity continuously deepened.

Xi Jinping stressed that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nepal relations and is ready to work with President Ramchandra Poudel to take the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship, enhance exchanges and cooperation across various fields, and enable China-Nepal relations to better benefit the two peoples and contribute to regional peace and development.

Ramchandra Poudel noted that over the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Nepal and China have consistently upheld mutual trust, sovereign equality, and peaceful coexistence, and the friendship between the two countries has withstood the test of time. Noting that China is a trustworthy neighbor and development partner of Nepal, he said Nepal appreciates China's long-standing support for its development and respect for its sovereignty and independence. Nepal firmly upholds the one-China principle and looks forward to working with China to further deepen cooperation in various fields and realize the common vision of peace, progress and prosperity.

On the same day, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council exchanged congratulatory messages with Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli. Li Qiang said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Nepal relations and is ready to work with Nepal to take the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Nepal diplomatic relations as an opportunity to accelerate high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as well as exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and promote the continuous development of the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity.

KP Sharma Oli said that Nepal and China have consistently developed friendly relations on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Nepal highly appreciates China's respect for its sovereignty, independence, and the development path it has chosen independently, and admires China's great historical achievements. Looking ahead, Nepal will continue to be committed to implementing the agreements reached between the two countries to bring tangible benefits to the two peoples.
The Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai, has stated that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Macao Garrison has consistently bolstered confidence in, and safeguarded, the successful practising of the One country, two systems principle with Macau characteristics, earning widespread acclaim from the local public and respect from all sectors of society. Sam made the remarks at a reception held by the PLA Macao Garrison to mark the 98th anniversary of the founding of the PLA.

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Nestled on 200 acres just south of Austin, Marbridge Foundation is more than a care facility  its a vibrant community where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are empowered to live, learn, and thrive. With over 275 residents across three distinct care communities, Marbridge offers a continuum of care thats unmatched in Texas.

 Meet the Team Behind the Mission

David Lette, an Administrative Assistant, and Barbara Prince, a Licensed Vocational Nurse, are two of the many dedicated professionals who help bring Marbridges mission to life. Their work is rooted in compassion, structure, and a deep understanding of the unique needs of each resident.

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 Three Communities, One Purpose

Marbridges campus is divided into three specialized communities:

The Village : Offers semi-independent living in cozy cottages for residents who are capable of managing daily tasks with minimal support. Many hold jobs in the Austin area and participate in vocational training and social activities.

The Ranch : Provides assisted living for those who benefit from a more structured environment. Residents engage in daily training that includes arts, sports, life skills, and horticultural therapy.

The Villa: A licensed Skilled Nursing Facility  the only one in Texas dedicated to adults with IDD. It offers 24-hour medical care, rehabilitation services, and a full calendar of enriching activities.

 Barbaras Perspective from The Villa

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Barbara Prince shares that residents at The Villa often have more complex medical needs, such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy. Unlike The Ranch or The Village, Villa residents require skilled nursing care and assistance with daily living. But they still enjoy an active social life  participating in games, outings, and events across campus.

 Nursing with Purpose

Working at Marbridge is a different experience from traditional hospitals or assisted living facilities. Barbara notes that serving this population requires not only clinical expertise but also emotional intelligence and patience. Youre not just treating symptomsyoure helping someone live a fuller life, she says.

 Davids Role in the Bigger Picture

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As an Administrative Assistant, David Lette helps keep the gears turning behind the scenes. From coordinating schedules to supporting recruitment efforts, his work ensures that Marbridge continues to attract passionate team members who believe in the power of community.

 Why Marbridge Stands Out

Founded in 1953 by Ed and Marge Bridges, Marbridge was created to offer safe, dignified care for their son and others with cognitive disabilities. Today, it remains a beacon of hope and innovation, offering residents the chance to pursue independence, happiness, and personal achievement.

To learn more about what Marbridge has to offer, go to Marbridge.org.

This segment is paid for by Marbridge Foundation and is intended as an advertisement. Opinions expressed by the guest(s) on this program are solely those of the guest(s) and are not endorsed by this television station.

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This article was generated with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KXAN.com staff.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Africa experiences more disease outbreaks and public health emergencies than any other region globally. This reality is shaped by fragile health systems, limited disease surveillance, and inadequate access to safe water and sanitation. The continent is also deeply reliant on external supply chains for essential health products  vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines. Nearly 80% of drugs used in Africa are imported from outside the continent, leaving health systems vulnerable to global supply disruptions and pricing fluctuations.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the full extent of this vulnerability. African countries faced severe delays in accessing everything from personal protective equipment to medical oxygen, diagnostics, and vaccines. These delays werent just logistical  they revealed a structural lack of preparedness.

Local pharmaceutical production will transform this picture by ensuring reliable, affordable access to medicines tailored to Africas health needs. It also lays the foundation for stronger, more resilient health systems  those that can detect, respond to, and recover from health threats while maintaining essential services during crises.

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Producing medicines locally allows countries to focus on treatments relevant to African contexts  for example, vaccines or creams that prevent waterborne infections commonly found on the continent but which are rarely prioritized elsewhere. It also enables faster response to new outbreaks. Africa currently lacks the capacity to meet the G7s 100 Days Mission, which calls for safe, effective, and affordable diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines to be available within 100 days of detecting a pandemic threat.

Some efforts are already underway. This year, the African Union produced a list of 24 priority medical products for regional manufacturing and an accompanying roadmap to achieve this. However, earlier roadmaps  including the 2007 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa, and regional strategies from the East African Community and Southern African Development Community  fell short. These plans were undercut by weak political support, fragmented regulation, poor financing, and a lack of integration within national policies. The clear lesson is this: Well-designed strategies require strong execution, regional coordination, and enforceable implementation mechanisms to succeed.

Moving forward, African governments must treat local manufacturing as a strategic priority. Public investment, tax incentives, innovation funds, and public-private partnerships can help build capacity and attract capital. Regulatory harmonization through institutions like the African Medicines Agency will streamline approval processes and improve quality standards. The African Continental Free Trade Area offers a powerful platform to expand regional markets and enable pooled procurement of African-made products.

Beyond infrastructure, this is about resilience. Countries with domestic production capacity are better positioned to respond to health crises and sustain long-term progress in areas like vaccination and chronic disease care. As external aid declines and donor priorities shift, self-sufficiency becomes both a strategic and financial imperative.

Africa is undergoing a major demographic and economic transformation. Local pharmaceutical ecosystems can drive innovation, create jobs, and improve health equity. The COVID-19 pandemic clarified the stakes: Sustainable health security depends on Africas ability to meet its own needs. International partnerships remain important  but must support, not substitute, African pharmaceutical production.
Officers with Delaware's second largest police agency will now be able to retire two years later, thanks to a recently-signed New Castle County ordinance aimed at bringing the department to its authorized strength.

County Executive Marcus Henry, joined by New Castle County Police Chief Jamie Leonard and others, signed the ordinance on Aug. 4. New Castle County Council unanimously passed it last week.

The ordinance increases the mandatory retirement age for officers from 55 to 57. This year alone, the change will help retain nine officers, provided they all decide to stay on past age 55, Leonard said.

New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry, signs ordinance increasing the retirement age for police officers from 55 to 57 as Chief of Police Colonel Jamie Leonard, at left, looks on at the New Castle County Police Department headquarters in New Castle on Aug. 4, 2025.

Over the the next five years, it'll affect 26 officers, a county spokesperson said.

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"I know two years doesn't look like much now, but what it is enabling us to do is hold onto that knowledge and continue to mentor younger folks," Leonard said. "We can pass that information down while still keeping a strength that's a little bit higher as we build up our recruiting efforts."

Leonard, who was promoted to chief earlier this year after more than two decades with New Castle County Police, noted that the department's current authorized strength is 415.

Yet the agency hasn't seen that "ever, frankly," Leonard said.

RELATED: 'Trying to put a Band-Aid on a dam:' What happens when too few people want to be cops?

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The most it has ever recorded was 403 officers in 2016, according to data presented at a February 2024 public safety committee meeting.

"This legislation gives us a little more breathing room, allowing us to retain experienced officers longer," Henry said just prior to signing the ordinance.

New Castle County Police, other agencies work to increase numbers

In recent years, police agencies in Delaware have made a concerted effort to up their recruitment and retention efforts. This comes after years of dwindling numbers.

While many law enforcement experts have argued that the 2020 murder of George Floyd triggered a mass exodus of officers, a Duke Law School study published last summer calls into question that narrative.

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The findings, the author wrote, showed a smaller, later, less sudden, and possibly less pervasive (exodus) than the retention-crisis narrative suggests.

Yet that doesnt negate the data-driven fact that agencies across the country had, for at least a decade, reported fewer applicants and growing vacancies within departments. In fact, the studys findings suggest the reasons for this dearth are more nuanced than simply the increased criticism of police that exploded following Floyds death.

In order to combat this, the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police announced last August it had begun working with two organizations that specialize in law enforcement hiring and recruitment. The goal is to revolutionize how Delaware police agencies add to their forces.

BACKGROUND: The 'revolutionary' tactic Delaware police hope will get more people to apply

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While the partnership is still young, it's shown successes, New Castle City Police Chief Richard McCabe said earlier this year.

New Castle County Police has also reported positive trends in recruiting and police academy class size in the last year-and-a-half or so.

In December, 10 county officers graduated from the academy. Twelve graduated from class prior.

Last week, 26 graduated  more than the last two classes combined.

New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry, accompanied by Chief of Police Colonel Jamie Leonard, at left, poses for a photo with his newly-signed ordinance increasing the retirement age for police officers from 55 to 57 at the New Castle County Police Department headquarters in New Castle on Aug. 4, 2025.

Leonard said given it takes about a year from the start of the academy until new officers are deployable, hanging onto older officers for even two more years is a step forward.

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"The closest we came to being our authorized strength was in 2016, so nine years (ago)," Leonard said. "Small things like this, incremental changes, will help us get to that authorized number much quicker."

Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on X at @izzihughes_

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why New Castle County increased police retirement age from 55 to 57
This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.

If youre one of the millions of Texas residents living in a blue state House district, theres a better-than-even-odds chance your state rep has fled the state. Even if you live in a red district, or really anywhere else in the country, those truancies could determine the final two years of President Donald Trumps time in Washington.

More than 30 Texas lawmakers are in Illinois. Another six are in New York. Massachusetts was a draw for others as their comrades gathered for an unrelated wonkfest. And a few are in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom first floated a plan that has become a national script for Democrats preparing to retaliate against Texas, where Republicans plan to further gerrymander the states U.S. House districts to improve their chances at maintaining the national balance of power in Washington.

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In a striking reminder just how fragile politics can be, roughly 60 state lawmakerseach standing as proxy for just shy of 200,000 constituentsstand to potentially decide who will be the next House Speaker dictating policy for 345 million Americans. They split from their state on Sunday in what boosters have branded a Texodus, one day after a GOP-led panel in Austin moved forward with a partisan rewrite of the states district maps. And yet, despite serving as a rallying cry among Democrats nationally, this gambit by Texas Democrats is going to fail if history is to be a guide.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a special legislative session that would, if successful, shrink the number of Democrats the state sends to the U.S. House by five. That would leave Democrats with eight seats, roughly 20% of the 38 Texans there, despite Democratic nominee Kamala Harris netting more than 42% of the vote in Texas last year.

In response, 57 of the Texas Houses 62 Democrats fled the states rather than allow a quick vote approving the new lines. And in turn, Abbott threatened to remove those citizen lawmakers from their elected positions unless they hoofed it home while hinting they may face felony charges. Even if Texas Democrats run out the clock on this special session, nothing is stopping Abbott from calling another immediately after, setting this up for a perpetual stand-off that could cost each absent lawmaker $500 a day, as well as months away from their families and jobs. When Democrats fled Texas in the past to block similar GOP power grabs, they ultimately gave up.

Nationally, Democrats loudly cheered the move, even if they quietly knew it would ultimately prove a delay but not a defeat. Lacking a unified front since Harris stinging loss last year that brought Trump back to the White House, Democrats have been rather listless as they try to regain their footing. The base wants a fight. The Establishment wants to spare itself the tough conversations. The consultant class wants to keep the cash flowing. All of which is to say this: Democrats will take anything passing muster for a win, albeit a brief one, especially if it triggers Democrats in other states to respond.

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The Texas walkout drew a collective huzzah, with the chief Democratic group focused on state legislative power calling on their members to retaliate in spades.

All options must be on the tableincluding Democratic state legislatures using their power to fight back and pursue redistricting mid-cycle in order to protect our democracy, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee chief Heather Williams said.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin seemed to signal his concurrence: Democrats everywhere should be ready to fight fire with fire to combat Trump and Republicans craven scheme to rig the maps in their favor.

But this tit-for-tat escalation has national implications, both in terms of who will hold gavels after the 2026 midterms and also for the slate of candidates on the national ticket in 2028. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has been loudly assembling his own campaign-in-waiting for 2028, is fanning the flames of retribution. New York, another deep-blue state where the governor is threatening to redraw their own congressional map in response to Texas, might be the launching ground for a campaign from progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a natural heir to the movement helmed by Sen. Bernie Sanders of New York. Never count out Massachusetts, where Gov. Maura Healey is toying with following fellow Bay Staters Michael Dukakis, Paul Tsongas, John Kerry, Mitt Romney, Deval Patrick, and Elizabeth Warren onto a national ticket. And Newsom, the California Governor and not-so-subtle contender for the Democratic nomination for President next turn, has threatened through allies to respond in kind to Texas gamesmanship.

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Its no accident those states have become Ground Zeroes for evacuating Texans, even as nonpartisan redistricting processes remain on the books of some of those states. Nor is it happenstance that national Democrats are looking to elevate those political refugees into proxies for their protest to come.

In turn, leaders in Republican-led states like Florida, Missouri, and New Hampshire have said they may throw open their maps as well.

Politics has always carried an element of performance art and a common winning playbook is pretty basic: Find a pariah, brand it toxic, shame it into folding, declare victory, move on. But theres a problem which assumes the playing field is level. Few in Texas believe Republicans are trying to draw a map that better represents the states 31 million constituents. Yet Republicans are assuming their voters wont mind. For more than two decades, Republicans have outnumbered Democrats in the state legislature. Texas has the longest dryspell in the nation for electing a Democrat statewide despite a perpetual phantom hope that this will be the cycle that finally breaks the fever.

Despite this reality, Democrats are jumping onto the hopes that the planned tweaks to districts in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, and along the U.S.-Mexico border might be a step too far for centrist voters who just want the government to function normally. Even so, even in places where Democrats have a free hand to do their own shenanigans, such as Oregon and Illinois, there arent many districts that havent already been designed to their advantage.

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For now at least, that reality isnt blunting the temporary ardor for counter-attack. At Mondays opening of the bipartisan National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Boston, the Texas defectors earned a standing ovation when they arrived and they planned a Wednesday press conference at the statehouse. Their compatriots in Illinois planned a media event on Monday near Chicago. And they were all looking forward to a quorum call on Monday in Austin that was doomed to fail because not enough lawmakers would be present. How Abbott responds stands to dictate the rest of this week, the first of a congressional recess until after Labor Day.

Still, this is a lot of posturing ahead of the inevitable given Democrats past iterations of this ploy that failed for two decades. Texas Republicans have the votes to put in place the new maps. Texas Democrats are all but certain to lose five House districts. That might, if everything else holds, preserve Republicans razor-thin majority in Washington after next years U.S. House elections. Texas Democrats have never stopped a political map from taking shape and they dont have the numbers now to break that cycle. Instead, this is a moment of name-and-shame politicsin an era powered by the churn of Trumps tumult and insult. Its a waiting game that has triggered an unexpected optimism among Democrats, one completely unmoored from the current reality or not-so-distant history.

Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter.

Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
This image was taken in Yellowstone National Park, which is mostly in Wyoming but parts of the park spread into Montana and Idaho. It is the first national park in the United States, established in 1872. (Photo by Mimi Ditchie Photography/Getty Images)

Why Trust Science is the title of a book written a few years ago by Naomi Oreskes. It asks the question and provides an answer that everyone should understand. Oreskes makes the case that the scientific method and its reliance on research, publication, confirmation through repetition, and ever more research  which is all exposed to the examination and critique of a community of scientists  is the essential way to understand our world and all its parts.

Science derives its trustworthiness from its collective character, in which every idea, hypothesis, or theory is exposed to rigorous review, criticism, and the requirement that the data and conclusions be replicable by other independent research. When it sometimes goes off track, it eventually comes to correct conclusions through this process.

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In todays world of misinformation and disinformation, which can come from many sources that purport to be based in science, citizens do not know what to trust and easily become confused by opinion and partisan claims. This is why its so important to get information from reliable, science-based institutions that subject their work to critical review and that are funded not by industries or political interests, but by governments, nonpolitical foundations, and sources that do not have a particular ax to grind.

One can assert, with ample evidence, that academic and other independent science is what has made America the world leader in medical science, information technology, environmental protection, space exploration, advanced energy technology, and many other fields. We have, for generations, supported with our tax dollars independent research in government agencies and at many of the worlds leading American universities, including the University of New Hampshire. Our science has fueled our technological and medical advancements and inspired generations of young people to become world leaders in their fields.

Today, that foundation of greatness is under extreme threat. An administration of scientifically illiterate politicians has decided that if they dont like what science is telling them, they should simply ignore it and stop funding it. In effect, they have decided, Dont confuse me with the facts; Ive already made up my mind. Even worse, they dont want anyone to work on science that might produce facts they disagree with.

The examples over the past few months are numerous, but here is a sampling:

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Major cuts to the nations medical research (National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and others) have undermined the basic research that is critical to ensuring the health of our nation. These include cuts of 39% to the institute that researches heart disease, 37% to the institute that researches cancer, 40% to the program that researches Alzheimers, and 38% to research on drug overdoses and suicide. On top of this, the replacement of independent experts on a number of medical advisory boards with people who closely adhere to the dogma of the new administration has undermined the trust of many in the medical field. Doctors have said that they can no longer fully trust federal health guidance and their patients will suffer.

Notable to us here in New England, where the incidence of Lyme disease is the highest in the nation, the program at Cornell funded by the Defense Department to develop a single accurate test for numerous tick borne diseases was eliminated.

Staffing and budgets for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have been dramatically slashed, and the Trump administration budget for next year would close 10 laboratories that research life-threatening weather disasters. The lab that flies the hurricane hunters into storms to collect critical data used to predict the path and intensity of hurricanes is among those to close.

The Trump administration budget eliminates funding for the Ecosystems Mission Area, a program in the US Geological Survey that studies nearly every aspect of the ecology of our landscapes and waters in the country. Decades of regular data gathering that has documented how our environment is changing both for good and bad, will be ended. Scientists say this will be a loss that cannot be easily recovered.

The current EPA says it will completely eliminate its scientific research arm. The research program is the basis for nearly all of the air, water, toxic materials, and other regulations required by federal law. The union that represents 8,000 EPA workers has said, Without it, we dont have the means to assess impacts on human health and the environment. Its destruction will devastate public health in our country.

Similarly, the administration has cut or proposes to cut science in the national parks, from scientists who provide educational programs to projects that study changes in the landscape over time and the impacts of rapidly melting glaciers. Managing our national parks requires science for good decision-making, and apparently that no longer matters.

As if all of this wasnt enough to convince one that politicians and their big donors have abandoned science in favor of advancing their own power, the EPA just announced it will propose eliminating a bedrock scientific finding on climate change. Disregarding a worldwide scientific consensus that climate change endangers public health and the environment, the EPA wants to eliminate the Endangerment Finding that was established in 2009 and later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. In essence, Donald Trumps EPA wants to both eliminate any information about climate change and prevent the government from taking any actions that would attempt to slow or stop it.

All this anti-science behavior is truly astonishing. If one doesnt base decisions on facts, supported by rigorous independent science, what will decisions be based on? Political expediency? Whomever donates the most money to political campaigns?

Adding insult to injury, the White House had the audacity to issue a statement on Earth Day with this headline: On Earth Day, We Finally Have a President Who Follows Science.

What?

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The statement went on to list the presidents proposals to cut wasteful environmental regulations, champion sound forest management, end the forced use of paper straws, and protect public lands. Meanwhile his agencies are gutting whole areas of regulations, demanding environmental rules be suspended to increase drilling and forest cutting on public lands, undoing protections for endangered species, decimating the incentives for clean energy, and reducing fuel economy of autos, which will simply increase air pollution.

In the face of climate disruption that is creating extreme weather events that are killing people, is our president really spending his time targeting paper straws?

No, theres no science being followed in this White House. And it will have lasting negative impacts not only on our health and our environment, but remove us from our position as the world leader in science and technology. We will watch China and the European Union leave us behind. So much for making America great.
President Donald Trump has fired the head of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) after the department revised down recent job numbers by more than 250,000.

He says the figures were "rigged" to make his administration "look bad".

Although the latest revisions were bigger than usual, it is normal for the initial monthly number to be changed and it has happened routinely under both Democratic and Republican presidents.

How are the job figures collected?

The BLS head - known as the commissioner - plays no role in collecting the data or putting the numbers together, only stepping in to review the final press release before its published, according to former commissioners.

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"My reaction was, 'That couldn't happen,'" says Katharine Abraham, who served as BLS commissioner from 1993 to 2001, about Trump's claims that the numbers had been rigged.

"The commissioner doesn't have control over what the numbers are," she adds.

The jobs report from the BLS is based on two surveys  one that collects data from about 60,000 households and another from 121,000 public and private sector employers.

President Trump has defended firing of BLS head over what he says are "wrong" numbers [Getty Images]

The estimates of job gains come from the survey of employers, often referred to as the establishment survey. It tends to be considered more reliable than the household survey because of its large sample size.

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A majority of the responses come from large firms, typically enrolled in a programme that automatically submits their employment information. BLS staff also run web surveys and telephone interviews.

"The initial estimates of payroll employment are a preliminary look at what occurred in each month," the BLS told BBC Verify.

"It is the quick but lower-resolution snapshot of what went on in the job market for a particular month. Because the revised estimates are based on more complete data, they create a higher resolution picture - and occasionally the revised data produce a different picture," it added.

The bureau updates the figures in the two months following the initial monthly estimate, as more responses come in. It also recalculates the numbers annually to incorporate data from unemployment insurance tax records.

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"There are all of these career people who also have the data and if the commissioner were to try to change the numbers they would all know and it would get out," Prof Abraham says.

How unusual are the latest revisions?

The figures for May and June have been revised down by 125,000 and 133,000 respectively.

The 258,000 combined reduction total for the two month period represents the biggest change since records began, aside from the months in 2020 following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

However, there are adjustments every month and large changes are not unprecedented.

In this case, many analysts were already expecting revisions to the June figures, which had showed an unusual rise in school employment during a month when most schools were about to close for the summer.

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Later responses also disproportionately reflect smaller firms, which are more vulnerable to changes in the economy such as tariffs, analysts note.

The May figure was adjusted down largely in response to the June revision and is consistent with other data showing a slowdown.

[BBC]

In records going back to 1979, the average monthly change to the jobs figures (either up or down) is 57,000, according to the BLS.

But revisions tend to get bigger during times of economic turmoil.

Aside from the most recent numbers and the 2020 Covid period, there have been eight other occasions since 2000 when the BLS revised down monthly job numbers by more than 100,000 - with most of these coming around the 2008 financial crisis.

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For instance, there was a 143,000 reduction to the January 2009 figure when President Barack Obama was in office.

The BLS also said job gains for the entire year in 2009 were 902,000 lower than it first estimated - the largest full-year revision on record.

The jobs created in 2024 under President Joe Biden were revised down by 598,000, though that was a smaller change than the more than 800,000 initially estimated - an update which also caused political fallout.

Prof Abraham says updates are part of the process and she was not surprised to see such large revisions for May and June, given increased difficulty of collecting responses and lack of investment in new methods - and the wider slowdown in the economy, driven in part by new tariffs.

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"It's always difficult when you're at a point where things may be changing and then you add to that the fact that staffing has been constrained and the agencies haven't had the resources to invest in following up with respondents the way they might have in the past," she says.

Have there been problems with the data in the past?

Response rates have dropped significantly over the last decade, accelerating after the pandemic, raising concerns about the reliability of the data.

For example, the response rate for the establishment survey was less than 43% in March, compared with more than 60% a decade earlier.

Other countries, including Canada, Sweden and the UK, have been wrestling with similar falls. Response rates to the labour force survey have fallen to roughly 20% in the UK.

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In the US, the drop-off has sparked some efforts to explore new methods of data collection, including web-based surveys.

But the significance of the problem remains a matter of debate.

A review by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in March of this year, found that revisions in recent years were mostly in line with pre-pandemic patterns, which it said should be reassuring to those worried about reliability.

[BBC]

What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?
NEWTON, Iowa The checkered flag flies for William Byron at the Iowa Speedway, as the driver of 24 secures the win for the Iowa Corn 350.

Its awesome, I mean this year its really come full circle Its just good to finally get a win today, said Byron.

Chase Briscoe starts the race with the pole. Byron quickly got to first, with Brad Keselowski close behind as the two battled for the lead in the first stage of the race. Keselowski passed Byron on lap 68.

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In the last 120 laps, drivers started to pick up the pace. In an action-packed third stage, drivers navigated 12 cautions and restarts, as Byron and Briscoe shuffled towards the front.

It really made the strategy pretty tricky, a lot of people pitted there to be able to make it on fuel, thinking that was the right play, said Byron

But Byron was able to make every last drop count, stretching his fuel to secure the win, saying, We were in a position where we needed a lot of cautions, and we werent expecting to go to the end on fuel, and then it started to open that up, that opportunity and we just saved a bunch of fuel there at the very end.

Byrons cup win completes the trifecta for him at the Iowa Speedway, as Byron has won in both the truck series and Xfinity at the track before.

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I love coming to here, it has a ton of meaning for me, I feel like it was the first true intermediate style racetrack that I went to when I was younger It just feels like its come full circle, said Byron.

It was a race that kept drivers and fans on the edge of their seats. Now, William Byron is cementing his name in Iowa Speedway history, taking home the Iowa Corn 350 trophy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Every 68 seconds, someone in America is sexually assaulted. According to a 2024 study, 75% of these victims were drugged or intoxicated.

Its a statistic that Williamson County student Abigail Goddard is working to combat.

Now 16 years old and entering her senior year at Ravenwood High School, Goddard started her mission at age 15 after witnessing the devastating impact a spiked drink had on a family member.

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Last year, a close family member of mine told me that in her freshman year of college she was given a drugged drink and she was sexually assaulted the same night, said Goddard. Thats when I first realized how big of a problem drink spiking was and how it was impacting women in college especially.

Nashville distillery works to prevent sexual assaults with drink covers

Goddard said she wanted to help make social environments safer, so she began working on crafting a discreet and reliable detection tool.

I started looking up safety solutions to see if there was something out there that was appealing to young people that would effectively prevent and target drink spiking, said Goddard. I wasnt really pleased with the solutions out there, so I figured, I would try and do something to stop it.

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After finding a pharmaceutical partner, Spikey was born.

(Courtesy: Abigail Goddard) (Courtesy: Abigail Goddard)

Spikey looks like a keychain and is customizable to include a name, initials, or Greek sorority/fraternity letters. Users pull out the enclosed strip and place a drop of their drink on it with a finger or straw.

In 15 seconds or less, a color change may occur. If theres a change, its been contaminated with a common date-rape drug such as GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), Ketamine, Scopolamine, Cocaine, and many other amine-based drugs.

Safe Bar program expands in Nashville and new app makes participating bars easy to find

Goddard has worked with the Williamson County Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center to develop her pitch and acquire funding.

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I started throwing products in my backpack, selling them in person, and sometimes I was making $300 to $400 a day, said Goddard. Thats when I realized this could go online, this could be a real business.

To date, Goddards distributed over 14,000 test strips, amounting to about $30,000 in revenue.

(Courtesy: Abigail Goddard) (Courtesy: Abigail Goddard) (Courtesy: Abigail Goddard) (Courtesy: Abigail Goddard) (Courtesy: Abigail Goddard)

The 16-year-old has taken Spikey to nine business competitions, winning or placing in all of them.

She has won $40,000 from the competitions and that money goes toward building her business. Goddard said her next vision is to transition from 3D printing to injection molding.

Goddard is working with Nashvilles Safe Bar program. The team just ordered about 3,000 Spikeys to distribute.

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She is also working with lawmakers including U.S. Senator for Tennessee Marsha Blackburn to create legislation related to drink safety.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Long-term, I see a Spikey being handed to incoming freshman at universities across the nation, said Goddard. Were expanding into Greek Life and nightlife as well, especially here in Nashville.

Goddard said she also envisions dispensers in bar bathrooms and vending machines at major events.

I spend so much time with Spikey, its the first and last thing I think about every day, because I care, said Goddard. I am just grateful that I can do what I love while helping others.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Video: Prior coverage.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  After some deliberating, the winners of the Dayton Metro Librarys card design contest have been revealed.

The contest accepted submissions from June 16 through 30, with three categories available based on age. The contest was open to Montgomery County residents or anyone attending a school in the county.

The winner of the Kids bracket (0-12 years) is Sophia Gomes. The winner of the Teens bracket (13-17 years) is Prioskha Gomes. The winner of the Adults category is Rhiv Perry.

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A celebration will be held for the winners on Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 5-5:30 p.m. at the Main Librarys Bassani Theater Off Third (on the third floor of the building). The winning designs will be featured on the official, limited edition DML library cards, which will be available in September.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP)  Chief William Penn Jr. of the Winston-Salem Police Department spoke on violence and community safety Monday afternoon after a string of homicides committed over the weekend.

On Friday at 7:45 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 4800 block of Berl Street and found 16-year-old Jaquavion Lewis, who had been shot while allegedly attempting to commit a robbery. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim ONeill determined Lewis death to be caused by an act of self-defense, and no charges will be filed at this time.

Winston-Salem may cut vacation, sick time for firefighters

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Saturday morning, 17-year-old Destiny Quiterio-Avila, 18-year-old Alan Lopez and 23-year-old Kelsea Perkins had been shot and killed on the 900 block of Cameron Avenue outside of a house party. According to the WSPD Criminal Investigations Division, gang activity has not been ruled out due to evidence.

On Sunday at 12:25 a.m., officers responded to a shooting in which 20-year-old Deshaun Christian Capers was killed.

Penn expressed that while the WSPD does not believe the shootings are related, those involved have something in common.

I want everyone to take some time and look at the ages of those involved and pay attention to the time, Penn said. Pay attention to the time and the ages, not just the numbers, but pay attention to that and then think about what Ive been saying.

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The homeowner on Cameron Avenue declined an interview, but said her daughters friend was turning 17. She had opened her basement for a birthday party. She said the party was ending and people were leaving when a drive-by shooting happened outside on the side of the house facing Tenth Street.

Shes lived there for 4 years, and said the neighborhood is considerably quiet. She never expected a tragedy like this to occur.

The WSPD says gang violence could be a factor in the Cameron Avenue shooting.

So there is a case where we know that theres associations with gangs, validated gang members, and so, it being a gang violent act has not been ruled out, Penn said.

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There are gangs in Winston-Salem, and the problem is we have youth who will choose gangs as part of their families, he continued.

Penn also said it hasnt been ruled out whether anyone could face charges for serving alcohol to minors at that party.

When asked about actions people can take to prevent violence in the community in the future, Penn stressed that it takes a village.

The community is the village, Penn said. And we have a responsibility, particularly, to our youth, to guide them, support them and lead them in the right direction.

Penn said increased patrols will be added around the Cameron Avenue area.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
Jeffrey Epsteins former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been moved from a federal prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas as her criminal case generates renewed public attention.

The federal Bureau of Prisons said over the weekend that Maxwell had been transferred to Bryan, Texas, but did not explain the circumstances. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, also confirmed the move but declined to discuss the reasons for it.

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by the disgraced financier, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She had been held at a low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, until her transfer to the prison camp in Texas, where other inmates include Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and Jen Shah of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

Minimum-security federal prison camps house inmates the Bureau of Prisons considers to be the lowest security risk. Some dont even have fences.

The prison camps were originally designed with low security to make operations easier and to allow inmates tasked with performing work at the prison, like landscaping and maintenance, to avoid repeatedly checking in and out of a main prison facility.

Prosecutors have said Epsteins sex crimes could not have been done without Maxwell, but her lawyers have maintained that she was wrongly prosecuted and denied a fair trial, and have floated the idea of a pardon from President Donald Trump. They have also asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up her case.

Trump said Friday night that no one has asked him about a clemency for Maxwell.

Im allowed to do it but nobodys asked me to do it, he told Newsmax in an interview broadcast Friday night. I know nothing about it. I dont know anything about the case, but I know I have the right to do it. I have the right to give pardons, Ive given pardons to people before, but nobodys even asked me to do it.

Maxwells case has been the subject of heightened public focus since an outcry over the Justice Departments statement last month saying that it would not be releasing any additional documents from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. The decision infuriated online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and elements of Trumps base who had hoped to see proof of a government cover-up.

Since then, administration officials have tried to cast themselves as promoting transparency in the case, including by requesting from courts the unsealing of grand jury transcripts.

Maxwell, meanwhile, was interviewed at a Florida courthouse over two days last week by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and the House Oversight Committee had also said that it wanted to speak with Maxwell. Her lawyers said this week that they would be open to an interview but only if the panel were to ensure immunity from prosecution.

In the Newsmax interview, Trump said he did not know when Blanche would disclose to the public what he and Maxwell discussed during the interviews.

I think he just wants to make sure that innocent people arent hurt, but youd have to speak to him about it, Trump said.

In a letter Friday to Maxwells lawyers, Rep. James Comer, the committee chair, wrote that the committee was willing to delay the deposition until after the resolution of Maxwells appeal to the Supreme Court. That appeal is expected to be resolved in late September. ERIC TUCKER, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP

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The bear can breathe again.

After at least 12 days with a plastic jug stuck on its head, the black bear seen wandering around Bayfield County was freed the afternoon of Aug. 3 in Crystal Lake near Cable, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said.

Wildlife professionals with U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services staff tranquilized the bear and cut off the jug before relocating it to the woods, where the DNR said it will have "ample food and water this time of year."

Rescuers tranquilized the bear and cut the jug off before relocating to the woods for its own safety.

"Thank you everyone that did not give up on this girl!" Jayme Morey of the Chequamegon Humane Association, which first reported on the bear's predicament last week, posted on Facebook after the rescue.

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"Shes alive, awake and in better shape than she should be considering it's been at least 12 days with the bucket on her head. She is on her way to be rereleased in a safe spot. This would not have happened without a communitys help!"

The DNR said public reports of the bear were critical in the success of the effort.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin bear with head stuck in jug freed after 12 days
Lindsey Page thinks it's a matter of when, not if, measles will arrive in Milwaukee.

The nation is experiencing its worst year for the highly contagious disease in more than three decades. Until last weekend, 40 states had seen cases, and the 10 exceptions were mostly in the East, with several scattered in the South and West. Wisconsin was an island in the Midwest.

It's an island no more.

Over the weekend, nine cases of measles were confirmed in Oconto County by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the county public health department. One case was found through testing at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, while the other eight were identified through symptoms, according to a statement released Aug. 2 by state health officials.

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According to health officials, the source of exposure for all nine cases occurred during out-of-state travel.

More than 1,300 measles cases have been recorded across the U.S. as of July 29, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in 10 cases have resulted in hospitalization, and three people have died  two children in Texas and one adult in New Mexico.

Health Commissioner Mike Totoraitis speaks as Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson (left), looks on during a press conference highlighting the importance of measles prevention at the Zeidler Municipal Building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 4, 2025.

Although the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, fewer young children have been receiving the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, resulting in an uptick in activity. Just shy of 85% of Wisconsin kindergartners have been vaccinated, one of the nation's lowest vaccination rates against measles. More than 90% of cases nationwide have been in unvaccinated people or people whose vaccination status was unknown.

Local health departments, are faced with different challenges, from the percentage of their communities that are vaccinated to how many staff they have to tackle the job.

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For now, here's what their preparation for measles looks like.

More: Wisconsin at risk of measles outbreak. Its kindergartner vaccination rates among lowest in U.S.

Health Commissioner Mike Totoraitis (center) speaks next to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson (left) and Michael Gutzeit, president of primary care at Children's Wisconsin during a press conference highlighting the importance of proactive measles prevention at the Zeidler Municipal Building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 4, 2025.

Departments rehearse response to an outbreak

Many health departments have been running simulated exercises to practice their measles response, often including other entities that could interact with an infected person, like schools, universities, hospitals and first responders. The Milwaukee Health Department, where Page is the infectious disease epidemiologist, ran its latest in June.

"As soon as we get a report of a measles case, it's go time," Page said. "Measles moves very fast."

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In general, a health department will reach out to the person who tested positive to understand their symptoms and when those symptoms began. That helps determine when and where the person was infectious. From there, contact tracers will reach out to people who might have been exposed, either directly or by publicly posting locations, dates and times that exposure could have occurred, in the hope of catching the attention of people who frequent the spot.

Exposed people need to know, or quickly be able to determine, if they've been vaccinated for measles. Kate Louther, incident commander for Public Health Madison & Dane County's measles response, said residents should know their status ahead of time, either by checking the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or contacting their current doctor or the clinic they believe administered their vaccine.

If need be, the health department will set up vaccination clinics and run tests that can detect measles antibodies in the blood. Those who cannot demonstrate immunity to measles would need to quarantine for 21 days, per the CDC.

More: Republican lawmakers circulate bill to raise awareness of how to opt out of vaccines for children

Milwaukee has purchased extra vaccines

With the possibility of an outbreak in mind, health departments are making plans for those who may want the vaccine but haven't gotten it.

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Local public health departments get some vaccines from the state health department as part of a program for uninsured or underinsured children and adults, but both Page and Louther said that supply for adults has struggled to meet demand. Wisconsin could request more from the CDC if an outbreak occurs.

Page said Milwaukee's health department privately purchased 500 doses of the vaccine so that staff can be ready to vaccinate anyone who wants it. Louther, in Madison and Dane County, said her department is considering privately purchasing more too. Those would be meant for people who don't have any other way to get vaccinated, she said.

Though vaccinating adults is important, measles can be most dangerous for young children. Both Madison and Milwaukee counties' measles vaccination rates for 2-year-old children were above the state average of 81%.

In central Wisconsin's Clark County, only half of children in 2024 received at least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine by 2 years old, far short of the statewide average and down from 63% from a decade ago. Health officer and director Brittany Mews said limited health care access, "immense" transportation barriers and cultural beliefs regarding medicine have played a role, in addition to misinformation. She added that future funding cuts could reduce or eliminate opportunities for vaccination clinics.

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More: As doctors try to reinforce need for vaccines, RFK Jr. continues to spread doubts

The rural county has a significant Plain population. Mews said public health nurses visit more than 60 Amish and Mennonite schools annually to collect immunization data and encourage vaccination. The health department also travels to their communities six times a year for 24 immunization clinics in homes and schoolhouses.

Vernon County in southwest Wisconsin sent 563 letters to families whose children under 2 were not up to date on the measles vaccine, encouraging them to connect with their doctor about it, said deputy health officer and public health nurse Emily Olson. About 44% of children under 2 in Vernon County have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Planning underway for contact tracing

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin's contact tracers quickly became overwhelmed with the task of reaching everyone who may have been exposed to the virus.

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Measles, of course, is very different from COVID-19, chiefly because it's not new and no one was waiting for a safe and effective vaccine. One has existed for a long time.

Still, "once you have a case in your jurisdiction, it can really get out of hand pretty quickly," Louther said.

More: New CDC director grew up on Wisconsin dairy farm, has two degrees from UW-Madison

She's crunching the numbers now to understand how many people the health department's contact tracers could call in a day if there is a measles outbreak and, once they are at their limit, who could be called in for backup.

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Sara Luchini, public health nurse and emergency preparedness coordinator for the Wood County Health Department, said her department entered into a public health mutual aid agreement with several northern and central Wisconsin counties after the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows them to lean on each other during disease outbreaks if needed.

This story has been updated to correct a misspelling.

Health care reporter Sarah Volpenhein contributed to this report.

Madeline Heim covers health and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How health departments in Wisconsin have been preparing for measles
The Brief

U.S. Marshals are asking for the public's help to locate Korshaun Walcott.

He is accused of speeding away from police and crashing into a utility pole.

Court records show this isnt Wallcotts first run-in with the law.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - U.S. Marshals are looking for a man accused of speeding away from police and crashing into a utility pole. Investigators say he then took off running.

Search for Korshaun Walcott

What we know

Sheboygan Detective and U.S. Marshals Task Force Officer Ryan Walloch was on duty when Sheboygan Police pulled over 24-year-old Korshaun Walcott. Everything seemed like a routine traffic stop, until a K9 came to sniff the car.

Korshaun Walcott

"He drove into on-coming traffic lanes putting everyone else at risk," Walloch said. "He decided that he was going to drive off at a high rate of speed instead of getting out of the car."

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Investigators say Wallcott sped away through heavy traffic, coming to a crashing halt.

"He went through a stop sign without any regard for public safety and then ultimately crashed into a utility pole totaling the vehicle," the Task Force Officer explained.

Korshaun Walcott

Police say the 24-year-old then took off running. A criminal complaint explains a suitcase filled with THC vapes was found inside the car. Court records show this isnt Wallcotts first run-in with the law.

"Hes got a muddled past," Det. Walloch said. "Hes on probation for delivery of marijuana. Hes also on for sexual activity with a 15-year-old under the age of 19 for him and felony bail jumping."

Dig deeper

Wallcott has ties to Sheboygan, Milwaukee and Manitowoc. He has "Loyalty" tattooed on his left forearm and "Lucky Boss 6" tattooed on his right forearm.

Korshaun Walcott

"Not taking accountability for what it was turned the situation a lot worse," the U.S. Marshals Task Force Officer said.

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Wallcott is 58" and weighs 135 pounds.

What you can do

If you know where Echols is, you are urged to call the U.S. Marshals Tipline at 414-297-3707. You will remain anonymous.

The Source

The information in this post was provided by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
President Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia this week for what Ukraine is calling Moscows last chance to reach a peace deal before U.S. sanctions are imposed on countries that import oil from Russia.

Trump on Sunday said Witkoff may be going to Russia on Wednesday or Thursday in a push to secure a ceasefire.

The president has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has ignored his pleas for a peace deal, and he moved up a deadline last week for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal or face increased economic isolation.

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Trumps latest deadline for Moscow would technically expire Friday, though he has proven flexible when it comes to imposing threatened tariffs on foreign countries.

A Kremlin spokesperson speaking to reporters Monday did not confirm or rule out a meeting between Putin and Witkoff this week.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Councils Center for Countering Disinformation, expressed optimism Monday that Trump would follow through.

The Russians have burned down their railway infrastructure in the Volgograd region again, Kovalenko wrote on Telegram, referring to a fire that Russia blamed on a Ukrainian drone attack.

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Trump is also giving them one last chance to end the war with a visit from Witkoff. If the visit is not successful, there will be sanctions, he added.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and his top adviser, Andriy Yermak, also urged the U.S. and Europe to impose secondary sanctions in Telegram posts.

Sanctions are working. The economy, geared for war, cannot withstand the pressure and relies solely on the sale of energy resources, Yermak wrote Sunday.

It is possible to strangle the economy with secondary tariffs proposed in the USA, he added.

Trump has threatened to substantially increase tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil, which has helped keep Russias wartime economy afloat. China is also a major importer of Russian oil.

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Trump has threatened to impose up to a 100 percent secondary tariff on nations that do business with Russia, in a bid to cut off crucial export revenue.

Such a move would likely shake the global oil markets and set back Trumps efforts to strike a broader trade deal with India and China.

Some European countries also continue to import oil from Russia, though Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a key backer of sanctions, has suggested a carve-out for Ukraines allies.

Senate Republicans went home for August recess without moving on a Russia sanctions bill that would have empowered the president to impose up to 500 percent secondary tariffs on Russias trading partners.

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Trump has suggested he does not need congressional authorization to move ahead with the sanctions.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.




NEED TO KNOW

A 27-year-old woman in New Zealand has been arrested after a 2-year-old girl was discovered hidden in a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment

"The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving," New Zealand Police said in a statement

The bus had been traveling from Whangarei in the central region of New Zealand's North Island to Auckland







A 27-year-old woman in New Zealand has been arrested after a 2-year-old girl was found in a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment.

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On Sunday, Aug. 3, at 12:50 p.m. local time, New Zealand Police were called "after a passenger asked for access to the luggage compartment during a planned stop in Kaiwaka," per a release about the incident on the North Island of New Zealand.

"The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving. When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl," the statement added, citing Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, of Waitemata's Criminal Investigation Branch.

Google Maps North Shore District Court in Auckland North Shore District Court in Auckland

A woman, who hasn't been named by authorities, has since been arrested and charged with ill-treatment/neglect of a child, per the release, and is scheduled to appear in Auckland's North Shore District Court on Monday, Aug. 4.

"The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed," Harrison said in the release. "She was transported to the hospital, where she remains, undergoing an extensive medical assessment."

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The InterCity bus had been traveling from Whangarei in the central region of the North Island to Auckland, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) noted.

The outlet stated that the child had been in the suitcase for nearly an hour, wearing only a diaper.

Harrison said that police "would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasnt right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome," per the release.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

"Police enquiries into this incident are ongoing, and further charges cannot be ruled out. Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) has also been notified," the post stated.

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Per a further police update, Harrison confirmed the toddler was "medically well."

"We are working with whanau (family) and our partner agencies to ensure the child is cared for," he added, according to the latest release.

We appreciate that there is high public interest with what has happened," Harrison said

Manfred Gottschalk/Getty Auckland, New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand

However, given the circumstances concerning the child, and the matter being before the Court, we are unable to provide further comment," he added, per the release.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Our focus is on ensuring the child is well-supported and we are working with Oranga Tamariki in relation to this matter."

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New Zealand Police didn't have any additional information to add when contacted by PEOPLE on Monday, Aug. 4. PEOPLE has also reached out to Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) and InterCity for comment, but didn't get an immediate response.

Read the original article on People
A 64-year-old woman was strangled by her older brother in the Brooklyn apartment they shared, police said Monday.

Cops at first did not suspect foul play when they found Mary Fagan dead in her apartment on St. Johns Place near Bedford Ave. in Crown Heights about 5:55 p.m. on July 26.

But she had neck bruises, and her 68-year-old brother, Thomas Fagan, later confessed to strangling her, according to police. A city medical examiner autopsy also confirmed she was strangled.

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The siblings lived at the apartment for two years. Mary Fagan was a nurse said to love her work, one neighbor said.

Nobody had any suspicions and nobody heard anything. Im in a state of shock, the neighbor said. I spoke to both of them and they were always very pleasant I never heard them argue, fight or anything.

The brother was arrested for the slaying on Saturday. He was ordered held without bail when he was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court the next day.

The suspect has no prior arrests  and police had never been called to the apartment he shared with his sister for any fight or disturbance.

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Thomas Fagans lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

You would never think to look at him, he was so well bred, the way he carried himself. He was a proper gentleman, the neighbor added. They were both nice people.


The Brief

A woman in New Zealand is facing charges after a 2-year-old child was discovered in her suitcase as she was traveling on a bus.

The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving.

The woman is charged with ill-treatment/neglect of a child.

A woman in New Zealand is facing charges after a child was discovered in her suitcase as she was traveling on a bus.

Local Detective Inspector Simon Harrison said the toddler was found in a bus luggage compartment on Sunday, Aug. 3.

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Police were called that afternoon after a passenger asked for access to the luggage compartment during a planned stop.

Local perspective

The stop was in Kaiwaka, which is about 60 miles northwest of Auckland.

Local perspective

As the driver was helping access the luggage compartment, he became concerned when he noticed a bag moving. When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl.

The girl was said to be very hot, but otherwise appeared to be unharmed. She is undergoing medical assessment at a nearby hospital.

RELATED: Arkansas Devil's Den murders: Teacher charged with killing couple

What they're saying

"We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasnt right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome," Harrison said .

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Police didnt say why the girl had been in the suitcase, or the childs relationship to the woman.

What's next

The 27-year-old woman has been charged and is due in court Monday, Aug. 4.

The Source

Information in this article was taken from a New Zealand Police Aug. 3, 2025, press release. This story was reported from Detroit.
A woman was arrested over the weekend when police discovered multiple types of suspected drugs in her vehicle during an investigation into the report of an emotionally disturbed person.

The disturbance complaint was reported on Rye Street where officers responded and, while investigating, found a vehicle with no one inside and its flashers on near Troy Road, according to the South Windsor Police Department.

The vehicle was found to belong to 49-year-old Elizabeth A. Callan of South Windsor who arrived in a separate vehicle while officers were at the scene and said the car belonged to her, police said. A K-9 who conducted a sniff of the vehicle alerted police to the possible presence of a controlled substance, according to police.

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Officers then searched the vehicle and reported finding three glass smoking pipes, wax folds containing suspected heroin/fentanyl, suspected crack cocaine and a pill bottle with multiple unidentified pills inside, police said.

Callan was taken into custody and charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle, improper use of marker plates, operation without minimum insurance, use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

She was held on $150,000 bond and was expected to appear on Monday in Manchester Superior Court.
Boston police arrested a woman last week after she stole eight boxes of ice cream from a Dorchester CVS at knifepoint, according to police.

Boston resident Omaila Medina, 41, pleaded not guilty to a charge of armed robbery in connection with the incident during her arraignment in Dorchester District Court on Aug. 30 and was held without bail, according to court records. She was also arraigned on nine other outstanding warrants, Boston police said in a press release.

On July 29, officers responded to the CVS Pharmacy at 468 Blue Hill Ave. around 1:30 p.m. for a report that there was a person with a knife inside the store, police said. At the scene, they found a woman matching the description of the suspect carrying eight boxes of ice cream.

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Officers quickly arrested the woman and identified her as Medina, police said. Their investigation revealed that Medina had pulled a knife on a store employee before fleeing with the ice cream.

The ice cream was recovered and returned to the store, police said. Medina is due back in court on Aug. 8, according to court records.

More local crime stories

Read the original article on MassLive.
JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT)  Jones County deputies are investigating after a woman was attacked by several dogs while walking in the Powers community.

The incident occurred on Eastview Drive near the intersection of Smith Chapel Road on August 3.

Man shot, killed while riding four-wheeler in Wayne County

Deputies said the victim was transported by another person to a home on V Robinson Road in the Glade community. They said the victim sustained multiple dog bites and was transported to South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC) in Laurel for treatment.

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The victim told authorities that four large dogs attacked her. Deputies said they were unable to locate the dogs or the victims cell phone and backpack at the scene of the attack.

Residents in the area are urged to pay attention for aggressive dogs and call 911 should they encounter them.

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The European Union (EU) has condemned the arrest of former legislator Au Kam San, who was detained for allegedly violating the National Security Law.

The EU said the incident further erodes Macaus political pluralism and freedom of speech. Local government immediately responded, expressing strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the EUs interference in Macaus internal affairs.

The European Union External Action (EEAS) issued a statement on Saturday condemning the arrest of Au, an EU citizen and former Macau legislator, on national security charges, noting that it has heightened concerns about the erosion of political pluralism and freedom of expression in the Macau Special Administrative Region, while emphasizing that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is central to the Macau Basic Law and the one country, two systems principle.

It is essential that the protected rights and freedoms of Macau residents remain fully upheld in line with the Macau Basic Law, the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987 and Macaus commitments under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, the EEAS statement notes.

Last week, the Judiciary Police (PJ) released a statement titled A resident suspected of colluding with foreign hostile forces to endanger national security has been arrested, detailing the arrest of a 68-year-old local man surnamed Au, who is accused of various national security-related crimes. The lengthy three-year investigation led to his identification and arrest, revealing that since 2022, he had been colluding with an overseas anti-China organization, supplying it with significant amounts of false and inflammatory information for public dissemination. Even after the amended National Security Law took effect in 2023, he continued to provide this information to support the organizations activities and objectives.

The arrest of Au marks the first application of the National Security Law in the Macau Special Administrative Region since its adoption in 2009.

SAR and the Foreign Ministry express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition

On the same day, the Macau SAR government stated in response to the EEASs statement, expressing its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the EEASs remarks concerning the criminal proceedings and law enforcement actions taken by the Macau SAR under the National Security Law.

The statement also emphasized that implementing the National Security Law by the Macau authorities is solely an internal matter for China and its SAR, asserting that no foreign or external entity, including the EU, has the right to interfere.

The Macau SAR will continue to fulfill its responsibilities in safeguarding national security in accordance with the law, ensuring the successful implementation of the one country, two systems policy for the long term, the government stated. Since its return to the motherland, the Macau SAR has achieved remarkable accomplishments in protecting human rights, which cannot be undermined by anyone.

The SAR government refuted the EU claims, stating that during the investigation, police and judicial authorities adhered strictly to the law, effectively safeguarding the legal rights of the suspects involved. The government asserted that the National Security Law of Macau, enacted in 2009 and amended in 2023, effectively protects national security and local prosperity and stability. It emphasized that the fundamental rights of residents, including the right to vote and freedom of speech, are fully protected by the Basic Law of Macau, relevant laws, applicable human rights conventions, and the administrative, legislative, and judicial authorities of the SAR.

In response to the EEASs comments on Macaus national security enforcement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office spokesperson in Macau expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition. It was stated that since Macaus handover, the One Country, Two Systems framework has been continuously improved, effectively safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, while further enhancing the democratic political system. Macau residents now enjoy broader rights and freedoms than at any time in history, the spokesperson emphasized.

It was also observed that maintaining national security is the most essential prerequisite for a countrys survival and growth, asserting that the Macau SAR governments enforcement of the National Security Law to tackle acts of colluding with hostile foreign forces is legally justified and entirely appropriate.

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NEED TO KNOW

Martha Bassett moved from Washington state to the Chicago area in 1960 and disappeared seven years later

The human remains of an unidentified woman were discovered in 1968 in Will County, Ill.

Authorities announced on July 24 of this year that the remains were positively identified as Bassett due to advances in forensic technology





Nearly 60 years after a woman was found murdered outside of Chicago, authorities identified her as a missing member of a Native American community in Washington state.

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Martha Bassett, originally from Wapato, moved from Washington to the Chicago area in 1960 under the federal Indian Relocation Act of 1956, which "encouraged Indigenous peoples to move from reservations to urban areas," according to the Will County Coroners Office.

However, by 1967, Bassetts family lost contact with her and traveled to the Chicago area out of "concern for her welfare." Ultimately, their efforts were unsuccessful and they eventually returned home  but they never stopped searching for her.

Will County Coroner's Office Martha Bassett Martha Bassett

On Sept. 30, 1968, a woman's body was discovered in the brush near the intersection of I-55 and Blodgett Road in Will County.

According to CBS News, at the time, a headline in a local paper just read "Woman found dead" as detectives didn't know anything else about the victim.

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"It states in the report they did go back to look for any evidence, and they didn't find anything," cold case investigator Bill Sheehan told the outlet. "We could tell you that there was blunt force trauma, so she died that way."

As the Will County Coroner's Office explained, "at the time, investigative resources and forensic technology were limited, and despite efforts, authorities were unable to make a positive identification."

Unable to identify her, the woman's unidentified remains were interred in a local cemetery  and her identity remained a secret for decades to come.

In 2009, due to advances in technology, the case was reopened.

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Portions of the skeletal remains were sent to the University of North Texas and the Smithsonian Institute Paleontology Department, officials wrote. Their initial analyses determined that the remains were possibly of Native American descent, a detail that provided a crucial clue to the victims identity.

Another forensic study conducted in 2017 further confirmed that the victim was of "Asian and Native American descent."

Authorities said that cold case investigators then reached out to a number of tribes in Illinois and Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, asking about any reports of a missing person from the late 1960s who fit the description of the victim.

A flyer created about the case was also shared online and with local communities, leading investigators to contact one of Bassett's distant relatives. Officials were eventually able to connect with one of the woman's nieces, "who provided the necessary DNA to make the match."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The coroners office hailed the resolution of the 1968 cold case as a triumph of scientific progress, interagency cooperation, and human perseverance, and highlighted the power of persistence and advances in forensic science.

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The case stands as a testament to what can be achieved when modern technology is applied with compassion and resolveand it offers hope to the families of other missing persons that answers, though sometimes delayed, can still be found, they added.



Read the original article on People
The Brief

A North Texas woman was charged with six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for a wrong-way crash in Southeast Oak Cliff that injured six people, including three children.

Wilson told investigators she was on the wrong side of the road because she was trying to get away from another driver who was chasing her.

That other driver told police he began following Wilson because she hit his vehicle and took off. He claimed he was trying to get her to stop or at least get her license plate number.

DALLAS - A North Texas woman is facing charges for a wrong-way crash that injured six people, including three children.

What we know

The crash happened this past Wednesday on Laureland Road near Shadycrest Trail, which is in Southeast Oak Cliff.

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Dallas police said 52-year-old Lateisha Wilson was driving her blue Ford F-250 on the wrong side of Laureland Road and collided head-on with a family in a Mazda CX.

Three adults and three children, ages 4, 8 and 11, were in the hit head-on collision. They all survived.

Wilson was arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

She bonded out of Dallas County Jail on Saturday.

Lateisha Wilson (Dallas County Jail)

Dig deeper

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Wilson admitted to driving on the wrong side of the road because she believed another driver was chasing her to cause her harm.

That other driver told investigators that Wilson had struck his vehicle and driven away from the scene of the minor accident. He said he followed her to try to flag her down or at least get her license plate number.

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Other witnesses told police they saw Wilson going about 80 miles per hour in the wrong direction just before the crash.

What they're saying

Some in Southeast Oak Cliff say its common to see wrecks along Laureland Road, but this was a fortunate surprise to neighbors who say the crash sounded even worse than it looks.

"It was real loud," said neighbor Benny Gabriel. "And I never heard anything that loud."

"Because people come flying through here all the time," said neighbor, Fair Watson.

Watson, however, says the crash next to her home last week was unlike anything shes heard.

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"This lady kept saying that somebody was chasing her," said Watson.

"We dont believe her story because if this guy was just chasing her, why would he still be here?"

When Watson was informed of the claim that Wilson hit the man's vehicle then sped off, she told FOX 4,"That makes sense, because that guy wouldve been gone had he just been randomly chasing her."

What's next

The father driving the Mazda suffered a broken back, according to the affidavit.

Several occupants had severe lacerations and one of the kids was in-and-out of consciousness following the collision.

The Source

The information in this story was provided by the Dallas Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff's Office, and Lateisha Wilson's arrest warrant affidavit. Additional information was provided from interviews conducted by FOX 4's David Sentendrey.
The Brief

Two men have been taken to the hospital following a stabbing in Phoenix.

The incident happened near 19th Avenue and Southern.

A female has been detained, according to police.

PHOENIX - Phoenix Police say they have detained a woman on Aug. 3, after a stabbing incident that sent two people to the hospital.

What we know

According to a statement, officers were called out to the area of 19th Avenue and Southern at around 4:30 p.m., and when they arrived at the scene, they found two people with stab wounds.

"An adult male sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and an adult male sustained life-threatening injuries," investigators wrote.

What's next

Police say an investigation is ongoing.

Area where the incident happened
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Sentencing is set for a later date for a woman accused of a December 2024 stabbing in Warren.

Lashonda Wade, 27, pleaded guilty late last month to an amended indictment of assault and tampering with evidence.

The charges stem from a December 22, 2024 incident when officers went to Inisght Trumbull to talk to a man with a stab wound to his arm. The man told officers that he was visiting his children at his ex-girlfriends house when he and his ex-girlfriend got into an argument as he was leaving. He said Wade stabbed him in the arm as he was walking out and he drove himself to the hospital.

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Wades plea averts a trial that was scheduled to start Monday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Gunfire erupted in a northeast Charlotte neighborhood over the weekend, injuring a woman, killing a familys pet cat, and damaging homes and cars.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the shooting happened just after 2 a.m. on Sunday, August 3, on Olive Coast Street. Shots were fired into a home, hitting a 24-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital. Her current condition has not been released.

TRENDING: Monroe officer returns to work after being shot, seriously injured in the line of duty

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During the shooting incident, a pet cat named Apollo was also struck by the gunfire and died from its injuries. Authorities said six other people, three women and three men ranging in age from 22 to 64, were also inside at the time of the shooting but were not injured.

The bullets also hit several parked vehicles and even a neighboring house.

Police confirmed the shooter or shooters were not known to the victims, and the motive remains unclear. The case is being investigated as aggravated assault, vandalism, and animal cruelty.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM

Crime & Public Safety

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The Russians used a UAV to attack a woman in the Tsentralnyi district of Kherson on the evening of 3 August.

Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Details: Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that a 23-year-old woman from Kherson had been hit in the Russian strike. Early reports indicate that she suffered a blast injury.

Quote: "The woman was taken to hospital. Doctors are examining her and providing treatment."

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Background:

On the evening of 2 August, Russian forces dropped two guided aerial bombs on the residential district of Korabel in Kherson, causing significant damage to the road bridge.

On 3 August, Russian aircraft struck the same bridge in Kherson again, targeting the route to the Korabel district. A 65-year-old man was killed in the attack.

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A woman has been jailed for spending almost 3,000 of funds from a charity she was running on shopping, travel and food deliveries for herself.

Claire Tempest, director of Bradford-based charity Helping Hands, sobbed after she was sentenced to eight months in custody at Bradford Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to fraud in July, admitting she took 2,945.80 between 8 August 2023 and 3 January 2025.

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Deputy district judge Wallace said: "I have no doubt that when you set up this group, it was with good intentions. Unfortunately, there came a point in time when you decided to help yourself to the funds."

Tempest, who was also ordered to donate 2,000 to a local charity by March 2026, told the judge: "I'd just like to say that I'm sorry."

'Act of desperation'

Helping Hands, although not a registered charity, helped people in the Bierley area of Bradford by providing food, white goods, furniture and toiletries to those in need.

It mainly operated on Facebook and prosecutor Vicky Truman told the court that other members of the group began to suspect something was amiss due to Tempest's lack of transparency about the charity's finances.

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She would not allow the charity's treasurer, Claire Grove, to see the organisation's bank statements.

"[Ms Grove] was asked by a friend what the money donated was used for," Ms Truman said.

"She asked Miss Tempest and she said that she didn't have to prove anything to anyone."

Ms Truman said Ms Grove has asked for screenshots of the charity's bank statements, but Tempest had "refused" to provide them.

"At that point she resigned from being treasurer," Ms Truman said, adding it was then she raised concerns with other moderators of the group before Tempest was reported to Action Fraud.

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A police investigation found Tempest had made 54 transactions to her partner, totalling more than 2,500, and 28 transactions to Uber and Uber Eats.

Sharan Dosanjh, mitigating for Tempest, said her client had been "ridiculed on social media" and had even received "death threats and public shaming".

Ms Dosanjh said taking the cash "was an act of desperation" and that she had shown genuine remorse.

The judge said Tempest's actions "undermines trust and public confidence in charitable donations, it's something we cannot tolerate".

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

More on this story

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(NewsNation)  The woman who was knocked out in the Cincinnati brawl last weekend has given an update on her recovery in a tearful video.

Its been very, very hard, she said after thanking the public for their support. Im still recovering. I still have a very bad brain trauma.

The woman, identified as Holly, is seen with large bruises covering her face and a black eye in the video shared by WLWT. She is a single mother who was enjoying an evening out with friends before the brawl.

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Montana bar shooting victims named as manhunt continues for suspect

Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno previously shared a photo of her injuries, which she suffered in a violent attack in downtown Cincinnati on July 26.

Videos of the large fight showing a group beat and stomp a man for nearly a minute went viral and six people have been charged in connection with the attack so far.

Police have faced criticism over the beating with calls for more to be done to curb violence downtown. A local lawmaker, City Council Member Victoria Parks, sparked further outrage with a social media post in which she wrote, They begged for that beat down.

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Cincinnati officials face scrutiny after viral beating downtown

Holly, meanwhile, said all of the prayers and well wishes shes received after the attack have restored her faith in humanity.

I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for all of the love and support, she said. Its definitely whats keeping me going  God bless you all.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PHOENIX - A Massachusetts woman got more than she bargained for on a trip to northern Arizona when a bat flew into her mouth, and that was just the beginning of her problems.

The backstory

Erica Kahn and her father visited northern Arizona in August 2024.

"We like to take photos of the night sky and the stars, and it's something we've been doing for the past 10 years now, but this was the first time this incident occurred," said Kahn.

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Kahn's trip took a drastic turn when a bat ended up flying into her face.

"I had my strap around my camera around my head so that it wouldn't fall down, and because of that, it kind of got trapped between my mouth and the camera," she said. "I don't know what part of the bat went into my mouth, maybe the wing, the head, I don't know."

What Happened Next

Kahn works in the medical field, so she knew the risk. She knew that she needed to get checked for rabies immediately.

Kahn, however, lost her health insurance after losing her job, but she signed up for a health plan with a firm called "Innovative Partners." She was shocked to find the rabies treatment she received wasn't covered.

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"They kind of lied to me on the phone when I said, I need to go to the emergency room, like, tomorrow. Is this gonna be effective? Is this gonna cover if I need rabies shots? And she said, Yes, yes, it's gonna cover it. You're good to go," Kahn said.

What they didn't tell her was there is a 30-day waiting period for the coverage to kick in, and Kahn ended up footing a bill of over $20,000.

It should also be noted that California's Department of Insurance recently sent a cease and desist to Innovative Partners for what they call a scheme involving the sale of misleading healthcare insurance.

The other side

The company has not responded to a request for comment on Kahn's case, which she's still fighting through speaking out.

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"Our healthcare system is so broken and that's why I'm kind of happy to take these interviews," she said. "I want to shine a light that this should not be the cost of getting a life-saving rabies vaccine."

Are bats common in Arizona?

Bats can be seen in Arizona, and bat-related incidents have also happened within the state.

Big picture view

In 2019, a rabies-infected bat scratched the hand of 21-year-old Nick Major while he was outside one day in Canada. Major developed symptoms of rabies weeks later and then died. Arizona Game and Fish says encounters with bats can happen year-round.

In October 2024, several Northern Arizona University students were treated for rabies, after bats infested a dormitory.

On the night of Aug. 1, a cauldron of bats showed up on weather radar, flying from Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
After 10 years of serving as Worcesters health and human services (HHS) commissioner, Dr. Matilde Castiel will retire on Sept. 30, City Manager Eric D. Batista announced on Monday.

I am retiring after 10 years. Its not easy for me to say those words because this work, and this city, have been my heart for a decade, Castiel said in a press release from Batistas office. I have had the extraordinary privilege of serving a community I love alongside people who inspire me every single day. Together, we have faced enormous challenges and built bold, beautiful solutions. I have seen whats possible when compassion leads, when equity guides, and when justice is more than a goal but truly is a practice.

Castiel immigrated from Cuba to the United States in 1962, according to the press release. For 36 years, she has worked as an internal medicine physician in Worcester, spending time at UMass Memorial Medical Center and Family Health Center of Worcester.

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She is also an associate professor of internal medicine, family medicine and psychiatry at the UMass Chan Medical School.

In 2015, then City Manager Ed Augustus named Castiel to serve as the HHS commissioner.

Castiels appointment came at a time when Worcester reconstituted its HHS department, which was previously eliminated in 2009 as part of budget cuts.

As HHS commissioner, Castiel helped establish the citys Housing First Coordinating Council, opioid task force and the mayors mental health task force, the press release reads.

Recently, she worked with UMass Chan Medical School to create the Worcester Integrated Health Data Exchange  a partnership among health care agencies that provide Worcester health data to help better understand health inequities, trends, risk factors and outcomes, according to the press release.

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I want to congratulate Dr. Castiel on an incredibly impactful tenure as a public servant to the City of Worcester, Batista said in the press release. Her dedication to this community has truly been inspiring  from her work to institute a syringe exchange program to launching a Housing First Coordinating Council to her leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, running equity-based vaccination campaigns and shelters  she has proven herself as a compassionate problem solver and will leave a lasting legacy.

With Castiel departing, Batistas administration will explore options for the role of HHS commissioner and will relay its plan before Castiels departure, according to the press release.

More Worcester Stories

Read the original article on MassLive.
A subsidiary of a Hong Kong conglomerate entangled in U.S.-China tensions appealed on Friday for legal protection for businesses in Panama after the companys contract over its Panama Canal port assets has been faced with lawsuits in the Central American country.

Respect for the rule of law is essential to assure businesses that Panama is a safe place to invest in, Panama Ports Company, under Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, said in a statement.

Panamas Comptroller General filed two lawsuits on Wednesday, seeking to declare unconstitutional a contract that granted the operation of ports at both ends of the canal to the Hong Kong subsidiary, and to nullify its renewal four years ago, saying it was abusive of Panamas interests.

In turn, Panama Ports Company said its operations have had a positive impact, from building world-class ports to creating more than 25,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributing billions of balboas  Panamas currency  to the countrys economy.

It said it wants to work with the government in Panama for a better future.

Regarding the ongoing legal actions, we firmly believe that respect for legal protection and the rule of law are essential in order to provide businesses and investors with the certainty that Panama is a safe country to invest in, it said.

The company operates the ports of Balboa, in the Pacific, and Cristobal, in the Atlantic, under a concession contract approved in 1997 and renewed in 2021 for 25 more years. CK Hutchison is controlled by the family of Li Ka-shing, the southern Chinese citys richest man.

Panamas comptroller authority in April said that an audit of Panama Ports Company found irregularities in the renewal of the concession. But the company denied allegations that it had failed to pay about $1.2 billion to the Central American country.

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said during his weekly news conference on Thursday that he fully supported the comptrollers case and would await the courts verdict.

We have all seen what that contract has costed the Panamanian nation over time, Mulino said without elaborating. He alluded to some sort of public-private partnership for the ports, saying there was a lot of interest from private companies, but that it was in the early stages and provided no details.

CK Hutchison Holdings initial plan, announced in March, to sell its port assets in dozens of countries to a group that includes the U.S. investment firm BlackRock Inc., also got caught up in tensions between Beijing and Washington.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has alleged that China interferes with the canal, initially welcomed that plan. However, it apparently angered Beijing and drew a review by Chinese anti-monopoly authorities.

After months of uncertainty, Hutchison said on Monday that it may seek a Chinese investor to join a consortium of buyers, which also includes BlackRock subsidiary Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited, a subsidiary of the Mediterranean Shipping Company.

The initial deal, valued at nearly $23 billion, including $5 billion in debt, would have given the consortium control over 43 ports in 23 countries, including the two at the Panama Canal.

Panama Ports Company said Friday it would communicate with the Panamanian government at the appropriate time, affirming that it believes engaging with the government is vital to discuss the way forward for the company.

Panamas government maintains it has full control over the canal and that the operation of the ports by Hutchison does not mean Chinese control of it. KANIS LEUNG, HONG KONG, MDT/AP

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The Hawker Siddeley Kestrel was the aviation worlds first jump jet, a Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (or V/STOL) aircraft, a milestone in aviation history. Originally known as the P.1127, it was later renamed the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel. Its evolution led to the British Aerospace Harrier and ultimately the McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier II.

No Runways

After the Korean War, interest in V/STOL aircraft was high. Military planners and aircraft manufacturers believed the concept would eliminate the need for runways, which were vulnerable to air-launched runway denial munitions, as well as cannon and mortar fire. Designers began to research ways for military aircraft to take off vertically from small patches of open space.

The Pegasus Engine

The Pegasus vectored-thrust engine is the heart of the Kestrel/Harrier aircraft. The Pegasus moniker came from Bristols tradition of naming their engines after classic mythology figures.

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Its original design and theory behind the vectored-thrust engine came from Michel Wibault, a French aviation designer. His design called for four harnessed rotatable jets, two of which were positioned on either side of the compressor for vertical lift, along with a main jet which was directed using a fixed central tailpipe.

Development of the engine and aircraft began in 1957. Sir Stanley Hooker of the Bristol Aero Engine Company, along with Sir Sydney Camm and Ralph Hooper of Hawker Aircraft, started exploring ways to increase power while reducing the size and weight of the engine. By 1959, a working engine was ready for testing, but the thrust of the original engine was only 11,000 pounds instead of the promised 13,500 pounds.

Hawker P.1127 prototype port side jet nozzles. (Alan Wilson)

First Flight

In October 1960, initial flights of the prototype were conducted with the aircraft tethered to the ground. This testing allowed the pilots to familiarize themselves with the hovering controls. In November 1960, the first untethered flights began, and by September 1961, the transition from vertical to horizontal flight was achieved.

Summer In Paris

In June 1963, the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 made its debut at the Paris Air Show. While it performed well for most of the demonstration, the landing didnt go well, as viewers watched the aircraft perform a 360-degree turn and then lose power, resulting in a hard landing that destroyed the undercarriage.

Dreihundert Zwei!

In 1965, a Tripartite Evaluation Squadron (TES) was formed at West Raynham, Norfolk, England, comprising top pilots from the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the United States of America. This team would conduct trials of the Kestrel FGA.1 for their respective air forces.

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West Germany sent Luftwaffe Col. Gerhard Barkhorn as their representative. Barkhorn, who gained notoriety for destroying a total of 301 aircraft during World War II, was testing one of the Kestrels on Oct. 13, 1965. As he was hovering, about to land, he cut the throttle approximately one meter above the ground. The Kestrel dropped like a stone, destroying the landing gear. Barkhorn climbed out of the cockpit and, while examining the damage, exclaimed, Driehundert Zwei! German for 302.

Coming to America

Following a meeting and a rumored unauthorized test flight between two Marine Corps pilots and representatives from Hawker Siddeley at the 1968 Farnborough Air Show, the Marine Corps decided it wanted the Harrier for close air support and carrier operations.

As Hawker Siddeley produced the Harrier, an arrangement had to be made with the U.S. defense contractor McDonnell-Douglas to produce this foreign-made aircraft. Between 1971 and 1976, the Marine Corps procured 102 AV-8A Harriers and 8 TAV-8A two-seat training aircraft.

Off To War

In 1980, British Aerospace delivered the first of 57 FRS.1 Sea Harriers (also known as the Shar) to the Royal Navy. They proved their worth just two years later in 1982, when the United Kingdom went to war in the Falklands. Operating from carriers in the war zone off the coast of Argentina, they provided air defense for the British Task Force. They shot down 20 Argentinian aircraft with the loss of just two Harriers.

AV-8B Harrier II

Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II at an air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (Wallycacsabre)

In December 1983, the Marine Corps received its first upgraded Harrier II. This version was an extensive redesign of the AV-8A Harrier. The Harrier II was upgraded with a larger composite wing, an additional hardpoint on each side, an elevated cockpit, and an upgraded version of the Pegasus engine, producing 23,500 pounds of thrust.

The Legacy

The Harrier was an outstanding weapons system that served for decades through war and peace, but Father Time comes for everything sooner or later. By 2027, the last of the Marine Corps Harriers will be retired, and the squadrons will transition to the new kid in town: the Lockheed F-35B Lightning II.

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B-2 bomber

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Aviation

This look inside the B-2 Bomber is so detailed it should be classified This look inside the B-2 Bomber is so detailed it should be classified

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A thermal camera image shows an Iranian F-14 on the ground with targeting sites overlaid on it.

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Editors Note: This story was originally published in the December 1992 issue of Outdoor Life. The IGFA currently recognizes Cal Johnsons 67-pound, 8-ounce muskie as the world record.

September 1957 had been, Art Lawton recalled, a miracle month of muskie fishing. The muskies in New Yorks St. Lawrence River had been on a feeding ramp age, and Lawton along with his wife, Ruth, had been there to intercept them. The couple had taken 30 muskies weighing from 18 to 49 pounds in one week of fishing. And with hopes of catching even larger fish, the two returned one week later. Sunday morning, September 22 was an ideal muskie day, according to Lawton. It was cool with a hazy overcast and a slight riffle on the river just south of Clayton, New York.

Wed been trolling about four hours when the strike came at about 11 a.m., Lawton wrote in an article published in the June 1958 issue of Outdoor Life. I had him on, fighting deep, for half an hour before we saw him. All that time he did what he wanted. Then he came to the top, flailed, and tried to jump, but he couldnt get his big belly clear of the water.

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It took me an hour to subdue him and get him to the boat. When it was all over we knew he was the biggest muskie wed ever taken, but it didnt occur to us that he might set a new world record. Arthur Lawton laid claim to the then-new muskie world record with that fish, which he claimed weighed in at 69 pounds 15 ounces and measured 64.5 inches. Or did it? That was 35 years ago. On August 6, 1992, shortly after my submission of an exhaustive research paper on the Lawton fish, the world-record muskie was almost unanimously disqualified, on the grounds of falsification, by the review boards of both the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame (NFWFHF) and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

The post photo of the Art Lawton muskie. Outdoor Life

A whirlwind of controversy the likes of which the fishing world has never before seen has since followed. My investigation began about seven months ago after reading an article alleging the catch, falsification of the former world-record muskie, taken by Louis Spray in Wisconsins Chippewa Flowage in October 1949. The article claimed that Sprays 69-pound 11-ounce muskie was actually caught by a mobster, who sold it to Spray for $50. As the director of the Sawyer County Historical Society, owner of a lodge near where Sprays fish was caught, and a muskie fishing aficionado, I took great interest in the story and set out to investigate it. Many avenues of that investigation pointed to Art Lawtons world record status and the rumors that surrounded it. Ironically, and perhaps understandably to some, it was Spray himself who first raised suspicions about Lawtons claim to the world record. After seeing a photo of Lawtons stringer of nine muskies in a Rochester (New York) Times Union article, the largest of which was identified in the photo caption as the record fish with the next largest weighing 49 pounds, Spray raised questions.

Citing his experience as an accomplished muskie angler, Spray alleged that either the fish [fifth from the left] weighed more than 49 pounds, or the one next to it didnt weigh 69 pounds. Spray declined to contest the Lawton catch, fearing his being labeled a poor sportsman.

Contest coordinators at Field & Stream magazine, the fish-record-keeping organization at the time, had suspicions, as well, following rumors about Lawtons fish, but they were unable to find any proof of falsification. The key to my investigation into the Lawton fish boiled down to mathematical analyses of Lawtons muskie photos and a study done on fish markings. The key photograph (what I call the post photo) depicted Lawton standing next to the record fish hanging on a post. After obtaining confirmation that Lawton stood 5 feet 8 inches tall, the true length of the fish could be calculated with great accuracy.

The stringer photo along with the smoking gun photo of Art Lawton. Outdoor Life

The author conducted an in-depth marking study. Outdoor Life

Precise calculations from this photo reveal that the true length of the Lawton fish was between 55.1 and 55.9 inches, and that it could not have exceeded 57 inches. This is certainly far short of the 64 inches that Lawton claimed in his application to Field & Stream for world-record recognition. (A letter recently discovered among Lawtons personal effects by muskie fishing historian Larry Ramsell indicates that Lawton himself referred to the fish as measuring 55 inches.)

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If the muskie in the post photo measured 55 inches, then so did the fish depicted in the official Field & Stream photo (a different picture). Marking studies show that they are, indisputably, the same fish, because markings, like fingerprints on humans, cannot be identical on any two fish. The third key photo in the investigation is what I call the smoking gun photo. This picture shows the Lawtons posing with a stringer of nine muskies. Markings on the largest fish prove it to be the same fish as in both the post photo and the official photo sent to Field & Stream by Lawton. The nine fish were, according to Lawton himself, caught a week before his alleged world record catch.

Although I felt qualified to make a complete photo analysis, I sought the services of Roy Mcjunkin, an expert in the evaluation of vintage photographs from the University of California at Riverside; Arthur Oehmcke, former muskellunge culturist and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources- fisheries manager; and attorneys James A. Olsen and P. Scott Rasset of the Madison, Wisconsin, law firm of (ironically) Lawton & Cates. All concurred that the muskie depicted in the post photo, the muskie in the official Lawton contest photo and the largest fish in the stringer shot are the same fish. So what does this all mean?

The Louis Spray muskie. Outdoor Life

In the smoking gun photo, which appeared with Lawtons June 1958 article in Outdoor Life, the largest fish of the catch is said to have weighed 49 pounds 8 ounces. Notations at the bottom of the original photograph (enhanced in an effort to make them readable), which were presumably written by Lawton, also identify the fish as weighing 49 pounds 8 ounces. If this fish, according to the marking study data, is the same muskie as the one in the post and Field & Stream photos, then it did not weigh 69 pounds 15 ounces, as Lawton claimed, but was actually the 49-pound 8-ounce muskie caught one week before Lawton claimed to have caught the world record. In addition, the girth-length-weight relationship study proves beyond a doubt and certainly to the satisfaction of the NFWFHF and IGFA that the Lawton fish as pictured in the post photo could not have possibly weighed 69 pounds 15 ounces but was rather 49 pounds 8 ounces. The accepted formula for calculating a muskies weight from knowledge of its length and girth is: girth (squared) x length/800 =weight.Although fairly accurate, I chose to apply my data from nearly 1,000 muskies to further finetune this formula. One formula does not work for muskies of all sizes because the bigger a muskie grows, the fatter its body grows relative to its length.

Therefore, a larger divisor is required to make the formula work for heavier fish. My revised formula usually yields weights within three pounds of a muskies actual weight, and they are rarely more than five pounds off. Having already calculated that the Lawton fish was a maximum of 57 inches, knowing its girth would yield the approximate weight of the fish. To do this by the aid of a photograph, calipers must be used to determine side width (SW). Through much calculating with my available data for large muskies, Ive extrapolated a formula-2(SW-1)+2(.58) (SW) = girth-to determine the girth. Tests on muskies with known weights indicate an accuracy within one inch.

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Plugging in the length of the Lawton fish (57 inches) and the side width (9 inches), the muskies girth calculates to be 26.34 inches. Plug these numbers into my formula used to calculate weight and we come up with 48 pounds 9 ounces. Given my admitted margin of error, Lawtons fish most probably weighed the 49 pounds 8 ounces indicated in the notations at the bottom of the smoking gun photo.

Read Next: The Most Insane 12 Days of Muskie Fishing in Wisconsin History

In his affidavit submitted to Field & Stream magazine, Lawton identified five witnesses to his catch. After considerable effort, I was able to contact four of the original witnesses. Four of the five were, in some way, related to Lawton.

Walter J. Dunn, according to the affidavit, was in charge of the weighing, and personally measured the Lawton fish. However, when I contacted Dunn (who is not related to Lawton) he said that he did not weigh or measure the fish and did not know who did. He then signed a notarized statement to that effect. The evidence is quite overwhelming that Lawtons muskie catch was falsified. Both the IGFA and the NFWFHF have elected to disqualify the Lawton catch.

A Temporary Record

The OBrien muskie. Outdoor Life

Although the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame has decided to recognize the Louis Spray fish as its new (old) world-record holder, the International Game Fish Association has dubbed a 65-pound muskie caught by Toronto angler Kenneth OBrien as its temporary world record. OBriens huge muskie was taken from Ontarios Georgian Bay and is the largest caught anywhere in more than 25 years.

Had the fish been taken in the spring when it would have been full of eggs, it could have weighed as much as 78 pounds. OBrien and two friends were actually fishing for walleyes when the big fish struck his Countdown Rapala. In fact, OBrien had never even seen a muskie before October 16 1988. To say that they were poorly equipped to handle a fish of that size is an understatement. OBrien was using a light Fenwick rod, Mitchell spinning reel, and eight-pound test. Just 15 minutes after it struck, the 58-inch muskie appeared on the surface. OBrien was shocked at its size and knew immediately that their landing net would be useless on the fish. The anglers had luckily brought along a gaff. The first attempt was fruitless, but with OBriens buddy, Mark Aristone, on gaff for the second attempt, they brought the fish into the boat.
In an age of billionaire space races and trillion-dollar tech valuations, its unconscionable that more people have a cell phone than a toilet.

And yet, here we are.

Right now, 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water, and 3.5 billion are without basic sanitation. One thousand children under the age of five die every day due to unsafe water, hygiene, and sanitation conditions. And due to recent sweeping cuts in U.S. foreign aid  approximately $8 billion  countless water projects around the world have been halted midstream, including life-saving efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where families have been forced to draw water from contaminated sources, leading to more than 35,000 suspected cholera cases.

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This isnt just a policy failure. Its a moral one.

These funding cuts are expected to put nearly 15 million mothers and children at risk of severe malnutrition, dehydration, and disease. In Goma, Congo, aid organizations were forced to shut off clean water access almost overnight. Elsewhere, families are drinking from the same rivers where they wash clothes and bathe livestock.

How did we get here  and more importantly, how do we fix it?

We need to stop treating water and sanitation as charity cases and start recognizing them as high-priority investment opportunities for blended capital. That means mobilizing philanthropy and investment financing, alongside local government funding. This is a $1 trillion opportunity. As global demand for water skyrockets  driven in part by the resource-intensive needs of AI and other technologies  were on track to exceed available supply by 40 percent by 2030. In this context, incremental action is no longer an option.

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As someone whos spent two decades working across philanthropy, innovative finance, and global development  including launching WaterEquity alongside Gary White, Matt Damon, and a global leadership team  Ive seen firsthand how catalytic and blended capital can turn on the tap for good.

Take Chim Chany, a mother I met in Cambodia. She was earning between $2 and $8 a day and paying $26 a month for a broken water pipe contaminated with arsenic. A small microloan  made possible through Water.orgs microfinance partners  helped her install a safe water connection. Her family got healthy. She got her time back. She built a business. She repaid the loan in a year. Her monthly water bill dropped to $7. This is what happens when we invest in women and unlock capital for demand-driven solutions.

In fact, 90 percent of microfinance clients using small loans to access water and sanitation solutions are women. And they repay at rates that put Wall Street to shame.

There is no shortage of viable solutions. What we lack is the will to scale them.

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Thats where blended finance comes in. In 2024, more than $18 billion in blended finance transactions were deployed across 123 deals  many of which combined philanthropic, public, and private capital to take promising infrastructure and tech solutions to scale.

Imagine this: a $1 billion water investment vehicle, backed by a $50 million philanthropic first-loss guarantee from major foundations. It could channel zero-interest loans, recoverable grants, and other forms of concessionary capital into regions where commercial capital cant yet go  and help de-risk and attract investors where it can. These types of models are already being tested and proven by organizations like WaterEquity, Danone Communities, Water Unite Impact, and Finca. We just need to

multiply them.

The venture capital world has normalized taking bold risks to test, fail, learn, and innovate. Why are we so hesitant to do the same when it comes to something as essential as water  or as powerful as women? According to the Female Founders Fund, women entrepreneurs generate two times the revenue per dollar raised compared to men  and burn 15 percent less capital. But they remain woefully underfunded.

Were not short on capital. Were short on courage and creativity.

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Now more than ever, we need to use every tool in our financial toolbox  philanthropy, innovative finance, concessionary capital  to protect and scale whats working. From innovators like Saha Global reaching last-mile communities with safe water to donor-advised fund platforms like ImpactAssets, bold and new financial models are already unlocking capital for the communities that need it most.

Innovation doesnt happen in conference rooms. It happens in the margins  in the homes of women like Chim Chany who are ready to rise, if only we give them a fair shot.

Lets stop asking if we can afford to invest in water and women.

The real question is: Can we afford not to?

Alix Lebec brings 20+ years of experience in entrepreneurship, innovative finance, and philanthropy. She was a founding member of WaterEquity, a global impact investing manager investing in women and water co-founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, and shes the founder and CEO of LEBEC, an innovative finance strategy firm that helps clients harness the power of philanthropy and global capital markets to drive impact and seize emerging opportunities. Alix is a Worthy100 Awardee (Worth Magazine and LOreal Group), a limited partner at Polymanth Ventures, global judge for Reckitts social entrepreneur accelerator (a Fortune 500 company), and a member of 100 Women in Finance.

The post The World Runs on Water  and Women. Why Arent We Funding Them? appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Hello! I'm Crystal, and I write the That Got Dark newsletter, BuzzFeed's weekly roundup of all things creepy, macabre, and horrible AF. And if you looooove this kind of content, you should subscribe to get your weekly dopamine fix of the macabre delivered RIGHT to your inbox!

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Here's what the newsletter is covering this week:

1.The extremely graphic story of Japans Twitter Killer.

AFP Contributor / AFP via Getty Images

Related: Just A Few WTF Facts That Shattered My Brain This Week

In June 2025, a serial killer in Japan named Takahiro Shiraishi, known as the "Twitter Killer," was executed by hanging  Japans first execution since 2022. Shiraishi had been convicted of murdering and dismembering nine people (eight of them women or teenage girls) in 2020.

MASATO YAMASHITA / JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images

Back in 2017, Shiraishi would use Twitter (now called X) to lure his victims to his apartment. He specifically targeted users who posted about having suicidal thoughts and would tell them that he could help them in their plans. However, once his victims arrived, Shiraishi sexually assaulted, strangled, and then murdered them. He even dismembered their bodies.

Artur Debat / Getty Images

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Later, authorities would find cooler boxes containing human heads and bones with the flesh scraped off. Shiraishi went on to plead guilty to murdering the victims, saying in court that he had killed them to satisfy his own sexual desires.

AFP Contributor / AFP via Getty Images

2.The creepy experience one of our BuzzFeed Community members had in Monticello, Mississippi  a seemingly quiet southern town.

History collection 2016 / Alamy

"Dated a girl from there, and aside from the inbreeding that went on, the whole town seemed 'too happy.' I can't describe it. False cheeriness, like the townspeople had something to hide. It felt very surreal. Years later, I learned it was near where they had the Valley of the Kings cult, where the leader and his son were sexually abusing minor-age members of the congregation."

Anonymous

Related: Here's A Bunch Of Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Messed-Up, Dark, And Creepy Sh*t I Just Learned About

The Valley of the Kings Church was a small religious group led by a man named David Earl King. He ran the group from a large compound with homes, a church, and a farm. King had total control over everything, and people who lived there  especially women and children  were often mistreated, with people describing it as cult-like.

Tatsiana Volkava / Getty Images

In 2001, King and his adopted son were arrested and later convicted of sexually abusing a teenage boy, who attended their church and school, and other serious crimes. King died in prison in 2017, and the "church" no longer exists.

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3.The (possible) existence of a medieval torture device called a breast ripper.

Sunny Celeste / Alamy

The breast ripper was supposedly used to punish women, especially those accused of things like cheating or having an abortion. It had sharp claws, sometimes heated, that would be clamped onto a woman's breast and then pulled or twisted  just as the name implies. Apparently, there were even versions that attached to a wall where the woman would be pulled away from it instead. Now, there's not a ton of proof that this device was really ever used, but if it wasyikes.

Related: 50 People Who Died In Embarrassing, Nightmarish, Scandalous, Horrifying, Disturbing, Or Even Darkly Funny Ways

4.The violent and shocking murder of actor Sharon Tate (and her unborn child), along with four others on Aug. 9, 1969.

New York Daily News / NY Daily News via Getty Images

On the night of Aug. 89, 1969, Sharon Tate, who was eight and a half months pregnant, was killed by members of the Manson Family cult at her Los Angeles home. Under the direction of Charles Manson, four of his followers  Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian (who served as a lookout)  broke into Tates home and killed her along with four others: Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent.

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

The murders were carried out in a frenzy of extreme violence, with the victims being either shot, stabbed (multiple times), or even bludgeoned to death. Tate, who was brutally stabbed and strangled to death, reportedly pleaded for the life of her unborn child before she died.

ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy

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Atkins, Krenwinkel, and Watson (the three who actually committed the murders) were all sentenced to death. Atkins died in prison in 2009, Krenwinkel was recommended for parole in May 2025, and Watson will be eligible for a parole hearing in October 2026.

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

Patricia Krenwinkle (left) and Susan Atkins (right), with another Manson family member, Leslie Van Houten (in the middle).

5.Finally, the case of Bobby Joe Long, aka the "Classified Ad Rapist," who killed at least 10 women in Florida in the '80s.

ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy

Related: 17 Very, Very, Very, Very, Very, Very Dark And Tragic Things I Just Learned About That Melted My Brain

Long was a serial rapist and murderer who terrorized Florida's Tampa Bay area in 1984, killing at least 10 women after previously assaulting dozens. He would target his victims after finding them through personal ads in Florida, thus being called the "Classified Ad Rapist." Longs crime spree ended when 17-year-old Lisa McVey, whom he abducted and later released, provided crucial information that led to his arrest. Convicted of multiple crimes, Long was sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection in 2019.

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His last meal: Roast beef, bacon, French fries, and soda.

Crystal Ro / BuzzFeed

That just about does it for the week in scariness! In the next issue, were gonna talk alllllllll about missing people, even children. Until then, stay safe, keep the lights on, and Ill see you for another horrifying trip down the rabbit hole

Love this kind of content? Subscribe to the That Got Dark newsletter to get a weekly post just like this delivered directly to your inbox. It's a scary good time you won't want to miss.

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Do you have a weird, creepy, or shocking story you want to share? Perhaps theres a strange Wikipedia page you want to talk about? Tell me all about it at thatgotdark@buzzfeed.com, and who knows, maybe itll be featured in a future edition of That Got Dark!

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Dial 988 in the United States to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline . The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org . The Trevor Project, which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth, is 1-866-488-7386.

If you are concerned that a child is experiencing or may be in danger of abuse, you can call or text the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (4.A.CHILD); service can be provided in over 140 languages.

Also in BuzzFeed: This 30-Question General Knowledge Test Will Eliminate 53% Of People Before Question 21

Also in BuzzFeed: This General Knowledge Trivia Quiz Will Separate The "Book Smart" People From The "Everything Smart" People

Also in BuzzFeed: I'm Willing To Bet Most Americans Can't Solve These Visual Phrase Riddles And That's Really Disappointing

Read it on BuzzFeed.com
An incarcerated person makes a phone call at the York Community Reintegration Center in Niantic, Conn. Starting Aug. 1, New York will offer free phone calls in state prisons, becoming the sixth state to do so  and the first to enact the policy without legislation. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

New York began offering free phone calls to people incarcerated in its state prisons on Aug. 1, becoming the sixth state to do so.

The change is projected to save roughly 30,000 families across the state an estimated $13.3 million per year in phone call fees, according to Worth Rises, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to dismantling the prison industry.

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New York joins California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Minnesota in offering free phone calls in state prisons, though Colorados policy wont take full effect until 2026. New York, however, is the first state to implement the change administratively, without any legislation.

Previously, incarcerated New Yorkers were charged $0.024 per minute for domestic calls under the states contract with Securus Technologies and received three free 15-minute calls per week, according to the departments news release.

The new policy eliminates all charges for calls made from facility phones or tablets. The New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision will cover the costs through its operating budget and expects to spend $9 million this fiscal year.

Some research suggests that incarcerated people who maintain consistent contact with loved ones are significantly more likely to succeed upon release and are less likely to reoffend.

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The policy change also comes as the department continues to work to restore operations following a three-week correctional staff strike earlier this year, which has left thousands of officer positions unfilled and led to cutbacks in visitation, programming and recreation. Some facilities have extended officer shifts up to 12 hours and increased cell confinement to up to 20 hours a day.

Understanding the value of family ties while in prison is crucial  not only for emotional support, but for improving an individuals outcomes while incarcerated and when returning to society, Daniel F. Martuscello III, the corrections departments commissioner, said in a statement.

This latest initiative also aligns with the departments goal of reducing New Yorks recidivism rate to 17% by 2030. The state recently reported a historic low of 18.9%, according to the state corrections departments news release.

The new phone policy also builds on other efforts to reduce financial strain on incarcerated people and their families. The department has increased the amount of gate money or money provided upon release from $40 to $200, eliminated work release program fees and expanded Wi-Fi access and secure messaging on tablets to improve communication beyond phone calls.

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New Yorks new policy change also comes just weeks after the Federal Communications Commission abruptly announced a two-year delay in implementing new rate caps for prison and jail phone calls. The rules, which passed unanimously last year under the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, aimed to significantly lower the cost of calls for incarcerated people.

Facilities that havent yet lowered their phone and video call rates  or that decide to roll back recent changes  can continue charging higher rates until at least April 2027. The FCC had approved rate caps of 6 cents per minute for phone calls in prisons and large jails, 16 cents per minute for video calls in prisons, and 11 cents per minute for video calls in large jails, though those rates may change again before the rules take effect.

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.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
An incarcerated person makes a phone call at the York Community Reintegration Center in Niantic, Conn. Starting Aug. 1, New York will offer free phone calls in state prisons, becoming the sixth state to do so  and the first to enact the policy without legislation. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

On Aug. 1, New York became the sixth state to offer free phone calls to people incarcerated in its state prisons.

The change is projected to save roughly 30,000 families across the state an estimated $13.3 million per year in phone call fees, according to Worth Rises, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to dismantling the prison industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

New York joins California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Minnesota in offering free phone calls in state prisons, though Colorados policy wont take full effect until 2026. New York, however, is the first state to implement the change administratively, without any legislation.

Previously, incarcerated New Yorkers were charged $0.024 per minute for domestic calls under the states contract with Securus Technologies and received three free 15-minute calls per week, according to the departments news release.

The new policy eliminates all charges for calls made from facility phones or tablets. The New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision will cover the costs through its operating budget and expects to spend $9 million this fiscal year.

Some research suggests that incarcerated people who maintain consistent contact with loved ones are significantly more likely to succeed upon release and are less likely to reoffend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The policy change also comes as the department continues to work to restore operations following a three-week correctional staff strike earlier this year, which has left thousands of officer positions unfilled and led to cutbacks in visitation, programming and recreation. Some facilities have extended officer shifts up to 12 hours and increased cell confinement to up to 20 hours a day.

Understanding the value of family ties while in prison is crucial  not only for emotional support, but for improving an individuals outcomes while incarcerated and when returning to society, Daniel F. Martuscello III, the corrections departments commissioner, said in a statement.

This latest initiative also aligns with the departments goal of reducing New Yorks recidivism rate to 17% by 2030. The state recently reported a historic low of 18.9%, according to the departments news release.

The new phone policy also builds on other efforts to reduce financial strain on incarcerated people and their families. The department has increased the amount of gate money or money provided upon release from $40 to $200, eliminated work release program fees and expanded Wi-Fi access and secure messaging on tablets to improve communication beyond phone calls.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

New Yorks new policy change also comes just weeks after the Federal Communications Commission abruptly announced a two-year delay in implementing new rate caps for prison and jail phone calls. The rules, which passed unanimously last year under the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, aimed to significantly lower the cost of calls for incarcerated people.

Facilities that havent yet lowered their phone and video call rates  or that decide to roll back recent changes  can continue charging higher rates until at least April 2027. The FCC had approved rate caps of 6 cents per minute for phone calls in prisons and large jails, 16 cents per minute for video calls in prisons, and 11 cents per minute for video calls in large jails, though those rates may change again before the rules take effect.

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.
(NewsNation)  New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state will be redrawing state district lines as soon as possible and said the gloves are off in a national fight over redistricting.

Here in New York, we will not stand on the sidelines with timid souls, Hochul, a Democrat, said. This is a war; we are at war.

New York is one of the states hosting Democrats who have fled Texas to prevent the Texas state House from passing a redrawn district map that would give Republicans a larger majority.

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Abbott gives Texas Dems deadline to return or face removal, arrest

The Texas effort has been led by the White House and could make it harder for Democrats to try to retake the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.

Blue states, including New York and Illinois, are threatening to redraw their maps in response if Republican-led states continue to change maps to hold on to power.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened the lawmakers with removal from the state House and arrest, demanding they return so the legislature has a quorum needed to do business.

Hochul said the redistricting is because Republicans realize that Americans disapprove of President Donald Trumps handling of immigration, the economy and cuts to Medicaid and know theyre facing a possible defeat at the polls.

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GOP lawmakers caution Trump, Bondi on Maxwell pardon

Americans dont want a system thats stacked against them. They believe in fairness, its fundamental, she said. Ill tell you this, theyre done with the chaos, theyre done with the cruelty, and I would say theyre ready to vote Republicans out of power in Washington, certainly in the upcoming 2026 elections.

Hochul went on to call the effort a legal insurrection and vowed to fight fire with fire.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has lashed out at Republican Sen. Ted Cruz after he mocked her for wearing a headscarf at a Muslim police officers funeral.

Hochul, a Democrat, was paying her respects at the funeral of Didarul Islam, 36, a New York City police officer, who was one of four killed in a shooting last Monday in Midtown.

A picture of the governor sat beside New York City Mayor Eric Adams at the service was posted by an anonymous conservative account with the caption Why in TF is the Governor of New York wearing a ****** hijab?!

Kathy Hochul has lashed out at Ted Cruz after he called her out for wearing a headscarf at a fallen Muslim officers funeral (REUTERS)

Cruz, who represents Texas, added Um, wut? in response on X.

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Hochul hit back at the senator in a post explaining: I wore a headscarf to honor a fallen Muslim NYPD officer at his funeral.

Respecting a grieving familys faith is wut leaders and anyone with basic decency would do.

Cruz doubled down in a further post on Sunday. I agree, he posted. You should wear a hijab every day because you are so damn decent. Never mind the rights of women in New Yorknot your concern.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Cruzs despicable remarks, and called on him to apologize.

If Ted Cruz has any remaining sense of human decency, he will apologize to both the family of slain New York City Police Department Officer Didarul Islam and Governor Kathy Hochul for his despicable and disrespectful conduct, the statement said.

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Senator Cruz should be ashamed of himself for daring to use a murdered Muslim NYPD officers funeral as an opportunity to amplify anti-Muslim hate.

Police officers carry the casket of slain NYPD officer Didarul Islam to a hearse during Islam's funeral services in the Bronx (AFP via Getty Images)

The fact that Mr. Cruz has repeatedly shown respect for Jewish beliefs by wearing a yarmulke at Jewish sacred spaces makes his attack on Governor Hochul for similarly respecting a Muslim space all the more hateful and hypocritical, the statement continued.

The next time Mr. Cruz visits a Catholic church, he should look up, notice the statues depicting Mary mother of Jesus, may Gods peace be upon them, wearing a scarf, and then ask himself why he hates the sight of the hijab so much.

Fact-checkers on X shared an image of Cruz wearing a yarmulke when he visited the Jewish Center of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn during his 2016 presidential campaign.

New York Police officers salute as the hearse carries the casket (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Others on X praised Hochuls actions as respectful to the fallen officer, who has been posthumously promoted to detective.

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Evaristus Odinikaeze wrote: Gov. Hochul showed respect, empathy, and leadership. Thats what real public service looks like.

Wearing a headscarf at a Muslim officers funeral isnt virtue signaling, its human decency.

Islams funeral was held at his mosque in the Bronx and attended by thousands of police officers who came to pay their respects.

A police officer stands next to a picture of Islam on the day of his funeral (REUTERS)

He came to New York City from Bangladesh when he was 20 years old, living in a small house along with his parents, his young sons, and his pregnant wife. He served in the NYPD for three and a half years, and joined the agency after a two-year tenure as a safety agent in city schools.

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He was killed when gunman Shane Tamura entered a Park Avenue office building with an assault style-rifle and opened fire before taking his own life.

In a eulogy read on his wifes behalf, Islam was described as someone who lived to help others and that he gave his life protecting them.

Though my heart is broken, I find comfort knowing that his sacrifice might have saved others, she added.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The Land of Enchantment Young Ambassador program is looking for students entering their junior or senior year of high school for the 2025  2026 school year. The selected ambassadors will help clean up New Mexico and enhance its natural beauty.

Pecos All-American Cheerleaders to represent New Mexico on global stage

Selected ambassadors will be young people who want to take leadership to educate and empower their community to be free of litter. The ambassadors will participate throughout the school year to organize community projects and work with peers on a statewide leadership and engagement project. The committee will select two ambassadors from six designated regional areas. Each ambassador will receive a $3,000 stipend after completed the fellowship and projects. Ambassadors will get training in project management and experience leading projects. The chosen students will be partnered with a beautification community organization in their area.

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Applications must be submitted by August 15, 2025. The selected ambassadors will be announced in early September. To apply for the young ambassador program, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Visit just about any downtown on a weekend and you will likely happen upon a farmers market. Or, you might grab lunch from a food truck outside a local brewpub or winery.

Very likely, there is a community-shared kitchen or food entrepreneur incubator initiative behind the scenes to support this growing foodie ecosystem.

As rural America gains younger residents, and grows more diverse and increasingly digitally connected, these dynamics are driving a renaissance in craft foods.

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One food entrepreneur incubator, Hope & Main Kitchen, operates out of a school that sat vacant for over 10 years in the small Rhode Island town of Warren. Its business incubation program, with over 300 graduates to date, gives food and beverage entrepreneurs a way to test, scale and develop their products before investing in their own facilities. Its markets also give entrepreneurs a place to test their products on the public and buyers for stores, while providing the community with local goods.

Food has been central to culture, community and social connections for millennia. But food channels, social media food influencers and craft brews have paved the way for a renaissance of regional beverage and food industry startups across America.

In my work in agriculture economics, I see connections between this boom in food and agriculture innovation and the inflow of young residents who are helping revitalize rural America and reinvigorate its Main Streets.

Why entrepreneurs are embracing rural life

An analysis of 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data found that more people have been moving to small towns and rural counties in recent years, and that the bulk of that population growth is driven by 25- to 44-year-olds.

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This represents a stark contrast to the 2000s, when 90% of the growth for younger demographics was concentrated in the largest metro areas.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote work options it created, along with rising housing prices, were catalysts for the change, but other interesting dynamics may also be at play.

One is social connectedness. Sociologists have long believed that the community fabric of rural America contributes to economic efficiency, productive business activity, growth of communities and population health.

Maps show that rural areas of the U.S. with higher social capital  those with strong networks and relationships among residents  are some of the strongest draws for younger households today.

Another important dynamic for both rural communities and their new young residents is entrepreneurship, including food entrepreneurship.

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Rural food startups may be leveraging the social capital aligned with the legacy of agriculture in rural America, resulting in a renewed interest in craft and local foods. This includes a renaissance in foods made with local ingredients or linked to regional cultures and tastes.

According to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. local sales of edible farm products increased 33% from 2017 to 2022, reaching $14.2 billion.

The new AgriCulture

A 2020 study I was involved in, led by agriculture economist Sarah Low, found a positive relationship between the availability of farm-based local and organic foods and complementary food startups. The study termed this new dynamic AgriCulture.

We found a tendency for these dynamics to occur in areas with higher natural amenities, such as hiking trails and streams, along with transportation and broadband infrastructure attractive to digital natives.

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The same dynamic drawing young people to the outdoors offers digital natives a way to experience far-reaching regions of the country and, in some cases, move there.

A thriving food and beverage scene can be a pull for those who want to live in a vibrant community, or the new settlers and their diverse tastes may be what get food entrepreneurs started. Many urban necessities, such as shopping, can be done online, but eating and food shopping are local daily necessities.

Governments can help rural food havens thrive

When my colleagues and I talk to community leaders interested in attracting new industries and young families, or who seek to build community through revitalized downtowns and public spaces, the topic of food commonly arises.

We encourage them to think about ways they can help draw food entrepreneurs: Can they increase local growers and producers access to food markets? Would creating shared kitchens help support food trucks and small businesses? Does their area have a local advantage, such as a seashore, hiking trails or cultural heritage, that they can market in connection with local food?

The farm store at Harley Farm Goat Dairy in Pescadero, Calif., draws people headed for hiking trails or the coast in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Several federal, state and local economic development programs are framing strategies to bolster any momentum occurring at the crossroads of rural, social connections, resiliency, food and entrepreneurship.

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For example, a recent study from a collaboration of shared kitchen experts found that there were over 600 shared-use food facilities across the U.S. in 2020, and over 20% were in rural areas. In a survey of owners, the report found that 50% of respondents identified assisting early-growth businesses as their primary goal.

The USDA Regional Food Business Centers, one of which I am fortunate to co-lead, have been bolstering the networking and technical assistance to support these types of rural food economy efforts.

Many rural counties are still facing shrinking workforces, commonly because of lagging legacy industries with declining employment, such as mining. However, recent data and studies suggest that in rural areas with strong social capital, community support and outdoor opportunities, younger populations are growing, and their food interests are helping boost rural economies.

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: Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University

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Dawn Thilmany receives funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Development Administration, and Colorado state agencies focused on agriculture, economic development and food systems.
President Donald Trumps tariff onslaught this week left a lot of losers  from small, poor countries like Laos and Algeria to wealthy U.S. trading partners like Canada and Switzerland. Theyre now facing especially hefty taxes  tariffs  on the products they export to the United States starting Aug. 7.

The closest thing to winners may be the countries that caved to Trumps demands  and avoided even more pain. But its unclear whether anyone will be able to claim victory in the long run  even the United States.

In many respects, everybodys a loser here, said Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law School.

Barely six months after he returned to the White House, Trump has demolished the old global economic order.

In its place is a system in which Trump himself sets the rules, using Americas enormous economic power to punish countries that wont agree to one-sided trade deals and extracting huge concessions from the ones that do.

The biggest winner is Trump, said Alan Wolff, a former U.S. trade official and deputy director-general at the WTO.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man has been found after city police announced he was missing.

Read next: 1 dead, 1 hurt after Warren convenience store shooting: Police

Police said earlier Monday that they were looking for a 44-year-old man who had last been seen on July 27.

Police sent an update around 5:20 p.m. Monday that the man has been located and is safe.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The man accused of shooting and killing a rival YouTuber and that mans wife in a video streamed live from the Las Vegas Strip pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday.

Manuel Manny Ruiz also known as Sin City Manny, is accused of shooting and killing Rodney Finley, 44, also known as Finny Da Legend, and his wife, Tanisha Finley, 43, near the Bellagio Fountains on June 8. Court records indicate Ruiz is 41, however, in court Monday, Ruiz told the judge he was 43. He added that he did not complete high school.

In court three weeks ago, Ruiz maintained his innocence as prosecutors announced Ruiz could face the death penalty. Since then, a death review committee within the Clark County District Attorneys Office determined that prosecutors will seek the death penalty if a jury convicts him, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported last week.

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Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones scheduled Ruizs trial for next August. Murder trials in Clark County are often delayed for months, if not years.

The June confrontation stemmed from a beef between the two YouTube streamers, police said. Ruiz later turned himself in to Henderson police and told detectives he acted in self-defense.

While Nevada has the death penalty, the state has not put a person to death since 2006. Murder cases in Nevada often end in plea deals and no trial, which result in life sentences without parole.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Only weeks after the 2025 Festival of the Arts adorned Youngstown State Universitys campus, organizers announced plans to return again in 2026.

This years festival marked its return to YSU after a few years at Wean Park. It was originally launched in 1999.

The festival will return to YSUs campus for its 28th show on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, 2026.

The show will continue its tradition of showcasing regional artists, performers and cultural organizations. The juried event will again feature more than 80 visual artists, along with live music, dance performances, childrens activities and participation from local arts groups.

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Details on artist applications, vendor registration and a full schedule of events will be released in the coming months. For more information, visit the festivals webpage.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Trips Down Under just got a tiny bit more expensive.

New Zealand is planning to start charging foreigners up to NZ$40 (approximately $24) to visit popular tourist destinations in a bid to bolster the countrys economy.

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The island nation, renowned for its pristine national parks and incredible walking trails, will make overseas travelers pay to see high-traffic sites, such as the Milford Track and Mount Cook, as reported by Bloomberg. The estimated NZ$62 million (about $37 million) in annual revenue generated will be reinvested into those locations, according to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

I have heard many times from friends visiting from overseas their shock that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world for free, Luxon said in a speech Saturday. Its only fair that at these special locations, foreign visitors make an additional contribution of between NZ$20 and NZ$40 per person.

New Zealand is focusing on tourism as a way to generate economic growth following a recession last year. The government will initially consider introducing the fee at Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound, and Mount Cook, as foreigners typically make up 80 percent of visitors at these sites. At the same time, there will be no charge for New Zealanders to access the conservation estate, Luxon added. Its our collective inheritance and Kiwis shouldnt have to pay to see it.

In addition, the government is replacing a costly transit visa for Chinese travelers this November to help attract visitors. It has also recently relaxed requirements around residence by investment to lure more foreigners.

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New Zealand isnt the only country making jetsetters fork out. Rome has started charging travelers for access to the famous Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon to counter an influx of visitors. Several popular destinations have enacted anti-tourism policies to quash growing crowds: Amsterdam has banned the construction of new hotels, and Venice has introduced day-tripper fees, for example. The difference here is that New Zealand wants foreigners to continue coming, but also pay for the pleasure. Well soon see whether that works.

If you are planning a trip to New Zealand, check out our guide for all the best places to eat, stay, and play.

Best of Robb Report

Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
As President Volodymyr Zelensky was restoring the independence of anti-corruption agencies days after he himself took that independence away, one crucial amendment was not overturned.

On July 22, Zelensky signed a bill that subordinated the country's anti-corruption agencies to the prosecutor general, a political appointee, and eliminated prosecutors' procedural independence as a side effect.

Following protests in Kyiv and pressure from Brussels, the president on July 31 signed a new bill that restored the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

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The changes that eliminated the independence of prosecutors other than those from SAPO were not reversed. Experts say that these amendments are at odds with the European Union's requirements for countries attempting to join the union.

The President's Office and the Prosecutor General's Office did not respond to requests for comment.

Read also: Zelensky dismantles Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure, brings law enforcement agencies under his thumb

Prosecutors' independence

The institutional and procedural independence of prosecutors from the prosecutor general is supposed to shield them from political or any other influence  similarly to safeguards that exist for judges.

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"A prosecutor must be independent (from the prosecutor general)," Zlata Simonenko, a criminal lawyer at the Ukrainian law firm Sayenko Kharenko, told the Kyiv Independent. "The prosecutor general is just an administrative job. He is not the head of a puppet theater who can arrange the puppets however he pleases."

"They gave the prosecutor general more powers that are not limited and not regulated. This creates opportunities for abuse."

Such independence is in line with European standards, and Ukraine has been formally introducing this principle since the 1990s.

Changes made to the Criminal Procedure Code in 2012 and pro-Western reforms following the 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, which ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, sought to strengthen prosecutors' independence on paper.

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Two weeks ago, this was reversed.

Read also: Ukraines new top prosecutor known for high-profile cases, seen as Zelensky loyalist

President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome, Italy, on July 10, 2025. (Stefano Costantino / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)

Clauses of the law

The law destroys the institutional independence of prosecutors. The prosecutor general can fire top prosecutors by liquidating or restructuring a unit within the Prosecutor General's Office.

The law also enables the prosecutor general to take cases away from prosecutors for a check and to give orders to investigators, bypassing the prosecutor in charge of the case.

Previously the prosecutor general could fire prosecutors or take away criminal cases, but it was difficult due to procedural safeguards, Simonenko told the Kyiv Independent.

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Specifically, prosecutors could be fired based on disciplinary violations, and cases could be taken away if an investigation was deemed ineffective.

Serhiy Gorbatuk, a former top prosecutor who is now serving in the army, said that even before the law, prosecutors had no de facto independence.

Prosecutor generals routinely fired prosecutors and took away cases from them in violation of the law, he told the Kyiv Independent.

"The liquidation and restructuring of departments has always been the main method of punishing disloyal (prosecutors)," he added.

Gorbatuk, who investigated crimes committed against protesters during the 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, was one of Ukraine's most outspoken critics of the system. He publicly accused ex-Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko, his boss, of violations and was fired after a conflict with his successor, Ruslan Riaboshapka, in 2019.

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Gorbatuk told the Kyiv Independent that his department was the only one that tried to implement prosecutorial independence in practice.

He argued that the new law aggravates the situation and makes prosecutors even more dependent on the prosecutor general.

Ukrainian lawmakers vote for a bill stripping anti-corruption institutions of their independence in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 22, 2025. (Andrii Nesterenko / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

"They gave the prosecutor general more powers that are not limited and not regulated," he said. "This creates opportunities for abuse."

Vitaly Tytych, a criminal lawyer and ex-head of the civic watchdog Public Integrity Council, also argued that prosecutors' independence existed only on paper before the law was passed, and in reality, prosecutors were not independent. He told the Kyiv Independent that he believes any law is unlikely to protect prosecutors if they lack integrity.

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The law also allows the Prosecutor General's Office to appoint anyone with a law degree and legal experience to a top prosecutorial job without a competitive selection procedure during martial law.

Ironically, lower-level prosecutors will still be appointed based on competitive selection procedures.

This clause also contradicts Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU. According to the country's EU accession requirements, it is expected to make competitive selection procedures for top prosecutorial jobs mandatory in 2026.

Read also: Following street protests, Zelensky signs law restoring independence of anti-graft bodies

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Editor's note: The story was updated with a response by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 4 that Russian forces fighting near the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast include foreign mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and several African countries, citing front-line reports from Ukrainian soldiers.

During a visit to the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, which is defending the Vovchansk sector, Zelensky met with commanders to discuss the battlefield situation, troop needs, and combat operations, including the use of drones and direct funding for brigades.

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Vovchansk, located just five kilometers (3 miles) from the Russian border, has seen intense fighting since Russia launched a new ground offensive in Kharkiv Oblast in May 2024.

"The soldiers on this front are recording the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and African countries in the war. We will respond," Zelensky said in a statement.

Pakistan refuted the accusations of its nationals' involvement in the war as "baseless and unfounded."

"To date, Pakistan has not been formally approached by the Ukrainian authorities, nor has any verifiable evidence been presented to substantiate such claims," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Aug. 5.

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"Government of Pakistan shall take up this matter with the Ukrainian authorities, and seek clarification in this regard."

Zelensky added that the discussions with the commanders also focused on recruitment issues and increasing access to drone technology  a critical factor in Ukraine's ongoing defensive and reconnaissance efforts.

The president said in April that "several hundred" Chinese nationals were taking part in the war on Russia's side. One detainee reportedly paid a middleman 300,000 rubles (about $3,500) to enlist in exchange for Russian citizenship.

China has denied involvement, claiming it urges its citizens to avoid armed conflicts. Moscow has also used some 12,000 North Korean troops deployed by Pyongyang to counter the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Oblast.

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Multiple reports suggest that Russia is recruiting foreign nationals to participate in its full-scale war against Ukraine. An April investigation by Russian independent outlet Important Stories identified more than 1,500 foreign fighters from 48 countries who had joined Russia's army.

Read also: We spot them, we destroy them  Ukraine fights for Kostiantynivka as Russia closes in on three sides

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted a National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) decision to impose personal sanctions on 15 directors of Russian museums involved in implementing anti-Ukrainian policies in the museum sector.

Source: Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine

Details: According to the Ukrainian National Committee of ICOM, as of March 2025, Russias official state museum catalogue contained information on 39 Ukrainian museums located in territories temporarily occupied since 2022. In August 2024, only six such museums were listed.

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The ministry stated that these actions violate the provisions of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

"Instead of ensuring the protection of cultural heritage in the occupied territories, the Russian Federation is officially appropriating museum collections and institutions, using them for propaganda purposes," the statement said.

The sanctions list includes, in particular, Artyom Silkin and Galina Alekseyeva, who are standing for election to the governing bodies of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

Sanctions apply to Russian citizens who are involved in the illegal cataloguing of Ukrainian cultural assets in the Russian state museum database, who have personally visited temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories since February 2022 and who participate in efforts to legitimise the occupation regime and promote narratives that justify Russias armed aggression.

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Ukraine will now advocate for the introduction of similar sanctions at the European Union level. The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy explained that this may call into question the continued participation of Russian representatives in international processes.

Background:

Earlier, the French civil society organisation Pour lUkraine, pour leur liberte et la notre! (For Ukraine, for their and our freedom!) launched a petition demanding that Russia be stripped of its ICOM membership over the looting of Ukrainian collections in the occupied territories.

Russia began removing cultural valuables from occupied Crimea as early as 2014. In 2016, it was recorded that 38 of the 120 works displayed at an Ivan Aivazovsky exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery had been stolen from Crimean collections.

In July 2024, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chersonesus was dismantled and looted, and in its place, a "Museum of Crimea and Novorossiya" was established  an institution promoting propaganda narratives that justify Russian aggression.

Over 13,000 items were stolen from the Oleksii Shovkunenko Art Museum and the Kherson Oblast Museum of Local History. In Mariupol, Russian forces seized major works by Arkhyp Kuindzhi and Ivan Aivazovsky. The "Scythian Gold" collection from the Melitopol Museum of Local History has simply disappeared.

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<p>When a hoax about Donald Trump went viral at the funeral of Pope Francis, I went on social media to try to set the record straight. Im a volunteer for community notes, a program Mark Zuckerberg announced in January that replaces fact-checkers with users to counter falsehoods on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.</p> <p>I drafted a note debunking images claiming to show Trump sleeping during the ceremony. I cited live-stream footage and corroborating time stamps. I linked to research by Snopes.</p> <p>None of that mattered. My community note never got added to a post because not enough other users voted it was helpful.</p> <p>Over four months, Ive drafted 65 notes debunking conspiracy theories on topics ranging from airplane crashes to Ben & Jerrys ice cream. Ive tried to flag fake artificial intelligence-generated video clips, viral hoax security threats and false reports about an ICE partnership with DoorDash.</p> <p>Only three of them got published, all related to Julys Texas floods. Thats an overall success rate of less than 5 percent. My proposed notes were on topics other news outlets - including Snopes, NewsGuard and Bloomberg News - had decided were worth publishing their own fact checks about.</p> <p>Zuckerberg fired professional fact-checkers, leaving users to fight falsehoods with community notes. As the main line of defense against hoaxes and deliberate liars exploiting our attention, community notes appear - so far - nowhere near up to the task.</p> <p>Feeds filled with inaccurate information matter for the 54 percent of American adults who, according to Pew Research Center, get news from social media.</p> <p>Zuckerbergs decision to fire fact-checkers was widely criticized as a craven attempt to appeal to President Donald Trump. He said Meta was adopting the crowdsourced community notes system used by Elon Musks X because users would be more trustworthy and less biased than fact-checkers. Before notes get published to posts, enough users have to agree theyre helpful. But agreement turns out to be more complicated than it sounds.</p> <p>Meta says my test cant be used to evaluate its notes program, which has been public in the United States for more than four months. Community Notes is a brand new product thats still in the test-and-learn phase, and it takes time to build a robust contributor community. While there are notes continuously publishing across Threads, Instagram and Facebook, not every note will be broadly rated as helpful by the community - even if those notes were written by a Washington Post columnist, said spokeswoman Erica Sackin.</p> <p>Meta declined to answer my questions about how many notes it has published, how many participants are in the program or whether theres evidence it is making an impact, despite promising to be transparent about the program.</p> <p>Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, published another independent evaluation of community notes in June and said it was not yet ready for prime time. He found that only a handful of proposed notes provided truly valuable context and some were inaccurate.</p> <p>It is concerning that four months in, they have shared no updates, Mantzarlis told me.</p> <p>This matters because community notes programs are spreading beyond X and Meta as a way for Big Tech to outsource the politically fraught work of moderating content. YouTube said it was testing a version last year. And TikTok said in April it was testing a system called Footnotes.</p> <p>If community notes are becoming a standard for fighting falsehoods, we need to be honest about what they can and cannot do.</p> <p>- - -</p> <p>Whats wrong with community notes?</p> <p>I volunteered to join Metas community notes, and was initially allowed into the program on Threads, and eventually Instagram and Facebook, too.</p> <p>Volunteers are able to tap a few buttons on any post from a U.S. user and suggest a note, complete with text and a link as proof. I deliberately drafted notes that crossed the political spectrum. For example, I suggested notes on a fabricated image of Pam Bondi seen over half a million times, as well as a false claim about the wealth of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seen a quarter of a million times.</p> <p>I also voted on dozens of notes drafted by others, rating them helpful or not helpful.</p> <p>Community notes have upsides. Ive seen users trying to tackle a wider set of topics than a traditional fact-checker might be an expert in. Some are trying to fight lies in plain, easy-to-understand language.</p> <p>But I discovered problems quickly. Sometimes, posts I identified for notes wouldnt accept them because they were written by accounts outside the U.S. (which are excluded from Metas initial program) or had other technical problems. Ive seen notes suggested by others that were low quality, some with more opinions than facts, or that sourced to Google it.</p> <p>The biggest challenge has been cutting through. I started contributing in April, and by early July nothing I had proposed had been published. Only one note that I had rated as helpful, written by someone else, had been published.</p> <p>Meta says it is not cherry picking which notes get published. It uses a bridging algorithm to try to determine which notes are actually helpful, as opposed to just popular. This formula requires contributors who have disagreed with each other on <i>past</i> notes to agree that a new note is helpful.</p> <p>In theory, this is a good thing. You dont want to publish notes that contain falsehoods or are simply attacks on particular people or ideas.</p> <p>However, agreement is tough to find. Notes I couldnt get published included facts that shouldnt be up for debate, including identifying AI deepfakes. This system also doesnt lend itself to the unique risks of breaking news and fast-moving viral conspiracies. (Meta does still remove some falsehoods directly, but in very specific instances when it can lead to physical harm or interfere with elections.)</p> <p>Meta says it is using the same algorithm as X, which the rival social network has published. Its a very, very conservative system, said Kolina Koltai, who helped develop community notes at Twitter, now called X. The algorithm is better at avoiding bad stuff than ensuring the good stuff actually gets published, she says.</p> <p>Koltai, who is now a Bellingcat journalist, says her own personal publishing rate on X is about 30 percent - low, but still multiples higher than mine on Metas social networks.</p> <p>Is it possible my notes were too one-sided? I shared what Id been proposing with Mantzarlis, who was also the founding director of the International Fact-Checking Network. He said they used non-polarizing language, clear context, and high quality sources.</p> <p>Its possible Meta hasnt been able to recruit a wide enough variety of users to meet the bridging algorithms requirements. It could also be that the community note volunteers that Meta does have just arent very engaged. I kept contributing for months, even though nothing I wrote was getting published. I cant imagine most unpaid users would bother to stick around.</p> <p>Some of these factors could improve as Metas program matures. But since Zuckerberg already fired the professional fact-checkers, the community notes system isnt just a test - its our current main line of defense.</p> <p>- - -</p> <p>How community notes could improve</p> <p>For users, its a good idea to bolster our own defenses to social media lies.</p> <p>But our best hope is that the teams inside Meta who care about the truth can evolve community notes to make them more effective.</p> <p>It could begin allowing people to draft notes on posts written by overseas accounts. It could develop a triage system to put notes on certain topics or likely to cause more harm higher in the queue. It could also improve engagement by giving contributors clout - maybe a badge? - for repeat submissions.</p> <p>Still, the reality is, randomly selected volunteers just cant do this work alone.</p> <p>Twitter originally launched community notes alongside professional fact-checkers. It was never, ever meant to be the solo thing, says Koltai.</p> <p>Musk also eventually ended Xs paid fact-checking program, and community notes have struggled to keep up with the tide of falsehoods. An analysis last year ahead of the presidential election found the majority of accurate notes proposed by X users on political posts were never shown to the public.</p> <p>Fact-checkers might make mistakes, as Zuckerberg has said, but they can also check each other as part of a community.</p> <p>Meta could give experts specialized profiles within community notes once theyve cleared some kind of credential - and maybe also let them get paid for their work. Professionals and the crowd are not contradictory, they can be complementary, says Mantzarlis.</p> <p>- - -</p> <p>Andrea Jimenez contributed this report.</p>
A manhunt for the Iraq military veteran suspected of fatally shooting four people at a bar in Montana continued for a fourth day on Monday.

On Friday at around 10:30 a.m. local time, Michael Paul Brown, 45, allegedly walked into the Owl Bar in the rural town of Anaconda and opened fire using a personal rifle, killing four local residents, according to local authorities. Police say Brown then fled the scene.

The Montana Department of Justice released a photo of Brown taken soon after Fridays shooting, according to Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen. The photo shows Brown, wearing dark boxer shorts and running shoeless down what appears to be a concrete stairway. Authorities believe he fled in a stolen white Ford F-150 with clothing and camping equipment.

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"At this point, we have every reason to believe the suspect is fully clothed, shoes on his feet, able to get around," Knudsen said on Sunday.

The attorney general said law enforcement pursued Brown in the vehicle, but when they realized he was likely armed, they pulled back. When police eventually caught up with the vehicle, Brown was not in it.

As of Aug. 4, Brown remains at large, and authorities consider him to be armed and dangerous.

Who are the victims?

Montana shooting victims, from left: Daniel Edwin Baillie, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, David Allen Leach and Tony Wayne Palm (Montana Department of Justice)

Knudsen confirmed the identities of the four victims on Sunday as bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and three bar patrons: Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

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Brown lived next door to the Owl Bar and was a regular patron. "I think its likely that he knew the bartender and these patrons, which makes this even more heinous," Knudsen said in a Friday news conference.

What we know about the suspect

Brown is 510 tall, weighs 170 pounds and has blue eyes and brown hair, authorities said Saturday.

He is a military veteran who served in the Army from January 2001 to May 2005, and also served in the Montana National Guard from April 2006 through March 2009. Brown was deployed to Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005. He left the service at the rank of sergeant, an Army spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek.

Brown was known to local law enforcement, had a criminal record and also had access to firearms, according to Knudsen.

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People who know Brown, including his niece Clare Boyle, say he has had mental health struggles, according to the Associated Press.

"This isnt just a drunk/high man going wild," she wrote in a Facebook post cited by the AP. "Its a sick man who doesnt know who he is sometimes and frequently doesnt know where or when he is either."

What has been involved in the search efforts?

The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Mont., following the fatal shooting. (Joseph Scheller/Montana Standard via AP)

Knudsen said theres been a vigorous law enforcement response from local and federal partners. Authorities have focused their search in an area west of Anaconda, on Stumptown Road, the direction where Brown was last seen, and expanded it to Barker Lake and the surrounding area.

I know at one point yesterday we had over 250 boots on the ground that were helping out with the manhunt and engaged in trying to find this suspect, the attorney general said Sunday. Assets include canine detection units, infrared and heat detection used by air, drones and authorities searching camping and hunting sites.

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On Monday, the U.S. Marshals Service posted on X that a reward of up to $10,000 would be offered for any information leading to Brown. The agency has also set up a tipline at: 1-8-77-WANTED-2.

We want to find this guy. This is a dangerous individual who has committed an absolutely heinous crime against this community and these victims, Knudsen said.

He added that the public should remain vigilant, as theres a concern that Brown might come back to the town.
Lawmaker Song Pek Kei recommends stronger interdepartmental coordination to address the challenges of mosquito control in Macaus crowded urban areas.

The call from the lawmaker comes amid growing concern over the spread of mosquito-borne diseases following several imported infections and new local cases.

In response to a Chikungunya fever outbreak connected to a construction site in the northern New Urban Zone A, the lawmaker said that mosquito prevention and control requires a comprehensive approach with stronger coordination, particularly through increased supervision and enforcement at construction sites.

Song pointed out that the city experiences heavy population movements during the busy summer months, driven by tourists and residents. She concluded that frequent thunderstorms and high humidity create a sustained high risk of disease transmission.

Song suggests that authorities consider real-time data sharing and strengthened health screenings at border entry points throughout the peak tourist season to manage this threat better.

The lawmaker also noted that campaigns have already been deployed in neighboring Zhuhai and nearby cities to address the increasing risk of chikungunya fever.

Authorities identified Zone A of the new landfills, where numerous construction projects are underway, as a high-risk area on July 29. On the Following day, the Health Bureau (SSM) set up a joint Prevention and Control Team to conduct daily inspections to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

So far, authorities have deployed chemical control measures to contain the virus at the local cases residence and other key locations.

Residents near Jardim Kong Fok On (Block 8) building, in Areia Preta, have also been advised to take extra precautions following yesterdays release of a risk zone map from the SSM

Community leaders in the northern district shared views similar to Songs. Ip Weng Hong, a Northern District Community Service Consultative Committee member, emphasized the risk from frequent cross-border movement.

Since cases have been reported in Hong Kong, awareness amongst travelers and at borders has increased, he told TDM.

Regarding reviewing current border control measures, the Northern committee member said, The government and immigration can assess whether these measures need to be enhanced further, if necessary.

Meanwhile, residents in Ilha Verde have also begun to report a surge in mosquito infestation linked to debris accumulation, stagnant water in tires and plastic drums, and uneven terrain causing water pooling after heavy rain.

A local resident, surnamed Wong, told the Times, There are a lot of areas that fill with water from leaks or cracks in the roads, which could be an issue, pointing to waterlogged spots that increase the likelihood of mosquito breeding grounds.

Meanwhile, the vice president of the Ilha Verde Neighborhood Association, Chen Feng, was quoted by Chinese-language media as saying that water-filled potholes, plastic covers, and bowls used to feed stray animals collect rainwater and thus contribute to mosquito breeding risks.

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Any tips should be sent directly to Alexander Banks through email at abanks@yakimaherald.com, or by phone at 509-577-7654.

Alexander Banks reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and Yakima community members. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. To support local journalism, click here.
MGM once again partners with internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang and his bespoke AI model cAI to present the special exhibition cAI Lab 2.0  Is It Your Gaze That Meets Mine, or Mine That Seeks Yours?. Held in MGM MACAUs newly unveiled multi-purpose space Fantasy Box, the special exhibition is a featured highlight of Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025 (hereafter Art Macao 2025).

The exhibitions central installation, Is It Your Gaze That Meets Mine, or Mine That Seeks Yours? which draws inspiration from the observer effect in quantum physics. Taking the audience as both input and catalyst in the computational process, the installation forms a continuous chain of thought that evolves throughout the exhibition. This dynamic interaction ignites a new kind of digital fireworks designed to evoke emotional and sensory resonance. Every visitor becomes a co-creator in this immersive experiment of seeing and being seen. Each gaze and reaction activates cAIs live simulation mechanism, with its evolving computational pathways displayed in real time on the Quantum State Bulletin Board.

Drawing from nearly 80,000 digital fireworks gathered from audience interactions during cAI: Soul ScancAIs world debut solo exhibition in 2024 presented by MGMthe upgraded cAI 2.0 analyzes human behavior, simulates emotional responses, and activates a firework function to co-create a digital fireworks experience. The exhibition not only resonates with the spirit of Art Macao 2025 and its theme Hey, what brings you here?, but also pushes the boundaries humanalgorithm collaboration into a new realm of inter-species interaction, merging digital art and artificial intelligence in a bold new cultural journey. It further reinforces Macaus role as a cultural and creative hub and energizes the citys artistic landscape with new momentum.

Other interactive installations continue to explore the exhibitions core themeconnecting humans and AI, reality and virtuality, the ephemeral and the eternal.

Upon entering, visitors encounter the cAI Observational Corridor, featuring twelve conceptual projects inspired by cAIs contemplative explorations of beyond human. Another key installation, cAI Hotline, invites audiences to converse with cAI and receive a personalized love poem. Additionally, Daytime Fireworks Collaboration with cAI, a 2024 interactive installation debuted at Soul Scan returns with new iterations to generate new designs from the publics creativity, creating dynamic evolution with cAI.

The exhibition is free and open to the public until September 22. To extend the artistic experience beyond the walls, MGM MACAU will also launch a line of limited-edition cultural creative merchandise while Pastry Bar is offering themed culinary treats inspired by the fireworks.

MGM

Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, NAPE, Macau

E info@mgmchina.com.mo

W http://www.mgm.mo/

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VILLANOVA, Pa. (July 29, 2025)  The Educating Character Initiative (ECI) at Wake Forest University, with the support of Lilly Endowment Inc., has awarded Villanova University a three-year, $822,258 Institutional Impact Grant, aimed at empowering projects that infuse character in undergraduate curricula and programming in ways that align with mission, context and culture. The University is one of 33 institutions of higher education to receive grant funding.

The Villanova project, Educating Augustinian Character: Cultivating the Pilgrim Virtues, will be led by Anna Bonta Moreland, PhD, the Anne Quinn Welsh Endowed Chair and Director of the University Honors Program, and Michael Tomko, PhD, chair and professor of Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. As project directors, Drs. Moreland and Tomko will oversee the development of a series of coordinated initiatives informed by the latest research from the character education movement and five pilgrim virtues (humility, forgiveness, patience, wonder and conviviality) inspired by the teachings of St. Augustine.

The expansive undertaking, facilitated through the Department of Humanities, University Honors Program and The Augustinian Institute, will enable Villanova to further its unique educational mission and provide its undergraduate community with increased opportunities for intellectual, civic and moral formation. More specifically, the project will allow for the continuing organization of an Educating Augustinian Character workshop for faculty and staff; the creation of an Augustinian Ambassadors program for undergraduates, promoting virtue-driven leadership; the enhancement of a campus-wide lecture on vocation and purpose, featuring a distinguished speaker; the relaunch of an intercollegiate fellowship program for self-reflection on character, in coordination with Eastern University and the University of Pennsylvania; and the enaction of curricular revisions to make Augustinian character formation deeper and more accessible.

This grant gives us the capacity to expand our efforts to advance our formative programming in a way thats robustly Augustinian, while also bringing in the fruits of a larger national conversation around universities and character education, said Dr. Moreland. We are deeply grateful to the Educating Character Initiative for their support, and we are really hopeful about what Villanova can contribute to this larger national discourse on character education.

Theres something unique about the way Villanova approaches character educationand the way that the Augustinian tradition enables us to take on this task, added Dr. Tomko. And some of the preliminary excitement about what were highlighting, particularly the five pilgrim virtues, has been incredibly gratifying.

Drs. Moreland and Tomko bring a wealth of administrative and research experience to the Educating Augustinian Character effort. Dr. Moreland previously oversaw the project Hope in Higher Education: Networking, Resource Sharing and Building a Brighter Future, aimed at helping students develop into thoughtful future leaders, and has extensively taught and written on the challenges associated with the transition into adulthood. Complementarily, Dr. Tomko has produced a significant amount of scholarship on character education, particularly within the Catholic and Augustinian contexts, and has instructed courses on such topics as Beauty and the Examined Life, Vocation of the Child and The Human Person.

Prior to the acceptance of their Educating Augustinian Character proposal, both Dr. Moreland and Dr. Tomko served as co-principal investigators on an earlier project, Augustinian Leadership and Character Education Beyond First-Year Experience: Shared Understanding and Collaboration, funded by a $48,090 Capacity Building Grant from the ECI.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.
The delegation of ruling Fidesz and the Patriots for Europe party family have made public the list of contracts between the European Commission and "so-called NGOs including some 1,000 political activist groups," Fidesz MEP Csaba Domotor told a press conference on Thursday.

The list is available to the public at the website ngotransparency.eu, Domotor said.



The website can be searched for names of "political activist groups" to see whether they received funding from the European Union between 2019 and 2023. It also lists "activist groups" funded by the EC in a given country, he said.



The data is based on documents obtained from the EC, Domotor said. "The numbers are shocking, as the European Commission concluded 37,000 contracts between 2019 and 2023 worth a total of 17 billion euros or 6,800 billion forints," he said.



"What they created is exactly like the USAID which was suspended because the lofty goals were hiding a liberal money-distribution system," he said.



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An Israeli man, 28, has been arrested after being suspected of carrying out a stabbing at a festival held south-west of Budapest which led to life-threatening injuries to another Israeli, a 26-year-old man, during an altercation, police announced on their website.

Police received an alert on Saturday from security guards who reported that a man was stabbed at the Ozora Festival, which describes itself as a music, dance and arts event, in Igar-Vamszolohegy.



The victim was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition, while the suspect also sustained injuries. He was arrested and taken to hospital before being detained.



Fejer County police have charged the Israeli for assault and endangering a life, police.hu said.



Earlier, on 25 July, a fire broke out at the festival when several gas canisters exploded. Witnesses reported the blaze started at a food kiosk selling Asian cuisine near the main stage.



Visitors believe the fire ignited after a gas canister overheated, catching nearby cooking oil on fire.



Attempts to contain the flames using fire extinguishers worsened the situation, leading to rapid fire spread and a series of loud explosions as propane-butane cylinders blew up in succession.



The inferno fully engulfed the kiosk and spread to three vehicles, two trailers, and several tents. Some witnesses claimed a gas pipe may have cracked during the incident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.



The Ozora Festival is one of the worlds most renowned psychedelic music and spiritual gatherings, attracting tens of thousands of attendees to Hungary each year.





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Mercedes is building what will be Hungary's biggest car plant, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said before the 40th F1 Hungarian Grand Prix at Mogyorod.

After talks with representatives of the German car giant, Szijjarto said the investment in Kecskemet, in central Hungary, was progressing well and "brand-new Mercedes models with a brand-new technology" would roll off the line in the first quarter of next year.



The plant's capacity to turn out 300,000 vehicles a year will raise the total capacity of car plants in Hungary to 1 million, Szijjarto said.



Additionally, the Kecskemet plant will be the only Mercedes plant in Europe to have a plant supplying it in the immediate vicinity, he said. "We have a very special status for Mercedes, and Mercedes has a very special status in Hungary."



Szijjarto said the plant's decade-long cooperation with Hungary was "especially important now, with a less-than-stellar world economy."



"We are cooperating with Mercedes in ensuring that Hungary turns these global difficulties to its advantage. The German manufacturer is our strategic partner ... and we are working together to turn the situation caused by the incompetence of the European Commission and [EC President] Ursula von der Leyen to our advantage so that Hungary can emerge strengthened from it, as it did from earlier crises," Szijjarto said.





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Budapest Fashion Week starts for the 16th time on Sept 1, featuring almost 100 designers from seven central European countries, the Hungarian Fashion and Design Agency (MDDU) said.

Designs from Czechia, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine, as well as Hungary, will be shown during the week, including those of recently graduated fashion and textile design students of Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) and the Budapest Metropolitan University (METU).



The streets, cultural spaces and shops of Budapest will be teeming with fashion industry programmes, lectures, pop-up events, promotions, showroom openings and professional forums.



On Sept 4, the MOME Fashion Show and exhibition will be take place at its Zugligeti Street campus.



From Sept 5 to 7, catwalk shows will take place in the Apollo Gallery and the Millenaris D building, while the National Dance Theatre will host the Fashion Hub, roundtable discussions and industry workshops over the weekend.



Foreign fashion magazine editors, renowned stylists and industry professionals are expected to attend the event which generally attracts 5,000-6,000 people each season.



Fashion Week also stimulates demand for domestic brands as well as acting as a bridge between the region's countries, the statement said.



Around two-thirds of the brands presented will be from young designers, while the close link between design colleges and the profession is strengthened thanks to hundreds of budding fashion tailors and seamstresses getting the chance to view the fashion shows each season, it added.



More:

Budapest Fashion Week



MTI Update: Budapest Fashion Week to Show 100 Collections from Central Europe



Some 100 collections from Hungary and countries in the region will be presented at the 16th Budapest Central European Fashion Week from Sept 1 to 7, the Hungarian Fashion and Design Agency (MDDU) said.



This year's Fashion Week will provide "a greater focus than ever before on young Hungarian designers", the agency said in a statement, adding that for the first time graduates of the Moholy-Nagy University of Art (MOME) and the Budapest Metropolitan University will make their debut at the event.



Apart from the Hungarian participants, designers from the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Ukraine will show their collections "reflecting the innovative thinking of the next generation", the statement said.



Fashion Week will open at the National Museum on Sept 1, while its events will take place at the MOME campus, the Apollo Gallery, Millenaris Park, and the National Dance Theatre during the week.



The Fashion Week attracts 5,000-6,000 visitors each year.

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Robert Zsigo, a state secretary at the Culture and Innovation Ministry, criticised retailers' association OKSZ for "taking the side of multinationals" in a post on Facebook.

Flouting a study commissioned by the association that suggested a government-mandated cap on food markups had not achieved its goal, Zsigo said the measure had reduced the prices of 854 of close to 1,000 products, by 20.2pc on average.



He added that the government had also reached agreements with banks, telecommunications service providers and pharmaceutical companies on price restrictions, while pensioners would get HUF 30,000 in food vouchers from September.



He said OKSZ had "disregarded the facts" and tried to pressure the government into letting the markups cap expire on August 31 with "sham research".



He noted that the European Commission had recently launched infringement procedures against Hungary over the markup caps on food and non-food products. "Brussels demands that prices be raised and taxes on multinationals scrapped," he added.



Addressing Brussels and OKSZ, Zsigo said the government would continue to use "all means" to counter "excessive and unjustified" price increases.



"We will protect Hungarian people, families and pensioners, not the profit of multinationals," he added.



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The government will expand funding for a village shops support programme to match demand, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Minister's Office, said at a weekly press briefing.

Gulyas said applications for more than HUF 10bn of support had been received, well over the HUF 4bn initially earmarked for the scheme. The government has decided to ensure the funding necessary for awards for all eligible applications, he added.



A total of 3,527 applications have been submitted by 2,392 applicants in 1,966 settlements with populations under 5,000, he said.



Applicants may apply for up to HUF 3m in grant money.





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Conjecture that the Russians could "come and take us over" is "unrealistic" and must not result in political steps, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at the MCC Feszt in Esztergom on Saturday.

"Unrealistic assumptions may only lead to misguided political decisions," Orban said.



He said the Russians were "not in the state or position" to pose a threat to Europe at present.



"At the same time, Russia is posing a threat to a part of Ukraine, because if Western [countries] don't give Ukraine weapons, they will be forced into a peace involving territorial issues, and Russia has territorial demands," he added.



Orban said that had nothing to do with what would happen in Poland, Hungary, Romania or Austria, as those countries were not under military threat.



Orban: 'I will not take responsibility for a single young person dying for Ukraine'



"I do not want to and will not take responsibility for a single young person dying for Ukraine," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at the MCC Feszt in Esztergom on Saturday.



Orban said an answer to the question of when there would be peace in the Russia-Ukraine war required a clarification of the causes for the war and the warring parties.



He explained that the power balance had been upset with the decision to end Ukraine's status as a buffer zone between the East and West and shift the country in the direction of the West.



In Hungary's case, he said, Russia had been too weak to take any steps in 1989, after the change of system, and in 1999, when Hungary joined NATO. As the Russians are stronger now, any NATO member or military force that seeks to move closer to Russia can expect a response, he added.



He said it was clear, from the perspective of the balance of powers, that the Russians aimed to create a buffer zone from parts of or all of Ukraine, defying international law.



He said the war was a "proxy war", with Ukraine "fighting in the place of the West", and most European Union member states supporting the effort with money and weapons with the aim of achieving victory.



Hungary, on the other hand, takes the position that the parties must return to the starting point, and the West and Russia must strike an agreement on Ukraine's future that is also acceptable for Ukraine, he said.



As Hungary is alone on this stance and has no chance of affecting a change, it has only one option: to stay out of the war, he added.



Orban said the war would not end until the presidents of the United States and Russia sat down at the table and reached an agreement. He added that they would also have to address other issues, such as the arms race and energy.



He noted the 5 percent of GDP NATO defence spending pledge and said that excluding Russia from the energy trade might be good for the Americans but would ruin the global economy in the long run.



Addressing assistance to Ukraine, Orban said Hungary had welcomed all of the refugees from the country, adding that tens of thousands were in the country at present.



He also said that Hungary was the only country to offer those refugees assistance on par with that available to Hungarians. "There is no free money," he added.



Orban noted that Ukraine had never asked Hungary to weigh in on their response to the Russian attack. "They did not consult us or ask for advice, they did not involve us in their decisions."



As Hungary had no say in the matter, it can only respond to the Christian duty of offering assistance, he added.



"They can't ask us to ruin ourselves, and if we go there and give money, weapons and later soldiers, we too will be ruined," Orban said.



"I do not want to and will not take responsibility for a single young person dying for Ukraine," he added.



Commenting on the threat posed by Russia, Orban said the matter had to be taken seriously, considering history, but pointed to the larger populations of the European Union, together with the UK, and the United States, as well as their bigger defence budgets.



"We have more people, we have more money, our defence industry is more developed, and we have the backing of the Americans. How are the Russians going to overwhelm us when they haven't even been able to take over those four counties in Ukraine for how long?" he added.



Conjecture that the Russians could "come and take us over" is "unrealistic" and must not result in political steps, he said.



"Unrealistic assumptions may only lead to misguided political decisions," he added.



He said the Russians were "not in the state or position" to pose a threat to Europe at present.



"At the same time, Russia is posing a threat to a part of Ukraine, because if Western [countries] don't give Ukraine weapons, they will be forced into a peace involving territorial issues, and Russia has territorial demands," he added.



Orban said that had nothing to do with what would happen in Poland, Hungary, Romania or Austria, as those countries were not under military threat.



The question is not whether the Russians could attack somebody from the west of Ukraine, but how seriously to take NATO members' mutual defence pledge, he added.



He said "nobody in their right mind" would take the risk of attacking a NATO member backed by all other NATO members, including the United States and Turkiye.



"Since NATO was established, nobody has attacked a NATO member and nobody will," he added.



Touching on the Balkans, Orban blamed the problems there for the European Union's failure to take hold of a "historic opportunity" and intergrate the countries in the region after the breakup of Yugoslavia.



He said Hungary needed to forge a historic alliance with the Serbs.



"If Hungary wants to remain strong, it cannot do so without an alliance with the Serbs. And the Serbs also need a cooperation with Hungary," he added.



Orban said it was "unacceptable" for a "viceroy" delegated from the European Union to remove and judge Milorad Dodik, the president elected by the Bosnian Serbs, not because of corruption, but because he had not implemented certain decisions that had come from the EU.



Hungary will not recognise the court ruling against Bosnian Serb president Milorad Dodik, Orban said.



"President Dodik remains the elected leader of the Serbs living in Bosnia, and we will shape our policy accordingly," he added.



Orban said the best of ties had to be established with all of the countries along the Balkans migration route as the line of defence against the next wave of migration needed to be as far south as possible.



He warned that migrants in the tens or even hundreds of millions could leave from Africa for Europe and said Europe could face "a huge problem" in a few years if it didn't send investment capital to stabilise the countries there, rather than channeling it to Ukraine and the US.



He said the only way to keep central Europe a Christian European community was to be in accord with the Orthodox Christians in the Balkans, the Orthodox Christians in Romania and the Roman Catholics in Slovakia and Poland.



Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Christians must form a political alliance to preserve their Christian roots and heritage, he added.



Without such a mutual migration defence system, Orban said "we will look like Western European countries".



"If we want Hungary to remain Hungarian, we need to set up a joint central European defence system against migration," Orban said.



He said there were two approaches to the issue of migration: "rebellion or submission". "The West has submitted, but we will rebel and protect what we have."



Speaking about challenges facing the Hungarian right wing, Orban said the digital space was not a complementary element to the conventional world of politics, rather all information and all debate had moved to the digital platform. He added that that platform had its own peculiar language, logic and pace.



If the right cannot learn to use the digital platform and leaves it to the "left-wing, globalist, liberal forces", who have "run wild" there, unhindered, for years, he warned that the right wing's persuasive strength would decline.



"If we have no strength of persuasion, we will have no supporters and no victory," he said.



Orban said the right wing had to undertake a "digital conquest" that would allow them to take their debates and ideas to the digital space. This might also take the party closer to young people, he added.



Commenting on polls of party support, Orban said: "We have a clear picture of where we are now, and an idea of what is a realistic goal for the coming election."



"We will work hard and win big," he said.



Orban acknowledged that many other factors were in play when it came to the election, not just "logic or policy offers", and conceded that the government's policy measures benefiting young people would not be the key element to making the governing parties more attractive.



He said "calm, understanding, dialogue and connections" could see Hungarian youth "rebel against the enemies of the country rather than the patriotic government protecting it".



He said the stagnating Hungarian economy and the governing parties' digital presence were co-existing risks.



The economy "is the fate and future of 10 million Hungarians and also has an effect on the election", he said. Robust growth is conditional on achieving peace, he said, because the war is driving up energy prices and "EU countries are funneling a lot of money into the war". High growth cannot be achieved under such circumstances, he added. "Until then, we should be happy if we can preserve what we have."



He said, the 3 percent subsidised home loan had originally been conceived with the expectation that 2025 would be a "year of peace" bringing bigger growth. Despite the difficulties, from September 1, the home loan will be available, independent of family status, he added.



Orban said the government had not given up on its "tax revolution", highlighting PIT exemptions for mothers with children and higher tax allowances for families raising children.



In spite of the turmoil in the world, especially in Europe, Orban said the government had still preserved what it had achieved, and made a few additional advances, too.



Responding to the issue of opposition criticism of the operation of public services and the enrichment of circles close to the government, Orban said Hungary's state assets had doubled since 2010, while public services were in a constant state of development.



He said spending on health-care would grow by 280 billion forints next year, while public transport was being upgraded even as fares got cheaper.



Orban said the Fidesz government had completed 70-75 percent of its work since 2010, "putting a bankrupt country back on its feet again", and in 4-6 years, it could make Hungary a place on par with countries in Western Europe.



"Even now, my leadership is the best chance for us to win the election."



Orban: Central Europe needs mutual migration defence system



"If we want Hungary to remain Hungarian, we need to set up a joint central European defence system against migration" , Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at the MCC Feszt in Esztergom on Saturday.



Orban said the best of ties had to be established with all of the countries along the Balkans migration route as the line of defence against the next wave of migration needed to be as far south as possible.



He warned that migrants in the tens or even hundreds of millions could leave from Africa for Europe.



He said the only way to keep central Europe a Christian European community was to be in accord with the Orthodox Christians in the Balkans, the Orthodox Christians in Romania and the Roman Catholics in Slovakia and Poland.



Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Christians must form a political alliance to preserve their Christian roots and heritage, he added.



Without such a mutual migration defence system, Orban said "we will look like Western European countries".



Orban: Hungary will not accept ruling against Milorad Dodik



Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Hungary would not recognise a ruling against Bosnian Serb president Milorad Dodik at a talk at the MCC Feszt in Esztergom on Saturday.



Orban said it was "unacceptable" for a "viceroy" delegated from the European Union to remove and judge the president elected by the Bosnian Serbs. He added that the step was not taken because of corruption, but because he had not implemented certain decisions that had come from the EU.



"President Dodik remains the elected leader of the Serbs living in Bosnia, and we will shape our policy accordingly," he said.



Orban said the European Union had passed up the "historical opportunity" to integrate the new states formed after the breakup of Yugoslavia.



He said Hungary needed to forge a historic alliance with the Serbs.



"If Hungary wants to remain strong, it cannot do so without an alliance with the Serbs. And the Serbs also need a cooperation with Hungary," he added.



Orban: 'We will work hard and win big'



"We will work hard and win big," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday, speaking about next year's general election, at the MCC Feszt in Esztergom.



"We have a clear picture of where we are now, and an idea of what is a realistic goal for the coming election," Orban said, commenting on polls of party support.



At the start of the talk, Orban said the right wing had to undertake a "digital conquest" that would allow them to take their debates and ideas to the digital space.



Orban said the digital space was not a complementary element to the conventional world of politics, rather all information and all debate had moved to the digital platform. He added that that platform had its own peculiar language, logic and pace.



If the right cannot learn to use the digital platform and leaves it to the "left-wing, globalist, liberal forces", who have "run wild" there, unhindered, for years, he warned that the right wing's persuasive strength would decline.



"If we have no strength of persuasion, we will have no supporters and no victory," he said.





Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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Polish discount retailer Pepco has denied any plans to withdraw from the Hungarian market, following reports of store closures in Germany.

Responding to tabloid Blikk, the company said those closures were part of a targeted restructuring limited exclusively to Germany and were not indicative of wider retrenchment.



Pepco is a key player in Hungarys discount retail landscape, with more than 260 stores nationwide.



It holds a strong position in the low-cost fashion and household goods segment, although competition has intensified with the arrival of Chinese-owned chains such as Miniso and TEDi.



Pepco also highlighted that its group-wide sales have reached record levels, underlining that the German decision is an isolated step, not a harbinger of broader restructuring.



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Myanmar military courts have sentenced a dozen individuals  including five Chinese nationals  to life imprisonment for their involvement in multiple human trafficking cases, state-run media reported over the weekend.

According to the Myanma Alinn newspaper, the convictions stem from a range of offenses including the online distribution of sex videos and the trafficking of Myanmar women into forced marriages in China.

In one case, five people  including two Chinese nationals identified as Lin Te and Wang Xiaofeng  were sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court in Yangon, the countrys largest city, on July 29. They were found guilty under Myanmars Anti-Trafficking in Persons law for producing sex videos involving three Myanmar couples and distributing the footage online for profit.

In a separate case, the same court sentenced a woman and three Chinese nationals  Yibo, Cao Qiu Quan and Chen Huan. The group was convicted of planning to transport two Myanmar women, recently married to two of the convicted Chinese men, into China, the report said.

Additionally, three other people received life sentences from a separate military court for selling a woman as a bride to China, and for attempting to do the same with another woman.

In another case, a woman from Myanmars central Magway region was given a 10-year sentence on July 30 for planning to transport two Myanmar women to be sold as brides to Chinese men, the report said.

Human trafficking, particularly of women and girls lured or forced into marriages in China, remains a widespread problem in Myanmar, a country still reeling from civil war after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

The persisting conflict in most areas of Myanmar has left millions of women and children vulnerable to exploitation.

A 2018 report by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Kachin Womens Association Thailand (KWAT)  which works to prevent and respond to trafficking in northern Kachin and Shan states bordering China  estimated that about 21,000 women and girls from northern Myanmar were forced into marriage in China between 2013 and 2017.

In its latest report published in December, KWAT noted a sharp decline in the number of trafficking survivors accessing its services from 2020 to 2023. It attributed the decline to the COVID-19 pandemic and border closures caused by ongoing conflict following the army takeover. However, it reported a resurgence in 2024 as people from across Myanmar began migrating to China in search of work.

Maj-Gen Aung Kyaw Kyaw, a deputy minister for Home Affairs, said during a June meeting that the authorities had handled 53 cases of human trafficking, forced marriage and prostitution in 2024, 34 of which involved China, according to a report published by Myanmars Information Ministry.

The report also said that a total of 80 human trafficking cases, including 14 involving marriage deception by foreign nationals, were recorded between January and June this year. MDT/AP

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Home sales in Hungary fell 17.7pc year-on-year to 9,492 in July, a monthly estimate by listed real estate broker Duna House shows.

Duna House estimated that mortgage outlays came to HUF 135bn in July, up 1pc from the same month a year earlier.



Home sales in the first seven months of the year reached 72,882, edging down 0.4pc from the same period a year earlier.



New home builds fall but permit issues climb



New home builds slipped, but permits issued for residential construction climbed in the first half from the same period a year earlier, data released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) on Friday show.



The number of new homes handed over nationwide fell 14.9pc to 5,129. Home completions in the capital dropped 14.3pc to 1,821. The number declined 34.3pc to 736 in county seats and cities with populations over 50,000, but edged up 1.1pc at 1,503 in smaller cities. In Hungary's smallest settlements, the number fell 17.5pc to 1,069.



Detached homes accounted for 48pc of completions. Homes in multi-storey buildings with multiple dwellings made up 41pc of the total and homes in residential parks 7pc.



The average new home size was 93.5sqm.



The share of homes built by businesses stood at 67pc.



The data show 640 homes were demolished or condemned.



The number of home building permits issued jumped 43.0pc to 12,830. The number of permits issued for homes in the capital was 5,992, 3.8 times more than a year earlier. The number issued for homes in county seats and cities with populations over 50,000 increased 3.3pc to 2,411. The number issued in smaller cities fell 17.4pc to 2,411. In the country's smallest settlements, the number of home building permits issued was down 6.1pc at 2,016.



Meanwhile, Orban: Interest in 3 pc home credit 'very strong'

Interest in a subsidised 3 percent credit scheme for first-time home buyers is "very strong", the prime minister said in a weekly interview with public radio on Friday. Viktor Orban also spoke about the start of a family-friendly "tax revolution", and announced plans to prepare action plans to counter the negative effects of the trade deal between the European Union and the United States.



Highlighting price thresholds for eligibility, Orban said the Home Start Programme was not about subsidising "luxury apartments" or "grand homes" but about helping the middle class and the aspiring middle class to reach the first rung of the property ladder.



He added that the scheme was about nation-building and helping young Hungarians form a bond with their homeland.



Orban said interest in the scheme was strong, adding that it could it could lead to a boom in real estate investment, with a knock-on effect on economic growth.



He said the world had been grappling with uncertainty since the pandemic, noting the war between Russia and Ukraine, the "trade wars started by the US president", and technological changes like the rise of artificial intelligence.



"Many things that seemed stable in the past are now being questioned," Orban said. "This uncertainty makes things more difficult for young people, which is why the government is trying to help out with home [subsidies]."



He highlighted the rollout of employer housing support, with tax preferences, up to 150,000 forints (EUR 375) a month from the start of the year and a new programme offering home allowances to civil servants up to 1 million forints a year.



He said there were several sectors in Budapest and Pest County that were struggling to find workers due to high property prices, which was also making it hard to accommodate people hired from outside the capital. "So it would be good if a larger share of civil servants had their own homes," the prime minister said.



The government, he said, was now giving police officers, soldiers, doctors, health-care workers, teachers, civil servants and other public sector workers a chance by offering them the new home allowance.



Orban said the measure was "about more than money", because it was a show of appreciation for civil servants. "They work for us, and its important for us to repay them and for the state to show its respect and recognition," he added.



Another area where the government had announced a breakthrough, he said, was family family subsidies.



Orban noted that the "family friendly tax revolution" has introduced personal income tax exemptions for child-care allowances that could leave families with as much as 1 million forints. Also, tax allowances for families raising children will be doubled, and the government is gradually introducing personal income tax exemptions for mothers, he said.

"This is nothing short of a family friendly tax revolution," Orban said. "Theres nothing like it anywhere else in the world  certainly not now when austerity measures are being introduced everywhere in the Western world. So were not turning to austerity in this turbulent economic wartime situation, but instead giving opportunities to young people and families."



Orban said the governments job was give people the chance to set goals, which required the government to set goals as well.



The prime minister said he had started every government term by setting clear goals he had wanted to achieve. "If you have goals then those are what have to determine the budget and the state finances," he said, adding that the cabinets current top goal was "family-friendly governance".



This, he said, encompassed home creation and aiding working people and those raising children.



Commenting on the EU-US tariff deal, Orban said the United Kingdom, which left the EU, had negotiated "a much better agreement" with the US. He said a smaller economy negotiating a better deal than a larger one constituted a "failure" on the larger economys part.



Orban said the EU made several blunders, the first being timing, since instead of taking the US president more seriously as soon as he assumed office, they "laughed at him". "This isn't a good negotiating tactic," he said.

He said Brussels failed to see that Trump "would actually reorganise the world economy", yet the president was putting into effect promises made to voters "point by point", including revamping America's customs rules. Simply "giggling" about this, which is what the EU did, "could get you into trouble", he added.



Orban said that since February he had urged the EU to "take the initiative" and switch to full free trade, or make special deals for certain sectors.



He said the trade deal included Europeans buying energy from the US, yet "Brussels has never bought a single cubic meter of gas" because "it is not a country". It is member states that buy energy, he said, adding that he had not given EU president Ursula von der Leyen the go-ahead to strike a deal "on my behalf". "I don't know whether others gave her authorisation; I don't think they did."



Further, the deal also meant the financially straitened bloc would have to make 600 billion euros of investments in the US. "Money should be brought here, not taken out," he declared.



Von der Leyen made commitments to the US, he said, "that do not fall within her competence".



Also, the "secret clause" on arms shipments to Ukraine "does not fall within her competence either", he said, adding that the US would give arms to Ukraine paid for by Europeans, yet there was no European decision on this matter.



"If we want to make a deal with the Americans on Ukraine, it shouldnt be done as a secret clause in a tariff deal, but separately. It should put on the table separately and discussed separately."



The tariff deal struck by the United States and the European Union "is a terrible economic agreement and an economic own goal" for the bloc, Orban said in the interview.



"Anything that could have been botched from a professional standpoint in this agreement has been," Orban said.



"Its not just that we made a bad deal -- because all European goods exported to the US will have a 15 percent tariff on them, while there will be no tariffs on US goods coming to Europe -- but weve also agreed to terms that we obviously cant fulfil," he said. "This means that we havent settled the tariff disputes, weve just lost the first battle and there will be more battles to come."



The prime minister also argued that if the promised 600 billion euros in investment, arms and energy purchases were not fulfilled, then the tariff agreement would have to be renegotiated.



He said that Hungarian industry and jobs must be protected. The government, he added, had two action plans, given that the EU-US trade deal had a negative impact on companies operating in Hungary. Products exported from Hungary to America amounted to around 11 billion dollars, to which a 15 percent tariff of around 1.5 billion dollars was added.



One was a job protection plan to ensure that foreign companies here do not lay employees off, or if people are laid off, another job should be waiting for them, he said. The second, he added, was an industrial protection action plan to prevent factories from closing if exporting to the US "is not worth it due to high tariffs".



Peter Szijjarto, the foreign affairs and trade minister, has been charged with negotiating with large investors that have concluded strategic agreements with the government, while Marton Nagy, the economy minister, has been authorised to negotiate with the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Orban said.



Decree on subsidised credit for first-time home buyers published



A government decree on a subsidised credit scheme for first-time home buyers was published in the official gazette, Magyar Kozlony, late Thursday.



In the framework of the Home Start Programme, home loans with fixed rates of 3pc up to HUF 50m will be available to first-time home buyers from September 1.



The down payment on the loans is set at 10pc and their maturity up to 25 years.



In a statement issued on Thursday, the Government Information Centre said the credit scheme was unique in all of Europe. The goal is to help young Hungarians buy their first home, it added.



The credit is available to all first-time home buyers regardless of age or family status.





Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said that Delhi-NCR is expected to see cloudy skies, light rain, and thunderstorms for the next three days. Temperatures are expected to remain slightly cooler, but high humidity levels could make the weather feel warmer.
According to the nursing report, the doctor, who was told that the patient had complained of abdominal pain, made a standard vascular procedure used for patients with chronic kidney disease but after the operation, it was revealed that the patient did not suffer from any kidney ailment, the source said.
This is the first visit by the President of the Southeast Asian country to India since he assumed office back in 2022, marking a significant milestone, as his visit aligns with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Protesters rallied this weekend in the Thai capital to demand the resignation of court-suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and in support of the armed forces following a violent border dispute with Cambodia that killed more than three dozen people and displaced over 260,000.

Gathered at Bangkoks Victory Monument despite soaring temperatures, many sang patriotic songs and listened to speeches denouncing Paetongtarn and her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister, and voiced their backing of the countrys army, which has always retained substantial power in the Southeast Asian country. Police said there were about 2,000 protesters by mid-afternoon, though more were expected to join as the temperature cooled.

Some locals accuse Paetongtarn and her family of allowing the conflict  which stretches back decades with both sides claiming pockets of land near the shared border  to escalate due to their close ties with Cambodias former prime minister, Hun Sen. A court suspended Paetongtarn last month after Hun Sen, still a major power in his own country, leaked a phone call in which she she called him uncle and appeared to denigrate a Thai general, angering many.

The most recent clashes ended with an uneasy Malaysian-brokered ceasefire on July 29.

Ung Ing, you need to leave, said one well-known conservative columnist and protester, Jittakorn Bussaba, using Paetongtarn s nickname. Because theres blood on your hands. People have died because of you, he said from the stage to general applause.

Ung Ing has damaged the country. Everyone needs to help out, said 58-year-old Ammorn Khunthong. Thaksin and his family should not run or command this country anymore.

There were many familiar faces from a conservative, pro-royalist group once known as the Yellow Shirts, longtime foes of Paetongtarns father, who was toppled in a military coup in 2006. Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon, entered politics by founding his own political party and buying the loyalty of local political bosses nationwide. He was often accused of bullying critics and not separating his business dealings from those of the government.

Yellow Shirts rallies also helped oust the elected government of Thaksins sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, in a 2014 coup.

The army in Thailand plays a major role in politics and has staged 13 successful coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. MDT/AP

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It would seem the most straightforward of notions: A thing takes place, and it goes into the history books or is added to museum exhibits. But whether something even gets remembered and how  particularly when it comes to the history of a country and its leader  is often the furthest thing from simple.

The latest example of that came Friday, when the Smithsonian Institution said it had removed a reference to the 2019 and 2021 impeachments of President Donald Trump from a panel in an exhibition about the American presidency. Trump has pressed institutions and agencies under federal oversight, often through the pressure of funding, to focus on the countrys achievements and progress and away from things he terms divisive.

The Smithsonian on Saturday denied getting pressure from the Trump administration to remove the reference, which had been installed as part of a temporary addition in 2021. The exhibit will be updated in the coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nations history, the museum said in a statement.

In a statement that did not directly address the impeachment references, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said: We are fully supportive of updating displays to highlight American greatness.

But is history intended to highlight or to document  to report what happened, or to serve a desired narrative? The answer, as with most things about the past, can be intensely complex.

Itis part of a larger effort around American stories

The Smithsonians move comes in the wake of Trump administration actions like removing the name of a gay rights activist from a Navy ship, pushing for Republican supporters in Congress to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and getting rid of the leadership at the Kennedy Center.

Based on what we have been seeing, this is part of a broader effort by the president to influence and shape how history is depicted at museums, national parks, and schools, said Julian E. Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. Not only is he pushing a specific narrative of the United States but, in this case, trying to influence how Americans learn about his own role in history.

Its not a new struggle, in the world generally and the political world particularly. There is power in being able to shape how things are remembered, if they are remembered at all  who was there, who took part, who was responsible, what happened to lead up to that point in history. And the human beings who run things have often extended their authority to the stories told about them.

In Soviet-era Russia, officials who ran afoul of leaders like Josef Stalin disappeared not only from the government itself but from photographs and history books where they once appeared.

Jason Stanley, an expert on authoritarianism, said controlling what and how people learn of their past has long been used as a vital tool to maintain power. Stanley has made his views about the Trump administration clear; he recently left Yale University to join the University of Toronto, citing concerns over the U.S. political situation.

If they dont control the historical narrative, he said, then they cant create the kind of fake history that props up their politics.

It shows how the presentation of history matters

In the United States, presidents and their families have always used their power to shape history and calibrate their own images. Jackie Kennedy insisted on cuts in William Manchesters book on her husbands 1963 assassination, The Death of a President. Ronald Reagan and his wife got a cable TV channel to release a carefully calibrated documentary about him. Those around Franklin D. Roosevelt, including journalists of the era, took pains to mask the impact that paralysis had on his body and his mobility.

Trump, though, has taken it to a more intense level  a sitting president encouraging an atmosphere where institutions can feel compelled to choose between him and the truth  whether he calls for it directly or not.

We are constantly trying to position ourselves in history as citizens, as citizens of the country, citizens of the world, said Robin Wagner-Pacifici, professor emerita of sociology at the New School for Social Research. So part of these exhibits and monuments are also about situating us in time. And without it, its very hard for us to situate ourselves in history because it seems like we just kind of burst forth from the Earth.

Timothy Naftali, director of the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum from 2007 to 2011, presided over its overhaul to offer a more objective presentation of Watergate  one not beholden to the presidents loyalists. In an interview Friday, he said he was concerned and disappointed about the Smithsonian decision. Naftali, now a senior researcher at Columbia University, said museum directors should have red lines and that he considered removing the Trump panel to be one of them.

While it might seem inconsequential for someone in power to care about a museums offerings, Wagner-Pacifici says Trumps outlook on history and his role in it  earlier this year, he said the Smithsonian had come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology  shows how important those matters are to people in authority. DEEPTI HAJELA & HILLEL ITALIE Associated Press, MDT/AP

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Heavy rains lash parts of China, triggering floods and emergency alerts

Xinhua) 08:59, August 04, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Torrential rains have battered multiple parts of China, triggering road collapses, resident evacuations and heightened flood risks, as authorities raised emergency response levels and warned of further downpours.

In south China's Guangdong Province, heavy rainfall led to 54 road collapses and the evacuation of over 300 residents in the counties of Fengkai and Huaiji in Zhaoqing City over the weekend.

Rainfall peaked at 258.7 millimeters in the city's Nanfeng Township, according to meteorological data. Red alerts, the highest level for rainstorms, were issued in both counties on Sunday morning.

Emergency crews have been deployed to repair damaged roads, while local officials urged residents to remain vigilant against potential flash floods and landslides, with more rain forecast in the coming days.

Guangdong Province has activated a Level-IV emergency response in anticipation of torrential rain. Parts of coastal cities and counties in eastern Guangdong and the southern Pearl River Delta are expected to experience extraordinarily heavy downpours.

A working team has been sent to Guangdong to support local flood control efforts, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

In northwest China's Gansu Province, flood emergency responses were either upgraded or newly activated to Level-II in several areas, including Lanzhou City, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Dingxi City, and Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the second-highest level in China's four-tier system.

China's Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration jointly issued a red alert for potential mountain torrents on Sunday evening, warning of high flood risks in parts of Gansu between 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Monday.

In Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a Level-III emergency response for rainstorms was launched at 8 p.m. Sunday after several cities, including the regional capital of Yinchuan, experienced hours of heavy rainfall. By Sunday night, local meteorological authorities had issued 97 alerts, including 20 for rainstorms.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Elnur Enveroglu



When the Abraham Accords were first signed in 2020 under the auspices of then-US President Donald Trump, they marked a tectonic shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy. Formalising peace and normalisation between Israel and a growing number of Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, the Accords were as much about shared economic and security interests as they were about recognition and reconciliation.

As of 2025, the prospect of expanding this framework eastward, to include Azerbaijan and Central Asian nations such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, has gained significant traction. This strategic vision is not new: Trumps diplomatic team had reportedly discussed Azerbaijans potential inclusion during the final year of his presidency. Now, as regional dynamics evolve and geopolitical alliances shift, the benefits and implications of such a move are more salient than ever.

Why Azerbaijan matters to Abraham Accords

Azerbaijan is uniquely positioned to become a valuable addition to the Abraham Accords. Unlike most Muslim-majority countries, Azerbaijan has maintained robust ties with Israel for decades, driven primarily by security cooperation, defence technology, and energy trade. Azerbaijan is one of Israels largest oil suppliers, while Israel has provided Baku with cutting-edge defence systems, crucial during the 2020 Second Garabagh War.

In many ways, Azerbaijan is already a de facto member of the spirit of the Accords. Its commitment to multilateral diplomacy, its secular governance, and its pragmatic foreign policy align with the Accords goals of regional integration, economic cooperation, and religious tolerance. Formalising this relationship within the framework of the Abraham Accords would elevate Azerbaijan's status as a bridge between the Islamic world and the West, between Europe and Asia, and between conflict zones and zones of cooperation.

Meanwhile, the US initiative is not insignificant, and Azerbaijans indispensable role in the Accord has not gone unnoticed by the White House leadership.

Generally,President Donald Trumps vision for the Abraham Accords was never limited to the Gulf. His advisers saw potential in incorporating strategically aligned Muslim-majority states beyond the traditional Arab world, especially those with shared interests in countering Iranian influence, integrating with Western markets, and enhancing security cooperation with Israel and the USA.

Azerbaijan, along with Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, fits this mould. These are secular states, largely untethered to pan-Islamist ideologies, and increasingly focused on economic diversification, infrastructure development, and energy diplomacy. A bloc-wide entry into the Accords, led or endorsed by the USA, could spark cross-regional trade, investment in renewables, and joint security initiatives, including counterterrorism and cyber defence.

This eastward expansion would also constrain Iranian influence, particularly along the critical North-South and East-West energy corridors, and signal that cooperation with Israel is no longer taboo, even in traditionally hesitant regions.

However, a significant burden still rests along this delicate line of the Accord running through the South Caucasus: the emerging peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

On the surface, it may not appear particularly significant, but from the perspective of the core parameters of the Abraham Accords, it is a matter of considerable importance. Therefore,one of the key geopolitical considerations surrounding Azerbaijans potential entry into the Abraham Accords is the ongoing normalisation process with Armenia. Paradoxically, while Azerbaijans reconciliation with Israel and the West strengthens its international standing, the unresolved dimensions of its conflict with Armenia could complicate its image among certain Middle Eastern audiences.

However, there is also a strategic logic at play. By promoting normalisation on both fronts, with Armenia and with Israel, Azerbaijan positions itself as a regional stabiliser. In fact, successful peace talks with Yerevan would strengthen Bakus credibility as a constructive actor capable of bridging ethnic and religious divides, much like the Abraham Accords themselves aspire to do.

Moreover, Armenias recent pivot toward the West, particularly amid tensions with Russia, could eventually open doors to Armenia normalising ties with Israel, mirroring trends in the Gulf. Should that happen, Azerbaijans inclusion in the Abraham framework may serve as a model for broader regional peacebuilding.

Middle Eastern turbulence and the Gaza factor

While the Abraham Accords represent a genuine breakthrough in ArabIsraeli relations, their full realisation remains fragile and contingent, most notably on the situation in Gaza. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, renewed in late 2023, has complicated the political calculus for countries considering formal ties with Israel.

Many Muslim-majority states have delayed or frozen normalisation talks until progress is made on the Palestinian issue, especially in Gaza, where humanitarian suffering and asymmetric warfare continue to dominate global headlines. This dynamic is no different for Azerbaijan, a country sensitive to the symbolism of territorial integrity and displaced populations.

Public support for Palestine runs deep in Azerbaijani society, even as official ties with Israel remain strong. A perception that Azerbaijan is aligning too closely with Israel without due regard for the Palestinian cause could provoke domestic and regional backlash.

Thus, Bakus potential entry into the Abraham Accords may depend not only on its own diplomatic calculations but also on whether Israel takes steps to reduce the intensity of the Gaza conflict and re-engage with Palestinian authorities. Only then can a new wave of normalisation, one that includes Azerbaijan, be both strategically sound and politically defensible.

Despite these complications, the long-term strategic advantages of Azerbaijan joining the Abraham Accords are compelling:

- Economic diversification through Israeli and Gulf investment in renewable energy, agriculture, and technology

- Security cooperation in fields such as intelligence, air defence, and counterterrorism

- Increased leverage in the South Caucasus, strengthening Azerbaijans role in regional diplomacy

- Enhanced energy connectivity, including green electricity exports to Israel via Turkiye or regional corridors

A formal alignment with the Abraham Accords would also offer Azerbaijan a platform to amplify its voice on pressing regional matters, including the Gaza conflict, in a constructive way that reflects both pragmatism and principle.

Moreover, against the backdrop of regional stability, economic prosperity could become an inevitable opportunity, especially in a context where the Abraham Accords possess the potential to promote cross-cultural and cross-regional ties. Here, Azerbaijans inclusion would not only validate its multivector foreign policy, but also accelerate economic growth, cement security alliances, and promote regional stabilityif managed carefully.

Still, the moral and political weight of the Gaza conflict cannot be ignored. For the Accords to evolve into a sustainable and inclusive regional pact, Israel must do its part by reducing civilian suffering, upholding international law, and engaging sincerely in dialogue with Palestinians.

If these conditions are met, Azerbaijans path to the Abraham Accords could serve as a symbol of modern diplomacy, where pragmatic interests align with enduring principles, and where peace is not just a signature on paper, but a platform for transformation.
The recent arrest of former legislator Au Kam San under Macaus revised national security law (NSL) marks a turning point for the city.

For the first time since the laws 2023 amendments, a resident has been detained on allegations of colluding with foreign forces and spreading seditious information. While authorities emphasize the need to safeguard national sovereignty, the confidential nature of the charges and Aus long record of peaceful political engagement raise critical questions about civil liberties and the future of freedom of expression in the city.

Au, 68, is a veteran of Macaus pro-democracy movement. A co-founder of the New Macau Association (ANM) and an elected lawmaker from 2001 to 2021, he consistently advocated for greater transparency and political reform, and openly organized Tiananmen Square vigils. In recent years, however, he has stepped back from formal politics  especially following the tightening of candidate eligibility rules in 2021.

Last Wednesday, the Judiciary Police arrested Au at his residence. Authorities alleged he had been in contact with unnamed foreign anti-China organizations since 2022, supplying them with large amounts of false and seditious information for use in public exhibitions and online campaigns. These actions, they claimed, aimed at inciting hatred toward the central government and interfering with Macaus 2024 Chief Executive election.

On July 31, the pretrial judge (juiz de instrucao) imposed pretrial detention  a measure that is recommended under the amended law  making the swift decision a procedural necessity rather than a discretionary move.

Nonetheless, the legal basis for the arrest has raised concerns. Authorities have yet to disclose the specific content of the allegedly seditious materials or identify the foreign organizations involved. If it goes to trial, some of those details will eventually emerge  but under the NSL, authorities may prevent the disclosure of materials considered damaging to national security.

Macau media reported on the extraordinary detention, showing some incredulity at the action, since Macau residents are generally considered to have been mostly quiet or moderate in their political criticism or activism.

The event reverberated worldwide  putting the MSAR back on the global media agenda, which has otherwise been indifferent to the casino enclaves affairs in recent years.

Commentators noted that while the government has invoked national security as a rationale for the action, the profile of the accused  an aging, retired public figure with a legacy of peaceful activism  suggests a relentless crush on dissent, as News Australia observed.

If sharp criticism disappears completely, gentle criticism will become harsh, a participant of Ou-Mun Tin Tois radio talk show Macau Talk said on Thursday, commenting on Aus arrest and his critical approach to public service.

Macau authorities maintain that the new law is essential to shield the region from external interference and potential unrest. In their view, pre-emptive enforcement is part of a broader strategy to ensure national integrity. Yet the expansion of state power must be balanced with safeguards for fundamental rights.

As the city approaches another election cycle, the arrest of Au Kam San is not just a legal case  it is a statement. It signals a narrowing of political tolerance and a recalibration of what is permissible in public discourse. In times of political consolidation, how a society treats its critics defines the strength of its legal and moral foundations.

Macau still has the opportunity to demonstrate that national security and civic freedom are not mutually exclusive. But that will depend on what happens next  not just in courtrooms, but in the public square.

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The Zhuhai Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has urged residents to take precautions against chikungunya fever. This mosquito-borne disease first emerged this year in Foshan and has since spread to the region, including Macau.

Chikungunya fever has now affected all three districts in Zhuhai, impacting eight neighborhoods.

While no cases have been reported in Hong Kong, authorities are preparing for the potential arrival of the disease.

Au Ka-wing, director of the communicable disease branch of Hong Kongs Department of Health, indicated a medium to high risk of a local epidemic, especially with increased travel during the summer months, heightening the likelihood of imported cases.

Over 6,100 chikungunya cases have been reported in Guangdong province, with more than 4,000 in Foshan alone, prompting the city to raise its public health alert to Level 3.

Foshan is actively working to contain the outbreak by conducting nucleic acid tests on at-risk residents and releasing larva-eating fish into local water bodies.

Like dengue fever, chikungunya is transmitted by Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, but there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Staff reporter

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Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has reportedly shelved his planned August trip to diplomatic allies in the Americas amid reports that the Trump administration blocked a New York stopover after Beijing raised objections.

State of play: Lai was expected to travel to Belize, Guatemala and Paraguay  Taiwans remaining diplomatic allies in the region  with U.S. stopovers planned for New York and Dallas. But on Monday, his office cited recovery from recent typhoon damage and ongoing U.S. tariff discussions as reasons he has no plans to travel overseas in the near future. Embassy officials in Guatemala and Paraguay later confirmed the visit was postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, sources reportedly told the Financial Times that the U.S. blocked Lais New York visit after Beijing objected to Washington.

Trade talk timing: The move comes amid Treasury Secretary Scott Bessents trade talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Stockholm as the Trump administration sets its eyes on a possible summit with President Xi Jinping. Bessent, however, denied any link between the travel matter and trade negotiations, saying, We are very careful to keep trade and national security separate. Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce dismissed the reports, saying the situation is hypothetical and that there have been no plans  travel plans for the president.

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The big picture: The reported decision has drawn bipartisan criticism, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warning that it sends a dangerous signal showing the U.S. can be bullied by Beijing into silence on Taiwan. House Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi called it another example of the Trump administration caving to China in hopes of reaching a trade deal. Paraguay, for its part, also faces domestic pressure, with ruling party congressman Hugo Meza saying the country is wasting time maintaining ties with Taiwan.

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The tensions follow Lais declaration in June that Taiwan is of course an independent country," prompting Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office to denounce his statements as heresy, hostile and separatist.

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President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. left Manila on Monday for his five-day official visit to India, expressing high hopes for deeper strategic cooperation with one of Asias largest democracies, particularly in defense, trade, maritime security, and technology.

In a speech delivered at Villamor Air Base before his departure, Mr. Marcos said the visit comes at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and marks the culmination of a year-long celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India.

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It is with high expectations and much anticipation that I leave for New Delhi, President Marcos said. India has been a long-valued friend of the Philippines, he added.

Mr. Marcos highlighted the longstanding cultural ties between the two nations, tracing Philippine influences in language, folklore, and traditions back to pre-colonial exchanges with Indian civilization.

This visit to India will cap a year-long commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, the president said.

Our bilateral relations have seen stable and comprehensive growth, extending across public and private sectors, he added.

With India being the worlds most populous democracy and the Philippines the oldest constitutional democracy in Asia, Mr. Marcos said both nations share democratic ideals and a commitment to a rules-based international order.

He emphasized shared interests in maritime security, seafarer welfare, and upholding international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Our geostrategic positions as coastal states that border the busiest international trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region provide a credible foundation for active and growing maritime cooperation, President Marcos said.

President Marcos announced that the Philippines has granted visa-free privileges to Indian travelers in a move aimed at boosting tourism and enhancing cultural and economic exchange.

The president is leading a high-level delegation to New Delhi and Bengaluru, including several Cabinet members, to pursue business and investment partnerships, especially in the fields of IT, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and agriculture.

I want this visit to bring concrete benefits to the people, such as more affordable medicine, greater connectivity, and food security, he said.

Mr. Marcos underscored the importance of maximizing trade and investment opportunities with India, now the worlds fourth-largest economy, and affirmed his administrations goal of converting diplomatic vision into actionable partnerships.

There is much potential for cooperation with India that will mutually benefit our peoples, he said.

We intend to chart a plan of cooperation across a broad spectrum of shared interests, he added.

The visit is expected to pave the way for enhanced economic collaboration and strategic alignment between Manila and New Delhi amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.

Editors Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline Marcos leaves Manila for 5-day India visit; eyes deeper trade, maritime ties.


By Akbar Novruz



Turkish businessmen have familiarized themselves with Azerbaijans investment landscape, with particular focus on the Alat Free Economic Zone and the Garabagh region.

According to the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs Organizations of Azerbaijan (ASK), a meeting was held with representatives from the Mersin office of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD).

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. The Turkish delegation was provided with detailed information about Azerbaijans industrial centers, incentive mechanisms, and the broader economic climate for foreign investors.

Special attention was given to strategic areas such as the Alat Free Economic Zoneone of Azerbaijan's most prominent hubs for international businessand the reconstruction-driven economic opportunities in Garabagh.

Both parties expressed interest in intensifying bilateral business ties and fostering long-term investment partnerships.
At least 68 Ethiopian migrants have died and 74 remain missing after an overcrowded boat capsized off Yemens southern coast, underscoring the deadly risks along one of the worlds most perilous migration routes, the UNs International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed.

The vessel, carrying 154 Ethiopian nationals, departed from Somalia and sank early Sunday (3 August) off Abyan province, out of whom only 12 migrants have reportedly survived. Authorities have recovered dozens of bodies along the Khanfar coastline, while search efforts continue for the missing. Despite Yemens ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis, the country remains a key transit point for migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking better lives in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations. An estimated 60,000 migrants entered Yemen in 2024 alone, according to the IOM.

The so-called eastern route  linking the Horn of Africa to the Gulf via Yemen  is now ranked the fourth deadliest migration corridor globally, with over 2,100 deaths and disappearances recorded since 2014. The route leading from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one of the worlds busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes, according to an IOM report published in March. Migrants face overcrowded boats, human traffickers, and armed groups along the way. Driven by poverty, conflict, and food insecurity worsened by climate change, thousands continue to risk the journey. Experts warn that unless root causes are addressed and protection mechanisms strengthened, tragedies like this will remain all too common. The IOM is calling for urgent regional cooperation to prevent further loss of life.
South Africa is bolstering its border security through a suite of modern measures, including the deployment of surveillance drones and traceable immigration stamps. Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Michael Masiapato, disclosed on Sunday, 3 August that eight border guards had undergone drone pilot training, with six successfully graduating.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat cross-border crimes such as human trafficking, smuggling, and illegal migration, while also enhancing the countrys surveillance capability in vulnerable areas along its borders.

As part of its anti-corruption efforts, the BMA has also introduced uniquely numbered stamps assigned to individual immigration officers, enabling traceability and accountability in visa processing. In collaboration with the South African Reserve Bank, the BMA is providing specialised training to border personnel in detecting counterfeit currency. Between April and June 2025, the agency processed over 8.5 million passengers and deported nearly 10,000 individuals attempting illegal entryunderscoring the urgency and scale of the reforms being implemented to safeguard national security and preserve the integrity of port operations.
The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), in collaboration with Somali Government forces, has announced on August 3 the killing of over 50 al-Shabab militants during a major offensive on last Friday in Bariire, a strategic town in southern Somalia.

In a statement released from Mogadishu on Sunday, AUSSOM dismissed media claims of significant casualties among its troops, clarifying that the operationlaunched on 1 Augustwas aimed at reclaiming Bariire, located approximately 60 km southwest of the capital. The mission also refuted al-Shababs assertions of AU equipment losses and a forced retreat.

According to AUSSOM, the coordinated assault dealt a severe blow to the terrorist group, leaving many insurgents dead or wounded. Bariire, known for its agricultural value and strategic positioning in the Lower Shabelle region, has long been a contested zone. Local accounts described Fridays clashes as among the fiercest in recent days. El Hadji Ibrahima Boly Diene, the AU Commission Chairpersons special representative and head of AUSSOM, reaffirmed the missions commitment to retaking al-Shabab strongholds and restoring stability across Somalias restive regions.
African leaders, policymakers, and global health stakeholders will gather in Accra on August 5 for the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, spearheaded by Ghanas President, John Dramani Mahama.

Themed The Accra Initiative: African Health Sovereignty in a Reimagined Global Health Governance Architecture, the summit is poised to reshape the continents role in global health policy.

Central to the discussions is the unveiling of the Accra Initiativean ambitious framework promoting national ownership, investment, and leadership in African health systems. The summit is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Accra Compact, articulating Africas collective vision for a more equitable and responsive global health order.

According to presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the gathering is a strategic response to growing challenges, including dwindling donor support, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and emerging health threats, all of which have exposed critical weaknesses in existing global health structures. In addition to the Accra Compact, the event will launch the SUSTAIN Initiative to strengthen domestic investment in health, and establish a Presidential High-Level Panel to chart a comprehensive reform roadmap. Inspired by President Mahamas leadership during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and bolstered by initiatives from President Paul Kagame and the African Union, the summit aims to foster inclusive, accountable, and resilient health systems across Africa.
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: Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research (2025). DOI: 10.1111/acer.70098

Hazardous and binge drinking are becoming more prevalent in older people, most notably women, according to a large study of alcohol use and aging in two Nordic countries that may illuminate similar trends in other Western populations.

Alcohol use typically declines with age, partly because of physiological changes and accumulating health issues that amplify the risks. Nevertheless, drinking among older adults, especially women, has increased in recent decades and now commonly exceeds lower-risk drinking guidelines. This may in part reflect more liberal attitudes to drinking among baby boomers and people with greater social and financial freedoms, in addition to false beliefs about alcohol and health.

In some Western countries, more than 1 in 3 older adults engage in risky drinking, representing an expanding public health issue as the population ages. That said, older adults are underrepresented in research.

For their study published in Alcohol, Clinical & Experimental Research, investigators in Sweden and Finland examined the prevalence of hazardous and heavy episode (binge) drinking among older community-dwelling adults, considering the role of gender and other influences.

The researchers worked with 11,747 adults born between 1930 and 1955. The participants filled out surveys on their alcohol consumption in the past year and were grouped as abstinent, low-risk drinkers, or high-risk/hazardous drinkers. Some were also categorized as heavy episodic (binge) drinkers (consuming 6+ drinks on one occasion).

The researchers gathered demographic information and measures of depression, sleep quality, loneliness, life crises (bereavement), religiosity, inner strength (resilience), cardiovascular and other vascular diseases, body mass index (BMI), daily living activities, and self-rated health. They used statistical analysis to look for alcohol use patterns by age, gender, and other factors.

The findings revealed patterns of alcohol use that varied across age groups, gender, and geographic regions. Three in 10 men and 1 in 10 women were hazardous drinkers, aligning with studies from other countries. Heavy episodic drinking was also more common among men than women (13% vs. 3%). With advancing age, the likelihood of hazardous and heavy episodic drinking declined, and the odds of abstinence increased.

The most notable change over time was the narrowing of the gender gap, marked by greater alcohol use among women. Women with university educations and higher incomes were more prone to hazardous drinking than those with limited education and less financial means. (Socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with abstinence in both sexes.) Among older women, higher inner strength scores were linked to lower odds of hazardous or binge drinking. Bereavement raised their likelihood of binge drinking, and depression was linked to hazardous drinking.

Marriage and cohabitation were associated with reduced odds of abstinence, but not a greater likelihood of hazardous drinking or a lower chance of binge drinking in men. Those who perceived their health as good or excellent had higher odds of continuing to drink (and in men, of drinking hazardously). Most people reporting cardiovascular and other vascular diseases (CVD) rated their health highly; they were more likely to drink hazardously than moderately, and men with CVD had raised odds of binge drinking.

Factors linked to lower-risk alcohol use and/or abstinence in one or both sexes included active religious participation, good quality sleep, moderate BMI, taking multiple medications, reduced independence in daily living, and certain geographic regions (perhaps reflecting historical cultural influences).

Increasing longevity and the rise in problematic alcohol use among older adults point to the need for routine alcohol screening and interventions that address psychological and health-related risk factors. Interventions could focus on building resilience to psychosocial stressors (e.g., bereavement and depression) and conveying accurate information about the harmful effects of alcohol on cardiovascular health and health in general. The study design prevents causal inferences and has other limitations.

More information: Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie et al, Prevalence and gender-specific correlates of hazardous and binge drinking among Swedish and Finnish older adults, Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research (2025). DOI: 10.1111/acer.70098
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A Georgia woman declared brain-dead and kept on life support for more than three months because she was pregnant was removed from a ventilator in June and died, days after doctors delivered her 1-pound, 13-ounce baby by emergency cesarean section. The baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The case has drawn national attention to Georgia's six-week abortion ban and its impact on pregnancy care.

Adriana Smith was put on life support at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta in February. The then-30-year-old Atlanta nurse was more than eight weeks pregnant and suffering dangerous complications.

Her condition deteriorated as doctors tried to save her life, Smith's mother told Atlanta TV station WXIA.

"They did a CT scan, and she had blood clots all in her head," April Newkirk said. "So they asked me if they could do a procedure to relieve them, and I said yes. And then they called me back and they said that they couldn't do it."

She said doctors declared Smith brain-dead and put her on life support without consulting her.

"And I'm not saying that we would have chosen to terminate her pregnancy," Newkirk said, "but what I'm saying is, we should have had a choice."

Emory Healthcare declined to comment on the specifics of Smith's case. After doctors removed Smith from life support, Emory issued a statement.

"The top priorities at Emory Healthcare continue to be the safety and well-being of the patients and families we serve," the health system said.

"Emory Healthcare uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature and legal guidance to support our providers as they make medical recommendations. Emory Healthcare is legally required to maintain the confidentiality of the protected health information of our patients, which is why we are unable to comment on individual matters and circumstances."

In a previous statement, Emory Healthcare said it complies "with Georgia's abortion laws and all other applicable laws."

Abortion laws and fetal personhood

Georgia's HB 481 the Living Infants Fairness and Equality, or LIFE, Actpassed in 2019. It took effect shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on June 24, 2022.

The law bans abortion after the point at which an ultrasound can detect cardiac activity in an embryo. Typically, this occurs about six weeks into pregnancy, often before women know they're pregnant.

The law also gave fetuses the same rights as people.

It says that "unborn children are a class of living, distinct persons" and that the state of Georgia "recognizes the benefits of providing full legal recognition to an unborn child."

Nineteen states now ban abortion at or before 19 weeks of gestation; 13 of those have a near-total ban on all abortions with very limited exceptions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonpartisan research group that supports abortion rights.

Like Georgia, some of these states built their abortion restrictions around the legal concept of "personhood," thus conferring legal rights and protections on an embryo or fetus during pregnancy.

Smith's case has represented a major test of how this type of law will be applied in certain medical situations.

Despite mainly being unified in their opposition to abortion, conservatives and politicians in Georgia do not publicly agree on the scope of the law in cases like Smith's.

For example, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, said that the law should not restrict the options for care in a case like Smith's and that removing life support wouldn't be equivalent to aborting a fetus.

"There is nothing in the LIFE Act that requires medical professionals to keep a woman on life support after brain death," Carr said in a statement. "Removing life support is not an action 'with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy.'"

But Republican state Sen. Ed Setzler, who authored the LIFE Act, disagreed. Emory's doctors acted appropriately when they put Smith on life support, he told The Associated Press.

"I think it is completely appropriate that the hospital do what they can to save the life of the child," Setzler said. "I think this is an unusual circumstance, but I think it highlights the value of innocent human life. I think the hospital is acting appropriately."

Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California-Davis and author of "Personhood: The New Civil War Over Reproduction," said the problem is that Georgia's law "isn't just an abortion ban. It's a 'personhood' law declaring that a fetus or embryo is a person, that an 'unborn child,' as the law puts it, is a person."

The legal concept of "personhood" has implications beyond abortion care, such as with the regulation of fertility treatment, or the potential criminalization of pregnancy complications such as stillbirth and miscarriage.

Under Georgia's law, extending rights of personhood to a fetus changes how child support is calculated. It also allows an embryo or fetus to be claimed as a dependent on state taxes.

But the idea of personhood is not new, Ziegler said.

"It has been the goal for virtually everyone in the anti-abortion movement since the 1960s," she said. "That doesn't mean Republicans like that. It doesn't necessarily mean that that's what's going to happen. But there is no daylight between the anti-abortion movement and the personhood movement. They're the same."

The personhood movement has gained more traction since the Dobbs ruling in 2022.

In Alabama, after the state's Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are people, the state legislature had to step in to allow fertility clinics to continue their work.

"This is sort of the future we're looking at if we move further in the direction of fetal personhood," Ziegler said. "Any state Supreme Court, as we just saw in Alabama, can give them new life," she said referring to personhood laws elsewhere.

Fetal personhood laws can delay care

In Georgia, dozens of OB-GYNs have said that the law interferes with patient carein a state where the maternal mortality rate is one of the worst in the U.S. and where Black women are more than twice as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

Members of Georgia's Maternal Mortality Review Committee who were later dismissed from the panellinked the state's abortion ban to delayed emergency care and the deaths of at least two women in the state, as ProPublica reported.

The personhood provision is having a profound effect on medical care, said Atlanta OB-GYN Zoe Lucier-Julian.

"These laws create an environment of fear and attempt to coerce us as providers to align with the state, as opposed to aligning with our patients that we work so hard to serve," Lucier-Julian said.

Lucier-Julian said that's what happened to Emory Healthcare in Smith's case.

Cole Muzio, president of the Frontline Policy Council, a conservative Christian group, said the state's abortion law shouldn't have affected how Emory handled Smith's care.

"This is a pretty clear-cut case, in terms of how it's defined in the language of HB 481," he said. "What this bans is an abortion after a heartbeat is detected. That is the scope of our law."

"Taking a woman off life support is not an abortion. It just isn't," Muzio said. "Now, I am incredibly grateful that this child will be born even in the midst of tragic circumstances. That is a whole human life that will be able to be lived because of this beautiful mother's sacrifice."

A suit challenging Georgia's law and its impact on public health is working its way through the courts. A coalition of physicians, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and other groups filed the suit.

Newkirk said her daughter had initially gone to a different Atlanta-area hospital for help with severe headaches, was given some medicine, and was sent home, where her symptoms quickly worsened.

"She was gasping for air in her sleep, gargling," she told WXIA in May. "More than likely, it was blood."

Now, Newkirk said, the family is praying for her grandson to make it after the stress from months of life support.

He is fighting, she said.

"My grandson may be blind, may not be able to walk, wheelchair-bound," she said. "We don't know if he'll live."

She added that the family will love him no matter what.

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Have you ever wondered why some people who drink alcohol develop serious liver problems while others don't? A study by University of Louisville researchers published in Toxicological Sciences suggests that the answer might be hidden in everyday sources such as drinking water, food packaging or even non-stick cookware.

Scientists at UofL, along with colleagues from Boston University and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, have identified perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as a potential environmental factor that worsens alcohol-associated liver disease.

PFOS is a man-made chemical belonging to the group known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they do not readily break down in the environment or the human body. These substances have been used for decades in products such as non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, fast-food packaging, stain-resistant carpets and upholstery, and firefighting foams. Their extensive use has led to widespread contamination in the environment.

Recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show that PFAS can be detected in approximately 95% of Americans, sparking increasing concern about their long-term health effects.

At the same time, alcohol consumption remains a significant global health issue. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol contributes to nearly 3 million deaths worldwide each year, and its consumption continues to rise globally. In the U.S. alone, excessive alcohol use is responsible for approximately 95,000 deaths annually, making it one of the leading causes of preventable death and a major contributor to liver disease.

"Given the increasing prevalence of alcohol consumption and the widespread presence of PFAS in the environment, many individuals who drink alcohol may be inevitably exposed to these persistent pollutants. This makes it critically important to study how combined exposures to alcohol and environmental chemicals like PFOS might influence liver health," said Matthew Cave, UofL professor of medicine and publication co-author.

Although it is well known that both alcohol and PFOS cause liver damage individually, little has been understood about their combined effects until now. Recent studies have shown that only about 35% of heavy drinkers develop severe forms of liver disease, indicating that additional factors such as genetics, sex, microbiome and environmental exposures may contribute to individual susceptibility.

"This work helps explain why two people with similar alcohol consumption may experience very different liver outcomes," said Frederick Ekuban, assistant professor of medicine at UofL and first author of the study. "Environmental exposures like PFOS may be the missing link."

Using animal models, the researchers simulated real-world exposures to both alcohol and PFOS. The study showed that co-exposure to alcohol and PFOS significantly increased fat accumulation and markers of liver damage, as well as clear signs of disrupted metabolism and activation of genes and pathways predicted to be associated with oxidative stress and cancer development.

In short, the study demonstrates that PFOS exposure can significantly worsen liver damage when combined with alcohol consumption. While this research used high levels of alcohol to understand the underlying mechanisms, the findings reveal important biological pathways that warrant further investigation across different drinking patterns.

The research team also found that PFOS interferes with the liver's ability to manage fats, disrupts its natural protective and repair systems and activates pathways that promote liver injury.

"While the liver typically has a remarkable capacity to recover from alcohol-induced stress, PFOS appears to push that resilience beyond its limits, resulting in compounded and more severe damage," said Jennifer Schlezinger, professor of environmental health at Boston University and co-author of the publication.

Perhaps most concerning, the team discovered that 60% of all PFOS exposure ended up concentrated in the liver, exactly where alcohol damage occurs.

Ongoing research at UofL is examining how other PFAS compounds may interact with alcohol, whether males and females respond differently to these exposures and what the long-term consequences of combined exposures might be. The team is also exploring whether targeted therapies can be developed to prevent or mitigate this type of liver damage.

Although more studies are needed, people can take practical steps now to limit their exposure to PFAS. These include:

Choose stainless steel or cast-iron cookware instead of nonstick pans

Use water filters, especially in areas near industrial zones

Avoid stain-resistant treatments on furniture and carpets

Reduce consumption of packaged fast foods and microwave popcorn.

Select household products with PFAS-free labels

Given that liver disease affects millions of Americans and is becoming more prevalent worldwide, the findings of this research support growing calls for stronger regulation and oversight of persistent chemical contaminants. By better understanding the hidden interactions between environmental toxicants and lifestyle behaviors, scientists and policymakers may be better equipped to prevent and treat liver disease.

More information: Frederick A Ekuban et al, Perfluorooctane sulfonate exposure and alcohol-associated liver disease severity in a mouse chronic-binge ethanol feeding model, Toxicological Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaf066 Journal information: Toxicological Sciences
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Young California residents who arrived in the U.S. as children without legal permission are reeling in the wake of a new policy stripping them of health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

The policy, announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in June, reclassifies recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivalsan Obama-era program that has offered hundreds of thousands of immigrants across the country temporary relief from deportation and work authorizationas not "lawfully present," thereby disqualifying them from eligibility for ACA benefits starting August 31.

It countermands a Biden-era rule that enabled many DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers, to enroll for the first time starting last November.

"The decision is deeply unfair to hard-working, tax-paying individuals in California who trusted that they would have health insurance for 2025, only to have it stripped away eight months later," said Jessica Altman, the executive director of California's ACA marketplace, Covered California.

According to Altman, out of over 150,000 DACA recipients currently residing in California, about 2,300 have enrolled in the ACA since they became eligible. She said it had been difficult to convince more to enroll given "broader uncertainty about whether this expansion would stand."

"We hoped we would have had more time, a period of years to build on that outreach, to build trust and get more of the eligible DACA recipients enrolled," she said. Now, she said, that progress had unraveled.

In the wake of the policy reversal, Covered California has launched an extensive effort to ensure that every affected DACA recipient knows about the policy. In addition, it is working with community organizations to find alternative coverage options.

"This is not something that Covered California wants to be doing," Altman said. "This is not aligned with our values or mission, but we must comply with federal regulations."

Mariam Arif, the communication director of SIREN, a nonprofit organization providing legal services to immigrants in Santa Clara County, said she is worried many of those affected might fall through the cracks.

"Losing access to ACA coverage would force many DACA recipients to go without essential health care or pay out-of-pocket costs they simply cannot afford, at a time when access to care has never been more critical," she said.

"It's really not about the cost, it is about cruelty," she said. "[DACA recipients] contribute billions in taxes annually, including to Medicare and Social Security, which they will not be able to access. So we think it's extremely cruel."

According to Altman, most of the DACA recipients who enrolled in the ACA were driven by "what drives any other California enrollee." These, she said, include workers in the gig economy, those who retire before the age of 65, and those who work part-time hourly jobs without significant benefits.

"They don't have access to stable health benefits through their job, and they're not eligible for Medi-Cal," she said.

While the change only affects a fraction of California's DACA recipients, both Altman and Arif warned that broader rollbacks could follow. Altman in particular pointed to new federal budget policies that would strip funding from several "lawful immigrant groups" as well.

"Refugees, asylees, and humanitarian parolees will no longer be eligible for financial support from the federal government starting in 2027, so that's something we're very closely tracking," she said.

Arif agreed, and said that the cuts were part of a "broader agenda to dismantle federal protection, and actually target immigrant communities specifically."

For now, Altman advises those affected by the policy to be on the lookout for calls and emails from Covered California, which might provide them with alternative pathways to affordable health care.

"Unfortunately, DACA recipients are used to a lot of changing policies at the federal level that impact their lives in so many ways, and this is just another example where we're going to be sending you messages, and we're going to be calling you," she said. "You may have options, and we're going to do everything we can to help you find them."

And for now, Arif advised DACA recipients to continue to "stay strong."

"Keep up hope, because there's a lot of actions being taken right now, and hopefully something positive comes out of this," she said.

2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A simple information sheet may help prevent harms caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. A study just published in Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research found that women who reviewed a flyer with clear, concise information about alcohol use during pregnancy changed their attitudes and increased their understanding of the risks of, and health recommendations about, drinking during pregnancy.

The authors of the study have recommended that health care providers and communities make similar information available to people of childbearing age to reduce the risk of harms related to prenatal exposure to alcohol.

An estimated 1 in 10 pregnancies globally are exposed to alcohol, which confers an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. This study evaluated the effectiveness of education in changing women's knowledge and attitudes about drinking while pregnant.

Pregnant women in the United Kingdom were asked to read a three-page informational leaflet that discussed the health risks and guidance related to drinking during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Before and after reading the leaflet, participants completed questionnaires that assessed their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about drinking while pregnant, related health risks, and government guidance that no amount of alcohol use is safe during pregnancy. Participants were also asked whether the pregnancy was planned, when they found out about the pregnancy, and how much they drank during the pregnancy.

The study found the leaflet to be effective in changing knowledge and attitudes about drinking during pregnancy among the 1,100 women who completed the study. Before reading the leaflet, 85% were aware of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the guidance on alcohol use during pregnancy, although only 40% felt the guidance was widely known.

After reading the leaflet, participant knowledge increased overall, as well as on each specific knowledge question about prenatal alcohol exposure, such as the increased risk of infantile withdrawal symptoms or the increased risk of miscarriage. Overall, they viewed drinking during pregnancy more negatively after reading the leaflet.

Participants who, before reading the leaflet, were less knowledgeable about the risks and had more positive attitudes about drinking during pregnancy, and those who had reported alcohol use during their pregnancy, were most likely to demonstrate improvements in attitudes and knowledge.

The authors note that the intervention may have demonstrated greater impact in a participant sample more representative of the broader population. Study participants were recruited through social media and other groups focused on mothers, maternal health, and childbirth. Most were white, living with a partner, and had completed undergraduate education or higher. Eighty percent of their pregnancies were planned and confirmed within the first six weeks, in contrast to the 40% of pregnancies in the general U.K. population that are unplanned.

Unintentional prenatal alcohol exposure can occur when people consume alcohol before they realize they are pregnant, highlighting the need for interventions for all women of childbearing age, not just those who are pregnant.

Overall, the study demonstrates that a brief, self-administered educational tool can be a cost-effective, easily implemented means to improve knowledge about the risks of prenatal alcohol exposure among the general population. The authors emphasize the need to ensure any interventions do not contribute to self- or societal stigma, which carries its own risk of harm.

More information: Orlagh Keating et al, Knowledge as prevention: A costeffective intervention to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure, Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research (2025). DOI: 10.1111/acer.70089
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Mechanism of pain relief by ADRIANA. Credit: KyotoU / Hagiwara lab

Opioids like morphine are widely used in medical practice due to their powerful pain-relieving effects, yet they carry the risk of serious adverse effects such as respiratory depression and drug dependence. For this reason, Japan has strict regulations in place to ensure that these medications are prescribed only by authorized physicians.

In the United States, the opioid OxyContin was once frequently prescribed, triggering a surge in the misuse of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. As a result, the number of deaths caused by opioid overdose surpassed 80,000 in 2023, escalating into a national public health crisis now referred to as the "opioid crisis."

Opioids may soon have a rival, however. A team of researchers at Kyoto University has recently discovered a novel analgesic, or pain reliever, that exerts its effect through an entirely different mechanism. Clinical development of their drug ADRIANA is currently underway as part of an international collaborative effort.

The work is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"If successfully commercialized, ADRIANA would offer a new pain management option that does not rely on opioids, contributing significantly to the reduction of opioid use in clinical settings," says corresponding author Masatoshi Hagiwara, a specially-appointed professor at Kyoto University.

The research team was first inspired by substances that mimic noradrenaline, which is released in life-threatening situations and activates 2A-adrenoceptors to suppress pain, but these pose a high risk of cardiovascular instability.

After observing noradrenaline levels and 2B-adrenoceptors, the team hypothesized that selectively blocking 2B-adrenoceptors could elevate noradrenaline levels, leading to activation of 2A-adrenoceptors and resulting in pain relief without causing cardiovascular instability.

To identify selective inhibitors of 2B-adrenoceptors and measure the activity of individual 2-adrenoceptor subtypes, the researchers employed a novel technology known as the TGF shedding assay and conducted compound screening, leading to their discovery of the world's first selective 2B-adrenoceptor antagonist.

After success in administering the compound to mice and conducting non-clinical studies to assess its safety, physician-led clinical trials were conducted at Kyoto University Hospital. Both the Phase I trial in healthy volunteers and the Phase II trial in patients with postoperative pain following lung cancer surgery yielded highly promising results.

Building on these outcomes, preparations are now underway for a large-scale Phase II clinical trial in the United States, in collaboration with BTB Therapeutics, Inc, a Kyoto University-originated venture company.

As Japan's first non-opioid analgesic, ADRIANA has the potential not only to relieve severe pain for patients worldwide but could also play a meaningful role in addressing the opioid crisisa pressing social issue in the United Statesand thus contribute to international public health efforts.

"We aim to evaluate the analgesic effects of ADRIANA across various types of pain and ultimately make this treatment accessible to a broader population of patients suffering from chronic pain," says Hagiwara.
By Laman Ismayilova



Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli has met with People's Artist Fakhraddin Manafov on the occasion of the actor's 70th birthday anniversary.

The minister congratulated Fakhraddin Manafov on his birthday and conveyed his best wishes to a prominent film and theater actor, a member of the Supervisory Board of the Cinema Agency.

During the meeting, it was highlighted that Fakhraddin Manafov has garnered widespread acclaim and support from audiences both in Azerbaijan and internationally, owing to his performances in numerous films and theatrical performances.

His work has always been highly appreciated by the state. The awarding of the Shohrat Order by President Ilham Aliyev dated August 1, 2025, is another example of the attention paid to his services in the development of Azerbaijani cinema.

Adil Karimli also pointed out that Fakhraddin Manafov was awarded the Culture Ministry's Honorary Diploma for his contributions to the development of our culture and presented the award at the jubilee.

The People's Artist Fakhraddin Manafov expressed his gratitude to the Culture Ministry for the recognition and support of his contributions to national cinema.

Fakhraddin Manafov was born in 1955 in Khankandi, Azerbaijan.

In 1975-1980, he studied at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.

During his studies, he worked as an actor in the educational theater.

Since 1977, he has starred in numerous films produced by Azerbaijanfilm studio, portraying a variety of characters in screen works like"The Friend Who Crosses Houses," "Business Trip," "Park," "The Devil in Front of My Eyes," "If I Die... Forgive Me," "Tahmina," "Hotel Room," "Drongo," "Farewell, Southern City," "The Fate of the Ruler," "The Ambassador of Dawn," "Mahmud and Maryam," and many other notable cinema works.

For a long time, Fakhraddin Manafov worked as an actor at the Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theater.

The actor is the holder of the titles of Honored Artist (1987) and People's Artist (2000).

Since 2006, he has been a personal pensioner of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The evidence supporting the health benefits of breastfeeding is overwhelming, yet many women taking medicines are being advised to stop, often unnecessarily, according to a new study from the University of Bath.

The research, led by scientists in the Department of Life Sciences at Bath, reveals that concerns about drug safety during breastfeeding are a significant factor in the decision to stop, yet many medications prompting women to stop breastfeeding have either been found to cause no harm in limited studies, or the potential risks to the infant are considered minimal and outweighed by the benefits to the mother.

The new study, published in the International Breastfeeding Journal, found that up to 18% of women who need medication stopped breastfeeding due to that medication, rising to up to 58% among those with chronic illnesses.

These findings were supported by a Public Health England survey of 500 UK mothers, where 71% of respondents agreed with the statement, "It (breastfeeding) could prevent me from taking medication."

The Bath study reviewed research from seven countries across Europe and the U.S. spanning the past two decades. It was inspired by a researcher's personal experience as a breastfeeding mother and pharmacist, which led her to undertake a Ph.D. at the University of Bath.

"I suspected the advice I was getting wasn't right," said first author Rachel Pilgrim. "I felt quite nervous challenging the doctoreven though as a pharmacist, it's usually part of my job to do that, it felt very different as a patient. But the experience made me thinkwhat is it like for women who don't feel able to speak up?"

Breastfeeding is widely recommended by health authorities the world over. In the UK, exclusive breastfeeding is advised for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding alongside solid foods until at least one year.

Yet, despite widespread promotion of breastfeeding, the UK continues to report some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe. While nearly half of mothers (49%) are breastfeeding at 68 weeks after giving birth, only 1% breastfeed exclusively for six months, according to a 2010 UK survey.

International surveys have found that exclusive breastfeeding at six months is reported in 27.2% of infants in the U.S., 38% in Canada, and 37.5% in Australia.

The evidence gap

The maternal use of medication during breastfeeding does require caution, as some drugs can pass into breast milk and affect the baby. However, for many medications, the amount transferred is minimal and unlikely to cause harm.

One problem lies in the lack of clinical trial data, as breastfeeding women are typically excluded from pharmaceutical trials due to the ethical implications of exposing a baby to an untested drug. Information on the effects of a medicine during breastfeeding builds slowly once a new drug starts to be used.

However, key medicinal information resources for clinicians, such as the British National Formulary (BNF), often advise against drug use during breastfeeding, not because the medicine is definitely unsafe, but because its effects are not known with certainty. This conservative stance can lead to overly cautious or even incorrect advice. The study found that even for common medications such as antidepressants and painkillerswhere safety data is well-establishedwomen are stopping breastfeeding.

"The BNF is the first place most professionals look, but it doesn't always reflect the full picture," said Ms. Pilgrim.

"As a result, the advice given to women is often incorrect. And even when the safety data is more limited, women need to be given accurate, balanced information that considers both the risks of the medication and the benefits of continued breastfeeding."

Real-world impact

An evaluation of the Drugs in Breast Milk Service, run by the UK-based Breastfeeding Network, has found that 21% of mothers who contacted the service had been advised to stop breastfeeding by a health care professional. In 98% of these cases, this advice was found to be incorrect, and the women could have safely continued breastfeeding.

Alarmingly, fewer than 6% of these women were referred to the service by a health care providermost found it through social media or peer support groups.

This disconnect between available evidence and clinical practice is contributing to unnecessary breastfeeding cessation, says Ms. Pilgrim.

Both Ms. Pilgrim and Dr. Matthew Joneswho co-authored and supervised the studyare sympathetic towards clinicians who err on the side of caution when prescribing to breastfeeding mothers.

Dr. Jones, an academic and pharmacist in the Department of Life Sciences at Bath, said, "Double-checking the 'conservative' advice found in the BNF is highly time-consuming. In my previous job as an NHS medicines information specialist, I might spend two hours verifying the safety of a drug using more specialist resources. Most people don't have that kind of time."

Study co-supervisor Dr. Sarah Chapman from King's College London, added, "We know breastfeeding women frequently choose not to take safe, beneficial medications because of misinformation and worries about effects on their baby; this study shows women also stop breastfeeding unnecessarily."

Plans to improve safety awareness

Ms. Pilgrim will build on her study through a three-phase Ph.D. research project due to start in September. As part of this work, she will develop a resource to make it easier for people to access specialist advice on breastfeeding. This will either be aimed at health care professionals or at women themselves.

Her goal is to improve communication between health care professionals and women, raise awareness that most drugs are safe to take when breastfeeding and ultimately support more women to continue feeding their babies while taking essential medications.

Desh Mofidi, Research Manager at Pharmacy Research UK, said, "Supporting high-quality research like this is central to our research strategy to improve the safe and effective use of medicines, which also includes patients being informed of the impact of taking certain medicines for their health and well-being. We are pleased to help address a long-standing evidence gap that will ultimately benefit health care professionals and the public."

Laura Kearney, Consultant Pharmacist and Clinical Lead at the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service, said, "We try to educate others that advising not to breastfeed in order that a medicine can be taken is not a 'no harm' option. The evidence-based benefits of breastfeeding have to be taken into account too.

"This study will add value in an area which is very evidence-poor. We know that incorrect medicine and breastfeeding advice is a huge problem in our health care culture, so quantifying the true impact of this is really insightful."

More information: Rachel Pilgrim et al, The effect of medication use on breastfeeding continuation: a systematic review with narrative synthesis, International Breastfeeding Journal (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s13006-025-00756-y
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With heat advisories blanketing the eastern half of the U.S., air conditioners are once again working over time as essential resources to keep millions cool. But they're unevenly distributed: Many poor households are unable to afford them.

To reduce the gap between the air conditioning haves and have nots, a growing number of programs are giving them out for free with waiting lists numbering in the thousands. And they view them as a means to protect public health and reduce poverty.

Heat-related deaths have doubled over the last quarter century, and more people will be at risk as the planet warms. Temperature increases are correlated with higher disease risk and mortality rates. Extreme heat can reduce productivity, impact children's cognitive development and lower overall well-being.

"Each individual heat-related death is preventable," said Kai Chen, a researcher of environmental health at Yale University, "and in the past 20 years, air conditioning use has drastically reduced heat-related mortality."

He added that without ACs, the amount of heat-related deaths in the US would likely double, especially for older adults.

There are 14 million households without air conditioning in the U.S., but lack of access is more acute in some communities. In New York, 10% of households don't have AC, but that percentage doubles in many Black, Latino and low-income neighborhoods.

Over 500 people die from heat in New York City each summer, mostly at home with a broken or underpowered air conditioner, according to the city's most recent report on heat mortality. The top reason for the lack of cooling: cost.

The state's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides ACs to low-income households with members over 65 or under 6, and Gov. Kathy Hochul launched a program in June that makes units available to any low-income adult with asthma, which is exacerbated by heat.

The new program, which distributes the ACs through enrollment in the state's Essentials Healthcare Plan, focuses on ages that HEAP does not cover.

"We think this is really important as extreme weather events are happening more and more and with a lower-income population with health needs, this is absolutely a meaningful way we can help them manage their health," said Danielle Holahan, executive director at New York State of Health, the state's marketplace for affordable health insurance, which administers the program.

But the program and others like it face challenges due to funding cuts. Federal money for many state-level heating and cooling relief programs is in peril, and energy-efficiency tax credits, which help households afford better cooling appliances, have been cut as part of President Donald Trump's recently signed tax law.

The bedrock of New York's program, the Essentials Healthcare Plan, was implemented under the Affordable Care Act. According to Holahan, the program has funding for the next five years, but cuts to the ACA in the new law could remove eligibility for about 730,000 enrollees, especially lawfully present immigrants.

Local nongovernmental groups run similar programs and have found strong demand. In Cincinnati, which will see a run of extreme heat break by the end of the week, there's a waiting list of more than 2,700 people for a program that gives out free air conditioners.

The program, run by the anti-homelessness charity St. Vincent de Paul provides ACs to anyone 65 and older or with a medical need. Their waiting list grew by 700 in the last few weeks alone.

While St. Vincent de Paul Cincinnati's program initially gave out fans, that felt like a "band-aid" for a persistent problem, said Kaytlynd Leinhart, who leads the organization's development and marketing. The group switched to ACs in 2019. It is funded by local donors, businesses and foundations.

Leinhart said nonprofits carry more responsibility after pandemic-era support tapered off. She emphasized how cooling can be a stepping stone out of a crisis by providing something as simple as a good night's sleep.

"If you're a single mom on one income, imagine that that's how you're starting your day every day, with your baby having not slept, you've not slept, you've been severely uncomfortable all night," she said.

Providing a free AC can help individuals cope with heat stress and better attend to pressing challenges.

Demand is especially high this year. The Cincinnati program gave out over 700 ACs in both 2023 and 2024, while in 2022, it provided 980 units. This year, it expects to exceed 1,000 units.

However, providing that many will cost $110,000, and the group only has $75,000 in funding this year. With such a long waitlist, many won't receive relief.

Climate change is making summers hotter in New York and Cincinnati, places that already regularly experience temperatures above 90F (32C). Traditionally, cool cities where air conditioning is less prevalent are also seeing temperatures rise. As it gets hotter, though, free home cooling programs are becoming more common.

"Cooling is going from being a luxury or a 'nice to have' in many places to being essential for health and safety," said Laila Atalla, a building decarbonization expert at clean energy nonprofit RMI.

In the wake of a 2021 heat dome that killed hundreds across the US Pacific Northwest and Canada, the city of Portland, Oregon, formed Cooling Portland with the nonprofit Earth Advantage to install energy-efficient heat pumps in households at high risk of heat-related illness.

Using heat pumps is the ideal solution because of their reliability, smaller environmental footprint and affordability, reducing cooling costs by about 20%, Atalla said.

In 2022, Cooling Portland set a target of installing 15,000 units by 2027, but it reached that goal earlier this summer and plans to install 5,000 units this year alone. In a city that is 70% white, the program is helping close the racial cooling disparity. Of those served, about a third are Black and 14% Hispanic or Latino.

Portland funds its work through a 1% surcharge on local billion-dollar corporations, passed via a 2018 ballot measure. The fundwhich has raised $1.2 billioncan only be used for climate justice initiatives.

Amidst the Trump administration's cuts to social welfare and climate programs, Atalla said that local governments and utilities can do more to improve cooling access using money they already have. They noted that the US spends $9 billion a year on energy efficiency programs that only 3% of households take advantage of because of complex applications, inconsistent eligibility requirements and income verification hurdles.

"There's an equity dimension here too," Atalla said. "Low-income households are about one-third as likely to receive an energy-efficiency incentive."

Atalla underscored that programs that can help cover the costs of energy billswhich low-income households spend a disproportionate amount of income oncan also help make free air conditioner programs more effective. They also pointed to a Colorado bill that would prevent utilities from disconnecting power for nonpayment during extreme heat events as another means to keep people safe.

2025 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Steep cuts in US government funding have thrown much of the field of global health into a state of fear and uncertainty. Once a crown jewel of US foreign policy, valued at some US$12 billion a year, global health has been relegated to a corner of a restructured State Department governed by an "America First" agenda.

Whatever emerges from the current crisis, it will look very different from the past.

As someone who has spent a 25-year career in global health and human rights and now teaches the subject to graduate students in California, I am often asked whether young people can hope for a future in the field. My answer is a resounding yes.

More than ever, we need the dedication, humility and vision of the next generation to reinvent the field of global health, so that it is never again so vulnerable to the political fortunes of a single country. And more than ever, I am hopeful this will be the case.

To understand the source of my hope, it is important to recall what brought US engagement in global health to its current precipiceand how a historic response to specific diseases paradoxically left African health systems vulnerable.

Disease and dependency

Over two decades ago, the field of global health as we currently know it emerged out of the global response to HIV/Aidsamong the deadliest pandemics in human history. The pandemic principally affected people of reproductive age and babies born to HIV-positive parents.

The creation of the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) in 2003 was at the time the largest-ever bilateral program to combat a single disease. It redefined the field of global health for decades to come, with the US at its center. While both the donors and issues in the field would multiply over the years, global health would never relinquish its origins in American leadership against HIV/Aids.

Pepfar placed African nations in a state of extreme dependence on the US. We are now witnessing the resultsnot for the first time. The global financial crisis of 2008 reduced development assistance to health, which generated new thinking about financing and domestic resource mobilization.

Yet, the US continued to underwrite Africa's disease responses through large contracts to American universities and implementers. This was for good reason, given the urgency of the problem, the growing strength of Africa's health systems as a result of Pepfar, and the moral duty of the world's richest country.

With the rise of right-wing populism and the polarizing effects of COVID-19, global health would come to be seen by many Americans as an elite enterprise. The apparent trade-off between public health countermeasures and economic life during COVID-19a false choice to experts who know a healthy workforce to be a precondition for a strong economyalienated many voters from the advice of disease prevention experts. The imperative to "vaccinate the world" and play a leadership role in global health security lacked a strong domestic constituency. It proved no match for monopolistic priorities of the pharmaceutical industry and the insularity and economic anxieties of millions of Americans.

This history set the stage for the sudden abdication of US global health leadership in early 2025. By the time the Department of Government Efficiency came for USAID, many viewed global health as a relic of the early response to HIV/Aids, an excuse for other governments to spend less on health, or an industry of elites. The field was an easy target, and the White House must have known it.

Yet therein lies the hope. If global health came of age around a single disease, an exercise of US soft power, and a cadre of elite experts, it now has an opportunity to change itself from the ground up. What can emerge is a new global health compact, in which African governments design robust health systems for themselves and enlist the international community to assist from behind.

Opportunity to build back better

To build a new global health compact for Africa, the first change must be from a focus on combating individual diseases to ensuring that all people have the opportunity for health and well-being throughout their lives. Rather than allowing entire health systems to be defined by the response to HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria, Africa needs integrated systems that promote:

primary care, which brings services for the majority of health needs closer to communities

health promotion, which enables people to take control of all aspects of their health and well-being

long-term care, which helps all people function and maintain quality of life over their entire lifespan.

No global trend compels this shift more than population aging, which will soon engulf every nation as a result of lengthening life expectancy and declining fertility. As the proportion of older adults grows to outstrip that of children, societies need systems of integrated health care that help people manage multiple diseases. They don't need fragmented programs that produce conflicting medical advice, dangerous drug interactions, and crippling bureaucracy. Time is running out to make this fundamental shift.

Second, there is a need to shift the relationship between low-income and high-income nations towards shared investment in the service of local needs. This is beginning to happen in some places, and it will require greater sacrifices on all sides.

Low-income governments need to spend a higher percentage of their GDP on health care. That will in turn require addressing the many factors that stymie the redistribution of wealth, from corruption to debt to lack of progressive taxation. The US and other high-income countries need to pay their fair share, while also sharing decision-making over how global public goods, from vaccines to disease surveillance to health workers, are shared and distributed in an interconnected world.

Third, there is a need to change the narrative of global health in wealthy countries such as the US to better connect to the concerns of voters who are hostile to globalism itself. This means addressing people's real fears that public health measures will cost them their job, force them to close their business, or advance a pharmaceutical industry agenda. It means justifying global health in terms that people can relate to and agree withthat is, helping to save lives without taking responsibility for other countries' health systems.

It means forging unlikely alliances between those who believe in leadership from the so-called global south and those who take an insular view of America's role in the world.

Leading from behind

Make no mistake. I am not counting on thisor anyUS administration to reinvent global health on terms that are more responsive to current disease trends, more equitable between nations, and more relevant to American voters.

But nor would I want them to. To create global health for the future, the leadership must come not only from the US, but rather from a shared commitment among the community of nations to give and receive according to their capacities and needs. And that is something to hope for.

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

New Hampshire has become the first state to require doctors and medical staff to sterilize patients who request it.

The measure focuses on adults who have medical conditions for which sterilization may be a treatment option. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed the bipartisan bill into law on July 15.

The law says physicians can't deny sterilization based on a patient's age, number of children, marital status, or if the physician has views on fertility that run contrary to the patient's wishes.

It's the first law of its kind. And it comes at a time when state legislators across the country have enacted laws restricting women's reproductive choices.

"A doctor should not withhold your needed treatment because the doctor doesn't like the idea that you decided not to have kids or don't want any more kids," New Hampshire Democratic state Rep. Ellen Read, who sponsored the bill, said earlier this month during a panel at the National Foundation for Women Legislators.

Her cosponsors included two Democrats and two Republicans.

Read said her own medical experience led her to sponsor the bill. She was diagnosed at 26 with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that can cause painful periods, infertility, ovarian cysts and an increased risk of other diseases, such as diabetes.

As Read's health worsened over the years, she said, her doctors continued pushing her to wait to get a hysterectomy, in case she wanted a child in the future, even though she and her husbandwho had already gotten a vasectomyhad decided they didn't want children.

Sterilization, or permanent contraception, is the most common method of contraception among U.S. women of reproductive age, and it's one of the most straightforward surgical procedures an OB-GYN can perform, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

In women, this is a tubal ligation, where the fallopian tubes are closed off or removed; in men it is a vasectomy, where a portion of the tube that carries sperm is removed. A hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, also renders a woman sterile.

But in the United States, sterilization has a fraught history. Vulnerable groups have been sterilized without their knowledge or consent, including people with disabilities, Indigenous women and Black women. In the past, many have been sterilized as the result of state laws.

Meanwhile, others who desire sterilization have been unable to access it. One survey of 1,800 obstetrician-gynecologists found that while most OB-GYNs said they would help a patient obtain a tubal ligation, up to 70% would try to dissuade her, depending on characteristics such as how many children she had or whether her husband agreed.

Surgical sterilization rates among women have increased since the 2022 Supreme Court ruling overturned the constitutional right to abortion, according to a study published last September by researchers at Columbia University.

2025 States Newsroom. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Shigeko Kagawa holds a torch during a torch relay event for the Tokyo Olympics in Yamatokooriyama, Nara prefecture, western Japan, April 12, 2021. Credit: Kyodo News via AP

Shigeko Kagawa, a 114-year-old retired physician from Nara Prefecture, has became Japan's oldest living person, following the death of 114-year-old Miyoko Hiroyasu, according to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Kagawa, a symbol of Japan's extraordinary longevity, graduated from medical school before World War II, served at a hospital in Osaka during the war, and later ran her family's clinic as an obstetrician and gynecologist. She retired at 86.

At 109, Kagawa became one of the oldest torchbearers in Olympic history during the Tokyo 2021 torch relay.

She is not doing anything out of the ordinary to stay healthy, a local television MBS News said last week, quoting her family. She keeps a regular routine, going to bed and waking up at set times and she eats small portions but always has three proper meals a day.

Her predecessor as Japan's oldest person led a similarly active life. Born in 1911, Hiroyasu studied art in Tokyo, taught in Hiroshima Prefecture and raised three children.

She died in a nursing home in Oita Prefecture, where she spent her days reading newspapers, sketching and playing card games.

Torchbearer Shigeko Kagawa, left, hands over the flame of the torch to the next runner during a torch relay event for the Tokyo Olympics in Yamatokooriyama, Nara prefecture, western Japan, April 12, 2021. Credit: Kyodo News via AP

"I am grateful to be healthy," she said on her 113th birthday.

Despite an overall population decline, Japan's elderly population continues to grow. As of September 1, 2024, a record 36 million people29% of the populationwere aged 65 or older, the highest proportion of seniors in the world. Those aged 80 and above now make up 10% of the population, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

There are 95,119 centenarians across the country.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Structural and functional characterization of the Aeg-S and Aeg-L pore-forming complex. Credit: Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09331-1

Scientists at the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing report that two pore-forming proteins from the common mold Alternaria alternata puncture airway epithelial membranes and initiate signals that drive allergic airway inflammation.

Allergens that provoke type 2 immunity such as dust mites, pollen, and mold spores share little structural similarity. Pattern-recognition receptors handle bacterial and viral threats, while type 2 responses appear to detect tissue disruption instead.

MAPK signaling works like a molecular switchboard inside epithelial cells, turning outside stress into gene-level commands. IL-33 is an alarm signal cytokine that normally stays tucked inside airway-cell nuclei but surges out when membranes break, rallying innate immune cells and steering a response. In allergic airways, MAPK activity amplifies the programs started by IL-33, so both molecules sit at the center of inflammation.

In the study, "Epithelial cell membrane perforation induces allergic airway inflammation," published in Nature, researchers designed a purification-and-reconstitution strategy to test whether fungal proteins can initiate type 2 inflammation through epithelial sensing.

Human lung epithelial cell lines and repeated intranasal protein exposure in mice served as the experimental systems, with early activation tracked through IL-33 release, MAPK phosphorylation, and inflammatory-gene expression.

Scientists uncovered two mold proteins from Alternaria alternata, Aeg-S and Aeg-L, that team up to pierce airway-cell membranes. Images show them connected as a ring-shaped drill. Low exposure lets calcium rush inside and flips on a MAPK relay. Heavier exposure bursts the cells and releases the alarm signal IL-33. Each protein is produced with no effect alone.

Blocking calcium entry or the MAPK relay was enough to stop every downstream response. Breathing in the duo drives classic allergy signs in mice, with eosinophils in the lungs, T-helper-2 cells, and surging IgE, while mold engineered to lack either protein leaves airways calm.

Six structurally unrelated pore-forming toxins from fungi, bacteria, annelids, and cnidarians provoked similar epithelial and immune features upon airway exposure, including IL-33 release and MAPK activation in epithelial cells even without IL-33 feedback.

Study data indicate that membrane perforation registers as danger and is sufficient to launch type 2 immune pathways in the airway epithelium. The authors argue that many otherwise unrelated allergens and venoms carry pore-forming proteins, so perforation may explain why diverse stimuli provoke similar airway inflammation.

Written for you by our author Justin Jackson, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information: Kejian Shi et al, Epithelial cell membrane perforation induces allergic airway inflammation, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09331-1 Journal information: Nature

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A) Illustration of the experimental design. B) Averaged power spectra and timefrequency representations (TFR) were extracted from two regions of interest. Credit: Imaging Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1162/IMAG.a.69

Using a custom-built tool to analyze the electrical activity from neurons, researchers at Brown University have identified a brain-based biomarker that could be used to predict whether mild cognitive impairment will develop into Alzheimer's disease.

"We've detected a pattern in electrical signals of brain activity that predicts which patients are most likely to develop the disease within two and a half years," said Stephanie Jones, a professor of neuroscience affiliated with Brown's Carney Institute for Brain Science who co-led the research.

"Being able to noninvasively observe a new early marker of Alzheimer's disease progression in the brain for the first time is a very exciting step."

The findings were published in Imaging Neuroscience.

Working with collaborators at the Complutense University of Madrid in Spain, the research team analyzed recordings of brain activity from 85 patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and monitored disease progress over the next several years.

The recordings were made using magnetoencephalography, or MEGa noninvasive technique to record electrical activity in the brainwhile patients were in a resting state with their eyes closed.

Most methods for studying MEG recordings compress and average the detected activity, making it difficult to interpret at the neuronal level. Jones and other researchers at Brown pioneered a computational tool, called the Spectral Events Toolbox, that reveals neuronal activity as discrete events, showing exactly when and how often activity occurs, how long it lasts and how strong or weak it is. The tool has become widely used and has been cited in more than 300 academic studies.

Using the Spectral Events Toolbox, the team looked at brain activity events in patients with mild cognitive impairment, occurring in the beta frequency banda frequency that has been implicated in memory processing, making it important to study Alzheimer's disease, according to Jones.

They discovered distinct differences in the beta events of the participants who developed Alzheimer's disease within two and a half years, in comparison with those who did not.

"Two and a half years prior to their Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, patients were producing beta events at a lower rate, shorter in duration and at a weaker power," said Danylyna Shpakivska, the Madrid-based first author of the study.

"To our knowledge, this is the first time scientists have looked at beta events in relation to Alzheimer's disease."

Spinal fluid and blood biomarkers can identify the presence of toxic beta amyloid plaques and tau tanglesproteins that build up in the brain and are thought to contribute to Alzheimer's disease symptoms.

A biomarker from brain activity itself represents a more direct method of assessing how neurons respond to this toxicity, said David Zhou, a postdoctoral researcher in Jones' lab at Brown who will lead the next phase of the project.

Jones envisions that the Spectral Events Toolbox could be used by clinicians to diagnose Alzheimer's disease before it progresses.

"The signal we've discovered can aid early detection," Jones said. "Once our finding is replicated, clinicians could use our toolkit for early diagnosis and also to check whether their interventions are working."

Meanwhile, Jones and her team will move into a new phase of research.

"Now that we've uncovered beta event features that predict Alzheimer's disease progression, our next step is to study the mechanisms of generation using computational neural modeling tools," Jones said.

"If we can recreate what's going wrong in the brain to generate that signal, then we can work with our collaborators to test therapeutics that might be able to correct the problem."

More information: Danylyna Shpakivska-Bilan et al, High-power transient 1230 Hz beta event features as early biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease conversion: An MEG study, Imaging Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1162/IMAG.a.69
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People living in racially and economically segregated neighborhoods are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage breast and cervical cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Qinran Liu, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, and colleagues examined the association between neighborhood-level segregation, measured by the neighborhood-Index of Concentration at Extremes, and stage at diagnosis for three screenable cancers in New York City.

A total of 98,449 incident cases (58,970 breast, 4,790 cervical, and 34,689 colorectal) were analyzed using data from 2008 to 2019 from the New York State Cancer Registry.

The researchers found that compared with the most affluent and/or most non-Hispanic white-concentrated areas, the most deprived and/or non-Hispanic Black-concentrated areas had significantly higher advanced-to-localized stage incidence rate ratios for breast and cervical cancer.

No association was seen for Hispanic concentration alone with disparities, but when combined with economic deprivation, disparities were seen in breast and cervical cancer. Increasing incidence rate ratios were seen for all racialized economic-segregation measures, with higher segregation for both cancers. For colorectal cancer, there were no disparities.

"Our findings have direct implications for cancer prevention and early detection efforts by identifying neighborhoods with the greatest disparities in stage at diagnosis," Liu said in a statement.

More information: Qinran Liu et al, Association between racialized economic segregation and stage at diagnosis for 3 screenable cancers in New York City, JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2025). DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaf173 Journal information: Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Copyright  2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Hormones affect human physical functions, behavior and mental well-being, with testosterone, a primary androgen hormone, playing a vital role in shaping male social cognition and behavior. A research team of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has conducted interdisciplinary research to uncover the neurocognitive correlates of testosterone in the brain function of young men, and their impact on social behavior. The findings provide valuable insights into potential applications of testosterone therapy in clinical and mental health care.

The research team is led by Prof. Yin Wu, associate professor of the PolyU Department of Applied Social Sciences. By administering a single dose of testosterone or placebo gel to healthy young men who participated in the experiments and comparing their performance in assigned tasks, the team investigated the correlation between testosterone levels and various behavioral traits such as generosity, state self-esteem, sensitivity to angry facial expressions, aversion to inequality, prosocial learning and aggression.

High testosterone may lead to increased selfishness

Their first study in 2021 focused on the impact of testosterone on socio-economic behavior. The researchers combined pharmacological manipulation and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to discover how testosterone influences generosity and the underlying neural mechanisms.

They evaluated the experimental subjects' performance in a social discounting task, in which participants chose between benefiting only themselves and providing also some benefit to another person at a particular social distance, while also observing their brain activity through fMRI during the decision-making process.

Findings revealed that exogenous testosterone administration reduced generosity, particularly when interacting with more distant others. Additionally, the fMRI results showed that higher testosterone levels are linked to reduced neural activity in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), an upper brain region associated with social cognition.

The team suggested that testosterone may reduce concern for others' welfare at the neural level by dampening activity in the TPJ, highlighting a correlation between increased testosterone levels and selfishness and reduced empathy in economic decision-making.

Prof. Wu said, "The role of hormones in human cognition is a growing research focus in psychology and neuroscience. Leveraging cutting-edge neuroimaging facilities, we have been able to make new discoveries in this area. However, key questions remain, such as how testosterone affects economic decision-making or how the stress hormone cortisol shapes social preferences like altruist behavior. Our team is investigating these complex dynamics to drive impactful outcomes."

That research, conducted in collaboration with scholars from Peking University, Shenzhen University, South China Normal University and University of Zurich, was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

Increased testosterone levels help boost state self-esteem updating

In their current study, the team explored the link between state self-esteem (SSE), a momentary sense of self-worth and perceived social status, and testosterone levels.

Experimental subjects were asked to complete a social evaluation task in which they adjusted their predictions of potential evaluation by others, while dynamically reporting their SSE based on the social feedback they received. The researchers then applied a computational modeling approach to investigate the dynamic changes in their SSE throughout the process.

Persistent low SSE may induce aberrant behaviors and increase the risk of psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders. From a clinical perspective, low SSE in individuals with schizophrenia has also been associated with heightened self-aggression. The team found, however, that testosterone administration can boost SSE updating and alleviate these behaviors.

Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that testosterone replacement therapy can significantly improve such aberrant behaviors, but chronic use may carry side effects. This research has provided valuable clinical insights in this regard, indicating that a single dose of testosterone can positively influence SSE, particularly in positive social environments.

It is suggested that future clinical practice consider combining exogenous testosterone with behavioral interventions that foster supportive environments and social feedback to enhance SSE as a potential pre-clinical treatment for relevant aberrant behaviors and clinical symptoms.

Prof. Wu remarked, "By combining computational modeling with behavioral pharmacology, we have uncovered the psychological mechanisms through which testosterone affects complex social processes. We envision that these findings could inform public organizations in developing public health policies and strategies that foster positive community environments and promote mental health and well-being."

Prof. Wu's team collaborated with scholars from East China Normal University, University of California San Diego and University of Zurich in the research. The findings were published in the journal Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.

Looking ahead, Prof. Wu and his team will continue to advance research into the implications of testosterone on social cognition and brain activity in young men, laying the foundation for future studies in this field, and further promoting the translation of the research outcomes into practical application.

He is presently partnering with the PolyU Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering to investigate the influence of hormones on pilot flying performance and the underlying brain mechanisms, thereby supporting airlines in developing effective strategies for recruiting and training cadet pilots.

More information: Jixin Long et al, Testosterone Administration Increases the Computational Impact of Social Evaluation on the Updating of State Self-Esteem, Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2025.02.008 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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In a small new study, a handheld saliva-sampling device successfully detected breast cancer 100% of the time, researchers said.

The study only involved 29 saliva samples, and more research is needed.

However, the results remain "very exciting because this device could improve access to breast cancer screening and significantly reduce health care costs," said study co-author Dr. Coy Heldermon, a breast oncologist at University of Florida Health in Gainesville.

"If all holds true, it would be a game-changer," he said in a university news release.

Access to screening remains a barrier to spotting breast cancers early, when they are most amenable to treatment.

The American Cancer Society currently recommends that average-risk women get their first mammogram at age 40, and an MRI if they have specific risk factors, such as a family history of the disease.

Of course, mammograms can be uncomfortable and require appointments. That's something study senior author Dr. Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw understands all too well: Her mother died of breast cancer, and she herself is at high risk for the disease.

Esquivel-Upshaw gets a mammogram and breast MRI scan every six months. "It's a hassle and it can be discouraging," she said. "I would much rather give a simple saliva sample at home that would inform the next steps in screening."

So, the Florida team is creating a device that does just that.

It's a "biosensor" that measures specific breast cancer biomarkers hidden in saliva.

In their latest work, "we were able to shrink the sensor platform so it fits in the palm of your hand, which was our whole drive: to make this accessible and portable for patients to be able to use," Esquivel-Upshaw said.

"The portable design means it's a promising alternative for breast cancer detection and monitoring, particularly in rural communities," she added.

The technology was designed in a collaboration with Yu-Te Liao, a professor in electrical engineering at the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan.

Scientists at the University of Florida and their Taiwanese partners created a high-tech circuit board that contains "multi-channel test strips," designed to detect a number of biomarkers in saliva that are unique to breast cancers.

Patient saliva is collected in a sterile cup, and the device's test strip is immersed in the sample for about three seconds, the researchers explained.

The strip is then inserted into the strip connector on the device's circuit board.

Using a special app, the test results can be available in real time.

In the small study involving 29 saliva samples, the biosensor was 100% accurate in spotting people who had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

It correctly identified those who did not have the disease 86% of the time, the researchers said.

They think the device might be used initially to see if a person needs to be referred to follow-up, such as a mammogram.

"You send in some spit or better yet have the sensor sent to you, it does the measurement and if it's positive, you get sent for additional testing," Heldemon explained in the news release. "That is so much more practical and would have so much better uptake among patients."

Next steps? The team, which already has patents on the device, says it is busy testing other saliva biomarkers, to zero in on which combo of biomarkers might best predict breast cancer.

It's possible that the technology might someday help spot a range of diseases, not only breast cancer, they said.

The study was published recently in the journal Biosensors.

More information: Hsiao-Hsuan Wan et al, A High-Sensitivity, Bluetooth-Enabled PCB Biosensor for HER2 and CA15-3 Protein Detection in Saliva: A Rapid, Non-Invasive Approach to Breast Cancer Screening, Biosensors (2025). DOI: 10.3390/bios15060386 There's more information on breast cancer diagnosis at the Mayo Clinic.

 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
By Laman Ismayilova



An open-air film screening has been organized at the amphitheater of Heydar Aliyev Park, Khatai district.

This initiative was implemented jointly by the Culture Ministry, Cinema Agency, Baku City Main Department of Culture, as well as Khatai District Executive Power, to mark Azerbaijan National Cinema Day.

Ali-Sattar Guliyev's film "Goodbye, Schmidt!" was screened as part of the event.

The film tells the story of Emil Schmidt, a German resident in Azerbaijan, and explores themes of autumn sorrow, summer joy, and the meaning of life, while also touching on themes of love for one's homeland and freedom.

The screen work was produced in honor of the 200th anniversary of the resettlement of ethnic Germans in Azerbaijan.

At the event, Turan Mammadli, an employee of the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency, provided insight about the agency's activities.

Since its establishment, Azerbaijan Cinema Agency has been taking significant steps to support the local film industry, increase and promote film production, and revamp the infrastructure.

Turan Mammadli emphasized that these initiatives will be consistently implemented in the future:

"We are committed to revitalizing active cinema viewership in Azerbaijan, increasing film production, and expanding opportunities for professionals in the industry. This effort is vital not only from an economic and ideological perspective but also to provide actors with a platform to showcase their talent and skills. The Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and the Cinema Agency are dedicated to these goals and will persist in their efforts to achieve them."

Speaking later, the producer Ali-Sattar Guliyev and the lead actor, Deputy Chairman of the Film Industry Development Fund Public Union Azer Aydemir provided detailed information about the essence of the film and congratulated cinema devotees and film lovers on the occasion of Azerbaijan Cinema Day.

Furthermore, the participants of the event also had a chance to meet with the film crew.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Twenty-eight-year-old Michaela Bonner has been working 12-hour shifts as an emergency medical technician in Norfolk, Virginia, for the past four years, while attending and paying for college to finish her prerequisites for medical school.

But now that President Donald Trump's signature tax and spending law bars students from borrowing more than $50,000 annually in unsubsidized federal loans for medical school, Bonner is worried her dream of becoming a doctor is financially out of reach.

"I get told, 'Well, we really need you. We have a physician shortage, and you've done all this work leading up to this point,' and that's true as well, and it's not that I want to quit," Bonner said in a recent interview. "But there are no systems in place that I can rely on to support me now that I can't take out the full cost of living through loans."

The tax and spending law includes provisions that significantly alter the student loan process for higher education. The law halts current student loan repayment plans for loans that are granted on or after July 1, 2026. On that date, the law also terminates Grad PLUS loans, which have helped people pay for their higher education degrees and total cost of attendance. Current borrowers will be grandfathered in.

The federal law gives current borrowers enrolled in loan repayment plans for students based on incomesuch as those plans known as SAVE or IBRuntil July 1, 2028, to switch to a new plan. Interest collection will resume Aug. 1 for students enrolled in the Biden-era SAVE plan.

At the same time, medical or law school students hoping to get unsubsidized federal loansin which the borrower is responsible for paying the interest at all times rather than the governmentwill only be able to borrow $50,000 per year, with a $200,000 lifetime cap. Those seeking advanced degrees in areas such as history or philosophy have a $100,000 lifetime cap.

The average yearly cost of medical school for the 202425 academic year ranged from around $42,000 to $72,000, depending on whether the school was private or public and whether the student was a resident or nonresident, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Some congressional Republicans say that students need to be working harder to pay for higher education, like medical school, on their own. Others say the caps put the onus back on colleges and universities to rein in the rising cost of tuition. But critics of this legislation say the loan caps are only going to harm students, especially from lower-income backgrounds, and will exacerbate physician shortages.

In recent years, states have tried to ease physician shortages by implementing various policy solutions. Since 2023, at least nine states have made it easier for doctors trained in other countries to get medical licenses. States have also participated in interstate licensing compacts, allowing nurses and physician assistants to travel across state lines to work, so long as they are licensed in one state within the compact.

For student loan relief, more than 20 states have enacted legislation to address student loan forgiveness, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a group that tracks state policies.

Georgia passed a measure that will expand a cancelable loan program for physicians working in rural and underserved areas. Idaho also created the Rural Nursing Loan Repayment Program, offering nurses $25,000 in forgivable loans after three years of service in a rural area.

McKenzie Richards, a health care policy fellow at the conservative think tank Cicero Institute who has been studying the pace of physician shortages, told Stateline that the national physician shortage could potentially exceed 100,000 by 2034. At the end of 2024, that projected number was closer to 64,000 physicians.

Richards said states will be looking toward more policy solutions should the student loan changes exacerbate physician shortages.

"We know what's going to be happening coming down the line in just five years, so I think policies that states can adopt to get out of this are really important to be looking at now," she said.

"The hope is that by capping [federal loans], it will encourage schools to lower tuition prices," Richards added. "Then maybe they need to be admitting more students, which would have a great downstream effect for getting more doctors through."

Other students will be in the same boat, said Lesley Turner, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Chicago and an economist.

"This is going to hit some students worse than others," Turner told Stateline. "Those [students] in more expensive programs tend to borrow more, and so, for those students, they will need to return to private student loans or other ways of financing their graduate education."

Many students were already questioning their capacity to go to medical school before the student loan caps, said Shannon Jimenez, dean of the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

"I expect that this bill, this cap, is going to push people out of primary care and into specialties to help pay off those higher interest-rate loans," Jimenez told Stateline. She added that caps will likely deter students from lower socioeconomic statuses from going into primary careimportant in places like Arkansas, where she says there is a "maldistribution of physicians."

"Many schools like us try to attract those students, because they're more likely to go into primary care and serve in underserved areas. So it's going to tie our hands in a lot of ways."

Large states and more rural states will feel the gaps more deeply, said Richards, of the Cicero Institute. Louisiana, for example, is projected to be short by almost 5,000 doctors from a variety of specialties by 2030, including close to 400 primary care doctors. Already more than a third of Louisiana physicians are close to retirement agesimilar to the situation in neighboring Arkansas.

As for whether schools will just be able to lower tuition, Jimenez said, "it makes no sense."

"We still function in a somewhat market-driven economy and have to compete with other schools around us, so our cost is based mostly on what we have to pay our faculty, and that's not going to go down," she said. The annual cost of attendance at her school is between $80,000 and $85,000.

Bonner, the EMT, holds a political communications degree from Regent University and is now studying biomedical sciences at Old Dominion University. She already has $20,000 in loans, she said, and for the rest of her college tuition, she has paid out of pocket. Since she's supporting herself, she hasn't been able to save much.

She'd planned to take the medical school entrance exam next spring, but now worries about how she'd pay for living expenses while attending. "Medical school scheduling doesn't allow for working, so you have to take out loans for living expenses," she said.

"A lot of people, I feel, would be panicked if you had worked for eight to 10 years of your life and found out that all the systems that you were banking on in a really academically challenging space are disappearing," Bonner said.

"I don't see a path forward for certain, but I'm fighting to make one."

2025 States Newsroom. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Harvard Medical School investigators have discovered that U.S. surgeons have a cancer mortality rate more than two times that of nonsurgeon physicians and around 20% higher than most non-physician workers. While still maintaining overall lower than non-physician death rates, the unexpectedly high cancer rates might shed light on work-related risks.

In the study, "Mortality Among Surgeons in the United States," published in JAMA Surgery, researchers analyzed available population-based data to evaluate the rates and leading causes of death among surgeons.

Investigators assessed death records for 1,080,298 individuals aged 2574 years pulled from the 2023 National Vital Statistics System, including 224 surgeons and 2,740 other physicians.

Death certificate records provided age, sex, underlying cause of death, and usual occupation. Population denominators were drawn from the 2023 American Community Survey and cross-verified with the AMA Physician Masterfile.

Comparison groups included nonsurgeon physicians, other professionals (lawyers, engineers, scientists), and all other workers. Investigators computed mortality per 100,000 population using age and sex standardization to the 2000 U.S. standard population and calculated mortality rate ratios (MRR).

Surgeons recorded 355.3 deaths per 100k compared with 228.4 per 100k among nonsurgeon physicians, yielding an MRR of 1.56. Mortality among surgeons remained far below rates for all other workers (632.5 per 100k) and resembled that of lawyers, engineers, and scientists, which measured at 404.5 (0.88 MRR).

Nonsurgeon physicians were the least likely to die in a car accident at 3.4 per 100k. Surgeons experienced a much higher rate at 13.4 per 100k, making it the 4th-ranked cause of death for the group, while it ranked 9th among all other groups.

This higher ranking does not indicate that surgeons are more accident-prone behind the wheel. In fact, they have fewer deaths per 100k in this category than all the other workers' groups (13.4 vs. 16.6). Rather, it reflects a rearrangement of rankings due to diminished rates of death from causes more common in other groups.

For example, all other workers' 4th ranking cause of death is respiratory diseases with 27 per 100k, while for surgeons it ranks 14th at 0.6 per 100k, making them the least at-risk group. Other physicians were at three times the surgeon rate, at 1.8 per 110k.

Surgeons were also the least likely group to die from influenza, kidney disease, liver disease, septicemia, and diabetes. Diabetes death rates were remarkably low in surgeons at 1.6 per 100k (ranked 11th by cause), versus all other workers at 23.8 (ranked 5th) and other physicians at 6.9 (ranked 6th).

A large outlier shows up when comparing death by cancer. Cancer mortality (neoplasm-specific) in surgeons registered 193.2 per 100k compared with 87.5 in nonsurgeon physicians, corresponding to an MRR of 2.21. Cancer is the only category in which surgeons showed a higher rate than all other workers (162.0 per 100k).

The authors suggest that health knowledge and resources across surgical and nonsurgical physicians are similar. Removing the excess 105.7 cancer deaths per 100k would place surgeons and other physicians on near-level mortality rates, prompting concern that surgery-specific workplace factors may be driving the excess cancer deaths.

Written for you by our author Justin Jackson, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information: Vishal R. Patel et al, Mortality Among Surgeons in the United States, JAMA Surgery (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2025.2482 Journal information: JAMA Surgery

 2025 Science X Network
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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Wildfire smoke has been easy to spot in Minnesota this week, coating the Twin Cities in a brownish haze that obscured the downtown skylines. But experts in lung health are more concerned about the particles you can't see.

Particles in the smoke are so small that they can evade some of the lung's natural defenses, causing not only breathing problems but also other health concerns if they enter the bloodstream. Smoke particles are typically less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, making them at least four times smaller than dust or pollen and 10 times smaller than sand grains.

"You can just think of them as little sandpapers and you inhale them and they are just in your lungs, kind of irritating, irritating, irritating," said Jessie Carr, an environmental epidemiology supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Health, who linked her gravelly voice Thursday to walking her dog Wednesday night. "And the smaller the particles, the deeper they get into your lungs."

Air quality alerts because of wildfire smoke have been issued 30 times so far this year by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. That brings the state closer to the 41 alerts issued in parts of Minnesota in 2023 and the 37 alerts in 2021. The five-day statewide alert issued this week through Saturday is tied for Minnesota's longest.

Preliminary state research has found an increase in emergency room visits during and immediately after wildfire smoke alerts in Minnesota. ER trips mostly increase among children and adults with respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that make them vulnerable to complications from smoke exposure.

Carr said the Health Department will be monitoring ER visits after future exposure events to validate the initial research. However, she said there is more than enough evidence over the health risks of wildfire smoke exposure to support its public health recommendations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found an uptick in heart attacks causing ER visits in the Midwest in 2023 on days when wildfire smoke resulted in poor air quality. Other patients are treated for bronchitis, severe asthma flare-ups and even strokes.

Prevention tips for people at elevated risk of health complications include staying indoors in air-conditioned environments. Basic surgical masks don't reduce smoke exposure, but fitted N95 masks can help. Switching air conditioning in cars to the recirculating mode can help as well.

Carr said solutions often need to be localized; many people in Grand Marais don't have air conditioning because of the cooler climate along the Lake Superior shoreline, and yet they are often in the path of wildfire smoke plumes.

While the risks remain greatest for people with pre-existing conditions, doctors urged Minnesotans to beware if they start to feel short of breath, especially during outdoor activities. People at low risk who start to feel the effects should get indoors and hydrate, said Dr. Alec Duffy, an internal medicine and pediatric hospitalist at M Health Fairview.

"Try not to do things in the house that lead to indoor pollution and particulate matter. So even candles, cooking at a high heat, things like that," he said.

Duffy's wife is pregnant and needs to move around, but the couple shortened their walks this week, as pregnant women also appear susceptible to complications from wildfire smoke exposure.

Health problems are largely the result of inflammation and swelling in the body as it responds to the inhaled particles. Inflammation clears with time, but researchers are examining what happens when multiple exposure episodes cause it to happen over and over again.

Limited research in wildland firefighters has found some evidence of diminished lung function as a result of repeated exposures to wildfire smoke, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, but there is no data on the harms from long-term exposure.

Studies do show changes in the body even when people don't feel symptoms, said Dr. Matthew Prekker, a pulmonary and critical care specialist for Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis.

"We can actually prove that even healthy folks can have a decrease in the amount of air they're able to force out of their lungs ... even though they may not have a whole lot of symptoms as they go about their daily activities," Prekker said.

On Thursday, Minneapolis ranked as having the third- or fourth-worst air quality of major cities in the world, according to IQAir, which aggregates global pollution data.

Prekker said July is usually low tide for respiratory problems compared to the flu season at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, but that changes during wildfire alerts.

The primary air quality concern right now is the smoke itself, but that could change over the weekend as the smoke thins out and sunshine increases, according to the latest MPCA forecast. The organic compounds in the smoke can interact with the sunlight in a way that produces ozone, which can be a pollutant at ground level and cause inflammation and other health problems as well.

"Ozone is good when it's six miles above the earth in the ozone layer, protecting us from UV radiation," Prekker said, "but ozone is not good when it's on the surface in the air that we breathe."

2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
According to foreign news agencies, Russia has banned foreign oil tankers from loading at its main Black Sea ports without permission from the FSB. Previously, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation controlled the entry of foreign vessels into ports, but since July 21, the powers have been transferred to the Federal Security Service. As reported in accordance with the law "On martial law".

The ban was introduced temporarily, but this "temporary" will still hurt Kazakhstan's oil exports, practically reducing them to zero. Kazakhstan exports its oil through a consortium pipeline, which includes American companies among its shareholders. The ban could also deprive the global market of two percent of oil supplies.

It should be noted that the ban was a response to the new sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia. The fact is that the shareholders of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium include Chevron and ExxonMobil, and this complicates the work of the CPC in the face of sanctions.

The new package of sanctions adopted by the EU on July 21 contains a complete ban on the import of Russian crude oil delivered by sea and refined products, according to the website of the European Commission. "This covers 90 percent of our current oil imports from Russia. Regulation is prohibited, taking into account the transitional periods allowed by the industry and global market regulation, as well as time limits for pipeline crude oil in order to ensure the phasing out of Russian oil. This will allow the EU and its partners to provide alternative supplies and minimize the impact on global oil prices," the EC said in a statement.

The pipeline of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium supplies almost 80 percent of the oil produced in Kazakhstan to European markets. Therefore, immediately after the news from Russia appeared, Astana began searching for an alternative.

Recently, Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov announced at a press conference plans to increase oil transportation volumes through the main Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) export oil pipeline to 1.7 million tons this year.

In 2024, 1.4 million tons were transported by BTC, and 800 thousand tons were transported in the first six months of 2025. In other words, the growth is already underway and is not solely related to EU sanctions. In January, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan announced plans to transport 1.5 million tons of oil by BTC in 2025, and in February, Kurmangazy Iskaziev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of KazMunayGas, presented a new forecast of 1.7 million tons.

Kazakhstan began to think about an alternative to the CPC, not only because of the sanctions against the Russian energy industry, but also because of various problems arising on the pipeline. So, in August 2022, oil pumping through the CPC was suspended for thirty days by a decision of the Novorossiysk City Court due to "environmental damage." And this was not the first time that the CPC's work was hampered by Russian environmentalists. Then, for the first time in Kazakhstan, they seriously thought about the need for an alternative, and the issue of the inactive Baku-Supsa oil pipeline was raised. The very next day, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for diversifying the supply routes of Kazakh oil. As a priority goal, he proposed to work out optimal options for using the Trans-Caspian route and instructed KazMunayGas to work out the best option for its implementation, including the possibility of attracting investors to the Tengiz project.

In March 2023, SOCAR announced the start of transit of Kazakh oil via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. The first batch of Kazakh oil from the Tengiz field was delivered to the Sangachal terminal from the port of Aktau on the tanker "President Heydar Aliyev", the second shipment was carried out on the tanker "Shusha". The transportation of Kazakh oil via BTC is carried out within the framework of the agreement between SOCAR and KazMunayGas, which provides for the transit of 1.5 million tons of oil per year. In order to implement these plans, SOCAR has upgraded the pipeline network at the Sangachal terminal.

In March 2024, KMG and SOCAR signed an agreement on a phased increase in oil transit through Azerbaijan to 2.2 million tons per year. At the same time, the first test shipment of oil from the Kashagan field across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan took place. In November last year, the country's Energy Ministry announced that Astana was exploring the possibility of increasing the annual volume of oil supplies via the BDT pipeline to 20 million tons.

And on January 27, 2025, Kazakhstan sent the first tanker with oil from the Kashagan field to Azerbaijan for transportation via BTC.

At the end of July, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a visit to Turkiye. At the meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prospects for increasing Kazakh oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline were discussed, among other things.

The press service of the President of Kazakhstan says that in the first half of 2025, the country has already increased oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline by 12 percent compared to the same period last year, to 785,000 tons (34,000 barrels per day).

At the same time, to increase volumes, it is necessary to modernize the Aktau port and increase the number of large tankers. Tankers can be built or bought, but there is another problem - the shallowing of the Caspian Sea and the urgency of dredging operations in the ports of both countries.

There is also a quality issue. Kazakh oil is more sulphurous, which makes it lower in quality than Azerbaijani oil. Mixing of Kazakh oil and Azeri Light in the pipe will lead to a decrease in the price of Azerbaijani oil, which is, of course, unprofitable for Azerbaijan. A separate pipe is needed. And here the question arises of the return to operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Supsa oil pipeline with a capacity of 6 million tons per year.

Kazakhstan considers the Baku-Supsa pipeline promising for pumping its oil, Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said on the sidelines of the 17th summit of the Organization for Economic Cooperation (ECO) in Khankendi. According to him, this pipeline can become an important alternative for the supply of Kazakh oil to the Black Sea ports, provided it is economically feasible.

The Baku-Supsa oil pipeline originates in Sangachal and stretches to a tanker loading facility in the Black Sea, connecting to the Georgian Supsa terminal. The length of the pipeline is 836 kilometers. The pipeline was built to transport crude oil from the Chirag offshore field as part of the ACG (Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli) project.

The decision to build the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline was made by the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia in 1996.

Amoco, SOCAR and the Government of Georgia signed a corresponding agreement, and the official opening of the pipeline took place on April 17, 1999 at the Supsa oil terminal. The new pipeline has allowed us to solve two important tasks - to eliminate Russia's monopoly on the transportation of hydrocarbons to Europe and to ensure the possibility of exporting high-quality Azerbaijani oil in its pure form, without mixing with lower-quality Russian oil. In addition, the cost of transportation via Baku-Supsa was almost five times lower than that via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline.

After the launch of the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, which was stopped for a number of reasons, Kazakhstan has another alternative for exporting its oil.

Returning to BTC, we note that the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline continues to grow. In addition to transporting Azerbaijani oil to Europe, BTC today is also a transit pipeline for producing countries in the region. The availability of such an alternative makes it possible for Kazakhstan to feel confident in any situation.

BTC is safe and reliable. How reliable Azerbaijan itself is.
After the disbanding of the Social Service Branch, the Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the charge of regulating Mumbais Orchestra Bars. In the last few days, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch has launched a fierce crackdown on several establishments masquerading as orchestra bars while secretly hosting obscene dances.



Over the past two days, raids in Tardeo, Andheri, and Ghatkopar have led to the rescue of 25 bar girls and action against nearly 60 individuals involved in promoting illicit dance activities.



Following the Supreme Court's stringent directives for dance bars, many operators switched to running orchestra bars. However, customers often demanded more than just live music, leading to secret dance performances. Authorities discovered that bars were exceeding the permitted number of bar girls and creating hidden spaces to conceal illicit activities, all while presenting a facade of compliance.



At Pushpa Bar in Tardeo, Crime Branch Unit-III conducted a midnight raid on Friday after receiving credible information. During the search, 12 bar girls were found dancing, and 32 customers were seen showering money, excited by the performances. A case has been filed at Tardeo police station against approximately 47 individuals, including patrons, staff, and bar



proprietors.



Meanwhile, Sachi Bar and Restaurant in Andheri came under scrutiny as bar girls were allegedly forced to perform obscene dances under the pretext of singing. Crime Branch Unit X raided uncovered seven dancing women and around twenty customers encouraging the activities. Andheri police have registered charges against about 26 people, encompassing both customers and bar employees.



In Ghatkopar's Trimurti Bar, Crime Branch Unit VII successfully rescued three to four bar girls. A total of 16 individuals, including the operator and owner, have been charged under the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Hotels, Eating Houses and Liquor Rooms (Bar Rooms) Act 2016. These charges address the prohibition of obscene dances and the protection of women's dignity.
The road is congested, which poses a threat to the birds that continue to flock to the Kabutarkhana in search of food. According to reports, approximately 20-25 pigeons were killed in road accidents since the closure.



Sandip Doshi, a resident of Dadar who was actively involved in managing the Kabutarkhana, expressed his concerns. Every day, we are witnessing the tragic deaths of around 20-25 pigeons due to traffic accidents. On Sunday, a group of women bird lovers met with the police to emphasise the urgent need for traffic regulation. We plan to meet with civic officials on Monday to further press for these changes, he stressed.



In response to the crisis, a group of five individuals took the onus of preventing further accidents. Whenever pigeons venture onto the road, we try to shoo them away to prevent any mishaps, explained one of the volunteers. Doshi further elaborated, We have requested assistance from the community to help guide the pigeons away from the roads. We will give money to the volunteers as we dont want the pigeons to die. Despite the closure, pigeons are still drawn to the Kabutarkhana, seeking the food they were accustomed to.



Selective closure



Sneha Vesariya, a petitioner and resident of Dadar, raised questions about the selective closure of Kabootarkhanas in South Mumbai. The closure of the Dadar Kabootarkhana seems to be part of a larger, unclear agenda. While the BMC has shut it down, the pigeons continue to return, highlighting the need for a more thoughtful approach to this issue, she remarked.



Nilesh Muni, a Jain monk, vowed to go on a hunger strike if a decision against pigeons was made. At a rally led by Saint Nilesh Chandra Vijay, hundreds protested against BMCs order to close the Kabutarkhana. The rally Listen to My Call, Save the Pigeon Shelters saw participation from many Jain saints and animal welfare enthusiasts. Jain community leader Hardik Hundia criticised the BJP govt, questioning why pigeonssymbols of peaceare targeted in Mumbai. The rally was held between Colaba Jain Mandir and the Gateway.
Former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Swapnil Bandekar, who was arrested in an alleged extortion case earlier this year and was later suspended by party chief Uddhav Thackeray, has joined Shiv Sena (Shinde) in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.



Bandekar, who earlier represented Nalasopara and was aligned with the Uddhav Thackeray faction, was arrested by the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police in February 2025 for allegedly extorting a builder involved in a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project. Following the arrest, he was suspended by the UBT leadership.



According to the Navghar police probe, Bandekar and three othersincluding a self-styled RTI activistallegedly demanded 10 crore from the builder and ultimately negotiated a 1.5 crore settlement. The police laid a trap after the first Rs 25 lakh was paid, resulting in the arrest of Bandekar and his associates at Mira Road.



Despite these serious allegations, Bandekar has now resurfaced politically, joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the presence of the Deputy CM himself. The induction ceremony, seen as part of a larger strategy to consolidate control over local bodies, underscores the Shinde factions ongoing push to expand its footprint at the grassroots ahead of the civic elections.



Eknath Shinde, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, shared updates from an organisational meeting held in Palghar district, where he met local citizens and Shiv Sainiks. On this occasion, the beloved sisters from the womens wing in Palghar district warmly tied rakhis on my wrist, while the Palghar Youth Sena initiated the distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards. Additionally, during this event, some local leaders officially joined the Shiv Sena, he wrote, without naming any individuals.



However, Shinde shared multiple photographs from the event, one of which featured Bandekar. His presence at the event and appearance in official photos confirmed his induction into the Shinde camp.



In another post on X, Shinde named Ramdas Kamble, a former corporator from the Uddhav faction representing the Sion Koliwada division of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, stating that Kamble had officially joined the Shiv Sena. On this occasion, he and all his associates were welcomed into the party and wished well for their future social and political journey, Shinde wrote.



While Kamble was named publicly, Bandekars name was conspicuously omitted, a move seen as a calculated attempt to avoid public embarrassment given the extortion charges still pending against him.



The move is sure to draw criticism from political observers and opposition leaders, who see it as a sign that Shinde is willing to overlook criminal allegations in order to bolster his political strength. Bandekars re-entry into active politics comes at a time when both factions of the Shiv Sena are locked in a battle to control the municipal corporations, especially in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
African Inland Church (AIC) Bishop William Kotut has strongly criticized the countrys youth for constantly speaking ill of Kenya and its leaders.

While delivering a sermon at AIC Kabartonjo on Sunday, August 3, 2025, the bishop condemned what many dismiss as casual name-calling, warning that such negativity carries serious consequences.

Words cut deeper than physical wounds, he said, urging young people to recognize the power their speech holds.

In a firm and biblical warning, Bishop Kotut told the youth to change their behavior or risk facing the same fate as the young men who mocked the prophet Elijah in the Bible, only to be mauled by wild animals for their disrespect.

I watch on TV and wonder whatever happened to respect. People are speaking disdainfully about the leader of the nation. They even call them names that youths are not even supposed to use, not only on a president but also on grown-ups, he stated.

Addressing Kenyas youth directly, he urged them to reflect on how they think and speak about their nation and its leadership.

To the youths of Kenya, you need to change what you think about your country, what you think about your nation, and what you speak about your leaders; dont call them names. These names you are giving to leaders are not good.

It hurts people when you speak negatively about them. Words have tremendous weight. People can recover from wounds and heal, but they cannot recover from words that leave permanent scars, the bishop added.

Bishop Kotut made the remarks in the presence of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who attended the Sunday service at AIC Kabartonjo.

The Deputy President was accompanied by a delegation that included the area county commissioner, Baringo North MP Joseph Kipkoros Makilap, and Baringo South MP Joshua Chepyegon Kandie.
Nyali MP Mohammed Ali has reiterated his political independence before the 2027 General Election, avowing that individuals or parties shall not determine his next move.

While addressing Mombasa residents on Saturday, August 2, 2025, Ali said that his future direction shall be determined by the peoples will and his conscience.

Nobody can control me. My name is Mohammed Ali, he said.  I came to Nyali without a party. I came independent, and people chose me for who I am.

In a post shared on his X account the following day, Ali added a cryptic message that hinted at a calculated approach to the next election cycle.

There will be no warnings. No hints. In times of great anticipation, silence breeds strategy, and strategy defines victory, he wrote. My path forward is grounded in faith, first in God, then in the people of Mombasa.

Ali, who successfully defended his Nyali seat under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) banner in 2022, pointed out that he won re-election with a stronger mandate, garnering 10,000 more votes than in his first run. Still, he made it clear that his allegiance remains with the people of Mombasa, not with the party.

I came back with UDA, and the people gave me 10,000 more votes, he said. And if I want to go forward, I will decide on which path I will walk  my path. What they want is what my heart wants.

Ali also addressed potential political opposition ahead of the 2027 election, saying he remains unfazed by any alliances that may form to block his way.

Whether we will have a combination of cartels against me, we will face them head-on, he declared. TIt is not about money but about the ideologies.

Amid growing speculation about his political future, Mohammed Ali reaffirmed his commitment to Nyali, urging his critics and supporters alike to focus on the present.

Let me finish my mandate in Nyali, he said. I only have two years left, with a lot of developments in place..Allow me to serve the people of Nyali first. With that, he distanced himself from premature 2027 campaign talk.

Tensions between Ali and the UDA leadership became public in April 2025 when he accused the partys secretary general of plotting to block his 2027 ticket. But Ali pushed back defiantly.

We have many options on the table, he said. I came as a first-timer through independence; the second term, I came through UDA, and I am here telling him again that nothing is going to stop us.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on Kenyan women in the diaspora to to enter politics confidently ahead of the 2027 General Election. He invited them to stop waiting to be appointed and instead run for elective positions in a bid to help reform Kenyas stricken political landscape.

Speaking on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at a diaspora convention in Richardson, Dallas, Texas, Gachagua said the country is suffering from a crisis of leadership triggered by economic stagnation, corruption, and police brutality. He observed that Kenya requires fresh voices, especially women, to steer a new course.

For the women, as much as we nominate you, you must also fight for these seats, Gachagua said.

Most of these seats are vacant. Most of these MPs, wananchi wamemalizana na wao. So we want to encourage you people to stand.

Gachagua challenged Texas-based women to take initiative, noting that many men in the diaspora have already expressed interest in running for office.

Where are the women from Texas? Ive met several men here who are already eyeing seats back home in Kenya.

Gachagua praised the Kenyan diaspora for their patriotism and vital contribution to sustaining the economy with remittances. Their voices still remain crucial in shaping the nations future, he said.

Tonight at Richardson, in Dallas, I had a candid discussion with Kenyans living in Texas. I thanked them for their continued voice on matters in Kenya Their pain and ours on the state of our nation remain intertwined, he said.

He also underscored the need to involve the diaspora in dialogue on governance, justice, and economic transformation. Gachagua promised to involve them to reboot the economic, political, and moral direction of our country for the good of future generations.

Touching on opposition struggles, he cited the August 2 teargassing of his allies in Gilgil, claiming, There is a deliberate attempt to frustrate and threaten our political engagements, he said. But we are not afraid.
The National Police Service (NPS) distanced itself from provocative remarks made by a junior police officer calling for reducing the number of women recruited into the service. NPS clarified that the remarks do not reflect the governments or the services opinion.

In a statement released on Saturday, NPS described the comments made by Nyahururu Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Isaac Kimutus as personal and inappropriate. The service once again made it clear that women form part of policing and law enforcement in Kenya.

The National Police Service (NPS) wishes to clarify comments made on Thursday, 31st July 2025, by a junior Kenya Police Service commanding officer. These remarks, which were shared across various social media platforms, expressed his personal views on the need to, as he termed it, scale down the future recruitment of women into the National Police Service, said NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.

The Service made it clear that the officers remarks hold no influence over official recruitment policies. It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the constitutional requirement of one-third gender representation in public service jobs.

The NPS further emphasises that the officers remarks were personal and do not reflect the official stance of the government, the statement read. Women in the Service continue to play a critical role in policing, law enforcement, and professional service delivery across the Republic and beyond.

NPS also praised the outstanding achievements of Kenyan female officers on the global stage. It pointed out that many women have earned positions in international peacekeeping missions and other deployments, not through favoritism, but through hard work, skill, and professionalism.

A significant number of women officers are serving internationally, an achievement attained through merit, dedication, and professional competence, not chance,, said spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.

Murkomen, Kanja Defend Women in Uniform

OCS Kimutus made the controversial comments during the 23rd Jukwaa La Usalama Forum held in Laikipia County, where Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja were present.

During the event, the Nyahururu OCS claimed he had instructed his female officers to remain at the station during the Gen Z protests on June 25 and July 7, 2025. He argued that they were unable to handle the intensity of the demonstrations, even alleging that some vomited in their helmets out of distress.

Kama ingewezekana kuandika wanawake iwe 20 percent. Kimutus said. The rest waandikwe wanaume. Wakati kama wa June 25, na Saba Saba protests kwangu Nyahururu niliambia wanawake wote wakae station.

He added, Because unakuta wanatapikia helmet. So ningeomba percentage iwe kidogo so in a station unakuta wanaume wengi kuliko wanawake.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also rejected the officers remarks, calling them misleading and poorly expressed. Both leaders emphasized that the Constitution firmly upholds gender representation in public service.

That OCS did not know how to package his words, said Murkomen. He meant policewomen should not be sent to fight bandits. But he should communicate clearly to avoid sounding disrespectful to women. His example was not right.

Inspector General Kanja echoed Murkomens sentiments and reaffirmed the services commitment to gender equality.

The National Police Service (NPS) is gender sensitive, Kanja stated. We will cater for both genders when hiring. So do not worry, you are needed.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has made it clear; he will walk away from the party if it backs President William Rutos re-election bid in 2027.

While speaking at a public event in Sabaoti, Trans Nzoia County on Sunday, Sifuna emphasized that personal principles should come before blind party loyalty, especially when it comes to endorsing a presidential candidate.

I assure ODM supporters that my stance remains, he said.

Referencing ODM leader Raila Odinga, Sifuna reminded critics that the party embraces democratic ideals and allows members to speak their minds. He pushed back against those who claim his role as secretary-general means he must always echo the partys voice.

Raila himself has said that this is a democratic party and any member is free to speak their mind, Sifuna noted. et some thugs are saying I cannot hold views independent of the party just because I am the secretary-general, that I represent the party at all times.

Sifuna made his position even clearer on Sunday; he may be the ODM Secretary-General, but he draws the line at endorsing President William Rutos 2027 re-election bid.

The Nairobi Senator said hes ready to perform his duties, even when it means reading out difficult or unpopular party statements. But if ODM ever decides to back Ruto, he wont be the one delivering that message.

Im willing to read whatever statement ODM releases, even if it insults me, he said. But the day the party decides to support Ruto in 2027, that one, I wont read.

Taking a jab at those whove compared him to Nyando MP Jared Okello, Sifuna said if language skills were the only qualification, then Okello should be prepared to step in.

Some have said Jared Okello is better than I am at it because he speaks good English. Okello, be ready if you want to take up my role, Sifuna added. If they endorse Ruto, I wont be a part of that.
By Akbar Novruz



Armenia and Azerbaijan are preparing to announce their intention to reach a peace agreement later this week in Washington, Azernews reports, citing U.S. media outlets.

According to reports, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to host Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House on Friday. The anticipated meeting is being seen as a significant diplomatic step toward resolving decades of conflict between the two countries.

The expected announcement follows recent talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders held in Abu Dhabi, where both sides reportedly made progress on the key terms of normalization.

No official statements have been released from Baku and Yerevan yet.
By Nazrin Abdul



The Ministry of Science and Education has announced the admission results for the masters degree level under the State Program for the Education of Youth in Prestigious Foreign Universities for 20222028, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry.

According to the information, a total of 356 candidates have been accepted into the masters level of the program, meeting the criteria outlined in the relevant selection regulations. With these admissions, the State Program will support a total of 500 students for the 2025/2026 academic year, including 125 bachelors degree students, 356 masters students, and 19 doctoral candidates.

Of the 500 selected participants, 160 will study at universities ranked among the global top 10, including prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), National University of Singapore, University of Oxford, University of California Berkeley, ETH Zurich, Harvard University, and Yale University.

The Ministry also noted that there is a reserve list of candidates who passed the interview stage for the masters program but were not initially selected. If any of the admitted candidates decline their place in the program for any reason, the next eligible candidate from the reserve list will be offered admission in accordance with the programs selection regulations.
BusinessWire India Pune (Maharashtra) [India], August 4: Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) is proudly celebrating its 25th anniversary. This celebration marks an important milestone in the institute's journey of delivering quality education to every corner of the country. Over the past two decades and more, SCDL has shaped the careers of lakhs of students, promoted lifelong learning, and opened pathways to a brighter future. As one of India's leading autonomous distance learning institutions, SCDL has educated more than 1 million learners to date and currently engages with a vibrant community of 80,000+ active students. To honor this remarkable legacy, SCDL hosted a series of Silver Jubilee events across major Indian cities. Celebrations were organized in Dubai (May 2), Bengaluru (28 June 2025), Hyderabad (5 July), New Delhi (12 July), and Mumbai (26 July). The central message of the jubilee perfectly aligned with SCDL's mission - "To make quality education accessible to all, irrespective of geography or background." A Legacy of Learning and Transformation For 25 years, SCDL has led the way in India's distance education sector. By emphasizing innovation, flexibility, and career-oriented learning, the institute has continuously adapted to meet the changing needs of both fresh graduates and working professionals. Through its wide range of AICTE-approved Post Graduate Diploma and Certificate programs, SCDL has enabled learners to upskill, reskill, and stay relevant in today's competitive job market. The Silver Jubilee celebration was both a tribute to this enduring legacy and a platform to look toward the future of learning. Highlights from the Celebrations 1) Career Growth Seminars The core attraction of the events was the Career Growth Seminars, where renowned speakers shared insights: - Ankur Warikoo - Entrepreneur, Author, and Content Creator, offered practical guidance on building a meaningful career in an AI-first world. - Dr. Arjun Vaidya - D2C Entrepreneur and Investor, spoke on reinventing oneself in the evolving job market and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset even in traditional roles. - Dale Carnegie-certified trainers- conducted impactful sessions on leadership, emotional intelligence, and thriving in high-pressure corporate environments. These seminars emphasized career acceleration, future readiness, and navigating the digital era. 2) HR Roundtable In collaboration with HR Shapers, SCDL organized a Leadership Roundtable on the theme "Leadership Development and Capability Building - Reskills, Upskills, and Cross Skills." The session saw participation from senior HR leaders and decision-makers representing EsselWorld, Larsen & Toubro (L&T India), Adani Group, Wadhwa Group, Dentsu Group, Kalpataru Projects International Ltd, Tech Mahindra, Khosla Profiles Pvt. Ltd, Value First Investments, ISS Facility Services India Pvt. Ltd, Orion Technologies, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Spark Capital, Persistent Systems, and many others. The discussions revolved around future-ready leadership, talent development, and strategies for navigating the evolving skill era. 3) Silver Jubilee & Alumni Awards Ceremony The celebration featured a heartfelt short film showcasing SCDL's 25-year journey, highlighting key milestones, technological progress, and inspirational alumni stories. The evening concluded with the SCDL Alumni Awards, where exemplary alumni were honored with a trophy and a silver coin for their leadership and innovation in various fields. Click here to watch a glimpse of SCDL silver jubilee events. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Swati Mujumdar, Principal Director, SCDL, said, "It is heart-warming to see so many alumni and corporate professionals together. SCDL's journey--from starting with the Armed Forces to now reaching over 1 million learners across 36 countries--has been truly inspiring. SCDL originated in 1995 from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies. General Allu Walia suggested to our Founder and Chancellor, Dr. S. B. Mujumdar, that some courses should be launched for defense personnel who could not come to Pune to study. This vision led to SCDL's inception. By 2001, civilians and their children began enrolling. After I returned from the USA in 2003, I took charge of SCDL, when the institute had very few students and minimal technology use. Between 2003-04, we introduced e-learning, computerized programs, online and on-demand exams, which enabled us to reach learners across India." She added, "Symbiosis was started by a teacher. When an educational institute is founded by a businessman versus a teacher, there is a huge difference. Today, Symbiosis alumni are present not just across India, but globally." The Silver Jubilee Spirit The celebration embodied SCDL's philosophy of "Education for All". Whether it was a young professional exploring AI, a homemaker upskilling for remote work, or a retired soldier re-entering civilian life--each story reflected SCDL's inclusive vision. Join the Silver Jubilee Batch SCDL invites new learners to be part of its Silver Jubilee batch, continuing its legacy of academic excellence. Special Benefits Join our flagship program and get below benefits: - Free Premium Single Course worth INR 10,000 - Free Micro Course from Symbiosis Digital Varsity - Scholarships available - for EBC (Economically Backward Class) students and Armed Forces personnel - Explore Our Courses Contact us for more details - 8792740467 / newadmissions@scdl.net Looking Ahead SCDL is set to redefine learning through tech-enabled platforms, AI-based learning experiences, and industry-integrated programs. The next 25 years promise more innovation, deeper impact, and a stronger commitment to building a skilled India. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
India PR Distribution Des Moines (Iowa) [US], August 4: AONMeetings, the browser-based video conferencing platform that has revolutionized industry pricing, continues to deliver professional video conferencing and webinar capabilities for just $3.99 per month - less than the cost of a single coffee shop visit. The platform's standard pricing includes unlimited webinars, HD video conferencing, screen sharing, recording, and HIPAA-compliant security for what most Americans spend on their morning latte. "We've proven that professional video conferencing doesn't need to cost more than your daily coffee," said Dwight Reed, founder of AONMeetings. "At $3.99 per month, we're not just competing with expensive platforms - we're showing the entire industry what fair pricing looks like." The Reality Check Small Businesses NeedWhile industry giants continue charging $14.99-$19.99 monthly plus additional fees for webinar capabilities, AONMeetings' standard rate delivers everything a growing business needs for the price of a single Starbucks visit. "I was honestly embarrassed when I calculated what I was spending on video conferencing versus coffee," said Jennifer Chen, a financial advisor who switched to AONMeetings. "This pricing makes so much sense that I wonder why I ever thought $20 a month was reasonable for basic meeting software." The math is striking: At $3.99 monthly, businesses pay just $47.88 annually for professional video conferencing - while the average American spends $2,008 per year on coffee, a 4,100% difference. Full Professional Suite at Revolutionary PricingAONMeetings' standard pricing includes enterprise-grade features that competitors charge premium prices for: - HD video and audio quality powered by WebRTC technology - Unlimited webinars with registration (competitors charge $79/month extra) - 25-250 participants depending on plan tier - No software downloads - runs entirely in web browsers - HIPAA-compliant security for healthcare applications - Screen sharing, recording, and live polling - Custom branding and live streaming on higher tiers - Unlimited meeting time with no restrictions "We've proven that professional doesn't have to mean expensive," explained Dwight Reed. "Our pricing removes every excuse for using consumer platforms for business meetings." Democratizing Professional CommunicationIndustry research shows 73% of small businesses still rely on consumer platforms like FaceTime or WhatsApp for client meetings, primarily due to cost barriers with professional solutions. AONMeetings' accessible pricing directly addresses this gap. "A freelance consultant working from home deserves the same professional presentation tools as a Fortune 500 company," said Dwight Reed. "Our pricing ensures that financial constraints never compromise professional image." The platform addresses growing business recognition that professional video conferencing directly impacts client perception and business growth, with 89% of prospects forming opinions about company credibility based on meeting platform quality. The Coffee Reality CheckAONMeetings continues to challenge businesses to reconsider what they're willing to spend on professional tools versus daily conveniences. "We're asking businesses to think differently about value," said Dwight Reed. "Skip one coffee purchase per month and invest in professional growth instead. When you frame it that way, the decision becomes obvious." About AONMeetings Founded in 2020, AONMeetings is a browser-based video conferencing platform designed to make professional communication accessible to businesses of all sizes. The platform serves healthcare, education, legal, and corporate clients with enterprise-grade security and features at consumer-friendly pricing. The platform requires no software downloads and works seamlessly across all devices using standard web browsers. All plans include unlimited meeting time, webinar capabilities, and professional features typically reserved for expensive enterprise solutions. For more information about AONMeetings, visit aonmeetings.com or contact: Media Contact: Joanna Hawthorne Phone: 1877-350-3050 Email: info@aonmeetings.com High-resolution images, platform screenshots, and executive interviews available upon request. Note to editors: Dwight Reed is available for interviews about industry pricing trends, small business technology adoption, and making professional tools accessible to businesses of all sizes. Pricing comparison data and customer success stories available upon request. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], August 4: In a significant move to revolutionize the business networking landscape for the Vysya community, the Greater Vysya Business Leaders (GVBL) was officially launched today at Taj Deccan, Hyderabad. The event marked the inauguration of the GVBL logo and website, the unveiling of its leadership structure, and the announcement of seven new chapters across Telangana. With a powerful vision to empower every Vysya entrepreneur and connect local businesses with global thinking, GVBL aims to foster a culture of unity, trust, and business excellence. The launch was graced by key dignitaries and entrepreneurs from various districts, witnessing the formal formation of the first elected body--the Titan Council--which will lead the organization for the year 2025-26. The council includes Prasad Jilla as President, Ravi Kondoori as Secretary, Tarun Chintha as Treasurer, along with Vice Presidents for core portfolios: Kranthi Kumar for Chapter Growth, Santosh Bajjuri for Events, Nikeelu Gunda for Training & Marketing, Srinivas Gandesri for Upcountry Growth, and Dr. Kakkireni Bharat Kumar for International Growth. The Executive Committee members include Venu from Karimnagar, Rachamalla Prasad, and Palla Krishna Mohan. The event also witnessed the historic launch of GVBL's flagship chapter--Pranava Hyderabad--with a founding strength of 60 members, making it one of the largest Vysya chapter inaugurations in recent history in Hyderabad. The leadership team of Pranava includes CA Shiva Teja as Chairman, Dr. Shalini as Vice Chairman - Operations, and Pavan Vuppala as Vice Chairman - Finance. Alongside, Head Table teams for six more chapters were announced: Kapila Chapter in Karimnagar led by Chairman Yellanki Anil Kumar, G. Sai Krishna (VC- Operations), and P. Santhosh Kumar (VC-Finance); Sumukha Chapter in Hyderabad with Naresh Kumar ( Chairman) , Shiva Kumar S ( VC - Operations) and P. Vinod Kumar ( VC-Finance); Kakatiya Chapter in Warangal led by Chairman Volam Prabhukiran, Bodla Ravindranath (VC-Operations), and Prabhakar Volishetty (VC-Finance); Kalki Chapter in Hyderabad under Chairman Kacham Rushikesh, with Sowjanya Nagamalla (VC - Operations) and Bodla Srinivas (VC -Finance); Siddhi Chapter in Siddipet with Dr. Mankala Naveen as Chairman, G. Laxman Kumar (VC-Operations), and T. Ranjith Kumar (VC -Finance); In a significant announcement, GVBL revealed its plans to launch GVBL Naari, a women-exclusive chapter focused on nurturing women-led Vysya businesses through dedicated leadership programs, mentoring, and networking opportunities. This initiative marks GVBL's progressive outlook towards inclusive entrepreneurship within the community. GVBL's vision is rooted in empowering every Vysya entrepreneur, connecting grassroots businesses with global perspectives, and nurturing a values-driven culture of collaboration and growth. Its mission is centered on four pillars: Empowerment, Connectivity, Unity, and Trust. The structure is designed for operational transparency, leadership accountability, and high-impact networking. Looking ahead, GVBL has announced an aggressive expansion plan. In Year 1, chapters will be established in Khammam, Eluru, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Kothagudem, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Adilabad. Notably, GVBL will also establish three international chapters in Dallas, USA, reflecting its commitment to creating a global footprint for Vysya businesses. GVBL's governance model includes monthly board meetings involving the Founder, and Titan Council. Leadership roles across chapters and the national body are held on a one-year term, with a clear system of performance review and strategic decision-making. The Founder retains the final authority in policy decisions and structural changes, ensuring unified direction and integrity. The Founder & CEO of GVBL Rajashekhar Manchi, addressing the gathering, emphasized, "GVBL is not just a business network--it's a collective mission to elevate the Vysya entrepreneurial spirit through meaningful relationships, structured growth, and legacy-building. Every chapter we create is a growth engine, and every leader we appoint is a torchbearer of excellence." To ensure seamless execution and foundational guidance for each chapter, GVBL has appointed dedicated Launch Ambassador. These leaders bring strategic insight and experience to mentor the newly formed chapter teams. Prasad Jilla has been designated as the Launch Ambassador for the Kapila Chapter, while both Prasad Jilla and Venu Gopal Konduri will spearhead the Kalathiya Chapter. The Siddhi Chapter will be mentored by Venu Gopal Konduri, Palla Shiva Kumar, and Eluguri Vijaya Bhaskar. Ravi Konduri & Krishna Mohan Gupta will oversee the Kalki & Sumukha Chapter. These strategic appointments reflect GVBL's commitment to building each chapter with strong leadership foundations and structured onboarding. Vysya entrepreneurs, professionals, and business owners who wish to be part of this dynamic and fast-growing business community can now apply for membership through the official GVBL website: www.GVBLnetwork.com. With a structured approach to referrals, leadership opportunities, and national as well as international networking potential, GVBL invites individuals who are committed to growth, collaboration, and legacy-building to join the movement and unlock new possibilities for their business journeys. GVBL stands today as a symbol of renewed unity and ambition for the Vysya business community, with a clear roadmap, inspired leadership, and a growing base of members committed to building the future, together. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 4: Standard Glass Lining Technology Limited has delivered a strong performance in Q1 FY26, supported by healthy revenue growth and profitability margins. Company has also taken a few strategic initiatives that create additional growth opportunities. Highlights Entered into a long-term agency agreement with M/s. BioCon Solutions Pte Ltd, Singapore - Enables export of SGLTL's manufactured products to BioCon's customers - Covers key Southeast Asian territories -Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand - Strengthens our international footprint and opens access to new industrial customers in high-growth markets - Combines SGLTL's manufacturing excellence with BioCon's market reach and distribution network Incorporated Standard Engineering Inc. in the USA as a wholly owned subsidiary - Based in the State of South Carolina, USA, a growing hub for industrial manufacturing - Will cater to Industrial Products and Process Equipment segment - Marks a significant step in the Company's international growth strategy and customer proximity - Expected to enhance supply chain responsiveness and unlock new customer opportunities in the North American market Key Highlights for Q1 FY26 Financial Results - Total Income stood at 178 crore, registering a 23.6% YoY growth - EBITDA came in at 35 crore, up 31.9% YoY, with an EBITDA margin of 19.5% - Profit Before Tax (PBT) is 28 crore, reflecting a 39.6% YoY increase - Profit After Tax (PAT) is at 21 crore, up 37.6% YoY, with a PAT margin of 11.9% Management Commentary Mr. Nageswara Rao Kandula, Managing Director, said: "We are pleased with our continued healthy performance this quarter, which reflects our unwavering commitment to our customers, investors and all stakeholders. Through improved execution, we have delivered good margins while also expanding our exports and establishing our global footprint. Our focus on innovation has enhanced our reputation with customers, and our new offerings are gaining acceptance and appreciation. We remain confident that our efforts in technology development, product diversification, and international market expansion will open new avenues for sustainable, long-term growth. We also believe that the rapid growth of the CDMO business in India presents a significant opportunity for the Indian engineering industry. As global pharma and chemical companies increasingly turn to India for high-quality, cost-effective manufacturing solutions, we are well-positioned to benefit from this trend--thanks to our strong customer relationships, proven execution capabilities, and engineering excellence (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Indian exports to the US are projected to decline by nearly 30 per cent, from USD 86.5 billion in 2024-25 to about USD 60.6 billion in 2025-26, as the new 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs come into effect, according to Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). According to a GTRI report on Monday, labour-intensive sectors such as garments, textiles, shrimp, jewellery, and engineering goods are among the worst affected. The tariffs put India at a serious disadvantage compared to regional rivals like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Mexico, who face lower or zero duties, it noted. To cushion the blow and future-proof its trade strategy, the GTRI has recommended a targeted five-point action plan that includes financial relief for MSMEs, real-time trade intelligence, smarter use of FTAs, tourism reform, and streamlined onboarding for new exporters. India faces a 25 per cent country-specific tariff and an extra unspecified 'penalty' on its exports to the US--one of the highest among Asian exporters, second only to China at 30 per cent. In contrast, competitors such as Vietnam (20 per cent), Bangladesh (18 per cent), Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (19 per cent), and Japan and South Korea (15 per cent) enjoy lower rates. This puts Indian exports at a clear disadvantage across most sectors, barring a few exemptions, GTRI reiterated. The new US tariff regime excludes pharmaceuticals, energy products, critical minerals, and semiconductors. "But outside these, Indian goods are under pressure," it said. Knitted and woven garments now face steep US tariffs of 38.9 per cent and 35.3 per cent, much higher than the rates for Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Cambodia. Made-up textiles like towels and bedsheets, which earn India USD 3 billion in exports (with nearly half going to the US), now face a 34 per cent duty. "This gives a clear advantage to competitors like Pakistan and Vietnam," GTRI asserted. India's USD 2 billion shrimp exports, which make up 32 per cent of global supply, will now face a 25 per cent US tariff. "This wipes out their price edge over rivals like Canada and Chile, who benefit from free trade deals with the US," GTRI said. Mechanical gold jewellery exports to the US are likely to be hit the hardest. India's USD 4.7 billion in metal exports--mainly steel, aluminium, and copper, according to GTRI, will also suffer. GTRI argued that the higher cost is expected to curb demand from US infrastructure and energy buyers. Trump's 27.1 per cent tariff on India's USD 10 billion diamond and jewellery exports--40 per cent of its global trade in the sector--delivers a heavy blow to the sector for India, according to GTRI. "With value addition barely 3-4 per cent, margins are wafer-thin, and such duties can turn exports instantly unviable. Mechanical gold jewellery, worth USD 3.6 billion, is set to be hit hardest," the report read. In diamonds, the impact is even more complex. India exports USD 4.9 billion worth of cut and polished diamonds to the US, but US imports show only USD 2.5 billion. Buyers select a fraction and return the rest. "A high upfront tariff disrupts this model, raising costs on even unsold stones, and could sharply reduce demand," GTRI said. Petroleum exports are still tariff-free, but India's use of Russian crude "could invite penalties", GTRI said, referring to President Trump's unhappiness around Indian crude oil imports from Russia. Faced with these challenges, can India diversify its trade to other countries? According to GTRI, exporting more to other countries to make up for losses in the US market won't be easy. "Global trade is shifting away from openness toward tighter controls, driven by politics, security, and climate rules. For example, the EU--which imported USD 75.7 billion worth of Indian goods--will begin applying a carbon tax in January, making Indian steel and aluminium less competitive," GTRI supplemented. Last Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods plus an unspecified penalty, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. India and the US initiated talks for a just, balanced, and mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in March this year, aiming to complete the first stage of the Agreement by October-November 2025. On April 2, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order for reciprocal tariffs on various trade partners, imposing varied tariffs in the range of 10-50 per cent. He subsequently kept the tariffs in abeyance for 90 days, while imposing a 10 per cent baseline tariff. The deadline was to end on July 9, and the US administration later pushed it to August 1. US President Donald Trump had imposed reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries with which the US has a trade deficit. Since assuming office for his second term, President Trump has reiterated his stance on tariff reciprocity, emphasising that the United States will match tariffs imposed by other countries, including India, to "ensure fair trade". On Thursday evening, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement in both houses of the Parliament, stating that the government is examining the impact of tariffs and will take all necessary steps to safeguard the national interest. (ANI)
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 4: The Government of Uttar Pradesh has recognized Colgate India for its significant contributions to Oral Health awareness through its flagship program, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF). The esteemed felicitation was presented by the Honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Anandiben Patel, at the CSR Conclave held at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University in Ayodhya. Colgate further commits to training Anganwadi workers in Ayodhya to expand impact. The recognition celebrates a major milestone - As of August 2025, the BSBF program has provided oral health education to over 60 lakh students across 39 districts and over 16,000 schools in Uttar Pradesh. This underscores Colgate's unwavering commitment to the government's vision of fostering healthier communities. "We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Hon'ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh, acknowledging our commitment to driving oral health education in the state," said Shilpashree Muniswamappa, Director - Communications & ESG, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited. This reinforces our belief that simple habits built at an early age can significantly contribute to a healthier nation. We are inspired to continue working hand-in-hand with schools, communities, dentists and the government to reach over 2 crore children across the state of Uttar Pradesh, and create a lasting impact, as we firmly believe every child deserves a healthy, confident smile." Building on this success, Colgate has also committed toengaging with Anganwadi workers across 2,300 centres in Ayodhya to provide comprehensive training and capacity building on oral health education, which will impact 2.4 lakh children, additionally Colgate is also presenting academic books to 5000 students in the district As the Colgate BSBF program continues to expand and strengthen, Colgate invites everyone to join this vital movement towards a healthier, brighter India, starting with the simple yet powerful habit of brushing twice a day. About Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited Colgate-Palmolive is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people and the planet. Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is the market leader in oral care in the country, committed to delivering sustainable, profitable growth for its shareholders, while fostering an inclusive workplace for its people. With a primary focus on science-led innovations in oral care & personal care in the Indian market, the company is recognized for its leadership and innovative efforts in advancing sustainability and community well-being. Among its recent accomplishments, the company has made significant strides in reducing plastic waste and promoting recyclability, conserving water and energy at its manufacturing facilities, empowering women with financial and digital literacy, and enhancing children's oral health through the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program. For more information about Colgate's global business and how it is building a future to smile about, visit www.colgatepalmolive.co.in. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2743402/Oral_Health_Awareness.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2396024/5384985/Colgate_Palmolive_India_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and MD, Bharti Airtel, on Monday said the just-launched 'Airtel Cloud' platform is a watershed moment for them, and going ahead, it can be a "real proposition" for their customers. "We've been using that cloud for the last 6 years, so we have a lot of experience. We're now extending this to customers, and we feel it is a real proposition here for them to save money as well as have high reliability," Vittal told ANI. "We're also running our homegrown software platforms. We run all our businesses and customer journeys through that. We've extended those also to customers," he added. He further said that they won some multi-million-dollar deals -- one in Singapore with SingTel, and in the Philippines with Globe Telecom. "We are having many more conversations with others...," he said, without getting into specifics. The cloud market is very large and is also growing rapidly -- at almost 15-20 per cent year after year, he noted, affirming the business opportunity in this domain. "We feel that more and more applications will go to the cloud and therefore this is a timely launch in that sense," Vittal noted. Xtelify, a fully-owned subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, today launched a telco-grade cloud platform - 'Airtel Cloud'. Hosted on next-gen sustainable data centres, with Gen-AI based provisioning, and managed by certified cloud experts, the "highly secure and reliable" Airtel Cloud offers IaaS, PaaS and advanced connectivity and guarantees secure migration, effortless scaling, lower costs and no vendor lock-ins, it claimed in the statement. Xtelify also launched an AI-powered, future-ready software platform that will help telcos all around the world rid themselves of underlying complexity, improve customer experience, lower churn and raise ARPU. Xtelify signed three global partnerships for the newly launched platform. With Singtel, Xtelify will deploy an enterprise-grade, plug-and-play transformative platform - 'Xtelify Work' equipping Singtel's field teams in Singapore with AI-powered capabilities like fleet optimisation, automated task management and real-time tracking and governance that will enhance their productivity. With Globe Telecom, Xtelify will deploy its cutting-edge, next-generation, AI-powered customer services platform - 'Xtelify Serve' in the Philippines. This will help Globe Telecom in elevating its customer experience at scale through omni-channel service assurance, streamlining business processes and intelligent data-driven operations. With Airtel Africa, Xtelify will provide its software platforms, which include Data Engine, Work and IQ. Deploying Xtelify Data Engine and Xtelify Work will empower Airtel Africa's 150K-strong field team across 14 countries with market insights for micro-targeted strategies and unlock critical use cases like spam and fraud protection for their customers across Africa. Xtelify IQ will enable secure, real-time, omnichannel customer engagement, enhancing both service quality and customer experience. (ANI)
"Heartiest congratulations to Team Repco Bank for posting a profit of Rs 140 crore in the financial year 2024-25, which is the highest in the history of the cooperative society," the Union minister posted on X.

The bank, under the jurisdiction of the MHA, has set an example of efficiency, dedication, and professionalism that will serve as an inspiration for the cooperative sector, the Union minister added.

According to its website, Repatriates Cooperative Finance and Development Bank Ltd. (REPCO BANK) was registered on November 19, 1969, as a cooperative society under the relevant provisions of the Madras Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, with jurisdiction over the State of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Today, on behalf of the MHA, the Minister received a dividend check of Rs 22.90 crore from top officials of the Bank.

"Today, on behalf of the MHA, received a dividend check of 22.90 crore from Shri E. Santhanam, Chairman, Shri C. Thangaraju, Director - Repco Bank & Chairman of Repco Home Finance Ltd. and Shri O.M. Gokul, Managing Director," the X post read.

The Ministry of Cooperation was established on July 6, 2021, underscoring India's commitment to enhancing the cooperative sector.

India is home to over 8.44 lakh cooperatives, including 2 lakh credit cooperatives and 6 lakh non-credit cooperatives spanning housing, dairy, fisheries, and more, according to a PIB backgrounder published on Saturday.

Going by the PIB backgrounder, a cooperative is an autonomous association of persons, united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically member-controlled enterprise. (ANI)
By Qabil Ashirov



Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, Azernews reports, citing the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the call, the two ministers discussed various aspects of the strategic partnership between Turkiye and Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

The dialogue reaffirmed the continued coordination between the two allied nations on key political and regional issues.
Actor Dhanush, known for essaying the iconic character of 'Kundan' in Aanand L Rai's 'Raanjhanaa', has finally broken his silence on the controversy surrounding the film's AI version. The 2013 romantic drama has been in headlines lately over the makers' decision to alter the film's ending with the use of artificial intelligence, sparking a heated debate among many. Dhanush, who played the lead role, took to X on Sunday evening and shared his discontent with the same. The actor stated that the re-release of 'Raanjhanna' with an AI-altered climax left him "completely disturbed." https://x.com/dhanushkraja/status/1952040800398795224 "This alternative ending has stripped the film of its soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection. This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago," he added. Dhanush also weighed in on the concerns regarding the use of AI to alter films and content. "It threatens the integrity of storytelling and the legacy of cinema. I sincerely hope that stricter regulations are put in place to prevent such practices in the future," he explained. Dhanush's reaction came after director Aanand L Rai also echoed similar sentiments on social media. Taking to his Instagram handle, Rai shared a long note to criticise the altered version. https://www.instagram.com/p/DMxNx5Fiugx/ "The idea that our work can be taken and modified by a machine, then dressed up as innovation, is deeply disrespectful. To cloak a film's emotional legacy in a synthetic cape without consent, is not a creative act. It's an abject betrayal of everything we built," a part of his message read. The Aanand L Rai directorial came out in 2013, becoming a cult classic among fans over the years. The film's leading cast includes Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, followed by Abhay Deol, Swara Bhasker, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in prominent roles. (ANI)
Tom Holland's 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is officially swinging back to the screens. The actor recently took to Instagram to confirm that shooting for the film has begun. Tom Holland shared pictures of himself dressed in the brand new Spidey suit in the BTS moments. He could be seen discussing a sequence with the team while standing on top of what appears to be military-like machinery with a stunt wire attached to his body. https://www.instagram.com/p/DM6FpmJtC8B/ "Spider-Man Brand New Day 1," the actor wrote in the caption. Fans couldn't hold back their excitement as many took to the comment section and cheered for the latest development. Some even expressed curiosity about Holland's new costume. The makers recently dropped the first-look glimpse of the superhero suit, with a visible raised black webbing against a bright red-and-blue cover. Shortly after, Tom Holland gave fans a clearer look at his Spider-Man costume. "We ready?" he said in the teaser video as he seems to be on the sets of the film, sporting a more classic Spider-Man ensemble that resembled those of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. https://www.instagram.com/p/DM2nqeRNG0e/ 'Brand New Day' marks the fourth instalment in the MCU's Spider-Man franchise, featuring Tom Holland in the titular role. His journey as Peter Parker began with 2017's 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' and then moved forward with 'Far From Home' and 'No Way Home'. The last film saw Peter Parker's secret identity being revealed to the world when the young hero had to make Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange erase his memories. Fast forward to 'Brand New Day', the film will be based on the same storyline. Plot details have been kept under wraps. Coming to the cast, Holland will be joined by Zendaya and Jacob Batalon alongside the latest addition of Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner aka the Hulk and Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, reported Variety. The 'Stranger Things' star Sadie Sink has also joined the cast. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' will release on July 31, 2026. (ANI)
Netflix India unveiled the trailer on Monday giving a broader glimpse into the high-octane drama and a possible nuclear conflict that unfolds between India and Pakistan.

The trailer opens to show Pratik Gandhi's Vishnu Shankar, a RAW agent being posted to the neighbouring country to bring a stop to Pakistan's nuclear activities.

As Vishnu enters deeper into Pakistan's diplomatic affairs, he comes face-to-face with ISI agent Murtaza Mallik (Sunny Hinduja). With every calculated move, Vishnu Shankar's activities also appear to be monitored by the enemies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DM67UXkRtdF/

Besides Gandhi and Hinduja, Tillotama Shome, Kritika Kamra, Rajat Kapoor, and Anup Soni also appear in promising roles.

Created by Gaurav Shukla, the Netflix drama promises to bring the "silent wars" of the intelligence officers, the spies, aka the "unsung heroes."

"Set in the volatile 1970s, when a single move could tip the balance of power and trigger a global nuclear war, Saare Jahan Se Accha unfolds as India's R&AW and Pakistan's ISI clash in a deadly game of strategy. Vishnu must outwit ISI agent Murtaza Mallik in a race against time to prevent a major catastrophe," the official synopsis reads.

Speaking about his character, Pratik Gandhi said, "What drew me in was the intensity beneath the stillness and the emotional toll of being invisible, yet fighting for India," in a statement.

The announcement video was released in July this year, showing Pratik Gandhi's character secretly collecting information for the country's safety.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMMn8OtpXKT/

For a spy, every little detail is important. The success or failure of our mission depends on it. Our target is the enemy country and the goal? To enter their backyard and stop them from becoming a nuclear power. We can't afford to miss anything. Morse codes, numbers, phone calls, transactions, dates. This Independence Day, our mission is clear. We have to keep India one step ahead of the enemy," he said in the video.

'Saare Jahan Se Accha' will be released on August 13 on Netflix. (ANI)
The film will be directed by Ravi Nelakuditi and produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the SLV Cinemas banner.

The traditional puja ceremony was a star-studded affair as it was attended by actor Nani and critically acclaimed directors Buchi Babu Sena and Odela Srikanth.

'Hit' actor Nani gave the ceremonial first clap at the puja ceremony while Buchi Babu Sena and Odela Srikanth extended their best wishes to the team on the event.

SLV Cinemas took to their Instagram handle to share the photos from the event. In the pictures, Nani and Dulquer Salmaan are seen holding the film clapboard as they posed for the cameras.

The music of the film is composed by GV Prakash Kumar, while Anay Goswamy will handle the cinematography.

The makers have not shared the release date of the film yet.

As for Dulquer Salmaan, the actor will also be seen in the Tamil and Telugu bilingual film 'Kaantha'. The makers released the teaser of the film on the actor's 42nd birthday.

The movie is directed by Selvamani Selvaraj and stars Samuthirakani and Bhagyashri Borse in the lead roles, along with Dulquer Salmaan.

The two-minute and twelve-second teaser features an estranged relationship between a father and son, portrayed by Samuthirakani and Salmaan, respectively.

The movie is slated to release in theatres on September 12, 2025. (ANI)
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the poster of the film 'Baulya Kaka' at the Secretariat on Monday. The film will star Bollywood actor Hemant Pandey in the lead role. According to the press note shared by the office of Pushkar Singh Dhami, 'Baulya Kaka' has been shot in the remote villages of the state, like Gwaldam, Tharali, and Talwari. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his best wishes to the team for the success of the film. As per the press note, the Uttarakhand CM and 'Baulya Kaka' makers discussed the opportunities, possibilities of film production in the state and the incentives being given to the filmmakers by the state government and the initiatives taken in this field. CM Dhami said that the state government has implemented the 'Uttarakhand New Film Policy'. The main objective of the government by this policy is to encourage film production in the state, provide employment opportunities to the youth and give a new boost to tourism. Under the new policy, many facilities, including subsidies, tax exemptions, and logistic support, are being provided to producers arriving in the state to shoot films. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the state government is constantly trying to encourage the production of films in Uttarakhand, as quoted in a press note. The Uttarakhand government has been paying special attention to increasing film shooting and tourism in the state. According to the press note, a new record for the maximum number of films shot in the state is set every year. The Chief Minister said that work is going on at a fast pace to make Uttarakhand a filmmaking hub. Filmmakers are now given an additional 5 per cent incentive subsidy by the government for shooting at less popular locations in the state. The government has been providing a special subsidy to film producers who offer opportunities to local artists in Uttarakhand, according to the press note. (ANI)
Amid the row over Special Intensive Revision (SIR)of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jagdambika Pal on Sunday alleged that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav had "two voter IDs" and people of his party are registered as voters at "many places". Reacting to Yadav's claim that his name had been removed from the electoral roll, the BJP leader told ANI, "It is surprising that he (Tejashwi Yadav) is the leader of a party. He was a voter from two places. He had two voter IDs, which is illegal. It is a crime. So it means that on a large scale, people of Tejashwi's party are registered as voters at many places." He said that authorities should act against leaders who, as per the BJP leader, might have "two voter IDs". "Many leaders might have 2 voter IDs. Action should be taken against this...The Election Commission is doing door-to-door verification in SIR today. They are protesting against it because they feel they would be exposed," Pal said. Tejashwi Yadav, a former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, had made allegations against the ECI over the draft electoral rolls published on Friday, first saying that his name is missing and then stating that his EPIC number has been changed. In a press conference on Saturday, Tejashwi said his name was not included in the new draft voter list being revised in Bihar. However, officials checked the records and found that his name is listed. Janata Dal United (JDU) on Sunday slammed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who claimed that his name was missing from the new draft voter list after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and said that the narrative of Tejashwi and the opposition has been "destroyed". "Tejashwi Yadav's theft has been caught. Sometimes he cries about names being removed from the voter list, and sometimes he spreads lies about the EPIC number. The truth is that now the narrative of Tejashwi and the entire opposition has been completely destroyed," the party said in a post in hindi on social media platform X. (ANI)
Amid chaos over Delhi police allegedly referring to Bengali as Bangladeshi language in a communication note, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader on Monday morning hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, suggesting that she be booked under National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly inciting linguistic conflict. He argued that her reaction to the entire issue was "misplaced and dangerously inflammatory", while adding that Delhi Police's letter does not describe Bangla as a 'Bangladeshi' language. "Mamata Banerjee's reaction to Delhi Police referring to the language used by infiltrators as 'Bangladeshi' is not just misplaced, it is dangerously inflammatory. Nowhere in the Delhi Police letter is Bangla or Bengali described as a 'Bangladeshi' language. To claim otherwise and call upon Bengalis to rise against the Centre is deeply irresponsible. Mamata Banerjee should be held accountable--perhaps even under the National Security Act--for inciting linguistic conflict," Malviya posted on X. He said that the police were "absolutely right" in referring to the language as Bangladeshi in the context of identifying infiltrators since the term focuses on dialects, syntax, and speech patterns that are different from Bangla spoken in India. "The official language of Bangladesh is not only phonologically different, but also includes dialects like Sylheti that are nearly incomprehensible to Indian Bengalis," Malviya said. "Delhi Police is absolutely right in referring to the language as Bangladeshi in the context of identifying infiltrators. The term is being used to describe a set of dialects, syntax, and speech patterns that are distinctly different from the Bangla spoken in India. The official language of Bangladesh is not only phonologically different, but also includes dialects like Sylheti that are nearly incomprehensible to Indian Bengalis," he added. Malviya further stated that Delhi police's use of "Bangladeshi language" was a shorthand for linguistic markers used to profile alleged illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country. "There is, in fact, no language called 'Bengali' that neatly covers all these variants. "Bengali" denotes ethnicity, not linguistic uniformity. So when the Delhi Police uses "Bangladeshi language," it is a shorthand for the linguistic markers used to profile illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, not a commentary on Bengali as spoken in West Bengal," he said. His remarks come after Banerjee on Sunday accused the Delhi Police of describing Bengali as a "Bangladeshi language", calling it scandalous, anti-national and unconstitutional. Sharing a letter by Delhi Police on X, Banerjee said, "See now how Delhi police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as 'Bangladeshi' language! Bengali, our mother tongue, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, the language in which our National Anthem and the National Song (the latter by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay) are written, the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!" Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed (Md) Salim also trained guns on Delhi Police, calling it "illiterate", posted on X, "Will the 'illiterate' [?]Delhi Police tell us what's this 'Bangladeshi language'? Moreover, why Delhi Police has failed to make their officers aware of the 8th Schedule of our Constitution." (ANI)
Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan made strong remarks on the necessity of education while addressing a gathering at the Agaram Foundation event in Chennai. "Education is the only weapon that can break the chains of dictatorship and Sanatan," the Rajya Sabha MP said on Sunday. Kamal Haasan added, "Don't take anything else in your hands, only education. We cannot win without it, because the majority can make you lose. Majority Fools (Moodargal) will make u lose; knowledge alone will seem defeated. That's why we must hold on to it (Education) firmly." Praising the Agaram foundation work, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "True education and unconditional love are hard to come by. Apart from our mothers, institutions like Agaram Foundation are among the few places where we can still find them," He highlighted that recognition in cinema, symbolised by crowns of fame, is different from the invisible yet impactful recognition one gets through social service. "In cinema, we are crowned for our performances. But in social work, we are given a crown of thorns. It takes a strong heart to accept that crown. No one else will do this for us we have to do it ourselves," he said. Addressing the challenges in the field of education, he pointed out how the implementation of NEET since 2017 has limited opportunities for many aspiring students. "Even Agaram Foundation, despite its best efforts, cannot help students beyond a point because the law doesn't allow it. To change the law, we need strength and that strength can only come from education, he said. Kamal Haasan also shared a recent conversation with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. "Yesterday, I told the Chief Minister that NGOs were not asking for anything like money --they're only asking for permission to work. He assured me that steps are being taken in that direction. I am proud to be involved in this cause," he said. He concluded by saying that true leaders are often forgotten, even as the impact of their work continues. "Leadership isn't about staying in power, it's about making change happen, even if your name fades away with the waves. It has taken me 70 years to understand this. (ANI)
Odisha Crime Branch arrested Vice-President of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, in the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) question paper leak case, Director General of Police (DGP) Vinaytosh Mishra said. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, DGP Mishra said that initially, the data entry operator of the board, Jitan Maharana, was believed to be the main culprit in the case, but further investigation revealed that Maharana leaked the question paper in collaboration with Mohanty. "Initially, we thought that he (Jitan Maharana) was the main culprit, but on further interrogation, numerous clues were revealed. We came to the conclusion that Jitan Maharana has done this in collaboration with Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, the Board Vice President. As BSE VP, it was his sole responsibility to ensure the security of the question paper...Based on all the evidence, he has been arrested," the police official said. DGP Vinaytosh Mishra said that Mohanty did not delete the question paper after sending it for printing and had been in conversation with Maharana beyond office hours. "After downloading it (question paper), he was supposed to proofread and send it to the printing press for printing. After sending, he was supposed to delete it. But he kept it in his laptop. That was the first lapse which came. He left it in the office. He said that the laptop was password protected, so nobody could access it. But it has been accessed. Either he gave the password to Jitan Maharana," he said. "His laptop has a lot of files. In just a minute or two, no one can find the exact file. Beyond office hours, he has interacted with Jitan Maharana more than a hundred times," the DGP added. He said that the question paper was leaked on July 20, after which the crime branch arrested six individuals. "On the 20th, there was a question paper leakage of the OTET examination. After thorough verifications, we had arrested six persons, including a data entry operator of the board, Jitan Maharana," DGP Vinaytosh Mishra said. Earlier, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Lenin Mohanty had asked the Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, to take a stance on the paper leak. He also demanded action against the Vice Chairman of the BSE, whose laptop contained the question papers. "We have demanded today very clearly that the minister who is in charge of school and mass education, who has a very dismal record in handling the SC/ST department as well, he should either resign or the CM should come out and take some stance, which should be kind of accepted by the people of the state," he said. Lenin Mohanty added, "Second, they should take action against the Vice Chairman of the board of secondary education whose laptop contained the question papers, Nihar Ranjan Mohanty and they should ensure that such things do not happen because just by framing laws, few days back they framed a law that anybody found doing this would be fined one crore and would be jailed for around 10 years. In the last one year, there hasn't been one case where somebody has either been fined or jailed." (ANI)
Several areas in Varanasi city in Uttar Pradesh were flooded on Monday following incessant heavy rainfall and a rise in the water level of the River Ganga. The water level of the river has been continuously rising since Saturday. In response to the deteriorating situation, all boats running on the Ganga have been banned. Several Varanasi residents were seen wading through knee-deep water. Waterlogging caused traffic snarls in the city. Taking stock of the flood crisis, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed all ministers in charge to immediately visit their assigned districts, inspect relief camps, and directly engage with affected families. He instructed senior officials--including DMs, SPs, and CMOs--to stay on the ground and ensure 24x7 monitoring, said a release on Saturday. The chief minister has deployed an 11-member ministerial team to oversee relief operations across 12 affected districts, warning that any negligence will not be tolerated and stressing the need for sensitivity, speed and transparency. The Chief Minister emphasised that the supply of relief materials and food packets must be timely and of high quality, with no compromise on standards. Emphasising urgency, he ordered round-the-clock surveillance of embankments, swift drainage from waterlogged areas, and comprehensive arrangements for food, medicine, sanitation, and the needs of women and children in relief camps. The Chief Minister affirmed that the state government is fully committed to ensuring the safety, food, shelter, and healthcare of every citizen affected by the floods. According to IMD, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Uttar Pradesh during 3rd-6th August. The CM also called for immediate action against rumours or misinformation to maintain public confidence and ensure a robust communication system during the crisis. Incessant heavy rainfall has also caused a flood situation in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj District. People were seen wading through knee-deep water in the Karela Bagh area of Prayagraj, as the area gets flooded due to incessant heavy rainfall and overflow of the Sasur Khaderi river. (ANI)
By Akbar Novruz



At the Baku Military Court on August 4, civilians shared harrowing testimonies of the missile attacks that struck the Azerbaijani city of Mingachevir during the 44-day Patriotic War.

One of the witnesses, Ingilab Mammadov, described how his two-story house collapsed on October 4, 2020, following a rocket strike. He and his three young children were trapped under the debris and sustained injuries. Mammadov stressed that there were no military installations in the area, later learning that the attack was carried out with a Smerch missile fired by Armenian forces.

Another witness, Elchin Bagirov, testified that a missile exploded near his residence the same day, injuring him, his mother Nabat Bagirova, and his uncle. As a result of his injuries, Bagirovs uncle lost his ability to work.

The ongoing trial addresses multiple charges against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and other serious violations of international and humanitarian law committed during Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan.
Congress MP Hibi Eden on Monday moved a notice for Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the arrest of two Kerala-based nuns and a tribal youth in Chhattisgarh on the charges of human trafficking. Giving the notice to the Secretary General of Lok Sabha, Eden wrote, "To discuss the arrest of two Catholic nuns and a tribal youth. The victims have now lodged a complaint against Bajrang Dal activists, necessitating a thorough investigation. Given the gravity and implications for communal harmony, I request the House to adjourn its business to discuss this matter." Listing the aspects of the case to be discussed in the House, he aims to discuss the investigation and demands the case's withdrawal from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). "Main aspects to be discussed: 1. Proper investigation into the new complaint. 2. Withdrawal of the case against the nuns. 3. Measures to maintain communal harmony. 4. NIA should not be involved in alleged conversion offences unless absolutely necessary and directly related to national security or interstate implications. 5. Investigation into the alleged attack on tribals by Bajrang Dal activists and necessary action against those responsible," the notice read. Earlier on Saturday, the nuns were released from jail after the NIA court granted them bail. Advocate Gopa Kumar, representing the nuns, told ANI, "A case of human trafficking was registered under BNS section 143. We argued that this section cannot be applied to the case. So the court has granted bail today. They cannot go out of India, and a bail bond of Rs 50,000 each needs to be furnished. The bail will be granted in a few hours." The nuns from Kerala were arrested at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on July 25. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Monday moved a notice under Rule 267, demanding suspension of business in the Upper House of Parliament to discuss the alleged discrepancies in conduct of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Selection Post Phase-13 exam, which has led to "damaging of the public trust" in the government organisation, seeking an independent and impartial review of the examination process. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha called upon the youth to dedicate themselves towards achieving the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' and utilising their knowledge and ideas for this shared goal. Addressing at the Viksit Bharat-Yuva Connect Programme in Jammu, Manoj Sinha shed light on the intricacies of the human mind, calling it a "network of ideas." "I believe that the biggest miracle of the universe is the human mind. There are about 10,000 crore neurons in the brain of every student present here, and one neuron is connected to about 1,000 other neurons...It is not visible physically, but the network of the mind is so vast that you cannot compare it with any network or platform in the world. I consider it a network of ideas," he said. Manoj Sinha emphasised that any nation becomes great solely because of the "potential" of the human mind and urged youth to dedicate themselves to the goal of 'Viksit Bharat.' "If this powerful force is dedicated to a purpose, then there will be no problem in achieving it, nor will any power in the world be able to stop it. I believe any nation becomes great due to the potential of the human mind, not because of its geographical area. This power (human mind) should be completely dedicated to the creation of a developed India," he said. "Viksit Bharat 2047" is an initiative aimed at realising India's aspiration of becoming a developed nation. To advance this goal of developed India by 2047 among youth, the "Viksit Bharat Ambassador -Yuva Connect" program has been conceptualized with the aim to foster youth engagement and leadership in the developmental transformation of India. These events are organised around discussions on the concept of Viksit Bharat with young people in educational institutions throughout India. Youth also get an opportunity to interact with eminent speakers, according to a release by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Through these programs, emphasis is laid on values such as national identity, civic engagement, social cohesion, human capital development, critical thinking, and empowerment, so that students are better prepared to contribute positively to their societies. These interactions not only enhance individual growth but also strengthen the fabric of the nation as a whole, the release added. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday extended warm wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of the fourth Monday of the holy month of Sawan (or Shravan). In a post on the social media platform X, the Chief Minister invoked the revered Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, praying for the well-being and prosperity of the people of the state and extended heartfelt wishes to all residents of the state on the auspicious occasion of the 'fourth Sawan Somwar' (fourth Monday of the holy month of Sawan). Sawan, also known as Shravan, is considered an auspicious month in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Mondays during this period, known as Sawan Somvar, witness large gatherings of devotees across temples and pilgrimage sites, particularly in Uttarakhand. This morning, a huge number of devotees flocked to Shiva temples across the country to worship Lord Shiva on the occasion of 'Fourth Sawan Somwar'. In Mumbai, Maharashtra, devotees gathered in large numbers at Babulnath Temple to offer prayers on the last Monday of the holy month of 'Sawan'. Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district, a large number of devotees visited and offered prayers at Shiv Ganga Temple on the fourth and last Monday of Sawan month. In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, a large number of devotees queued up to offer prayers at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the occasion of the fourth Monday of the Sawan month. Devotees in large numbers visited Shri Mankameshwar Mahadev Temple in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to offer prayers on the fourth Sawan somwar. In Gujarat's Ahmedabad, a large number of devotees offered prayers as aarti was performed at Samartheshwar Mahadev Temple on the occasion of Sawan somwar. According to the Gujarati calendar, today is the second Monday of the Sawan month. Shravan (or Sawan) holds immense significance in Hindu mythology. It is believed that the Shravan month is the most beloved month of Lord Shiva. Worshipping Shiva in this month gives relief from all troubles. The Lord Shiva temples across the nation reverberated with Vedic chants, accompanied by the sounds of conch shells, bells, and hymns. Devotees were seen queuing up to offer prayers and perform rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva, as the auspicious month of Sawan continues to draw crowds. This year, Shravan began on July 11 and will conclude on August 9. (ANI)
The biological father of a minor girl has approached a Delhi court seeking registration of an FIR for rape, murder, sexual harassment, and other offences allegedly committed against his minor daughter years after conversion to Islam. The complainant's wife had deserted him eight years ago along with her two minor children, including the minor son and the deceased daughter. It is stated that she started living with a Muslim man and converted to Islam along with her two minor children. The complainant has alleged that his minor daughter had been subjected to sexual harassment, physical assault, rape, and murder by the man with whom her mother has been living. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Ayushi Saxena at Karkardooma Court in Delhi has called for a status report from the SHO of Jagat Puri Police Station in Delhi. The matter has been listed for hearing on August 7. Advocate Amita Sachdeva and Parth Yadav appeared for the complainant. It was submitted that the complainant came to know from one of his relatives about the alleged murder of his daughter. He visited the mortuary where the body was kept. He noticed the injuries on the body of his daughter, the plea alleged. It is further alleged that when he approached the accused, requesting him to hand over the body of his daughter so that he may perform the last rites as per Hindu rites. He was threatened with dire consequences and murder. Thereafter, the body was buried by the accused and his relatives, the complainant alleged. It is stated that he approached the SHO on July 31. He also sent an email to SHO and DCP, but no action was taken. He, now, has prayed that the court direct the SHO to register an FIR and to find out where the body of his daughter has been buried. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday held a virtual meeting with the District Magistrates of all the thirteen districts of the State to discuss the progress of development works and the preparations to deal with any eventuality, given the alert issued by the Meteorological Department. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for three days in the districts of Dehradun, Nainital, Champawat, Bageshwar, Pauri Garhwal, and Udham Singh Nagar. In view of the alert issued by the IMD, the Dehradun district administration announced the closure of all schools up to Class 12 and Anganwadi centres on August 4, 2025. According to an alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Disaster Alert Portal, Dehradun district is likely to experience intense rainfall activity from the evening or night of August 3. The forecast warns of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds. The Dehradun district administration in an order dated 03.08.2025 said, "As per the updated weather forecast for today issued by the IMD, Dehradun and NDMA's National Disaster Alert Portal, in view of the yellow alert and the Nowcast, Doppler radar issued last evening/night and the continuous heavy rainfall at present, an "Orange Alert" has been issued for heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places in Dehradun district, heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places, lightning with thunder at some places/ very strong to very strong spells of rain/ gusty winds (40-50 km/hr), heavy rainfall and very heavy rainfall at some places". The district magistrate of Dehradun, Savin Bansal, directed that all government and private schools up to Class 12 and all Anganwadi centres remain closed for a day on August 4 as a precautionary measure. The order is aimed at ensuring the safety of students and children amid worsening weather conditions. The order further read, "In view of the moderate to heavy rainfall currently occurring in all areas of Dehradun district, the possibility of landslides increases in sensitive places. Due to which any kind of unpleasant incident can occur. Therefore, in view of disaster mitigation, a one-day holiday has been declared today in all educational institutions and Anganwadi centres running from class 1 to 12 in the district." (ANI)
Amid reports of the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for August 7 at Rahul Gandhi's residence in Delhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday confirmed that party chief Uddhav Thackeray has been invited and will attend the meeting. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "On 7th August, there is a meeting of the INDIA bloc. Rahul Gandhi has extended an invitation for it. He has personally called up everyone and extended an invitation." Raut added that Thackeray will reach Delhi on August 6 and will be there till the 8th. "Uddhav Thackeray will come to Delhi on 6th August for the meeting on 7th. He will be in Delhi till 8th August. He will attend the meeting and meet everyone. He will also visit our new party office at the Parliament premises. We will try to meet the tall leaders in Delhi", he added further. Earlier, sources said on Sunday that the members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will be meeting over dinner at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's residence on August 7. The announcement of the August 7 meeting comes a day after the former Congress president asserted that at least 70-80 Lok Sabha seats might have been rigged in the 2024 general elections, while addressing the party's conclave on Saturday. The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, alleged voter list manipulation in Maharashtra, Operation Sindoor, India-US trade deal, and the tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump are likely to be discussed during the meeting. This is the INDIA bloc's second meeting since the commencement of the Parliament monsoon session. During the July 19 virtual meeting, at least 24 members of the bloc attended, including NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray. Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah has also confirmed his attendance for the meet. He said on August 2 (Saturday) that he will discuss the ongoing Bihar SIR during the meet, which he alleged has been used to make sure that the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance will win the assembly polls. "The elections in Bihar already have an arrangement that the party currently in power will win. I am going to visit him (Rahul Gandhi), the leaders have been called on August 7, I will find out (about Congress leader's allegations)," Farooq Abdullah told reporters in Jammu. Communist Party's D Raja has also said that the Lok Sabha LoP has been "calling up people" to discuss the issue; however, he mentioned that "no particular agenda" has been discussed. (ANI)
Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday hit out at the opposition for raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, accusing them of not letting the Parliament function. He said that the voter list revision drive was not happening for the first time. "SIR is not happening for the first time in the country... This time, technology is being utilised. What are they scared of? There is a three-level scope of appeal, which they can file. But it's wrong not to let the Parliament function," Joshi told reporters here. Taking a swipe at the opposition, which has been constantly protesting against the SIR drive in Bihar since the inception of the monsoon session of Parliament, the Union Minister argued that "these people" have no faith in the constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission (EC), the Supreme Court and the High Court. "These people have no faith in the Election Commission, Supreme Court, High Court, and CAG. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister has time and again given clarification. They first demanded a discussion on Operation Sindoor, and we agreed to it. Prior to that, they wasted one full week. This is what they are doing again," Joshi said. However, Congress MP Md Jawaid questioned the decrease of nearly 65 lakh people in the voter list in Bihar and said that those working outside the state might have failed to fill out the forms for the verification process. "How will there be a decrease of some 65 lakh people in the number of people (voters) in Bihar? Around three crore people of Bihar, especially the poor, work in different states. Some of them might not have been able to fill out the form. You said that the Aadhaar Card will not be considered. This is illogical," Jawaid told ANI. "You said that 22 lakh people died. But as per our population, no more than 7 lakh should have died. How can you say that 22 lakh people died? This is an outright vote theft. They are saying illogical things to defend themselves," he added. (ANI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday expressed deep sorrow on the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister and co-founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Shibu Soren. In his condolence message, Nitish Kumar said that Shibu Soren's demise is an "irreparable loss" for the country. "Chief Minister (Nitish Kumar) said that late Shibu Soren was a renowned politician. He was the Chief Minister of Jharkhand thrice. He has made a significant contribution to the politics of Jharkhand. His demise has caused an irreparable loss not only in the political and social field of Jharkhand but the entire country. Shibu Soren was a renowned politician. He was the Chief Minister of Jharkhand thrice. He has made a significant contribution to the politics of Jharkhand. His demise has caused an irreparable loss not only in the political and social field of Jharkhand but the entire country," stated the release from Bihar CMO on the demise of Shibu Soren. "The Chief Minister has prayed to God for eternal peace of the departed soul and to provide strength to his family and fans to bear the grief in this hour of sorrow," the release added. Additionally, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami also offered his condolences of the demise of former JMM president. "The news of the passing of Jharkhand's former Chief Minister Shibu Soren Ji is extremely distressing. His entire life was dedicated to the upliftment of the backward classes and tribal communities," Dhami wrote in a post on X. "I pray to God that the departed soul finds a place at His divine feet and that the grief-stricken family and supporters are granted the strength to bear this immense sorrow," he added. Former Odisha CM and BJP chief Naveen Patnaik offered his condolences and said that the prominent tribal leader will be remembered for his dedication to fight for the rights of the tribal and marginalised people. "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Jharkhand Chief Minister and founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha ShibuSoren. He was a prominent tribal leader and will be remembered for his dedication to fight for the rights of the tribal and marginalised people. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family, friends, and followers in the hour of grief," Patnaik wrote on a post on X. Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Sore,n passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 on Monday morning in New Delhi. Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He served thrice as CM of Jharkhand in 2005, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010. Popularly addressed as "Dishom Guru," he cofounded Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato and led the movement demanding a separate Jharkhand state. He dreams of a separate identity for the Jharkhand people came in fruition in 2000. Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)
Member of Parliament from Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu, R Sudha has written to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that her gold chain was snatched and she sustained injuries in the incident on Monday morning in Chanakyapuri area of the national capital. The parliamentarian has urged the Home Minister to direct the authorities to track down and arrest the culprit. The Lok Sabha MP who is in Delhi to attend the ongoing Monsoon session said she was out for her routine morning walk when the incident took place in the high-security area where embassies or various countries are located. In a letter addressed to Amit Shah, the MP recounted that the attack took place between 6:15 am and 6:20 a.m. on August 4, when she and another MP, Rajathi from the Rajya Sabha, were walking near Gates 3 and 4 of the Polish embassy. "A man wearing a full helmet, riding a two-wheeler, approached them from the opposite direction and snatched my gold chain before fleeing the spot," the Congress MP said. "I have suffered injuries on my neck, and my churidhar also got torn in the impact," Sudha wrote in her complaint. "Both of us cried for help, and later spotted a mobile patrol vehicle of the Delhi Police and lodged a complaint," Sudha said. The MP who is currently staying at Tamil Nadu House in the national capital described the incident as deeply distressing and shocking, especially considering the location--a high-security zone filled with embassies and government offices. "If a woman cannot walk safely in this high-priority zone in the national capital, where else can we feel safe and do our routine without fearing for our limbs, lives, and valuables?" the MP asked. She stated that her gold chain weighed over four sovereigns and that the loss and injury had left her traumatised. In her letter, she requested the Home Minister to direct authorities to track down the accused using CCTV footage from the area and to ensure swift justice and recovery of the stolen chain. Delhi police have registered a case, and further investigation is underway. Earlier, Delhi Police (West District) initiated a campaign across all fronts to check crime and nuisance in the area. A multifaceted approach was adopted to tackle street crime, organised crime, and rein in mischief mongers, according to an official statement by Delhi Police on Saturday. The release said that more than 650 persons involved in street crime were arrested in the month of July 2025, which includes 24 robbers, 28 snatchers, 21 burglars and 75 thieves. More than 55 cases of the Arms Act, the Excise Act, the Gambling Act and the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act were registered in the month of July alone. According to Delhi police, during the campaign, a total of 20 snatching cases were resolved with the arrest of 28 snatchers. Out of the 28 arrested snatchers, 16 are repeat offenders. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday mourned the demise of former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shibu Soren and remembered his struggle for the rights of the tribal communities. Sharing an X post, Amit Shah wrote, "The news of the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Shibu Soren ji is extremely saddening. He struggled for decades for the rights and empowerment of the tribal community in Jharkhand. With his simple personality and humble nature, he connected with the masses." The Union Minister expressed condolences to Soren's family and his supporters. "May God grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet and provide strength to the grieving Soren family and his admirers and supporters to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti," Amit Shah said. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also looked back at Soren's struggle for Jharkhand's statehood and his contribution in fighting for water, forest and land rights. "I am saddened by the passing of Jharkhand's former Chief Minister, former Union Minister, and founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren ji. He dedicated his life to the struggle for a separate Jharkhand state and the rights of its people over water, forest, and land, as well as the preservation of tribal culture," Kharge wrote on X. The Congress chief spoke to Shibu Soren's son and Jharkhand CM, Hemant Soren, and expressed condolences. He wrote, "I spoke with his son and Jharkhand's Chief Minister @HemantSorenJMM ji, expressing my deep condolences to his family and supporters. In this hour of grief, may God grant them strength." MP Pappu Yadav paid condolences to the Soren family and said that Shibu Soren was the voice for the followers of BR Ambedkar and Bhagwan Birsa Munda. "This is a huge loss for the nation. He was fearless & never compromised with his ideologies. He was the voice of the last standing man, and for those who followed the path of Ambedkar ji and Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The man who created Jharkhand with his struggle is no longer amongst us today. On behalf of the people of Bihar and my family, I express my condolences. He was like a father to me," Yadav told ANI. Shibu Soren passed away after prolonged illness at the age of 81 today in New Delhi. Jharkhand Chief Minister and his son Hemant Soren confirmed the demise of the leader in a post on X. "Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I am devastated," Hemant Soren said. Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He was the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)
By Akbar Novruz



Ukraine is preparing to host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an official visit to Kyiv, with the potential ratification of the long-awaited free trade agreement between the two countries expected to be at the center of the talks, Azernews reports via RBC-Ukraine.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkiye Nariman Jalal revealed in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that preparations for the visit are currently underway. He stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky personally invited his Turkish counterpart and reconfirmed the invitation during a recent meeting.

This visit requires great efforts, because there are many issues that hinder its implementation, Jalal said.

According to the ambassador, the ratification of the free trade agreement will likely be the main topic on the agenda. He emphasized its significance not only for the strategic partnership between Kyiv and Ankara but also for a wide segment of Ukrainian businesses.

President Zelensky's invitation is very simple: Turkey is interested in signing a free trade agreement. This agreement is also important for a large part of our business, although for some it may create tension due to increased competition. However, this is a political decision, he added.

The ambassador noted that Ukraine hopes the agreement will be ratified during Erdogans visit, calling it a good and symbolic step toward cooperation.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday expressed condolences over the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren, calling him a leader who dedicated his life towards the upliftment of the tribal community. Taking to social media platform X, Yogi Adityanath wrote, "The passing of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Shibu Soren ji is deeply saddening. My humble tributes to him! He dedicated his life to the upliftment of tribal society. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed noble soul attains salvation and that his grieving family is granted the strength to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti." Jharkhand's first Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Babulal Marandi also expressed his condolences on the passing of the veteran tribal leader. In his message on X, Marandi stated, "The news of the passing of Jharkhand's former Chief Minister and JMM patron Shri Shibu Soren ji is deeply saddening. His departure is an irreparable loss for Jharkhand. I pray to God for the peace of his soul and for strength to the grief-stricken family to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti!" The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren, passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 in New Delhi. Jharkhand Chief Minister and his son Hemant Soren confirmed the demise of the leader in a post on X. "Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I am devastated," Hemant Soren said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned the demise of former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren. PM Modi remembered Shibu Soren's work for empowering tribal communities and the poor. Sharing an X post, PM Modi wrote, "Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away." The Prime Minister spoke to Shibu Soren's son and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, and expressed condolences. "My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti," the X post read. According to the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital, where the former Chief Minister was admitted, Shibu Soren was suffering from a kidney ailment, and had suffered a stroke one and a half months ago. He was on life support for the past one month. Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He was the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)
Following the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch Shibu Soren, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday expressed condolences and said the loss is not limited to Jharkhand alone but is a moment of grief for the entire nation. Speaking to ANI, Gogoi said, "We knew that he was not keeping well. My prayers are with Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and his family. This is a loss not just for Jharkhand but for the entire country. May his soul rest in peace." Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai described Soren's demise as the end of an era and called him a towering figure of the tribal movement. "This is very sad news. This is the end of the source of inspiration for the tribal movement, a tall leader and an era. On behalf of my party, I pay my humble tributes to him. May God provide strength to the CM (Hemant Soren) and his family to bear this sorrow," he told media reporters. Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) National President Chandra Shekhar Azad also recalled Soren's long struggle for the creation of Jharkhand and called the moment "difficult," praying for strength to the bereaved family. Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren, passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 on Monday morning in New Delhi. Jharkhand Chief Minister and his son Hemant Soren confirmed the demise of the leader in a post on X. "Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I am devastated," Hemant Soren said. According to the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital, where the former Chief Minister was admitted, Shibu Soren was suffering from a kidney ailment. He had suffered a stroke one and a half months ago. He was on life support for the past month. BJP leader Nishikant Dubey, expressing grief over the demise of the leader, said, "An era has ended, may God grant you and your entire family the strength to bear this sorrow. Respected Shibu Soren ji made a significant contribution to the growth of JMM." Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He was the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)
The Jharkhand government declared a three-day state mourning, starting Monday, following the passing of the state's former Chief Minister and co-founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren. "In honour of the late Honourable former Chief Minister-cum-Rajya Sabha MP, the State Government has decided to observe 03 (three) days of state mourning from August 4 to August 6," the message from the Jharkhand government read. During the mourning, the national flag will remain at half-mast on all the buildings, no state function will be organised, and all the offices of the state government will remain closed. Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 on Monday morning in New Delhi. According to the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital, where the former Chief Minister was admitted, Shibu Soren was suffering from a kidney ailment, and had suffered a stroke one and a half months ago. He was on life support for the past one month. Meanwhile, tributes from across the nation have poured in celebrating the life of the former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, following the demise of the tribal icon, who was one of the leaders who led the movement for a separate Jharkhand state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah remembered Soren's struggle for the rights of the tribal communities. Sharing an X post, Amit Shah wrote, "The news of the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Shibu Soren ji is extremely saddening. He struggled for decades for the rights and empowerment of the tribal community in Jharkhand. With his simple personality and humble nature, he connected with the masses." Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also looked back at Soren's struggle for Jharkhand's statehood and his contribution in fighting for water, forest and land rights. "I am saddened by the passing of Jharkhand's former Chief Minister, former Union Minister, and founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren ji. He dedicated his life to the struggle for a separate Jharkhand state and the rights of its people over water, forest, and land, as well as the preservation of tribal culture," Kharge wrote on X. Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He served thrice as CM of Jharkhand in 2005, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010. Popularly addressed as "Dishom Guru," he cofounded Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato and led the movement demanding a separate Jharkhand state. His dreams of a separate identity for the Jharkhand people came in fruition in 2000. Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)
Describing him as "a strong voice for the tribal community" whose contribution to Jharkhand's formation "will always be remembered," Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday paid heartfelt tribute to late Shibu Soren, the veteran Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader who passed away this morning in the national capital. He offered his condolences to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the bereaved family, and all of "Guruji's" followers. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Jharkhand's former Chief Minister and senior JMM leader Shibu Soren Ji. A strong voice for the tribal community, Soren Ji fought tirelessly for their rights and entitlements. His role in the formation of Jharkhand will always be remembered. I express my deepest condolences to Hemant Soren Ji, the entire Soren family, and all of Guruji's supporters." West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also mourned the loss, describing Shibu Soren as a "Guru Dishom",a revered leader for tribal communities. "Profoundly saddened by the demise of Shibu Soren, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, a former Union Minister, founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Guru Dishom (great leader) for my Adivasi brothers and sisters. My heart- felt condolences to my brother @HemantSorenJMM his son and current Chief Minister of Jharkhand, as well as to his entire family, fraternity, and his all followers at large. I knew him well and respected him sincerely. A chapter of Jharkhand's history comes to an end today," the post added on X. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh called Soren's death an "irreparable loss," especially for the tribal community. "For all of us, especially for the people of Jharkhand, people of the country and tribal community, this is an irreparable loss. We met his son and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. On behalf of AAP and Arvind Kejriwal, we expressed our condolences for Shibu Soren. His last rites are likely to be performed tomorrow from his native village. We will attend it," Singh told reporters. Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren, passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 on Monday morning in New Delhi. Jharkhand Chief Minister and his son Hemant Soren confirmed the demise of the leader in a post on X. "Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I am devastated," Hemant Soren said. According to the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital, where the former Chief Minister was admitted, Shibu Soren was suffering from a kidney ailment. He had suffered a stroke one and a half months ago. He was on life support for the past month. BJP leader Nishikant Dubey, expressing grief over the demise of the leader, said, "An era has ended, may God grant you and your entire family the strength to bear this sorrow. Respected Shibu Soren ji made a significant contribution to the growth of JMM." Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He was the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)
Calling his demise an "irreparable loss" for both the state and the nation, BJP leader Arjun Munda paid tribute to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, remembering him as a relentless voice for the deprived and a key figure in the fight for a separate state. Munda said Soren's leadership in the Jharkhand movement and his lifelong commitment to the struggles of tribals and the underprivileged had left an indelible mark on the region's history. Speaking to reporters, Munda said, "The demise of Shibu Soren is an irreparable loss for the entire state and the country because he always strengthened public consciousness while remaining engaged in struggles and fought vocally to raise awareness about people's issues. His active role in the movement for a separate state can neither be forgotten by the state nor the country." "Leading the Jharkhand movement while fighting against moneylenders and exploiters, he always served the people as a voice for the deprived and the tribals. His passing today has deeply pained us all. This is very distressing for Jharkhand and its people, and it has caused great loss to Jharkhand," he added. Meanwhile, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and his wife, JMM MLA Kalpana Soren, leave their Delhi residence for Sir Gangaram Hospital, where the mortal remains of his father, JMM patron and former CM Shibu Soren, are kept. Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren, passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 on Monday morning in New Delhi. Jharkhand Chief Minister and his son Hemant Soren confirmed the demise of the leader in a post on X. "Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I am devastated," Hemant Soren said. According to the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital, where the former Chief Minister was admitted, Shibu Soren was suffering from a kidney ailment. He had suffered a stroke one and a half months ago. He was on life support for the past month. Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He was the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged remarks on the Indian Army after a clash between the Indian and Chinese armies in Yangsi region of Arunachal Pradesh in 2022. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih expressed disapproval of Gandhi's remarks, saying how does he know the Chinese occupied 2000 square kilometres of land and said that a true indian wouldn't say such a thing. Justice Datta said, "How do you get to know that 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory was occupied by China? What is the credible material? If you are a true indian, you would not say this. When there is a conflict across borders... can you say all this?" The bench also asked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, why Gandhi didn't say all this in Parliament and why on social media. "Whatever you have to say, why don't you say it in the Parliament? Why do you have to say this in the social media posts?" asked Justice Datta. Meanwhile, the apex court also stayed further proceedings before the trial court in the case and issued notice to the complainant, former Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Director Uday Shankar Srivastava. The Allahabad High Court on May 29 had rejected Gandhi's plea, challenging the defamation case as well as the summoning order passed in February 2025 by an MP MLA court in Lucknow. Srivastava in his defamation complaint stated that the alleged derogatory remarks by Gandhi were made on December 16, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying his objectionable comments pertaining to a clash between the Indian and Chinese Armies had defamed the Indian Army. Gandhi, on December 16, 2022, during his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in the presence of media persons and a large gathering of the public, spoke regarding a face-off that took place between the Indian Army and the Chinese Army at the border of India in Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, 2022. Gandhi had said, "People will ask about Bharat Jodo Yatra, here and there, Ashok Gahlot and Sachin Pilot and whatnot. But they will not ask a single question about China capturing 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory, killing 20 Indian soldiers and thrashing our soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh. But the Indian press doesn't ask a question to them about this. Isn't it true? The nation is watching all this. Don't pretend that people don't know." The complainant had said that the statement given by Gandhi was made as an attempt to demoralise the Indian Army Gandhi's statement is false and baseless and it was given with an evil intention of demoralising the Indian Army and to damage the faith of the Indian population on the Indian Army, whereas the truth is that in the scuffle that took place in Yangsi region Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, 2022, the Indian Army successfully restrained the Chinese Army from entering the territory protected by it and badly chased them away, Srivastava said in his complaint. (ANI)
As August 5 marks six years since the abrogation of Article 370, National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Monday lambasted the Centre, asking about the timeline to reinstate the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Holding the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre to fulfil its promise, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister urged the government to hold elections to Rajya Sabha seats and not deny people the right to speak about their problems. "When are they going to return the statehood? They said that the minute you have elections and the government is formed, the statehood will be restored. What has happened to that? Now they are saying that they will hold elections in two vacant assembly seats, but what about elections to four seats in the Rajya Sabha? Why are they denying people the right to get to that house to speak of their problems?" Abdullah told ANI. Reacting to the BJP planning certain programs to celebrate the abrogation of Article 370, the senior NC leader said that the BJP had nothing to celebrate. He questioned the Centre over rising unemployment and rising prices in Jammu and Kashmir. "They have nothing to celebrate. What did they (BJP) do in 6 years to make this state better? Our highly educated boys and girls remain unemployed. Prices are rising into the sky. The poor are getting poorer, while the rich are getting richer. Is that what they have achieved? I am sure they will have to do it; there is no way out." Abdullah said. Taking a dig at Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, he said, "His viceroy is sitting here in Raj Bhawan. There is a government (in J&K), but the viceroy is the main man. The time has come when this has to change. It is a democratic country." When asked about the Centre's efforts to ensure peace in the valley, Abdullah said that there is a need to find a way out of the conflict. "I don't see the peace coming. I think we are living in a fool's paradise to think that peace will come overnight. We have a strong neighbour, whether it is China or Pakistan. Somehow, we have to find a way out. War is not a way out. Finally, you have to use a pen and discuss things. How does it hurt us?" he said. On the ongoing Kulgam encounter, Abdullah said, "I feel very sad the way we are going and about the future of this nation." He went on to question the Centre over their claims that terrorist camps have been uprooted in Jammu and Kashmir, asking how the Kulgam encounter was happening if that was the case. "I have never said that militancy is over. Those people who were saying that Article 370 is responsible for militancy, they were incharge here for so many years. Before the Pahalgam (attack) happened, they (the central govt) had announced that they had uprooted terrorist camps. Even in the present war they had with the neighbour, they said that they had knocked them (terrorists) out, so how is Kulgam (encounter) happening?" Abdullah added. (ANI)
SpiceJet employee Mudasir Ahmad, who was assaulted by an Army officer at Srinagar airport, recalled the violent incident on Monday and said the Army officer hit him in the face with baggage after he asked him to pay for extra baggage. Describing the assault, Mudasir Ahmad told ANI, "He hit me on my face with baggage. He slapped me and started hitting me. He used his fist and feet to hit me. At the end, he punched me and I fell down." The SpiceJet employee suffered a spinal fracture after the assault. He said that the passenger's hand baggage weighed 16 kg and was carrying two bags, while just one bag weighing 7 kg is allowed. The officer started lashing at him upon being stopped. "He had two bags. I stopped him for checking. As soon as I asked him to move to the side, he started shouting. I told him that his hand baggage weighed 16 kg and he was carrying two bags, while just one, weighing 7 kg, is allowed. I told him that he would have to pay for extra baggage. He started shouting again," Ahmad recalled. Further, the Army officer even pushed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) staff at the airport and entered the boarding gate. "I called up my Duty Manager and asked him to come. The Manager also explained to him. He (the passenger) pushed CISF staff and entered the boarding gate, which is not allowed. CISF staff brought him back. He was again told to pay up," he said. "At the boarding gate, he pulled out a few things from his bag and threw them at a member of the staff who was in front of him," Ahmad added. The incident occurred on July 26, when the army officer allegedly assaulted four SpiceJet ground staff members at Srinagar Airport. On Sunday, the Indian Army issued a statement saying it is fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigations into the case. The Army said it is aware of the incident and emphasised its commitment to high standards of discipline. It also assured full cooperation with authorities in investigating the matter. As per the statement from the Indian Army official, "The matter involving an alleged altercation between an Army personnel and airline staff at Srinagar Airport on 26 July has come to the notice of the Indian Army. The Indian Army is committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline and conduct and takes all allegations seriously. Full cooperation is being extended to the authorities in investigating the case." (ANI)
AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bhardwaj on Monday paid tribute to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, remembering him as a towering figure who dedicated his life to the fight for jal, jungle, zameen and the rights of tribals. Bhardwaj said Soren's passing marks the loss of a leader who led a lifelong struggle for justice and dignity for Jharkhand's Adivasi community. Speaking to ANI, Bhardwaj said," "He fought a great battle for Jharkhand, tribals, and 'jal, jungle, zameen'. He is no longer with us today. We all join his family in this grief. We pray to God to grant him a place at his feet." Union Minister and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh also offered condolences, remembering Soren's lifelong contribution. "He made a significant contribution to the upliftment of the Scheduled Tribes of the country. He struggled throughout his life. Today, he is no longer with us; may God grant peace to his soul," he added. Meanwhile, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and his wife, JMM MLA Kalpana Soren, left their Delhi residence for Sir Gangaram Hospital, where the mortal remains of his father, JMM patron and former CM Shibu Soren, are kept. Arrangements are underway in Jharkhand for state-level tributes. The mortal remains of Shibu Soren will be brought to the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi at 10 AM on August 5 to allow leaders and citizens to pay their final respects. The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren, passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 on Monday morning in New Delhi. The Jharkhand Chief Minister and his son Hemant Soren confirmed the demise of the leader in a post on X. "Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I am devastated," Hemant Soren said. According to the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital, where the former Chief Minister was admitted, Shibu Soren was suffering from a kidney ailment. He had suffered a stroke one and a half months ago. He was on life support for the past month. Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He was the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)
A San Francisco-Mumbai Air India plane was subjected to an emergency deep cleaning on Monday after cockroaches were spotted in the aircraft mid-flight, prompting the airline to issue an apology and take swift corrective measures. The incident occurred on flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata. According to an official statement issued by Air India, "On flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, two passengers were unfortunately bothered by the presence of a few small cockroaches on board. Our cabin crew, therefore, relocated the two passengers to other seats in the same cabin, where they were comfortable thereafter." The airline confirmed that during the flight's scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata, the aircraft was thoroughly cleaned to tackle the issue. "Our ground crew promptly conducted a deep cleaning process to address the issue. The same aircraft subsequently departed in time for Mumbai," the spokesperson said. Despite regular fumigation procedures, Air India acknowledged that "insects can sometimes enter an aircraft during ground operations." In response to the incident, Air India announced a formal inquiry. "Air India will be undertaking a comprehensive investigation to determine the source and the cause of this incident and implement measures to prevent recurrence. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the passengers." The airline has reiterated its commitment to ensuring onboard hygiene and passenger comfort across its fleet. Meanwhile, Air India's flight AI349, which was scheduled to operate from Singapore to Chennai on Sunday, was cancelled due to a "maintenance task identified prior to departure, which required additional time for rectification", the airline said in a statement. Making "every possible effort to minimise the inconvenience" caused to the passengers due to this unforeseen disruption, it said. "Flight AI349 scheduled to operate from Singapore to Chennai on 3 August has been cancelled due to a maintenance task identified prior to departure which required additional time for rectification. Our ground colleagues in Singapore are making every possible effort to minimise the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to this unforeseen disruption," the Air India Spokesperson said in a statement on X. The arrangements were made to fly the passengers to Chennai at the earliest, it said. "Hotel accommodation is being provided, and full refunds on cancellation, or complimentary rescheduling, are also being offered to passengers based on their preference. At Air India, the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain top priority," the statement later added. The airline also advised passengers to stay updated through Air India's official website and customer care channels. (ANI)
Film on Japan's infamous WWII germ warfare unit to debut on Sept. 18

Xinhua) 09:02, August 04, 2025

HARBIN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese historical drama titled "731," which revisits the horrific World War II-era human experiments conducted by Japan's notorious germ warfare unit 731, is set to premiere on Sept. 18, sources associated with the film have said.

According to the film's director Zhao Linshan, it tells the story of Wang Yongzhang, a local vendor, and others who were imprisoned and lured by false promises of freedom in exchange for cooperation with health checks and disease prevention research.

Instead, they became victims of brutal medical experiments carried out by the occupying Japanese forces -- including frostbite testing, gas exposure and vivisection.

Unit 731, a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base, was established in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, and served as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during WWII.

"This is a history that must never be forgotten," said Jin Chengmin, a historical adviser for the film and head of the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army.

"The film reveals the inhumane atrocities committed by the invading Japanese army through the eyes of ordinary civilians, while highlighting the unyielding resistance spirit of the Chinese people in the face of despair," Jin said. "It serves as a powerful reminder to safeguard peace."

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The release date of the film coincides with the anniversary of the September 18 Incident in 1931 that marked the start of Japan's 14-year invasion of China.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan on Monday condemned Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan's statement, accusing him of "dividing people" on religious sentiments. Speaking with ANI, Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned Kamal Haasan over targeting Sanatan Dharma, adding that the sentiments of people will be hurt by his statement. "Kamal Haasan is more thankful to DMK than its own cadres. First, he raised the language issue, dividing people of different states. Now, he is raising the religious issue to divide people on religious sentiments," the BJP leader said. "I am asking why you are talking about Sanatan. If he speaks about Sanatan, Udhayanidhi and Stalin will be happy. However, Tamil Nadu people will be unhappy, and not only Tamil Nadu, the sentiments of all Indians who follow that ideology will be hurt... I strongly condemn this," she added. Soundararajan's remark came after Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan said, "Education is the only weapon that can break the chains of dictatorship and Sanatan." The Rajya Sabha MP was addressing a gathering at the Agaram Foundation event, where he was speaking about the necessity of education. "Don't take anything else in your hands, only education. We cannot win without it, because the majority can make you lose. Majority Fools (Moodargal) will make u lose; knowledge alone will seem defeated and that's why we must hold on to it (Education) firmly." Haasan said. Addressing the challenges in the field of education, he pointed out how the implementation of NEET since 2017 has limited opportunities for many aspiring students. "Even Agaram Foundation, despite its best efforts, cannot help students beyond a point because the law doesn't allow it. To change the law, we need strength and that strength can only come from education, he said. Kamal Haasan also shared a recent conversation with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. "Yesterday, I told the Chief Minister that NGOs were not asking for anything like money --they're only asking for permission to work. He assured me that steps are being taken in that direction. I am proud to be involved in this cause," he said. (ANI)
Amid rising political tension over his alleged links with gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Udayveer Randhawa, son of senior Congress leader Sukhjinder Randhawa, addressed the accusations in a detailed press interaction today. He firmly rejected claims made by AAP MLA Gurlal Randhawa and activist Baltej Pannu, who alleged ties between the Randhawa family and criminal elements. Udayveer questioned AAP's double standards, stating that it was Jaggu Bhagwanpuria's sister and mother who supported the AAP government, as seen in a video where they blocked roads after their mother's death, blaming local leaders for inaction. He further claimed that Jaggu's brother had once acknowledged their political alignment, saying, "You are from Congress, I came from AAP." He showed a list from the 2019 panchayat elections when his father was the Jail Minister, highlighting that the reserved SC seat was converted to a general category, allegedly to favor Jaggu, who is not from the SC community. "This seat adjustment led to Jaggu's proxy candidate winning," he alleged. Addressing Baltej Pannu's claims of continued association, Udayveer admitted that Pannu had frequently visited their house between 2018-2020, but maintained there was no criminal linkage. He defended his father, citing a report by IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, which had investigated political links to gangsters but did not find direct involvement in the Pappu Dhilwan case. Refuting CM Bhagwant Mann's remarks regarding political-criminal nexus, Udayveer appealed to him "as a father figure" to ensure justice and not politicize the issue. "My father never used me or any children for politics," he said, referencing his family's political restraint. He alleged that Jaggu Bhagwanpuria had issued threats to several political leaders and demanded that any investigation into Congress leaders should also include Jaggu's statements against them. "If action is to be taken, take it, but do so fairly and include Jaggu's comments against Congress in the probe," he said. Udayveer also accused Baltej Pannu of having "blood on his hands" over Sidhu Moosewala's murder and warned him not to target innocent families. When asked why Sukhjinder Randhawa hasn't responded personally, Udayveer clarified that his father is currently busy with Lok Sabha responsibilities. He also raised serious allegations against Gurdeep Randhawa's PA, linking him to a 1.30 crore heroin recovery case and alleging his son's name had surfaced in vigilance investigations, though the family denies any official connection. Defending his father's tenure as Jail Minister, Udayveer reiterated that responsibilities such as shifting prisoners or cases like Ansari's fall beyond the minister's scope. "The Jail Minister only oversees prisoners inside Punjab's jails. Transferring inmates from other jails is not his jurisdiction," he clarified. Earlier Sukjinder Randhawa had claimed a threat to his son's life from the gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuriya. "Jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuriya has threatened to kill my son. One of my associates met my son and within one hour of leaving he was fired upon today. I am in Delhi for the Parliament session - NO GANGSTER CAN SHAKE ME! @BhagwantMann and @ArvindKejriwal have turned Punjab into a gangster's paradise where law and order has totally collapsed," he alledged in a post on X on August 1. The controversy continues to deepen as both AAP and Congress trade charges, while the public awaits a neutral investigation into alleged political-criminal linkages. (ANI)
Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, on Monday expressed his wish to play a 'bigger role' in Bihar and contest the Assembly Elections. In an interview with ANI, Chirag Paswan said that he "sees himself in Bihar." The Union Minister said, "I see myself more in Bihar now. When you mention the 'role', there are many question marks around it. My role would be that of a strong supporter of the alliance and to make Bihar a developed state." Expressing his will to contest the elections, he said that the vision of 'Bihar First, Bihari First' cannot be fulfilled by being part of the Central government. "I want to contest the Bihar Assembly Elections. Having grown up in Delhi and worked in Mumbai, I have witnessed firsthand how Biharis are forced to live in difficult conditions in other states. I decided to return to Bihar to improve the condition of its people. 'Bihar First, Bihari First' isn't possible at the Centre, I will have to return to Bihar," he said. Pawan, however, pointed out that his party, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), is yet to decide whether he will contest the Assembly election. "There is a question mark because the party is yet to decide on it. There is a discussion within the party about whether the party will benefit from my contesting the elections. Many parties, including the BJP, have done this experiment when the MPs and Union Ministers have contested the Assembly elections. Sometimes it has been seen that if a big leader contests the elections, the party's whole system goes into managing their election, it may harm the party," he told ANI. There have been speculations around Chirag Paswan's role in the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar. This began when, in June, while addressing a rally in Bihar, Paswan announced that he would contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls. Addressing a public gathering in Arrah, Paswan declared that his party would support the NDA in all 243 assembly seats to ensure its victory. "For those who ask from where I will contest, I want to tell you that my party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and I will contest on 243 seats to make NDA candidates win and strengthen the NDA alliance. My goal is that the NDA moves towards victory," said Paswan. Dismissing speculations that he is aiming for the Chief Ministerial post, the LJP (Ram Vilas) party leader stated that Nitish Kumar will remain leader of the alliance in the State. He told ANI, "My trust is in CM Nitish Kumar. Bihar public calls him 'sushasan babu'" (ANI)
Justice Das Commission, a one-person commission led by Justice Nagamohan Das, on Monday submitted its 1,766-page survey report on internal reservation to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah in the presence of several ministers of the state. Speaking to reporters, Justice Das said the commission's report recommends that internal reservation be provided to the Scheduled Caste (SC). "After analysing the entire data, the commission has submitted its report to the Karnataka government. It is about a 1,766-page survey report. The survey was done through a mobile application. For a long time, it was my desire that the Scheduled Caste deserve internal reservation. I also recommended to the government that internal reservation must be provided," Justice Das told the media here. CM Siddaramaiah posted on X, saying, "The committee headed by retired Justice HN Nagamohan Das, formed to study the implementation of internal reservations for Scheduled Castes, submitted its study report today. The report, including survey data and appendices, totalling approximately 1766 pages and containing 6 recommendations, was submitted today, and I believe it is a significant milestone in the implementation of social justice." In October 2024, the Karnataka government had decided to establish a one-person commission to provide advice on implementing internal reservation for scheduled castes. A cabinet decision led to the formation of the commission, headed by a retired High Court judge, which was tasked to review data before making its next decision. The commission was instructed to submit a report within three months. The decision to set up the commission came against the backdrop of the Supreme Court ruling to grant internal reservation to Scheduled Castes. The court had given the power to the states to decide which castes and tribes should be given internal reservations in government jobs. For three decades, the effort to provide justice to the untouchables through internal reservation in the Scheduled Castes persisted. The demand for internal reservations grew throughout SM Krishna's time as CM. In light of this, the Karnataka government had considered a proposal to form an independent commission. Later, the Congress-JDS alliance government headed by Dharam Singh formed a commission under the leadership of AG Sadashiva to conduct a study and make recommendations in 2005. In 2012, the Sadashiva Commission had submitted a recommendation to the then Chief Minister DV Sadanand Gowda-led BJP government that the reservation of 15 per cent for the Scheduled Castes could be given to the left hand to 6 per cent to the right hand to 5.5 per cent to the untouchable sub-castes by 3 per cent and to the castes not belonging to these three groups by 1 per cent. (ANI)
Congress has postponed its protest rally to reveal the "serious malpractices" of the Election Commission to August 8, given the unfortunate demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who passed away earlier this morning due to prolonged illness. Soren was one of the founding members of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The program, earlier scheduled for August 5, has been deferred to August 8. This change follows the announcement that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi will be heading to Ranchi tomorrow to attend the cremation of Shibu Soren, as stated by Congress general secretary and MP Randeep Singh Surjewala. Congress believed that, given the program's "national ramifications", the presence of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge was necessary. Addressing a press conference, Surjewala said, "Tomorrow is the cremation. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge will be going to Jharkhand tomorrow to pay their last respects to the departed leader. In light thereof, since it would have clashed with the program tomorrow, and this program has national ramifications, the program will now remain as it is but will remain deferred to 8th August 2025." "CM Siddaramaiah has also been apprised, and he also agrees. So, in light of the suggestions made by DK Shivakumar, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC, we have all decided to defer the program to 8th August," he added. On Sunday, Congress MP KC Venugopal had said that they are going to reveal the "serious malpractices" of the poll body in Bengaluru on August 5. Venugopal, speaking to ANI, alleged that the names of many voters have been "excluded" from the draft electoral rolls for Bihar recently released by the EC. Additionally, offering his condolences on the demise of its alliance partner JMM leader, Surjewala said, "Former CM, leader of the JMM, Shibu Soren, expired this morning. CM Hemant Soren has also informed about the demise of Shibu Soren. On behalf of KPCC and AICC, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Hemant Soren, to the entire family and lakhs of JMM workers and supporters, not only across Jharkhand but in other states. He was a champion of tribal rights." "He was a champion of the poor. He was a champion of the downtrodden. His memory and work & words will always continue to inspire the Congress party and also JMM in Jharkhand and in the rest of the country," he added. Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren, passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 on Monday morning in New Delhi. (ANI)
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amid a row over Delhi police allegedly referring to Bengali as Bangladeshi language, and said that the arrogance of the ruling party in the centre blinds them to the "dehumanisation" of Bengali people. "The arrogance of the BJP blinds them to the dehumanisation of the Bengali people of West Bengal and Northeast India. Today, the BJP IT cell insults the Bengali language spoken by lakhs of people in Tripura, Meghalaya and the Barak Valley of Assam," Gogoi, Assam Congress chief, posted on X. He accused the BJP of not wanting "a united India" and said that the ruling party has "insulted" the language of the Bengali people. "First, the BJP asks the Bengali people to declare themselves as Bangladeshis through the CAA, and now the party insults their language as being foreign. The BJP do not want a united India. They are only interested in reopening old scars," Gogoi added. His remarks come after BJP leader Amit Malviya on Monday morning hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, suggesting that she be booked under the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly inciting linguistic conflict. He argued that her reaction to the entire issue was "misplaced and dangerously inflammatory", while adding that Delhi Police's letter does not describe Bangla as a 'Bangladeshi' language. "Mamata Banerjee's reaction to Delhi Police referring to the language used by infiltrators as 'Bangladeshi' is not just misplaced, it is dangerously inflammatory. Nowhere in the Delhi Police letter is Bangla or Bengali described as a 'Bangladeshi' language. To claim otherwise and call upon Bengalis to rise against the Centre is deeply irresponsible. Mamata Banerjee should be held accountable--perhaps even under the National Security Act--for inciting linguistic conflict," Malviya posted on X. Earlier on Sunday, Banerjee accused the Delhi Police of describing Bengali as a "Bangladeshi language", calling it scandalous, anti-national and unconstitutional. Sharing a letter by Delhi Police on X, Banerjee said, "See now how Delhi police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as 'Bangladeshi' language! Bengali, our mother tongue, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, the language in which our National Anthem and the National Song (the latter by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay) are written, the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!" Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed (Md) Salim also trained guns on Delhi Police, calling it "illiterate", posted on X, "Will the 'illiterate' [?]Delhi Police tell us what's this 'Bangladeshi language'? Moreover, why Delhi Police has failed to make their officers aware of the 8th Schedule of our Constitution." (ANI)
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing feud within the influential Sona Comstar family, the mysterious death of Sunjay Kapur has now triggered international scrutiny. Rani Kapur, Sunjay's mother and former Chairperson of Sona Comstar, has formally approached UK authorities, seeking a comprehensive probe into the unexplained circumstances surrounding her son's death in London. Sources connected with the matter confirmed that an official criminal complaint has been filed with UK authorities. The complaint--lodged by Rani Kapur--calls into question the nature of Sunjay Kapur's sudden demise, pointing to what she describes as "mysterious circumstances," and appeals for urgent intervention by British law enforcement. "The developments surrounding Sunjay's death are deeply concerning," a person close to the family said, noting that immediate and thorough action from UK authorities has been sought. Adding an international dimension to the unfolding saga, a source confirmed that authorities in the United States are already monitoring the situation, given that Sunjay Kapur was a US national. In a rare and emotional video interview with ANI -- her first public statement since her son's death -- Rani Kapur broke her silence, expressing her anguish, unanswered questions, and growing concern over the future of the company she co-founded with her late husband. "I still don't know what happened to my son," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm old now. I need closure before I go." Reflecting on the formative years of Sona Comstar, she recalled the sacrifices and vision that built the company. "I remember the early days of Sona--built with care, sacrifice, and love," she shared, suggesting a continuing emotional and moral stake in the company's legacy. Her remarks also subtly counter the company's claim that she has had no involvement in its affairs since 2019. While Sona Comstar has asserted that Rani Kapur has neither direct nor indirect involvement in the company since that year, her statements appear to contest that narrative. "I am here to remind the world that our family's legacy must not be lost. It must be passed on, as my husband always wanted it to be," she stated. Due to her advancing age and fragile health, Rani Kapur said she would refrain from further public comment. "My legal team will address everything necessary," she said, indicating that future developments would proceed through legal channels. The dispute escalated when Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd, the listed arm of the group, issued a sharp rebuttal. In a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the company dismissed Rani Kapur's claims as "baseless" and "legally untenable," reiterating that she holds no position or authority within the organization. Before her public appearance, Rani Kapur had reportedly addressed a letter to the board, alleging that she was coerced into signing documents behind locked doors shortly after her son's death--an episode she described as "highly suspicious." She further claimed she was denied access to her own bank accounts and left financially dependent on a few individuals. According to her, no one was authorized to represent the Kapur family on the board. Despite her request to postpone the Annual General Meeting, the company proceeded with it as scheduled. In response, Sona Comstar has served Rani Kapur with a legal notice, demanding she cease spreading what the company calls "false and damaging information." The notice strongly refutes her allegations of mismanagement and coercion, calling them "malafide, false, unwarranted, and uncorroborated." (ANI)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Centre Chandigarh, has issued a weather alert predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh between August 4 and August 6, 2025. In the last 24 hours, light to moderate rain occurred at a few places in Haryana and isolated areas in Punjab, while heavy rain was reported at isolated locations in Haryana. According to the IMD, rainfall activity is expected to intensify over the next few days. Light to moderate showers are likely to occur at a few places on August 4, followed by a significant increase in rainfall activity over northern and eastern Punjab, northern, eastern, and southern Haryana, and Chandigarh from August 5 onwards. Widespread light to moderate rainfall is expected on August 5 in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, and on August 6 in Haryana and Chandigarh. Isolated places in northern and eastern Punjab are likely to receive heavy rainfall (7 cm or more) between August 4 and 5. Similarly, isolated areas in northern, eastern, and southern Haryana, including Chandigarh, may also witness heavy rainfall from August 4 to 6. Of particular concern is the forecast for very heavy rainfall (12 cm or more) on August 5 at isolated places in Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Gurugram, Faridabad, Mewat, and Palwal districts and adjoining areas. The IMD has warned of potential impacts such as waterlogging in low-lying areas, damage to standing or harvested crops kept in the open, disruptions in water and electricity supply, traffic congestion due to slippery roads and poor visibility, and a rise in water levels in seasonal rivers and drains. Weak or temporary structures may also be at risk. Moreover, the department has also advised farmers to avoid irrigation and chemical spraying during this period, ensure proper drainage in fields, and store harvested crops in safe, covered areas. Residents are urged to avoid venturing into waterlogged zones, stay away from water bodies, and not take shelter under trees during thunderstorms. Safe driving practices and staying indoors during intense weather conditions are strongly recommended. The IMD has also released a detailed district-wise forecast and has urged the public and local authorities to stay alert and take all necessary precautions. (ANI)
BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul on Monday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of spreading a "fake narrative" about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Bihar. Paul claimed that Banerjee is trying to exploit Bengali sentiments to prevent the SIR from happening in Bengal. She alleged that IPAC is creating fake videos and attempting to manipulate public opinion. Paul emphasised that the SIR process will be implemented in Bengal, just like in Bihar, to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the electoral rolls. She asserted that the BJP will not allow illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh or Rohingyas to influence Bengal's electoral process. Agnimitra Paul said, "Mamata Banerjee is trying to spread a completely fake narrative. She has been busy making fake videos from her agency IPAC's office. She doesn't want SIR to happen here. So she has started playing with this Bengali sentiment. SIR, which has started in Bihar, will happen in Bengal, and we will not allow any illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh or Rohingyas to come to Bengal. TMC will finalise their documents and then vote for Mamata Banerjee. This will not happen." Paul highlighted the difference between the Bengali language spoken in India and Bangladesh, dismissing Banerjee's attempts to create confusion among Bengali-speaking people. She further said, "There is a difference in the Bengali language. The Bengali language I speak is completely different from the Bengali language spoken in Bangladesh... Mamata Banerjee, do not try to confuse and poison the minds of the people of Bengal." The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has claimed that there are nearly one crore Rohingya immigrants, Bangladeshi Muslim voters, deceased voters, duplicate entries, and fake voters in the electoral rolls of the State. The BJP leader urged the Election Commission of India to remove these names from the voters' list. "There are nearly one crore Rohingya immigrants, Bangladeshi Muslim voters, deceased voters, duplicate entries, and fake voters in West Bengal. The Election Commission of India should remove these names to ensure the credibility of the voter list," Adhikari told reporters here on Saturday. On August 2, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar called for a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, similar to the one currently underway in Bihar. "SIR is a regular practice of the Election Commission of India. Even in the year 2002, the SIR exercise was carried out in West Bengal. Names of 20 lakh voters were removed from the voter list...It is the role of the Election Commission to rectify the voter list. A well-proof voter list is necessary to make our democracy vibrant," Majumdar told reporters in Siliguri. (ANI)
The initiative aims to facilitate the amicable resolution of disputes, reduce the burden on the judiciary, and promote access to speedy justice, said a press statement.

Dedicated benches will be set up at the District Courts in Mohali and the Sub-Divisional Courts in Kharar and Derabassi to take up a wide range of cases.

These include Land Acquisition Executions, Complaints in Permanent Lok Adalat, MACT Claim Petitions and Executions, Family Court matters, Traffic Challans, FIRs under the Electricity Act, Cheque Bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, Recovery Suits, and Pre-Litigative Disputes.

Judge Kasana highlighted the importance of Lok Adalats in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes. He noted that even pre-litigative matters--cases not yet formally filed--can be resolved through this platform without incurring court fees. In pending cases settled during the Lok Adalat through mutual consent, the entire court fee will be refunded.

Encouraging both individuals and institutions to utilise this opportunity, he appealed to litigants to come forward and resolve their disputes efficiently and amicably. He also urged departments and legal service institutions to actively disseminate information and raise awareness about the benefits of the National Lok Adalat.

The upcoming Lok Adalat is part of a nationwide effort to promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and to ensure faster, less adversarial paths to justice. (ANI)
The Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SESTA) in collaboration with Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam's Morigaon district, on Monday organised an awareness programme regarding an initiative of massive plantation drive in Mayong area as a measure to mitigate climate change and also to provide economic benefits to the farmers, Eco Development Committee (EDC) members and interested plant growers of the area. The NGO SESTA along with Forest staff of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary led by Range Officer Pranjal Baruah surveyed and planned to plant 53 bighas of common and individual land with the assistance of funds provided by the associate companies with native and hybrid high yielding plant species which mainly include fruits, Sericulture and timber species like Mahogany, Mango, Red Sander, Guava, Som and Keseru. "More than 30 interested farmers and social activists joined the awareness meeting today at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, where they were briefed about the aim, importance and direct benefits of the project. A demonstration regarding the scientific planting of trees was also given to the beneficiaries, where the organic practices have been promoted. The beneficiaries will receive varieties of valuable plant seedlings, sufficient organic manure, bio-fungicides, tree guards, and technical assistance from the NGO," Pranjal Baruah, Range Officer of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, said. He further said that the forest department will assist in the Registration process of the crop and also provide necessary technical assistance to the beneficiaries for this initiative. Notable persons who joined the awareness meeting include Pranjal Baruah, Range Officer of Pobitora WLS, Najrul Islam, Journalist, Deepa Koch, Team Anchor, SESTA NGO, Akaingshya Das, Executive, Sesta NGO, Monjula Rahman, Dy Ranger, Pobitora and other forest staff. Earlier, the Assam Forest department provided a compensation amount of Rs 2.17 lakh to 29 farmers of Mayong adjoining to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district for crop damage caused by animals. Pranjal Baruah, Forest Ranger of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, said that the farmers of Mayong applied for the compensation at Range Forest Officer, Pobitora this year and based on their request, the forest department has released Rs 7500 to each farmer for the damage caused by straying animals like Rhino, Buffalo, Wild boars, etc to their crops like Maize, Rice, Mustard, etc in the last crop season. "The Forest department has provided Rs 2,17,500 as compensation to 29 farmers of Mayong area. Most of the damages were faced by the farmers of Satibheti and Rajamayong area due to straying buffalo. The dedicated team at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has been tirelessly working to mitigate the impact of stray animals, successfully returning them to their natural habitat with the assistance of departmental elephants and 13 newly established Anti Depredation Squads in nearby villages," Pranjal Baruah said. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday proposed the constitution of an interim committee by a former High Court judge to oversee the management of the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi questioned Uttar Pradesh over its "tearing hurry" in promulgating the Shri Bankey Bihari Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, for taking over the management of the temple. In a dispute between the temple and a Uttar Pradesh government ordinance about the proposed redevelopment of a corridor using Rs 500 crore from temple funds, Justice Kant said, "Lord Krishna was the first mediator... please try to mediate the matter." Proposing that a committee can oversee the management of the temple, the bench said that first, the constitutional validity of the UP government Ordinance has to be decided by the Allahabad High Court. The temple rituals will continue as before, said the bench. It proposed that the Collector and other authorities will also be a part of the committee, and the ASI can also be associated with the committee for a holistic development of the region. The bench also orally proposed to recall the directions in the May 15 judgment, which allowed the government to use the temple funds for the corridor. Hearing the petitions challenging the Ordinance, the apex court adjourned the hearing for August 5 to enable Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj to get instructions from the government on the proposals made by it. The 2025 UP Ordinance is stated to vest the temple administration with a statutory trust. According to it, the management of the temple and the responsibility of facilities for the devotees shall be handled by the 'Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Nyas'. As per Ordinance, 11 trustees shall be nominated, with a maximum of 7 members serving as ex-officio. Government and non-government members must adhere to Sanatan Dharma. Earlier, the top court had slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for "hijacking" the litigation between two private parties over management of the Shri Banke Bihari temple. The apex court was also hearing a petition filed by Devendra Nath Goswami seeking the modification of its order permitting the Uttar Pradesh government to utilise funds from the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan to purchase five acres of land around the temple for corridor development. Goswami has said that he was a "lineal descendant" of the temple's founder, Swami Hari Das Goswami, and his family had been managing the affairs of the sacred temple for the last 500 years. The plea said he was actively involved in managing the temple's daily religious and administrative affairs. Filing the plea, he said the implementation of the proposed redevelopment project was practically unfeasible, and any attempt to redevelop the temple premises without the involvement and inputs of those who were historically and operationally associated with the temple's functioning was likely to result in administrative chaos. On May 15, the top court had permitted the state to use the Trust's fund and also allowed the use of Sri Banke Bihari Temple Trust's fixed deposits after taking into note the state government's Rs. 500 crore development plan for the corridor. The apex court had modified the order of the Allahabad High Court, which had prohibited the purchase of land around the temple using its funds. The top court had taken into note the records placed by the government regarding the proposed scheme for the development of the temple. The apex court's approval of the state government's development plan for the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Corridor had come particularly in light of incidents such as the 2022 stampede at the Banke Bihari Temple. The top court had also taken note of maladministration in temples in the Braj region and emphasised that effective temple governance is not only a legal requirement but also a matter of public and spiritual welfare. (ANI)
The Gujarat government will organise a special three-day celebration from August 6 to 8 under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to mark World Sanskrit Day, the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a release on Monday. Every year, Sanskrit Day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Shravan month, which also marks Raksha Bandhan. Sanskrit Week is also observed across the country to promote the language. This year, World Sanskrit Day falls on August 9, while Sanskrit Week will be celebrated from August 6 to 12, 2025. A beautiful verse describes Sanskrit as Amritam Sanskritam Mitram, Sarsam Saralam Vachah; Ekta-Moolakam Rashtram, Gyan-Vigyan-Poshakam. This means that Sanskrit is known for its elegance and clarity. Its profound ideas and literature enrich knowledge, advance science, and foster national unity. Referring to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has encouraged people to study and read Sanskrit more actively. Considered the world's oldest language, Sanskrit is a living expression of India's ancient wisdom, spiritual heritage, and cultural identity. It is more than a language, it is a way of life that plays a guiding role in the all-round development of a person. Sanskrit Day was first celebrated in 1969 through a joint effort by the Government of India and Sanskrit institutions. The objective is to promote Sanskrit, highlight its cultural and intellectual value, and encourage the younger generation to connect with this ancient language. Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, the Gujarat State Sanskrit Board will organise a three-day celebration from August 6 to 8. The events include the Sanskrit Gaurav Yatra on the first day, the Sanskrit Sambhashan Divas on the second, and the Sanskrit Sahitya Divas on the third. Sanskrit Gaurav Yatra will be held at the district and state levels with participation from students, teachers, scholars, poets, writers, and educational institutions. The yatra will showcase Sanskrit's literary and knowledge heritage through exhibitions, slogans, and songs. On the second day, the Sanskrit Sambhashan Divas, dignitaries including the Chief Minister, ministers, and officials at state and district levels, will convey their messages in Sanskrit. The final day, the Sanskrit Sahitya Divas, will honour the legacy of Sanskrit literature. Events like Ved Puja, Vyas Puja, Rishi Puja, Acharya Puja, lectures, and literary events will be held statewide to celebrate Sanskrit's rich legacy. For the holistic development and promotion of Sanskrit in Gujarat, the Gujarat State Sanskrit Board has implemented five schemes under the 'Yojana Panchakam' framework. Sanskrit Saptahotsav Yojana will include a statewide celebration of Sanskrit Day and Sanskrit Week. Sanskrit Samvardhan Sahayata Yojana financial aid would be provided to institutions, researchers, and teachers to conduct Sanskrit programs and promote Sanskrit. Sanskrit Protsahan Yojana to encourage Sanskrit learning among students, teachers, and schools at the secondary level. Shrimad Bhagwat Gita Yojana to encourage people of all age groups to reflect on life through the teachings of the Gita and to memorise its verses. Shat Subhashit Kanthpath Yojana to promote the memorisation of 100 Subhashits to instil moral values. 'Yojana Panchakam', launched by the Gujarat State Sanskrit Board, aims to preserve the Sanskrit language, widen its reach, and strengthen the bond between future generations and the country's cultural heritage. Sanskrit Day is celebrated on Shravan Purnima, a day that traditionally marked the beginning of the academic year in ancient India. Students would begin their study of scriptures on this day, and even today, the recitation of 'Ved' starts on Shravan Purnima. It stands as a symbol of India's rich tradition of sages and Vedic knowledge. Sanskrit Day and Sanskrit Week hold a special place in India's cultural heritage. Today, both the Central and State Governments are actively promoting Sanskrit through technology and education to expand its reach and relevance. (ANI)
Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday strongly criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Indian Army after a clash between the Indian and Chinese armies in the Yangsi region of Arunachal Pradesh in 2022. He welcomed the Supreme Court's criticism of Rahul Gandhi after a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih in the Supreme Court expressed disapproval of Gandhi's remarks, saying, "How does he know the Chinese occupied 2000 square kilometres of land?" adding that a true Indian wouldn't say such a thing. Rahul Gandhi allegedly claimed that China had captured 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory. Chandrasekhar welcomed the Supreme Court's criticism of Gandhi, saying that the court's observations align with the views of most Indians. The Supreme Court's criticism of Gandhi's remarks came during a hearing on a defamation case related to his comments on the India-China border clash. The court questioned how Gandhi knew about the alleged occupation of 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory by China and suggested that a "true Indian" wouldn't make such statements. Chandrasekhar accused Gandhi of practising politics based on lies, stating that he "lies through his teeth" and attempts to mislead people. He drew parallels between Gandhi's tactics and those of Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda minister of Hitler, who believed that repeated lies would eventually be believed by the public. Chandrasekhar highlighted that while the Indian Constitution grants freedom of speech, it also imposes reasonable restrictions, including prohibitions on lying, defamation, and provocation. "I don't think there's anybody in this country who will disagree with what the Supreme Court has said. Rahul Gandhi has for many years been practising a politics that is based on lying. He lies through his teeth, and he hopes that the lies will somehow mislead people, will provoke people...Rahul Gandhi is obviously following the footsteps of Goebbels, the propaganda minister of Hitler. He believed that if he lied often enough, people would start to believe him. Accepting, he forgets that under Indian law and under the Indian Constitution, while there is 1912 which gives everybody the right to exercise freedom of speech, it also places reasonable restrictions under 192, which is that you cannot lie, you cannot defame, you cannot provoke people, you cannot create enmity between communities, which is the only thing Rahul Gandhi does," Chandrasekhar told ANI. He challenged Gandhi and the Congress party to provide a single instance between 2014 and 2025 where Gandhi's statements proved to be true, accusing him of spreading lies and untruths to mislead Indians. "There is, I challenge you today, and I challenge the Congress to tell me one thing that Rahul Gandhi has said between 2014 and 2025 that has proved to be true. In last 11 years, he has said so many lies, so many untruths, all to basically mislead Indians," Chandrasekhar told ANI. Chandrasekhar claimed that Gandhi's actions and statements are detrimental to India's interests, questioning his loyalty and suggesting that he might be more aligned with foreign interests. "Unfortunately for Rahul Gandhi, Indians do not believe him. Not only are Indians not believing him, but the courts are also taking cognisance of how a man who is now the leader of the opposition can. Act like somebody who's being paid by foreign interests to talk against India and the Indian army.... It is so brazen that his lying has reached a level where even if it is dismantled in 24 hours, the man will move on from that lie to a new lie.... It's amazing that this man is in Indian politics. Sometimes I wonder whether he's in Indian politics, or is he a Chinese politician, or is he a Pakistani politician," said Chandrasekhar. "The man who's happiest when there is some bad news or some bad statement about India by a foreign leader is Rahul Gandhi. During the Doklam and Galwan incidents, he rushed to the Chinese ambassador's house for lunch and a briefing by the Chinese ambassador, rather than from the government of India or the Indian army. He would rather believe s country that is hostile towards India and their representatives and speak on their behalf rather than speak for what is good in India and what Indians are celebrating," he further stated. Bringing attention to the Congress leader's support for US President Donald Trump's statement on India being a 'dead economy', Chandrasekhar mocked Rahul Gandhi and stated that he had a 'screw' loose in him. "Now the 'dead economy' statement just shows you not only is this man working against Indian interests, but he's also got a screw loose somewhere in him...." He also accused the Congress party of compromising the integrity of India's electoral rolls by allowing illegal immigrants to obtain false identities during their tenure from 2010 to 2014. "Look, I think if anybody should be held accountable for contaminating the electoral rolls of our country, allowing brazenly illegal immigrants to get false identities and get into the electoral rolls, and therefore compromise our democracy, it is the Congress party. And I'll tell you why: from 2010, during the UPA, until 2014, they allowed a completely compromised Aadhaar, with no verification required for people to enter the electoral rolls. Over 60 crore people were enrolled on the Aadhaar before Narendra Modi became prime minister. And those 60 crore people who got enrolled, a large portion of them were enrolled without verification," he added. "If there is a political party in this country that is accountable for and answerable to the people for compromising Indian democracy, not just through emergency and other things but by compromising the integrity of the electoral rolls, it is the Congress party and they should answer why they did what they did between 2010 and 2014," he added. (ANI)
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday extended condolences on the death of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren and expressed hope that his son Heman Soren will follow the footsteps of his father while carrying out the development agenda for the state. "Today, our very good friend Shibu Soren, who was the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, has passed away. In this hour of grief, we all stand with Hemant Soren. We hope that he will carry forward the steps taken by his father to advance that state and eradicate the poverty and suffering of its people," Abdullah told the reporters here. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, popularly known as "Dishom Guru" passed away on Monday at the age of 81 after a prolonged battle with kidney-related ailments and a recent stroke. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid his last respects to former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder patron Shibu Soren, who passed away in the national capital this morning. PM Modi visited the Sir Ganga Hospital, where the former Jharkhand leader was hospitalised. PM Modi described Shibu Soren as "a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people." Meanwhile, the Jharkhand government declared a three-day state mourning starting Monday. In honour of the late Honourable former Chief Minister-cum-Rajya Sabha MP, the State Government has decided to observe 03 (three) days of state mourning from August 4 to August 6," the message from the Jharkhand government read. During the mourning, the national flag will remain at half-mast on all the buildings, no state function will be organised, and all the offices of the state government will remain closed. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Monday deferred the hearing in Congress MP Karti P. Chidambaram's petition seeking the quashing of an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against him in the Diageo Scotland bribery case. The matter, which was listed before Justice Ravinder Dudeja, has now been adjourned to August 12, 2025, after the public prosecutor sought an adjournment citing some difficulty. The case stems from allegations that Chidambaram used his influence to facilitate the lifting of a ban on the duty-free sale of whisky produced by Diageo Scotland, an international alcoholic beverage company. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has accused him of engaging in a conspiracy and receiving bribes through bogus consultancy contracts and share transactions. In his plea, Chidambaram has challenged the FIR, which includes charges under Indian Penal Code Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), and 471 (using forged documents), along with Sections 8, 9, 13(2), and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Congress MP has denied all allegations, asserting that the registration of the FIR is illegal and procedurally flawed. He argued that no prior approval was taken under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act before initiating the inquiry against public servants, rendering the entire investigation unlawful. The plea also highlights that he was not called to participate in the preliminary inquiry and that no specific public servant allegedly influenced by him is named in the FIR. Further, Chidambaram pointed to a significant delay in filing the FIR and claimed that the case lacks any prima facie evidence. The CBI, however, maintains that an enquiry revealed suspicious payments made to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd., a company allegedly controlled by Chidambaram and his associate S. Bhaskararaman, by Diageo Scotland and Sequoia Capital. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Cold Store and Ripening Centre in Jammu. The centre is designed to benefit traders dealing with perishable goods, particularly fruits and FMCG products requiring controlled atmosphere storage and artificial ripening. Speaking during the inauguration, the CM emphasised that the centre's primary objective is to create assets that can be utilised by as many people as possible, thereby supporting local trade and commerce. This initiative is part of the government's efforts to boost economic development in Jammu and Kashmir. "People of Jammu, particularly those who are connected with trade in things that have a high chance of rotting. Whether it's fruits or FMCG products that require storage in a controlled atmosphere, or items that need artificial ripening, this center has the facility of cold storage, frozen storage, and artificial ripening... Our motive is to create assets that as many people will use as possible," the CM said during the inauguration. Earlier on August 1, the CM, on his visit to the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, stated that he strongly believed that travel broadened the horizon and minds, further stating that tourism also played a crucial part in the country's economy and the industry had the potential to employ lakhs of people. Abdullah responded to the social media post by PM Narendra Modi lauding the National Conference (NC) leader for his visit to the Statue of Unity, calling it an inspiring gesture that promotes national unity and encourages domestic tourism. In a post on X, Omar Abdullah wrote on Friday, "I'm a firm believer that travel broadens the horizons & the mind @narendramodi ji. It's especially important for us in J&K as tourism is a crucial part of our economy & has the potential to gainfully employ lakhs of people. That's why I & my colleagues are trying to convince more of our fellow Indians to visit J&K, especially after the tragic events earlier this year." During his visit to Gujarat, the Jammu and Kashmir CM also visited the Sabarmati Ashram. In a post on X, he wrote, "My visit to Ahmedabad is now complete. I feel both humbled & privileged to have been shown around the Sabarmati Ashram of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. His teachings ring true even today & point us in the direction we should take, but seldom do." (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship initiative, Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC), which has been successfully organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with MyGov since 2018, has been conferred with the Guinness World Record for the "Most people registered on a Citizen Engagement Platform in one month," a release said on Monday. This recognition celebrates the unprecedented achievement of 3.53 crore valid registrations received during the eighth edition of the programme, hosted on the MyGov platform. Pariksha Pe Charcha is a unique global platform conceptualised and led by Prime Minister Modi, where he directly interacts with students, teachers, and parents. The initiative transforms the examination season into a festival of positivity, preparation, and purposeful learning, making exams a time for encouragement rather than stress. The official Guinness World Record certificate was formally presented at a ceremony held in New Delhi. The event was graced by the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan; Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Railways and Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw; Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada; Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar; CEO of MyGov, Nand Kumarum; and senior officials from the Ministries of Education and Electronics and IT, along with other key stakeholders. The record was validated and announced by Rishi Nath, official adjudicator of Guinness World Records. Speaking on the occasion, Dharmendra Pradhan said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pariksha Pe Charcha has been redefined as a national approach to examinations by turning stress into a festival of learning. Pradhan informed that the 8th edition of PPC saw a total of 21+ crore viewership across all media platforms in 2025. The overwhelming participation in PPC 2025 is seen as a reflection of the country's collective commitment to holistic and inclusive education and alignment with the vision of a Viksit Bharat, he added. While addressing the occasion, Ashwini Vaishnaw called Pariksha Pe Charcha a unique initiative by PM Narendra Modi that brings together students, parents, and teachers to promote well-being and stress-free learning. He highlighted the wide range of career opportunities available to students in this Amrit Kaal. He added that the Guinness World Record for highest registrations demonstrates the strong public trust in the initiative. Jitin Prasada also commended MyGov for its efforts in making governance more participatory. He remarked that the Guinness World Record highlights how MyGov has leveraged technology to deepen citizen engagement and scale the reach of Pariksha Pe Charcha nationwide. NEP 2020 emphasizes stress-free and joyful learning. It encourages moving away from learning by rote to developing critical cognitive skills based upon experiential learning. Since its inception, Pariksha Pe Charcha has evolved into a nationwide movement that transforms examinations into opportunities for self-expression and growth. Through personal interactions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses key challenges such as time management, digital distractions, mindfulness, and emotional resilience, providing practical guidance and motivation to students, parents, and teachers alike. The success of PPC 2025 is a collective achievement, and all stakeholders, educational institutions, and citizens who contributed to this milestone have been appreciated by the Ministers. The commitment to further strengthen participatory governance and holistic education remains steadfast. The programme's inclusivity, digital reach, and innovative approaches ensure its continued success as a cornerstone of student engagement in India. With each passing year, PPC reinforces the message that exams are not the end but a beginning. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for pulling up senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about the Indian Army during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022. "I express my gratitude to the Supreme Court because people sitting in high positions are spreading rumours and speaking against the interest of the country; this should stop. We have seen the way Rahul Gandhi kept saying, without any evidence, that China has grabbed India's land," said CM Fadnavis. "Due to this, the morale of our soldiers is affected because when they are saving the country, such a big leader gives false statements. Rahul Gandhi continuously speaks the same language as Pakistan and China. This is very wrong. This is against the interests of the country. He is the leader of a very big party... Now, when the Supreme Court has remanded him, maybe he will change his attitude from now on," he added. The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Rahul Gandhi over his alleged remarks on the Indian Army after a clash between the Indian and Chinese armies in the Yangsi region of Arunachal Pradesh in 2022. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih expressed disapproval of Rahul Gandhi's remarks, saying that he knows the Chinese occupied 2,000 square kilometres of land. Justice Datta said, "How do you get to know that 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory was occupied by China? What is the credible material? If you are a true Indian, you would not say this. When there is a conflict across borders, can you say all this?" Meanwhile, the apex court also stayed further proceedings before the trial court in the case and issued notice to the complainant, former Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Director Uday Shankar Srivastava. Earlier on May 29, the Allahabad High Court had rejected Rahul Gandhi's plea, challenging the defamation case and the summoning order passed by an MP/MLA court in Lucknow in February 2025. In his defamation complaint, Srivastava alleged that derogatory remarks by Rahul Gandhi were made on December 16, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying his objectionable comments about a clash between the Indian and Chinese Armies had defamed the Indian Army. Rahul Gandhi had said, "People will ask about Bharat Jodo Yatra, here and there, Ashok Gahlot and Sachin Pilot and whatnot. But they will not ask a single question about China capturing 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory, killing 20 Indian soldiers and thrashing our soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh. But the Indian press doesn't ask them a question about this. Isn't it true? The nation is watching all this. Don't pretend that people don't know." The complainant had said that the statement given by Gandhi was made as an attempt to demoralise the Indian ArmyGandhi's statement is false and baseless. "It was given with an evil intention of demoralising the Indian Army and to damage the faith of the Indian population on the Indian Army, whereas the truth is that in the scuffle that took place in Yangsi region Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, 2022, the Indian Army successfully restrained the Chinese Army from entering the territory protected by it and badly chased them away," Srivastava said in his complaint. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday directed district officers to remain alert due to the impending monsoon season after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for the next five days, warning of potential disasters. IMD has predicted very heavy rain/heavy rain/thunderstorm accompanied by lightning/an intense spell of rain likely to occur at isolated places. IMD had issued an orange alert for three days in the districts of Dehradun, Nainital, Champawat, Bageshwar, Pauri Garhwal, and Udham Singh Nagar. "I held a meeting with all district officers this morning and instructed everyone to remain fully alert at this time because the IMD has issued an alert for the next 5 days regarding disasters and the monsoon. Ensure that people are provided with all essential facilities, including electricity, water, and medicines. All arrangements should be made for people living along the riverbanks in constant coordination with NDRF and SDRF," said CM Dhami. District officers have been instructed to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made to mitigate the impact of disasters. People will be provided with essential services like electricity, water, and medicines. The government will work closely with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to ensure the safety of people living along riverbanks. Dhami also launched the Chief Minister Empowered Sisters Festival Scheme to empower women self-help groups in the state. The scheme aims to promote products made by these groups, ensuring they reach a broader market and gain popularity both nationally and globally. The scheme focuses on promoting products created by women's self-help groups, making them more accessible and in demand. The government will ensure that these products get a good market, and proper arrangements are made for their sale. The government will encourage and support these women in every way possible, helping them to grow and develop their businesses. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dhami reiterated the vision behind the scheme, launched in 2023, stating, "The Chief Minister Empowered Sisters Festival Scheme was launched in 2023. The main objective of this scheme was to ensure that our sisters, who are creating excellent products through various self-help groups, are making products that are in demand today in the country and the world... to ensure their products get a good market, proper arrangements are made, their goods are easily available in the market, and they can be sold. For this, we have initiated the Chief Minister Empowered Sisters Festival Scheme... Our effort will be to encourage them in every way and promote their products." (ANI)
During the meeting, MP Sribharat requested the central government to consider the reinstatement of contract workers who have contributed significantly to the plant's development and possess strong service records. He emphasised the importance of regularising these employees to ensure the plant's smooth functioning.

Further, MP Sribharat proposed that the Kendriya Vidyalaya presently operating within the plant premises be transferred under the Ministry of Education. This, he explained, would provide students with more stable and quality educational facilities.

He also recommended implementing a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for the staff of Vimal Vidyalayam, functioning within the plant area, to provide them with financial security.

Highlighting workforce concerns, MP Sribharat stressed the urgent need for full-time employee recruitment at the steel plant. He pointed out that proper staffing would facilitate effective promotions, enhance production capacity, and ensure steady availability of raw materials. These strategic improvements would greatly benefit the plant's overall performance, he said.

Minister HD Kumaraswamy acknowledged the proposals favorably and assured that the ministry would undertake necessary measures. He said that the Ministry is committed to addressing these concerns promptly and constructively. (ANI)
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Monday demanded registration of an FIR and immediate arrest of Darsh Toor for threatening and pointing a pistol at an advocate Harjas Singh. Darsh Toor is the brother of the Aam Aadmi Party's district youth wing president, MP Jawadi. Reacting to the incident, Warring said, This was unacceptable as the AAP leaders and their leaders were taking the law into their own hands. Referring to the incident involving Ludhiana advocate Harjas Singh, the PCC president noted that AAP leaders dared to intimidate people, assuming they enjoy immunity from the law. While demanding immediate registration of an FIR followed by arrest, he said, the Congress will stage a dharna in case action is not taken against the guilty. "What message are you trying to convey that the AAP leaders and their kin are immune to any action, no matter what crime they commit?" he asked, while asserting that the Congress will not let that happen. Expressing solidarity with advocate Harjas, Warring said, the entire Congress stands by him and will ensure that the guilty are brought to justice. "Just because you belong to the ruling party, you cannot be allowed to go scot-free like that", he told the AAP leaders. (ANI)
The event brought together artisans, students, and officials to honour and promote the state's invaluable handloom sector. The day-long celebration featured a variety of engaging activities, including a design competition, a hands-on workshop on dyeing and printing, and a quiz on India's handloom history.

The formal closing session in the afternoon was graced by prominent figures. Utpal Ch. Baro, Assistant Director (Design) of the Weavers' Service Centre, Aizawl, delivered a warm welcome address, setting the stage for the ceremony.

During a formal ceremony, Chief Guest Elizabeth Hmar, Joint Director of the Commerce & Industries Department, highlighted the government's commitment to empowering weavers.

"Handloom is the fabric of our culture and a vital pillar of our local economy," she stated, pledging support to take Mizoram's textiles to a global audience. Guest of Honour Ms. Malsawmtluangi, a Selection Grade Lecturer, also spoke on the importance of blending traditional skills with modern education.

The celebration culminated in a spectacular fashion show organised by the polytechnic's students and faculty. Models showcased the versatility of Mizo handwoven fabrics, presenting everything from traditional Puan patterns to contemporary designs, leaving the audience inspired by the industry's potential.

National Handloom Day is celebrated across the country, including Weavers Service Centres (WSCs), prominent handloom clusters, Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHTs), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) campuses, National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC), Textile Committee, Handloom Departments of various States/UTs, etc.

Meanwhile, the central government will hold the 11th National Handloom Day celebration at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on August 7. Around 650 weavers from across India will participate in the function.

Besides them, foreign buyers, eminent personalities, exporters, and Senior Government Officials. Officers, etc., will also attend the event.

5 Sant Kabir Awards & 19 National Handloom Awards will be conferred to outstanding weavers. (ANI)
Political leaders in Himachal Pradesh gathered on Monday to pay homage to Yashwant Singh Parmar, the architect of modern Himachal Pradesh and the state's first Chief Minister, on his 119th birth anniversary. A solemn tribute was paid at the Vidhan Sabha premises, where Himachal Pradesh Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar, Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan, legislators, and several senior leaders laid floral tributes in Parmar's memory. Speaking to the media on the occasion, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur emphasised Parmar's vision and foundational role in creating Himachal Pradesh. "Today marks the 119th birth anniversary of Dr YS Parmar, the creator of Himachal. We all remember and salute his contribution. Himachal exists because of him," said Jai Ram Thakur. "He identified the pain of the hills, the distinct culture and the geographical challenges and made a strong case for Himachal to be carved out as a separate state from 30 small princely states. He was a visionary. When the Planning Commission of India asked him to name three priorities for the state's development, he said just one word three times: roads, roads, and roads -- because he believed where there are roads, development will follow on its own," Thakur added. Highlighting Parmar's foresight, Thakur said, "He was instrumental in laying the foundation for horticulture, agriculture, industrial, and power sectors, even at a time when connectivity was a major challenge. His planning continues to benefit us today. His contributions are a source of inspiration for the new generation." Thakur also subtly questioned the absence of the Chief Minister and Speaker from the ceremony, stating, "Such an event should not become a mere formality. This is an important tradition. The CM and Speaker have always attended in the past. If there was a scheduling issue, adjustments should have been considered." Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh also spoke to the media after the tribute ceremony. "We have all gathered today at the Vidhan Sabha to pay homage to Dr YS Parmar on his 119th birth anniversary, a visionary who served as Chief Minister four times and shaped Himachal's destiny. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar, other legislators and officials were also present," Singh said. "His vision still guides our progress in the fields of industry, power, and most notably, land reforms. His work in amending the Land and Tenancy Act under Section 118, including the introduction of the Ceiling Act and abolition of the Muzaara system, laid the foundation of equitable development. Himachal Pradesh continues to grow under the principles set by him," Singh added. On the Chief Minister's absence, Anirudh Singh clarified, "The CM had a pre-scheduled program, and the Speaker was attending the Minjar Fair in Chamba. I received a message that I should represent the government here. Travelling from those regions by road takes 12-13 hours, making it unfeasible to reach by 10 AM. As for Jai Ram, he seems to be recalling brotherhood more than anything else today." The leaders unanimously emphasised that Parmar's life and values should be remembered not just ceremonially but as a continuing source of inspiration for policy and governance. (ANI)
Leaders from across the political spectrum paid their respects to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder patron Shibu Soren, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Jharkhand government declared a three-day state mourning in his honour. Shibu Soren, a towering figure in Indian tribal politics and founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), passed away on Monday at the age of 81. He died at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi after a prolonged illness, leaving behind a legacy of struggle, sacrifice, and empowerment for India's tribal heartland. The veteran tribal leader and three-time Jharkhand Chief Minister was a towering figure in the state's political landscape and a key architect of the Jharkhand statehood movement. President Murmu and PM Modi visited the Sir Ganga Hospital, where the former Jharkhand leader was hospitalised. "Went to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to Shri Shibu Soren Ji. Also met his family. My thoughts are with Hemant Ji, Kalpana Ji and the admirers of Shri Shibu Soren Ji" the Prime Minister said a social media post on X. He also posted pictures from the hospital including one in which he can be seen consoling a grieving Hemant Soren. In a previous post, PM Modi described Shibu Soren as "a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people." "He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister said. Earlier in the day, President Murmu described Soren's passing as a significant loss in the sphere of social justice. In a post on X, Murmu wrote, "The demise of Shri Shibu Soren Ji is a big loss in the space of social justice. He championed the cause of tribal identity and the formation of the state of Jharkhand. Besides his work at the grassroots, he also contributed as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, as a Union Minister and as a Member of Parliament. His emphasis on the welfare of the people, especially the tribal communities, will always be remembered. I extend my deepest condolences to his son and Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren Ji, other family members and admirers." The Monsoon Session of the Jharkhand Assembly was adjourned sine die today following the JMM founder's demise, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato announced. The Assembly session commenced on Friday, August 1. The Jharkhand government declared a three-day state mourning starting Monday. Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village, Ramgarh district, Shibu Soren belonged to a modest Santhal Adivasi farming family. His father, Shobaran Soren, was a vocal opponent of local zamindars (landlords) and was murdered at their hands when Shibu was just a boy. This injustice instilled in him a burning resolve to fight for Adivasi rights, land, and dignity. Soren's political journey spanned over four decades, marked by numerous highs and challenges. He was the founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, co-founded JMM in 1972 with AK Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato to advocate for a separate tribal state. He served three terms as Chief Minister, including one for just 10 days in March 2005 and was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and the Rajya Sabha three times. He held the Coal Minister portfolio in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. Soren's rise to fame came in the 1970s with his campaigns against the exploitative landlords and moneylenders. He became a tribal icon fighting against injustice, organising agitations to reclaim tribal lands. His fight for the tribal community is the reason why JMM remains the most popular party in Jharkhand. Shibu Soren was a champion of tribal rights, land, forest, and livelihood. He was known for his unwavering dedication to the people and his passion for empowering tribal communities, the poor, and the downtrodden. His contributions include the Jharkhand Statehood Movement, which played a key role in the formation of Jharkhand as a separate state in 2000. His dreams of a separate identity for Jharkhand people came into fruition in 2000 when a new state was created. Soren has to spend a month in jail after an arrest warrant was issued against him in connection with the 1975 Chirudih massacre case, in which he was named the main accused in the killing of 11 people. Later, a court in March 2008 absolved him of all charges. However, his legal woes did not end there. In 2006, he was convicted in the 1994 murder case of his private secretary, Shashi Nath Jha, leading to a life sentence, though he was later acquitted. He faced other criminal charges, including allegations of inciting violence, but was cleared in significant cases by 2010. Despite these cases, Soren remained a towering figure in the state and the nation's politics. In April 2025, he passed the JMM presidency to his son, Hemant Soren, the current Jharkhand Chief Minister. Describing him as "a strong voice for the tribal community" whose contribution to Jharkhand's formation "will always be remembered," Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday paid heartfelt tribute to late Shibu Soren, the veteran Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader who passed away this morning in the national capital. He offered his condolences to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the bereaved family, and all of "Guruji's" followers. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Jharkhand's former Chief Minister and senior JMM leader Shibu Soren Ji. A strong voice for the tribal community, Soren Ji fought tirelessly for their rights and entitlements. His role in the formation of Jharkhand will always be remembered. I express my deepest condolences to Hemant Soren Ji, the entire Soren family, and all of Guruji's supporters." West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also mourned the loss, describing Shibu Soren as a "Guru Dishom",a revered leader for tribal communities. Apart from this, Congress has postponed its protest rally to reveal the "serious malpractices" of the Election Commission to August 8, given the unfortunate demise Shibu Soren. On the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, "...I see him as the pride of Jharkhand. He is the pride of this land, and his struggle for the exploited, deprived, and tribal society can never be forgotten...I pray to the Lord to give his family the strength to bear this sorrow..." (ANI)
Bastar division of Chhattisgarh is witnessing a remarkable transformation in healthcare services due to the proactive governance of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the effective implementation of people-centric health schemes. From national-level quality certifications to specialist recruitments and direct health assistance, the numbers tell a compelling story of inclusive development reaching even the remotest corners of the Naxal-affected belt. Between January 1, 2024, and June 16, 2025, as many as 130 health institutions in the Bastar division have been certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). These include 1 district hospital, 16 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and 113 Sub-Health Centres (SHCs), a release said on Monday. Notably, 14 institutions in the highly sensitive districts of Kanker, Bijapur, Sukma, and Dantewada have achieved certification, reflecting the government's deep commitment to service delivery even under challenging conditions. An additional 65 facilities are currently undergoing the certification process. To further expand access, the state government has accelerated Ayushman card enrolments under the Niyad Nellanar Scheme. In just one year, 36,231 Ayushman cards have been generated in the division, achieving a 52.6% coverage. As a result, 6,816 beneficiaries have availed health assistance worth Rs 8.22 crore, providing real, timely relief to thousands of families. To support this expanding system, the state has significantly bolstered medical staffing. In the past 18 months alone, 33 medical specialists, 117 medical officers, and one dental surgeon have been appointed in the Bastar division. Additionally, 75 state-level and 307 district-level staff and managerial positions have been filled, while recruitment for 291 more posts is underway. These efforts are not only enhancing the availability of services but also raising the bar for quality and efficiency across the board. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed satisfaction over the consistent improvement and reach of healthcare in Bastar. He credited this change to the active involvement of Mitanins, health workers, and departmental staff, whose collective commitment has made the impossible possible. "Bastar has always been a focus area for our government, and we are committed to strengthening it further," he said. Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal reiterated the state's objective of ensuring uniform quality healthcare across Chhattisgarh. He highlighted the ongoing Malaria-Free Campaign in Bastar, which involves door-to-door testing, immediate treatment, and awareness initiatives. Under NQAS, health institutions across the state--and especially in Bastar--have achieved model-level performance, he noted. The state government has made it a clear priority to extend healthcare access to Naxal-affected districts like Kanker, Bijapur, Sukma, and Dantewada. Citizens in these regions are now benefiting from quality health services, something once considered a distant dream. This transformation stands as testimony to CM Sai's vision, strategic focus, and mission-mode execution in the healthcare sector. To personally review these advancements, Health Minister Jaiswal will embark on a three-day visit to Bastar from August 5 to 7, accompanied by senior health officials and technical experts. The itinerary includes inspections of major district hospitals and medical colleges, review meetings of autonomous bodies, evaluation of the Malaria-Free Bastar campaign, and field visits to remote villages in Bijapur and Sukma for a firsthand assessment. The transformation underway in Bastar under CM Vishnu Deo Sai's leadership demonstrates that when intent is pure, policies are practical, and systems are committed, even the most difficult regions can change for the better. Bastar is now emerging from the shadows of neglect and conflict, carving a new identity rooted in development and empowerment. The healthcare revolution in Bastar is not just a local success--it is a national model worth emulating. (ANI)
The Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS) India, in collaboration with the Forum for National Security Studies (FNSS), organised the 8th Jasjit Singh Memorial Lecture on Monday in New Delhi to honour its founder and former Director General, Air Commodore Jasjit Singh AVSM, VrC, VM (Retd), a distinguished military strategist and recipient of the Padma Bhushan. This year's lecture was delivered by Dr Ram Madhav, President of the India Foundation and a renowned politician, social leader, author, and thinker on the theme 'Strategic Autonomy in a Heteropolar World'. The event was attended by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, along with serving and retired officers from the armed forces and heads of think tanks. The session began with opening remarks by Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Anil Golani, Director General of CAPSS. G. Parthasarathy, Founder Trustee of FNSS and former High Commissioner to Pakistan and Australia, chaired the session. Speaking on the theme 'Strategic Autonomy in a Heteropolar World', Dr Madhav reflected on India's evolving role in global geopolitics and paid tribute to Jasjit Singh's legacy as a "scholar soldier" who contributed both military and intellectual strength to the nation. Invoking Plato's idea of "philosopher kings," Dr Ram Madhav likened Air Commodore Jasjit Singh to one who believed in both a country's military might and its intellectual strength. "Jasjit Singh is a scholar soldier; the little I know about him reminds me of what Plato in his work The Republic had said about how we need philosopher kings. "Of course, he did not say philosopher soldiers. But Commodore Jasjit Singh belongs to that kind of military leadership which provided not only military strength to our country but also institutional strength," he said. Touching on the shifting dynamics of the global order, Dr Madhav cautioned against clinging to outdated international structures. "We are at a stage where the order that was built 75 years ago is changing. A new world order is taking shape. So let me begin by proposing that thinking of holding onto the relics of that old order can corrupt the whole world. The so-called multilateralism that we are talking about is not something that has existed for millennia. The multilateralist arrangement in which we have been currently living was a creation of essentially the Western powers 75 years ago," he said, adding that post the Second World War, certain multilateral institutions were created in order to create a global order. Dr Ram Madhav further advocated for institutions to evolve with the times and usher in necessary reforms. He said that the then-victorious powers after the Second World War were the US and Great Britain. "What we call the global order, whose essential ingredients are the multilateral institutions created starting in 1944. When these organisations were created. In their creation itself existed their downfall. Right from the begining the western powers which were the leading powers in craeting these institutions.......In the formation and creation of all these (multi-lateral) institutions, the West saw a certain vested interest in them. That's why I said in there, very construction. The construction of multilateralism is based on a fraudulent premise," Dr Madhav said. "Even today, the President of the World Bank will always be appointed by the United States of America, why?...... If it is multilateral institutions, why only the USA? The IMF chair always comes from the European Union. Why? What we call multilateralism has always had this one element: the West believes that we are here to civilise the world. We should be the leader in multilateralism. If we are not leaders of multilateralism, it is useless," he said. He concluded by noting that India's strategic autonomy today differs from that of the past. On the occasion, CAPSS also released its latest New Delhi Paper, edited by DG CAPSS AVM Anil Golani, titled "Operation Sindoor". Rewriting the India-Pakistan Rulebook", it has four chapters by the DG Anil Golani, ADG Ashish Vohra and other distinguished fellows. (ANI)
According to sources, the incident occurred after flight 6E 792 landed at Jabalpur and all passengers had safely disembarked. It was only after the aircraft was stationary that a deflated tyre was noticed.

"The tyre deflated while the aircraft was parked. It was only detected post disembarkation," a source familiar with the matter said.

The replacement tyre had to be arranged, and as the Jabalpur airport is a small airport, this led to a delay of several hours.

Once the tyre was successfully replaced, the aircraft resumed operations and departed with passengers onboard toward its destination, Mumbai.

There were no safety concerns during the incident, and all necessary procedures were followed, the source added.

Meanwhile, Indigo Airlines on Saturday announced operations for all its flights to and from Tuticorin from the New Terminal building of the Tuticorin airport from August 3.

In a post on social media X, the airlines appealed to all passengers to update their contact details to receive timely notifications and monitor their flight status for a well-prepared journey.

"Travel Advisory: Tuticorin Terminal Update Effective 03 August 2025, all IndiGo flights to/from Tuticorin (TCR) will operate from the New Terminal Building, offering a refreshed and enhanced airport experience for our customers.

"We encourage you to update your contact details to receive timely notifications and to monitor your flight status for a smooth and well-prepared journey. Thank you for choosing to fly with us," the post read. (ANI)
The Delhi government on Monday announced the formation of two high-level committees to revamp the city's excise and electric vehicle (EV) policies. "The Delhi Government has constituted a high-level committee to formulate a transparent and socially secure excise policy, which will be headed by Cabinet Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh. Along with this, a special committee has been formed under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood to formulate an effective and public welfare EV policy in Delhi," Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said in a statement. "Our government is dedicated to the people of Delhi and is continuously taking decisions in the public interest," she added. Taking to social media platform X, CM Gupta wrote, "The Delhi government, keeping social security in mind, has constituted a high-level committee to formulate a transparent excise policy, which will be chaired by Cabinet Minister Shri@p_sahibsinghji. Additionally, a special committee has been formed under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Shri@ashishsood_bjpji to create an effective and public-welfare-oriented EV policy in Delhi." https://x.com/gupta_rekha/status/1952376682062516445 "Our government is dedicated to the all-round development of Delhi and is continuously making decisions in the public interest.#ViksitDelhi," she added. Earlier, the Delhi CM on Saturday announced that the Delhi Government is undertaking major initiatives to make its governance system more accessible, efficient and transparent. As per a release, CM Gupta stated that she has personally transformed her own office (the CM Office) into an e-Office to set a benchmark for other departments to follow. Highlighting the shift, she added that the e-Office platform has replaced traditional paper files with digital formats, making the workflow fully modern and streamlined. Rekha Gupta further informed that training has been provided to officials and staff at all levels to implement digitalisation in government offices. The drive to digitise all government offices across the capital has significantly accelerated the pace of administrative work. "Our government believes that when all central government offices are functioning on this system, the offices of the national capital must also adopt the e-Office platform. We are working in alignment with the vision of the Central Government and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. This system ensures accountability and provides real-time updates on how long files are pending with any officer or department," she said. Highlighting the broader impact, the Chief Minister added, "Digitalisation is not merely a technological change; it is a blend of administrative efficiency, transparency, and environmental conservation. Our goal is to ensure that every government task is swift, accurate, and citizen-centric, and the e-Office platform is a major step in this direction." The Chief Minister shared that the e-Office platform, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has shown remarkable results in July itself. Out of the Delhi Government's 199 departments, 119 are now fully operational on e-Office, up from 22 per cent in June to nearly 60 per cent. During the same period, the number of digital files used by these departments exceeded 1.18 lakh, marking a growth of over 250 per cent compared to the previous month (June). (ANI)
The National Zoological Park, New Delhi, concluded the seven-day Global Tiger Day celebrations today, marking the successful culmination of a series of interactive and awareness-oriented activities held from July 29 to August 4, said a statement from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Organised to commemorate Global Tiger Day (29th July), the event aimed to educate and sensitise school students about the critical importance of tiger conservation and broader environmental stewardship. During this 7-day celebration, 1935 students, about 175 teachers and supporting staff from 27 schools of Delhi/NCR participated in conservation education activities. The final day of the celebrations commenced with an enthusiastic turnout of over 400 students and educators from 6 schools of Delhi/NCR at the exhibition on Big Cats, organised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Students also took a solemn pledge to 'Save Tigers and Elephants', reinforcing their commitment to wildlife conservation. The exhibition featured informative displays and compelling visuals on India's iconic big cats--tigers, leopards, Asiatic lions, and snow leopards--highlighting their ecological roles and current conservation status. Students and visitors were taken on a guided tour of the exhibition, actively engaging with the content and gaining deeper insights into wildlife conservation. Following the exhibition, students viewed an educational documentary on big cats, further enhancing their understanding of the challenges faced by these magnificent animals. Subsequently, they proceeded on a guided tour of the National Zoological Park, where the zoo staff conducted interactive sessions on animal behaviour, habitat needs, and ongoing conservation efforts for endangered species. A creative clay modelling activity provided a platform for students to express their understanding of wildlife through artistic expression. Participants enthusiastically created animal and nature-inspired models. In recognition of their creativity and awareness, the Director of the Zoo presented prizes to the winners, encouraging their sustained involvement in conservation activities. The second half of the programme featured a compelling presentation on Plastic Management, conducted by representatives from Bisleri. The session focused on the detrimental effects of plastic pollution on wildlife and ecosystems, emphasising the need for sustainable alternatives and the role of individual responsibility in mitigating plastic waste. As part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, each participating school was presented with ten saplings, symbolising the emotional and ecological bond between humans and nature. The initiative aimed to inspire students to plant and nurture trees in honour of their mothers, fostering a culture of environmental care and remembrance. The event served as a meaningful platform to instil conservation values among the younger generation and underscored the importance of collective responsibility in preserving our planet's biodiversity. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident that the West Bengal Assembly elections will be held with a completely error-free voter list and is optimistic about defeating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming elections in the state. A crucial meeting took place between top BJP West Bengal leaders and Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament on Monday, August 4. The meeting, which lasted around two and a half hours, was attended by key leaders including BJP national president JP Nadda, BJP National general secretary (Org) BL Santosh, BJP Bengal Chief Shamik Bhattachary, BJP MP and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, BJP's IT cell head and the party's co-observer in West Bengal Amit Malviya, BJP national general secretary and incharge of BJP West Bengal Sunil Bansal, incharge of BJP Bengal Mangal Pandey, General secretary (Org), BJP Bengal, Amitabh Chakravarty, and Satish Dhond. The meeting focused on discussing the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls and several other party and state issues. West Bengal BJP President Shamik Bhattacharya told ANI after the meeting, "The issues regarding the upcoming West Bengal elections, difficulties that the workers are facing, defeating Mamata Banerjee, these are the issues we discussed." Regarding any discussion on (SIR) Special Intensive Revision, Shamik said that the SIR is a matter for the Election Commission, and they have nothing to do with this. He said, "We are confident that the West Bengal elections will be held with a completely error-free voter list. BJP source told ANI that the party also deliberated on its strategy for the state's 84 reserved seats, comprising 68 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and 16 for Scheduled Tribes. A review of the 2021 assembly elections revealed that the BJP had secured 39 seats, while the TMC had won 45 seats, a BJP functionary told ANI. The meeting is an important step in the BJP's preparations for the upcoming assembly polls in West Bengal and the party's efforts to strategise and strengthen its ground in the state. With the elections drawing near, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to outdo its rivals and emerge victorious. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Prayagraj on Monday, as the rising water level of River Ganga triggered alarm across the region. After the aerial survey, Maurya said that the current flood situation had crossed the severity of the 2013 floods. "Today, I did an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Prayagraj. After this, I will also do a survey from the boat. This flood is surpassing the flood levels of 2013. The water level of the River Ganga is increasing continuously, which is a matter of concern. The Govt is doing everything to help the flood-affected people... It is the priority of the government to ensure that the people do not face any difficulty," the Deputy CM told ANI. A day earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was closely monitoring the flood situation across the state, issuing timely directives to ensure effective relief efforts. Acting on his instructions, state ministers are inspecting affected areas, while Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami informed that floods have impacted 37 tehsils and 402 villages, affecting 84,392 people. Of these, 47,906 have received assistance, and 2,759 animals have been shifted to safer locations. Currently, 17 districts, including Kanpur Nagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Agra, Auraiya, Chitrakoot, Ballia, Banda, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Chandauli, Jalaun, Kanpur Dehat, Hamirpur, Etawah, and Fatehpur, are grappling with the impact of flooding. Relief and rescue operations are underway in full swing, with continuous patrolling by NDRF, SDRF, and PAC personnel. Meanwhile, floods have caused damage to 343 homes so far, with compensation already distributed to 327 families. Over 4,015 hectares of land have also been affected. Relief supplies are being delivered using 493 boats and motorboats. To support those impacted, 6,536 food packets and 76,632 lunch packets have been distributed so far. Moreover, 29 community kitchens (langars) have been set up to provide fresh meals to the victims. The Yogi government is also prioritising the well-being of livestock. Around 500 quintals of fodder have been distributed. In addition, to prevent waterborne diseases, 129,571 chlorine tablets and 37,089 ORS packets have been provided. A total of 905 flood shelters are currently operational, housing 11,248 displaced individuals. 757 health teams are conducting medical check-ups, while 1,193 flood posts have been set up to monitor the evolving situation. These ministers are inspecting the flood-affected areas and will stay overnight in the district. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday sent clear instructions to all District Magistrates against all those who have obtained ration cards, Aadhaar cards, voter cards, Ayushman cards and other documents in the state in an illegal manner, and against individuals involved in making such cards, a release said. Acting on directions, District Magistrates have cancelled ineligible ration cards. So far, a total of 961 ineligible cards have been cancelled in the Pauri district, and 5307 ration cards have been cancelled in the Bageshwar district. 3,332 cards have been cancelled in Dehradun. CM Dhami further stated that the identification of ration card holders was necessary in order to identify people eligible for the benefits of the ration scheme. On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the verification campaign of Ration Card, Aadhar Card, Voter Card and Ayushman Card is being conducted intensively at the district level by all the District Magistrates. Earlier in the day, the CM held a virtual meeting with the DMs to discuss the progress of development works and preparations to deal with any eventuality, given the alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD has issued an orange alert for three days in the districts of Dehradun, Nainital, Champawat, Bageshwar, Pauri Garhwal, and Udham Singh Nagar. In view of the alert issued by the IMD, the Dehradun district administration announced the closure of all schools up to Class 12 and Anganwadi centres on August 4, 2025. According to an alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Disaster Alert Portal, Dehradun district is likely to experience intense rainfall activity from the evening or night of August 3. The forecast warns of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds. (ANI)
BJP MLA Arvinder S Lovely on Monday hailed Operation Sindoor as a matter of pride for the people of the country and stressed that India will go against any country that attempts to disturb the peace by doing terrorist activities. On Operation Sindoor, MLA Lovely told ANI, "Operation Sindoor is a matter of pride for all of us... Wherever PM goes, he says that this is not the era of war and India has emerged as the peace ambassador. But the peace doesn't mean that if any nation tries to disturb the peace by doing terrorist activities, we will stay silent. To maintain that peace, it is important to send a message that India does not spare those who become a part of disturbing the peace of India..." Furthermore, on the Supreme Court pulling up the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his remarks on the clash between the Indian and Chinese armies on December 9, 2022, he said, "Rahul Gandhi keeps on saying anything. I was part of that party, and if I had taken them seriously, then I wouldn't have come here." Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court pulled up the Congress leader over his alleged remarks on the Indian army. Twenty-six civilians were killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, after which India retaliated through precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the terror attack (ANI)
Days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned Delhi police for calling the Bengali language "Bangladeshi", Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP of politicising the issues and noted that Bangla is not a "new language". He also noted that Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for his contributions to the Bangla language. On TMC claims Delhi Police called Bengali a Bangladeshi language, Chowdhury told ANI, "Bangla is not a new language; it is considered the sweetest language. To establish this language, a new nation was formed--Bangladesh... The first person in Asia to be awarded the Nobel Prize was Rabindranath Tagore for his poetry in the Bangla language. The information that I got from the Delhi police is that they asked for help from the resident officer from Bengal, as when they catch Bangladeshi people, there is a language barrier..." "The West Bengal government is not taking any steps in the matter and has started doing politics, as well as the BJP. But no one is listening to those for whom politics is being done..." This comes after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Delhi Police of describing Bengali as a "Bangladeshi language", calling it scandalous, anti-national and unconstitutional. Sharing a letter by Delhi Police on X, Banerjee said, "See now how Delhi police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as 'Bangladeshi' language! Bengali, our mother tongue, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, the language in which our National Anthem and the National Song (the latter by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay) are written, the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!" (ANI)
The dismissed policemen were deployed for the security of the Red Fort.

According to Delhi Police, seven police personnel, including constables and head constables, deployed for the security of the Red Fort, have been suspended "due to negligence" in security.

The Delhi Police conducts daily drills as part of preparations for the program scheduled for 15th August, they added.

"A team of the Special Cell conducted a drill on Saturday in which they entered the Red Fort premises in civil dress with a dummy bomb. At that time, the policemen deployed for the security of the Red Fort could not trace the bomb, due to which they were suspended," the police added.

The development came days ahead of Independence Day on August 15.

More details are awaited (ANI)
President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr of the Philippines will soon be arriving in India on a state visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. Sharing the update on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "President Mr. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., of Philippines @bongbongmarcos, will soon be arriving in on a State Visit. Watch highlights of the special & multifaceted India-Philippines relationship." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1952217566971375972 The visit, scheduled from August 4 to 8, will include meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other senior officials. Marcos after arrival in New Delhi on August 4 will meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On August 5, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat. Marcos will then hold talks with PM Modi in Hyderabad House. Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and Press Statements will take place thereafter. Marcos will then meet JP Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and thereafter President Droupadi Murmu. The Philippines' President will then travel to Bengaluru and meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ferdinand R Marcos Jr will pay a State Visit to India, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. This would be the first visit of Marcos to India since the assumption of office of the President of the Philippines. Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Both countries have since developed a strong partnership across a broad spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The two countries also engage closely at the regional level, including through India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. The statement added that India's relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The forthcoming State Visit of President Marcos coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, it added. India and the Philippines share warm and multifaceted bilateral relations rooted in historical ties and shared democratic values. Cooperation spans various sectors, including defence, trade, investment, and cultural exchange. (ANI)
At least 299 people, including 140 children, have died and over 700 others injured due to flash floods and torrential rains that have swept through multiple parts of Pakistan since late June, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Sunday, Dawn reported. The NDMA said the deluges, which began on June 26, have "left a trail of devastation across the country." The fatalities include 102 men, 57 women, and 140 children, while the injured comprise 239 children, 204 women, and 272 men. According to Dawn, the extreme weather has also damaged 1,676 houses--of which 562 were completely destroyed and 1,114 were partially damaged. The floods also resulted in the loss of 428 livestock, further compounding hardships for affected communities. The NDMA confirmed that it has conducted 223 rescue operations and successfully evacuated 2,880 people from flood-hit areas. Relief efforts have included the distribution of over 13,400 essential items, including 2,000 tents, 958 blankets, 569 quilts, 613 mattresses, and more than 1,100 food packs, Dawn reported. In addition, authorities have supplied 1,282 kitchen sets, 350 life jackets, 1,122 hygiene kits, 2,170 tarpaulins, and 146 de-watering pumps. Medical support is also being provided, with 71 camps established, where 577 people have received treatment so far. The NDMA noted that multiple regions remain affected, with ongoing joint operations being conducted alongside provincial and federal agencies, Dawn stated. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, wind, and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls in northern regions from August 4 to August 7. Rain is likely in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Islamabad during this period, while Gilgit-Baltistan is expected to receive rainfall starting August 5. Balochistan will mostly experience hot and humid conditions, with some rainfall forecast in its northeastern and southern parts on August 6. Sindh is also expected to remain hot and humid, with light rain in coastal areas. In Punjab, Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia, warned on Sunday of a sixth round of monsoon rains expected to start August 5. "The ongoing rains could lead to medium to high-level flooding in the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, with the risk expected to begin from Aug 5," he said, as quoted by Dawn. PDMA also warned that August's rains are likely to be heavier than those in July, with dozens of districts, including Lahore, Murree, Attock, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Dera Ghazi Khan, among others, expected to be affected. Dawn added that landslides and structural damage to weak buildings and mud houses may occur in Murree and Galliyat, both popular tourist areas. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump, while talking to reporters on Sunday (local time), said that his administration will announce a new statistician in the coming days. Whoever the president nominates to be the new commissioner would need to be confirmed by the Senate, as per CNN. "We'll be announcing a new statistician sometime over the next three, four days. We had no confidence. I mean, the numbers were ridiculous, which she announced, but that was just one negative number. All of the numbers seem to be great. In my opinion, it's just an additional scam," Trump said before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Earlier on Sunday, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended Trump's decision to fire Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, claiming the president "wants his own people there," as per CNN. Last week, a weaker-than-expected jobs report proved to be a sore spot for the economy -- and the president. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly jobs report on Friday showed the US economy added just 73,000 jobs in July. The monthly totals for May and June were also revised down by a combined 2,58,000 jobs. After the report was released, Trump posted to Truth Social that "today's Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad." Trump later announced he was firing McEntarfer, CNN reported. Hassett did not provide evidence that the report was incorrect, saying that the "revisions are hard evidence" that the jobs data was rigged. "What we need is a fresh set of eyes over the BLS," Hassett said. Hassett said that if he ran the BLS and had "the biggest downward revision in 50 years, I would have a really, really detailed report explaining why it happened." He claimed without evidence that there are "partisan patterns" in the jobless data and that "data can't be propaganda," CNN reported. (ANI)
Druze armed groups have attacked Syria's internal security forces in Suwayda province, killing at least one soldier and injuring others, while also shelling several villages in the southern region, Al Jazeera reported, citing state-run Ekhbariya TV. According to the report on Sunday, a security source claimed the groups violated a ceasefire agreement in the predominantly Druze area, where sectarian violence last month killed hundreds. In response, the Syrian government said in a statement, "The media and sectarian mobilisation campaigns led by the rebel gangs in the city have not ceased over the past period." Al Jazeera further reported that the government accused the armed factions of launching "treacherous attacks" after failing to derail the state's efforts in Suwayda. The statement added, "As these gangs failed to thwart the efforts of the Syrian state and its responsibilities towards our people in Suwayda, they resorted to violating the ceasefire agreement by launching treacherous attacks against internal security forces on several fronts and shelling some villages with rockets and mortar shells, resulting in the martyrdom and injury of a number of security personnel." According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, four people were killed in the renewed fighting -- three government soldiers and one local fighter -- Al Jazeera reported. Violence in Suwayda originally erupted on July 13 between Druze factions and Bedouin tribal fighters. Despite the deployment of government forces, the clashes worsened. Israel launched air strikes on Syrian troops and targeted Damascus, citing the protection of Druze communities, Al Jazeera said. The Druze, a minority sect present in Syria, Lebanon and Israel, primarily inhabit Suwayda province, which also includes Bedouin tribes. Longstanding disputes over land and resources have fuelled tensions between the communities. A U.S.-brokered truce between Israel and Syria was announced alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's declaration of a ceasefire in Suwayda after multiple failed efforts. Syria said it had formed a committee to investigate the clashes, Al Jazeera added. Hundreds of Bedouin families displaced by the fighting were relocated to nearby Deraa. In a separate incident, the Israeli military on Sunday said it had raided targets in southern Syria the previous day. According to Al Jazeera, the army said it seized weapons and detained several suspects linked to weapons smuggling in the area. Meanwhile, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that five of its members were killed in an ISIL (ISIS) attack on a checkpoint in Deir Az Zor on July 31. ISIL has been attempting a resurgence across the Middle East, the West, and Asia. While Deir Az Zor fell to ISIL in 2014, it was recaptured by the Syrian army in 2017. On Saturday, Syria's Defence Ministry said an SDF-led attack in the countryside of Manbij injured four soldiers and three civilians. Describing the incident as "irresponsible and for unknown reasons," the ministry's statement was cited by Syria's state-run SANA news agency, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has said that nuclear submarines have been deployed in Russia. "They are in the region, yeah -- where they have to be," Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Sunday. When asked if there was anything Russia could do to avoid sanctions at this point, Trump said, "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed." He further said that he was looking for fairness and not leverage when he was imposing tariffs. "I'm not looking for leverage -- I'm looking for fairness. We want to see reciprocal wherever we can, and all I can say is this: our country will be taking in hundreds of billions of dollars." Trump said on Friday that he was ordering two US Navy nuclear submarines to "appropriate regions," in response to remarks by Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's Former President and current deputy chairman of its Security Council. In what he called an effort to be "prepared," Trump said in a Truth Social post that he had "ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that." Trump later on Friday said the repositioned nuclear submarines were moved "closer to Russia," CNN reported. He said Thursday he intended to place new sanctions on Moscow, and called Russia's attacks on Ukraine "disgusting." In an earlier social media message, Trump said the Ukraine war "should have never happened," as per CNN. "This is Biden's War, not 'TRUMP's.' I'm just here to see if I can stop it!" Trump wrote. The president did not specify what type of submarines were being moved or where to, and the Pentagon usually reveals little about any of its subs' movements, CNN reported. The US Navy has three types of submarines, all of which are nuclear-powered, but only one of which carries nuclear weapons. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump while speaking to reporters on Sunday (local time), said that he aimed to lower the prices of pharmaceutical drugs with the Most Favoured Nation prescription drug pricing plan. Trump said before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania that the US will pay the lowest price just like other European nations do. "We want the same price as Europe gets. We want the same price as other countries get ... We will pay as low as the lowest nation in the world. The next big move is going to be the price of drugs because you could buy something in London or in Germany some place... sometimes 1/10th the price of what it costs to buy it in New York... We're not doing that anymore," he said. Trump is increasing pressure on major drugmakers to bring their US prices in line with the far lower ones available to patients in other countries. However, industry experts don't expect the pharmaceutical companies to comply, CNN reported. Earlier on Thursday, Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical company CEOs on with a list of demands, including that the manufacturers extend "Most Favored Nation" pricing, the lowest price paid for a drug in a peer country, to all drugs provided to Medicaid enrollees. The US president gave the companies 60 days to comply. The directive stems from an executive order Trump signed in May, when he demanded drugmakers start offering US patients lower prices or face consequences. Meanwhile the US President continued to bat for the tariff policy saying that it would bring down debt. "We're going to pay down debt. We have a lot of money coming in, much more money than the country's ever seen, by hundreds of billions of dollars... we should've done this many years ago," he said. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for the release of hostages through a "decisive military victory" as an understanding forms that Hamas is not interested in a deal, a diplomatic source told The Times of Israel on Sunday. The source's comments came as relatives of the captives criticized reports of expanded military operations in Gaza and slammed Netanyahu's video statement reacting to harrowing hostage footage, which suggested there was no ceasefire hostage deal in sight. "In an understanding that Hamas is not interested in a deal" the source said "the prime minister is pushing for the release of hostages through decisive military victory, combined with the entry of humanitarian aid to areas outside the combat zone, and, as much as possible, outside of Hamas control." The source, quoted by several Hebrew outlets, did not explain how the plan would be implemented. According to The Times of Israel the source added "Israel is in contact with the Americans" noting U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's comments that Washington wants to end the Gaza war rather than expand it, and is no longer interested in partial hostage deals. Channel 12 News reported that with the U.S. moving away from temporary ceasefire arrangements in exchange for some hostages Israel is expected to decide this week whether to intensify its Gaza offensive or allow more time for a potential deal even at the risk of harm to hostages. The decision is reportedly dividing Israel's security cabinet. While Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz remain undecided The Times of Israel said Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs are in favor of expanding the fighting. In contrast IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Shas leader Aryeh Deri, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, Mossad chief David Barnea, the Shin Bet negotiator known as "Mem," and Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, who is handling the hostage portfolio, reportedly oppose the move. In a video released Sunday Netanyahu reacted to disturbing hostage footage of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, saying "I understand exactly what Hamas wants. It doesn't want a deal. It wants to break us with these horrifying videos, with the false horror propaganda it spreads across the world." He said he was "shocked" by the "horrifying videos" in which David is seen digging what he fears is his own grave. Netanyahu added "As the hostages waste away in a dungeon... the Hamas monsters surrounding them they have thick, fleshy arms. They have everything they need to eat. They are starving them the way the Nazis starved the Jews." "But we will not break" the premier declared. "I am filled with even greater determination to free our captive sons, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel." The Times of Israel reported that the Hostages and Missing Families Forum harshly criticized Netanyahu's stance, accusing him of leading both Israel and the hostages "to the abyss." "Netanyahu is preparing the greatest scam" the Forum said. "The talk, which has been heard again and again, about releasing the hostages through decisive victory, is a fraud." "For 22 months now the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure and intense fighting will bring the hostages back" it added. "Even before the draft for a comprehensive deal was written, we're being told there is no feasibility for a deal." "The truth must be told Expanding the war endangers the lives of the hostages who are at risk of imminent death. We saw the chilling images of the hostages in the tunnels, they won't survive more long days of horror" the group added. Expanding the Gaza war "is a guarantee of the failure of the century." Despite Netanyahu's public reaction to the hostage videos The Times of Israel said Hebrew media reported that Israel's cabinet and security forums had already been briefed that hostages were being starved. Ynet cited sources familiar with the issue as saying "The visual was still devastating, but it's not something we didn't know." A recent closed-door security briefing reportedly warned "The hostages are suffering difficult captivity conditions. Their conditions are deteriorating their captors are starving them. This didn't happen because of lack of access to food the captors received orders to starve the hostages and give them minimal food, only to keep them alive." Braslavski and David are believed to be among 20 hostages still alive in Gaza. All were abducted during the October 7 2023 Hamas led attack on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages taken. According to The Times of Israel the remains of at least 28 confirmed dead hostages including an IDF soldier killed in 2014 are also being held in Gaza. (ANI)
Kaohsiung's Taoyuan District saw total rainfall of 2,205mm, while Pingtung County's Sandimen Township had 2,060.5mm and Tainan's Nanhua District 1,833mm, according to CWA data, as quoted by Taipei Times.

Meanwhile, Alishan in Chiayi County saw 1,688mm of accumulated rain and Yunlin County's Caoling had 1,025mm rainfall.

The Pingtung County Government said that 831 local residents have been pre-emptively evacuated from mountainous areas. A total of 576 are staying with relatives in low-lying areas, while the other 255 are in shelters.

CWA forecaster Chu Mei-lin said that three factors are contributing to the intensive rainfall in southern Taiwan.

The first is successive southwestern air currents that formed over the ocean and moved landward, impacting the western half of Taiwan proper and outlying Penghu County.

Second, southwesterly winds brought in unstable air that developed into convection currents over land and resulted in rain.

Third, the southwesterly winds sweeping into southern Taiwan's mountainous topography caused orographic rainfall, causing intense rain in the region's mountainous areas, Chu said.

Orographic rain is produced when moist air lifts as it moves over a mountain range, cooling as it rises and forming clouds that produce rain upwind of the mountain ridge, as per Taipei Times.

A large-scale low pressure system has been hovering over Taiwan since late July, resulting in persistent southwesterly winds, Chu said.

The intense rain peaked once from Monday to Thursday last week, with a second peak occurring over the weekend, she said.

The CWA has issued precipitation warnings through Sunday to Monday.

Extreme torrential rain advisories have been issued for mountainous regions in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, where accumulated rainfall exceeding 500mm in 24 hours is forecast, according to the CWA. (ANI)
For more than three years, traders in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan have been protesting at the Sost Dry Port, demanding an end to long-standing customs delays and the imposition of federal taxes on imported goods. Despite a court ruling in July 2024 that exempts them from certain federal taxes, customs officials are reportedly still enforcing these charges. This has caused significant financial losses for the traders and has severely impacted their businesses. Protest leaders also allege that authorities have resorted to unlawful detentions as a means to disrupt and undermine their ongoing movement. One protester explained that, without any warrant, police forces entered their homes and detained them without any justification. "Three nights ago, without any warrant, the police violated the privacy of our homes and took us away without any reason. Their aim was to sabotage the protest being organised by the traders' community, which is demanding their rights. Our movement's goal is to make it clear that laws related to income tax, sales tax, and other duties, except customs duty, should not be imposed on us because we are not constitutionally recognised as a province of Pakistan." The traders maintain that their protests are peaceful and focused on asserting their constitutional rights. They have warned the authorities against escalating tensions. "All the traders gathered here want the Constitution to prevail. They demand that their constitutional rights be upheld immediately and that the situation should not be allowed to worsen. If it does, all responsible institutions will be held accountable," said another protester. Further expressing their frustration, a protest leader said, "We have committed no crime, broken no law, and have not violated the Constitution. Meanwhile, those who have actually broken laws roam free, and we, who only want everything to operate according to the Constitution, are the ones detained." With authorities remaining unresponsive and tensions rising, traders warn that ignoring their grievances could push the situation in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan toward a much deeper crisis. (ANI)
In a bid to mitigate tensions with North Korea, the South Korean military on Monday started removing loudspeakers for propaganda broadcasts toward North Korea installed along the heavily fortified border, the defence ministry said, as quoted by Yonhap News. The move comes less than two months after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts in front-line areas as part of efforts to mend strained ties with the North. North Korea has also since turned off its own noise-blaring campaign against the South. "It is a practical measure that can help ease inter-Korean tensions without affecting the military's readiness posture," the ministry said in a notice to reporters, quoted by Yonhap News. The follow-up measure to the June suspension applies to fixed speakers installed alongside the border and is set to be completed within this week, Colonel Lee Kyung-ho, a ministry spokesperson, told a regular press briefing. About 20 fixed speakers are known to be in the area. No consultations with the North took place prior to the decision, Lee said. When asked about whether the North is preparing to take corresponding action, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said no such movement has yet to be detected. "North Korea appears to be carrying out maintenance work on its loudspeakers, but there were no signs of dismantling them... No unusual movement by the North Korean military has been detected so far," JCS spokesperson Colonel Lee Sung-jun said. North Korea has long frowned upon the South Korean military's loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflets sent by activists over fears of outside information that could pose a threat to its ruling regime. But under the former conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration, South Korea turned on the loudspeaker campaign for the first time in six years in June last year as Pyongyang launched thousands of trash-carrying balloons across the border. Seoul had previously conducted the campaign on an on-and-off basis following North Korea's fourth nuclear test in 2016. Since taking office in June, Lee has taken measures to revive inter-Korean ties that remain practically severed since the North declared in late 2023 that the two Koreas are two separate "hostile" countries and moved to dismantle symbols of inter-Korean relations and unification. In addition to halting the military's loudspeaker broadcasts, Lee has called on civic groups to suspend their distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets, expressing hope that the reconciliatory gestures could pave the way for engagement with the North. (ANI)
At least 350 Afghan nationals, including women, children, and the elderly, were released from Pakistani prisons and handed over to Afghan authorities through the Torkham border crossing in the last 24 hours, Tolo News reported. According to officials in Nangarhar, the released individuals were detained in various Pakistani cities, including Punjab and Islamabad. Some of them were reportedly arrested despite possessing valid immigration documents, the Afghan news outlet said. Bakht Jamal Gawhar, head of migrant transfer at Torkham, told Tolo News, "In the past 24 hours, 350 Afghan detainees were handed over to us. Among them were children, women, and the elderly. Some have family members still in Pakistan. Most deportees even had legal documents." Several deportees have alleged mistreatment by Pakistani authorities. Speaking to Tolo News, Abdul Salam, one of the released prisoners, said, "They took my money and my phone. I had a business, accounts, and a warehouse. Everything was left behind. My family is still in Pakistan and now I'm here alone." Another deportee, Abdullah, recounted: "They also took my money. I was kept in jail for six days and then deported to Afghanistan. The treatment was awful. I suffered a lot." Tolo News also spoke to Ebadullah, a 25-year-old who had lived in Pakistan for 12 years and was suddenly arrested at work. "They took us to the police station where we stayed for two nights. My family still doesn't know where I am. Then they moved us to Haji Camp jail for a day. Now I've been transferred to Torkham," he said. Highlighting the broader scope of returns, the High Commission for Refugee Affairs stated that 3,467 individuals were repatriated from Iran and 461 from Pakistan just yesterday, Tolo News added. The sudden deportations and alleged mistreatment have deepened the anguish of Afghan families, many of whom remain separated, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and humane migration policies in the region. (ANI)
Ambassador of India to the US Vinay Kwatra on Saturday held talks with the Indian diaspora where he highlighted the recent opening of eight new Indian Consular Application Centres across the US. Kwatra said that the opening of the Consular Application Centres is a clear manifestation of this commitment to serving the Indian diaspora. "Ambassador Vinay Kwatra interacted with prominent members of the Indian-American community from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania at the Indian Consulate in New York. Ambassador echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appreciaton of the Indian diaspora as a dynamic "living bridge" & he highlighted the vital role of the Indian diaspora in fostering deeper ties between India and the United States. Ambassador also underlined the Government of India's steadfast commitment to accessible, efficient, and people-centric consular service delivery & referred to the recent opening of eight new Indian Consular Application Centres across the United States as a clear manifestation of this commitment to serving the Indian diaspora," Indian Consulate in New York stated. https://x.com/IndiainNewYork/status/1952204783294545931 Earlier on August 2, Kwatra virtually inaugurated the Indian Consular Application Centres in Edison, New Jersey; Columbus, Ohio and Boston, Massachusetts. https://x.com/IndiainNewYork/status/1951617080005972402 In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US said, "Ambassador Vinay Kwatra virtually inaugurated the Indian Consular Application Centres in Edison, New Jersey; Columbus, Ohio and Boston, Massachusetts in the jurisdiction of Indian Consulate in New York among other such centers across the US. At the Edison Centre, Mayor of Edison Mr. Samip Joshi, community leaders, and media representatives attended the event. It was followed by a media interaction and a community outreach session, where Consul General Binaya Pradhan and community leaders discussed recent steps taken by the Government to streamline consular services, and shared suggestions to further enhance efficiency, accessibility, and user experience. The Government of India remains deeply committed to ensuring prompt, people-centric service delivery for the Indian diaspora." (ANI)
Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr arrived in the national capital on Monday for a five-day state visit to India, aimed at further strengthening the India-Philippines relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. This is the first visit by the President of the Southeast Asian country to India since he assumed office back in 2022, marking a significant milestone, as his visit aligns with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. According to a post on X by the MEA, Marcos was welcomed with a warm reception by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. "Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Bongbong Marcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India & the Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations," the MEA stated on X. He was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation including several Ministers from his Cabinet. According to a statement by the MEA, during his visit, President Marcos will be holding talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other officials. He will also be meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On August 5, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat, and following that, he will hold talks with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House. Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and Press Statements will take place thereafter. The Philippine President will then meet Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and thereafter President Droupadi Murmu. He will then travel to Bengaluru and meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Ghelot. His visit came following an invitation by PM Modi, an MEA statement stated on Thursday. Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Both countries have since developed a strong partnership across a broad spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The two countries also engage closely at the regional level, including through India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. The statement added that India's relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The visit will act as an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, as per the statement. India and the Philippines share warm and multifaceted bilateral relations rooted in historical ties and shared democratic values. Cooperation spans various sectors, including defence, trade, investment, and cultural exchange. (ANI)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasised the urgent need for both regional and international support for Afghanistan, highlighting the country's ongoing humanitarian and development challenges. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Almaty, Guterres expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for its cooperation with Afghanistan and underscored the role of the new centre in advancing sustainable development in the region. "And nowhere is that cooperation more urgent than in our support to Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan continue to face immense hardship - from entrenched poverty and mass displacement to earthquakes, climate shocks, and a fragile humanitarian landscape. They deserve peace, stability and a better future. And I am very grateful for the cooperation Kazakhstan has been developing in recent times," Guterres said. The Secretary-General stressed the need for full respect for human rights in Afghanistan, especially the rights of women and girls. He also highlighted the importance of economic self-sufficiency and preserving human dignity in the country. According to Guterres, the regional centre will play a key role in promoting solidarity and shared responsibility in support of the Afghan people. Commenting on the development, political analyst Wahid Faqiri said: "It's clear that the United Nations has long been working on this and is trying to help lift Afghanistan out of isolation. But it also depends on Afghans themselves. Afghanistan must take steps on women's rights, schools, and the fight against drugs and terrorism to gain international recognition." So far, the caretaker government in Kabul has not issued any statement on the establishment of the UN regional centre or responded to the Secretary-General's remarks. Kazakhstan, however, remains one of the few countries that has maintained consistent political and economic engagement with Afghanistan over the past four years. (ANI)
In a growing call for justice, families of forcibly disappeared and detained leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) are demanding their immediate and unconditional release, as Balochistan continues to witness an alarming rise in enforced disappearances. With no response from the authorities and no end to their suffering in sight, these families have turned to peaceful protest and now, to social media to amplify their voices and raise awareness. Last month, the families launched a dedicated X account, @ReleaseBYCLeaders, to spotlight the plight of their missing loved ones and rally public support. Recently, the account shared poignant images of relatives, many of them women and children, sitting under the scorching sun, holding photographs of those who have disappeared. One of the posts reads: "Sitting in the scorching sun, these faces--eyes filled with tears and hands holding pictures of their missing loved ones. Time kept passing, and the pain kept growing. With each passing day, hope began to fade, but their resolve never broke." The post concluded with an appeal to the public conscience: "This peaceful struggle of these oppressed families poses a question to every conscious soul: How long will this silence last? How long will this injustice continue? We will neither remain silent nor step back--this struggle will continue until justice is served." As the BYC-led campaign gains momentum both online and on the ground, the families remain steadfast in their demand for justice and accountability. Enforced disappearances in Balochistan have been a grave human rights issue for decades, rooted in the region's long-standing political and ethnic tensions. For the last several decades, Baloch nationalists, students, activists, and intellectuals have been targeted, allegedly by state security agencies, for demanding greater autonomy or rights. Thousands have reportedly gone missing without due process, and many remain unaccounted for. Families are often left without information, legal recourse, or justice. Human rights organisations, both local and international, have condemned these actions, calling them violations of international law. The Pakistan government has consistently denied involvement, but has failed to transparently investigate or resolve the cases. In recent years, peaceful resistance--through sit-ins, marches, and now social media--has grown, led by groups like the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). These families, driven by grief and hope, continue to demand the safe return of their loved ones and an end to the culture of impunity. (ANI)
EducationUSA, the US government's official source of information on US higher education, will host a series of eight Study in the US education fairs across India, beginning in Chennai on August 9 and concluding in Pune on August 17, the Embassy of the United States of America said. More than 50 accredited US universities will participate in this nationwide series, offering students and parents a unique opportunity to meet official representatives from American institutions. The fairs are free and open to the public, but registration is required at: https://bit.ly/EdUSAFair25EMB, the Embassy added. These fairs serve as a valuable opportunity for aspiring undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students to receive firsthand advice and guidance from education experts to help them chart their individual paths toward world-class educations in the United States, the Embassy of the United States of America said. Through direct engagement with university officials, EducationUSA advisers, and US Embassy representatives, attendees will gain reliable and transparent information to help them make informed choices and follow a lawful and well-supported journey to academic success, the Embassy noted. The fairs will also feature expert-led sessions covering academic programs, application processes, scholarships, eligibility, and campus life in the United States. With a wide range of disciplines--from science, technology, and engineering to the arts, business, and more--these events are designed to empower Indian students with the knowledge they need to pursue higher education in the United States. The EducationUSA fair will kick off in Chennai on Saturday, August 9, from 2 to 5 pm. It will then move to Bengaluru on Sunday, August 10, from 1 to 5 pm, followed by Hyderabad on Monday, August 11, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. The event will take place in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 12, from 6 to 9 pm, and in Kolkata on Wednesday, August 13, from 6 to 9 pm. Ahmedabad will host the fair on Friday, August 15, from 2 to 5 pm, and Mumbai on Saturday, August 16, from 2 to 5 pm. The final leg will be held in Pune on Sunday, August 17, from 2 to 5 pm. According to the Embassy of the United States of America, EducationUSA is a US Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. In India, EducationUSA services are offered through five centers located in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. EducationUSA provides the most up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive information to students seeking to study at accredited post-secondary institutions in the United States. (ANI)
All five workers trapped inside Chile's El Teniente copper mine following a tunnel collapse caused by a strong earthquake have been found dead, a regional prosecutor confirmed, according to Al Jazeera. The last of the missing miners was located after rescue teams cleared over 24 metres (78 feet) of rubble in the underground passages of the mine, which is situated around 100 km south of Santiago. Prosecutor Aquiles Cubillos of the O'Higgins region announced the discovery of the final body on Sunday. "We deeply regret this outcome," Cubillos said, as quoted by Al Jazeera. The death toll from the incident now stands at six, including one worker who died at the time of the collapse, which occurred on Thursday evening. Over 100 rescue personnel were deployed in the search at the El Teniente site--widely known as the world's largest underground copper mine. Al Jazeera reported that the miners were operating at a depth of over 900 metres when the seismic event struck. The exact cause of the tremor, which registered a magnitude of 4.2, remains under investigation. Authorities said it was not yet known whether the origin was natural or triggered by mining activity. "This is one of the biggest events, if not the biggest, that the El Teniente deposit has experienced in decades," said Andres Music, the mine's general manager. Chile's state-run mining giant Codelco located the first body on Saturday and three more on Sunday, but has yet to publicly comment on the final recovery. Operations at the mine have been halted since Saturday, when Mining Minister Aurora Williams announced a temporary suspension. The El Teniente mine, operational since the early 1900s, comprises over 4,500 km (2,800 miles) of underground tunnels. It produced 356,000 tonnes of copper last year--about 7% of Chile's total copper output, according to Al Jazeera. Chile remains the world's top copper producer, accounting for nearly a quarter of global supply with 5.3 million tonnes produced in 2024. The country's mining sector is one of the safest globally, with a fatality rate of just 0.02% last year, Al Jazeera added, citing figures from Chile's National Geology and Mining Service. The rescue team deployed for the El Teniente operation included several specialists who had taken part in the 2010 mission to save 33 trapped miners in the Atacama Desert--an incident that captured worldwide attention. Chile lies along the geologically volatile "Ring of Fire," making it prone to frequent seismic activity. (ANI)
Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar condemned "Hamas and Islamic Jihad" for what he described as a "deliberate and well-planned sadistic propaganda campaign" using hostages, following the release of disturbing videos showing two Israeli captives. Addressing international media at a press conference, Sa'ar said, "Hamas and Islamic Jihad are using the starvation and torture of hostages as part of a deliberate and well-planned sadistic propaganda campaign. The issue of the hostages must be front and center on the world stage!" The remarks came after videos were released showing hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski in visibly deteriorated condition. "The world witnessed their terrible condition. Starved. Tortured. Evyatar was forced to dig his own grave. The world saw the thick arm of the well-fed terrorist - next to the starved and tortured Evyatar," Sa'ar said. He drew comparisons between Hamas and notorious groups, stating, "On October 7th - and since then - Hamas has committed evil crimes like the Nazis and ISIS did." "There are still 50 hostages cruelly being held in the dungeons of Gaza," the minister added, criticising the absence of international oversight. "We see the dire condition of our starved hostages - yet they still have not seen representatives of the Red Cross, despite this being explicitly agreed upon." He further alleged that the starvation campaign was being manipulated for media purposes. "These organisations also planned the starvation campaign of lies together. The amount of aid entering proves that it is a fake propaganda campaign." Sa'ar warned that hostage-taking is being used as a strategic tool by terror groups to ensure their survival. "Terror states and organisations kidnap civilians in order to ensure their own survival and interests. Innocent civilians are inhumanely used as tools by terrorists to achieve their goals. In the case of Hamas - to force upon us their conditions: Remaining in power in Gaza." Labelling the situation as a global threat, Sa'ar said, "This is a dangerous phenomenon that could happen tomorrow anywhere. The international community must make it not worthwhile for the terrorists. The world must put an end to the phenomenon of kidnapping civilians. It must be front and center on the world stage." Sa'ar announced his travel plans to New York to push the issue at the United Nations. "This is why I will head to New York tonight: To participate in a special UN Security Council session, which I initiated, taking place tomorrow on the situation of the hostages. I thank the US and Panama for answering our call and helping convene this important and urgent meeting." The minister expressed appreciation for countries that joined Israel's diplomatic efforts. "That is why I reached out to my colleagues and asked them to urgently put the issue of the hostages at the center of the global agenda. I thank them for showing up and for raising their voice." Calling out international media, Sa'ar said: "The unbalanced and twisted anti-Israeli agenda of a huge part of the international media has once again been exposed. Just as there is no acknowledgement of Israel's humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip - and Israel is doing a lot - the horrible images of the hostages were painfully missing from the front pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and most of the global media. It is shameful!" He demanded the "immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages," calling out what he described as global hypocrisy. "Certain countries and leaders try to create a 'symmetry' between both sides - between hostages and murderers. But this is a distortion! There is no symmetry here!" Taking aim at French President Emmanuel Macron's comments, Sa'ar said: "You heard what the President of France said. Hostages 'on both sides.' But there aren't! On one side you have hostages, brutally kidnapped from their homes on Oct. 7th, tortured and held in cruel captivity for almost two years by Hamas. On the other side, evil murderers serving life sentences. The simple truth: There are hostages on one side. And terrorists on the other." He accused countries such as France, the UK, and Canada of rewarding Hamas through diplomatic steps. "The steps taken by countries like France, the UK, Canada and others are a pure prize for terror. A huge gift for Hamas." Citing statements from Hamas, he said: "Here you have a senior member of Hamas clearly stating: These are the fruits of October 7th. These countries must understand the consequences of their actions." Sa'ar claimed that moves to recognise a virtual Palestinian state derailed hostage negotiations. "I warned on this very stage that recognizing a virtual Palestinian State will lead to the assassination of the chances to reach a hostage deal and ceasefire. This is exactly what happened." Calling the diplomatic moves "immoral" and "politically foolish," he said: "These steps have only hardened Hamas' stance during critical days in the negotiations for a hostage deal and ceasefire and rewarded them for their terror. It is a huge mistake. It is morally distorted. It is geopolitically foolish." He closed with a strong message to the global community: "It is time for these countries to do some soul-searching. If you can't help - for God sake - don't continue to cause damage to all the people living in our region!" (ANI)
A former high-ranking Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official with deep ties to the regime, which is responsible for the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities, was found to be at the centre of a child abuse investigation in Arcadia, California, as per The Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) reports. In May 2025, Arcadia police arrested Xuan Guojun, 65, and his wife, Silvia Zhang, 38, for suspected child endangerment after their two-month-old baby was hospitalised with a traumatic head injury. According to DCNF, security footage revealed a horrifying scene inside their USD 4 million mansion, showing their nanny, Li Chunmei, 56, allegedly abusing 21 children under their care, most of them toddlers. While Xuan and Zhang haven't yet been charged, their company, Mark Surrogacy Investments LLC, is under investigation for allegedly failing to disclose the use of surrogate mothers, raising ethical and legal alarms. But the story turns even darker. DCNF found that Xuan spent over two decades embedded in the very apparatus enforcing Beijing's repressive ethnic policies. He served in both the Urumqi Municipal People's Congress and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) People's Congress, two key CCP bodies tied to mass internment, forced abortions, and systematic surveillance of Uyghur Muslims. Human rights leaders aren't mincing words. "Their hands are fully stained with the blood of the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples," said Salih Hudayar, foreign minister of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile, to DCNF. "Anyone who served in the XUAR Congress during this time is complicit in genocide." From 1997 to 2012, Xuan reportedly introduced over 200 legislative proposals while serving in these congresses, rubber-stamping entities under full CCP control, DCNF confirms. These included laws underpinning China's genocide, such as forced sterilisation and repression of Uyghur language and culture. Xuan also held leadership roles in CCP-linked influence operations in the US, including the United Front Work Department and a California-based group known for operating an unlicensed CCP-backed court system, DCNF reported in January 2025. The FBI and DOJ are now working with local authorities, according to DCNF. But for many, the question remains: How did a man so deeply tied to one of the world's worst human rights atrocities quietly embed himself in American suburbia? As investigations deepen, the Xuan case is emerging not just as a child abuse scandal but as a disturbing example of the CCP's expanding influence and impunity, right on US soil. (ANI)
According to Le Monde, the 153-page report, which was approved for publication on June 17 by the National Assembly's European Affairs Committee after a brief debate involving only eight members, including four from LFI, has sparked political outrage and academic criticism.

The report's overtly pro-China stance was said to clash with the official position of the French government, Taipei Times noted.

Led by lawmaker Marie-Noelle Battistel, the Taiwan Friendship Group released a statement challenging the report's most contentious claim: that "the United Nations has recognised Taiwan as a province of China."

The group clarified that UN Resolution 2758 merely recognised the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the legitimate representative of "China" at the UN but did not define Taiwan's legal status, the Taipei Times reported.

The statement emphasised that the resolution "does not preclude Taiwan's participation in other international organisations" and criticised the report for repeating Beijing's false narrative.

The group also referenced the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, affirming that the Taiwan Strait constitutes international waters. It urged the French government to continue naval transits in the Strait alongside allies such as the US and UK to maintain freedom of navigation and uphold the Indo-Pacific status quo, Taipei Times said.

Citing China's escalating military drills and frequent incursions into Taiwan's air defence identification zone, the group warned that Beijing seeks to "undermine regional stability" through psychological and military pressure.

Finally, the group rejected the report's proposal to abandon the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy in favour of a China-inclusive framework, calling it a dangerous concession that violates international law and compromises French interests in the South Pacific, the Taipei Times reported. (ANI)
A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening support for Taiwan and its diplomatic allies in Latin America and the Caribbean, as China continues its aggressive campaign to isolate Taipei on the global stage, Focus Taiwan reported. Titled the United States-Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act, the bill was introduced on August 1 by Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Tim Kaine of Virginia, John Curtis of Utah, and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska. According to a press release from Merkley's office, the legislation would reaffirm Washington's policy of supporting countries in the region that formally recognise Taiwan and counter Beijing's expanding influence, Focus Taiwan noted. If enacted, the bill would create a mechanism to monitor and respond to China-backed infrastructure and development projects in Taiwan's diplomatic partners, while requiring regular updates to Congress on Beijing's pressure tactics and US efforts to push back, Focus Taiwan reported. The legislation would also promote greater coordination between US embassies and Taiwan's representative offices, encouraging joint development programs, public diplomacy, and strategic engagement with allies across the region. "China's campaign to bully countries into abandoning Taiwan is part of its broader effort to reshape the global order through coercion and backroom deals," Senator Merkley said in the press release, according to Focus Taiwan. "This bipartisan bill pushes back by supporting governments that choose to maintain ties with Taiwan and makes clear that every nation should be free to choose its partners without fear of retribution from Beijing," he added. Echoing that sentiment, Senator Curtis emphasised the importance of transparency and US leadership. "This bill ensures the United States is not only monitoring China's coercive tactics, but actively responding. It sends a clear message: we stand with our allies," Focus Taiwan reported. The proposed legislation still requires approval by both the Senate and House before it can be signed into law by the president or vetoed. Since 2016, Taiwan has lost 10 diplomatic allies, five of which were in Latin America: Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras, leaving Taipei with only 12 formal allies worldwide, Focus Taiwan reported. (ANI)
Hamas has expressed openness to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivering aid to Israeli captives held in Gaza, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request for the Geneva-based organization's involvement, Al Jazeera reported. Netanyahu said on Sunday that he had spoken to Julian Larson, head of the ICRC delegation to Israel, requesting the group's "immediate involvement" in providing food and medical treatment to captives still held in Gaza. The statements came after Palestinian groups last week released videos showing two emaciated Israeli captives amid a broader starvation crisis affecting some 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, Al Jazeera noted. In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote in Hebrew that Hamas was spreading a "lie of starvation" in Gaza, but "systematic starvation is being carried out against our hostages." Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, responded through spokesman Abu Obeida, saying Israeli captives "eat what our fighters and all our people eat" and will "not receive any special privilege amid the crime of starvation and siege." However, Abu Obeida added that Hamas is "ready to act positively and respond to any request from the Red Cross to deliver food and medicine to enemy prisoners," Al Jazeera reported. Abu Obeida stressed the need for "humanitarian corridors" to be opened permanently for food and medicine to reach all Gaza residents and called for an end to Israeli attacks "during the receipt of packages for the prisoners." The ICRC expressed being "appalled by the harrowing videos" of the captives and reiterated its call to be "granted access to the hostages." The organization said, "These videos are stark evidence of the life-threatening conditions in which the hostages are being held." It added, "We know families watching these videos are horrified and heartbroken by the conditions they see their loved ones held in," Al Jazeera reported. According to the ICRC's website, "securing access requires the cooperation of all parties involved." The group also said it "has not been able to visit any Palestinian detainees held in Israeli places of detention since 7 October 2023." In a separate statement, the ICRC condemned the killing of a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) staff member in a "clearly marked Palestine Red Crescent Society building" in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. The PRCS earlier blamed Israeli forces for the attack. Meanwhile, families of Israeli captives in Gaza criticized Netanyahu's insistence that a "military resolution" is the only solution, calling it "a direct danger to the lives of our sons, who live in the hell of tunnels and are threatened by starvation and immediate death." They said, "For 22 months, the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure will bring back the hostages, and today, even before reaching a comprehensive draft agreement, it is said that an agreement is futile," Al Jazeera reported. About 50 captives remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive. The Gaza Government Media Office reported that Israeli authorities allowed only 36 aid trucks into Gaza on Saturday, while 22,000 trucks remain outside waiting to deliver food to Palestinians, Al Jazeera added. The United Nations office in Geneva warned that 1 million women and girls in Gaza are now starving. In a post on X, the UN said: "One million. That's how many women and girls are starving in Gaza. This horrific situation is unacceptable and must end. We continue to demand the delivery of lifesaving aid for all women and girls, an immediate ceasefire, and the release of all hostages," Al Jazeera reported. At least 175 people, including 93 children, have died from forced starvation, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health, including 17-year-old Atef Abu Khater, who weighed only 25 kg (55 lbs) before his death on Saturday. (ANI)
The Kremlin on Monday emphasised Russia's responsible stance on nuclear issues, cautioning against escalating nuclear rhetoric after US President Donald Trump announced the redeployment of two American nuclear submarines, citing "provocative remarks" by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, TASS reported. Peskov emphasised the importance of careful nuclear rhetoric, warning against escalation. "Overall, of course, we do not wish to be drawn into such a discussion or comment on it. We approach any statements related to nuclear issues with great caution. As you know, Russia holds a responsible position. President Putin's stance is well known," Russia's Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Russia prioritises nuclear non-proliferation and believes all parties should exercise extreme care in their nuclear statements. Medvedev had invoked Russia's automated nuclear retaliation system, known as the "Dead Hand," in response to Trump's comments. He stressed that all sides should show restraint when addressing nuclear issues, noting Russia's firm commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. "Russia takes the issue of nuclear non-proliferation very seriously. And, of course, we believe that everyone should be extremely careful when it comes to nuclear rhetoric," the Kremlin spokesman added, as quoted by TASS. Peskov's remark followed Trump's order for two nuclear submarines to be positioned in 'appropriate regions' in response to statements made by Medvedev. "Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that. Words are very important and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump stated in a post on Truth Social. Medvedev, who was Russia's president from 2008 to 2012, earlier warned Trump in an X post of playing the "ultimatum game," noting that each new ultimatum was a "threat and a step towards war." "Trump's playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10... He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn't Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!" he stated in the post on July 28. Medvedev is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia. Peskov, during the address, also stated that the US's deployment of nuclear submarines was just a continuous military operation and was not influenced by any such political statements. "Russia takes the issue of nuclear non-proliferation very seriously. And, of course, we believe that everyone should be extremely careful when it comes to nuclear rhetoric," the Kremlin spokesman said, responding to the social media exchange between Trump and Medvedev, as quoted by TASS. China has called for restraint, opposing the use or threat of nuclear weapons, while the US and NATO have deemed Russia's nuclear rhetoric "irresponsible." (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met with the Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in the national capital, as he marked the beginning of his five-day state visit to the country aimed at deepening bilateral ties between India and the Philippines. In a post on X, the EAM expressed his delight over the President's visit, noting his confidence in deepening the bilateral partnership following his dialogue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. "Delighted to call on President @bongbongmarcos of the Philippines this evening in Delhi at the start of his State Visit. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership," Jaishankar stated on X. Earlier today, Philippine President Marcos arrived in the national capital for his five-day state visit to India, aimed at further strengthening the India-Philippines relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. This is the first visit by the President of the Southeast Asian country to India since he assumed office back in 2022, marking a significant milestone, as his visit aligns with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. According to a post on X by the MEA, Marcos was welcomed with a warm reception by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. "Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Bongbong Marcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India & the Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations," the MEA stated on X. He was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation, including several Ministers from his Cabinet. According to a statement by the MEA, during his visit, President Marcos will be holding talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other officials. On August 5, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat, and following that, he will hold talks with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House. Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and Press Statements will take place thereafter. The Philippine President will then meet Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and thereafter President Droupadi Murmu. He will then travel to Bengaluru and meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. His visit came following an invitation by PM Modi, an MEA statement stated on Thursday. (ANI)
Despite starting its space research programme almost a decade earlier than India, Pakistan is gearing up to land a spacecraft on the Moon by 2035, as stated by the country's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Geo News reported. The announcement came as the nation currently struggles with the rise of terrorist attacks, basic infrastructure and economic instability. Speaking during a meeting in Beijing with Chinese officials, including Head of China's Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency Shan Zhongde, Iqbal called for deeper reliance on China to fill gaps in Pakistan's space and nuclear programs, Geo News reported. The lunar mission has been tasked to Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which is yet to launch a satellite or space mission all on its own, particularly without the assistance of China. Pakistan will contribute a 35-kilogram lunar rover to China's Chang'e-8 mission in 2028, which aims to explore the Moon's south pole. The rover will conduct scientific experiments, analyse terrain, and assess resource utilisation. Meanwhile, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made significant strides compared to its neighbour, with notable success with its lunar mission, Chandrayaan and Mars mission, Mangalyaan. India is now also on its way to its first manned mission in space, Gaganyaan, scheduled for the first quarter of early 2027. According to Geo News, the discussion between the two sides, framed as strategic cooperation, largely highlighted Pakistan's growing dependence on Chinese technology and expertise. Iqbal promoted the "Uraan Pakistan" initiative, claiming that the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reinvigorated the country's stagnant space science sector, Geo News reported. He noted that three Pakistani-made satellites were launched recently, though all with significant Chinese assistance, and Pakistan now hopes to again piggyback on China's space station to send its first astronaut by 2026, with no clear independent capability. With climate change and domestic resource crises looming, Iqbal shifted focus to energy, calling for more Chinese support in nuclear power and cutting-edge tech like quantum computing, a field in which Pakistan has little to no native capacity. Pakistan's space sector, led by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), was established in 1961 by Dr Abdus Salam, a Nobel laureate and scientific advisor to President Ayub. Insufficient government funding has hindered SUPARCO's progress, with an annual budget of $36 million compared to India's ISRO, which receives significantly more. SUPARCO has faced leadership issues, with retired army generals heading the agency for the past 11 years, raising questions about its scientific direction. Moreover, Pakistan relies heavily on China for satellite launches and development, limiting its indigenous capabilities. Few universities in Pakistan offer space-related courses, restricting the growth of skilled professionals. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government had once again failed to honour its financial commitments under the CPEC, with outstanding payments to Chinese power producers ballooning to PKR 423 billion by June 2025, as reported by The Express Tribune. Chinese official Shan Zhongde responded with predictable diplomacy, praising Pakistan's alignment with Chinese interests and reaffirming Beijing's role as the driving force behind any meaningful scientific or economic advancement Pakistan hopes to achieve. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday called upon all Indians, both at home and abroad, to participate in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign as the nation gears up to celebrate its 79th Independence Day on August 15. In a post on X, Jaishankar highlighted the campaign's significance as a symbol of India's unity, strength, and collective aspirations. He pointed out that the campaign embodies the pride and zeal of the Indian people in their homeland. "India is a symbol of India's unity, strength and our collective aspirations. The #HarGharTiranga campaign captures the pride and enthusiasm of the people of Bharat in our motherland. Urge all Indians at home and abroad to celebrate the tricolour by hoisting it in our homes and uploading a selfie with on http://harghartiranga.com," the EAM wrote in his post. According to the Ministry of Culture, this year the initiative will run from August 2 to August 15, during which the government has urged the people of India to hoist the tricolour at their homes. The Ministry also stated that this year around, along with the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, the government has also taken up a resolve for cleanliness. "From August 2 to 15, hoist the tricolour at your home," The Ministry of Culture stated in a post on X. "This time, along with the tricolour, a resolve for cleanliness -- The message of "Cleanliness is Service" will be spread to every individual," the post added. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to launch a nationwide Tiranga Yatra (Tricolour March) across all mandals (local units) from August 10 to August 14, aimed at spreading patriotism and highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor, according to sources. The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign is part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' initiative, launched in 2021 to encourage people to bring the national flag into their homes and hoist it in celebration of India's 75th year of independence. The initiative aims to ignite a sense of patriotism and raise awareness about the Indian national flag. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Monday said that the United States will "substantially raise" the tariff paid by India for buying "massive amounts of Russian Oil", stating that much of the oil purchased from Moscow is being sold in the open market "for big profits". Trump's announcement, made on his social media platform Truth Social, came days after he announced a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on India and an unspecified penalty for importing oil from Russia. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!" the US President said in the post. India has defended its sovereign right to conduct energy policy based on national interest. The government has clarified that India's energy purchases are guided by market dynamics and national interests. "You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week, answering queries on Trump's announcement of a penalty for purchasing Russian oil. Answering another query, Jaiswal said India's relations with any country are based on their own merit and shouldn't be viewed through the lens of third countries. "Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership," he added. Answering a query on Friday, Trump indicated that if India stops buying Russian, it will be a good step. "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard, I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..." said Trump. Trump announced the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods and a penalty for importing Russian oil in the last week of July, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. There are apprehensions that global crude prices could jump to USD 200 a barrel if India were to stop buying Russian oil, which will severely harm consumers. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday came out strongly in defence of the country's decision to import oil from Russia, despite criticism from the United States and European Union. According to the MEA, India's imports from Russia are driven by necessity and aimed at ensuring predictable and affordable energy costs for Indian consumers. The MEA described the criticism of India's trade policy as "unjustified and unreasonable," asserting that India will take necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that India's crude imports from Russia were prompted by disruptions in traditional supply chains after the conflict in Ukraine began. The MEA emphasised that New Delhi's energy imports are a sovereign decision driven by national interest and market realities. "The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," the MEA statement read. "India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability," it added. The MEA further noted that the European Union had a bilateral trade of EUR67.5 billion in goods and EUR17.2 billion in services with Russia in 2023, significantly more than India's total trade with Russia. The EU's LNG imports from Russia reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024. Moreover, the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle industry, fertilisers, and chemicals from Russia, read MEA release. India's energy import strategy prioritises energy security and affordability. The country has diversified its energy imports, increasing reliance on countries like Russia to meet its growing energy demands. The MEA's response came after President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, accused India of buying "massive amounts" of Russian oil and reselling it for profit, claiming this undermined efforts to end the Ukraine conflict and, as a result, he would "substantially raise the tariff paid by India to the USA". The MEA, in the statement, stressed that these imports are guided by the need to ensure predictable and affordable energy prices for its citizens, while noting that Western nations criticising India are themselves engaged in far larger trade with Russia, despite no such compelling energy insecurity. "India's imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by the global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion," the statement read. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump's claim that India is buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it on the open market for big profits "is factually incorrect and misleading," think tank GTRI has said, noting that a key reason New Delhi stepped up Russian oil purchases was to help stabilize global oil markets after Western sanctions disrupted traditional supply chains. In his comments came soon after Trump said that the United States will "substantially raise" the tariff paid by India for buying "massive amounts of Russian Oil" much of which is "being sold in open market", Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) Founder Ajay Srivastava Trump has targeted India but China buys more Russian oil. "Mr Trump's decision to raise tariffs on India citing oil trade is not only unjustified--it ignores market realities, misrepresents trade data, and undermines a key strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific," Srivastava said. Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) is a research Group focused on Climate Change, technology and trade. GTRI said India does not export crude oil--Russian or otherwise. "India is a net importer of crude oil, and its global exports of crude stand at zero. What India does export are refined petroleum products including from Russian oil, such as diesel and jet fuel, after processing crude oil in its refineries--just like many other energy-importing countries. Second, China--not India--is the largest buyer of Russian oil. In 2024, China imported $62.6 billion worth of Russian oil, compared to India's $52.7 billion. But Mr. Trump appears unwilling to criticize China, perhaps because of geopolitical calculations, and instead targets India unfairly," Srivastava said. He said India's oil trade with Russia has taken place with full transparency and broad understanding with the United States. "One of the key reasons India stepped up Russian oil purchases was to help stabilize global oil markets after Western sanctions disrupted traditional supply chains. By maintaining diversified and affordable energy access, India contributed to preventing a global oil price shock," he said. Trump's announcement, made on his social media platform Truth Social, came days after he announced 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on India and an unspecified penalty for importing oil from Russia. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!" the US President said in the post. Srivastava said India's oil refineries--comprising both government-owned and private-sector entities--operate independently when it comes to sourcing crude oil and do not require government approval to buy from Russia or any other country. Their purchase decisions are guided by commercial considerations, such as price, supply stability, and export market regulations," he said. The GTRI Founder said that if refiners assess that the risks of importing Russian crude--such as secondary sanctions or loss of access to key export destinations--outweigh the cost advantages of discounted oil, they may choose to reduce or stop such purchases on their own. "For instance, while India exported diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to the EU in FY2025, these exports will now cease due to the EU's ban on products refined from Russian crude. In such scenarios, Indian refiners will naturally shift away from Russian oil without waiting for any government directive," he said Srivastava said that in May 2025, India's imports from Russia has reduced by 9.8% to $9.2 billion compared to May 2024 purchase. India has defended its sovereign right to conduct energy policy based on national interest. The government has clarified that India's energy purchases are guided by market dynamics and national interests. "You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week answering queries on Trump's announcement of penalty for purchasing Russian oil. Answering another query, Jaiswal said India's relations with any country are based on their own merit and shouldn't be viewed through the lens of third countries. "Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership," he added. Trump announced the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods and a penalty for importing Russian oil in the last week of July , even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. There are apprehensions that global crude prices could jump to USD 200 a barrel if India were to stop buying Russian oil and this will severely harm consumers. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday inaugurated the first-ever BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival, calling it a celebration of shared heritage and a powerful display of cultural unity among the member states. Speaking at the event, titled 'Sapt-Sur', referring to the seven musical notes as well as the seven members in the grouping, Jaishankar highlighted the deep cultural bonds that unite the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) nations and emphasised the role of traditional music in preserving identity and promoting mutual respect. "An enriching evening of 'Sapt-Sur'! Great to witness traditional music performances from BIMSTEC countries. A commitment made by PM Narendra Modi at the BIMSTEC summit this year, the music festival builds on our shared cultural traditions and living bridges," Jaishankar stated in a post on X. Addressing the event, Jaishankar said that music serves not only as an expression of creativity and emotion but also as a "bridge between nations and a powerful expression of heritage and identity." "In my own case, it was actually through music, and to some extent books, that I developed an interest in the world. There is so much that music is able to convey that it is understandably regarded as the soul of a society. That is even more so when it comes to traditional music; like other forms of culture, music serves both as a bridge between nations and a powerful expression of their heritage and identity," he stated. As the world faces rising geopolitical uncertainty, Jaishankar noted that cultural traditions, including music, play a critical role in asserting identity and dignity on the global stage. "We live in complicated and uncertain times. A collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order, not one dominated by a few. That quest is often articulated as political or economic rebalancing. But I want to say this to you - obtaining respect and ensuring dignity for societies can also be achieved through cultural prowess, especially through cultural prowess," he added. The music festival, hosted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), saw participation from artists representing all BIMSTEC countries--Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand--showcasing the rich diversity and harmony of South and Southeast Asia through their traditional performances. "I welcome the participants from all member states, and like all of you, I am looking forward to a very enjoyable evening. I also want to underline what the Director General, ICCR, has said - that this was a commitment which was made by Prime Minister Modi at the BIMSTEC Summit, and I am so glad that, like so many of his commitments, that has been kept, and kept early," Jaishankar stated. The festival marks a new cultural milestone for BIMSTEC cooperation, reflecting India's emphasis on cultural diplomacy as a key component of regional integration. (ANI)
The US Embassy in India has issued a stern warning to visa holders, reminding them to respect the terms of their US visa and authorised period of stay in the United States and making it clear that any violation could lead to visa revocation and possible deportation. In a post on X the US Embassy said, "Respect the terms of your U.S. visa and your authorized period of stay in the United States. Remaining in the United States past your I-94 "Admit Until Date" can lead to severe consequences such as visa revocation, possible deportation, and ineligibility for future visas. Overstaying may permanently affect your ability to travel, study, or work in the United States." https://x.com/USAndIndia/status/1952368937917706434 Also on Monday, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Congresswoman from Georgia's 14th District in a post on X said, "End Indian H1-B visas replacing American jobs instead and stop funding and sending weapons to the Obama/Biden/Neocon Ukraine Russia war." https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1952386743040421930 Her remarks came while referring to the latest statement by US President Donald Trump, who on Monday said that the United States will "substantially raise" the tariff paid by India for buying "massive amounts of Russian Oil", stating that much of the oil purchased from Moscow is being sold in the open market "for big profits". Trump wrote on Truth Social, "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!" India has defended its sovereign right to conduct energy policy based on national interest. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday came out strongly in defence of the country's decision to import oil from Russia, despite criticism from the United States and European Union. According to the MEA, India's imports from Russia are driven by necessity and aimed at ensuring predictable and affordable energy costs for Indian consumers. The MEA described the criticism of India's trade policy as "unjustified and unreasonable," asserting that India will take necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, met New Zealand Defence Ministry's Head of International Branch, Kathleen Pearce, in New Delhi on Monday and reaffirmed commitment to deepen cooperation across key strategic domains. Sharing the details of their meeting in a post on X, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said, "Ms Kathleen Pearce, Head of International Branch, Ministry of Defence, New Zealand and Mr Patrick John Rata, NZ High Commissioner called on Raksha Rajya Mantri @SethSanjayMPtoday. The meeting reaffirmed strong defence ties & commitment to deepen cooperation across key strategic domains." https://x.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1952397631029674109 Also on Monday, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Kathleen Pearce. In a post on X, the MoD said, "Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh met Ms Kathleen Pearce, Head of International Branch, Ministry of Defence, New Zealand and NZ High Commissioner Mr Patrick John Rata in New Delhi today. Both sides welcomed the launch of strategic dialogue & agreed to deepen #defenceties." https://x.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1952365974830682324 The commitment towards defence cooperation comes at the heels of the recently held second round of India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Negotiations, which concluded in New Delhi, that significant advancements in multiple areas, including trade in goods and services, investment, rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and economic cooperation. According to a release by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, discussions were marked by mutual interest in achieving early convergence on several texts. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to concluding a balanced, comprehensive, and forward-looking agreement. The Second Round of negotiations for the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) concluded successfully on July 25 in New Delhi, further advancing the shared objective of strengthening bilateral trade and economic partnerships. India and New Zealand have historically shared close and cordial ties. Similarities such as membership of the Commonwealth, common law practices and pursuing shared aspirations of achieving economic development and prosperity through democratic governance systems for diverse communities in both countries provide an excellent backdrop for deepening the friendly ties, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. (ANI)
Why activist investors are essential, not improper By Stefan Padfield

web posted August 4, 2025 Recent legal filings referencing National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) v. Schultz (the Starbucks case), are advancing a dangerous notion: that non-profit advocacy groups cannot be proper plaintiffs in shareholder derivative suits. This interpretation of the law, if left unchecked, fundamentally undermines shareholder democracy and corporate accountability, creating a convenient shield for boards to evade scrutiny over potentially harmful or illegal conduct. (Full disclosure: I am an employee of NCPPR.) In NCPPR v. Schultz, the judge dismissed the National Center for Public Policy Research's complaint against Starbucks' officers and directors, which alleged the company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies amounted to illegal racial discrimination. The court concluded that NCPPR "did not file this action to enforce the interests of Starbucks, but to advance its own political and public policy agendas," and therefore was not a "fairly and adequately representative" shareholder. The judge even went so far as to suggest that if NCPPR was "so concerned," it should simply "reallocate [its] capital elsewhere." As I have argued elsewhere, this reasoning is deeply flawed. NCPPR's concerns about DEI aligned perfectly with the interests of Starbucks and its shareholders because illegal discrimination, even under the guise of DEI, poses a significant financial risk to the company's bottom line. Indeed, Starbucks had recently lost a roughly $25 million reverse-discrimination lawsuit, a clear indicator of such financial harm. By dismissing the case, the judge essentially declared that allegations of illegal discrimination have "no business being before this Court," despite legislatures having clearly spoken on the illegality of racial discrimination. Furthermore, the judge's ruling failed to acknowledge that knowingly engaging in illegal conduct is generally not protected by the business judgment rule, which NCPPR explicitly alleged Starbucks was doing by adopting policies known to violate state and federal civil rights laws. The judge's subsequent invitation for Rule 11 sanctions effectively put a "price tag" on NCPPR's right to appeal, forcing them to drop the case. This troubling precedent is now being cited as good law. In the recent motion to dismiss filed by Smith & Wesson (S&W) Brands, Inc. against the Adrian Dominican Sisters and other plaintiffs, the defendants invoked NCPPR v. Schultz to argue that the Sisters, a consortium of social activists, were not adequate shareholder representatives because they held a "small number of shares" for the "sole purpose of stopping the manufacture, marketing, and sale of modern sporting rifles". S&W claimed the Sisters had a "unique non-economic motivation" that set them apart from the majority of stockholders who invest for financial gain. Rather than argue that the court should reject the reasoning of NCPPR v. Schultz, the S&W plaintiffs tried to argue it was inapplicable to them because, among other things, they had filed successful proposals in the past. However, the status of a shareholder as a proper representative of shareholder interests does not require prior successful proposals. Dismissing derivative suits simply because a plaintiff identifies as an "activist" or has a "social agenda" is a dangerous oversimplification. When that agenda directly intersects with a corporation's legal compliance, financial well-being, or long-term value creation, it is a proper corporate purpose. As corporate governance expert Prof. Stephen Bainbridge recently noted: In the well-known State ex rel. Pillsbury v. Honeywell, Inc. decision, plaintiff belonged to an antiwar group trying to stop Honeywell from producing anti-personnel fragmentation bombs for the military. After buying some Honeywell stock, plaintiff requested access to Honeywell's shareholder list and to corporate records relating to production of such bombs. In denying plaintiff access to those records, the court emphasized that plaintiff's stated reasons were based on his pre-existing social and political views rather than any economic interest. Accordingly, the court carefully limited its holdings to the facts at bar: "We do not mean to imply that a shareholder with a bona fide investment interest could not bring this suit if motivated by concern with the long-or short-term economic effects on Honeywell resulting from the production of war munitions." Importantly, the Honeywell court rested its conclusion in part on the fact that "petitioner was not interested in even the long-term well-being of Honeywell or the enhancement of the value of his shares. His sole purpose was to persuade the company to adopt his social and political concerns, irrespective of any economic benefit to himself or Honeywell." This is in stark contrast to a shareholder like NCPPR, which created its Free Enterprise Project precisely to promote the economic well-being of corporations that is critical to optimizing the value-creation of our free-market capitalism. In other words, as opposed to being indifferent to the economic well-being of the corporations we own, our core mission is to keep corporations from going broke by going woke. Ultimately, shareholder democracy thrives when diverse voices can hold management accountable. To shut the courthouse doors to non-profit advocacy groups, particularly when they allege systemic failures in oversight or knowing violations of law that lead to corporate harm, is to endorse a system where corporate boards operate with less transparency and less accountability. It is to say that if a shareholder wants to ensure a company adheres to the law, or protects its reputation and finances from self-inflicted wounds, they must do so without any reference to ethical concerns. This is not good corporate governance; it is a retreat from it. Stefan Padfield is Director of the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research. This was first published at RealClearMarkets. Home
HYOGO, Aug 05 (News On Japan) - A perfume that recreates the scent of a baby's head is drawing attention for its ability to evoke feelings of happiness.

Developed over seven years by a startup in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, the fragrance was released in June and is made from a blend of over 20 ingredients including flowers and citrus fruits.

The product was created under the guidance of Mamiko Ozaki, an honorary professor at Kobe University who has spent decades researching pheromones in ants. She hypothesized that just as insects communicate through scent, newborn babies might also use smell to send emotional signals to their caregivers.

"Babies cant speak, but when theyre born and emit that particular scent, maybe its their way of saying, Please take care of me," Ozaki explained.

Focusing especially on the scent of a baby's head, the team collected odor samples from around 20 infants and identified 37 distinct aromatic compounds. Among them, one key ingredient stood out: nonanal, a compound with a floral note, commonly found in pleasant human scents and particularly abundant in babies.

The resulting fragrance, described by testers as "gentle," "natural," and "refreshing like citrus," was designed to mimic the soothing effect of that newborn scent. Some parents expressed nostalgic affection for the aroma, noting its calming and emotionally uplifting qualities.

In experiments conducted with the recreated scent, researchers found that it activated areas of the brain associated with mood enhancement. The findings suggest that the baby-like scent may serve as a form of non-verbal communication, conveying messages such as Im doing my best to grow, so please dont get too stressed.

The project has sparked renewed interest in how scent can influence human emotions and deepen our understanding of the subtle forms of communication that begin at birth.

Source: YOMIURI
The recent letter sent by U.S. President Donald Trump to King Mohammed VI, reaffirming Americas recognition of Moroccos full sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory has knocked down the Algerian regime which has squandered billions of US dollars for nearly five decades on a lost cause.

According to intelligence reports, Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune has been reportedly transferred to a European hospital for medical treatment after clashes during an emergency meeting of the Algerian Security Council.

The Algerian rulers have pinned high hopes on a possible change of Trumps supportive stand of Moroccan sovereignty over its Sahara. But their expectations proved wrong, prompting finger-pointing from all members of the Council.

Since the return of Trump to the White House, the Algerian junta has engaged extensive lobbying in Washington in a bid to convince Trump administration to reverse its decision on the Sahara.

In 2020, the Algerian authorities had lambasted Trumps decision to recognize the Moroccanness of the Sahara. Now, they said the sky is the limit to their cooperation with the Americans who were not impressed by their proposed deals in exchange for a shift in U.S. longstanding regional geostrategic alliances.

The Algerian propaganda went even further in framing and deceiving the public opinion alleging the U.S. Congress voted against legislation designating the Polisario a terrorist organization and claiming that Trump could change his position with business incentives.

The orchestrated Algerian misinformation warfare intensified during the regional tour paid lately by U.S. presidential advisor Massad Boulos to the Maghreb (Tunisia, Libya and Algeria).

But the delusional Algerian rulers were smacked by President Trump. In an official letter sent to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the Throne Day, the U.S. President made it clear that the United States recognizes Moroccos full sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory and supports Moroccos serious, credible, and realistic Autonomy Proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute.

It is not a mere protocol letter but a strong political statement. It reaffirms that Moroccan Sahara is not a subject of debate on the agenda of the Trump administration, expected to release $5 billion funding for the development of the Moroccan Sahara, set to become a major regional economic hub, says Africa Intelligence news website.

After years of being frozen under Joe Bidens Democratic administration, the Trump administration will release the funding and encourage US companies to invest in the Sahara.

For his part, U.S. ambassador designate to Morocco Duke Buchan pledged at his hearing in the Senate to facilitate progress toward Moroccan Autonomy plan as the only framework basis for reaching a mutually acceptable solution.

He also pledged to strengthen further U.S.-Moroccan strategic partnership in security, economy, technology, transportation, agriculture, and energy sectors, describing Morocco as a pillar of stability, a country whose strategic location makes it critical to American national security.

Algeria, which says it is not a party to the Sahara conflict, has once again found itself embroiled in an embarrassing position. The Autonomy plan offered by Morocco for the Sahara under its sovereignty is gaining momentum, while the Algeria-backed separatist project has lost its luster in the new world order taking shape.

The American recognition of the Sahara as a Moroccan territory is not fortuitous but a well-thought decision of the United States. It is a calculated step within a broader US vision to promote stability in North Africa and the Sahel region.

The United States sees Morocco as a reliable strategic partner in the fight against terrorism, regional trade development, and countering the expanding influence of Russia and China in Africa. Thus, the American backing of the Moroccan autonomy plan is not only a strategic support for the North African Kingdom, but also an investment in regional security and stability.

Morocco, which is developing its southern provinces within the frame of its advanced regionalization plan, is not negotiating from a position of weakness, nor imposing its project on anyone. Rabat is offering a realistic solution for reaching a last peace in the region, while Algiers continues obstructing and disrupting the Sahara peaceful settlement, without presenting an acceptable alternative or a clear roadmap.

Trumps letter comes amidst a growing international support for the Moroccan position, narrowing Algerias margin of maneuvers as the Moroccan Autonomy plan imposes itself as the ONLY viable and doable solution, which enjoys growing international legitimacy.

During his latest Maghreb tour, Trump special advisor has delivered the US president message in strong and clear terms to Algeria and set a 90-day timetable to comply or face consequences. Its time for the Algerian junta to pay the piper. Enough is enough after holding the region hostage for nearly five-decades. Everyone agrees that it is time to move forward.
A fresh wave of brutal attacks by armed groups in northern Mozambique has displaced at least 46,667 people in late July, compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis in the Cabo Delgado province, UN agencies reported.

The violence, concentrated between 20 and 28 July across Chiure, Ancuabe, and Muidumbe districts, has driven total displacement this year to over 95,000. Chiure was the epicenter, with more than 42,000 forced to flee  over half of them children. Families fled from villages such as Nanduli, Mazeze, and Chiure Velho, seeking shelter in overcrowded areas like Chiure Sedes Bairro Micone and Bairro Namicir. The UNs International Organization for Migration (IOM) noted that displaced families nearly tripled in one week, now including more than 1,200 children. In Muidumbe, militants reportedly torched homes and opened fire, causing nearly 500 families to flee. Humanitarian access remains dangerously limited.

Legal experts warn Mozambique may be failing its obligations under international law, including the Geneva Conventions and the African Unions Kampala Convention, which mandate protection and aid for internally displaced persons. The presence of unaccompanied minors and widespread lack of identification in Cabo Delgado underscores the urgent need for the Mozambican government and international partners to step up protection measures, according to JURISTnews run by the George Washington University Law School in the United States. Despite urgent needs, the UN reports that only 19% of Mozambiques 2025 humanitarian response plan is funded. Without additional support, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns thousands risk being left without aid as violence and displacement continue to surge.
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African nations are racing against time to renegotiate trade terms with the United States, as sweeping tariffs  initially set to begin 1 August  now loom for 7 August following a last-minute executive order by President Donald Trump.

Trumps latest executive order slaps a uniform 15% tariff on most African exports  threatening industries from textiles to agriculture  and upending decades of preferential treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Countries like South Africa, Tunisia, and Algeria face even harsher rates of up to 30%. The tariffs replace duty-free access previously granted under the AGOA, shaking trade-dependent economies. Lesotho, one of AGOAs biggest beneficiaries, has declared a state of disaster, citing thousands of textile jobs at risk. Tunisias craft sector also braces for a blow, with 80% of artisan goods destined for the U.S.

While some nations were spared the highest proposed rates  Lesotho was once facing a crippling 50% duty  the damage is still severe. South Africas citrus growers warn that the U.S. hike could leave fruit rotting in pack-houses, while the auto sector fears disinvestment. As uncertainty swirls, China is positioning itself as an alternative, offering tariff-free deals and expanding trade ties, according to a new article by CNN. We (Africa) are going straight into the hands of China, Nigerian economist Bismarck Rewane told the US. broadcaster. But analysts caution that over-reliance on China may expose Africa to new vulnerabilities, including market flooding and skewed trade terms. With the 7 August deadline looming, African leaders  largely sidelined in recent U.S. negotiations  face tough choices: secure relief from Washington or pivot decisively toward Beijing.
UN Special Representative to Libya Hanna Serwaa Tetteh has said Morocco is a very important partner in building agreement and consensus among Libyan parties, commending the Kingdom for its efforts and for backing the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

The UN official made the remarks in Rabat following her Talks held Monday with Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita. She cited the electoral and political challenges Libya is facing, noting that the UN is working with Libyans to establish a new political roadmap.

She also affirmed that the UN Mission will continue to work with all Libyans, with the support of Morocco and the international community, to put an end to the current situation.

For his part, Bourita has reiterated Rabats firm support for the efforts engaged by the United Nations to advance inter-Libyan dialogue leading a solution to the Libyan crisis.
Chinese company Kuntai has said it will invest $13.7 million in a car carpet plant in Morocco which has become a major global player in the automotive industry.

The new production site comes to enhance further Moroccos automotive industrial eco-system. Its main target is the European market. The facility will also promote research, development, production, and sales of car carpets.

Just 14-km from Spain, Morocco is a natural gateway to the European market. With modern ports and constantly improving infrastructure, the country can ensure quick and efficient access to major European markets with reasonable delivery time and competitive logistics costs.

For experts, the Moroccan automotive industry is a success story. Out of the 700,000 finished vehicles produced domestically, nearly 80% are exported primarily to the European market.

Morocco is a global producer and exporter of cars, with the automotive sector accounting for 25 per cent of its exports and directly supporting more than 200,000 jobs.

The country has established four industrial clusters in Casablanca, Kenitra, Rabat, and Tangier, and has several specialized training institutes that ensure a continuous supply of skilled labor.
Has pressure on advertisers to leave X hurt the right's only major free speech platform? By Rachel Alexander

web posted August 4, 2025 Twitter was failing when Elon Musk purchased the social media platform in October 2022. He radically changed it  deliberately renaming it X to distinguish the platform as something far broader. He sought to make X fair by helping independent journalists and creators make money from the platform through giving them a portion of advertising revenues. But pressure from progressives made advertisers flee, so Musk filed a lawsuit to bring them back. Progressives had convinced advertisers that Musk's elimination of Twitter's biased censorship of conservatives  including allowing figures like President Donald Trump back on the platform  would allow disinformation, hate speech and offensive content. The boycott resulted in a reported 55-60% drop in U.S. ad revenue from 2022 to 2023. However, hypocritically, Musk's alignment with Trump after the 2024 election boosted investor confidence and encouraged some advertisers to reconsider X, with a projected 25% increase in ad spending from agencies in February. Since Musk took the company private, figures are mostly estimates or what he reveals. X cultivated new advertisers, with 46 of the top 100 U.S. advertisers in January new to the platform since 2022, including brands like Temu, NFL, DraftKings, Amazon and Dell. Musk sharply denounced the advertiser exodus, famously telling advertisers to "go f**k yourself" at a 2023 New York Times DealBook Summit and accusing them of blackmail. His rhetoric escalated when he filed a lawsuit, declaring "now it is war" against advertisers. X's revenue is recovering  16.5% ad growth in 2025  but is roughly half of Twitter's 2021 peak. X is estimated to have as many as 611 million monthly active users globally, according to sources like DemandSage, up from 368 million in 2022. Subscriptions, such as X Premium, are expected to contribute 10-15% of revenue this year. Twitter's revenue in 2021 was approximately $5.08 billion, primarily from advertising (89%), with the rest from data licensing and other sources. Twitter carried a significant debt load of about $5.5 billion as of mid-2022. In 2021, it reported a net loss of $221 million. Growth was stagnant during the last few years of Twitter. Musk took out $13 billion in loans when he acquired the platform, which likely increased the debt. Its net loss in 2025 may be comparable to 2021, with estimates as low as $220 million. The U.S. House Judiciary Committee suspected illegal collusion to boycott X coordinated by the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), which was formed by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), and conducted an investigation in July 2024 titled "Collusion in the Global Alliance for Responsible Media." The committee released an interim staff report titled "GARM's Harm: How the World's Biggest Brands Seek to Control Online Speech" on July 10, 2024. GARM was formed by WFA in 2019 as a flagship project of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Its stated goal was to create a "common understanding" in the advertising industry of "what harmful and sensitive content is" as well as "where ads should not appear." The WEF is an unelected, elitist group of wealthy corporate and political leaders attempting to shape global policies without governmental accountability. The congressional report stated, "GARM's internal documents show that GARM was asked by a member to 'arrange a meeting and hear more about [GARM's] perspectives about the Twitter situation and a possible boycott from many companies." After its effort, GARM "bragged about" the fact that Twitter was "80% below revenue forecasts." GARM's leader and co-founder, Rob Rakowitz, once complained in an email that the Constitution was written "by white men exclusively." The report alleged that GARM likely violated federal antitrust laws by limiting consumer choice through coordinated demonetization, describing collusion as "the supreme evil of antitrust." The report also found that GARM pressured Spotify over Joe Rogan's podcast, due to his position that healthy people don't need the COVID-19 vaccine. A month later, X filed an antitrust lawsuit in Texas against WFA and GARM, along with companies including Unilever, Mars, CVS Health and rsted. The lawsuit claimed these entities engaged in a "systematic illegal boycott," conspiring to withhold billions of dollars in advertising revenue from X after Musk's takeover, violating U.S. antitrust laws by coordinating a boycott due to concerns over loosened content moderation and brand safety. Internal GARM documents revealed discussions about enforcing brand safety standards  a broad, vague phrase used to justify suppressing conservative speech  which X said were used to justify the boycott. The lawsuit and congressional investigation led to the dissolution of GARM in August 2024, with the group citing resource strain from the litigation as the reason for shutting down. Then-X CEO Linda Yaccarino said this was evidence of GARM's wrongdoing. In February 2025, X broadened the lawsuit to include additional major brands such as Lego, Nestle, Tyson Foods, Abbott Laboratories, Colgate-Palmolive, Pinterest and Shell International, alleging they participated in the boycott orchestrated by GARM. The defendant companies filed a motion to dismiss in May, claiming they didn't coordinate to halt the advertising. Some companies like Unilever were dropped from the lawsuit after signing new ad deals, and others, such as Verizon, committed to significant ad spending ($10 million) after receiving litigation warnings. Despite MSM hype that users fled X since Musk took over to find refuge with far left Bluesky, Bluesky is failing. Bluesky officially launched in 2023, and by early 2025 had only a miserly 30 million users by the most favorable estimates. Only 2.7 million reportedly left X after Musk took over, and Bluesky gained about 2.5 million in that time. Unlike X, which Musk has cultivated to treat both the right and left fairly, something no other major social media platform does  the rest all cater to the left exclusively and censor the right  Bluesky is a bastion of leftist hate. Even leftist billionaire Mark Cuban said the platform is full of "agree with me or you are a nazi fascist" and users have "grown ruder and more hateful." Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home
Both India and China have stated their intentions to continue importing Russian oil, complicating Trump's efforts and raising the potential for higher global oil prices if sanctions are enforced.

Oil traders have adopted a bullish sentiment due to President Trump's threat of imposing new sanctions on Russia for a ceasefire with Ukraine, leading to a surge in bullish bets on Brent and WTI crude.

Sentiment among oil traders has turned bullish recently despite forecasts flagging sluggish demand growth and OPEC+s latest decision to add more barrels to its combined production.

The reason for the change in sentiment was U.S. President Donald Trumps threat to impose new sanctions on Russia unless it agreed to a quick ceasefire with Ukraine. Following the news, oil jumped to the highest in a monthdespite those sluggish demand forecasts.

Brent crude began trading this week at over $69 per barrel, even after OPEC+ announced it would add another 547,000 barrels daily to its combined production next month. That was down from over $73 at the end of last week, when President Trump made his threat and, on top of that, slapped India with 25% tariffs plus an extra levy to punish India for importing Russian crude.

The reaction of oil traders to the news is kind of surprising, not least in light of the bearish demand projections by a number of prediction outlets, including the International Energy Agency and a number of investment banks. Yet this reaction is a fact, and it suggests that the hold of bearish demand forecasts over the market is not as strong as it used to be.

Institutional traders raised their bullish bets on Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate by close to 40,000 in the last week of July, Bloomberg reported on Friday. That was the sharpest increase in bullish positions since June, the publication added. In June, the surge in bullish bets came in response to the missile strike exchange between Israel and Iran, which ignited fears of a wider war in the Middle East.

The identical reaction of traders now suggests they are concerned about the security of Russian oil supply amid the U.S. presidents push to force a ceasefire on the warring parties in the Donbass. Earlier this month, President Trump issued a threat to impose 100% secondary tariffs on countries that buy Russian crude unless Russia agreed to a ceasefire with the Zelensky government. Russias exports average some 7 million barrels daily, which is a substantial chunk of total global exports. If Trump decides to enforce these sanctions, the world may swing into an oil deficit, ING commodity analysts predicted in mid-July. However, the story just got more complicated.

India said last week it has no plans to stop buying Russian crude, whatever the U.S. says. Reuters reported, citing unnamed government sources from New Delhi, that there were no immediate plans to suspend purchases of Russian crude despite the U.S. presidents threat of additional sanctions in the form of 100% tariffs.

These are long-term oil contracts, one of these told the publication. It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight. It is not about the contracts only, however. It seems relations between Washington and New Delhi have soured significantly in recent months, and the chief reason for this, according to a recent report by the Financial Times, is the fact that India buys so much Russian oil.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called these purchases a point of irritation in bilateral relations and President Trump himself made a demonstrative gesture of sealing a trade deal with Pakistan and boasting about plans to jointly develop the countrys massive oil reserves while at the same time calling Indias economy dead, along with Russias.

Things between the U.S. and one of the worlds biggest oil importers are tense, then. In fact, they are so tense that the U.S. president appears willing to risk an oil price surge with secondary tariffsand traders are positioning themselves for just such a surge. But it is not only India that is refusing to heed Trumps orders. China has refused to stop buying Russian oil as well.

China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests, the foreign ministry in Beijing wrote on X last week after a two-day negotiations session with the U.S. in Sweden and after Trump issued the 100% secondary tariff threat. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented that the Chinese take their sovereignty very seriously, adding that We dont want to impede on their sovereignty, so they would like to pay a 100% tariff, as quoted by Australias ABC earlier today.

Yet going through with the 100% tariff threat would be counter-productive for Trump on two fronts: trade deals and cheap gas. A jump in global oil prices resulting from the deployment of the punitive tariffs would mean a jump in U.S. oil prices as well. Also, a punitive tariff of 100% on China will quite likely put an end to all progress made on a trade deal so farand President Trump has made it clear he wants that trade deal. The question now seems to be just how much he wants it, and whether hes willing to risk higher oil prices and that deal to try and get Russia to agree to a ceasefire.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have pushed Uzbekistan to reconsider trade routes, potentially raising logistics costs by 30% and slowing its use of Iran as a transit hub.

The American and Israeli attacks on Iran to obliterate its nuclear program have hit another target: Central Asias opportunity to use Irans transport links to trade with the wider world.

The American and Israeli attacks made an impression in Central Asia as immediately afterwards Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered a review of foreign trade and transport routes, emphasizing the need to redirect cargo flows to safer ports amid instability in the Middle East, changes that could raise logistics costs by 30%.

This is a change from 2023 when Iran and Uzbekistan were drawing closer.

In June 2023, President Mirziyoyev met Irans then-president, Ebrahim Raisi, and Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The meeting netted cooperation pacts in agriculture, energy, customs affairs, sports, science, technology and innovation, cultural exchanges, health care, Chabahar port, the environment, industry, and tourism.

The June meetings followed the March 2023 visit by Uzbekistans foreign minister, who met Irans ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Industry, Mines and Trade. Afterwards, the parties announced efforts to increase trade turnover and to foster business links and people-to-people ties.

These plans may be on hold as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened further attacks on Irans nuclear sites if necessary. And more attacks may happen as Irans president, Masoud Pezeshkian, recently declared Irans nuclear program would continue despite Israeli attacks.

Related: Trump Again Threatens Major Tariff Hike On India Over Russian Crude

In July 2021, the leaders of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan met in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to announce the Trans-Afghan railway that would connect Central Asia to Pakistans ports on the Arabian Sea. Two months later, NATO evacuated Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic fell, and the Taliban were back in charge.

Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan arent willing to be hostages to fate and recently agreed to a six-month joint technical and economic feasibility study for a planned 650-kilometre railway line from Termez, Uzbekistan to Pakistans border at Kharlachi. Deputy Transport Minister Jasurbek Choriyev noted the five-year project could cost up to US$4.6 billion, and should reduce the delivery time of goods from the Indian Ocean ports to Central Asia from 35 to 5 days.

External funding will be required, which will be complicated by Western sanctions on the Kabul government. However, Afghanistan recently joined Beijing's US$64 billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), so China may be a source of funds. Neighboring Kazakhstan may contribute US$500 million for the railway. Qatar is considering involvement in the project and the Uzbek-Emirati joint venture ADL Ulanish may still retain an interest in the project, and Russian Railways JSCo RZD is involved, though it has been sanctioned by the U.S. and the EU, which may complicate matters.

Russia will cooperate with Uzbekistan on the project and the countries have signed agreements to develop feasibility studies for the railway. Moscow sees the railway as a way to extend the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to Pakistan.

The NATO-Russia war in Ukraine is grinding to a close and Russia is preparing to turn its attention South. In July 2025, Moscow recognized the Taliban government which will ease future cooperation and may put pressure on Pakistan and Uzbekistan to recognize the Kabul government as they embark on a joint strategic project that may reshape local economies.

The involvement of deep-pocket partners will increase the prospects for success and may attract additional investors. However, government investors bring with them their governments goals, so the projects managers may fare better negotiating with officials at the World Bank or Asian Development Bank instead of managers of Gulf petrostates sovereign wealth funds or state-owned enterprises.

Nargiza Umarova of the Institute for Advanced International Studies observes the interest of regional and global powers may significantly shape the implementation of specific transport initiatives within Afghanistan, and a proliferation of projects may ensure none of them are profitable, stunting efforts that were supposed to increase the republics autonomy.

And Uzbekistan is betting big on Afghanistan as a land bridge, connecting landlocked Central Asia to the Arabian Sea: It established the Airitom Free Economic Zone in Termez, expanded bilateral trade with Afghanistan to over $1.1 billion in 2024, and is pursuing both the Kabul Corridor and the Kandahar Route, which could link to Iran and India.

Pakistan and Iran are also making moves to secure transport options. Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, just hosted a visit by Irans president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and the leaders pledged to raise bilateral trade to US$10 billion. Irans national railway is preparing to launch three new international railway routes connecting the country to Turkey, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan, and Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey are planning to revitalize the IstanbulTehranIslamabad (ITI) freight corridor under the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

But Pakistan and Afghanistan are problematic partners for Uzbekistan.

Aside from the blizzard of U.S. sanctions on the Taliban and its individual leaders, Kabul, Afghanistans capital city may be running out of water as up to 80% of the groundwater is contaminated. Pakistan is a hazardous place and Chinas foreign minister recently urged Pakistans military to protect Belt and Road projects and Chinese workers  not the first time hes made that request. In 2023, Pakistan was unable to withstand U.S. pressure and dropped out of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project that would supply badly-needed energy, so there may be cause to doubt its ability to complete its part of the railway if Washington makes its displeasure known.

Americas antagonism towards the Taliban, the presence of a sanctioned Russian partner in the project, water shortages, and Pakistans violence and susceptibility to American pressure may jeopardize the success of the railway. But if Washington and Brussels can put antagonisms aside, they can demonstrate their fidelity to the Wests declared interest in Central Asias sovereignty and independence.

By James Durso for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Indian Oil Corporation, the biggest refiner in the country, has purchased about 7 million barrels of crude from the U.S., the Middle East, and Canada in a spot tender last week, partly to replace Russian crude, which is now on hold at Indias state refiners.

IndianOil has bought 4.5 million barrels of U.S. West Texas Intermediate Midland, 2 million barrels of Abu Dhabis Das crude, and 500,000 barrels of

Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude, anonymous trade sources told Reuters on Monday.

IndianOil and the other state-owned Indian refiners have not attempted to buy crude from Russia in the past week, although they have regularly imported Russian oil on a delivered basis.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened secondary tariffs on the buyers of Russian oil, while discounts of Moscows crudes narrowed to alternatives.

IndianOil, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) have paused purchases of Russian crude, awaiting government guidance and clarity over the threatened penalties on India for buying Russian crude oil.

Instead, the four state-controlled oil refiners, which account for over 60% of Indias refining capacity, have sought additional barrels from the Middle East and West Africa on the spot market.

Crude from the U.S. has also become attractive in recent weeks, as rising prices of Middle Eastern crudes have opened the arbitrage window for WTI crude to flow to Asia.

The prices for Middle Eastern crudes going to Asia have jumped amid concerns that the cheap Russian supply, favored by China and India, could see disruptions if President Trump makes good on his threat to impose penalties or secondary tariffs on the buyers of Russian oil.

While Indian refiners are scrambling to understand the implications of President Trumps threatened penalties on India for buying Russian oil, at least four tankers carrying crude cargoes from Russia were staying idle off Indias west coast on Friday, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg showed last week.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Hammerfest LNG, the liquefied natural gas export facility in Norway, is back online following more than three months of scheduled maintenance works.

The return of LNG supply from Norway, which is also Europes top pipeline gas supplier having replaced Russia in 2022, contributed to the fall in Europes benchmark natural gas prices on Monday.

Hammerfest LNG, Europes first LNG export plant, is an onshore plant on the island of Melkya which receives and processes natural gas from the Snhvit field via a pipeline from the Barents Sea. The Melkya plant accounts for 5% of Norways natural gas exports. During normal production, Hammerfest LNG delivers 6.5 billion cubic meters of LNG per year, and LNG ships call at Melkya roughly every five days.

Hammerfest LNG had issues with unexpected outrages early this year, when operations and exports were halted in peak winter due to compressor failures and other technical problems. In recent years, a major fire, gas leaks, and equipment failures have hampered the normal operations at the plant.

Hammerfest LNG was offline for a year and a half after a fire at the facility in September 2020. The plant, Europes only large-scale LNG export facility, resumed operations in March 2022, but has been on-and-off since then, due to various issues.

At the end of April, Equinor shut the plant down for its annual maintenance, which was expected to last until the middle of July. The deadline has been extended twice since July 19, when it was initially supposed to come back online.

Finally, Equinor restarted the export plant on Sunday, August 3, a spokesperson for the Norwegian energy major told Reuters on Monday.

Early this year, gas export system operator Gassco said that Norways natural gas exports hit a record level in 2024 and are expected to remain close to this all-time high in the next few years.

Norways gas accounted for 30% of Europes natural gas imports and about 9% of all European energy consumption last year.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices slipped in early Asian trading on Monday as OPEC+ confirmed another substantial production increase for September, continuing its rapid unwinding of voluntary output cuts despite tepid demand growth in Asia.

Brent crude futures fell 0.46% to $69.35 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate declined 0.45% to $67.03. Both benchmarks had already lost roughly $2 per barrel in the previous session.

The decline followed OPEC+s announcement that it would boost production by 547,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September. This follows a similar increase for August and is part of a broader effort to restore about 2.5 million bpd of supplyapproximately 2.4% of global demandby September. The United Arab Emirates also secured a separate output hike.

The decision effectively reverses the blocs largest round of voluntary cuts ahead of schedule. OPEC+ leaders cited a healthy global economy and low inventory levels as reasons for confidence that the market can absorb the extra barrels. However, recent data suggests Asias crude demand has been soft: regional imports fell to 25.0 million bpd in July from 27.88 million bpd in June, the lowest level since July 2024.

China, the worlds top crude importer, has been increasing purchasesbut much of that appears tied to opportunistic buying when prices were lower earlier this summer, alongside rapid stockpiling.

Analysts note that much of the actual production growth since April has come from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with other OPEC+ members struggling to meet their targets. RBC Capital Markets Helima Croft said the strategy has favored producers with spare capacity, as prices have held steady compared to early-year lows despite rising supply.

The timing of OPEC+s output restoration has been partly aided by heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The brief Israel-Iran conflict in June halted a months-long price slide, sending Brent to a six-month high of $81.40 before easing back.

More recently, threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose broad sanctions on Russian oil buyers have injected further risk into the market. India, which sources around 40% of its crude from Russia, would face significant disruption if forced to pivot to other suppliers, potentially tightening global supply in the short term.

While Russia has previously circumvented sanctions via alternative trading networks, such adjustments would take time, and OPEC+ is capitalizing on the current uncertainty to rebuild market share.

The groups aggressive production strategy could maintain stability if geopolitical risks keep the market tight. However, a slowdown in global trade from Trumps escalating tariff measuresor continued weakness in Asian demandcould undermine prices in the months ahead.

Oil markets appear finely balanced currently, but the risk of oversupply in the near future is hard to ignore.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Private Chinese oil companies are expanding their presence in Iraq, joining China's state majors in pouring billions into the development of hydrocarbons in the OPEC member.

Per a Reuters report, Chinese independents in Iraq are about to see their collective output there rise to half a million barrels daily by 2030, based on estimates by company executives. For context, state giant CNPC currently accounts for half of Iraqs oil production through the operatorship of some of the countrys largest fields, including Rumaila, West Qurna 1, and Haifaya.

The Chinese companies are replacing Western oil and gas majors who left Iraq in search of greener pastures. CNPC took over the West Qurna 1 field last year and plans to boost its capacity to 1.2 million barrels daily by 2035. West Qurna 1 is one of the largest oil fields in the world, with reserves estimated at more than 20 billion barrels of recoverable hydrocarbons. Currently, it produces around 550,000 barrels daily.

Meanwhile, the Western supermajors are returning to Iraq. Earlier this month, the Iraqi oil ministry said that ExxonMobil and Chevron were in discussions about development opportunities in Iraqs oilfields with the government.

Commenting on ongoing talks between the federal government and Exxon, an undersecretary for the oil ministry was quoted as saying that The Company is currently in a stage of negotiations with Iraq for a new opportunity in the countrys oilfields.

These moves are a positive indication of growing interest in Iraqs oil industry by the US and other companies, the Iraqi official added.

Separately, the other U.S. oil giant, Chevron, is in discussions to potentially sign development contracts in the Southern Nasiriyah oilfield and Balad oilfield in the North-Central Saladin governorate, the undersecretary said.

Iraq has big production growth plans, eventually topping 6 million barrels daily, reversing a decline that started several years ago. Currently, production is around 4 million barrels daily.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he would substantially raise tariffs on Indian exports in response to the countrys continued import and resale of Russian crude oil. The remarks, posted on Truth Social, marked the first time Trump directly tied trade penalties to Indias energy sourcing decisions, according to a report by Reuters.

Trump accused India of purchasing massive amounts of Russian oil and reselling it for profit, saying the country was indifferent to Ukrainian casualties. While no specific tariff categories were mentioned, aides cited by Fortune said the measures would be very large, very soon.

Despite sustained U.S. pressure, India has kept Russian crude volumes above 1.5 million barrels per day throughout the summer. Refiners have relied on rupee payments, direct Russian tankers, and third-party traders to maintain flows even under the threat of secondary sanctions. According to trade data cited by TRT World, Indias imports from Russia surged from under $9 billion in 2021 to over $64 billion last year, driven overwhelmingly by discounted oil purchases.

At least four sanctioned Russian-flagged vessels are currently anchored off Indias western coast, unable to unload amid legal and logistical uncertainty. These tankers, stationary for over a week, illustrate the growing complexity of Indias crude trade with Russia.

Indias foreign ministry has not commented on Trumps remarks. However, prior statements have emphasized energy security and strategic autonomy, particularly as Russian barrels remain the cheapest large-scale option for Indian refiners. No implementation date for the new tariffs has been announced.

The tariff threat adds to growing uncertainty for Indian refiners, several of which have already begun reassessing payment structures, flag registries, and ship-to-ship transfer protocols. While some barrels are now being routed through intermediaries in Fujairah and Singapore, Indian shipping agents say due diligence checks have tightened following new U.S. Treasury advisories. Analysts note that even a symbolic tariff hike could chill third-party financing and insurance, complicating access to discounted cargoes already slowed by transshipment bottlenecks.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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A group of U.S. investors is in talks with the Bulgarian government to acquire a minority stake in the Chiren underground gas storage facility, the countrys only such site and a key regional hub for balancing and reverse flows across southeastern Europe, Reuters reported exclusively on Monday.

The group reportedly includes financier Stephen P. Lynch, infrastructure specialist Fei Wang, and former Trump campaign official Brad Parscale. Bulgarian state energy officials confirmed the exploratory discussions, though no transaction terms have been disclosed. The storage facility currently contains volumes of Russian-origin gas, delivered through TurkStream, and remains under the operational control of Bulgartransgaz EAD, a subsidiary of Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD (BEH), which in turn is 100% state-owned.

Chirens relevance is growing for the European Union in the aftermath of the expiration of the Ukraine-Russia transit agreement at the end of last year. With European Commission policy focused squarely on supply diversification, Bulgaria emerges as a potential transit substitute and strategic fallback route.

However, U.S. investor interest in a storage site that still contains Russian gas, which is technically not sanctioned, marks a notable shift in capital exposure to this game.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Elliott Investment Management is also considering infrastructure linked to Russian gas exports via Turkey, indicating a broader pattern of U.S. capital repositioning toward stranded or undervalued midstream assets.

Domestically, Chiren has faced procurement scrutiny. The European Public Prosecutors Office is investigating a 78 million expansion contract tied to the facility, while Bulgarias energy ministry recently cancelled a drilling award and pledged to relaunch tenders in line with EU transparency rules.

According to April 2025 figures reported by Serbia Energy, despite the legal complications, over 87% of Chirens capacity for the 20252026 season has already been booked. Industry observers say the sites location and integration with Balkan transit routes make it a prime asset amid shifting gas flows and new investment alignments. The U.S. State Department has not commented on the proposed deal.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Venezuelas crude and fuel exports fell in July by some 10% from June to average 727,000 barrels per day (bpd), as Chevron and other partners of state oil firm PDVSA were waiting for U.S. authorizations to resume operations and exports that were prohibited in May.

Venezuela also exported about 227,000 metric tons of oil by-products and petrochemicals last month, roughly the same volume as in June, according to PDVSA documents and vessel-tracking data Reuters has compiled.

China had the largest share of Venezuelas oil exports in July, at a whopping 95%, while Western firms, including U.S. supermajor Chevron, were awaiting special limited U.S. licenses to resume operations.

Last week, the Trump Administration granted Chevron a sanction exemption for its operations in Venezuela but only on the condition that no money from these operations would go to the Venezuelan government.

Since our license changed in May, weve been engaged with the US government working closely with the administration to ensure our compliance with our countrys policies towards Venezuela, Chevrons CEO Mike Wirth said on the companys earnings call on Friday.

This month, it looks like there will be a limited amount of oil that will begin flowing to the US from the Venezuela operations that we have an interest in consistent with US sanctions policy. And crude from Venezuela is sought after and very valuable to US Gulf refiners that are specifically built to process heavy grades like that and so it serves as a reliable source of supply for the American economy.

Before the previous license was scrapped by the Trump Administration in May, Chevron was producing about 240,000 bpd of oil in Venezuela and exporting most of it to the United States for refining at the Gulf Coast refineries.

Kpler noted in a commentary that the exemption granted to Chevron would result in a price correction for heavy crude grades. The data analytics provider said that the exemption was expected to help cool the heat in the heavy crude market  albeit arriving somewhat late, as the peak summer demand season is nearing its end.

Nevertheless, it introduces upside risk to global supply just as the market is on the brink of shifting into oversupply by late Q3, Kpler senior crude oil analyst Muyu Xu said.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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George Grant's vision of Canada increasingly attenuated (Part One) By Mark Wegierski

web posted August 4, 2025 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of one of George Parkin Grant's most popular and more accessible books, Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism (1965). George Grant (1918-1988) is probably the leading Canadian traditionalist philosopher. That work has remained almost continuously in print in Canada. Lament for a Nation mourns what George Grant sees as the end of real Canadian independence in the 1960s. As George Grant tells the story, Canadian Tory Prime Minister John Diefenbaker had refused to accept U.S. nuclear weapons on Canadian soil  with the result that all the instrumentalities of the North American managerial capitalist classes were turned against him, in the crucial 1963 Canadian federal election. Diefenbaker's lost campaign is characterized in the book as "the last strangled cry of his pre-modern Loyalist ancestors". (The Tories were already officially called the Progressive Conservative party, having added the adjective in 1942.) The Liberal Lester B. Pearson won the election. Grant is highly prescient in mourning the passing of a more traditional Canada, although his focus is not exclusively on the impending destruction of what would later come to be called social conservatism. Rather, he is more concerned with the dangers of corporate liberalism, and corporate technocracy, which he sees as emanating from America to undermine a more traditional Canada. Grant's outlook lies somewhere between that of a traditionalist conservative, and of a "social conservative of the Left". There are a number of illustrious figures who embrace the latter outlook, notably John Ruskin, William Morris, Jack London, George Orwell, Christopher Lasch, and, in Canada, the noted constitutional scholar and union adviser Eugene Forsey. The work seems to express a deep pessimism, and certainly does not offer any pat answers in regard to what is to be done to redeem Canada. Certain sectors of the Canadian Left, including George Grant's close friend, Gad Horowitz, were greatly impressed with the book, and understood it as a clarion call for the creation of infrastructures of a "more compassionate" society in Canada  their idea of fighting for Canadian nationalism. Gad Horowitz had also, in the 1960s, severely criticized the onset of multiculturalism policies in Canada, arguing that they would undermine the sense of nationhood that he saw as a prerequisite for the flowering of real social democracy in Canada. George Grant, who was often called a "Red Tory", clearly gave that term one of its most positive and philosophical interpretations. As expressed in his major books, including Technology and Empire: Perspectives on North America (1969), English-Speaking Justice (1974/1985), and Technology and Justice (1986), Grant took his stand against the encroaching technological dystopia, or "empire of technology" which  as he put it  "speaks with an American accent." He put forward a thoroughgoing critique of technology  what he called "the spirit of dynamic technique"  which, he said, "makes all local cultures anachronistic". In such a world, prior notions of the good and the beautiful would become increasingly impossible. George Grant embraces outlooks that, in today's ever-narrowing spectrum of discourse, appear to be contradictory. As a conservative, Grant supported the Canadian Tory party and valorized the British roots of Canada. As a Canadian nationalist, Grant found much to admire about the Canadian Left, and enunciated a nuanced criticism of America and capitalism that is far more subtle than that usually found on the Left. As a Christian, Grant upheld traditional morality and wrote frequently against abortion  which he saw as evil, seeing it as the triumph of a Nietzschean-like exercise of radical will that would have terrible, dystopic consequences for the notion of human dignity. He also considered that the only possible basis for maintaining the notion of human equality in the future  rather than giving ourselves over to maximizing our own pleasure and power  is the notion that all human beings are equal before God. Some of Grant's central themes include a profound critique of the social, cultural, and ecological impacts of technology; a confident patriotism (it is only "by loving our own" that we can come to any further comprehension of a more universal good); a subtle defense of Christianity, seen as one of the last barriers against a technological dystopia; and a genuine compassion for human suffering and the negative effects of war, expressed especially through his reflective pacifism. He also sees the interconnection between the "right" and "left" of a technological society  "The directors of General Motors and the followers of Professor Marcuse sail down the same river in different boats." Grant anticipated the critique that was later made of the so-called managerial-therapeutic regime. A hyper-technological and hypermodern society would make any notions of human ethicality increasingly impossible. Nevertheless, Grant's profound belief in God ultimately gives him a sort of optimism. Because of this belief in an ultimate, unchanging standard of justice, he could say that, whatever horrors technological society has waiting for us, and however hopeless the situation appears, "At all times and in all places, it always matters what we do." For him, the imperative to act morally remains very real. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
In the month since the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission created emergency regulations for the states fledgling medicinal program, potential industry participants said they have reviewed the rules and identified provisions they support and provisions that they said need work.

What they havent seen is anything that looks like an application, leaving them  as Ogallala hemp farmer Dustin Krajewski put it  in limbo despite 71% of voters legalizing medical cannabis last year.

We cant figure out what to do about submitting applications or how do we help move the industry forward. And so its just really confusing, Krajewski said.

The Medical Cannabis Commission meets Monday afternoon in Lincoln, and Krajewski hopes things are clearer after. At the commissions meeting in late June, commissioner Bruce Bailey said he and other members only had those regulations for about 12 hours prior to voting on them. But they had to approve something to comply with state law. Bailey said the regulations allow for applicants to prepare materials and make sure theyre in line with the rules.

But those rules are only effective through Sept. 28 and subject to change  the commission pledged it would take public feedback into account for permanent regulations.

Krajewski is hoping the commission will make adjustments. Brett Mayo, chief extraction officer of Sweetwater Hemp in Pleasanton, said hed also like to see changes. But the state has not followed what the people voted for in the months since medical cannabis was legalized, Mayo said, so he doesnt expect any different now and is ready to work with the rules as they exist.

Mondays agenda includes discussion of statutes, review of the budget, voting on use of funds from the Liquor Control Commission to hire staff and reviewing research on flavorings, effects of cannabis use during pregnancy and smoking. The commission has also set up a website, where the emergency regulations are posted, and has its own email address (it had to use the Liquor Control Commissions address to receive comments throughout July).

The commission has five members. Three serve because of their role on the Liquor Control Commission. Two, anesthesiologist Monica Oldenburg and addiction prevention specialist Lorelle Mueting, were appointed specifically to the Medical Cannabis Commission, and both previously advocated against bills to legalize the medicine. They agreed to work on regulations in the time between meetings and also received help with legal services, research assistance and policy drafting from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Governors Policy Research Office.

The commission is also hamstrung because it doesnt have much money. Its allocated only $30,000 for hiring staff and doesnt have other revenue streams right now. Its only option is to borrow money from the Liquor Control Commission.

The Medical Cannabis Commission must begin approving successful applicants by Oct. 1.

Several people at a June meeting shared concerns with limiting the state to one dispensary in each of 12 judicial districts and outlawing smoking. The ballot initiative, which is now state law, says its legal to possess or use accessories to inhale or otherwise ingest medicinal cannabis.

Mayo said hes asked questions via email and hoped to get clarity on applying, but theres not a form for him to fill out and hes not heard back. The other hemp industry professionals hes spoken with have relayed similar experiences to him.

The emergency regulations arent bad, but they also arent good, Mayo said.

He likes that the system doesnt allow for vertical integration  meaning a company can only have one license to cultivate, manufacture, transport, or dispense products  and has safeguards to promote homegrown Nebraska businesses ability to participate. That protects smaller operations from being overwhelmed by big marijuana in other states that have more funds and infrastructure, he said.

Krajewski said rules on vertical integration need tweaking. Transporting products should not be a different license, he said, predicting it would be a hassle for cultivators, manufacturers and dispensers to find a partner just to drive product around. He agreed with protecting against big companies taking over the industry but also said there should be room for a business to have multiple licenses, like a manufacturer could also dispense its product, if it has a storefront.

Krajewski also doesnt like rules outlawing flavors. Referencing a comment from Gov. Jim Pillen that the medicine should taste like crap, Krajewski said, just because its medicinal marijuana doesnt mean that it has to taste bad.

He and Mayo said the state should not prohibit smoking, saying its fast-acting and a valid medicine for certain conditions. Public smoking is already prohibited, so patients using medical cannabis couldnt use it in public anyway, Mayo said.

The two predicted that the states trajectory would make way for a recreational marijuana ballot initiative that draws big dollars in support and opposition. Krajewski said recreational legalization is fine with me, but he knows many officials in the state dont want that.

I feel like theyre causing their own problem, he said.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

KGW News has a story that some businesses are loving the big protests in Portland. This seems a little incomplete since many businesses get vandalized during these protests.

Here is the business outside the Portland ICE office:

Here are some recent Tesla protest photos 

Here is a Molotov cocktail being thrown at an Oregon dealership.

Here is a Portland protest where the woman (right) was arrested for vandalizing a Fire Truck.

Here is PSU protest vandalism this summer.

These liberal protest do not know how to control their own people and spare local businesses from violence.

Was this helpful? Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
Beijing gears up for 2025 World Robot Conference with robotics innovation

Xinhua) 09:11, August 04, 2025

A humanoid robot is pictured during the World Robot Conference 2024 in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 cutting-edge robotics products will make their debuts at the upcoming 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing, nearly twice as many as last year, highlighting the conference's growing role as a global stage for innovation.

Set to take place from August 8 to 12 in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town, the 2025 edition of the conference will be held under the theme "Making Robots Smarter, Making Embodied Agents More Intelligent." The event will showcase over 1,500 exhibits from more than 200 leading robotics companies from around the world.

A key feature will be the debut of cutting-edge products, ranging from agile quadruped robots, rescue robots, and inspection robots to novel catheter-shaping robots and robotic lawn mowers, offering attendees a glimpse into the future of intelligent machines.

Humanoid robots remain a major attraction of the conference, with 50 manufacturers of full-body humanoid robots showcasing their latest innovations.

In 2024, China accounted for two-thirds of global robot patent applications and produced 556,000 industrial robots, remaining the world's top manufacturer. Over the past decade, the number of international supporting institutions at the conference has grown from 12 to 28, while overseas participants have increased from just over 10 to more than 80, according to Xu Xiaolan, president of the Chinese Institute of Electronics.

Co-hosted by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and the World Robot Cooperation Organization, this year's conference is estimated to attract a record number of international institutions. A robot consumer festival will also run alongside the conference, aimed at boosting both industrial upgrades and consumer demand.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Israel and Iran prepare for a new round of fighting By Yoni Ben Menachem

web posted August 4, 2025 The ceasefire between Israel and Iran, declared at the end of June, has not eased tensions between the two nations. On the contrary, military preparations continue beneath the surface, and the entire region sits atop a powder keg that could explode at any moment. In both Jerusalem and Tehran, officials speak of a "new phase" in the confrontation  one of fragile mutual deterrence, with its timeline influenced by regional and international developments. While Israel strengthens its defense systems and accelerates production of its Arrow missiles, Iran is rebuilding its forces. It makes it clear that it will not abandon its nuclear program  even at the cost of another military clash. Senior Israeli defense officials report that Iran is in advanced talks to procure air defense systems and fighter jets from China in preparation for the next round of fighting with Israel. They add that Iran is planning a preemptive surprise strike on Israel as retaliation for the Israeli surprise attack carried out on June 13. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated on July 20 that the latest confrontation with Iran was merely one phase in a prolonged campaign. According to him, "We are now entering a new chapter based on the achievements of the operation  we disrupted Iran's nuclear and missile programs  and we must remain vigilant." Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed Zamir's remarks, warning on July 22 that there is a high likelihood of renewed fighting. During a strategic assessment with senior IDF officials, a decision was made to formulate a strategic plan to prevent Iran from restarting its nuclear program. As part of this, Israel will accelerate production of Arrow missiles and increase the readiness of its air defense systems, including Iron Dome and David's Sling. Tehran, too, is sending clear signals. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that "Iran will not retreat from its nuclear program" and that "any Israeli attack will be met with painful retaliation targeting central Israel." In an interview with Al-Jazeera on July 22, Pezeshkian added that Tehran does not seek war but will not hesitate to defend itself. He reiterated that Iran's nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes and complies with international law. Simultaneously, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi told Fox News on July 22 that Iran would not abandon uranium enrichment, despite the damage caused to its nuclear infrastructure by U.S. strikes in June. U.S. President Donald Trump, who spearheaded the mediation efforts for the ceasefire, warned on July 22 that if Iran resumes its nuclear activities, the United States will not hesitate to strike Iranian nuclear facilities once again. His warning came just hours after Arakchi's statement, reinforcing the U.S. stance that any renewal of Iran's nuclear program is a red line. The latest round of conflict between Israel and Iran lasted only 12 days  from June 13 to June 24  but involved unusually extensive military operations. Israel struck nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, targeted ballistic missile production facilities, and assassinated senior IRGC officials and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles and drone attacks targeting sensitive Israeli sites, including power stations, military bases, and intelligence facilities. Although the United States brokered the ceasefire, it was not accompanied by any formal political agreement or oversight mechanism, making it a temporary pause rather than a long-term resolution. Israeli political leaders believe the confrontation with Iran is a prolonged conflict currently in a transitional stage. Iran, having suffered significant losses and humiliation, is nursing its wounds and seeking revenge. According to them, Iran's primary objective now is to strike back at Israel at a time of its choosing, likely through a surprise attack. Senior Israeli defense officials view the current ceasefire as a temporary constraint forced on both sides. They stress that Israel is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and will continue its policy of targeted assassinations, strikes on strategic sites, and diplomatic pressure. During the current ceasefire, a series of mysterious explosions and fires occurred at infrastructure and buildings across Iran. On July 23, senior Iranian officials told The New York Times that they believe Israel was behind these incidents. As of now, the ceasefire remains fragile. There is no political or diplomatic framework to ensure its stability. There are no official channels, no oversight mechanism, and no mutual trust. Each side is preparing for the next round, and a single misstep  such as the assassination of a senior figure or a cyberattack  could reignite the flames of war. According to Israeli intelligence, the Mossad's covert activity in Iran continues, and Israel is preparing to thwart any potential Iranian attack. Defense Establishment Assessment One current assessment within Israel's defense establishment is that in any future scenario, Iran will prefer to attack Israel through its regional proxies  namely, the Houthis in Yemen, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and Shiite militias in Iraq. Direct Iranian action will likely occur only if the regime feels its survival is at risk. Israeli intelligence officials believe Iran is still in the process of rebuilding its military capabilities following the recent conflict and is not eager to engage in a full-scale war with Israel. According to their assessment, Iran would launch a surprise strike on Israel only if it sees a window of opportunity  when Israel is diplomatically isolated, heavily engaged in other arenas, and when its deterrence has significantly eroded. Iran's current threats may be primarily aimed at deterring Israel and boosting domestic morale. Still, Iran is undoubtedly capable of launching a rapid barrage of hundreds of ballistic missiles at sensitive sites in Israel, as it did in April 2024. A potential Iranian surprise attack on Israel might occur under the following conditions: A freeze or weakness in U.S. foreign policy (e.g., during an American election season). Signs of deep internal division within Israel (political or security crisis). Iranian confidence in its ability to achieve a decisive military victory and restore deterrence. Such a move would be perilous for Iran, as Israel would respond with overwhelming force on Iranian territory. An Israeli counterattack would likely result in Iran's international isolation. Nonetheless, Iran may gamble on such an attack to restore its damaged national pride and strengthen its deterrence capabilities. Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority. Home
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:

Plesionectes longicollum. Credit: Peter Nickolaus

Paleontologists have identified a new species of ancient marine reptile from Germany's world-renowned Posidonia Shale fossil beds, expanding our understanding of prehistoric ocean ecosystems that existed nearly 183 million years ago.

An article detailing the discovery has been published in PeerJ.

The newly classified species, named Plesionectes longicollum ("long-necked near-swimmer"), represents a previously unknown type of plesiosauroidthe group of long-necked marine reptiles that inhabited Earth's oceans during the age of dinosaurs.

The specimen is a nearly complete skeleton that even preserves remnants of fossilized soft tissue. It was originally excavated in 1978 from a quarry in Holzmaden, Southwest Germany, but its unique anatomical features have only now been fully recognized through comprehensive scientific analysis.

Interview with the author.

"This specimen has been in collections for decades, but previous studies never fully explored its distinctive anatomy," said Sven Sachs of the Naturkunde-Museum Bielefeld, the study's lead author. "Our detailed examination revealed an unusual combination of skeletal features that clearly distinguish it from all previously known plesiosaurs."

The research, published by Sven Sachs and co-author Dr. Daniel Madzia from the Polish Academy of Sciences, demonstrates that the Posidonia Shalealready famous for its exceptionally preserved fossilscontained even greater marine reptile diversity than previously recognized.

The Plesionectes specimen is particularly significant as it represents the oldest known plesiosaur from the Holzmaden area. Despite being an immature individual, its distinctive anatomical characteristics were not significantly affected by its developmental stage, warranting classification as an entirely new genus and species.

Plesionectes skeleton. Credit: Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde Stuttgart

"This discovery adds another piece to the puzzle of marine ecosystem evolution during a critical time in Earth's history," explained Dr. Madzia. "The early Toarcian period when this animal lived was marked by significant environmental changes, including a major oceanic anoxic event that affected marine life worldwide."

The fossil is permanently housed at the Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde Stuttgart (Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History) where it is cataloged as specimen SMNS 51945.

The Posidonia Shale at Holzmaden has previously yielded five other plesiosaur species, including representatives from all three major plesiosaur lineages. This new addition further cements the formation's status as one of the world's most important windows into Jurassic marine life.

More information: An unusual early-diverging plesiosauroid from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden, Germany, PeerJ (2025). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.19665 Journal information: PeerJ

Provided by PeerJ
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:

Launch of a Chinese Long March 2F. Credit: Universe Today

While NASA maintains the lead in human space exploration, other nations have already begun their own projects. Take the China National Space Agency, for example, with their CLEP, or Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. If you have any doubts about the objectives of the program, just check out their logo: a stylized crescent moon with two footprints in the middle.

The logo is meant to also resemble the Chinese character for "moon," which in my opinion is rather clever.

Now, as we've seen with NASA and Artemis, plans are easy to announce but slightly harder to execute. That said, the Chinese have managed quite a few accomplishments in a short period of time.

On October 24, 2007 the Chinese launched the Chang'e 1 mission, named for the traditional goddess of the moon. This was the first launch of Phase I of the plan, which focused solely on orbital missions. The orbiter was a success, providing a detailed map of the entire lunar surface and doing some long-range scouting for future landing sites.

That mission was followed three years later by the appropriately named Chang'e 2, which did the same thing but in greater detail, then sped off to visit the asteroid 4179 Toutatis to help the agency test its communications and command systems.

In 2013, the Chinese upped the ante with Chang'e 3 (can you sense a pattern here?), which was the first soft landing on the moon achieved by that agency. That mission, too, was a great success, especially with the deployment of a small rover, Yutu.

In fact, that mission was so successful that it delayed the launch of Chang'e 4 because they wanted to add more capabilities to it. On January 3, 2019, the lander reached the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon, which also carried a rover with it, Yutu-2, the first ever rover to explore the far side.

Next up was Phase III, a pair of robotic sample-return missions. The first of the missions was just a test, and the second one, Chang'e 5, launched in November 2020 and returned to Earth with 1,731 grams of lunar soilthe first samples to return to Earth since the Apollo era.

The latest mission is, you guessed it, Chang'e 6, which launched on May 3, 2024. This mission was the whole package: a lander back at the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a successful sample return of more lunar material, and a new rover, the Jinchan, to explore the far side some more, because we just can't get enough of that farside.

While these are all great successes, they were all uncrewed robotic missions. The next in the series, Chang'e 7 expected to launch in 2026 and Chang'e 8 two years later, will begin to set the stage for human presence, developing a sort of robotic base of landers and rovers, with orbiters monitoring the whole thing and relaying communications back and forth to Earth, to test one of the most important aspects of a future lunar base: ISRU.

ISRU is an acronym that you'll hear a lot about when it comes to future plans for the moon, Mars, and beyond, and it stands for in-situ resource utilization. The basic idea is that launching stuff to the moon is expensivereally expensive. And if we want any sort of base or installation there, it would require an enormous amount of resources like air, water, food, and structures to make it happen.

So a cleverer approach is to use lunar soil, or regolith, to fabricate structures and pull out useful resources like water. It's not like we could just 3D print a lunar base out of regolith, but the more we're able to use local resources, the better our prospects for future long-term habitation.

After this, things start to get a little fuzzy with the Chinese plans. They have announced that they want to send a human mission to the moon in 2029 or 2030. The mission will require a much beefier launch vehicle than their current capabilities, named the Long March 10, which is currently in development. Think of it as the Chinese version of the SLS or Atlas V, a single-use vehicle designed to throw as much at the moon as possible. The current plans are for it to be capable of lofting 70 tons into low-Earth orbit and 27 tons towards the moon.

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Even with this kind of lift capacity, however, the hypothetical crewed mission will still require two launches: one for the lander, and another for the spacecraft to take the crew to the moon. That crew would land on the surface, spend a few days poking around and looking at rocks (I'm just kidding, they'd be doing some intense flight testing and science), and return. A retread of the Apollo-style missions, for sure, but a retread is better than what we have right now, which isnothing. So good for them.

All the components of that mission: the spacecraft, the lander, the spacesuits, all of it, are still under active development. Chinese space officials and leaders tend to keep their cards close to their chest, and it's not like NASA where the budget undergoes regular public reviews.

On the other hand, it's pretty difficult (as in, impossible) to keep launches and space activity secret, so we know when the Chinese are able to accomplish something, but we don't know if programs are over budget or facing major delays or technical hurdles.

It's anybody's guess if that expected launch date of 2029 or 2030 is reliable or not. When it comes to the Chinese, we'll just have to wait and see.
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True color aerial image of Heard Island ( Google Earth). (b) Location of Heard Island in the Southern Hemisphere ( Google Earth). (c) Longitudinal and (d) transverse profiles (cross sections) of Heard Island. Credit: The Cryosphere (2025). DOI: 10.5194/tc-19-2677-2025

Almost a quarter of the glaciers in one of the world's last pristine ecosystems have melted from climate change, according to new research from Monash University.

The finding has scientists reiterating calls for decisive climate action as they brace for devastating consequences to biodiversity on Heard Island, a sub-Antarctic island and Australian external territory about 4,100 kilometers southwest of Perth.

The research, undertaken by Monash Universityled Australian Research Council (ARC) research center Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future (SAEF), and published in the journal The Cryosphere, found that about 64 square kilometers, or 23.1%, of the icy landscape has been lost since 1947.

Dr. Levan Tielidze, a SAEF Research Fellow in the Monash School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, said despite its location, studying this remote environment can tell us a lot about how the rest of our planet is faring under climate change.

"These findings are a bellwether of change for our global climate system," Dr. Tielidze said.

"While Heard Island is just about as remote as it's possible to be on Earth, it has still suffered profound consequences from climate warming, which is almost certainly due to rising greenhouse gas emissions in the 20th and 21st centuries.

"The island's location in the Southern Ocean makes it a key part of the global climate system and an important indicator of the planet's health, so the changes we are observing paint a really clear and concerning picture."

With much of Heard Island understudied due to the challenges of reaching and traversing the remote terrain, the Monash researchers used topographical maps from 1947 and satellite imagery from historical and current Earth observation platforms to study the island.

The resulting glacier inventory catalogs 29 glaciers, tracing their outlines in 1947, 1988 and 2019.

It also documents key morphological features, including area, slope, aspect and elevation, providing data for estimating mass balance, glacier volume, surface velocity and the impact of volcanic and other surface debris.

Researchers hope to build on this work during a planned visit to Heard Island with the Australian Antarctic Program later this year to study how glacier retreat threatens mountain biodiversity.

Professor Andrew Mackintosh, Head of Monash School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment and SAEF Chief Investigator, said the team will use computer models to predict how the island's glaciers will respond to global warming.

"We'll explore two possible futures; one where strong action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and another where little is done and emissions continue as usual," Professor Mackintosh said.

"Although this mapping shows stark glacier retreat and further ice loss is unavoidable, whether we retain glaciers or lose most of them entirely is up to humans and the greenhouse gas emission pathway we follow.

"It might also mean the difference between a future where biodiversity is devastated, or one where key parts are secured."

Heard Island is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site located about 1,700 kilometers north of Antarctica.

It is 61% covered in ice and dominated by an active volcano, Big Ben, with an official height of 2,745 meters, although recent studies suggest it has grown to more than 2,800 meters.

The island recently made headlines when U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on it and nearby McDonald Island, despite no trade occurring there and no human visits since 2016.

More information: Levan G. Tielidze et al, Glacier inventories reveal an acceleration of Heard Island glacier loss over recent decades, The Cryosphere (2025). DOI: 10.5194/tc-19-2677-2025 Journal information: The Cryosphere
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Shelved... for now. The two Janus mission spacecraft. Credit: Lockheed Martin

Since 2017, three interstellar objects have been spotted passing through our solar system: 1I/Oumuamua, 2I/Borisov and just this month, 3I/ATLAS. Discovered on July 1 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert Survey, 3I/ATLAS is zipping through the inner solar system in the last half of 2025.

Certainly, all assets on the ground and in space will be turned toward 3I/ATLAS over the next few frenzied months, to glean what we can but what would 3I/ATLAS look like up close? Can we even consider chasing down such a speedy visitor?

Thus far, we've discerned that 3I/ATLAS is a very old object hailing from the thick galactic disk of the Milky Way galaxy, worthy of further study. Gemini North gave us a close-up view earlier mid-month, showing the object is definitely cometary in nature. Currently shining at +17th magnitude as it crosses the constellation Ophiuchus, expect 3I/ATLAS to brighten a hundredfold and reach +12th magnitude as it crosses perihelion 1.356 astronomical units (AU) from the sun on October 29th.

Unlike 1I/Oumuamua, we're seeing 3I/ATLAS while it's still on its inbound leg. Still, it's really truckin' along, moving at a speedy 58 kilometers per second relative to the sun. Could we catch up to it with existing technology? A recent study on the arXiv preprint server out of Michigan State University titled "The Feasibility of a Spacecraft Flyby with the Third Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS from Earth or Mars" is an interesting thought experiment on the prospect. The study could serve as a template for a future flyby of one of these enigmatic objects.

"A close flyby enables measurements that are not achievable from Earth-based telescopes," lead author on the paper Atsuhiro Yaginuma (Michigan State University) told Universe Today. "For example, we could obtain direct compositional and isotopic analysis of ices, dust, and organics in situ.

"We could also obtain high-resolution imaging of the nucleus and get key information regarding its shape, size, spin state, and active jets. All of these could yield critical insights into planetary formation and evolutionand the delivery of volatiles and organics to potentially habitable planetsin an alien system."

An animation showing Comet 3I/ATLAS moving across the dense star field of the galactic plane. Credit: Michael Jaeger.

Chasing an object like 3I/ATLAS would entail a whirlwind mission. The study looked at various scenarios, with an Earth or Mars departure in the January 2025 through March 2026 time frame. Earth departure would require a high initial delta-V of 24 kilometers per second to attain an optimal path.

The Dawn spacecraft nearly matched this, with a post-launch delta-V of nearly 23 kilometers per second. In contrast, Mars delta-V would have only needed a change of 5 kilometers per second in early 2025 to catch 3I/ATLAS. The energy budget for any mission goes up sharply, the longer you wait to launch.

Mars was looked at as an optimal alternate launch point because 3I/ATLAS makes a close 0.2 AU (29 million kilometers) pass versus the Red Planet on October 3rd. Closest Earth passage for 3I/ATLAS is less favorable, at 1.8 AU distant on December 19th.

"Mars orbiters can image 3I/ATLAS, and obtaining scientific images would be very helpful for learning about the object, especially around perihelion while we can't observe 3I/ATLAS from Earth," says Yaginuma.

"It depends on each mission, but having high-resolution images would be beneficial. It's critical to observe comets during their perihelionwhen they are closest to the sunand 3I/ATLAS won't be observable from Earth then. So Mars offers one of our only opportunities to observe the interstellar interloper at all when it should have the most activity."

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Of course, the pipeline of getting a mission from planning to the launch pad is a long one. This would also mean that a heavy lift carrier such as NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), SpaceX's Falcon Heavy or China's Long March 5 would have to be repurposed for a single, one-shot flyby mission.

NASA's MAVEN, Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and ESA's Trace Gas Orbiter and Mars Express are all currently operational and in orbit around the Red Planet.

"A Mars-based intercept requiring a delta-V of 10 kilometers per second may be within current propulsion limits. In principle, these orbiters could use their remaining fuel to shift into a 3I/ATLAS flyby trajectory, turning their end-of-life maneuvers into a rare scientific opportunity," says Yaginuma. "If one of them is approved and has enough remaining fuel, such a flyby would be valuable."

The study also looked at repurposing missions already built, now looking for a new destination. One such orphaned mission is the Joint Advanced Propulsion Institute (Janus) duo. Janus is a 36-kilogram pair of SIMPLEx spacecraft, which were set to launch with the Psyche mission to study asteroids 1996 Fg3 and 1991 VH. The two Janus spacecraft were shelved when delays forced Psyche to take an alternate orbital path to its primary objective, metallic asteroid 16 Psyche.

"What we showed in the paper is that there would be a steep rocket fuel requirement to launch a spacecraft from Earth to 3I/ATLAS," says Yaginuma. "JANUS is one of the ready-to-launch spacecraft that was going to visit binary asteroids but recently was shelved. JANUS is also a small spacecraft and relatively light, so we might be able to get it to 3I/ATLAS if we went sooner rather than later."

Another noted mission that's already underway is OSIRIS-APEX. This is NASA's OSIRIS-REX asteroid sample return mission, now repurposed for a flyby of the Near-Earth Asteroid 99942 Apophis in 2029. OSIRIS-APEX is set to perform an Earth gravity assist flyby in September 2025, and could make long-range observations of 3I/ATLAS using its MapCam and PolyCam imagers starting in November.

Most of the dates mentioned in the study have already come and gone, making the idea of launching an intercept mission after 3I/ATLAS more of an academic exercise at this point. To complicate such a hypothetical mission even further, flyby speeds in excess of 60 kilometers a second would make imaging during such a fast encounter tricky. For comparison, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft passed the Pluto-Charon system at 14 kilometers per second a decade ago in July 2015.

The proposed trajectory for Comet Interceptor. Credit: ESA

Future missions may make such a high-speed flyby a reality. The European Space Agency's proposed Comet Interceptor is an F-Class mission that would park at the sun-Earth L2 point and await a target. In a multi-spacecraft configuration optimized for multi-point observations, Comet Interceptor could chase down a new comet, and potentially even catch up to an interstellar object. Comet Interceptor is planned to launch in 2029.

"Once a suitable target is found, it (Comet Interceptor) will rendezvous and release two small probes to surround and study the comet from different angles at the same time," says Yaginuma.

"Its fuel and engines are designed for long-period comets, so if an interstellar object happens to pass near it, this could be one of our best opportunities for a close encounter. However, studies have shown that we would have to be pretty lucky to get an interstellar visitor as a feasible target for Comet Interceptor."

The bottom line takeaway from the study is the earlier that we can spot incoming interstellar objects, the more options we'll have available, and the less energy will be required to go after them. To this end, a new generation of all-sky surveys such as the recently commissioned Vera C. Rubin Observatory are promising to spot these incoming space rocks early, in an effort to study a new population of intriguing astronomical objects like never before.

More information: Atsuhiro Yaginuma et al, The Feasibility of a Spacecraft Flyby with the Third Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS from Earth or Mars, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2507.15755 Journal information: arXiv
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Student researcher Katherine Zine from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Nathan Washecheck from North Carolina State University and Lucas Opiola from Valparaiso University discuss the installation of the elevator apparatus at UCNTau. Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory

Incorporated into every aspect of everyday life, the neutron is a fundamental particle of nature. Now, a research collaboration led by Los Alamos National Laboratory has improved the precision of free neutron lifetime measurements. The team's results highlight the success of the UCNTau experiment's design and previews the effectiveness of new techniques and approaches that the team is incorporating into the next generation of the experiment.

"The precise lifetime of free neutrons is at the center of still-contested physics questions," said Steven Clayton, physicist at Los Alamos. "Understanding the neutron lifetime can be used to test the nature of the weak force, one of the fundamental forces of the universe, and can also help search for physics beyond the Standard Model.

"Our results here validate the UCNtau experimental approach and point the way toward design improvements that will further enhance our understanding of the physics involved."

The team's new analysis, published in Physical Review C, incorporates three more years of data collection from the experiment at the Ultracold Neutron Facility at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, with accuracy bolstered by improvements in the systematic design of the experiment. The results update the understanding of the neutron's lifetime to 877.83 seconds, with uncertainty reduced to under 0.3 seconds.

Bathtub design delivers consistent results

The UCNtau experimental apparatusUCN stands for "ultracold neutrons" and tau is the symbol for a particle lifetimeworks as a magneto-gravitational trap, resembling a bathtub whose concave surface is covered in magnets and open at the top. A variation of a "bottle" trap, the UCNtau experiment stands in contrast to the "beam" approach employed by some neutron lifetime experiments.

The approaches have resulted in different measurements of the neutron lifetime, with the "neutron lifetime puzzle" dividing the physics community around the possibility that a flaw in either of the experimental approaches may explain the discrepancy.

The UCNtau bathtub is filled with ultracold neutrons slowed down cryogenically so they can be counted when they interact with a detector lowered into the bathtub. To prevent neutron loss, magnets on the interior surfaces prevent neutrons from leaking through the surface, and gravity keeps the neutrons from spilling over the high tub walls.

Neutrons are counted when a zinc-sulfide detector coated with boron-10 descends into the bathtub; the neutrons are absorbed by the boron-10 coating on the zinc-sulfide detector and the excess energy causes the boron-10 nucleus to break apart, with a fragment pinging on the zinc-sulfide and producing a detectableand countabledisplay of light.

To fine-tune accuracy, the UCNTau team updated the apparatus every year as it took data, including improving monitoring of how many neutrons are initially loaded into the trap and the accuracy of counting surviving neutrons in the trap after being held for some time. The consistency of the recent data with the team's earlier results validates the experiment's design. Averaging the results from the five years of total run, the team arrived at the new measurement of 877.83 seconds. That figure includes an error estimate of less than 0.3 seconds.

"The results represent the most precise measurement of the neutron lifetime to date," Clayton said. "Our goals have been to better understand and quantify systematic uncertainties in the experiment and to improve the lifetime statistical precision. With this level of precision, we've taken the current design as far as it can go."

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UCNTau+ represents the next generation of experiments

For its next run of data, the research team has turned its attention to significantly increasing the capacity of the experimental apparatusan iteration of the experiment the team is calling "UCNTau+." The team is modifying the method of filling the trap to increase the density of ultracold neutrons by a factor of between 5 and 10 while also improving the detector system to reduce the largest systematic uncertainty by a factor of 10to a goal overall uncertainty of 0.1 seconds.

The team is ensuring counting accuracy by developing a new UCN detector with a scintillator based on a perovskite material that can be made to provide similar light output but without the long fluorescence trail found with the current scintillator.

A view inside the innovative "elevator" element, which brings neutrons down into the UCNTau chamber. Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory

At the center of the effort to deliver more neutron density is a newly installed "elevator" that loads neutrons into the bathtub, swinging forward and down into the trap. Fabricated from copper and Teflon, useful for reflecting neutrons to prevent leakage through the metal, the elevator can deliver a larger load of neutrons down into the trap. The trap was designed and fabricated in collaboration with the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.

"The elevator itself was challenging to design and execute because it has to form a seal as it backs up, and we needed any gaps to be reasonable," said Maninder Singh, Los Alamos postdoctoral researcher on the UCNTau team. "Elevator transport has been done before but not at this scale, and not with this geometry, where the elevator is to move other than straight up and down. Implementing this technique has been an exciting challenge."

The team hopes to bring UCNTau+ online this summer to begin taking data.
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AI generated image of a young free floating planetary-mass object surrounded by a dusty disk. Credit: University of St Andrews

New research from the University of St Andrews has found that giant free floating planets have the potential to form their own miniature planetary systems without the need for a star.

In findings published on the arXiv preprint server, researchers using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) investigated young isolated objects with masses of 510 times the mass of Jupiter. These objects are comparable to giant planets in their properties, but in contrast to giant planets, they are not in orbit around a star; instead they are free-floating in space.

Free floating planets are challenging to observe, as they are very dim and radiate mostly in the infrared. And yet, they hold the key to important questions in astrophysics. Current research suggests that these are the lowest mass objects formed like stars from the collapse of giant gas clouds.

In contrast to stars, they do not accumulate enough mass to start any fusion reactions in their cores. In theory, it is also possible that some of them form in a way comparable to planets, in orbit around a star, and later ejected from their planetary nurseries.

Researchers from the School of Physics and Astronomy along with co-authors from the U.S., Italy, Ireland, England and Portugal, observed eight of these objects, all very young, to learn more about their infancy. They used two instruments on board the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest space telescope ever built, equipped with extremely sensitive infrared instruments. Detailed spectroscopic observations for these objects, with unprecedented spectral coverage and sensitivity, from August to October 2024, were analyzed.

This new work characterizes these objects in depth, and confirms that they have masses around the same size as Jupiter. Six of them have excess emissions in the infrared caused by warm dust in their immediate vicinity. This is the characteristic sign of disks, flattened structures which are the birthplaces of planets.

Observations also show emission from silicate grains in the disks, with clear signs of dust growth and crystallizationthe typical first steps in the formation of rocky planets. Silicate emission has been found for stars and brown dwarfs before, but this is the first detection in planetary-mass objects. This work builds on a previously published paper from the University of St Andrews showing that disks around free-floating planetary mass objects can last several million years, plenty of time to form planets.

Dr. Aleks Scholz, the Principal Investigator of the project, said, "Taken together, these studies show that objects with masses comparable to those of giant planets have the potential to form their own miniature planetary systems. Those systems could be like the solar system, just scaled down by a factor of 100 or more in mass and size. Whether or not such systems actually exist remains to be shown."

Lead author Dr. Belinda Damian from the University of St Andrews, said, "These discoveries show that the building blocks for forming planets can be found even around objects that are barely larger than Jupiter and drifting alone in space. This means that the formation of planetary systems is not exclusive to stars but might also work around lonely starless worlds."

More information: Belinda Damian et al, Spectroscopy of Free-Floating Planetary-Mass Objects and their disks with JWST, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2507.05155 Journal information: arXiv
Libertarianism vs conservatism: Two diverging visions of society

By Joshua D Glawson

web posted August 4, 2025

In American politics, libertarians and conservatives often find themselves marching in the same direction, against socialism, against government overreach, against centralized control.

But once the immediate threats are behind us, the path splits. Beneath the alliance lies a deeper tension: conservatism and libertarianism are not interchangeable.

Libertarianism and Conservatism are two distinct worldviews with different priorities , moral foundations, and visions of what constitutes a good society.

Though allies in rhetoric, they often become opponents in principle. Understanding where and why they diverge is critical if we care about the future of liberty in America.

Foundations: Tradition vs. Individual Liberty

Conservatism is rooted in preservation : of culture, of customs, of institutions. The conservative believes that societal wisdom is accumulated over generations and that disrupting tradition leads to chaos.

Edmund Burke, often considered the father of modern conservatism, viewed society as a fragile contract passed between generations. He warned of radical change and put his trust in slow, evolutionary progress anchored in time-tested norms.

Libertarianism, by contrast, is rooted in individual liberty . Our tradition does not fear change if it is voluntary and peaceful.

We often draw from John Locke's natural rights philosophy: every individual has the right to life, liberty, and property, and governments are legitimate only when they protect these rights with the consent of the governed.

From a minarchist perspective, liberty is understood as the natural condition in which individuals are free to act as they choose, so long as they do not initiate force or fraud against others.

In this view, liberty is not absolute license, but the peaceful exercise of autonomy within a system that protects rights through minimal government. The state exists only to secure these rights through basic functions like courts, police, and national defense. It does not exist to mold culture, redistribute wealth, or engineer virtue.

The sovereignty of individuals is imperative for any justification of the sovereignty of the state. The state has no moral authority of its own; it only inherits what has been delegated by free, peaceful individuals. Sovereignty flows from the bottom up, not the top down. It is not granted by the state to the people; it is granted by the people to the state, and only conditionally.

This is not a novel claim. It is foundational to the Western liberal tradition. John Locke warned that when the state betrays the rights of the people it is meant to protect, it becomes an aggressor, not a guardian.

In The Second Treatise of Government, Locke argued that when a government breaks its trustby violating property, suppressing liberty, or denying consentit forfeits its legitimacy, and the people have the right to alter or abolish it.

In libertarian thought, this is not a rhetorical flourish. It is a moral boundary. When the state violates the sovereignty of free and peaceful individuals, it is in violation of natural rights and no longer operating within the bounds of legitimate authority.

Conservatives ask: what will preserve order?

Libertarians ask: what protects liberty?

The Role of Government

Conservatives support limited government in theory but are more likely to endorse state action to preserve morality, social cohesion, and national identity. From banning certain substances to promoting religious values in public schools, conservatives often rely on the state as a moral enforcer.

Libertarians oppose coercive power, period. We hold that the state should never initiate force against peaceful individuals, even when a majority believes it's for their own good. That includes resisting attempts to legislate virtue, control markets, or police private behavior.

Freedom is not the absence of chaos; it is the presence of individual sovereignty. You cannot force a free society into existence with laws, mandates, or cultural paternalism .

Rights Theory: Consistency vs. Selectivity

This divide becomes especially clear in how each tradition understands rights.

Libertarians overwhelmingly adhere to Natural Rights Theory, the idea that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property that precede government and do not depend on majority approval. These are negative rights, meaning they only require others to refrain from interference, not to provide goods or services.

Conservatives, however, often shift between Natural Rights and Positive Rights depending on the issue. They may appeal to natural rights when defending gun ownership or religious liberty, but invoke positive rights when calling for government-enforced national service, law-and-order crackdowns, or subsidies to culturally favored institutions.

This inconsistency undermines the principle of equal liberty. Libertarians maintain that if a "right" requires the government to violate someone else's liberty or property, it is not a right at all; it is a claim to someone else's labor, money, or autonomy .

In our view, government's only legitimate purpose is to protect natural rights, not to invent new ones, redistribute them, or trade them for cultural comfort.

Economics: Free Markets in Principle vs. Free Markets When Convenient

Both schools claim to support free enterprise. But when the political winds shift, their differences emerge.

Conservatives will support tariffs , subsidies, or industrial policy when it serves national interest or political allies. We saw this clearly during Trump's administration and again in his 2025 anti-capitalism tariff revival. The conservative rationale is often pragmatic: "protect American jobs," punish adversarial nations, rebuild domestic industry.

But libertarians reject this inconsistency. A free market is a moral commitment, not just an economic theory . Tariffs are hidden taxes that punish consumers and distort peaceful exchange. Voluntary trade between peopleeven across bordersis a natural right. As Milton Friedman explained, the damage from tariffs is widespread, subtle, and long-lasting.

Conservatives may use markets to reach an end. Libertarians believe markets are an end in themselves, because they respect consent and reward value creation .

Social Policy and Personal Autonomy

Here lies perhaps the most visible fault line.

Conservatives often seek to protect traditional values through legislation, whether it's laws against drug use, bans on same-sex marriage, or restrictions on speech they consider harmful or "un-American." They argue that freedom without morality leads to decadence.

Libertarians agree that a moral society is desirable, but we reject the idea that government should define or enforce morality. Personal responsibility, not state intervention, is the foundation of a free society . Whether someone chooses a risky lifestyle, holds controversial beliefs, or defies convention, they remain a sovereign individual, entitled to liberty and protection from state interference.

As long as people remain peaceful and do not infringe on the natural rights of others, they should be tolerated and their personal autonomy should remain intact. This toleration does not imply coerced acceptance by the state or society, only that others within society and the government have no authority to harm them.

Conservatives say: some things should not be tolerated.

Libertarians say: tolerance is the price of liberty .

Foreign Policy and the Use of Force

Conservatives tend to support a strong national defense and assertive foreign policy. Many believe America must project power to protect its values and interests abroad. This has led to support for military interventions, foreign aid to allied governments, and an expansive global footprint.

Libertarians, following the lead of Ron Paul and others, reject interventionism . We believe that the primary role of the military is to defend the homeland, not to police the world. Foreign entanglements drain resources, provoke retaliation, and entrench the very centralized power we seek to resist.

Peaceful commerce, not military dominance, is the best way to promote liberty globally.

Constitutional Philosophy

Conservatives often invoke the Constitution as a sacred document, but many support broad interpretations when it aligns with their priorities, such as executive action on immigration, national security, or trade . They talk about "originalism," but are quick to justify exceptions for emergencies or national greatness.

Libertarians, by contrast, treat the Constitution as a limiting charter, not a blank check. We believe that even when the ends are noble, the means must remain constitutional, decentralized, and accountable. We do not believe the president is a king, or that Congress can legislate away our rights.

Some may argue that being both constitutional and decentralized presents a contradiction. It does not. A properly limited Constitution, like the one envisioned by the American Founders , distributes and restrains power precisely to prevent centralization. Federalism, enumerated powers, and the Bill of Rights all serve to protect individual liberty by keeping power fragmented and local.

In the libertarian view, a written Constitution is valuable only insofar as it limits government and prevents consolidation. Decentralization is not at odds with constitutionalismit is its most faithful application.

Conservatives sometimes see government as a necessary tool. Libertarians see it as a dangerous servantand a fearful master.

Cultural Outlook

Conservatives are often motivated by a sense of cultural loss. They look around and see decay: weakened families, secular values, rising crime, and globalist ideology. Their instinct is to protect, to preserve, and, if necessary, to wield state power to recover what was lost.

Libertarians see cultural change as inevitableand not necessarily a threat. We don't fear pluralism or experimentation, because we trust free people to build better lives without needing a central script. Libertarians view diversity of values as a strength, so long as no one is forced to accept or subsidize someone else's lifestyle.

We do not wish to roll back the clock. We wish to roll back the state.

Final Thoughts: Order or Freedom?

At their core, conservatives and libertarians part ways on the question: is the purpose of government to preserve order or to secure liberty?

Conservatives often conclude that freedom must be subordinated to virtue. Libertarians believe that freedom is the precondition for virtue. Without voluntary choice, moral behavior is hollow and imposed.

From a minarchist libertarian perspective , freedom, or liberty, is not utopianism or chaosit is a principled system of non-aggression, self-ownership, and voluntary exchange, supported by a minimal state whose sole duty is to protect those rights and nothing more.

While we may theoretically continue to work alongside conservatives against socialism, censorship, and central planning, we must never lose sight of the moral, philosophical, economic, and political differences that set us apart.

Liberty is not a subset of conservatism. It is its own proud traditionone grounded in individual rights, peaceful exchange, and personal responsibility.

Let us never confuse proximity for unity.

Libertarianism stands on its own.

This is Joshua D Glawson's first contribution to Enter Stage Right. (c) 2025 Joshua D Glawson.
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Indian LVM3 M3 on the SLP with 36 OneWeb satellites. Credit: Universe Today

The United States and China aren't the only powerful, wealthy nations in the world, and they're certainly not the only nations active in space. For example, there are the Russians, who arekind of distracted at the moment, so for our purposes there really isn't much to talk about there.

It seems these days that everybody wants to get a piece of the moon for themselves, and many nations have either developed their own independent spacecraft, or taken up some rideshare options available on heavy-lift vehicles from the United States and China.

In 2007 JAXA, the Japanese space agency, launched a successful orbiter mission right around the same time that the Chinese were gearing up Chang'e 1, followed in 2008 by the Indian Space Agency's Chandrayaan-1 mission, which was mostly an orbiter but also technically landed on the moon because the mission had an impacter that crashed (on purpose) on the lunar surface.

In 2014, we had Luxembourg joining the party with the Manfred Memorial Moon Mission, named after the founder of the private company that led the mission who passed away in 2014. This mission rode along with Chang'e 5 on a Long March 3C rocket, and it successfully flew by the moon before entering an orbit that would end up sending the spacecraft crashing into the lunar surface in 2022 (we think, it's hard to check up on that kind of stuff). This mission was notable for two reasons: one, hello Luxembourg, and two, it was the first private lunar probe to successfully fly by the moon.

In 2019, the Israeli space agency tried to send a lander, Beresheet, to the moon, and while it technically did reach the lunar surface, it wasn't in the way they had hoped. The spacecraft, named after the first book of the Bible, suffered a failure of one of its gyroscopes during descent. Without the gyroscope, the spacecraft couldn't orient itself properly and crashed into the lunar surface. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter actually snapped a gruesome picture of the event.

In 2019, the Indians got another orbiter around the moon, but their attempt at a lander and rover didn't quite make it, unfortunately.

More recently, other countries have sent flybys, orbiters, and landers, including South Korea, some more from Japan, the European Space Agency, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, with the usual mix of successes and failures (which is to say, a lot of failures). For example, in 2022, the Hakuto-R Mission, led by JAXA and including a rover developed by the United Arab Emirates, had a software bug that prevented it from accurately gauging its altitude from the lunar surface. Eventually its altitude reached 0, but not in a good way.

But still, no humans. It's hard to overstate just how much more difficult crewed missions to the moon are compared to robotic spacecraft. So far, only the United States and China have at least somewhat plausible plans for getting humans to the lunar surface in any somewhat plausible timeline. So what are these other nations and agencies left to do?

Pick a side, that's what.

Both nations have opened up their lunar programs to any partners willing to sign on (and follow the rules). This can go anywhere from a paid rideshare situation (we'll give you a fraction of our payload capacity in exchange for some cold hard cash) to deals to co-develop critical mission parts.

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On the NASA side, the Artemis project includes the European Space Agency, JAXA, the German Aerospace Center, the Italian Space Agency, the Israel Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, and the space program of Dubai.

In addition to that, NASA is out there in the world trying to get as many people to sign onto the Artemis Accords, which is an update to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty that allows for countries to use the moon for more than just looking around (as in, mining it to make money) but still have everybody get along and not start any moon wars.

So far, 43 countries have signed the Accords, including Mexico, Canada, most South American countries, a good chunk of Europe, India, and Australia. The Accords state that they are "PRINCIPLES FOR COOPERATION IN THE CIVIL EXPLORATION AND USE OF THE MOON, MARS, COMETS, AND ASTEROIDS FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES"note the exception of the outer planets, so if you want to have your space wars, that's where they need to be.

One notable exception to the Artemis Accords? That's right: China. And Russia. So two notable exceptions, who, unsurprisingly, aren't so keen on a plan that essentially relies on trusting the United States.

In 2021, those two countries started their own partynope, not the communist party, a space partycalled the International Lunar Research Station, which on the surface is about co-creating a long-term lunar base, but since that's decades away it's really more about creating a counterweight to the Artemis hegemony.

And since then, they've got many other nations to sign on to their plans as well, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Serbia, Pakistan, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, andSenegal. Thank you, Senegal, I'm not sure what you're going to contribute, but we're glad to have you on board.

The Artemis project is always going to be led by American astronauts, and I'm sure that if China makes it back to the moon first, they're going to make sure it's one of their citizens to take that first step. But as plans develop and partners make their bids to be more valuable, you never know who might get to ride along and plant a flag of their own.
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Northeastern's Brandon Welsh and Eric Piza edited the latest volume of "The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science." Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

What do preschool and streetlights have in common?

According to Northeastern University researchers, both are effective ways to prevent crime, and they don't require the involvement of the formal justice system.

These seemingly unrelated strategiesearly childhood education and environmental designshare a crucial similarity, the researchers say. They focus on preventing crime before it occurs by addressing underlying conditions in communities.

"High-quality early preschool is an example of what we might call an early-developmental crime prevention program that has demonstrated a tremendous social impact in communities across this country," says Brandon Welsh, dean's professor of criminology and co-director of the Crime Prevention Lab at Northeastern University.

"Changing the architecture of buildings, improving the lines of sight in common areas or improved lighting is another area of crime prevention," he says.

Welsh and Eric Piza, the Lipman family professor of criminology and criminal justice and also co-director of the Crime Prevention Lab at Northeastern, are the editors of the most recent volume of the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.

The volume focuses on a new way to think of and deliver evidence-based and cost-efficient crime prevention, Welsh says, by putting at center stage the goals of social impact and social justice.

Crime prevention that prioritizes social impact is about harnessing the knowledge of evidence-based interventions and fostering systems change that is both meaningful and lasting, Welsh says. Social justice in this context equitably delivers crime prevention resources and promotes perceptions of fairness and legitimacy among individuals and the community at large.

As a result, the journal compiles, as Welsh says, "where the crime prevention movement needs to go, the progress being made, as well as the issues and the challenges that confront us."

"We've brought together the leading researchers from across the globe and top U.S. policymakers who are doing the work, who are really pushing the boundaries and advocating for greater attention to this duality of advancing social justice and social impact as a part of preventing crime," Welsh says.

So what can crime prevention for social justice and social impact look like?

The strategies described in the journal can be broken down into several categories.

Community and developmental crime prevention may consist of after-school programs or child social skills training, respectively, while surveillance cameras or improved street lighting may be categorized as environmental or situational crime preventionor ways to reduce opportunities for crime.

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These strategies, alongside partnerships with proactive policing, are an important part of an overall approach to reduce crime rates in U.S. cities, towns and neighborhoods, Welsh says.

But crime prevention doesn't guarantee gains in social justice or social impact.

"Neither social impact nor social justice are a natural byproduct of crime prevention," Welsh says. "Both require deliberate and sustained effort on the part of communities and other stakeholders."

At the same time, as Piza adds, "lowering crime rates and improving social justice have too often been incorrectly framed as incompatible and mutually exclusive. We feel there is a clear road map for preventing crime in a way that simultaneously fosters social impact and social justice. And the articles in the volume clearly demonstrate this."
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This artificial reef off Florida is not dissimilar to those off the coast of WA. Credit: Reefmaker, 2013 CC BY-SA 3.0

If you stand on a Western Australian beach and gaze into the sunset, you'll see stunning reds, oranges, yellows and purples dancing over deep blue waves that stretch into infinity.

There are plenty of natural wonders beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean. But there are some man-made marvels too, one of which is the reason you're able to read this article right now.

Floreat fibers

If no one told you, it would be impossible to know that, every second, 1,000 feature-length films worth of data (40Tb) shoot under Floreat Beach.

That's thanks to the INDIGO cable, which runs through an 800m long tunnel deep beneath the sandy shore.

INDIGO is comprised of INDIGO-West, which heads 4600km to Jakarta and Singapore, and INDIGO-Central, which runs 4850km to Sydney.

When they fired up in 2019, they were just the third and fourth subsea cables to land in Perth, after the Australia-Singapore Cable in 2018 and SEA-ME-WE 3 in 2000, although the latter was shut down at the end of 2024.

There are plenty more subsea cables in Perth's future. The Oman-Australia Cable opened in 2022 and connected the Cocos Islands to a subsea cable for the first time.

Beyond this, the Sydney-Melbourne-Adelaide-Perth cable and Australia Connect Interlink are expected to start operating in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

All these cables make our little city at the edge of the world just a bit less isolated.

SEA-ME-WE 3, the cable that preceded INDIGO-West. Credit: Furfur, 2016 CC BY-SA 4.0

Pilbara pipeline

Some 1300km north of Floreat, Woodside plans to pump something much more controversial than data through a subsea pipeline.

The Scarborough Gas Pipeline is a 430km long pipe intended to transport natural gas from the Scarborough Gas Field to a processing plant in Karratha.

It's part of Woodside's plans to extend their Scarborough operations until 2070, which have been marred by claims of safety issues, environmental hazards and academic malpractice.

The federal government recently approved the extension despite a plea from Pacific leaders to reject the project, which they say threatens to worsen the already catastrophic impacts of anthropogenic climate change.

Fishy business

In stark contrast to ramping up gas production, artificial reefs are providing habitats for marine life along the Western Australian coastline.

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Some of the reefs also make for great recreational snorkeling and fishing spots, while others, like the one at C.Y. O'Connor Beach, protect against coastal erosion.

The idea of artificial reefs is all well and good, but throwing big lumps of concrete and metal into the ocean doesn't make a healthy habitat on its own.

The concrete and metal frames of artificial reefs have all the nooks and crannies small fish like to hide in, but they don't have any of the food. That's why they've been seeded with plant and coral species.

Once the plants and corals are established, the small fish that feed on them start to move in. Those small fish are followed by predators and then you have an ecosystem.

The same seeding techniques that turn hunks of junk into thriving ecosystems can also be used to rehabilitate existing coral reefs that have been affected by climate change, like Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef.

While some of the structures off WA's coast are threatening to worsen the climate crisis, others are fighting back, and even more are working hard to keep us connected to a world full of people who are doing the same.

Provided by Particle

This article first appeared on Particle, a science news website based at Scitech, Perth, Australia. Read the original article.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown virus in farmed Pacific oysters during a mass die-off in B.C., Canada. The discovery serves as a reminder that growers should exercise caution when moving young oysters internationally and domestically, to prevent the potential spread of pathogens, according to a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"We've recently seen annual mass die-offs in B.C. and elsewhere of Pacific oysters, the most widely farmed shellfish worldwide," said first author Dr. Kevin Zhong, research associate in the UBC department of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences (EOAS). "Often, we don't know the cause."

Pacific oysters are the primary shellfish species grown in B.C. with an estimated value of $16 million in 2023. While mass die-offs have been attributed to various factors including viruses, bacteria, and warming water temperatures, in many cases, there's no definitive cause.

The researchers collected 33 oysters from two farms in B.C. during a mass die-off in 2020, as well as 26 wild oysters from 10 nearby sites. RNA analysis revealed the presence of a previously unknown virus, Pacific Oyster Nidovirus 1 (PONV1), in 20 of the dead and dying farmed oystersbut not in healthy wild oysters, suggesting a link between the virus and mortality.

"This discovery highlights how little we know about viruses infecting invertebrates in general and oysters in particular," said senior author Dr. Curtis Suttle, EOAS professor.

"It's important to investigate mass die-offs in oysters to determine what causes disease. Similar to humans, disease and death is not caused by a single factor, but prevention is not possible until the causes are known."

Clues from genomes

The virus has one of the largest RNA genomes on record and is only the second nidovirus found in bivalves. Nidoviruses are found in a wide range of animals, including humans; for example, SARS-CoV-2, a nidovirus, causes COVID-19.

"The extraordinarily large genome of this virus makes it particularly fascinating as it pushes the known boundaries of how big RNA virus genomes can get," said Dr. Zhong.

"A larger genome may allow the virus to encode more genes or protein domains, potentially expanding or enhancing its ability to interact with hosts. This discovery offers a rare window into the possible evolutionary mechanisms that enable genome expansion in RNA viruses."

Global genetic databases revealed 15 closely related viruses in Pacific oysters in Europe and Asia, suggesting they are globally widespread. However, these cases showed no associated mortality.

The viruses are so different genetically from other nidoviruses that the research team has proposed a new family: Megarnaviridae, or "large RNA viruses." PONV1, which the team is proposing to name Megarnavirus gigas, or "large RNA virus giant," and its relatives appear to be specific to oysters, so humans are not at risk of contracting the virus, said Dr. Suttle.

Care when shipping spat

B.C. oyster farmers, like growers elsewhere, often import oyster seed and juvenile oysters, or spat, from domestic and international hatcheries.

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"The discovery of the virus is a reminder that growers should use an abundance of caution when moving oyster spat internationally and nationally, as we still know very little about what causes disease in oysters," said Dr. Suttle.

"New pathogens may be introduced when spat are imported. Ultimately, developing rapid tests for detecting potential pathogens is essential for safely importing oyster seed, and identifying the causes of disease and mortality."

The scientists emphasize the need for further research to understand the link between the virus and mortality in Pacific oysters and stress the need for ongoing monitoring of oyster populations.

"This research is not a cause for alarm," said Dr. Suttle. "Rather, this is a meaningful step forward in advancing our understanding of oyster health and supporting the long-term sustainability of shellfish aquaculture."
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Volunteers search for butterflies at the Kalamazoo Nature Center in Michigan. Credit: Karen Douglas, Kalamazoo Nature Center

While analyzing the mountains of data harvested from three decades of butterfly counting in the Midwest, a Michigan State University Ph.D. candidate had seen enough studies to be braced for bad news.

But, as reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finding that none of the 136 species of butterflies' populations increased over that time took Wendy Leuenberger aback.

"We expected to find that at least some species had done well over the past 32 years," she said.

Leuenberger and colleagues report the results after they combined more than 4.3 million observations in the U.S. Midwest from 19922023 to characterize changes in butterfly biodiversity. The results: 59 of the 136 species declined in abundance over the study. That means for every 10 species and 100 individuals present at a county at the beginning of the study period, there are now only nine species and 60 individuals.

Both common and rare butterflies are waning.

"You would have such a different experience taking a walk to look at butterflies in 1992 as compared to 2023," said Leuenberger, who is in the MSU Zipkin Quantitative Ecology Lab in the department of integrative biology.

"While most of the common species like monarchs and cabbage whites are still present, you wouldn't see nearly as many of them as in 1992. You're less likely to spot rare species as well. These are all changes that have occurred during my lifetime, which is humbling."

The publication comes on the heels of another big data analysis published in March in Science, which documented a national butterfly decline across the United States from 2000 to 2020.

This latest study includes more butterfly surveys by going back a decade further, most collected by volunteers working more than 90,000 hours. Although the team did not evaluate the drivers of decline, the time frame is parallel to the widespread use of the insecticide class of neonicotinoids, which were introduced in 1994 and rapidly increased in use after 2003. The last several decades have also seen changes in key weather variables because of global climate change.

The level of detail in the analysis will be crucial to understanding the best ways to conserve butterflies, which fall into different trait groupsincluding monarchs, swallowtails and skippers. Some migrate vast distances while others stay put. Some are abundant and found in a variety of habitats, while others can only live in a few specific places or in small numbers. They have different strategies to overwinteras eggs, caterpillars or adults.

"Traits affect how resilient butterflies are to change," Leuenberger said. "For instance, ones that only have a single generation a year don't do as well as multi-generational butterflies."

This diversity is why it's important to have a detailed understanding about how each type of butterfly is faring. Knowing specifically how a species is changingor notis the first step in creating effective conservation plans.

"We are lucky to be working in the midwestern U.S., an area with the highest density of butterfly surveys of anywhere in North America," said the study's senior author, Elise Zipkin, Red Cedar Distinguished Professor and director of MSU's Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program.

"Volunteer scientists use the same protocols week after week and year after year. Without their invaluable efforts, we would not know how butterflies are faring and what we can do to reverse declines."

Butterflies are the most commonly counted insects and the butterfly is a likely poster species for how other insects and animals crucial to ecosystems are faring. As caterpillars, butterflies are the primary food for many fledgling birds. Butterflies and other insects are also important pollinators for plants and crops.

"Humans rely on insects more than we realize," says Leuenberger. "We need to figure out how we can protect them before it's too late."
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Minneapolis had the fifth worst air quality among 125 cities worldwide on Saturday morning, according to an international air quality monitoring platform.

IQ Air gave Minneapolis an air quality index (AQI) of 107, making the air unhealthy for people with sensitive conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Only Kinshasa, Congo; Kolkata, India; Baghdad, Iraq; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, registered worst air quality, according to IQ Air.

However, Minneapolis was dropping in the rankings as the day progressed. As of mid-afternoon Saturday, the city had fallen to 11th place with an AQI of 100, putting it on the upper end of the moderate category.

Among American cities, Los Angeles and Chicago trailed farther down the list compiled by IQAir is a Swiss company that claims to operate the world's largest real-time air quality monitoring platform.

Smoke from wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan continue to foul the air in Minnesota, leading the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to extend the state's air quality alert to Monday. The alert was set to lift Saturday evening as winds were forecast to drive unhealthy smoke particles north, but smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting south to Tennessee and Missouri slowed that.

Officials warn that tiny particles in the smoke can enter the bloodstream and cause breathing problems and other health concerns, leading to an increase in emergency room visits.

Experts say people can protect themselves with N95 respirators, but they advise residents to stay indoors and use air conditioning with air filters.

2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Sea surface height can tell meteorologists a lot about extreme storms like hurricanes, including whether they will intensify within a day. This kind of information can help communities better prepare if a hurricane is headed their way. Hurricane Elena is seen here from the space shuttle Discovery in 1985. Credit: NASA

NASA has a long record of monitoring Earth's sea surface height, information critical not only for tracking how the ocean changes over time but also for hurricane forecasting. These extreme storms can cost the United States billions of dollars each year, wreaking havoc on lives and property. Meteorologists have worked to improve forecasts for a hurricane's path, or track, as well as its intensity, measured as surface wind speed. Sentinel-6B, the U.S.-European satellite launching later this year, will help in that effort.

The satellite is the second of two spacecraft that constitute the Sentinel-6/Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) mission, a collaboration between NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), EUMETSAT (the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With its launch planned for no earlier than Nov. 16, 2025, Sentinel-6B will take over from its twin, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which launched in November 2020 as part of a long line of U.S.-European missions that have monitored sea levels since 1992.

"Sentinel-6 will track global changes in Earth's oceanheight, heat, and movementand will improve forecasts of local extremes like floods and hurricanes, linking planetary trends to real-world risks for communities," said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, Sentinel-6 program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The decades-long, U.S.-European ocean dataset has been key to helping researchers advance hurricane intensity forecasting. Warm water fuels hurricanes. And since water expands as it warms, sea surface height can tell researchers which regions of the ocean are warm enough to supercharge a hurricane.

"A deep layer of warm seawater is literally taller than a shallow layer of warm water," said Josh Willis, Sentinel-6B project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. So sea surface height can be used as a proxy for the amount of heat in the ocean.

Fueling hurricanes

There are two main ways that forecasters use sea level measurements, said Mark DeMaria, a senior research scientist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. One way is to help set the proper ocean conditions in ocean-atmosphere hurricane forecast models utilized by the National Hurricane Center.

The second way is by feeding sea level data into machine learning models that forecasters use to predict whether a hurricane will undergo rapid intensification, where its wind speeds increase by 35 mph (56 kph) or more within 24 hours. Meteorologists include both water temperature measurements from sensors drifting in the ocean and sea surface height data collected by Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich as well as other satellites.

Hurricanes churn the ocean as they pass overhead, mixing the top layers of seawater. If the storm encounters a shallow pool of warm seawater, its winds can stir things up, pulling cooler waters from the depths to the surface. This can hinder rapid intensification. But if the warm pool of seawater extends deep into the ocean, those winds will only stir up more warm water, potentially resulting in the hurricane's rapid intensification.

"Hurricane Milton is a perfect example of this," said DeMaria, who was previously a branch chief at the National Hurricane Center in Miami and helped to develop hurricane intensity forecast models.

Milton experienced an intense period of rapid intensificationan event that was forecast using a model fed partly with data from Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich. From Oct. 6 to Oct. 7, 2024, Milton exploded from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 5, producing wind speeds as high as 180 mph (289 kph). The storm weakened to a Category 3still a major hurricaneby the time it made landfall near Sarasota, Florida, on Oct. 9.

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Forecast improvements

While the U.S.-European series of sea level satellites began collecting measurements in 1992, it wasn't until the early 2000s that meteorologists started working with data from satellites in operational hurricane intensity forecasts such as the ones used by the National Hurricane Center.

Before then, forecasts relied on models and ocean surface temperature measurements that weren't always able to identify warm, deep pools of seawater that could induce rapid intensification in a hurricane.

Improvement efforts got a boost when the U.S. federal government started a program in 2007 aimed at advancing these types of forecasts. Since then, the program has helped move improvements made in the research realmsuch as in hurricane forecast reliability and accuracy, extensions in the lead time for predictions, and reduced forecast uncertaintyinto operational use.

The investment has been money well spent, said Renato Molina, an economist at the University of Miami who has analyzed the economic impact of improving hurricane forecasts. An accurate, timely forecast can give communities time to prepare, such as by boarding up homes and businesses or evacuating an area. The monetary savings can reach into the billions, he added.

While a host of atmospheric and oceanic characteristics go into hurricane forecasts, the inclusion of sea level data from satellites like Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich and, soon, Sentinel-6B has been an important addition.

"We need data from sensors in the ocean as well as satellite datathey go hand-in-hand," said DeMaria. "It would be impossible to do what we do without the satellites."

Provided by NASA
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Structural characterization a) Schematic diagram showing the synthesis of PtCa NPs. TEM images of b) PtCa/C NPs, c) HR-TEM image and d) HAADF-STEM image showing the orderly arrangement of the Pt (bright spots) and Ca (dark spots) atoms. Credit: Small (2025). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202503692

A research team led by Professor Jong-sung Yu of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST (President Kunwoo Kim) has successfully synthesized platinum-calcium alloy nanoparticles using a liquid-phase method. These nanoparticles serve as a catalyst that simultaneously enhances both the efficiency and durability of hydrogen fuel cells, an emerging next-generation eco-friendly energy technology.

The findings are published in the journal Small.

Previous studies had suggested that combining platinum with alkaline earth metals such as calcium could yield catalysts with excellent performance and durability. However, calcium is electrochemically challenging to handle, making its alloying with platinum extremely difficult. As a result, practical methods for synthesizing platinum-calcium alloy nanoparticles have remained underdeveloped worldwide.

The newly developed catalyst, synthesized via liquid-phase processing, features a core-shell structure with calcium and platinum atoms orderly arranged in the inner core and a platinum-rich shell on the outside. This structure is considered ideal for fuel cell catalysts, as it combines the high reactivity of platinum with the stabilizing effect of calcium in an innovative manner.

The research team applied the platinum-calcium nanoparticles as an anode catalyst in a practical hydrogen fuel cell environment and achieved performance and durability that exceeded the U.S. Department of Energy's 2025 targets. In other words, the catalyst demonstrated performance levels suitable for immediate application in hydrogen vehicles and power generation.

To uncover the origin of this achievement, the research team collaborated with Professor Kai S. Exner's team at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany to conduct theoretical studies. The results revealed that a strong interaction between platinum and calcium atoms is responsible for the catalyst's high durability and long-term performance.

Professor Jong-sung Yu of DGIST stated, "It is often difficult for fuel cell catalysts to simultaneously achieve both high performance and long-term durability. The platinum-calcium alloy nanoparticles developed in this study not only exhibit excellent performance and durability, but also offer low production cost, making them a highly promising technology that could significantly accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cells across various applications."

Gyan-Barimah Caleb, a student on Professor Jong-sung Yu's team at DGIST, participated as the first author, and the study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.

More information: Caleb GyanBarimah et al, Intermetallic PlatinumCalcium Alloy Breaks the ActivityStability TradeOff in Fuel Cell for Enhanced Performance, Small (2025). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202503692 Journal information: Small
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QTSP, which is at the core of ranking algorithms, processes higher-order data. This data is represented as graphs and transformed into other graphs. This is usually taxing for classical computers, but significantly simpler for a quantum computer as shown by the research team. Credit: SUTD

Whenever we mull over what film to watch on Netflix, or deliberate between different products on an e-commerce platform, the gears of recommendation algorithms spin under the hood. These systems sort through sprawling datasets to deliver personalized suggestions. However, as data becomes richer and more interconnected, today's algorithms struggle to keep pace with capturing relationships that span more than just pairs, such as group ratings, cross-category tags, or interactions shaped by time and context.

A team of researchers led by Professor Kavan Modi from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) has taken a conceptual leap into this complexity by developing a new quantum framework for analyzing higher-order network data.

Their work centers on a mathematical field called topological signal processing (TSP), which encodes more than connections between pairs of points but also among triplets, quadruplets, and beyond. Here, "signals" are information that lives on higher-dimensional shapes (triangles or tetrahedra) embedded in a network.

In their recent paper titled "Topological signal processing on quantum computers for higher-order network analysis," the team introduced a quantum version of this framework, called Quantum Topological Signal Processing (QTSP). It is a mathematically rigorous method for manipulating multi-way signals using quantum linear systems algorithms. The research is published in the journal Physical Review Applied.

Unlike prior quantum approaches to topological data analysis, which often suffer from impractical scaling, the QTSP framework achieves linear scaling in signal dimension. It is an improvement that opens the door to efficient quantum algorithms for problems previously considered out of reach.

"Much of the excitement around quantum computing lies in its potential to outperform classical computers in certain tasks," said Prof Modi. "With QTSP, we've identified a class of problemsthose with an inherently higher-order structurewhere this advantage could be more than just speculative."

The technical insight behind QTSP is in the structure of the data itself. Classical approaches typically require costly transformations to fit topological data into a form usable by quantum devices.

However, in QTSP, the data's native format is already compatible with quantum linear systems solvers, due to recent developments in quantum topological data analysis. This compatibility allows the team to circumvent a major bottleneck, efficient data encoding, while ensuring the algorithm remains mathematically grounded and modular.

Still, loading data into quantum hardware and retrieving it without overwhelming the quantum advantage remains an unsolved challenge. Even with linear scaling, quantum speedups can be nullified by overheads in pre- and post-processing.

"Quantum computing as a field is grappling with these issues," explained Prof Modi. "But theoretical progress matters as it tells us where to look and what to build towards."

To show how QTSP might be used in practice, the team applied it to a well-known classical algorithm called HodgeRank, commonly used in ranking problems like recommendation systems. This extension, detailed in a companion paper titled "Quantum HodgeRank: Topology-based rank aggregation on quantum computers," demonstrates how QTSP can be plugged into existing frameworks to tackle real-world problems.

While classical HodgeRank handles pairwise comparisons, quantum HodgeRank allows for higher-order interactions. This enables systems to incorporate nuances like overlapping preferences among groups of users or cross-modal influences.

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"When we look at recommendation systems through the lens of QTSP, we're not just ranking things. We're analyzing how complex signals propagate across a network," added Prof Modi.

While many of the immediate applications may remain classical, laying the theoretical foundation now helps prepare for a future where quantum hardware is robust enough to handle such tasks. The team's framework could potentially influence fields where the shape of data matters: biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and finance among them.

One potential frontier is neuroscience, where some theorists have speculated that cognitive processes may be underpinned by topological structures.

"If information in the brain is processed via topological embeddings, our algorithm could, one day, support experimental neuroscience by pairing with quantum sensors and processors," shared Prof Modi.

The team is currently focusing on refining the theory, finding stronger use cases and exploring new domains where topological and quantum tools might converge.

"We're especially excited about applying these ideas to physics. There's potential to study phases of matter in ways that classical tools don't easily allow," Prof Modi said.

He added, "Our research is in line with SUTD's ethos of combining technology with thoughtful designthe QTSP framework was built to be modular and adaptable, ensuring that its mathematical components can be repurposed for diverse applications."

More information: Caesnan M.G. Leditto et al, Topological signal processing on quantum computers for higher-order network analysis, Physical Review Applied (2025). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.23.054054 Caesnan M. G. Leditto et al, Quantum HodgeRank: Topology-based rank aggregation on quantum computers, Physical Review Applied (2025). DOI: 10.1103/m6nc-ypl7 Journal information: Physical Review Applied
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HMAS Canberra. Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust

An expedition led by Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) aboard Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus has just completed comprehensive archaeological surveys of more than a dozen vessels lost during the World War II Solomon Islands campaign. While livestreaming online for an audience of millions, the team imaged four ships for the first time, including discovering two ships the bow of the USS New Orleans and the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki.

Throughout 22 days at sea, the team also collected ultra-high resolution visual and sonar data on the vessels USS Vincennes, USS Astoria, USS Quincy, USS Northampton, USS Laffey, USS DeHaven, USS Preston, HMAS Canberra, USS Walke, Yudachi, and a landing barge, to help understand their condition on the seafloor after over 80 years.

"It was wonderful to return to Iron Bottom Sound, where we discovered Japanese, Australian, and American warships over 34 years ago," says Dr. Robert Ballard, President of Ocean Exploration Trust. "This expedition was special, allowing us to film these sites in a manner not possible back then, as well as document other ships, while at the same time sharing our work live to the entire world."

This expedition, supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, brought a specialized technology approach to advance exploration of Iron Bottom Sound that has been underway for decades. Uniquely, the team utilized the University of New Hampshire's uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) DriX, controlled from a shore-based station in Honiara, to search out shipwrecks in Iron Bottom Sound through seafloor mapping and then deployed E/V Nautilus' remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to visually survey the sites, assessing the condition of each wreck.

Located in the Solomon Islands between the islands of Guadalcanal, Savo, and Nggela, Iron Bottom Sound was the scene of five major naval battles between August and December 1942, resulting in the loss of more than 20,000 lives, 111 naval vessels, and 1,450 planes. In deep water, dozens of ships have yet to be located.

The team mapped more than 1,000 square kilometers using DriX, constructing the highest-resolution maps of the sound ever created and identifying many dozens of potential targets. The expedition team spent more than 138 hours exploring the wrecks with ROVs down to depths below 1,000 meters.

"The use of our uncrewed vessel allowed a tremendous increase in exploration efficiency as we were able to continuously map and identify potential targets while the Nautilus was deploying its ROVs," says Dr. Larry Mayer, Director, Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire. "This technological achievement combined with the tremendous historical significance of our discoveries made this one of the most rewarding missions I have ever participated in."

IJN Teruzuki. Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust

The surveys documented these historically significant wrecks while introducing their history to a new generation to honor all those who lost their lives in these battles. Throughout the mission, the ROV surveys were streamed live via NautilusLive.org, allowing the public and those with personal connections to the Solomon Islands campaign an opportunity to explore and honor this history and engage with the onboard expedition team.

"NOAA Ocean Exploration is dedicated to increasing our understanding of the deep ocean through scientific discovery, technological advancements, and data delivery," said Captain William Mowitt of the NOAA Corps, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration.

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"This expedition highlights the importance of such cutting-edge technologies and the strong partnership component of the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute in not only making discoveries that advance science and resource management, but also engaging and educating the public on the wonders of what lies in our ocean depths."

Archaeologists from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and more than 130 experts around the world were able to connect to ship operations via telepresence technology, helping guide the mission and providing valuable real-time interpretations throughout the surveys.

"This expedition was a great opportunity to remember the valor and sacrifices of sailors who fought with extreme tenacity and skill, on both sides. Sailors don't start wars, but they do what their governments ask, and in the waters of Iron Bottom Sound, they did their duty to the fullest.

"Yet, the end result of that terrible war brought not only freedom for the United States and Allies, but for Japan as well," said Naval History and Heritage Command Director Samuel J. Cox, U.S. Navy rear admiral (retired). "This survey of the ships of the United States, Australia, and Japan will add immeasurably to the understanding of one of the most costly naval campaigns in history, a campaign that hopefully will never be repeated."

"The vast majority of our ocean lies in very deep waters that we know virtually nothing about," says OET Chief Scientist Dr. Daniel Wagner. "These deep-sea explorations highlight how many extraordinary things are still hidden and waiting to be found in the great depths of our ocean."

Provided by Ocean Exploration Trust
Lady Gaga reached out privately to Sharon Osbourne, following Ozzy Osbournes death.

Lady Gaga's private message to Sharon Osbourne after Ozzy's death

The 39-year-old star was a huge fan of the late Black Sabbath rocker  who passed away last month at the age of 76  and she sent a huge bouquet of flowers to his grieving widow to share her sympathies.

A source told The Sun newspapers Bizarre column: The flowers must have cost hundreds but Gaga wanted to reach out.

Gaga has always been a huge fan of Ozzy and the Osbournes  before she was famous she even used to strip to Black Sabbath's Black Sabbath.

"She once told Ozzy  he found it hilarious.

Following Ozzys death, Gaga previously paid tribute with a cover of his solo hit Crazy Train during her MAYHEM BALL show in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, this comes over 10 years after Gaga and Sharon became embroiled in an ugly public feud, following a row between Gaga and Sharon and Ozzys daughter Kelly.

Gagas fans reacted with fury after Kelly made comments about her weight on the E! show fashion police.

And, Gaga took to her own website to share an open letter to Kelly.

She wrote: I have empathy for you Kelly, but I feel it culturally important to note that you have chosen a less compassionate path. Your work on E! with the Fashion Police is rooted in criticism, judgement, and rating peoples beauty against one another.

It used to make me truly sad when I would hear people talk about your weight when you were younger, as I was bullied too. To see you blossoming into a beautiful slender woman who makes fun of others for a living is astounding. Why not help others? Why not defend others who are bullied for their image and share your story?

A furious Sharon defended her daughter, telling The Sun: By not repudiating her fans' bullying, she was condoning it. That's why I called her a hypocrite.

"I was so disappointed because I had always been a huge fan. I have been to three of her shows and she's undeniably a very talented woman.

"But you can't bang on about being anti-bullying and then refuse to tell your fans to stop haranguing other young women with nasty threats."

However, during a performance on the UK X Factor, Lady Gaga and Sharon appeared to resolve their differences, with Gaga giving Sharon a hug and a birthday cake for Kelly.
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Graphical abstract Credit: Aquatic Toxicology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107457

Chemicals released from car tires as they wear down are washing into rivers, estuaries and the sea and they could be disrupting life at the base of the marine food web, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth found that just four days of exposure to three common tire-derived chemicals significantly slowed the growth of tiny marine algae known as diatomssingle-celled plants that produce oxygen and support entire ocean ecosystems.

The study focused on a species called Phaeodactylum tricornutum, a diatom that, like others, is responsible for converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into energy that is used by animalsa process that helps sustain fish, crustaceans and other marine life.

The findings raise concerns about how urban road runoff could be impacting the oceans, especially in densely populated areas where concentrations of tire chemicals are already high.

The research team examined three chemicals that are widely used in tire manufacturing or formed as byproducts as tires degrade: mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), diphenylguanidine (DPG), and 6PPD-quinone. All three are known to enter the environment via stormwater and urban runoff, but until now, their specific effects on marine plant life have been poorly understood.

The results showed all three chemicals suppressed diatom growth, with DPG and MBT proving especially harmful even at very low concentrations, levels already recorded in waterways in countries including Canada, China and Australia.

6PPD-quinone, which has previously been implicated in mass die-offs of coho salmon, was less acutely toxic to diatoms but still raised concerns. It required higher concentrations to cause damage, but because it's widespread and persistent, the researchers warned it could accumulate in marine environments over time.

Though tiny and often overlooked, diatoms play an outsized role in global ecology. They produce a significant portion of the world's oxygencomparable to that of land forestsand form the foundation of the marine food chain. Any reduction in their numbers could have knock-on effects for other species, including commercially important fish.

Dr. Fran Cabada-Blanco from the University's Institute of Marine Sciences explained, "Diatoms play a disproportionately important role in coastal food webs and the global carbon cycle. Our findings highlight the urgent need to better understand how these widespread pollutants affect marine life. This almost omnipresent and long-overlooked form of pollution impacts not only coastal ecosystems, but aquatic environments more broadly, and must be brought to the forefront of environmental regulation."

The researchers say that while vehicle exhaust emissions are regulated, the tiny particles and chemicals released as tires wear down often escape attention, despite being one of the largest sources of micro-pollution in urban environments. Rainfall can quickly transport these pollutants from roads to rivers and coastal waters, exposing marine life to complex chemical cocktails.

"This is a real warning sign," said Henry Obanya, also from the Institute of Marine Sciences and member of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth. "We need to start treating tire pollution with the same urgency we apply to other plastic or oil pollution. These substances don't just vanishthey travel through drainage systems and end up in habitats that are already under pressure."

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There are also concerns that the problem could grow with the global shift to electric vehicles. While these vehicles cut tailpipe emissions, they tend to be heavier, potentially accelerating tire wear and increasing the release of these compounds unless tire formulations change.

The authors of the study are calling for tighter regulation of tire ingredients, improved monitoring of road runoff, and investment in the development of safer, less harmful alternatives. They also urge further research to examine the long-term and combined effects of tire-related chemicals on marine life, particularly under real-world conditions where multiple stressors often interact.

Obanya concluded, "Something as ordinary as driving a car can contribute to pollution that reaches far beyond the road, all the way to the sea floor, and to the microscopic organisms that help keep our planet breathing."

More information: Henry E. Obanya et al, Toxicological assessment of tyre-derived compounds: effects of 6PPD-quinone, diphenylguanidine, and mercaptobenzothiazole on Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Aquatic Toxicology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107457
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

From fabricated research to paid authorships and citations, organized scientific fraud is on the rise, according to a new Northwestern University study.

By combining large-scale data analysis of scientific literature with case studies, the researchers led a deep investigation into scientific fraud. Although concerns around scientific misconduct typically focus on lone individuals, the Northwestern study instead uncovered sophisticated global networks of individuals and entities, which systematically work together to undermine the integrity of academic publishing.

The problem is so widespread that the publication of fraudulent science is outpacing the growth rate of legitimate scientific publications. The authors argue these findings should serve as a wake-up call to the scientific community, which needs to act before the public loses confidence in the scientific process.

The study, "The entities enabling scientific fraud at scale are large, resilient and growing rapidly," was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Science must police itself better in order to preserve its integrity," said Northwestern's Luis A. N. Amaral, the study's senior author.

"If we do not create awareness around this problem, worse and worse behavior will become normalized. At some point, it will be too late, and scientific literature will become completely poisoned. Some people worry that talking about this issue is attacking science. But I strongly believe we are defending science from bad actors. We need to be aware of the seriousness of this problem and take measures to address it."

An expert in complex social systems, Amaral is the Erastus Otis Haven Professor and professor of engineering sciences and applied mathematics at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering. Reese Richardson, a postdoctoral fellow in Amaral's laboratory, is the paper's first author.

Extensive analysis

When people think about scientific fraud, they might remember news reports of retracted papers, falsified data or plagiarism. These reports typically center around the isolated actions of one individual, who takes shortcuts to get ahead in an increasingly competitive industry. But Amaral and his team uncovered a widespread underground network operating within the shadows and outside of the public's awareness.

"These networks are essentially criminal organizations, acting together to fake the process of science," Amaral said. "Millions of dollars are involved in these processes."

To conduct the study, the researchers analyzed extensive datasets of retracted publications, editorial records and instances of image duplication.

Most of the data came from major aggregators of scientific literature, including Web of Science (WoS), Elsevier's Scopus, National Library of Medicine's PubMed/MEDLINE and OpenAlex, which includes data from Microsoft Academic Graph, Crossref, ORCID, Unpaywall and other institutional repositories.

Richardson and his colleagues also collected lists of de-indexed journals, which are scholarly journals that have been removed from databases for failing to meet certain quality or ethical standards.

The researchers also included data on retracted articles from Retraction Watch, article comments from PubPeer and metadatasuch as editor names, submission dates and acceptance datesfrom articles published in specific journals.

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Buying a reputation

After analyzing the data, the team uncovered coordinated efforts involving "paper mills," brokers and infiltrated journals. Functioning much like factories, paper mills churn out large numbers of manuscripts, which they then sell to academics who want to quickly publish new work.

These manuscripts are mostly low qualityfeaturing fabricated data, manipulated or even stolen images, plagiarized content and sometimes nonsensical or physically impossible claims.

"More and more scientists are being caught up in paper mills," Amaral said. "Not only can they buy papers, but they can buy citations. Then, they can appear like well-reputed scientists when they have barely conducted their own research at all."

"Paper mills operate by a variety of different models," Richardson added.

"So, we have only just been able to scratch the surface of how they operate. But they sell basically anything that can be used to launder a reputation. They often sell authorship slots for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. A person might pay more money for the first author position or less money for a fourth author position. People can also pay to get papers they have written automatically accepted in a journal through a sham peer-review process."

To identify more articles originating from paper mills, the Amaral group launched a parallel project that automatically scans published materials science and engineering papers. The team specifically looked for authors who misidentified instruments they used in their research. A paper with those results was accepted by the journal PLOS ONE.

Brokers, hijacking and collusion

Amaral, Richardson and their collaborators found fraudulent networks use several key strategies:

Groups of researchers collude to publish papers across multiple journals. When their activities are discovered, the papers are subsequently retracted; Brokers serve as intermediaries to enable mass publication of fraudulent papers in compromised journals; Fraudulent activities are concentrated in specific, vulnerable subfields; Organized entities evade quality-control measures, such as journal de-indexing.

"Brokers connect all the different people behind the scenes," Amaral said. "You need to find someone to write the paper. You need to find people willing to pay to be the authors. You need to find a journal where you can get it all published. And you need editors in that journal who will accept that paper."

Sometimes these organizations go around established journals altogether, searching instead for defunct journals to hijack. When a legitimate journal stops publishing, for example, bad actors can take over its name or website. These actors surreptitiously assume the journal's identity, lending credibility to its fraudulent publications, despite the actual publication being defunct.

"This happened to the journal HIV Nursing," Richardson said. "It was formerly the journal of a professional nursing organization in the U.K., then it stopped publishing, and its online domain lapsed. An organization bought the domain name and started publishing thousands of papers on subjects completely unrelated to nursing, all indexed in Scopus."

Fighting for science

To combat this growing threat to legitimate scientific publishing, Amaral and Richardson emphasize the need for a multi-prong approach. This approach includes enhanced scrutiny of editorial processes, improved methods for detecting fabricated research, a greater understanding of the networks facilitating this misconduct and a radical restructuring of the system of incentives in science.

Amaral and Richardson also underscore the importance of addressing these issues before artificial intelligence (AI) infiltrates scientific literature more than it already has.

"If we're not prepared to deal with the fraud that's already occurring, then we're certainly not prepared to deal with what generative AI can do to scientific literature," Richardson said.

"We have no clue what's going to end up in the literature, what's going to be regarded as scientific fact and what's going to be used to train future AI models, which then will be used to write more papers."

"This study is probably the most depressing project I've been involved with in my entire life," Amaral said. "Since I was a kid, I was excited about science. It's distressing to see others engage in fraud and in misleading others. But if you believe that science is useful and important for humanity, then you have to fight for it."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

On July 30, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck off the Kamchatka peninsula, in Russia's far east. Within minutes, tsunami warnings were issued in Russia, much of Asia and across the Pacific in Hawaii, New Zealand and California.

But this wasn't the first time a huge tsunami had hit Kamchatka. In 1952, an even more powerful earthquake hit the same fault linebut it was kept hidden from the world.

Kamchatka is no stranger to seismic activity, with a large earthquake occurring as recently as 2020 (the fourth most powerful anywhere in the world that year). However, only the biggest earthquakes can create large destructive tsunamis and cause Pacific-wide warnings like those experienced on Wednesday.

On a plate boundary, where two pieces of Earth's crust meet, such large earthquakes often occur on consistent timescales known as "seismic cycles." In some areas, these cycles are long: on the Cascadia boundary off the Pacific coast of North America, for instance, the last major tsunami-generating earthquake was in 1700.

However, the plates move much faster near Kamchatka (around eight centimeters a year) and the cycle is much shorter. Large tsunamis were generated from earthquakes in 1737, 1841, 1952and now 2025 is a continuation of this cycle.

Just after midday on November 5, 1952, tsunami waves of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) hit Hawaii. This was an early test for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which had recently been established on the islands in response to a 1946 tsunami following an earthquake in Alaska.

Earlier that day, seismologists across the world had detected signals from an earthquake pinpointed to the northwest Pacific around Kamchatka. When the wave hit Hawaii, scientists there quickly used the exact time of the wave and the known speed of tsunamis (in deep water, these are similar to a jet plane) to deduce it must have been created by that giant earthquake in the northwest Pacific. But from Kamchatka itself, there was silence.

There were no reports of an earthquake or tsunami in the Soviet press. Not a word was written in the state newspaper Pravda, which instead focused on preparations for the Great October Revolution anniversary two days later.

Days and months passed without any recognition of the tsunami and earthquake. Even an interview with a Russian volcanologist, Alexander Evgenievich Svyatlovsky, was stored as a "state secret," despite him merely explaining how the tsunami had originated.

Such secrecy was common at the height of the cold war, with Chernobyl and other disasters often being underreported by the Soviet authorities. It was only after the release of state archives in the early 2000s that the full picture could be told.

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The devastation at Severo-Kurilsk

The isolated fishing town of Severo-Kurilsk lies on an island just south of the Kamchatka peninsula. According to state archives, 6,000 people lived there in 1952, spread thinly across the coastline.

On the morning of November 5, the inhabitants were woken by a major earthquake, the strongest anyone there had ever felt. Around 45 minutes later a wave arrived, slowing and steepening as it reached the shore. Soldiers on the lookout were able to warn people of the danger, and many fled to high ground.

But tsunamis are wave trains with a series of peaks and troughs. They act much like waves you'd experience on a beachexcept that these waves stretch thousands of meters into the ocean, hitting the shore not every few seconds but with tens of minutes between each one.

Minutes after some residents had returned to their homes, a second, larger wave struck. It rose some 12 meters highas tall as a three-story buildingand hit the town from behind. A third wave soon followed, washing away much of the town that remained.

In all, the tsunami caused 2,336 deaths out of a population of 6,000. The survivors never shared the details for fear of reprisals, and the story remained a state secret.

Today, Severo-Kurilsk sits 20 meters above sea level, rebuilt and fortified. Videos from the 2025 tsunami show flooding at the port, but there are no reported fatalitiestestament to modern warning systems and urban planning.

One problem remains: the repositioning of the town has placed it in the path of deadly mudflows from the nearby volcano Ebeko (only 7km away). For Severo-Kurilsk, tsunamis represent only one of many threats in this corner of the Pacific.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A new international study coordinated by Wageningen University & Research and conducted with IPB University (Indonesia) and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, sheds light on the complex sustainability profiles of three major vegetable oils: palm oil from Indonesia, soybean oil from Brazil, and rapeseed oil from Germany. The study, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assesses their contributions to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2040.

The researchers not only assessed current sustainability performance, but also future performance under business-as-usual and ambitious scenarios. In these scenarios, the researchers evaluated six key sustainability aspects: land use efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity impacts, pollution effects, livelihood contributions, and economic performance.

Key findings

Palm oil leads in land use efficiency. Oil palm is currently the most land-efficient oil crop, producing over twice as much per hectare as soybean or rapeseed. This higher efficiency remains in all future scenarios, even when taking into account that the crops also produce co-products like protein meal or fiber products. Innovative practices, such as intercropping and livestock integration in oil palm and double cropping in soybean can further boost land use efficiency for all three crops.

Greenhouse gas emissions could converge by 2040. Currently, rapeseed oil has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per ton, followed by soybean and palm oil. The GHG emission from palm oil is mainly due to methane emissions from waste (POME) and CO 2 emissions from peatland. However, under an ambitious future scenario, which includes strong sustainability practices, emissions from palm oil production will be significantly reduced. Becoming comparable to those of soybean and rapeseed.

Tropical oils struggle with biodiversity loss. In recent history, soybean and oil palm expansion have contributed to deforestation in Brazil and Indonesia respectively, with consequences for biodiversity. While rapeseed cultivation in Germany has not caused recent deforestation, future scenarios suggest that both oil palm and soybean could dramatically reduce their biodiversity impacts with proper safeguards.

Pollution risks are similar across crops. All three crops are associated with the use of crop protection products and thus, the potential for associated pollution risks.

Oil palm is a key contributor to livelihoods in Indonesia. Oil palm cultivation generates the highest income per hectare and supports more jobs per hectare than the other crops, due to its labor-intensive nature. For smallholder farmers in Indonesia, less land is needed to earn a minimum wage, compared to soybean in Brazil or rapeseed in Germany. Palm oil also plays a critical role in food security for low-income households, offering affordable cooking oil and helping to reduce the "fat gap" in undernourished populations.

Strong economic contributions across crops. While soybean contributes most to overall export value, mainly through whole beans and protein meal, palm oil generates the highest export revenue from oil alone.

Under the business-as-usual scenario current trends are extrapolated to 2040. This means, for example, that oil palm yields are static; methane emissions from palm oil mill effluent are slowly decreased by the introduction of methane capture for energy generation. There is still some deforestation; water tables in peat land used for palm oil production are increased, thereby reducing CO 2 emissions; intercropping is expanded; limited use is made of palm residues.

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For soybean production in Brazil, yields increase at the current rate, double cropping (2 crops per year) is slowly expanded, and soybean areas and connected deforestation still increase.

For rapeseed, yields are static, based on past trends, and production inputs remain unchanged compared to current inputs.

Under the ambitious scenarios, drastic but still realistic measures are taken that include for palm oil:

phasing out oil palm on peat land;

no deforestation for oil palm production;

strong yield increases;

expansion of cattle rearing in palm plantations;

expansion of intercropping during the juvenile (3 years) phase of oil palm;

extensive use of residues for biobased applications (residue oils are recovered and fiber is used for energy and/or material uses).

For soybean:

yields are increased strongly, double cropping is strongly expanded;

fallow is reduced to zero and no deforestation for soybean production;

efficiencies are realized in fertilizer and pesticide use.

For rapeseed:

yields increase;

fertilizer and pesticide use efficiencies are improved.

The findings underscore that no single crop is uniformly sustainable across all indicators. Oil palm stands out for its high land use efficiency, its contribution to the national economy, and its importance for rural livelihoods. At the same time, its environmental footprint, especially related to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, requires strong mitigation strategies.

Improving sustainability across all oil crops is both possible and necessary to achieve SDGs and national goals. The study demonstrates that with ambitious, but realistic interventions, future oil production can become much more sustainable across the board.

More information: Wolter Elbersen et al, Comparative study on the sustainability of vegetable oils : Comparing the contributions of palm oil in Indonesia, soybean oil in Brazil and rapeseed oil in Germany until 2030/2040 for achieving UN SDGs (2025). DOI: 10.18174/695647
WILDWOOD  Surfers wearing brightly colored jerseys stood in forearm crutches, sat in beach wheelchairs and leaned on loved ones while listening to Jesse Billauer, the founder of Life Rolls On, as he shared words of encouragement and gratitude early Sunday morning at the Baker Avenue beach.

Its about giving back to the community and trying to bring hope and inspiration around the country and around the world, Billauer said to the group of nearly 200 surfers and more than 600 volunteers at the event. For a lot of people in my situation, its a dream to be able to get down to the beach, let alone ... all the way down to the water.

Life Rolls On is an organization that provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to surf with proper support and equipment. Billauer founded the nonprofit after a surfing injury over 25 years ago left him with quadriplegia.

Billauer said the first time his friends took him back out in the water following the accident, he realized that everyone should be able to experience the beauty of the sport.

I laid down on a surfboard, propped myself up on my elbows and they pushed me into a couple of waves, and at that moment I realized that I had this independence and this freedom, and this just joy of being out there in nature ... and being there with my friends, he said. Thats when I realized I needed to start something.

A world champion adaptive surfer, Billauer hosts the event in 10 locations across the country each year. The experience is free for athletes and includes the use of boards and beach wheelchairs.

More than 1,000 people came to the Wildwoods from all over the East Coast on Sunday morning to volunteer, to surf and to cheer on loved ones from the shore.

Billauers father, George Billauer, was among the supportive family members at the event.

He said his son has created a worldwide movement that has changed the lives of countless athletes with disabilities and that Jesse has become a role model for a lot of young people who have been injured who realize that its not what you cant do, its what you can do.

In the 15 years since Xavier Ray, 19, rode his first wave at the local event, he has found a love for the sport that has led him to paddle out off coastlines far from Cape May County.

Ray, of Upper Township, who survived injuries as a young child that left him without the use of his legs, has not let his disability keep him from being an athlete. He has traveled to California and Costa Rica to surf, using a board he bought from Billauer.

Ray said that his favorite part of the event after more than a decade is just getting to hang out with friends on the beach.

Organizers said that the Wildwood event is the largest that Life Rolls On hosts, attracting almost twice as many volunteers as other events between medical groups in Philadelphia and visitors to the shore.

Terri Herbert, of Philadelphia, said her first time surfing was everything that she expected and more.

(It was) wonderful. It was very exciting ... and I had people around me, so I felt safe because everybody was around and nothing was going to happen, Herbert said. I loved it. Im coming back (next year), and Im bringing my two children.

The event relies on volunteers, who support participants in every aspect of the day from making sure surfers are comfortable and safe on their boards to creating an uplifting, high-energy atmosphere on the beach.

Pine Hill, Camden County, resident Jennifer Jones, 49, a critical care nurse educator who summers in Wildwood, volunteered for the second time this year.

It (is) overwhelming in an amazing way. It fills my cup. When you see the teams working to get the person onto the board, and ... then when you see their faces coming in on the wave, its hard to explain, your heart just explodes, Jones said.

Tom Smith, the chief operating officer for Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation, said more than 100 volunteers from Jefferson attended the event.

This is one of our best days of the year, Smith said. This really allows us to help people who have experience with a disability get back into the community and do things that they otherwise wouldnt have an opportunity to do.

Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation has sponsored the local event for the past decade. Chad DeSatnick, who founded a nonprofit to support those with spinal cord injuries after surviving a surfing accident that damaged his vertebrae, also works alongside Life Rolls On members to organize the Wildwoods event.

To support Life Rolls On as a sponsor, volunteer, or participant in an upcoming event, visit https://liferollson.org/.
Matthew Modine signed on to Godzilla x Kong: Supernova because he wanted to meet Godzilla.

Matthew Modine agreed to star in Godzilla x Kong: Supernova because he 'wanted to meet Godzilla'

The Stranger Things actor, 66, is due to star in the upcoming MonsterVerse blockbuster, and has now revealed he had agreed to appear in the film to meet the iconic Titan - only to be disappointed Godzilla wasnt actually there during production.

Speaking on a panel at Tampa Bay Comic Convention, the Full Metal Jacket actor said: I just worked in Godzilla x King Kong: Supernova. That was pretty exciting. Oh, to work with Godzilla.

When I was working on Godzilla - thats what I was gonna say - I kept waiting.

I was like, 'Wait a minute, Godzilla is not here!' Im looking at Godzilla and King Kong as if theyre there. And when you go to drama school, theres exercises you do where you come out, and you have to see things that arent there.

So I was happy to pretend that Godzilla was there. I did the movie because I wanted to meet Godzilla.

As well as Modine, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova will introduce new characters played by Sam Neill, Kaitlyn Dever, Jack OConnell, Delroy Lindo and Alycia Debnam-Carey.

The film will also see the return of Dan Stevens as Trapper Beasley.

Godzilla x Kong: Supernova is being helmed by We Bury the Dead director Grant Sputore and written by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings scribe David Callaham.

Although no plot details about the movie are known, Deadline previously reported Godzilla x Kong: Supernova will introduce several new human characters who will join the titular Titans as they face off against a new world-ending threat.

Godzilla x Kong: Supernova - which is slated to hit cinemas in March 2027 - will pick up after the events of 2024s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Starring Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens and Brian Tyree Henry, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire followed the legendary Titans, Godzilla and Kong, as they joined forces to face a powerful new threat rising from within Hollow Earth - one that poses a danger to both their kind and the future of humanity.

Last year, it was announced that Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire director Adam Wingard would not be helming the next film due to scheduling conflicts.

At the time, The Hollywood Reporter stated that his departure was amicable and that the possibility remained for Wingard to return to helm another Monsterverse movie in the future.

Despite stepping away, Wingard had previously hinted that he had more story to tell within the MonsterVerse.

Speaking to Discussing Film ahead of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empires theatrical release in March 2024, he said: The whole idea that if youve done two movies, like, maybe you should just go ahead and do a third because, as you said, theres a trilogy in there.

It just depends on how [Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire] does and how things kind of shape out. I do have more story to tell with these monsters, and I know where Id go with it.

I would be very excited to be able to come back on for another one if things worked out!
PLANO, Texas, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Express Legal Funding, a leading nationwide pre-settlement funding company, proudly announces the launch of its new Lawsuit Loan Calculator  a breakthrough online tool designed to bring unprecedented clarity to the true cost of legal funding.

Created specifically for injury plaintiffs and their attorneys, the calculator provides instant estimates of pre-settlement cash advance payoffs, empowering users to make faster, smarter financial decisions during personal injury and civil lawsuit claims.

Estimate Your Lawsuit Loan Repayment Instantly With Express Legal Funding's Free Calculator Tool

Powered by Gravity Forms and Custom WordPress Development

The tool was developed using Gravity Forms, Gravity Wiz add-ons, and custom WordPress theme coding to ensure a fast, accessible experience across all devices. This development reflects the company's focus on innovation and user-friendly legal technology.

The calculator offers a transparent, user-friendly experience that empowers users to understand what a lawsuit cash advance might cost over time, including simple vs. compound interest scenarios. This level of visibility is uncommon in the pre-settlement funding industry, where pricing has historically lacked clarity.

"We built the Lawsuit Loan Calculator to bring transparency and confidence to a process that has historically felt opaque," said Aaron Winston, PhD, Strategy Director at Express Legal Funding. "Far too many injury victims are left in financial limbo while their case drags on. This tool gives them the clarity they need to make informed, confident decisions."

"We also built it to help personal injury attorneys have better conversations with their clients about pre-settlement funding costs," Winston added.

Key Features of the Lawsuit Loan Calculator:

Instant Payoff Estimates : Helps users compare funding scenarios based on interest type, term length, and advance amount.

: Helps users compare funding scenarios based on interest type, term length, and advance amount. Easy-to-Use Interface : Designed for injury victimsnot finance experts  using plain language without jargon.

: Designed for injury victimsnot finance experts  using plain language without jargon. Educational Value : Breaks down how lawsuit loans differ from traditional loans, including red flags to watch for in competing calculators.

: Breaks down how lawsuit loans differ from traditional loans, including red flags to watch for in competing calculators. Risk-Free Application Call-to-Action: Users can apply directly from the calculator page for fast approvals.

The tool is optimized for mobile and desktop use and is part of Express Legal Funding's broader mission to demystify lawsuit funding and support plaintiffs during difficult financial times.

Demystifying Lawsuit Loan Costs for Injury Victims and Attorneys

In an industry often criticized for vague terms and hidden fees, Express Legal Funding's Lawsuit Loan Calculator sets a new standard for legal funding transparencyconsistent with the company's clear, ethical contracts. By openly revealing simple versus compound interest comparisons and payoff scenarios, the company empowers both injury victims and their attorneys to make informed financial decisions. This initiative reflects the company's ongoing commitment to fair pricing, consumer education, and ethical business practices.

"Our calculator is more than a tech upgrade  it's a consumer rights milestone," Winston added. "We encourage other companies to follow our lead and make openness the norm."

Part of a Broader Mission to Inform and Empower Legal Consumers

The launch of the Lawsuit Loan Calculator is part of Express Legal Funding's broader strategy to create clarity and helpful content that empowers legal consumers to make smarter decisions. As part of the company's commitment to transparency and accessibility, this new tool complements its growing library of optimized and accessible resources designed to demystify lawsuit funding and help users make informed financial decisions online.

About Express Legal Funding

Express Legal Funding is a nationally recognized pre-settlement funding company headquartered in Plano, Texas. Since 2015, the company has helped thousands of plaintiffs secure the financial relief they need while pursuing fair settlements. With a commitment to ethical practices, Express Legal Funding stands apart as a direct funding provider offering clear terms, fast approvals, and a 100% risk-free guarantee.

Try the Lawsuit Loan Calculator today:

https://expresslegalfunding.com/lawsuit-loan-calculator/

Media Contact:

Aaron Winston

Strategy Director of Express Legal Funding

Phone: (888) 232-9223

Address: 5717 Legacy Drive Suite 250 Plano, TX 75024

[email protected]

Website: https://expresslegalfunding.com

SOURCE Express Legal Funding
American facing damages charges for breaking glass PDC store door with metal pipe

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  An American man was taken into custody Sunday after smashing the glass door of a store. The 71 year old was held by store security for police after he allegedly used a metal pipe to break the glass.

Employees called police after the man, identified by police as Jeffery N, took a swing at the door. He is facing damages charges for intentionally busting the glass door. In a statement, Playa del Carmen police said the incident happened at a commercial establishment in the Mundo Habitat neighborhood.

The Playa del Carmen Citizen Security Secretariat (SSC) arrested one person for the probable crime of criminal damage in the Mundo Habitat neighborhood. Municipal police responded to a 911 emergency number, alleging an individual had allegedly broken the glass of the front door of a commercial store.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers found the individual being held by a security guard who stated that moments earlier, he had caught him hitting the glass with a metal pipe. Jeffrey N, 71, originally from the United States, was arrested and handed over to the State Attorney Generals Office for legal proceedings.

Police did not say why the man was at the store with a metal pipe or why he broke the stores glass door.
Spanish traveler heading for Germany arrested at Cancun International with 168 live birds in suitcase

Cancun, Q.R.  National Guard arrested a Spanish man inside Cancun International over the weekend for transporting live birds. Customs found the birds stuffed inside a suitcase during a luggage inspection.

More than 160 birds were found being transported without ventilation or the minimum space necessary for their survival. As a result, 16 died from suffocation or crushing, while the rest showed signs of severe stress.

Inspectors from the Federal Attorneys Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) were notified of the finding. A total of 168 birds were located inside a single suitcase headed for Germany.

In their report, Profepa (Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente) inspectors said they identified nine different species among the seized birds. They included 73 specimens of brown-throated, thick-billed and wheatear, as well as 95 specimens of the blue butterfly, a species listed under Special Protection according to the Mexican Official Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.

Following the confiscation, the surviving birds received immediate veterinary care. They were later transferred to a Wildlife Management Facility in Cancun where they will remain under observation.

The Spanish man detained has not been identified, however, authorities say he is facing charges for violations of the General Wildlife Law and the General Law on Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection.
BEIJING, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At a recent pop toy show in Beijing, after detailed consultation, Russian collector Ilya Popov enthusiastically shook hands with a Chinese toy designer to finalize a 15,000-yuan ($2,070) purchase.

Speaking to the Global Times, Popov praised China's dynamic consumer market and shared his perspective on the Chinese collectibles scene: "Artists here are trying to work together, but at the same time, each focuses on different aspects - like sorting everything into separate buckets based on design or rights. For most of us, if something works out, that's good enough."

Popov is among a growing number of overseas collectors drawn to China's trendy collectible toy market.

Global converge

At the Beijing toy show hosted by Chinese toy-maker Pop Mart, designers and collectors from many countries around the world gathered to tap into opportunities in China's booming intellectual property (IP) industry, as the country's consumer market expands and its supporting ecosystem matures.

China's market dynamism has drawn not only consumers but also increasing interest from international designers. From the fierce competition among Chinese and foreign IPs to the explosive popularity of Labubu, the combination of a massive, youth-driven consumer base and sophisticated IP incubation and promotion capabilities have become a powerful appeal for top creative talent worldwide.

Libby Frame, the US designer behind Peach Riot and a contracted artist with Pop Mart, told the Global Times that she was impressed by the creative freedom offered by the Chinese company and was pleasantly surprised by her large fan base in China.

"This Chinese company gives each artist a great deal of creative freedom. You can really pitch anything to them. I've never worked with a company that gives this much room for artistic expression - it's been a fantastic experience," Frame said.

Peach Riot has gained more popularity in China this year, which Frame said was exciting. She described receiving handwritten letters from Chinese fans as a particularly heartwarming experience. "It was so sweet," she said.

China's growing collectable toy market is also drawing many foreign toymakers.

"In recent years, the trend in Chinese designer toys has become highly influential worldwide. With Pop Mart at the forefront, Chinese designs have a very distinct spirit with intense cuteness, along with interesting storylines and emotions," Mark Landwehr, a German designer and founder of Coarse, told the Global Times.

When discussing his impression of Chinese collectors, Landwehr said that the pieces they choose are often the ones they fall in love with at first sight, and that's exactly why he hopes people collect: because the sculptures resonate with them on a deeper emotional level.

"We are interested in connecting with people all over the world through our art, and we feel the best way to do that is to meet collectors in person. Getting to talk in person to the people who love what we do is one of the best parts of being an artist, and for this reason we continue to join China's pop toy show," Landwehr added. "It's great to meet old collectors who follow us since over a decade [ago], and we like to introduce the more classic approach in designer toys to the Chinese audience."

Comprehensive advantages

China's appeal to international IP creators stems from the dynamic consumer market, efficient industrial ecosystem, and synergy in cultural innovation, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

"Notably, China's young consumers have become a strategic pivot for the global expansion of international IPs," the expert said, adding that the social behavior of young Chinese consumers transcends geographical boundaries, increasingly shaping global IP creation and driving a trend where "China defines the trend and exports it globally."

The strong vitality of designers, consumers, and the market as a whole is mutually reinforcing, and China's market is currently fostering a virtuous cycle. Labubu's global success was not accidental; it is supported by China's comprehensive industry chain and a mature IP operations model, according to Wang Peng.

China's designer toy industry has seen remarkable growth in recent years. China's pop toy market grew from 22.9 billion yuan in 2020 to 76.3 billion yuan in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 35.1 percent. It is expected to reach 87.7 billion yuan in 2025, according to a report on news.cctv.cn published on July 30, which cited industry data.

China's designer toy industry is poised for robust expansion in the coming years. Industry data showed that the market size of China's designer toys is expected to exceed 110 billion yuan in 2026, nearly doubling from around 60 billion yuan in 2023 and taking up around 20 percent of the global designer toy market, the Xinhua News Agency reported in April.

What's behind the rise of Labubu and the broader Chinese designer toy industry?

Wang Ning, founder of Pop Mart, told the People's Daily in a recent interview that "China's excellent manufacturing industry and strong market can become a platform for artists around the world to incubate IP, incubating it in China and then going global."

China's flexible manufacturing enables small-batch, multi-style, and rapid-iteration production, breaking traditional mass-production constraints and boosting IP scarcity and visibility, Wang Peng, the expert, told the Global Times. By leveraging China's complete industrial chain and innovation ecosystem, international creators can scale regional success into global influence - an opportunity available to all who seek to connect cultures through innovation, he said.

Meanwhile, the younger generation of Chinese consumers seeks emotional resonance and cultural identity, and their strong social influence and demand for localization greatly support rapid validation, precise iteration, and scalable expansion for IPs, significantly reducing the trial-and-error costs, according to Wang Peng.

"Data-driven IP incubation, amplified by diverse platforms and cultural integration, has fostered an ecosystem of localization, innovation, and global feedback - infusing IPs with unique cultural value," the expert said.

SOURCE Global Times
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Reading the tea leaves from cryptic Supreme Court orders can be perilous business because the justices are not bound by the questions they ask at oral argument, the offhand comments they make at a judicial conference, or even their monumental shadow docket rulings on emergency petitions that have become all too common. But a technical briefing order in a long pending case out of Louisiana, posted on the courts website after 5 p.m. on a Friday in August, was ominous. The order was likely intended to obscure that SCOTUS is ready to consider striking down the last remaining pillar of the Voting Rights Act, known as Section 2. Such a monumental ruling, likely not coming until June 2026, would change the nature of congressional, state, and local elections all across the country, and likely stir major civil rights protests as the midterm election season heats up.

Louisiana v. Callais, the case that was the subject of last Fridays order, is a voting case over the drawing of the states six congressional districts. Louisiana has a one-third Black population, but after the 2020 census the state Legislature drew a districting plan, passed over a Democratic governors veto, that created only one district in which Black voters would be likely to elect their candidate of choice. Before Callais, Black voters had successfully sued Louisiana in a case called Robinson v. Ardoin, arguing that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act required drawing a second congressional district giving Black voters that opportunity. Section 2 says minority voters should have the same chance as other voters to elect their candidates of choice, and courts have long used it to require new districts when there is a large and cohesive minority population concentrated in a given area, when white and minority voters choose different candidates, and when the minority has difficulty electing its preferred representatives.

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After Robinson and more litigation, the Louisiana Legislature drew up a new plan, which created the second congressional district. The state drew the second district to otherwise favor Republicans in the state overall, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. A new group of voters then sued in the Callais case, arguing that Louisianas drawing of the second district violated the U.S. Constitutions equal protection clause by being a racial gerrymander. Since 1993s Shaw v. Reno, the Supreme Court has found racial gerrymanders when race is the central factor in drawing district lines and the state has no compelling interest in drawing such lines.

When the court first held oral argument in the Callais case in March, it appeared to be another in a long series of cases (many out of Louisiana) in which the justices considered whether race or partisanship predominated in the drawing of district lines. Ive long written that this is an impossible exercise in places like Louisiana, where the factors overlapmost white voters in the state are Republicans and Black voters are Democrats, so when the state discriminates against Democrats, it is also discriminating against Black voters. It appeared from the initial March oral argument that the court was going to once again determine whether race or party predominated.

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But instead of deciding the case at the end of June, when the court ordinarily disposes of the cases heard during the term, the court set the case up for reargument. Thats a rare move, but its not unheard of. Back in 2010, SCOTUS set the Citizens United case up for reargument the following September. But when the court issued its June order in Citizens United for reargument, the same order informed the parties that the court wanted something new to be briefed and argued on reargument: whether to overrule a line of cases allowing limits on corporate spending in elections. The court the following January then overruled these cases in one of the most consequential election law decisions of our time. It has had significant reverberations for our politics ever since.

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Fifteen years later, something similar seems to be happening with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. In June of this year, rather than deciding the case it heard in March, the court issued an order in Callais setting the case for reargument and stating, In due course, the Court will issue an order scheduling argument and specifying any additional questions to be addressed in supplemental briefing. Justice Clarence Thomas impatiently dissented from the order, saying that this was the time to recognize that Section 2 of the VRA and the courts racial gerrymandering case are on a collision course and to kill off Section 2 or rewrite it to be toothless.

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We waited weeks for the court to issue its rescheduling order, and when it came Friday, it was a doozy. The court pointed specifically to a set of pages in plaintiffs brief that argue that Section 2 is unconstitutional, at least as applied in this case, and that the VRA cannot serve as a compelling interest to defeat a racial gerrymandering claim when race predominates. The parties are directed to file supplemental briefs addressing the following question raised [in that brief]: Whether the States intentional creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution.

Related From Slate The Trump Administration Got Caught Lying to the Supreme Court Again Read More

Although the order did not explicitly mention Section 2 or even the Voting Rights Act more generallyunquestionably to obscure things furtherthere is no doubting whats going on here. The court is asking the parties to consider whether Louisianas compliance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by drawing a second majority-minority districtas the earlier Ardoin case seemed to requireis unconstitutional under a view of the Constitution as requiring colorblindness.

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If the Supreme Court moves forward with this interpretation, it would be a sea change to voting rights law. A reading of the Constitution as forbidding race-conscious districting as mandated by Congress to deal with centuries of race discrimination in voting is at odds with the text of the Constitution, with the powers granted directly to Congress to enforce the 14th and 15th amendments, and at odds with numerous precedents of the court itself. It would end what has been the most successful way that Black and other minority voters have gotten fair representation in Congress, state legislatures, and local bodies. It would be an earthquake in politics and make our legislative bodies whiter and our protection for minority voters greatly diminished. Even if the court less drastically says that Section 2 cannot be used to require the second congressional district in this case, such a superficially more minimal ruling would mean the quick unraveling of most Section 2 districts, because if the facts in Louisiana dont justify drawing a second district, most other Section 2 claims would fail too.

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A ruling killing or hobbling Section 2 would be in line with what we have come to expect from the Roberts court. Back in 2013, the justices struck down as unconstitutional the other main pillar of the Voting Rights Act, which required that jurisdictions with a history of race discrimination in voting get federal approval before making changes in voting laws that could decrease minority voting power. In the Shelby County decision, holding that the formula for deciding which jurisdictions must get preclearance was outdated, Chief Justice John Roberts left open the possibility that Congress could write a new formula, knowing full well that it wouldnt be able to generate one that would satisfy a majority in Congress and the Supreme Court. He further assured us, Our decision in no way affects the permanent, nationwide ban on racial discrimination in voting found in  2.

And now that second pillar could well fall too.

Court conservatives likely thought teeing up the issue of overruling Section 2 on a hot summer weekend would avoid public notice. But thats a short-term strategy. Come next June, any decision to strike down whats left of the Voting Rights Act could kick off the start of a new civil rights movement and more serious talk of Supreme Court reform in the midst of crucially important midterm elections. Justices fundamentally hostile to the rights of voters place the court increasingly at odds with democracy itself.
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Last week, Senate Republicans narrowly confirmed Emil Bove to a lifetime seat on a federal appeals court over the objections of pretty much everyone who cares about preserving an impartial judiciary. Bove has performed a series of cartoonishly corrupt misdeeds on President Donald Trumps behalf from his perch in the Department of Justice, manufacturing the crooked bargain to drop charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and firing prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases. Multiple whistleblowers have alleged that Bove, Trumps former criminal defense attorney, instructed his staff to defy the courts if necessary to deport immigrants without due process and lied to Congress at his hearing. This egregious misconduct was not a deal-breaker for Senate Republicans, who rushed through his confirmation to avoid even more damning revelations from coming out before the vote.

But Bove will step into a judiciary that has not yet been entirely degraded by Trumps influence. There are still plenty of courageous judges in the lower courts, and many of them have spent the past six months fighting vigorously against the presidents abuses of office. A trio of our finest district court judges, and their unflinching battle for equal justice, is the subject of Reynolds Holdings new book Better Judgment: How Three Judges Are Bringing Justice Back to the Courts. Holding is a journalist, lawyer, and research scholar at Columbia Law School. On this weeks episode of Amicus, he spoke with Mark Joseph Stern about what we can learn from these three judgesCarlton Reeves, Martha Vazquez, and Jed Rakoffin the shadow of Trumps attempted transformation of the courts. An excerpt of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Mark Joseph Stern: Emil Bove is one of Trumps most corrupt hatchet men. More than 900 former Justice Department officials urged the Senate to vote him down, saying his confirmation would be intolerable to anyone committed to maintaining our ordered system of justice. And yet he has now been confirmed as a judge. We just talked about three judges who are the polar opposite of Bove, but now theyre serving in the same judiciary with him. What are we supposed to make of the courts as a whole when these two incredibly different kinds of judges are serving side by side in the system?

Reynolds Holding: Obviously, we should be concerned. We rely on a president to nominate good people. And, surprisingly enough, there was a study very recently by two professorsone from the University of Virginia, the other from New York University School of Lawwho looked at Trump-appointed judges and came to the conclusion that many are very well qualified. Conservative, yes, but honest, effective, and well credentialed, surprisingly so. When we pick out Bove or Aileen Cannon or Matthew Kacsmaryk, thats worrisome. But I dont think its to the point where we really have to condemn every judge that Trump has nominated. We have to depend on the system to come up with good, qualified, honest judges. Clearly, there are some that are not.

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We need a diverse judiciary. We need more minorities. We need people with different perspectives, who have a deep appreciation of what people go through. So, yes, we should surely be concerned. But judges are limited, right? There are limits on what they can do. They cant make policy and reach out for cases. Cases must be filed, brought to them. Theres a lot of room to interpret it, but there is law, and there are certain facts. You have to deal with the facts before you. You have to apply the law before you. If you get it wrong, you have courts above you who stand to correct you. So its not as if the guy can go crazy. And, look, whats the alternative? I mean, many people say: Well, judges should have less power. We should leave it to Congress, which is far more democratic. But do we really want to rely on this Congress to be effective in any way?

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Related From Slate The Trump Administration Got Caught Lying to the Supreme Court Again Read More

One of the arguments that liberal skeptics of the courts often makeand I guess its an argument Ive madeis that the law is just not a helpful tool for the left, because no matter how many fabulous judges might be fighting for equality, conservative judges are always going to contort the law to benefit the rich and powerful. I find that critique pretty persuasive given this Supreme Courts incessant distortions of the law to favor the Republican Party and its donors. But judges dont have the luxury of giving up on the law, unless they simply quit. And as weve discussed, the three judges in your book show different ways to keep faith in the law and, in fact, use it as a tool for good even when they know that SCOTUS may well shoot them down. How do you think these judges manage to hold on to that sense of purpose?

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Its in their nature. Its in their background. They are committed to the idea of lifting people up. Reeves and Vazquez were among those people. So they dont lose that drive to do what they think is right. Rakoff is a complicated guy, but he is as committed as anyone to standing up to the oligarchy. How do they keep that point of view? These people get shot down a lot. Its really quite extraordinary. Vazquez kept giving under-guideline sentences to people under the felons-with-firearms statute, which had a mandatory sentence on repeat offenders. Her interpretation of that statute led her to not apply it in the case before her. And she kept getting reversedto the point that a particular case went up three times to the 10th Circuit, and the 10th Circuit got annoyed and said: Look, youre wrong. Youve got to give them this longer sentence. But luckily for her, there was a parallel case making its way to the Supreme Court, and the justices eventually agreed with her interpretation.

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So these people win. I think they say: Look, I may lose, I may be reversed, but every now and then I win. And I think that has to be inspiring for them. The wins make the whole enterprise work. Their job is to follow the law. But they say: Well, maybe if I can push a little bit, maybe the law will change. And sometimes it works.

What do you think the rest of us can learn from that attitudespecifically, their decision to just keep pushing in the face of a lot of setbacks, because there might still be a victory or two around the corner?

First of all, we need courts, and we should not just disregard the judicial system by concluding that there are judges out there who dont follow the law, or follow the law in the wrong directions. If we give up on the courts, were going to take away a really essential element of our ability to be Americans. Lets think about what courts are for. We go to court to seek redress when we have an issue. Courts often act as whistleblowers, bringing up problems that the legislature needs to address. They often come up with decisions that bring people together by reasoning that the law should be a certain way. And this also has the effect of encouraging not just legislators but all people to support that point of view.

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Courts are just about the only place where factsreal proven factscome out. This whole task of seeking the truth, of having the facts come out, is very important to peoples ability to participate in our democracy. So I think the message is: Dont give up on the courts and dont forget that, even when judges dont do jobs in a way that you agree with. Theyre an essential element of our democracyof seeking justice and redress when a real wrong has been done to you, when your civil rights have been violated, when youve been a victim of a crime. Courts still have a very important role to play, and we need to not forget that.
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My trouble with the app that runs my life began this May.

In 2020, after losing a full-time job, I became a freelancer. The next year, while continuing to freelance, I started my own small business, in the honorable field of podcasting. Scattered Apple Notes could no longer keep track of my affairs. And so I found my way to Trello, a project management system typically used by startups, software teams, and type-A organizers to keep track of tasks and deadlines. Think of it as a tricked-out digital Post-it board. I began keeping lists of cards for every aspect of my life. Buy this person a birthday present or Outline this story for Slate. For select big tasks, like planning a wedding, I set up entire new boards.

Then, just before Memorial Day, Trellos parent company, the software company Atlassian, rolled out a new Trello. The release came out as a beta, which I couldnt resist, knowing that it would soon become mandatory. I quickly found myself in shambles, unable to hide features that didnt do anything for me. On a Thursday night at 9, I sent a desperate plea to the customer service team, with whom I had developed a parasocial relationship through years of inquiries that were always answered. I absolutely LOVE Trello, I opened, trying for flattery first. With that in mind, I am begging you to please make the inbox feature optional. Despite an automated reply that assured me, Were on it, I never did get an answer, nor did I figure out how to turn the thing off. (Days later, I realized I could minimize but not axe the panel.) I sent more pleas, trying to find things that were once easy to find but now eluded me. After a couple of unanswered requests over six weeks, I located a button that had once been right in front of me, now hiding in a dropdown behind a little icon at the bottom of a Trello card.

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I was not alone. The past few months, the Trello communitythere is such a thing!has been dripping with collective rage about Atlassians changes to the platform. The 11,000-strong r/Trello subreddit is loaded with months of complaints, ranging from the puzzled to the enraged. In an open letter to Trello leadership, one person begins by asking, Are you secretly conducting psychological warfare, or did a sleep-deprived intern hit publish on your latest update by accident? I havent found the update that bad, but on a scale of making my life easier to making it harder, it has leaned toward the latter.

The state of hostility between Trellos owner and its users has broken contain and reached pockets of the technology press. Atlassian has stuck to its guns, making the update mandatory earlier this summer. To what end? A company spokeswoman told the Financial Review in Australia, where Atlassian was established, that the company was moving Trello from a project management app to a personal productivity companion.

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It was at this juncture that I realized that Trellomy Trello, my beloved $10/month app, my tool to track when exactly DHL is going to deliver my packageis the best encapsulation of our current moment in tech. We are in a time of tech giants foisting updates on a public that hasnt asked for them. Google, Microsoft, and Meta get the most attention for doing that with A.I. products. But I think its Trello, a much tinier service, that tells the most concise story of how technology companies are now looking at their users.

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Microsoft has forced its 365 customers to pay more and accept access to its Copilot assistant, which does roughly the same document cleanup and email summary that its peers do. Meta installed a janky and privacy-corrupting A.I. search tool to Instagram. Apple began putting its underwhelming-to-many Apple Intelligence tool on phones by default, prompting a small industry of stories and forum posts about how to disable it. Tech companies across the board have interrupted the user experience for people who dont want A.I. upsells. The concept of force-feeding and A.I. have become intertwined.

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Related From Slate The A.I. Data Center Push That Wasnt Read More

The new Trello does have a large language model component, of the extracting-info-from-emails variety. But what has chapped the angry user base seems to be not the A.I. but the unintelligible changes to the platforms user interface. In this way, Trello is more representative of a tech trend that predates the industrys infatuation with LLMs. Massive user experience changes without opt-outs have been the order of the day for at least the better part of a decade now. (Was the 2012 redesign of Windows 8 the starting point? Reasonable people could debate this.) The self-inflicted plight of Trello is a good reminder that A.I. didnt push tech companies to behave this way, but more general, long-standing profit motivations did.

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Google and Microsoft are emboldened to act that way because they are so hard to leave. I think what Google has done to search is gross, as a news consumer and as someone who would like media outlets search traffic to still exist. Still, I havent stopped Googling things or ditched my Gmail, because that would be an epic pain. But just as trapping users with unwanted changes isnt limited to A.I., its also not limited to a handful of tech giants. Dating apps suck now, I am often told, not only because their free versions are hollowed out but also because the user interface is too gamified for engagement. Evernote, the popular note-taking app, is often derided for not just a bad free version, but general bloat. These should not, in theory, be difficult companies to just leave. You can export notes and find new dating matches.

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Its tempting to think theres something unique about the intersection between the highest level of tech giant and LLMs. The tech is futuristic, and the giants need to keep growing exponentially forever, so we get an endless hype machine. (This is a popular argument among some tech critics today.) Wall Streets continued blessing provides ample incentive to keep it going.

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But here, again, the Trello thing lands differently. What I find bleakly interesting about it is that the problems at issue are mostly not about A.I. and are happening at a company that should not be that hard to leave. There are dozens of popular task management competitors out there, and recent liftoff of LLM-enabled vibe coding has made it possible for people to build their own (surprisingly useful) management apps. We should be living in the least opportune time for appmakers outside the Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft sphere to shove unwanted overhauls down the airways of their paying customers, but bunches of companies have tried it regardless.

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Which prompts the question: Why would companies that in theory couldnt afford to antagonize their customers take this tack anyway? Perhaps the answer is imitation. This is what the worlds great companies are doing, so mine should do it too. Or maybe the answer is desperation, at least in Trellos case. Its parent company would fit well in a season of the old HBO sitcom Silicon Valley: Its stock has been doing badly for a while, and its CEO just fired 150 people with plans to replace them with A.I. (He is also a self-styled environmentalist who reports struggling considerably with a recent private jet purchase.) But most of all, the past few months of Trello developments reflect how technology companies now interact with their customers. The past year of headlines might suggest that jerking users around with unwanted new features is the domain of a select few companies pushing a specific sort of tech. It turns out tech businesses in a much lighter weight class can do it too.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250804/borrell-says-europe-not-strategically-autonomous-after-eu-us-tariff-deal-1122551709.html

Borrell Says Europe Not Strategically Autonomous After EU-US Tariff Deal

Borrell Says Europe Not Strategically Autonomous After EU-US Tariff Deal

Sputnik International

Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell argued on Monday that Europe could hardly be considered a "strategically autonomous actor" given the nature of the US-EU trade deal.

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"From a political standpoint, the result is very bad. It gives the impression of weakness and submission to [US President Donald] Trumps demands. And it shows Europe can hardly be considered a strategically autonomous actor," Borrell told the media. The European Commission positions the results of the tariff negotiations with Washington as the "least bad option," the former EU official said. However, the new trade deal is rather a consequence of the "poor strategy" of European officials and their surrender tactics, Borrell added. On July 27, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump reached a trade deal that will subject most EU exports to the US to a 15% tariff. The deal does not include the abolition of US tariffs of 50% on steel and aluminum, but they could be reduced as a result of further negotiations, The New York Times reported, citing a senior US official. The EU also pledged to buy $750 billion worth of US energy products.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250729/trumps-troop-removal-threats-could-fuel-europes-delusional-mobilization-against-russia-heres-why-1122509265.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250804/china-chokes-western-defense-supply-with-minerals-stranglehold---reports-1122549070.html

China Chokes Western Defense Supply With Minerals Stranglehold - Reports

China Chokes Western Defense Supply With Minerals Stranglehold - Reports

Sputnik International

China is restricting supplies of critical minerals to Western defense firms, delaying production and forcing them to seek alternatives in other markets, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources at the companies.

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For example, the newspaper points out, one drone manufacturer that supplies the US military was forced to delay orders for up to two months while it searched for a replacement for Chinese magnets made from rare earth metals. Traders told the newspaper that some materials needed by the Western defense industry were now selling at prices five or more times higher than they were before China imposed the restrictions. More than 80,000 components used by the Pentagon contain minerals that are subject to China's export restrictions, the publication recalled. At the same time, almost all of the US military's supply chains for these minerals depend on at least one Chinese supplier, so Beijing's restrictions could cause major problems for the US military. In addition, Western buyers told the newspaper that China was requesting detailed information about the purpose of the purchased minerals so that they were not used by Western companies in military production. In early April, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said that Beijing had placed 16 US companies on an export control list to control the export of dual-use goods. As the New York Times noted, Beijing has suspended the export of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, which are needed, in particular, to assemble cars, drones, robots and missiles. In June, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that China had agreed to resume issuing rare earth export licenses to US automakers and industrial plants, but limited the permits to six months. Reuters also reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that China had not committed to granting export permits for some specialized rare earth magnets that US military suppliers need for fighter jets and missile systems. Rare earth elements are a group of 17 metals that are widely used in high-tech devices, including computers, televisions, and smartphones, as well as in defense technologies, including missiles, lasers, transportation systems, and military communications.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250706/snooze-you-lose-china-buys-up-overseas-mines-as-west-faces-self-inflicted-critical-minerals-crisis-1122400787.html

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PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. (HPSI), a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean, and Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, today marked an important milestone in the construction of the first of three new "Aloha Class" containerships to be delivered to Matson in 2027 and 2028. Matson plans to deploy the new vessels in its Hawaii, Guam, and China-Long Beach Express (CLX) services.

First grand block of Matson vessel Makua being lowered into the construction dry dock. August 4, 2025 Matson Aloha Class containership Daniel K. Inouye. (PRNewsfoto/MATSON, INC. - PR)

During the event, the first engine room section of the vessel  weighing 420 metric tons  was lowered into the dry dock, marking the official start of hull assembly. In keeping with maritime tradition, senior executives from both companies placed ceremonial coins beneath the section to invoke good fortune and safe passage for the ship.

The ceremony, which marks the lowering of the first "grand block" segment of a new vessel's hull into the construction dry dock, was attended by a team of Matson executives led by Capt. Jack Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Vessel Operations & Engineering, and Archibald Morgan, Vice President of New Construction and Marine Engineering at Matson, along with HPSI representatives David Kim, CEO, and John Bond, Project Director and NSMV Program Manager.

"These new ships are just the latest Jones Act vessels Matson has built with Philly Shipyard over the past 22 years, supporting 1,500 jobs for skilled American workers and providing additional opportunities for American mariners," said Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matson.

"Our existing Aloha Class ships are among the fastest, most efficient vessels in the Matson fleet," added Cox. "These new vessels will expand Matson's Jones Act fleet and enhance our service capabilities in the Asia-U.S. trade lane, while providing additional capacity and speed benefitting customers of our Hawaii and Guam services."

The 854-foot Aloha Class ships will each have a carrying capacity of 3,600 TEU* and are designed to operate at speeds exceeding 23 knots, supporting Matson's reputation for fast, reliable delivery across its Hawaii, Guam, and CLX trade lanes. The new vessels also feature a more fuel-efficient hull design and dual-fuel engines that will allow operation on liquefied natural gas (LNG) from delivery.

The three new Aloha Class ships will replace three vessels currently deployed in Matson's Hawaii, Guam, and CLX services.

Founded in 1882 as a Hawaii-focused business, Matson has a long tradition of giving Hawaiian names to its vessels, and also reusing vessel names from the early 20th century. The company plans to name the new containerships Makua, Malama, and Makena, names originally used for three freighters in the WWI era. Makua ("mah-KOO-ah") is a Hawaiian word meaning parent, elder, ancestor, or family.

HPSI has long been recognized as a leader in U.S. commercial shipbuilding, constructing vessels for operation in the domestic Jones Act trade lanes. Prior to delivering Matson's first two Aloha Class ships in 2018 and 2019, the shipyard delivered four newly built Jones Act containerships for Matson between 2003 and 2006. With the backing of Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean since 2024, HPSI is leveraging the global capabilities of one of South Korea's largest and most diversified conglomerates to usher in a new era of U.S. shipbuilding.

"Today's keel laying marks more than the beginning of another great ship  it symbolizes the strength of our ongoing partnership with Matson and our shared commitment to American shipbuilding," remarked David Kim, Hanwha Philly Shipyard CEO. "We're honored that Matson has entrusted us with three series of ships, and we remain committed to excellence with every block."

* Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, the standard unit of measurement for container capacity

About Matson

Founded in 1882, Matson is a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific. Matson provides a vital lifeline to the economies of Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia and select South Pacific islands, and operates a premium, expedited service from China to Southern California. The Company's fleet of 22 owned vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout the continental U.S. Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, and less-than-container load freight consolidation and forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about Matson Inc. is available at www.matson.com.

About Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard is a leading U.S. shipbuilder that has earned a reputation as a preferred provider of ocean-going merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships, having delivered around 50% of all large ocean-going U.S. Jones Act commercial ships since 2000. The shipyard is part of Hanwha Group, a multinational company with a robust network of affiliates in the energy, shipbuilding, defense, aerospace, finance, and retail & services industries. To learn more about what's on the horizon, visit www.hanwhaphillyshipyard.com.

SOURCE MATSON, INC. - PR
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250804/eu-frets-over-air-defense-gaps-after-sending-patriots-to-ukraine-1122549626.html

EU Frets Over Air Defense Gaps After Sending Patriots to Ukraine

EU Frets Over Air Defense Gaps After Sending Patriots to Ukraine

Sputnik International

EU countries are wary of a long-term gap in their air defense due to the transfer of EU Patriot systems to Ukraine, Euractiv reported on Monday, citing a European diplomat.

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In July, US President Donald Trump said that Washington would supply weapons, including Patriot air defense systems, to Ukraine, with European nations covering all the costs. He called it a "very big deal" with "billions of dollars worth of military equipment" to be purchased from the US. France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Hungary refused to take part in the initiative. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Germany is ready to provide Ukraine with two Patriot systems, but only if the replenishment of German arsenals is guaranteed within six to eight months. Pistorius later announced that agreements with the US include supplying Kiev with five Patriot systems. European arsenals have already been depleted by previous donations to Ukraine, and European countries fear lengthy gaps in their own air defense if supplies from the US are not as rapid as Trump claimed, Euractiv reported. It would be "scary" for the EU to give up their own Patriot systems for Kiev, a senior European diplomat was quoted as saying by Euractiv. NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Admiral Pierre Vandier, estimated that deliveries of new Patriot systems from the US could take about seven years, while another "more optimistic" source claimed it would take at least a couple of years, the report said. Russia believes that supplying arms to Ukraine hinders peace efforts and drags NATO allies into the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any Ukraine-bound weapon shipments will be a legitimate target for Russian troops.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250718/want-to-wipe-out-patriot-systems-ask-the-russians-how-1122456944.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250804/hamas-demands-hundreds-of-trucks-into-gaza---reports-1122548935.html

Hamas Demands Hundreds of Trucks Into Gaza - Reports

Hamas Demands Hundreds of Trucks Into Gaza - Reports

Sputnik International

The Palestinian movement Hamas is demanding that hundreds of aid trucks be allowed into the Gaza Strip as a precondition for continuing talks with Israel, the Jerusalem Post newspaper reported, citing a source.

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It is noted that this demand was conveyed to the mediators in recent days.This comes as UNICEF warns of famine, stating that 1 in 3 Gazans has gone without food for days.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 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 declared 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 60,000 Palestinians and about 1,500 Israelis, spread to Lebanon and Yemen, and provoked an exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250802/germany-accuses-israel-of-not-doing-enough-to-improve-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza-1122545065.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250804/no-deal-in-sight-netanyahu-eyes-another-gaza-offensive-1122549775.html

No Deal in Sight? Netanyahu Eyes Another Gaza Offensive

No Deal in Sight? Netanyahu Eyes Another Gaza Offensive

Sputnik International

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a military path to free the remaining Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, the ABC broadcaster reported on Monday, citing an Israeli official.

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israeli-palestinian tensions escalate amid gaza violence

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Unable to find a diplomatic solution, Netanyahu aims to expand operations in the Gaza Strip amid a deadlock in negotiations with the Palestinian movement Hamas, the broadcaster said. There are currently about 20 living hostages still held by Hamas, the broadcaster said. Earlier in August, the Jerusalem Post newspaper reported that it could take Israel and the US months to prepare a new deal with Hamas, which demands allowing hundreds of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip as a precondition for continuing negotiations with Israel. 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 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 declared 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 60,000 Palestinians and about 1,500 Israelis, spread to Lebanon and Yemen, and provoked an exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250625/israels-big-daddy-west-lets-tel-aviv-commit-crimes-and-get-away-with-it-1122335909.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250804/over-7000-gagauzia-residents-rally-in-support-of-detained-region-head-gutsul-1122551833.html

Over 7,000 Gagauzia Residents Rally in Support of Detained Region Head Gutsul

Over 7,000 Gagauzia Residents Rally in Support of Detained Region Head Gutsul

Sputnik International

More than seven thousand residents of Gagauzia participated in a rally in support of the region's head, Yevgenia Gutsul, who is under house arrest, Alexei Lungu, the leader of the Chance party, part of the Moldovan opposition Pobeda (Victory) bloc, said on Monday.

2025-08-04T16:17+0000

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On Sunday, a rally in support of Gagauzias head took place in the city of Comrat, administrative center of Gagauzia. Mikhail Vlah, an adviser to Gutsul, said that Moldovan police prevented residents of the autonomy from entering Comrat to attend the rally. As a result, supporters of the region's leader had to reach the event on foot. During the rally, a resolution was adopted in support of Gutsul and the restoration of Gagauzias autonomous powers. The trial against Gutsul is a legal farce, Lungu said, adding that this case has already caused international resonance. Moldovans will vote in parliamentary elections on September 28. Political blocs have until August 13 to register, while campaigning is allowed starting August 29. The Moldovan government has been criticized for cracking down on the opposition and arbitrarily arresting its leaders. Gagauzia head Yevgenia Gutsul was detained at the Chisinau airport in March on charges of violating campaign finance rules and falsifying documents. A criminal investigation has been opened into Gutsul for allegedly violating campaign financing rules in the run-up to the 2023 regional elections, financing the banned Sor party and forging documents. Prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison sentence for her. A court in Chisinau extended Gutsul's arrest until August 12. The government has also blocked over 100 Telegram channels and shut down more than a dozen media outlets, including Sputnik Moldova and several major TV channels.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250417/moldovas-political-witch-hunt-persecution-of-gagauzias-gutsul-1121883670.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250804/supporters-of-moldovas-tauber-defy-police-cordon-to-protest-in-chisinau-1122550520.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250804/supporters-of-moldovas-tauber-defy-police-cordon-to-protest-in-chisinau-1122550520.html

Supporters of Moldova's Tauber Defy Police Cordon to Protest in Chisinau

Supporters of Moldova's Tauber Defy Police Cordon to Protest in Chisinau

Sputnik International

Supporters of Moldovan politician Marina Tauber, the executive secretary of Moldova's opposition Pobeda (Victory) bloc, are holding a rally in her support on Monday defying significant police presence, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

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On July 11, Moldova's Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office asked the court for a 13-year prison sentence for Tauber, who was accused of financing the Sor party and interfering with justice, including for participating in a rally in support of the leader of the Pobeda bloc, Ilan Shor, last year. Police have cordoned off the entire perimeter of the courthouse where Taubers trial is continuing, barring pedestrians. Despite this, Tauber's supporters organized a rally in her support, relocating across the boulevard from the Chisinau courthouse where proceedings are ongoing. Protesters chanted "Marina, we are with you" and expressed conviction that the case is politically motivated. Moldovas parliamentary elections are scheduled for September 28. The Moldovan government has been criticized for cracking down on the opposition and arbitrarily arresting its leaders. Gagauzia head Yevgenia Gutsul was detained at the Chisinau airport in March on charges of violating campaign finance rules and falsifying documents. Opposition lawmakers have been routinely detained at Moldovan airports for visiting Russia, while criminal cases continue piling up against government critics.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250803/moldova-could-disappear-if-pro-western-regime-retains-power--advisor-to-regional-governor-1122547036.html

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Pennsylvania-sired two-year-old pacing males contested the second preliminary leg of the Sire Stakes (in two divisions) and Stallion Series (in four cuts) during a Sunday twilight card on Aug. 3 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Three stallions dominated the night, each siring two stakes winners. The edge among the trio on this night, though, would go to Stay Hungry, since his offspring were successful in the two Sire Stakes divisions.

The only two-time Sire Stakes winner in this group is Frantic Hanover (dam Francessa), who capped a big night for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and trainer Ron Burke with a 1:51.4 victory.

Wrenn left from the outside and was willing to pay a :26.4 price to get to the lead over the other first-round winner entered, Superchamp Hanover (Matt Kakaley). Frantic Hanover got a very soft second quarter to the :56.3 half and wasnt pressed terribly to the 1:25 three-quarters, but when the dash for the cash grew serious, the talented two-year-old could give another :26.4 quarter to maintain a 1-1/2-length lead to the wire over his stablemate Al Papi (Tyler Buter), who himself came home in :26.3 to photo Superchamp Hanover for second in the $96,088 division.

The winner, who also has a PA All-Stars victory in his undefeated career, is owned by Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, Brad Grant of Milton, Ont., Knox Services of Mt. Vernon, Ohio and Weaver Bruscemi of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

Frantic Hanover was part of Wrenns four winners on the card and one of Burkes pair of successes. (The ubiquitous Burke had stakes scores at three tracks Sunday  Pocono, The Red Mile and the Erie County Fair in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania.)

Aintplayinnice (dam Play Nice) was the other Stay Hungry progeny to win in the Sire Stakes in a $95,532 split and the gelding took a new mark of 1:51.3 with a two-length score over Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Thai Hanover (Jeremey Indof), who dead-heated for the deuce.

Three-time defending Pocono driving champion Matt Kakaley was last mid-first turn with Aintplayinnice and did not relish coming from way back in a likely sprint home, so he moved at the :28 quarter and had the lead well before the :56.2 half. He then reached the three-quarters in 1:24 en route to victory for trainer Brian Brown and owners Milton Leeman and William Calvert of Columbus, Ohio and Mark Kantrowitz of Delray Beach, Florida.

Captaintreacherous and Tall Dark Stranger each sired two Stallion Series winners, with the former's successful colts including the only repeat winner and also the fastest Stallion Series success story of the night. Another C Note (dam Kate Cant Wait) wired his field in 1:54.4 to notch a second series win for Team Wrenn/Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, Let It Ride Stables of Boca Raton, Florida and Scott Dillon of Anson, Maine. Ringin The Captain (dam Bettorputaringonit) lowered his mark to 1:53.4 for driver Ridge Warren, trainer Aaron Lambert and Australian owner Anthony Licastro.

Tall Dark Strangers pair of winners included the gelding Really Bright (dam Economy Terror), who came home in :27 to earn the most slender victory over the night, a nose, over Loumelo Ball and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in 1:54.1 (equalling his mark) for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Hunter Oakes and Pennsylvania owners Howard Taylor of Philadelphia and Chuck Pompey of Archbald. The other was the colt Southwind Spencer (dam Sansovina Hanover), on the engine in 1:54.4 in his maiden win for driver Mike Wilder, trainer Doug Snyder and owner Geraldine Poerio of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. The purse for each Stallion Series division was $27,778.

Joe Lee led every step with 1-2 chalk Massive Matter to land a 1:54.4 romp in the lone $13,889 division of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot.

Leaving from post four, Lee secured the top with Massive Matter to a :28.3 first quarter with 114-1 shot Campbellini (driven by Dante Scattolini) in the pocket. Massive Matter faced little pressure while expanding his lead through middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.2. Campbellini retreated from the pocket spot when making the spin for home while Massive Matter continued to pull away, eventually crossing the beam a six-length winner over Six Sticks (Yogi Sheridan) grabbing second. Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) finished third, another five lengths behind, and Landia (Tony Beltrami) took fourth.

Frank Catalfamo owns and trains Massive Matter, a seven-year-old gelding by Explosive Matter. He paid $3 to win.

Pocono will close out its racing week with 1 p.m. cards on Monday and Tuesday; a fast-class pace for tough distaffs is the Monday feature. And every day Pocono gets closer to its biggest card of the year, the $2 million-plus Sun Stakes Saturday highlighting both three-year-olds and invitational horses; this year's edition is to be held on Saturday, Aug. 16, with a special post time at 2:30 p.m.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono and AHDC)
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Google is seen on its office building in Hyderabad

By Laila Kearney

NEW YORK, August 4 (Reuters) -Google has signed agreements with two U.S. electric utilities to reduce its AI data center power consumption during times of surging demand on the grid, the company said on Monday, as energy-intensive AI use outpaces power supplies.

Utilities in the country have been inundated with requests for electricity for Big Tech's AI data centers, with demand eclipsing total available power supplies in some areas.

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That power crunch has led to concerns about spiking bills for everyday homes and business and blackouts.

It has also complicated the technology industry's expansion of AI, which requires massive amounts of electricity - fast.

Google's agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Power Authority would involve scaling back power use at the technology giant's data centers when called upon by the electric utilities to free up space on the grid.

They are the first formal agreements by Google in demand-response programs with utilities to temporarily curtail its machine learning workloads, a subset of artificial intelligence.

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"It allows large electricity loads like data centers to be interconnected more quickly, helps reduce the need to build new transmission and power plants, and helps grid operators more effectively and efficiently manage power grids," Google said in a blog post.

Demand-response programs have typically been used by other energy-intensive industries like heavy manufacturing or cryptocurrency mining. In exchange, the businesses generally receive payments or reduced power bills.

The programs involving AI activity in data centers is generally new, and details of the commercial arrangements between Google and the utilities were not clear.

While demand-response agreements apply only to a small portion of demand on the grid, the arrangements might become more common as U.S. electricity supply tightens.

(Reporting by Laila KearneyEditing by Bernadette Baum)
25-Year-Old from Okinawa, Japan, Earns Second-Round Submission Victory in Flyweight Division Bout

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Back in the winner's circle! Monster Energy congratulates MMA athlete Tatsuro Taira on defeating Hyun Sung Park in the main event fight at the UFC Vegas 108 on Saturday night. In the flyweight division bout on the Main Card, the 25-year-old from Okinawa, Japan, stopped his opponent with a brutal submission in Round 2.

Monster Energys Tatsuro Taira Defeats Hyun Sung Park at UFC Fight Night in Vegas

UFC Vegas 108: Taira vs. Park was contested in front of a live crowd inside the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. Featuring six fights on the Main Card, the event was broadcast live on ESPN television and Prelims streamed on the ESPN+ service.

Monster Energy's Taira (17-1) was looking to return to the victory column after suffering his first career loss against Brandon Royval at UFC Vegas 98 in October 2024. Before the split-decision loss, the young Japanese fighter was heralded as a title contender in the UFC's Flyweight division. Now he needed a win to reclaim his spot.

Taira was initially slated to fight Iraqi athlete Amir Albazi in the headline event, but his opponent withdrew due to a medical issue. On short notice, 29-year-old Park (10-1) from South Korea stepped in to face Taira, putting his undefeated record of ten wins on the line and adding significant hype to the fight.

Both fighters started the fight on a tentative note, keeping their distance while looking for openings. That changed when Taira landed two consecutive right hands to the head that instantly dropped Park on his back. From there, Taira controlled Park on the ground for the rest of the round while working for the right position to secure a show-stopping chokehold until the buzzer.

Taira charged into the second round by body slamming Park to the canvas after landing a stunning jab to the forehead. Assuming ground control, the Japanese grappling expert locked in a body triangle behind Park's back to set the stage for a quick finish by sheer force: Moments later, Park tapped out to a brutal face crank submission just 66 seconds into Round 2, sealing a dominant win for Taira.

"I'm happy, thank you!" said Monster Energy's Taira in his Octagon interview at the UFC Apex on Saturday night.

What's next for the rising star from Japan? "From the last Brandon Royval fight, it's been ten months, and I'm back strong," said Taira in Las Vegas before demanding a title fight against current UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja. "I'll wait to see who wins between Pantoja and Joshua Van and hopefully I get the next shot," said Taira. Stay tuned for more!

Monster Energy's elite UFC athletes include Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Belal Muhammad, Dricus Du Plessis, Merab Dvalishvili, Valentina Shevchenko, Zhang Weili, Marlon Vera, Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Brandon Moreno, Giga Chikadze, Johnny Walker, Sean Strickland, Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, Daniel Zellhuber, Derrick Lewis, Alexa Grasso, Raul Rosas Jr., Tatsuro Taira, Shara Magomedov, Patricio Pitbull, Maycee Barber, Aaron Pico, Patchy Mix, Jasmine Jasudavicius, and Kayla Harrison.

For more on Monster Energy's MMA athletes, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser.

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com.

CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: [email protected]

SOURCE Monster Energy
By Wen-Yee Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Dressed in a white protective suit and face mask, Nicolas Chueh listened intently as a guide introduced a series of silver machines used in manufacturing Taiwan's cutting-edge semiconductors.

The 16-year-old was among students from eight countries at the summer camp staged to raise interest in Taiwan's most vital industry amid a fast-declining birth rate that could leave tens of thousands of critical jobs vacant.

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"I myself really enjoy playing video games. So I'm really just always using these semiconductor products," said Chueh, whose parents enrolled him after he expressed interest.

The camp, organised by U.S. chip design software firm Synopsys, is among several such events staged by chip companies and Taiwanese universities in recent years as demand for semiconductors, which power most electronics and AI servers, surges across the globe.

But for the first time this year, Synopsys, which has significant operations in Taiwan to be closer to the semiconductor supply chain, hosted the events both in Mandarin and English as Taiwan searches for overseas talent.

"There is an urgent need to strengthen STEM education from an early age," said Robert Li, Synopsys's Taiwan chairman, who believes the camps can increase interest in the chip industry and help prime some of its future leaders.

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"That is why we are launching this initiative in Taiwan, where its strength in semiconductors meets the challenge of demographic decline. Taken together, it is clear we must act here first."

Given limitations posed by Taiwan's ageing population, Synopsys is also considering hosting camps internationally to spur interest in chip making and designing, he added. The company charges T$33,000 ($1,103) for the English versions and T$10,900 for Mandarin.

Chueh, a dual Taiwan-Belgian national who lives in Singapore, said he views semiconductors as an attractive career choice.

"I want to lean into it to some extent because I think it will be crucial in the future with AI."

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SLUMPING BIRTH RATE

Taiwan, which has a population of around 23 million, holds outsized influence over the global semiconductor supply chain, thanks to its chip companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's largest contract chipmaker, MediaTek, and UMC.

Any decline in the industry poses an existential threat to Taiwan, which faces the threat of invasion from Beijing and draws much of its global significance from the chip behemoths.

But job openings in the semiconductor sector have risen from 19,401 in the second quarter of 2020 to 33,725 in the same period this year, according to 104 Corporation, a local human resources firm.

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The industry is grappling with a shortage of both highly skilled professionals, such as IC design and semiconductor R&D engineers, and essential production staff, including operators and assembly technicians.

Filling those jobs locally is becoming harder each year as Taiwan's annual number of births has dropped from over 210,000 in 2014 to around 135,000 in 2024, according to government statistics. STEM graduates have also fallen by around 15% in that period, Ministry of Education statistics showed.

"Growth in Taiwan's semiconductor industry has been quite rapid, faster than what our schools can produce in terms of engineering talent each year," said Leuh Fang, chairman of Vanguard International Semiconductor, a Taiwan-based chipmaker affiliated with TSMC.

'THE FUTURE WORKFORCE'

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Last year, the National Taiwan University launched a global undergraduate semiconductor program for foreign students, which included Mandarin courses to help them reach the proficiency needed to stay and work in Taiwan.

The program now enrols over 40 students from more than 10 countries.

TSMC also began looking toward foreign talent by throwing its weight behind a program in Germanys Saxony state, which would send German students to study for a semester at Taiwanese universities before interning at TSMC.

Other initiatives are attempting to create interest among children as young as 10.

Taiwan's National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) launched an outreach program in July, backed by TSMC, aimed at making chip science fun through interactive teaching tools and online games.

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"The issue everyone is discussing now is where the future workforce will come from," said NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin.

"If they're curious now, they won't reject it later and some may even grow to like this kind of work."

(Reporting by Wen-Yee Lee; Editing by Brenda Goh and Saad Sayeed)
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Not long ago, planning a trip meant juggling guidebooks and hours of searching the web for the best restaurants and must-see sights. Now, travelers are turning to artificial intelligence tools to do the heavy lifting.

Seden Dogan, USF assistant professor of instruction in the School of Hospitality and Sport Management, says this shift is more than a trend. It's the new normal. Dogan's research examines how travelers are increasingly relying on AI-generated recommendations.

"Early results show that even though language learning models are known to occasionally hallucinate or provide incorrect information, people still place a high level of trust in them," she said.

The appeal lies in these tools' ability to process massive amounts of information instantly, such as comparing prices, reading reviews and identifying patterns that would take a traveler hours to complete.

"If I ask it to plan a five-day solo trip to New York and tell it I'm a vegetarian who wants to stay in the city center and use public transit, it'll generate a customized minute-by-minute itinerary based on my preferences."

While this level of personalization is why AI has quickly become a go-to resource for modern travelers, Dogan warns that this convenience comes with concerns, especially around data privacy and algorithmic bias.

"These models are learning from everything we feed them, including personal data," she said. "Your location, past searches, even demographic factors like income or age can influence what results you get. So, two people searching for the same hotel in Tampa may see very different prices and options."

The impact goes beyond the travelerhotels and airlines are adopting AI to manage dynamic pricing and customer service too. But even as technology becomes more integrated, Dogan believes hospitality's human element will stay central.

"Hospitality is, at its core, about making people feel welcome and like they're at home," she said. "Technology should support that, not replace it."

She sees a future shaped by what she calls "phygital" experiences, meaning a hybrid of physical and digital service. "Think of a smart hotel room that knows your preferences but still has a human staff ready to help. It's about balance."

Significant improvements and enhancements are being made to generative AI programs, allowing them to chat more naturally, remember things and carry out complex reasoning with text, images and potentially video. With AI tools advancing rapidly, Dogan says travelers and professionals alike need to adapt.

"We're not going back," she says. "Some jobs may disappear, but new roles will emerge. Just like we didn't have social media managers 20 years ago, the next wave of careers will center on how we use, regulate and communicate with AI."
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:

Six applications of LLM social simulations. The most difficult applications are complete studies that are human-possible (HP), where it would be possible to use human subjects, or human-impossible (HI), such as large-scale policy experiments. Credit: arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2504.02234

LLMs that emulate human speech are being used to cost-effectively test assumptions and run pilot studies, producing promising early results. But researchers note that human data remains essential.

By improving our understanding of human behavior, social science research helps businesses design successful marketing programs, ensures governmental policies are responsive to people's needs, and supports the development of appropriate strategies for fighting disease and maintaining public safety.

This research spans the fields of economics, psychology, sociology, and political science and uses a variety of approaches, from fieldwork to online polling, randomized controlled trials, focus groups, observation, and more.

But all social science research is complicated by its subject: people.

"We're not dealing with petri dishes or plants that sit still and allow us to experiment over long periods of time," says Jacy Anthis, visiting scholar at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago. "And because we study human subjects, this research can be time-consuming, expensive, and hard to replicate."

With advances in AI, though, social scientists can now simulate human data. Large language models (LLMs) that emulate human speech can roleplay expert social scientists or diverse human subjects to inexpensively test assumptions, run pilot studies, estimate optimal sample sizes, and leverage the statistical power that a combination of human and LLM subjects provide.

Yet there remain some ways in which LLMs aren't a great stand-in for human subjects, Anthis notes in a new paper posted to the arXiv preprint server: They often give less varied, biased, or sycophantic answers; and they don't generalize well to new settings.

Still, Anthis and others are optimistic about using LLMs for social science research since some rough-and-ready methods have already produced promising results.

If other researchers heed his rallying cry, Anthis says, one more year of work could lead to substantial improvements. "As technology and society rapidly evolve, we need social science tools like simulations that can keep pace."

Evaluating AI as human proxy

While AI has made major leaps on popular benchmarks, its ability to mimic humans is a more recent development. To determine how well it predicts human behavior, Luke Hewitt, a senior research fellow at Stanford PACS, and colleagues Robb Willer, Ashwini Ashokkumar, and Isaias Ghezae tested LLMs against previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs): Could the LLMs successfully replicate the results of trials done with human subjects?

Typical RCTs involve a "treatment"some piece of information or action that scholars expect to impact a person's attitudes or behavior. So, for example, a researcher might ask participants to read a piece of text, watch a short video, or participate in a game about a topic (climate change or vaccines, for example), then ask them their opinion about that topic and compare their answers to those of a control group that did not undergo the treatment. Did their opinions shift compared to the controls? Are they more likely to change, start, or stop relevant behaviors?

For their project, Hewitt and his colleagues used the language model GPT-4 to simulate how a representative sample of Americans would respond to 476 different randomized treatments that had been previously studied. They found that in online survey experiments, LLM predictions of simulated responses were as accurate as human experts' predictions and correlated strongly (0.85) with measured treatment effects.

This accuracy is impressive, Hewitt says. The team was especially encouraged to find the same level of accuracy even when replicating studies that were published after GPT-4 was trained. "Many would have expected to see the LLM succeed at simulating experiments that were part of its training data and fail on new ones it hadn't seen before," Hewitt says. "Instead, we found the LLM could make fairly accurate predictions even for entirely novel experiments."

Unfortunately, he says, newer models are more difficult to vet. That's not just because their training data includes more-recently conducted studies, but also because LLMs are starting to do their own web searches, giving them access to information they weren't trained on. To evaluate these models, scholars may need to create an archive of unpublished studies never before on the internet.

AI is narrow-minded

While LLMs show potential accuracy in replicating studies, they face other major challenges that scholars would need to find ways to address.

One is distributional alignment: LLMs have a remarkable inability to match the variation of responses from humans. For example, in response to a "pick a number" game, LLMs will often choose a narrower (and oddly predictable) range of answers than people will. "They can misportray and flatten a lot of groups," says Nicole Meister, a graduate student in electrical engineering at Stanford.

In a recent paper, Meister and her colleagues evaluated different ways to prompt for and measure the distribution of an LLM's responses to various questions. For example, an LLM might be prompted to answer a question about the morality of drinking alcohol by selecting one of four multiple choice options: A, B, C, or D.

An LLM typically outputs just one answer, but one approach to measuring the distribution of possible answers is to look one layer deeper in the model to see the model's assessed likelihood of each of the four answers before it makes a final choice. But it turns out that this so-called "log probability" distribution is not very similar to human distributions, Meister says. Other approaches yielded more human-like variation: asking the LLM to simulate 30 people's answers, or asking the LLM to verbalize the likely distribution.

The team saw even better results when they provided the LLM with distributional information about how a group typically responds to a related prompt, an approach Meister calls "few-shot" steering. For example, an LLM responding to a question about how Democrats and Republicans feel about the morality of drinking alcohol would better align to real human responses if the model was primed with Democrats' and Republicans' distribution of opinions regarding religion or drunk driving.

The few-shot approach works best for opinion-based questions and less well for preferences, Meister notes. "If someone thinks that self-driving cars are bad, they will likely think that technology is bad, and the model will make that leap," she says. "But if I like war books, it doesn't mean that I don't like mystery books, so it's harder for an LLM to make that prediction."

That's a growing concern as some companies start to use LLMs to predict things like product preferences. "LLMs might not be the correct tool for this purpose," she says.

Other challenges: Validation, bias, sycophancy, and more

As with most AI technologies, the use of LLMs in the social sciences could be harmful if people use LLM simulations to replace human experiments, or if they use them in ways that are not well validated, Hewitt says. When using a model, people need to have some sense of whether they should trust it: Is their use case close enough to other uses the model has been validated on? "We're making progress, but in most instances I don't think we have that level of confidence quite yet," Hewitt says.

It will also be important, Hewitt says, to better quantify the uncertainty of model predictions. "Without uncertainty quantification," he says, "people might trust a model's predictions insufficiently in some cases and too much in others."

According to Anthis, other key challenges to using LLMs for social science research include:

Bias: Models systematically present particular social groups inaccurately, often relying on racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes.

Sycophancy: Models designed as "assistants" tend to offer answers that may seem helpful to people, regardless of whether they are accurate.

Alienness: Models' answers may resemble what a human might say, but on a deeper level are utterly alien. For example, an LLM might say 3.11 is greater than 3.9, or it might solve a simple mathematical problem using a bizarrely complex method.

Generalization: LLMs don't accurately generalize beyond the data at hand, so social scientists may struggle using them to study new populations or large group behavior.

These challenges are tractable, Anthis says. Researchers can already apply certain tricks to alleviate bias and sycophancy; for example, interview-based simulation, asking the LLM to roleplay an expert, or fine-tuning a model to optimize for social simulation. Addressing the alienness and generalization issues is more challenging and may require a general theory of how LLMs work, which is currently lacking, he says.

Current best practice? A hybrid approach

Despite the challenges, today's LLMs can still play a role in social science research. David Broska, a sociology graduate student at Stanford, has developed a general methodology for using LLMs responsibly that combines human subjects and LLM predictions in a mixed subjects design.

"We now have two data types," he says. "One is human responses, which are very informative but expensive, and the other, LLM predictions, is not so informative but cheap."

The idea is to first run a small pilot study with humans and also run the same experiment with an LLM to see how interchangeable the results are. The approach, called prediction-powered inference, combines the two data resources effectively while preventing the LLM from introducing bias.

"We want to keep what the human subjects tell us and increase our confidence in the overall treatment effect while also statistically preventing the LLM from diminishing the credibility of our results," he says.

An initial hybrid pilot study can also provide a power analysisa concrete estimate of the proportion of human and LLM subjects that will be most likely to generate a statistically meaningful result, Broska says. This sets researchers up for success in a hybrid study that could potentially be less expensive.

More broadly, Hewitt sees cases where LLM simulations are already useful. "If I was designing a study right now to test an intervention for shifting people's attitudes about climate in relation to a news event or new policy, or to increase public trust in vaccines, I would definitely first simulate that experiment in an LLM and use the results to augment my intuition."

Trust in the model is less important if the LLM is only helping with selecting experimental conditions or the wording of a survey question, Hewitt says. Human subjects are still paramount.

"At the end of the day, if you're studying human behavior, your experiment needs to ground out in human data."

More information: Jacy Reese Anthis et al, LLM Social Simulations Are a Promising Research Method, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2504.02234 Journal information: arXiv
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The Ateneo de Manila University's Student Enterprise Center houses a variety of student-led food stalls, an ideal test bed for AI-assisted tools aimed at empowering small businesses. Credit: Ccai Llamas / The Guidon

The Ateneo de Manila University's Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) is looking at ways for artificial intelligence (AI) to augment and enhancerather than replacehuman labor in small businesses, which make up the bulk of the Philippine economy.

BUILD researchers Zachary Matthew Alabastro, Joseph Benjamin Ilagan, Lois Abigail To, and Jose Ramon Ilagan pay particular attention to a very ubiquitous tool of everyday business: the humble pen-and-paper logbook.

Low-cost, simple, and reliable, this analog solution is indispensable for keeping track of the multitude of small items that change hands throughout the day in small businesses, from shopping center food stalls to neighborhood "sari-sari" or convenience stores.

A handwritten ledger can be counted on for record-keeping even in the bustling and oftentimes hectic environment of a kitchen or backroom, where an electronic tablet might be too cumbersome or fragile to use. But despite their dependable simplicity, handwritten logs can be painstaking to tabulate and make sense ofespecially when one is trying to glean insights into how to better run a business.

Meanwhile, AI lends itself perfectly to business data analysis: it makes short work of identifying which products are performing well or poorly; tracking sales trends over time; and offering recommendations on inventory, pricing, and restocking.

Understandably, however, many small business owners and workers hesitate to digitize out of concern over steep learning curves and job redundancy. But the Ateneo researchers propose a "copilot" model, in which AI complements and supports human effort.

Their study, presented at the Artificial Intelligence in Human-Computer Interaction Conference 2025 in Sweden, explores how optical character recognition (OCR) and large language model (LLM) technology can turn handwritten sales logs into more manageable digital data.

Tested in an actual food stall at the Ateneo's Student Enterprise Center, the researchers' system is built with Python and uses Amazon Web Services for OCR and Anthropic's Claude 3 Haiku LLM to interpret the handwritten logbook data.

The system allows even someone with no digital training to grasp inventory trends with ease. It scans logbook photos and uses AI to recognize products, match prices, and tabulate sales summaries. This helps businesses quickly identify bestsellers or slow-moving stock, thereby making it easier to keep up with customer demand.

The researchers' early prototype shows moderate accuracy and offers much hope for improvement. It can also be adapted, they say, to handle other kinds of handwritten data such as inventory sheets, delivery logs, or even payroll ledgers.

Not unlike analog logbooks themselves, this AI tool is meant to be simple, affordable, and easily upgradable. As AI accuracy improves by training on more shorthand writing, local stalls can eventually gain reliable, low-cost access to business insights once reserved for larger enterprises.

More information: Zachary Matthew Alabastro et al, Applied Optical Character Recognition and Large Language Models in Augmenting Manual Business Processes for Data Analytics in Traditional Small Businesses with Minimal Digital Adoption, Artificial Intelligence in HCI (2025). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-93429-2_18
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:

Generative artificial intelligence assistants like ChatGPT are cutting into traditional online search traffic, depriving news sites of visitors and impacting the advertising revenue they desperately need.

Generative artificial intelligence assistants like ChatGPT are cutting into traditional online search traffic, depriving news sites of visitors and impacting the advertising revenue they desperately need, in a crushing blow to an industry already fighting for survival.

"The next three or four years will be incredibly challenging for publishers everywhere. No one is immune from the AI summaries storm gathering on the horizon," warned Matt Karolian, vice president of research and development at Boston Globe Media.

"Publishers need to build their own shelters or risk being swept away."

While data remains limited, a recent Pew Research Center study reveals that AI-generated summaries now appearing regularly in Google searches discourage users from clicking through to source articles.

When AI summaries are present, users click on suggested links half as often compared to traditional searches.

This represents a devastating loss of visitors for online media sites that depend on traffic for both advertising revenue and subscription conversions.

According to Northeastern University professor John Wihbey, these trends "will accelerate, and pretty soon we will have an entirely different web."

The dominance of tech giants like Google and Meta had already slashed online media advertising revenue, forcing publishers to pivot toward paid subscriptions.

But Wihbey noted that subscriptions also depend on traffic, and paying subscribers alone aren't sufficient to support major media organizations.

Limited lifelines

The Boston Globe group has begun seeing subscribers sign up through ChatGPT, offering a new touchpoint with potential readers, Karolian said.

However, "these remain incredibly modest compared to other platforms, including even smaller search engines."

Other AI-powered tools like Perplexity are generating even fewer new subscriptions, he added.

To survive what many see as an inevitable shift, media companies are increasingly adopting GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)a technique that replaces traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

This involves providing AI models with clearly labeled content, good structure, comprehensible text, and strong presence on social networks and forums like Reddit that get crawled by AI companies.

But a fundamental question remains: "Should you allow OpenAI crawlers to basically crawl your website and your content?" asks Thomas Peham, CEO of optimization startup OtterlyAI.

Burned by aggressive data collection from major AI companies, many news publishers have chosen to fight back by blocking AI crawlers from accessing their content.

"We just need to ensure that companies using our content are paying fair market value," argued Danielle Coffey, who heads the News/Media Alliance trade organization.

Some progress has been made on this front. Licensing agreements have emerged between major players, such as the New York Times and Amazon, Google and Associated Press, and Mistral and Agence France-Presse, among others.

But the issue is far from resolved, as several major legal battles are underway, most notably the New York Times' blockbuster lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft.

Let them crawl

Publishers face a dilemma: blocking AI crawlers protects their content but reduces exposure to potential new readers.

Faced with this challenge, "media leaders are increasingly choosing to reopen access," Peham observed.

Yet even with open access, success isn't guaranteed.

According to OtterlyAI data, media outlets represent just 29% of citations offered by ChatGPT, trailing corporate websites at 36%.

And while Google search has traditionally privileged sources recognized as reliable, "we don't see this with ChatGPT," Peham noted.

The stakes extend beyond business models.

According to the Reuters Institute's 2025 Digital News Report, about 15% of people under 25 now use generative AI to get their news.

Given ongoing questions about AI sourcing and reliability, this trend risks confusing readers about information origins and credibilitymuch like social media did before it.

"At some point, someone has to do the reporting," Karolian said. "Without original journalism, none of these AI platforms would have anything to summarize."

Perhaps with this in mind, Google is already developing partnerships with news organizations to feed its generative AI features, suggesting potential paths forward.

"I think the platforms will realize how much they need the press," predicted Wihbeythough whether that realization comes soon enough to save struggling newsrooms remains an open question.

 2025 AFP
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:

China's tech companies and automakers have poured billions of dollars into self-driving technology in recent years.

Chinese internet giant Baidu plans to launch its robotaxis on rideshare app Lyft in Germany and Britain in 2026, pending regulatory approval, the two companies said on Monday.

Last month, Baidu announced a similar agreement with Uber in Asia and the Middle East as it seeks to take pole position in the competitive autonomous driving field both at home and abroad.

Lyft and Baidu said Monday that "in the following years" the fleet of Apollo Go driverless cars will be expanded to thousands of vehicles across Europe.

They did not specify which other countries the cars would be deployed in, and it was not clear how long it might take to gain regulatory approval for the initial deployment.

Driverless taxis are already on some roads with limited capacity in the United States and China, most notably in the central city of Wuhan, where a fleet of over 500 can be hailed by app in designated areas.

Their reach is spreading, with Shanghai's financial district Pudong recently announcing a batch of permits for multiple companies to operate robotaxis.

China's tech companies and automakers have poured billions of dollars into self-driving technology in recent years, with intelligent driving the new battleground in the country's cutthroat domestic car market.

Baidu is not alone among Chinese companies in searching to expand its foothold abroad.

Its rival WeRide is also active in the Gulf region, and in January announced it had been picked to lead a small pilot project in Switzerland.

Pony.AI, another Chinese company, said in May that it had signed a deal to launch its self-driving taxis on Uber in "a key market in the Middle East later this year".

San Francisco-based Lyft in April said it had agreed to buy German taxi app Freenow, planting a flag in the European market.

The acquisition marked Lyft's "most significant expansion outside North America," the group said.

 2025 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

With quantum computing on the horizon, cryptographers are working to secure digital communications against a new generation of potential threats.

How do you outsmart a computer that could soon eclipse anything we have ever built? That is the challenge facing researchers who are working to build up our defenses against the coming age of quantum computing.

Quantum computers promise a giant leap in computational power, but they will also bring risks. Their code-breaking capabilities could enable governments or criminals to intercept online communications and steal sensitive data. The threat is not a distant one.

According to Professor Marcos Curty, a leading expert in quantum communication and cryptography, there is a reasonable probability that the first such computers could be switched on within the next 10 to 15 years. We need to start preparing now.

"We want to be sure that messages can continue to be sent securely without someone being able to access that information, either now or in the near future," he said.

Training for tomorrow

Curty is a communications engineering professor at the University of Vigo in Spain and the scientific director of the Vigo Quantum Communication Center (VQCC) based there.

Part-funded by the EU, the VQCC officially started in January 2022. It is a key node in the European Quantum Communications Infrastructurethe EU's flagship effort to build a secure quantum communication infrastructure across Europe.

The aim is to make Vigo an international hub for quantum-safe communications. In line with this ambition, Curty is coordinating an EU-funded training network called Quantum-Safe Internet (QSI) to develop quantum-resistant cryptography and quantum key distribution technologies.

Bringing together researchers from five EU countries, as well as from Canada, Japan, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S., the network intends to train young cryptographers for the challenges of a quantum computing world.

The clock is ticking

Quantum computers may still be a few years off, but the risks are already present.

"One of our biggest concerns with cryptography is the 'store now, decrypt later' concept," said Silvia Ritsch, a Ph.D. candidate at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. "Someone could store your encrypted communications today and wait until they have the tools to access them in the future."

The idea is simple, yet serious. Third parties can intercept and store encrypted data now, and wait until more powerful decryption tools, such as quantum computers, are available in the future. Once they have those tools, they can go back and decrypt the stored data, which may still be sensitive or valuable.

That is where cryptographers come in. They study, design and test new methods for protecting data. Their role will take on added importance in the context of quantum computing.

According to Curty, upgrading the digital infrastructure that protects communications could take five to seven years, making early preparation and improvements in cryptography essential.

Evolving tools for evolving technology

Codes are not new. Julius Caesar used a simple alphabet-based cipher to conceal military information. Over time, these simple systems have evolved into the complex cryptographic methods we rely on today, protecting everything from online payments to personal health records.

"Protecting company secrets from foreign digital spying will become even more relevant in future," said Curty. "And concerns about personal privacy have become more prominent, especially following recent whistleblower revelations about mass surveillance."

Today's encryption systems rely on mathematical puzzles that are easy to solve with a private key, but extremely difficult without one. These puzzles form the backbone of secure online communication. But as quantum computing capabilities develop, they may become easier to crack.

There are two possible solutions: quantum cryptography, based on quantum mechanics, and post-quantum cryptography, relying on advanced mathematical algorithms.

The quantum puzzle

Another member of the QSI team is Alex Grilo, an experienced cryptography researcher with the French National Center for Scientific Research based at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. He specializes in constructing quantum public-key encryption and secret-sharing protocols, and warns of the potential dangers.

"If a malicious party breaks our current cryptography using a quantum computer, all our private information is suddenly vulnerable," he said.

That's the bad news. The good side to quantum is that it can also offer solutions to this problem.

Quantum cryptography uses the principles of quantum mechanics to enable secure communication. One advantage of quantum systems is that information cannot be measured or copied without changing it, meaning eavesdropping attempts are detectable.

"Any attempt by an eavesdropper to access information encoded in a quantum state will inevitably disturb the state," said Curty.

The method uses a string of light pulses which act like an advanced Morse code that cannot be intercepted without being disrupted.

"If you try to copy a quantum particle, you will disturb the particle," explained Alessandro Marcomini, a Ph.D. student at the University of Vigo. His research focuses on using quantum systems to securely share cryptographic keys, rather than the message itself.

Post-quantum cryptography, on the other hand, does not rely on quantum physics, but instead develops new mathematical algorithms designed to be difficult for quantum computers to solve. This is the area where Ritsch has focused her doctoral research.

"Quantum computers work very differently from classical computers, so it requires that we really think differently about the problems," she said. This involves designing non-linear problems and paradigm shifts that puzzle quantum computers.

Building a global defense

Clearly, this is an issue of global concern, and international exchange and collaboration are central to the work of the QSI team, not just within Europe, but also beyond.

Ritsch recently visited the University of Amsterdam to deepen her cryptography expertise. In 2024, Marcomini spent three months at the University of Toyama in Japan, where he worked alongside Japanese experts in quantum communication. A further exchange is planned in 2025.

Both Marcomini and Grilo will team up with Japanese partners to present their work at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Through talks in Japanese and English, interactive demonstrations and games for children, they aim to raise awareness about quantum threats and showcase the creative minds working to counter them.

Quantum computers may still be a decade away from widespread use, but the race to secure the internet has already begun.
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The system showed its worth during Storm Eowyn in January, providing power 'before, during and after the storm'

On Ireland's blustery western seaboard researchers are gleefully flying giant kitesnot for fun but in the hope of generating renewable electricity and sparking a "revolution" in wind energy.

"We use a kite to capture the wind and a generator at the bottom of it that captures the power," Padraic Doherty of Kitepower, the Dutch firm behind the venture, told AFP.

At its test site in operation since September 2023 near the small town of Bangor Erris, the team transports the vast 60-square-meter (645,000-square-feet) kite from a hangar across the lunar-like bogland to a generator.

The kite is then attached by a cable tether to the machine and acts like a "yo-yo or fishing reel", Doherty said.

"It gets cast out and flies up, the tether pulls it back in, over and over again, creating energy," he said, testing the kite's ropes and pulleys before a flight.

The sparsely populated spot near the stormy Atlantic coast is the world's first designated airborne renewable energy test site.

And although the idea is still small in scale, it could yet prove to be a mighty plan as Ireland seeks to cut its reliance on fossil fuels such as oil and gas.

"We are witnessing a revolution in wind energy," said Andrei Luca, operations head at Kitepower, a zero-emissions energy solutions spin-off from the Delft University of Technology.

"It took nearly 25 years for wind turbines to evolve from 30 kilowatt prototypes to megawatt scale, and decades to offshore wind farms we see today," he added.

The system flies autonomously, driven by software developed at the university in the Netherlands, but Doherty acts as the kite's "pilot" on the ground, monitoring its flight path for efficiency.

The huge kite could provide electricity for remote outposts where traditional wind turbines are not practical.

The kite flies up around 400 meters (1,300 feet) and reels in to about 190 meters, generating around 30 kilowatts for storage.

The force spins "like a dynamo on a bike", Doherty said, adding that "it generates up to two and a half tonnes of force through each turn".

The electricity is stored in batteries, similar to solar photovoltaic systems, with the kite currently able to fully charge a 336 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery.

"That's a meaningful amount of energy, sufficient for powering a remote outpost, a small island, polar station, or even a construction site," Luca said.

"Add additional kites and we can power a bigger island."

'Mobile, flexible'

According to Doherty, a chief advantage of the kite system is its flexibility and swift start-up capability.

"We can set up in 24 hours and can bring it anywhere, it's super mobile, and doesn't need expensive, time- and energy-consuming turbine foundations to be built," he said.

A kite system is "way less invasive on the landscape (than wind turbines), produces clean energy and doesn't need a supply chain of fuel to keep running", Luca added.

During January's Storm Eowyn, which caused widespread and long-lasting power outages in Ireland, the system showed its value in Bangor Erris, according to Luca.

Unloading the kite at Kitepower's launch site in Bangor Erris, Ireland.

"Paired with a battery, it provided uninterrupted electricity before, during and after the storm," he said.

Ireland's wind energy sector has long been touted as full of potential.

But progress on large-scale delivery of onshore and offshore turbines has been held up by planning delays and electricity grid capacity constraints.

The Irish government has set ambitious targets for offshore wind energy to deliver 20 gigawatts of energy by 2040 and at least 37 gigawatts by 2050.

In 2024, Irish wind farms provided around a third of the country's electricity according to Wind Energy Ireland (WEI), a lobby group for the sector.

This compares to the UK where, according to trade association RenewableUK, wind energy from the country's combined wind farms first reached 20 gigawatts in November 2022.

The ability of airborne wind energy (AWE) systems to harness high-altitude winds with relatively low infrastructure requirements "makes them particularly suitable for remote, offshore or mobile applications," Mahdi Salari, an AWE researcher at University College Cork, told AFP.

But he said Kitepower would face challenges on "regulation, safety, and system reliability".

Such technology however could plug gaps in places where "land availability, costs or logistical constraints hinder the deployment of traditional wind turbines", Salari said.

By the 2030s, he said, "I expect AWE to contribute meaningfully to diversified, flexible and distributed renewable energy networks".

 2025 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

For most airline passengers, rumbles and shakes at 37,000 feet might jolt nerves or spill a drink.

But a Delta Air Lines flight that made an emergency landing at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport offers a lesson in the real dangers of severe turbulence. While U.S. airlines boast a consistent safety record, rough air is the leading cause of injury on commercial passenger flights.

Serious injuries remain rare, and fatalities rarer still, but aviation experts say that is thanks to the detailed safety systems in place, allowing airlines to chart flight paths that avoid storms and keep pilots aware of hazards along their routes.

But airspace is getting more crowded. And as a shifting climate brings hotter and more extreme weather, particularly during the summer, safe navigation of the skies becomes more challenging.

"The weather environment now is more dynamic. It is more unforeseeable and we are having more severe weather events," said Mike Slack, a Texas pilot and aviation attorney. "All this translates to more risks for fliers."

Greg Feith, a pilot and former National Transportation Safety Board investigator, said climate change is leading to warmer temperatures that create more updrafts and higher humidity. In the summer, passengers need to brace for more weather issues.

Federal agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration do "an extremely good job" with aviation weather forecasts, Feith said, though there is concern federal funding cutbacks may hamper strong modeling. Then there is the invisible "clear-air" turbulence.

"Those are the hard things with climate change," Feith said. "We're going to have to do a better job with better tools to try and help pilots avoid these areas."

Delta Flight 56, bound from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam with 275 people aboard, experienced severe turbulence over Montana.

Twenty-five people were injured, including seven crew members, prompting the Airbus A330-900's pilots to reroute to the Twin Cities for an emergency landing, according to the airline.

All crewmembers who were hospitalized were released, Delta said. Some passengers were also cleared. The airline arranged a special flight from MSP, allowing passengers to finish the transatlantic trip on July 31.

Passengers described the episode as violent and sudden, unfolding as flight attendants were unseated and beverage carts were in the aisles. As the airplane bucked, the drink carts and unbelted passengers were tossed about the cabin.

Nick-Taylor Jensen, returning home to Denmark, said in an interview that a man seated a few rows ahead of him hit the roof. Flight attendants were in shock and panicking, he said, and he later overheard paramedics saying people suffered broken ribs, dislocated knees and broken legs.

The event appeared to happen while the plane was moving through an area with convective activitywhere hot air rises as cool air sinks, like in a stormwhich poses risks of turbulence, according to experts who spoke to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. A Delta spokesman said details of how the pilots learned of and prepared for the conditions were part of the investigation.

Preflight planning and briefings, assisted by weather forecasting models, help pilots avoid trouble spots. Typically, routes are drawn to avoid any large storms with convective activity. Pilots are also trained to watch out for turbulence from mountain ranges.

Slack said the turbulence arising from convective activity, such as a thunderstorm, is usually easier to spot before and during a flight. Airplanes are equipped with weather radar that sends alerts. Air traffic controllers may also provide updated weather information shared by other pilots, called ride reports, hundreds of miles away from a hazard.

"The rule of thumb is, stay as far away from that stuff as you can," Slack said.

Another type of trouble, more difficult to navigate, is clear-air turbulence. It is caused when airplanes are hit with upward-moving air, or vertical wind shear, within the east and westbound air currents, known as jet streams, in which airplanes fly.

Climate scientists say the warming planet is causing clear air turbulence to become a greater concern. One study conducted by atmospheric scientists at the University of Reading in England last year found the "invisible, hard-to-predict" type of turbulence has become more prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere since 1980.

Chad Kendall, an aviation instructor at Metropolitan State University in Denver, said unexpected bouts with turbulence happen no matter how experienced and well-prepared the pilot. Most of the time, people moving in the cabin, such as flight attendants, are the ones injured.

"You can be on the best route and still encounter turbulence," Kendall said, adding that airplanes are built to withstand tremendous stress and carry extra fuel for that reason.

As federal authorities examine what happened with the Delta flight, investigators will ask about the preparations made and examine the flight and cockpit recorders.

Feith said questions to answer include the conditions pilots observed, such as whether any light chop was felt before the plane hit severe turbulence. Investigators will also consider what sources of information the pilots relied on and whether they anticipated entering more turbulent areas while on the flight path.

Feith said it was telling that crew members were injured, since pilots will warn passengers and crew to take their seats and strap in when turbulence is expected.

In extreme events, beverage carts are especially dangerous. The heavy objects become weightless briefly in a zero-gravity environment before crashing down, possibly onto passengers. Carry-on luggage stowed in above-head compartments can also come loose and fly around the cabin.

Children under age 2 who fly on a parent's lap are also of concern to aviation safety experts, as parents can lose their grip while in a turbulence event.

Aviation safety experts said the event shows why passengers should stay buckled while flying, even when pilots turn off the seat belt sign.

"Keep your seat belt buckled," Feith said. "You don't have to wrench it down like you're going to space, but you do have to have it on."

2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

NEW YORK and CHICAGO, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP ("Wolf Haldenstein"), a preeminent national consumer rights law firm, is investigating claims on behalf of people who have been impacted by the Next Level Finance Partners ("Next Level") data breach.

Next Level Finance Partners LLC d/b/a Century Support Services, headquartered in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, announced that the personal information of customers may have been stolen as part of a data breach which occurred in November 2024.

Next Level is notifying affected people that their personal information, including at least names, date of births, Social Security Numbers, driver's license and/or state identification numbers, medical information, health insurance information, passport numbers, financial account information, and digital signatures, may have been stolen.

If you have received a recent notice of the data breach and have experienced recent concerning activity, it is possible that your personal information was compromised and is being offered for sale on the dark web.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

If you wish to discuss this data breach incident, or if you have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this matter, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at [email protected], or visit our website.

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP has experience in the prosecution of consumer rights litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas and offices in New York, Chicago, Nashville, and San Diego. Courts have repeatedly recognized the reputation and expertise of this firm and have appointed it to major positions in complex consolidated litigation.

Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Carl Malmstrom, Esq., Of Counsel

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

SOURCE Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP
Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a nascent Android remote access trojan (RAT) called PlayPraetor that has infected more than 11,000 devices, primarily across Portugal, Spain, France, Morocco, Peru, and Hong Kong.

"The botnet's rapid growth, which now exceeds 2,000 new infections per week, is driven by aggressive campaigns focusing on Spanish and French speakers, indicating a strategic shift away from its previous common victim base," Cleafy researchers Simone Mattia, Alessandro Strino, and Federico Valentini said in an analysis of the malware.

PlayPraetor, managed by a Chinese command-and-control (C2) panel, doesn't significantly deviate from other Android trojans in that it abuses accessibility services to gain remote control and can serve fake overlay login screens atop nearly 200 banking apps and cryptocurrency wallets in an attempt to hijack victim accounts.

PlayPraetor was first documented by CTM360 in March 2025, detailing the operation's use of thousands of fraudulent Google Play Store download pages to perpetrate an interconnected large-scale scam campaign that can harvest banking credentials, monitor clipboard activity, and log keystrokes.

"The links to the impersonated Play Store pages are distributed through Meta Ads and SMS messages to effectively reach a wide audience," the Bahrain-based company noted at the time. "These deceptive ads and messages trick users to click on the links, leading them to the fraudulent domains hosting the malicious APKs."

Assessed to be a globally coordinated operation, PlayPraetor comes in five different variants that install deceptive Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), WebView-based apps (Phish), exploit accessibility services for persistent and C2 (Phantom), facilitate invite code-based phishing and trick users into purchasing counterfeit products (Veil), and grant full remote control via EagleSpy and SpyNote (RAT).

The Phantom variant of PlayPraetor, per the Italian fraud prevention company, is capable of on-device fraud (ODF) and is dominated by two principal affiliate operators who control about 60% of the botnet (roughly 4,500 compromised devices) and appear to center their efforts around Portuguese-speaking targets.

"Its core functionality relies on abusing Android's accessibility services to gain extensive, real-time control over a compromised device," Cleafy said. "This allows an operator to perform fraudulent actions directly on the victim's device."

Image Source: CTM360

Once installed, the malware beacons out to the C2 server via HTTP/HTTPS and makes use of a WebSocket connection to create a bidirectional channel to issue commands. It also sets up a Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) connection to initiate a video livestream of the infected device's screen.

The evolving nature of the supported commands indicates that PlayPraetor is being actively developed by its operators, allowing for comprehensive data theft. In recent weeks, attacks distributing the malware have increasingly targeted Spanish- and Arabic-speaking victims, signaling a broader expansion of the malware-as-a-service (MaaS) offering.

The C2 panel, for its part, is not only used to actively interact with compromised devices in real-time, but also enable the creation of bespoke malware delivery pages that mimic Google Play Store on both desktop and mobile devices.

"The campaign's success is built upon a well-established operational methodology, leveraging a multi-affiliate MaaS model," Cleafy said. "This structure allows for broad and highly targeted campaigns."

PlayPraetor is the latest malware originating from Chinese-speaking threat actors with an aim to conduct financial fraud, a trend exemplified by the emergence of ToxicPanda and SuperCard X over the past year.

ToxicPanda Evolves

According to data from Bitsight, ToxicPanda has compromised around 3,000 Android devices in Portugal, followed by Spain, Greece, Morocco and Peru. Campaigns distributing the malware have leveraged TAG-1241, a traffic distribution system (TDS), for malware distribution using ClickFix and fake Google Chrome update lures.

"This carefully orchestrated redirection is part of the TDS's design to ensure that only selected targets are funneled to these malicious endpoints," security researcher Pedro Fale said in a report last week.

The latest version of ToxicPanda improves upon its predecessors by incorporating a Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA) to establish C2 and enhance operational resilience in the face of infrastructure takedowns. Also baked into the malware are new commands to set a fallback C2 domain and better control malicious overlays.

DoubleTrouble Rises

The findings come as Zimperium disclosed another sophisticated Android banking trojan dubbed DoubleTrouble that has evolved beyond overlay attacks to record the device screen, log keystrokes, and run various commands for data exfiltration and entrenched device control.

Besides leaning heavily on abusing Android's accessibility services to carry out its fraudulent activities, DoubleTrouble's distribution strategy involves leveraging bogus websites that host malware samples directly within Discord channels.

"The new functionalities include: displaying malicious UI overlays to steal PIN codes or unlock patterns, comprehensive screen recording capabilities, the ability to block the opening of specific applications, and advanced keylogging functionality," Zimperium zLabs researcher Vishnu Madhav said.

Update

Following the publication of the story, a Google spokesperson shared the below statement with The Hacker News -

Android users are automatically protected against known versions of this malware by Google Play Protect, which is on by default on Android devices with Google Play Services. Google Play Protect can warn users or block apps known to exhibit malicious behavior, even when those apps come from sources outside of Play.

(The story was updated after publication on August 10, 2025, to include a response from Google.)
New Jersey School District Taps Otus, Discovery Education for Data Insights

West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District (WWP) in Central New Jersey has partnered with assessment and data platform Otus and ed tech company Discovery Education to better utilize data to support student achievement. Its goal: to gain insights into student performance by enhancing the district's ability to collect, read, and react to student assessment data, according to a news announcement.

WWP will utilize the Otus platform, provided through Discovery Education, to:

Centralize district assessment data for a holistic view of student learning;

Utilize data to group students with similar needs for targeted intervention or extension;

Align instructional strategies with data insights; and

Provide every student with a collaborative plan for success, outlining goals and milestones to address academic, attendance, and other needs.

In addition, WWP educators will receive professional development on the Otus platform from the company's team of professional learning experts, to gain best practices for integrating the platform's resources into instruction.

"The addition of Otus to the district tech stack improves our educators' ability to easily pull and analyze achievement data and then adjust instruction to improve student outcomes," said Allan Johnson, supervisor of technology, training, & media sources at WWP, in a statement. "We look forward to deploying this new resource districtwide."

"Discovery Education is thrilled to continue to support the students and teachers of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District through its unique collaboration with Otus," commented Tori Byrd, Discovery Education's manager of educational partnerships. "As the first school system nationwide to leverage the unique partnership between Otus and Discovery Education to combine high-quality learning solutions and state-of-the-art data analytics, West Windsor-Plainsboro is setting a new bar for innovation in this space."
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All Credit Union Branches Accepting Book Donations for San Diego Elementary School Students Throughout August

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth year, North Island Credit Union has launched a book drive to help ensure children in low-income households have access to books outside the classroom. The book drive is being conducted with ABC 10News as part of its "Storytime" childhood literacy campaign.

Through August 31, North Island Credit Union encourages community members to drop off new books to any of its branch locations in San Diego County. A complete list of North Island Credit Union locations is available here. Donated books should be new and appropriate for kindergarten through elementary school students. All books will be given to students attending Title 1 schools in San Diego County.

"We're excited to launch this annual book drive as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting education in our communities," said North Island Credit Union President/CEO Steve O'Connell. "Access to books can spark a lifelong love of learning, and we're proud to help put books directly into the hands of our local students. We invite our members and neighbors to join us in this effortevery book donated can make a meaningful difference in a child's life."

Credit union branch drop off locations include:

7968 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa

2550 Fifth Ave, San Diego

9119 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego

9420 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego

Naval Air Base, Saufley St Bldg. 318, San Diego

10549 Scripps Poway Pkwy, San Diego

45 N. Broadway, Chula Vista

5898 Copley Dr, San Diego

1101 Palm Ave, Imperial Beach

884 Eastlake Pkwy, Chula Vista

301 N. Magnolia Ave , El Cajon

, 1230 Auto Park Way, Escondido

More information about the book drive for literacy is available here. Monetary donations are also accepted to purchase books for students in need here.

"Storytime" is a partnership between North Island Credit Union and ABC 10News to promote child literacy. With the help of the San Diego Council on Literacy, monthly "mini" book fairs are held in Title 1 schools across San Diego, providing free books to students in underserved communities to encourage reading outside the classroom.

The E.W. Scripps Company, which includes KGTV ABC10, sponsors the annual "If You Give a Child a Book" childhood literacy campaign, in collaboration with the Scripps Howard Fund, members of the Scripps family, and the communities it serves. Since its inception in 2016, the campaign has successfully distributed over 1,000,000 books.

About North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union

California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 with assets of $5 billion, approximately 200,000 members and 25 retail branches. Named a Forbes Best-In-State Credit Union in 2024 and 2025, the credit union serves community members and businesses in the California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura as well as school employees throughout the state. The credit union operates in San Diego and Riverside Counties as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. The credit union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. California Credit Union is certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a Low Income Designation, offering inclusive products and services to build financial stability in our underserved communities, including a checking account certified as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards. Visit northisland.ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @northislandcu.

About KGTV ABC10

ABC10/KGTV is a proud member of The E.W. Scripps Company, dedicated to delivering fair, impartial, and comprehensive news and information while serving the community and fostering an environment that values honesty, integrity, ethics, and professionalism in all its endeavors.

SOURCE North Island Credit Union
THE week saw 18,038,406 shares traded on the First Tier Market, an increase of 636.87% on the previous weeks total of 2,447,969 shares crossing the floor.

The value of the shares traded was up 272.12% to $76,633,818.45 from the previous weeks value of $20,593,956.82.

Massy Holdings Ltd (MASSY) was the volume leader for the week with 96.77% of the market activity or 17,455,994 shares traded, followed by Angostura Holdings Ltd (AHL) with 0.99% of the market activity or 177,759 shares traded.
Interview: China's economy demonstrates strong resilience amid global uncertainties, says British expert

Xinhua) 09:26, August 04, 2025

LONDON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's economy has proven how resilient it is amid global uncertainties triggered by tariff disputes, geopolitical tension and supply chain disruptions, said Steven Lynch, director of international trade at the British Chambers of Commerce.

China's economy grew 5.3 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2025. Its industrial output increased by 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year, with equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing sectors posting rapid growth.

Lynch described these figures as "undeniably impressive," noting they all point to an economy that remains dynamic and strategically driven.

"What's striking, and often missed in Western commentary, is just how resilient China has proven to be in the face of external shocks," he told Xinhua recently.

"Whether it's the fallout from U.S. tariffs, global supply chain disruptions, or rising geopolitical tension, China has shown a remarkable ability to absorb pressure and adapt," Lynch said, adding that the country has consistently demonstrated an ability to withstand global turbulence.

In the first half of this year, China accelerated its push for green industrial development, with the output of eco-friendly products posting robust growth while new energy vehicle production alone jumped 41.4 percent year-on-year.

China is leading huge parts of the world in sectors such as electric vehicles, and is doubling down on areas including artificial intelligence and green infrastructure, Lynch noted.

"If in many ways you want to go green, you need to work with China," he said, highlighting the country's pivotal role in global supply chains, particularly in the fields related to sustainability and clean energy.

Faced with increasing geopolitical fragmentation, some economies turned inward and built walls. China continued to expand opening-up and cooperate with other countries.

Lynch believed that British businesses need to reshape how they think about China, "not just as a bilateral trading partner, but as a node in a much broader web of trade, capital and influence."

He also noted that China's opening-up moves, such as establishing new free trade zones, facilitating cross-border data flow and further encouraging foreign investment, provide foreign businesses with opportunities in the fields of finance, digital economy and green development.

Eyeing more cooperation between Britain and China, Lynch said the European country should focus on sectors where China's reform agenda aligns with Britain's own strength, including green technology, healthcare, digital infrastructure and supply chain resilience.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ademi Firm is investigating Steelcase (NYSE: SCS) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with HNI Corporation.

Click here to learn how to join our investigation and obtain additional information or contact us at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

In the transaction, shareholders of Steelcase will receive $7.20 in cash and 0.2192 shares of HNI common stock for each Steelcase share owned in a transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion. The implied per-share purchase price of $18.30 is based on HNI's closing share price of $50.62 on August 1, 2025. Upon closing, HNI shareholders will own approximately 64% and Steelcase shareholders will own approximately 36% of the combined company.

Steelcase insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for Steelcase by imposing a significant penalty if Steelcase accepts a competing bid. We are investigating the conduct of the Steelcase board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

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SOURCE Ademi LLP
A new Mexican gray wolf enclosure planned at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will give visitors a chance to view the wolves like never before  from the middle of the exhibit, surrounded by the pack.

When guests come to the exhibit, theyll actually walk through a short tunnel that will then put them out into a circular viewing area thats essentially in the center of the wolf exhibit, explained Hollie Colahan, executive director of the Desert Museum.

The project has been in development for several years, and is estimated to cost around $5 million to complete.

Its going to be about 10 times the size of the exhibit that we currently have, and hopefully provide a lot of improvements for the wolves, but I think also for the guest experience as well, Colahan said.

The Desert Museum currently houses three Mexican gray wolves, sisters Luna, Sol and Estrella, which came to the museum from a different wolf exhibit back in 2022.

The new enclosure will allow the wolves more space to roam, as well as more opportunities for enrichment.

The concept thats really driving this new exhibit is animal wellbeing. So this design is hopefully going to give the wolves more choice and control in their environment that allows them to have better wellbeing, said Lynnae Wenker, the Desert Museums director of philanthropy. The element of choice and control provides more enrichment for the wolves, so they can exhibit natural behaviors that they would in the wild.

The wolves will have access to natural landscaping in the new enclosure, a holding building in the back for protection from the elements, and ample shade and water.

About two years ago, we did a full facility master plan where we looked at all the buildings, all the exhibits, all the guest amenities, everything on the entire campus, and rated stuff based on how old it is, and how well is it functioning, and what we think its lifespan is, Colahan said. And then we brought in an outside group that also looked at all of our animal exhibits and rated them from the perspective of how well theyre providing for the wellbeing of our animals.

The wolf habitat was one of the exhibits that was noted for updates, Colahan said. It was a great exhibit when it was first built, but its getting older.

Back from brink of extinction

Mexican gray wolves like the ones that reside at the Desert Museum were once found across the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, but were nearly driven to extinction by the early 1900s, said Jim DeVos, Arizona Game & Fish Departments Mexican wolf coordinator.

Predators were viewed as the impediment in ranching, and so there was a strong effort by not only the ranching community, but also the federal government to eradicate the wolf, DeVos said.

The wolves were eventually added to the federal endangered species list in 1976. A 2024 survey by wildlife officials in Arizona and New Mexico found there were 286 of the endangered canids living in the wild in the two states.

The wolves comeback is a result of decades-long conservation efforts to save the species from extinction and return them to the landscape.

A total of seven animals were brought into a captive breeding program. Today, that program has expanded substantially. We now have about 350 wolves in captivity in both the United States and Mexico, DeVos said. The first release was in 1998, so in that 26-year period, weve gone from zero to 286.

The Desert Museum has a long history with Mexican gray wolves, and helped spearhead early conservation efforts for the species, said Wenker.

Back in the 1980s, the species was almost entirely eliminated from their natural habitat in the wild and at that time, there were some specialists at the Desert Museum who helped establish conservation programs and awareness campaigns that helped to bring those wolves back from the brink of extinction, Wenker said.

To DeVos, the successful reestablishment of the Mexican gray wolf is a tremendous win for the restoration of biodiversity in the Southwest.

The partnership that comes through organizations like the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is really whats gotten us from zero to almost 300 (wolves), DeVos said. And the fact that the museum is working to expand their facility, I think is great for the wolves.

Community support sought

Out of the estimated $5 million for the new habitat, Colahan said that the Desert Museum has so far raised about $3.4 million, and is fundraising for the rest.

Those wanting to contribute can donate directly to the project on the Desert Museums website.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and we dont receive any regular annual subsidies, so we really do rely entirely on community support and donations, Wenker said.

While development of the new enclosure design is reaching its final stages, it will still be some time before Tucsonans can expect to see the wolves in their new home.

Were hoping well finish the design, probably in January, and then we have a permitting process we have to go through with Pima County, and once thats done, well start construction, Colahan said. Construction is probably about two years.

The permitting process is the biggest unknown, according to Colahan.

It could be real fast or real slow, but if that all goes well, I would hope wed break ground early next year, Colahan said.

Most importantly, Wenker said the new exhibit is an exciting step in actualizing the Desert Museums long-term mission.

One of the core tenets in (our) long-term plan is to improve animal wellbeing, and this exhibit would achieve that goal, Wenker said. I think thats a big thing.
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

For those navigating federal financial aid for higher education, the turmoil of the past few years continues.

First, the Biden administrations shambolic 2023-24 reboot of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid played havoc with the system.

This spring, the Trump administration laid off half of the U.S. Department of Education, which processes FAFSA and administers federal student grants and loans.

Now, with a new academic year only weeks away, Congress and the Trump administrations Big Beautiful Bill roiled the waters again with a flood of new rules that, in the long term, could have important implications for Oklahoma students and their families.

Melanie Storey, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said the bill includes a number of provisions that will constrain access to postsecondary education, particularly for our most vulnerable students.

One bit of good news, at least from an anxiety overload standpoint, is that most of the new rules dont go into effect until July 1, 2026, or later.

Another is that preliminary assessments indicate many and perhaps most Oklahoma students and families will still be able to afford the states colleges and universities, even its most expensive ones.

Pell Grant changes

When the information was first being circulated, we were quite concerned, said Vicki Hendrickson, director of student financial services for the University of Tulsa. We anticipated that there may be some vital changes that would be impactful to the university. There are quite a few changes, but a lot  that would have highly impacted our undergraduate population at TU just did not go through.

TU declined to comment on the possible effect of the bills tax increase on the endowments that colleges and universities use to fund scholarships and teaching positions.

Early versions of the bill slashed Pell Grants, a foundation of financial aid for low-income students. In the final bill, however, Pell Grant maximums were left alone; an additional $10 billion was put into the program for fiscal year 2026.

Pell Grant eligibility has been tightened slightly, but the big change is that grants will be available for the first time for non-degree training programs as short as 150 hours over eight weeks.

Currently, programs must have 600 hours of instruction to qualify.

Tulsa Technology Center has long lobbied for such a change, arguing that the current standard causes programs such as theirs to unnecessarily lengthen instruction or force adult students to pay more.

Broadly speaking, the new rules nudge students away from high-end undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, including medicine, and toward less expensive options, including technical training.

Student loan debt

The Big Beautiful Bill makes several major changes to the federal direct student loan program effective July 1, 2026. These include annual and lifetime borrowing limits, new repayment conditions, and the elimination of the GRADUATE Plus and SAVE programs.

Some believe the net result will be more financial obstacles to graduate school and a shift of student loan volume from the federal government to private lenders.

The graduate students are the ones that we feel like will have to switch over from a Graduate PLUS to a private loan, said Hendrickson. But at the University of Tulsa, our graduates are pretty highly sought after, so in most cases, lenders see loaning money to our students as a pretty safe investment.

Graduate student direct loans are limited to $20,500 per year or $100,000 total. Those enrolled in what are deemed "professional" programs can borrow up to $50,000 per year or $200,000 total.

Individuals have a $257,500 lifetime cap.

Many details, including the exact definition of a professional program, are still unclear, but it is assumed medical and probably law studies are included.

Even so, some are worried that the $200,000 cap on graduate loans and $257,000 lifetime limit will prove an obstacle for medical students, especially those with families.

Oklahomas two medical schools, though, appear to be in better shape than most. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average debt for graduates of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine is $104,000.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences said its osteopathic medicine grads owe an average of $161,000  down from $194,000 six years ago.

Ill say OSU is in a unique position because we have a lower cost of attendance than most medical schools in the country, said Jeff Hackler, associate dean of enrollment management at OSUCHS. Our average student loan debt is lower than most other schools, so were in a favorable position. But its still something that will affect many of our students because just the cost of medical school is so high, and then you put living expenses on top of that.
Call for Entries: AFTRS 2026 Scholarships

Emerging creatives across Australia have the opportunity to apply for more than 40 scholarships.

The Australian Film Television and Radio School has opened scholarship applications for 2026 Award Course student intakes.

Emerging creatives across Australia have the opportunity to apply for more than 40 scholarships to assist with study for AFTRS Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, Master of Arts Screen, and Master of Arts Screen: Business programs.

Delivered in partnership with the AFTRS community, industry leaders, and alumni, they includethe prestigious Onbass Giant Steps Scholarship valued at $30,000.

Head of Fundraising and Development Andrew Markwell said support from people such as Greg Basser, Founder and CEO of the Gentle Giant Media Group and a director of the Onbass Fund, and his wife, Kiera ONeill, was vital.

We know scholarships can be life-changing  they help break down barriers to education to ensure talent is recognised and nurtured, Andrew said. AFTRS invites individuals, organisations and industry leaders to join our community and support future creatives. By donating or establishing a scholarship, you can help ensure that a career in screen and audio is accessible to all Australians  regardless of background, location and circumstance.

AFTRS growing scholarship opportunities included four new scholarships in 2025, delivered in partnership with The Hoyts Group, the Dylan Alcott Foundation, Anita Jacoby and Constellation Creatives, the latter two of which will again be offered in 2026.

The Hoyts Group First Nations Scholarship covers the full tuition fee for the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course. It also includes a $2000 travel bursary to help the recipient and their family attend Graduation in Sydney. The Hoyts Group is, with AFTRS, committed to assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples overcome the barriers to education and fulfil their creative dreams and goals.

The Dylan Alcott Foundation Scholarship aims to break down barriers to education and empower aspiring filmmakers with a disability to achieve their creative dreams. This opportunity for a young Australian living with a disability offers one recipient full tuition for the three-year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course. Valued at over $50,000, this scholarship removes a significant financial hurdle, allowing a talented student to focus on their studies and hone their filmmaking skills.

The Anita Jacoby Trailblazer Scholarship seeks to empower outstanding female-identifying or gender-diverse applicants from across Australia who demonstrate remarkable leadership skills and entrepreneurial spirit while pursuing the Master of Arts in Screen: Business. This scholarship helps cover living expenses, educational materials, and other related costs, made possible through the generous support of acclaimed television producer and journalist Anita Jacoby.

The Constellation Creatives Scholarship aims to support and develop the career of an individual of Asian descent in the Australian screen industry by providing financial support for living expenses, educational resources or other related costs in the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course. An additional one-off payment of $5000 is available to the recipient in Year 3 of the course if they choose the Industry Placement elective. The scholarship is made possible through the generous support of Orion Lee.

The First Nations Creative Excellence Scholarship, supported by Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust, provides opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and is awarded to one or more recipients each year based on creative excellence or equity.

Among the 40 scholarships supporting studies at AFTRS, the Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship  a collaboration between the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Australia for UNHCR, Francesca Beddie and the Public Education Foundation  is offered every three years and is currently open for applications for the 2026 intake. The scholarship supports former refugees in pursuing careers in the creative industries, covering full tuition for the Bachelor of Arts in Screen: Production, with allocations for living expenses and an internship in Australia with the UNHCR.

The AFTRS Craft Excellence Scholarship supports female-identifying applicants who demonstrate excellence in craft in the disciplines of cinematography, sound, documentary, and editing in the Master of Arts Screen program. The scholarship is valued at $25,000 and provides a contribution towards living expenses, relocation costs, or study resources.

As part of the continuing work to deliver equitable opportunities for women in cinematography, the Women in Cinematography Scholarship, sponsored by SONY, supports female or gender-diverse students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, to address the pronounced gender inequality in the cinematography craft area of the screen industry.

Earlier this year, emerging director Ricky Townsend was announced as the second recipient of the AFTRS Alumni & Industry Fund Scholarship, joining the 2024 inaugural recipient, screenwriter Sarah Chahine. Both were recognised for their creative excellence. The AFTRS Alumni Advisory Group established the Alumni & Industry Scholarship Fund to award an annual scholarship in the Master of Arts Screen program to expand and enrich the Schools community and elevate innovative storytellers and diverse voices.

Students pursuing a career in radio and broadcasting also have access to a range of scholarships dedicated to radio studies: the Glenn Daniel Smooth FM; Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation; Pariya Taherzadeh Radio and Podcasting; and CRA Regional Radio scholarships.These scholarships expand and enrich the schools student community by recognising and supporting outstanding Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting students, selected based on creative excellence and interest in radio news or journalism, innovation and representation.

aftrs.edu.au/students/future-students/scholarships-and-financial-support
Chief of War

Jason Momoa's passion project is visually captivating and emotionally charged Hawaiian history.

It may take two episodes, but Im now sufficently invested in the majesty of Chief of War to persist with its foreign language, which at first was just that, foreign.

While were used to European and Asian languages in world television a whole series spoken in Polynesian is less common. Such is my ignorance or expectation, I kept waiting for English to take the lead.

But the 9 part series, set at the end of the 18th century, is a passion project for star, co-creator and executive producer Jason Momoa.

Based on true events, it depicts warrior Kaiana (Momoa), as he tries to unify the 4 islands Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai before Western colonisation in the late 18th century.

Kaiana may seek to be a lover not a fighter, as the warrior who has rejected the legacy of his late father to chill away from Maui with his brothers and their wives. Hes such a hero he can make fire faster than anybody ever did on a Survivor finale and catch a shark with very nearly his bare hands.

But his uncle Chief Kahekili (Temuera Morrison) has bigger plans. He wants Kaiana to return and fight against tribes from Oahu, which propels Kaiana into forces he doesnt welcome.

We can conquer with little bloodshed  Kaiana.

Set against him are Kahekilis son Prince Kupule (Brandon Finn) and nefarious, strong-willed brutes.

So like a Polynesian Game of Thrones, there are those ready to strike, and one of the hallmarks of this series is its battle sequences, brutally splashed across the screen with spears, clubs, fire and slingshots. On beaches, in jungles and longgrass, it is a desperate race to kill or be killed.

Theres also a romantic plot to the series when Kaahumanu (Luciane Buchanan), whose impending arranged marriage is intended as a peace offering. But is far from what any independent Hawaiian woman of 1782 wants. She will pay attention to the warnings of a priestess apparition about her role in what is to come.

Theres a huge Polynesian cast at work here, predominantly beefy tattooed males ready for war. They are replendent in exotic costume, or out of it running bare bum through jungles. Momoa may not be at his rippling fittest, but he carries it off with his size and fierce determination. Theres certainly a presence whenever hes on screen.

Visually the series is spectacular in its vistas of Hawaiian mountains and cascading waterfalls. Some of it was filmed in NZ, but the establishing shots, complemented by a Hans Zimmer score, will draw you in.

It is sometimes confusing trying to place allegiances with specific characters, working out who is on which side, but my best advice is to roll with it. It actually works best when there is no dialogue, just the touching of foreheads in an emotive, traditional exchange, or the sight of one man on the edge of a cliff as the mob is rushing towards him. Fight or flight?

Before you know it youll be swept up in its big themes of high stakes and the sheer cinema of it all.

Chief of War is now screening on Apple TV+
Dr Anns Secret Lives: Aug 5

Dr Ann heads to Rosemary Island, WA to join turtle scientists on their annual nest survey.

Dr Anns Secret Lives visits uninhabited Rosemary Island, WA, as sea turtles are hatched.

Ann heads to Rosemary Island off the coast of Western Australia to one of the worlds most significant breeding sanctuaries for three species of sea turtles  Flatback, Green and the critically endangered Hawksbill. January is the perfect time of year to witness both females coming to lay eggs on the beach, and hatchlings, well, hatch.

For three days, she joins a team of scientists and volunteers to get hands on tagging and studying the turtles. Its part of an annual survey where scientists are examining their nests (with a focus on the Hawksbills) to better understand what threats they might face in the future. The island is uninhabited, so she has to camp. Theres no running water or electricity, but there is a loo with a view.

Ann experiences her first turtle boil  an eruption of hatchlings as they clamber out of their sandy nests before pegging it to the ocean. Its the start of a precarious journey dodging ghost crabs and seagulls to get to the sea  and once there, they face even more hungry mouths. Just 1 in 10,000 will make it to adulthood.

The average hatching rate for a nest is 52%, so to examine the success of each breeding season, she gets hands-on digging up empty nests to count successful hatches recording the number of half-formed embryos, or full-term hatchlings that never made it out of the nest. But then Ann discovers one is still alive and gives it a helping hand to the waters edge. Anns final task is to tag a turtle and learns first-hand that isnt an easy job when youre having to grapple with a 150kgs Green adult female.

Tuesday 5 August at 8.30pm on ABC.
Ex-ACA Ben McCormack facing new child abuse charges

Former A Current Affair reporter was arrested over the weekend and faces dozens of charges.

Former A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack has been charged with dozens of child abuse material offences, as well as breaching his child protection reporting obligations.

McCormack was arrested over the weekend and charged with 65 counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material.

It is alleged the offending took place over several months last year from a home in Oxley, in Brisbanes south.

McCormack, 51, also been charged with four other offences in relation to breaching his obligations as a reportable offender under the states child protection laws.

He is also alleged to have failed to comply with reporting conditions in relation to his digital devices and his social networking site use.

McCormack did not appear when his matter was briefly mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

His Legal Aid duty lawyer did not make an application for bail and asked the matter be adjourned to September 5 for mention. He was remanded in custody.

McCormack was suspended by Nine in 2017 after a 25 year career and subsequently resigned.

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36

ReachOut

Source: ABC, Courier Mail
Returning: Selling Houses Australia

Free to Air premiere of first season with Andrew Winter, Wendy Moore and Dennis Scott.

Channel 10 will screen Selling Houses Australia S14 on Free to Air.

Episode 1 in Mt. Gambier SA, marks the first episode for designer Wendy Moore and landscaper Dennis Scott.

This previously aired on Foxtel in 2022 while Selling Houses franchise has previously screened other seasons on Seven.

Episode one is a family home on the market for 12 years. At an incredible 708m, the project was so daunting in size and period style, Moore was left reeling.

Moore told TV Tonight, It was very creepy! I felt like Id walked into A Nightmare on Elm Street or those mid to late 80s horror films from America! It was super overdone and chintzy  kind of freaky at the same time.

We had actually a couple of houses in Victoria, and Queensland but the borders shut. So we ended up spending a lot of time in New South Wales, because we literally couldnt leave it.

But we went down as far as Jindabyne, and did a great little house here with a great history, and then went up to Coffs Harbour, a couple in the outer suburbs of Sydney, up past Newcastle in the Maitland area as well.

So weve tried to split it out as much as possible. But its quite hard to find houses that arent selling at the moment, because the markets been so hot.

Selling Houses is really about people that cant sell their house, and are desperate to. So that meant that the pool of houses that cant be sold is both smaller and also way more desperate. If you cant sell a house in this market, its gotta be bad.

7:30pm Saturday August 9 on 10.
PERRY, Ga., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigma Defense Systems, a leading innovator in defense technology solutions, proudly announces the appointment of Stephanie Tharp as Vice President of Programs for its Innovative Mission Solutions (IMS) Division. In this role, she will oversee the execution of complex defense programs and lead strategic growth initiatives aimed at expanding Sigma Defense's footprintparticularly in the West Coast market. With decades of experience across key Department of Defense organizations, including NAVWAR, NAVAIR, and PEO C4I, Tharp brings proven leadership, deep operational expertise, and a strong commitment to delivering mission-critical capabilities that support the warfighter.

Stephanie Tharp joins Sigma Defense as Vice President of Programs.

"We are pleased to welcome Stephanie Tharp to Sigma Defense as Vice President of Programs," said Ed Anderson, Executive Vice President of the IMS Divsion at Sigma Defense. "Stephanie's exceptional track record across NAVAIR, NAVWAR, PEO C4I, and other DoD organizations, combined with her deep roots in the San Diego defense community, makes her a tremendous asset. Her leadership and operational expertise will be instrumental in delivering growth while advancing our mission to deliver innovative solutions that support the men and women of the U.S military."

Ms. Tharp brings a wealth of experience and leadership to Sigma Defense, having most recently served as Senior Advisor at NAVWAR, where she advised the Executive Director and led major initiatives and efforts shaping the organization's strategic vision. Ms. Tharp previously served as the JPO's ALIS and ODIN Portfolio Director, and held Critical Acquisition and Key Leadership Positions (CAP/KLP) across NAVWAR. Prior to her public sector leadership, Tharp held key roles in industry, including Director of Navy and Marine Corps Growth at GDIT, where she guided strategy and relationships critical to service missions, and at Northrop Grumman, where she managed a $3B pipeline and led the award of major contracts with the USAF and JPO. Tharp holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's in management from Harvard University's Extension Division, along with numerous industry and military certifications in Agile, Security+, and aviation logistics. Ms. Tharp has held NDIA and AFCEA Board and Chair positions and has received numerous awards including ASN(RDA) Acquisition Innovation Award and the Malcom Laswell Award.

About Sigma Defense

Sigma Defense Systems LLC is a leading technology company serving the Department of Defense (DoD) providing systems and services for CJADC2, C5ISR, DevSecOps and Electronic Warfare since 2006. The company's software-focused approach to tactical communications accelerates information collection and sharing for faster decision making and better mission outcomes. Customers turn to Sigma Defense for engineering, program management, and data logistics services for technical solutions that encompass ground, air, and space-based systems and sensors and network and satellite communications. Sigma is headquartered in Perry, GA with satellite offices both CONUS and OCONUS.For more information visit sigmadefense.com and follow Sigma Defense on LinkedIn for news and updates.

SOURCE Sigma Defense Systems
Vale: Loni Anderson

US actress Loni Anderson has died, best known for WKRP in Cincinnati, has died.

US actress Loni Anderson has died, best known for WKRP in Cincinnati, has died aged 79.

She died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness.

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother, Andersons family said in a statement.

Anderson played Jennifer Marlowe on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati from 1978 to 1982. She received three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations for the series.

In 2021, she opened up about becoming a sex symbol on the show, which chronicled the misadventures of the employees at a radio station in Ohio.

I never thought I would be Loni Anderson, sex symbol. But I embrace it, she told Fox News. I think I was lucky enough to have been able to play so many different things and sex symbol was a part of it.

I took whatever my career threw at me. So I embrace it. And my granddaughters think its a hoot!

Following the shows success she went on to star in the 1983 race car comedy Stroker Ace. During filming, she fell in love with costar Burt Reynolds.

The pair became a Hollywood power couple and tied the knot in 1988.

I feel like Cinderella. I married Prince Charming.

Their contentious relationship ended in divorce in 1994.

Anderson addressed the divorce in a 1995 interview claiming Reynolds physically abused her at least a dozen times while he was allegedly under the influence of drugs. Burt always said no one would ever believe me because he was Mr. Wonderful and the world loved him, she said of the physical abuse.

She also accused him of not always paying his $15,000 in child support on time.

Despite their bad blood, Anderson paid her respects to her late ex-husband shortly after his death in 2018.

Other credits included Nurses, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and V.I.P. She also played Tori Spellings mother in 2006s So noTORIous.

Morgan Fairchild on social media said, I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson! We did Bob Hope specials together & a Christmas movie 2 years ago. The sweetest, most gracious lady! Im just devastated to hear this. Love & condolences to Bob (who was on set every day w her) & her kids and grandkids, who she adored.

Barbara Eden said, The news just came through that my dear friend Loni Anderson has passed. Like many, I am absolutely stunned and heartbroken. Our friendship has spanned many years, and news like this is never easy to hear or accept.

What can I say about Loni that everyone doesnt already know? She was a real talent, with razor smart wit and a glowing sense of humor but, even more than that, she had an impeccable work ethic.

Even beyond that, Loni was a darling lady and a genuinely good person  I am truly at a loss for words. My condolences to her family, her husband Bob, and her children, Deidra and Quinton. Loni, you were one in a trillion, my friend, and even a trillion more.

Source: People
Sanderson has proven track record of driving growth and deep industry knowledge

Sanderson has held key leadership roles at GAM Investments, BlackRock Investment Management

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, LONDON and NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - SimCorp, a global leader in financial technology and a subsidiary of Deutsche Borse AG, today announced that Peter Sanderson will be named the company's Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

SimCorp names Peter Sanderson as Chief Executive Officer (CNW Group/SimCorp Canada Inc.)

Sanderson brings extensive and diverse expertise to SimCorp, refined over a distinguished career spanning key leadership roles in the financial industry. As Group Chief Executive Officer for GAM Investments from 2019 to 2024, he gained firsthand insights into SimCorp's software as a direct client, enhancing his understanding of the platform's strategic value.

Prior to that, his decade-long tenure at BlackRock Investment Management saw him excel in senior positions, including Managing Director of Multi-Asset Investment Solutions, Financial Markets Advisory, and as a member of the European Executive Committee, where he shaped critical initiatives across diverse financial sectors. His earlier experience at Mondrian Investment Partners and KPMG further reinforced his comprehensive industry acumen. Sanderson's depth of knowledge and leadership capabilities position him uniquely to guide SimCorp toward its ambitious goals.

"I am very excited to join SimCorp at this crucial juncture in the company's growth," said Sanderson. "During periods of unprecedented market turbulence, we are uniquely positioned to help our clients adapt and grow while they continue to evolve their business. I am also impressed by the unique, values-based culture that SimCorp has established and look forward to working with this world-class team on achieving our growth ambitions."

"We are very pleased to welcome Peter to SimCorp, and we are confident he will help propel our ambitious objectives," said SimCorp Chair Christian Kromann. "Clients are turning to SimCorp more than ever before, knowing our platform gives them the competitive advantage of seeing a real-time view of their entire portfolio. With Peter's experience, deep knowledge of our industry and track record for growth, we know that he is the right next leader for SimCorp."

Sanderson will replace Georg Hetrodt as CEO, who retires after 27 years with the company at year-end. Hetrodt's retirement has been planned and anticipated by the organization.

"On behalf of the Board, leadership and employees of SimCorp, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Georg Hetrodt for his many years of exceptional service. We wish him the very best in his next chapter," said Kromann.

About SimCorp

SimCorp is a provider of industry-leading integrated investment management solutions for the global buy side.

Founded in 1971, with more than 3,500 employees across five continents, SimCorp is a truly global technology leader that empowers more than half of the world's top 100 financial companies through its integrated platform, services, and partner ecosystem.

SimCorp is a subsidiary of Deutsche Borse Group. As of 2024, SimCorp includes Axioma, the leading provider of risk and management and portfolio optimization solutions for the global buy side.

For more information, see www.simcorp.com.

SOURCE SimCorp Canada Inc.
The objective is to contribute to the improvement of the urban sanitation environment and sustainable economic growth in Bau Bang hamlet of Ho Chi Minh City by expanding water treatment plant facilities.

According to the plan, the plant will be expanded by an additional 320,000 cubic metres per day, bringing its total capacity to 350,000 cu.m daily. Phase 1, with a capacity of 100,000 cu.m per day, is scheduled for implementation before the end of 2026.

This project will serve as a cornerstone of Thu Dau Mot Waters infrastructure development strategy for the 20252030 period.

The initiative is estimated to have total capital of $23 million. The ADB and JICA have committed to providing a loan of around $12 million, accounting for 52 per cent of the total.

Shantanu Chakraborty, Vietnam country director for the ADB said, The expansion of the plant is vital to ensuring a reliable and clean water supply for residents, existing businesses, and prospective investors seeking to establish a presence in Vietnams southern key economic region. It will support economic growth, job creation, and the attraction of foreign direct investment in the country.

The venture aligns with the government's state-owned enterprise equitisation reforms, which aims to transform them into private sector-led utilities. This transition is expected to improve operational efficiency and reduce public and publicly guaranteed debt in Vietnams infrastructure sector.

Thu Dau Mot Water will also receive knowledge and technical support through ADB's Water Organisations Partnership for Resilience. The programme will deliver capacity-building training sessions for the companys staff in key areas such as water ecology, smart energy management, and carbon neutrality, in collaboration with Korea Water Resource Corporation.

Nguyen Van Tri, chairman of the board at Thu Dau Mot Water said, "We are committed to delivering high-quality water services to our customers and contributing to sustainable development in Binh Duong and Thu Dau Mot. Our partnership with the ADB will enable us to access long-term financing, strengthen our capacity to manage environmental and social impacts, and enhance our climate resilience and sustainability.

ADB trims Vietnams GDP forecast to 6.3 per cent for 2025 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised Vietnam's GDP growth forecast for 2025 down to 6.3 per cent from the 6.6 per cent it predicted in April.

JICA willing to explore beyond traditional partnerships In recent years, Vietnam has undergone significant socioeconomic transformation. Per capita income has quadrupled, rising from $1,000 in 2008 to $4,110 in 2023, according to the World Bank. Vietnam is also projected to achieve upper-middle-income country status in the coming years.
Chairwoman Dang Huynh Uc My said, "To support our transformation, AgriS has appointed key personnel to support its market expansion strategy and improve operational capacity. By combining professional expertise, strategic thinking, international leadership experience, and local understandings, AgriS is poised to maintain its pioneering role and make a lasting impact on the high-tech agriculture industry in Vietnam and in the region."

"The new leadership team will enable AgriS to advance a circular value chain," she added. "It will integrate technology-driven solutions across agriculture, food, and finance under an environmental, social, and governance policy framework. This orientation will drive the company towards a greener, more innovative, and globally connected future, while underscoring AgriS' commitment to advancing modern, sustainable agriculture in Vietnam."

Chairwoman Dang Huynh Uc My

On August 1, AgriS announced a series of senior executive appointments aimed at completing its leadership team ahead of its strategic breakthrough phase towards 2030.

The move forms part of its broader mission to build the regions leading high-tech agriculture ecosystem, as Vietnams farming sector undergoes rapid shifts driven by sustainability, digitalisation, and circularity. The new leaders bring a blend of global experience, industry expertise, and innovative thinking to unlock the future of digital agriculture.

Nguyen Duc Hung Linh has been appointed vice president of AgriS Investment Division. With over 20 years of experience in finance and strategic investment, he has held senior roles at SSI, PVI Asset Management, and SK Vietnam, and contributes to macroeconomic reports for the Central Economic Commission.

At AgriS, he will lead the groups investment strategy, strengthen international partnerships, and drive financial efficiency supporting its goal to build a regional-scale agrifinance digital ecosystem.

Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong steps into the role of vice president for AgriS Supply Chain Division. Drawing on international experience from multinational corporations and leading food and beverage chains in Vietnam, she brings strong expertise in supply chain management. She will lead the development of a modern, digitised, and agile supply chain to meet the demands of the groups rapid growth and strategic expansion.

Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong (left) and Nguyen Duc Hung Linh (right)

These additions bring AgriS leadership team to seven members, blending global insight with internal strengths and a shared vision to transform Vietnamese agriculture through technology, data, and sustainable innovation.

According to the consolidated financial statement for fiscal year 20242025, AgriS posted strong business results. Its net revenue reached nearly VND28.5 trillion ($1.1 billion), surpassing the target by 9 per cent. Meanwhile, pre-tax profit and post-tax profit climbed to over VND951 billion ($36.2 million) and VND878 billion ($33.5 million), up 5 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively. Sugar consumption volume surpassed 1 million tonnes.

On July 28, the company's shares hit VND24,950 (95 US cents) apiece  its highest level since August 2017  pushing market capitalisation past VND20 trillion ($763 million).

The company continues to solidify its leading position in the development of high-tech agriculture, with a target of VND60 trillion ($2.29 billion) in revenue by 2030 and a net-zero commitment by 2035. By collaborating with academic institutions, government agencies, financial partners, farmers, and business associations in the local and international market, AgriS has built a foundation for a smart, modern, integrated, green, and sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

AgriS has also gained local and international recognition with numerous awards, such as a double win at the 2025 Vietnam Excellence Awards for Talent Attraction and Employee Development. The company climbed 25 spots in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 for 2025, and received a nod at this year's I4.0 Awards in the Pioneering Leader in Innovation category.

TTC AgriS appoints new chairwoman Dang Huynh Uc My has been named chairwoman of the Board of Directors (BOD) at Thanh Thanh Cong - Bien Hoa JSC (TTC AgriS), succeeding founder Huynh Bich Ngoc.

AgriS partners with IFC to accelerate net-zero efforts Thanh Thanh Cong-Bien Hoa JSC (TTC AgriS) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, signed an MoU on May 27 in Ho Chi Minh City to strengthen sustainable development governance in alignment with global standards.
Speaking on August 2 at a conference on establishing an international financial centre (IFC) in Vietnam, the PM described the event as a strategic milestone for attracting international capital flows, advanced technology, and high-quality human resources to spur economic growth and enhance national competitiveness.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the August 2 conference in Ho Chi Minh City

He stressed that building and developing a successful IFC requires high determination, effort and action, decisiveness, and efficiency.

The PM noted that Resolution No.222/2025/QH15 has provided the first legal framework and a solid foundation for the construction, operation, and development of an IFC in Vietnam. Work is already under way to complete the legal architecture.

To implement the resolution effectively, he called on all levels of government to thoroughly grasp and seriously execute several core directives.

PM Chinh emphasised that developing an IFC represents a breakthrough in institutions, policies, and resource mobilisation. An IFC, he explained, is not simply a special urban area or a cluster of financial skyscrapers, but foremost a distinct institutional design, defined by specific geographic boundaries, its own legal provisions, a specialised and professional management body, and a policy sandbox.

"This is a place where laws are designed for the future, allowing new models to operate within a controlled framework," he said.

He reiterated that only when institutional bottlenecks are removed can quality capital flows arrive, and only with adaptive infrastructure and human resources can add value be realised.

"We are not developing an IFC merely to welcome investors; we must actively lead new financial models and create space for emerging industries, driving and inspiring investment in digital assets, the green economy, the circular economy, carbon credits, digital banking, and commodity and derivatives exchanges," he stated.

At the same time, he stressed the need to strike a balance between financial freedom and sustainable financial safety. While financial freedom is vital for fostering creativity, inspiration, and resources for development, financial safety remains a fundamental, non-negotiable principle.

The PM urged central ministries and agencies to swiftly issue guiding documents for Resolution 222, enabling Ho Chi Minh City and Danang to establish management and supervisory bodies and bring their IFCs into operation. This will require close coordination with domestic and international financial institutions and drawing on global best practices.

Ministries and agencies were assigned to regularly update and refine the institutional framework to maintain a competitive, innovative mechanism that keeps pace with global trends and remains attractive to international investors.

For Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, local authorities are to allocate resources, prepare essential conditions, and foster enabling environments, covering institutions, personnel, quality of life, and the broader ecosystem. This includes mobilising both domestic and foreign capital to develop the infrastructure necessary for the IFCs construction and operation, the PM added.

Localities should also proactively approach and attract strategic investors, financial institutions, banks, and other stakeholders to participate in the IFC, while expanding domestic and international partnerships in developing financial services, products, and preferential policies.

Acknowledging that building an IFC is a complex and sensitive undertaking for Vietnam with no precedent, the PM stressed that the country must not wait until all conditions are perfect. Instead, conditions should be created during implementation, capacity built along the way, lessons learned, and a development model forged through practice.

Looking ahead to 2035, PM Chinh expressed his determination for Vietnams IFC to rank among the worlds top 75 financial centres and the top 25 in the Asia-Pacific region.

"This will not only be a venue for financial transactions but a convergence point for capital, talent, culture, technology, law, and progressive, innovative ideas, operating under market principles, global competition, transparency, and fairness, while opening new opportunities to drive the prosperity of Vietnam, investors, stakeholders, and international partners alike," PM Chinh explained.

IFC can transcend middle-income gap The submission of a draft resolution on Vietnams international financial centre (IFC) to the National Assembly marks a pivotal moment, heralding a new developmental era for Vietnam.

National Assembly's Resolution on International Financial Centre issued The resolution also aims to create an attractive environment for investment in the financial service sector to promote investment attraction and the free movement of international capital between the International Financial Centre and the world develop the stock and insurance markets, banking activities, fintech, digital assets, commodities, and e-commerce in Vietnam and integrate with international markets.
Both cities have set aside land reserves, formed partnerships, and sent officials abroad for training to prepare for the projects.

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Duoc said the establishment of an international financial centre (IFC) would mark a significant milestone in Vietnams development and provide new momentum for the countrys next phase of growth.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh views the master plan for Ho Chi Minh City IFC, August 2. Photo: Trong Tin

Duoc said the IFC in Ho Chi Minh City could attract medium- and long-term capital, as well as talent and expertise, creating a strong foundation for socioeconomic growth in both the city and the country.

"Ho Chi Minh City has prepared a 10-hectare land plot in the heart of Thu Thiem New Urban Area to build the IFC. While awaiting its completion over the next two years, the city has chosen a building on Nguyen Hue street as the interim headquarters," he said at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on August 2 on implementing the National Assemblys resolution on the IFC.

Duoc confirmed the city has set up a leadership framework and organisational structure with four departments and is recruiting experienced staff with expertise in finance and securities.

In August, officials will be sent to Bulgaria for training, with further collaboration planned with several foreign IFCs. Ho Chi Minh City is also working with the Vietnamese-German University to train specialised workers, who will then gain experience at international centres before returning to work at Ho Chi Minh City IFC.

Furthermore, the city is preparing to sign bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements with regional and global IFCs, establishing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

"With the determination of our leaders, the efforts of the entire political system, and the support of individuals and businesses, building an IFC in Vietnam is not just about creating a financial hub  its about building trust and strengthening Vietnams place on the global stage," Duoc said.

Secretary of Danang Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang said the city has consolidated its Steering Committee for the development of the Danang IFC and prepared the management and operations framework, infrastructure, staff, and other essential conditions for it to begin operations. 'There are already investors interested in developing infrastructure in this area,' he noted.

Quang added that the city has planned and allocated strategic land reserves in favourable urban locations within 5 km of the international airport, with full legal conditions in place to entice investment. A 22-storey building in Software Park No.2, offering 27,000 square metres of floor space, has been designated for the IFC and could be operational by the end of 2025.

From 2025 to 2027, Danang will focus on promoting investment in infrastructure and building a financial centre ecosystem on clean, zoned coastal land covering 6.17 hectares and meeting international standards. The city has also reserved an 11.6-ha plot for a planned digital financial centre, and is planning a national-level catalytic urban area of five artificial islands spanning 1,500 ha, designed to meet green, civilised, ecological, and sustainable development criteria.

Danang has proactively developed policies to build a skilled workforce, including adding personnel dedicated to the financial centre.

"In addition to training and upskilling more than 300 city officials and reserve staff for the IFC, Danang will send young professionals with strong foreign language skills and expertise to Singapore in August for training and internships," Quang said.

He emphasised that the core team managing and operating the IFC must comprise highly qualified professionals with substantial international experience. To that end, the city is creating a financial mechanism to recruit talent from Europe, Singapore, Dubai, the Unitd Kingdom, and the United States. Danang will also work to draw in foreign experts to fill key posts, such as COO, within the management authority.

Vietnam sets up committee to build international financial centre The Vietnamese government has reiterated its strong commitment to developing an international financial centre by announcing the establishment of the Steering Committee for Regional and International Financial Centre in Vietnam, chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

National Assembly's Resolution on International Financial Centre issued The resolution also aims to create an attractive environment for investment in the financial service sector to promote investment attraction and the free movement of international capital between the International Financial Centre and the world develop the stock and insurance markets, banking activities, fintech, digital assets, commodities, and e-commerce in Vietnam and integrate with international markets.
Sanderson has proven track record of driving growth and deep industry knowledge

Sanderson has held key leadership roles at GAM Investments, BlackRock Investment Management

COPENHAGEN, Denmark and LONDON and NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SimCorp, a global leader in financial technology and a subsidiary of Deutsche Borse AG, today announced that Peter Sanderson will be named the company's Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

SimCorp names Peter Sanderson as Chief Executive Officer

Sanderson brings extensive and diverse expertise to SimCorp, refined over a distinguished career spanning key leadership roles in the financial industry. As Group Chief Executive Officer for GAM Investments from 2019 to 2024, he gained firsthand insights into SimCorp's software as a direct client, enhancing his understanding of the platform's strategic value.

Prior to that, his decade-long tenure at BlackRock Investment Management saw him excel in senior positions, including Managing Director of Multi-Asset Investment Solutions, Financial Markets Advisory, and as a member of the European Executive Committee, where he shaped critical initiatives across diverse financial sectors. His earlier experience at Mondrian Investment Partners and KPMG further reinforced his comprehensive industry acumen. Sanderson's depth of knowledge and leadership capabilities position him uniquely to guide SimCorp toward its ambitious goals.

"I am very excited to join SimCorp at this crucial juncture in the company's growth," said Sanderson. "During periods of unprecedented market turbulence, we are uniquely positioned to help our clients adapt and grow while they continue to evolve their business. I am also impressed by the unique, values-based culture that SimCorp has established and look forward to working with this world-class team on achieving our growth ambitions."

"We are very pleased to welcome Peter to SimCorp, and we are confident he will help propel our ambitious objectives," said SimCorp Chair Christian Kromann. "Clients are turning to SimCorp more than ever before, knowing our platform gives them the competitive advantage of seeing a real-time view of their entire portfolio. With Peter's experience, deep knowledge of our industry and track record for growth, we know that he is the right next leader for SimCorp."

Sanderson will replace Georg Hetrodt as CEO, who retires after 27 years with the company at year-end. Hetrodt's retirement has been planned and anticipated by the organization.

"On behalf of the Board, leadership and employees of SimCorp, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Georg Hetrodt for his many years of exceptional service. We wish him the very best in his next chapter," said Kromann.

About SimCorp

SimCorp is a provider of industry-leading integrated investment management solutions for the global buy side.

Founded in 1971, with more than 3,500 employees across five continents, SimCorp is a truly global technology leader that empowers more than half of the world's top 100 financial companies through its integrated platform, services, and partner ecosystem.

SimCorp is a subsidiary of Deutsche Borse Group. As of 2024, SimCorp includes Axioma, the leading provider of risk and management and portfolio optimization solutions for the global buy side.

For more information, see www.simcorp.com.

Media Contact: Sean B. Pasternak, Global Communications, SimCorp, +1-647-975-7326, [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2742946/SimCorp_Canada_Inc__SimCorp_names_Peter_Sanderson_as_Chief_Execu.jpg
Financial magnates dont invest with emotion, they choose assets backed by performance and long-term value. In established markets, Nobu-branded residences stand as proof, from sell-out successes across North America to the Middle Easts most expensive apartment. In Vietnam, Nobu has already redefined the benchmark for property in the Danang market

Looking specifically at studio and one-bedroom units, the past year saw an impressive average occupancy rate exceeding 80 per cent in key resort destinations, according to Savills.

Every detail of the one-bedroom apartment embodies Nobus signature luxury, balance, and fulfilment

What truly sets this segment apart is the price advantage, currently 30-50 per cent lower than two- and three-bedroom apartments, while the corresponding rental rates are nearly on par. This critical combination creates exceptional rental profit margins, driving a significantly more attractive return-on-investment.

Nobus globally recognised brand reputation guarantees superior operational performance, drawing in investors focused on sustainable, long-term strategies.

Following a strong rebound in tourism and the steady return of international travellers, the studio and one-bedroom units at Nobu Danang stand poised for high-yield opportunities, thanks to their flexible size and cost-efficient operations tailored for premium short-term stays.

Based on profitability projections, Nobu Danang's studio units are expected to deliver a compelling yield of approximately 3.7 per cent in the first year, assuming a 50 per cent occupancy rate.

As operations mature and occupancy stabilises at 70 per cent, returns are projected to rise to a robust 6.4 per cent by the fifth year.

Similarly, one-bedroom units are projected to start with an attractive 3.2 per cent yield, forecast to steadily reach 5.5 per cent after five years of operation. These figures clearly demonstrate that the profitability of both studio and 1-bedroom units is not only compelling from the outset but also exhibits a stable upward trend over time, offering consistent growth for discerning investors.

With projected rental rates starting from VND3.8 million ($150) per night for a studio and VND5.5 million ($220) per night for a one-bedroom unit, the cumulative profit over a 10-year period is estimated to reach an impressive 59.7 per cent.

That equates to over VND5 billion ($200,000) in revenue, excluding the asset's potential appreciation during the upcoming growth cycle.

This authentic profit margin reflects a well-structured operational strategy, grounded in real, sustainable demand for high-quality accommodation, not speculative short-term trends. Since the market has shifted into a phase of sharper scrutiny, this has become the defining factor for sound investments.

Nobu Danang residences stand out with access to premium services  without the cost of a hotel stay

Beyond the compelling financials, Nobu Danang shines through its unparalleled experiential value, crafted to meet the expectations of a global, celebrity-level clientele.

For the discerning business elite, a studio residence serves as a quintessential second home, a personal sanctuary amidst high-pressure business trips and rejuvenating getaways.

With an exclusive resident key, owners unlock the full spectrum of privileges within the international Nobu-branded complex.

This curated living includes seamless 24/7 concierge service, access to the world-renowned Nobu restaurant, a tranquil heated infinity pool, advanced layered security, and even the ultimate luxury of gourmet in-residence dining prepared by a Nobu chef. All at no extra cost.

Exquisite design with an elevated sense of space

More than just a dual force in operational potential and profitability, Nobu Danang successfully redefines what it means to invest in the luxury market, with exceptional returns paired with unparalleled living experience.

Nobu Danang's studio and one-bedroom residences represent the epitome of streamlined living without compromising on usable space.

Most studio apartments on the market range from 30 to 35sq.m, but Nobu Danang raises the bar with spacious layouts between 38 and 42sq.m. One-bedroom units are even more generous, offering 60.6 to 68sq.m of usable space  ideal for those who appreciate room to breathe and live beautifully.

These streamlined, branded residences are elevated by exquisitely refined interiors. Embracing the prominent Japandi design aesthetic, a harmonious fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian comfort, the studio and one-bedroom units maximise natural light, refreshing sea breezes, and uninterrupted ocean views. This creates a living space that is not only luxurious and close to nature but also intrinsically artistic.

Nobu Danangs studio apartments combine sleek design with spacious layouts, offering refined functionality and strong investment potential

Simply put, the studio and one-bedroom units at Nobu Danang are more than just smart investments  theyre a mark of distinction. Thoughtfully designed as private retreats, each space reflects refined taste and is crafted to accompany lifes most meaningful journeys with elegance and purpose.

Flexible payment and optimised financial policies Nobu Danang offers truly flexible payment options to suit your financial goals. Clients can choose a standard payment plan of 14 scheduled instalments, extending through to the issuance of the ownership certificate. Alternatively, take advantage of an accelerated payment option and receive an exclusive discount of up to 10 per cent. To further support investor success, Nobu Danang provides a guaranteed rental return of 6 per cent per annum for the first two years, followed by a profit-sharing model from the third year onwards. These well-calibrated financial policies empower buyers to access premium branded real estate with ease, maximising cash flow, minimising risk and quickly realise profits.

Contact information: Hotline: 0931713713

Website: https://nobudanang.vn ; Email: Sales@nobudanang.vn

Danang promotes investment opportunities in Singapore The Danang Investment Forum 2025 was held on March 3 in Singapore, underscoring Vietnams strategic ambition to position itself as a key financial hub in Southeast Asia and commitment to regulatory innovation and international collaboration.

Danang FTZ policy drives investment surge The National Assembly's concessions to allow Danang to apply certain policies, including piloting a free trade zone (FTZ), has created a positive effect on attracting investment, as well as increasing the pace of large-scale projects in the city.
On July 1, the newly consolidated Thai Nguyen officially came into existence following the merger of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces under National Assembly Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15 dated June 12 on the reorganisation of provincial-level administrative divisions.

More than a simple administrative reorganisation, the move represents a strategic turning point, ushering in a broader development space, an expanded vision, and fresh momentum for sustainable growth.

The new Thai Nguyen province now spans more than 8,375 square kilometres and is home to nearly 1.8 million people. With its combined resources and development potential, the province is affirming its role as a key economic and industrial hub in Vietnams northern midland and mountainous region.

Post-merger Thai Nguyen's two-tier government model is operating smoothly a month after the merger. Photo: Thai Nguyen Portal

According to figures released by Thai Nguyen Department of Finance in late July, the merger has not only expanded administrative boundaries but also signaled positive signs of socioeconomic recovery and development.

In the first half (H1) of 2025, Thai Nguyen witnessed regional GDP growth of 6.61 per cent on-year.

Industrial production continues to be the primary growth engine. During the period, pre-merger Thai Nguyens industrial production value reached $17.74 billion, up 4.6 per cent on-year. Notably, Bac Kan province, previously known for its relatively small industrial base, posted a staggering 17.85 growth in industrial output, totalling $42 million.

Amid this robust transformation, Thai Nguyen has set clear development goals for the new phase.

The provinces provincial master plan through 2030, with a vision to 2050, positions Thai Nguyen as a modern, smart industrial hub and a growth driver for both the region and Hanoi.

For 2025, a pivotal year marking the finalisation of the 2020-2025 development plan, Thai Nguyen aims to achieve double-digit growth and lay a solid foundation for the next development milestones.

This vision is already taking shape through a wave of accelerated infrastructure projects launched in the first half of 2025, including the second phase of Song Cong II Industrial Park, Yen Binh 3 Industrial Park, Quang Vinh bridges 1 and 2, Capital Region Ring Road 5, and several large-scale urban and resort developments.

The second phase of Song Cong II Industrial Park in Thai Nguyen. Photo: Thai Nguyen Portal

Among these are signature projects such as Yen Binh 2 Industrial Park, the 42-km Thai NguyenBac GiangVinh Phuc interprovincial road, modern urban areas in Phu Binh district, and a pedestrian street in downtown Thai Nguyen city.

These developments not only enhance integrated infrastructure but also expand residential, investment, and service spaces, bringing Thai Nguyen closer to the standards of a core regional economic centre.

Improving interregional infrastructure includes reducing logistics costs while opening access to broader input and consumer markets. Strategic expressways like HanoiThai NguyenCho Moi, Thai NguyenLang Son, and connecting roads to diverse localities such as Bac Ninh, Phu Tho, and Tuyen Quang are all set for investment, with a combined capital demand of up to $6.6 billion.

Speaking at Thai Nguyen Peoples Council meeting in late July, Trinh Viet Hung, Secretary of Thai Nguyen Party Committee, emphasised, Thai Nguyens development must be rapid but also sustainable and inclusive. Economic growth must go hand in hand with improved quality of life, environmental protection, social welfare, and holistic development.

The province has set a growth target of 8.5 per cent for 2025, with strong determination to reach double-digit growth, laying the groundwork for subsequent periods. Towards this goal, Thai Nguyen is focusing on priorities including investment climate improvement, public investment disbursement, strategic infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation, and the development of new industrial pillars.

Post-merger, the province will benefit from a clear synergy of strengths. Thai Nguyen boasts advantages in industry, logistics, education, and digital transformation, while Bac Kan contributes valuable assets such as forest resources, minerals, ecotourism potential, and distinctive cultural heritage. This integration forms a multi-sectoral economic structure, modern, sustainable, and adaptive to emerging development trends.

Talking to the press in mid-July, Pham Hoang Son, Chairman of Thai Nguyen Peoples Committee, said, The merger presents an unprecedented opportunity to unlock combined strengths. The newly established province can now allocate resources more effectively, invest in strategic infrastructure, enhance regional connectivity, and boost national competitiveness. This is a golden moment, and we are fully committed to seizing it.

In practice, the province has swiftly implemented comprehensive measures to improve the investment and business environment, foster entrepreneurship, promote digitalisation, and enhance e-government capacity.

In a recent article, Secretary Trinh Viet Hung noted, With high responsibility, strong political will, bold leadership, and flexible governance at all levels, combined with unity, consensus, and a powerful aspiration for progress among the people of all ethnic groups in the province, we will transform this unification into a new driving force and a launchpad for Thai Nguyens strong rise, worthy of its new stature and role.

Thai Nguyen is set to become a major industrialurbanservice hub in the northern midland and mountainous region by 2030, achieving upper-middle-income status before 2030, and becoming a high-income province before 2045.

To realise these ambitions, the province has identified three strategic breakthroughs: building a synchronised infrastructure system, developing a high-quality workforce, and driving innovation tied to digital and green transformation.

Political consensus, business confidence, and public support form the foundation for Thai Nguyens steady progress in this new development phase. With a strategic vision, strong resolve, and concrete actions, the province is steadily advancing towards becoming a dynamic, modern, and sustainable growth pole, not just regionally, but on the national development landscape.

Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen hosts Public Security Minister Minister of Public Security, General Luong Tam Quang, led a working delegation on June 8 to visit Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen Co., Ltd. (SEVT), one of Samsungs largest global manufacturing complexes.

Newly merged Phu Tho sets sights on regional leadership Following the historic merger of three provinces, Phu Tho is accelerating reforms and development to become a regional powerhouse in industry, logistics, tourism, and innovation in northern Vietnam.
At the August 2 ceremony, the real estate arm of Japans Takashimaya Group announced the project as a key step in its long-term expansion in Hanoi, with Westlake Square featuring high-end retail and office spaces aimed at elevating the citys commercial landscape.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Westlake Square Hanoi took place at Starlake on August 2. Source: Toshin Development

Westlake Square Hanoi aims to become a new retail landmark in the capital, blending international-standard shopping, office, and leisure spaces. It will help shape a high-end urban ecosystem and establish a vibrant destination in West Hanoi.

Artists impression of Westlake Square Hanoi in the heart of the Starlake urban area. Source: Toshin Development

The development will also introduce the first Takashimaya Department Store in Hanoi  bringing one of Japans most prestigious retail names to the city. This move creates opportunities for global brands to enter the western market and reinforces Takashimayas role in redefining the retail landscape in Vietnam.

Rendering of the commercial centre interior at Westlake Square Hanoi. Source: Toshin Development

With systematic planning and premium positioning, the project is anticipated to become a prime destination for the modern consumer class.

Westlake Square Hanoi is being developed by Toshin Development with a focus on enhancing user experiences, reflected in its luxurious design, systematic services, and optimised movement within the retail space.

The Japanese Omotenashi philosophy of exceptional hospitality will be integrated throughout operations, creating a destination that combines commerce with cultural exchange and modern lifestyles for Hanoi residents.

The development also stands as a testament to Toshin's long-term commitment to enduring value, sustainable operations, and alignment with Hanois dynamic growth.

With an environmentally friendly development approach, Westlake Square adheres to stringent international green building standards from the outset, targeting LEED Platinum certification - the highest level in the US Green Building Council rating system. This reflects a technical choice and a responsible development philosophy that balances architecture, community, and the environment.

Speaking at the event, Shinsuke Kuramoto, president and representative director of Toshin Development, said, "Westlake Square Hanoi is a flagship undertaking of the Takashimaya Group in Hanoi. We are mobilising all available resources to realise the vision of delivering a top-quality commercial centre within the next two years."

"Toshin Development does more than construct buildings, we strive to create emotional landmarks that hold memories and connect communities. This embodies our core philosophy Make the Mind Symbol a principle that continues to guide our development approach. This project is a clear testament to that commitment," added Kuramoto.

Shinsuke Kuramoto  President and representative director of Toshin Development sharing his strategic vision at the event. Source: Toshin Development

Matthew Powell, director of Savills Hanoi, said, "The entry of renowned international brands such as Takashimaya demonstrates growing confidence in Hanois long-term retail prospects. The Starlake area is quickly establishing itself as a key destination for global retailers, with new developments like Westlake Square Hanoi contributing to a high-quality commercial ecosystem that reflects the citys evolving consumer expectations."

With a total gross floor area of approximately 43,000 square metres in its first phase, Westlake Square Hanoi will comprise a retail podium from basement level B1 to the 6th floor and premium office spaces from the 7th to the 10th floor.

Developed as a multifunctional complex, Westlake Square is designed to flexibly meet the needs of international retailers and businesses seeking high-quality office space in West Hanoi.

Exterior rendering of Westlake Square Hanoi. Source: Toshin Development

Beyond its advantages in planning and location, Westlake Square Hanoi stands out with its modern architectural design, comprehensive amenities, and commitment to international operational standards.

It is also the first commercial venture in Hanoi to be fully developed by Toshin Development  from master planning and design to operational management  ensuring consistency in quality and experience for both tenants and consumers.

Upon completion, Westlake Square Hanoi is expected to add a high-quality retail supply to the market while elevating the image of the Tay Ho Tay area, emerging as a new shopping, working, and experiential hub for the capital.

Hanoi asked to promote night-time economic development Turning Hanoi into a safe, bustling, attractive and unique destination with night-time economic trademark is a main content in the Politburo's Conclusion No. 80-KL/TU on the planning of Hanoi in the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050, and a project to adjust the Master Plan for Hanoi Capital to 2045, vision to 2065.

Hanoi advances comprehensive solutions for smart city development Hanoi is adopting a synchronised approach to smart city development, spanning from macro strategies to investments in infrastructure and data systems.
According to Time Outs latest ranking of affordable travel destinations on July 24, Vietnam secured second place, with average daily expenses estimated at just $20.80.

The magazine praised Vietnam for offering some of the cheapest beer in the world, with local bia hoi costing between $0.20 and $0.50 per glass, and filling street food meals, such as banh mi, priced at less than $1.00.

Accommodation was also highlighted for its affordability and quality, with highly rated hostels and guesthouses (scoring 8.0+ on Booking.com) available from just $3.20 per night.

Beyond basic costs, Time Out noted Vietnams cultural richness and accessibility, such as traditional water puppet shows for $4.00, along with free access to many temples and museums.

Local transport was described as both affordable and convenient, with public buses priced under $0.50, and app-based motorbike rides like Grab bike typically under $1.20. Longer-distance travel remains budget-friendly, with train tickets from Hanoi to Hue costing just over $28.

Laos topped the list as the most affordable country in the region, with average daily expenses at just $16.80. Budget accommodations in Luang Prabang and Vientiane are available from $4.40, and even lower in Vang Vieng, starting at just $2.00. Popular street foods such as sticky rice and grilled pork skewers can be enjoyed for $0.80 or less, while local beers are priced under $1.00.
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Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home  you can find them all here.

In his monthly column for Wrexham.com, Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP Steve Witherden writes:

When I was elected last year, I stood not only on Labours national manifesto but on my own set of local pledges too. As one might expect, I had many policies I wanted to see implemented within this parliamentary term, and many priorities I wanted to pursue locally.

As someone who had never held elected office before, I felt a decline in the trust in politics quite keenly and so I always wanted to be fully transparent about these priorities and pledges. Consequently, they are publicly available on my website, here: https://stevewitherden.wales/my-values-fy-ngwerthoedd/

That is why when one such priority is fulfilled, I hope you will forgive me in shouting about it, as I shall in this months article.

On the campaign trail last year, I pledged to support small business owners, through policies including the reform of business rates, new rules to stop late payments, and the right for communities to buy empty shops and pubs.

As such I am very glad to welcome the announcement of the UK Governments Small Business Plan this week, which will see those very policies implemented.

Currently, an estimated 38 small businesses shut down every day partially owing to late payments. It costs the economy up to 11bn a year, a huge sum. Small businesses do not have the same liquidity or access to capital that larger companies do, so late payments from the latter to the former is a particularly big problem.

This Labour government will end late payments, by giving the Small Business Commissioner the power to carry out spot checks, enforce 30-day invoice verification periods, introduce maximum payment terms of 60 days (reducing to 45 days), and bring in mandatory interest charges. The Commissioner will be given the power to offer fines and penalties for repeat late-paying offenders.

These reforms will give certainty and confidence to small businesses across the country, freeing up time to focus on growing their enterprises instead. To this end, a wave of startup loans for 69,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners has been announced too, worth 4bn.

This comes on top of another local pledge of mine  allowing local people to buy up those empty shops and pubs on high streets. Through a clever mechanism called High Street Rental Auctions, if an absent landlord keeps a shop vacant for too long, the community will have the right to hold an auction for it, which could bring that once-loved and now-closed establishment in your town back to life.

Another of my priorities was to reform business rates. It is welcome news, then, that the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors will pay permanently lower tax from next year.

High streets, the small businesses that populate them, are so important to our livelihoods. It is vital that we create the necessary conditions for them to thrive.

This may be technical stuff, but it makes a difference. This plan will support small businesses across the country and bring prosperity back to our towns.
North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre awarded Prestigious Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence

A North Wales cancer treatment centre has been re-designated a Centre of Excellence for the research, treatment and care provided to patients with a brain tumour.

As part of the Liverpool and North Wales Neuro-Oncology Network, North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre (NWCTC) was one of only 14 centres across the UK to receive the accolade from the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM).

It also means all neuro-oncology cancer centres in Wales now hold the title after it was also awarded to the South Wales Neuro-Oncology Network.

NWCTC was first awarded the designation in December 2021, as part of the Liverpool and North Wales Network, and the latest award showcases the consistently high quality of care, research and treatment received by patients across the region.

This award recognises and rewards adult neuro-oncology centres providing excellence in treatment, care and research for adults suffering with primary brain cancers, said consultant clinical oncologist, Dr Win Soe.

The neuro-oncology team at the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre is delighted to have been one of only 14 centres in the UK awarded the prestigious Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence Award this year.

The neuro-oncology service relies on many healthcare teams and professionals within the Health Board and we would like to thank all the multidisciplinary team members who help us to look after our patients, their families and loved ones, both in the acute hospital setting and also in the community.

This is certainly an achievement to be proud of.

Sian Hughes-Jones Head of Nursing for cancer Services said: We are very proud of our neuro  oncology team for once again achieving the excellent standards required to achieve this award.

It is a true reflection of our teams care, compassion and commitment to continue to deliver a service of excellence to our people within North Wales.

Lord Darzi, who led the review of the NHS in England in 2024, said: The award of fourteen new Centres of Excellence is a fitting tribute to Dame Tessa Jowell and her dedication to improving treatment and care for patients with a brain tumour.

This programme shows the NHS at its very best, highlighting teams across the country that are working tirelessly to improve their services and deliver excellent care.

The three-yearly review of Neuro-Oncology centres across the UK was funded and supported by the UK Government and the Missions partner charities.

All of those awarded Centre of Excellence status met or exceeded standards in treatment, care and research above those expected by the NHS, according to the expert panel. Its rigorous assessment process evaluated areas including clinical care, quality of life care and access to clinical trials and research.

The Liverpool and North Wales Neuro-Oncology Network comprises The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre.

The awards were presented by Tessa Jowells Daughter Jess Mills at the Frances Crick Institute in London, one of Europes largest biomedical labs. Its the base for more than 1,500 scientists working to understand health, disease and how life works.

Jan Edwards and Annie Ingram, our neuro-oncology nurses, travelled with colleagues from The Walton Centre and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, to receive the award.

Jess Mills said: Mums legacy to transform outcomes for brain cancer patients across the UK has reached another milestone. It has been so moving to witness how committed the teams caring for patients are to come on this journey with us.

Dame Tessa Jowell, formerly a Labour MP and Culture Secretary, was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma in May 2017. It is the most aggressive and most common form of cancer which begins in the brain.

As a result of her emotional speech to the House of Lords in January 2018, on the subject of brain cancer treatment, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission was founded the following month. She died in May 2018 at her home in Warwickshire.
Tesco offering free apples for children to promote healthy eating

A supermarket giant is helping children get their five a day by providing a free apple for them to take home and enjoy.

The summer initiative, which runs from August 4 until August 17, will take place at larger Tesco stores  with the free apples located at the checkout area.

Community champion David Roden from Tesco Cefn Mawr said:  Tescos initiative to provide free fruit to children is a commendable steps towards promoting healthier eating habits amount young people.

Tesco is playing a positive role in the community, contributing to the well-being of the future generations.

Tesco anticipates that it will give away over 3.5 million apples over two weeks.
LOCKSLEY ACCELERATES U.S. CRITICAL MINERALS PROGRAM WITH EXPANDED DESERT ANTIMONY DRILLING



LKY Submits Expanded Desert Antimony Drilling Program to BLM

Perth, Aug 4, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Locksley Resources Limited ( ASX:LKY ) ( LKYRF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to confirm that it has submitted an expanded Plan of Operations (POO) to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the Desert Antimony Prospect, part of the Company's Mojave Critical Minerals Project in California.



Highlights



- Expanded Plan of Operations (POO) submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), bringing total planned drilling at the Desert Antimony Prospect, Mojave Project, California up to ~2,180m



- Expanded program designed to test three NNE-SSW trending quartzcarbonate-stibnite vein positions and an additional E-W structure identified through structural mapping within a broader mineralisation target zone



- Recent structural mapping and enhanced 3D modelling have enlarged the target footprint and supports the objective of defining a JORC Exploration Target via further evaluation



- Strong committed cash position of over $6.5 million post recent oversubscribed capital raising, fully funding the expanded program and subsequent exploration initiatives



- BLM approvals anticipated in September 2025, with site preparation and drilling expected to commence rapidly thereafter



- Locksley's claims are positioned 1.4 km from MP Materials' Mountain Pass Mine, in the heart of the U.S. critical minerals corridor



- Strategic alignment with U.S. initiatives to secure domestic supply chains for antimony and rare earth elements



The submission marks a significant step as Locksley accelerates its U.S. critical minerals push, leveraging momentum from its recent oversubscribed capital raising to fast track a larger, high impact drill program. The expanded plan encompasses a more comprehensive drilling program targeting the Desert Antimony Prospect, located within the North Block claims and 3 km NE from the MP Materials' Mountain Pass Mine (Figure 1), positioning Locksley at the centre of America's drive to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals.



The POO submission follows the recently completed structural mapping program announced on 17 July 2025, which materially advanced the geological understanding of the Desert Antimony Prospect.



Mapping confirmed three NNE-SSW trending quartz-carbonate-stibnite vein positions and identified an additional E-W orientated structure with mineralisation potential that extends the target zone footprint.



A detailed 3D geological model has been constructed (Figure 2) to optimise drill targeting and support the preparation of a JORC classified Exploration Target.



Key outcomes from the mapping program included:



- Confirmation of three stibnite rich vein positions within a NNE-SSW mineralised corridor.



- Identification of additional E-W trending structure with potential to host mineralisation.



- Enhanced 3D geological models providing robust drill targeting and potential for JORC Exploration Target definition



The updated POO outlines 13 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes from 11 pads, with depths ranging from 100 to 240 metres. The additional drilling adds over 2,000 metres of planned drilling.



Julian Woodcock, Technical Director of Locksley Resources, commented:



"The submission of this expanded Plan of Operations is a major step forward in unlocking the critical minerals potential of the Mojave Project. With the benefit of a strengthened balance sheet following our oversubscribed capital raise, we are accelerating exploration to test a larger mineralised footprint at the Desert Antimony Prospect. This is in addition to the already approved drilling program at the El Campo Rare Earths Prospect. With our claims located only 1.4km from MP Materials' Mountain Pass Mine, we are placed at the centre of the U.S. drive to secure domestic supply chains for antimony and rare earths".



Next Steps



- BLM bond confirmation and approval expected in September 2025



- Site preparation, earthworks and RC drilling commencing late September 2025 (subject to BLM approval)



- Ongoing evaluation of geological data to underpin the definition of a JORC Exploration Target



- Anticipated continuous news flow over the next 4-5 months leading into drilling and then results



Locksley's Strategic U.S. Position:



- Proximity to MP Materials and within a region benefiting from significant U.S. investment in domestic rare earth and antimony production



- Expanded drill program designed to unlock one of the highest grade antimony occurrences in the United States



- Strong funding position provides flexibility to fast track exploration and assess downstream opportunities in alignment with U.S. critical minerals initiatives



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/34M21P1L





About Locksley Resources Limited





Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX-listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development of critical minerals for U.S.

Mojave Project

Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 240 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block-Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials' claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.

In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic "Desert Antimony Mine", which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With surface samples grading up to 46% Sb as well as silver up to 1,022 g/t Ag, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.

Locksley's North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.

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The government recently confirmed that the executor of the estate will have responsibility for ensuring the right amount of IHT is paid on any unused pensions pots, of which there may be several. Former pensions minister Steve Webb has raised his concerns around the additional pressure this puts on grieving families. Andrew Aston, pensions audit director at RSM UK, said: Probate is complex and unwieldy, often creating additional stress for families of the deceased, at an already stressful and upsetting time. As IHT will be paid on unused pension pots from April 2027, this may add to the complexity, unless the government considers building in the ability to see the value of all unused pension pots in the dashboard. This could speed up and simplify the probate process, enabling grieving families to easily calculate any IHT owed in time to meet the deadline to pay inheritance tax within six months of a relatives death. Those who miss the 6-month window to pay inheritance tax will face interest charges from HMRC on the amount owed. On large pension pots, this could mount up to significant sums. He added: Unless the government takes a joined-up approach to the pensions dashboards and the introduction of IHT charges on pension pots, meeting the six-month deadline to pay could become even more challenging, creating further headaches for families dealing with the death of a loved one.


China Defies US Demands, Vows to Keep Buying Oil from Russia and Iran Amid Trade Talks 2

Amid renewed trade negotiations between the US and China, tensions have flared over Washingtons demand that Beijing cease purchasing oil from Iran and Russia. Following two days of talks in Stockholm, China responded defiantly, rejecting pressure from the US and insisting it will continue to safeguard its energy security based on national interests.

Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, Chinas Foreign Ministry posted on X, responding to Washingtons threat of a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods if oil purchases continue.

Despite this flashpoint, both sides have projected cautious optimism about reaching a broader trade deal that could stabilize economic ties between the worlds two largest economies. However, Chinas firm stance on energy sources signals its refusal to let foreign policy be dictated by external threatsespecially under the Trump administration.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged Chinas resolve, telling reporters that while the issue of Russian oil remains unresolved, the broader trade discussions are still on track. The Chinese take their sovereignty very seriously, Bessent said, noting that China would rather pay the threatened 100 per cent tariff than change course.

Trump administration officials have framed the oil issue as part of a broader effort to choke funding to Russias military during its war in Ukraine and to militant groups supported by Iran. Yet Beijings continued oil imports from both countries underline its strategic alignment and economic interests. A report from the US Energy Information Administration states that between 80 to 90 per cent of Irans oil exports go to Chinaamounting to over a million barrels daily.

Analysts believe Trumps threats are likely bluster. Gabriel Wildau of Teneo noted that enforcing the full tariff threat could undo recent diplomatic progress. It would probably kill any chance of a trade deal if Trump and Xi meet this fall, he said.

Experts also highlight Beijings perception of inconsistencies in US foreign policy, arguing that China sees its support for Moscow as consistent and strategically beneficial. Danny Russel from the Asia Society Policy Institute emphasized that President Xi Jinping views Russian and Iranian oil as irreplaceable. It is too important a strategic energy supply, and Beijing is buying it at fire-sale prices, he said.

In April, Chinas imports of Russian oil surged by 20 per cent over the previous month, reaching 1.3 million barrels per daysecond only to India, which also faces US backlash. Trump recently announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing the countrys continued Russian oil purchases.

While trade negotiations may continue, Chinas refusal to budge on oil imports underscores a deeper geopolitical dividewhere energy security, strategic alliances, and sovereignty now play a larger role than tariff threats.
FTII Students Slam National Award for 'The Kerala Story', Call It 'Propaganda, Not Cinema' 2

The Students Association of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has issued a strong condemnation of the decision to confer national awards on the controversial film The Kerala Story, calling the move not just disappointing but dangerous. The association criticised the government for what it described as legitimising propaganda that aligns with a majoritarian, hate-filled agenda.

Filmmaker Sudipto Sen won Best Director for The Kerala Story, which also received the award for Best Cinematography at the 71st National Film Awards. The 2023 film has faced backlash since its release for depicting alleged forced religious conversions and the recruitment of women in Kerala by the Islamic State terror groupclaims widely disputed and criticised as communal fear-mongering.

In a statement released on August 2, the FTII Students Association said the film is not a film; it is a weapon used to vilify the Muslim community and misrepresent a state known for communal harmony and social progress. The students accused the state of using cinema to further divisive narratives and normalise bigotry.

Cinema is not neutralit is a powerful instrument of influence, the association said. When a government-endorsed body elevates a film that spreads misinformation and paranoia against minorities, it is not merely recognising art, it is legitimising violence.

The students warned that such recognitions could fuel future social unrest, including lynchings and exclusion, under the guise of state-sanctioned storytelling. They further condemned what they called the reduction of cinema to a tool of state-sponsored communalism and declared, We refuse to accept that Islamophobia is now award-worthy.

Calling for accountability and artistic integrity, the statement concluded with a bold assertion: The state must understandgiving awards to propaganda does not make it true. And we, as students and citizens, will not stop calling it what it isincitement. Violence.
Karnataka HC Quashes Gag Order on Dharmasthala Case, Upholds Press Freedom 2

In a significant win for press freedom, the Karnataka High Court has set aside a gag order that had barred media outlets, including YouTube channels, from reporting on the alleged mass burials of sexual assault and murder victims in Dharmasthala over the past 20 years. The controversial ex parte injunction, issued by a Bengaluru civil court on July 8, was challenged by YouTube platform Kudla Rampage.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, delivering the verdict on Friday, quashed the lower courts order and remitted the matter for a fresh hearing. He emphasized that the trial court must now reconsider the interlocutory application with attention to the directions and observations outlined by the High Court.

The original gag order had been obtained by Harshendra Kumar D, brother of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade. Kumar sought the removal of over 8,000 digital linksincluding news reports, videos, and social media poststhat he claimed were defamatory toward his family and the temple administration.

Justice Nagaprasanna made it clear that the High Courts ruling was limited to the procedural aspect of the injunction and did not address the merits of the underlying allegations or counter-allegations. The broader civil and criminal elements of the case remain open for adjudication.

Reacting to the development, Kudla Rampages legal counsel, A Velan, hailed the verdict as a milestone in protecting journalistic integrity. The Karnataka High Court has not merely issued a judgmentit has reaffirmed a cornerstone of our democracy, Velan stated. He called the lower courts injunction an unconstitutional instance of prior restraint that lacked jurisdiction and threatened to suppress public scrutiny on a matter of national concern.
Charges have been dismissed against the suspect in the 2019 shooting death of 4-year-old Jurnee Coleman.

Raymond DeJuan Shine, 44, was charged with capital murder in Jurnees July 28, 2019, slaying.

Shine is the cousin of Jurnees father and authorities said the shooting happened during a dispute between the too.

Prosecutors sought the dismissal, asking the charges be dropped without prejudice, meaning they could be re-filed in the future.

Shines attorney, Emory Anthony, wanted the charges dismissed permanently.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Alaric May issued the order dismissing the charges without prejudice on Sunday, noting prosecutors were unable to proceed with the case because of refusal/lack of cooperation of the states primary witness.

May also noted Anthonys objection to the case being dismissed without prejudice instead of with prejudice.

Young Jurnee Coleman died while inside her home, Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr said Monday.

There are people who know what happened, yet conveniently decided it was more important to uphold the code of the street.

I want to assure you although it wont be easy, we wont rest until this person is brought to justice, Carr said.

We will reopen this case and look under every rock and every grain of dirt in an effort to bring justice on behalf of this precious child.

A 4-year-old getting juice out of the refrigerator was shot by a stray bullet from a gun fight outside her apartment in Birmingham's Marks Village public housing community in Gate City. The girl was shot in the head and rushed to Children's of Alabama. No arrests have been announced.

We are glad that the cases were dismissed but we disagree with the state of Alabama saying that they had witnesses that would not come forward, Anthony said.

Based upon the discovery in the capital murder case, there was only one witness and he changed his story several times.

Jurnee had gotten out of bed that Monday night and a relative was getting her juice from the refrigerator when police say Shine and Jurnees father, Michael Coleman got into an argument outside of the Marks Village apartment.

Coleman told investigators he took off running, and Shine began shooting at him.

Neighbors said multiple shots were fired and a round entered the unit, hitting Jurnee in the head.

She was rushed to Childrens of Alabama, with family members following close behind the Birmingham Fire and Rescue truck and police.

She never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on July 31, 2019.

Jurnee was planning to attend Pre-K at Hayes K-8 School. Her favorite color was purple, and she loved chicken pot pie.

Shine was also charged with attempted murder for shooting at Coleman, and with certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm.

Those charges, too, have been dismissed without prejudice.

Shine was set to go on trial in June. Prosecutors were seeking the death penalty.

The evidence to convict this childs killer is out there, Carr said. It is in the minds and memories of those who were there or who heard something after the fact.

That evidence is worthless, however, without people willing and able to come to court and tell the truth, Carr said.

This little girls life was too precious to take the risk of proceeding to trial without the ability to present a jury with the complete facts, Carr said. When we have that, we will again seek to hold her killer accountable. We owe her that. The public owes her that.

1 4-year-old girl was caught in crossfire and shot in the head Sunday, July 28, 2019 in Birmingham's Gate City community.

Anthony said prosecutors have no independent evidence to support the charges against Shine.

The defendant has always stated that he is not guilty to the charges and that the only witness was not truthful in his testimony, Anthony said.

The state of Alabama has had more than six years to investigate the facts in these cases and each time the alleged witness has given a different version of the facts in these cases, Anthony said.

Shine has been out of jail on $200,000 bond since his 2019 arrest.

The defendant had to make a large bond and has been dealing with these charges for more than six years, Anthony said.

The shooting that killed Jurnee happened just after 10 p.m. that Sunday.

Shine was arrested within hours of the shooting.

At a preliminary hearing in the case, Anthony said it was revealed publicly for the first time that a ballistics report from evidence collected at the scene showed two guns were fired that night.

Prosecutors said there was no evidence or witnesses to say that anyone other than Shine fired shots that night.

In addition to state charges, Shine was also indicted federally on being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Documents in that case are sealed so its unclear where it stands.
A south Alabama man has been charged in the fentanyl overdose death of another man in Ozark.

David Todd Tyler, 58, is charged with manslaughter in death of 61-year-old Allen Bates, police announced Monday.

Bates died July 23 at his home, prompting a joint investigation by Ozark police and the Dale County Sheriffs Office.

Later that night, law enforcement officers carried out a search warrant at a different residence where they took Tyler into custody on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, second-degree possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance.

Three others were also arrested on drug charges during the July search warrant: Charles Taylor Burks, 43; Debbie Gail Thomley, 50 and Jennifer Drexler, 45.

On Monday, investigators received Bates autopsy results confirming the cause of death was fentanyl overdose, and they obtained the manslaughter warrant against Tyler.

Charging documents state Tyler provided Bates the fentanyl.

He is being held without bond in the Dale County Jail.

This case marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing fight against the devastating opioid epidemic as it highlights the critical importance of holding those who knowingly and intentionally distribute illegal narcotics accountable for the tragic consequences of their actions, according to an Ozark Police Department statement.

By pursuing charges of manslaughter against those responsible for providing fentanyl that results in death, the statement reads, we are sending a clear and uncompromising message  the deliberate distribution of dangerous, life-threatening narcotics will be met with firm legal consequences.
While other 13-year-olds throughout the state are preparing for their first day of junior high, one Alabama student is getting ready to take on a different educational milestone: college.

Van-Houston McMillion will begin classes this fall at Calhoun Community College, making him the youngest student in the schools more than 70-year history. While there, he will be working toward an Associate Degree of Science in General Education with a focus on chemistry through in-person as well as online classes.

McMillions mother, Emma-Sara McMillion, said Van-Houston showed an interest in learning from a young age and was quick to catch on early, already identifying letters and sounding out words around the age of two.

We always knew he was curious and bright, but we didnt focus on how far ahead he was, said McMillion in a press release from Calhoun Community College. We focused on feeding his love of learning. From reading street signs to discussing systems in society, Van-Houstons thirst for understanding has always led the way.

Van-Houston McMillion, a 13-year-old enrolled at Calhoun Community College in Huntsville for the fall and his mother, Emma-Sara McMillion. (Photo courtesy of Calhoun Community College) (Photo courtesy of Calhoun Community College)

After scoring high on the SAT, taken as a benchmark, following years of individualized homeschooling, the McMillions decided it was time for Van-Houston to take on more challenging academics. At the age of 12, McMillion enrolled in college.

Calhoun Community College worked with the McMillions to forge a collaborative partnership between its educators and the family and to ensure the 13-year-old received a learning experience that would be supportive and appropriately challenging by taking into account his emotional maturity, learning style and long-term aspirations.

Van-Houston is a shining example of what happens when curiosity, hard work and community come together, said Dr. Jimmy Hodges, President of Calhoun Community College. Calhoun is honored to be a part of his journey, and we are proud to provide a place where students of all ages can thrive and feel valued.

While studying at the college, the 13-year-old hopes to explore innovative ways to solve real-world problems, start impactful businesses and study systems deeply in order to improve them, according to the press release.

Hes grounded. Hes kind. He never acts like hes better than anyone else, Emma-Sara McMillion said of Van-Houston. His goal has never been about being the youngest. He just genuinely wants to learn and make a difference.

Read the full press release from Calhoun Community College.
Auburn University recently received the largest single commitment to scholarships in the schools history.

Samuel Ginn, the namesake of Auburn Universitys Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, and the Ginn Family Foundation have committed $30 million to create a new engineering scholarship program at Auburn University.

My hope is that this program will lessen the financial burden of a higher education and help families in our state, Ginn said in a news release. There are so many students with strong family value systems, and they deserve an opportunity to focus on their studies instead of focusing on their financial situation.

Auburn has been growing fast, with a 25% increase in its student body population in the last decade. In previous years, Auburn graduates with engineering degrees have gone on to high-paying jobs soon after finishing school.

The Ginn Scholarship Program, which will provide up to 40 scholarships each year covering tuition, fees, room and board for up to five years, is designed to provide financial and transitional assistance to incoming freshmen, along with the student support services needed to navigate the demanding curriculum.

Ginn Scholars will be provided dedicated space to study, collaborate and grow academically and personally, according to the university.

They will also attend lectures on personal finance and other subjects designed to support future success. These efforts are intended to help build a bond among the Ginn Scholars and develop personal relationships that last a lifetime.

To qualify for this merit-based scholarship, Ginn Scholars must demonstrate need, graduate from a Title I high school in the state of Alabama and be admitted into the College of Engineering. In addition, candidates must also have exercised leadership skills in school community activities and have values that align with those espoused in the Auburn Creed.

When I was accepted into Auburn, the affordability issue was front and center, but a college education was important to my parents, Ginn said in a news release. Once at Auburn, I participated in ROTC, waited tables and worked in a clothing store just to get by. But I was never ashamed of that. In fact, it instilled that hard work mentality that is grounded in the Auburn Creed.

An Anniston native, Ginn graduated from Auburn with a degree in industrial engineering in 1959. He helped build what became the largest cellular company in the world  AirTouch  before it was sold for $65 billion in 1999.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science from Auburn University in 1998 and is a member of the Wireless Hall of Fame, the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame and the Alabama Business Hall of Fame.

The engineering school was renamed as the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering in his honor in 2001 after he committed $25 million to Auburn University to establish a wireless engineering program, the first of its kind in the nation.
FILE - Soulja Boy arrives at the BET Awards on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Soulja Boy, best known for his 2007 single Crank That (Soulja Boy), was arrested early Sunday after a traffic stop on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Soulja Boy, 35, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was a passenger during a traffic stop at 2:35 a.m., police said, and was arrested.

Way was booked into jail in the Los Angeles Police Departments Wilshire Division a little after 6 a.m., according to the sheriff departments inmate database.

Earlier this year, Way, per NBC News, was found liable for sexually assaulting and physically and emotionally abusing a former assistant after a three-week trial in California. A jury awarded the woman $4 million in damages.

Rickey Ivie, an attorney for the musician at the time, said that the evidence did not support the verdict.

It is unfortunate that aspersions and misperceptions of a culture were allowed to influence the trial, Ivie said. Mr. Way fully intends to pursue his post-trial remedies and to fight for a just result in this case.

The Chicago hip-hop artist is best known for his 2007 single Crank That (Soulja Boy), which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and brought him a Grammy nomination for best rap song.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cohen Turner, 22, died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, when he and his childhood friend were trapping in rising flash flood waters in east Alabama. (Special to AL.com)

A young man who died in weekend flash flooding in east Alabama is being remember as a hero for saving the life of his childhood friend.

Cohen Sinclair Turner, 22, was killed Sunday morning.

He and his friend were returning home from night fishing on Lake Wedowee when they were caught in rising waters.

To be a 22-year-old and be so selfless to give your life to help a friend, its unheard of in these times, said Cohens uncle, Lincoln police Officer Danny Turner. No greater act of selflessness than to give your life for another.

A heroic act by everyones definition, Danny said.

Cohen was a graduate of Ranburne High School and worked rigging scaffolding on high-rise buildings in Atlanta.

His uncle said he was an avid outdoorsman.

This boy hunted and fished every day, Danny said. If it wasnt season, he was prepping for season, managing the land.

He was very smart, level-headed, adventurous, Danny said.

Cohen, his uncle said, had been helping others since he was a child. The family all lives on the same property in east Alabama, close to the Georgia line.

From the time he was 10 years old, if he heard me knocking or banging or a chainsaw running, he would walk from his house to my house to help move logs or whatever, Danny said. He was a very good friend to have.

Cohen and his friend had been fishing overnight.

My brother told me he was sending him pictures of crappie they were catching, Danny said. Apparently they were wearing the crappie out that night.

The friends were not two miles from Cohens home about 6 a.m. when they were hit by the flash flood, which Cohens friend described as almost like a tsunami.

Cohen was asleep in the passengers side of a Tahoe and his friend was driving.

A surge of water pinned them up against the guardrail and, subsequently, the bank and the guardrail gave out and they went off into the creek that rose to 25 or 30 feet, Danny said.

The friends crawled out of the SUV through the sunroof.

Cohen tells his friend they need to go to the right because theres going to be less water over there and they had a better chance of making it to land, Danny said. They jumped off together.

Cohens friend went under the water.

Cohen, instead of having self-preservation like is instilled in most everybody, he comes back and assists (his friend) in getting to a safe place in a tree, Danny said.

Anybody who has ever been in the water knows that if you push somebody up, youre pushing yourself down at the same time, Danny said. Cohen went under.

Rescue workers found Cohens friend in a tree. When the water receded, they found Cohen not far from his friend.

It looks like a tree pinned him in, Danny said. He had made it probably to a safe place with another tree but when the tree fell, it trapped him.

Cohen was pronounced dead about 7:45 a.m.

Because of Dannys ties to law enforcement  hes been a police officer about 30 years  he received the call first.

They said they hadnt been able to find him, Danny said.

I said just give it a couple minutes and hell come walking up the river and have that little infectious laugh and be like, that was a close one.

As time went by, Danny said, I soon realized that was not going to be the case.

He then had to notify Cohens father and grandmother.

Any one of the circumstances he would have prevailed, but with it being rapid fire problem after problem being thrown his way, the totality of the circumstances made it where he couldnt prevail, Danny said.

Our family is completely devastated by the loss of such an incredible person.

The family is accepting donations to help with Cohens burial. Donations can be directly to Rainwater Funeral home or via Venmo at @Kaylie-Turner-7 or Cashapp at $dturner2013.
Residents of a Saraland neighborhood opened their doors Monday to an increasingly common sight, black bears roaming the neighborhood in search of an easy meal, according to X poster Donna Hughes.

While black bear sightings can come as a shock in residential neighborhoods, Traci Wood, a conservation coordinator with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, says its really no surprise at all.

Its trash day in our Saraland neighborhood, which means bears are in search of an easy meal. @spann pic.twitter.com/WePQzgY7ld  Donna Hughes (@MrsDonnaHughes) August 4, 2025

Wood, who works with Auburn University researchers to study black bears in the state, told AL.com previously that Mobile County is home to one of two reproducing populations of black bears in Alabama.

That reproducing population is located near Saraland. And the approximately 125 bears in that population stay primarily within a 10-mile radius.

People think theyre seeing a lot of bears, but theyre really seeing the same bears over and over again, she said.

Bears are very motivated by food, and Wood told reporter Margaret Kates that black bears, in particular, will search for the easiest food source possible, hence why Saraland residents often see the bears on trash day.

As Saraland continues to build housing to meet its steadily rising population, Wood predicts that human/bear interactions will become more common.

If you spot a black bear that isnt leaving the area, Wood said you should stand very tall, put your hands in the air, clap and yell, making as much noise as possible, and walk backwards slowly until you get where you need to be.

Residents who encounter bears have been asked to report sightings to the DCNR website, which helps the department track and monitor the black bear population.

If a resident has a question about a bear encounter, they can reach out to the department and get more information.
The Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) will part of a Lockheed Martin contract in Troy. Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martins Troy facilities are taking part in a mammoth $9.5 billion contract to increase production of two of the U.S. militarys most capable cruise missiles.

According to the company, the Pentagon last month announced the contract to increase delivery of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).

Work will be performed at Troy and Orlando, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2033.

The contract involves foreign military sales (FMS) to Poland, Netherlands, Japan, and Finland, according to the Pentagon.

Both missile systems are designed to be launched from a variety of platforms while remaining outside the range of advanced air defenses.

The JASSM is described as a conventional, air-to-ground missile with extended range, striking well-defended fixed or relocatable targets without requiring aircraft to enter contested airspace. It is primarily used by the U.S. Air Force.

The LRASM is a precision-guided anti-ship missile used by both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. It is designed to engage maritime surface targets at long range, beyond the reach of counter-fire systems.

The missiles were one reason Lockheed Martin expanded its Troy facilities with the addition of a 225,000-square-foot intelligent factory. The facility incorporates digital forecasting models, a fully robotic paint line and automated assembly processes.

Dave Berganini, vice president of hypersonic and strike systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said the company is leveraging our advanced manufacturing capabilities and investing in our production facilities to quickly and affordably deliver these critical capabilities warfighters need to maintain a strategic edge and protect our nation from emerging threats.
Gina V Huynh attends the Pre-Grammy Brunch & Surf Club Label Launch Celebrating Hit-Boy at the Lavo Restaurant at The Palazzo Las Vegas on April 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage) Johnny Nunez

Sean Diddy Combs ex-girlfriend Virginia Gina Huynh, who was referred to as Victim-3 in his indictment, has written a letter to the judge presiding over his federal case in support of his release on bail before his sentencing in October.

Huynh was referenced several times in the governments indictment of Combs, though she never ended up testifying in his trial.

Huynhs note was included in a letter sent on Sunday by Combs legal team, who claim that the government argued that Combs was violent toward Virginia Gina Huynh.

Huynh wrote that he has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first.

I am writing because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community, she stated in her letter to the judge.

This is his first criminal case. Throughout the investigation and proceedings he has been cooperative, respectful and compliant. He has substantial ties to his family and community, including children who depend on him for emotional and financial support. Granting him bond would allow him to continue caring for his family and fulfilling his responsibilities while still subject to the Courts supervision.

She supported Combs pre-sentencing release by assuring the court that he would adhere to all conditions imposed and will not jeopardize his freedom or the well-being of his family.

Our relationship, like many, was not always perfect, we experienced ups and downs, and mistakes were made but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future, she wrote.

Over the years that followed he made visible efforts to become a better person and to address the harm he had caused. By the time our relationship ended, he embodied an energy of love, patience and gentleness that was markedly different from his past behavior. To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first.

In its indictment, the government accused Combs of using force, threats of force, and coercion, to cause victims, including but not limited to three female victims -- referred to as Victim-1, Victim-2 and Victim-3 -- to engage in commercial sex acts.

In connection with the commercial sex acts, Combs provided the victims with, among other things, monetary payments, career opportunities, and payments of rent and housing expenses.

During Combs trial, according to CNN, his former assistant George Kaplan testified that he once saw Combs throwing apples at Huynh in his Miami home.

Casandra Cassie Ventura, a key witness in the case, also testified that Combs was unfaithful to her by dating Gina while they were together.

Combs is currently incarcerated while awaiting his sentencing, set for October 3, on two counts of transportation for prostitution.

His legal team has revived its attempts to get Combs out of prison before sentencing and has been engaged in a back-and-forth with the government, arguing over his eligibility for bail.

 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC
Parts of Alabama will only see highs in the 70s on Monday. South and western parts of the state will still be on the warm side, however. National Weather Service

Parts of Alabama will experience an rarity in August: Highs only in the 70s.

And that could also be the case for Tuesday, too.

The National Weather Service is forecasting highs on Monday to stay in the 70s -- even the low 70s -- for parts of east and north Alabama today.

Not all will get to enjoy it, though. Temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s are expected in parts of west and south Alabama today.

One Alabama city set a record on Sunday for the coolest high temperature on record.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham said the city of Anniston had an official high temperature of 76 degrees on Sunday. That broke the record for lowest high temperature for Aug. 3, which was 82 degrees in 1969.

The cooler temperatures expected in eastern Alabama today will be because of continued chances for rain.

A flood watch will be in effect through at least Tuesday for eastern Alabama, where up to 3 inches of rain will be possible, according to forecasters.

The Alabama counties in green will be under flood watches today and Tuesday:

Eastern Alabama will be under flood watches on Monday and Tuesday. NWS

The weather service said heavy, slow-moving showers and thunderstorms will be possible in the watch area, which could cause flash flooding.

Here is the forecast for rainfall through Wednesday evening:

Here is the expected rain for Alabama through Wednesday evening. NWS

A COOL TUESDAY TOO?

Tuesday is also expected to be on the cool side in parts of Alabama, thanks in part to continued rain chances.

Parts of eastern Alabama may again only have highs in the 70s. The rest of the state is expected to climb back into the 80s again.

Here is the temperature forecast for Tuesday:

More highs in the 70s will be possible on Tuesday for parts of Alabama. NWS

Alabamas temperatures are expected to warm back up this week, with highs back in the 80s and 90s for most of the state by Wednesday.

Looking further into the future, the six- to 10-day temperature outlook from NOAAs Climate Prediction Center is forecasting near-average temperatures for parts of Alabama from Aug. 9-13.

West Alabama will have slightly increased probabilities for above-average heat, however.
The Homeland Security Investigations-Atlanta office provided this image of a restaurant on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in announcing search warrants at locations in Alabama. Homeland Security Investigations-Atlanta

A federal judge on Friday ordered the release of former Opelika El Patron kitchen manager Isaac Fernandez-Lopez, one of several Alabama restaurant workers arrested in last months federal raids.

In its complaint, the government alleged that Fernandez-Lopez knowingly hired and harbored illegal immigrants.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Chad Bryan writes in the order that the government did not establish probable cause in its filing.

It is the courts obligation...to determine whether sufficient evidence has been presented to establish probable cause that Defendant Fernandez-Lopez committed either of the violations charged in the Criminal Complaint, the order reads.

The court concludes that the Government has not satisfied that burden. In short, the current evidence only would establish probable cause that Defendant Fernandez-Lopez was considered a manager at the El Patron restaurant and that the restaurant itself hired employees who lacked proper legal status.

The current evidence will not support a reasonable belief that Defendant Fernandez-Lopez personally engaged in such illegal conduct, it continues.

While employees did identify Fernandez-Lopez as a manager at El Patron, the governments case did not establish that he was the manager responsible for hiring new employees, according to the order.

The evidence reflects that the El Patron restaurant had at least three managers and possibly more, Bryan writes.

Given the lack of evidence as to delegated responsibilities, along with the language barrier with the interviewed employees, the court would have to engage in utter speculation to assume that Defendant Fernandez-Lopez was vested with some type of hiring authorityeven if he might have been viewed by certain employees as a manager.

Fernandez-Lopez entered the country illegally in 2006, according to court documents.

He applied for asylum in 2016 but was denied and his appeal for that decision is still pending.

Fernandez-Lopez was granted a work permit through 2028 as he waits on the outcome of his appeal and ICE Agent Steven Pearson testified that he has been checking in with ICE over the last decade.

Como en Casa kitchen manager Luis Miguel Campos-Reyes, who was arrested last month on the same charges, returns with the government to court today for his hearing, according to court documents.
4 August 2025 - Rakon Limited (NZX: RAK ) has today released its Notice of Meeting. This contains important information for shareholders on Director elections and Board composition, and shareholders are encouraged to read it carefully.

The 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Rakon Limited will be held at 10.30am on Friday 22 August 2025 in the Great Northern Room, Ellerslie Event Centre, Remuera, Auckland and online via https://meetnow.global/nz.

Shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on the election and re-election of four Directors.

Dr Mark Bregman, Dr Lisbeth Jacobs and Mr Jon Raby have been appointed as Independent Directors since the last Annual Meeting and are therefore standing for election by shareholders. All were identified as having valuable skill sets and expertise that add considerable value to the Board and the company, and their appointments were unanimously approved by all of Rakons independent and non-independent Directors.

The Board, by majority resolution, recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the elections of Dr Mark Bregman, Dr Lisbeth Jacobs and Mr Jon Raby.

Selection of Dr Mark Bregman as Independent Chair

As advised on 22 July 2025, following a careful, structured process, Dr Mark Bregman was selected as Chair-elect by majority Board resolution. Following a thorough assessment, the Board sub-committee, with the support of independent governance experts, formed the view that Dr Bregman was an excellent candidate and demonstrated to a very high level the appropriate mix of experience, skills and attributes required to lead the Rakon Board.

Brent Robinson, a non-independent director on the Rakon Board, had also expressed his interest in becoming the Chair of Rakon, however, chose not to participate in the selection process. Notwithstanding that he did not participate in the process, and his non-independent status, the sub-committee carefully considered his candidacy. However, the Independent Directors unanimously determined that they were not able to support his selection. The Board does, however, believe that as a large and longstanding shareholder, it is appropriate for Brent to have a place on the Board and supports Brents re-election as a non-Independent Director.

Shareholder Voting Intentions

Since being advised of the Independent Directors determination regarding the role of chair, Brent Robinson has advised, despite approving each of the Independent Directors appointments, that he is now no longer prepared to support the candidacies of Mark Bregman, Lisbeth Jacobs and Jon Raby.

Brent Robinson is the registered holder of a 4.31% holding and an associate of other family members including his brother Darren Robinson who is the registered holder of 4.31% and they are both registered holders and beneficial owners of 11.05% of Rakons issued shares (representing a total of 19.67%). Non-Independent Director, Jung Meng Tseng, who represents the interests of Siward Crystal Technology Co., Ltd (Siward) has also advised, despite approving each of the Independent Directors appointments, that he is now not prepared to support the candidacies of Mark Bregman, Lisbeth Jacobs and Jon Raby. Siward holds 12.19% of the shares in the company.

The shareholders associated with Brent Robinson and Jung Meng Tseng collectively represent a substantial block (but still a minority) of the shares in the company.

There is a risk that, if the votes of the shareholders associated with Brent Robinson and Jung Meng Tseng are sufficient to defeat the resolutions for election of Mark Bregman, Lisbeth Jacobs and Jon Raby, the company will be left with no Directors who have been determined to be independent. This would result in an immediate breach of the NZX Listing Rules. This would have serious consequences for the company, and the company would have to take urgent action to address that issue.

Current chair, Lorraine Witten, says: I believe the careful recruitment of independent, conscientious and capable Directors to the Board is critically important and that peremptory removal of high-performing Directors undermines the sound stewardship that shareholders and the company deserve.

I also believe that selection of a highly qualified independent Board Chair (in line with best practice and in compliance with the NZX Corporate Governance Code) is in the best interests of all shareholders  this is especially important here because the majority of the shares in the company are held by shareholders whose holdings are (individually) less than 4% in size.

There is no certainty that the relevant shareholder(s) will exercise their votes, or take the steps, referred to above.

Shareholders should refer to the Notice of Meeting and Explanatory Notes for further information.

-ENDS-

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Authorities searching for a man wanted in the murders of the parents, grandmother and uncle of an infant found alone and alive in Tennessee have charged two other men in connection with the killings.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation charged Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Investigators allege both men assisted 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond in the murders.

Authorities have left many questions unanswered, including how the men allegedly helped Drummond, the manner in which the relatives were killed and how the baby ended up in a car seat in the Tigrett area, roughly 40 miles from the bodies.

Tigrett is in a rural part of western Tennessee, north of Memphis.

Law enforcement officers were still searching for Drummond as of Sunday, Aug. 3.

He should be considered armed and dangerous, the bureau said in a Saturday news release.

On Friday, authorities said they found the car they believe Drummond had been driving. It was located in Jackson, Tennessee, about 70 miles from where the bodies were discovered and some 40 miles from where the baby was left.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch said authorities believe the family murders were a targeted attack by Drummond, who had a relationship with the victims. The baby is safe and being cared for, authorities have said.

Officials obtained warrants for Drummond that charge him with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses. His criminal history includes prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening to go after jurors. He was also charged with attempted murder while behind bars.

No listed for number for Drummond could be found. An attorney who represented him as a teenager has not returned messages from The Associated Press.

Authorities have identified the four people found dead in Tiptonville as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.

Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the parents of the infant who was found abandoned. Rose was Adrianna and Braydon Williams mother.
FILE - Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, questions the witnesses during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency hearing on Capitol Hill, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File) AP

A liberal Texas Democrat referred to President Donald Trump as a piece of s--- over the weekend while calling for ethics reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Listen, Donald Trump is a piece of s---, OK? We know that, said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Tex.

Crockett made the remark at Saturday at the MoveOn rally in Phoenix.

The liberal Texas congresswoman claimed Trump has not faced accountability by the other branches of government.

He is [a piece of s---], but in a functioning democracy he still would not be able to get away with this, Crockett continued.

But hes been able to get away with this because the House Republicans are complicit. Hes been able to get away with this because Senate Republicans are complicit, the congresswoman said.

But most importantly, the courts, especially the [U.S.] Supreme Court, is complicit, Crockett argued.

The Texas congresswoman said the high court does not have the same ethics requirements as lower courts.

They are the highest court in the land and they have no ethics guardrails. Now you go down to the lower courts, and they do. How much sense does that make? she said.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court has not instituted ethics rules, Crockett said, its time for us to do it for them.

Crockett has been one of Trumps leading critics.

In April, she wondered why more questions werent being raised about the presidents mental fitness amid his tariff wars.

Like, the fact that [Republicans] sat around, called Joe Biden Sleepy Joe Biden  at least you could sleep at night because you didnt have to worry about your 401(k) disappearing overnight," she said at the time.










English News Echoes of the Lisbon Maru: A Story Remembered

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 31 Juillet 2025



The story of the Chinese fishermen and the British POWs is a vivid embodiment of a community with a shared future for mankind. Even in moments of profound danger, compassion can transcend borders. People of different nations can come together, offering each other hope, dignity, and the will to survive.

By Fang Li My first encounter with the the "Lisbon Maru" occurred in 2014. While on a marine expedition, I happened to learn that the wreck of the ship had never been precisely located. With a background in geophysics and extensive experience in marine exploration, I was immediately drawn to the challenge.



As I delved deeper into the research, I began to uncover the harrowing history behind the vessel.



In October 1942, the Japanese army requisitioned the cargo vessel "Lisbon Maru" to carry more than 1,800 British prisoners of war (POWs) from Hong Kong to Japan. In violation of international conventions, the Japanese army did not put any markings on the ship to indicate the POWs inside.



Torpedoed by the U.S. army, the vessel sank in the waters off the Zhoushan Islands in east China's Zhejiang province. As the ship went down, many British POWs who leapt into the sea were fired upon by Japanese guards. In stark contrast, local Chinese fishermen risked their lives to mount a daring rescue. After 25 agonizing hours, the "Lisbon Maru" finally disappeared beneath the waves.



As my investigation concluded, I felt the lost lives aboard the ship were silent histories awaiting witness. This conviction drove me to produce the documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru."



To reconstruct the events aboard the ship, we published notices in British newspapers such as The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian. Eventually, we connected with over 380 descendants of those involved, gathered more than 10,000 historical photographs, and conducted in-depth interviews with over 130 individuals, including three survivors - Private Dennis Morley of the Royal Scots, Private William Beningfield of the Middlesex Regiment, and Chinese fisherman Lin Agen, one of the rescuers.



Morley recounted with trembling hands and haunted eyes: "Without the Chinese intervention, we'd all have perished under Japanese machine gun fire.



He believed the rescuers never truly knew how many lives they had saved. His daughter, Denise Viney, was deeply moved: "Those Chinese fishermen were heroes. If they hadn't come, my father wouldn't have survived, and I wouldn't be here today."



Amid the chaos of sinking wreckage and relentless gunfire, the Chinese fishermen launched 46 boats, making 65 trips to rescue 384 British POWs. Among them was 17-year-old Lin Agen, who, together with fellow villagers, rowed a small wooden boat back and forth from dawn until midday, ultimately saving eight men.



"I was swimming toward the island, wondering how I'd climb the rocks," recalled Beningfield, tears welling in his eyes. "Then I saw a small boat approaching. I am forever grateful to the Chinese fishermen. They risked everything to save us, even though the Japanese could have retaliated against their entire village."



Tragically, all three survivors passed away before the documentary's release. But we were fortunate to preserve their testimonies while they were still alive, ensuring that this overlooked chapter of history could be brought to light.

The documentary also explores a deeper question of human nature: How do people make moral choices under extreme circumstances? Are such decisions shaped by hardship, culture, or conscience?



The Chinese fishermen answered with quiet conviction. When they saw the soaked, half-naked British POWs, they offered clothes, hot water, and food. Though their island was impoverished and farmland scarce, they gave all they could. To Lin and many of the fishermen's descendants, their actions were simply what any decent person would do.



Their compassion and courage - offered freely, without regard for personal safety - continue to resonate across time and borders. When Lin passed away in 2020, many descendants of the British POWs sent heartfelt condolences. One message read: "He leaves behind a legacy of courage, heroism, and kindness in the face of the darkest acts of war."



This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The "Lisbon Maru" story carries renewed relevance. It is not just a part of Chinese or British history - it is part of our shared human memory. Documenting it was a global endeavor.



British historian Tony Banham was the first to research this neglected episode. His book The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru: Britain's Forgotten Wartime Tragedy provided invaluable material for the documentary. As a filmmaker, I took up the second baton, transforming those records into a visual narrative. Now, the third baton passes to viewers worldwide. Their reflections on war, morality, and compassion help sustain a shared resonance - one that can inspire greater unity in the pursuit of peace.



The story of the Chinese fishermen and the British POWs is a vivid embodiment of a community with a shared future for mankind. Even in moments of profound danger, compassion can transcend borders. People of different nations can come together, offering each other hope, dignity, and the will to survive.



(Fang Li is the producer and director of the documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru." This article was compiled by People's Daily journalist Li Xinyi upon an interview with Fang.)



Dans la meme rubrique : < > A Chinese hero remembered in reverence Shanghai FTZ experience spurs innovation-driven growth through institutional reform They Leave to Uplift, Not to Escape: How Migration Sustains Lesothos Quiet Villages Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Upholding sincerity, principles to advance China-U.S. economic, trade relations

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 31 Juillet 2025



With utmost sincerity and firm adherence to principles, China stands ready to work with the U.S., leveraging this round of economic and trade talks in Sweden as an opportunity to build more consensus, enhance mutual trust, reduce misjudgments, and deepen cooperation. Together, the two sides can inject stronger positive momentum into their respective development and the stability and prosperity of the global economy.

By Zhong Sheng, People's Daily A new round of economic and trade talks between China and the United States is currently underway in Sweden. This follows the significant consensus reached during the Geneva talks and the establishment of the London Framework during the London meeting. Once again, the two sides are holding face-to-face consultations on economic and trade issues.



At a time when the global economy is facing uncertainties, the international community expects both China and the U.S. to make good use of existing consultation mechanisms, take concrete actions to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and jointly steer bilateral economic and trade relations toward the right path, which is essential for resolving differences through equal dialogue and consultation.



The Chinese delegation came to Sweden with sincerity. Despite vicissitudes in China-U.S. economic and trade relations in recent years, China has consistently maintained a constructive approach and remained committed to resolving issues through equal dialogue and consultation.



Amid the current round of economic and trade frictions, China has never closed the door to negotiation while firmly safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests. From Geneva to London, China has demonstrated sincerity, advancing the talks with tangible efforts and implementing the consensus with concrete actions. These moves have bolstered confidence that differences can be resolved through equal dialogue.



During the current talks in Sweden, China remains committed to working with the U.S. toward tangible outcomes. This commitment stems from a deep understanding of the mutually beneficial nature of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, as well as a clear recognition of the unique global responsibilities shared by both countries.



Differences between countries are inevitable; the key lies in how they are addressed. Dialogue and consultation provide not only a more efficient path forward, but also serve to forestall unnecessary costs. China's development interests must not be compromised. The two sides should explore possible solutions through dialogue based on mutual respect. Upholding the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation in economic and trade consultations aligns with the expectations of both peoples and the wider international community.



Sincerity, however, does not imply compromising on principles. Consultations have bottom lines, and cooperation must be grounded in clear principles. Any dialogue must be conducted based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit.



What China seeks to safeguard is not only its own legitimate rights and interests, but also international fairness and justice. China's development achievements are the result of the hard work of the Chinese people, not bestowed by others, nor achieved at the expense of other countries. These achievements must not be undermined, and China's right to development cannot be denied.



In the face of U.S. tariff blackmail, investment restrictions, and technological blockades, China's determination to defend its legitimate rights and interests remains unwavering, and its capabilities are evident to all.



The recently released mid-year economic data for 2025 demonstrate that, despite sharp changes in the international landscape and growing external pressure, the Chinese economy has maintained strong resilience and vitality. In the first half of the year, China's GDP grew 5.3 percent year on year, an increase of 0.3 percentage points over both the same period last year and the full-year growth rate for 2024. Total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms reached 21.79 trillion yuan ($3.03 trillion), up 2.9 percent year on year. These figures underscore China's ability to withstand pressure and sustain stable growth.



Looking ahead, regardless of how the external environment evolves, China has full confidence in its capacity to maintain steady and positive economic momentum, advance high-quality development, and continue contributing stability and certainty to the world economy.



China is keenly aware of the long-term and complex nature of these negotiations. It recognizes that the trade frictions unilaterally initiated by the U.S. are not merely about short-term interests, but fundamentally challenge the rules that underpin the international economic and trade order.



China firmly opposes any acts of unilateralism and protectionism, which threaten to undermine the multilateral trading system. This position is taken not only to protect its own interests, but also to uphold the institutional foundation for global development.



An increasing number of insightful voices in the international community have observed that no country can remain unscathed in the face of economic coercion. Only by firmly upholding principled positions can countries truly protect their legitimate interests in negotiations. Should foundational principles be breached, coercion will invariably escalate and ultimately imperil all countries.



Turbulent seas demand steady and united navigation. All parties should work together to safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system and foster an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory global trade environment. Both history and reality have repeatedly proven that dialogue and cooperation are the only viable way to resolve economic and trade disputes, while threats and coercion lead nowhere.



With utmost sincerity and firm adherence to principles, China stands ready to work with the U.S., leveraging this round of economic and trade talks in Sweden as an opportunity to build more consensus, enhance mutual trust, reduce misjudgments, and deepen cooperation. Together, the two sides can inject stronger positive momentum into their respective development and the stability and prosperity of the global economy.



(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)



Dans la meme rubrique : < > A Chinese hero remembered in reverence Shanghai FTZ experience spurs innovation-driven growth through institutional reform They Leave to Uplift, Not to Escape: How Migration Sustains Lesothos Quiet Villages Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Much has been made of the New York Times front page, above the fold image of what was claimed to be a child suffering from malnutrition in Gaza. The picture of the child, Mohammed Zakaria al Mutawaq, was used as the poster child for starvation in Gaza. The image went viral. Except that the child suffers from a genetic disorder and not malnutrition. The New York Times finally acknowledged that Mohammad suffered from a genetic disorder but doubled down on the dubious claim that he was suffering malnutrition. Another photo, not published by the Times, clearly shows Mohammads mother and a non-starving sibling. This does not mitigate suffering in Gaza, but it does indicate that either Mohammads mother was deliberately starving him and feeding his brother, or this was not the cause of the little boys distress.

Unfortunately, and to the permanent shame of the Times, this image is one of an endless series of such images printed by that paper. Hamas seemingly has a pipeline to several pages of the front section daily. The Times publishes the pictures with accompanying glossy graphs and charts to feature and highlight the starvation that the Times wants to convince is happening in Gaza. The steady drumbeat of emotional photography from Gazan photographers likely affiliated with Hamas with statistics coming directly from Hamas via the Hamas Ministry of Health does have its effect.

What a big heart! The Times wants you to believe that it cares so deeply about hunger and misfortune. They want you to believe that they care so much that they are willing to rely on the evidence provided by an international terrorist organization. To make you care as much as they do, the Times is willing to run photographs of sick children -- not starving children -- and claim they were starving based on Hamas information. In fact, they care so deeply that they must invoke the blood libel that the IDF -- i.e. the Jews -- are intentionally starving these children. Never mind that Gaza is a war zone and that people face suffering in war zones for many reasons. Never mind, as Col. Abdullah Halabi, from the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), told reporters that around 1,000 truckloads of aid remain undelivered due to a lack of cooperation from the international community and international organizations. Never mind also that Israel is air dropping food into Gaza. If the New York Times could virtue signal more efficiently by claiming the Jews bake the blood of non-Jews into their matzah crackers then so be it, it would.

Yet we know that the Times doesnt actually care about hungry children. Gaza is 5,700 miles from the Times swanky main office at 620 8th Avenue in Manhattan. There may or may not be a hunger problem in Gaza. It gets to the front page all the time. Yet hunger is rampant in New York City all around the Times office. Reporters working at the Times need to step over hungry people on the street to get to work. In their rush to publish Hamas propaganda of possible hunger 5,700 miles away Times employees had to sit next to homeless, hungry, and broken people on their subway ride to work, pass hungry children on the street, and ignore literal cardboard signs of desperate people begging for food.

City Harvest, a charitable organization that feeds the hungry, claimed in 2024 that 1 in 4 children in New York City do not always know where their next meal will come from. They site a report from the organization Feeding America for this statistic (not Hamas). There are an estimated 1.7 million children currently living in New York City (according to Google AI). That means that 425,000 children do not always know where their next meal is coming from (according to my calculator and again not Hamas).

Further the problem of hunger is rising in New York. In 2023 food banks in the city received more than one million visits. This number is up over 100 % from pre-pandemic levels. City Harvest reports that 63% of NYC households with children struggle to make ends meet -- 19 percentage points higher than households without children. All these statistics come from a City Harvest analysis of FeedNYC data and not from any group classified as a terrorist organization by the United States government, the U.K. and the E.U

This is happening in the city directly surrounding the Times office. Zero miles away.

Homelessness is another catastrophe in New York City. According to the Coalition for the Homeless, homelessness in New York City has reached the highest level since the Great Depression of the 1930s. In May 2025, 106,875 people slept each night in NYC shelters. Thousands more (there is no reliable number, as the annual HOPE estimate is deeply flawed) slept unsheltered in public spaces. This included 36,485 children with More than 146,000 NYC schoolchildren experienced homelessness at some point during the 2023-2024 school year, representing one in eight children attending city schools.

The fact is that the editors, the business managers, the columnists, the salespeople, the human resources folks, the administrators, and everyone else who works for the New York Times literally -- not just figuratively -- steps over a real, factual crisis of housing and hunger every single day. A crisis that involves children and families. Then they publish and opine a questionable crisis, whose information comes from a terrorist group, in a war zone 5,700 miles away. What war is occurring in New York City to cause this problem of food and housing? What terrorists are hiding in residential buildings? What hostages are being held? What terror tunnels are under New York City? In other words, what justifies any of this?

The truth is that real hunger -- not Hamas propaganda -- is all around the New York Times home office. If the paper cared about hungry children, it wouldnt need Hamas to provide the journalism. The same is true of all the newspapers in our big cities; the Washington Post and the LA Times and the Seattle Times and my hometown Pittsburgh Post Gazette. This leaves me with a question. A question of feelings of guilt. To lay blame on an IDF soldier for not providing sufficient rations when he or she is away from family for months at a time, away from their jobs, away from their schooling, at continual risk of permanent injury or death when you -- the newspaper staffer -- have all these things. You live in comfort. Yet you step over and around the poor and you bury stories about the problem deep within the paper. Every day. So, I ask you, does it ease your guilty consciousness to issue blood libel against others?

Image: Public Domain Pictures
When American Eagle launched its fall campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney with the cheeky tagline Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans, the expected outrage frenzy was immediate.

In the ad, the 27-year-old actress says, Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.

YouTube screengrab // fair use

Its a pun, a play on the words genes and jeans, as even the Los Angeles Times acknowledged.

Critics accused the spot of echoing eugenic or white supremacist rhetoric because Sweeney is blonde, blue-eyed, and framed as genetically blue. Some even labeled it Nazi propaganda."

Yet the real shock was how the backlash backfired.

American Eagles stock price surged, delivering tripledigit millions to shareholders and a renewed sense of brand vitality.

It was also a big middle finger to flummoxed leftists who thought boycotts and social media outrage would bring American Eagle to its knees, groveling for forgiveness amidst promises to do better, along with large donations to Jessie Jackson and Al Sharptons grift operations.

According to Reuters coverage, the Sweeney campaign alone boosted American Eagles stock by about 20 percent, adding hundreds of millions in market value in just one day.

Meanwhile, critics on the left dismissed the campaign as tonedeaf or even dangerous. On X, outrage posts proliferated and were mostly unhinged. A few comments can be read here:

The level of outrage Sydney Sweeneys American Eagle ad has sparked among white liberal women is honestly wild White supremacy propaganda, racially charged Black people will eventully be hung Xenophobic, racist, scientifically inaccurate

One X post claimed, Her initials are SS. Can it be more obvious?

Perhaps an intrepid journalist could reach out to former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence, Frank Figliuzzi, who in 2019 believed that President Trump flying American flags at half-mast until August 8 was a wink and a nod to white supremacists

After all, the date 8/8 is a Nazi dog whistle since the 8th letter of the alphabet is H and 8/8 means Heil Hitler. Or something like that. Does that mean that Hillary Clintons initials mean hot chick?

The contrarian response was equally loud.

Sydney Sweeneys American Eagle ad sparks outrage, but fans praise her for killing woke advertising

Even Senator Ted Cruz weighed in, defending Sweeney and mocking the wokesters by saying, Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women.

Would overly-sensitive woke leftists suggest redoing the commercial, replacing Sydney Sweeney with, say, Stacey Abrams or Letitia James? Or effete Dylan Mulvaney? Or a fat, bearded guy pretending to be a woman? Im sure that would boost sales.

Many argued that the ad acted as a cultural reset, returning to straightforward, Americana-inspired marketing where sex appeal and nostalgia still drive sales. This reinforces the axiom, Get woke, go broke.

I remember the times when Farrah Fawcett and Joe Namath provocatively advertised Noxzema shaving cream, and Cindy Crawford made young boys drool over Pepsi.

Contrast that with Jaguar's fate. In late 2024, Jaguar launched an edgy rebrand without any cars. Instead, it featured a Hunger Games cast with abstract designs and flamboyant visuals described as diverse, avant-garde, and social-justice oriented. It failed spectacularly.

In April 2025, European sales plummeted 97 percent, with only 49 vehicles sold across the continent compared to nearly 1,961 the previous year. To consumers, it seemed like tone-deaf virtue signaling where sales vanished, prestige collapsed, and brand value diminished. Last week, its CEO got the boot.

Fortunately, American Eagle did not apologize, grovel, or make promises of atonement to grifters like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. They stood by their star and brand and will likely remain the jeans of choice for much of Americas younger generation.

Heres their response:

Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.

In one corner is a sexy jeans ad that enraged virtue-signalers but boosted a brands cultural and financial standing. In the other corner, a woke rebrand that went too far left, causing Jaguar stock to plummet and removing the brand from many potential buyers' wish lists.

This pattern emphasizes a broader message conservatives should adopt. Mainly, most Americans arent offended by sexuality, beauty, or nostalgia. But they are turned off by sanctimony, moralism, and bemused moral outrage. The success of Sweeneys campaign highlights the lasting appeal of simple marketing, one that sells jeans, jokes a little, and doesnt lecture viewers.

Consumers are fed up with leftist scolds telling everyone what to think, buy, and support.

To critics who claimed the ad promotes eugenics, please explain other left-wing positions. Aborting over a million babies a year and chemically or surgically castrating teenagers below the age of consent are much clearer examples of eugenics than a pretty blonde woman talking about her genes/jeans.

Proceeds from the American Eagle The Sydney Jean benefit Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit that offers mental health support. This is a virtue that should be signaled.

Advertising strategists acknowledged that the pun of jeans/genes might be risky, but it was meant for comedic effect and to attract attention, especially from Gen Z conservatives who bristle at woke posturing.

This manufactured outrage highlights the absurdity of modern performative activism. Think of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dramatically crying in front of a fence in South Texas or Rep. Cory Booker pretending to be Spartacus, displaying theatrical outrage in the U.S. Senate chambers.

Its interesting how quickly critics use historical trauma to dismiss minor cultural expressions. Meanwhile, a conservative Gen Z audience seeks sex appeal, humor, and irony. That's the market Sweeney and American Eagle targeted, and the stock market responded positively.

Whats the lesson?

One brand, Jaguar, doubled down on wokeness and failed. Another brand used sex appeal and humor and succeeded. For conservative publications and marketers, the lessons are clear.

American Eagle learned this lesson.

Compare their recent ad with one from 2019. Woke is dead.

X screenshot // fair use

Freedom and humor sell better than virtue-signaling, outrage, and guilt. Beauty and nostalgia are powerful tools in American advertising. Appeasing social media mobs of snowflakes and bots is the quickest way to alienate mainstream American consumers. Outrage might generate social media clicks, but smart marketing drives sales and increases share prices.

In a time when aesthetics, identity politics, and cultural symbolism are used as tools, America still buys jeans, especially when worn by an attractive young woman in a viral ad. The culture wars may persist, but the consumer still holds sway.

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor, Substack Dr. Brians Substack, Truth Social @BrianJoondeph, LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph, and email brianjoondeph@gmail.com.
We are living through an era of professional gaslighting so refined it could qualify for a Ph.D. in psychological warfare.

The latest example? After years of establishment indifference, we are now being told -- loudly, breathlessly -- that Jeffrey Epsteins legacy of elite depravity is the national scandal of the hour. Apparently, six years after his death, this is now urgent. That Donald Trump crossed paths with Epstein is supposed to be more damning than the years Epstein was welcomed by the Clinton inner circle, the Gates orbit, and the upper crust of academia, finance, and intelligence.

Let me offer a parable.

There is a mouse in the room. Its name is Epstein. The media is pointing at it, stomping its feet, shrieking: Look at this dangerous mouse!

Just behind the mouse stomps an elephant -- huge, festering, impossible to ignore if you simply look. This is the face of the biggest federal scandal since the Kennedy assassination. It is the defining image of the Deep State: a shadow bureaucracy led by Brennan, Clapper, Comey, and others, manipulating the presentation -- not to be confused with facts.

Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of National Intelligence, has implicated former President Obama directly, and the evidence supports her. The elephant is real. It is the coordination of the Deep State, shaping narratives that, for reasons unspoken, are embraced wholesale by legacy media.

Today, the media fixates on the firing of a Deep State Labor Department official. They dig obsessively for any mud to fling at Trump. Why? Trump Derangement Syndrome is no longer a sufficient explanation. This is about protecting the machine. But why?

Compare Hillary Clintons destruction of her private server and the hammering to bits of subpoenaed phones. The media shrugged. Why? Arent they supposed to report the news? Same with the Hunter laptop from hell, the Biden familys foreign business schemes, the jaw-dropping wealth accumulation of congressional lifers -- none of it hits the radar. This is the elephant and the machine.

The mouse is a distraction.

The elephant is the system.

The machine is the shield.

It is no longer conspiracy to say the Deep State exists -- it is observation. It is measurable. The federal government has failed multiple audits involving trillions in unaccounted-for dollars. Nobody is fired. Nobody is prosecuted. Agencies like the Pentagon, HUD, and State are black holes of spending. Contractors feast, middlemen thrive, and entire careers are built not on results, but on keeping the machine humming for insiders. And Americans? We yawn. We scroll. We buy the next outrage.

We are no longer governed. We are processed.

This isnt a government of the people. Its a machine for the distribution of favors, immunity, and wealth -- among the protected class. That is why Epstein didnt matter until now. Thats why Hillary can BleachBit servers, lie to Congress, and rake in $100K per speech. Thats why Bidens documented lies and his family's shady foreign deals provoke less interest than a Trump typo.

But heaven forbid Trump fill out a form improperly.

Weve become numb to scale. Numb to volume. A $500 hammer here, a $2 trillion boondoggle there. The Pentagon misplaces $6.2 trillion? Shrug. Hunter Biden makes millions in Ukraine while his dad shapes policy? Shrug. Bureaucrats retire with six-figure pensions after decades of managing failure as public servants? Shrug again.

And now, like a bad B-movie reboot, the Epstein plotline is dragged back into the spotlight -- as the headline event. Somehow, the Deep State's vast corruption is treated as a distraction from Epstein. Its almost admirable, in a clinical-psychopath kind of way.

Lets not play dumb. The system isn't just corrupt, it is self-aware. It protects its members, demonizes threats, and launders its failures through distraction. And like all declining empires, it cloaks its rot in the language of justice and democracy. The same DoJ that ignores arson, looting, and political violence in blue cities suddenly finds religion when a Republican sneezes in the wrong direction.

The same agencies that fumbled 9/11, Iraq WMDs, Russiagate, and the Hunter laptop now ask for your trust -- again.

Here is the truth: Epstein was a grotesque man with grotesque friends. But the reason his story is being reactivated now is not justice. Its cover. Its projection. Its the oldest trick in the political playbook: accuse your enemies of the crimes you are terrified might be traced back to you.

Be careful what you wish for.

Because if the Epstein list ever truly breaks open -- if the full extent of who flew where, and why, and who knew what ever comes to light -- then the same people hurling accusations today might find themselves holding the dynamite with the fuse already lit.

It is getting harder to hide that elephant behind the mouse.

Rick McDowell is a writer of political philosophy, American history, and essays on the mind. His other thoughts can be found at https://americanperspective.today.

Image: Public Domain
ATT made headlines last December when the company told employees they needed to return to the office and give up hybrid (telework) schedules. Now last Friday, August 1, CEO John Stankey told employees: get with the program or get another job.

Analyzing results of an employee poll, Stankey seemed satisfied that 79% of respondents seemed to accept the return to office policy and the new direction upper management was taking. Stankey insisted that, for ATT to remain competitive, it needed to move from a paternalistic company based on employee satisfaction to one based on competition for customer satisfaction and market share. And if thats not your cup of tea, you might want to find another company more aligned to your vision.

The American workplace seems prone to wild oscillations. Not too long ago, I was regularly critiquing the phenomenon of greedy work, the idea that somehow professionalism made the principle of a limited day obsolete. There is a reason why one of the noteworthy achievements of the American labor movement was the eight-hour day. Nor should we think of that limit as exclusively for physical laborers (though one-third of ones day is demanding). One-third of ones day is fair labor for people who should not have to live for work.

But COVID swung the pendulum to the other extreme. While our most essential workers -- the people who stocked shelves and drove trucks -- never left the job, those who think about the workplace took a long time to get back to the office. Their absence, of course, was supported by those who went back to their jobs much earlier, delivering food, groceries, and all sorts of care items to our thinking and management classes. The fact that in 2025 people are still grousing about going back to the workplace is very much a class issue.

And while I very much want to strike a balance between greedy work and pajama-clad work, I see one big reason for the return to the office. Its the Biblical injunction: it is not good for the man to be alone.

Most work requires collaboration. Teamwork. Collaboration does not occur only (or even primarily) through scheduled connections on Zoom. It happens in a thousand and one little ways by which employees in the office connect and learn a company culture, from the meeting in the conference room to the gossip around the water cooler. This context acculturates employees, forms bonds that are the social glue reinforcing work teams, and performs the valuable psycho-social function of putting people in contact with other people regularly.

It also reinforces a valuable red line that greedy work blurred: the distinction between home and workplace. The growth of home as alternate workplace is not a positive phenomenon. The fact that returning ATT employees complained that they were compelled to come back to offices for which there was no space for them shows how the workplace also benefitted from spinning off its infrastructure requirements on to the home.

But I think the most important benefit of return to work is a correction to the culture of at least two generations raised by helicopter parents: life is not primarily about you. In marriage and family life, it is often about the other. In business and work, it is about the employer and what it takes for your employer to be successful. Your job is not first and foremost about your personal fulfillment (which is why people need to be more serious about vocational discernment). It is about giving your employer a fair days labor. Work is not a locus for participation trophies.

Stankey seemed to infer that the idea of corporate loyalty towards employees might also be on the line in the new management paradigm. That would be unfortunate: a company that has no loyalty to its people, who sees them simply as a cost factor, have no right in justice to expect 110% loyalty commitment from them. The measure by which you measure will be measured out to you is more than just a nice Biblical saying.

Still, theres a valuable lesson in Americas most successful businesses laying down markers that productive work, normally in-person, is the mark by which ones employment success will be measured. Its good for business and good for the worker, because it is not good that man should be alone.

Image: AT&T
To New York Times #neverTrump columnist David French, the U.S. owes Gaza a living.

He put out a seemingly reasonable column, assuring us he's a friend of Israel, titled "Israel Must Open Its Eyes," sanctimoniously blaming Israel and the U.S. for the miserable plight of the Gazans.

So, yes, I consider myself a friend of Israel. But now its friends need to stage an intervention. The Israeli government has gone too far. It has engineered a staggering humanitarian crisis, and that crisis is both a moral atrocity and a long-term threat to Israel itself. Civilian casualties were inevitable when Israel responded to Hamas, but the suffering of Palestinian civilians is far beyond the bounds of military necessity. The people of Gaza, already grieving the loss of thousands of children, now face a famine  and children once again will bear the brunt of the pain.

He insists the famine is real, not mentioning that Hamas and its buddies have cried wolf more than once on this. A year ago, they were supposedly starving. Now, they're starving again. How many times do we have to hear this? Fat Hamas types emerged, clearly getting themselves fed. Why would that be different now? He said aid wasn't getting in now, using numbers, but that doesn't tell us whether food is already in storage or has been distributed. What's the point of delivering aid if Hamas eats all the food? The civilians starve either way.

Another problem, he says is here:

Compounding the problem, the method of distributing what little aid is available requires thousands of Palestinians to travel long distances, which imposes an extreme hardship on the most vulnerable people  the very old, the very sick and the very young. Palestinians also have to cross military lines, which creates its own risk of violence as thousands upon thousands of hungry civilians encounter heavily armed soldiers who are on high alert. In Iraq, I participated in humanitarian missions that involved far fewer people, and I can tell you that these missions can be remarkably tense. It takes extreme discipline to keep the peace. Consequently, even as the amount of aid has diminished, the number of violent incidents during aid distribution has skyrocketed. Hundreds of Palestinians in search of food have been killed, many of them by Israeli soldiers. So there is less aid, and its harder and more dangerous to obtain.

Seems the solution is obvious here: If they can't wait in line like civilized people, then no aid for them. Line cutters will be thrown out. Those who wait in line will get food. What's more, a 'thank you, Israel' or 'thank you, America' should be required before any aid is released, to prevent the usual ingratitude and get these Jew-haters in the mindset that Israel is saving their lives. Sure, some will fake it, but if they hate Jews a lot, they won't like it, which is very much the idea. Why should Israel feed people who want to kill them?

Then he starts in with the nonsense:

Israels aid blockade came after a year and a half of war, when Hamas is decimated, Gazas government is largely dismantled and chaos reigns. The dominant power in Gaza is Israel, not Hamas, and Israel, not Hamas, is the only entity with both the power to control aid distribution and the ability to obtain and distribute aid in the Gaza Strip. There is no way for Gazans to feed themselves. They are utterly dependent on Israel, and Israel removed the United Nations from the aid distribution network without replacing it with an effective alternative.

Hamas is gone, Hamas is defeated? If that were true, Israel would be free to walk away. They have to put a steel grip on Gaza in order to keep the terrorists inside. Unfortunately, not all terrorists dance around with gun-guns shooting them off for the cameras. Many quietly support the terrorists if not vote for them.

Meanwhile, there are lots of ways for Gazans to feed themselves -- every famine is less a food shortage than a money shortage. The most insane famines, e.g., Ethiopia, etc. according to NGO workers, were made worse by shipping in vast quantities of aid, putting local farmers out of business. How does a farmer compete with 'free'?

Creating a big, vast, welfare state is a great way to create a vast underclass, living a shambling life of leisure and doing nothing to support themselves, and then turning to crime and mayhem for excitement.

Gazans need to be told that they can work and pay for the food they want, and not live off others. French cites his Iraq experience as an example, saying the Bush administration's failure to protect the civilian population made the war non-stop.

But property-rights economist Hernando de Soto told me the big failure of the Bush administration in Iraq was that it ignored the example of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in conquered Japan, in first establishing property rights with title deed. With ironclad property rights, gang activity and mayhem vanish instantly. I recall asking the public relations crew in Baghdad if they paid any attention to property rights with Fallujah raging and despite what their website said, they said 'no.'

French doesn't see it that way:

There has always been a better way to defeat Hamas, and no one knows this better than veterans of the Iraq war. Weve watched Israel make the same mistakes we made early in the war, when we repeatedly attacked and destroyed terrorist cells but the terrorists always came back. We played a deadly and destructive version of Whac-a-Mole, reducing neighborhoods and streets to ruin, only to bomb the rubble weeks and months later when Al Qaeda returned. The only way to stop the cycle was to seize ground, hold it and protect and secure the civilian population until we could hand control over to local authorities. That approach has a double virtue. Its not just kinder to civilians; its far more effective militarily. Im not just saying this. Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of American forces in Iraq during the surge  when we turned the tide of the Iraq war in part by protecting the Iraqi population  has made this argument over and over and over again since Oct. 7.

People in Iraq hated Saddam Hussein. Gazans? Some do, but some do not and it doesn't help that the 'some do not' is a lot of people. Supporting them, without some tough reeducation, and the total defeat of Hamas, is a suicide mission.

The bottom line is that Hamas is not dead and Hamas has to be annihilated first. If that means casualties among people who refuse to get out of the way, well, don't dismiss that they were part of the Hamas octopus.

Israel is doing the best it can with an implacable enemy. It makes mistakes, some of them are nasty (why was the Catholic church there attacked twice?) but it tries to correct course.

Hamas, not so much. Its leaders are out gloating that Europe's recognition of a Palestinian state was the whole objective of the Oct. 7 massacre.

Then he goes off on a sanctimonious tangent:

No nation  not even the United States  can thrive without allies, and Israel (despite its nuclear weapons) is far more vulnerable and dependent on international friendship than the United States or Britain or France. If Israel creates a lasting rift with its European allies and shatters the longstanding bipartisan American consensus on aiding Israel, then the long-term consequences could be grave.

Europe has been a ally, how? They've thwarted them every step of the way and tried to put Prime Minister Netanyahu in the dock, subject to sanctimonious unelected European judges. No thanks. With friends like that, who needs enemies? That horse left the barn long ago.

Then he gets awful:

Israels friends must speak with one voice: End the famine in Gaza. Drop any talk of annexation. Protect the civilian population. Defeating Hamas does not require starving a single child.

Preposterous. They didn't do jack for Israel except try to stop them, and they are the world's biggest coddlers of Islamofascist radical migrants. They love to let these migrants prey on their own populations, especially their women and children, and worse still, have driven their Jewish populations out on a wave of Muslim antisemitism. Why would they have Israel's well being in mind with a record like that? These aren't friends. These are the people who need to 'open their eyes.'

Israel is defending all civilization as it seeks to stomp out these murderous terrorists. A respectful silence is the minimum they owe Israel. They ought to be helping Israel out.

Image: X screen shot
Last Wednesday, AP reported that California governor Gavin Newsom had signed a new executive order, aimed at supporting men and boys and improving their mental health outcomes, in an effort to lower suicide rates among young men and help them feel less isolated.

Now, California actually already has some of the lowest suicide rates in the country: in 2022, that number was 10.4 per 100,000, while the national average was 14.21, placing the state in the bottom five (California ranks 46 out of 50). When you look at just the male rates, that number is 16.7, while the U.S.s is 22.9. But, suicide impacts white males most of all, who account for 68.13% of all suicideswhich is why Newsom launched this initiative.

Newsom is obviously laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign in 2028, building a sensible Democrat image, trying to win back the male vote, particularly the white male vote, that the Democrats have surrendered over the yearsbut dont fall for it.

Males are a lonely and ostracized demographicagain, especially white malesand I blame leftist Democrat ideology, the very ideology and policies embraced and championed by Newsom, until apparently, now.

First of all, Newsom has been a major force of change in foisting the LGBTQ++ agenda and values on the general population. In 2023, he signed a slew of radical bills to protect and support the LGBTQ community, even enshrining into law a bill that forbids school teachers and administrators from informing a parent if his or her child identifies and transgender. This agenda, by its very nature, is extremely anti-masculinity, pushing the toxic feminization of men and boys. Talk about a problematic suicide ratejust look at the trans population! The number hovers around fifty percent, both before and after transition interventions; a number this high is not seen anywhere else. (Just a few months back, Newsom completely flipped, breaking with his party to voice that men shouldnt be able to participate in womens sports.)

Secondly, the left even came up with a derogatory slur for men who acted like men: toxic masculinity. Oh, you dont sit like a woman with your legs completely closed because you have different anatomy? Thats an act of aggression. So you vote Republican? Youre the oppressive patriarchy that must be dismantled. You like guns? Youre obviously a would-be mass shooter with pent-up rage, a red flag if you will, and you dont deserve the right to due process. You prefer pretty women over ugly women? Youre a disgusting misogynist. You dont think women should be allowed to murder their own children? No uterus, no opinion, so shut the f**k up.

Heres just a tiny sample of media pieces speaking against men:

From LJ Green in June of this year:

For generations, white men in the Western world have been handed structural privileges: access to education, income, inheritance, property, leadership, and autonomy. The world was built for their comfort.

From Vox, suggesting that if only men were gayer, theyd be happier:

Why are so many straight guys so bad at gossiping? Learning to yap could solve the male loneliness epidemic[.]

And from an LA Times article on acts of violence, with insight from a college professor:

Rather than working toward constructive solutions when they feel they have fallen short, these men turn their rage outward. It is a recourse; its a way for someone to perform [his] masculinity by engaging in this massive act of violence, Madfis said. Another common trait among mass killers is that they tend to blame others for their problems. And part of that relates to masculinity, as well, because men are much more likely to externalize blame in general; theyre much more likely to see other people as causing them problems and to act, Madfis said.

In fact, Newsom himself demonized male traits and characteristics when discussing shooting sprees in 2019:

I think that goes deep to the issue of how we raise our boys to be men, goes deeply into values that we tend to hold dear: power, dominance and aggression over empathy, care and collaboration.

Ironically, its the absence of real masculinity that leads to males shooting and killing innocent people.

Now, part of Newsoms new order instructs the state to connect them [males] with education and career opportunities. Well, I can solve that one immediately: eliminate DEI hiring practices! Is Newsom going to do that? No, I didnt think so. Perhaps men feel isolated because they face extra hurdles in the job market, which often eliminate their eligibility, simply because of their immutable qualities. If only they were a black woman, theyd have a job, and theyd be immune from being fired.

Scott Adams talks a lot about this, specifically his own experiences in the corporate world, and dont forget this story from Adam Carolla:

Adam Carolla applied to be a firefighter in LA and had to wait SEVEN YEARS to get called back for an exam because he wasn't black, hispanic, or a woman pic.twitter.com/VkfCNjOfYA  Snowflake_News (@Snowflake_News) January 8, 2025

Newsom, the progressive nightmare of all nightmares, who utterly destroyed the Golden State, is feigning an epiphany, but he cannot be trusted.

Image from Grok.
August 4, 2025: Last month Iran received Chinese HQ9B air defense systems. These restored the Iranian losses to recent Israeli airstrikes that wiped out most of their air defenses. That led to an unofficial truce between Israel and Iran.

It is essential that China restore Iranian air defenses because China is dependent on Iranian oil to keep their economy going. China is being paid for the HQ9B purchase with Iranian oil.

China has sold HQ-9 and HQ-16 systems to Pakistan and, possibly, Egypt.

Four years ago in northwest Indias Ladakh State, Chinese forces refused to slow their agreed withdrawal from disputed Ladakh territory. Instead, they quietly sent in HQ9 air defense systems. HQ9 is roughly comparable to the American Patriot system but based on tech China stole from Russia and the United States. Introduced in the late 199s, HQ9 has undergone several updates and is now used on warships as well.

China was building an integrated air defense system to protect China against ballistic and cruise missiles. The current backbone of the Chinese system is the Russian SA-10B, supported by the longer-ranged SA-10C and the mobile SA-15. The Chinese also deployed HQ9 missiles on ships. China is also building an anti-radiation version of the HQ9 with a range of 100 kilometers to engage AWACS planes. A second anti-AWACS missile, the 1970s CSA-1 with a range of 80 kilometers was never adopted by China or anyone else.

Nineteen years ago, Chinese military publications described the best way to deal with U.S. air power is with modern Surface -to- Air/SAM missiles. It was noted that Yugoslavia in 1999, and Iraq in 1991 and 2003, would have done better if they had invested more in such systems. Practicing what they preach, China not only purchased dozens of Russian S-300/SA-10 launchers, and hundreds of missiles, but licensed Russian missile technology for their own HQ9 and HQ16 SAM. The HQ9 is deployed on land, and in ships. HQ9 is supposed to have a max range of 100 kilometers, weigh 1.3 tons and have a passive/no broadcasting seeker in the missile. The HQ16 is also apparently developed with Russian help, and is more advanced than the Russian S-300 system. The Chinese believed they had enough state-of-the-art SAMs to deter or destroy the USAF. The Americans kept quiet about all this, if only because for the Chinese strategy to work, U.S. Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses/ SEAD weapons will have to be rendered less effective

If China could obtain enough information about U.S. SEAD systems, Chinese air defense would be formidable and able to severely damage any American attacking force. However, you usually won't know how well prepared the Chinese are until there's an actual war. It is, after all, a question of, who knows what? Plus, in Chinas case, whether the weapons were produced according to specifications or are defective due to corruption.
This is a real headline from a recent article at Vox: Why are so many straight guys so bad at gossiping? And, heres the solution the author offers: Learning to yap could solve the male loneliness epidemic[.]

Translation? If only straight men were actually just gay, and yapped about other peoples lives like catty women, then they wouldnt be so lonely.

Have we finally reached peak idiocy? Well, based on where our leftwing media is apparently at youd think so, but if our past experiences are any indication, perhaps not.

Have we finally reached peak irony? Again, Id like to think so, but leftists have a way of outshining even their stupidest moments.

First of all, gay men are notorious for having the most indiscriminate attitudes when it comes time to sex, which is possibly the reason that gay men are also known for having some of the most disturbing and deeply unhealthy sex lives seen on the human spectrum. One need look no further than the antics seen at places like the Folsom Street Fair, or the recently-exposed activities caught on camera between Gleen Greenwald and a partner to know how true this is; it also explains why the average gay is a leftist, and a gay (fiscal) conservative is a rarity. (By its very nature, and operating from a position of objectivity, homosexual sex is deeply unfulfilling, as its a perversion of the created order; while it certainly can be stimulating and exciting for individuals engaging in such behavior, it does not establish the deep intimacy, trust, and security that sex between a husband and wife was designed to facilitate.)

Behind those flamboyant and over-the-top facades are very sad, very lonely, and very hurt little boys. Renowned psychologist Dr. Joseph Nicolosi once revealed that in fifteen years of counseling hundreds of gay men, hed never met a homosexual who had a loving, respectful relationship with his father. While Im not an expert like Dr. Nicolosi, thats the same story for the gay men I personally know: they werent physically or sexually abused, but they had emotionally distant dads who didnt engage with their sons.

Then, theres this: While men as a whole are struggling with isolation and mental health issues, gay men are vastly more at risk, and its not because of social attitudes or non-acceptance as the narrative so often goes. Heres an astute perspective, from gay writer Michael Hobbes, who begins his piece by introducing the reader to his gay friend Jeremy, whos recovering in a Seattle hospital bed after a recent overdose:

Jeremy is not my only gay friend whos struggling. Theres Malcolm, who barely leaves the house except for work because his anxiety is so bad. Theres Jared, whose depression and body dysmorphia have steadily shrunk his social life down to me, the gym and Internet hookups. And there was Christian, the second guy I ever kissed, who killed himself at 32, two weeks after his boyfriend broke up with him. For years Ive noticed the divergence between my straight friends and my gay friends. While one half of my social circle has disappeared into relationships, kids and suburbs, the other has struggled through isolation and anxiety, hard drugs and risky sex. None of this fits the narrative I have been told, the one I have told myself. Like me, Jeremy did not grow up bullied by his peers or rejected by his family. He cant remember ever being called a faggot. He was raised in a West Coast suburb by a lesbian mom. She came out to me when I was 12, he says. And told me two sentences later that she knew I was gay. I barely knew at that point.

Hobbes then details the tremendous progress and social acceptance that gays have made, which he identifies as more than any other demographic group in history. Yet, its not really helping:

Still, even as we celebrate the scale and speed of this change, the rates of depression, loneliness and substance abuse in the gay community remain stuck in the same place theyve been for decades. Gay people are now, depending on the study, between 2 and 10 times more likely than straight people to take their own lives. Were twice as likely to have a major depressive episode. And just like the last epidemic we lived through, the trauma appears to be concentrated among men. In a survey of gay men who recently arrived in New York City, three-quarters suffered from anxiety or depression, abused drugs or alcohol or were having risky sexor some combination of the three. Despite all the talk of our chosen families, gay men have fewer close friends than straight people or gay women.

And shocker, but the feminine gays are at a higher risk of suicide, loneliness and mental illness than the masculine gays.

So Vox really has no idea what theyre talking aboutbut did they ever?

Image from Grok.
Sharing your conversations with ChatGPT with your friends can be fun and educational. However, if youre concerned about privacy, you might want to rethink it. According to a recent report, it looks like ChatGPT and Grok conversations have surfaced online.

ChatGPT and Grok conversations spotted online

According to a recent report from Digital Digging, the publication discovered over 100,000 ChatGPT and Grok conversations that have been preserved via Archive.orgs Wayback Machine. This means that if you know what youre looking for, it is possible to find an archive of that.

This is actually not the first time ChatGPT conversations have been spotted online. An earlier report revealed that Google actually indexes your conversations, meaning that it can be found in the search results. This is because of the nature of sharing conversations with AI.

When you click on the share button in ChatGPT, it creates a link to that chat. This link is then indexed by Google, meaning that it can be found in search with the right keywords. OpenAI closed the loop by scrubbing those chats, but it seems that not all of it was deleted.

When Digital Digging reached out to the director of the Wayback Machine, Mark Graham, for comment, he said, I can/will tell you we have not gotten, or honored any requests for (large scale) URL exclusion of chatgpt.com/share URLs. If OpenAI, the rights holder for material from the domain chatgpt.com, asked for the exclusion of URLs from the URL pattern chatgpt.com we would probably honor that request. However, they have not made such a request.

Spilling the tea

Whats particularly damning and juicy about these conversations is that they arent just links or fragments of conversations. Theyre complete conversations a user might have had with ChatGPT or Grok.

Some of the conversations Digital Digging found were quite interesting. One of which involves an Italian-speaking lawyer representing a multinational energy corporation. The conversation revealed the companys plan to displace indigenous Amazonian communities and how the company could get the lowest possible price in its negotiations.

Then, there were a bunch of conversations by students who were using AI to help them write their research papers.

So, like we said, if you plan to share your AI conversations next time, think twice, especially if you dont want it to appear on the internet.
While not officially present in the US marketlike other major Chinese brandsXiaomi has been among the benchmarks in mobile photography for years. Its main numeric series, and especially its Ultra versions, often surprise in this regard. Now, the company reportedly wants to take things even further in the Xiaomi 16 series with a Pro Max model that would boast a new and powerful main camera sensor.

According to reports, the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max will arrive in China later this year as the true successor to the Xiaomi 15 Pro. The handset will combine a huge display with bigger camera upgrades and an even bigger battery. If these details hold true, Xiaomi is set to deliver a serious contender in the premium smartphone space.

Xiaomi 16 Pro Max may boast a powerful SmartSens 590 main camera sensor

One of the most interesting aspects of the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max centers around its camera system. To start, the brands premium devices will continue to feature Leica optics. Additionally, according to reliable tipster Digital Chat Station, the phone will incorporate a new, highly dynamic 50-megapixel SmartSens 590 main sensor. At 1/1.28 inches, this sensor is a nice step up in size from its predecessor, the Omnivision OVX9000 found in the Xiaomi 15 Pro. A larger sensor generally means better light capture, which translates to superior image qualityespecially in challenging low-light conditions.

The SmartSens 590 isnt just bigger; it also packs even more advanced tech. Manufactured on a 22nm process, it includes LOFIC 2.0 (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) and QPD (Quad Pixel Detection) technologies. LOFIC 2.0 enhances dynamic range, allowing the sensor to retain more detail in both bright and dark areas of a photo, while QPD ensures fast and accurate autofocus. These features aim to deliver professional-grade photography right from your smartphone. Interestingly, the rumor mill also talks about Apple developing a LOFIC sensor for iPhones.

The camera enhancements extend beyond the main lens. The Xiaomi 16 Pro Max could also feature a new, more dynamic 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens. This lens is rumored to house Samsungs ISOCELL GN8 sensor. With a size of 1/1.95 inches, it is a significant improvement from the previous generation. A better periscope lens means improved optical zoom capabilities, letting you get closer to distant subjects without sacrificing image quality.

More leaked specs

Beyond the cameras, the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max is shaping up to be a true powerhouse. The devices could feature a large 6.8-inch 2K AMOLED display with ultra-thin bezels and efficient LIPO technology for reduced power consumption. And for those who need their phone to last all day and then some, a massive 7,500 mAh battery might keep the lights on. This would be a huge jump from the Xiaomi 15 Pros 6,100 mAh cell.

Were still waiting for official details from Xiaomi. However, these leaks are starting to build hype around the upcoming Xiaomi 16 Pro Max. Well likely have more news on this soon.
Attorney General Pam Bondi convened a grand jury investigation centered around the Russiagate probe on Monday, the latest bid by Donald Trump to wage war against Barack Obama for the FBI investigation of his first presidential campaign.

The direction by Bondi does not mean that charges for Obama or members of his team are imminent. Instead, the move allows prosecutors to issue embarrassing subpoenas and gather testimony, while launching a fishing expedition.

CNN first reported Bondis direction that the investigation be launched Monday afternoon, citing a source familiar. The Justice Department declined to comment on the record to the news channel. The Independent has reached out for comment.

Its still unclear what crimes members of the Trump administration believe were specifically committed regarding the investigation into the ties between Donald Trumps campaign and Russia. Tulsi Gabbards ODNI memo is the only document publicly alleging any wrongdoing by members of the Obama administration surrounding the investigation, which a previous DoJ review led by John Durham already probed.

In July, Gabbard published a memo which she later outlined at a White House press conference accusing former President Barack Obama and his administration of doctoring ODNI assessments containing the intelligence communitys conclusions regarding the extent of Russian involvement in efforts to sway the outcome of the 2016 election.

Justice DEA (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

According to Gabbard, the Democratic administrations top intelligence chiefs, at the behest of the president and his team, changed those conclusions to insinuate Russias support for Donald Trump.

But in reality, the intelligence assessments released by the ODNI at the time were backed up by the verifiable facts of the matter: Russian-backed hackers targeted the Democratic National Committees servers and published information in an effort to sabotage Hillary Clintons campaign and sow discord while performing no similar feats against Republicans or Trumps campaign.

Trump, meanwhile, ordered his own probe into the origins of the Russia investigation in 2019, which included the appointment of a special counsel at the Justice Department. No charges for members of Obamas administration were ever pursued or suggested at the time.

The administration hasnt explained why a bipartisan investigation into the 2016 election similarly concluded that an interference campaign aimed at damaging Clintons public image was carried out in 2016, while no such efforts were launched against Trump. That investigation was chaired by Marco Rubio, Trumps secretary of State and acting national security adviser.

Already seeking alliances with then-first-term-President Trump, Rubio said at the time: We can say, without any hesitation, that the Committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election.

What the Committee did find however is very troubling. We found irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling. And we discovered deeply troubling actions taken by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, particularly their acceptance and willingness to rely on the Steele Dossier without verifying its methodology or sourcing, Rubio argued at the time.

Trump and other members of his administration have suggested that Obama and others are guilty of treason over the supposed doctoring of reports. Gabbard claimed that a coup was launched by the 44th president, whose successor went on to gather his supporters in Washington where they attacked the United States Capitol in 2021 after he lost the election.
Airline Emirates has recorded a surge in bookings from affluent visitors to the UK, which it claimed is driving forward economic growth in the country.

Bookings for first class seats on flights from China and India during the first half of the year were up 27% and 17% respectively, compared with the same period in 2024, according to the carrier.

For travel from Australia, the increase in business class bookings was 10%.

Emirates said regional UK airports such as Glasgow and Newcastle are expected to see an increasing number of Chinese visitors, with inbound passenger numbers anticipated to rise by 18% and 45% respectively in the second half of 2025 compared with a year earlier.

All Emirates journeys on these routes involve changing planes in Dubai.

The airline recently signed a declaration of intent with tourism agency VisitBritain to boost inbound tourism.

Emirates UK divisional vice president Jabr Al-Azeeby said: The UK is one of the most important markets in Emirates global network, and the growth in bookings weve seen over the past year reflects that.

Weve seen a noticeable increase in inbound arrivals from key destinations such as Australia, India, and China, driving forward economic growth here in the UK.

Our partnership with VisitBritain underscores our commitment to grow tourism for the UK from key strategic markets.

The Governments ambition is for the UK to have 50 million international visitors a year by 2030.

An estimated 41.2 million inbound visits were made in 2024.

VisitBritain chief executive Patricia Yates said: Expanding airline routes and seat capacity into our regional gateways is crucial to our competitive tourism offer.

International visitors are forecast to spend more than 34 billion in the UK this year.

Making it easier for visitors to explore our nations and regions boosts that spending across more of Britain, supporting jobs, businesses and driving growth for local economies.
Lime has lost the right to operate in a west London borough after residents complained about its e-bikes blocking pavements and the cost of hiring a bike.

Hounslow council has ended its two-year association with the firm, which dominates the capitals bike hire market, and appointed two rivals in its place.

The move is thought to be the toughest response yet from a London borough to concerns about anti-social parking - though there are also suggestions that the council simply opted for the most lucrative bid.

But the move also appears to highlight how councils are increasingly requiring dockless bike hire firms to meet tough standards, while seizing the opportunity to generate income - ahead of a long awaited city-wide regulatory scheme mentioned in the Governments devolution white paper.

Hounslows decision, following a retendering process, is expected to mean that Lime will have to geo-fence its bikes to prevent them being hired or parked in the borough, which includes Chiswick and Brentford.

A Lime spokesperson said: "We're disappointed by Hounslow council's decision. Were proud of our bid, which we believe offered the best overall value for Hounslow residents by focusing on quality of service, safety, and community benefit above all.

"Were also disappointed for the thousands of Hounslow residents that rely on our bikes daily to connect to other areas of London.

Built over seven years operating in the capital, Limes service has allowed people living in Hounslow to access all parts of the city, and cycle as far as Hackney and Lewisham in one easy journey.

Its important for councils to prioritise seamless mobility across London for their residents when selecting operators as otherwise we risk creating a patchwork system that undermines this.

"Our data proves this. Since we launched in Hounslow in 2023, the number of Lime rides has more than doubled year-on-year, and we've seen a massive 95 per cent increase in people using our bikes to commute.

It's clear that Hounslow residents have embraced cycling, and we're glad to have supported the council's wider cycling goals.

We remain dedicated to working with TfL and local councils across the capital to ensure all Londoners have access to sustainable modes of transport and to build a more accessible, inclusive and greener city for everyone.

Last November, neighbouring Brent council had threatened to evict Lime after similar complaints from residents about abandoned bikes, but struck a lucrative deal to fund the provision of 200 on-street bike parking bays.

Forest bikes will be available in Hounslow from August 11 (Forest)

Hounslow has appointed Forest and Voi in place of Lime, under a new contract that will begin on August 11.

The council held a competitive procurement process, shaped by widespread community feedback that requested stronger parking compliance, faster response times to resident concerns and more tailored and affordable pricing.

Voi, which will have about 1,000 bikes in Hounslow, said the new contract would help the council to take back control of its pavements and is expected to mean fewer irresponsibly parked bikes.

Forest and Voi must share anonymous data on use and parking compliance to help the council manage the scheme.

James Bolton, Vois UK general manager, said: Were delighted to win this contract and extend our London e-bike pilot to Hounslow.

"We will work responsibly and closely with the council to ensure our scheme works for everyone in the borough, stretching from Bedfont Lakes Country Park in the west to Chiswick House Gardens in the east.

We want to congratulate the Council for all their effort in proving there is a way to successfully procure and deliver micromobility responsibly in London.

Were calling on Transport for London to press ahead with a pan-London approach to micromobility, building on momentum from the English Devolution Bills first reading, to bring an end to the current piecemeal approach.

There are currently more than 250 designated e-bike parking bays across the borough and the council pledged to review its enforcement procedures to maintain clear pavements and discourage poor parking behaviour.

Lime bikes have been used for more than 1.7m trips since a trial was launched by the council in 2023, with it being extended to Isleworth and Osterley due to its popularity.

The new scheme will have lower prices, including discounts for residents, low-income users and local businesses, and will use advanced technology and stricter enforcement to ensure the Forest and Voi bikes are parked in designated bays.

There will also be lighter e-bikes, including the trial of e-bikes with cargo baskets or child seats.

Forest e-bikes will soon be available with child seats (Forest)

According to the ChiswickW4.com website, Limes trial drew criticism for widespread antisocial parking, hacking incidents, and inadequate customer support.

It added: Bikes were often left blocking pavements, driveways, and even junctions, prompting safety concerns from residents and councillors alike.

Forest already operates in Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham and plans to have 1,087 of its green e-bikes in Hounslow.

Voi recently launched in Ealing and has earmarked other west London boroughs.

Two Voi e-bikes will be available: The Explorer 4 e-bike (which has a larger metal basket, softer saddle, and easier to make adjustments), and the Explorer Light 1 (which is 25 per cent lighter than standard e-bike models, designed for accessibility).

Forest said it had secured first place in the councils tendering competition. Its arrival in Hounslow will mean its bikes are available in 18 London boroughs.

However, there have been reports that the council awarded the contract to the firms that offered to pay most for the right to operate within the borough.

Last month Forest bikes were used for 1.5m journeys in London  60 per cent up on July 2024.

Alex Berwin, head of policy at Forest, said: We are excited to be expanding into Hounslow and bringing affordable e-bikes to even more Londoners.

We know that the demand for sustainable ways of travel is only growing, and as the winning operator in Hounslow, we are proud to offer Forest bikes to local residents who are seeking more convenient and greener modes of transport.

As a company founded in London for Londoners - our continued expansion reflects our commitment to delivering for the capital, and we look forward to a collaborative and successful partnership in Hounslow.

Transport for London has announced free 60-minute rides on its Santander-sponsored Boris bikes each Sunday in August.

Riders should download a free code via the TfL website.
August 4, 2025: In an unexpected event, Ukrainian robotic vehicles induced several Russian soldiers to surrender without any Ukrainian troops present. Robots and drones have also cooperated to take Russian positions. The robots then escorted the dejected Russian soldiers away from the front line. Earlier this year there was another incident in which drones compelled several Russian marines to give up.

Meanwhile Ukraine is equipping their combat brigades with ground-based combat and transport robots in addition to drones. The ground robots come in different versions. Some are used for planting and removing landmines. Other drones advance along the ground while firing remotely controlled machine guns. These systems can fire accurately at moving targets during the day and at night. There are also drones for transporting supplies to the front lines and carrying casualties back to first aid stations and field hospitals. The growing number of Ukrainian drone systems were developed based on reports from the front line troops. Those ideas were quickly put to use because of wartime urgency.

Last year Ukraine created a new branch of their military, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Force, or the Drone Force. This was in addition to the Ukrainian Air Force that consists of manned aircraft. This Drone Force does not control the drones Ukrainian forces use but contributes to developing new drone models and organizing mass production for those new models that proved successful. Such drones have been an unexpected development that had a huge impact on how battles in Ukraine's current war are fought. Drones were successful because they were cheap, easily modified, and expendable.

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces were soon using cheap quadcopter drones controlled by soldiers a kilometer or more away using First Person Viewing/ FPV goggles to see what the video camera on the drone see. Each of these drones carries half a kilogram of explosives, so it can instantly turn the drone into a flying bomb that can fly into a target and detonate. This awesome and debilitating weapon is used in large numbers throughout the battlefield. If a target is stationary and requires more explosive power than the drones can supply, one of the drone operators can call in artillery, rocket, airstrike or missile fire. Larger, fixed wing drones are used for long range, often over a thousand kilometers, operations against targets deep inside Russia.

Most of these drones complete their missions, whether it is a one-way attack or a reconnaissance and surveillance mission. The recon missions are usually survivable and enable the drone to be reused. All these drones are constantly performing surveillance, which means that both sides commit enough drones to maintain constant surveillance over a portion of the front line, to a depth, into enemy territory, of at least a few kilometers. Ukrainian drones have pretty much ended Russian motorized transport with 20-30 kilometers of the front lines. This forces the Russians to use pack animals, UAVs, motorcycles or the backs of soldiers to move material.

This massive use of FPV-armed drones revolutionized warfare in Ukraine and both sides are producing as many as they can. Ukrainian drone proliferation began when many individual Ukrainians or small teams designed and built drones. The drones served as potential candidates for widespread use and mass production. This proliferation of designers and manufacturers led to rapid evolution of drone capabilities and uses. Those who could not keep up were less successful in combat and suffered higher losses.

One countermeasure that can work for a while is electronic jamming of the drones control signal. Drone guidance systems are constantly modified or upgraded to cope with this, and many use multiple modes of communications. Most drones have flight control software that sends drones with jammed control signals back to where they took off from to land for later use. The jammers are on the ground and can be attacked by drones programmed to home in on the jamming signal. A recent development is the use of Fiber Optic Cables/FOG trailing behind a drone that is immune to jamming. Countermeasures can be overcome and the side that can do this more quickly and completely has an advantage. That advantage is usually temporary because both sides are putting a lot of effort into keeping their combat drones effective on the battlefield.

Western armed forces, after a century of trying, still cannot get their air force jets to come down and get a much needed reality check on what is happening down below where battles and wars are decided. Meanwhile the proliferation of surveillance and armed drones have in many cases replaced conventional air forces, at least for operations close to the ground and requiring more urgency to find and attack targets.
Not happy: Bruno Fernandes (Getty Images)

Bruno Fernandes labelled Manchester Uniteds performance as lazy after the Red Devils were held to a 2-2 draw by Everton in Atlanta, Georgia.

United were playing their final game of the Premier League Summer Series at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Bryan Mbeumo made his long-awaited debut alongside fellow new signing Matheus Cunha, as both performed well in their first outing together.

Fernandes, operating further forward as one of the two No10s in Ruben Amorims 3-4-2-1 system, opened the scoring for United from the spot after Amad Diallo had been fouled by James Tarkowski.

Iliman Ndiaye equalised with a neat finish before Mason Mount curled in a stunner to put United back in front, but a scuffle between Ndiaye and Fernandes distracted those in red as Everton broke away, and a cut-back ricocheted into Altay Bayindirs net off the unfortunate Ayden Heaven and Diallo.

Amorims side fly back home unbeaten from their US tour, having beaten West Ham and Bournemouth before Sundays draw, and they lifted the Summer Series trophy despite only sharing the spoils with the Toffees.

However, Fernandes criticised his sides display and called on the clubs hierarchy to get moving in the transfer market once more.

"It's been positive to be together to create a bond between the players," Fernandes told Sky Sports.

"It's been important for developing how we want to play and getting the new players involved too.

"We didn't want to finish in this way. Our performance wasn't the best and we were a little bit lazy today.

"We want to avoid that because with laziness you can pay at any moment."

United have brought in three signings this summer: Cunha, Mbeumo, and Diego Leon, the left wing-back.

They are also pursuing Benjamin Sesko in their quest to land a centre-forward.

It was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here, Fernandes continued. More quality to get everyone to step up a little bit more, and I think that is what the club are trying to do.

"Hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that."
(Chutney Mary)

Sister of Veeraswamy and a London gastronomy landmark in its own right, Chutney Mary is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

Ten of those years have been spent at its current St James location, serving upscale Indian fare and picking up awards along the way  including being named the AA Restaurant of the Year in 2023, the first time the prestigious prize was given to a non-European restaurant.

Along the way, the restaurant has found its signatures  the green chicken curry has never left the restaurants menu, whilst the tandoori Japanese Wagyu with marrow has become recent hit with regulars.

Below, the restaurant shares its recipe for its Goan crab cakes, as featured on its new Chefs Gourmet Celebration menu.

Hailing from Goa in the south of India by the sea, these crab cakes make the perfect summer starter and given the restaurants birth in 1990, a return to the late eighties cult menu item feels rather apt.

Makes 4 crab cakes

Ingredients

120g hand-picked Cornish crab

40g white onion, chopped

1 tbsp green chilli, deseeded and chopped

2 tbsp ginger, chopped

60g potato, boiled and grated

 tsp salt

1 egg white, beaten, plus 2 whole eggs for breadcrumbing

10g coriander

60ml lime juice (fresh only)

90g panko breadcrumbs

1 tbsp mayonnaise (optional)

Method
Sir Keir Starmers one in, one out deal to return Channel migrants to France will come into force on Tuesday, with detentions set to begin by the end of the week.

The deal, which has now been approved by the European Commission, means the UK will be able to send people crossing the Channel in small boats back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with ties to Britain.

It also means that anyone arriving in a small boat can be detained immediately, and space has been set aside at immigration removal centres in the expectation that detentions will begin within days.

The Prime Minister said the ratification of the treaty will send a clear message  if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France.

But opposition parties have criticised the deal amid reports that the pilot scheme will see only 50 people a week returned to France while this year has seen a weekly average of more than 800 people make the crossing.

The deal has also been criticised by refugee charities, which have urged the Government to provide more safe, legal routes for asylum seekers instead.

Ministers have so far declined to say how many people could be returned under the deal, and insist that if the pilot is successful the figure will increase.

Under the terms of the agreement, announced during French President Emmanuel Macrons state visit last month, adults arriving on small boats will face being returned to France if their asylum claim is inadmissible.

In exchange, the same number of people will be able to come to the UK on a new legal route, provided they have not attempted a crossing before and subject to documentation and security checks.

The Home Office said it had also learned from the lengthy legal challenges over the previous governments Rwanda scheme and would robustly defend any attempts to block removal through the courts.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the agreement would help undermine the business model of people smugglers (Jacob King/PA)

It is the first such deal with France, with the pilot scheme set to run until June 2026, pending a longer-term agreement.

Sir Keir said the deal was The product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people.

He added: The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over  we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was an important step towards undermining the business model of the organised crime gangs that are behind these crossings  undermining their claims that those who travel to the UK illegally cant be returned to France.

Ratification of the deal comes as both Britain and France battle to bring the small boats problem under control, with 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings.

Some 25,436 people have already made the journey this year, according to PA news agency analysis of Home Office figures  49% higher than at the same point in 2024.

This summer has already seen a series of protests staged outside hotels housing asylum seekers (Lucy North/PA)

The issue has also sparked concern that a series of protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers could lead to public disorder similar to last years riots.

On Monday, the Home Office announced it was providing another 100 million to tackle people smuggling and would introduce new powers to seize devices from people suspected of facilitating crossings.

Ministers have also launched a crackdown on illegal working in an effort to reduce the pull factors said to be encouraging people to make the journey, while French authorities have changed their guidance to allow police officers to intercept boats while they are in shallow waters.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp attacked the plans, saying they would return just 6% of illegal arrivals and make no difference whatsoever.

He added: The Rwanda removals deterrent, under which 100% of illegal arrivals would be removed, was ready to go last summer but Labour cancelled it just days before it was due to start with no proper replacement plan. As a result, this year so far has been the worst ever for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.

Only removing all illegal immigrants upon arrival will provide the necessary deterrent to stop the crossings. This is the Conservative plan, but Labour is too weak to implement it and as a result they have lost control of our borders.

While the Conservatives Rwanda plan was in theory uncapped, it was expected to take only around 1,000 asylum seekers in its first five years of operation thanks to limited capacity in the East African nation.

The plan, which Sir Keir had previously dismissed as a gimmick, was scrapped as one of the first acts of the incoming Labour Government last year.
Stella Rimington acknowledged that during the cold war MI5 was overenthusiastic, opening files on people who were not actively threatening the state. Photograph: Jane Bown

Stella Rimington, who has died aged 90, was the first head of the Security Service, commonly known as MI5, to be officially identified. She was also the first woman to head the agency, one that had been deeply infused with male culture. Asked what attracted her to MI5, she told me: Even though there were all of these tweedy guys with pipes, I still thought the essence of the cold war and spies and stuff was fun. You know, going around listening to peoples telephones and opening their mail and stuff.

Rising to the top of MI5 after heading the agencys counter-subversion, counter-espionage, and counter-terrorism divisions was an achievement consolidating her reputation as a formidable Whitehall streetfighter, manifested not least by her success in wrenching from the police Special Branch its historical lead role countering Irish Republican terrorism in mainland Britain.

Soon after she retired, she was embroiled in a furious row with her former Whitehall colleagues over her decision to write her memoirs. It was quite upsetting, she said, because suddenly you go from being an insider to being an outsider and thats quite a shock. But, she added: Ive never been one to retreat at the first whiff of gunshot.

Her most controversial role as she rose up the ranks of MI5 was responsibility for countering subversion. She was active during the miners strike during the mid-1980s, and justified spying on the leadership of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on the grounds that Margaret Thatcher regarded it as the enemy within.

She said: If the strike is led by people who say they are trying to bring down the government, our role [is] to assess [them].

She chose her words carefully in an interview with the Guardian, denying that MI5 itself ran agents in the NUM, adding: Thats not to say the police or police Special Branch  might have been doing some of those things  The Special Branch reported to MI5 while GCHQ was providing MI5 and the police with technical help for bugging operations.

Rimington also justified targeting and keeping files on civil liberty campaigners, protest groups and MPs, on the grounds that while not all their members were regarded as subversives, some of their contacts, colleagues, and friends were. Targets included the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament  one of its organisers had been a member of the Communist party  the National Council for Civil Liberties (now Liberty) and two of its senior officials, Patricia Hewitt and Harriet Harman, and Jack Straw, former president of the National Union of Students. All became Labour cabinet ministers.

Rimington admitted MI5 checked files on prospective MPs to see if there is anything in there of importance ... so the prime minister can take it into account when he forms his government. She insisted that individuals on whom MI5 had files should not be allowed to see them.

She later acknowledged that during the cold war MI5 was overenthusiastic, opening files on people who were not actively threatening the state. She also went as far as to accuse successive governments of wanting to live in a police state, introducing more and more anti-terrorism laws, including plans to hold terror suspects for 42 days without charge.

Such laws, she said, combined with war on terror rhetoric, played into the hands of those they intended to deter. She described the response to the 9/11 attacks on the US in 2001 as a huge overreaction. Looking back, she said: I suppose Id lived with terrorist events for a good part of my working life and this was, as far as I was concerned, another one.

Asked what impact the 2003 invasion of Iraq had on the terrorist threat, she replied: Well, I think all one can do is look at what those people whove been arrested or have left suicide videos say about their motivation. And most of them, as far as Im aware, say that the war in Iraq played a significant part in persuading them that this is the right course of action to take.

She was born Stella Whitehouse in south London; her father was a draughtsman, her mother a midwife and nurse. Her father had fought at Passchendaele in the first world war. He was never able to relax after that, a very uneasy soul, difficult to get close to, she recalled.

He worked in the steel industry in Barrow and then in the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire borders. Unfortunately, when we moved out of London, we always seemed to move to places that were priorities for German bombing, she said, describing her childhood as disturbed and frightening  I was four when we left London as the second world war broke out  as the Barrow blitz commenced: hiding under the stairs, windows were blown out and ceilings fell down  Claustrophobia plagued me into adulthood. I struggled to sit in the middle of rows and always stood by the door on the underground. At all times I needed an exit route.

Educated at Nottingham girls high school, Stella studied English at Edinburgh University, then archive administration at Liverpool University. Her first job was as an assistant archivist in Worcestershire county councils record office.

In 1963 she married John Rimington, her childhood boyfriend, who became a high-flying civil servant, and was posted to the British high commission in Delhi responsible for economic and trade relations with India. It was there that, in 1965, she fell into intelligence, as she later put it. She was approached by the resident MI5 officer who offered her a job as a typist. I was holding coffee mornings and the like  I was grateful for an end to the boredom, she said. She joined the staff of MI5 in 1969 after the couple returned to Britain.

In a colourful passage in her autobiography, to which she gave the provocative title Open Secret (2010), she recounts how she came up against what she described as a strict sex-discrimination policy in MI5. She wrote: It did not matter that I had a degree, that I had already worked for several years in the public service, at a higher grade than it was offering, or that I was 34 years old. The policy was that men were recruited as what were called officers and women had their own career structure, a second-class career, as assistant officers.

They did all sorts of support work, but not the sharp-end intelligence gathering operations. She vigorously challenged MI5s prevailing culture so successfully that John Major, the then prime minister, approved her appointment as director general  head of the agency  in 1992.

After she retired in 1996, she became the target of bitter attacks by Whitehall mandarins and the SAS for daring to write her autobiography. In a ferocious diatribe, David Lyon, colonel commandant of the SAS, wrote in a letter to the Times: All members of the countrys security forces should keep silent about their work, for life. When there is a requirement to publish, it is the government alone who should do so. Rimington, he added, could expect a long period of being persona non grata, both to many she has worked with and many she has yet to meet among the general public.

She said she received a bollocking from the cabinet secretary, Richard Wilson, and was told to remove any reference to the SAS despite widespread media coverage of their operations, including the well-documented killing of three unarmed members of the IRA in Gibraltar.

In an attempt to sabotage her memoir, a copy of the manuscript was leaked to the Sun newspaper. The woman who had spent years deploying the secret state described the process of vetting her memoir as Kafkaesque, an experience that, she said, led her to understand how persecuted you can feel when things are going on that you dont actually have any control over.

Rimington said she decided to write her memoir to explain to her daughters, Sophie and Harriet, why she was never around as a mother. She separated from her husband when the children were young, but divorce seemed a faff as she put it. They became friendly in old age and lived together during lockdown. Its a good recipe for marriage, she said looking back. Split up, live separately, and return to it later.

After completing her memoir she turned to fiction, writing thrillers starring Liz Carlyle, a female agent sometimes referred to as her alter ego, and later Manon Tyler, a CIA agent.

In 2011 she chaired the Booker prize panel, when she provoked a controversy by saying readability and an ability to zip along were important criteria for judging books. Literary critics suggested other things such as quality might be taken into account, adding that the shortlist was the worst in decades. Rimington responded by comparing the publishing world with the KGB and its use of black propaganda, destabilisation operations, plots and double agents.

Rimington was made Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1996. After she retired she held a number of corporate posts including a directorship of Marks & Spencer, and was chair of the Institute of Cancer Research. She was widely credited as the inspiration for Dame Judi Denchs M in the James Bond films.

She is survived by her husband and two daughters.

 Stella Rimington, intelligence officer, born 13 May 1935; died 3 August 2025

 This article was amended on 5 August 2025 and 11 August 2025. Stella Rimington went to Nottingham girls high school rather than Nottingham high school; proposals were made to hold terror suspects for 42 days without charge, not 42 hours, as an earlier version stated.
Youve been on maternity leave and youre getting ready to return to work. But as youre sorting out childcare and getting into a professional headspace, you find out youve lost your job.

Its a nightmare scenario  but for saleswoman Sarah Lindup, its exactly what happened in 2022. Lindup was working for Bright HR, a software firm that offers advice on pregnancy discrimination, in a 65,000-a-year web sales job. She had generated 1.3m in sales for the business in less than a year, but when she returned from maternity leave, she was offered a role paying around 24,000.

Yet when she met with her new boss, Jayde Scott, to discuss returning to her previous team, she was laughed at, according to the tribunal document. A Manchester employment tribunal ruled that Lindup was discriminated against and was in line for compensation.

Up to 74,000 women every year now lose their job for getting pregnant or taking maternity leave  an increase of 37% from 54,000 in 2016, according to research from Pregnant Then Screwed and Women In Data. A third said they were sidelined or demoted.

Read more: What the UK's NDA ban means for victims of workplace harassment

Yet despite a new law extending redundancy protections to pregnant women and those returning from maternity leave coming into force in April 2024, just 2% of women who experience discrimination raise a tribunal claim.

Part of the problem is that while many of us have heard of tribunals, exactly how they work can be a mystery. And when youve experienced discrimination, the thought of taking legal action can be overwhelming.

So what are the grounds for maternity discrimination  and how can you start a claim?

It can be daunting, but pursuing an employment tribunal is one of the most powerful tools for holding employers accountable for maternity discrimination. (Maskot via Getty Images)

Recognise discrimination

First, its important to recognise what counts as discrimination. Put simply, its when someone is treated unfairly at work because they are pregnant, have recently given birth or are on maternity leave. It might be being denied a promotion, being overlooked for opportunities, or as was the case for Lindup, losing a job  all due to their pregnancy or maternity status.

As soon as possible, write down exactly what happened. Include as much information as possible, including the date and time of the incident, as well as what was said and how you felt. Its often hard to remember details of a traumatic incident, so this will give you something to refer back to.

If youre unsure whether your experience counts as discrimination, it can help to speak to an employment lawyer for advice. Or, you can contact Acas for free and confidential advice.

Acas early conciliation

Employment tribunals are specialist courts that make legally binding decisions on employment related claims.

The first step to bringing an employment tribunal claim is to start a process called Acas early conciliation, explains Holly Navarro, employment solicitor at Primas Law. To begin this process, you have to fill out a form on the Acas website, providing the individuals details, as well as their employers and the background to what has happened.

Read more: What we know about the UK's parental leave review

You have to start the Acas early conciliation process within three months minus one day (or two months and 29 days).

If the dispute cant be resolved, youll be issued an early conciliation certificate. You can then use this to submit a claim to an employment tribunal.

Starting a claim

To start a claim, you have to complete an ET1 claim form which can be filled out online.

The form will ask for details of the claimant (the person bringing the claim), the respondent (who the claim is against), the Acas early conciliation certificate number, details of employment (such as dates of employment, earnings and benefits) and, crucially, the type of claim(s) being pursued and associated detail, says Navarro.

It will be checked over by the tribunals internal system before being sent to the respondent. Then, the respondent has 28 days to submit a defence.

The employment tribunal usually holds a preliminary hearing to clarify issues, set a timetable and give directions for preparing the case, such as disclosure of evidence and witness statements, says Anna Schiavetta, associate solicitor in the employment team at Blacks Solicitors.

The final stage is a final hearing where both parties present their evidence and arguments. Following which, the tribunal makes a decision as to whether the claim succeeds or not. If the Claimant is successful, the tribunal will determine the remedy. If a party believes the tribunal made an error in law, they can appeal the decision.

Employment tribunals are specialist courts that make legally binding decisions on employment related claims. (sturti via Getty Images)

Outcomes of tribunals

If youre successful, you may be awarded financial compensation, but how much youll receive depends on the case.

If somebody has suffered financial loss as a result discriminatory treatment, they can also claim for this, such as loss of salary and loss of any other benefit that can be quantified financially, says Navarro. This can sometimes include future loss as well.

The tribunal may also make recommendations to ensure that the discrimination doesnt happen again.

What are the pros and cons of an employment tribunal?

Crucially, there is no guarantee that you will be successful. Your claim may be dismissed if it is deemed to lack merit or there isnt enough evidence. Complex cases can take a long time to reach a resolution, too.

The process itself can be lengthy, emotionally draining, and stressful, adds Navarro.

Read more: How to cope with pregnancy sickness at work

Although you don't have to pay any fees to make an employment tribunal claim, there may still be costs to pay. For example, if you have a legal adviser or representative.

If you win, your employer wont automatically have to pay your costs. If you lose, you dont automatically have to pay your employers costs. But, your employer might say youll have to pay their costs if you lose  they might say this to try to scare you into dropping your case or settling it.

However, tribunals offer a way to seek justice for maternity or pregnancy discrimination. The decisions are legally binding and the outcomes are enforceable. The decisions are made public, making it harder for companies to sweep discriminatory behaviour under the carpet.

It can be daunting, but pursuing an employment tribunal for maternity discrimination is one of the most powerful tools for holding employers accountable. It sends a strong message that discrimination will not go unnoticed. By stepping forward, you arent just seeking justice for yourself  youre helping to drive change for thousands of others.

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A student from Saudi Arabia who was stabbed to death while on a 10-week placement studying English in Cambridge was pure of heart and passionate about others, his family said.

Mohammed Algasim, 20, was pronounced dead after police were called to Mill Park, a street near the citys main train station, late on Friday.

Floral tributes have been left on the pavement outside an apartment block in the street.

Mohammed Algasim, 20, from Saudi Arabia, was on a 10-week placement studying English in Cambridge when he was fatally attacked (Cambridgeshire Police/PA)

Cambridgeshire Police said on Monday that a 21-year-old man, Chas Corrigan, has been charged with murder and possession of a knife in a public place.

Officers had been called to Mill Park at 11.27pm on Friday following reports of violence.

Mr Algasim was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.01am on Saturday despite the best efforts of paramedics, the force said.

In a statement issued through police, his family said he was a young man brimming with enthusiasm, brimming with chivalry and courage.

He was a dutiful son, a loving brother, and the leader of the family in spirit, not in appearance, they said.

He was cheerful, chivalrous, pure of heart, quick to give, and passionate about others.

Floral tributes were left outside a building in Mill Park, near Cambridge train station (Sam Russell/PA)

Over time, he became the familys charisma, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy in every gathering.

He was his fathers support, his familiar companion, and the assistant to his uncles and maternal uncles.

He was the most compassionate person to ever visit a mothers heart and the closest to his sisters embrace.

Cambridgeshire Police said Corrigan, of Holbrook Road, Cambridge, appeared before Peterborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

The force said he has been remanded in custody to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday.

A 50-year-old man, also from the city, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

He remains in custody.

EF International Language Campuses Cambridge, a private school offering English language courses to overseas students, previously said it was deeply saddened to confirm one of its adult students had died.

A message, on a piece of paper taped to a barrier behind the floral tributes in Mill Park, said may your soul be at peace and had heart shapes drawn on it.

It also said inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun, which is an Arabic phrase meaning to God we belong and to Him we return.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Tuesday, police said.
Former Obama adviser quips that Trump is combing Fox News for new Labor Stats chief after firing

After Donald Trumps pledge to nominate a new Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner in the next few days, former Obama adviser David Axelrod joked that the president is probably combing Fox News for a replacement.

Following a weak jobs report Friday that found not only did the U.S. economy add only 73,000 jobs in July but that the 258,000 fewer jobs were created in the previous two months, the president announced that he had axed the chief labor statistician Erika McEntarfer.

I believe the numbers were phony, just like they were before the election, and there were other times, the president told reporters over the weekend when pressed on his decision. Since then, Trump has repeatedly and baselessly claimed that the jobs report was RIGGED and that McEntarfer  who was appointed by his predecessor Joe Biden  had manipulated the numbers to make him look bad.

While the president has faced some criticism from Republican lawmakers for firing McEntarfer, who was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate last year, White House officials were tasked over the weekend with justifying and defending Trumps rash move. Their efforts were met with mockery and ridicule from cable news outlets and editorial boards.

The Wall Street Journal labeled the presidents economic adviser the bureau of labor denial while Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough claimed that Trumps aides had to put on their Baghdad Bob hat this weekend because there was no justification for the firing.

Former Obama adviser David Axelrod joked that Trump was likely going to get his next Bureau of Labor Statistics chief from Fox News. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Axelrod, who now works as a CNN senior political commentator, took a decidedly snarky tone over the news that Trump would soon offer up a replacement for McEntarfer.

Sharing a New York Times article that noted the president had told reporters hed announce a new BLS commissioner over the next three or four days, Axelrod tweeted Sunday: He's probably combing Fox News right now for a qualified replacement.

Of course, Axelrod  who served as a senior advisor to former President Barack Obama and helped run his two presidential campaigns  was referencing Trumps penchant for using the conservative cable giant to staff up his administration.

Trump created a revolving door between Fox News and the White House during his first term in office, and his second term has seen roughly two dozen former Fox News employees take on roles in the administration  with several of them filling Cabinet-level jobs.

Axelrod wasnt the only one who jokingly suggested that the president would look for a loyalist to lead the Bureau.

George Conway, the former GOP lawyer who has become a leading anti-Trump critic in recent years, created a fake White House press release announcing that the president had named former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to be the next Labor Stats chief. Weisselberg pleaded guilty to charges of grand larceny, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records in 2022. He also later pleaded guilty to perjury charges for lying under oath in a New York civil trial.

In his newsletter, The Atlantic contributing writer Derek Thompson argued that Trump was waging a war against reality, adding that weak job growth wasnt the only inconvenient statistic that the Trump administration has tried to suppress in its first seven months.

As Thompson pointed out, the administration has also dismissed scientists in charge of vaccine evaluations at the CDC and gotten rid of experts who put together national climate assessments so insurance companies can gauge risk, not to mention the firing of McEntarfer.

In a wild post on Truth Social Monday morning, Trump claimed that he was the victim of FAKE numbers that were meant to hide the economic success of his tariff policies.

Last weeks Jobs Report was RIGGED, just like the numbers prior to the Presidential Election were Rigged. Thats why, in both cases, there was massive, record setting revisions, in favor of the Radical Left Democrats, he wrote. Those big adjustments were made to cover up, and level out, the FAKE political numbers that were CONCOCTED in order to make a great Republican Success look less stellar!!! I will pick an exceptional replacement. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAGA!
The Hamas images of starving Jews, held hostage in tunnels below Gaza, digging their own graves or unable to even stand, provoked the condemnation that the militant group must surely have expected.

Along with its ally Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hamas is now trying to trade food and medical help for Evyatar David, 24, and 21-year-old Rom Braslavski - along with 18 other living hostages - for an end to Israeli air strikes, and the opening of humanitarian corridors for Gazas 2.2 million people facing starvation.

They will not get what they want  and neither will Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister - because both are locked into mutually destructive strategies that punish the innocent while they pursue the conflict neither really wants to end.

Demonstrators take part in a protest to demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and to end the war, as a video released by Hamas of hostage Evyatar David is displayed, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 2, 2025 (Reuters)

David is 24, hes had two birthdays since he was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. A musician who planned to tour internationally, he was filmed in a Hamas tunnel digging a hole in the sand at his feet.

Every day that passes, my body gets weaker and thinner, he is recorded saying in the second of two videos released by Hamas. It seems to me I am on the way to my own death. I am digging the grave in which I will be buried.

He then collapses, holding the shovel, his head bowed.

Braslavski, a soldier working at the Nova festival close to the border with Gaza when Hamas led an operation that killed nearly 1,200 and in which over 250 people were kidnapped, was being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

A video was also released of him at the weekend. I cant stand I cant walk to the bathroom, Ive run out of food and water, he is filmed saying through tears. After this latest video, Hamas said it had lost contact with the PIJ.

In the footage which has been widely condemned, both men are clearly badly emaciated.

Still from a video released by Hamas of Israeli Evyatar David, taken hostage on October 7, 2023, digging what he says is his own grave (Telegram)

An assement by expert doctors from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum led by professor Ronit Endervelt said: Evyatars current weight is estimated at approximately 40-45kg, a decrease of about 41 per cent from his original body weight of around 76kg, defined by the World Health Organization as severe thinness.

Rom began captivity with a body mass at the lower limit and a weight of about 65kg and is therefore at high risk from weight loss. His current weight is estimated at around 37-47 kg, a decrease of approximately 31 per cent.

The hostages supporters have long been critical of the Israeli government and Netanyahu for what they say has been the pursuit of the war with Hamas rather than focus on the release of hostages.

I pray that Rom hasn't given up and still believes he's coming home. I pray that Rom hasn't accepted the devastating reality that maybe no one will come to rescue him and that he might die there, his mother, Tami, said in a statement sent to The Independent.

APTOPIX Israel Palestinians (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Both men speak of how little they have been able to eat and drink.

It is assumed that Hamas is highlighting the starvation of Jewish Israelis held in Gaza to show the wider plight of the whole enclave, where aid organizations and the United Nations have said Israel is starving the population.

In its latest assessment of Gazas population, the UNs World Food Programme said that more than one in three people in Gaza are now going days at a time without eating.

It added: More than 500,000 people  nearly a quarter of Gazas population  are enduring famine-like conditions, while the remaining population is facing emergency levels of hunger.

On Sunday, some 80 Gazans were killed, many trying to reach aid hubs run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Five more people died of starvation or malnutrition over the past 24 hours, Gazas health ministry said on Monday. The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from hunger to 180, including 93 children, since the war began, according to Reuters.

But Hamas is more likely to have calculated that it has no real interest in a ceasefire with Israel. While the conflict rages it has meaning and does not have to face a reckoning for the crimes of October 7 and for the inevitable Israeli response that the murder spree caused.

Palestinians carry humanitarian aid packages near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution center operated by the U.S.-backed organization, in Netzarim, central Gaza Strip (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Israel had faced international condemnation for the humanitarian horrors it has caused in Gaza and its leaders, including Netanyahu, face indictments on war crimes by the Internation Criminal Court. Even staunch ally Donald Trump had been struck by the images of starving Palestinian children that emerged from the largely razed Mediterranean ghetto.

Netanyahu came under increasing pressure to end Israels campaign and open the gates of Gaza to food and other aid.

That would have been a relief for Gazans but terrible for Hamas. Historically, the group has favoured terror attacks over diplomacy - literally blowing up any signs of rapprochement between other Palestinian groups and Israel with bus bombs and market attacks.

A ceasefire and, worse still for Hamas, a commitment (as called for by Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) for renewed focus on a two-state solution, dividing the land from the river Jordan to the sea between Israel and Palestinians, would have been a disaster. Hamas wants the end of Israel  not a share of the land.

So releasing images of starving Jews that recall Belsen was sure to scupper any attempts at dragging Netanyahu towards a ceasefire.

Israel (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

On Monday he said he would call his security cabinet to meet to continue to stand together and fight together to achieve all our war objectives: the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.

He has pledged to - one day - annex the Israeli occupied West Bank. Several of his cabinet colleagues have called for the mass evacuation of Gazas population and its resettlement by Israelis.

He is facing bribery charges in court. The Israeli prime minister doesnt want peace now because he would soon face an inquiry into how, or why, he ignored the intelligence warnings of Hamas preparations for the October 7 attack.

A ceasefire in Gaza now would expose Netanyahu, and Hamas, to political and personal risks they dont ever want to ever face.
Inside the aid drops onto Gazas torched ruins  with the starving too weak to fight for food

From the sky, the torched ruins of once-bustling cities simmer into view as the back of a Jordanian military plane yawns open. The ground beneath  Gaza  is ash and ruin: the bottom of a firepit stretching out to the horizon.

It is as if giants have torn through anything that once lived here: monstrous teeth have ripped chunks out of the few buildings that still teeter above ground. Everything else appears stamped underfoot.

In some corners, Israeli tank tracks have clawed up what is left of the soil in sickening scrawls. The only flicker of life is the families corralled into tents on scraps of beach in the punishing sunlight.

From the ground looking up, these impossibly huge planes roar into view. It is absurd. Gaza is just 25 miles long and a few miles wide, and entirely accessible by land and sea.

But because of Israels ongoing bombardment of the strip and war with militant group Hamas, coupled with its crippling blockade, countries across the world are now dropping aid at enormous expense from the sky.

Airdrops are always a last resort, a desperate measure. That is because it rarely gets to those who are most in need, it can be dangerous and there are safer simpler routes via land UN officials have told The Independent  those dying of starvation are too weak to endure the hunger games to grab it.

Sometimes it lands in the sea. Sometimes it lands on the very people it is supposed to save, with fatal consequences.

Like all the young men, Oday waited in the scorching sun for four hours. But when the planes arrived, he couldnt get out of the way in time, said Moatasem al-Quraan, 31, from central Gaza, about his cousin, nurse Oday al-Quraan, who was crushed to death earlier on Monday.

Destroyed Gaza seen from the sky on board a Jordanian military aid drop (Bel Trew)

A pallet of aid being airdropped into central Gaza landed on him as he waited for food, his family and eyewitnesses told The Independent.

He is married and has two children, said Moatasem. He was like every citizen in Gaza. He has been hungry for four months.

The plane that dropped the aid which killed Oday was carrying 12 boxes; inside each were 36 cartons of food. Where will we distribute them? The aid on the plane isnt enough for the 20,000 people who were waiting there.

Further north in Gaza, Muhammad Mansour, a 39-year-old father of six, said that when the aid drops, it is usually taken by armed gangs, as crippling hunger has exploded into lawlessness.

A few times it falls into the sea.

I dont know how to swim, Muhammad said in desperation. Some went out in small fishing boats, but when they got it, the flour, sugar and rice were useless due to the seawater.

Jordanian officials told The Independent they are trying all ways to get aid in to Gaza, including by land and sky to ease the hunger crisis in the besieged strip.

On Monday, the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF), also known as the Arab Army, conducted seven airdrop operations together with the UAE, Germany, France, Belgium and Canada  delivering 45 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of the kingdoms ongoing efforts to support Palestinians in the enclave.

In total, 289 airdrops have been conducted since Israel permitted them to restart two weeks ago, delivering 305 tonnes of aid.

One-tonne pallets of aid float down into Gaza after being released by the Jordanian military (Bel Trew)

Meanwhile, officials in Jordan warned that they have had warehouses of aid for Gaza gathering dust since Israel reimposed its devastating blockade in March.

Hussein Shebli, the head of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), which coordinates much of Jordans aid response for Gaza, painted a damning picture of the nightmare of getting those supplies in by land.

He said they face long distances and multiple checkpoints that make transportation difficult, as well as frequent closures of the crossings into Gaza, and active prevention of aid entry by the occupying entity.

Deliberate inspection delays at checkpoints and crossings often hold shipments for extended periods, leading to spoilage and further disruption, he said.

Repeated attacks by Israeli settlers on aid convoys have caused serious delays and damage to shipments. The aid that does get to the crossing points can then be rejected on questionable grounds, he added, referencing one load of dates which was turned back over the alleged presence of pits.

Israel continues to deny there are restrictions on aid or that there is even a hunger crisis in Gaza, despite the UN-backed global hunger monitor recently concluding that the worst-case scenario of famine is playing out.

Instead, the Israeli government blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza and says it is taking steps for more aid to reach the population, including the aid drops.

The main military unit coordinating aid  COGAT  has even blamed the UN for not picking up aid it has allowed in, although UN officials said they are faced with a slew of obstacles, including struggling to get permits to reach these pick-up points.

Israel continues to deny there are restrictions on aid or that there is even a hunger crisis in Gaza (Reuters)

The Israeli military said on Monday that it will continue to work to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip  while refuting the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza.

But the reality is people are still dying of hunger: Gazas health ministry said on Monday that five more people died of starvation or malnutrition over the past 24 hours. The latest deaths raised the toll of those dying from hunger to 180, including 93 children, since the war began. Images are still pouring out of hospitals showing emaciated children, their bones pressing through paper-thin flesh.

There are also deep concerns for the 20 remaining live Israeli hostages and captives still being held by Hamas, who during the 7 October attacks on southern Israel seized over 250 hostages and killed over 1,000 more, according to Israeli estimates.

Late last week, the militant group released new galling videos of two emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza, which have horrified Israelis and added even more pressure on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, even as his government considers another expansion of the nearly 22-month war.

In one, a skeletal Evyatar David, who was taken from the Nova Music Festival, says he is digging his own grave and speaks of days without food.

Grab from video of Evyatar David, an Israeli taken hostage by Hamas, digging what he says is his own grave (Telegram)

As global outrage over the rising famine in and bombardment of Gaza surges, UN agencies warn that the airdrops are insufficient and Israel must let in far more aid by land.

Tamara al-Rifai, a spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency, said airdrops are 100 times more expensive than their equivalent by land, and while the UN is grateful for any breakthrough of aid, the airdrops are equal to the content of ten trucks.

If there is enough political will to bring about airdrops, there has to be political will to put pressure on the government of Israel to open crossings and to allow the UN to do its job, she added.

Last year, the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that one four-hour round trip by a C-130 military plane costs around $32,000  while a trip by truck is estimated at around $970 from Cairo to Rafah in southern Gaza (when that route was still possible).

Jordanian airmen prepare the aid drop over Gaza (Bel Trew)

Back in Gaza, local medics reported that at least 40 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes on Gaza on Monday, including 10 seeking aid at aid distribution sites run by the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

The UN says more than 1,000 people have been killed trying to receive aid in the enclave in just a few months, most of them shot by Israeli forces operating nearby.

The Israeli military has repeatedly denied targeting aid seekers and has said it has previously only fired in the vicinity of aid distribution centres.

As the war rages on, the families in ravaged Gaza are dying, trying to find food.

We thank all the countries that have helped and are trying to help, but the only solution is to open the crossing and distribute supplies, said Moatasem as he attended the funeral of his cousin Oday.

My cousin went to bring a meal to feed his family and children, but returned to them dead.
Taliban leadership has ordered officers in Kabul to arrest as many individuals as possible from the leaked document - Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

Leaders of Irans Revolutionary Guards have asked the Taliban for access to a leaked list of Afghans who helped Britain so they can hunt down MI6 spies.

The Tehran regime hopes to examine the list of nearly 25,000 Afghans who worked with British forces as they seek leverage with the West ahead of nuclear negotiations this autumn.

The so-called kill list contains the names of Afghans who were applying for asylum, including soldiers who had worked with the British Army, intelligence assets and special forces. Some are believed to have subsequently fled to Iran.

In a sign that the two sides are already collaborating, at least one Afghan whose name was allegedly on the list has been deported from Iran to Kabul in the past few days.

The so-called kill list contains the names of Afghans who had worked with the British Army, intelligence assets and special forces - Thomas Coex/AFP

A senior Iranian official in Tehran confirmed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had formally requested that the Taliban government share the leaked list. It is understood that MI6 intelligence assets will take priority in the search.

He said: On the Iranian side, there are also efforts to find the list, with a special committee assigned for it. There have been discussions on cooperation between Tehran and Kabul on this issue as it can help both countries for negotiations with the West.

The Telegraph understands that Taliban leadership in Kandahar has also ordered officers in Kabul to arrest as many individuals as possible from the leaked document to use them as leverage in exerting diplomatic pressure on London.

The database was accidentally leaked in February 2022 when a Royal Marine emailed the complete file to Afghan contacts in Britain instead of sending a small extract.

The spreadsheet contained names, telephone numbers and email addresses of Afghan soldiers, government workers and family members who applied to relocate to Britain under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy after the 2021 Western military withdrawal.

The list also included identities of more than 100 British special forces personnel and MI6 operatives who had vouched for Afghan applicants.

A Taliban government official told The Telegraph that they obtained the spreadsheet in 2022.

Speaking to this newspaper last month, he said: After the reports were published in England, it became clear how significant this leak was. The order is to arrest as many individuals as possible to use them as a tool of diplomatic pressure against England.

The IRGCs demand comes after Britain, France and Germany threatened Tehran with a so-called snapback mechanism, which would restore UN Security Council resolutions against Iran, if no progress is made on negotiations over its nuclear programme by August 30.

The most significant resolution that would return is 1929, adopted in June 2010, which expanded sanctions beyond technical nuclear restrictions to target Irans broader economy.

The resolution required all UN members to take all necessary measures to enforce Irans enrichment ban and ballistic missile restrictions.

Iran has refused to abandon uranium enrichment that could ultimately lead to a nuclear weapon, despite a bombing campaign by Israel and the US last month.

Iran has refused to abandon uranium enrichment that could ultimately lead to a nuclear weapon - Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

Iranian authorities want to check borders and detain Afghans in Iran whose names appear on the list, with particular focus on those who worked as intelligence operatives, according to the Iranian official.

He said: There is an urgency to find as many of them as possible before the snapback deadlines arrive to use them as backdoor bargaining tools.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and personnel, particularly those in sensitive positions, always have appropriate measures in place to protect their security.

The independent Rimmer Review concluded that it is highly unlikely that merely being on the spreadsheet means an individual is more likely to be targeted, and this is the basis on which the court lifted its super-injunction.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, is prepared to trigger sanctions against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, The Telegraph revealed last year.

The UK remains a participant in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and can unilaterally force a return to sanctions if it considers Iran has violated the deals terms.

At least one Afghan whose name appeared on the leaked list, and who had escaped to Iran after the leak, was detained for deportation on Friday.

His son was ill, and his wife and two daughters remained in Iran, the deported man said, unable even to go out and buy bread.

They arrested me on the street, handcuffed me, and sent me to a deportation camp, he told The Telegraph from Kabul.

I pleaded with them. I told them my life would be in danger in Afghanistan. I shouted, Where are human rights? But they didnt care. They sent me straight to the border.

They can come and kill me any moment

He questioned whether the Government was truly unaware of what was happening in Iran.

There are many people like me there  being deported, being arrested, he said. The British know all of this. If they wanted to help, they wouldve done it already. But they dont want to.

Now in Kabul, he said he was constantly on the move, hiding in a different place each night, afraid for his own safety and for his family left behind in Iran.

They can come and kill me any moment, he said. But it doesnt matter to anyone any more. Thats just my life now.

He expressed bitter frustration over the UKs resettlement priorities.

I hope the Brits are happy  they took cooks and masseurs to Britain, but those who lost their eyes serving British forces, and many more are left behind, he said.

Maybe thats what they wanted. I just regret not realising it sooner.

He asked how it was possible that the Government  once rulers of half the world  could remain blind to the situation.

They took cooks, but left behind generals and colonels, he said. What kind of logic is that?

Tehrans Revolutionary Guard are deporting Afghans in Iran whose names appear on the leaked list - Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters

The Telegraph has revealed that former Taliban members were brought to the UK on British evacuation flights from Afghanistan after the leak.

The individuals were flown out for their safety, but among them were suspected jihadists, sex offenders, corrupt officials, and people previously jailed by US-led forces  raising concerns over poor vetting.

Insiders say some Afghans are also exploiting a family reunion scheme set up after the leak and are using it to enter the UK under false pretences.

The Telegraph understands that evacuated migrants are offering people in Afghanistan help to get to Britain, including fake family links for up to 20,000 per person.

Iran is using espionage allegations against Afghans as a pretext for the mass arrests and deportations following the recent conflict with Israel.

The Telegraph spoke to Afghans in Iran, at the border, and in Afghanistan, who said the regime in Tehran was targeting them to divert public attention from its humiliation by Israel in last months 12-day war.

During the conflict, daily deportations jumped from 2,000 to over 30,000 as Iranian authorities turned public anger toward the vulnerable minority.

Those persecuted by the regime also reported suffering widespread abuses including beatings and arbitrary detention.

The Government imposed a super-injunction in September 2023 preventing media coverage of the data breach, which has been described as one of the most damaging intelligence leaks in recent history.

The injunction was extended before last years election, despite a judges decision to lift it in May 2024.

Johnny Mercer, the former Conservative veterans minister who served in Afghanistan, called the leak gut-wrenching.

The Government established an emergency scheme called the Afghanistan Response Route in March 2024 to airlift people named in the breach to the UK.

The total relocation program for Afghans could cost up to 7bn of taxpayers money.
Taiyangdao National Wetland Park in NE China attracts tourists in midsummer

Xinhua) 09:40, August 04, 2025

People visit the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 31, 2025. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 1, 2025 shows a view of the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 30, 2025 shows a view of the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park beside the urban area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

People visit the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 1, 2025. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

People visit the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 1, 2025. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 30, 2025 shows a view of the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park beside the urban area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

People visit the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 1, 2025. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

People take a boat tour at the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 31, 2025. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 30, 2025 shows a view of the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

A drone photo shows people posing for photos at the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 27, 2025. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Photo by Zhang Shu/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 27, 2025 shows a boat sailing across the "rainbow bridge" leading to Sun Island Scenic Area, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Located on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin, the Taiyangdao (Sun Island) National Wetland Park has a wetland area of more than 7,000 hectares, with a high wetland rate of more than 70 percent. Among them, the Sun Island Scenic Area is one of the few riverfront wetland grassland ecological zones lying in the city center in China.

In midsummer, the charming scenery of the vibrant urban ecological island attracts numerous tourists. (Photo by Zhang Shu/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Elon Musk declined to comment on the Trump administration's proposal to ban foreign students, despite having once been one himself, sidestepping the question with a curt pivot to "spaceships."

During a sit-down with CBS' "Sunday Morning" correspondent David Pogue at SpaceX headquarters, Musk was asked about the administration's controversial proposal.

"You were one of those kids, right?" Pogue asked, while questioning the Tesla CEO on his thoughts on the topic.

Musk tried to shut down CBS from asking about anything other than "spaceships" pic.twitter.com/5fwMScFyim  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 1, 2025

Musk dodged the question, stating, "I think we wanna stick to the subject of the day, which is, like, spaceships, as opposed to presidential policy."

When pressed, he shut the door: "No, wellno."

Musk did, however, express discomfort with being held responsible for every Trump administration policy, saying, "I don't want to speak up against the administration, but I also don't want to take responsibility for everything the administration's doing."

In the same interview filmed last week, Musk publicly criticized the multi-trillion-dollar spending bill supported by President Donald Trump, calling it counterproductive to DOGE's mission. Within 24 hours of that comment airing, Musk announced he was officially stepping down from his government post.

Though he claimed it was due to the end of his 130-day advisory term, the timing led users online to speculate friction behind the scenes. His refusal to weigh in stood in contrast to his usual willingness to criticize government inefficiencies and policies.

The White House, meanwhile, continues to defend its immigration proposals without comment from one of its highest-profile foreign-born allies.

Originally published on Latin Times
James Whale, the veteran radio DJ and TV personality, has died from cancer aged 74.

In a statement shared on social media, his employers TalkTV said: We are sad to announce that James Whale MBE died earlier today, aged 74, following a lengthy battle with cancer. As a broadcasting legend for over 50 years, James will be missed by so many at Talk and the wider News UK family.

His wife Nadine Lamont-Brown also confirmed the news in a brief statement that said: James slipped away very gently this morning. It was a beautiful passing, and he left with a smile on his face.

Whale was first diagnosed with cancer back in 2000 and had to have one of his kidneys removed. Then, in 2020, the TalkTV host revealed that the cancer had returned to his remaining kidney and spread to his spine, brain and lungs.

His colleague, Mike Graham, announced his death to listeners on Talk on Monday (4 August) while paying tribute to his friend whom he had worked alongside on Talk for the past six years.

James began his remarkable career in the early 1970s when he pioneered a new kind of radio in Britain, the late night shock jock phone in, James began. By the late 1980s, the James Whale Radio Show had become a cultural phenomenon, broadcasting every weekend on ITV. He attracted millions of viewers, making him a household name.

James would go on to host a variety of programmes for ITV, Sky and the BBC before finding a new audience for talk radio, all the while continuing to make headlines during his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.

Radio presenter James Whale, pictured in 2023 (Getty)

In 2006, after surviving kidney cancer, James launched Kidney Cancer UK, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds. In 2024, James was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours, recognising his extraordinary contribution to broadcast and charity.

He concluded: James Whale broke the rules, he shaped the airwaves, and did it all on his own terms. For millions, James wasn't just a broadcaster. He was a companion, a provocateur, and a good friend that we'll all never forget. God bless you, James. We'll miss you.

The news comes just days after Whale recorded his final ever podcast from a hospice with his wife, as he thanked fans for listening. He said a farewell in an emotional clip shared on TalkTV on Friday (1 August).

Speaking with his wife Nadine, the presenter said, Weve had a good time together havent we? to which she replied: The best.

He told his audience: Thank you for being a listener. I hope it helps in some way and who knows whats next, so I can only say au revoir.

James Whale competed on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 (PA Archive)

TalkTV host and political pundit Julia Hartley-Brewer paid tribute in a social media post and said: So sad that my amazing, wonderful @TalkTV colleague James Whale has died.

He was a legend both on air and off air. It was a pleasure and an honour to know him. Sending Nadine and his family all my love xxxx.

Whale, who has been a fixture of British radio and TV for five decades, announced in May that he had stopped his treatment and was at the end of his cancer journey.

The industry veteran was awarded an MBE for his services to broadcasting and charity in the 2024 New Year Honours List. Whale called the moment the pinnacle of his career.

Due to his past experience with cancer, Whale, who competed on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, formed the James Whale Kidney Fund in 2006, which merged with Kidney Cancer UK in 2015. In 2018, his first wife, Melinda Maxted, died after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Whale was awarded an MBE in 2024 (PA Archive)

Whale rose to fame in the 1980s with his frank style, dry wit and no-nonsense approach on late-night programme The James Whale Radio Show, gaining a legion of loyal listeners.

He spent 13 years at TalkSport before hosting the drivetime show on LBC and the breakfast show on BBC Essex.

During his career he also hosted Whale On, Dial Midnight and Central Weekend Live for ITV, and Talk About for BBC One. His autobiography Almost A Celebrity: A Lifetime Of Night-Time was published in 2008.

Despite the respect that he garnered, Whales's career was peppered with controversy. In 2008, he was sacked by TalkSPORT after he called on listeners to vote for Boris Johnson when the former prime minister was campaigning to become London mayor.

While employed on TalkRadio, he clashed with listeners and activists over the Brexit referendum campaign, but later suggested he had changed his mind in response to the behaviour of the European Union.

In 2018, he was suspended by TalkRadio after appearing to laugh during an interview with a sexual assault survivor.

Whale later caused a stir while on Celebrity Big Brother, when broadcaster and Loose Women panellist Saira Khan asked him if he was racist.

Khan said she had researched Whale before entering the house and had seen the claims online.

He responded: Ive never heard so much rubbish in my entire life.

James Whale entering the Celebrity Big Brother house (Ian West/PA) (PA Archive)

He added: I dont think I am known for that. Am I known for that? I dont know. I really dont know. Ive been one of the judges of the British Curry Awards for 10 years.

He was the sixth contestant to be eliminated from the show and left in a double eviction alongside The Only Way Is Essexs Lewis Bloor.

Further tributes have been paid to Whale by his colleagues and friends in the media. The entrepreneur Charlie Mullins wrote: This morning I heard the sad news of the passing of the broadcasting legend and my dear friend - the one and only James Whale MBE. James, mate, rest in peace now.

Chuck Thomas, an executive producer at TalkTV said that the world would be a lot quieter without him. Thomas added that his friend faced the end with courage and wit and that broadcasting has lost a giant.

LBC host Nick Ferrari added: Anyone who has spent any time working in speech radio knows what a trailblazer James Whale has been. Radio just got a lot quieter.

The illusionist Uri Geller remarked that Whale was a brave man and a true friend and that he had never met anyone quite like James Whale.
(Ellis Parrinder)

There is a world without strawberry sandos and Dubai chocolate everything. A world with self-saucing puddings, treacle sponges, and 1980s Black Forest Gateau.

Enter Janes Patisserie. The baker behind the popular blog and bestselling books, Jane Dunn, has released her fifth cookbook Classic, celebrating timeless cakes and retro recipes.

Dunns love for baking began in her grandmothers kitchen and eventually led to her documenting her cookery school journey on her online blog.

More than a decade later, Dunn is a best-selling author with more than 1.5 million followers and her recipes have earned her a place as one of the most trusted bakers of her time.

With more than 340 published recipes, Dunn has a bake for every occasion, but is anything ever better than a classic? Reinventing the wheel has never applied less. This is a cookbook dedicated to the true, tried, and tested. Here she shares just a few of the best bits from the latest book.

Janes Patisseries best classic bakes
Kelly Osbourne has thanked fans for their support during the hardest moment of her life following the death of her father, the Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne.

The rock legend was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2019 and died at the age of 76 on July 22, surrounded by his family.

Since his death, tributes have been pouring in from fans and friends around the world with thousands visiting the Black Sabbath Bench in the musicians home city of Birmingham to lay bouquets, wreaths, posters, balloons, candles and cards.

Kelly Osbourne shared a post on Instagram (David Parry/PA)

The Osbourne family visited the bench in Broad Street last Wednesday to lay their own flowers during a cortege procession.

Kelly, 40, who starred in the 2000s reality series The Osbournes, shared a post on her Instagram story on Monday thanking fans for their support.

She said: Ive sat down to write this a hundred times and still dont know if the words will ever feel like enough but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

The love, support, and beautiful messages Ive received from so many of you have truly helped carry me through the hardest moment of my life. Every kind word, every shared memory, every bit of compassion has meant more than I can ever explain.

Grief is a strange thing  it sneaks up on you in waves  I will not be ok for a while  but knowing my family are not alone in our pain makes a difference.

Sharon Osbourne, with family members, lays flowers at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Broad Street in Birmingham in memory of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne (Jacob King/PA)

Im holding on tight to the love, the light, and the legacy left behind.

Thank you for being there. I love you all so much.  Kelly #BirminghamForever #OzzyForever.

On Monday, Birmingham City Council began gathering up the tributes so they can be stored before being handed over to the Osbourne family.

A handful of fans watched from behind barriers, took photographs and hugged each other as officials in hi-vis jackets collected all the flowers and tributes which had been laid in front of the bench and on the railings behind it.

The council said the mementos would be gathered and preserved respectfully in agreement with the rock stars relatives and then stored with the utmost care at a secure location, ensuring they are protected and treated with dignity.

The council said: In due course, they will be passed on to the Osbourne family, so they may keep them as a lasting reminder of the publics affection and support.

Messages, balloons and floral tributes left at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Broad Street, Birmingham in memory of Ozzy Osbourne (Joe Giddens/PA)

In a statement released through the city council, the Osbourne family said: We are deeply moved by the heartfelt tributes that have been placed at the Black Sabbath Bridge and at the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street in recent days.

These expressions of remembrance reflect the profound impact that Ozzy had on the city and its people, as well as fans from around the world  BIRMINGHAM FOREVER!
Two ambigrams by Douglas Hofstadter, taken from Ambigrammia. Illustration: Douglas Hofstadter

Douglas Hofstadter is probably best known as the author of Godel, Escher Bach, a classic of popular science writing published in 1979.

In 1983, he coined the word ambigram, meaning a piece of text that can be read in more than one way, an art form pioneered in the 1970s by the typographers Scott Kim and John Langdon. Typically, an ambigram is a word or phrase that has left-right mirror symmetry, or reads the same upside down.

Hofstadter, aged 80, is professor of cognitive science and comparative literature at Indiana University, and has produced thousands of ambigrams over the decades. Heres one that is pleasingly self-referential, taken from his latest book, Ambigrammia. It has a vertical line of symmetry through the g, which means you can read it left to right, and also in a mirror. The ambi when reflected reads rams.

Heres another one, geographically appropriate, that has 180 degree rotational symmetry. (It reads the same upside down.)

Isnt it clever? The dots underneath the r and the t do not distract from the letters, but when upside down are clearly the dots on two is.

Hofstadter describes each ambigram as a pocket-sized creativity puzzle. So I thought they would make a perfect challenge for this column.

Flipping words

Design an ambigram for the following words:

1. DAVE

2. OHIO

3. UTAH

4. RED

5. Your own name

The aim in an ambigram is legibility. You want the word to be as readable as possible. Usually an ambigram has perfect symmetry (mirror or rotational) as in the the two examples above, but not always, as in GREEN in the top image.

You can use upper case, lower case, or a mixture of the two. You will need to experiment at first. How much you can tweak a letter without making it unrecognisable, and how much you can add without overwhelming the eye?

With DAVE, the A and the V are (almost) inversions of each other. Harder is to see how to make an E into an upside down D.

Ill be back at 5pm UK with Hofstadters designs for 1 to 5. If you would like me to feature your designs of your names in that post, please either email me or tag me on Twitter or Bluesky.

UPDATE: To see a gallery of designs for the above challenge click here.

Ambigrammia by Douglas Hofstadter, with an introduction by Scott Kim, is out now on Yale University Press

Ive been setting a puzzle here on alternate Mondays since 2015. Im always on the look-out for great puzzles. If you would like to suggest one, email me.
Our access to the field is blocked if we write about anything the CCP does not approve of, said one academic. Photograph: David Kashakhi/Alamy

Academics and students of Chinese studies in Britain are being subject to harassment, surveillance and pressure to self-censor as they seek to avoid disruption to funding, a survey of universities by a transparency group has concluded.

The findings by UK-China Transparency coincide with new government guidance stating that universities may be breaching rules by having partnerships with foreign governments that require academic staff to pass ideological tests  for example, by hosting Confucius Institutes.

Academics working on topics that are politically sensitive to the Chinese Communist party (CCP) reported instances of harassment from colleagues and pressure from university administrators related to the financial consequences of damaging relations with China.

One academic involved in sensitive research stopped teaching after experiencing harassment from a visiting scholar from China, who whispered were watching you in one case and interrogated the academic about their personal history at another event. Another scholar experienced a severe campaign of online harassment.

A respondent stated that their Chinese students had confided in him that they had been asked to spy on campus events by Chinese police, and another said they were told by Chinese students that surveillance was omnipresent and that students were interviewed by officials on their return to China.

The results suggest that the academic landscape is mixed, with some institutions demonstrating higher resilience and supporting scholars working on sensitive topics than others.

They are based on 50 responses to a questionnaire circulated last year among China studies scholars working at UK universities. Nearly two-thirds  64%  of respondents thought their universities financial dependency on international students from China affected administrators sense of the importance of relationships with the Chinese government, compared with 16% who felt that this was not the case.

Twenty-two per cent said they had been told by a manager or administrator that relations with China were a factor in their institutions decision-making, and a further 10% said they believed they were, while 52% said they were not. And 38% thought these concerns made it more difficult to study or conduct original investigative research on sensitive issues, compared with 46% who said this was not the case.

One academic said they had faced pressure to remove teaching elements that could offend nationalist Chinese students and had been asked by funders whether planned research would offend the Chinese government. The same academic said their universitys recruitment team had received threats from the Chinese government in relation to their sensitive research.

Another respondent said their faculty had been opposed to a sensitive event and another gave a secondhand account of an incident at another university where a research project had been cancelled and its funding returned because of Chinese government pressure on the universitys management.

Other respondents argued that specialising in sensitive research work created opportunities, with one respondent suggesting that in the current environment a strongly anti-Chinese stance could create a stifling effect on those who wish to discuss nuance. Another respondent said that sensitive topics are welcomed by some institutions but not others.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson said: The relevant report is completely groundless and absurd. China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in other countries internal affairs, and respects freedom of speech and academic freedom in the UK and other countries. China consistently requires its citizens, including overseas students, to abide by local laws and regulations.

The relevant parties should remain committed to actions that promote educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK, rather than the opposite.

David Tobin, a lecturer in east Asian studies at the University of Sheffield, said the report was addressing long-term pervasive issues in British universities that Ive encountered since 2007.

He said he had experienced one incident in a previous job where a senior colleague invited representatives from the Chinese consulate and Chinese state media journalists to visit. After being left to wander around the building unattended, he said they entered his working area and observed the sensitive material he was working with on his computer screen.

The key challenge academics like myself researching subjects that are considered sensitive by the CCP is that our access to the field is blocked if we write about anything that the party state does not approve of, Tobin said.

Chinese scholars here are as afraid as they would be in China because they are not protected when they are at home and their families are harassed inside the PRC [China] if they write about the party system.
Labour is seeking to deter smuggling gangs in a bid to bring down small boat crossings (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)

The UKs one-in-one out returns deal with France is set to begin in a matter of days, the government has announced, as pressure piles on ministers to take further action to stop people from making the dangerous journey across the Channel.

The agreement, announced by the prime minister in a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron last month, means that for each small boat migrant sent back across the English Channel, an asylum seeker will be allowed to enter the UK from France under a legal route.

At the time, Sir Keir Starmer said it was a breakthrough moment which would turn the tables on the people smugglers who bring them here.

Labour is seeking to deter smuggling gangs in a bid to bring down small boat crossings (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)

The treaty was ratified on Monday, meaning that anyone entering the UK on a small boat can be detained immediately on arrival and returned to France by the UK government  with the Home Office expecting detentions to begin within days.

The EU Commission, Germany and other member states have also given the green light to the agreement - quashing previous concerns that the bloc could oppose the deal.

Under the new returns treaty, any adult migrant who crosses the Channel will now be at risk of return under the pilot scheme if their claim for asylum is considered inadmissible.

Immigration Enforcement have set aside space at immigration removal centres, the government said, while Border Force have an operational strategy ready to identify and process groups of inadmissible migrants for removal.

The Home Office also said it had learnt lessons from the lengthy legal challenges which hampered the failed Rwanda scheme, saying it is prepared to robustly defend any legal challenges to removal within the initial trial phase.

The treaty governing the pilot scheme will remain in force until June 2026, during which time both countries have committed to "continually reviewing the effectiveness of the approach in order to decide the long-term future of the arrangements after June 2026", the government said.

Migrants in France who want to come to the UK will be able to submit an Expression of Interest application for the new legal route online, at which point the Home Office will make a decision.

They will need to satisfactorily establish their identity and nationality and will be subject to strict security and eligibility checks.

Anyone who arrives in the UK by small boat and is returned to France will not be eligible for the legal route to the UK under the deal.

Meanwhile, while anyone who tries to re-enter the UK having already been returned to France once will be returned again as a matter of priority.

Sir Keir Starmer said the treaty is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs business model.

The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over  we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve, he added.

The home secretary added: While the UK will always be ready to play its part alongside other countries in helping those fleeing persecution and conflict  this must be done in a controlled and managed legal way, not through dangerous, illegal, and uncontrolled routes.

We will develop the pilot step by step and will trial different approaches as part of it, and alongside this scheme, we will continue to take action at every level to dismantle the criminal enterprise behind this vile trade, boosted by the 100 million in new investment announced this week to support increased enforcement against the gangs."

Labour has put a pledge to crack down on the number of people coming to the UK on small boats at the centre of its plan for government.

But with boat crossings at a record high, and the asylum backlog still above 75,000, there is mounting pressure on ministers to take more drastic action - pressure which is exacerbated by the success of Reform UK in the polls.

Last week figures showed that the number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel topped 25,000  the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 25,000 mark has been passed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018.

It comes amid escalating protests across the UK opposing the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with a number of people arrested after a protest outside a hotel in Canary Wharf in London on Sunday.

In recent days, the government has announced further measures to support their crack down on illegal migration, including pouring an extra 100m into their efforts.The money will support the pilot of the new returns agreement with France, paying for up to 300 more National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and new technology and equipment to step up intelligence-gathering on smuggling gangs.

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron announced the one in, one out deal during the French presidents state visit last month (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire)

Meanwhile, anyone who advertises small boat crossings or fake passports on social media could be face up to five years in prison under a new offence to be introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Speaking on Monday, Dame Angela Eagle told Sky News ministers are doing the detailed work to bring down the asylum backlog, adding: Weve taken 35,000 people off our streets who have no right to be in our country and sent them back to their countries of origin within a year.

But as tensions continue to flare over the issue, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said he thinks the publics patience has snapped.

This is issue is beyond party politics - it is causing immense harm to communities, peoples lives are being wrecked as a result of it, and we simply have to fix it.

I respect people who are peacefully protesting outside hotels this weekend. I understand why they feel so concerned. Theyre seeing their communities damaged, he added.
Average quoted home insurance prices are falling as competition across the market rises, according to an index.

Quoted premiums have typically fallen by 7.9% over the past year and by 3.9% over the past quarter, insurance market insights provider Consumer Intelligence said.

Premiums were most commonly quoted between 150 and 199, with 29% of quotes falling within that range, according to Consumer Intelligences data.

In June, 62.5% of consumers could potentially source quotes for less than 200, compared with 56% a year ago, its study indicated.

Laura Vas, senior insight analyst at Consumer Intelligence said: There is a greater array of choice for consumers  75% of the best prices in the market came from nine brands in June 2025, up from six in the previous year.

Quoted premiums for under-50s households have typically fallen by 8.4% in the past 12 months, slightly ahead of a 7.3% drop for the over-50s, the report found.

Looking at property types, quoted premiums for properties of all ages have typically fallen over the past year, with the biggest decreases at 9.5% for homes built between 1925 and 1940 and for those built between 1985 and 2000, it added.

The research involved calculating changes in the averages of the five cheapest premiums on price comparison websites.

Here are the average annual falls in quoted premiums across nations and regions in June, according to Consumer Intelligence:

South West, minus 2.0%

Scotland, minus 4.7%

South East, minus 6.4%

North West, minus 7.5%

London, minus 8.4%

Eastern England, minus 8.6%

Yorkshire and the Humber, minus 9.0%

East Midlands, minus 9.5%

Wales, minus 10.4%

West Midlands, minus 10.4%

North East, minus 10.5%
A newly-released audio recording has revealed the dramatic moment that a United Airlines flight with over 200 people on board suffered engine failure.

The pilot on Munich-bound flight UA108 said his left engine had failed and he was declaring an emergency, mayday, mayday, mayday, during the July 25 flight, according to cockpit and air traffic control audio.

The Boeing 787-8 was carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew members when it was forced to turn around and head back to Dulles International Airport in Washington DC, United said.

Following calls of mayday, the pilot and air traffic control discussed plans for the planes return, including how much fuel the aircraft would need to dump to become the proper weight for landing, according to audio posted to YouTube channel You can see ATC.

The tower cleared all nearby traffic for the planes return and stayed in close contact with the pilot to ensure a safe landing.

Munich-bound United flight was carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew members when it made a mayday call last month following engine failure (stock image) (Getty/iStock)

Speed at your discretion, air traffic control said in the clip. Nobody behind you, nobody in front, sir.

Flightradar24 footage showed the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner circling northwest of the airport before returning safely to the ground.

The pilot said it would take about six minutes to adjust their weight, before traffic control guided the plane to land on the runway.

While the air traffic controller guided the United flight, there was another emergency aircraft on the runway that the controller was helping, according to the video.

Tower, United 108 Heavy, emergency, were clear, the pilot can be heard saying as the footage shows the plane had landed safely.

The plane returned to Washington Dulles shortly after takeoff to address a mechanical issue, United said in a statement to The Independent.

The plane landed safely, and all passengers deplaned normally at the gate, the airline continued. The flight was subsequently canceled and we arranged alternate travel arrangements to take customers to their destination as soon as possible.

In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of engine issues on the flight and was investigating.

Footage from FlightRadar24 shows the plane circling above Washington Dulles airport (FlightRadar24)

The flight, which was supposed to depart Dulles at 5:40 p.m. EST and land at Munich International Airport at 5:40 a.m. CEST the next day, ended up leaving Dulles at 6:11 p.m. and returning by 8:49 p.m., according to data from FlightAware

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed last week that the plane had experienced a mechanical issue.

The plane landed safely, was checked by Airports Authority Fire and Rescue personnel, then towed to a gate, the spokesperson said. There was no disruption to other flights.

The mechanical issue occurred as Boeing has faced scrutiny following the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad, where the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner experienced a severe engine malfunction soon after take-off.

The incident saw the London-bound flight plummet to the ground just minutes after taking off and killing all but one of the 242 people onboard, along with several others inside the buildings struck by the aircraft.

Official investigations as to the exact cause of the tragedy are underway. All Boeing 787s in India were inspected following the crash.

There are currently around 1,200 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide, and this was the first fatal crash in 16 years of operation, The Independent previously reported.
Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch claimed there has been a cover-up of details about the case (PA Wire)

A Reform UK council leader risks being found in contempt of court after making a statement during a press conference in London about the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

It comes after Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged with the rape of a girl in Nuneaton last week. Meanwhile, Mohammad Kabir, also 23, was charged with kidnap and strangulation in the same investigation.

Warwickshire Police have not released the immigration status of the two suspects.

George Finch  the 19-year-old Warwickshire County Council leader  risks having broken the law with a comment he made about the case.

Contempt of court refers to behaviour that interferes with the administration of justice or undermines the authority of the court.

The Independent is not able to repeat a number of claims Mr Finch made in the press conference without risking contempt of court.

At one point during the press conference, Mr Finch acknowledged the risks attached to talking about a live legal case, saying: I was told if I released this, Id be in contempt of court.

The youngest council leader in the country claimed there has been a cover-up of details about the case.

It came as Nigel Farage suggested police forces should release information, including immigration status, about people who are charged with crimes.

The Reform UK leader said that he absolutely believes that information should be made available by police forces.

In a statement, Warwickshire Police said that once someone is charged with an offence, they follow national guidance, which does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.

Mr Finch told Mondays press conference that he was begging for information about the two to be released in the wake of the charges.

He said he had emailed the councils chief executive to say that he wished to speak to the police force and urge them to release information about the mens immigration status.

Mr Finch added that he had later written a letter to home secretary Yvette Cooper and the chief constable of Warwickshire Police, Alex Franklin-Smith, calling for the immediate release of the immigration status of the two men.

Mr Finch also claimed that Reform UK needs to change things and is the last line of defence against the blob, the cover-ups.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment. The attorney general, Lord Hermer, has been approached for comment.
Reform UKs new justice adviser has called for the UK to introduce US-style supermax prisons.

Vanessa Frake, a former prison governor, said it would be relatively easy to convert some of the nations existing high-security facilities.

She made the comments as she announced she had formally joined Reform to play a leading role in the partys law and order task force.

Nigel Farage said he wanted there to be debate on moving to a supermax prisons system after he was asked about the potential cost of making such a change.

He told a press conference in Westminster: The supermax prisons, have we costed it? Have we thought it through? It is a debate.

The point about this task force is we are starting a debate and we would rather like it to become a full public debate too.

Ms Frake added: I didnt say we should build supermax prisons. I actually said a super max regime. There is a totally different thing and converting part of our high-security estate into a supermax wing would be relatively easy.

US supermax prisons hold prisoners who are deemed to be such a high risk that they cannot be housed even in maximum security facilities.

Such facilities see inmates confined in single cells with facilities made of poured, reinforced concrete to deter self-harm. They are under 24-hour supervision, carried out with high staffinmate ratios.

The Labour Government has been examining the issue, with Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, having ordered a review into potential ways of segregating dangerous offenders.

01:21 PM BST

That is all for today...

Thank you for joining me for todays live blog.

01:04 PM BST

Tories: Reform are doodling fantasy prisons on the back of a pub napkin

The Tories accused Nigel Farage of making wild promises on tackling crime he cannot deliver on.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: Reform are doodling fantasy prisons on the back of a pub napkin.

Once again Nigel Farage has made wild promises to the British public but completely failed to set out how he intends to pay for any of them. Empty words, zero plan, and not a shred of credibility.

Only the Conservatives, under new leadership, believe in sound money, zero tolerance on crime, and serious leadership. Britain deserves better than this facade.

12:54 PM BST

Labour hits back at Farage after Reform leaders crime press conference

Labour said it was taking the tough action needed to tackle crime while Nigel Farage shouts from the sidelines.

A Labour Party spokesperson, said: Nigel Farage offers anger, but no answers.

Its farcical that Farage cant say what his policies are, how much they would cost, or how they would even work. Reform arent serious and dont have a clue as to how they would address the challenges facing working people.

If Reform really wanted to crack down on crime, their MPs should have backed Labours tough new laws to introduce stronger sentences for grooming offenders, mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, and stricter penalties for antisocial behaviour. While Farage shouts from the sidelines, Labour is taking the tough action needed to make our streets safer.

12:24 PM BST

Farage: Police should release immigration status of people charged with crime

Nigel Farage said police forces should release the name, address and immigration status of people after they are charged with a crime.

He told a press conference: I absolutely think that they should and I think particularly given there is a pretty febrile atmosphere around these areas, particularly sexual assaults and rapes where the temperature of this debate has risen significantly, yes I do believe they should.

He made the comments after Warwickshire Police was accused of covering up an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl by Afghan asylum seekers.

Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged last week with the rape of the girl in Nuneaton, while Mohammad Kabir, 23, was charged with kidnap and strangulation.

Warwickshire Police reportedly advised local councillors and officials not to reveal the asylum-seeker background of the two suspects, for fear of inflaming community tensions.

Warwickshire Police has not denied reports that Mr Mulakhil and Mr Kabir are asylum seekers.

The pair have appeared at Coventry magistrates court and were both remanded in custody until an appearance at Warwick Crown Court on Aug 26.

In a statement, the force said that once someone is charged with an offence, they follow national guidance, which does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.

12:20 PM BST

Analysis: Latest defection raises Tory eyebrows

There is much sniggering among Reforms political opponents this morning after they unveiled Rupert Matthews as the latest Tory defection.



Mr Matthews, a former Tory MEP now serving as a Police and Crime Commissioner, is also known as a prolific author of books about UFOs, paranormal activity and cryptozoology - the search for fictitious beasts like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.



One of his books, Extra-terrestrials, assesses the growing threat of alien reconnaissance on Earth.

11:57 AM BST

Farage wants debate on UK introducing supermax prisons

Nigel Farage was asked about Vanessa Frakes call for the UK to introduce US-style supermax prisons (see the post below at 11.25).

He said: The supermax prisons, have we costed it? Have we thought it through? It is a debate. The point about this task force is we are starting a debate and we would rather like it to become a full public debate too.

Ms Frake added: I didnt say we should build supermax prisons. I actually said a super max regime. There is a totally different thing and converting part of our high-security estate into a supermax wing would be relatively easy.

11:49 AM BST

Britain is lawless claim is not Project Fear, says Reform leader

Nigel Farage rejected the suggestion that his claim that Britain is lawless was simply an attempt at Project Fear to persuade people to vote for Reform.

He replied: No, they are afraid. They are afraid. I dare you to walk through the West End of London after 9 oclock of an evening wearing jewellery.

You wouldnt do it. You know that I am right. You wouldnt do it. And that is just in London.

11:44 AM BST

Labour sinking to gutter politics with Jimmy Savile claim, says Farage

Nigel Farage accused Labour of sinking to the gutter of politics after Government ministers claimed the Reform leader was on the side of child predators and extreme pornographers because of his opposition to the Online Safety Act.

Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, said last week: Make no mistake about it, if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he would be perpetrating his crimes online, and Nigel Farage is saying that he is on their side, not the side of children.

Jess Phillips, a Home Office minister, doubled down on the claim.

Mr Farage said this morning: It is just sinking to the gutter of politics to make that comparison.

I repeat the point we would love to see effective legislation that protected young children from harmful and dangerous material. This Act does not do that and this Act then extends right into the area of free speech.

He added: The effects, I would say, are chilling already.

11:34 AM BST

Online Safety Act is beginning of state censorship, says Farage

Nigel Farage is now taking questions from the press.

He was asked about the Governments Online Safety Act which Reform UK has said it would scrap.

This is the beginning of state censorship, Mr Farage said.

The Reform UK leader said the original intention of the Act was honourable in terms of trying to keep children safer online.

But he added: The trouble is that I suspect most 13-year-olds are more tech-savvy than the science minister Peter Kyle because they simply go to VPNs.

11:25 AM BST

Introduce US-style super max prisons, says Reforms justice tsar

Reform UKs new justice adviser said she wanted the UK to introduce US-style super max prisons.

Vanessa Frake said she believed Nigel Farage was best placed to restore law and order to Britain.

It is a very sorry tale what is going on in our prisons, Mr Farage said.

11:22 AM BST

Reforms justice tsar: Our prisons are in a crisis

Vanessa Frake, a former prison governor who is now Reforms justice adviser, is now addressing this mornings press conference.

She announced that she was officially joining Reform UK and will work on the partys law and order task force.

Ms Frake said she had never been a member of any other political party and was not a traditional politician having done a proper job for decades.

She said that public trust in the nations prisons had been entirely lost.

Our prisons are in a crisis caused by Labour and the Conservatives, she said.

11:17 AM BST

Analysis: Farage taking advantage of Westminsters summer break

This is the third week of Reforms crime campaign, which has involved a series of defections from local crime and justice figures and some tough policy announcements.



This strategy from Nigel Farage is designed to take advantage of this summers Parliamentary recess, when the Government is unable to make major policy announcements and the news agenda dries up.



The latest defection, from the Leicestershire police and crime commissioner Rupert Matthews, is about crime on the streets and the failure of authorities to keep offenders in jail.



Mr Matthews punchy speech included the line that some towns and cities in England and Wales had become an apocalyptic wasteland of lawless Britain.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, holds a press conference in Westminster on Monday morning - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Europe

11:14 AM BST

Dark heart of wokeness must be cut out of justice system

Rupert Matthews said there was a need to cut the dark heart of wokeness out of our criminal justice system.

The now Reform police and crime commissioner said the Tories were no longer the party he had previously joined.

There is a better choice and he is sat right over there, he said as he gestured towards Nigel Farage.

Mr Matthews added: Now it is time for Reform.

11:11 AM BST

Tory police and crime commissioner defects to Reform UK

Nigel Farage announced that Rupert Matthews, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire, has defected to Reform UK.

Mr Matthews had twice been elected as a Tory candidate but he has now become Reforms first ever PCC.

11:07 AM BST

Farage: We have caught the mood of the country

Nigel Farage is now on his feet.

The Reform UK leader said it was now week three of his partys lawless Britain campaign.

We have caught the mood of the country with this campaign, he said.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK, holds a press conference on Monday morning

11:02 AM BST

Journalists wait for Farage

A roomful of journalists is patiently awaiting the arrival of Nigel Farage at this mornings press conference.

We should be underway imminently.

10:46 AM BST

Which former Tories have joined Reform so far?

The list of ex-Tories defecting to Reform continues to grow. These are the prominent figures who have made the switch so far:

Lee Anderson

Dame Andrea Jenkyns

Sir Jake Berry

Marco Longhi

David Jones

Anne-Marie Morris

Ross Thomson

Adam Holloway

10:37 AM BST

Who was the most recent Tory defection to Reform?

Adam Holloway, who was a Conservative MP from 2005 until losing his seat last year, announced that he had switched allegiances to Reform UK on July 30.

Mr Holloway served in the Army before entering politics and was the MP for Gravesham.

He spent time as a government whip and also served on the Commons defence, foreign and home affairs select committees.

You can read the full story on his defection here.

10:33 AM BST

Reform UK to unveil latest defection

Reform UK has welcomed numerous former Tory figures to its ranks in recent months, including Sir Jake Berry, David Jones and Adam Holloway.

Now it looks like there could be another defection.

Politico reported this morning that Nigel Farage will use todays crime press conference to unveil another person who is switching allegiances.

The party has not given any clues about who it could be and it may not be a former MP.

But it is widely expected that it will be given what we have seen so far.

10:31 AM BST

Farage holding crime press conference at 11am

It is recess in Westminster, with MPs on their summer holidays until the start of September.

But Nigel Farage is not taking a break from taking aim at Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Government.

The Reform UK leader is set to hold a press conference in Westminster this morning to talk about his partys plan to tackle crime.

I will hold the most significant event of our crime campaign so far at 11am tomorrow.



Watch it live on X. pic.twitter.com/Q9ODy4nPSw  Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) August 3, 2025

Mr Farage has promised it will be the most significant event of our crime campaign so far.

The press conference is due to get underway at 11am and you will be able to watch it live using the stream at the top of this page.
by Jonathan Kujawa

A few hours drive north of my home is the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Hanford, Washington. LIGO was designed and built to detect gravitational waves. When the LIGO project was started in the 1980s, gravitational waves were a purely theoretical phenomenon predicted by Einsteins theory of general relativity.

General relativity says that gravity should be understood as the deformation of the geometry of spacetime. If, say, two massive objects, like a pair of black holes, should collide, then this should cause waves to ripple across the universe. With enough care, we just might be able to detect these waves.

This is just the sort of large-scale, curiosity-driven, speculative research that depends on the support of far-sighted government funding agencies [1]. Over the course of several decades, the United States National Science Foundation funded many hundreds of researchers to make the pipe dream of gravitational wave detection a reality. In 2015, they succeeded. In my lifetime, weve gone from gravitational waves being purely theoretical, to detecting them, to being able to listen to them on our home computer. All thanks to decades of work by numerous researchers funded by the NSF and their home universities.

It so happens that one of those researchers was a friend of mine, Rauha Rakola. We did our undergraduate and graduate degrees at the same universities, me in math and him in physics. Rauhas PhD thesis developed some of the theoretical and computational physics needed for gravitational wave detection. It took more than a decade from his thesis until gravitational waves were first detected  research is not for the impatient!

If we stopped after detecting a gravitational wave, that would be an impressive feat of engineering and physics, and an important contribution to our understanding of general relativity and the fundamental nature of the universe. But human curiosity and ambition know no bounds. Just as you could imagine using the size and shape of waves lapping at your feet to learn about a large ship that passed by (or an earthquake on a distant continent), we should be able to use gravitational waves to learn something about distant objects. The success of LIGO spawned the new field of gravitational-wave astronomy.

That leads to the real question of this essay: using the data you can measure from waves, what can you say about the object that created them? It might be that you want to use gravitational waves to study the size and shape of distant cosmic bodies. Or you would like your doctor to be able to see inside your body with a sonogram. Or for geologists to use the rumbles that pass through the Earth to understand what lies deep underground. Or use the vibrations of a potato chip bag to reconstruct a conversation held inside a soundproof room.

The root of all these questions is a famous problem in mathematics studied for more than a century. I learned about this area of math from a great talk at my university by Liz Stanhope of Lewis and Clark College.

In the 1700s, Comte de Buffon [3] apocryphally stated: Of one thing I am certain, we will never know what the stars are made of. Fraunhofer then mapped the spectrum of the light coming from the sun, and by the mid-1800s astronomers were able to use this data to determine the suns composition.

We now use similar techniques to describe the atmosphere of planets in other solar systems. Weve done remarkable things with light waves.

When it comes to other kinds of waves, it has been more of a challenge. In 1882 Arthur Schuster remarked:

We know a great deal more about the forces which produce the vibrations of sound than about those which produce the vibrations of light.  but it would bae the most skillful mathematician to solve the inverse problem and to find out the shape of a bell by means of the sounds which it is capable of sending out.

In math, Mark Kac famously framed this problem in 1966 as: can you hear the shape of a drum? Right now, the answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no, and sometimes nobody knows.

Mathematicians have reframed this problem by asking what you can learn about the shape of an object if you know the spectrum of the Laplace operator for that object.

For those who are interested, the Laplace operator is a fancy name for what amounts to the second derivative from Calculus. If you took Calculus, you might remember that the second derivative tells you about the concavity of a curve, and concavity is about the shape of the graph. When you look at y=x, if you are left of x=0, the graph has a downward bent shape; we say the graph is concave down, and you can detect this by knowing the second derivative of x is 6x, which is negative when x is a negative number. Likewise, if x is positive, then the second derivative is positive, and the graph is concave up  meaning it has an upward bend to it. This line of thinking leads mathematicians to expect the Laplace operator to tell us about the shape of an object, and the key numerical data describing the Laplace operator is called its spectrum. Those values are the mathematical equivalent of the black lines in the Fraunhofer image above.

The first version of this problem is a single guitar string. The main dimension of a string is its length. If we had the recording of a plucked guitar string, could we use mathematics to tell how long it is? Yes, we can!

The spectrum tells you the harmonics of the plucked string, which, in turn, can be used to determine its length. Roughly speaking, as waves move through the string, if they are precisely matched, they can either work in unison and amplify each other, or work against each other and cancel out. But the journey of a wave down the string depends on how the length of the wave compares to the length of the string. Knowing the waves and knowing where they amplify and where they cancel tells you how long the string must be.

A string is essentially a one-dimensional object  its all about the length. What about a two-dimensional object? In music, this might be the surface of Dr. Kacs drum, or the body of a guitar, cello, or violin. In physics, it might be the outer surface of a black hole. If we can measure the vibrations they emanate, can we describe their shape?

The answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no. Not surprisingly, this is a more challenging problem. Like on the surface of a lake, now waves can move across the surface and interact with each other in significantly more complicated ways.

The simplest version of this problem is to use a single plate of steel or other metal, called a Chladni plate. Both the shape and the material are as consistent and uncomplicated as one could hope for. Even still, if you make the plate vibrate, you will quickly find that the waves reinforce and cancel each other in beautifully unexpected ways. Properly tuned, like the guitar string, the waves in the plate will form harmonics. To reveal this to the human eye, people usually put a layer of fine sand or a liquid on the plate. As it vibrates, the sand or liquid will wander away from the vibrations and into the calm spots:

This crossover between art and mathematics is sometimes called Cymatics. Nigel Stanford made a cool music video using Chladni plates and more to visualize harmonics. He also made a great behind the scenes video giving details on how they got it it all to work.

The Laplace spectrum captures the dimension of the vibrating shape (so it can tell between a string and a plate), and it also can tell you the size of the shape along with the size of its boundary. This means that I can tell you are using a two-dimensional shape and, if you tell me it is a square, I can tell you its area and perimeter and, hence, can figure out how big the square is. Even if I only know that it is a rectangle, the area and perimeter, plus some algebra and elbow grease, are enough to tell me its length and width. Likewise, the area and perimeter are enough to determine the size of a circular drum.

On the other hand, if you tell me it is a triangle, just knowing the area and perimeter is not enough. It turns out that two different triangles can have the same area and perimeter [5].

However, not all is lost! As you see above, guitar strings and Chladni plates have many, many harmonics. Likewise, the Laplace spectrum has infinitely many values. There is a lot more information in it than just the area and perimeter. In her 1988 PhD thesis, Catherine Durso proved that with the area, perimeter, and a bit more information extracted from the Laplace spectrum, you can actually determine a triangle by how it vibrates [6].

At this point, you might start to think that any two-dimensional shape can be determined by its spectrum. However, in 1996 Caroline Gordon, David Webb, and Scott Wolpert proved this is a false hope. These two shapes have identical spectra:

If you had your eyes closed, you wouldnt be able to tell which one I was playing.

This is an active area of research to this day. Dr. Stanhope, her collaborators, and other researchers continue to investigate what can and cant be said about a shape based on its Laplace spectrum.

And, of course, in applications, we can often do much better because we still gain even with incomplete answers. If an ultrasound can describe a shape up to a tiny amount of possible error, that is plenty good enough to determine if a lump needs further investigation as a possible tumor. And any information that gravitational waves can tell us about mysterious black holes is welcome.

On the other hand, given Gordon, Webb, and Wolperts example, Im confident we still dont know the answer to Schusters challenge from 150 years ago to describe the shape of a bell by the sound it makes.

And even if we someday can do a bell, it will be a long time before we understand how Wing can make this song using only his voice.

[1] Just this week, the federal government froze all research grants to UCLA. Once again, people are being bludgeoned by the power of the US government to make a political point. Needless to say, the research and researchers hurt by the freeze have little or nothing to do with the politics involved.

This freeze was especially upsetting for me as it included the funding of the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM). In mathematics, getting together to talk mathematics with others at the cutting edge is essential. IPAM hosts conferences and workshops that are highly impactful. I attended an IPAM workshop in January 2024, where I learned new techniques that are now central to my graduate students PhD thesis research. These sorts of events are also an important opportunity for young mathematicians to learn about both their field and their community. I met a number of grad students and postdocs at the IPAM meeting, and might not have known about them otherwise.

The loss of IPAM is a significant blow to mathematics. Even if the freeze is temporary, the damage will quickly accumulate as new ideas die on the vine and young careers are stunted.

[2] Charles Brooks makes amazing photos of the inside of musical instruments. Image borrowed from this article.

[3] This is the same Buffon of Buffons needle and noodle fame. We touched on them here at 3QD.

[4] Image borrowed from here.

[5] If youd like to know more about where these two triangles came from, I recommend this blog post to you. The author explains that you can travel through the space of triangles in a way that preserves area and perimeter, and how to use this point of view to find examples like the one above (that I borrowed from the blog post, of course!). If you are interested in thinking about all triangles as a world to be explored, we touched upon this idea some years ago at 3QD.

[6] This paper provides the technical details, if youd like to see the gory details.

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Vanessa Frake, a former prison governor, is Reforms new justice adviser

Some transgender criminals should be imprisoned in womens jails, Reform UKs new justice adviser said.

Vanessa Frake, a former prison governor, spoke out against a blanket ban on transgender women being sent to all-female prisons and called for cases to be assessed on an individual basis.

Gender-critical campaigners have argued that trans women  biological men who identify as female  pose a threat to women in jail.

This year, the Supreme Court ruled that the word sex in the Equality Act refers only to biological sex, not a persons gender identity, meaning that trans women can be excluded from womens prisons.

Ms Frake told The Times: There are equally vile women as there possibly are trans women. So its all about the risk assessments for me, and each has to be done on an individual basis.

Her remarks now put her at odds with the Supreme Court ruling, which came after womens rights campaigners launched legal action against the SNP Governments trans policies.

Ms Frake was previously head of security at HMP Wormwood Scrubs - Stefan Rousseau/PA

She said trans prisoners she had overseen were accepted by other inmates.

People who want to just say a blanket ban clearly have never stepped foot in a prison and seen how prison runs and how risk assessments on individuals happen, she added.

Ms Frake, who also served as head of security at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, has previously criticised the Conservatives, arguing that the prison service is on its knees and that justice in Britain has become a laughing stock.

It is unclear whether her view will now become Reform UKs policy. Ms Frakes decision to join the party was announced at a press conference in Westminster on Monday.

In February, Nigel Farage attacked transgender indoctrination in Britain, but he has previously defended his record on trans rights, pointing to some trans people who had served as elected representatives in Ukip, his former party.

Nigel Farage has criticised what he calls transgender indoctrination in Britain - Dan Kitwood/Getty

Asked if he agreed with Ms Frakes stance, Mr Farage said on Monday: I personally never worked in a prison, so I cant answer [that].

But I think youll find that the answer that youll get from somebody who has worked in prisons at the highest possible level is, I think basically its about risk assessment.

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that trans women can be excluded from women-only spaces because equality law protecting women refers to biological sex. This means that trans women can be excluded from womens prisons.

Labour has said it will update its policy on transgender inmates in due course after the Supreme Court ruling. The party has inherited the previous governments policy of not placing trans women prisoners convicted of violent or sexual crimes on the female estate.

Ms Frakes decision to join Reform was announced in a press conference on Monday - Instagram

Figures published last year show that two thirds of trans women prisoners are sex offenders.

Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, said earlier this year that the majority of trans women were already held in male prisons.

Prison service data for 2023-24 show there were 295 transgender prisoners in England and Wales. Of those, 51 were held in female prisons and 244 in male prisons.

Ms Mahmood told MPs: No trans women convicted of a rape or serious violence offence who retains birth genitalia would ever be considered for being placed in the womens estate.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, said: Nigel Farage promised a major crime announcement but instead delivered an adviser who thinks men belong in womens prisons.

Farage calls that a small issue. Yell that to the women whove been sexually assaulted and terrorised behind bars.

Reform jump on a new bandwagon every week. Scratch the surface and theres no plan, no principle, just more welfare, more nationalisation and higher taxes.

Its smoke and mirrors and now apparently includes a law and order plan that is hiding a complete betrayal of womens safety. No thanks.

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: Errr No. Men belong in mens prisons. End of.

A Reform UK spokesman said: An ex-prison governor who is advising Colin Suttons task force has a different opinion. That does not constitute party policy
Reform UK has been mocked after announcing their latest defection to the party  a police and crime commissioner who is an expert on ghosts, aliens and UFOs.

Rupert Matthews, who holds the post in Leicestershire and Rutland, was introduced on Monday as having joined the party from the Conservatives, breaking a 40-year membership.

Before being elected in 2021, he served two years as a European parliament member for the Tories. He has also written a number of books about ghost sightings, UFOs, cryptozoology and other paranormal subjects.

Rupert Matthews speaks at a Reform UK press conference in London (PA)

Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience focusing on legendary animals, such as the Sasquatch, in order to evaluate the possibility of their existence.

Responding to the announcement, the prime ministers press secretary said: Their big defection is very interested in the fantastical and the unexplained. Its no surprise hes added Reforms fiscal plans to that list.

Meanwhile, a Labour source said: Its not just the ghost of Tory past that is swelling the Reform ranks. Their latest recruit Rupert Matthews peddles alien conspiracy theories and believes the removal of abortion rights overseas is a triumph for democracy.

During a press conference at the partys London HQ on Monday, unveiling the move, Mr Matthews took aim at the criminal justice system, saying the dark heart of wokeness needed to be removed, as well as accusing politicians in Britain of taking inspiration from failed states for their policies.

Its almost as if theyve looked at countries like Lebanon and Libya, the policies that have led to them becoming failed states and thought, that looks good, lets try that here in Britain, he said.

The self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite who have let our country down time after time after time are now on notice. Their day is almost done. Be they Conservative or Labour governments, everyone knows our politicians have failed us all.

They have let this country down. They have let the British people down. Enough. Now is the time for Reform.

He also said police officers were all too often working with one hand tied behind their back.

I daily face a fight against crime. I see ordinary, hard-working people burgled, robbed and mugged. Shoplifting is getting out of control. Antisocial behaviour is turning too many of our town centres into an apocalyptic wasteland of lawless Britain.

Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage and (from left) George Finch, leader of Warwickshire County Council; Rupert Matthews, police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire; Colin Sutton, Reforms policing and crime adviser; and former prison governor Vanessa Frake-Harris, the partys new justice adviser (PA Wire)

Reform also announced that a retired prison governor of Wormwood Scrubs, Vanessa Frake-Harris, had joined the party and would be contributing to its law and order task force.

Ms Frake-Harris, who joined the prison service in 1986, detailed increases in escapes, attacks on prison officers and increases of drugs, weapons and mobile phone finds in the last year.

She said: Successive governments, Conservative and Labour, have driven the prison service to its knees through lack of investment, support and an unwillingness to allow people who know what they are doing to get the job done.

She continued: Our prisons are in a crisis caused by Labour and the Conservatives. What have their solutions been? They have let 10,000 prisoners out of jail early. To let criminals out of jail before they even serve their full sentence is a disgrace.

A Labour spokesperson said: Its farcical that Farage cant say what his policies are, how much they would cost, or how they would even work. Reform arent serious and dont have a clue as to how they would address the challenges facing working people.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
The organisers of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo have announced the difficult decision to cancel Monday evenings performance due to the inclement conditions brought about by Storm Floris.

The world-famous music, marching, dance and fireworks extravaganza takes place in August each year on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, and this year was scheduled to be held each day from August 1-23.

However, on Sunday evening, the organisers said Mondays event has been cancelled due to safety concerns resulting from Storm Floris, which is expected to bring gusts of wind in excess of 60mph to the capital on Monday.

In a post on social media the organisers said: Were sorry to announce that due to adverse weather warnings, we have made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrows performance on August 4 at 9.30pm.

We understand this will be disappointing, but the safety of our audience, performers and staff is our top priority.

All tickets for the August 4 performance will be automatically cancelled and refunded. Those wishing to rebook will find up-to-date availability at www.edintattoo.co.uk.

Edinburgh is covered by a Met office amber weather warning on Monday, with a warning of damage to buildings and trees, possible power cuts, and transport problems as a result of high winds.

The tattoo is not the only casualty of the bad expected weather  the Fringe by the Sea at North Berwick has also been cancelled on Monday as a result of Storm Floris.

In a social media post, the organisers of the 10-day arts festival said: With Storm Floris incoming, we have taken the decision to close Fringe By The Sea, today, Monday August 4.

We will reopen on Tuesday August 5 from 10am.

Ticket holders for events on Monday August 4 will be notified by email of cancellations or rescheduled events.

Cancelled events will be refunded automatically  please bear with us while we work with our ticketing agent to process these transactions.
Attacks on women and girls are being used to terrorise and humiliate civilians in Haiti - Odelyn Joseph/AP

Reports of sexual violence almost doubled in Haiti over the past three months, with gangs vying for territory using rape to subjugate residents, the United Nations has warned.

At least 628 victims reported sexual attacks in the capital and central Haiti between April and June  up from 333 victims in the first three months of the year, according to new findings released by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).

The agency warned that the true number is likely far higher due to persistent under-reporting.

Catherine Ann Moore, BINUHs senior womens protection advisor, who is based in Haiti, says the rise is in part linked to gangs having expanded their territorial control since March.

The Caribbean island has been gripped by escalating gang violence since 2021, following the assassination of then-president Jovenel Moise. Ever since, groups have inflicted widespread terror and violence on the civilian population in a brutal bid to expand their control across the capital and beyond.

In June, US officials said gangs had gained near-total control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and that southern Haiti, which until recently was insulated from the violence, has seen a sharp increase in gang-related incidents. In the east, criminal groups have also begun exploiting land routes, including key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse.

The Caribbean island has been gripped by escalating gang violence since 2021 - CLARENS SIFFROY/AFP via Getty Images

Haiti has had no president since the assassination, and analysts say law and order has all but collapsed. Kidnappings, murders, rapes and extortion are now daily occurrences.

The UN said its most alarming finding was that gang rape is now being used systematically to terrorise and humiliate civilians. It accounts for 85 per cent of all reported sexual violence cases.

When gangs attack neighbourhoods, they will attack a house, they will loot, they will rape the women and girls, they will usually kill the men, and then they will burn the house down, Ms Moore says. They use sexual violence and rape to humiliate those living in the house.

The UN has documented multiple cases where girls or women were raped in front of family members, with the husbands being forced to watch before being shot and killed.

How the gangs are using rape to humiliate women and girls, speaks to their malicious behaviour and the length they will go to maintain power and control, says Ms Moore.

When the BBC challenged gang leaders on accounts of killings and rapes earlier this year, one said members do things they are not supposed to do, while another said they have a duty to fight the state, and when we are fighting we are possessed  we are no longer human.

Gangs have inflicted widespread terror and violence on the civilian population in a brutal bid to expand their control - Orlando Barria/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

At least 20 people have also been subjected to sexual slavery, the UN said. In one case, girls aged 14 and 16 were forced into so-called relationships with gang members in the commune of LEstere and repeatedly raped over several days.

Victims are often abducted from public spaces. In some cases, they were killed after being raped. This was the case in April when several women were abducted while they were on board a public transport vehicle in Gressier. The victims were then brought to the gangs stronghold, where they were raped. One of the victims was found shot dead the following day, while the others remained in captivity at the end of June.

The vast majority of victims are women, and the youngest reported victim was 10 years old. Boys and men have also been assaulted, though these figures are believed to be severely under-reported due to stigma. Ms Moore cited one instance in which a man was kidnapped, tortured and sexually assaulted.

Other factors in the rise include delays in reporting earlier attacks and growing awareness of a new reporting system launched last year.

The USAID cuts have also impacted millions in funding for gender-based violence in Haiti, which Ms Moore says has made it harder for the system to respond.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
Nigel Farage: To say that I would do anything that would in any way aid and abet people like Jimmy Savile, its so below the belt. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

The UKs Online Safety Act has been greatly anticipated. Amid mounting concerns about the ease of accessing harmful content online, rules were drawn up to force social platforms to protect children from posts and videos that incite hatred or encourage suicide, self-harm or eating disorders.

But within days of coming into force, the new approach to keeping children safe online had become a rallying point for the right in both Britain and the US.

Last week Nigel Farage, leader of the populist Reform UK party, was embroiled in a furious row with a Labour government minister after pledging to repeal the legislation.

Meanwhile Republicans held meetings with UK politicians and the communications regulator, Ofcom. The impact of the new law is also being keenly watched in Australia, which is preparing to ban under-16s from social media.

Experts say the inherent tensions in the act  between taking down harmful content swiftly and preserving free speech  are likely to bubble away.

Zia Yusuf, a senior Reform figure, said: So much of the act is massive overreach and plunges this country into a borderline dystopian state.

In response to Reform UKs criticism of the law, Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, said: Make no mistake about it, if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, hed be perpetrating his crimes online. And Nigel Farage is saying that hes on their side.

Kyle was referring to provisions in the act that seek to prevent children being groomed via messaging apps. Farage said the technology secretarys words were disgusting and demanded an apology, which was not forthcoming.

To say that I would do anything that would in any way aid and abet people like Jimmy Savile, its so below the belt, Farage added.

Related: What are the new UK online safety rules and how will age checks on adult content be enforced?

It is not only the British right that is protesting against the act. JD Vance, the US vice-president, said free speech in the UK is in retreat. Last week, Jim Jordan, a Republican congressman who has criticised the act, led a delegation of US politicians to discuss the legislation with Kyle and Ofcom.

Jordan called the act the UKs online censorship law and accused Ofcom, which is implementing the legislation, of targeting and harassing US companies. The group of Republican and Democrat politicians also visited Brussels to discuss the Online Safety Acts EU equivalent, the Digital Services Act.

Another Republican politician in the delegation, Scott Fitzgerald, said he thought the White House would certainly be interested in finding out what the group discovered.

The Trump administrations concerns have extended to threatening Ofcom and EU staff with a visa ban. In May the state department announced it will block entry to the US to foreign nationals who censor Americans. Ofcom has said it is seeking clarity on the planned visa restrictions.

Concerns over free speech also intersect with economic interest. The major tech platforms that come under the aegis of the act  Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and X  are all based in the US. Companies can be fined up to 18m or 10% of global turnover for breaches, or whichever is greater. In the case of Meta, the parent of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, such a fine would equate to $16bn (11bn).

On Friday, the social media platform X, owned by self-professed free speech advocate Elon Musk, issued a statement condemning enforcement of the act, saying the legislation was at risk of seriously infringing free speech.

There are also signs of a popular backlash in the UK. A petition calling for the repeal of the act has accumulated more than 480,000 signatures  which means it will be considered for a debate in parliament  and has been posted on social media by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, doubts nonetheless whether freedom of speech is a vote-winner.

Petition or no petition, its not a big issue for most people. Clearly for the extremely online  whether on the right or left  its an issue, but its not going to sway a large number of votes with the majority of the population.

Three in four UK parents are concerned about what their children are seeing, hearing or doing online, according to a recent Ipsos Mori poll.

Beeban Kidron, a UK peer and leading campaigner on online child safety, told the Guardian she was happy to take Nigel Farage and his colleagues through the act.

If companies target kids, algorithmically or otherwise, why would Reform put the kids at the mercy of tech bros?

The new under-18 guidelines in the UK, which kicked off the latest row, require age-gating of pornography sites to prevent children from gaining access. But they also require platforms to prevent children from accessing content that encourages suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, as well as suppressing the spread of material that is abusive or incites hatred, or promotes harmful substances and dangerous challenges.

Some content has been age-gated to avoid being classified as breaching those regulations. In the Daily Telegraph, Farage claimed that footage of an anti-migrant protest had been censored, as well as an attempt at exposing the truth about the Rotherham grooming gangs scandal.

These examples were on X and included a speech by a Conservative MP, Katie Lam, on the UKs child grooming scandal. The content was covered by a notice stating that due to local laws, we are temporarily restricting access to this content until X estimates your age. The Guardian found no way to access an age-verification service on X, indicating that for now the platforms policy is to default many users to a child-appropriate service until age checks are fully up and running.

Related: Everything the right - and the left  are getting wrong about the Online Safety Act | George Billinge

X has been approached for comment on the age-checks.

On Reddit, forums about alcohol abuse, pet care and the Al Jazeera broadcast network also ask for age checks before accessing them. A Reddit spokesperson confirmed the age-checking was because of the Online Safety Act and its restrictions on content that is illegal or harmful to under-18s.

Big Brother Watch, a civil liberties and privacy campaign group, said the Reddit and X examples showed the new law was already over-regulating.

An Ofcom spokesperson said the act required tech companies to prevent children from seeing content harmful to them as well as tackling criminal content, while protecting free speech. There is no requirement on them to restrict legal content for adult users.

Mark Jones, a partner at the London law firm Payne Hicks Beach, said there was a risk that in exercising their duty to remove illegal content or material that was harmful to children, social media companies may be overly cautious and remove perfectly legal material in the UK.

He added that rows over how content was treated by Ofcom were likely to run and run because of the tension between speedily tackling harmful content and letting free speech reign.

Quick decisions are needed in order to prevent the spread of harmful or illegal content. And with that need for speed comes a risk that a decision made under time pressure may be incorrect. But that is the reality of the situation. Mistakes will be made  albeit from a position of trying to prevent harm, he said.

Last weeks row over the Online Safety Act will not be the last.
The idea that Ferrari reduced speed to mitigate plank wear in the latter stages of the Hungarian Grand Prix is bizarre - Formula 1 via Getty Images/James Sutton

Mercedes George Russell had an interesting theory about why Charles Leclercs pace dropped off so dramatically towards the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Leclerc was on pole in his Ferrari and led in the opening stages, keeping the McLaren of Oscar Piastri honest and, more importantly, behind. Yet he then lost ground not just to Piastri but also Russell and Norris and finished a disappointing fourth.

I saw how close he was, something was not right, Russell said after the race. The only thing we can think is that they were running the car too close to the ground and they had to increase the tyre pressure for the last stint, because they were using an engine mode which makes the engine slower at the end of the straight, which is where you have the most amount of plank wear.

Russells theory borders on crazy thinking

There is obviously something going on with Ferrari and trying to limit their plank wear. They had one car disqualified because of this in China and obviously want to avoid a repeat of it. We have heard a lot this season about them needing to lift and coast in order to reduce the downforce at the end of the straights to stop the car dragging on the ground at high-speed.

Lewis Hamilton was disqualified in Shanghai for excessive plank wear - AFP via Getty Images/HECTOR RETAMAL

What Russell suggested is a bit wacky and far-fetched. A team would not reduce performance in this way just to stop plank wear. There are numerous other, better and less-dramatic solutions. Firstly, you would change the set-up of the car, running the rear of the car stiffer or raising the ride-height slightly to reduce plank wear. Yes, there will be a performance loss but not to the extent we saw after Leclercs last stop.

When it comes to tyre pressures, again, it seems unlikely. If you put the rear-tyre pressures up you are guaranteed to lose performance from the rear tyres overheating. Doing this on a track where traction is absolutely critical is crazy. As we have seen in the past, Ferrari make some strange decisions, but I do not for one second think that Russell is on to anything here. These changes are too much of a compromise.

But something unusual is happening at Ferrari

That said, Ferrari have not been especially open about the problems with their car, which is why there is so much conjecture around them and perhaps why Russell said what he did in Hungary. Still, pole in Budapest was a fine result. Forget about Hamiltons performance for a second, because to be on pole in Hungary is not easy and that lap from Leclerc caught McLaren  who had dominated the weekend  by surprise. Leclerc improved in every session from Q1 to Q3 but McLaren went backwards in Q3. That was unexpected.

What is odd is that if the track gets slower for one team it is normally the case for all the teams. There is obviously something unusual going on at Ferrari given how well Leclerc performed in the first part of the race, before dropping away from contention. It is almost impossible to know what is holding them back and the same goes for when they are quick.

Its almost impossible to know what technical issues are allowing Leclerc and Ferrari to be so quick in qualifying and at the start of the race but then hold them back - Getty Images/ Kym Illman

Leclerc looked in control during the first stint. Andrea Stella, the McLaren principal, said that he believed the Ferraris pace was genuine and that Piastri was not holding anything back. The second stint was decent as well, but it was the third and final stint that was the disaster, as Leclerc called it. He simply was not competitive and lost bags of time.

Something obviously happened with the car and it is not about engine mode or tyre pressure. It is clearly a bit borderline and might be the same thing that has been hurting Hamilton. Leclerc said it was an unspecified chassis problem after the race. Something can break or stop working correctly on a car, yes, but that happens once in a blue moon. Its impossible to know what this was without further information from Ferrari.

Norris victory a well-taken surprise

In the end, McLaren took another one-two finish. It was a bit fortunate in truth. Norris went for a bold strategy that ended up working unexpectedly well and both he and Piastri benefitted from Leclercs issues late on.

Still, they deserve a pat on the back for how they handled the strategy of both cars. Yes, Piastri can perhaps feel a little annoyed that his team stopped him early to try to overtake leader Leclerc, but that was the right thing to do at the time. He was racing for the lead after all.

With Norris they would have thought they were putting him in contention for second, but the tyre wear and performance drop off was less than expected  and the MCL39 is gentle on its tyres anyway  which meant he ended up keeping track position and taking the win. I always say, strategy is a living thing and McLaren understood this very well on Sunday.
A stepmother who took her 11-year-old son to a post-Southport riot, where she shouted at police protecting asylum seekers, has says she has massive regret over her actions.

Amy Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, 38, joined the protest outside a Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth, Staffordshire, after initially intending to take the boy to a skate park, a court heard.

During the unrest on 4 August last year, the hotel was damaged and petrol was poured inside and set alight.

In November, Hodgkinson-Hedgecox reacted angrily when she given a 27-month prison sentence at Stafford Crown Court after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

But following her release on licence, the mother-of-two has now spoken of her remorse, describing herself as an idiot and stupid after getting caught up in the moment.

Amy Hodgkinson-Hedgecox was given a 27-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to violent disorder. (BBC)

She was one of 544 people sentenced for offences linked to the nationwide unrest that broke out after the murder of three children at a dance class in Southport. The tragedy triggered a wave of misinformation, including inaccurate claims the killer was an asylum seeker.

Speaking to the BBCs Panorama programme, Hodgkinson-Hedgecox , who now wears an electronic tag as part of a night-time curfew, said she joined the protest after seeing posts on social media that claimed asylum seekers had been filming children at a park close to the hotel.

She now acknowledges the claims may have been untrue.

Amy Hodgkinson-Hedgecox was caught on camera gesturing at the riot outside the hote (BBC)

The former factory worker, who lives in Tamworth, said: "I did swear. I was just shouting to the police, like, how would you like it if your child has been videoed by them? There's a level where you should be sticking up for us as well as them.

"I was frustrated, I was really frustrated.

Hodgkinson-Hedgecox said she did feel concerned for the people inside the hotel when she saw a petrol bomb being lit.

She said: "When they started smashing the windows, they were throwing fireworks through the holes and they were going bang in the building, I thought, something bad's going to happen here.

Damage at the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth, Staffordshire, after the riot outside on 4 August (PA)

"As soon as I seen the lighter go on that petrol bomb I thought, oh my God, this building's going to go down. I was really concerned for [the people inside]. I thought, wow, this is gonna go up in flames, gonna kill them all.

Looking back on her actions, she said: "I accept that I was wrong for being there. I should never have been there. And I accept I should have never took a child with me either. Massive regret, huge regret. It's bad parenting."

Police officers guarding Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth a day after the trouble broke out (PA)

She also said: "I have no answer for it other than I'm an idiot, stupid, got caught up in the moment.

While in prison, Hodgkinson-Hedgecox said she accepted 1,000 from far-right group Patriotic Alternative. It was offered to provide financial support for families of those convicted. She told the BBC she regretted taking the cash.

Last week, a police watchdog chief warned there was every possibility that similar violence to the Southport riots could reoccur.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, His Majestys Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services Sir Andy Cooke said the tools that amplified hatred last summer remain largely unchanged and unregulated.

He said: Online misinformation continues to spread. Community tensions persist.

He called on police forces to modernise their understanding of how disorder develops and spreads in the digital age.
Disruption from Storm Floris will continue into Tuesday, travellers have been warned, after wind gusts of up to 82 mph brought down trees and power lines across Scotland and Ireland, triggering transport chaos for trains, flights and ferries.

More than 43,000 homes were without power, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said, with 10,000 more affected in Ireland  mostly in Co Donegal and Co Roscommon.

Festivals in Edinburgh were also disrupted, with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo among the events cancelled, while the delivery of exam results to some island communities was delayed according to the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

The Met Office confirmed wind gusts of up to 79mph as far apart as Kinloss, east of Inverness, and the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, with 82mph recorded at Wick in Caithness.

Transport was paralysed across much of northern Britain. Network Rail closed all rail lines north of the Central Belt from midday, while a number of roads have been blocked.

Disruption will continue into Tuesday. Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: Storm Floris has caused significant disruption to Scotlands railway, with wind speeds of up to 90mph, unprecedented for a summer storm.

Travel warnings at Manchester Piccadilly station on Monday (Getty)

Our teams will work through the night, but this work will continue into Tuesday morning. Well use two helicopters to assist engineers on the ground. Were grateful to passengers for their patience whilst we do this.

Earlier, the train operator had appealed to property owners to secure tents, trampolines or furniture to prevent them being blown on to railway tracks.

Anglo-Scottish rail travel was nigh-impossible on the East Coast and West Coast main lines. LNER and Lumo warned passengers not to attempt to travel north of Newcastle, while Avanti West Coast advised travellers not to venture north of Preston.

The Caledonian Sleeper serving Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William is cancelled overnight on Monday. Train operators will accept passengers tickets dated Monday on Tuesday, and in some cases Wednesday.

Severe gusts on the north coast of Northern Ireland in Portstewart on Monday (Reuters)

Travellers were able to reach or leave Scotland by air for some of the day, but high winds at the northern airports of Aberdeen and Inverness caused two flights to turn back to their starting points. Both easyJet from Luton to Inverness and KLM from Amsterdam to Aberdeen abandoned their landings and flew back, with passengers enduring 900-mile flights to nowhere.

By 6pm the aviation data analyst, Cirium, had calculated more than 150 flights were cancelled: 79 departures and 74 arrivals. Most served northern Scotland and Northern Ireland. Aberdeen was worst affected with 29 cancellations, while Belfast City experienced 21 grounded flights.

A number of campervans have been blown over on the A87 road, which leads to Portree on the Isle of Skye.

Police Scotland said: "We have received multiple reports of campervans being blown over on the A87 between Broadford and Portree due to high winds caused by Storm Floris.

No way: Flightpath of KLM departure from Amsterdam to Aberdeen, which was unable to land in Scotland and returned to the Dutch hub (Flightradar24)

"We are advising motorists not to travel on the Bealach na Ba road and anyone with campervans should remain parked in sheltered areas until the wind speed reduces."

Elsewhere, some roads in Scotland and northern England were blocked by fallen trees.

The vast majority of ferries serving western Scotland were cancelled. Caledonian MacBrayne warned people planning to sail on Tuesday: Due to forecast adverse weather, sailings will be liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice.

Northlink, which serves Orkney and Shetland from mainland Scotland, warns of the possibility of disruption through to Wednesday 6 August.

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August. January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
The west coast of Scotland is expected to bear the brunt of Storm Floris (PA Archive)

Another storm has arrived to batter parts of the UK  Storm Floris.

With gusts of up to 85 mph, Storm Floris has prompted an amber wind warning for Scotland.

The amber warning is in place from 10am to 10pm on Monday, while a yellow warning is in place for northern England and Northern Ireland, from 6am to midnight.

Many trains and boats have already been cancelled, and Network Rail is scheduled to shut down many lines on Monday at 12pm. Due to speed limits, all other routes will have a shorter schedule and lengthier travel times.

The sixth named storm of the 20242025 season, Storm Floris, is predicted to hit areas of Scotland with unusually strong gusts of 8090 mph.

The forecaster warned that flying debris might be a danger to life when the storm hits the mainland. It advised people to keep their doors closed as much as possible.

But what will the other storms be named in the coming months? And how are these names chosen?

Heres what you need to know.

What are the storm names for 2024/25?

Full list of names used for storms in 2024-25

Ashley

Bert

Conall

Darragh

Eowyn

Floris

Gerben

Hugo

Izzy

James

Kayleigh

Lewis

Mavis

Naoise

Otje

Poppy

Rafi

Sayuri

Tilly

Vivienne

Wren

The name Floris is of Dutch origin and is also used a variant of the French name Florence.

Floris comes from the Latin word florens, meaning to "prosper" or "flourish". The County of Holland had five powerful monarchs who also went by the name Floris.

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024/2025 Storm Naming season. Storm Eowyn  which occurred in late January  was the last named storm to affect the UK.

Conall will follow Ashley and Bert (Met Office)

Why are there no storms named with the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z?

Only 21 letters in the alphabet are included in the list of storm names as it is challenging to come up with six appropriate names (one for each of the six rotating lists), beginning with Q, U, X, Y, and Z.You will never see your name on the list of storms if your name starts with these letters.

How are storm names chosen?

A collaboration between the Met Office, Met Eireann (the Irish meteorological service), and KNMI (the Dutch meteorological service) names storms in the UK. This naming process is designed to make the public more aware of severe weather events and to ensure that people take necessary precautions when such storms are forecasted.

Each service has chosen seven names on the alphabetical list (excluding the letters q, u, x, y and z).

Each year, the UK Met Office, in collaboration with Met Eireann and KNMI, releases a list of names for the upcoming storm season. The names are selected alphabetically, alternating between male and female names.

A storm is named when it is expected to have a significant impact, particularly if it is forecasted to bring strong winds, heavy rain, or snow that could cause substantial damage or pose a risk to life.

The decision to name a storm is based on the potential for an amber or red warning (high or very high impact) to be issued.

The Met Office and Met Eireann launched their first "Name our Storms" campaign in 2015. The tradition of naming storms began in the US in 1950 to help people engage with weather forecasts.

Met Eireann in April 2024 named Storm Kathleen after two Irish scientists, Kathleen McNulty and Kathleen Lonsdale.

You can learn more about the storm naming process here.

Why are storms named?

Experts say storms are named to enhance communication and public safety. A specific name makes it easier for people to remember and discuss a storm, reducing confusion, especially when multiple storms are active simultaneously.

This clarity helps consistently disseminate warnings and ensures that media, government agencies, and the public all refer to the same event.

Additionally, naming storms increases public awareness and urgency, prompting people to take necessary precautions. A named storm tends to receive more media coverage, helping to spread important safety information. Overall, the practice simplifies communication, improves preparedness, and aids in the effective coordination of emergency responses.

The Met Office said the process helps to provide consistent, authoritative messaging in times of severe weather.

Met Office head of situational awareness Will Lang, who leads responses in times of severe weather, said in September 2022: We know from seven years of doing this that naming storms works.

Recent impactful storms demonstrated our ongoing need to communicate severe weather in a clear way to help the public protect themselves. Naming storms is just one way that we know helps to raise awareness of severe weather and provides clarity for the public when they need it most.
The Sugababes said it was an honour to be on the same stage where Mariah Carey headlined on the previous night at Brighton Pride.

On Sunday, the English girl group closed the weekend of celebrations in Preston Park with a show full of throwbacks and synchronised dance moves.

After taking to the stage, they said last night headlining was Mariah before adding: Its a complete honour to be on the same stage.

Just like Carey on Saturday, the group told the audience that the LGBT+ community has always been the core of their fanbase.

Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy had the whole crowd bouncing as they closed the show with About You Now, despite some microphone issues.

Buena seemed to struggle as she sang the introduction, with her vocals fading out, but the trio recovered well, bringing the curtain down on this years Preston Park performances.

The group referenced their long journey, having started when they were around 12 years old in 1998 before splitting and then regaining the name Sugababes in 2019.

Images of each of them as kids flickered up on screen accompanied by a voiceover describing their story so far. We found our way back to each other, Buchanan said.

They almost forgot to sing their 2025 single Shook, starting the intro for the next song before doubling back, admitting they are not used to having it in the set.

According to the BBC, roughly 300,000 people were in Brighton over the weekend.

Many of the acts across the weekend have made sure to remind their audience that Pride started as protest, with some making reference to Gaza and also transgender rights being rolled back in the UK.

Drag queen Tayris Mongardi, who performed at Brighton Pride this weekend, told the PA news agency that Pride is about being present and vocal while also having a good bloody time.

She said that while living and working in the UK is privileged compared to other countries, it is still important to remember what were fighting for.

The performer said: Look, were so blessed in so many ways to have the privileges we do here versus other countries and whatnot but really like it is a protest and you do have to remember not only its roots and where its come from but what were fighting for.

Yes I might be queer and of colour but I have so many trans brothers and sisters, siblings and were watching their rights actually being taken away  its about being present, being vocal.

Ms Mongardi has performed at every Brighton Pride since 2017, excluding the pandemic year, and now feels like she is part of the furniture at the event, and said that Pride is about community.

She added: Protect trans lives, protect black lives, and have a good bloody time you know, were all fighting, were all trying to get through the place but have a good time while youre doing it right?
Keller-Sutters phone call with Trump was not a success, a Swiss government source said. Photograph: Julia Nikhinson/AP

The Swiss stock market has plunged, the cabinet has held crisis talks and the countrys president, Karin Keller-Sutter, has been accused of mishandling a vital phone call with the White House after Donald Trump hit the country with a shock 39% export tariff.

Switzerland, home to some of the worlds best-known luxury brands, was left stunned after the US president on Friday imposed one of the highest tariff rates in his global trade reset. Industry associations said tens of thousands of jobs were at risk.

Local media had reported that after three months of talks, negotiators believed they had secured a 10% tariff on exports to the US, a key market for Swiss products such as luxury watches, jewellery and chocolate but also machinery and pharmaceuticals.

But after a 30-minute call with Keller-Sutter on Thursday evening variously described as bad-tempered, disastrous and badly misjudged, Trump imposed a levy even higher than the 31% he had announced on his so-called liberation day in April.

Related: Trump tariffs explained: whats changed and why have Asian countries been hit so hard?

Switzerlands blue-chip stock market index opened 1.8% lower on Monday, the first day of trading since the tariff announcement on Swiss National Day, a public holiday. The cabinet said after an emergency meeting it would improve its offer to Trump.

Switzerland enters this new phase ready to present a more attractive offer, taking US concerns into account and seeking to ease the current tariff situation, it said in a statement, without detailing what concrete proposals it might make.

Swiss officials rejected reports that the 39% rate was imposed because of the call between Trump and Keller-Sutter, the finance minister and current president under the countrys rotating system. The call was not a success, a government source said.

There was not a good outcome for Switzerland. But there was not a quarrel. Trump made it clear from the very beginning that he had a completely different point of view, that 10% tariffs were not enough, the source told Reuters.

Swiss media were less forgiving. Faced with Trump, Keller-Sutter was surely too naive, was the headline in the tabloid Blick, while 24 Heures said what should have been her masterpiece ended up as the heaviest defeat of her political career.

The rate would have a huge impact on Switzerlands export-oriented economy and could spark a recession, said Hans Gersbach, an economist at ETH Zurich university, especially if pharmaceuticals, which are not covered, were included.

Swiss companies, whose exports to the US account for about one-sixth of their total foreign sales, face one of the steepest US duties  only Laos, Myanmar and Syria had higher figures, at 40-41%. The EU and the UK negotiated 15% and 10% respectively.

The business minister, Guy Parmelin, told RTS public radio on Monday that the government needed to fully understand what happened, why the US president made this decision. Once we have that on the table, we can decide how to proceed.

Parmelin said Berne would move fast, revise its offer and hope to achieve something by 7 August, when the tariffs were due to come into effect. He and Keller-Sutter were ready to travel to Washington for further talks if necessary, he added.

The business minister said Trump was focused on the US trade deficit with Switzerland, which was Sfr38.5bn (35.8bn) last year. The country could offer to buy more US liquefied natural gas, as the EU had done, or Swiss companies could invest more in the US, he said.

Keller-Sutter said on Friday that Berne would keep talking to Washington but there were only limited concessions it could offer, as US imports already enjoyed 99.3% free market access and multiple Swiss companies had invested heavily in the US.

Analysts have said tariffs could still change at any moment because of the unpredictability of the Trump administration, with several suggesting their base case remained that Switzerland would eventually end up with a rate similar to that of the EUs.
Texas Democrats in the state legislature denied Republicans a legislative quorum on Monday by leaving the state, preventing, at least for now, plans proposed by the White House to aggressively redistrict Texass congressional lines in their favor.

When the legislature gaveled in at 3pm local time on Monday, Republicans fell short of a quorum by eight votes after Democrats fled to Illinois, a legislative conference in Boston, New York and elsewhere.

In an extraordinary escalation, the states Republican governor, Greg Abbott, said he had ordered the Texas department of public safety to locate, arrest and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans.

Related: Illinois governor says Texas Democrats who left will be protected amid arrest threats

There are consequences for dereliction of duty, Abbott said in a statement on Monday, after the Republican-dominated house issued civil arrest warrants in an attempt to compel the return of the members who fled. This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol.

Enforcing Abbotts order will be difficult, however, because Democrats who left the state are beyond the jurisdiction of Texas authorities.

Democrats hold 62 of the 150 seats in the legislatures lower chamber, so as long as at least 51 members remain out of Austin, the Texas legislature cannot move forward with any votes, including a plan sought by Donald Trump to redraw the states congressional maps to give Republicans five more seats in Congress.

The Texas speaker, Representative Dustin Burrows, adjourned the house until 1pm on Tuesday after issuing a call for absent lawmakers and threatening their arrest. He cited pending legislation on flood relief and human trafficking  and not the contentious redistricting proposal before the chamber  in his call for Democrats to return.

Instead of confronting those challenges, some of our colleagues have fled the state in their duty, Burrows said. Theyve left the state, abandoned their posts and turned their backs on the constituents they swore to represent. Theyve shirked their responsibilities under the direction and pressure of out-of-state politicians and activists who dont know the first thing about whats right for Texas.

Democrats pushed back forcefully, accusing Abbott of calling a special session at Trumps behest rather than prioritizing disaster relief in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods that killed 135 people in central Texas last month.

I never thought as a Texan, as an elected member of the Texas House of Representatives, and now as an elected member from Texas to the United States House of Representatives, that I would see the governor of the proud state of Texas bend a knee to a felon from New York, Texas congresswoman Julie Johnson taunted Abbott during a press conference in Illinois. Never thought Id see the day, but here we are.

Johnson, whose district would be radically reshaped if Texas Republicans succeed, spoke alongside members of the Illinois congressional delegation as well as several of the state representatives who left Texas on Sunday.

Texas House Democrats know how to fight, said Texas state representative Jessica Gonzalez. Our sleeves are rolled up, and were ready to take this fight wherever its going to take us, because our communities, our state and our nation is definitely worth fighting for.

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who fled his own impeachment hearings and refused a court order to release his travel records after speaking at the rally in Washington that preceded the January 6 insurrection, has described wayward Democratic legislators as cowards.

Speaker Burrows said the house would not sit quietly. While you obstruct the work of the people, the people of Texas are watching and so is the nation, and if you choose to continue down this road, you should know there will be consequences.

The Texas House Democratic caucus said in response: Come and take it.

Related: Texas Democrats leave state to prevent vote on redrawing congressional map

We are not fighting for the Democratic party, state representative James Talarico said in a video message recorded at an airport. We are fighting for the democratic process, and the stakes could not be higher. We have to take a stand.

A few dozen protesters gathered in front of the governors mansion in Austin on Monday to protest the Republicans hasty rewriting of the states congressional districts.

Led by Democratic congressmen Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett, protesters marched back and forth across the parking lot in front of the gates of the governors mansion.

Speaking into a bullhorn, Casar, a leading progressive, praised state Democrats for fleeing the state to deny Republicans the quorum they need to pass a new congressional map that would sharply dilute Democratic voting strength in an effort to preserve a Republican majority in next years congressional midterms.

President Lyndon B Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to prevent maps like this, Casar said.

Were going to fight like hell to stop it, he said. Were not going back to pre-1965.

I see him basically as an errand boy for President Trump, Doggett said of the Texas governor, Greg Abbott. He didnt ask for this map, hes just following orders.

Governor Abbott could have easily passed flood relief on day one of this special session, Casar added. Instead hes holding flood relief hostage  Its all about himself and Donald Trump.

Every Republican member of the Texas congressional delegation that Casar has discussed the map with has told him privately that they oppose the redistricting effort, he said. Republicans have worried since Trump first floated the redistricting plan that any attempt to redraw the states congressional districts could backfire, since creating new right-leaning districts is hard to do without making existing red districts less conservative.

Most of the Democratic caucus absconded to Chicago, a city with a Democratic mayor and city council in a state with a Democratic governor and legislature.

Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who owns the Chicago Hyatt hotel, announced on Monday he would provide free rooms to the Texas Democrats for as long as they are out of state.

A special session of the Texas legislature lasts for 30 days, but Abbott can renew the call for a special session at will. Under new rules the Texas house adopted in 2021, each lawmaker will be fined $500 a day for each day they abscond from the state.

Democratic-led states have vowed to respond in kind if Texas moves ahead with its plans.

Earlier on Monday, New York governor Kathy Hochul said that she was exploring every option to redraw state congressional lines.

Im tired [of] fighting this fight with my hand tied behind my back, Hochul said at a news conference with six Texas Democrats who fled to her state.

We are at war, she added. And thats why the gloves are off  and I say bring it on.
Tommy Robinson is believed to have flown to Tenerife but returned from Faro (PA)

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been arrested over an alleged assault at St Pancras train station in London.

British Transport Police said that a 42-year-old man from Bedfordshire had been arrested at Luton Airport on Monday in connection with an assault at St Pancras railway station on 28 July.

A spokesperson for the force said the arrest took place shortly after 6.30pm following a notification that a man had boarded an incoming flight from Faro.

"The man had been wanted for questioning after leaving the country to Tenerife in the early hours of August 29 following the incident at St Pancras, they said.

"He was arrested on suspicion of GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm) and will now be taken to custody for questioning."

Footage emerged last Monday appearing to show the activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, walking away from a man lying injured on the floor at St Pancras station.

Police said the man was taken to hospital with serious injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Robinson was originally believed to have boarded a plane to the Spanish island early last Tuesday, according to local media reports in Spain.

Robinson co-founded the English Defence League (EDL) in Luton in 2009, which was active until about 2013.
Austin Drummond, 28, is wanted for the murders of Adrianna Williams, 20, James M Wilson, 21, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15 (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Two men have been charged in connection with the murders of four people in Tennessee that saw an infant abandoned on a strangers front lawn.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has charged Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Deputies from the Dyer County Sheriffs Office responded Monday afternoon following reports that a dark-colored minivan had dropped off the child in a car seat at a random individuals front yard. The seven-month-old girl is now safe.

Just hours later, four people were found dead. They have since been identified as James Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.

Two men have been charged in connection with the murders of four people in Tennessee that saw an infant abandoned on a strangers front lawn. The seven-month-old girl is now safe (Dyer County Sheriff's Office)

Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the infants parents, and Rose was Adrianna and Braydon Williams mother.

On Friday, investigators named 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond as the suspect in the murders. The two men arrested allegedly assisted Drummond in the killings, though authorities did not specify or elaborate on how.

It is also still unclear as to the manner in which the four relatives were killed and how the baby ended up in a car seat on a front lawn roughly 40 miles away.

As of Sunday law enforcement officers were still searching for Drummond.

He should be considered armed and dangerous, the TBI said in a Saturday news release announcing charges against Thomas. Brown, who also faces one count of tampering with evidence, was arrested a day earlier.

On Friday, investigators named 28-year-old Drummond as the suspect in the murders. He is still at large and should be considered dangerous (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Thomas was in custody at the Madison County Jail on an unrelated charge and would be transferred to the Lake County Jail to be arraigned on the new charges, authorities said. A listed phone number for Thomas could not be located Sunday.

Brown was booked into Lake County Jail, according to authorities. A listed number for Brown could not be located Sunday. Email messages seeking comment were sent to Brown on Sunday.

On Friday, authorities said they found the car they believe Drummond was driving. It was located in

As of Sunday law enforcement officers were still searching for Drummond

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch said authorities believe it was a targeted attack by Drummond, who had a relationship with the family. The baby is safe and being cared for, authorities have said.

Authorities obtained warrants for Drummond charging him with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses. His criminal history includes prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening to go after jurors. He was also charged with attempted murder while behind bars.

No listed number for Drummond could be found. An attorney who represented him as a teenager has not returned messages from The Associated Press.
A group of people are brought into the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent, after a small boat incident in the Channel last Wednesday. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

The UK will begin detaining people who arrive on small boats and returning some to France within days after the EU gave the green light to a deal agreed with the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

The treaty between France and the UK will allow the Home Office to return some asylum seekers back across the Channel for the first time in exchange for accepting others directly from France via a safe route.

Those who have crossed the Channel to the UK using small boats will become inadmissible for safe routes, according to the terms of the treaty. About 50 people a week are expected to be returned during the pilot of the so-called one in, one out scheme.

The Home Office said the pilot was operationally ready and that detentions could start within days. The summer months, when the weather tends to be better, are usually the high point for crossings, with 898 arrivals on 30 July alone.

Related: Napier barracks to continue housing asylum seekers after small boat influx

Since the start of the year, about 25,000 people have sought asylum by arriving on small boats across the Channel. The Conservatives have panned the scheme, saying the numbers arriving would mean it was the equivalent of 17 in, one out.

Nationalities at the greatest risk will be prioritised on the newly opened safe route and will be subject to full documentation and security and eligibility checks.

The pilot scheme runs until June 2026, after which both the UK and France have said they will assess its future.

The final text of the deal was signed by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, and her French counterpart, Bruno Retailleau, last week, and approved by the European Commission, which was thought to be a potential obstacle.

The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the agreement was the product of months of grownup diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs business model.

The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over  we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.

Cooper said the government would robustly defend any legal challenge, saying it had learned from the failed Rwanda deportation scheme under the Conservatives.

This is an important step towards undermining the business model of the organised crime gangs that are behind these crossings  undermining their claims that those who travel to the UK illegally cant be returned to France, she said.

It is also right to make clear that  while the UK will always be ready to play its part alongside other countries in helping those fleeing persecution and conflict  this must be done in a controlled and managed legal way, not through dangerous, illegal and uncontrolled routes.

The Home Office said preparations for the scheme had begun, including clearing space in immigration removal centres, and a new operational strategy for Border Force officials to allow them to identify which potential asylum seekers would make their claims inadmissible by travelling via small boat.

Anyone who arrives by small boat and is returned to France will not be eligible for the legal route to the UK, while anyone who tries to re-enter the UK having already been returned to France once will be returned again as a matter of priority.

The shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, said the scheme would have no difference whatsoever and blamed the rise in Channel crossings on Labours cancellation of the Rwanda scheme.
Rare earth minerals are used to make fighter jets - guvendemir/E+

The US is scrambling to get hold of the rare earth metals needed to make weapons after China slashed its supply to American defence firms.

Prices of some rare earths have increased more than 60-fold after Beijing restricted the export of the materials for defence purposes earlier this year, amid a trade war with the US.

Beijing controls around 90 per cent of the worlds rare metal supply and dominates the production of many other critical minerals, giving the country a stranglehold on the US defence industrial base, experts said.

A senior defence industry source told The Telegraph the light is turning from yellow to red when it comes to American companies ability to source the materials, that are needed for everything from fighter jets and drones, to missile-targeting and defensive satellites.

The strain on rare earths has exposed how reliant the US is on Chinese exports for its defence supply chain, giving Beijing leverage at a time of fraught trade discussions between the two rival powers.

A spokesman for the China select committee labelled the situation a wake-up call that underscores just how dangerous our current dependencies are.

The United States cannot afford to have defence supply chains at the mercy of the Chinese Communist Party, they said. Congress and the administration must now urgently work together to identify and mitigate these vulnerabilities before they cost American lives.

No quick and easy fix

Michal Sobolick, a senior fellow specialising in United StatesChina relations at Hudson Institute, said: Weve traded with this authoritarian, Marxist regime and they now have a stranglehold on our ability to make fighter jets.

Thats dangerous and there is no quick and easy fix for this.

In addition to restrictions on rare earths, since December China has banned exports to the US of germanium, gallium and antimony, which are critical minerals used in the making of bullets and night vision goggles.

Some companies have warned of imminent cuts to production unless fresh supplies of minerals arrive soon.

On Wednesday, the chief executive of US-based Leonardo DRS said the firm has been forced to tap into its safety stock of germanium.

In order to sustain timely product deliveries, material flow must improve in the second half [of 2025], Bill Lynn said on a conference call, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The mineral is used in infrared sensors that guide missiles and other equipment.

Two-month delivery delays

Drone manufacturers are said to be among the most exposed defence firms as they are often small businesses that do not have the kind of stockpiles of rare earths that larger companies do.

I can tell youwe talk about this daily and our companies talk about it daily, Dak Hardwick, the vice-president of international affairs at the Aerospace Industries Association trade group, told the WSJ.

Since China introduced export licences for rare earths in April, defence firms have been required to fill out extensive paperwork, including providing sensitive information such as product images, to ensure the material is not used for military purposes, Western buyers told the WSJ.

This has led to delivery delays of up to two months, with one drone manufacturing company reporting that its Chinese magnet supplier had demanded drawings of products, a list of buyers and assurances they would not be used for military applications.

Of course we are not going to provide the Chinese government with that information, Chris Thompson, the vice-president of global sales for ePropelled, told the Journal.

The company builds motors for drones used in the Ukraine conflict.

DoD boosting production of minerals

Metal importers told the WSJ that Beijings demands to know what rare earths are being used means that licences are not being approved for traders to stockpile supplies.

The department of defence has moved at warp speed in recent months to boost production of critical minerals, according to Dr Gracelin Baskaran, the director of the critical minerals security programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies

This included a $400m investment earlier this month in MP Materials, which operates the largest rare earth mine in the Americas. As part of the deal, the company plans to scale its annual magnet manufacturing capacity from 1,000 metric tons in 2025 to 10,000 metric tons over the next decade.

Last year, the Pentagon also set up the Critical Minerals Forum, which helps metal miners secure funding for rare earth extraction and enables larger defence firms to purchase the materials directly rather than relying on smaller subsidiaries.

The modern age is powered by rare earth elements, and if we dont move aggressively to solve this problem, we are always going to be playing catchup, an industry source said.

Mr Sobolick warned that the US has sleepwalked into this situation and that Chinas dominance of the rare metals supply chain will give them the upper hand in trade negotiations over the next few years.

Dr Baskaran said: Rare earths have become the most powerful geopolitical leverage and theyve become the currency of new geopolitical alliances.

They continue to be a currency to forge alliances and trade agreements at a time when foreign policy and bilateral cooperation are more complicated than they used to be.

A spokesman from Lockheed Martin, the US aerospace and defence company, said: We continuously assess the global rare earth supply chain to ensure access to critical materials that support our customers missions. Specific questions about the rare earth supply chain will be best addressed by the US government.

A defence official said: DoD has invested almost $540m to support the domestic and allied rare earth elements (REE)/critical mineral supply chain.

DoD is looking forward to continue working with companies across the REE supply chain to ensure that DoD, and the nation, have the secure and resilient supply chains necessary to secure national and economic security for generations to come.

Chinas foreign ministry was approached for comment.
The Baladna Bakery in Paterson, New Jersey. Photograph: Google Maps

A knife-wielding man recently slashed and stabbed two bakery owners because they gave him the wrong sandwich four years earlier, authorities in New Jersey said.

Brothers Abed and Mohammed Assad were attacked at their store in Paterson on 31 July after the disgruntled customer complained that the sandwich they served him made him ill, according to Moneer Simrin, a friend of the victims.

Simrin told WABC TV that the assailant launched into a tirade at Mohammed Assad over being given an eggplant sandwich instead of the egg sandwich he ordered four years ago.

He told him, You give me eggplant in my sandwich and then my stomach was bothering me and stuff like that, he said.

They told him: OK, well give you the money, well give you credit, whatever you want, but he start[ed] cursing. They try to tell him, OK, just get out, please, get out from the store, and he pulled a knife.

The man then allegedly stabbed Mohammed in the chest, and slashed Abed on his arm when he stepped in to help his brother. The victims were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Witnesses heard screaming from inside the bakery and saw one of the victims outside clutching his bloody arm, according to the local news outlet Pix11.com.

What happened surprised everyone because they are very nice people, the witness, a worker in an adjacent building, told the outlet.

The bakery was closed over the weekend, with calls seeking comment going unanswered.

Rob Rowan, public information officer for the Paterson police department, confirmed details of Thursday mornings attack in a statement, adding that the knifeman had not been identified and was still at large.

Officers responded to Baladna Bakery on reports of a stabbing, he said. They saw both victims being treated for lacerations made by a sharp instrument. The victim stated an altercation began between a customer and the victims with the customer unhappy about a purchase at the store.

Rowan said the departments major crimes unit was investigating.

Incidents of extreme violence in disputes over the serving of food have become increasingly common in the US in recent years.

In 2019, a man was stabbed to death at a Maryland Popeyes restaurant in a fight over line cutting among customers eager to try the companys new chicken sandwich.

In May, a Checkers employee in Kissimmee, Florida, was accused of shooting and killing a customer who complained that sachets of mayonnaise were missing from his order.
Loyalty can take strange forms: waiting by a door, standing between danger and a child, or refusing to leave a bedside. Stories like these surface in old family albums and the news, passed down because they show something we know on sight: real devotion. The following examples arent just talesthey happened, and they stick with anyone who hears them.

Chloe Survived the Cold to Go Back Home

Credit: Getty Images

After disappearing during one of Mississippis coldest winter weeks, Chloe showed up at the front door, thin, scraped, and barely standing. Labs are known for finding their way home, but this one was nowhere to be seen for days. Then, exactly one week later, there she was.

Texas Died One Night Before His Owner

Credit: Canva

When ALS forced Texs owner into a hospital bed, he moved with her and remained curled at her feet for months. The night before she died, Tex passed away too. He had wrapped himself in her robe, and, according to the hospice nurse, he went peacefully.

Governor Barked When Each Baby Was Born

Credit: Getty Images

Every time a new baby arrived in Governors family, he barked at the exact moment of birth, even when he was staying somewhere else. It wasnt a random pattern, especially since he barked three times in the middle of the night, then stopped. He had no way of knowing, yet he reacted as if he did.

Luke Responded When His Owner Grieved

Credit: pexels

On the day his owner learned her brother-in-law had died, Luke, a high-energy Pomeranian, did something unusual. He stopped running, sat close, and rested his head gently on her chest. He didnt move for hours and left only briefly to go outside.

Skippy Adapted to A Family with Hearing Loss

Credit: iStockphoto

Corgis arent typically known for service roles, but Skippy adjusted without training. Her family included a mother and two children who were hearing-impaired. If someone knocked, she didnt bark but nudged her pet parent until they noticed. While this may sound surprising, studies have shown that many dogs adapt their behavior based on their households communication cues.

Sadie Gave Comfort Without Knowing the Story

Credit: iStockphoto

Two days after Sadie joined the family, their elderly dog had to be put down. The grief hit hardest in the recliner, where the owner often sat with the late dog. Sadie quietly jumped into his lap, wrapped her paws under his arms, and pressed her head to his chest. They stayed like that for a long time.

Dorado Refused to Leave His Blind Owner

Credit: pixelshot

During the 9/11 attacks, a blind computer technician released his guide dog Dorado inside the World Trade Center because he thought they might not both make it. Dorado left but then reappeared to guide his handler down more than 70 floors. Guide dogs receive extensive training, but Dorado went beyond protocol.

Capitan Slept at His Owners Grave for Years

Credit: iStockphoto

In Argentina, a German Shepherd named Capitan disappeared after his owner passed away. When the family visited the cemetery a week later, they found Capitan lying next to the grave. For the next several years, he returned to that same spot every night. The cemetery workers took a liking to him, fed him, and kept watch.

Hachiko Waited Every Day for Nearly a Decade

Credit: IMDb

The loyalty of this one dog became a national symbol in Japan, and his bronze statue still stands outside Tokyos Shibuya Station. The Akita waited there every day for nearly a decade after his owner, a professor, passed suddenly at work. Before that, Hachiko had walked him to the station each morning and went back in the afternoon to greet him.

Duffie Refused to Leave His Fallen Owner

Credit: iStockphoto

He didnt have any training in emergency response, but Duffie knew something was wrong after his owner slipped on wet grass and couldnt stand. Instead of wandering off, he stood by her side and barked nonstop until someone finally came to help. Much like other pups, he picked up on distress through tone, posture, and movement.

Bobbie Walked Over 2,500 Miles

Credit: iStockphoto

Back in 1923, a family from Oregon lost their dog, Bobbie, during a road trip in Indiana. They searched with no luck, only to go back home heartbroken. But six months later, Bobbie showed up at their doorstep. Records showed his journey spanned over 2,500 miles, through rivers, mountains, and unfamiliar terrain, which led the Humane Society to award him a silver medal.

Cela Herded the Cat Indoors Without Being Taught

Credit: Canva

Research shows herding behavior can appear in non-herding breeds when stress or urgency kicks in. Thats exactly what happened with Cela. A strong gust blew the back door open one day, and the familys indoor cat ran out. Springing into action, the pup didnt bark or chase, but simply guided the cat back inside.

Colby Walked Slowly So a Toddler Could Learn

Credit: Canva

Colby, originally a seeing-eye dog, had spent years moving at someone elses pace. In retirement, he lived with a family whose toddler was learning to walk. She leaned against his back to stand and stood still. As she took steps, he walked slowly, then paused once she lost balance. This turned into a repetitive practice.

Delta Protected a Child in Pompeiis Ash

Credit: Getty Images

Excavations in Pompeii uncovered the body of a large dog beside a small child. Her silver collar read Delta and described three heroic acts: pulling her owner from the sea, stopping a robbery, and saving him from a wolf. Experts believe that she displayed the same heroism and shielded the child during the volcanic eruption.

Loki Helped His Owner Recover Through Small Habits

Credit: pixabay

Cancer recovery left a senior lady physically drained and emotionally isolated. Thats when Loki entered her life, and the pair formed a routine together. He nudged her awake each morning, was nearby on difficult days, and let out soft howls whenever she played music. Though never trained as a therapy animal, Loki helped her regain energy and connection.
An image of William Duplessie and John Woeltz.

Two crypto bros charged with kidnapping and torturing an Italian millionaire so he would give them his cryptocurrency password were accused of holding another European tourist hostage at their Kentucky compound, according to a report.

William Duplessie, 33, and John Woeltz, 37, took a group of models and other high fliers from Palm Beach, Florida, to the tiny Kentucky hamlet of Smithland back in February, where they engaged in a drug and gun-fueled party weekend at their sprawling $1.5 million mansion, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Guests  whom Duplessie and Woeltz were trying to ingratiate themselves to  told the newspaper that the pair bragged they had kidnapped a German man, stole his cryptocurrency and killed him. The guests said they didnt know what to believe about the tale.

John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping. Steven Hirsch

But, according to local 911 call recordings, just a week earlier a German-speaking woman reported that her son had been kidnapped, the Journal reported.

The incident began when a Holiday Inn clerk in nearby Paducah called 911 after the guest shared disturbing text messages from her son who she said was visiting the US from Switzerland.

In English, its saying, They dont want to let me go, bitcoin,' the clerk told police after running the texts through a phone translator, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Need help, they are armed to the brim,' the messages concluded.

Michael Mauer had gone to see a friend in Smithland named John, his mother told the hotel clerk, giving the address of a street where Woeltz owned a smaller house.

Mauer and Woeltz had worked together on a crypto project called Grin Coin in 2020, the Journal reported.

Cops had reported a number of issues at the property since Duplessie and Woeltz had bought their home in Livingston County in January this year, according to 911 recordings.

Not long after, Mauer called his mother to say he had been released, and was picked up by a police officer in Smithland.

Attorneys to Duplessie and Woeltz didnt respond to requests for comment Sunday. Mauer couldnt be reached for comment.

At the Kentucky party, Duplessie and Woeltz flew wealthy heirs, fashion models, and hangers-on from Florida to Smithland, around 135 miles southwest of Louisville, on a private jet stuffed with caviar and booze  reportedly luring their guests out with the possibility of a lucrative crypto investment opportunities.

But once they had reached the pairs six-bedroom black marble floored mansion in Smithland the trip reportedly took a dark turn, as the paranoid hosts, who were high on cocaine, claimed to their guests that they had met working with US intelligence services on crypto-related missions, hunting terrorists.

The pair were initially arrested on May 23rd, but are now granted a $1M bail that cannot be paid in Bitcoin, according to SC Justice Gregory Carro. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post

NYPD Crime Scene investigators searched the house thoroughly after Carretan escaped. James Keivom

Defense lawyers claim the pair were just hazing the alleged victim. Steven Hirsch

Duplessie, who had harbored hopes of a career in politics, and even had the Kentucky state seal tattooed on his chest during Februarys bacchanal, is accused, along with Woeltz, of kidnapping 28-year-old Italian national Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan and torturing him at a fancy SoHo townhouse in May this year.

The two men were granted $1 million bail last month. Both have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges and say the charges are the result of a misunderstanding.

They claim that Carturan was never a hostage but was a willing participant in a debauched party.
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Dia Dipasupil/Getty Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni





NEED TO KNOW

Blake Lively was questioned by Justin Baldoni's lawyers on July 31, and Baldoni chose to be in the room for her deposition

Lively's lawyers filed a motion to the judge claiming that Baldoni's team is trying to "force" the release of the 292-page transcript from her deposition

The actress is not "afraid" of the transcript coming out, her lawyers said, but they want it disclosed within the proper "legal process, governed by the rules of evidence"





Blake Lively's legal team is accusing Justin Baldoni's attorneys of using the court system to launch a public smear campaign in their ongoing legal dispute tied to the film It Ends With Us.

In a motion filed Monday, Aug. 4, Livelys lawyers asked a federal judge to strike a 292-page rough draft of her deposition transcript from the court record currently filed under seal, saying Baldonis team uploaded it to the public docket with "no plausible legal reason to do so." According to the filing, only two pages of the transcript were actually cited, yet the full, unreviewed draft was published.

There is no conceivable legal purpose to file the whole transcript, Livelys attorneys wrote. Particularly given that it has not been reviewed, corrected or finalized.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cufid

They called the move a manufactured excuse to force the transcript into the public domain as fodder for the Wayfarer Defendants media campaign, adding that it was a tactic [that] perfectly demonstrates the counsel-as-PR-agent role.

Mike Marsland/WireImage; James Devaney/GC Images Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The filing alleges that Baldonis legal team is trying to provoke Lively into defending why her transcript should remain sealed, in order to push a false narrative that Ms. Lively is afraid of her deposition testimony becoming public, which is entirely untrue and deeply harmful."

"Ms. Lively affirmatively pursued this litigation with the full intention and desire to have her testimony heard in a legal process, governed by the rules of evidence  which publicly filing this rough draft transcript in this manner substantially undermines," her lawyers write in the letter. "To suggest otherwise is part of an ongoing character attack that Mr. Freedman has been advancing to undermine Ms. Livelys credibility and taint the jury pool."

Baldoni, 41, attended the July 31 deposition in person, which was held at Livelys attorneys office in New York City. Judge Lewis J. Liman had previously issued a protective order giving Livelys team control over the location and a right to be informed of attendees in advance.

Livelys lawyers say media outlets published stories about Baldonis presence almost immediately after the deposition began, followed by tabloid reports that detailed Livelys appearance and legal team. They argue those alleged "leaks" were no accident.

The actress, 37, has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, which he has denied. Baldoni previously filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. Those claims were dismissed in June, and Baldonis attorneys chose not to refile.

A trial is set for March 2026, with both Lively and Baldoni expected to take the stand.

Read the original article on People
By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) -Canada said on Monday it delivered humanitarian assistance through airdrops to Gaza, which has been under a devastating Israeli military assault for almost 22 months, with Ottawa again accusing Israel of violating international law.

"The (Canadian Armed Forces) employed a CC-130J Hercules aircraft to conduct an airdrop of critical humanitarian aid in support of Global Affairs Canada into the Gaza Strip. The air drop consisted of 21,600 pounds of aid," the Canadian government said in a statement.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that it was Canadian Armed Forces' first humanitarian airdrop over Gaza using their own aircraft.

The Israeli military said 120 food aid packages for Gaza's residents were airdropped by six countries, including Canada. The other five were Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Germany and Belgium.

Canada said last week it plans to recognize the State of Palestine at a meeting of the United Nations in September, ratcheting up pressure on Israel as starvation spreads in Gaza.

Canada also said on Monday that Israeli restrictions have posed challenges for humanitarian agencies.

"This obstruction of aid is a violation of international humanitarian law and must end immediately," Canada's government said.

The Israeli embassy in Ottawa had no immediate comment. Israel denies accusations of violating international law and blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza.

Israel cut off food supplies to Gaza in March and then lifted that blockade in May - but with restrictions that it said were needed to prevent aid from being diverted to militant groups.

President Donald Trump also claimed Hamas militants were stealing food coming into Gaza and selling it. However, Reuters reported late last month that an internal U.S. government analysis found no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of U.S.-funded humanitarian supplies.

Israel says it is taking steps for more aid to reach Gaza's population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, allowing airdrops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show.

Gaza's health ministry says Israel's subsequent military assault has killed over 60,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler)
A revered missionary challenged his young followers to live for Jesus; it was all part of his plot to get them undressed, he confessed later. (NBC News; Courtesy Olivia Wolf)

This article is part of Pastors and Prey, a series investigating sex abuse allegations in the Assemblies of God.

HOUSTON  Daniel Savala leans back in a cloth armchair, raises his right hand and swears before God that what hes about to say is the truth.

Looking into the camera, the Pentecostal missionary speaks in slow, measured sentences, describing how, for decades, he gained the trust of college students who came to his ivy-draped bungalow in search of spiritual guidance. Using scripture, he convinced them they could open up about uncomfortable topics like pornography and masturbation. Then he would strike, touching their penises and pressuring them to touch his, all under the guise of bringing them closer to Jesus.

I knew that I was wrong, Savala says in the video, filmed by a lawyer in 2023. But I did it anyway.

Religion, he says, was the tool of his deception. People can just see that spiritual part of your life without seeing the whole of who you are.

And the person he truly was?

Manipulative, he says matter-of-factly. Cunning. Sinister.

In a video recorded in April 2023, Daniel Savala said he used religion as "a cover" to sexually exploit students. (Obtained by NBC News)

In the two years since Savala recorded that confession at his home in Houston, lawyers, activists and whistleblowers have worked to untangle how a convicted sex offender with an eighth-grade education managed to convince scores of pastors and young Christians to put their faith in him  and why church officials repeatedly failed to stop him.

For more on this story, watch "Hallie Jackson NOW" at 5 p.m. ET on NBC News Now.

In police reports, lawsuits, online forums and interviews with NBC News, dozens of boys and young men have described how Savala spun his own twisted version of the Gospel. He taught them that seeing each other naked in his backyard sauna was essential to becoming true brothers in Christ  or, as he put it, nudity is unity. For those struggling with lustful temptation, he offered a counterintuitive solution: group masturbation, sometimes while listening to Christian worship music. He pushed some of his disciples further; in lawsuits, signed statements and criminal filings, at least 10 have accused him of sexually abusing them.

He would say things like, Hey, you know its OK to masturbate, said Joseph Cleveland, who says Savala groomed and sexually abused him for a decade beginning in 2004, when he was 15. Because were brothers, we can do it together.

Joseph Cleveland was 15 when, he says, Savala began sexually grooming him. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

The pastors who shepherded hundreds of high school and college students to Savalas home were part of Chi Alpha, a Christian ministry that evangelizes on university campuses. Students seek out Chi Alpha to connect with God and each other, through small Bible studies and rollicking worship services  and, for more than 30 years, through Savala. Generations of Chi Alpha leaders hailed him as a spiritual savant who could answer lifes deepest mysteries.

The boys and young men who devoted themselves to Savala called him Papa Daniel, Gods vagabond and the holiest man alive. At his direction, teams of students built the backyard sauna that became the site of his alleged crimes. So wrapped up in his teachings, his followers often didn't see themselves as victims until years or decades later. At least one of the college students Savala sexually exploited later became a pastor and brought his own boys to learn from his master inside his darkened sauna.

The reward for that ministers devotion: Like Savala, he now faces the possibility of life in prison.

Savalas ministry collapsed in early 2023 when several men came forward, some anonymously, to accuse him and some of his proteges of sexual abuse and exploitation, triggering a wave of criminal charges, lawsuits and pastor dismissals. Savala was arrested, and at least six Chi Alpha pastors, leaders and students who studied under him were charged with sexual abuse.

Savala was arrested in June 2023. (U.S. Marshals Task Force)

The revelations rocked Chi Alpha and the Pentecostal denomination that runs it, the Assemblies of God, which has nearly 3 million members at 13,000 churches across the U.S. As Savala, 69, awaits trial in Waco, Texas, Assemblies of God leaders have sought to distance themselves from the lay minister, repeatedly asserting that Savala was not employed by Chi Alpha and has never been credentialed to preach in the denomination.

But an NBC News investigation, based on interviews and a review of emails, court records, photographs and social media posts, shows that Savala was deeply entrenched in Chi Alpha, with some leaders crediting him for the ministrys rapid growth in recent decades. The reporting reveals that Assemblies of God leaders  all the way up to the denominations national superintendent  were warned repeatedly about Savalas troubling history but did not cut off his influence. These failures allowed more children and young men to be abused, the reporting shows.

It wasnt the first time officials with the Assemblies of God, the worlds largest Pentecostal denomination, have been accused of mishandling sex abuse allegations. In May, an NBC News investigation revealed how church leaders dismissed repeated abuse allegations against a charismatic childrens pastor named Joe Campbell in the 1980s, allowing him to remain in ministry for years as more alleged victims came forward.

Do you have a story to share about the Assemblies of Gods handling of sex abuse allegations? Email reporter Mike Hixenbaugh.

Chi Alpha had a clear opportunity to break ties with Savala in 2012, when authorities in Alaska charged him with sexually abusing boys as a youth minister in the 1990s. Instead, ministry leaders in Texas rallied to his defense, sending a staff member to Alaska to pay his bail and  after Savala pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor  organizing a letter-writing campaign to ask the judge for leniency. After a stint in jail, Savala went right back to hosting Chi Alpha students at his home in Houston.

Savala mentored hundreds of teens and young men in Alaska and Texas. (Courtesy Ron Bloomingkemper Jr.)

In the decade that followed, at least half a dozen people contacted Assemblies of God officials in Texas and at the denominations national headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, alerting them that Chi Alpha was exposing students to a sex offender. These whistleblowers wrote emails, made phone calls and spoke up at internal meetings. Again and again, they were dismissed or ignored, NBC News found.

Hiddenness is the ally of abuse, said Anthony Scoma, a pastor who resigned an Assemblies of God leadership position in Texas after he said senior denomination officials failed to act on his warnings about Savala in 2023. The Bible talks about shining light into dark places. But leadership in the Assemblies of God says, Oh, dont shine light into our dark places.

Rather than reckon with how church leaders welcomed a sex offender into the fold, Savalas accusers say the Assemblies of God has taken a defensive stance, refusing to release an internal investigation and relying on nondisclosure agreements to keep the story from spreading.

Critics, including several current and former Assemblies of God pastors, say this response exposes a church leadership culture thats more concerned with avoiding legal liability than protecting the vulnerable. Theyre calling on the Assemblies of God to commission an independent review of its handling of sex abuse allegations nationwide to ensure nothing like this happens again.

'Pastors and Prey': NBC News investigates sex abuse in Assemblies of God churches

Assemblies of God church leaders allowed a childrens pastor to continue preaching for years after he was accused of sexually abusing girls.

An NBC News documentary traces the 40-year fight to stop a preacher accused of raping children.

In a statement to NBC News, the Assemblies of God said it directed Chi Alpha leaders to stay away from Savala after receiving a report about him in 2018. Five years later, after receiving reports of sexual abuse, the denomination said it took appropriate actions, leading to the dismissal of more than a half dozen ministers with ties to Savala.

We have been heartbroken to hear allegations related to Daniel Savala and the pain his reported actions caused, the statement said. The Assemblies of God stands in strong opposition to the teachings and practices he followed.

Denomination leaders declined interview requests and did not answer detailed questions.

Savala has not entered a plea on his charges in Texas, and he and his lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. But in April 2023, as the accusations mounted, he recorded the confession in his living room; its unclear what led him to do so. The grainy homemade video later circulated among Savalas accusers and was shared with NBC News.

Contemplating how he managed to conceal his misdeeds for so long, Savalas eyes shift momentarily, then his gaze returns to the camera.

I had them all very well under my spell.

Cleveland was 16 when he began driving to Savala's house, shown in 2018. (Courtesy Joseph Cleveland; Google Maps)

Joseph Cleveland was struggling with his parents separation in 2004 when his youth pastor brought him to someone he said could help.

The walls of Daniel Savalas home were lined with pictures from around the world and books on Christian theology. Sitting in his bedroom, Savala listened intently for two hours as Cleveland told him about his turbulent home life and kids at school who bullied him over his faith. Cleveland couldnt believe a revered, world-traveling missionary was taking an interest in him, a 15-year-old.

As he and his youth pastor headed for the door, Cleveland says Savala pulled him aside with a final word of encouragement: You know, if you ever want to come back here just by yourself, youre more than welcome.

Clevelands mother was elated. This is the Lord, she told her son. The Lord gave you a father figure.

An evangelical hippie with a mop of wavy black hair, Savala had preached across Europe, Africa, Asia and the U.S. before settling in Houston in the 1990s to care for his parents. About an hour north was Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, home to a fledgling Chi Alpha chapter. Savala, having worked with a Chi Alpha group in Louisiana, set his sights on Sam Houston as his new mission field.

Chi Alpha, or XA, is the Greek abbreviation for christou apostoloi, or Christs ambassador. With 268 chapters across the U.S., the coed ministry combines the emotional intensity of an Assemblies of God church service  clapping, jumping, speaking in tongues  with the closeness of a fraternity or sorority. Separated by gender into small groups, students find their spiritual brothers and sisters, the friends who will later be groomsmen and bridesmaids at their weddings.

Savala quickly dazzled the young pastors in charge of Chi Alpha at Sam Houston, regaling them with stories that sounded ripped out of the New Testament. He was virtually illiterate as a young man  until he picked up a Bible and began to read. He once prayed over a disabled man in Malta, then watched the mans clubbed foot grow to full strength before his eyes.

After meeting him, one senior Chi Alpha pastor described Savala as magnetic, an absolute enigma and the wisest man Id ever met in all of my life. With that endorsement, Savala became the ministrys unofficial figurehead at Sam Houston. He taught his new followers never to question their spiritual leaders, and under his influence Chi Alpha pushed students who had planned to become teachers or police officers to instead go into ministry. Huntsville became a training ground for new Assemblies of God pastors and missionaries, and as those young ministers fanned out across Texas and the nation, many brought Savalas teachings with them.

Savala, shown with protege Eli Stewart, frequently hosted boys and young men at his home in Houston. (Courtesy Olivia Wolf)

They called his home the Lions Den; traveling to it was a rite of passage for the men of Chi Alpha and the younger teens from local church groups they sometimes brought with them. Pastors who sent students for spiritual guidance encouraged them to perform free work or discreetly leave cash inside one of the books on Savalas shelves.

Chi Alpha volunteers had not yet built the small wooden sauna in Savalas backyard when Cleveland, then 16, began driving 45 minutes to see him every other weekend in 2005. Instead, Savala took him to a sauna at the YMCA, where they got naked and discussed Scripture. The first time the conversation turned to sex, Savala spoke in the tone of a father counseling a teen struggling with lust and pornography, Cleveland said. In an evangelical culture that encouraged young people to remain pure even in their thoughts, Savalas openness felt like a revelation.

The conversations quickly turned more explicit, with Savala commenting on Clevelands penis and asking the teen what he thought of his: You know, you could touch it if you ever wanted to, Cleveland remembers him saying. Back at his home, Savala insisted he give it a try.

Cleveland says he didnt recognize what Savala did to him over the next decade as sexual abuse. Performing oral sex on an older man initially seemed wrong, but Savala was a brilliant theologian and prophet; this must have been part of what made him holy. He was dispensing secret wisdom, with an emphasis on secret. Savala told him no one else would understand, Cleveland said.

After high school, Cleveland enrolled in community college and joined Chi Alpha at Sam Houston State. He became a small group leader and later took a job on the staff.

Before long, he, too, was leading cars full of young men to Houston to learn from his mentor.

Cleveland said years passed before he began to recognize what Savala did to him as abuse. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

In the summer of 2012, Eli Stewart, one of the top Chi Alpha pastors at Sam Houston State, wrote an urgent plea to ministry leaders and alumni: Our dear friend Daniel needs you.

Savala had recently been indicted in Alaska after he was accused of sexually abusing several boys at a church in the 1990s. Two of the boys, now men, had filed police reports, and Savala traveled there to face charges. Chi Alpha leaders had already dispatched a junior staff member to Alaska to pay Savalas $10,000 bail and hired a lawyer to defend him.

Now Stewart was calling for collective action.

Describing the allegations as an absolute attack of the devil, Stewart wrote that Savala was preparing to take a plea deal  not to reduce his sentence, but to protect the families of the men falsely accusing him. He called on his Chi Alpha brothers to write letters to the judge: If you have children and would be comfortable having Daniel stay in your home or having your children at Daniels house, the judge needs to know that.

Savala poses with Eli Stewart in Alaska in 2002. (Courtesy Olivia Wolf)

At a Chi Alpha staff meeting later that year, Stewart insisted that Savala, who served 90 days in jail and was now a registered sex offender, was innocent. Stewart said he knew firsthand that the allegations were a lie because he grew up in Alaska and had been a teenager in Savalas youth group when the abuse allegedly took place, said Krystopher Scroggins, a Chi Alpha pastor who attended the meeting.

Scroggins, who now leads a Chi Alpha chapter in San Angelo, Texas, said he didnt send small groups to visit Savala after that, but he and others believed Stewart at the time. We all bought it, hook, line and sinker, he said. Because youre supposed to be able to trust your pastors.

Stewart didnt respond to messages from NBC News.

Savalas victims have come to view his 2012 conviction as a line of demarcation. With his abuses out in the open, it was the moment when ministry leaders should have broken free from Savalas influence, but instead chose the opposite path.

Eight months later, in March 2013, Kieran Salgado, a freshman Chi Alpha member at San Antonio State University, was selected for a mission trip to Houston. He and several other students spent a week with Savala to do restoration work on his house.

Each night before bed, Salgado  unaware of his hosts criminal record  said Savala told the students to undress and join him in his cramped, cedar-planked sauna. Sitting leg-to-leg, they prayed, sang worship songs and spoke in tongues. The nudity was meant to create an atmosphere of intimacy and openness, Salgado believed, ushering them closer to Jesus.

Ron Bloomingkemper Jr. returned in 2024 to the Houston home where Savala lived and recorded what remained of the backyard sauna. (Ron Bloomingkemper Jr.)

The next time Salgado visited Houston, he came alone. And what Savala did in the sauna  forcefully grabbing Salgados penis while masturbating himself  no longer felt like a spiritual awakening, he said, but a vulgar act of abuse.

In the fall of 2013, he built the courage to tell a young Chi Alpha staff member, Todd Jackson, who was training to become a minister. Salgado said Jackson cut him off.

Instantly he said, I dont believe you.Traumatized, Salgado quit Chi Alpha and transferred to another college.

In an interview with NBC News, Jackson confirmed Salgados account. He attributed his mishandling of the encounter, in part, to the ministrys culture of discouraging young men from questioning spiritual leaders. And in Chi Alpha, there was no leader more revered than Savala.

Jackson knew Savala used nudity to push students out of their comfort zones. He figured Salgado had simply misunderstood.

I defended Daniel to my shame, Jackson said, because I thought I knew Daniel better.

Under Savala's influence, the Chi Alpha chapter at Sam Houston State grew to become the largest in the country, with 1,500 student members. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

Over the next decade, the pattern repeated again and again. People came to church leaders with concerns about Savala, and those warnings went unheeded.

Ron Bloomingkemper Jr. had quit Chi Alpha at Sam Houston State in the late 1990s after he says Savala asked him to masturbate together. He was outraged years later, in 2013, when he learned of Savalas child sex abuse conviction and continued connection to the ministry.

Bloomingkemper said he called Tim Barker, a pastor and the superintendent of the Assemblies of God regional council that oversees the denomination in south Texas. Barker seemed concerned, Bloomingkemper said, and he promised to investigate. After a few months, Bloomingkemper called again.

I said, Im following up about the Daniel thing. And he goes, I completely forgot about that.

Thats when Bloomingkemper said he realized: Theyre not going to do anything about this. Frustrated, he said he dropped the issue and tried to move on.

Savala is seen reading behind Bloomingkemper at a Chi Alpha gathering in 1997; today Bloomingkemper is leading the effort to expose allegations against his former mentor. (Courtesy Ron Bloomingkemper Jr.; Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

Barker, who was later accused in a lawsuit of failing to act on warnings about Savala, didnt respond to questions from NBC News. A lawyer representing the Assemblies of Gods South Texas district council said in a letter that Barker could not comment due to pending litigation.

Although Savala never served on staff with Chi Alpha, the lawyer said that we understand the profound seriousness of these accusations and are committed to ensuring that justice is served.

Over the next several years, Chi Alpha saw explosive growth at Sam Houston State and across Texas, catching the attention of state and national Assemblies of God leaders. Chapters led by Eli Stewart and other Savala disciples were churning out dozens of new ministers every year. Those pastors went on to start new Chi Alpha chapters, plant churches and become missionaries, winning new believers  and new revenue  for the denomination.

All the while, Chi Alpha groups kept visiting Savalas sauna.

In 2016, a former Sam Houston State student filed a Title IX complaint with the university alleging that Savala had been sexually abusing him for about two years, according to a copy of the universitys investigative report and a later lawsuit.

The university closed the investigation after failing to find evidence that Savala was abusing current Sam Houston State students. But it did recommend that Chi Alpha notify leaders of its small groups about Savalas criminal record, according to the universitys report.

Nevertheless, the pilgrimages continued.

In the fall of 2017, Savala began sexually abusing a blind Sam Houston State student, according to a lawsuit filed last year. Unable to drive himself, the student, identified as John Doe, said he relied on Chi Alpha members to bring him to Houston  where Savala used language from the Bible to pressure him to have oral and anal sex.

Afraid of losing the elevated status within Chi Alpha that came with being one of Savalas favorites, the student told no one, his lawyer said.

A year later, a former Chi Alpha member named Monica Roeger gave Assemblies of God leaders another opportunity to investigate and intervene.

Roeger, who lives in Oregon, knew some of the boys who had accused Savala of abusing them in Alaska and had closely followed the 2012 criminal case. So, she was stunned when, in March 2018, a Chi Alpha missionary from Oregon posted a picture of himself on Facebook with Savala.

Roeger did some research and discovered several social media posts that suggested Savala was still closely connected to the college ministry. Over the next year and a half, Roeger sent 11 emails to national Assemblies of God leaders warning of Savalas influence. After one official responded saying he had spoken to Chi Alpha leaders in Texas and found no indication of anything but positive interactions with Savala, Roeger elevated the matter to Doug Clay, the denominations general superintendent, or top national leader.

Clay never responded directly, the emails show, but in June 2018, Donna L. Barrett, the denominations general secretary, wrote to Roeger on Clays behalf. Barrett said that Savala wasnt a credentialed Assemblies of God minister and that the national office didnt have authority to intervene in local church matters. She copied the leaders of the denominations district offices in north and south Texas and assured Roeger they would address her concerns.

Clay and Barrett didnt respond to messages from NBC News. In a statement, the Assemblies of God said that, after receiving a report about Savala in 2018, it warned Chi Alpha leaders to cease contact and not permit students or leaders to be around him.

But his connection to the ministry continued.

Roeger sent a final message to Clay in December 2019, after finding a photo online that appeared to show Savala at a recent Chi Alpha leadership event in Colorado.

Let it be noted, she wrote, that the national offices of the Assemblies of God and Chi Alpha have been notified of the continued presence of a convicted sexual predator in their leadership events.

She received no response.

Nobody warned Stephen and Jessica Holt when the man their pastor called Papa Daniel took a personal interest in their 13-year-old son in 2021.

Quite the opposite, the leaders of Mountain Valley Fellowship Church told them that Savala was a prophet and that they should be honored. Savala protege Eli Stewart had started the Assemblies of God-affiliated church a few years earlier after leaving Sam Houston State to launch a Chi Alpha chapter at Texas A&M University in College Station. Congregants referred to Savala as father to none, father to all because of his role as a church patriarch despite having no children of his own.

Unaware of Savalas criminal record, the Holts allowed a Chi Alpha staff member to bring their son to Savalas house for mentorship in the fall of 2021.

Two years passed before their son broke down in tears and revealed what happened at Savalas sauna. The fear he felt getting undressed in front of grown men. The way Savala looked at his naked body. The invitation to touch him.

Jessica and Stephen Holt's son struggled in the years after he says Savala abused him; he has found solace in skateboarding. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

This wasnt the only betrayal.

Four Chi Alpha members, young men who had taken an interest in mentoring the Holts son, had also sexually exploited the boy, the Holts said, exposing their genitals and pressuring him to do the same. (Savala and the four others were later charged with indecency with a child; all but Savala have pleaded not guilty).

The Holts were furious when they learned that Assemblies of God officials had been warned repeatedly. They sued for negligence and settled in June for an undisclosed sum.

People were hurt because they just didnt care, Stephen Holt said.

In 2021, nine years after Savalas conviction in Alaska, the youngest of his alleged Texas victims began visiting his sauna. The two boys were brought there by a Chi Alpha pastor they trusted implicitly: their own father.

The allegations would later be spelled out in arrest warrants.

Christopher Hundl, a Chi Alpha pastor at Baylor University in Waco, told police that Savala became his spiritual mentor back when he was a college student. They masturbated each other because Savala described this as a spiritual activity, the warrants said.

After Hundl became a pastor and a father, he began taking his own boys  ages 11 and 12  to learn the ways of his mentor. They thought of him as their spiritual grandfather.

Hundl, so invested in Savalas teachings that he set up a sauna at his home, later confessed to police. He declined an NBC News interview request.

His boys told an officer that their dad instructed them to strip and masturbate in front of Savala on multiple occasions. And with their father present, they said, Savala touched their genitals and told them to never tell anyone.

Both men, mentor and protege, were indicted on trafficking charges and now face up to life in prison without parole if convicted.

The secrets began spilling out in April 2023 when Bloomingkemper, Roeger and other whistleblowers launched a website and forum dedicated to exposing spiritual and sexual abuse in Chi Alpha.

The site, XA and the Lions Den, became a public repository for allegations. The Texas A&M student newspaper, The Battalion, broke the story of Savalas abuses and his enablers, followed by articles in the Christian press.

Bloomingkemper read a Bible passage about exposing sin in late 2022 and felt God calling him to uncover abuses in Chi Alpha. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

A decade after insisting Savala was innocent of abuse in Alaska, Eli Stewart told his Texas congregation that a major influence in his life had turned out to be a master manipulator. After launching an investigation, the Assemblies of God revoked Stewarts credentials and dismissed several other Chi Alpha ministers, including Jackson, who had disbelieved Salgado. Baylor and Texas A&M suspended the ministry from their campuses.

As the fallout radiated through the ranks of former Chi Alphas, some who had placed their faith in Savala began to question everything he had taught them. A cascade of lawsuits and criminal charges followed.

Joseph Cleveland, now 36, was among those who started seeing their sexual encounters with Savala differently, he said. He met with a friend who recounted being manipulated and abused by Savala  each turn of his story echoing Clevelands own memories. The full weight of the conversation hit afterward, while he was driving home.

Cleveland shared his story with police in 2023. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

He thought of his baby boy, then felt God asking him, Hey, what if somebody from the church wanted to do this with your son? Overwhelmed, Cleveland pulled over and sobbed. It was the first time he saw himself as a survivor of child sex abuse.

He told a Chi Alpha pastor, who filed a police report in Houston. Savala was charged with sexual assault of a child; the case is pending.

In the years since, like many of his Chi Alpha brothers, Cleveland has grappled with his role in perpetuating a system that also victimized him. Although he never saw or took part in the abuse of others, Cleveland said, he heard from men in his former small group who say Savala abused them.

I didnt take them down there with the thought of them getting abused, Cleveland said. But at the end of the day, thats on me. Im the one that drove them there, and I have to live with that.

Cleveland has advocated for changes in Texas law to end the use of nondisclosure agreements and extend the civil statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases. (Danielle Villasana for NBC News)

Now Cleveland and other accusers say they want Assemblies of God leaders to take responsibility. Scoma, the Assemblies of God pastor who resigned his leadership post in protest, said the Chi Alpha disaster has created an opportunity for the denomination to look inward and root out the indifference that he says allowed Savala to abuse for decades.

Instead, Scoma said, the Assemblies of God has acted more like a corporation trying to appease shareholders and limit fallout. As a Pentecostal movement, the denomination teaches that God speaks through modern spiritual leaders to call out hypocrisy and injustice, much like the prophets of the Old Testament.

My prophetic word to the church, Scoma said, is that we listen to lawyers more than we listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

To regain trust, he and others say the Assemblies of God must give a full accounting of how national leaders responded to warnings about Savala and how far his depraved teachings spread. And they say the church needs to learn from its mistakes.

Thats why Stephen and Jessica Holt are speaking out.

Silence, they say, is what allowed Savala to remain in ministry long enough to abuse their son. The ordeal shook their faith in the church, but they still believe God can use tragedy to make something beautiful  if Assemblies of God leaders are willing to listen.

Every victim deserves justice, Jessica Holt said. And every victim deserves to share their story when theyre ready.
DENVER (AP)  A Colorado funeral home owner accused of stashing nearly 200 decomposing bodies in a room-temperature building admitted in federal court Monday that she cheated customers and defrauded the federal government out of nearly $900,000.

Carie Hallford, who ran Return to Nature Funeral Home with her husband Jon Hallford, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Carie Hallford faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, though federal prosecutors agreed to ask for 15 years at a December sentencing hearing.

Hallford already pleaded guilty once in federal court, but a judge last year rejected the agreement with prosecutors and still has to approve this one.

Crystina Pages son David died in 2019, and his body was left in an inoperable refrigerator for four years. Standing outside the federal courthouse Monday, Page said she's disappointed about the possibility that neither Hallford goes on trial, something she hoped would have brought answers about what happened to her son and others entrusted to their care.

We still dont know the truth of what theyve done to us, she said.

The federal case brought against both Hallfords focused on two schemes: falsifying documents to siphon nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 pandemic-era financial aid from the U.S. Small Business Administration and deceiving customers by taking payments for cremations the Hallfords never did.

Instead of cremating the nearly 200 bodies between 2019 and 2023, the Hallfords allegedly stored the bodies in a decrepit building and sent some customers dry concrete instead of ashes.

The Hallfords pocketed around $130,000 of their customers' payments meant for cremations or burial services and spent it, along with the federal funds, on luxury products  a GMC Yukon, laser body sculpting, vacations, jewelry and cryptocurrency.

In a separate case in state court, both Hallfords have been charged with 191 counts of corpse abuse, including for twice burying the wrong body and leaving others to decompose. Jon Hallford has already pleaded guilty to those 191 counts, as well as a fraud charge in the federal case for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The building packed with bodies was discovered in 2023 in Penrose, Colorado, about a two-hour drive south of Denver. It shook already grieving families. Many learned that their loved ones' remains weren't in the ashes they spread or held tight but were instead decaying in a building.

Investigators found bodies stacked atop each other, swarms of bugs and maggots, and so much liquid on the ground it had to be pumped out.
In 1991, four teenage girls were killed at a frozen yogurt shop in Austin, then roughly half the size the booming city is now.

Eliza Thomas, 17, Amy Ayers, 13, and sisters Jennifer Harbison, 17, and Sarah Harbison, 15, were shot at I Can't Believe It's Yogurt!, formerly in North Austin. The bodies were then set on fire. Nearly 34 years later, the case remains unsolved, and the person or people responsible walk free, if theyre even alive.

The grisly crime, its effect on the victims families and the decadeslong search for the perpetrator are chronicled in HBOs four-part docuseries, The Yogurt Shop Murders, which premiered Aug. 3 (weekly Sundays, 10 ET/PT). Academy Award-winning actor Emma Stone and her husband, Dave McCary, are executive producers of the project, directed by Margaret Brown.

Reese Price, the shops manager, recalls the horror of identifying the girls so their families wouldnt have to. Price was just 24 at the time. There wasnt anything there to identify, she remembers in the docuseries. Fire is very destructive. Its not forgiving.

Archival footage puts viewers at the yogurt shop on the night of the killings, and Brown says there are characters in our show (who) have never talked to anyone else, and we have some facts in our show that have never been explored.

These people went through something so specifically awful, but I do think there's something in that for everyone. We're all going to experience pain, and I felt like for me, this was a way to look at this fascinating case, at the same time an exploration of how do people deal with something this hard, (and) what can we learn from that?

Brown remembers when she moved to Austin in the late 1990s, when she says billboards asking for information on the case plastered the skyline. One of the reasons she signed on for the project is because a lot of my friends who are crime reporters said this is the most interesting crime that exists, Brown says in an interview. There's not one with more rabbit holes. This is the mother ship of interesting crime.

A billboard seeks information about the killings of four teenage girls in Austin in 1991.

Rumors linger in the city like Texas summer heat, Brown says. Before I talked to you, some woman wrote me on Instagram (saying) she solved it, Brown says. I think that people are obsessed with it.

In 2022, Detective Dan Jackson was assigned the case on his first day with the Austin Police Departments cold case unit. Jackson, 45, who was raised about 30 miles southwest of Austin in San Marcos, remembers hearing about the murders as a child.

It's such a huge case, Jackson tells USA TODAY. I sort of knew at that point I would be with it forever.

When asked about why the case remains open today, Jackson points to the crime scene and potential evidence scorched by fire and drenched by hoses that extinguished the blaze.

Two men were found guilty in connection to the crimes. Robert Springsteen received a death sentence in 2001 for killing Ayers, and Michael Scott was sentenced to life for the death of Ayers the following year.

But their convictions were overturned.

Detective Dan Jackson, of Austin's cold case unit, is confident he will solve the case of the yogurt shop murders.

Scott and Springsteen declined to be in the docuseries, Brown says. But Springsteen is captured in footage filmed for another project around 2009. Springsteen shocks a sales associate helping him find clothes for an interview and court when he says, Im sure you probably think its really funny, but were doing a documentary because I just got off death row.

A DNA sample from the crime scene belongs to neither Scott nor Springsteen. Jackson hopes to build a profile from the sample that leads him to a suspect.

One of the things that we want the public to know is that this case is active, he says. It's constantly worked on.

And Jackson remains optimistic as forensic technology continues to improve.

If I didn't think I could solve it, then why get up every day? he says. I think that with new technology, new information that we have  that I can't go into  even since I've taken the case over, the ability to do more with less when it comes to forensics is light-years ahead than it was a few years ago. When I started, we needed a certain amount (of DNA). We weren't even close to it, but that amount that you need is so much less now.

I am confident that I will solve this.

He also hopes the docuseries could lead to the tip that cracks open the case.

Somebody out there knows something, he says. That's one of the things with cold cases. ... You do get people over time that, for whatever reason, may not have been willing to come forward years ago that now feel more comfortable. Or they thought it was something small and didnt ever say anything, and theyre like 'Well, maybe I should call in this time and mention it.'

"Who knows? It could be the break we need.

If you have any information about the case, visit austincrimestoppers.org or send an email to yogurtshop@austintexas.gov.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yogurt Shop Murders HBO docuseries: Detective 'confident' he can solve
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with President Trump at Trump Turnberry golf club in Scotland on July 27. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images file)

The European Union announced Monday it was pausing a plan to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods as it continued trade negotiations with the Trump administration.

In a statement, the European Commission spokesperson for trade said the planned countermeasures against the U.S., which were set to take effect Thursday, would now be suspended for six months.

The announcement helped propel stocks higher Monday, with major indexes all gaining about 1%.

On July 27, Trump announced an agreement with the E.U.  Americas largest trading partner  that included a baseline tariff of 15%, down from a threatened 30%, and a pledge by the bloc to buy $750 billion of U.S. energy products and invest an additional $600 billion in unspecified U.S. projects.

In return, Trump said, the E.U. promised to remove tariffs on U.S. industrial goods.

The commission trade spokesperson said Monday it was still working on finalizing a joint statement with the Trump administration.

There has been no letup in Trumps aggressive trade posture. The president also announced Monday he would ratchet up trade duties on India over allegations it was illicitly reselling Russian oil, something he said was helping fuel Russias war effort in Ukraine.

The other new measures Trump announced last week, including a 15% tariff rate on some four dozen countries with which the U.S. currently has a trade deficit, are set to take effect Thursday.
TEL AVIV  When Hamas released a video of Evyatar David, he looked so frail and emaciated that his father did not recognize his voice, the Israeli hostages brother said Monday.

David, now 24, was partying at the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when militants kidnapped him and 250 others nationwide during their sweeping terrorist attack in which 1,200 were killed.

Hamas prompted further international outcry this weekend when it posted footage of a markedly frail David alongside that of starving Palestinians  suffering from chronic food shortages under Israels military operation and intensified blockade  in what his family sees as an attempt to use him as a propaganda tool.

Evyatar David. (Courtesy Jonathan Guttman)

It breaks my parents hearts, his older brother, Ilay David, 28, told NBC News on Monday in Tel Aviv about Galia and Avishay David.

He said he cant bring himself to watch the video, but his family has likened his brothers physical condition to images from the Holocaust. It looks like pictures we all know from history class 80 years ago, said David, who before the attack worked as a youth counselor but now is focused full time on bringing his brother home.

The hostages were being kept in a near-death situation, David said, adding that his brother can barely speak and he was so weak that their father couldnt recognize his voice.

He added that his brother needs medical care right now, and if I am not able to speak about him, advocate for him, he may not survive.

The widespread starvation now playing out in Gaza has killed at least 170 people, 90 of them children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. There are around 20 hostages believed still alive after almost three years in captivity, according the latest Israeli tally.

From left, Ilay David; Evyatar David; their parents, Galia and Avishay David; and their sister, Ye'ela David. (Family photo)

Among them is David, who his brother described as a brilliant guitar player with the kindest soul I know.

Ilay David added: I love him, and hes my best friend.

David spoke out after President Donald Trumps envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, met with families of the hostages on Saturday and emphasized the administrations commitment to returning those still inside Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke at length with Davids family on Saturday night, expressing deep shock at the recordings released by Hamas, his office said in a statement. He blamed Hamas for deliberately starving hostages and Palestinians by preventing them from receiving aid.

Almost 61,000 people have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign, according to Palestinian health officials. Recent international outcry about widespread malnutrition in the enclave has prompted Israel to pause fighting and let some aid in  but aid agencies say its not enough.

Davids brother blamed the terrorist group for using him cynically in their own starvation campaign, and calling it the peak of cruelty.

Ilay David said they are worse than al Qaeda and worse than ISIS, two of the major terrorist groups that have brought misery to the Middle East in recent decades.

Evyatar David still has faith, still has hope, thats what holds him sure, his brother said. When he comes back  not if he comes back  were going to take care of him, support him and he will be greater than before.

Matt Bradley reported from Tel Aviv and Alexander Smith from London.


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Eva Longoriaalways one for a wow-factor gala lookis keeping things simple for her Euro summer.

This week, the actor showed off her minimalistic vacation wardrobe while in Marbella, Spain, with her family. Longoria stepped out in the glamorous coastal city while in a transparent white micro romper from Eberjey that featured a plunging neckline and pretty, scalloped hems. She wore the airy, long-sleeve coverup over a white string swimsuit that peed out from the unbuttoned neck; and styled it with other white summer staples: strappy sandals and a wide-brim hat adorned with a sky-blue ribbon.

Longoria completed her look with the perfect little beach baga crossbody raffia miniand popped on some inky-black sunglasses, dangly feather earrings, and several layered gold necklaces and bracelets. One necklace had a 11:11 pendant, for good luck.

XPOS - BACKGRID

The Flamin Hot director wore the quietly luxurious outfit to visit a market with her son, Santiago, 7, before joining husband Jose Baston back on the beach.

Longoria and her family have a home in Marbella, and their getaway comes days after she was seen lounging on a superyacht with good friends Victoria and David Beckham in Saint-Tropez, France. Then, the Casa del Sol founder also wore an effortless white beach ensemble that included a breezy button-up.

Currently, Longoria is busy in Europe filming her CNN franchise, Eva Longoria: Searching for. First, she was returning to her roots by searching for Spain, now, shes searching for France. The French episodes are set to release in 2026.

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Adrian de Wet (L) will take the stand against his boss Zachariah Johannes Olivier (R) [Nomsa Maseko/BBC]

A white South African farm worker accused of killing two black women says he was forced to feed their bodies to pigs, according to lawyers.

Adrian de Wet is one of three men facing murder charges after Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were killed while allegedly looking for food on a farm near Polokwane in South Africa's northern Limpopo province last year.

Their bodies were then alleged to have been given to pigs in an apparent attempt to dispose of the evidence.

Mr De Wet, 20, turned state witness when the trial started on Monday and says farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier shot and killed the two women.

Ms Makgato and Ms Ndlovu were searching for soon-to-expire dairy products which had been left for pigs when they were killed.

Mr De Wet, a supervisor on the farm, will testify that he was under duress when he was forced to throw their bodies into the pig enclosure, according to both the prosecution and his lawyer.

If the court accepts his testimony, all charges against him will be dropped.

The case has sparked outrage across South Africa, exacerbating racial tensions in the country.

Such tension is especially rife in rural areas, despite the end of the racist system of apartheid more than 30 years ago. Most private farmland remains in the hands of the white minority, while most farm workers are black and poorly paid, fuelling resentment among the black population, while many white farmers complain of high crime rates.

William Musora, 50, another farm worker, is the third accused. He and Mr Olivier, 60, are yet to enter a plea and remain behind bars.

The three men also face charges of attempted murder for shooting at Ms Ndlovu's husband, who was with the women at the farm - as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm and obstructing justice for allegedly dumping the bodies in the pig enclosure in an attempt to conceal evidence.

Mr Musora, a Zimbabwean national, faces an additional charge under South Africa's Immigration Act over his status as an illegal immigrant.

The Limpopo High Court was packed with supporters and relatives of the victims ahead of proceedings. Also present was Mr Olivier's wife, who was seated in the front row of the public gallery and could be seen wiping away tears.

Members of opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters, which has previously called for the farm to be shut down, were also present in the courtroom.

The trial was postponed to next week.

More BBC stories on South Africa:

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Rep. Nancy Mace, who has at times broken with her own GOP leaders and often courted controversy, launched a long-expected bid for governor of South Carolina on Monday, shaking up a crowded primary race that already includes big names in the Palmetto State.

I didnt come to join the club. They dont want me, and I dont want them," Mace said in a speech at the Citadel, the military college in Charleston, where she made history 26 years ago as the first woman to graduate from the Corps of Cadets. "I came to hold the line. They said stay quiet; I spoke up. They said sit down; I stood up. They said play nice, and I fought back.

This isnt about playing defense," Mace added. "This is about going on offense for you  for your family, for your freedom and for your future  I wasnt built to kiss the ring. I just wear one. I dont answer to the establishment. I dont owe those in the back room a single thing. I answer to the people. And the people, let me tell you, are fed up."

Rep. Nancy Mace announced she is running for governor of South Carolina. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)

Donald Trump hasn't endorsed a candidate in the race, but her first campaign video includes a clip of the president saying: "Nancy Mace, shes a fighter. I know about that, shes a fighter." And her campaign platform calls for a "zero-tolerance approach to crime," cutting the state income tax to zero and stopping "the radical gender agenda" and "woke ideology" in South Carolina schools.

"We're going to ban pronouns in the classroom," Mace said Monday morning as she ticked through her policy platform. "I don't want to see any glitter parties. I want kids coming home with A's and B's, not they and them. We're going to have tech-free school zones."

"We will not fund any schools that allow biological men in women's bathrooms or locker rooms, that allow men to compete in women's sports or schools that push gender ideology," she added.

The 2026 GOP primary will be a family affair within South Carolinas tiny congressional delegation. The son of GOP Rep. Joe Wilson, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, launched his campaign in June, while Rep. Ralph Norman, one of the leaders of the far-right Freedom Caucus and a thorn in leaderships side like Mace, jumped into the race just last week.

Other Republican candidates include Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell.

Republican Gov. Henry McMaster cannot run for re-election because of term limits. Whoever wins the GOP primary is expected to succeed McMaster in the ruby-red state.

Mace, 47, a former state lawmaker who is serving her third term in Congress, would be the most well-known candidate nationally. She has repeatedly voted against big spending bills and was one of eight House Republicans who voted to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the middle of his term in 2023  a move that sparked backlash from establishment Republicans.

In a building full of attention seekers, Mace has managed to grab headlines through some of her unexpected positions and actions. Despite declaring during her first campaign she strongly support[s] LGBTQ rights and equality, Mace has made being anti-transgender a big part of her political identity more recently.

Last year, shortly before Democrat Sarah McBride of Delaware was set to become the first out transgender member of Congress, Mace rolled out a measure to ban transgender women from using female-designated bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol. She later said the bill was absolutely aimed at McBride, now a fellow congresswoman whom Mace has repeatedly misgendered.

In December, Mace accused a man of assault for aggressively shaking her hand at the U.S. Capitol, wearing a sling for days after the alleged incident. Federal prosecutors decided not to pursue an assault charge.

And in February, Mace gave an unprecedented 50-minute floor speech during which she accused four men  including her ex-fiance  of rape, sex trafficking and other sex crimes against her and other female victims, which she called some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable.

During her speech, Mace also accused Alan Wilson, her future rival for governor, of failing to prosecute the men after, according to her, she presented his office with evidence.

All four men whom Mace accused of sex crimes have vehemently denied the allegations in statements to NBC News. In response to the February speech, Wilsons office called Maces accusations that it had failed to act categorically false, adding that the two politicians know each other well but that she had never discussed the alleged crimes with Wilson or his office before taking to the House floor.

Mace has stood by her allegations.

A spokesperson for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, known as SLED, said in a statement in February that it had opened an investigation into Maces allegations of assault, harassment and voyeurism in December 2023 after being contacted by U.S. Capitol Police.

Wilsons office said in February that it had not received any reports or requests for assistance from any law enforcement or prosecution agencies regarding these specific allegations.

Asked for an update Friday, Wilson spokesman Robert Kittle said: Our office has not received anything pertaining to her case. If SLED does turn over the case, it would be sent to the 9th Circuit Solicitors Office.

Born at Fort Bragg, Mace hails from a military family. Her father, retired Brig. Gen. James Emory Mace, had served as commandant of cadets at the Citadel, the prestigious military college located in Charleston.

In 1999, during his tenure there, Nancy Mace made history as the first woman to graduate from the Citadel Corps of Cadets. But Monday, she recounted how her first job was working at a Waffle House after dropping out of high school.

"My parents didn't coddle me. They said it to me straight. They said, 'If you're going to stop going to school, you have to start going to work,'" Mace told supporters at her campaign event. "So I took a job at the fine dining establishment known as the Waffle House  my Waffle House, people. Denny's was a little too high-brow."

She briefly served in the South Carolina Statehouse before defeating Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham in the 2020 race for the coastal 1st Congressional District.

Mace is hosting a series of town hall events across the state in August, calling it the Mother of ALL Town Halls. The first will be in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday.
Republican lawmakers are cautioning President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to be very careful about granting a pardon to Ghislaine Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein confidante, or commuting her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

Republican senators are waving the caution flag after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell in Florida recently to gather more information on what she knows about Epsteins illicit activities.

The meeting came while Trump and Bondi were under pressure from MAGA-aligned activists to order the Justice Department to release all of its files related to Epstein.

GOP lawmakers say Trump and Bondi need to proceed carefully on any decision to pardon Maxwell or lighten her sentence for sexually exploiting teenage girls.

They worry it could be seen as rewarding her for making statements to distance the president from Epsteins activities, or further fuel conspiracy theories about a government cover-up to protect powerful people who were in Epsteins orbit.

Its ridiculous that he would consider shortening a sentence for somebody who aided and abetted sexual trafficking as she did, said a Republican senator who requested anonymity to comment on the sensitive topic.

Shes trafficking underage children. I cant imagine anything she could say could nullify her heinous crimes, the senator added.

The senator said Maxwell has incentive to lie to reduce her sentence.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Maxwell has lied under oath before, citing the perjury charge that was filed against her for making false statements during a civil deposition in 2016.

They ended up dropping the perjury charge against her, but we know shes a liar because even though they dropped that charge  because it was a lesser charge  she demonstrated that she lied, he said. What will a demonstrated liar do if they know that they can get a break? Lie more?

I dont think that her testimony is worth the paper its written on, because shes a liar, he said. She also exploited young girls.

I think shes not a trustworthy witness, he added. She has a vested interest in lying so she can get relieved of some amount of her 20-year sentence.

Blanche, the No. 2-ranking official at the Justice Department, met with Maxwell on July 24 and July 25 to discuss Epsteins crimes and other people who may have been involved in them. He wrote on social media that no one is above the law  and no lead is off limits.

Maxwell has told House lawmakers that if she were to receive clemency, she would testify openly and honestly before Congress about Epstein, according to a letter her attorney David Oscar Markus sent to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Markus told ABC News that Maxwell did not ask Blanche for a pardon but confirmed she is seeking relief from her prison sentence.

Maxwells attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to overturn her 2021 conviction.

Prison officials confirmed Friday that they moved Maxwell from a federal prison in Florida to a lower security federal prison camp in Texas, where inmates are allowed to move around relatively freely.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she has no idea what to expect out of the conversations between Maxwell and the Department of Justice but questioned if she could provide any new evidence that would merit a pardon or a significant reduction of her sentence.

Just because she comes and gives testimony doesnt necessarily mean [she] should be given any kind of a pardon, I dont think. Theres a lot more that has to be looked at, she said.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said the president and the attorney general would need to come up with a strong explanation for pardoning Maxwell or commuting her sentence.

I honestly think it would be difficult to grant Maxwell a pardon or sentence reduction, he said. But, once again, its a prerogative that every president has on a federal crime.

If these are federal crimes, the president has the ability to offer a pardon or approve clemency, he said. Every executive officer has to make up their own mind, and then they have to be able to justify how they did it, and why they did it.

Rounds, a former governor, said pardons and paroles can be a good thing, but the executive, whether the president or a governor, has to know the reason why youre giving a pardon.

If Maxwell gets a lighter sentence, Trump would have to explain why, he said.

On a political basis, you just simply have to explain your actions and justify your actions, he added.

Rounds noted the difficulty of justifying leniency toward Maxwell is probably one of the reasons it would be difficult to do in the first place.

Trump told Newsmax on Friday that he hasnt been asked to grant Maxwell a pardon, but he noted he has the power to do so.

Im allowed to do it, but nobodys asked me to do it, he said. I know nothing about the case.

Trump said he thought Blanche, his former defense attorney, was meeting with Maxwell to make sure that innocent people arent hurt if the Justice Department releases the Epstein files.

The president has faced backlash from activists in his MAGA base after the Justice Department and the FBI announced in an unsigned memo last month that they would not release additional information and denied the existence of an Epstein client list, even though Bondi said in February that the list was sitting on her desk.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Bondi and her deputy told Trump in May that his name was in the Epstein files.

Democrats have sought to use the Epstein controversy against Republicans and Trump.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has demanded an all-senators briefing on the Epstein files and criticized Blanche for meeting with Maxwell.

There is every reason to fear that Donald Trump could offer Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon in exchange for silence, or even worse, phony exoneration, Schumer said on the Senate floor.

Let me be clear: Trump is sending his personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, to try and execute a corrupt cover-up, potentially offering leniency to a woman who also abused the victims, he said. Enough. Enough. Enough with the hiding. Enough with the excuses. And enough with the cover-up.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expressed skepticism last week that a pardon for Maxwell is on the table.

Asked if Trump should rule out a pardon, Thune said, Thats up to him, but it looks to me like shes going to spend a good, long time in jail.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
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(The Center Square)  Its not the amount of spending in Wisconsins most recent Supreme Court races that concerns Justice Brian Hagedorn.

Its what that spending shows.

Hagedorn, who is seen as the swing justice on on the court, was a guest on UpFront over the weekend. He said the record spending that Wisconsin saw during its past two court races, including the $100 million-plus in the spring 2025 race, is a case for concern.

Money is a proxy for value, Hagedorn explained. You trade money for things that you value. Whether its a family vacation, or a car, or a house. But people also think they are also getting something of value when they donate to a candidate.

Hagedorn said that is an even bigger concern than the amount of money spent.

I think it is in many respects, a vote of no confidence in this court, that this court is not going to be a place thats just going to apply the law, Hagedorn added. But people increasingly see this court, and courts around the country, as an extension of the political branches.

Hagedorn said it is incumbent upon the Wisconsin Supreme Court to prove them wrong.

People think they are getting something for [their financial support], he said.

The latest tally from WisPolitics puts the price tag for the race between now-Justice Sussan Crawford and former Attorney General Brad Schimel at $115 million. That is the most expensive judicial race in American history.

Before that race, Wisconsins 2023 race for the high court was the most expensive at $50 million.

Hagedorn is not up for re-election until 2029, but he said on UpFront that he intends to run again. Hes not guessing as to how much his race may eventually cost.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged detainers against three migrants from Venezuela who have been charged with capital murder in Texas.

Yosguar Aponte Jimenez, Jose Trivino-Cruz and Jesus Bellorin-Guzman allegedly were involved in the June 20 shooting death of 48-year-old Santiago Lopez Morales at a Motel 6 in Garland, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Three depraved criminal illegal aliens from Venezuela were released into the U.S. under the Biden administration and are now facing capital murder and robbery charges for shooting and killing a man at a motel in Dallas County, Texas," Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement provided to Fox News.

"Thanks to the brave men and women of ICE law enforcement, these criminal illegal aliens' crime spree is OVER. These vicious criminals have no place in the U.S. ICE has lodged a detainer to ensure they are removed from our country after they face justice for their heinous crimes," she added.

Ice Lodges Detainer Against Illegal Migrant Charged With Kidnapping, Sexually Assaulting Neighbor In Texas

The DHS, citing local media reports, said investigators linked the June 20 shooting to an aggravated robbery at a Deluxe Inn located about a mile away from the Motel 6.

Read On The Fox News App

In that incident, the victim said two Hispanic males were banging on her door and when she opened it, they forced their way inside at gunpoint, made her undress and assaulted her before stealing jewelry, cash and an ID, KDFW reported, citing a police report.

The station added that the suspects later allegedly admitted to Garland detectives that they would arrange meetings with prostitutes to rob them of their money and valuables, with Jimenez allegedly claiming they performed more than 25 robberies.

Republican Governor Greenlights State Troopers To Join Ice In Immigration Crackdown

Jimenez also allegedly said the group targeted prostitutes because they were less likely to head to police to report their alleged crimes, according to KDFW.

Bonds for Jimenez, Bellorin-Guzman and Trivino-Cruz were set at $1.5 million, $2.25 million and $3.25 million, respectively, the station also reported.

Homeland Security said Jimenez "crossed the southern border illegally on May 3, 2023, and was released into the U.S. by the Biden administration."

"Jose Trivino-Cruz entered the U.S. illegally unvetted via the CBP One app on October 9, 2024, and was released into the country by the Biden administration," the department added.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with other federal law enforcement agencies, attend a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

"Jesus Bellorin-Guzman illegally entered the U.S. unvetted via the CBP One app on January 6, 2025, and was released into the country by the Biden administration," DHS also said.





Original article source: ICE lodges detainers against 3 Venezuelans charged with capital murder in Texas
The manhunt for the person who opened fire and killed four people at a Montana bar stretched into its fourth day Monday.

Michael Paul Brown, 45, is still on the lam after allegedly walking into the Owl Bar in Anaconda at around 10:30 a.m. Friday, fatally shooting a bartender and three patrons and fleeing, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said.

The victims were identified Sunday as bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and three patrons: Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

Michael Brown. (Montana Department of Justice)

Its not clear what motivated the shooting, and Knudsen described Brown as an "unstable individual" who likely knew the victims.

The public is warned that he is armed and dangerous, as officials announce a $10,000 reward for information about his whereabouts.

Heres what we know:

The shooting:

Authorities allege Brown opened fire in the Owl Bar on Friday morning using a personal rifle and then fled the scene.

Brown lived next door, apparently alone, and was a regular at the bar, Knudsen said.

"I think its likely that he knew the bartender and these patrons, which makes this even more heinous," Knudsen said in a news conference Friday.

The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Mont. (Google Maps)

The Montana Department of Justice released a photo of Brown on Saturday that depicted him wearing just boxer shorts and running away.

Knudsen said that the photo was taken "relatively soon" after the shooting. Brown then allegedly went to another location not far from the bar and disposed of his clothes and some personal belongings. Authorities believe he then secured new clothes from a stolen vehicle that was loaded with camping equipment, Knudsen said.

"At this point, we have every reason to believe the suspect is fully clothed, shoes on his feet, able to get around," Knudsen said Sunday.

Law enforcement officers briefly pursued Brown in that vehicle but pulled back when they realized he was most likely armed, Knudsen said. Brown was not in the vehicle when law enforcement finally arrived.

Knudsen told NBC News that after finding the car, it led law enforcement to deduce Brown was "very likely up in the mountains, hiding in the timber, in the cover somewhere."

That car chase was the last law enforcement contact with Brown.

"There was some confusion because there were two white vehicles that were involved," Knudsen said Sunday. "There were some federal assets that were involved in that pursuit, but I believe that was the last law enforcement contact with roughly noon."

Anaconda, about 25 miles west of Butte and adjacent to the Continental Divide, is part of a consolidated government with Deer Lodge County in southwest Montana. The city and county have fewer than 10,000 residents combined.

The search

Local, state and federal partners are now searching for Brown, who remains at large.

Officials have focused the multiagency search on the area off Stumptown Road and expanded it to Barker Lake and the surrounding area.

At one point, over 250 boots were on the ground Saturday in the search, Knudsen said. The effort includes canine detection units, as well as infrared and heat detection technology used by air, drones, and personnel conducting searches of camping and hunting sites.

On Monday, the U.S. Marshals Service announced a $10,000 reward for information about Brown's whereabouts. A hotline was also set up at 1-877-926-8332.

Knudsen said Sunday that the law enforcement response will shift a little bit in Anaconda as some personnel return to their home bases and the effort turns into a "fugitive location operation."

He noted its possible Brown could have died by suicide, "but we are acting under the assumption that he is alive, well, armed and extremely dangerous."

There is also concern that Brown could return to town, Knudsen said.

An Army vet who struggled with mental health issues

Brown was known to local law enforcement, had a criminal record, and had access to firearms, Knudsen said.

He was described by people who knew him as having mental health issues.

Shane Charles, who grew up with him in Anaconda and owns another bar, previously told NBC News that Brown struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Mike was a great guy when he was on his meds. He did have some mental health problems," Charles said.

Browns niece, Clare Boyle, also said he struggled with mental health issues, according to The Associated Press.

"This isnt just a drunk/high man going wild," she wrote in a Facebook post cited by the AP. "Its a sick man who doesnt know who he is sometimes and frequently doesnt know where or when he is either."

He served in the Army, leaving in 2009 with the rank of sergeant. Brown was an armor crewman from January 2001 to May 2005, and in the Montana National Guard from April 2006 to March 2009. He was deployed to Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005.

The victims

Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, was a recently retired oncology nurse who started working part-time at the Owl Bar around a year and a half ago, her daughter Kristian Kelley told NBC News.

She had worked as a nurse for around 30 years and picked up the bartending job to "fill some of her time," Kelley said.

Kelley recalled hearing about the shooting through a text from a friend, and called her mother, but didnt get an answer. She then headed to Anaconda and soon discovered that her mother was one of the victims.

Kelley said that she knew Brown and that he was someone in the community who would share "a little bit wild stories" from his time in the military.

"Maybe they were pretty incredible, so I dont know, but I think a lot of them were embellished," she said. "And maybe he believed them. Im not sure, but he definitely was somebody that needed care."

The shooting came as a shock to Kelley, who described Anaconda as a small but safe place.

"We didnt even lock our cars outside, you know, or the house, and its, I mean, I wouldnt say its dangerous here at all," she said. "But when people dont receive services, you know, in rural areas, sometimes this is what happens."

David Allen Leach, 70, was deaf and lived at a public housing complex for elderly people and people with disabilities.

"He was a good neighbor," Robert Wyatt told The Associated Press. He recalled Leach as always happy to help neighbors with chores like moving furniture.

"If you needed help, Dave would help," Wyatt said.

The families of Baillie and Palm couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs pro-veterans bills into law with state lawmakers and veterans at an event in Houston. Office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

(The Center Square)  New laws have been enacted this year to help Texas veterans by reducing and streamlining regulations and simplifying access to resources available to them.

Texas is home to more veterans than any other state, Gov. Greg Abbott said at a veterans event in Houston. "We owe every member who serves our country the deepest appreciation that we have. America would not be America, we would not be the freest and strongest, most powerful country in the history of the world if it werent for these soldiers willing to stand up and do the things they are doing. Texas will forever honor the service and sacrifice of those who served the United States of America."

The governor spoke at a Combat Marine Outdoors Gala and was joined by Acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Kelly Hancock, state Reps. Charles Cunningham, Morgan Meyer and Dennis Paul, United States Marine Corps Ret. Colonel and CMO Co-Founder and President Alan Orr, USMC Ret. Master Gunnery Sergeant and CMO Co-Founder and CEO Arturo Garcia, and other state and local officials.

During his remarks, Abbott described how Texas is the best state for jobs created by veteran-owned businesses, with veteran-owned businesses more than doubling the amount of jobs theyve created since 2022.

At the gala, the governor ceremonially signed bills that he previously signed into law and met with veterans and their family members.

SB 2308 provides matching grant funding for research of ibogaine, an emerging treatment for neurological and mental health conditions. The drug has shown promise in treating opioid addiction and other behavioral health conditions, especially for those affecting veterans.

State Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Tyler, filed the bill, which passed nearly unanimously in both chambers. It became effective June 11.

SB 1814 filed by then state Sen. Kelly Hancock and state Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mount Pleasant, directs the Texas Veterans Commission to establish and maintain an electronic database of contact information for service members leaving active duty who give consent. The database allows state agencies and veteran organizations to access the information in order to provide them with information about available resources. It passed unanimously in both chambers and becomes effective Sept. 1.

SB 1818 filed by Hancock and Rep. John McQueeney, R-Fort Worth, requires Texas licensing agencies to immediately issue a provisional license recognizing the out-of-state licenses of military service members, veterans, and military spouses. It passed unanimously and becomes effective Sept. 1.

HB 114, filed by Rep. Phillip Cortez, D-San Antonio, and Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, consolidates the responsibility of several veteran-related programs from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to the Texas Veterans Commission. It passed unanimously and becomes effective Sept. 1.

CMO founders launched an outreach initiative in 2005 after visiting Marines and sailors who were wounded in combat from the 1st Marine Division who were being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. In 2009, Houston-based CMO received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Its founders realized that service members receiving medical treatment needed an opportunity to get away from the hospital, in an environment of friendship, camaraderie, and fellowship with fellow Marines to accelerate their recovery from the traumatic injuries they sustained in combat, the organization explains. Many times, these service members did not want to leave the confines of the hospital, but it was (and is) crucial to begin to re-inculcate back into society.

CMO arranges outings, activities and adventures in the outdoors to help them have a new sense of hope and belonging. There are roughly 100 ranches that are partnering with CMO.

The camaraderie, friendship and fellowship associated with each outing have had an incredible healing property, and many times, were a turning point in the emotional recovery of these service members, CMO explains. So far, its taken more than 10,000 combat veterans on the adventure of a lifetime.
dwalker2/Getty Images A view of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from the grassy sand dunes.

The U.S. is full of fantastic beaches. With nearly 100,00 miles of coastline to choose from, you can have your pick. Cliffside shores on the Pacific? Theres endless options on the west coast. Tropical climates and turquoise waters? Head to South Florida. If you can dream it, you can find it. So what are most Americans searching for? Well, a new report from PrivacyJournal reveals that the most desired out of state beaches this summer dont just offer sandy shores; they are all accessible destinations designed for visitors.

"What's fascinating is that even when Americans search beyond their home state for beach destinations, they still prioritize accessibility, with most states gravitating toward beaches within reasonable driving or flying distance, Mauricio Preuss, PrivacyJournal CEO, said about the study. This suggests that while travelers crave new experiences, travel time and cost are still key considerations."

To determine the most sought-after beaches in the U.S., PrivacyJournal used 2025 search volume data for more than 100 popular beaches and analyzed the volume of searches for each beach. By using commonly searched keywords with specific beach locations, the researchers were able to determine which beaches had the highest interest for residents living in other states.

This methodology revealed that Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was the most searched for beach by other residents in other states.

It was the top beach destination for 18 stateswith the most notable volume of searches in Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. This isnt too surprising, given South Carolinas relatively central location on the East Coast, and its long established reputation as a beach town. With an iconic boardwalk, tons of attractions off the beach, and more than 60 miles of shore to explore, theres an abundance of options for visitors.

Here are the top five most sought after beaches:

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, top search in 18 states Clearwater Beach, Florida, top search in nine states Virginia Beach, Virginia, top search in eight states Cannon Beach, Oregon, top search in six states Orange Beach, Alabama, top search in four states



Are you looking for even more late summer travel inspiration? Weve got intel on the cleanest beach in the U.S., the most affordable places to travel in August, the coordinates of the best beach in the world, and the top travel trips for a Florida beach vacation, straight from locals. So whether youre looking to leave the state, leave the country, or just head a few hours away, theres still plenty of time to plan a quick beach escape before the end of summer.

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
By Akash Sriram

(Reuters) -U.S. ride-hailing company Lyft said on Monday it will partner with China's Baidu to deploy robotaxis across Europe starting next year, marking the Chinese search engine giant's first foray into the European self-driven taxi sector.

The partnership will launch initially in Germany and the United Kingdom, with Baidus electric RT6 robotaxis operating on Lyfts platform pending regulatory approval.

The rollout aims to scale to thousands of vehicles across Europe in the coming years, leveraging Lyfts $200 million acquisition of European mobility app FreeNow, completed on Thursday.

The deal gives Lyft access to operations in nine countries and over 180 cities, marking its first expansion outside North America.

Under the partnership, Lyft will operate the platform, managing customer services and fleet logistics, while Baidu will supply autonomous vehicles and technical expertise.

"What we're excited about with FreeNow is they have a deep, long-lasting relationship with regulators, and we want to go and have those conversations about how we do this," Lyft Executive Vice President of Driver Experience Jeremy Bird told Reuters.

The UK government has fast-tracked its robotaxi timeline and is aiming for initial services with paying passengers by spring 2026.

Companies such as Uber and Wayve are also preparing for deployment once regulatory clearance is granted.

The deal comes as rival Uber has expanded its global robotaxi efforts, working with Waymo, Pony.ai, WeRide, and Momenta, with a European launch also set for 2026.

Ubers global robotaxi presence intensifies pressure on Lyft to expand beyond its North American home market and build its autonomous capabilities.

Baidus Apollo Go service currently operates over 1,000 vehicles across 15 cities globally and has completed more than 11 million rides, but its partnership with Lyft marks its first commercial move into Europe.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
By Ashley Tang, Naveen Thukral and Bernadette Christina

PONTIAN, Malaysia (Reuters) -Malaysian farmer Suratmen Mosman faces a dilemma that threatens to sap supply from the world's top palm oil exporters and drive up prices of the vegetable oil essential to billions of consumers worldwide in the next five years.

The ageing trees on his plantation 300 km (185 miles) south of Kuala Lumpur are bearing less fruit, but the 85-year-old is holding off replacing them as he doesn't want to lose income while waiting the three to five years it takes for new trees to start yielding a crop and the years beyond that it will take for them to reach peak production. Government subsidies to encourage replanting are not as high as they once were and he needs to support his family.

Used mostly as a cooking oil, but also to make cakes, cosmetics and cleaning products, palm oil makes up more than half of the world's vegetable oil supply and 85% of the crude product comes from Malaysia and Indonesia.

But after decades of soaring output, the market is now at a tipping point as combined exports from the two producers are set to slow sharply, the result of stagnating production and efforts by Indonesia to divert more palm oil into the production of biodiesel.

While financial markets have factored in the slowdown, there is growing evidence that plantations run by smallholders like Suratmen may be in worse condition than previously thought as ageing and lower-yielding trees are not replaced, which will add to the decline. Smallholders make up 40% of the plantations across Malaysia and Indonesia, so they play a vital role in the supply chain.

Supplies to global markets from Indonesia and Malaysia could fall as much as 20% over the next five years, according to Reuters calculations based on government and industry projections, some previously unpublished.

Future output from smallholders may well be over-estimated because the condition of trees and the rate of planting new trees is worse than estimates by the governments in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, according to veteran industry figures Dorab Mistry and M.R. Chandran.

That view is backed up by Reuters interviews with more than a dozen farmers and officials in Malaysia.

And other previously unpublished data shows the acreage of plantations where trees are older than 20 years - a point at which they are considered beyond their peak - is growing fast.

Mistry, a director of Indian consumer goods firm Godrej International and a long-term palm oil analyst who has been in the industry for more than 40 years, and Chandran, the former head of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association, estimated that more than half of the trees on Malaysian smallholder plantations are well past peak production.

The estimate is significantly higher than Malaysian government data, which shows 37% of smallholder plantations are past their peak yielding phase.

"Palm oil supplies are getting tighter," said Mistry, who bases his estimate on site visits to plantations, data analysis, and engagement with producers, traders, and other key industry players.

"This is not just a problem in Malaysia but also in Indonesia. Though Indonesia's industry is younger, it will face the same problems in the next five years," he said.

In Indonesia, just 10% of a 2016 government target to replant 2.5 million hectares (9,653 square miles) by 2025 had been met as of last October, publicly available government data showed.

As a result, over one-third of oil palms among both smallholders and industrial plantations are either at or past their most productive years. Acreage for trees older than 21 years is set to rise 11% next year in Indonesia, according to previously unreleased data from state research firm Riset Perkebunan Nusantara (RPN).

Reluctance in Malaysia and Indonesia to replace old trees, plus Indonesia's increased biodiesel mandates, point to a sharp drop in palm oil exports in the coming five years.

Calculations based on Malaysian and Indonesia palm oil body estimates suggest combined exports are likely to drop to about 37 million metric tons by 2030, down by a fifth since 2024.

Indonesia is likely to have around 20 million tons available for export, down by nearly a third from last year, according to forecasts from RPN and the Indonesia Palm Oil Association (GAPKI).

There are no official forecasts for Malaysian palm exports by 2030, but Mistry said expectations are now that they will remain steady or decline slightly, reflecting a lack of consistent replanting and in contrast to earlier estimates of modest annual increases.

Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture did not respond to requests for comment on the estimates for output and exports to drop.

State-run industry regulator the Malaysian Palm Oil Board said it did not agree with the assessment that over 50% of smallholders oil palm trees are beyond peak yielding age.

"According to MPOB's 2024 data, only 36.2% of smallholders oil palm trees are over 18 years old, and many smallholders have already begun replanting with government support," the board said in a response to questions from Reuters.

To ease replanting costs, the government offers a 50% grant and 50% loan, it added.

"The government values smallholders contributions and continues to refine support schemes based on ongoing feedback to ensure long-term sustainability and inclusivity," it said.

DEMAND RISING

Industry projections indicate global demand will rise by 50 million tons by 2050, requiring minimum annual supply growth of 2%, Chandran said. However, he estimates production is on track to grow at just 1.5% annually, he said, based on ageing trees and slow replanting rates in both countries.

The contrast to palm's earlier growth is stark. Palm doubled its share of the global vegetable oils market to 30.6% in the three decades to 1995, with Indonesian production growing an annual 8.1% and Malaysian output rising 3% over the same period.

"There will be growing tensions between rising global demand and the challenge of expanding production sustainably," said Chandran, who is also chairman of IRGA, an agritech firm specialising in data analysis and field research.

Already, strained palm oil supplies are pushing up costs for alternatives including soybean, rapeseed and sunflower oil.

Last year, crude palm oil traded at a $39/ton premium to soybean oil compared to a $160 discount in 2023, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.

Top buyer India's annual palm oil imports are set to drop below other edible oils for the first time this year as rising palm costs push refiners toward alternatives.

RELUCTANT REPLANTERS

Interviews with 11 small-scale Malaysian farmers found most were reluctant to replant as mature trees are their main income source amid two-year high prices.

"I did not replant my trees as I do not have any other sources of income," Suratmen said, standing among his five acres of oil palms in Johor state's Pontian district.

Some of his newer trees were planted on unstable peatland and lean at angles.

"My replanting efforts are limited to replacing fallen trees or planting new ones in between existing trees," he said.

Most smallholders converted rubber plantations to palm in the early 1990s and 2000s, so their trees have now reached the 25-year mark and are due for replanting, said National Association of Smallholders Malaysia president Adzmi Hassan.

The challenge is compounded by mostly ageing landowners, many of whose children have moved to cities, leaving planters without the labour or physical capacity to replant.

"You have to consider the plantation cost, the work to replant, and there are many independent smallholders who do not want to be tied down to a bank debt," said Mohd Sharul Haizam Shafei, 42, who owns 50 acres of plantation in Banting.

In Malaysia, the replanting rate averaged about 2% over the past five years, half the government's 4% target, according to Malaysian Palm Oil Board data.

REPLANTING COSTS DETER FARMERS

While the Malaysian government provides a grant for half of replanting expenses, many smallholders are unwilling to take on debt to cover the rest, said Adzmi from the smallholders' association.

He is lobbying the government to fully subsidise replanting, as it did before 2019, but that is seen as unlikely as the government is cutting subsidies elsewhere, including for fuel.

Indonesia last year doubled replanting funding for smallholders, but Gulat Manurung, chairman of planters' group APKASINDO, said farmers struggle to access the funds due to land legality issues and complicated terms.

With ageing trees, fresh fruit bunch yields for smallholders in Indonesia last year averaged 9.6 tons per hectare, Indonesia Palm Oil Board data showed, less than half the yields produced at larger state-owned and private plantations.

The industry is in a bind to boost output as Malaysia caps total planted area while Indonesia, under pressure from the European Union and environmental groups, has a moratorium on new forest clearing for palm plantations.

Suratmen, the farmer in Pontian, said without a full subsidy, he's not replanting.

"Waiting for new trees to mature and produce fruit takes too long. We cannot support our families during those years without income from the trees," he said.

(Reporting by Ashley Tang and Naveen Thukral in Pontian and Bernadette Christina in Jakarta; Editing by Tony Munroe, Sonali Paul and Lincoln Feast.)
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says "Alligator Alcatraz" will serve as a model for state-run migrant detention centers, and she told CBS News in an interview that she hopes to launch a handful of similar detention centers in multiple airports and jails across the country, in the coming months. Potential sites are already under consideration in Arizona, Nebraska and Louisiana.

"The locations we're looking at are right by airport runways that will help give us an efficiency that we've never had before," Noem said, adding that she's appealed directly to governors and state leaders nationwide to gauge their interest in contributing to the Trump administration's program to detain and deport more unauthorized migrants.

"Most of them are interested," Noem said, adding that in states that support President Trump's mission of securing the southern border, "many of them have facilities that may be empty or underutilized."

The Department of Homeland Security strategy builds on the opening of a 3,000-bed immigration detention center at a jetport in South Florida last month. Dubbed Alligator Alcatraz by state and federal officials, the makeshift facility will cost an estimated $450 million to operate in its first year. Up and running in just 8 days, the tents and trailers at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport are surrounded by 39 square miles of isolated swampland, boasting treacherous terrain and wildlife

Last month, President Trump toured the facility, seeing rows of bunk beds lined up behind chain fences and encircled by razor wire. Mr. Trump joked to reporters there that "we're going to teach them how to run away from an alligator if they escape prison." Asked if the temporary facility would be a model of what's to come, the president said he'd like to see similar operations in "many states."

The entrance to the state-managed immigration detention center dubbed Alligator Alcatraz, located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Florida Everglades on August 03, 2025 in Ochopee, Florida. / Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

The Arizona's governor's office told CBS News it has not been approached about a state-run facility.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen's office said in a statement that his administration "continues to be in communication with federal partners on how Nebraska can best assist in these efforts," but added that for now, "it is premature to comment" and the governor would "make details public at the appropriate time."

For her part, Noem called the Alligator Alcatraz model "much better" than the current detention prototype, which largely contracts out its Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity to for-profit prison companies and county jails. ICE is an agency that falls under DHS. This model relies on intergovernmental service agreements (IGSAs) negotiated and signed between ICE and individual localities. She called the Florida facility  with an eventual price tag of $245 per inmate bed, per night, according to DHS officials  a cost-effective option. "Obviously it was much less per-bed cost than what some of the previous contracts under the Department of Homeland Security were."

According to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics, the estimated average daily cost of detaining an adult migrant in fiscal year 2024 was about $165, though the actual cost of detention typically varies based on region, length of stay and facility type.

Still, Noem argued that the new venues, all with close proximity to airports or runways, will help ICE to cut costs by "facilitating quick turnarounds."

"They're all strategically designed to make sure that people are in beds for less days," Noem said, adding that some of the facilities being considered are still undergoing vetting by the department and subject to ongoing negotiations. "It can be much more efficient once they get their hearings, due process, paperwork."

Unlike Alligator Alcatraz, which uses funds from a shelter, food and transportation program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Noem said the state-based initiative will tap into a new $45 billion funding pool for ICE prompted by President Trump's "big, beautiful bill", which was signed into law last month. The pool of money is allocated specifically to the expansion of ICE's detention network and will nearly double the agency's bedspace capacity of 61,000 beds, based on cost analysis. As of Saturday, ICE was holding just over 57,000 individuals in its detention network in more than 150 facilities nationwide.

Noem  who has implemented a department-wide policy across DHS of personally approving each and every contract and grant over $100,000  said keeping ICE detention contracts to a duration of under five years is now "the model we've pushed for." For instance, she added, Alligator Alcatraz is a one-year contract that can be renewed.

"For me personally, the question that I've asked of every one of these contracts is, why are we signing 15-year deals?" Noem said. "I have to look at our mission. If we're still building out and processing 100,000 detention beds 15 years from now, then we didn't do our job."

The new policy is a departure from earlier agreements made under the Trump administration. In February, ICE signed a 15-year, $1 billion deal with the GEO Group, a private prison company, to reopen Delaney Hall, a two-story, 1,000-bed facility that ranks among the largest detention centers in the Northeast.

Still, Noem said she doesn't feel the U.S. is moving away from a private detention model. "I mean, these are competitive contracts," she said. "I want everybody to be at the table, giving us solutions. I just want them to give us a contract that actually does the job  a contract that doesn't put more money in their pockets while keeping people in detention beds just for the sake of that contract."

But Alligator Alcatraz has also come under fire from attorneys claiming that both the Trump and DeSantis administrations are holding detainees without charge or access to immigration courts, violating their constitutional rights. Attorneys argued in a legal filing last month that unauthorized migrants held at the Florida-run site have no legal recourse to challenge their detention.

Lawyers and experts have also called into question the very legality of a state-run immigration detention center, given the federal government's authority over immigration enforcement. Opening the detention center in the Everglades under Florida's emergency state powers marked a departure from the federal government's role of housing migrant detainees, an option typically reserved for those who've recently entered the country illegally or those with criminal convictions.

A U.S. district judge last week ordered state and federal officials to provide a copy of the agreement showing "who's running the show" at the Everglades immigrant-detention center.

"Florida does not have the legal authority to detain undocumented immigrants in the absence of a contract with ICE," said Kevin Landy, the director of detention policy and planning for ICE under President Barack Obama. "A state government can't do that."

Detainees held at Alligator Alcatraz have also claimed unsanitary and inhumane conditions, including food with maggots, denial of religious rights and limited access to both legal assistance and water. Florida officials have denied the accusations.

Still, tucked away in the Florida Everglades 45 miles west of Miami, if its location sounds treacherous, Noem concedes, that's kind of the point. "There definitely is a message that it sends," the secretary said. "President Trump wants people to know if you are a violent criminal and you're in this country illegally, there will be consequences."

Noem offered that deterrence is an effective strategy based on U.S. gathered intelligence "from three letter agencies, from other intelligence officials throughout the federal government and in a lot of the Latin American and South American countries" that indicates "overwhelmingly, what encourages people to go back home voluntarily is the consequences."

"They see the laws being enforced in the United States," Noem said. "They know when they are here illegally and if they are detained, they'll be removed. They see that they may never get the chance to come back to America. And they're voluntarily coming home."

The DHS secretary met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in March. "One of the questions I asked President Scheinbaum when I was in Mexico is, 'Do you have any idea how many people may have come back to Mexico that we may not know about,'" Noem said.

"[Sheinbaum] said 500,000 to 600,000 people have come back to Mexico voluntarily since President Trump's been in office," Noem continued, explaining that the Mexican president believes her reluctant citizens fear losing the chance to return to the U.S. on a visa or work program.

It's a datapoint she solicits from many of the foreign leaders she meets with, including Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who shared a 90-minute lunch with the DHS secretary in Quito, last Thursday. "I asked him the same question," Noem recalled. "He doesn't have as many illegal immigrants in the United States as in Mexico and Venezuela, but he said he thinks over 100,000 of his citizens have come back to Ecuador. And that's a huge number."

Noem reasoned that her Ecuadorian counterpart's rough estimate is based on two factors  a strengthening Ecuadorian economy and a DHS television campaign launched across Latin and South America, warning prospective migrants not to enter or remain in the U.S. illegally.

"He was very proud of the fact that he's doing better with his economy. So there's jobs," Noem recounted. "But he said, you know, our ads are running in Ecuador. We're telling people that, if you have family in the United States that are there illegally, it's time to come home."

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A statue of historical figure Oguz Han stands near the Independence Monument in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's capital. The city is famed for its unusual architecture. - Aytac Unal/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

When the Turkmenistan government announced new streamlined visa regulations in April, people familiar with traveling to the Central Asian nation were unsure what to make of it.

Not that there are many such experts  along with North Korea and Eritrea, Turkmenistan has long been considered one of the globes most isolated countries, a legacy that dates to the 1990s when the nation broke away from the disintegrating Soviet Union and turned inward, settling into a sealed-off, independent authoritarianism.

For certain travelers, though, especially those who gravitate toward conflict zones and geopolitical oddities, Turkmenistans impenetrability has given it an alluring mystique. Theres just one problem: getting in.

Scoring a tourist visa is a long and involved process that requires obtaining a Letter of Introduction (LOI) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after booking your visit with a government-approved tour operator. The vetting  the government decides if you should be allowed to enter  can sometimes take months.

Word that the regime intended to make things more user-friendly for travelers, then, was startling, says Dylan Lupine, whose UK-based Lupine Travel offers small-group Turkmenistan tours.

We are still in the dark about it, as are our local partners in Turkmenistan, as there have been no updates since, Lupine says. The new visa regulations havent yet come into place and theres no news of when this will be happening.

If and when the new process kicks off, visitors would be able to apply online, with officials pledging that it will be much faster and result in fewer rejections. The LOI requirement will reportedly vanish, but visitors will still need a sponsor in Turkmenistan, which in most cases means signing up for a guided tour.

Once it does come into place, I do think it will strongly boost visitor numbers, Lupine adds.

CNN has reached out to Turkmenistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.

Beyond the Gates of Hell

Turkmenistan's Darvaza Crater has been burning for more than 50 years. - Giles Clarke/Getty Images

For decades  even before independence from the USSR  Turkmenistans main attraction has been the Darvaza Gas Crater. Located in the Karakum Desert about a four-hour drive from capital city Ashgabat, the huge fiery pit is a manmade phenomenon, created during the Soviet era when a natural gas exploration rig collapsed into a sinkhole.

After traveling across the desert in 4x4 caravans, visitors check into yurt camps and make their way to the edge of the rim around the Gates of Hell after dark to feel the heat and listen to the sizzle of the flames licking up from the bottom.

However, Darvaza is literally running out of gas. In recent years, the flames have noticeably receded, and there are predictions the crater may flame out completely in coming years.

But that doesnt mean there arent other reasons to visit. Ancient Silk Road cities with their historic mosques and minarets offer dramatic contrast to Ashgabat with its over-the-top modern architecture and grandiose monuments featuring everything from post-communist leaders and medieval poets to golden horses, the national dog, and a gigantic bull balancing the world on its head.

Given the fact they encounter very few foreign visitors, the Turkmen people are warm and welcoming. If arid landscapes are your thing, around 80% of Turkmenistan is desert. And theres the novelty of exploring a place that few others have visited in modern times.

Turkmenistan is unlike any country I have visited, says the Norwegian writer and anthropologist Erika Fatland, author of Sovietistan and other books about Central Asia and the former Soviet Union.

Cars move through the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat on March 10, 2025. - Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

The shining white marble capital of Ashgabat, with its empty lanes, is one of the weirdest capitals I have ever visited.

Spangled with golden statues and white marble, Ashgabat is both an architectural wonder and Instagram icon. Many of the structures are shaped like their government functions  like a Ministry of Oil & Gas building that resembles a giant lighter. Others were created to capture Guinness World Records  including the worlds largest indoor Ferris wheel and a colossal horse head that hovers above the national stadium.

At the citys indoor Russian Bazaar, vendors offer samples of caviar harvested from Turkmenistans slice of the Caspian Sea, as this writer discovered during a recent visit. A blend of Persian and Central Asian influences, the culinary scene is surprisingly good. Nightlife is rather limited, but you can grab a cold beer at Clevers Irish Pub or the Florida British Pub.

UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench is located in the far north of Turkmenistan. - AlexelA / Alamy Stock Photo/https://www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo

Once in a strategic position along the Silk Road trading route between Asia and Europe, the country has multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa near Ashgabat and the sprawling ruins of Merv in eastern Turkmenistan. Even more impressive are the richly decorated grand mosque, tombs and towering minaret at Kunya-Urgench in the far north.

My most beautiful experiences in Turkmenistan were in the countryside, in the desert, where I encountered the friendliest, most hospitable people I have ever met, says Fatland. The only drawback was the fermented camel milk, chal, the de facto national drink, that they kept serving me in generous quantities. Lets just say that its an acquired taste.

Why the sudden shift?

Ironically, Turkmenistan was easier to visit during the Soviet days, when Intourist expedited travel in the USSR. Created in 1929 by autocratic leader Joseph Stalin, the state travel agency was tasked with earning foreign exchange via tourism and making sure visitors (nearly all of them on closely supervised guided tours) only saw the best side of the Soviet Union.

With offices in London, New York and other foreign cities, Intourist lured travelers with striking posters and newspaper ads. Among the tours they offered in the 1930s was a 16-day Immemorial Cities of Turkestan journey that included a stop in flourishing Ashkhabad.

An Intourist poster created in 1934 advertises a journey through Central Asia. - Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Tourism grew slowly at first. But with the Cold War thawing in the 1980s, the USSR was attracting around four million tourists per year. The unraveling of the Soviet Union after the fall of the Berlin Wall offered a chance to increase visitation even more. Yet Turkmenistan didnt leap on the bandwagon.

When Moscow offered its 14 socialist republics independence in 1991, Turkmen leader Saparmurat Niyazov initially balked at the notion.

Its really all down to Niyazov, says Lupine. Prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union, his actions demonstrated negativity against perestroika and glasnost. He brought in his own methods after independence, but they were strongly influenced by the Soviet model.

Or rather the old Soviet model that limited overall tourist numbers and kept them on a tight leash, on guided tours that included only the aspects of Turkmenistan that Niyazov wanted to show the outside world.

Meanwhile, the countrys huge gas reserves meant Turkmenistan was able to remain self-reliant and neutral in the post-Soviet era, eliminating the need for any outside international influence. Even after Niyazovs death in 2006, the new leadership continued to keep a tight rein on foreign visitation.

But there are hints that change might be just around the corner.

According to the most recent Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) report on Turkmenistan, the country has been plagued by economic woes for nearly a decade. Hoping to attract more foreign investment and increase employment, the government has been seeking economic cooperation with other nations, like the natural gas sharing arrangement it recently forged with Turkey and Iran.

Some observers think the move to simplify its visa approvals process and increase tourism is part of this overall strategy, another way to boost its foreign exchange reserves. Tourism is booming in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, two of its Central Asian neighbors.

When Uzbekistan simplified their visa procedures after (President Islam) Karimovs death, tourism increased manifold, and maybe they are hoping for similar effects in Turkmenistan, says Fatland.

The other Stans have all opened for visa-free entry for many nationalities, so maybe the Turkmen felt the need to loosen up a bit.

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Arkansas attempted to become the first state in the nation to ban pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies. Instead, it became the first to be blocked by a federal judge for violating the Constitution  and for good reason. This kind of regulatory capture undermines the moral authority behind the legislation, and the court was justified in intervening.

On July 28, U.S. District Judge Brian Miller issued a preliminary injunction halting the Arkansas law, which was set to take effect August 5. He ruled that the ban appears to overtly discriminate against plaintiffs as out-of-state companies, and that the state failed to show that it has no other means to advance its interests.

In short, the law was not only anti-competitive but also unconstitutional.

The ban, signed earlier this year by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, would have forced companies like CVS and Express Scripts to shut down pharmacies across the state. CVS alone projected it would need to close all 23 of its Arkansas locations  eliminating nearly 500 jobs and reducing access to prescriptions, especially in rural areas where pharmacy options are already limited.

This is a policy failure masquerading as populist rhetoric. Banning PBMs may seem politically popular, with similar legislation being filed at both the federal and state levels, but its terrible economics and even worse health policy. Other states, including Louisiana and Tennessee, should take note  and reconsider their actions before causing further harm.

Congress should pay attention, too. Several lawmakers are proposing national legislation to ban PBMs from owning pharmacies. That would magnify the damage across all 50 states, stifle innovation, and further entrench government distortion in an already broken system.

Arkansas isnt the only example of this approach failing in court. Just days earlier, a federal judge in Iowa issued a preliminary injunction against several new PBM regulations, including restrictions on pharmacy networks and reimbursement requirements. The court found that Iowas law likely violates the Constitutions Supremacy Clause and ERISA, reinforcing that these state-level PBM crackdowns arent just bad policy  theyre legally suspect and increasingly falling apart in federal court.

Yet lawmakers keep pushing them, hoping to look like theyre doing something about high drug prices while avoiding the real structural issues driving costs higher.

Lets start with the facts: PBMs didnt break the healthcare system. They are a response to a system that has long been broken by government interference. For nearly a century, federal and state policies have layered on price controls, tax distortions, and third-party payer models that disconnect patients from prices and providers from the outcomes of their care. With Medicare and Medicaid dominating reimbursement, and employer-based coverage distorted by the tax code, market signals are barely present.

As we argue in "Empower Patients: Two Doctors Cure for Healthcare," co-authored with Dr. Deane Waldman, Americas healthcare crisis stems from the third-party payer system. The overwhelming majority of healthcare dollars flow not from patients, but from insurers and government programs. Until we reconnect patients with prices through tools like Health Savings Accounts, Direct Primary Care, and regulatory reform  costs will continue to rise and access will remain limited.

Thats where PBMs come in.

PBMs emerged to negotiate drug prices, promote the use of generics, and manage pharmacy benefit plans in a system already warped by public policy. In a true free market, PBMs might not be needed. But in todays environment, they serve as one of the few checks on cost escalation  even if imperfectly.

Arkansas didnt just misunderstand this dynamic, it ignored it. Even worse, lawmakers carved out an exemption for employer-only pharmacies, conveniently shielding Arkansas-based Walmart from the law's impact. If this were truly about fairness or access, there would be no need to pick winners. Thats not policy, its protectionism.

Supporters argue that PBMs are driving independent pharmacies out of business. But that blame is misplaced. The real culprits are shrinking margins from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, costly federal mandates, and a lack of transparent, direct-to-consumer competition. Targeting PBMs is politically easy but economically backwards.

Banning PBMs wont fix the system. It will make it worse.

Had the Arkansas law taken effect, it would have closed pharmacies, disrupted care, eliminated jobs, and reduced competition. Vertical integration between PBMs and pharmacies can improve coordination, reduce friction, and cut costs  benefits that disappear when politicians force companies to break apart.

Real reform means restoring competition, not banning it. That means cutting FDA approval times for generics and biosimilars. It means replacing outdated Medicare and Medicaid formulas that reward spending over results. It means decentralizing healthcare power from Washington back to the states  and ultimately, back to patients and their doctors.

Gov. Sanders and other state leaders deserve credit for wanting to fix whats broken. But this isnt the way. The Arkansas PBM ban  and similar efforts in Iowa and elsewhere  would fail patients, fail pharmacies, and fail the free market. Thankfully, the Constitution did its job. Now policymakers need to do theirs  by rejecting bans and embracing competition.
Researchers have found a link between sleep quality and disease risk with many chronic conditions. Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

This article originally appeared on Medical News Today

Getting enough quality sleep every night is important for good health, but the extent it affects overall health is still being researched.

A new study has linked 172 different diseases, including dementia, diabetes, and Parkinsons disease to poor sleep patterns.

Of those diseases, 92 of them had over 20% of their risk correlated with poor sleep behavior.

Getting enough quality sleep every night is important for good health. However, some people may still be unclear about what quality sleep entails and what impact sleep really has on their health.

[Until] now we have not completely understood how sleep builds our health, Qing Chen, PhD, associate professor at the Institute of Toxicology in the College of Preventive Medicine at the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University) in China, told Medical News Today.

Maybe we only know that sleep deprivation is harmful. No scientist has 100% confidence to tell us when we should sleep or when we should not sleep, [or] whether there are additional sleep tips that are important for health, said Chen. This is not enough to make a really healthy sleep schedule.

Chen is the co-lead author of a study recently published in the journal Health Data Science that has linked 172 different diseases to poor sleep patterns. Of those diseases, 92 had over 20% of the risk correlated with poor sleep behavior.

More than 20% of risk for 92 diseases linked to poor sleep

For this study, researchers analyzed medical data from more than 88,000 adults in the UK Biobank database to measure both their sleep traits and disease diagnoses.

After an average 7-year follow-up, researchers associated 172 diseases with poor sleep patterns, including irregular bedtimes and off-circadian rhythms.

Of these, the risk for 42 diseases was at least doubled, including age-related physical debility, gangrene, fibrosis, and cirrhosis of the liver.

Chen and his team also discovered that 92 of the 172 diseases had more than 20% of their risk traceable to poor sleep, including dementia, primary hypertension, Parkinsons disease, type 2 diabetes, and acute kidney failure.

Sleep regularity (rhythm) should be taken into consideration, or a number of diseases may be induced, even if sleep duration is adequate, Chen said. This is because sleep rhythm and sleep duration may be in charge of different aspects of our health.

We want to understand why disruption of sleep rhythm induces diseases, and how can we prevent or cure the diseases induced by sleep rhythm disruption, he commented, when asked about the next steps for this research.

Does lack of sleep cause these diseases?

MNT spoke with Matthew Scharf, MD, PhD, regional sleep medicine director at Hackensack Meridian Health, and associate professor at Hackensack Meridian Medical School in New Jersey, about this study.

Scharf, who was not involved in the research, commented that this study builds on mounting evidence showing that insufficient or poor sleep can negatively impact health.

Strengths of the study include use of objective data and a very large sample size, he explained. However, it shows many associations but does not necessarily show causation.

Sleep has emerged as an important modifiable behavior to improve health and longevity, Scharf continued. The goal is to find out how sleep is linked with various diseases in order to have targeted interventions. For example, some groups may benefit from having a longer sleep duration. Others may benefit from having a more regular sleep schedule.

For next steps in this research, Scharf said the key piece would be to see if targeted interventions improve outcomes in each patient population.

For example, in patients with Parkinsons disease, would a program that promoted a regular bedtime routine improve Parkinsons disease-related symptoms or quality of life metrics? he asked.

Sleep regularity matters more than sleep duration

Daniel Truong, MD, a neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA and editor in chief of the Journal of Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, who was not involved in the recent study, told MNT that his reaction to this studys findings was one of surprising clarity: Sleep regularity matters more than sleep duration in explaining disease risk.

I was struck by how decisive rhythm, and regularity came across in this analysis  almost redefining what good sleep means. It suggests that behavioral interventions focused on consistency and timing may offer health benefits beyond just aiming for a fixed number of hours.

 Daniel Truong, MD

It is crucial for researchers to continue investigating how sleep affects overall health because sleep is a foundational biological process that influences nearly every organ system  and yet it remains one of the most underappreciated and misunderstood contributors to disease risk and health maintenance, Truong continued.

This recent study underscores why this research must continue. Unlike genetic predispositions or aging, sleep habits can be changed. Sleep affects multiple biological systems such as [the] immune system, endocrine, cardiovascular, [and] neurological problems, he said.

Inadequate sleep is rarely an isolated issue

Katie S. McCullar, PhD, a fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, told MNT that this research reinforces the idea that sleep is not just a passive state but a vital process that supports nearly every aspect of health, and adds to a growing body of research that demonstrates that healthy sleep is one of the foundational determinants of health.

McCullar, who was likewise not involved in the study, explained that:

Furthermore, this work highlights what is often observed in a clinical setting: That inadequate sleep is rarely an isolated issue, but rather an indicator or exacerbating factor in a wide range of chronic conditions.

It is encouraging to see more scientific evidence linking sleep quality and duration to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The data provide empirical support for the need to integrate sleep health more thoroughly into preventive and therapeutic care models, she added.

Sleep has historically been underemphasized in both clinical training and public health initiatives, she continued. Continued research helps us understand the mechanisms behind these connections, allowing us to develop more effective and targeted interventions to prevent and treat diseases. Further, the integration of sleep health into broader frameworks of lifestyle medicine and health equity research is especially timely and warranted.

Tips for improving sleep for better overall health

If you are one of the many adults experiencing sleep issues, youre not alone. Previous research shows that about 10% of people around the world live with insomnia, and about 20% experience occasional insomnia symptoms.

For those looking to improve their nightly sleep, Jimmy Johannes, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA, suggested setting a regular bedtime and keeping the sleep environment cool, dark, and quiet.

Synchronizing with the day-night cycle by exposing yourself to some sunlight in the daytime and keeping lighting dim near bedtime can help prepare the brain for sleep at night, Johannes continued.

Talk to your doctor about persistent difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, loud snoring or gasping during sleep, waking up tired in the morning, and/or excessive daytime fatigue or sleepiness. These issues may reflect a condition affecting sleep, such as sleep apnea or a mood disorder, he advised.

View the original article on Medical News Today
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Sharon Stone.





NEED TO KNOW

Sharon Stone told Business Insider she makes more money from modeling than movies

She also told the outlet that she originally wanted to be a director

Stone previously opened up about her finances in 2024, revealing that she lost $18 million in savings after having a stroke in 2001





Sharon Stone is getting real about her finances.

In an interview with Business Insider published on Friday, Aug. 1, the actress and producer, 67, admitted that she makes more money from modeling than she does from film work.



"I'm still modeling, and I still make more money today modeling than in film," she told the outlet. "It's still a huge part of my reality."

Stone also said that when her modeling career kicked off in the 1970s, she had wanted to be a director "but the pesky vagina stood in my way."

"Because how could you possibly have a brain and a vagina?" she continued. "It seems to have confounded so many."

The star recalled landing her first film role in Woody Allen's Stardust Memories, while she was out for model castings.

"I didn't have any money, so I would roller skate to all my modeling appointments," she said. "This was back in the Studio 54 period of New York City."



Ivan Romano/Getty Sharon Stone in June 2025

A casting agent let her know that the movie was casting extras. "He told me to go to this bus stop," she remembered. "Woody was actually sitting at the bus stop. [Casting director] Juliet [Taylor] had a podium placed in front of it, and she would look at everyone's headshots."



https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

She continued, "So I roller-skated over there and had my giant modeling portfolio with me and showed it to her. She turned around and passed it to Woody in the bus stop. Then she said, 'Woody would like you to sit down with him.' So I skated into the bus stop and sat with Woody, and he looked at my stuff and didn't say anything, and handed it back to me, and I skated away. And I later found out I got the job."

Stone ended up with a small role as "Pretty Girl on Train" in the 1980 film.



The Basic Instinct actress previously opened up about her finances in 2024. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stone recalled losing her life savings after having a stroke in 2001, which led to a nine-day brain bleed and made her step away from Hollywood.

I had $18 million saved because of all my success, but when I got back into my bank account, it was all gone," she told the outlet. "My refrigerator, my phone  everything was in other peoples names. I had zero money.

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

The star shared that rather than feeling "bitter," she chooses to focus on the positive.



I decided to stay present and let go, she admitted. I decided not to hang onto being sick or to any bitterness or anger. If you bite into the seed of bitterness, it never leaves you. But if you hold faith, even if that faith is the size of a mustard seed, you will survive.



Read the original article on People
This photo taken on June 11, 2024, shows workers producing garments at a textile factory that supplies clothes to fast fashion e-commerce company Shein in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province. - Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump last week suspended a global trade loophole allowing smaller parcels into America duty-free. This closes a backdoor into the United States for Chinese mega-shippers like Shein and Temu, who could potentially pass the cost of those duties down to consumers.

Trump eliminated the so-called de minimis exemption, which had admitted duty-free shipments of goods worth $800 or less into the United States. Giant e-commerce sites used the loophole when shipping hundreds of millions of packages to US consumers.

The administration did away with the exemption for goods coming out of China and Hong Kong in May amid the US-China trade war. This latest move extends that to every country around the world.

Trump said in an executive order issued on Wednesday that many shippers go to great lengths to evade law enforcement and hide illicit substances in imports that go through international commerce and the risk of evasion, deception, and illicit-drug importation are particularly high for low-value articles that have been eligible for duty-free de minimis treatment.

This is more bad news for Chinese retailers and their customers because it shuts down the option of re-routing small shipments duty-free through countries like Vietnam, which is facing a tariff rate of 20%. The executive order also demands that the origin of the package must be declared to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Temu and Shein had already started stockpiling goods and bulk-shipping to US warehouses to lower shipping times.

Hours after the de minimis exemption expired for China in early May, Temu announced it was overhauling its shipping model. It said it would send out all American orders via US-based distributors, adding that its pricing for US consumers remains unchanged. But some of Temus American buyers subsequently complained of higher prices and items were quickly out of stock.

A person holds a package from Temu in 2024. - NurPhoto/Getty Images

Companies also will eventually need to restock their warehouses, and by imposing (the suspension of de minimis) for the whole world, there is no other workaround, Chris Tang, a professor of global supply chain management at the University of California, Los Angeles, told CNN.

Companies will now have to pay a hefty import tax even if they ship in bulk, which means customers may eventually have to pay more.

The suspension of de minimis will also affect Amazon Haul, a discount competitor to Temu and TikTok Shop that ships directly from China.

An Amazon spokesperson told CNN that the company consistently offers the lowest prices across the widest selection of products and that it will continue to meet or beat prices versus other retailers across the vast selection of products.

Temu did not responded to CNNs request for comment.

Overhauling how Americans shop

Last weeks repeal will affect a massive amount of packages that Americans are accustomed to receiving duty-free, the sheer amount of which has grown exponentially over the past decade.

CBP previously told CNN it processes nearly 4 million duty-free de minimis shipments a day. Research indicates that a majority of those shipments come from China and Hong Kong. In total, over the last fiscal year, CBP said 1.36 billion packages came to the United States under the de minimis exemption.

When Trumps executive order goes into effect on August 29, most goods shipped internationally will be subject to the tariffs of the country of origin. Those duties will be about $80 per item for a country with a tariff rate less than 16%, $160 per item for a country of a tariff rate between 16% and 25%, $200 per item for a country with a tariff rate above 25%. Some of that cost could be passed down to consumers.

A worker makes clothes at a garment factory that supplies SHEIN, a cross-border fast fashion e-commerce company in Guangzhou, in China's southern Guangdong province on July 18, 2022. - Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images

Lower-income households will suffer the most from higher prices on Chinese e-commerce sites. About 48% of de minimis packages were shipped to Americas poorest zip codes, while 22% were delivered to the richest ones, according to research in February from UCLA and Yale economists.

The Trump administration had first slashed the de minimis exemption on China in May, but then cut the tariff on those cheap packages from 120% to 54%. There is also a $100 flat-fee option for those goods.

A federal trade court this week declined to block Trumps elimination of the de minimis exemption on goods from China because the issue is already covered in a broader case challenging Trumps tariff policies.

As part of Trumps Big Beautiful Bill, the de minimis rule was slated for repeal on all countries in July 2027. It even established a civil penalty up to $10,000 for more than one violation of the rule.

The story has been updated with additional content.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Texas House Republicans on Monday voted 85-6 to authorize the House sergeant-at-arms and related officers to track down and civilly arrest Democrats who fled the state in protest of GOP redistricting efforts.

"The sergeant-at-arms and any officers appointed by her are directed to send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused for the purposes of securing and maintaining their attendance under warrant of arrest, if necessary, until further order of the House," said Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows, the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

Shortly after the vote, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said he ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to find and arrest the Democrats who fled the state, an order which will remain in effect until they are "accounted for and brought back" to Austin.

MORE: Texas Republicans say 'hunt down' Democrats who are leaving state over redistricting

The warrants, however, have no power outside state lines and it's unclear to what extent, if at all, Texas law enforcement may and could coordinate with their counterparts in the relevant states.

Later Monday, Abbott said he had asked the Texas Rangers to investigate the Democrats who left the state for potential law violations  including bribery for soliciting funds to support their effort.

"Reports indicate that many absentee Texas House Democrats have solicited or received funds to evade conducting legislative business and casting votes. Under the Texas Penal Code, any of those Democrats who solicit, accept, or agree to accept such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote may have violated bribery laws. Also, it could be a bribery violation for any other person who offers, provides, or agrees to provide such funds to fleeing Democrat House members," the governor said in a statement.

The move comes amid a showdown over a Republican-led effort, backed by President Donald Trump, to create a new congressional map with control of the U.S. House potentially at stake.

Abbott had given Texas House Democrats a deadline of 3 p.m. local time on Monday to return to the statehouse for the special session or risk losing their jobs. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton suggested Democrats who left should be arrested and forcibly brought back, though he later admitted that would be a "challenge."

Paxton said in a statement late Monday afternoon that he is "prepared to do everything in my power" to hold the Democrats accountable for abdicating their duties in the House and for having "sacrificed their constituents for a publicity stunt."

The response from the Texas House Democratic Caucus to Abbott's threat was, "Come and take it."

Texas House members who left the state were slated to hold various events throughout the day Monday in Democrat-led states.

The proposed congressional map could create up to five new Republican seats and help the party keep control of the House in the 2026 midterm elections. Consideration of the bill had been set for Monday, but couldn't proceed as the missing Democrats denied a quorum.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images - PHOTO: The State Capitol is seen on July 21, 2025 in Austin, Texas.

Democrats hold events in New York, Massachusetts and Illinois

The first news conference with Texas Democrats on Monday was with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in Albany. Hochul's message for Texas House Democrats was, "You are on the right side of history. And you're not alone."

"As I said, history will judge us and how we respond to this moment. But here in New York, we will not stand on the sidelines with the timid souls on the sidelines who don't care and will not invest their heart and soul into this battle. This is a war," Hochul continued. "We are at war and that's why the gloves are off. And I say, bring it on."

Hochul said that she would seek to disband or change New York's independent redistricting commission through a constitutional amendment in response to Texas -- but admitted that doing so would not be possible before the 2028 election. Under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Yorkers passed a constitutional amendment in 2014 prohibiting partisan redistricting.

Texas House Democrats who have gone to Massachusetts for the National Conference of State Legislators summit will hold a press conference in Boston on Monday afternoon. Then, Texas House Democrats who have gathered in Illinois will hold a press conference with Democratic members of Congress in Chicago on Monday night.

ABC News - PHOTO: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a press conference with members of the The Texas House Democratic Caucus in Albany, Aug. 4, 2025.

During a press conference at the IBEW union hall in Warrenville, Illinois, Texas Democratic lawmakers said they're prepared to "fight," and asked blue states to back their effort.

"We've got our sleeves rolled up, and we're ready to take this fight wherever it's going to take us, because our communities, our state and our nation -- is definitely worth fighting for it," state Rep. Jessica Ramos said.

State Rep. John Bucy III said they left the state because they would not "play along" with Republicans' redistricting plans.

"Look, I didn't run for office to walk out of the Capitol, but I also didn't run for office to stand by while democracy is stolen in broad daylight," Bucy said. "Texas Democrats broke quorum because sometimes the only way to uphold your oath is to refuse to play along with a rigged game."

And the lawmakers were adamant they weren't running away.

"We're not running from anything. We're trying to make sure that when democracy is in Texas, it is going to be of the people, by the people and for the people," state Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr. said.

Texas State Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat, spoke with ABC News from Illinois and confirmed he plans to stay out of the state for the remaining two weeks of the special session.

"To be gone from my family, from my state, is not a happy thing for me. But why I am doing this is because the Republicans are trying to change the rules of the game midway through the decade," Talarico told ABC News Correspondent Jay O'Brien.

Talarico also characterized the Republican redistricting effort as a ploy by Trump to rig the election.

"It is rock bottom for people like Greg Abbott and Donald Trump. Sadly, I've come to expect nothing less from them, but it is still immoral and disgusting and outrageous, and we should all reject it regardless of our political party," Talarico added.

Abbott, Paxton threaten action against Democrats

Abbott, in his warning to Texas House Democrats, said leaving the state in protest amounted to "abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office."

The governor said if they didn't return by 3 p.m. local time on Monday, he would invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House. He further went on to claim the lawmakers who left "may also have committed felonies" by fundraising in order to pay the $500 fine they risk accruing each day they are absent.

MORE: Prosecuting Texas Democrats will be a 'challenge,' state's GOP AG says

"Our fellow Texans are being let down and not getting the flood relief they need, because these Democrats have absconded from the responsibility, and I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state legislature because they're not doing the job they were elected to do," Abbott said during an interview with Fox News on Monday.

Paxton, in a social media post, wrote that "Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law."

What's at stake

The new congressional map was proposed by Texas Republicans following a push by Trump for maps more favorable to Republicans to help the party keep the majority in the House in 2026. Currently, House Republicans are operating with a narrow majority.

Trump has said he wants Republicans to pick up five new seats in Texas and others around the country. Democrats have slammed the move and said it risks hurting minority voters.

Asked by Fox News why he is pushing for new districts, Abbott said it is partly to dismantle "coalition districts" (where racial minority groups together make up most of the population) and to redraw districts based on political considerations.

MORE: GOP success with new Texas House map could hinge on Latino voters: ANALYSIS

"Gerrymandering can be done or drawing lines can be done on the basis of political makeup, as in Republican versus Democrat, and there's nothing illegal about that," Abbott said. "And then when you look at the outcome of the most recent presidential election, all these districts that are being added are districts that were won by Trump."

Texas' redistricting effort has prompted some Democrat-led states to investigate similar moves to "fight fire with fire," as California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has said. Newsom is considering calling a special session on redistricting in November to make the state's congressional map more Democrat-friendly. Newsom said Monday that California Democrats have or are nearly done with a draft of a new map.

"Whatever they are doing [in Texas] will be neutered here in the state of California, and they will pay that price," Newsom said.

As the redistricting battle heats up, a House Republican will introduce legislation to ban mid-decade redrawing of congressional maps nationwide.

California GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley will formally introduce the bill on Tuesday which will "nullify new maps adopted by states before the 2030 census, including any that are adopted this year." The bill's future remains uncertain, however, as it's unlikely to be backed by House Republican leadership.

ABC News' Lauren Peller contributed to this report.
The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Song Young-kyu in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 14, 2020





NEED TO KNOW

Extreme Job actor Song Young-kyu was found dead in a parked car at age 55 on Monday, Aug. 4, near Seoul, South Korea, according to multiple reports

There were no signs of foul play in the incident and no suicide note, per Yonhap News Agency and Variety, citing local police

PEOPLE is out to a recent management agency for Song for comment





Song Young-kyu, a South Korean actor, has died at age 55.

The Extreme Job star was found dead in a car near Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, Aug. 4, according to multiple outlets, including Deadline and Variety, citing local police.

According to authorities, per Yonhap News Agency, Song was found by an acquaintance, and the car was parked in a residential complex in Yongin, about 25 miles from Seoul, around 8 a.m. local time.

PEOPLE is out to a recent management agency for Song for comment.

Han Myung-Gu/WireImage Song Young-kyu in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 22, 2014

Song was previously involved in a DUI incident in June and was awaiting indictment, according to the aforementioned outlets. Deadline reported that he drove about 3 miles with a blood-alcohol level above the limit to have his license revoked in South Korea.

The actor was subsequently removed from three projects, including two dramas titled The Defects and The Winning Try as well as a stage production of Shakespeare in Love, per Deadline and Variety.



Aside from his role as Chief Choi in the 2019 action-comedy Extreme Job, Song was also known for his 2022 roles in Netflix's Narco-Saints and Disney+'s Big Bet.

There was no suicide note or any signs of foul play in the actor's death on Monday, the Yonhap News Agency reported, citing police.

Song is survived by his wife and two daughters, according to the above outlets.

Read the original article on People
At just eight years old, Guy Fieri cooked his first steak. This was the meal that would set him on a path to culinary fame. That simple family dinner, born of rebellion, turned into a defining moment that shaped his career and love for food. This is how Guy Fieri became one of the most recognizable chefs in America.

A Young Chef Takes Charge

Image via Wikipedia/Ranzokhel

Guy Fieri grew up in Ferndale, California, where his family dedicated themselves to healthy, macrobiotic meals (steamed fish, grains, and vegetables). Despite his parents' commitment to balanced, health-conscious food, Guy found the lack of bold flavors unappealing. So one day, after yet another meal that didnt excite him, he took matters into his own hands.

Guy marched to the store, picked up two ribeye steaks, and set out to make dinner for the family. The recipe was steak with soy sauce and pasta and simmered in marinara sauce. Simple enough, right? It wasnt a gourmet masterpiece, but it was enough to impress his dad.

After the first bite, his father put down his fork and praised his son's cooking, saying, This might be the best steak Ive ever had. For Guy, those words were the spark that ignited a passion that would drive him through his entire career. That meal wasnt perfect, but it proved to him that cooking could be his future.

Turning Passion Into a Career

Guy's first ribeye planted the seed for everything that came after. He spent his teenage years working in kitchens, learning the ropes and figuring out what it took to make good food consistently. He moved to Los Angeles, then San Francisco, while sharpening his skills and finding his culinary identity. But it wasnt until 2006 that he truly hit his stride.

After winning The Next Food Network Star, Guy landed his own show, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, which quickly became a fan favorite. His energetic personality, love for discovering hidden gems, and unapologetic enthusiasm for bold flavors made him a household name.

Guys Take on Steak

Guys approach to steak hasnt changed much since that first ribeye. He believes in seasoning generously, cooking quickly at high heat, and letting the meat rest before serving. Today, he is a big fan of the tri-tip, a budget-friendly cut thats perfect for home cooks.

Tri-tip, taken from the bottom of the sirloin, is versatile, tender, and takes on marinades well. It can be grilled, roasted, or slow-cooked, and its a go-to for many of Guys dishes. Season it simply with salt, pepper, and garlic, throw it on a hot grill, and youve got a meal thats as good as anything youd find at a fancy steakhouse.

Full Circle: The Mayor of Flavortown

Image via Wikipedia/Ellin Beltz

Today, Guy Fieri is a brand. From his restaurants, like Guys Chophouse in Atlantic City, to his signature line of sauces and spices, Guy has built a food empire. Hes become the face of comfort food on television, hosting Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and exploring Americas best small-town restaurants. Hes also expanded to other ventures, including Guys Burger Joint on cruise ships and partnerships with major brands.

Philanthropy and Community

Beyond television and restaurants, Guy has dedicated much of his time to giving back to the community. Hes worked with the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to support restaurant workers impacted by disasters. During natural catastrophes, Guy has organized fundraising events to benefit the hardest-hit areas.

After hurricanes and wildfires, hes stepped in to feed people in need and raise awareness for local businesses. He believes that food can heal, connect, and create opportunities.

The Legacy of a Steak

Image via Wikipedia/Phillip Pessar

Guy's childhood ribeye wasnt the best meal in the world, but it was exactly what he needed at that moment. It was the spark that would ignite a lifetime of cooking, learning, and sharing food with a global audience. His story is one of many that proves that one simple event can change everything.
Brock Lesnar made his return to WWE and made his intentions known as to why.

Lesnar has not worked publicly with the company since losing to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam in 2023.

While Rhodes regained the WWE Undisputed Championship after a victory over John Cena in a street fight to headline SummerSlam on Sunday, Aug. 3, Lesnar arrived with Cena in his sights instead of seeking revenge on the new champion.

Lesnar and Cena have a long history, and it appears the two are set to add to it.

Paul Levesque, the WWE's Chief Content Officer, was asked about Lesnar during the company's post show.

"The dynamic in the room changes when The Beast is here," said Levesque, who also is known as Triple H. "Seeing Brock Lesnar comeback ... anything you thought was happening sort of all goes out the window because the factor of Brock now just changes that dynamic. It makes it so unpredictable. Incredible to have him back."

The WWE did not hold a traditional press conference with members of the media after either night of SummerSlam this weekend. This is a sudden change from what has happened over the past couple of years following the conclusion of WWE's premium live events.

When will Brock Lesnar and John Cena have a match?

An official match between Lesnar and Cena has not been announced, but its expected to happen following the situation that closed out SummerSlam.

The match could take place at WWEs next premium live event titled Clash in Paris in Nanterre, France, on Aug. 31.

Brock Lesnar celebrates after winning the Royal Rumble match during the Royal Rumble at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on Jan. 29, 2022.

Why has Brock Lesnar been away from WWE?

Lesnar has been away from WWE since 2023, but was planned to return for the Royal Rumble in 2024. Lesnar did not appear at the event after Janel Grant filed a lawsuit in the days leading up to the event. Grant was a former employee at the WWE global headquarters from 2019 to 2022.

Grant alleged that WWE co-founder Vince McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship with him and former executive John Laurinaitis. In the suit, McMahon allegedly offered an unnamed wrestler, identified by The Wall Street Journal as Lesnar, for sexual purposes.

Right now, Brock is at home being Brock, said Levesque during a WrestleMania press conference in April. Well see where that leads to from here. His status is the same as it has been before. Brock is not gone from WWE. Hes just home being Brock.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SummerSlam 2025: Brock Lesnar returns, attacks John Cena
Dozens of Democratic state legislators fled Texas over the weekend, denying a quorum on Monday to Republicans hoping to vote on a new congressional map that heavily favors the GOP even more than its current districts.

Texas Republicans have responded by floating civil arrest warrants if their Democratic colleagues don't return to the state and threatening to have the missing lawmakers removed from office altogether. Democratic legislators have remained defiant, and have encouraged states led by Democrats to respond by redrawing their congressional maps  setting up a national standoff over redistricting.

"Greg Abbott has answered the call of Donald Trump, and he's holding this special session hostage to try to pass a mid-district, mid-session redistricting to try to steal five congressional seats away from the Texas people," state Rep. John Bucy, the top Democrat on the Texas House's elections committee, said of the Texas governor.

"That's unacceptable, and that's why we're here to fight back," said Bucy, who spoke to CBS News in a Monday interview from Illinois, one of several blue states currently hosting the Texas Democrats.

Shortly after attempting to convene on Monday, House Republicans voted to approve a motion for the Texas House sergeant-at-arms to secure the attendance of all absent lawmakers, "under warrant of arrest if necessary."

"Leaving the state does not stop this House from doing its work. It only delays it," Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Republican, said in a brief speech Monday afternoon.

He told Democratic lawmakers, "If you choose to continue down this road, you should know there will be consequences."

Before the House met on Monday, Abbott also said he would seek to "remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House," invoking a 2021 legal opinion from Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton that suggested a court could determine that a legislator had forfeited his or her office.

"The absconded Democrat House members were elected to meet and vote on legislationnot to prevent votes that may not go their way," Abbott said.

Texas House Democrats responded with a four-word statement: "Come and take it," a reference to a statement of defiance on an old Texas battle flag.

Democrats protest GOP-dominated Texas congressional map

Republicans unveiled the new congressional maps last week as part of a mid-decade redistricting in an attempt to protect the GOP's razor-thin U.S. House majority. President Trump said in July that he believes Republicans could win five more seats in Texas with different districts.

Abbott included redistricting to be addressed in a special legislative session, along with other high-profile topics like approving disaster relief for the deadly Texas floods and a THC ban.

Democratic lawmakers announced Sunday evening they would leave the state to hold up the special session. "We will not allow disaster relief to be held hostage to a Trump gerrymander. As of today, this corrupt special session is over," Texas House Democrats said in a statement.

"For weeks, we've been warning that if Republicans in Texas want a showdown  if they want to delay flood relief to cravenly protect Donald Trump from an inevitable midterm meltdown  then we'd give them that showdown," Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement, accusing Mr. Trump and Republicans of "rigging the system" and "scheming to hold onto power."

Both houses of the Texas legislature are controlled by Republicans, but if most Democratic lawmakers leave the state, they could deny the state House and Senate the two-thirds quorum that they need to vote on the new congressional maps.

At least 51 Texas Democrats have fled the state for Chicago. Politico was first to report the lawmakers had left the state.

"We're not here to have fun. We're not here because this is easy, and we did make a decision to come here today  we did not make a decision lightly," Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu said after arriving in Illinois. "But we come here today with absolute moral clarity that this is absolutely the right thing to do to protect the people of the state of Texas."

Texas Democratic state Rep. James Talarico speaks during a rally to protest against redistricting hearings at the Texas Capitol, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Austin, Texas. / Credit: Eric Gay / AP

Republicans in Texas currently hold 25 of the state's 38 congressional seats. The party hopes the new maps could bring that number up to 30, and all of those new 30 seats were won by Mr. Trump in November by at least 10 points.

The five seats come from redrawing Rio Grande Valley districts  where Mr. Trump has made gains in what were once Democratic strongholds  and combining Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Greg Cesar's districts in Austin. In North Texas, Rep. Julie Johnson's suburban 32nd District would be reshaped to stretch from the Dallas area to rural Republican strongholds, and Rep. Marc Veasey would be moved out of Tarrant County entirely, which would leave only a small portion of the county represented by a Democrat. All four Houston-area seats were redrawn, with Rep. Al Green's being the most dramatic.

"They're turning our districts into crazy shapes to guarantee the outcome they want in the 2026 election," Democratic state Rep. James Talarico said in a message posted to social media. "If this power grab succeeds, they will hang on to power without any accountability from the voters."

Wu said Texas Republicans are "using is a racist, gerrymandered map, a map that seeks to use racial lines to divide hard working communities who have spent decades building up their power and strengthening their voices, and Governor Abbott is doing this in submission to Donald Trump."

Democrats have fought back against the new districts, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries traveling to Austin on Thursday to pledge national support.

"We are not fighting for the Democratic Party, we are fighting for the democratic process, and the stakes could not be higher. We have to take a stand," Talarico added.

Martin said in an appearance Sunday on MSNBC, "I'm proud of the Texas Dems for actually breaking quorum here. Our democracy is literally under assault by Donald Trump, Greg Abbott and the Republicans, who know that they are on a track to lose the House majority next year. So what do they do? They cheat. They rigged the system. That's all they have left."

"We're certainly going to be standing with folks who will be litigating this in the courts," Martin added. "We will continue to organize on the ground in Texas, and we will continue to support the House Dems, as they have broke quorum right now."

This is not the first time Democrats have left the state to deny Republicans a quorum  and not the first time they have done it to protest redistricting. During the landmark 2005 mid-decade redistricting, Texas Democrats fled during two separate special sessions to stop the redistricting. But the redistricting eventually did go through. And in 2023, Republicans passed legislation that levies a $500-a-day fine on lawmakers who leave the state.

The last significant quorum break in the Texas House was in 2021, when Democrats fled the state to prevent a restrictive voting bill from passing.

Last month, Paxton threatened to assist police in "hunting down and compelling the attendance" of any Democratic lawmakers who leave the state to block votes during the special session.

"If Democrats ignore their duty to their constituents by breaking quorum, they should be found and arrested no matter where they go," said Paxton, who is also running for the GOP nomination in next year's Senate race.

Abbott on Sunday said that "Any Democrat who 'solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept'" donations to help cover any fines they may be subjected to under Hous rules for skipping votes, "may have violated bribery laws."

Can other states take on redistricting efforts?

As the efforts ramped up in Texas to redraw the maps, other Democrat-led states threatened to do something similar. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been one of the most prominent voices behind this effort, posting on social media after the GOP's new maps for Texas were unveiled that "California won't sit back and watch this happen."

Other governors have joined suit, with some of the Texas House Democrats joining New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for a press conference on Monday about the topic. Hochul said, "I'm tired of fighting this fight with one hand tied behind my back."

Pritzker also said Sunday "everything has to be on the table."

But legally, it will be difficult to pull off in many of these states. Texas is one of a few states that allows the state legislature to set up the congressional maps, and can allow mid-decade redistricting. In California, an independent commissions is in charge of redistricting  and there is a law in New York banning gerrymandering for political gains. New York's congressional maps went through a number of legal challenges before the final maps were settled on.

Hochul and New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie acknowledged it would require a change to the state constitution, but Heastie insisted that "we're in close conversations about options there, and so I would say we're presenting all options right now."

"It's very difficult to say play fair when your opponents are playing dirty and using every tool in their tool shed toolbox to kind of undermine democracy," Heastie said.

As for Illinois, the state legislature draws the map and Democrats control the legislature  and they cut out two Republican seats when they redrew the maps in 2021. Prior to redistricting, Illinois had 13 Democrats and five Republicans in the House. The state lost a seat due to population loss, and they ended the 2022 elections with 14 Democrats and three Republicans.

How safe is our Social Security safety net?

Full Interview: 3 Democratic Texas lawmakers on fleeing state amid GOP redistricting push

Number of butterflies decreasing across U.S.
As Tropical Storm Dexter races out to sea away from the United States, hurricane forecasters Aug. 4 were watching two other areas of potential concern in the Atlantic, which if they form, could be named Erin and Fernand.

One, a tropical wave that's just recently moved off the coast of Africa, could develop into a named storm in the central Atlantic by later in the week, some forecast models show.

The second is a developing area of low pressure much closer to home, off the Southeast U.S. coast  a system that promises a dreary week of weather for hordes of beachgoers.

"We are now moving into a more active period (of the) Atlantic hurricane season," said Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue in an Aug. 4 email to USA TODAY.

Dexter heads out to sea

"Dexter is already exiting stage right, moving east northeast around 10 to 15 mph," said Houston-based meteorologist Matt Lanza in an Aug. 4 newsletter post. "By the end of the week, Dexter should be post-tropical. Eventually, this will probably end up in the British Isles, either as part of another typical European storm or as a passing disturbance. Either way, it's mostly just a curiosity than anything else."

WPLG-TV hurricane specialist Michael Lowry, in an email to USA TODAY, said that "Dexter, while posing no threat to land, is the opening act for the show the Atlantics threatening to put on behind it."

In addition to Tropical Storm Dexter, the National Hurricane Center is also monitoring two other areas of tropical concern in the Atlantic (yellow and orange areas.)

Out of Africa

Exiting the coast of Africa late on Aug. 3 was a robust tropical wave that models suggest has a good chance of becoming a named storm (likely Erin) and possibly our first hurricane by Aug. 9 to 11 over the central Atlantic, Lowry said.

"In a few days, environmental conditions are forecast to become favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form by the latter portion of this week as it moves generally west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic," the National Hurricane Center said.

Beyond Aug. 11, forecast models diverge, with the Euro curling the system out to sea and the American GFS continuing a track west-northwestward toward the U.S. East Coast, Lowry reported.

"We won't have much confidence in a forecast for this one till we see if something actually develops and where," said University of Miami meteorologist Andy Hazelton in a post on X.

More: A key sign of hurricane activity has flipped into high gear

Soggy Southeast

The National Hurricane Center has also highlighted an area of concern off the Southeast U.S. coast.

The hurricane center has given the system a 30% chance of development, and models support something weak developing and then moving westward, which equals more rainfall for drenched Georgia, Florida, and Carolinas, but the upper-level environment (for full tropical development) is hostile, said Maue.

Later in the first week of August, we're probably going to see a weak area of low pressure develop along a remnant stationary front off the Southeast U.S. coast, Lanza said. "Unlike Dexter, this won't get whisked out to sea. Rather, it looks likely to just kind of sit and spin for a bit."

If it gets a name, which seems unlikely at this point, it might be Fernand, depending on when Erin gets named.

Regardless of whether it gets a name, "this may make for a somewhat dreary week along the Carolina coast," Lanza said. "Rain totals may begin to add up some in this area as well through the week."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After Tropical Storm Dexter, could 'Erin' and 'Fernand' be next?
Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square)  Voters seeking independence from political party affiliation is not letting up in North Carolina.

More than 15,000 registrations have been added in the last four weeks, and the unaffiliated bloc is up 11,912, according to Saturdays latest weekly update by the State Board of Elections. Republicans gained 2,477 in that time; Democrats lost 1,001.

The states more than 7.5 million registered voters are 38.4% unaffiliated, an all-time high for the bloc; 30.6% Democrats, an all-time low; and 30.4% Republicans, consistently within a range of 1.1% (29.8% to 30.9%) since Nov. 6, 2012.

Republicans continue to close in on Democrats, standing just 17,477 behind. Voter maintenance since Election Day has dropped each of the three main blocs; on Nov. 5, Democrats had 105,675 more registrations than Republicans.

North Carolina is distinguished purple, meaning no clear-but favorite of the two major parties. Its a stunning and tumultuous fall for the Democratic Party.

As recently as 2008 Election Day, the party claimed eight of 10 seats for the Council of State, and held majorities of 30-20 in the state Senate and 68-52 in the House of Representatives. Democrats that day had 864,253 more registrations than did Republicans.

In addition to the registrations, the Council of State today is split 5-5, and Republicans have majorities of 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House.
This 2008 photo shows Jeffrey Epstein as he enters a Palm Beach County courtroom in Florida. - Uma Sanghvi/Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network/Imagn Images/File

Two victims of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse have filed letters to the court condemning the Justice Departments request to unseal grand jury testimony and cited the lack of respect they feel has been showed toward them by President Donald Trump and his administration.

Both of the victims remained anonymous in their writings sent on Monday, with one calling the latest handling of the so-called Epstein Files political warfare.

Dear United States, I wish you would have handled and would handle the whole Epstein Files with more respect towards and for the victims. I am not some pawn in your political warfare. What you have done and continue to do is eating at me day after day as you help to perpetuate this story indefinitely, one of the victims wrote.

Another victim argued that priority has only been on protecting wealthy men.

(I) feel like the DOJs and FBIs priority is protecting the third-party, the wealthy men by focusing on scrubbing their names off the files of which the victims, know who they are, one of the victims wrote.

While neither letter outwardly requests federal Judge Richard Berman in New York to keep the transcripts under seal, both strongly urge him to take all necessary precautions in concealing victims identities.

One of the victims suggested that a third party review the release of the documents to ensure that no information related to the victims is revealed. The other victim told the judge that it is an upmost priority for any information regarding identify of the victims be redacted.

Both emotional letters submitted to the judge showed clear frustration towards the administrations handling of the files.

I appreciate your time reading my short thoughts and feeling and my anxiety and frustration is NOT aimed at you, obviously. It is aimed at the very government here, the ones asking to release these transcripts, exhibits, etc., of which the victims are not privy to while they have concluded that there is nothing more to see on the files they hold. Yet no one has seen them, but them, one of the letters read. I am beside myself.

Victims in the case were asked to respond to the governments request to release grand jury transcripts by August 5.

The Epstein files have become a mounting problem for the Trump administration as the demand for them to be released has only increased over the past few months.

Both the Justice Department and the FBI have struggled for months on how to release material related to the Epstein investigation. The documents require heavy redaction in order to protect victims and witnesses that were involved in the probe.

In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi promoted the release of the documents, giving out information in binders to right-wing media influencers at the White House. Those influencers criticized the information, saying that much of it was old news.

After two months of promising to release more information, the administration turned quiet. CNN recently reported that in May, Bondi had briefed Trump on the files and that his name appeared several times.

On July 7, the Justice Department released an unsigned memo about the files saying that it does not plan to release more information. The letter also said that there was no client list.

Trump has continued to experience backlash from members of Congress, his political base and the public on the lack of transparency.

The Justice Department asked the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York to unseal grand jury transcripts in the investigation on July 18. The department also asked a judge in the Southern District of Florida to release grand jury transcripts, but the request was swiftly denied.

The judge overseeing the Justice Departments request for the unsealing of grand jury transcripts has asked the government additional questions to answer before Tuesday as to why he should grant their request.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Evan Perez, Kara Scannell and Aaron Blake contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Today's highlights: Japanese Prime Minister ready to approve extra budget to mitigate impact of Trump tariffs; At least 140 children among hundreds of victims in Pakistan floods; Singapore hotel magnate Ong Beng Seng found guilty but will not go to prison; Over 60 dead in the sinking of a migrant ship off the coast of Yemen.

ISRAEL - PALESTINE

Almost 25 years after Ariel Sharon's famous walk at the Western Wall (or Temple Mount, for Jews) in Jerusalem, yesterday, on the Jewish holiday of Tisha b'Av, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir repeated the gesture by walking and praying at Islam's third holiest site. His colleague, Defense Minister Israel Katz, has promised to strengthen Israel's hold on the area. For the Palestinian Authority, the gesture - which violates the status quo of the holy sites - constitutes crossing a red line. Meanwhile, Hamas is ready to provide aid to Israeli hostages still held in the Gaza Strip, after a video of a prisoner in poor condition sparked international criticism and protests.

JAPAN

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said the government plans to approve an extra budget to mitigate the economic impact of US tariffs, a move that would add further pressure to already deteriorating finances. After suffering a heavy defeat in the Senate elections in July, the minority coalition is under pressure to accept the opposition's demand to increase public spending and reduce sales tax.

PAKISTAN

At least 140 children are among the 299 victims - in addition to over 700 injured - caused by sudden flooding linked to torrential rains that have hit several areas of Pakistan since the end of June. This was reported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which also reported widespread destruction: at least 1,676 homes were damaged, including 562 completely destroyed, and 428 head of livestock were lost.

SINGAPORE

Hotel magnate Ong Beng Seng pleaded guilty today to obstructing justice in a landmark corruption case that led to the imprisonment of former transport minister S. Iswaran last year. Ong was accused of giving expensive gifts, including Formula 1 tickets and a private jet tour, to Iswaran. However, the prosecution and defense agreed to commute the prison sentence to a fine on health grounds.

YEMEN - AFRICA

Over 60 migrants died when a boat carrying about 150 people sank yesterday off the coast due to bad weather. The accident occurred off the coast of the Ahwar district in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on the Arabian Sea. The International Organization for Migration says Yemen continues to see significant increases in the influx of irregular migrants from Africa.

IRAN

The main security body yesterday approved the establishment of a National Defense Council in response to June's 12-day war with Israel, which represented the most serious military challenge since the 1980s conflict with Iraq. The new body will be tasked with reviewing defense plans and improving the capabilities of Iran's armed forces in a centralized manner.

RUSSIA - INDIA

According to Bloomberg, at least four large Russian oil tankers are stuck near the Indian coast: Achilles, Elyte, Destan, and Horae. The ships are unable to reach their ports of destination after Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all Indian products for purchases of Russian energy materials, which could rise to 100%.

TAJIKISTAN - ISLAM

The first Islamic investment company, Birzevoj Broker, has been founded in Tajikistan, based on the principles of Islamic banking to build long-term infrastructure for private and institutional investors. It received licenses for operations and deposits from the Ministry of Finance in Dushanbe during a solemn ceremony attended by senior government officials, business leaders, and Muslim financial institutions.
by Gregory

General Min Aung Hlaing has launched the National Security and Peace Commission and at the same time imposed martial law in dozens of municipalities, adding to threats of the death penalty for those who boycott the upcoming elections. Citizens have received messages calling for armed surrender and participation in the polls.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - Myanmar's military junta has announced that it will operate under a new name: the National Security and Peace Commission (NSPC), a move criticized as an attempt to mask authoritarianism. The change comes after the state of emergency was lifted on July 31, but was immediately followed by the imposition of martial law in 63 municipalities.

The head of the coup junta, General Min Aung Hlaing, retains full control of the government through the presidency of the NSPC but has appointed one of his loyalists, U Nyo Saw, as the new prime minister. Observers point out that the NSPC is composed of the same military figures responsible for the 2021 coup and the subsequent violent crackdown.

Half of the 10 members of the new Commission come from the State Administrative Council (SAC), the name the military gave itself after the coup in an attempt to gain credibility.

This reshuffle has been condemned as a sham reform designed to buy time ahead of the elections scheduled for December 2025, which will be neither free nor fair but, according to Min Aung Hlaing, part of the second phase of his government.

The general has also been criticized for initially omitting the Ministry of Education, which was then assigned (without portfolio) to Chaw Chaw Sein, vice-chancellor of Yangon Foreign Language University and former director-general of the ministry's Research and Evaluation Department.

The rebranding also comes at a time when the army continues to face armed resistance on several fronts. Fierce clashes with the People's Defense Forces (PDF) and armed ethnic groups have intensified in Sagaing, Chin, Rakhine, Shan, Kachin, and Kayah states.

Just hours after the state of emergency ended, Min Aung Hlaing's regime declared new martial law zones, where residents reported increased security crackdowns, mass arrests, violence, and forced recruitment. New penalties, including the death penalty, have been introduced for those who oppose the electoral process.

On July 30, the Burmese junta also sent text messages to all citizens, calling on resistance fighters to surrender and participate in the elections.

The message, which was sent to customers of Atom and Ooredoo, two of Myanmar's main mobile phone operators, also contained a link to an announcement by the Ministry of Information. The communication denounced the National Unity Government (NUG), composed of former MPs in exile, for inciting armed rebellion.

The United Nations, through its Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, expressed concern about the continued militarization of the government and the suppression of civil liberties: Changing the name of the governing body while maintaining martial law and human rights violations will not restore trust or legitimacy, the rapporteur said.

ASEAN members and Western governments have also reiterated their call for an inclusive political dialogue and the immediate release of political prisoners.
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

The government admits that 20,000 students have dropped out of school, while another 80,000 do not attend classes regularly. Inequality is increasing in a system marked by economic crisis and a lack of subsidies. Teachers and unions complain: No one is trying to get these kids back to school.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - In Sri Lanka, the economic crisis has left a dramatic mark on the education sector: about 100,000 students are somehow out of the school system, of whom 20,000 have dropped out, while another 80,000 no longer attend classes regularly.

This is the alarming picture that emerged from a survey by the Ministry of Education, the results of which were announced in recent days by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who is also Minister of Higher Education and Vocational Training, during a meeting with school officials in the province of Sabaragamuwa.

The data confirms a trend already observed in recent years: the number of students enrolled in public schools has fallen from 4,063,685 in 2020 to 3,882,688 in 2025. The economic crisis that erupted in 2022 has had a severe impact on families.

Despite around 300,000 new enrolments each year, access to education is increasingly unequal between schools in some large cities and schools in the rest of the country.

These figures confirm the seriousness of the situation, university professors Darshana Hewawitharana and Kamanthi Alwis told AsiaNews. Dropout rates remain worrying. The government has not yet taken effective measures to prevent school disruption and many students receive insufficient aid.

Over two million pupils have difficulty purchasing school supplies, but the state subsidy of 6,000 rupees (less than 20 euros) has been distributed to less than 400,000 students. In some areas, they point out, less than 20% of pupils receive adequate support. Many cannot even afford a full meal, so several students faint at school from hunger.

According to the teachers' union (CTU), about 3% of students drop out after primary school, and the percentage rises to 11% after ninth grade: a figure that has almost doubled compared to previous years.

Half of the students, explains CTU president Priyantha Fernando, do not make it to the exams at the end of the first cycle of secondary school. The main reason is economic: they cannot even afford notebooks and pens. A ministry survey confirms that 52% of school dropouts are due to financial difficulties. But no one is seriously trying to get these kids back to school, Fernando added.

Even in urban areas, such as the capital Colombo, there has been a decline in enrollment. CTU Secretary General Joseph Stalin warns that the increase in social inequality is a direct consequence of school dropouts. The authorities must take responsibility for this crisis and focus their attention not only on elite schools, but above all on the poorest students.

The Sri Lankan government has announced a comprehensive reform of the school system starting in 2026. But according to teachers, activists, and scholars, the right to education for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable students cannot wait another two years.

Former school principals such as Nishantha Ranaweera and Kumari Wijepala report that many students have dropped out of school to help their families by working as laborers or domestic workers. Some local benefactors try to provide meals and school supplies, but they cannot meet the needs of entire communities on their own.
Best Hybrid Ever By Rick | on 5.0

I bought my Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited in June of 2021. Which is amazing considering the new car market this summer. I really enjoy the quiet cabin and smooth ride. I'm still finding fun stuff about the vehicle. I was really impressed when I took a last-minute road trip from Vancouver, WA to Phoenix, AZ. The entire trip was amazing, smooth, quite, and comfortable. I really enjoyed the gas mileage and the fact that I didn't have to fill up often. Six (6) full fill-ups for the round trip which was cheaper than one-way flight. I really liked that it wasn't anywhere near overheating even in the long hot desert day.  Read More
Multiple sources confirm to me that Armenia and Azerbaijan are poised to announce their intention for peace later this week in Washington, Alex Raufoglu, an Azerbaijani journalist based in the U.S. capital, said in an X post earlier in the day.

Trump is expected to host both Nikol Pashinian and Ilham Aliyev in the White House on Friday, sources tell me, he wrote without giving further details.

There have been no official statements to that effect yet by the White House or the U.S. State Department.

Pashinians office said that it can neither confirm nor deny the information at the moment.

At this point, as you know, we have not released any official statement, and we therefore ask you to consider the information about the visit [to Washington] confirmed only after the official statement, it told the Armenpress news agency.

There was no immediate reaction from Baku. Pashinian and Aliyev most recently met in Abu Dhabi on July 10. They discussed, in particular, the possibility of initialing an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty finalized by the two sides in March. Baku continues to make the signing of the treaty conditional on a change of Armenias constitution.

Speaking a week after the Abu Dhabi talks, Trump stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan are pretty close to striking a peace deal. But he did not elaborate.

Also on the agenda of the talks was a U.S. proposal to let an American company manage the transit of people and cargo from Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenias Syunik province.

Pashinian has indicated his readiness to accept the proposed arrangement strongly opposed by his domestic critics. They say that it would undermine Armenian sovereignty over Syunik and satisfy Azerbaijans demands for an extraterritorial corridor to Nakhichevan.

Washington has also proposed a 100-year U.S. lease on the corridor. Pashinian and his political allies have made conflicting statements on the idea.
The ministry said the incident occurred near the village of Verishen in the southeastern Syunik province. Nobody was hurt as a result of the cross-border fire, it added in a statement.

The ministry urged Baku to investigate the shooting and provide public explanations. Photographs released by it showed multiple bullet holes on the excavator. The Azerbaijani military denied firing gunshots at it.

The site of the reported shooting is close to two other Syunik villages, Khnatsakh and Khoznavar, whose residents have reported regular Azerbaijani gunfire for the last several months. Gunshots reportedly fired from nearby Azerbaijani army positions have reportedly damaged several local houses. Villagers say that although their intensity has decreased lately, they are still afraid of leaving their homes after dark.

The gunfire began shortly after official announcements on March 13 that Baku and Yerevan have bridged their differences on the text of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty. The Azerbaijani leadership has made clear that it will not sign the treaty without securing more Armenian concessions. Armenian opposition figures and pundits have suggested that the truce violations are aimed at forcing Yerevan to make those concessions.

The Armenian government has consistently downplayed the significance of those violations. Its critics say it is reluctant to admit that unilateral concessions planned or already made to Baku will not end the conflict with Azerbaijan anytime soon.
4 August 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

When the Abraham Accords were first signed in 2020 under the auspices of then-US President Donald Trump, they marked a tectonic shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy. Formalising peace and normalisation between Israel and a growing number of Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, the Accords were as much about shared economic and security interests as they were about recognition and reconciliation.

As of 2025, the prospect of expanding this framework eastward, to include Azerbaijan and Central Asian nations such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, has gained significant traction. This strategic vision is not new: Trumps diplomatic team had reportedly discussed Azerbaijans potential inclusion during the final year of his presidency. Now, as regional dynamics evolve and geopolitical alliances shift, the benefits and implications of such a move are more salient than ever.

Why Azerbaijan matters to Abraham Accords

Azerbaijan is uniquely positioned to become a valuable addition to the Abraham Accords. Unlike most Muslim-majority countries, Azerbaijan has maintained robust ties with Israel for decades, driven primarily by security cooperation, defence technology, and energy trade. Azerbaijan is one of Israels largest oil suppliers, while Israel has provided Baku with cutting-edge defence systems, crucial during the 2020 Second Garabagh War.

In many ways, Azerbaijan is already a de facto member of the spirit of the Accords. Its commitment to multilateral diplomacy, its secular governance, and its pragmatic foreign policy align with the Accords goals of regional integration, economic cooperation, and religious tolerance. Formalising this relationship within the framework of the Abraham Accords would elevate Azerbaijan's status as a bridge between the Islamic world and the West, between Europe and Asia, and between conflict zones and zones of cooperation.

Meanwhile, the US initiative is not insignificant, and Azerbaijans indispensable role in the Accord has not gone unnoticed by the White House leadership.

Generally,President Donald Trumps vision for the Abraham Accords was never limited to the Gulf. His advisers saw potential in incorporating strategically aligned Muslim-majority states beyond the traditional Arab world, especially those with shared interests in countering Iranian influence, integrating with Western markets, and enhancing security cooperation with Israel and the USA.

Azerbaijan, along with Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, fits this mould. These are secular states, largely untethered to pan-Islamist ideologies, and increasingly focused on economic diversification, infrastructure development, and energy diplomacy. A bloc-wide entry into the Accords, led or endorsed by the USA, could spark cross-regional trade, investment in renewables, and joint security initiatives, including counterterrorism and cyber defence.

This eastward expansion would also constrain Iranian influence, particularly along the critical North-South and East-West energy corridors, and signal that cooperation with Israel is no longer taboo, even in traditionally hesitant regions.

However, a significant burden still rests along this delicate line of the Accord running through the South Caucasus: the emerging peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

On the surface, it may not appear particularly significant, but from the perspective of the core parameters of the Abraham Accords, it is a matter of considerable importance. Therefore,one of the key geopolitical considerations surrounding Azerbaijans potential entry into the Abraham Accords is the ongoing normalisation process with Armenia. Paradoxically, while Azerbaijans reconciliation with Israel and the West strengthens its international standing, the unresolved dimensions of its conflict with Armenia could complicate its image among certain Middle Eastern audiences.

However, there is also a strategic logic at play. By promoting normalisation on both fronts, with Armenia and with Israel, Azerbaijan positions itself as a regional stabiliser. In fact, successful peace talks with Yerevan would strengthen Bakus credibility as a constructive actor capable of bridging ethnic and religious divides, much like the Abraham Accords themselves aspire to do.

Moreover, Armenias recent pivot toward the West, particularly amid tensions with Russia, could eventually open doors to Armenia normalising ties with Israel, mirroring trends in the Gulf. Should that happen, Azerbaijans inclusion in the Abraham framework may serve as a model for broader regional peacebuilding.

Middle Eastern turbulence and the Gaza factor

While the Abraham Accords represent a genuine breakthrough in ArabIsraeli relations, their full realisation remains fragile and contingent, most notably on the situation in Gaza. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, renewed in late 2023, has complicated the political calculus for countries considering formal ties with Israel.

Many Muslim-majority states have delayed or frozen normalisation talks until progress is made on the Palestinian issue, especially in Gaza, where humanitarian suffering and asymmetric warfare continue to dominate global headlines. This dynamic is no different for Azerbaijan, a country sensitive to the symbolism of territorial integrity and displaced populations.

Public support for Palestine runs deep in Azerbaijani society, even as official ties with Israel remain strong. A perception that Azerbaijan is aligning too closely with Israel without due regard for the Palestinian cause could provoke domestic and regional backlash.

Thus, Bakus potential entry into the Abraham Accords may depend not only on its own diplomatic calculations but also on whether Israel takes steps to reduce the intensity of the Gaza conflict and re-engage with Palestinian authorities. Only then can a new wave of normalisation, one that includes Azerbaijan, be both strategically sound and politically defensible.

Despite these complications, the long-term strategic advantages of Azerbaijan joining the Abraham Accords are compelling:

- Economic diversification through Israeli and Gulf investment in renewable energy, agriculture, and technology

- Security cooperation in fields such as intelligence, air defence, and counterterrorism

- Increased leverage in the South Caucasus, strengthening Azerbaijans role in regional diplomacy

- Enhanced energy connectivity, including green electricity exports to Israel via Turkiye or regional corridors

A formal alignment with the Abraham Accords would also offer Azerbaijan a platform to amplify its voice on pressing regional matters, including the Gaza conflict, in a constructive way that reflects both pragmatism and principle.

Moreover, against the backdrop of regional stability, economic prosperity could become an inevitable opportunity, especially in a context where the Abraham Accords possess the potential to promote cross-cultural and cross-regional ties. Here, Azerbaijans inclusion would not only validate its multivector foreign policy, but also accelerate economic growth, cement security alliances, and promote regional stabilityif managed carefully.

Still, the moral and political weight of the Gaza conflict cannot be ignored. For the Accords to evolve into a sustainable and inclusive regional pact, Israel must do its part by reducing civilian suffering, upholding international law, and engaging sincerely in dialogue with Palestinians.

If these conditions are met, Azerbaijans path to the Abraham Accords could serve as a symbol of modern diplomacy, where pragmatic interests align with enduring principles, and where peace is not just a signature on paper, but a platform for transformation.
4 August 2025 20:11 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijan has become an increasingly attractive destination on the global tourism map, offering a mix of ancient history, diverse landscapes, and emerging wellness resorts. However, another question arises: How satisfied are tourists with their visits to Azerbaijan?

While the tourists we met shared that their overall experience in Azerbaijan was positive, particularly noting the delicious food and excellent hospitality, we observed that the issues they encountered were more technical in nature.

Behind the rise in visitor numbers lies a growing chorus of complaints that reveal deeper issues beneath the surface. From language barriers and high prices to inconsistent service and underdeveloped infrastructure, many tourists say their experiences fall short of expectations. A survey conducted by Azernews, consisting of both foreign and local travellers, sheds light on the most common frustrations voiced by visitors and the changes they believe are urgently needed to make Azerbaijan more competitive in a crowded travel market.

Branding lacks recognition and emotional connection

According to the survey responses gathered from 31 foreign tourists and 40 Azerbaijani nationals, Azerbaijans tourism brand remains only slightly recognisable on the global stage. More than half of international respondents (51.6%) said they found the brand only mildly recognisable, while only 16.1% considered it highly recognisable. Locals shared this sentiment, with 42.5% admitting that Azerbaijans tourism brand lacks strong visibility when compared to regional competitors like Georgia or Turkiye.

Although slogans such as Land of Fire or Visit Azerbaijan were mentioned, many tourists described these phrases as lacking depth and connection to real experiences. By contrast, Georgias tourism branding was praised for combining affordability, accessibility, and a strong narrative identity.

When asked about their overall tourism experience, 64.5% of international visitors described their trip as good or excellent, yet a significant portionnearly 26%found it just average, with a few rating it as poor. Local perspectives mirrored this trend, with 62.5% calling their tourism experiences average. These responses signal a dangerous plateau: while dissatisfaction isnt widespread, theres little to excite or inspire return visits or strong word-of-mouth promotion.

So what exactly are tourists complaining about?

Foreign and local respondents pointed to overlapping issueschief among them, infrastructure, language barriers, service quality, and overpriced services:

Inadequate infrastructure was the top complaint among local tourists (62.5%). Poor road conditions, a lack of signage, insufficient rest areas, and subpar accommodation and dining options were common concerns.

Limited language accessibility was the leading complaint from foreign tourists (48.4%), followed by high prices (45.2%) and low service quality (45.2%).

41.9% of foreigners also noted that infrastructure shortfalls diminished their travel experience, echoing the issues identified by locals.

Notably, a smaller group of foreign respondents also expressed disappointment with Azerbaijans overreliance on global brand names in hotels and restaurants, which diluted the authenticity of the cultural experience they were seeking.

These findings suggest that many of the frustrations are systemic rather than isolated, and that the same problems are being experienced by both domestic and international travellers alike.

Service workforce training seen as critical weakness

Another major finding was the perception that Azerbaijans tourism workforce is not adequately trained. Only 9.7% of foreign respondents said the staff they encountered was well-prepared. More than half (51.6%) said "No," and another 38.7% said "Partially." Tour guides, hotel workers, and restaurant staff were all cited as needing better training in customer care, foreign languages, and hospitality standards.

Encouragingly, there is near-universal support for the establishment of tourism-related educational institutions: 96.8% of foreign tourists and 97.5% of locals said they support the idea of opening regional colleges or training centres focused on tourism.

Price versus value: a persistent mismatch

Despite Azerbaijan being considered a relatively low-cost destination, many visitors complained of prices that didn't match service quality. Nearly half (45.2%) of international respondents felt their visit was slightly more expensive than expected. Locals also listed high prices as a barrier to enjoying domestic tourism.

This inconsistency, especially evident outside Baku, risks damaging the countrys long-term tourism credibility. Visitors reported paying premium rates for experiences that felt ordinary or disorganised, raising concerns about transparency and value-for-money.

Missed opportunities in cultural and wellness tourism

Touristsboth foreign and localagreed on the types of tourism they want to see developed in Azerbaijan:

Cultural/Heritage Tourism

Medical and Thermal Tourism

Wine and Culinary Tourism

These preferences align closely with Azerbaijans natural strengths: its UNESCO-recognised historical sites, healing resources like Naftalan oil and salt caves, and a rich culinary tradition. However, tourists feel that these assets are currently underutilised or poorly marketed.

Demand for authenticity over Westernised experiences

A recurring sentiment among foreign tourists was the disappointment with the Westernised presentation of tourism in Azerbaijan. As one respondent noted, The experience seems too focused on international standards rather than local flavours. This reflects a broader global trend in tourism: visitors are looking for immersive, local, and unbranded encounters, not generic luxury experiences they could find anywhere.

Where do we go from here?

To address these complaints and position Azerbaijan as a truly competitive tourist destination, the survey highlights several urgent needs:

Develop regional infrastructure with better roads, signage, and public services.

Train the tourism workforce through new colleges and professional certification programs.

Strengthen branding with emotionally resonant stories and locally anchored themes like the Silk Roads, wellness heritage, or wine trails.

Promote price transparency and link service levels with clear value expectations.

Digitize the tourism experience with apps, multilingual platforms, and feedback tools.

Create feedback loops to allow tourists to voice concerns, offer suggestions, and feel heard in real time.

Ultimately, this survey reveals that Azerbaijans tourism industry has substantial promise, but must overcome structural barriers to unlock its full potential. From improving service quality to embracing local authenticity, the path forward depends on moving from passive slogans to active experiences that resonate with tourists long after they leave.
4 August 2025 10:21 (UTC+04:00)

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As of August 1, 2025, the monetary base in Azerbaijan stood at 21.2 billion (approximately $12.47 billion), Azernews reports, citing the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).

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4 August 2025 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

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In July 2025, user engagement on Instagram among Azerbaijani users increased by 1.94 percentage points compared to the previous month, reaching 34.01%, Azernews reports, citing the Global Stats. According to the survey, Facebook ranked...

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4 August 2025 15:29 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Turkish businessmen have familiarized themselves with Azerbaijans investment landscape, with particular focus on the Alat Free Economic Zone and the Garabagh region, Azernews reports.

According to the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs Organizations of Azerbaijan (ASK), a meeting was held with representatives from the Mersin office of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD).

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. The Turkish delegation was provided with detailed information about Azerbaijans industrial centers, incentive mechanisms, and the broader economic climate for foreign investors.

Special attention was given to strategic areas such as the Alat Free Economic Zoneone of Azerbaijan's most prominent hubs for international businessand the reconstruction-driven economic opportunities in Garabagh.

Both parties expressed interest in intensifying bilateral business ties and fostering long-term investment partnerships.
4 August 2025 16:15 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Google has maintained its stronghold as the most popular search engine in Azerbaijan, holding an impressive 81.28% share of the market in July 2025, Azernews reports, citing Global Stats.

Compared to June, Googles share increased by 1.39 percentage points, reinforcing its dominant position in the countrys digital landscape.

Meanwhile, Russian-based Yandex experienced a decline in popularity. Its market share dropped by 1.47 percentage points to 16.4% in July.

Microsoft's Bing saw a modest increase, rising by 0.03 percentage points to reach 1.23%. In contrast, Yahoos share slightly declined by 0.04 percentage points, settling at 0.47%.

Other search engines collectively accounted for 0.62% of the market during the reporting period.

The figures underscore Googles continued supremacy in Azerbaijans search engine market, while alternative platforms struggle to gain significant traction.
4 August 2025 13:40 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A farewell ceremony is being held at the Azerbaijan State Academic Theater of Young Spectators for the prominent writer, novelist, playwright, critic, literary scholar, Doctor of Philological Sciences, professor, member of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, People's Writer, recipient of the "Istiglal" Order, statesman and public figure Elchin Afandiyev, Azernews reports.

Prime Minister Ali Asadov, as well as other state and government officials, are attending the ceremony.

The late writer's body has been placed on a pedestal on the stage of the Young Spectators Theater, which has been decorated in mourning style.

Wreaths have been laid around the pedestal on behalf of President Ilham Aliyev, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, and various state and government institutions.

Elchin Afandiyev's colleagues, friends, well-known figures from the fields of science and culture, members of the Azerbaijani Parliament and numerous readers of the late writer's works are coming to the theater building to pay their last respects to the unforgettable author.

In a speech at the farewell ceremony, Deputy Culture Minister Saadat Yusifova spoke about Elchin Afandiyev's unique creative legacy.

She noted that he began his literary career in the 1960s and was one of the leading representatives of the literary generation known as the "Sixtiers," who hold a special place in Azerbaijani literature.

The writer brought a new spirit, new values, and artistic expression to national literature, playing an exceptional role in the development of the literary environment.

His prose, short stories, and novellas have been translated and published in dozens of foreign countries, significantly contributing to the international promotion of Azerbaijani literature. Elchin Afandiyev was one of the most recognized figures representing our national literature abroad with dignity.

His rich body of work includes novels, novellas, plays, and critical essays. The writer's works such as "Mahmud and Maryam", "The White Camel", "The Head", and "The Flag Bearers" are considered part of the golden treasury of Azerbaijani literature.

As a productive playwright, his stage plays have been widely performed both in domestic and foreign theaters.

It was emphasized that Elchin Afandiyev was not only a writer but also a public and political figure who contributed greatly to the development of Azerbaijani statehood and culture.

From 1993 to 2018, he served as Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, playing an important role in the country's public, political, and cultural life.

In the late 1980s, as chairman of the Vtn (Homeland) Society, he rendered invaluable services in uniting Azerbaijanis living abroad and strengthening their ties with their historical homeland, thus contributing significantly to the formation of the diaspora movement.

For his exceptional services to Azerbaijani literature and culture, he was awarded the Istiglal Order and other high state honors.

Elchin Afandiyev's works, centered on the history, fate, and artistic heritage of the Azerbaijani people, as well as on recreating scenes from both the distant and recent past, hold a unique place in 20th-century Azerbaijani literature.

His literary legacy is not only recognized in Azerbaijan but is also a subject of academic research beyond its borders. Starting his literary journey with short stories in the style of metaphysical realism, he entered the golden treasury of Azerbaijani literature with his historical novels, absurd dramas, and surrealist and realist short stories and novellas. His bright memory will forever live in the hearts of our people.

May his soul rest in peace!
4 August 2025 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

An academic session on the topic "Mother Tongue-A Symbol of National Identity" has been organized by the Mahmud Kashgari International Foundation, Azernews reports.

The event was held on August 1st, in celebration of Azerbaijani Alphabet and Language Day.

During the academic session, the President of the Mahmud Kashgari International Foundation and member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Javanshir Feyziyev, presented a report themed "Mother Tongue-The Main Symbol of the Nation's Existence."

It was emphasized that language is a symbol that preserves and develops the material and spiritual heritage of each nation and characterizes its identity; it is a national and spiritual treasure.

The establishment of the Azerbaijan Alphabet and Azerbaijani Language Day may seem ordinary to some, unusual to others, and necessary to some. However, when we realize that we speak and think in our mother tongue without any restriction, it becomes clear that this is far from ordinary.

The speaker highlighted that National Leader Heydar Aliyev made significant contributions to the protection of the Azerbaijani language. Even in 1977, when the new Constitution of the USSR was approved, the absence of an article about the state language was unacceptable to the National Leader, and he persistently upheld his principled stance on this matter.

On April 2, 1978, during the 7th session of the 9th convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, the National Leader insisted on including an amendment to Article 73, which would state that the official language of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic was Azerbaijani. Despite all difficulties, this historic decision made by National Leader Heydar Aliyev was a major step in the development of our language, which forms the basis of our spiritual existence.

Reflecting on the chronological sequence of events, Javanshir Feyziyev pointed out that Heydar Aliyev's efforts to protect and promote the Azerbaijani language during the era of globalization were unparalleled.

The decrees signed by the National Leader played a significant role in safeguarding and developing our mother tongue. The language policy initiated by Heydar Aliyev is currently being confidently and successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev.

Considering the demands and realities of the modern era, President Ilham Aliyev signed the State Program on the Use of the Azerbaijani Language in Accordance with the Requirements of Globalization and the Development of Linguistics in the Country on April 9, 2013.

President Ilham Aliyev's Decree on July 17, 2018, "On a Number of Measures Regarding the Broader Provision of the Azerbaijani Language in the Electronic Environment", holds particular importance in expanding the scope of the Azerbaijani languages development and application. The Decree on November 1, 2018, "On Measures to Ensure the Purity of the Azerbaijani Language and Improve the Use of the State Language" further confirms that the state language remains a priority in the country.

"All these documents related to language policy are important steps towards strengthening the national-spiritual and political-legal status of the Azerbaijani language. These steps aim to ensure the eternal existence of our language. As long as our language survives, our people and independent state will always exist," Javanshir Feyziyev said.

The academic session continued with discussions after the presentation. Participants included Professor Nadir Mammadli, Director of the Institute of Linguistics of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan; Professor Qulu Maharramli from Baku State University; historian Latifa Mammadova; Chairman of the Azerbaijan Journalists Union Elchin Shikhli; Head of the Azerbaijani Language History Department at the Linguistics Institute, Khadija Heydarova; and Professor Zemfira Shahbazova from Baku State University, who all emphasized that regardless of their geographical location, more than 50 million Azerbaijanis using their mother tongue as a means of communication forms an invaluable spiritual asset that defines and affirms the national and historical existence of the Azerbaijani people.

The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan, Bahrom Ashrafkhanov, spoke about the significance of holding such events in preserving, sustaining, and passing on the language as a cultural heritage to future generations.

The artistic part of the event featured patriotic poet Khuraman Ismayilqizi's poem "My Mother Tongue" and a composition of poems dedicated to the mother tongue by students, which was met with applause.

A screen work "Ambassador of the Dawn ," dedicated to Mirza Fatali Akhundov's alphabet struggle, was also shown as part of the event.
4 August 2025 17:21 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan's cinema has a long history that dates back over 100 years.

From its first film in 1898 to today, Azerbaijani filmmakers have created stories that reflect the country's culture and history.

To celebrate the 127th anniversary of Azerbaijani cinematography, the Culture Ministry has organized an event at the Nizami Cinema Center, bringing together cultural figures, cinema professionals, and fans to recognize the achievements of the past and look forward to the future of Azerbaijani cinema, Azernews reports.

Deputy Culture Minister Saadat Yusifova, who addressed the event, emphasized that Azerbaijani cinema, which emerged simultaneously with the world film industry, has come a long way in development. Over the years, it has experienced many ups and downs, gone through various transformations, but has always remained true to national traditions and high spiritual values.

"National Leader Heydar Aliyev highly valued the ideological significance of cinematography, in every possible way supporting the development of the film industry and showing special care for its representatives. Today, this policy is successfully continued by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. A striking example of this is the awarding of filmmakers with high state awards, which demonstrates the constant attention of the head of state to cinematography," Saadat Yusifova said.

She also brought to attention that in 2023-2025, a total of 15.9 million manats were allocated for the development of the film industry. Work on 35 films has been completed, and another 31 films are in the production stage.

S. Yusifova emphasized that at present, it is also planned to implement a film park project, which will operate on the basis of the Azerbaijanfilm film studio named after Jafar Jabbarly. The project is envisaged to be implemented on the basis of the principle of public-private partnership.

The Chairman of the Azerbaijan Film-Makers Union, People's Artist Rasim Balayev spoke about the development of national cinema, emphasizing that in recent years, national cinema has entered a new stage of development, accompanied by special care for filmmakers. He also congratulated his colleagues on their professional holiday and wished them creative success.

Director General of the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency Rashad Azizov noted that one of the main tasks of the agency, which operates under the Culture Ministry, is the comprehensive development of the domestic film industry from both artistic and production points of view.

"Today, we strive to build a full-fledged ecosystem within which new participants in the film industry could form and develop. By participants, we mean both government agencies and representatives of the non-governmental and private sectors, creative people and professional institutions. The interaction of these participants will create a sustainable environment and achieve high results," Rashad Azizov said.

He also pointed out that on the instructions of the Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli, applications for a new film production competition will begin to be accepted from September 1.

Rashad Azizov added that this year the Cinema Agency plans to implement a number of key initiatives, including holding the Baku Cinema Breeze film festival, as well as traditional support for five other film festivals.

Then a video dedicated to the Baku Cinema Breeze project was shown, followed by an award ceremony for filmmakers who have made a significant contribution to the development and popularization of Azerbaijani cinema.

The winners of the traditional award of the Azerbaijan Film-Makers Union for 2025 were Sabuhi Atababayev, cameraman Daniel Guliyev, director Parviz Hasanov, film producer Fehruz Shamiyev, and well-known actor Fakhraddin Manafov.

Then, as part of the event, the names of the winners of the full-length feature film script competition "I am a Woman", organized by the Azerbaijan Film-Makers, were announced.

The event continued with the premiere screening of short feature films: "With Love from Orion" (directed by Rafik Hajiyev), "Fallen Angel" (directed by Elmar Farzali), "Live Long" (directed by Samir Kerimoglu).

Note that Azerbaijan National Cinema Day dates back to August 2, 1898, when the first mass screening of film clips took place in Baku.

By the order of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev dated December 18, 2000, August 2 was declared the Day of Azerbaijani Cinema.

This day is celebrated every year through a series of events, organized by the Culture Ministry to honor the rich legacy of Azerbaijani cinema.
5 August 2025 10:42 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Fresh reports suggest that a new round of high-level talks between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan may have been facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump, Azernews reports.

The Middle East Eye website has reported, citing regional sources, that Azerbaijan and Armenia are set to sign a memorandum of understanding in Washington, D.C.

According to sources, U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House for the signing ceremony. The two leaders are expected to sign a letter of intent rather than a draft peace agreement. This event could provide Trump with the diplomatic breakthrough he has been seeking in the region since last month.

The Armenian Prime Minister's Office has neither confirmed nor denied the information about the planned Washington meeting, stating, "At this time, we cannot confirm or deny the information circulating in the press and on social media regarding the expected visit of Prime Minister Pashinyan to the United States."

This anticipated summit at the White House follows a meeting between the two leaders in Abu Dhabi in July. After that meeting, both leaders indicated that their countries could finalize the main principles of the agreement within a few months and then proceed to initial it.

****04.08.2025 - 11:25

Armenia and Azerbaijan are preparing to announce their intention to reach a peace agreement later this week in Washington, Azernews reports, citing U.S. media outlets.

According to reports, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to host Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House on Friday. The anticipated meeting is being seen as a significant diplomatic step toward resolving decades of conflict between the two countries.

The expected announcement follows recent talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders held in Abu Dhabi, where both sides reportedly made progress on the key terms of normalization.

No official statements have been released from Baku and Yerevan yet.
4 August 2025 14:41 (UTC+04:00)

The dialogue reaffirmed the continued coordination between the two allied nations on key political and regional issues.

During the call, the two ministers discussed various aspects of the strategic partnership between Turkiye and Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, Azernews reports, citing the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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4 August 2025 16:41 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

General-Colonel Karim Valiyev, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, received Admiral Navid Ashraf, Commander of the Pakistan Navy, and his delegation during their official visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Defense.

Prior to the meeting, the guests paid tribute to Azerbaijani martyrs by visiting the Alley of Martyrs, laying floral wreaths on the graves of those who sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence and territorial integrity. They also laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument.

The meeting at the General Staff headquarters began with General-Colonel Valiyev welcoming the delegation and expressing his pleasure to host them in Azerbaijan. He highlighted the long-standing historical ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan and emphasized the advanced stage of military cooperation between the two countries.

Admiral Ashraf expressed gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality and expressed confidence that ongoing bilateral meetings would positively contribute to the enhancement of military cooperation.

The parties underlined the importance of joint military exercises aimed at further improving the professionalism of Azerbaijani and Pakistani naval forces. They also engaged in a broad and constructive exchange of views on various issues of mutual interest.
4 August 2025 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Active discussions are underway to develop cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the field of information technology, Oleg Pekos, First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, Azernews reports.

We are engaged in active negotiations to establish a joint IT hub between IT Park Uzbekistan and Azerbaijans Sabah.Hub to deepen bilateral cooperation in supporting startups and digital innovations. This hub will serve as a platform for supporting joint startups and innovative projects, conducting training and acceleration programs with experts from both countries, as well as organizing joint hackathons, startup weekends, and demo days aimed at identifying promising projects and helping them enter international markets, Pekos said.

He emphasized that the venture division of IT Park Uzbekistan, called IT Park Ventures, is open to co-financing startups participating in joint acceleration programs and creating joint investment instruments, such as a co-investment fund focused on export-oriented projects. There is also interest in dialogues with Azerbaijani venture funds and institutional investors on involving both countries startups in international investment rounds with investor syndicates from local and third markets.

According to Pekos, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have great potential for practical cooperation in digital technologies. Currently, the main directions for translating dialogue into concrete actions have been identified. One priority project is the implementation of the MyID Palm technology, which recognizes unique palm vein patterns for identification and payment processing. This technology is already in use in Uzbekistan and is especially relevant for public transport, healthcare, and education sectors.

Pekos proposed launching a joint pilot project in Baku with subsequent expansion. Uzbekistan is ready to provide the technology and tested approaches, while Azerbaijan should integrate it with its SIMA digital identification and signature platform. An important step will be joint work on technical compatibility, including data storage and protection issues.

Such a project would promote broader cooperation, including the exchange of technological solutions.
4 August 2025 21:57 (UTC+04:00)

The spokesperson for Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to statements made by the spokesperson of Irans Foreign Ministry regarding the treatment of Iranian nationals imprisoned in Azerbaijan, calling the allegations completely baseless.

Azernews reports that Azerbaijani MFA spokesperson Aykhan Hajizadeh dismissed the claims by Ismail Baghaei, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman, that Iranian prisoners are mistreated in Azerbaijan.

Hajizadeh noted that, in line with the provisions of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Azerbaijan has officially provided Iran with information on all Iranian nationals detained or imprisoned in the country.

He emphasized that Iranian citizens held in the penitentiary institutions of Azerbaijans Ministry of Justice have their rights, lawful interests, and personal safety protected and are provided with the necessary material and living conditions.

In accordance with the current legislation, prisoners and detainees have the right to phone calls, receive parcels, and meet with family members. In some penitentiary facilities, Iranian inmates have even been allowed to hold video meetings with their relatives.

Foreign nationals in detentionincluding Iranian citizensregularly undergo medical examinations. Furthermore, medicine delivered by the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan has been duly accepted by medical staff and distributed to the prisoners according to regulatory procedures.

In 2025 alone, Azerbaijani authorities facilitated 37 consular meetings between Iranian Embassy representatives and Iranian prisoners. The most recent meeting took place on July 31, involving two detainees.

Hajizadeh also recalled that Iran is fully aware of Azerbaijans humanitarian approach to certain Iranian citizens, highlighting that on May 26, 2025, five Iranian nationals were pardoned under a decree by the President of Azerbaijan.

Despite this, he noted, Iran has frequently failed to provide Azerbaijani diplomatic missions with information about Azerbaijani citizens imprisoned there. In most cases, Azerbaijani detainees are denied access to their families and diplomatic representatives, and are not allowed to submit requests to serve the remainder of their sentence in Azerbaijan, as stipulated by the 1998 bilateral agreement signed in Baku on the transfer of sentenced persons.

Moreover, Azerbaijani authorities are not informed about court proceedings or verdicts concerning their citizens in Iran, despite repeated requests.

Our country has always supported addressing such issues through diplomatic channels and in a bilateral framework, without politicization. Such topics, along with others, were discussed during the most recent round of consular consultations between the Azerbaijani and Iranian foreign ministries, held on April 15, 2025, in Tehran, Hajizadeh stressed.
4 August 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

People smugglers who use social media to promote their services to migrants seeking to enter Britain illegally could face five years in prison under plans announced by the government, Azernews reports, citing Arab News.

Prime Minister Keir Starmers Labour government is under huge political and public pressure to cut the number of migrants arriving illegally in small boats from France. More than 25,000 people have made the crossing so far this year.

Analysis by the Interior Ministry showed around 80 percent of migrants arriving on small boats had used social media during their journey to find or communicate with people smugglers.

Under a new offense, which will be added to legislation already passing through parliament, individuals who post online to advertise services that facilitate a breach of immigration laws will face fines and prison sentences of up to five years.

It is already an offense to facilitate illegal immigration to Britain, but the government said its latest plan would give law enforcement agencies another option to disrupt the criminal gangs that profit from organizing the crossings.

Last month, the government launched a new sanctions regime allowing it to freeze assets, impose travel bans and block access to the countrys financial system for individuals and entities involved in enabling irregular migration.
4 August 2025 14:37 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Ukraine is preparing to host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an official visit to Kyiv, with the potential ratification of the long-awaited free trade agreement between the two countries expected to be at the center of the talks, Azernews reports via RBC-Ukraine.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkiye Nariman Jalal revealed in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that preparations for the visit are currently underway. He stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky personally invited his Turkish counterpart and reconfirmed the invitation during a recent meeting.

This visit requires great efforts, because there are many issues that hinder its implementation, Jalal said.

According to the ambassador, the ratification of the free trade agreement will likely be the main topic on the agenda. He emphasized its significance not only for the strategic partnership between Kyiv and Ankara but also for a wide segment of Ukrainian businesses.

President Zelensky's invitation is very simple: Turkey is interested in signing a free trade agreement. This agreement is also important for a large part of our business, although for some it may create tension due to increased competition. However, this is a political decision, he added.

The ambassador noted that Ukraine hopes the agreement will be ratified during Erdogans visit, calling it a good and symbolic step toward cooperation.
4 August 2025 16:08 (UTC+04:00)

The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan has approved a resolution on the implementation of the Sea Breeze Uzbekistan investment project, a year-round resort complex to be built on the shores of the Charvak Reservoir, Azernews reports via Uzbekistan Daily (UzDaily).

The government commission on investment attraction, industrial development, and trade regulation, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, identified the proposal from the joint venture Sea Breeze Uzbekistan, established with the participation of Azerbaijani company Agalarov Development, as the most suitable.

The project envisions the construction of a US$5 billion resort complex on 577 hectares in the Bostanlyk district of Tashkent region. The master plan is being developed by the UK-based architectural firm Scott Brownrigg.

The Tashkent regional administration, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, has been instructed to gradually terminate the rights of landowners, users, and tenants in the designated area and reclassify the plots as vacant land under district administration control. The matter will then be submitted to the Government Commission for Land Fund Reclassification, including agricultural and forestry land.

The joint venture Sea Breeze Uzbekistan will receive a direct 25-year lease on the 577-hectare site, with a priority right to renew. The project is scheduled for implementation between 2025 and 2035.

The market value of the lease was assessed at 1.7 trillion soums. However, after applying a reduction coefficient of 0.01, the total rent was set at 17 billion soums, payable in instalments over five years.

According to the approved master plan, the territory will be divided into plots, each of which may be subleased in accordance with Uzbekistans Land Code.

The Sea Breeze Uzbekistan project was first presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev by Emin Agalarov on December 16, 2024. The president endorsed the initiative and instructed the formation of a commission led by the prime minister. Later that month, Mirziyoyev announced that the future resorts cost was estimated between $7 billion and $10 billion.

In April 2025, the president reviewed the master plan, developed with the participation of several foreign companies. The project foresees a resort complex divided into 10 compact zones: a waterfront boulevard, beaches, and recreation areas, as well as hotels, cottages, residential buildings, restaurants, and viewing platforms on the slopes.

In early July, Emin Agalarov presented an updated project concept and briefed the president on the operations of the Sea Breeze resort in Baku.
4 August 2025 20:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Booking.com, the worlds leading online travel platform, is currently facing one of the largest class-action lawsuits in the history of the tourism industry, Azernews reports.

More than 10,000 hotels across various European countries have joined forces to file a lawsuit against Booking.com. These hotel representatives are seeking compensation for what they describe as unfair terms and excessive commission fees imposed over the past 20 years. The dispute centers on a landmark decision made by the European Court of Justice in the fall of 2024. The court ruled that Booking.coms best price clauseswhich prevented hotels from offering lower rates on their own websites or through other channelsviolated European competition laws. These restrictions severely limited hotels freedom to set their own prices and led to a significant decline in direct bookings. The plaintiffs claim that between 2004 and 2024, they incurred financial losses amounting to millions of euros due to these practices.

The ongoing class-action lawsuit is being handled in the Netherlands, where Booking.com is registered, and is coordinated by the Hotel Claims Review Alliance. The lawsuit is supported by HOTREC, the European association representing hotels, restaurants, and cafes, as well as over 30 national hotel associations, including the German Hotel Association (IHA). To accommodate more participants, HOTREC has extended the deadline for hotels wishing to join the lawsuit until August 29.

Despite this legal challenge, Booking.com remains a crucial sales channel for many hotels, helping them reach millions of travelers worldwide. According to recent studies, Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com, held a dominant market share of 71% in Europe and 72.3% in Germany in 2023. Meanwhile, the share of direct bookings in Germany declined by 8% during the same period, further increasing hotels' reliance on online travel agencies.

Its worth noting that while platforms like Booking.com have revolutionized the global travel industry by offering unprecedented reach and convenience, some industry experts argue that the golden age of such platforms may be nearing its end. With growing calls for fairer pricing practices and the rising popularity of direct booking incentives, the travel landscape is poised for significant change.
4 August 2025 21:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

South Korean authorities have begun dismantling loudspeakers stationed along the border with North Korea, in a move aimed at easing military and political tensions between the two countries, Azernews reports.

"Starting today, the military has begun taking down the loudspeakers. This is a practical step to reduce tensions, without compromising the combat readiness of our armed forces," a defense official stated.

For years, the loudspeakers had broadcast news bulletins and South Korean pop music  including K-pop  into North Korean territory as part of psychological operations. The broadcasts were often seen as a soft power tactic to counter North Korean propaganda and expose citizens to outside information.

However, newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered the broadcasts to cease, calling it a symbolic gesture to rebuild trust and open channels for future dialogue with the North.

In June, the South Korean military had already paused the broadcasts, and in a rare reciprocal move, North Korea switched off its own loudspeakers the following day.

Officials say all devices will be dismantled by the end of the week, though the exact number remains undisclosed due to security concerns.

These loudspeakers  first installed during the Cold War era  have long served as tools of psychological warfare, often being turned on and off in tandem with fluctuations in inter-Korean relations. Their removal is seen by some analysts as a calculated risk  a hopeful signal of thawing relations, though skeptics warn that previous gestures of goodwill have failed to lead to lasting peace.
Joel Kerr has received funding to extend his pie business on the family farm from Go Succeed

A Co Tyrone farmer is hoping to transform his hay shed into Northern Irelands first dedicated pie eatery on a farm.

Joel Kerr (43), known as The Curious Farmer on social media, produces pies, scotch eggs and sausage rolls from his family farm near Dungannon.

His business uses high-welfare, grass-fed beef and free-range chickens sourced from trusted producers in the area.

He has received funding from Go Succeed, Northern Irelands free business support service, to expand the business.

Already his traditional family farm has grown into a thriving pie venture with a dedicated team, retail customers, and a pies by post service covering the UK and Ireland.

Joel opens his own farm shop occasionally but now wants to extend opening hours and turn a former hay shed into a place where customers can sit and enjoy hot pies on the farm.

It follows a cash injection from the Go Succeed grant which has enabled the business to invest in modern equipment to speed up the production of pies.

It is the culmination of a more than 10-year programme of transformation at the farm.

Mr Kerr said: Wed been supplying local markets with fresh produce when one of the organisers asked us if we could do hot food.

Thats how the pies started. I was initially making them all myself, pastry, fillings, everything, but it really has grown from there.

After studying in Leeds, and working in various corporate jobs, Joel returned to his roots in 2014 and took the decision to make the farm more financially and environmentally sustainable.

We moved to native breeds which are better suited to the land, and farm regeneratively - no fertilisers, just grass-fed livestock, which is good for biodiversity and soil health, he said.

But if youre going to farm like that, you also need to create your own routes to market to make it viable.

Joel Kerr has received funding to extend his pie business on the family farm from Go Succeed

Watch: Planes struggle to land at Belfast City Airport as Storm Floris hits NI

Joel is now focused on developing the farms hospitality offering by renovating the old hay shed into a casual eat-in space next to the shop.

Wed love to create a place where people can enjoy the pies on site and connect more with the farm, he said.

Its all part of building something local, sustainable and rooted in good food.

Go Succeed is delivered free of charge through all 11 councils in Northern Ireland.
Belfast man in charge of RTE outlines strategy shift after his move from BBC: It did make me think, Really?
Former editor of Smash Hits and Empire magazines Barry McIlheney was a leader who was also joyously rock n roll and punk rock, a memorial service has heard.

The service at St Marks in Dundela, Belfast, allowed former friends and colleagues to gather and celebrate the life of the journalist, broadcaster and publisher, who also launched Heat magazine.
A Palestinian boy has his arm measured for malnutrition at a medical tent in Rafah, Gaza. Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

The Department of Health has confirmed that it is in discussions about accepting a small number of children from Gaza who are seriously ill or injured.

Its understood that any decision will be subject to Executive approval.

Plans to evacuate more seriously ill or injured children from Gaza and bring them to the UK for medical treatment are being carried out "at pace", the Government has said.

It is unclear how many children might be involved, but it has been reported that the Government is to allow up to 300 young people to enter the UK to receive free medical care.

Ministers will enable children in severe need to receive taxpayer-funded care.

Some Gazan children have already been brought privately to the UK for medical treatment through an initiative by Project Pure Hope, but the Government has so far not evacuated any through its own scheme during the conflict.

More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to its health ministry, but The Lancet medical journal has previously estimated that deaths due to traumatic injuries are likely to be 40% higher.

A Palestinian boy has his arm measured for malnutrition at a medical tent in Rafah, Gaza. Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Starvation in Gaza is 'unnacceptable', says Peter Kyle ahead of emergency Cabinet meeting

The number of injuries reached a new milestone of more than 150,000 injured or wounded in the past 22 months  one in 14 across the small strip of land.

Citing figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, Al Jazeera has said that 18,500 will require long-term rehabilitation, 4,700 have had one or more limbs amputated as a result of their injuries and nearly 1,000 of them are children.

Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan has written to the Health Minister urging support for an initiative to provide treatment for seriously ill or injured children from Gaza.

The partys health spokesperson was speaking after media reports said the UK Government is to launch a scheme to evacuate children injured in Israels ongoing genocidal campaign.

The level of human suffering in Gaza, particularly among children, is appalling and intolerable, said Mr McGuigan.

Ive written to Minister Nesbitt to ask what involvement his department has had in this initiative, and urged him to do everything possible to support these young people who are in such desperate need of assistance.

Israels systematic targeting of hospitals and other critical services, and its continued blockade, is causing devastation to an already beleaguered population.

The Health Minister must now back this scheme and ensure every effort is made to provide healthcare to the sick and injured children of Gaza.

The Department of Health said it is engaging with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations on the possibility of providing medical treatment in the UK for children from Gaza.

It added: Discussions are ongoing regarding the possibility of accepting a small number of children.
Mystery of the UU student genius who vanished from a Portrush arcade  and who could still be alive

The Malaysian (23) vanished from Portrush in 1991. Despite rumours of Triad involvement and alleged 1995 sighting, its a cold case that remains unsolved

An AI recreation of what Chuan may look like now and an image left of Chuan at the time

Gabrielle Swan Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 07:00

When he went missing more than three decades ago, there was little about it that made sense.